{"data": [{"title": "The friends who giggled their way to an incontinence business", "date": "25 November 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Friends Judith and Anne turned insecurity after surgery into an environmentally friendly business called Giggle Knickers. When Judith Balcazar went in for an operation to remove a lump from her bladder, she never thought she would come out of the operating theatre with a business idea. Judith, 65, a former fashion director and Anne Davidson, 53, a retired primary school teacher, had always thought they'd go into business together at some stage in their 25-year friendship - but never thought it would involve a pair of knickers. The surgery on Judith's bladder had left her muscles weak and often she felt unable to laugh or cough without the anxiety of wetting herself. But she is far from alone - experts believe one in three women suffer from urinary incontinence. The NHS has warned that millions who experience incontinence are suffering in silence because they are too embarrassed to talk about the issue. Judith recalls when she first looked for incontinence products. \"It was actually quite embarrassing going into the chemist and even having to think about walking down this aisle and having to ask where they were and that kind of thing because I wasn't sure what I was looking for,\" she says. But it was during this shopping experience that she recalled a staggering article she had read about the environmental impact of pads and nappies. Environmental groups have warned about the impact of the billions of these products that enter the global landfill system every year. Nappies usually have synthetic polymer fillings that can take 500 years to decompose. Adult incontinence products, at several times the size of babies' nappies, take up more room and demand is rising. \"I know that we've got an ageing population throughout the Western world,\" Judith says. She looked for alternatives, but only found Bridget Jones-like incontinence knickers and other large plastic pants. \"You would die of embarrassment if anybody actually ever saw you in them,\" she says. \"I just wanted to do something that looked like a normal pair of knickers so that if you're in the gym and you're taking your gear off... you're not terrified of anybody else seeing them. \"It was just wanting to have something that just felt normal and looked normal and didn't contribute to landfill.\" Anne loved Judith's initial idea after the pair spoke about it over a cup of tea. The pair believed they had found a gap in the market and went straight to work, and soon Giggle Knickers was born. They wanted the product to be designed specifically for light incontinence, as Judith had experienced, absorbing liquid without having to use any disposable pad inserts. Funding was the first thing on the list, and initially they tried to use online crowdfunding before going on the BBC's Dragons' Den programme. The investors all seemed to like the idea, but not enough to back them financially. Eventually the pair found financing in the form of a government start-up loan of PS25,000. They knew the crucial part of the product was its functionality. Judith looked into cutting-edge, high-absorbency fabrics herself, researching new developments in micro-fibres and even gaining inspiration from other industries such as car manufacturing. \"I stuttered home with lots of pieces of paper and an eyedropper and I dropped water on things,\" she says. \"I tested how much they went through and then I put things on blotting paper to see how much was going through there, and then how long they took to dry in the air.\" They pinned the samples to pants, testing how they worked and how they performed when washed several times. The duo had aimed to produce the knickers in the UK but costs drove them to China to make the products accessible for everyday consumers. Judith believes one of the reasons the incontinence market has been relatively untapped so far is because the subject remains somewhat stigmatised. \"To actually be found with pads in your handbag I think for most women would be just excruciatingly embarrassing,\" she says. Anne says companies like Giggle Knickers have been accused by some of \"preying on women's insecurities\" to make them buy products, instead of going to seek help or trying pelvic floor exercises, but she disagrees. \"We're not trying to say, 'Oh, put up with this and buy our product.' \"We're saying, 'No, you absolutely should go and see your GP. \"But in the meantime, you may need something that is a little less embarrassing, a little more environmentally friendly than buying pads.\" In recent years a number of celebrities, including actress Kate Winslet and television presenter Nadia Sawalha, have come out and spoken about their incontinence - something Anne hopes will help break the taboo. \"There are lots of people out there, you know, physiotherapists and lots of groups now on Twitter and Instagram, where they're trying to get people to talk about it,\" she says. \"It happens to men as well, it isn't just women and rather than being ashamed and embarrassed about it, we should talk about it.\" 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_start": 5017, "answer_end": 5347, "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."}], "question": "What is 100 Women?", "id": "0_0"}]}]}, {"title": "New Orleans mayor to apologise for 1891 lynching of Italian-Americans", "date": "31 March 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "The city of New Orleans has announced it will apologise for the lynching of 11 Italian-Americans in 1891. Some of the victims had been accused of murdering a police chief, but were acquitted after a trial. Angry about the verdict, a mob of racist vigilantes in the city attacked and publicly hanged them. Mayor LaToya Cantrell is due to apologise for the killing - believed to be the largest recorded lynching in US history - on 12 April. She will issue the apology at an Italian-American cultural centre in the city, a spokesman told the Associated Press news agency. Commissioner David Hennessy - a police chief in New Orleans - was ambushed and killed by four men near his home in October 1890. It is thought that with his dying words, he blamed the attack on Italian immigrants. A large Italian community had moved to the city after the civil war and the abolition of slavery, to take up jobs that had formerly been done by slaves. Following Hennessy's death, officials rounded up Italian immigrants - according to some reports, they apprehended thousands. Nine men ended up going to trial in February and March the following year. Six of these men were acquitted, and the other three cases ended in a hung jury. Then on 14 March, a large mob stormed the jail where the men were being held, dragged them out and killed them. John Fratta, from the Order of the Sons of Italy, says the apology is about making people more aware of the episode - particularly because \"they don't teach this in schools\". The Order of the Sons of Italy was the group that approached Mayor Cantrell's office about the apology. \"Nobody thinks of an Italian being lynched, when it was common practise back then,\" he told BBC News. \"So [the apology] is more of an education, especially for younger Italian-Americans.\" But, he says, it's \"also to let these 11 souls rest in peace, knowing that they got the apology they deserved\". Fred Gardaphe, an Italian-American Studies professor at City University of New York, agrees. \"When I teach this in class, the students are amazed - they've never heard of this,\" he told the BBC. \"And sometimes they go home and tell their parents, and sometimes their parents even come to my class too.\" Even he had not been taught about the New Orleans lynching at school. He only found out about it when he was in his 20s. Prof Gardaphe adds that although it's the largest recorded lynching in the US, it may not actually be the biggest: \"We don't know how many African-Americans or Native Americans, or Chinese people were lynched along the way because a lot of those never got recorded.\" But learning about this crime is necessary, he says, to help Italian-Americans understand their community's \"unprocessed traumas\" - and to empathise with other groups' struggles as well. \"If you don't process those traumas, it leads people not to identify with other people who've gone through the same thing - you think, 'well, that's their story'.\"", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 569, "answer_end": 1328, "text": "Commissioner David Hennessy - a police chief in New Orleans - was ambushed and killed by four men near his home in October 1890. It is thought that with his dying words, he blamed the attack on Italian immigrants. A large Italian community had moved to the city after the civil war and the abolition of slavery, to take up jobs that had formerly been done by slaves. Following Hennessy's death, officials rounded up Italian immigrants - according to some reports, they apprehended thousands. Nine men ended up going to trial in February and March the following year. Six of these men were acquitted, and the other three cases ended in a hung jury. Then on 14 March, a large mob stormed the jail where the men were being held, dragged them out and killed them."}], "question": "What happened in 1891?", "id": "1_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1329, "answer_end": 2949, "text": "John Fratta, from the Order of the Sons of Italy, says the apology is about making people more aware of the episode - particularly because \"they don't teach this in schools\". The Order of the Sons of Italy was the group that approached Mayor Cantrell's office about the apology. \"Nobody thinks of an Italian being lynched, when it was common practise back then,\" he told BBC News. \"So [the apology] is more of an education, especially for younger Italian-Americans.\" But, he says, it's \"also to let these 11 souls rest in peace, knowing that they got the apology they deserved\". Fred Gardaphe, an Italian-American Studies professor at City University of New York, agrees. \"When I teach this in class, the students are amazed - they've never heard of this,\" he told the BBC. \"And sometimes they go home and tell their parents, and sometimes their parents even come to my class too.\" Even he had not been taught about the New Orleans lynching at school. He only found out about it when he was in his 20s. Prof Gardaphe adds that although it's the largest recorded lynching in the US, it may not actually be the biggest: \"We don't know how many African-Americans or Native Americans, or Chinese people were lynched along the way because a lot of those never got recorded.\" But learning about this crime is necessary, he says, to help Italian-Americans understand their community's \"unprocessed traumas\" - and to empathise with other groups' struggles as well. \"If you don't process those traumas, it leads people not to identify with other people who've gone through the same thing - you think, 'well, that's their story'.\""}], "question": "Why does this apology matter?", "id": "1_1"}]}]}, {"title": "Bollywood star Sridevi Kapoor 'drowned in hotel bath'", "date": "26 February 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Superstar Bollywood actress Sridevi Kapoor died of accidental drowning, a Dubai post-mortem report has said. The 54-year-old actress, known simply as Sridevi, drowned in her hotel apartment's bathtub following loss of consciousness, it says. It had earlier been reported that she died of cardiac arrest on Saturday while at a family wedding in Dubai. Bollywood stars, sporting giants and leading politicians have reacted with shock to her death. The media arm of the Dubai government said the post-mortem analysis had been completed and the cause of death ascertained. The case has been passed to the Dubai Public Prosecution for what officials said were \"regular legal procedures\". The post-mortem report has been released by Dubai police to Sridevi's family and the Indian consulate, the Gulf News says. The paper said the report could mean a delay to the repatriation of the body. It had been expected to be flown home on Monday. Crowds have gathered outside Sridevi's home in Mumbai to pay their last respects ahead of a cremation. The Dubai government tweet did not reveal the results of any toxicology tests. The full post-mortem report has not yet been made public and will be expected to explain how the original report of cardiac arrest and the listing of \"accidental drowning\" are linked. The actress had been in the United Arab Emirates to attend the wedding of her nephew, Mohit Marwah. Few details had been given about the case prior to Monday's release of the cause of death. - Actress Priyanka Chopra tweeted: \"I have no words. Condolences to everyone who loved #Sridevi. A dark day. RIP\" - \"The world has lost a very talented person who left behind a huge legacy in film,\" said another big Bollywood name, Madhuri Dixit - Leading actor Akshay Kumar tweeted: \"A dream for many, had the good fortune of sharing screen space with her long ago and witnessed her continued grace over the years\" - Cricket great Sachin Tendulkar said: \"We all grew up watching her and suddenly to hear that she is no longer with us is hard to digest\" - Indian President Ram Nath Kovind said her death had left millions of fans heartbroken The star of such classics as Mr India, Chandni, ChaalBaaz and Sadma, Sridevi worked in the Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada and Hindi languages. Her acting career began at the age of four and by 13 she was cast in the adult role of a woman avenging her lover's death. Sridevi debuted as a lead actress in a Bollywood film in 1978, soon becoming one of India's biggest film stars. She was considered one of the very few Indian female superstars capable of huge box-office success without the support of a male hero. The actress decided to take a break from the film industry after the release of Judaai in 1997. She made a comeback in 2012, starring in English Vinglish. In 2013, the Indian government awarded her the Padma Shri - the country's fourth-highest civilian honour. The snooker queen on top of the world K2 climber aborts 'suicidal' solo ascent Why China is censoring Winnie the Pooh again", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 2132, "answer_end": 2908, "text": "The star of such classics as Mr India, Chandni, ChaalBaaz and Sadma, Sridevi worked in the Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada and Hindi languages. Her acting career began at the age of four and by 13 she was cast in the adult role of a woman avenging her lover's death. Sridevi debuted as a lead actress in a Bollywood film in 1978, soon becoming one of India's biggest film stars. She was considered one of the very few Indian female superstars capable of huge box-office success without the support of a male hero. The actress decided to take a break from the film industry after the release of Judaai in 1997. She made a comeback in 2012, starring in English Vinglish. In 2013, the Indian government awarded her the Padma Shri - the country's fourth-highest civilian honour."}], "question": "Why was she such a huge box-office draw?", "id": "2_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Canada becomes second country to legalise recreational cannabis", "date": "17 October 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "The first recreational cannabis to be legally bought in Canada was purchased at midnight on Wednesday (02:30 GMT) on the eastern island of Newfoundland amid queues of hundreds of people. Canada has become the second country after Uruguay to legalise possession and use of recreational cannabis. Medical marijuana has been legal in the country since 2001. But concerns remain, including about the readiness for police forces to tackle drug impaired driving. Information has been sent to 15m households about the new laws and there are public awareness campaigns. Ian Power, from the town of St John's began queuing at 20:00 local time so he could \"make history\". Newfoundland is half an hour ahead of the next province to the west. \"It's been my dream to be the first person to buy the first legal gram of cannabis in Canada, and here I finally am,\" he said. Canadian provinces and municipalities have been preparing for months for the end of cannabis prohibition. They are responsible for setting out where cannabis can be bought and consumed. This has created a patchwork of more or less restrictive legislation across the country. There remain unanswered questions on some key issues around how legal cannabis will work in Canada. A number of analysts are predicting a shortage of recreational marijuana in the first year of legalisation as production and licensing continues to ramp up to meet demand. And the marketplace itself is still in its infancy. Ontario, Canada's most populous province, will only begin opening retail stores next spring, though residents will be able to order cannabis online. British Columbia, one of the provinces with the highest rates of cannabis use, will only have one legal store open on Wednesday. Until retail locations are more widely available, some unlicensed cannabis retailers, which have flourished in the years since the law was first proposed, may stay open. It is unclear if police will crack down on them immediately, or if they will turn a blind eye. Jessica Murphy, BBC News, Vancouver Legal pot has been an inescapable topic for months in Canada, as governments and companies prepared in earnest for 17 October. That day is finally here, and Canadians will learn just how much - or how little - the new framework will change the country. But this is not just a domestic affair. With global trends shifting away from a strict prohibition of cannabis, the world will be watching this national experiment in drug liberalisation. A measure of success - whether legalisation will be a win for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau ahead of the 2019 federal election - will depend on whether it meets his stated goals: restricting access of the drug to youth - who are among the heaviest users in Canada - reducing the burden of cannabis laws on the justice system, and undercutting the illicit market for the drug. And if the outcomes are positive, other countries might just be more willing to follow suit. Legalisation fulfils a 2015 campaign promise by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, the leader of the governing Liberal Party. The prime minister has argued that Canada's nearly century-old laws criminalising use of the drug have been ineffective, given that Canadians are still among the world's heaviest users. He said the new law is designed to keep drugs out of the hands of minors and profits out of the hands of criminals. The federal government also predicts it will raise $400m a year in tax revenues on the sale of cannabis. Cannabis possession first became a crime in Canada in 1923 but medical use has been legal since 2001. Canada follows in the footsteps of Uruguay, which became the first country in the world to legalise the sale of cannabis for recreational use in 2013. A number of US states have also voted to end prohibition. Medical marijuana is also gaining ground in many European countries. Portugal and the Netherlands have decriminalised the drug. South Africa's highest court legalised the use of cannabis by adults in private places in September, though the sale of the drug remains a crime. In April, Zimbabwe became the second country in Africa, after Lesotho, to legalise the use of marijuana for medical purposes. Nine US states have legalised recreational marijuana use while many more allow its use on medical grounds. Adults will be able buy cannabis oil, seeds and plants and dried cannabis from licensed producers and retailers and to possess up to 30 grams (one ounce) of dried cannabis in public, or its equivalent. Edibles, or cannabis-infused foods, will not be immediately available for purchase but will be within a year of the bill coming into force. The delay is meant to give the government time to set out regulations specific to those products. It will be illegal to possess more than 30 grams in public, grow more than four plants per household and to buy from an unlicensed dealer. Penalties for some infraction will be severe. Someone caught selling the drug to a minor could be jailed for up to 14 years. Some critics say the penalties are too harsh and not proportional to similar laws like those around selling alcohol to minors. On Monday, the Canadian Medical Association Journal published an editorial calling legalisation \"a national, uncontrolled experiment in which the profits of cannabis producers and tax revenues are squarely pitched against the health of Canadians\". There are also still some legal wrinkles to be worked out. Canada has brought in new drug impaired driving offences, but doubts remain about the reliability of screening technology and the potential for drugged driving cases to clog up the courts. Federal statistics indicate that about half of all cannabis users do not believe their driving is impaired after taking marijuana. On Wednesday, government officials announced they will present legislation intended to fast-track pardon applications of people who have been convicted of possession under 30g (one ounce). There are currently some 500,000 Canadians with existing criminal records for possession. The change in national drug policy has also created headaches with the US, where the drug remains federally a controlled substance. On Tuesday, the US Customs Border Protection Agency said border guards will have \"broad latitude\" to determine who is admissible to the country. Border guards may ask Canadians if they smoke cannabis, and deny them entry if they believe they intend to do so in the US. Canada has also been rolling out signs at all airports and border crossings to warn travellers that crossing international borders with the drug remains illegal.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1133, "answer_end": 1999, "text": "There remain unanswered questions on some key issues around how legal cannabis will work in Canada. A number of analysts are predicting a shortage of recreational marijuana in the first year of legalisation as production and licensing continues to ramp up to meet demand. And the marketplace itself is still in its infancy. Ontario, Canada's most populous province, will only begin opening retail stores next spring, though residents will be able to order cannabis online. British Columbia, one of the provinces with the highest rates of cannabis use, will only have one legal store open on Wednesday. Until retail locations are more widely available, some unlicensed cannabis retailers, which have flourished in the years since the law was first proposed, may stay open. It is unclear if police will crack down on them immediately, or if they will turn a blind eye."}], "question": "How ready is Canada for legal cannabis?", "id": "3_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2000, "answer_end": 2945, "text": "Jessica Murphy, BBC News, Vancouver Legal pot has been an inescapable topic for months in Canada, as governments and companies prepared in earnest for 17 October. That day is finally here, and Canadians will learn just how much - or how little - the new framework will change the country. But this is not just a domestic affair. With global trends shifting away from a strict prohibition of cannabis, the world will be watching this national experiment in drug liberalisation. A measure of success - whether legalisation will be a win for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau ahead of the 2019 federal election - will depend on whether it meets his stated goals: restricting access of the drug to youth - who are among the heaviest users in Canada - reducing the burden of cannabis laws on the justice system, and undercutting the illicit market for the drug. And if the outcomes are positive, other countries might just be more willing to follow suit."}], "question": "What's at stake?", "id": "3_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2946, "answer_end": 3576, "text": "Legalisation fulfils a 2015 campaign promise by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, the leader of the governing Liberal Party. The prime minister has argued that Canada's nearly century-old laws criminalising use of the drug have been ineffective, given that Canadians are still among the world's heaviest users. He said the new law is designed to keep drugs out of the hands of minors and profits out of the hands of criminals. The federal government also predicts it will raise $400m a year in tax revenues on the sale of cannabis. Cannabis possession first became a crime in Canada in 1923 but medical use has been legal since 2001."}], "question": "Why is Canada legalising cannabis?", "id": "3_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 4293, "answer_end": 5123, "text": "Adults will be able buy cannabis oil, seeds and plants and dried cannabis from licensed producers and retailers and to possess up to 30 grams (one ounce) of dried cannabis in public, or its equivalent. Edibles, or cannabis-infused foods, will not be immediately available for purchase but will be within a year of the bill coming into force. The delay is meant to give the government time to set out regulations specific to those products. It will be illegal to possess more than 30 grams in public, grow more than four plants per household and to buy from an unlicensed dealer. Penalties for some infraction will be severe. Someone caught selling the drug to a minor could be jailed for up to 14 years. Some critics say the penalties are too harsh and not proportional to similar laws like those around selling alcohol to minors."}], "question": "What are the new rules around cannabis?", "id": "3_3"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 5124, "answer_end": 6592, "text": "On Monday, the Canadian Medical Association Journal published an editorial calling legalisation \"a national, uncontrolled experiment in which the profits of cannabis producers and tax revenues are squarely pitched against the health of Canadians\". There are also still some legal wrinkles to be worked out. Canada has brought in new drug impaired driving offences, but doubts remain about the reliability of screening technology and the potential for drugged driving cases to clog up the courts. Federal statistics indicate that about half of all cannabis users do not believe their driving is impaired after taking marijuana. On Wednesday, government officials announced they will present legislation intended to fast-track pardon applications of people who have been convicted of possession under 30g (one ounce). There are currently some 500,000 Canadians with existing criminal records for possession. The change in national drug policy has also created headaches with the US, where the drug remains federally a controlled substance. On Tuesday, the US Customs Border Protection Agency said border guards will have \"broad latitude\" to determine who is admissible to the country. Border guards may ask Canadians if they smoke cannabis, and deny them entry if they believe they intend to do so in the US. Canada has also been rolling out signs at all airports and border crossings to warn travellers that crossing international borders with the drug remains illegal."}], "question": "What are the concerns?", "id": "3_4"}]}]}, {"title": "India election 2019: When will broadband reach all villages?", "date": "21 March 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi wants more than a billion Indians connected to the internet - and his BJP government is counting on a project taking cheap high-speed broadband to rural areas to achieve this. The project, to build a nationwide optical fibre network, was launched in 2014 and is the flagship scheme of the government's Digital India programme. In the run-up to the Indian election, which gets under way on 11 April, BBC Reality Check is examining claims and pledges made by the main political parties. So has the project been a success? Pledge: Indian Communications Minister Manoj Sinha promised to provide every village in the country with high speed broadband and that this would be achieved by March 2019. Verdict: The project to set up digital infrastructure in rural India has made substantial headway but has so far achieved less than 50% of its intended target. India has the second highest number of internet users in the world but the penetration is quite low for its size and population. The BharatNet scheme aims to connect more than 600,000 villages in India with a minimum broadband speed of 100Mbps. It would enable local service providers to offer internet access to the local population, primarily through mobile phones and other portable devices. India's telecom regulator says there were 560 million internet connections in India in September last year. But the pace of internet adoption is lower in rural areas, where most Indians live. The government's overall target is to connect 250,000 village councils covering more than 600,000 individual villages across the country. The work of laying cables and installing equipment to connect 100,000 of them was finally completed in December 2017 after significant delays. This milestone was hailed a success but there were also critical voices, especially from government opponents about whether the cables were actually operational. The next phase, to connect the remaining councils by March 2019, has been under way for a year now. In total, as of the end of January this year, official data shows optical fibre cables have been laid in 123,489 village councils - and equipment installed in 116,876 of them. There is also a plan to install wi-fi hotspots in more than 100,000 council areas - but as of January these were operational in only 12,500 of them. It has been an ambition of successive governments to connect all India to the internet but plans have hit many roadblocks. BharatNet was first conceived in 2011 by the then Congress government as the National Optical Fibre Network but did not make much headway in its pilot phase. A parliamentary committee said the project had been affected by \"inadequate planning and design\" from 2011 to 2014. When the BJP came to power in 2014, it took over the project and has pushed ahead with national broadband coverage. And in January last year, the government said it would complete the work ahead of the stipulated deadline of March 2019. There was impressive progress made in 2016 and 2017 but since then the pace has slowed. In January this year, the agency executing BharatNet said 116,411 village councils were \"service ready\". This means that provisions for ready-to-use connectivity have been made. But not all \"service ready\" village councils have proper connections, says Osama Manzar, from the non-governmental Digital Empowerment Foundation (DEF). DEF found that only 50 of 269 \"service ready\" councils inspected across 13 states in 2018 had the required device and internet connection set-up. And only 31 of them had \"functional\", but slow, internet connections. Mr Manzar notes that this is problematic considering \"the public welfare distribution and the financial sectors rely heavily on digital infrastructure today\". Another report, citing an internal official memo, said most of the councils had non-functioning networks or faulty equipment. BharatNet has faced also difficulties with electricity supply, theft, low-quality cables and poorly maintained equipment. And these delays come as India aims to provide broadband in all households and move to 5G networks by 2022. An official source defended BharatNet as a large-scale infrastructure project tackling difficult sites and not a service scheme, saying it was natural to see delays between set-up and use. Read more from Reality Check Send us your questions Follow us on Twitter", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1477, "answer_end": 2344, "text": "The government's overall target is to connect 250,000 village councils covering more than 600,000 individual villages across the country. The work of laying cables and installing equipment to connect 100,000 of them was finally completed in December 2017 after significant delays. This milestone was hailed a success but there were also critical voices, especially from government opponents about whether the cables were actually operational. The next phase, to connect the remaining councils by March 2019, has been under way for a year now. In total, as of the end of January this year, official data shows optical fibre cables have been laid in 123,489 village councils - and equipment installed in 116,876 of them. There is also a plan to install wi-fi hotspots in more than 100,000 council areas - but as of January these were operational in only 12,500 of them."}], "question": "What's been achieved so far?", "id": "4_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2979, "answer_end": 3898, "text": "There was impressive progress made in 2016 and 2017 but since then the pace has slowed. In January this year, the agency executing BharatNet said 116,411 village councils were \"service ready\". This means that provisions for ready-to-use connectivity have been made. But not all \"service ready\" village councils have proper connections, says Osama Manzar, from the non-governmental Digital Empowerment Foundation (DEF). DEF found that only 50 of 269 \"service ready\" councils inspected across 13 states in 2018 had the required device and internet connection set-up. And only 31 of them had \"functional\", but slow, internet connections. Mr Manzar notes that this is problematic considering \"the public welfare distribution and the financial sectors rely heavily on digital infrastructure today\". Another report, citing an internal official memo, said most of the councils had non-functioning networks or faulty equipment."}], "question": "Has the deadline been met?", "id": "4_1"}]}]}, {"title": "Hong Kong: Transport paralysed in clampdown on rioters", "date": "5 October 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Most of Hong Kong's metro system remains shut after a day which saw stations and businesses attacked in violent anti-government protests. Only the Airport Express remained open as protesters began fresh demonstrations in the autonomous Chinese territory. Chief executive Carrie Lam has defended her decision to invoke emergency powers in order to restore order. Hong Kong had been through a \"very dark night\" of \"extreme violence\", she said. Unrest intensified on Friday after a young demonstrator was shot in the leg by a police officer. Protesters have also called on people to defy a ban on face masks announced by Ms Lam. Unrest in the former British colony started in June, sparked by proposals to extradite suspected criminals to mainland China. The extradition bill was subsequently cancelled but protests have widened into pro-democracy and anti-police demonstrations. MTR (Mass Transit Railway), the rail operator, said it was unable to resume normal services as repairs were still being made at damaged stations. A limited bus service would be provided. Supermarkets and banks were also closed, reeling from Friday's chaos when rioters targeted MTR stations and, reportedly, businesses with links to mainland China. \"The radical behaviour of rioters took Hong Kong through a very dark night, leaving society today half-paralysed,\" Ms Lam said in a pre-recorded video statement. \"The extreme violence clearly illustrated that Hong Kong's public safety is widely endangered. That's the concrete reason that we had to invoke emergency law yesterday to introduce the anti-mask law.\" \"We cannot allow rioters any more to destroy our treasured Hong Kong,\" she added. Hundreds of protesters, many of them wearing masks, marched through the Causeway Bay shopping district on Saturday. \"We're not sure what is going to happen later but we felt we had to get out and show our basic right to wear a mask,\" Sue, 22, told Reuters news agency from behind her black mask and dark glasses. \"The government needs to learn it can't squeeze Hong Kong people like this.\" A French resident, who gave his first name Marko, told AFP news agency the face mask ban was \"adding oil to the fire\". \"But I think the people who destroyed the stations are extremists,\" he said. By Rupert Wingfield-Hayes, BBC News, Hong Kong The more radical Hong Kong protesters have been wearing masks in part to protect themselves from tear gas - but also to maintain their anonymity. For both reasons the Hong Kong government wants the wearing of masks stopped. From midnight (16:00 GMT) Friday anyone caught on the streets wearing a mask will be ordered to remove it. Mask-wearing demonstrators can be arrested and could face up to a year in jail. Carrie Lam is under intense pressure from the territory's powerful business lobby to end the protests. The violence on the streets reached a new level this week but invoking the emergency law for the first time in more than 50 years could also escalate the conflict. The radical student groups leading the protests said they would defy the law. Over the months, clashes between police and activists have become increasingly violent. On Tuesday, police shot a protester with a live bullet for the first time, wounding the 18-year-old, who was allegedly attacking a police officer. On Friday, a boy aged 14 was shot in the leg with a live round in Yuen Long, a town to the west of the city. A plain-clothes police officer with an unmarked police car was later set upon by rioters in the same area but officials did not link the two incidents, the South China Morning Post reports. Hong Kong is a former British colony handed back to China in 1997. It has a \"one country, two systems\" agreement that guarantees it some autonomy, and its people certain freedoms, including freedom of assembly and freedom of speech. But those freedoms - the Basic Law - expire in 2047 and it is not clear what Hong Kong's status will then be.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 877, "answer_end": 2256, "text": "MTR (Mass Transit Railway), the rail operator, said it was unable to resume normal services as repairs were still being made at damaged stations. A limited bus service would be provided. Supermarkets and banks were also closed, reeling from Friday's chaos when rioters targeted MTR stations and, reportedly, businesses with links to mainland China. \"The radical behaviour of rioters took Hong Kong through a very dark night, leaving society today half-paralysed,\" Ms Lam said in a pre-recorded video statement. \"The extreme violence clearly illustrated that Hong Kong's public safety is widely endangered. That's the concrete reason that we had to invoke emergency law yesterday to introduce the anti-mask law.\" \"We cannot allow rioters any more to destroy our treasured Hong Kong,\" she added. Hundreds of protesters, many of them wearing masks, marched through the Causeway Bay shopping district on Saturday. \"We're not sure what is going to happen later but we felt we had to get out and show our basic right to wear a mask,\" Sue, 22, told Reuters news agency from behind her black mask and dark glasses. \"The government needs to learn it can't squeeze Hong Kong people like this.\" A French resident, who gave his first name Marko, told AFP news agency the face mask ban was \"adding oil to the fire\". \"But I think the people who destroyed the stations are extremists,\" he said."}], "question": "What is the situation on Saturday?", "id": "5_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3060, "answer_end": 3593, "text": "Over the months, clashes between police and activists have become increasingly violent. On Tuesday, police shot a protester with a live bullet for the first time, wounding the 18-year-old, who was allegedly attacking a police officer. On Friday, a boy aged 14 was shot in the leg with a live round in Yuen Long, a town to the west of the city. A plain-clothes police officer with an unmarked police car was later set upon by rioters in the same area but officials did not link the two incidents, the South China Morning Post reports."}], "question": "How dangerous is the situation?", "id": "5_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3594, "answer_end": 3936, "text": "Hong Kong is a former British colony handed back to China in 1997. It has a \"one country, two systems\" agreement that guarantees it some autonomy, and its people certain freedoms, including freedom of assembly and freedom of speech. But those freedoms - the Basic Law - expire in 2047 and it is not clear what Hong Kong's status will then be."}], "question": "What is Hong Kong's status?", "id": "5_2"}]}]}, {"title": "At the epicentre of Delhi's chikungunya epidemic", "date": "16 September 2016", "paragraphs": [{"context": "In the Indian capital Delhi's neighbourhood of Karkardooma, the mosquito-borne chikungunya virus is running riot. At a local doctor's private practice, many residents lining up outside have similar sounding complaints: severe joint pains, nausea, headaches and fever, all common symptoms of the infection. \"I went to a nearby hospital first and I was told to take paracetamol, but it's not helping,\" 65-year-old Leela Vati said as she waited for her daughter to emerge with more pain-relieving pills from the mass of patients huddled inside the doctor's clinic. Located in Delhi's north-eastern frontier, Karkardooma is at the epicentre of the city's current chikungunya outbreak, among the worst the Indian capital has ever witnessed. More than 1,000 cases of the illness have been reported across the city. Media reports say 11 people have also died of chikungunya-related complications, although this is yet to be officially confirmed. More than 12,250 cases of chikungunya have been reported across India until the end of August, according to the National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme. Why Delhi is gripped by chikungunya fears In Karkardooma, about a third of the area's 7,000-odd residents have complained of chikungunya symptoms, the local welfare association head, Bhanwar Singh Janwar, estimated. And at the nearby Dr Hedgewar Aarogya Sansthan hospital, an unnamed doctor told the Press Trust of India news agency that the government-run facility was receiving 800-1,000 people in its fever clinics daily, with 18-20 confirmed cases of chikungunya as of Wednesday morning. One factor explaining the magnitude of the problem in Karkardooma is that the neighbourhood of narrow alleys is lined with open sewage drains - ideal for disease-carrying mosquitoes to breed. Also, heavier-than-usual monsoon rains in Delhi this year caused flooding in the area and created even more stagnant pools of water, upping the chances of the spread of chikungunya, as well as dengue and yellow fever. A commercially available vaccine exists for yellow fever, but not for chikungunya and dengue. Mr Janwar and other locals have claimed that authorities have stopped anti-mosquito fumigation in the neighbourhood. \"Family after family, neighbour after neighbour, everyone here is affected,\" said Mr Janwar, who himself is recovering from fever symptoms. Lines of shuttered shops in the area, home to many upwardly mobile Indians, also suggested the outbreak was hurting people's livelihoods. \"Many family members are sick, so no-one is available to open their business,\" one resident said. In India, cases of dengue  - with similar symptoms to chikungunya - usually jump during and just after the rainy season, which normally lasts from June to September. Chikungunya cases, at least in Delhi in recent years, have been rarer. Among English and maths tutor Tirath Singh's five-member-strong household, his mother, wife and 15-year-old son have all been hit with symptoms related to the virus. Only he and his 10-year-old daughter have managed to stay healthy. \"In case of higher fever, don't panic,\" the government in Delhi, led by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, said in adverts in Thursday's newspapers. Criticised for the way it has handled the outbreak so far, the city government said its hospitals were \"fully equipped to treat chikungunya, dengue and malaria,\" with the set up of 355 fever clinics to deal with the rush of patients. It has already cancelled leave for doctors and paramedical staff working at hospitals and dispensaries that it controls to better deal with the onslaught. Mr Singh's mother and wife have been hit the hardest in their family. Both were unable to walk properly because of severe joint pains for days. Although free treatment was on offer at the government hospital under a kilometre away from their home, they sought paid care from a private doctor. \"When there's so much rush, so much pressure on the doctors [at the government hospital], how can you trust them? They will definitely be careless,\" Mr Singh said. \"It's the same at the private hospital too, but less,\" he added. \"Our doctor said we should use mosquito repellent, keep everything clean and wear full clothes,\" said his son, Guarav, with his hand to his head. \"That's what we'll do to get better.\" 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. Atish Patel is an independent Delhi-based journalist", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 4300, "answer_end": 4765, "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."}], "question": "What is chikungunya?", "id": "6_0"}]}]}, {"title": "New pesticides 'may have risks for bees'", "date": "15 August 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Attempts to find a new generation of pesticides to replace neonicotinoids have been dealt a potential blow. Neonicotinoids are the most commonly used insecticide in the world, but had been linked to bee declines. Studies suggest a new type of pesticide seen as an alternative to the chemicals, which have been banned in many countries, may have similar risks. The new insecticides may reduce bumblebee reproduction in the wild, according to a study by UK scientists. The alternatives had been sought because of the evidence linking neonicotinoids to declines in bee populations - leading to the bans and restrictions on their use. EU agrees near-total neonicotinoid ban US wildlife refuges end 'bee-killer' ban A study, published in Nature journal, looked at how one of the new class, known as sulfoxaflor, impacts on healthy, wild bumblebees. Exposed bees had fewer offspring when released into the wild compared with unexposed bees. \"Our results show that sulfoxaflor can have a negative impact on the reproductive output of bumblebee colonies under certain conditions,\" said study researcher Harry Siviter of Royal Holloway, University of London. The new insecticides, based on a chemical known as sulfoximine, have a different chemistry from neonicotinoids and have been seen as a likely successor. The chemicals kill insect pests by disrupting their nervous system. They have been approved for use in China, Canada and Australia, with applications underway in many other countries. Sulfoximine pesticides are not currently licensed in the UK. The researchers are calling for regulatory bodies to look at non-lethal effects on bees before issuing a license for new products. They say we need to know more about what levels of insecticides bees will be exposed to in the wild in order to be able to determine the true risk. \"Our study highlights that stressors that do not directly kill bees can still have damaging effects further down the line, because the health of the colony depends on the health of its workforce,\" said Dr Ellouise Leadbeater of Royal Holloway, University of London. Scientific studies have linked their use to the decline of honeybees, wild bees and other pollinators. Other factors also cause bee declines, including habitat loss and disease. Manufacturers and some farming groups have opposed moves to restrict their use, saying the science remains uncertain. The campaign group Friends of the Earth said the upcoming ban on neonicotinoids is great news for bees - but the government must ensure that alternative pesticides don't harm pollinators too. \"This study shows that replacing one harmful pesticide with another is not the solution to protecting our crops,\" said pesticides campaigner, Sandra Bell. The NFU, which represents British farmers, said farmers need \"an effective crop protection toolbox available to combat pests and allow them to produce food for the public\". Senior plant health adviser Emma Hamer said many farmers follow methods to keep the use of plant protection products to a minimum. \"All the products farmers do use have to go through a stringent approval process before they can be registered for use to ensure they pose no unacceptable risk to people or the environment, and are applied in a highly controlled, highly regulated way.\"", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1150, "answer_end": 1547, "text": "The new insecticides, based on a chemical known as sulfoximine, have a different chemistry from neonicotinoids and have been seen as a likely successor. The chemicals kill insect pests by disrupting their nervous system. They have been approved for use in China, Canada and Australia, with applications underway in many other countries. Sulfoximine pesticides are not currently licensed in the UK."}], "question": "What are the new insecticides?", "id": "7_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1548, "answer_end": 2092, "text": "The researchers are calling for regulatory bodies to look at non-lethal effects on bees before issuing a license for new products. They say we need to know more about what levels of insecticides bees will be exposed to in the wild in order to be able to determine the true risk. \"Our study highlights that stressors that do not directly kill bees can still have damaging effects further down the line, because the health of the colony depends on the health of its workforce,\" said Dr Ellouise Leadbeater of Royal Holloway, University of London."}], "question": "What are the implications of the research?", "id": "7_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2093, "answer_end": 3292, "text": "Scientific studies have linked their use to the decline of honeybees, wild bees and other pollinators. Other factors also cause bee declines, including habitat loss and disease. Manufacturers and some farming groups have opposed moves to restrict their use, saying the science remains uncertain. The campaign group Friends of the Earth said the upcoming ban on neonicotinoids is great news for bees - but the government must ensure that alternative pesticides don't harm pollinators too. \"This study shows that replacing one harmful pesticide with another is not the solution to protecting our crops,\" said pesticides campaigner, Sandra Bell. The NFU, which represents British farmers, said farmers need \"an effective crop protection toolbox available to combat pests and allow them to produce food for the public\". Senior plant health adviser Emma Hamer said many farmers follow methods to keep the use of plant protection products to a minimum. \"All the products farmers do use have to go through a stringent approval process before they can be registered for use to ensure they pose no unacceptable risk to people or the environment, and are applied in a highly controlled, highly regulated way.\""}], "question": "What about neonicotinoids?", "id": "7_2"}]}]}, {"title": "Afzal Guru: Delhi parliament attack plotter hanged", "date": "9 February 2013", "paragraphs": [{"context": "A Kashmiri militant sentenced to death over a 2001 plot to attack India's parliament has been hanged after his final clemency plea was rejected. Officials said Mohammed Afzal Guru, who had been on death row since 2002, was executed at Tihar jail near Delhi. Afzal Guru had always denied plotting the attack, which left 14 dead. India has stepped up security and announced a curfew in Indian-administered Kashmir, where news of the execution was expected to spark unrest. Executions are very rare in India - Afzal Guru's was only the second since 2004, after Mohammed Ajmal Kasab, the sole surviving attacker from the 2008 Mumbai attack was executed in November. \"This is only about the law taking its course,\" Home Secretary RK Singh said. Hundreds of police and paramilitary personnel have been deployed in towns and cities across Indian-administered Kashmir to try to contain any unrest sparked by the execution. Claimed in its entirety by both India and Pakistan, Kashmir has been a flashpoint for more than 60 years and two wars have been fought over it. The December 2001 attack was one of the most controversial incidents in recent Indian history, correspondents say. Five rebels stormed India's parliament in Delhi on 13 December 2001, killing a gardener and eight policemen before they were shot dead by security forces. India blamed the attack on the Jaish-e-Mohammed militant group, which it said was backed by Pakistan. Pakistan denied involvement in the attack but relations between the two countries nosedived as their armies massed about a million troops along the border. Afzal Guru, a former fruit seller, was one of two men sentenced to death for helping to plan the attack, although the sentence of Shaukat Hussain was later reduced on appeal to 10 years in jail. Guru was found guilty of arranging weapons for the attackers and of membership of Jaish-e-Mohammed, both of which he denied. Two other people accused in the case, SAR Geelani and Afsan Guru, were acquitted due to a lack of evidence. Afzal Guru's appeal was first refused by the Supreme Court and then the president.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 740, "answer_end": 2097, "text": "Hundreds of police and paramilitary personnel have been deployed in towns and cities across Indian-administered Kashmir to try to contain any unrest sparked by the execution. Claimed in its entirety by both India and Pakistan, Kashmir has been a flashpoint for more than 60 years and two wars have been fought over it. The December 2001 attack was one of the most controversial incidents in recent Indian history, correspondents say. Five rebels stormed India's parliament in Delhi on 13 December 2001, killing a gardener and eight policemen before they were shot dead by security forces. India blamed the attack on the Jaish-e-Mohammed militant group, which it said was backed by Pakistan. Pakistan denied involvement in the attack but relations between the two countries nosedived as their armies massed about a million troops along the border. Afzal Guru, a former fruit seller, was one of two men sentenced to death for helping to plan the attack, although the sentence of Shaukat Hussain was later reduced on appeal to 10 years in jail. Guru was found guilty of arranging weapons for the attackers and of membership of Jaish-e-Mohammed, both of which he denied. Two other people accused in the case, SAR Geelani and Afsan Guru, were acquitted due to a lack of evidence. Afzal Guru's appeal was first refused by the Supreme Court and then the president."}], "question": "Pakistan-backed attack?", "id": "8_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Top Gear: Has Matt LeBlanc saved the series?", "date": "24 April 2017", "paragraphs": [{"context": "The latest series of Top Gear drew to a close on Sunday evening, with fans praising Matt LeBlanc for having \"saved\" the brand. He, Rory Reid and Chris Harris now present the show as a trio after the departure of Chris Evans last year. An average of 1.9 million watched the final episode of the current season - a significant drop from the 2.8 million the series opened with. But many fans posted positive messages on social media about the show. Let's have a quick look back at how the latest season has performed in the ratings and how critics and viewers reacted to it. In the age of catch-up services such as iPlayer, the whole issue of viewing figures gets rather complicated. So, to keep things simple, we'll just stick to how many people watched each episode of this series live, on the night it was first broadcast. An average of 2.8 million tuned in to the launch - a strong opening for the series, but a peak it didn't manage to match throughout the rest of its run. Ratings were reasonably stable for the following four episodes, but they dropped significantly for the final two. This could be down to the gap in the middle of the series - there was no episode on 9 April because of Golf: The Masters 2017. It seems many viewers didn't return to Top Gear after that. But what everybody really wants to know about the viewing figures, of course, is how they compare with previous series. The last season, fronted by Chris Evans, opened with a bumper 4.4 million viewers, considerably more than this year's series launch. However, it's worth noting the viewing figures for the Evans-fronted season had more than halved by the end, with 1.9 million tuning in to the finale. No episode in the era fronted by Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May had fewer than 2 million viewers. Indeed, an impressive 5.3 million watched the trio's farewell in 2015 - a figure that none of the presenting line-ups have come close to since. But programme bosses will likely be happy that five of this season's seven episodes attracted more than 2 million viewers, giving this series a strong and relatively stable audience in comparison to last year. Plus - once iPlayer figures are taken into account, the figures for the latest series will go up considerably. The first episode alone added nearly a million extra viewers to the live TV audience. Figures for the later episodes in the series will follow soon. Critics have responded positively to the revamped Top Gear - although some also had a few suggestions about how it could improve going forward. Writing in The Daily Telegraph, Ed Power said: \"Top Gear finished its latest season in better fettle than anyone could have predicted in the wake of last year's disastrous Chris Evans-fronted reboot. \"Week by week the crew has visibly gained in confidence and the concluding instalment was arguably the most enjoyable yet.\" The Radio Times's Frances Taylor wrote: \"It's undeniable that the presenters' dynamic has improved... but there's something still jarring a little. \"The biggest problems have been ironed out this series, and what we've been left with is a largely enjoyable and watchable hour of Sunday night TV. \"It won't take much to give it a tweak here and a buff there and with a little help, Top Gear could well be at the top of its game come series 25.\" Tom Eames from Digital Spy agreed the show still needs some work, but said it's broadly going in the right direction. \"Rory Reid needs far more screen time, and they need to invest in more films that include all three of the main hosts,\" he suggested. \"Plus - fewer obviously-scripted segments, more ad-libbed journeys, more interesting celebrities (or no celebrity segment at all) and you've got yourself a brilliant car show. It's so very nearly there, and we'll definitely be up for more in 2018.\" Viewers were mostly positive about the latest series, although many said there was still room for further improvement. Matthew tweeted: \"If someone said to me 5 years ago that Matt LeBlanc would save Top Gear, I would have laughed... but he has!\" \"Brilliant series, well done guys! Restored as great entertainment and fun car show. A bit like the old days, only better,\" added Brook. Katherine said: \"It's a big improvement on the last series. Still wooden though.\" But Andy wrote: \"I'd hardly say Top Gear has been saved. There has been a lot of viewers moved to The Grand Tour. It's not Top Gear without Clarkson, Hammond or May.\" Well, partly. He's certainly a more popular front man than Chris Evans was on the last series. But it would be unfair to give him all the credit for the warmer critical and viewer reaction this year. Reid has been a crucial ingredient, with many fans agreeing he should be given more time on screen. Harris is also a key factor, with Eames commenting that he \"has clearly been eyed as the show's lead when it comes to credibility\". There's also the total studio revamp the show has had - giving it a glossier, more colourful and polished feel. Perhaps most importantly, however, the reason the show has had a much stronger series this year is it has not been put under so much scrutiny as before. Tabloid interest in the Chris Evans series was high, and there were many negative headlines about the show's various troubles and viewing figures. But away from the glare of the media spotlight, it appears to be finally bedding in. It has found its feet - and its audience. The show now has a core viewer base and appears to have finally won over critics and fans. We'll wait and see whether its upward streak can continue when the 25th series begins next spring. Follow us on Facebook, on Twitter @BBCNewsEnts, or on Instagram at bbcnewsents. If you have a story suggestion email entertainment.news@bbc.co.uk. Get news from the BBC in your inbox, each weekday morning", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 4455, "answer_end": 5615, "text": "Well, partly. He's certainly a more popular front man than Chris Evans was on the last series. But it would be unfair to give him all the credit for the warmer critical and viewer reaction this year. Reid has been a crucial ingredient, with many fans agreeing he should be given more time on screen. Harris is also a key factor, with Eames commenting that he \"has clearly been eyed as the show's lead when it comes to credibility\". There's also the total studio revamp the show has had - giving it a glossier, more colourful and polished feel. Perhaps most importantly, however, the reason the show has had a much stronger series this year is it has not been put under so much scrutiny as before. Tabloid interest in the Chris Evans series was high, and there were many negative headlines about the show's various troubles and viewing figures. But away from the glare of the media spotlight, it appears to be finally bedding in. It has found its feet - and its audience. The show now has a core viewer base and appears to have finally won over critics and fans. We'll wait and see whether its upward streak can continue when the 25th series begins next spring."}], "question": "So, has Matt LeBlanc really \"saved\" Top Gear?", "id": "9_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Extinction Rebellion: The climate protesters who want to get arrested", "date": "10 April 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Protest group Extinction Rebellion's fight against climate change is making headlines - most recently when they stripped almost naked in the House of Commons. The Victoria Derbyshire programme went behind the scenes with the group, which urges people to break the law to save the world. \"Troublemakers change the world,\" says Roger Hallam, one the group's founders. \"When they're starting to call you troublemakers, you're starting to get some traction, right?\" Controversially, the group is trying to get as many people arrested as possible. Since its launch last year, members have shut bridges, poured buckets of fake blood outside Downing Street, blockaded the BBC and stripped semi-naked in Parliament. Critics say they cause unnecessary disruption and waste police time when forces are already overstretched. Mr Hallam is unrepentant: \"If you're a trade union, everyone knows that when you first go on strike everyone's going, 'Troublemakers.' But then you have to state your case, which is, 'If you don't get this sorted, we're going to die.'\" We filmed members as they blocked traffic in central London - playing cat and mouse with the police - and as young members glued themselves to the entrance of a fracking conference. It has three core demands: for the government to \"tell the truth about climate change\", reduce carbon emissions to zero by 2025, and create a citizens' assembly to oversee progress. Mr Hallam has spent years researching how to achieve social change through radical movements. \"Mass participation and civil disobedience maximise the chance of social change in this context,\" he explains. \"It doesn't mean it's guaranteed, it just means it's massively more likely to be effective than sending emails and doing conventional campaigning. And it's significantly more effective than using violence.\" He estimates that thousands of people will need to be arrested before the government will take notice. So far, 222 people have been arrested for offences relating to the protests. \"The police will go to government and say, 'We're not doing it anymore,'\" says Mr Hallam. \"They're not there to start arresting 84-year-old grannies or 10-year-old kids, there has to be a political solution.\" The group's headquarters is in a slightly unexpected spot, the top of a corporate building in Euston which also houses a construction company and a fashion brand. It was given to them after one of their members approached a corporate landlord and said: \"We're not going to be around in 10 years, let us do something about it.\" He gave it to them, in effect, for free. At a training event for new joiners, a debate is held on what counts as violence - Extinction Rebellion is a non-violent organisation. In a role-play exercise, they learn how to deal with angry members of the public - the people they are often obstructing during protests. They are also taught what to do when they are arrested - how to make it more difficult for police to pick them up and their legal rights once they get to the police station. Sign up for a weekly chat about climate change on Facebook Messenger The Taxpayers' Alliance, which campaigns for lower taxes, says their behaviour is \"clearly irresponsible and wasting police time\". The group's chief executive John O'Connell said: \"They should stop these juvenile actions and express themselves peaceably, and not resort to playground politics.\" Does Extinction Rebellion really think ruining people's day by blocking their way is going to change their minds? \"Yes, it is,\" says Mr Hallam. \"The only way people change is by getting upset. No change is possible unless there's major emotional distress. And you can do that violently and non-violently... it's a no-brainer, that's how society changes.\" At their Downing Street demonstration, which they have called Blood of our Children because they are covering the street with fake blood, 31-year-old Lorna Greenwood is demonstrating with the group for the first time. \"I don't want to be standing here, six months pregnant, breaking the law,\" she tells the crowd. \"I don't want to spend my weekend in a police cell, and I don't want to be giving more work to our overstretched and undervalued police force. But I don't feel like I have any other options.\" In fact, there are no arrests during this demonstration - the police do not always give the group the results it hopes. \"The whole point is to get arrested - I've come from Manchester to get arrested,\" says one disappointed man. But there are journalists everywhere which is also what the group wants - the press covering them and telling people they exist. Later this month, the group plans to blockade London in its biggest action yet - it says its members will sit in the streets until politicians listen. Farhana Yamin, an international climate change lecturer and environmental lawyer, is one of the people prepared to be arrested for the cause. She explains: \"I've got four kids and the eldest one, every year she gets older and I feel, 'Where's the progress?' All that time I spent as a lawyer and a professional away from her, what does that count for?\" Follow the BBC's Victoria Derbyshire programme on Facebook and Twitter - and see more of our stories here.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 3750, "answer_end": 5224, "text": "At their Downing Street demonstration, which they have called Blood of our Children because they are covering the street with fake blood, 31-year-old Lorna Greenwood is demonstrating with the group for the first time. \"I don't want to be standing here, six months pregnant, breaking the law,\" she tells the crowd. \"I don't want to spend my weekend in a police cell, and I don't want to be giving more work to our overstretched and undervalued police force. But I don't feel like I have any other options.\" In fact, there are no arrests during this demonstration - the police do not always give the group the results it hopes. \"The whole point is to get arrested - I've come from Manchester to get arrested,\" says one disappointed man. But there are journalists everywhere which is also what the group wants - the press covering them and telling people they exist. Later this month, the group plans to blockade London in its biggest action yet - it says its members will sit in the streets until politicians listen. Farhana Yamin, an international climate change lecturer and environmental lawyer, is one of the people prepared to be arrested for the cause. She explains: \"I've got four kids and the eldest one, every year she gets older and I feel, 'Where's the progress?' All that time I spent as a lawyer and a professional away from her, what does that count for?\" Follow the BBC's Victoria Derbyshire programme on Facebook and Twitter - and see more of our stories here."}], "question": "No arrests?", "id": "10_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Loot boxes should be banned, says US senator", "date": "9 May 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "A US senator has proposed a ban on loot boxes - spending within video games - saying they are \"preying on user addiction\" and exploiting children. Last month, the government of Belgium said loot boxes were in violation of its gambling laws. Sweden is also investigating them. And the Chinese government has restricted the number of loot boxes players can open each day. The gaming industry said it had tools to limit in-game spending. Republican senator Josh Hawley said of his proposed Protecting Children from Abusive Games Bill: \"When a game is designed for kids, game developers shouldn't be allowed to monetise addiction. \"And when kids play games designed for adults, they should be walled off from compulsive micro-transactions. \"Game developers who knowingly exploit children should face legal consequences.\" Before the bill can be approved, it faces a long process, heading through a series of committees and facing scrutiny by the House or Representatives and Senate, before being signed off by the president. Mr Hawley singled out Candy Crush, a free game that allows players to purchase a $149 (PS114) bundle that includes 1,000 units of its in-game currency. In a statement, the Entertainment Software Association (ESA) said that numerous countries including Ireland, Germany, Denmark, Australia and the UK had determined that loot boxes were not akin to gambling. \"We look forward to sharing with the senator the tools and information the industry already provides that keeps the control of in-game spending in parents' hands,\" it said. \"Parents already have the ability to limit or prohibit in-game purchases with easy-to-use parental controls.\" The ESA has previously said that efforts to regulate the gaming industry threatened its freedom to innovate and test new business models. But evidence is mounting that there could be a link between gambling and the use of loot boxes. Loot boxes began appearing in video games in the mid-2000s and have grown in popularity since. They are frequently used as a way of monetising free games, with some having associated online marketplaces where players can trade or sell loot box items. In some cases, players earn them as rewards for game-play but often they are encouraged to buy them using real or virtual currency. They contain items of use for further game-play, such as weapons, although some are purely cosmetic. Typically, players will not know what is inside a loot box until it is opened. In a paper published in peer-reviewed journal Addictive Behaviours, scientists at the University of British Columbia's centre of gambling research claim to have identified a link between problematic gambling behaviour and loot boxes. Researchers interviewed 144 adult gamers and 113 undergraduates about their use of loot boxes. Almost 90% said that they had opened a loot box in a video game, with more than half spending money on them and about a third reporting to have sold a loot box item. Most respondents in both groups said they thought loot boxes were a form of gambling. \"Our findings are consistent with voiced concerns that loot boxes overlap with gambling and support the need for regulators to consider gambling-like mechanisms within video games,\" said study author Gabriel Brooks. The gaming industry argues that loot boxes are not gambling because games do not offer players the option of cashing in their winnings and getting real-world money.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1799, "answer_end": 3419, "text": "But evidence is mounting that there could be a link between gambling and the use of loot boxes. Loot boxes began appearing in video games in the mid-2000s and have grown in popularity since. They are frequently used as a way of monetising free games, with some having associated online marketplaces where players can trade or sell loot box items. In some cases, players earn them as rewards for game-play but often they are encouraged to buy them using real or virtual currency. They contain items of use for further game-play, such as weapons, although some are purely cosmetic. Typically, players will not know what is inside a loot box until it is opened. In a paper published in peer-reviewed journal Addictive Behaviours, scientists at the University of British Columbia's centre of gambling research claim to have identified a link between problematic gambling behaviour and loot boxes. Researchers interviewed 144 adult gamers and 113 undergraduates about their use of loot boxes. Almost 90% said that they had opened a loot box in a video game, with more than half spending money on them and about a third reporting to have sold a loot box item. Most respondents in both groups said they thought loot boxes were a form of gambling. \"Our findings are consistent with voiced concerns that loot boxes overlap with gambling and support the need for regulators to consider gambling-like mechanisms within video games,\" said study author Gabriel Brooks. The gaming industry argues that loot boxes are not gambling because games do not offer players the option of cashing in their winnings and getting real-world money."}], "question": "Hidden treasure?", "id": "11_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Spain's Magaluf and Ibiza crack down on alcohol-fuelled holidays", "date": "18 January 2020", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Spain's Balearic Islands have passed a law banning pub crawls and happy hours in three popular tourist destinations in a bid to crack down on alcohol-fuelled holidays. Restrictions apply to the tourist hotspots of Playa de Palma and Magaluf in Majorca and Sant Antoni in Ibiza. The regional government said it was the first law of its kind in Europe. Ibiza and Majorca have long been magnets for young British, German and Irish tourists. The measures adopted on Friday are just the latest effort by authorities to try to rein in heavy drinking on the Mediterranean islands. But some traders say the move could hurt small businesses. The new law includes a string of measures aimed at cracking down on so-called \"booze tourism\", where visitors are encouraged to binge drink. Organised pub crawls can no longer be advertised or held in Playa de Palma, Magaluf or Ibiza's West End. The law also bans happy hours and says party boats can no longer advertise in the three areas or pick up or drop off tourists there. Alcohol vending machines, free bars and adverts for alcoholic drinks are also forbidden, while authorities say shops selling alcohol must close from 21:30 to 08:00 (20:30 to 07:00 GMT). The new regulations have also outlawed \"balconing\", where people jump from hotel balconies, often into swimming pools. The practice has been linked to a number of tourist deaths and injuries. Authorities said those caught taking part in the activity would now be forced to leave their hotel and could face fines. Local businesses caught violating the new law could face fines of up to EUR600,000 (PS510,000) or be shut down for up to three years. The regional government said the law was the first in Europe to restrict the promotion and sale of alcohol in certain tourist zones. It said the new measures would \"fight excesses\" and \"force a real change in the tourism model of those destinations\". But some complained that the law would hurt the local economy. \"I find this exaggerated and disproportionate,\" Jose Tirado, president of Majorca's Tourism Services and Businesses Association, told Spain's state television.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 633, "answer_end": 2118, "text": "The new law includes a string of measures aimed at cracking down on so-called \"booze tourism\", where visitors are encouraged to binge drink. Organised pub crawls can no longer be advertised or held in Playa de Palma, Magaluf or Ibiza's West End. The law also bans happy hours and says party boats can no longer advertise in the three areas or pick up or drop off tourists there. Alcohol vending machines, free bars and adverts for alcoholic drinks are also forbidden, while authorities say shops selling alcohol must close from 21:30 to 08:00 (20:30 to 07:00 GMT). The new regulations have also outlawed \"balconing\", where people jump from hotel balconies, often into swimming pools. The practice has been linked to a number of tourist deaths and injuries. Authorities said those caught taking part in the activity would now be forced to leave their hotel and could face fines. Local businesses caught violating the new law could face fines of up to EUR600,000 (PS510,000) or be shut down for up to three years. The regional government said the law was the first in Europe to restrict the promotion and sale of alcohol in certain tourist zones. It said the new measures would \"fight excesses\" and \"force a real change in the tourism model of those destinations\". But some complained that the law would hurt the local economy. \"I find this exaggerated and disproportionate,\" Jose Tirado, president of Majorca's Tourism Services and Businesses Association, told Spain's state television."}], "question": "What are the new measures?", "id": "12_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Reality Check: Can you be 'employed' for one hour's work?", "date": "21 November 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Just how many hours do you need to work to be officially classified as \"employed\"? Steve Garner, a sociologist, recently tweeted about how his son had repeatedly turned up to work at a warehouse only to be regularly told he wasn't needed. Mr Garner's message was retweeted more than 8,000 times. In the replies, several people commented about the employment status of people who worked on zero-hour contracts. BBC Reality Check asked the Office for National Statistics (ONS) whether working just one hour a week was all that was needed to be officially classified as employed? The ONS confirmed that was the case. Every three months, a large survey (known as the Labour Force Survey) is sent to approximately 90,000 people, selected at random. The ONS extrapolates the findings to produce employment bulletins. Those selected to take part in the LFS are interviewed every three months for fifteen months before they drop out of the sample. Interviews are initially done face-to-face and follow-up ones are done by phone. The one exception is the north of Scotland where all interviews are done over the phone because of the distance involved. A person will need to have worked at least one hour in the week before the interview with the ONS takes place to be classified as employed. Its most recent survey put the UK employment rate (of people aged 16-64) at 75.5% - very close to a record high. The figures were welcomed by government, with Employment Minister Alok Sharma saying: \"The benefits of a strong jobs market are paying off.\" But could people working very few hours be artificially boosting the headline employment numbers to make them look better than they really are? The ONS told Reality Check that was unlikely because the overall number of people working so few hours \"is very low indeed\". That is supported by its own figures. The ONS data shows that the number of people usually working six hours or fewer a week is just 1.4% of the UK working population - or just over 400,000 people, which compares with a total of 32.4 million people in work. In fact, that's a drop from 1.8% at the start of the century. So, the share of people working very short hours has actually fallen, which suggests zero-hour contracts are not distorting the headline employment numbers. Choosing whether to define someone as being in employment or not can be a bit of a conundrum, says Tony Wilson, director at the Institute for Employment Studies. \"Why pick one hour? Well, because if you put the bar higher, you might end up classifying people as unemployed even though they're working.\" \"You have to draw the line somewhere,\" he says. The ONS definition is also an international one - drawn up by the International Labour Organization (ILO). By choosing to use the ILO's definition, the UK's employment data is consistent with other countries, making it easier to draw international comparisons. UPDATE 21 November: The ONS initially told Reality Check that the criteria to be counted as \"employed\" was one hour over two weeks. It subsequently told us that it had made an error and that the definition was in fact one hour over one week. Read more from Reality Check Send us your questions Follow us on Twitter", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 2283, "answer_end": 3136, "text": "Choosing whether to define someone as being in employment or not can be a bit of a conundrum, says Tony Wilson, director at the Institute for Employment Studies. \"Why pick one hour? Well, because if you put the bar higher, you might end up classifying people as unemployed even though they're working.\" \"You have to draw the line somewhere,\" he says. The ONS definition is also an international one - drawn up by the International Labour Organization (ILO). By choosing to use the ILO's definition, the UK's employment data is consistent with other countries, making it easier to draw international comparisons. UPDATE 21 November: The ONS initially told Reality Check that the criteria to be counted as \"employed\" was one hour over two weeks. It subsequently told us that it had made an error and that the definition was in fact one hour over one week."}], "question": "But why does the ONS use one hour as the definition?", "id": "13_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Tiger fur-lined robes... what do Saudi gifts to Trump mean?", "date": "14 September 2017", "paragraphs": [{"context": "When Winston Churchill went to see King Abdul Aziz ibn Saud in February 1945, he soon realised that the PS100 ($134) worth of perfume he brought was no match for the robe, jewelled sword, dagger and diamond rings he received in return. Despite the fiscal squeeze of World War Two, the British prime minister returned home and promptly ordered one of the first Rolls-Royce cars produced after the war to be sent to the king seven months later. World leaders today may not hand out planes or luxury cars, but a recent State Department document detailing 83 items US President Donald Trump received during his May visit to Saudi Arabia underscores the long-held practice of extravagant gift-giving in the Gulf kingdom. During his first foreign visit as president, Mr Trump attended an Arab Islamic Summit in the Saudi capital of Riyadh, where King Salman bestowed to him a stockpile of gifts including multiple swords, daggers, leather ammo holders and holsters, beaded and gold-embroidered dresses, dozens of Shemagh head scarves and other traditional Arab garments, leather sandals, perfumes and artwork. The list of items, obtained by the Daily Beast through a Freedom of Information Act request to the State Department, appears to glimpse the gilded world and diamond-encrusted indulgence of Saudi culture. But in fact, the gifts are not so luxurious after all, says Ali Shihabi, executive director of the Arabia Foundation. \"In the old days Gulf governments used to give extravagant gifts,\" says Mr Shihabi. \"Expensive watches, pieces of jewelery, things like that.\" Gifts now are more emblematic of local culture, highlighting crafts and artefacts from the region, he says. Ellen Wald, an American Middle East expert and author of the forthcoming book, Saudi, Inc, says the gifts are actually quite traditional and appear to reflect the type of trip and the size of the entourage of people who accompanied Mr Trump to Riyadh. Members of the American delegation to Saudi Arabia in 2008 received similar items such as robes and jewelled daggers, she says. Six weirdest gifts countries have given each other Mr Trump won't be sporting the cheetah fur-lined robe given to him or displaying the Saudi painting of his likeness anytime soon. US federal law bans government employees from accepting any gift from a foreign government valued at more than $390. The longstanding rule came from a 1966 law prohibiting gifts above a \"minimal value\" to stop governments looking to curry favour from showering American diplomats with prize horses, luxury cars and perhaps a Rolls-Royce or two. A 1978 law amended the minimum to $100, with an inflation-adjusted increase every three years. Past gifts bestowed to US presidents and other diplomats are either filed away in the National Archives, displayed as relics at a presidential library or sometimes auctioned off. Government officials are also given the option to purchase the gifts they received for market value. Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton exercised that option in 2012, when she purchased the black pearl necklace given to her by then-Myanmar opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi. The necklace was valued at $970. - Blue and silver wool robe and purple wool robe, both lined with white tiger fur - Orange and gold wool robe lined with cheetah fur - Dagger made of pure silver with mother of pearl sheath and various designs - Large box containing dagger, sword, ammo holder and holster - Large canvas artwork depicting Saudi woman - Artwork featuring a picture of President Trump - Kuwaiti constitution Visits by foreign dignitaries have customarily entailed an exchange of thoughtful - and sometimes not-so-thoughtful - gifts. Gerald Feierstein, director of Gulf affairs for the Middle East Institute, says the practice of gift-giving is not unique to the Gulf kingdom. He recalls receiving a Rolex watch from the Bahraini government during a trip to the Middle East in the 1990s while he served as deputy director in the Office of Arabian Peninsula Affairs at the State Department. \"It was such an impersonal thing that they didn't actually give it to me, they just delivered these watches, for all of the members of the delegation, to the secretary's airplane and off we went,\" he says. When he went to submit the expensive watch to the State Department's protocol division, which is tasked with organising diplomatic gifts, he was told they had a \"room full of watches from the Bahrainis\". But other gifts are tailored to the US president's predilections. State Department officials once barred foreign governments from giving horses to President Ronald Reagan, a nod to his cowboy persona, and presenting President Bill Clinton with saxophones, his instrument of choice, Mr Feierstein recalls. In 2015, President Barack Obama received a host of oddities, including a framed watercolour painting of men playing basketball from German Chancellor Angela Merkel, a $110,000 gold-plated mechanical bird from Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Emir of Qatar, and a gold-plated, sterling silver horse sculpture embellished with diamonds, tsavorites, yellow sapphires, rubies and obsidian mounted on a rotating, piano-black lacquer base from King Salman. In one trip to Australia's Northern Territory in 2011, Mr Obama received crocodile insurance that would have paid out A$50,000 to Michelle Obama if the president was snapped up by the deadly reptile. When it comes to reciprocation, Mr Feierstein adds, the US reputation is less than generous. Mr Obama raised eyebrows when he gave British Prime Minister Gordon Brown a DVD box set of American movies, which many considered a snub to the UK leader. Though Mr Trump has previously berated his Democratic opponent Hillary Clinton for taking contributions from the Saudis and made exaggerated claims about the government, the gifts he received probably do not reflect his relationship with the country, Ms Wald says. \"It reflects the culture of the region more than any sign of diplomacy or relationship,\" she explains. In fact, what is unique is Mr Trump's multi-day trip there, which was more common before the advent of air travel, she adds. The first US Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, J Rives Childs, would embark on a minimum three-day affair, when he would receive items including a sword in a gold scabbard, a carpet, a watch and a gold dagger. On one occasion he refused the offer of a concubine to keep him company in Riyadh, Ms Walds adds. \"It's a way for the government to support the domestic industry by gifting something to the president of the United States,\" Mr Shihabi says. \"Gifts now are truly just a symbolic gesture.\"", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 3562, "answer_end": 5656, "text": "Visits by foreign dignitaries have customarily entailed an exchange of thoughtful - and sometimes not-so-thoughtful - gifts. Gerald Feierstein, director of Gulf affairs for the Middle East Institute, says the practice of gift-giving is not unique to the Gulf kingdom. He recalls receiving a Rolex watch from the Bahraini government during a trip to the Middle East in the 1990s while he served as deputy director in the Office of Arabian Peninsula Affairs at the State Department. \"It was such an impersonal thing that they didn't actually give it to me, they just delivered these watches, for all of the members of the delegation, to the secretary's airplane and off we went,\" he says. When he went to submit the expensive watch to the State Department's protocol division, which is tasked with organising diplomatic gifts, he was told they had a \"room full of watches from the Bahrainis\". But other gifts are tailored to the US president's predilections. State Department officials once barred foreign governments from giving horses to President Ronald Reagan, a nod to his cowboy persona, and presenting President Bill Clinton with saxophones, his instrument of choice, Mr Feierstein recalls. In 2015, President Barack Obama received a host of oddities, including a framed watercolour painting of men playing basketball from German Chancellor Angela Merkel, a $110,000 gold-plated mechanical bird from Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Emir of Qatar, and a gold-plated, sterling silver horse sculpture embellished with diamonds, tsavorites, yellow sapphires, rubies and obsidian mounted on a rotating, piano-black lacquer base from King Salman. In one trip to Australia's Northern Territory in 2011, Mr Obama received crocodile insurance that would have paid out A$50,000 to Michelle Obama if the president was snapped up by the deadly reptile. When it comes to reciprocation, Mr Feierstein adds, the US reputation is less than generous. Mr Obama raised eyebrows when he gave British Prime Minister Gordon Brown a DVD box set of American movies, which many considered a snub to the UK leader."}], "question": "Is this common?", "id": "14_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 5657, "answer_end": 6640, "text": "Though Mr Trump has previously berated his Democratic opponent Hillary Clinton for taking contributions from the Saudis and made exaggerated claims about the government, the gifts he received probably do not reflect his relationship with the country, Ms Wald says. \"It reflects the culture of the region more than any sign of diplomacy or relationship,\" she explains. In fact, what is unique is Mr Trump's multi-day trip there, which was more common before the advent of air travel, she adds. The first US Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, J Rives Childs, would embark on a minimum three-day affair, when he would receive items including a sword in a gold scabbard, a carpet, a watch and a gold dagger. On one occasion he refused the offer of a concubine to keep him company in Riyadh, Ms Walds adds. \"It's a way for the government to support the domestic industry by gifting something to the president of the United States,\" Mr Shihabi says. \"Gifts now are truly just a symbolic gesture.\""}], "question": "Does the long list of gifts for Trump mean anything?", "id": "14_1"}]}]}, {"title": "National Trust: Is it relevant if you live in a town or city?", "date": "20 April 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "With its Tudor beams, scone-filled tea-rooms and a second-hand bookshop, Sutton House is just what you would expect from a National Trust property. But the 16th-century house isn't in a quaint countryside village. It's on a busy main road in Hackney - one of the most deprived boroughs in London. It's also in a prime position to target people from urban areas. That's something the National Trust's new boss Hilary McGrady says the charity needs to focus on as it adopts a \"radical\" new direction. So how does the 123-year-old organisation change its traditional image? \"People think National Trust is a crumbling pile in the country. People think that London isn't a National Trust place\" - so says Sean Curran, one of the managers at Sutton House. The charity, which had a record 24.5m visitors at its paid-for-entry properties last year, owns more than 500 historic houses, castles, ancient monuments, gardens, parks and nature reserves - most of them in rural parts of the UK. Mrs McGrady says it needs to be more relevant to town and city dwellers, saying \"the days of walking into one of our beautiful houses and saying a family lived here - that's not going to do it\". \"We need to think about what's relevant - why would someone in the middle of Birmingham say that's interesting?\" Just 17% of the UK population lives in rural areas, according to government statistics. And less than half of these people are under the age of 45. By contrast, 60% of people living in urban areas are aged 44 or younger. Sutton House began life in 1535 as a home to merchants and sea captains, although it briefly housed squatters and was used as a music venue in the 1980s. The Grade II listed manor house on Homerton High Street is the oldest property in Hackney. Sean Curran, 33, Sutton House's community learning manager, says he is \"well aware\" that many local people can't afford to pay to get in - it's PS7 for adults - but that the local community gets involved in other ways. \"It's not free and isn't going to be in the budget for a lot of working families,\" he said. \"We want the local people to come here and we accept that there are barriers.\" \"We're in a very unique place. It gives us the opportunity to be creative. \"It's not the typical twin set and pearls here - although we get that too. But that's not our community.\" Some of their free activities, he says, include LGBT events, art workshops, history projects for refugees and a group called the Recycle Teenagers - mostly made up of women from the Caribbean community aged over 55. He said: \"Even though there's no LGBT connection to the history of the house, we've held drinks nights and exhibitions - we wanted to challenge people to think about what a National Trust house could be.\" It also has what it regards as another unique selling point: \"We're the first National Trust house to have a gender-neutral toilet\". Gus Carrera, 28, who has lived and worked in Hackney for years, said he hadn't heard of Sutton House before. \"I don't think the National Trust is for people living in cities - it makes me think of big, grand places in the countryside,\" he said. But it has made its mark on his colleague, Lucy Snowdale, 38, who said she found out about it when it was recommended to her by an older neighbour. \"I know Sutton House well, I've been there several times with my children,\" she said. \"It's not too busy, like some other places, and has lots of events in the holidays.\" A mile down the road is a popular non-National Trust attraction - Hackney City Farm, which was set up in the 1980s to give people experience of animals. It has free entry, and was bustling with people enjoying the unseasonably hot April weather. Chris Pounds, who has managed the farm for nearly 20 years, explains how it gets the community involved. \"We've made ourselves into a hub for other activities, so it's not all about going to a farm - there's a local tenants' group who meet here, and a group of cyclists who help people fix bikes. \"It's kind of like dropping a pebble and getting a ripple effect. \"One person comes to the farm, then they say it to a friend - all these people started coming to us and using us as a hub. He says it will be \"really hard\" for the National Trust to overcome an image of being about grand houses. \"The cost probably does put people off the National Trust,\" he added. \"But money is important for the National Trust, and for us, and you have to work with your budget.\" Annual membership costs PS69 for adults, PS34.50 for young adults aged 18-25, and PS10 for children - but daily prices can be expensive. A visit to Cragside in Northumberland, for example, can cost PS19.80 for an adult ticket. Planning a day out in Birmingham, it might surprise you to discover that sitting at the top of Tripadvisor's \"things to do\" in the city centre is a National Trust attraction. Birmingham Back to Backs, as it is known, gives an insight into what life was like living in houses built back-to-back around a communal courtyard - and is based in the heart of the city. Mukith Miah, learning and volunteer manager for the property, started an initiative eight years ago to make it more accessible and attract more people who represented the local community, as well as younger visitors. He explains that the building is surrounded by four different communities - Chinese, Afro-Caribbean, LGBT and Irish - but when he joined Back to Backs those communities were not reflected by its volunteers or visitors. He said: \"We actually started to take the National Trust out to these groups, piggybacking onto their events. \"When you're looking at attracting a new community, when you present a (volunteer) role profile in front of them which is really academic, it's quite alienating. \"So we changed our language and the way that we presented ourselves.\" He says it took about 18 months to see a gradual change in the volunteer demographic, which in turn started to bring in more visitors from the local community, as they started to \"feel a sense of belonging\". The property began a programme to encourage young people to become volunteers and it also targeted inner-city schools. He wanted to make \"history come alive\" for young visitors. Children get to experience what life was like for a Victorian child, with activities including wearing costumes, topping and tailing in the beds, and lighting fires. \"Why would people want to come to the place? You have existed for a number of years. It doesn't matter if you're rural or in the city centre. You can make it happen - if you think creatively. \"You have to get out there and really engage,\" he said. He says the National Trust is making some \"headway\" in becoming more accessible but the organisation's boss, Mrs McGrady, has \"hit the nail on the head\" by saying it needs to be more radical. It needs to bring together people, he says, who \"don't necessarily feel that the trust is a place for them\".", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 571, "answer_end": 1510, "text": "\"People think National Trust is a crumbling pile in the country. People think that London isn't a National Trust place\" - so says Sean Curran, one of the managers at Sutton House. The charity, which had a record 24.5m visitors at its paid-for-entry properties last year, owns more than 500 historic houses, castles, ancient monuments, gardens, parks and nature reserves - most of them in rural parts of the UK. Mrs McGrady says it needs to be more relevant to town and city dwellers, saying \"the days of walking into one of our beautiful houses and saying a family lived here - that's not going to do it\". \"We need to think about what's relevant - why would someone in the middle of Birmingham say that's interesting?\" Just 17% of the UK population lives in rural areas, according to government statistics. And less than half of these people are under the age of 45. By contrast, 60% of people living in urban areas are aged 44 or younger."}], "question": "What's the perception?", "id": "15_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Brexit: Does collapse of Labour talks spell end for Theresa May's hopes?", "date": "17 May 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Labour has finally pulled the plug on the Brexit talks with the government, at the end of a week in which they appeared to be on life support. So is it, as some suggest, time to read the last rites on Theresa May's Withdrawal Agreement Bill? Let's be clear - it will be challenging, to say the least, for the legislation to get through the Commons. But reports of its demise may well have been exaggerated. It may not go down to immediate defeat. And this is why. A leaked memo from the government side, not agreed by Labour or the cabinet, contained a wheeze that could have been attractive to both leaderships. Even before the Withdrawal Agreement Bill makes its appearance, the memo suggested there could be a \"free vote\" in Parliament on another referendum. This is rather different from what the shadow Brexit secretary, Sir Keir Starmer, was suggesting - that there ought to be a \"confirmatory\" vote, as part of a package, on any agreed deal. The leaders of both the main parties aren't keen on another public vote, to say the least. So a stand-alone Commons vote on the issue, divorced from the deal, would be more likely to go down to defeat - as it has on previous occasions. Jeremy Corbyn could say to People's Vote supporters in his ranks: \"Oh, I did try for a referendum, but oops, it didn't work - so now let's just leave with the best possible deal.\" But it would seem that this approach has been scuppered by Labour's wider negotiating team and, presumably, by the cabinet. I have had a strong steer that this proposal in the leaked government memo won't go ahead in this form. But this might not be the setback it seems for the prime minister because supporters of another referendum may have no option but to vote initially for her bill. There will be a vote at what's called, in parliamentary speak, second reading in the first week in June. If the prime minister is defeated at this point, it's basically the end of the road for her deal and her premiership. But if MPs vote for the bill at second reading, they then get an opportunity to change it - and that would include an amendment on another referendum. So it's not impossible that some people who hate Theresa May's deal give it their temporary backing so they can discuss improving it, or putting it to a public vote. Talks with Labour are over - but efforts to win over individual Labour MPs are not. Note the wording of Downing Street's statement that \"complete agreement\" hasn't been reached. So expect to see some incentives in - or around - the Brexit bill for opposition MPs to back the government. For example, a commitment to stay in step with the EU on workers' rights and environmental protection. Allies of Sir Keir have blamed the breakdown of the talks on the PM's inability to get a customs union compromise past her cabinet. But if she keeps Conservative MPs on board in the legislation by eschewing a customs union but delivers a \"comprehensive\" (trust me, this word is important to some Labour MPs) temporary arrangement to last until the next election, some soft opposition to her deal may crumble. Then there is the argument put forward by the former Conservative minister Nick Boles, echoed off the record by some in Downing Street. If the prime minister's bill gets shot down in flames there is no other readily available vehicle to prevent the default option of no deal. Indeed, No 10 insiders expect to see \"vociferous\" arguments for no deal if Theresa May's legislation falls. Some unions, such as the GMB and Unison, favour another referendum. But the leadership of Unite, which is closest to Mr Corbyn, essentially favours leaving with a deal - and Labour MPs will be made well aware of this. So even if Labour formally opposes the bill at second reading, there could be a sizeable rebellion from those former Remainers representing Leave areas - safe in the knowledge that they wouldn't exactly be upsetting some powerful forces in the party. And the MPs who support what's called Common Market 2.0 could be crucial to the outcome. These are, broadly speaking, Labour MPs who are neither Corbynistas nor in favour of another referendum - such as Lucy Powell and Stephen Kinnock - and they are very keen to avoid no deal. However, if the Labour whip is to oppose, expect it to be rigorously enforced irrespective of the views of the party leader's office. So Mrs May's immediate fate may still be in the hands of opposition MPs The forthcoming leadership contest may firm up opposition to Theresa May's bill on the Conservative benches By putting the Withdrawal Agreement Bill out of its misery almost as soon as it appears, the prime minister's critics know she will vacate office sooner rather than later. But some candidates will be keener for her to get Brexit over the line, even with a less than optimal deal, so they don't immediately get bogged down with difficult votes. It would also allow them to make their pitch based on the future relationship with the EU. So could some of their supporters - irrespective of their public criticism of the deal - quietly vote to get it over the line? Set against all this, there is plenty of analysis in the public domain which will tell you how impossible it is for a deal to go through. But right now, No 10 might well see \"highly improbable\" as grounds for optimism. Hope dies last, does it not?", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1593, "answer_end": 2684, "text": "But this might not be the setback it seems for the prime minister because supporters of another referendum may have no option but to vote initially for her bill. There will be a vote at what's called, in parliamentary speak, second reading in the first week in June. If the prime minister is defeated at this point, it's basically the end of the road for her deal and her premiership. But if MPs vote for the bill at second reading, they then get an opportunity to change it - and that would include an amendment on another referendum. So it's not impossible that some people who hate Theresa May's deal give it their temporary backing so they can discuss improving it, or putting it to a public vote. Talks with Labour are over - but efforts to win over individual Labour MPs are not. Note the wording of Downing Street's statement that \"complete agreement\" hasn't been reached. So expect to see some incentives in - or around - the Brexit bill for opposition MPs to back the government. For example, a commitment to stay in step with the EU on workers' rights and environmental protection."}], "question": "End of the line?", "id": "16_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Catalan crisis: Carles Puigdemont 'welcome' to run in poll", "date": "29 October 2017", "paragraphs": [{"context": "The Spanish government has said it would welcome the participation of sacked Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont in new elections. The central government in Madrid has ordered that fresh elections for the regional parliament of Catalonia should take place in December. It stripped Catalonia of its autonomy after the Catalan parliament voted to declare independence. Mr Puigdemont is urging \"democratic opposition\" to direct rule from Madrid. He condemned the suspension of Catalonia's autonomy and promised to continue to \"work to build a free country\". Spain has been gripped by a constitutional crisis since an independence referendum, organised by Mr Puigdemont's separatist government, was held earlier this month in defiance of a ruling by the Constitutional Court which had declared it illegal. The Catalan government said that of the 43% of potential voters who took part, 90% were in favour of independence. Friday saw the regional parliament declare independence, with Madrid responding by declaring the move illegal. Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy then announced the dissolution of the regional parliament and the removal of Mr Puigdemont as Catalan leader, and ordered that fresh regional elections should be held. A large anti-independence demonstration is expected to take place later on Sunday in Barcelona, Catalonia's regional capital. The political crisis will also be played out on the football pitch  in the afternoon when Real Madrid, the defending Spanish champions, travel to Catalonia to play Girona, the team supported by Mr Puigdemont. Saturday saw the government in Madrid remove Catalonia's autonomy and take over government functions in the region. An official state bulletin (in Spanish) handed control of Catalonia to Spain's Deputy Prime Minister, Soraya Saenz de Santamaria. And Spain's interior ministry took charge of Catalonia's police after firing senior Catalan police officials. A central government spokesman in Madrid, Inigo Mendez de Vigo, said Mr Puigdemont had the right to continue in politics, despite his removal from office. \"I'm quite sure that if Puigdemont takes part in these elections, he can exercise this democratic opposition,\" he said, quoted by Reuters. \"The Catalans will be able to say what they feel about what they've been seeing in this last year, with all sorts of failing the law, abusing the law and putting themselves outside the law,\" he added. He spoke after Mr Puigdemont, in a pre-recorded address to Catalans on Saturday afternoon, said the central government's actions were \"premeditated aggression\" that ran \"contrary to the expressed will of the citizens of our country, who know perfectly well that in a democracy it is parliaments that choose, or remove, presidents\". He added:  \"We continue persevering in the only attitude that can make us winners. Without violence, without insults, in an inclusive way, respecting people and symbols, opinions, and also respecting the protests of the Catalans who do not agree with what the parliamentary majority has decided.\" A poll published by Spanish national newspaper El Pais on Saturday suggests more Catalans (52% to 43%) are in favour of the dissolution of the regional parliament and the holding of elections. Fifty-five per cent of Catalan respondents opposed the declaration of independence, with 41% in favour. Before Madrid took over the Catalan government, the region had one of the greatest levels of self-government in Spain. It has its own parliament, police force and public broadcaster, as well as a government and president, though those have now been dismissed. Catalans had a range of powers in many policy areas from culture and environment to communications, transportation, commerce and public safety. Foreign affairs, the armed forces and fiscal policy were always the sole responsibility of the Spanish government. There have been pro-unity demonstrations, with protesters in Barcelona waving Spanish flags and denouncing Catalan independence. Saturday saw several thousand people attend a rally in Madrid, waving Spanish flags and calling for national unity. Some accused Catalonia's leaders of treason. After the 1 October referendum, Mr Puigdemont signed a declaration of independence but delayed implementation to allow talks with the Spanish government. He ignored warnings by the Madrid government to cancel the move, prompting Mr Rajoy to threaten to remove Catalan leaders and impose direct rule. Catalonia is one of Spain's richest, most distinctive regions, with a high degree of autonomy. Many Catalans feel they pay more to Madrid than they get back, and there are historical grievances, too, in particular Catalonia's treatment under the dictatorship of General Franco. But Catalans have been divided on the question of independence. Are you in Catalonia? What is your reaction to the latest developments? You can share your views and experience by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. 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 yourpics@bbc.co.uk - Tweet: @BBC_HaveYourSay - Text an SMS or MMS to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (international)", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1557, "answer_end": 3333, "text": "Saturday saw the government in Madrid remove Catalonia's autonomy and take over government functions in the region. An official state bulletin (in Spanish) handed control of Catalonia to Spain's Deputy Prime Minister, Soraya Saenz de Santamaria. And Spain's interior ministry took charge of Catalonia's police after firing senior Catalan police officials. A central government spokesman in Madrid, Inigo Mendez de Vigo, said Mr Puigdemont had the right to continue in politics, despite his removal from office. \"I'm quite sure that if Puigdemont takes part in these elections, he can exercise this democratic opposition,\" he said, quoted by Reuters. \"The Catalans will be able to say what they feel about what they've been seeing in this last year, with all sorts of failing the law, abusing the law and putting themselves outside the law,\" he added. He spoke after Mr Puigdemont, in a pre-recorded address to Catalans on Saturday afternoon, said the central government's actions were \"premeditated aggression\" that ran \"contrary to the expressed will of the citizens of our country, who know perfectly well that in a democracy it is parliaments that choose, or remove, presidents\". He added:  \"We continue persevering in the only attitude that can make us winners. Without violence, without insults, in an inclusive way, respecting people and symbols, opinions, and also respecting the protests of the Catalans who do not agree with what the parliamentary majority has decided.\" A poll published by Spanish national newspaper El Pais on Saturday suggests more Catalans (52% to 43%) are in favour of the dissolution of the regional parliament and the holding of elections. Fifty-five per cent of Catalan respondents opposed the declaration of independence, with 41% in favour."}], "question": "What are the latest developments?", "id": "17_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3334, "answer_end": 4142, "text": "Before Madrid took over the Catalan government, the region had one of the greatest levels of self-government in Spain. It has its own parliament, police force and public broadcaster, as well as a government and president, though those have now been dismissed. Catalans had a range of powers in many policy areas from culture and environment to communications, transportation, commerce and public safety. Foreign affairs, the armed forces and fiscal policy were always the sole responsibility of the Spanish government. There have been pro-unity demonstrations, with protesters in Barcelona waving Spanish flags and denouncing Catalan independence. Saturday saw several thousand people attend a rally in Madrid, waving Spanish flags and calling for national unity. Some accused Catalonia's leaders of treason."}], "question": "What powers did Catalonia have?", "id": "17_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 4143, "answer_end": 4784, "text": "After the 1 October referendum, Mr Puigdemont signed a declaration of independence but delayed implementation to allow talks with the Spanish government. He ignored warnings by the Madrid government to cancel the move, prompting Mr Rajoy to threaten to remove Catalan leaders and impose direct rule. Catalonia is one of Spain's richest, most distinctive regions, with a high degree of autonomy. Many Catalans feel they pay more to Madrid than they get back, and there are historical grievances, too, in particular Catalonia's treatment under the dictatorship of General Franco. But Catalans have been divided on the question of independence."}], "question": "How did we get here?", "id": "17_2"}]}]}, {"title": "Sydney homes searched over 'plane bomb plot'", "date": "31 July 2017", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Australian police are searching five properties in Sydney over a suspected terrorism plot to bring down a plane. Four men were arrested in raids across the city late on Saturday. Police said they had seized materials that could have been used to make an explosive device. Local media said the plot may have involved a meat mincer. The men can be held for seven days without charge after a magistrate granted police special counter-terrorism powers. The suspects are reported to include a father and his adult son. Authorities have increased security measures at Australian airports, prompting lengthy queues and passenger confusion. Australian Federal Police Commissioner Andrew Colvin said the men arrested were allegedly linked to an Islamist-inspired plan to detonate an improvised explosive device (IED). He said police did not yet have information on \"the specific attack, the location, date or time\". Senior government minister Peter Dutton would not comment on reports that the suspected plot involved concealing a device in a kitchen meat grinder, or an allegation in The Australian newspaper about the possible use of poisonous gas. \"I do not want to go into the detail, but... there was a significant threat that [police and intelligence officials] dealt with and are in the process of dealing with,\" said Mr Dutton, who will soon oversee all of Australia's domestic security agencies. The four men were arrested in raids in the Sydney suburbs of Surry Hills, Lakemba, Wiley Park and Punchbowl. According to local media, they include a father and his son and another pair who are also related. No charges have been laid. On Sunday, a magistrate gave permission for an additional period of detention, meaning the four can be held for up to seven days without charge. They are gathering evidence, including from the houses in Sydney, in a process that could last for days. Police have said they intervened early because it was a counter-terrorism operation. Had it been another type of investigation, they may have waited before conducting raids. Mr Colvin urged the public to be patient because police did not yet \"have all the pieces of the puzzle to put together\". Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull praised authorities for moving swiftly and said Australians should feel confident in their security agencies. \"This is now the 13th terrorist plot which has been disrupted by our agencies since 2014,\" he said. Australia's national terror threat level remains at \"probable\" - the third level on a scale of five. Passengers have been warned to arrive at Australian airports an hour earlier than usual amid heightened security arrangements. The new measures have led to huge queues, particularly at the busiest airports in Sydney and Melbourne. Mr Turnbull said the arrangements could remain for some time. \"I want to thank the travelling public for their forbearance,\" Mr Turnbull said.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1776, "answer_end": 2518, "text": "They are gathering evidence, including from the houses in Sydney, in a process that could last for days. Police have said they intervened early because it was a counter-terrorism operation. Had it been another type of investigation, they may have waited before conducting raids. Mr Colvin urged the public to be patient because police did not yet \"have all the pieces of the puzzle to put together\". Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull praised authorities for moving swiftly and said Australians should feel confident in their security agencies. \"This is now the 13th terrorist plot which has been disrupted by our agencies since 2014,\" he said. Australia's national terror threat level remains at \"probable\" - the third level on a scale of five."}], "question": "What are police doing now?", "id": "18_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2519, "answer_end": 2892, "text": "Passengers have been warned to arrive at Australian airports an hour earlier than usual amid heightened security arrangements. The new measures have led to huge queues, particularly at the busiest airports in Sydney and Melbourne. Mr Turnbull said the arrangements could remain for some time. \"I want to thank the travelling public for their forbearance,\" Mr Turnbull said."}], "question": "What is the impact on travel?", "id": "18_1"}]}]}, {"title": "Why is it so difficult to count dead people?", "date": "12 October 2017", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Think of the horror of people dying violently, and the war in Syria, or a mass shooting may spring to mind. Events like the massacre in Las Vegas highlight the sometimes surprising reality that there are many more people suffering violent deaths in countries \"at peace\" than there are in war zones. Every violent death is a tragedy, but getting the numbers right matters. Reports of deaths in a war zone, a city suffering drug-related violence, or a country plagued by shootings, can drive how the world responds - from media coverage, to business investment, policy decisions and spending by governments and charities. The trouble is that coming up with accurate figures is extremely hard. Just one consequence is that although murders very probably kill far more people than wars, it is usually combat deaths that tend to get the most attention. Since the outbreak of war in Syria, the country has been devastated, global powers have been drawn in and huge numbers of people have died. By February 2016, after almost five years of fighting, the death toll from battle and other causes had reached 470,000, according to the Syrian Center for Policy Research. Two months later the UN special envoy came up with a lower figure of 400,000 - far higher than the 250,000 the organisation had estimated eighteen months earlier, after which it stopped counting because it didn't trust the numbers it was getting. Another estimate came in March 2017, from the London-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, considered one of the most credible sources because of its use of on-the-ground reports. It suggested that the toll was closer to 320,000 - still horrific, but 150,000 fewer deaths than the upper estimates. Those given the sad task of trying to count war deaths are forced to rely upon a variety of flawed methods. In Yemen, for example, the United Nations used reports from hospitals to estimate 10,000 war deaths by January 2017. However, many hospitals have closed and much of the fighting has taken place in rural areas that didn't have any to start with. Many of the dead are simply taken home by their families and buried. That could mean that 10,000 is a serious underestimate. On the other hand, since rural areas are sparsely populated, the UN figure may not be so far off after all. Elsewhere, some of the most meticulous researchers insist on being able to name a perpetrator before they count a death and use only English language newspapers, to ensure consistency. This makes details of confirmed deaths robust, and international comparisons simple. But deaths in messy conflicts where perpetrators are hard to pinpoint, or those which don't get media attention - a problem in rural areas, or under authoritarian regimes that control the media - can be missed. There can also be a problem where much of the reporting is not in English. In Colombia, for example, where most coverage is in Spanish, researchers at the Conflict Analysis Resource Center in Bogota estimated that international experts had captured fewer than half the deaths in most years of its guerrilla conflict. Meanwhile, in all wars, many people die from disease, hunger, and other \"indirect causes\". Should these count as war deaths? The World Health Organization found that by August 2017, 2,000 Yemenis had died of cholera. If war hadn't destroyed hospitals and kept doctors from being paid, some of these deaths might have been prevented. Yet Yemen is a poor country, and even without a war, communicable diseases claim lives. Researchers at the Small Arms Survey, a think tank in Geneva, suggest that indirect deaths kill three to fifteen times as many people as fighting during conflict - depending largely on levels of development, and whether civilian infrastructure is targeted. In Ukraine, for example, the UN estimates that 10,000 people were killed in battle by the end of 2016 - on a par with Yemen. But in Ukraine, roads and hospitals still function and a cholera outbreak is unlikely to be very deadly. Finally, like war deaths, indirect deaths can be manipulated in an attempt to gain an advantage, as researchers suggest happened when Saddam Hussein tricked Unicef inspectors into reporting high child mortality in a bid to get sanctions lifted in the early 1990s. Thus, indirect deaths aren't usually included in war statistics. By tending to focus on war, the media misses an even more crucial reality: homicides probably kill three to four times more people each year than conflicts. Between 2007 and 2012, homicides killed an average of 377,000 people a year, while about 70,000 died annually in conflict. Experts at the Geneva Declaration, one of the few think tanks that counts violence across both warfare and crime, estimate that eight out of 10 such deaths occur outside conflict zones. That may seem counterintuitive, but the number of wars worldwide is relatively low and homicides occur in every country. The numbers can be jaw-dropping. For instance, in 2015 the Brazilian Forum for Public Security reported more than 58,000 homicides - a year in which the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights counted just over 55,000 deaths in the Syrian war. Astounding numbers of homicides are found in many other countries, with about 34,000 reported in India, 22,000 in Mexico and 17,000 in Nigeria in 2012, the last year comparable UN data is available. And the murder of 58 people in a mass shooting in Las Vegas has again highlighted the problem of violence in the United States. In fact, violent death rates in the US are currently at lows last seen in the 1960s, but have been ticking upward over the last three years. And even at all-time lows, the US remains an anomaly among similar developed democracies, with a murder rate four to five times as high as Western Europe. Even with Syria and Afghanistan causing war deaths to rise to nearly 100,000 a year today, they remain a fraction of overall homicide numbers. However, the use of overall numbers rather than a figure which takes into account the size of a country's population can sometimes make a country appear more dangerous than it is. After Brazil, which has about 10 times Syria's population, India has the second largest number of murders most years. But with a population of well over a billion people, its homicide rate is remarkably low: just 3.5 per 100,000, or about half the world's average, according to the United Nations Office on Drug Control. And the Igarape Institute, which begins with UNODC's numbers but then cross-checks these with local police, morgues, and think tanks for greater accuracy, puts India's rate at 2.8 per 100,000 - lower than Latvia's. Unsurprisingly, homicide statistics are as bad as war data. Most countries count homicides in two places - police stations and morgues. Researchers tend to trust morgue statistics more because police can be under pressure to keep homicide numbers low, whereas morticians tend to be more removed from political influence. Yet some bodies never make it to morgues, since a murder without a corpse can't be prosecuted. In Colombia, criminals use chop-houses to destroy bodies, while the Sicilian mafia used to dissolve bodies in vats of acid for similar reasons. Homicide numbers can sometimes be inflated due to poor record-keeping, but more often, countries have an incentive to downplay numbers. And only about half of all countries in the world report any homicide statistics at all. The United Nations does its best to mathematically model data for the rest, but in places like sub-Saharan Africa, where very few countries report, there is little to go on and a likelihood that available numbers underestimate the effects of war and rapidly growing populations. Given these problems, any statistic on violent deaths should be treated with caution. But thinking across the boundaries of war and crime can be illuminating, even if numbers are used as rough estimates. The results can be very surprising. In 2011, for instance, New Orleans' homicide rate of 57.6 per 100,000 was on par with the rates of homicides and conflict deaths in Afghanistan that year. Elsewhere, Mexico has struggled with drug-related violence, the number of homicides steadily increasing and - between 2007 and 2014 - reaching 164,000, according to the Mexican government. That puts it on a par with many wars and exceeds the number of civilian deaths in Iraq and Afghanistan during the same period, according to UN and Iraq Body Count figures. No-one would say that New Orleans or Mexico were at war. But, as with other places experiencing large numbers of violent deaths, the word \"peace\" doesn't seem entirely appropriate either. This analysis piece was commissioned by the BBC from an expert working for an outside organisation. Dr Rachel Kleinfeld is a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, focusing on issues of rule of law, security, and governance in post-conflict countries, fragile states, and states in transition. Edited by Duncan Walker", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 848, "answer_end": 1709, "text": "Since the outbreak of war in Syria, the country has been devastated, global powers have been drawn in and huge numbers of people have died. By February 2016, after almost five years of fighting, the death toll from battle and other causes had reached 470,000, according to the Syrian Center for Policy Research. Two months later the UN special envoy came up with a lower figure of 400,000 - far higher than the 250,000 the organisation had estimated eighteen months earlier, after which it stopped counting because it didn't trust the numbers it was getting. Another estimate came in March 2017, from the London-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, considered one of the most credible sources because of its use of on-the-ground reports. It suggested that the toll was closer to 320,000 - still horrific, but 150,000 fewer deaths than the upper estimates."}], "question": "How many people have died in Syria?", "id": "19_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Sydney mayor defends New Year's fireworks despite protests", "date": "31 December 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Sydney's Lord Mayor has defended the decision to press ahead with the city's New Year's Eve fireworks display, despite calls it should have been cancelled due to the bushfire crisis. Speaking earlier on Tuesday, Clover Moore said the celebration would \"give hope to people\". Parts of Australia have been ravaged by bushfires intensified by high temperatures and months of drought. A number of other fireworks displays across the country were scrapped. Critics of the Sydney display had argued that going ahead with it would send the wrong message. Organisers were urged to call it off and instead donate the money to farmers and the fire service. But the fireworks went ahead as planned. Ms Moore told a press conference that New Year's Eve was an important celebration that would \"give hope to people at a terrible time\", but called for action on climate change. She stressed the preparations for the event to usher in the new decade had begun 15 months ago. \"Many people have already flown in and paid for hotels and restaurants, travelling from all over the world to be here for tonight's New Year's Eve. It generates A$130m (PS69m; $91m) for the NSW economy, powers our tourism industry, creates jobs and supports countless small businesses\", she said. But she argued that the \"compelling issue here is climate change\", and called on the government to do more to reduce global emissions. \"Cities around the world are doing their bit to address global warming; it's our national governments that are failing us,\" she added. NSW Deputy Premier John Barilaro was among those calling for Tuesday's display to be cancelled, saying it should be a \"very easy decision\". But Ms Moore said doing so \"would have little practical benefit\". A popular fireworks display in Parramatta Park was cancelled by Parramatta Council on Monday after it failed to obtain an exemption due to the extreme weather forecast. \"Council was not granted an exemption to proceed with its fireworks display, due to the total fire ban in place and a range of associated risks including extreme temperatures, smoke, dust and poor air quality,\" Parramatta lord mayor Bob Dwyer said. The council said it would donate A$10,000 to the NSW Regional Fire Service instead. Other areas where fireworks displays have been cancelled or postponed include Wollongong, Maitland, Orange, Berry, Shoalhaven, Huskisson, Armidale, Port Macquarie, Liverpool, Campbelltown and Tweed Heads. In recent months, bushfires have been raging across Australia, where heatwave conditions, strong winds and drought have created dangerous conditions. NSW - where Sydney is located - is the worst-affected state, with more than 100 fires currently burning. A petition calling for the Sydney spectacle to be scrapped - saying it was inappropriate at a time swathes of the country was suffering from bushfires - gathered more than 280,000 signatures. The petition, entitled \"Say NO to FIREWORKS NYE 2019\", said the display \"may traumatise some people\" who are dealing with \"enough smoke in the air\". NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian disagreed, but acknowledged the \"suffering in the community at the moment\". \"Sydney is one of the first cities in the world that welcomes in the new year, and if it's safe to do so, we should continue to do it as we've done every other year,\" Ms Berejiklian said.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 2440, "answer_end": 3330, "text": "In recent months, bushfires have been raging across Australia, where heatwave conditions, strong winds and drought have created dangerous conditions. NSW - where Sydney is located - is the worst-affected state, with more than 100 fires currently burning. A petition calling for the Sydney spectacle to be scrapped - saying it was inappropriate at a time swathes of the country was suffering from bushfires - gathered more than 280,000 signatures. The petition, entitled \"Say NO to FIREWORKS NYE 2019\", said the display \"may traumatise some people\" who are dealing with \"enough smoke in the air\". NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian disagreed, but acknowledged the \"suffering in the community at the moment\". \"Sydney is one of the first cities in the world that welcomes in the new year, and if it's safe to do so, we should continue to do it as we've done every other year,\" Ms Berejiklian said."}], "question": "Why are there calls to cancel fireworks displays?", "id": "20_0"}]}]}, {"title": "General election 2019: Hart gets Welsh post in government reshuffle", "date": "16 December 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Boris Johnson is carrying out a limited reshuffle of his government after urging newly elected Tory MPs to \"change our country for the better\". Simon Hart has been named as Welsh secretary, replacing Alun Cairns, who quit at the start of the election. And Nicky Morgan stays as culture secretary, despite standing down as an MP. She is taking a peerage and will sit as a cabinet minister in the Lords. Opposition parties said she had been \"rewarded for political sycophancy\". But Ms Morgan, who will be in charge of broadband and media policy, suggested she might only be in the role for a few weeks - pending what are expected to be far-reaching changes to the PM's top team after the UK has left the EU on 31 January. Most cabinet ministers - including Chancellor Sajid Javid, Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab and Home Secretary Priti Patel - are staying put following the Conservatives' election victory. They have only been in post since July, when Mr Johnson became PM. There has been unconfirmed speculation that the PM is contemplating a much bigger shake-up in February, including changes to a number of departments, including the Department for Exiting the European Union, the Home Office and Department for International Development. Ms Morgan took many by surprise when she announced that she would not be standing as MP for Loughborough at the election. However, the former education secretary - who cited the abuse that female MPs had received as one of the reasons for her standing down - was one of Mr Johnson's most visible backers during the campaign, prompting speculation she intended to remain in public life. And the news that she has accepted a life peerage and will remain in cabinet has attracted criticism. Liberal Democrat culture spokeswoman Layla Moran said only an elected Upper Chamber would stop \"this kind of sycophancy being rewarded\" while Labour's Jo Stevens said the appointment was \"absolutely disgraceful\". While it is rare for cabinet ministers in charge of government departments not to be in the elected Commons, both the transport and business briefs were held by peers in the last Labour government. The choice of Simon Hart as Welsh secretary marks a big promotion for the 56-year old MP, who was previously a junior Cabinet Office minister. Reacting to his appointment, Mr Hart said: \"It's great to have this opportunity. I've got my orders and I'm going to try and do it as best I can.\" The Welsh post has been vacant since early last month, when Alun Cairns quit over claims he knew about a former aide's role in the \"sabotage\" of a rape trial. Mr Hart and Ms Morgan both backed Remain in the 2016 referendum but have been strong supporters of the PM's Brexit deal. Mr Johnson has been getting down to business following last week's election victory, speaking to foreign leaders, including US President Donald Trump, and addressing all Conservative MPs at a private meeting in Parliament. Earlier, he hailed the \"incredible achievement\" of the 109 Tory MPs elected for the first time last week, including many representing areas that had previously been die-hard Labour territory. \"You've come from places that the Conservative Party have not been represented for a hundred years, if ever,\" he said at a photo call in the Palace of Westminster. \"That's a fantastic tribute to you. \"But it also shows what we've got to do now because you have not only changed the political map of this country but you've changed our party for the better. What I want to do now is work with you to change our whole country for the better and that is what we're going to do.\" - SCROLL AND SEE: The results that sealed it - ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW: The night's key points - MAPS AND CHARTS: The election in graphics - BREXIT: What happens now? - WHO WON IN MY CONSTITUENCY? Check your result Downing Street has said the government plans to ask the new Parliament to have its first debate and vote on the PM's withdrawal agreement - the legislation needed to ratify Brexit - on Friday. A spokesman said it planned to start the process of getting the Withdrawal Agreement Bill through Parliament in the \"proper constitutional way\". With a Commons majority of 80, the PM is expected to get the bill into law with few changes in time for the UK to leave the EU on 31 January. Before that, the PM will set out his legislative plans for the year ahead in a Queen's Speech on Thursday. Tuesday Proceedings begin when MPs gather for their first duty: to elect the Speaker, Sir Lindsay Hoyle, who replaced John Bercow in November. Technically, MPs can hold a vote on this motion but this has never happened in practice. Later in the day, the Speaker will begin the process of swearing in MPs, who are required to take an oath of allegiance to the Crown, or, if they object to this, a solemn affirmation. Those who speak or vote without having done so are deprived of their seat \"as if they were dead\" under the Parliamentary Oaths Act of 1866. Two to three days are usually set aside for this process. Thursday The state opening of Parliament. The Queen's Speech is the centrepiece of this, when she will read a speech written by ministers setting out the government's programme of legislation for the parliamentary session. A couple of hours after the speech is delivered, MPs will begin debating its contents - a process which usually takes days. Friday Depending on how rapidly Boris Johnson wants to move, the debate on the Queen's Speech could continue into Friday. The government will introduce the Withdrawal Agreement Bill - the legislation that will implement Brexit - to Parliament. MPs in the previous Parliament backed Mr Johnson's bill at its first stage but rejected his plan to fast-track the legislation through Parliament in three days in order to leave the EU by the then Brexit deadline of 31 October. After the debate on the Queen's Speech is concluded, MPs will vote on whether to approve it. Not since 1924 has a government's Queen Speech been defeated.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 4401, "answer_end": 5988, "text": "Tuesday Proceedings begin when MPs gather for their first duty: to elect the Speaker, Sir Lindsay Hoyle, who replaced John Bercow in November. Technically, MPs can hold a vote on this motion but this has never happened in practice. Later in the day, the Speaker will begin the process of swearing in MPs, who are required to take an oath of allegiance to the Crown, or, if they object to this, a solemn affirmation. Those who speak or vote without having done so are deprived of their seat \"as if they were dead\" under the Parliamentary Oaths Act of 1866. Two to three days are usually set aside for this process. Thursday The state opening of Parliament. The Queen's Speech is the centrepiece of this, when she will read a speech written by ministers setting out the government's programme of legislation for the parliamentary session. A couple of hours after the speech is delivered, MPs will begin debating its contents - a process which usually takes days. Friday Depending on how rapidly Boris Johnson wants to move, the debate on the Queen's Speech could continue into Friday. The government will introduce the Withdrawal Agreement Bill - the legislation that will implement Brexit - to Parliament. MPs in the previous Parliament backed Mr Johnson's bill at its first stage but rejected his plan to fast-track the legislation through Parliament in three days in order to leave the EU by the then Brexit deadline of 31 October. After the debate on the Queen's Speech is concluded, MPs will vote on whether to approve it. Not since 1924 has a government's Queen Speech been defeated."}], "question": "What will happen this week?", "id": "21_0"}]}]}, {"title": "US senator Elizabeth Warren faces backlash after indigenous DNA claim", "date": "16 October 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "US Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren is facing a backlash after revealing a DNA test, which she says validates her claims of Native American heritage. The Cherokee Nation slammed the results for showing trace amounts of native DNA. US President Donald Trump later took to Twitter to taunt Ms Warren. Many analysts speculate that Ms Warren, whose heritage Mr Trump has often mocked, is running for president. Ms Warren has not claimed to be a citizen of any US tribal nation. \"Even they don't want her,\" Mr Trump said on Tuesday in response to the statement by the Cherokee Nation, the largest tribal nation in the US. \"Thank you to the Cherokee Nation for revealing that Elizabeth Warren, sometimes referred to as Pocahontas, is a complete and total Fraud!\" he wrote on Twitter, referencing the daughter of the 17th-Century indigenous chief. Cherokee Nation Secretary of State Chuck Hoskin Jr said in a statement on Monday that \"a DNA test is useless to determine tribal citizenship\". \"Using a DNA test to lay claim to any connection to the Cherokee Nation or any tribal nation, even vaguely, is inappropriate and wrong,\" Mr Hoskin said, adding that current tests do not differentiate between peoples from the North and South American continents. Mrs Warren later tweeted: \"DNA & family history has nothing to do with tribal affiliation or citizenship, which is determined only - only - by Tribal Nations\". \"I respect the distinction, & don't list myself as Native in the Senate.\" Analysis by Anthony Zurcher, BBC Washington Elizabeth Warren's efforts to put to rest the story of her native American ancestry is a case study in the difficulty of engaging Donald Trump on his terms. He challenged her to take a DNA test, which she did. While the results supported her account, they were by no means definitive. The president pounced, pointing to the lowest-end estimation of her native American DNA and labelling her a phony, calling her story a fraud and a scam. Complicating the matter for Ms Warren is that the tribal identity is a sensitive matter for native Americans. The Cherokee nation pushed back hard on the notion that anyone could claim membership based on a DNA test (even though Ms Warren had made no such attempt). Ms Warren also offered accounts from colleagues supporting her contention that she received no benefits or preference for her past claims, but the furore over the DNA debate buried those efforts. So rather than end the conversation, Ms Warren has effectively given her critics further ammunition to use against her. The president is sticking with his derisive \"Pocahontas\" nickname - and, if anything, he may more strongly believe this is a political weakness he can exploit. The Massachusetts progressive senator's DNA report was conducted by geneticist Carlos Bustamante of Stanford. \"The vast majority\" of Ms Warren's ancestry is European, it concludes, but \"the results strongly support\" a Native American ancestor. This puts Ms Warren as between 1/64 and 1/1,024 Native-American, according to the Boston Globe. In a campaign-style video revealing her DNA test results on Monday, Ms Warren says her critics attack her as an insult or \"to distract from the kinds of changes I'm fighting for\". Analysts in Washington immediately regarded the video as evidence that she is considering a presidential run in 2020. Ms Warren has denied benefiting from her background since 2012, when it emerged that she was listed as a minority in a Harvard Law School directory. She has frequently faced attacks from the White House and Republicans over whether she used claims of native ancestry to advance her career. At a rally in July, the US president said he would give $1m (PS761,000) to charity if Ms Warren would prove her claims of Native-American heritage. On Monday, Mr Trump was asked about the charity pledge and initially denied that he had ever made it. But later while touring hurricane damage in Florida, he said he would only give money \"if I can test her personally\". \"That will not be something I will enjoy,\" he added. Mrs Warren later took to Twitter to call Mr Trump's remark a \"creepy physical threat\", and called for the donation to be made to the National Indigenous Women's Resource Center. South Carolina Republican Senator Lindsey Graham told Fox News on Tuesday that he also intends to take a DNA test to see if he can \"beat\" Ms Warren's results. \"I've been told that my grandmother was part Cherokee Indian. It may all be just talk, but you're gonna find out in a couple of weeks,\" he said. Cherokee writer and genealogy researcher Twila Barnes said on her blog that \"Warren has done more harm with this DNA test than she ever did with her false claim of being Cherokee\". She called the DNA test \"a political attack on tribal sovereignty\". University of Alberta professor and author Kim Tallbear said that Ms Warren is using a \"settler-colonial definition of who is Indigenous\". \"She and much of the US American public privilege the voices of (mostly white) genome scientists and implicitly cede to them the power to define Indigenous identity. \"As scholars of race have shown, it is one of the privilege of whiteness to define and control everyone else's identity,\" she wrote. However, Deb Haaland, a Native American woman running for Congress in New Mexico, welcomed Ms Warren's genetic test, saying it \"confirms the family history she has long shared with the world, and I acknowledge her Native ancestry as testament to who we are as Americans\". \"The revelation of Senator Warren's Native American ancestry is significant for her personally, and I join her in celebrating her ancestry,\" tweeted Ms Haaland, a member of the Pueblo of Laguna Tribe. The hubbub around Ms Warren's ancestry recalls the attacks President Barack Obama faced over his background. During Mr Obama's campaign, Mr Trump called repeatedly for him to release his birth certificate to prove he was born in America. The rumours that Mr Obama was a foreigner persisted throughout his presidency and, in 2011, the White House released his birth certificate to quash the controversy.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 2707, "answer_end": 3344, "text": "The Massachusetts progressive senator's DNA report was conducted by geneticist Carlos Bustamante of Stanford. \"The vast majority\" of Ms Warren's ancestry is European, it concludes, but \"the results strongly support\" a Native American ancestor. This puts Ms Warren as between 1/64 and 1/1,024 Native-American, according to the Boston Globe. In a campaign-style video revealing her DNA test results on Monday, Ms Warren says her critics attack her as an insult or \"to distract from the kinds of changes I'm fighting for\". Analysts in Washington immediately regarded the video as evidence that she is considering a presidential run in 2020."}], "question": "What did the test find?", "id": "22_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3345, "answer_end": 4233, "text": "Ms Warren has denied benefiting from her background since 2012, when it emerged that she was listed as a minority in a Harvard Law School directory. She has frequently faced attacks from the White House and Republicans over whether she used claims of native ancestry to advance her career. At a rally in July, the US president said he would give $1m (PS761,000) to charity if Ms Warren would prove her claims of Native-American heritage. On Monday, Mr Trump was asked about the charity pledge and initially denied that he had ever made it. But later while touring hurricane damage in Florida, he said he would only give money \"if I can test her personally\". \"That will not be something I will enjoy,\" he added. Mrs Warren later took to Twitter to call Mr Trump's remark a \"creepy physical threat\", and called for the donation to be made to the National Indigenous Women's Resource Center."}], "question": "How has Warren been taunted?", "id": "22_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 4234, "answer_end": 5697, "text": "South Carolina Republican Senator Lindsey Graham told Fox News on Tuesday that he also intends to take a DNA test to see if he can \"beat\" Ms Warren's results. \"I've been told that my grandmother was part Cherokee Indian. It may all be just talk, but you're gonna find out in a couple of weeks,\" he said. Cherokee writer and genealogy researcher Twila Barnes said on her blog that \"Warren has done more harm with this DNA test than she ever did with her false claim of being Cherokee\". She called the DNA test \"a political attack on tribal sovereignty\". University of Alberta professor and author Kim Tallbear said that Ms Warren is using a \"settler-colonial definition of who is Indigenous\". \"She and much of the US American public privilege the voices of (mostly white) genome scientists and implicitly cede to them the power to define Indigenous identity. \"As scholars of race have shown, it is one of the privilege of whiteness to define and control everyone else's identity,\" she wrote. However, Deb Haaland, a Native American woman running for Congress in New Mexico, welcomed Ms Warren's genetic test, saying it \"confirms the family history she has long shared with the world, and I acknowledge her Native ancestry as testament to who we are as Americans\". \"The revelation of Senator Warren's Native American ancestry is significant for her personally, and I join her in celebrating her ancestry,\" tweeted Ms Haaland, a member of the Pueblo of Laguna Tribe."}], "question": "What have others said?", "id": "22_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 5698, "answer_end": 6100, "text": "The hubbub around Ms Warren's ancestry recalls the attacks President Barack Obama faced over his background. During Mr Obama's campaign, Mr Trump called repeatedly for him to release his birth certificate to prove he was born in America. The rumours that Mr Obama was a foreigner persisted throughout his presidency and, in 2011, the White House released his birth certificate to quash the controversy."}], "question": "How does this echo Trump attacks on Obama?", "id": "22_3"}]}]}, {"title": "How much can painting a roof white reduce its temperature?", "date": "31 May 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "It has long been known that painting the roof of a building white reflects sunlight and reduces its temperature. But by how much and are there downsides to doing it? In a recent BBC interview, the former UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon suggested that this reduction could be as much as 30C, with the internal temperature of the building falling by as much as seven degrees. So where do these figures come from and does wider research back this up? Mr Ban was talking about a pilot project in Ahmedabad City in western India, where summer temperatures can reach as high as 50C. In 2017, more than 3,000 city rooftops were painted using both white lime and a special reflective coating. Known simply as \"cool roofing\", this process is designed to reduce the solar radiation absorbed, which in turn means less heat is transferred inside the building. Cool roofs also emit away some heat normally retained by a building, cooling it further. The planning document for the Gujarat project states that reflective roof coverings \"can help bring roof temperatures down by as much as 30C and reduce indoor temperatures by three to seven degrees\". But this is not an actual finding from the project itself. \"Depending on the setting, cool roofs can help keep indoor temperatures lower by 2C to 5C as compared to traditional roofs,\" says Anjali Jaiswal, of the US-based Natural Resources Defence Council, which oversaw the Ahmedabad project. This range is slightly lower than Mr Ban's figure for the reduction of building temperatures, but is still a significant drop. Another pilot in Hyderabad in southern India, using a cool roof coating membrane, found indoor air temperatures lower by an average of 2C. As for Mr Ban's claim of a 30 degree fall in the temperature of the rooftop itself, the Gujarat pilot does not provide answers, but we can turn to the findings of a study by the California-based Berkeley Lab for some guidance. It found that a clean white roof that reflects 80% of sunlight will stay about 31C cooler on a summer afternoon. The conditions would of course be very different in California to those found in India - where more than 60% of roofs are made from metal, asbestos and concrete, which trap heat inside buildings even when treated with white coating. However, both Indian cities, Ahmedabad and Hyderabad, have seen sufficient success with their pilots that they have launched expanded cool roofs programmes this year. The idea is of course not new, and white roofs and walls have been a typical sight for centuries in southern European and North African countries. The city of New York has recently coated more than 10 million sq ft of rooftops white. Other places like California have updated building codes to promote cool roofs, which are seen as an important way to save energy. A cool roof can save air-conditioning costs by as much as 40%. An experiment in Bhopal in central India found that solar reflective paint on low-rise buildings saved energy load by 303 kWh in peak summer hours. There are even estimates for the potential reduction in global carbon emissions if cooling paint was used on rooftops in every large city around the world. The Berkeley Lab says the worldwide use of reflective roofing could produce a global cooling effect equivalent to offsetting 24 gigatonnes of carbon dioxide - the equivalent of taking 300 million cars off the road for 20 years. It is certainly a low-cost option, particularly in poorer countries. A coating of lime wash \"can cost as little as 1.5 rupees (PS0.017; $0.02) per sq ft to more expensive reflective coatings or membranes\", says Ms Jaiswal. The differences can be considerable both in personal comfort and in energy savings on cooling. Ultimately, however, \"political will and implementation play a big role\", says Ms Jaiswal. And there are possible downsides to consider. For cities with colder winters, reflective roofs might increase demand for heating and roof condensation is a mould risk. This is why a University College London team decided not to use white paint for a resettlement colony project in New Delhi. \"The residents were also against painting roofs white, because roofs are also used for other purposes,\" says Renu Khosla, from the Delhi-based Centre for Urban and Regional Excellence. The highly reflective paint, she says, makes it hard to go out on to the roofs to use the space for storage and daily household chores. A team from the University of Chicago also carried out research in the same area near Delhi. They painted the roofs of a group of buildings and found that even though indoor temperatures fell by only modest amounts, those living in them did adjust their behaviour to save money on energy bills and water use. Read more from Reality Check Send us your questions Follow us on Twitter", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 2437, "answer_end": 4727, "text": "The idea is of course not new, and white roofs and walls have been a typical sight for centuries in southern European and North African countries. The city of New York has recently coated more than 10 million sq ft of rooftops white. Other places like California have updated building codes to promote cool roofs, which are seen as an important way to save energy. A cool roof can save air-conditioning costs by as much as 40%. An experiment in Bhopal in central India found that solar reflective paint on low-rise buildings saved energy load by 303 kWh in peak summer hours. There are even estimates for the potential reduction in global carbon emissions if cooling paint was used on rooftops in every large city around the world. The Berkeley Lab says the worldwide use of reflective roofing could produce a global cooling effect equivalent to offsetting 24 gigatonnes of carbon dioxide - the equivalent of taking 300 million cars off the road for 20 years. It is certainly a low-cost option, particularly in poorer countries. A coating of lime wash \"can cost as little as 1.5 rupees (PS0.017; $0.02) per sq ft to more expensive reflective coatings or membranes\", says Ms Jaiswal. The differences can be considerable both in personal comfort and in energy savings on cooling. Ultimately, however, \"political will and implementation play a big role\", says Ms Jaiswal. And there are possible downsides to consider. For cities with colder winters, reflective roofs might increase demand for heating and roof condensation is a mould risk. This is why a University College London team decided not to use white paint for a resettlement colony project in New Delhi. \"The residents were also against painting roofs white, because roofs are also used for other purposes,\" says Renu Khosla, from the Delhi-based Centre for Urban and Regional Excellence. The highly reflective paint, she says, makes it hard to go out on to the roofs to use the space for storage and daily household chores. A team from the University of Chicago also carried out research in the same area near Delhi. They painted the roofs of a group of buildings and found that even though indoor temperatures fell by only modest amounts, those living in them did adjust their behaviour to save money on energy bills and water use."}], "question": "So why aren't more cities being painting white?", "id": "23_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Children's climate rallies gain momentum in Europe", "date": "25 January 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Thousands of schoolchildren are marching through Berlin to urge tougher measures against global warming. Smaller protests have been organised in Switzerland, inspired by 16-year-old Swedish activist Greta Thunberg. She is in Davos, urging the World Economic Forum (WEF) to ensure a greener future. On Thursday, 35,000 teenagers marched in Brussels against global warming. Thousands of school pupils went on strike in Switzerland a week ago to demand climate action. In Brussels, home to the main EU institutions, students carried banners with slogans such as \"Dinosaurs thought they had time too\" and \"Be part of the solution, not the pollution\". German students are mobilising with the Twitter hashtag #FridaysForFuture. A popular slogan was \"There's no planet B\". Their protest coincides with government talks on how best to reduce Germany's reliance on coal and boost renewable energy sources. The young activists are urging world leaders and corporate bosses to stick to the ambitious goals agreed in Paris in 2015 to combat climate change. Since August, Greta Thunberg has been sitting outside the Swedish parliament every Friday to get her climate message across. She took a train all the way from Sweden to Davos, which took 32 hours, underlining the need to use cleaner forms of transport. Jets emit especially high quantities of CO2. She has drawn some criticism on social media: some accuse her of encouraging truancy, publicity-seeking and doing the work of environmental lobbyists. But one of her young German supporters, Jakob Blasel, said combating climate change was \"for us more important than education\". \"After all, why should we study if we have no future?\" he asked. In the Swiss ski resort Ms Thunberg told business leaders: \"Some people, some companies, some decision-makers in particular have known exactly what priceless values they've been sacrificing to continue making unimaginable amounts of money... and I think many of you today belong to that group of people.\" Speaking later to the BBC she said: \"My message was that most emissions are caused by a few people, the very rich people, who are here in Davos.\" She said her criticism prompted nervous laughter and applause among the rich and powerful gathered there. Many of them flew in to Davos on private jets. \"These people have very much power, they could really change something, so I think they have a huge responsibility. They need to put their economic goals aside to safeguard the living conditions of humankind in the future,\" she told the BBC. She also said Sweden \"is not a role model - it's one of the top ten countries in the world with the highest ecological footprints per capita\".", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1045, "answer_end": 2675, "text": "Since August, Greta Thunberg has been sitting outside the Swedish parliament every Friday to get her climate message across. She took a train all the way from Sweden to Davos, which took 32 hours, underlining the need to use cleaner forms of transport. Jets emit especially high quantities of CO2. She has drawn some criticism on social media: some accuse her of encouraging truancy, publicity-seeking and doing the work of environmental lobbyists. But one of her young German supporters, Jakob Blasel, said combating climate change was \"for us more important than education\". \"After all, why should we study if we have no future?\" he asked. In the Swiss ski resort Ms Thunberg told business leaders: \"Some people, some companies, some decision-makers in particular have known exactly what priceless values they've been sacrificing to continue making unimaginable amounts of money... and I think many of you today belong to that group of people.\" Speaking later to the BBC she said: \"My message was that most emissions are caused by a few people, the very rich people, who are here in Davos.\" She said her criticism prompted nervous laughter and applause among the rich and powerful gathered there. Many of them flew in to Davos on private jets. \"These people have very much power, they could really change something, so I think they have a huge responsibility. They need to put their economic goals aside to safeguard the living conditions of humankind in the future,\" she told the BBC. She also said Sweden \"is not a role model - it's one of the top ten countries in the world with the highest ecological footprints per capita\"."}], "question": "What is Greta's message?", "id": "24_0"}]}]}, {"title": "General election 2019: Nigel Farage will not stand as candidate", "date": "3 November 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Nigel Farage has said he will not be standing as a candidate in the general election on 12 December. The Brexit Party leader told the BBC's Andrew Marr he had thought \"very hard\" but had decided he could \"serve the cause better\" by supporting his party's 600 candidates \"across the UK\". \"I don't want to be in politics for the rest of my life,\" he said. Jeremy Corbyn said Mr Farage's decision was \"a bit weird\" given the Brexit Party hopes to stand in most places. The Labour leader said: \"It's obviously his decision. It's a bit weird to lead a political party that is apparently contesting all or most of the seats up in the election and he himself is not offering himself for election.\" Mr Farage, who has stood unsuccessfully for Parliament seven times and currently sits in the European Parliament, also also criticised the PM's Brexit deal.. The 55-year-old told BBC One's Andrew Marr Show the deal agreed earlier this month was \"virtually worse that being in the EU\". \"If Boris Johnson was going for a genuine Brexit, we wouldn't need to fight against him in this election,\" he said. On Friday, the prime minister rejected an alliance with Mr Farage's Brexit Party, telling BBC political editor Laura Kuenssberg doing deals with \"any other party... simply risks putting Jeremy Corbyn into Number 10\". Mr Farage had called on the prime minister to drop his Brexit deal, unite in a \"Leave alliance\" or face a Brexit Party candidate in every seat in the election. He told the Marr show: \"I always thought that to win an election, get a big majority so we can get a proper Brexit, a coming-together would be the objective. \"I still hope and pray it happens but it doesn't look like it will.\" Mr Johnson maintains that the only way out of the EU is to \"go with the deal we've got\". The prime minister told Sophy Ridge on Sky that he was \"deeply, deeply disappointed\" to miss the 31 October deadline to secure Brexit, calling it \"a matter of deep regret\". The PM had previously said he would rather \"die in a ditch\" than ask the EU to delay Brexit beyond Halloween. Mr Johnson told the programme that he was sorry, and took responsibility, for missing the date, but accused Parliament of failing to implement his deal. He also said Donald Trump was \"patently in error\" when the US president warned the government's Brexit deal would hamper a UK-US trade deal. Mr Farage said Mr Johnson's deal \"kills off any chance of genuine independence\". \"If Boris is determined to stick to this new EU treaty, then that is not Brexit,\" he said. By political correspondent Jessica Parker Political opponents of Nigel Farage will accuse him of running scared after he said he would not stand as a candidate in December's poll. They will suggest he's not going to run because he thinks he's not going to win. But the flip side is that rather than concentrating on one constituency where he personally might try to win, Mr Farage is making it clear he's going to try to make Boris Johnson's life pretty difficult. That's if this so-called Leave alliance doesn't happen - and it doesn't look like it will. The Brexit Party leader has made it clear he has no interest in getting on board with Mr Johnson's deal at all. It's likely Mr Farage will spend a lot of the campaign really criticising it, whereas the Tory party leader will say he's got an oven-ready deal to present and get through Parliament within weeks. Treasury minister Rishi Sunak hit back at the criticism of the deal, telling the Andrew Marr show: \"I campaigned for Leave, I spent a lot of time talking to my constituents and others across the North East and in Yorkshire - what do they want from Brexit? \"They want to end free movement and replace it with a points system, they want to end the fact that money keeps going to the EU year after year, they want to make sure we're in control of our laws, and also they want us to have an independent trade policy. These are all things the prime minister's deal delivers. \"What I would say to Nigel Farage is, sometimes in politics, as in life, you've got to take yes for an answer.\" Also appearing on the programme, shadow chancellor John McDonnell suggested that a Labour government would seek to end privatised contracts in the NHS. He said that, as the contracts ran out, the work should be brought in-house, and that the public didn't want money \"being poured into the pockets of profiteers\". Pushed on whether an incoming Labour government would see the eradication of all privatisation in the NHS, Mr McDonnell said \"we'll see how those contracts run out.\" The Conservatives have strongly denied that the NHS is \"up for sale\". Asked if Labour would scrap the expansion of Heathrow airport, Mr McDonnell said the party would make the decision based on a set of criteria covering the environmental, economic and social impact of the project. \"On the current criteria, we've said very clearly, Heathrow expansion doesn't qualify.\" And on taxes, he said Labour would increase income tax for the top 5% of earners and raise corporation tax in order to pay for \"investments in schools and training\".", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 2534, "answer_end": 3398, "text": "By political correspondent Jessica Parker Political opponents of Nigel Farage will accuse him of running scared after he said he would not stand as a candidate in December's poll. They will suggest he's not going to run because he thinks he's not going to win. But the flip side is that rather than concentrating on one constituency where he personally might try to win, Mr Farage is making it clear he's going to try to make Boris Johnson's life pretty difficult. That's if this so-called Leave alliance doesn't happen - and it doesn't look like it will. The Brexit Party leader has made it clear he has no interest in getting on board with Mr Johnson's deal at all. It's likely Mr Farage will spend a lot of the campaign really criticising it, whereas the Tory party leader will say he's got an oven-ready deal to present and get through Parliament within weeks."}], "question": "Analysis: Why is Farage not standing again?", "id": "25_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Man accused of stealing roommate's $10m lottery ticket", "date": "9 January 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "California police have arrested a man accused of stealing a winning $10m (PS7.8m) lottery ticket from his roommate as he slept. Vacaville police say Adul Saosongyang, 35, was taken into custody as he attempted to claim the prize on Monday. \"That's definitely not the prize he was expecting,\" they wrote on Facebook on Tuesday after the suspect was charged with grand theft and booked into jail. Police say the winner has yet to receive any of his winnings. Police in Vacaville, about 35 miles (56km) outside Sacramento, detailed the man's alleged plot against his now-former roommate in their viral Facebook post. They say the victim, who has asked not to be identified by police, purchased a $30 scratch-off ticket at a Lucky Grocery Store on 20 December \"with hopes of winning a little extra cash for the holidays\". The man, who had mistakenly thought he had won $10,000 at first, \"returned home and shared this wonderful news with his two roommates\", according to investigators. He went to collect his fortune the next day, but was told that his lottery ticket was not a winner. Suspecting that his roommate had swapped it, he immediately called police to report the theft. The following day, his roommate, Mr Saosongyang, reported to the Lottery's Sacramento district office, where investigators began their routine investigation as they do with all winnings over $600. As part of their review process, lottery investigators visited the Lucky Grocery Store, where they were informed that the ticket may have been stolen. They contacted police and together determined Mr Saosongyang purchased a similar scratch-off card, altered and swapped it with the winning ticket while his roommate was sleeping. On Monday Mr Saosongyang was \"invited\" to come collect his stolen winnings, investigators say, \"but instead of him celebrating his big win he was arrested\". Police say the winner has not yet received his windfall, as the lottery completes their administrative investigation.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 457, "answer_end": 1524, "text": "Police in Vacaville, about 35 miles (56km) outside Sacramento, detailed the man's alleged plot against his now-former roommate in their viral Facebook post. They say the victim, who has asked not to be identified by police, purchased a $30 scratch-off ticket at a Lucky Grocery Store on 20 December \"with hopes of winning a little extra cash for the holidays\". The man, who had mistakenly thought he had won $10,000 at first, \"returned home and shared this wonderful news with his two roommates\", according to investigators. He went to collect his fortune the next day, but was told that his lottery ticket was not a winner. Suspecting that his roommate had swapped it, he immediately called police to report the theft. The following day, his roommate, Mr Saosongyang, reported to the Lottery's Sacramento district office, where investigators began their routine investigation as they do with all winnings over $600. As part of their review process, lottery investigators visited the Lucky Grocery Store, where they were informed that the ticket may have been stolen."}], "question": "What exactly happened?", "id": "26_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Acapulco police under investigation over alleged drugs gang links", "date": "26 September 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "The entire municipal police force in the coastal Mexican resort of Acapulco is under investigation amid suspicions of infiltration by criminal groups. Marines surrounded the police headquarters and disarmed 700 officers. Federal police and the military will now patrol the city instead. Acapulco became famous as a destination for the rich and famous in the 1950s and 1960s but has since become a hotspot for drug trafficking and has a high murder rate. Marines, state and federal police were deployed in a massive operation on Tuesday. They surrounded Acapulco's municipal police headquarters and formed a security cordon around the building. They then moved into the headquarters and disarmed hundreds of officers and seized their ammunition, bulletproof vests and radios. They also arrested two police commanders on suspicion of murder. The chief of Acapulco's highway police was also detained after he was found to be carrying unlicensed weapons. The entire municipal police force and its chief, Max Lorenzo Sedano, are under investigation. All officers will undergo a \"confidence test\" and will be questioned about possible links to criminal gangs. Meanwhile, their equipment and weapons will be placed under lock and key. Policing would be carried out by state police until the investigations are concluded, a Guerrero state official said. The raid came after state officials noticed an increase in crime in Acapulco and \"a lack of action by the police to deal with it\". Last year, the homicide rate in the city rose to 106 murders per 100,000 inhabitants, one of the highest in the world. London by comparison had a rate of 1.45 murders per 100,000 people between September 2016 and September 2017. Locals in Acapulco have complained about the rise in violence, with  clowns marching in protest in May saying they were losing business because people were too afraid to throw parties and paramedics warning that they were struggling to deal with the effects of the violence. In January, the US state department prohibited US government employees from travelling to Acapulco and surrounding Guerrero state. In July, bakery products firm Bimbo stopped delivering to parts of Acapulco because of the rise in violence. Local media have pointed out that the operation comes just five days before a new mayor takes office in Acapulco. The mayor-elect, Adela Roman from the left-wing Morena party, said last week that her pick for security chief had received death threats. The future security chief, Leticia Castro Ortiz, was reportedly told she would be \"met by bullets\" if she took up the position. Mayor-elect Roman insisted that despite the threats she would put \"new officials in power, these posts are not forever (...) often officials hold on to them as if it was their birthright\". She also said that she would reorganise the municipal police force and officers would be trained in human rights. Acapulco is one of the most violence-stricken cities in Mexico and is located in a state which has been badly affected by drug-related violence. And while many parts of Mexico remain largely peaceful, the murder rate nationwide reached a record level last year. Municipal police forces are seen as the weakest link in Mexico's security system. Poorly trained and badly paid, they can easily be threatened or cajoled into colluding with local drug gangs. Federal police and soldiers have taken over policing duties in some crime hotspots before but the move has failed to drive down crime for good. Human rights groups have also warned that while marines and soldiers have had success in arresting top drug dealers, they are not trained for policing duties and can be heavy handed when dealing with civilians.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 454, "answer_end": 950, "text": "Marines, state and federal police were deployed in a massive operation on Tuesday. They surrounded Acapulco's municipal police headquarters and formed a security cordon around the building. They then moved into the headquarters and disarmed hundreds of officers and seized their ammunition, bulletproof vests and radios. They also arrested two police commanders on suspicion of murder. The chief of Acapulco's highway police was also detained after he was found to be carrying unlicensed weapons."}], "question": "What happened?", "id": "27_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 951, "answer_end": 1345, "text": "The entire municipal police force and its chief, Max Lorenzo Sedano, are under investigation. All officers will undergo a \"confidence test\" and will be questioned about possible links to criminal gangs. Meanwhile, their equipment and weapons will be placed under lock and key. Policing would be carried out by state police until the investigations are concluded, a Guerrero state official said."}], "question": "What next?", "id": "27_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2221, "answer_end": 2903, "text": "Local media have pointed out that the operation comes just five days before a new mayor takes office in Acapulco. The mayor-elect, Adela Roman from the left-wing Morena party, said last week that her pick for security chief had received death threats. The future security chief, Leticia Castro Ortiz, was reportedly told she would be \"met by bullets\" if she took up the position. Mayor-elect Roman insisted that despite the threats she would put \"new officials in power, these posts are not forever (...) often officials hold on to them as if it was their birthright\". She also said that she would reorganise the municipal police force and officers would be trained in human rights."}], "question": "Why now?", "id": "27_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2904, "answer_end": 3712, "text": "Acapulco is one of the most violence-stricken cities in Mexico and is located in a state which has been badly affected by drug-related violence. And while many parts of Mexico remain largely peaceful, the murder rate nationwide reached a record level last year. Municipal police forces are seen as the weakest link in Mexico's security system. Poorly trained and badly paid, they can easily be threatened or cajoled into colluding with local drug gangs. Federal police and soldiers have taken over policing duties in some crime hotspots before but the move has failed to drive down crime for good. Human rights groups have also warned that while marines and soldiers have had success in arresting top drug dealers, they are not trained for policing duties and can be heavy handed when dealing with civilians."}], "question": "What's the situation in the rest of Mexico?", "id": "27_3"}]}]}, {"title": "Anthem protest: How diverse is the NFL?", "date": "28 May 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "America's National Football League (NFL) says it plans to fine teams if their players kneel during the national anthem. The form of protest, known as \"taking a knee\", has seen sports stars refuse to stand for the anthem, to highlight what they see as police brutality against African Americans. The new rules were approved by the team owners at the spring meeting. Some twitter users highlighted that while most of the NFL owners are white, most of the players are black. So what is the racial make-up of the NFL and how does it compare with other US sports? Back in August 2016, Colin Kaepernick, a player for the San Francisco 49ers, knelt during the national anthem. Since then, players across the country have done the same during the rendition of the Star-spangled Banner. Other players have linked arms, sat on the bench, stayed in the locker room or raised a fist. Under the new rules, the NFL will fine clubs \"if its personnel are on the field and do not stand and show respect for the flag and the anthem\". The league said players who do not want to stand can stay in the locker room until it has been performed. The NFL also reaffirmed a strong commitment to advance social justice. Each year the Institute for Diversity and Ethics in Sport, at the University of Central Florida, reports on diversity in the NFL - the players, coaches, officials and owners. The report graded the NFL an A for its racial hiring practices. It found that 70% of the players in 2016 were African-American (more than 1,500 athletes), nearly 30% were white and a small number Latino, Asian or from the Pacific Islands. According to the report there were two NFL teams, out of 32, with a majority owner who was not white: Shahid Khan, a Pakistani-born American of the Jacksonville Jaguars and Kim Pegula, an Asian American woman, of the Buffalo Bills. At the start of the 2017 season there were seven African-American head coaches. The Rooney Rule, introduced in 2003, requires teams to interview at least one ethnic minority candidate for each head coach or senior football operation vacancy. The proportion of ethnic minority head coaches has remained fairly consistent since then. Like the NFL, most players in the National Basketball Association (NBA) are African-American. About three-quarters of players in the 2016-17 season were African-American and about 19% were white. Out of 32 teams, there were three owners of basketball teams from a minority group. It was the first time three people from black and ethnic minority groups have led teams in a major US professional sports league, according to the report. Michael Jordan was the majority owner of the Charlotte Hornets, Vivek Ranadive, from India, was the \"controlling owner\" of the Sacramento Kings and Marc Lasry, born in Morocco, is an owner of the Milwaukee Bucks. In the 2016-17 season there were 21 white coaches, six African-American coaches, one Asian, one Latino and one that identified as other. The NBA also received an A for its racial hiring practices. Coaches and players have spoken out in support of the protesting American footballers. Steve Kerr, the coach of the Golden State Warriors, called the new NFL rules \"idiotic\" and said he was proud to be in a league that \"understands patriotism in America is about free speech and about peacefully protesting\". Stan Van Gundy, coach of the Detroit Pistons, has also spoken out in support of protesting athletes. In October 2017 he said: \"Our country was founded on protest. Otherwise, we would still be a colony of England.\" NBA rules state that players are required to \"line up in a dignified posture along the sidelines or on the foul line\" during the anthem. And the league's commissioner Adam Silver has said that he expects players to stand during the national anthem. Stars like LeBron James have spoken publicly about police shootings, and teams have locked arms during the anthem. The Women's NBA fined three clubs for wearing T-shirts in support of the Black Lives Matter movement during the warm-up. The fines were later rescinded. Baseball players are predominantly white. In the 2017 Major League Baseball (MLB) season, 58% of the players were white, 32% were Latino and 8% were African-American. It received a B grade from the diversity report. Arturo Moreno, who owns the Los Angeles Angels, is the only owner of an MLB club from a minority. In the 2016 season, 45% of coaching positions were held by people from a black and ethnic minority background. In September 2017, Oakland Athletics catcher Bruce Maxwell, an African-American, was the first and only baseball player to kneel during the national anthem. Read more from Reality Check Send us your questions Follow us on Twitter", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 2171, "answer_end": 3015, "text": "Like the NFL, most players in the National Basketball Association (NBA) are African-American. About three-quarters of players in the 2016-17 season were African-American and about 19% were white. Out of 32 teams, there were three owners of basketball teams from a minority group. It was the first time three people from black and ethnic minority groups have led teams in a major US professional sports league, according to the report. Michael Jordan was the majority owner of the Charlotte Hornets, Vivek Ranadive, from India, was the \"controlling owner\" of the Sacramento Kings and Marc Lasry, born in Morocco, is an owner of the Milwaukee Bucks. In the 2016-17 season there were 21 white coaches, six African-American coaches, one Asian, one Latino and one that identified as other. The NBA also received an A for its racial hiring practices."}], "question": "How does it compare with basketball?", "id": "28_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 4056, "answer_end": 4637, "text": "Baseball players are predominantly white. In the 2017 Major League Baseball (MLB) season, 58% of the players were white, 32% were Latino and 8% were African-American. It received a B grade from the diversity report. Arturo Moreno, who owns the Los Angeles Angels, is the only owner of an MLB club from a minority. In the 2016 season, 45% of coaching positions were held by people from a black and ethnic minority background. In September 2017, Oakland Athletics catcher Bruce Maxwell, an African-American, was the first and only baseball player to kneel during the national anthem."}], "question": "What about baseball?", "id": "28_1"}]}]}, {"title": "Grenfell Tower: Retired judge to lead disaster inquiry", "date": "29 June 2017", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Retired Court of Appeal judge Sir Martin Moore-Bick has been chosen to lead the public inquiry into the Grenfell Tower fire, the PM has said. Sir Martin said he understood the \"desire of local people for justice\", while Theresa May said \"no stone will be left unturned\" during the inquiry. Grenfell resident Oluwaseun Talabi said victims were unhappy at not being involved in Sir Martin's appointment. Police said 80 people are now presumed dead after the disaster, on 14 June. However, they warned the final death toll will not be known until at least the end of the year. In a statement, Sir Martin said the inquiry would seek to discover the truth about what happened at Grenfell Tower, \"so that we can learn lessons for the future\". He said the inquiry must be \"open, transparent and fair\" to all those involved. It should \"establish as quickly as possible the cause of the fire and how it was able to spread so quickly\", he added. Following the announcement, he met local residents and police at Grenfell Tower. Mrs May told MPs she expects Sir Martin will want to produce an interim report \"as early as possible\" to address the immediate lessons from the fire. \"I am determined that there will be justice for all the victims of this terrible tragedy and for their families who have suffered so terribly,\" she added. Joe Delaney, from the Grenfell Action Group, said the fire was \"a criminal matter\" and doubted whether the inquiry could deliver what residents wanted. He said he was willing to give the inquiry the benefit of doubt, but warned residents' patience was \"wafer thin\". But Mr Talabi - who fled the burning building with his partner and four-year-old daughter - added: \"We need a criminal judge. We need serious justice and this man isn't going to give us any justice.\" The Metropolitan Police has previously said it will investigate \"all criminal offences that may have been committed\". Born in Wales and educated at Christ's College, Cambridge, his career has spanned nearly five decades after being called to the Bar in 1969. As a lawyer, he specialised in commercial law which involved dealing with disputes relating to maritime and land transport of goods. Sir Martin went on to spend more than 20 years as a judge of the Commercial Court and Court of Appeal until his retirement in 2016. However, Grenfell residents have already pointed to a case in November 2014, in which Sir Martin ruled Westminster City Council could rehouse a single mother-of-five more than 50 miles away in Bletchley, near Milton Keynes. The decision was overturned by the Supreme Court in April 2015. Leading barrister Michael Mansfield QC, who has met survivors of the fire, said it was \"unbelievable that lessons are not learned\" from the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse, which is now on its fourth chairman. He said that inquiry \"did not consult with the families and the survivors\" and \"the same thing seems to have happened all over again\". Eighteen people have been formally identified by the coroner, but not all names have been released. The opening of inquests into seven of the victims heard six-month-old Leena Belkadi was found dead in her mother's arms. Most of those who died in the fire were said to be in 23 of the North Kensington tower block's 129 flats. Some residents tried to move up the building to escape the flames - and it is thought a number may have ended up in one flat. Police are tracing victims via \"every imaginable source\" of information; from government agencies to fast food firms. Survivors and relatives of those who died have expressed frustration at not getting the help and support they need. They confronted housing minister Alok Sharma MP on the BBC's Victoria Derbyshire programme on Wednesday, two weeks after the fire. Victims described the problems they had faced in being rehoused; trying to replace burned documents; accessing funding and being unable to return to work. The minister said people would be offered a suitable place to live within three weeks of the fire. Questions were raised about the cladding used on Grenfell in the immediate aftermath of the disaster, which led to a nation-wide operation to test buildings with similar cladding. On Thursday, the prime minister said cladding from 137 high rise buildings has now failed safety tests in 41 local authority areas. This was a 100% failure rate, she told MPs. An expert panel to advise on immediate safety action has been appointed following the safety failures. By Brian Wheeler, BBC News Public inquiries are set up for many reasons. Sometimes they are designed to expose the truth after a controversy, or apportion blame to individuals. More often, they simply produce recommendations, which the government can choose to follow or not. Recent examples include Leveson, into press standards, and Chilcot, into the Iraq War. They differ from police investigations because they are conducted, in part at least, in public. They might even be televised. They can be run by a judge, with witnesses giving evidence under oath, but there is no fixed model. Much depends on the \"terms of reference\". They can also drag on for years and cost millions of pounds - although the government says it wants the Grenfell Tower inquiry to \"move with speed\".", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1906, "answer_end": 2956, "text": "Born in Wales and educated at Christ's College, Cambridge, his career has spanned nearly five decades after being called to the Bar in 1969. As a lawyer, he specialised in commercial law which involved dealing with disputes relating to maritime and land transport of goods. Sir Martin went on to spend more than 20 years as a judge of the Commercial Court and Court of Appeal until his retirement in 2016. However, Grenfell residents have already pointed to a case in November 2014, in which Sir Martin ruled Westminster City Council could rehouse a single mother-of-five more than 50 miles away in Bletchley, near Milton Keynes. The decision was overturned by the Supreme Court in April 2015. Leading barrister Michael Mansfield QC, who has met survivors of the fire, said it was \"unbelievable that lessons are not learned\" from the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse, which is now on its fourth chairman. He said that inquiry \"did not consult with the families and the survivors\" and \"the same thing seems to have happened all over again\"."}], "question": "Who is Sir Martin?", "id": "29_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2957, "answer_end": 3527, "text": "Eighteen people have been formally identified by the coroner, but not all names have been released. The opening of inquests into seven of the victims heard six-month-old Leena Belkadi was found dead in her mother's arms. Most of those who died in the fire were said to be in 23 of the North Kensington tower block's 129 flats. Some residents tried to move up the building to escape the flames - and it is thought a number may have ended up in one flat. Police are tracing victims via \"every imaginable source\" of information; from government agencies to fast food firms."}], "question": "Who are the Grenfell victims?", "id": "29_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 4488, "answer_end": 5267, "text": "By Brian Wheeler, BBC News Public inquiries are set up for many reasons. Sometimes they are designed to expose the truth after a controversy, or apportion blame to individuals. More often, they simply produce recommendations, which the government can choose to follow or not. Recent examples include Leveson, into press standards, and Chilcot, into the Iraq War. They differ from police investigations because they are conducted, in part at least, in public. They might even be televised. They can be run by a judge, with witnesses giving evidence under oath, but there is no fixed model. Much depends on the \"terms of reference\". They can also drag on for years and cost millions of pounds - although the government says it wants the Grenfell Tower inquiry to \"move with speed\"."}], "question": "What is a public inquiry?", "id": "29_2"}]}]}, {"title": "Driverless cars: Who should die in a crash?", "date": "26 October 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "If forced to choose, who should a self-driving car kill in an unavoidable crash? Should the passengers in the vehicle be sacrificed to save pedestrians? Or should a pedestrian be killed to save a family of four in the vehicle? To get closer to an answer - if that were ever possible - researchers from the MIT Media Lab have analysed more than 40 million responses to an experiment they launched in 2014. Their Moral Machine has revealed how attitudes differ across the world. Weighing up whom a self-driving car should kill is a modern twist on an old ethical dilemma known as the trolley problem. The idea was explored in an episode of the NBC series The Good Place, in which ethics professor Chidi is put in control of a runaway tram. If he takes no action, the tram will run over five engineers working on the tracks ahead. If he diverts the tram on to a different track he will save the five engineers, but the tram will hit one other engineer who would otherwise have survived. The Moral Machine presented several variations of this dilemma involving a self-driving car. People were presented with several scenarios. Should a self-driving car sacrifice its passengers or swerve to hit: - a successful business person? - a known criminal? - a group of elderly people? - a herd of cows? - pedestrians who were crossing the road when they were told to wait? Four years after launching the experiment, the researchers have published an analysis of the data in Nature magazine. The results from 40 million decisions suggested people preferred to save humans rather than animals, spare as many lives as possible, and tended to save young over elderly people. There were also smaller trends of saving females over males, saving those of higher status over poorer people, and saving pedestrians rather than passengers. About 490,000 people also completed a demographic survey including their age, gender and religious views. The researchers said these qualities did not have a \"sizeable impact\" on the decisions people made. The researchers did find some cultural differences in the decisions people made. People in France were most likely to weigh up the number of people who would be killed, while those in Japan placed the least emphasis on this. The researchers acknowledge that their online game was not a controlled study and that it \"could not do justice to all of the complexity of autonomous vehicle dilemmas\". However, they hope the Moral Machine will spark a \"global conversation\" about the moral decisions self-driving vehicles will have to make. \"Never in the history of humanity have we allowed a machine to autonomously decide who should live and who should die, in a fraction of a second, without real-time supervision. We are going to cross that bridge any time now,\" the team said in its analysis. \"Before we allow our cars to make ethical decisions, we need to have a global conversation to express our preferences to the companies that will design moral algorithms, and to the policymakers that will regulate them.\" Germany has already introduced a law that states driverless cars must avoid injury or death at all cost. The law says algorithms must never decide what to do based on the age, gender or health of the passengers or pedestrians.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 477, "answer_end": 1478, "text": "Weighing up whom a self-driving car should kill is a modern twist on an old ethical dilemma known as the trolley problem. The idea was explored in an episode of the NBC series The Good Place, in which ethics professor Chidi is put in control of a runaway tram. If he takes no action, the tram will run over five engineers working on the tracks ahead. If he diverts the tram on to a different track he will save the five engineers, but the tram will hit one other engineer who would otherwise have survived. The Moral Machine presented several variations of this dilemma involving a self-driving car. People were presented with several scenarios. Should a self-driving car sacrifice its passengers or swerve to hit: - a successful business person? - a known criminal? - a group of elderly people? - a herd of cows? - pedestrians who were crossing the road when they were told to wait? Four years after launching the experiment, the researchers have published an analysis of the data in Nature magazine."}], "question": "How did the experiment work?", "id": "30_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1479, "answer_end": 3260, "text": "The results from 40 million decisions suggested people preferred to save humans rather than animals, spare as many lives as possible, and tended to save young over elderly people. There were also smaller trends of saving females over males, saving those of higher status over poorer people, and saving pedestrians rather than passengers. About 490,000 people also completed a demographic survey including their age, gender and religious views. The researchers said these qualities did not have a \"sizeable impact\" on the decisions people made. The researchers did find some cultural differences in the decisions people made. People in France were most likely to weigh up the number of people who would be killed, while those in Japan placed the least emphasis on this. The researchers acknowledge that their online game was not a controlled study and that it \"could not do justice to all of the complexity of autonomous vehicle dilemmas\". However, they hope the Moral Machine will spark a \"global conversation\" about the moral decisions self-driving vehicles will have to make. \"Never in the history of humanity have we allowed a machine to autonomously decide who should live and who should die, in a fraction of a second, without real-time supervision. We are going to cross that bridge any time now,\" the team said in its analysis. \"Before we allow our cars to make ethical decisions, we need to have a global conversation to express our preferences to the companies that will design moral algorithms, and to the policymakers that will regulate them.\" Germany has already introduced a law that states driverless cars must avoid injury or death at all cost. The law says algorithms must never decide what to do based on the age, gender or health of the passengers or pedestrians."}], "question": "What did they find?", "id": "30_1"}]}]}, {"title": "Osama Bin Laden: Legality of killing questioned", "date": "12 May 2011", "paragraphs": [{"context": "After receiving news that a team of US Navy Seals had shot dead Osama Bin Laden at a compound in northern Pakistan, President Barack Obama announced that justice had been done. The demise of the man held responsible for mass atrocities, including the 11 September 2001 attacks, was welcomed around the world. But as the US narrative developed - and changed - after the raid, there were growing questions about whether it was legal to kill the al-Qaeda leader. At one level, these have focused on what happened during the operation at the building in Abbottabad in which Bin Laden was found. \"The issue here is whether what was done was an act of legitimate self-defence,\" said Benjamin Ferencz, an international law specialist who served as a prosecutor during the Nuremburg trials and argued that it would have been better to capture Bin Laden and send him to court. \"Killing a captive who poses no immediate threat is a crime under military law as well as all other law,\" he told the BBC World Service. US Attorney General Eric Holder has led the case for the defence of the operation, which he said was a \"kill or capture mission\" and \"obviously lawful\". \"If there was the possibility of a feasible surrender, that would have occurred,\" he told the BBC, adding that the protection of the Navy Seals was a priority. \"One does not know what Bin Laden had there,\" he said. \"It's one o'clock, two o'clock in the morning or so, it's dark. This is a mass murderer who's sworn to continue his attacks against the United States and its allies. \"When confronted with that person, in the absence of some clear indication that he was going to surrender, I think that they acted in an appropriate way.\" A clear picture of the exact circumstances in which Bin Laden was shot has not emerged, and may never do so. US officials have suggested that the al-Qaeda leader may have been reaching for a weapon, and that the Navy Seals were wary that people in the compound might have been wearing suicide belts. But they have also said Bin Laden was not carrying a weapon - after initially saying he was. And they have told US media that just one person in the compound shot at the special forces team, in what appears to have been a one-sided confrontation. Legal experts have therefore asked whether the US forces were instructed to kill, and whether Bin Laden was offered a chance to give himself in. Like Mr Ferencz, British law professor Philippe Sands QC says it is impossible to make a definitive legal judgement without knowing precisely what happened. But he says the case for the raid's legality has been weakened. \"The question to ask is: were the measures taken in the actual situation that pertained reasonable and proportionate, given the circumstances in which the [Navy Seals] found themselves?\" he told the BBC. \"The facts for Bin Laden don't appear to easily meet that standard.\" On a broader level, US officials have justified Bin Laden's killing as an act committed as part of an armed conflict with al-Qaeda. Mr Holder said Bin Laden's killing was \"not an assassination\" but rather \"an act of national self-defence\" against an al-Qaeda leader who had acknowledged his role in the 9/11 attacks. \"You have to remember, it is lawful to target an enemy commander,\" he said. Some legal experts have backed up that position. \"I don't think that this is an extrajudicial killing,\" Philip Bobbitt, a US specialist on constitutional law and international security, told the BBC's World Tonight programme. \"I think this is part of an armed conflict authorised by the United Nations, authorised by both houses of Congress.\" The extent to which Bin Laden could have still been a key commander, given the restrictions on his movements and communications, has been queried, though the US has said he was \"active in operational planning\" from Abbottabad. But the location of the raid has also raised questions. Bin Laden was killed in a normally quiet town, in a country with which - despite ongoing military operations including drone strikes near the border with Afghanistan - the US is not officially at war. And Pakistan was not given prior warning of the raid. \"As a matter of international law, one country is not free to enter another country apparently without the authorisation of that country, and intervene, whether to kidnap or kill a national of a third state,\" Mr Sands said. He acknowledged that under what is known as the doctrine of necessity, where there is an \"overriding threat to national security\", such an act might not give rise to responsibility or liability. But he said the difficulty with that argument was that it comes against a background of a rise in extrajudicial killings, including through the use of drones, and that this was not a \"lawful direction to be taking\". The logical conclusion of any idea that Bin Laden could be killed as an enemy combatant was \"that anyone associated with al-Qaeda in any country in the world can be taken out, can be executed,\" Mr Sands said. \"I think it's deeply troubling if we are indeed moving to a place where you can have a global assassination policy for those who are perceived to cause trouble,\" he added. The UN special rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, Christof Heyns, and the special rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism, Martin Scheinin, have raised a similar concern. \"In certain exceptional cases, use of deadly force may be permissible as a measure of last resort... including in operations against terrorists,\" they said in statement. \"However, the norm should be that terrorists be dealt with as criminals, through legal processes of arrest, trial and judicially decided punishment,\" they added. \"Actions taken by states in combating terrorism, especially in high profile cases, set precedents for the way in which the right to life will be treated in future instances.\" Potentially, Bin Laden's killing could be challenged under international, Pakistani or US law, though for now there seems little prospect of any serious legal case being brought.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 2386, "answer_end": 3615, "text": "Like Mr Ferencz, British law professor Philippe Sands QC says it is impossible to make a definitive legal judgement without knowing precisely what happened. But he says the case for the raid's legality has been weakened. \"The question to ask is: were the measures taken in the actual situation that pertained reasonable and proportionate, given the circumstances in which the [Navy Seals] found themselves?\" he told the BBC. \"The facts for Bin Laden don't appear to easily meet that standard.\" On a broader level, US officials have justified Bin Laden's killing as an act committed as part of an armed conflict with al-Qaeda. Mr Holder said Bin Laden's killing was \"not an assassination\" but rather \"an act of national self-defence\" against an al-Qaeda leader who had acknowledged his role in the 9/11 attacks. \"You have to remember, it is lawful to target an enemy commander,\" he said. Some legal experts have backed up that position. \"I don't think that this is an extrajudicial killing,\" Philip Bobbitt, a US specialist on constitutional law and international security, told the BBC's World Tonight programme. \"I think this is part of an armed conflict authorised by the United Nations, authorised by both houses of Congress.\""}], "question": "Proportionate response?", "id": "31_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Reality Check: Who has access to the single market?", "date": "11 May 2016", "paragraphs": [{"context": "The claim: The UK would continue to have access to the single market after leaving the European Union. Reality Check verdict: The UK could continue to trade with the single market following an EU exit, but we do not know on what terms that trade would take place because that would be subject to years of negotiations. On Wednesday morning at the start of his Vote Leave bus tour, Boris Johnson said the UK should get out of the single market but have access to it. What do we mean by access? And if Britain leaves the European Union, what sort of relationship would it have with the single market? In the early 1990s the common market grew into the single market we know today. At its heart is a free trade area, which is a market where there are no tariffs or taxes on trade between countries. While its members can trade freely with each other, they also impose common tariffs on imports from non-EU countries. Being a member of the single market means a country gets the benefit of any trade deal struck between the EU and other countries - the flip side is that member states cannot set their own tariffs. But the EU's single market is much more than a straightforward free trade area, because it also includes the free movement of goods, people and capital. Crucial to the single market is a common framework of regulations that mean companies in countries such as the UK, France, Italy or Poland have to abide by common standards - whether they trade across the EU or not. That is to stop one business or country having an unfair advantage. Most countries in the single market also have a single currency - the euro - but the UK has not adopted it. Any countries that are not subject to trade sanctions can trade with members of the single market, as Boris Johnson said. But there is a big difference between being able to trade with the single market and being a member of it. For instance, the United States sells into the single market but there are no common safety standards for goods such as fridges or cars and tariffs and quotas may be imposed on its products. The 28 members of the European Union are full members of the European Economic Area - the single market. But there are other members of the club too. The four members of the European Free Trade Association also participate in the single market - but to different degrees. Take Norway for instance. Norway has full access to the single market but is not in the EU. It pays a contribution to the EU Budget to gain that access and has to sign up to all the rules of the club - including its common regulations and standards. People from across the EU are free to live and work in Norway too, but the country is exempt from EU rules on agriculture, fisheries, justice and home affairs. The downside for Norway is that it has no say over how the rules of the Single Market are created. Another example is Switzerland. It has a free trade agreement with the EU and a number of bilateral agreements, which give it access to the Single Market for most of its industries. However, it does not have full access to the single market for its banking sector. In the past week, Leave campaigners have confirmed that they would not want to remain part of the single market by signing deals similar to Norway or Switzerland. They say that because of the strength of the UK economy and the need for EU countries to continue trading freely with the UK, Britain would be in a very strong position to get a deal that exempted the UK from free movement and single market regulations while allowing free access to the single market. Because the UK already complies with single market regulations, a UK-EU free trade deal on goods may be fairly straightforward. But the UK's service sector is about 80% of our economy and the City of London dominates financial services in the EU. In the negotiations that would follow a British exit from the EU everything would depend on the deal the remaining EU members wanted to cut. And the Remain campaign insists the EU would demand the UK accepts free movement and common regulations in any deal that provides single market access. We do not know what the outcome of such negotiations would be - it is one of the biggest question marks hanging over this referendum. Read more: The facts behind claims in the EU debate", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 599, "answer_end": 1655, "text": "In the early 1990s the common market grew into the single market we know today. At its heart is a free trade area, which is a market where there are no tariffs or taxes on trade between countries. While its members can trade freely with each other, they also impose common tariffs on imports from non-EU countries. Being a member of the single market means a country gets the benefit of any trade deal struck between the EU and other countries - the flip side is that member states cannot set their own tariffs. But the EU's single market is much more than a straightforward free trade area, because it also includes the free movement of goods, people and capital. Crucial to the single market is a common framework of regulations that mean companies in countries such as the UK, France, Italy or Poland have to abide by common standards - whether they trade across the EU or not. That is to stop one business or country having an unfair advantage. Most countries in the single market also have a single currency - the euro - but the UK has not adopted it."}], "question": "What is the single market?", "id": "32_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1656, "answer_end": 3121, "text": "Any countries that are not subject to trade sanctions can trade with members of the single market, as Boris Johnson said. But there is a big difference between being able to trade with the single market and being a member of it. For instance, the United States sells into the single market but there are no common safety standards for goods such as fridges or cars and tariffs and quotas may be imposed on its products. The 28 members of the European Union are full members of the European Economic Area - the single market. But there are other members of the club too. The four members of the European Free Trade Association also participate in the single market - but to different degrees. Take Norway for instance. Norway has full access to the single market but is not in the EU. It pays a contribution to the EU Budget to gain that access and has to sign up to all the rules of the club - including its common regulations and standards. People from across the EU are free to live and work in Norway too, but the country is exempt from EU rules on agriculture, fisheries, justice and home affairs. The downside for Norway is that it has no say over how the rules of the Single Market are created. Another example is Switzerland. It has a free trade agreement with the EU and a number of bilateral agreements, which give it access to the Single Market for most of its industries. However, it does not have full access to the single market for its banking sector."}], "question": "Who has access to the single market?", "id": "32_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3122, "answer_end": 4260, "text": "In the past week, Leave campaigners have confirmed that they would not want to remain part of the single market by signing deals similar to Norway or Switzerland. They say that because of the strength of the UK economy and the need for EU countries to continue trading freely with the UK, Britain would be in a very strong position to get a deal that exempted the UK from free movement and single market regulations while allowing free access to the single market. Because the UK already complies with single market regulations, a UK-EU free trade deal on goods may be fairly straightforward. But the UK's service sector is about 80% of our economy and the City of London dominates financial services in the EU. In the negotiations that would follow a British exit from the EU everything would depend on the deal the remaining EU members wanted to cut. And the Remain campaign insists the EU would demand the UK accepts free movement and common regulations in any deal that provides single market access. We do not know what the outcome of such negotiations would be - it is one of the biggest question marks hanging over this referendum."}], "question": "If Britain left the EU how would it gain access to the single market?", "id": "32_2"}]}]}, {"title": "India-US trade : Is Trump right about India's high tariffs?", "date": "23 September 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Claim: India imposes very high tariffs on imports - some of the highest in the world - according to US President Trump. Verdict:  It's true that average tariffs in India are much higher than in the world's biggest economies, and they are also among the highest compared with other emerging economies.  But other countries have high tariffs on specific products, and the US has imposed tariffs on more than $360bn worth of Chinese goods in its trade war with Beijing. Trade between India and the US is expected to be a key issue during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the US this week. Despite growing political and strategic ties, there's been tension over trade issues. President Trump says India's tariffs - taxes on imports - are \"unacceptable,\" and has described India as the \"king\" of tariffs. An official US report this year said India's tariff rates on other members of the World Trade Organization (WTO) remain \"the highest of any major economy.\" The report referred to the average tariff rate which members of the WTO apply to each other when they don't share a trade agreement. India's average tariff rate in 2018 was 17.1% - that is significantly higher than the US, Japan and the EU, all of whom had rates of between 3.4% and 5.2%. India's average tariff levels are more in line with other emerging countries - Turkey's average rate in 2018 was 10.7%, Brazil's was 13.4% and Egypt's 19.1% - so Mr Trump is correct to say that on this measure India has one of the highest tariff regimes globally. The US trade war with China has led both countries to impose a series of targeted tariffs against each other over the past year. Although these are not yet reflected in the annual WTO data, this use of tariffs as a lever of global trade policy is likely to push the average level of tariffs higher for both countries. India argues its average duties are well within the limits agreed as part of WTO rules on trade. Indian officials also point out that on another measurement of tariff rates - what's called the trade-weighted average - India comes out better. This takes the volume of imports, and calculates the average of all the tariffs which are actually collected. In 2017, India's trade-weighted average tariff was 11.7%, Brazil's was 10% and South Korea's was 8.1%. But trade-weighted average tariffs for the US, the EU and Japan were much lower - at 2.3%, 3% and 2.4% respectively. India is not alone in charging high duties - for example, Japan, South Korea and Australia all have high tariffs on specific imports. The US imposes a 350% tariff on certain types of tobacco, and 100% or higher on certain types of European cheese and chocolate, as well as peanuts. But the US overall average tariff rate has historically been very low - it had one of the lowest rates in the world in 2018, according to one report. India increased tariffs on 28 American products in June, including almonds, walnuts, and apples, as well as US steel. The duty on US walnuts went up to 120%, while the duty on chickpeas and some types of lentils was raised to 70%. India's move came after the US had withdrawn special trade privileges for the country, affecting more than $5bn worth imports from there. India was also angered by Washington's refusal to exempt India from steel and aluminium tariffs last year. India mostly exports gems, pharmaceuticals, machinery, mineral fuels and vehicles to the US. Apart from agricultural produce, the US exports to India precious metals and stones, mineral fuels, aircraft, machinery, and optical and medical instruments. President Trump has highlighted India's tariffs on Harley Davidson motorbikes, which used to be a 100%, but were halved after the US complained. The US has also complained about duties imposed on information technology products as well as price controls on medical equipment, rules which favour domestic e-commerce firms and require digital service providers to store data locally. Despite this, bilateral trade has been steadily increasing. In 2018, it reached $142.1bn, with India having a surplus of $24.2bn, according to official US data. Read more from Reality Check Send us your questions Follow us on Twitter", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1834, "answer_end": 2837, "text": "India argues its average duties are well within the limits agreed as part of WTO rules on trade. Indian officials also point out that on another measurement of tariff rates - what's called the trade-weighted average - India comes out better. This takes the volume of imports, and calculates the average of all the tariffs which are actually collected. In 2017, India's trade-weighted average tariff was 11.7%, Brazil's was 10% and South Korea's was 8.1%. But trade-weighted average tariffs for the US, the EU and Japan were much lower - at 2.3%, 3% and 2.4% respectively. India is not alone in charging high duties - for example, Japan, South Korea and Australia all have high tariffs on specific imports. The US imposes a 350% tariff on certain types of tobacco, and 100% or higher on certain types of European cheese and chocolate, as well as peanuts. But the US overall average tariff rate has historically been very low - it had one of the lowest rates in the world in 2018, according to one report."}], "question": "What does India say?", "id": "33_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2838, "answer_end": 4107, "text": "India increased tariffs on 28 American products in June, including almonds, walnuts, and apples, as well as US steel. The duty on US walnuts went up to 120%, while the duty on chickpeas and some types of lentils was raised to 70%. India's move came after the US had withdrawn special trade privileges for the country, affecting more than $5bn worth imports from there. India was also angered by Washington's refusal to exempt India from steel and aluminium tariffs last year. India mostly exports gems, pharmaceuticals, machinery, mineral fuels and vehicles to the US. Apart from agricultural produce, the US exports to India precious metals and stones, mineral fuels, aircraft, machinery, and optical and medical instruments. President Trump has highlighted India's tariffs on Harley Davidson motorbikes, which used to be a 100%, but were halved after the US complained. The US has also complained about duties imposed on information technology products as well as price controls on medical equipment, rules which favour domestic e-commerce firms and require digital service providers to store data locally. Despite this, bilateral trade has been steadily increasing. In 2018, it reached $142.1bn, with India having a surplus of $24.2bn, according to official US data."}], "question": "What tariffs has India imposed on the US?", "id": "33_1"}]}]}, {"title": "Sperm swimming technique 'all down to simple maths'", "date": "20 March 2017", "paragraphs": [{"context": "How an individual sperm swims, against all the odds, through fluid to reach the fallopian tubes has been revealed - and it's all about rhythm. Researchers from the UK and Japan found that the head and tail movements of sperm made patterns similar to the fields that form around magnets. And these help to propel sperm towards the female egg. Knowing why some sperm succeed and others fail could help treat male infertility, the researchers said. More than 50 million sperm embark on the journey to fertilise an egg when a man and woman have sex. About 10 reach the finish line - but there can only be one winner. The journey is treacherous, says study author Dr Hermes Gadelha. \"Every time someone tells me they are having a baby, I think it is one of the greatest miracles ever - but no-one realises,\" says Dr Gadelha, a lecturer in applied mathematics at the University of York. He and his team measured the beat of individual sperm cells' tails to try to understand the flow of fluid around the sperm. It turns out that a \"simple mathematical formula\" explains the rhythmical patterns created, Dr Gadelha says. And these movements help selected sperm cells move forward towards their holy grail - the female egg. The study, published in the journal Physical Review Letters, says the next step is to use the model to predict how large numbers of sperm move. Prof Allan Pacey, a sperm expert from the University of Sheffield, says a successful sperm is more than just about swimming prowess. \"The more we know about sperm the better. This might help infertility treatment in some small way but there are lots of other factors to consider too.\" They include the number of sperm available, getting them to the right place at the right time and the DNA present in the head of the sperm. When a man has ejaculated, 50 million to 150 million sperm are produced, and these cells immediately start swimming upstream towards a woman's fallopian tubes. But it's not an easy journey - there are lots of hurdles to overcome for the male sex cells, which are just 0.065mm in length. Only one sperm can penetrate the woman's egg and fertilise it, so the race is on. First, they have to survive the vagina, where conditions mean most die. Then they have to avoid dead ends and being trapped before reaching the uterus. On the way there are marauding white blood cells ready to kill them. Finally, the remaining sperm arrive at the fallopian tubes, where they are fed and nourished. But has an egg been released at exactly the right time to welcome the winning sperm? If not, the journey has all been in vain.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1785, "answer_end": 2595, "text": "When a man has ejaculated, 50 million to 150 million sperm are produced, and these cells immediately start swimming upstream towards a woman's fallopian tubes. But it's not an easy journey - there are lots of hurdles to overcome for the male sex cells, which are just 0.065mm in length. Only one sperm can penetrate the woman's egg and fertilise it, so the race is on. First, they have to survive the vagina, where conditions mean most die. Then they have to avoid dead ends and being trapped before reaching the uterus. On the way there are marauding white blood cells ready to kill them. Finally, the remaining sperm arrive at the fallopian tubes, where they are fed and nourished. But has an egg been released at exactly the right time to welcome the winning sperm? If not, the journey has all been in vain."}], "question": "Race to the egg - what sort of journey do sperm face?", "id": "34_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Barclays charged with fraud in Qatar case", "date": "20 June 2017", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Barclays and four former executives have been charged with fraud over their actions in the 2008 financial crisis. The Serious Fraud Office case relates to the way the bank raised billions of pounds from Qatari investors enabling it to avoid a government bailout. Former chief executive John Varley is one of the four ex-staff who will appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on 3 July. Barclays says it is considering its position and awaiting further details. \"The charges arise in the context of Barclays' capital raisings in June and November 2008. Barclays awaits further details of the charges from the SFO,\" the bank said in a statement. It is the first time criminal charges related to the financial crisis have been brought against a bank in the UK. Mr Varley, former senior investment banker Roger Jenkins, Thomas Kalaris, a former chief executive of Barclays' wealth division, and Richard Boath, the ex-European head of financial institutions, have all been charged with conspiracy to commit fraud in the June 2008 capital raising. In addition, Mr Varley and Mr Jenkins have also been charged with the same offence in relation to the October 2008 capital raising and with providing unlawful financial assistance. Mr Jenkins will \"vigorously defend\" himself against the charges, his lawyer has told Reuters. \"As one might expect in the challenging circumstances of 2008, Mr Jenkins sought and received both internal and external legal advice on each and every topic covered by the SFO's accusations,\" said Brad Kaufman from American firm Greenberg Traurig. Mr Boath, who last year took Barclays to an employment tribunal on the grounds of wrongful dismissal, also pledged to defend himself. He said in a statement: \"The SFO's decision to charge me is based on a false understanding of my role and the facts. I was not a decision-maker and had no control over what the bank did in 2008.\" John Varley would for most have been an unlikely choice as the first former bank chief executive to face criminal charges over the events of the financial crisis. Avuncular, calm, Mr Varley was one of the City's patricians, often portrayed - rightly or not - as a check on Barclays' hard-charging investment bank, led by Bob Diamond. Now, along with the bank he once led, he faces two types of charges, both of which relate to fundraisings from Qatar in 2008. The first charge, conspiracy to commit fraud, relates to \"advisory\" fees paid to Qatar. The second - \"unlawful assistance\" - could be more serious. It relates to a PS2bn loan advanced to Qatar after the fundraisings were negotiated, the implication being that there was a money-go-round at work - Barclays was handing Qatar some of the money it was using to support the British bank. John Varley, aged 61, was chief executive at Barclays between 2004 and 2011. Roger Jenkins, 61, was the executive chairman of investment banking and investment management in the Middle East and North Africa. Thomas Kalaris, 61, was chief executive of Barclays wealth and investment management. Richard Boath, 58, was European head of financial institutions group. Barclays took PS12bn from Qatar in 2008, as banks scrambled to avoid nationalisation. The SFO looked into payments made to Qatar at that time and afterwards. It also investigated whether those payments were correctly disclosed and if they might have been an inducement to Qatar to support the British bank. The emergency funds allowed Barclays to avoid a government bailout in 2008 at a time when rivals Lloyds Banking Group and Royal Bank of Scotland were forced to rely on a taxpayer rescue. The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has also reopened its probe into the deal and is understood to be reviewing new evidence which could prompt it to reconsider a PS50m fine against the banking giant four years ago. The FCA imposed the penalty after finding that Barclays had failed to disclose the arrangements and fees it paid to the Qatari investors, but Barclays contested the fine and it was put on hold while the SFO conducted its investigation.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 2741, "answer_end": 3104, "text": "John Varley, aged 61, was chief executive at Barclays between 2004 and 2011. Roger Jenkins, 61, was the executive chairman of investment banking and investment management in the Middle East and North Africa. Thomas Kalaris, 61, was chief executive of Barclays wealth and investment management. Richard Boath, 58, was European head of financial institutions group."}], "question": "Who are the four former Barclays executives?", "id": "35_0"}]}]}, {"title": "France's raw recruits sign up for return of national service", "date": "26 June 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Across a field outside Paris, a few hundred teenagers slog through the French national anthem in a low murmur. It's not the liveliest rendition ever heard. But it is only 8am and, lined up on a makeshift parade ground, they are on unfamiliar territory: organised with military precision into straight rows, uniforms correct, for the daily raising of the French flag. For the first time in 20 years, French teenagers are doing National Service as part of a new scheme introduced by President Emmanuel Macron. The pilot programme, which is voluntary, includes two weeks of training followed by another two weeks of community work, and will eventually be compulsory for all 16 year olds. These are the first recruits for the new \"Service national universel\" (SNU). More scout camp than old-style military service, it includes two weeks of residential training, followed by two weeks of community work. Mr Macron has said he hopes the programme will boost patriotism and social cohesion among young people in France, but why is he so concerned about French pride and fraternity, and will the new programme help? What's included? The president had wanted a more military-style programme, but the army is said to have baulked at the task of training up the nation's teenagers. Instead the civil scheme includes a day of classes in orienteering, map-reading and strategy, taught by members of the armed forces. \"My dad did military service,\" a disappointed new recruit complains. \"He used to tell me about it. I'd like to do military service like him, but unfortunately it's not possible.\" The teenagers here this month are volunteers in a pilot programme, but from 2026 the government plans to make it compulsory for all 16 year olds. The president says he wants the new programme to boost \"patriotism and social cohesion\" among young people. \"What's missing is a moment of cohesion,\" explains Gabriel Attal, the junior education minister responsible for launching the scheme, \"of youth coming together from different parts of France, from different social backgrounds, sharing their experiences and their commitments for society and the country.\" That's one explanation. Another is Marine Le Pen. President Macron has framed French politics as a battle between himself and the populist, far-right leader, who came first in the European elections last month with her brand of inward-looking nationalism. Bruno Cautres, a prominent political scientist, says that Mr Macron does not want to leave the field of patriotism to Marine Le Pen. \"What Macron is trying to show to the French public,\" he says, \"is that there is no contradiction in being pro-European and patriotic; to be pro-European and to believe in your country; to be pro-EU and also proud to be French.\" Read more French stories Perhaps then it's not just patriotism President Macron wants to boost, but the \"right kind\" of patriotism. If so, is compulsory national service the way to do it? \"It's a very sensitive issue,\" says Mr Cautres. \"Because France is a promise - of liberty, equality, fraternity.\" \"But when you look at the young French with a low level of education, or the young French with non-French origins, you can see the promise of social and political integration is not really there. So [simply] learning the theory is not going to work.\" Surveys have suggested that a new national service is popular with French voters, but not so much with the teenagers who would have to do it. For Matteo Comar, a 16-year-old spokesperson for a national student union, Mr Macron's new programme is not only \"indoctrination\" it's hypocritical too. \"It's funny because the government of today is not at all promoting [the idea of] acting for community. \"The principle of the system is to be selfish - working for yourself, your money. So for them to come and say 'it's about community, we need to share things'.  Yes: we agree. But that's not what they're doing at all.\" The sense that divisions in France are growing were highlighted again by the recent \"gilets jaunes\" protests across France. The challenge, says French sociologist Michel Wieviorka, is how to transform the current social division, crisis and extremism into political democratic debate. \"France [until the 1980s] was an industrial society with a very strong Communist party, a strong working class movement and strong trades unions,\" he told me. \"There was a relationship between the masters of industry and the working class people. There was a strong conflict, and people had the feeling that this was the core of a collective life and there was a strong cohesion. \"Today, you have many fragments, many different groups, and these groups don't talk, don't discuss.\" While many in France feel a sense of national identity fragmenting under the pressures of a changing world, it seems Mr Macron wants to get everyone singing the same tune.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 3313, "answer_end": 4867, "text": "Surveys have suggested that a new national service is popular with French voters, but not so much with the teenagers who would have to do it. For Matteo Comar, a 16-year-old spokesperson for a national student union, Mr Macron's new programme is not only \"indoctrination\" it's hypocritical too. \"It's funny because the government of today is not at all promoting [the idea of] acting for community. \"The principle of the system is to be selfish - working for yourself, your money. So for them to come and say 'it's about community, we need to share things'.  Yes: we agree. But that's not what they're doing at all.\" The sense that divisions in France are growing were highlighted again by the recent \"gilets jaunes\" protests across France. The challenge, says French sociologist Michel Wieviorka, is how to transform the current social division, crisis and extremism into political democratic debate. \"France [until the 1980s] was an industrial society with a very strong Communist party, a strong working class movement and strong trades unions,\" he told me. \"There was a relationship between the masters of industry and the working class people. There was a strong conflict, and people had the feeling that this was the core of a collective life and there was a strong cohesion. \"Today, you have many fragments, many different groups, and these groups don't talk, don't discuss.\" While many in France feel a sense of national identity fragmenting under the pressures of a changing world, it seems Mr Macron wants to get everyone singing the same tune."}], "question": "What do French teens make of it?", "id": "36_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Volvo shows electric cars are coming. But how quickly?", "date": "5 July 2017", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Volvo's announcement certainly electrified the internet. The Chinese-owned carmaker caused great excitement on Wednesday when it said that every vehicle it launches from 2019 will have an electric motor. This, it added, marked a \"historic end of cars that have only an internal combustion engine\". There is no doubt that the car industry is changing at speed. From electric vehicles, to self-driving technology, to investments in ride-sharing and taxi companies, carmakers are trying to get a toehold in areas that have the potential to upend the automotive sector in the coming years. But it isn't clear that Volvo's latest move presents a big acceleration in the pace of change. The BBC's Theo Leggett points out that all the car companies are responding to tighter emissions standards that will apply across their fleets from 2021. Introducing electric or partly electric vehicles can only help with that. Indeed, Volvo already offers a plug-in hybrid option for its top of the range models, like the XC90.  Other car companies are heading in the same direction. Jaguar Land Rover last year said it expects up to 50% of its range to be electrified by 2020. It is also worth asking just how electric we are talking. Volvo said it would introduce a \"portfolio of electrified cars across its model range, embracing fully electric cars, plug-in hybrid cars and mild-hybrid cars\".  That covers a wide range of outcomes. Mild hybrids are essentially a standard car, typically with a petrol engine. But they have a larger battery which can help at low speeds. The battery is a booster for the engine, improving efficiency. But it only works at low speeds and for short distances - think of it as a helping hand as you pull away from the lights in a built-up, busy area. One large car company puts the fuel economy benefit for mild hybrids at about 6%, around towns and cities where it is most likely to be used. That is a far cry from the fully electric future espoused by Tesla, and other car companies. Fully electric vehicles remain expensive, both for carmakers and for customers. Meanwhile, a range of 250 to 300 miles still provides challenges. That is one reason the industry is also focused on so-called plug-in hybrids. These have an electric engine that can travel perhaps 50-60 miles, before a traditional petrol or diesel engine takes over. The trouble here, as with standard hybrids, is that the extra weight from the engines makes the car quite inefficient when it reverts to burning fossil fuels. Ultimately, lift-off for electric vehicles boils down to costs. Most electric vehicles are still loss-making for the carmakers, and more expensive for car buyers. Widespread adoption relies on lower energy and maintenance costs balancing a higher sticker price for the buyer (where the carmaker also makes some profit). Analysts at UBS recently upped their forecast for sales of electric vehicles, on the basis that this cost parity can be achieved earlier than expected. They see sales really picking up from 2020, forecasting that by 2025 electric vehicle sales could account for 14% of the car market. Given that emissions standards are only pushing the industry in one direction, carmakers have every incentive to promote electric vehicles (or vehicles with a part electric option). Greater volumes will start to reduce costs. There is another important factor in terms of how quickly the electric future arrives. Remember Nissan: In last year's discussions with the UK government after the vote to leave the European Union, the Japanese company had a particular set of concerns around further investment in its huge Sunderland plant. As a \"global leader in electric cars\" it wanted changes to help the roll-out of charging stations, as well as tax incentives to encourage the purchase of electric vehicles. Those were areas where the government swiftly acted. As much as anything, the point at which electric vehicles really motor will be determined by governments.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 681, "answer_end": 2507, "text": "The BBC's Theo Leggett points out that all the car companies are responding to tighter emissions standards that will apply across their fleets from 2021. Introducing electric or partly electric vehicles can only help with that. Indeed, Volvo already offers a plug-in hybrid option for its top of the range models, like the XC90.  Other car companies are heading in the same direction. Jaguar Land Rover last year said it expects up to 50% of its range to be electrified by 2020. It is also worth asking just how electric we are talking. Volvo said it would introduce a \"portfolio of electrified cars across its model range, embracing fully electric cars, plug-in hybrid cars and mild-hybrid cars\".  That covers a wide range of outcomes. Mild hybrids are essentially a standard car, typically with a petrol engine. But they have a larger battery which can help at low speeds. The battery is a booster for the engine, improving efficiency. But it only works at low speeds and for short distances - think of it as a helping hand as you pull away from the lights in a built-up, busy area. One large car company puts the fuel economy benefit for mild hybrids at about 6%, around towns and cities where it is most likely to be used. That is a far cry from the fully electric future espoused by Tesla, and other car companies. Fully electric vehicles remain expensive, both for carmakers and for customers. Meanwhile, a range of 250 to 300 miles still provides challenges. That is one reason the industry is also focused on so-called plug-in hybrids. These have an electric engine that can travel perhaps 50-60 miles, before a traditional petrol or diesel engine takes over. The trouble here, as with standard hybrids, is that the extra weight from the engines makes the car quite inefficient when it reverts to burning fossil fuels."}], "question": "How electric is electric?", "id": "37_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Sweden's 100 explosions this year: What's going on?", "date": "12 November 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "When three explosions took place in one night across different parts of Stockholm last month, it came as a shock to residents. There had been blasts in other city suburbs, but never on their doorstep. Swedish police are dealing with unprecedented levels of attacks, targeting city centre locations too. The bomb squad was called to deal with 97 explosions in the first nine months of this year. \"I grew up here and you feel like that environment gets violated,\" says Joel, 22. The front door of his apartment block in the central Stockholm neighbourhood of Sodermalm was blown out and windows were shattered along the street. This category of crime was not even logged prior to 2017. Then, in 2018, there were 162 explosions and in the past two months alone the bomb squad have been called to almost 30. \"Bangers, improvised explosives and hand grenades\" are behind most of the blasts, says Linda H Straaf, head of intelligence at Sweden's National Operations Department. The attacks are usually carried out by criminal gangs to scare rival groups or their close friends or family, she says. \"This is a serious situation, but most people shouldn't be worried, because they are not going to be affected.\" Teams have been sent to work with gang crime specialists in the US, Germany and the Netherlands, and they are liaising with Swedish military experts who dealt with explosives in Africa and Afghanistan. \"It's very new in Sweden, and we are looking for knowledge around the world,\" says Mats Lovning, head of the National Operations Department. For criminologist Amir Rostami, who has researched the use of hand grenades in Sweden, the only relevant comparison is Mexico, plagued by gang violence. \"This is unique in countries that pretty much don't have a war or don't have a long history of terrorism,\" he says. Most attacks have taken place in low-income, vulnerable suburbs in the biggest cities: Stockholm, Gothenburg and Malmo. Malmo had three blasts in just over 24 hours at the start of this month. But more affluent places are now being targeted too. An explosion in the residential northern Stockholm suburb of Bromma last month destroyed the entrance to a block of flats, blew out windows and damaged cars. A 20-year-old passerby was treated in hospital when a bomb targeted a grocery shop in the historic university city of Lund. And 25 people were hurt when a block of flats was targeted in the central town of Linkoping. Sodermalm is a former working-class area that has become increasingly gentrified. Vintage boutiques and vegan delicatessens break up grids of mustard- and terracotta-painted apartment blocks. The building targeted is opposite a park and close to a school. \"Immediately afterwards, when police closed off the streets and I walked with my two kids to preschool, I got really scared,\" says Malin Bradshaw, who lives a few doors down. No arrests have been made and police will not comment on potential motives. \"If it was targeted then to be honest it makes us feel safer, because then the attack was not aimed to harm the public,\" says Ms Bradshaw, hoping it was not a random attack. Police say the criminals involved are part of the same gangs behind an increase in gun crime, often connected to the drugs trade. Sweden saw 45 deadly shootings in 2018, compared with 17 in 2011. But why they have added explosives to their arsenal is unclear. Swedish police do not record or release the ethnicity of suspects or convicted criminals, but intelligence chief Linda H Straaf says many do share a similar profile. \"They have grown up in Sweden and they are from socio-economically weak groups, socio-economically weak areas, and many are perhaps second- or third-generation immigrants,\" she says. Ideological debates about immigration have intensified since Sweden took in the highest number of asylum seekers per capita in the EU during the migrant crisis of 2015. But Ms Straaf says it is \"not correct\" to suggest new arrivals are typically involved in gang networks. For many on the political right the explosions add fuel to their argument that Sweden has struggled to integrate migrants over the past two decades. \"In the future the situation might grow even bigger and even more problematic,\" says Mira Aksoy, who describes herself as a national conservative writer. \"Since they are in the same area, they are in the same mindset. It's easy for them to connect to each other. They don't feel like they should become a part of Sweden and they stay in their segregated communities and start doing crimes.\" This kind of sentiment has grown in recent years, and the nationalist Sweden Democrats attracted 18% of the vote in 2018. But Malin Bradshaw believes crime levels are more to do with income and social status. Amir Rostami says ethnicity rarely plays a big role in gang membership in Sweden. \"When I interview gang members... the gang is their new country. The gang is their new identity.\" Another important layer of this story is how it has been covered by Swedish media. After last month's trio of attacks in Stockholm, public broadcaster SVT was accused of a leftist cover-up for leaving the story out of a main evening news programme. \"I think that they have not done a great job... I feel like they're trying to shrink the news,\" argues writer Mira Aksoy. Christian Christensen, a journalism professor at Stockholm University, was himself surprised that some programmes paid little attention to the explosions, but feels there was extensive coverage in the big newspapers and on local news programmes. \"The problem is that Sweden is used symbolically as proof of problems with immigration, proof of problems with leftist policies - unfairly in many cases,\" he argues. A recent study by polling company Kantar Sifo found that law and order was the most covered news topic on Swedish TV and radio and on social media. Police say they are trying to track down the perpetrators, but only one in 10 of such crimes in 2018 has led to a conviction. The head of the National Operations Department has promised greater co-ordination with security police. The home affairs minister has announced increased powers to search suspects' homes and greater efforts to break the culture of silence around gang crime. But in Sodermalm, resident Anders Herdenstam says there has to be a greater focus on integration. \"I am not afraid for where I live. I am more concerned when it comes to developments in Sweden nationally.\"", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 626, "answer_end": 1815, "text": "This category of crime was not even logged prior to 2017. Then, in 2018, there were 162 explosions and in the past two months alone the bomb squad have been called to almost 30. \"Bangers, improvised explosives and hand grenades\" are behind most of the blasts, says Linda H Straaf, head of intelligence at Sweden's National Operations Department. The attacks are usually carried out by criminal gangs to scare rival groups or their close friends or family, she says. \"This is a serious situation, but most people shouldn't be worried, because they are not going to be affected.\" Teams have been sent to work with gang crime specialists in the US, Germany and the Netherlands, and they are liaising with Swedish military experts who dealt with explosives in Africa and Afghanistan. \"It's very new in Sweden, and we are looking for knowledge around the world,\" says Mats Lovning, head of the National Operations Department. For criminologist Amir Rostami, who has researched the use of hand grenades in Sweden, the only relevant comparison is Mexico, plagued by gang violence. \"This is unique in countries that pretty much don't have a war or don't have a long history of terrorism,\" he says."}], "question": "Who is to blame?", "id": "38_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1816, "answer_end": 3117, "text": "Most attacks have taken place in low-income, vulnerable suburbs in the biggest cities: Stockholm, Gothenburg and Malmo. Malmo had three blasts in just over 24 hours at the start of this month. But more affluent places are now being targeted too. An explosion in the residential northern Stockholm suburb of Bromma last month destroyed the entrance to a block of flats, blew out windows and damaged cars. A 20-year-old passerby was treated in hospital when a bomb targeted a grocery shop in the historic university city of Lund. And 25 people were hurt when a block of flats was targeted in the central town of Linkoping. Sodermalm is a former working-class area that has become increasingly gentrified. Vintage boutiques and vegan delicatessens break up grids of mustard- and terracotta-painted apartment blocks. The building targeted is opposite a park and close to a school. \"Immediately afterwards, when police closed off the streets and I walked with my two kids to preschool, I got really scared,\" says Malin Bradshaw, who lives a few doors down. No arrests have been made and police will not comment on potential motives. \"If it was targeted then to be honest it makes us feel safer, because then the attack was not aimed to harm the public,\" says Ms Bradshaw, hoping it was not a random attack."}], "question": "Where are the explosions?", "id": "38_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3118, "answer_end": 4928, "text": "Police say the criminals involved are part of the same gangs behind an increase in gun crime, often connected to the drugs trade. Sweden saw 45 deadly shootings in 2018, compared with 17 in 2011. But why they have added explosives to their arsenal is unclear. Swedish police do not record or release the ethnicity of suspects or convicted criminals, but intelligence chief Linda H Straaf says many do share a similar profile. \"They have grown up in Sweden and they are from socio-economically weak groups, socio-economically weak areas, and many are perhaps second- or third-generation immigrants,\" she says. Ideological debates about immigration have intensified since Sweden took in the highest number of asylum seekers per capita in the EU during the migrant crisis of 2015. But Ms Straaf says it is \"not correct\" to suggest new arrivals are typically involved in gang networks. For many on the political right the explosions add fuel to their argument that Sweden has struggled to integrate migrants over the past two decades. \"In the future the situation might grow even bigger and even more problematic,\" says Mira Aksoy, who describes herself as a national conservative writer. \"Since they are in the same area, they are in the same mindset. It's easy for them to connect to each other. They don't feel like they should become a part of Sweden and they stay in their segregated communities and start doing crimes.\" This kind of sentiment has grown in recent years, and the nationalist Sweden Democrats attracted 18% of the vote in 2018. But Malin Bradshaw believes crime levels are more to do with income and social status. Amir Rostami says ethnicity rarely plays a big role in gang membership in Sweden. \"When I interview gang members... the gang is their new country. The gang is their new identity.\""}], "question": "Who are Sweden's criminal gangs?", "id": "38_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 4929, "answer_end": 5859, "text": "Another important layer of this story is how it has been covered by Swedish media. After last month's trio of attacks in Stockholm, public broadcaster SVT was accused of a leftist cover-up for leaving the story out of a main evening news programme. \"I think that they have not done a great job... I feel like they're trying to shrink the news,\" argues writer Mira Aksoy. Christian Christensen, a journalism professor at Stockholm University, was himself surprised that some programmes paid little attention to the explosions, but feels there was extensive coverage in the big newspapers and on local news programmes. \"The problem is that Sweden is used symbolically as proof of problems with immigration, proof of problems with leftist policies - unfairly in many cases,\" he argues. A recent study by polling company Kantar Sifo found that law and order was the most covered news topic on Swedish TV and radio and on social media."}], "question": "Did Swedish media hush it up?", "id": "38_3"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 5860, "answer_end": 6449, "text": "Police say they are trying to track down the perpetrators, but only one in 10 of such crimes in 2018 has led to a conviction. The head of the National Operations Department has promised greater co-ordination with security police. The home affairs minister has announced increased powers to search suspects' homes and greater efforts to break the culture of silence around gang crime. But in Sodermalm, resident Anders Herdenstam says there has to be a greater focus on integration. \"I am not afraid for where I live. I am more concerned when it comes to developments in Sweden nationally.\""}], "question": "What are authorities doing?", "id": "38_4"}]}]}, {"title": "Reality Check: What does 'hard Brexit' mean for UK?", "date": "11 May 2017", "paragraphs": [{"context": "When Theresa May formally signed a letter triggering the UK's departure from the EU, in March, the prime minister fired the starting gun on a two-year negotiation process that will have far-reaching implications for British businesses. Mrs May's claim that \"no deal is better than a bad deal\" has raised concerns among UK companies that a so-called \"hard Brexit\" could have a detrimental impact on jobs and investment in the country. Meanwhile, Labour has said that it will scrap Mrs May's Brexit plan - outlined in a White Paper in February - which envisages leaving the single market and customs union. When critics of the prime minister talk about a \"hard Brexit\", they basically mean that she has decided to leave the EU single market and the customs union. Theresa May prefers to call her plans a \"clean Brexit\". Membership of the EU single market means there are no taxes or tariffs on trade between all the countries involved, and they abide by a common set of rules and regulations. But it also means every member country has to accept the free movement of people - something the government wants to bring to an end. In 2016, about 44% of the UK's exports in goods and services went to other countries in the EU. Membership of the customs union means all the countries involved have agreed to apply the same tariffs on goods coming from elsewhere in the world. Once they have cleared customs in one country, they can be shipped around the union without further tariffs being imposed. But being part of the customs union also means you cannot negotiate your own trade deals with other countries around the world. Mrs May wants the UK to be able to negotiate on its own once the UK leaves the EU. The UK wants to negotiate its own free trade deal with the EU after Brexit. If it fails to do so, or if the Article 50 negotiations on leaving the EU break down, then it will leave with \"no deal\" on the table. That means it will have to fall back on its membership of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) as the basis for its future trading relationship with the EU, and it will have to accept a schedule of tariffs on goods imported from or exported to the single market. The \"no deal\" scenario worries many businesses - especially if it were to happen with little notice. That could be because negotiations with the EU break down, or because a proposed deal gets rejected by one party or another at the last minute. Tariffs aren't a one-way street. If trade between the UK and the EU were to be conducted \"under WTO terms\", the EU would also have to pay tariffs on goods it exports to the UK. In cash terms, the EU would have more to lose - in 2016, the UK exported goods worth PS144bn to the EU, and the EU exported goods worth PS240bn to the UK. But in percentage terms, the UK has more to lose - in 2015, 47% of UK goods exports went to the EU, while only about 16% of EU goods exports went to the UK, according to the National Institute of Economic and Social Research (NIESR). What are Brexit Britain's trade options? The service sector is a huge part of the UK economy - accounting for about 80% of the total. Services are often not covered in a free trade deal, which is why this is likely to be the most difficult part of the future UK-EU trade relationship to resolve. The key is what are known as \"non-tariff barriers\". These include things such as mutual recognition of regulations, and rules on everything from legal standards to the environment. The financial services sector is particularly concerned about losing its financial \"passports\". These allow any company operating within the single market to trade across the EU without the need for separate licences. Evidence provided to the Treasury Select Committee last year showed that more than 5,000 UK-based financial firms relied on these passports to trade elsewhere in the EU. The passports will need to be replaced by a new regime. But negotiations on services agreements often drag on for years - which is why it is likely that there will need to be some kind of transition period lasting several years between full EU membership and a new relationship in the future. Some sectors of the UK economy are certainly worried about that, because they rely on large numbers of workers coming from other EU countries. If a deal can be done on guaranteeing the rights of EU citizens in the UK (and UK citizens elsewhere in the EU) then it shouldn't have an immediate effect, because no-one will be forced to leave. But in the longer term, concern has been expressed about everything from the NHS to fruit-picking companies, and from coffee bars to professional football clubs. Once the government has decided on a new immigration policy to replace free movement, it will have to decide whether to grant exemptions to allow specific companies or sectors of the economy to bring more people in from other EU countries if they are needed. When it comes to all of the issues discussed here - tariffs, customs, and migration - the main thing most businesses want is clarity. That will allow them to plan ahead, and make the transition from EU membership to a new relationship as smooth as possible. Businesses give their priorities for Brexit talks Read more on Reality Check", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 605, "answer_end": 1702, "text": "When critics of the prime minister talk about a \"hard Brexit\", they basically mean that she has decided to leave the EU single market and the customs union. Theresa May prefers to call her plans a \"clean Brexit\". Membership of the EU single market means there are no taxes or tariffs on trade between all the countries involved, and they abide by a common set of rules and regulations. But it also means every member country has to accept the free movement of people - something the government wants to bring to an end. In 2016, about 44% of the UK's exports in goods and services went to other countries in the EU. Membership of the customs union means all the countries involved have agreed to apply the same tariffs on goods coming from elsewhere in the world. Once they have cleared customs in one country, they can be shipped around the union without further tariffs being imposed. But being part of the customs union also means you cannot negotiate your own trade deals with other countries around the world. Mrs May wants the UK to be able to negotiate on its own once the UK leaves the EU."}], "question": "What is a 'hard Brexit'?", "id": "39_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1703, "answer_end": 2418, "text": "The UK wants to negotiate its own free trade deal with the EU after Brexit. If it fails to do so, or if the Article 50 negotiations on leaving the EU break down, then it will leave with \"no deal\" on the table. That means it will have to fall back on its membership of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) as the basis for its future trading relationship with the EU, and it will have to accept a schedule of tariffs on goods imported from or exported to the single market. The \"no deal\" scenario worries many businesses - especially if it were to happen with little notice. That could be because negotiations with the EU break down, or because a proposed deal gets rejected by one party or another at the last minute."}], "question": "What does 'no deal' mean?", "id": "39_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2419, "answer_end": 3025, "text": "Tariffs aren't a one-way street. If trade between the UK and the EU were to be conducted \"under WTO terms\", the EU would also have to pay tariffs on goods it exports to the UK. In cash terms, the EU would have more to lose - in 2016, the UK exported goods worth PS144bn to the EU, and the EU exported goods worth PS240bn to the UK. But in percentage terms, the UK has more to lose - in 2015, 47% of UK goods exports went to the EU, while only about 16% of EU goods exports went to the UK, according to the National Institute of Economic and Social Research (NIESR). What are Brexit Britain's trade options?"}], "question": "Who would be most affected by tariffs?", "id": "39_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 4143, "answer_end": 4902, "text": "Some sectors of the UK economy are certainly worried about that, because they rely on large numbers of workers coming from other EU countries. If a deal can be done on guaranteeing the rights of EU citizens in the UK (and UK citizens elsewhere in the EU) then it shouldn't have an immediate effect, because no-one will be forced to leave. But in the longer term, concern has been expressed about everything from the NHS to fruit-picking companies, and from coffee bars to professional football clubs. Once the government has decided on a new immigration policy to replace free movement, it will have to decide whether to grant exemptions to allow specific companies or sectors of the economy to bring more people in from other EU countries if they are needed."}], "question": "Could an end to free movement lead to staff shortages?", "id": "39_3"}]}]}, {"title": "How old banks are learning from a new breed of tech start-ups", "date": "8 April 2016", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Banks around the world are realising that in the rapidly developing world of smartphones and apps they are at risk of falling behind in the innovation race. Fresh-faced financial technology start-ups (fintechs) are coming up with new mobile-first services - payments, loans, money transfers, digital currencies - and threatening to steal customers, particularly younger ones. Investment bank Goldman Sachs estimates that $4.7tn (PS3.3tn; EUR4.1tn) in revenue for traditional financial services is at risk of being displaced by these fintech upstarts. \"From Amazon's transformation of the retail sector, to Uber's revolution in personal transportation, banks are taking heed of what is happening in other industries,\" says Mohit Joshi, global head of financial services at tech consultancy, Infosys. \"The biggest banking market challenge is coming not from challenger banks, but from fintech start-ups.\" This is why many old banks have been flirting with younger models in an effort to stay hip. But are such apparently mismatched relationships doomed to failure? At the southern tip of Africa, in Cape Town, global banking giant Barclays is busy developing a secret tech solution to make it easier for consumers to make payments online. But it has called on the expertise of local tech start-up Peach Payments to help, and the two are working on a product aiming to change the way people transact online in emerging markets. Rahul Jain, co-founder of Peach Payments, says: \"We are helping them actually design the product since we have the feedback from the market and understand e-commerce from the perspective of the merchant and the consumer. 'Invaluable feedback' \"This is invaluable feedback which the bank doesn't have normally.\" From the bank's point of view, \"it's about recognising that not all innovation has to happen within our own four walls,\" says Lubaina Manji, head of Barclays' group innovation office. \"There is a talented and vibrant start-up community globally, which Barclays can work with to co-create the future of financial services.\" Peach Payments was one of 10 start-ups to participate in a 13-week Tech Lab Africa accelerator programme hosted by Barclays in Cape Town in December. The bank also runs programmes and hubs in the UK, USA, and Israel, and has plans to launch activities in India and Lithuania. Another start-up taking part in the programme was Nigerian firm Aella Credit, which has built an instant loan approval and payment platform that relies on data analytics to identify creditworthy borrowers. Aella Credit director Akinola Jones says his firm has remained in constant communication with Barclays' innovation team since taking part in the programme. But sceptics will point out that Barclays' recent decision to sell its Africa operations shows that such partnerships may be more to do with playing catch-up than leading from the front. All those attractive fintech start-ups may appear tempting, but there is no consensus among the big beasts on the best way to get a piece of the action. Some banks, such as Santander, National Bank of Australia and Citigroup, are providing venture funding and seed investments for fintechs. Others, such as Barclays, Bank of America, and Sberbank, are creating or partnering with start-up incubator programmes. Others still, like Spain's BBVA, are simply buying them up. \"We're yet to see which type of approach will prove the most fruitful, but industry experts are unanimous in their belief that those banks which bury their heads in the sand and fail to acknowledge the impact of fintechs are putting their entire business at risk,\" says Vincent Bastid, chief executive of Efma, a research and networking organisation for financial institutions. Efma has just produced a report looking at the impact of fintechs on the established financial services industry. In a similar example, French bank BNP Paribas has linked up with Swiss fintech accelerator, Fusion - a partnership the bank says is \"at the heart\" of its digitisation plan. Based in Geneva, Fusion takes on 10 start-ups each year, and puts them through a 12-month intensive programme of mentoring, funding, and access to markets. Kim Potvin, chief operating officer at BNP Paribas (Suisse), believes the partnership is already yielding tangible results, and will help its Swiss arm become \"a leading player in the financial services of the future.\" Fusion's programme director Sebastien Flury describes the partnership as a \"win-win\" situation, with benefits for banks and start-ups alike. But if all this sounds a little too cosy, entrepreneur Daniel Doderlein, chief executive of Norwegian cloud-based mobile payments platform Auka, has this stark warning for fellow fintech start-ups. \"If you partner with banks too early on, they can basically poison the well for you - you effectively become a consultant. They take the air out of the innovation balloon and the project dies instantly.\" By building his own platform, mCash, and establishing a consumer business first, Mr Doderlein found he was then able to sell it to initially sceptical banks from a position of strength. Norway's Sparebank 1 bought the mCash business in October last year. And Gareth Mellon of research firm Frost & Sullivan warns that the jury is out on just how effective such partnerships are. Many are purely \"defensive strategies\" by the banks, he says, and have proved difficult to integrate within existing business models. \"While fintechs have brought heightened innovation, they remain limited in their scope and, in many ways, are forced to rely upon the established players to ensure market adoption,\" says Mr Mellon. Perhaps the biggest threat to banks, in Europe at least, is the European Commission's forthcoming Payment Services Directive 2, due to come into force early in 2018. This aims to open up electronic payments to more competition by forcing banks to open up their IT systems to new entrants, thus encouraging innovation. \"If you don't provide a mobile payments app to your customers, your risk being marginalised,\" says Mr Doderlein. \"It's going to be a bloodbath.\" Perhaps the banks need tech start-ups more than tech start-ups need the banks. Follow Technology of Business editor @matthew_wall on Twitter.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 2884, "answer_end": 3846, "text": "All those attractive fintech start-ups may appear tempting, but there is no consensus among the big beasts on the best way to get a piece of the action. Some banks, such as Santander, National Bank of Australia and Citigroup, are providing venture funding and seed investments for fintechs. Others, such as Barclays, Bank of America, and Sberbank, are creating or partnering with start-up incubator programmes. Others still, like Spain's BBVA, are simply buying them up. \"We're yet to see which type of approach will prove the most fruitful, but industry experts are unanimous in their belief that those banks which bury their heads in the sand and fail to acknowledge the impact of fintechs are putting their entire business at risk,\" says Vincent Bastid, chief executive of Efma, a research and networking organisation for financial institutions. Efma has just produced a report looking at the impact of fintechs on the established financial services industry."}], "question": "Threat or opportunity?", "id": "40_0"}]}]}, {"title": "The power-sharing dream: Where women rule in the world", "date": "15 July 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Record numbers of women are standing for election in countries around the world - changing the global face of politics and bringing gender equality in national legislatures a step closer. Mexico has just elected an equal number of men and women MPs across both houses of the country's parliament in what is being celebrated as a \"major milestone\". The Spanish government, selected in June, is the first since the country became a democracy to have more women than men in the cabinet. And New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern gave birth to a daughter on 21 June becoming only the second woman leader to have a baby while in office, after Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto in 1990. A year after Hillary Clinton's defeat in the battle for the White House, there are more women running for public office in the US than ever before. Millennial Democrat candidate Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez unseated veteran congressman Joe Crowley, 56, in a New York district primary in June. The 28 year old's victory was all the more surprising because she had no political experience and was standing against a man who had served 10 terms and had been tipped as a future party leader. Numbers up to 9 July from the Center for American Women and Politics show almost 470 women - the vast majority of them Democrats - have put themselves forward as candidates for the House of Representatives, up from 298 in 2012, the previous highest number on record. Professor Farida Jalalzai, head of political science at Oklahoma State University, believes the surge in women standing is partly due to Hillary Clinton's defeat - but also to their dislike of Donald Trump. She says women stand a good chance of doing well in Congress this year: \"Usually, the number of women's candidacies and number of eventual winners go together but not always. I would be surprised, however, if women did not increase their percentages by at least 2 or 3%.\" But given women currently represent only 20% of members in the US House of Representatives, there is still a long way to go to achieve gender parity. Women make up more than 30% of national legislatures in 17 European states (including Monaco). In 2017 a record number of women stood for election in countries around the world - but there was no big breakthrough. Europe made the greatest gains in the number of women MPs, but also recorded the greatest losses. France did elect a record number of women to its parliament in June 2017, returning 223 women out of the 577 positions in the National Assembly. In Spain, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez chose 11 women to be part of his 17-strong cabinet team in June 2018. He said his new team \"shared the same vision of a progressive society that was both modernising and pro-European\". Almost every country across the world has recorded an increase in the number of women MPs since 1997 when the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) began collating results. Two decades ago only Sweden, Norway, Finland, Denmark and the Netherlands had more than 30% women MPs - with Sweden topping the list at 40.4%. Twenty-one years later, the top of the list is more diverse with the Scandinavian countries overtaken by Rwanda and several Central and South American countries.  Bolivia, Grenada, Mexico, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, as well as the Caribbean island of Cuba, are also all inside the top 10, all with more than 40% female MPs. But Zeina Hilal, who is in charge of the gender partnership programme at the IPU, says progress towards equal representation of men and women seems to have stagnated in the last two or three years. \"We are disappointed and a bit surprised because a few years back the rate of progress was about 0.6% per year, in 2016 and 2017, for two years in a row, we have a progress rate of 0.1%. This is really worrying.\" If current rates continue, the IPU estimates, it will take at least 250 years to reach gender parity in parliaments. Most of the world's nations have still never had a female leader. There are currently 11 female heads of government in the world - although if you include heads of state that figure rises to 21. According to Pew Research in 2017, 56 of the 146 nations studied by the World Economic Forum have had a female head of government or state for at least one year in the past half-century. In 31 of these, women have led for five years or less, in 10 nations for only one year. Angela Merkel is currently the longest-serving female head of government. The German leader has been in post since 2005. Apart from Sheikh Hasina Wajed of Bangladesh, who is now into her third term as the country's leader, all the other female heads of government have been in post for five years or fewer. Jacinda Ardern of New Zealand, Iceland's leader Katrin Jakobsdottir and Ana Brnabic of Serbia were all elected in 2017. Erna Solberg was elected prime minister of Norway in 2013. In Namibia Saara Kuugongelwa took over in 2015. Theresa May became the UK's second woman prime minister in 2016, the same year Aung San Suu Kyi took charge in Myanmar. Viorica Dancila is the first woman in Romanian history to be prime minister, elected in January 2018. Mia Mottley is also the first woman head of Barbados, elected in May 2018. Many of the countries which have seen the biggest increases in female representation in parliament have introduced gender quotas. Argentina was the first country to set a minimum target for women, introducing a law in 1991. IPU research suggests women won over 30% of the seats in the 20 countries where quotas were applied in 2017, while only 15.4% of seats were won by women in the 16 countries where targets were not used. Professor Susan Franceschet, head of political science at Calgary University says: \"I think that we have decades and decades of evidence that unless they are compelled to do so, parties will not select female candidates or not so many female candidates as we would like.\" There are two main sorts of quota - legislated, where a country makes it punishable by law if a certain number of women are not chosen as candidates - and voluntary party quotas, such as in the UK where the Labour party has introduced all-female shortlists. These voluntary quotas have what Professor Franceschet calls the \"contagion effect\" where other parties feel obliged to put up more women candidates so they do not look out of step. She says there are very few examples of countries where quotas have failed to make a difference - but Brazil is one of them. Currently only about one in 10 Brazilian MPs is female - she blames bad law, arguing the penalties for ignoring quotas are not tough enough. The IPU lists only three countries which have lower houses of parliament where more than 50% of representatives are women - Rwanda, Cuba and Bolivia, although Mexico is only just under with 48.6%. Rwanda leads the way with a higher proportion of women in its legislature than any other country. A change to the country's constitution in 2003 reserved 30% of seats in parliament for women. Since then more women have been returned at each election. The change in the law followed the 1994 genocide in which an estimated 800,000 people - mostly men - were slaughtered. Women had to take on many new roles as part of the effort to rebuild the country. Rwanda is now one of the fastest growing economies in the African continent - although its leader, Paul Kagame, has been criticised for clamping down on opposition. Miss Hilal insists Rwanda is a success story. She says having more women in parliament has had a far wider impact - for instance the inheritance law has been changed so it is no longer discriminatory to women. \"It's not a magic solution but definitely we have found that when you have women in parliament there are issues that find their place on the political agenda and they wouldn't be there without the presence of women,\" she says. Two of the other top four countries, Bolivia and Mexico, also have gender quotas. Among the countries with the worst records for female representation are Yemen, Oman, Haiti, Kuwait, Lebanon and Thailand - all with 5% or fewer women MPs. There are a number of very small island states which record no women MPs, including Vanuatu, Micronesia and Papua New Guinea and countries like El Salvador and Sierra Leone where the actual number of women MPs is unknown. Yingluck Shinawatra made history when she became Thailand's first female prime minister in 2011 on a wave of popular support. She was then one of almost 16% women MPs - the highest number in a Thai parliament - but in 2015 she was impeached for corruption and fled the country. The number of women MPs has since declined to 5%. In Yemen there is one elected woman in a parliament of 301 members. Attempts to introduce a 30% quota failed to make it on to the statute books. Professor Franceshet says she believes gender parity is a \"realistic and important ambition\" - but there are some countries which are a long way from achieving it. She said: \"I'm hopeful that women in the countries where gains have been slow can continue to put pressure on political parties and political leaders to open more space for female candidates. But I don't think this will happen without continued pressure from women's organisations.\"", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 2071, "answer_end": 2751, "text": "Women make up more than 30% of national legislatures in 17 European states (including Monaco). In 2017 a record number of women stood for election in countries around the world - but there was no big breakthrough. Europe made the greatest gains in the number of women MPs, but also recorded the greatest losses. France did elect a record number of women to its parliament in June 2017, returning 223 women out of the 577 positions in the National Assembly. In Spain, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez chose 11 women to be part of his 17-strong cabinet team in June 2018. He said his new team \"shared the same vision of a progressive society that was both modernising and pro-European\"."}], "question": "What about Europe?", "id": "41_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 5211, "answer_end": 6614, "text": "Many of the countries which have seen the biggest increases in female representation in parliament have introduced gender quotas. Argentina was the first country to set a minimum target for women, introducing a law in 1991. IPU research suggests women won over 30% of the seats in the 20 countries where quotas were applied in 2017, while only 15.4% of seats were won by women in the 16 countries where targets were not used. Professor Susan Franceschet, head of political science at Calgary University says: \"I think that we have decades and decades of evidence that unless they are compelled to do so, parties will not select female candidates or not so many female candidates as we would like.\" There are two main sorts of quota - legislated, where a country makes it punishable by law if a certain number of women are not chosen as candidates - and voluntary party quotas, such as in the UK where the Labour party has introduced all-female shortlists. These voluntary quotas have what Professor Franceschet calls the \"contagion effect\" where other parties feel obliged to put up more women candidates so they do not look out of step. She says there are very few examples of countries where quotas have failed to make a difference - but Brazil is one of them. Currently only about one in 10 Brazilian MPs is female - she blames bad law, arguing the penalties for ignoring quotas are not tough enough."}], "question": "Do gender quotas work?", "id": "41_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 7948, "answer_end": 9245, "text": "Among the countries with the worst records for female representation are Yemen, Oman, Haiti, Kuwait, Lebanon and Thailand - all with 5% or fewer women MPs. There are a number of very small island states which record no women MPs, including Vanuatu, Micronesia and Papua New Guinea and countries like El Salvador and Sierra Leone where the actual number of women MPs is unknown. Yingluck Shinawatra made history when she became Thailand's first female prime minister in 2011 on a wave of popular support. She was then one of almost 16% women MPs - the highest number in a Thai parliament - but in 2015 she was impeached for corruption and fled the country. The number of women MPs has since declined to 5%. In Yemen there is one elected woman in a parliament of 301 members. Attempts to introduce a 30% quota failed to make it on to the statute books. Professor Franceshet says she believes gender parity is a \"realistic and important ambition\" - but there are some countries which are a long way from achieving it. She said: \"I'm hopeful that women in the countries where gains have been slow can continue to put pressure on political parties and political leaders to open more space for female candidates. But I don't think this will happen without continued pressure from women's organisations.\""}], "question": "Which countries have the fewest women representatives?", "id": "41_2"}]}]}, {"title": "Trump: US and China 'very very close' on deal", "date": "26 February 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "President Donald Trump has said that the US and China are \"very very close\" to signing a trade agreement, potentially ending the long-running feud between the two countries. Mr Trump told US governors on Monday that both nations \"are going to have a signing summit\". \"Hopefully, we can get that completed. But we're getting very, very close,\" he said. It follows a decision to delay imposing further trade tariffs on Chinese goods. At the weekend, Mr Trump said both sides had made \"substantial progress\" in trade talks following a summit in Washington last week. The rise in import duties on Chinese goods from 10% to 25% was due to come into effect on 1 March. Instead, Mr Trump said the US is now planning a summit with Chinese Premier Xi Jinping at the US President's Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida. US shares rose on the decision to delay tariffs, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average closing 0.23% higher at 26,091.9. The S&P 500 and the Nasdaq also finished trading in positive territory. As he prepared to meet North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in Vietnam, Mr Trump also tweeted that a China trade deal was in \"advanced stages\". Mr Trump's decision to delay tariff increases on $200bn (PS153bn) worth of Chinese goods was seen as a sign that the two sides were moving ahead in settling their damaging trade war. Last week, Mr Trump noted progress in the latest round of negotiations in Washington, including an agreement on currency manipulation, though no details were disclosed. Sources told CNBC on Friday that China had committed to buying up to $1.2 trillion in US goods, but there had been no progress on the intellectual property issues. Gregory Daco, chief US economist at Oxford Economics, said: \"We had anticipated such a delay and believe a handshake agreement in which China will promise to import more agricultural products, work towards a stable currency and reinforce intellectual property rights protection will be achieved in the coming weeks. \"However, we don't foresee a significant rollback of existing tariffs, and see underlying tensions regarding China's strategic ambitions, its industrial policy, technological transfers and 'verification and enforcement' mechanisms remaining in place.\" Mr Trump initiated the trade war over complaints of unfair Chinese trading practices. That included accusing China of stealing intellectual property from American firms, forcing them to transfer technology to China. The US has imposed tariffs on $250bn worth of Chinese goods, and China has retaliated by imposing duties on $110bn of US products. Mr Trump has also threatened further tariffs on an additional $267bn worth of Chinese products - which would see virtually all of Chinese imports into the US become subject to duties. The trade dispute has unnerved financial markets, risks raising costs for American companies and is adding pressure to a Chinese economy that is already showing signs of strain. It has also stoked fears about the impact on the global economy. Last year, the International Monetary Fund warned the trade war between the US and China risked making the world a \"poorer and more dangerous place\".", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 2218, "answer_end": 3141, "text": "Mr Trump initiated the trade war over complaints of unfair Chinese trading practices. That included accusing China of stealing intellectual property from American firms, forcing them to transfer technology to China. The US has imposed tariffs on $250bn worth of Chinese goods, and China has retaliated by imposing duties on $110bn of US products. Mr Trump has also threatened further tariffs on an additional $267bn worth of Chinese products - which would see virtually all of Chinese imports into the US become subject to duties. The trade dispute has unnerved financial markets, risks raising costs for American companies and is adding pressure to a Chinese economy that is already showing signs of strain. It has also stoked fears about the impact on the global economy. Last year, the International Monetary Fund warned the trade war between the US and China risked making the world a \"poorer and more dangerous place\"."}], "question": "What has happened in the trade war so far?", "id": "42_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Democratic debate: Joe Biden criticised for race record", "date": "28 June 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Democratic White House front-runner Joe Biden came under fierce attack for his record on race in a televised debate with nine rivals on Thursday. Senator Kamala Harris raised his past work with bigoted senators, and his previous opposition to a policy combating segregation in schools. He said she had \"mischaracterised\" his position, insisting he had entered politics to champion civil rights. The candidates are vying to take on Republican President Donald Trump. Fireworks also flew in the first debate with 10 other contenders on Wednesday. The Democratic candidate will be chosen at the party's convention next summer, before he or she faces Mr Trump in the November 2020 election. The fight of the night erupted halfway through Thursday's debate in Miami, Florida. Ms Harris - the only black woman in the Democratic field - pilloried Mr Biden for having recently reminisced about working with two Democratic senators who favoured racial segregation. Turning to him, she said she did not believe he was a racist, but added: \"It was hurtful to hear you talk about the reputations of two United States senators who built their reputations and career on the segregation of race in this country.\" She also took him to task for working \"with them [racist senators] to oppose bussing\" - a policy of driving white children by bus to majority-black schools and vice versa, in the mid-1970s. The policy aimed to undo the negative effects of Jim Crow-era racial segregation. Segregation of public schools was outlawed in 1954, but the racial inequality it fostered persisted. \"And there was a little girl in California who was part of the second class to integrate her public school and she was bussed to school every day,\" she said. \"And that little girl was me.\" Mr Biden bristled: \"It's a mischaracterisation of my position across the board. I did not praise racists. That is not true.\" He said last week he \"detested\" the segregationists' views, following a backlash. He also said he was only against bussing being mandated by the federal government, but had no problem with it at state level. Mr Biden then brought up his two terms as vice-president to Barack Obama, America's first black president. Choose your candidate and filter by category Debate watchers had been expecting a duel between the two front-runners - Mr Biden, a centrist, and Democratic socialist Bernie Sanders. Mr Sanders, the Vermont senator who ran against Hilary Clinton to be the party's candidate in 2016, dominated the first half hour by defending his plans for universal healthcare, and called Mr Trump \"a pathological liar and a racist\". Later, Pete Buttigieg, the 37-year-old mayor of South Bend, Indiana, faced questions about the fatal shooting of a black man by a white police officer in his home city. Initially considered a rising star of the race, he conceded at the debate that he had failed to diversify South Bend's police force. The other six on stage have all been polling at one per cent or less: Senators Kirsten Gillibrand and Michael Bennet, former Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper, congressman Eric Swalwell, self-help guru Marianne Williamson and entrepreneur Andrew Yang. Mr Trump - who is at a G20 summit in Japan - pounced on his would-be challengers' unanimous support for providing healthcare coverage to undocumented immigrants. Mr Biden, 76, was also confronted on an issue he presents as one of his strengths - political longevity. Mr Swalwell said: \"I was six years old when a presidential candidate came to the California Democratic convention and said, 'It's time to pass the torch to a new generation of Americans.' \"That candidate was then-Senator Joe Biden. Joe Biden was right when he said it was time to pass the torch to a new generation of Americans 32 years ago - he's still right today.\" Mr Biden, who would be the oldest president ever elected, retorted: \"I'm still holding on to that torch.\" He has also faced criticism for flip-flopping on abortion rights, and for calling Vice-President Mike Pence \"a decent guy\". Ms Harris's confrontation with Mr Biden was not her only standout moment. As the debate unravelled into a free-for-all shouting match, she was cheered for saying: \"OK guys, America does not want to witness a food fight - they want to know how we're going to put food on their table!\" At another point she said, emphasising the female pronoun: \"I will ensure that this microphone - that the president of the United States holds in her hand - is used in a way that is about reflecting the values of our country.\" Ms Harris is not without her own political baggage, however. She has had to defend her record as a San Francisco district attorney, amid claims she breached defendants' rights and opposed criminal justice reforms. Elizabeth Warren has been praised for her performance in Wednesday's debate, which was also in Miami. The Massachusetts senator, who has pledged to institute a wealth tax and break up tech giants, described income inequality in the US as \"corruption, pure and simple\". Meanwhile, several lesser-known contenders fired at each other - united in opposition to Mr Trump, but torn on whether the next president should put the nation on a more left-wing course.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 687, "answer_end": 2199, "text": "The fight of the night erupted halfway through Thursday's debate in Miami, Florida. Ms Harris - the only black woman in the Democratic field - pilloried Mr Biden for having recently reminisced about working with two Democratic senators who favoured racial segregation. Turning to him, she said she did not believe he was a racist, but added: \"It was hurtful to hear you talk about the reputations of two United States senators who built their reputations and career on the segregation of race in this country.\" She also took him to task for working \"with them [racist senators] to oppose bussing\" - a policy of driving white children by bus to majority-black schools and vice versa, in the mid-1970s. The policy aimed to undo the negative effects of Jim Crow-era racial segregation. Segregation of public schools was outlawed in 1954, but the racial inequality it fostered persisted. \"And there was a little girl in California who was part of the second class to integrate her public school and she was bussed to school every day,\" she said. \"And that little girl was me.\" Mr Biden bristled: \"It's a mischaracterisation of my position across the board. I did not praise racists. That is not true.\" He said last week he \"detested\" the segregationists' views, following a backlash. He also said he was only against bussing being mandated by the federal government, but had no problem with it at state level. Mr Biden then brought up his two terms as vice-president to Barack Obama, America's first black president."}], "question": "How did Biden v Harris unfold?", "id": "43_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2245, "answer_end": 3334, "text": "Debate watchers had been expecting a duel between the two front-runners - Mr Biden, a centrist, and Democratic socialist Bernie Sanders. Mr Sanders, the Vermont senator who ran against Hilary Clinton to be the party's candidate in 2016, dominated the first half hour by defending his plans for universal healthcare, and called Mr Trump \"a pathological liar and a racist\". Later, Pete Buttigieg, the 37-year-old mayor of South Bend, Indiana, faced questions about the fatal shooting of a black man by a white police officer in his home city. Initially considered a rising star of the race, he conceded at the debate that he had failed to diversify South Bend's police force. The other six on stage have all been polling at one per cent or less: Senators Kirsten Gillibrand and Michael Bennet, former Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper, congressman Eric Swalwell, self-help guru Marianne Williamson and entrepreneur Andrew Yang. Mr Trump - who is at a G20 summit in Japan - pounced on his would-be challengers' unanimous support for providing healthcare coverage to undocumented immigrants."}], "question": "Who else was on stage?", "id": "43_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3335, "answer_end": 4037, "text": "Mr Biden, 76, was also confronted on an issue he presents as one of his strengths - political longevity. Mr Swalwell said: \"I was six years old when a presidential candidate came to the California Democratic convention and said, 'It's time to pass the torch to a new generation of Americans.' \"That candidate was then-Senator Joe Biden. Joe Biden was right when he said it was time to pass the torch to a new generation of Americans 32 years ago - he's still right today.\" Mr Biden, who would be the oldest president ever elected, retorted: \"I'm still holding on to that torch.\" He has also faced criticism for flip-flopping on abortion rights, and for calling Vice-President Mike Pence \"a decent guy\"."}], "question": "Where did it all go wrong for Biden?", "id": "43_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 4038, "answer_end": 4762, "text": "Ms Harris's confrontation with Mr Biden was not her only standout moment. As the debate unravelled into a free-for-all shouting match, she was cheered for saying: \"OK guys, America does not want to witness a food fight - they want to know how we're going to put food on their table!\" At another point she said, emphasising the female pronoun: \"I will ensure that this microphone - that the president of the United States holds in her hand - is used in a way that is about reflecting the values of our country.\" Ms Harris is not without her own political baggage, however. She has had to defend her record as a San Francisco district attorney, amid claims she breached defendants' rights and opposed criminal justice reforms."}], "question": "Where did it all go right for Harris?", "id": "43_3"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 4763, "answer_end": 5219, "text": "Elizabeth Warren has been praised for her performance in Wednesday's debate, which was also in Miami. The Massachusetts senator, who has pledged to institute a wealth tax and break up tech giants, described income inequality in the US as \"corruption, pure and simple\". Meanwhile, several lesser-known contenders fired at each other - united in opposition to Mr Trump, but torn on whether the next president should put the nation on a more left-wing course."}], "question": "How did the first debate go?", "id": "43_4"}]}]}, {"title": "Paris attacks: French seek to identify raid bodies", "date": "19 November 2015", "paragraphs": [{"context": "French experts are working to establish whether the suspected ringleader of the Paris attacks was among those killed in a police raid on a flat on Wednesday. Police said Abdelhamid Abaaoud was the target when officers stormed the flat in the Paris suburb of Saint Denis. The Paris prosecutor said neither he nor suspect Salah Abdeslam were among eight people arrested, but at least two bodies had still to be identified. Meanwhile, French MPs are due to vote on extending a state of emergency. Militant group Islamic State (IS), which controls parts of Syria and Iraq, has said it was behind the attacks last Friday, when gunmen and suicide bombers killed 129 people and injured hundreds. The Washington Post quoted unnamed European officials as saying Abaaoud, 27, had been killed on Wednesday when heavily armed police stormed the building in the suburb of Saint Denis. However, Paris prosecutor Francois Molins had earlier said he could not give \"a precise and definitive number for the people who died, nor their identities, but there are at least two dead people\". One of the dead was a woman believed to have detonated a suicide belt as police moved in. A source close to the investigation said she could have been a cousin of Abaaoud, Reuters reported. Mr Molins said it appeared that a \"new team of terrorists\" had been ready for a fresh attack. A leader of one of the special forces units that took part in the raid said drones and robots equipped with cameras had been used to try to see inside the flat during the operation but there was too much debris. A police dog was shot dead by the militants during the operation. Jean-Michel Fauverge told Le Figaro newspaper that when they entered the building they found a body that had fallen from the third floor to the second. - Rethinking strategy Time for West to review its priorities in Syria - How vulnerable is Europe? Putting the dangers in perspective - What happened in Paris? How events unfolded on Friday evening in the French capital - Hollande upstages opposition French president's tougher line on counter-terrorism - Who were the victims? Details of some of the 129 people killed - The fight against Islamic State Can a modern, open Western capital ever be totally secure? - Most wanted: Alleged mastermind Profile of key suspect Abdelhamid Abaaoud Special report: In-depth coverage of the attacks and their aftermath \"The corpse was mutilated, probably from grenades and he wasn't recognisable,\" he said. \"Other people were in the stairwell, two men hiding under blankets and whatever they could find. We arrested them.\" Mr Molins said on Wednesday that the identities of the eight people arrested in the raid had not been confirmed. However, they did not include Salah Abdeslam, the 26-year-old French national identified as a suspect in Friday's killings and believed to be on the run. Seven other militants died in the attacks. The raid's target, Abaaoud, is considered to be a key figure in an IS cell that US intelligence agencies have been tracking for months, US officials told AP news agency. He was believed to have escaped to Syria following a police operation in Belgium in January and has boasted in IS propaganda of being able to move between Europe and Syria undetected. Following Friday's attacks on a concert hall, cafes and the Stade de France stadium, President Francois Hollande declared a state of emergency for 12 days. The bill going before France's lower house of parliament on Thursday and the senate on Friday includes: - Extending the state of emergency for three months - Placing under house arrest anyone deemed to be a public threat - Barring suspects from communicating with each other - Allowing police to carry out searches at any time, without the prior approval of a judge, if the public is thought to be in danger The French government is asking parliament to extend the sweeping powers it gives the authorities for a further three months. It has not hesitated to argue that in times of crisis like this the balance between liberty and public safety must be shifted. That means a huge and highly visible deployment of uniformed troops and police officers alongside a battery of more subtle measures, such as the curtailment of some public gatherings and of school trips to museums, galleries and other public places that might be targeted. IS said it had carried out the attacks in response to France's air campaign against its positions in Syria, and pledged further bloodshed. France has since stepped up its air strikes against IS targets in Syria. Both France and Russia - which is also targeting militants in Syria - are putting together draft resolutions at the UN Security Council that would lay out an international approach to defeating IS. President Hollande has urged the council to approve a resolution on fighting IS quickly. IS is a notoriously violent Islamist group which controls large parts of Syria and Iraq. It has declared its territory a caliphate - a state governed in accordance with Islamic law - under its leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. IS demands allegiance from all Muslims, rejects national borders and seeks to expand its territory. It follows its own extreme version of Sunni Islam and regards non-believers as deserving of death. IS projects a powerful image, partly through propaganda and sheer brutality, and is the world's richest insurgent group. It has about 30,000 fighters but is facing daily bombing by a US-led multi-national coalition, which has vowed to destroy it. What is Islamic State? 'No timetable' for Syria strikes vote Are you in Paris? Have you been affected by the events over the past week? Do you have any information you can share? If it is safe to do so, you can get in touch by emailing  haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk 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 7525 900971 - Send pictures/video to yourpics@bbc.co.uk - Tweet: @BBC_HaveYourSay - Send an SMS or MMS to 61124 or +44 7624 800 100", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 4847, "answer_end": 5068, "text": "IS is a notoriously violent Islamist group which controls large parts of Syria and Iraq. It has declared its territory a caliphate - a state governed in accordance with Islamic law - under its leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi."}], "question": "What is Islamic State?", "id": "44_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 5069, "answer_end": 5267, "text": "IS demands allegiance from all Muslims, rejects national borders and seeks to expand its territory. It follows its own extreme version of Sunni Islam and regards non-believers as deserving of death."}], "question": "What does it want?", "id": "44_1"}]}]}, {"title": "Consumer price rise signals firming inflation", "date": "14 February 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "US consumer prices rose faster than expected in January, a sign of firming inflation that bolstered expectations of higher interest rates. The Consumer Price Index grew by 0.5% against forecasts of a 0.3% rise. The report followed earlier data showing accelerating US wage growth. That raised concerns the US Federal Reserve would raise interest rates faster than previously thought. The report on wages triggered days of volatility on the financial markets. Bond yields climbed higher on Wednesday, but stock market reaction to the inflation report was relatively muted. After opening lower, the Dow, S&P 500 and Nasdaq were higher by mid-afternoon. \"The fact that... losses are being trimmed, suggests that the market could be slowly starting to get to grips with the new higher inflation environment reality,\" said Fiona Cincotta, market analyst at City Index. The consumer price index is a different measure of inflation from the one the Federal Reserve typically emphasises. The Commerce Department also reported that US retail sales declined 0.3% in January, an unexpected drop that analysts said made it more difficult to draw a clear picture of the US economy. Economists have long said they expect higher inflation in the US due to stronger economic growth and low unemployment. But those expectations were confounded last year, as relatively soft inflation lagged the roughly 2% target set by the Federal Reserve. New data pointing to price and wage increases suggest the dynamics could be changing. On Wednesday, the US Bureau of Labour Statistics said there had been price increases across a number of areas including gasoline, clothing, medical care and food. Over the 12 months to January, inflation remained at 2.1%. The so-called core index, which strips out volatile food and energy costs, also increased 0.3% in January - the most significant rise in a year. Jacob Deppe, head of trading at online trading platform Infinox said Wednesday's report showed \"an important, albeit slight\" rise that will intensify policy questions. The Federal Reserve uses higher rates to curb inflation and has said it expects to raise rates this year. Investors worry that the bank could move too aggressively, triggering higher borrowing costs for companies and consumers that choke economic growth. New policies, including tax cuts approved last year and increased government spending, further complicate the situation, adding to the inflationary pressures. \"The fear is the Fed hikes too far, too fast,\" Mr Deppe said. \"US monetary policy will have to walk a tightrope in order not to kill off growth, while steering a path towards normal economic conditions.\"", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1169, "answer_end": 2662, "text": "Economists have long said they expect higher inflation in the US due to stronger economic growth and low unemployment. But those expectations were confounded last year, as relatively soft inflation lagged the roughly 2% target set by the Federal Reserve. New data pointing to price and wage increases suggest the dynamics could be changing. On Wednesday, the US Bureau of Labour Statistics said there had been price increases across a number of areas including gasoline, clothing, medical care and food. Over the 12 months to January, inflation remained at 2.1%. The so-called core index, which strips out volatile food and energy costs, also increased 0.3% in January - the most significant rise in a year. Jacob Deppe, head of trading at online trading platform Infinox said Wednesday's report showed \"an important, albeit slight\" rise that will intensify policy questions. The Federal Reserve uses higher rates to curb inflation and has said it expects to raise rates this year. Investors worry that the bank could move too aggressively, triggering higher borrowing costs for companies and consumers that choke economic growth. New policies, including tax cuts approved last year and increased government spending, further complicate the situation, adding to the inflationary pressures. \"The fear is the Fed hikes too far, too fast,\" Mr Deppe said. \"US monetary policy will have to walk a tightrope in order not to kill off growth, while steering a path towards normal economic conditions.\""}], "question": "Inflation surprise?", "id": "45_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Chlorinated chicken: How safe is it?", "date": "5 March 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Fears over chlorine-washed chicken and other US farming practices have been described by US ambassador to the UK Woody Johnson as \"inflammatory and misleading\". Mr Johnson urged the UK to embrace US farming methods after Washington published its objectives for a UK-US trade deal. He said the process was used by EU farmers to treat vegetables, and that it was the best way to deal with salmonella and other bacteria. So is it safe? The evidence suggests the chlorine wash itself is not harmful. But the concern is that treating meat with chlorine at the end allows poorer hygiene elsewhere in the production process. Washing chicken in chlorine and other disinfectants to remove harmful bacteria was a practice banned by the European Union (EU) in 1997 over food safety concerns. The ban has stopped virtually all imports of US chicken meat which is generally treated by this process. It's not consuming chlorine itself that the EU is worried about - in fact in 2005 the European Food Safety Authority said that \"exposure to chlorite residues arising from treated poultry carcasses would be of no safety concern\". Chlorine-rinsed bagged salads are common in the UK and other countries in the EU. But the EU believes that relying on a chlorine rinse at the end of the meat production process could be a way of compensating for poor hygiene standards - such as dirty or crowded abattoirs. Instead, the EU says the best way to eliminate the risk of salmonella and other bacteria is to maintain high farming and production standards. The European Commission says: \"This rule is part of wider EU legislation ensuring a high level of safety throughout the food chain, from farm to fork.\" The US has voiced frustration, saying the ban is not based on scientific evidence. It even tried to bring a case before the World Trade Organization in 2008. The US Department of Agriculture's (USDA) National Antimicrobial Resistance Monitoring System tests samples of raw chicken from shops for bacteria. In its most recent round of testing it found a significant amount of the bacteria campylobacter - the most common cause of food poisoning - in 30% of chicken carcasses, 26% of chicken parts and 58% of \"mechanically separated\" chicken, which is used to make things like chicken nuggets. It recorded how much of the chicken had more than 400 units of bacteria per gram of meat. In the UK, the government's Food Standards Agency found 54% of chickens had traces of the bacteria but only 6% had the highest levels - more than 1,000 units of bacteria per gram of meat. Since they don't measure exactly the same thing, it's difficult to compare these results. Chlorine does reduce the bacteria on chicken, although by how much is disputed - the World Health Organization has highlighted that studies on the effectiveness of chlorine treatment give mixed results. A study from the University of Southampton last year found that chlorine could make food-borne pathogens undetectable, giving lower microbial counts in testing, but without actually killing them - so they might remain capable of causing disease. Comparing levels of illness in different countries can be tricky. But there are different studies, from the US and the UK, which try to estimate the overall rate of food poisoning and adjust for the levels of underreporting in each health system. A study published in the UK in 2014 commissioned by the government estimated that there were about 34,000 cases of salmonella from food per year or about 55 per 100,000 people, based on 2009 data.  A US study published in 2011 - and using data from 2002-2008 - estimated that there were just over a million cases of salmonella each year - a rate of about 350 per 100,000 people. For campylobacter, the UK study estimated 280,000 cases - about 450 cases per 100,000 people. The US study estimated 845,024 cases of campylobacter or about 300 cases per 100,000 people. But it is hard to make comparisons between two different studies that use different methodologies. The World Health Organization tried to estimate global rates of sickness from food in 2015. It gave data for regions rather than individual countries. Data used for the study suggests that the region containing the US, Cuba and Canada has a higher rate of salmonella but a lower rate of campylobacter than the region containing developed European countries including the UK. Lots of people also don't go to their doctors with symptoms of food poisoning, so in both the US and the UK only the more severe cases of food poisoning will come to the attention of authorities. It may be that a higher proportion of people are infected but only certain groups - the very old and young, for example - will actually end up being diagnosed and treated. Not all food poisoning is from meat, though - although poultry is the most common cause - and not all food poisoning is down to the production process. Some bacteria will generally be left on the skin of a chicken so the care with which it's handled and cooked at home are extremely important. Clarification: This piece was amended on 5 April to add more statistics and context. What do you want BBC Reality Check to investigate? Get in touch Read more from Reality Check Follow us on Twitter", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 618, "answer_end": 1840, "text": "Washing chicken in chlorine and other disinfectants to remove harmful bacteria was a practice banned by the European Union (EU) in 1997 over food safety concerns. The ban has stopped virtually all imports of US chicken meat which is generally treated by this process. It's not consuming chlorine itself that the EU is worried about - in fact in 2005 the European Food Safety Authority said that \"exposure to chlorite residues arising from treated poultry carcasses would be of no safety concern\". Chlorine-rinsed bagged salads are common in the UK and other countries in the EU. But the EU believes that relying on a chlorine rinse at the end of the meat production process could be a way of compensating for poor hygiene standards - such as dirty or crowded abattoirs. Instead, the EU says the best way to eliminate the risk of salmonella and other bacteria is to maintain high farming and production standards. The European Commission says: \"This rule is part of wider EU legislation ensuring a high level of safety throughout the food chain, from farm to fork.\" The US has voiced frustration, saying the ban is not based on scientific evidence. It even tried to bring a case before the World Trade Organization in 2008."}], "question": "Why ban chlorine-washed chicken?", "id": "46_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3092, "answer_end": 5125, "text": "Comparing levels of illness in different countries can be tricky. But there are different studies, from the US and the UK, which try to estimate the overall rate of food poisoning and adjust for the levels of underreporting in each health system. A study published in the UK in 2014 commissioned by the government estimated that there were about 34,000 cases of salmonella from food per year or about 55 per 100,000 people, based on 2009 data.  A US study published in 2011 - and using data from 2002-2008 - estimated that there were just over a million cases of salmonella each year - a rate of about 350 per 100,000 people. For campylobacter, the UK study estimated 280,000 cases - about 450 cases per 100,000 people. The US study estimated 845,024 cases of campylobacter or about 300 cases per 100,000 people. But it is hard to make comparisons between two different studies that use different methodologies. The World Health Organization tried to estimate global rates of sickness from food in 2015. It gave data for regions rather than individual countries. Data used for the study suggests that the region containing the US, Cuba and Canada has a higher rate of salmonella but a lower rate of campylobacter than the region containing developed European countries including the UK. Lots of people also don't go to their doctors with symptoms of food poisoning, so in both the US and the UK only the more severe cases of food poisoning will come to the attention of authorities. It may be that a higher proportion of people are infected but only certain groups - the very old and young, for example - will actually end up being diagnosed and treated. Not all food poisoning is from meat, though - although poultry is the most common cause - and not all food poisoning is down to the production process. Some bacteria will generally be left on the skin of a chicken so the care with which it's handled and cooked at home are extremely important. Clarification: This piece was amended on 5 April to add more statistics and context."}], "question": "So is food poisoning more common in the US?", "id": "46_1"}]}]}, {"title": "Is democracy threatened if companies can sue countries?", "date": "31 March 2015", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Those protesting against the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP), the proposed new trade treaty between the European Union and the United States, are part of a growing international opposition to pacts that allow multinational companies to sue governments whose policies damage their interests. Opponents claim this right, known as investor-state dispute settlement (ISDS), poses a threat to democracy. But what is ISDS and why does it provoke such controversy? Investor-state dispute settlements were devised by industrialised nations in the 1960s as a way to protect their companies' overseas investments against threats such as nationalisation by the country they invested in. Supporters of ISDS say it offers a fair and impartial forum for the settlement of disputes between investors and states and, if appropriate, for deciding the amount of compensation an investor should get. They claim that ISDS encourages companies to invest in a country they might otherwise shun through fear that, in a dispute with that nation, they would be unable to get a fair hearing in its domestic courts. For an investment to be covered by ISDS, both the country where it is located and the investor's home nation must have agreed to its use. This is normally done through countries signing investment treaties with ISDS provisions. There are now about 3,200 investment treaties globally. Most of these empower investors to launch ISDS actions. So far, approximately 600 actions have been launched - though not all are reported. The number of cases has risen significantly in recent years. - The Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) is primarily a deal to cut tariffs and regulatory barriers to trade between the US and EU countries. - The British government claims TTIP could add PS10bn to the UK economy, PS80bn to the US and PS100bn to the EU every year through the freeing-up of trade. - The Conservatives, Labour and the Liberal Democrats broadly support the TTIP, though Labour has called for the NHS to be exempted from the ISDS measures. - Much of the opposition to the TTIP is focused on ISDS, food standards and financial regulation. - Negotiators have held eight rounds of talks on the TTIP, with a provisional deadline of December this year by EU leaders to agree a draft text. Each case is judged by a panel of three arbitrators, selected by the government and the investor involved in the case from a small pool of specialist lawyers. The tribunals can meet anywhere convenient to the parties, with decisions based on the wording of treaties rather than national laws. Cases can last for years and are costly. In addition to paying arbitrators' fees, each side has to employ a team of lawyers to argue its case. Even when governments win, as they have in around 40% of the known cases, they often have to pay their own costs - averaging  around $4.5m per case. When investors win, arbitrators can award damages. There is no appeal against the level of damages, which can amount to hundreds of millions and, in some cases, billions of dollars. Opponents say it is easier for foreign investors to attack a government's policy using ISDS that it would be through even the most trusted, well-established national court systems. First, they claim ISDS gives foreign investors an additional way to oppose government policies. One instance often cited occurred after Australia passed a law in 2011 requiring cigarettes to be sold only in plain packs. Philip Morris and a group of other tobacco multinationals challenged this legislation in Australia's domestic courts and were roundly defeated. In Australian law, that was the end of the matter. But Philip Morris was able to launch another action - still continuing - under an ISDS treaty. Opponents also claim that ISDS favours foreign investors over domestic ones. In Germany, after the Fukushima nuclear power plant disaster in Japan, the government announced it would phase out nuclear power altogether. Germany was sued using ISDS by the Swedish state-owned power company Vattenfall for loss of profits from two nuclear power stations that the firm co-owns with the giant German energy company E.ON. Being Swedish, Vattenfall counts as a foreign investor in Germany and so could use ISDS to claim damages. As a German enterprise, E.ON could not, despite both companies being large European power companies, facing the same potential losses on the same power stations as a result of the same government policy. E.ON is able to claim damages under property rights set out in the German constitution. But because those property rights are balanced by considerations of the general public good, any compensation from the Constitutional Court is likely to be significantly lower than an ISDS tribunal would award. Opponents say ISDS can deter governments from enacting policies, to benefit the environment or to improve the health or safety of their populations, for example, for fear that those policies might trigger an ISDS action from a foreign investor. While wealthier countries can comfortably afford to defend such actions, cost can be a major issue for poorer nations. For five years El Salvador, one of the poorest countries in Central America, has been fighting an ISDS action launched by a Canadian gold-mining company after the nation declared a moratorium on mining licences. This followed widespread public concern of a potential threat to drinking water quality from mining operations. The gold-mining company is claiming $250m in damages - representing the profit it says it would have made had it been given a licence to mine. That $250m would represent almost 5% of El Salvador's total government budget. The gold-miner's claim may still fail - a decision is expected imminently - but opponents of ISDS argue that the fear of such awards makes many poorer countries hesitate before implementing policies that might benefit their populations. In the light of such cases, some countries, particularly in Latin America, are now considering terminating their treaties. Others, including South Africa, have already started doing so. These countries are reassured by Brazil, which - though it has never signed an ISDS treaty - can still point to large inflows of foreign investment. For decades, while ISDS treaties were being signed, few claims were launched. Academic research suggests that most countries then regarded the treaties as little more than tokens of diplomatic goodwill, safely ignored. In the late 1990s, lawyers started waking up to the potential of ISDS and began advising investors to launch actions. The number of cases increased sharply. The current protests have been fuelled by proposals to include ISDS provision in two trade treaties: the TTIP and the Trans-Pacific Partnership. They seem to have done. In January, the EU Commission revealed that of the 150,000 responses to its public consultation on the proposed EU-US treaty, 97% were against it. In negotiations with the US over the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership, Cecilia Malmstrom, the EU Trade Commissioner, is seeking to limit the scope of the ISDS provisions. She proposed giving governments a \"right to regulate\" free from ISDS attack, and exempting issues of general public benefit such as health and the environment. If she succeeds, she says she hopes the new treaty would become a new \"gold standard\" for ISDS, eventually replacing provisions in the thousands of existing treaties. This network, she says, is \"not fit for purpose in the 21st Century\". Some commentators believe the new EU demands could mean negotiations fail and that no new treaty is signed. Surprisingly, given the claims made by advocates of ISDS, it may not. Academic researchers report that when they ask investors what matters to them when deciding where to invest, investors typically cite factors such as market access, the availability of raw materials and the quality of a workforce. For all the present fuss and bother, ISDS appears to be low on their list of requirements. Michael Robinson presents Company vs Country at 2000BST on BBC Radio 4 on Monday 30 March, or later on BBC iPlayer.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 480, "answer_end": 1110, "text": "Investor-state dispute settlements were devised by industrialised nations in the 1960s as a way to protect their companies' overseas investments against threats such as nationalisation by the country they invested in. Supporters of ISDS say it offers a fair and impartial forum for the settlement of disputes between investors and states and, if appropriate, for deciding the amount of compensation an investor should get. They claim that ISDS encourages companies to invest in a country they might otherwise shun through fear that, in a dispute with that nation, they would be unable to get a fair hearing in its domestic courts."}], "question": "What is an investor-state dispute settlement?", "id": "47_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1111, "answer_end": 1595, "text": "For an investment to be covered by ISDS, both the country where it is located and the investor's home nation must have agreed to its use. This is normally done through countries signing investment treaties with ISDS provisions. There are now about 3,200 investment treaties globally. Most of these empower investors to launch ISDS actions. So far, approximately 600 actions have been launched - though not all are reported. The number of cases has risen significantly in recent years."}], "question": "How does ISDS work?", "id": "47_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3080, "answer_end": 4794, "text": "Opponents say it is easier for foreign investors to attack a government's policy using ISDS that it would be through even the most trusted, well-established national court systems. First, they claim ISDS gives foreign investors an additional way to oppose government policies. One instance often cited occurred after Australia passed a law in 2011 requiring cigarettes to be sold only in plain packs. Philip Morris and a group of other tobacco multinationals challenged this legislation in Australia's domestic courts and were roundly defeated. In Australian law, that was the end of the matter. But Philip Morris was able to launch another action - still continuing - under an ISDS treaty. Opponents also claim that ISDS favours foreign investors over domestic ones. In Germany, after the Fukushima nuclear power plant disaster in Japan, the government announced it would phase out nuclear power altogether. Germany was sued using ISDS by the Swedish state-owned power company Vattenfall for loss of profits from two nuclear power stations that the firm co-owns with the giant German energy company E.ON. Being Swedish, Vattenfall counts as a foreign investor in Germany and so could use ISDS to claim damages. As a German enterprise, E.ON could not, despite both companies being large European power companies, facing the same potential losses on the same power stations as a result of the same government policy. E.ON is able to claim damages under property rights set out in the German constitution. But because those property rights are balanced by considerations of the general public good, any compensation from the Constitutional Court is likely to be significantly lower than an ISDS tribunal would award."}], "question": "Why do opponents of ISDS claim it is biased in foreign investors' favour?", "id": "47_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 4795, "answer_end": 6276, "text": "Opponents say ISDS can deter governments from enacting policies, to benefit the environment or to improve the health or safety of their populations, for example, for fear that those policies might trigger an ISDS action from a foreign investor. While wealthier countries can comfortably afford to defend such actions, cost can be a major issue for poorer nations. For five years El Salvador, one of the poorest countries in Central America, has been fighting an ISDS action launched by a Canadian gold-mining company after the nation declared a moratorium on mining licences. This followed widespread public concern of a potential threat to drinking water quality from mining operations. The gold-mining company is claiming $250m in damages - representing the profit it says it would have made had it been given a licence to mine. That $250m would represent almost 5% of El Salvador's total government budget. The gold-miner's claim may still fail - a decision is expected imminently - but opponents of ISDS argue that the fear of such awards makes many poorer countries hesitate before implementing policies that might benefit their populations. In the light of such cases, some countries, particularly in Latin America, are now considering terminating their treaties. Others, including South Africa, have already started doing so. These countries are reassured by Brazil, which - though it has never signed an ISDS treaty - can still point to large inflows of foreign investment."}], "question": "Why do opponents claim ISDS is a threat to democracy?", "id": "47_3"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 6277, "answer_end": 6797, "text": "For decades, while ISDS treaties were being signed, few claims were launched. Academic research suggests that most countries then regarded the treaties as little more than tokens of diplomatic goodwill, safely ignored. In the late 1990s, lawyers started waking up to the potential of ISDS and began advising investors to launch actions. The number of cases increased sharply. The current protests have been fuelled by proposals to include ISDS provision in two trade treaties: the TTIP and the Trans-Pacific Partnership."}], "question": "If ISDS has been around for decades, why is it now suddenly a big issue?", "id": "47_4"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 6798, "answer_end": 7658, "text": "They seem to have done. In January, the EU Commission revealed that of the 150,000 responses to its public consultation on the proposed EU-US treaty, 97% were against it. In negotiations with the US over the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership, Cecilia Malmstrom, the EU Trade Commissioner, is seeking to limit the scope of the ISDS provisions. She proposed giving governments a \"right to regulate\" free from ISDS attack, and exempting issues of general public benefit such as health and the environment. If she succeeds, she says she hopes the new treaty would become a new \"gold standard\" for ISDS, eventually replacing provisions in the thousands of existing treaties. This network, she says, is \"not fit for purpose in the 21st Century\". Some commentators believe the new EU demands could mean negotiations fail and that no new treaty is signed."}], "question": "Have the protests made any difference?", "id": "47_5"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 7659, "answer_end": 8166, "text": "Surprisingly, given the claims made by advocates of ISDS, it may not. Academic researchers report that when they ask investors what matters to them when deciding where to invest, investors typically cite factors such as market access, the availability of raw materials and the quality of a workforce. For all the present fuss and bother, ISDS appears to be low on their list of requirements. Michael Robinson presents Company vs Country at 2000BST on BBC Radio 4 on Monday 30 March, or later on BBC iPlayer."}], "question": "Is it a problem for investors if the new treaties don't contain ISDS?", "id": "47_6"}]}]}, {"title": "Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe case: Diplomatic protection 'one option'", "date": "13 November 2017", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Offering a British-Iranian mother in prison in Iran diplomatic protection is \"one of the options\" being considered in the case, Downing Street has said. Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe was arrested during a visit to Iran in April 2016 and accused of trying to overthrow the regime there - a charge she denies. Her husband Richard Ratcliffe has criticised the UK's response and said it could offer diplomatic protection. Number 10 said it was working to find the \"most beneficial\" course of action. In a phone call, Mr Ratcliffe asked Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson to consider diplomatic protection for his wife, which under international law is a way for a state to take diplomatic action on behalf of a national. Taking such a measure would effectively escalate the case from an individual consular matter to a formal legal dispute between Britain and Iran, BBC diplomatic correspondent James Landale said. Asked about the possibility, Downing Street said it was an option, adding: \"I think what we need to look at is what will work best and what can be most beneficial in this case.\" The government \"will look\" at Mr Ratcliffe's comments \"very closely\" and decide the \"best course of action to secure her release\", the Number 10 spokesman added. Mr Johnson and fellow cabinet minister Michael Gove have been accused of bungling the UK's handling of the case. The foreign secretary told MPs last week that he believed Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe had been teaching in Iran before she was arrested, while Mr Gove told the BBC he did not know what Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe had been doing in Iran. Her family have always maintained she was on holiday with her daughter. Asked about the government's official position, Downing Street said: \"The government's position on this is clear. She was there on holiday. It wasn't for any other purpose. \"The foreign secretary reiterated that in his conversation with the Iranian foreign minister last week.\" The spokesman said Prime Minister Theresa May had been involved in Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe's case \"from the outset\" and was treating it as \"a priority\". She had raised it with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani on at least two occasions, he added. By James Landale, BBC diplomatic correspondent When a British citizen is jailed overseas, they normally get basic consular help from the local embassy. This could include anything from contacting family to legal support to medical help. But if the UK were assert its diplomatic protection over a British citizen, that would change things significantly. This would be a signal that the UK is no longer treating the case as a consular matter but a formal, legal dispute between Britain and that country. That's because diplomatic protection is a mechanism under international law that a state can use to help one its nationals whose rights have been breached in another country. The broad legal principle is that British diplomats would no longer be representing the interests of a citizen but the interests of their state. Speaking to Radio 4's Today programme earlier, Mr Ratcliffe said he had written to the Foreign Office following remarks made by Mr Gove. He said Mr Johnson \"did promise to consider whether she'll be eligible for diplomatic protection\" which \"gives a different push\" to what the government can do for his wife. \"I'm reassured that it is the position of the government,\" Mr Ratcliffe said. Asked about his conversation with Mr Ratcliffe, Mr Johnson told the BBC Foreign Office officials were working \"very, very hard\" on the case. \"On Iran - and on consular cases generally - they are all very sensitive and I think the key thing to understand is that we are working very, very hard and intensively and impartially on all those cases,\" he added. Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe - who has a three-year-old daughter, who is being cared for by family in Iran - was arrested and jailed in Iran in April 2016. The full details of the allegations against her have never been made fully public. But speaking in Westminster on 1 November, Mr Johnson appeared to contradict her own account when he wrongly said she had been training journalists. Four days later, Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe was recalled to court in Iran and Mr Johnson's remark cited as evidence against her, prompting fears that her five-year sentence could be extended. Labour have since called for the foreign secretary's resignation, but Mr Ratcliffe has said he believes it is not in his wife's interests for anyone to resign. The UK government's policy for dual British nationals arrested abroad, is that UK authorities \"won't get involved if someone's arrested in a country for which they hold a valid passport, unless there's a special humanitarian reason to do so\". Iran, however, does not recognise dual nationality, and so does not allow consular assistance from the foreign office or the British embassy. Should Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe be granted diplomatic protection, the UK government could make representations at a political and diplomatic level instead. Mr Ratcliffe says a call for his wife's release from the United Nations last month had not been endorsed by government. In October, Jose Antonio Guevara Bermudez, chair-rapporteur of the UN's Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, and Ms Asma Jahangir, special rapporteur on human rights for Iran, called for Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe's immediate release. She had been \"deprived of her liberty\", they said. \"The UK didn't endorse that call,\" Mr Ratcliffe said.  \"It hasn't ever acknowledged a violation of her rights, which I find staggering.\" But he still hopes his family will be reunited by the end of the year. \"I think the best chance Nazanin has of coming home this side of Christmas is all of the weight of the Foreign Office and the foreign secretary being focused on doing that,\" he said.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 2176, "answer_end": 2997, "text": "By James Landale, BBC diplomatic correspondent When a British citizen is jailed overseas, they normally get basic consular help from the local embassy. This could include anything from contacting family to legal support to medical help. But if the UK were assert its diplomatic protection over a British citizen, that would change things significantly. This would be a signal that the UK is no longer treating the case as a consular matter but a formal, legal dispute between Britain and that country. That's because diplomatic protection is a mechanism under international law that a state can use to help one its nationals whose rights have been breached in another country. The broad legal principle is that British diplomats would no longer be representing the interests of a citizen but the interests of their state."}], "question": "What is 'diplomatic protection'?", "id": "48_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Kashmir: Why India and Pakistan fight over it", "date": "8 August 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Nuclear-armed neighbours India and Pakistan have fought two wars and a limited conflict over Kashmir. But why do they dispute the territory - and how did it start? Kashmir is an ethnically diverse Himalayan region, covering around 86,000 sq miles (138 sq km), and famed for the beauty of its lakes, meadows and snow-capped mountains. Even before India and Pakistan won their independence from Britain in August 1947, the area was hotly contested. Under the partition plan provided by the Indian Independence Act, Kashmir was free to accede to either India or Pakistan. The maharaja (local ruler), Hari Singh, initially wanted Kashmir to become independent - but in October 1947 chose to join India, in return for its help against an invasion of tribesmen from Pakistan. A war erupted and India approached the United Nations asking it to intervene. The United Nations recommended holding a plebiscite to settle the question of whether the state would join India or Pakistan. However the two countries could not agree to a deal to demilitarise the region before the referendum could be held. In July 1949, India and Pakistan signed an agreement to establish a ceasefire line as recommended by the UN and the region became divided. A second war followed in 1965. Then in 1999, India fought a brief but bitter conflict with Pakistani-backed forces. By that time, India and Pakistan had both declared themselves to be nuclear powers. Today, Delhi and Islamabad both claim Kashmir in full, but control only parts of it - territories recognised internationally as \"Indian-administered Kashmir\" and \"Pakistan-administered Kashmir\". An armed revolt has been waged against Indian rule in the region for three decades, claiming tens of thousands of lives. India blames Pakistan for stirring the unrest by backing separatist militants in Kashmir - a charge its neighbour denies. Now a sudden change to Kashmir's status on the Indian side has created further apprehension. Indian-administered Kashmir has held a special position within the country historically, thanks to Article 370 - a clause in the constitution which gave it significant autonomy, including its own constitution, a separate flag, and independence over all matters except foreign affairs, defence and communications. On 5 August, India revoked that seven-decade-long privileged status - as the governing party, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), had promised in its 2019 election manifesto. The Hindu nationalist BJP has long opposed Article 370 and had repeatedly called for its abolishment. Telephone networks and the internet were cut off in the region in the days before the presidential order was announced. Public gatherings were banned, and tens of thousands of troops were sent in. Tourists were told to leave Kashmir under warnings of a terror threat. Two former chief ministers of Jammu and Kashmir - the Indian state which encompasses the disputed territory - were placed under house arrest. One of them, Mehbooba Mufti, said the move would \"make India an occupational force in Jammu and Kashmir,\" and that \"today marks the darkest day in Indian democracy\". Pakistan fiercely condemned the development, branding it \"illegal\" and vowing to \"exercise all possible options\" against it. It downgraded diplomatic ties with India and suspended all trade. India responded by saying they \"regretted\" Pakistan's statement and reiterating that Article 370 was an internal matter as it did not interfere with the boundaries of the territory. Within Kashmir, opinions about the territory's rightful allegiance are diverse and strongly held. Many do not want it to be governed by India, preferring either independence or union with Pakistan instead. Religion is one factor: Jammu and Kashmir is more than 60% Muslim, making it the only state within India where Muslims are in the majority. Critics of the BJP fear this move is designed to change the state's demographic make-up of - by giving people from the rest of the country to right to acquire property and settle there permanently. Ms Mufti told the BBC: \"They just want to occupy our land and want to make this Muslim-majority state like any other state and reduce us to a minority and disempower us totally.\" Feelings of disenfranchisement have been aggravated in Indian-administered Kashmir by high unemployment, and complaints of human rights abuses by security forces battling street protesters and fighting insurgents. Anti-India sentiment in the state has ebbed and flowed since 1989, but the region witnessed a fresh wave of violence after the death of 22-year-old militant leader Burhan Wani in July 2016. He died in a battle with security forces, sparking massive protests across the valley. Wani - whose social media videos were popular among young people - is largely credited with reviving and legitimising the image of militancy in the region. Thousands attended Wani's funeral, which was held in his hometown of Tral, about 40km (25 miles) south of the city of Srinagar. Following the funeral, people clashed with troops and it set off a deadly cycle of violence that lasted for days. More than 30 civilians died, and others were injured in the clashes. Since then, violence has been on the rise in the state. More than 500 people were killed in 2018 - including civilians, security forces and militants - the highest toll in a decade. India and Pakistan did indeed agree a ceasefire in 2003 after years of bloodshed along the de facto border (also known as the Line of Control). Pakistan later promised to stop funding insurgents in the territory, while India offered them an amnesty if they renounced militancy. In 2014, India's current Prime Minister Narendra Modi came to power promising a tough line on Pakistan, but also showed interest in holding peace talks. Nawaz Sharif, then prime minister of Pakistan, attended Mr Modi's swearing-in ceremony in Delhi. But a year later, India blamed Pakistan-based groups for an attack on its airbase in Pathankot in the northern state of Punjab. Mr Modi also cancelled a scheduled visit to the Pakistani capital, Islamabad, for a regional summit in 2017. Since then, there hasn't been any progress in talks between the neighbours. The bloody summer of street protests in Indian-administered Kashmir in 2016 had already dimmed hopes for a lasting peace in the region. Then, in June 2018, the state government there was upended when Mr Modi's BJP pulled out of a coalition government run by Ms Mufti's People's Democratic Party. Jammu and Kashmir was since under direct rule from Delhi, which fuelled further anger. The deaths of more than 40 Indian soldiers in a suicide attack on 14 February, 2019 have ended any hope of a thaw in the immediate future. India blamed Pakistan-based militant groups for the violence - the deadliest targeting Indian soldiers in Kashmir since the insurgency began three decades ago. Following the bombing, India said it would take \"all possible diplomatic steps\" to isolate Pakistan from the international community. On 26 February, it launched air strikes in Pakistani territory which it said targeted militant bases. Pakistan denied the raids had caused major damage or casualties but promised to respond, fuelling fears of confrontation. A day later it said it had shot down two Indian Air Force jets in its airspace, and captured a fighter pilot - who was later returned unharmed to India. Kashmir remains one of the most militarised zones in the world. India's parliament has now passed a bill splitting Indian-administered Kashmir into two territories governed directly by Delhi: Jammu and Kashmir, and remote, mountainous Ladakh. China, which shares a disputed border with India in Ladakh, has objected to the reorganisation and accused Delhi of undermining its territorial sovereignty. Pakistan's Prime Minister Imran Khan has vowed to challenge India's actions at the UN security council, and take the matter to the International Criminal Court. In an ominous warning, he said: \"If the world does not act today... (if) the developed world does not uphold its own laws, then things will go to a place that we will not be responsible for.\" But Delhi insists that there is no \"external implication\" to its decision to reorganise the state as it has not changed the Line of Control or boundaries of the region. US President Donald Trump has offered to mediate in the crisis - an overture that Delhi has rejected.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 164, "answer_end": 1623, "text": "Kashmir is an ethnically diverse Himalayan region, covering around 86,000 sq miles (138 sq km), and famed for the beauty of its lakes, meadows and snow-capped mountains. Even before India and Pakistan won their independence from Britain in August 1947, the area was hotly contested. Under the partition plan provided by the Indian Independence Act, Kashmir was free to accede to either India or Pakistan. The maharaja (local ruler), Hari Singh, initially wanted Kashmir to become independent - but in October 1947 chose to join India, in return for its help against an invasion of tribesmen from Pakistan. A war erupted and India approached the United Nations asking it to intervene. The United Nations recommended holding a plebiscite to settle the question of whether the state would join India or Pakistan. However the two countries could not agree to a deal to demilitarise the region before the referendum could be held. In July 1949, India and Pakistan signed an agreement to establish a ceasefire line as recommended by the UN and the region became divided. A second war followed in 1965. Then in 1999, India fought a brief but bitter conflict with Pakistani-backed forces. By that time, India and Pakistan had both declared themselves to be nuclear powers. Today, Delhi and Islamabad both claim Kashmir in full, but control only parts of it - territories recognised internationally as \"Indian-administered Kashmir\" and \"Pakistan-administered Kashmir\"."}], "question": "How old is this fight?", "id": "49_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1624, "answer_end": 5359, "text": "An armed revolt has been waged against Indian rule in the region for three decades, claiming tens of thousands of lives. India blames Pakistan for stirring the unrest by backing separatist militants in Kashmir - a charge its neighbour denies. Now a sudden change to Kashmir's status on the Indian side has created further apprehension. Indian-administered Kashmir has held a special position within the country historically, thanks to Article 370 - a clause in the constitution which gave it significant autonomy, including its own constitution, a separate flag, and independence over all matters except foreign affairs, defence and communications. On 5 August, India revoked that seven-decade-long privileged status - as the governing party, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), had promised in its 2019 election manifesto. The Hindu nationalist BJP has long opposed Article 370 and had repeatedly called for its abolishment. Telephone networks and the internet were cut off in the region in the days before the presidential order was announced. Public gatherings were banned, and tens of thousands of troops were sent in. Tourists were told to leave Kashmir under warnings of a terror threat. Two former chief ministers of Jammu and Kashmir - the Indian state which encompasses the disputed territory - were placed under house arrest. One of them, Mehbooba Mufti, said the move would \"make India an occupational force in Jammu and Kashmir,\" and that \"today marks the darkest day in Indian democracy\". Pakistan fiercely condemned the development, branding it \"illegal\" and vowing to \"exercise all possible options\" against it. It downgraded diplomatic ties with India and suspended all trade. India responded by saying they \"regretted\" Pakistan's statement and reiterating that Article 370 was an internal matter as it did not interfere with the boundaries of the territory. Within Kashmir, opinions about the territory's rightful allegiance are diverse and strongly held. Many do not want it to be governed by India, preferring either independence or union with Pakistan instead. Religion is one factor: Jammu and Kashmir is more than 60% Muslim, making it the only state within India where Muslims are in the majority. Critics of the BJP fear this move is designed to change the state's demographic make-up of - by giving people from the rest of the country to right to acquire property and settle there permanently. Ms Mufti told the BBC: \"They just want to occupy our land and want to make this Muslim-majority state like any other state and reduce us to a minority and disempower us totally.\" Feelings of disenfranchisement have been aggravated in Indian-administered Kashmir by high unemployment, and complaints of human rights abuses by security forces battling street protesters and fighting insurgents. Anti-India sentiment in the state has ebbed and flowed since 1989, but the region witnessed a fresh wave of violence after the death of 22-year-old militant leader Burhan Wani in July 2016. He died in a battle with security forces, sparking massive protests across the valley. Wani - whose social media videos were popular among young people - is largely credited with reviving and legitimising the image of militancy in the region. Thousands attended Wani's funeral, which was held in his hometown of Tral, about 40km (25 miles) south of the city of Srinagar. Following the funeral, people clashed with troops and it set off a deadly cycle of violence that lasted for days. More than 30 civilians died, and others were injured in the clashes. Since then, violence has been on the rise in the state. More than 500 people were killed in 2018 - including civilians, security forces and militants - the highest toll in a decade."}], "question": "Why is there so much unrest in the Indian-administered part?", "id": "49_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 5360, "answer_end": 6200, "text": "India and Pakistan did indeed agree a ceasefire in 2003 after years of bloodshed along the de facto border (also known as the Line of Control). Pakistan later promised to stop funding insurgents in the territory, while India offered them an amnesty if they renounced militancy. In 2014, India's current Prime Minister Narendra Modi came to power promising a tough line on Pakistan, but also showed interest in holding peace talks. Nawaz Sharif, then prime minister of Pakistan, attended Mr Modi's swearing-in ceremony in Delhi. But a year later, India blamed Pakistan-based groups for an attack on its airbase in Pathankot in the northern state of Punjab. Mr Modi also cancelled a scheduled visit to the Pakistani capital, Islamabad, for a regional summit in 2017. Since then, there hasn't been any progress in talks between the neighbours."}], "question": "Weren't there high hopes for peace in the new century?", "id": "49_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 6201, "answer_end": 7457, "text": "The bloody summer of street protests in Indian-administered Kashmir in 2016 had already dimmed hopes for a lasting peace in the region. Then, in June 2018, the state government there was upended when Mr Modi's BJP pulled out of a coalition government run by Ms Mufti's People's Democratic Party. Jammu and Kashmir was since under direct rule from Delhi, which fuelled further anger. The deaths of more than 40 Indian soldiers in a suicide attack on 14 February, 2019 have ended any hope of a thaw in the immediate future. India blamed Pakistan-based militant groups for the violence - the deadliest targeting Indian soldiers in Kashmir since the insurgency began three decades ago. Following the bombing, India said it would take \"all possible diplomatic steps\" to isolate Pakistan from the international community. On 26 February, it launched air strikes in Pakistani territory which it said targeted militant bases. Pakistan denied the raids had caused major damage or casualties but promised to respond, fuelling fears of confrontation. A day later it said it had shot down two Indian Air Force jets in its airspace, and captured a fighter pilot - who was later returned unharmed to India. Kashmir remains one of the most militarised zones in the world."}], "question": "Are we back to square one?", "id": "49_3"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 7458, "answer_end": 8417, "text": "India's parliament has now passed a bill splitting Indian-administered Kashmir into two territories governed directly by Delhi: Jammu and Kashmir, and remote, mountainous Ladakh. China, which shares a disputed border with India in Ladakh, has objected to the reorganisation and accused Delhi of undermining its territorial sovereignty. Pakistan's Prime Minister Imran Khan has vowed to challenge India's actions at the UN security council, and take the matter to the International Criminal Court. In an ominous warning, he said: \"If the world does not act today... (if) the developed world does not uphold its own laws, then things will go to a place that we will not be responsible for.\" But Delhi insists that there is no \"external implication\" to its decision to reorganise the state as it has not changed the Line of Control or boundaries of the region. US President Donald Trump has offered to mediate in the crisis - an overture that Delhi has rejected."}], "question": "So what happens next?", "id": "49_4"}]}]}, {"title": "New Zealand measles outbreak rises above 1,000 cases", "date": "5 September 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "New Zealand's ongoing measles outbreak has hit the milestone of more than 1,000 confirmed cases. A total of 1,051 people were affected between 1 January and 5 September, 2019, the ministry of health said. Measles is a highly contagious and potentially fatal illness that causes coughing, rashes and fever. Although effective and safe vaccination is available, some developed countries have seen a measles resurgence in past years. Worldwide, the number of cases has quadrupled in the first three months of 2019 compared with the same time last year, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). The New Zealand outbreak is largely concentrated around the country's biggest city Auckland, with 877 of the confirmed cases seen there. The Health Ministry has issued a statement calling for everyone aged 12 months to 50 years old to get vaccinated if they have not been already. Immunisation Advisory Centre director Dr Nikki Turner told New Zealand's Newshub it is a \"very sad\" milestone to reach. \"This was entirely predictable and preventable, so it is very disappointing for us.\" Authorities are urging anyone who feels sick to \"stay away from work, school or public places, to prevent putting other people at risk\". The ministry has also put out a travel advice to get vaccinated at least two weeks before visiting Auckland. The US Center for Disease Control and Prevention has issued advice to get measles vaccination before visiting New Zealand. A viral illness spread by coughing and sneezing, measles is one of the world's most contagious diseases. Although most people who catch it will recover, it can lead to life-threatening complications. Before the introduction of a vaccine in 1963 and widespread vaccination, \"major epidemics occurred approximately every 2-3 years and measles caused an estimated 2.6 million deaths each year\", according to the WHO. Numbers of measles cases were steadily declining worldwide until 2016, when the illness saw a resurgence. Earlier this year, the WHO said four European countries, including the UK, were no longer seen as measles-free. In 2018, there were 991 confirmed cases in England and Wales, compared with 284 cases in 2017. The rise in developed nations is in part due to some parents shunning the vaccines for philosophical or religious reasons, or concerns, debunked by medical science, that vaccines are linked to autism.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 600, "answer_end": 1454, "text": "The New Zealand outbreak is largely concentrated around the country's biggest city Auckland, with 877 of the confirmed cases seen there. The Health Ministry has issued a statement calling for everyone aged 12 months to 50 years old to get vaccinated if they have not been already. Immunisation Advisory Centre director Dr Nikki Turner told New Zealand's Newshub it is a \"very sad\" milestone to reach. \"This was entirely predictable and preventable, so it is very disappointing for us.\" Authorities are urging anyone who feels sick to \"stay away from work, school or public places, to prevent putting other people at risk\". The ministry has also put out a travel advice to get vaccinated at least two weeks before visiting Auckland. The US Center for Disease Control and Prevention has issued advice to get measles vaccination before visiting New Zealand."}], "question": "What's happening in New Zealand?", "id": "50_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Charleston shooting: Who are US white supremacists?", "date": "19 June 2015", "paragraphs": [{"context": "An attack on an African-American church in South Carolina that has left nine dead is thought to be racially motivated. The suspected gunman Dylann Roof has been pictured wearing white supremacist iconography and reportedly told his black victims: \"I have to do it... You rape our women and you're taking over our country, and you have to go.\" Here we look at who the white supremacists are in the United States and what defines them. Like any sub-culture, they are far from a homogenous grouping but what defines them is hatred - usually directed at race and the government. Weapons are a key part of their ideology: far-right websites dedicate entire sections to recommending what guns and other weapons to buy. Nazi ideology is one symbol seen in nearly all far-right groups, with tattoos of swastikas common. That Caucasian/Aryan people are from a superior gene pool, and that all other minorities are inferior. There is a particularly embittered hatred towards black people linking back to slavery, but also an increasing hatred towards Hispanics as that group has grown due to migration. Unsurprisingly, given the long-standing affinity with Nazi ideology, Jews are also hated. A commonly held belief is that the US government is controlled by Jews, denoted by the acronym ZOG, which stands for Zionist Occupied Government. Online extremist networks have erupted with news of the shooting. One thread on the major white-supremacist forum Stormfront had over 140,000 views. Users expressed a variety of opinions, but the majority used racist language and were insulting towards the dead. Pejorative and offensive racial terms were used, with some describing the gunman as a hero. Others criticised the deaths of churchgoers and argued that the bad publicity would damage their cause. However, there was little regret for the actual loss of life. There are also claims that the attack is a Jewish conspiracy designed to discredit white supremacist causes. Reliable data is hard to come by, as you would expect from a mostly underground culture. The Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) tracks extremist groups across the US - the majority of which  are white supremacist - and estimates there were 784 active groups in 2014. In South Carolina,  there were 19 groups, including the Loyal White Knights of the Ku Klux Klan and the League of the South. The white supremacist next door Analysts and law enforcement officials point towards the rising threat of \"anti-government terrorists\". They are individuals on the far right who believe in extreme political conservatism and see the American government as an oppressor, but more often than not this is tied to hatred of black people and anti-Semitism. Last year, a survey of 382 law enforcement agencies found that \"74% reported anti-government extremism as one of the top three terrorist threats in their jurisdiction.\" Several studies have found that home-grown extremism attacks are far more common than the more widely publicised \"jihadist\" attacks. Since 9/11, right-wing extremists attacks average 337 per year compared with nine per year by Muslim Americans. Other studies using different methodology also show significantly more far-right than jihadist attacks. The University of Maryland found 65 attacks by right-wing extremists compared with 24 by Muslim extremists. To give a sense of how diverse the threat is, the FBI has even warned that law enforcement may be infiltrated by the far right. White supremacy has increasingly splintered over the years. Now the major threat is believed to be posed by \"lone wolves\". This phenomenon is believed to have been encouraged by the internet, allowing loners to talk to others with similar beliefs. In 2009, the Department of Homeland Security said \"that white supremacist lone wolves pose the most significant domestic terrorist threat,\" highlighting the difficulty posed in tracking individuals working alone. A study by the SPLC found that in the past six years, \"74% of the more than 60 incidents examined were carried out, or planned, by a lone wolf, a single person operating entirely alone\". One notable recent attack was the murder of six people at a Wisconsin Sikh temple by Michael Page in 2012. No. America's most infamous racist organisation that terrorised black Americans for much of the 20th Century is a pale shadow of what it was. The organisation never recovered from internal power struggles and heavy FBI infiltration of the 1970s. The Anti-Defamation League estimates that there are 35 Klan groups left in the US, but many of those are run by just a solitary member. It is still estimated there are over 5,000 KKK members but they are split into small local organisations using Klan as some part of their name. The organisation's real power is symbolic. Its iconic white hood remains a recruitment badge for white supremacists. Although a disparate group of individuals, neo-Nazi ideology is common among white supremacists. Besides swastikas, the number 88 is used as a hidden Nazi symbol. H is the 8th letter in alphabet so 88 = HH = Heil Hitler. The photograph Dylann Roof used on his Facebook profile page showed him wearing the flags of countries with a history of racial segregation. The flag of the former British colony Rhodesia, which is now known as Zimbabwe and apartheid-era South Africa. Both nations are held up as racially segregated utopias within the white supremacy movement.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 434, "answer_end": 811, "text": "Like any sub-culture, they are far from a homogenous grouping but what defines them is hatred - usually directed at race and the government. Weapons are a key part of their ideology: far-right websites dedicate entire sections to recommending what guns and other weapons to buy. Nazi ideology is one symbol seen in nearly all far-right groups, with tattoos of swastikas common."}], "question": "Who are they?", "id": "51_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 812, "answer_end": 1328, "text": "That Caucasian/Aryan people are from a superior gene pool, and that all other minorities are inferior. There is a particularly embittered hatred towards black people linking back to slavery, but also an increasing hatred towards Hispanics as that group has grown due to migration. Unsurprisingly, given the long-standing affinity with Nazi ideology, Jews are also hated. A commonly held belief is that the US government is controlled by Jews, denoted by the acronym ZOG, which stands for Zionist Occupied Government."}], "question": "What do they believe?", "id": "51_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1329, "answer_end": 1958, "text": "Online extremist networks have erupted with news of the shooting. One thread on the major white-supremacist forum Stormfront had over 140,000 views. Users expressed a variety of opinions, but the majority used racist language and were insulting towards the dead. Pejorative and offensive racial terms were used, with some describing the gunman as a hero. Others criticised the deaths of churchgoers and argued that the bad publicity would damage their cause. However, there was little regret for the actual loss of life. There are also claims that the attack is a Jewish conspiracy designed to discredit white supremacist causes."}], "question": "How do they view Charleston attack?", "id": "51_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 4211, "answer_end": 4853, "text": "No. America's most infamous racist organisation that terrorised black Americans for much of the 20th Century is a pale shadow of what it was. The organisation never recovered from internal power struggles and heavy FBI infiltration of the 1970s. The Anti-Defamation League estimates that there are 35 Klan groups left in the US, but many of those are run by just a solitary member. It is still estimated there are over 5,000 KKK members but they are split into small local organisations using Klan as some part of their name. The organisation's real power is symbolic. Its iconic white hood remains a recruitment badge for white supremacists."}], "question": "Are they all Ku Klux Klan?", "id": "51_3"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 4854, "answer_end": 5419, "text": "Although a disparate group of individuals, neo-Nazi ideology is common among white supremacists. Besides swastikas, the number 88 is used as a hidden Nazi symbol. H is the 8th letter in alphabet so 88 = HH = Heil Hitler. The photograph Dylann Roof used on his Facebook profile page showed him wearing the flags of countries with a history of racial segregation. The flag of the former British colony Rhodesia, which is now known as Zimbabwe and apartheid-era South Africa. Both nations are held up as racially segregated utopias within the white supremacy movement."}], "question": "How can you spot them?", "id": "51_4"}]}]}, {"title": "India death penalty: Does it actually deter rape?", "date": "31 July 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "India's lower house of parliament passed a bill on Monday that will see the death penalty handed out to anyone convicted of raping a child under 12. The amendment to the Prevention Of Child Sex Offences (Pocso) act was made at the behest of Women and Child Development Minister Maneka Gandhi, who said she believed this would deter sexual crimes against children. It came soon after a series of high-profile cases against children, including the rape and murder of an eight-year-old girl in Indian-administered Kashmir, and the more recent rape of a young girl in the central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh. India's official crime data show the number of reported rapes of children increased from 8,541 in 2012 to 19,765 in 2016. In 2013, following the outrage over the rape and murder of a medical student aboard a moving bus in the capital Delhi, the government announced that the death penalty would be applicable to those convicted of rape resulting in death. The new amendments will enable a court to hand out a death penalty to someone convicted of raping a child under 12, even if it does not result in death. Despite these changes to the law, however, India is a country that is reluctant to carry out the death penalty. It is currently prescribed only for the \"rarest of rare\" cases - the interpretation of which is left to the court. The country's last execution was on 30 July 2015. Although welcomed by many, the new amendment has also been criticised by a number of activists who have questioned whether the death penalty is really an effective deterrent. This is a question that has been debated around the world - does toughening the sentence actually reduce crimes? Some evidence from neighbouring countries would suggest otherwise. Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan all hand out the death penalty for rape and many Indians in favour of the death penalty often point to these countries as those who \"do not tolerate rape\". A common narrative is also that there are fewer incidents of rape in these countries. Experts in the region say that a major argument against imposing the death penalty for rape is that it actually deters the system from handing out convictions. \"Even though under the law, rape is treated on a par with terror, nothing has changed. Rape and gang rape cases are progressively increasing while conviction rates remain abysmally low,\" Zainab Malik, of the Lahore-based not-for-profit legal rights firm Justice Project Pakistan, told the BBC. She says that it is because the \"police are biased against women and are hesitant to even register cases of gang rape as that would mean the death penalty for a group of men. To circumvent that, often the case would be registered against one man only.\" Activists in the country say that in many cases police tend to broker compromises, encouraging survivors, under threat or coercion, to withdraw their complaint, so that the accused is set free on the basis of \"low probability of conviction\". This has become a similar concern in Bangladesh, where the parliament brought in the Oppression of Women and Children (Special Provisions) Act in 1995 to facilitate stringent punishments, including the death penalty for crimes such as rape, gang rape, acid attacks and trafficking of children. But here again, the severity of the punishments meant many of the accused walked free due to \"insufficient evidence\" and because there was no option of a less harsh sentence. This concern has been voiced by many Indian activists who oppose the death penalty for rape. \"Under-reporting is a problem because the perpetrators are mostly known to the victims and there are all sorts of dynamics at play that cause victims and their guardians to not report the crime,\" said Dr Anup Surendranath, the executive director of Project 39A, a social justice organisation. He added that, in such a context, the death penalty could be a \"further burden\" since victims will have to grapple with the possibility of \"sending a person they know to the gallows\". Another issue is that, in many rural areas in particular, there is still massive stigma associated with rape, which means that even stronger laws do not encourage victims to come forward. \"Ours is a society where discussion of child sexual abuse is taboo. There is a culture of silence that pervades our homes and our institutions in addressing this issue with the seriousness it deserves,\" Dr Surendranath said. India has amended its laws to increase accountability of police and other officials dealing with violence against women, which has had a positive impact. But the change is slow and studies suggest that a large number of rapes in India still go unreported. Mohammad Musa Mahmodi, executive director of the Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission, which also publishes data on rape, said the death penalty on its own would never be enough to deter rape or encourage women to seek help in the justice system. A 2012 report by Human Rights Watch on Afghanistan says: \"Rather than finding support from police, judicial institutions, and government officials, women who try to flee abusive situations often face apathy, derision, and criminal sanctions for committing moral crimes.\" The slow pace of the justice system has also been cited as an issue. Long-drawn-out trials in India often mean that victims have to wait years before they can get justice. And in cases where the death penalty has been handed out, those convicted have many chances to appeal against their sentence. The men convicted in India's most high-profile rape case in recent years - of a medical student who died of her injuries after being raped in December 2012 - are still appealing against the death penalties handed out by a \"fast-track\" trial court that in September 2013. Their last appeal was turned down by the Supreme Court in July, but they still have the option of appealing to the president. Another consequence of a prolonged legal process is that it often adds to the victim's suffering. These experiences clearly suggest that punishments like the death penalty can potentially have a negative impact on the survivor's access to justice. Robust laws would in fact have a very limited impact in reducing the crime unless they are accompanied with a change in the attitudes of the police, judiciary, government officers and society. Additional research by Shadab Nazmi", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1749, "answer_end": 3445, "text": "Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan all hand out the death penalty for rape and many Indians in favour of the death penalty often point to these countries as those who \"do not tolerate rape\". A common narrative is also that there are fewer incidents of rape in these countries. Experts in the region say that a major argument against imposing the death penalty for rape is that it actually deters the system from handing out convictions. \"Even though under the law, rape is treated on a par with terror, nothing has changed. Rape and gang rape cases are progressively increasing while conviction rates remain abysmally low,\" Zainab Malik, of the Lahore-based not-for-profit legal rights firm Justice Project Pakistan, told the BBC. She says that it is because the \"police are biased against women and are hesitant to even register cases of gang rape as that would mean the death penalty for a group of men. To circumvent that, often the case would be registered against one man only.\" Activists in the country say that in many cases police tend to broker compromises, encouraging survivors, under threat or coercion, to withdraw their complaint, so that the accused is set free on the basis of \"low probability of conviction\". This has become a similar concern in Bangladesh, where the parliament brought in the Oppression of Women and Children (Special Provisions) Act in 1995 to facilitate stringent punishments, including the death penalty for crimes such as rape, gang rape, acid attacks and trafficking of children. But here again, the severity of the punishments meant many of the accused walked free due to \"insufficient evidence\" and because there was no option of a less harsh sentence."}], "question": "Deterrent to conviction?", "id": "52_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Australia government suffers Wentworth by-election defeat", "date": "20 October 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Australia's governing coalition has lost its one-seat parliamentary majority after a by-election in Sydney. Kerryn Phelps, a local doctor and popular independent candidate, comfortably won the Wentworth seat. \"This win tonight should signal a return of decency, integrity and humanity to the Australian government,\" she told supporters. Australia has had six prime ministers in eight years, and now faces further uncertainty. Prime Minister Scott Morrison's ruling Liberal Party had been fighting to hold Wentworth, which was vacated by his predecessor, Malcolm Turnbull. The result means the centre-right party will need to rely on independent MPs to survive confidence votes. Two have already vowed not to back Mr Morrison. Speaking at the HQ of Liberal candidate Dave Sharma, Mr Morrison said it had been a \"tough day\" and the result was \"not unexpected\". \"Liberals are angry and they've expressed that,\" he said. \"We will work constructively with all of those on the crossbench, as we always have... The Liberal-National government will be back at work on Monday.\" Analysis by Phil Mercer, BBC News, Sydney Revenge. The people of Wentworth have sent a blunt message to Australia's political class that back-stabbing and party dysfunction won't be tolerated. The defeat of Dave Sharma, the governing Liberal candidate in the Sydney by-election, is an act of retribution by voters furious and frustrated at the ruthless ousting as prime minister of their beloved former MP, Malcolm Turnbull. Scott Morrison has failed his first electoral test as PM and more trouble is brewing. The lightning and thunder that jolted Bondi Beach and other parts of Wentworth as the polls closed are a sign of a wild political ride that lies ahead. The Morrison government has lost its narrow parliamentary majority, but it should survive, for now at least, with the support of independent MPs. However, with an election due next May its longer-term prospects appear increasingly grim. Controversy was stoked during the by-election race by the prime minister's proposal that Australia could follow the US and move its embassy to Jerusalem. Mr Sharma is the former Australian ambassador to Israel and first proposed such a move. Around 13% of Wentworth's voters are Jewish, compared to less than 0.5% of the Australian population as a whole. Kerryn Phelps has said any decision on recognising Jerusalem as Israel's capital must take into account trade, security and defence considerations.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1969, "answer_end": 2471, "text": "Controversy was stoked during the by-election race by the prime minister's proposal that Australia could follow the US and move its embassy to Jerusalem. Mr Sharma is the former Australian ambassador to Israel and first proposed such a move. Around 13% of Wentworth's voters are Jewish, compared to less than 0.5% of the Australian population as a whole. Kerryn Phelps has said any decision on recognising Jerusalem as Israel's capital must take into account trade, security and defence considerations."}], "question": "Why was Jerusalem an election issue?", "id": "53_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Lebanon scraps WhatsApp tax as protests rage", "date": "18 October 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Protests raged for a second day in Lebanon despite the government backtracking on plans to tax WhatsApp calls. The government had announced a $0.20 (PS0.16) daily charge on voice calls made through WhatsApp and other apps. But it scrapped the plans hours later amid clashes between security forces and protesters. Thousands have protested, calling on the government to step down over its handling of an economic crisis. Dozens were reported injured on Thursday as protesters burned tyres and security forces fired tear gas. The demonstrations were the biggest seen in Lebanon for years. On Friday, Lebanon's Prime Minister Saad al-Hariri said the country was going through an \"unprecedented, difficult time\" but stopped short of resigning. He issued a 72-hour deadline to his \"partners in government\" to stop blocking reforms. Thousands of Lebanese people have taken to the streets amid an economic crisis that many blame on the government. \"I was sitting at home and I saw the people on the move and so I came out,\" Cezar Shaaya, an accountant protesting in Beirut, told Reuters news agency. \"I am married, I have mortgage payments due every month and I am not working. It's the state's fault.\" Chants of \"the people want to topple the regime\" echoed around Beirut's Riad al-Solh square on Thursday. Many also expressed anger over perceived inaction by authorities to tackle the country's worst wildfires in decades. On Thursday, the government announced a new daily tax for calls made via voice-over-internet-protocol (Voip), which is used by apps including WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger and Apple's FaceTime. The government backtracked hours later, but the protests continued. \"We are not here over the WhatsApp, we are here over everything: over fuel, food, bread, over everything,\" said Abdullah, a protester in Beirut.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 827, "answer_end": 1417, "text": "Thousands of Lebanese people have taken to the streets amid an economic crisis that many blame on the government. \"I was sitting at home and I saw the people on the move and so I came out,\" Cezar Shaaya, an accountant protesting in Beirut, told Reuters news agency. \"I am married, I have mortgage payments due every month and I am not working. It's the state's fault.\" Chants of \"the people want to topple the regime\" echoed around Beirut's Riad al-Solh square on Thursday. Many also expressed anger over perceived inaction by authorities to tackle the country's worst wildfires in decades."}], "question": "Why are people protesting in Lebanon?", "id": "54_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Hayabusa-2: Japan's rovers send pictures from asteroid", "date": "22 September 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Japan's space agency (JAXA) has made history by successfully landing two robotic explorers on the surface of an asteroid. The two small \"rovers\", which were despatched from the Hayabusa-2 spacecraft on Friday, will move around the 1km-wide space rock known as Ryugu. The asteroid's low gravity means they can hop across it, capturing temperatures and images of the surface. \"Both rovers are in good condition,\" the agency confirmed on Saturday. JAXA proudly tweeted pictures from the rovers, which reached Earth via the spaceship Hayabusa-2. Hayabusa-2 reached the asteroid Ryugu in June this year after a three-and-a-half-year journey. While the European Space Agency had previously managed to land on an icy comet, this is the first spacecraft to place robot rovers on the surface of an asteroid. Asteroids are essentially leftover building materials from the formation of the Solar System 4.6 billion years ago. Ryugu is a particularly primitive variety, and studying it could shed light on the origin and evolution of our own planet. Early on Thursday morning (GMT), Hayabusa-2 began descending towards the surface of Ryugu, preparing to eject its rovers. The little hoppers are stored in a drum-shaped container at the base of the \"mothership\". Collectively, they form a 3.3kg science package known as Minerva II-1. On Friday, about 60m (196ft) from the asteroid, the two robots were released. Space agency officials explained that when the front of the drum was jettisoned into space, the two rovers would be ejected from the container and fall independently to the asteroid's surface. One of the principal concerns for deployment was Ryugu's rougher-than-expected surface, which is carpeted with boulders and has very few smooth patches. The 1kg rovers are equipped with wide-angle and stereo cameras to send back pictures. Spine-like projections from the edges of the hoppers are sensors that will measure surface temperatures on the asteroid. They can hop and float around thanks to motor-powered internal rotors, which propel the robots across the asteroid. The diamond-shaped asteroid has a blackish-coloured surface, and rotates on its axis around once every 7.5 hours. On 3 October, the mothership will deploy a lander called Mascot, which has been developed by the German Aerospace Center (DLR) together with the French Space Agency (CNES). And in late October, Hayabusa-2 will descend to the surface of Ryugu to collect a sample of rock and soil. Further on in the mission, Japan's space agency plans to detonate an explosive charge that will punch a crater into the surface of Ryugu. Hayabusa-2 would then descend into the crater to collect fresh rocks that have not been altered by aeons of exposure to the environment of space. These samples will be sent to Earth for laboratory studies. The spacecraft will leave Ryugu in December 2019 with the intention of returning to Earth with the asteroid samples in 2020.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 637, "answer_end": 1037, "text": "While the European Space Agency had previously managed to land on an icy comet, this is the first spacecraft to place robot rovers on the surface of an asteroid. Asteroids are essentially leftover building materials from the formation of the Solar System 4.6 billion years ago. Ryugu is a particularly primitive variety, and studying it could shed light on the origin and evolution of our own planet."}], "question": "Why does it matter?", "id": "55_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1038, "answer_end": 1744, "text": "Early on Thursday morning (GMT), Hayabusa-2 began descending towards the surface of Ryugu, preparing to eject its rovers. The little hoppers are stored in a drum-shaped container at the base of the \"mothership\". Collectively, they form a 3.3kg science package known as Minerva II-1. On Friday, about 60m (196ft) from the asteroid, the two robots were released. Space agency officials explained that when the front of the drum was jettisoned into space, the two rovers would be ejected from the container and fall independently to the asteroid's surface. One of the principal concerns for deployment was Ryugu's rougher-than-expected surface, which is carpeted with boulders and has very few smooth patches."}], "question": "How did the rovers reach the asteroid?", "id": "55_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1745, "answer_end": 2181, "text": "The 1kg rovers are equipped with wide-angle and stereo cameras to send back pictures. Spine-like projections from the edges of the hoppers are sensors that will measure surface temperatures on the asteroid. They can hop and float around thanks to motor-powered internal rotors, which propel the robots across the asteroid. The diamond-shaped asteroid has a blackish-coloured surface, and rotates on its axis around once every 7.5 hours."}], "question": "What will they do there?", "id": "55_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2182, "answer_end": 2930, "text": "On 3 October, the mothership will deploy a lander called Mascot, which has been developed by the German Aerospace Center (DLR) together with the French Space Agency (CNES). And in late October, Hayabusa-2 will descend to the surface of Ryugu to collect a sample of rock and soil. Further on in the mission, Japan's space agency plans to detonate an explosive charge that will punch a crater into the surface of Ryugu. Hayabusa-2 would then descend into the crater to collect fresh rocks that have not been altered by aeons of exposure to the environment of space. These samples will be sent to Earth for laboratory studies. The spacecraft will leave Ryugu in December 2019 with the intention of returning to Earth with the asteroid samples in 2020."}], "question": "When will they get samples?", "id": "55_3"}]}]}, {"title": "Brexit: What is Labour's customs union policy?", "date": "22 January 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Claim: Labour is proposing a new permanent customs union with the European Union (EU) after Brexit which would allow the UK \"a say\" in future trade deals. Reality Check Verdict:  EU law currently does not allow non-EU members to have a formal say or veto in its trade talks. Labour says the EU has shown flexibility in the past and its proposal cannot be ruled out until the party has had a chance to negotiate formally. There's renewed focus on Labour's Brexit policy as Theresa May holds discussions with opposition MPs, in the wake of the historic defeat of her Brexit deal. One area under the spotlight is Labour's plan for the UK to have a new permanent customs union with the EU after Brexit and the power to have a say in future EU trade talks. The idea that the UK would be allowed such a say has been dismissed by Michael Gove, the Environment Secretary. He's declared Labour's position \"an unprecedented legal and political novelty of the kind that is rightly called a unicorn\". So how realistic is Labour's plan? The purpose of a customs union is to make trade easier. Countries in a customs union agree not to impose charges - known as tariffs - or custom checks on each other's goods. The rules also mean that any goods coming in from the rest of the world pay the same tariff - irrespective of where in the customs union those goods first enter. This is known as a common tariff. For example, a car from the US entering the EU customs union currently attracts a tariff of 10% of the car's value. It doesn't matter if the car arrives in France, Spain or anywhere else - the same one-off 10% charge is applied. That car can then move between all the customs union countries without incurring extra costs or custom checks. The EU customs union includes the 28 EU member states as well as Monaco. The EU also has customs union arrangements with non-EU members: Turkey, Andorra and San Marino. But under (the EU's) customs union rules, members cannot negotiate their own independent trade deals with countries from the rest of the world. Instead, free trade deals (ie agreements that reduce or eliminate tariffs between countries) can only be negotiated by the EU as a whole. As a result, Theresa May's government has ruled out remaining in the customs union after Brexit, arguing it would prevent the UK from setting its own trade policy. At the moment, the EU is negotiating trade agreements with 21 countries. So what are the chances of Labour's proposal of leaving \"the\" EU customs union and replacing it with \"a\" customs union arrangement where the UK could have a say in those talks? It somewhat depends on what Labour means by a \"say\". Barry Gardiner, the shadow international trade secretary, told the Commons that he favoured: \"A new customs union in which the UK would be able to reject any agreement it believed was concluded to its disadvantage.\" He told MPs that this position should have been adopted at the start of the Brexit talks. But allowing the UK a formal role in EU trade talks after Brexit, would not be allowed under current EU rules: \"Trade outside the EU is an exclusive responsibility of the EU.... this means the EU institutions make laws on trade matters, negotiate and conclude international trade agreements,\" says the European Commission. Holger Hestermeyer, an expert in international dispute resolution at the British Academy, agrees it would be very difficult: \"To give the UK a say in the EU's talks, the procedure, as set out in EU treaties, would need to be changed. \"A treaty change in that respect will not happen and to give the UK a say without such a change is legally doubtful and politically impossible,\" he says. Labour points out that the EU is already in favour of the UK remaining in a customs union after Brexit. Therefore it believes the EU may well be receptive to the idea of the UK also having a say in future trade deals. Jeremy Corbyn told the BBC that \"the EU is well-known for its ability to be flexible\". If a \"say\" means something less formal, it may be more achievable. But even then it would still be unique - the EU currently has no relationship with any country like the one Labour is asking for. A Labour source told Reality Check that determining exactly how the arrangement could work would be subject to any future negotiation with the EU. Turkey has often been held up as example of a non-EU country entering into a customs union arrangement with the EU. It's had a customs union deal with the EU since 1995, although it's not as comprehensive as the one Labour is seeking. That's because Turkey's customs arrangement only applies to industrial products. This means Turkey has some limited freedom to strike its own trade deals, but only in the areas not covered by its customs union arrangement - such as agriculture. Turkey can also strike deals around the world on services - as this is not a customs union issue. It has a number of trade deals with nearby countries, such as Georgia and Lebanon as well countries as far afield as Chile. However, Turkey is also obliged to apply common external tariffs on industrial products arriving from outside the EU customs union. This is a very strict rule, according to Catherine Barnard an EU law professor at Cambridge University. \"Under no circumstances may Turkey be authorised to apply a customs tariff which is lower than the common external tariff for any product,\" she says. \"The arrangement has boosted trade between the two sides,\" says Alex Stojanovic from the Institute for Government. However, Mr Stojanovic adds that neither the EU nor Turkey is entirely happy with the current arrangement: \"The EU Parliament has released reports criticising the governance of resolving disputes. From Turkey's point of view, it argues it has little input or say in EU trade policy.\" Labour says it has ruled-out a Turkey-style arrangement on the grounds it is \"asymmetrical\" and only covers certain goods. However, it remains to be seen whether the EU would accept the type of customs union arrangement the Labour is pursuing instead. Read more from Reality Check Send us your questions Follow us on Twitter", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1024, "answer_end": 2348, "text": "The purpose of a customs union is to make trade easier. Countries in a customs union agree not to impose charges - known as tariffs - or custom checks on each other's goods. The rules also mean that any goods coming in from the rest of the world pay the same tariff - irrespective of where in the customs union those goods first enter. This is known as a common tariff. For example, a car from the US entering the EU customs union currently attracts a tariff of 10% of the car's value. It doesn't matter if the car arrives in France, Spain or anywhere else - the same one-off 10% charge is applied. That car can then move between all the customs union countries without incurring extra costs or custom checks. The EU customs union includes the 28 EU member states as well as Monaco. The EU also has customs union arrangements with non-EU members: Turkey, Andorra and San Marino. But under (the EU's) customs union rules, members cannot negotiate their own independent trade deals with countries from the rest of the world. Instead, free trade deals (ie agreements that reduce or eliminate tariffs between countries) can only be negotiated by the EU as a whole. As a result, Theresa May's government has ruled out remaining in the customs union after Brexit, arguing it would prevent the UK from setting its own trade policy."}], "question": "First, the basics - what is a customs union?", "id": "56_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2349, "answer_end": 4317, "text": "At the moment, the EU is negotiating trade agreements with 21 countries. So what are the chances of Labour's proposal of leaving \"the\" EU customs union and replacing it with \"a\" customs union arrangement where the UK could have a say in those talks? It somewhat depends on what Labour means by a \"say\". Barry Gardiner, the shadow international trade secretary, told the Commons that he favoured: \"A new customs union in which the UK would be able to reject any agreement it believed was concluded to its disadvantage.\" He told MPs that this position should have been adopted at the start of the Brexit talks. But allowing the UK a formal role in EU trade talks after Brexit, would not be allowed under current EU rules: \"Trade outside the EU is an exclusive responsibility of the EU.... this means the EU institutions make laws on trade matters, negotiate and conclude international trade agreements,\" says the European Commission. Holger Hestermeyer, an expert in international dispute resolution at the British Academy, agrees it would be very difficult: \"To give the UK a say in the EU's talks, the procedure, as set out in EU treaties, would need to be changed. \"A treaty change in that respect will not happen and to give the UK a say without such a change is legally doubtful and politically impossible,\" he says. Labour points out that the EU is already in favour of the UK remaining in a customs union after Brexit. Therefore it believes the EU may well be receptive to the idea of the UK also having a say in future trade deals. Jeremy Corbyn told the BBC that \"the EU is well-known for its ability to be flexible\". If a \"say\" means something less formal, it may be more achievable. But even then it would still be unique - the EU currently has no relationship with any country like the one Labour is asking for. A Labour source told Reality Check that determining exactly how the arrangement could work would be subject to any future negotiation with the EU."}], "question": "Would the EU agree to Labour's plan?", "id": "56_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 4318, "answer_end": 5405, "text": "Turkey has often been held up as example of a non-EU country entering into a customs union arrangement with the EU. It's had a customs union deal with the EU since 1995, although it's not as comprehensive as the one Labour is seeking. That's because Turkey's customs arrangement only applies to industrial products. This means Turkey has some limited freedom to strike its own trade deals, but only in the areas not covered by its customs union arrangement - such as agriculture. Turkey can also strike deals around the world on services - as this is not a customs union issue. It has a number of trade deals with nearby countries, such as Georgia and Lebanon as well countries as far afield as Chile. However, Turkey is also obliged to apply common external tariffs on industrial products arriving from outside the EU customs union. This is a very strict rule, according to Catherine Barnard an EU law professor at Cambridge University. \"Under no circumstances may Turkey be authorised to apply a customs tariff which is lower than the common external tariff for any product,\" she says."}], "question": "What about Turkey?", "id": "56_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 5406, "answer_end": 6056, "text": "\"The arrangement has boosted trade between the two sides,\" says Alex Stojanovic from the Institute for Government. However, Mr Stojanovic adds that neither the EU nor Turkey is entirely happy with the current arrangement: \"The EU Parliament has released reports criticising the governance of resolving disputes. From Turkey's point of view, it argues it has little input or say in EU trade policy.\" Labour says it has ruled-out a Turkey-style arrangement on the grounds it is \"asymmetrical\" and only covers certain goods. However, it remains to be seen whether the EU would accept the type of customs union arrangement the Labour is pursuing instead."}], "question": "Does the EU-Turkey relationship work?", "id": "56_3"}]}]}, {"title": "President's daughter sparks breastfeeding debate with photo", "date": "30 July 2017", "paragraphs": [{"context": "A picture of the Kyrgyz president's youngest daughter feeding her baby dressed in her underwear has sparked a debate about breastfeeding and sexualisation. Aliya Shagieva posted the photo on social media back in April with the caption: 'I will feed my child whenever and wherever he needs to be fed.' She took the post down after being accused of immoral behaviour, but in an exclusive interview with the BBC she said the row was a result of a culture which hyper-sexualised the female form. \"This body I've been given is not vulgar. It is functional, its purpose is to fulfil the physiological needs of my baby, not to be sexualised,\" she told BBC Kyrgyz. It wasn't only some social media users who disapproved. Her parents, President Almazbek Atambayev and his wife Raisa, were also unhappy. \"They really didn't like it.  And it is understandable because the younger generation is less conservative than their parents,\" Ms Shagieva said, speaking at her home on the outskirts of the Kyrgyz capital, Bishkek. Ms Shagieva posts actively on social media, including her own artwork and carefully stylized portraits of herself and her husband and baby, often set against the backdrop of wide open landscapes. Breastfeeding is a recurring theme. \"When I'm breastfeeding my child I feel like I'm giving him the best I can give. Taking care of my baby and attending to his needs is more important to me than what people say about me,\" Ms Shagieva said. Gulnara Kasmambetova, BBC Kyrgyz I interviewed Aliya Shagieva in her flat in a prestigious quarter of Bishkek which she shares with her husband and child. Her drawings and pictures were on the walls and the couple offered fruit and herbal tea.  Herbs were growing in pots on the window sills; the couple are vegetarian, a rarity in a traditionally meat-eating country. In the context of a post-Soviet traditional Muslim society, Aliya Shagieva is very bold and very different. She was quite open, sharing her experience of feeling lonely as a child of very busy parents. She spoke of the generation gap and her efforts to understand and find compromise with her parents, not least over her social media activities. \"My mum received messages from her 'friends' about me,\" she said. \"Now that I am a mother myself, I know what my mum went through raising me.\" Aliya has been active supporting causes such as awareness of children with Downs syndrome and animal rights, but has no obvious political ambitions. People in Kyrgyzstan have recent memories of the two previous presidents' children getting involved in politics and business - both leaders were ousted. But the incumbent leader has pledged that his children will never meddle in politics. Kyrgyzstan is a mainly Muslim ex-Soviet republic. It is socially conservative but breast feeding in public is acceptable. Women are seen in parks and other public spaces feeding their babies, but they usually try and cover their breasts with a piece of clothing. When Ms Shagieva's post first went online some social media users thought there was no need to post a picture of such an intimate moment; others denounced her for not being modest enough. And her breastfeeding photos attracted attention well beyond Kyrgyzstan - they were republished by newspapers and websites as far away as Europe. Many took to social media to praise her for breaking taboos surrounding women's bodies. The question of breastfeeding in public is a matter of debate in many countries, including the UK where only three years ago a woman was asked to cover up in the restaurant of London's famous Claridges Hotel while feeding her baby, causing an outcry. When different BBC language services ran the interview with Aliya Shagieva, the resulting online conversation threw a light on different breastfeeding cultures and practices in Muslim countries. Women writing from Iran shared their experiences about the stress they feel when breastfeeding in public: \"People zoom in on me, I have to either cover myself and the baby or just leave him hungry,\" one Tehran mother wrote. Others praised the recently installed mother and baby rooms in Tehran's Metro. An Afghan woman from Kabul, Zarifa Ghafari, shared a story from her own extended family, saying mothers had to go into a separate room to breastfeed: \"She can't do this in front of others. If she did she would face strong reactions from the elder members of the family. It is a big issue but slowly, slowly the culture is changing.\" Another Afghan woman, Nageen related a shopping trip with her sister in law. \"We had to buy some gifts just so she could feed her baby in a shop. She sat there and covered herself with a big scarf.\" A Turkish Facebook user said, she herself preferred covering up while feeding her baby. \"I don't rub it in people's faces. I use a cover. There are many who still sexualize breasts.\" Victoria Tahmasebi, a women and gender studies expert at Toronto university tweeted: \"From a capitalist view point women's breasts can create profit as long as they are sexualised. Breastfeeding in public makes women's breasts less sexy, therefore it is not acceptable.\" As for Aliya Shagieva's picture which caused a stir - she finally took it down because her parents were worried that the attention \"could be harmful to her young family\". But it hasn't stopped her speaking out, and it hasn't stopped the debate.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1447, "answer_end": 2692, "text": "Gulnara Kasmambetova, BBC Kyrgyz I interviewed Aliya Shagieva in her flat in a prestigious quarter of Bishkek which she shares with her husband and child. Her drawings and pictures were on the walls and the couple offered fruit and herbal tea.  Herbs were growing in pots on the window sills; the couple are vegetarian, a rarity in a traditionally meat-eating country. In the context of a post-Soviet traditional Muslim society, Aliya Shagieva is very bold and very different. She was quite open, sharing her experience of feeling lonely as a child of very busy parents. She spoke of the generation gap and her efforts to understand and find compromise with her parents, not least over her social media activities. \"My mum received messages from her 'friends' about me,\" she said. \"Now that I am a mother myself, I know what my mum went through raising me.\" Aliya has been active supporting causes such as awareness of children with Downs syndrome and animal rights, but has no obvious political ambitions. People in Kyrgyzstan have recent memories of the two previous presidents' children getting involved in politics and business - both leaders were ousted. But the incumbent leader has pledged that his children will never meddle in politics."}], "question": "Who is Aliya Shagieva?", "id": "57_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Syria war: A brief guide to who's fighting whom", "date": "7 April 2017", "paragraphs": [{"context": "The conflict in Syria is often referred to as a civil war, meaning a conflict between citizens of the same country. It certainly started as an uprising of Syrian citizens. They took to the streets in 2011 to demand democracy and an end to corruption, and their opposition to the government of President Bashar al-Assad quickly spiralled into a war. But if you look at today's headlines, it's clear that what is happening today in Syria is far more complex. Some of most powerful countries in the world are involved. As are an alphabet soup of armed opposition groups, the Kurds and, of course, so-called Islamic State. It's complicated - but the best way to start is by looking at the war as a conflict between those who, in broad terms, support and oppose Mr Assad and his government. On the Syrian government's side, we have: - Russia (carries out air strikes and provides political support at the UN) - Iran (provides arms, credit, military advisers and reportedly combat troops) - Hezbollah (The Lebanese Shia movement has sent thousands of fighters) - Shia Muslim militias (recruited by Iran from Iraq, Afghanistan and Yemen) And, on the side of the rebels* we have: - Turkey (provides arms, military and political support) - Gulf Arab states (provide money and weapons) - The US (provides arms, training and military assistance to \"moderate\" groups) - Jordan (provides logistical support and training) *The term \"rebels\" is used to describe a huge and diverse array of fighters, some of whom co-operate with jihadists like those from Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, an al-Qaeda-linked alliance. Different foreign states often back different rebel factions. At this point, it's also worth noting that although the US supports some rebel groups, it had not intentionally attacked the Syrian government directly until Friday, when it fired missiles at an airbase used in an alleged chemical attack. Yes, you have. But those were targeting IS militants as part of an international campaign that began in September 2014. Lots of other countries are taking part, including the UK, France, Jordan and several Gulf States. Basically, IS exploited the war in Syria to carve out a large part of the country for the \"caliphate\" whose creation it proclaimed three years ago. This is where the battle-lines get blurry. The Syrian government and Russia are also bombing IS, but separately to the US-led coalition. So think about it like this: Syrian rebels (and their backers) are fighting the Syrian government (and their backers), and both sides are fighting IS. Although IS wants to overthrow the government, it also violently opposes the rebels. Easy. There's just one more piece of the (simplified) puzzle. \"The enemy of my enemy is my friend,\" is a saying that doesn't apply in Syria. Kurdish people living in Syria's north declared the creation of an autonomous government in areas under their control in early 2014. This added a fourth dimension to the widening conflict. The Kurds - who say they support neither the government nor the opposition - have been battling IS along the Turkish border. They have benefitted from considerable military support from the US, which sees them as one of most effective anti-IS forces on the ground. Turkey is also fighting IS. But in this case, the enemy of their enemy is also their... enemy. Basically, Turkey sees the Kurdish Popular Protection Units (YPG) militia in Syria as an extension of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), which has been fighting the Turkish military for decades. To prevent Syrian Kurds establishing a contiguous autonomous region along its border, Turkey has carried out air strikes on the YPG and backed a Syrian rebel offensive that drove IS out of the last bit of territory not controlled by the YPG. Russia has military interests in Syria, including its only Mediterranean naval base and an airbase in Latakia province. It intervened at the request of the Syrian government and said its motivation was to fight terrorism. Analysts say it also wants to bolster its influence in the Middle East, and globally, by being the key player in Syria. Iran sees Mr Assad, a member of the heterodox Shia Alawite sect, as its closest Arab ally. Syria is also the main transit point for Iranian weapons shipments to Hezbollah in Lebanon. Regional Sunni powers like Saudi Arabia oppose Iran's influence in Syria, whose population is predominantly Sunni. The US began backing rebel groups because it said Mr Assad was responsible for widespread atrocities. But in the last two years it been more focused on the battle against IS, and President Donald Trump suggested only days before Friday's missile strike that getting Mr Assad to leave power was no longer a priority for him. Tuesday's  suspected chemical attack appears to have changed everything. Read more to understand Syria's war Why is there a war in Syria? Syria 'chemical attack': What we know Islamic State group: The full story Islamic State and the crisis in Iraq and Syria in maps Turkey v Syria's Kurds v Islamic State", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 619, "answer_end": 1891, "text": "It's complicated - but the best way to start is by looking at the war as a conflict between those who, in broad terms, support and oppose Mr Assad and his government. On the Syrian government's side, we have: - Russia (carries out air strikes and provides political support at the UN) - Iran (provides arms, credit, military advisers and reportedly combat troops) - Hezbollah (The Lebanese Shia movement has sent thousands of fighters) - Shia Muslim militias (recruited by Iran from Iraq, Afghanistan and Yemen) And, on the side of the rebels* we have: - Turkey (provides arms, military and political support) - Gulf Arab states (provide money and weapons) - The US (provides arms, training and military assistance to \"moderate\" groups) - Jordan (provides logistical support and training) *The term \"rebels\" is used to describe a huge and diverse array of fighters, some of whom co-operate with jihadists like those from Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, an al-Qaeda-linked alliance. Different foreign states often back different rebel factions. At this point, it's also worth noting that although the US supports some rebel groups, it had not intentionally attacked the Syrian government directly until Friday, when it fired missiles at an airbase used in an alleged chemical attack."}], "question": "But what's everyone doing in Syria?", "id": "58_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Taliban militants kill dozens at Afghan intelligence base", "date": "22 January 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Dozens of Afghan security staff were killed by Taliban militants who overran a military intelligence base near Kabul, officials have confirmed. At least 43 people were killed and 54 injured in Monday's attack, the NDS intelligence service told the BBC. Insurgents blew their way into the base using a car bomb before opening fire. Some reports put the toll at over 100. It is one of the deadliest attacks on the secret service and follows a string of battlefield setbacks for the army. The attack on the National Directorate for Security (NDS) base in central Wardak province came hours before the Taliban held another round of peace talks with US diplomats in Qatar. Reports say the base in Maidan Shahr, about 30km (19 miles) south-west of Kabul, is a training centre for pro-government militia members. The militants smashed their way in by detonating a captured Humvee packed with explosives. At least two gunmen then opened fire in the compound. A second car bombing attempt was foiled by the Afghan security forces and three would-be suicide attackers were killed, the NDS told the BBC. The Taliban said on Monday they had attacked an Afghan special forces unit and 190 people had been killed. The group often inflates casualty figures from their attacks. Officials initially acknowledged about 20 deaths but the latest unconfirmed reports say some 70 bodies have so far been pulled from the rubble. Most casualties were caused by the partial collapse of the building's roof when it was hit by the force of the Humvee blast. The Taliban, who emerged in the early 1990s, ruled Afghanistan from 1996 to 2001, but were driven from power by US-led troops following the 9/11 attacks. They remained a powerful insurgent force, and their power and reach surged after foreign combat troops left Afghanistan in 2014. US-led combat operations against them officially ended in that year, but some foreign troops remain in the country to provide training and assistance to Afghan forces, who do most of the fighting. However, the US has been carrying out a sustained air bombing campaign since President Trump announced a new strategy in 2017. It emerged late last year he is planning to withdraw thousands of troops within months. US officials and Taliban representatives have met several times since last summer. President Ashraf Ghani's administration says it must be part of talks too, but the Taliban dismiss his government as puppets of the US. The Taliban frequently carry out deadly attacks targeting military bases, soldiers and police and in recent years US and Afghan officials have withheld detailed casualty figures as they are deemed too sensitive. Late last year, President Ghani said more than 28,000 Afghan police and soldiers had been killed since 2015 - an average of about 20 a day. Civilians, however, continue to bear the brunt of the conflict. The UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (Unama) says civilian deaths for the first nine months of 2018 were higher than at any point during the same period since 2014. Nearly half of all civilian casualties were caused by militant bombings, the UN said, followed by fighting on the ground and targeted killings. Aerial operations by US-backed forces were another significant cause of the casualties.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 806, "answer_end": 1530, "text": "The militants smashed their way in by detonating a captured Humvee packed with explosives. At least two gunmen then opened fire in the compound. A second car bombing attempt was foiled by the Afghan security forces and three would-be suicide attackers were killed, the NDS told the BBC. The Taliban said on Monday they had attacked an Afghan special forces unit and 190 people had been killed. The group often inflates casualty figures from their attacks. Officials initially acknowledged about 20 deaths but the latest unconfirmed reports say some 70 bodies have so far been pulled from the rubble. Most casualties were caused by the partial collapse of the building's roof when it was hit by the force of the Humvee blast."}], "question": "What happened in the attack?", "id": "59_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1531, "answer_end": 3261, "text": "The Taliban, who emerged in the early 1990s, ruled Afghanistan from 1996 to 2001, but were driven from power by US-led troops following the 9/11 attacks. They remained a powerful insurgent force, and their power and reach surged after foreign combat troops left Afghanistan in 2014. US-led combat operations against them officially ended in that year, but some foreign troops remain in the country to provide training and assistance to Afghan forces, who do most of the fighting. However, the US has been carrying out a sustained air bombing campaign since President Trump announced a new strategy in 2017. It emerged late last year he is planning to withdraw thousands of troops within months. US officials and Taliban representatives have met several times since last summer. President Ashraf Ghani's administration says it must be part of talks too, but the Taliban dismiss his government as puppets of the US. The Taliban frequently carry out deadly attacks targeting military bases, soldiers and police and in recent years US and Afghan officials have withheld detailed casualty figures as they are deemed too sensitive. Late last year, President Ghani said more than 28,000 Afghan police and soldiers had been killed since 2015 - an average of about 20 a day. Civilians, however, continue to bear the brunt of the conflict. The UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (Unama) says civilian deaths for the first nine months of 2018 were higher than at any point during the same period since 2014. Nearly half of all civilian casualties were caused by militant bombings, the UN said, followed by fighting on the ground and targeted killings. Aerial operations by US-backed forces were another significant cause of the casualties."}], "question": "How did we get to this point?", "id": "59_1"}]}]}, {"title": "France anti-Semitism: Jewish graves desecrated near Strasbourg", "date": "19 February 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Nearly 100 graves at a Jewish cemetery in eastern France have been desecrated with swastikas. The damage was discovered on Tuesday, ahead of nationwide marches against a rise in anti-Semitic attacks. French President Emmanuel Macron visited the cemetery, in a village near Strasbourg, telling community leaders: \"It's important for me to be here with you today.\" France has the biggest Jewish community in Europe, about 550,000 people. The damage was discovered on Tuesday in Quatzenheim, a village in Alsace close to France's border with Germany. Nazi symbols and anti-Semitic slogans were spray-painted on the graves. One tombstone was defaced with the words \"Elsassischen Schwarzen Wolfe\" (\"Black Alsatian Wolves\"), the name of a militant far-right group active in the 1970s and 1980s. The group burned down a museum at Natzweiler-Struthof - a former Nazi death camp - in 1976. In a video statement, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the \"shocking\" attack by \"wild anti-semites.\" \"I call on the leaders of France and Europe to take a strong stand against anti-Semitism. It is a plague that endangers everyone, not just us,\" he said. The attack came ahead of dozens of rallies against anti-Semitism scheduled to take place across France. Tuesday's demonstrations are being organised by 14 political parties and are expected to take place in as many as 60 cities. Interior Minister Christophe Castaner has warned that anti-Semitism is \"spreading like poison\" in the country. Statistics published last week showed a rise of 74% in the number of anti-Semitic attacks in France, from 311 in 2017 to 541 in 2018. Several high-profile recent incidents have brought the issue of anti-Semitism into focus in France. Post-boxes featuring a Holocaust survivor's portrait were daubed with swastikas, while a Jewish bakery in central Paris had the German word for Jews (\"Juden\") spray-painted on its window. Last weekend, police also stepped in to protect the philosopher, Alain Finkielkraut, after he was reportedly bombarded with anti-Jewish taunts by a group of \"yellow vest\" protesters in Paris. Jewish groups have also been warning that a rising far right across Europe has been promoting anti-Semitism and hatred of other minorities. Crime data from Germany released last week revealed that anti-Semitic offences had increased by 10% over the past year - including a 60% rise in physical attacks. Attacks have been blamed on both the far right and Islamists.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 436, "answer_end": 1382, "text": "The damage was discovered on Tuesday in Quatzenheim, a village in Alsace close to France's border with Germany. Nazi symbols and anti-Semitic slogans were spray-painted on the graves. One tombstone was defaced with the words \"Elsassischen Schwarzen Wolfe\" (\"Black Alsatian Wolves\"), the name of a militant far-right group active in the 1970s and 1980s. The group burned down a museum at Natzweiler-Struthof - a former Nazi death camp - in 1976. In a video statement, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the \"shocking\" attack by \"wild anti-semites.\" \"I call on the leaders of France and Europe to take a strong stand against anti-Semitism. It is a plague that endangers everyone, not just us,\" he said. The attack came ahead of dozens of rallies against anti-Semitism scheduled to take place across France. Tuesday's demonstrations are being organised by 14 political parties and are expected to take place in as many as 60 cities."}], "question": "What happened?", "id": "60_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1383, "answer_end": 2472, "text": "Interior Minister Christophe Castaner has warned that anti-Semitism is \"spreading like poison\" in the country. Statistics published last week showed a rise of 74% in the number of anti-Semitic attacks in France, from 311 in 2017 to 541 in 2018. Several high-profile recent incidents have brought the issue of anti-Semitism into focus in France. Post-boxes featuring a Holocaust survivor's portrait were daubed with swastikas, while a Jewish bakery in central Paris had the German word for Jews (\"Juden\") spray-painted on its window. Last weekend, police also stepped in to protect the philosopher, Alain Finkielkraut, after he was reportedly bombarded with anti-Jewish taunts by a group of \"yellow vest\" protesters in Paris. Jewish groups have also been warning that a rising far right across Europe has been promoting anti-Semitism and hatred of other minorities. Crime data from Germany released last week revealed that anti-Semitic offences had increased by 10% over the past year - including a 60% rise in physical attacks. Attacks have been blamed on both the far right and Islamists."}], "question": "Is anti-Semitism on the rise in France?", "id": "60_1"}]}]}, {"title": "Car drives into carnival crowd in German town Volkmarsen", "date": "24 February 2020", "paragraphs": [{"context": "A car has been driven into a crowd at a carnival parade in the western German town of Volkmarsen. Thirty people, a third of them children, were injured, some seriously. A 29-year-old German citizen was arrested on suspicion of attempted homicide. Officials said a motive was currently unclear. Authorities in the state of Hesse, where Volkmarsen is located, cancelled all carnival parades \"as a precaution\" following the incident. The incident took place during celebrations for Rosenmontag, or Rose Monday - a carnival day celebrated in some parts of Germany, Austria, Belgium and Switzerland. Schools are often closed for the day, although it is not a national holiday in Germany. Local media report that a silver Mercedes drove through plastic barricades set up for the parade and into a group of people. Police said the incident occurred at about 14:45 local time (13:45 GMT). Eyewitnesses quoted in the German media say the driver accelerated toward the crowd and appeared to target children. German news website HNA cited witnesses as saying a man drove \"at full throttle\" into the crowd. Police said they believed it was an attack but that there was no indication of a political motive, according to German newspaper Bild. In a statement, the Prosecutor's Office in Frankfurt said the suspect was receiving medical treatment for injuries sustained in the incident but would later be brought before an investigating judge. Steffen Roettger said his two daughters were at the parade and called him after the incident happened. \"My 10-year-old was pulled aside and only narrowly avoided being hit,\" he told broadcaster NTV. He said his daughter was \"in shock\" after seeing people \"lying around everywhere\". \"She won't get those images out of her head in a hurry.\" Police have set up a portal for people to submit pictures or videos of the incident. They have also created an information centre for anyone affected at the town hall. Hesse state leader Volker Bouffier said he was \"shocked at the terrible act\", which had left \"many innocent people seriously injured\". In a statement, he shared his condolences with the victims and their families, while urging people not to speculate about possible motives. German Chancellor Angela Merkel thanked police and medics for their response, and said her thoughts were with those injured and their relatives.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 431, "answer_end": 1767, "text": "The incident took place during celebrations for Rosenmontag, or Rose Monday - a carnival day celebrated in some parts of Germany, Austria, Belgium and Switzerland. Schools are often closed for the day, although it is not a national holiday in Germany. Local media report that a silver Mercedes drove through plastic barricades set up for the parade and into a group of people. Police said the incident occurred at about 14:45 local time (13:45 GMT). Eyewitnesses quoted in the German media say the driver accelerated toward the crowd and appeared to target children. German news website HNA cited witnesses as saying a man drove \"at full throttle\" into the crowd. Police said they believed it was an attack but that there was no indication of a political motive, according to German newspaper Bild. In a statement, the Prosecutor's Office in Frankfurt said the suspect was receiving medical treatment for injuries sustained in the incident but would later be brought before an investigating judge. Steffen Roettger said his two daughters were at the parade and called him after the incident happened. \"My 10-year-old was pulled aside and only narrowly avoided being hit,\" he told broadcaster NTV. He said his daughter was \"in shock\" after seeing people \"lying around everywhere\". \"She won't get those images out of her head in a hurry.\""}], "question": "What happened in Volkmarsen?", "id": "61_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1768, "answer_end": 2355, "text": "Police have set up a portal for people to submit pictures or videos of the incident. They have also created an information centre for anyone affected at the town hall. Hesse state leader Volker Bouffier said he was \"shocked at the terrible act\", which had left \"many innocent people seriously injured\". In a statement, he shared his condolences with the victims and their families, while urging people not to speculate about possible motives. German Chancellor Angela Merkel thanked police and medics for their response, and said her thoughts were with those injured and their relatives."}], "question": "What has the reaction been?", "id": "61_1"}]}]}, {"title": "Emmanuel Macron writes Eiffel Tower poem for UK schoolgirl", "date": "2 November 2017", "paragraphs": [{"context": "French President Emmanuel Macron has written a poem to a British school girl on the occasion of her 13th birthday. It is Mr Macron's response to a poem she wrote about the Eiffel Tower during a family trip in April, said the French embassy in London. \"On a trip to Paris one day, little Sophie met a great lady lighting up the night sky,\" his poem opens. It imagines conversation between her and the tower. The girl's identity is a mystery. She is referred to only as Sophie. Sophie was so impressed by the Eiffel Tower on her visit that she penned a poem to the monument and sent it to the Elysee, the official presidential residence. The words of her poem were written on top of a drawing of the tower, which she describes as \"elegant and tall, second to none, with her head in the clouds\". Hugh Schofield, BBC News, Paris Throughout the day it was universally reported in the French media that President Macron wrote the poem to Sophie in English. But he didn't. He wrote it in French, and it was translated by the French embassy in London. Suspicions were aroused because the French version is far more structured and literary in style than the English version. It rhymes and scans, and feels like a genuine piece of simple poetry. The English version - while enjoyable in its way - reads like a translation. It is more stilted, and the imagery works less well than in the French. How likely was it that the president would have written a poem in English, and then seen it improved into a decent French poem in translation? And yet that was the version we were all being told. Late on Thursday afternoon the French embassy in London confirmed to the BBC that, yes, it was they who translated the president's French poem into English. On Wednesday, the French embassy tweeted a photo of both poems side by side. Centre of Attention She has four beautiful legs, Which help her stand proud, She looks over everyone, With her heads in the clouds, She is elegant and tall, Wears a pretty, lacy skirt, Whilst staring at her in awe, Your eyes will not avert, Her spine is amazingly straight, Whilst her head touches the sky, People look up and take pictures of her, As they are passing on by, You need to tilt your head up, To be able to see all of her, But when you do, She is as pretty as a picture, She is the centre of attention, Noticed by everyone, She is the Eiffel Tower, She is second to none. On a trip to Paris one day, little Sophie Met a giant lady lighting up the night sky. \"What's your name, you magical monster?\" \"My many visitors call me the Eiffel Tower.\" \"In all your attire, don't you sometime tire Of being seen only as a humdrum tower? You, a dragon, a fairy watching over Paris, An Olympic torch held aloft in grey skies?\" \"How you flatter me! So few poets these days Ever sing the praises of my Parisian soul, As did Cocteau, Aragon, Cendrars, Trenet and Apollinaire...Since you're so good At seeing beneath the surface, you could- If you like, when you're back from France- Take up your pen and write down Why you like me-it would be nice and fun!\" \"You can count on me! There's so much to say! I'll write twenty lines...but who will read them?\" \"Well, I know a man who'll read your verse.\" \"Really? Who?\" \"The President of France.\"", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 793, "answer_end": 1737, "text": "Hugh Schofield, BBC News, Paris Throughout the day it was universally reported in the French media that President Macron wrote the poem to Sophie in English. But he didn't. He wrote it in French, and it was translated by the French embassy in London. Suspicions were aroused because the French version is far more structured and literary in style than the English version. It rhymes and scans, and feels like a genuine piece of simple poetry. The English version - while enjoyable in its way - reads like a translation. It is more stilted, and the imagery works less well than in the French. How likely was it that the president would have written a poem in English, and then seen it improved into a decent French poem in translation? And yet that was the version we were all being told. Late on Thursday afternoon the French embassy in London confirmed to the BBC that, yes, it was they who translated the president's French poem into English."}], "question": "But was the poem written in English or French?", "id": "62_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Eugenie wedding: All you need to know about princess's big day", "date": "12 October 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Hot on the heels of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, the second royal wedding of the year is fast approaching. Same venue, different people - Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank are the couple tying the knot on 12 October. So what can you expect this time around? Here's everything you need to know. She is the Queen's granddaughter and the second daughter of Prince Andrew and Sarah, Duchess of York. The 28-year-old is ninth in line to the throne, just behind her sister Beatrice. The princess, who studied English and history of art at Newcastle University, is a director at contemporary art gallery Hauser and Wirth in London. In an interview with British Vogue, she said she had an \"anti-plastic\" house and wanted their wedding to follow suit, reflecting their environmentally-friendly views. Jack Brooksbank, the former manager of Mayfair club Mahiki, met the princess when she was 20, on a skiing trip to Verbier in the Swiss Alps. The tequila brand ambassador, 32, said it was \"love at first sight\". Jack proposed in January this year in front of a volcano in Nicaragua, looking out over a lake, as the sun was setting. His future father-in-law Prince Andrew described him as an \"outstanding young man\". The couple will wed at 11:00 BST on 12 October at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle. It's the same venue used by Prince Harry and Meghan. After the ceremony the newlyweds will take a carriage ride through Windsor, but will not go up the Long Walk like the Duke and Duchess of Sussex did in May. In the afternoon, the Queen will host a reception for her granddaughter and her new husband and guests, at Windsor Castle. Evening celebrations will reportedly be staged at Royal Lodge in Windsor Great Park - the property is the family home of Andrew and his ex-wife Sarah. As with the first royal wedding of the year, the wedding will be paid for privately except for the security - which will be picked up by the taxpayer. Anti-monarchist campaign group Republic claims security costs are estimated to be PS2m. The full security bill for Prince Harry's wedding to Meghan Markle is yet to be revealed, although this one is expected to be much cheaper because of the couple's lower profile. Just like Meghan and Harry's wedding, 1,200 members of the public have been invited into the castle grounds to see the couple tie the knot. Buckingham Palace said they had received more than 100,000 applications from people wanting to attend. Representatives of charities and organisations supported by the couple will be among the guests in the castle grounds, including the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital, the Teenage Cancer Trust, the Salvation Army and the UN Trust Fund to End Violence Against Women. There will also be children from two local schools which Princess Eugenie attended - St George's School and Coworth Flexlands School. About 800 guests will be at the wedding service, with a few famous faces expected to be among them. Some of Eugenie's friends include singer Ellie Goulding, model Cara Delevingne and Sir Richard Branson's children, Holly and Sam. Others expected to attend include supermodel Cindy Crawford, David and Victoria Beckham, Prince Harry's ex-girlfriends Cressida Bonas and Chelsy Davy, model Cara Delevingne, singer James Blunt and wife Sofia Wellesley, and George and Amal Clooney. The princess told Vogue the dress was the one thing she had been \"decisive\" about. \"As soon as we announced the wedding, I knew the designer, and the look, straight away,\" she said. \"I never thought I'd be the one who knew exactly what I like, but I've been pretty on top of it.\" She hinted at her ideas in an interview with the BBC's The One Show. Asked whether she would wear a straight gown or a meringue, Eugenie replied: \"Maybe a mix of both. Can you do that? Is there such a thing? \"No meringue shoulders - that's a little bit out of fashion - maybe it's in fashion now? We'll see what happens.\" Erdem - a London-based designer - has been suggested as one of the favourites to design the wedding dress. The princess wore a floral, cap-sleeve dress by the Canadian-born designer for her engagement photo-shoot at Buckingham Palace. When Princess Eugenie's mother married the Duke of York in 1986, she initially hid her tiara under a crown of flowers... ...only revealing it after signing the register to symbolise her new royal status. She wore the York diamond tiara, a wedding gift from the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh, many times after the wedding and kept it following her split from Prince Andrew in 1992. So could Princess Eugenie's \"something borrowed\" be her mother's tiara? Or perhaps, like Catherine and Meghan, the Queen will lend her one from her personal collection. Princess Eugenie's sister Beatrice, 30, will be her maid of honour. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's children, Prince George and Princess Charlotte, will reprise the roles they had at Prince Harry and Meghan's wedding as pageboy and bridesmaid. The five-year-old daughter of X-Factor judges Robbie Williams and Ayda Field - Theodora Rose Williams - will also be a bridesmaid. Mr Brooksbank's younger brother Tom will be his best man. Cake designer Sophie Cabot will make a red velvet and chocolate cake. It will be a \"traditional cake with a modern feel\", designed with the \"rich colours of autumn\" and covered with \"detailed sugar work including ivy\", the royal press office says. Miss Cabot, who is originally a costume designer but started her cake business four years ago, came to the attention of the couple after supplying biscuits for an event that Princess Eugenie's father was involved in. Earlier this year she announced she had enrolled at Le Cordon Bleu cookery school to study patisserie. Miss Cabot said it has been \"lovely\" working with the bride and groom, adding: \"I am incredibly excited to be given this wonderful opportunity to create such a special and unique cake.\" On the morning of the wedding, the Duke of York revealed that the floral designer for the church flowers was Dutch-born Rob Van Helden. The displays in St George's Chapel will be made of foliage and flowering branches, sourced locally from Windsor Great Park, combined with roses, spray roses, hydrangeas, dahlias and berries. They are said to \"reflect the rich and vibrant tones of autumn\". Mr Van Helden said: \"It has been the greatest privilege and honour to create the flowers for Princess Eugenie and Jack, on their Wedding day. \"Her Royal Highness has been very involved from the start and has been instrumental in the autumnal theme.\" The official wedding photographer is Alex Bramall. He previously photographed Princess Eugenie for Harper's Bazaar US in 2016. The Dean of Windsor, David Conner, who conducted the service for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex in May, will marry the couple. Prayers will be led by the Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu, who was the UK's first black archbishop and who recently announced his retirement. He has written a personal prayer for the service. After the service, members of Nijmegen Company Grenadier Guards - of which Princess Eugenie's father is colonel of the regiment - will line the steps outside the chapel as the newlyweds leave. World-renowned classical star Andrea Bocelli will perform two pieces of music during the service. Musicians from the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra - of which Princess Eugenie's father, the Duke of York, is patron - will also perform during Friday's ceremony. And James Vivian, the director of music at St George's Chapel, has written descants for two hymns which will be sung. A fanfare, written especially for the occasion, will be performed by Household Cavalry state trumpeters and pipers from the 2nd Battalion the Royal Regiment of Scotland will perform during the carriage procession. The official range of commemorative fine-bone china by the Royal Collection Trust includes coasters, tankards and miniature cups and saucers. The china, made in Stoke-on-Trent, costs between PS20 and PS39. The ceremony will be broadcast in full on ITV as part of an extended This Morning special. Eamonn Holmes and Ruth Langsford will host This Morning at The Royal Wedding from 09:25-12:30 at Windsor. It will also be live streamed from St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle on the Royal Family's official YouTube channel and The Duke of York's official YouTube Channel at 10:00 BST. And you can follow the big day on the BBC News website and BBC News Channel.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 300, "answer_end": 797, "text": "She is the Queen's granddaughter and the second daughter of Prince Andrew and Sarah, Duchess of York. The 28-year-old is ninth in line to the throne, just behind her sister Beatrice. The princess, who studied English and history of art at Newcastle University, is a director at contemporary art gallery Hauser and Wirth in London. In an interview with British Vogue, she said she had an \"anti-plastic\" house and wanted their wedding to follow suit, reflecting their environmentally-friendly views."}], "question": "Who is Princess Eugenie?", "id": "63_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 798, "answer_end": 1211, "text": "Jack Brooksbank, the former manager of Mayfair club Mahiki, met the princess when she was 20, on a skiing trip to Verbier in the Swiss Alps. The tequila brand ambassador, 32, said it was \"love at first sight\". Jack proposed in January this year in front of a volcano in Nicaragua, looking out over a lake, as the sun was setting. His future father-in-law Prince Andrew described him as an \"outstanding young man\"."}], "question": "Who is she marrying?", "id": "63_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1212, "answer_end": 1781, "text": "The couple will wed at 11:00 BST on 12 October at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle. It's the same venue used by Prince Harry and Meghan. After the ceremony the newlyweds will take a carriage ride through Windsor, but will not go up the Long Walk like the Duke and Duchess of Sussex did in May. In the afternoon, the Queen will host a reception for her granddaughter and her new husband and guests, at Windsor Castle. Evening celebrations will reportedly be staged at Royal Lodge in Windsor Great Park - the property is the family home of Andrew and his ex-wife Sarah."}], "question": "When and where is the wedding?", "id": "63_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1782, "answer_end": 2198, "text": "As with the first royal wedding of the year, the wedding will be paid for privately except for the security - which will be picked up by the taxpayer. Anti-monarchist campaign group Republic claims security costs are estimated to be PS2m. The full security bill for Prince Harry's wedding to Meghan Markle is yet to be revealed, although this one is expected to be much cheaper because of the couple's lower profile."}], "question": "Who's paying for the wedding?", "id": "63_3"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2199, "answer_end": 3321, "text": "Just like Meghan and Harry's wedding, 1,200 members of the public have been invited into the castle grounds to see the couple tie the knot. Buckingham Palace said they had received more than 100,000 applications from people wanting to attend. Representatives of charities and organisations supported by the couple will be among the guests in the castle grounds, including the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital, the Teenage Cancer Trust, the Salvation Army and the UN Trust Fund to End Violence Against Women. There will also be children from two local schools which Princess Eugenie attended - St George's School and Coworth Flexlands School. About 800 guests will be at the wedding service, with a few famous faces expected to be among them. Some of Eugenie's friends include singer Ellie Goulding, model Cara Delevingne and Sir Richard Branson's children, Holly and Sam. Others expected to attend include supermodel Cindy Crawford, David and Victoria Beckham, Prince Harry's ex-girlfriends Cressida Bonas and Chelsy Davy, model Cara Delevingne, singer James Blunt and wife Sofia Wellesley, and George and Amal Clooney."}], "question": "Who's going?", "id": "63_4"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3322, "answer_end": 4158, "text": "The princess told Vogue the dress was the one thing she had been \"decisive\" about. \"As soon as we announced the wedding, I knew the designer, and the look, straight away,\" she said. \"I never thought I'd be the one who knew exactly what I like, but I've been pretty on top of it.\" She hinted at her ideas in an interview with the BBC's The One Show. Asked whether she would wear a straight gown or a meringue, Eugenie replied: \"Maybe a mix of both. Can you do that? Is there such a thing? \"No meringue shoulders - that's a little bit out of fashion - maybe it's in fashion now? We'll see what happens.\" Erdem - a London-based designer - has been suggested as one of the favourites to design the wedding dress. The princess wore a floral, cap-sleeve dress by the Canadian-born designer for her engagement photo-shoot at Buckingham Palace."}], "question": "Any hints about the dress?", "id": "63_5"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 4159, "answer_end": 4710, "text": "When Princess Eugenie's mother married the Duke of York in 1986, she initially hid her tiara under a crown of flowers... ...only revealing it after signing the register to symbolise her new royal status. She wore the York diamond tiara, a wedding gift from the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh, many times after the wedding and kept it following her split from Prince Andrew in 1992. So could Princess Eugenie's \"something borrowed\" be her mother's tiara? Or perhaps, like Catherine and Meghan, the Queen will lend her one from her personal collection."}], "question": "Will she wear a tiara?", "id": "63_6"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 5148, "answer_end": 6670, "text": "Cake designer Sophie Cabot will make a red velvet and chocolate cake. It will be a \"traditional cake with a modern feel\", designed with the \"rich colours of autumn\" and covered with \"detailed sugar work including ivy\", the royal press office says. Miss Cabot, who is originally a costume designer but started her cake business four years ago, came to the attention of the couple after supplying biscuits for an event that Princess Eugenie's father was involved in. Earlier this year she announced she had enrolled at Le Cordon Bleu cookery school to study patisserie. Miss Cabot said it has been \"lovely\" working with the bride and groom, adding: \"I am incredibly excited to be given this wonderful opportunity to create such a special and unique cake.\" On the morning of the wedding, the Duke of York revealed that the floral designer for the church flowers was Dutch-born Rob Van Helden. The displays in St George's Chapel will be made of foliage and flowering branches, sourced locally from Windsor Great Park, combined with roses, spray roses, hydrangeas, dahlias and berries. They are said to \"reflect the rich and vibrant tones of autumn\". Mr Van Helden said: \"It has been the greatest privilege and honour to create the flowers for Princess Eugenie and Jack, on their Wedding day. \"Her Royal Highness has been very involved from the start and has been instrumental in the autumnal theme.\" The official wedding photographer is Alex Bramall. He previously photographed Princess Eugenie for Harper's Bazaar US in 2016."}], "question": "And the cake and flowers?", "id": "63_7"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 7188, "answer_end": 7777, "text": "World-renowned classical star Andrea Bocelli will perform two pieces of music during the service. Musicians from the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra - of which Princess Eugenie's father, the Duke of York, is patron - will also perform during Friday's ceremony. And James Vivian, the director of music at St George's Chapel, has written descants for two hymns which will be sung. A fanfare, written especially for the occasion, will be performed by Household Cavalry state trumpeters and pipers from the 2nd Battalion the Royal Regiment of Scotland will perform during the carriage procession."}], "question": "What about the music?", "id": "63_8"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 7778, "answer_end": 7983, "text": "The official range of commemorative fine-bone china by the Royal Collection Trust includes coasters, tankards and miniature cups and saucers. The china, made in Stoke-on-Trent, costs between PS20 and PS39."}], "question": "What souvenirs are on offer?", "id": "63_9"}]}]}, {"title": "Brett Kavanaugh: Senate votes on Supreme Court nominee", "date": "6 October 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "After weeks of controversy, the US Senate has begun the final vote on the confirmation of President Donald Trump's nominee to the Supreme Court, Brett Kavanaugh. If senators do not change their voting intentions, Judge Kavanaugh will be appointed to the top US court. Mr Kavanaugh has been embroiled in a bitter battle to stave off sexual assault allegations. His confirmation would strengthen conservative control of the court. The upper house is split 51-49 in favour of the Republicans and the vote will be largely along party lines. Mr Kavanaugh would actually only need a 50-50 vote, as that would force a tie-breaker in his favour from Vice-President Mike Pence. The tally in a procedural vote on Friday was 51-49. It's looking as though there will be a similar two-vote margin in Saturday's vote, barring last-minute changes of mind. That's because Republican senators who had been wavering on the issue have come down, with one exception, on Mr Kavanaugh's side. The one exception is Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski. Although she said Mr Kavanaugh was a \"good man\", she said he was \"not the right person for the court at this time\" and his \"appearance of impropriety has become unavoidable\". She remains a no. However, Democrat Joe Manchin told the Senate on Friday he would vote yes. He is facing a difficult re-election campaign in West Virginia, a traditionally Republican state that Mr Trump won by a landslide. He said he \"found Judge Kavanaugh to be a qualified jurist\", but later faced shouts of \"shame\" from protesters. Two Republican waverers, Susan Collins and Jeff Flake, have finally decided to back the judge. Mr Flake has been a frequent critic of Mr Trump but said he would vote yes, barring any major changes in evidence. So the vote should be a duplicate 51-49. However, it has been complicated by the case of Senator Steve Daines. Mr Daines, a yes voter, will be absent to attend his daughter's wedding, so Senator Murkowski has opted instead to mark herself simply as \"present\". This means the vote is likely to be 50-48. By Anthony Zurcher, BBC North America reporter Brett Kavanaugh's confirmation to the Supreme Court is all but certain. The Republican Party has the votes and the battle appears over. The political war, however, is just beginning. Donald Trump's court pick generated a controversy that captured the nation's attention in a way that few political issues do. It generated daily headlines rivalled only by the US quadrennial presidential elections. Now that the bombs have been thrown, it's time to assess the fallout. Read more from Anthony An FBI inquiry was launched into the sexual assault allegations and other issues after Judge Kavanaugh received initial backing for his nomination in a Senate committee vote last week. While the investigation has proved politically contentious, the wavering senators decided it had not provided sufficient grounds to oppose Mr Kavanaugh. Senator Collins said: \"We will be ill-served in the long run if we abandon the presumption of innocence and fairness.\" In public testimony last week, Prof Christine Blasey Ford said she had been assaulted by Judge Kavanaugh when they were both teenagers in 1982. Judge Kavanaugh denied the claim - and allegations that he drank to the point of memory loss at the time - in a feisty confrontation with senators. Federal agents are believed to have spoken to five witnesses regarding Prof Ford's accusations and another four other witnesses involving a separate accusation by Deborah Ramirez, who said the nominee had exposed himself to her when they were both at Yale University. He denies Ms Ramirez's allegations, too. Mr Trump and his fellow Republicans said the new FBI report had cleared their nominee. Democratic senators said it had been incomplete. Basically, it's the final arbiter of US law. It has the ultimate say on such contentious issues as abortion and gun control. It has nine judges, all of whom are appointed for life, and the confirmation of Judge Kavanaugh is likely to give it a more conservative hue. The Democrats are still smarting from the previous Supreme Court appointment. Republicans last year successfully stalled the process, meaning it fell to Mr Trump, not Barack Obama, to nominate the new justice. Mr Trump's choice of Neil Gorsuch strengthened the conservative leaning. All eyes will now be on November's mid-term elections. Mr Trump will be able to campaign on the back of an important victory, but commentators will be watching closely how the Kavanaugh affair affects women voters.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 429, "answer_end": 2046, "text": "The upper house is split 51-49 in favour of the Republicans and the vote will be largely along party lines. Mr Kavanaugh would actually only need a 50-50 vote, as that would force a tie-breaker in his favour from Vice-President Mike Pence. The tally in a procedural vote on Friday was 51-49. It's looking as though there will be a similar two-vote margin in Saturday's vote, barring last-minute changes of mind. That's because Republican senators who had been wavering on the issue have come down, with one exception, on Mr Kavanaugh's side. The one exception is Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski. Although she said Mr Kavanaugh was a \"good man\", she said he was \"not the right person for the court at this time\" and his \"appearance of impropriety has become unavoidable\". She remains a no. However, Democrat Joe Manchin told the Senate on Friday he would vote yes. He is facing a difficult re-election campaign in West Virginia, a traditionally Republican state that Mr Trump won by a landslide. He said he \"found Judge Kavanaugh to be a qualified jurist\", but later faced shouts of \"shame\" from protesters. Two Republican waverers, Susan Collins and Jeff Flake, have finally decided to back the judge. Mr Flake has been a frequent critic of Mr Trump but said he would vote yes, barring any major changes in evidence. So the vote should be a duplicate 51-49. However, it has been complicated by the case of Senator Steve Daines. Mr Daines, a yes voter, will be absent to attend his daughter's wedding, so Senator Murkowski has opted instead to mark herself simply as \"present\". This means the vote is likely to be 50-48."}], "question": "So what are the numbers in the Senate?", "id": "64_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2585, "answer_end": 3041, "text": "An FBI inquiry was launched into the sexual assault allegations and other issues after Judge Kavanaugh received initial backing for his nomination in a Senate committee vote last week. While the investigation has proved politically contentious, the wavering senators decided it had not provided sufficient grounds to oppose Mr Kavanaugh. Senator Collins said: \"We will be ill-served in the long run if we abandon the presumption of innocence and fairness.\""}], "question": "How did the senators come to their decisions?", "id": "64_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3042, "answer_end": 3778, "text": "In public testimony last week, Prof Christine Blasey Ford said she had been assaulted by Judge Kavanaugh when they were both teenagers in 1982. Judge Kavanaugh denied the claim - and allegations that he drank to the point of memory loss at the time - in a feisty confrontation with senators. Federal agents are believed to have spoken to five witnesses regarding Prof Ford's accusations and another four other witnesses involving a separate accusation by Deborah Ramirez, who said the nominee had exposed himself to her when they were both at Yale University. He denies Ms Ramirez's allegations, too. Mr Trump and his fellow Republicans said the new FBI report had cleared their nominee. Democratic senators said it had been incomplete."}], "question": "What was the FBI inquiry about?", "id": "64_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3779, "answer_end": 4543, "text": "Basically, it's the final arbiter of US law. It has the ultimate say on such contentious issues as abortion and gun control. It has nine judges, all of whom are appointed for life, and the confirmation of Judge Kavanaugh is likely to give it a more conservative hue. The Democrats are still smarting from the previous Supreme Court appointment. Republicans last year successfully stalled the process, meaning it fell to Mr Trump, not Barack Obama, to nominate the new justice. Mr Trump's choice of Neil Gorsuch strengthened the conservative leaning. All eyes will now be on November's mid-term elections. Mr Trump will be able to campaign on the back of an important victory, but commentators will be watching closely how the Kavanaugh affair affects women voters."}], "question": "Why is the court so important?", "id": "64_3"}]}]}, {"title": "Female pilots: Which airline has the highest number?", "date": "7 November 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Airlines have been stepping up their efforts to recruit more female pilots to meet the increasing demand for travel. Spending on travel and tourism has spiked in recent years, with customers keen to spend their money on new experiences. There were nearly 350 million more international tourists in 2017 than in 2010, according to the World Tourism Organization. Globally, just 5.18% of commercial pilots are women, according to the Air Line Pilots Association International trade union. Indian airlines employ the highest proportion of female pilots at 12.4%. That's according to the latest statistics from the International Society of Women Airline Pilots (ISWAP). Zoom Air, a regional Indian airline, tops the leader board. ISWAP says it employs nine female pilots out of a total of 30. Kathy McCullough, communications chairwoman for ISWAP and a retired female captain, said that Indian companies have \"aggressively encouraged more women to become airline pilots in what they see as an upcoming pilot shortage.\" A report by Boeing found that with a growing middle class in India, commercial air travel is expected to become more frequent. In the UK, about 4.77% of airline pilots are women. A typical day for an airline pilot could include flying passengers or cargo to short-haul or more far-flung destinations. Commercial pilots' salaries depend on the airline they're working for, the type of aircraft they fly and their level of experience. Starting salaries range between PS20-30,000 for those in the cockpit. For experienced captains, pay can reach more than PS140,000. That's higher than the PS105,250 you could earn as an air commodore in the Royal Air Force, according to the National Careers Service in the UK. Earlier this year, UK companies with more than 250 employees were required to report their gender pay gap figures for the first time. British airlines were cited as having large gender pay gaps, which is the percentage difference between average hourly earnings for all male and female staff. The average median pay difference between men and women was 9.7% across all industries. Ryanair reported the largest gender pay gap for an airline (71.8%). EasyJet had a 45.5% pay gap, but said that men and women in the same roles are paid equally. But much of the gap can be explained by one thing - the proportion of male pilots. At EasyJet, for example, pilots make up a quarter of its UK employees. 6% of its UK pilots are women - a role which pays PS92,400 on average. Lower-paid cabin crew, 69% of whom are women, earn an average salary of PS24,800. The airline says it has set a target that 20% of new entrant pilots should be female by 2020. Before starting their training, potential airline pilots need to hold a Class 1 Medical Certificate. Most training schools and airlines also require five GCSEs and two A-levels in the UK. If you meet those requirements, there are several ways to get off the ground: - Getting an Airline Transport Pilot's Licence, or a 'frozen ATPL'. It can take around 18 months to finish the course, which is a mix of theory and flying. Costs for the course can range between PS60-90,000. After at least 1,500 flying hours, you can apply for a full ATPL. - Doing a degree in aviation which includes pilot training. But a degree isn't essential and costs for flight training come on top of tuition fees. - Taking a higher level apprenticeship in professional aviation pilot practice. The British Airline Pilots' Association has highlighted difficulties which aspiring pilots can face when funding their training. It has said that the high cost of training can put off those from less affluent backgrounds. Initiatives have also been set up to encourage young women's interest in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) subjects, which can be useful for those looking to become a pilot. Captain Kate McWilliams, an EasyJet employee, became the world's youngest female airline captain at the age of 26. She said: \"A lot of people think it's a highly technical job, which puts them off. \"But a huge amount of it is being good with people. As a captain, you're a people manager. There needs to be a change in perception around the job.\"", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 362, "answer_end": 1193, "text": "Globally, just 5.18% of commercial pilots are women, according to the Air Line Pilots Association International trade union. Indian airlines employ the highest proportion of female pilots at 12.4%. That's according to the latest statistics from the International Society of Women Airline Pilots (ISWAP). Zoom Air, a regional Indian airline, tops the leader board. ISWAP says it employs nine female pilots out of a total of 30. Kathy McCullough, communications chairwoman for ISWAP and a retired female captain, said that Indian companies have \"aggressively encouraged more women to become airline pilots in what they see as an upcoming pilot shortage.\" A report by Boeing found that with a growing middle class in India, commercial air travel is expected to become more frequent. In the UK, about 4.77% of airline pilots are women."}], "question": "Which airline employs the most female pilots?", "id": "65_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1194, "answer_end": 1723, "text": "A typical day for an airline pilot could include flying passengers or cargo to short-haul or more far-flung destinations. Commercial pilots' salaries depend on the airline they're working for, the type of aircraft they fly and their level of experience. Starting salaries range between PS20-30,000 for those in the cockpit. For experienced captains, pay can reach more than PS140,000. That's higher than the PS105,250 you could earn as an air commodore in the Royal Air Force, according to the National Careers Service in the UK."}], "question": "How much do pilots earn on average?", "id": "65_1"}]}]}, {"title": "Bolivia protests: Ruling party urges support for Evo Morales", "date": "10 November 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Bolivia's governing party has called on its supporters to defend President Evo Morales, after police in some cities joined protests against him. Demonstrators accuse Mr Morales, Latin America's longest-serving leader, of rigging last month's election to secure a fourth term. On Saturday, opposition protesters overran two state-run media outlets in La Paz and forced them off air. Mr Morales denies any wrongdoing and says he will not resign. He also condemned the seizure of the TV and radio stations , tweeting: \"They [the protesters] say they defend democracy, but they behave as if they were in a dictatorship.\" The country's defence minister said there were no plans to deploy the military to quell the police \"mutiny\". For their part, Bolivia's armed forces said they would never go against the people and that the crisis needs to be solved by democratic means. So far, three people have died and hundreds have been injured in the unrest, which has lasted more than four weeks. The president's main rival, Carlos Mesa, has rejected an offer of dialogue - instead insisting on new elections and Mr Morales' resignation. Mr Morales' party Movement for Socialism called on its supporters to come to La Paz and \"defend\" the results of the controversial election. The previous day's demonstrations, on Friday, were the first to include large numbers of police - though the scale was unclear. Uniformed officers joined protesters in cities including La Paz and Sucre. Speaking to local media, several uniformed officers called on Mr Morales to resign - and said they would stop him from turning Bolivia into a dictatorship like his allies in Cuba and Venezuela. In a tweet, President Morales denounced the protests as an \"attack on the rule of law\". Defence Minister Javier Zabaleta, speaking with state television, called for calm and said he was confident police would \"continue to fulfil their constitutional job to safeguard the people\". Earlier this week, the mayor of a small town was attacked by protesters who dragged her through the streets barefoot, covered her in red paint and forcibly cut her hair. Bolivia has been rattled by protests, strikes and roadblocks since the country held a presidential election on 20 October. Tensions first flared on the night of the presidential election after the results count was inexplicably paused for 24 hours. The final result gave Mr Morales slightly more than the 10-percentage-point lead he needed to win outright in the first round of the race. The Organization of American States (OAS) is conducting an audit of the votes, and the results are expected to be published next week. But Mr Mesa - the candidate who finished second - has spoken out against the audit, saying that his party was not consulted. A former president himself, he has asked Bolivia's congress to pass an emergency bill to prepare for new elections.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1126, "answer_end": 2112, "text": "Mr Morales' party Movement for Socialism called on its supporters to come to La Paz and \"defend\" the results of the controversial election. The previous day's demonstrations, on Friday, were the first to include large numbers of police - though the scale was unclear. Uniformed officers joined protesters in cities including La Paz and Sucre. Speaking to local media, several uniformed officers called on Mr Morales to resign - and said they would stop him from turning Bolivia into a dictatorship like his allies in Cuba and Venezuela. In a tweet, President Morales denounced the protests as an \"attack on the rule of law\". Defence Minister Javier Zabaleta, speaking with state television, called for calm and said he was confident police would \"continue to fulfil their constitutional job to safeguard the people\". Earlier this week, the mayor of a small town was attacked by protesters who dragged her through the streets barefoot, covered her in red paint and forcibly cut her hair."}], "question": "What do we know about the demonstrations?", "id": "66_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2113, "answer_end": 2876, "text": "Bolivia has been rattled by protests, strikes and roadblocks since the country held a presidential election on 20 October. Tensions first flared on the night of the presidential election after the results count was inexplicably paused for 24 hours. The final result gave Mr Morales slightly more than the 10-percentage-point lead he needed to win outright in the first round of the race. The Organization of American States (OAS) is conducting an audit of the votes, and the results are expected to be published next week. But Mr Mesa - the candidate who finished second - has spoken out against the audit, saying that his party was not consulted. A former president himself, he has asked Bolivia's congress to pass an emergency bill to prepare for new elections."}], "question": "Why are people protesting?", "id": "66_1"}]}]}, {"title": "James Comey: Six claims about Trump from ex-FBI director", "date": "16 April 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "The latest salvo by former FBI Director James Comey in his feud with President Donald Trump included the charge that the president was morally unfit and may have obstructed justice. In a primetime television interview, which precedes his book publication on Tuesday, he also said the Russians may have compromising information on Mr Trump. The book likens Mr Trump to a mob boss and details his fixation on claims he consorted with prostitutes in Moscow. On Twitter, Mr Trump branded him \"Slippery James Comey\", and says he lied to Congress. Here is a selection of what Mr Comey said in the interview, with analysis from the BBC's Anthony Zurcher in Washington. ABC News has released a full 42,000-word transcript of the interview. Host presenter George Stephanopoulos on ABC's 20/20 programme interviewed Mr Comey on Sunday night. When asked if he considered Mr Trump fit to lead, the former FBI director said he did not believe claims about Mr Trump's mental health, but did see him as \"morally unfit\" to be president. \"A person who sees moral equivalence in Charlottesville, who talks about and treats women like they're pieces of meat, who lies constantly about matters big and small and insists the American people believe it, that person's not fit to be president of the United States,\" he told Mr Stephanopoulos. Mr Comey was referring to President Trump's argument that \"both sides\" were at fault for white supremacist violence in Charlottesville, Virginia, last year. Anthony's take: Mr Comey's book, separated from its newsworthy, tell-all portions, is really an extended rumination on the nature of moral leadership. While it may come across as preachy to some, and others will highlight his own (admitted) shortcomings in this regard, Mr Comey has strong views on the standards those who seek high office should meet. In the most dramatic, final portion of his interview, he is definitive in saying Mr Trump has failed. Another portion of the interview handled the sacking of National Security Adviser Michael Flynn in February 2017 for lying about contacts with the Russian ambassador in Washington. The former FBI head said Mr Trump had tried to pressure him into dropping any investigation into Mr Flynn. \"I took it as a direction,\" he told Mr Stephanopoulos. \"He's - his words were, though, 'I hope you can let it go'.\" Mr Comey says he let the comment pass, but concedes he should perhaps have suggested to the president that it would amount to obstruction of justice. \"It's certainly some evidence of obstruction of justice. It would depend and - and I'm just a witness in this case, not the investigator or prosecutor, it would depend upon other things that reflected on his intent.\" Mr Trump strongly denies Mr Comey's account. Anthony's take:When told that the president disputes his version of events, Mr Comey almost shrugs. \"Yeah, well, what am I going to do?\" he asks. Both Mr Comey and Mr Trump, in very different language and tactics, are accusing the other of lying. The former director says he has contemporary memos that back up his claims. Mr Trump's defenders want to see those documents, and accuse him of perjury and leaking classified information. For those investigating obstruction of justice - and, ultimately, the America people - it comes down to credibility. Who has it - and who doesn't? But despite all this, Mr Comey does not think the president should be impeached. \"I think impeaching and removing Donald Trump from office would let the American people off the hook,\" he told Mr Stephanopoulos. Instead, he believes the American people are \"duty-bound\" to remove Mr Trump \"directly\" at the ballot box. In the memoir itself, Mr Comey reportedly compares Mr Trump to a crime lord. He writes that interactions with the president gave him \"flashbacks to my earlier career as a prosecutor against the mob\". The former FBI chief was a prosecutor earlier in his career, and helped break up the Gambino crime family. \"The silent circle of assent,\" he continues. \"The boss in complete control. The loyalty oaths. The us-versus-them worldview. \"The lying about all things, large and small, in service to some code of loyalty that put the organisation above morality and above the truth.\" Anthony's take:After laying out a stunning moral indictment of Mr Trump, Mr Comey essentially says this is a choice the American people made - and one they have to correct themselves. Barring some sort of damning evidence, he says ending the Trump presidency isn't a job for prosecutors or politicians. The toll of such a move on an already deeply divided American society would be too high. It's an interesting perspective for a former top-ranking law enforcement official to have - particularly one who earlier in the interview asserted that his 2016 investigations were done with no regard to the impact they would have on the \"political fortunes\" of those involved. In the TV interview, Mr Comey said his belief that Hillary Clinton would win the 2016 presidential elections was a factor in how he handled the investigation into the Democrat candidate's use of classified emails on a private server while she was the secretary of state. \"I was operating in a world where Hillary Clinton was going to beat Donald Trump,\" Mr Comey said. \"And so I'm sure that it - that it was a factor. \"I don't remember spelling it out, but it had to have been. That - that she's going to be elected president, and if I hide this from the American people, she'll be illegitimate the moment she's elected, the moment this comes out.\" In July 2016, Mr Comey said Hillary Clinton had been \"extremely careless\" in her handling of the emails, but the FBI would not press charges. However, in October, days before the vote, he sent a letter to Congress telling them the FBI was reopening an investigation after finding more emails. The letter went public - and Mrs Clinton has said she would have won the election without it. On 6 November, the FBI said it had completed its review into the new trove of emails and there would, again, be no charges. Anthony's take: In an unaired portion of the Comey interview, the former director says that the emails discovered in October were from early in Mrs Clinton's tenure as secretary of state, before she started using her private server. If there were evidence of criminal misconduct, it would probably come from this time period. In the end, there was nothing revelatory - but Mr Comey cites this to explain why he made such a dramatic move. He decided to let a political bombshell go off just a week before the election, rather than try to defuse it in private and risk an even bigger explosion in the days after a presidential contest he believed Mrs Clinton would win. History will judge his choice. The former FBI boss writes that on at least four occasions Mr Trump raised the matter of unverified claims that he watched prostitutes urinate in a hotel suite during a 2013 Moscow trip. The allegations surfaced in a raw intelligence dossier compiled by a former British spy who had been hired by Mr Trump's political enemies to dig up dirt on him. Mr Comey says Mr Trump angrily denied the claims and asked him to have the FBI disprove them because they were \"terrible\" for his wife, Melania Trump. He writes that he first broached the matter at a Trump Tower meeting in January 2017 shortly before the president's inauguration. Mr Comey said in the interview: \"He interrupted very defensively and started talking about it, you know, 'Do I look like a guy who needs hookers?' \"And I assumed he was asking that rhetorically, I didn't answer that, and I just moved on and explained, 'Sir, I'm not saying that we credit this, I'm not saying we believe it. We just thought it very important that you know.'\" Mr Comey added: \"I honestly never thought these words would come out of my mouth, but I don't know whether the current president of the United States was with prostitutes peeing on each other in Moscow in 2013. It's possible, but I don't know.\" Anthony's take: There is a moment as Mr Comey is recalling his Trump Tower conversation with the president-elect about Russian prostitutes that he expresses amazement over what is taking place, describing it like an out-of-body experience. \"I was floating above myself, looking down.\" It's a sentiment with which many Americans - particularly those who have Mr Comey's establishment sensibilities - can probably identify. Even a year on, they can't quite believe the Trump presidency is really happening - or that the man is governing, tweets and all, the way he campaigned. That aside, the December 2016 meeting was the first between the two men. Afterwards, it should have been clear that they were almost certainly heading on a collision course. Mr Comey, who is 6ft 8in (2.03m), says that when he first met the 6ft 3in president-elect, he appeared shorter than he did on TV. \"His face appeared slightly orange,\" writes Mr Comey, \"with bright white half-moons under his eyes where I assumed he placed small tanning goggles, and impressively coifed, bright blond hair, which upon close inspection looked to be all his. \"As he extended his hand, I made a mental note to check its size. It was smaller than mine, but did not seem unusually so.\" Elaborating on this in the TV interview, he said: \"His tie was too long as it always is... he looked slightly orange up close.\" Anthony's take:This interview should put to bed any question about whether Mr Comey has a natural talent for public relations. He sprinkles his comments throughout with the kind of little details and colour that keep an audience engaged. There's the tidbits about the president's personal appearance, his description of drinking wine out of a paper cup on flight home after being fired and his joke in the early days of the Clinton investigation that \"nobody gets out alive\". Mr Comey would probably make a good politician - if he hadn't spent the past two years, at different points, making almost everybody hate him.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 3330, "answer_end": 4893, "text": "But despite all this, Mr Comey does not think the president should be impeached. \"I think impeaching and removing Donald Trump from office would let the American people off the hook,\" he told Mr Stephanopoulos. Instead, he believes the American people are \"duty-bound\" to remove Mr Trump \"directly\" at the ballot box. In the memoir itself, Mr Comey reportedly compares Mr Trump to a crime lord. He writes that interactions with the president gave him \"flashbacks to my earlier career as a prosecutor against the mob\". The former FBI chief was a prosecutor earlier in his career, and helped break up the Gambino crime family. \"The silent circle of assent,\" he continues. \"The boss in complete control. The loyalty oaths. The us-versus-them worldview. \"The lying about all things, large and small, in service to some code of loyalty that put the organisation above morality and above the truth.\" Anthony's take:After laying out a stunning moral indictment of Mr Trump, Mr Comey essentially says this is a choice the American people made - and one they have to correct themselves. Barring some sort of damning evidence, he says ending the Trump presidency isn't a job for prosecutors or politicians. The toll of such a move on an already deeply divided American society would be too high. It's an interesting perspective for a former top-ranking law enforcement official to have - particularly one who earlier in the interview asserted that his 2016 investigations were done with no regard to the impact they would have on the \"political fortunes\" of those involved."}], "question": "3. Impeachment?", "id": "67_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Spain cracks King Ferdinand's 500-year-old secret code", "date": "3 February 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "A 500-year-old secret code used in letters between one of Spain's most famous monarchs and a military commander has been cracked. Ferdinand of Aragon's letters have tantalised historians for centuries. Constructed using more than 200 special characters, they were deciphered by the country's intelligence agency. He was behind the final recapture - Reconquista - of Spain from the Moors in 1492 and Columbus's journeys to the Americas. The letters between Ferdinand and Gonzalo de Cordoba include instructions on strategy during military campaigns in Italy in the early 16th Century. They were written using secret code in case they fell into enemy hands. The letters are on display at Spain's Army Museum in Toledo and it took intelligence services almost half a year to decipher four of them, some of which went on for over 20 pages. The code-cracking has been described by some as a \"Rosetta Stone\" moment, amid hopes that it could lead to more coded letters being deciphered. Details outlined in the letters range from instructions on troop deployments to admonishing the commander for not consulting the king before launching diplomatic initiatives. In the early 16th Century, it would have taken 15 days for the letters to get between the monarch's residences to south-eastern Italy where the commander was based. The mysterious coding system used by Ferdinand of Aragon and Gonzalo de Cordoba was highly complex. It was constructed using 88 different symbols and 237 combined letters. For each letter there were between two and six figurative characters such as triangles or numbers. To complicate matters even further, the symbols used in the letters were written without separating words and phrases. At the start of the 16th Century, Spain and France battled for control of the Mediterranean. Between 1499 and 1504, the fight centred on the Kingdom of Naples. Spain wrested control of Naples from France in 1504 and it largely remained under Spanish rule until 1714.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1710, "answer_end": 1976, "text": "At the start of the 16th Century, Spain and France battled for control of the Mediterranean. Between 1499 and 1504, the fight centred on the Kingdom of Naples. Spain wrested control of Naples from France in 1504 and it largely remained under Spanish rule until 1714."}], "question": "Who was fighting whom?", "id": "68_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Single-use plastic: China to ban bags and other items", "date": "20 January 2020", "paragraphs": [{"context": "China, one of the world's biggest users of plastic, has unveiled a major plan to reduce single-use plastics across the country. Non-degradable bags will be banned in major cities by the end of 2020 and in all cities and towns by 2022. The restaurant industry will also be banned from using single-use straws by the end of 2020. China has for years been struggling to deal with the rubbish its 1.4 billion citizens generate. The country's largest rubbish dump - the size of around 100 football fields - is already full, 25 years ahead of schedule. In 2017 alone, China collected 215 million tonnes of urban household waste. But national figures for recycling are not available. China produced 60 million tonnes of plastic waste in 2010, followed by the US at 38 million tonnes, according to online publication Our World in Data based at the University of Oxford. The research was published in 2018 and said the \"relative global picture is similar in projections up to 2025\". The National Development and Reform Commission on Sunday issued the new policy, which will be implemented over the next five years. Plastic bags will be banned across all cities and towns in 2022, though markets selling fresh produce will be exempt until 2025. The production and sale of plastic bags that are less than 0.025mm thick will also be banned. The restaurant industry must reduce the use of single-use plastic items by 30%. Hotels have been told that they must not offer free single-use plastic items by 2025. By Roger Harrabin, BBC environment analyst The broadcaster David Attenborough has warned that the planet can't be protected unless China changes its polluting ways. Suddenly that's just starting to happen. Following Beijing's clampdown on plastic, there's now to be a ban on illegally produced wood. For 20 years, China's demand for raw materials has been a massive driver of illegal logging, especially in South-East Asia and Africa. It's said to be the single largest international consumer of illegally-felled wood. Now Beijing has amended its law to help timber-producing countries trying to tackle corruption in forestry. It says it aims to protect forestry resources and supports a ban on the cutting of natural forests. The UK-based Environmental Investigation Bureau said the news was thrilling, but critics will note that the central government tried to force provincial governors to stop building coal-fired power stations - but failed to impose its will. This isn't China's first campaign against the use of plastics. In 2008, the country banned retailers from giving out free plastic bags, and banned the production of ultra-thin plastic bags. And in 2017, China - once the world's largest importer of plastic waste - announced that it would ban the import of foreign plastic waste. China is not the only country in Asia that has cracked down against single-use plastics. Thailand announced earlier this year that single-use plastic bags would be banned in major stores, with a complete ban across the entire country in 2021. Indonesia's capital Jakarta also is banning single-use plastic bags in department stores, supermarkets and traditional markets by June 2020. The Indonesian island of Bali has also banned single-use plastic. Separately, Malaysia has sent back 150 shipping containers of illegally imported plastic waste back to their countries of origin. \"[We] will take the necessary steps to ensure that Malaysia does not become the garbage dump of the world,\" Environment Minister Yeo Bee Yin said on Monday. She added that there were plans to send back further containers in the near future. Wealthier countries have been sending plastic waste to Malaysia since 2018, but officials say they are struggling to cope with the amount that is being brought in illegally.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 974, "answer_end": 1494, "text": "The National Development and Reform Commission on Sunday issued the new policy, which will be implemented over the next five years. Plastic bags will be banned across all cities and towns in 2022, though markets selling fresh produce will be exempt until 2025. The production and sale of plastic bags that are less than 0.025mm thick will also be banned. The restaurant industry must reduce the use of single-use plastic items by 30%. Hotels have been told that they must not offer free single-use plastic items by 2025."}], "question": "What has changed?", "id": "69_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Uber driver arrested after Briton murdered in Lebanon", "date": "18 December 2017", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Police in Lebanon have arrested an Uber driver in connection with the murder of a British woman in Beirut. The body of Rebecca Dykes, who worked at the British Embassy in the city, was found by a motorway on Saturday. The arrested man was 35 and has served several prison sentences, a senior Lebanese security source told the BBC. Ms Dykes had been sexually assaulted and strangled, and the man is expected to be charged with rape and murder later this week, police sources said. Her family said in a statement: \"We are devastated by the loss of our beloved Rebecca. We are doing all we can to understand what happened.\" Ms Dykes, who is believed to have been 30, had been working in Beirut as the programme and policy manager for the Department for International Development since January 2017. It is thought she spent Friday evening at a going-away party for a colleague in the popular Gemmayzeh district of Beirut. After leaving the bar at about midnight it appears she was abducted. Her body was found close to a motorway on the outskirts of the city. The Foreign Office said it was in contact with the Lebanese authorities and confirmed an arrest had been made. The suspect was arrested in the early hours of Monday morning after police reportedly traced his car on traffic management CCTV. An official told the Reuters and AFP news agencies the preliminary investigation had showed Ms Dykes's killing \"was not politically motivated\". By Martin Patience, BBC Middle East correspondent, Beirut The Gemmayzeh district of Beirut where Rebecca Dykes was last seen alive is well-known for having some of the city's best and most expensive bars and restaurants. There is normally a relaxed atmosphere. It is a neighbourhood where foreign aid workers, diplomats and journalists mingle with wealthy Lebanese often into the early hours of the morning. Despite the chaos seen elsewhere in the region, Beirut in recent years has been regarded as relatively safe.  That is why this murder has left the international community so shocked. After a late night out, many people would previously have thought nothing of catching one of the cabs that ply the streets, or calling for an Uber. For a short while, anyway, that is likely to change. People will be more careful about how they get home.  Beirut may be relatively safe but - as in any big city across the world - this murder is a reminder of the dangers. Josie Ensor, the Daily Telegraph's correspondent in Beirut, says the case has left foreign residents in the city unsettled. Speaking to the BBC's Victoria Derbyshire programme, she said Beirut was a \"very tight-knit community, so when something happens to one person, it feels quite close\". Ms Ensor, who was due to attend the same party on Friday evening, added Ms Dykes \"had just landed on her feet in Beirut and was starting to make friends and getting to know the city\". Hugo Shorter, the British Ambassador to Lebanon, said the whole embassy was \"deeply shocked\" and \"saddened\" by the news. Tributes were paid to Ms Dykes in the House of Lords on Monday. Former Conservative MP Lady McIntosh said: \"The loss of Rebecca Dykes in these circumstances is felt very deeply. \"And can we pay tribute to the work that she and the all Dfid team do, often in very dangerous circumstances, particularly at this time of year, for humanitarian purposes?\" The International Development Minister Lord Bates added: \"It's obviously a very distressing time, particularly for Becky's family, but also for the people who worked with her. \"It reminds us of the sacrifice which is made by over 1,200 Dfid personnel who work around the world, often in the most difficult and dangerous of environments.\" A Dfid spokesman said: \"Our thoughts are with Becky's family and friends at this very upsetting time. \"There is now a police investigation and the Foreign Office is providing consular support to Becky's family and working with the local authorities.\" Prior to her posting in Beirut, Ms Dykes worked with the Foreign Office as a policy manager for its Libya team and as an Iraq research analyst. According to her LinkedIn profile, she studied anthropology at the University of Manchester, and had a master's in International Security and Global Governance from Birkbeck, University of London. She was a former pupil of Malvern Girls' College and Rugby School, and had also taught English at a Chinese international school. Ms Dykes had reportedly been due to fly back to the UK for Christmas. She says on social media that she is from London.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 3938, "answer_end": 4528, "text": "Prior to her posting in Beirut, Ms Dykes worked with the Foreign Office as a policy manager for its Libya team and as an Iraq research analyst. According to her LinkedIn profile, she studied anthropology at the University of Manchester, and had a master's in International Security and Global Governance from Birkbeck, University of London. She was a former pupil of Malvern Girls' College and Rugby School, and had also taught English at a Chinese international school. Ms Dykes had reportedly been due to fly back to the UK for Christmas. She says on social media that she is from London."}], "question": "Who was Rebecca Dykes?", "id": "70_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Russia corruption: Putin's pet space project Vostochny tainted by massive theft", "date": "19 November 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Russia's new Vostochny space centre has lost at least 11bn roubles (PS133m; $172m) through theft and top officials have been jailed. So what went wrong with President Vladimir Putin's pet project? Russia's Federal Investigative Committee (SK) says it is handling 12 more criminal cases linked to theft in this mega-project, which Mr Putin sees as a strategic priority for Russia, because of its huge commercial potential. The longest jail term handed down so far was 11-and-a-half years for Yuri Khrizman, former head of state construction firm Dalspetsstroy. Prof Mark Galeotti, a Russia expert at the Royal United Services Institute (Rusi), told the BBC the Vostochny scandal highlighted the scale of corruption in Mr Putin's huge state bureaucracy. \"How can you deal with it without declaring war on your own elite? He's not prepared to do that. This dependency on mega-projects almost invariably creates massive opportunities for embezzlement,\" Mr Galeotti said. Vostochny was Russia's first purpose-built civilian site for commercial space launches. The first launch took place in April 2016 and there have been four more since. The vast new site is in Russia's far east, well away from big cities, which reduces the risk of rocket debris hitting any large urban centre. The site used to be a Soviet missile base called Svobodny. Space missions are a matter of national pride for Russia: it was the Soviet Union, after all, which sent the first human into space - Yuri Gagarin - in 1961. Visiting Vostochny in September, Mr Putin told space officials: \"This is the country's most important construction project of national significance.\" Vostochny's total cost is currently put at 300bn roubles (PS3.6bn; $4.7bn), Russia's RIA Novosti news agency reports. But the project has been dogged by cost overruns and delays. Developing Vostochny is also a highly political move, as Russia has until now relied on the Soviet-era Baikonur cosmodrome in Kazakhstan for international space launches. Kazakhstan is a close neighbour, but having the main launch facility on Russian territory is safer for Moscow in the long term. The space centre is still being built: a second launchpad under construction will host the Angara, a new heavy-payload rocket, with the inaugural launch set for 2021. Vostochny also lies in an under-developed region with high levels of poverty, so the centre could help the local economy. In early 2015 a group of building workers at the site went on hunger strike, saying they were owed wages after a subcontractor's bankruptcy. When the planned first rocket launch was delayed in 2015 - it took place the following year - Mr Putin ordered the SK to examine how Vostochny was being managed. Far-reaching corruption was discovered. On Sunday the SK reported that 58 officials involved in the project had been sentenced for fraud and abuse of office. Khrizman's theft alone cost the state 5.2bn roubles in losses. He and several other construction managers were jailed in February 2018. His son Mikhail was jailed for five-and-a-half years. The former chief accountant of Dalspetsstroy, Vladimir Ashikhmin, got seven years. The former president of the Khabarovsk regional assembly, Viktor Chudov, got six years. Budget funds were embezzled by artificially inflating labour and material costs and through fake deals with subcontractors, Russian business daily Kommersant reported. Sub-standard concrete was also used for the launchpad, which then had to be repaired, Tass news agency said. Read more on Russia's space programme: Despite the scandal, Vostochny is still being overseen by Dmitry Rogozin, head of the state space agency Roscosmos. Mr Rogozin is close to Mr Putin, but not in the president's inner circle of top aides, Prof Galeotti told the BBC. At a government meeting on 11 November Mr Putin spoke angrily about the continuing corruption at Vostochny. \"A hundred times people were told: 'Work transparently.' But no! They're stealing hundreds of millions,\" Mr Putin said. His spokesman Dmitry Peskov later explained that the outburst was directed at the previous - not current - managers of the project. He said 11bn roubles had been stolen, of which 3.5bn had been later recovered. Lack of financial transparency is the basic problem with this and other big state projects in Russia, Prof Galeotti said. \"President Putin would love Vostochny to be demonstrably a world-beater, he's looking for success stories now, but even this isn't enough to tackle the problems in the system. He's unwilling to really modernise the fundamentals of the system.\" He said the problems were reminiscent of Soviet-era white elephant projects, notorious for wasted resources. Other countries, including the US and China, remain keen to do business with Roscosmos, valuing its space expertise and technical prowess. But new players in space, like Elon Musk's SpaceX, are already challenging Russia's competitive advantage.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 967, "answer_end": 2409, "text": "Vostochny was Russia's first purpose-built civilian site for commercial space launches. The first launch took place in April 2016 and there have been four more since. The vast new site is in Russia's far east, well away from big cities, which reduces the risk of rocket debris hitting any large urban centre. The site used to be a Soviet missile base called Svobodny. Space missions are a matter of national pride for Russia: it was the Soviet Union, after all, which sent the first human into space - Yuri Gagarin - in 1961. Visiting Vostochny in September, Mr Putin told space officials: \"This is the country's most important construction project of national significance.\" Vostochny's total cost is currently put at 300bn roubles (PS3.6bn; $4.7bn), Russia's RIA Novosti news agency reports. But the project has been dogged by cost overruns and delays. Developing Vostochny is also a highly political move, as Russia has until now relied on the Soviet-era Baikonur cosmodrome in Kazakhstan for international space launches. Kazakhstan is a close neighbour, but having the main launch facility on Russian territory is safer for Moscow in the long term. The space centre is still being built: a second launchpad under construction will host the Angara, a new heavy-payload rocket, with the inaugural launch set for 2021. Vostochny also lies in an under-developed region with high levels of poverty, so the centre could help the local economy."}], "question": "Why is Vostochny so important for Russia?", "id": "71_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2410, "answer_end": 3508, "text": "In early 2015 a group of building workers at the site went on hunger strike, saying they were owed wages after a subcontractor's bankruptcy. When the planned first rocket launch was delayed in 2015 - it took place the following year - Mr Putin ordered the SK to examine how Vostochny was being managed. Far-reaching corruption was discovered. On Sunday the SK reported that 58 officials involved in the project had been sentenced for fraud and abuse of office. Khrizman's theft alone cost the state 5.2bn roubles in losses. He and several other construction managers were jailed in February 2018. His son Mikhail was jailed for five-and-a-half years. The former chief accountant of Dalspetsstroy, Vladimir Ashikhmin, got seven years. The former president of the Khabarovsk regional assembly, Viktor Chudov, got six years. Budget funds were embezzled by artificially inflating labour and material costs and through fake deals with subcontractors, Russian business daily Kommersant reported. Sub-standard concrete was also used for the launchpad, which then had to be repaired, Tass news agency said."}], "question": "How did things turn sour at Vostochny?", "id": "71_1"}]}]}, {"title": "Danish PM apologises for historical abuse in children's homes", "date": "13 August 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has officially said sorry to hundreds of victims of historical abuse in state-run homes. From 1945 to 1976 children were sexually abused, beaten and drugged at the homes, an official inquiry found. The abuse took place across Denmark and campaigners have for years appealed to the state to accept it was at fault. \"The apology means everything. All we wanted was peace of mind,\" said one of the victims, Arne Roel Jorgensen. The sixty-eight-year-old told the BBC how the lives of many of the children had been ruined by the abuse. Alcohol, drugs, multiple jobs and failed marriages had all taken their toll. The Social Democrat prime minister met dozens of victims of the scandal at her official residence at Marienborg on Tuesday. \"I would like to look every one of you in the eyes and say sorry,\" she told them. \"I can't take the blame but I can shoulder the responsibility.\" Many were in tears as she said that children had been taken from their parents and instead of getting support and warmth, they received humiliation and abuse. \"The authorities did nothing. As a society, we cannot and must not close our eyes,\" she had said earlier. Details about the homes first hit the headlines in 2005, when a Danish TV documentary featured shocking allegations of abuse and mistreatment from victims of the state-run Godhavn Boys' Home, in north-eastern Denmark. The documentary also uncovered evidence that a psychiatrist had tested drugs on some of the children. Bjorn Elmquist, then an MP who had already been working on the abuse cases, said the drug LSD had been used to counter bed-wetting, leading to many of the children later becoming drug addicts. Soon after the programme, the National Association of the Godhavn's Boys was formed and an independent inquiry was conducted in 2010. The report, published in 2011, investigated allegations of abuse and neglect at 19 homes for both boys and girls, interviewing children, staff and state inspectors. Despite its limited scope, it documented \"alarming physical, sexual and psychological abuse\" and researchers found blood traces on a gymnastic horse, indicating children had been beaten on it. Mr Elmquist, now a lawyer, said many of the victims felt great shame over what had happened: \"Some of them contacted me and begged me not to have their names mentioned publicly.\" He spoke of boys working in fields who were punished by adults using metal tools and of the overweight master at Godhavn having his own special form of punishment. \"He pushed them with his big stomach and they fell down the staircase. He put them on a sofa and sat on top of them and jumped on them,\" he told the BBC. Arne Roel Jorgensen found out three years ago that he was suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder because of what had happened to him many years ago. \"Many of us have had failed marriages and we didn't learn how to act in society because nobody told us. I'm 68 now and definitely still living with the effects.\" Nobody was ever prosecuted for what took place at the homes and successive governments decided the case was too old to be pursued. Before she was elected in June, Ms Frederiksen promised she would apologise for the state's role. Poul-Erik Rasmussen, who was at Godhavn in the early 1960s, has fought for years to secure an apology and always felt that recognition was the main aim. Many of the victims have made a point of not asking for compensation but Mr Rasmussen says he can understand anyone who wants it. Bjorn Elmquist believes a commission and a fund should be set up to assess compensation, as he considers the abuse a clear infringement of the convention of torture that was incorporated into Danish law in 1984. \"It's not just a case of saying sorry,\" he says.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1183, "answer_end": 3002, "text": "Details about the homes first hit the headlines in 2005, when a Danish TV documentary featured shocking allegations of abuse and mistreatment from victims of the state-run Godhavn Boys' Home, in north-eastern Denmark. The documentary also uncovered evidence that a psychiatrist had tested drugs on some of the children. Bjorn Elmquist, then an MP who had already been working on the abuse cases, said the drug LSD had been used to counter bed-wetting, leading to many of the children later becoming drug addicts. Soon after the programme, the National Association of the Godhavn's Boys was formed and an independent inquiry was conducted in 2010. The report, published in 2011, investigated allegations of abuse and neglect at 19 homes for both boys and girls, interviewing children, staff and state inspectors. Despite its limited scope, it documented \"alarming physical, sexual and psychological abuse\" and researchers found blood traces on a gymnastic horse, indicating children had been beaten on it. Mr Elmquist, now a lawyer, said many of the victims felt great shame over what had happened: \"Some of them contacted me and begged me not to have their names mentioned publicly.\" He spoke of boys working in fields who were punished by adults using metal tools and of the overweight master at Godhavn having his own special form of punishment. \"He pushed them with his big stomach and they fell down the staircase. He put them on a sofa and sat on top of them and jumped on them,\" he told the BBC. Arne Roel Jorgensen found out three years ago that he was suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder because of what had happened to him many years ago. \"Many of us have had failed marriages and we didn't learn how to act in society because nobody told us. I'm 68 now and definitely still living with the effects.\""}], "question": "How did the abuse come to light?", "id": "72_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3003, "answer_end": 3775, "text": "Nobody was ever prosecuted for what took place at the homes and successive governments decided the case was too old to be pursued. Before she was elected in June, Ms Frederiksen promised she would apologise for the state's role. Poul-Erik Rasmussen, who was at Godhavn in the early 1960s, has fought for years to secure an apology and always felt that recognition was the main aim. Many of the victims have made a point of not asking for compensation but Mr Rasmussen says he can understand anyone who wants it. Bjorn Elmquist believes a commission and a fund should be set up to assess compensation, as he considers the abuse a clear infringement of the convention of torture that was incorporated into Danish law in 1984. \"It's not just a case of saying sorry,\" he says."}], "question": "What now?", "id": "72_1"}]}]}, {"title": "Harry Dunn crash death: US woman to be charged", "date": "20 December 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "A US woman will be charged with causing the death of teenage motorcyclist Harry Dunn by dangerous driving. Mr Dunn, 19, died in a road crash in Northamptonshire in August that led to suspect Anne Sacoolas leaving for the US under diplomatic immunity. The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said it had started extradition proceedings through the Home Office. US officials said it was not \"a helpful development\" and Mrs Sacoolas' lawyer said she would not return to the UK. Lawyer Amy Jefress said: \"Anne will not return voluntarily to the UK to face a potential jail sentence for what was a terrible but unintentional accident.\" Mr Dunn's mother Charlotte Charles said the family was \"relieved\" Mrs Sacoolas had \"finally\" been charged. Outside the CPS headquarters she said: \"We feel that we have made a huge step in the start of achieving the promise to Harry that we made. \"We made that promise to him the night we lost him to seek justice thinking it was going to be really easy. \"We had no idea it was going to be so hard and it would take so long.\" Mr Dunn died after his motorbike was in collision with a car owned by Mrs Sacoolas outside RAF Croughton where her husband Jonathan worked as an intelligence officer. Mrs Sacoolas, 42, left the UK and returned to her native US, claiming diplomatic immunity. A statement from the US State Department said that at the time of the crash Mrs Saccolas had \"status that conferred diplomatic immunities\" and added the foreign secretary \"stated the same in Parliament\". It added: \"It is the position of the United States government that a request to extradite an individual under these circumstances would be an egregious abuse. \"The use of an extradition treaty to attempt to return the spouse of a former diplomat by force would establish an extraordinarily troubling precedent. \"We do not believe that the UK's charging decision is a helpful development.\" A statement via her lawyer said Mrs Sacoolas had \"co-operated fully with the investigation and accepted responsibility\". It added: \"This was an accident, and a criminal prosecution with a potential penalty of 14 years' imprisonment is simply not a proportionate response. \"We have been in contact with the UK authorities about ways in which Anne could assist with preventing accidents like this from happening in the future, as well as her desire to honour Harry's memory. \"We will continue that dialogue in an effort to move forward from this terrible tragedy.\" BBC correspondent Duncan Kennedy This has been a tortuous, raw, unrelenting, four months for Harry Dunn's family. They cannot bear to be at the centre of what they regard as an prolonged, unnecessary, international spat between lawyers, diplomats and politicians over what, to them, was a tragic family road accident. Meeting presidents, foreign secretaries and chief constables has been an alien, disorientating experience for them. They sometimes feel that Harry has been forgotten amid all their efforts to keep his case prominent in the minds of those who carry influence. They know that the Home Office will now start the extradition process. They realise that although extradition may take some time, their efforts on behalf of their son now have some meaning. Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said a review into the immunity arrangements at Croughton for US personnel and their families had concluded. It found that it was an \"anomaly\" that family members had \"greater protection from UK criminal jurisdiction than the officers themselves\". He said he welcomed the decision to charge Mrs Sacoolas. Mr Raab added: \"I hope that Anne Sacoolas will now realise the right thing to do is to come back to the UK and cooperate with the criminal justice process.\" Chief Crown Prosecutor Janine Smith said it had authorised Northamptonshire Police to charge Mrs Sacoolas. She said the director of public prosecutions had met Mr Dunn's family to explain the decision. The extradition request is sent via the British Embassy to the US State Department. A lawyer will then decide whether it falls under the dual-criminality treaty, where the alleged offence is a crime in both countries and carries a prison sentence of at least a year. The maximum sentence for causing death by dangerous driving is 14 years' imprisonment, although this is usually reserved for the most serious cases. The US may reject the request for extradition, arguing that Mrs Sacoolas is still entitled to diplomatic immunity. Mr Dunn's parents Tim Dunn and Mrs Charles had previously been critical of the lack of communication from the CPS. His father said on Friday he was \"overwhelmed\" by the CPS's decision. Mr Dunn's parents rejected a \"bombshell\" offer from Donald Trump to meet Mrs Sacoolas at the White House in October.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 3928, "answer_end": 4458, "text": "The extradition request is sent via the British Embassy to the US State Department. A lawyer will then decide whether it falls under the dual-criminality treaty, where the alleged offence is a crime in both countries and carries a prison sentence of at least a year. The maximum sentence for causing death by dangerous driving is 14 years' imprisonment, although this is usually reserved for the most serious cases. The US may reject the request for extradition, arguing that Mrs Sacoolas is still entitled to diplomatic immunity."}], "question": "Can Anne Sacoolas be extradited?", "id": "73_0"}]}]}, {"title": "What's a fair price for a drug?", "date": "22 September 2015", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Agreeing a price for any drug is a tricky business. In the UK, the NHS is the main buyer and prices are set through a voluntary scheme between manufacturers and the government, trying to strike the right balance of serving patients and generating money to keep the drug pipeline going. Profits are capped to stop prices creeping too high. In the US, the buyers are private insurance companies as well as the government through the Medicare and Medicaid system. It's a market and prices can go up and down, depending on what people are willing to pay. In recent years, pharmaceutical research and development has slowed and companies have to think carefully about what they invest in. Blockbusters such as Viagra pull in money, but drugs for rare diseases can be less attractive. Not many patients use them, and so turning a profit may be difficult. Turing Pharmaceuticals says that is why it has hiked the price of Daraprim - a drug used for treating a rare but sometimes deadly infection called toxoplasmosis. Turing's controversial founder and chief executive,  former hedge-fund manager Martin Shkreli, who was fired from his last biotech venture, says he isn't doing this out of greed, but for justifiable business reasons. He says he has put systems in place to give the drug away free to those who really can't afford it and that some of the profit made will be ploughed into the research and development of new and better drugs. He hopes that by creating a market, other drug companies will join in on this innovation to find new treatments for rarer diseases. For those who must buy it, the price tag is reported to be $750 (PS485) a tablet, compared with $13.50 before the increase. It's thought to cost about $1 to produce, but Mr Shkreli says that does not include other costs such as distribution. In the UK, the same drug is currently sold by GSK at a cost of PS13 for 30 tablets. Critics say the decision to allow such a massive price jump in the US is outrageous and is more about lining pockets than driving innovation. The scrutiny of US drug prices is increasing. In the past few weeks, there was a similar outcry over a recent price increase of a drug for tuberculosis in the US. That company, Rodelis Therapeutics, quickly agreed to return the drug to its former owner, a non-profit organisation affiliated with a university. On Wall Street, biotech shares fell sharply on Monday after Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton accused Turing Pharmaceuticals of \"price gouging\" and pledged to take action against companies hiking prices for specialty drugs. If money talks, hurting the profits of pharmaceutical companies would send a clear and loud message, but at what cost? Hopefully not drug innovation.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1011, "answer_end": 2735, "text": "Turing's controversial founder and chief executive,  former hedge-fund manager Martin Shkreli, who was fired from his last biotech venture, says he isn't doing this out of greed, but for justifiable business reasons. He says he has put systems in place to give the drug away free to those who really can't afford it and that some of the profit made will be ploughed into the research and development of new and better drugs. He hopes that by creating a market, other drug companies will join in on this innovation to find new treatments for rarer diseases. For those who must buy it, the price tag is reported to be $750 (PS485) a tablet, compared with $13.50 before the increase. It's thought to cost about $1 to produce, but Mr Shkreli says that does not include other costs such as distribution. In the UK, the same drug is currently sold by GSK at a cost of PS13 for 30 tablets. Critics say the decision to allow such a massive price jump in the US is outrageous and is more about lining pockets than driving innovation. The scrutiny of US drug prices is increasing. In the past few weeks, there was a similar outcry over a recent price increase of a drug for tuberculosis in the US. That company, Rodelis Therapeutics, quickly agreed to return the drug to its former owner, a non-profit organisation affiliated with a university. On Wall Street, biotech shares fell sharply on Monday after Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton accused Turing Pharmaceuticals of \"price gouging\" and pledged to take action against companies hiking prices for specialty drugs. If money talks, hurting the profits of pharmaceutical companies would send a clear and loud message, but at what cost? Hopefully not drug innovation."}], "question": "Greater good?", "id": "74_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Behind the hype of the 'Brazilian butt lift' and its founder", "date": "8 August 2016", "paragraphs": [{"context": "On Saturday Ivo Pitanguy, the world-renowned Brazilian plastic surgeon and pioneer of the \"Brazilian butt lift\" died at the age of 90 - just a day after carrying the Olympic flame through Rio. His legacy has inspired plastic surgeons around the world. And techniques like the \"butt lift\" have become increasingly popular with patients. The American Society of Plastic Surgery dubbed 2015 another \"year of the rear\"  as, it says, \"procedures focusing on the derriere dominated surgical growth\". So what is behind this phenomenon? And does it hurt? There are several types of procedures. According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons a buttock augmentation changes the size and shape of the patient's buttocks by transferring and injecting fat, or by surgically placing silicon implants into the buttock. The \"Brazilian butt lift\" specifically involves fat grafting or injection. The patient undergoes liposuction to remove fat from their abdomen, hips and thighs which is then processed and re-implanted into the buttocks. Conversely a regular buttock lift reduces the volume of the buttocks by removing excess skin and fat from the region. The procedure is commonly performed on people who have lost a significant amount of weight. According to Dr Marc Pacifico, British plastic surgeon and spokesperson for the British Association for Aesthetic and Plastic Surgeons, Dr Pitanguy's contribution to the field was immense. \"I think just to mention that he was the creator of the butt lift trivialises his contribution to plastic surgery. \"His contribution is so wide reaching. He singularly advanced techniques in reconstructive and aesthetic surgery like breast reconstructions and rhinoplasty. He helped us understand how we tailor face lifts, or how we do body contour surgery and tummy tucks. \"It is very unusual in the modern world that he managed to a have a profound impact in so many areas because doctors usually specialise in one thing.\" Dr Pitanguy is also renowned for making plastic surgery available to the poor to fix deformities or bodily abnormalities. On the website of his clinic he wrote: \"An individual's suffering is not proportional to his deformity, but to the perturbation caused to his harmony by living with his image.\" Nearly 320,000 buttock augmentation or buttock lift procedures were performed globally in 2015, according to the International Society of Aesthetic and Cosmetic Surgery, a 30% increase in the number of procedures since 2014. The American Society of Plastic Surgeons also reported a marked increase in the amount of \"Brazilian butt lift\" procedures performed over the past several years. Dr Pacifico says media coverage of the generous behinds of celebrities like Kim Kardashian or Nicki Minaj may partially explain the procedure's rise in popularity, as admirers seek to emulate such figures by artificial means. He also says people who live in hot climates where more of the body is exposed are more likely to get butt lifts. The backside holds a special place in Brazilian culture and since the 1970s some celebrities have traded on having the perfect derriere. Bottoms have featured in Brazilian music and poetry throughout the 20th Century.  In 2011, the country started the \"Miss Bumbum\" competition which judges women's bottoms and annually crowns a \"Miss Butt\". Dr Pacifico says butt lifts using fat-grafting, where fat taken from other areas of the body is injected into the buttock, are generally safe. \"The worst case is fat necrosis where the [re-injected] fat dies and can be become lumpy and infected. I don't perform butt lifts with implants because I think this procedure can cause more problems. There is a greater risk of the implants flipping or moving which can put pressure on nerves which run into the legs and thighs.\" Although there are risks associated with all surgery, Dr Pacifico emphasised the importance of using a reputable and qualified surgeon. The most dangerous procedure associated with butt lifts is the injection of silicone (silicone shots) into the buttocks. This practice was outlawed in most countries as the procedure can cause severe infection or blockage, which may lead to death. The procedure involves injecting liquid or gel silicone into the buttocks without a protective membrane, allowing the substance to travel throughout the body. The US Food and Drug Administration says that silicone is not approved to augment tissue anywhere in the body. The Miami Herald has reported on several injuries and deaths after women were illegally injected with silicone or were treated by disreputable surgeons and clinics. \"If you have injected fat into your buttocks, I advise my patients not to sit down for up to six weeks. The fat must 'survive' in its new home. When you sit you put pressure on your buttocks which reduces the blood flow to the area. \"Without a constant blood supply, the new fat might not survive.\" Patients must sleep on their stomachs or side while recovering. For those who can't sleep on their stomachs, inflatable mattresses and chairs with cleverly placed holes are available so patients can sit and lie on their backs without putting pressure on the their bottoms. Buttock augmentation procedures vary in price, depending on the country and the surgeon - but costs run into the thousands of pounds. An alternative to surgery is butt padding, like a push-up bra for your buttocks, or bum lifting jeans, popularised in Colombia as \"levanta cola jeans\". Both types of items can be purchased for less than PS100 ($130). That sounds a lot less painful.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 547, "answer_end": 1239, "text": "There are several types of procedures. According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons a buttock augmentation changes the size and shape of the patient's buttocks by transferring and injecting fat, or by surgically placing silicon implants into the buttock. The \"Brazilian butt lift\" specifically involves fat grafting or injection. The patient undergoes liposuction to remove fat from their abdomen, hips and thighs which is then processed and re-implanted into the buttocks. Conversely a regular buttock lift reduces the volume of the buttocks by removing excess skin and fat from the region. The procedure is commonly performed on people who have lost a significant amount of weight."}], "question": "What is a 'butt lift' or buttock augmentation?", "id": "75_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1240, "answer_end": 2252, "text": "According to Dr Marc Pacifico, British plastic surgeon and spokesperson for the British Association for Aesthetic and Plastic Surgeons, Dr Pitanguy's contribution to the field was immense. \"I think just to mention that he was the creator of the butt lift trivialises his contribution to plastic surgery. \"His contribution is so wide reaching. He singularly advanced techniques in reconstructive and aesthetic surgery like breast reconstructions and rhinoplasty. He helped us understand how we tailor face lifts, or how we do body contour surgery and tummy tucks. \"It is very unusual in the modern world that he managed to a have a profound impact in so many areas because doctors usually specialise in one thing.\" Dr Pitanguy is also renowned for making plastic surgery available to the poor to fix deformities or bodily abnormalities. On the website of his clinic he wrote: \"An individual's suffering is not proportional to his deformity, but to the perturbation caused to his harmony by living with his image.\""}], "question": "Who was Dr Pitanguy?", "id": "75_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2253, "answer_end": 3321, "text": "Nearly 320,000 buttock augmentation or buttock lift procedures were performed globally in 2015, according to the International Society of Aesthetic and Cosmetic Surgery, a 30% increase in the number of procedures since 2014. The American Society of Plastic Surgeons also reported a marked increase in the amount of \"Brazilian butt lift\" procedures performed over the past several years. Dr Pacifico says media coverage of the generous behinds of celebrities like Kim Kardashian or Nicki Minaj may partially explain the procedure's rise in popularity, as admirers seek to emulate such figures by artificial means. He also says people who live in hot climates where more of the body is exposed are more likely to get butt lifts. The backside holds a special place in Brazilian culture and since the 1970s some celebrities have traded on having the perfect derriere. Bottoms have featured in Brazilian music and poetry throughout the 20th Century.  In 2011, the country started the \"Miss Bumbum\" competition which judges women's bottoms and annually crowns a \"Miss Butt\"."}], "question": "How did buttock augmentation become popular?", "id": "75_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3322, "answer_end": 4612, "text": "Dr Pacifico says butt lifts using fat-grafting, where fat taken from other areas of the body is injected into the buttock, are generally safe. \"The worst case is fat necrosis where the [re-injected] fat dies and can be become lumpy and infected. I don't perform butt lifts with implants because I think this procedure can cause more problems. There is a greater risk of the implants flipping or moving which can put pressure on nerves which run into the legs and thighs.\" Although there are risks associated with all surgery, Dr Pacifico emphasised the importance of using a reputable and qualified surgeon. The most dangerous procedure associated with butt lifts is the injection of silicone (silicone shots) into the buttocks. This practice was outlawed in most countries as the procedure can cause severe infection or blockage, which may lead to death. The procedure involves injecting liquid or gel silicone into the buttocks without a protective membrane, allowing the substance to travel throughout the body. The US Food and Drug Administration says that silicone is not approved to augment tissue anywhere in the body. The Miami Herald has reported on several injuries and deaths after women were illegally injected with silicone or were treated by disreputable surgeons and clinics."}], "question": "Is it safe?", "id": "75_3"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 4613, "answer_end": 5184, "text": "\"If you have injected fat into your buttocks, I advise my patients not to sit down for up to six weeks. The fat must 'survive' in its new home. When you sit you put pressure on your buttocks which reduces the blood flow to the area. \"Without a constant blood supply, the new fat might not survive.\" Patients must sleep on their stomachs or side while recovering. For those who can't sleep on their stomachs, inflatable mattresses and chairs with cleverly placed holes are available so patients can sit and lie on their backs without putting pressure on the their bottoms."}], "question": "How long is the recovery process after surgery?", "id": "75_4"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 5185, "answer_end": 5567, "text": "Buttock augmentation procedures vary in price, depending on the country and the surgeon - but costs run into the thousands of pounds. An alternative to surgery is butt padding, like a push-up bra for your buttocks, or bum lifting jeans, popularised in Colombia as \"levanta cola jeans\". Both types of items can be purchased for less than PS100 ($130). That sounds a lot less painful."}], "question": "What's the cost?", "id": "75_5"}]}]}, {"title": "Chandrayaan-2: India space launch delayed by technical problem", "date": "15 July 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "The launch of India's second lunar mission has been halted less than an hour before the scheduled blast-off, due to a technical problem. The countdown stopped 56 minutes before the launch after a \"technical snag was observed in launch vehicle system,\" India's space agency said. The satellite had been scheduled for launch at 02:51 local time on Monday (21:21 GMT Sunday) from Sriharikota space station on India's eastern coast. A new launch date will follow soon. India hopes the approximately $150m mission, Chandrayaan-2, will be the first to land on the Moon's south pole. It will focus on the lunar surface, searching for water and minerals and measuring moonquakes, among other things. If successful, India will become the fourth country to make a soft landing on the Moon's surface. Only the US, China and the former Soviet Union have been able to do so. India's Prime Minister, Narendra Modi has championed the country's space programmes, but critics would like to see poverty at home tackled first. The chief of the Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro), K Sivan, said this was \"the most complex space mission ever to be undertaken by the agency\". If the launch had gone to plan, the lander and rover would have been expected to touch down in early September. India's space agency is yet to give more details on why the launch was delayed and how it will affect the timeline. India's first Moon mission - Chandrayaan-1, which launched in 2008 - resulted in the probe crash-landing on the lunar surface. But it carried out the first and most detailed search for water on the Moon using radars. Chandrayaan-2 (Moon vehicle 2) will attempt a soft landing near the little-explored south pole of the Moon. India is using its most powerful rocket, the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle Mark III (GSLV Mk-III), in this mission. It weighs 640 tonnes (almost 1.5 times the weight of a fully-loaded 747 jumbo jet) and at 44 metres (144ft) is as high as a 14-storey building. The spacecraft has three distinct parts: an orbiter, a lander and a rover. The orbiter, which weighs 2,379kg (5,244lb) and has a mission life of a year, will take images of the lunar surface, and \"sniff\" the tenuous atmosphere. The lander (named Vikram, after the founder of Isro) weighs about half as much, and carries within its belly a 27kg Moon rover with instruments to analyse the lunar soil. In its 14-day life, the rover (called Pragyan - wisdom in Sanskrit) can travel up to a half a kilometre from the lander and will send data and images back to Earth for analysis. \"India can hope to get the first selfies from the lunar surface once the rover gets on its job,\" Dr Sivan said. By science writer Pallava Bagla A soft landing on another planetary body - a feat achieved by just three other countries so far - would be a huge technological achievement for Isro and India's space ambitions. It would pave the way for future Indian missions to land on Mars and an asteroid. More importantly, it would open up the possibility of India sending astronauts to the Moon. India hopes to carry out a crewed space flight by 2022. India also wants to assert itself as a space power to be reckoned with - and national pride is riding high as it aims to hoist its flag on the surface of the Moon. A successful mission to the Moon would also be a win for India's ambitious space agency, which has had a string of successes recently. In 2014, it successfully put a satellite into orbit around Mars, becoming only the fourth nation to do so. In 2017, India created history by successfully launching 104 satellites on a single mission, overtaking the previous record of 37 satellites launched by Russia in 2014. All eyes are on Isro again. Global interest in India's frugal Moon mission is peaking, according to Simonetta Di Pippo, director of the UN office of Outer Space Affairs. \"The mission's studies of lunar topography, mineralogy, elemental abundance, the lunar exosphere, and signatures of hydroxyl and water ice will contribute to scientific progress for all of humankind,\" she says. The Indian space community is nervous and Dr Sivan says \"there is churning in his stomach\". \"Unknown-unknowns can kill a mission, [although] no stone has been left unturned to understand all the complexities\". The launch is only the beginning of a 384,000km (239,000-mile) journey - the robotic craft is expected to land on the Moon some 54 days later. Isro chose a circuitous route to take advantage of the Earth's gravity, which will help slingshot the satellite towards the Moon. India does not have a rocket powerful enough to hurl Chandrayaan-2 on a direct path. \"There will be 15 terrifying minutes for scientists once the lander is released and is hurled towards the south pole of the Moon,\" Dr Sivan says. He explains that those who had been controlling the spacecraft until then will have no role to play in those crucial moments. The actual landing, he adds, is an autonomous operation dependent on all systems performing as they should. Otherwise, the lander could crash into the lunar surface. Earlier this year, Israel's first Moon mission crash-landed while attempting to touch down. Nearly 1,000 engineers and scientists have worked on this mission. But for the first time, Isro has chosen women to lead an interplanetary expedition. Two women are steering India's journey to the Moon. While programme director Muthaya Vanitha has nurtured Chandrayaan-2 over the years, it will be navigated by Ritu Karidhal. \"Women power is powering India's Moon ambitions,\" Dr Sivan said, adding that at Isro, \"women and men are all equal. Only talent matters - not the gender.\" Reporting by Pallava Bagla, who has written extensively on India's space programme.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 465, "answer_end": 1605, "text": "India hopes the approximately $150m mission, Chandrayaan-2, will be the first to land on the Moon's south pole. It will focus on the lunar surface, searching for water and minerals and measuring moonquakes, among other things. If successful, India will become the fourth country to make a soft landing on the Moon's surface. Only the US, China and the former Soviet Union have been able to do so. India's Prime Minister, Narendra Modi has championed the country's space programmes, but critics would like to see poverty at home tackled first. The chief of the Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro), K Sivan, said this was \"the most complex space mission ever to be undertaken by the agency\". If the launch had gone to plan, the lander and rover would have been expected to touch down in early September. India's space agency is yet to give more details on why the launch was delayed and how it will affect the timeline. India's first Moon mission - Chandrayaan-1, which launched in 2008 - resulted in the probe crash-landing on the lunar surface. But it carried out the first and most detailed search for water on the Moon using radars."}], "question": "What is this mission all about?", "id": "76_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1606, "answer_end": 2672, "text": "Chandrayaan-2 (Moon vehicle 2) will attempt a soft landing near the little-explored south pole of the Moon. India is using its most powerful rocket, the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle Mark III (GSLV Mk-III), in this mission. It weighs 640 tonnes (almost 1.5 times the weight of a fully-loaded 747 jumbo jet) and at 44 metres (144ft) is as high as a 14-storey building. The spacecraft has three distinct parts: an orbiter, a lander and a rover. The orbiter, which weighs 2,379kg (5,244lb) and has a mission life of a year, will take images of the lunar surface, and \"sniff\" the tenuous atmosphere. The lander (named Vikram, after the founder of Isro) weighs about half as much, and carries within its belly a 27kg Moon rover with instruments to analyse the lunar soil. In its 14-day life, the rover (called Pragyan - wisdom in Sanskrit) can travel up to a half a kilometre from the lander and will send data and images back to Earth for analysis. \"India can hope to get the first selfies from the lunar surface once the rover gets on its job,\" Dr Sivan said."}], "question": "How will it get to the Moon?", "id": "76_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 4279, "answer_end": 5166, "text": "The launch is only the beginning of a 384,000km (239,000-mile) journey - the robotic craft is expected to land on the Moon some 54 days later. Isro chose a circuitous route to take advantage of the Earth's gravity, which will help slingshot the satellite towards the Moon. India does not have a rocket powerful enough to hurl Chandrayaan-2 on a direct path. \"There will be 15 terrifying minutes for scientists once the lander is released and is hurled towards the south pole of the Moon,\" Dr Sivan says. He explains that those who had been controlling the spacecraft until then will have no role to play in those crucial moments. The actual landing, he adds, is an autonomous operation dependent on all systems performing as they should. Otherwise, the lander could crash into the lunar surface. Earlier this year, Israel's first Moon mission crash-landed while attempting to touch down."}], "question": "How long is the journey to the Moon?", "id": "76_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 5167, "answer_end": 5731, "text": "Nearly 1,000 engineers and scientists have worked on this mission. But for the first time, Isro has chosen women to lead an interplanetary expedition. Two women are steering India's journey to the Moon. While programme director Muthaya Vanitha has nurtured Chandrayaan-2 over the years, it will be navigated by Ritu Karidhal. \"Women power is powering India's Moon ambitions,\" Dr Sivan said, adding that at Isro, \"women and men are all equal. Only talent matters - not the gender.\" Reporting by Pallava Bagla, who has written extensively on India's space programme."}], "question": "Who is on the team?", "id": "76_3"}]}]}, {"title": "Dutch tractor protest sparks 'worst rush hour'", "date": "1 October 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Tractor-driving farmers taking to the streets to demand greater recognition caused the worst ever Dutch morning rush hour on Tuesday, according to motoring organisation ANWB. There were 1,136km (700 miles) of jams at the morning peak, it said. Farmers reacted angrily to claims that they were largely responsible for a nitrogen oxide emissions problem. A report has called for inefficient cattle farms to be shut down and some speed limits lowered to cut pollution. Farming groups believe they are being victimised while the aviation industry is escaping scrutiny. The tractors arrived early on Tuesday, some of them knocking down fences to get there. Three people were arrested, according to public broadcaster NOS. Thousands of farmers, many on their tractors, took part in the protest in a field in the centre of The Hague. Police said 2,200 farmers joined the protest. Hague mayor Pauline Krikke warned of an \"unsafe situation\" but no further trouble was reported and drone pictures showed dozens more tractors parked on Scheveningen beach while their owners joined the demonstration. Anna Holligan, BBC News, The Hague Amber lights flashing, horns blaring, the \"green army\" rolled in and their message was unambiguous. \"No farmers, no food\", \"You love bread, meat and fries, without farmers you wouldn't have them,\" the slogans read. Every farmer felt the same frustration, that their industry was being targeted by a government scrambling to hit its climate goals. \"Suddenly everyone is worried. We're getting blamed and badly represented in the media, everyone is blaming us for climate change but planes are worse than farmers and no-one is talking about them,\" Vincent, a 17-year-old dairy farmer told me. Huddled inside their cab, young couple Geert-Jan and Danielle feared for the future. Beyond this muddy protest site, police were poised to block any attempt to drive closer to the seat of power. If the government wants to avoid the farmers' wrath, it must ensure that lucrative businesses such as motor-racing, airports and multinationals are subject to equal scrutiny. Beyond The Hague, tractors snarled up motorways and main roads across the country. As the tractors headed home the main infrastructure agency warned of major disruption for the evening rush hour too. It was not just the farmers who took to the streets but their children too, as they headed to a Christian primary school on toy tractors in the eastern farming town of Ommen. The Dutch top court, the Council of State, ruled in May that Dutch rules for granting building and farming permits breached EU law on protecting nature from nitrogen oxide emissions such as ammonia and nitrous oxide, prompting a halt in thousands of projects including new roads, housing blocks and airports. Nitrogen oxides play a significant role in air pollution and biodiversity and nitrous oxide has a stronger greenhouse gas effect than CO2. Last week an advisory committee said drastic measures were needed, both in farming and on Dutch roads. Liberal MP Tjeerd de Groot called for livestock production to be halved, meaning six million fewer pigs and 50 million fewer chickens, prompting a furious reaction from farmers. He blamed intensive livestock farming for much of the Netherlands' nitrogen emissions problem and argued that the key to the future was modern, sustainable agriculture. Agriculture minister Carola Schouten promised the protesters on Tuesday that as long as she was minister there would be no halving of livestock. Dutch society had to appreciate its farmers more, she added. Farming groups believe measurement of carbon dioxide and nitrogen is inaccurate and the debate over emissions has been hijacked by city-based climate change protesters. \"We feel as if we're being put in the dunces' corner by city types who come and tell us how things should be in the countryside,\" one of the protest organisers, Mark van den Oever, told the Trouw website, adding that farmers shouldn't be blamed for the whole nitrogen issue. Last month, broadcaster RTL Nieuws reported that the worst pollution problems facing the Dutch were around Amsterdam, nearby Schiphol airport and Rotterdam. The government has been criticised by climate campaigners for pushing ahead with the return to Formula One motor racing at Zandvoort next year. The sports minister said he was hopeful that measures to tackle nitrogen emissions would not affect the race. The Dutch government has set a target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions next year by 25% of 1990 levels. Last month a health watchdog said emissions had been cut by 15% cut in that time, largely by reducing methane, nitrous oxide and other gases. Carbon dioxide levels have remained the same.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 565, "answer_end": 1088, "text": "The tractors arrived early on Tuesday, some of them knocking down fences to get there. Three people were arrested, according to public broadcaster NOS. Thousands of farmers, many on their tractors, took part in the protest in a field in the centre of The Hague. Police said 2,200 farmers joined the protest. Hague mayor Pauline Krikke warned of an \"unsafe situation\" but no further trouble was reported and drone pictures showed dozens more tractors parked on Scheveningen beach while their owners joined the demonstration."}], "question": "How big were the protests?", "id": "77_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2460, "answer_end": 4714, "text": "The Dutch top court, the Council of State, ruled in May that Dutch rules for granting building and farming permits breached EU law on protecting nature from nitrogen oxide emissions such as ammonia and nitrous oxide, prompting a halt in thousands of projects including new roads, housing blocks and airports. Nitrogen oxides play a significant role in air pollution and biodiversity and nitrous oxide has a stronger greenhouse gas effect than CO2. Last week an advisory committee said drastic measures were needed, both in farming and on Dutch roads. Liberal MP Tjeerd de Groot called for livestock production to be halved, meaning six million fewer pigs and 50 million fewer chickens, prompting a furious reaction from farmers. He blamed intensive livestock farming for much of the Netherlands' nitrogen emissions problem and argued that the key to the future was modern, sustainable agriculture. Agriculture minister Carola Schouten promised the protesters on Tuesday that as long as she was minister there would be no halving of livestock. Dutch society had to appreciate its farmers more, she added. Farming groups believe measurement of carbon dioxide and nitrogen is inaccurate and the debate over emissions has been hijacked by city-based climate change protesters. \"We feel as if we're being put in the dunces' corner by city types who come and tell us how things should be in the countryside,\" one of the protest organisers, Mark van den Oever, told the Trouw website, adding that farmers shouldn't be blamed for the whole nitrogen issue. Last month, broadcaster RTL Nieuws reported that the worst pollution problems facing the Dutch were around Amsterdam, nearby Schiphol airport and Rotterdam. The government has been criticised by climate campaigners for pushing ahead with the return to Formula One motor racing at Zandvoort next year. The sports minister said he was hopeful that measures to tackle nitrogen emissions would not affect the race. The Dutch government has set a target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions next year by 25% of 1990 levels. Last month a health watchdog said emissions had been cut by 15% cut in that time, largely by reducing methane, nitrous oxide and other gases. Carbon dioxide levels have remained the same."}], "question": "How serious is the crisis?", "id": "77_1"}]}]}, {"title": "Djibouti election: What you need to know", "date": "7 April 2016", "paragraphs": [{"context": "The road to Djibouti's presidential election on 8 April has been filled with tension and opposition claims of foul play. But with no strong challenger, incumbent President Ismail Omar Guelleh is widely expected to win and continue his tight hold on power. The president has been in power since 1999 and is only the second president the country has had since independence from France in 1977. The opposition are angry that the president rescinded his earlier decision not to seek a fourth term and some parties have chosen to boycott the election. The reaction from the West to these developments has been muted. Djibouti borders Eritrea, Ethiopia and Somalia and is generally seen as a relatively stable country in the volatile Horn of Africa neighbourhood. Many observers say the West doesn't want to rock the boat. \"Every day Paris and Washington criticise Burundi but when it comes to Djibouti, silence reigns,\" opposition spokesman Daher Ahmed Farah told French radio. The opposition feel that only foreign countries can put pressure on the government but are looking the other way because of their interest in Djibouti's geo-strategic position on the Gulf of Aden. Such is the importance given to Djibouti's position that it hosts France's largest military base in Africa, the only US permanent base on the continent, as well as bases for China and Japan. Saudi Arabia is also planning a base there. This military presence signals a vote of confidence from world powers. The bases, along with Djibouti's port at the centre of a major shipping route, are the main sources of income for the country. Why are there so many military bases in Djibouti? More about Djibouti Djibouti's opposition feel suppressed. They complain of police brutality against them, and say they don't get fair media coverage. But they are also weak. The main opposition coalition, the Union for National Salvation (USN), has witnessed many splits in its ranks and ethnic allegiances threaten its unity. Three of the seven parties in USN have decided to boycott the polls entirely but the others will participate. Independent candidates are equally weak and do not pose any real threat to President Guelleh. The constitution was amended in 2010 to remove the two-term limit for the president and reduce the presidential term from six years to five. These changes allowed Mr Guelleh to contest and win a third term in the 2011 polls, which the opposition boycotted. The president vowed it would be his last election but has now changed his mind. BBC reporter expelled from Djibouti State media have been touting what they say is public enthusiasm for the vote and its democratic legitimacy. The US travel advisory for Djibouti, on the other hand, warns of \"a possibility that spontaneous protests will occur during the election cycle and some could turn violent\". The Djibouti Human Rights League said 29 people were killed when police fired at an unrelated religious demonstration in December. There was violence after the 2013 parliamentary elections, which the opposition claimed were rigged. In response the government launched a crackdown on its opponents. It later signed an agreement in 2014 to restore peace with the opposition. But the government again alienated the opposition by failing to implement reforms to the electoral commission, as stipulated in the 2014 deal. There are six candidates running for president. To win, the president must have an absolute majority of votes. A second round will be held if there is no clear winner. President Guelleh is the flag-bearer of the ruling coalition, the Union for a Presidential Majority. His coalition is fraught with tribalism and bickering. The candidate for the main opposition USN coalition is Omar Elmi Kaireh, a Djibouti independence hero. Mohamed Daoud Chehem is representing the Djiboutian Party for Development, a splinter group of the USN. There are three independent candidates: Djama Abdourhaman Djama, Mohamed Moussa Ali alias Tourtour, and Hassan Idriss Ahmed, a former diplomat, have also announced that they are standing for election. 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_start": 2558, "answer_end": 3355, "text": "State media have been touting what they say is public enthusiasm for the vote and its democratic legitimacy. The US travel advisory for Djibouti, on the other hand, warns of \"a possibility that spontaneous protests will occur during the election cycle and some could turn violent\". The Djibouti Human Rights League said 29 people were killed when police fired at an unrelated religious demonstration in December. There was violence after the 2013 parliamentary elections, which the opposition claimed were rigged. In response the government launched a crackdown on its opponents. It later signed an agreement in 2014 to restore peace with the opposition. But the government again alienated the opposition by failing to implement reforms to the electoral commission, as stipulated in the 2014 deal."}], "question": "Will it be peaceful?", "id": "78_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3356, "answer_end": 4238, "text": "There are six candidates running for president. To win, the president must have an absolute majority of votes. A second round will be held if there is no clear winner. President Guelleh is the flag-bearer of the ruling coalition, the Union for a Presidential Majority. His coalition is fraught with tribalism and bickering. The candidate for the main opposition USN coalition is Omar Elmi Kaireh, a Djibouti independence hero. Mohamed Daoud Chehem is representing the Djiboutian Party for Development, a splinter group of the USN. There are three independent candidates: Djama Abdourhaman Djama, Mohamed Moussa Ali alias Tourtour, and Hassan Idriss Ahmed, a former diplomat, have also announced that they are standing for election. 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."}], "question": "Who are the main candidates?", "id": "78_1"}]}]}, {"title": "Rashida Tlaib rejects 'humanitarian' W Bank visit", "date": "16 August 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "US congresswoman Rashida Tlaib has rejected Israel's offer to allow her to make a \"humanitarian\" visit to her grandmother in the occupied West Bank. Ms Tlaib said that she could not comply with the \"oppressive conditions\" being imposed. A critic of Israeli policy towards the Palestinians, she had been blocked by Israel from making an official visit. But it said a private visit could go ahead after she agreed \"not to promote the boycott of Israel during her stay\". Ms Tlaib and fellow Democratic congresswoman Ilhan Omar had originally been due to make an official visit to the West Bank and East Jerusalem from Sunday. Under pressure from US President Donald Trump, Israel denied permission for the visit to territory it controls. A statement from the Israeli interior ministry on Thursday confirmed the entry ban, saying it was \"inconceivable that those who wish to harm the state of Israel while visiting would be granted entry\". Ms Tlaib and Ms Omar have voiced support for the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) campaign - which aims to put economic pressure on the Israeli government - because of their opposition to Israel's policies towards Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. But in a series of tweets on Friday, Ms Omar hit back at claims that she and Ms Tlaib hadn't asked to meet with Israel's government or opposition officials. The Minnesota congresswoman said that, during their visit, they had planned to meet Jewish and Arab members of Israel's parliament, along with Israeli security officials. Among other plans, they had also intended to tour the West Bank city of Hebron with Israeli military veterans, she said. Ms Omar added that two Democrat congressmen had visited Israel last year \"with an almost identical itinerary\" and \"other members of Congress have done similar trips\" in the past. The entry ban was widely criticised - including by the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (Aipac), a prominent pro-Israel lobbying group. On Friday, Israel's interior ministry said it had given Ms Tlaib permission for what it termed a humanitarian visit to family after she had promised in a letter to \"respect conditions imposed by Israel\". Israeli media published Ms Tlaib's letter, which said: \"I would like to request admittance to Israel in order to visit my relatives, and specifically my grandmother, who is in her 90s. \"I will respect any restrictions and will not promote boycotts against Israel during my visit.\" In a series of tweets on Friday, she categorically rejected Israel's offer - even though it meant she would not see her grandmother. \"Silencing me & treating me like a criminal is not what she wants for me,\" she said of her grandmother. \"It would kill a piece of me. I have decided that visiting my grandmother under these oppressive conditions stands against everything I believe in.\" She said that winning her seat in Congress had given Palestinian people \"hope that someone will finally speak the truth about the inhumane conditions\". In response, Israeli Interior Minister Aryeh Deri said: \"Last night, she sent me a letter asking her to allow her to visit her 90-year-old grandmother 'because this could be my last chance to meet her'. \"I approved it on humanitarian grounds, but it turns out that it was a provocation to embarrass Israel. Her hatred for Israel overcomes her love for her grandmother.\" Israeli law blocks entrance visas to any foreigner who calls for any type of boycott that targets Israel - either economic, cultural or academic. The law attempts to suppress the BDS movement, which has drawn support across Europe and the US. Israeli officials had earlier said they would make an exception for the elected US officials, before backtracking. According to US media, their trip was meant to begin on Sunday, and would have included a stop at one of the most sensitive sites in the region - the hilltop plateau in Jerusalem known to Jews as the Temple Mount and Muslims as Haram al-Sharif. They also planned to visit Israeli and Palestinian peace activists, and travel to Jerusalem and the West Bank cities of Bethlehem, Ramallah and Hebron. Ahead of the move to ban the women's visit, President Trump had taken to Twitter to urge that the two lawmakers be blocked from visiting, adding that \"they hate Israel & all Jewish people, & there is nothing that can be said or done to change their minds\". Mr Trump, who has a close relationship with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, has frequently feuded with the two congresswomen. In remarks widely condemned as racist, he recently told them to \"go back\" to the countries that their families were from. Ms Tlaib - the first member of the US Congress of Palestinian descent - was born in Michigan. Ms Omar hails from Minnesota but was born in Somalia. They have both been criticised for their stance on Israel, but have denied charges of being anti-Semitic. After the Democratic-led House of Representatives voted against the boycott against Israel movement in July, Ms Tlaib said: \"I can't stand by and watch this attack on our freedom of speech and the right to boycott the racist policies of the government and the state of Israel.\" The House also voted to condemn hate speech in a move directed at Ms Omar for her criticism of US support for Israel. \"It's all about the Benjamins baby,\" Ms Omar had tweeted in a reference to the US $100 note, leading to allegations that she was using a negative stereotype for Jews. She later apologised, and said the tweet was meant to criticise lobbyists, not Jews. She also thanked \"Jewish allies and colleagues who are educating me on the painful history of anti-Semitic tropes\". An Israeli ban on foreign dignitaries is rare but not unprecedented. Makarim Wibisono, a UN special rapporteur on human rights, was denied entry in 2015 after Israel said his mandate was anti-Israel. And Fouad Ahmad Assadi of Spain's Socialist Party was barred from entering Israel last month because he was deemed a threat to national security. The Lebanese-born politician had travelled there to participate in the annual Socialist International conference in Tel Aviv and Ramallah - but he was denied entry at Ben Gurion Airport. However, no members of US Congress had been blocked before now. Israel often hosts congressional delegations. Earlier this month, 41 Democrats and 31 Republicans attended a visit sponsored by Aipac.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 468, "answer_end": 2456, "text": "Ms Tlaib and fellow Democratic congresswoman Ilhan Omar had originally been due to make an official visit to the West Bank and East Jerusalem from Sunday. Under pressure from US President Donald Trump, Israel denied permission for the visit to territory it controls. A statement from the Israeli interior ministry on Thursday confirmed the entry ban, saying it was \"inconceivable that those who wish to harm the state of Israel while visiting would be granted entry\". Ms Tlaib and Ms Omar have voiced support for the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) campaign - which aims to put economic pressure on the Israeli government - because of their opposition to Israel's policies towards Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. But in a series of tweets on Friday, Ms Omar hit back at claims that she and Ms Tlaib hadn't asked to meet with Israel's government or opposition officials. The Minnesota congresswoman said that, during their visit, they had planned to meet Jewish and Arab members of Israel's parliament, along with Israeli security officials. Among other plans, they had also intended to tour the West Bank city of Hebron with Israeli military veterans, she said. Ms Omar added that two Democrat congressmen had visited Israel last year \"with an almost identical itinerary\" and \"other members of Congress have done similar trips\" in the past. The entry ban was widely criticised - including by the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (Aipac), a prominent pro-Israel lobbying group. On Friday, Israel's interior ministry said it had given Ms Tlaib permission for what it termed a humanitarian visit to family after she had promised in a letter to \"respect conditions imposed by Israel\". Israeli media published Ms Tlaib's letter, which said: \"I would like to request admittance to Israel in order to visit my relatives, and specifically my grandmother, who is in her 90s. \"I will respect any restrictions and will not promote boycotts against Israel during my visit.\""}], "question": "How did we get here?", "id": "79_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2457, "answer_end": 3364, "text": "In a series of tweets on Friday, she categorically rejected Israel's offer - even though it meant she would not see her grandmother. \"Silencing me & treating me like a criminal is not what she wants for me,\" she said of her grandmother. \"It would kill a piece of me. I have decided that visiting my grandmother under these oppressive conditions stands against everything I believe in.\" She said that winning her seat in Congress had given Palestinian people \"hope that someone will finally speak the truth about the inhumane conditions\". In response, Israeli Interior Minister Aryeh Deri said: \"Last night, she sent me a letter asking her to allow her to visit her 90-year-old grandmother 'because this could be my last chance to meet her'. \"I approved it on humanitarian grounds, but it turns out that it was a provocation to embarrass Israel. Her hatred for Israel overcomes her love for her grandmother.\""}], "question": "What does Tlaib say now?", "id": "79_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3365, "answer_end": 4119, "text": "Israeli law blocks entrance visas to any foreigner who calls for any type of boycott that targets Israel - either economic, cultural or academic. The law attempts to suppress the BDS movement, which has drawn support across Europe and the US. Israeli officials had earlier said they would make an exception for the elected US officials, before backtracking. According to US media, their trip was meant to begin on Sunday, and would have included a stop at one of the most sensitive sites in the region - the hilltop plateau in Jerusalem known to Jews as the Temple Mount and Muslims as Haram al-Sharif. They also planned to visit Israeli and Palestinian peace activists, and travel to Jerusalem and the West Bank cities of Bethlehem, Ramallah and Hebron."}], "question": "Why were the two women banned?", "id": "79_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 4120, "answer_end": 4635, "text": "Ahead of the move to ban the women's visit, President Trump had taken to Twitter to urge that the two lawmakers be blocked from visiting, adding that \"they hate Israel & all Jewish people, & there is nothing that can be said or done to change their minds\". Mr Trump, who has a close relationship with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, has frequently feuded with the two congresswomen. In remarks widely condemned as racist, he recently told them to \"go back\" to the countries that their families were from."}], "question": "What's Trump's involvement?", "id": "79_3"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 4636, "answer_end": 5653, "text": "Ms Tlaib - the first member of the US Congress of Palestinian descent - was born in Michigan. Ms Omar hails from Minnesota but was born in Somalia. They have both been criticised for their stance on Israel, but have denied charges of being anti-Semitic. After the Democratic-led House of Representatives voted against the boycott against Israel movement in July, Ms Tlaib said: \"I can't stand by and watch this attack on our freedom of speech and the right to boycott the racist policies of the government and the state of Israel.\" The House also voted to condemn hate speech in a move directed at Ms Omar for her criticism of US support for Israel. \"It's all about the Benjamins baby,\" Ms Omar had tweeted in a reference to the US $100 note, leading to allegations that she was using a negative stereotype for Jews. She later apologised, and said the tweet was meant to criticise lobbyists, not Jews. She also thanked \"Jewish allies and colleagues who are educating me on the painful history of anti-Semitic tropes\"."}], "question": "Who are the two women?", "id": "79_4"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 5654, "answer_end": 6385, "text": "An Israeli ban on foreign dignitaries is rare but not unprecedented. Makarim Wibisono, a UN special rapporteur on human rights, was denied entry in 2015 after Israel said his mandate was anti-Israel. And Fouad Ahmad Assadi of Spain's Socialist Party was barred from entering Israel last month because he was deemed a threat to national security. The Lebanese-born politician had travelled there to participate in the annual Socialist International conference in Tel Aviv and Ramallah - but he was denied entry at Ben Gurion Airport. However, no members of US Congress had been blocked before now. Israel often hosts congressional delegations. Earlier this month, 41 Democrats and 31 Republicans attended a visit sponsored by Aipac."}], "question": "Has this happened before?", "id": "79_5"}]}]}, {"title": "IS conflict: Dozens killed in Baghdad car bombings", "date": "11 May 2016", "paragraphs": [{"context": "At least 93 people have been killed in three car bomb attacks in the Iraqi capital Baghdad, police and medics say. The deadliest killed 64 people and wounded 87 in a market in the mainly Shia Muslim area of Sadr City. Later two suicide bombers targeted police checkpoints in the northern district of Kadhimiya and in Jamia, in the west, leaving 29 dead. The so-called Islamic State (IS) group claimed the attacks - the worst day of violence in Baghdad so far this year. The Sunni jihadist group, which controls large swathes of northern and western Iraq, has frequently targeted Shia, whom it considers apostates. Islamic State group: The full story IS crisis in seven charts The target of Wednesday's first bombing was the busy market in Sadr City. Police and witnesses said the explosives were hidden under fruit and vegetables loaded on a pick-up trick. They said the driver disappeared after parking the vehicle in the market, shortly before the massive blast turned the area into an inferno. \"It was such a thunderous explosion that jolted the ground,\" Karim Salih, a 45-year old grocer, told the Associated Press. \"The force of the explosion threw me for meters away and I lost consciousness for a few minutes.\" Many victims were women inside a beauty salon, including several brides who appeared to be getting ready for their weddings, police sources told Reuters news agency. The bodies of two men believed to be grooms were found in an adjacent barber shop, they added. Sadr City, a huge, largely Shia suburb, has frequently been the target of bomb attacks by Sunni extremists but this is one of the worst, says the BBC's Jim Muir in Iraq. IS said one of its suicide bombers had carried out the attack, and that it was aimed at Shia militiamen, an account that seems to be at odds with reports from the scene, our correspondent adds. Hours later, a suicide car bomb exploded outside a police checkpoint in Kadhimiya, a mostly Shia district that is the location of an important shrine, officials said. Both police officers and civilians were among the at least 17 people who died and 43 who were injured, officials said. At around the same time, another suicide car bomb targeted a checkpoint in the Jamia district, which is predominantly Sunni, killing 12 people and wounding 31. Our correspondent says the bombings come in the midst of an acute political crisis in the city, with parliament unable to meet and the government effectively paralysed by factional disputes. In the aftermath of the Sadr City bombing, he adds, angry survivors blamed the politicians for failing to protect them and ensure security. March 2016: Suicide attack in a football match in the city of Iskandariya, in central Iraq, kills at least 32 people. Many of the dead were young boys who had been in a trophy ceremony. March 2016: Fuel tanker blown up at checkpoint near Hilla, killing 47. February 2016: Twin suicide bomb attack at Sadr City market kills 70. August 2015: Truck bomb explodes at market in Sadr City, killing 67. July 2015: Car bomb hits market in town of Khan Bani Saad, killing 120. \"Politicians are fighting each other in parliament and government while the people are being killed every day,\" Hussein Abdullah, the owner of an electrical appliances store who suffered shrapnel wounds, told AP. UN envoy to Iraq Jan Kubis warned on Friday that the political impasse was only serving the interests of IS and urged political leaders and civil society to work together to resolve it. Iraqi pro-government forces, backed by US-led coalition air strikes, have made gains in the western province of Anbar and are preparing for an offensive to retake the northern city of Mosul, but have been unable to prevent attacks in Baghdad. A government spokesman announced on Wednesday that IS now occupied 14% of Iraqi territory, down from 40% in mid-2014, according to Reuters. However, the figure appeared to differ with that given by US Secretary of State John Kerry late last month, who told Alhurra TV that IS had lost 44% of its territory. The UN says at least 3,379 Iraqis were killed in acts of terrorism, violence and armed conflict in the first four months of this year. A total of 741 died in April. The group considers Shia to be irredeemable apostates subject to punishment by death. Powerful Shia militias, which IS said it had targeted in Wednesday's attack, have also played a vital role in helping Iraqi government forces drive militants out of areas they captured in mid-2014. Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi has in the past said the bombings in the capital are \"desperate\" attempts by IS militants to retaliate for the territorial losses, and analysts say they may increase in frequency as government forces advance. Vehicle scanners at the entrances to Baghdad have helped reduce the number of co-ordinated car bomb attacks since late 2014. But IS has changed tactics in response, and instead used suicide bombers and bombs planted in public spaces. The security establishment is also plagued by corruption, and officers are allegedly easy to bribe. Expenditure on security has also reduced, with the government's finances strained by the cost of the war against IS and declining oil revenue. The authorities have also struggled to secure rural areas ringing the capital - the so-called \"Baghdad belt\" - where militants are known to shelter. Local Sunnis, many of whom have suffered abuses at the hands of the Shia-dominated security forces or were alienated by the sectarian policies of Mr Abadi's predecessor, have been accused of aiding IS.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 4202, "answer_end": 4725, "text": "The group considers Shia to be irredeemable apostates subject to punishment by death. Powerful Shia militias, which IS said it had targeted in Wednesday's attack, have also played a vital role in helping Iraqi government forces drive militants out of areas they captured in mid-2014. Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi has in the past said the bombings in the capital are \"desperate\" attempts by IS militants to retaliate for the territorial losses, and analysts say they may increase in frequency as government forces advance."}], "question": "Why does IS target Shia?", "id": "80_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 4726, "answer_end": 5553, "text": "Vehicle scanners at the entrances to Baghdad have helped reduce the number of co-ordinated car bomb attacks since late 2014. But IS has changed tactics in response, and instead used suicide bombers and bombs planted in public spaces. The security establishment is also plagued by corruption, and officers are allegedly easy to bribe. Expenditure on security has also reduced, with the government's finances strained by the cost of the war against IS and declining oil revenue. The authorities have also struggled to secure rural areas ringing the capital - the so-called \"Baghdad belt\" - where militants are known to shelter. Local Sunnis, many of whom have suffered abuses at the hands of the Shia-dominated security forces or were alienated by the sectarian policies of Mr Abadi's predecessor, have been accused of aiding IS."}], "question": "What can't the government prevent attacks in Baghdad?", "id": "80_1"}]}]}, {"title": "US threatens tax on champagne and French cheese", "date": "3 December 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "The Trump administration is threatening to slap import taxes on $2.4bn worth of French goods, including cheese, champagne, make-up and handbags. The planned tariffs come in response to a new French digital services tax that would affect companies including Google, Amazon and Facebook. France, along with several other European countries, wants to limit the tech giants' ability to avoid taxes. But trade officials in Washington say US firms are being unfairly targeted. French minister Bruno Le Maire called the US threat to impose tariffs in response to the tax \"unacceptable\" and suggested France would be prepared to retaliate. France has long been concerned that US technology giants are avoiding taxes in the European Union. France says taxes should be based on where the digital activity - browsing the page - takes place, not where firms have their headquarters. It is not the only country to raise concerns and a group of nations are drawing up new multilateral rules via the OECD. But France does not want to wait for that to bear fruit, so this summer drew up its own tax. It is imposing a 3% tax on any digital company with revenue of more than EUR750m ($850m; PS670m), of which at least EUR25m is generated in France. The tax will be back-dated to early 2019, and is expected to raise about EUR400m this year. About 30 companies are expected to pay it, mostly US firms such as Alphabet, Apple, Facebook, Amazon and Microsoft. Amazon has already responded by raising fees for French businesses by 3%. Robert Lighthizer, the US Trade Representative (USTR), has published a list of French products that could face tariffs, including champagne and sparkling wine, Roquefort and other cheeses, make-up, handbags, and homeware such as porcelain and bone china. Some of the tariffs are as high as 100% of the import price, and are likely to push up the price of these products for US consumers. However, before the tariffs are confirmed, there will now be what the US calls a period for public comment, including a hearing in Washington in January. The US says the French tax unfairly targets some US multinationals. Mr Lighthizer said the threat of tariffs  was intended to deter other countries from taking similar steps. The trade official said the move \"sends a clear signal that the United States will take action against digital tax regimes that discriminate or otherwise impose undue burdens on US companies\". Mr Lighthizer warned that the US intended to look into digital taxes introduced by Austria, Italy and Turkey. A digital sales tax has long been on the UK agenda too. Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn's flagship election pledge - to give every home and business in the UK free full-fibre broadband by 2030 - was to be funded, at least in part, by a tax on \"multinationals\". In the party's press release about the plans last month, \"Amazon, Facebook and Google\" were mentioned specifically. Prime Minister Boris Johnson has also backed the idea, calling out the so-called \"FAANG\" stocks - Facebook, Apple, Amazon, Netflix and Google - as paying \"virtually nothing\". The Tory manifesto pledges its own Digital Services Tax to fund improvements in broadband infrastructure, among other things. Both leaders are capitalising on the growing momentum in Europe to tax tech firms based on their sales in a country - rather than profits, which are often funnelled through counties with a lower tax rate, such as Ireland. But while promising a \"Google tax\" sounds great on the campaign trail, it only strengthens the view in Washington that American success stories are being unfairly targeted. And the move today suggests the US is ready to start fighting back. Here's what might happen next: France has said it would drop its digital tax if Europe could, as a bloc, come up with an alternative that's consistent across the Union; a strength-in-numbers move that would be more difficult for the US to counteract. But the UK, post-Brexit, would be on its own - and needs to stay in Washington's good graces. The US reaction to France's digital services tax suggests it would not go down well if the UK were to follow suit. Earlier this year, US firms were at pains to make it clear to the US Trade Representative that any such UK digital tax would be a big concern for them, with some even suggesting it would need to be dealt with before trade negotiations could go ahead. The BBC's economics editor Faisal Islam says the issue has split the UK government, with some in the current cabinet believing the tech tax would be an obstacle to a future US trade deal. While the matter has not yet been openly discussed, in the recently leaked trade documents UK negotiators clearly anticipate that the issue would emerge during later parts of the process. The US technology sector has welcomed the Trump administration's tougher stance, although it still hopes for a negotiated settlement before the tariffs are imposed. Jennifer McCloskey, vice-president for policy at the Information Technology Industry Council, whose members include the major US tech firms, said the French tax was \"discriminatory\" and welcomed the USTR's \"strong trade response\". However, the US move has unnerved investors. Mr Lighthizer's comment that he sees the French tax as part of a \"growing protectionism of EU member states,\" raised concerns that this latest spat could be part of a wider trade war with the EU that has drawn in car companies and planemaker Airbus. Shares in leading French luxury-goods companies fell on Tuesday, with LVMH, Kering and Hermes down 1.4% to 1.5% in early trading. Some US business lobby groups have warned against tariffs because of fears of escalating another trade fight, despite their opposition to the French law. The US Chamber of Commerce, for example, had said tariffs \"may elicit additional rounds of retaliatory measures that represent a substantial risk to US economic growth and job creation\".", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 632, "answer_end": 1512, "text": "France has long been concerned that US technology giants are avoiding taxes in the European Union. France says taxes should be based on where the digital activity - browsing the page - takes place, not where firms have their headquarters. It is not the only country to raise concerns and a group of nations are drawing up new multilateral rules via the OECD. But France does not want to wait for that to bear fruit, so this summer drew up its own tax. It is imposing a 3% tax on any digital company with revenue of more than EUR750m ($850m; PS670m), of which at least EUR25m is generated in France. The tax will be back-dated to early 2019, and is expected to raise about EUR400m this year. About 30 companies are expected to pay it, mostly US firms such as Alphabet, Apple, Facebook, Amazon and Microsoft. Amazon has already responded by raising fees for French businesses by 3%."}], "question": "Why has France introduced the new tax?", "id": "81_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1513, "answer_end": 2054, "text": "Robert Lighthizer, the US Trade Representative (USTR), has published a list of French products that could face tariffs, including champagne and sparkling wine, Roquefort and other cheeses, make-up, handbags, and homeware such as porcelain and bone china. Some of the tariffs are as high as 100% of the import price, and are likely to push up the price of these products for US consumers. However, before the tariffs are confirmed, there will now be what the US calls a period for public comment, including a hearing in Washington in January."}], "question": "What is Washington threatening?", "id": "81_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2055, "answer_end": 2532, "text": "The US says the French tax unfairly targets some US multinationals. Mr Lighthizer said the threat of tariffs  was intended to deter other countries from taking similar steps. The trade official said the move \"sends a clear signal that the United States will take action against digital tax regimes that discriminate or otherwise impose undue burdens on US companies\". Mr Lighthizer warned that the US intended to look into digital taxes introduced by Austria, Italy and Turkey."}], "question": "Why does the US want to impose the tariffs?", "id": "81_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2533, "answer_end": 4020, "text": "A digital sales tax has long been on the UK agenda too. Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn's flagship election pledge - to give every home and business in the UK free full-fibre broadband by 2030 - was to be funded, at least in part, by a tax on \"multinationals\". In the party's press release about the plans last month, \"Amazon, Facebook and Google\" were mentioned specifically. Prime Minister Boris Johnson has also backed the idea, calling out the so-called \"FAANG\" stocks - Facebook, Apple, Amazon, Netflix and Google - as paying \"virtually nothing\". The Tory manifesto pledges its own Digital Services Tax to fund improvements in broadband infrastructure, among other things. Both leaders are capitalising on the growing momentum in Europe to tax tech firms based on their sales in a country - rather than profits, which are often funnelled through counties with a lower tax rate, such as Ireland. But while promising a \"Google tax\" sounds great on the campaign trail, it only strengthens the view in Washington that American success stories are being unfairly targeted. And the move today suggests the US is ready to start fighting back. Here's what might happen next: France has said it would drop its digital tax if Europe could, as a bloc, come up with an alternative that's consistent across the Union; a strength-in-numbers move that would be more difficult for the US to counteract. But the UK, post-Brexit, would be on its own - and needs to stay in Washington's good graces."}], "question": "Is the UK planning its own digital services tax?", "id": "81_3"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 4021, "answer_end": 4762, "text": "The US reaction to France's digital services tax suggests it would not go down well if the UK were to follow suit. Earlier this year, US firms were at pains to make it clear to the US Trade Representative that any such UK digital tax would be a big concern for them, with some even suggesting it would need to be dealt with before trade negotiations could go ahead. The BBC's economics editor Faisal Islam says the issue has split the UK government, with some in the current cabinet believing the tech tax would be an obstacle to a future US trade deal. While the matter has not yet been openly discussed, in the recently leaked trade documents UK negotiators clearly anticipate that the issue would emerge during later parts of the process."}], "question": "Could a UK digital tax cause problems for a US-UK trade deal?", "id": "81_4"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 4763, "answer_end": 5924, "text": "The US technology sector has welcomed the Trump administration's tougher stance, although it still hopes for a negotiated settlement before the tariffs are imposed. Jennifer McCloskey, vice-president for policy at the Information Technology Industry Council, whose members include the major US tech firms, said the French tax was \"discriminatory\" and welcomed the USTR's \"strong trade response\". However, the US move has unnerved investors. Mr Lighthizer's comment that he sees the French tax as part of a \"growing protectionism of EU member states,\" raised concerns that this latest spat could be part of a wider trade war with the EU that has drawn in car companies and planemaker Airbus. Shares in leading French luxury-goods companies fell on Tuesday, with LVMH, Kering and Hermes down 1.4% to 1.5% in early trading. Some US business lobby groups have warned against tariffs because of fears of escalating another trade fight, despite their opposition to the French law. The US Chamber of Commerce, for example, had said tariffs \"may elicit additional rounds of retaliatory measures that represent a substantial risk to US economic growth and job creation\"."}], "question": "What is the reaction beyond Paris and Washington?", "id": "81_5"}]}]}, {"title": "Afghanistan presidential election: Rivals declare victory after record low turnout", "date": "30 September 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "The frontrunners in Afghanistan's presidential race have both declared victory following the lowest election turnout since the Taliban were ousted. Chief executive Abdullah Abdullah told reporters he had won outright, a day after incumbent Ashraf Ghani's running mate said they were the winners. Neither offered evidence in support. The Independent Election Commission is still counting votes from Saturday's ballot, with early data suggesting just 25% of registered voters took part. The commission has counted 2.19m votes from 3,736 of the country's approximately 4,000 polling centres so far. Afghanistan's total population stands at about 37 million, with just 9.6 million registered voters. However, preliminary results are not expected for almost three weeks, with Habiburrahman Nang, the electoral commission's chief executive, telling journalists that no one should declare the outcome before it is officially announced. Despite this, both Mr Abdullah and Mr Ghani's teams have said they won, claiming to have garnered more than 50% of the vote - thereby avoiding a run-off round. The competing claims are reminiscent of the 2014 election, when both men disputed the results, eventually agreeing to a power-sharing deal brokered by the US. If the current figures are correct, turnout was lower than in Afghanistan's three previous presidential elections. In 2004, turnout was recorded at 70%.  In 2009 it dropped to around a third before reportedly doubling in the first round in 2014. The low turnout is in part attributed to widespread safety concerns as the Taliban had threatened to attack polling stations and targeted election rallies before polling day. As a result, more than 70,000 members of the security forces were deployed across the country to protect voters. But at least five people were killed and 80 wounded in bomb and mortar attacks on voting centres. However, there was also a perceived lack of enthusiasm ahead of the vote - not helped by the fact the same two men who had fought for months over the top job in 2014 were the front-runners once again. Both have been accused of corruption while in office. Meanwhile, unemployment stands at about 25%, according to the UN, and almost 55% of Afghans are living below the poverty line. Mr Abdullah told a press conference on Monday he had won \"the most votes in this election\". \"The election is not going to go to a second round,\" he said. The day before, Amrullah Saleh, Mr Gahni's running mate, told news website VOA that, according to his team's information, \"60 to 70%\" of people had voted for them. A second round would be triggered between the top two candidates if no one reached 50% of the vote. Mr Ghani and Mr Ashraf were among 18 men - including former warlords, ex-spies and members of the country's former communist government - who initially put themselves forward to fight the election. Five dropped out. Not one woman is running for president, and only three women appear on the tickets of others. Whoever wins will lead a country devastated by four decades of war while the conflict continues to kill thousands of people every year. Talks between the US and the Taliban collapsed after President Donald Trump declared them \"dead\" earlier this month. The Taliban refuse to negotiate directly with the Afghan government, saying it is illegitimate. They say they will only talk to Afghan authorities after a deal with the US is agreed. The US currently has about 14,000 troops in Afghanistan, and there are thousands more from a Nato mission to train, advise and assist the country's own security forces. Read more:", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1248, "answer_end": 2261, "text": "If the current figures are correct, turnout was lower than in Afghanistan's three previous presidential elections. In 2004, turnout was recorded at 70%.  In 2009 it dropped to around a third before reportedly doubling in the first round in 2014. The low turnout is in part attributed to widespread safety concerns as the Taliban had threatened to attack polling stations and targeted election rallies before polling day. As a result, more than 70,000 members of the security forces were deployed across the country to protect voters. But at least five people were killed and 80 wounded in bomb and mortar attacks on voting centres. However, there was also a perceived lack of enthusiasm ahead of the vote - not helped by the fact the same two men who had fought for months over the top job in 2014 were the front-runners once again. Both have been accused of corruption while in office. Meanwhile, unemployment stands at about 25%, according to the UN, and almost 55% of Afghans are living below the poverty line."}], "question": "Why was turnout so low?", "id": "82_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2262, "answer_end": 2989, "text": "Mr Abdullah told a press conference on Monday he had won \"the most votes in this election\". \"The election is not going to go to a second round,\" he said. The day before, Amrullah Saleh, Mr Gahni's running mate, told news website VOA that, according to his team's information, \"60 to 70%\" of people had voted for them. A second round would be triggered between the top two candidates if no one reached 50% of the vote. Mr Ghani and Mr Ashraf were among 18 men - including former warlords, ex-spies and members of the country's former communist government - who initially put themselves forward to fight the election. Five dropped out. Not one woman is running for president, and only three women appear on the tickets of others."}], "question": "What have the candidates said?", "id": "82_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2990, "answer_end": 3605, "text": "Whoever wins will lead a country devastated by four decades of war while the conflict continues to kill thousands of people every year. Talks between the US and the Taliban collapsed after President Donald Trump declared them \"dead\" earlier this month. The Taliban refuse to negotiate directly with the Afghan government, saying it is illegitimate. They say they will only talk to Afghan authorities after a deal with the US is agreed. The US currently has about 14,000 troops in Afghanistan, and there are thousands more from a Nato mission to train, advise and assist the country's own security forces. Read more:"}], "question": "Why does this election matter?", "id": "82_2"}]}]}, {"title": "Trump and trade: A radical agenda?", "date": "9 November 2016", "paragraphs": [{"context": "At his victory rally in New York US president-elect Donald Trump promised \"great, great relationships\" with other nations. But there is a mismatch between those soothing words and the aggressive trade policies laid out during the campaign - which included harsh tariffs on China and tearing up existing agreements. It is hard to know if Mr Trump will follow up on his threats, but they have a combustive potential. And trade is one area where the president has freedom to act without the approval of lawmakers in Congress. Five questions on economy for Trump UK businesses react to Trump's win Trump's economic promises President Trump: All hat, now where are the cattle? So what did we learn during the campaign about Mr Trump's views on trade? Well, you can find a summary of his policies on his campaign website, but here's a quick tour. Perhaps his most radical idea is to impose hefty tariffs on Chinese-made goods, if China does not reform its trade relations with the US. Mr Trump has floated the idea of a swingeing 45% tariff on Chinese imports. In a big economic policy speech in June he told workers at a metal processing plant that China had \"cheated on its currency, added another trillion dollars to our trade deficit and stole hundreds of billions of dollars in our intellectual property\". During that speech he reminded workers that President Reagan had imposed tariffs of 45% on Japanese motorcycles and 100% on computer chips. If Mr Trump's threat crystallised it would supply a shock to the US economy as China is an important supplier of many goods. Take mobile devices for example. China supplies three-quarters of the phones imported into the US and it supplies almost all laptop and tablet computers. Mr Trump has also been scathing about the North American Free Trade Agreement (Nafta). Introduced in 1994 it greatly reduced, and in some cases eliminated altogether, tariffs for trade between the US and its two immediate neighbours, Mexico and Canada. \"Nafta was the worst trade deal in the history of this country,\" Mr Trump said in June. He blames the deal for the loss of thousands of US manufacturing jobs and wants to reverse that by renegotiating the terms of the deal. If Mexico and Canada do not agree to the new terms, Mr Trump has threatened to withdraw from the agreement altogether. In February, after five years of work, the US and 11 other nations signed up to the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), one of the biggest multinational trade deals ever. That agreement now looks dead as Mr Trump has called it a \"horrible deal\" and said that he would block it. The deal involves 12 nations from around the Pacific Rim, and was partly designed to counter the growing economic power of China. However, Mr Trump claims that trade with those nations had already cost the US two million jobs - with the manufacturing of cars and car parts particularly suffering. A lot of work has also gone into a new trade deal between the US and the European Union. Since 2013 the two sides have been negotiating the Trans-Atlantic Trade and Investment Partnership or TTIP, aimed at removing or reducing trade barriers. That deal has faced opposition in Europe and now, with a US administration that is sceptical over trade deals, looks even less likely to reach fruition. An existing deal under threat is the 2011 free trade agreement with South Korea. According to figures quoted on Mr Trump's campaign website, the deal has cost 100,000 jobs and has not resulted in any increase in US exports to South Korea. While many nations might have their trade deals torn up, the UK might well be looked on favourably by the Trump administration. The president-elect was a supporter of the UK leaving the European Union and last month his trade adviser Dan DiMicco told the BBC that negotiating a new trade deal with the UK would be \"one of the first things\" that his trade officials would do. Mr DiMicco also said that Mr Trump was serious about his threats over trade: \"Things have gotten so bad that we will leave Nafta, WTO [the World Trade Organization] and the Korean Free Trade Agreement if we can't get a fair deal. \"These are not idle threats.\" But the WTO has congratulated Mr Trump on his victory and appeared to acknowledge his concerns over jobs. The WTO is \"ready to support the administration to ensure trade is a positive element in a new strategy for development & job creation,\" tweeted director-general Roberto Azevedo. \"It's clear many feel trade isn't working for them. We must address this and ensure trade delivers the widest benefit to the most people,\" he added.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 2320, "answer_end": 3526, "text": "In February, after five years of work, the US and 11 other nations signed up to the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), one of the biggest multinational trade deals ever. That agreement now looks dead as Mr Trump has called it a \"horrible deal\" and said that he would block it. The deal involves 12 nations from around the Pacific Rim, and was partly designed to counter the growing economic power of China. However, Mr Trump claims that trade with those nations had already cost the US two million jobs - with the manufacturing of cars and car parts particularly suffering. A lot of work has also gone into a new trade deal between the US and the European Union. Since 2013 the two sides have been negotiating the Trans-Atlantic Trade and Investment Partnership or TTIP, aimed at removing or reducing trade barriers. That deal has faced opposition in Europe and now, with a US administration that is sceptical over trade deals, looks even less likely to reach fruition. An existing deal under threat is the 2011 free trade agreement with South Korea. According to figures quoted on Mr Trump's campaign website, the deal has cost 100,000 jobs and has not resulted in any increase in US exports to South Korea."}], "question": "RIP TPP and TTIP?", "id": "83_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Commons leader Andrea Leadsom quits government over Brexit", "date": "22 May 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Commons Leader Andrea Leadsom has quit the cabinet, saying she no longer believes the government's approach will deliver Brexit. Her resignation comes amid a backlash against Theresa May's Brexit plan from Conservative MPs. Several cabinet ministers have told the BBC that the PM cannot stay, with one saying it is \"the end of the line\". In a letter to Mrs Leadsom, the PM wrote she was \"sorry to lose someone of [her] passion, drive and sincerity\". Mrs May also said she disagreed with \"the assessment you now give about our approach\" to Brexit. Mrs Leadsom previously ran for Tory leader but withdrew, clearing the path for Mrs May to become prime minister. As Commons leader, she was in charge of organising government business and had been due to announce when the prime minister's Withdrawal Agreement Bill would be introduced to Parliament. Her resignation is the 36th by a minister under Theresa May - 21 of them over Brexit - and comes a day before the UK votes in the European elections. The move came after a day of drama at Westminster in which anger grew at the prime minister's attempt to win backing for the bill - the legislation needed to implement the agreement between the UK and EU on the terms of Brexit. As part of it, Mrs May has offered a number of changes, including a chance for MPs to hold a vote on another referendum if they back the bill. In a letter to the prime minister, Mrs Leadsom - MP for South Northamptonshire - said she did not believe \"the UK would be a truly sovereign United Kingdom through the deal that is now proposed\". She also described holding another referendum as \"dangerously divisive\", and said she was opposed to the government \"willingly facilitating such a concession\". Another referendum would \"risk undermining our Union which is something I passionately want to see strengthened\", she said. She also attacked the \"breakdown of government processes\", saying that Brexit-related legislation proposals had not been \"properly scrutinised\". She concluded her letter by paying tribute to \"the integrity, resolution and determination\" of the prime minister and urging her to \"make the right decisions in the interests of the country, the government and our party\". But in her response, Mrs May said her bill would deliver Brexit for the UK, and sought to assure her departing colleague that she continued to be opposed to a second referendum - arguing it would be \"divisive\". BBC political correspondent Jonathan Blake said that Mrs Leadsom had made many compromises over Brexit. \"She clearly feels the new improved bill - as Theresa May has styled it - was a step too far,\" he added. \"It is an extraordinary sequence of events for a key member of the Cabinet to resign on the eve of elections. \"It is unlikely that we will see others follow her immediately, but getting into Friday and the weekend, things could move swiftly.\" BBC political editor Laura Kuenssberg said Home Secretary Sajid Javid \"isn't going anywhere\", but added that his backers said he wasn't happy about the second referendum part of Mrs May's offer. Andrea Leadsom was the MP who stood against Theresa May for leadership of the Conservative Party in 2016, following David Cameron's resignation after the EU referendum. She decided to withdraw from the race, leaving Theresa May as PM, following an interview in which she suggested that being a mother made her a better candidate for the job. Mrs Leadsom campaigned for Leave during the Brexit campaign, appearing on the panel at the final TV debate of the campaign at Wembley Arena, alongside Boris Johnson and then Labour MP Gisela Stuart. She served as environment secretary between July 2016 and June 2017, and more recently as Leader of the House, a role which means she organises and announces government business in Parliament. Tim Loughton - the Conservative MP who ran Mrs Leadsom's campaign to be party leader - said she had \"great integrity\", and left because she couldn't support the prime minister's bill. Pro-EU Conservative MP Dominic Grieve said he was sorry that Mrs Leadsom had resigned, but added that some of this colleagues are \"living in world of fantasy\". \"They refuse to accept they can't carry out Brexit in the way that they want,\" he said. Labour MP Ian Lavery said the resignation showed \"the prime minister's authority is shot and her time is up\". His colleague Jess Phillips praised Mrs Leadsom, saying: \"I liked Leadsom. She had our back in the complaints process and she was vital in the proxy voting.\" The minister's resignation capped a difficult day for the prime minister who continued to resist calls to quit herself. Several cabinet ministers broke cover on Wednesday afternoon to signal their unhappiness with the Withdrawal Agreement Bill, among them Home Secretary Sajid Javid. Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt also requested a private meeting with the PM to discuss the situation. But BBC political editor Laura Kuenssberg said the PM declined to meet the ministers - both of whom are seen as possible contenders to be the next Conservative leader - and instead seemed determined to \"tough it out\". The 1922 Committee of backbench Conservative MPs had been expected to vote on Wednesday evening on whether to change the party's rules to allow an immediate vote of no confidence in the prime minister. Current rules dictate that as the PM survived such a vote in December, she cannot face another one for 12 months. Mrs May is now scheduled to meet the committee's chairman, Sir Graham Brady on Friday. Laura Kuenssberg said the PM appeared to have bought herself 36 hours. The PM had already pledged to set a timetable for a new leader to take over after MPs vote on the Withdrawal Agreement Bill. That, in theory at least, is expected to happen on 7 June. Mrs May is bringing the Withdrawal Agreement Bill - legislation required to bring her agreement into UK law - to Parliament in early June. In an attempt to win over MPs across the House, she announced the following concessions: - A guarantee of a Commons vote on whether to hold another referendum on the government's Brexit deal - A vote on different customs options, including a government proposal for a temporary customs union for goods - what Mrs May called a \"customs compromise\" - A legal obligation for the UK to \"seek to conclude alternative arrangements\" to replace the Northern Ireland backstop by the end of 2020 - If the backstop does come into force, the bill would guarantee Northern Ireland remains aligned with the rest of the UK and remains in same customs territory - Legislation to ensure workers rights are \"every bit as good, if not better\" after Brexit - and guarantees of no dilution in environmental standards - A legal duty to seek changes to the political declaration on future relations with the EU", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 3073, "answer_end": 3806, "text": "Andrea Leadsom was the MP who stood against Theresa May for leadership of the Conservative Party in 2016, following David Cameron's resignation after the EU referendum. She decided to withdraw from the race, leaving Theresa May as PM, following an interview in which she suggested that being a mother made her a better candidate for the job. Mrs Leadsom campaigned for Leave during the Brexit campaign, appearing on the panel at the final TV debate of the campaign at Wembley Arena, alongside Boris Johnson and then Labour MP Gisela Stuart. She served as environment secretary between July 2016 and June 2017, and more recently as Leader of the House, a role which means she organises and announces government business in Parliament."}], "question": "Who is Andrea Leadsom?", "id": "84_0"}]}]}, {"title": "US-China trade war: Deal agreed to suspend new trade tariffs", "date": "2 December 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "US President Donald Trump and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping have agreed to halt new trade tariffs for 90 days to allow for talks, the US says. At a post-G20 summit meeting in Buenos Aires, Mr Trump agreed not to boost tariffs on $200bn (PS157bn) of Chinese goods from 10% to 25% on 1 January. China will buy a \"very substantial\" amount of agricultural, industrial and energy products, the US says. Meanwhile, Beijing says the two sides agreed to open up their markets. It was the first face-to-face meeting between the two leaders since a trade war erupted earlier this year. The dispute broke out after Mr Trump complained China was doing nothing to cut its large surplus in bilateral trade. At the summit in Argentina's capital earlier on Saturday, the G20 leaders agreed a joint declaration that notes divisions over trade but does not criticise protectionism. Mr Trump and Mr Xi held a \"highly successful meeting\", the White House says in a statement. It says the US tariffs on Chinese goods will remain unchanged for 90 days, but warns: \"If at the end of this period of time, the parties are unable to reach an agreement, the 10 percent tariffs will be raised to 25 percent.\" The US says China agreed to \"purchase a not yet agreed upon, but very substantial, amount of agricultural, energy, industrial, and other products from the United States to reduce the trade imbalance between our two countries\". Both sides also pledged to \"immediately begin negotiations on structural changes with respect to forced technology transfer, intellectual property protection, non-tariff barriers, cyber intrusions and cyber theft\", the White House says. President Trump said earlier this year he wanted to stop the \"unfair transfers of American technology and intellectual property to China\". According to the US, China has also signalled it will allow a tie-up between two major semiconductor manufacturers which Chinese regulators have been blocking. The White House statement said China was \"open to approving the previously unapproved Qualcomm-NXP deal\". Qualcomm - the world's biggest chipmaker - had abandoned its $44bn bid for Dutch rival NXP Semiconductors after Chinese opposition. The US also says Beijing agreed to designate Fentanyl as a controlled substance. The opioid - much of it thought to be made in China - is driving a huge rise in drug addiction in the US. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi told reporters after the talks that \"the principal agreement has effectively prevented further expansion of economic friction between the two countries\". He hailed \"new space for win-win co-operation\", while Chinese state TV said negotiations would continue. Both sides have imposed tariffs on billions of dollars' worth of goods. The US has hit $250bn of Chinese goods with tariffs since July, and China has retaliated by imposing duties on $110bn of US products. Mr Trump had also said that if talks in Argentina were unsuccessful, he would carry out a threat to hit the remaining $267bn of annual Chinese exports to the US with tariffs of between 10 and 25%. US-China trade divisions meant an Asian economic summit earlier this month was unable to agree a formal leaders' statement for the first time in its history. Returning from the G20 summit on Air Force One, Mr Trump told reporters \"it's an incredible deal\" that would have an \"incredibly positive impact on farming\". \"What I'd be doing is holding back on tariffs. China will be opening up. China will be getting rid of tariffs,\" Mr Trump said. Stephen McDonell, BBC China correspondent in Beijing China has pretty much given up nothing in this deal because the future tariffs threatened from the Beijing side were retaliatory in nature and only to be applied if the United State escalated. For this it has gained a 90-day reprieve, during which time both sides have pledged to ramp up talks. When China's Foreign Minster Wang Yi spoke to reporters after the meeting he said the two leaders had agreed to open up each other's markets and that this process could lead to the resolution of \"legitimate\" US concerns. This was either an acknowledgment that Washington does have legitimate concerns or a way of differentiating those American concerns which are reasonable from those which are not actually \"legitimate\". This is not a suspension of the trade war but a suspension of the escalation of the trade war. Big questions remain about the preparedness of Beijing to allow international access to this enormous market to a level that would satisfy the Trump administration prompting a complete halt in the trade war. On other issues, the US president announced he would be \"formally terminating Nafta [the North American Free Trade Agreement] shortly\". This would give lawmakers six months, he said, to approve a new trade deal agreed with his Mexican and Canadian counterparts on Friday or revert to trade rules from before 1994, when Nafta took effect. He also said he was likely to meet North Korean Leader Kim Jong-un in January or February and three locations for their second meeting were being considered. Mr Trump added that he would also invite Mr Kim, with whom he has \"a good relationship\", to the US at some point. French leader Emmanuel Macron told reporters that the World Trade Organization, the body that regulates trade disputes, needed to be modernised. A senior US official told Reuters that it was the first time that the G20 had recognised that the WTO was \"currently falling short of meeting its objectives\" and needed reform. On Friday Mr Trump briefly met Russian President Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of the G20, a Russian official told Reuters. Earlier the US president said he had postponed a planned press conference \"out of respect for the Bush family\", following the death of former President George HW Bush, at the age of 94. Earlier on in the summit, emerging economies denounced protectionism.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 869, "answer_end": 2665, "text": "Mr Trump and Mr Xi held a \"highly successful meeting\", the White House says in a statement. It says the US tariffs on Chinese goods will remain unchanged for 90 days, but warns: \"If at the end of this period of time, the parties are unable to reach an agreement, the 10 percent tariffs will be raised to 25 percent.\" The US says China agreed to \"purchase a not yet agreed upon, but very substantial, amount of agricultural, energy, industrial, and other products from the United States to reduce the trade imbalance between our two countries\". Both sides also pledged to \"immediately begin negotiations on structural changes with respect to forced technology transfer, intellectual property protection, non-tariff barriers, cyber intrusions and cyber theft\", the White House says. President Trump said earlier this year he wanted to stop the \"unfair transfers of American technology and intellectual property to China\". According to the US, China has also signalled it will allow a tie-up between two major semiconductor manufacturers which Chinese regulators have been blocking. The White House statement said China was \"open to approving the previously unapproved Qualcomm-NXP deal\". Qualcomm - the world's biggest chipmaker - had abandoned its $44bn bid for Dutch rival NXP Semiconductors after Chinese opposition. The US also says Beijing agreed to designate Fentanyl as a controlled substance. The opioid - much of it thought to be made in China - is driving a huge rise in drug addiction in the US. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi told reporters after the talks that \"the principal agreement has effectively prevented further expansion of economic friction between the two countries\". He hailed \"new space for win-win co-operation\", while Chinese state TV said negotiations would continue."}], "question": "What are the details of the US-China accord?", "id": "85_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2666, "answer_end": 3068, "text": "Both sides have imposed tariffs on billions of dollars' worth of goods. The US has hit $250bn of Chinese goods with tariffs since July, and China has retaliated by imposing duties on $110bn of US products. Mr Trump had also said that if talks in Argentina were unsuccessful, he would carry out a threat to hit the remaining $267bn of annual Chinese exports to the US with tariffs of between 10 and 25%."}], "question": "What's the background to the trade war?", "id": "85_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3227, "answer_end": 3511, "text": "Returning from the G20 summit on Air Force One, Mr Trump told reporters \"it's an incredible deal\" that would have an \"incredibly positive impact on farming\". \"What I'd be doing is holding back on tariffs. China will be opening up. China will be getting rid of tariffs,\" Mr Trump said."}], "question": "How did Trump sum up the talks?", "id": "85_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 5195, "answer_end": 5898, "text": "French leader Emmanuel Macron told reporters that the World Trade Organization, the body that regulates trade disputes, needed to be modernised. A senior US official told Reuters that it was the first time that the G20 had recognised that the WTO was \"currently falling short of meeting its objectives\" and needed reform. On Friday Mr Trump briefly met Russian President Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of the G20, a Russian official told Reuters. Earlier the US president said he had postponed a planned press conference \"out of respect for the Bush family\", following the death of former President George HW Bush, at the age of 94. Earlier on in the summit, emerging economies denounced protectionism."}], "question": "What else happened in Buenos Aires?", "id": "85_3"}]}]}, {"title": "Why did a boys' school tell women what to wear?", "date": "16 September 2016", "paragraphs": [{"context": "A poster outside a Sri Lankan boys' school telling women what to wear is generating heated debate on social media. The BBC's Ayeshea Perera explains why people in the capital Colombo are so outraged. At first glance, you would be forgiven for thinking it was a page from a cheap fashion magazine. The poster on display outside St Joseph's College - one of Colombo's elite private schools - has no text of any sort. Instead it shows 16 pictures of women in a variety of outfits, with tick marks against half and crosses against the rest. No, it's not a crash course in what is and is not fashionable in Colombo right now. Instead, it's a notice to women about what they can and cannot wear when they enter school premises to meet teachers, or pick their children up from inside the school. Traditional saris are allowed, as are apparently baggy shapeless dresses and what look suspiciously like hospital scrubs. On the \"not allowed\" list are strappy tops, mini skirts and anything without sleeves. The furore began after a former St Joseph's student put a picture of the poster on Facebook. A member of the administrative staff at St Joseph's confirmed the strict dress code for women entering the school premises. \"If they want to come into the school they have to be dressed appropriately,\" the staff member told the BBC. Tips for politicians who tell women what to wear Dressing the Indian woman through history And it's not just St Joseph's. Another leading private school in Colombo, St Peter's College, confirmed it has a similar notice outside its gates. \"This is a boy's school after all and we have a notice so that women know what they should and should not be wearing,\" an office member said, adding that women who did not adhere to the dress code were turned away. Many of the responses to the poster were of outrage. \"Well done...We are now properly regressing,\" read one comment, while someone else suggested that all the female staff and mothers of students turn up in \"male national sarong dress or swimwear\" in protest. Some parents noted that many other schools, including \"international schools\", were also in the habit of turning away women in sleeveless clothes despite not having put up posters about it. Others commented on the irony of forbidding strappy tops and sleeveless clothing when the sari - right on top of the \"approved\" set of clothing - traditionally showed off a woman's midriff. \"So no jeans? No tights? No sleeveless? But midriff bearing saree is okay. Not that it matters that it's midriff bearing. But who gets to decide that arms are more offensive? Or that pants are better than jeans? Also, do they realize we live in a tropical country? Moreover, where is the board for dads?\"  wrote Vraie Cally in a Facebook post. While dress codes for women entering boy's schools is common in government-run schools - they can wear only saris - the imposition of one in private schools like St Peter's and St Joseph's is a recent phenomenon. There were certainly no such posters at these schools when I was a student in Sri Lanka 16 years ago. When my mother would visit she would wear formal Western clothing, including skirts that were either knee length or a little shorter - outfits that are likely to be on the wrong side of this new dress code. It's difficult to say why the school authorities have suddenly seen a need to tell women visiting their schools what they should and should not be wearing. One reason could be a rise of conservative values in Colombo due to the expansion of the middle class in the city, which means that these private schools are now open to people of more traditional backgrounds. There is also definitely a sense that there has been an upsurge of conservative values in Sri Lanka, particularly since the end of the civil war in 2009. Apart from the rise of more nationalistic politicians and parties, there has also been some \"dismay\" at the behaviour of modern women in Colombo. Most memorably, this was demonstrated by Sri Lanka's President Maithripala Sirisena who said that the organisers of an Enrique Iglesias concert should be \"whipped\" over the behaviour of some female fans. A teacher at a girl's school in Colombo who declined to be named told the BBC that she felt the dress code was needed because \"a lot of parents, particularly young mothers today wear inappropriate clothing to boy's schools\". While she thought the method of telling parents what to wear and not wear was objectionable, she said she understood the rationale behind the poster. \"These are boys who are segregated after all and there have been behavioural problems especially among older students towards and with young parents,\" she said. There were a number of others who also defended the motive behind the notice. \"While I'm not an expert to provide a psychoanalytical viewpoint on this, my own personal experience comes from being in a boys-only school with 6,000 other boys,\" said Fawaz Mulafer. \"All I can say is that you shouldn't underestimate the power of repressed, raging hormones.\" But many more said that this was hardly the way to counter already regressive attitudes towards women, and the problem is certainly not with how women dress but how men behave. Thushanti Ponweera, a young mother, said she found the notice \"depressing\". \"Unless we, as the guardians of the next generation, are changing the way we think, the future seems very bleak. Choosing a school with no such impositions doesn't mean the impositions won't continue to exist, and that is the real problem,\" she said.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1776, "answer_end": 2759, "text": "Many of the responses to the poster were of outrage. \"Well done...We are now properly regressing,\" read one comment, while someone else suggested that all the female staff and mothers of students turn up in \"male national sarong dress or swimwear\" in protest. Some parents noted that many other schools, including \"international schools\", were also in the habit of turning away women in sleeveless clothes despite not having put up posters about it. Others commented on the irony of forbidding strappy tops and sleeveless clothing when the sari - right on top of the \"approved\" set of clothing - traditionally showed off a woman's midriff. \"So no jeans? No tights? No sleeveless? But midriff bearing saree is okay. Not that it matters that it's midriff bearing. But who gets to decide that arms are more offensive? Or that pants are better than jeans? Also, do they realize we live in a tropical country? Moreover, where is the board for dads?\"  wrote Vraie Cally in a Facebook post."}], "question": "What about midriffs?", "id": "86_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Saudi princess sentenced for plumber kidnapping in Paris", "date": "12 September 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "A Saudi princess has received a 10-month suspended sentence over the beating and kidnapping of a plumber in her luxury Paris apartment. Hassa bint Salman is the 43-year-old sister of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, and daughter of King Salman. She is accused of telling her bodyguard to beat up a plumber who allegedly took photos inside her home. Ashraf Eid said the guard bound him and forced him to kiss the princess's feet. On Thursday, a French court found the princess guilty of complicity to violence with a weapon and complicity to kidnap. The princess - who was the subject of an international arrest warrant and was tried in absentia - was also ordered to pay a 10,000 euro (PS8,900) fine. She has previously denied the charges against her. Her bodyguard, Rani Saidi, received an eight-month suspended sentence and a 5,000 euro (PS4,460) fine. After the trial Princess Hassa's French lawyer, Emmanuel Moyne, said the plumber's allegations were \"fanciful\", and said they would launch an appeal. In September 2016, Mr Eid was called to the fifth floor of the luxury apartment block on Avenue Foch in the French capital to fix a damaged wash basin. The Egyptian workman said he took photos of the bathroom which he needed for his work. But the princess was allegedly enraged to see her reflection captured in the mirror. The indictment said she called Mr Saidi who then beat and bound Mr Eid. The plumber said he was forced to kiss her feet and was not allowed to leave for several hours. At one point the princess allegedly yelled: \"Kill him, the dog, he doesn't deserve to live.\" Mr Saidi told the court in July he heard the princess cry for help and rushed in to see her and Mr Eid gripping the phone. \"I seized (him) and overpowered him, I didn't know what he was after,\" he said, and suggested the plumber wanted to sell the images. Taking photos of the princess is illegal under Saudi law. Defence lawyers had questioned why Mr Eid returned to the residence in the following days with a bill for 21,000 euros. In Saudi state media, Princess Hassa is hailed for her charity work and advocacy for women's rights. She is reported to have left France shortly after the incident. The princess had been questioned about the allegations. A French judge issued an arrested warrant in March 2018, forcing her to stay in Saudi Arabia. Her lawyer reportedly said during the trial that she had offered to appear in court via Skype.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1012, "answer_end": 2030, "text": "In September 2016, Mr Eid was called to the fifth floor of the luxury apartment block on Avenue Foch in the French capital to fix a damaged wash basin. The Egyptian workman said he took photos of the bathroom which he needed for his work. But the princess was allegedly enraged to see her reflection captured in the mirror. The indictment said she called Mr Saidi who then beat and bound Mr Eid. The plumber said he was forced to kiss her feet and was not allowed to leave for several hours. At one point the princess allegedly yelled: \"Kill him, the dog, he doesn't deserve to live.\" Mr Saidi told the court in July he heard the princess cry for help and rushed in to see her and Mr Eid gripping the phone. \"I seized (him) and overpowered him, I didn't know what he was after,\" he said, and suggested the plumber wanted to sell the images. Taking photos of the princess is illegal under Saudi law. Defence lawyers had questioned why Mr Eid returned to the residence in the following days with a bill for 21,000 euros."}], "question": "What happened?", "id": "87_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2031, "answer_end": 2440, "text": "In Saudi state media, Princess Hassa is hailed for her charity work and advocacy for women's rights. She is reported to have left France shortly after the incident. The princess had been questioned about the allegations. A French judge issued an arrested warrant in March 2018, forcing her to stay in Saudi Arabia. Her lawyer reportedly said during the trial that she had offered to appear in court via Skype."}], "question": "Who is Princess Hassa?", "id": "87_1"}]}]}, {"title": "Climate change: 'Right to repair' gathers force", "date": "9 January 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "It is frustrating: you buy a new appliance then just after the warranty runs out, it gives up the ghost. You can't repair it and can't find anyone else to at a decent price, so it joins the global mountain of junk. You're forced to buy a replacement, which fuels climate change from the greenhouse gases released in the manufacturing process. But help is at hand, because citizens in the EU and parts of the USA will soon get a \"right to repair\" - of sorts. This consists of a series of proposals from European environment ministers to force manufacturers to make goods that last longer and are easier to mend. The European proposals refer to lighting, televisions and large home appliances. At least 18 US states are considering similar laws in a growing backlash against products which can't be prised apart because they're glued together, or which don't have a supply of spare parts, or repair instructions. European environment ministers have a series of proposals forcing manufacturers to make goods that last longer and are easier to mend. The European proposals refer to lighting, televisions and large home appliances. Plans for the EU Ecodesign Directive are complex and controversial. Manufacturers say the proposed rules on repairability are too strict and will stifle innovation. Consumer campaigners complain the EU Commission has allowed firms to keep control of the repair process by insisting some products are mended by professionals under the control of manufacturers. The European Environmental Bureau (EEB) said: \"This restricts the access of independent repairers to spare parts and information - and that limits the scope and affordability of repair services.\" The EEB also wants other products like smart phones and printers included in the legislation. Green groups say legislation under way in Europe and the US represents progress towards saving carbon emissions and using resources more wisely. Libby Peake from the think tank Green Alliance told BBC News: \"The new rules are a definite improvement. We think they could have been better, but it's good news that at last politicians are waking up to an issue that the public have recognised as a problem for a long time. The new rules will benefit the environment and save resources.\" The policies have been driven by some arresting statistics. - One study showed that between 2004 and 2012, the proportion of major household appliances that died within five years rose from 3.5% to 8.3%. - An analysis of junked washing machines at a recycling centre showed that more than 10% were less than five years old. - Another study estimates that because of the CO2 emitted in the manufacturing process, a long-lasting washing machine will generate over two decades 1.1 tonnes less CO2 than a short-lived model. - Many lamps sold in Europe come with individual light bulbs that can't be replaced. So when one bulb packs in, the whole lamp has to be jettisoned. This is no simple question. Resource analysts say, as a rule of thumb, if your current appliance is old and has a very low energy efficiency rating, it can sometimes be better in terms of lifetime CO2 emissions to replace it with a new model rated A or AA. In most other cases it produces fewer emissions sticking with the old model. There's another debate about how readily consumers should be allowed to mend appliances. The Right to Repair movement wants products that can be fully disassembled  and repaired with spare parts and advice supplied by the manufacturer. Some manufacturers fear that bungling DIY repairers will damage the machines they're trying to fix, and potentially render them dangerous. One industry group, Digital Europe, said: \"We understand the political ambition to integrate strict energy and resource efficiency aspects in Ecodesign, but we are concerned that some requirements are either unrealistic or provide no added value. \"The draft regulations limit market access, deviate from internationally-recognised best practices and compromise intellectual property.\" What should I do with my broken kettle? The British government has welcomed the new rules and will almost certainly need to replicate them if UK firms are to export to Europe. Environment Minister Therese Coffey told BBC News resource efficiency was \"key to improving our productivity and making best use of precious resources\". \"That is why we are supporting measures in the new Ecodesign Directive product regulations to encourage repair and re-use of a range of products.\" This is a very different tone from the one adopted by critics of the EU's previous initiatives on energy efficiency. There were warnings that forcing vacuum cleaners to use less power would leave Britain's floors dirty. It transpired that the rules had forced manufacturers to make new cleaners that cleaned equally well - but using less power, thanks to better floorhead design. Follow Roger on Twitter @rharrabin", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 911, "answer_end": 1776, "text": "European environment ministers have a series of proposals forcing manufacturers to make goods that last longer and are easier to mend. The European proposals refer to lighting, televisions and large home appliances. Plans for the EU Ecodesign Directive are complex and controversial. Manufacturers say the proposed rules on repairability are too strict and will stifle innovation. Consumer campaigners complain the EU Commission has allowed firms to keep control of the repair process by insisting some products are mended by professionals under the control of manufacturers. The European Environmental Bureau (EEB) said: \"This restricts the access of independent repairers to spare parts and information - and that limits the scope and affordability of repair services.\" The EEB also wants other products like smart phones and printers included in the legislation."}], "question": "How will the Right to Repair happen?", "id": "88_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2261, "answer_end": 2929, "text": "The policies have been driven by some arresting statistics. - One study showed that between 2004 and 2012, the proportion of major household appliances that died within five years rose from 3.5% to 8.3%. - An analysis of junked washing machines at a recycling centre showed that more than 10% were less than five years old. - Another study estimates that because of the CO2 emitted in the manufacturing process, a long-lasting washing machine will generate over two decades 1.1 tonnes less CO2 than a short-lived model. - Many lamps sold in Europe come with individual light bulbs that can't be replaced. So when one bulb packs in, the whole lamp has to be jettisoned."}], "question": "What has driven the changes?", "id": "88_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2930, "answer_end": 4063, "text": "This is no simple question. Resource analysts say, as a rule of thumb, if your current appliance is old and has a very low energy efficiency rating, it can sometimes be better in terms of lifetime CO2 emissions to replace it with a new model rated A or AA. In most other cases it produces fewer emissions sticking with the old model. There's another debate about how readily consumers should be allowed to mend appliances. The Right to Repair movement wants products that can be fully disassembled  and repaired with spare parts and advice supplied by the manufacturer. Some manufacturers fear that bungling DIY repairers will damage the machines they're trying to fix, and potentially render them dangerous. One industry group, Digital Europe, said: \"We understand the political ambition to integrate strict energy and resource efficiency aspects in Ecodesign, but we are concerned that some requirements are either unrealistic or provide no added value. \"The draft regulations limit market access, deviate from internationally-recognised best practices and compromise intellectual property.\" What should I do with my broken kettle?"}], "question": "Isn't it better to scrap an old appliance and buy a more efficient one?", "id": "88_2"}]}]}, {"title": "MRSA link to baby's death investigated", "date": "23 October 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "A baby's death following an outbreak of MRSA in a neonatal unit is being investigated by the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust. The BBC understands that while the bacteria was not a direct cause of the baby's death it is being connected. A second baby, who was found to have the same strain of the bacteria, has since recovered. The outbreak happened at the Royal Jubilee Maternity Hospital in Belfast in the summer. The death has been reported as a serious adverse incident and the coroner has been notified. It is understood that the health trust is struggling to find a cause for the outbreak and is continuing to test staff and members of the public who are in contact with the unit. An MRSA-related death in a neo-natal unit is highly unusual. A spokesperson for the trust has said it is currently managing an infection outbreak that occurred in the summer and involved two babies. \"We would like to reassure the families of our patients, as well as the wider public, that the situation is being appropriately managed,\" the spokesperson said. The trust has said a number of deep cleans have been carried out in the unit. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA) is a bacterium that causes infections in different parts of the body. It is tougher to treat than most strains of staphylococcus aureus -- or staph -- because it is resistant to some commonly-used antibiotics. It is commonly found on human skin and the site in which it may be most often found is the nose. Approximately one in three humans carry this organism harmlessly. The BBC understands that the trust contacted the coroner a few days after the baby's death as test results confirmed that MRSA had been detected. The baby's death certificate had already been completed. When the same strain of MRSA is detected twice it is health policy to declare an outbreak. A serious adverse incident is defined as any event or circumstance that led or could have led to serious unintended or unexpected harm, loss or damage to patients. The spokesperson added: \"Robust infection prevention and control measures are in place in the unit and every precaution is being taken. \"Visitors to the neonatal unit can help us to prevent the spread of infection by being diligent in relation to hand hygiene.\"", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1129, "answer_end": 1552, "text": "Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA) is a bacterium that causes infections in different parts of the body. It is tougher to treat than most strains of staphylococcus aureus -- or staph -- because it is resistant to some commonly-used antibiotics. It is commonly found on human skin and the site in which it may be most often found is the nose. Approximately one in three humans carry this organism harmlessly."}], "question": "What is MRSA?", "id": "89_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Trump ends ex-CIA head John Brennan's security access", "date": "16 August 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Donald Trump has revoked the security clearance of ex-CIA chief John Brennan, denying the US president's critic any access to sensitive information. White House press secretary Sarah Sanders announced the decision by reading a statement from Mr Trump. The statement cited Mr Brennan's \"erratic conduct and behaviour\". In response, Mr Brennan tweeted that the move was part of President Trump's broader effort to \"suppress freedom of speech and punish critics\". \"It should gravely worry all Americans, including intelligence professionals, about the cost of speaking out. \"My principles are worth far more than clearances. I will not relent.\" Mr Brennan earlier said Mr Trump's performance at a briefing after July's summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Helsinki had been \"nothing short of treasonous\". And last year, Mr Brennan said an investigation into possible collusion between Trump campaign officials and Russia during the US presidential elections in 2016 had been \"well-founded\". President Trump has repeatedly denied the claim, calling it \"witch hunt\". Later on Wednesday in an interview with the Wall Street Journal, Mr Trump said he would have revoked Mr Brennan's clearance last week but it was \"too hectic\". \"As the head of the executive branch and commander-in-chief, I have a unique constitutional responsibility to protect the nation's classified information, including by controlling access to it. \"I have decided to revoke the security clearance of John Brennan, former director of the Central Intelligence Agency. \"Historically, former heads of intelligence and law enforcement agencies have been allowed to retain access to classified information after their government service so that they can consult with their successors, regarding matters about which they may have special insights and as a professional courtesy. \"Neither of these justifications supports Mr Brennan's continued access to classified information.\" The statement added that Mr Trump was also reviewing access to classified information for former FBI chief James Comey, whom he fired last year, former director of national intelligence James Clapper, former National Security Agency director Michael Hayden and former attorney general Sally Yates, among others. James Comey called the president \"morally unfit\" to lead. His memoir, A Higher Loyalty, likened Mr Trump to a mob boss. In response to Mr Brennan losing his clearance, Mr Comey said in a statement: \"Once again this president is sending a message that he will punish people who disagree with him and reward those who praise him.\" He added that \"security clearances should not be used as pawns in a petty political game to distract voters from even bigger problems\". Mr Comey also said the president \"lies to the American people every day, encourages racism, is a misogynist, and always puts his own interests\" first. James Clapper said the Watergate scandal \"pales in comparison\" to the Russia collusion inquiry dogging the Trump presidency. In a naked jab at the Trump administration, Michael Hayden tweeted a photo in June of a Nazi death camp with the caption: \"Other governments have separated mothers and children.\" Analysis by BBC's North America editor Jon Sopel John Brennan has been an outspoken critic of the president. He called Donald Trump treasonous over his meeting with the Russian leader in Helsinki; he's called him imbecilic; and a danger to the US. Now Donald Trump has had his revenge, revoking the former CIA chief's security clearance - and threatening a number of other national intelligence officials - all of whom have one thing in common: they've also been critical of the president. But in justifying this move there's been no suggestion that Mr Brennan either leaked classified material or sought to make money from it. Instead the White House statement spoke of Mr Brennan's \"erratic behaviour\", \"wild outbursts\" and \"frenzied commentary\". The decision by the president was apparently taken without consulting his director of national intelligence, Dan Coats. And the move has brought criticism. Former Secretary of State John Kerry said the president was behaving like the ruler of a banana republic. Others have said Mr Trump is trying to shut up critics. The timing is also noteworthy. The White House has been buffeted for days by claims from a disaffected former adviser to the president. Closing arguments in the trial of Donald Trump's former campaign manager, Paul Manafort, are also being heard. The White House briefing where this was announced hadn't been scheduled. It looks like a concerted effort to change the subject.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1232, "answer_end": 2261, "text": "\"As the head of the executive branch and commander-in-chief, I have a unique constitutional responsibility to protect the nation's classified information, including by controlling access to it. \"I have decided to revoke the security clearance of John Brennan, former director of the Central Intelligence Agency. \"Historically, former heads of intelligence and law enforcement agencies have been allowed to retain access to classified information after their government service so that they can consult with their successors, regarding matters about which they may have special insights and as a professional courtesy. \"Neither of these justifications supports Mr Brennan's continued access to classified information.\" The statement added that Mr Trump was also reviewing access to classified information for former FBI chief James Comey, whom he fired last year, former director of national intelligence James Clapper, former National Security Agency director Michael Hayden and former attorney general Sally Yates, among others."}], "question": "What did Trump's statement say exactly?", "id": "90_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2262, "answer_end": 3181, "text": "James Comey called the president \"morally unfit\" to lead. His memoir, A Higher Loyalty, likened Mr Trump to a mob boss. In response to Mr Brennan losing his clearance, Mr Comey said in a statement: \"Once again this president is sending a message that he will punish people who disagree with him and reward those who praise him.\" He added that \"security clearances should not be used as pawns in a petty political game to distract voters from even bigger problems\". Mr Comey also said the president \"lies to the American people every day, encourages racism, is a misogynist, and always puts his own interests\" first. James Clapper said the Watergate scandal \"pales in comparison\" to the Russia collusion inquiry dogging the Trump presidency. In a naked jab at the Trump administration, Michael Hayden tweeted a photo in June of a Nazi death camp with the caption: \"Other governments have separated mothers and children.\""}], "question": "What have they said?", "id": "90_1"}]}]}, {"title": "Trump criticises Obama over US 2016 election hack", "date": "14 July 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "US President Donald Trump has criticised the administration of his predecessor Barack Obama over alleged Russian hacking to help him win the 2016 presidential election. \"Why didn't they do something about it?\" he tweeted, adding that Mr Obama had been told about it before the vote. It follows pressure on Mr Trump to cancel Monday's talks with Russia's Vladimir Putin following the indictment of  12 Russians on Friday. Russia denies allegations of hacking. Mr Trump is due to meet Mr Putin in the Finnish capital Helsinki. Russia said it was looking forward to the meeting. \"We consider Trump a negotiating partner,\" said Kremlin adviser Yuri Ushakov. \"The state of bilateral relations is very bad. We have to start to set them right.\" However the hacking allegations have sparked a heated war of words between Washington and Moscow. US Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein insisted that \"the goal of the conspirators was to have an impact on the election\". But Russia's foreign ministry said the claims were a \"heap of conspiracy schemes\" intended to \"damage the atmosphere\" before Monday's summit. It said there was no evidence linking any of the dozen officials to hacking or military intelligence. The 11-count indictment names the Russians defendants, alleging they began cyber-attacks in March 2016 on the email accounts of staff for Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign. They are accused of using keystroke reading software to spy on the chair of the Democratic National Committee (DNC) and hack into the party's computers. Mr Rosenstein said the conspirators used fictitious online personas, including \"DCLeaks\" and \"Guccifer 2.0\", to release thousands of stolen emails. They are also accused of stealing the data of half a million voters from a state election board website. During a joint news conference with UK Prime Minister Theresa May on Friday, Mr Trump said he would \"absolutely\" ask the Russian president about alleged election meddling. But top Democrats have urged him to cancel the planned summit altogether following the indictment. \"President Trump should absolutely cancel this meeting with Putin on Monday,\" said DNC chairman Tom Perez. \"He is not a friend of the United States.\" \"President Trump should cancel his meeting with Vladimir Putin until Russia takes demonstrable and transparent steps to prove that they won't interfere in future elections,\" said Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer. On the Republican side, Senator John McCain said the summit \"should not move forward\" unless the president \"is prepared to hold Putin accountable\". Special Counsel Robert Mueller is investigating US intelligence findings that Russians conspired to sway the 2016 election in Mr Trump's favour. As of Friday, the inquiry has indicted 32 people - mostly Russian nationals in absentia - as well as three companies and four former Trump advisers. None of the charges allege Trump advisers colluded with Russia to interfere with the presidential campaign. Former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn and George Papadopoulos, a former foreign policy adviser, have pleaded guilty to making false statements about their contacts with Russians. Former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort and his deputy Rick Gates were charged with money laundering relating to their political consultancy work in Ukraine.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1206, "answer_end": 1790, "text": "The 11-count indictment names the Russians defendants, alleging they began cyber-attacks in March 2016 on the email accounts of staff for Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign. They are accused of using keystroke reading software to spy on the chair of the Democratic National Committee (DNC) and hack into the party's computers. Mr Rosenstein said the conspirators used fictitious online personas, including \"DCLeaks\" and \"Guccifer 2.0\", to release thousands of stolen emails. They are also accused of stealing the data of half a million voters from a state election board website."}], "question": "What are the allegations?", "id": "91_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1791, "answer_end": 2578, "text": "During a joint news conference with UK Prime Minister Theresa May on Friday, Mr Trump said he would \"absolutely\" ask the Russian president about alleged election meddling. But top Democrats have urged him to cancel the planned summit altogether following the indictment. \"President Trump should absolutely cancel this meeting with Putin on Monday,\" said DNC chairman Tom Perez. \"He is not a friend of the United States.\" \"President Trump should cancel his meeting with Vladimir Putin until Russia takes demonstrable and transparent steps to prove that they won't interfere in future elections,\" said Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer. On the Republican side, Senator John McCain said the summit \"should not move forward\" unless the president \"is prepared to hold Putin accountable\"."}], "question": "What pressure is there to cancel the talks?", "id": "91_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2579, "answer_end": 3331, "text": "Special Counsel Robert Mueller is investigating US intelligence findings that Russians conspired to sway the 2016 election in Mr Trump's favour. As of Friday, the inquiry has indicted 32 people - mostly Russian nationals in absentia - as well as three companies and four former Trump advisers. None of the charges allege Trump advisers colluded with Russia to interfere with the presidential campaign. Former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn and George Papadopoulos, a former foreign policy adviser, have pleaded guilty to making false statements about their contacts with Russians. Former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort and his deputy Rick Gates were charged with money laundering relating to their political consultancy work in Ukraine."}], "question": "What's the big picture?", "id": "91_2"}]}]}, {"title": "Dublin Airport 'runway parrot' reunited with owner", "date": "22 February 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "A parrot that attempted to take off from the main runway at Dublin Airport has been reunited with its owner. The African grey female named Hugo was spotted taxiing for flight by a firefighter who was carrying out a routine safety inspection on Sunday. Eagle-eyed Craig Wade said when he saw the bird, it was \"obvious that she was a pet\". The breed is among the most intelligent animals to be kept as a pet and can live for up to 60 years. \"A live runway wasn't a safe place for her so after some difficulty we eventually coaxed her into a makeshift carrier made from a cardboard box,\" added Mr Wade. The pretty polly was then taken to the airport's fire station where she was cared for by an expert. Dublin Airport tweeted that it was looking for her owner. It received calls from four people who claimed to own Hugo, each of whom was unable to provide the unique identification number engraved on a metal ring attached to the bird's ankle. But the mystery was soon resolved thanks to a little help from a German supermarket chain. Lidl Ireland replied to Dublin Airport on Twitter, saying: \"Guys this is going to sound unbelievable but there's a 'Missing Parrot' poster in one of our stores. \"So we called the number to check and it's his parrot!\" it added. Lubomir Michna, who lives in Finglas in Dublin but is originally from Slovakia, was the mystery man behind the supermarket poster. He said he could prove that the African grey - a breed best known for its ability to copy words - was his and he had taught it some Slovak sayings. Mr Michna sent an audio recording, which was played Hugo and \"she instantly reacted\", said Dan Donoher, who looked after the pet before the reunion. Hugo had escaped through a door which had been mistakenly left open in Mr Michna's house on Saturday. Mr Donoher said there was \"no doubt in my mind that Lubomir was her rightful owner\". \"As soon as the carrier opened, Hugo jumped onto Lubomir's arm and cuddled into his neck,\" he added. \"You could see they have a really close bond, it was lovely.\"", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 941, "answer_end": 2036, "text": "But the mystery was soon resolved thanks to a little help from a German supermarket chain. Lidl Ireland replied to Dublin Airport on Twitter, saying: \"Guys this is going to sound unbelievable but there's a 'Missing Parrot' poster in one of our stores. \"So we called the number to check and it's his parrot!\" it added. Lubomir Michna, who lives in Finglas in Dublin but is originally from Slovakia, was the mystery man behind the supermarket poster. He said he could prove that the African grey - a breed best known for its ability to copy words - was his and he had taught it some Slovak sayings. Mr Michna sent an audio recording, which was played Hugo and \"she instantly reacted\", said Dan Donoher, who looked after the pet before the reunion. Hugo had escaped through a door which had been mistakenly left open in Mr Michna's house on Saturday. Mr Donoher said there was \"no doubt in my mind that Lubomir was her rightful owner\". \"As soon as the carrier opened, Hugo jumped onto Lubomir's arm and cuddled into his neck,\" he added. \"You could see they have a really close bond, it was lovely.\""}], "question": "Who's a clever girl then?", "id": "92_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Queen's Speech 2017: Lettings fees to be banned", "date": "21 June 2017", "paragraphs": [{"context": "More than six months after first suggesting the idea, the government has announced plans to ban fees to lettings agents in England. A new Tenants' Fees Bill was announced in the Queen's Speech, which will stop tenants having to pay money to agents. The commitment was announced by the Conservatives in the 2016 Autumn Statement. ARLA Propertymark, which represents letting agents, said the new rules would cost 4,000 jobs. However the measure is likely to pass into law, as all the main parties had it in their election manifestos. The average amount paid in fees is currently PS223, according to government figures. The chancellor, Philip Hammond, previously said that 4.3m households pay such fees every year. However, the housing charity Shelter found that one in seven renters pays more than PS500, and tenants in London have complained about fees of up to PS2,000. The fees are for taking references, getting credit checks, or investigating immigration status. When the bill becomes law, landlords will have to find the money to pay for such fees themselves. ARLA Propertymark said that as a result landlords would lose PS300m, and would be likely to increase rents. \"A ban on letting agent fees will cost the sector jobs, make buy-to-let investment even less attractive, and ultimately result in the costs being passed on to tenants,\" said David Cox, the organisation's chief executive. Letting agents' fees are already banned in Scotland. The new bill will also allow tenants to recover any fees that have been charged unlawfully. In addition the government said it will make the process more transparent, as renters are currently charged varying amounts. However, lettings agents in England and Wales are already legally required to publicise their rates. Research by Citizens' Advice found that 42% of people paying letting agents' fees had to borrow money to pay them. A government spokesperson said a draft bill will be published \"later this year\".", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 966, "answer_end": 1537, "text": "When the bill becomes law, landlords will have to find the money to pay for such fees themselves. ARLA Propertymark said that as a result landlords would lose PS300m, and would be likely to increase rents. \"A ban on letting agent fees will cost the sector jobs, make buy-to-let investment even less attractive, and ultimately result in the costs being passed on to tenants,\" said David Cox, the organisation's chief executive. Letting agents' fees are already banned in Scotland. The new bill will also allow tenants to recover any fees that have been charged unlawfully."}], "question": "Higher rents?", "id": "93_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Macron: French baguettes should be Unesco-listed treasures", "date": "13 January 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "The French baguette should be listed as a Unesco cultural treasure, says France's President Emmanuel Macron. \"The baguette is the envy of the whole world,\" he said, in support of a national bakers' association that is promoting the application. The bakers have been inspired by the success of Italy's Naples pizza, which was protected by the UN's cultural body last year. Unesco's list aims to save traditions from globalisation. The Committee for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage meets annually to evaluate nominations from around the world. The bakers say it is not just the name and shape, but the recipe and ingredients that need to be enshrined. \"Excellence and expertise must be preserved, and that is why it should be heritage-listed,\" President Macron told French radio after receiving a group of master bakers at the Elysee presidential palace in Paris on Friday. Artisan breadmakers have voiced concern about mass-produced imitations. \"When I see the quality of bread in supermarkets, it is impossible not to get angry,\" Dominique Anract, president of the National Confederation of French Patisseries and Bakeries (CNPBF), told food website Atabula. \"The bread is frozen, some of it comes from Romania or who knows where, nothing is carried out in accordance of the rules of the art.\" The traditional baguette is already protected in France by a 1993 law. To meet the criteria, the bread must only be made from four ingredients: wheat flour, water, yeast and salt. It cannot be frozen or contain added preservatives. Unesco's Lists of Intangible Cultural Heritage is different from its register of places, known as World Heritage Sites. Instead, this list focuses on traditions - mostly crafts, music, dance and cuisine. Yoga, Spanish flamenco and Tibetan Opera have already made the grade, as have Belgian beer culture and the gingerbread craft of northern Croatia. France has already racked up multiple successful applications, from Alencon lace-making to French-style equitation. There is even a broadly termed listing for the \"French gastronomic meal\". That submission was centred mostly around the rituals that accompany the cuisine: how wines are paired with dishes, how the table is dressed, and the precise placing of glasses and cutlery. The UK does not have any entries on the list. It is one of few countries in the world that has not signed up to the \"safeguarding intangible heritage\" convention, which was established in 2003.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 559, "answer_end": 1542, "text": "The bakers say it is not just the name and shape, but the recipe and ingredients that need to be enshrined. \"Excellence and expertise must be preserved, and that is why it should be heritage-listed,\" President Macron told French radio after receiving a group of master bakers at the Elysee presidential palace in Paris on Friday. Artisan breadmakers have voiced concern about mass-produced imitations. \"When I see the quality of bread in supermarkets, it is impossible not to get angry,\" Dominique Anract, president of the National Confederation of French Patisseries and Bakeries (CNPBF), told food website Atabula. \"The bread is frozen, some of it comes from Romania or who knows where, nothing is carried out in accordance of the rules of the art.\" The traditional baguette is already protected in France by a 1993 law. To meet the criteria, the bread must only be made from four ingredients: wheat flour, water, yeast and salt. It cannot be frozen or contain added preservatives."}], "question": "Why do the French think this is necessary?", "id": "94_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Viktor Orban: Hungary PM re-elected for third term", "date": "9 April 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Hungary's right-wing Prime Minister Viktor Orban has claimed a landslide victory in Sunday's general election. The 54-year-old will serve a third consecutive term in office, with his party Fidesz projected to win a two-thirds majority in parliament. Fidesz won almost half of the vote, with 93% of ballots counted, Hungary's National Election Office said. Mr Orban is a strong Eurosceptic who campaigned on an anti-immigration platform. In a speech to supporters on Sunday night, Mr Orban said his victory gave Hungarians \"the opportunity to defend themselves and to defend Hungary\". Leaders of the second and third-placed parties have resigned in light of the result. Polling stations were meant to close at 19:00 (17:00 GMT), but some stayed open hours later due to long queues. Voter turnout reached a near-record 69% - an outcome some believed would favour the prime minister's opponents. But with almost all votes counted, the nationalist Jobbik party is in second place with 20% of the vote. The Socialists are in third with 12%, and the LMP, Hungary's main Green Party, is in fourth with 7%. Jobbik's chairman Gabor Vona stood down on Sunday night, telling a news conference: \"Jobbik's goal, to win the elections and force a change in government, was not achieved. Fidesz won. It won again.\" Socialist Party President Gyula Molnar was similarly downcast as he resigned, saying: \"We regard ourselves as responsible for what happened [and] we have acknowledged the decision of voters.\" By the BBC's Budapest Correspondent Nick Thorpe As Fidesz paints the map of Hungary orange (their colour) once again, preliminary results show they will reach the 133 seats in the 199 seat Parliament needed for a constitutional two-thirds majority. They won two-thirds victories at both previous elections, in 2010 and 2014. The prime minister's party won in most rural constituencies and in provincial towns, while opposition parties took most seats in the capital, Budapest. Mr Orban's legitimacy on a European level will likely be strengthened, as nationalist parties across the continent take heart from his victory. There were only two consolation prizes for anti-Fidesz voters: most constituencies in the capital, Budapest, went to opposition candidates. And Fidesz have also lost a large part of the youth vote. The next Fidesz government can be expected to include younger ministers, in an attempt to address this problem. The result spells trouble ahead for civil society groups which campaign for human rights and against corruption, and for critical media. Viktor Orban has promised a \"settling of accounts - moral, politically, and legally\" with his opponents. The election campaign was dominated by immigration, with Mr Orban promising to defend the country's borders and block migration by Muslims. The prime minister refused to debate publicly with his opponents or speak to the independent media, speaking instead at rallies for his supporters. These addresses focused on one core policy - stopping immigration. \"Migration is like rust that slowly but surely would consume Hungary,\" Mr Orban said at his final rally on Friday. In 2015, Hungary built a fence along its borders with Serbia and Croatia to stop illegal migrants. Mr Orban is an avowed Eurosceptic who opposes further EU integration. He refused to take part in the EU's refugee resettlement programme and has praised Russian leader Vladimir Putin. Marine Le Pen, leader of France's National Front, tweeted Mr Orban her congratulations and said the \"mass immigration promoted by the EU has been rejected once again\". Mr Orban has promised to cut income taxes and pass pro-growth economic policies. His administration has presided over strong economic growth, which he had argued would be threatened under the opposition.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 669, "answer_end": 1490, "text": "Polling stations were meant to close at 19:00 (17:00 GMT), but some stayed open hours later due to long queues. Voter turnout reached a near-record 69% - an outcome some believed would favour the prime minister's opponents. But with almost all votes counted, the nationalist Jobbik party is in second place with 20% of the vote. The Socialists are in third with 12%, and the LMP, Hungary's main Green Party, is in fourth with 7%. Jobbik's chairman Gabor Vona stood down on Sunday night, telling a news conference: \"Jobbik's goal, to win the elections and force a change in government, was not achieved. Fidesz won. It won again.\" Socialist Party President Gyula Molnar was similarly downcast as he resigned, saying: \"We regard ourselves as responsible for what happened [and] we have acknowledged the decision of voters.\""}], "question": "How did the result play out?", "id": "95_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2664, "answer_end": 3788, "text": "The election campaign was dominated by immigration, with Mr Orban promising to defend the country's borders and block migration by Muslims. The prime minister refused to debate publicly with his opponents or speak to the independent media, speaking instead at rallies for his supporters. These addresses focused on one core policy - stopping immigration. \"Migration is like rust that slowly but surely would consume Hungary,\" Mr Orban said at his final rally on Friday. In 2015, Hungary built a fence along its borders with Serbia and Croatia to stop illegal migrants. Mr Orban is an avowed Eurosceptic who opposes further EU integration. He refused to take part in the EU's refugee resettlement programme and has praised Russian leader Vladimir Putin. Marine Le Pen, leader of France's National Front, tweeted Mr Orban her congratulations and said the \"mass immigration promoted by the EU has been rejected once again\". Mr Orban has promised to cut income taxes and pass pro-growth economic policies. His administration has presided over strong economic growth, which he had argued would be threatened under the opposition."}], "question": "What are Orban's policies?", "id": "95_1"}]}]}, {"title": "EU referendum: Hollande warns of UK exit 'consequences'", "date": "3 March 2016", "paragraphs": [{"context": "French President Francois Hollande has said he wants the UK to stay in the EU - and warned of the \"consequences\" for immigration and the economy of leaving. A French government minister earlier suggested his country could end UK border controls in Calais. Asked whether he would do this, Mr Hollande said: \"I don't want to scare you, I just want to say the truth - there will be consequences.\" Leave campaigners have dismissed the Calais claims as \"scaremongering\". Speaking to reporters at a summit in Northern France, Mr Hollande said: \"There will be consequences if the UK is to leave the EU, there will be consequences in many areas, in the single market, in the financial trade, in development, in the economic development between our two countries. \"It doesn't mean that everything will be destroyed, I don't want to give you catastrophic scenarios, but there will be consequences.\" He said the change would not put the historic relationship between the UK and France in question - but it would have an impact on \"the way we handle the situation in terms of immigration\". Mr Hollande also said unaccompanied children in the Calais refugee camp known as the \"Jungle\" who have relatives in Britain should be \"quickly\" reunited with them. \"When these youngsters have a family tie in the United Kingdom, they should go to the United Kingdom quickly and efficiently,\" said the French president. Prime Minister David Cameron agreed that the system had to work \"better, more speedily\". Mr Cameron announced PS17m to help the French authorities deal with the migrants attempting to get into the UK from Calais and Dunkirk. It will be used for security, shelter for migrants and help with returns. He also announced a PS1.5bn investment in a new phase of building advanced Anglo-French drones. Challenged over Leave campaign claims the Remain camp is relying on \"scare\" tactics, Mr Cameron said: \"When it comes to terrorism, when it comes to security, when it comes to our borders, we are better off, we are stronger inside a reformed EU. \"I will go on making these arguments, drawing on my experience, not making hypothetical claims, dealing with the reality.\" He said voters should heed warnings about the risks of the UK leaving the EU from business and world leaders - and accused Leave campaigners of indulging in \"David Icke-style\" conspiracy theories. France's economy minister Emmanuel Macron earlier sparked a row when he told the Financial Times his country could end UK border controls in Calais. He also said France would limit access to the single market and try to tempt London's bankers to relocate. Conservative MP Bernard Jenkin said \"propaganda\" was \"being produced by other European governments at the request of the prime minister to try to scare people away from voting to leave\". He added: \"We pay a great deal of money into the EU and it subsidises a great deal of French farming.  Surprise surprise, they don't want us to leave the EU. \"But this is a choice for the British people, not for the French government, and actually we're being asked to believe all sorts of ludicrous things.\" The 'Treaty of Le Touquet'  was signed in 2003 by then Home Secretary David Blunkett and his French counterpart Nicolas Sarkozy following riots at the Sangatte migrant camp near Calais. It was meant to ease the pressure on Britain's border force from migrants attempting to board channel tunnel trains. The now defunct Sangatte camp had been set up in 1999 to house thousands of asylum seekers trying to get to the UK through the tunnel. Under the Le Touquet treaty, French border police have immigration checkpoints at Dover, while the UK has immigration checkpoints at Calais and Dunkirk. In theory this stops those seeking to reach the UK from doing so without their immigration status being checked first, but this has led to the establishment of a new generation of camps near Calais. Conservative MP Peter Bone, of the Grassroots Out campaign, said: \"If asylum seekers start arriving at Dover, we will send them straight back. As an independent nation, outside of the EU, we will control our own borders whether the French government likes it or not.\" The agreement between France and the UK that allows the UK to conduct border controls on the French side of the Channel is a bilateral treaty that is not connected to Britain's EU membership. It is meant to stop people from travelling across the Channel without their immigration status being checked - but has led to the establishment of the so-called Jungle camp in Calais, where about 4,000 migrants are thought to be waiting to cross. On Monday, there were clashes as French demolition teams dismantled huts in the Jungle. France could opt to end the border treaty any time - but the country's interior minister Bernard Cazeneuve has said to do so would be \"foolhardy\" and cause \"a humanitarian disaster\". His colleague, economy minister Emmanuel Macron, gave a different view in his FT interview, saying of Britain's EU membership: \"The day this relationship unravels, migrants will no longer be in Calais.\" It follows hotly disputed claims by Mr Cameron that migrant camps could move to England if the UK left the EU. Over the past few weeks, the rhetoric on Calais here has grown louder and more strident. There is pressure from politicians on both the left and the right to tackle the migrant situation in Calais, and those close to government ministers say that includes those in the Cabinet. No one has said that a change in policy is currently being discussed, and newspapers this morning suggest Paris isn't currently counting on ending the Le Touquet agreement, but one source with close ties to the government told me there's real concern than a UK exit from Europe will leave France exposed to legal problems over the right to free movement of people within the EU. Mr Hollande is facing tough opposition from the far right Front National, as he heads towards a presidential election campaign. But shifting the border back onto British soil could end up encouraging migrant flows through France. In his FT interview, Mr Macron also stressed that France would roll out a \"red carpet\" to London's bankers if the UK voted to leave the EU. He said a country leaving the single market would \"not be able to secure the same terms\", and the EU's \"collective energy would be spent on unwinding existing links, not re-creating new ones\".", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 3108, "answer_end": 3897, "text": "The 'Treaty of Le Touquet'  was signed in 2003 by then Home Secretary David Blunkett and his French counterpart Nicolas Sarkozy following riots at the Sangatte migrant camp near Calais. It was meant to ease the pressure on Britain's border force from migrants attempting to board channel tunnel trains. The now defunct Sangatte camp had been set up in 1999 to house thousands of asylum seekers trying to get to the UK through the tunnel. Under the Le Touquet treaty, French border police have immigration checkpoints at Dover, while the UK has immigration checkpoints at Calais and Dunkirk. In theory this stops those seeking to reach the UK from doing so without their immigration status being checked first, but this has led to the establishment of a new generation of camps near Calais."}], "question": "What are the arrangements with France?", "id": "96_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Antibiotic resistance plan to fight 'urgent' global threat", "date": "24 January 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Drug-resistant superbugs are as big a threat as climate change, the health secretary will say as he unveils a new five-year plan to tackle the problem. Overuse of antibiotics is making infections harder to treat and leading to thousands of deaths a year through drug-resistant superbugs. The government plans to change the way it funds drug companies to encourage them to develop new medicines. It is also increasing efforts to cut unnecessary use of the drugs. The government's plan aims to control and contain antimicrobial resistance - a term that covers drug resistance in bacteria, viruses, parasites and other infections - by 2040, and reduce the use of antibiotics in humans by 15% over the next five years. It also plans to cut antibiotic use in animals by 25% from 2016 levels by next year. The drugs advisory body, the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence, and NHS England will also trial a new payment model that means pharmaceutical companies will be paid for drugs based on how valuable the medicines are to the NHS, rather than by the quantity of drugs sold. Health Secretary Matt Hancock, launching the government's 20-year vision at the World Economic Forum at Davos, Switzerland, will say: \"Each and every one of us benefits from antibiotics but we all too easily take them for granted and I shudder at the thought of a world in which their power is diminished. \"Antimicrobial resistance is as big a danger to humanity as climate change or warfare. That's why we need an urgent global response.\" For more than a decade, Catherine Williams has been battling an infection drugs can keep at bay but not defeat. A urinary tract infection (UTI) as a teenager failed to properly respond to antibiotics and has since repeatedly returned, leaving her in serious pain and even requiring hospital treatment. Because the infection was caused by bacteria in her body that are resistant to the main form of antibiotics for UTIs, cephalosporins, and another type, gentamicin, it has never fully cleared. It has meant that the 32-year-old has needed to take antibiotics on and off ever since, just to keep the infection at bay. Some of her infections have been so bad they have required hospital treatment. Physically run-down and emotionally low, Catherine has had to take strong painkillers and steroids for the pain in her bladder. \"It's horrific,\" she said. \"The pain, you're bedbound until you're back on antibiotics and that's frightening, knowing that I have to stay on them to function normally. \"Every time I come off them it comes straight back. \"Why can't they cure something as simple as what I thought was an uncomplicated urine infection in my late teens, which has led to a lifelong hell for me?\" Since 2014, the UK has cut the amount of antibiotics it uses by more than 7% but the number of drug-resistant bloodstream infections increased by 35% from 2013 to 2017. As part of the government's plans, there will be a drive to reduce infections contracted during operations and guidance for clinicians on how to prescribe antibiotics appropriately. Research has previously found that the medicines are often prescribed for conditions that are normally self-healing, such as sore throats, or for viruses, which do not even respond to antibiotics. By 2025, the plans aim to: - cut the number of drug-resistant infections by 5,000 (10%) - be preventing at least 15,000 patients each year from contracting infections as a result of their healthcare Drugs companies are paid for the amount of antibiotics they sell. The government says this has led to a \"market failure\" where companies are incentivised to sell existing antibiotics, rather than innovate and develop new treatments for infections where they are most needed. By changing to a model where companies are paid based on how valuable the medicines are to the NHS, the government hopes companies will start to invest in the development of new, high-priority drugs. Mike Thompson, chief executive of the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry, said pharmaceutical companies were \"ready and waiting\" to start testing the new model to support antibiotics research and development in 2019. He added: \"The UK has shown international leadership in raising the profile of this global health threat and today reinforces its commitment to finding solutions to the issues which have hampered the development of new medicines for so long.\"", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 3478, "answer_end": 3952, "text": "Drugs companies are paid for the amount of antibiotics they sell. The government says this has led to a \"market failure\" where companies are incentivised to sell existing antibiotics, rather than innovate and develop new treatments for infections where they are most needed. By changing to a model where companies are paid based on how valuable the medicines are to the NHS, the government hopes companies will start to invest in the development of new, high-priority drugs."}], "question": "How are companies paid for antibiotics?", "id": "97_0"}]}]}, {"title": "US 'hell-bent' on hostility despite talks, North Korea says", "date": "4 July 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "North Korea has accused the US of being \"hell-bent on hostile acts\", despite a recent agreement between the two countries to resume nuclear talks. Pyongyang's delegation to the United Nations said on Wednesday that the US was \"obsessed with sanctions\". This comes days after the countries' leaders held a historic meeting in the heavily fortified demilitarised zone (DMZ) which divides the two Koreas. Donald Trump became the first sitting US president to set foot in the North. And after talks that lasted for almost an hour, the pair agreed to set up teams to resume stalled negotiations on denuclearisation. But the latest North Korean statement marks a shift in tone and a return to the angry exchanges that have marred relations between the countries in recent times. North Korea also accused Washington of attempting to \"undermine the peaceful atmosphere\" on the Korean peninsula. The North Korean delegation said it was responding to a US allegation that it had breached a cap on refined petroleum imports that was set in 2017. It also said it was responding to a joint letter sent by the US, France, Germany and the UK to all UN member states that called on all countries to comply with sanctions on North Korea, including the repatriation of North Korean workers home. Under UN sanctions imposed in December 2017 after ballistic missiles tests, all North Korean nationals working abroad have to return home by the end of 2019, restricting a vital source of foreign currency. \"What can't be overlooked is the fact that this joint letter game was carried out by the permanent mission of the United States to the UN under the instruction of the state department, on the very same day when President Trump proposed [a] summit meeting,\" the statement read. \"[It] speaks to the reality that the United States is practically more and more hell-bent [on] hostile acts against the DPRK [North Korea].\" \"All UN member states will have to keep vigilance against deliberate attempts by the United States to undermine the peaceful atmosphere that has been created on the Korean Peninsula,\" it said. Pyongyang added that it was \"quite ridiculous\" for the US to view sanctions as a \"panacea for all problems\". The US has yet to respond to the statement. North Korea's harsh language is a powerful corrective to the euphoria prompted by President Trump's brief steps across the DMZ. It's also a reminder, as another phase of diplomatic contacts beckons, that negotiating with Pyongyang is never going to be easy. On the face of things, neither side has fundamentally shifted its position, though there are reports that inside the Trump team there are discussions about pursuing a more limited initial objective to freeze Pyongyang's nuclear programme rather than to seek full denuclearisation. But North Korea still wants to get tangible economic gains upfront and is evasive about mothballing its nuclear programme. And its leader may have been strengthened by his three meetings with Mr Trump, irrespective of the minimal results obtained. Negotiations with North Korea to try to convince it to abandon its controversial nuclear programme reached a peak last year when Mr Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un held a summit in Singapore. They both committed to the \"complete denuclearisation\" of the Korean peninsula, but without clarifying what that meant. It was hoped their second meeting, in Hanoi in February, would make some concrete agreement about North Korea handing over its nuclear programme in exchange for some of the tight sanctions against it being lifted. But those talks ended with no deal, as they failed to agree on the pace at which sanctions should be eased. Since then the negotiations have stalled, though Mr Kim and Mr Trump have exchanged letters. And in May, North Korea carried out new weapons tests widely seen as an attempt to increase pressure on the US. At Sunday's DMZ meeting their exchanges were largely complimentary. Mr Trump - who once referred to Mr Kim as \"little rocket man\" - called their friendship \"particularly great\" and said it was a \"great day for the world\".", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 887, "answer_end": 2247, "text": "The North Korean delegation said it was responding to a US allegation that it had breached a cap on refined petroleum imports that was set in 2017. It also said it was responding to a joint letter sent by the US, France, Germany and the UK to all UN member states that called on all countries to comply with sanctions on North Korea, including the repatriation of North Korean workers home. Under UN sanctions imposed in December 2017 after ballistic missiles tests, all North Korean nationals working abroad have to return home by the end of 2019, restricting a vital source of foreign currency. \"What can't be overlooked is the fact that this joint letter game was carried out by the permanent mission of the United States to the UN under the instruction of the state department, on the very same day when President Trump proposed [a] summit meeting,\" the statement read. \"[It] speaks to the reality that the United States is practically more and more hell-bent [on] hostile acts against the DPRK [North Korea].\" \"All UN member states will have to keep vigilance against deliberate attempts by the United States to undermine the peaceful atmosphere that has been created on the Korean Peninsula,\" it said. Pyongyang added that it was \"quite ridiculous\" for the US to view sanctions as a \"panacea for all problems\". The US has yet to respond to the statement."}], "question": "What did North Korea say?", "id": "98_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2248, "answer_end": 3034, "text": "North Korea's harsh language is a powerful corrective to the euphoria prompted by President Trump's brief steps across the DMZ. It's also a reminder, as another phase of diplomatic contacts beckons, that negotiating with Pyongyang is never going to be easy. On the face of things, neither side has fundamentally shifted its position, though there are reports that inside the Trump team there are discussions about pursuing a more limited initial objective to freeze Pyongyang's nuclear programme rather than to seek full denuclearisation. But North Korea still wants to get tangible economic gains upfront and is evasive about mothballing its nuclear programme. And its leader may have been strengthened by his three meetings with Mr Trump, irrespective of the minimal results obtained."}], "question": "Why has the atmosphere changed so quickly?", "id": "98_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3035, "answer_end": 4105, "text": "Negotiations with North Korea to try to convince it to abandon its controversial nuclear programme reached a peak last year when Mr Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un held a summit in Singapore. They both committed to the \"complete denuclearisation\" of the Korean peninsula, but without clarifying what that meant. It was hoped their second meeting, in Hanoi in February, would make some concrete agreement about North Korea handing over its nuclear programme in exchange for some of the tight sanctions against it being lifted. But those talks ended with no deal, as they failed to agree on the pace at which sanctions should be eased. Since then the negotiations have stalled, though Mr Kim and Mr Trump have exchanged letters. And in May, North Korea carried out new weapons tests widely seen as an attempt to increase pressure on the US. At Sunday's DMZ meeting their exchanges were largely complimentary. Mr Trump - who once referred to Mr Kim as \"little rocket man\" - called their friendship \"particularly great\" and said it was a \"great day for the world\"."}], "question": "How are US-North Korea relations?", "id": "98_2"}]}]}, {"title": "Iran plane crash: Why were so many Canadians on board?", "date": "11 January 2020", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Ukraine International Airlines flight PS752 was shot down \"unintentionally\" shortly after taking off from Iran's capital on Wednesday, Iran says. All 176 passengers and crew were killed, including 57 Canadian citizens. The plane was bound for the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, and many on board had a connecting flight to Toronto, Canada's largest city and a transit hub. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has said that, all told, 138 people on that flight were en route to Canada. Canada is home to a large Iranian diaspora, with some 210,000 citizens of Iranian descent, according to the latest federal census. The country is also a popular destination for Iranian graduate and postdoctoral students to study and conduct research abroad, which is why many students were on the flight, returning to university following the winter break. There is also no direct flight between Canada and Iran, and the Ukraine International Airlines flight from Tehran to Kiev and then to Toronto is popular because it is one of the most affordable options for the journey. Other victims of the crash included 82 Iranians and 11 Ukrainians, as well as nationals from Sweden, the UK, Afghanistan and Germany. This is not the first air disaster that has touched Canada recently. Last year, 18 Canadians were killed when an Ethiopian Airlines flight from Addis Ababa to Nairobi that crashed in March. They were newlyweds, families, students, professionals and academics. Sixty-three of them were Canadian nationals, but many more called Canada their home, at least temporarily. They lived in cities like Montreal, Toronto, Vancouver, Winnipeg, Ottawa and Edmonton, making this a truly national tragedy. Many were in the 20s and 30s, but a number of young children were also on board. At least two families died: Ardalan Ebnoddin Hamidi, Niloofar Razzaghi and their teenage son Kamyar, from Vancouver; and Pedram Mousavi and Mojgan Daneshmand, and their daughters Daria and Dorina Mousavi, from Edmonton. There were numerous foreign students on board as well, like Ghanimat Azhdari - a PhD student at the University of Guelph, Ontario, who specialised in promoting the rights of indigenous groups. Why were so many Canadians on doomed Iran plane? Tributes were held across the country on Wednesday night, and many more are planned in the coming days. In Toronto, a public vigil organised by the Iranian Canadian Congress was attended by over 100 people on Thursday. Flags will be lowered at city hall until Monday. Another vigil was hosted on Parliament Hill in the Canadian capital of Ottawa, and attended by the prime minister. On Friday, he is meeting with family members of the victims of the plane crash. Ukraine's embassy in Canada has invited the public to sign a book of condolences. In Edmonton, Alberta, members of the Iranian-Canadian community estimate about 30 people who lived in the city were on flight PS752. A memorial for Sunday is being organised by an Iranian heritage group, an Iranian student association, and the University of Alberta, an institution that lost a number of its faculty members and students in the crash. In fact, the deaths have cast a pall over university campuses across the country. Many of the deceased are being remembered as accomplished teachers, students and mentors with bright futures who were studying and working at institutions of higher learning across the country.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 482, "answer_end": 1381, "text": "Canada is home to a large Iranian diaspora, with some 210,000 citizens of Iranian descent, according to the latest federal census. The country is also a popular destination for Iranian graduate and postdoctoral students to study and conduct research abroad, which is why many students were on the flight, returning to university following the winter break. There is also no direct flight between Canada and Iran, and the Ukraine International Airlines flight from Tehran to Kiev and then to Toronto is popular because it is one of the most affordable options for the journey. Other victims of the crash included 82 Iranians and 11 Ukrainians, as well as nationals from Sweden, the UK, Afghanistan and Germany. This is not the first air disaster that has touched Canada recently. Last year, 18 Canadians were killed when an Ethiopian Airlines flight from Addis Ababa to Nairobi that crashed in March."}], "question": "Why were there so many Canadians on board?", "id": "99_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1382, "answer_end": 2226, "text": "They were newlyweds, families, students, professionals and academics. Sixty-three of them were Canadian nationals, but many more called Canada their home, at least temporarily. They lived in cities like Montreal, Toronto, Vancouver, Winnipeg, Ottawa and Edmonton, making this a truly national tragedy. Many were in the 20s and 30s, but a number of young children were also on board. At least two families died: Ardalan Ebnoddin Hamidi, Niloofar Razzaghi and their teenage son Kamyar, from Vancouver; and Pedram Mousavi and Mojgan Daneshmand, and their daughters Daria and Dorina Mousavi, from Edmonton. There were numerous foreign students on board as well, like Ghanimat Azhdari - a PhD student at the University of Guelph, Ontario, who specialised in promoting the rights of indigenous groups. Why were so many Canadians on doomed Iran plane?"}], "question": "Who were the Canadian victims?", "id": "99_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2227, "answer_end": 3398, "text": "Tributes were held across the country on Wednesday night, and many more are planned in the coming days. In Toronto, a public vigil organised by the Iranian Canadian Congress was attended by over 100 people on Thursday. Flags will be lowered at city hall until Monday. Another vigil was hosted on Parliament Hill in the Canadian capital of Ottawa, and attended by the prime minister. On Friday, he is meeting with family members of the victims of the plane crash. Ukraine's embassy in Canada has invited the public to sign a book of condolences. In Edmonton, Alberta, members of the Iranian-Canadian community estimate about 30 people who lived in the city were on flight PS752. A memorial for Sunday is being organised by an Iranian heritage group, an Iranian student association, and the University of Alberta, an institution that lost a number of its faculty members and students in the crash. In fact, the deaths have cast a pall over university campuses across the country. Many of the deceased are being remembered as accomplished teachers, students and mentors with bright futures who were studying and working at institutions of higher learning across the country."}], "question": "How are they being remembered?", "id": "99_2"}]}]}, {"title": "Donald Trump on UK election: 'I can work with any prime minister'", "date": "3 December 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "US President Donald Trump has said he could \"work with anybody\" in No 10 - nine days ahead of a general election. Speaking on a three-day visit to the UK, Mr Trump said he would \"stay out of the election\", that he was a \"fan of Brexit\" and he thought PM Boris Johnson was \"very capable\". Mr Trump is in the UK for a Nato summit being held in Watford on Wednesday. He attended a reception hosted by the Queen at Buckingham Palace and later went to an event at Downing Street. The US president's comments in a press conference came moments after he told reporters that he was staying out of the election on 12 December \"because I don't want to complicate it\". - The US wanted \"absolutely nothing to do with\" the NHS, when asked if it would form any part of future trade talks. He said he wouldn't touch it even if it was handed to his administration \"on a silver platter\", adding: \"Never even thought about it, honestly\" - He himself was \"a very easy person to work with\" - The passersby who tackled a man during a \"terrible attack\" on London Bridge on Friday did \"an amazing job\". He said: \"I was very proud of those people who grabbed him\", referring to Usman Khan who killed two people and injured three others before armed police shot him dead - French President Emmanuel Macron was \"very disrespectful\" for suggesting Nato was \"brain dead\" - On Prince Andrew stepping down from royal duties, he said: \"I don't know Prince Andrew, but that's a tough story, it's a very tough story.\" The Duke of York has been facing questions over his ties to disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein. Mr Trump met the duke on his last visit to the UK in June President Trump is visiting the UK to attend a Nato summit commemorating the 70th anniversary of the transatlantic organisation. He had a breakfast meeting with Nato Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg at the US ambassador's residence in London. Mr Trump held separate talks with French President Emmanuel Macron. Later, Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall were kept waiting for around 40 minutes before the US president and First Lady Melania Trump arrived at the prince's residence, Clarence House, for afternoon tea. Mr Trump and his wife went on to join other Nato leaders and senior royals at a Buckingham Palace reception, hosted by the Queen. The first couple later attended a reception at Downing Street with other world leaders. It is unclear whether Mr Trump will hold a one-on-one meeting with Mr Johnson during his visit to the UK. The US president said he would be meeting the British prime minister during his visit, adding: \"I have meetings set up with lots of different countries\". Mr Johnson said he would be discussing Syria, Russia and China during discussions with Nato leaders. Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab - who held a meeting with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo - said arrangements for such bilateral meetings were \"always quite fluid\". BBC diplomatic correspondent James Landale said the Conservatives' HQ is not keen on such a meeting \"to avoid pictures that could be used by his (Boris Johnson's) opponents\" in the upcoming general election. Mr Johnson and Mr Trump did speak on Saturday, when Mr Trump expressed his condolences after the London Bridge attack. There'll be an almighty shuddering sigh of relief reverberating around the walls of Downing Street. Because there was real apprehension in No 10 about exactly what the president might say. In fact, he's given Boris Johnson an almighty helping hand in this election. Most importantly, we heard Donald Trump seeking to counter what has become one of the main attack lines of the Labour Party and Jeremy Corbyn during this campaign, that if you re-elect Boris Johnson he will ensure that the NHS is on the table in trade talks with the US. And yet we heard Mr Trump being pretty unequivocal that he's not interested in the NHS, even if it was presented to him on a silver platter and also suggesting he didn't know why it was being raised as an issue, even though, in fact, it was Mr Trump who first raised it as an issue when he was here in June at a news conference saying everything should be on the table. Be that as it may, I think Team Johnson will be mightily relieved that he has, as it were, provided them with a get-out-of-jail-free card to Labour claims that the NHS would be on the table. Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, who called for Mr Trump to be treated \"with respect and politeness\" during his visit, wrote to Mr Trump ahead of his visit, demanding assurances that the NHS will be \"off the table\" in any post-Brexit US-UK trade talks. Mr Corbyn told the BBC's Jeremy Vine show that he would seek assurances from Mr Trump at the Buckingham Palace reception later. \"I will say, look, welcome to this country. I hope you'll understand how precious our national health service is,\" he said. \"And in any future trade relationship with the USA, none of our public services are on the table, none of our public services are for sale.\" Mr Trump has previously been criticised for voicing his opinions of British political leaders. The US president was warned against getting involved in the upcoming general election by Mr Johnson last week. Nigel Farage said it was \"awkward\" that his \"friend\", Mr Trump, had arrived during the election campaign, adding that he didn't intend to speak to him. The Brexit Party leader said if there were \"personal exchanges\", they would be \"purely personal\" and he would keep them private. Scotland Yard has said road closures will be in place in central London during the summit. Protesters gathered in Trafalgar Square, before heading to Buckingham Palace ahead of the reception for Nato leaders. BBC journalist Charlotte Gallagher, who was at the protest, said it was a real mixture of people \"but they all had one thing in common - an intense dislike of President Trump\". \"There were people with concerns about the future of the NHS, the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament, while others were demanding the release of Julian Assange.\" She said she also spoke to several US tourists who decided to come to the protest to show how unhappy they were with their own president. The mother of teenage motorcyclist Harry Dunn was among the protesters. Mr Dunn's death has led to a diplomatic row between the US and UK after a suspect over his death returned to America, claiming diplomatic immunity. Charlotte Charles said the response from other protesters outside the palace to her campaign for justice had been \"heart-warming\". The Foreign Office said Mr Raab raised \"UK concerns\" about the case with his US counterpart at a meeting earlier.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 4336, "answer_end": 6613, "text": "Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, who called for Mr Trump to be treated \"with respect and politeness\" during his visit, wrote to Mr Trump ahead of his visit, demanding assurances that the NHS will be \"off the table\" in any post-Brexit US-UK trade talks. Mr Corbyn told the BBC's Jeremy Vine show that he would seek assurances from Mr Trump at the Buckingham Palace reception later. \"I will say, look, welcome to this country. I hope you'll understand how precious our national health service is,\" he said. \"And in any future trade relationship with the USA, none of our public services are on the table, none of our public services are for sale.\" Mr Trump has previously been criticised for voicing his opinions of British political leaders. The US president was warned against getting involved in the upcoming general election by Mr Johnson last week. Nigel Farage said it was \"awkward\" that his \"friend\", Mr Trump, had arrived during the election campaign, adding that he didn't intend to speak to him. The Brexit Party leader said if there were \"personal exchanges\", they would be \"purely personal\" and he would keep them private. Scotland Yard has said road closures will be in place in central London during the summit. Protesters gathered in Trafalgar Square, before heading to Buckingham Palace ahead of the reception for Nato leaders. BBC journalist Charlotte Gallagher, who was at the protest, said it was a real mixture of people \"but they all had one thing in common - an intense dislike of President Trump\". \"There were people with concerns about the future of the NHS, the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament, while others were demanding the release of Julian Assange.\" She said she also spoke to several US tourists who decided to come to the protest to show how unhappy they were with their own president. The mother of teenage motorcyclist Harry Dunn was among the protesters. Mr Dunn's death has led to a diplomatic row between the US and UK after a suspect over his death returned to America, claiming diplomatic immunity. Charlotte Charles said the response from other protesters outside the palace to her campaign for justice had been \"heart-warming\". The Foreign Office said Mr Raab raised \"UK concerns\" about the case with his US counterpart at a meeting earlier."}], "question": "What's been the reaction to his visit?", "id": "100_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Neymar rape accuser's lawyer may withdraw from case", "date": "10 June 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "The lawyer of a woman who accused the Brazilian footballer Neymar of rape said he may drop the case unless his client can provide more evidence. Laywer Danilo Garcia de Andrade said he told model Najila Trindade to show him a full recording of a second encounter she had with Neymar. But Ms Trindade said the tablet holding the recording was stolen from her home. Neymar has strongly denied the rape allegations, and maintains that the two had consensual sex. Mr Andrade said he had asked his client for all the evidence she holds. The video was allegedly secretly filmed by Ms Trindade on the day after the alleged rape and its full version is reportedly seven minutes long. Ms Trindade has said it contains evidence which would back up her allegation that she was raped by Neymar during a previous meeting in a Paris hotel room on 15 May. A one-minute clip from the video, which showed an altercation in a bedroom purportedly between the two, was broadcast on Brazil's TV Record last week. In it, the woman can be heard shouting \"Do you know why I'm going to hit you? Do you know why? Because you assaulted me yesterday.\" It is not clear what the remaining six minutes of video contain but Mr Andrade told Brazilian media that his client had told him that she recorded the footage because she felt she needed \"proof of the assault\". ACcording to Ms Trindade, the tablet she used to film the images was stolen during a burglary at her home in Brazil, but the owners of the building where she lives denied there was a forced break-in at the property. Mr Andrade has now threatened to drop the case if police conclude that there was no burglary. \"The attorney-client relationship is based always on trust,\" he told Brazil's UOL Esporte. \"If there is no trust, then there is no reason to stay on.\" Mr Andrade said he had also set his client a deadline by which to show him any evidence she holds. Ms Trindade said she has several photographs which proved the alleged assault, as well as records of WhatsApp conversations in which she recounted what had happened to a friend. She said that some of that evidence was locked in a safe and that she had not yet shown it to Mr Andrade or anyone else. Despite his threat to walk away if his deadline was not met, Mr Andrade told Brazilian media that he trusted the veracity of his client's account. Ms Trindade's original lawyers walked away from her case after she filed a rape allegation with police in Sao Paulo. They said that her initial complaint had been one of \"aggression\" or \"physical violence\" by Neymar. Her first legal team said the rape allegation she had filed was \"incompatible with the strategy\" they had agreed, and parted company with her. In a TV interview, she accused them of being \"prejudiced\" and not fully believing her. Neymar has strongly denied the rape allegations, saying that the relationship between him and Ms Trindade was consensual. In a video he posted on his Instagram page, he said he was the victim of an extortion attempt. He also showed what he said were a series of WhatsApp messages with Ms Trindade, including intimate photographs of her. Police in Rio de Janeiro were investigating whether Neymar had committed a crime by posting the intimate pictures online without her consent. The footballer said he had had to make them public to \"prove that nothing really happened\". Neymar's lawyer, Maira Freita, said that she had \"full confidence that we will prove my client is innocent\".", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 532, "answer_end": 1334, "text": "The video was allegedly secretly filmed by Ms Trindade on the day after the alleged rape and its full version is reportedly seven minutes long. Ms Trindade has said it contains evidence which would back up her allegation that she was raped by Neymar during a previous meeting in a Paris hotel room on 15 May. A one-minute clip from the video, which showed an altercation in a bedroom purportedly between the two, was broadcast on Brazil's TV Record last week. In it, the woman can be heard shouting \"Do you know why I'm going to hit you? Do you know why? Because you assaulted me yesterday.\" It is not clear what the remaining six minutes of video contain but Mr Andrade told Brazilian media that his client had told him that she recorded the footage because she felt she needed \"proof of the assault\"."}], "question": "What is in the video?", "id": "101_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1335, "answer_end": 2340, "text": "ACcording to Ms Trindade, the tablet she used to film the images was stolen during a burglary at her home in Brazil, but the owners of the building where she lives denied there was a forced break-in at the property. Mr Andrade has now threatened to drop the case if police conclude that there was no burglary. \"The attorney-client relationship is based always on trust,\" he told Brazil's UOL Esporte. \"If there is no trust, then there is no reason to stay on.\" Mr Andrade said he had also set his client a deadline by which to show him any evidence she holds. Ms Trindade said she has several photographs which proved the alleged assault, as well as records of WhatsApp conversations in which she recounted what had happened to a friend. She said that some of that evidence was locked in a safe and that she had not yet shown it to Mr Andrade or anyone else. Despite his threat to walk away if his deadline was not met, Mr Andrade told Brazilian media that he trusted the veracity of his client's account."}], "question": "Where is the video?", "id": "101_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2341, "answer_end": 2787, "text": "Ms Trindade's original lawyers walked away from her case after she filed a rape allegation with police in Sao Paulo. They said that her initial complaint had been one of \"aggression\" or \"physical violence\" by Neymar. Her first legal team said the rape allegation she had filed was \"incompatible with the strategy\" they had agreed, and parted company with her. In a TV interview, she accused them of being \"prejudiced\" and not fully believing her."}], "question": "What happened to Ms Trindade's previous lawyers?", "id": "101_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2788, "answer_end": 3467, "text": "Neymar has strongly denied the rape allegations, saying that the relationship between him and Ms Trindade was consensual. In a video he posted on his Instagram page, he said he was the victim of an extortion attempt. He also showed what he said were a series of WhatsApp messages with Ms Trindade, including intimate photographs of her. Police in Rio de Janeiro were investigating whether Neymar had committed a crime by posting the intimate pictures online without her consent. The footballer said he had had to make them public to \"prove that nothing really happened\". Neymar's lawyer, Maira Freita, said that she had \"full confidence that we will prove my client is innocent\"."}], "question": "What has Neymar said about the accusations?", "id": "101_3"}]}]}, {"title": "Prince William wins bandy hockey shootout in Sweden", "date": "30 January 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have gone head-to-head in a penalty shootout while learning about bandy hockey in Sweden's capital Stockholm. The duke scored two goals to the duchess's one after watching the 11-player game, played on a rink similar in size to a football pitch. They then went to the country's royal palace for a lunch hosted by the king, Carl XVI Gustaf. After their two-day visit to Sweden, they will travel to Norway. Anna Widing, an international bandy player, coached the couple before the shootout. The 29-year-old said: \"I could see that maybe they like to beat each other.\" She said the duke had a strong shot and said she was impressed with the duchess. Ms Widing added: \"It was a privilege for us to show our sport to them.\" Prince William and Catherine began their day with a hot drink from a flask carried in a case known as a bandy portfolj (bandy briefcase). The duchess, who is expecting the couple's third child, drank an alcohol-free version of the drink called glogg, which is usually mulled wine or coffee with alcohol. At the king's lunch, the couple met the king and queen of Sweden and 15 other members of the royal court, including Crown Princess Victoria and her husband Prince Daniel. The princess and prince then joined the pair on a walk to Stockholm's oldest public square, Stortorget. After meeting members of the public on what is their first official visit to the Scandinavian country, the duke and duchess were then taken into the Nobel Museum for a tour. They were given a gift by local Karin Wahlgren - a special glove for the couple to use to wipe their dog Lupo's paws when they got muddy. The duke and duchess also spoke to maths teacher Niklas Schild, who told Prince William that he was planning to travel to Windsor for Prince Harry's wedding in May. He said: \"William told me 'you'll be very welcome - it will be a very happy day'.\" The game originated in Cambridgeshire and dates back to 1813. It is played outdoors on a sheet of ice the size of a football pitch - larger than an ice hockey rink - and with a ball not a puck. Like football, the game is played over 90 minutes. Under extraordinary circumstances such as heavy snowfall, the referee can choose to divide the match time in more than two parts. There are two teams, each consisting of 11 players. The full rules from the Federation of International Bandy are available online. It has become one of the most popular winter sports in Scandinavia, eastern Europe and the US. Sweden's women's team won this year's World Bandy Championships. The men's tournament finishes on 5 February. The couple then moved on to celebrate design at the launch of the UK-Sweden housing design exchange at the Swedish Centre for Architecture and Design or ArkDes. Ikea, whose founder died earlier this week, was one of the companies represented at the event. The duke and duchess then revealed that they owned items of the firm's flatpack furniture, which were in Prince George and Princess Charlotte's rooms. Ikea's head of design Marcus Engman said: \"I'm proud that we can suit everybody.\" The final event of the day was a black tie dinner at the residence of the British Ambassador. The couple met Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Lofven and his wife Ulla, with other guests expected to include Pirates Of The Caribbean and Thor actor Stellan Skarsgard and Ex Machina actress Alicia Vikander. Prince William and Catherine will also meet academics on their trip to hear about how Sweden deals with mental health issues. Despite being pregnant with her third child and her previous bout of morning sickness, the duchess is expected to take part in all events during this tour. Her condition meant she had to pull out of a number of engagements last year. Jason Knauf, the Cambridges' communications secretary, said: \"The duke and duchess have asked, as with previous overseas visits, that this tour allow them opportunities to meet as many Swedes and Norwegians as possible. \"Their royal highnesses will meet a wide variety of people, including children and young people, those working in the mental health sector, and leaders in business, academia and scientific research, government, civil society and the creative industries.\"", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1892, "answer_end": 2603, "text": "The game originated in Cambridgeshire and dates back to 1813. It is played outdoors on a sheet of ice the size of a football pitch - larger than an ice hockey rink - and with a ball not a puck. Like football, the game is played over 90 minutes. Under extraordinary circumstances such as heavy snowfall, the referee can choose to divide the match time in more than two parts. There are two teams, each consisting of 11 players. The full rules from the Federation of International Bandy are available online. It has become one of the most popular winter sports in Scandinavia, eastern Europe and the US. Sweden's women's team won this year's World Bandy Championships. The men's tournament finishes on 5 February."}], "question": "What is bandy hockey?", "id": "102_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Trump warns West Virginia voters not to pick Don Blankenship", "date": "7 May 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "US President Donald Trump has warned West Virginians not to vote for a Republican candidate who describes himself as \"Trumpier than Trump\". Don Blankenship, a former coal baron, is out on probation after he was jailed when 29 workers died at his mine in 2010. The 68-year-old is running for the US Senate against two Republicans. West Virginians vote on Tuesday to determine their candidates for November's mid-term elections. The winner of the Republican primary election will face incumbent Senator Joe Manchin, a Democrat, who has opposed some of President Trump's policies. On Monday, Mr Trump tweeted to \"the great people of West Virginia\" that Blankenship - who is polling equally with his Republican opponents - \"can't win the General Election in your State...No way!\" The former head of Massey Energy spent a year in jail after he was convicted of conspiracy to violate safety regulations in the wake of the Upper Big Branch pit disaster. Former US coal CEO sentenced to prison But on the stump on Monday, Blankenship reportedly said the deadly explosion was caused by the US government. After his release from prison in May last year, he launched his political candidacy as an ultra-conservative vowing to thwart mainstream Republicans in Washington. He has particularly targeted Republican Senate leader Mitch McConnell, claiming he is a \"swamp captain\" who has \"given millions of jobs to China people\". \"While doing so, Mitch has gotten rich,\" Blankenship says in one TV message that has been widely denounced as racist. \"In fact, his China family has given him tens of millions of dollars.\" Mr McConnell's wife, US Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao, was born in Taiwan and is of Chinese descent. Blankenship has also referred to Mr McConnell, who has launched a political group to oppose him, as \"Cocaine Mitch\". A haul of the drug was reportedly found in 2014 by Colombian authorities aboard a cargo ship linked to a firm owned by Mr McConnell's in-laws, the Chaos, though they were not implicated. In a statement responding to Mr Trump's comments on Monday, Blankenship said: \"The establishment is misinforming him because they do not want me to be in the US Senate and promote the President's agenda.\" Blankenship's new advert includes an attack on the media straight out of the playbook of his political hero. \"The fake news is also pretending to be offended by the use of my words, 'China people,'\" says Blankenship. \"They seem not to realise that China is a country, not a race.\" \"Remember Alabama,\" Mr Trump said in Monday's tweet, referring to Republican Roy Moore, who lost his Senate election campaign amid claims of inappropriate behaviour with underage girls. The president's tweet did not mention that he originally endorsed Mr Moore. Blankenship hit back on Monday: \"We all really like President Trump's policies but we know he doesn't get things right. \"He recommended people vote for a guy that was basically accused of paedophilia in Alabama.\" Mr Moore, a former Alabama Supreme Court judge, crashed out of the race, handing Democrats their first Senate victory in the Deep South state since 1992.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 776, "answer_end": 2503, "text": "The former head of Massey Energy spent a year in jail after he was convicted of conspiracy to violate safety regulations in the wake of the Upper Big Branch pit disaster. Former US coal CEO sentenced to prison But on the stump on Monday, Blankenship reportedly said the deadly explosion was caused by the US government. After his release from prison in May last year, he launched his political candidacy as an ultra-conservative vowing to thwart mainstream Republicans in Washington. He has particularly targeted Republican Senate leader Mitch McConnell, claiming he is a \"swamp captain\" who has \"given millions of jobs to China people\". \"While doing so, Mitch has gotten rich,\" Blankenship says in one TV message that has been widely denounced as racist. \"In fact, his China family has given him tens of millions of dollars.\" Mr McConnell's wife, US Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao, was born in Taiwan and is of Chinese descent. Blankenship has also referred to Mr McConnell, who has launched a political group to oppose him, as \"Cocaine Mitch\". A haul of the drug was reportedly found in 2014 by Colombian authorities aboard a cargo ship linked to a firm owned by Mr McConnell's in-laws, the Chaos, though they were not implicated. In a statement responding to Mr Trump's comments on Monday, Blankenship said: \"The establishment is misinforming him because they do not want me to be in the US Senate and promote the President's agenda.\" Blankenship's new advert includes an attack on the media straight out of the playbook of his political hero. \"The fake news is also pretending to be offended by the use of my words, 'China people,'\" says Blankenship. \"They seem not to realise that China is a country, not a race.\""}], "question": "Why is Blankenship so controversial?", "id": "103_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2504, "answer_end": 3132, "text": "\"Remember Alabama,\" Mr Trump said in Monday's tweet, referring to Republican Roy Moore, who lost his Senate election campaign amid claims of inappropriate behaviour with underage girls. The president's tweet did not mention that he originally endorsed Mr Moore. Blankenship hit back on Monday: \"We all really like President Trump's policies but we know he doesn't get things right. \"He recommended people vote for a guy that was basically accused of paedophilia in Alabama.\" Mr Moore, a former Alabama Supreme Court judge, crashed out of the race, handing Democrats their first Senate victory in the Deep South state since 1992."}], "question": "What happened in Alabama?", "id": "103_1"}]}]}, {"title": "Greek debt crisis: Lessons from Cyprus and Iceland", "date": "3 July 2015", "paragraphs": [{"context": "As people across cash-strapped Greece wait to vote in a referendum on Sunday on whether to accept proposals made by creditors, what can be learned by examining similar economic crises in Iceland and Cyprus? In 2007, the Icelandic economy appeared healthy. Its real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) was 35% higher than it was in 2002, unemployment was 2.3% and government debt was a modest 27% of GDP. However, the assets of its three largest banks had grown to over nine times GDP, a size that made it impossible for the Icelandic central bank to act as an effective lender of last resort. Thus, regardless of the quality of the banks' assets, the predictable consequence was a bank run and the subsequent collapse of the Icelandic banking system. Following the demise of its banks, Iceland imposed capital controls to prevent massive outflows and a plunge in the value of its currency. Recapitalisation of its banking system and other crisis-related expenses caused government debt to rise to 95% of GDP by 2011. However, a successful International Monetary Fund (IMF) programme cushioned the impact: real GDP fell by a less-than-expected 6.6% in 2009 and 4.1% in 2010, before returning to growth. Icelandic authorities protected the holders of domestic deposits, who enjoyed uninterrupted access to their accounts; the UK and Dutch governments stepped in to protect deposit holders in UK and Dutch branches of Icelandic banks. In 2013, the European Free Trade Association (Efta) court ruled that Iceland did not breach its obligations, either by treating domestic deposits differently or by not accepting legal obligation for foreign branch deposits. Today, Iceland faces the difficult challenge of removing its capital controls in an orderly fashion but the IMF expects real GDP growth of 4.1% in 2015. In 2008, the Cypriot economy was more like that of an emerging market nation than a modern European one, but the country was enjoying an economic boom. Cypriot real GDP had grown by 27% between 2002 and 2008. The growth, however, had been fuelled by inflows of foreign bank deposits and foreign loans to banks. As a result, the assets of commercial banks with Cypriot parents expanded to over five times' Cypriot GDP. Unlike the Icelandic banks, the Cypriot banks had a credible lender of last resort: their central bank was a member of the Eurosystem. Unfortunately, they were heavily exposed to Greece. Cypriot banks were hit hard by the restructuring of Greek sovereign debt in 2012. In March 2013, the Cypriot authorities were in a desperate situation. Either they had to make a sizable contribution to a European Stability Mechanism/IMF rescue package or the emergency loans Cypriot banks had been receiving through its central bank would be cut off. Without the rescue package, saving the Cypriot banking system would be likely to require exiting from the euro area, adopting a new currency and recapitalising the banks by printing money. This would cause the value of the new currency to plummet, taking with it the real value of Cypriot pensions, wages and bank accounts. To avoid catastrophe, the Cypriot authorities looked to the one source of readily available funds: Cypriot bank deposits. Initially they planned to impose a levy on all deposits but ultimately insured depositors were spared. To stem a run, capital controls were imposed. Banks were closed for two weeks and when they were reopened there was a limit on daily withdrawals. Real GDP fell by 2.4% in 2012, 5.4% in 2013 and 2.3% in 2014. Unemployment rose to 16.2% in 2014 and government debt has climbed to 107% of GDP. Currently, the outlook for Cyprus is guarded. The country finally returned to economic growth this year and the capital controls were removed entirely in April. However, further economic reform is necessary to ensure sustainable growth. Greece currently faces a choice similar to the one faced by Cyprus in 2013. Its banking system depends for its survival on emergency lending controlled by the ECB. Bank runs have forced the imposition of capital controls, temporary bank closures and limits on deposit withdrawals. The consequences of leaving the Eurosystem are likely to be as dire for Greece as they would have been for Cyprus. Reaching an accommodation with its creditors is the preferred outcome. Real GDP has fallen by almost 30% in Greece since 2007, partly because of severe fiscal austerity. Unemployment was 26% in 2014 and there has been an exodus of skilled labour. As with Cyprus, and unlike with Iceland, any lasting recovery will require significant economic and fiscal reform. Greece ranks 61st in the World Bank's Ease of Doing Business Index, edging out Russia and Cyprus (at 64) but behind Tunisia; Iceland is 12th. Government debt was already a massive 113% of annual GDP in 2008 and now stands at 180%. Capital controls were necessary in Iceland and Cyprus, and in Greece today, but they come at a cost. Many view them as an assault on civil liberties; others see them as a chance to profit. Even in Iceland, a remote island nation, evasion and avoidance appear to have been widespread. Some say they promote disrespect for the law and the belief that once again the wealthy, sophisticated and corrupt are benefiting at the expense of the rest of society. Anne Sibert is a professor of Economics at Birkbeck, University of London, a fellow of the Centre for Economic Policy Research. She is a former member of the Monetary Policy Committee of the Central Bank of Iceland.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 207, "answer_end": 882, "text": "In 2007, the Icelandic economy appeared healthy. Its real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) was 35% higher than it was in 2002, unemployment was 2.3% and government debt was a modest 27% of GDP. However, the assets of its three largest banks had grown to over nine times GDP, a size that made it impossible for the Icelandic central bank to act as an effective lender of last resort. Thus, regardless of the quality of the banks' assets, the predictable consequence was a bank run and the subsequent collapse of the Icelandic banking system. Following the demise of its banks, Iceland imposed capital controls to prevent massive outflows and a plunge in the value of its currency."}], "question": "What happened in Iceland?", "id": "104_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1802, "answer_end": 2488, "text": "In 2008, the Cypriot economy was more like that of an emerging market nation than a modern European one, but the country was enjoying an economic boom. Cypriot real GDP had grown by 27% between 2002 and 2008. The growth, however, had been fuelled by inflows of foreign bank deposits and foreign loans to banks. As a result, the assets of commercial banks with Cypriot parents expanded to over five times' Cypriot GDP. Unlike the Icelandic banks, the Cypriot banks had a credible lender of last resort: their central bank was a member of the Eurosystem. Unfortunately, they were heavily exposed to Greece. Cypriot banks were hit hard by the restructuring of Greek sovereign debt in 2012."}], "question": "What happened in Cyprus?", "id": "104_1"}]}]}, {"title": "Barcelona attacks: What could they mean for Catalan independence?", "date": "20 August 2017", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Ten years ago this month, a foreign news event occurred that ultimately had a major impact on relations between Catalonia and the rest of Spain. The credit crunch, which began when French bank BNP Paribas froze funds over US subprime mortgage sector fears, eventually plunged Spain into recession. Old grievances among Catalans were revived, as secessionists argued that their wealthy region was being milked by incompetent governments in Madrid. Now a very different kind of outside factor, jihadist violence, has returned to Spain, which last saw such carnage in the Madrid train bombings of 2004. This time Catalonia was attacked, less than two months before its unrecognised referendum on independence. While there is no suggestion Barcelona was targeted for any reason other than being Barcelona, could the attack become the wild card that gives the sovereignty game back to Madrid? Because they clapped the king of Spain on Placa de Catalunya? Probably not. When King Felipe and Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy joined Catalan President Carles Puigdemont and Barcelona Mayor Ada Colau at a rally on the city's central square, they were simply there to mourn. \"How could the king and the prime minister not travel to Barcelona?\" says Manuel Arias-Maldonado, political science professor at Malaga University. \"They had to go.\" For Adria Alsina Leal, professor of journalism and communications at the Central University of Catalonia and a Catalan independence activist, \"solidarity is welcome from wherever it comes\". \"It's only normal that they came,\" he says, noting the sense of \"correctness and politeness\" at the event. \"I wouldn't attach any other significance to that.\" \"It could even be argued that circumstances have forced Puigdemont and Rajoy to show, albeit reluctantly, some unity of purpose,\" Prof Arias-Maldonado suggests. \"There are, of course, minor details: Puigdemont's references to the 'Catalan character' in his speech, Rajoy's call to co-operate and leave behind what separates in the face of greater challenges.\" The tacit truce between Madrid and the secessionists may rapidly unravel after Sunday, when Catalonia's three days of official mourning end. Activists have suspended campaigning for that period, and I saw no sign of campaigning along Las Ramblas, beyond the occasional estelada (the unofficial lone-star flag of independence) in some of the shops. But secessionists are indignant at how some of Spain's biggest newspapers have used the attack against their cause. For instance, an editorial in El Pais essentially argued that an attack of this magnitude should act as a reality check for Catalans and persuade them to set aside thoughts of independence. \"Using an editorial to sort of shame Catalan independence supporters like that was probably a bit over the top,\" says Prof Leal. However, the real battle for hearts and minds may be fought on social media. Some secessionists, Prof Arias-Maldonado points out, are already praising the response of Catalan \"state-like structures\" as confirmation that Catalonia is ready for independence. \"Some are even advancing the idea that these things would not happen in a free Catalonia,\" he says. Prof Leal insists that he and fellow members of the Catalan National Assembly (ANC), a non-party grassroots movement advocating the referendum and a Yes vote, are showing dignified restraint during the period of mourning. However, when the campaign restarts, it will be visibly in tune with its democratic values. On the other hand, he says: \"We definitely need to go in a very micro-targeted way to all those people who might still be wondering whether to vote Yes or No or whether to vote at all.\" Among the most extraordinary sights of the past few days was the outpouring of real love for Catalonia's police. People applauded the Mossos in the street for their work in securing the region and tracking down the jihadists. In a blistering polemic entitled Seven Hours Of Independence, Catalan writer Bernat Dedeu argues that the first response of Catalonia's police and emergency services proved the region had \"acted as an authentic power\". He also makes the point that Spain has denied Catalan police direct access to European police databases, while granting it to police in the Basque region (however, change was already on the cards last month). Nonetheless, the Catalan authorities' handling of security before the attack is not above criticism. Barcelona's town hall rejected installing vehicle barriers at Las Ramblas, despite a recommendation from the Spanish interior ministry after the Berlin Christmas market attack, Prof Arias-Maldonado points out. He also notes that the explosion at a house in Alcanar just before the attack was \"misinterpreted as a drug-dealing event\". \"It is unclear why this happened and why this event was not followed by a tightening of the security,\" he says. \"Still, perception is king and if public perception says that the Catalan police handled it well, it might help the secessionist case.\" \"It is hard to say,\" says the political scientist from Malaga University. \"According to polls, secessionists are now around 41% of Catalans - numbers have been going down for some time. Around 49% are against it. \"These data come from the Catalan public polling body. How will the terrorist attack affect this situation? Who knows? But my bet is - not very much and if it does, it will reinforce the unionist side. \"Ultimately I don't think the essence of the independence debate is going to change, because the underlying situation has not changed,\" says Prof Leal. When I put it to him that support for the cause of independence appears to be ebbing, he is sceptical about the polls and argues that the base is still strong. \"I don't know anybody who was a supporter of independence who has stopped being a supporter of independence,\" he says. He speaks with the same passion I remember in November 2014, when we met during the heady week of Catalonia's referendum dry run. Nearly two million people voted, defying Madrid's attempts to ban it, and 80% chose independence (according to Catalan figures). But one thing has definitely changed since then: Spain's economy is recovering. That, for Prime Minister Rajoy, master of the long game, may yet be his best card. For more on Barcelona after the attack, follow Patrick at @patrickgjackson", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 2044, "answer_end": 3683, "text": "The tacit truce between Madrid and the secessionists may rapidly unravel after Sunday, when Catalonia's three days of official mourning end. Activists have suspended campaigning for that period, and I saw no sign of campaigning along Las Ramblas, beyond the occasional estelada (the unofficial lone-star flag of independence) in some of the shops. But secessionists are indignant at how some of Spain's biggest newspapers have used the attack against their cause. For instance, an editorial in El Pais essentially argued that an attack of this magnitude should act as a reality check for Catalans and persuade them to set aside thoughts of independence. \"Using an editorial to sort of shame Catalan independence supporters like that was probably a bit over the top,\" says Prof Leal. However, the real battle for hearts and minds may be fought on social media. Some secessionists, Prof Arias-Maldonado points out, are already praising the response of Catalan \"state-like structures\" as confirmation that Catalonia is ready for independence. \"Some are even advancing the idea that these things would not happen in a free Catalonia,\" he says. Prof Leal insists that he and fellow members of the Catalan National Assembly (ANC), a non-party grassroots movement advocating the referendum and a Yes vote, are showing dignified restraint during the period of mourning. However, when the campaign restarts, it will be visibly in tune with its democratic values. On the other hand, he says: \"We definitely need to go in a very micro-targeted way to all those people who might still be wondering whether to vote Yes or No or whether to vote at all.\""}], "question": "How long will the correctness last?", "id": "105_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3684, "answer_end": 5020, "text": "Among the most extraordinary sights of the past few days was the outpouring of real love for Catalonia's police. People applauded the Mossos in the street for their work in securing the region and tracking down the jihadists. In a blistering polemic entitled Seven Hours Of Independence, Catalan writer Bernat Dedeu argues that the first response of Catalonia's police and emergency services proved the region had \"acted as an authentic power\". He also makes the point that Spain has denied Catalan police direct access to European police databases, while granting it to police in the Basque region (however, change was already on the cards last month). Nonetheless, the Catalan authorities' handling of security before the attack is not above criticism. Barcelona's town hall rejected installing vehicle barriers at Las Ramblas, despite a recommendation from the Spanish interior ministry after the Berlin Christmas market attack, Prof Arias-Maldonado points out. He also notes that the explosion at a house in Alcanar just before the attack was \"misinterpreted as a drug-dealing event\". \"It is unclear why this happened and why this event was not followed by a tightening of the security,\" he says. \"Still, perception is king and if public perception says that the Catalan police handled it well, it might help the secessionist case.\""}], "question": "Why is everyone talking about the Catalan police?", "id": "105_1"}]}]}, {"title": "Viewpoint: Why Trump may win his legal fight over border wall", "date": "17 February 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "The latest chapter of Washington dysfunction has culminated in drastic action by the president in order to deliver his key campaign promise. But as his opponents shake their heads and counter-punch through the courts, the historical lessons do not bode well for them, writes Jonathan Turley, professor of constitutional law at George Washington University. President Donald Trump's declaration of a national emergency to build his long-promised border wall was met with a torrent of condemnations and threats from Democratic critics, including preparation for another heated court fight. American politics have not been so bitter and divided since Benjamin Franklin and John Adams were forced to share the same bed in 1776. There is a fundamental incompatibility - if not mutual revulsion - that divides our politics and its focus has fittingly become a debate over a wall. After securing only part of the funding that he sought, President Trump declared a national emergency along the southern border to allow him to start construction with over $8bn (PS6.2bn) of shifted funds to complete his signature campaign promise. For their part, the Democrats are promising immediate court challenges. There is little evidence of a true national security emergency on the US border with Mexico. Most illegal immigrants overstay their visas or pass through ports of entry. Moreover, the number of apprehensions are down from 1.6 million in 2000 to roughly 400,000 in each year of Trump's term. That does not mean that border protection and enhanced enforcement is not warranted. Crossings do remain a serious problem, but few would call this a national emergency. Yet, President Trump is calling this a national emergency and that may be enough. The reason is not the data but the definition behind a declared emergency. There is no real definition. Under the National Emergencies Act of 1976, Congress simply allowed a president to declare an emergency and to assume extraordinary powers to combat it. That is the reason why emergencies are so easy to declare and so difficult to end. While Congress reserved the right to rescind a declaration, it has never done so. Even if the Democrats secure enough votes in both houses to negate the declaration by a majority vote, it can be vetoed by the president. It would then require a super-majority of two-thirds of both houses to override the veto. The challenge for the Democrats is getting a federal court to supply the result that they could not secure in their own branch of government. If they are unable to secure a majority of the 535 members which make up both houses of Congress, they are unlikely to change the result with the single vote of an unelected federal judge. There is also a problem for the Democrats in getting a judge to listen to arguments through a thick haze of hypocrisy. President Trump's assertions of executive authority remain well short of the extremes reached by Barack Obama who openly and repeatedly circumvented Congress. In one State of the Union address, Mr Obama chastised both houses for refusing to give him changes in immigration laws and other changes. He then declared his intention to get the same results by unilateral executive action. That shocking pledge was met with a roar of approval from the Democrats - including Speaker Nancy Pelosi - who celebrated the notion of their own institutional irrelevancy. In 2011, I represented Democratic and Republican members who challenged the right of President Obama (and then-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton) to launch the Libyan war without a declaration from Congress. Mr Obama then proceeded (like Mr Trump) to use loose funds in the executive branch to fund the entire war without an appropriation. Ms Pelosi and the Democratic leadership enthusiastically supported Obama's circumvention of Congress on both the lack of a declaration and the lack of an appropriation. The greatest hypocrisy is the authority that the Democrats intend to use in this challenge. In 2016, I represented the House of Representatives in challenging one of Mr Obama's unilateral actions, after he demanded funds to pay insurance companies under the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Every year, presidents must ask for appropriations of money to run the government - a critical check on executive authority held by the legislative branch. Congress refused so Mr Obama simply ordered the Treasury would pay the companies as a permanent appropriation - even though Congress never approved an annual, let alone a permanent, appropriation. Mr Obama did not declare an emergency, he just took the money.  Nevertheless, Ms Pelosi and the Democratic leadership opposed the lawsuit and declared it a meritless attack on presidential authority. We won the lawsuit. In addition to ruling that Mr Obama violated the Constitution, the federal district court in Washington, DC, ruled that a house of Congress does have standing to bring such a lawsuit - a precedent that Congress had sought to establish. Now Democrats are going to use the precedent that they opposed under Mr Obama. However, they could end up not only losing the challenge but frittering away this historic precedent. - $1.4bn from the agreed budget - $600m from cash and assets seized from drug traffickers - $2.5bn from a defence department anti-drug trafficking fund - $3.5bn reallocated from military construction projects Courts often turn to standing to avoid tough decisions. Since the Democrats are likely to try to litigate this question in the Ninth Circuit which covers California and some other western states, the judge will not be bound by the DC ruling and could rule against the right of Congress to bring such actions. Moreover, the litigation to the Supreme Court could easily take two years. Once there, the challengers will face a newly minted conservative majority with two Trump appointees. That would mean that the Democrats could hand Trump a major victory on his signature campaign issue just before voters go to the polls in 2020. That brings us back to the night Franklin and Adams had to share a bed. The two founding fathers were going to meet Admiral Richard Howe of the British Royal Navy in Staten Island to discuss the possibility of ending the Revolutionary War. They found themselves in New Brunswick, New Jersey, at the Indian Queen Tavern. However, it was full and only one room with one small bed was available. Two of the most irascible framers of the US Constitution crawled into the small bed and immediately began to quarrel. Franklin had opened up a window but Adams held the common view of the time that you could get ill from night vapours. Franklin insisted that cool fresh air was, in fact, a health benefit and added: \"I believe you are not acquainted with my theory of colds.\" They argued all night until Adams fell asleep. Adams simply wrote later: \"I soon fell asleep, and left him and his philosophy together.\" It is perhaps a lesson for our times. While the debate over open windows as opposed to open borders differs by a certain magnitude, there was a time when entirely incompatible politicians could reach an agreement. Sure, it was by exhaustion rather than persuasion, but the dialogue continued to a conclusion without enlisting a federal court. If the Democrats lose this case shortly before the 2020 election, they may wish they had tried the one-who-can-stay-up-the-latest approach to conflict resolution. Jonathan Turley is the Shapiro Professor of Public Interest Law at George Washington University in Washington, DC.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 874, "answer_end": 1812, "text": "After securing only part of the funding that he sought, President Trump declared a national emergency along the southern border to allow him to start construction with over $8bn (PS6.2bn) of shifted funds to complete his signature campaign promise. For their part, the Democrats are promising immediate court challenges. There is little evidence of a true national security emergency on the US border with Mexico. Most illegal immigrants overstay their visas or pass through ports of entry. Moreover, the number of apprehensions are down from 1.6 million in 2000 to roughly 400,000 in each year of Trump's term. That does not mean that border protection and enhanced enforcement is not warranted. Crossings do remain a serious problem, but few would call this a national emergency. Yet, President Trump is calling this a national emergency and that may be enough. The reason is not the data but the definition behind a declared emergency."}], "question": "Does the reality at the border matter?", "id": "106_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1813, "answer_end": 2718, "text": "There is no real definition. Under the National Emergencies Act of 1976, Congress simply allowed a president to declare an emergency and to assume extraordinary powers to combat it. That is the reason why emergencies are so easy to declare and so difficult to end. While Congress reserved the right to rescind a declaration, it has never done so. Even if the Democrats secure enough votes in both houses to negate the declaration by a majority vote, it can be vetoed by the president. It would then require a super-majority of two-thirds of both houses to override the veto. The challenge for the Democrats is getting a federal court to supply the result that they could not secure in their own branch of government. If they are unable to secure a majority of the 535 members which make up both houses of Congress, they are unlikely to change the result with the single vote of an unelected federal judge."}], "question": "What is a national emergency?", "id": "106_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3905, "answer_end": 5179, "text": "The greatest hypocrisy is the authority that the Democrats intend to use in this challenge. In 2016, I represented the House of Representatives in challenging one of Mr Obama's unilateral actions, after he demanded funds to pay insurance companies under the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Every year, presidents must ask for appropriations of money to run the government - a critical check on executive authority held by the legislative branch. Congress refused so Mr Obama simply ordered the Treasury would pay the companies as a permanent appropriation - even though Congress never approved an annual, let alone a permanent, appropriation. Mr Obama did not declare an emergency, he just took the money.  Nevertheless, Ms Pelosi and the Democratic leadership opposed the lawsuit and declared it a meritless attack on presidential authority. We won the lawsuit. In addition to ruling that Mr Obama violated the Constitution, the federal district court in Washington, DC, ruled that a house of Congress does have standing to bring such a lawsuit - a precedent that Congress had sought to establish. Now Democrats are going to use the precedent that they opposed under Mr Obama. However, they could end up not only losing the challenge but frittering away this historic precedent."}], "question": "Will court ignore precedent?", "id": "106_2"}]}]}, {"title": "France puts up food and drink prices under new law", "date": "1 February 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Nutella, President Camembert, Ricard Pastis and Carte Noire coffee are among the brands set to cost more in France as a law on food prices takes effect. It means big food and drink brands can no longer be sold at cost price. Shops' profit margin must be at least 10%. But many shops' own-brand products are expected to get a bit cheaper. Such goods often come from smaller firms. The government aims to help smaller producers but France has continuing yellow-vest protests over prices. There are doubts about whether the new law will actually work as hoped. The 10% margin threshold means a food or drink brand previously sold for EUR1 (PS0.88; $1.1) now has to be priced at EUR1.1 minimum. But there will not be uniform price increases, French media report. The law affects supermarkets and hypermarkets more than small local shops. That is because the big outlets offer some popular brands at or near cost price, slashing their margins on those products, in order to lure customers, in a fierce price war. Their profits depend on big volume and high turnover. Small shops, however, cannot match the supermarkets' low margins. Supermarket chain Carrefour is adapting to the law by increasing discounts for loyalty card customers. Carrefour expects to raise prices by 35 euro cents on average, which is 5%. It says 1,000 food and drink brands are affected, out of 25,000 on sale. A big retailer which has already raised prices gave the daily Le Parisien a list of brands affected, while requesting anonymity. Among the price rises are: - President Camembert (up 8.6%) - Ricard Pastis (aniseed liqueur - up 9.9%) - Nutella (up 8.4%) - Carte Noire coffee (up 4.4%) - Coca-Cola (up 5%) Hypermarket chain E Leclerc said it was raising prices by 3% on 1,000 brands. Agriculture Minister Didier Guillaume said \"the aim is to sell agricultural goods for what they're worth\". He stressed that meat and fish prices would be unaffected. He said that in supermarkets, in general, prices would go up on 500 out of 13,000 products, and in hypermarkets on 800 out of 20,000 on sale. The government hopes that by making shops pay more to their suppliers - the wholesalers - the latter will pay more to French food and drink producers. That is because the wholesalers' income should increase as consumers pay higher prices for certain brands. But millions of French consumers are angry about the cost of living, so there is a risk for the government. It is already struggling to contain often violent \"gilets jaunes\" (yellow vest) protests. The protests were sparked by a fuel price hike last year - later cancelled by President Emmanuel Macron - but soon the \"gilets jaunes\" movement morphed into a wider protest against economic hardship. For months there have been big weekend protests by the yellow vests across France. Another one is planned for Saturday. Mr Macron has tried to reach out to the protesters. He told journalists on Thursday: \"If to be a yellow vest means you want work to pay more and parliament to work better - well then I'm a yellow vest.\" The French consumer rights group UFC Que Choisir voiced scepticism about the new law. One of its researchers, Mathieu Escot, said smaller shops like the Monoprix chain in Paris would not put up prices, because their margins were already above 10%. But he noted that \"gilets jaunes\" protesters were frequent shoppers at the big supermarkets and out-of-town stores, where prices would go up. \"So it's French people on more modest incomes, with weak purchasing power, who will pay,\" he argued. The law \"does not oblige\" food and drink wholesalers to pay more to French rural producers, he said. A big agricultural union, Confederation paysanne, told the daily Liberation \"there is no clear incentive to ensure a return to producers and boost their income\".", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 2069, "answer_end": 3047, "text": "The government hopes that by making shops pay more to their suppliers - the wholesalers - the latter will pay more to French food and drink producers. That is because the wholesalers' income should increase as consumers pay higher prices for certain brands. But millions of French consumers are angry about the cost of living, so there is a risk for the government. It is already struggling to contain often violent \"gilets jaunes\" (yellow vest) protests. The protests were sparked by a fuel price hike last year - later cancelled by President Emmanuel Macron - but soon the \"gilets jaunes\" movement morphed into a wider protest against economic hardship. For months there have been big weekend protests by the yellow vests across France. Another one is planned for Saturday. Mr Macron has tried to reach out to the protesters. He told journalists on Thursday: \"If to be a yellow vest means you want work to pay more and parliament to work better - well then I'm a yellow vest.\""}], "question": "Why is the law controversial?", "id": "107_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3048, "answer_end": 3801, "text": "The French consumer rights group UFC Que Choisir voiced scepticism about the new law. One of its researchers, Mathieu Escot, said smaller shops like the Monoprix chain in Paris would not put up prices, because their margins were already above 10%. But he noted that \"gilets jaunes\" protesters were frequent shoppers at the big supermarkets and out-of-town stores, where prices would go up. \"So it's French people on more modest incomes, with weak purchasing power, who will pay,\" he argued. The law \"does not oblige\" food and drink wholesalers to pay more to French rural producers, he said. A big agricultural union, Confederation paysanne, told the daily Liberation \"there is no clear incentive to ensure a return to producers and boost their income\"."}], "question": "Which consumers are most affected?", "id": "107_1"}]}]}, {"title": "Boy Scouts of America votes to ease ban on gay members", "date": "24 May 2013", "paragraphs": [{"context": "The Boy Scouts of America organisation has voted to welcome openly gay scouts, ending a divisive ban. But a ban on openly gay adult scout leaders will remain in place. More than 60% of the national council, with 1,400 voting members, supported the change at a meeting in Texas. The campaign over the ban pitted conservatives, especially religious groups that sponsor local scouting chapters, against liberals opposed to what they deem outdated discrimination. The change is effective on 1 January. The resolution repealing the 22-year-old ban \"reinforces that Scouting is a youth program, and any sexual conduct, whether heterosexual or homosexual, by youth of Scouting age is contrary to the virtues of Scouting,\" the Boy Scouts of America said in a statement. \"While people have different opinions about this policy, we can all agree that kids are better off when they are in Scouting.\" The issue was put to the organisation's national board in February, but a decision was delayed until the larger council could decide. \"Today's vote is a significant victory for gay youth across the nation and a clear indication that the Boy Scouts ban on gay adult leaders will also inevitably end,\" said Rich Ferraro, spokesman for gay rights group Glaad. But Frank Page, president of the Southern Baptist Convention executive committee, said he was saddened by the development. \"Homosexual behavior is incompatible with the principles enshrined in the Scout oath and Scout law,\" he said. In the organisation's 1911 Scouts oath, members pledge: \"On my honor I will do my best.... to keep myself physically strong, mentally alert and morally straight.\" Some within the scouting movement were concerned conservative and religious groups would withdraw financial support if the ban were lifted. But many liberal groups also hoped the ban on gay adult leaders would go, finding it absurd that openly gay teenage scouts would have to leave the organisation upon reaching adulthood. The Boy Scouts of America, founded in 1910, has about 2.6 million young members, down from a peak of around 4 million, and about 1 million adult leaders and volunteers. As recently as July 2012, the Boy Scouts concluded that its long-standing ban on gay scouts was \"the best policy for the organisation\". In 2000, the organisation went to the US Supreme Court, saying its policy of \"morally straight\" conduct fell within its right to freedom of expression.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1023, "answer_end": 2423, "text": "\"Today's vote is a significant victory for gay youth across the nation and a clear indication that the Boy Scouts ban on gay adult leaders will also inevitably end,\" said Rich Ferraro, spokesman for gay rights group Glaad. But Frank Page, president of the Southern Baptist Convention executive committee, said he was saddened by the development. \"Homosexual behavior is incompatible with the principles enshrined in the Scout oath and Scout law,\" he said. In the organisation's 1911 Scouts oath, members pledge: \"On my honor I will do my best.... to keep myself physically strong, mentally alert and morally straight.\" Some within the scouting movement were concerned conservative and religious groups would withdraw financial support if the ban were lifted. But many liberal groups also hoped the ban on gay adult leaders would go, finding it absurd that openly gay teenage scouts would have to leave the organisation upon reaching adulthood. The Boy Scouts of America, founded in 1910, has about 2.6 million young members, down from a peak of around 4 million, and about 1 million adult leaders and volunteers. As recently as July 2012, the Boy Scouts concluded that its long-standing ban on gay scouts was \"the best policy for the organisation\". In 2000, the organisation went to the US Supreme Court, saying its policy of \"morally straight\" conduct fell within its right to freedom of expression."}], "question": "Risking donor appeal?", "id": "108_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Nigeria schools walk line between Islamic and Western traditions", "date": "2 June 2014", "paragraphs": [{"context": "For Muslim children in northern Nigeria, memorising and reciting the holy Koran is an integral part of growing up. Down an alleyway in central Kano, I find one of the many Koranic schools which have changed little in generations. About 800 boys are sitting on mats chanting verses of the Koran, which they have written out on wooden tablets with short sharpened sticks, dipped in ink. They do this for hours each day. For most of these boys, this is the only education they get. Many come from villages far away. They board at the school where conditions are basic, to put it mildly. Across northern Nigeria, it is estimated that about 11 million children get no access to mainstream education. But there is a growing belief that reforms are long overdue and a broader education is essential. \"When I was growing up I didn't get any Western education. I only attended a Koranic schools like this one,\" says Abdurrahman Muhd, the mallam, or religious teacher, as he shows the students how to write the Arabic script. \"But we have to change to compete with the challenges of modern society.\" When they return from afternoon prayers, about 30 of his students are given lessons in maths, Hausa, English and social sciences. \"Some of my own children have finished secondary school and are going to the next level after studying the Koran alongside Western education,\" says Abdurrahman Muhd, mentioning the word \"boko\" in the local Hausa language. Boko Haram, meaning \"Western education is forbidden\", is the nickname of the extremist group which has killed thousands of people in recent years during a brutal campaign of violence. It has attacked many schools in north-east Nigeria - including the boarding school in Chibok, from where hundreds of girls were abducted, and in Buni Yadi, where dozens of boys were killed in their dormitory. - Founded in 2002 - Initially focused on opposing Western education - Boko Haram means \"Western education is forbidden\" in the Hausa language - Launched military operations in 2009 to create Islamic state - Thousands killed, mostly in north-eastern Nigeria - also attacked police and UN headquarters in capital, Abuja - Some three million people affected - Declared terrorist group by US in 2013 Who are Boko Haram? Profile: Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau The group wants a strictly Islamic education and for boys only. Boko Haram used to be extremely active here in Kano. Security has improved in what is the largest city in the north, although a suicide bombing on 18 May was an ominous warning that the threat persists. The relative peace offers a chance to make improvements to the quality of education. \"Those children who don't go to school only stay at home and then they go out to sell things on the streets,\" Fatima, 12, tells me as we chat outside her community-based Islamiyya school in a suburb of Kano. \"If they are asked to write something short and simple, they can't. But I can read and write now,\" she says, beaming proudly. \"I stay with my grandfather but when I go home every weekend, I teach my younger siblings how to read and write and my mother is happy about that,\" Fatima says, before heading back to her English class. It is a short walk to the home of her grandfather, Al Haji Sani Jibril. He is convinced that Fatima's education is good news for the whole community. \"I believe sending Fatima to school is like educating our whole society, because my granddaughter will influence her peers to go to school,\" he says. \"During my time, we did not have this opportunity to learn. I wouldn't want my children to suffer from the experiences I had,\" he says, adding that educated people are the only ones who have a say in today's society. British taxpayers are helping fund improvements to Nigeria's long-neglected education system, including these reforms to the religious schools. Oil-rich Nigeria is not short of cash, but by offering technical expertise the goal is to improve the quality of education for both boys and girls. There is a fear that more uneducated youth could end up as recruits for groups like Boko Haram. The Kano state governor, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has thrown his support and financial clout behind educational reforms, including the modernisation of Koranic schools. \"I believe it is important to engage them to make sure that they are employable, so we can reduce the challenges we are facing today,\" says  Mr Kwankwaso. His government has now introduced a law banning parents from sending their children away for religious education without offering them financial support. \"We are all aware that there is certainly a correlation between illiteracy, poverty and conflict,\" he says. I asked if he was worried about the reforms, given Boko Haram's view on Western education. \"What we are doing here in Kano is to say that Western education is very relevant, Islamic education is very relevant and of course they have to go side by side,\" he says. \"That is the only way we can really make progress in this part of the country.\" Controversy over education is not new here. Islam came to northern Nigeria more than 1,000 years ago. But secular education is a relatively recent arrival. British forces, using mainly African troops, captured Kano in 1903. Since then, there has been a degree of resistance to \"Western education\" because of the link to colonialism and a perception that Islam was under threat. So for those keen to see the old and the new integrated in the religious schools, there was initially some nervousness. \"From the beginning, some people thought the programme was going to be small in terms of numbers,\" says educationist Yardada Maikano. \"But the demand has been huge as more and more mallams are calling for basic education to be integrated in their schools. So this demand is now a challenge. \"I feel overwhelmed, I feel elevated and I feel happy,\" she adds. \"And that is why I continue with the struggle to make sure that those that have not been enrolled are given a chance to have religious and secular education at the same time.\" Improving education in northern Nigeria was already an immense task, even before Boko Haram started its campaign of violence. But every day, people are working hard here to give all children a fighting chance of fulfilling their dreams. Fatima already has high hopes. \"I want to be a doctor or a lawyer - that is my goal,\" she says. \"I will not get married until I achieve this goal.\"", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 3700, "answer_end": 5013, "text": "British taxpayers are helping fund improvements to Nigeria's long-neglected education system, including these reforms to the religious schools. Oil-rich Nigeria is not short of cash, but by offering technical expertise the goal is to improve the quality of education for both boys and girls. There is a fear that more uneducated youth could end up as recruits for groups like Boko Haram. The Kano state governor, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has thrown his support and financial clout behind educational reforms, including the modernisation of Koranic schools. \"I believe it is important to engage them to make sure that they are employable, so we can reduce the challenges we are facing today,\" says  Mr Kwankwaso. His government has now introduced a law banning parents from sending their children away for religious education without offering them financial support. \"We are all aware that there is certainly a correlation between illiteracy, poverty and conflict,\" he says. I asked if he was worried about the reforms, given Boko Haram's view on Western education. \"What we are doing here in Kano is to say that Western education is very relevant, Islamic education is very relevant and of course they have to go side by side,\" he says. \"That is the only way we can really make progress in this part of the country.\""}], "question": "Path to peace?", "id": "109_0"}]}]}, {"title": "How charity apps may be making us more generous", "date": "17 December 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Every time Victoria Alderman eats out, she donates 10% of the bill to fight hunger and malnutrition via a charitable giving app. And each time the 25-year-old receptionist from Cambridge, Massachusetts, takes an Uber 2% of the cost of the journey is automatically sent to climate change charities. By using an app from Momentum to set up these and other giving rules, she has donated a little over $100 (PS78) since May. \"It's an effortless way to support charities,\" Ms Alderman says. \"For example, I know I take far too many Ubers, so it's great to be able offset some of the impact of that.\" More Technology of Business US-based Momentum is one of many companies looking to change the way people donate. Its chief executive Nick Fitz and fellow co-founders Ari Kagan and Ivan Dimitrov came up with the idea for Momentum while researching charitable giving. \"We found that most people would like to give 2.5 times as much as they do, and we wanted to do something to try to close that gap,\" says Mr Fitz. Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) - or communication protocols between clients and servers - are what makes the system possible. \"APIs allow us to link donations to people's everyday lives, and to let them track the impact of their giving,\" adds Mr Fitz. \"It's often small actions, but they add up. The 1,000 or so people who've been trialling the app have already donated around $31,000.\" APIs are also key to the flexible fundraising model of UK-based website Givepenny, which uses them to interact with popular services such as Spotify and Fitbit. Via Spotify, for example, sports teams can set up a pre-match changing room playlist to which fans can add songs - in return for a donation to the team's chosen charity. \"We use APIs to talk to third party platforms such as Strava and Twitch, so we can create cool features for people to use to raise money,\" says Givepenny chief executive Lee Clark. Knightenator, a 24-year-old game streamer from near London, is among those taking advantage of these tools. She has raised more than PS2,000 for homeless charity Shelter by linking her Givepenny page to her Twitch stream, allowing fans to donate money if they are moved by her appeal or want her to perform a forfeit, such as biting into a raw onion. \"When you're streaming, it's really important to have immediate alerts so you can show people how it's going and thank those who donate,\" she says. \"People love the buzz of seeing their name on screen and it can create a real snowball effect. \"Let's just say I've eaten a lot of raw onion!\" You don't need your own stream to support good causes while online gaming, though. US eSports platform Skillz runs Charity Gaming for Good Tournaments that are open to anyone with an iOS or Android device. Last year it raised more than $120,000 for breast cancer foundation Susan G Komen over 10 days of mobile tournaments involving some 25,000 players. \"Skillz can help our charity partners reach a younger demographic and launch large-scale digital fundraisers with little overhead,\" says Skillz founder Andrew Paradise. \"In turn, players get to be part of something bigger than just a game.\" Even with all these new ways to support good causes via the internet, online giving currently accounts for just 10% of all charitable donations. That is expected to change over the next few years, though. According to the Charities Aid Foundation (CAF) Charity Landscape 2019, 87% of charity chief executives now see investing in technology as a key priority. \"Voluntary donations are an important source of revenue for the charitable sector as a whole,\" says Rhodri Davies, head of policy at CAF. \"Technology is changing where people are giving, with more people using online platforms to support causes.\" Crowdfunding is one of the most promising areas at present. In just two years Beam, which founder Alex Stephany describes as a cross between a crowdfunding platform and a social network, has raised PS563,000 by matching donors with some 150 homeless people looking to change their lives through training. But in years to come, Blockchain technology may prove to be the real game changer - mainly because it offers previously unheard of impact tracking features. \"Blockchain has so much to offer,\" says Raphael Mazet, chief executive of Alice, a UK-based Ethereum giving platform that aims to give donors full transparency. \"The charitable sector is full of inefficiencies and plagued by cynicism. \"Blockchain allows you to measure and control the social or environmental impact of your donations by creating smart contracts that automate payments and make them conditional to the desired impact having been achieved and validated.\" Issues remain, however. \"I am positive about Blockchain's potential,\" Davies says. \"But the technology still isn't really there yet when it comes to showing accountability at scale.\"", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 4066, "answer_end": 4875, "text": "But in years to come, Blockchain technology may prove to be the real game changer - mainly because it offers previously unheard of impact tracking features. \"Blockchain has so much to offer,\" says Raphael Mazet, chief executive of Alice, a UK-based Ethereum giving platform that aims to give donors full transparency. \"The charitable sector is full of inefficiencies and plagued by cynicism. \"Blockchain allows you to measure and control the social or environmental impact of your donations by creating smart contracts that automate payments and make them conditional to the desired impact having been achieved and validated.\" Issues remain, however. \"I am positive about Blockchain's potential,\" Davies says. \"But the technology still isn't really there yet when it comes to showing accountability at scale.\""}], "question": "Game changer?", "id": "110_0"}]}]}, {"title": "US election: Why is Clinton's foundation so controversial?", "date": "23 August 2016", "paragraphs": [{"context": "The Clinton Foundation's value is in the eye of the beholder. It has been lauded as force for good in the world. It has also been condemned as a \"slush fund\" for the Clinton family and a front for official corruption. Either way, it has become a growing source of discomfort for a Hillary Clinton presidential campaign that would much rather have voters and the media focus on Donald Trump and his finances. The Bill, Hillary and Chelsea Clinton Foundation is an international charitable organisation founded in 1997, originally to establish the Bill Clinton presidential library. Unlike personally endowed \"private foundations\" that serve as a pass-through for donations to other groups that do the on-the-ground work, the Clinton Foundation is an \"operating foundation\" - which means it primarily conducts its own charitable activities. The organisation's goal, as stated on its website, is decidedly grand: \"We build partnerships between businesses, NGOs, governments, and individuals everywhere to work faster, leaner and better; to find solutions that last; and to transform lives and communities from what they are today to what they can be, tomorrow.\" The foundation has 11 major programmes focusing on agriculture in Africa, combating childhood obesity, economic development in South America, earthquake relief in Haiti, reducing the cost of Aids drugs and mitigating climate change. It also operates the Clinton Global Initiative, an annual gathering of political leaders, business executives, non-profit officials and celebrities that discuss solutions to international problems. The foundation reports that it has raised $2bn (PS1.5bn), employs more than 2,000 workers and maintains an annual budget of more than $223m (PS170m). The rating group Charity Watch gives the Clinton Foundation an \"A\" and reports that 88% of the money the foundation brings in goes to its programmes, with the rest spent on overheads - surpassing the benchmark for reputable charity groups. In an extensive profile, the Washington Post details the rather unorthodox way the foundation evolved into its current sprawling, multibillion-dollar form. \"It was not designed as a master plan but rather has grown, one brainstorm at a time, in accordance with the ambitious, loyal, restless and often scattered nature of its primary namesake,\" the Post reporters write. \"Many programs were sparked by chance encounters in Bill Clinton's life.\" They describe Mr Clinton as a \"convener who wrangles rich people's money for poor people's problems\". The Clinton Foundation's list of donors who have given more than a million dollars is a hodgepodge of international aid organisations, national governments, corporations and wealthy international elites. There's the usual collection of prominent charitable groups, such as the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the Children's Investment Fund, the Rockefeller Foundation and the Pritzker Family Foundation. The contributor roll also includes some heavy-hitting FOBs (friends of Bill, as they're often called) with a decided entertainment-industry tilt, such as American media mogul Fred Eychaner, Ukrainian steel executive Victor Pinchuk, Irish communications billionaire Denis O'Brien and Egyptian-born investor Haim Saban. Canadian mining entrepreneur and film-producer Frank Giustra has contributed more than $100m to the foundation's various enterprises and is on its board of directors. The governments of the Netherlands, Kuwait, Norway, Australia and Saudi Arabia also are big-money donors, as are the companies ExxonMobil, Cisco, Booz Allen Hamilton, Anheuser-Busch, Coca-Cola, Barclays bank and TracFone Wireless. All in all, more than half of the million-dollar-plus contributors are from outside the US. An organisation that brings in billions of dollars in donations from around the world and is operated by an ex-president and a possible future president who served at a high level in another presidency creates all sorts of possible conflicts of interest. It's something the Obama White House was keenly aware of when it vetted Mrs Clinton for the secretary of state job in 2009. Before she was offered the Cabinet-level position White House adviser Valerie Jarrett negotiated an ethics agreement with Bruce Linsey, then the head of the Clinton Foundation, that set out a separation between the charity organisation and the State Department. Mrs Clinton signed a document in which she promised to remove herself from participation in any matter that could have a \"direct and predictable effect\" on the foundation unless she had a written waiver from the administration. Despite these paper pledges, Clinton critics assert that the foundation created the possibility that donors could unduly influence Mrs Clinton's official actions and provide individuals with special access to her. The 2015 book Clinton Cash by Peter Schweizer laid out numerous examples of Clinton Foundation donations that were followed by State Department actions that were favourable to the donor. The New York Times, in an April 2015 article, took a detailed look at one such instance. In 2010 the State Department approved a move by the Russian state-owned company Rosatom to purchase a Canadian mining company with uranium mineral rights on US soil after a bank with ties to the Russian company paid Mr Clinton $500,000 for a speaking engagement in Moscow. The Canadian company in question was founded by million-dollar foundation donor Frank Giustra. The Clinton campaign has been quick to point out that the State Department wasn't the only US government agency that had to sign off on the deal and that there was no evidence that Mrs Clinton did anything improper. There have been no clear quid-pro-quo connections found in any of Schweizer's list of alleged transgressions. Questions about special access for donors surfaced in August 2016, when emails on the private server Mrs Clinton maintained while secretary of state revealed that the firewall between the foundation and State Department wasn't always impregnable. For instance, foundation executive Doug Band contacted top Clinton State Department official Huma Abedin - who also was also paid as an independent contractor by the foundation - about arranging special government meetings for donors such as Crown Prince Salman of Bahrain, weight-loss drink executive S Daniel Abraham and Lebanese-Nigerian Gilbert Chagoury. \"We need Gilbert Chagoury to speak to the substance person re Lebanon,\" Band wrote to Abedin and Clinton aide Cheryl Mills in one email. \"As you know, he's a key guy there and to us and is loved in Lebanon. Very imp[ortant].\" Clinton campaign officials have said that many of the meetings never happened and, in any event, Mrs Clinton never took actions based on contributions to the foundation. That hasn't stopped another round of questions about the foundation, however. \"The Clintons' cosy relationship with their foundation's global patrons was a problem when Hillary was secretary of state and it is a problem now that she's running for president,\" writes Slate's Josh Vorhees. Kevin Drum of the liberal Mother Jones magazine is unimpressed, however, saying Mrs Clinton ran the department with \"a surprisingly high level of integrity\". \"Lots of people talked to Huma Abedin to try to set up meetings with Hillary Clinton,\" he writes. \"Generally speaking, Abedin treated them politely but told them to get lost. That's about it.\" On 23 August, the Associated Press reported that during the first two years of Mrs Clinton's tenure as secretary of state, more than half the non-governmental, non-foreign individuals Mrs Clinton had official meetings or phone calls with were donors to the Clinton Foundation. \"The frequency of the overlaps shows the intermingling of access and donations, and fuels perceptions that giving the foundation money was a price of admission for face time with Clinton,\" Stephen Braun and Eileen Sullivan write. The Clinton campaign called the AP report \"outrageous\" and that Mrs Clinton had around 1,700 meetings in her first two years in office, of which only 85 were with foundation donors - some of whom were Nobel Prize laureates and leaders of major charity groups, like Melinda Gates. There have been enough doubts raised about the nature of the ties between the foundation and the State Department, however, that the Federal Bureau of Investigation considered opening a public corruption investigation into the matter. According to press reports, earlier in 2016 three FBI field offices recommended launching a formal probe into the possibility of criminal conflict of interest between the foundation and the State Department after a bank informed the bureau of \"suspicious activity\" by an unnamed foreigner who gave money to the foundation. The Justice Department, which had conducted its own review of allegations made in Schweizer's Clinton Cash book, reportedly told the FBI that it concluded there were no grounds for a formal investigation. According to conservative writer Noah Rothman of Commentary magazine, it is \"almost impossible to divorce the Obama Justice Department's transparently political handling of the Clinton email saga with its transparently political handling of the Clinton Foundation woes\". There are some reports in conservative media that the federal attorneys are conducting a separate investigation into the Clinton foundation, although there has been no confirmation from any of the parties involved. Clinton campaign spokesman Brian Fallon has called these stories \"baseless\". Even as the Clinton team denies the various allegations and rumours swirling around the Clinton Foundation, it has taken some concrete steps to try to defuse the situation. On 18 August, Mr Clinton announced that the foundation would no longer accept foreign or corporate donations if Mrs Clinton were to be elected president. In addition he said he would stop giving paid speeches for the duration of the campaign, end the annual Clinton Global Initiative meetings and step down from the organisation's board of directors during his wife's time in the White House. The move doesn't apply to the Clinton Health Access Initiative, which works to lower the cost of Aids drugs in developing nations. It has a separate board of directors and will consider a similar move at a later date. Mr Clinton's announced steps may not be enough to assuage concerns about the possibility of conflicts of interest, however. Earlier in the week the Boston Globe's editorial board urged the foundation to stop accepting donations of any kind for the remainder of the campaign and shut down entirely if Mrs Clinton is elected president. \"If the foundation's donors are truly motivated by altruism, and not by the lure of access to the Clintons, then surely they can find other ways to support the foundation's goals,\" the editors write. \"And in four or eight years, the Clinton family could always form a new foundation and re-establish their charitable efforts.\" New York magazine's Jonathan Chait echoed this call, writing that the foundation is \"hardly a large or unique source of corruption\", but is \"a source of grubby, low-level access headaches\". Former Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell, who served as chair of the Democratic National Committee during the last year of Mr Clinton's presidency, said it would be \"impossible to keep the foundation open without at least the appearance of a problem\". In June Mr Clinton said that the foundation would make \"some changes\" if his wife were elected president, but \"we'll just have to cross that bridge when we come to it\". Given the level of uproar, however, the bridge may be underfoot. Unsurprisingly, the Republican nominee isn't holding back when it comes to lobbing charges of criminality against his Democratic opponent. He has repeatedly called the Clinton Foundation a \"pay to play\" scheme that allowed Mrs Clinton to influence-peddle while at the State Department. At a rally on 22 August Mr Trump called for a special prosecutor to investigate the Clinton Foundation, adding that the Justice Department and the FBI can't be trusted to \"quickly or impartially investigate Hillary Clinton's new crimes\". Earlier that day, the campaign released a statement calling for the foundation to be shut down immediately. \"It is now clear that the Clinton Foundation is the most corrupt enterprise in political history,\" Mr Trump said in the release. \"What they were doing during crooked Hillary's time as secretary of state was wrong then, and it is wrong now.\" The swirls of controversy around the Clinton Foundation have given Mr Trump and his campaign surrogates the opportunity to go on the attack against Mrs Clinton after weeks of unforced errors and sinking poll numbers. Mrs Clinton already suffers from negative ratings for her honesty and integrity in opinion surveys, so many Americans may be predisposed to believe the allegations of improper behaviour while secretary of state are valid. Mr Trump has serious favourability issues of his own, of course, but it seems like the strategy for the duration of the campaign will be to try to drag Mrs Clinton down as low as possible - and his campaign seems convinced the foundation is a key point of weakness. Clarification 26 August 2016:  We have been asked to make clear that the Crown Prince of Bahrain is not a donor to the Clinton Foundation or the Clinton Global Initiative and that requests for a meeting were also made through official channels.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 408, "answer_end": 2526, "text": "The Bill, Hillary and Chelsea Clinton Foundation is an international charitable organisation founded in 1997, originally to establish the Bill Clinton presidential library. Unlike personally endowed \"private foundations\" that serve as a pass-through for donations to other groups that do the on-the-ground work, the Clinton Foundation is an \"operating foundation\" - which means it primarily conducts its own charitable activities. The organisation's goal, as stated on its website, is decidedly grand: \"We build partnerships between businesses, NGOs, governments, and individuals everywhere to work faster, leaner and better; to find solutions that last; and to transform lives and communities from what they are today to what they can be, tomorrow.\" The foundation has 11 major programmes focusing on agriculture in Africa, combating childhood obesity, economic development in South America, earthquake relief in Haiti, reducing the cost of Aids drugs and mitigating climate change. It also operates the Clinton Global Initiative, an annual gathering of political leaders, business executives, non-profit officials and celebrities that discuss solutions to international problems. The foundation reports that it has raised $2bn (PS1.5bn), employs more than 2,000 workers and maintains an annual budget of more than $223m (PS170m). The rating group Charity Watch gives the Clinton Foundation an \"A\" and reports that 88% of the money the foundation brings in goes to its programmes, with the rest spent on overheads - surpassing the benchmark for reputable charity groups. In an extensive profile, the Washington Post details the rather unorthodox way the foundation evolved into its current sprawling, multibillion-dollar form. \"It was not designed as a master plan but rather has grown, one brainstorm at a time, in accordance with the ambitious, loyal, restless and often scattered nature of its primary namesake,\" the Post reporters write. \"Many programs were sparked by chance encounters in Bill Clinton's life.\" They describe Mr Clinton as a \"convener who wrangles rich people's money for poor people's problems\"."}], "question": "So what is the Clinton Foundation, anyway?", "id": "111_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2527, "answer_end": 3741, "text": "The Clinton Foundation's list of donors who have given more than a million dollars is a hodgepodge of international aid organisations, national governments, corporations and wealthy international elites. There's the usual collection of prominent charitable groups, such as the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the Children's Investment Fund, the Rockefeller Foundation and the Pritzker Family Foundation. The contributor roll also includes some heavy-hitting FOBs (friends of Bill, as they're often called) with a decided entertainment-industry tilt, such as American media mogul Fred Eychaner, Ukrainian steel executive Victor Pinchuk, Irish communications billionaire Denis O'Brien and Egyptian-born investor Haim Saban. Canadian mining entrepreneur and film-producer Frank Giustra has contributed more than $100m to the foundation's various enterprises and is on its board of directors. The governments of the Netherlands, Kuwait, Norway, Australia and Saudi Arabia also are big-money donors, as are the companies ExxonMobil, Cisco, Booz Allen Hamilton, Anheuser-Busch, Coca-Cola, Barclays bank and TracFone Wireless. All in all, more than half of the million-dollar-plus contributors are from outside the US."}], "question": "Who are these \"rich people\" donors?", "id": "111_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3742, "answer_end": 4824, "text": "An organisation that brings in billions of dollars in donations from around the world and is operated by an ex-president and a possible future president who served at a high level in another presidency creates all sorts of possible conflicts of interest. It's something the Obama White House was keenly aware of when it vetted Mrs Clinton for the secretary of state job in 2009. Before she was offered the Cabinet-level position White House adviser Valerie Jarrett negotiated an ethics agreement with Bruce Linsey, then the head of the Clinton Foundation, that set out a separation between the charity organisation and the State Department. Mrs Clinton signed a document in which she promised to remove herself from participation in any matter that could have a \"direct and predictable effect\" on the foundation unless she had a written waiver from the administration. Despite these paper pledges, Clinton critics assert that the foundation created the possibility that donors could unduly influence Mrs Clinton's official actions and provide individuals with special access to her."}], "question": "Why has the foundation been controversial?", "id": "111_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 8458, "answer_end": 9548, "text": "According to press reports, earlier in 2016 three FBI field offices recommended launching a formal probe into the possibility of criminal conflict of interest between the foundation and the State Department after a bank informed the bureau of \"suspicious activity\" by an unnamed foreigner who gave money to the foundation. The Justice Department, which had conducted its own review of allegations made in Schweizer's Clinton Cash book, reportedly told the FBI that it concluded there were no grounds for a formal investigation. According to conservative writer Noah Rothman of Commentary magazine, it is \"almost impossible to divorce the Obama Justice Department's transparently political handling of the Clinton email saga with its transparently political handling of the Clinton Foundation woes\". There are some reports in conservative media that the federal attorneys are conducting a separate investigation into the Clinton foundation, although there has been no confirmation from any of the parties involved. Clinton campaign spokesman Brian Fallon has called these stories \"baseless\"."}], "question": "Why didn't the FBI investigate the foundation?", "id": "111_3"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 9549, "answer_end": 11668, "text": "Even as the Clinton team denies the various allegations and rumours swirling around the Clinton Foundation, it has taken some concrete steps to try to defuse the situation. On 18 August, Mr Clinton announced that the foundation would no longer accept foreign or corporate donations if Mrs Clinton were to be elected president. In addition he said he would stop giving paid speeches for the duration of the campaign, end the annual Clinton Global Initiative meetings and step down from the organisation's board of directors during his wife's time in the White House. The move doesn't apply to the Clinton Health Access Initiative, which works to lower the cost of Aids drugs in developing nations. It has a separate board of directors and will consider a similar move at a later date. Mr Clinton's announced steps may not be enough to assuage concerns about the possibility of conflicts of interest, however. Earlier in the week the Boston Globe's editorial board urged the foundation to stop accepting donations of any kind for the remainder of the campaign and shut down entirely if Mrs Clinton is elected president. \"If the foundation's donors are truly motivated by altruism, and not by the lure of access to the Clintons, then surely they can find other ways to support the foundation's goals,\" the editors write. \"And in four or eight years, the Clinton family could always form a new foundation and re-establish their charitable efforts.\" New York magazine's Jonathan Chait echoed this call, writing that the foundation is \"hardly a large or unique source of corruption\", but is \"a source of grubby, low-level access headaches\". Former Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell, who served as chair of the Democratic National Committee during the last year of Mr Clinton's presidency, said it would be \"impossible to keep the foundation open without at least the appearance of a problem\". In June Mr Clinton said that the foundation would make \"some changes\" if his wife were elected president, but \"we'll just have to cross that bridge when we come to it\". Given the level of uproar, however, the bridge may be underfoot."}], "question": "The Clinton campaign isn't concerned?", "id": "111_4"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 11669, "answer_end": 13491, "text": "Unsurprisingly, the Republican nominee isn't holding back when it comes to lobbing charges of criminality against his Democratic opponent. He has repeatedly called the Clinton Foundation a \"pay to play\" scheme that allowed Mrs Clinton to influence-peddle while at the State Department. At a rally on 22 August Mr Trump called for a special prosecutor to investigate the Clinton Foundation, adding that the Justice Department and the FBI can't be trusted to \"quickly or impartially investigate Hillary Clinton's new crimes\". Earlier that day, the campaign released a statement calling for the foundation to be shut down immediately. \"It is now clear that the Clinton Foundation is the most corrupt enterprise in political history,\" Mr Trump said in the release. \"What they were doing during crooked Hillary's time as secretary of state was wrong then, and it is wrong now.\" The swirls of controversy around the Clinton Foundation have given Mr Trump and his campaign surrogates the opportunity to go on the attack against Mrs Clinton after weeks of unforced errors and sinking poll numbers. Mrs Clinton already suffers from negative ratings for her honesty and integrity in opinion surveys, so many Americans may be predisposed to believe the allegations of improper behaviour while secretary of state are valid. Mr Trump has serious favourability issues of his own, of course, but it seems like the strategy for the duration of the campaign will be to try to drag Mrs Clinton down as low as possible - and his campaign seems convinced the foundation is a key point of weakness. Clarification 26 August 2016:  We have been asked to make clear that the Crown Prince of Bahrain is not a donor to the Clinton Foundation or the Clinton Global Initiative and that requests for a meeting were also made through official channels."}], "question": "So what does Donald Trump have to say about all this?", "id": "111_5"}]}]}, {"title": "Slavko Curuvija murder: Serb spies jailed for killing journalist", "date": "5 April 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Four former Serbian spies have been jailed for the murder of journalist Slavko Curuvija in 1999. A Belgrade court jailed two of the defendants for 30 years each, while two others received 20-year sentences. Curuvija, an outspoken critic of the late Serbian leader Slobodan Milosevic, was gunned down outside his apartment. Media freedom group Reporters Without Borders said it was the first time in recent history that anyone had been jailed for killing a journalist. In its verdict, the court said an \"unknown person\" had ordered the hit. Curuvija's family have in the past accused Milosevic, who died in 2006. \"[This] sends a clear message that crimes against dissenting voices cannot remain unpunished,\" the Slavko Curuvija Foundation also said in a statement. Mr Curuvija was the editor and owner of Dnevni Telegraf - Serbia's first independent daily newspaper - and Evropljanin magazine. He wrote several reports on Kosovo, including a series of articles on political prisoners in what was then Yugoslavia. His publications were fiercely critical of Milosevic, and became targets of a government crackdown on national media. The journalist was killed in April 1999, days after a pro-government newspaper published an opinion piece alleging that he supported Nato's air strikes on the former Yugoslavia. The raids were intended to halt Serbian violence against ethnic Albanian civilians in Kosovo, fomented by President Milosevic. Milosevic died in 2006 whilst on trial for war crimes at a UN court in The Hague. Mr Curuvija was shot 14 times and died outside his Belgrade apartment in April 1999. His family believe President Milosevic personally ordered his murder, though no-one has yet been identified. Four men were eventually charged and, on Friday, convicted. Former secret police chief Radomir Markovic, and Milan Radonjic, who headed the intelligence branch for Belgrade, were jailed for 30 years each. Former intelligence officers Ratko Romic and Miroslav Kurak were also handed 20-year prison terms for aggravated murder. Kurak is on the run. The court ruled that Markovic had told Radonjic of plans to murder the journalist - Radonjic then conspired with Romic and Kurak to carry out the killing. According to the indictment, Kurak pulled the trigger while Romic acted as an accomplice. Markovic is already serving a 40-year sentence for several crimes, including the murder of Serbian President Ivan Stambolic, whose body was found in 2003, three years after he disappeared. In 2017, both Romic and Radonjic were also acquitted of attempting to murder political opposition leader Vuk Draskovic. Over 100 witnesses testified during the trial, which first opened in June 2015. The court has made several controversial rulings. Back in 2017, the court released Romic and Radonjic from custody and placed them under house arrest instead, ordering them to wear electronic tags. Crucial phone records allegedly placing the suspects at the scene of the crime were also dismissed by judges on two occasions. Both decisions were later overturned on appeal. The court also refused to hear testimony from a police inspector, Dragan Kecman, who collected the phone records. This decision was also overturned and Mr Kecman appeared in court last year. During his testimony, Mr Kecman said that the Serbian regime considered Mr Curuvija to be \"state enemy number one.\"", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 764, "answer_end": 1516, "text": "Mr Curuvija was the editor and owner of Dnevni Telegraf - Serbia's first independent daily newspaper - and Evropljanin magazine. He wrote several reports on Kosovo, including a series of articles on political prisoners in what was then Yugoslavia. His publications were fiercely critical of Milosevic, and became targets of a government crackdown on national media. The journalist was killed in April 1999, days after a pro-government newspaper published an opinion piece alleging that he supported Nato's air strikes on the former Yugoslavia. The raids were intended to halt Serbian violence against ethnic Albanian civilians in Kosovo, fomented by President Milosevic. Milosevic died in 2006 whilst on trial for war crimes at a UN court in The Hague."}], "question": "Who was Slavko Curuvija?", "id": "112_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Do Sats really matter - and if so, to whom?", "date": "15 May 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Children in their final year of primary school in England sit their national curriculum tests, often known as Sats, this week - but who is really being tested? The tests measure children's progress, but the results are used to compare schools. They started on Monday with tests for 11-year-olds in English grammar, punctuation and spelling and end on Thursday with maths. Similar tests for seven-year-olds also get under way this month, but there is no set timetable and these tests are due to be scrapped altogether by 2023. Only the tests taken by 11-year-olds are marked externally. Ultimately the results are used to hold schools to account for the attainment of their pupils and the progress that they make. Progress is measured by comparing the results of tests taken at the end of Key Stage 1, by seven-year-olds, and those taken at age 11. Schools are expected to meet a minimum \"floor standard\". Schools are below the floor standard if under 65% of pupils meet the expected standard in reading, writing and mathematics and they fail to make sufficient progress in all three subjects. In July parents are given their own children's raw scores (the marks they get) and are told whether or not they are at the expected level. The reading and maths test scores are given on a scale of 80 to 120 - with a score of 100 or more meaning a pupil is meeting the expected standard. Writing is assessed by the children's own teachers, who have to decide whether individual pupils are meeting or exceeding the expected standard. The results of Sats tests taken by 11-year-olds are published each year in primary school league tables produced by the Department for Education. A facility on the website allows users to rank schools in England by different measures, for example to compare schools with the national average and with other local schools. The league tables are often the first port of call for parents who want to choose schools for their children or simply judge how well schools in their area are doing. But many education experts say the tables show only how well a particular year group of pupils at a given school has performed in tests or exams. They argue that the tables often say more about the intake of a school than the teaching and learning that goes on there. Critics also say the tables encourage competition, rather than collaboration, between schools in local areas and can lead to middle-class parents pushing to get their children into top schools, further driving down standards at less popular schools. Educationalists also say the tables reveal nothing about the extra-curricular activities on offer such as sport and drama or details about a school's pastoral care system and say there is no substitute for visiting a school you are interested in sending your child to or talking to teachers, parents and current pupils. Ministers say the tables help drive up standards by providing valuable information for parents and increasing local accountability. And research carried out by Bristol University suggested the abolition of league tables in Wales in 2001 had led to a drop in standards in about three-quarters of schools. Sats results are definitely part of the picture when it comes to secondary schools deciding how to pitch lessons to their new Year 7s and, if they use setting and streaming, to gauge where to put individual pupils. \"Sats are accurate in terms of the knowledge they are testing... but they are only part of the picture,\" says Julie McCulloch, director of policy with the Association of School and College Leaders. Children take them in only English and maths and they test only a subset of what they can do in those subjects, she says. So, most schools also do their own tests to help rate the new arrivals' abilities. However, according to Ms McCulloch there is no substitute for building a dialogue with Year 6 teachers at feeder primary schools, \"so that learning can continue as effectively as possible\". The test results form part of Ofsted inspection reports on schools, although inspectors are also meant to consider other parts of the primary curriculum not included in the tests. However, last year a report by MPs expressed concern that too many inspection reports were overly focused on English and maths \"and can neglect other national curriculum subjects like science\". \"Ofsted has significant power to influence school behaviour, and neglecting to comment on core parts of the curriculum contributes to the overemphasis on English and maths teaching at primary school,\" it said. \"The Ofsted framework already includes the importance of a broad and balanced curriculum, but this does not appear to translate into every inspection report,\" the MPs wrote. The report recommended that \"every report should specifically include science as a core subject alongside English and maths, as well as a range of other areas of the curriculum and extra-curricular activities\". In October, Ofsted's chief inspector, Amanda Spielman, indicated a likely change in inspection priorities for primary schools when she warned of too much focus on tests and exams too often at the expense of \"rich and full knowledge\". \"I acknowledge that inspection may well have helped to tip this balance in the past,\" Ms Spielman said. Government advice is that schools will ensure that pupils are well prepared for the tests and parents and pupils should follow teachers' instructions throughout the year. Parents need to make sure that any homework is completed on time and to a good standard and should encourage their children to read regularly, says the advice. Some schools will hold revision sessions in school time and might set some extra homework. But every year there a stories of schools who advocate a different approach immediately before the tests. This year Year 6 pupils at the Flying Bull Academy in Portsmouth struck power poses ahead of their tests. And in 2016 copies of a letter sent out to pupils by several schools went viral. \"We know how hard you have worked,\" said the letter. It told children: \"While you are preparing for the test and in the midst of it all remember there is no way to 'test' all of the amazing and awesome things that make you you. \"Sleep, rest, believe and sparkle.\"", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 160, "answer_end": 1092, "text": "The tests measure children's progress, but the results are used to compare schools. They started on Monday with tests for 11-year-olds in English grammar, punctuation and spelling and end on Thursday with maths. Similar tests for seven-year-olds also get under way this month, but there is no set timetable and these tests are due to be scrapped altogether by 2023. Only the tests taken by 11-year-olds are marked externally. Ultimately the results are used to hold schools to account for the attainment of their pupils and the progress that they make. Progress is measured by comparing the results of tests taken at the end of Key Stage 1, by seven-year-olds, and those taken at age 11. Schools are expected to meet a minimum \"floor standard\". Schools are below the floor standard if under 65% of pupils meet the expected standard in reading, writing and mathematics and they fail to make sufficient progress in all three subjects."}], "question": "Are Sats a test of the school or the child?", "id": "113_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1093, "answer_end": 1524, "text": "In July parents are given their own children's raw scores (the marks they get) and are told whether or not they are at the expected level. The reading and maths test scores are given on a scale of 80 to 120 - with a score of 100 or more meaning a pupil is meeting the expected standard. Writing is assessed by the children's own teachers, who have to decide whether individual pupils are meeting or exceeding the expected standard."}], "question": "Are parents given the results for their own children?", "id": "113_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1525, "answer_end": 3155, "text": "The results of Sats tests taken by 11-year-olds are published each year in primary school league tables produced by the Department for Education. A facility on the website allows users to rank schools in England by different measures, for example to compare schools with the national average and with other local schools. The league tables are often the first port of call for parents who want to choose schools for their children or simply judge how well schools in their area are doing. But many education experts say the tables show only how well a particular year group of pupils at a given school has performed in tests or exams. They argue that the tables often say more about the intake of a school than the teaching and learning that goes on there. Critics also say the tables encourage competition, rather than collaboration, between schools in local areas and can lead to middle-class parents pushing to get their children into top schools, further driving down standards at less popular schools. Educationalists also say the tables reveal nothing about the extra-curricular activities on offer such as sport and drama or details about a school's pastoral care system and say there is no substitute for visiting a school you are interested in sending your child to or talking to teachers, parents and current pupils. Ministers say the tables help drive up standards by providing valuable information for parents and increasing local accountability. And research carried out by Bristol University suggested the abolition of league tables in Wales in 2001 had led to a drop in standards in about three-quarters of schools."}], "question": "What do primary schools do with the results?", "id": "113_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3964, "answer_end": 5270, "text": "The test results form part of Ofsted inspection reports on schools, although inspectors are also meant to consider other parts of the primary curriculum not included in the tests. However, last year a report by MPs expressed concern that too many inspection reports were overly focused on English and maths \"and can neglect other national curriculum subjects like science\". \"Ofsted has significant power to influence school behaviour, and neglecting to comment on core parts of the curriculum contributes to the overemphasis on English and maths teaching at primary school,\" it said. \"The Ofsted framework already includes the importance of a broad and balanced curriculum, but this does not appear to translate into every inspection report,\" the MPs wrote. The report recommended that \"every report should specifically include science as a core subject alongside English and maths, as well as a range of other areas of the curriculum and extra-curricular activities\". In October, Ofsted's chief inspector, Amanda Spielman, indicated a likely change in inspection priorities for primary schools when she warned of too much focus on tests and exams too often at the expense of \"rich and full knowledge\". \"I acknowledge that inspection may well have helped to tip this balance in the past,\" Ms Spielman said."}], "question": "How does Ofsted use Sats results?", "id": "113_3"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 5271, "answer_end": 6249, "text": "Government advice is that schools will ensure that pupils are well prepared for the tests and parents and pupils should follow teachers' instructions throughout the year. Parents need to make sure that any homework is completed on time and to a good standard and should encourage their children to read regularly, says the advice. Some schools will hold revision sessions in school time and might set some extra homework. But every year there a stories of schools who advocate a different approach immediately before the tests. This year Year 6 pupils at the Flying Bull Academy in Portsmouth struck power poses ahead of their tests. And in 2016 copies of a letter sent out to pupils by several schools went viral. \"We know how hard you have worked,\" said the letter. It told children: \"While you are preparing for the test and in the midst of it all remember there is no way to 'test' all of the amazing and awesome things that make you you. \"Sleep, rest, believe and sparkle.\""}], "question": "Should children relax or revise before Sats?", "id": "113_4"}]}]}, {"title": "South Korea's President Park 'willing to resign'", "date": "29 November 2016", "paragraphs": [{"context": "South Korea's President Park Geun-hye has said she has asked parliament to help her find a way to stand down. Ms Park faced growing calls to resign amid an investigation into whether she allowed a long-time friend to influence political decisions for personal gain. She said she would \"leave to parliament everything about my future including shortening of my term\", but did not want to leave a power vacuum. Parliament is due to discuss on Friday whether she should face impeachment. Some in the ruling party had said the president should stand down \"honourably\" before it reached that point. Opposition parties accuse her of now trying to escape impeachment. Ms Park has apologised twice before, and has said she is \"heartbroken\" by the political crisis around her, but has refused to stand down. In Tuesday's televised address, her third since reports of the scandal began, Ms Park said she would step down \"once lawmakers come up with measures to transfer power in a way that minimises any power vacuum and chaos in governance\". A spokesman for the opposition Democratic Party, Youn Kwan-suk, said the speech was a \"trick\" which \"lacked reflection\". \"What people want is her immediate resignation, not dragging out and dodging the responsibility to the parliament,\" he told the Yonhap news agency. The scandal stems from the president's relationship with her close friend, Choi Soon-sil. Ms Choi is accused of trying to extort huge sums of money from South Korean companies. She is also suspected of using her friendship with Ms Park to solicit business donations for a non-profit fund she controlled. It is also alleged that Ms Park passed large numbers of confidential government documents to Ms Choi, via an aide. Ms Choi is in police detention, facing a string of charges. If parliament passes a motion for Ms Park's impeachment on Friday, she would face immediate suspension from presidential duties. The prime minister would take over as temporary government head. The Constitutional Court would then have to decide whether to approve the impeachment, a process which could take up to six months. But given Ms Park's recent announcement, her party is now asking for the impeachment efforts to be delayed. The BBC's Steve Evans in Seoul says her announcement is not quite a resignation, but an offer to resign later.  Yet it does imply, he adds, that her days in office are now severely limited. The allegations have reached across South Korean politics and industry. Two of Ms Park's aides have also been charged along with a pop music producer. The offices of the national pension fund have been raided as have several major Korean companies including Lotte and Samsung. Investigators believe Ms Park had a \"considerable\" role in the alleged corruption, but the president's representatives have said the accusations are a \"fantasy\". In recent weeks, hundreds of thousands of Koreans have joined huge street protests across the country demanding that she leave office.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1302, "answer_end": 1780, "text": "The scandal stems from the president's relationship with her close friend, Choi Soon-sil. Ms Choi is accused of trying to extort huge sums of money from South Korean companies. She is also suspected of using her friendship with Ms Park to solicit business donations for a non-profit fund she controlled. It is also alleged that Ms Park passed large numbers of confidential government documents to Ms Choi, via an aide. Ms Choi is in police detention, facing a string of charges."}], "question": "What did Ms Park do?", "id": "114_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1781, "answer_end": 2404, "text": "If parliament passes a motion for Ms Park's impeachment on Friday, she would face immediate suspension from presidential duties. The prime minister would take over as temporary government head. The Constitutional Court would then have to decide whether to approve the impeachment, a process which could take up to six months. But given Ms Park's recent announcement, her party is now asking for the impeachment efforts to be delayed. The BBC's Steve Evans in Seoul says her announcement is not quite a resignation, but an offer to resign later.  Yet it does imply, he adds, that her days in office are now severely limited."}], "question": "What could happen next?", "id": "114_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2405, "answer_end": 2978, "text": "The allegations have reached across South Korean politics and industry. Two of Ms Park's aides have also been charged along with a pop music producer. The offices of the national pension fund have been raided as have several major Korean companies including Lotte and Samsung. Investigators believe Ms Park had a \"considerable\" role in the alleged corruption, but the president's representatives have said the accusations are a \"fantasy\". In recent weeks, hundreds of thousands of Koreans have joined huge street protests across the country demanding that she leave office."}], "question": "What has been the impact of the scandal?", "id": "114_2"}]}]}, {"title": "Chirac's death: French head to palace to remember leader", "date": "27 September 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "France is paying its respects to ex-President Jacques Chirac, ahead of a public ceremony in Paris on Sunday and a day of national mourning and a private funeral planned for Monday. Hundreds of mourners queued outside the Elysee Palace to sign a book of condolence in the hall of honour where Chirac used to greet heads of state. Chirac died on Thursday aged 86. He was twice president and prime minister. His widow, Bernardette, was at his bedside and is said to be deeply hurt. As pictures of the former president adorned France's front pages on Friday, friends and politicians remembered a man who had represented the country on the world stage. Prime Minister Edouard Philippe praised Chirac as \"a Frenchman in every sense of the word\". \"Like everyone I'm very moved and a little nostalgic.\" A one-time rival for the presidency, Jean-Pierre Chevenement, paid tribute to a man who had forcefully argued against the US invasion of Iraq in 2003 and who had taken on the legacy of previous leaders, Charles de Gaulle and Georges Pompidou. Football legend Zinedine Zidane, who was part of the World Cup-winning French team of 1998, told an emotional press conference in Madrid that Chirac \"was our president but above all he was president and friend to all sportsmen and women. He adored people not just the world of politics\". Chirac's close friend Jean-Louis Debre said that in his final moments he had found communication hard but still managed to convey his friendship. \"He took my hand and wouldn't let go for an hour.\" The French government said a public ceremony would take place on Sunday at Les Invalides, where the late leader's remains would be placed for the French public to pay its last respects. France's football federation (FFF) will hold a minute's silence before all the weekend's matches, amateur as well as professional. On Monday, which has been declared a day of national mourning, a minute's silence will be held in schools and public buildings across the country at 15:00 (13:00 GMT). President Emmanuel Macron will attend a ceremony at the church of Saint-Sulpice in Paris. A private family funeral will take place on the same day at Montparnasse cemetery, where Chirac will be laid to rest close to his late daughter, Laurence. His eldest child died in 2016 aged 58 after years of suffering from chronic anorexia. The son of a bank manager, his career began as a high-level civil servant before he went into politics on the centre right. He was mayor of Paris for many years and served two terms as prime minister, including under Socialist President Francois Mitterrand. He won the presidency in 1995 and then again in 2002, becoming France's second longest serving post-war president after his predecessor, Mitterrand. During his second term in office he refused to involve France in the war in Iraq and argued passionately about the invasion with UK Prime Minister Tony Blair. \"How will you be able to look (son) Leo in the face in 20 years' time if you are the one who unleashes this war?\" he asked Mr Blair before the conflict began. While still in office in 2005, he suffered a stroke, and his health continued to decline after he left power. In 2011 he was given a suspended jail sentence for corruption during his period as mayor. He was found guilty of embezzlement and breach of trust for paying members of his political party for municipal jobs that did not exist. In 2014 his wife Bernadette said he would no longer speak in public, noting he had memory trouble.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 2339, "answer_end": 3499, "text": "The son of a bank manager, his career began as a high-level civil servant before he went into politics on the centre right. He was mayor of Paris for many years and served two terms as prime minister, including under Socialist President Francois Mitterrand. He won the presidency in 1995 and then again in 2002, becoming France's second longest serving post-war president after his predecessor, Mitterrand. During his second term in office he refused to involve France in the war in Iraq and argued passionately about the invasion with UK Prime Minister Tony Blair. \"How will you be able to look (son) Leo in the face in 20 years' time if you are the one who unleashes this war?\" he asked Mr Blair before the conflict began. While still in office in 2005, he suffered a stroke, and his health continued to decline after he left power. In 2011 he was given a suspended jail sentence for corruption during his period as mayor. He was found guilty of embezzlement and breach of trust for paying members of his political party for municipal jobs that did not exist. In 2014 his wife Bernadette said he would no longer speak in public, noting he had memory trouble."}], "question": "Who was Chirac?", "id": "115_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Syria war: 'World shrugs' as 103 civilians killed in 10 days", "date": "26 July 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "More than 100 people, including 26 children, have died in air strikes on hospitals, schools, markets and bakeries in north-west Syria in the past 10 days, a top UN official says. Human rights chief Michelle Bachelet blamed the attacks in rebel-held areas on the government and its allies. But the attacks were met with \"apparent international indifference\", she said. Syria and its ally Russia have both denied targeting civilians in air strikes in the Idlib region. Speaking to reporters, Ms Bachelet criticised the \"failure of leadership by the world's most powerful nations\". The rising death toll in Idlib had been met with a \"collective shrug\" and the conflict had fallen off the international radar, while the UN Security Council was paralysed, she said. She said the civilian targets were unlikely to have been accidental and warned that those carrying out the attacks could be charged with war crimes. \"Intentional attacks against civilians are war crimes, and those who have ordered them or carried them out are criminally responsible for their actions,\" Ms Bachelet said. Idlib province, along with the north of Hama province and western Aleppo province, is one of the last opposition strongholds in Syria after eight years of civil war. It is supposedly covered by a truce brokered in September by Russia and opposition-backer Turkey that spared the 2.7 million civilians living there from a major government offensive. Last week, the UN said more than 350 civilians had been killed and 330,000 forced to flee their homes since fighting escalated on 29 April. But that figure has now been revised, adding 103 extra deaths in the past 10 days alone. The estimate for the number displaced stands at more than 400,000. The government - which is backed by the Russian air force - said the increase in attacks was due to repeated truce violations by jihadists linked to al-Qaeda who dominate the opposition stronghold. Russia has denied reports earlier this week that it carried out airstrikes on a market and residential areas which left at least 31 civilians dead. Even before the conflict began, many Syrians were complaining about high unemployment, corruption and a lack of political freedom under President Bashar al-Assad, who succeeded his father, Hafez, after he died in 2000. In March 2011, pro-democracy demonstrations erupted in the southern city of Deraa, inspired by the \"Arab Spring\" in neighbouring countries. When the government used deadly force to crush the dissent, protests demanding the president's resignation erupted nationwide. The unrest spread and the crackdown intensified. Opposition supporters took up arms, first to defend themselves and later to rid their areas of security forces. Mr Assad vowed to crush what he called \"foreign-backed terrorism\". The violence rapidly escalated and the country descended into civil war. Read more: Why is there a war in Syria?", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1082, "answer_end": 2072, "text": "Idlib province, along with the north of Hama province and western Aleppo province, is one of the last opposition strongholds in Syria after eight years of civil war. It is supposedly covered by a truce brokered in September by Russia and opposition-backer Turkey that spared the 2.7 million civilians living there from a major government offensive. Last week, the UN said more than 350 civilians had been killed and 330,000 forced to flee their homes since fighting escalated on 29 April. But that figure has now been revised, adding 103 extra deaths in the past 10 days alone. The estimate for the number displaced stands at more than 400,000. The government - which is backed by the Russian air force - said the increase in attacks was due to repeated truce violations by jihadists linked to al-Qaeda who dominate the opposition stronghold. Russia has denied reports earlier this week that it carried out airstrikes on a market and residential areas which left at least 31 civilians dead."}], "question": "What is happening in Syria?", "id": "116_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2073, "answer_end": 2899, "text": "Even before the conflict began, many Syrians were complaining about high unemployment, corruption and a lack of political freedom under President Bashar al-Assad, who succeeded his father, Hafez, after he died in 2000. In March 2011, pro-democracy demonstrations erupted in the southern city of Deraa, inspired by the \"Arab Spring\" in neighbouring countries. When the government used deadly force to crush the dissent, protests demanding the president's resignation erupted nationwide. The unrest spread and the crackdown intensified. Opposition supporters took up arms, first to defend themselves and later to rid their areas of security forces. Mr Assad vowed to crush what he called \"foreign-backed terrorism\". The violence rapidly escalated and the country descended into civil war. Read more: Why is there a war in Syria?"}], "question": "How did the Syrian war start?", "id": "116_1"}]}]}, {"title": "EU has 'gun held to head' on steel tariffs", "date": "31 May 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "EU leaders have a \"gun held to their head\" over the threat of US tariffs on steel imports, the head of trade body UK Steel has warned. Gareth Stace said the EU needed to impose safeguards to curb Chinese steel once destined for the US that will now be heading to Europe. The EU has already said it will respond by imposing tariffs on US products such as motorcycles and jeans. The 25% US tariffs are due to come into effect on Friday morning UK time. Steel producers across the EU were granted a temporary exemption from the tariffs while the US tried to persuade the EU to cut steel production or make other concessions. However, reports have suggested that last-minute talks in Paris had failed, with Wilbur Ross, the US Commerce Secretary, indicating that he was poised to impose the tariffs. French finance minister Bruno Le Maire said US tariffs on European metals would be unjustified and dangerous. \"It's entirely up to US authorities whether they want to enter into a trade conflict with their biggest partner, Europe,\" he said after meeting Mr Ross in Paris. The EU would take \"all necessary measures\" to respond if the US did impose tariffs, Mr Le Maire warned. Mr Stace said US tariffs would be \"purely protectionist\". \"What President Trump is proposing to do here is not free trade and it's against WTO rules,\" he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme. \"Since he announced that he was going to impose these blanket, arbitrary tariffs on steel imports almost three months ago we have hoped for the best but we've feared for the worst - and that's what we might see at midnight tonight, US time.\" Mr Stace admitted that there was a problem of global over-capacity in the steel industry, but said most of that was in China. About 20 million tonnes of Chinese steel would need to \"find a new home to go to and, because we are a free and open market here in the UK/the EU, it'll come here, we believe, and therefore further damage our sector - not only from the direct impact of tariffs in the US but the surge of steel coming here\", he said. EU leaders have said they will not negotiate with the US on trade while the tariff issue is unresolved or, as France's President Macron has put it, while they have a gun pointing at their head. \"Ultimately they do have a gun held to their head - they're being ... pushed into a corner,\" said Mr Stace. \"What we might see is damage not only to the UK economy but to the US economy if we don't get a further extension ... or indeed President Trump actually sees sense and understands that there will be no winners here.\" European trade commissioner, Cecilia Malmstrom, said she doubted that Europe could avoid some kind of restriction, whether they be tariffs or export limits. During a discussion panel at an Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development in Paris on Wednesday, Mr Ross said negotiations could continue, even with tariffs in place. If the tariffs go into effect, the US would levy a 25% tax on European steel and 10% tax on the bloc's aluminium. The EU is the world's second-largest steel producer after China. An estimated 320,00 people work in the steel industry across the region. The Trump administration announced the tariffs in March citing the need to protect US steel and aluminium producers for national security reasons. Certain countries, including the EU, were granted exemptions, pending discussions of trade terms. The US has granted more permanent exemptions from the tariffs to some countries, such as South Korea, in exchange for limits on the exports. When the White House announced the measures, the EU threatened to retaliate with tariffs on American imports such as orange juice, cranberries and bourbon. China has already levied new taxes on $3bn worth of US goods, including wine, as retaliation for the steel and aluminium tariffs.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 3155, "answer_end": 3826, "text": "The Trump administration announced the tariffs in March citing the need to protect US steel and aluminium producers for national security reasons. Certain countries, including the EU, were granted exemptions, pending discussions of trade terms. The US has granted more permanent exemptions from the tariffs to some countries, such as South Korea, in exchange for limits on the exports. When the White House announced the measures, the EU threatened to retaliate with tariffs on American imports such as orange juice, cranberries and bourbon. China has already levied new taxes on $3bn worth of US goods, including wine, as retaliation for the steel and aluminium tariffs."}], "question": "How did this begin?", "id": "117_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Asean economic growth 'to outdo EU'", "date": "20 April 2015", "paragraphs": [{"context": "The 10-member Association of South East Asian Nations (Asean) will surpass the EU in growth once its economies have been integrated, the World Economic Forum in Jakarta has heard. Malaysia's international trade and industry minister, Mustapa Mohamed, told the forum that in the next decade, Asean would grow by 5% a year. Meanwhile, the EU would grow less than 2% a year, he said. As a result, Asean would overtake it in 10 to 15 years' time. The bloc is being touted as the world's seventh largest economy once it is unified. It had a combined gross domestic product (GDP) of more than $2.4tn (PS1.6tn) in 2013, according to consultancy AT Kearney. That compares with 13tn euros (PS9.4tn) for the EU in the same period. But with a population of more than 600 million, Mr Mohamed said, the region's youthful population gave it a significant edge over Europe's ageing one. \"What we need to do in Asean is to grow much faster, so we get there much faster, we overtake faster,\" he said. His comparisons to the EU stopped there, as he reiterated that the Asean bloc would not have a single monetary policy or central bank, unlike its European counterpart. The Asean Economic Community (AEC) is expected to be formed by the end of this year, with the aim of creating a single market for the free flow of goods, services, investment and labour. But debate over whether it can be a \"true\" economic community has been a key topic at this year's forum, with regional country and business leaders weighing in. Malaysian budget airline AirAsia's chief executive, Tony Fernandes, told participants at the WEF that by the end of 2015, integration would not solve all of the region's issues, but it would have created a platform. \"It will simplify business, it will raise standards and it will bring prosperity,\" he said. \"If there is a true economic community, everyone benefits.\" But not everyone was optimistic that the benefits would be spread as evenly. Soon Ghee Chua, managing partner for South East Asia at AT Kearney, said the wide disparity among some of the countries in the group would challenge integration plans. \"You have some of the richest and some of the poorest countries in the world in Asean,\" he said, with wealthy Singapore alongside Cambodia and Laos. \"The challenges will be around getting the smaller companies and citizens of Asean excited about it and educated on what are the opportunities that are available.\" Most people were not very familiar with what Asean integration was all about, he added, saying the education process needed to happen soon. For more, watch Talking Business with Linda Yueh this Friday. Details of when to watch are at bbc.co.uk/talkingbusiness.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1152, "answer_end": 2686, "text": "The Asean Economic Community (AEC) is expected to be formed by the end of this year, with the aim of creating a single market for the free flow of goods, services, investment and labour. But debate over whether it can be a \"true\" economic community has been a key topic at this year's forum, with regional country and business leaders weighing in. Malaysian budget airline AirAsia's chief executive, Tony Fernandes, told participants at the WEF that by the end of 2015, integration would not solve all of the region's issues, but it would have created a platform. \"It will simplify business, it will raise standards and it will bring prosperity,\" he said. \"If there is a true economic community, everyone benefits.\" But not everyone was optimistic that the benefits would be spread as evenly. Soon Ghee Chua, managing partner for South East Asia at AT Kearney, said the wide disparity among some of the countries in the group would challenge integration plans. \"You have some of the richest and some of the poorest countries in the world in Asean,\" he said, with wealthy Singapore alongside Cambodia and Laos. \"The challenges will be around getting the smaller companies and citizens of Asean excited about it and educated on what are the opportunities that are available.\" Most people were not very familiar with what Asean integration was all about, he added, saying the education process needed to happen soon. For more, watch Talking Business with Linda Yueh this Friday. Details of when to watch are at bbc.co.uk/talkingbusiness."}], "question": "Will AEC work?", "id": "118_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Donald Trump tweets 'very nice' letter from Kim Jong-un", "date": "12 July 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "US President Donald Trump has published a letter from Kim Jong-un, in which North Korea's leader voices hopes for a \"new future\" in bilateral relations. Mr Trump said the letter from Mr Kim (dated 6 July), was \"a very nice note\". But it made no mention of any efforts by Pyongyang towards denuclearisation - a key issue the two leaders discussed at June's historic summit in Singapore. Separately, the US has accused North Korea of violating a UN sanctions cap on refined oil products. It said this had been done through ship-to-ship transfers at sea using 89 North Korean tankers. The US did not say which countries were illicitly providing Pyongyang with the products. In December, the UN Security Council limited such exports to North Korea to 500,000 barrels a year. In another development on Thursday, North Korean officials failed to turn up for talks with a US team on the repatriation of the remains of American soldiers killed in the 1950-53 Korean war. The English translation of the four-paragraph document was tweeted by Mr Trump on Thursday. In it, Mr Kim says: \"I deeply appreciate the energetic and extraordinary efforts made by Your Excellency Mr President. He also says that bilateral trust should be \"further strengthened in the future process of taking practical actions\". Mr Kim says that \"the epochal progress\" in promoting bilateral ties \"will bring our next meeting forward\". In publishing the letter, President Trump tweeted: \"Great progress being made!\" He did not elaborate. At the Singapore summit on 12 June, Mr Trump and Mr Kim signed a document that included a pledge from North Korea to rid the Korean peninsula of nuclear weapons. In return, Washington agreed to halt US military exercises in South Korea. However, critics have repeatedly said that Mr Trump has since failed to secure any firm commitments from North Korea toward the dismantling of its nuclear weapons. Last week, North Korea accused the US of using a \"gangster-like\" tactics to push it towards nuclear disarmament after a fresh round of high-level talks. A statement by an unnamed foreign ministry official gave a starkly different account from one provided just hours before by US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who attended the talks. Mr Pompeo had said progress was made during his two-day visit to Pyongyang. The date of Mr Kim's letter suggests it may have been sent before Mr Pompeo's visit. It had been expected on Thursday at the inter-Korean truce village of Panmunjom. North Korean and US teams, as well as UN officials, had been due to discuss the details of repatriation. Mr Kim had agreed during the Singapore summit with President Trump to recover \"POW/MIA remains, including the immediate repatriation of those already identified\". The agreement reportedly covered the remains of some 200 American soldiers. The US military has since announced that 100 wooden coffins have been moved to the inter-Korean border in preparation. But North Korea's delegation failed show up. Pyongyang has asked the UN Command Armistice Commission to upgrade the talks to a higher level to include a US general, South Korea's foreign ministry said. The US later said that North Korea had offered to meet on 15 July. \"We will be ready,\" US state department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said. An estimated 30,000 US soldiers died in the Korean war. There are about 7,700 US soldiers classified as missing in action in the war. Between 1996 and 2005, some 33 recovery operations were conducted in North Korea which saw 200 sets of remains returned. However, recovery efforts were suspended when the relationship between both countries worsened, as the North began the advancement of its nuclear programme.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 963, "answer_end": 2398, "text": "The English translation of the four-paragraph document was tweeted by Mr Trump on Thursday. In it, Mr Kim says: \"I deeply appreciate the energetic and extraordinary efforts made by Your Excellency Mr President. He also says that bilateral trust should be \"further strengthened in the future process of taking practical actions\". Mr Kim says that \"the epochal progress\" in promoting bilateral ties \"will bring our next meeting forward\". In publishing the letter, President Trump tweeted: \"Great progress being made!\" He did not elaborate. At the Singapore summit on 12 June, Mr Trump and Mr Kim signed a document that included a pledge from North Korea to rid the Korean peninsula of nuclear weapons. In return, Washington agreed to halt US military exercises in South Korea. However, critics have repeatedly said that Mr Trump has since failed to secure any firm commitments from North Korea toward the dismantling of its nuclear weapons. Last week, North Korea accused the US of using a \"gangster-like\" tactics to push it towards nuclear disarmament after a fresh round of high-level talks. A statement by an unnamed foreign ministry official gave a starkly different account from one provided just hours before by US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who attended the talks. Mr Pompeo had said progress was made during his two-day visit to Pyongyang. The date of Mr Kim's letter suggests it may have been sent before Mr Pompeo's visit."}], "question": "What was in Kim's letter?", "id": "119_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2399, "answer_end": 3696, "text": "It had been expected on Thursday at the inter-Korean truce village of Panmunjom. North Korean and US teams, as well as UN officials, had been due to discuss the details of repatriation. Mr Kim had agreed during the Singapore summit with President Trump to recover \"POW/MIA remains, including the immediate repatriation of those already identified\". The agreement reportedly covered the remains of some 200 American soldiers. The US military has since announced that 100 wooden coffins have been moved to the inter-Korean border in preparation. But North Korea's delegation failed show up. Pyongyang has asked the UN Command Armistice Commission to upgrade the talks to a higher level to include a US general, South Korea's foreign ministry said. The US later said that North Korea had offered to meet on 15 July. \"We will be ready,\" US state department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said. An estimated 30,000 US soldiers died in the Korean war. There are about 7,700 US soldiers classified as missing in action in the war. Between 1996 and 2005, some 33 recovery operations were conducted in North Korea which saw 200 sets of remains returned. However, recovery efforts were suspended when the relationship between both countries worsened, as the North began the advancement of its nuclear programme."}], "question": "What about the planned repatriation meeting?", "id": "119_1"}]}]}, {"title": "Azerbaijan hit by price protests amid oil slump", "date": "14 January 2016", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Police have detained 55 people after protests over rising food prices in Azerbaijan. At least one person was treated in hospital and several were hurt as police used tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse protesters in Siyazan. The demonstrators were angry at worsening economic conditions sparked by the fall in the price of oil. Azerbaijan's economy is heavily dependent on oil. Nearly half its GDP in 2014 came from the oil sector. Oil prices have slumped by 70% in the past 15 months, down to $31 a barrel on international markets. Azerbaijan's currency, the manat, has also fallen dramatically in value. The interior ministry said the protests were organised by the opposition and religious extremists. The government has ordered a cut in the price of flour in response to the crisis, effective from Friday, according to Reuters news agency. VAT was being waived on wheat imports and the sale of bread and flour, it said. In a further move to prop up the faltering manat, Azerbaijan's central bank has banned the sale of foreign exchange in bureaux de change run by commercial banks, Reuters adds. Azerbaijan's economy, heavily dependent on oil revenue, has been shaken by decreasing oil prices on the world markets. Small businesses have suffered enormously in recent years because of bribes allegedly demanded by officials. Corruption has been a major hurdle for businesses in Azerbaijan, according to the International Monetary Fund. Azerbaijan's local currency, the manat, was almost equal to the euro at the start of last year but was devalued against the dollar in February 2015. In December 2015 the Central Bank unpegged the manat from the dollar, and an immediate price hike followed. This heavily affected low-income families. Many others with large bank loans suffered too. Azerbaijan imports even most of the basic consumer goods and, although some agricultural products are produced locally, raw materials for their production are brought in from abroad. Despite recurrent warnings from international and local analysts about the expected effects of oil dependency, the Azerbaijani government has done very little to improve other industries. In a country where media are under strict control, critical voices are met with force. Discontent was relatively low during the oil boom, but now the volatile currency means that price increases affect almost everyone. And as the range of people who suffer increases, it may prove difficult for the government to appease the wider public.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1104, "answer_end": 1442, "text": "Azerbaijan's economy, heavily dependent on oil revenue, has been shaken by decreasing oil prices on the world markets. Small businesses have suffered enormously in recent years because of bribes allegedly demanded by officials. Corruption has been a major hurdle for businesses in Azerbaijan, according to the International Monetary Fund."}], "question": "Why are protests happening now?", "id": "120_0"}]}]}, {"title": "European heatwave sets new June temperature records", "date": "27 June 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "A heatwave affecting much of Europe is expected to intensify further with countries - including France, Spain and Switzerland - expecting temperatures above 40C (104F) later on Thursday. On Wednesday, Germany, Poland and the Czech Republic recorded their highest temperatures for June. Meteorologists say hot air drawn in from northern Africa is responsible. The heat is expected to rise further in many countries over the next three days, meteorologists warn. By early afternoon, temperatures had reached 37C in Turin in Italy, 39C in the Spanish city of Zaragoza, and 39C in Avignon in southern France. In Spain, 11 provinces in the east and centre of the country are set to experience temperatures above 40C. In parts of the north-east, they may reach 45C on Friday. Hundreds of firefighters are battling wildfires in Catalonia, described by the regional government as some of the worst in 20 years. At least 4,000 hectares (10,000 acres) are affected, but officials said that in the intense heat the area could increase to 20,000ha. Thirty people have been evacuated and five roads have been closed. Temperatures are expected to top 40C in Italy too, particularly in central and northern regions. Several cities, including Rome, have issued the highest heat warnings. On Thursday morning the body of a 72-year-old homeless Romanian man was found near Milan's central train station. Officials say the heat may have been a factor in his death. Philip Trackfield, a British tourist in Rome, told the BBC: \"Last night at the Spanish steps it was 41C. It's exhausting when you're trying to do all the sights.\" Meanwhile the whole of France - where a heatwave in 2003 was blamed for 15,000 deaths - is now on orange alert, the second-highest warning level. In Paris, fountains and sprinklers connected to hydrants have been set up. Some schools have delayed important exams and even closed. In Toulouse, where temperatures are expected to reach 41C on Thursday, charities have been handing out water to homeless people. The heat is also affecting France's 72,000-strong prison population. Francois Bes, a prison monitor, told BFMTV that many detainees had described their cells as \"ovens\". \"It's impossible to create a draught because by definition prisoners can't open the doors,\" he was quoted as saying. One major prison near Paris, Fresnes, has decided to hose down the yard to cool it, BFMTV reports. Temperatures have been climbing in recent days. On Wednesday, Coschen in Brandenburg peaked at 38.6C - a new German record for June. Radzyn in Poland and Doksany in the Czech Republic also recorded new national highs, with temperatures hitting 38.2C and 38.9C respectively. Even in the high-altitude Alps, temperatures topped 30C in places. Parts of Austria recorded their local all-time highest temperatures on Wednesday. The Swiss cities of Geneva, Bern, and Zurich are all predicted to reach record temperatures of 39C or 40C. On Wednesday a swimming pool in the French city of Grenoble was shut down despite the heatwave, after a row over the use of a full-body Islamic burkini swimsuit, the mayor said. While the UK will avoid the worst heat, parts of the country - including London - are expected to see temperatures top 30C on Saturday. Linking a single event to global warming is complicated. While extreme weather events like heatwaves occur naturally, experts say these will happen more often because of climate change. Records going back to the late 19th Century show that the average temperature of the Earth's surface has increased by about one degree since industrialisation. A climatology institute in Potsdam, Germany, says Europe's five hottest summers since 1500 have all been in the 21st Century. Scientists are concerned that rapid warming linked to human use of fossil fuel has serious implications for the stability of the planet's climate.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 2404, "answer_end": 3247, "text": "Temperatures have been climbing in recent days. On Wednesday, Coschen in Brandenburg peaked at 38.6C - a new German record for June. Radzyn in Poland and Doksany in the Czech Republic also recorded new national highs, with temperatures hitting 38.2C and 38.9C respectively. Even in the high-altitude Alps, temperatures topped 30C in places. Parts of Austria recorded their local all-time highest temperatures on Wednesday. The Swiss cities of Geneva, Bern, and Zurich are all predicted to reach record temperatures of 39C or 40C. On Wednesday a swimming pool in the French city of Grenoble was shut down despite the heatwave, after a row over the use of a full-body Islamic burkini swimsuit, the mayor said. While the UK will avoid the worst heat, parts of the country - including London - are expected to see temperatures top 30C on Saturday."}], "question": "How hot was Wednesday?", "id": "121_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3248, "answer_end": 3866, "text": "Linking a single event to global warming is complicated. While extreme weather events like heatwaves occur naturally, experts say these will happen more often because of climate change. Records going back to the late 19th Century show that the average temperature of the Earth's surface has increased by about one degree since industrialisation. A climatology institute in Potsdam, Germany, says Europe's five hottest summers since 1500 have all been in the 21st Century. Scientists are concerned that rapid warming linked to human use of fossil fuel has serious implications for the stability of the planet's climate."}], "question": "Is climate change to blame?", "id": "121_1"}]}]}, {"title": "Cave rescue: 'Hope became reality' says Navy Seal chief", "date": "11 July 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "The head of the Thai Navy Seals has said \"hope became reality\" with the successful rescue of 12 boys and their coach from the Tham Luang cave. \"We had a little bit of hope that they might still be alive but we had to do it, we just had to move forward,\" Rear Adm Arpakorn Yuukongkaew told the BBC. \"There was only a tiny bit of hope, but that's all we had to work with.\" The group was trapped in the cave by rising water and rescued in a dramatic operation that captivated the world. The complex, three-day rescue saw four boys emerge on Sunday, four on Monday, and the final four boys plus their coach on Tuesday. They survived the nine days before they were found by drinking water dripping from the cave walls, officials said. All 13 are now in hospital in Chiang Rai city and receiving medical and psychological assistance, but recovering well. There were conflicting reports following the rescue about the extent to which the boys had been medicated before they were brought out. The Thai prime minister on Tuesday denied reports that they had been sedated, saying the boys were given only light anti-anxiety medication commonly provided to soldiers. But sources in the rescue operation told the BBC that the boys were heavily sedated and only partially conscious, and had to be carried throughout the journey out of the cave. All of the boys lost weight during their ordeal and will remain in hospital for a week, followed by a week's recuperation for another week at home. Public health ministry officials said the first group were all eating normal food and the second group would be put on normal food as of Wednesday. The third group evacuated on Tuesday are undergoing the same medical check-ups as the first two groups but appeared to also be in good health. There are no cases of serious infections. The first four boys have already been visited by their families, officials said, and the second group will also be allowed to receive visitors later on Wednesday. \"We are not sure if this is a miracle, science, or what,\" wrote the Thai Navy Seals on Facebook on Tuesday. \"All the 13 Wild Boars are now out of the cave.\" There were cheers around the Tham Luang cave system as the dozens of divers and hundreds of other rescue workers involved in the operation left the site. In the nearby city of Chiang Rai, the news was greeted by the honking of car horns while people gathered outside the hospital broke into applause. On social media, Thais showed their feelings about the rescuers by using hashtags including #Heroes and #Thankyou. Offers of hospitality for the boys, the coach and their rescuers have come in from international football clubs including Manchester United and Benfica. Aged between about 11 and 17, the members of the Wild Boars football team entered the cave system in dry weather, during an excursion with their coach. The group was cut off on 23 June after heavy rains flooded way the cave complex, blocking their way back out. They were found nine days later when two expert British divers entered the cave. The boys were huddled in darkness on a ledge. Elation at the discovery of the group quickly turned to concern as it became clear just how difficult it would be to rescue boys who could not swim and had been weakened by their time underground. A team of expert divers guided the boys and their coach through darkness and submerged passageways towards the mouth of the cave system. Getting to and from the trapped group was an exhausting round trip, even for experienced divers. The process involved a mixture of walking, wading, climbing and diving along guide ropes. Wearing full-face masks, which are easier for novice divers than traditional respirators, each boy was accompanied by two divers, who also carried his air supply. The boys and their coach were trapped underground for a total of 17 days. Officials said the group survived the first nine days of their ordeal by drinking water dripping from the cave walls. They reportedly entered the cave to celebrate one of the team's birthday, and the snacks they brought with them are thought to have helped sustain them. Once found, they were given \"easy-to-digest, high-energy food with vitamins and minerals, under the supervision of a doctor\", said Rear Admiral Arpakorn Yuukongkaew. According to Thongchai Lertwilairattanapong, an inspector for Thailand's health department, all the children lost on average 2kg during their time underground, but are in good physical condition. Authorities also said they seemed to cope well with the mental strain of their time underground. Rescue teams brought them lights and letters from their parents to help them cope. And their coach, Ekapol Chantawong, reportedly taught the team how to meditate to cope with the stress. He trained for a decade as a Buddhist monk before turning to football. Details have emerged of members of the team and their coach. Captain Duganpet Promtep, 13, is described as a motivator and highly respected by his teammates. He had apparently been scouted by several Thai professional clubs. Myanmar-born Adul Sam-on, 14, speaks several languages, and was the only team member to be able to communicate with British divers when they were first discovered. It was 17-year-old Peerapat Sompiangjai's birthday when the group became trapped in the cave.  The snacks the boys brought with them to celebrate are likely to have helped them survive their ordeal. Assistant coach Ekapol Chantawong, 25, was said to be the weakest of the group when they were found, as he had reportedly refused to eat any of the food and gave it instead to the boys.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 2702, "answer_end": 3774, "text": "Aged between about 11 and 17, the members of the Wild Boars football team entered the cave system in dry weather, during an excursion with their coach. The group was cut off on 23 June after heavy rains flooded way the cave complex, blocking their way back out. They were found nine days later when two expert British divers entered the cave. The boys were huddled in darkness on a ledge. Elation at the discovery of the group quickly turned to concern as it became clear just how difficult it would be to rescue boys who could not swim and had been weakened by their time underground. A team of expert divers guided the boys and their coach through darkness and submerged passageways towards the mouth of the cave system. Getting to and from the trapped group was an exhausting round trip, even for experienced divers. The process involved a mixture of walking, wading, climbing and diving along guide ropes. Wearing full-face masks, which are easier for novice divers than traditional respirators, each boy was accompanied by two divers, who also carried his air supply."}], "question": "How did the drama unfold?", "id": "122_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3775, "answer_end": 4836, "text": "The boys and their coach were trapped underground for a total of 17 days. Officials said the group survived the first nine days of their ordeal by drinking water dripping from the cave walls. They reportedly entered the cave to celebrate one of the team's birthday, and the snacks they brought with them are thought to have helped sustain them. Once found, they were given \"easy-to-digest, high-energy food with vitamins and minerals, under the supervision of a doctor\", said Rear Admiral Arpakorn Yuukongkaew. According to Thongchai Lertwilairattanapong, an inspector for Thailand's health department, all the children lost on average 2kg during their time underground, but are in good physical condition. Authorities also said they seemed to cope well with the mental strain of their time underground. Rescue teams brought them lights and letters from their parents to help them cope. And their coach, Ekapol Chantawong, reportedly taught the team how to meditate to cope with the stress. He trained for a decade as a Buddhist monk before turning to football."}], "question": "How did the boys survive?", "id": "122_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 4837, "answer_end": 5610, "text": "Details have emerged of members of the team and their coach. Captain Duganpet Promtep, 13, is described as a motivator and highly respected by his teammates. He had apparently been scouted by several Thai professional clubs. Myanmar-born Adul Sam-on, 14, speaks several languages, and was the only team member to be able to communicate with British divers when they were first discovered. It was 17-year-old Peerapat Sompiangjai's birthday when the group became trapped in the cave.  The snacks the boys brought with them to celebrate are likely to have helped them survive their ordeal. Assistant coach Ekapol Chantawong, 25, was said to be the weakest of the group when they were found, as he had reportedly refused to eat any of the food and gave it instead to the boys."}], "question": "Who are the boys and their coach?", "id": "122_2"}]}]}, {"title": "Indonesia's secret nudist community defying the law", "date": "22 October 2017", "paragraphs": [{"context": "What is it like to be a nudist in a country that prizes modesty and where public nudity is strictly forbidden? Clara Rondonuwu of the BBC's Indonesian service went to meet some members of the country's nudist community to find out. There isn't a single thread on Aditya's body. As he speaks to me, droplets of hot oil splash on to his bare belly from the large frying pan of sand crabs, eggs and Chinese cabbage. \"I love doing everyday things in the buff, including cooking my meals,\" he says. \"I take a great deal of pleasure in being naked anytime I want to. I feel happier and way more comfortable without clothes.\" Aditya is taking a risk though and therefore doesn't want his full name revealed. Under majority Muslim Indonesia's anti-pornography laws, it is illegal to be naked in public. Yet he meets regularly with four other nudists in private. \"We could face jail time if we appeared nude in public,\" he explains. \"Which is the reason why we let it all hang out in private.\" Aditya has been a nudist in his spare time since 2007. \"I was surfing the web, reading articles about nudism and got really into it. It seemed that it was the life path I had been looking for,\" he says. He made contact with other nudists in the country - they are a small but committed and closely knit group. Jakarta's naturist group now has about 10 to 15 members, both men and women. Aditya feels that being naked gives them a stronger connection and lasting bond. \"We can be ourselves. No one body shames you no matter how fat or paunchy you are or because of your flaccid penis, breast size or birthmarks. You are nude.\" He dreams of travelling to nudist colonies in countries like France, where his lifestyle choice would be accepted as something not unusual. Yet while Indonesia's law doesn't allow for public nudity, this does not mean that there are no opportunities to go bare. The group gets together from time to time, renting a holiday villa, like recently in a mountainous area outside Jakarta. \"Within seconds, we disrobe,\" he says. They just spend a normal day together, with conversations ranging from anything like politics to work life. He tells me he just got back from a beach escape at one of Indonesia's best-kept secret destinations, where he is far from the discrimination he would face elsewhere in the country. It's not a nudist site, but it is \"well hidden by the dense foliage,\" he explains. Even so, he took precautions. \"I picked my time carefully, and went for walks really early in the morning.\" Despite the risks, Aditya also posts openly about his lifestyle on nudist websites. Among his many Instagram accounts, there was also a private one where he uploaded his nude pictures. One of them showed him fully nude, standing inside a church. He has since deleted the account as he could be found guilty under Indonesia's anti-pornography law. \"My fellow naturists said I was pretty reckless to open up on the internet,\" he explains. But he thinks all these posts were necessary to change the many misconceptions about his lifestyle. \"People here in Indonesia think that nakedness has something to do with sex,\" he says, pointing out that nudity is not the same as exhibitionism. \"If we strip off together they assume it is a sex party. The truth is, there is nothing sexual about it.\" \"People are so hypocritical when they think that being fully clothed is more polite than being open.\" Another naturist who lives on Borneo does not want to be named, and agrees that being a naturist in Indonesia is a \"difficult lifestyle decision\". He looks enviously at places like France and Germany, where nakedness is more accepted, and thinks Indonesian businesses could cater more to the nudist market. Their best shot would be Bali, which is less strict than the rest of majority Muslim Indonesia. But he says the existing nudist-friendly resorts \"cater to foreigners only\". Rewind 40 years and nudity was common in places like Bali - women would often walk around topless, and bathe naked. There are no public nude beaches on the mostly Hindu island, though a number of coastal areas remain popular with nudists because they are protected by rocks. The manager of one resort in Bali says he has two properties which advertise themselves as \"clothing optional\" and that there are 10 other such resorts in the tourist centre of Seminyak alone. Additionally, \"some of the villas do not promote themselves as naturist-friendly, but many foreigners do go naked in there,\" he says. \"Nudism is common for the upper-class people.\" The hotel manager told the BBC he only accepts foreign guests, but said that other resorts might take Indonesian nudists too. Aditya says he wants to educate society that he and his fellow naturists are human beings just like everyone else. \"Most people tend to be overly expressive when they see something unusual to them. Look how aggressive they are to transgender people, they beat them.\" \"What I do is not pornography,\" he says. \"I feel sad when they judge me and think of me as immoral, some even called us animals. I am just being myself, it's nothing grotesque. I don't harm anyone.\" At times, he explains, he feels like challenging all these misconceptions in social media. Yet then again, he often just doesn't have the energy to engage in what he says are long and useless conversation with internet trolls. \"Most people here still cannot deal with nudity.\"", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 2514, "answer_end": 3404, "text": "Despite the risks, Aditya also posts openly about his lifestyle on nudist websites. Among his many Instagram accounts, there was also a private one where he uploaded his nude pictures. One of them showed him fully nude, standing inside a church. He has since deleted the account as he could be found guilty under Indonesia's anti-pornography law. \"My fellow naturists said I was pretty reckless to open up on the internet,\" he explains. But he thinks all these posts were necessary to change the many misconceptions about his lifestyle. \"People here in Indonesia think that nakedness has something to do with sex,\" he says, pointing out that nudity is not the same as exhibitionism. \"If we strip off together they assume it is a sex party. The truth is, there is nothing sexual about it.\" \"People are so hypocritical when they think that being fully clothed is more polite than being open.\""}], "question": "Reckless?", "id": "123_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Hurricane Matthew: At least 100 people killed in Haiti devastation", "date": "6 October 2016", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Hurricane Matthew has left at least 108 people dead in Haiti, the country's interior minister says. Some 50 people were reported to have died in the southern town of Roche-a-Bateau alone. New images from remote and cut off areas in the south-west of the country show scenes of devastation. The hurricane has again been upgraded to a Category Four storm, the second highest hurricane classification, as it heads for the US state of Florida. Hurricane Matthew - the most powerful Caribbean storm in nearly a decade - is currently pounding the Bahamas, after slicing through Haiti and Cuba. Trees and power lines were reportedly down in the Bahamas but no fatalities were reported. Most of the fatalities in Haiti were in towns and fishing villages around the southern coast, with many killed by falling trees, flying debris and swollen rivers. The storm passed directly through the Tiburon peninsula, driving the sea inland and flattening homes with winds of up to 145 mph (230 kph) and torrential rain on Monday and Tuesday. Hurricane Matthew is already the deadliest Atlantic storm since 2012, when Hurricane Sandy directly killed at least 147 people. Sandy was a category three storm. Matthew is a category four, after being downgraded from category five - the highest classification. Category five hurricanes are rare, and not always the most deadly. Circumstances, rather than wind speed, dramatically affect how dangerous a storm is. In 2005, Hurricane Katrina was a category three when it made landfall in the United States. It left 1,800 people dead, and was the costliest storm in US history with damage estimated at $108 billion (PS85bn). The last category four storm in the Atlantic, Hurricane Joaquin in October 2015, killed 34 people - 33 of which were on board the cargo ship El Faro, which sank during the storm. At least 130 people were killed in Honduras and Nicaragua during the last category five Atlantic storm - Hurricane Felix - which hit Central America in 2007. Haiti's Interior Minister, Francois Anick Joseph, announced a rapid increase in the death toll on Thursday as aid workers and authorities tried to gauge the true scale of the devastation. The collapse of an important bridge on Tuesday had left the south-west largely cut off. \"The whole southern coast of Haiti, from the town of Les Cayes to Tiburon, is devastated,\" Pierre-Louis Ostin told the AFP news agency. More than 29,000 homes were destroyed in the hard-hit Sud department alone, and more than 20,000 people have been displaced, local authorities said. Across the country, there are some 350,000 in need of assistance, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. The BBC's Tony Brown in south-western Haiti said he saw people trying to cope with the mass destruction on their own, trying to re-build from the rubble but without the help of the army or police. Aerial images from the south-western town of Jeremie show hundreds of homes flattened, with about 80% of the town's structures destroyed, according to the Care relief agency's Jean-Michel Vigreux. \"All phone lines and electricity are gone,\" he added. \"Access is completely cut off, and everyone is running out of food and money.\" The country is one of the world's poorest, with many residents living in flimsy housing in flood-prone areas. Four people also died in the storm in the neighbouring Dominican Republic on Tuesday. Hurricane Matthew has left a trail of destruction across the Caribbean, but nowhere has the devastation been more severe than in Haiti. The poorest country in the Americas, Haiti has long been particularly vulnerable to natural disasters. Six years after an earthquake killed more than 200,000 people and displaced 1.5 million, tens of thousands of quake victims still live in temporary shelters. More than half of Haiti's city-dwellers live in overcrowded shantytowns that take the full force of any earthquake, hurricane, or disease outbreak.  An ongoing cholera epidemic, triggered by the arrival of UN troops after the 2010 quake, has killed thousands of people. Massive deforestation has also led to soil erosion, leaving hillside huts and poorly-built houses in the capital, Port-au-Prince, dangerously exposed. The consequence in rural areas, where many depend on small plots of land for their food, is that topsoil is often washed away. Political instability and corruption have been a factor. Without effective government for decades, Haiti currently ranks 163rd out of the 188 countries on the UN Human Development Index. It spends little on storm defences. Are you in Haiti? Have you been affected by Hurricane Matthew? Are you preparing for its arrival in Florida, Georgia and North and South Carolina? Only if it safe to do so, you can share your experience by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. Please stay safe. You can also contact us in the following ways: - WhatsApp: +44 7525 900971 - Send pictures/video to yourpics@bbc.co.uk - Tweet: @BBC_HaveYourSay - Text an SMS or MMS to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (international)", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1024, "answer_end": 1983, "text": "Hurricane Matthew is already the deadliest Atlantic storm since 2012, when Hurricane Sandy directly killed at least 147 people. Sandy was a category three storm. Matthew is a category four, after being downgraded from category five - the highest classification. Category five hurricanes are rare, and not always the most deadly. Circumstances, rather than wind speed, dramatically affect how dangerous a storm is. In 2005, Hurricane Katrina was a category three when it made landfall in the United States. It left 1,800 people dead, and was the costliest storm in US history with damage estimated at $108 billion (PS85bn). The last category four storm in the Atlantic, Hurricane Joaquin in October 2015, killed 34 people - 33 of which were on board the cargo ship El Faro, which sank during the storm. At least 130 people were killed in Honduras and Nicaragua during the last category five Atlantic storm - Hurricane Felix - which hit Central America in 2007."}], "question": "What were the most recent deadly Atlantic storms?", "id": "124_0"}]}]}, {"title": "George Pell: Why was conviction kept secret?", "date": "26 February 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "They were sex abuse allegations that rocked the Catholic Church and generated enormous interest - only for the case to vanish suddenly from public view for nine months. The trial and conviction of Cardinal George Pell can now be reported after an Australian judge lifted a legal order that had prohibited coverage. The sweeping ban, known as a suppression order, was handed down last May. It was deemed necessary to give Pell fair hearings but caused big debate. Police charged Pell with sex offences in June 2017, saying only that he faced \"historical\" allegations by \"multiple complainants\". The cardinal immediately denied any wrongdoing. Some pre-trial hearings where Pell was swamped by media outside court were allowed to be reported. Those hearings revealed for the first time that Pell faced separate accusations from the 1990s and the 1970s. Consequently, a judge ordered that two trials - with separate juries - would take place. In a bid to prevent the first trial influencing the second, the judge agreed to an immediate suppression order. It made it illegal to report that any trial was taking place. Even saying that the suppression order existed was prohibited. It allowed reporting that Pell was facing abuse allegations, but nothing more specific. The legal order legally applied only to Australia. But it effectively extended to international media which publish or broadcast into Australia, or can be accessed there, a tough thing to avoid in the internet age. That may be subject to legal debate but the judge expressed fury about some reporting. Australian outlets were generally most cautious, with journalists sitting in regularly on Pell's case and adhering to the ban. The blackout did not go totally unnoticed publicly. Social media users, for instance, frequently speculated about it. But matters escalated dramatically in December when numerous non-Australian outlets published stories reporting that Pell had been convicted. The words \"George Pell\" were soon trending online, including in Australia. It prompted some of Australia's biggest newspapers to run front-page editorials criticising the suppression order. Unlike overseas media, they did not name Pell. \"The world is reading a very important story that is relevant to Victorians,\" wrote Melbourne's Herald Sun, below a headline \"CENSORED\". \"The Herald Sun is prevented from publishing details of this significant news. But trust us. It's a story you deserve to read.\" Sydney's Daily Telegraph described it as the nation's biggest story, and wrote: \"An awful crime. The person is guilty. Yet we can't publish it.\" Melbourne newspaper The Age and other publications also published articles, some giving details of the case. In a specially convened court hearing on 13 December, Judge Peter Kidd said he was \"angry\" about media reports though he did not mention specific outlets. \"Given how potentially egregious and flagrant these breaches are, a number of very important people in the media are facing, if found guilty, the prospect of imprisonment and indeed substantial imprisonment,\" he told lawyers for the prosecution and defence. The judge left the matter with prosecutors to investigate. Digital versions of some front pages were later unavailable. Other Australian journalists, however, voiced support for the suppression order, expressing concerns that publicity could influence a court outcome. Some say it was not but others disagree, arguing that most people did not know about Pell's conviction before Tuesday. And, ultimately, his second trial will not proceed. On Tuesday, prosecutors withdrew the charges relating to the 1970s. Lawyer Justin Quill, whose firm is acting on behalf of local media outlets, argued that judges needed to \"have more faith\" in jurors to form their view from a courtroom even if they had seen something related to the case on social media. \"For the public to not be told [about Pell's conviction] until nearly three months later is, in my view, a situation that is not appropriate,\" he told the BBC. He also said courts could not \"go around charging 10,000 people for one or two comments they've made on Twitter\", adding: \"Mainstream media is being held to one standard, and the general public is being held to another - it just doesn't make sense.\" Suppression orders are common in Australia unlike in other countries such as the US. But the state of Victoria in particular has come in for criticism, accounting for more than half of the country's orders, local media reports.  Critics sometimes deride it as \"The Suppression State\". State Premier Daniel Andrews has vowed to implement 18 recommendations from a review by a retired judge that called for a \"real-world\" approach to suppression orders, given how quickly information can be spread online. \"This is about making sure the laws relating to contempt of court and suppression orders are working effectively by protecting victims, but also the public's right to know as well as court processes,\" state Attorney General Martin Pakula said in October.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 3392, "answer_end": 4278, "text": "Some say it was not but others disagree, arguing that most people did not know about Pell's conviction before Tuesday. And, ultimately, his second trial will not proceed. On Tuesday, prosecutors withdrew the charges relating to the 1970s. Lawyer Justin Quill, whose firm is acting on behalf of local media outlets, argued that judges needed to \"have more faith\" in jurors to form their view from a courtroom even if they had seen something related to the case on social media. \"For the public to not be told [about Pell's conviction] until nearly three months later is, in my view, a situation that is not appropriate,\" he told the BBC. He also said courts could not \"go around charging 10,000 people for one or two comments they've made on Twitter\", adding: \"Mainstream media is being held to one standard, and the general public is being held to another - it just doesn't make sense.\""}], "question": "So was the ban effective?", "id": "125_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Asos profits plunge 87% after difficult year", "date": "10 April 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Online fashion retailer Asos has seen its profits plunge, after a difficult year caused by heavy discounting and website traffic issues. Asos' pre-tax profits fell 87% to PS4m for the six months to 28 February against the same period in 2018. The firm said it had managed to stabilise sales, which rose 14% to PS1.3bn for the period. Asos said marketing changes meant a fall in visits to its websites and a drop in its search engine rankings. Asos shares are up 13% in morning trading. Chief executive Nick Beighton said that Asos had identified a number of things it \"can do better\", and that heavy investment in its platforms gave the retailer \"increased confidence\" that its performance would improve in the second half of the year. He added that the global fashion industry was growing and now worth more than PS220bn. \"We now have the tech platform, the infrastructure, a constant conversation with our growing customer base who love our own great product and the constantly evolving edit of brands we present to them,\" said Mr Beighton. Asos said its financial guidance for the year remained the same. In December, Asos warned on profits, saying that cutting prices to match rivals had not led to a significant increase in sales, sparking a 40% fall in the share price. The profit warning came as a shock to many, as Asos was seen as an online disrupter to the High Street fashion market. \"The company's current predicament shows people are simply spending less on goods, be it in physical or virtual shops,\" said Hargreaves Lansdown equity analyst Sophie Lund-Yates. Despite the heavy discounting, she feels that Asos is now on the right track, particularly if spending stabilises over the next year. \"Asos is still very much a growth story, and its vast customer base, and growing international proposition, mean it should be able to prosper from here on in,\" said Ms Lund-Yates. In early April, Asos announced that it was changing its returns policy. The time allowed for returns of unwanted items has been lengthened from 28 days to 45 days. However, the retailer warned customers that if it suspected that individuals were actually wearing goods and then returning them, or ordering and returning \"loads\", it might deactivate the account. A popular rising trend has seen customers post pictures on social media of themselves in new outfits. Certain users do not like being seen in the same outfit twice, making it tempting to use an outfit once and return it. Asos said that initiatives designed to improve its business had hit profits, from decisions on short-term pricing and inventory, to new marketing strategies. To stay competitive, the retailer launched 200 versions of its website depending on which country the customer is in, which had a negative effect on Asos' search engine rankings. Asos also made changes to the way customers navigate around its main website, particularly in how new products were displayed. Asos said that the changes resulted in a slowdown in the growth of younger customers, but UK sales rose 16% due to orders from existing customers. Although US sales growth was below expectations, the retailer said that demand far exceeded its expectations in February, once its new warehouse in Atlanta went online. Sales rose by 80% in the first three days after the warehouse went into operation, to the extent that Asos did not have enough staff to cope with demand, and there was a delay in sending out packages to customers. According to Neil Wilson, chief market analyst for Markets.com, the price of Asos shares is rising because investors are willing to \"take a bet on the future\". Although the share price hasn't returned to the heights it reached prior to the December profit warning, Asos actually isn't doing that badly. \"Asos is still flying, it's still outperforming the market. It set itself a very high bar previously,\" Mr Wilson told the BBC. \"Asos has a lot going for it - if you look at the US, there's huge, huge growth about to happen, I think we saw that with the warehouse problem they had. \"That's a great problem to have.\"", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 486, "answer_end": 1887, "text": "Chief executive Nick Beighton said that Asos had identified a number of things it \"can do better\", and that heavy investment in its platforms gave the retailer \"increased confidence\" that its performance would improve in the second half of the year. He added that the global fashion industry was growing and now worth more than PS220bn. \"We now have the tech platform, the infrastructure, a constant conversation with our growing customer base who love our own great product and the constantly evolving edit of brands we present to them,\" said Mr Beighton. Asos said its financial guidance for the year remained the same. In December, Asos warned on profits, saying that cutting prices to match rivals had not led to a significant increase in sales, sparking a 40% fall in the share price. The profit warning came as a shock to many, as Asos was seen as an online disrupter to the High Street fashion market. \"The company's current predicament shows people are simply spending less on goods, be it in physical or virtual shops,\" said Hargreaves Lansdown equity analyst Sophie Lund-Yates. Despite the heavy discounting, she feels that Asos is now on the right track, particularly if spending stabilises over the next year. \"Asos is still very much a growth story, and its vast customer base, and growing international proposition, mean it should be able to prosper from here on in,\" said Ms Lund-Yates."}], "question": "What has gone wrong at Asos?", "id": "126_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1888, "answer_end": 2470, "text": "In early April, Asos announced that it was changing its returns policy. The time allowed for returns of unwanted items has been lengthened from 28 days to 45 days. However, the retailer warned customers that if it suspected that individuals were actually wearing goods and then returning them, or ordering and returning \"loads\", it might deactivate the account. A popular rising trend has seen customers post pictures on social media of themselves in new outfits. Certain users do not like being seen in the same outfit twice, making it tempting to use an outfit once and return it."}], "question": "Why has Asos changed its returns policy?", "id": "126_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2471, "answer_end": 3464, "text": "Asos said that initiatives designed to improve its business had hit profits, from decisions on short-term pricing and inventory, to new marketing strategies. To stay competitive, the retailer launched 200 versions of its website depending on which country the customer is in, which had a negative effect on Asos' search engine rankings. Asos also made changes to the way customers navigate around its main website, particularly in how new products were displayed. Asos said that the changes resulted in a slowdown in the growth of younger customers, but UK sales rose 16% due to orders from existing customers. Although US sales growth was below expectations, the retailer said that demand far exceeded its expectations in February, once its new warehouse in Atlanta went online. Sales rose by 80% in the first three days after the warehouse went into operation, to the extent that Asos did not have enough staff to cope with demand, and there was a delay in sending out packages to customers."}], "question": "How is Asos trying to transform its business?", "id": "126_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3465, "answer_end": 4082, "text": "According to Neil Wilson, chief market analyst for Markets.com, the price of Asos shares is rising because investors are willing to \"take a bet on the future\". Although the share price hasn't returned to the heights it reached prior to the December profit warning, Asos actually isn't doing that badly. \"Asos is still flying, it's still outperforming the market. It set itself a very high bar previously,\" Mr Wilson told the BBC. \"Asos has a lot going for it - if you look at the US, there's huge, huge growth about to happen, I think we saw that with the warehouse problem they had. \"That's a great problem to have.\""}], "question": "Why is Asos' share price going up?", "id": "126_3"}]}]}, {"title": "Tennessee inmate chooses electric chair over lethal injection", "date": "7 December 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "An inmate in the US state of Tennessee has been executed by electric chair after arguing that a lethal injection would involve suffering. David Earl Miller, who spent 36 years on death row, was the latest of an increasing number of inmates attempting to avoid lethal injection following several botched executions. Another Tennessee inmate, Edmund Zagorski, was electrocuted last month. Lethal injection is the state's main method of execution. However, Tennessee inmates on death row whose crimes were committed before 1999 are allowed to choose electrocution instead. Prior to Zagorski's execution, the electric chair had not been used since 2013. Miller was pronounced dead at 19:25 local time on Thursday (01:25 GMT Friday) at the Riverbend Maximum Security Institution in Nashville. Tennessee department of correction spokesman Tylee Tracer said that Miller's last words were: \"Beats being on death row.\" Miller was found guilty of killing a 23-year-old mentally ill woman in 1981. In court, both Miller and Zagorski had cited the August execution of Billy Ray Irick, who turned purple and took 20 minutes to die, AP reported. Zagorski's execution was the second time the state's electric chair had been used since 1960. Miller, 61, and Zagorski, 63, argued that the midazolam-based lethal injection used by Tennessee would lead to a prolonged and painful death. It follows a series of executions using different combinations of drug where prisoners have appeared to suffer. The US constitution bans cruel and unusual punishments. In September a doctor told a court in Tennessee that Irick felt pain akin to torture during his execution, The Tennessean newspaper reported. Dr David Lubarsky argued that the midazolam sedated Irick but did not prevent him from feeling the effects of the other two drugs injected as part of the execution. Proponents of lethal injection argue that the process is painless. Miller was also one of four death row inmates who brought a federal case asking Tennessee to use a firing squad instead of either lethal injection or electrocution, the Tennessean reported. In neighbouring Alabama, more than 50 inmates have chosen to be killed in the nitrogen gas chamber rather than be given a lethal injection after being given the option earlier this year, Vox reported. Electrocution is no longer the main method of execution in any US state. Courts in Georgia and Nebraska have said the electric chair is unconstitutional. However, Miller was told he could not argue that the electric chair was unconstitutional because he himself had chosen it, AP reported. Hanging was the most common form of capital punishment in the US until the 1890s. Then, the electric chair became the most widespread method. In 1982, the first execution by lethal injection was carried out by the state of Texas, after which it gradually replaced the electric chair across the nation.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1226, "answer_end": 2300, "text": "Miller, 61, and Zagorski, 63, argued that the midazolam-based lethal injection used by Tennessee would lead to a prolonged and painful death. It follows a series of executions using different combinations of drug where prisoners have appeared to suffer. The US constitution bans cruel and unusual punishments. In September a doctor told a court in Tennessee that Irick felt pain akin to torture during his execution, The Tennessean newspaper reported. Dr David Lubarsky argued that the midazolam sedated Irick but did not prevent him from feeling the effects of the other two drugs injected as part of the execution. Proponents of lethal injection argue that the process is painless. Miller was also one of four death row inmates who brought a federal case asking Tennessee to use a firing squad instead of either lethal injection or electrocution, the Tennessean reported. In neighbouring Alabama, more than 50 inmates have chosen to be killed in the nitrogen gas chamber rather than be given a lethal injection after being given the option earlier this year, Vox reported."}], "question": "Why is lethal injection controversial?", "id": "127_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2301, "answer_end": 2892, "text": "Electrocution is no longer the main method of execution in any US state. Courts in Georgia and Nebraska have said the electric chair is unconstitutional. However, Miller was told he could not argue that the electric chair was unconstitutional because he himself had chosen it, AP reported. Hanging was the most common form of capital punishment in the US until the 1890s. Then, the electric chair became the most widespread method. In 1982, the first execution by lethal injection was carried out by the state of Texas, after which it gradually replaced the electric chair across the nation."}], "question": "Which states use the electric chair?", "id": "127_1"}]}]}, {"title": "Q&A: Labour anti-Semitism row", "date": "29 April 2016", "paragraphs": [{"context": " It began on Tuesday when the Guido Fawkes political gossip site discovered Facebook posts made by Naz Shah, Labour's MP for Bradford West, in 2014, before she became an MP. She had shared a graphic showing Israel's outline on a map of the United States with the comment \"problem solved\". She was accused of anti-Semitism. She quit her role as an aide to shadow chancellor John McDonnell. She apologised to MPs on Wednesday, acknowledging \"I have made a mistake\". She added: \"I accept and understand that the words I used caused upset and hurt to the Jewish community and I deeply regret that. Anti-Semitism is racism, full stop. As an MP I will do everything in my power to build relationships between Muslims, Jews and people of different faiths and none.\" She was suspended from the party. On Thursday, Ken Livingstone defended Naz Shah in a BBC interview, saying that she was not anti-Semitic. He went on to say:  \"When Hitler won his election in 1932 his policy then was that Jews should be moved to Israel. He was supporting Zionism before he went mad and ended up killing six million Jews.\" This was roundly condemned and led to a televised confrontation with a furious John Mann, the Labour MP who chairs Parliament's all-party group against anti-Semitism. The former London mayor's explosive comments prompted a wave of criticism from Labour figures and calls for his suspension. Leader Jeremy Corbyn suspended him, saying: \"There were grave concerns about the language he used. We had a discussion about it and decided we would suspend him and he would go through an investigation by the party.\" It is now up to the party's ruling National Executive Committee to decide whether he should be expelled. Twice elected Mayor of London, once under his own independent banner, after falling out with Tony Blair, he is one of the few figures in British politics to be routinely referred to by his first name. He has divided opinion since his time as leader of the Greater London Council in the 1980s. Former Labour leader Neil Kinnock alleges that it was Mr Livingstone who invented the \"loony left\". Others were shocked by his call for dialogue with the IRA and championing of gay and ethnic minority rights - issues on which he now says he was \"ahead of his time\". Profile: Ken Livingstone Mr Livingstone denied suggesting Hitler was a Zionist, adding the Nazi leader was \"a monster from start to finish\" and claimed to have been quoting historical \"facts\". But in an angry confrontation, Mr Mann shouted: \"You're a Nazi apologist, you're rewriting history. Go back and check what Hitler did.\" Jonathan Arkush, president of the Board of Deputies of British Jews, said: \"What Ken Livingstone deliberately did was to draw an equation between Nazism and Zionism. He therefore crossed a line into what certainly most people would regard as distinctly anti-Semitic.\" Livingstone Hitler comments 'inaccurate' Anti-Semitism is \"hostility and prejudice directed against Jewish people\" according to the OED while Zionism refers to the movement to create a Jewish state in the Middle East, corresponding to the historic land of Israel. Some say the word \"Zionist\" can be used as a coded attack on Jews others, including Ken Livingstone, say anti-Zionism is not the same as anti-Semitism and criticism of Israeli government policy should not be conflated with anti-Jewish prejudice. What is the difference between anti-Semitism and anti-Zionism? Labour's leaders say the party has a proud history of fighting racism and promoting racial equality - and the party's MPs would be horrified to belong to an organisation that was anti-Semitic. But it has faced accusations of growing anti-Semitism in its ranks. In April, Luton councillor Aysegul Gurbuz was suspended from the party over a message on her Twitter account that Hitler was \"the greatest man in history\". The month before, it suspended activist Vicki Kirby for a second time following criticism of her reinstatement - posts on her Twitter page included one suggesting Hitler was a \"Zionist God\". Labour peer Baroness Royall is also looking into claims of anti-Semitism at Oxford University Labour club.  Party leader Jeremy Corbyn says:  \"Anybody that thinks this party is not cracking down on anti-Semitism is simply wrong. We have suspended where appropriate, we've investigated all cases. We will not tolerate anti-Semitism in any form in our party.'", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1, "answer_end": 1264, "text": "It began on Tuesday when the Guido Fawkes political gossip site discovered Facebook posts made by Naz Shah, Labour's MP for Bradford West, in 2014, before she became an MP. She had shared a graphic showing Israel's outline on a map of the United States with the comment \"problem solved\". She was accused of anti-Semitism. She quit her role as an aide to shadow chancellor John McDonnell. She apologised to MPs on Wednesday, acknowledging \"I have made a mistake\". She added: \"I accept and understand that the words I used caused upset and hurt to the Jewish community and I deeply regret that. Anti-Semitism is racism, full stop. As an MP I will do everything in my power to build relationships between Muslims, Jews and people of different faiths and none.\" She was suspended from the party. On Thursday, Ken Livingstone defended Naz Shah in a BBC interview, saying that she was not anti-Semitic. He went on to say:  \"When Hitler won his election in 1932 his policy then was that Jews should be moved to Israel. He was supporting Zionism before he went mad and ended up killing six million Jews.\" This was roundly condemned and led to a televised confrontation with a furious John Mann, the Labour MP who chairs Parliament's all-party group against anti-Semitism."}], "question": "What is the row about?", "id": "128_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1265, "answer_end": 1710, "text": "The former London mayor's explosive comments prompted a wave of criticism from Labour figures and calls for his suspension. Leader Jeremy Corbyn suspended him, saying: \"There were grave concerns about the language he used. We had a discussion about it and decided we would suspend him and he would go through an investigation by the party.\" It is now up to the party's ruling National Executive Committee to decide whether he should be expelled."}], "question": "Why has Ken Livingstone been suspended?", "id": "128_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2295, "answer_end": 2907, "text": "Mr Livingstone denied suggesting Hitler was a Zionist, adding the Nazi leader was \"a monster from start to finish\" and claimed to have been quoting historical \"facts\". But in an angry confrontation, Mr Mann shouted: \"You're a Nazi apologist, you're rewriting history. Go back and check what Hitler did.\" Jonathan Arkush, president of the Board of Deputies of British Jews, said: \"What Ken Livingstone deliberately did was to draw an equation between Nazism and Zionism. He therefore crossed a line into what certainly most people would regard as distinctly anti-Semitic.\" Livingstone Hitler comments 'inaccurate'"}], "question": "Why did Labour MP John Mann get so angry with him?", "id": "128_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2908, "answer_end": 3439, "text": "Anti-Semitism is \"hostility and prejudice directed against Jewish people\" according to the OED while Zionism refers to the movement to create a Jewish state in the Middle East, corresponding to the historic land of Israel. Some say the word \"Zionist\" can be used as a coded attack on Jews others, including Ken Livingstone, say anti-Zionism is not the same as anti-Semitism and criticism of Israeli government policy should not be conflated with anti-Jewish prejudice. What is the difference between anti-Semitism and anti-Zionism?"}], "question": "What is anti-Semitism and Zionism?", "id": "128_3"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3440, "answer_end": 4405, "text": "Labour's leaders say the party has a proud history of fighting racism and promoting racial equality - and the party's MPs would be horrified to belong to an organisation that was anti-Semitic. But it has faced accusations of growing anti-Semitism in its ranks. In April, Luton councillor Aysegul Gurbuz was suspended from the party over a message on her Twitter account that Hitler was \"the greatest man in history\". The month before, it suspended activist Vicki Kirby for a second time following criticism of her reinstatement - posts on her Twitter page included one suggesting Hitler was a \"Zionist God\". Labour peer Baroness Royall is also looking into claims of anti-Semitism at Oxford University Labour club.  Party leader Jeremy Corbyn says:  \"Anybody that thinks this party is not cracking down on anti-Semitism is simply wrong. We have suspended where appropriate, we've investigated all cases. We will not tolerate anti-Semitism in any form in our party.'"}], "question": "Is the Labour Party anti-Semitic?", "id": "128_4"}]}]}, {"title": "North Korea missile launch a 'provocation', US defence chief says", "date": "18 April 2017", "paragraphs": [{"context": "The US has accused North Korea of trying to \"provoke something\", after Pyongyang conducted a failed missile test over the weekend. US Defence Secretary James Mattis said the test was a reckless move and the US was \"working closely\" with China to engage North Korea. The missile fired on Sunday blew up almost immediately, the Pentagon said. Pyongyang said it may test missiles on a weekly basis, and warned of \"all-out war\" if the US takes military action. \"If the US is planning a military attack against us, we will react with a nuclear pre-emptive strike by our own style and method,\" Vice-Foreign Minister Han Song-ryol told the BBC on Monday. Both sides have ratcheted up the rhetoric following North Korea's latest missile test. Mr Mattis said Sunday's missile test had not involved an intercontinental ballistic missile but had still been reckless. \"It shows why we are working so closely right now with the Chinese... to try to get this under control and aim for the denuclearised Korean peninsula,\" he said. On Tuesday, a report in the Guardian newspaper quoted unnamed officials as saying the US was considering shooting down North Korean missile tests as a show of strength. The US is also threatening tougher economic sanctions that could include an oil embargo, a global ban on North Korea's airline, intercepting cargo ships and punishing Chinese banks that do business with the country, Reuters news agency says. However, it has emerged that a US aircraft carrier, which the US said had been deployed towards the Korean peninsula earlier this month, had actually been sailing in the opposite direction. On 8 April, the navy said it had ordered the USS Carl Vinson to \"sail north\" as a deterrent against North Korea. A few days later, Mr Mattis said the aircraft carrier was \"on her way up there\". US President Donald Trump also told Fox News on 12 April: \"We are sending an armada, very powerful.\" However, a navy photo released on 15 April revealed that the aircraft carrier had actually sailed further south, to the Sunda Strait near Indonesia, to take part in planned drills with Australian forces in the Indian Ocean. The USS Carl Vinson is now set to head north towards the Korean peninsula, a defence official told AFP news agency. North Korea has accelerated its nuclear and missile tests in recent years, despite international condemnation and UN sanctions. Its aim is to be able to put a nuclear warhead on an intercontinental ballistic missile that can reach targets around the world, including the US. North Korea claims it has successfully made nuclear warheads small enough to fit onto a missile - but this has never been independently verified, and some experts have cast doubts on the claims. Vice-Foreign Minister Han Song-ryol told the BBC that North Korea believed its nuclear weapons \"protect\" it from the threat of US military action. The North fears the US and South Korea could use force in an attempt to overthrow the regime of Kim Jong-un. At the UN on Monday, North Korea's permanent representative Ambassador Kim In-ryong condemned the US missile strikes in Syria, which targeted an air base after a suspected chemical attack by the government. He said the US was \"disturbing global peace and stability and insisting on the gangster-like logic that its invasion of a sovereign state is decisive and just and proportionate and contributes to defending the international order\". Observers say North Korea may carry out a sixth nuclear test soon. China has criticised North Korea's missile tests. In February it banned imports of North Korean coal and reports in Chinese media have raised the possibility of restricting shipments of oil to the isolated North if the tests continue. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang told reporters in Beijing on Monday that the Korean peninsula was \"highly sensitive, complicated and high risk\" and that all sides should \"avoid taking provocative actions that pour oil on the fire\". Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Moscow would not tolerate \"missile adventures by Pyongyang\" but a unilateral use of power by the US would be \"a very risky course\". Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Monday told a parliamentary session that diplomatic efforts were \"important to maintain peace\", but \"dialogue for the sake of having dialogue is meaningless\".", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1017, "answer_end": 2252, "text": "On Tuesday, a report in the Guardian newspaper quoted unnamed officials as saying the US was considering shooting down North Korean missile tests as a show of strength. The US is also threatening tougher economic sanctions that could include an oil embargo, a global ban on North Korea's airline, intercepting cargo ships and punishing Chinese banks that do business with the country, Reuters news agency says. However, it has emerged that a US aircraft carrier, which the US said had been deployed towards the Korean peninsula earlier this month, had actually been sailing in the opposite direction. On 8 April, the navy said it had ordered the USS Carl Vinson to \"sail north\" as a deterrent against North Korea. A few days later, Mr Mattis said the aircraft carrier was \"on her way up there\". US President Donald Trump also told Fox News on 12 April: \"We are sending an armada, very powerful.\" However, a navy photo released on 15 April revealed that the aircraft carrier had actually sailed further south, to the Sunda Strait near Indonesia, to take part in planned drills with Australian forces in the Indian Ocean. The USS Carl Vinson is now set to head north towards the Korean peninsula, a defence official told AFP news agency."}], "question": "What is the US doing?", "id": "129_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2253, "answer_end": 3484, "text": "North Korea has accelerated its nuclear and missile tests in recent years, despite international condemnation and UN sanctions. Its aim is to be able to put a nuclear warhead on an intercontinental ballistic missile that can reach targets around the world, including the US. North Korea claims it has successfully made nuclear warheads small enough to fit onto a missile - but this has never been independently verified, and some experts have cast doubts on the claims. Vice-Foreign Minister Han Song-ryol told the BBC that North Korea believed its nuclear weapons \"protect\" it from the threat of US military action. The North fears the US and South Korea could use force in an attempt to overthrow the regime of Kim Jong-un. At the UN on Monday, North Korea's permanent representative Ambassador Kim In-ryong condemned the US missile strikes in Syria, which targeted an air base after a suspected chemical attack by the government. He said the US was \"disturbing global peace and stability and insisting on the gangster-like logic that its invasion of a sovereign state is decisive and just and proportionate and contributes to defending the international order\". Observers say North Korea may carry out a sixth nuclear test soon."}], "question": "What is North Korea doing?", "id": "129_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3485, "answer_end": 4336, "text": "China has criticised North Korea's missile tests. In February it banned imports of North Korean coal and reports in Chinese media have raised the possibility of restricting shipments of oil to the isolated North if the tests continue. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang told reporters in Beijing on Monday that the Korean peninsula was \"highly sensitive, complicated and high risk\" and that all sides should \"avoid taking provocative actions that pour oil on the fire\". Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Moscow would not tolerate \"missile adventures by Pyongyang\" but a unilateral use of power by the US would be \"a very risky course\". Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Monday told a parliamentary session that diplomatic efforts were \"important to maintain peace\", but \"dialogue for the sake of having dialogue is meaningless\"."}], "question": "And what do other world powers say?", "id": "129_2"}]}]}, {"title": "Tehran attackers 'were IS recruits from Iran'", "date": "7 June 2017", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Iran says the attackers who killed 12 people in the capital Tehran were Iranians who had joined so-called Islamic State (IS). Suicide bombers attacked parliament and the mausoleum of the Islamic Republic's founder Ayatollah Khomeini. All the attackers were killed. Five people believed to be planning a third attack were arrested, officials said. Iran's powerful Revolutionary Guards accused Saudi Arabia and the US of being behind the attacks. The violence comes amid heightened tension in the Middle East, with Saudi Arabia and other Arab states cutting ties with Qatar over alleged support for Islamist militants and closer ties with Iran. Sunni-ruled Saudi Arabia and Shia-majority Iran are staunch regional rivals. In an interview on state TV, Reza Seifollahi, deputy chief of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, said the attackers \"had joined Daesh [IS] from a number of regions inside Iran.\" IS earlier claimed the attacks - a first for Iran - and threatened further assaults on Iranian Shia Muslims. Iran's Revolutionary Guards vowed revenge for the bloodshed, but pointed the finger at the US and Saudi Arabia in the wake of President Donald Trump's recent visit to the kingdom. \"This terrorist action, coming one week after the meeting of the president of the United States with the leader of the one of the region's reactionary governments (Saudi Arabia)... shows they are involved in this savage action,\" it said in a statement. The US and Saudi Arabia both condemned the attacks. US President Donald Trump said he was praying for the victims but added that \"states that sponsor terrorism risk falling victim to the evil they promote\". Claiming the attack, IS posted a video which showed what it claimed was footage from inside the parliament building. A voice is heard saying, in Arabic: \"We're not going anywhere. We're staying forever.\" BBC Persian's Jenny Norton says that despite Iran's active involvement in fighting IS in both Iraq and Syria, the Sunni group has not until now carried out any attacks inside Iran, and appears to have little support in this predominantly Shia country. However, our analyst says, in recent months the group has stepped up its Farsi-language propaganda efforts - targeting Iran's restive Sunni minority. Iranian intelligence agencies claim to have foiled a number of IS-inspired plots. But by mounting a successful attack, IS could claim a major coup against a traditional foe that other Sunni jihadist groups, including its rival al-Qaeda, have failed to target in the past. Middle East analyst Dina Esfandiary says one possible consequence will be increased calls by hardliners for tougher action against IS in Iraq and Syria. Public support for action in Iraq is likely to grow, as it did when IS took swathes of territory in the country in 2014. But Iran's involvement in Syria is not popular, our analyst says - it is seen as having few benefits and costing too many Iranian lives. The attacks will also boost the popularity of the Revolutionary Guards, seen as protectors of the nation.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1654, "answer_end": 2531, "text": "Claiming the attack, IS posted a video which showed what it claimed was footage from inside the parliament building. A voice is heard saying, in Arabic: \"We're not going anywhere. We're staying forever.\" BBC Persian's Jenny Norton says that despite Iran's active involvement in fighting IS in both Iraq and Syria, the Sunni group has not until now carried out any attacks inside Iran, and appears to have little support in this predominantly Shia country. However, our analyst says, in recent months the group has stepped up its Farsi-language propaganda efforts - targeting Iran's restive Sunni minority. Iranian intelligence agencies claim to have foiled a number of IS-inspired plots. But by mounting a successful attack, IS could claim a major coup against a traditional foe that other Sunni jihadist groups, including its rival al-Qaeda, have failed to target in the past."}], "question": "What kind of presence does IS have in Iran?", "id": "130_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2532, "answer_end": 3048, "text": "Middle East analyst Dina Esfandiary says one possible consequence will be increased calls by hardliners for tougher action against IS in Iraq and Syria. Public support for action in Iraq is likely to grow, as it did when IS took swathes of territory in the country in 2014. But Iran's involvement in Syria is not popular, our analyst says - it is seen as having few benefits and costing too many Iranian lives. The attacks will also boost the popularity of the Revolutionary Guards, seen as protectors of the nation."}], "question": "What is the likely effect of the attacks?", "id": "130_1"}]}]}, {"title": "What you need to know for the week ahead", "date": "3 September 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "It's Monday, it's a new week, and while we won't pretend we know everything that's going to happen over the next seven days, we have some sense of what is coming up. Here's your briefing on some of the most important and interesting stories happening in the week ahead. What's happening? On Tuesday, confirmation hearings will begin into President Donald Trump's nominee for the US Supreme Court, Brett Kavanaugh. Why is this important? If he gets confirmed by the Senate, Mr Kavanaugh will help turn the Supreme Court in a more conservative direction for a generation. As a result, the fate of divisive issues such as abortion and immigration could come into focus. Mr Kavanaugh is likely to be confirmed, but he could face some awkward questions during the hearings. Chief among them is likely to be: would you excuse yourself from ruling on a case involving the president who nominated you to the top court in the land? What's happening? The economy in Venezuela, a country of about 30m people, is in freefall - experts warn inflation this year could hit 1,000,000%. So on Saturday, a new minimum wage, 34 times its previous level, came into force to try to help workers. Why is this important? It's far from the first time the government has raised the minimum wage - but it's never done so to this extent. This presents businesses, particularly small ones, with a problem: if they stay open and pay their employees the increased wage, they may be forced out of business. But because of price controls on many items, it will be hard for them to balance out the increased costs (a step that could repel customers anyway). From early this week, we may get a sense of how businesses are coping and whether this move actually ends up making things worse. More than two million Venezuelans have fled the country since 2014, with hundreds of thousands leaving for neighbouring countries in the past year. What's happening? On Sunday, 9 September, the Arirang Mass Games begin in North Korea. Prepare for enormous co-ordinated displays unlike anything else seen anywhere in the world. Why is this important? They're the first Games in five years, and are reportedly being held to give the people of North Korea a morale boost and to help the economy. Tickets to each event reportedly cost up to EUR800 ($933; PS717) - meaning the country could rake in good money at a time it is still under sanctions from many Western nations. The colourful displays may well be striking, and will no doubt make headlines, but it's important to remember that the UN says that children are forced to take part, or to help in the build-up. How big will these Games be? If the sneaky satellite images taken in the past two weeks are any indication, they're going to be very big indeed. What's happening? The last big battle in the seven-year Syrian war looks like it could be about to begin. Why is this important? There are about three million people living in north-western Idlib province, the last major area held by the opposition. The province is dominated by jihadists and rebel fighters, though most of the people there are civilians. Many fighters and their families have been evacuated there from other rebel-held areas under truce deals with the government. A major build-up of the military outside Idlib has already started and Russia, the Syrian government's ally, has been stepping up its presence nearby in the Mediterranean Sea. Meanwhile, Russia and Syria have accused rebel fighters of preparing to use chemical attacks in Idlib to blame pro-government forces. UN investigators say government forces have used chemical weapons several times during the conflict, despite Syria's denial. What's happening? Executives from Facebook, Twitter and Google will give evidence on Wednesday about what they are doing to stop foreign powers from using their online platforms to influence US politics. Why is this important? We're two months away from the US mid-term elections, that will help shape the country's politics for the next two years and beyond. After Russian attempts to influence voters in the 2016 presidential election via social networks, there's a lot of attention on who might be trying to do the same this time around. So are tech companies doing enough in 2018? What evidence have they seen that foreign powers are trying to meddle?", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 923, "answer_end": 1902, "text": "What's happening? The economy in Venezuela, a country of about 30m people, is in freefall - experts warn inflation this year could hit 1,000,000%. So on Saturday, a new minimum wage, 34 times its previous level, came into force to try to help workers. Why is this important? It's far from the first time the government has raised the minimum wage - but it's never done so to this extent. This presents businesses, particularly small ones, with a problem: if they stay open and pay their employees the increased wage, they may be forced out of business. But because of price controls on many items, it will be hard for them to balance out the increased costs (a step that could repel customers anyway). From early this week, we may get a sense of how businesses are coping and whether this move actually ends up making things worse. More than two million Venezuelans have fled the country since 2014, with hundreds of thousands leaving for neighbouring countries in the past year."}], "question": "2) How will Venezuela cope?", "id": "131_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2764, "answer_end": 3680, "text": "What's happening? The last big battle in the seven-year Syrian war looks like it could be about to begin. Why is this important? There are about three million people living in north-western Idlib province, the last major area held by the opposition. The province is dominated by jihadists and rebel fighters, though most of the people there are civilians. Many fighters and their families have been evacuated there from other rebel-held areas under truce deals with the government. A major build-up of the military outside Idlib has already started and Russia, the Syrian government's ally, has been stepping up its presence nearby in the Mediterranean Sea. Meanwhile, Russia and Syria have accused rebel fighters of preparing to use chemical attacks in Idlib to blame pro-government forces. UN investigators say government forces have used chemical weapons several times during the conflict, despite Syria's denial."}], "question": "4) A final showdown in Syria?", "id": "131_1"}]}]}, {"title": "Why Australia is talking about a French au pair", "date": "30 August 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "An Australian minister is facing growing questions over why he personally intervened to grant a visa to a French au pair, in a case that has attracted national attention. Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton denies he acted improperly in halting the deportation of Alexandra Deuwel. The decision helped a wealthy family, and followed a plea by their relative - a prominent sporting chief executive. Local media said Mr Dutton had overruled a senior official's advice. Critics have compared the case to Mr Dutton's unwavering commitment, as immigration minister, to keeping asylum seekers in overseas detention - a long-time controversial policy. Mr Dutton failed in two attempts to become prime minister last week, ultimately losing out to Scott Morrison. Ms Deuwel, 27, had her tourist visa cancelled on arrival in Australia in 2015, on suspicions that she had intended to work. However, Mr Dutton used his ministerial discretion to reverse the decision. Ms Deuwel had previously worked for pastoralists Callum and Skye MacLachlan in South Australia. Their relative, Australian Football League boss Gillon McLachlan (who uses an alternative spelling), had lobbied Mr Dutton to intervene in Ms Deuwel's case. Adding to public scrutiny, Callum MacLachlan's father, Hugh, has donated about A$150,000 (PS84,000; $110,000) to the governing Liberal Party since 1999, local media reported. Mr Dutton's decision to grant a visa to at least one other au pair is already the subject of a Senate inquiry. On Thursday, the minister strongly rejected any suggestion that the MacLachlan family had influenced his decision. He said he had assessed Ms Deuwel's case on its merits, telling radio 2GB that she had no criminal history and had agreed not to work in Australia. \"I thought it was an application of common sense,\" he said. Mr Dutton has not responded to reports that an Australian Border Force official warned him in 2015 that some evidence \"does not support the Minister intervening\". Aside from scrutiny of the case specifically, observers have pointed out that it has only become public now - days after Mr Dutton's failed leadership bids. \"It suggests that somebody behind the scenes is trying to do as much damage as they possibly can to Peter Dutton in circumstances where he's obviously been in the headlines,\" ABC political correspondent Laura Tingle said on Tuesday. But it has also ignited allegations of double-standards on visa issues: among those angered are supporters of a Tamil family involved in a high-profile effort to stay in Australia. The family, who have lived for years in Queensland, are now facing deportation - despite a petition to Mr Dutton that gathered almost 120,000 signatures. Others have made similar comparisons about Australia's policy of sending asylum seekers who arrive by boat to Nauru and Papua New Guinea. The policy has been criticised by human rights groups as inhumane. Recently, it has been reported that child asylum seekers in particular have been struggling acutely with mental illness. Australia argues its offshore detention policy is necessary to disrupt human trafficking and save lives at sea.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 754, "answer_end": 1492, "text": "Ms Deuwel, 27, had her tourist visa cancelled on arrival in Australia in 2015, on suspicions that she had intended to work. However, Mr Dutton used his ministerial discretion to reverse the decision. Ms Deuwel had previously worked for pastoralists Callum and Skye MacLachlan in South Australia. Their relative, Australian Football League boss Gillon McLachlan (who uses an alternative spelling), had lobbied Mr Dutton to intervene in Ms Deuwel's case. Adding to public scrutiny, Callum MacLachlan's father, Hugh, has donated about A$150,000 (PS84,000; $110,000) to the governing Liberal Party since 1999, local media reported. Mr Dutton's decision to grant a visa to at least one other au pair is already the subject of a Senate inquiry."}], "question": "What is the au pair controversy?", "id": "132_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1493, "answer_end": 1978, "text": "On Thursday, the minister strongly rejected any suggestion that the MacLachlan family had influenced his decision. He said he had assessed Ms Deuwel's case on its merits, telling radio 2GB that she had no criminal history and had agreed not to work in Australia. \"I thought it was an application of common sense,\" he said. Mr Dutton has not responded to reports that an Australian Border Force official warned him in 2015 that some evidence \"does not support the Minister intervening\"."}], "question": "What has Mr Dutton said?", "id": "132_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1979, "answer_end": 3141, "text": "Aside from scrutiny of the case specifically, observers have pointed out that it has only become public now - days after Mr Dutton's failed leadership bids. \"It suggests that somebody behind the scenes is trying to do as much damage as they possibly can to Peter Dutton in circumstances where he's obviously been in the headlines,\" ABC political correspondent Laura Tingle said on Tuesday. But it has also ignited allegations of double-standards on visa issues: among those angered are supporters of a Tamil family involved in a high-profile effort to stay in Australia. The family, who have lived for years in Queensland, are now facing deportation - despite a petition to Mr Dutton that gathered almost 120,000 signatures. Others have made similar comparisons about Australia's policy of sending asylum seekers who arrive by boat to Nauru and Papua New Guinea. The policy has been criticised by human rights groups as inhumane. Recently, it has been reported that child asylum seekers in particular have been struggling acutely with mental illness. Australia argues its offshore detention policy is necessary to disrupt human trafficking and save lives at sea."}], "question": "Why has it caused such interest?", "id": "132_2"}]}]}, {"title": "France Chiolo stabbing: Guards protest after jail 'terror attack'", "date": "6 March 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "French prison guards blocked access to 18 prisons on Wednesday after an inmate in the north of the country wounded two guards in what the justice minister said was a terrorist attack. Michael Chiolo was apparently given a knife when his female partner visited a high-security jail in Normandy. They barricaded themselves into a family-visiting area before police eventually moved in. Unions called for action at all prisons over safety and staffing. France has for years had to grapple with the spread of jihadism in its jail system. The head of Conde-sur-Sarthe jail near Alencon, where the attack took place, was seen unsuccessfully appealing to protesting guards to be allowed in. Tyres were set on fire and when police arrived they were jeered as the guards stopped them getting through. A hundred guards refused to let anyone into another high-security jail at Fleury-Merogis, news channel BFMTV reported. One guard, Cedric, told the Ouest France website that he had treated the two guards stabbed in the attack. \"It was carnage, the ferocity of it. I'm thinking of my colleagues and I worry tomorrow that might be us.\" At 09:45 on Tuesday, Michael Chiolo, a 27-year-old inmate thought to have been radicalised in jail several years ago, was visited by his 34-year-old female partner in a special \"family life\" visiting unit.  It was thought she had smuggled in a ceramic knife, Justice Minister Nicole Belloubet said. Unconfirmed reports say the woman called for help from two guards and then the pair launched their attack, described by Ms Belloubet as a \"terrorist\" incident. Both guards were seriously wounded, one with injuries to the thorax, the other to his face, colleagues said. Chiolo shouted \"Allahu Akhbar\" (God is Greatest) and said he wanted to avenge the death of Strasbourg gunman Cherif Chekatt, Paris prosecutor Remy Heitz said. Chekatt killed five people near the city's Christmas market last December. After failed attempts at negotiation, elite police stormed the unit at 18:40. Both were shot and wounded by police, and the woman died of her wounds when she \"launched herself\" on one of the officers. Chiolo has been serving a 30-year sentence since 2015 and was reportedly radicalised as a militant Islamist while serving a previous jail term in 2012. He came across the Strasbourg gunman while in jail in eastern France in 2015 and spent 175 days in the same penitentiary, Franceinfo reported. Of Italian origin, he ran away from his family and became involved in petty crime. Aged 20, he and an accomplice targeted an 89-year-old Holocaust survivor who escaped from Dachau concentration camp in Nazi Germany. They tied him up and choked him to death. While in jail, he was sentenced to an extra year in prison for condoning terrorism. He had asked fellow inmates to \"re-enact\" the 2015 terror attack on the Bataclan music venue in Paris, which left 90 people dead.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1125, "answer_end": 2127, "text": "At 09:45 on Tuesday, Michael Chiolo, a 27-year-old inmate thought to have been radicalised in jail several years ago, was visited by his 34-year-old female partner in a special \"family life\" visiting unit.  It was thought she had smuggled in a ceramic knife, Justice Minister Nicole Belloubet said. Unconfirmed reports say the woman called for help from two guards and then the pair launched their attack, described by Ms Belloubet as a \"terrorist\" incident. Both guards were seriously wounded, one with injuries to the thorax, the other to his face, colleagues said. Chiolo shouted \"Allahu Akhbar\" (God is Greatest) and said he wanted to avenge the death of Strasbourg gunman Cherif Chekatt, Paris prosecutor Remy Heitz said. Chekatt killed five people near the city's Christmas market last December. After failed attempts at negotiation, elite police stormed the unit at 18:40. Both were shot and wounded by police, and the woman died of her wounds when she \"launched herself\" on one of the officers."}], "question": "What happened in the jail?", "id": "133_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2128, "answer_end": 2894, "text": "Chiolo has been serving a 30-year sentence since 2015 and was reportedly radicalised as a militant Islamist while serving a previous jail term in 2012. He came across the Strasbourg gunman while in jail in eastern France in 2015 and spent 175 days in the same penitentiary, Franceinfo reported. Of Italian origin, he ran away from his family and became involved in petty crime. Aged 20, he and an accomplice targeted an 89-year-old Holocaust survivor who escaped from Dachau concentration camp in Nazi Germany. They tied him up and choked him to death. While in jail, he was sentenced to an extra year in prison for condoning terrorism. He had asked fellow inmates to \"re-enact\" the 2015 terror attack on the Bataclan music venue in Paris, which left 90 people dead."}], "question": "Who is Chiolo?", "id": "133_1"}]}]}, {"title": "Kenya's Uhuru Kenyatta and Raila Odinga now 'brothers'", "date": "9 March 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Kenya's president and opposition leader have promised to begin a process of reconciliation following last year's bitterly contested election. Uhuru Kenyatta and Raila Odinga called each other \"brothers\" during a surprise joint TV address. Mr Odinga has sworn himself in as the \"people's president\" and refused to recognise Mr Kenyatta as head of state. The announcement came shortly before the arrival of US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson in Kenya. Speaking in Nairobi Mr Tillerson later praised the two men for taking \"a very positive step\". However, he also said that Kenya needed to \"correct certain actions, like shutting down TV stations and threatening the independence of the courts\". Until now, both Mr Kenyatta and Mr Odinga had dismissed calls for talks, from both Kenyans and foreign diplomats. About 150 people were killed in the aftermath of the election, which Mr Kenyatta won after an opposition boycott. In their joint address, President Kenyatta said: \"We will begin a process of discussing what ails us and what creates division amongst us.\" Mr Odinga said it was \"time to resolve our differences\". Analysis by Ferdinand Omondi, BBC Africa, Nairobi Resolving the two men's differences won't be so easy. Kenya is sharply divided along ethnic lines because of the political stand-off. The opposition charges of rigged elections, police brutality and state high-handedness were not mentioned - only a joint call for national dialogue. Before travelling to Kenya, Rex Tillerson criticised Ethiopia's government for declaring a state of emergency. So some saw this unexpected meeting as a pre-emptive public relations stunt to water down any potential dressing-down; while others welcomed the announcement as long overdue. Whichever explanation rings true, Kenya is headed for an intriguing second episode of political drama. President Kenyatta was sworn in for a second term last November. He won an election re-run in October, which Mr Odinga had boycotted. Elections were first held in August but the courts ordered a re-run, saying Mr Kenyatta's victory was marred by irregularities. Mr Odinga said that nothing had been changed before the re-run. After he swore himself in as the \"people's president\", some of those involved in the ceremony were arrested, while TV stations that had said they would broadcast it were temporarily closed down.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1119, "answer_end": 1840, "text": "Analysis by Ferdinand Omondi, BBC Africa, Nairobi Resolving the two men's differences won't be so easy. Kenya is sharply divided along ethnic lines because of the political stand-off. The opposition charges of rigged elections, police brutality and state high-handedness were not mentioned - only a joint call for national dialogue. Before travelling to Kenya, Rex Tillerson criticised Ethiopia's government for declaring a state of emergency. So some saw this unexpected meeting as a pre-emptive public relations stunt to water down any potential dressing-down; while others welcomed the announcement as long overdue. Whichever explanation rings true, Kenya is headed for an intriguing second episode of political drama."}], "question": "Pre-emptive PR stunt?", "id": "134_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Bitcoin slides amid rollercoaster ride", "date": "30 November 2017", "paragraphs": [{"context": "The price of digital currency Bitcoin has fallen sharply in a period of wild trading since it passed the $11,000 mark a day ago. Bitcoin is now around $9,600, down about 16% from the record $11,434 (PS8,500) it hit on Wednesday. The digital currency is used by some people to pay for things online, but most users see it as an investment. On Wednesday, a Bank of England deputy governor warned \"investors should do their homework\" on Bitcoin. There are two key traits of Bitcoin: it is digital and it is seen as an alternative currency. Unlike the notes or coins in your pocket, it largely exists online. Secondly, Bitcoin is not printed by governments or traditional banks. A small but growing number of businesses, including Expedia and Microsoft, accept bitcoins - which work like virtual tokens. However, the vast majority of users now buy and sell them as a financial investment. At its peak, Bitcoin had increased by 1,000% from the $1,000 value at which it started the year. Bitcoin is \"prone to wild swings\", partly because it is not well regulated and because there are fewer traders, said Dr Garrick Hileman of the Judge Business School at University of Cambridge. The trading over the past day \"was a rollercoaster like nothing I've ever seen,\" said Neil Wilson, a financial analyst at ETX capital in London. He said part of the volatility was due to small investors \"with no market experience\" buying and selling the coin. \"There is no way to discern what fair value is - it's so incredibly speculative and it is so new and not properly understood.\" Critics have said Bitcoin is going through a bubble similar to the dotcom boom, whereas others say it is rising in price because it is crossing into the financial mainstream. On Thursday, Randal Quarles, the Federal Reserve's vice chair for supervision, warned that digital currencies like Bitcoin could pose \"more serious financial stability issues\" if adopted widely. Financial regulators have taken a range of views on the status of digital currencies and their risks. Sir Jon Cunliffe, the Bank's deputy governor for financial stability, said Bitcoin was \"not of a size that would be a threat to financial stability\" or a risk to the UK economy. But he also told the BBC on Wednesday: \"People need to be clear this is not an official currency. No central bank stands behind it, no government stands behind it.\" Bitcoin is \"closer to a commodity\" than a currency, with people choosing to invest and trade in it, Sir Jon said. Bitcoins are created through a complex process known as mining, and then monitored by a network of computers across the world. A steady stream of about 3,600 new bitcoins are created a day - with about 16.5 million now in circulation from a maximum limit of 21 million. Bitcoin and other digital currencies are coming under closer scrutiny due to the rapid price rise. The UK's Financial Conduct Authority warned investors in September they could lose all their money if they buy digital currencies issued by firms, known as \"initial coin offerings\".", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 443, "answer_end": 884, "text": "There are two key traits of Bitcoin: it is digital and it is seen as an alternative currency. Unlike the notes or coins in your pocket, it largely exists online. Secondly, Bitcoin is not printed by governments or traditional banks. A small but growing number of businesses, including Expedia and Microsoft, accept bitcoins - which work like virtual tokens. However, the vast majority of users now buy and sell them as a financial investment."}], "question": "What is Bitcoin?", "id": "135_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Rees-Mogg 'bullying Brexit whistleblowers', says doctor", "date": "5 September 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "A doctor who spoke out against the government's no-deal plans has said Leader of the House of Commons Jacob Rees-Mogg is \"bullying whistleblowers\". David Nicholl expressed concern over medical plans for a no-deal Brexit during a radio phone-in this week. On Thursday, Mr Rees-Mogg told MPs that Dr Nicholl was \"as irresponsible as Dr [Andrew] Wakefield\", who inaccurately linked the MMR vaccine with autism. The Conservative MP later apologised to Dr Nicholl for making the comparison. The British Medical Association called Mr Rees-Mogg's comments \"irresponsible\". Dr Nicholl, a consultant neurologist with Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust, shared his concerns about the supply of drugs in the event of a no-deal Brexit in an interview with BBC Newsnight in March. And on Monday he called in to LBC to ask Mr Rees-Mogg what mortality rate he would accept if the UK were to leave the EU without a deal. Mr Rees-Mogg said this was \"the worst excess of Project Fear\" and the doctor should be \"quite ashamed\". Speaking in the House of Commons on Thursday, Mr Rees-Mogg referred to the exchange when challenged about preparations for leaving the EU without a deal. \"Preparations have been made, they are in place and they have been done with remarkable efficiency, but a lot of remainers wish to make our skins crawl,\" he said. \"I'm afraid it seems to me that Dr David Nicholl is as irresponsible as Dr Wakefield. \"What he [Nicholl] had to say - I will repeat it - is as irresponsible as Dr Wakefield. \"In threatening that people will die because we leave the European Union - what level of irresponsibility was that?\" In response, Dr Nicholl said he was \"appalled\" by the comments and visited Westminster to call on the MP to apologise. He added that the remarks were \"an attempt by government to bully whistleblowers, and it's not just doctors.\" \"I challenge him to repeat outside the chamber the allegation that I am comparable to Andrew Wakefield - let's see what happens.\" As an MP, Mr Rees-Mogg cannot be sued for any comments he makes during his duties in the House of Commons. But on Thursday evening, the MP for North East Somerset, apologised to Dr Nicholl for his comments in the Commons. In a statement he said he had \"the utmost respect for all of the country's hardworking medical professionals and the work they do in caring for the people of this country.\" He added that the government was \"working closely with the NHS, industry and distributors to help ensure the supply of medicine and medical products remains uninterrupted\" by the UK's withdrawal from the EU. By Newsnight correspondent Deborah Cohen Dr Nicholl came to Newsnight in March with his concerns about the inability to stockpile medicines for conditions such as epilepsy, neuropathic pain and bipolar disorder in the event of no-deal Brexit. He was neurology lead for Brexit planning and gave us NHS England documents. He said it was his duty as a doctor to speak up over concerns about patient safety. A range of health organisations supported him, telling the BBC there needed to be transparency about supplies. Unavailability of certain drugs may affect doctors' decisions about what to prescribe. His concerns were later supported by Operation Yellowhammer - the leaked government report describing the possible consequences of leaving without a deal - which said there may be significant disruption to medicines supplies lasting up to six months. In response to the row, the Chief Medical Officer for England, Prof Sally Davies, has written to Mr Rees-Mogg to express her \"sincere disappointment in the disrespectful way\" he spoke to and about Dr David Nicholl. In the letter, she said that Brexit \"obviously divides opinion\" but that comparing Dr Nicholl to Dr Wakefield is \"going too far and is frankly unacceptable\". She thanked Dr Nicholl for his help in planning for no-deal and added that \"there are now full plans in place that we believe, if enacted to plan, should ensure unhindered medical supplies\". Dr Chaand Nagpaul, chairman of the British Medical Association, said Mr Rees-Mogg's \"unwarranted attack\" was \"utterly disgraceful and totally irresponsible\". \"Highly experienced doctors like David Nicholl who decide to speak out about risks to life and patient care, should be supported and listened to, not attacked and derided by those who hold positions of responsibility.\" Shadow health secretary Jonathan Ashworth criticised Mr Rees-Mogg's comments, describing them on Twitter as \"offensive, irresponsible garbage\". He added: \"His casual belittling of experienced, medical opinion really is shameful and straight out of the Trump playbook.\" Alistair Burt, who was one of 21 MPs who lost the Tory whip after they rebelled against the party, said: \"The Brexit obsession is giving rise to sheer irrationality.\" He added: \"As a former minister fully aware of the worldwide risks to health security from Wakefield's anti-vax consequences, I am distressed such a comparison could come from a government minister in the UK.\"", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 2593, "answer_end": 3445, "text": "By Newsnight correspondent Deborah Cohen Dr Nicholl came to Newsnight in March with his concerns about the inability to stockpile medicines for conditions such as epilepsy, neuropathic pain and bipolar disorder in the event of no-deal Brexit. He was neurology lead for Brexit planning and gave us NHS England documents. He said it was his duty as a doctor to speak up over concerns about patient safety. A range of health organisations supported him, telling the BBC there needed to be transparency about supplies. Unavailability of certain drugs may affect doctors' decisions about what to prescribe. His concerns were later supported by Operation Yellowhammer - the leaked government report describing the possible consequences of leaving without a deal - which said there may be significant disruption to medicines supplies lasting up to six months."}], "question": "What were Dr Nicholl's concerns?", "id": "136_0"}]}]}, {"title": "The amazing science behind fatal snake bites", "date": "13 September 2015", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Snake venom is deadly, with as many as 100,000 people worldwide dying each year from snake bites. The World Health Organization has added 'snakebite' to its list of neglected tropical diseases, but what is the real scale of the problem it faces against such a vicious venom? Snake venom is made up of several hundred proteins which all have a slightly different toxic effect on the human body. One snake's poison may not be like another's, even if they are from the same species. But, on the whole, there are two main ways snakes make us suffer - by attacking the circulatory system (ie. the blood) and/or the nervous system. Haemotoxic venom goes for the bloodstream. It can trigger lots of tiny blood clots and then when the venom punches holes in blood vessels causing them to leak, there is nothing left to stem the flow and the patient bleeds to death. Other venoms can increase blood pressure, decrease blood pressure, prevent bleeding or create it. They are all bad news. Neurotoxic venom tends to act more quickly, attacking the nervous system and stopping nerve signals getting through to the muscles. This means paralysis, starting at the head, moving down the body until, if untreated, the diaphragm is paralysed and the patient can't breathe. A classic sign of this is ptosis, when people can't keep their eyes open. Around the area of the bite, necrosis can set in. That happens when the venom destroys nearby muscles, tissues and cells. Long-term, this can lead to amputations, the loss of the use of a limb or the need for multiple skin grafts. Snakes get closer to humans and cause more damage and more deaths than any other venomous animal, including spiders, scorpions and jellyfish. That's because venomous snakes are found across large swathes of the planet, typically in rural, tropical areas, like sub-Saharan Africa and south-east Asia. But they also live in Australia and North America. Since snakes lurk on the ground, often camouflaged and unseen, farmers, rural workers and many young children can easily disturb them and get bitten. Each year, up to five million people worldwide are estimated to be bitten by snakes. Out of those, around 100,000 die and 400,000 are left disabled or disfigured by their injuries. But the numbers could be even larger - because many of the worst-affected countries don't keep data on snakebites and research into this problem is scarce. Anti-venoms. These life-saving antidotes to snake bites are made by extracting venom from snakes then injecting it diluted into sheep or horses, which build up antibodies against it. These antibodies are then separated from the animal's blood and used to make anti-venom - but there's a problem. Anti-venoms are expensive and only produced in limited quantities. Few ordinary people can afford them and governments and health officials have shown little interest in training medical personnel to diagnose and treat venomous snake bites. Anti-venoms which have been proven to be safe and effective are rare - and one of the best is running out. So now the race is on to make another one. Researchers at the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine are busy collecting venom from deadly snakes in order to develop a new generation anti-venom treatment against the bite of every dangerous snake in sub-Saharan Africa, where snake bites kill about 30,000 people each year. But experts are still unsure whether a single, universal anti-venom (which targets many types of venom from different snakes) is better than separate anti-venoms which target specific snake species in specific regions. Both are probably worth having. Snake venom is a white or yellow-coloured liquid which is produced in glands behind the snake's eyes and is pumped down a duct to the fangs when it bites down on something or someone. The fangs acts like a hypodermic needle, injecting the venom quickly and efficiently into the unsuspecting victim. Snakes with fangs at the front of their mouths are most dangerous - such as the cobra, puff adder, viper, rattlesnake and mamba, for example. The venom produced by the snake's ancient ancestor was relatively simple. But research suggests that it has diversified over time and now venoms are more complex and more toxic than ever before. Venoms can vary, even within snake species and within the same country, causing different effects on the body and responding differently to the same anti-venom. It does, apart from when you don't know you've been bitten. Snakes called kraits, which live in south Asia, have a painless bite. They are known for slithering into homes when the inhabitants are asleep, usually on beds on the floor. The victim might be disturbed a little but is likely to go back to sleep, and in the morning they wake up paralysed - or not at all. For most other snakes, there's the pain felt from the initial bite, as the fangs sink into the skin, and then the pain created by the venom as it starts to work - causing inflammation, clotting the blood, causing skin cells to self-destruct. There are plenty of myths about how to deal with being bitten by a snake, so don't be fooled. There is no evidence at all that sucking out venom from a snakebite with the mouth or using any other suction device helps. In fact, experts say it could hasten the venom's passage into the bloodstream. Cutting out the venom is not recommended either because it could make the wound much worse. In some countries, especially in remote areas where health services are scarce, natural remedies are often used to try to treat the bites but this only delays how long it takes to get to hospital. After a bite, victims should not move the affected limb unless they have to, keep their heart rate as low as possible until they reach hospital and receive the appropriate anti-venom treatment, ideally as quickly as possible.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 2398, "answer_end": 3614, "text": "Anti-venoms. These life-saving antidotes to snake bites are made by extracting venom from snakes then injecting it diluted into sheep or horses, which build up antibodies against it. These antibodies are then separated from the animal's blood and used to make anti-venom - but there's a problem. Anti-venoms are expensive and only produced in limited quantities. Few ordinary people can afford them and governments and health officials have shown little interest in training medical personnel to diagnose and treat venomous snake bites. Anti-venoms which have been proven to be safe and effective are rare - and one of the best is running out. So now the race is on to make another one. Researchers at the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine are busy collecting venom from deadly snakes in order to develop a new generation anti-venom treatment against the bite of every dangerous snake in sub-Saharan Africa, where snake bites kill about 30,000 people each year. But experts are still unsure whether a single, universal anti-venom (which targets many types of venom from different snakes) is better than separate anti-venoms which target specific snake species in specific regions. Both are probably worth having."}], "question": "What's the cure?", "id": "137_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 4412, "answer_end": 5020, "text": "It does, apart from when you don't know you've been bitten. Snakes called kraits, which live in south Asia, have a painless bite. They are known for slithering into homes when the inhabitants are asleep, usually on beds on the floor. The victim might be disturbed a little but is likely to go back to sleep, and in the morning they wake up paralysed - or not at all. For most other snakes, there's the pain felt from the initial bite, as the fangs sink into the skin, and then the pain created by the venom as it starts to work - causing inflammation, clotting the blood, causing skin cells to self-destruct."}], "question": "Does a snakebite hurt?", "id": "137_1"}]}]}, {"title": "General election 2019: A simple guide to the Labour Party", "date": "14 November 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Labour was the second biggest party in the House of Commons, with 243 MPs out of 650 seats, when Parliament was dissolved on 6 November. Jeremy Corbyn. He is a 70-year-old former union official, and has been an MP for just over 36 years. He became leader in 2015 in a surprise election win. He had never previously been a government minister or held high office in the Labour Party. He has a loyal fan base as an anti-war, and anti-spending cuts, campaigner. Labour needs to win 83 more seats than it had when Parliament was dissolved to form a government on its own, without having to seek a coalition deal with other parties. The Labour Party launched its 2019 election manifesto, with the slogan It's Time For Real Change, on 21 November. It sets out the polices the party aims to introduce should it win the election. Here are five key policies that appear in it: - Increase the health budget by 4.3% a year - Nationalise key industries, including the so-called big six energy firms, National Grid, and Royal Mail - Introduce a PS10-an-hour minimum wage for all workers - Freeze the state pension age at 66 - Hold a second referendum on Brexit Labour wants to renegotiate Boris Johnson's Brexit deal and put it to another public vote. The referendum would be a choice between a \"credible\" Leave option versus Remain. Under its Leave option, Labour says it will negotiate for the UK to remain in an EU customs union, and retain a \"close\" single market relationship. This would allow the UK to continue trading with the EU without checks, but it would prevent it from striking its own trade deals with other countries. It says it will achieve this within six months. Labour is a socialist party - that means it wants to tax the rich to pay for better public services, give workers more rights and take control of things like the railways, the Royal Mail, energy and water supply, so they are not run for private profit. According to the most recent figures, in July, Labour had 485,000 members. Traditionally one of the UK's two main political parties, Labour was set up by trade unions nearly 120 years ago to give workers a voice in Parliament. Since the end of World War Two, the UK has had a Labour prime minister for a total of 30 years, compared with 44 years for the Conservatives.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 137, "answer_end": 458, "text": "Jeremy Corbyn. He is a 70-year-old former union official, and has been an MP for just over 36 years. He became leader in 2015 in a surprise election win. He had never previously been a government minister or held high office in the Labour Party. He has a loyal fan base as an anti-war, and anti-spending cuts, campaigner."}], "question": "Who is the leader?", "id": "138_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1148, "answer_end": 1668, "text": "Labour wants to renegotiate Boris Johnson's Brexit deal and put it to another public vote. The referendum would be a choice between a \"credible\" Leave option versus Remain. Under its Leave option, Labour says it will negotiate for the UK to remain in an EU customs union, and retain a \"close\" single market relationship. This would allow the UK to continue trading with the EU without checks, but it would prevent it from striking its own trade deals with other countries. It says it will achieve this within six months."}], "question": "Where does it stand on Brexit?", "id": "138_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1669, "answer_end": 1921, "text": "Labour is a socialist party - that means it wants to tax the rich to pay for better public services, give workers more rights and take control of things like the railways, the Royal Mail, energy and water supply, so they are not run for private profit."}], "question": "What else does it stand for?", "id": "138_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1922, "answer_end": 1996, "text": "According to the most recent figures, in July, Labour had 485,000 members."}], "question": "How many members does it have?", "id": "138_3"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1997, "answer_end": 2290, "text": "Traditionally one of the UK's two main political parties, Labour was set up by trade unions nearly 120 years ago to give workers a voice in Parliament. Since the end of World War Two, the UK has had a Labour prime minister for a total of 30 years, compared with 44 years for the Conservatives."}], "question": "What is the Labour Party's history?", "id": "138_4"}]}]}, {"title": "Key UK contractor Carillion denies rescue plan in doubt", "date": "12 January 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Troubled construction firm Carillion has denied reports lenders rejected a proposed rescue plan for the business. The firm, which is a key government contractor for projects including schools and prisons, said crunch talks with stakeholders were still ongoing. The firm is struggling under PS1.5bn of debt, including a pension shortfall of PS587m, raising fears about its future. Ministers are drawing up plans to take over prisons contracts worth PS200m from Carillion, the BBC understands. Reports that creditors had turned down a potential rescue plan sent the firm's shares down by more than 28% on Friday. Administrator firms PwC and EY were also reported to have been put on standby as talks about the firm's future carry on. In a statement, Carillion said: \"Suggestions that Carillion's business plan has been rejected by stakeholders are incorrect.\" It said the firm remained in constructive dialogue about short term financing while \"longer term discussions are continuing\". Carillion also said turnaround proposals on the table were likely to cost shareholders. The government, the Pensions Regulator and representatives from the firm held crunch talks to discuss the firm's options on Friday. The company is the UK's second-largest construction company and a key government contractor. It employs 43,000 people globally. But it is perhaps best known for being one the largest suppliers of services to the public sector. Notably, it holds a contract to build part of the forthcoming HS2 high speed railway line and is the second largest supplier of maintenance services to Network Rail. It also maintains 50,000 homes for the Ministry of Defence, manages nearly 900 schools and manages highways and prisons. A government spokeswoman said it has been monitoring the situation to ensure its \"contingency plans are robust\". The general secretary of the RMT rail union, Mick Cash, said Carillion's workers were \"not responsible for the crisis\". He added that workers \"should have protection and guarantees from the government, including an assurance that operations will be directly transferred over to Network Rail with all jobs, pensions and rights safeguarded if Carillion goes bust\". In addition to its rail operations, Carillion also manages nearly 900 schools, provides services to the NHS and works with National Grid. The assistant general secretary of the Unite union, Gail Cartmail, said: \"The government must consider all options while the future of Carillion hangs in the balance, including bringing contracts back in-house.\" The company held talks with its lenders and advisers in London on Wednesday. However, no announcement has been made on a business plan to secure its future. The government confirmed ministers met yesterday to discuss Carillion's future and were \"monitoring the situation closely\". The Financial Times reported that David Lidington, who was moved to the Cabinet Office as part of Prime Minister Theresa May's reshuffle this week, convened the meeting with Business Secretary Greg Clark, new Justice Minister Rory Stewart, new Transport Minister Jo Johnson and Liz Truss, Chief Secretary to the Treasury. A government spokeswoman said: \"Carillion is a major supplier to the government with a number of long-term contracts. We are committed to maintaining a healthy supplier market and work closely with our key suppliers.\" Carillion was forced to ask its banks, which include Santander UK, HSBC and Barclays, for support after breaching its loan agreements last year when it issued a series of profit warnings. The firm's share price has plunged by more than 90% over the past year. The company has been working on a plan which it said \"will provide the basis for the agreement of a proposal to restore Carillion's balance sheet\". A spokeswoman for the Pension Protection Fund said it was \"aware of the discussions between the company, government and banks and, along with the trustees and the Pensions Regulator, will act as it always does to protect the interests of Carillion scheme members and levy payers\". A spokesman for the Pension Regulator said: \"We have been and remain closely involved in discussions with Carillion and the trustees of the pension schemes as this situation has unfolded. We will not comment further unless it becomes appropriate to do so.\"", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1204, "answer_end": 1717, "text": "The company is the UK's second-largest construction company and a key government contractor. It employs 43,000 people globally. But it is perhaps best known for being one the largest suppliers of services to the public sector. Notably, it holds a contract to build part of the forthcoming HS2 high speed railway line and is the second largest supplier of maintenance services to Network Rail. It also maintains 50,000 homes for the Ministry of Defence, manages nearly 900 schools and manages highways and prisons."}], "question": "What does Carillion do?", "id": "139_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Climate change: 'Magic bullet' carbon solution takes big step", "date": "3 April 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "A technology that removes carbon dioxide from the air has received significant backing from major fossil fuel companies. British Columbia-based Carbon Engineering has shown that it can extract CO2 in a cost-effective way. It has now been boosted by $68m in new investment from Chevron, Occidental and coal giant BHP. But climate campaigners are worried that the technology will be used to extract even more oil. The quest for technology for carbon dioxide removal (CDR) from the air received significant scientific endorsement last year with the publication of the IPCC report on keeping the rise in global temperatures to 1.5C this century. In their \"summary for policymakers\", the scientists stated that: \"All pathways that limit global warming to 1.5C with limited or no overshoot project the use of CDR ...over the 21st century.\" Around the world, a number of companies are racing to develop the technology that can draw down carbon. Swiss company Climeworks is already capturing CO2 and using it to boost vegetable production. Carbon Engineering says that its direct air capture (DAC) process is now able to capture the gas for under $100 a tonne. With its new funding, the company plans to build its first commercial facilities. These industrial-scale DAC plants could capture up to one million tonnes of CO2 from the air each year. CO2 is a powerful warming gas but there's not a lot of it in the atmosphere - for every million molecules of air, there are 410 of CO2. While the CO2 is helping to drive temperatures up around the world, the comparatively low concentrations make it difficult to design efficient machines to remove the gas. Carbon Engineering's process is all about sucking in air and exposing it to a chemical solution that concentrates the CO2. Further refinements mean the gas can be purified into a form that can be stored or utilised as a liquid fuel. Absolutely. Carbon Engineering's barn-sized installation has a large fan in the middle of the roof which draws in air from the atmosphere. It then comes into contact with a hydroxide-based chemical solution. Certain hydroxides react with carbon dioxide, reversibly binding to the CO2 molecule. When the CO2 in the air reacts with the liquid, it forms a carbonate mixture. That is then treated with a slurry of calcium hydroxide to change it into solid form; the slurry helps form tiny pellets of calcium carbonate. The chalky calcium carbonate pellets are then treated at a high temperature of about 900C, with the pellets decomposing into a CO2 stream and calcium oxide. That stream of pure CO2 is cleaned up to remove water impurities. \"The key to this process is about concentrating the CO2,\" said Carbon Engineering's Dr Jenny McCahill. \"We can then put it underground as in sequestration, or we can combine it with hydrogen to form hydrocarbons or methanol. There's a number of things you can do.\" Yes. It's complicated but it can be done. The captured CO2 is mixed with hydrogen that's made from water and green electricity. It's then passed over a catalyst at 900C to form carbon monoxide. Adding in more hydrogen to the carbon monoxide turns it into what's called synthesis gas. Finally a Fischer-Tropsch process turns this gas into a synthetic crude oil. Carbon Engineering says the liquid can be used in a variety of engines without modification. \"The fuel that we make has no sulphur in it, it has these nice linear chains which means it burns cleaner than traditional fuel,\" said Dr McCahill. \"It's nice and clear and ready to be used in a truck, car or jet.\" CO2 can also be used to flush out the last remaining deposits of oil in wells that are past their prime. The oil industry in the US has been using the gas in this way for decades. It's estimated that using CO2 can deliver an extra 30% of crude from oilfields with the added benefit that the gas is then sequestered permanently in the ground. \"Carbon Engineering's direct air capture technology has the unique capability to capture and provide large volumes of atmospheric CO2,\" said Occidental Petroleum's Senior Vice President, Richard Jackson, in a statement. \"This capability complements Occidental's enhanced oil recovery business and provides further synergies by enabling large-scale CO2 utilisation and sequestration.\" One of the other investors in Carbon Engineering is BHP, best known for its coal mining interests. \"The reality is that fossil fuels will be around for several decades whether in industrial processes or in transportation,\" said Dr Fiona Wild, BHP's head of sustainability and climate change. \"What we need to do is invest in those low-emission technologies that can significantly reduce the emissions from these processes, and that's why we are focusing on carbon capture and storage.\" Some climate campaigners are positive about the development of direct air capture technology, but others are worried that it will be used to prolong the fossil fuel era. \"It's a huge concern,\" Tzeporah Berman, international programme director for Stand dot earth, told BBC News. \"We need to be working together to figure out how we move away completely from fossil fuel - that's our moral and economic challenge but these technologies provide a false hope that we can continue to depend on fossil fuels and produce and burn them, and technology will fix it - we are way past that point!\" Others are concerned that the development of direct air capture devices may just encourage some people to think that they don't have to personally reduce their carbon footprint. \"I think there's a real danger that people will see this technology as a magic bullet and not cut back their carbon,\" said Shakti Ramkumar, a student at the University of British Columbia (UBC), who is active in climate change protests. \"We have a moral responsibility to reduce our consumption on a large scale. We need to reflect deeply on how we live our lives and whether everyone can have access to the things we have, and fairness, so we can all live a good life.\" It's impossible to say if Carbon Engineering's idea will emerge as the type of device that makes a major difference in the battle against climate change. Certainly, the company believes that its machines could become as common as water treatment plants - providing a valuable service, yet hardly noticed by the general public. Right now, it has secured enough money to build a commercial facility and can draw down carbon for less than $100 a tonne. But there is a big worry that with large investments from the fossil fuel industry, the focus of its efforts could be turned to producing more oil, not just tackling climate change. Carbon Engineering says that if governments want to invest in its process they are very welcome to do so. If they're not ready to stump up the cash, the company is happy to take funding from the energy industry as time is so short, and the need for the technology is so great. \"Is it the silver bullet?\" asked CEO Steve Oldham. \"I would never say to anybody that you want to put all your eggs in one basket - the future of the planet is very important for us all. \"But having the technology built, available, ready to go, with no harmful chemical side-effects, less land-usage, having those available - that's a good thing. \"If or when we need them, and if you read the science that's today - it's available, it's ready.\" Follow Matt on Twitter @mattmcgrathbbc Sign up for a weekly chat about climate change on Facebook Messenger", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1339, "answer_end": 1878, "text": "CO2 is a powerful warming gas but there's not a lot of it in the atmosphere - for every million molecules of air, there are 410 of CO2. While the CO2 is helping to drive temperatures up around the world, the comparatively low concentrations make it difficult to design efficient machines to remove the gas. Carbon Engineering's process is all about sucking in air and exposing it to a chemical solution that concentrates the CO2. Further refinements mean the gas can be purified into a form that can be stored or utilised as a liquid fuel."}], "question": "So how does this system work?", "id": "140_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1879, "answer_end": 2881, "text": "Absolutely. Carbon Engineering's barn-sized installation has a large fan in the middle of the roof which draws in air from the atmosphere. It then comes into contact with a hydroxide-based chemical solution. Certain hydroxides react with carbon dioxide, reversibly binding to the CO2 molecule. When the CO2 in the air reacts with the liquid, it forms a carbonate mixture. That is then treated with a slurry of calcium hydroxide to change it into solid form; the slurry helps form tiny pellets of calcium carbonate. The chalky calcium carbonate pellets are then treated at a high temperature of about 900C, with the pellets decomposing into a CO2 stream and calcium oxide. That stream of pure CO2 is cleaned up to remove water impurities. \"The key to this process is about concentrating the CO2,\" said Carbon Engineering's Dr Jenny McCahill. \"We can then put it underground as in sequestration, or we can combine it with hydrogen to form hydrocarbons or methanol. There's a number of things you can do.\""}], "question": "Does this require some complicated chemistry?", "id": "140_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2882, "answer_end": 3550, "text": "Yes. It's complicated but it can be done. The captured CO2 is mixed with hydrogen that's made from water and green electricity. It's then passed over a catalyst at 900C to form carbon monoxide. Adding in more hydrogen to the carbon monoxide turns it into what's called synthesis gas. Finally a Fischer-Tropsch process turns this gas into a synthetic crude oil. Carbon Engineering says the liquid can be used in a variety of engines without modification. \"The fuel that we make has no sulphur in it, it has these nice linear chains which means it burns cleaner than traditional fuel,\" said Dr McCahill. \"It's nice and clear and ready to be used in a truck, car or jet.\""}], "question": "Can you really make a liquid fuel from CO2?", "id": "140_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3551, "answer_end": 4762, "text": "CO2 can also be used to flush out the last remaining deposits of oil in wells that are past their prime. The oil industry in the US has been using the gas in this way for decades. It's estimated that using CO2 can deliver an extra 30% of crude from oilfields with the added benefit that the gas is then sequestered permanently in the ground. \"Carbon Engineering's direct air capture technology has the unique capability to capture and provide large volumes of atmospheric CO2,\" said Occidental Petroleum's Senior Vice President, Richard Jackson, in a statement. \"This capability complements Occidental's enhanced oil recovery business and provides further synergies by enabling large-scale CO2 utilisation and sequestration.\" One of the other investors in Carbon Engineering is BHP, best known for its coal mining interests. \"The reality is that fossil fuels will be around for several decades whether in industrial processes or in transportation,\" said Dr Fiona Wild, BHP's head of sustainability and climate change. \"What we need to do is invest in those low-emission technologies that can significantly reduce the emissions from these processes, and that's why we are focusing on carbon capture and storage.\""}], "question": "Why are fossil fuel companies investing in this process?", "id": "140_3"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 4763, "answer_end": 5999, "text": "Some climate campaigners are positive about the development of direct air capture technology, but others are worried that it will be used to prolong the fossil fuel era. \"It's a huge concern,\" Tzeporah Berman, international programme director for Stand dot earth, told BBC News. \"We need to be working together to figure out how we move away completely from fossil fuel - that's our moral and economic challenge but these technologies provide a false hope that we can continue to depend on fossil fuels and produce and burn them, and technology will fix it - we are way past that point!\" Others are concerned that the development of direct air capture devices may just encourage some people to think that they don't have to personally reduce their carbon footprint. \"I think there's a real danger that people will see this technology as a magic bullet and not cut back their carbon,\" said Shakti Ramkumar, a student at the University of British Columbia (UBC), who is active in climate change protests. \"We have a moral responsibility to reduce our consumption on a large scale. We need to reflect deeply on how we live our lives and whether everyone can have access to the things we have, and fairness, so we can all live a good life.\""}], "question": "How have environmentalists reacted to Carbon Engineering's plans?", "id": "140_4"}]}]}, {"title": "Brussels Jewish Museum murders: Mehdi Nemmouche jailed for life", "date": "12 March 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "A Frenchman has been given a life sentence for killing four people in an anti-Semitic attack in Brussels in May 2014. Mehdi Nemmouche, 33, opened fire with a Kalashnikov assault rifle and a handgun at the city's Jewish Museum. Three people died at the scene and one later in hospital. Nemmouche spent a year fighting in Syria for the Islamic State (IS) group before returning to Europe to carry out the attack. A man who helped plan the attack and supply weapons, Nacer Bendrer, was sentenced to 15 years in prison. Nemmouche and Bendrer were found guilty last week after a two-month-long trial involved apparent witness intimidation and testimony from former captives of IS in Syria. Bendrer, who is also French, told the court: \"I am ashamed to have crossed paths with this guy [Nemmouche]. He is not a man, he is a monster.\" When asked to speak, Nemmouche reportedly said with a smirk: \"Life goes on.\" Nemmouche's lawyers tried to suggest that he had been framed in an elaborate conspiracy which blamed the murders on foreign intelligence agencies. But they produced no evidence to support the claim. Two Israeli tourists, a volunteer worker and a receptionist were killed in the attack on the museum. Who is Mehdi Nemmouche? He is believed by Belgian prosecutors to be the first European jihadist to return from war-torn Syria to carry out terror attacks in Europe. He was born into a family of Algerian origin in the northern French town of Roubaix. He was previously known to French authorities, having served five years in prison for robbery. He is said to have met Bendrer while in prison. Both have been described as \"radicalised\" prisoners. Nemmouche travelled to Syria in 2013 and stayed for one year, during which time he is believed to have fought for a jihadist group in the country's civil war. Investigators say that while there, he met Najim Laachraoui, who was a suicide bomber in the Brussels airport attack of March 2016, which killed 32 people. Four French journalists held hostage in Syria say they were guarded by both Laachraoui and Nemmouche during their captivity. Nemmouche was extradited to Belgium to face charges connected to the museum shooting, but may also face trial in France over the allegations he was involved in holding the French hostages. Security was tight, matching that of the trial of jailed jihadist Salah Abdeslam, the sole surviving member of the 2015 Paris attackers. Days after the trial began, a lawyer representing a witness reported his laptop and some paperwork on the case had been stolen from his office. A baseball bat and replica gun were left in their place - something prosecutors viewed as a threat. In the dock the next day, Nemmouche denounced the attempt at intimidation - and the witness, 81-year-old Chilean artist Clara Billeke Villalobos, went on to testify anyway. Next came the orphaned daughters of Miriam and Emmanuel Riva, the Israeli tourists killed. Ayalet, 19, and Shira, 21, described a mother \"devoted to her family\" and an unassuming father who \"loved to travel\". Three weeks into proceedings, jurors were shown video of Nemmouche in custody after his arrest. Belgian newspaper Le Soir described it as showing an \"arrogant\" Nemmouche in front of police with a \"disdainful smile\", arms folded. Two of the French journalists held for nearly a year in the northern Syrian city of Aleppo appeared in court, pointing to Nemmouche as their captor. Nicolas Henin told the court Nemmouche was \"sadistic, playful and narcissistic\", while Didier Francois said he had beaten him dozens of times with a truncheon. Summing up, prosecutor Bernard Michel told the court Nemmouche was \"not simply radicalised but ultra-radicalised\". \"If attacking a museum with a combat weapon is not violent and savage then nothing will ever be violent and savage,\" he said. \"For the killer, for Mehdi Nemmouche, the identity of the victims mattered little,\" he added. \"The aim was simply that there should be victims. Everything was premeditated.\" The closing argument from the defence was described by some as \"mind-boggling\", as it wove a web of conspiracy involving foreign intelligence agencies and assassination. Sebastien Courtoy, Nemmouche's lawyer, suggested that his client was recruited in Lebanon in January 2013 by Iranian or Lebanese intelligence to join the ranks of IS. But this claim went unsubstantiated. According to Mr Courtoy, the Jewish Museum murders were not an IS attack, but a \"targeted execution of Mossad agents\" - a reference to the Israeli intelligence agency, which he claimed the Israeli couple belonged to. The killing was carried out by an unknown person, he said. Yet judges investigating the museum attack last month told the court there was no evidence to support any link to Mossad. At one pointed the defence even argued that Nemmouche could not be considered anti-Semitic because he wore Calvin Klein shoes - an apparent reference to Mr Klein's Jewish heritage. A lawyer representing a committee of Jewish organisations called that observation \"mind-boggling and incoherent\".", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 2280, "answer_end": 3271, "text": "Security was tight, matching that of the trial of jailed jihadist Salah Abdeslam, the sole surviving member of the 2015 Paris attackers. Days after the trial began, a lawyer representing a witness reported his laptop and some paperwork on the case had been stolen from his office. A baseball bat and replica gun were left in their place - something prosecutors viewed as a threat. In the dock the next day, Nemmouche denounced the attempt at intimidation - and the witness, 81-year-old Chilean artist Clara Billeke Villalobos, went on to testify anyway. Next came the orphaned daughters of Miriam and Emmanuel Riva, the Israeli tourists killed. Ayalet, 19, and Shira, 21, described a mother \"devoted to her family\" and an unassuming father who \"loved to travel\". Three weeks into proceedings, jurors were shown video of Nemmouche in custody after his arrest. Belgian newspaper Le Soir described it as showing an \"arrogant\" Nemmouche in front of police with a \"disdainful smile\", arms folded."}], "question": "What happened during the trial?", "id": "141_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Will Iceland get a Pirate prime minister?", "date": "28 October 2016", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Iceland's anti-establishment Pirate Party is on course to shake up one of the world's oldest democracies in a parliamentary election on Saturday. For the first time, it could form part of a ruling coalition, as many voters remain bitter about the 2008 financial crisis and the perceived arrogance of an elite class. Icelandic journalist Hjortur Gudmundsson explains what is at stake. Launched in 2012, they were inspired by the Swedish Pirate Party, which wants more freedom from copyright restrictions on the internet, more political transparency and more protection of citizens' data. The Pirates have been the main channel for distrust in mainstream politics in Iceland, which has just over 330,000 people. The Pirates' election manifesto says the party aims to \"ensure that the wealth generated by Iceland's natural resources is justly distributed\". They also want free healthcare for all Icelanders and \"active public participation and supervision of those in power\". It is a rather loose alliance of people who are mainly united in their opposition to traditional politics and the system. Their rise in the polls has also attracted people who eye a possibility to advance their own careers by joining them. They may become the first Pirate Party in the world to enter government.  A similar backlash against establishment politicians has taken various forms elsewhere. The US has Bernie Sanders and Donald Trump, who revolutionised presidential election politics. Greece elected left-wing Syriza and Spain has left-wing Podemos. They have three MPs in the 63-seat Althing (parliament). Support for the Pirates has slipped in recent opinion polls but they are preparing for coalition government. They have already suggested a candidate for prime minister, and invited other opposition parties to coalition talks - before voters have had their say. The early election was triggered by the shock resignation of Prime Minister Sigmundur David Gunnlaugsson in April. He was a casualty of the leaked Panama Papers, which revealed offshore assets held by him and dozens of other high-profile figures. Most polls put the Pirates as either Iceland's second-largest party or the largest, along with the conservative Independence Party. The Pirates are on about 20%, which is very good compared to the 2013 elections, when they got only 5.1%. Still, several months back the Pirates enjoyed almost twice their current level of support in the polls. There have been repeated internal disputes in the party. They have no formal leader but many consider MP Birgitta Jonsdottir, the party's founder, as its \"de facto\" leader. She has been accused by some party members of using the leadership vacuum to grab power. The disputes even saw Helgi Hrafn Gunnarsson, another of the Pirates' three MPs, compare relations within the party to a violent relationship where no one dared to speak their mind, for fear of the consequences. In response, the Pirates hired a workplace psychologist to help the three MPs to better understand each other, which has reportedly helped very much. The Pirates initially attracted people from all over the political spectrum but have apparently shifted towards the left recently. Libertarians were accused by Ms Jonsdottir of plotting a takeover to turn the Pirates into a libertarian party, which would prioritise individual rights. Similar disputes have torn other Pirate parties apart. Whether that happens with the Icelandic version remains to be seen. Currently a centre-left coalition involving the Pirates and three, or perhaps four, other parties seems the most likely outcome of the election. It is unclear how such a government would fare. Historically no Icelandic coalition government formed by more than two parties has survived a full four-year term. Doubts have been raised as to whether the Pirates can function in government. Some also fear the elections might result in a full-blown cabinet crisis. Whatever happens, this election looks set to make history. Hjortur Gudmundsson writes for Iceland Monitor, specialising in politics and international affairs", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 384, "answer_end": 1534, "text": "Launched in 2012, they were inspired by the Swedish Pirate Party, which wants more freedom from copyright restrictions on the internet, more political transparency and more protection of citizens' data. The Pirates have been the main channel for distrust in mainstream politics in Iceland, which has just over 330,000 people. The Pirates' election manifesto says the party aims to \"ensure that the wealth generated by Iceland's natural resources is justly distributed\". They also want free healthcare for all Icelanders and \"active public participation and supervision of those in power\". It is a rather loose alliance of people who are mainly united in their opposition to traditional politics and the system. Their rise in the polls has also attracted people who eye a possibility to advance their own careers by joining them. They may become the first Pirate Party in the world to enter government.  A similar backlash against establishment politicians has taken various forms elsewhere. The US has Bernie Sanders and Donald Trump, who revolutionised presidential election politics. Greece elected left-wing Syriza and Spain has left-wing Podemos."}], "question": "Who are the Icelandic Pirates?", "id": "142_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1535, "answer_end": 3066, "text": "They have three MPs in the 63-seat Althing (parliament). Support for the Pirates has slipped in recent opinion polls but they are preparing for coalition government. They have already suggested a candidate for prime minister, and invited other opposition parties to coalition talks - before voters have had their say. The early election was triggered by the shock resignation of Prime Minister Sigmundur David Gunnlaugsson in April. He was a casualty of the leaked Panama Papers, which revealed offshore assets held by him and dozens of other high-profile figures. Most polls put the Pirates as either Iceland's second-largest party or the largest, along with the conservative Independence Party. The Pirates are on about 20%, which is very good compared to the 2013 elections, when they got only 5.1%. Still, several months back the Pirates enjoyed almost twice their current level of support in the polls. There have been repeated internal disputes in the party. They have no formal leader but many consider MP Birgitta Jonsdottir, the party's founder, as its \"de facto\" leader. She has been accused by some party members of using the leadership vacuum to grab power. The disputes even saw Helgi Hrafn Gunnarsson, another of the Pirates' three MPs, compare relations within the party to a violent relationship where no one dared to speak their mind, for fear of the consequences. In response, the Pirates hired a workplace psychologist to help the three MPs to better understand each other, which has reportedly helped very much."}], "question": "So how strong are they now?", "id": "142_1"}]}]}, {"title": "Deforestation: Tropical tree losses persist at high levels", "date": "25 April 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Around 12 million hectares of forest in the world's tropical regions were lost in 2018, equivalent to 30 football fields per minute. While this represents a decline on 2016 and 2017, it is still the fourth highest rate of loss since records began in 2001. Of particular concern is the continued destruction of what are termed primary forests. An area of these older, untouched trees the size of Belgium was lost in 2018. The Global Forest Watch report paints a complex picture of what's going on in the heavily forested tropical regions of the world that range from the Amazon in South America, through West and Central Africa to Indonesia. The forests of the Amazon basin are home to an estimated 20 million people. Among them are dozens of tribes living in voluntary isolation. As well as providing food and shelter, the trees in these regions are important to the world as stores of carbon dioxide and play a key role in regulating global climate change. Millions of hectares of these forests have been lost in recent decades, having been cleared by commercial or agricultural interests. The data from 2018 shows a drop from the previous two years, which saw a huge amount of trees lost to fire. However, those involved in the research say this good news is somewhat qualified. \"It's really tempting to celebrate a second year of decline since peak tree-cover loss in 2016,\" said Frances Seymour from the World Resources Institute, who run Global Forest Watch. \"But if you look back over the last 18 years, it is clear that the overall trend is still upwards. We are nowhere near winning this battle.\" Primary forests are those that exist in their original condition and are virtually untouched by humans. Sometimes referred to as old growth forests, these areas can harbour trees that are hundreds, even thousands, of years old. They are critical to sustaining biodiversity, and are home to animals including jaguars, tigers, orang-utans and mountain gorillas. These old forests really matter as stores of carbon dioxide, which is why the loss of 3.6 million hectares in 2018 is concerning. \"For every hectare of forest loss, we are one step closer to the scary scenarios of runaway climate change,\" said Frances Seymour. Unfortunately not! Back in 2002, Brazil and Indonesia made up 71% of tropical primary forest loss.  In 2018, these two countries accounted for 46%. The Democratic Republic of Congo is now the country with the second largest losses by area, while countries like Colombia, Bolivia and Peru all saw increases in primary forest disappearance. Colombia continued the dramatic rise first seen in 2016. It's been linked to the peace process in the country where areas of the Amazon once held by FARC guerrillas have now been opened up to development. Madagascar lost 2% of its entire primary forest in 2018. That was more than any other tropical country. The disappearance of these trees is causing \"heartbreaking losses in real places\", said Frances Seymour. \"All too often the loss of an area of forest is also associated with a funeral because every year hundreds of people are murdered when they try to stop the miners, loggers, ranchers and other commercial interests from appropriating their forest wealth - the moral imperative to act on these numbers is unquestionable and urgent.\" Countries including Ghana and Cote d'Ivoire showed the highest rise in percentage terms in losses of primary forest. Ghana saw a whopping 60% increase while Cote d'Ivoire saw a 26% rise. Most of this increase, particularly in Ghana, is likely to be due to small-scale gold mining. There has also been an expansion of cocoa farming. Campaigners are concerned that the rise comes despite pledges made in 2017 by leading cocoa and chocolate companies to end deforestation within their supply chains. Surprisingly, yes. Indonesia managed to reduce primary forest losses in 2018 by around 40%, its lowest rate since 2003. The decline is due to a number of factors, including two wet years that limited the fire season. However, government action has also played a strong role. Protected areas saw big declines in deforestation, while an agreement with Norway to compensate the country for cutting emissions from tree-felling has also made a difference. \"Our law enforcement is another policy that shows we take it seriously,\" said Dr Belinda Margono, from the Indonesian Ministry of Environment and Forestry. \"In the country, there are several companies that have been punished or have had a letter from the government, so we are really trying on law enforcement.\" Experts say it is too early to tell if changes to environmental laws brought in by President Jair Bolsonaro have made any difference. The country experienced a major drop in deforestation between 2007 and 2015, by around 70%. Fires in 2016 and 2017 saw a rise once again. While 2018 was lower, at 1.3 million hectares, it was still above the historical level. Global Forest Watch notes that in 2018 several hotspots of primary forest loss occurred near or within indigenous territories. The Ituna Itata reserve, home to some of the world's last un-contacted tribes, saw more than 4,000 hectares of illegal clearing. The Global Forest Watch data has been updated by the University of Maryland. Follow Matt on Twitter @mattmcgrathbbc.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 421, "answer_end": 1604, "text": "The Global Forest Watch report paints a complex picture of what's going on in the heavily forested tropical regions of the world that range from the Amazon in South America, through West and Central Africa to Indonesia. The forests of the Amazon basin are home to an estimated 20 million people. Among them are dozens of tribes living in voluntary isolation. As well as providing food and shelter, the trees in these regions are important to the world as stores of carbon dioxide and play a key role in regulating global climate change. Millions of hectares of these forests have been lost in recent decades, having been cleared by commercial or agricultural interests. The data from 2018 shows a drop from the previous two years, which saw a huge amount of trees lost to fire. However, those involved in the research say this good news is somewhat qualified. \"It's really tempting to celebrate a second year of decline since peak tree-cover loss in 2016,\" said Frances Seymour from the World Resources Institute, who run Global Forest Watch. \"But if you look back over the last 18 years, it is clear that the overall trend is still upwards. We are nowhere near winning this battle.\""}], "question": "Why is this new data important?", "id": "143_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1605, "answer_end": 2225, "text": "Primary forests are those that exist in their original condition and are virtually untouched by humans. Sometimes referred to as old growth forests, these areas can harbour trees that are hundreds, even thousands, of years old. They are critical to sustaining biodiversity, and are home to animals including jaguars, tigers, orang-utans and mountain gorillas. These old forests really matter as stores of carbon dioxide, which is why the loss of 3.6 million hectares in 2018 is concerning. \"For every hectare of forest loss, we are one step closer to the scary scenarios of runaway climate change,\" said Frances Seymour."}], "question": "What are primary forests and why do they matter?", "id": "143_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2226, "answer_end": 3308, "text": "Unfortunately not! Back in 2002, Brazil and Indonesia made up 71% of tropical primary forest loss.  In 2018, these two countries accounted for 46%. The Democratic Republic of Congo is now the country with the second largest losses by area, while countries like Colombia, Bolivia and Peru all saw increases in primary forest disappearance. Colombia continued the dramatic rise first seen in 2016. It's been linked to the peace process in the country where areas of the Amazon once held by FARC guerrillas have now been opened up to development. Madagascar lost 2% of its entire primary forest in 2018. That was more than any other tropical country. The disappearance of these trees is causing \"heartbreaking losses in real places\", said Frances Seymour. \"All too often the loss of an area of forest is also associated with a funeral because every year hundreds of people are murdered when they try to stop the miners, loggers, ranchers and other commercial interests from appropriating their forest wealth - the moral imperative to act on these numbers is unquestionable and urgent.\""}], "question": "Is this all just about the Amazon?", "id": "143_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3309, "answer_end": 3805, "text": "Countries including Ghana and Cote d'Ivoire showed the highest rise in percentage terms in losses of primary forest. Ghana saw a whopping 60% increase while Cote d'Ivoire saw a 26% rise. Most of this increase, particularly in Ghana, is likely to be due to small-scale gold mining. There has also been an expansion of cocoa farming. Campaigners are concerned that the rise comes despite pledges made in 2017 by leading cocoa and chocolate companies to end deforestation within their supply chains."}], "question": "What is going on in West Africa?", "id": "143_3"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3806, "answer_end": 4568, "text": "Surprisingly, yes. Indonesia managed to reduce primary forest losses in 2018 by around 40%, its lowest rate since 2003. The decline is due to a number of factors, including two wet years that limited the fire season. However, government action has also played a strong role. Protected areas saw big declines in deforestation, while an agreement with Norway to compensate the country for cutting emissions from tree-felling has also made a difference. \"Our law enforcement is another policy that shows we take it seriously,\" said Dr Belinda Margono, from the Indonesian Ministry of Environment and Forestry. \"In the country, there are several companies that have been punished or have had a letter from the government, so we are really trying on law enforcement.\""}], "question": "Is there any good news in this?", "id": "143_4"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 4569, "answer_end": 5301, "text": "Experts say it is too early to tell if changes to environmental laws brought in by President Jair Bolsonaro have made any difference. The country experienced a major drop in deforestation between 2007 and 2015, by around 70%. Fires in 2016 and 2017 saw a rise once again. While 2018 was lower, at 1.3 million hectares, it was still above the historical level. Global Forest Watch notes that in 2018 several hotspots of primary forest loss occurred near or within indigenous territories. The Ituna Itata reserve, home to some of the world's last un-contacted tribes, saw more than 4,000 hectares of illegal clearing. The Global Forest Watch data has been updated by the University of Maryland. Follow Matt on Twitter @mattmcgrathbbc."}], "question": "How will new politics play out in Brazil?", "id": "143_5"}]}]}, {"title": "North Korea missile test splits world powers", "date": "15 September 2017", "paragraphs": [{"context": "The latest missile test by North Korea, its furthest-reaching yet, has split world powers who united behind new UN sanctions just days ago. US President Donald Trump said he was more confident than ever of America's military options, should one be needed. China earlier accused the US of shirking its responsibilities, while Russia called US rhetoric \"aggressive\". The UN Security Council has unanimously condemned the missile test, but no new sanctions have been announced. The missile was fired over Japan and reached an altitude of about 770km (478 miles), travelling 3,700km past the northernmost island of Hokkaido before landing in the sea, South Korea's military says. The missile had the capacity to reach the US territory of Guam and experts say it is the furthest any North Korean ballistic missile has ever travelled above ground. The Security Council convened an emergency meeting, in which members unanimously condemned the missile launch as \"highly provocative\" - coming as it did after Pyongyang's nuclear bomb test on 3 September. US envoy to the UN Nikki Haley had earlier played down the possibility of further punitive action, saying fresh economic sanctions agreed by the council on Monday that restricted oil imports and banned textile exports would cut trade with North Korea by 90%. President Donald Trump is due to address the UN next week, as well as meet the Japanese and South Korean leaders. The missile test has been widely condemned, with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe saying his country would \"never tolerate\" such \"dangerous provocative action\". President Trump said North Korea had \"once again shown its utter contempt for its neighbours, and the entire world community\", but that he felt more confident than ever that the US was ready should a military option be needed. But world powers were divided over how best to respond. President Trump's National Security Adviser HR McMaster earlier said the US was quickly running out of patience for diplomatic solutions, adding: \"We've been kicking the can down the road, and we're out of road.\" He confirmed that there was a military option, but it was not the president's preferred choice. But Russia's ambassador to the UN Vasilly Nebenzia urged caution, saying: \"We think that threats, tests, launches, and mutual threats in fact should be stopped, and that we should engage in meaningful negotiations.\" - US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said China, which supplies the North with most of its oil, and Russia, which was the largest employer of North Korean forced labour, should take direct actions to rein in Pyongyang - China foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying insisted her country was not the \"focal point of the conflict\" and directed the following remarks at the US and South Korea: \"Any attempt to wash their hands of the issue is irresponsible and unhelpful for resolving the issue.\" - Russia's foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said: \"Regrettably, aggressive rhetoric is the only thing coming from Washington.\" The launch took place from the Sunan district of the capital Pyongyang just before 07:00 local time (22:00 GMT on Thursday), South Korea's military says. Sunan is home to Pyongyang International Airport. As with the last test on 29 August, the missile flew over Japan's Hokkaido island before splashing down in the Pacific Ocean. Sirens sounded across the region and text message alerts were sent out warning people to take cover. Observers say it is likely to have been an intermediate range ballistic missile (IRBM) though Japanese officials believe there is still a possibility it was an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM). What is so alarming about the new launch is that the US Pacific territory of Guam, which North Korea says it has a plan to target, is 3,400km from Pyongyang, putting it within range of the latest missile. The North's sixth nuclear test reportedly involved a miniaturised hydrogen bomb that could be loaded on to a long-range missile. South Korea responded within minutes by firing two ballistic missiles into the sea in a simulated strike on the North. At an emergency meeting of his national security council, President Moon Jae-in said that dialogue with the North was \"impossible in a situation like this\". Officials have been ordered to prepare for possible North Korean chemical, biological and electromagnetic pulse (EMP) attacks, a presidential spokesman said. North Korea has said it has bombs capable of sending EMP shock waves, which would disrupt power supplies, although the claim has been greeted with some scepticism. The country does have an extensive chemical arsenal and may also have biological weapons. It insists it needs a nuclear-weapons programme to ensure its survival and there has been no let-up in its fiery rhetoric. On Thursday, it threatened to \"sink Japan and turn America to ashes\". A commentary in North Korea's state-run Rodong Sinmun newspaper, published after the latest missile launch, accuses the US and South Korea of conducting \"ceaseless\" exercises as a provocation. - Watch:Was your T-shirt made in North Korea? - Pyongyang has been developing weapons, initially based on the Soviet-developed Scud, for decades - Conducted short and medium-range missile tests on many occasions, sometimes to mark domestic events or periods of regional tension - Pace of tests has increased in recent months; experts say North Korea appears to be making significant advances towards building a reliable long-range nuclear-capable weapon - On 3 September, North Korea said it tested a hydrogen bomb that could be miniaturised and loaded on a long-range missile", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1420, "answer_end": 3026, "text": "The missile test has been widely condemned, with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe saying his country would \"never tolerate\" such \"dangerous provocative action\". President Trump said North Korea had \"once again shown its utter contempt for its neighbours, and the entire world community\", but that he felt more confident than ever that the US was ready should a military option be needed. But world powers were divided over how best to respond. President Trump's National Security Adviser HR McMaster earlier said the US was quickly running out of patience for diplomatic solutions, adding: \"We've been kicking the can down the road, and we're out of road.\" He confirmed that there was a military option, but it was not the president's preferred choice. But Russia's ambassador to the UN Vasilly Nebenzia urged caution, saying: \"We think that threats, tests, launches, and mutual threats in fact should be stopped, and that we should engage in meaningful negotiations.\" - US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said China, which supplies the North with most of its oil, and Russia, which was the largest employer of North Korean forced labour, should take direct actions to rein in Pyongyang - China foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying insisted her country was not the \"focal point of the conflict\" and directed the following remarks at the US and South Korea: \"Any attempt to wash their hands of the issue is irresponsible and unhelpful for resolving the issue.\" - Russia's foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said: \"Regrettably, aggressive rhetoric is the only thing coming from Washington.\""}], "question": "What accusations are being traded?", "id": "144_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3027, "answer_end": 3994, "text": "The launch took place from the Sunan district of the capital Pyongyang just before 07:00 local time (22:00 GMT on Thursday), South Korea's military says. Sunan is home to Pyongyang International Airport. As with the last test on 29 August, the missile flew over Japan's Hokkaido island before splashing down in the Pacific Ocean. Sirens sounded across the region and text message alerts were sent out warning people to take cover. Observers say it is likely to have been an intermediate range ballistic missile (IRBM) though Japanese officials believe there is still a possibility it was an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM). What is so alarming about the new launch is that the US Pacific territory of Guam, which North Korea says it has a plan to target, is 3,400km from Pyongyang, putting it within range of the latest missile. The North's sixth nuclear test reportedly involved a miniaturised hydrogen bomb that could be loaded on to a long-range missile."}], "question": "Why does this new test matter?", "id": "144_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3995, "answer_end": 4682, "text": "South Korea responded within minutes by firing two ballistic missiles into the sea in a simulated strike on the North. At an emergency meeting of his national security council, President Moon Jae-in said that dialogue with the North was \"impossible in a situation like this\". Officials have been ordered to prepare for possible North Korean chemical, biological and electromagnetic pulse (EMP) attacks, a presidential spokesman said. North Korea has said it has bombs capable of sending EMP shock waves, which would disrupt power supplies, although the claim has been greeted with some scepticism. The country does have an extensive chemical arsenal and may also have biological weapons."}], "question": "How is South Korea responding?", "id": "144_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 4683, "answer_end": 5114, "text": "It insists it needs a nuclear-weapons programme to ensure its survival and there has been no let-up in its fiery rhetoric. On Thursday, it threatened to \"sink Japan and turn America to ashes\". A commentary in North Korea's state-run Rodong Sinmun newspaper, published after the latest missile launch, accuses the US and South Korea of conducting \"ceaseless\" exercises as a provocation. - Watch:Was your T-shirt made in North Korea?"}], "question": "Why is the North acting like this?", "id": "144_3"}]}]}, {"title": "US warns Turkey over Russian S-400 missile system deal", "date": "4 April 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "US Vice-President Mike Pence has warned Turkey against buying a Russian S-400 anti-aircraft missile system that Washington sees as a threat to US jets. He said Turkey \"must choose\" between remaining a key Nato member or risk the security of that partnership \"by making such reckless decisions\". Turkey responded that the purchase of the advanced system was a done deal. Ankara has been establishing closer links with Russia after recent souring of its ties with the US and Europe. Turkey has the second-largest army in Nato, a 29-member military alliance set up to defend against what was at the time the Soviet Union. Mr Pence also rebuked Germany - another key Nato member - for not spending enough on its defence. Moscow has made no public comments on the latest developments. Relations between Nato and Russia have deteriorated over Moscow's occupation of Ukraine's Crimea peninsula and its withdrawal from a key missile treaty. By Jonathan Marcus, BBC defence and diplomatic correspondent The purchase of the Russian-built S-400 air defence system by Turkey - a Nato member - poses a variety of problems, both practical and political. The system would not be capable of integration into Nato's wider air defence system - problematic given Turkey's strategic location on the alliance's eastern flank. Turkey is also purchasing the most advanced warplane in the US arsenal - the F-35. Washington has suspended deliveries of the aircraft pending resolution of the missile problem. The US fears that if Turkey operates both the F-35 and the S-400, crucial data might be gathered by the Russians which would enable them to better understand the aircraft's characteristics and thus how best to defeat it. At a political level this row is just another in a raft of differences pitting Washington and Ankara against each other, reinforcing the growing perception that Turkey is increasingly an unreliable member of the Nato club. Speaking at a gathering in Washington to mark Nato's 70th anniversary, Mr Pence said: \"Turkey must choose. Does it want to remain a critical partner in the most successful military alliance in history, or does it want to risk the security of that partnership by making such reckless decisions that undermine our alliance?\" The US believes that Turkey's purchase of the S-400 would be a threat to US F-35 fighter jets. Washington has already suspended Turkey from its F-35 fighter jet programme. The US has also been pushing for Turkey to buy America's Patriot missiles instead. Senior Nato officials have repeatedly stated that the Russian system is not compatible with the alliance's equipment. Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu repeated that the deal with Russia - thought to be worth about PS2.5bn (PS1.9bn) - would not be cancelled. In a tweet, Turkey's vice-president later wrote: Ankara says the S-400 system will help the country to defend itself, as Turkey faces threats from Kurdish rebels and Islamist militants. The S-400 \"Triumf\" is one of the most sophisticated surface-to-air missile systems in the world. It has a range of 400km (250 miles), and one S-400 integrated system can shoot down up to 80 targets simultaneously. Russia says it can hit aerial targets ranging from low-flying drones to aircraft flying at various altitudes and long-range missiles.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 933, "answer_end": 1926, "text": "By Jonathan Marcus, BBC defence and diplomatic correspondent The purchase of the Russian-built S-400 air defence system by Turkey - a Nato member - poses a variety of problems, both practical and political. The system would not be capable of integration into Nato's wider air defence system - problematic given Turkey's strategic location on the alliance's eastern flank. Turkey is also purchasing the most advanced warplane in the US arsenal - the F-35. Washington has suspended deliveries of the aircraft pending resolution of the missile problem. The US fears that if Turkey operates both the F-35 and the S-400, crucial data might be gathered by the Russians which would enable them to better understand the aircraft's characteristics and thus how best to defeat it. At a political level this row is just another in a raft of differences pitting Washington and Ankara against each other, reinforcing the growing perception that Turkey is increasingly an unreliable member of the Nato club."}], "question": "An unreliable member of the club?", "id": "145_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1927, "answer_end": 2622, "text": "Speaking at a gathering in Washington to mark Nato's 70th anniversary, Mr Pence said: \"Turkey must choose. Does it want to remain a critical partner in the most successful military alliance in history, or does it want to risk the security of that partnership by making such reckless decisions that undermine our alliance?\" The US believes that Turkey's purchase of the S-400 would be a threat to US F-35 fighter jets. Washington has already suspended Turkey from its F-35 fighter jet programme. The US has also been pushing for Turkey to buy America's Patriot missiles instead. Senior Nato officials have repeatedly stated that the Russian system is not compatible with the alliance's equipment."}], "question": "What did Pence say?", "id": "145_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2623, "answer_end": 2957, "text": "Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu repeated that the deal with Russia - thought to be worth about PS2.5bn (PS1.9bn) - would not be cancelled. In a tweet, Turkey's vice-president later wrote: Ankara says the S-400 system will help the country to defend itself, as Turkey faces threats from Kurdish rebels and Islamist militants."}], "question": "How did Turkey react?", "id": "145_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2958, "answer_end": 3305, "text": "The S-400 \"Triumf\" is one of the most sophisticated surface-to-air missile systems in the world. It has a range of 400km (250 miles), and one S-400 integrated system can shoot down up to 80 targets simultaneously. Russia says it can hit aerial targets ranging from low-flying drones to aircraft flying at various altitudes and long-range missiles."}], "question": "What is the S-400 system?", "id": "145_3"}]}]}, {"title": "Stormont stalemate - how things stand", "date": "14 June 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "It's more than a month since the British and Irish governments began fresh efforts to restore devolution in Northern Ireland. Breaking two and a half years of political deadlock between diametrically opposed parties is no easy task. Add to that the out-workings of Brexit, a new prime minister - plus the findings of an inquiry into the financial scandal that collapsed Stormont in the first place - and restoring the place seems an insurmountable ask. The latest round of Stormont talks was announced following the murder of journalist Lyra McKee by the New IRA. The British and Irish governments had always planned to hold fresh negotiations - but the death of Ms McKee became a catalyst to do so. Over the past six weeks, party leaders have been meeting at Stormont on a regular basis and five working groups were set up to deal with specific talks issues. There is no set deadline. At the end of May, the two governments agreed to \"intensify\" the negotiations - but at the moment it doesn't look like the parties are nearing an agreement. Without a doubt, the main sticking point is the call for an Irish language act. It is being addressed through a working group on language and identity. Sinn Fein has led the charge for that, previously saying it would not go back into government without a stand-alone Irish language act. The DUP has been vehemently opposed to this, with party leader Arlene Foster saying the discussions could not lead to an outcome that was \"five-nil to Sinn Fein\". Journalist Brian Rowan revealed on the Eamonn Mallie website that working documents from the talks are trying to focus on the content of future language legislation, rather than getting hung up on what any law should be called. Other working groups are addressing issues such as reforming the petition of concern veto mechanism and improving the sustainability of the institutions. Although the Irish government recently said the mood music is much better than in previous rounds of talks, no-one is saying that an agreement is on the cards. Talks are due to continue on Monday - but one Stormont source told me they felt no-one was being serious enough yet, while another described the situation as \"very fluid\" and that this phase could reach a conclusion - not necessarily positive - by the middle of next week. One theory is that the two governments could hit the pause button over the summer, and bring the parties back for a final phase of talks in the autumn. BBC News NI understands that the Secretary of State Karen Bradley is planning to hold a reception next Tuesday to thank all those involved in the working groups for their efforts. Some commentators find it hard to see how the parties could reach a deal by mid-July, before the publication of the report into the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) inquiry. As it was the straw that broke the political back, causing Sinn Fein to collapse the institutions in January 2017. It seems unlikely they would go back into government before waiting to hear its findings. The British government is in flux right now too. With a new prime minister coming down the tracks, there could also be a new Northern Ireland secretary. Mrs Bradley is not openly endorsing any of the leadership contenders because of the talks process. There is also the matter of renewing the DUP-Conservative confidence-and-supply pact, to ensure the government has a majority in the Commons. After it was first signed in June 2017, other Stormont parties accused the British government of not being independent enough to oversee the talks. There will be further confidence-and-supply negotiations when a new prime minister is installed, which could be another barrier to restoring devolution. Reaching a deal is not totally impossible - but the same political obstacles remain. No matter how much the mood might change, many feel breaking the parties' entrenched positions is the equivalent of a political Everest.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 453, "answer_end": 1042, "text": "The latest round of Stormont talks was announced following the murder of journalist Lyra McKee by the New IRA. The British and Irish governments had always planned to hold fresh negotiations - but the death of Ms McKee became a catalyst to do so. Over the past six weeks, party leaders have been meeting at Stormont on a regular basis and five working groups were set up to deal with specific talks issues. There is no set deadline. At the end of May, the two governments agreed to \"intensify\" the negotiations - but at the moment it doesn't look like the parties are nearing an agreement."}], "question": "Talks are ongoing - but where are things at right now?", "id": "146_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1043, "answer_end": 1875, "text": "Without a doubt, the main sticking point is the call for an Irish language act. It is being addressed through a working group on language and identity. Sinn Fein has led the charge for that, previously saying it would not go back into government without a stand-alone Irish language act. The DUP has been vehemently opposed to this, with party leader Arlene Foster saying the discussions could not lead to an outcome that was \"five-nil to Sinn Fein\". Journalist Brian Rowan revealed on the Eamonn Mallie website that working documents from the talks are trying to focus on the content of future language legislation, rather than getting hung up on what any law should be called. Other working groups are addressing issues such as reforming the petition of concern veto mechanism and improving the sustainability of the institutions."}], "question": "What is being discussed?", "id": "146_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1876, "answer_end": 2640, "text": "Although the Irish government recently said the mood music is much better than in previous rounds of talks, no-one is saying that an agreement is on the cards. Talks are due to continue on Monday - but one Stormont source told me they felt no-one was being serious enough yet, while another described the situation as \"very fluid\" and that this phase could reach a conclusion - not necessarily positive - by the middle of next week. One theory is that the two governments could hit the pause button over the summer, and bring the parties back for a final phase of talks in the autumn. BBC News NI understands that the Secretary of State Karen Bradley is planning to hold a reception next Tuesday to thank all those involved in the working groups for their efforts."}], "question": "How likely is a deal any time soon?", "id": "146_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2641, "answer_end": 3934, "text": "Some commentators find it hard to see how the parties could reach a deal by mid-July, before the publication of the report into the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) inquiry. As it was the straw that broke the political back, causing Sinn Fein to collapse the institutions in January 2017. It seems unlikely they would go back into government before waiting to hear its findings. The British government is in flux right now too. With a new prime minister coming down the tracks, there could also be a new Northern Ireland secretary. Mrs Bradley is not openly endorsing any of the leadership contenders because of the talks process. There is also the matter of renewing the DUP-Conservative confidence-and-supply pact, to ensure the government has a majority in the Commons. After it was first signed in June 2017, other Stormont parties accused the British government of not being independent enough to oversee the talks. There will be further confidence-and-supply negotiations when a new prime minister is installed, which could be another barrier to restoring devolution. Reaching a deal is not totally impossible - but the same political obstacles remain. No matter how much the mood might change, many feel breaking the parties' entrenched positions is the equivalent of a political Everest."}], "question": "What could hold up a deal?", "id": "146_3"}]}]}, {"title": "Bougainville referendum: PNG region votes overwhelmingly for independence", "date": "11 December 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "The people of Bougainville, an island group in Papua New Guinea, have voted overwhelmingly for independence. Voters had two options - more autonomy, or full independence. Of the 181,000 ballots, almost 98% were in favour of independence. The referendum was approved by the Papua New Guinea government, but the result is non-binding. Nevertheless, the landslide victory will put pressure on PNG to grant Bougainville independence. The islands have a population of around 300,000, and 206,731 people enrolled to vote in the referendum. In total, 181,067 ballots were cast. Of those: - 176,928 voted for independence - 3,043 voted for greater autonomy - 1,096 were classed as informal, or void. The results were announced in the town of Buka by former Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern, the chairman of the Bougainville Referendum Commission. \"Now, at least psychologically, we feel liberated,\" said John Momis, president of the regional autonomous government. One Bougainvillian, nursing graduate Alexia Baria, told news agency AFP that \"happiness was an understatement\". \"You see my tears - this is the moment we have been waiting for,\" she said. Bougainville had a nine-year separatist war that began in 1988, fuelled by economic grievance. The end of the fighting led to the Bougainville Peace Agreement, the creation of the Autonomous Bougainville Government, and the promise of a non-binding referendum on independence. Even in colonial times, Bougainville was an outpost. The islands attempted to declare independence during the formation of Papua New Guinea in 1975 - but they were ignored. The referendum was non-binding - meaning independence won't happen automatically. Discussions will take place with the Papua New Guinea government to decide when - or if - the transition to full independence can begin. Although the PNG government was against independence, and does not have to accept the result, the huge mandate will make it hard to ignore. The 98% result is above pre-referendum predictions - most experts expected the figure to be around 75% - 80%. The PNG minister for Bougainville affairs, Puka Temu, said \"the outcome is a credible one\" - but asked that voters \"allow the rest of Papua New Guinea sufficient time to absorb this result\". The new country - should it happen - would be small, with a land mass of less than 10,000 sq km (slightly larger than Cyprus, and slightly smaller than Lebanon). Likewise, its population would be one of the world's smallest - slightly smaller than Pacific neighbour Vanuatu, and slightly bigger than Barbados. But according to research by Australia's Lowy Institute, Bougainville self-reliance would at best be years away. The country is rich in natural resources - especially copper, which has been extracted on a large scale since the 1960s under Australian administration. But mining has been crippled by the war - and the distribution of revenue was one of the factors behind the conflict. One estimate cited by the Lowy Institute says Bougainville would only have 56% of the revenue needed to be self-reliant.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1146, "answer_end": 1595, "text": "Bougainville had a nine-year separatist war that began in 1988, fuelled by economic grievance. The end of the fighting led to the Bougainville Peace Agreement, the creation of the Autonomous Bougainville Government, and the promise of a non-binding referendum on independence. Even in colonial times, Bougainville was an outpost. The islands attempted to declare independence during the formation of Papua New Guinea in 1975 - but they were ignored."}], "question": "Why was there a referendum?", "id": "147_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1596, "answer_end": 2255, "text": "The referendum was non-binding - meaning independence won't happen automatically. Discussions will take place with the Papua New Guinea government to decide when - or if - the transition to full independence can begin. Although the PNG government was against independence, and does not have to accept the result, the huge mandate will make it hard to ignore. The 98% result is above pre-referendum predictions - most experts expected the figure to be around 75% - 80%. The PNG minister for Bougainville affairs, Puka Temu, said \"the outcome is a credible one\" - but asked that voters \"allow the rest of Papua New Guinea sufficient time to absorb this result\"."}], "question": "What happens now?", "id": "147_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2256, "answer_end": 3070, "text": "The new country - should it happen - would be small, with a land mass of less than 10,000 sq km (slightly larger than Cyprus, and slightly smaller than Lebanon). Likewise, its population would be one of the world's smallest - slightly smaller than Pacific neighbour Vanuatu, and slightly bigger than Barbados. But according to research by Australia's Lowy Institute, Bougainville self-reliance would at best be years away. The country is rich in natural resources - especially copper, which has been extracted on a large scale since the 1960s under Australian administration. But mining has been crippled by the war - and the distribution of revenue was one of the factors behind the conflict. One estimate cited by the Lowy Institute says Bougainville would only have 56% of the revenue needed to be self-reliant."}], "question": "Is Bougainville ready for independence?", "id": "147_2"}]}]}, {"title": "Ricin threat: Cologne anti-terror police search flats", "date": "15 June 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "German police are searching flats in a Cologne tower block where a Tunisian man is suspected of having kept highly toxic ricin. The 29-year-old man, named in German media only as Sief Allah H, is being questioned by police. Police stormed his flat on Tuesday and found a chemical which turned out to be ricin. He is suspected of planning a biological terror attack. Ricin is a poison found naturally in castor beans. German security sources quoted by RP news, which is based in the Cologne region, said the quantity of ricin found was enough for up to 1,000 toxic doses. Police have sealed off the apartment block in Cologne-Chorweiler district. They are searching two flats rented by the suspect, as well as six other empty flats and some public areas in the building. The authorities say there is no immediate danger to the other residents. Experts from the Robert Koch Institute - a prestigious scientific research centre - are with police at the scene. Germany's top constitutional protection official, Hans-Georg Maassen, said it was \"very probable that a terror attack was foiled here\". German media report that the suspect was investigated after he had bought 1,000 castor seeds - commonly called \"beans\" - and an electric coffee grinder on the internet. Ricin can be made from waste left over from processing castor beans, the US Centers for Disease Control (CDC) says. It can take the form of powder, a mist, or a pellet, or it can be dissolved in water or weak acid. Ricin made headlines internationally when it was found to have killed a Bulgarian dissident, Georgi Markov, in an infamous umbrella stabbing in London during the Cold War. The exiled writer and BBC journalist, an opponent of Bulgaria's then-Communist government, was stabbed in the thigh in 1978. Later a tiny 1.7mm platinum pellet with a ricin-filled cavity was found in his body. There is no antidote to ricin poisoning. Because of its high toxicity it is listed among biological weapons. Tiny doses can be fatal if administered by injection or inhaled as a powder. In the bloodstream, ricin is rapidly taken up by cells, inhibiting protein synthesis and killing them. The early symptoms of ricin poisoning are vomiting and diarrhoea. The best emergency treatment is stomach-pumping and intravenous fluids to counter dehydration. Medical charcoal can also absorb the poison in the gut. Death can result within three days, after painful internal bleeding and organ failure, a blog on the Kew Gardens website says. Ricin is not soluble in oil - it is separated off in the waste \"mash\" when castor oil is made. The oil is mass-produced in China and India - up to 500,000 tonnes per year - and has a variety of uses, including as a laxative and an engine lubricant. Castor oil goes into paints, cosmetics and plastics, among other things. The beans come from a tropical plant, Ricinus communis, widely available in garden centres.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1859, "answer_end": 2491, "text": "There is no antidote to ricin poisoning. Because of its high toxicity it is listed among biological weapons. Tiny doses can be fatal if administered by injection or inhaled as a powder. In the bloodstream, ricin is rapidly taken up by cells, inhibiting protein synthesis and killing them. The early symptoms of ricin poisoning are vomiting and diarrhoea. The best emergency treatment is stomach-pumping and intravenous fluids to counter dehydration. Medical charcoal can also absorb the poison in the gut. Death can result within three days, after painful internal bleeding and organ failure, a blog on the Kew Gardens website says."}], "question": "What does ricin do?", "id": "148_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2492, "answer_end": 2905, "text": "Ricin is not soluble in oil - it is separated off in the waste \"mash\" when castor oil is made. The oil is mass-produced in China and India - up to 500,000 tonnes per year - and has a variety of uses, including as a laxative and an engine lubricant. Castor oil goes into paints, cosmetics and plastics, among other things. The beans come from a tropical plant, Ricinus communis, widely available in garden centres."}], "question": "What about castor oil?", "id": "148_1"}]}]}, {"title": "Theresa May's French PR gamble in meeting Emmanuel Macron", "date": "13 June 2017", "paragraphs": [{"context": "It is a gift to newspaper cartoonists and headline writers - and a PR gamble for the UK prime minister. Theresa May visits President Emmanuel Macron in Paris on Tuesday, as he basks in the glow of election success and she recovers from a gruelling setback at the polls. He faced down the French establishment to secure a landslide presidential win and topped it off on Sunday with a commanding first-round lead in parliamentary elections. Mrs May faced calls to resign after her parliamentary majority was wiped out in Thursday's general election. Heading abroad for some international wheeler-dealing is \"a classic move to shore up authority at home,\" one analyst told AFP news agency. Their contrasting electoral fortunes are too glaring for observers to ignore, and some drew attention to some uncomfortable moments in history. \"This, Madame May, is victory,\" the French president tells his visitor as they pass crowds of his cheering supporters, in a cartoon by Patrick Blower in Tuesday's Daily Telegraph newspaper. French newspaper Liberation could not resist pointing out that another embattled UK Conservative prime minister, Margaret Thatcher, was on a visit to Paris in 1990 when a party vote triggered her downfall. Some commentators compare their fortunes - or misfortunes - when it comes to Brexit. In the FT, a Ferguson cartoon depicts the two leaders at tennis - Mr Macron serving with an enormous EU-flag-themed tennis racket to the prime minister's undersized racket. But the accompanying article is deadly serious - headlined \"Emmanuel Macron will offer no mercy to Theresa May\". Far from \"helping Britain get off the hook of a hard Brexit\", argues Gideon Rachman, \"for President Macron, Brexit is looking increasingly like a historic opportunity rather than a cause for regret\". \"It is advantage France,\" the article concludes. That perspective is shared by the editorial director of The Economist Intelligence Unit. France's new leader may not entirely have the upper hand. He may be heading for a landslide in parliament but it is on the back of a record low turnout, attributed to a sense of resignation among his opponents. Polls suggest he will win upwards of 400 seats in France's 577-seat National Assembly. But his party did win a smaller share of the popular vote than Theresa May's Conservatives. So when the two leaders sit down to a working dinner there will be plenty on the menu, not least their plans for social media companies to face fines if they fail to remove extremist material. They share the same preoccupations, in the wake of a series of horrifying Islamist militant attacks on both sides of the Channel. Most recently, 22 people died in a suicide attack in Manchester and eight were murdered at London Bridge, including three French nationals. Four days after Paris came under attack by jihadists in November 2015, Wembley stadium gave a rousing rendition of the Marseillaise ahead of an international friendly between England and France. That honour will be returned at the Stade de France when the two footballing nations meet again, watched by President Macron and the UK prime minister. The Oasis song \"Don't Look Back in Anger\" will be played as the players emerge, while unusually the UK national anthem will be played last and the words displayed to encourage all fans to sing along. Not everything can be planned and choreographed, though. Mrs May will be anxious to avoid any own goals from England's defence that might leave France's trademark cockerel crowing.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1227, "answer_end": 2518, "text": "Some commentators compare their fortunes - or misfortunes - when it comes to Brexit. In the FT, a Ferguson cartoon depicts the two leaders at tennis - Mr Macron serving with an enormous EU-flag-themed tennis racket to the prime minister's undersized racket. But the accompanying article is deadly serious - headlined \"Emmanuel Macron will offer no mercy to Theresa May\". Far from \"helping Britain get off the hook of a hard Brexit\", argues Gideon Rachman, \"for President Macron, Brexit is looking increasingly like a historic opportunity rather than a cause for regret\". \"It is advantage France,\" the article concludes. That perspective is shared by the editorial director of The Economist Intelligence Unit. France's new leader may not entirely have the upper hand. He may be heading for a landslide in parliament but it is on the back of a record low turnout, attributed to a sense of resignation among his opponents. Polls suggest he will win upwards of 400 seats in France's 577-seat National Assembly. But his party did win a smaller share of the popular vote than Theresa May's Conservatives. So when the two leaders sit down to a working dinner there will be plenty on the menu, not least their plans for social media companies to face fines if they fail to remove extremist material."}], "question": "Advantage France?", "id": "149_0"}]}]}, {"title": "General election 2019: What is the secret behind tactical voting?", "date": "13 November 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "The result of the 2019 general election could determine whether Brexit happens or not. Some parties have withdrawn candidates to help their rivals. Meanwhile, campaign groups are encouraging people to use tactical-voting websites, to help them decide which candidate to support. So, what are election pacts and tactical voting - and how does each work? Parties and candidates themselves sometimes make tactical decisions. This generally means one party agreeing not to stand candidates in certain areas, so that another party with similar views on key issues has a stronger change of winning. The aim is to stop the vote splitting, which could help rivals with very different views from taking the seat. In Canterbury, Liberal Democrat candidate Tim Walker has stood down because he feared dividing the Remain vote. He said he was concerned standing would allow the Conservative candidate to take the seat from Labour. And the Brexit Party has announced it will not contest the 317 seats won by the Conservatives in 2017. This is so as not to split the pro-Brexit vote in those areas. Instead, it says it will concentrate its efforts on taking seats from Labour, whom it suggested had \"betrayed\" its Leave-supporting voters. The Green Party has stood down its candidate in Chingford and Woodford Green, to help Labour try to unseat former Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith. Separately, anti-Brexit parties Plaid Cymru, the Liberal Democrats and the Greens have agreed an electoral pact in 11 of the 40 seats in Wales. The aim is to get as many Remain-supporting MPs elected as possible. Back in August, the Lib Dems beat the Conservatives in the Brecon and Radnorshire by-election, after Plaid Cymru and the Greens agreed not to stand. Labour has ruled out forming pacts with other parties. Put simply, tactical voting is when any of the UK's voters chooses to back a candidate they wouldn't normally support. This is done in the hope of stopping another candidate winning. This could happen in a constituency where two parties are in a tight race and candidates from other parties trail far behind. In these circumstances, a supporter of the candidate who was a distant third, might pick their favourite of the two who are in with a chance. At this election, campaigners say voting tactically could help MPs who share voters' views on Brexit win more seats. A number of tactical voting websites have been set up, but there is criticism over the nature of their advice. In a general election, the UK's voters are invited to choose an MP for their area - one of 650 constituencies. The UK uses a first-past-the-post voting system, sometimes described as \"winner takes all\". It means the local candidate who receives the most votes becomes an MP - and the party with the most winning candidates nationally normally forms a government. Coming a good second does not help a party win any more power in Parliament. Tactical voting is perfectly legal in the UK. Voters are free to choose any candidate on the ballot paper, no matter what the reason is. This election is going to be highly unpredictable, researchers at the British Election Study say. That's because voters could be more likely to switch their support, largely because of the uncertainty over Brexit. Last month, the Electoral Reform Society campaign group asked polling company BMG Research to find out how widespread tactical voting might be. Of 1,500 voters questioned, 24% said they planned to vote tactically to keep out a candidate they dislike. That compares with 66% who said they would vote for their first preference - regardless of how likely they were to win. The remaining 10% said they didn't know. When the same question was asked before the 2017 general election, 20% of people said they planned to vote tactically. Tactical voting has been a very powerful tool in the past, says Stephen Fisher, professor of political sociology at the University of Oxford. \"It played a big role in delivering a landslide for Labour's Tony Blair in 1997 and it's been a staple of elections since then,\" he says.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 353, "answer_end": 1786, "text": "Parties and candidates themselves sometimes make tactical decisions. This generally means one party agreeing not to stand candidates in certain areas, so that another party with similar views on key issues has a stronger change of winning. The aim is to stop the vote splitting, which could help rivals with very different views from taking the seat. In Canterbury, Liberal Democrat candidate Tim Walker has stood down because he feared dividing the Remain vote. He said he was concerned standing would allow the Conservative candidate to take the seat from Labour. And the Brexit Party has announced it will not contest the 317 seats won by the Conservatives in 2017. This is so as not to split the pro-Brexit vote in those areas. Instead, it says it will concentrate its efforts on taking seats from Labour, whom it suggested had \"betrayed\" its Leave-supporting voters. The Green Party has stood down its candidate in Chingford and Woodford Green, to help Labour try to unseat former Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith. Separately, anti-Brexit parties Plaid Cymru, the Liberal Democrats and the Greens have agreed an electoral pact in 11 of the 40 seats in Wales. The aim is to get as many Remain-supporting MPs elected as possible. Back in August, the Lib Dems beat the Conservatives in the Brecon and Radnorshire by-election, after Plaid Cymru and the Greens agreed not to stand. Labour has ruled out forming pacts with other parties."}], "question": "Why do parties withdraw their own candidates?", "id": "150_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1787, "answer_end": 2465, "text": "Put simply, tactical voting is when any of the UK's voters chooses to back a candidate they wouldn't normally support. This is done in the hope of stopping another candidate winning. This could happen in a constituency where two parties are in a tight race and candidates from other parties trail far behind. In these circumstances, a supporter of the candidate who was a distant third, might pick their favourite of the two who are in with a chance. At this election, campaigners say voting tactically could help MPs who share voters' views on Brexit win more seats. A number of tactical voting websites have been set up, but there is criticism over the nature of their advice."}], "question": "What is tactical voting?", "id": "150_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2466, "answer_end": 3042, "text": "In a general election, the UK's voters are invited to choose an MP for their area - one of 650 constituencies. The UK uses a first-past-the-post voting system, sometimes described as \"winner takes all\". It means the local candidate who receives the most votes becomes an MP - and the party with the most winning candidates nationally normally forms a government. Coming a good second does not help a party win any more power in Parliament. Tactical voting is perfectly legal in the UK. Voters are free to choose any candidate on the ballot paper, no matter what the reason is."}], "question": "Why would tactical voting and election pacts matter in the UK?", "id": "150_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3043, "answer_end": 3787, "text": "This election is going to be highly unpredictable, researchers at the British Election Study say. That's because voters could be more likely to switch their support, largely because of the uncertainty over Brexit. Last month, the Electoral Reform Society campaign group asked polling company BMG Research to find out how widespread tactical voting might be. Of 1,500 voters questioned, 24% said they planned to vote tactically to keep out a candidate they dislike. That compares with 66% who said they would vote for their first preference - regardless of how likely they were to win. The remaining 10% said they didn't know. When the same question was asked before the 2017 general election, 20% of people said they planned to vote tactically."}], "question": "Will tactical voting increase at this election?", "id": "150_3"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3788, "answer_end": 4067, "text": "Tactical voting has been a very powerful tool in the past, says Stephen Fisher, professor of political sociology at the University of Oxford. \"It played a big role in delivering a landslide for Labour's Tony Blair in 1997 and it's been a staple of elections since then,\" he says."}], "question": "Is there any evidence tactical voting works?", "id": "150_4"}]}]}, {"title": "Jamal Khashoggi disappearance: US asks Turkey for recording evidence", "date": "18 October 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "The US has asked Turkey for a recording said to provide strong evidence that Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi was killed at Istanbul's Saudi consulate. \"We have asked for it, if it exists,\" President Donald Trump told reporters at the White House. Mr Khashoggi has not been seen since entering the building on 2 October. Saudi Arabia denies killing him. Meanwhile, the Washington Post has published the last column Mr Khashoggi wrote before his disappearance. In the column he talks about the importance of a free press in the Middle East. The newspaper's Global Opinions editor Karen Attiah said its release had been delayed in the hope that Mr Khashoggi would return safely. \"Now I have to accept: That is not going to happen. This is the last piece of his I will edit for The Post,\" she wrote. \"This column perfectly captures his commitment and passion for freedom in the Arab world. A freedom he apparently gave his life for.\" Mr Khashoggi presented a strong criticism of the state of press freedoms in the Arab world: \"The Arab world is facing its own version of an Iron Curtain, imposed not by external actors but through domestic forces vying for power. \"The Arab world needs a modern version of the old transnational media so citizens can be informed about global events. More important, we need to provide a platform for Arab voices.\" He mentioned the case of his fellow Saudi writer, Saleh al-Shehi, who he said \"is now serving an unwarranted five-year prison sentence for supposed comments contrary to the Saudi establishment\". \"Such actions no longer carry the consequence of a backlash from the international community,\" he wrote. \"Instead, these actions may trigger condemnation quickly followed by silence.\" Saudi Arabia is one of Washington's closest allies and the Khashoggi disappearance is putting the administration in an awkward position. Confirming that the tape said to provide evidence of the killing had been requested, Mr Trump added: \"I'm not sure yet that it exists, probably does, possibly does.\" Mr Trump said he expected a report from Secretary of State Mike Pompeo who has just been to Saudi Arabia and Turkey. The president said the truth would come out \"by the end of the week\". He rejected suggestions he was trying to provide cover for Saudi Arabia: \"No, not at all, I just want to find out what's happening.\" Over the past few days, Mr Trump has raised the possibility of \"rogue killers\" being behind the journalist's disappearance. And he has cautioned against rushing to blame Saudi leaders, telling the Associated Press news agency that they were being treated as \"guilty until proven innocent\". Early on in their inquiry, Turkish investigators said they had evidence that Mr Khashoggi - a critic of Saudi leaders - was murdered. Reports in Turkish media give gruesome details of what are said to be his final minutes. A Turkish newspaper says the consul himself, Mohammed al-Otaibi, can be heard in the audio recording of Mr Khashoggi's death. Yeni Safak, which is close to the government, quotes him as telling alleged Saudi agents sent to Istanbul: \"Do this outside. You're going to get me in trouble.\" Mr Otaibi flew back to Riyadh on Tuesday. On Wednesday and into Thursday, investigators spent almost nine hours searching the Saudi consul's residence, then moving on to the consulate itself about 200m (650ft) away, according to Reuters news agency. The team included prosecutors and forensics experts in white overalls. Several vehicles with Saudi diplomatic number plates were filmed by CCTV cameras moving from the consulate to the residence just less than two hours after Mr Khashoggi entered the consulate on the day he vanished. The consulate building was searched for the first time on Monday. On Tuesday, Mr Pompeo was in Riyadh for talks with Saudi Arabia's King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who he said \"strongly denied\" any involvement in the journalist's disappearance. Mr Khashoggi is a US resident and columnist for the Washington Post newspaper who went into self-imposed exile last year after reportedly being warned by Saudi officials to stop criticising the crown prince's policies. He arrived at the consulate at 13:14 local time for an appointment to obtain paperwork so he could marry his Turkish fiancee. Saudi officials have insisted Mr Khashoggi left the consulate soon afterwards and came to no harm. But Turkish officials believe an assault and struggle took place in the building. They allege that Mr Khashoggi was killed by a team of Saudi agents who were pictured entering and leaving Turkey on CCTV footage released to media outlets. The New York Times reports that four of the 15 agents have links to Crown Prince Mohammed, while another is a senior figure in the country's interior ministry. On Tuesday, G7 foreign ministers called for Saudi Arabia to conduct a \"transparent\" investigation into the issue. Meanwhile, International Monetary Fund chief Christine Lagarde has become the latest high-profile figure to withdraw from a major Saudi investment conference next week following Mr Khashoggi's disappearance.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 931, "answer_end": 1722, "text": "Mr Khashoggi presented a strong criticism of the state of press freedoms in the Arab world: \"The Arab world is facing its own version of an Iron Curtain, imposed not by external actors but through domestic forces vying for power. \"The Arab world needs a modern version of the old transnational media so citizens can be informed about global events. More important, we need to provide a platform for Arab voices.\" He mentioned the case of his fellow Saudi writer, Saleh al-Shehi, who he said \"is now serving an unwarranted five-year prison sentence for supposed comments contrary to the Saudi establishment\". \"Such actions no longer carry the consequence of a backlash from the international community,\" he wrote. \"Instead, these actions may trigger condemnation quickly followed by silence.\""}], "question": "What did the last column say?", "id": "151_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1723, "answer_end": 2635, "text": "Saudi Arabia is one of Washington's closest allies and the Khashoggi disappearance is putting the administration in an awkward position. Confirming that the tape said to provide evidence of the killing had been requested, Mr Trump added: \"I'm not sure yet that it exists, probably does, possibly does.\" Mr Trump said he expected a report from Secretary of State Mike Pompeo who has just been to Saudi Arabia and Turkey. The president said the truth would come out \"by the end of the week\". He rejected suggestions he was trying to provide cover for Saudi Arabia: \"No, not at all, I just want to find out what's happening.\" Over the past few days, Mr Trump has raised the possibility of \"rogue killers\" being behind the journalist's disappearance. And he has cautioned against rushing to blame Saudi leaders, telling the Associated Press news agency that they were being treated as \"guilty until proven innocent\"."}], "question": "What is Trump's latest position?", "id": "151_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2636, "answer_end": 3187, "text": "Early on in their inquiry, Turkish investigators said they had evidence that Mr Khashoggi - a critic of Saudi leaders - was murdered. Reports in Turkish media give gruesome details of what are said to be his final minutes. A Turkish newspaper says the consul himself, Mohammed al-Otaibi, can be heard in the audio recording of Mr Khashoggi's death. Yeni Safak, which is close to the government, quotes him as telling alleged Saudi agents sent to Istanbul: \"Do this outside. You're going to get me in trouble.\" Mr Otaibi flew back to Riyadh on Tuesday."}], "question": "What is reported to be on the recording?", "id": "151_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3188, "answer_end": 3943, "text": "On Wednesday and into Thursday, investigators spent almost nine hours searching the Saudi consul's residence, then moving on to the consulate itself about 200m (650ft) away, according to Reuters news agency. The team included prosecutors and forensics experts in white overalls. Several vehicles with Saudi diplomatic number plates were filmed by CCTV cameras moving from the consulate to the residence just less than two hours after Mr Khashoggi entered the consulate on the day he vanished. The consulate building was searched for the first time on Monday. On Tuesday, Mr Pompeo was in Riyadh for talks with Saudi Arabia's King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who he said \"strongly denied\" any involvement in the journalist's disappearance."}], "question": "How is Turkey's investigation progressing?", "id": "151_3"}]}]}, {"title": "Met Ball: The view from China on the Chinese themed outfits", "date": "5 May 2015", "paragraphs": [{"context": "This year's ball at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York called on celebrities to dress for the theme of Chinese influences on western fashion. The A-list actors, models and celebrities in attendance all had their own interpretations, with varying success, according to comments on social media. Fashion magazines and newspapers have been lavishing attention on the extravagant display. But Chinese microbloggers were also watching and a huge variety of responses could be found among Weibo's 2.3bn posts, which came with the hashtag #2015MetBall. Many celebrities chose to take the theme to an extreme, given the event is usually reserved for high fashion. Some of those commenting did not refrain from highlighting the night's more florid outfits with a mixture of astonishment and disdain. \"This is all hugely deviating from Chinese culture. These crooked nut stars are simply throwing on macabre and passing them off as oriental,\" Mary Su Yu posted. A steady stream of commenters echoed the sentiment of one poster: \"Foreigners with Chinese style don't fit very well eh?\" British model Cara Delevingne was covered in fake floral tattoos as she arrived for the gala. \"Those fake flower tattoos - Frightening!\" was the verdict of one weibo user Gigi56star. Another, Ice candy TF-CI said, \"Aren't cherry blossoms Japanese?\" With some of the outfits, it was difficult to see the connection to the theme. Many of those commenting online asked whether they had anything to do with China. Weibo user Cream-Ice left a comment on the photos of Jennifer Lawrence on the Fashion Queen Weibo page. saying: \"Are you sure what she's wearing is China today?\" And one of the few celebrities who actually wore a dress by a Chinese designer was singer Rihanna, stepping out in a gown by Guo Pei. But Rihanna's dress was widely mocked as well. Chinese bloggers said her dress resembled an omelette and many photo shopped pictures of it were making the rounds. And actor Sarah Jessica Parker's headgear drew comparisons to one of the 2008 Beijing Olympics mascots Huanhuan. Cape Tonk said: \"Hahaha - Beijing 2008 Olympian style now seen on the (Met Gala) Red carpet?\" But there was also appreciation for those that got it right on the red carpet. Many of the Chinese celebrities in attendance appeared to get little attention in Western coverage, but were praised on social media sites for their outfits. Chinese actor Gong Li looked \"stunning and elegant, like a true empress on the red carpet,\" said Weibo user StarStar1245. Weibo user Fan Aileen commented on a picture of actor Anne Hathaway and Chinese actor Ni Ni, saying: \"Gold and yellow - Now this is how you pull off the look, not looking like an omelette! Great job ladies\". Vogue China raved about the actor Zhang Ziyi (below left) as a \"rare veteran\" who managed to capture the Chinese theme. Reporting by Saira Asher and Heather Chen", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1331, "answer_end": 1787, "text": "With some of the outfits, it was difficult to see the connection to the theme. Many of those commenting online asked whether they had anything to do with China. Weibo user Cream-Ice left a comment on the photos of Jennifer Lawrence on the Fashion Queen Weibo page. saying: \"Are you sure what she's wearing is China today?\" And one of the few celebrities who actually wore a dress by a Chinese designer was singer Rihanna, stepping out in a gown by Guo Pei."}], "question": "How is this China?", "id": "152_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Cambridge Analytica: Facebook 'being investigated by FTC'", "date": "20 March 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "The US Federal Trade Commission is reported to be investigating Facebook after allegations that 50 million users' private information was misused by a political consultancy firm. Cambridge Analytica (CA), hired by the Trump campaign in the 2016 US election, has been accused of taking the personal data unknown to users. CA head Alexander Nix has now been suspended by the company board. The move came amid allegations the firm may have broken US electoral law. CA, which is based in London, denies any wrongdoing. Meanwhile, Facebook's stock has continued to slide, following a steep decline on Monday. The British and European parliaments have called on Facebook boss Mark Zuckerberg to give evidence to them., and the social network is due to brief congressional aides on Wednesday. Mr Zuckerberg did not attend a Facebook staff briefing on the crisis at its Californian headquarters on Tuesday, which was led by deputy general counsel Paul Grewal instead, the Daily Beast news site reports - .Where is Mark Zuckerberg? By Dave Lee, North America Technology Reporter, BBC News The criticisms of Facebook, and in particular Mark Zuckerberg, have never been louder or angrier. Employees at the company were addressed this morning not by their chief executive, but by one of the company's top lawyers. A Facebook spokeswoman said both Mr Zuckerberg and his deputy Sheryl Sandberg were too busy to address staff themselves. The firm added it was \"outraged to be deceived\" by Cambridge Analytica. A sign, perhaps, that Facebook is doubling down on the view that it is the victim. On Wednesday Facebook will send representatives to Washington to answer to Congress - the first step on what is set to be something of a world tour of explaining to investigators how on Earth this activity was able to happen. The loss to Facebook's value has been more than $60bn (PS43bn) since this news broke. The wider impact for Silicon Valley is that it seems the era of tech companies essentially regulating themselves is perhaps coming to a dramatic end. The FTC is an independent agency of the US government tasked with protecting American consumers. It is investigating whether Facebook violated the terms of a 2011 decree regarding the social network's privacy protections, an unnamed source \"familiar with the agency's thinking and not authorised to speak on the record\" told the Washington Post newspaper. This was confirmed by a Bloomberg news agency report, quoting an unnamed \"person familiar with the matter\". Under the 2011 decree, Facebook must notify users and obtain their permission before data about them is shared beyond the privacy settings they have established, the Washington Post says. Facebook was also subjected to 20 years of privacy checkups to ensure compliance. Facebook confirmed on Tuesday that it was expecting to receive a letter from the FTC with questions about the data acquired by CA. However, it also said it had had no indication of a formal investigation, Reuters news agency reports. \"We remain strongly committed to protecting people's information,\" Facebook deputy chief privacy officer Rob Sherman said. \"We appreciate the opportunity to answer questions the FTC may have.\" In its statement on Tuesday, it said:  \"The entire company is outraged we were deceived. We are committed to vigorously enforcing our policies to protect people's information and will take whatever steps are required to see that this happens.\" Christopher Wylie, who worked with the consultancy firm, alleges that it amassed large amounts of data through a personality quiz on Facebook called This is Your Digital Life. He says that 270,000 people took the quiz but the data of some 50 million users, mainly in the US, was harvested without their explicit consent via their friend networks. Mr Wylie says that data was sold to CA, which then used it to psychologically profile people and deliver pro-Trump material to them, with a view to influencing the outcome of the 2016 election. CA insists it followed the correct procedures in obtaining and using data - but it was suspended from Facebook last week. Channel 4 News, which conducted an undercover investigation into the consultancy firm, reports that it may have broken US electoral law, which prohibits co-ordination between an official election campaign and outside groups, or \"Super PACs\". CA executives were filmed discussing a twin-track strategy to campaigning, putting out positive messages through Donald Trump's official presidential campaign, while attack ads were promoted by outside organisations. Boasting about CA's work for the Trump campaign, Mr Nix told the undercover team: \"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.\" At the same time, CA managing director Mark Turnbull appeared to confirm for the undercover team that CA had created the Defeat Crooked Hillary brand of attack ads, funded by a super-PAC called Make America Number 1. The firm has denied wrongdoing, saying they operated according to a strict firewall and that  they were transparent about their activities. There are a few things to be aware of if you want to restrict who has access to your data: - Keep an eye on apps, especially those which require you to log in using your Facebook account - they often have a very wide range of permissions and many are specifically designed to pick up your data - Use an ad blocker to limit advertising - Look at your Facebook security settings and make sure you are aware of what is enabled. Check the individual app settings to see whether you have given them permission to view your friends as well as yourself. - You can download a copy of the data Facebook holds on you, although it is not comprehensive. There is a download button at the bottom of the General Account Settings tab. However bear in mind that your data may be less secure sitting on your laptop than it is on Facebook's servers, if your device is hacked. You can of course, simply leave Facebook, but the campaign group Privacy International warns that privacy concerns extend beyond the social network. \"The current focus is on protecting your data being exploited by third parties, but your data is being exploited all the time,\" said a spokeswoman. \"Many apps on your phone will have permission to access location data, your entire phone book and so on. It is just the tip of the iceberg.\"", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1023, "answer_end": 2039, "text": "By Dave Lee, North America Technology Reporter, BBC News The criticisms of Facebook, and in particular Mark Zuckerberg, have never been louder or angrier. Employees at the company were addressed this morning not by their chief executive, but by one of the company's top lawyers. A Facebook spokeswoman said both Mr Zuckerberg and his deputy Sheryl Sandberg were too busy to address staff themselves. The firm added it was \"outraged to be deceived\" by Cambridge Analytica. A sign, perhaps, that Facebook is doubling down on the view that it is the victim. On Wednesday Facebook will send representatives to Washington to answer to Congress - the first step on what is set to be something of a world tour of explaining to investigators how on Earth this activity was able to happen. The loss to Facebook's value has been more than $60bn (PS43bn) since this news broke. The wider impact for Silicon Valley is that it seems the era of tech companies essentially regulating themselves is perhaps coming to a dramatic end."}], "question": "End of self-regulation era?", "id": "153_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2040, "answer_end": 3444, "text": "The FTC is an independent agency of the US government tasked with protecting American consumers. It is investigating whether Facebook violated the terms of a 2011 decree regarding the social network's privacy protections, an unnamed source \"familiar with the agency's thinking and not authorised to speak on the record\" told the Washington Post newspaper. This was confirmed by a Bloomberg news agency report, quoting an unnamed \"person familiar with the matter\". Under the 2011 decree, Facebook must notify users and obtain their permission before data about them is shared beyond the privacy settings they have established, the Washington Post says. Facebook was also subjected to 20 years of privacy checkups to ensure compliance. Facebook confirmed on Tuesday that it was expecting to receive a letter from the FTC with questions about the data acquired by CA. However, it also said it had had no indication of a formal investigation, Reuters news agency reports. \"We remain strongly committed to protecting people's information,\" Facebook deputy chief privacy officer Rob Sherman said. \"We appreciate the opportunity to answer questions the FTC may have.\" In its statement on Tuesday, it said:  \"The entire company is outraged we were deceived. We are committed to vigorously enforcing our policies to protect people's information and will take whatever steps are required to see that this happens.\""}], "question": "Why is the FTC getting involved?", "id": "153_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3445, "answer_end": 4107, "text": "Christopher Wylie, who worked with the consultancy firm, alleges that it amassed large amounts of data through a personality quiz on Facebook called This is Your Digital Life. He says that 270,000 people took the quiz but the data of some 50 million users, mainly in the US, was harvested without their explicit consent via their friend networks. Mr Wylie says that data was sold to CA, which then used it to psychologically profile people and deliver pro-Trump material to them, with a view to influencing the outcome of the 2016 election. CA insists it followed the correct procedures in obtaining and using data - but it was suspended from Facebook last week."}], "question": "What are the accusations against CA?", "id": "153_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 5182, "answer_end": 6477, "text": "There are a few things to be aware of if you want to restrict who has access to your data: - Keep an eye on apps, especially those which require you to log in using your Facebook account - they often have a very wide range of permissions and many are specifically designed to pick up your data - Use an ad blocker to limit advertising - Look at your Facebook security settings and make sure you are aware of what is enabled. Check the individual app settings to see whether you have given them permission to view your friends as well as yourself. - You can download a copy of the data Facebook holds on you, although it is not comprehensive. There is a download button at the bottom of the General Account Settings tab. However bear in mind that your data may be less secure sitting on your laptop than it is on Facebook's servers, if your device is hacked. You can of course, simply leave Facebook, but the campaign group Privacy International warns that privacy concerns extend beyond the social network. \"The current focus is on protecting your data being exploited by third parties, but your data is being exploited all the time,\" said a spokeswoman. \"Many apps on your phone will have permission to access location data, your entire phone book and so on. It is just the tip of the iceberg.\""}], "question": "How can you protect your data on Facebook?", "id": "153_3"}]}]}, {"title": "Why Starbucks? The brands being attacked in Hong Kong", "date": "11 October 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Broken glass, raging fires, and smashed up barricades: the pictures from Hong Kong in the past few days look like random chaos. But in the middle of the violence, most activists are being deliberate about the places they attack. So why are protesters targeting Starbucks? And the metro? And certain shops, restaurants and banks? Hong Kong is complex, but can largely be divided into those who support the protesters and their anti-Beijing stance, and those supportive of the mainland. So when peaceful protests turned into violence against property, big mainland firms like Bank of China and tech company Xiaomi became targets for vandalism and spray-painting. But other less obvious places are also in the firing line. While Starbucks may be a US brand, the Hong Kong franchise is operated by a local company, Maxim's Caterers. Annie Wu, the daughter of the Maxim Group's founder, recently defended Hong Kong's police and criticised activists as \"radical protesters\". She made her comments with billionaire businesswoman Pansy Ho, representing the Hong Kong Federation of Women, at the United Nations Human Rights Council on 11 September. The two criticised \"a small group of radical protesters\" using \"systematic and calculated violent acts\". So protesters started directing their anger against Maxim's and the franchises it operates. The restaurant group is one of Hong Kong's largest, and includes other brands such as Genki Sushi and Arome bakery, which have also been targeted. Maxim's Caterers issued a statement saying Ms Wu \"does not hold any position at the company\" and was not involved in managerial decisions - but so far this has failed to satisfy protesters. - Hong Kong is a Special Administrative Region of China, so it has some autonomy and people have more rights - Protests started in June against a controversial law which would have allowed Hong Kong criminal suspects to be sent to China to stand trial - The law has been withdrawn but protests have widened to demand full democracy - Clashes between police and activists have been becoming increasingly violent - In October, the city banned all face masks to try to shut down the protests Japanese fast food chain Yoshinoya has also come into the crosshairs. After there was confusion about a Facebook post - which some read as coded criticism of police - the operator of the Hong Kong franchise said he supported the police and government. Before long, Yoshinoya restaurants had their windows smashed and graffiti all over their walls. Another targeted brand is Best Mart 360, a chain of small grocery stores. It's an example of the divisions running within the Hong Kong population. The boss of Best Mart 360 is Hugo Lam Chi-fung, permanent honorary president of the Hong Kong Federation of Fujian Associations which has held several demonstrations in support of China. Fujian is a Chinese province, and many local people have emigrated to Hong Kong over the years. Hong Kong's Fujianese community has been vocal in supporting the city's police force. Those demonstrations have led to clashes with activists - who have accused their opponents of being part of the Fujian triad gangs, a form of organised crime. Best Mart 360 has released several statements, insisting it is not linked to any Fujian triad. The triad allegation has also been levelled against a mahjong house in a part of town home to the Fujianese community. Mahjong is a Chinese tile game, played socially. The Yi Pei Square house was accused of hiding pro-Beijing thugs who attacked local residents. The parlour has released a statement saying they are not Fujianese and in fact support the protesters' demands. There have also been cases where places have become the target of activists' anger based on mistaken assumptions of China ties. The Shanghai Commercial Bank is not mainland-owned but - despite its name - based in Hong Kong. The Yifang bubble tea chain was also wrongly associated with the mainland when in fact it's from Taiwan. In both those cases, the protesters wrongly targeted outlets only to later issue an apology and in some cases even help in the cleanup. In order to avoid such mix-ups and to coordinate action, the activists have even come up with a colour-coding system. The colours black, red and blue are used online to differentiate between thrashing a place, spay-painting it or simply boycotting it. In the case of shops thought to support the protests, they're marked yellow with a call to actively support them. Stations along Hong Kong's MTR metro system have repeatedly been attacked, vandalised or even set on fire during the unrest. The MTR is privatised, with the Hong Kong government as the largest shareholder. In mid-August, the operator was criticised by Chinese state media for helping \"rioters\" move around and protest across the city. After that, the MTR began shutting certain stations before people could gather for demonstrations. At one point the entire network was shut down. Activists also accuse the operator of allegedly helping the police to arrest protesters, and of failing to release CCTV footage of alleged police brutality. Additional reporting by Lam Cho Wai, BBC News Chinese", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 720, "answer_end": 1673, "text": "While Starbucks may be a US brand, the Hong Kong franchise is operated by a local company, Maxim's Caterers. Annie Wu, the daughter of the Maxim Group's founder, recently defended Hong Kong's police and criticised activists as \"radical protesters\". She made her comments with billionaire businesswoman Pansy Ho, representing the Hong Kong Federation of Women, at the United Nations Human Rights Council on 11 September. The two criticised \"a small group of radical protesters\" using \"systematic and calculated violent acts\". So protesters started directing their anger against Maxim's and the franchises it operates. The restaurant group is one of Hong Kong's largest, and includes other brands such as Genki Sushi and Arome bakery, which have also been targeted. Maxim's Caterers issued a statement saying Ms Wu \"does not hold any position at the company\" and was not involved in managerial decisions - but so far this has failed to satisfy protesters."}], "question": "Why Starbucks?", "id": "154_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2511, "answer_end": 3655, "text": "Another targeted brand is Best Mart 360, a chain of small grocery stores. It's an example of the divisions running within the Hong Kong population. The boss of Best Mart 360 is Hugo Lam Chi-fung, permanent honorary president of the Hong Kong Federation of Fujian Associations which has held several demonstrations in support of China. Fujian is a Chinese province, and many local people have emigrated to Hong Kong over the years. Hong Kong's Fujianese community has been vocal in supporting the city's police force. Those demonstrations have led to clashes with activists - who have accused their opponents of being part of the Fujian triad gangs, a form of organised crime. Best Mart 360 has released several statements, insisting it is not linked to any Fujian triad. The triad allegation has also been levelled against a mahjong house in a part of town home to the Fujianese community. Mahjong is a Chinese tile game, played socially. The Yi Pei Square house was accused of hiding pro-Beijing thugs who attacked local residents. The parlour has released a statement saying they are not Fujianese and in fact support the protesters' demands."}], "question": "Are triads involved?", "id": "154_1"}]}]}, {"title": "Brexit: What votes does Theresa May need for her deal to pass?", "date": "12 March 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Theresa May will put her Brexit deal to the House of Commons later for a second \"meaningful vote\" as she seeks approval for her updated plan. Last time the prime minister put her deal to MPs, she lost by a historic 230 votes. What support does Mrs May need to ensure her Brexit deal passes tonight? The magic number of MPs the prime minister needs to back her deal is 318 - that is if everyone who can vote does so. When MPs voted on the deal in January, 432 voted against, but 202 voted in favour. That means, if there are no abstentions from the vote later - when an MP does not vote either way - Mrs May needs to convince 116 more MPs from any side of the House to change their minds and support her. There were 118 Tory rebels who voted against the deal last time, but three of them - Anna Soubry, Heidi Allen and Sarah Wollaston - have now left the party and joined the Independent Group, who are expected to vote against the deal. So even if Mrs May persuaded the other 115 Conservative rebels to toe the party line, she would still be one short of securing her deal. The PM may have been hoping to convince the 10 members of the Democratic Unionist Party - her confidence-and-supply partners in the Commons who, in normal cases, give her a working majority - to change their minds and vote for a deal. But earlier, a statement from the party confirmed they would be voting against it. There may be hope for the PM from the Labour benches. Although the party's leader Jeremy Corbyn has said he and his MPs will vote against, it is thought some have been convinced to back the deal and vote in favour. This could cancel out the need for DUP votes to get it through, but only if there are no Conservative rebels. And here is where the European Research Group - the Conservative Brexiteer backbenchers who also voted down her deal in January - could come into play. We are still waiting to hear from some of the major figures in the group on which way they will go later. But a number of members have already rejected the deal, meaning the PM is unlikely to get a clean slate from her own benches. We will know shortly after the vote at 19:00 GMT tonight whether the magic number has been reached or not.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1392, "answer_end": 2207, "text": "There may be hope for the PM from the Labour benches. Although the party's leader Jeremy Corbyn has said he and his MPs will vote against, it is thought some have been convinced to back the deal and vote in favour. This could cancel out the need for DUP votes to get it through, but only if there are no Conservative rebels. And here is where the European Research Group - the Conservative Brexiteer backbenchers who also voted down her deal in January - could come into play. We are still waiting to hear from some of the major figures in the group on which way they will go later. But a number of members have already rejected the deal, meaning the PM is unlikely to get a clean slate from her own benches. We will know shortly after the vote at 19:00 GMT tonight whether the magic number has been reached or not."}], "question": "Hope from the opposition?", "id": "155_0"}]}]}, {"title": "General election 2019: Nigel Farage calls for 50,000 net migration cap", "date": "19 November 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Net migration should be capped at 50,000 a year, says Nigel Farage. The Brexit Party leader told a BBC Question Time Leaders Special that the figure should return to a \"sensible post-war number\". Net migration is the difference between the number of people who arrive in a country and those who leave - and in the year ending March 2019, the figure for the UK was 226,000. Mr Farage also rejected claims his party were racist. The special BBC One programme - part of a series with party leaders ahead of the general election - will air at 22:45 GMT. Mr Farage first mentioned the 50,000 figure when he was leader of UKIP. In its 2015 manifesto, the party said it would \"limit highly-skilled work visas to 50,000 per annum, including those from the EU, and apply a moratorium to unskilled and low-skilled labour over the course of the next Parliament\". Asked by the BBC's Fiona Bruce whether his new party stood by the pledge, he told audience members in Peterborough: \"I do not think that our quality of life in this country improves as our population heads inexorably towards 70 million, which is where it's going to be by the end of the 2020s. \"For 60 years after World War Two, we had annual net migration running at 30,000 to 50,000 a year. We had, actually, of all the European countries, the most successful integration. Things worked here well. \"For the last 10 years, it's been running at between a quarter of a million and a third of a million every year. We need to bring settlement down to that kind of sensible post-war number.\" Mr Farage said he would allow for a \"work permit system\" to let people come to fill jobs - such as vacancies in the NHS. But he added: \"Because you come here to get a job, just as if you went to 200 countries and got a job, it doesn't give you the automatic right to settle and doesn't give you the automatic right to citizenship.\" The Conservatives had promised to bring immigration below 100,000 each year - but it is widely expected for the pledge to be dropped by Boris Johnson. However, the PM has said he will seek to reduce unskilled migration coming into the UK if the Tories win the election, and will introduce a points-based system for immigration. Labour's Jeremy Corbyn has ruled out an \"arbitrary figure\" saying people should be \"realistic\" about needing immigration to fill jobs so the economy's needs can be met. Mr Farage was then asked by the audience for his response to claims he was racist. The Brexit Party leader said the accusation had been levelled at him in the past, adding: \"You know why? Because nobody else dared talk about [immigration]. \"The issue had been brushed under the carpet, despite the fact at the time it was the number one issue in British politics.\" After calling for illegal immigration to be a debated topic during the campaign, an audience member then said the Brexit Party had been accused of being racist. \"No, it's not,\" said Mr Farage. \"We had more ethnic diversity in our candidates for the European elections than the other parties added up together, so I won't have that.\" He also defended the use of the controversial \"breaking point\" anti-EU poster he used in the 2016 referendum that showed a long queue of migrants waiting to cross the border into Slovenia. Mr Farage said most of the people in the poster were economic migrants, men aged between 18 and 30, rather than refugees. BBC One will show another leader's special with co-leader of the Green Party Jonathan Bartley on Wednesday at 22:45. Then on Friday at 19:00, Boris Johnson, Jeremy Corbyn, Nicola Sturgeon and Jo Swinson will all take part in a live Question Time Leaders Special from Sheffield.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 3379, "answer_end": 3656, "text": "BBC One will show another leader's special with co-leader of the Green Party Jonathan Bartley on Wednesday at 22:45. Then on Friday at 19:00, Boris Johnson, Jeremy Corbyn, Nicola Sturgeon and Jo Swinson will all take part in a live Question Time Leaders Special from Sheffield."}], "question": "When will we hear from the other leaders?", "id": "156_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Abortion rights in Northern Ireland 'a no-brainer', MP says", "date": "6 June 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Women in Northern Ireland do want British politicians to fight for their abortion rights, a Westminster MP says. Jess Phillips was speaking after an emotional debate in the House of Commons about the issue. The Labour MP opened up about having an abortion herself - and rejected claims that the issue shouldn't be discussed in London. Anti-abortion campaigners in Northern Ireland say the country should make its own laws. But Jess Phillips insists she and others like her are not interfering from far away. \"We're not doing this as Westminster overlords,\" she told Radio 1 Newsbeat. \"We are doing it because hundreds and hundreds of women from Northern Ireland have requested that we fight for their rights.\" Access to abortion in Northern Ireland is only allowed if a woman's life is at risk or if there is a permanent or serious risk to her mental or physical health. Pressure to change the law follows last month's referendum in the Republic of Ireland which overturned a near-total ban on abortion. But Northern Ireland has no working government at the moment. So politicians there can't make big changes to health policy. \"I don't think it is a political issue. I think it's a no-brainer,\" Jess Phillips said. \"I think it's really important as well, not just to talk about the really difficult cases, but also just to talk about ordinary women, just like me, who have made these decisions in their lives, because that is the vast majority.\" Pro-choice campaigners in Northern Ireland have welcomed the debate. \"There is now an unstoppable momentum for change for Northern Ireland and we are positive that that will come,\" Grainne Teggart from Amnesty International in Northern Ireland told Radio 1 Newsbeat. \"Women who have had to travel for abortions from here to the rest of the UK are no longer willing to be silenced and have their healthcare needs not met here.\" The Northern Ireland Secretary Karen Bradley said that although she'd like the law to change, the matter is devolved and \"should be decided by the people of Northern Ireland\". The DUP - Northern Ireland's biggest political party - agrees with that. It opposes any change to Northern Ireland's near-total ban on abortions. The laws around abortion in the UK are governed by something called the 1861 Offences Against the Person Act. In 1967, that Act was amended so abortions became legal in England and Wales - but this was not extended to Northern Ireland. Campaigners say changing the 1861 Act to make abortion a health issue, rather than a criminal one, would force a change in Northern Ireland. Labour MP Stella Creasy - who called for the Commons debate on Tuesday - backs that idea. Jess Phillips added: \"It's not just about the law in Northern Ireland. \"It's about repealing the fact that abortion still exists in criminal law, rather than scientific health-related policy - and that's the same for women across the entirety of the UK. \"To repeal that would mean that Northern Ireland, as a devolved nation, would have to make their own health guidance on that matter.\" She says at that point, she'd campaign to have the law changed there. Anti-abortion campaigner Bernadette Smyth described the debate by MPs in London about abortion in Northern Ireland as \"outrageous\". \"Abortion is a devolved matter in Northern Ireland and the protection of unborn life is a fundamental concern for us all,\" she told Radio 1 Newsbeat.. \"It underlines all human dignity. \"We have a legal and democratic right to make our own laws, such as abortion. \"So to listen to a debate about women in Northern Ireland is sickening and it was disgusting.\" 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_start": 2196, "answer_end": 3120, "text": "The laws around abortion in the UK are governed by something called the 1861 Offences Against the Person Act. In 1967, that Act was amended so abortions became legal in England and Wales - but this was not extended to Northern Ireland. Campaigners say changing the 1861 Act to make abortion a health issue, rather than a criminal one, would force a change in Northern Ireland. Labour MP Stella Creasy - who called for the Commons debate on Tuesday - backs that idea. Jess Phillips added: \"It's not just about the law in Northern Ireland. \"It's about repealing the fact that abortion still exists in criminal law, rather than scientific health-related policy - and that's the same for women across the entirety of the UK. \"To repeal that would mean that Northern Ireland, as a devolved nation, would have to make their own health guidance on that matter.\" She says at that point, she'd campaign to have the law changed there."}], "question": "How can MPs at Westminster change Northern Ireland's abortion law?", "id": "157_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Brazil impeachment: Rousseff attacks cabinet for being all-male and all-white", "date": "14 May 2016", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Brazil's suspended President, Dilma Rousseff, has criticised the new interim government created by her former Vice-President, Michel Temer, for being entirely made up of white male politicians. It is the first cabinet with no women in Brazil since 1979. Ms Rousseff said it did not represent the country - one of the world's most ethnically diverse nations. Her government had seven women among its 31 ministers. Ms Rousseff is facing trial after the Senate on Thursday voted to impeach and suspend her. She is accused of illegally manipulating finances to hide a growing public deficit ahead of her re-election in 2014, which she denies. The new government's chief-of-staff said they had been unable to find any women for the cabinet. Eliseu Padilha said the cabinet had been formed on a tight schedule. \"We tried to seek women but for reasons that we don't need to bring up here, we discussed it and it was not possible,\" he said. \"We will bring women into the government, in posts that used to be ministries, and that now will have the same functions but under a different name.\" The new government will be in stark contrast to the administration of Ms Rousseff who had called herself in Portuguese \"presidenta\" instead of the gender neutral \"presidente\", and who had spoken of citizens as being \"Brazilian women and men.\" During the impeachment process she had frequently explained the criticism of herself and the government as being related to her being a woman. \"Black people and women are fundamental if you truly want to construct an inclusive country,\" Ms Rousseff said on Friday to journalists at the presidential palace, where she will continue to live during her impeachment trial. \"I think the government is clearly showing that it is going to be neo-liberal in the economy and extremely conservative on the social and cultural side.\" In his first speech to the nation after the Senate voted to impeach Ms Rousseff, interim President Michel Temer stressed that \"economic vitality\" was his key task. He added: \"It is essential to rebuild the credibility of the country at home and abroad to attract new investments and get the economy growing again.\" He said Brazil was still a poor nation and that he would protect and expand social programmes. He named a business-friendly cabinet that includes respected former central bank chief Henrique Meirelles as finance minster. Males identifying as white made up 22% of Brazil's population in 2013 according to the government's economic research institute, IPEA. Women made up 51% of the population in the same year. Ms Rousseff  told journalists on Friday her opponents had \"turned her life inside out\" trying to find grounds to impeach her. She again denied the allegations against her and said she had committed no crime. She said she would continue to speak out against impeachment proceedings she has denounced as a \"farce\" and \"sabotage\". She now has 20 days to present her first defence before the Senate and the trial can last up to six months. Michel Temer became interim president as soon as Ms Rousseff was suspended. - The 75-year-old law professor of Lebanese origin was Ms Rousseff's vice-president and was a key figure in the recent upheaval - Up until now, he's been the kingmaker, but never the king, having helped form coalitions with every president in the past two decades - He is president of Brazil's largest party, the PMDB, which abandoned the coalition in March - In recent months, his role has become even more influential; in a WhatsApp recording leaked in April, he outlined how Brazil needed a \"government to save the country\". Read more on Michel Temer here The 180 days allocated for the trial to take place expire on 8 November.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 3645, "answer_end": 3717, "text": "The 180 days allocated for the trial to take place expire on 8 November."}], "question": "What happens next?", "id": "158_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Andrew Yang's wife says gynaecologist sexually assaulted her", "date": "17 January 2020", "paragraphs": [{"context": "The wife of Democratic presidential hopeful Andrew Yang has said she was sexually assaulted by her gynaecologist while she was pregnant with their first child. Evelyn Yang has accused Robert Hadden of assaulting her at his New York practice in 2012. Speaking to CNN, Ms Yang said she didn't tell her husband at first. Ms Yang is one of 32 women suing Hadden and the university where he practised. Hadden has denied the allegations in a court document. He was convicted of sexual assault in 2016 and surrendered his medical licence, but did not serve any jail time after accepting a plea deal. Ms Yang, 38, said she was encouraged to speak out by the warm reception she and her husband had received when talking to voters about their son's autism. \"Something about being on the trail and meeting people and seeing the difference that we've been making already has moved me to share my own story about it, about sexual assault,\" Ms Yang revealed to CNN. She said \"everyone has their own Me Too story\", referencing the global movement against sexual assault, but added \"not everyone has the audience or platform to tell their story\". Ms Yang's husband Andrew, a tech entrepreneur who is vying for the Democratic presidential nomination, said he was \"extraordinary proud\" of his wife. \"When victims of abuse come forward, they deserve our belief, support, and protection,\" Mr Yang said in a statement on Thursday. \"I hope that Evelyn's story gives strength to those who have suffered and sends a clear message that our institutions must do more to protect and respond to women.\" Ms Yang has accused Hadden of assaulting her in his examination room when she was seven months pregnant with her first child. \"I was dressed and ready to go,\" she told CNN. \"Then, at the last minute, he kind of made up an excuse. He said something about 'I think you might need a C-section' and he proceeded to grab me over to him and undress me and examine me internally, ungloved.\" During the alleged assault, Ms Yang said she \"froze like a deer in headlights\" and tried to avoid his gaze, \"just waiting for it to be over\". Ms Yang said she told her husband about the alleged assault after the birth of their child, Christopher. Ms Yang said she was prompted to do so after reading about a woman who had accused Hadden of sexual assault. Other women came forward and a case against Hadden was opened by the Manhattan District Attorney's Office. Ms Yang helped prosecutors to build their case and testified before a grand jury, which indicted Hadden on multiple sex crime charges in 2014. In 2016, Hadden accepted a plea deal after admitting one count of forcible touching and one count of third-degree sexual assault. As part of the deal, Hadden was stripped of his medical licence but did not go to prison. Ms Yang and 31 other women are now suing Columbia University, which runs the medical practice where Hadden worked. The lawsuit argues that the university and its affiliates \"actively concealed, conspired, and enabled\" Hadden's sexual exploitation. Columbia University and the hospital system are fighting the lawsuit on procedural grounds, according to CNN. A university spokeswoman said the allegations against Hadden were \"abhorrent\" and they \"deeply apologise to those whose trust was violated\".", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1575, "answer_end": 2100, "text": "Ms Yang has accused Hadden of assaulting her in his examination room when she was seven months pregnant with her first child. \"I was dressed and ready to go,\" she told CNN. \"Then, at the last minute, he kind of made up an excuse. He said something about 'I think you might need a C-section' and he proceeded to grab me over to him and undress me and examine me internally, ungloved.\" During the alleged assault, Ms Yang said she \"froze like a deer in headlights\" and tried to avoid his gaze, \"just waiting for it to be over\"."}], "question": "What is Ms Yang alleging?", "id": "159_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2101, "answer_end": 3283, "text": "Ms Yang said she told her husband about the alleged assault after the birth of their child, Christopher. Ms Yang said she was prompted to do so after reading about a woman who had accused Hadden of sexual assault. Other women came forward and a case against Hadden was opened by the Manhattan District Attorney's Office. Ms Yang helped prosecutors to build their case and testified before a grand jury, which indicted Hadden on multiple sex crime charges in 2014. In 2016, Hadden accepted a plea deal after admitting one count of forcible touching and one count of third-degree sexual assault. As part of the deal, Hadden was stripped of his medical licence but did not go to prison. Ms Yang and 31 other women are now suing Columbia University, which runs the medical practice where Hadden worked. The lawsuit argues that the university and its affiliates \"actively concealed, conspired, and enabled\" Hadden's sexual exploitation. Columbia University and the hospital system are fighting the lawsuit on procedural grounds, according to CNN. A university spokeswoman said the allegations against Hadden were \"abhorrent\" and they \"deeply apologise to those whose trust was violated\"."}], "question": "What else has Hadden been accused of?", "id": "159_1"}]}]}, {"title": "North Korea missile: US says it will use military force 'if we must'", "date": "6 July 2017", "paragraphs": [{"context": "The US has said it will use its \"considerable military forces\" on North Korea \"if we must\", following Tuesday's long-range missile test. US ambassador Nikki Haley said a new resolution would also be tabled against Pyongyang at the United Nations. She described the test as a sharp military escalation and also threatened to use trade restrictions. Hours after she spoke, the US and South Korea fired more missiles into the Sea of Japan as part of military drills. But Pyongyang said it would not negotiate unless the US ended its \"hostile policy\" against North Korea. China and Russia also opposed the use of military force. Tuesday's missile launch, the latest in a series of tests, was in defiance of a ban by the UN Security Council. Meanwhile, US Defence Secretary Jim Mattis and his Japanese counterpart Tomomi Inada said the test was an \"unacceptable provocation\". Gen Mattis said the US was committed to defending Japan and providing deterrence, according to a statement released by the US defence department after their phone call. On Wednesday Ms Haley warned North Korea's test launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) was \"quickly closing off the possibility of a diplomatic solution\". \"The United States is prepared to use the full range of our capabilities to defend ourselves, and our allies,\" she told an emergency session of the UN Security Council. \"One of our capabilities lies with our considerable military forces. We will use them, if we must, but we prefer not to have to go in that direction.\" On Thursday in South Korea, the US held a joint military drill with the South's troops for a second day in response to the missile test. It involved various destroyers, warships and fighter jets launching guided missiles against a simulated maritime attack, Yonhap news agency reports. 'Worst tension since Korean War', says former US envoy Ms Haley also said the US could cut off trade with countries which continued to trade with North Korea in violation of UN resolutions. \"We will look at any country that chooses to do business with this outlaw regime,\" she said. Earlier, US President Donald Trump criticised China for its trade with North Korea. Mr Trump is due to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping when they attend a G20 summit in Hamburg, Germany, where world leaders are expected to discuss the missile test. Why is Donald Trump going to Poland? South Korea's President Moon Jae-in has voiced concern that the North's nuclear and missile development is \"proceeding much faster than expected\". Speaking in Berlin on Wednesday, where he met German leader Angela Merkel, he said they would \"examine possibilities of ramping up sanctions\". At the UN Security Council meeting in New York, France's ambassador said it also favoured a new resolution on North Korea to tighten sanctions. Russia, which condemned the test, said the possibility of using military measures \"should be excluded\". China's ambassador Liu Jieyi echoed similar sentiments and said \"military means must not be an option\". He repeated China and Russia's proposal that North Korea should halt its missile and nuclear programmes in exchange for US and South Korean military exercises in the region being frozen. They also propose reversing plans to deploy a controversial anti-missile system in the South. Both Russia and China are permanent members of the UN Security Council and could veto any new resolution. The \"US strategy of strength\" combined with pressure and engagement \"will never work\", state news agency KCNA said. Unless the US stopped its \"hostile policy\", North Korea would \"never put the nuke and ballistic rocket on the negotiating table\". North Korean leader Kim Jong-un was earlier quoted as saying Tuesday's launch was a \"gift\" to the Americans on their independence day, and that he had ordered officials to \"frequently send big and small 'gift packages' to the Yankees\". Pyongyang said the Hwasong-14 ICBM had reached an altitude of 2,802km (1,731 miles) and flown 933km for 39 minutes before hitting a target in the sea. North Korea, it said, was now \"a full-fledged nuclear power that has been possessed of the most powerful inter-continental ballistic rocket capable of hitting any part of the world\". But while experts agree that the test shows Pyongyang has a long-range projectile, many are sceptical that its missiles can successfully deliver warheads. Have North Korea's missile tests paid off? - A long-range missile usually designed to carry a nuclear warhead - The minimum range is 5,500km (3,400 miles), although most fly about 10,000km or more - Pyongyang has previously displayed two types of ICBMs: the KN-08, with a range of 11,500km, and the KN-14, with a range of 10,000km, but before 4 July had not claimed to have flight tested an ICBM. It is not clear what differentiates the Hwasong-14 North Korea's missile programme in detail", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1040, "answer_end": 2386, "text": "On Wednesday Ms Haley warned North Korea's test launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) was \"quickly closing off the possibility of a diplomatic solution\". \"The United States is prepared to use the full range of our capabilities to defend ourselves, and our allies,\" she told an emergency session of the UN Security Council. \"One of our capabilities lies with our considerable military forces. We will use them, if we must, but we prefer not to have to go in that direction.\" On Thursday in South Korea, the US held a joint military drill with the South's troops for a second day in response to the missile test. It involved various destroyers, warships and fighter jets launching guided missiles against a simulated maritime attack, Yonhap news agency reports. 'Worst tension since Korean War', says former US envoy Ms Haley also said the US could cut off trade with countries which continued to trade with North Korea in violation of UN resolutions. \"We will look at any country that chooses to do business with this outlaw regime,\" she said. Earlier, US President Donald Trump criticised China for its trade with North Korea. Mr Trump is due to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping when they attend a G20 summit in Hamburg, Germany, where world leaders are expected to discuss the missile test. Why is Donald Trump going to Poland?"}], "question": "What exactly did the US say?", "id": "160_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2387, "answer_end": 3415, "text": "South Korea's President Moon Jae-in has voiced concern that the North's nuclear and missile development is \"proceeding much faster than expected\". Speaking in Berlin on Wednesday, where he met German leader Angela Merkel, he said they would \"examine possibilities of ramping up sanctions\". At the UN Security Council meeting in New York, France's ambassador said it also favoured a new resolution on North Korea to tighten sanctions. Russia, which condemned the test, said the possibility of using military measures \"should be excluded\". China's ambassador Liu Jieyi echoed similar sentiments and said \"military means must not be an option\". He repeated China and Russia's proposal that North Korea should halt its missile and nuclear programmes in exchange for US and South Korean military exercises in the region being frozen. They also propose reversing plans to deploy a controversial anti-missile system in the South. Both Russia and China are permanent members of the UN Security Council and could veto any new resolution."}], "question": "Is the international community united on the issue?", "id": "160_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3416, "answer_end": 4429, "text": "The \"US strategy of strength\" combined with pressure and engagement \"will never work\", state news agency KCNA said. Unless the US stopped its \"hostile policy\", North Korea would \"never put the nuke and ballistic rocket on the negotiating table\". North Korean leader Kim Jong-un was earlier quoted as saying Tuesday's launch was a \"gift\" to the Americans on their independence day, and that he had ordered officials to \"frequently send big and small 'gift packages' to the Yankees\". Pyongyang said the Hwasong-14 ICBM had reached an altitude of 2,802km (1,731 miles) and flown 933km for 39 minutes before hitting a target in the sea. North Korea, it said, was now \"a full-fledged nuclear power that has been possessed of the most powerful inter-continental ballistic rocket capable of hitting any part of the world\". But while experts agree that the test shows Pyongyang has a long-range projectile, many are sceptical that its missiles can successfully deliver warheads. Have North Korea's missile tests paid off?"}], "question": "What does North Korea itself say?", "id": "160_2"}]}]}, {"title": "Bolivia's Morales drops planned fuel prices hike", "date": "1 January 2011", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Bolivian President Evo Morales has rescinded a decree which raised fuel prices by more than 70% and sparked civil unrest. Mr Morales reversed the price rises introduced less than a week ago following talks with trades unions and groups representing indigenous peoples. The fuel price hike had provoked mass protests and a transport strike. Bolivia's army had begun selling bread in response to a strike by bakers angry at the move. The leftist government said the aim was to prevent shortages and counter a threat by bakers to raise the cost of Bolivia's daily bread. In a televised message broadcast late on New Year's Eve, Mr Morales said he had listened to unions and social groups. He would \"obey what the people say by abrogating the decree raising gasoline and everything that accompanied that measure\", the Associated Press news agency reported him as saying. \"That means that all of the measures are withdrawn.\" The government withdrew heavy subsidies for petrol and diesel last Sunday, saying it could no longer afford to maintain a six-year price freeze. It said much of Bolivia's oil was being smuggled out of the country by profiteers. Petrol prices immediately went up by more than 70%, and diesel by more than 80%. Transport workers had begun an indefinite strike against the price rises. In an effort to lessen the impact of the bakers' strike, loaves baked in army ovens were being sold by troops in La Paz and El Alto. \"We have been baking bread in our barracks, where we have industrial ovens with a capacity for 10,000 loaves a day,\" a Bolivian army officer told local media. The small loaves were being sold at the usual price of 0.40 Pesos Bolivianos (about 5 US cents or 3p), half what commercial bakers said they intended to charge when they reopened. Mr Morales had also accused the bread makers of \"taking advantage\" of the situation by seeking to double the price of a loaf of bread, noting that the price of electricity and natural gas used in ovens had not gone up. On Thursday there had been violent protests in the political capital, La Paz, as well as the neighbouring city of El Alto and in Cochabamba in central Bolivia. Protests have been suspended for the New Year's weekend but were expected to resume on Monday, when the main trades unions were planning to march. President Morales had announced a series of measures to counteract the impact of the fuel hike on Bolivia's mostly poor population. Public sector pay and the minimum wage were being increased by 20%, he said. Power, phone and water tariffs were being frozen, and there was to be new assistance for farmers. The fuel price hike - which protesters were calling the \"gasolinazo\" - caused the cost of transport to soar, and pushed all food prices up. Correspondents say the protests are turning into one of the biggest political tests Mr Morales has had to face since he became Bolivia's first indigenous president in 2005. Both his predecessors were forced from office by mass protest movements in which he, as a radical peasant leader, played a prominent role.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 568, "answer_end": 1993, "text": "In a televised message broadcast late on New Year's Eve, Mr Morales said he had listened to unions and social groups. He would \"obey what the people say by abrogating the decree raising gasoline and everything that accompanied that measure\", the Associated Press news agency reported him as saying. \"That means that all of the measures are withdrawn.\" The government withdrew heavy subsidies for petrol and diesel last Sunday, saying it could no longer afford to maintain a six-year price freeze. It said much of Bolivia's oil was being smuggled out of the country by profiteers. Petrol prices immediately went up by more than 70%, and diesel by more than 80%. Transport workers had begun an indefinite strike against the price rises. In an effort to lessen the impact of the bakers' strike, loaves baked in army ovens were being sold by troops in La Paz and El Alto. \"We have been baking bread in our barracks, where we have industrial ovens with a capacity for 10,000 loaves a day,\" a Bolivian army officer told local media. The small loaves were being sold at the usual price of 0.40 Pesos Bolivianos (about 5 US cents or 3p), half what commercial bakers said they intended to charge when they reopened. Mr Morales had also accused the bread makers of \"taking advantage\" of the situation by seeking to double the price of a loaf of bread, noting that the price of electricity and natural gas used in ovens had not gone up."}], "question": "Bread price doubling?", "id": "161_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Iran rolls back nuclear deal commitments", "date": "5 January 2020", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Iran has declared that it will no longer abide by any of the restrictions imposed by the 2015 nuclear deal. In a statement, it said it would no longer observe limitations on its capacity for enrichment, the level of enrichment, the stock of enriched material, or research and development. The announcement followed a meeting of the Iranian cabinet in Tehran. Tensions have been high over the killing of Iranian General Qasem Soleimani by the US in Baghdad. Reports from Baghdad say the US embassy compound there was targeted in an attack on Sunday evening. A source told the BBC that four rounds of \"indirect fire \" had been launched in the direction of the embassy. There were no reports of casualties. Hundreds of thousands turned out in Iran on Sunday to give Soleimani a hero's welcome ahead of his funeral on Tuesday. Earlier, Iraqi MPs had passed a non-binding resolution calling for foreign troops to leave the country after the general's killing in a drone strike at Baghdad airport on Friday. About 5,000 US soldiers are in Iraq as part of the international coalition against the Islamic State (IS) group. The coalition paused operations against IS in Iraq just before Sunday's vote. President Donald Trump has repeatedly threatened that the US will strike back at Iran in the event of retaliation for Soleimani's death, and said it could do so \"perhaps in a disproportionate manner\". The 2015 nuclear agreement with Iran, on life support ever since the Trump administration abandoned it in May 2018, may now be in its final death throes. Donald Trump, throughout his presidential campaign and then as president, has never failed to rail against what he calls his predecessor President Barack Obama's \"bad deal\".  But all its other signatories - the UK, France, Russia, China, Germany and the EU - believe that it still has merit. The agreement, known as the JCPOA, constrained Iran's nuclear programme for a set period in a largely verifiable way. But its greatest significance - even more so given the current crisis - is that it helped to avert an imminent war. Before it was signed, there was mounting concern about Tehran's nuclear activities and every chance that Israel (or possibly Israel and the US in tandem) might attack Iran's nuclear facilities. Since the US withdrawal, Iran has successively breached key constraints of the JCPOA. Now it appears to be throwing these constraints out altogether. What matters now is what precisely it decides to do. Will it up its level of uranium enrichment, for example, to 20%? This would reduce significantly the time it would take Tehran to obtain suitable material for a bomb. Will it continue to abide by enhanced international inspection measures? We are now at the destination the Trump administration clearly hoped for in May 2018. But the major powers, while deeply unhappy about Iran's breaches of the deal, are also shocked at the controversial decision by Mr Trump to kill the head of Iran's Quds Force, a decision that has again brought the US and Iran to the brink of war. Under the 2015 accord, Iran agreed to limit its sensitive nuclear activities and allow in international inspectors in return for the lifting of crippling economic sanctions. US President Donald Trump abandoned it in 2018, saying he wanted to force Iran to negotiate a new deal that would place indefinite curbs on its nuclear programme and also halt its development of ballistic missiles. Iran refused, and had since been gradually rolling back its commitments under the agreement. It had been expected to announce its latest stance on the agreement this weekend, before news of Soleimani's death. Iranian state media announced on Sunday that the country will no longer respect any limits laid down in the 2015 deal. \"Iran will continue its nuclear enrichment with no limitations and based on its technical needs,\" a statement said. However, the statement did not say that Iran was actually withdrawing from the agreement and it added that the country would continue to co-operate with the UN's nuclear watchdog, the IAEA. Iran, it said, was ready to return to its commitments once it enjoyed the benefits of the agreement. Correspondents say this is a reference to its inability to sell oil and have access to its income under US sanctions. The country has always insisted that its nuclear programme is entirely peaceful - but suspicions that it was being used to develop a bomb covertly prompted the UN Security Council, US and EU to impose crippling sanctions in 2010. The 2015 deal was designed to constrain the programme in a verifiable way in return for sanctions relief. It restricted Iran's enrichment of uranium, which is used to make reactor fuel but also nuclear weapons, to 3.67%. Iran was also required to redesign a heavy-water reactor being built, whose spent fuel would contain plutonium suitable for a bomb, and allow international inspections. Before July 2015, Iran had a large stockpile of enriched uranium and almost 20,000 centrifuges, enough to create eight to 10 bombs, according to the White House at the time. US experts estimated back then that if Iran had decided to rush to make a bomb, it would take two to three months until it had enough 90%-enriched uranium to build a nuclear weapon - the so-called \"breakout time\". Iran's current \"breakout time\", should it attempt to build a nuclear bomb, is estimated to be around a year, but this could be reduced to half a year or even a matter of months if enrichment levels are increased to 20%, for example. The other parties to the 2015 deal - the UK, France, Germany, China and Russia - tried to keep the agreement alive after the US withdrew in 2018. Late on Sunday, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, French President Emmanuel Macron and British PM Boris Johnson released a joint statement urging Iran to drop measures that go against the deal. \"We are ready to continue talks with all parties in order to contribute to de-escalating tensions and re-establishing stability in the region,\" they said. Earlier on Sunday Mr Johnson said \"we will not lament\" the death of Soleimani, describing him as \"a threat to all our interests\". EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell has invited Iran's Foreign Minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif, to visit Brussels to discuss both the nuclear deal and how to defuse the crisis over the Soleimani assassination.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 704, "answer_end": 1393, "text": "Hundreds of thousands turned out in Iran on Sunday to give Soleimani a hero's welcome ahead of his funeral on Tuesday. Earlier, Iraqi MPs had passed a non-binding resolution calling for foreign troops to leave the country after the general's killing in a drone strike at Baghdad airport on Friday. About 5,000 US soldiers are in Iraq as part of the international coalition against the Islamic State (IS) group. The coalition paused operations against IS in Iraq just before Sunday's vote. President Donald Trump has repeatedly threatened that the US will strike back at Iran in the event of retaliation for Soleimani's death, and said it could do so \"perhaps in a disproportionate manner\"."}], "question": "What happened on Sunday?", "id": "162_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3044, "answer_end": 4285, "text": "Under the 2015 accord, Iran agreed to limit its sensitive nuclear activities and allow in international inspectors in return for the lifting of crippling economic sanctions. US President Donald Trump abandoned it in 2018, saying he wanted to force Iran to negotiate a new deal that would place indefinite curbs on its nuclear programme and also halt its development of ballistic missiles. Iran refused, and had since been gradually rolling back its commitments under the agreement. It had been expected to announce its latest stance on the agreement this weekend, before news of Soleimani's death. Iranian state media announced on Sunday that the country will no longer respect any limits laid down in the 2015 deal. \"Iran will continue its nuclear enrichment with no limitations and based on its technical needs,\" a statement said. However, the statement did not say that Iran was actually withdrawing from the agreement and it added that the country would continue to co-operate with the UN's nuclear watchdog, the IAEA. Iran, it said, was ready to return to its commitments once it enjoyed the benefits of the agreement. Correspondents say this is a reference to its inability to sell oil and have access to its income under US sanctions."}], "question": "What is Iran's new stance on the nuclear deal?", "id": "162_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 4286, "answer_end": 5526, "text": "The country has always insisted that its nuclear programme is entirely peaceful - but suspicions that it was being used to develop a bomb covertly prompted the UN Security Council, US and EU to impose crippling sanctions in 2010. The 2015 deal was designed to constrain the programme in a verifiable way in return for sanctions relief. It restricted Iran's enrichment of uranium, which is used to make reactor fuel but also nuclear weapons, to 3.67%. Iran was also required to redesign a heavy-water reactor being built, whose spent fuel would contain plutonium suitable for a bomb, and allow international inspections. Before July 2015, Iran had a large stockpile of enriched uranium and almost 20,000 centrifuges, enough to create eight to 10 bombs, according to the White House at the time. US experts estimated back then that if Iran had decided to rush to make a bomb, it would take two to three months until it had enough 90%-enriched uranium to build a nuclear weapon - the so-called \"breakout time\". Iran's current \"breakout time\", should it attempt to build a nuclear bomb, is estimated to be around a year, but this could be reduced to half a year or even a matter of months if enrichment levels are increased to 20%, for example."}], "question": "How soon could Iran develop a nuclear bomb?", "id": "162_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 5527, "answer_end": 6361, "text": "The other parties to the 2015 deal - the UK, France, Germany, China and Russia - tried to keep the agreement alive after the US withdrew in 2018. Late on Sunday, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, French President Emmanuel Macron and British PM Boris Johnson released a joint statement urging Iran to drop measures that go against the deal. \"We are ready to continue talks with all parties in order to contribute to de-escalating tensions and re-establishing stability in the region,\" they said. Earlier on Sunday Mr Johnson said \"we will not lament\" the death of Soleimani, describing him as \"a threat to all our interests\". EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell has invited Iran's Foreign Minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif, to visit Brussels to discuss both the nuclear deal and how to defuse the crisis over the Soleimani assassination."}], "question": "How has the international community reacted?", "id": "162_3"}]}]}, {"title": "Palmyra and the logic of loss", "date": "23 May 2015", "paragraphs": [{"context": "The list of world-famous historical sites that have been partially or entirely destroyed by recent conflict in the Middle East grows with grim regularity. In Syria alone, the Great Mosque and the Citadel in Aleppo, the castle of every child's imagination at Crac des Chevaliers, and the ancient city of Bosra have been damaged or destroyed. Arguably Syria's most impressive and arresting site, the sprawling ruins at Palmyra (Tadmur to Syrians), is now under Islamic State control and many fear the worst. Having visited Palmyra and these other sites while studying Arabic at Damascus University back in 2007, I am far from alone in feeling that something truly terrible is happening. That these symbols from a bygone era might be destroyed by modern-day barbarian forces when they have survived for hundreds or even thousands of years seems somehow deeply offensive and wrong. IS threat to 'Venice of the Sands' Your memories of Palmyra Saving history from the jihadists Nevertheless, while I feel an acute sadness at the loss of these sites, I understand those who may feel a certain sense of unease at the outpouring of grief and anguish over their desecration. From this perspective, Palmyra is, after all, a collection of stone; albeit stone exquisitely carved and impressively presented, imbued with huge historical import. And compared to the staggering loss of life and widespread humanitarian disaster afflicting the Syrian people, bemoaning the loss of a historic tourist site seems crass. But there are cogent arguments, of course, suggesting that sites like Palmyra are far more significant than that. Important cultural sites are often pointed to as focal points that can be used to (re)unify a people. Sites can act as potent symbols of a united past that may cross ethnic, tribal, linguistic, or cultural lines. In essence, their importance can be seen and used as a low common denominator to promote reconciliation in a post-conflict environment. Most famously, the reconstruction of the old bridge in Mostar in Bosnia-Hercegovina acted as a focal point of wider metaphorical bridge-building between Serbs, Bosniaks (Muslims) and Croats after the civil war in the 1990s when the bridge was demolished. In Syria, too, there have already been tentative attempts towards this kind of a goal, with meetings between regime and opposition officials nominally in charge of antiquities. Similarly, the sheer barbarism of IS, exemplified in its brutality against people and against shared cultural monuments, could be a foil to coax more unity among the dispersed opposition groups and factions. Moreover, these kinds of sites are the heritage and birthright not just of this generation of Syrians so adversely affected by the conflict, but of all Syrians henceforth. As such, focusing on the protection of sites of great historical concern is just, it can be argued, given that the ultimate goal is to preserve and protect the essential character of a people for hundreds of years to come. Some may find it distasteful that many seem to be increasingly inured to the human toll in Syria, while interest is piqued by attacks on historical sites. Doubtless, they might prefer that some of the yardage given over to glossy pictures of Palmyra in its glory days be given over to reporting of the day-to-day devastation faced and experienced by ordinary people. On the same theme, one can hope and advocate for better, longer, more in-depth pieces or more funding for foreign reporters. A righteous lament this may be, but it is an ineffectual one. The numbing reality is that if these were the types of stories that were demanded, more news services would answer the call. It must also be remembered that there are rarely mutually exclusive choices here. The words written and arguments elucidated over the importance of saving cultural heritage sites are also a part of wider discussions and pressure to cobble together anything approaching a meaningful plan to intervene or otherwise halt the worst excesses of the violence in Syria. The takeover of Palmyra has generated a unique media storm, flinging the Syrian conflict back to wider consciousness. If that can be harnessed in the uphill struggle to galvanise a plan going forward, then no-one will complain. Whatever the intellectual or moral merits of focusing on such examples of historical desecration, the fact remains that, for me - and I doubt I'm alone - there remains a unique sadness in the loss of such sites. The abstract and horrifying numbers of deaths that the conflict has produced are not undermined or further ignored, as it were, by the focus on the fate of the likes of Palmyra. The loss of Syria's cultural heritage represents the loss of far more than some tourist attractions, but the loss of connection between multiple generations. As with all things, politics is but the art of the possible. So leveraging the fate of these magnificent and important monuments in the wider hope of incrementally building a pressure to bear on the powers that be is a just and vital thing.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1963, "answer_end": 3489, "text": "Most famously, the reconstruction of the old bridge in Mostar in Bosnia-Hercegovina acted as a focal point of wider metaphorical bridge-building between Serbs, Bosniaks (Muslims) and Croats after the civil war in the 1990s when the bridge was demolished. In Syria, too, there have already been tentative attempts towards this kind of a goal, with meetings between regime and opposition officials nominally in charge of antiquities. Similarly, the sheer barbarism of IS, exemplified in its brutality against people and against shared cultural monuments, could be a foil to coax more unity among the dispersed opposition groups and factions. Moreover, these kinds of sites are the heritage and birthright not just of this generation of Syrians so adversely affected by the conflict, but of all Syrians henceforth. As such, focusing on the protection of sites of great historical concern is just, it can be argued, given that the ultimate goal is to preserve and protect the essential character of a people for hundreds of years to come. Some may find it distasteful that many seem to be increasingly inured to the human toll in Syria, while interest is piqued by attacks on historical sites. Doubtless, they might prefer that some of the yardage given over to glossy pictures of Palmyra in its glory days be given over to reporting of the day-to-day devastation faced and experienced by ordinary people. On the same theme, one can hope and advocate for better, longer, more in-depth pieces or more funding for foreign reporters."}], "question": "Distasteful?", "id": "163_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Nadia Murad - from rape survivor in Iraq to Nobel Peace Prize", "date": "5 October 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Nadia Murad is an Iraqi Yazidi who was tortured and raped by Islamic State (IS) militants and later became the face of a campaign to free the Yazidi people. In 2014, she was captured and endured three months as a sex slave at the hands of the militants after they swept through the area of northern Iraq where she lived with her family. She was bought and sold several times and subjected to sexual and physical abuse during her captivity. She became an activist for the Yazidi people after escaping in November 2014, campaigning to help put an end to human trafficking and calling on the world to take a tougher line on rape as a weapon of war. She is the first Iraqi to win the Nobel Peace Prize. She was 21 when IS militants attacked her village in northern Iraq, close to the border with Syria. The militants killed those who refused to convert to Islam, including six of her brothers and her mother. After being captured, she was taken by force to Mosul, the de facto \"capital\" of IS' self-declared caliphate. There she was forced to convert to Islam and sold repeatedly for sex as part of IS' slave trade. In a 2017 memoir about her ordeal, she wrote: \"At some point, there was rape and nothing else. This becomes your normal day.\" She initially tried to escape, but was immediately caught by one of the guards, she told the BBC in an interview in 2016. Under their rules, she said, a captured woman became a spoil of war if she was caught trying to escape. She would be put in a cell and raped by all the men in the compound. This is what happened to Ms Murad, who says the militants called this practice \"sexual jihad\". She says after this, she could not think of trying to escape again. But later, the man she was staying with in Mosul, who lived alone, told her he was going to \"sell\" her on to someone else. Ms Murad said she had managed to leave the compound and stopped at a house to ask for help. The Muslim family there said they had no connection with IS and helped her to escape. She managed to cross into Iraqi Kurdistan and found refuge in camps with other Yazidis. She later reached Europe and now lives in Germany. She has continued to campaign for the thousands of women who are still believed to be held captive by IS. She was awarded the Vaclav Havel Human Rights Prize by the Council of Europe in 2016, and called for an international court to judge crimes committed by IS in her acceptance speech in Strasbourg. That same year, she was also awarded the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought by the European Parliament. She was named the UN's first goodwill ambassador for survivors of human trafficking later that year. It was the first time a survivor of atrocities was awarded the distinction, the UN said at the time.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 699, "answer_end": 1359, "text": "She was 21 when IS militants attacked her village in northern Iraq, close to the border with Syria. The militants killed those who refused to convert to Islam, including six of her brothers and her mother. After being captured, she was taken by force to Mosul, the de facto \"capital\" of IS' self-declared caliphate. There she was forced to convert to Islam and sold repeatedly for sex as part of IS' slave trade. In a 2017 memoir about her ordeal, she wrote: \"At some point, there was rape and nothing else. This becomes your normal day.\" She initially tried to escape, but was immediately caught by one of the guards, she told the BBC in an interview in 2016."}], "question": "How was she captured?", "id": "164_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1360, "answer_end": 2135, "text": "Under their rules, she said, a captured woman became a spoil of war if she was caught trying to escape. She would be put in a cell and raped by all the men in the compound. This is what happened to Ms Murad, who says the militants called this practice \"sexual jihad\". She says after this, she could not think of trying to escape again. But later, the man she was staying with in Mosul, who lived alone, told her he was going to \"sell\" her on to someone else. Ms Murad said she had managed to leave the compound and stopped at a house to ask for help. The Muslim family there said they had no connection with IS and helped her to escape. She managed to cross into Iraqi Kurdistan and found refuge in camps with other Yazidis. She later reached Europe and now lives in Germany."}], "question": "Who helped her escape?", "id": "164_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2136, "answer_end": 2746, "text": "She has continued to campaign for the thousands of women who are still believed to be held captive by IS. She was awarded the Vaclav Havel Human Rights Prize by the Council of Europe in 2016, and called for an international court to judge crimes committed by IS in her acceptance speech in Strasbourg. That same year, she was also awarded the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought by the European Parliament. She was named the UN's first goodwill ambassador for survivors of human trafficking later that year. It was the first time a survivor of atrocities was awarded the distinction, the UN said at the time."}], "question": "How else has she been honoured as a campaigner?", "id": "164_2"}]}]}, {"title": "'Half a glass of wine every day' increases breast cancer risk", "date": "23 May 2017", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Further evidence has emerged of the link between alcohol consumption in women and an increased risk of breast cancer. According to a report from the World Cancer Research Fund, half a glass of wine or a small beer a day increases the risk of breast cancer. It also backs up research showing that regular intensive exercise can reduce the risk of the disease. Breast cancer is by far the most common cancer in women in the UK with one in eight women developing the disease during their lifetime. But scientists say they can't explain why the cancer occurs in some people and not in others. There are numerous causes and lots of factors to take into account, including lifestyle, hormone levels and other medical conditions. Basically, it's a complex picture and there's no point focusing on one factor only. For a start, there are some factors you cannot control such as your sex, age, height, genes and when you started your periods. Being a woman, over 50 and past the menopause, and having a history of breast cancer in your family, all increase your risk of getting the disease. Being tall and starting periods before the age of 12 are thought to increase the risk too. Cancer Research UK lists 18 different factors which could cause breast cancer to some degree. Alcohol is only one of them. It says there are ways women can lower their risk of breast cancer by focusing on factors they can control, like diet, weight and exercise. After analysing more than 100 studies that examined the medical history of 12 million women, the report backs up current advice to be aware of alcohol consumption. The report found evidence that drinking an extra small glass of wine every day (10g of alcohol) increases a woman's risk of breast cancer after the menopause by 9%. It means that in a group of 100 women, around 13 would be likely to develop breast cancer anyway. And if they all drank an additional small glass of wine every day, one extra case might develop among the original group. When it comes to exercise, the report found that doing more vigorous exercise, like cycling or running, cut the risk of post-menopausal breast cancer by 10% compared to the least active women. Breastfeeding was also found to lower the risk of the disease before and after the menopause. And there was limited evidence that eating more leafy vegetables, such as cabbage, spinach and kale, decreased the risk of a less common kind of breast cancer. We already know that regular physical exercise, eating a balanced diet and maintaining a healthy weight are important for reducing the risk of lots of diseases, including cancers. But scientists say all these factors interact with each other and that makes it difficult to tease out which ones are driving the cancer and to what extent. New guidelines were introduced in 2016 which said that men and women should drink no more than 14 units a week - equivalent to six pints of beer or seven glasses of wine - and some days should be free of alcohol altogether. The UK's chief medical officers' advice was based on research which showed that any amount of alcohol can increase the risk of cancer. Pregnant women are advised not to drink at all. Cancer experts say the findings don't tell us anything new about the link between alcohol and breast cancer, which is already well known. But if you can, to stack the odds in your favour, they say it is a good idea to have some alcohol-free days during every week and not to increase your drinking. However, Cancer Research UK says there is no need be alarmed and \"go teetotal\". It is also important to look at the bigger picture. Drinking alcohol has a greater effect on the risks of several other cancers - including mouth, liver and bowel - than it does on breast cancer, so there is no reason to become fixated on alcohol. Kevin McConway, emeritus professor of applied statistics at the Open University, says the risks have \"to be set against whatever pleasure women might obtain from their drinking\". The report does not provide absolute risks and as such, Prof Sir David Spiegelhalter, from the University of Cambridge, said it did not seem a good basis for recommending that women give up alcohol completely. However, Dr Anne McTiernan, lead report author and cancer expert at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle, said the evidence regarding breast cancer was clear. \"Having a physically active lifestyle, maintaining a healthy weight throughout life and limiting alcohol are all steps women can take to lower their risk.\"", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 359, "answer_end": 806, "text": "Breast cancer is by far the most common cancer in women in the UK with one in eight women developing the disease during their lifetime. But scientists say they can't explain why the cancer occurs in some people and not in others. There are numerous causes and lots of factors to take into account, including lifestyle, hormone levels and other medical conditions. Basically, it's a complex picture and there's no point focusing on one factor only."}], "question": "But is it really that simple?", "id": "165_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 807, "answer_end": 1295, "text": "For a start, there are some factors you cannot control such as your sex, age, height, genes and when you started your periods. Being a woman, over 50 and past the menopause, and having a history of breast cancer in your family, all increase your risk of getting the disease. Being tall and starting periods before the age of 12 are thought to increase the risk too. Cancer Research UK lists 18 different factors which could cause breast cancer to some degree. Alcohol is only one of them."}], "question": "So what are the risk factors for breast cancer?", "id": "165_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1296, "answer_end": 1764, "text": "It says there are ways women can lower their risk of breast cancer by focusing on factors they can control, like diet, weight and exercise. After analysing more than 100 studies that examined the medical history of 12 million women, the report backs up current advice to be aware of alcohol consumption. The report found evidence that drinking an extra small glass of wine every day (10g of alcohol) increases a woman's risk of breast cancer after the menopause by 9%."}], "question": "What does this report say?", "id": "165_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1765, "answer_end": 1984, "text": "It means that in a group of 100 women, around 13 would be likely to develop breast cancer anyway. And if they all drank an additional small glass of wine every day, one extra case might develop among the original group."}], "question": "What does that really mean?", "id": "165_3"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1985, "answer_end": 2768, "text": "When it comes to exercise, the report found that doing more vigorous exercise, like cycling or running, cut the risk of post-menopausal breast cancer by 10% compared to the least active women. Breastfeeding was also found to lower the risk of the disease before and after the menopause. And there was limited evidence that eating more leafy vegetables, such as cabbage, spinach and kale, decreased the risk of a less common kind of breast cancer. We already know that regular physical exercise, eating a balanced diet and maintaining a healthy weight are important for reducing the risk of lots of diseases, including cancers. But scientists say all these factors interact with each other and that makes it difficult to tease out which ones are driving the cancer and to what extent."}], "question": "What about exercise and diet?", "id": "165_4"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2769, "answer_end": 3175, "text": "New guidelines were introduced in 2016 which said that men and women should drink no more than 14 units a week - equivalent to six pints of beer or seven glasses of wine - and some days should be free of alcohol altogether. The UK's chief medical officers' advice was based on research which showed that any amount of alcohol can increase the risk of cancer. Pregnant women are advised not to drink at all."}], "question": "What is the recommended advice on alcohol intake?", "id": "165_5"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3176, "answer_end": 4523, "text": "Cancer experts say the findings don't tell us anything new about the link between alcohol and breast cancer, which is already well known. But if you can, to stack the odds in your favour, they say it is a good idea to have some alcohol-free days during every week and not to increase your drinking. However, Cancer Research UK says there is no need be alarmed and \"go teetotal\". It is also important to look at the bigger picture. Drinking alcohol has a greater effect on the risks of several other cancers - including mouth, liver and bowel - than it does on breast cancer, so there is no reason to become fixated on alcohol. Kevin McConway, emeritus professor of applied statistics at the Open University, says the risks have \"to be set against whatever pleasure women might obtain from their drinking\". The report does not provide absolute risks and as such, Prof Sir David Spiegelhalter, from the University of Cambridge, said it did not seem a good basis for recommending that women give up alcohol completely. However, Dr Anne McTiernan, lead report author and cancer expert at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle, said the evidence regarding breast cancer was clear. \"Having a physically active lifestyle, maintaining a healthy weight throughout life and limiting alcohol are all steps women can take to lower their risk.\""}], "question": "What's been the reaction to this report?", "id": "165_6"}]}]}, {"title": "Australia to tackle foreign interference at universities", "date": "28 August 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Australia is to formally investigate foreign interference in its universities amid rising concerns about Chinese influence on campuses. The push follows reports of students and staff \"self-censoring\" on sensitive political issues such as the pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong. Universities had also increasingly been targeted by state-sponsored cyber attacks, the government said. It announced an intelligence taskforce on Wednesday to combat such threats. \"Universities must act to protect the valuable information they hold where it is in the national interest to do so,\" Education Minister Dan Tehan said in a national address. He linked efforts to tackle foreign interference to \"broader\" efforts to protect free speech and academic freedom on campuses. Universities Australia, a representative group, welcomed the announcement but said a \"careful balance\" was needed. \"We must continue to safeguard our security without undermining the invaluable asset of our openness,\" Chair Prof Deborah Terry said on Wednesday. While the government did not name any countries on Wednesday, there have been recent concerns about China's alleged influence on campuses. This was highlighted in recent weeks by violent clashes at a number of Australian universities between students supporting the pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong and mainland Chinese students defending their government. \"We must... encourage an environment where disagreement does not involve verbal attacks or threats,\" Mr Tehan said on Wednesday. \"The sense that some students and staff at universities are self-censoring out of fear they will be shouted down or condemned for expressing sincerely held views and beliefs, or for challenging widely accepted ideas, should concern all of us,\" he said. Tensions have also arisen from previous reports of Chinese students aggressively disputing the curriculum in Australian classrooms. Australia's higher education sector has been criticised for being heavily financially reliant on international enrolments. Chinese students account for close to a third of international students in Australia. The government says its University Foreign Interference Taskforce - made up of intelligence agencies, education bureaucrats and university leaders - is aimed at strengthening the cyber defences of universities. Just last month, the Australian National University confirmed it had been the target of a massive data hack, where the personal information of 200,000 students and staff was stolen. \"According to the latest advice from the Australian Cyber Security Centre, the targeting of Australian universities continues to increase,\" Mr Tehan said on Wednesday. He said the group would also develop safeguards to help universities protect their research and intellectual property, and to make foreign academic collaborations more \"transparent\". Australia introduced new laws in 2017 that require foreign organisations to identify their state connections publicly on a government register. The government is investigating the role of Confucius Institutes - Chinese language and cultural centres funded by the Chinese government- which are present on many campuses but not presently registered. Concerns about the institutes also prompted the New South Wales state government last week to cancel the organisation's contracts to teach Chinese language programmes in its public schools. The decision has been criticised as \"hysteria\" by Chinese state media. Two Australian universities have also announced reviews of its research and funding collaborations, following reports its researchers may have unwittingly collaborated with a Chinese-state owned military technology company accused of human rights abuses.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1022, "answer_end": 2104, "text": "While the government did not name any countries on Wednesday, there have been recent concerns about China's alleged influence on campuses. This was highlighted in recent weeks by violent clashes at a number of Australian universities between students supporting the pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong and mainland Chinese students defending their government. \"We must... encourage an environment where disagreement does not involve verbal attacks or threats,\" Mr Tehan said on Wednesday. \"The sense that some students and staff at universities are self-censoring out of fear they will be shouted down or condemned for expressing sincerely held views and beliefs, or for challenging widely accepted ideas, should concern all of us,\" he said. Tensions have also arisen from previous reports of Chinese students aggressively disputing the curriculum in Australian classrooms. Australia's higher education sector has been criticised for being heavily financially reliant on international enrolments. Chinese students account for close to a third of international students in Australia."}], "question": "Why is there concern now?", "id": "166_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2105, "answer_end": 2848, "text": "The government says its University Foreign Interference Taskforce - made up of intelligence agencies, education bureaucrats and university leaders - is aimed at strengthening the cyber defences of universities. Just last month, the Australian National University confirmed it had been the target of a massive data hack, where the personal information of 200,000 students and staff was stolen. \"According to the latest advice from the Australian Cyber Security Centre, the targeting of Australian universities continues to increase,\" Mr Tehan said on Wednesday. He said the group would also develop safeguards to help universities protect their research and intellectual property, and to make foreign academic collaborations more \"transparent\"."}], "question": "What are the aims of the taskforce?", "id": "166_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2849, "answer_end": 3712, "text": "Australia introduced new laws in 2017 that require foreign organisations to identify their state connections publicly on a government register. The government is investigating the role of Confucius Institutes - Chinese language and cultural centres funded by the Chinese government- which are present on many campuses but not presently registered. Concerns about the institutes also prompted the New South Wales state government last week to cancel the organisation's contracts to teach Chinese language programmes in its public schools. The decision has been criticised as \"hysteria\" by Chinese state media. Two Australian universities have also announced reviews of its research and funding collaborations, following reports its researchers may have unwittingly collaborated with a Chinese-state owned military technology company accused of human rights abuses."}], "question": "What other actions have been taken?", "id": "166_2"}]}]}, {"title": "Zimbabwe president Mnangagwa skips Davos over protests", "date": "22 January 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa has broken off a trip to Europe after violent protests in his home country. Mr Mnangagwa had been due to attend the Davos economic summit where he was expected to seek investment for Zimbabwe. Ministers say the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) is using sharp fuel price increases as a pretext for violence. But the MDC accuses the authorities of a brutal crackdown. Mr Mnangagwa announced a steep increase in the fuel price earlier this month. The price rises were meant to tackle fuel shortages, but mean that Zimbabwe now has the most expensive fuel in the world, according to GlobalPetrolPrices.com. Many Zimbabweans, worn down by years of economic hardship, have suddenly found they cannot even afford the bus fare to work. This has led to angry protests in the capital, Harare, and the south-western city of Bulawayo. The Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO forum says at least 12 people were killed and 78 treated for gunshot injuries. The rights group also says that over 240 people have been treated after being assaulted or tortured, while the opposition says government forces have attacked people in their homes. The UN has called on the government to halt the \"excessive use of force\" by security forces, amid reports of door-to-door searches and the use of live ammunition. The government blocked Facebook, Twitter and WhatsApp messaging apps last week, until a high court ordered it to restore access. Mr Mnangagwa, who arrived back in Harare late on Monday night, condemned the demonstrations, saying \"everyone has the right to protest, but this was not a peaceful protest\". He accused protesters of \"wanton violence and cynical destruction\" and \"looting police stations, stealing guns and uniforms\". It accuses the opposition MDC party of using the protests for political means. Presidential spokesman George Charamba said on Sunday: \"The MDC leadership has been consistently pushing out the message that they will use violent street action to overturn the results of [last year's] ballot.\" The opposition rejected a court ruling in August 2018 that confirmed that President Mnangagwa had defeated MDC leader Nelson Chamisa. Mr Charamba warned on Sunday that the security forces' actions were just \"a foretaste of things to come\". However, Mr Mnangagwa struck a different tone on Tuesday, saying that any violence from the security forces will be investigated and punished. Some observers fear that the violence is a sign that the country could be returning to autocratic rule. Mr Chamisa said many of the party's members had been detained including four MPs. The Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions, the umbrella group that called the protests, says its leader Japhet Moyo has also been arrested. Mr Chamisa told the BBC that there was \"no justification whatsoever of having soldiers with live ammunition, with guns, machine guns, AK47 on the streets, beating up citizens\". \"People are being approached in their homes, they are being taken out of their homes with their families even if they are sleeping... a lot of people have been arrested for no apparent reason,\" he said. MDC national chairperson Thabitha Khumalo said that she had gone into hiding after the police and military turned up at her home at night. President Mnangagwa has defended the price rise, saying \"I was aware that these measures may not be popular... but it was the right thing to do.\" The price rise was aimed at tackling shortages caused by an increase in fuel use and \"rampant\" illegal trading, he said. Mr Mnangagwa has been struggling to revive the economy, which is experiencing high inflation while wages have stagnated. It emerged on Monday that South Africa had rejected a request from Zimbabwe for an emergency loan of $1.2bn (PS932m) in December. The government had hoped the cash would help stabilise the economy and resolve fuel shortages in the country.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 421, "answer_end": 877, "text": "Mr Mnangagwa announced a steep increase in the fuel price earlier this month. The price rises were meant to tackle fuel shortages, but mean that Zimbabwe now has the most expensive fuel in the world, according to GlobalPetrolPrices.com. Many Zimbabweans, worn down by years of economic hardship, have suddenly found they cannot even afford the bus fare to work. This has led to angry protests in the capital, Harare, and the south-western city of Bulawayo."}], "question": "How did the protests start?", "id": "167_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 878, "answer_end": 1760, "text": "The Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO forum says at least 12 people were killed and 78 treated for gunshot injuries. The rights group also says that over 240 people have been treated after being assaulted or tortured, while the opposition says government forces have attacked people in their homes. The UN has called on the government to halt the \"excessive use of force\" by security forces, amid reports of door-to-door searches and the use of live ammunition. The government blocked Facebook, Twitter and WhatsApp messaging apps last week, until a high court ordered it to restore access. Mr Mnangagwa, who arrived back in Harare late on Monday night, condemned the demonstrations, saying \"everyone has the right to protest, but this was not a peaceful protest\". He accused protesters of \"wanton violence and cynical destruction\" and \"looting police stations, stealing guns and uniforms\"."}], "question": "How violent were the protests?", "id": "167_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1761, "answer_end": 2538, "text": "It accuses the opposition MDC party of using the protests for political means. Presidential spokesman George Charamba said on Sunday: \"The MDC leadership has been consistently pushing out the message that they will use violent street action to overturn the results of [last year's] ballot.\" The opposition rejected a court ruling in August 2018 that confirmed that President Mnangagwa had defeated MDC leader Nelson Chamisa. Mr Charamba warned on Sunday that the security forces' actions were just \"a foretaste of things to come\". However, Mr Mnangagwa struck a different tone on Tuesday, saying that any violence from the security forces will be investigated and punished. Some observers fear that the violence is a sign that the country could be returning to autocratic rule."}], "question": "Who does the government blame for the violence?", "id": "167_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2539, "answer_end": 3275, "text": "Mr Chamisa said many of the party's members had been detained including four MPs. The Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions, the umbrella group that called the protests, says its leader Japhet Moyo has also been arrested. Mr Chamisa told the BBC that there was \"no justification whatsoever of having soldiers with live ammunition, with guns, machine guns, AK47 on the streets, beating up citizens\". \"People are being approached in their homes, they are being taken out of their homes with their families even if they are sleeping... a lot of people have been arrested for no apparent reason,\" he said. MDC national chairperson Thabitha Khumalo said that she had gone into hiding after the police and military turned up at her home at night."}], "question": "What has the opposition said?", "id": "167_3"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3276, "answer_end": 3903, "text": "President Mnangagwa has defended the price rise, saying \"I was aware that these measures may not be popular... but it was the right thing to do.\" The price rise was aimed at tackling shortages caused by an increase in fuel use and \"rampant\" illegal trading, he said. Mr Mnangagwa has been struggling to revive the economy, which is experiencing high inflation while wages have stagnated. It emerged on Monday that South Africa had rejected a request from Zimbabwe for an emergency loan of $1.2bn (PS932m) in December. The government had hoped the cash would help stabilise the economy and resolve fuel shortages in the country."}], "question": "Why have fuel prices increased?", "id": "167_4"}]}]}, {"title": "Reality Check: Should you care about economic models?", "date": "21 March 2016", "paragraphs": [{"context": "As the EU referendum campaign continues you will be seeing lots of headlines about how much Brexit would cost or benefit the UK economy, or indeed how much staying in will cost the economy. Now, some of these figures will be plucked out of the air, but some of them will be based on serious economic modelling - carried out by folk with brains the size of planets, most likely swimming around in think tanks. Should you believe all of them, some of them or none of them and how do you know which to treasure and which to discard? No, they're a bit more realistic than that. But not much. A lot of people trying to decide whether to vote to leave the European Union or stay in want to know what would happen if the UK left. And the trouble is that we don't know. Honestly we don't. And anyone who tells you they do is lying. Among the key questions to which we don't know the answers are what sort of trade deals the UK would manage to do after leaving, how long they would take to negotiate, how much of the UK's contribution to the EU Budget would be saved, what that saved money would be spent on, whether the regulations that the UK government devised to replace the EU ones were better than the EU ones and what effect all that had on the economy. There are also more subtle effects on the economy that are even harder to measure such as whether a Brexit would create some sort of feelgood factor in the UK economy, or the opposite. Yes it is. Remember the Budget? The Office for Budget Responsibility, which does the forecasts that the government bases its decisions on, made really big changes to the predictions it had made for the economy only about four months before. And that was without a really major event such as leaving the EU to cloud its predictions. Also, that was looking at what will happen in four or five years, while the EU questions has ramifications for decades, during which the global economy could change beyond recognition. The PwC report commissioned by the CBI concluded that the cost of Brexit could be as much as 5% of GDP and 950,000 jobs by 2020, figures heartily disputed by the Leave side. How would they have worked that out? The way it works is that you build a model to predict the future based largely on how particular things happening in the past have affected the economy. For example, your model will be programmed for what effect the pound being weaker or stronger against the euro would have on the economy, or what effect an increase in tariffs on particular exports or imports would have. If you plug in all the right numbers to start with then it might do, but this is where the problems start. Because in order to work the model you have to make some assumptions in order to have the figures to put in. You need to take a view of what trade deals would be done and when, what difference it would make to trade, whether the pound would fall and a whole host of other variables. And the numbers you come out with at the end are enormously sensitive to these assumptions. The margin of error on such forecasts would generally completely dwarf the effects they were trying to identify, if people bothered to try to quantify it. George Box, one of the greatest statisticians of the 20th Century, said: \"All models are wrong, but some are useful.\" While the numbers may be of little value, the direction the models predict and some of the assumptions they make are quite interesting. Friday's report from the Centre for Economic Performance said that leaving would be bad for the economy, predicting falling trade because of rising non-tariff barriers to British goods. How big a hit the economy would take, whether it's the equivalent of PS850 per household in its \"optimistic\" scenario, PS1,700 in its pessimistic one, or between PS4,200 and PS6,400 per household in the long term is less important. That's the tricky question. Look at how well-respected the people conducting the research are. Look at who has commissioned it and who is paying for it. If it's been commissioned by organisations campaigning for one side or the other then you could reasonably be a bit suspicious of its findings. But that's not necessarily a firm rule. A well-funded, independent group can be just as wrong as a biased one. \"People are not necessarily wrong because they're biased any more than they're necessarily right because they're rich,\" says Will Moy, director of the fact-checking organisation Full Fact. Also, be a bit careful with the question of EU funding. Lots of research organisations bid to do some work for the EU and many universities receive some funding from the EU. Almost none can say they have never received any European money, but it doesn't necessarily mean they are in favour of staying in the union. Then have a look at the assumptions they are making, what they are predicting will happen and whether it seems too pessimistic or optimistic. In particular, make sure the organisation is clarifying what assumptions it has made and how the model works. If not, don't believe it. And remember there's also the option to decide that you don't care what even the finest economists predict, or even that you don't think the economic impact is the most important thing about EU membership. READ MORE: The facts behind claims in the EU debate", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1437, "answer_end": 2538, "text": "Yes it is. Remember the Budget? The Office for Budget Responsibility, which does the forecasts that the government bases its decisions on, made really big changes to the predictions it had made for the economy only about four months before. And that was without a really major event such as leaving the EU to cloud its predictions. Also, that was looking at what will happen in four or five years, while the EU questions has ramifications for decades, during which the global economy could change beyond recognition. The PwC report commissioned by the CBI concluded that the cost of Brexit could be as much as 5% of GDP and 950,000 jobs by 2020, figures heartily disputed by the Leave side. How would they have worked that out? The way it works is that you build a model to predict the future based largely on how particular things happening in the past have affected the economy. For example, your model will be programmed for what effect the pound being weaker or stronger against the euro would have on the economy, or what effect an increase in tariffs on particular exports or imports would have."}], "question": "So economic forecasting is a bit tricky then?", "id": "168_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2539, "answer_end": 3175, "text": "If you plug in all the right numbers to start with then it might do, but this is where the problems start. Because in order to work the model you have to make some assumptions in order to have the figures to put in. You need to take a view of what trade deals would be done and when, what difference it would make to trade, whether the pound would fall and a whole host of other variables. And the numbers you come out with at the end are enormously sensitive to these assumptions. The margin of error on such forecasts would generally completely dwarf the effects they were trying to identify, if people bothered to try to quantify it."}], "question": "Does it work?", "id": "168_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3176, "answer_end": 3847, "text": "George Box, one of the greatest statisticians of the 20th Century, said: \"All models are wrong, but some are useful.\" While the numbers may be of little value, the direction the models predict and some of the assumptions they make are quite interesting. Friday's report from the Centre for Economic Performance said that leaving would be bad for the economy, predicting falling trade because of rising non-tariff barriers to British goods. How big a hit the economy would take, whether it's the equivalent of PS850 per household in its \"optimistic\" scenario, PS1,700 in its pessimistic one, or between PS4,200 and PS6,400 per household in the long term is less important."}], "question": "Is it all a big waste of time?", "id": "168_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3848, "answer_end": 5243, "text": "That's the tricky question. Look at how well-respected the people conducting the research are. Look at who has commissioned it and who is paying for it. If it's been commissioned by organisations campaigning for one side or the other then you could reasonably be a bit suspicious of its findings. But that's not necessarily a firm rule. A well-funded, independent group can be just as wrong as a biased one. \"People are not necessarily wrong because they're biased any more than they're necessarily right because they're rich,\" says Will Moy, director of the fact-checking organisation Full Fact. Also, be a bit careful with the question of EU funding. Lots of research organisations bid to do some work for the EU and many universities receive some funding from the EU. Almost none can say they have never received any European money, but it doesn't necessarily mean they are in favour of staying in the union. Then have a look at the assumptions they are making, what they are predicting will happen and whether it seems too pessimistic or optimistic. In particular, make sure the organisation is clarifying what assumptions it has made and how the model works. If not, don't believe it. And remember there's also the option to decide that you don't care what even the finest economists predict, or even that you don't think the economic impact is the most important thing about EU membership."}], "question": "How do we know which reports to take seriously?", "id": "168_3"}]}]}, {"title": "Venezuela crisis: Maduro calls for million more militia members", "date": "14 April 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro has said he wants a million more people to join his civilian militia by the end of the year. The call to expand the militia - which answers directly to Mr Maduro - comes as opposition leader Juan Guaido seeks to persuade the Venezuelan military to abandon the president. So far the military has stayed loyal. US-backed Mr Guaido declared himself acting president on 23 January, saying Mr Maduro's 2018 election was flawed. According to the BBC's Americas regional editor Candace Piette, Mr Maduro's call to increase the militia numbers will be seen as an attempt to shield himself further both politically and physically. The president praised the civilian militia for its readiness to \"defend, with arms in hand, (the) peace, sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence and the life of our homeland\", during a rally in the capital, Caracas. But he also called on the existing two million members to get involved in agriculture, as Venezuela continues to struggle with a spiralling economic crisis which has left people struggling to afford food. \"With your rifles on your shoulders, be ready to defend the fatherland and dig the furrow to plant the seeds to produce food for the community, for the people,\" Mr Maduro told the crowd of militia members. Mr Guaido, meanwhile, called on people to take to the streets to \"start the final phase of the end of the usurpation\". He told an anti-government rally in the capital they needed to redouble efforts to oust Mr Maduro from office. Mr Guaido blames Mr Maduro for the skyrocketing hyperinflation, power cuts and shortages of food and medicine which have crippled the country in recent years. Mr Maduro blames the US. They each claim to be the constitutional president of Venezuela. Shortly after Mr Guaido declared himself interim leader, his assets were frozen and the Supreme Court, dominated by government loyalists, placed a travel ban on him. But the 35-year-old opposition leader defied that ban last month when he toured Latin American countries to garner support. Mr Guaido has continued to call for President Maduro to step aside and has urged the security forces, which have mainly been loyal to the government, to switch sides.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1712, "answer_end": 2233, "text": "They each claim to be the constitutional president of Venezuela. Shortly after Mr Guaido declared himself interim leader, his assets were frozen and the Supreme Court, dominated by government loyalists, placed a travel ban on him. But the 35-year-old opposition leader defied that ban last month when he toured Latin American countries to garner support. Mr Guaido has continued to call for President Maduro to step aside and has urged the security forces, which have mainly been loyal to the government, to switch sides."}], "question": "Why are Maduro and Guaido in conflict?", "id": "169_0"}]}]}, {"title": "France labour: Firms to be fined over gender pay gap", "date": "7 March 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "French companies caught discriminating against women over pay will be given three years to close the gap or face fines under new labour proposals. The government revealed the planned crackdown to unions and employers on Wednesday, giving them a month to iron out details. If passed by parliament, the measure will be rolled out by 2020. Men are still paid on average 9% more than women in France despite equal pay laws going back 45 years. The measure is part of a social reform bill due to be presented to Prime Minister Edouard Philippe's cabinet at the end of next month. \"The crazy thing is that it all exists in law but equality is missing in practice,\" said Mr Philippe. \"Our aim is to pass from fine words to true, genuine equality.\" Special software would be installed on company payroll systems to monitor unjustified pay gaps. Larger firms - those employing at least 250 staff - would get the new software next year while firms employing between 50 and 249 staff would be affected from 2020. The new system would be launched in 2022 and there would be four times the current number of spot checks. Those firms which failed to address unfair pay gaps within three years of a warning could be fined up to 1% of their wage bill. Across the 28 EU member states, the average \"unexplained\" gender pay gap is a little higher than France's at 11.5%, according to Eurostat figures. Neighbouring Belgium has a gap of just 2.5% whereas for women in Lithuania, it is a staggering 24.2%.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 741, "answer_end": 1235, "text": "Special software would be installed on company payroll systems to monitor unjustified pay gaps. Larger firms - those employing at least 250 staff - would get the new software next year while firms employing between 50 and 249 staff would be affected from 2020. The new system would be launched in 2022 and there would be four times the current number of spot checks. Those firms which failed to address unfair pay gaps within three years of a warning could be fined up to 1% of their wage bill."}], "question": "How would the new measure work?", "id": "170_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1236, "answer_end": 1484, "text": "Across the 28 EU member states, the average \"unexplained\" gender pay gap is a little higher than France's at 11.5%, according to Eurostat figures. Neighbouring Belgium has a gap of just 2.5% whereas for women in Lithuania, it is a staggering 24.2%."}], "question": "How do other countries compare?", "id": "170_1"}]}]}, {"title": "US to enlist military allies in Gulf and Yemen waters", "date": "10 July 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "The US says it wants to create an multinational military coalition to safeguard waters around Iran and Yemen. Gen Joseph Dunford, chairman of the US military's Joint Chiefs of Staff, said he wanted to \"ensure freedom of navigation\" in the region, which provides essential trade routes. The US has blamed Iran for attacks on six oil tankers in May and June. Gen Dunford said the US was talking to a number of countries with the \"political will\" to support the plans. The US would provide \"command and control\" ships, leading surveillance efforts, he said. However, the aim would be for other countries to offer boats to establish patrols nearby, and escort commercial ships carrying their flags through the area. Gen Dunford said the US would \"work directly with the militaries to identify the specific capabilities\" each country has to support the initiative. The straits of Hormuz and Bab al-Mandab are strategically important locations, providing access from the Indian Ocean to the Gulf and the Red Sea respectively. About a fifth of oil that is consumed globally passes through the Strait of Hormuz, which connects the Indian Ocean with the Gulf, while oil tankers heading from the the Middle East to Europe via the Red Sea pass must through Bab al-Mandab. Gen Dunford said the size of the initiative depended on the number of countries which decided to take part. \"With a small number of contributors, we can have a small mission,\" he said. \"We'll expand that as the number of nations that are willing to participate identify themselves.\" The US already has a substantial naval presence in the region and participates in several multinational naval taskforces carrying out maritime security, counter-terrorism, anti-piracy operations. The headquarters of the US Navy's 5th Fleet is in Bahrain, and it also has naval facilities in Djibouti and Kuwait. The UK, which also has a naval base in Bahrain, said it was \"continuously monitoring the security situation\" in the region and was \"committed to maintaining freedom of navigation in accordance with international law\". The Royal Navy Frigate HMS Montrose has been positioned to shadow an oil tanker sailing under an Isle of Man flag through the Strait of Hormuz. Meanwhile, Iran's President Hassan Rouhani accused the UK of being \"the initiator of insecurity at sea\" by seizing an Iranian oil tanker that was heading to Syria off Gibraltar last week. General Dunford's comments raise many questions. If the threat from Iran - as the Americans insist - is so pressing then why is it that any operation could still be weeks away? The US seems willing only to provide command and control, along with surveillance. The actual patrolling and escorting of merchant vessels would be done by others. What message of US leadership does this send? How many other countries are contributing? That's still not clear. General Dunford says the operation is \"scaleable\"; its size will depend upon who participates. And what of its scope? The US sees this as a mission that will not only include the Gulf but also waters off Yemen. With tensions mounting in the region, many governments will be wary of getting involved but will have to balance this against the practical need to safeguard their vessels. Some may see this as a US effort to construct something that looks like a naval coalition ranged against Tehran. Last month, the US blamed Iranian forces for attacks on two tankers in the Gulf of Oman, just outside the Strait of Hormuz - an allegation that Iran rejected. It followed an attack on four tankers off the coast of the United Arab Emirates in May. Days after the June attacks, Iranian forces shot down a US surveillance drone they said had violated Iranian airspace over the Strait of Hormuz. The US insisted the drone was flying over international waters. US President Donald Trump called off strikes planned in response after being told that as many as 150 people might be killed. Iran's military has said it would close the Strait of Hormuz if, as President Trump hopes, it becomes unable to export oil due to the sanctions the US has reinstated since pulling out of a landmark nuclear deal with Iran. However, speaking to the BBC, Iran's ambassador to the UN remained defiant. \"We have managed under different situations worse than we have today, and I am sure we can manage again,\" Majid Takht-Ravanchi said. In the past two weeks, Iran has breached two commitments on uranium enrichment in response to the sanctions. Mr Takht-Ravanchi warned that Iran was prepared to take further steps if Europe fails to compensate it for the economic losses it has suffered. Iran has also been accused of providing military support to Yemen's rebel Houthi movement, which has attacked vessels in the Red Sea belonging to a Saudi-led coalition backing the Yemeni government. On Monday, the coalition said it had foiled an attack on a commercial ship using an unmanned boat rigged with explosives in the southern Red Sea, and warned of the threat to international trade. The Houthis denied targeting commercial shipping. May 2018: US President Donald Trump withdraws unilaterally from the 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and six world powers, and begins reinstating sanctions to force Iran to renegotiate the accord. Iran's economy slumps as they take effect. 2 May 2019: Mr Trump steps up pressure on Tehran by ending exemptions from secondary sanctions for countries still buying Iranian oil. 5 May: The US sends an aircraft carrier strike group and B-52 bombers to the Gulf because of \"troubling and escalatory indications\" related to Iran. 8 May: Iranian President Hassan Rouhani says Iran will scale back its commitments under the nuclear deal in retaliation for the sanctions, including by allowing its stockpile of low-enriched uranium to increase. Enriched uranium is used to make reactor fuel and potentially nuclear weapons. 12 May:  Four oil tankers are damaged by explosions off the UAE coast in the Gulf of Oman. The UAE says the blasts were caused by limpet mines planted by a \"state actor\". The US blames Iran, but it denies the allegation. 13 June: Explosions hit two oil tankers in the Gulf of Oman. The US again accuses Iran, releasing footage purportedly showing Iranian forces removing an unexploded limpet mine from a damaged vessel. Iran says the evidence is fabricated. 17 June: Iran says it will breach the limit on its stockpile of enriched uranium set under the nuclear deal on 27 June, unless Europe protects Iranian oil sales. 20 June: Iranian forces shoot down US military drone over the Strait of Hormuz. 4 July: Gibraltar, assisted by British Royal Marines, seizes Iranian oil tanker Grace 1 on suspicion of breaking EU sanctions on trade with Syria", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 3357, "answer_end": 5066, "text": "Last month, the US blamed Iranian forces for attacks on two tankers in the Gulf of Oman, just outside the Strait of Hormuz - an allegation that Iran rejected. It followed an attack on four tankers off the coast of the United Arab Emirates in May. Days after the June attacks, Iranian forces shot down a US surveillance drone they said had violated Iranian airspace over the Strait of Hormuz. The US insisted the drone was flying over international waters. US President Donald Trump called off strikes planned in response after being told that as many as 150 people might be killed. Iran's military has said it would close the Strait of Hormuz if, as President Trump hopes, it becomes unable to export oil due to the sanctions the US has reinstated since pulling out of a landmark nuclear deal with Iran. However, speaking to the BBC, Iran's ambassador to the UN remained defiant. \"We have managed under different situations worse than we have today, and I am sure we can manage again,\" Majid Takht-Ravanchi said. In the past two weeks, Iran has breached two commitments on uranium enrichment in response to the sanctions. Mr Takht-Ravanchi warned that Iran was prepared to take further steps if Europe fails to compensate it for the economic losses it has suffered. Iran has also been accused of providing military support to Yemen's rebel Houthi movement, which has attacked vessels in the Red Sea belonging to a Saudi-led coalition backing the Yemeni government. On Monday, the coalition said it had foiled an attack on a commercial ship using an unmanned boat rigged with explosives in the southern Red Sea, and warned of the threat to international trade. The Houthis denied targeting commercial shipping."}], "question": "Why is the US so concerned about shipping?", "id": "171_0"}]}]}, {"title": "China's 'two sessions': Economics, environment and Xi's power", "date": "5 March 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "China's \"two sessions\" - the annual meetings of the national legislature and the top political advisory body - are opening in Beijing. The meetings are significant markers on the country's carefully choreographed political stage. This year, the parliament is expected to rubberstamp major constitutional changes that will elevate the power of President Xi Jinping. It will also confirm dropping China's two-term presidential limit. That would mean Xi Jinping could stay in power for life, leading China according to his new ideological guidelines, known as \"Xi Jinping Thought\". Here's what will go on during the sessions. The National People's Congress (NPC). That's the legislature or parliament. Think the House of Commons in the UK, or the US House of Representatives. According to the constitution, the NPC is the most powerful state organ - but it's often labelled a \"rubber-stamp\" body by international observers, meaning it will always approve what it's told to approve. This year, the NPC has 2,980 deputies representing China's provinces, autonomous regions, centrally-administered municipalities, the special administrative regions of Hong Kong and Macau, and the armed forces. Among those are 742 women - that's around 25% this time, more than the last NPC - and also 438 ethnic minority deputies. The Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC). That's the most powerful political advisory body. Think House of Lords or the US Senate. The CPPCC is strictly advisory in nature - it does not have any legislative power. The current CPPCC has 2,158 members, including people from entertainment, sports, science, business and non-Communist parties. Referred to as the \"two sessions\" (liang hui), these meetings traditionally last between one and two weeks. This year the CPPCC started on 3 March and the NPC will start on 5 March. The \"two sessions\" have special significance this year as they come after the once-in-five-years Communist Party Congress of October 2017. That congress saw an unprecedented cementing of power for President Xi, elevating him on the same level as the country's inaugural communist leader Mao Zedong. The NPC is expected to: - ratify the inclusion of the president's political philosophy - \"Xi Jinping Thought\" - in the constitution. - confirm China's new government line-up for the next five years, kicking off Xi Jinping's second term as president. - approve the removal of the two-term limit on the presidency, meaning Xi Jinping can stay in office beyond 2023. - ratify a law to set up a new powerful anti-corruption agency. The \"two sessions\" will also look at any plans for economic reform, as well as Mr Xi's other two focus areas: corruption and protecting the environment. Meanwhile, the CPPCC will review past policies of central and local governments and formulate plans for the future. Economic issues will be a key focus as 2018 marks the 40th anniversary of China's reform and opening up policy. Don't expect too many surprises at what some describe as Asia's largest political pantomime. Whatever will be decided or debated usually is pre-determined by the Communist Party. There have been instances, though, where the NPC did raise objections. In 2006 for instance, the government deferred a property tax law after it sparked a debate in the NPC. Commonly referred to as a one party state, China does in fact have several other official parties alongside the Communists. Largely dismissed inside and outside the country as mere democratic window dressing, these parties unanimously support the Communists within the NPC. Chinese state media are giving extensive coverage to the two sessions but you won't find any criticism undermining the two assemblies as mere rubber stamp groups. China Radio International praises the fact the \"long-awaited revamping of state institutions\" will be high on the NPC's agenda. Beijing-based website China Finance Online lists sustainable industrial growth, building on benefits from the Belt and Road initiative and poverty alleviation as the key themes for the meetings. Meanwhile, dissident media such as US-based NTDTV.com report that petitioners from several provinces are heading to Beijing to highlight their grievances. In a tradition dating back to imperial times, each year, petitioners stream into the capital to seek justice by appealing to the country's rulers. During the two sessions, they are usually kept out of the public eye so as to not disrupt the political theatre. But there has been some criticism also within China of the proposal to end the presidency term limit. Li Datong has urged lawmakers to vote against this proposal. \"It [two-term limit on the presidency introduced in the 1982 constitution] was the highest and most effective legal restriction meant to prevent autocracy or putting individuals above the party and the state\", the former editor of state-run China Youth Daily said in an open letter to the legislators. He told the BBC such a move would be \"considered a farce in Chinese history in the future\". Reporting by Tilak Jha, BBC Monitoring. 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_start": 1855, "answer_end": 2962, "text": "The \"two sessions\" have special significance this year as they come after the once-in-five-years Communist Party Congress of October 2017. That congress saw an unprecedented cementing of power for President Xi, elevating him on the same level as the country's inaugural communist leader Mao Zedong. The NPC is expected to: - ratify the inclusion of the president's political philosophy - \"Xi Jinping Thought\" - in the constitution. - confirm China's new government line-up for the next five years, kicking off Xi Jinping's second term as president. - approve the removal of the two-term limit on the presidency, meaning Xi Jinping can stay in office beyond 2023. - ratify a law to set up a new powerful anti-corruption agency. The \"two sessions\" will also look at any plans for economic reform, as well as Mr Xi's other two focus areas: corruption and protecting the environment. Meanwhile, the CPPCC will review past policies of central and local governments and formulate plans for the future. Economic issues will be a key focus as 2018 marks the 40th anniversary of China's reform and opening up policy."}], "question": "What can we expect?", "id": "172_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3590, "answer_end": 5237, "text": "Chinese state media are giving extensive coverage to the two sessions but you won't find any criticism undermining the two assemblies as mere rubber stamp groups. China Radio International praises the fact the \"long-awaited revamping of state institutions\" will be high on the NPC's agenda. Beijing-based website China Finance Online lists sustainable industrial growth, building on benefits from the Belt and Road initiative and poverty alleviation as the key themes for the meetings. Meanwhile, dissident media such as US-based NTDTV.com report that petitioners from several provinces are heading to Beijing to highlight their grievances. In a tradition dating back to imperial times, each year, petitioners stream into the capital to seek justice by appealing to the country's rulers. During the two sessions, they are usually kept out of the public eye so as to not disrupt the political theatre. But there has been some criticism also within China of the proposal to end the presidency term limit. Li Datong has urged lawmakers to vote against this proposal. \"It [two-term limit on the presidency introduced in the 1982 constitution] was the highest and most effective legal restriction meant to prevent autocracy or putting individuals above the party and the state\", the former editor of state-run China Youth Daily said in an open letter to the legislators. He told the BBC such a move would be \"considered a farce in Chinese history in the future\". Reporting by Tilak Jha, BBC Monitoring. 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."}], "question": "How is it viewed in China?", "id": "172_1"}]}]}, {"title": "The unknown Indian woman doctor on Google Doodle", "date": "23 November 2017", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Google surprised Indians on Wednesday, when it published a Google Doodle of Rakhmabai Raut, one of British India's earliest practising women doctors, to commemorate the 153rd anniversary of her birth. This had many in India asking who was Rakhmabai Raut? Before the doodle appeared on screens across the country, India's first female doctor was often recognised as Anandibai Joshi. But while Joshi was the first to study medicine, which she did in the United States, she died at 22 before she could formally practise. Raut became a doctor when modern medicine was in its infancy, which is noteworthy. Even in Britain, which established the first medical college for women in 1874, there weren't many women practising doctors at the time. Her life in India was certainly unusual, as  women were mostly confined to the home at the time, which makes her achievements all the more striking. Raut was born in Mumbai (then Bombay) in 1864. Her mother, a widow, got her married at the tender age of 11. But she never went to live with her husband and continued to stay with her mother. Many found this very unusual, and this is reported to have created a huge scandal at the time. Undeterred, Raut took her husband to court, where the two were engaged in a long legal battle over the status of their marriage. When her husband asked the Bombay High Court for \"restitution of conjugal rights\", she claimed that she couldn't be forced into a marriage that she never consented to because she was so young. Ultimately, the court case resulted in the affirmation of the marriage. But not quite done yet, Raut wrote to Queen Victoria, who overruled the court and dissolved the marriage. The case was extensively followed in Britain, where it attracted press and made appearances in women's magazines. A rather radical turn of events, the publicity from this incident and Raut's petition to dissolve her marriage was a major factor in the enactment of the Age of Consent Act, 1891, which raised the legal age for sex for girls in British India from 10 to 12. Her rebellion against her husband marked Raut as a crusader against child marriage, but it also ostracised her from the larger Indian community around her. It is worth noting that at the time of the court case, it was widely believed that Raut wrote two articles to the Times of India under the pseudonym \"A Hindu Lady\", which were critical of the roles women were forced to play in Indian society. Raut's mother later remarried, and it was Raut's stepfather, a surgeon named Sakharam Arjun, who encouraged her to pursue further education. \"Her stepfather identified her talents and skills early on, challenged societal norms and helped her follow her dreams,\" said Dr Swapna Patker, a clinical psychologist and producer of a forthcoming film based on Raut's life, called Doctor Rakhmabai. Soon after her marriage was dissolved, Raut enrolled at the London School of Medicine for Women in 1889. After graduating in 1894, she was a qualified doctor and returned to India to practise. But the societal stigma that surrounded her when she left was still there. \"Women who knew her and people she had grown up around decided they wouldn't be treated by her,\" said Dr Patker. She quit her first job at the Cama Hospital in Mumbai, which is still open today, and moved to Surat to continue her work. She eventually returned to Mumbai, and retired around 1930, after practising medicine for a total of 35 years. In spite of her many achievements, Raut is a relatively unknown figure in Indian history. Anant Mahadevan, the director of Doctor Rakhmabai, said that he was surprised by how many people had never heard of her. \"This is why we decided to make a film on Rakhmabai's life,\" he told BBC Marathi's Anagha Pathak. \"She was the first Indian rebel. Her whole journey is truly inspiring.\"", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 2444, "answer_end": 3449, "text": "Raut's mother later remarried, and it was Raut's stepfather, a surgeon named Sakharam Arjun, who encouraged her to pursue further education. \"Her stepfather identified her talents and skills early on, challenged societal norms and helped her follow her dreams,\" said Dr Swapna Patker, a clinical psychologist and producer of a forthcoming film based on Raut's life, called Doctor Rakhmabai. Soon after her marriage was dissolved, Raut enrolled at the London School of Medicine for Women in 1889. After graduating in 1894, she was a qualified doctor and returned to India to practise. But the societal stigma that surrounded her when she left was still there. \"Women who knew her and people she had grown up around decided they wouldn't be treated by her,\" said Dr Patker. She quit her first job at the Cama Hospital in Mumbai, which is still open today, and moved to Surat to continue her work. She eventually returned to Mumbai, and retired around 1930, after practising medicine for a total of 35 years."}], "question": "Where did she study medicine?", "id": "173_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Catalonia crisis: Sacked ministers held in Spanish jails", "date": "2 November 2017", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Eight sacked Catalan ministers have been remanded in custody by a Spanish high court judge over the region's push for independence. Prosecutors had asked the judge to detain eight of the nine former regional government members who turned up for questioning in Madrid. They are accused of rebellion, sedition and misuse of public funds. Prosecutors are also seeking a European Arrest Warrant for ousted Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont. The request also covers four other dismissed Catalan ministers who did not show up in court in Madrid as requested, but have been in Belgium since Monday. Spain has been gripped by a constitutional crisis since a referendum on independence from Spain was held in Catalonia on 1 October in defiance of a constitutional court ruling that had declared it illegal. Last week, Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy imposed direct rule on Catalonia, dissolving the regional parliament and calling local elections for 21 December. This came after Catalan lawmakers voted to declare the independence of the affluent north-eastern region. The Catalan government said that of the 43% of potential voters who took part in the referendum, 90% were in favour of independence. Those detained are: - Former Deputy Vice President Oriol Junqueras - Former Interior Minister Joaquim Forn - Former Foreign Affairs Minister Raul Romeva - Former Justice Minister Carles Mundo - Former Labour Minister Dolors Bassa - Former Government Presidency Councillor Jordi Turull - Former Sustainable Development Minister Josep Rull - Former Culture Minister Meritxell Borras A ninth official, ex-Business Minister Santi Vila, was granted bail at the request of prosecutors. He resigned before the Catalan parliament voted for independence last Friday. Catalan political parties and civic groups condemned the judicial move, while thousands of people gathered outside the Catalan regional parliament in Barcelona, demanding that they be freed. In a statement broadcast on Catalan TV from an undisclosed location in Belgium, Mr Puigdemont described the detention of the eight ex-ministers as \"an act that breaks with the basic principles of democracy\". He added: \"I demand the release of the ministers and the vice-president.\" Five other senior members of the Catalan parliament, as well as Speaker Carme Forcadell, are facing the same charges but, because of their parliamentary immunity, their cases are being handled by the Supreme Court. Their hearings have been postponed until 9 November. Mr Puigdemont, who was spotted in a Brussels cafe on Thursday, has said he will not return to Spain unless he and four of his fellow sacked colleagues receive guarantees of a fair trial. He did not specify his exact demands. Belgium's federal prosecutor has said the law will be applied once an arrest warrant is received, according to Efe news agency. Mr Puigdemont's lawyer said the climate was \"not good\" for him to appear in court, but he also said his client would co-operate with the authorities in Spain and Belgium. In addition to Mr Puigdemont, prosecutors have asked Spain's high court judge to issue European arrest warrants for the following Catalan officials: - Meritxell Serret, former agriculture minister - Antoni Comin, former health minister - Lluis Puig, former culture minister - Clara Ponsati, former education minister If Spain's high court judge issues a warrant, a European Arrest Warrant (EAW) will be sent to Belgian prosecutors, who have 24 hours to decide whether the paperwork is correct. If they do, they then have 15 days to arrest Mr Puigdemont and the four others. If one or all of them appeals against it, that process could last another 15 days. Belgium has a maximum of 60 days to return the suspects to Spain after arrest. But if the suspects do not raise legal objections, a transfer could happen within a few days. A country can reject an EU arrest warrant if it fears that extradition would violate the suspect's human rights. Discrimination based on politics, religion or race is grounds for refusal. So are fears that the suspect would not get a fair trial. There is an agreed EU list of 32 offences - in Article Two of the EAW law - for which there is no requirement for the offence to be a crime in both countries. In other words, any of those offences can be a justification for extradition, provided the penalty is at least three years in jail. However, neither \"sedition\" nor \"rebellion\" - two of the Spanish accusations against the Catalan leaders - are on that list. Mr Puigdemont's handling of the crisis has drawn criticism among some other Catalan politicians, with left-wing parliamentary deputy Joan Josep Nuet criticising him for creating \"yet more bewilderment\". Spain's central bank warned on Thursday of the \"significant risks and economic costs\" resulting from the crisis, and that Catalonia's economy could fall into recession. Early numbers suggest that the vital tourism sector of the region has already been affected by the ongoing uncertainty.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 3338, "answer_end": 4512, "text": "If Spain's high court judge issues a warrant, a European Arrest Warrant (EAW) will be sent to Belgian prosecutors, who have 24 hours to decide whether the paperwork is correct. If they do, they then have 15 days to arrest Mr Puigdemont and the four others. If one or all of them appeals against it, that process could last another 15 days. Belgium has a maximum of 60 days to return the suspects to Spain after arrest. But if the suspects do not raise legal objections, a transfer could happen within a few days. A country can reject an EU arrest warrant if it fears that extradition would violate the suspect's human rights. Discrimination based on politics, religion or race is grounds for refusal. So are fears that the suspect would not get a fair trial. There is an agreed EU list of 32 offences - in Article Two of the EAW law - for which there is no requirement for the offence to be a crime in both countries. In other words, any of those offences can be a justification for extradition, provided the penalty is at least three years in jail. However, neither \"sedition\" nor \"rebellion\" - two of the Spanish accusations against the Catalan leaders - are on that list."}], "question": "EU arrest warrant: What happens next?", "id": "174_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Thomas Cook holidaymakers and crew 'trapped' in Cuba", "date": "25 September 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Several Thomas Cook holidaymakers and crew in Cuba have said they are being prevented from leaving their hotels until they pay extra for their stay. One holidaymaker, Sue Petrow, said she was due to fly home on Wednesday, but her hotel told her she may be held at the airport unless she pays her bill. Cabin crew from Thomas Cook said they were effectively being \"held hostage\". The British Ambassador to Cuba said hotels had now been instructed to allow customers to depart without paying. Dr Antony Stokes said on Twitter: \"Very grateful for patience of all affected in distressing circumstances.\" Holidaymakers like Sue may have paid for their rooms and meals months in advance, but hotels would normally only receive the money from Thomas Cook several weeks after their stay. Reports suggested there was a widespread problem in Cuba over whether the industry insurance fund Atol, which covers payments in the event of a firm failing, was recognised in the country. The fund covers bills for rooms and food that have been run up since Thomas Cook's collapse on Monday morning. However, bills run up at hotels before Thomas Cook's collapse will not be covered. Affected hoteliers will have to apply to the liquidators for their money. Sue Petrow said her hotel had said Atol was not recognised in Cuba, but she and other holidaymakers had refused to pay. \"I'd already had to pay a large medical bill while here for my husband. My husband is diabetic. He has had three heart attacks. He only has medication until Saturday. We will carry him on to a plane if we have to.\" If you are on a package holiday, you are covered by the Atol scheme. - The scheme will pay for your accommodation abroad, although you may have to move to a different hotel or apartment - Atol will also pay to have you brought home if the airline is no longer operating - If you have a holiday booked in the future, you will also be refunded by the scheme - If you have booked a flight-only deal, you will need to apply to your travel insurance company or credit card and debit card provider to seek a refund What are your rights? Read more here. Meanwhile, in another Cuban hotel, Thomas Cook cabin crew said they were effectively being \"held hostage\" by their hotel. \"There are security guards at the hotel the crew are at to prevent them from leaving. They haven't even been guaranteed rooms for tonight, so it could be a case of sleeping on the reception floor,\" a colleague of the staff affected told the BBC. She urged action to get the staff home, saying \"they've already been through more than enough\". Another holidaymaker, Shaun Woods, said his flight was due to depart on Wednesday, but the hotel said it would not let them get on the bus to the airport until they paid. \"They say they have wages to pay and we have been using their rooms and eating their food. It's getting very worrying now.\" Mr Woods said around 30 Thomas Cook customers at his hotel had been affected. A UK government spokesperson said it and the Civil Aviation Authority \"were working around the clock to support all those affected\". \"The government have deployed teams on the ground to support those affected, and are in contact with local authorities and hotels,\" they added. On Monday, the CAA started repatriating British holidaymakers who were abroad at the time that Thomas Cook collapsed. Dame Deirdre Hutton, CAA chairwoman, described Monday as \"a pretty good day for a first day\". She told BBC 5 Live's Wake Up to Money: \"We ran 64 flights, we brought back just under 15,000 people. That was over 90% of those we intended to bring back.\" There will be more than 1,000 flights between now and Sunday 6 October to repatriate the remaining 135,300 holidaymakers, with 74 of those, returning around 17,000 people, scheduled for Tuesday. The CAA has set up a dedicated website to keep Thomas Cook customers updated with the latest advice and news. It is running a call centre and Twitter feed with open direct messages to respond to holidaymakers 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The call centre can be reached on 0300-303-2800 inside the UK and +44 1753-330330 from abroad.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1572, "answer_end": 2118, "text": "If you are on a package holiday, you are covered by the Atol scheme. - The scheme will pay for your accommodation abroad, although you may have to move to a different hotel or apartment - Atol will also pay to have you brought home if the airline is no longer operating - If you have a holiday booked in the future, you will also be refunded by the scheme - If you have booked a flight-only deal, you will need to apply to your travel insurance company or credit card and debit card provider to seek a refund What are your rights? Read more here."}], "question": "How are customers protected?", "id": "175_0"}]}]}, {"title": "North Korea missiles: US warships deployed to Korean peninsula", "date": "9 April 2017", "paragraphs": [{"context": "The US military has ordered a navy strike group to move towards the Korean peninsula, amid growing concerns about North Korea's missile programme. The Carl Vinson Strike Group comprises an aircraft carrier and other warships. US Pacific Command described the deployment - now heading towards the western Pacific - as a prudent measure to maintain readiness in the region. President Trump has said the US is prepared to act alone to deal with the nuclear threat from North Korea. \"The number one threat in the region continues to be North Korea, due to its reckless, irresponsible and destabilising programme of missile tests and pursuit of a nuclear weapons capability,\" US Pacific Command spokesman Dave Benham said. The strike group comprises the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson, two guided-missile destroyers and a guided-missile cruiser. As well as massive striking power, the carrier group - headed by Admiral Nora Tyson - has the capability to intercept ballistic missiles. It was originally due to make port calls in Australia but instead has been diverted from Singapore to the west Pacific - where it recently conducted exercises with the South Korean Navy. North Korea's missiles North Korea has carried out several nuclear tests and experts predict more could be in the offing as it moves closer towards developing a nuclear warhead that could reach the US. There have been indications from North Korea that it may test an intercontinental missile, even though it is banned from any tests under UN resolutions (restrictions it has consistently ignored). On Wednesday, it test-fired a medium-range ballistic missile from its eastern port of Sinpo into the Sea of Japan. That test came a month after four ballistic missiles were fired towards the Sea of Japan, moves that provoked a furious reaction by Japan. On its part, North Korea says it is provoked by military exercises between the US and South Korea, which it sees as preparation for an invasion. Syria North Korea has also been closely watching how US President Donald Trump has been responding in Syria. Early on Friday, the US military launched air strikes against the Syrian government, in retaliation for a reported chemical attack. North Korea called it an \"intolerable act of aggression against a sovereign state\", and said the strike showed it was justified in bolstering its own defences. The most recent test - condemned by Japan and South Korea - came on the eve of a visit by China's President Xi Jinping to the US to meet President Trump. The two leaders discussed how to rein in North Korea's nuclear and missile programmes as the US steps up the pressure on China, a historic ally of Pyongyang, to help reduce tension. China has, however, been reluctant to isolate its neighbour and ally, fearing its collapse could spawn a refugee crisis and bring the US military to its doorstep. China has long been North Korea's closest diplomatic ally and trading partner, but the relationship has become increasingly strained over Pyongyang's refusal to halt nuclear and missile testing. Mr Trump said in a recent interview that Washington was ready to act without Beijing's co-operation: \"If China is not going to solve North Korea, we will.\" The US Treasury recently slapped sanctions on 11 North Korean business representatives and one company, while US politicians overwhelmingly backed a bill relisting the North as a state sponsor of terror. North Korea responded by warning that it will retaliate if the international community steps up sanctions, saying the US was forcing the situation \"to the brink of war\".", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 718, "answer_end": 1180, "text": "The strike group comprises the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson, two guided-missile destroyers and a guided-missile cruiser. As well as massive striking power, the carrier group - headed by Admiral Nora Tyson - has the capability to intercept ballistic missiles. It was originally due to make port calls in Australia but instead has been diverted from Singapore to the west Pacific - where it recently conducted exercises with the South Korean Navy."}], "question": "What is being deployed?", "id": "176_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1181, "answer_end": 2378, "text": "North Korea's missiles North Korea has carried out several nuclear tests and experts predict more could be in the offing as it moves closer towards developing a nuclear warhead that could reach the US. There have been indications from North Korea that it may test an intercontinental missile, even though it is banned from any tests under UN resolutions (restrictions it has consistently ignored). On Wednesday, it test-fired a medium-range ballistic missile from its eastern port of Sinpo into the Sea of Japan. That test came a month after four ballistic missiles were fired towards the Sea of Japan, moves that provoked a furious reaction by Japan. On its part, North Korea says it is provoked by military exercises between the US and South Korea, which it sees as preparation for an invasion. Syria North Korea has also been closely watching how US President Donald Trump has been responding in Syria. Early on Friday, the US military launched air strikes against the Syrian government, in retaliation for a reported chemical attack. North Korea called it an \"intolerable act of aggression against a sovereign state\", and said the strike showed it was justified in bolstering its own defences."}], "question": "What is the context?", "id": "176_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2379, "answer_end": 3602, "text": "The most recent test - condemned by Japan and South Korea - came on the eve of a visit by China's President Xi Jinping to the US to meet President Trump. The two leaders discussed how to rein in North Korea's nuclear and missile programmes as the US steps up the pressure on China, a historic ally of Pyongyang, to help reduce tension. China has, however, been reluctant to isolate its neighbour and ally, fearing its collapse could spawn a refugee crisis and bring the US military to its doorstep. China has long been North Korea's closest diplomatic ally and trading partner, but the relationship has become increasingly strained over Pyongyang's refusal to halt nuclear and missile testing. Mr Trump said in a recent interview that Washington was ready to act without Beijing's co-operation: \"If China is not going to solve North Korea, we will.\" The US Treasury recently slapped sanctions on 11 North Korean business representatives and one company, while US politicians overwhelmingly backed a bill relisting the North as a state sponsor of terror. North Korea responded by warning that it will retaliate if the international community steps up sanctions, saying the US was forcing the situation \"to the brink of war\"."}], "question": "What are the moves behind the scenes?", "id": "176_2"}]}]}, {"title": "Bloodhound supersonic car hits financial roadblock", "date": "15 October 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "The project to race a car at over 1,000mph has run into a financial roadblock with the company behind the venture going into administration. The Bloodhound supersonic vehicle is all but built but needs a PS25m investment if it is to break records on a dried-out lakebed in South Africa. The administrators, FRP Advisory LLP, have already begun to talk to potential suitors and want to hear from others. But without the funds the project faces being wound up in the coming weeks. Bloodhound is, by any measure, the most sophisticated land speed record car ever conceived. To be powered by a Rolls-Royce Eurofighter jet engine bolted to a rocket, it should easily smash the existing world mark of 763mph (1,228km/h). And computer simulations indicate it ought to be capable of going much, much faster still. But although all the R&D is done, with the car even conducting some low-speed trials - the project simply cannot now move forward into its end phase unless the necessary funding is in place. \"This is the situation,\" explained Andrew Sheridan from FRP Advisory LLP's Bristol office. \"We have a legal entity that has gone into administration because it hasn't got any more cash. But there is a project there that is very much alive and on the cusp of delivering its goal, which is ground-breaking with leading technology. \"However, it does need circa PS25m to get it over the line, and that now requires an investor, be that a wealthy individual or a corporate of some kind,\" he told BBC News. Bloodhound is a private undertaking. It is funded through donation, sponsorship and partnership. Bloodhound has excelled at leveraging all three, but ultimately this funding model has not delivered sufficient cash to fully sustain such a complex venture. The last two-to-three years have been an especially tough environment in which to raise financial support. The investment landscape is difficult, in part because of Brexit uncertainty, but principally because many large brands that might once have put their name on the side of a car to build awareness are now using other marketing tools, such as social media. By going into administration, Bloodhound Programme Ltd, the company behind Project Bloodhound, gets some breathing space to allow it to find a solution. The main structure of the vehicle is built, and last October Bloodhound conducted shakedown runs, topping 200mph (320km/h) on the runway at Newquay airport in Cornwall. The track on which it intends to break the land speed record is also ready to host the car. The Northern Cape Government in South Africa has had an 18km-long, 1,500m-wide section of Hakskeen Pan cleared of stones. And, significantly, the one major element in the technical package that was outstanding has just demonstrated its readiness. This is the rocket that would go in the back of Bloodhound to push it through the sound barrier. Developed by the Norwegian aerospace and defence company Nammo, it was launched to space for the first time at the end of September. The Nucleus rocket flew to an altitude of 107km from the Andoya Space Center. Bloodhound would use a cluster of three Nucleus motors in addition to the Eurofighter EJ200 jet. \"Once we have the funding in place, or at least visibility of that funding, and the team is back in the building, then 10 months later we're out in South Africa,\" said Mark Chapman, Bloodhound's chief engineer. \"We're that close. This is a huge opportunity for global exposure. Nammo firing that motor was really important, really impressive.\" If the PS25m becomes available, Bloodhound could start running on Hakskeen Pan towards the end of 2019, when the lakebed has evaporated the seasonal rains and the ground has become bone dry. The current plan is to run the car in the first instance in the region of 500-600mph (800-965km/h), using just the Eurofighter jet, to get a better sense of how the car behaves as it approaches the speed of sound. The team would then wait for another rain season to pass before returning to Hakskeen with the addition of a Nammo motor to raise the land speed record above 800mph, and then ultimately to over 1,000mph. So, that would probably mean running in 2020 and again in 2021. Bloodhound was launched in 2008 as a \"vehicle\" to get children excited about science and engineering, and to persuade them of the benefits of entering technical careers. This STEM campaign was one of the reasons big engineering firms got involved because they saw the project as a means to promote their apprenticeship schemes. To date, this \"education adventure\" has reached over two million children, including 120,000 schoolchildren in the UK each year. The education side of things is unaffected by Monday's news because it is organised as a charity; it has separate sources of income. The current world land speed record was set in 1997 by the Thrust Super Sonic Car. The UK team behind it was led by Bloodhound's Project Director, Richard Noble. Thrust's driver, Andy Green, is also the pilot for Bloodhound. Jonathan.Amos-INTERNET@bbc.co.uk and follow me on Twitter: @BBCAmos", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1498, "answer_end": 2267, "text": "Bloodhound is a private undertaking. It is funded through donation, sponsorship and partnership. Bloodhound has excelled at leveraging all three, but ultimately this funding model has not delivered sufficient cash to fully sustain such a complex venture. The last two-to-three years have been an especially tough environment in which to raise financial support. The investment landscape is difficult, in part because of Brexit uncertainty, but principally because many large brands that might once have put their name on the side of a car to build awareness are now using other marketing tools, such as social media. By going into administration, Bloodhound Programme Ltd, the company behind Project Bloodhound, gets some breathing space to allow it to find a solution."}], "question": "Why is Bloodhound in financial difficulty?", "id": "177_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2268, "answer_end": 3524, "text": "The main structure of the vehicle is built, and last October Bloodhound conducted shakedown runs, topping 200mph (320km/h) on the runway at Newquay airport in Cornwall. The track on which it intends to break the land speed record is also ready to host the car. The Northern Cape Government in South Africa has had an 18km-long, 1,500m-wide section of Hakskeen Pan cleared of stones. And, significantly, the one major element in the technical package that was outstanding has just demonstrated its readiness. This is the rocket that would go in the back of Bloodhound to push it through the sound barrier. Developed by the Norwegian aerospace and defence company Nammo, it was launched to space for the first time at the end of September. The Nucleus rocket flew to an altitude of 107km from the Andoya Space Center. Bloodhound would use a cluster of three Nucleus motors in addition to the Eurofighter EJ200 jet. \"Once we have the funding in place, or at least visibility of that funding, and the team is back in the building, then 10 months later we're out in South Africa,\" said Mark Chapman, Bloodhound's chief engineer. \"We're that close. This is a huge opportunity for global exposure. Nammo firing that motor was really important, really impressive.\""}], "question": "How ready is Bloodhound to go racing?", "id": "177_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3525, "answer_end": 4197, "text": "If the PS25m becomes available, Bloodhound could start running on Hakskeen Pan towards the end of 2019, when the lakebed has evaporated the seasonal rains and the ground has become bone dry. The current plan is to run the car in the first instance in the region of 500-600mph (800-965km/h), using just the Eurofighter jet, to get a better sense of how the car behaves as it approaches the speed of sound. The team would then wait for another rain season to pass before returning to Hakskeen with the addition of a Nammo motor to raise the land speed record above 800mph, and then ultimately to over 1,000mph. So, that would probably mean running in 2020 and again in 2021."}], "question": "How soon could record attempts start?", "id": "177_2"}]}]}, {"title": "Thailand's 'red villages' eye Bangkok protests", "date": "19 December 2013", "paragraphs": [{"context": "The village of Nhong Huu Ling is an unremarkable rural community in north-eastern Thailand. There are fields of vegetables, growing in the sandy soil, and clusters of fruit trees shading the houses. Yet Nhong Huu Ling, just south-west of Udon Thani, now calls itself a \"red village\", as do thousands of others in the region, which is the heartland of support for the governing Pheu Thai party of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra. The declaration is little more than a symbolic statement of allegiance to the wider so-called red shirt movement that loosely incorporates the government's mass support base. Villagers get together to share ideas on practical issues, like supporting small businesses or controlling illegal drug use. They also discuss politics. And these days, there is a lot to discuss. On the day I visited the village head's house - with a giant-sized poster of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra in ceremonial robes covering one wall - there was a heated discussion about the comments being made by the anti-government protest movement in Bangkok, in particular the call for the entire Shinawatra family to be forced to leave the country - a call that at one point had reduced Ms Yingluck to tears. The villagers were outraged by this, and were considering all changing their names to Shinawatra in solidarity. They were also feeling aggrieved by the common refrain among the protesters that the people of Isaan, as the north-east is known, are too uneducated to know what they are voting for. \"Well, I know they have more education than me,\" said one old woman, who told me she had left school at the age of 10. \"But at least I understand what democracy is. Those people in Bangkok, who have been to university or studied overseas, how come they don't understand democracy?\" Throughout the recent crisis in Bangkok, the red shirts have been almost invisible. That is partly because their leaders did not want to risk a confrontation with the protest movement which might prompt military intervention, and partly because their own movement has become factionalised and hard to mobilise from across rural Thailand. People in the north-east repeatedly expressed frustration that they had to stay put, and watch the Bangkok protesters trying to overthrow the government they elected. The loudest complaint I heard was about the allegation that the red shirts had been bought by the governing party. They were insulted by the notion that a few banknotes handed out during election time could induce them to give years of unwavering loyalty to Thaksin Shinawatra, and now his sister, Ms Yingluck. But what about the more sophisticated allegation that they had been bought by populist policies? At a rice mill in Udon Thani, farmers had started queuing from the early hours of the morning to sell their harvest. It's an annual ritual that begins with their trucks being weighed, samples of rice taken to assess moisture content, and then the sacks are opened, and the rice poured onto the growing mountains of grain stored at the mill. In the past, they could never be sure what price they would get. Today, they are guaranteed a very generous price by the government. \"It means we have money left over to spend,\" farmer Daoruang Sinthuwapee told me. \"We have enough to school our children, and more for the family. We never had this kind of help before.\" But there was some uncertainty over when the farmers would be paid. The Bank of Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives, which makes the payments, has been unable to raise enough funds on the bond market this year to cover the huge cost of the scheme. In other parts of Thailand, farmers have started protesting over late payments. The benefits of the rice scheme may ensure most farmers in the north-east vote for the governing party in the February election. But many economists expect the scheme to collapse, because the massive rice stocks cannot be sold on the international market for the price the government paid. It could backfire badly on the prime minister. Her decision to raise the minimum wage is also popular with workers. But not with factory owner Pornthep Saksujarit. He employs 400 people at his plant, making sensors and other electronic components for cars and cameras. It is the kind of investment that is helping the north-east move away from dependence on agriculture. He told me the sudden rise in the minimum wage, to 300 Baht ($9; PS6) a day, squeezed his margins to the point where he has had to stop workers from doing overtime. \"We would like help from the government, with infrastructure, or cutting taxes or the price of utilities,\" he said. \"But next time they want to raise the minimum wage, please do it gradually.\" The verdict on Prime Minister Yingluck's populist policies will certainly be a lot harsher than on her brother's, from his time in office, which are still widely praised, even by his opponents, and are the ones most often cited by his supporters to explain their loyalty; the low-cost healthcare scheme, and the micro-credit Village Fund. Plern Thienyim is a passionate red shirt supporter, but she wasn't always. \"Until Thaksin came along, we always voted for the Democrat party,\" she told me. \"Even when Thaksin was campaigning for the first time and making all these promises, we didn't believe him.\" She was working in a textile factory at the time. Then she borrowed from the Village Fund to start a small tailoring business, which she has gradually expanded. No other prime minister had ever given her an opportunity like that, she said. So in April 2010 she and her brother Wasan joined the red shirt protests in Bangkok, against the then-Democrat government. Wasan was killed by a shot to the head in the first armed clashes with the army. She is bitter about what she sees as the different treatment given to protesters from her side, and those now in Bangkok, and the attempts to depose the government she voted for. That sense of injustice is driving even sceptical red shirts to stand by their party, and put aside the reservations some of them have about the continuing influence of Thaksin Shinawatra, and some of the government's policies. \"We won't accept another coup, like in the old days,\" said Khamsaen Chaithep, wife of the village chief in Nhong Huu Ling. \"We will fight to keep the government we elected.\" \"And if the military tries a coup again, we are ready to come out, to die for democracy.\"", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 2617, "answer_end": 4727, "text": "But what about the more sophisticated allegation that they had been bought by populist policies? At a rice mill in Udon Thani, farmers had started queuing from the early hours of the morning to sell their harvest. It's an annual ritual that begins with their trucks being weighed, samples of rice taken to assess moisture content, and then the sacks are opened, and the rice poured onto the growing mountains of grain stored at the mill. In the past, they could never be sure what price they would get. Today, they are guaranteed a very generous price by the government. \"It means we have money left over to spend,\" farmer Daoruang Sinthuwapee told me. \"We have enough to school our children, and more for the family. We never had this kind of help before.\" But there was some uncertainty over when the farmers would be paid. The Bank of Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives, which makes the payments, has been unable to raise enough funds on the bond market this year to cover the huge cost of the scheme. In other parts of Thailand, farmers have started protesting over late payments. The benefits of the rice scheme may ensure most farmers in the north-east vote for the governing party in the February election. But many economists expect the scheme to collapse, because the massive rice stocks cannot be sold on the international market for the price the government paid. It could backfire badly on the prime minister. Her decision to raise the minimum wage is also popular with workers. But not with factory owner Pornthep Saksujarit. He employs 400 people at his plant, making sensors and other electronic components for cars and cameras. It is the kind of investment that is helping the north-east move away from dependence on agriculture. He told me the sudden rise in the minimum wage, to 300 Baht ($9; PS6) a day, squeezed his margins to the point where he has had to stop workers from doing overtime. \"We would like help from the government, with infrastructure, or cutting taxes or the price of utilities,\" he said. \"But next time they want to raise the minimum wage, please do it gradually.\""}], "question": "Unprecedented help?", "id": "178_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Xi Jinping 'most powerful Chinese leader since Mao Zedong'", "date": "24 October 2017", "paragraphs": [{"context": "China's ruling Communist Party has voted to enshrine Xi Jinping's name and ideology in its constitution, elevating him to the level of founder Mao Zedong. The unanimous vote to incorporate \"Xi Jinping Thought\" happened at the end of the Communist Party congress, China's most important political meeting. Mr Xi has steadily increased his grip on power since becoming leader in 2012. This move means that any challenge to Mr Xi will now be seen as a threat to Communist Party rule. More than 2,000 delegates gathered in Beijing's Great Hall of the People for the final approval process to enshrine \"Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for the New Era\" into the Communist Party constitution of China. At the end of the process, delegates were asked if they had any objections, to which they responded with loud cries of \"none\", reported journalists at the scene. Previous Chinese Communist Party leaders have had their ideologies incorporated into the party's constitution or thinking, but none, besides founder Mao Zedong, have had their philosophy described as \"thought\", which is at the top of the ideological hierarchy. Only Mao and Deng Xiaoping have had their names attached to their ideologies - and Deng's name was only added to the constitution after his death. By Carrie Gracie, BBC China editor, Beijing China's new slogan hardly trips off the tongue. But schoolchildren, college students and staff at state factories will now have to join 90 million Communist Party members in studying \"Xi Jinping Thought\" on the new era of socialism with Chinese characteristics. The expression \"new era\" is the party's way of saying this is the third chapter of modern China. If the first was Chairman Mao uniting a country devastated by civil war, and the second was getting rich under Deng Xiaoping, this new era is about even more unity and wealth at the same time as making China disciplined at home and strong abroad. Enshrining all of this under Xi Jinping's name in the party constitution means rivals cannot now challenge China's strongman without threatening Communist Party rule. At first glance, \"Xi Jinping Thought\" may seem like vague rhetoric, but it describes the communist ideals Mr Xi has continuously espoused throughout his rule. Its 14 main principles emphasise the Communist Party's role in governing every aspect of the country, and also include: - A call for \"complete and deep reform\" and \"new developing ideas\" - A promise of \"harmonious living between man and nature\" - this is a call for improved environmental conservation, and could refer to the stated aim to have the bulk of China's energy needs supplied by renewables - An emphasis on \"absolute authority of the party over the people's army\" - which comes amid what analysts call the largest turnover of senior military officials in modern Chinese history - An emphasis on the importance of \"'one country two systems\" and reunification with the motherland - a clear reference to Hong Kong and Taiwan More than 2,000 delegates have spent the week-long congress confirming picks for provincial party chiefs, governors and heads of some state-owned enterprises. On Tuesday, they finalised the make-up of top bodies such as the Central Committee and the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection. Last week a top official claimed high-ranking Communist Party members had plotted to seize power from President Xi, in suggestions of a behind-the-scenes power struggle. The alleged plotters have all been arrested or jailed as part of a corruption crackdown, seen by some as a way for Mr Xi to eliminate political opponents. On Wednesday, the new Central Committee will decide who gets to be in the higher-level Politburo. Though delegates get some say, in reality the elections are guided by the party's top leadership where at each stage voters pick from pre-selected candidates. Also on Wednesday, the party will reveal the new members of its pinnacle body, the Politburo Standing Committee. Mr Xi is widely expected to remain as party leader, while prominent Xi ally and anti-corruption chief Wang Qishan has stepped down and will not be in the next formation of the committee. Those in the Standing Committee will be especially scrutinised. Analysts say its make-up may give signs of how long Mr Xi plans to stay on at the top of the party - he is expected to remain at the helm until at least 2022 - or any possible successors. Mr Xi's term ruling China has been marked by significant development, a push for modernisation and increasing assertiveness on the world stage. However, it has also seen growing authoritarianism, censorship and a crackdown on human rights.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 3003, "answer_end": 3623, "text": "More than 2,000 delegates have spent the week-long congress confirming picks for provincial party chiefs, governors and heads of some state-owned enterprises. On Tuesday, they finalised the make-up of top bodies such as the Central Committee and the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection. Last week a top official claimed high-ranking Communist Party members had plotted to seize power from President Xi, in suggestions of a behind-the-scenes power struggle. The alleged plotters have all been arrested or jailed as part of a corruption crackdown, seen by some as a way for Mr Xi to eliminate political opponents."}], "question": "What else has been happening?", "id": "179_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3624, "answer_end": 4672, "text": "On Wednesday, the new Central Committee will decide who gets to be in the higher-level Politburo. Though delegates get some say, in reality the elections are guided by the party's top leadership where at each stage voters pick from pre-selected candidates. Also on Wednesday, the party will reveal the new members of its pinnacle body, the Politburo Standing Committee. Mr Xi is widely expected to remain as party leader, while prominent Xi ally and anti-corruption chief Wang Qishan has stepped down and will not be in the next formation of the committee. Those in the Standing Committee will be especially scrutinised. Analysts say its make-up may give signs of how long Mr Xi plans to stay on at the top of the party - he is expected to remain at the helm until at least 2022 - or any possible successors. Mr Xi's term ruling China has been marked by significant development, a push for modernisation and increasing assertiveness on the world stage. However, it has also seen growing authoritarianism, censorship and a crackdown on human rights."}], "question": "What happens next?", "id": "179_1"}]}]}, {"title": "Neymar rape accuser appears in Brazil TV interview", "date": "6 June 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "A woman has appeared on Brazilian TV to go public with accusations that she was raped by star footballer Neymar. Najila Trindade, who filed a rape allegation last Friday, told SBT Brasil the incident in a Paris hotel on 15 May was \"an assault together with rape\". Neymar has denied the accusations, posting a WhatsApp message exchange to try to prove his innocence. He appeared briefly to play for Brazil on Wednesday in a game he said was the most difficult of his career. Neymar was injured after 20 minutes of the match against Qatar in Brasilia and will miss the upcoming 2019 Copa America tournament in Brazil with a ruptured ankle ligament. Ms Trindade says she was attracted to the Paris St-Germain and Brazil forward and wanted to have sex with him. She said she was flown to Paris and put up in a hotel at Neymar's expense. Ms Trindade said she was an \"ordinary person - a model and a student of interior design\" and a \"daughter and mother\". The interviewer asked Ms Trindade whether what happened was an assault or rape, and Ms Trindade replied that it was \"an assault together with rape\". She said that when she met Neymar, he was \"aggressive, totally different than the boy that I got to know through the messages\". Ms Trindade said she was initially prepared for consensual sex but demanded the use of a condom. She alleged that Neymar refused, became aggressive again and raped her. She said she told him to stop but he refused. SBT published part of the interview on Twitter (in Portuguese). The video footage shows an altercation purported to be between Ms Trindade and Neymar in a hotel room, reportedly filmed by Ms Trindade. The pair lie down on a bed, after which the woman stands and starts to slap the man, who defends himself with his feet. The woman says: \"I'm going to hit you, you know why. Because you beat me up yesterday\", suggesting the altercation was a second meeting. Neymar has said that he and Ms Trindade met twice. In the SBT interview, Ms Trindade said she only began to understand everything that had happened to her after the first meeting ended, and that she returned because she wanted to prove the events and \"wanted justice\". The video was shown on the Brazilian channel TV Record. Neymar has not commented so far on the TV interview. His father, Neymar dos Santos, was interviewed by TV Record about the hotel room footage and he said it was clearly a set-up that proved his son was innocent. In an earlier statement, Neymar's management called the accusations \"unjust\" and said the footballer had been the \"victim of an attempted extortion\". Neymar repeated the extortion accusation in a seven-minute video on his Instagram page. Speaking in Portuguese, the footballer said: \"What happened that day was a relationship between a man and a woman, within four walls, like with any couple. And the next day nothing much happened. We kept exchanging messages. She asked me for a souvenir for [her child].\" During the video, the 27-year-old showed what he claimed were a long series of WhatsApp messages with Ms Trindade, including intimate photographs of her. He said he had to make them public to \"prove that nothing really happened\". In her interview, Ms Trindade denied accusations of extortion, saying: \"I want justice, not financial compensation.\" Brazil's President Jair Bolsonaro visited Neymar in hospital after the footballer's injury on Wednesday, wishing him \"a good and speedy recovery\". Mr Bolsonaro said earlier: \"He is in a difficult moment, but I believe in him.\" Meanwhile. Mastercard announced that it would suspend an advertising campaign featuring Neymar. The firm said it would not use the footballer in its adverts until the situation was \"cleared up\" The lawyers who first represented Ms Trindade say her initial complaint was of \"aggression\" or \"physical violence\" by Neymar. They said they had discussed a settlement with Neymar's lawyers but that those lawyers then rejected it. The two legal teams dispute who initially asked for the meeting. Ms Trindade then filed a rape allegation in Sao Paulo last Friday. Her lawyers said the allegation was \"incompatible with the strategy\" they had agreed, and they parted company with her on Saturday. She now has new representation. In her interview, Ms Trindade said of a lawyer in her first legal team: \"He didn't fully believe me. I felt he was prejudiced. He portrayed it as if I'd not been raped, that I had wanted it.\" Neymar could also face investigation over publishing the images of Ms Trindade without her permission, as the act may infringe laws designed to protect privacy.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 647, "answer_end": 1506, "text": "Ms Trindade says she was attracted to the Paris St-Germain and Brazil forward and wanted to have sex with him. She said she was flown to Paris and put up in a hotel at Neymar's expense. Ms Trindade said she was an \"ordinary person - a model and a student of interior design\" and a \"daughter and mother\". The interviewer asked Ms Trindade whether what happened was an assault or rape, and Ms Trindade replied that it was \"an assault together with rape\". She said that when she met Neymar, he was \"aggressive, totally different than the boy that I got to know through the messages\". Ms Trindade said she was initially prepared for consensual sex but demanded the use of a condom. She alleged that Neymar refused, became aggressive again and raped her. She said she told him to stop but he refused. SBT published part of the interview on Twitter (in Portuguese)."}], "question": "What was said in the TV interview?", "id": "180_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1507, "answer_end": 2225, "text": "The video footage shows an altercation purported to be between Ms Trindade and Neymar in a hotel room, reportedly filmed by Ms Trindade. The pair lie down on a bed, after which the woman stands and starts to slap the man, who defends himself with his feet. The woman says: \"I'm going to hit you, you know why. Because you beat me up yesterday\", suggesting the altercation was a second meeting. Neymar has said that he and Ms Trindade met twice. In the SBT interview, Ms Trindade said she only began to understand everything that had happened to her after the first meeting ended, and that she returned because she wanted to prove the events and \"wanted justice\". The video was shown on the Brazilian channel TV Record."}], "question": "Video has surfaced. What does it show?", "id": "180_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2226, "answer_end": 3714, "text": "Neymar has not commented so far on the TV interview. His father, Neymar dos Santos, was interviewed by TV Record about the hotel room footage and he said it was clearly a set-up that proved his son was innocent. In an earlier statement, Neymar's management called the accusations \"unjust\" and said the footballer had been the \"victim of an attempted extortion\". Neymar repeated the extortion accusation in a seven-minute video on his Instagram page. Speaking in Portuguese, the footballer said: \"What happened that day was a relationship between a man and a woman, within four walls, like with any couple. And the next day nothing much happened. We kept exchanging messages. She asked me for a souvenir for [her child].\" During the video, the 27-year-old showed what he claimed were a long series of WhatsApp messages with Ms Trindade, including intimate photographs of her. He said he had to make them public to \"prove that nothing really happened\". In her interview, Ms Trindade denied accusations of extortion, saying: \"I want justice, not financial compensation.\" Brazil's President Jair Bolsonaro visited Neymar in hospital after the footballer's injury on Wednesday, wishing him \"a good and speedy recovery\". Mr Bolsonaro said earlier: \"He is in a difficult moment, but I believe in him.\" Meanwhile. Mastercard announced that it would suspend an advertising campaign featuring Neymar. The firm said it would not use the footballer in its adverts until the situation was \"cleared up\""}], "question": "What has Neymar said?", "id": "180_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3715, "answer_end": 4594, "text": "The lawyers who first represented Ms Trindade say her initial complaint was of \"aggression\" or \"physical violence\" by Neymar. They said they had discussed a settlement with Neymar's lawyers but that those lawyers then rejected it. The two legal teams dispute who initially asked for the meeting. Ms Trindade then filed a rape allegation in Sao Paulo last Friday. Her lawyers said the allegation was \"incompatible with the strategy\" they had agreed, and they parted company with her on Saturday. She now has new representation. In her interview, Ms Trindade said of a lawyer in her first legal team: \"He didn't fully believe me. I felt he was prejudiced. He portrayed it as if I'd not been raped, that I had wanted it.\" Neymar could also face investigation over publishing the images of Ms Trindade without her permission, as the act may infringe laws designed to protect privacy."}], "question": "What's the legal situation?", "id": "180_3"}]}]}, {"title": "Kemerovo fire: Russia crowd condemns officials over disaster", "date": "27 March 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Thousands of people have protested in the Siberian city of Kemerovo, angry at Russian officials over the leisure complex fire that killed at least 64 people, 41 of them children. President Vladimir Putin arrived in Kemerovo earlier and blamed \"criminal negligence\" for Sunday's blaze. Relatives say dozens of people - including children - are still missing. Investigators say the fire alarm was switched off and exits blocked. Four people have been charged. Another detained suspect - a guard from a private security firm - will be charged shortly, Russia's Investigative Committee says. A national day of mourning will be observed on Wednesday. Several thousand people rallied outside the local government headquarters, saying that officials must be sacked over the fire safety shortcomings. There were also some chants of \"Putin resign!\" A woman in the crowd drew applause when she said \"children called their parents, asked them for help, asked for the fire brigades to be sent in\". Many demonstrators said they did not trust the authorities and did not believe the announced death toll was accurate. Officials were booed when they urged the crowd to disperse, after the protest had already lasted seven hours, Russia's RIA news agency reported. Regional Deputy Governor Sergei Tsivilev then got down on his knees to beg forgiveness, and was applauded by the crowd. President Putin expressed indignation over the disaster - though he did not speak to the crowd. \"People, children came to relax. We are talking about demography and are losing so many people because of what? Because of criminal negligence, sloppiness,\" he said. Russian investigators have so far confirmed the deaths of 64 people, 21 of whom have been identified. Some of the bodies were badly burned in the Zimnyaya Vishnya (Winter Cherry) complex, and DNA tests will be required, the Investigative Committee says. It says it is too early to publish the victims' list, \"to avoid any mistakes\". Meanwhile, relatives of the victims say that another 67 people are missing - in contrast to Kemerovo's authorities, which have published a list of 38 people missing. This added to the confusion, angering the public. Officials are still investigating this. The blaze started on an upper floor of the complex at about 17:00 local time (10:00 GMT) on Sunday. It was packed at the time as it was the beginning of the school holiday. Senior regional official Vladimir Chernov was quoted as saying the fire probably began in the children's trampoline room on the top floor of the four-storey building. \"The preliminary suspicion is that a child had a cigarette lighter which ignited foam rubber in this trampoline room, and it erupted like gunpowder,\" he said. However, Rossiya 24 TV, a national broadcaster, said an electrical fault was the most likely cause - as in most previous deadly fires in Russia. Investigative Committee head Aleksander Bastrykin said the fire alarm at the complex had been down since 19 March, and nobody even tried to fix it. He also said that the working public alert button was not activated by one of the guards \"for unknown reasons\". Mr Bastrykin said investigators had found that many doors on the fourth floor were blocked. Three cinema halls and youth rooms were located on that floor. He said the investigators believed this was done to prevent people without tickets from entering the cinema halls. Kemerovo lies about 3,600km (2,200 miles) east of Moscow. The shopping centre, covering 23,000 sq m (248,000 sq ft), opened in 2013. It includes a petting zoo, all of whose animals are reported to have died. At the scene: Sergei Goryashko and Elizaveta Fokht, BBC Russian Kemerovo residents' anger has built up since Sunday and it burst forth at the rally of several thousand outside the city's administration building. The main slogans were \"Truth!\" and \"Resign!\" - directed at local officials. The most active among them was Igor Vostrikov, whose wife, sister and three children - aged two, five and seven - all died in the fire. Deputy governor Tsivilev accused him of trying to gain publicity out of the tragedy. Igor's reply was that his entire family had suffocated in the cinema, unable to escape because the doors were locked. Fighting back tears, he described his wife's last moments, when she phoned him, short of breath. \"There was no panic - she was saying goodbye.\" \"I have nothing more to lose,\" he said. Dozens of people vowed to stay on the square until governor Aman Tuleyev resigns.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 646, "answer_end": 1630, "text": "Several thousand people rallied outside the local government headquarters, saying that officials must be sacked over the fire safety shortcomings. There were also some chants of \"Putin resign!\" A woman in the crowd drew applause when she said \"children called their parents, asked them for help, asked for the fire brigades to be sent in\". Many demonstrators said they did not trust the authorities and did not believe the announced death toll was accurate. Officials were booed when they urged the crowd to disperse, after the protest had already lasted seven hours, Russia's RIA news agency reported. Regional Deputy Governor Sergei Tsivilev then got down on his knees to beg forgiveness, and was applauded by the crowd. President Putin expressed indignation over the disaster - though he did not speak to the crowd. \"People, children came to relax. We are talking about demography and are losing so many people because of what? Because of criminal negligence, sloppiness,\" he said."}], "question": "What did protesters demand?", "id": "181_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1631, "answer_end": 2179, "text": "Russian investigators have so far confirmed the deaths of 64 people, 21 of whom have been identified. Some of the bodies were badly burned in the Zimnyaya Vishnya (Winter Cherry) complex, and DNA tests will be required, the Investigative Committee says. It says it is too early to publish the victims' list, \"to avoid any mistakes\". Meanwhile, relatives of the victims say that another 67 people are missing - in contrast to Kemerovo's authorities, which have published a list of 38 people missing. This added to the confusion, angering the public."}], "question": "What's the latest on the victims and the missing?", "id": "181_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2180, "answer_end": 3601, "text": "Officials are still investigating this. The blaze started on an upper floor of the complex at about 17:00 local time (10:00 GMT) on Sunday. It was packed at the time as it was the beginning of the school holiday. Senior regional official Vladimir Chernov was quoted as saying the fire probably began in the children's trampoline room on the top floor of the four-storey building. \"The preliminary suspicion is that a child had a cigarette lighter which ignited foam rubber in this trampoline room, and it erupted like gunpowder,\" he said. However, Rossiya 24 TV, a national broadcaster, said an electrical fault was the most likely cause - as in most previous deadly fires in Russia. Investigative Committee head Aleksander Bastrykin said the fire alarm at the complex had been down since 19 March, and nobody even tried to fix it. He also said that the working public alert button was not activated by one of the guards \"for unknown reasons\". Mr Bastrykin said investigators had found that many doors on the fourth floor were blocked. Three cinema halls and youth rooms were located on that floor. He said the investigators believed this was done to prevent people without tickets from entering the cinema halls. Kemerovo lies about 3,600km (2,200 miles) east of Moscow. The shopping centre, covering 23,000 sq m (248,000 sq ft), opened in 2013. It includes a petting zoo, all of whose animals are reported to have died."}], "question": "What caused the fire?", "id": "181_2"}]}]}, {"title": "India election 2019: The debunked fake news that keeps coming back", "date": "19 April 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "The largest democratic exercise in history is under way to decide who will govern India for the next five years - but there are serious concerns about the extent of false information circulating online. In the lead-up to the vote, there have been vigorous efforts by fact-checking organisations and social media platforms to debunk misleading information or misrepresentation. These efforts are a first step, but it's clear that false information is still being spread. Reality Check looks at some of the misleading rumours that have persisted during this election campaign. A false story that has been widely shared on social media claims Sonia Gandhi, the Italian-born leader of the main opposition Congress party, is richer than the Queen. But the story was debunked six years ago. In a country where income inequality is a highly emotive issue, inaccurate stories about levels of personal wealth, particularly of politicians, can be highly damaging to reputations. The story has its origins in newspaper articles dating back to 2012. And the Huffington Post published a rich list of world leaders that included Sonia Gandhi in 2013, but later removed her name after the amount they said she was worth was called into question. Mrs Gandhi declared assets worth 90 million rupees (around PS1m) during the last elections in 2014. Estimates of the Queen's wealth are far higher. But the story has still been widely shared during this election campaign, including by a spokesman for the ruling BJP. Separately, Mrs Gandhi has also been the target of posts that claim to show her as a young woman in photographs in glamorous settings, with comments questioning her moral standards. But the photographs being shared are of famous Hollywood actresses and are nothing to do with Mrs Gandhi. Another widely shared story concerns the educational qualifications of the current prime minister. The son of a tea-seller in Gujarat state, Narendra Modi makes much of his modest upbringing and it plays well with many of his supporters. He says he succeeded in completing undergraduate and postgraduate degrees. A video in circulation, however, apparently featured Mr Modi saying he hadn't studied beyond high school (10th grade). It has been shared by Congress supporters. But the video is just one part of an old interview in which Mr Modi makes clear his higher education qualifications were attained through external exams after leaving formal schooling. The shorter, misleading video clip, despite having its context clarified, is still circulating on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. The spreading of fake opinion surveys and non-existent awards are particular favourites on social media. There was a story doing the rounds for quite a while that the UN's Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (Unesco) had named Mr Modi as the world's best prime minister. It was patently false as Unesco does not have such an award. However, the story has persisted and has been back in circulation during the election campaign. In a similar vein, the BBC has falsely been named as the source of surveys declaring Congress the fourth most corrupt political party in the world. The BBC has also been used in fake stories spreading on social media suggesting it has predicted a win for the BJP. Yet other fake posts suggest the BBC predicts that Congress are leading in the polls. The BBC has made it clear that it does not conduct election surveys in India. Plenty of false information about voting procedures can also spread during election campaigns. In India every voter is required to dip a finger in purple dye so they can't vote more than once. One false rumour that has resurfaced this month claims that prosthetic fingers are being used to allow people to vote multiple times. The idea here, presumably, is that you'd dip the fake finger in the ink, then return to vote again using your own real finger, or perhaps another fake finger. Although some social media organisations have begun to devote resources to tackling viral fake news, it is an immense task. The flow of information in private networks cannot really be controlled despite efforts by social media platforms, says Professor Usha Rodrigues, from Melbourne's Deakin University, who studies social media and Indian politics. For those inclined to believe a story, \"they may not believe the information is false even after it's been debunked\", she says. \"And the social media machinery of political parties may continue to insert the false information in their distribution of various messages for political gain.\" Messages tend to be shared within trusted circles with algorithms only encouraging confirmation biases, says Kanchan Kaur, an India assessor for the International Fact-Checking Network. Users tend to share videos in particular \"because seeing is believing\", according to Shalini Narayan, co-author of India Connected: Mapping the Impact of New Media. Online searches may prioritise fact-checked results, but Ms Rodrigues says the debunked details might not reach the private networks where false information is shared. Here are all of Reality Check's stories so far: Farmers and rural India: Kitchen clean-up, Toilets, Farm loan waivers, River Ganges, Farmers' income The economy: Inflation, Demonetisation, Manufacturing, Space exploration Society and security: Are women safer?, India's internal security Transport and infrastructure: Bullet train, Roads, Broadband, Housing, Smart Cities, Electricity, Airports Read more from Reality Check Send us your questions Follow us on Twitter", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 3445, "answer_end": 3930, "text": "Plenty of false information about voting procedures can also spread during election campaigns. In India every voter is required to dip a finger in purple dye so they can't vote more than once. One false rumour that has resurfaced this month claims that prosthetic fingers are being used to allow people to vote multiple times. The idea here, presumably, is that you'd dip the fake finger in the ink, then return to vote again using your own real finger, or perhaps another fake finger."}], "question": "Fake fingers?", "id": "182_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3931, "answer_end": 5090, "text": "Although some social media organisations have begun to devote resources to tackling viral fake news, it is an immense task. The flow of information in private networks cannot really be controlled despite efforts by social media platforms, says Professor Usha Rodrigues, from Melbourne's Deakin University, who studies social media and Indian politics. For those inclined to believe a story, \"they may not believe the information is false even after it's been debunked\", she says. \"And the social media machinery of political parties may continue to insert the false information in their distribution of various messages for political gain.\" Messages tend to be shared within trusted circles with algorithms only encouraging confirmation biases, says Kanchan Kaur, an India assessor for the International Fact-Checking Network. Users tend to share videos in particular \"because seeing is believing\", according to Shalini Narayan, co-author of India Connected: Mapping the Impact of New Media. Online searches may prioritise fact-checked results, but Ms Rodrigues says the debunked details might not reach the private networks where false information is shared."}], "question": "How can the fake news problem be tackled?", "id": "182_1"}]}]}, {"title": "Breast cancer: Menopausal hormone therapy risks 'bigger than thought'", "date": "30 August 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "The increased risk of breast cancer from menopausal hormone therapy lasts more than a decade after treatment stops, a major report suggests. The researchers at the University of Oxford say the results mean the risk of breast cancer is double what women are currently being told. They estimate a million cases of breast cancer may have been caused by the therapy in the West since the 1990s. Charities said the drugs should be used for the shortest time necessary. The menopause is when women's periods stop and they can no longer become pregnant naturally. In the UK, the average age to reach the menopause is 51. There is a marked fall in two hormones in the body - oestrogen and progesterone - which can have profound effects throughout the body. It can result in hot flushes, night sweats, mood swings, vaginal dryness and reduced sex drive. Menopausal hormone therapy (MHT) essentially replaces the missing hormones to alleviate menopausal symptoms. It is commonly referred to as HRT (hormone replacement therapy), although this also includes other therapies such as thyroid hormones, growth hormones or testosterone which are not part of this study. MHT comes in different forms such as tablets, gels, patches or vaginal creams. It can be made up of different hormones - some are just oestrogen, others include progestagen (synthetic hormones that simulate progesterone). However, all drugs have side-effects and in this case that includes an increased risk of cancer. The study calculated six in every 100 women not taking menopausal hormone therapy would develop breast cancer between the ages of 50 and 69. If they took oestrogen and progestagen every day for five years, eight of the women would develop breast cancer. So out of every 50 people taking the combined therapy, one would develop breast cancer as a result of the drugs. There are other types of hormone replacement therapy and each of those showed an increased risk too. Taking intermittent hormone therapy (daily oestrogen, but progestagen for around half the monthly cycle) led to one extra case of breast cancer in every 70 people. And just taking oestrogen caused an extra case in every 200 women. However, taking oestrogen alone increases the risk of womb cancer and is normally used only after a hysterectomy. The risk of breast cancer from menopausal hormone therapy is already well known. It is in the official guidance on the use of these drugs and does form part of the conversation between patient and doctor when balancing the risks and benefits. What is new is showing the increased risk of breast cancer lasts more than a decade and the impact that has. \"Previous estimates of risks associated with use of menopausal hormone therapy are approximately doubled by the inclusion of the persistent risk after use of the hormones ceases,\" said Prof Valerie Beral from the University of Oxford. She also said the study showed menopausal hormone therapy at any age increased breast cancer risk. \"There was a myth going round if started before age 50 there was no risk, but that's really not true. This is a myth you'll find really quite widespread,\" Prof Beral said. Yes. The study, published in the Lancet, showed nearly all types of therapy (pills, gels, patches) increased the risk of breast cancer. Oestrogen therapies applied in the vagina - such as creams or a pessary - did not increase the risk. With these methods the therapeutic hormones do not reach the bloodstream and circulate around the body. It means they do not provide all of the benefits of menopausal hormone therapy, but do not have all the risks either. Deciding whether to use menopausal hormone therapy involved balancing the risks and the benefits before this report was published and the same is true now. \"We don't want to alarm women, but we don't want to give them false reassurance,\" Prof Gillian Reeves, from the University of Oxford told the BBC. She added: \"What we would hope is women use this information to make a much more informed decision about whether they want to start taking HRT or continue taking HRT.\" The Royal College of GPs, in the UK, urged patients \"not to panic\" and continue with their prescription. If patients are concerned, it recommends discussing their hormone therapy at their \"next routine appointment\". Baroness Delyth Morgan, the chief executive at Breast Cancer Care and Breast Cancer Now, said: \"On balance, many women will feel HRT to be a necessity, as it can be really effective in helping them control debilitating menopausal symptoms such as hot flushes. \"In order to minimise the risk of breast cancer, it is normally recommended that the lowest effective dose is used for the shortest possible time.\" Louise Rivers, 51 from Bracknell in Berkshire, started having symptoms of the menopause three years ago. She says she \"lost her brain\" and was struggling at work, her joints ached, she was not sleeping well and she starting getting migraines. Louise says starting menopausal hormone therapy last year was a difficult decision, but the right one. \"I definitely feel as if my concentration levels are back where they were a few years ago,\" she told the BBC. \"I feel a lot more confident working. I still have some bad days, get some migraines, but overall I feel much better taking it than I did before.\" She says the latest analysis was \"concerning\" but \"I'm not going to panic\". Hormone therapy has given her a good quality of life and she plans to discuss the issue at her next appointment with her consultant. These figures from Cancer Research UK have not been updated in light of the new analysis. However, they provide some context: - 2% of breast cancer cases in the UK are caused by post-menopausal hormones. - 8% of breast cancer cases in the UK are caused by overweight and obesity. - 8% of breast cancer cases in the UK are caused by alcohol drinking. - 5% of breast cancer cases in the UK are caused by not breastfeeding. The Oxford University researchers calculated that one million out of the 20 million breast cancers in western countries since 1990 may have been caused by menopausal hormone therapy. Around 12 million people use menopausal hormone therapy in Western countries - about six million are in North America and another six million in Europe, including one million in the UK. The researchers did not perform any new studies themselves. Instead they analysed data from 58 studies, all around the world, that involved more than 108,000 women who went on to develop breast cancer.. Stephen Evans, a professor of pharmacoepidemiology at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), said: \"This is a 'tour de force' in what has been done and the way it has been done - the findings cannot be dismissed.\" Kevin McConway, an emeritus professor of applied statistics at the Open University described the analysis as \"a very careful, thorough, excellent piece of research\". Follow James on Twitter.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 464, "answer_end": 1473, "text": "The menopause is when women's periods stop and they can no longer become pregnant naturally. In the UK, the average age to reach the menopause is 51. There is a marked fall in two hormones in the body - oestrogen and progesterone - which can have profound effects throughout the body. It can result in hot flushes, night sweats, mood swings, vaginal dryness and reduced sex drive. Menopausal hormone therapy (MHT) essentially replaces the missing hormones to alleviate menopausal symptoms. It is commonly referred to as HRT (hormone replacement therapy), although this also includes other therapies such as thyroid hormones, growth hormones or testosterone which are not part of this study. MHT comes in different forms such as tablets, gels, patches or vaginal creams. It can be made up of different hormones - some are just oestrogen, others include progestagen (synthetic hormones that simulate progesterone). However, all drugs have side-effects and in this case that includes an increased risk of cancer."}], "question": "What is menopausal hormone therapy?", "id": "183_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1474, "answer_end": 2286, "text": "The study calculated six in every 100 women not taking menopausal hormone therapy would develop breast cancer between the ages of 50 and 69. If they took oestrogen and progestagen every day for five years, eight of the women would develop breast cancer. So out of every 50 people taking the combined therapy, one would develop breast cancer as a result of the drugs. There are other types of hormone replacement therapy and each of those showed an increased risk too. Taking intermittent hormone therapy (daily oestrogen, but progestagen for around half the monthly cycle) led to one extra case of breast cancer in every 70 people. And just taking oestrogen caused an extra case in every 200 women. However, taking oestrogen alone increases the risk of womb cancer and is normally used only after a hysterectomy."}], "question": "How big is the risk?", "id": "183_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2287, "answer_end": 3144, "text": "The risk of breast cancer from menopausal hormone therapy is already well known. It is in the official guidance on the use of these drugs and does form part of the conversation between patient and doctor when balancing the risks and benefits. What is new is showing the increased risk of breast cancer lasts more than a decade and the impact that has. \"Previous estimates of risks associated with use of menopausal hormone therapy are approximately doubled by the inclusion of the persistent risk after use of the hormones ceases,\" said Prof Valerie Beral from the University of Oxford. She also said the study showed menopausal hormone therapy at any age increased breast cancer risk. \"There was a myth going round if started before age 50 there was no risk, but that's really not true. This is a myth you'll find really quite widespread,\" Prof Beral said."}], "question": "How much of this is new?", "id": "183_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3145, "answer_end": 3603, "text": "Yes. The study, published in the Lancet, showed nearly all types of therapy (pills, gels, patches) increased the risk of breast cancer. Oestrogen therapies applied in the vagina - such as creams or a pessary - did not increase the risk. With these methods the therapeutic hormones do not reach the bloodstream and circulate around the body. It means they do not provide all of the benefits of menopausal hormone therapy, but do not have all the risks either."}], "question": "Does it matter how I take menopausal hormone therapy?", "id": "183_3"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3604, "answer_end": 4698, "text": "Deciding whether to use menopausal hormone therapy involved balancing the risks and the benefits before this report was published and the same is true now. \"We don't want to alarm women, but we don't want to give them false reassurance,\" Prof Gillian Reeves, from the University of Oxford told the BBC. She added: \"What we would hope is women use this information to make a much more informed decision about whether they want to start taking HRT or continue taking HRT.\" The Royal College of GPs, in the UK, urged patients \"not to panic\" and continue with their prescription. If patients are concerned, it recommends discussing their hormone therapy at their \"next routine appointment\". Baroness Delyth Morgan, the chief executive at Breast Cancer Care and Breast Cancer Now, said: \"On balance, many women will feel HRT to be a necessity, as it can be really effective in helping them control debilitating menopausal symptoms such as hot flushes. \"In order to minimise the risk of breast cancer, it is normally recommended that the lowest effective dose is used for the shortest possible time.\""}], "question": "What should people do?", "id": "183_4"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 4699, "answer_end": 5510, "text": "Louise Rivers, 51 from Bracknell in Berkshire, started having symptoms of the menopause three years ago. She says she \"lost her brain\" and was struggling at work, her joints ached, she was not sleeping well and she starting getting migraines. Louise says starting menopausal hormone therapy last year was a difficult decision, but the right one. \"I definitely feel as if my concentration levels are back where they were a few years ago,\" she told the BBC. \"I feel a lot more confident working. I still have some bad days, get some migraines, but overall I feel much better taking it than I did before.\" She says the latest analysis was \"concerning\" but \"I'm not going to panic\". Hormone therapy has given her a good quality of life and she plans to discuss the issue at her next appointment with her consultant."}], "question": "What do patients think?", "id": "183_5"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 5511, "answer_end": 6300, "text": "These figures from Cancer Research UK have not been updated in light of the new analysis. However, they provide some context: - 2% of breast cancer cases in the UK are caused by post-menopausal hormones. - 8% of breast cancer cases in the UK are caused by overweight and obesity. - 8% of breast cancer cases in the UK are caused by alcohol drinking. - 5% of breast cancer cases in the UK are caused by not breastfeeding. The Oxford University researchers calculated that one million out of the 20 million breast cancers in western countries since 1990 may have been caused by menopausal hormone therapy. Around 12 million people use menopausal hormone therapy in Western countries - about six million are in North America and another six million in Europe, including one million in the UK."}], "question": "How does the hormone risk compare?", "id": "183_6"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 6301, "answer_end": 6929, "text": "The researchers did not perform any new studies themselves. Instead they analysed data from 58 studies, all around the world, that involved more than 108,000 women who went on to develop breast cancer.. Stephen Evans, a professor of pharmacoepidemiology at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), said: \"This is a 'tour de force' in what has been done and the way it has been done - the findings cannot be dismissed.\" Kevin McConway, an emeritus professor of applied statistics at the Open University described the analysis as \"a very careful, thorough, excellent piece of research\". Follow James on Twitter."}], "question": "How certain are the findings?", "id": "183_7"}]}]}, {"title": "Weedkiller glyphosate 'doesn't cause cancer' - Bayer", "date": "11 August 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Pharmaceutical group Bayer has dismissed claims that an ingredient used in weed killers is carcinogenic. The German company, which owns agriculture giant Monsanto, says herbicides containing glyphosate are safe. On Friday, Monsanto was ordered to pay $289m (PS226m) damages to a man who claimed the products caused his cancer. A Californian jury said Monsanto should have warned users about the dangers of its Roundup and RangerPro weedkillers. Bayer completed its $66bn takeover of Monsanto in June. A Bayer spokesperson told the BBC the two companies operate independently. In a statement the company said: \"Bayer is confident, based on the strength of the science, the conclusions of regulators around the world and decades of experience, that glyphosate is safe for use and does not cause cancer when used according to the label.\" The landmark lawsuit was the first to go to trial alleging a glyphosate link to cancer. The claimant, groundsman Dewayne Johnson, was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in 2014. His lawyers said he regularly used a form of RangerPro while working at a school in Benicia, California. He is among more than 5,000 similar plaintiffs across the US. Glyphosate is the world's most common weedkiller. The California ruling could lead to hundreds of other claims against Monsanto. The company said it intends to appeal against the verdict. Glyphosate was introduced by Monsanto in 1974, but its patent expired in 2000, and now the chemical is sold by various manufacturers. In the US, more than 750 products contain it. In 2015, the International Agency for Research on Cancer, the World Health Organisation's cancer agency, concluded that glyphosate was \"probably carcinogenic to humans\". However, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) insists it is safe when used carefully. The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) also says glyphosate is unlikely to cause cancer in humans. Last November 2017 EU countries voted to renew the licence of glyphosate despite campaigns against it. BBC North American correspondent James Cook reported that in California - where a judge recently ruled that coffee must carry a cancer warning - the agriculture industry sued to prevent such a label for glyphosate, even though  the state lists it as a chemical known to cause cancer. Jurors found on Friday that Monsanto had acted with \"malice\" and that its weed killers contributed \"substantially\" to Mr Johnson's terminal illness. Following an eight-week trial, the jury ordered the company to pay $250m in punitive damages together with other costs that brought the total figure to almost $290m. Mr Johnson's lawyer, Brent Wisner, said the jury's verdict showed that the evidence against the product was \"overwhelming\". \"When you are right, it is really easy to win,\" he said. \"The jury got it wrong,\" vice-president Scott Partridge said outside the courthouse in San Francisco. In a written statement, the company said it was \"sympathetic to Mr Johnson and his family\" but it would \"continue to vigorously defend this product, which has a 40-year history of safe use\". \"Today's decision does not change the fact that more than 800 scientific studies and reviews - and conclusions by the US Environmental Protection Agency, the US National Institutes of Health and regulatory authorities around the world - support the fact that glyphosate does not cause cancer, and did not cause Mr Johnson's cancer,\" it added.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1371, "answer_end": 2303, "text": "Glyphosate was introduced by Monsanto in 1974, but its patent expired in 2000, and now the chemical is sold by various manufacturers. In the US, more than 750 products contain it. In 2015, the International Agency for Research on Cancer, the World Health Organisation's cancer agency, concluded that glyphosate was \"probably carcinogenic to humans\". However, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) insists it is safe when used carefully. The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) also says glyphosate is unlikely to cause cancer in humans. Last November 2017 EU countries voted to renew the licence of glyphosate despite campaigns against it. BBC North American correspondent James Cook reported that in California - where a judge recently ruled that coffee must carry a cancer warning - the agriculture industry sued to prevent such a label for glyphosate, even though  the state lists it as a chemical known to cause cancer."}], "question": "What is glyphosate and is it dangerous?", "id": "184_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Spain 'wolf pack' gang jailed for San Fermin sex attack", "date": "26 April 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "A Spanish court has jailed five men for sexually abusing a young woman during the famous San Fermin bull-running festival but acquitted them of rape. All five were sentenced to nine years in prison for their part in the attack, which they filmed, during the festival in Pamplona in July 2016. The 18-year-old victim's ordeal caused a national outcry, and protests continued outside the court. Both the woman and the defendants say they will appeal against the verdict. \"It's rape, not abuse,\" demonstrators said outside the court. Rallies have been called in Madrid, Barcelona, Seville, Alicante and more than a dozen other cities across Spain against the verdict and in support of the victim. The five, in their late 20s and originally from Seville, and the victim, from Madrid, were not present when the judgement was read out after a five-month trial, which was held behind closed doors to protect the woman's identity. Under Spanish law, the charge of sexual abuse differs from rape in that it does not involve violence or intimidation. But senior politicians and human rights groups questioned whether a prolonged sexual assault involving intercourse by five men could be anything but intimidation or rape. The men, who have been in custody since 2016, have also been ordered to pay the woman EUR50,000 ($61,000; PS43,500) in compensation. Prosecutors had asked for sentences of more than 20 years. However, one judge had argued that the men should have been acquitted of all charges except stealing the victim's phone. Videos of the late-night encounter between the men and the young woman showed how the five men had wandered the streets among other drunken revellers before two of them led her into a basement by the hand. According to a police report, the men - who belonged to a WhatsApp group called La manada (wolf pack) - surrounded the woman in a small alcove, removed her clothes and had unprotected sex. Some of them filmed the sexual act on their phones - there were seven videos, totalling 96 seconds. One of the men posted messages in a WhatsApp group celebrating what they had done and promising to share the recording. According to the police report, the victim maintained a \"passive or neutral\" attitude throughout the scene, keeping her eyes closed at all times. Her phone was then stolen. She was found in a reportedly distraught state by a couple in the street outside the scene of the attack. She told the trial she was still having psychological treatment to deal with trauma. Some of the men were found to be in a video in which they apparently abused another woman, who seemed to be unconscious. By James Badcock, Madrid The \"wolf pack\" case has been Spain's #MeToo over the past two years, with thousands of supporters of the victim uniting under the slogan Yo te creo (I believe you). The shocking nature of the group abuse, the youth of the victim and the obnoxious celebratory messages about their \"conquest\" on their WhatsApp chat combined to make the case fertile fodder for black-and-white public opinion. That the two majority verdict judges have chosen to see shades of grey by not interpreting the criminals' acts as violent or intimidatory will fuel indignant criticism from feminist groups. Several leading left-wing politicians have already questioned the verdict. The apparent certainty of an appeal hearing means the debate over whether the law protects women will continue. - Jose Angel Prenda, 28: considered the leader of the five, wrote a message in the WhatsApp group about the video showing them having sex with the woman. He had been sentenced to two years in prison in 2011 for theft with force - Antonio Manuel Guerrero: a Civil Guard police officer, born in 1989, is thought to have recorded six videos. He also admitted to stealing the victim's phone - Angel Boza, 26: his criminal records include theft with force and driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs - Alfonso Jesus Cabezuelo, 29: a military officer, is thought to have recorded one video - Jesus Escudero, 27: a hairdresser Supporters of the victim gathered outside the courthouse for the verdict, and were furious when it was read out. Some donned red gloves in protest. Women's rights groups and many politicians reacted angrily, with Spain's Deputy Prime Minister Soraya Saenz de Santamaria calling on officials to analyse the verdict so that similar cases could be avoided. UN Women programme director Maria Noel Vaeza said this was a \"lost opportunity\", El Pais newspaper reports (in Spanish), urging an end to the \"social impunity [in cases of] rape\". Altamira Gonzalo, vice-president of Themis, a Spanish organisation of women jurists, told Efe news agency: \"It should have been a courageous sentence. The courts can't be so distant from society\". Socialist party leader Pedro Sanchez tweeted his outrage (in Spanish): \"If what the 'wolfpack' did wasn't group violence against a defenceless woman, then what do we understand by rape?\" The victim's lawyer said he was \"disappointed\" while lawyers for the five men said they would appeal, calling the verdict \"unfair\".", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1525, "answer_end": 2624, "text": "Videos of the late-night encounter between the men and the young woman showed how the five men had wandered the streets among other drunken revellers before two of them led her into a basement by the hand. According to a police report, the men - who belonged to a WhatsApp group called La manada (wolf pack) - surrounded the woman in a small alcove, removed her clothes and had unprotected sex. Some of them filmed the sexual act on their phones - there were seven videos, totalling 96 seconds. One of the men posted messages in a WhatsApp group celebrating what they had done and promising to share the recording. According to the police report, the victim maintained a \"passive or neutral\" attitude throughout the scene, keeping her eyes closed at all times. Her phone was then stolen. She was found in a reportedly distraught state by a couple in the street outside the scene of the attack. She told the trial she was still having psychological treatment to deal with trauma. Some of the men were found to be in a video in which they apparently abused another woman, who seemed to be unconscious."}], "question": "What was the case against them?", "id": "185_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 4048, "answer_end": 5097, "text": "Supporters of the victim gathered outside the courthouse for the verdict, and were furious when it was read out. Some donned red gloves in protest. Women's rights groups and many politicians reacted angrily, with Spain's Deputy Prime Minister Soraya Saenz de Santamaria calling on officials to analyse the verdict so that similar cases could be avoided. UN Women programme director Maria Noel Vaeza said this was a \"lost opportunity\", El Pais newspaper reports (in Spanish), urging an end to the \"social impunity [in cases of] rape\". Altamira Gonzalo, vice-president of Themis, a Spanish organisation of women jurists, told Efe news agency: \"It should have been a courageous sentence. The courts can't be so distant from society\". Socialist party leader Pedro Sanchez tweeted his outrage (in Spanish): \"If what the 'wolfpack' did wasn't group violence against a defenceless woman, then what do we understand by rape?\" The victim's lawyer said he was \"disappointed\" while lawyers for the five men said they would appeal, calling the verdict \"unfair\"."}], "question": "What has the reaction been?", "id": "185_1"}]}]}, {"title": "Jingye to invest \u00a31bn and save 'thousands of British Steel jobs'", "date": "11 November 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Chinese firm Jingye says will invest PS1.2bn in British Steel as it signed a deal to rescue the UK steelmaker. It also said it would seek to \"preserve thousands of jobs in a key foundation industry for the UK\" but did not put a number on how many would be saved. British Steel employs about 4,000 people in Scunthorpe and Teesside. It has been kept running by the government via the Official Receiver since May, when the company went into liquidation. Jingye said it anticipated making job offers \"to as many employees across the business as possible\". Group chairman Li Ganpo said it would spend PS1.2bn over the next decade in upgrading plant and machinery, \"improving the company's environmental performance... and boosting energy efficiency to place the operations on a more competitive and sustainable footing\". It also said it would aim to identify new markets and products. Business Minister Andrea Leadsom said she had met with Jingye's chairman on Monday. \"I have been given reassurances that next to all current staff will be kept and that in the medium to longer term they are likely to want to expand the workforce\" she said. The deal will give the Chinese company control of a third of the UK's steel industry. But Ms Leadsom said: \"There aren't any national security issues with this acquisition. \"In my dealings with Jingye, I think they will show themselves to be very committed to continued and expanded production [here] in Scunthorpe and on Teesside.\" Jingye will acquire the steelworks at Scunthorpe, UK steel mills and shares of FN Steel BV, British Steel France Rail SAS and TSP Engineering.  The sale also includes the shares owned by BSL in Redcar Bulk Terminal. A statement from the Official Receiver said: \"Completion of the contract is conditional on a number of matters, including gaining the necessary regulatory approvals. The parties are working together to conclude a sale as soon as reasonably practicable. \"The business will continue to trade as normal during the period between exchange and completion. Support from employees, suppliers and customers since the liquidation has been a critical factor in achieving this outcome.\" One worker at British Steel in Scunthorpe told the BBC: \"It has been a big concern, nobody knew what was happening... whether they had a job, could pay the mortgages, feed the families. It is great news.\" Gareth Stace, director general of industry lobby group UK Steel, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that the business being bought was a \"significant asset to our country\". He said that there was a need for \"very significant investment\" in the Scunthorpe works and that was why the deal with Jingye was \"really welcome\". British Steel had previously been in rescue talks with Ataer, a subsidiary of Turkey's state military retirement scheme Oyak. Ataer said its own talks failed \"mainly due to lack of support from the key stakeholders\". What does a steel maker from Hebei province, south-west of Beijing, see in a struggling plant in Scunthorpe?  It is difficult to know, particularly when we know so little about Jingye. There is little publicly available information - certainly no set of accounts - but the organisation's Facebook page extols its rapid rise to become a big player in steel in just 20 years. On the face of it, the Chinese buyer will be interested in the products that British Steel makes that it does not. British Steel is a specialist in railway tracks, \"long  products\", a catch-all term for girders used in construction, and the high-quality steel wire used in car tyres and dozens of other industrial applications. Jingye does not appear to make the first two, so British Steel should bring it some valuable technology and new product lines. This has to be set against the need for investment at Scunthorpe. What British Steel workers will fervently hope is that the Jingye commitment is long-term and that this is not another false dawn. Mr Stace said he believed the steel industry in the UK could now compete globally and he was publishing a manifesto with ideas for change. \"But the problem we have is we have an uncompetitive business landscape in the UK. Government can change that,\" he added. \"I'm talking about energy costs, business rates, procurement - the government buying more steel from the UK - free and fair trade, and even much more support for R&D [research and development], which we are going to lose when we fall out of the EU.\" He said: \"What government needs to do is give us that business landscape. We can thrive on the global market and generate highly paid, highly skilled jobs for the UK economy.\" In the long term, it is believed that while Jingye Group has promised to increase production, it has also warned costs may need to be cut. Ross Murdoch, national officer for the GMB union, said: \"We were impressed with the passion and enthusiasm from the Jingye team. \"However, due diligence on this sale was completed very quickly and the devil will be in the detail.\" Community, a UK trade union which absorbed the old Iron & Steel Trades Confederation body, said it welcomed \"this positive step towards securing British Steel under new ownership\". \"The fact that there has been ongoing interest from both Ataer and now Jingye rightly demonstrates that potential buyers believe that British Steel can have a sustainable future.\" The UK industry has been struggling for a number of years amid claims that China has been flooding the market with cheap steel. In 2016 the EU imposed tariffs of up to 73.7% on Chinese steel after an influx of cheap imports from Asia forced European manufacturers to cut jobs and lower prices. Jingye has 23,500 employees and as well as its main steel and iron making businesses, it also engages in tourism, hotels and real estate. It has total registered assets of 39bn yuan (PS4.4bn). According to its website, Jingye Group ranked 217th among the top 500 enterprises in China in 2019. The firm sells its products nationwide and exports them to more than 80 countries and regions. Jingye's products have been used in major projects such as Beijing Daxing International Airport and the underground system in Shijiazhuang.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 2368, "answer_end": 2905, "text": "Gareth Stace, director general of industry lobby group UK Steel, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that the business being bought was a \"significant asset to our country\". He said that there was a need for \"very significant investment\" in the Scunthorpe works and that was why the deal with Jingye was \"really welcome\". British Steel had previously been in rescue talks with Ataer, a subsidiary of Turkey's state military retirement scheme Oyak. Ataer said its own talks failed \"mainly due to lack of support from the key stakeholders\"."}], "question": "Why is this news so important?", "id": "186_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3932, "answer_end": 4618, "text": "Mr Stace said he believed the steel industry in the UK could now compete globally and he was publishing a manifesto with ideas for change. \"But the problem we have is we have an uncompetitive business landscape in the UK. Government can change that,\" he added. \"I'm talking about energy costs, business rates, procurement - the government buying more steel from the UK - free and fair trade, and even much more support for R&D [research and development], which we are going to lose when we fall out of the EU.\" He said: \"What government needs to do is give us that business landscape. We can thrive on the global market and generate highly paid, highly skilled jobs for the UK economy.\""}], "question": "Will British Steel now turn the corner?", "id": "186_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 4619, "answer_end": 5643, "text": "In the long term, it is believed that while Jingye Group has promised to increase production, it has also warned costs may need to be cut. Ross Murdoch, national officer for the GMB union, said: \"We were impressed with the passion and enthusiasm from the Jingye team. \"However, due diligence on this sale was completed very quickly and the devil will be in the detail.\" Community, a UK trade union which absorbed the old Iron & Steel Trades Confederation body, said it welcomed \"this positive step towards securing British Steel under new ownership\". \"The fact that there has been ongoing interest from both Ataer and now Jingye rightly demonstrates that potential buyers believe that British Steel can have a sustainable future.\" The UK industry has been struggling for a number of years amid claims that China has been flooding the market with cheap steel. In 2016 the EU imposed tariffs of up to 73.7% on Chinese steel after an influx of cheap imports from Asia forced European manufacturers to cut jobs and lower prices."}], "question": "What happens now?", "id": "186_2"}]}]}, {"title": "Sabarimala: Woman who defied India temple ban 'attacked by mother-in-law'", "date": "15 January 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "One of the two Indian women who defied a historic ban to enter a Hindu temple is recovering in hospital after her mother-in-law allegedly attacked her. Kanakadurga, 39, had been in hiding since 2 January, when her entry into the Sabarimala temple sparked protests. She told police her mother-in-law beat her when she returned home on Tuesday. The shrine was closed to women of \"menstruating age\" - defined as between 10 and 50 - until India's top court overturned the ban in September. But despite the ruling, protesters blocked any women who tried to enter. Ms Kanakadurga and Bindu Ammini, 40, made history after they entered Sabarimala in the middle of the night escorted by policemen. But as news of their entry spread, violent protests broke out across the southern state of Kerala, where the temple is located. The two women were forced into hiding and kept moving locations under police protection. Ms Kanakadurga \"was hit on her head by her mother-in-law when she returned home on Tuesday morning\", Ms Ammini told BBC Hindi. Friends say her family did not support her decision to enter the temple and felt she had insulted their beliefs by doing so. \"They did not want her to return home because they believed she had tarnished their name. Her community too was opposed to women entering the temple,\" said Prasad Amore. A police official told AFP news agency that Kanakadurga has registered a case against her mother-in-law, who she alleges beat her with a wooden stick, including on her head. The severity of her injuries remains unclear. Ms Ammini said that although Kanakadurga's husband initially opposed her decision to enter the temple, he later changed his mind. Hinduism regards menstruating women as unclean and bars them from participating in religious rituals. While most Hindu temples allow women to enter as long as they are not menstruating, the Sabarimala temple is unusual in that it was one of the few that did not allow women in a broad age group to enter at all. According to the temple's mythology, Lord Ayyappa is an avowed bachelor who has taken an oath of celibacy. Devotees say the ban on women of \"menstruating age\" was in keeping with the wish of the deity who is believed to have laid down clear rules about the pilgrimage to seek his blessings.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1678, "answer_end": 2280, "text": "Hinduism regards menstruating women as unclean and bars them from participating in religious rituals. While most Hindu temples allow women to enter as long as they are not menstruating, the Sabarimala temple is unusual in that it was one of the few that did not allow women in a broad age group to enter at all. According to the temple's mythology, Lord Ayyappa is an avowed bachelor who has taken an oath of celibacy. Devotees say the ban on women of \"menstruating age\" was in keeping with the wish of the deity who is believed to have laid down clear rules about the pilgrimage to seek his blessings."}], "question": "Why are women of a certain age not allowed to enter Sabarimala?", "id": "187_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Alton Sterling shooting: No charges for police over black man's killing", "date": "3 May 2017", "paragraphs": [{"context": "The US Department of Justice has decided not to charge two white officers who shot and killed a black man in Louisiana last summer. Video footage appearing to show the officers holding down Alton Sterling as they fired their weapons sparked days of protests in Baton Rouge. Us prosecutors said their was \"insufficient evidence\". News of the decision leaked to US media on Tuesday before the city mayor or the Sterling family had been told. \"We need closure, we need a conviction. We need justice,\" said Sterling's aunt. More than 100 people attended a vigil on Tuesday night outside the Triple S Food Mart where Sterling died on 5 July 2016. The civil rights investigation was opened soon after the 37-year-old was killed outside the grocery shop where he was selling CDs. At the time, a series of fatal police shootings involving African-Americans had sparked a debate about police use of force. The federal decision not to prosecute the two officers comes with a new White House administration and a new head of the Justice Department, Attorney General Jeff Sessions. But it is possible that the state of Louisiana could bring its own charges. Local officials expressed outrage that the federal authorities had not contacted the family ahead of the reported decision. \"I am appalled that this news, whether true or false, has been disseminated without a formal decision being relayed to the Sterling family first,\" Baton Rouge Mayor Sharon Weston Broome said, adding that her office had not been notified either. Police were called after reports of a man threatening people with a gun outside a shop. Mobile video footage appeared to show two officers wrestling a man in a red shirt to the floor. One of the officers pinned the man's arm to the floor with his knee and then appeared to pull out his gun and point it at the man. A voice is heard shouting: \"He's got a gun!\" Shots ring out and the camera moves away. Mr Sterling, a father of five, died at the scene. Police said he refused to comply with the officers' commands so they used a stun gun to bring him to the ground. The officers say they saw a gun in one of his pockets and saw his arm move there as if he was reaching for it, just before he was shot. Officers Blane Salamoni and Howie Lake II were placed on administrative leave after the incident. There were nearly 200 arrests during protests over Mr Sterling's death, which preceded a turbulent couple of weeks in US race relations. A day after the fatal confrontation, a black driver in Minnesota was shot dead in a traffic stop, and the same week five police officers in Dallas were killed. Less than two weeks later, three police officers in Baton Rouge were killed in an ambush, further inflaming tensions in that community. Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards, who called the video footage \"disturbing\", called for a federal investigation into Sterling's death. Two other fatal police shootings were in the news on Tuesday. In Texas, police changed their story in what happened when an unarmed black teenager was shot and killed on Saturday night as his car drove away from police. And a former officer in South Carolina pleaded guilty to violating the civil rights of an African American he shot in the back as he ran away. Meanwhile, two Chicago police officers were shot and wounded late on Tuesday in a drive-by attack, authorities said. The BBC went to one of the city's toughest neighbourhoods, postal code 70805, which adjoins the district where Mr Sterling was killed.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1515, "answer_end": 2313, "text": "Police were called after reports of a man threatening people with a gun outside a shop. Mobile video footage appeared to show two officers wrestling a man in a red shirt to the floor. One of the officers pinned the man's arm to the floor with his knee and then appeared to pull out his gun and point it at the man. A voice is heard shouting: \"He's got a gun!\" Shots ring out and the camera moves away. Mr Sterling, a father of five, died at the scene. Police said he refused to comply with the officers' commands so they used a stun gun to bring him to the ground. The officers say they saw a gun in one of his pockets and saw his arm move there as if he was reaching for it, just before he was shot. Officers Blane Salamoni and Howie Lake II were placed on administrative leave after the incident."}], "question": "What happened when Sterling died?", "id": "188_0"}]}]}, {"title": "US citizen freed after mistaken immigration arrest", "date": "25 July 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "A US citizen has been freed from US immigration detention after three weeks in conditions so dire he considered asking to be deported. Francisco Erwin Galicia, 18, spent 23 days detained in south Texas, saying he lost 26lb (12kg) in that time. The detention comes amid a crackdown on undocumented immigrants. American migration officials are not meant to detain their own citizens, but it appears there were doubts about the authenticity of Mr Galicia's documents. Mr Galicia was released on Tuesday, less than a day after The Dallas Morning News reported on his incarceration. Francisco Galicia was arrested with his brother Marlon - a 17-year-old non-US citizen - on 27 June at an inland US Border Patrol checkpoint as they drove to a soccer scouting camp in hopes of landing a university scholarship. \"We're supposed to graduate from high school next year, and we wanted to do something to secure our education,\" he told the newspaper after his release. Marlon and other passengers in the car lacked legal migration status and were arrested. Francisco said he told agents he was a US citizen, and presented them with a \"Texas ID, Social Security card and a wallet-sized birth certificate\", according to The Dallas Morning News. \"I told them we had rights and asked to make a phone call. But they told us: 'You don't have rights to anything',\" he said. Two days after the arrest, Marlon voluntarily allowed himself to be deported to Reynosa, a dangerous Mexican border city, in order to tell their mother about their whereabouts. In a joint statement on Wednesday, US Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) defended their decision to hold Francisco Galicia. \"Generally, situations including conflicting reports from the individual and multiple birth certificates can, and should, take more time to verify,\" the statement read. \"While we continue to research the facts of the situation, this individual has been released from ICE custody. \"Both CBP and ICE are committed to the fair treatment of migrants in our custody and continue to take appropriate steps to verify all facts of this situation.\" During his time in a CBP holding facility in south Texas' Rio Grande Valley, Francisco said he was not allowed to shower and was housed in a holding cell with 60 other men. They were only given aluminium-foil blankets and were forced to sleep on the floor. Some men had to sleep on the floor near the toilets. \"It was inhumane how they treated us. It got to the point where I was ready to sign a deportation paper just to not be suffering there anymore,\" he said. \"I just needed to get out of there.\" A Los Angeles Times report from 2018 found that 1,480 people have been released by ICE after having their citizenship status investigated. In one case, an American citizen of Jamaican descent was held in immigration detention for more than three years before being released hundreds of miles away from home. In March, a nine-year-old girl was held for more than 30 hours after crossing from Mexico into California at an official border crossing with her 14-year-old brother as the two US citizens walked to school. \"I was scared,\" the girl told NBC in San Diego. \"I was sad because I didn't have my mom or my brother. I was completely by myself.\" Last week, a California congresswoman visiting a Border Patrol crossing centre in Texas found a 13-year-old girl holding a US passport waiting with her mother who allegedly had crossed into the US illegally. On Wednesday a judge in San Francisco ordered the Trump administration to stop denying asylum to anyone who passes through another country on their way to the US. It would effectively end asylum for Central American migrants, who pass through Mexico on their way to the US. The decision came hours after a judge in Washington ruled that the nine-day old policy could stand. The California's judge's injunction means the policy is put on hold as the courts decide the future of President Trump's policy. White House spokeswoman Stephanie Grisham slammed the injunction and said the Trump administration would \"pursue all available options to address this meritless ruling and to defend this nation's borders\". The decision comes as tens of thousands of migrants wait in Mexico under a US Department of Homeland Security policy dubbed \"Remain in Mexico\" in which migrants are told to stay in Mexico as they await a hearing in a US immigration court. According to Mexico's National Migration Institute more than 18,000 migrants have been sent back under the new policy.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 578, "answer_end": 1531, "text": "Francisco Galicia was arrested with his brother Marlon - a 17-year-old non-US citizen - on 27 June at an inland US Border Patrol checkpoint as they drove to a soccer scouting camp in hopes of landing a university scholarship. \"We're supposed to graduate from high school next year, and we wanted to do something to secure our education,\" he told the newspaper after his release. Marlon and other passengers in the car lacked legal migration status and were arrested. Francisco said he told agents he was a US citizen, and presented them with a \"Texas ID, Social Security card and a wallet-sized birth certificate\", according to The Dallas Morning News. \"I told them we had rights and asked to make a phone call. But they told us: 'You don't have rights to anything',\" he said. Two days after the arrest, Marlon voluntarily allowed himself to be deported to Reynosa, a dangerous Mexican border city, in order to tell their mother about their whereabouts."}], "question": "Why was he arrested?", "id": "189_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1532, "answer_end": 2138, "text": "In a joint statement on Wednesday, US Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) defended their decision to hold Francisco Galicia. \"Generally, situations including conflicting reports from the individual and multiple birth certificates can, and should, take more time to verify,\" the statement read. \"While we continue to research the facts of the situation, this individual has been released from ICE custody. \"Both CBP and ICE are committed to the fair treatment of migrants in our custody and continue to take appropriate steps to verify all facts of this situation.\""}], "question": "What have border officials said?", "id": "189_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2640, "answer_end": 3494, "text": "A Los Angeles Times report from 2018 found that 1,480 people have been released by ICE after having their citizenship status investigated. In one case, an American citizen of Jamaican descent was held in immigration detention for more than three years before being released hundreds of miles away from home. In March, a nine-year-old girl was held for more than 30 hours after crossing from Mexico into California at an official border crossing with her 14-year-old brother as the two US citizens walked to school. \"I was scared,\" the girl told NBC in San Diego. \"I was sad because I didn't have my mom or my brother. I was completely by myself.\" Last week, a California congresswoman visiting a Border Patrol crossing centre in Texas found a 13-year-old girl holding a US passport waiting with her mother who allegedly had crossed into the US illegally."}], "question": "Have other Americans been detained?", "id": "189_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3495, "answer_end": 4561, "text": "On Wednesday a judge in San Francisco ordered the Trump administration to stop denying asylum to anyone who passes through another country on their way to the US. It would effectively end asylum for Central American migrants, who pass through Mexico on their way to the US. The decision came hours after a judge in Washington ruled that the nine-day old policy could stand. The California's judge's injunction means the policy is put on hold as the courts decide the future of President Trump's policy. White House spokeswoman Stephanie Grisham slammed the injunction and said the Trump administration would \"pursue all available options to address this meritless ruling and to defend this nation's borders\". The decision comes as tens of thousands of migrants wait in Mexico under a US Department of Homeland Security policy dubbed \"Remain in Mexico\" in which migrants are told to stay in Mexico as they await a hearing in a US immigration court. According to Mexico's National Migration Institute more than 18,000 migrants have been sent back under the new policy."}], "question": "What is the legal situation at the border?", "id": "189_3"}]}]}, {"title": "Piracy fighters battle Kodi 'epidemic'", "date": "29 September 2016", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Tackling the use of Kodi and other set-top box software to stream pirated videos is now the top priority for rights-holders, a report says. Some boxes or \"TV sticks\" support software add-ons that can stream subscription movies, sport and TV channels over the internet for free. The Federation Against Copyright Theft (Fact) said about half of its current investigations concerned the devices. It said boxes configured to receive premium content for free were illegal. The statements were made in the annual crime report of the government's intellectual property office (IPO). Kodi is free software, built by volunteers, that is designed to bring videos, music, games and photographs together in one easy-to-use application. Some shops sell set-top boxes and TV sticks known as Kodi boxes, preloaded with the software. The developers behind Kodi say their software does not contain any content of its own and is designed to play legally owned media or content \"freely available\" on the internet. However, the software can be modified with third-party add-ons that provide access to pirated copies of films and TV series, or provide free access to subscription television channels. \"Streaming boxes have steadily increased in popularity in recent years,\" said Ernesto van der Sar, from the news site Torrent Freak. \"Most use the entirely legal Kodi software, but some are augmented with illegal third-party add-ons. \"They are seen as convenient, as the set-top box format is ideal for the living room. \"Nowadays people often prefer to stream pirated content instead of using traditional torrent sites. \"They see streaming as more convenient and less cumbersome than downloading.\" Fact said set-top boxes configured to receive premium content for free were \"an emerging threat to the audiovisual industry\". \"This is becoming an epidemic,\" Kieron Sharp, director general of Fact, told the BBC. \"If you are not paying for Sky, BT or one of the pay-TV providers for your subscription channels, you are clearly in possession of an illegal box.\" The IPO said the increased availability of such devices presented a \"significant challenge\". \"We are aware that set-top boxes, while perfectly legal in their own right, are frequently adapted by criminals to illegally receive TV channels protected by intellectual property rights,\" a spokesman told the BBC. \"The government is working with its partners in industry and with police forces across the country to target criminals looking to profit from this activity. \"We are also working closely with our international partners to target the cross-border infrastructure that underpins illegal streaming.\" In August, an investigation by the Police Intellectual Property Crime Unit (Pipcu) led to the arrest of three men who are accused of retransmitting subscription television channels online. Some traders sell so-called \"fully-loaded Kodi boxes\", which are preloaded with third-party add-ons that can access pirated content. These are currently the subject of a legal case. The developers behind Kodi have said they do not support \"piracy add-ons\" and have criticised those who advertise \"fully-loaded\" set-top boxes for sale. The group said it would maintain a \"neutral stance on what users do with their own software\", but would battle those using the Kodi trademark to sell a \"fully-loaded Kodi box\". Discussions about \"pirated content\" and add-ons that provide access are removed from its message board.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 576, "answer_end": 1677, "text": "Kodi is free software, built by volunteers, that is designed to bring videos, music, games and photographs together in one easy-to-use application. Some shops sell set-top boxes and TV sticks known as Kodi boxes, preloaded with the software. The developers behind Kodi say their software does not contain any content of its own and is designed to play legally owned media or content \"freely available\" on the internet. However, the software can be modified with third-party add-ons that provide access to pirated copies of films and TV series, or provide free access to subscription television channels. \"Streaming boxes have steadily increased in popularity in recent years,\" said Ernesto van der Sar, from the news site Torrent Freak. \"Most use the entirely legal Kodi software, but some are augmented with illegal third-party add-ons. \"They are seen as convenient, as the set-top box format is ideal for the living room. \"Nowadays people often prefer to stream pirated content instead of using traditional torrent sites. \"They see streaming as more convenient and less cumbersome than downloading.\""}], "question": "What are Kodi boxes?", "id": "190_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2830, "answer_end": 3445, "text": "Some traders sell so-called \"fully-loaded Kodi boxes\", which are preloaded with third-party add-ons that can access pirated content. These are currently the subject of a legal case. The developers behind Kodi have said they do not support \"piracy add-ons\" and have criticised those who advertise \"fully-loaded\" set-top boxes for sale. The group said it would maintain a \"neutral stance on what users do with their own software\", but would battle those using the Kodi trademark to sell a \"fully-loaded Kodi box\". Discussions about \"pirated content\" and add-ons that provide access are removed from its message board."}], "question": "What do the makers of Kodi say?", "id": "190_1"}]}]}, {"title": "Is it time to stop hating the rat?", "date": "16 January 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "You dirty rat; I smell a rat; like a rat deserting a sinking ship. It's clear from the English language that rats don't have the best reputation in our culture. Rats are seen as dirty, vicious and the spreaders of disease including the plague - which in the 14th century caused the deaths of more than a third of Europe's population. However, a recent study has found that it was humans rather than rats that were responsible for the spread of the Black Death. So is it time to rehabilitate the reputation of the rat? Today, in parts of Africa rats are helping to save lives and fight disease. The charity Apopo, working with the Sokoine University of Agriculture in Tanzania, trains rats to react to the scent of explosives, enabling them to detect landmines in countries including Tanzania, Mozambique and Cambodia. The detection of landmines is usually an expensive business, and countries often lack the resources to carry out the time-consuming and complicated work. A human using a metal detector would take 25 hours to search a 200-sq-m area - a rat can do the same work in 20 minutes. Apopo's James Pursey explains that not only are rats cheaper than dogs, they are also light enough that they don't set off the landmines. And it's not just landmines. Rats can also smell out the odour specific to tuberculosis. Every year, three million people infected by TB go undiagnosed and therefore do not receive the care they need. Apopo say that their trained rats can screen 100 samples in 20 minutes - a task that would take a lab technician four days. The samples detected by rats are then rechecked using World Health Organisation (WHO) endorsed confirmation tests. In western culture the rat is frequently depicted as the villain: - The scourge of the town in the Pied Piper of Hamelin - The baby-eating intruders from Lady and the Tramp - The rude and selfish Templeton from Charlotte's Web - The ever-present threat in 1984 - The treacherous Peter Pettigrew in Harry Potter Although, sometimes the rat has been given the chance to play the hero: - The food-loving Remy from Ratatouille - Nicodemus from the Rats of NIMH - Roland Rat - saviour of TV-am Not only can they help clear mines rats, their owners will tell you, also make good pets. Pets4Homes points out that contrary to their reputation rats are clean animals and spend more time grooming themselves than cats. Rachel Heaton is the publicity officer for Yorkshire Rats Club and an owner of 15 rats. She told the BBC that: \"Rats are so affectionate and so in tune with their owners' emotions.\" \"When I had my appendix out one of my rats could sense I was unwell and instead of trying to play as he usually does he sat quietly licking my hand.\" \"You can also teach them to do tricks - there is one woman who taught her rat to fetch her a tissue every time she sneezed.\"", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 518, "answer_end": 1670, "text": "Today, in parts of Africa rats are helping to save lives and fight disease. The charity Apopo, working with the Sokoine University of Agriculture in Tanzania, trains rats to react to the scent of explosives, enabling them to detect landmines in countries including Tanzania, Mozambique and Cambodia. The detection of landmines is usually an expensive business, and countries often lack the resources to carry out the time-consuming and complicated work. A human using a metal detector would take 25 hours to search a 200-sq-m area - a rat can do the same work in 20 minutes. Apopo's James Pursey explains that not only are rats cheaper than dogs, they are also light enough that they don't set off the landmines. And it's not just landmines. Rats can also smell out the odour specific to tuberculosis. Every year, three million people infected by TB go undiagnosed and therefore do not receive the care they need. Apopo say that their trained rats can screen 100 samples in 20 minutes - a task that would take a lab technician four days. The samples detected by rats are then rechecked using World Health Organisation (WHO) endorsed confirmation tests."}], "question": "Life savers?", "id": "191_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Web watchdog warns over knee-jerk regulation of social networks", "date": "22 February 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Government regulation of social media and the internet could have \"unintended consequences\" for victims of sexual abuse, a charity has warned. The Internet Watch Foundation said that \"knee-jerk regulation\" in response to a string of data and privacy scandals could come at a \"heavy cost\". The UK government is expected to publish a White Paper that will lay out how it plans to tackle \"online harms\". Culture Minister Jeremy Wright said it would be published in the coming weeks. He told the BBC's Dave Lee: \"We are taking our time to get it right\". The White Paper will detail new rules that the government wants introduced for social networks and web giants if they want to operate in the UK, or target services at British citizens. Mr Wright told the BBC that the White Paper would lay out a \"scheme\" and \"how it can be paid for\". There has been speculation that the government is going to announce an internet regulator, similar to the one for TV and telecoms, Ofcom. \"The period of time that we've been through, where we simply urged social media companies to do better and left them to regulate themselves, is a period that is now coming to an end,\" Mr Wright said. The full details of the White Paper will not be published for another few weeks. But there are suggestions the government plans to: - force websites to remove illegal hate speech within a specific time period or face penalties. A similar law is in force in Germany - make social networks verify the age of their users - punish social networks that fail to remove terror content or child abuse images - restrict advertisements online for food and soft drink products that are high in salt, fat or sugar The Internet Watch Foundation aims to stop the exchange of child sexual abuse images online. It has urged the government to take a \"balanced approach to internet regulation\", warning that badly-planned legislation could have unexpected results. It has previously criticised the European Commission's e-privacy proposals, suggesting they would help abusers hide their illegal activity online. Mr Wright told the BBC he had a \"scheme\" in mind, and that it would not be optional for the tech companies. He spoke to the BBC while on a visit to Silicon Valley, California, where he was meeting some of the tech industry's biggest names, including Facebook's chief executive Mark Zuckerberg. Mr Wright said: \"If we do it effectively, as we seek to do, and we construct a system that will work, then it may be that other countries will look carefully at that model and seek to do something similar. \"So there's good reason for these companies, be it Facebook or any other, to engage with us.\"", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1674, "answer_end": 2659, "text": "The Internet Watch Foundation aims to stop the exchange of child sexual abuse images online. It has urged the government to take a \"balanced approach to internet regulation\", warning that badly-planned legislation could have unexpected results. It has previously criticised the European Commission's e-privacy proposals, suggesting they would help abusers hide their illegal activity online. Mr Wright told the BBC he had a \"scheme\" in mind, and that it would not be optional for the tech companies. He spoke to the BBC while on a visit to Silicon Valley, California, where he was meeting some of the tech industry's biggest names, including Facebook's chief executive Mark Zuckerberg. Mr Wright said: \"If we do it effectively, as we seek to do, and we construct a system that will work, then it may be that other countries will look carefully at that model and seek to do something similar. \"So there's good reason for these companies, be it Facebook or any other, to engage with us.\""}], "question": "What did the IWF say?", "id": "192_0"}]}]}, {"title": "The digital activist taking politicians out of Madrid politics", "date": "9 January 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Once, he faced down major music industry giants over the file-sharing software he created. Now, Pablo Soto wants to use his digital knowhow to reshape democracy. He is in the left-wing coalition that beat traditional parties to take over Madrid's council in 2015. Now, as Madrid's head of open government, Mr Soto has launched a platform where citizens dictate policies to city hall and choose what to spend taxes on. \"I don't think of myself as a politician,\" the councillor says. \"But I am a political person.\" \"I want public participation to be the prime mechanism for reaching political decisions, with the role of politicians reduced to handling the lesser day-to-day stuff.\" A decade ago Mr Soto was a twenty-something computer programmer who had designed a series of person-to-person (P2P) file-sharing applications used by 25 million people around the world. Many of them used the software to share music files. Mr Soto, who has muscular dystrophy and uses a wheelchair, was sued in 2008 by Warner, EMI, Sony and other entertainment industry giants for millions of euros in allegedly lost revenues - a sum he says he could not have dreamed of amassing. He eventually won a drawn-out series of battles though Spain's courts that, he says, made him more politically aware and an activist for  internet freedom and net neutrality. He then joined the mass street protests against Spain's party politics that mimicked the Arab Spring revolts. \"The most political moment of my life was the night of 15 May 2011, when I decided to take my rucksack to Puerta del Sol in Madrid, even though there was a threat of the police clearing the square as the protest had been declared illegal. \"We challenged a whole system of representation in which a few people have 100% power of decision for years, without having to explain or allow citizens to participate.\" Mr Soto turned to technology to open up the decision-making process. Decide Madrid is an online platform with 400,000 users in the Spanish capital. Any of them can propose an idea, which, if backed by 27,662 other users (1% of the city's adult population), goes to a referendum. \"It is voted on by the people, not the council. The politicians cannot block it,\" Mr Soto says. Other cities where left-wing coalitions swept to power in 2015 - including Barcelona and Valencia - have also set up participative systems to take collective decisions on public facilities - and on how to spend part of their budgets. In Madrid's process, citizens can vote online or in person to decide how to allocate EUR100 million in spending - a significant part of the council's total investments every year. The software driving Madrid's participatory platform has been adopted by 100 government institutions in 33 countries, with Uruguay the first country to use the free software at a national level. Critics of direct democracy warn that well-organised single-issue groups could hijack the debate, such as anti-vaccine campaigners in Italy. There are also concerns that minority groups might be crushed by the wheels of majority power. But Mr Soto believes people can be trusted with political decisions. He cites studies of direct democracy which suggest taxpayers may take greater care with public money than electioneering politicians. He also says Madrid citizens have shown solidarity with others, backing new homes for women victims of gender violence and day centres for Alzheimer's patients. \"Politicians have always sold us the idea that it is a contradiction to support something that doesn't benefit you. Our experience shows that the opposite is true.\" This month Madrid plans to launch Mr Soto's most far-reaching reform yet - an \"observatory\" of 57 citizens selected at random to advise the city's 57 councillors. Mr Soto explains that an algorithm will ensure that observatory members will be representative of Madrid's social diversity, with a one-year mandate and access to expert assistance to reach well-informed decisions. The concept was inspired by the ancient Athenian practice of choosing citizens to form governing committees, and by more recent examples where governments have asked the people to decide on single issues to break political deadlock. In Australia, a \"citizens' jury\" was asked about the construction of a nuclear dump. \"The idea is as old as democracy itself,\" he says. \"A group of people chosen at random - if they have the time and capacity to study the issues in depth - can take very representative decisions.\" Mr Soto does not plan to stop at Madrid, and notes that his platform could now be used to connect people across the globe in joint decision-making. \"It does not make sense that the world is still organised along territorial lines, because the internet contradicts these geographical distances.\"", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 3604, "answer_end": 4790, "text": "This month Madrid plans to launch Mr Soto's most far-reaching reform yet - an \"observatory\" of 57 citizens selected at random to advise the city's 57 councillors. Mr Soto explains that an algorithm will ensure that observatory members will be representative of Madrid's social diversity, with a one-year mandate and access to expert assistance to reach well-informed decisions. The concept was inspired by the ancient Athenian practice of choosing citizens to form governing committees, and by more recent examples where governments have asked the people to decide on single issues to break political deadlock. In Australia, a \"citizens' jury\" was asked about the construction of a nuclear dump. \"The idea is as old as democracy itself,\" he says. \"A group of people chosen at random - if they have the time and capacity to study the issues in depth - can take very representative decisions.\" Mr Soto does not plan to stop at Madrid, and notes that his platform could now be used to connect people across the globe in joint decision-making. \"It does not make sense that the world is still organised along territorial lines, because the internet contradicts these geographical distances.\""}], "question": "What next for Pablo Soto?", "id": "193_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Tiananmen 30th anniversary: Thousands hold huge vigil in Hong Kong", "date": "4 June 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Tens of thousands of people have gathered in Hong Kong to mark the 30th anniversary of the crackdown on protests in Beijing's Tiananmen Square. Hong Kong and Macau are the only places in Chinese territory where people can commemorate the activists killed in 1989. China has never given an official figure for how many people died, but estimates begin in the hundreds. Organisers say 180,000 people joined a vigil in the city's Victoria Park. But police put the number of attendees at under 40,000. In mainland China, the authorities have banned even oblique references to the crackdown, which took place after weeks of mass protests that were tolerated by the government. The numbers gathered in and around Tiananmen Square are estimated to have reached a peak of one million people. Hundreds of security personnel and police were monitoring the square in Beijing on Tuesday. by Grace Tsoi, BBC World Service, Hong Kong Hong Kong's Victoria Park is once again a sea of candlelight as far as the eye can see. The crowd, many dressed in black, is mostly silent whilst holding up their candles in mourning. Some are crying.  In between protest songs, they chant \"the people will not forget\". The crowd claps and cheers when Liane Lee - who took part in the 1989 protests - shouts: \"We refuse to forget. We refuse to believe the lies\". Standing watching is Teresa Chan. She has attended the commemoration every year since 1990, except once when she was ill. \"I wanted to go Beijing to be with the movement but I couldn't,\" she says. \"I never imagined it would end the way it did, it's very hard to forget.\" But there are also new faces in the crowd this year. Ms Leung, who is in her 30s, says she decided to come for the first time because she is worried about Hong Kong's future. \"I am very angry with what the Chinese government is doing here,\" she says. Amongst the remembrance flowers and candles, there are posters protesting against proposed amendments to laws concerning extraditions to mainland China. Many fear the changes will lead to the further erosion of civil liberties here in Hong Kong. Here in Victoria Park are also some mainland Chinese residents like Mr Zeng who travelled to Hong Kong with his wife and 11-year-old daughter just to attend tonight's event. His daughter says it's an eye-opening experience. \"I am here to learn the real history about China. Now I feel like China is no better than other countries,\" she says. The vigils in Hong Kong come at a sensitive time for its leadership, with public backlash over a proposed bill that would allow fugitives captured in the city to be extradited to mainland China. Smaller vigils are also expected 64km (40 miles) away in Macau's city centre, and on the self-governing island of Taiwan. The Tiananmen anniversary earlier prompted a war of words between Washington and Beijing. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo criticised China's human rights record and called on it to finally reveal how many people died in the crackdown. In response, a Chinese embassy spokesman in Washington DC said his comments were \"an affront to the Chinese people\". On Tuesday, China issued separate travel warnings to its citizens travelling to the US, citing police harassment and crime. Its foreign ministry accused American law enforcement agencies of \"harassing\" Chinese citizens in the US through immigration checks and other methods. Pro-democracy protesters occupied Tiananmen Square in April 1989 and began the largest political demonstrations in communist China's history. They lasted six weeks. On the night of 3 June tanks moved in and troops opened fire, killing and injuring many unarmed people in and around Tiananmen Square. Afterwards the authorities claimed no-one had been shot dead in the square itself. Estimates of those killed in the crackdown range from a few hundred to several thousand. At the weekend, Chinese Defence Minister Wei Fenghe made a rare mention of the protests during a regional forum in Singapore. \"That incident was a political turbulence and the central government took measures to stop the turbulence, which is a correct policy,\" he said in response to a question. He added that because of the action the government took, \"China has enjoyed stability and development\".", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 3388, "answer_end": 4259, "text": "Pro-democracy protesters occupied Tiananmen Square in April 1989 and began the largest political demonstrations in communist China's history. They lasted six weeks. On the night of 3 June tanks moved in and troops opened fire, killing and injuring many unarmed people in and around Tiananmen Square. Afterwards the authorities claimed no-one had been shot dead in the square itself. Estimates of those killed in the crackdown range from a few hundred to several thousand. At the weekend, Chinese Defence Minister Wei Fenghe made a rare mention of the protests during a regional forum in Singapore. \"That incident was a political turbulence and the central government took measures to stop the turbulence, which is a correct policy,\" he said in response to a question. He added that because of the action the government took, \"China has enjoyed stability and development\"."}], "question": "What happened in 1989?", "id": "194_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Yes, Antarctica has a fire department", "date": "24 August 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Fire prevention in one of the coldest places on Earth might not sound like the most likely job, but every year the US Antarctic Program recruits a team of fire-fighters to head poleward. \"'Are there fires in Antarctica?' That's always the question I get,\" says Megan Branson, who spent over 24 months \"on the ice\" as a fire-fighter and paramedic between 2007 and 2010. And the answer? Yes. Though rarely, if the the Antarctic Fire Department can help it. In the busy summer season of October - March, there are over 1,000 residents at the US Antarctic Program's McMurdo Station, making it the largest settlement in the region. Flights landing at the base must, by law, have a fire crew on hand, but McMurdo is also a fully functioning town. As for any town, building fire safety is important. Even more so when outdoor temperatures only inch above freezing at the height of summer. \"There's a lot of heavy machinery, a lot of chemicals and toxic substances, a lot of people... and humans are prone to error.\" says Branson. This more than warrants McMurdo's own firehouse and team of fire-fighters. Having initially trained as a fire-fighter and paramedic after completing high school in the US, Branson was jokingly challenged by a friend to apply for the Antarctic programme. \"I had finished my training, graduated and was looking for an adventure (and more importantly, a job)... I have an odd habit of pursuing things that scare me and took the challenge,\" she tells BBC News. By the time interviews came around, her friend had gotten another job, so she went through the rest of the process alone. Just a few months later, the adventure found her and she was on a flight to Antarctica. \"You'd work 24 hours on, 24 hours off, and every other week you'd have an additional day off,\" says Branson. \"Everybody else in the town works Monday to Saturday and gets Sunday off, so we were kind of the anomaly in the firehouse.\" Regular duties ranged from cleaning the firehouse to conducting fire inspections around the town and running dispatch - the main communication hub for all vehicles coming on and off Ross Island, where McMurdo sits. But fighting fires in freezing temperatures also calls for some specialist equipment. Surprisingly, water is still an option. McMurdo's fire engine has a pump, which cycles water constantly through the vehicle to prevent it from freezing. Remembering to set the pump going is, says Branson, a lesson quickly learned. \"You do not want to be the person who freezes all the water in the fire engine. Then you're stuck with a 500 gallon engine with an ice block in it... and nobody on base is going to like you.\" There are, however, no additional layers to the gear worn by fire-fighters in sub-zero temperatures. \"You also can only wear certain base layers when you're fire-fighting because polyester and materials like that melt to your skin... so yeah I was freezing. All the time.\" Down time in Antarctica, says Branson, would often consist of films, card games or going to the gym. \"Not having fresh food was just so, so difficult. Sometimes you'd give anything for a fresh banana or a carrot or apple... I ate a lot of bread,\" she laughs. During her final stretch on the continent, she spent 14 consecutive months in Antarctica - a summer at the South Pole's Amundsen-Scott base and a long, dark winter at McMurdo. But when emergencies do break the monotony, they can be more complex than in less isolated places. Branson recalls fighting a vehicle fire, perched precariously where the tightly packed sea ice meets Ross Island, and worrying that it might melt through the ice to the sea floor below. The crew eventually had to tamp down the fire by shovelling snow on it. One New Year's Day at the South Pole proved particularly eventful, when an off-duty Branson was hastily summoned to attend a tourist in cardiac distress. Being the only member of medical staff on the base trained in emergency medicine, by the time she arrived the patient's condition had deteriorated so much that Branson knew she had only one option. \"We had to shock him. He was pretty unconscious, but kind of like he was going to feel this still... because it is painful.\" Her approach worked. \"I went to see him off the next day, and he looked at me and said 'You! You shocked me! Thank you. But ow!'\" \"Those two things, they really sum up the type of experience that fire-fighting in Antarctica is. It's totally needed; it is not perfect.\"", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1098, "answer_end": 1689, "text": "Having initially trained as a fire-fighter and paramedic after completing high school in the US, Branson was jokingly challenged by a friend to apply for the Antarctic programme. \"I had finished my training, graduated and was looking for an adventure (and more importantly, a job)... I have an odd habit of pursuing things that scare me and took the challenge,\" she tells BBC News. By the time interviews came around, her friend had gotten another job, so she went through the rest of the process alone. Just a few months later, the adventure found her and she was on a flight to Antarctica."}], "question": "How do you get a job in Antarctica?", "id": "195_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1690, "answer_end": 2919, "text": "\"You'd work 24 hours on, 24 hours off, and every other week you'd have an additional day off,\" says Branson. \"Everybody else in the town works Monday to Saturday and gets Sunday off, so we were kind of the anomaly in the firehouse.\" Regular duties ranged from cleaning the firehouse to conducting fire inspections around the town and running dispatch - the main communication hub for all vehicles coming on and off Ross Island, where McMurdo sits. But fighting fires in freezing temperatures also calls for some specialist equipment. Surprisingly, water is still an option. McMurdo's fire engine has a pump, which cycles water constantly through the vehicle to prevent it from freezing. Remembering to set the pump going is, says Branson, a lesson quickly learned. \"You do not want to be the person who freezes all the water in the fire engine. Then you're stuck with a 500 gallon engine with an ice block in it... and nobody on base is going to like you.\" There are, however, no additional layers to the gear worn by fire-fighters in sub-zero temperatures. \"You also can only wear certain base layers when you're fire-fighting because polyester and materials like that melt to your skin... so yeah I was freezing. All the time.\""}], "question": "What is fire-fighting like?", "id": "195_1"}]}]}, {"title": "Karl Lagerfeld, iconic Chanel fashion designer, dies", "date": "19 February 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Iconic fashion designer Karl Lagerfeld has died in Paris following a short illness. The German designer, who was the creative director for Chanel and Fendi, was one of the industry's most prolific figures and worked up until his death. His signature ponytail and dark glasses made him an instantly recognisable figure around the world. Industry heavyweights, including Italian designer Donatella Versace, issued heartfelt tributes. \"Today the world lost a giant among men,\" said the editor-in-chief of Vogue magazine, Anna Wintour. Lagerfeld's website says his year of birth was 1938 - though most placed his age at five years older. Rumours of Lagerfeld's ill health had swirled for several weeks after he missed a number of events - including Chanel's spring/summer show last month. He died on Tuesday morning after being admitted to hospital the night before, French media report. As a designer he transformed the fortunes of Chanel, one of the leading names in high fashion, but his work also filtered down to the high street. Away from his work, Lagerfeld made headlines for a range of provocative, and sometimes offensive, statements. Members of the fashion industry have been lining up to praise Lagerfeld's work. Donatella Versace said his genius had \"touched so many\" and was a source of inspiration for her and her late brother. Wintour described the designer's \"creative genius\" as \"breathtaking\". \"Karl was brilliant, he was wicked, he was funny, he was generous beyond measure, and he was deeply kind. I will miss him so very much,\" her statement went on. The model, Claudia Schiffer, said: \"What Warhol was to art, he was to fashion; he is irreplaceable. He is the only person who could make black and white colourful.\" Chanel's chief executive, Alain Wertheimer, credited Lagerfeld with transforming the brand after he joined in 1983. \"Thanks to his creative genius, generosity and exceptional intuition, Karl Lagerfeld was ahead of his time, which widely contributed to the House of Chanel's success throughout the world,\" he said in a statement. It has been announced that Virginie Viard, his deputy at fashion house Chanel, will succeed him as creative chief. Pier Paolo Righi, his own fashion brand's CEO, described him as a \"creative genius\". \"He leaves behind an extraordinary legacy as one of the greatest designers of our time,\" a statement from the House of Karl Lagerfeld said. Celebrities including Victoria Beckham, actress Diane Kruger and models Gigi and Bella Hadid have also paid tribute. US First Lady Melania Trump shared images on Twitter of a design created by Lagerfeld for her first official White House appearance. He was born Karl Otto Lagerfeldt in pre-war Germany in the 1930s. Lagerfeld changed his original surname from Lagerfeldt, because he believed it sounded \"more commercial\". He emigrated to Paris as a young teenager, and became a design assistant for Pierre Balmain, before working at Fendi and Chloe in the 1960s. But the designer was best known for his association with the French label Chanel. He began his long career with the fashion house in 1983, a decade after Coco Chanel died. Lagerfeld's designs brought new life to the label, adding glitz to the prim tweed suits the couture house was known for. The designer worked tirelessly, simultaneously churning out collections for LVMH's Fendi and his own label, up until his death. He also collaborated with high street brand H&M - before high-end collaborations became more common. Lagerfeld was known to encourage new designers, like Victoria Beckham -  who has praised him for his kindness. Lagerfeld's own look became famous in his later years - wearing dark suits and leather gloves with a signature white pony-tail and tinted sunglasses. Lagerfeld said of his appearance: \"I am like a caricature of myself, and I like that.\" Despite his age and decades within the industry, the designer remained prevalent within popular culture - appearing in 2015 as a character in Kim Kardashian's Hollywood smart-phone game. Lagerfeld's beloved pet cat Choupette, whom he doted on, has a cult following of her own online. Questions about her fate have become a talking point on Twitter following the news of the designer's death. Lagerfeld became known for his scathing wit and provocative comments, famously describing sweatpants as a \"sign of defeat\". However, some of his remarks drew sharp criticism in recent years. In particular, he sparked outrage when he attacked Germany's open-door response to the migrant crisis, as reported by The Guardian, and for controversial remarks he made about the #MeToo movement,  as reported by Papermag. Follow us on Facebook, on Twitter @BBCNewsEnts, or on Instagram at bbcnewsents. If you have a story suggestion email entertainment.news@bbc.co.uk.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1141, "answer_end": 2652, "text": "Members of the fashion industry have been lining up to praise Lagerfeld's work. Donatella Versace said his genius had \"touched so many\" and was a source of inspiration for her and her late brother. Wintour described the designer's \"creative genius\" as \"breathtaking\". \"Karl was brilliant, he was wicked, he was funny, he was generous beyond measure, and he was deeply kind. I will miss him so very much,\" her statement went on. The model, Claudia Schiffer, said: \"What Warhol was to art, he was to fashion; he is irreplaceable. He is the only person who could make black and white colourful.\" Chanel's chief executive, Alain Wertheimer, credited Lagerfeld with transforming the brand after he joined in 1983. \"Thanks to his creative genius, generosity and exceptional intuition, Karl Lagerfeld was ahead of his time, which widely contributed to the House of Chanel's success throughout the world,\" he said in a statement. It has been announced that Virginie Viard, his deputy at fashion house Chanel, will succeed him as creative chief. Pier Paolo Righi, his own fashion brand's CEO, described him as a \"creative genius\". \"He leaves behind an extraordinary legacy as one of the greatest designers of our time,\" a statement from the House of Karl Lagerfeld said. Celebrities including Victoria Beckham, actress Diane Kruger and models Gigi and Bella Hadid have also paid tribute. US First Lady Melania Trump shared images on Twitter of a design created by Lagerfeld for her first official White House appearance."}], "question": "Who has paid tribute?", "id": "196_0"}]}]}, {"title": "New face of the Bank of England's \u00a350 note is revealed as Alan Turing", "date": "15 July 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Computer pioneer and codebreaker Alan Turing will feature on the new design of the Bank of England's PS50 note. He is celebrated for his code-cracking work that proved vital to the Allies in World War Two. The PS50 note will be the last of the Bank of England collection to switch from paper to polymer when it enters circulation by the end of 2021. The note was once described as the \"currency of corrupt elites\" and is the least used in daily transactions. However, there are still 344 million PS50 notes in circulation, with a combined value of PS17.2bn, according to the Bank of England's banknote circulation figures. \"Alan Turing was an outstanding mathematician whose work has had an enormous impact on how we live today,\" said Bank of England governor Mark Carney. \"As the father of computer science and artificial intelligence, as well as a war hero, Alan Turing's contributions were far-ranging and path breaking. Turing is a giant on whose shoulders so many now stand.\" The work of Alan Turing, who was educated in Sherborne, Dorset, helped accelerate Allied efforts to read German Naval messages enciphered with the Enigma machine. Less celebrated is the pivotal role he played in the development of early computers, first at the National Physical Laboratory and later at the University of Manchester. In 2013, he was given a posthumous royal pardon for his 1952 conviction for gross indecency following which he was chemically castrated. He had been arrested after having an affair with a 19-year-old Manchester man. The Bank said his legacy continued to have an impact on science and society today. Alan Turing played an absolutely crucial role in Allied victories through his codebreaking work. He is also considered a towering figure in the development of computing. Yet for decades, the idea of Turing being featured on a banknote seemed impossible. This will be seen as an attempt to signal how much has changed in society following the long, ultimately successful campaign to pardon Turing of his 1952 conviction - under contemporary laws - for having a homosexual relationship. His work helped cement the concept of the algorithm - the set of instructions used to perform computations - that are at the heart of our relationship with computers today. He was also a pioneer in the field of artificial intelligence: one of his best known achievements in this field is the Turing Test, which aims to measure whether a machine is \"intelligent\". Former Manchester MP and gay rights campaigner John Leech, who campaigned for Alan Turing's pardon, said: \"This is a fitting and welcome tribute to a true Manchester hero. \"But more importantly I hope it will serve as a stark and rightfully painful reminder of what we lost in Turing, and what we risk when we allow that kind of hateful ideology to win.\" The Bank asked the public to offer suggestions for the scientist whose portrait should appear on the PS50 note. In six weeks, the Bank received 227,299 nominations covering 989 eligible scientists. A shortlist was drawn up by a committee, including experts from the field of science, before the governor made the final decision. The shortlisted characters, or pairs of characters, considered were: Mary Anning, Paul Dirac, Rosalind Franklin, William Herschel and Caroline Herschel, Dorothy Hodgkin, Ada Lovelace and Charles Babbage, Stephen Hawking, James Clerk Maxwell, Srinivasa Ramanujan, Ernest Rutherford, Frederick Sanger and Alan Turing. The debate over representation on the Bank's notes could resurface after this decision. Jane Austen will continue to be the only woman, apart from the Queen, whose image will be seen on the four notes. There was also a campaign calling for a historic figure from a black and ethnic minority background (BAME) to feature on the new PS50 note. In response to Maidstone MP Helen Grant, who raised the issue in Parliament, the governor said: \"The Bank will properly consider all protected characteristics, and seek to represent on its banknotes characters reflecting the diversity of British society, its culture and its values.\" Steam engine pioneers James Watt and Matthew Boulton appear on the current PS50 note, issued in 2011. The new PS50 Turing note will enter circulation by the end of 2021, Mr Carney announced at the Science and Industry Museum in Manchester. It will feature: - A photo of Turing taken in 1951 by Elliott and Fry, and part of the National Portrait Gallery's collection - A table and mathematical formulae from Turing's 1936 paper \"On Computable Numbers, with an application to the Entscheidungsproblem\" - foundational for computer science - The Automatic Computing Engine (ACE) Pilot Machine - the trial model of Turing's design and one of the first electronic stored-program digital computers - Technical drawings for the British Bombe, the machine specified by Turing and one of the primary tools used to break Enigma-enciphered messages - A quote from Alan Turing, given in an interview to The Times newspaper on 11 June 1949: \"This is only a foretaste of what is to come, and only the shadow of what is going to be\" - His signature from the visitor's book at Bletchley Park in 1947 - Ticker tape depicting Alan Turing's birth date (23 June 1912) in binary code. The concept of a machine fed by binary tape featured in Turing's 1936 paper. Current Bank of England PS5 and PS10 notes are plastic - which the Bank says are more durable, secure and harder to forge. The next version of the PS20, to enter circulation next year, will also be made of the same polymer. So, the PS50 note will be the last of the Bank's collection to change. In recent years, there have been doubts that the PS50 note would continue to exist at all. Fears that the largest denomination note was widely used by criminals and rarely for ordinary purchases prompted a government-led discussion on whether to abolish it. The PS50 note was described by Peter Sands, former chief executive of Standard Chartered bank, as the \"currency of corrupt elites, of crime of all sorts and of tax evasion\". There has also been considerable discussion over the future of cash in the UK, as cards and digital payments accelerate and the use of notes and coins declines. Nevertheless, in October, ministers announced plans for a new version of the note, to be printed in the UK. Polymer PS5 and PS10 notes are already in circulation, while a PS20 design will be issued in 2020. Jane Austen was chosen to appear on the plastic PS10 note after a campaign to represent women other than the Queen on English notes. In 2015, a total of 30,000 people nominated 590 famous visual artists for the PS20 note, before JMW Turner was selected with the help of focus groups. He will replace economist Adam Smith on the note in 2020. Sir Winston Churchill appears on the polymer PS5 note. A host of different people have appeared on banknotes issued in Scotland and Northern Ireland. Ulster Bank's vertical PS5 and PS10 notes entered circulation in Northern Ireland in February.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 981, "answer_end": 1612, "text": "The work of Alan Turing, who was educated in Sherborne, Dorset, helped accelerate Allied efforts to read German Naval messages enciphered with the Enigma machine. Less celebrated is the pivotal role he played in the development of early computers, first at the National Physical Laboratory and later at the University of Manchester. In 2013, he was given a posthumous royal pardon for his 1952 conviction for gross indecency following which he was chemically castrated. He had been arrested after having an affair with a 19-year-old Manchester man. The Bank said his legacy continued to have an impact on science and society today."}], "question": "Why was Turing chosen?", "id": "197_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 4087, "answer_end": 5621, "text": "Steam engine pioneers James Watt and Matthew Boulton appear on the current PS50 note, issued in 2011. The new PS50 Turing note will enter circulation by the end of 2021, Mr Carney announced at the Science and Industry Museum in Manchester. It will feature: - A photo of Turing taken in 1951 by Elliott and Fry, and part of the National Portrait Gallery's collection - A table and mathematical formulae from Turing's 1936 paper \"On Computable Numbers, with an application to the Entscheidungsproblem\" - foundational for computer science - The Automatic Computing Engine (ACE) Pilot Machine - the trial model of Turing's design and one of the first electronic stored-program digital computers - Technical drawings for the British Bombe, the machine specified by Turing and one of the primary tools used to break Enigma-enciphered messages - A quote from Alan Turing, given in an interview to The Times newspaper on 11 June 1949: \"This is only a foretaste of what is to come, and only the shadow of what is going to be\" - His signature from the visitor's book at Bletchley Park in 1947 - Ticker tape depicting Alan Turing's birth date (23 June 1912) in binary code. The concept of a machine fed by binary tape featured in Turing's 1936 paper. Current Bank of England PS5 and PS10 notes are plastic - which the Bank says are more durable, secure and harder to forge. The next version of the PS20, to enter circulation next year, will also be made of the same polymer. So, the PS50 note will be the last of the Bank's collection to change."}], "question": "How will the banknote change?", "id": "197_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 5622, "answer_end": 6322, "text": "In recent years, there have been doubts that the PS50 note would continue to exist at all. Fears that the largest denomination note was widely used by criminals and rarely for ordinary purchases prompted a government-led discussion on whether to abolish it. The PS50 note was described by Peter Sands, former chief executive of Standard Chartered bank, as the \"currency of corrupt elites, of crime of all sorts and of tax evasion\". There has also been considerable discussion over the future of cash in the UK, as cards and digital payments accelerate and the use of notes and coins declines. Nevertheless, in October, ministers announced plans for a new version of the note, to be printed in the UK."}], "question": "Why do we even have a PS50 note?", "id": "197_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 6323, "answer_end": 7008, "text": "Polymer PS5 and PS10 notes are already in circulation, while a PS20 design will be issued in 2020. Jane Austen was chosen to appear on the plastic PS10 note after a campaign to represent women other than the Queen on English notes. In 2015, a total of 30,000 people nominated 590 famous visual artists for the PS20 note, before JMW Turner was selected with the help of focus groups. He will replace economist Adam Smith on the note in 2020. Sir Winston Churchill appears on the polymer PS5 note. A host of different people have appeared on banknotes issued in Scotland and Northern Ireland. Ulster Bank's vertical PS5 and PS10 notes entered circulation in Northern Ireland in February."}], "question": "What about other banknotes?", "id": "197_3"}]}]}, {"title": "Spain attacks: Suspects shot dead in Cambrils after van-ramming", "date": "18 August 2017", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Spanish police say they have shot dead five suspected terrorists in the town of Cambrils in a second vehicle attack, hours after another in Barcelona killed 13 people and injured dozens. Police said the men were linked to the Barcelona attack, which so-called Islamic State said it had carried out. Police are still hunting the man who drove his van into crowds on Las Ramblas in Barcelona on Thursday. Spanish media have named Moussa Oukabir, 18, as the suspect. He is the brother of Driss Oukabir, whose documentation was allegedly used to rent the van involved in the attack. Spanish PM Mariano Rajoy has condemned what he called a \"jihadist attack\". He has announced three days of national mourning and a minute's silence was held at noon (10:00 GMT) on Friday. Seven people, including a police officer, were wounded when a car was driven into them early on Friday, Catalan emergency services said. One later died in hospital. The attackers' vehicle overturned and when the men got out they were quickly fired upon by police, media say. One was reportedly brandishing a knife. The men were wearing what appeared to be explosive belts, police said, and a series of controlled explosions was carried out. The belts proved to be fake, Catalan regional head Carles Puigdemont later told local radio. Police say the situation in Cambrils - a popular seaside resort 110km (70 miles) south-west of Barcelona - is now under control. A rented van was driven down Las Ramblas, a popular street in the centre of the city on Thursday afternoon, mowing down tourists and locals. Witnesses said the van deliberately targeted people, weaving from side to side. The driver of the van, believed to be the sole attacker, fled on foot and is still being hunted by police. Las Ramblas is a central boulevard that runs 1.2km (0.75 miles) through the centre of Barcelona from the city's Placa de Catalunya (Catalonia Square) to the Christopher Columbus monument at the seafront. A businessman from New Orleans, who was just arriving in a taxi in Las Ramblas, said: \"I heard a crowd screaming. It sounded like they were screaming for a movie star. \"I saw the van. It had already been busted on the front. It was weaving left and right, trying to hit people as fast as possible. There were people lying on the ground.\" Kevin Kwast, who is on holiday in Barcelona with his family, said: \"I was eating with my family in La Boqueria market very near where the crash occurred. \"Hundreds of people started stampeding through the market... we started running with them going outside right into where casualties were already on the ground. \"Police pushed us into a money transfer shop and we've been sheltering there for over an hour.\" Citizens of some 24 countries were killed or injured in the Las Ramblas attack, the Catalan government has said. Confirmed dead: - Spaniard Francisco Lopez Rodriguez, who was in his 60s - Italian Bruno Gulotta, 35 - Unnamed Italian - Unnamed Belgian What do we know about the victims? France's foreign ministry said on Friday that 26 French nationals were injured, with at least 11 in a serious condition. Thirteen German citizens were wounded, some seriously. A five-year-old Irish boy suffered a broken leg. Hong Kong, Taiwan and Greece are among those saying their citizens were injured. Pakistani, Philippine, Venezuelan, Australian, Romanian, Peruvian, Dutch, Danish, Algerian and Chinese nationals were also among the casualties, officials said. Two people were detained on Thursday over the Las Ramblas attack, but not the driver of the van. One of those held is Driss Oukabir, whose documents were used to rent the van, local media say. They say he is in his 20s, and was born in Morocco. However, latest reports suggest he has told police he was not involved, and that his documents were stolen. Spanish media report that his younger brother, Moussa, rented two vans, the one used in the attack and another found hours later in the town of Vic, north of Barcelona, and intended as a getaway vehicle. The second man arrested was born in Melilla, the autonomous Spanish city on the north coast of Africa. He has not been named. On Friday, police announced a third arrest had been made in the Catalan town of Ripoll. So-called Islamic State has said it was behind the Las Ramblas attack, saying in a brief statement carried by its Amaq news outlet that it was carried out by \"Islamic State soldiers\". The group gave no further evidence or details to back this claim. - Alcanar, Wednesday evening: An explosion rips through a house in the small town, 200km south of Barcelona. One person dies. Police chief Josep Lluis Trapero said it appeared the residents at the house had been \"preparing an explosive device\". A Catalan government official says a cell may have intended to use gas canisters in the Las Ramblas attack - Barcelona, Thursday 16:50 (14:50 GMT): A white Fiat van drives down Las Ramblas in central Barcelona, killing 13 people and injuring scores. The driver flees on foot - Vic, Thursday 18:30: Police find a second van, thought to be a getaway vehicle, in the town, 80km north of Barcelona - Sant Just Desvern, Thursday 19:30: A car is driven into officers at a checkpoint on the outskirts of Barcelona. A man is found dead in the car but the interior ministry denies earlier reports he was killed by police gunfire. The dead man is not believed to be linked to the Las Ramblas attack, officials say, but investigations are ongoing - Cambrils, Friday 01:00: A second vehicle attack takes place in the resort south of Barcelona. Police kill five suspects said to be linked to the Las Ramblas attack Trump pushes debunked 'pig's blood' myth, hours after Barcelona attack Gordon Corera, BBC News security correspondent Barcelona is just the latest European city to witness the terrible effects of a vehicle attack on an iconic or \"soft\" target. In Nice a year ago, Bastille Day celebrations were targeted, then a Christmas market in Berlin. In London, Westminster and London Bridge, as well as Finsbury Park, saw cars and vans used as weapons. In the UK, new barriers have been put in place to mitigate some of the risks at key locations and there is discussion of imposing checks on those renting vans, but security services in Britain - as well as across Europe - are all too aware that there are limits to what they can do to spot and stop those planning murder in this way. The weapons employed are readily available and there is little or no training, co-ordination or planning required. This means there are  few points where individuals can be spotted by the intelligence services. Although so-called Islamic State has released a statement saying what it calls its \"soldiers\" had carried out the Barcelona attack, it is not yet clear whether there was any direct link to the group or if they were simply inspired by its call to act. The language used often indicates the latter. Either way, authorities will be bracing themselves for the possibility of further attacks of a similar nature. - Paris, 9 August 2017: A man rammed a BMW into a group of soldiers, injuring six. - London, 19 June 2017: A man is killed in a van attack on Muslims outside a mosque in Finsbury Park - London, 3 June 2017: Eight people died when three jihadists drove a van into pedestrians on London Bridge and then stabbed passers-by - Stockholm, Sweden, 7 April 2017: Uzbek Rakhmat Akilov killed five people when he drove a lorry through a shopping area - London, 22 March 2017: Four people died when a car rammed into pedestrians on Westminster Bridge, and the driver then stabbed to death a policeman - Berlin, Germany, 19 December 2016: Tunisian Anis Amri ploughed a truck into a Christmas market at Breitscheidplatz, killing 12 people - Nice, France, 14 July 2016: Tunisian Mohamed Lahouaiej-Bouhlel drove a truck into crowds on the Promenade des Anglais, killing 86 people on Bastille Day - France, December 2014: A van was driven into a Christmas market in Nantes and a car rammed pedestrians in Dijon, leaving more than 20 wounded", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 766, "answer_end": 1428, "text": "Seven people, including a police officer, were wounded when a car was driven into them early on Friday, Catalan emergency services said. One later died in hospital. The attackers' vehicle overturned and when the men got out they were quickly fired upon by police, media say. One was reportedly brandishing a knife. The men were wearing what appeared to be explosive belts, police said, and a series of controlled explosions was carried out. The belts proved to be fake, Catalan regional head Carles Puigdemont later told local radio. Police say the situation in Cambrils - a popular seaside resort 110km (70 miles) south-west of Barcelona - is now under control."}], "question": "What happened in Cambrils?", "id": "198_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1429, "answer_end": 2708, "text": "A rented van was driven down Las Ramblas, a popular street in the centre of the city on Thursday afternoon, mowing down tourists and locals. Witnesses said the van deliberately targeted people, weaving from side to side. The driver of the van, believed to be the sole attacker, fled on foot and is still being hunted by police. Las Ramblas is a central boulevard that runs 1.2km (0.75 miles) through the centre of Barcelona from the city's Placa de Catalunya (Catalonia Square) to the Christopher Columbus monument at the seafront. A businessman from New Orleans, who was just arriving in a taxi in Las Ramblas, said: \"I heard a crowd screaming. It sounded like they were screaming for a movie star. \"I saw the van. It had already been busted on the front. It was weaving left and right, trying to hit people as fast as possible. There were people lying on the ground.\" Kevin Kwast, who is on holiday in Barcelona with his family, said: \"I was eating with my family in La Boqueria market very near where the crash occurred. \"Hundreds of people started stampeding through the market... we started running with them going outside right into where casualties were already on the ground. \"Police pushed us into a money transfer shop and we've been sheltering there for over an hour.\""}], "question": "What happened on Las Ramblas?", "id": "198_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2709, "answer_end": 3460, "text": "Citizens of some 24 countries were killed or injured in the Las Ramblas attack, the Catalan government has said. Confirmed dead: - Spaniard Francisco Lopez Rodriguez, who was in his 60s - Italian Bruno Gulotta, 35 - Unnamed Italian - Unnamed Belgian What do we know about the victims? France's foreign ministry said on Friday that 26 French nationals were injured, with at least 11 in a serious condition. Thirteen German citizens were wounded, some seriously. A five-year-old Irish boy suffered a broken leg. Hong Kong, Taiwan and Greece are among those saying their citizens were injured. Pakistani, Philippine, Venezuelan, Australian, Romanian, Peruvian, Dutch, Danish, Algerian and Chinese nationals were also among the casualties, officials said."}], "question": "Who were the victims?", "id": "198_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3461, "answer_end": 4481, "text": "Two people were detained on Thursday over the Las Ramblas attack, but not the driver of the van. One of those held is Driss Oukabir, whose documents were used to rent the van, local media say. They say he is in his 20s, and was born in Morocco. However, latest reports suggest he has told police he was not involved, and that his documents were stolen. Spanish media report that his younger brother, Moussa, rented two vans, the one used in the attack and another found hours later in the town of Vic, north of Barcelona, and intended as a getaway vehicle. The second man arrested was born in Melilla, the autonomous Spanish city on the north coast of Africa. He has not been named. On Friday, police announced a third arrest had been made in the Catalan town of Ripoll. So-called Islamic State has said it was behind the Las Ramblas attack, saying in a brief statement carried by its Amaq news outlet that it was carried out by \"Islamic State soldiers\". The group gave no further evidence or details to back this claim."}], "question": "Have arrests been made?", "id": "198_3"}]}]}, {"title": "Saudi Arabia sisters given humanitarian visa and leave Hong Kong", "date": "25 March 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Two young sisters from Saudi Arabia who spent six months hiding in Hong Kong after fleeing their family have left for a third country after being given humanitarian visas, their lawyer says. Rawan and Reem (not their real names) said they did not want to return home because they feared punishment. The women said they were stopped by Saudi officials at Hong Kong's airport en route for Australia in September. No details about where they are and how they left have been released. \"We are thrilled that our story has a happy ending and that we have found our way to safety to re-start our lives free of violence and oppression,\" the sisters said in a statement released by their lawyer. \"We wish for our story to offer hope to others who face similar situations. We want to say loud and clear to the Saudi authorities and other regimes which treat women unequally: never underestimate the strength of brave women.\" They left Hong Kong late last week and were \"safe and well,\" the statement added. The Saudi authorities have not commented on the case. Rawan, 18, and Reem, 20, arrived at Hong Kong's airport in September in a two-hour stop as they travelled to the Australian city of Melbourne. They had fled their family while on a holiday in Sri Lanka. But they were stopped from continuing on by Saudi officials who attempted to seize their travel documents, the sisters said. They then resisted boarding a flight to Dubai, only to find the flights to Melbourne they had booked had been cancelled. The women fled the airport and spent the following six months in Hong Kong hiding in 13 different places, including hotels, hostels and shelters, they told the BBC in an interview last month after launching an appeal for help. In November, they were informed that their Saudi passports had been invalidated - under Saudi law, women have to get a male relative's approval to apply for a passport or travel outside the country. The sisters said they had hatched a plot to flee their family because they had \"no dignity\" in their lives in Saudi Arabia, where they were beaten, humiliated and forced to do household chores by their male relatives. The women said they had renounced Islam - punishable by death under Saudi law - and feared for their safety if they were forcibly returned. \"They are now in that third country, beginning their lives as free young women, looking forward to assimilating into the local culture, contributing to their new home and leading lives as equal human beings,\" their lawyer Michael Vidler said. Reem told the BBC in February she had been studying English literature before escaping and that she had plans to write about their lives in Saudi Arabia. Rawan said she wanted to study biology and gain a PhD in genetics. Reacting to the news, Lynn Maalouf, Middle East Research Director at Amnesty International, said: \"The sisters must be allowed to build their lives without living in fear that their family or the Saudi authorities will force them back.\" She added: \"No woman or girl should fear for their life like Reem and Rawan did. Saudi Arabia must urgently reform the guardianship system and end the whole range of discriminatory laws and practices women face.\" - Rahaf Mohammed al-Qunun also tried to escape to Australia earlier this year. She ended up in a stand-off in an airport hotel room in the Thai capital, Bangkok, where she appealed for international help. Eventually Ms al-Qunun was granted asylum in Canada - Hakeem al-Araibi, who fled Bahrain for Australia in 2014, was arrested in Bangkok during his honeymoon on an Interpol notice requested by Bahrain. He was released two months later after an international outcry. He became an Australian citizen earlier this month - But Dina Ali Lasloom was forcibly returned to Saudi Arabia after being stopped in Manila, in the Philippines, in 2017 on her way to Australia. It is not known what has happened to her", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1051, "answer_end": 3197, "text": "Rawan, 18, and Reem, 20, arrived at Hong Kong's airport in September in a two-hour stop as they travelled to the Australian city of Melbourne. They had fled their family while on a holiday in Sri Lanka. But they were stopped from continuing on by Saudi officials who attempted to seize their travel documents, the sisters said. They then resisted boarding a flight to Dubai, only to find the flights to Melbourne they had booked had been cancelled. The women fled the airport and spent the following six months in Hong Kong hiding in 13 different places, including hotels, hostels and shelters, they told the BBC in an interview last month after launching an appeal for help. In November, they were informed that their Saudi passports had been invalidated - under Saudi law, women have to get a male relative's approval to apply for a passport or travel outside the country. The sisters said they had hatched a plot to flee their family because they had \"no dignity\" in their lives in Saudi Arabia, where they were beaten, humiliated and forced to do household chores by their male relatives. The women said they had renounced Islam - punishable by death under Saudi law - and feared for their safety if they were forcibly returned. \"They are now in that third country, beginning their lives as free young women, looking forward to assimilating into the local culture, contributing to their new home and leading lives as equal human beings,\" their lawyer Michael Vidler said. Reem told the BBC in February she had been studying English literature before escaping and that she had plans to write about their lives in Saudi Arabia. Rawan said she wanted to study biology and gain a PhD in genetics. Reacting to the news, Lynn Maalouf, Middle East Research Director at Amnesty International, said: \"The sisters must be allowed to build their lives without living in fear that their family or the Saudi authorities will force them back.\" She added: \"No woman or girl should fear for their life like Reem and Rawan did. Saudi Arabia must urgently reform the guardianship system and end the whole range of discriminatory laws and practices women face.\""}], "question": "What is their case?", "id": "199_0"}]}]}, {"title": "DR Congo election: Defeated candidate vows legal challenge", "date": "11 January 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "The defeated opposition candidate in DR Congo's presidential election has vowed to challenge the result in court. Martin Fayulu told the BBC the people of the nation deserved to know the truth of the election, which he said had led to a \"coup\". Another opposition candidate, Felix Tshisekedi, was declared the winner amid accusations of a power-sharing deal with the outgoing president. Several deaths and injuries have been reported in the wake of the results. The election was to choose a successor to Joseph Kabila, who has been in office for 18 years. The result, if confirmed, would create the first orderly transfer of power since independence from Belgium in 1960. The influential Catholic Church, which posted 40,000 election observers, said the result did not match its findings. Speaking to the BBC's Africa editor, Fergal Keane, Mr Fayulu said he would challenge the declared result in the constitutional court. \"I will do whatever is possible for me to do to get the truth because the Congolese want change,\" he said. Mr Fayulu admitted such a challenge would have little chance of success as the court was \"composed of Kabila's people\" but he said he did not want to give his opponents any chance to say he had not followed the law. \"Felix Tshisekedi has been nominated by Mr Kabila to perpetuate the Kabila regime. Because today the boss is Kabila,\" Mr Fayulu said. \"Mr Kabila cannot stay and make an arrangement with someone who will not have any power... Mr Tshisekedi knows himself that he did not win.\" Mr Fayulu said he feared there would be violence if the electoral commission did not give the true figures \"polling station by polling station\" and that it was the right of all Congolese to demonstrate according to the law. Thousands of supporters of Mr Tshisekedi took to the streets to celebrate but those who backed Mr Fayulu also came out in protest. Violent scenes were reported in Kikwit, where at least two policemen and two civilians were said to have been killed. There were reports of several hundred students protesting against the result and being dispersed by tear gas in the town of Mbandaka. Protests were also reported in Kisangani but the south, where Mr Tshisekedi has broad support, was mainly celebrating. UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres has urged all sides \"to refrain from violence\" and widespread unrest has not yet been reported. According to the National Electoral Commission (Ceni), Mr Tshisekedi received 38.5% of the vote in the 30 December election. The full results were: - Felix Tshisekedi - 7 million votes - Martin Fayulu - 6.4 million votes - Emmanuel Shadary - 4.4 million votes Turnout was reported to be 48%. Candidates must file any appeal to the constitutional court within 48 hours of the announcement of the provisional results. Judges will then have seven days to deliberate. Constitutional expert Jacques Ndjoli told the BBC there were three possible outcomes: the court could confirm Mr Tshisekedi's victory, order a recount, or cancel the results altogether and call fresh elections. The constitutional court has never overturned results before, and some think most of its judges are close to the ruling party. If Mr Tshisekedi were confirmed as the winner, he would be expected to be inaugurated within ten days. Mr Tshisekedi hailed his victory, vowing to be \"the president of all DR Congolese\". His spokesman, Louis d'Or Ngalamulume, said there was \"never any deal\" with Mr Kabila. Mr Kabila's ruling party, whose candidate came a distant third, has not yet contested the result, although it did not rule out doing so. Abroad, the response was a mix of appealing for calm and calling for clarification. The African Union leader, Moussa Faki Mahamat, said any dispute should be \"resolved peacefully, by turning to the relevant laws\". The US hailed the \"courageous\" Congolese voters and called for a \"clarification of questions which have been raised regarding the electoral count\". The EU appealed for all parties to abstain from violence. France did challenge the declared result, saying it was \"not consistent with the true results\". French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said: \"On the face of it, Mr Fayulu was the leader coming out of these elections.\" Why DR Congo matters:", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 789, "answer_end": 1744, "text": "Speaking to the BBC's Africa editor, Fergal Keane, Mr Fayulu said he would challenge the declared result in the constitutional court. \"I will do whatever is possible for me to do to get the truth because the Congolese want change,\" he said. Mr Fayulu admitted such a challenge would have little chance of success as the court was \"composed of Kabila's people\" but he said he did not want to give his opponents any chance to say he had not followed the law. \"Felix Tshisekedi has been nominated by Mr Kabila to perpetuate the Kabila regime. Because today the boss is Kabila,\" Mr Fayulu said. \"Mr Kabila cannot stay and make an arrangement with someone who will not have any power... Mr Tshisekedi knows himself that he did not win.\" Mr Fayulu said he feared there would be violence if the electoral commission did not give the true figures \"polling station by polling station\" and that it was the right of all Congolese to demonstrate according to the law."}], "question": "What has Mr Fayulu said?", "id": "200_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1745, "answer_end": 2380, "text": "Thousands of supporters of Mr Tshisekedi took to the streets to celebrate but those who backed Mr Fayulu also came out in protest. Violent scenes were reported in Kikwit, where at least two policemen and two civilians were said to have been killed. There were reports of several hundred students protesting against the result and being dispersed by tear gas in the town of Mbandaka. Protests were also reported in Kisangani but the south, where Mr Tshisekedi has broad support, was mainly celebrating. UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres has urged all sides \"to refrain from violence\" and widespread unrest has not yet been reported."}], "question": "Has there been any violence?", "id": "200_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2381, "answer_end": 2672, "text": "According to the National Electoral Commission (Ceni), Mr Tshisekedi received 38.5% of the vote in the 30 December election. The full results were: - Felix Tshisekedi - 7 million votes - Martin Fayulu - 6.4 million votes - Emmanuel Shadary - 4.4 million votes Turnout was reported to be 48%."}], "question": "What was the result of the election?", "id": "200_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2673, "answer_end": 3285, "text": "Candidates must file any appeal to the constitutional court within 48 hours of the announcement of the provisional results. Judges will then have seven days to deliberate. Constitutional expert Jacques Ndjoli told the BBC there were three possible outcomes: the court could confirm Mr Tshisekedi's victory, order a recount, or cancel the results altogether and call fresh elections. The constitutional court has never overturned results before, and some think most of its judges are close to the ruling party. If Mr Tshisekedi were confirmed as the winner, he would be expected to be inaugurated within ten days."}], "question": "What could happen next?", "id": "200_3"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3286, "answer_end": 4235, "text": "Mr Tshisekedi hailed his victory, vowing to be \"the president of all DR Congolese\". His spokesman, Louis d'Or Ngalamulume, said there was \"never any deal\" with Mr Kabila. Mr Kabila's ruling party, whose candidate came a distant third, has not yet contested the result, although it did not rule out doing so. Abroad, the response was a mix of appealing for calm and calling for clarification. The African Union leader, Moussa Faki Mahamat, said any dispute should be \"resolved peacefully, by turning to the relevant laws\". The US hailed the \"courageous\" Congolese voters and called for a \"clarification of questions which have been raised regarding the electoral count\". The EU appealed for all parties to abstain from violence. France did challenge the declared result, saying it was \"not consistent with the true results\". French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said: \"On the face of it, Mr Fayulu was the leader coming out of these elections.\""}], "question": "How has the result been received?", "id": "200_4"}]}]}, {"title": "Babies made from three people approved in UK", "date": "15 December 2016", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Babies made from two women and one man have been approved by the UK's fertility regulator. The historic and controversial move is to prevent children being born with deadly genetic diseases. Doctors in Newcastle - who developed the advanced form of IVF - are expected to be the first to offer the procedure and have already appealed for donor eggs. The first such child could be born, at the earliest, by the end of 2017. Some families have lost multiple children to incurable mitochondrial diseases, which can leave people with insufficient energy to keep their heart beating. The diseases are passed down from only the mother so a technique using a donor egg as well as the mother's egg and father's sperm has been developed. The resulting child has a tiny amount of their DNA from the donor, but the procedure is legal and reviews say it is ethical and scientifically ready. \"It is a decision of historic importance,\" said Sally Cheshire, chairwoman of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA). \"This is about cautious go ahead, not gung-ho go ahead, and there is a long way to go. \"I'm sure patients will be really pleased by what we've decided today.\" But some scientists have questioned the ethics of the technique, saying it could open the door to genetically-modified 'designer' babies. The HFEA must approve every clinic and every patient before the procedure can take place. Three-person babies have been allowed only in cases where the risk of a child developing mitochondrial disease is very high. Clinics can now apply to the HFEA for a licence to conduct three-person IVF. The team at Newcastle-upon-Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and Newcastle University is expected to be the first to be granted a licence. It aims to help 25 couples every year. Prof Mary Herbert, from the Newcastle Fertility Centre, said: \"It is enormously gratifying that our many years of research in this area can finally be applied to help families affected by these devastating diseases. \"Now that that we are moving forward towards clinical treatments, we will also need donors to donate eggs for use in treatment to prevent affected women transmitting disease to their children.\" Prof Sir Doug Turnbull, the director of the Wellcome Centre for Mitochondrial Research at Newcastle University, said: \"We are delighted by today's decision. \"We will also provide long-term follow up of any children born.\" NHS England has agreed to fund the treatment costs of the first trial of three-person IVF for those women who meet the HFEA criteria, as long as they agree to long-term follow up of their children after they are born. Mitochondrial disease is caused by defective mitochondria - the tiny structures in nearly every cell that convert food into useable energy. One in 4,300 children are born with such severe symptoms they develop muscle weakness, blindness, deafness, seizures, learning disabilities, diabetes, heart and liver failure. It is often fatal. The aim of the procedure is to get the healthy mitochondria from the donor. But mitochondria have their own DNA, which is why resulting children have DNA from three people. However, everything that defines physical and personality traits still comes from parents. Robert Meadowcroft, from the charity Muscular Dystrophy UK, said: \"This historic decision will open the door to the first licensed treatments being offered. \"We know of many women who have faced heartache and tragedy and the sorrow of stillbirths, while trying to start their own family, and this decision gives them new hope and choice for the first time.\" Prof Frances Flinter, professor in clinical genetics at Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, called the decision \"wonderful news\". She added: \"It is infinitely preferable that the early clinical trials should be done in a tightly regulated system in the UK, with long term follow-up of any children born, rather than in countries where there is no regulation or oversight.\" Prof Sir Robert Lechler, president of the Academy of Medical Science, said that the decision means \"groundbreaking research can now be translated from theory into practice and transform lives in the clinic\". However, the decision is not universally welcome. Dr David King, from the campaign group Human Genetics Alert, said: \"This decision opens the door to the world of genetically-modified designer babies. \"Already, bioethicists have started to argue that allowing mitochondrial replacement means that there is no logical basis for resisting GM babies, which is exactly how slippery slopes work.\" However, the UK will not be the first country in the world to have children born through the three-person technique. A Jordanian couple and doctors in New York performed the procedure in Mexico and the resulting baby is understood to be healthy. Follow James on Twitter.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 2632, "answer_end": 4839, "text": "Mitochondrial disease is caused by defective mitochondria - the tiny structures in nearly every cell that convert food into useable energy. One in 4,300 children are born with such severe symptoms they develop muscle weakness, blindness, deafness, seizures, learning disabilities, diabetes, heart and liver failure. It is often fatal. The aim of the procedure is to get the healthy mitochondria from the donor. But mitochondria have their own DNA, which is why resulting children have DNA from three people. However, everything that defines physical and personality traits still comes from parents. Robert Meadowcroft, from the charity Muscular Dystrophy UK, said: \"This historic decision will open the door to the first licensed treatments being offered. \"We know of many women who have faced heartache and tragedy and the sorrow of stillbirths, while trying to start their own family, and this decision gives them new hope and choice for the first time.\" Prof Frances Flinter, professor in clinical genetics at Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, called the decision \"wonderful news\". She added: \"It is infinitely preferable that the early clinical trials should be done in a tightly regulated system in the UK, with long term follow-up of any children born, rather than in countries where there is no regulation or oversight.\" Prof Sir Robert Lechler, president of the Academy of Medical Science, said that the decision means \"groundbreaking research can now be translated from theory into practice and transform lives in the clinic\". However, the decision is not universally welcome. Dr David King, from the campaign group Human Genetics Alert, said: \"This decision opens the door to the world of genetically-modified designer babies. \"Already, bioethicists have started to argue that allowing mitochondrial replacement means that there is no logical basis for resisting GM babies, which is exactly how slippery slopes work.\" However, the UK will not be the first country in the world to have children born through the three-person technique. A Jordanian couple and doctors in New York performed the procedure in Mexico and the resulting baby is understood to be healthy. Follow James on Twitter."}], "question": "How does it work?", "id": "201_0"}]}]}, {"title": "International Women's Day: More than a topless protest", "date": "8 March 2017", "paragraphs": [{"context": "What is the connection between the right to go topless and a growing campaign to end violence against women in Latin America? The BBC's Daniel Pardo Vegalara reports. Last month dozens of women gathered in central Buenos Aires to demand the right to sunbathe topless. The protest came after three women sunbathing on a beach in the capital were asked to leave by the police or face arrest. The law is not clear about the right to sunbathe topless, but doing so is not the norm in Argentina. The incident went viral on social media and generated huge controversy. And as if to prove the protesters' point, dozens of men came to watch the demonstration, flirting, laughing and generally behaving as if they were at a cattle market, the women said. What is International Women's Day? Witty comebacks to sexist banter The village where grannies go to school One of the protesters, 31-year-old Luciana Danquis, said that the police should be concentrating on protecting Argentina's women from gender-related attacks rather than worrying about what they choose to wear on the beach. \"Instead of protecting us from abuse and violence, the only thing the police are doing is restricting our right to go topless,\" she said. Karina Flores, 40, said that women were taking back control. \"We are protesting so we will stop being used as scum,\" she said. \"Men tell us they want to lick our breasts on the street. Well, it's over, no more breast licking.\" Although women are actually less likely to be murdered in Argentina than they are are in most other Latin American countries, the country's size means the number of women who are killed is still staggering - an average of one every 30 hours, or 250 women each year,  according to the Buenos Aires-based NGO La Casa del Encuentro. In relative numbers Argentina's female murder rate is low - with one murder per 100,000 inhabitants compared to a regional average of 2.5, according to the Observatory of Gender Equality in Latin America and the Caribbean. The country also has a long history of women's activism and strong civil society groups. Two years ago, it became the birthplace of Ni Una Menos, a movement tackling violence against women which has now gained huge traction throughout the region. 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. The name of the movement means Not One Woman Less and references a poem by a Mexican women called Susana Chavez.  In 1995 she wrote Ni una muerta mas (Not one more woman killed) in protest against a femicide in Ciudad Juarez. A few years later she herself was murdered in the same city. The first Ni Una Menos march was held on 3 June, 2015 after several cases of violence against women, including the grisly murders of several teenagers earlier that year, which generated shock and horror across the country. Ni Una Menos has since made a powerful impression across Latin America, with three marches in two years bringing together millions of women across the continent. Dozens of groups, including unions and NGOs, are planning to join a national women's strike on Wednesday to proclaim women's importance in both the business and domestic spheres. Machismo in Latin America is deeply-rooted. The way women are treated reflects a well-established macho culture, and widespread conservative social values. It's quite common to hear that a woman has been attacked by her partner. Some men have several partners, or even families. Men verbally harass women on the street with complete impunity. But in recent years, media coverage of sexual violence and femicide has increased. It has had the effect of turning some victims into martyrs. The movement is now spreading beyond Latin America. Two weeks ago in Spain, for example, eight women went on hunger strike under the Ni Una Menos banner after the murder of 11 women in one year by their partners. The strike was supported by hundreds of people at a march in Madrid. Women everywhere it seems are taking to the frontline.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 2242, "answer_end": 2532, "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."}], "question": "What is 100 women?", "id": "202_0"}]}]}, {"title": "The haze is back across South East Asia", "date": "26 August 2016", "paragraphs": [{"context": "The haze is back across areas of South East Asia. The air pollution is caused by the burning of forests and peat land in Indonesia so it can be used for growing crops, mostly lucrative palm oil. An annual feature of life in Indonesia's neighbouring countries, it has been blamed for deaths and illness. Indonesia, which has declared a state of emergency in six provinces, has repeatedly said it is cracking down on the slash-and-burn activities. But the issue is a constant source of diplomatic tension, with Jakarta accused by Singapore and Malaysia of not doing enough to tackle it. A mild smoky smell has been in the air here for a few days, but throughout Friday, the view from our office window grew worse and worse. Air pollution is officially measured in Singapore Pollutant Standards Index (PSI). Anything over 100 is considered unhealthy. Though the 24-hour average so far on Friday was only slightly over that, the three-hour reading at 14:00 local time was 215. You can smell it inside buildings, it lingers in your hair and clothes and it makes your eyes itch. There will no doubt be people cancelling their outdoor plans for the weekend and stocking up on face masks, but there's a way to go before Singapore hits the peak of last year's haze, one of the worst ever. At times back then, the PSI reading was above 300. You could barely see the other side of the road and venturing out without a face mask was almost unthinkable. - Masks and solidarity: Helping Kalimantan at the heart of the haze - Emergency nursery: One Indonesian town's plan to protect its babies - Cause for controversy: What causes South East Asia's haze? - Indonesia 'needs time': President says he needs three years to tackle haze - Counting the cost: The economic burden of the deadly haze Every year Indonesia sees agricultural fires across Sumatra, and in parts of Kalimantan on Borneo island. About 100 \"hotspots\" were detected on Friday. The fires are said to be caused by corporations as well as small-scale farmers using slash-and-burn to clear vegetation for palm oil, pulp and paper plantations. Once lit, the fires often spin out of control and spread into protected forested areas and peat.  A peat fire is difficult to put out as it can burn underground for months, and requires a lot of water to extinguish. At its largest the annual haze measures hundreds of kilometres across. It spreads to Malaysia, Singapore, the south of Thailand and the Philippines, causing a significant deterioration in air quality. The problem has accelerated in recent years as more land has been cleared for expanding plantations for the lucrative palm oil trade. Indonesia says it has arrested 450 people so far this year in connection with fires, including some linked to companies. President Joko Widodo has ordered extra resourcing for monitoring and fire-fighting efforts, but told the BBC last year it would take at least three years for the results to be seen. Besides irritating the respiratory tract and the eyes, the pollutants can cause serious long-term damage to health. The indices used to measure air quality in the region usually measure particulate matter (PM10), fine particulate matter (PM2.5), sulphur dioxide, carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide and ozone. PM2.5 can enter deeper into the lungs. It has been associated with causing respiratory illnesses and lung damage. As much as Singapore complains about poor air quality, in parts of Indonesia the haze can last for months and be deadly.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1777, "answer_end": 2306, "text": "Every year Indonesia sees agricultural fires across Sumatra, and in parts of Kalimantan on Borneo island. About 100 \"hotspots\" were detected on Friday. The fires are said to be caused by corporations as well as small-scale farmers using slash-and-burn to clear vegetation for palm oil, pulp and paper plantations. Once lit, the fires often spin out of control and spread into protected forested areas and peat.  A peat fire is difficult to put out as it can burn underground for months, and requires a lot of water to extinguish."}], "question": "What causes the haze?", "id": "203_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2642, "answer_end": 2945, "text": "Indonesia says it has arrested 450 people so far this year in connection with fires, including some linked to companies. President Joko Widodo has ordered extra resourcing for monitoring and fire-fighting efforts, but told the BBC last year it would take at least three years for the results to be seen."}], "question": "What is Indonesia doing?", "id": "203_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2946, "answer_end": 3488, "text": "Besides irritating the respiratory tract and the eyes, the pollutants can cause serious long-term damage to health. The indices used to measure air quality in the region usually measure particulate matter (PM10), fine particulate matter (PM2.5), sulphur dioxide, carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide and ozone. PM2.5 can enter deeper into the lungs. It has been associated with causing respiratory illnesses and lung damage. As much as Singapore complains about poor air quality, in parts of Indonesia the haze can last for months and be deadly."}], "question": "Is it dangerous?", "id": "203_2"}]}]}, {"title": "David Davis: UK may pay for access to EU single market", "date": "1 December 2016", "paragraphs": [{"context": "The UK would consider making payments to the EU after it leaves the bloc to secure the best possible access to the EU single market, Brexit Secretary David Davis has said. Mr Davis told MPs the \"major criterion\" was getting the best access for goods and services to the European market. \"And if that is included... then of course we would consider it.\" But Brexit-backing Tory Peter Bone said \"people would be absolutely outraged\" if the UK continued to pay the EU. Later, in a speech to CBI Wales in Cardiff, Mr Davis sought to reassure business leaders that immigration controls after Brexit will not be imposed \"in a way that it is contrary to the national and economic interest\". On Thursday in the Commons, Labour MP Wayne David asked Mr Davis: \"Will the government consider making any contribution in any shape or form for access to the single market?\" Mr Davis replied: \"The major criterion here is that we get the best possible access for goods and services to the European market - and if that is included in what you are talking about, then of course we will consider it.\" His comments prompted sterling to rise by 1% to $1.26 against the dollar. But Mr Bone told the BBC: \"People will be absolutely outraged if we came out of the EU and then carried on paying them PS15bn a year, PS20bn a year, whatever the figure is - no I don't think it's going to happen.\" However, Chancellor Philip Hammond said Mr Davis was \"absolutely right not to rule out the possibility that we might want to contribute in some way to some form of mechanism\". He said: \"You can't go into any negotiation expecting to get every single objective that you set out with and concede nothing along the way - it will have to be a deal that works for both sides.\" But prominent Leave campaigner and former Conservative cabinet minister Iain Duncan Smith said Mr Davis had been simply not ruling anything in or out of the government's Brexit negotiations. \"I don't think there's any way in which you can reach a deal where you can say 'I'll pay some money in and therefore you allow us access' because you might as well have tariff barriers,\" he told BBC Radio 4's World at One programme. 'Strange' negotiations And Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn was sceptical about Mr Davis's suggestion. \"The idea of paying for access? I'm not really sure what that means,\" he said. \"If Europe puts tariff barriers against products coming from Britain, the government's going to pay all the tariffs - that sounds a very strange way of entering the negotiations when you're trying to get market access both ways. It doesn't sound a very well thought-out policy.\" In the early 1990s the European common market grew into the single market we know today. At its heart is a free trade area, which is a market where there are no tariffs or taxes on trade between countries. While its members can trade freely with each other, they also impose common tariffs on imports from non-EU countries. Being a member of the single market means a country gets the benefit of any trade deal struck between the EU and other countries - the flip side is that member states cannot set their own tariffs. But the EU's single market is much more than a straightforward free trade area, because it also includes the free movement of goods, people and capital. Crucial to the single market is a common framework of regulations that mean companies in countries such as the UK, France, Italy or Poland have to abide by common standards - whether they trade across the EU or not. That is to stop one business or country having an unfair advantage. Most countries in the single market also have a single currency - the euro - but the UK did not adopt it. Reality Check: Who has access to the single market? The prime minister's spokeswoman said the Brexit secretary had only been repeating government policy on leaving the EU. \"What he said in the House this morning is consistent with what we have said... that it will be for the UK government to make decisions on how taxpayers' money will be spent,\" she said. \"As we approach these negotiations we want to get the best possible access for British business to trade with, and operate within, the single market, while also taking back control of immigration.\" Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron accused the government of \"sending mixed signals\" and of being \"in an absolute mess\". He added: \"How can the government claim they have a mandate for their Brexit deal when they don't even know what it is themselves?\" Mr Davis confirmed that Article 50, which sparks the formal legal process for leaving the EU, would be triggered by 31 March, 2017 and said the government was seeking \"a smooth and orderly exit\" from the EU and was \"examining all possible options, focusing on the mutual interests of the UK and the European Union\". The Brexit secretary also defended Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson, who according to Sky News had privately told four EU ambassadors he backed free movement. Mr Davis said the comments were \"at odds\" with what he knew of Mr Johnson's views. \"He believes very clearly - and he made this very clear in the Leave campaign because he was a much more major part of it than I was - that some immigration is useful. We all agree on that,\" he said. \"That's not the same as thinking free movement of people as it now stands is a good idea. It's a problem.\" In a speech to business leaders in Wales later he said that \"no-one wants to see labour shortages in key sectors\" and that Britain \"must win the global battle for talent\". \"As we take back control of immigration by ending free movement as it has operated before, let me also say this: We won't do so in a way that it is contrary to the national and economic interest,\" he said. Speaking from Rome, Mr Johnson insisted he had told the ambassadors during a breakfast meeting \"that immigration had been a good thing for the UK in many respects - but it had got out of control and that we needed to take back control. I think you will find the record reflects that\".", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 2623, "answer_end": 3738, "text": "In the early 1990s the European common market grew into the single market we know today. At its heart is a free trade area, which is a market where there are no tariffs or taxes on trade between countries. While its members can trade freely with each other, they also impose common tariffs on imports from non-EU countries. Being a member of the single market means a country gets the benefit of any trade deal struck between the EU and other countries - the flip side is that member states cannot set their own tariffs. But the EU's single market is much more than a straightforward free trade area, because it also includes the free movement of goods, people and capital. Crucial to the single market is a common framework of regulations that mean companies in countries such as the UK, France, Italy or Poland have to abide by common standards - whether they trade across the EU or not. That is to stop one business or country having an unfair advantage. Most countries in the single market also have a single currency - the euro - but the UK did not adopt it. Reality Check: Who has access to the single market?"}], "question": "What is the single market?", "id": "204_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Super Bowl: Audi's Daughter ad divides viewers", "date": "6 February 2017", "paragraphs": [{"context": "An advert for Audi which aired during Sunday's Super Bowl in the US has garnered both praise and fury for the German car manufacturer. Daughter shows a girl racing against boys in a soapbox derby while her father, voiced by Peter Jessop, asks:  \"What do I tell my daughter? Do I tell her her grandpa is worth more than her grandma? That her dad is worth more than her mom? Do I tell her that despite her education, her drive, her skills, her intelligence, she will automatically be valued as less than every man she meets?\" The girl then wins the race, and the father concludes: \"Or maybe I'll be able to tell her something different.\" The advert ends with the tagline: \"Progress is for everyone.\" Patriots stun Falcons to win Super Bowl All about Lady Gaga's Super Bowl show The Audi of America website expands on the campaign, citing a US Joint Economic Committee report from April 2016 which found that on average American women are paid 21% less than men. \"So at Audi of America, we are standing up alongside every other organization that supports this important cause,\" the website says. While many viewers applauded the ad, there has also been considerable backlash. On YouTube, where it was first published on 1 February, dislikes currently outnumber likes by more than 12,000. \"Tell your daughter to work for what she wants... Not beg for special treatment because she's a woman,\" says one viewer. \"Propaganda. Absolutely disgusting,\" simply says another. BBC 100 Women names 100 influential and inspirational women around the world every year. We create documentaries, features and interviews about their lives, giving more space for stories that put women at the centre. Other stories you might like: Trolled for giving sex advice to strangers Parents who regret having children Who was on the BBC's 100 Women 2016 list? Lisa Granatstein, editor at Adweek, said that although there have been female empowerment ad campaigns during the Super Bowl before - including last year's Like a Girl campaign for Always - Audi's is \"one step forward\" by taking on a specific issue like the pay gap which has become \"part of the national conversation\". Ms Granatstein said she thought Daughter was \"a very bold stand in terms of celebrating and campaigning for pay equity which has become a big issue in this country.\" As for the backlash, she felt this was partly due to \"the tone that it was implied that men did not value women equally\". \"Every time an advertiser steps into a political fray they risk some backlash.\" But she said that Audi will be well aware that almost half of Super Bowl viewers are women and \"women are decision makers, they are buying cars themselves, and why not support them?\" Wesley Hartman, professor of marketing at Stanford University, said that the ad was a strategic move. \"In tackling the gender pay gap it is looking to broaden its consumer base and tackle its corporate responsibility. The image of Audi is pretty irresponsible right now with the Volkswagen emission controversy and this is a way to improve their corporate image in a way that is unconnected.\" But he said he felt the Super Bowl \"is not necessarily the right venue to be political - with such a wide viewership of all political leanings it is not surprising to get a fight back\". Commentators pointed out that this year's Super Bowl ads were especially political, including emphases on diversity and immigration. An advert by holiday rental company Airbnb showed people of different races and said: \"We believe no matter who you are, where you're from, who you love or who you worship, we all belong,\" the advert said. \"The world is more beautiful the more you accept.\" And a building materials supplier, 84 Lumber, showed the journey made by a family from Central America to the US, the longer online version of which shows them arriving at a huge wall, only to find someone had built a door into it. There was also plenty of support for the ad. \"I love this ad. How could anyone not want their daughter, mother or wife to be treated equally? Thanks Audi,\" said @ChristinaDay99. \"Really happy to own an Audi, especially after seeing this,\" tweeted @Justineplays. But several viewers also pointed out that despite Audi's professed ambitions for gender equality, only two of the people on its 14-member US executive board are women. Audi responded by saying: \"Twelve percent of senior management at Audi of America are women.  We have pledged to put aggressive hiring and development strategies in place to increase the number of women in our workforce, at all levels, and will work aggressively towards that goal.\"", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1464, "answer_end": 1830, "text": "BBC 100 Women names 100 influential and inspirational women around the world every year. We create documentaries, features and interviews about their lives, giving more space for stories that put women at the centre. Other stories you might like: Trolled for giving sex advice to strangers Parents who regret having children Who was on the BBC's 100 Women 2016 list?"}], "question": "What is 100 women?", "id": "205_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Palestinian factions Hamas and Fatah end split on Gaza", "date": "12 October 2017", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Hamas and Fatah have signed a landmark reconciliation deal in Cairo in a key step towards ending a decade-long rift between the two Palestinian factions. The deal will see administrative control of the Gaza Strip handed to a Fatah-backed unity government. Egypt has been brokering the reconciliation talks in Cairo. Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank have been ruled separately since deadly clashes between the two groups broke out in 2007. Hamas won parliamentary elections in the occupied territories the previous year, and reinforced its power in Gaza after ousting Fatah from the enclave. On Thursday, negotiators said the new deal included the handing over of control of the Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt to the Fatah-backed government, which will be handed administrative responsibilities by December. The Palestinian Accord Government said it will also station forces in the Gaza Strip by December \"at the latest\". A Hamas spokesman, Salah al-Bardawil, said it was \"a new chapter in Palestinian history\". Fatah's lead negotiator, Azzam al-Ahmad, said the plan was to \"carry on implementing all the clauses of the agreement, especially those related to solving the crisis of the [Gaza] employees\". Tens of thousands of civil servants employed by the Palestinian Authority have been out of work since Hamas took control of the Gaza Strip in 2006. Both sides called the agreement a major breakthrough. In response to Thursday's announcement, an Israeli government official said that any unity deal \"must include a commitment to international agreements\", adding that Hamas must disarm and recognise Israel. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said on Thursday that the talks had led to a \"final agreement\" to end the rival split. \"I welcome the agreement,\" he told the AFP news agency, adding: \"I received a detailed report from the Fatah delegation about what was agreed and I considered it the final agreement to end the division.\" Mr Abbas is reportedly planning to travel to the Gaza Strip in the coming weeks in what would be his first visit to the territory in a decade. Full details of the agreement are due to be announced later on Thursday. Fatah, once the cornerstone of the Palestinian national cause, lost power in 2006 when Hamas won a stunning victory in the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC) elections. Tensions between the two rivals caused numerous violent clashes in the Gaza Strip. In early 2007, Fatah and Hamas agreed to form a coalition to end the growing factional violence. But in June of that year, Hamas seized Gaza by force after Mahmoud Abbas ordered the dissolution of the Hamas-led government and set up a rival government, leaving Fatah and the PA running parts of the West Bank not under Israeli control. Mr Abbas later ruled out reconciliation with Hamas unless it gave up the Gaza Strip and submitted to his authority. In April 2014, Hamas agreed a reconciliation deal with Fatah that led to the formation of a national unity government, but this has never been fully implemented. Hamas has largely controlled Gaza since it took power in 2006, while Fatah governs the Palestinian territory of the West Bank. As a result of the militant group's rule in the Gaza Strip, the territory has become the subject of Israeli and Egyptian restrictions with much of the population dependent on food aid. Since 2006, the two countries have maintained a land and sea blockade on Gaza in an attempt to prevent attacks by Gaza-based militants. The measures have also aggravated electricity and fuel shortages. The announcement of a deal, which includes the control of Gaza's borders, has raised hopes among the territory's two million residents that humanitarian conditions in will improve. Earlier this month, Hamas allowed the Ramallah-based Palestinian government to take over public institutions in Gaza as part of a reconciliation process between the two rival administrations. The move had been a key demand of Mr Abbas. Palestinian Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah then made a rare trip to Gaza. He said the Palestinian Authority would begin taking control of Gaza's administrative affairs and \"security responsibilities\". However, the fate of Hamas' security forces and 25,000-strong military wing, has been one of the thorniest issues preventing reconciliation and remains to be resolved. The agreement on Thursday was announced by the pro-Hamas Palestinian Information Centre. On Wednesday, Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri said the talks in Cairo had been \"serious and deep\". \"The talks are positive and the Egyptian side is even-handed,\" he said, according to the Palestinian Information Centre. Hamas, which calls for Israel's destruction, has fought three wars with the Jewish state. Israel resolutely opposes any involvement by Hamas in the Palestinian Authority. It considers Hamas a terrorist group and has said it will not deal with a Palestinian government that contains Hamas members. Hamas as a whole, or in some cases its military wing, is designated a terrorist group by Israel, the US, EU, UK and other powers.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 2173, "answer_end": 3041, "text": "Fatah, once the cornerstone of the Palestinian national cause, lost power in 2006 when Hamas won a stunning victory in the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC) elections. Tensions between the two rivals caused numerous violent clashes in the Gaza Strip. In early 2007, Fatah and Hamas agreed to form a coalition to end the growing factional violence. But in June of that year, Hamas seized Gaza by force after Mahmoud Abbas ordered the dissolution of the Hamas-led government and set up a rival government, leaving Fatah and the PA running parts of the West Bank not under Israeli control. Mr Abbas later ruled out reconciliation with Hamas unless it gave up the Gaza Strip and submitted to his authority. In April 2014, Hamas agreed a reconciliation deal with Fatah that led to the formation of a national unity government, but this has never been fully implemented."}], "question": "What caused the rift?", "id": "206_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3042, "answer_end": 4340, "text": "Hamas has largely controlled Gaza since it took power in 2006, while Fatah governs the Palestinian territory of the West Bank. As a result of the militant group's rule in the Gaza Strip, the territory has become the subject of Israeli and Egyptian restrictions with much of the population dependent on food aid. Since 2006, the two countries have maintained a land and sea blockade on Gaza in an attempt to prevent attacks by Gaza-based militants. The measures have also aggravated electricity and fuel shortages. The announcement of a deal, which includes the control of Gaza's borders, has raised hopes among the territory's two million residents that humanitarian conditions in will improve. Earlier this month, Hamas allowed the Ramallah-based Palestinian government to take over public institutions in Gaza as part of a reconciliation process between the two rival administrations. The move had been a key demand of Mr Abbas. Palestinian Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah then made a rare trip to Gaza. He said the Palestinian Authority would begin taking control of Gaza's administrative affairs and \"security responsibilities\". However, the fate of Hamas' security forces and 25,000-strong military wing, has been one of the thorniest issues preventing reconciliation and remains to be resolved."}], "question": "Who controls what?", "id": "206_1"}]}]}, {"title": "Coronavirus: First death outside China reported in Philippines", "date": "2 February 2020", "paragraphs": [{"context": "A man has died of the coronavirus in the Philippines, the first confirmed fatality outside China. The patient was a 44-year-old Chinese man from Wuhan, in Hubei province, where the virus was first detected. He appeared to have been infected before arriving in the Philippines, the World Health Organization (WHO) said. More than 300 people have died in the outbreak so far, the vast majority from Hubei. More than 14,000 people have been infected. The US, Australia and an increasing number of other countries have barred the arrival of foreigners from China and are requiring their own citizens to be quarantined. The number of coronavirus cases worldwide has overtaken that of the similar Sars epidemic, which spread to more than two dozen countries in 2003. But the mortality rate of the new virus is much lower, suggesting it is not as deadly. The man travelled to the Philippines from Wuhan, via Hong Kong, with a 38-year-old Chinese woman who also tested positive last week, the Philippines Department of Health said. Officials said he was admitted to a hospital in the capital, Manila, where he developed severe pneumonia. The man is thought to have had other pre-existing health conditions. Rabindra Abeyasinghe, the WHO representative to the Philippines, urged people to remain calm: \"This is the first reported death outside China. However, we need to take into mind that this is not a locally acquired case. This patient came from the epicentre of this outbreak.\" According to local news outlet Rappler, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said the patient was \"stable and showed signs of improvement\", but his condition deteriorated rapidly over 24 hours. The Department of Health was now trying to track down people who were on the same flight as the man so that they could be quarantined, he said, as well as any other people the man and woman may have come into contact with, such as hotel staff. The man's death was confirmed shortly after the Philippines announced it would immediately halt the arrivals of any foreign travellers from China. It had previously restricted only those from Hubei, which is at the epicentre of the outbreak. Authorities said 45 more deaths were recorded in Hubei province by the end of Saturday, bringing the death toll in the country to 304. Nationally, there were 2,590 new confirmed infections. The total number of infections in China is now 14,380, state TV quoted the National Health Commission as saying. Estimates by the University of Hong Kong suggest the total number of cases could be far higher than the official figures. More than 75,000 people may have been infected in the city of Wuhan, which is at the epicentre of the outbreak, experts say. A new hospital in the city will start admitting coronavirus patients from Monday, state media report. The Huoshenshan Hospital - which has 1,000 beds and was built in just eight days - is one of two dedicated facilities that are being constructed to help tackle the outbreak. On Sunday, the government said it would pump more than $170bn (PS128bn) into the economy as concern grows about the wider impact of the epidemic. The speed at which the outbreak can be contained has also come into question, after the man leading the health commission investigating the new coronavirus said on Saturday that it could take between 10 days and two weeks for the virus to peak. Five days ago Zhong Nanshan, a respiratory expert, had given the outbreak a week to 10 days to peak. The US and Australia have said they will deny entry to all foreign visitors who had recently been to China, where the 2019-nCov strain of the coronavirus first emerged in December. Other countries including Russia, Japan, Pakistan and Indonesia have also announced travel restrictions. On Sunday, South Korea said it would bar entry to foreigners who had recently visited Hubei. In the US, citizens and residents returning from Hubei will be quarantined for 14 days. Those returning from other parts of China will be allowed to monitor their own condition for a similar period. The Pentagon said it would provide housing for 1,000 people who may need to be quarantined after arriving from abroad. Australia said any of its own citizens arriving from China would also be quarantined for two weeks. There have also been a number of evacuations from China as foreign governments work to bring their citizens back. Wuhan is in lockdown and other major cities across the country have suspended non-essential business. The mayor of Huanggang - a city of six million people to the east of Wuhan - has warned that the number of cases there is set to spike in the coming days, state media said. Up to 700,000 people had returned to the city from Wuhan before travel out of Wuhan was banned. Huanggang and the eastern city of Wenzhou have imposed draconian restrictions on residents, only allowing one designated person per family to leave home once every two days to buy food and other supplies, Chinese media reported. Hubei officials have extended the Lunar New Year holiday to 13 February. Meanwhile, hospital workers in Hong Kong have voted to go on strike from Monday unless the territory's border with mainland China is completely closed. Global health officials have advised against the bans. \"Travel restrictions can cause more harm than good by hindering info-sharing, medical supply chains and harming economies,\" the head of the WHO said on Friday. The WHO recommends introducing screening at official border crossings. It has warned that closing borders could accelerate the spread of the virus, with travellers entering countries unofficially. China has criticised the wave of travel restrictions, accusing foreign governments of ignoring official advice.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 848, "answer_end": 2154, "text": "The man travelled to the Philippines from Wuhan, via Hong Kong, with a 38-year-old Chinese woman who also tested positive last week, the Philippines Department of Health said. Officials said he was admitted to a hospital in the capital, Manila, where he developed severe pneumonia. The man is thought to have had other pre-existing health conditions. Rabindra Abeyasinghe, the WHO representative to the Philippines, urged people to remain calm: \"This is the first reported death outside China. However, we need to take into mind that this is not a locally acquired case. This patient came from the epicentre of this outbreak.\" According to local news outlet Rappler, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said the patient was \"stable and showed signs of improvement\", but his condition deteriorated rapidly over 24 hours. The Department of Health was now trying to track down people who were on the same flight as the man so that they could be quarantined, he said, as well as any other people the man and woman may have come into contact with, such as hotel staff. The man's death was confirmed shortly after the Philippines announced it would immediately halt the arrivals of any foreign travellers from China. It had previously restricted only those from Hubei, which is at the epicentre of the outbreak."}], "question": "What do we know about this death?", "id": "207_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2155, "answer_end": 3472, "text": "Authorities said 45 more deaths were recorded in Hubei province by the end of Saturday, bringing the death toll in the country to 304. Nationally, there were 2,590 new confirmed infections. The total number of infections in China is now 14,380, state TV quoted the National Health Commission as saying. Estimates by the University of Hong Kong suggest the total number of cases could be far higher than the official figures. More than 75,000 people may have been infected in the city of Wuhan, which is at the epicentre of the outbreak, experts say. A new hospital in the city will start admitting coronavirus patients from Monday, state media report. The Huoshenshan Hospital - which has 1,000 beds and was built in just eight days - is one of two dedicated facilities that are being constructed to help tackle the outbreak. On Sunday, the government said it would pump more than $170bn (PS128bn) into the economy as concern grows about the wider impact of the epidemic. The speed at which the outbreak can be contained has also come into question, after the man leading the health commission investigating the new coronavirus said on Saturday that it could take between 10 days and two weeks for the virus to peak. Five days ago Zhong Nanshan, a respiratory expert, had given the outbreak a week to 10 days to peak."}], "question": "What is the latest from China?", "id": "207_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3473, "answer_end": 4383, "text": "The US and Australia have said they will deny entry to all foreign visitors who had recently been to China, where the 2019-nCov strain of the coronavirus first emerged in December. Other countries including Russia, Japan, Pakistan and Indonesia have also announced travel restrictions. On Sunday, South Korea said it would bar entry to foreigners who had recently visited Hubei. In the US, citizens and residents returning from Hubei will be quarantined for 14 days. Those returning from other parts of China will be allowed to monitor their own condition for a similar period. The Pentagon said it would provide housing for 1,000 people who may need to be quarantined after arriving from abroad. Australia said any of its own citizens arriving from China would also be quarantined for two weeks. There have also been a number of evacuations from China as foreign governments work to bring their citizens back."}], "question": "Which countries are restricting arrivals?", "id": "207_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 4384, "answer_end": 5208, "text": "Wuhan is in lockdown and other major cities across the country have suspended non-essential business. The mayor of Huanggang - a city of six million people to the east of Wuhan - has warned that the number of cases there is set to spike in the coming days, state media said. Up to 700,000 people had returned to the city from Wuhan before travel out of Wuhan was banned. Huanggang and the eastern city of Wenzhou have imposed draconian restrictions on residents, only allowing one designated person per family to leave home once every two days to buy food and other supplies, Chinese media reported. Hubei officials have extended the Lunar New Year holiday to 13 February. Meanwhile, hospital workers in Hong Kong have voted to go on strike from Monday unless the territory's border with mainland China is completely closed."}], "question": "What restrictions are there in China?", "id": "207_3"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 5209, "answer_end": 5732, "text": "Global health officials have advised against the bans. \"Travel restrictions can cause more harm than good by hindering info-sharing, medical supply chains and harming economies,\" the head of the WHO said on Friday. The WHO recommends introducing screening at official border crossings. It has warned that closing borders could accelerate the spread of the virus, with travellers entering countries unofficially. China has criticised the wave of travel restrictions, accusing foreign governments of ignoring official advice."}], "question": "Do the travel bans work?", "id": "207_4"}]}]}, {"title": "Why has the murder rate in some US cities suddenly spiked?", "date": "5 June 2015", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Murder and violent crime rates have risen in multiple US cities since the beginning of 2015, after falling for two decades. Some have put this down to a so-called Ferguson effect, referring to the protests against perceived police brutality, that sometimes became violent. Could that be true? There are no national figures on crime in the US available yet for 2015, but some cities have released their own figures. In New York City, the murder rate has gone up by 20% in 2015 compared with the first few months of 2014. Mayor Bill de Blasio called a special news conference at which he acknowledged the increase, but said it could be contained. He said he had faith in the New York Police Department that they will \"turn the tide\". In other cities, there are similar increases reported. In Baltimore, murders are up 37% and in Los Angeles, violent crime is up by 27% (although murders are down 2%). In Houston, murders are up nearly 50% so far this year. This is a term coined by St Louis Police Chief Sam Dotson, whose police officers had been one of the forces dealing with the summer protests and riots in Ferguson, Missouri, following the fatal shooting of black teenager Michael Brown. He said in November his police officers had been drawing back from everyday enforcement due to fears they could be charged. As a result, he said, the \"criminal element is feeling empowered\". The phrase was repeated recently by Heather MacDonald, a fellow at the US Manhattan Institute, in a piece for the Wall Street Journal. The Ferguson effect, she said, was taking hold across the country \"under the onslaught of anti-cop rhetoric\". Multiple police officers Ms MacDonald spoke to told her police morale is at an all-time low and they are now worried about being charged, recorded and assaulted while trying to do their jobs and keep communities safe. \"Unless the demonisation of law enforcement ends, the liberating gains in urban safety will be lost,\" she wrote. Baltimore's police boss, Anthony Batts, said the riots had another effect on crime. Scores of pharmacies had been looted and the surge in the supply of drugs has \"thrown off the balance\" between gangs in the city, he said. \"There's enough narcotics on the streets of Baltimore to keep it intoxicated for a year,\" he said. The Ferguson effect is an unlikely reason, said Jeffery Ulmer, associate head of the Department of Sociology and Criminology at Penn State University in State College, Pennsylvania. \"Is it possible that somehow high-profile police shootings have angered some local populations and caused a rise in violent crime of all kinds in the last few months? Yes. Do I find that scenario likely nationwide? No, not at all.\" More likely, he said, is that local forces are at play. Violent crime rates are often in response to major changes in policing, but are mostly driven by social factors such as the size of the youth population, the amount of socioeconomic disadvantage and social disorganisation in a given city. Violent crime being up in NYC is related to the decrease in \"stop and frisk\", said Alfred Blumstein, a criminologist at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The New York City Police Department's historical main tactic for stopping people has significantly decreased after the way it was exercised was deemed unconstitutional. \"Inevitably, there was a trade off,\" said Mr Blumstein. \"[Stop and Frisk] was certainly a deterrent effect to carrying a gun in the street.\" New York City's historic drop in crime since the 1980s is \"astonishing\", said Mr Blumstein, but continuing downward trends cannot go on forever. Mayor de Blasio said summer was also to blame - last year saw an uptick in crime at the end of spring and beginning of summer for New York City as well. Researchers from the University of North Carolina found a correlation between higher temperatures and violent crime rates in a 2004 study. Violent crime is not going up everywhere. Philadelphia has seen a 41% decrease in murders since 2007. Short-term spikes are statistically unreliable, especially if they come after a long-term decline, and could just be a blip, said Dr James Alan Fox, a criminologist at Northeastern University in Boston. \"It's a ridiculous silly game of focusing too much on too little, trying to ascribe it to something like the impact of [events in] Ferguson,\" said Mr Fox. \"None of these statistics are reliable.\" A wider window of statistics would be much more reliable than a handful of figures representing January to May of this year, he said. That flattened feeling police officers are having in Baltimore? It will pass, Dr Fox said. \"I don't want to minimise the tragedy of so many dying... but the sky is not falling,\" he said. Some of the rises in violent crime so far this year are indeed striking, but I understand there have been similarly impressive falls in other cities. It is usually a mistake to declare a trend based on a few months of figures for a handful of cities. It is also difficult to blame this selection of figures on a nationwide problem with US policing, or anything else for that matter. I'm sure the relevant police departments are looking at these figures very carefully, but we will need considerably more data over a longer period to be able to draw any meaningful conclusions.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 293, "answer_end": 954, "text": "There are no national figures on crime in the US available yet for 2015, but some cities have released their own figures. In New York City, the murder rate has gone up by 20% in 2015 compared with the first few months of 2014. Mayor Bill de Blasio called a special news conference at which he acknowledged the increase, but said it could be contained. He said he had faith in the New York Police Department that they will \"turn the tide\". In other cities, there are similar increases reported. In Baltimore, murders are up 37% and in Los Angeles, violent crime is up by 27% (although murders are down 2%). In Houston, murders are up nearly 50% so far this year."}], "question": "What do the statistics say?", "id": "208_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 955, "answer_end": 2279, "text": "This is a term coined by St Louis Police Chief Sam Dotson, whose police officers had been one of the forces dealing with the summer protests and riots in Ferguson, Missouri, following the fatal shooting of black teenager Michael Brown. He said in November his police officers had been drawing back from everyday enforcement due to fears they could be charged. As a result, he said, the \"criminal element is feeling empowered\". The phrase was repeated recently by Heather MacDonald, a fellow at the US Manhattan Institute, in a piece for the Wall Street Journal. The Ferguson effect, she said, was taking hold across the country \"under the onslaught of anti-cop rhetoric\". Multiple police officers Ms MacDonald spoke to told her police morale is at an all-time low and they are now worried about being charged, recorded and assaulted while trying to do their jobs and keep communities safe. \"Unless the demonisation of law enforcement ends, the liberating gains in urban safety will be lost,\" she wrote. Baltimore's police boss, Anthony Batts, said the riots had another effect on crime. Scores of pharmacies had been looted and the surge in the supply of drugs has \"thrown off the balance\" between gangs in the city, he said. \"There's enough narcotics on the streets of Baltimore to keep it intoxicated for a year,\" he said."}], "question": "What is the Ferguson effect?", "id": "208_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2280, "answer_end": 3911, "text": "The Ferguson effect is an unlikely reason, said Jeffery Ulmer, associate head of the Department of Sociology and Criminology at Penn State University in State College, Pennsylvania. \"Is it possible that somehow high-profile police shootings have angered some local populations and caused a rise in violent crime of all kinds in the last few months? Yes. Do I find that scenario likely nationwide? No, not at all.\" More likely, he said, is that local forces are at play. Violent crime rates are often in response to major changes in policing, but are mostly driven by social factors such as the size of the youth population, the amount of socioeconomic disadvantage and social disorganisation in a given city. Violent crime being up in NYC is related to the decrease in \"stop and frisk\", said Alfred Blumstein, a criminologist at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The New York City Police Department's historical main tactic for stopping people has significantly decreased after the way it was exercised was deemed unconstitutional. \"Inevitably, there was a trade off,\" said Mr Blumstein. \"[Stop and Frisk] was certainly a deterrent effect to carrying a gun in the street.\" New York City's historic drop in crime since the 1980s is \"astonishing\", said Mr Blumstein, but continuing downward trends cannot go on forever. Mayor de Blasio said summer was also to blame - last year saw an uptick in crime at the end of spring and beginning of summer for New York City as well. Researchers from the University of North Carolina found a correlation between higher temperatures and violent crime rates in a 2004 study."}], "question": "What about other reasons?", "id": "208_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3912, "answer_end": 4733, "text": "Violent crime is not going up everywhere. Philadelphia has seen a 41% decrease in murders since 2007. Short-term spikes are statistically unreliable, especially if they come after a long-term decline, and could just be a blip, said Dr James Alan Fox, a criminologist at Northeastern University in Boston. \"It's a ridiculous silly game of focusing too much on too little, trying to ascribe it to something like the impact of [events in] Ferguson,\" said Mr Fox. \"None of these statistics are reliable.\" A wider window of statistics would be much more reliable than a handful of figures representing January to May of this year, he said. That flattened feeling police officers are having in Baltimore? It will pass, Dr Fox said. \"I don't want to minimise the tragedy of so many dying... but the sky is not falling,\" he said."}], "question": "Could the increase be just a blip?", "id": "208_3"}]}]}, {"title": "Trump's rude awakening for Germany", "date": "12 November 2016", "paragraphs": [{"context": "A few hours after US President-elect Donald Trump took to the stage to make his acceptance speech, as evening fell in Berlin, small candles were quietly lit and carefully placed in front of aged, stone doorsteps and along the darkening pavements. Berliners were marking the anniversary of Kristallnacht (when Jewish people and their businesses were violently attacked in 1938). It was barely noted amid the febrile howl of international reaction to the US election. Neither was the 27th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall, which shares the same date. But both events - and all that they represent of this country's past - explain, partially at least, why Germans were so repulsed by Donald Trump's election rhetoric and why so few (4% by one poll's reckoning) wanted him in the White House. There is almost universal shock and horror here. Even Germany's foreign minister (who once described Trump as a hate speaker) could not bring himself publicly to congratulate him. One newspaper headline exclaimed \"Oh my God!\",  another \"We're in mourning\". Another minister described the result as \"a nightmare from which we can't wake up\". A poll conducted by national broadcaster ARD found that the majority of Germans don't trust Mr Trump and that most believe his election will result in a deterioration of the transatlantic relationship. It's a relationship which, for some years now, has fallen into the \"special\" category. Chancellor Angela Merkel and the outgoing US President Barack Obama forged a strong and warm partnership, which survived the revelation that American spies had listened in to her mobile phone calls. And it was a relationship that had implications for the rest of Europe. When the US wanted to send arms to the Ukrainians, for example, Mrs Merkel weighed in and deterred them. And as the main interlocutor between Russia's Vladimir Putin and the West, Mrs Merkel - and Germany - have wielded influence. The problem now is that no-one knows what happens next. As Germany's rather shocked defence minister pointed out, we don't really know where Mr Trump stands on foreign policy. That uncertainty is not going down well with German business, finance and industry leaders. \"The self-destruction of the West continues,\" noted Joerg Kramer, chief economist at Commerzbank. America is Germany's biggest trading partner. More than a million jobs are thought to depend on the export market. Mr Trump's comments about trade agreements have unnerved many here. TTIP - the controversial, planned trade deal between Europe and the US - was already struggling. Many believe it's now finished. But shock is turning to pragmatism. \"No-one really expected this result, so no-one had established communication with anyone on his team,\" says Peter Beyer, spokesman for Mrs Merkel's CDU party on transatlantic relations. \"What everyone is trying to do now is contact anyone we might know who might play a role in his team.\" It's accepted in Berlin that Angela Merkel will have to make this relationship work. Donald Trump was initially scathing about her - and her refugee policy - during his election campaign. Nevertheless the chancellor - who spoke by telephone with the president-elect on Thursday - has offered her congratulations and co-operation, albeit on the condition that Mr Trump respects \"shared values\" like freedom and the rule of law, and applies them to all, regardless of gender, creed or background. But, as Mr Trump prepares to take office, arguably Mrs Merkel's greatest challenge is how to hold her country - indeed the EU - together. Because what's really got German politicians so jittery is that in Donald Trump's victory they see parallels with the sweep of right-wing and populist parties through Europe. Germany itself goes to the polls next year. The established parties are losing votes to the anti-migrant, anti-Muslim Alternative for Germany (AfD). No wonder, perhaps, that some here see the US election result - following the Brexit referendum - as a wake-up call. Wolfgang Schaeuble, the finance minister, told the tabloid newspaper Bild: \"In politics, business and society the elites don't always make a good impression. Decision-making processes are very often not transparent. Everyone must be prepared to learn - if we're open to the perspective of others and to a change in the direction of our thinking then populism will have a hard time.\" Mr Trump's victory has been described as a political earthquake. The aftershocks will shift the German and European political landscape. Berlin wants to continue an important transatlantic relationship and maintain global influence while upholding values it holds dear. These are, as Peter Beyer puts it, \"fragile times\". \"This will bring changes to the world. It's not the same place as before 8 November. Someone with the character of Donald Trump has an effect not just nationally but internationally, globally.\" Mr Beyer speaks for many here as he adds: \"Maybe he'll prove us wrong. I hope so.\"", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1931, "answer_end": 3428, "text": "The problem now is that no-one knows what happens next. As Germany's rather shocked defence minister pointed out, we don't really know where Mr Trump stands on foreign policy. That uncertainty is not going down well with German business, finance and industry leaders. \"The self-destruction of the West continues,\" noted Joerg Kramer, chief economist at Commerzbank. America is Germany's biggest trading partner. More than a million jobs are thought to depend on the export market. Mr Trump's comments about trade agreements have unnerved many here. TTIP - the controversial, planned trade deal between Europe and the US - was already struggling. Many believe it's now finished. But shock is turning to pragmatism. \"No-one really expected this result, so no-one had established communication with anyone on his team,\" says Peter Beyer, spokesman for Mrs Merkel's CDU party on transatlantic relations. \"What everyone is trying to do now is contact anyone we might know who might play a role in his team.\" It's accepted in Berlin that Angela Merkel will have to make this relationship work. Donald Trump was initially scathing about her - and her refugee policy - during his election campaign. Nevertheless the chancellor - who spoke by telephone with the president-elect on Thursday - has offered her congratulations and co-operation, albeit on the condition that Mr Trump respects \"shared values\" like freedom and the rule of law, and applies them to all, regardless of gender, creed or background."}], "question": "What will happen to transatlantic trade?", "id": "209_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Indonesia woman spared jail for taking dog into a mosque", "date": "5 February 2020", "paragraphs": [{"context": "A mentally ill woman has been spared jail in Indonesia for blasphemy after carrying a dog into a mosque. A video of Suzethe Margaret entering a mosque wearing shoes before letting her dog run around went viral in July. It sparked anger in the Muslim-majority country where many consider dogs to be impure. A panel of judges in Bogor, a town near Jakarta, found her guilty of blasphemy on Wednesday but said she could not be held responsible for her actions. Margaret has paranoid schizophrenia, according to psychiatric examinations in 2013. Prosecutors had demanded she be sentenced to eight months of imprisonment. The visibly distressed woman enters the mosque in Bogor stating she is Catholic and saying her husband is due to be married in the mosque later that day. She accuses the mosque of converting him to Islam as the dog runs around. People from the mosque say they have no knowledge of the wedding. The woman then kicks a guard when told to leave. The dog reportedly later died after being hit by a vehicle.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 617, "answer_end": 1019, "text": "The visibly distressed woman enters the mosque in Bogor stating she is Catholic and saying her husband is due to be married in the mosque later that day. She accuses the mosque of converting him to Islam as the dog runs around. People from the mosque say they have no knowledge of the wedding. The woman then kicks a guard when told to leave. The dog reportedly later died after being hit by a vehicle."}], "question": "What happens in the video?", "id": "210_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Ugandans evicted to make way for oil refinery", "date": "14 November 2012", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Jennifer Makune lives in Kabaale village not far from the shores of Lake Albert, one of the most visually stunning parts of Uganda. The rolling hills and acres of lush green vegetation make it an awe-inspiring landscape. Ms Makune's home, which is about 15 miles (24km) from the lake, is a thatched mud hut, where she lives with her five children. Like thousands of other small farmers, she makes her living from farming her land, which is a 20-minute walk from her house. But all of this is about to change because below the ground there is another treasure trove - oil. This discovery is set to transform the lives of the people here - for better or worse. The ministry of energy plans to build a refinery to process some of the oil Uganda will produce. It has demarcated 29 square kilometres - the size of 3,500 football pitches - for the project, which will also include an airstrip, shopping malls and apartments. Ms Makune's land is part of the earmarked area. Altogether nearly 8,000 people will be evicted from their homes and farms to make way for the refinery. Some will be relocated whilst others will be compensated. The biggest concern for people like Ms Makune is whether the authorities will adequately compensate them for the property they will lose. She believes her land is 5 acres (2 hectares) but government surveyors say it is just half that size. \"My land was measured in my absence, it wasn't till later when I realised how much it had been underestimated. When I raised the issue, I was told they could not come back,\" she says. Her neighbour agrees that Ms Makune's land was underestimated, saying the boundary was placed well into her farm, giving him a share of her property. The Petroleum Exploration and Production Department (PEPD), the government body in charge of the refinery project, hopes to complete the first phase by 2015. It has been holding public dialogue meetings with the people who will be evicted. The one I attended in Kabaale was held under the shade of a tree protecting everyone from the scorching sun. It was well attended; most seats were taken whilst others had to stand. The atmosphere was intense and the local people were very vocal, grilling the PEPD's representatives and local leaders. But it seemed they were resigned to their eviction and just wanted the best deal they could get, as compensation figures have not yet been set. Gilbert Rubanga says the government should be more open in its dealings with the communities. \"My land is very productive but now I'm going to lose it by force. Because if the government says it wants your land, whether you like it or not, it is the government,\" he says. \"Land is not like bananas which you buy from the supermarket. It's something very important in this world. \"But before they have these meetings, they first sit in town; they discuss all the matters in town. Yet those who are affected - we are here.\" A lot of people raised questions about whether the surveys were accurate. PEPD communications manager Bashir Hangi believes the people in the area are getting their measurements wrong. \"Remember they are using traditional methods of looking at a piece of land and you estimate that this is three acres, this is five acres. \"Now when you bring survey equipment, we get different things because now the equipment we use gives us the exact size of the land. \"Some still don't believe that our tools are giving the right measurement so we're encouraging them to get independent surveyors.\" People like Ms Makune who cannot afford such an expense are left at a loss. She is hoping her neighbour's testimony can convince the authorities to re-measure her land. The government, however, is adamant that the refinery will be of great benefit to the people of Kabaale village, the surrounding area and country as a whole. Its key argument is that Uganda cannot simply export raw materials, it needs to add value to the crude by refining it, before shipping it out. \"We are looking at the benefits of the refinery - first of all, it will boost employment,\" says Mr Hangi. \"There are other industries that go with refining like petrochemicals, which will add to the industrial base of the country. \"Another benefit will be security of petroleum products. Refining in-country will help overcome import bottlenecks. \"And then we will see an increased revenue base for the country. The refinery may also be able to refine crude from eastern Democratic Republic of Congo and Tanzania should their oil deposits prove to be commercial, Mr Hangi says. But the oil companies are not so sure. For example, Tullow Oil believes the government's plan to create a refinery that processes 120,000 barrels of oil per day (bpd) for sale to regional markets is too ambitious. This is more than half of the 200,000bpd Uganda is expected to produce when its oil sector is in full gear. Aidan Heavey, the company's chief executive, is on record as saying that he does not think there will enough demand within East Africa and the Great Lakes region for the petrol produced in Uganda. He thinks a refinery operating at half that capacity is more viable. Tullow Oil and its partners in Uganda, Total and China National Offshore Oil Corporation, think a pipeline that moves the oil from the Lake Albert and other fields to the Indian Ocean via Kenya is the best way to get Uganda's crude to market. Negotiations between the oil companies and government are still ongoing about how the oil refinery and pipeline can co-exist. Despite these challenges the authorities here are pressing on with the project. They will soon be looking for companies to help fund the refinery's construction. Ms Makune welcomed the refinery when she first heard about it, as she thought it would create jobs and new sources of wealth for her and her neighbours. All compensation is due to be paid by next June, but she believes it will make her poorer and she still does not know how she will make a living after her farm has been taken.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 4544, "answer_end": 5991, "text": "But the oil companies are not so sure. For example, Tullow Oil believes the government's plan to create a refinery that processes 120,000 barrels of oil per day (bpd) for sale to regional markets is too ambitious. This is more than half of the 200,000bpd Uganda is expected to produce when its oil sector is in full gear. Aidan Heavey, the company's chief executive, is on record as saying that he does not think there will enough demand within East Africa and the Great Lakes region for the petrol produced in Uganda. He thinks a refinery operating at half that capacity is more viable. Tullow Oil and its partners in Uganda, Total and China National Offshore Oil Corporation, think a pipeline that moves the oil from the Lake Albert and other fields to the Indian Ocean via Kenya is the best way to get Uganda's crude to market. Negotiations between the oil companies and government are still ongoing about how the oil refinery and pipeline can co-exist. Despite these challenges the authorities here are pressing on with the project. They will soon be looking for companies to help fund the refinery's construction. Ms Makune welcomed the refinery when she first heard about it, as she thought it would create jobs and new sources of wealth for her and her neighbours. All compensation is due to be paid by next June, but she believes it will make her poorer and she still does not know how she will make a living after her farm has been taken."}], "question": "Too ambitious?", "id": "211_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Turkey shells both IS and Kurdish positions in Syria", "date": "23 August 2016", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Turkey has bombarded so-called Islamic State (IS) targets across the border in northern Syria ahead of an expected ground attack on an IS-held town. Some 1,500 Turkish-backed Syrian rebels have also gathered in the Turkish city of Gaziantep, poised for an offensive to drive IS out of Jarablus. Turkey has also shelled Syrian Kurdish forces nearby, apparently to deter them from taking Jarablus themselves. Gaziantep was hit by a suicide bombing on Saturday which killed 54 people. The BBC's Mark Lowen in Gaziantep says the attack on a wedding in the city, blamed on IS, may have been  spurred by reports of the imminent Syrian rebel offensive. More victims of the blast are being identified and our correspondent says the wave of bombings in Turkey could intensify as the country becomes ever more embroiled in the Syrian war. Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu has said that IS should be \"completely cleansed\" from areas in northern Syria near its border. Turkish forces have been exchanging shellfire with IS positions in the Jarablus area since Monday. However, Turkey is also wary of moves that might bolster Syrian Kurdish forces, known as the YPG, which it views as an extension of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), a Turkish-Kurdish rebel group fighting for autonomy since the 1980s. On Monday, Turkey shelled YPG positions near Manbij, a town they took from IS this month. The 1,500 fighters poised to enter Syria from Gaziantep are believed to be Turkish-backed Syrian rebels. A senior rebel official quoted by Reuters said they were fighting under the banner of the Free Syrian Army. The identity and motive of the suicide bomber who attacked the wedding party have yet to be revealed. Soon after the attack, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said IS was the likely perpetrator but Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said on Monday that investigators actually did \"not have a clue\". He downplayed earlier reports that the attacker was between 12 and 14 years old, saying this could not be confirmed. The pro-Kurdish Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) said the wedding was for one of its members, and IS have targeted Turkish Kurds in the past. Many of the victims were children - the two youngest were four years old. Sixty-six people are still in hospital, 14 of them in a serious condition, Turkey's Dogan news agency reported. A disproportionately large number of women and children were killed in the attack because it targeted henna night, a part of the celebration attended mainly by women and children, says BBC Monitoring's Turkey analyst Pinar Sevinclidir. Syrian government forces are not directly involved in the battle for the border at Jarablus, having gradually lost ground in the north over more than five years of civil war. Turkey's long-time position has been that President Bashar al-Assad must be ousted as a condition for peace in Syria. However, Prime Minister Yildirim acknowledged this week that he was one of the \"actors\" and  suggested he could play a role in an interim leadership.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 829, "answer_end": 1603, "text": "Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu has said that IS should be \"completely cleansed\" from areas in northern Syria near its border. Turkish forces have been exchanging shellfire with IS positions in the Jarablus area since Monday. However, Turkey is also wary of moves that might bolster Syrian Kurdish forces, known as the YPG, which it views as an extension of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), a Turkish-Kurdish rebel group fighting for autonomy since the 1980s. On Monday, Turkey shelled YPG positions near Manbij, a town they took from IS this month. The 1,500 fighters poised to enter Syria from Gaziantep are believed to be Turkish-backed Syrian rebels. A senior rebel official quoted by Reuters said they were fighting under the banner of the Free Syrian Army."}], "question": "Why is Turkey shelling both IS and the Kurds?", "id": "212_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2576, "answer_end": 3018, "text": "Syrian government forces are not directly involved in the battle for the border at Jarablus, having gradually lost ground in the north over more than five years of civil war. Turkey's long-time position has been that President Bashar al-Assad must be ousted as a condition for peace in Syria. However, Prime Minister Yildirim acknowledged this week that he was one of the \"actors\" and  suggested he could play a role in an interim leadership."}], "question": "Where is Assad in all this?", "id": "212_1"}]}]}, {"title": "Will Turkey's failed coup mean a return to the death penalty?", "date": "19 July 2016", "paragraphs": [{"context": "At a funeral held in Istanbul of those killed during the coup attempt, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan was giving a speech. He was interrupted by chants from the crowd. \"We want the death penalty,\" they shouted repeatedly. And President Erdogan heard them loud and clear. \"In democracies, people's demands cannot be set aside,\" he responded. \"Those who attempt a coup must pay a price.\" It had already been trending on Twitter for a day. The hashtag #idamistiyorum (I want the death penalty) was shared by thousands of people. \"Whoever put our soldiers against our policemen, for them I want death penalty,\" tweeted one supporter. Others objected: \"The death penalty is a crime against humanity. Couldn't you find something else to ask for?\" Turkey abolished the death penalty in 2004 as part of the reforms needed to enter accession negotiations to the EU. There has been no execution here since 1984. The EU's foreign policy chief, Federica Mogherini, has warned the Turkish government not to take steps that would damage the constitutional order, saying no country could join the EU if it had the death penalty. And the message was the same across Europe: Austrian Foreign Minister, Sebastian Kurz, said reinstating capital punishment would be unacceptable while German government spokesman Steffen Seibert said it would put an end to EU accession talks. But Prime Minister Binali Yildirim was adamant. \"The people's demands are an order for us. We cannot ignore it,\" he said - while adding that it would be wrong to act in a hurry. There is a lot at stake for both Turkey and the EU. A refugee deal reached earlier this year has all but halted the influx of migrants from the coast of western Turkey into Greece, while Turks themselves are eyeing the possibility of visa-free travel to Europe's border-free Schengen zone in return. \"EU-Turkey relations are already on a knife-edge. It doesn't seem likely that Turkey will bow against any demand coming from the EU. Brussels does not have a leverage over Ankara anymore,\" says Gun Kut, an academic in Bogazici University. \"But still, I don't think Turkey will reinstate the death penalty,\" he adds. Turkey has been a signatory of the European Convention on Human Rights since 1954, which requires the abolition of the death penalty. It is also a founding member of the Council of Europe - none of whose 47 members have the death penalty. \"Turkey is not at war and the coup threat is over. So there is no valid excuse for Turkey to withdraw from its international obligations. Turkey should not go down that route,\" says Ibrahim Kaboglu, professor of international law in Marmara University. And even if it is reinstated, he argues that the coup plotters would be legally exempt. \"Article 15 of our constitution states that even under the circumstances of war, martial law or state of emergency, offences and penalties cannot not be made retroactive,\" he says. In Turkey, reinstating the death penalty would require a change in the constitution, which would need the approval of 367 MPs in the parliament. And President Erdogan said on Monday he would approve the change if parliament backed it and declared the attempted coup a \"clear crime of treason\". However the main opposition CHP party and the pro-Kurdish HDP have already stated they would not support it. \"We can understand the anger and frustration of the public against the bloody coup attempt. People have the right to voice their rage. But politicians should act responsibly,\" says CHP MP Bulent Tezcan. His party says the response to the failed coup should be conducted within the rule of law and the plotters should face trial accordingly. And there is another problem for the government. President Erdogan has made repeated calls to the US government to extradite US-based Islamist cleric Fethullah Gulen, whose movement he accuses of supporting the coup. Mr Gulen adamantly denies it. And Ankara also expects the extradition of eight coup plotters who fled to Greece to apply for asylum. \"If the death penalty is reintroduced, the US or the EU will reject any extradition, arguing if they do these people they might face harsh consequences,\" says Ibrahim Kaboglu. And he says the judiciary is not immune to error. Not that long ago, high-ranking generals were jailed for several years for plotting coups, only to be acquitted later on. \"If the death penalty hadn't been abolished all those top generals would have faced execution,\" he says. \"What if the judiciary makes a mistake?\"", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 2390, "answer_end": 3655, "text": "\"Turkey is not at war and the coup threat is over. So there is no valid excuse for Turkey to withdraw from its international obligations. Turkey should not go down that route,\" says Ibrahim Kaboglu, professor of international law in Marmara University. And even if it is reinstated, he argues that the coup plotters would be legally exempt. \"Article 15 of our constitution states that even under the circumstances of war, martial law or state of emergency, offences and penalties cannot not be made retroactive,\" he says. In Turkey, reinstating the death penalty would require a change in the constitution, which would need the approval of 367 MPs in the parliament. And President Erdogan said on Monday he would approve the change if parliament backed it and declared the attempted coup a \"clear crime of treason\". However the main opposition CHP party and the pro-Kurdish HDP have already stated they would not support it. \"We can understand the anger and frustration of the public against the bloody coup attempt. People have the right to voice their rage. But politicians should act responsibly,\" says CHP MP Bulent Tezcan. His party says the response to the failed coup should be conducted within the rule of law and the plotters should face trial accordingly."}], "question": "Could they execute coup plotters anyway?", "id": "213_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Notre-Dame plot: Five women in court over foiled car bomb attack", "date": "23 September 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Five French women have gone on trial in Paris accused of trying to detonate a car bomb near the iconic Notre-Dame cathedral in September 2016. Six gas canisters in the vehicle, which had been doused in diesel fuel, failed to explode when a cigarette was thrown at them, prosecutors said. One of the women is accused of stabbing an officer in the shoulder after police traced them to a nearby apartment. A defence lawyer said the women had been brainwashed on the internet. The defendants, now aged between 22 and 42, are all Muslim converts. They have been named as Ines Madani, Ornella Gilligmann, Sarah Hervouet, Amel Sakaou and Samia Chalel. All of the women face terrorism charges, and four of them face life imprisonment. On 4 September 2016, police were alerted to an abandoned grey Peugeot 607 vehicle parked near the cathedral in one of Paris's busiest tourist locations. The car's licence plates had been removed and its hazard lights were flashing. It was found to contain five gas canisters, three jerry cans of diesel and a half-smoked cigarette. Some of the diesel fuel was used to douse the contents of the vehicle, but had failed to ignite from the cigarette, police said. The discovery prompted an urgent police search. The car was found to belong to Ms Madani's father and, according to court documents, fingerprint evidence was collected from inside. Investigators said the bomb attempt would likely have been successful had it not been for \"the wrong choice of fuel\". Based on the evidence collected, police launched a raid at a property on the outskirts of Paris. During the raid, Ms Hervouet reportedly stabbed an officer with a knife, and Ms Madani was shot in the leg while charging at another. Police said they had found a handwritten pledge of allegiance to Islamic State (IS) leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi inside Ms Madani's purse. The women are all suspected of planning the bomb attack on the instructions of Rashid Kassim, a so-called handler for IS, who was based in Syria at the time. Kassim, who is also named as a defendant and accused of directing the women \"remotely\", will be tried in absentia - he is thought to have been killed in a drone strike in Iraq in February 2017. The women are believed to have been planning other attacks at the time, including striking a train station in the Paris area and targeting police. The trial is expected to continue until 11 October. France has suffered a series of attacks by jihadists who have declared allegiance to IS in recent years. In November 2015, 130 people were killed and many more were injured in the co-ordinated suicide bombing and mass shootings around Paris. On 14 July 2016, dozens of people were killed, including children, when a lorry ploughed into a large crowd watching a fireworks display in Nice, southern France, to mark the Bastille Day holiday.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 727, "answer_end": 1486, "text": "On 4 September 2016, police were alerted to an abandoned grey Peugeot 607 vehicle parked near the cathedral in one of Paris's busiest tourist locations. The car's licence plates had been removed and its hazard lights were flashing. It was found to contain five gas canisters, three jerry cans of diesel and a half-smoked cigarette. Some of the diesel fuel was used to douse the contents of the vehicle, but had failed to ignite from the cigarette, police said. The discovery prompted an urgent police search. The car was found to belong to Ms Madani's father and, according to court documents, fingerprint evidence was collected from inside. Investigators said the bomb attempt would likely have been successful had it not been for \"the wrong choice of fuel\"."}], "question": "What have police said about the bomb plot?", "id": "214_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1487, "answer_end": 2845, "text": "Based on the evidence collected, police launched a raid at a property on the outskirts of Paris. During the raid, Ms Hervouet reportedly stabbed an officer with a knife, and Ms Madani was shot in the leg while charging at another. Police said they had found a handwritten pledge of allegiance to Islamic State (IS) leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi inside Ms Madani's purse. The women are all suspected of planning the bomb attack on the instructions of Rashid Kassim, a so-called handler for IS, who was based in Syria at the time. Kassim, who is also named as a defendant and accused of directing the women \"remotely\", will be tried in absentia - he is thought to have been killed in a drone strike in Iraq in February 2017. The women are believed to have been planning other attacks at the time, including striking a train station in the Paris area and targeting police. The trial is expected to continue until 11 October. France has suffered a series of attacks by jihadists who have declared allegiance to IS in recent years. In November 2015, 130 people were killed and many more were injured in the co-ordinated suicide bombing and mass shootings around Paris. On 14 July 2016, dozens of people were killed, including children, when a lorry ploughed into a large crowd watching a fireworks display in Nice, southern France, to mark the Bastille Day holiday."}], "question": "What are the allegations?", "id": "214_1"}]}]}, {"title": "Emails show UAE-linked effort against Tillerson", "date": "5 March 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "The BBC has obtained leaked emails that show a lobbying effort to get US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson sacked for failing to support the United Arab Emirates against regional rival Qatar. Major Trump fundraiser and UAE-linked businessman Elliott Broidy met US President Donald Trump in October 2017 and urged him to sack Mr Tillerson, the emails reveal. In other emails, he calls the top US diplomat \"a tower of Jello\", \"weak\" and says he \"needs to be slammed\". Mr Broidy says Qatar hacked his emails. \"We have reason to believe this hack was sponsored and carried out by registered and unregistered agents of Qatar seeking to punish Mr Broidy for his strong opposition to state-sponsored terrorism,\" a spokesman for the businessman said. He said some of the emails \"may have been altered\" but did not elaborate. Saudi Arabia, UAE and a number of Arab countries cut diplomatic ties with Qatar in June 2017 over its alleged support for terrorism, a claim which it denies. The unprecedented move was seen as a major split between powerful Gulf countries, who are also close US allies. Qatari officials denied the claims in a statement to the BBC. Its communications office said: \"Qatar would like to state unequivocally that it has not engaged in or committed any of the alleged accusations made falsely by Mr Broidy, nor has it engaged or paid anyone to do so. \"We believe that Mr Broidy's baseless accusations are simply a diversionary tactic to distract attention from the serious allegations against himself and his client the Government of the United Arab Emirates. \"The Government of Qatar reserves its right to taking any necessary legal action as the victim of false allegations by Mr Broidy or others.\" Mr Broidy's defence company Circinus has hundreds of millions of dollars worth of contracts with the UAE, according to the New York Times newspaper. He had recently returned from the UAE when he met Mr Trump at the White House in October. According to a memorandum he prepared of the meeting, Mr Broidy urged continued support of US allies the UAE and Saudi Arabia and advised Mr Trump against getting involved in last year's row with Qatar. Mr Broidy called Qatar \"a television station with a country\" - alluding to broadcaster Al Jazeera - and said it was doing \"nothing positive\", according to the emails. He said he touted a regional counter-terrorism force being set up by the UAE that his company was involved with, and suggested that the US president \"sit down\" with Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan, the crown prince of Abu Dhabi and a top UAE military commander. \"I offered that MBZ [the crown prince] is available to come to the US very soon and preferred a quiet meeting in New York or New Jersey. President Trump agreed that a meeting with MBZ was a good idea,\" Mr Broidy wrote in an email. He also said he advised the president on Mr Tillerson - who was \"performing poorly and should be fired at a politically convenient time\". Mr Tillerson had criticised the blockade of Qatar and called for it to be eased, in comments that contrasted with Mr Trump's support for the move. Mr Tillerson spent most of the first year in his position embattled and weakened. Last autumn, in a rare move for the soft-spoken secretary, the state department held a press conference in which Mr Tillerson pushed back against reports he had called the president \"a moron\". He emailed a detailed account of his meeting with the president to George Nader, a Lebanese-American businessman with decades of experience serving as an interlocutor between the Middle East and Washington. Sources familiar with the investigation of Special Counsel Robert Mueller, who is looking into alleged Russian meddling in the 2016 US election and possible links between the Trump campaign and the Kremlin, tell the BBC that Mr Nader has become a person of interest and has been questioned in recent weeks. Investigators questioned Mr Nader and other witnesses on whether there were any efforts by the Emiratis to buy political influence by directing money to Mr Trump's presidential campaign, according to a New York Times report. Mr Broidy also detailed a separate sit-down with Mr Trump's son-in-law and adviser Jared Kushner, according to the emails. After Mr Broidy criticised Qatar extensively to Mr Kushner, \"Jared's demeanour was very passive and pleasant but he seemed to not want to engage on this issue,\" he wrote to Mr Nader. Kushner Companies - owned by the family of Jared Kushner - is reported to have in April 2017 sought financing from Qatar for its flagship property at 666 5th Avenue, New York. However, Mr Kushner has maintained that he has had no role in his family's business since joining the White House last year. UAE ambassador to Washington Yousef al-Otaiba - who in diplomatic circles is known as the most effective and influential ambassador in Washington - has himself been a recent victim of email hacking. It's well known in Washington that Mr Otaiba and Mr Kushner have enjoyed a close relationship. Industry experts looking at both hacks have drawn comparisons between the two, showing reason to suspect links to Qatar. \"This is rinse and repeat on Otaiba,\" a source familiar with the hack told the BBC. The UAE has also been known to use similar tactics, and was accused of hacking Qatari government websites prior to the blockade, according to the FBI.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 4111, "answer_end": 4717, "text": "Mr Broidy also detailed a separate sit-down with Mr Trump's son-in-law and adviser Jared Kushner, according to the emails. After Mr Broidy criticised Qatar extensively to Mr Kushner, \"Jared's demeanour was very passive and pleasant but he seemed to not want to engage on this issue,\" he wrote to Mr Nader. Kushner Companies - owned by the family of Jared Kushner - is reported to have in April 2017 sought financing from Qatar for its flagship property at 666 5th Avenue, New York. However, Mr Kushner has maintained that he has had no role in his family's business since joining the White House last year."}], "question": "What else was in the leaked emails?", "id": "215_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Italy circumcision kills toddler, with one man charged", "date": "24 December 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "A two-year-old boy has died from blood loss following a failed circumcision at a migrant centre in Italy. The boy's twin brother also underwent the procedure in Rome's north-western suburb of Monterondo and is recovering in hospital. A 66-year-old man has been charged with murder, according to Italian media. Some 5,000 circumcisions are performed in Italy each year but more than a third are carried out illegally, according to health charity Amsi. Cultural non-profit group Arci said the procedures had taken place at a refugee centre it runs with the local council in Monterondo. \"It is a tragedy that leaves us speechless,\" Arci said in a statement on Facebook, adding that it would take civil action once those responsible for the child's death had been determined by police. The two boys, who have not been named, were born in Italy in 2017 to a Nigerian mother who has five other children in Nigeria. Local media say the mother had asked for the operations in respect for Nigeria's Islamic traditions, despite being Catholic herself. The medical credentials of the doctor are reportedly being questioned by police. Ansa said the man arrested was an American citizen of Libyan origin. \"It is an absurd tragedy,\" said Antonino Lupi, mayor of Monterondo, in an interview with the Corriere Della Sera. Circumcision is currently unavailable in public health institutions in Italy. Having the procedure at a private clinic can cost between EUR2,000 (PS1,798) and EUR4,000 (PS3,596), according to Foad Aodi, president of Amsi. As a result, those from poorer backgrounds can \"end up in the hands of unscrupulous and unskilled people, who for EUR50 or EUR20 practise circumcision,\" Mr Aodi said in a statement. By Michelle Roberts, BBC News Online health editor Although it is a relatively simple medical procedure, circumcision is not entirely risk free. Doctors may recommend that a man or boy is circumcised if he has an unusually tight foreskin, known as phimosis, or suffers from recurrent infections of the foreskin and penis, known as balanitis. There is also some evidence that men who are circumcised have a lower risk of contracting HIV from HIV-positive female partners. It is not clear if circumcision reduces the risk of other sexually transmitted infections too, but studies suggest it may lower the chance of catching genital warts caused by a family of viruses called HPV. The main risks of the surgery are bleeding and infection. In the UK, the chance of these occurring is between one in 10 and one in 50, according to the NHS website, although that is a figure for older boys and men, not newborns. Circumcision is legal throughout Europe, although the practice is becoming more controversial. A court in Germany passed a local ban in 2012 after the circumcision of a four-year-old Muslim boy led to complications, with the judge saying it \"permanently and irreparably changed\" the body. However, the German government later that year clarified that the procedure is legal provided it is performed by trained practitioners. The following year, the Council of Europe recommended countries take steps to ensure good medical and sanitary practices when performing a circumcision. And in the UK in 2016, a court ruled that a Muslim father could not have his sons circumcised after their mother disagreed.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1710, "answer_end": 2616, "text": "By Michelle Roberts, BBC News Online health editor Although it is a relatively simple medical procedure, circumcision is not entirely risk free. Doctors may recommend that a man or boy is circumcised if he has an unusually tight foreskin, known as phimosis, or suffers from recurrent infections of the foreskin and penis, known as balanitis. There is also some evidence that men who are circumcised have a lower risk of contracting HIV from HIV-positive female partners. It is not clear if circumcision reduces the risk of other sexually transmitted infections too, but studies suggest it may lower the chance of catching genital warts caused by a family of viruses called HPV. The main risks of the surgery are bleeding and infection. In the UK, the chance of these occurring is between one in 10 and one in 50, according to the NHS website, although that is a figure for older boys and men, not newborns."}], "question": "Is circumcision safe?", "id": "216_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2617, "answer_end": 3318, "text": "Circumcision is legal throughout Europe, although the practice is becoming more controversial. A court in Germany passed a local ban in 2012 after the circumcision of a four-year-old Muslim boy led to complications, with the judge saying it \"permanently and irreparably changed\" the body. However, the German government later that year clarified that the procedure is legal provided it is performed by trained practitioners. The following year, the Council of Europe recommended countries take steps to ensure good medical and sanitary practices when performing a circumcision. And in the UK in 2016, a court ruled that a Muslim father could not have his sons circumcised after their mother disagreed."}], "question": "How do other European countries compare?", "id": "216_1"}]}]}, {"title": "Six searches that show the power of Google", "date": "26 April 2016", "paragraphs": [{"context": "There is a word that you never heard anyone use 20 years ago. But today, according to research from Lancaster University, which examined millions of words of casual conversation, it crops up more frequently than \"clever\", \"eggs\", \"fridge\", or \"death\". That word is Google. To search is to Google, to Google is to search. \"Google is considered to be a synonym for search,\" says Danny Sullivan of searchengineland.com. \"People talk about Googling things - it has become that dominant, both in usage and in the mindshare [the measure of consumer awareness].\" With more than 90% of the market in much of the world, Google's dominance in the vital and lucrative business of searching the internet is clear. But does its mysterious and ever-changing search algorithm have too much power? Does this one force exert excessive influence over the information we all access, the success or failure of businesses, the reputation of individuals and even which political ideas triumph? That is what we have been exploring in a programme for Radio 4. In the course of making the programme one tool proved invaluable - a Google search. So let's look at the power of Google via six searches. The first result here is a Google infographic which takes us on a journey through crawling and indexing the web to algorithms \"which understand what you mean\" to the ranking of pages - without really giving away any secrets. So let's turn to Ben Gomes. High up in the results for his name is an article describing him as Google's \"guru of search\". He says the challenge is to understand what is going on in the searcher's mind. \"The perfect search is giving you what you were looking for. Not just the words you typed - but what you were actually looking for.\" This quest for what Google thinks is the perfect search means constant tweaking of the algorithm - as many as a thousand changes a year - and an ongoing battle with those trying to \"game\" it. And every time there is a major change, there are victims. This search produced one ad, some images, and a list of angling suppliers. Ninth in the list - but still on the first page - was a link to the Essential Fly. That will be a relief to the business's owner Andy Kitchener, who is still scarred by what happened when Google made big changes in its algorithm in 2013. Suddenly new business melted away when search terms like \"trout flies\" no longer put his business anywhere near the front page. Since then other changes have made the Essential Fly more prominent again. From the search firm's point of view it is just aiming to make things work better for users, often rooting out spammy links designed to push pages artificially higher. But Kitchener is still angry about the power of Google: \"It's horrifying - it's like having someone in your business that you don't know , that will make their own demands and change the rules in an instant. It's just a rollercoaster.\" There are questions over whether the simplicity and purity of a search process - which used to give you what Google called \"ten blue links\" - has been diluted. Search for something like \"hotels Tallinn\" and what you will find is some paid ads at the top, then a map with a box showing some links. If you're searching on a phone that's all you'll see at first - you have to scroll down to find what Google calls \"organic\" results. Now, according to rivals Yelp and Tripadvisor, which have complained about this practice, that map at the top is peopled by restaurants or hotels reviewed on Google+ rather than their more popular review services. Yelp's Vice President of Public Policy Luther Lowe says this is an example of Google abusing its power. \"The problem arises when you leverage your dominance in one business area and begin using that unfairly to go into adjacent business areas.\" Google's Ben Gomes replies that, once again, it's all about the user. \"What we're trying to return to you is the answer to what you're looking for. You're looking for restaurants, we're giving you restaurants.\" But European regulators seem sceptical - they are investigating this and other areas where Google stands accused of abusing its dominance in search. But is there a risk that its market dominance and the sheer power of the Google algorithm could even determine who rules us? Any search around this topic will throw up articles quoting Dr Robert Epstein, a psychologist at the American Institute for Behavioural Research. He says his research showed that where candidates or parties appeared in search results it could influence elections. \"It will shift the opinions of undecided people so dramatically that just being higher in search rankings can win someone an election.\" Challenged as to whether Google engineers would really tweak the algorithm to favour one candidate, he says that wouldn't surprise him, and there was always scope for a rogue employee to do that. But he says that the worst possibility was that their algorithm could do it. \"The computer program is always going  to put things into an order and in every election it's almost certainly going to put one candidate ahead of another.\" And that, he says, means elections are being decided by the algorithm. Google has described Dr Epstein's research as a \"flawed conspiracy theory\" and says it has never changed search rankings to manipulate user sentiment. David Auerbach, a technology columnist at Slate who worked on search at Google for five years, agrees that there is no conscious manipulation going on. But he does see something called emergent bias, where even if Google is producing what it regards as relevant results, \"there's no guarantee that those results are objective because people don't necessarily think the most objective sources are the most relevant sources.\" Nowadays, this search brings up details of the court case which saw the so-called right to be forgotten - allowing individuals to have certain search results removed - enshrined in European law. It was brought by a Spaniard, Mario Costeja Gonzalez, who was upset that a search for his name always brought up in first place an obscure newspaper article from 1998 referring to the forced sale of a property due to some social security debts. From sizing up someone before a first date to assessing a job candidate, a Google search has become the natural way to find out about someone. But does it give a true picture, particularly when it comes to relatively obscure people without much of a web presence? Dr Julia Powles, a Cambridge University expert on the law and technology, does not think so. \"The illusion or delusion of Google is that we're getting some version of the truth but it's whatever information is available on a rough scraping of the public web. The information that's on there can define you.\" This search is notable because of what it shows in terms of images - the pictures are almost all of black women. So is the algorithm just a bit racist? Google's Ben Gomes says the real explanation is that it just isn't smart enough yet to understand all the nuances of language. He says some of the pages linked to these images talk of why a hairstyle popular with black women is not unprofessional. \"Our algorithms today are not able to pick up on that very complex nuance of the double negative in it, or the subtlety of that discussion.\" But as well as struggling with nuance, he says the search engine can just reflect societal bias. And as for Google engineers, their bias is towards trusting the science behind search. \"We've always taken the view that this is an algorithmic process, and that we do not interfere with that algorithmic process.\" Looking back over my recent Google history, I find I've made 356 searches in the past month, and nearly all of them have turned up just what I was seeking in under a second. But the information delivered to me and countless millions around the world is now determined by algorithms which even Google's engineers don't fully understand. And that makes me just a little uneasy.. Rory Cellan-Jones presents The Force of Google on BBC Radio 4 at 20:00 BST on Tuesday 26 April. You can catch up via BBC iPlayer Radio. How does Google work? How does Google make money? Subscribe to the BBC News Magazine's email newsletter to get articles sent to your inbox.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1175, "answer_end": 1986, "text": "The first result here is a Google infographic which takes us on a journey through crawling and indexing the web to algorithms \"which understand what you mean\" to the ranking of pages - without really giving away any secrets. So let's turn to Ben Gomes. High up in the results for his name is an article describing him as Google's \"guru of search\". He says the challenge is to understand what is going on in the searcher's mind. \"The perfect search is giving you what you were looking for. Not just the words you typed - but what you were actually looking for.\" This quest for what Google thinks is the perfect search means constant tweaking of the algorithm - as many as a thousand changes a year - and an ongoing battle with those trying to \"game\" it. And every time there is a major change, there are victims."}], "question": "Search 1: How does Google search work?", "id": "217_0"}]}]}, {"title": "What does the jailing of its heir mean for Samsung?", "date": "25 August 2017", "paragraphs": [{"context": "You just need to walk down the streets of Seoul to see how entrenched Samsung is as part of Korean life. It is South Korea's largest \"chaebol\" - a Korean name made up of the words \"clan\" and \"wealth\", which together mean a massive family-owned empire - and makes up a fifth of the country's GDP. It is made up of numerous different businesses, ranging from consumer electronics to healthcare to life insurance. It's also the company that many young Koreans want to work for, as I found out during a trip to Seoul earlier this year, despite the corruption woes of company heir Lee Jae-yong (also known as Jay Y Lee). But now with Lee sentenced to five years in prison, how much will this impact on the fortunes of South Korea's most powerful company? Not too badly in the short term at least, says Geoffrey Cain, author of an upcoming book on the Samsung empire. \"Samsung has a decentralised ruling system of management, so Mr Lee was never really involved in the day-to-day management of the company. He was more of a guiding hand for the empire,\" Mr Cain says. Samsung itself has told me that it has three co-CEOs in place running the management team, and that it will endeavour to lead its operations without disruptions \"and will find a way to minimise the impact of the legal proceedings\". But while it may be business as usual for now, it's hard to see how in the long term Samsung won't suffer. I've been told that Lee's position at Samsung was never about specific product design or the performance of the company every quarter. His job was to provide the conglomerate with a long-term vision. The unique perspective he had as a founding family member, I've been told, allowed him to seek out opportunities for Samsung. Educated overseas, Lee's role was about developing future businesses and nurturing relationships with global clients. He was always given the most difficult clients to manage, I've been told, because he always had a deeper understanding of the company's future path. Lee knew where Samsung needed to go and he wanted to help it get there - these are skills that you can't just step in and replace right away. Samsung may have no shortage of qualified professionals who are currently handling the different divisions, but without a family leader it is hard to see how the firm can push ahead with a new direction - something it desperately needs as it tries to compete with rivals from China and Japan. Lee's verdict is also likely to have been watched very carefully by South Korea's powerful chaebols. Even though this is not the first time a chaebol boss has been convicted and sentenced to prison, most of them don't serve their entire jail terms. Lee's case is unusual in that he received such a long sentence for a chaebol boss. He has the right to appeal but in South Korea any sentence that is longer than three years cannot be suspended. Privately, chaebol sources have told me they feel unfairly maligned by the current campaign against them. After all, they argue, they are a vital force of South Korean industry - sales revenue from the top five chaebols are worth more than half of the country's entire economy. Indeed, it is true that chaebols have helped to transform this once-poor nation into Asia's fourth-largest economy. But it's also true that these sprawling empires wield enormous influence and have exploited that influence both politically and economically to dominate South Korea's business world. \"The verdict is a big signal that the country is moving towards chaebol reform,\" Geoffrey Cain told me. \"But these are just the early stages - this is just the start.\" The case against Lee has always been about more than just one man's actions. The fact that this verdict has been handed down in the opening months of President Moon Jae-in's administration should signal a commitment to chaebol reform - after all it was among the major platforms of his campaign. There's almost certainly more reform to come. But what shape it will take is still unclear.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1294, "answer_end": 2428, "text": "But while it may be business as usual for now, it's hard to see how in the long term Samsung won't suffer. I've been told that Lee's position at Samsung was never about specific product design or the performance of the company every quarter. His job was to provide the conglomerate with a long-term vision. The unique perspective he had as a founding family member, I've been told, allowed him to seek out opportunities for Samsung. Educated overseas, Lee's role was about developing future businesses and nurturing relationships with global clients. He was always given the most difficult clients to manage, I've been told, because he always had a deeper understanding of the company's future path. Lee knew where Samsung needed to go and he wanted to help it get there - these are skills that you can't just step in and replace right away. Samsung may have no shortage of qualified professionals who are currently handling the different divisions, but without a family leader it is hard to see how the firm can push ahead with a new direction - something it desperately needs as it tries to compete with rivals from China and Japan."}], "question": "Long-term impact?", "id": "218_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Sir Philip Green injunction against Daily Telegraph dropped", "date": "8 February 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Sir Philip Green's legal action against the Daily Telegraph has been formally ended by a High Court judge. The Topshop boss had gagged the paper from publishing misconduct allegations, including sexual and racial abuse and bullying, against five employees. He said the action was now \"pointless\" after he was named in Parliament as the businessman behind the injunction. Sir Philip said he was pleased with the judgement, and said the Daily Telegraph had pursued a \"vendetta\" against him. Sir Philip denies allegations he behaved wrongly. The five employees who made allegations about Sir Philip had all received substantial payments after settling their claims in return for saying no more about them - under non-disclosure agreements (NDAs). The paper's editor, Chris Evans, said he was delighted the injunction had been lifted. The Telegraph now intends to publish the details of the allegations against Sir Philip and the \"inside story\" of the High Court action on its website at 21:00 GMT on Friday and in Saturday's newspaper. The newspaper has also published an audio recording of Sir Philip in which he threatened to \"bankrupt\" the Telegraph if it printed the allegations. \"I will personally sue your editor for damages that will be long beyond what he'll be able to earn if he lives to 1,000 years old,\" he said on the call. Sir Philip has been left with a reported PS3m legal bill and has been ordered to pay the \"bulk\" of the Telegraph's legal costs. Sometimes known as \"gagging orders\" or \"hush agreements\", they typically prevent staff and ex-staff making information public. Sir Philip had argued that the five former staff would be breaking the law if they breached NDAs they had signed in return for money. Sir Philip's statement said the Telegraph had \"knowingly and shamefully coaxed these [five] individuals to breach their obligations under these lawful agreements\". But Mr Evans said the Sir Philip case raised wider questions about the use of NDAs. \"In the wake of the Harvey Weinstein affair, we became aware that gagging orders called NDAs were being used to cover up allegations of sexual misconduct and racial abuse in the workplace. And that led to our investigation into Sir Philip Green and Arcadia. \"We maintain there is a clear public interest in telling people whether a prospective employer has been accused of sexual misconduct and racial abuse.\" The chairwoman of the Parliamentary Women and Equality Select Committee, Maria Miller, said the Philip Green case  \"shows how broken the current system is\". \"NDAs are protecting the powerful and silencing victims. Employers and lawyers need to hear a strong message from government that this has to change.\" Last August, the Daily Telegraph planned to run a story of allegations of misconduct made against Sir Philip by five employees. Sir Philip approached the court to stop it naming him. Initially, the court refused, but Sir Philip appealed and it did grant an injunction, saying there was a \"real prospect\" that publication would cause \"substantial and possibly irreversible harm\" to the claimants. It then ran a story saying simply that a \"leading businessman\" was involved in a number of NDAs with former employees. However, Sir Philip was named by Lord Hain in the House of Lords two days after the court's ruling. Sir Philip used to be known as the king of the High Street. He built a fortune from a retail empire that included Topshop, BHS, Burton and Miss Selfridge. He sold BHS in March 2015 for PS1, but it went into administration a year later, leaving a PS571m hole in its pension fund. He later agreed a PS363m cash settlement with the Pensions Regulator to plug the gap. In a report into the collapse of BHS, MPs called the episode \"the unacceptable face of capitalism\". He and his wife Cristina are estimated by Forbes to be worth PS3.8bn.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1462, "answer_end": 2688, "text": "Sometimes known as \"gagging orders\" or \"hush agreements\", they typically prevent staff and ex-staff making information public. Sir Philip had argued that the five former staff would be breaking the law if they breached NDAs they had signed in return for money. Sir Philip's statement said the Telegraph had \"knowingly and shamefully coaxed these [five] individuals to breach their obligations under these lawful agreements\". But Mr Evans said the Sir Philip case raised wider questions about the use of NDAs. \"In the wake of the Harvey Weinstein affair, we became aware that gagging orders called NDAs were being used to cover up allegations of sexual misconduct and racial abuse in the workplace. And that led to our investigation into Sir Philip Green and Arcadia. \"We maintain there is a clear public interest in telling people whether a prospective employer has been accused of sexual misconduct and racial abuse.\" The chairwoman of the Parliamentary Women and Equality Select Committee, Maria Miller, said the Philip Green case  \"shows how broken the current system is\". \"NDAs are protecting the powerful and silencing victims. Employers and lawyers need to hear a strong message from government that this has to change.\""}], "question": "What's the issue with NDAs?", "id": "219_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2689, "answer_end": 3303, "text": "Last August, the Daily Telegraph planned to run a story of allegations of misconduct made against Sir Philip by five employees. Sir Philip approached the court to stop it naming him. Initially, the court refused, but Sir Philip appealed and it did grant an injunction, saying there was a \"real prospect\" that publication would cause \"substantial and possibly irreversible harm\" to the claimants. It then ran a story saying simply that a \"leading businessman\" was involved in a number of NDAs with former employees. However, Sir Philip was named by Lord Hain in the House of Lords two days after the court's ruling."}], "question": "How did this start?", "id": "219_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3304, "answer_end": 3838, "text": "Sir Philip used to be known as the king of the High Street. He built a fortune from a retail empire that included Topshop, BHS, Burton and Miss Selfridge. He sold BHS in March 2015 for PS1, but it went into administration a year later, leaving a PS571m hole in its pension fund. He later agreed a PS363m cash settlement with the Pensions Regulator to plug the gap. In a report into the collapse of BHS, MPs called the episode \"the unacceptable face of capitalism\". He and his wife Cristina are estimated by Forbes to be worth PS3.8bn."}], "question": "Who is Sir Philip Green?", "id": "219_2"}]}]}, {"title": "Facebook boss apologises in UK and US newspaper ads", "date": "25 March 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Facebook boss Mark Zuckerberg has taken out full-page adverts in several UK and US Sunday newspapers to apologise for the firm's recent data privacy scandal. He said Facebook could have done more to stop millions of users having their data exploited by political consultancy Cambridge Analytica in 2014. \"This was a breach of trust, and I am sorry,\" the back-page ads state. It comes amid reports Facebook was warned its data protection policies were too weak back in 2011. The full-page apology featured in broadsheets and tabloids in the UK, appearing on the back page of the Sunday Telegraph, Sunday Times, Mail on Sunday, Observer, Sunday Mirror and Sunday Express. In the US, it was seen by readers of the New York Times, Washington Post and Wall Street Journal. In the advert, Mr Zuckerberg said a quiz developed by a university researcher had \"leaked Facebook data of millions of people in 2014\". \"I'm sorry we didn't do more at the time. We're now taking steps to make sure this doesn't happen again,\" the tech chief said. It echoes comments Mr Zuckerberg made last week after reports of the leak prompted investigations in Europe and the US, and knocked billions of dollars of Facebook's market value. Mr Zuckerberg repeated that Facebook had already changed its rules so no such breach could happen again. \"We're also investigating every single app that had access to large amounts of data before we fixed this. We expect there are others,\" he stated. \"And when we find them, we will ban them and tell everyone affected.\" The ads contained no mention of the political consultancy accused of using the leaked data, Cambridge Analytica, which worked on US President Donald Trump's 2016 campaign. The British firm has denied wrongdoing. In 2014, Facebook invited users to find out their personality type via a quiz developed by Cambridge University researcher, Dr Alexsandr 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 without their knowledge. 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 then used it to psychologically profile people and deliver pro-Trump material to them during the 2016 US presidential election campaign. Facebook has said Dr Kogan passed this information on to Cambridge Analytica without its knowledge. And Cambridge Analytica has blamed Dr Kogan for any potential breach of data rules. But 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. As first reported in the Sunday Telegraph, Ireland's Data Protection Commissioner (DPC) warned Facebook's security policies were too weak to stop abuse in 2011, some three years before the breach took place. Following an audit, the DPC said relying on developers to follow information rules in some cases was not good enough \"to ensure security of user data\". It also said Facebook processes to stop abuse were not strong enough to \"assure users of the security of their data once they have third party apps enabled\". Facebook said it strengthened its protections following the recommendations and was told it had addressed the DPC's original concerns after a second audit in 2012. The tech firm also said it changed its platform entirely in 2014 with the regulator's recommendations in mind.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1744, "answer_end": 2846, "text": "In 2014, Facebook invited users to find out their personality type via a quiz developed by Cambridge University researcher, Dr Alexsandr 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 without their knowledge. 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 then used it to psychologically profile people and deliver pro-Trump material to them during the 2016 US presidential election campaign. Facebook has said Dr Kogan passed this information on to Cambridge Analytica without its knowledge. And Cambridge Analytica has blamed Dr Kogan for any potential breach of data rules. But 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."}], "question": "What is the row about?", "id": "220_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2847, "answer_end": 3639, "text": "As first reported in the Sunday Telegraph, Ireland's Data Protection Commissioner (DPC) warned Facebook's security policies were too weak to stop abuse in 2011, some three years before the breach took place. Following an audit, the DPC said relying on developers to follow information rules in some cases was not good enough \"to ensure security of user data\". It also said Facebook processes to stop abuse were not strong enough to \"assure users of the security of their data once they have third party apps enabled\". Facebook said it strengthened its protections following the recommendations and was told it had addressed the DPC's original concerns after a second audit in 2012. The tech firm also said it changed its platform entirely in 2014 with the regulator's recommendations in mind."}], "question": "Did Facebook get a warning seven years ago?", "id": "220_1"}]}]}, {"title": "Undercover relationship woman wants officer prosecution", "date": "1 May 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "An environmental campaigner who says she was tricked into a sexual relationship with an undercover police officer is mounting a legal challenge to have him prosecuted. The woman, known as Monica, will ask judges to overturn prosecutors' decision not to charge the Metropolitan Police's Jim Boyling. A string of officers from a disbanded unit had affairs while undercover. DC Boyling is suspended and his lawyers have declined to comment on his behalf. This week Scotland Yard began a closed disciplinary hearing which could see him sacked. DC Boyling went on to have two more relationships and his behaviour - and what his managers knew about it - is a key element of a long-delayed public inquiry into alleged abuses in undercover policing. Twenty years ago, \"Monica\" was an environmental campaigner with Reclaim the Streets, a protest group that occupied roads and called for better planning of sustainable transport such as bicycles rather than cars. Jim Boyling was an officer with the Metropolitan Police's Special Demonstration Squad, a secret unit that sent detectives undercover into protest groups police considered might trigger trouble. DC Boyling met Monica while infiltrating Reclaim the Streets. They became a couple for six months in 1997. \"I loved him in a way, I really felt strongly for him,\" Monica told the BBC.  \"At the time I thought he had genuine feelings for me.  But now I look at that and I think actually this man was trained. He was a successful police officer. He was duping us all. \"And I was encouraged to be intimate and sexual with somebody who I would never ever have got involved with if I had known who he was: if I had known his true motives and his true identity.\" DC Boyling, whom Monica knew as Jim Sutton, later disappeared in unclear circumstances - a tactic used by all of the officers at the end of their deployment. Monica only discovered who he really was after he was unmasked along with other officers accused of abuses. Scotland Yard has settled cases with a dozen women who sued the police force for being tricked into relationships. In an unprecedented apology, the force said the women had been \"deceived\" \"These [relationships] should never have happened,\" said the force's Assistant Commissioner Martin Hewitt. \"They were a gross violation of personal dignity and integrity.\" But the Crown Prosecution Service has refused to prosecute any of the officers for either sexual offences, or misconduct in public office. Monica appealed that decision under a system called the Victims Right to Review - but the CPS still refused to change its mind. Now she is seeking a full judicial review before High Court judges of the Director of Public Prosecution's handling of the file. She says that the DPP was wrong not to consider charges, including the unusual historic offence of procuring someone for sex, because she had been the victim of deceit - and therefore never consented to the relationship. Harriet Wistrich, Monica's lawyer, also argues the CPS should consider whether DC Boyling should be prosecuted on the same legal terms as two women who were convicted of sexual assault by impersonating men. The Crown Prosecution Service said it would not comment on the legal challenge. DC Boyling has said he will co-operate with the Undercover Policing Inquiry when it calls to give him evidence, although that could be more than a year off.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 742, "answer_end": 1969, "text": "Twenty years ago, \"Monica\" was an environmental campaigner with Reclaim the Streets, a protest group that occupied roads and called for better planning of sustainable transport such as bicycles rather than cars. Jim Boyling was an officer with the Metropolitan Police's Special Demonstration Squad, a secret unit that sent detectives undercover into protest groups police considered might trigger trouble. DC Boyling met Monica while infiltrating Reclaim the Streets. They became a couple for six months in 1997. \"I loved him in a way, I really felt strongly for him,\" Monica told the BBC.  \"At the time I thought he had genuine feelings for me.  But now I look at that and I think actually this man was trained. He was a successful police officer. He was duping us all. \"And I was encouraged to be intimate and sexual with somebody who I would never ever have got involved with if I had known who he was: if I had known his true motives and his true identity.\" DC Boyling, whom Monica knew as Jim Sutton, later disappeared in unclear circumstances - a tactic used by all of the officers at the end of their deployment. Monica only discovered who he really was after he was unmasked along with other officers accused of abuses."}], "question": "How did the relationship develop?", "id": "221_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Business tycoon Frank Stronach suing family over fortune", "date": "11 October 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "The Austrian-Canadian billionaire founder of a global car parts firm is suing family members claiming mismanagement of family assets and trust funds. Frank Stronach, 86, filed the suit in an Ontario court this month, claiming C$520m ($398m; PS300m) in damages. The suit names his daughter Belinda, her two children, the Stronach Group CEO Alon Ossip and others. None of the claims made in the lawsuit have been tested in court. It alleges \"a complete break-down\" of relationships within the family, according to Thoroughbred Daily News, which first reported on the matter. A statement released by Mr Stronach's legal team says the business tycoon and his wife Elfriede Stronach \"regret having to commence proceedings\" against family members. \"They only did so as a last resort, after having made considerable efforts over a period of almost two years to resolve the matters at issue on a consensual basis. Born in Austria to a working-class family, he spent many years in Canada. There, he made his fortune building car parts firm Magna International into a global company from its modest beginnings in his Toronto garage. He later entered the world of horseracing, creating what became the Stronach Group, which operates a number of horse-racing and horse-breeding companies, including the Santa Anita racetrack in California and Gulfstream Park racetrack in Florida. Mr Stronach was also briefly involved in politics in Austria. The Austrian-Canadian business titan formed a political party in his country of birth before quitting politics just over a year later. His daughter, Belinda Stronach, 52, is president of the Stronach Group and a former member of parliament in Canada. Ms Stronach said in a statement to media that family relationships and business could be a challenging mix: \"My children and I love my father. However, his allegations are untrue and we will be responding formally to the statement of claim in the normal course of the court process.\" How have others reacted? Mr Ossip said in a statement made through spokesman Paul Deegan that the claims made in the lawsuit were \"baseless and are not grounded in fact or reality\". \"Alon has always honoured his obligations and acted in good faith to preserve and grow the Stronach family's assets and to protect the interests of all members of the family,\" he said. He said this dispute should be resolved between family members. On Thursday, the Stronach Group said that \"while we regret the tension that exists within the Stronach family, it remains business as usual\" for the organisation.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 906, "answer_end": 1565, "text": "Born in Austria to a working-class family, he spent many years in Canada. There, he made his fortune building car parts firm Magna International into a global company from its modest beginnings in his Toronto garage. He later entered the world of horseracing, creating what became the Stronach Group, which operates a number of horse-racing and horse-breeding companies, including the Santa Anita racetrack in California and Gulfstream Park racetrack in Florida. Mr Stronach was also briefly involved in politics in Austria. The Austrian-Canadian business titan formed a political party in his country of birth before quitting politics just over a year later."}], "question": "Who is Frank Stronach?", "id": "222_0"}]}]}, {"title": "French election 2017: Why is it important?", "date": "3 May 2017", "paragraphs": [{"context": "France's voters have rejected the two big political parties that have governed for decades and are now at a crossroads as they choose a president. Will they go for a pro-European liberal who has never before been elected, or a far-right challenger to the establishment, who has vowed to take on globalisation and France's relationship with the EU? After the Brexit vote in the UK and the election of US President Donald Trump, France is the latest country to deal a blow to politics as usual. The Socialists and the centre right have run France since the 1950s, but the old model has been shattered. An unpopular and divided ruling Socialist party and a Republican candidate in the crosshairs of judicial inquiry have cleared the way for a president who has never been elected to the French National Assembly. Whoever wins, centrist Emmanuel Macron or populist Marine Le Pen, France will have a president with an agenda for change. The far right already runs eight towns and has 20 MEPs in the European Parliament - but is widely shunned by the political mainstream. Mr Macron's En Marche! (On the Move!) movement is an unknown quantity. Set up in April 2016 when he was economy minister, it has never before contested an election. And until now, nor has he. Voters will be making a decision on France's future direction and on its place at the heart of the European Union. If they opt for Emmanuel Macron, they will be backing a candidate who seeks EU reform as well as deeper European integration, in the form of a eurozone budget and eurozone finance ministers. If instead they choose Marine Le Pen she promises quite the opposite. She wants a Europe of nations to replace the EU. \"I give myself six months to negotiate with the EU the return of sovereignty. Then it will be the French who decide,\" she tweeted. The assumption is that she would fail and a referendum would take place initially on France's membership of the euro. A poll in March suggested that seven out of 10 French voters were opposed to France pulling out of the EU, but Emmanuel Macron was the only candidate standing on a pro-EU platform in the first round of the presidential election. All opinion polls suggest Mr Macron is heading for a big victory, polling about 60% in the second round - though his lead has narrowed in the last days before voting. He defeated Marine Le Pen in the first round and few commentators believe she will turn the tables on 7 May. Her best hope may be in voters failing to turn out in large numbers on the day. A day after reaching the second round, Ms Le Pen stepped down as leader of the National Front, which she has led since 2011, to concentrate on the presidential race. The move is an apparent bid to broaden her appeal by creating artificial distance between her run for power and her party's hard-line policies. Does Le Pen have a chance? Quite possibly not. Because Emmanuel Macron has no MPs, and Marine Le Pen has only two. So to have any power to push through their proposals the next president will need their party to perform well in legislative elections on 11 and 18 June. Barely was Mr Macron's first-round success known before he announced plans for a majority in the New Assembly, made up of \"new faces and new talents\". Half of his candidates will be women - but his problem will be that none will be household names. So for both the shadow of cohabitation looms, in which parliament is under the control of another party.  It raises the prospect of governing with the help of politicians from other parties. One of the overriding issues facing French voters is unemployment, which stands at almost 10% and is the eighth highest among the 28 EU member states. One in four under-25s is unemployed. The French economy has made a slow recovery from the 2008 financial crisis and all the leading candidates say deep changes are needed. Economic challenges facing next president Marine Le Pen wants the pension age cut to 60 and to \"renationalise French debt\", which she argues is largely held by foreigners. Emmanuel Macron wants to cut 120,000 public-sector jobs, reduce public spending by EUR60bn (PS50bn; $65bn), plough billions into investment and reduce unemployment to below 7%. What the two candidates want The election is taking place amid a state of emergency, and the first round took place three days after a policeman was shot dead on the Champs Elysees in the heart of Paris. More than 230 people have died in terror attacks since January 2015 and officials fear more of the hundreds of young French Muslims who travelled to Syria and Iraq may return to commit new atrocities. Intelligence services believe attackers are deliberately pursuing a Le Pen victory, says the BBC's Hugh Schofield in Paris - because that could tip the country into chaos. The former FN leader wants to suspend the EU's open-border agreement on France's frontiers and expel foreigners who are on the watch lists of intelligence services. Ms Le Pen is fighting to appeal to the centre and left of French politics after working to move the party away from the image of her father, who has been repeatedly convicted for hate speech and describing the Holocaust as a \"detail of history\". But she still has a far-right platform. She wants to allocate public services to French citizens ahead of foreigners. She also wants \"automatic\" expulsion of illegal immigrants and a moratorium on all legal immigration before cutting it to 10,000 per year. She courted controversy again in the weeks running up to the election by suggesting that the French state was not responsible for rounding up Jews to send them to Nazi death camps during World War Two. And the FN's links with Holocaust denial were highlighted once again when the man who replaced Ms Le Pen as its leader was himself forced out after only three days  when he was accused of historical remarks underplaying Nazi atrocities. The FN also has close ties with other European parties such as Austria's far-right Freedom Party - parties that mainstream right-wing parties want nothing to do with.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 493, "answer_end": 1258, "text": "The Socialists and the centre right have run France since the 1950s, but the old model has been shattered. An unpopular and divided ruling Socialist party and a Republican candidate in the crosshairs of judicial inquiry have cleared the way for a president who has never been elected to the French National Assembly. Whoever wins, centrist Emmanuel Macron or populist Marine Le Pen, France will have a president with an agenda for change. The far right already runs eight towns and has 20 MEPs in the European Parliament - but is widely shunned by the political mainstream. Mr Macron's En Marche! (On the Move!) movement is an unknown quantity. Set up in April 2016 when he was economy minister, it has never before contested an election. And until now, nor has he."}], "question": "What is new about this election?", "id": "223_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1259, "answer_end": 2161, "text": "Voters will be making a decision on France's future direction and on its place at the heart of the European Union. If they opt for Emmanuel Macron, they will be backing a candidate who seeks EU reform as well as deeper European integration, in the form of a eurozone budget and eurozone finance ministers. If instead they choose Marine Le Pen she promises quite the opposite. She wants a Europe of nations to replace the EU. \"I give myself six months to negotiate with the EU the return of sovereignty. Then it will be the French who decide,\" she tweeted. The assumption is that she would fail and a referendum would take place initially on France's membership of the euro. A poll in March suggested that seven out of 10 French voters were opposed to France pulling out of the EU, but Emmanuel Macron was the only candidate standing on a pro-EU platform in the first round of the presidential election."}], "question": "What is at stake?", "id": "223_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2162, "answer_end": 2854, "text": "All opinion polls suggest Mr Macron is heading for a big victory, polling about 60% in the second round - though his lead has narrowed in the last days before voting. He defeated Marine Le Pen in the first round and few commentators believe she will turn the tables on 7 May. Her best hope may be in voters failing to turn out in large numbers on the day. A day after reaching the second round, Ms Le Pen stepped down as leader of the National Front, which she has led since 2011, to concentrate on the presidential race. The move is an apparent bid to broaden her appeal by creating artificial distance between her run for power and her party's hard-line policies. Does Le Pen have a chance?"}], "question": "Who will win?", "id": "223_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2855, "answer_end": 3536, "text": "Quite possibly not. Because Emmanuel Macron has no MPs, and Marine Le Pen has only two. So to have any power to push through their proposals the next president will need their party to perform well in legislative elections on 11 and 18 June. Barely was Mr Macron's first-round success known before he announced plans for a majority in the New Assembly, made up of \"new faces and new talents\". Half of his candidates will be women - but his problem will be that none will be household names. So for both the shadow of cohabitation looms, in which parliament is under the control of another party.  It raises the prospect of governing with the help of politicians from other parties."}], "question": "Will a new president spell the end of old politics?", "id": "223_3"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 4238, "answer_end": 4950, "text": "The election is taking place amid a state of emergency, and the first round took place three days after a policeman was shot dead on the Champs Elysees in the heart of Paris. More than 230 people have died in terror attacks since January 2015 and officials fear more of the hundreds of young French Muslims who travelled to Syria and Iraq may return to commit new atrocities. Intelligence services believe attackers are deliberately pursuing a Le Pen victory, says the BBC's Hugh Schofield in Paris - because that could tip the country into chaos. The former FN leader wants to suspend the EU's open-border agreement on France's frontiers and expel foreigners who are on the watch lists of intelligence services."}], "question": "What about security?", "id": "223_4"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 4951, "answer_end": 6059, "text": "Ms Le Pen is fighting to appeal to the centre and left of French politics after working to move the party away from the image of her father, who has been repeatedly convicted for hate speech and describing the Holocaust as a \"detail of history\". But she still has a far-right platform. She wants to allocate public services to French citizens ahead of foreigners. She also wants \"automatic\" expulsion of illegal immigrants and a moratorium on all legal immigration before cutting it to 10,000 per year. She courted controversy again in the weeks running up to the election by suggesting that the French state was not responsible for rounding up Jews to send them to Nazi death camps during World War Two. And the FN's links with Holocaust denial were highlighted once again when the man who replaced Ms Le Pen as its leader was himself forced out after only three days  when he was accused of historical remarks underplaying Nazi atrocities. The FN also has close ties with other European parties such as Austria's far-right Freedom Party - parties that mainstream right-wing parties want nothing to do with."}], "question": "What makes the National Front far-right?", "id": "223_5"}]}]}, {"title": "Africa and Rio 2016: 10 things to remember", "date": "23 August 2016", "paragraphs": [{"context": "It's been a memorable Olympics for Africa. Here are 10 things we won't forget: Wayde van Niekerk achieved the near-impossible by sharing centre stage with Usain Bolt, often portrayed as the saviour of athletics. But just minutes before his Jamaican friend won the 100m, the South African stunned the world by breaking the 400m world record set by the great Michael Johnson in 1999. In running 43.03 seconds, Van Niekerk became the first African to hold a sprint world record. Ethiopia's Almaz Ayana smashed another mark that was long believed to be unsurpassable. Speculation over the legitimacy of the 10,000m record set by Wang Junxia in 1993 intensified earlier this year after a letter was published which suggested the Chinese had doped - an allegation the IAAF is currently investigating. So perhaps it was understandable when the former Olympian and BBC commentator Steve Cram described Ayana's ability to knock 14 seconds off that old mark as \"one of the greatest pieces of distance running you'll ever see\". Van Niekerk wins 400m with world record Ayana smashes world record for 10,000m gold If US swimmer Michael Phelps were an African nation, he would be third on the continent's all-time list with his 28 medals, behind Kenya and South Africa. This may be more to do with how Africa funds its athletes than raw talent. However, in the number of total medals won, this was Africa's most successful Olympics - the tally of 45 beating the previous best set of 40 in Beijing in 2008. Despite a troubled build-up, Kenya extended their lead as Africa's most successful Olympic side of all time by finishing as the continent's highest-ranked side in the medals table. Their six golds, and 13 overall, took them to 15th, one place above Jamaica. South Africa were second for Africa, with Ethiopia third while Ivory Coast finished fourth after winning their first-ever gold. It wouldn't be a modern Olympics without social media creating a stir - and few made as big an impact as Namibian cyclist Dan Craven. He had tongues wagging when it appeared that he was tweeting his thoughts during his road race, only for it to later emerge that his girlfriend had been doing so on his behalf. Later on, after being asked by Rio organisers to enter the time trial, he asked his Twitter followers whether he should enter -spawning a variety of memes about which other events he could compete in. Likewise, an Instagram post by Snoop Dogg created a star out of rower Chierika Ukogu, after the US rapper wrongly claimed she had won a silver medal for Nigeria.  US-born Ukogu told the BBC she thought something weird was going when \"hundreds of people starting following me on social media\". The rower, the rapper and the mistaken Olympic medal Ethiopian swimmer Robel Habte, also found fame on social media where he was dubbed \"Robel the Whale\" because of his paunch. He said he took up swimming as he wanted to do something different for his country, which is usually associated with runners. The son of the Ethiopian Swimming Federation president swiftly retired from the sport after finishing half a lap behind anyone else in his heat - drawing inevitable comparisons with Equatorial Guinea's Eric the Eel. But he then changed his mind, saying he will target 2020 - and wants to set up the Robel the Whale Foundation to help more Ethiopian swimmers compete in the Olympics. At present, just PS45 ($60) of the PS1m he is looking to raise has been donated. The Olympics is often as much about sport as it is about politics - but few athletes ever combine the two quite so powerfully at the same time. When the American duo Tommie Smith and John Carlos famously flashed the black power salute at the 1968 Olympics, they were standing on the podium. Ethiopia's Feyisa Lilesa was actually still competing, starting his protest - by placing crossing his hands above his head - several yards before he crossed the finish line of the marathon to win a silver medal. The IOC bans such political displays. Feyisa says was speaking out on behalf of his fellow Oromo people, who have suffered brutal police crackdowns in Ethiopia. He later said he might be killed or imprisoned if he returns home - something the government denies. But it has led to an extraordinary crowd-funding campaign to help him get asylum. Money raised for Ethiopia 'hero runner' Was there a more dramatic turnaround in fortune by any athlete in Rio than that of Luvo Manyonga? Two years ago, the long jumper was battling an addiction to crystal meth - widely known as \"tik\" in South Africa - and a non-performance enhancing drug for which he had already been banned after testing positive in 2012. In 2014, his habit was still so bad he missed the memorial of his coach Mario Smith, leaving home all set for the event but bumping into some of his drug friends en route. But after receiving belated help by local sports officials, Manyonga resumed training last year - and missed out on gold in the long jump by just one centimetre, taking silver. Africa's women made history in Rio, with a number achieving some notable firsts. Chief among them was Sara Ahmed who became the first Egyptian woman to ever stand on the Olympic medal podium when she took bronze in weightlifting. The 18-year-old was forced to miss school exams to bring sporting glory to her country, since the education ministry had refused her a delay. Days later, her compatriot Hedaya Wahba became the first African woman to ever win a medal in taekwondo. Tunisian Ines Boubakri did the same in fencing - and used her triumph to point out to her country \"that women exist and they have their place in society\". Other notable performers were Mauritian triathlete Fabienne St Louis, who competed despite being diagnosed with cancer in December. Caster Semenya put the endless column inches about her gender to one side as she cruised home for 800m glory, with Burundi's Francine Niyonsaba taking silver - the first Burundian woman to win an Olympic medal. 'Semenya's history-making could finish her' Kenyan sprint coach John Anzrah was sent home from Rio with his tail between his legs. He borrowed the accreditation pass of 800m Ferguson Rotich, supposedly to have a free breakfast in the Olympic Village, but was then unexpectedly cornered by doping officials looking for Rotich. Despite the situation and the fact that his 61-year-old face may have clarified he was no athlete, Anzrah went along with the test. And Egyptian judoka Islam El Shehaby could win the prize for the most unsportsmanlike conduct. He was sent home after refusing to shake hands with his opponent Or Sasson because of his Israeli nationality. Coach sent home after posing as athlete Judoka 'sent home' for handshake snub When Nigeria's football team was badly delayed in reaching Brazil, because of a shortage of funds, the most unlikely source took pity: a plastic surgeon from Japan. Katsuya Takasu travelled from Tokyo to personally hand over the cash, some $390,000 in total, shortly after watching the team win bronze. This was Nigeria's only medal in a Games littered with logistical problems. The footballers' arrival in Brazil just hours before their opening game prevented Mikel John Obi from being Nigeria's flag bearer at the opening ceremony, while the kit for that opening ceremony only reached Rio just three days before the end of the Games. Nigeria finished below Niger on the medals table. Benefactor rewards Nigeria's medallists Nigeria Olympic kit 'arrived too late' You'd have got long odds on it a while back but a former gymnastics champion from Hungary became the first female judo athlete to compete for Ghana. Szandra Szogedi qualified for the West African nation through her Ghanaian husband but was in tears after exiting a minute into her bout - claiming she had let her country down. Also notable was the first gold medal for Bahrain, which was won by Kenyan-born Ruth Jebet in the women's steeplechase. She received a $500,000 bonus from Bahraini authorities who might not have been too impressed when she flew home to celebrate - quite literally, since she went straight back to Kenya. \"I ran for Bahrain but I'm still a Kenyan by blood. That's why I came here directly from Rio,\" the 19-year-old said upon her arrival. Hungarian is Ghana's unlikely Olympian Bahrain gold medallist 'still a Kenyan by blood'", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 3450, "answer_end": 4336, "text": "The Olympics is often as much about sport as it is about politics - but few athletes ever combine the two quite so powerfully at the same time. When the American duo Tommie Smith and John Carlos famously flashed the black power salute at the 1968 Olympics, they were standing on the podium. Ethiopia's Feyisa Lilesa was actually still competing, starting his protest - by placing crossing his hands above his head - several yards before he crossed the finish line of the marathon to win a silver medal. The IOC bans such political displays. Feyisa says was speaking out on behalf of his fellow Oromo people, who have suffered brutal police crackdowns in Ethiopia. He later said he might be killed or imprisoned if he returns home - something the government denies. But it has led to an extraordinary crowd-funding campaign to help him get asylum. Money raised for Ethiopia 'hero runner'"}], "question": "5. Crossing the line?", "id": "224_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Record US fentanyl bust 'enough to kill 26 million people'", "date": "25 May 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Nearly 120lbs (54kg) of fentanyl, a powerful synthetic painkiller, has been seized by police in Nebraska - one of the largest busts in US history. The drugs, seized last month, could kill over 26 million people, according to estimates by the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). Police found the fentanyl in a fake compartment of a lorry. The driver and a passenger were arrested. Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is 30-50 times more potent than heroin. It was the largest seizure of fentanyl in state history, Nebraska State Patrol said in a Twitter post on Thursday. Police stopped Felipe Genao-Minaya, 46, and his 52-year-old passenger Nelson Nunez, both of New Jersey, on 26 April after spotting the pair driving on the shoulder of a motorway near the city of Kearney. During the stop, a trooper \"became suspicious of criminal activity\" and searched the lorry to discover 42 foil-wrapped packages containing 118lbs (53kg) of fentanyl. State troopers initially thought they had discovered a mix of narcotics and cocaine, but in Thursday's announcement officials said testing proved the drugs were \"entirely fentanyl\". The two men were arrested on suspicion of possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver and no Drug Tax stamp, according to a Nebraska State Patrol statement earlier this month. They  are being held in county jail on a $100,000 (PS74,000) bond. Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that appears as a white powder, similar in size to grains of salt. Just 2mg of fentanyl - or a few grains of table salt - is a lethal dosage for most people, and even exposure can cause a fatal reaction, according to the DEA. According to DEA estimates, the 118lbs could kill about 26 million people. Like heroin and other opioids, fentanyl causes drowsiness, nausea and confusion, and overdoses can result in respiratory failure and death. In the US, it is approved as an anaesthetic and for pain relief, but because of its high profit margin for traffickers, it has become a large part of America's opioid crisis. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) reported that between 2015 and 2016, the rate of drug overdose deaths involving synthetic opioids such as fentanyl had doubled. Medical examiners ruled in 2016 that US musician Prince died from an accidental overdose of the drug.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1388, "answer_end": 2301, "text": "Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that appears as a white powder, similar in size to grains of salt. Just 2mg of fentanyl - or a few grains of table salt - is a lethal dosage for most people, and even exposure can cause a fatal reaction, according to the DEA. According to DEA estimates, the 118lbs could kill about 26 million people. Like heroin and other opioids, fentanyl causes drowsiness, nausea and confusion, and overdoses can result in respiratory failure and death. In the US, it is approved as an anaesthetic and for pain relief, but because of its high profit margin for traffickers, it has become a large part of America's opioid crisis. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) reported that between 2015 and 2016, the rate of drug overdose deaths involving synthetic opioids such as fentanyl had doubled. Medical examiners ruled in 2016 that US musician Prince died from an accidental overdose of the drug."}], "question": "What is fentanyl?", "id": "225_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Israel's Netanyahu welcomes Brazil Jerusalem embassy vow", "date": "2 November 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu has welcomed a decision by Brazil's president-elect to move its embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Mr Netanyahu praised it as \"historic, [and] correct\". Palestinians called the move \"provocative and illegal\". Jair Bolsonaro, a far-right politician, expressed strong support for Israel during his election campaign. Jerusalem's status is one of the most contentious issues between Israel and the Palestinians. Israel considers the whole of Jerusalem as its capital, while the Palestinians seek East Jerusalem as the capital of a hoped-for Palestinian state. \"I congratulate my friend Brazilian president-elect Jair Bolsonaro for his intention to move the Brazilian embassy to Jerusalem, a historic, correct and exciting step!\" Mr Netanyahu said in a statement. But Palestinian official Hanan Ashrawi told AFP news agency such \"provocative and illegal steps... will only destabilise security and stability in the region\". The US and Guatemala have recently moved their embassies to Jerusalem, but most countries choose to remain in Tel Aviv. The status of Jerusalem goes to the heart of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Israel regards Jerusalem as its \"eternal and undivided\" capital, while the Palestinians claim East Jerusalem - occupied by Israel in the 1967 Middle East war - as the capital of a future state. Israeli sovereignty over Jerusalem has never been recognised internationally, and according to the 1993 Israel-Palestinian peace accords, the final status of Jerusalem is meant to be discussed in the latter stages of peace talks. Since 1967, Israel has built a dozen settlements, home to about 200,000 Jews, in East Jerusalem. These are considered illegal under international law, though Israel disputes this. Jerusalem is also home to key religious sites sacred to Judaism, Islam and Christianity, especially in East Jerusalem.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1071, "answer_end": 1872, "text": "The status of Jerusalem goes to the heart of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Israel regards Jerusalem as its \"eternal and undivided\" capital, while the Palestinians claim East Jerusalem - occupied by Israel in the 1967 Middle East war - as the capital of a future state. Israeli sovereignty over Jerusalem has never been recognised internationally, and according to the 1993 Israel-Palestinian peace accords, the final status of Jerusalem is meant to be discussed in the latter stages of peace talks. Since 1967, Israel has built a dozen settlements, home to about 200,000 Jews, in East Jerusalem. These are considered illegal under international law, though Israel disputes this. Jerusalem is also home to key religious sites sacred to Judaism, Islam and Christianity, especially in East Jerusalem."}], "question": "Why does it matter?", "id": "226_0"}]}]}, {"title": "The Bangladesh poor selling organs to pay debts", "date": "28 October 2013", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Kalai, like many other villages in Bangladesh, appears a rural idyll at first sight. But several villagers here have resorted to selling organs to pay back microcredit loans that were meant to lift them out of poverty. Journalist Sophie Cousins reports on an alarming consequence of the microfinance revolution. Green rice paddies surround the dusty, narrow road to the heart of Kalai, a village six hours north of Dhaka, in Bangladesh's Jotpurhat district. Children play naked, hanging off stringy bits of bamboo that hold up the makeshift hut they live in. They, like millions of other rural Bangladeshis, grow up facing a life of hardship. In an attempt to alleviate poverty, countless numbers take on debt with microcredit lenders, only to find themselves in a difficult situation when they are unable to repay the loan. Some have even turned to selling their organs as a last resort to repay the loans and escape the vicious cycle of poverty. The idea of selling organs is not new and those in poverty throughout South Asia have resorted to it for years.  But what is less known, is that more people are turning to the trade because of feeling under pressure to pay back microcredit lenders. These lenders were originally set up to help lift people out of poverty by offering small loans to people who do not qualify for traditional banking credit, to encourage entrepreneurship and empower women. Mohammad Akhtar Alam, 33, bears a 15-inch scar on his stomach where he had a kidney removed. The organ removal - which is illegal in Bangladesh unless the organ is being given to a spouse or family member - combined with the inadequate post-operative care he received, has left him partially paralysed, with only one eye working and unable to do any heavy lifting. To earn money, he runs a small shop in the village that sells rice, flour and the occasional sweet treat. A couple of years ago Mr Alam's income from driving a van was not enough to make the weekly loan repayments he was required to make from up to eight different non-governmental organisations (NGOs) which lend microcredit. \"One day [a man]  rode in my van and asked me why I was doing this,\" he recalls. \"I told him that I was very poor and that I had loans from seven or eight NGOs. I owed about 100,000 taka [$1,442; PS900] and I could not return the money to the NGOs. I used to try and sell furniture and things for cooking to try to repay the money.\" Mr Alam had got caught in a web of loans in which he first borrowed money from one NGO and, when he was unable to pay it off, he borrowed from other NGOs. His passenger worked as a middleman between organ seller and recipient and persuaded him to sell a kidney, promising 400,000 taka ($6,360; PS4,000). Seventeen days later, Mr Alam says he returned home from a private hospital in Dhaka, barely alive and carrying only a fraction of the money he was promised. \"I agreed to sell my kidney because I couldn't return the money to the NGOs. As we are poor and helpless, that is why we are bound to do this. I regret it,\" he says. Mohammad Moqarram Hossen, also from Kalai, is another victim. \"I took the decision to return the money I borrowed from NGOs,\" he says as he reveals the scar he has been left following an operation in India to remove his kidney. \"The doctor told me there was no risk but now I can't do any heavy work. I can't work.\" Microcredit, hailed as a saviour for millions, aims to break the cycle of poverty by stimulating income-generating activities through providing collateral-free loans. But its repayment structure and the apparent inability of microfinance institutions to determine whether borrowers have multiple loans with other institutions rarely come under scrutiny. Consequently, it can create a vicious cycle in which borrowers borrow money from other NGOs to repay existing loans, leaving many unable to repay and some to take extreme measures such as selling organs to make repayments. Professor Monir Moniruzzaman from the Department of Anthropology at Michigan State University has been researching the organ trade in Bangladesh for 12 years and says some people feel they are left with no choice but to sell a body part. \"A lot of people's debt from NGOs has spiralled out of control. Because they cannot repay the loans, there is only one way for people to get out and that is to sell their kidney,\" he says. His research into Bangladesh's organ trade reveals that of the 33 kidney sellers he interviewed, some had sold their organs due to feeling under pressure to repay loans. He alleges that NGO officials, from organisations such as Grameen Bank and BRAC, among others, pressure people into repaying loans by sitting all day long at the defaulter's house, verbal harassment and threatening to file a police case. \"One of the sellers mentioned that he left his village for about a year for not being able to face the NGO officials,\" Professor Moniruzzaman says. \"The social and economic pressures from NGOs was unbearable so he decided to sell his kidney to pay off his loan.\" Grameen Bank denies harassment or applying any such pressure. It points out that it has never lodged a case against a borrower for failing to pay a loan. \"Our approach does not  require that,\" Mohammed Shahjahan, the bank's acting managing director, told the BBC.  He says that because Grameen does not impose any penalty for failure to repay debts and because borrowers are free to reschedule their loans at any point there is no pressure. \"Most borrowers have savings in their accounts more than or equivalent to at least 75% of their loan amount. As a result they are not in a 'distress' situation at any point for payment of their instalments,\" he says. And Mohammad Ariful Hoq, an analyst at BRAC, one of the largest development organisations in the world, says repayments for their clients are \"not a very big issue\" -  their interest rate is 27%; Grameen's maximum interest rate is 20%. BRAC denies pressuring borrowers  or that there could be any link between microcredit and organ trafficking. \"In our work that doesn't happen because we don't create any extra pressure on our borrowers,\" Mr Hoq says. Throughout the microfinance sector, interest is calculated on the declining balance - which means that rather than charging interest on the original loan amount it is charged only on the amount of money that remains in the borrower's hands as the loan is repaid. Mr Hoq does admit that one-third of their 4.3 million borrowers have multiple loans: \"You'll find people who are taking three loans from different organisations. There is a 30% overlap for micro-finance institutes in Bangladesh.\" However he says there is no systematic way to check if borrowers have loans with other institutions so lenders are unable to determine a borrower's risk or their level of debt.  BRAC says that one method they use is to knock on a neighbour's door and ask them about their friend's economic situation.  Grameen Bank says that it also has checks to see if borrowers have multiple loans. But analysts maintain that in practice such checks are very difficult to carry out and it is far from certain that banks are always able to get an accurate assessment of a borrower's credit history. And recent research says the industry's loan repayment structure combined with the infrequent incomes of rural Bangladeshis can cause problems. The Institute of Developing Economies in Japan showed that some households were taking risky measures such as selling assets and borrowing from loan sharks in order to maintain a clean record of repayment to be assured future access to microcredit. Research from one body which loans money to microcredit agencies in Bangladesh found in studies between 2006-2007 that only 7% of micro-borrowers were able to rise about the poverty line. Nevertheless, a study earlier this year by the World Bank found that the benefits of borrowing outweighed the accumulated debt. And the Microcredit Summit Campaign believes microcredit  lifted 10 million Bangladeshis out of poverty between 1990 and 2008. But as the demand for human organs continues to facilitate an illegal black market in Bangladesh, members of poor rural communities will continue to be lured by false promises of a better life. Mohammad Mehedi Hasan, 24, from Molamgari village, not far from Kalai, didn't know what a liver was when he was manipulated into believing that removing part of it for 700,000 taka ($9,690; PS6,000) would be a \"noble act\" that would save the life of a Singaporean man. \"I have been left without knowing how much of my liver was taken out,\" he says as he explains how he was transported to Dhaka for an underground operation at a private clinic. \"After the operation I raced home and after two days I got the news that the patient had died. \"I thought that I would be OK after I had part of my liver removed but sometimes I have pain in my chest and I have to urinate more than 50 or 60 times a day.\" Mr Hasan received 150,000 taka ($2,046; PS1,280) and says he was forced to sell his family home. Prof Moniruzzaman says the implications of organ trafficking are devastating. \"There is no safeguard as to where the organs are coming from and how safe they are, and on the other hand, the seller's health deteriorates after the operation. That has a huge impact on their earning capacity because they cannot go back to their old physically demanding jobs.\" There is no doubt that microcredit has empowered millions around the world. But as the polarisation between rich and poor increases, experts say those most impoverished will take on more debt - sometimes resorting to measures as desperate as selling their organs. The men of Kalai wish they had known better.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 3372, "answer_end": 7234, "text": "Microcredit, hailed as a saviour for millions, aims to break the cycle of poverty by stimulating income-generating activities through providing collateral-free loans. But its repayment structure and the apparent inability of microfinance institutions to determine whether borrowers have multiple loans with other institutions rarely come under scrutiny. Consequently, it can create a vicious cycle in which borrowers borrow money from other NGOs to repay existing loans, leaving many unable to repay and some to take extreme measures such as selling organs to make repayments. Professor Monir Moniruzzaman from the Department of Anthropology at Michigan State University has been researching the organ trade in Bangladesh for 12 years and says some people feel they are left with no choice but to sell a body part. \"A lot of people's debt from NGOs has spiralled out of control. Because they cannot repay the loans, there is only one way for people to get out and that is to sell their kidney,\" he says. His research into Bangladesh's organ trade reveals that of the 33 kidney sellers he interviewed, some had sold their organs due to feeling under pressure to repay loans. He alleges that NGO officials, from organisations such as Grameen Bank and BRAC, among others, pressure people into repaying loans by sitting all day long at the defaulter's house, verbal harassment and threatening to file a police case. \"One of the sellers mentioned that he left his village for about a year for not being able to face the NGO officials,\" Professor Moniruzzaman says. \"The social and economic pressures from NGOs was unbearable so he decided to sell his kidney to pay off his loan.\" Grameen Bank denies harassment or applying any such pressure. It points out that it has never lodged a case against a borrower for failing to pay a loan. \"Our approach does not  require that,\" Mohammed Shahjahan, the bank's acting managing director, told the BBC.  He says that because Grameen does not impose any penalty for failure to repay debts and because borrowers are free to reschedule their loans at any point there is no pressure. \"Most borrowers have savings in their accounts more than or equivalent to at least 75% of their loan amount. As a result they are not in a 'distress' situation at any point for payment of their instalments,\" he says. And Mohammad Ariful Hoq, an analyst at BRAC, one of the largest development organisations in the world, says repayments for their clients are \"not a very big issue\" -  their interest rate is 27%; Grameen's maximum interest rate is 20%. BRAC denies pressuring borrowers  or that there could be any link between microcredit and organ trafficking. \"In our work that doesn't happen because we don't create any extra pressure on our borrowers,\" Mr Hoq says. Throughout the microfinance sector, interest is calculated on the declining balance - which means that rather than charging interest on the original loan amount it is charged only on the amount of money that remains in the borrower's hands as the loan is repaid. Mr Hoq does admit that one-third of their 4.3 million borrowers have multiple loans: \"You'll find people who are taking three loans from different organisations. There is a 30% overlap for micro-finance institutes in Bangladesh.\" However he says there is no systematic way to check if borrowers have loans with other institutions so lenders are unable to determine a borrower's risk or their level of debt.  BRAC says that one method they use is to knock on a neighbour's door and ask them about their friend's economic situation.  Grameen Bank says that it also has checks to see if borrowers have multiple loans. But analysts maintain that in practice such checks are very difficult to carry out and it is far from certain that banks are always able to get an accurate assessment of a borrower's credit history."}], "question": "How many loans?", "id": "227_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Sylvester Stallone 'still punching' despite death hoax", "date": "20 February 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "To paraphrase the great American humourist Mark Twain, Twitter reports of Sylvester Stallone's death are an exaggeration. Stallone and his brother confirmed on social media the actor was alive and well after he was the victim of a \"death hoax\". Death hoaxes usually originate from a website or person intending to spread the rumour, and go viral as web-users are duped into believing the claim. In Stallone's case, pranksters even mocked up fake pictures showing the actor in his \"final days\". The hoax, which started overnight in the US while the actor and his representatives were asleep, raced across the internet. By morning, Stallone was already being mourned by a legion of adoring fans. As Stallone's name topped internet searches, a 2012 video about the death of his son resurfaced as the most watched video on the BBC News website. Rocky refused to stay down. The 71-year-old actor and his brother took to social media to debunk the prank. \"Please ignore this stupidity,\" Stallone wrote in an Instagram post. \"Alive and well and happy and healthy.\" Stallone, who recently appeared in the NBC television series This Is Us, said he was \"still punching\". His brother railed against the perpetrators of the death hoax. \"Rumors that my brother is dead are false,\" Frank Stallone wrote on Twitter. \"What kind of sick demented cruel mind thinks of things like this to post? \"People like this are mentally deranged and don't deserve a place in society.\" Death hoaxes are not uncommon. While they occurred before the internet, the web has amplified their impact. Such hoaxes typically target celebrities or politicians. In fact, Stallone was the victim of another death hoax in 2016, according to NME. Musician Jon Bon Jovi was notably \"killed\" by the internet in 2011. The Livin' on a Prayer singer posted a photo of himself smiling and holding a sign that said: \"Heaven looks a lot like New Jersey.\" The date and time was written beneath it. Actor Jackie Chan was also the victim of a death hoax. The Rush Hour star had the dubious pleasure of having more than 50 RIP Facebook pages in his honour, despite being alive. The 63-year-old has \"died\" several times. In 2011, his representatives took to Facebook to debunk a rumour that he had suffered a fatal cardiac arrest. \"He did not suffer a heart attack and die, as was reported on many social networking sites and in online news reports,\" said the post. \"Jackie is fine and is busy preparing for the filming of his next movie.\"", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 245, "answer_end": 840, "text": "Death hoaxes usually originate from a website or person intending to spread the rumour, and go viral as web-users are duped into believing the claim. In Stallone's case, pranksters even mocked up fake pictures showing the actor in his \"final days\". The hoax, which started overnight in the US while the actor and his representatives were asleep, raced across the internet. By morning, Stallone was already being mourned by a legion of adoring fans. As Stallone's name topped internet searches, a 2012 video about the death of his son resurfaced as the most watched video on the BBC News website."}], "question": "How did the hoax unfold?", "id": "228_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Communist Party congress: How China picks its leaders", "date": "7 October 2017", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Every five years, the eyes of the world turn to China as the ruling Communist Party holds its congress. The event determines who will lead the Party. Those people will go on to lead the 1.3 billion people of China - most of whom don't get a say - and helm the world's second largest economy. The 19th congress will begin on 18 October and while significant leadership changes are expected current Party leader and Chinese President Xi Jinping is widely expected to stay in the top job. In mid-October, Communist Party of China (CPC) delegates from across China will meet at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. The party has 2,300 delegates - although only 2,287 have been elected to attend, with reports suggesting the remaining 13 delegates were disqualified because of \"improper behaviour\". Behind closed doors, those CPC delegates will elect the powerful Central Committee, which has about 200 members. This committee in turn elects the Politburo and from that, the Politburo Standing Committee is chosen. Those are China's real decision-making bodies. The Politburo currently has 24 members, while the Standing Committee has seven, although these numbers have varied over the years. While there is a vote, in reality many of these people have already been handpicked by the current leadership, and the committee just approves their edict. The Central Committee also elects the Party's top leader - the general secretary - who becomes the country's president. That is, and will most likely continue to be, Xi Jinping. The 19th Congress will be closely watched for two main things. First, Mr Xi will deliver a lengthy report that will be scrutinised by analysts for signs on China's political policy direction for the next five years. Secondly, the Politburo Standing Committee is expected to be nearly completely refreshed. In recent years, the party has set informal term and age limits on certain posts. Most Politburo members are expected to step down as they are past the informal retirement age of 68. They include Wang Qishan, head of the anti-corruption agency, although as a key Xi ally he may be persuaded to stay. Mr Xi and Premier Li Keqiang are in their early 60s. We would normally expect to see a new line-up of future leaders presented to the public at the congress -  including a possible eventual successor to Mr Xi - who would take over in five years' time. However, there is some speculation Mr Xi might break with tradition this time round and delay this step. It's likely there'll be a further overall consolidation of power by Mr Xi. He has assumed an unprecedented number of positions since coming to power in 2012, including the title of a \"core\" leader of China, which puts him on par with past political giants like Mao Zedong and Deng Xiaoping. There are likely to be more of his allies placed in leadership positions at the congress, and we may see the enshrining of his policies, known as \"Xi Jinping Thought\", in the party charter. That move would again place him on the level of Mao in Chinese political history. Some believe he may even announce a move that would extend his rule past the traditional two-term limit for the presidency. Since becoming president in 2012, Mr Xi has spearheaded a sweeping anti-corruption campaign which has seen more than a million officials disciplined. It has been seen by some as a massive internal purge of opponents. A movement dubbed by some as \"the cult of Xi\" has also emerged, with propaganda songs dedicated to him and a deluge of positive press in state media, who have coined a nickname aimed at endearing him to citizens - \"Xi Dada\", or Uncle Xi. Analysts believe that while a major reshuffle of the Standing Committee could herald some policy changes, by and large China would continue on the same track, with Mr Xi still at the helm to ensure stability. At home, China's  five-year economic reform plan is still in play, as is Mr Xi's anti-corruption campaign and growing authoritarian rule. China's push for the spotlight on the global stage, fronted by Mr Xi, is also expected to continue. This ranges from the controversial  South China Sea expansion and the One Belt One Road trade project, to China's positioning as the alternative superpower compared to the US under President Donald Trump. But one tricky question that remains is North Korea and its ongoing nuclear crisis. Some analysts believe that China would continue to hold back from taking decisive action as, even after the congress, its new leadership would still be \"mired in internal debate\" on how to handle its hot-tempered neighbour.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 486, "answer_end": 1525, "text": "In mid-October, Communist Party of China (CPC) delegates from across China will meet at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. The party has 2,300 delegates - although only 2,287 have been elected to attend, with reports suggesting the remaining 13 delegates were disqualified because of \"improper behaviour\". Behind closed doors, those CPC delegates will elect the powerful Central Committee, which has about 200 members. This committee in turn elects the Politburo and from that, the Politburo Standing Committee is chosen. Those are China's real decision-making bodies. The Politburo currently has 24 members, while the Standing Committee has seven, although these numbers have varied over the years. While there is a vote, in reality many of these people have already been handpicked by the current leadership, and the committee just approves their edict. The Central Committee also elects the Party's top leader - the general secretary - who becomes the country's president. That is, and will most likely continue to be, Xi Jinping."}], "question": "What does the congress do?", "id": "229_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1526, "answer_end": 2488, "text": "The 19th Congress will be closely watched for two main things. First, Mr Xi will deliver a lengthy report that will be scrutinised by analysts for signs on China's political policy direction for the next five years. Secondly, the Politburo Standing Committee is expected to be nearly completely refreshed. In recent years, the party has set informal term and age limits on certain posts. Most Politburo members are expected to step down as they are past the informal retirement age of 68. They include Wang Qishan, head of the anti-corruption agency, although as a key Xi ally he may be persuaded to stay. Mr Xi and Premier Li Keqiang are in their early 60s. We would normally expect to see a new line-up of future leaders presented to the public at the congress -  including a possible eventual successor to Mr Xi - who would take over in five years' time. However, there is some speculation Mr Xi might break with tradition this time round and delay this step."}], "question": "What do we expect this year?", "id": "229_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2489, "answer_end": 3630, "text": "It's likely there'll be a further overall consolidation of power by Mr Xi. He has assumed an unprecedented number of positions since coming to power in 2012, including the title of a \"core\" leader of China, which puts him on par with past political giants like Mao Zedong and Deng Xiaoping. There are likely to be more of his allies placed in leadership positions at the congress, and we may see the enshrining of his policies, known as \"Xi Jinping Thought\", in the party charter. That move would again place him on the level of Mao in Chinese political history. Some believe he may even announce a move that would extend his rule past the traditional two-term limit for the presidency. Since becoming president in 2012, Mr Xi has spearheaded a sweeping anti-corruption campaign which has seen more than a million officials disciplined. It has been seen by some as a massive internal purge of opponents. A movement dubbed by some as \"the cult of Xi\" has also emerged, with propaganda songs dedicated to him and a deluge of positive press in state media, who have coined a nickname aimed at endearing him to citizens - \"Xi Dada\", or Uncle Xi."}], "question": "What else does it mean for Xi Jinping?", "id": "229_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3631, "answer_end": 4590, "text": "Analysts believe that while a major reshuffle of the Standing Committee could herald some policy changes, by and large China would continue on the same track, with Mr Xi still at the helm to ensure stability. At home, China's  five-year economic reform plan is still in play, as is Mr Xi's anti-corruption campaign and growing authoritarian rule. China's push for the spotlight on the global stage, fronted by Mr Xi, is also expected to continue. This ranges from the controversial  South China Sea expansion and the One Belt One Road trade project, to China's positioning as the alternative superpower compared to the US under President Donald Trump. But one tricky question that remains is North Korea and its ongoing nuclear crisis. Some analysts believe that China would continue to hold back from taking decisive action as, even after the congress, its new leadership would still be \"mired in internal debate\" on how to handle its hot-tempered neighbour."}], "question": "What does this mean for the rest of the world?", "id": "229_3"}]}]}, {"title": "Why do prisoners serve only half their sentence?", "date": "19 December 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "New laws to ensure the most dangerous criminals spend longer in custody have been announced. So, who decides which crimes require time in prison and how long that should be? In the Queen's Speech, the government said it would toughen sentences for the most serious violent offenders, including terrorists. Automatic early release at the half-way point of their sentence would be scrapped. Those given sentences of four or more years for serious violent crimes would be made to serve a minimum two-thirds of that time in prison before being released. They would also increase the number of people who could spend the rest of their life in jail. The minimum for serious terror offences would increase to 14 years. The changes follow the killing of two people at London Bridge, by convicted terrorist Usman Khan, who had served half of his sentence. About one in 10 people convicted in court receives a prison sentence - with the rest given fines, community service or other punishments. Generally, the maximum sentence for a crime is enshrined in law. For example, someone convicted of burglary could face 14 years in jail. However, very few burglars will end up in prison for that long, if at all. To help judges be consistent, they refer to sentencing guidelines. These help ensure similar offences are given similar punishments, across all the courts in England and Wales. Both Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own sentencing guidelines. Judges will look at, among other things, whether the burglary involved any violence or if it was by a repeat offender. So, a serial burglar who ties up victims could expect a lengthy prison sentence. A genuinely sorry, first-time offender who stole through an open window would be treated more leniently - perhaps through community service. Not necessarily. Many prison sentences require a portion of time is spent behind bars, with the rest served on licence in the community. These licences require offenders to abide by a set of rules, which could include bans from certain areas, or substance rehabilitation. If the conditions are broken, offenders can be sent back to jail. However, some prison sentences, known as suspended sentences, involve no time in prison at all. For the entirety of a suspended sentence, the offender must abide by certain conditions outside prison, with the threat of imprisonment if these are breached. Those placed in immediate custody by the courts go straight to jail. For about 90% of such sentences, an automatic release is granted half-way through the sentence. The offender is then on licence for the remainder of it. For example, if someone is given a four-year sentence for robbery, they will spend two years in prison and two years outside. Early release has been around for a number of decades. It is intended to allow some rehabilitation in the community, while keeping release dates consistent and prison numbers down. Those guilty of more serious crimes - such as serious sexual assaults or grievous bodily harm - will spend a greater part of their sentence in jail. This will normally be two-thirds of their sentence and they will require approval from the parole board to gain early release. The parole board will decide whether or not the offender is safe to return into society. This decision is based on evidence from victims, health professionals, prison staff and the offender themselves. - Robbery - In law, this can carry a life sentence, but the guidelines range from eight years for a violent robbery which leads to physical harm, to two years for someone who was coerced to carry out the crime. - Dangerous driving - It can result in a fine or community order - such as a driving safety course - when seen as a one-off incident, to a maximum two years in jail. - Manslaughter - Recommended guidelines range from 18 years in extreme cases; for example, if the killing happens while committing a crime or if attempts are made to cover it up. Can go down to two years where it was in defence of self, or there was no intention to cause harm. - Shoplifting - This technically carries a maximum seven-year sentence, but stealing low-value goods could result in a fine. Sentencing guidelines recommend more than two years in jail if the goods are high value and the crime involves significant planning. A life sentence rarely means life in prison. On average, those sentenced to life spend 17 years in jail. However, these offenders will be on licence until they die and expected to meet certain conditions. Those convicted of murder will always be given a life sentence. The judge then sets the minimum amount of time they must serve before being considered for parole. The minimum the judge sets depends on the nature of the murder. Typical minimum prison terms for murderers over the age of 21 include: - 30 years: for a \"sexual or sadistic\" murder, or killing done in the course of personal gain, such as a robbery - 25 years: for a murder involving a knife or other weapon - 15 years: for most other murders Judges can increase or decrease these set terms based on factors including whether the murderer was provoked or if the crime was premeditated. Yes, for the most extreme murder cases. Currently, a whole-life order is also used for the murder of a police officer or a political killing. They are also used when a child has been killed in the most extreme circumstances. There are currently 63 people serving whole life sentences, including Rosemary West, who was convicted of murdering 10 people with her husband, Fred West, and the murderers of Labour MP Jo Cox and  Fusilier Lee Rigby.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 847, "answer_end": 1787, "text": "About one in 10 people convicted in court receives a prison sentence - with the rest given fines, community service or other punishments. Generally, the maximum sentence for a crime is enshrined in law. For example, someone convicted of burglary could face 14 years in jail. However, very few burglars will end up in prison for that long, if at all. To help judges be consistent, they refer to sentencing guidelines. These help ensure similar offences are given similar punishments, across all the courts in England and Wales. Both Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own sentencing guidelines. Judges will look at, among other things, whether the burglary involved any violence or if it was by a repeat offender. So, a serial burglar who ties up victims could expect a lengthy prison sentence. A genuinely sorry, first-time offender who stole through an open window would be treated more leniently - perhaps through community service."}], "question": "How are prison sentences decided?", "id": "230_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1788, "answer_end": 2380, "text": "Not necessarily. Many prison sentences require a portion of time is spent behind bars, with the rest served on licence in the community. These licences require offenders to abide by a set of rules, which could include bans from certain areas, or substance rehabilitation. If the conditions are broken, offenders can be sent back to jail. However, some prison sentences, known as suspended sentences, involve no time in prison at all. For the entirety of a suspended sentence, the offender must abide by certain conditions outside prison, with the threat of imprisonment if these are breached."}], "question": "Does a prison sentence always mean prison?", "id": "230_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2381, "answer_end": 3387, "text": "Those placed in immediate custody by the courts go straight to jail. For about 90% of such sentences, an automatic release is granted half-way through the sentence. The offender is then on licence for the remainder of it. For example, if someone is given a four-year sentence for robbery, they will spend two years in prison and two years outside. Early release has been around for a number of decades. It is intended to allow some rehabilitation in the community, while keeping release dates consistent and prison numbers down. Those guilty of more serious crimes - such as serious sexual assaults or grievous bodily harm - will spend a greater part of their sentence in jail. This will normally be two-thirds of their sentence and they will require approval from the parole board to gain early release. The parole board will decide whether or not the offender is safe to return into society. This decision is based on evidence from victims, health professionals, prison staff and the offender themselves."}], "question": "How long do offenders spend in prison?", "id": "230_2"}]}]}, {"title": "Trump Putin: Incredulity as Russian leader is invited to visit US", "date": "20 July 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "President Donald Trump has invited Russian leader Vladimir Putin to visit the US, in a move that drew startled laughter from a US intelligence chief. \"That's going to be special!\" said Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats, when he was told about the invitation during a live interview. The political fallout is continuing from Mr Trump's first summit with Mr Putin in Finland on Monday. Democrats are demanding the notes from the two leaders' private talks. \"Until we know what happened at that two-hour meeting in Helsinki, the president should have no more one-on-one interactions with Putin,\" said Senate Democratic leader, Chuck Schumer, in a statement. \"In the United States, in Russia, or anywhere else.\" The Republican president's 18 months in office have been dogged by investigations into whether any of his aides colluded with alleged Russian attempts to sway the 2016 election in his favour. Mr Trump and Mr Putin have poured scorn on the claims. In a CNBC interview televised on Friday, Mr Trump said he and Mr Putin \"get along well\", even if they did not always see eye to eye. \"It wasn't always conciliatory in that meeting,\" Mr Trump said. \"We discussed lots of great things for both countries, frankly.\" He did not offer further details. Mr Trump also vowed to be the Russian leader's \"worst nightmare\" if their relationship ever turns sour, and said former President Barack Obama had been Mr Putin's \"total patsy\". By Anthony Zurcher, BBC News, Washington Donald Trump has tweeted that the summit with Mr Putin was a \"great success\" and people at \"higher ends of intelligence\" loved his Helsinki news conference. As if to underline that point, plans are already under way for a sequel - this time in Washington DC. Never mind that the White House has spent three days trying to clean up the political fallout from the summit amid bipartisan criticism, or that the special counsel investigation into Russian meddling in 2016 continues apace. Mr Trump may have been encouraged by recent opinion polling showing that while the public at large is uneasy with Mr Trump's Russia policies, his Republican base - by a sizeable majority - is fine with his performance. The president campaigned on closer ties with Russia, a goal that had been thwarted during his first year in office. With his base still behind him, Mr Trump appears ready to press on with his efforts. Mr Putin, in power in Russia since 2000, last visited the US in 2015, when he met President Barack Obama, Mr Trump's predecessor, on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York to discuss the conflicts in Ukraine and Syria. On Thursday, White House press secretary Sarah Sanders tweeted that discussions about a visit by Mr Putin to Washington DC this autumn were already under way. Russia's ambassador to Washington, Anatoly Antonov, could not confirm whether an invitation had already been issued. He told the BBC: \"The problem is there's so much talk today, so much fake news, so much distortion, about what happened at this summit. \"Such negativity for some reason - I don't understand why the Western media think it's bad that two presidents are meeting. What's bad about it?\" The announcement of a second summit appeared to come as a surprise to Mr Trump's director of national intelligence. \"Say that again,\" Mr Coats said when an NBC News presenter broke the news to him during a live interview at the Aspen Security Forum in Colorado. He said he did not yet know what Mr Trump and Mr Putin had discussed during their meeting, at which only the pair and their interpreters were present. The White House is said to be furious about the director of national intelligence's remarks. \"Coats has gone rogue,\" one senior official told the Washington Post. At the post-summit news conference in Helsinki, Mr Putin offered access to 12 Russians indicted in absentia by the US authorities for allegedly hacking Democratic Party computers, on condition Moscow authorities could question 12 Americans over other matters. Mr Trump first praised the suggestion as an \"incredible offer\", but White House press secretary Sarah Sanders later said the president disagreed with it. No extradition treaty exists between the two countries. Mr Putin singled out US-born financier Bill Browder, accusing him of massive tax fraud, which he denies. Mr Browder was instrumental in the US imposing sanctions in 2012 on top Russian officials accused of corruption in the Magnitsky affair. \"I'm thankful that Donald Trump has no intention of handing me over to Vladimir Putin to have me killed in a Russian prison,\" Mr Browder told the BBC on Thursday. One of the other Americans on Russia's list was a former US ambassador to Moscow, Michael McFaul. The idea of allowing Russia to quiz US citizens sparked outrage and the US Senate voted 98-0 against it. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said it was \"not going to happen\". Mr McFaul tweeted his gratitude to senators.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 2385, "answer_end": 3175, "text": "Mr Putin, in power in Russia since 2000, last visited the US in 2015, when he met President Barack Obama, Mr Trump's predecessor, on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York to discuss the conflicts in Ukraine and Syria. On Thursday, White House press secretary Sarah Sanders tweeted that discussions about a visit by Mr Putin to Washington DC this autumn were already under way. Russia's ambassador to Washington, Anatoly Antonov, could not confirm whether an invitation had already been issued. He told the BBC: \"The problem is there's so much talk today, so much fake news, so much distortion, about what happened at this summit. \"Such negativity for some reason - I don't understand why the Western media think it's bad that two presidents are meeting. What's bad about it?\""}], "question": "What do we know of the plan for a Putin visit?", "id": "231_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3176, "answer_end": 3751, "text": "The announcement of a second summit appeared to come as a surprise to Mr Trump's director of national intelligence. \"Say that again,\" Mr Coats said when an NBC News presenter broke the news to him during a live interview at the Aspen Security Forum in Colorado. He said he did not yet know what Mr Trump and Mr Putin had discussed during their meeting, at which only the pair and their interpreters were present. The White House is said to be furious about the director of national intelligence's remarks. \"Coats has gone rogue,\" one senior official told the Washington Post."}], "question": "Has US intelligence chief 'gone rogue'?", "id": "231_1"}]}]}, {"title": "Toshiba's Westinghouse files for US bankruptcy", "date": "29 March 2017", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Westinghouse, Toshiba's US nuclear unit, has filed for US bankruptcy protection. The US firm has struggled with hefty losses that have thrown its Japanese parent into a crisis, putting the conglomerate's future at risk. Westinghouse has suffered huge cost overruns at two US projects in Georgia and South Carolina. Toshiba said the bankruptcy would not affect Westinghouse's UK operation, which employs more than 1,000 workers. However, the firm warned that the writedown of its US nuclear business could see Toshiba's total losses last year exceed 1 trillion yen ($9.1bn; PS7.3bn), almost triple its previous estimate. The Japanese government confirmed on Wednesday that it was aware of Toshiba's plans. Toshiba President Satoshi Tsunakawa said the move was aimed at \"shutting out risks from the overseas nuclear business.\" \"We want to make this our first step toward recovering our solid business,\" he said. Toshiba initially alerted investors in December 2016 that it faced heavy losses linked to a deal done by Westinghouse. Assets that it took on are likely to be worth less than initially thought and there is also a dispute about payments that are due. As a consequence, Toshiba initially hoped to sell its majority stake in Westinghouse. The Japanese company was also twice given permission to delay reporting its earnings until 11 April. The nuclear services business brings in about one-third of the industrial giant's revenue. Toshiba says it expects a 712.5bn-yen ($6.3bn; PS5bn) writedown because some of its US nuclear assets were worth far less than estimated. A Westinghouse bankruptcy filing should help limit future losses for Toshiba. The difficulties at Westinghouse have sent Toshiba shares into freefall, losing more than 50% since the company first unveiled the problems in December 2016. In February, the company's chairman stepped down and the firm delayed publishing its results over disagreements with its auditors. The financial problems have some analysts speculating over whether the Japanese conglomerate can even survive the crisis, as it will probably be forced to sell many of its premium segments, such as the lucrative memory chip unit. So while a Westinghouse bankruptcy might stop things from getting even worse for Toshiba, it is still not clear whether the struggling giant will manage to find its feet in time. The Japanese government is unlikely to allow Toshiba to collapse, given its large workforce and its importance to the nuclear industry, said Amir Anvarzadeh, an analyst at BGC Partners. But with its nuclear problems, \"the question is whether the rest of the business will be big enough to service its debt,\" he said. Analysis: Theo Leggett, BBC business reporter Westinghouse is long established engineering company which constructed the United States' first commercial nuclear reactor in the 1950s. It still provides technology for nuclear power stations around the world. However, massive cost over-runs at power station projects in South Carolina and Georgia, as well as heavy losses linked to the takeover of another nuclear business in 2015, have brought it to the brink of collapse. The bankruptcy filing will allow the company to continue operating while it renegotiates contracts and holds talks with its creditors. Toshiba said that only Westinghouse's US operations would be affected by the bankruptcy. Its European business, including the UK, as well as its Asian, Middle East and African operations would see no impact, helped by the firm securing $800m (PS650m) of extra financing, Toshiba said. However, the bankruptcy could still have far-reaching consequences for the UK's future nuclear plans. Toshiba has a 60% stake in NuGen, a joint venture with France's Engie, which has the contract to build a new nuclear power plant in Cumbria in the UK. As part of Toshiba, Westinghouse was due to build the reactors for the new plant. A collapse of the firm could delay the project or even put its future in limbo. It is estimated that the Moorside plant would eventually provide as much as 7% of the UK's energy needs. NuGen said in a statement that it \"will continue in a 'business as usual' manner\" to get permits and licences for the project, and \"will continue to increase value and attractiveness of the project to potential future investors\". It added that it \"cannot comment on specific financial issues relating directly to Toshiba or Westinghouse\". Last month, Toshiba said it would continue to work on the development of Moorside, but would not be involved in its construction. A Toshiba spokeswoman said on Wednesday that it was \"assessing the feasibility of the project, but at the moment, nothing is decided\". Toshiba said: \"The Chapter 11 filings have made planned supply of the AP1000 [nuclear reactors] for the UK project uncertain, and we have therefore recorded an impairment loss covering the cost of the NuGen project. \"However, if you consider the project in terms of the overall power generation business, there is no change in the business climate.\"", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1576, "answer_end": 2668, "text": "A Westinghouse bankruptcy filing should help limit future losses for Toshiba. The difficulties at Westinghouse have sent Toshiba shares into freefall, losing more than 50% since the company first unveiled the problems in December 2016. In February, the company's chairman stepped down and the firm delayed publishing its results over disagreements with its auditors. The financial problems have some analysts speculating over whether the Japanese conglomerate can even survive the crisis, as it will probably be forced to sell many of its premium segments, such as the lucrative memory chip unit. So while a Westinghouse bankruptcy might stop things from getting even worse for Toshiba, it is still not clear whether the struggling giant will manage to find its feet in time. The Japanese government is unlikely to allow Toshiba to collapse, given its large workforce and its importance to the nuclear industry, said Amir Anvarzadeh, an analyst at BGC Partners. But with its nuclear problems, \"the question is whether the rest of the business will be big enough to service its debt,\" he said."}], "question": "Will it help Toshiba?", "id": "232_0"}]}]}, {"title": "A guide to Trident and the debate about replacement", "date": "23 May 2017", "paragraphs": [{"context": "MPs have backed building replacements for the UK's Vanguard fleet of four submarines carrying Trident nuclear missiles. The subs are due to become obsolete by the end of the next decade. Since 1969, according to government documents, a British submarine carrying nuclear weapons has always been on patrol, gliding silently beneath the waves, somewhere in the world's oceans. The logic is to deter a nuclear attack on the UK because, even if the nation's conventional defence capabilities were destroyed, the silent submarine would still be able to launch a catastrophic retaliatory strike on the aggressor, a concept known as mutually assured destruction. The submarines carry up to eight Trident missiles. Each can be fitted with a number of warheads, which can be directed at different targets. Each of the four submarines carries a sealed \"letter of last resort\" in the prime minister's hand, containing instructions to follow if the UK has been devastated by a nuclear strike and the government annihilated. It was acquired by the Thatcher government in the early 1980s as a replacement for the Polaris missile system which the UK had possessed since the 1960s. Trident then came into use in the 1990s. There are three parts to Trident - submarines, missiles and warheads. Although each component has years of use left, they cannot last indefinitely. The current generation of four submarines would begin to end their working lives some time in the late 2020s. Work on a replacement cannot be delayed because the submarines alone could take up to 17 years to develop. Only one submarine is on patrol at any one time and they are normally kept at a \"notice to fire\" of several days. Andrea Berger, from the Royal United Services Institute, says the government argues that the UK faces an uncertain \"future threat environment\". We are unable to foresee the emergence or re-emergence of threats that have a nuclear dimension sufficiently far in advance, government officials say. They will point to concerns about the resurgence of aggressive Russian policies. In that uncertain environment, the argument is made that the UK needs to ensure it is taking decisions now which mean that in future decades we have options available for defence and deterrence. Although Trident submarines, missiles and warheads have years of use left, they cannot last indefinitely. Work on a replacement could not be delayed because the submarines alone could take up to 17 years to develop. Supporters of replacement argue that threats from rogue states and terrorist groups could emerge at any time and a minimum nuclear deterrent is needed to help counter them. The nuclear defence industry is also a major employer. Some estimates suggest that up to 15,000 jobs may be lost - as well as considerable expertise - if a new batch of submarines is not commissioned. Some who object on ethical grounds say the UK should never be a country that is willing to threaten or use nuclear weapons against an adversary, even in the most extreme circumstances and that the humanitarian consequences of doing that would be so grotesque as to be unfathomable, says Rusi's Andrea Berger. Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, for example, has said that he could never be the person to press the nuclear button. Others who object on the basis of cost assessments say that the UK should not be spending possibly PS40bn on a programme that is designed for uncertainty and indeed that an \"uncertain future threat environment\" may mean no threats arise and so PS40bn would have been spent unnecessarily. There are still others, says Ms Berger, who suggest that actually it is not so uncertain and the prospect of a significant threat arising to the UK in the timeline of the successor submarines is so remote as not to be worth taking significant action now. Since 2007, when MPs backed plans to renew the Trident fleet by 409 votes to 61, \"conceptual\" work has been going on considering potential designs for replacement submarines, propulsion systems and other key components. The \"Initial Gate\" phase, consisting of PS3bn in procurement of important items, has also been approved. But in October 2010, the government decided to delay the ultimate decision on whether to proceed and how many submarines to order until 2016. The delivery date for the first submarine was also put back to 2028. According to Rusi's Andrea Berger the government says it needs PS31bn over the lifetime of the programme, including adjustment for inflation over that period, and an additional PS10bn as a \"contingency\". Campaign group Greenpeace claims it will run to at least PS34bn once extra costs like VAT are factored in. The Lib Dems say ordering fewer submarines would save up to PS4bn in the long term but Conservatives have rejected this - saying the savings made would be \"trivial\" in respect of the Ministry of Defence's annual PS34bn budget. Labour's shadow defence team have called for more transparency in the government's estimates, including what the PS10bn \"contingency\" cash will be spent on. Currently, the government is spending around 6% of its annual defence budget on Trident, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) has confirmed. Trident's ballistic missiles have a long range, of up to 7,500 miles. One alternative that has been suggested is using cruise missiles based on different submarines. But cruise missiles have a far shorter range, of over 1,000 miles, and are slower and vulnerable to being shot down. The government review concluded this would actually cost more than renewing Trident in its current form, since the UK might have to bear all the research and development costs of its own programme. Others have suggested using a land-based delivery system, to avoid the cost of building new submarines. That has been rejected in the past as too vulnerable to attack and impractical although the 2013 options review said this could potentially be mitigated by having fewer \"silo\" sites that were more strategically located. Some say it would be cheaper to launch missiles from a long-range aircraft. However, the shorter range would again be an issue - and the aircraft could be brought down. The review said \"much more work\" would be needed on such an idea. The UK is the only nuclear weapons state that deploys submarines as its sole nuclear weapons delivery platform. Other countries use multiple platforms. The United States has all submarines, bombers and silo-based Continental Ballistic Missiles. France has planes and submarines; China has a mix of road mobile missiles as well as a backup role for nuclear aircraft, and is moving towards deploying submarines in the future as well. Past prime ministers have always stressed Trident's independence, saying its firing does not require the permission, the satellites or the codes of the US. However, critics argue Britain is technically so dependent on the US that in effect Trident is not an independent system. For example, the British Trident missiles are serviced at a port in the Georgia, US, and some warhead components are also made in America. As part of the renewal, common missile compartment systems that could be fitted into both UK and US submarines are set to be developed as a means of saving money. It could be argued that having a powerful nuclear ally in the US, Britain does not need an atomic weapons system of its own. But Andrea Berger of Rusi says some believe the decisions taken by an adversary are made harder if countries which are allied and have common strategic outlook are nevertheless able to take decisions independently.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 187, "answer_end": 1011, "text": "Since 1969, according to government documents, a British submarine carrying nuclear weapons has always been on patrol, gliding silently beneath the waves, somewhere in the world's oceans. The logic is to deter a nuclear attack on the UK because, even if the nation's conventional defence capabilities were destroyed, the silent submarine would still be able to launch a catastrophic retaliatory strike on the aggressor, a concept known as mutually assured destruction. The submarines carry up to eight Trident missiles. Each can be fitted with a number of warheads, which can be directed at different targets. Each of the four submarines carries a sealed \"letter of last resort\" in the prime minister's hand, containing instructions to follow if the UK has been devastated by a nuclear strike and the government annihilated."}], "question": "What is Trident?", "id": "233_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1012, "answer_end": 1685, "text": "It was acquired by the Thatcher government in the early 1980s as a replacement for the Polaris missile system which the UK had possessed since the 1960s. Trident then came into use in the 1990s. There are three parts to Trident - submarines, missiles and warheads. Although each component has years of use left, they cannot last indefinitely. The current generation of four submarines would begin to end their working lives some time in the late 2020s. Work on a replacement cannot be delayed because the submarines alone could take up to 17 years to develop. Only one submarine is on patrol at any one time and they are normally kept at a \"notice to fire\" of several days."}], "question": "What is Trident's history?", "id": "233_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1686, "answer_end": 2846, "text": "Andrea Berger, from the Royal United Services Institute, says the government argues that the UK faces an uncertain \"future threat environment\". We are unable to foresee the emergence or re-emergence of threats that have a nuclear dimension sufficiently far in advance, government officials say. They will point to concerns about the resurgence of aggressive Russian policies. In that uncertain environment, the argument is made that the UK needs to ensure it is taking decisions now which mean that in future decades we have options available for defence and deterrence. Although Trident submarines, missiles and warheads have years of use left, they cannot last indefinitely. Work on a replacement could not be delayed because the submarines alone could take up to 17 years to develop. Supporters of replacement argue that threats from rogue states and terrorist groups could emerge at any time and a minimum nuclear deterrent is needed to help counter them. The nuclear defence industry is also a major employer. Some estimates suggest that up to 15,000 jobs may be lost - as well as considerable expertise - if a new batch of submarines is not commissioned."}], "question": "What are the arguments for replacing Trident?", "id": "233_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2847, "answer_end": 3812, "text": "Some who object on ethical grounds say the UK should never be a country that is willing to threaten or use nuclear weapons against an adversary, even in the most extreme circumstances and that the humanitarian consequences of doing that would be so grotesque as to be unfathomable, says Rusi's Andrea Berger. Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, for example, has said that he could never be the person to press the nuclear button. Others who object on the basis of cost assessments say that the UK should not be spending possibly PS40bn on a programme that is designed for uncertainty and indeed that an \"uncertain future threat environment\" may mean no threats arise and so PS40bn would have been spent unnecessarily. There are still others, says Ms Berger, who suggest that actually it is not so uncertain and the prospect of a significant threat arising to the UK in the timeline of the successor submarines is so remote as not to be worth taking significant action now."}], "question": "What are the arguments against Trident?", "id": "233_3"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3813, "answer_end": 4348, "text": "Since 2007, when MPs backed plans to renew the Trident fleet by 409 votes to 61, \"conceptual\" work has been going on considering potential designs for replacement submarines, propulsion systems and other key components. The \"Initial Gate\" phase, consisting of PS3bn in procurement of important items, has also been approved. But in October 2010, the government decided to delay the ultimate decision on whether to proceed and how many submarines to order until 2016. The delivery date for the first submarine was also put back to 2028."}], "question": "Has renewal work started?", "id": "233_4"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 4349, "answer_end": 5177, "text": "According to Rusi's Andrea Berger the government says it needs PS31bn over the lifetime of the programme, including adjustment for inflation over that period, and an additional PS10bn as a \"contingency\". Campaign group Greenpeace claims it will run to at least PS34bn once extra costs like VAT are factored in. The Lib Dems say ordering fewer submarines would save up to PS4bn in the long term but Conservatives have rejected this - saying the savings made would be \"trivial\" in respect of the Ministry of Defence's annual PS34bn budget. Labour's shadow defence team have called for more transparency in the government's estimates, including what the PS10bn \"contingency\" cash will be spent on. Currently, the government is spending around 6% of its annual defence budget on Trident, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) has confirmed."}], "question": "How much will replacement cost?", "id": "233_5"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 5178, "answer_end": 6217, "text": "Trident's ballistic missiles have a long range, of up to 7,500 miles. One alternative that has been suggested is using cruise missiles based on different submarines. But cruise missiles have a far shorter range, of over 1,000 miles, and are slower and vulnerable to being shot down. The government review concluded this would actually cost more than renewing Trident in its current form, since the UK might have to bear all the research and development costs of its own programme. Others have suggested using a land-based delivery system, to avoid the cost of building new submarines. That has been rejected in the past as too vulnerable to attack and impractical although the 2013 options review said this could potentially be mitigated by having fewer \"silo\" sites that were more strategically located. Some say it would be cheaper to launch missiles from a long-range aircraft. However, the shorter range would again be an issue - and the aircraft could be brought down. The review said \"much more work\" would be needed on such an idea."}], "question": "What are the alternatives?", "id": "233_6"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 6218, "answer_end": 6649, "text": "The UK is the only nuclear weapons state that deploys submarines as its sole nuclear weapons delivery platform. Other countries use multiple platforms. The United States has all submarines, bombers and silo-based Continental Ballistic Missiles. France has planes and submarines; China has a mix of road mobile missiles as well as a backup role for nuclear aircraft, and is moving towards deploying submarines in the future as well."}], "question": "How do Britain's nuclear weapons compare with others?", "id": "233_7"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 6650, "answer_end": 7569, "text": "Past prime ministers have always stressed Trident's independence, saying its firing does not require the permission, the satellites or the codes of the US. However, critics argue Britain is technically so dependent on the US that in effect Trident is not an independent system. For example, the British Trident missiles are serviced at a port in the Georgia, US, and some warhead components are also made in America. As part of the renewal, common missile compartment systems that could be fitted into both UK and US submarines are set to be developed as a means of saving money. It could be argued that having a powerful nuclear ally in the US, Britain does not need an atomic weapons system of its own. But Andrea Berger of Rusi says some believe the decisions taken by an adversary are made harder if countries which are allied and have common strategic outlook are nevertheless able to take decisions independently."}], "question": "Are Britain's nuclear weapons independent?", "id": "233_8"}]}]}, {"title": "Kyle 'Bugha' Giersdorf: Fortnite world champion 'swatted' mid-game", "date": "12 August 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Newly crowned Fortnite world champion Kyle Giersdorf has been confronted by police in the middle of a game. Giersdorf, who plays under the name Bugha, disappeared for 10 minutes while the game was live-streamed on Twitch. He later said he had been \"swatted\" - where someone makes a hoax report so the special weapons and tactics (Swat) police raid a target's house. Giersdorf, 16, won the $3m (PS2.4m) top solo prize at the Fortnite World Cup in New York last month. Twitch is a streaming site where fans can watch gamers play live. More than 38,000 people were watching Giersdorf's game when he was interrupted by the police. He was about seven hours into a \"trios\" game, played with two teammates, when his dad was heard coming into his room and saying something to him. Giersdorf replied \"I got swatted?\", before abruptly disappearing from his webcam. The other gamers on his team continued to play, and won the game in his absence. Giersdorf came back about 10 minutes later and told them that he \"got swatted\", and that the officers \"came in with guns\". He then said one of the officers lived in his neighbourhood and recognised him. It is not known what the swatter told police when they made their false report. Swatting has become an infamous form of harassment in the gaming community, and as yet there are no federal laws specifically banning it in the US. However, in April a gamer was sentenced to 20 years in jail for making a swatting call that led to an innocent man being killed. After a row over Call of Duty in December 2017, Tyler Barriss told the police that he was holding his family hostage, and gave them an address in Kansas. This sent officers to the home of Andrew Finch, a 28-year-old father-of-two who had no involvement in the Call of Duty dispute. During the visit, Mr Finch was fatally shot by one of the responding officers.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1219, "answer_end": 1856, "text": "Swatting has become an infamous form of harassment in the gaming community, and as yet there are no federal laws specifically banning it in the US. However, in April a gamer was sentenced to 20 years in jail for making a swatting call that led to an innocent man being killed. After a row over Call of Duty in December 2017, Tyler Barriss told the police that he was holding his family hostage, and gave them an address in Kansas. This sent officers to the home of Andrew Finch, a 28-year-old father-of-two who had no involvement in the Call of Duty dispute. During the visit, Mr Finch was fatally shot by one of the responding officers."}], "question": "Is swatting illegal?", "id": "234_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Brexit: Theresa May warns no-deal Brexit could break up UK", "date": "14 January 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "If MPs vote down the Brexit withdrawal deal in Parliament it could lead to the break-up of the United Kingdom, Prime Minister Theresa May has claimed. She said a no-deal Brexit would \"strengthen the hand\" of those calling for an Irish border poll and a second referendum on Scottish independence. An exchange of letters between the UK and EU offers more reassurances on the Irish border backstop, she said. MPs are due to vote on the withdrawal agreement on Tuesday night. But the DUP (Democratic Unionist Party), which opposes the backstop, said the letter offers nothing legally binding, and the party will still vote against Mrs May's plan. As the deal was debated in the House of Commons on Monday night, DUP MP David Simpson said his constituents feel like \"the sacrificial lamb to placate the Irish Republic and the EU\". The Upper Bann MP said that as a \"proud unionist\", he cannot support the withdrawal agreement. \"The way the EU has treated the fifth largest economy in the world is an insult,\" Mr Simpson told the Commons. In the House of Lords, the prime minister's Brexit plan suffered its first official parliamentary defeat on Monday night, as peers registered their opposition. While the Lords motion has no real power, peers voted to reject the deal by 321 votes to 152. Earlier on Monday, the prime minister told MPs a no-deal Brexit would lead to \"changes to everyday life in Northern Ireland that would put the future of the union at risk\". Mrs May has always insisted that her plan is the best deal to protect the union as a whole, but the DUP and opposition parties claim it poses a threat to the integrity of the union. The DUP's Westminster leader Nigel Dodds asked the prime minister to \"admit nothing has fundamentally changed\" since she postponed a vote on the deal in December. But Mrs May said the assurances had \"legal force in international law\" alongside the withdrawal agreement and political declaration, although she recognised \"it's not what some members wanted from the EU\". Meanwhile, Ireland's tanaiste (deputy prime minister) said his country must \"hold its nerve\" this week as British MPs prepare to vote on the EU withdrawal deal. Simon Coveney warned against a \"knee-jerk reaction\" and said his government has been working for months on no-deal Brexit contingency planning. Sinn Fein President Mary Lou McDonald said the EU backstop cannot be set aside or diluted. \"Whatever transpires at Westminster, it is essential that Irish interests are protected. That the economy is protected and that the Good Friday Agreement is protected in all its parts,\" she said. The letter from Prime Minister Theresa May to the EU asks for clarity that in the event the UK and EU have negotiated but not yet ratified a trade deal, then the backstop would not be the \"default\" position and that all efforts would be made to avoid it. The backstop, a mechanism that is included in the withdrawal agreement, is an insurance policy designed to avoid a hard Irish border \"unless and until\" another solution is found as part of the UK-EU future relationship. The response from EU leader Donald Tusk and Jean-Claude Juncker states that the backstop is not the EU's preferred solution to avoiding a hard border. The letter also said that the backstop does not undermine the Good Friday Agreement, or \"annex\" Northern Ireland. It also promised to consider alternative ways of preventing the need for physical checks on the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. However, EU leaders said they are \"not in a position to agree anything that changes\" the legally binding withdrawal agreement, which was approved by the other EU27 leaders last year. Speaking to Irish national broadcaster RTE, Tanaiste (Irish Deputy Prime Minister) Simon Coveney said the government needed to \"tread carefully\". \"People shouldn't feel threatened by it (the backstop), some people have painted the backstop into something that it's not,\" he said. \"This week is going to be a really significant few days. This is a time where Ireland has to hold its nerve. We're most impacted by Brexit of all the EU states. \"We need to stay close to the British government and EU partners - but shouldn't respond in knee-jerked or any panicked way.\" He said the Irish government had been working for months on no-deal Brexit contingency planning, and would circulate four detailed memos at a cabinet meeting on Tuesday, building on a previously released document. Not at all. The DUP has been saying for weeks that its 10 MPs will vote against the deal because of their opposition to the backstop, which would see extra checks for some goods coming into Northern Ireland from Great Britain, if it took effect. The party believes any measure that could lead to differences between one part of the UK and the rest could threaten the integrity of the union. Speaking on the BBC's Good Morning Ulster programme, before the letters had been published on Monday, the DUP's Westminster leader Nigel Dodds dismissed them as meaningless. \"When the prime minister delayed the vote in December, she said she was going to get legally binding reassurances,\" he said. \"A letter certainly isn't legally binding. \"It's another example that the EU is not prepared to do what's required, even to take the first step if it wants to get a deal in the House of Commons.\" DUP leader Arlene Foster also renewed her assault on the backstop on Monday. She said it \"fundamentally undermines Northern Ireland's place in the UK\" and \"runs roughshod\" over the principle of consent contained in the Good Friday Agreement. By Jayne McCormack, BBC News NI Political Reporter This is a last-minute letter for Theresa May to wave at her critics - but the party most vocally against the backstop is not budging. A DUP source told me: \"Unionists are far too long in the tooth to fall for written assurances.\" Without a binding pledge from the entire EU27 that the backstop would be temporary, the DUP's view is that this letter has no effect on its voting intention. It still wants to see the withdrawal agreement reopened and the backstop binned, or its terms changed. Both these things look unlikely. The DUP's problem with the backstop, as set out by Nigel Dodds, is three small - but important - words in the legally binding withdrawal agreement: \"Unless and until.\" While the backstop has its supporters - the Irish government, as well as other political parties in NI and business and farming groups - the scale of the opposition to it in Parliament at this late stage is likely to prove the downfall of Mrs May's deal. It is expected that about 100 Conservative MPs will join Labour and other opposition parties in voting against the deal on Tuesday night. Theresa May has urged MPs to get behind her plan and has warned that not voting for it could mean not leaving the EU becomes a possibility. She made a statement to MPs in Parliament on Monday afternoon and said, as a \"proud unionist\", she understood concerns about the backstop - and that once the withdrawal agreement was signed, immediate talks could begin with the EU in order to reach a trade deal and avoid entering the backstop. The chair of Westminster's Northern Ireland Affairs Committee, Conservative MP Andrew Murrison, said that although he voted to leave the EU in 2016 he would back the plan. He has tabled an amendment to the deal to create a \"sunset clause\", preventing the backstop extending beyond the end of 2021. \"It is important in my opinion that we understand the backstop is not needed to ensure the absence of a hard border in Northern Ireland,\" he said. While the DUP is likely to vote against the deal, it will almost certainly back the prime minister if a no confidence motion is brought against her in Parliament. Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn has vowed to table such a motion if the deal is defeated on Tuesday.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 2603, "answer_end": 3682, "text": "The letter from Prime Minister Theresa May to the EU asks for clarity that in the event the UK and EU have negotiated but not yet ratified a trade deal, then the backstop would not be the \"default\" position and that all efforts would be made to avoid it. The backstop, a mechanism that is included in the withdrawal agreement, is an insurance policy designed to avoid a hard Irish border \"unless and until\" another solution is found as part of the UK-EU future relationship. The response from EU leader Donald Tusk and Jean-Claude Juncker states that the backstop is not the EU's preferred solution to avoiding a hard border. The letter also said that the backstop does not undermine the Good Friday Agreement, or \"annex\" Northern Ireland. It also promised to consider alternative ways of preventing the need for physical checks on the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. However, EU leaders said they are \"not in a position to agree anything that changes\" the legally binding withdrawal agreement, which was approved by the other EU27 leaders last year."}], "question": "What do the letters say?", "id": "235_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3683, "answer_end": 4463, "text": "Speaking to Irish national broadcaster RTE, Tanaiste (Irish Deputy Prime Minister) Simon Coveney said the government needed to \"tread carefully\". \"People shouldn't feel threatened by it (the backstop), some people have painted the backstop into something that it's not,\" he said. \"This week is going to be a really significant few days. This is a time where Ireland has to hold its nerve. We're most impacted by Brexit of all the EU states. \"We need to stay close to the British government and EU partners - but shouldn't respond in knee-jerked or any panicked way.\" He said the Irish government had been working for months on no-deal Brexit contingency planning, and would circulate four detailed memos at a cabinet meeting on Tuesday, building on a previously released document."}], "question": "What has the Irish government said?", "id": "235_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 4464, "answer_end": 5591, "text": "Not at all. The DUP has been saying for weeks that its 10 MPs will vote against the deal because of their opposition to the backstop, which would see extra checks for some goods coming into Northern Ireland from Great Britain, if it took effect. The party believes any measure that could lead to differences between one part of the UK and the rest could threaten the integrity of the union. Speaking on the BBC's Good Morning Ulster programme, before the letters had been published on Monday, the DUP's Westminster leader Nigel Dodds dismissed them as meaningless. \"When the prime minister delayed the vote in December, she said she was going to get legally binding reassurances,\" he said. \"A letter certainly isn't legally binding. \"It's another example that the EU is not prepared to do what's required, even to take the first step if it wants to get a deal in the House of Commons.\" DUP leader Arlene Foster also renewed her assault on the backstop on Monday. She said it \"fundamentally undermines Northern Ireland's place in the UK\" and \"runs roughshod\" over the principle of consent contained in the Good Friday Agreement."}], "question": "Have the letters reassured the DUP?", "id": "235_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 6590, "answer_end": 7873, "text": "It is expected that about 100 Conservative MPs will join Labour and other opposition parties in voting against the deal on Tuesday night. Theresa May has urged MPs to get behind her plan and has warned that not voting for it could mean not leaving the EU becomes a possibility. She made a statement to MPs in Parliament on Monday afternoon and said, as a \"proud unionist\", she understood concerns about the backstop - and that once the withdrawal agreement was signed, immediate talks could begin with the EU in order to reach a trade deal and avoid entering the backstop. The chair of Westminster's Northern Ireland Affairs Committee, Conservative MP Andrew Murrison, said that although he voted to leave the EU in 2016 he would back the plan. He has tabled an amendment to the deal to create a \"sunset clause\", preventing the backstop extending beyond the end of 2021. \"It is important in my opinion that we understand the backstop is not needed to ensure the absence of a hard border in Northern Ireland,\" he said. While the DUP is likely to vote against the deal, it will almost certainly back the prime minister if a no confidence motion is brought against her in Parliament. Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn has vowed to table such a motion if the deal is defeated on Tuesday."}], "question": "What happens on Tuesday?", "id": "235_3"}]}]}, {"title": "Reality Check: Would Brexit cost every household \u00a3850?", "date": "18 March 2016", "paragraphs": [{"context": "The UK leaving the European Union would knock PS850 off the average UK household's income, according to a report from the Centre for Economic Performance (CEP) at the London School of Economics. And that's its conclusion taking an \"optimistic\" view. The pessimistic conclusion from the report is PS1,700 per household. Where has that come from? The CEP is predicting 1.3% to 2.6% fall in GDP, which is the value of everything produced in the economy, currently about PS1.8tn a year. Take 1.3% of that and divide by the 27 million households in the UK and you have your answer. That's not the same as saying it would cost every household PS850. A drop in GDP equivalent to PS850 per household would be expected to cut household incomes, but probably not by that much. (Average household income after tax is about PS44,000, so PS850 is almost 2%.) So beyond that, is it true? No, almost certainly not - it's a result of economic modelling. The problem is that any such predictions involve making big assumptions about what would happen in the event of the UK leaving the EU. The conclusions are extremely sensitive to such assumptions. For example, the losses double if you move from the \"optimistic\" to \"pessimistic\" conclusions about what sort of trade deal a post-Brexit UK would reach with the EU. The losses would be tripled if you moved the trade model from static to dynamic (dynamic models include changes that happen over time such as trade increasing competition or efficiency). In the long run, the report says the losses could get up to between PS4,200 and PS6,400 per household per year. The optimistic scenario assumes that the UK reaches a Norway-style deal, which retains full access to the single market, but only predicts a 17% fall in the UK's contribution to the EU Budget (in line with Norway). But nonetheless, trade falls as a result of non-tariff barriers to trade, which are things like rules and quotas that are designed to stop competition from another country's products. Is that an optimistic view? If you were being really optimistic you could predict that the UK manages to negotiate a fabulous deal that allows full access to the single market without any contributions to the EU Budget. You could also optimistically predict that leaving the EU ushers in a golden age of entrepreneurship and productivity growth, making trade go through the roof. Similarly, the CEP's pessimistic view is that the UK ends up as just another member of the World Trade Organization, but you could have a really pessimistic view in which the rest of Europe is so cross about the UK leaving that it refuses all deals, deliberately blocks UK products and trade goes through the floor. So when you look at any economic modelling it's important to look at who is doing it. The CEP is made up of many top-notch, hugely-respected economists from an institution with an excellent reputation. I would have no hesitation in quoting them in a BBC article. But Vote Leave has pointed out this morning that the CEP is part-funded by the European Commission and in 2000 published a paper by Willem Buiter, who had just left the Bank of England's interest rate-setting Monetary Policy Committee, calling for the UK to adopt the euro. \"These ridiculous claims lack credibility as they come from the same economic sages who said we would better off scrapping the pound,\" said Matthew Elliott, chief executive of Vote Leave. Nobody knows what would happen if the UK were to leave the EU, so well-qualified people are trying to guess. There is little reason to believe they are guessing correctly. Predicting things is a thankless task - remember those opinion polls at last year's general election? Incidentally, this isn't just a point about this particular report. I would say much the same thing about the Civitas study that concluded there was a cost of between PS15bn and PS40bn to staying in the EU, or the Open Europe model that estimated a cost of Brexit of somewhere between a 2.2% fall in GDP and a 1.6% rise. If economic modelling should not be guiding your thinking, then why are we covering it? Because you can bet your last pound or euro that next week somebody supporting staying in the EU will say in a speech that leaving the EU will cost between PS850 and PS1,700 per household. And I don't want you to be left wondering where the figure came from. READ MORE: The facts behind claims in the EU debate", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1599, "answer_end": 2956, "text": "The optimistic scenario assumes that the UK reaches a Norway-style deal, which retains full access to the single market, but only predicts a 17% fall in the UK's contribution to the EU Budget (in line with Norway). But nonetheless, trade falls as a result of non-tariff barriers to trade, which are things like rules and quotas that are designed to stop competition from another country's products. Is that an optimistic view? If you were being really optimistic you could predict that the UK manages to negotiate a fabulous deal that allows full access to the single market without any contributions to the EU Budget. You could also optimistically predict that leaving the EU ushers in a golden age of entrepreneurship and productivity growth, making trade go through the roof. Similarly, the CEP's pessimistic view is that the UK ends up as just another member of the World Trade Organization, but you could have a really pessimistic view in which the rest of Europe is so cross about the UK leaving that it refuses all deals, deliberately blocks UK products and trade goes through the floor. So when you look at any economic modelling it's important to look at who is doing it. The CEP is made up of many top-notch, hugely-respected economists from an institution with an excellent reputation. I would have no hesitation in quoting them in a BBC article."}], "question": "Optimistic view?", "id": "236_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Banned Turkmenistan Airlines leaves thousands stranded", "date": "4 February 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Thousands of passengers have been left stranded after air regulators grounded Turkmenistan Airlines for safety reasons. The UK's Civil Aviation Authority said flights from Birmingham and London's Heathrow to Amritsar, and Heathrow to New Delhi - which fly via Ashgabat, Turkmenistan - had been suspended. The CAA acted after the European Aviation Safety Agency suspended permission for it to fly in the EU. It also flies from Frankfurt and Paris. Set up in 1992 by the former Soviet Union state, its route to Amritsar is popular with the British Punjabi population. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) said the European Aviation Safety Agency  had suspended the airline's flights to and from the EU \"pending confirmation that it meets international air safety standards\". \"This means that Turkmenistan Airlines flights between the UK (London Heathrow and Birmingham) and Turkmenistan (Ashgabat), do not have permission to travel to and from the UK,\" the FCO said. Affected passengers are advised to contact Turkmenistan Airlines to seek advice, the FCO said. The budget airline also offers flights from Birmingham and London Heathrow - via Asghabat - to various other locations such as Bangkok and Beijing. The CAA said: \"Passengers who have travelled may need to make their own arrangements to return home\". It lists Air India, British Airways, Jet Airways, Virgin Atlantic and Turkish Airlines as potentially offering alternative routes. Those who have booked but are now unable to fly will have to contact the airline for a refund. \"Passengers who booked directly with the company via either a credit, charge or debit card may alternatively be able to make a claim against their card provider,\" the CAA said. Those who booked through an airline ticket agent, should speak to the agent in the first instance, the CAA said. The was no obvious information on the company's website which also appeared to be allowing new bookings still to be made. Passengers seeking a refund for unused tickets are being advised to contact the airline directly If you've paid by credit card for your flight, and paid more than PS100, you may be able to claim compensation from your credit card firm under Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act 1974. If you've paid by debit card, and paid more than PS100, you could try to contact your bank and ask about \"chargeback\". However, to get this form of compensation, your bank would need to claw back your money from the airline directly. If you booked through a travel agent which is ATOL-protected, you may be able to claim compensation via your travel agent. If you have travel insurance, and your insurance covers insolvency, you may be able to claim from your insurance firm.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1953, "answer_end": 2713, "text": "Passengers seeking a refund for unused tickets are being advised to contact the airline directly If you've paid by credit card for your flight, and paid more than PS100, you may be able to claim compensation from your credit card firm under Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act 1974. If you've paid by debit card, and paid more than PS100, you could try to contact your bank and ask about \"chargeback\". However, to get this form of compensation, your bank would need to claw back your money from the airline directly. If you booked through a travel agent which is ATOL-protected, you may be able to claim compensation via your travel agent. If you have travel insurance, and your insurance covers insolvency, you may be able to claim from your insurance firm."}], "question": "Can I get my money back?", "id": "237_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Cardinal Pell returns to court to fight sexual offence charges", "date": "5 March 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Cardinal George Pell has returned to an Australian court for a hearing that will determine whether he stands trial on sexual assault charges. The Catholic cleric, 76, has strongly denied what police have described as historical accusations by \"multiple complainants\" in the state of Victoria. He will plead not guilty to all charges, his lawyer said last year. The court hearing in Melbourne is expected to run for a month. Much of it will be closed to the public and media. Cardinal Pell was given a police escort into the Melbourne Magistrates' Court on Monday as dozens of media representatives and bystanders watched on. Inside, his lawyer, Robert Richter QC, accused police of investigating the cardinal with a \"presumption of guilt\". Australia's most senior Catholic figure is considered the third-ranking official at the Vatican, where he is in charge of the Church's finances. Last year, Cardinal Pell took a leave of absence from the Vatican to fight the sexual assault charges in Australia. Last June, Victoria Police charged Cardinal Pell with \"multiple\" sexual offence charges involving \"multiple complainants\". Authorities described the accusations as historical, but did not give further details. On Friday, prosecutors dropped one charge. Last year, Cardinal Pell said: \"I am innocent of these charges, they are false. The whole idea of sexual abuse is abhorrent to me.\" In a hearing in October, Cardinal Pell's barrister, Robert Richter QC, said he intended to prove that \"what was alleged was impossible\". During a 25-minute administrative hearing, Mr Richter argued that Victoria Police had not followed correct procedure in their investigation. \"We say that was not followed because there was a presumption of guilt,\" he said. He also accused police of not properly investigating witness statements that had been provided by the defence. The court was later closed to the public for witnesses to give evidence, as required by state law in sexual offence cases. As many as 50 witnesses are expected to testify in closed sessions for up to two weeks. The committal hearing is likely to run for four weeks in total, local media said. The first witnesses were expected to give testimony via video link late on Monday. At the end of committal hearing, Magistrate Belinda Wallington will decide whether there is enough evidence for the case to proceed to a trial in the County Court of Victoria. The cardinal may then be required to enter a plea.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 740, "answer_end": 1000, "text": "Australia's most senior Catholic figure is considered the third-ranking official at the Vatican, where he is in charge of the Church's finances. Last year, Cardinal Pell took a leave of absence from the Vatican to fight the sexual assault charges in Australia."}], "question": "Who is Cardinal Pell?", "id": "238_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1001, "answer_end": 1522, "text": "Last June, Victoria Police charged Cardinal Pell with \"multiple\" sexual offence charges involving \"multiple complainants\". Authorities described the accusations as historical, but did not give further details. On Friday, prosecutors dropped one charge. Last year, Cardinal Pell said: \"I am innocent of these charges, they are false. The whole idea of sexual abuse is abhorrent to me.\" In a hearing in October, Cardinal Pell's barrister, Robert Richter QC, said he intended to prove that \"what was alleged was impossible\"."}], "question": "What is known about the allegations?", "id": "238_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1523, "answer_end": 1979, "text": "During a 25-minute administrative hearing, Mr Richter argued that Victoria Police had not followed correct procedure in their investigation. \"We say that was not followed because there was a presumption of guilt,\" he said. He also accused police of not properly investigating witness statements that had been provided by the defence. The court was later closed to the public for witnesses to give evidence, as required by state law in sexual offence cases."}], "question": "What happened on Monday?", "id": "238_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1980, "answer_end": 2459, "text": "As many as 50 witnesses are expected to testify in closed sessions for up to two weeks. The committal hearing is likely to run for four weeks in total, local media said. The first witnesses were expected to give testimony via video link late on Monday. At the end of committal hearing, Magistrate Belinda Wallington will decide whether there is enough evidence for the case to proceed to a trial in the County Court of Victoria. The cardinal may then be required to enter a plea."}], "question": "What will happen next?", "id": "238_3"}]}]}, {"title": "Putin mulls easing Russian passport rules for whole Ukraine", "date": "27 April 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Russian President Vladimir Putin says he is considering extending a scheme that makes it easier for Ukrainians to obtain Russian citizenship. This week he signed a decree that offers people in eastern Ukraine's separatist territories Russian passports in less than three months. Now he says he may extend the scheme to the whole of Ukraine. Ukrainian politicians accuse Russia of trying to make Ukraine's territorial divide permanent. Relations between the two countries were further strained this week when Ukraine's parliament passed a law making the use of the Ukrainian language mandatory for public sector workers. Russia says the move discriminates against Russian speakers in Ukraine - for many, particularly in eastern regions, Russian is still the first language. The new tensions add to the challenges facing Ukraine's President-elect, Volodymyr Zelensky, who ousted Petro Poroshenko at last Sunday's election by a landslide. On Wednesday, the Russian leader announced the passport scheme would be applied to Donetsk and Luhansk, the self-declared republics seized by Russian-backed separatists in 2014 after Russia annexed Crimea from Ukraine. Crimea itself was incorporated into Russia, giving its inhabitants the same citizenship rights as those in Russia. Mr Putin said people living in Donetsk and Luhansk who considered themselves Russian were entitled to Russian passports. \"For many years already - about 10 years - Poland has been giving out passports, Hungary has also been doing so, to Hungarians, and Romania... so are Russians living in Ukraine worse than Poles, Hungarians?\" he said. Mr Putin said earlier that people living in the rebel territories were \"completely deprived of civil rights\" and could not \"move normally\" or \"realise their most elementary needs\". On Saturday, he announced: \"We are considering providing a simplified procedure [of obtaining Russian citizenship] to all the residents of Ukraine.\" In a Facebook post after Wednesday's announcement abut the Russian passport move, Mr Zelensky's team called Russia \"an aggressor state which wages war against Ukraine\". \"This [Mr Putin's] decree is not bringing us closer to achieving the ultimate goal: a ceasefire,\" it said. The armed conflict in Ukraine has claimed about 13,000 lives since 2014. Mr Zelensky was elected as Ukraine's next president on Sunday, with no previous political experience. He played the role of president in a comedy television show. In the run-up to his election, he had said he wanted to \"renew relations\" with eastern Ukraine and start a \"powerful information war to end the conflict\". In response, Russia said it wanted him to show \"sound judgement\", \"honesty\" and \"pragmatism\" so that relations could improve. Under the new law: - Ukrainian must be used for signs, letters and in adverts - Local TV channels are set a target of 90% Ukrainian content - Ukrainian should be used for all official duties of public servants ranging from the president to judges, doctors and bank workers Mr Zelensky, whose own first language is Russian, defended the new legislation, which his opponent Petro Poroshenko had championed. However, he added that he intended to review it once he took office. He said he would conduct a \"detailed analysis of this law to make sure that all constitutional rights and the interests of all Ukrainian citizens are respected in it\".", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 936, "answer_end": 1937, "text": "On Wednesday, the Russian leader announced the passport scheme would be applied to Donetsk and Luhansk, the self-declared republics seized by Russian-backed separatists in 2014 after Russia annexed Crimea from Ukraine. Crimea itself was incorporated into Russia, giving its inhabitants the same citizenship rights as those in Russia. Mr Putin said people living in Donetsk and Luhansk who considered themselves Russian were entitled to Russian passports. \"For many years already - about 10 years - Poland has been giving out passports, Hungary has also been doing so, to Hungarians, and Romania... so are Russians living in Ukraine worse than Poles, Hungarians?\" he said. Mr Putin said earlier that people living in the rebel territories were \"completely deprived of civil rights\" and could not \"move normally\" or \"realise their most elementary needs\". On Saturday, he announced: \"We are considering providing a simplified procedure [of obtaining Russian citizenship] to all the residents of Ukraine.\""}], "question": "What did Putin say exactly?", "id": "239_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1938, "answer_end": 2730, "text": "In a Facebook post after Wednesday's announcement abut the Russian passport move, Mr Zelensky's team called Russia \"an aggressor state which wages war against Ukraine\". \"This [Mr Putin's] decree is not bringing us closer to achieving the ultimate goal: a ceasefire,\" it said. The armed conflict in Ukraine has claimed about 13,000 lives since 2014. Mr Zelensky was elected as Ukraine's next president on Sunday, with no previous political experience. He played the role of president in a comedy television show. In the run-up to his election, he had said he wanted to \"renew relations\" with eastern Ukraine and start a \"powerful information war to end the conflict\". In response, Russia said it wanted him to show \"sound judgement\", \"honesty\" and \"pragmatism\" so that relations could improve."}], "question": "What is Ukraine's position on the citizenship move?", "id": "239_1"}]}]}, {"title": "North Korea: Otto Warmbier's family sues over son's death", "date": "27 April 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "The parents of a US student who died days after his release from a North Korean prison are suing Pyongyang. Otto Warmbier was arrested in January 2016 for stealing a propaganda sign. North Korea has denied mistreating the 22-year-old student, but his parents insist that his death in July 2017 was the consequence of torture. The lawsuit comes at a key moment for US-North Korean relations, ahead of a planned meeting between the two countries' leaders in the coming weeks. The wrongful-death suit was filed in a federal court in Washington DC. Mr Warmbier's parents are seeking damages over what they describe as \"the hostage taking, illegal detention, torture and killing\" of their son. They say that he was forced to make a false confession before being \"brutally tortured and murdered\". Although foreign countries are usually protected from lawsuits in US courts by sovereign immunity, this does not apply in cases of state-sponsored terrorism. US President Donald Trump re-designated North Korea a state sponsor of terrorism in November, nine years after it was removed from the list. However, North Korea has not paid damages awarded in previous cases heard in US courts. Mr Warmbier, an economics student at the University of Virginia, was visiting North Korea on a five-day tour when he was arrested at Pyongyang airport in January 2016. He was accused of stealing a sign from the hotel where he and fellow students had been staying in the capital, and sentenced to 15 years' hard labour. By the time he returned to the US after 17 months in detention, Mr Warmbier was comatose and suffered from brain damage. North Korea says he fell into a coma after contracting botulism and taking a sleeping pill. US doctors found no evidence of botulism and said that the student had suffered a \"severe neurological injury\", probably caused by a cardiopulmonary arrest. How did this affect ties US-North Korean relations? At the time, US President Donald Trump blamed North Korea's \"brutal regime\" for Mr Warmbier's death. But diplomatic contact between Washington and Pyongyang has since reached its highest level in over a decade,. Earlier this month CIA director Mike Pompeo secretly met North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in North Korea. On Friday, Mr Kim became the first North Korean leader to set foot in South Korea since the end of the Korean War in 1953. He is due to meet President Trump in the coming weeks.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1178, "answer_end": 2413, "text": "Mr Warmbier, an economics student at the University of Virginia, was visiting North Korea on a five-day tour when he was arrested at Pyongyang airport in January 2016. He was accused of stealing a sign from the hotel where he and fellow students had been staying in the capital, and sentenced to 15 years' hard labour. By the time he returned to the US after 17 months in detention, Mr Warmbier was comatose and suffered from brain damage. North Korea says he fell into a coma after contracting botulism and taking a sleeping pill. US doctors found no evidence of botulism and said that the student had suffered a \"severe neurological injury\", probably caused by a cardiopulmonary arrest. How did this affect ties US-North Korean relations? At the time, US President Donald Trump blamed North Korea's \"brutal regime\" for Mr Warmbier's death. But diplomatic contact between Washington and Pyongyang has since reached its highest level in over a decade,. Earlier this month CIA director Mike Pompeo secretly met North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in North Korea. On Friday, Mr Kim became the first North Korean leader to set foot in South Korea since the end of the Korean War in 1953. He is due to meet President Trump in the coming weeks."}], "question": "What happened to Otto Warmbier?", "id": "240_0"}]}]}, {"title": "'Hitchcock just wanted to be loved' says British leading lady", "date": "9 June 2017", "paragraphs": [{"context": "In 1971 Alfred Hitchcock came home to London to make his penultimate film - the murder story Frenzy, about a serial killer in London. Some critics thought Frenzy a return to form. But over the years, others have seen proof of the misogyny of which Hitchcock is sometimes accused. Actress Barbara Leigh-Hunt played the victim in the film's murder scene. It still shocks, she says - but it was totally justified. Recalling her early years as an actress, she says that 46 years ago she was busy on stage, radio and TV. She'd played major Shakespearean roles at the Old Vic and was, with her husband, the actor Richard Pasco, much in demand for poetry readings. None of which, she admits, made her an obvious choice for a big role in an Alfred Hitchcock film. \"I was invited out to Pinewood Studios to speak with Hitch for about half an hour,\" she explains. \"To me he was a cinematic god, but I was convinced it was a complete waste of time as I'd never even made a film. \"On my way home I called my agent from the station. I was astonished to hear they'd already been on the phone to say I had the part.\" Hitchcock, the son of a greengrocer, was born in Leytonstone in east London in 1899. A film-maker from the mid-1920s, at the beginning of World War II he went to Hollywood and became perhaps the greatest director of thrillers ever. He could manipulate an audience's sense of dread with an intelligence no one has matched since. American academic Raymond Foery has made a study of Frenzy. \"Universal was Hitchcock's home in Hollywood but his recent films for them - Torn Curtain and Topaz - had been disappointments,\" he said. \"So the studio was happy to see Hitchcock make a relatively cheap film in London. In fact Hitchcock had hoped to cast Richard Burton, but instead he settled on respected stage actors who wouldn't get huge Hollywood salaries. \"It's about a serial killer who works at Covent Garden vegetable market, which was soon to close. It's based on a novel which was neither a classic nor total trash, but Hitch's method was to buy a story which offered him a strong structure which he could then work up into something cinematic. \"There's less consensus on Frenzy than on any other Hitchcock film. I won't claim the movie rivals Psycho or Vertigo, but I do think it has a lot going for it. But after his death [in 1980], journalists and biographers started to dig into Hitch's attitudes to sex and women, with Frenzy often used as an example.\" Barbara Leigh-Hunt recalled Hitchcock's team flagging up the violence in the screenplay. Her character, who owns a marriage bureau, is assaulted and strangled to death in her own office. \"They wanted to know if I was going to be upset. But I'd just played Lady Macbeth on stage so I didn't see how I could honestly object,\" she said. \"With me Hitch was remarkably kind and considerate. He knew it was my first film and that I was terrified. He had my chair placed beside his on the studio floor and he let me sit through rehearsals so I could get a feel for film. \"He loved corny jokes and wordplay. Once when we'd sat through a terribly slow rehearsal he said: 'Too many dog's feet! What do I mean?' \"And I said 'Pawses'... and he was thrilled that I understood his sense of humour. He was a courteous man: he was very angry when he discovered I hadn't been given a studio car to get me to and from Pinewood.\" The plot, as in several Hitchcock films, centres on a man wrongly accused of a crime. In the film, Leigh-Hunt's former husband, played by the late Jon Finch, is found guilty of her murder and it seems the real killer will get away. Leigh-Hunt recalled that Hitchcock grew discontented with Finch's performance. \"He told me he worked hard to keep up with new screen talent and that Jon had come to him with glowing recommendations. But he said he didn't find in Jon's performance the sympathetic qualities he had hoped for and which would make the audience care about the character's fate.\" Discussion of Frenzy usually comes back to the long scene of sexual violence 40 minutes in. Because of it Frenzy is the only Hitchcock film the British Board of Film Classification still gives an 18 certificate. Earlier Hitchcock classics such as The Birds and Psycho - both originally X-rated - have been reclassified over the years. The actress recalls the murder scene took three days in the studio to shoot. \"It's pretty horrendous. About a week before Hitch said 'You've no objection to baring your breasts, have you?' I told him I certainly did, and in the end that scene and Anna Massey's nude scene were with body doubles. \"Barry Foster was playing the attacker and he and I discussed what we wanted to do. The assault as written was physically implausible, so Hitch told us what he wanted on screen and he was happy to leave to us some of the detail. \"But it was his idea that at the end I should be seen with my tongue lolling out - which in fact I couldn't do so it's a freeze frame. \"It's still a controversial scene even today, but I believe it was utterly necessary to show how hideous a man the murderer was and what he was prepared to do to women.\" Professor Foery, who lectures at a university in Connecticut in the US, says Frenzy put Hitchcock back on the map as a film-maker. \"But it's true the murder is cruder than previous deaths in his films. The obvious comparison is with Janet Leigh being stabbed in the famous Psycho shower scene. \"Hitchcock pointed out that the knife, the blood and the nudity are largely what the audience pieces together in its mind. Psycho relies on suggestion in a way Frenzy does not. \"When I show my students certain films from the 1970s, I warn them they're about to see levels of violence and nudity they probably wouldn't encounter today. \"Possibly a major director now wouldn't allow a scene of sexual violence to go on so long as Hitchcock did in Frenzy - but I just don't accept that Hitchcock disliked women. There are strong female roles throughout his films and in his own career he relied on women.\" Barbara Leigh-Hunt retains a huge affection for her time with Hitch. After Frenzy the director told her he was planning to shoot a film in Scotland and that there would be a role in it for her. In fact his next film, Family Plot, proved to be Hitchcock's swansong and he retired immediately afterwards. \"So many people now try to psychoanalyse Hitch and people talk about his dark side,\" the actress says. \"I can only judge by what I saw and experienced but I found him a charming man. He was like everybody else - he wanted to be liked, he wanted to be loved.\" Follow us on Facebook, on Twitter @BBCNewsEnts, or on Instagram at bbcnewsents. If you have a story suggestion email entertainment.news@bbc.co.uk.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 5258, "answer_end": 6023, "text": "\"But it's true the murder is cruder than previous deaths in his films. The obvious comparison is with Janet Leigh being stabbed in the famous Psycho shower scene. \"Hitchcock pointed out that the knife, the blood and the nudity are largely what the audience pieces together in its mind. Psycho relies on suggestion in a way Frenzy does not. \"When I show my students certain films from the 1970s, I warn them they're about to see levels of violence and nudity they probably wouldn't encounter today. \"Possibly a major director now wouldn't allow a scene of sexual violence to go on so long as Hitchcock did in Frenzy - but I just don't accept that Hitchcock disliked women. There are strong female roles throughout his films and in his own career he relied on women.\""}], "question": "Did Hitchcock dislike women?", "id": "241_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Brexit: \u00a32.1bn extra for no-deal planning", "date": "1 August 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "The government has announced an extra PS2.1bn of funding to prepare for a no-deal Brexit - doubling the amount of money it has set aside this year. The plans include more border force officers and upgrades to transport infrastructure at ports. There will also be more money to ease traffic congestion in Kent and tackle queues created by delays at the border. Shadow chancellor John McDonnell described the plans as \"an appalling waste of taxpayers' cash\". The package also includes money for stockpiling medicines to ensure continued supplies and a national programme to help businesses. \"With 92 days until the UK leaves the European Union it's vital that we intensify our planning to ensure we are ready,\" said Chancellor Sajid Javid, announcing the move. \"We want to get a good deal that abolishes the anti-democratic backstop. But if we can't get a good deal, we'll have to leave without one. \"This additional PS2.1bn will ensure we are ready to leave on 31 October - deal or no-deal.\" The shadow chancellor said the extra money was \"all for the sake of Boris Johnson's drive towards a totally avoidable no-deal\". He added: \"This government could have ruled out no-deal and spent these billions on our schools, hospitals, and people. \"Labour is a party for the whole of the UK, so we'll do all we can to block a no-deal, crash-out Brexit.\" \"Turbo-charging\" no-deal preparation is the energetic promise of the new Treasury, which under previous management had been accused by the now prime minister and his Brexiteer allies of dragging its feet on funding for such measures. Some of this boost, however, is a repeat prescription for vital medicine supply - spending tens of millions again on reserving cross-Channel ferry capacity and for specialist warehousing and stockpiling that was not, in the end, required after the last Brexit deadline. All this is designed to mitigate the anticipated freight gridlock around Dover and Calais. But that is not entirely in the government's hands. Much depends on whether the French authorities choose to enforce full customs and health checks on freight from the UK. The flow across the Channel also depends on the preparedness of many smaller traders, more than half of whom have not signed up to the most basic customs registration that will become mandatory for European trade under no-deal. An advertising campaign will target this vital group. It will have to persuade them that no-deal is highly likely, even as the prime minister himself suggests the chances are vanishingly small. Liberal Democrat treasury spokesman Chuka Umunna said the money was a \"drop in the ocean\". \"They promised us an extra PS350m each week for the NHS, now they are making more money available just to ensure access to medicine.\" Prime Minister Boris Johnson has previously said he is willing to take the UK out of the EU on 31 October - whether a Brexit deal has been agreed or not. Former Border Force director-general Tony Smith said the extra money was a \"step in the right direction\" but more should have been done earlier. \"I don't understand why this wasn't implemented three years ago when the government knew we were leaving the European Union,\" he said. There could be a row over the pledge to spend such a vast sum on preparing for no-deal, given Boris Johnson's previous comment that the chances of this happening were a \"million to one\", said the BBC's assistant political editor Norman Smith. Another contentious area will be the government's plan to spend around PS130m on a huge public information campaign on advice and help for the event of no-deal, he said. In comparison, David Cameron's decision to send leaflets to every household in the run-up to the 2016 Brexit referendum had a total cost of PS9m. Conservative peer Baroness Altmann, a former pensions minister, said: \"This is huge amounts of taxpayers' money that is being spent on something the government itself has said will be hugely damaging to the British economy and to the British way of life.\" But Chief Secretary to the Treasury Rishi Sunak insisted the latest funding was not a waste, even if the UK ended up leaving with a deal. \"A lot of the money we are spending is going to go on things that we would need to spend anyway because we're leaving the European Union,\" he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme. \"Investment in things like our ports, our border infrastructure... all of that is money we should be spending anyway for those new arrangements.\" The new money consists of PS1.1bn which will be provided to departments and devolved administrations immediately, while a further PS1bn will be made available if needed. This comes on top of PS4.2bn, which has been allocated since 2016 for Brexit preparations by the previous chancellor, Philip Hammond. But not all of that money would have been spent on getting ready for a no-deal scenario. The measures announced by Mr Javid include PS344m to be spent on new border and customs operations. This includes recruiting an extra 500 border force officers, in addition to 500 already announced, while there will also be more money for training customs agents and processing UK passport applications. Another PS434m will be spent on ensuring continuity of vital medicines and medical products, including freight transport, warehousing and stockpiling. Of the rest, PS108m will go on promoting and supporting businesses \"to ensure they are ready for Brexit\", including a national programme of business readiness and \"helping exporters to prepare for, and capitalise on, new opportunities\". There will also be a public information campaign and an increase in consular support for Britons living abroad, at a cost of PS138m. Meg Hillier, chair of the Public Accounts Committee, said she was \"sceptical about how much can be spent with the time available\". She said her committee had been told the UK was now past \"the point of no return\" for effective spending to mitigate the effects of no deal, adding: \"My biggest question is how on earth can you spend that amount of money in time, how can you recruit and train border guards in the time available, 91 days, it's just not feasible.\"", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 3752, "answer_end": 5166, "text": "Conservative peer Baroness Altmann, a former pensions minister, said: \"This is huge amounts of taxpayers' money that is being spent on something the government itself has said will be hugely damaging to the British economy and to the British way of life.\" But Chief Secretary to the Treasury Rishi Sunak insisted the latest funding was not a waste, even if the UK ended up leaving with a deal. \"A lot of the money we are spending is going to go on things that we would need to spend anyway because we're leaving the European Union,\" he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme. \"Investment in things like our ports, our border infrastructure... all of that is money we should be spending anyway for those new arrangements.\" The new money consists of PS1.1bn which will be provided to departments and devolved administrations immediately, while a further PS1bn will be made available if needed. This comes on top of PS4.2bn, which has been allocated since 2016 for Brexit preparations by the previous chancellor, Philip Hammond. But not all of that money would have been spent on getting ready for a no-deal scenario. The measures announced by Mr Javid include PS344m to be spent on new border and customs operations. This includes recruiting an extra 500 border force officers, in addition to 500 already announced, while there will also be more money for training customs agents and processing UK passport applications."}], "question": "Investment needed anyway?", "id": "242_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Gaza-Israel violence: Israel warns of action inside Gaza", "date": "31 March 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "The Israeli military has warned it could take action against \"terrorist targets\" inside the Gaza Strip. Brig Gen Ronen Manelis told journalists that Hamas - the militant group that controls Gaza - was using Palestinian protests as a cover for launching attacks on Israel. Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas has said Israel bears \"full responsibility\" for bloodshed on Friday. Sixteen Palestinians were killed by Israeli soldiers at the Gaza border. It was the single deadliest day in the Israel-Palestine conflict since the 2014 Gaza war. The UN Security Council condemned the violence after an emergency session. Thousands of Palestinians had marched to the border at the start of a six-week protest, dubbed the Great March of Return. The protest comes ahead of the 70th anniversary of the founding of Israel and the exodus of many Arabs - which Palestinians refer to as the \"Nakba\" (Catastrophe). Israeli officials said soldiers opened fire after rioting broke out. The UN says hundreds of people were injured. On Saturday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised soldiers for \"guarding the country's borders, allowing Israelis to celebrate the holiday [of Passover] in peace\". The UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres has called for an independent inquiry into Friday's violence. UN deputy political affairs chief Taye-Brook Zerihoun told the council that \"Israel must uphold its responsibilities under international human rights and humanitarian law\". Israel's ambassador to the UN, Danny Danon, blamed the bloodshed on Hamas. Later Gen Manelis said Friday's events were \"not a protest demonstration\" but \"organised terrorist activity\" by Hamas. \"If it continues, we shall have no choice but to respond inside the Gaza Strip against terrorist targets which we understand to be behind these events,\" he said according to AFP news agency. On Saturday Palestinians observed a day of national mourning for those killed and thousands of people attended funerals. Palestinians also called a general strike. A few hundred protesters returned to a tent city put up near the border in preparation for the demonstration to resume, said AFP. At least 15 people were wounded in renewed clashes along the Gaza border on Saturday, said Gazan health authorities. The first to die was Omar Samour, 27 - a Palestinian farmer killed in Israeli shelling as he worked his land near Khan Younis early on Friday, before the protests began. Most of the other dead - reported to be mainly men under 40 - were shot dead at points along the length of the 65km (40-mile) fenced border, from Jabalia in the north to Rafah in the south, Hamas said five of them were members of its military wing, Izzedine al-Qassam Brigades, reported Israeli media. Thousands of Palestinians had marched to the border at the start of a six-week protest. Its aim is to assert what the protesters regard as their right to return to towns and villages from which their families fled, or were driven out, when the state of Israel was created in 1948. Hamas does not recognise Israel, but last year said it was ready to accept an interim Palestinian state limited to Gaza and the West Bank. Palestinians have pitched five camps near the border for the protest, from Beit Hanoun in the north to Rafah near the Egyptian border. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF), which enforces a no-go zone along the Gaza border, doubled its troop presence for the protest. The IDF said there were about 17,000 Palestinians in five locations near the border fence. It said it had \"enforced a closed military zone\" in the area around Gaza. Although most protesters stayed in the encampments, some groups of youths ignored organisers' calls to stay away from the fence and headed closer to Israeli positions. The IDF said troops were \"firing towards the main instigators\" to break up rioting, in which petrol bombs and stones were thrown at the fence. A spokesman said all those who were killed had been trying to breach or damage the border fence, the Jerusalem Post reports. The Palestinian side accused Israel of using disproportionate force. Tanks and snipers were deployed, and witnesses said a drone was used to drop tear gas in at least one location. The Palestinian envoy to the UN Riyad Mansour told the council that more than 1,400 Palestinian civilians had been injured.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 2261, "answer_end": 2732, "text": "The first to die was Omar Samour, 27 - a Palestinian farmer killed in Israeli shelling as he worked his land near Khan Younis early on Friday, before the protests began. Most of the other dead - reported to be mainly men under 40 - were shot dead at points along the length of the 65km (40-mile) fenced border, from Jabalia in the north to Rafah in the south, Hamas said five of them were members of its military wing, Izzedine al-Qassam Brigades, reported Israeli media."}], "question": "Who was killed in the protests?", "id": "243_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2733, "answer_end": 3415, "text": "Thousands of Palestinians had marched to the border at the start of a six-week protest. Its aim is to assert what the protesters regard as their right to return to towns and villages from which their families fled, or were driven out, when the state of Israel was created in 1948. Hamas does not recognise Israel, but last year said it was ready to accept an interim Palestinian state limited to Gaza and the West Bank. Palestinians have pitched five camps near the border for the protest, from Beit Hanoun in the north to Rafah near the Egyptian border. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF), which enforces a no-go zone along the Gaza border, doubled its troop presence for the protest."}], "question": "Why was there tension at the border?", "id": "243_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3416, "answer_end": 4321, "text": "The IDF said there were about 17,000 Palestinians in five locations near the border fence. It said it had \"enforced a closed military zone\" in the area around Gaza. Although most protesters stayed in the encampments, some groups of youths ignored organisers' calls to stay away from the fence and headed closer to Israeli positions. The IDF said troops were \"firing towards the main instigators\" to break up rioting, in which petrol bombs and stones were thrown at the fence. A spokesman said all those who were killed had been trying to breach or damage the border fence, the Jerusalem Post reports. The Palestinian side accused Israel of using disproportionate force. Tanks and snipers were deployed, and witnesses said a drone was used to drop tear gas in at least one location. The Palestinian envoy to the UN Riyad Mansour told the council that more than 1,400 Palestinian civilians had been injured."}], "question": "What do the two sides say happened on Friday?", "id": "243_2"}]}]}, {"title": "Billionaire Koch brothers take on Trump over tariffs", "date": "5 June 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Powerful US billionaire brothers Charles and David Koch are funding a multi-million dollar campaign against President Donald Trump's trade tariffs. Three political groups backed by the brothers say they will use advertising, lobbying and grassroots campaigns to push the benefits of free trade. The duo run Koch Industries, one of the world's largest privately owned firms. The move comes just days after Mr Trump imposed tariffs on steel and aluminium imports from the EU, Canada and Mexico. On Tuesday, the company was told that David Koch, 78, was stepping down because of his deteriorating health. In a letter, Charles Koch, 82, told employees he was \"deeply saddened\" about his brother's departure, adding that \"David has always been a fighter and is dealing with this challenge in the same way\". The three Koch-backed groups launching the campaign against Mr Trump's tariffs: Freedom Partners Chamber of Commerce, Americans for Prosperity and the LIBRE Initiative, are urging the president to lift the recent tariffs on aluminium and steel imports as well as the proposed tariffs on other imports from China. Americans for Prosperity president Tim Phillips said the tariffs would \"hamstring our full economic potential\". \"There are better ways to negotiate trade deals than by punishing American consumers and businesses with higher costs,\" he added. The campaign indicates the level of concern among business groups, typically Republican supporters, about the impact of the tariffs. Leaders from the EU, Canada and Mexico have criticised the move and threatened retaliation, sparking fears of a trade war. On Tuesday, Mexico imposed a wide range of new tariffs on US goods, including steel, pork, and bourbon. Donald Trump has said the steel tariffs will protect US steelmakers, which he says are vital to national security. Analysis by Anthony Zurcher, BBC Washington The Koch network of political organisations has been a reliable cash machine for Republicans for more than a decade. When Donald Trump became the party's nominee, the spigot to conservative candidates continued to flow - although the primary focus of the conservative brothers were congressional candidates and not the top of the ticket. Since Mr Trump's surprise victory, Charles and David Koch have sought common ground with the president, particularly on tax reform, but they continue to be far from ideological soul mates. Now, as the president bangs the drums of a trade war, the relations between the libertarian-leaning billionaires and the populist-nationalist president are becoming increasingly frayed. It's not full political warfare yet, however. The advertising and advocacy campaign proposed by the Koch groups tilts in the direction of \"friendly advice\" for the president, not hostile criticism. When paired with congressional efforts to curtail the president's ability to enact new tariffs, however, and the stakes increase. The Republican party has long been a welcoming home to free trade advocates, who point to the economic benefits of globalism and international competition. Mr Trump is trying to change that - but he's picking a fight with some very deep-pocketed adversaries. Charles and David Koch's company - the second largest privately owned business in the US - has interests ranging from pipelines to paper towels. According to Forbes Magazine, each of the men are worth about $60bn (PS45bn), and are tied for eighth richest man in the US. According to the Koch Industries website, they have more than 120,000 employees between all their businesses and subsidiaries. They have previously put money into groups denying climate change and attacking unions and workers' rights. But they have also pushed for criminal justice reform and made large donations to the American Civil Liberties Union. Last November, the brothers helped fund Meredith Corporation's deal to buy US magazine publisher Time Inc. But to many Americans, they are known more for their political activism than their corporate brands. The brothers are political mega-donors who have spent millions of dollars on supporting conservative policies, particularly causes that seek to roll back regulations. In 1980, David Koch ran as a vice-presidential candidate of the Libertarian Party.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 3176, "answer_end": 4256, "text": "Charles and David Koch's company - the second largest privately owned business in the US - has interests ranging from pipelines to paper towels. According to Forbes Magazine, each of the men are worth about $60bn (PS45bn), and are tied for eighth richest man in the US. According to the Koch Industries website, they have more than 120,000 employees between all their businesses and subsidiaries. They have previously put money into groups denying climate change and attacking unions and workers' rights. But they have also pushed for criminal justice reform and made large donations to the American Civil Liberties Union. Last November, the brothers helped fund Meredith Corporation's deal to buy US magazine publisher Time Inc. But to many Americans, they are known more for their political activism than their corporate brands. The brothers are political mega-donors who have spent millions of dollars on supporting conservative policies, particularly causes that seek to roll back regulations. In 1980, David Koch ran as a vice-presidential candidate of the Libertarian Party."}], "question": "Who are the Koch brothers?", "id": "244_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Electric cars 'will not solve transport problem,' report warns", "date": "5 July 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Car use will still need to be curbed even when all vehicles are powered by clean electricity, a report has said. It warns that electrifying cars will not address traffic jams, urban sprawl and wasted space for parking. The Centre for Research into Energy Demand Solutions (CREDS) report calls on the government to devise a strategy allowing people to have a good standard of living without needing a car. The government said it was spending PS2bn to promote walking and cycling. It also says it plans to spend PS50bn on improving roads. However, critics accuse the government of not having a serious plan to deal with the social problems associated with mass car ownership. CREDS is an academic consortium of more than 80 academics across the UK. \"Car use is a massive blind spot on government policy,\" Prof Jillian Anable, one of the authors of the report, said. She added: \"For many years ministers have adopted the principle of trying to meet demand by increasing road space. \"They need to reduce demand instead.\" The authors say there will always be people who depend on cars, especially in the countryside or suburbs. But, they point out that many young people in cities are choosing not to buy cars. Instead they are using public transport, walking, cycling, taking minicabs and hiring cars when they are needed. This more active lifestyle means less obesity, pollution and road danger - and greater sociability as people meet their neighbours on their way to work. It also allows parking spaces to be liberated for more housing or gardens. The government, the authors say, should be encouraging other people to follow the lead set by the young. \"It is a happy accident that car ownership is static in every age group except the over-60s,\" Prof Anable says. \"The government should build on that.\" She maintains car ownership is wasteful because cars are parked for 98% of their lifetime, with a third of cars not going out every day. \"Once you own a car,\" she says, \"there is a compelling temptation to use it even for simple journeys. \"But it is a really expensive investment. If people do not have cars they can spend the money on other things. \"Often once people start to live without a car they wonder why they wanted one in the first place - a car is so much hassle.\" She says ministers should prioritise walking, cycling, public transport and vehicle-sharing wherever possible. They should also incentivise local councils to build housing developments that are easy to access without a car. That would also benefit the 25% of households that do not have cars. The report supports government efforts to phase out petrol and diesel cars in the move towards Net Zero emissions. But it says the timetable is too slow, and may not be achieved anyway. There is a huge challenge in charging vehicles - especially in urban areas with no off-street parking. What is more, drivers tend to be choosing hybrid vehicles rather than pure electric cars - and that will lock in fossil fuel usage into the future. People are also buying status-symbol SUVs which clog up narrow city streets - the report says banning them from some areas might be a solution. The other great technological change under way on the roads is driverless cars. The report warns this dream could also turn sour as car owners may choose to live many miles from their workplace, using their car as a mobile office while sitting in traffic jams they have helped to create. The AA's president Edmund King agrees electric driverless cars could make congestion worse. He told us: \"One vision of hell is that the driverless car turns up in the city centre where there is no parking. \"The occupant gets out to do their business, whilst the car just continues driving around for hours on end until beckoned back by the user.\" He suggests perhaps switching vehicle taxation away from petrol and diesel and on to Road Miles - a charge for the miles you drive, imposed electronically. A spokesperson for the Department for Transport said: \"We are committed to future-proofing our towns and cities for journeys which reduce traffic, encourage healthy exercise, tackle carbon emissions and improve air quality. \"This year, we launched the biggest regulatory review in a generation to ensure we are ready to take advantage of new technologies which can help achieve this. \"We are also helping more people choose cleaner, greener forms of transport by investing around PS2bn in active travel over the course of this Parliament.\" But, Labour's Lilian Greenwood, chair of the Commons Transport Committee, believes ministers must do more. She said: \"The move to electric vehicles is most definitely not a panacea and fails to address wider concerns about public health and the kind of places where we want to live. \"Congestion is a costly blight in many urban areas and there is a real risk that we will end up swapping dirty, polluting traffic jams for clean, green ones. \"Inactivity and obesity are increasingly serious public health problems. Getting people out of their cars is essential, yet the government has no targets for such a shift - my committee has called for that to change.\" Follow Roger on Twitter", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1803, "answer_end": 2571, "text": "She maintains car ownership is wasteful because cars are parked for 98% of their lifetime, with a third of cars not going out every day. \"Once you own a car,\" she says, \"there is a compelling temptation to use it even for simple journeys. \"But it is a really expensive investment. If people do not have cars they can spend the money on other things. \"Often once people start to live without a car they wonder why they wanted one in the first place - a car is so much hassle.\" She says ministers should prioritise walking, cycling, public transport and vehicle-sharing wherever possible. They should also incentivise local councils to build housing developments that are easy to access without a car. That would also benefit the 25% of households that do not have cars."}], "question": "How could we help people to live without cars?", "id": "245_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2572, "answer_end": 3152, "text": "The report supports government efforts to phase out petrol and diesel cars in the move towards Net Zero emissions. But it says the timetable is too slow, and may not be achieved anyway. There is a huge challenge in charging vehicles - especially in urban areas with no off-street parking. What is more, drivers tend to be choosing hybrid vehicles rather than pure electric cars - and that will lock in fossil fuel usage into the future. People are also buying status-symbol SUVs which clog up narrow city streets - the report says banning them from some areas might be a solution."}], "question": "Won't electric cars be a good thing?", "id": "245_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3153, "answer_end": 3943, "text": "The other great technological change under way on the roads is driverless cars. The report warns this dream could also turn sour as car owners may choose to live many miles from their workplace, using their car as a mobile office while sitting in traffic jams they have helped to create. The AA's president Edmund King agrees electric driverless cars could make congestion worse. He told us: \"One vision of hell is that the driverless car turns up in the city centre where there is no parking. \"The occupant gets out to do their business, whilst the car just continues driving around for hours on end until beckoned back by the user.\" He suggests perhaps switching vehicle taxation away from petrol and diesel and on to Road Miles - a charge for the miles you drive, imposed electronically."}], "question": "Will driverless cars help?", "id": "245_2"}]}]}, {"title": "Malaysian singer Namewee held for 'insulting Islam'", "date": "22 August 2016", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Police have arrested a popular but controversial Malaysian singer, after complaints that his most recent music video \"insulted Islam\". Namewee, whose real name is Wee Meng Chee, was detained on Sunday. He is known for his profanity-laced music The offending video, for his song Oh My God, was first released in July and features him rapping in front of places of worship around Malaysia. Namewee insists that Oh My God was intended to promote religious harmony. But on Monday Malaysian police remanded the 33-year-old singer in custody for four days to investigate him for \"defiling a place of worship with intention to insult religion\".  The charge carries a jail term of up to two years. About two thirds of Malaysians are Muslim, though the country also has significant Buddhist, Christian and Hindu populations.  But there have been a number of instances in recent years of blogs and certain representations of Islam stoking controversy in the country. The perils of speaking out against Islamic law in Malaysia Troll or hero? The sex blogger who's offending Muslims The singer makes several religious references, using terms such as \"Allah\" and \"Hallelujah\".  Namewee and three others also appear to sing and dance in front of Buddhist and Taoist temples, inside a church and outside a mosque. The latest version of the video uploaded to YouTube on 20 August, however, does not appear to include a sequence in front of a mosque. Representatives from 20 local NGOs lodged some 10 reports against the singer. \"We had lodged the report based on five characters that were used in the music video which had...uttered the word 'Allah',\" said Azdy Moh Arshad, who spoke for the coalition of NGOs. He added that Namewee's actions had caused anger among Muslims in Malaysia. Namewee was arrested on Sunday at Kuala Lumpur International Airport after returning from an overseas trip. On Monday, he posted a statement on his Facebook page (in Chinese) where he says the intention of the Oh My God video was only to promote religious harmony. He responded to people asking why he had returned to Malaysia when he could have evaded arrest by staying abroad by saying that he had done nothing wrong. \"If I've not done any wrong, why should I run and hide? [Malaysia] is my home, my land.\" Singing in Mandarin Chinese, Namewee is also hugely popular in Taiwan and China. But this is not his first brush with controversy. In one of his previous videos he questions Malaysia's national energy provider over a blackout and another video featured a parody of the national anthem, which almost landed him in jail.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1071, "answer_end": 1770, "text": "The singer makes several religious references, using terms such as \"Allah\" and \"Hallelujah\".  Namewee and three others also appear to sing and dance in front of Buddhist and Taoist temples, inside a church and outside a mosque. The latest version of the video uploaded to YouTube on 20 August, however, does not appear to include a sequence in front of a mosque. Representatives from 20 local NGOs lodged some 10 reports against the singer. \"We had lodged the report based on five characters that were used in the music video which had...uttered the word 'Allah',\" said Azdy Moh Arshad, who spoke for the coalition of NGOs. He added that Namewee's actions had caused anger among Muslims in Malaysia."}], "question": "What was in the video ?", "id": "246_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1771, "answer_end": 2598, "text": "Namewee was arrested on Sunday at Kuala Lumpur International Airport after returning from an overseas trip. On Monday, he posted a statement on his Facebook page (in Chinese) where he says the intention of the Oh My God video was only to promote religious harmony. He responded to people asking why he had returned to Malaysia when he could have evaded arrest by staying abroad by saying that he had done nothing wrong. \"If I've not done any wrong, why should I run and hide? [Malaysia] is my home, my land.\" Singing in Mandarin Chinese, Namewee is also hugely popular in Taiwan and China. But this is not his first brush with controversy. In one of his previous videos he questions Malaysia's national energy provider over a blackout and another video featured a parody of the national anthem, which almost landed him in jail."}], "question": "What has Namewee said?", "id": "246_1"}]}]}, {"title": "What is Donald Trump's family-separation endgame?", "date": "20 June 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "For months we've been heading toward this moment, a political conflagration on the border over immigrant policy. But what is Donald Trump's endgame - and why? In May the New York Times reported that Donald Trump had berated Homeland Security Secretary Kristjen Nielsen over what he viewed as her failure to aggressively enforce border security and urged her to begin the process that would result in undocumented children being taken away from their parents. \"One persistent issue has been Mr Trump's belief that Ms Nielsen and other officials in the department were resisting his direction that parents be separated from their children when families cross illegally into the United States, several officials said,\" the Times reported. \"The president and his aides in the White House had been pushing a family separation policy for weeks as a way of deterring families from trying to cross the border illegally.\" Attorney General Jeff Sessions' 7 May announcement of a \"zero tolerance\" policy for illegal crossings simply cemented the decision. Administration officials have offered conflicting explanations for the harrowing details of crying children kept in fenced-in rooms and despondent parents, but Mr Trump's dual goals appear clear: - Leverage - he wants to force Democrats in Congress to negotiate a legislative package that keeps migrant families intact in exchange for full funding for his much-touted border wall, speedier deportation of undocumented aliens and sweeping changes to legal immigration policy. - Red meat - if he fails to get a deal, he sees this as a winning mid-term election issue, motivating his base to turn out in support of Republicans across the country. Let's break those down. If a presidential decision to create a situation that is intolerable for Democrats in order to gain the upper hand in immigration negotiations seems familiar, that's because it is. Mr Trump pursued a similar strategy when he ended the Obama-era Daca programme that provided normalised status for the children of undocumented immigrants - often referred to as \"Dreamers\" - last October. Mr Trump repeatedly blamed congressional Democrats for inaction and said deportation of these long-time US residents who had only recently emerged from the legal shadows would be their fault. \"Any deal on DACA that does not include STRONG border security and the desperately needed WALL is a total waste of time,\" he tweeted in February. \"Dems seem not to care about DACA. Make a deal!\" Attempts to pass a comprehensive bill were derailed, however, as early suggestions by the president that he was open to a bipartisan compromise were replaced by more sweeping demands by members of Mr Trump's negotiating team. Eventually courts eased the pressure to reach an agreement before the Trump-imposed March deadline by ordering the administration to continue processing Dreamer applications while legal challenges were considered. Now the pressure is on again - and the president's comments and tweets are eerily similar to those of a few months ago. \"The Democrats are forcing the breakup of families at the Border with their horrible and cruel legislative agenda,\" the president tweeted. \"Any Immigration Bill MUST HAVE full funding for the Wall, end Catch & Release, Visa Lottery and Chain, and go to Merit Based Immigration.\" The family separation policy is the result of Mr Trump's decision to charge all undocumented migrants as criminals, just as the Daca repeal was initiated by presidential order. In both cases, the president wants the same thing in exchange - a full implementation of the hard-line immigration and border security policies on which he campaigned. Will this latest effort end up in a bill on the president's desk? On Tuesday evening, Mr Trump met privately with congressional Republicans. One representative in attendance said the president was not \"comfortable\" with the optics of crying children or the separation policy itself. The president told the Republicans that his daughter Ivanka, who has positioned herself as a White House adviser on family policies - had told him the issue needs to be dealt with. Mr Trump, however, reportedly did little to provide direction to the legislators. And while the House of Representatives may pass something later this week, there's still little evidence of the 60 votes (out of 100) in the Senate needed for any kind of immigration bill. That may not matter for Mr Trump, however, because of his second goal. A strange thing happened on the way to a predicted universal condemnation of Mr Trump's policy of separating children from parents who cross the US-Mexico border without documentation. It turns out Republican voters like it. According to a recent Quinnipiac poll, while 91% of Democrats and 68% of independents oppose separating asylum-seekers and others in the US illegally from their children, 55% of Republicans support it. An Ipsos poll found similar numbers, with a plurality of Republicans agreeing that the Trump policy is appropriate \"in order to discourage others from crossing the border illegally\". There's precedent for these sort of numbers as well. Back in December 2015, candidate Trump unveiled his proposed ban on the entry of all members of the Muslim faith into the US - and was roundly denounced by political commentators and top members of his own party. Recall the surprise when the policy, while more broadly unpopular, was backed by majorities of Republican primary voters. Mr Trump's views on immigration were, in fact, in line with the base of the Republican Party. It was the leadership and analysts who were out of step. \"Turns out I was 100% right,\" he told a meeting of the National Federation of Independent Business on Tuesday. \"That's how I got elected.\" Mr Trump was right about the political appeal of the Muslim ban, and he appears to be betting that he's right about this immigration policy, as well. \"Democrats can fix their forced family breakup at the Border by working with Republicans on new legislation, for a change!\" the president tweeted on Saturday. \"This is why we need more Republicans elected in November. Democrats are good at only three things, High Taxes, High Crime and Obstruction. Sad!\" Polls and results from recent special-election and off-year state-level contests in Virginia and New Jersey offer evidence that Democratic voters are politically engaged and heading to the voting booths in large numbers. As Texas Republican Senator Ted Cruz quipped in February, liberals would \"crawl over broken glass\" to vote in November. To counteract this, Mr Trump is reportedly seeking \"unexpected cultural flashpoints\" to get his base equally enthusiastic about voting - particularly in the Trump-friendly states that are 2018's Senate battlegrounds. In a recent tweet, Mr Trump promised that if Democrats fight with him on this issue in the mid-terms, they will lose. That is, of course, exactly what he wants - and exactly the reason he's not likely to back down on his immigration policies. In just over four months, the president will find out just how right - or wrong - he is.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1713, "answer_end": 4475, "text": "If a presidential decision to create a situation that is intolerable for Democrats in order to gain the upper hand in immigration negotiations seems familiar, that's because it is. Mr Trump pursued a similar strategy when he ended the Obama-era Daca programme that provided normalised status for the children of undocumented immigrants - often referred to as \"Dreamers\" - last October. Mr Trump repeatedly blamed congressional Democrats for inaction and said deportation of these long-time US residents who had only recently emerged from the legal shadows would be their fault. \"Any deal on DACA that does not include STRONG border security and the desperately needed WALL is a total waste of time,\" he tweeted in February. \"Dems seem not to care about DACA. Make a deal!\" Attempts to pass a comprehensive bill were derailed, however, as early suggestions by the president that he was open to a bipartisan compromise were replaced by more sweeping demands by members of Mr Trump's negotiating team. Eventually courts eased the pressure to reach an agreement before the Trump-imposed March deadline by ordering the administration to continue processing Dreamer applications while legal challenges were considered. Now the pressure is on again - and the president's comments and tweets are eerily similar to those of a few months ago. \"The Democrats are forcing the breakup of families at the Border with their horrible and cruel legislative agenda,\" the president tweeted. \"Any Immigration Bill MUST HAVE full funding for the Wall, end Catch & Release, Visa Lottery and Chain, and go to Merit Based Immigration.\" The family separation policy is the result of Mr Trump's decision to charge all undocumented migrants as criminals, just as the Daca repeal was initiated by presidential order. In both cases, the president wants the same thing in exchange - a full implementation of the hard-line immigration and border security policies on which he campaigned. Will this latest effort end up in a bill on the president's desk? On Tuesday evening, Mr Trump met privately with congressional Republicans. One representative in attendance said the president was not \"comfortable\" with the optics of crying children or the separation policy itself. The president told the Republicans that his daughter Ivanka, who has positioned herself as a White House adviser on family policies - had told him the issue needs to be dealt with. Mr Trump, however, reportedly did little to provide direction to the legislators. And while the House of Representatives may pass something later this week, there's still little evidence of the 60 votes (out of 100) in the Senate needed for any kind of immigration bill. That may not matter for Mr Trump, however, because of his second goal."}], "question": "1) A dark art of the deal?", "id": "247_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Bodyhackers: Bold, inspiring and terrifying", "date": "8 February 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Jesika Foxx has permanently purple eyeballs, and an elf-like ear. Her husband, Russ, has a pair of horns under his skin. Stelarc, a 72-year-old Australian, has an ear on his arm. Soon he hopes to attach a small microphone to it so people can, via the internet, listen to whatever it hears. Meow-Ludo Disco Gamma Meow-Meow - yes, that's his legal name - has the chip from his Sydney travel card implanted into his hand. I met all these people during BodyHacking Con, in Austin, Texas. Over the past three years, the event has become something of a pilgrimage for those involved in the biohacking scene - a broad spectrum of technologists, trans-humanists and performance artists. This year it also attracted the presence of the US military. And, as I'd find out before I left, it has opened its doors to reckless opportunists. The convention's organisers defined the pursuit as actively changing one's body or mind to better reflect a person's belief of what their \"ideal self\" would be. This can range from meditation or cosmetic surgery to placing radio-transmitting tags beneath the skin or taking brain-altering drugs. In theory, weightlifting, pilates and even just wearing a fitness tracker counts. But the term is more commonly associated with more unusual efforts. The bodyhacking community exists in a legal grey area. Enthusiasts attempt to work around current laws while regulators turn a blind eye - at least until they figure out how to handle the growing subculture. Everyone here has a vision of what it means to be a better, improved human. Rarely are two visions the same. \"I've been a one-handed person my whole life,\" said Angel Giuffria, an actress with a striking, personalised bionic arm. \"Older prosthetics were all made to try and blend in. I never really cared about hiding it, but that was the only option.\" Now, you can't miss it. \"It's me. I kind of like the idea my arm can match my personality by adding lights and colours and matching it to my outfit. Things like that.\" In contrast, Rich Lee, who gave the opening talk at the event, outlined his plan for men to have a small device implanted near the penis. Its purpose? To make it vibrate. The US military's Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (Darpa) has a solid track record of creating the next big thing. Self-driving cars began as a Darpa project, as did GPS and, most famously of all, the internet. Now it's looking at bodyhacking. Dr Justin Sanchez is the director of its Biological Technologies Office and he told the BBC: \"If something is on the verge of being impossible, we will start exploring that area.\" We don't know the full extent of Darpa's bodyhacking programme. But publicly at least, Dr Sanchez is focusing on restorative techniques - helping improve memory and giving people suffering from paralysis the ability to control equipment with their brainwaves. One project displayed on screen showed an elderly patient struggling to remember a list of 12 words. \"With direct brain stimulation they were able to recall those words in almost a seamless fashion,\" said Dr Sanchez. \"All 12 words in rapid succession. That was a big breakthrough for us. \"Part of coming to this meeting is sharing our knowledge on all of this with a community that's very much on the leading edge.\" One of the people I particularly wanted to meet was Dana Lewis. When I did, she was wearing a blue shirt covered in white letters, numbers and symbols - the code she used to create her device. As a type one diabetic, Ms Lewis has to administer insulin whenever her blood sugar levels demand it. To make that easier, she has made her own pancreas. \"It's a small computer with a radio,\" she explained, holding the credit card-sized device in her hand. \"[It] reads data from my insulin pump. My glucose monitor does the math for me, and actually sends a command back to the insulin pump, to automate my insulin delivery.\" Ms Lewis is perhaps the best advert for the the good side of the bodyhacking community, a person who created a device when traditional medical channels failed her. But Aaron Traywick's Ascendance Biomedical is a more controversial example. Mr Traywick claims - and there is no independent proof of this whatsoever - that his drugs can cure HIV, Aids and herpes. He says he suffers from the latter. Indeed, at the event he performed a stunt on stage whereby he injected his own product into his leg - or at least tried to. There was some confusion about what exactly had transpired. Mr Traywick skirts the law by self-medicating, and encourages others to do the same. Officially he calls his product a \"research compound\", but in conversation often slips up and refers to it as \"treatment\" - a claim that could see him in choppy waters with the US Food and Drug Administration, the notoriously strict regulator. The FDA calls companies like his \"dangerous\". But when asked by the BBC, it would not say whether it was monitoring Mr Traywick's activities. In November, Ascendance Biomedical made headlines when a 28-year-old man injected himself with its HIV \"research compound\". Mr Traywick told me he now plans to take that work to Venezuela. \"The best we can do, is we can say to these people 'we know you don't have access to this medication',\" he says. \"They don't have any other options,\" he added, as if that was acceptable rationale for using an unregulated drug that was tested on only one person. At least one prominent bodyhacker has publicly taken issue with Mr Traywick's work. \"The idea that any scientist, biohacker or not, has created a cure for a disease with no testing and no data is more ridiculous than believing jet fuel melts steel beams,\" wrote Josiah Zayner, a man who also works with so-called \"do-it-yourself\" drugs. At the end of the weekend, I was left inspired by the efforts of Darpa, knowing what they could lead to for everyone - the agency has a great record of giving away its technology. In hearing Dana's story, I was reminded that cheaper, smaller technology could continue to shake up the healthcare industry in an extremely positive way. But sadly it's Mr Traywick's \"work\" that will stick with me. Computer hackers have long held an anarchistic reputation for experimenting and breaking things - and, eventually, learning a thing or two that helps us all. Standing on stage, trouserless but wearing a suit jacket and tie, Mr Traywick looked lost - and indifferent to the consequences of what he was doing.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 826, "answer_end": 1271, "text": "The convention's organisers defined the pursuit as actively changing one's body or mind to better reflect a person's belief of what their \"ideal self\" would be. This can range from meditation or cosmetic surgery to placing radio-transmitting tags beneath the skin or taking brain-altering drugs. In theory, weightlifting, pilates and even just wearing a fitness tracker counts. But the term is more commonly associated with more unusual efforts."}], "question": "What is bodyhacking?", "id": "248_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Can we trust cloud providers to keep our data safe?", "date": "29 April 2016", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Cloud computing - storing data and applications remotely rather than on your own premises - can cut IT costs dramatically and speed up your operations. But is it safe? Despite the rise of public cloud platforms offered by the likes of Amazon Web Services, Microsoft Azure and Google Cloud, less than 10% of the world's data is currently stored in the cloud. So what's holding many companies back? Technology of Business explores the issue of cloud security. Building your own energy-hungry data centres is expensive and time-consuming, while managing hundreds of software applications chews up IT resources. If you can outsource a lot of this hardware and software to specialist tech companies that can expand or reduce the level of service according to your needs, it can save you a lot of time and money. More Cloud Computing features from Technology of Business \"Business leaders are looking to optimise and grow their businesses, and cloud can give them that - reducing costs and providing better customer experience,\" says Gavan Egan, managing director of cloud and IT solutions for global telecoms giant, Verizon. And being able to plug into a range of ready-made cloud-based services helps you develop new products at a faster pace, potentially giving you a competitive edge. \"The biggest risk is giving up control of your data to someone else using different data centres in remote places,\" says Mr Egan. \"What happens in the event of a disaster? You're also putting your data next to someone else's.\" In other words, your data could get lost, wiped, corrupted or stolen. There is also a risk that by outsourcing file and data management to a third party, firms will assume all the security has been taken care of, argues Kamran Ikram, managing director of consultancy Accenture's infrastructure and security practice. \"You can't assume that - it's still your data and you are responsible for it.\" The most obvious way is through encryption, both while the data is in transit and while it is \"at rest\" on the cloud servers, explains Ian Massingham, Amazon Web Services' (AWS) chief evangelist for Europe, Middle East and Africa. AWS, by far the biggest public cloud platform provider with more than a million active customers a month, has more than 1,800 security controls governing its services, says Mr Massingham. Customers can choose to control their own encryption keys if they wish, he says, as well as set the rules for who can and can't access the data or applications. \"Most of our security innovation comes from customer demand,\" he says, \"so the bar for security gets ratcheted up every time. \"But we're not the owners or custodians of the data - we just supply the resources,\" he says. \"We don't control how the data is protected, customers do.\" It says a lot that online retailer Amazon is happy to run its entire business on its own cloud platform. Mark Crosbie, international head of trust and security for Dropbox, the cloud file storage and collaboration company, says the way data is encrypted can also increase the level of security. \"We split each data file into chunks - a process called sharding,\" he says, \"and these chunks are then separately encrypted and stored in different places, so if someone did manage to break in and decrypt the data they'd only get access to random blocks.\" Aaron Levie, chief executive of cloud rival Box, says: \"Instead of sending the files, Box sends a link to the file - you can preview the content without actually downloading the data. Our software was designed to deliver a much more secure way of sharing content.\" Dropbox also encourages companies to use two-factor authentication - passwords supplemented by a one-time code generated by a different device, such as a smartphone or fob. \"The bad guys always target the password - people are still the weakest link,\" says Mr Crosbie. Well, that depends on the quality of your cloud provider compared to that of your own IT department. Most of the major data breaches that have taken place over the last five years, from Sony to Ashley Madison, TalkTalk to Target, have been from internal, not cloud-based, databases, says Amichai Shulman, chief technology officer of cybersecurity firm, Imperva. But he adds: \"There is always an inherent threat that administrative personnel working for a cloud provider could access your machines or data from within - that's a business risk you are taking.\" This is why the major cloud providers give customers the option to handle their own encryption keys, meaning no-one inside the provider could get access even if they wanted to. And some companies are now adopting a \"hybrid\" approach - keeping their more sensitive data in a private cloud and other data and applications in the public cloud. Good point. These are still early days - less than 10% of the world's data is estimated to be stored in the cloud. \"Financial institutions have been reluctant to go to the cloud because there may be holes in the model - they're risk averse,\" says Accenture's Kamran Ikram. But even this understandably cautious sector is gradually beginning to trust it. Late last year, US bank Capital One said it was reducing the number of its own data centres from eight to three by 2018 and moving a lot of its processes and product development to AWS. And Towergate Insurance recently announced that it was migrating its IT infrastructure to the public cloud as well. The major public cloud providers offer a number of data centres - AWS covers 12 regions globally - storing multiple copies of customer data. So if one centre is destroyed in an earthquake or other natural disaster, your data is still safe. But concerns around data privacy, particularly in Europe following the rescinding of the Safe Harbour data sharing agreement and the Edward Snowden leaks, mean providers are increasingly offering the option to host data in customers' own regions. US file storage and collaboration firm Box, for example, recently announced it would be expanding its data storage locations to Germany, Ireland, Singapore and Tokyo, by piggybacking on existing cloud infrastructures provided by IBM and AWS. Having this choice is particularly important for heavily-regulated sectors, such as financial services and healthcare. That largely depends on what you want it to do. Certain cloud providers specialise in specific functions: Salesforce for sales and customer data; Workday for finance and human resources; Box for file sharing, for example. But first and foremost, a cloud provider must understand your business, says Verizon's Mr Egan. \"Do they understand the regulatory requirements governing payment card or health data, for example,\" he asks. \"And can they prove that they can do what they say they can do?\" Imperva's Amichai Shulman says prospective customers should also ask to see up-to-date certificates from international security standards organisations. But reputation is as good a guide as any. Follow @matthew_wall on Twitter", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 458, "answer_end": 806, "text": "Building your own energy-hungry data centres is expensive and time-consuming, while managing hundreds of software applications chews up IT resources. If you can outsource a lot of this hardware and software to specialist tech companies that can expand or reduce the level of service according to your needs, it can save you a lot of time and money."}], "question": "What's so good about the cloud anyway?", "id": "249_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1283, "answer_end": 1905, "text": "\"The biggest risk is giving up control of your data to someone else using different data centres in remote places,\" says Mr Egan. \"What happens in the event of a disaster? You're also putting your data next to someone else's.\" In other words, your data could get lost, wiped, corrupted or stolen. There is also a risk that by outsourcing file and data management to a third party, firms will assume all the security has been taken care of, argues Kamran Ikram, managing director of consultancy Accenture's infrastructure and security practice. \"You can't assume that - it's still your data and you are responsible for it.\""}], "question": "What are the risks?", "id": "249_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1906, "answer_end": 2870, "text": "The most obvious way is through encryption, both while the data is in transit and while it is \"at rest\" on the cloud servers, explains Ian Massingham, Amazon Web Services' (AWS) chief evangelist for Europe, Middle East and Africa. AWS, by far the biggest public cloud platform provider with more than a million active customers a month, has more than 1,800 security controls governing its services, says Mr Massingham. Customers can choose to control their own encryption keys if they wish, he says, as well as set the rules for who can and can't access the data or applications. \"Most of our security innovation comes from customer demand,\" he says, \"so the bar for security gets ratcheted up every time. \"But we're not the owners or custodians of the data - we just supply the resources,\" he says. \"We don't control how the data is protected, customers do.\" It says a lot that online retailer Amazon is happy to run its entire business on its own cloud platform."}], "question": "So how do cloud providers keep our data safe?", "id": "249_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2871, "answer_end": 3850, "text": "Mark Crosbie, international head of trust and security for Dropbox, the cloud file storage and collaboration company, says the way data is encrypted can also increase the level of security. \"We split each data file into chunks - a process called sharding,\" he says, \"and these chunks are then separately encrypted and stored in different places, so if someone did manage to break in and decrypt the data they'd only get access to random blocks.\" Aaron Levie, chief executive of cloud rival Box, says: \"Instead of sending the files, Box sends a link to the file - you can preview the content without actually downloading the data. Our software was designed to deliver a much more secure way of sharing content.\" Dropbox also encourages companies to use two-factor authentication - passwords supplemented by a one-time code generated by a different device, such as a smartphone or fob. \"The bad guys always target the password - people are still the weakest link,\" says Mr Crosbie."}], "question": "What other security methods do they use?", "id": "249_3"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3851, "answer_end": 4750, "text": "Well, that depends on the quality of your cloud provider compared to that of your own IT department. Most of the major data breaches that have taken place over the last five years, from Sony to Ashley Madison, TalkTalk to Target, have been from internal, not cloud-based, databases, says Amichai Shulman, chief technology officer of cybersecurity firm, Imperva. But he adds: \"There is always an inherent threat that administrative personnel working for a cloud provider could access your machines or data from within - that's a business risk you are taking.\" This is why the major cloud providers give customers the option to handle their own encryption keys, meaning no-one inside the provider could get access even if they wanted to. And some companies are now adopting a \"hybrid\" approach - keeping their more sensitive data in a private cloud and other data and applications in the public cloud."}], "question": "So is data actually safer in the cloud?", "id": "249_4"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 6255, "answer_end": 6942, "text": "That largely depends on what you want it to do. Certain cloud providers specialise in specific functions: Salesforce for sales and customer data; Workday for finance and human resources; Box for file sharing, for example. But first and foremost, a cloud provider must understand your business, says Verizon's Mr Egan. \"Do they understand the regulatory requirements governing payment card or health data, for example,\" he asks. \"And can they prove that they can do what they say they can do?\" Imperva's Amichai Shulman says prospective customers should also ask to see up-to-date certificates from international security standards organisations. But reputation is as good a guide as any."}], "question": "How do you choose a good cloud provider?", "id": "249_5"}]}]}, {"title": "Bangladesh Hindu priest murdered by militants", "date": "7 June 2016", "paragraphs": [{"context": "A Hindu priest has been killed in Bangladesh, in the latest attack by Islamist militants. The body of Ananda Gopal Ganguly, 70, was found in a field near his temple in western Jhenaidah district. His head had been nearly severed from his neck. Separately, police have killed three suspected Islamists in a crackdown on extremists blamed for the murders. Critics say the government is in denial about the killings, most of which have been blamed on or claimed by Islamists. Two alleged members of the banned Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) were shot dead in Dhaka when police raided a home in the city - police said unidentified gunmen opened fire on them. A third - said to have been linked to a recent bombing of an Ahmadiya mosque - was killed in western Rashahi district. Who is behind the Bangladesh killings? Is extremism on the rise in Bangladesh? Lurching from secularism to sectarian terror? Ananda Gopal Ganguly is the third person to be killed in such an attack in the past two days. \"He left home this morning saying that he was going to a Hindu house to offer prayers,\" deputy police chief Gopinath Kanjilal told AFP news agency. \"Later, farmers found his near-decapitated body in a rice field.\" The Middle East-based Islamic State militant group says it carried out the killing, but a government spokesman told the BBC that all the recent attacks were the work of domestic extremists. On Sunday the wife of a senior police officer investigating the attacks and a Christian businessman were killed. Police say more than 40 people have been killed since January last year in the wave of attacks on those seen by extremists as offensive to Islam. The government insists that Islamic State does not have a presence in Bangladesh and has tended to blame the opposition and local militant groups. Critics have accused the government of failing to properly address the violence in Bangladesh. The grim list of those who have fallen victim to attacks by Islamist militants in Bangladesh is growing ever more diverse. Secular bloggers, academics, gay rights activists, and members of religious minorities including Shia, Sufi and Ahmadi Muslims, Christians and Hindus have all been killed, many of them hacked to death. A university professor whose family said he was not an atheist was murdered in April, suggesting the list of those at risk had widened further. Who exactly is behind the attacks remains murky. Bangladesh has myriad extremist groups and there have been few convictions over the attacks. Bangladesh has disputed claims by so-called Islamic State (IS) or al-Qaeda-linked groups for the attacks, instead often blaming opposition parties or local Islamist groups. But until the killings stop the government itself will face accusations of not doing enough to protect minorities in the Sunni-dominated nation.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1905, "answer_end": 2833, "text": "The grim list of those who have fallen victim to attacks by Islamist militants in Bangladesh is growing ever more diverse. Secular bloggers, academics, gay rights activists, and members of religious minorities including Shia, Sufi and Ahmadi Muslims, Christians and Hindus have all been killed, many of them hacked to death. A university professor whose family said he was not an atheist was murdered in April, suggesting the list of those at risk had widened further. Who exactly is behind the attacks remains murky. Bangladesh has myriad extremist groups and there have been few convictions over the attacks. Bangladesh has disputed claims by so-called Islamic State (IS) or al-Qaeda-linked groups for the attacks, instead often blaming opposition parties or local Islamist groups. But until the killings stop the government itself will face accusations of not doing enough to protect minorities in the Sunni-dominated nation."}], "question": "Who is being targeted?", "id": "250_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Jair Bolsonaro, Brazil's presidential front-runner, stabbed at rally", "date": "7 September 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "The front-runner in Brazil's presidential election, Jair Bolsonaro, has been stabbed at a campaign rally. The far-right politician was attacked in a crowd in the south-east state of Minas Gerais. A suspect was arrested. Mr Bolsonaro had surgery for injuries to his intestines and is expected to recover, hospital officials said. The controversial politician, who has outraged many in Brazil with racist and homophobic comments, has performed strongly in recent opinion polls. The polls suggest he will get the most votes in the first round of the October presidential elections if former President Luis Inacio Lula da Silva remains blocked from standing, but he is unlikely to win a run-off. Left-wing Lula had been the long-standing favourite but he is currently in prison, appealing against a ban on his candidacy that was imposed after his conviction for corruption. Some of Mr Bolsonaro's past comments have caused uproar, including equating homosexuality with paedophilia, and saying a congresswoman was too ugly to be raped. Katy Watson, BBC South America correspondent, Sao Paulo This is another twist - a dramatic one - in what has already been a turbulent campaign for one of Brazil's most uncertain elections in decades. The front-runner Lula is unlikely to be able to run because he's locked up in prison. Jair Bolsonaro is expected to win the first round in his absence, but he is in a hospital bed. It is a surreal situation. One of Jair Bolsonaro's key campaign messages is that he will try to turn around the growth in violent crime. The fact that he is now a victim himself plays into the hands of his supporters, who see this as a very important problem for Brazil to tackle. Everyone - including his detractors - has rallied around him to condemn the attack. As it has happened so close to the October election, he won't be on the campaign trail for the next week or so. Nevertheless, his supporters will be strengthened, seeing that his concerns are their concerns. Footage of the incident in the city of Juiz de Fora shows Mr Bolsonaro making a thumbs-up gesture and being held aloft by supporters when he is stabbed with what appears to be a knife. He then doubles over with pain and his supporters quickly lower him to the ground and bundle him into a car. After the attack, his son Flavio tweeted: \"Unfortunately it was more serious than we had expected. He lost a lot of blood, arrived at the hospital with a [blood] pressure of 10/3, almost dead. His condition now seems stabilised. Pray, please!\" Hospital officials later said Mr Bolsonaro had suffered a \"deep\" and life-threatening stab wound in his intestines and was in a \"serious but stable\" condition. He was recuperating well in intensive care after two hours of surgery, they added, but would spend at least a week to 10 days in hospital. He has since been filmed in his hospital bed, making a hoarse statement. He described how what he thought was \"just a blow\" turned into an unbearable pain. He had \"never hurt anyone\", he said. Police said a suspect had been arrested, naming him as Adelio Obispo de Oliveira, 40. Officials quoted by Reuters news agency said he appeared to be mentally disturbed. He was manhandled and beaten by angry supporters of Mr Bolsonaro before being taken into custody. Mr Bolsonaro's electoral rivals have all condemned the stabbing. Fernando Haddad, who is expected to replace Lula on the Workers' Party ticket, said the attack was \"absurd and regrettable\". Speaking in the capital Brasilia, President Michel Temer said such an attack was \"intolerable\" in a democratic state and that he hoped Mr Bolsonaro recovered soon. The president's predecessor, Dilma Rousseff, warned that the attack must not go unpunished. Brazilian stocks rose after the attack on Mr Bolsonaro, as it was seen as increasing his chances. His free-market economics make him popular with investors. The 63-year-old, who is representing the Social Liberal Party (PSL), is followed by millions of Brazilians on social media, and many refer to him as the \"Brazilian Trump\". Brazil's unlikely young conservatives He also supports loosening gun control laws, and is backed by millions of evangelical Christians for his uncompromising anti-abortion stance. A former army captain, Mr Bolsonaro entered politics in the 1980s to defend the rights of military personnel. Few imagined at that time that he could become a serious contender. But the collapse of the Workers' Party government and the impeachment of President Rousseff two years ago revealed the extent of political divisions. Mr Bolsonaro's outspoken rhetoric and his defence of law and order appealed to many who blamed the left for corruption and the economic crisis. In 2011, he told Playboy magazine that he would be \"incapable of loving a gay son\" and that he would rather see such a son of his \"die in an accident\". In 2015, he was fined for saying in a newspaper interview that Congresswoman Maria do Rosario was \"not worth raping; she is very ugly\". He is currently being investigated for alleged racism over derogatory remarks he made about Afro-Brazilians. President Temer, an unpopular leader, is not standing for re-election, and millions of voters remain undecided. Mr Bolsonaro is expected to have a strong first round but lose a run-off to leftist Ciro Gomes, environmentalist Marina Silva or ex-Governor of Sao Paulo Geraldo Alckmin, according to leading research company Ibope. A race against Lula's likely replacement, Fernando Haddad, could be much narrower. Ibope said its most recent survey showed Mr Bolsonaro losing to him by just one percentage point. Mr Haddad was charged with corruption earlier this week and, like Lula, denies any wrongdoing. On Thursday, the Supreme Court rejected Lula's latest appeal to run. The Workers' Party has until the end of Tuesday to register Mr Haddad as its presidential candidate.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1985, "answer_end": 3281, "text": "Footage of the incident in the city of Juiz de Fora shows Mr Bolsonaro making a thumbs-up gesture and being held aloft by supporters when he is stabbed with what appears to be a knife. He then doubles over with pain and his supporters quickly lower him to the ground and bundle him into a car. After the attack, his son Flavio tweeted: \"Unfortunately it was more serious than we had expected. He lost a lot of blood, arrived at the hospital with a [blood] pressure of 10/3, almost dead. His condition now seems stabilised. Pray, please!\" Hospital officials later said Mr Bolsonaro had suffered a \"deep\" and life-threatening stab wound in his intestines and was in a \"serious but stable\" condition. He was recuperating well in intensive care after two hours of surgery, they added, but would spend at least a week to 10 days in hospital. He has since been filmed in his hospital bed, making a hoarse statement. He described how what he thought was \"just a blow\" turned into an unbearable pain. He had \"never hurt anyone\", he said. Police said a suspect had been arrested, naming him as Adelio Obispo de Oliveira, 40. Officials quoted by Reuters news agency said he appeared to be mentally disturbed. He was manhandled and beaten by angry supporters of Mr Bolsonaro before being taken into custody."}], "question": "How did the attack unfold?", "id": "251_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3282, "answer_end": 3884, "text": "Mr Bolsonaro's electoral rivals have all condemned the stabbing. Fernando Haddad, who is expected to replace Lula on the Workers' Party ticket, said the attack was \"absurd and regrettable\". Speaking in the capital Brasilia, President Michel Temer said such an attack was \"intolerable\" in a democratic state and that he hoped Mr Bolsonaro recovered soon. The president's predecessor, Dilma Rousseff, warned that the attack must not go unpunished. Brazilian stocks rose after the attack on Mr Bolsonaro, as it was seen as increasing his chances. His free-market economics make him popular with investors."}], "question": "What has been the reaction?", "id": "251_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3885, "answer_end": 5105, "text": "The 63-year-old, who is representing the Social Liberal Party (PSL), is followed by millions of Brazilians on social media, and many refer to him as the \"Brazilian Trump\". Brazil's unlikely young conservatives He also supports loosening gun control laws, and is backed by millions of evangelical Christians for his uncompromising anti-abortion stance. A former army captain, Mr Bolsonaro entered politics in the 1980s to defend the rights of military personnel. Few imagined at that time that he could become a serious contender. But the collapse of the Workers' Party government and the impeachment of President Rousseff two years ago revealed the extent of political divisions. Mr Bolsonaro's outspoken rhetoric and his defence of law and order appealed to many who blamed the left for corruption and the economic crisis. In 2011, he told Playboy magazine that he would be \"incapable of loving a gay son\" and that he would rather see such a son of his \"die in an accident\". In 2015, he was fined for saying in a newspaper interview that Congresswoman Maria do Rosario was \"not worth raping; she is very ugly\". He is currently being investigated for alleged racism over derogatory remarks he made about Afro-Brazilians."}], "question": "Why is Mr Bolsonaro so polarising?", "id": "251_2"}]}]}, {"title": "Brazil's Lula must start prison term, Supreme Court rules", "date": "5 April 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Brazil's ex-President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva will be jailed while he appeals against a graft conviction, the Supreme Court has ruled. He is facing 12 years in jail on charges of accepting a bribe but had asked to remain free during his appeal. Lula claims the charges are politically motivated, and designed to prevent him from running for president in October. He has a lead in opinion polls. His Workers' Party said the ruling was a \"tragic day for democracy and Brazil\". The Supreme Court judges ruled against him by six to five after a marathon session, which ended in the early hours of Thursday. Lula watched the ruling at the Metalworker's Union, where his supporters held an upbeat concert. The 72-year-old former president is likely to remain free until paperwork for his arrest is completed. Lula served as president between 2003 and 2011. Despite his lead in the polls, he remains a divisive figure. Up to 20,000 people protested in Sao Paulo on Tuesday calling for his immediate imprisonment, while supporters also rallied in large numbers in a rival demonstration. While Brazilians are used to frequent delays and rambling verdicts in their courts, this 10-hour deliberation felt particularly long in this highly charged atmosphere. Lula's legal battles have divided Brazilians and this decision was no different. His critics launched fireworks in celebration. Lula's supporters went home angry about what they say is an affront to democracy and a coup. Lula's critics though see this as a victory. He's a politician who's been proven to be corrupt at the highest level, they say, and deserves to be behind bars - within days that could become a reality, crushing his hopes of returning to power. This has been a massive fall from grace for a man who was once one of the world's most loved politicians. It was a historic day for Brazilian politics too. Until recently, defendants in Brazil were allowed to remain free until their final appeal had been exhausted. However, the Supreme Court was considering a 2016 ruling from a lower court, under which defendants could be sent to jail after a failed first appeal. Lula lost his first appeal in January, when the appeals court not only upheld his conviction, but increased the sentence from nine and a half years to 12. The charges came from an anti-corruption investigation known as Operation Car Wash, which has implicated top politicians from several parties. A former metalworker and trade union activist, he was the first left-wing leader to make it to the presidency in Brazil in nearly half a century. During his presidency, Brazil experienced its longest period of economic growth in three decades allowing his administration to spend lavishly on social programmes. Tens of millions were lifted out of poverty thanks to the initiatives taken by his government and he left office after two consecutive terms (the maximum allowed in Brazil) with record popularity ratings. In 2014, after Lula left office, prosecutors started investigating allegations that executives at the state oil company Petrobras had accepted bribes in return for awarding contracts to construction firms. The investigation, dubbed Operation Car Wash, uncovered a huge web of corruption involving top-level politicians from a broad spectrum of parties taking kickbacks. Lula himself was convicted of receiving a renovated beachfront apartment worth some 3.7 million reais ($1.1m, PS790,000), as a bribe by engineering firm OAS. The defence says Lula's ownership of the apartment has never been proven and that his conviction rests largely on the word of the former chairman of OAS, himself convicted of corruption. Lula has described the battle against his conviction and prison term as a continuation of his fight against Brazil's military rule, which came to an end in 1985. \"I did not accept the military dictatorship and I will not accept this dictatorship of the prosecutors,\" he told a gathering of supporters on Monday. The judge in charge of Operation Car Wash, Sergio Moro, is expected to issue a warrant for Lula's arrest within days. But this does not necessarily mean that Lula will go to jail for 12 years. He has not exhausted his appeals yet. There are two higher courts which he can still turn to, the Superior Court and the Supreme Court - the latter has only ruled for far on whether he should go to jail pending further appeals, rather than on the underlying case. Neither of those courts would re-examine whether Lula was guilty of corruption. They would look into whether legal procedures were followed correctly and whether his constitutional rights were breached. This process could take months or even years. If either court were to rule in Lula's favour, his conviction could be annulled and he would be released. Under a 2010 Brazilian law called \"clean slate law\", no one convicted of a crime upheld on appeal can run for elected office for at least eight years. That law would rule Lula out from running for the presidency in October. However, exceptions have been made to the law before. The decision as to whether Lula can stand for president will rest with the Superior Electoral Court (TSE). The TSE will not make a decision on whether Lula can run or not until he has registered as a candidate and he has until 15 August to do so. So we may not know for months to come whether he will be able to stand.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1869, "answer_end": 2427, "text": "Until recently, defendants in Brazil were allowed to remain free until their final appeal had been exhausted. However, the Supreme Court was considering a 2016 ruling from a lower court, under which defendants could be sent to jail after a failed first appeal. Lula lost his first appeal in January, when the appeals court not only upheld his conviction, but increased the sentence from nine and a half years to 12. The charges came from an anti-corruption investigation known as Operation Car Wash, which has implicated top politicians from several parties."}], "question": "What was the ruling about?", "id": "252_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2428, "answer_end": 2943, "text": "A former metalworker and trade union activist, he was the first left-wing leader to make it to the presidency in Brazil in nearly half a century. During his presidency, Brazil experienced its longest period of economic growth in three decades allowing his administration to spend lavishly on social programmes. Tens of millions were lifted out of poverty thanks to the initiatives taken by his government and he left office after two consecutive terms (the maximum allowed in Brazil) with record popularity ratings."}], "question": "Who is Lula?", "id": "252_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2944, "answer_end": 3658, "text": "In 2014, after Lula left office, prosecutors started investigating allegations that executives at the state oil company Petrobras had accepted bribes in return for awarding contracts to construction firms. The investigation, dubbed Operation Car Wash, uncovered a huge web of corruption involving top-level politicians from a broad spectrum of parties taking kickbacks. Lula himself was convicted of receiving a renovated beachfront apartment worth some 3.7 million reais ($1.1m, PS790,000), as a bribe by engineering firm OAS. The defence says Lula's ownership of the apartment has never been proven and that his conviction rests largely on the word of the former chairman of OAS, himself convicted of corruption."}], "question": "What is Operation Car Wash?", "id": "252_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3659, "answer_end": 3970, "text": "Lula has described the battle against his conviction and prison term as a continuation of his fight against Brazil's military rule, which came to an end in 1985. \"I did not accept the military dictatorship and I will not accept this dictatorship of the prosecutors,\" he told a gathering of supporters on Monday."}], "question": "What does Lula say?", "id": "252_3"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3971, "answer_end": 4782, "text": "The judge in charge of Operation Car Wash, Sergio Moro, is expected to issue a warrant for Lula's arrest within days. But this does not necessarily mean that Lula will go to jail for 12 years. He has not exhausted his appeals yet. There are two higher courts which he can still turn to, the Superior Court and the Supreme Court - the latter has only ruled for far on whether he should go to jail pending further appeals, rather than on the underlying case. Neither of those courts would re-examine whether Lula was guilty of corruption. They would look into whether legal procedures were followed correctly and whether his constitutional rights were breached. This process could take months or even years. If either court were to rule in Lula's favour, his conviction could be annulled and he would be released."}], "question": "What happens next?", "id": "252_4"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 4783, "answer_end": 5379, "text": "Under a 2010 Brazilian law called \"clean slate law\", no one convicted of a crime upheld on appeal can run for elected office for at least eight years. That law would rule Lula out from running for the presidency in October. However, exceptions have been made to the law before. The decision as to whether Lula can stand for president will rest with the Superior Electoral Court (TSE). The TSE will not make a decision on whether Lula can run or not until he has registered as a candidate and he has until 15 August to do so. So we may not know for months to come whether he will be able to stand."}], "question": "What about the election?", "id": "252_5"}]}]}, {"title": "Irish language bursary funding 'found' says Paul Givan", "date": "12 January 2017", "paragraphs": [{"context": "An Irish language bursary scheme could have its funding restored just days after Sinn Fein said the cut played a role in Stormont's political crisis. Martin McGuinness said the PS50,000 cut was part of the reason for his resignation as deputy first minister. Communities Minister Paul Givan tweeted that he had \"identified the necessary funding to advance\" the Liofa Gaeltacht Bursary Scheme. He also said the original decision to remove the funding was not \"political\". However, speaking to the BBC's Evening Extra programme about restoring the funding, Mr Givan said: \"I was not prepared to allow Sinn Fein to use that PS50,000 as a political weapon against us in the upcoming election as tool to rally their troops, and so I've taken that away from them.\" Irish language group Pobal welcomed the move to restore the funding but said that said that there should be \"no return to government without an Irish Language Act\". A protest was held in Belfast city centre on Thursday. A spokesperson for, An Dream Dearg, one of the groups involved, said: \"The Irish-language community are no longer willing to accept being treated as second class citizens. \"Eighteen years after the Good Friday Agreement, and more than ten years since the commitment to an Irish language act in the internationally-binding St Andrew's Agreement of 2006, the Irish-language community are Dearg Le Fearg (red with anger) at the repeated failure of authorities to protect and promote our rights.\" Mr McGuinness resigned on Monday in protest at the DUP's botched handling of the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) scheme, which could cost taxpayers PS490m. However, he and Sinn Fein have also cited other concerns with the DUP, including Mr Givan's decision to cut Liofa bursaries. The scheme enabled at least 100 people a year to attend summer Irish language classes in the Donegal gaeltacht. The programme was set up by former culture minister, Caral Ni Chuilin. Mr Givan had been heavily criticised by Sinn Fein over his decision to cut the funding. Party leader Gerry Adams said that Mr Givan was an \"ignoramus\" and that the DUP had \"shown a serious disrespect for the Irish language\". Politicians have been quick to express their thoughts on Paul Givan's U-turn on the scheme's funding: A new Northern Ireland Assembly election is highly likely following Mr McGuinness' decision to quit. The original decision to cut Liofa bursaries was announced by Mr Givan's Department for Communities (DfC) in an email sent to the boards of the gaeltacht colleges on 23 December. It read, In Irish: \"Because of efficiency savings, the department will not be providing the Liofa bursary scheme in 2017. Happy Christmas and Happy New Year.\" At the time, the president of Comhaltas Uladh, the Ulster branch of Irish language organisation Conradh na Gaeilge, described the move as a \"blatant act of discrimination\". \"Comhaltas Uladh of Conradh na Gaeilge, considers this to be quite simply a deliberate and cynical attack on the Irish language, without any justification nor reason,\" said Dr Niall Comer.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 2160, "answer_end": 2261, "text": "Politicians have been quick to express their thoughts on Paul Givan's U-turn on the scheme's funding:"}], "question": "Common sense or humiliating climbdown?", "id": "253_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Obamacare: Texas court rules key health law is unconstitutional", "date": "15 December 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "A federal judge in the US state of Texas has ruled that a key part of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), better known as Obamacare, is unconstitutional. Twenty states argued the whole law was invalidated by a change in tax rules last year which eliminated a penalty for not having health insurance. President Donald Trump said the ruling was great news for America. The law's provisions will, however, remain in place until an appeal is heard at the US Supreme Court. President Trump promised to dismantle Barack Obama's landmark 2010 healthcare law, which was designed to make medical cover affordable for the many Americans who had been priced out of the market. But despite his Republican Party having majorities in both the House of Representatives and the Senate, the ACA is still operating. However, in 2017 Congress did repeal the requirement - the so-called individual mandate - that people buy health insurance or pay a tax penalty. Mr Trump took to Twitter following the judge's ruling in Texas. He also urged incoming Democratic Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer and Democratic Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi to \"pass a STRONG law that provides GREAT healthcare\". The ruling came a day before the deadline for Obamacare enrolment for the coming year. Two Republicans - Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and his Wisconsin counterpart Brad Schimel led the legal challenge. Sitting in Fort Worth, US District Judge Reed O'Connor noted that a $1.5tn tax bill passed by Congress in 2017 eliminated the tax penalties which anyone who failed to obtain health insurance had to pay. He ruled that the individual mandate was now unconstitutional. As the individual mandate was an \"essential\" element of the ACA, the whole of Obamacare was therefore unconstitutional, Judge O'Connor said. He said his ruling was concerned with the intentions of the 2010 and 2017 Congresses. \"The former enacted the ACA. The latter sawed off the last leg it stood on.\" Ms Pelosi described the ruling as \"cruel\" and \"absurd\" and said it would be repealed. She said it exposed \"the monstrous endgame of Republicans' all-out assault on people with pre-existing conditions and Americans' access to affordable health care\". Mr Schumer, meanwhile, said the ruling appeared \"to be based on faulty legal reasoning and hopefully it will be overturned\". He said that if it was upheld in the higher courts \"it will be a disaster for tens of millions of American families, especially for people with pre-existing conditions\". The decision is almost certain to be challenged in the US Supreme Court. White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said that the law would remain in place for the time being, pending further legal developments. Meanwhile, the White House called on Congress to replace Obamacare with an affordable healthcare system which protects people with pre-existing conditions. But other states have argued that eliminating Obamacare would harm millions of Americans, and pending any appeal the landmark health care law remains in place. US Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said: \"If this awful ruling is upheld in the higher courts, it will be a disaster for tens of millions of American families.\"", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1264, "answer_end": 1953, "text": "Two Republicans - Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and his Wisconsin counterpart Brad Schimel led the legal challenge. Sitting in Fort Worth, US District Judge Reed O'Connor noted that a $1.5tn tax bill passed by Congress in 2017 eliminated the tax penalties which anyone who failed to obtain health insurance had to pay. He ruled that the individual mandate was now unconstitutional. As the individual mandate was an \"essential\" element of the ACA, the whole of Obamacare was therefore unconstitutional, Judge O'Connor said. He said his ruling was concerned with the intentions of the 2010 and 2017 Congresses. \"The former enacted the ACA. The latter sawed off the last leg it stood on.\""}], "question": "What does the ruling say?", "id": "254_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1954, "answer_end": 2498, "text": "Ms Pelosi described the ruling as \"cruel\" and \"absurd\" and said it would be repealed. She said it exposed \"the monstrous endgame of Republicans' all-out assault on people with pre-existing conditions and Americans' access to affordable health care\". Mr Schumer, meanwhile, said the ruling appeared \"to be based on faulty legal reasoning and hopefully it will be overturned\". He said that if it was upheld in the higher courts \"it will be a disaster for tens of millions of American families, especially for people with pre-existing conditions\"."}], "question": "What reaction has there been?", "id": "254_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2499, "answer_end": 3189, "text": "The decision is almost certain to be challenged in the US Supreme Court. White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said that the law would remain in place for the time being, pending further legal developments. Meanwhile, the White House called on Congress to replace Obamacare with an affordable healthcare system which protects people with pre-existing conditions. But other states have argued that eliminating Obamacare would harm millions of Americans, and pending any appeal the landmark health care law remains in place. US Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said: \"If this awful ruling is upheld in the higher courts, it will be a disaster for tens of millions of American families.\""}], "question": "What comes next?", "id": "254_2"}]}]}, {"title": "World Cup 2018: Does form matter for teams competing in Russia?", "date": "9 June 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "England fans know the drill all too well - the national team heads into a major international football tournament having qualified with a near-perfect record. Hopes are high, but then... well, you know what happens - lacklustre performances or penalty shoot-out heartbreak, followed by an early flight home. So what really determines the success or failure of a team going into a major international football tournament like the World Cup? Is it a side's quality (class) or its recent performances (form)? Reality Check has teamed up with the BBC's statistics department to try to answer one of the biggest debates in football - how much does form matter? To do this, we built a computer program that predicts football results by analysing ratings data. The program crunches data from Elo ratings, a points-based ranking system for international football teams, which takes into account the importance of a game and the strength of the opposition. Unlike Fifa's equivalent, Elo ratings also factor in the size of a win and whether a team is at home. The computer analysis compares the respective class and form of two teams to calculate how many goals each side is likely to score when they meet. It would then predict which team would win, or if the match would be a draw. You might also like: In the program, class was defined as a team's Elo rating before the match. This rating is cumulative and has been built up over decades of international play. A nation's form was the points change in a team's Elo rating over the previous two years - this is a common interval between international football tournaments. Because of the infrequency of international matches, a large timeframe was needed to build up a picture of form. The program also contains data from thousands of international tournament and qualifying matches since 1960, including the number of goals scored by each team, as well as their class and form (as defined by Elo ratings). It used this data to replay hundreds of real-life World Cup finals matches between 1962 and 2014. These predictions were then compared to the actual results. When the program based its predictions on class, it correctly predicted 76% of wins and losses. In comparison, the accuracy dropped to 52% when its predictions were based on form. Although the program didn't get it right 100% of the time for either type of prediction, these results still suggest that a team's class is a much better predictor of its World Cup performance than form. Whilst crunching the numbers, it also emerged that the program had another use: running \"what if\" scenarios. Many fans will have wondered what might have happened if a penalty shootout had gone the other way, and how that would have affected the wider tournament outcome. So we selected a few stand-out matches from early knockout rounds of recent World Cups, and asked the program to predict what could have happened afterwards... Argentina 2-2 England aet (Argentina win 4-3 on penalties) (last 16, 1998) If they had made it past Argentina, England would have faced the Netherlands in the quarter-finals, but the program predicted they would have lost to Dennis Bergkamp and co. Spain 1-1 Republic of Ireland aet (Spain win 3-2 on penalties) (last 16, 2002) If Mick McCarthy's Irish team had emerged victorious against Spain, the program predicted they would have beaten tournament co-hosts South Korea in the quarter-finals, before losing to Germany in the semis. England 0-0 Portugal aet (Portugal win 3-1 on penalties) (quarter-finals, 2006) If England's golden generation had seen off Portugal, the program predicted they could have made it all the way to the final - having dispatched France in the semis - to face Italy, before falling agonisingly short. Uruguay 1-1 Ghana aet (Uruguay win 4-2 on penalties) (quarter-finals, 2010) A win over a Luis Suarez-inspired Uruguay would have led Ghana to a semi-final defeat by the Netherlands, the program predicted. Netherlands 0-0 Costa Rica aet (Netherlands win 4-3 on penalties) (quarter-finals, 2014) Despite topping a tough group in the opening round, the program predicted that Costa Rica's fairytale journey would have been ended by Argentina in the semi-finals.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 754, "answer_end": 2106, "text": "The program crunches data from Elo ratings, a points-based ranking system for international football teams, which takes into account the importance of a game and the strength of the opposition. Unlike Fifa's equivalent, Elo ratings also factor in the size of a win and whether a team is at home. The computer analysis compares the respective class and form of two teams to calculate how many goals each side is likely to score when they meet. It would then predict which team would win, or if the match would be a draw. You might also like: In the program, class was defined as a team's Elo rating before the match. This rating is cumulative and has been built up over decades of international play. A nation's form was the points change in a team's Elo rating over the previous two years - this is a common interval between international football tournaments. Because of the infrequency of international matches, a large timeframe was needed to build up a picture of form. The program also contains data from thousands of international tournament and qualifying matches since 1960, including the number of goals scored by each team, as well as their class and form (as defined by Elo ratings). It used this data to replay hundreds of real-life World Cup finals matches between 1962 and 2014. These predictions were then compared to the actual results."}], "question": "How does the program work?", "id": "255_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2107, "answer_end": 2490, "text": "When the program based its predictions on class, it correctly predicted 76% of wins and losses. In comparison, the accuracy dropped to 52% when its predictions were based on form. Although the program didn't get it right 100% of the time for either type of prediction, these results still suggest that a team's class is a much better predictor of its World Cup performance than form."}], "question": "What was the final score?", "id": "255_1"}]}]}, {"title": "India's 'surgical strikes' in Kashmir: Truth or illusion?", "date": "23 October 2016", "paragraphs": [{"context": "India made headlines in late September after carrying out \"surgical strikes\" on militants across the de-facto border in disputed Kashmir. Days earlier insurgents had attacked an army base in Indian-administered Kashmir, killing 18 soldiers. Tensions spiked as India blamed Pakistan. Supporters of the Indian government said the army's strikes had taught Pakistan a long-awaited lesson - but Islamabad dismissed the reports as an \"illusion\". The BBC's M Ilyas Khan visited the border area to find out what actually happened. India 'launches strikes against militants' Kashmir attack: What's behind the deadliest militant raid in years? Despite the use of the term \"surgical strikes\", the Indians definitely did not airdrop commandos to hit \"launching pads of militants\" inside Pakistani-held territory, or conduct ground assaults deep into the Pakistan-administered side. But they did cross the Line of Control (LoC), in some cases by more than a kilometre, to hit nearby Pakistani border posts. Police officials on the Pakistani side privately concede that such a ground assault did occur in the Madarpur-Titrinot region of Poonch sector, west of Srinagar, where a Pakistani post was destroyed and one soldier killed. In Leepa valley to the north, locals said that the Indians crossed the LoC and set up their guns on ridges directly overlooking the village of Mundakali. A Pakistani border post located at some distance east of the village was hit. Two other posts higher up in the mountains were also hit. At least four Pakistani soldiers were injured in the attack, which lasted from 05:00am until 8:00am, locals said. A similar advance by the Indians in the Dudhnial area of Neelum valley further north was beaten back by the Pakistanis. At least one Pakistani soldier was injured - reports of a dead soldier could not be independently verified by the BBC. The Pakistani army described the exchanges as nothing more than cross-border firing, albeit in a more co-ordinated fashion and all along the LoC. Officials said two soldiers were killed in the attacks - one in Poonch, and one in Bhimber sector, further south. Defence minister Khwaja Asif later said a total of nine soldiers were injured in the assault. Indian troops could not have hit a target and returned alive as the climb required was too steep, officials said. Nor could helicopters have been used to drop special forces given the difficult terrain and because Pakistan would have shot down the aircraft. There is no conclusive evidence to prove either side's claims - the truth probably lies somewhere in the middle. Indian army's anger over Kashmir killings Why India needs cool heads I normally wake up at 4:30am. As usual I did my chores - and just then I heard small arms fire, about 100 rounds. I waited a few minutes and then I heard four bombs [mortars] land near the village. We have been in a state of war for a long time, so I knew that heavy guns meant trouble and that the village might get hit. I was standing there when four more bombs came. Then four more, after a few minutes. The first shells had landed in the forest near the village [where a border post is located] and I saw flames and smoke rising. My wife called to me to get in. We have built a bunker in the basement with 24-inch thick walls. She said everybody was inside, and wanted me to get in too. By now they had started targeting another one of our posts higher up on the mountaintop in front. Then the next round of shells hit another post further back. Small arms fire also continued. This was surprising for me. They had apparently crossed over from the LoC and had set up their guns at the top of the cliff. I could heard the bullets whizzing overhead, through the treetops, snapping twigs and leaves that were falling to the ground. The firing continued until about 6am. After that, the heavy guns fell silent but small fire continued. We remained in our basement until 10am. No one had had time to eat or drink that morning. Later, we heard that the Indians had crossed the LoC and hit our posts from positions overlooking the valley. I don't understand why they didn't try to reach our post where we have the local company headquarters. They could have done it. It's walkable, and is easier for them because they occupy higher ground. Perhaps our people detected their movement and fired at them which pushed them back. This is the first time since the war on the LoC began nearly 30 years ago that they have fired from this position. In many areas the attack came as a surprise. Accounts of villagers gathered in Leepa suggest that Indian soldiers first opened fire in the valley at around 0500, hitting the post near Mundakali village and blowing up a mosque adjacent to it. A soldier who was preparing for pre-dawn prayers was hit and injured, they said. Fire was also directed at two other posts higher up in the hills, one of which served as the forward headquarters in Leepa. Locals say bunkers at these posts were partly destroyed and their communication system was paralysed for some time. This meant that troops stationed down in the valley and at the brigade headquarters took a while to realise what was going on. The soldier who was injured at the Mundakali post was given first aid by villagers, and then transported to the military-run hospital in Leepa on a motorbike. Nearly two dozen villagers helped put out the fire that had engulfed the mosque. The Pakistanis did not take long to get their act together and fired back from the remaining bunkers, pushing the Indian guns back from the ridges overlooking the valley. In Dudhnial in Neelum valley, the action took place further up in the mountains, away from the village. A few villagers were awakened by gunfire. An official familiar with what happened that morning said the Indians had advanced well beyond the LoC when their movements were detected. \"The Pakistani fire sent them scurrying back to their bunkers,\" he said. Down south, in Poonch, Kotli and Bhimber areas, it was more or less the same story: Indians coming forward from their positions on the LoC, taking unsuspecting Pakistani soldiers by surprise both due to the suddenness of the attack and the intensity of the fire and then pulling back once the Pakistanis had a chance to respond. Unprepared, and having a numerical disadvantage generally, the Pakistanis made use of their firepower to the fullest, exhausting their ammunition. Locals said that in the days following the attack, hundreds of villagers were pressed into service carrying artillery shells and other ammunition to border posts to replenish their supplies. Kashmir-focused militants have had a strong presence in Pakistani-administered Kashmir for years. During the 1990s they crossed the LoC in droves to ambush troops on India's side. Their activities became less visible after the 2003 ceasefire agreement between India and Pakistan, but their proficiency in suicide raids and other attacks kept them relevant to Pakistan's strategy in its dispute with India, despite denials from Pakistan's military. The militants continue to maintain safe houses in bigger cities like Muzaffarabad, located some distance from the border area. But they now mostly set up camps near military deployments along the LoC and away from villages where there is a growing sense of fatigue among locals towards the insurgency. Despite the claims in the Indian media, the BBC could find little evidence that militants had been hit. There were no reports of any of the camps in the Samahni area of Bhimber or in the Poonch-Kotli area having been hit. They are mostly located behind ridges that serve as a natural barrier against direct Indian fire. In Leepa, some five or six wooden structures housing militants between the villages of Channian and Mundakali had not been targeted. A ridge that runs along the east bank of the nearby stream covers them from military positions on the LoC. Likewise, in Neelum, most militant camps - such as the ones at Jhambar, Dosut and in the Gurez valley area further east - are located in the valleys below, at a safe distance from the LoC. The BBC also could not confirm an Indian media report that Lashkar-e-Taiba camps in the Khairati Bagh village of Leepa valley and the western end of Dudhnial village in Neelum valley had been hit on 29 September. However, in Dudhnial some locals who helped carry military munitions to forward posts the weekend following the Indian strikes said they had seen one or two damaged structures close to a Pakistani post near the border. They thought those structures might have been hit on the morning of 29 September. But they were reluctant to discuss whether those structures had been occupied by militants, or whether five or six men had died there, as the Indian media had claimed. The BBC asked the Pakistani military about militant activity in the area, but there was no immediate response. Since 29 September there has been no let up in tension in the LoC area. Locals in Leepa told the BBC that following the attack, there had been an increased influx of militants in the valley. Are they in the area to help the army in case border skirmishes with the Indians get worse? No one is sure. In Neelum, a top official of the district administration called a meeting and advised locals earlier this month to start digging bunkers in or near their houses in case border tensions escalate. A local school teacher who was  at the meeting said the official was told that removing militants from the area would be a simpler and less costly option to protect villages from Indian shelling. The strategy was a confidential matter, the official responded. It would be up to the government to decide. Disputed Kashmir profiled Concern over Kashmir police's pellet guns", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 4492, "answer_end": 6617, "text": "In many areas the attack came as a surprise. Accounts of villagers gathered in Leepa suggest that Indian soldiers first opened fire in the valley at around 0500, hitting the post near Mundakali village and blowing up a mosque adjacent to it. A soldier who was preparing for pre-dawn prayers was hit and injured, they said. Fire was also directed at two other posts higher up in the hills, one of which served as the forward headquarters in Leepa. Locals say bunkers at these posts were partly destroyed and their communication system was paralysed for some time. This meant that troops stationed down in the valley and at the brigade headquarters took a while to realise what was going on. The soldier who was injured at the Mundakali post was given first aid by villagers, and then transported to the military-run hospital in Leepa on a motorbike. Nearly two dozen villagers helped put out the fire that had engulfed the mosque. The Pakistanis did not take long to get their act together and fired back from the remaining bunkers, pushing the Indian guns back from the ridges overlooking the valley. In Dudhnial in Neelum valley, the action took place further up in the mountains, away from the village. A few villagers were awakened by gunfire. An official familiar with what happened that morning said the Indians had advanced well beyond the LoC when their movements were detected. \"The Pakistani fire sent them scurrying back to their bunkers,\" he said. Down south, in Poonch, Kotli and Bhimber areas, it was more or less the same story: Indians coming forward from their positions on the LoC, taking unsuspecting Pakistani soldiers by surprise both due to the suddenness of the attack and the intensity of the fire and then pulling back once the Pakistanis had a chance to respond. Unprepared, and having a numerical disadvantage generally, the Pakistanis made use of their firepower to the fullest, exhausting their ammunition. Locals said that in the days following the attack, hundreds of villagers were pressed into service carrying artillery shells and other ammunition to border posts to replenish their supplies."}], "question": "How did the Pakistanis respond?", "id": "256_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 6618, "answer_end": 8909, "text": "Kashmir-focused militants have had a strong presence in Pakistani-administered Kashmir for years. During the 1990s they crossed the LoC in droves to ambush troops on India's side. Their activities became less visible after the 2003 ceasefire agreement between India and Pakistan, but their proficiency in suicide raids and other attacks kept them relevant to Pakistan's strategy in its dispute with India, despite denials from Pakistan's military. The militants continue to maintain safe houses in bigger cities like Muzaffarabad, located some distance from the border area. But they now mostly set up camps near military deployments along the LoC and away from villages where there is a growing sense of fatigue among locals towards the insurgency. Despite the claims in the Indian media, the BBC could find little evidence that militants had been hit. There were no reports of any of the camps in the Samahni area of Bhimber or in the Poonch-Kotli area having been hit. They are mostly located behind ridges that serve as a natural barrier against direct Indian fire. In Leepa, some five or six wooden structures housing militants between the villages of Channian and Mundakali had not been targeted. A ridge that runs along the east bank of the nearby stream covers them from military positions on the LoC. Likewise, in Neelum, most militant camps - such as the ones at Jhambar, Dosut and in the Gurez valley area further east - are located in the valleys below, at a safe distance from the LoC. The BBC also could not confirm an Indian media report that Lashkar-e-Taiba camps in the Khairati Bagh village of Leepa valley and the western end of Dudhnial village in Neelum valley had been hit on 29 September. However, in Dudhnial some locals who helped carry military munitions to forward posts the weekend following the Indian strikes said they had seen one or two damaged structures close to a Pakistani post near the border. They thought those structures might have been hit on the morning of 29 September. But they were reluctant to discuss whether those structures had been occupied by militants, or whether five or six men had died there, as the Indian media had claimed. The BBC asked the Pakistani military about militant activity in the area, but there was no immediate response."}], "question": "Were any militants hit?", "id": "256_1"}]}]}, {"title": "Jeremy Heywood: UK's former top civil servant dies", "date": "4 November 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Sir Jeremy Heywood, the former cabinet secretary and civil service head, has died of cancer aged 56, just two weeks after stepping down from government. Sir Jeremy was cabinet secretary from 2012 until 2018 and head of the civil service between 2014 and 2018. PM Theresa May said \"he worked tirelessly to serve our country\" and is a \"huge loss to British public life\". His wife Suzanne paid tribute to a \"wonderful father\" who \"crammed a huge amount into his 56 years\". In a statement released on Sunday via Downing Street, she said: \"He could light up any room or conversation. \"For me, he was my wonderful partner for 22 years. We shared everything and I will miss him more than I can say\". Sir Jeremy first joined the civil service in 1983 as an economist for the Health and Safety Executive before moving to the Treasury, where he worked under chancellors Ken Clarke and Gordon Brown. He had a long career at the top of government, serving four prime ministers in different roles while also spending four years in the banking sector working for Morgan Stanley. In January 2012, Sir Jeremy was knighted and made cabinet secretary - a position sometimes described as the second most powerful person in the government after the prime minister. Cabinet secretaries keep a low public profile but they sit next to the PM at cabinet meetings - and it is their job to ensure policies are put into action and offer advice on running the machinery of government. He managed former Labour PM Tony Blair's differences with his chancellor, organised Gordon Brown's Downing Street, helped to hold the Conservative-Lib Dem coalition together, and, finally, supported Mrs May's minority administration. Former Treasury minister Yvette Cooper said Sir Jeremy had done \"a lot to hold government together at very difficult times\". Mr Brown described him as a \"leader of exceptional ability and \"unquestioned integrity\". \"Jeremy Heywood was the most dynamic civil servant of his generation, a leader who inspired confidence, whose expertise was recognised by all and and whose impartiality was never in doubt.\" Mr Blair said Sir Jeremy had been \"a quite outstanding public servant and someone I came to have enormous respect for both as a professional and as a person\". Sir Jeremy first joined the civil service in 1983 and Sir Mark Sedwill, his successor as cabinet secretary and head of the civil service, described him as an \"exemplary public servant\". \"We will miss him more than we can say,\" Sir Mark said, adding the country \"will be the poorer without his advice, leadership and extraordinary insight\". Mrs May described the news as \"extremely sad\" and said her thoughts were with Sir Jeremy's family. Sir Jeremy had been Cabinet Secretary since 2012 and previously served as principal private secretary to prime ministers Tony Blair and Gordon Brown, chief of staff to Mr Brown and Downing Street permanent secretary to former Conservative prime minister David Cameron. He revealed earlier this year that he had been diagnosed with cancer in June 2017, but remained in post during a summer of political upheaval triggered by the shock general election result. He took a leave of absence in June and announced on 24 October that he was stepping down. Sir Jeremy was nominated for a peerage by Mrs May as Lord Heywood of Whitehall after his retirement, in recognition of his distinguished service to public life. His career was not without controversy, however. He was given the nickname \"Sir cover-up\" by tabloid newspapers after it emerged he had blocked the release of letters and phone calls between Mr Blair and then US president George Bush in the run-up to the Iraq war. He said he felt \"frustrated\" by the label and argued that he had been the most transparent cabinet secretary ever. He found himself at the centre of a number of political crises during his career - he was at Tory Chancellor Norman Lamont's side when the pound crashed out of the European Exchange Rate mechanism in 1992. He also faced criticism for breaking protocol by not taking minutes of key meetings between Mr Blair and officials, which was revealed in evidence to the inquiry into the death of the weapons inspector Dr David Kelly.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 693, "answer_end": 1690, "text": "Sir Jeremy first joined the civil service in 1983 as an economist for the Health and Safety Executive before moving to the Treasury, where he worked under chancellors Ken Clarke and Gordon Brown. He had a long career at the top of government, serving four prime ministers in different roles while also spending four years in the banking sector working for Morgan Stanley. In January 2012, Sir Jeremy was knighted and made cabinet secretary - a position sometimes described as the second most powerful person in the government after the prime minister. Cabinet secretaries keep a low public profile but they sit next to the PM at cabinet meetings - and it is their job to ensure policies are put into action and offer advice on running the machinery of government. He managed former Labour PM Tony Blair's differences with his chancellor, organised Gordon Brown's Downing Street, helped to hold the Conservative-Lib Dem coalition together, and, finally, supported Mrs May's minority administration."}], "question": "Who was Sir Jeremy Heywood?", "id": "257_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Keith Raniere: Trial begins for Nxivm 'sex cult' leader", "date": "7 May 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "A Brooklyn courtroom has heard opening statements at the sex trafficking and conspiracy trial of Keith Raniere, the leader of a suspected sex cult. Speaking in court on Tuesday, Assistant US Attorney Tanya Hajjar called Mr Raniere a \"predator\" who exploited women, including a 15-year-old girl. Prosecutors have alleged that Mr Raniere oversaw a \"slave and master\" system in his group, called Nxivm. Mr Raniere, 58, has pleaded not guilty to all charges. If convicted, he could face life in prison. \"The defendant took advantage of them emotionally and sexually,\" Ms Hajjar said,  according to local media. \"He sold himself as the smartest, most ethical person in the world.\" Ms Hajjar said on Tuesday that Raniere's victims included three Mexican sisters, one of whom was only 15 years old. According to prosecutors, another sister was confined in a room for two years. Marc Agnifilo, one of Mr Raniere's lawyers, said his client's sexual encounters with women were consensual and he denied child pornography and sexual exploitation charges. Speaking in court on Tuesday, Mr Agnifilo told jurors that women joined the group voluntarily, describing Mr Raniere as a strict taskmaster, not a criminal. \"This is something these people signed up for,\" Mr Agnifilo said, according to US media. \"Control can be very bad. Control can also make Marines. Control can make gold medal winners.\" Five women, including US actress Allison Mack, have already pleaded guilty to their involvement with Nxivm. The United States attorney's office opened an investigation into the group following an investigation by the New York Times. Investigators claim that women were recruited as \"slaves\" and were allegedly expected to perform menial chores for \"masters\" and have sex with Mr Raniere, who was known as \"The Vanguard\". Members of the group were allegedly branded with Mr Raniere's initials using a cauterising pen, often on their pelvic areas, in ceremonies which were filmed by members. On Tuesday, Mr Agnifilo warned jurors they may be shown video of this process, and repeated his claim that the women's participation in the group was voluntary. \"See if the women seemed forced or if they are doing it because they want to do it,\" Mr Agnifilo said, according to the New York Times. Court documents say investigators have found electronic communication that suggested Mr Raniere was behind the sorority \"slave\" internal group, something he has denied. Mack, known for the US television series Smallville, pleaded guilty to her involvement in the group last month, admitting she recruited women to Nxivm by telling them they were joining a female mentorship group. Appearing in a Brooklyn federal court in April, Mack said she was instructed by Mr Raniere to collect compromising materials and images of two women within the group, threatening to make the photos public if they revealed information about the secret society. \"I believed Keith Raniere's intentions were to help people,\" Mack said. \"I was wrong.\" Mack is expected to testify against Mr Raniere, in addition to some of the young women who claim they were forced to have sex with the defendant. The first witness, a 32-year-old woman identified as \"Sylvie\", testified that she had been involved with Nxivm for about 13 years, the New York Times reported. Mr Raniere left the country last year after former members spoke to US media. He was arrested by the FBI in Mexico last year. . On its website Nxivm (pronounced nexium) describes itself as a \"community guided by humanitarian principles that seek to empower people and answer important questions about what it means to be human\". Based in Albany in upstate New York, the group was founded as Executive Success Programs in 1998 and says it has worked with more than 16,000 people. Members of the group are reported to include wealthy heiresses, the son of a former Mexican president and Hollywood actresses. Mr Raniere and his group have been the subject of controversy for several years. Investigative journalist James M. Odato published a number of pieces in the Times Union of Albany Newspaper in 2012 which questioned the group's practices and compared it to a cult. In 2009 the newspaper wrote about a visit by the Dalai Lama to Albany, which was reportedly sponsored by the Nxivm group. The exiled spiritual leader of Tibet denied he was paid for the appearance. After the New York Times piece was published in 2017 and women came forward, federal authorities began interviewing \"witnesses and victims\" associated with the group.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 3433, "answer_end": 4538, "text": "On its website Nxivm (pronounced nexium) describes itself as a \"community guided by humanitarian principles that seek to empower people and answer important questions about what it means to be human\". Based in Albany in upstate New York, the group was founded as Executive Success Programs in 1998 and says it has worked with more than 16,000 people. Members of the group are reported to include wealthy heiresses, the son of a former Mexican president and Hollywood actresses. Mr Raniere and his group have been the subject of controversy for several years. Investigative journalist James M. Odato published a number of pieces in the Times Union of Albany Newspaper in 2012 which questioned the group's practices and compared it to a cult. In 2009 the newspaper wrote about a visit by the Dalai Lama to Albany, which was reportedly sponsored by the Nxivm group. The exiled spiritual leader of Tibet denied he was paid for the appearance. After the New York Times piece was published in 2017 and women came forward, federal authorities began interviewing \"witnesses and victims\" associated with the group."}], "question": "What is Nxivm?", "id": "258_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Court dismisses lawsuit challenging Trump over hotel profits", "date": "10 July 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "A federal appeals court has rejected a case arguing that US President Donald Trump is unconstitutionally profiting through his hotel in Washington DC. The case hinged on a law which bans the president from receiving \"profit, gain, or advantage\" from governments. A three-judge panel ruled the attorneys general of Maryland and Washington DC, who brought the lawsuit, do not have sufficient standing to bring the case. Mr Trump quickly took to Twitter to respond to the verdict. \"Word just out that I won a big part of the Deep State and Democrat induced Witch Hunt,\" he tweeted on Wednesday. \"I don't make money, but lose a fortune for the honour of serving and doing a great job as your President (including accepting Zero salary!),\" he added. The Trump International Hotel is located on Pennsylvania Avenue, just four streets from the White House. It has become a popular favourite among Republican visitors to the city. In 2018, it generated revenue of over $40.8m (PS31m), according to Mr Trump's financial disclosure forms. The so-called Emoluments Clause of the US Constitution prohibits a president from any \"profit, gain, or advantage\" received \"directly or indirectly\" from government workers. This case overturned a Maryland judge's decision last year, in which a judge ruled that the attorneys general did had a legal standing to go to trial. The three-judge panel of the US Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit said the case lacked standing because they could not prove that nearby businesses were harmed by competition from Mr Trump's hotel. Judge Paul Niemeyer wrote in the 36-page opinion that the arguments put forth by Washington and Maryland are \"so attenuated and abstract that their prosecution of this case readily provokes the question of whether this action against the president is an appropriate use of the courts\". The opinion adds: \"There is a distinct possibility - which was completely ignored by the District and Maryland... that certain government officials might avoid patronising the hotel because of the president's association with it.\" \"Even if government officials were patronising the hotel to curry the president's favour, there is no reason to conclude that they would cease doing so were the president enjoined from receiving income from the hotel,\" they wrote. All three judges were appointed to the panel by Republican presidents. Shortly before he becoming president, Mr Trump stepped back from running his company - the Trump Organization - however he still retains ownership of the real estate empire. Washington DC's Trump International Hotel - as it is formally known - was opened in September 2016 -  just months before Mr Trump won the presidential election. The Trump Organization was granted a 60-year lease to inhabit the former Old Post Office from the federal government prior to his election. In a joint statement, Maryland Attorney General Brian Frosh and Washington DC Attorney General Karl Racine - both Democrats - said the judges \"got it wrong\". They added Mr Trump was \"brazenly profiting from the Office of the President\" and they would \"continue to pursue our legal options to hold him accountable\". In a statement, the US Justice Department cheered the decision, and called the case \"extraordinarily flawed\" and said the prosecutors \"improperly asked the courts to exceed their constitutional role by reviewing the President's compliance with the Emoluments Clauses,\" said spokeswoman Kelly Laco. Attorneys General of Washington DC and Maryland have both previously said they would consider appeals the case further, including all the way up to the Supreme Court.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1354, "answer_end": 3628, "text": "The three-judge panel of the US Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit said the case lacked standing because they could not prove that nearby businesses were harmed by competition from Mr Trump's hotel. Judge Paul Niemeyer wrote in the 36-page opinion that the arguments put forth by Washington and Maryland are \"so attenuated and abstract that their prosecution of this case readily provokes the question of whether this action against the president is an appropriate use of the courts\". The opinion adds: \"There is a distinct possibility - which was completely ignored by the District and Maryland... that certain government officials might avoid patronising the hotel because of the president's association with it.\" \"Even if government officials were patronising the hotel to curry the president's favour, there is no reason to conclude that they would cease doing so were the president enjoined from receiving income from the hotel,\" they wrote. All three judges were appointed to the panel by Republican presidents. Shortly before he becoming president, Mr Trump stepped back from running his company - the Trump Organization - however he still retains ownership of the real estate empire. Washington DC's Trump International Hotel - as it is formally known - was opened in September 2016 -  just months before Mr Trump won the presidential election. The Trump Organization was granted a 60-year lease to inhabit the former Old Post Office from the federal government prior to his election. In a joint statement, Maryland Attorney General Brian Frosh and Washington DC Attorney General Karl Racine - both Democrats - said the judges \"got it wrong\". They added Mr Trump was \"brazenly profiting from the Office of the President\" and they would \"continue to pursue our legal options to hold him accountable\". In a statement, the US Justice Department cheered the decision, and called the case \"extraordinarily flawed\" and said the prosecutors \"improperly asked the courts to exceed their constitutional role by reviewing the President's compliance with the Emoluments Clauses,\" said spokeswoman Kelly Laco. Attorneys General of Washington DC and Maryland have both previously said they would consider appeals the case further, including all the way up to the Supreme Court."}], "question": "What did the judges say?", "id": "259_0"}]}]}, {"title": "The Independent Group: Who are they and what do they stand for?", "date": "1 March 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "So far, eight Labour MPs and three Conservative MPs have quit their parties and joined forces as the Independent Group. From Labour, Chuka Umunna, Luciana Berger, Mike Gapes, Chris Leslie, Angela Smith, Ann Coffey, Gavin Shuker, and Joan Ryan have all left. It wasn't long before Conservative MPs Anna Soubry, Heidi Allen and Sarah Wollaston followed. Here we answer some of your biggest questions about what is now the fourth-largest group in Parliament. Jeremy Corbyn has said the Labour MPs who have quit the party should \"resign and put themselves up for election\". In a video posted on Twitter, the Labour leader said it was the \"decent and democratic thing to do\" because the MPs wanted to \"abandon the policies on which they were elected\". If an MP changes or leaves the party they were elected under, there does not automatically have to be a by-election. This is because at the ballot box voters chose the individual they wanted as their MP, not the party they wanted running the country. However, the defectors could trigger a by-election by resigning as MPs. They could then immediately stand for election in the same constituency - that's what Conservative Zac Goldsmith did in 2016. (He lost his 23,015 majority and was ousted). But these MPs don't want to face a by-election right now. Voters can also call for a petition to recall their MP - and trigger a by-election. But this can only happen under specific circumstances, such as an MP being convicted of an offence and receiving a custodial sentence. And none of these conditions apply to the members of the Independent Group. As it stands, if they were to run in a by-election (or any general election) the name the Independent Group wouldn't appear on the ballot paper because they're not registered as a political party. On their website, the group of MPs say they are \"supported\" by a company called Gemini A Ltd, which was set up last month by Labour defector Mr Shuker. Since they launched, they have been crowd-funding via their website. But because they are not a registered political party, they don't have to play by the rules of the Electoral Commission and disclose their financial backers. However, they say they intend to do so anyway and will publish all donations over PS7,500 alongside donors' names. If the group registers with the commission, the MPs would be entitled to \"short money\" - that is funding given to opposition parities in Parliament to support them in their parliamentary business, expenses and costs of running. Because it is not a political party - yet - the Independent Group does not have to have a leader. Chuka Umunna, who briefly stood to be leader of the Labour Party, is seen as the driving force behind the Labour MPs. But he has been named as the group's spokesman and said: \"We are not a political party and therefore do not have a leader, but the roles and responsibilities we have assigned recognise that all the members of our group have the right to be heard and a responsibility to provide leadership.\" The group has assigned roles for all its members but Mr Umunna said: \"Our structure is designed to be flexible to accommodate any changes as the group evolves and grows.\" The group has not published a manifesto - but it does have a list of 11 \"values\", which it claims the main political parties have forgotten. Top of the list is the belief that Britain is a \"great country of which people are rightly proud\" - and the government must do \"whatever it takes\" to protect national security. Notably, there is no sign of Brexit on the list, although it mentions \"maintaining strong alliances with our closest European and international allies on trade, regulation, defence, security and counter-terrorism\". On inequality, the group calls for the \"barriers of poverty, prejudice and discrimination\" to be removed - and says everybody should make a contribution to society. It also says it believes that: - \"Paid work should be secure and pay should be fair\" - \"We have a responsibility to future generations to protect our environment\" - Britain \"works best as a diverse, mixed social market economy\" with \"well-regulated private enterprise\" - \"The collective provision of public services and the NHS can be delivered through government action\" - \"Our free media, the rule of law, and our open, tolerant and respectful democratic society should be cherished and renewed\" It remains to be seen which policies the Independent Group would adopt to enact their values. The Independent Group have bonded over their shared desire to prevent a no-deal Brexit. Some of them have been working together for months as members of the cross-party People's Vote campaign for another EU referendum. Former Conservative Heidi Allen said they had been \"clinging to each other like on a shipwreck\" during the \"chaos\" of Brexit, and had begun to realise they had \"quite a lot in common\" with each other. They do come from different sides of the traditional political divide - and there may be tensions over issues such as austerity and the privatisation of public services. Last year, Luciana Berger, then a Labour MP, blamed austerity for having a \"devastating cumulative impact\" on her constituents and Chuka Umunna has said austerity \"failed\" and \"disproportionately hit the poorest\". Anna Soubry - a minister in the Conservative/Lib Dem coalition government - has defended then Chancellor George Osborne's public spending cuts and welfare freeze. But Heidi Allen has been highly critical of welfare cuts too, and Universal Credit in particular. Asked on BBC Newsnight if they could all agree on issues such as this, Ms Allen said \"probably not, but it doesn't matter because this is a fresh start\". All 11 have signed up to the broad principles in their founding statement - and share a socially liberal outlook and a belief in a \"mixed economy\" with free markets and publicly-owned services. With 11 members, they are the fourth largest group of MPs - behind the Conservatives, Labour and the SNP, and equal to the Lib Dems. They are bigger than Plaid Cymru and the DUP - the party on whom Theresa May depends to pass legislation. As the BBC's political editor Laura Kuenssberg explains: \"When a government has no majority on its own, even shy of a dozen MPs can wield political strength. \"The defections change not just the official arithmetic in Parliament, but its alchemy and atmosphere.\" If they were to surpass the SNP's Westminster cohort - which would require 24 more MPs - the party would become Parliament's third largest. That would then entitle them to various privileges, including getting a guaranteed two questions at Prime Minister's Questions. In terms of the parliamentary votes, it won't. These MPs were defying their former party whips on Brexit long before they quit. But if enough Tories leave, Mrs May's slim majority will be wiped out, throwing her plans to get a tweaked version of her Brexit deal through Parliament into even more doubt.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 456, "answer_end": 1791, "text": "Jeremy Corbyn has said the Labour MPs who have quit the party should \"resign and put themselves up for election\". In a video posted on Twitter, the Labour leader said it was the \"decent and democratic thing to do\" because the MPs wanted to \"abandon the policies on which they were elected\". If an MP changes or leaves the party they were elected under, there does not automatically have to be a by-election. This is because at the ballot box voters chose the individual they wanted as their MP, not the party they wanted running the country. However, the defectors could trigger a by-election by resigning as MPs. They could then immediately stand for election in the same constituency - that's what Conservative Zac Goldsmith did in 2016. (He lost his 23,015 majority and was ousted). But these MPs don't want to face a by-election right now. Voters can also call for a petition to recall their MP - and trigger a by-election. But this can only happen under specific circumstances, such as an MP being convicted of an offence and receiving a custodial sentence. And none of these conditions apply to the members of the Independent Group. As it stands, if they were to run in a by-election (or any general election) the name the Independent Group wouldn't appear on the ballot paper because they're not registered as a political party."}], "question": "Are there going to be by-elections?", "id": "260_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1792, "answer_end": 2513, "text": "On their website, the group of MPs say they are \"supported\" by a company called Gemini A Ltd, which was set up last month by Labour defector Mr Shuker. Since they launched, they have been crowd-funding via their website. But because they are not a registered political party, they don't have to play by the rules of the Electoral Commission and disclose their financial backers. However, they say they intend to do so anyway and will publish all donations over PS7,500 alongside donors' names. If the group registers with the commission, the MPs would be entitled to \"short money\" - that is funding given to opposition parities in Parliament to support them in their parliamentary business, expenses and costs of running."}], "question": "Who funds them?", "id": "260_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2514, "answer_end": 3191, "text": "Because it is not a political party - yet - the Independent Group does not have to have a leader. Chuka Umunna, who briefly stood to be leader of the Labour Party, is seen as the driving force behind the Labour MPs. But he has been named as the group's spokesman and said: \"We are not a political party and therefore do not have a leader, but the roles and responsibilities we have assigned recognise that all the members of our group have the right to be heard and a responsibility to provide leadership.\" The group has assigned roles for all its members but Mr Umunna said: \"Our structure is designed to be flexible to accommodate any changes as the group evolves and grows.\""}], "question": "Which one is the leader?", "id": "260_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3192, "answer_end": 4481, "text": "The group has not published a manifesto - but it does have a list of 11 \"values\", which it claims the main political parties have forgotten. Top of the list is the belief that Britain is a \"great country of which people are rightly proud\" - and the government must do \"whatever it takes\" to protect national security. Notably, there is no sign of Brexit on the list, although it mentions \"maintaining strong alliances with our closest European and international allies on trade, regulation, defence, security and counter-terrorism\". On inequality, the group calls for the \"barriers of poverty, prejudice and discrimination\" to be removed - and says everybody should make a contribution to society. It also says it believes that: - \"Paid work should be secure and pay should be fair\" - \"We have a responsibility to future generations to protect our environment\" - Britain \"works best as a diverse, mixed social market economy\" with \"well-regulated private enterprise\" - \"The collective provision of public services and the NHS can be delivered through government action\" - \"Our free media, the rule of law, and our open, tolerant and respectful democratic society should be cherished and renewed\" It remains to be seen which policies the Independent Group would adopt to enact their values."}], "question": "What do they stand for?", "id": "260_3"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 4482, "answer_end": 5894, "text": "The Independent Group have bonded over their shared desire to prevent a no-deal Brexit. Some of them have been working together for months as members of the cross-party People's Vote campaign for another EU referendum. Former Conservative Heidi Allen said they had been \"clinging to each other like on a shipwreck\" during the \"chaos\" of Brexit, and had begun to realise they had \"quite a lot in common\" with each other. They do come from different sides of the traditional political divide - and there may be tensions over issues such as austerity and the privatisation of public services. Last year, Luciana Berger, then a Labour MP, blamed austerity for having a \"devastating cumulative impact\" on her constituents and Chuka Umunna has said austerity \"failed\" and \"disproportionately hit the poorest\". Anna Soubry - a minister in the Conservative/Lib Dem coalition government - has defended then Chancellor George Osborne's public spending cuts and welfare freeze. But Heidi Allen has been highly critical of welfare cuts too, and Universal Credit in particular. Asked on BBC Newsnight if they could all agree on issues such as this, Ms Allen said \"probably not, but it doesn't matter because this is a fresh start\". All 11 have signed up to the broad principles in their founding statement - and share a socially liberal outlook and a belief in a \"mixed economy\" with free markets and publicly-owned services."}], "question": "What are the potential tensions?", "id": "260_4"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 5895, "answer_end": 6663, "text": "With 11 members, they are the fourth largest group of MPs - behind the Conservatives, Labour and the SNP, and equal to the Lib Dems. They are bigger than Plaid Cymru and the DUP - the party on whom Theresa May depends to pass legislation. As the BBC's political editor Laura Kuenssberg explains: \"When a government has no majority on its own, even shy of a dozen MPs can wield political strength. \"The defections change not just the official arithmetic in Parliament, but its alchemy and atmosphere.\" If they were to surpass the SNP's Westminster cohort - which would require 24 more MPs - the party would become Parliament's third largest. That would then entitle them to various privileges, including getting a guaranteed two questions at Prime Minister's Questions."}], "question": "How powerful will they be in Parliament?", "id": "260_5"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 6664, "answer_end": 6966, "text": "In terms of the parliamentary votes, it won't. These MPs were defying their former party whips on Brexit long before they quit. But if enough Tories leave, Mrs May's slim majority will be wiped out, throwing her plans to get a tweaked version of her Brexit deal through Parliament into even more doubt."}], "question": "How will it impact Brexit?", "id": "260_6"}]}]}, {"title": "The brutal secret of school sport initiations", "date": "9 January 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Hazing rituals have long been a brutal secret among high school and college sport teams. But in the #MeToo era, can teenage victims shatter the code of silence? *This story includes some graphic descriptions of sexual assault* When Allison Brookman arrived at Reed Custer High School to pick up her 14-year-old son Anthony from American football camp, she knew something was wrong. \"You can kind of tell when your kid is hurt or sad,\" she told the BBC. \"When I pulled up, I saw that same look in his face, that he was hurt.\" After some needling from his mother, he admitted he had just been \"jumped\" by four senior football players. But it wasn't until she took him to hospital to have his injuries examined that she heard what had really happened - that Anthony had been beaten up and sexually assaulted by members of the team as part of a violent hazing ritual. \"The first guy who slapped me twice and knocked me down, he kicked me in my right side on my ribs,\" Anthony told CBS in an interview. \"While the fourth one took my shorts off and they pulled my legs up so that he could get his finger to my, you know, body part.\" Allison says when they heard this in the hospital examining room, she and her husband were stricken with horror. \"They didn't just beat you up, they tried fondling you?\" she recalls asking. \"At that point my son looked at us and said 'don't worry mom, don't worry dad, they didn't get in me.'\" \"That was probably the breaking point for both of us.\" Now the family is suing the Reed-Custer Community Unit School District 255 in Braidwood, Illinois, claiming it failed to prevent the sexual assault and for allegedly not properly responding to the incident once they became aware. Superintendent Mark Mitchell defends the schools actions and says the players were punished \"according to the terms of the School District's Athletic Code of Conduct.\" The school is defending the legal action. Three of the alleged attackers have also been charged as juveniles with aggravated battery. They are not named as they were minors at the time of the incident. As their case winds through the courts, other eerily-similar incidents have also come to light. In Maryland, four 15-year-old members of the Damascus High School junior varsity football team are accused of raping a younger teammate with a broomstick as part of a hazing ritual, and trying to rape others. Prosecutors have told in chilling detail how the alleged attackers cornered four freshmen teammates in the locker room. \"It's time,\" one of them said before they ganged up on the first victim, holding him down and sodomising him with the broom handle. They are being tried as adults. A fifth suspect is being charged as a juvenile. And in the Canadian city of Toronto, seven 14- and 15-year-old football players from St Michael's College School are facing charges of gang sex assault related to three separate hazing incidents. In one incident, a video allegedly showing a teammate being penetrated by a broom was shared online. These high-profile cases of sexual assault have reignited the call to end hazing in sports. And in the #MeToo era, many former victims are coming out to share their story. Hazing is when members of a group deliberately embarrass or harm new or prospective members as part of a rite of passage, or initiation into the group. \"These are powerful forces that we're talking about, wanting to belong and wanting to be a part of a community,\" says Jay Johnson, an expert on hazing on sports teams who teaches at the University of Manitoba. Hazing rituals can run the gamut from relatively benign - forcing team members to carry the gear to matches, or chant silly songs on campus - to extreme forms of bullying, including physical and sexual abuse. It has been most commonly associated with university fraternities and sororities and athletic clubs, but high school groups are not immune. A 2000 survey by Alfred University found that about half of high school students reported participating in activities that qualified as hazing - while only 14% identified as being hazed. In the US, 44 states have banned hazing. In Canada, many universities and sport organisations have anti-hazing policies, though no federal law specifically targets the practice. Like in the St Michael's incident, police have often relied on assault laws when laying charges in hazing cases. In the UK, the Rugby Football Union, the sport's governing body, has said initiations at university clubs are putting people off wanting to continue playing. It claimed the traditions are partly to blame for an estimated 10,000 school leavers who recently stopped playing. Most students who have been hazed have trouble realising they were, says Johnson, in part because a lot of the activities may seem harmless and like they were \"just being a part of a team\". But hazing can turn sinister, and the practice leads to several deaths a year, often from alcohol intoxication. Sexualised hazing is also fairly common, says Johnson. From Texas to Australia, there have been reports of ritual sex assault on school sports teams for years. A 2017 investigation by the Associated Press found 70 cases of teammate-on-teammate sexual assaults in US public schools between 2012-2017, which it called \"the tip of the iceberg\". The cases are shocking both in their violence and their similarity, often featuring some variation of older teammates sodomising victims with anything from a fist, to a Gatorade bottle to the nozzle of a carbon-dioxide tank. Earlier this year, an organisation called End Rape on Campus released a report saying that orientation week at Australian Universities is called \"The Red Zone\" by sexual assault support workers due to the combination of assaults, hazing rituals, and excessive alcohol consumption. Sometimes all it takes is one bad apple to push a team to commit sexual assault, Johnson says. \"All it takes is that one person in power, or at the top of the hierarchy... a veteran player who came in who was a bit on the sadistic side, who pushes that boundary of what it can become,\" he says. But hazing rituals usually stem from a toxic team culture, he says. Traditions are passed down from year-to-year, and today's aggressors were often last year's victims. Often, coaches and other authorities turn a blind eye, Johnson says. In their lawsuit, the Brookmans blame the school for allowing the hazing to fester on the team until it escalated to their son's assault. They also blame the school for allegedly not protecting their son from bullying after the incident. Allison says Anthony was harassed every day by fellow students who called him a \"rat\". Meanwhile, she says, the alleged attackers only received a three-day game suspension. It was the lack of action, she says, that led the family to sue. \"We just wanted to do our best to let our son see that he was somebody who was worth fighting for,\" she says. Anthony now goes to a different school, and is seeing a therapist. The head coach resigned from the team, although he is still a teacher at the school. Superintendant Mitchell says the student-athletes were disciplined according to school guidelines. He says he is not legally allowed to comment on individual disciplinary cases. \"We intend to vigorously defend these baseless allegations and protect the reputation of our fine School District and its staff,\" he said in a written statement. In Toronto, the hazing allegations led to the resignation of school principal Greg Reeves and school president Father Jefferson Thompson. Several alumni critiqued what they claim was the elite school's culture of \"toxic masculinity\" and claimed it had a \"code of silence\", especially once it was revealed that Principal Reeves did not immediately report the video of the alleged sexual assault. He said that he did so the next day, after first helping the victim to tell his parents, because caring for the victim had been his first priority. \"This is a great school, and the majority of the teachers are great people. Where was the oversight? Like, what's going on with your teams? What is the mentality here? ... There's a code of silence at the school,\" a parent told Postmedia news outlet. The Brookman's story, and the sexual assault cases in Maryland and Toronto, have come to light during an era of public reckoning about sexual violence. From Hollywood to the Supreme Court, victims have come forward to describe how powerful institutions silenced them to protect their attackers. Are youth sports next? Johnson says he believes the attention that is being paid to Anthony's case, and the sexual assault charges laid in Maryland and in Toronto, show that people are beginning to think differently about hazing. \"I actually have hope that this might sort of be the flashpoint, for opening up the floodgates, similar to what happened to the #MeToo movement,\" Johnson says. \"That more people might start to come forward and feel empowered to share their stories.\" There are signs that is starting to happen. In Toronto, prominent NHL players have revealed they were victims of sexual hazing while playing in junior ice hockey leagues, as have some alumni of St Michael's. Ultimately, that is why Anthony agreed to tell his story on the nightly news. \"You see a lot of hazing on TV, but that's all it is, it's the news reporter maybe talking with the other news reporter and a picture of the school,\" Allison recalls her son telling her. \"Nobody ever steps forward, I want people to actually see my face and see what people did to me.\"", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 3182, "answer_end": 4643, "text": "Hazing is when members of a group deliberately embarrass or harm new or prospective members as part of a rite of passage, or initiation into the group. \"These are powerful forces that we're talking about, wanting to belong and wanting to be a part of a community,\" says Jay Johnson, an expert on hazing on sports teams who teaches at the University of Manitoba. Hazing rituals can run the gamut from relatively benign - forcing team members to carry the gear to matches, or chant silly songs on campus - to extreme forms of bullying, including physical and sexual abuse. It has been most commonly associated with university fraternities and sororities and athletic clubs, but high school groups are not immune. A 2000 survey by Alfred University found that about half of high school students reported participating in activities that qualified as hazing - while only 14% identified as being hazed. In the US, 44 states have banned hazing. In Canada, many universities and sport organisations have anti-hazing policies, though no federal law specifically targets the practice. Like in the St Michael's incident, police have often relied on assault laws when laying charges in hazing cases. In the UK, the Rugby Football Union, the sport's governing body, has said initiations at university clubs are putting people off wanting to continue playing. It claimed the traditions are partly to blame for an estimated 10,000 school leavers who recently stopped playing."}], "question": "What is hazing?", "id": "261_0"}]}]}, {"title": "France tech tax: What's being done to make internet giants pay more?", "date": "11 July 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "France is to become the first country in Europe to introduce a tax on tech giants like Facebook, Amazon and Google. The move has upset the US. So how does it work, what are other countries doing and what could the impact be on these huge companies? The French government has approved a 3% tax on large tech companies' local revenues. This is their total sales in France, rather than the profits they make. It will apply to tech companies with global sales of over PS674m (EUR750m), and which make more than PS22.5m (EUR25m) a year in France. The government argues they pay little or no tax in France. The tax will target tech firms that put other companies in touch with customers (like Amazon), digital advertising, and the sale of data for advertising purposes. The law will be backdated to 1 January 2019. French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire has said that about 30, mostly US-based companies, will be hit with the new tax. It's thought it will apply to just one French company, advertising firm Criteo, as well as some Indian, British and Chinese firms. The new tax is expected to raise PS360m (EUR400m) for the French government in 2019, after which it could grow. Some have argued that it could go even further, given tech companies' huge incomes. Jessie Gaston, a Paris-based tax lawyer, said the French tax is more of a \"symbol\" than an effective tax measure. She said the amount it will raise for the French government is below what they'd like from the digital economy. The move has not been well received in the US, where many of the companies are based, with claims they are being unfairly targeted. President Donald Trump has ordered an investigation into the tax - which could result in retaliatory tariffs. Global tech companies have been accused of finding ways to avoid tax. It is said they do this by paying most of their taxes in the EU countries where they have headquarters, rather than where they make their sales. Often, they have offices in countries like Ireland or Luxembourg, where there are very low tax rates. It can mean the firms end up paying very little tax in countries such as France or the UK, despite having lots of customers there. For example, Amazon UK's 2017 tax bill totalled PS1.7m, or less than 0.1% of its PS2bn turnover. But big US tech companies, including Amazon, have consistently argued they are paying all the tax they are required to under law. Following the gilets jaunes (\"yellow vests\") anti-government protests, French President Emmanuel Macron said businesses must pay their fair share of tax. Protests included a blockade at an Amazon warehouse in the southern town of Montelimar, on Black Friday last November. But critics have warned that the new tax could undermine the government's efforts to create a \"start-up nation\". Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo oversaw a former railway station being converted into the world's largest incubator for tech companies. Foreign visas for tech entrepreneurs have been overhauled to make it easier to work there. Some economists have also suggested that the new tax could be hard to collect. That's because it's meant to apply to income generated from French customers. But, that data isn't stored anywhere centrally. The United Kingdom, Spain and Italy are all looking at introducing their own versions of a digital tax. In the UK, digital companies will be taxed 2% of their revenues, from April 2020. It will apply to companies with revenues of PS500m worldwide and is expected to raise about PS400m a year. The question of taxing digital companies has been an issue in the UK for some time. In 2018, the UK retail sector lost around 70,000 jobs and saw companies like Debenhams and M&S announce plans to shut hundreds of shops. Increasing internet sales were a major factor, according to the Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee. Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn recently sent Amazon a birthday card wishing it \"many happy tax returns\" on its 25th birthday. Earlier this year, the European Commission also outlined proposals for a 3% tax on the revenues of large internet companies, with global revenues above EUR750m (PS675m) a year. But, critics fear an EU-wide tax could breach international rules on equal treatment for companies around the world. And EU tax reforms need the backing of all member states to become law. Japan, Singapore and India are reportedly planning similar schemes of their own. Any tax measures introduced by individual countries will stay in place until a global agreement is reached. The Organisation of Economic Development and Co-operation (OECD), an international economic organisation, is hoping to come up with a solution by the end of 2019.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 249, "answer_end": 808, "text": "The French government has approved a 3% tax on large tech companies' local revenues. This is their total sales in France, rather than the profits they make. It will apply to tech companies with global sales of over PS674m (EUR750m), and which make more than PS22.5m (EUR25m) a year in France. The government argues they pay little or no tax in France. The tax will target tech firms that put other companies in touch with customers (like Amazon), digital advertising, and the sale of data for advertising purposes. The law will be backdated to 1 January 2019."}], "question": "What is the new digital tax?", "id": "262_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 809, "answer_end": 1723, "text": "French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire has said that about 30, mostly US-based companies, will be hit with the new tax. It's thought it will apply to just one French company, advertising firm Criteo, as well as some Indian, British and Chinese firms. The new tax is expected to raise PS360m (EUR400m) for the French government in 2019, after which it could grow. Some have argued that it could go even further, given tech companies' huge incomes. Jessie Gaston, a Paris-based tax lawyer, said the French tax is more of a \"symbol\" than an effective tax measure. She said the amount it will raise for the French government is below what they'd like from the digital economy. The move has not been well received in the US, where many of the companies are based, with claims they are being unfairly targeted. President Donald Trump has ordered an investigation into the tax - which could result in retaliatory tariffs."}], "question": "What will this mean for tech companies?", "id": "262_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1724, "answer_end": 2398, "text": "Global tech companies have been accused of finding ways to avoid tax. It is said they do this by paying most of their taxes in the EU countries where they have headquarters, rather than where they make their sales. Often, they have offices in countries like Ireland or Luxembourg, where there are very low tax rates. It can mean the firms end up paying very little tax in countries such as France or the UK, despite having lots of customers there. For example, Amazon UK's 2017 tax bill totalled PS1.7m, or less than 0.1% of its PS2bn turnover. But big US tech companies, including Amazon, have consistently argued they are paying all the tax they are required to under law."}], "question": "Where do tech giants pay tax at the minute?", "id": "262_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2399, "answer_end": 3209, "text": "Following the gilets jaunes (\"yellow vests\") anti-government protests, French President Emmanuel Macron said businesses must pay their fair share of tax. Protests included a blockade at an Amazon warehouse in the southern town of Montelimar, on Black Friday last November. But critics have warned that the new tax could undermine the government's efforts to create a \"start-up nation\". Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo oversaw a former railway station being converted into the world's largest incubator for tech companies. Foreign visas for tech entrepreneurs have been overhauled to make it easier to work there. Some economists have also suggested that the new tax could be hard to collect. That's because it's meant to apply to income generated from French customers. But, that data isn't stored anywhere centrally."}], "question": "What do people think of the French tax?", "id": "262_3"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3210, "answer_end": 4681, "text": "The United Kingdom, Spain and Italy are all looking at introducing their own versions of a digital tax. In the UK, digital companies will be taxed 2% of their revenues, from April 2020. It will apply to companies with revenues of PS500m worldwide and is expected to raise about PS400m a year. The question of taxing digital companies has been an issue in the UK for some time. In 2018, the UK retail sector lost around 70,000 jobs and saw companies like Debenhams and M&S announce plans to shut hundreds of shops. Increasing internet sales were a major factor, according to the Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee. Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn recently sent Amazon a birthday card wishing it \"many happy tax returns\" on its 25th birthday. Earlier this year, the European Commission also outlined proposals for a 3% tax on the revenues of large internet companies, with global revenues above EUR750m (PS675m) a year. But, critics fear an EU-wide tax could breach international rules on equal treatment for companies around the world. And EU tax reforms need the backing of all member states to become law. Japan, Singapore and India are reportedly planning similar schemes of their own. Any tax measures introduced by individual countries will stay in place until a global agreement is reached. The Organisation of Economic Development and Co-operation (OECD), an international economic organisation, is hoping to come up with a solution by the end of 2019."}], "question": "What are other countries doing?", "id": "262_4"}]}]}, {"title": "It's snowing - can I refuse to go to work?", "date": "28 February 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "As heavy snow affects large swathes of the UK, many people are finding it hard to get to work on Thursday. Commuters have been warned of major disruption on the road and rail networks after the \"beast from the east\" brought more snow, with Storm Emma expected to make matters even worse. So if getting to work is impossible, what are your rights? Red weather warning ahead of Storm Emma In most cases you are not automatically entitled to pay if you are unable to get to work because of travel disruption or bad weather. But that doesn't necessarily mean you will lose out. If your employer normally provides your travel to work and this has been cancelled because of the bad weather you should still be paid, according to the employment advice and conciliation service Acas. Some jobs may also have a specific clause written into their contracts, or have a collective agreement in place, that an employer will pay you if you cannot get to work due to circumstances beyond your control. Some employers might also make discretionary, informal arrangements. For example, they may let you work from home, or agree that you can make up the missed time at a later date. However, they are not obliged to do this. Your employer can ask you to take a day of paid holiday - but only if they give you sufficient warning. The law states that you must be given a warning period of \"at least\" double the length of annual leave you are being asked to take. So, if your employer wants you to take one day's annual leave, for example, they would need to give you two days notice. In these circumstances, you are entitled to be paid. In addition, your employer cannot require you to take the time as annual leave. But don't rush out to make snow angels or have a snowball fight just yet. Your employer can still ask you to work from home, or ask you to go to another workplace that is open if the business has one, according to government advice website Gov.uk. Employees have the right to take unpaid time off to deal with emergency situations for their children or other dependants. Lawyers suggest that a school being shut at short notice is likely to be considered an emergency. Strictly, the day would be unpaid but not all employers would take this approach. Acas advises you talk to your employer as soon as you can to explain that you need to take time off and the likely length of the absence. It says one option is that you jointly agree to take the day as annual leave so you do not miss out on pay. Not necessarily. The Health and Safety Executive recommends a minimum temperature of 16C for offices where the work is deskbound and fairly sedentary. If the work requires physical effort, the minimum recommended temperature is 13C. These temperatures are not a legal requirement but your employer has a duty to provide a \"reasonable\" temperature in the workplace. But as anyone who's had a row over the office thermostat knows, what feels reasonable to one person may require another to wear their coat in the office. If low temperatures make it unsafe for workers, then Acas says you should be allowed to wear warmer clothing, take extra breaks to make hot drinks and also be allowed to bring in extra heating options such as portable heaters. However, if you are vulnerable in any way, for example are pregnant, then you may be sent home to protect your health, and this would usually be on full pay.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 387, "answer_end": 1206, "text": "In most cases you are not automatically entitled to pay if you are unable to get to work because of travel disruption or bad weather. But that doesn't necessarily mean you will lose out. If your employer normally provides your travel to work and this has been cancelled because of the bad weather you should still be paid, according to the employment advice and conciliation service Acas. Some jobs may also have a specific clause written into their contracts, or have a collective agreement in place, that an employer will pay you if you cannot get to work due to circumstances beyond your control. Some employers might also make discretionary, informal arrangements. For example, they may let you work from home, or agree that you can make up the missed time at a later date. However, they are not obliged to do this."}], "question": "Do I still get paid?", "id": "263_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1207, "answer_end": 1563, "text": "Your employer can ask you to take a day of paid holiday - but only if they give you sufficient warning. The law states that you must be given a warning period of \"at least\" double the length of annual leave you are being asked to take. So, if your employer wants you to take one day's annual leave, for example, they would need to give you two days notice."}], "question": "Can my employer force me to take a day off as holiday?", "id": "263_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1564, "answer_end": 1944, "text": "In these circumstances, you are entitled to be paid. In addition, your employer cannot require you to take the time as annual leave. But don't rush out to make snow angels or have a snowball fight just yet. Your employer can still ask you to work from home, or ask you to go to another workplace that is open if the business has one, according to government advice website Gov.uk."}], "question": "What if my workplace is closed?", "id": "263_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1945, "answer_end": 2493, "text": "Employees have the right to take unpaid time off to deal with emergency situations for their children or other dependants. Lawyers suggest that a school being shut at short notice is likely to be considered an emergency. Strictly, the day would be unpaid but not all employers would take this approach. Acas advises you talk to your employer as soon as you can to explain that you need to take time off and the likely length of the absence. It says one option is that you jointly agree to take the day as annual leave so you do not miss out on pay."}], "question": "My child's school is closed due to snow: can I take the day off?", "id": "263_3"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2494, "answer_end": 3397, "text": "Not necessarily. The Health and Safety Executive recommends a minimum temperature of 16C for offices where the work is deskbound and fairly sedentary. If the work requires physical effort, the minimum recommended temperature is 13C. These temperatures are not a legal requirement but your employer has a duty to provide a \"reasonable\" temperature in the workplace. But as anyone who's had a row over the office thermostat knows, what feels reasonable to one person may require another to wear their coat in the office. If low temperatures make it unsafe for workers, then Acas says you should be allowed to wear warmer clothing, take extra breaks to make hot drinks and also be allowed to bring in extra heating options such as portable heaters. However, if you are vulnerable in any way, for example are pregnant, then you may be sent home to protect your health, and this would usually be on full pay."}], "question": "My office is freezing - can I go home?", "id": "263_4"}]}]}, {"title": "Red tide: Florida powerless to stem killer algae bloom", "date": "24 August 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "In Florida, the uncontrolled growth of an alga known as \"red tide\" has the state in emergency. The beaches of pristine waters now have a dark colour. The red tide has left tons of dead animals, has affected local businesses and has worried the inhabitants who do not know how long this phenomenon will last. Sanibel Island, a place of turquoise beaches on the Florida Gulf Coast, looks desolate these days. The palm trees, the summer houses and the colours of the tropics promise a perfect vacation, but the illusion disappears just when you reach the shore. There, the breeze brings a penetrating stench of rotten fish and the water, which is usually crystal blue, now has a copper brown colour. Dozens of dead fish float in the surf. \"When the concentration of red tide is high it kills everything,\" says Dr Rick Bartleson, research scientist at The Sanibel Captiva Conservation Foundation Marine Laboratory (SCCF). The \"red tide\" Mr Bartleson refers to is a toxic microscopic alga, Karenia brevis, which every year comes naturally to the Gulf of Mexico. \"This red tide has been off the charts,\" says Dr Bartleson, who has been studying the phenomenon for several years. It has lasted much longer and spread much more than usual. This season the toxic algae began in October 2017 and has since expanded by about 150 miles (240km) on Florida's west coast. The situation is so serious that Rick Scott, Florida's Governor, has declared a state of emergency due to impacts of the red tide in seven counties that include Collier, Lee, Charlotte, Sarasota, Manatee, Hillsborough and Pinellas. Since November 2017, the red tide has taken a toll on the marine life around this extremely diverse paradise. At least 29 manatees are confirmed to have died due to the toxin by the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC). Seventy-four more deaths are being investigated. The FWC has documented 588 stranded sea turtles and attributes 318 of them to the red tide. But the red tide can also affect people. According to the National Oceanic Service, sea waves can cause K. brevis cells to release toxins into the air, causing skin irritations and respiratory problems. For people with chronic conditions such as asthma, the red tide can make them very sick. The red tide is what scientists call a \"harmful alga bloom\". According to the FWC, there are many types of red tide in different parts of the world, but K. brevis is found almost exclusively in the Gulf of Mexico. The red tide occurs naturally, but scientists believe that human action worsens the problem. Year-round, K. brevis can be found in concentrations of 1,000 cells per litre of water. According to Mr Bartleson, who navigates every day around Sanibel beaches to monitor the K. brevis, a concentration of one million K. brevis cells per litre of water \"kills everything\". In recent measurements, he has found up to 50 million K. brevis cells per litre of water. \"We have never seen numbers likes this before,\" he says. This exaggerated growth of algae has been linked to water contaminated with fertilisers used in agriculture, which reached the sea through several canals that pump residues on the west coast of Florida. The red tide has also stained the waters at Fort Myers Beach, 30 minutes away from Sanibel Island. But here there's another problem: the beach is full of another type of algae, a much larger seaweed that piles up on the shore. \"It's also a consequence of nutrient loading,\" Dr Bartleson explains, \"the grazers that could keep it in check have been killed or displaced by low salinity water or killed or disabled by red tide.\" The seaweed spreads like a carpet along miles of beach. The bloom is proving to be a blight on tourism. \"A lot of people come from up north and since they are coming for the beach, they don't have anything to do,\" says Neiva Romero, who works in a Mexican restaurant close to the beach. \"We don't have people at the restaurant, it's really bad.\" Tourists who stop coming will avoid an unpleasant experience, but locals have no choice but to deal with the tide. John Mayberry, a native from Fort Myers, says that although in recent days it has improved, a couple of weeks ago the smell of dead fish was so strong that it reached his car while driving near the bridge that leads to the beach. \"It's depressing,\" he says. It is not possible to predict exactly when it will disappear, because the red tide presence depends on factors such as sunlight, the amount of nutrients and the salinity of the water, as well as the speed and direction of the wind and sea currents. Combating seaweed is not easy either. It is not enough to eliminate the organism; you also have to remove the toxin from the water. The FWC is clear about this: \"Presently, there is no practical and acceptable way to control or kill red tide blooms.\" Under that scenario, for Mr Bartleson at least part of the solution seems obvious. \"We can't control the currents, we can't control the winds,\" he says. \"The only thing you can do is reduce nutrients [released to the water].\" Daniel Medina, a captain who rents his boat for tourists who come to fish in Fort Myers, says that in recent days he has lost several trips because people are simply not coming. \"I've been in the area for just under 10 years,\" he says. \"This is the worst case [of red tide] I've seen.\" \"People come down here for the water - that's what makes Florida so great. If we don't have that, what do we have?\"", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 2253, "answer_end": 3183, "text": "The red tide is what scientists call a \"harmful alga bloom\". According to the FWC, there are many types of red tide in different parts of the world, but K. brevis is found almost exclusively in the Gulf of Mexico. The red tide occurs naturally, but scientists believe that human action worsens the problem. Year-round, K. brevis can be found in concentrations of 1,000 cells per litre of water. According to Mr Bartleson, who navigates every day around Sanibel beaches to monitor the K. brevis, a concentration of one million K. brevis cells per litre of water \"kills everything\". In recent measurements, he has found up to 50 million K. brevis cells per litre of water. \"We have never seen numbers likes this before,\" he says. This exaggerated growth of algae has been linked to water contaminated with fertilisers used in agriculture, which reached the sea through several canals that pump residues on the west coast of Florida."}], "question": "What is the red tide?", "id": "264_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 4329, "answer_end": 5456, "text": "It is not possible to predict exactly when it will disappear, because the red tide presence depends on factors such as sunlight, the amount of nutrients and the salinity of the water, as well as the speed and direction of the wind and sea currents. Combating seaweed is not easy either. It is not enough to eliminate the organism; you also have to remove the toxin from the water. The FWC is clear about this: \"Presently, there is no practical and acceptable way to control or kill red tide blooms.\" Under that scenario, for Mr Bartleson at least part of the solution seems obvious. \"We can't control the currents, we can't control the winds,\" he says. \"The only thing you can do is reduce nutrients [released to the water].\" Daniel Medina, a captain who rents his boat for tourists who come to fish in Fort Myers, says that in recent days he has lost several trips because people are simply not coming. \"I've been in the area for just under 10 years,\" he says. \"This is the worst case [of red tide] I've seen.\" \"People come down here for the water - that's what makes Florida so great. If we don't have that, what do we have?\""}], "question": "How long will it last?", "id": "264_1"}]}]}, {"title": "Myanmar Rohingya: What will happen next after damning UN report?", "date": "27 August 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "After the United Nations released a damning report into the violence against Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar, we asked BBC South East Asia correspondent Jonathan Head and Geneva correspondent Imogen Foulkes what could happen next. Jonathan Head: The report is unusually strong; the authors do not mince their words, describing the Myanmar military in the most damning terms. They say there is a strong case for a genocide prosecution, and emphasise that accountability for the military inside Myanmar is impossible, and must therefore be pursued by the international community. Expect more energetic diplomacy at the UN, both in the Security Council and the General Assembly, to find a way to do this. The Myanmar government has rejected previous international reports documenting abuses against the Rohingya, but this one, compiled over more than a year, headed by three respected international legal experts, and likely to get public support at the UN, will be harder to dismiss. The report also condemns all of Myanmar's own inquiries into the abuses as worthless, making it harder for the government to take refuge behind them. The report compounds Myanmar's international isolation and puts its military leaders in the very worst category of human rights abusers, but will not significantly change the dynamics inside the country. Imogen Foulkes: The UN investigators say the situation in Myanmar should be referred to the International Criminal Court, a move which would have to be approved by the UN Security Council. It is more than likely that one of the five permanent council members, China, would veto such a move. Failing a referral to the ICC, the investigators suggest an independent criminal tribunal should be set up, as with Rwanda or former Yugoslavia. Such a tribunal could in theory be created by the UN General Assembly, avoiding a Security Council veto. For a tribunal to really function, however, Myanmar would have to co-operate, by ensuring that those indicted did turn up for trial. It took many years, and promises of a closer relationship with the EU, before Serbia and Croatia handed over their suspected war criminals to the Hague's tribunal. Imogen Foulkes: By naming six senior military figures, including the commander in chief of Myanmar's armed forces and his deputy, this UN team has gone further than any other. There have been many investigations into war crimes in Syria, and we know there is a long list of suspects, including, it is thought, very senior figures in the Syrian military and the government. But their names have never been made public. The Myanmar investigators must believe they can achieve something by naming names. Within hours of the report being published, there have already been consequences. The European Union is to hold a meeting this week, and will hear in person from the UN team. Facebook has removed accounts associated with Myanmar military leaders. A key concern in the UN report is the dissemination of misinformation designed to incite hate. Other possible actions could include sanctions, something the UN investigators also call for. The EU, or the UN Security Council, could impose travel bans on those named in the report, and could also freeze their financial assets. Imogen Foulkes: No-one can be convicted without the ICC or another form of tribunal. The UN team can investigate, but not prosecute. But the sheer weight of evidence gathered suggests there will have to be some form of prosecution, although it could be many years away. Jonathan Head: It's very unlikely Aung Sang Suu Kyi will face prosecution. The report acknowledges that the civilian government has no authority over the military in Myanmar, and that there is no evidence it knew of the military's plans to attack the Rohingya population. It does accuse her of failing to use her moral authority to curb the abuses, and says her government contributed to the crimes in Rakhine state by spreading false narratives, blocking independent investigations and denying the military's wrongdoing. The authors say their main focus for prosecutions must be on the military, which it finds primarily responsible. Perhaps the worst effect of this for Ms Suu Kyi is that she now finds herself in the same camp as men accused of the very worst human rights crimes, because she has insisted on backing the military's version of events in Rakhine. She could conceivably have supported the military's right to respond robustly to attacks by Rohingya militants last year while leaving the door open to credible investigations of human rights violations. She did not, and her international reputation has gone from being tarnished last year, to being shattered by this report. Imogen Foulkes: The UN may be hoping that this report helps Aung San Suu Kyi understand that if she wants to stay in power, or to exercise power more meaningfully than she has done so far, then she must support war crimes prosecutions. A first step could be for her to back the investigators' call for the resignation of Commander in Chief Min Aung Hlaing. Imogen Foulkes: Genocide is a very specific crime under international law. To show that genocide has occurred, intent to exterminate an entire group must be shown. Random violence, an army rampaging through a village, would not constitute genocide. But a co-ordinated campaign, with a clear line of command from senior generals to troops on the ground to persecute, kill, or deport a group (usually based on race, religion or ethnicity) would. In the case of Myanmar, the investigators said that factors \"pointing at such intent include the broader oppressive context and hate rhetoric; specific utterances of commanders and direct perpetrators; exclusionary policies, including to alter the demographic composition of Rakhine state; the level of organization indicating a plan for destruction; and the extreme scale and brutality of the violence\". Read more: Why the word 'genocide' is used so carefully Jonathan Head: The situation for Rohingya on both sides of the border with Bangladesh is dire. Inside Rakhine they live in fear, without legal status and subject to arbitrary restrictions on their movements and possibly worse. About 140,000 are confined to dismal camps, where they fled in the communal violence of 2012, whereas the much smaller number of Rakhine people displaced by the conflict have been re-housed or able to go back to their homes. In Bangladesh the population of refugees is many times too large for the area of land they occupy. They are sustained by a massive international aid effort, which at least offers food, shelter, education and medical treatment - the last two near-impossible to obtain when they lived in Myanmar. But they are constantly vulnerable to weather, environmental degradation, the abuses of organised gangs within the camps, and to the possibility that Bangladesh may one day make good its threat to move them all to a semi-submerged island which is even less suitable. The two countries have agreed to repatriate the refugees, but Myanmar is still tightly restricting access to Rakhine for most international agencies, and unwilling to address the terrible abuses that forced the Rohingya to flee. Buddhist resentment of the Rohingya in Rakhine has hardened and no effort is being made to persuade them to accept them back. In these conditions a return to Rakhine for the Rohingya is impossible to imagine, and they are stuck in limbo. A huge diaspora living in squalid camps can spell trouble in the long-term, as the fate of Palestinian refugees suggests.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 227, "answer_end": 2169, "text": "Jonathan Head: The report is unusually strong; the authors do not mince their words, describing the Myanmar military in the most damning terms. They say there is a strong case for a genocide prosecution, and emphasise that accountability for the military inside Myanmar is impossible, and must therefore be pursued by the international community. Expect more energetic diplomacy at the UN, both in the Security Council and the General Assembly, to find a way to do this. The Myanmar government has rejected previous international reports documenting abuses against the Rohingya, but this one, compiled over more than a year, headed by three respected international legal experts, and likely to get public support at the UN, will be harder to dismiss. The report also condemns all of Myanmar's own inquiries into the abuses as worthless, making it harder for the government to take refuge behind them. The report compounds Myanmar's international isolation and puts its military leaders in the very worst category of human rights abusers, but will not significantly change the dynamics inside the country. Imogen Foulkes: The UN investigators say the situation in Myanmar should be referred to the International Criminal Court, a move which would have to be approved by the UN Security Council. It is more than likely that one of the five permanent council members, China, would veto such a move. Failing a referral to the ICC, the investigators suggest an independent criminal tribunal should be set up, as with Rwanda or former Yugoslavia. Such a tribunal could in theory be created by the UN General Assembly, avoiding a Security Council veto. For a tribunal to really function, however, Myanmar would have to co-operate, by ensuring that those indicted did turn up for trial. It took many years, and promises of a closer relationship with the EU, before Serbia and Croatia handed over their suspected war criminals to the Hague's tribunal."}], "question": "Does this report change anything?", "id": "265_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2170, "answer_end": 3243, "text": "Imogen Foulkes: By naming six senior military figures, including the commander in chief of Myanmar's armed forces and his deputy, this UN team has gone further than any other. There have been many investigations into war crimes in Syria, and we know there is a long list of suspects, including, it is thought, very senior figures in the Syrian military and the government. But their names have never been made public. The Myanmar investigators must believe they can achieve something by naming names. Within hours of the report being published, there have already been consequences. The European Union is to hold a meeting this week, and will hear in person from the UN team. Facebook has removed accounts associated with Myanmar military leaders. A key concern in the UN report is the dissemination of misinformation designed to incite hate. Other possible actions could include sanctions, something the UN investigators also call for. The EU, or the UN Security Council, could impose travel bans on those named in the report, and could also freeze their financial assets."}], "question": "Has the UN played its trump card? Are there precedents?", "id": "265_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3244, "answer_end": 5061, "text": "Imogen Foulkes: No-one can be convicted without the ICC or another form of tribunal. The UN team can investigate, but not prosecute. But the sheer weight of evidence gathered suggests there will have to be some form of prosecution, although it could be many years away. Jonathan Head: It's very unlikely Aung Sang Suu Kyi will face prosecution. The report acknowledges that the civilian government has no authority over the military in Myanmar, and that there is no evidence it knew of the military's plans to attack the Rohingya population. It does accuse her of failing to use her moral authority to curb the abuses, and says her government contributed to the crimes in Rakhine state by spreading false narratives, blocking independent investigations and denying the military's wrongdoing. The authors say their main focus for prosecutions must be on the military, which it finds primarily responsible. Perhaps the worst effect of this for Ms Suu Kyi is that she now finds herself in the same camp as men accused of the very worst human rights crimes, because she has insisted on backing the military's version of events in Rakhine. She could conceivably have supported the military's right to respond robustly to attacks by Rohingya militants last year while leaving the door open to credible investigations of human rights violations. She did not, and her international reputation has gone from being tarnished last year, to being shattered by this report. Imogen Foulkes: The UN may be hoping that this report helps Aung San Suu Kyi understand that if she wants to stay in power, or to exercise power more meaningfully than she has done so far, then she must support war crimes prosecutions. A first step could be for her to back the investigators' call for the resignation of Commander in Chief Min Aung Hlaing."}], "question": "Could anyone - including Aung Sang Suu Kyi - actually be convicted?", "id": "265_2"}]}]}, {"title": "Oxford Union debate: President resigns over blind student row", "date": "20 November 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "The president of Oxford Union has resigned over a row involving a blind student who was \"violently\" removed from a society debate. Ebenezer Azamati was \"accosted\" by a security guard when he tried to return to a seat he had earlier reserved before the discussion on 17 October. On Saturday, he was cleared of any wrongdoing. President of the society Brendan McGrath apologised for his \"mistakes\" and resigned. Postgraduate student Mr Azamati, from Ghana, said his treatment made him feel \"unwelcome in the union, Oxford and even the country\". After the charges against Mr Azamati were successfully appealed, Mr McGrath apologised to the Africa Society \"for the distress and any reputational damage\" to the student. Helen Mountfield QC, representing Mr Azamati, had said there were ongoing talks with the union over what steps it could take to address the \"failings\" exposed by the case. In a letter to the standing committee, posted on Oxford Union's Facebook page, Mr McGrath said: \"For all my shortcomings, and all of my mistakes, I apologise profusely and unqualifiedly.\" He said managing the response to Mr Azamati's eviction from the debate had been \"the most difficult thing I've ever been charged with\". The Oxford Union, which is independent from the university, has a tradition of hosting debates and speakers stretching back to 1823. It is one of the most prestigious societies in the world and its debating chamber intentionally resembles the House of Commons. Former prime minister Harold Macmillan once said the union is \"the last bastion of free speech in the Western world\". The union invites world leaders, politicians, celebrities and controversial speakers to give speeches to its members, who are mostly current or former Oxford students. Past presidents include Benazir Bhutto, Boris Johnson, Gyles Brandreth and former Liberal leader Jeremy Thorpe. Mr McGrath said he had been asked by those present to bring the disciplinary complaint against him on behalf of a staff member but added he \"should have recognised a wider obligation\". \"The right response would not have begun with prosecution and apportioning blame; it would have addressed immediately the extreme distress of all involved,\" he continued. Before signing his resignation, he added he had proposed \"a full, public and independent review\" of the union's policies in relation to disability, how it trains its staff and whether the current security system \"is fit for the purpose of a student society\". Oxford University previously tweeted its support for Mr Azamati, and said it shared \"the widespread outrage regarding the unacceptable treatment\" of the student.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1211, "answer_end": 1869, "text": "The Oxford Union, which is independent from the university, has a tradition of hosting debates and speakers stretching back to 1823. It is one of the most prestigious societies in the world and its debating chamber intentionally resembles the House of Commons. Former prime minister Harold Macmillan once said the union is \"the last bastion of free speech in the Western world\". The union invites world leaders, politicians, celebrities and controversial speakers to give speeches to its members, who are mostly current or former Oxford students. Past presidents include Benazir Bhutto, Boris Johnson, Gyles Brandreth and former Liberal leader Jeremy Thorpe."}], "question": "What is the Oxford Union?", "id": "266_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Can we make fashion greener?", "date": "10 October 2017", "paragraphs": [{"context": "We continue to buy new clothes at an incredible rate. How can manufacturers reduce fashion's environmental footprint? According to the Valuing Our Clothes report analysing the contents of British wardrobes by the Waste Resources Action Programme (WRAP), we purchased 1,130,000 tonnes of new clothing last year in the UK. Meanwhile, an estimated PS30bn worth of our clothing hangs about gathering dust because we simply don't have time to wear it all or don't really like what we're buying. This is the epoch of \"fast fashion\" - a rapid production system that promises quick turnaround of trends and low prices, with a supply chain that snakes through some of the lowest wage economies on Earth. Fast fashion brands dominate not just high streets, but our wardrobes and represent the three trillion dollar global fashion industry's greatest success story. But at what cost? The environmental footprint of today's fashion industry is extraordinary, making it one of the top five most polluting industries on earth, alongside the petrochemical industry. Many fashion industry insiders are seriously worried, not necessarily because they fret over greenhouse gases caused by the supply chain, but because there is now so much over-supply of fashion that it's becoming difficult to have a successful season - particularly as we now have 50 seasons rather than the traditional two of spring/summer and autumn/winter. Some commentators refer to today's relentless cycle as a \"supermarket of style\". But according to fashion theory, there are 101 steps to producing a garment from processes such as dyeing and finishing to pressing the garment ready for retail. If you're a pessimist that's 101 chances to introduce pollution, exploitation and planetary degradation. If however you're an optimist, that's 101 opportunities to take the impact out of fashion! So for a new episode of BBC Radio 4's Costing the Earth, I travelled to Milan Fashion week to meet some disruptors (and definitely optimists) who believe we are on the cusp of a green revolution that can turn the industry around. At the Green Carpet Fashion Awards Italia, that took place at the famous La Scala opera theatre during Milan Fashion Week it was difficult not to be blinded by the super star wattage pacing the deliberately \"green\" carpet (manufactured from old fishing nets and carpets). But among the stars - Gisele Bundchen, Naomi Campbell, Colin Firth, Giorgio Armani were all in attendance - were a number of eco innovation show stoppers. One model wore an eye catching dress made from apple leather and creating by emerging designer, Matje Benedetti who explained how waste apple pulp from the apple industry is mixed with polyurethane to develop the fibre. The inclusion of ecological innovative fibres at this level - awards on the night also went to Orange Fibre, a company spinning yarn from citrus waste - points to serious investment in revolutionary new materials. Case and point is provided by New York biotech start-up Modern Meadows. Here biologists work alongside creative director, Suzanne Lee and fermentation engineers to bio-fabricate leather in the laboratory. This research and development promises a future where cows will not be required for a handbag and where fashion design intersects with biology. Meanwhile, Californian start up Bolt Threads has raised millions of dollars to bring its brewed spider silk to market (Stella McCartney has designed with the material) and fashion entrepreneur Miroslava Duma recently launched a $50 million fund and accelerator dedicated to bringing new sustainable fibres and fabrics to market. In many ways this fibre revolution is long overdue. The fashion industry, for all its claims of being cutting edge, is remarkably conservative when it comes to fabrics. Humanity is almost exclusive clothed in polyester and cotton fibres, both of which have shocking environmental profiles. This also means that the last significant innovation in materials was polyester, circa 1943! But what we're also seeing here are levels of and investment in disruptive technology and innovation that have previously been applied to the technology and transport sector, applied to fashion. This is potentially a game changer. However, we do still need to address the issue of our own over consumption, an area where we've made little headway. But there's innovation here too: designer Danit Peleg 3D prints her collections and thinks in the foreseeable future we will be able to effectively design out shopping for fashion by 3D printing to order. It's another innovation to get excited by and a disruption that could represent an enormous gift to the biosphere given the impact of our consumption. But I'd have to concede it's early days for all of this innovation. So amid such headline-grabbing, tech-fuelled disruption is there a more immediate, human, low-tech answer right in front of us? Psychologist Professor Carolyn Mair has observed that we're inclined to keep stuff circulating in our wardrobe to which we've attached a strong personal narrative. Mair told me about her favourite example: \"a pair of lucky pants\". Many people secretly own a pair to which they attach talismanic significance and they have huge longevity! Behaviours like these can turn fashion green. WRAP research shows that extending the life of clothes by an extra nine months of active use, in the UK, reduces the carbon, water and waste impacts of that garment by around 20-30%. Standby then for a wardrobe future where you'll be able to access cutting edge bio-fabricated novel material that's been 3D printed in a pair of very lucky pants. That's what I call fashion forward. Costing the Earth is available now and on BBC Radio 4 on Thursday 11th Oct at 9pm", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1492, "answer_end": 2940, "text": "But according to fashion theory, there are 101 steps to producing a garment from processes such as dyeing and finishing to pressing the garment ready for retail. If you're a pessimist that's 101 chances to introduce pollution, exploitation and planetary degradation. If however you're an optimist, that's 101 opportunities to take the impact out of fashion! So for a new episode of BBC Radio 4's Costing the Earth, I travelled to Milan Fashion week to meet some disruptors (and definitely optimists) who believe we are on the cusp of a green revolution that can turn the industry around. At the Green Carpet Fashion Awards Italia, that took place at the famous La Scala opera theatre during Milan Fashion Week it was difficult not to be blinded by the super star wattage pacing the deliberately \"green\" carpet (manufactured from old fishing nets and carpets). But among the stars - Gisele Bundchen, Naomi Campbell, Colin Firth, Giorgio Armani were all in attendance - were a number of eco innovation show stoppers. One model wore an eye catching dress made from apple leather and creating by emerging designer, Matje Benedetti who explained how waste apple pulp from the apple industry is mixed with polyurethane to develop the fibre. The inclusion of ecological innovative fibres at this level - awards on the night also went to Orange Fibre, a company spinning yarn from citrus waste - points to serious investment in revolutionary new materials."}], "question": "Cause for optimism?", "id": "267_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Islamic finance faces growth challenges", "date": "5 December 2012", "paragraphs": [{"context": "A steady flow of women wearing hijabs, or Muslim head veils, enter HSBC's Amanah branch in the Malaysian capital of Kuala Lumpur during lunch hour. It's brisk business for the UK lender, which was one of the first global banks to offer Islamic finance - a field that is slowly starting to rival conventional banking in predominantly Muslim countries such as this one. Islamic finance is based on gaining profits in a socially responsible manner. Each transaction is underpinned by real trade or business activities that do not involve anything forbidden under Sharia, such as gambling or alcohol. The global industry is estimated to be worth $1.3 trillion (PS800bn; 1tn euros), and is growing at a rate of between 15% and 20% per year. However, HSBC's business has not been as profitable in other countries as it has been in Malaysia. In October, it announced that it will close its Islamic finance operations in six markets, maintaining its presence only in Saudi Arabia, Malaysia, and a scaled-down operation in Indonesia. Analysts say the problem that firms such as HSBC are facing in expanding their Islamic finance business is that different Muslim countries interpret Islamic law differently. For example, contracts drawn up in Malaysia may not be recognised in Middle Eastern states, taking months to resolve. Even for local players, the biggest challenge is not having clear rules and regulations when entering overseas markets. \"In Malaysia we have best practices. We have existing rules and regulation but what we have additionally for Islamic banking is clear regulations that allow us to have a better turnaround time for products and services,\" says Muzaffar Hisham, head of Maybank Islamic, the Islamic finance arm of Malaysian bank Maybank. \"This is what we hope to have in other countries as well.\" Maybank Islamic is primarily focused on South East Asia, operating in Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia. It is also looking to expand in Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and London. A lack of standardisation is not the only hurdle the sector is facing. For an industry that is supposed to be built on ethics, there are questions about the integrity of some of its products. According to the executive director of the International Shariah Research Academy for Islamic finance, Mohamad Akram Laldin, 80% of Islamic financial products are merely Islamised versions of conventional ones. \"In terms of compliance, it is compliant. But is it the best option? If you ask me, not necessarily,\" he says. There is also a shortage of expertise in the field, which results in many Sharia scholars sitting on multiple boards. Some have also been shareholders of the banks they are advising, says Mr Laldin. \"I am not saying that it is common but it does happen,\" he says. To prevent these types of conflicts of interest, Mr Laldin is leading the negotiations with his counterpart in Saudi Arabia to create common regulations for Sharia scholars and to set up a global certification board. \"This is important because we want to boost the confidence of the investors and we want to be transparent,\" he says. \"At the end of the day, this is what Islam is propagating.\" And he believes reform needs to begin in the classroom. Interest in the industry is clearly growing, with students from around the world studying at the International Centre For Education In Islamic Finance in Kuala Lumpur, where Mr Laldin's research institute is based, Many aspire to become Sharia scholars - the people who determine what is or is not allowed in Islamic finance. They form the backbone of the industry, but there are varying degrees of supervision of these religious experts. Syed Aun Raza Razvi hopes to be one someday and is currently studying for a doctoral degree in Islamic finance. As a student from Pakistan, he thinks common rules in the industry would be a good move for everyone. \"That would basically mean that my skill set is applicable to any region I go to instead of my skill set being 50% applicable in one jurisdiction and 30% in another jurisdiction,\" he says. But standardisation in the industry may not happen by the time Mr Syed Aun graduates. Talks have been stalled for the past five years because there is a perception that Malaysia is less strict in its interpretation of Islamic law compared to the Middle East. That leaves the growth of the industry dependent on how well Mr Syed Aun, and other potential sharia scholars, can work together.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1986, "answer_end": 3157, "text": "A lack of standardisation is not the only hurdle the sector is facing. For an industry that is supposed to be built on ethics, there are questions about the integrity of some of its products. According to the executive director of the International Shariah Research Academy for Islamic finance, Mohamad Akram Laldin, 80% of Islamic financial products are merely Islamised versions of conventional ones. \"In terms of compliance, it is compliant. But is it the best option? If you ask me, not necessarily,\" he says. There is also a shortage of expertise in the field, which results in many Sharia scholars sitting on multiple boards. Some have also been shareholders of the banks they are advising, says Mr Laldin. \"I am not saying that it is common but it does happen,\" he says. To prevent these types of conflicts of interest, Mr Laldin is leading the negotiations with his counterpart in Saudi Arabia to create common regulations for Sharia scholars and to set up a global certification board. \"This is important because we want to boost the confidence of the investors and we want to be transparent,\" he says. \"At the end of the day, this is what Islam is propagating.\""}], "question": "Best option?", "id": "268_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Bloody Sunday: What next after Soldier F charged with murder?", "date": "14 March 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "On Thursday, the Public Prosecution Service (PPS) confirmed it would prosecute one former paratrooper over killings on Bloody Sunday. The Army veteran, known only as Soldier F, is to be prosecuted for the murders of James Wray and William McKinney. He has also been charged with four attempted murders on Bloody Sunday in Londonderry in 1972. The sole prosecution is seen as a \"terrible disappointment\" by some of the families of the 13 people killed. There are now a number questions about what will happen to Soldier F and the Bloody Sunday families following the landmark announcement by the PPS. No. The long-running investigation by Lord Saville ran under the terms of the Tribunal of Evidence Act 1921. As such, it was not bound by strict rules of admissibility of evidence that criminal proceedings are governed by. So while Saville may have reached certain conclusions about the soldiers, the PPS could not rely on the same evidence for criminal proceedings - and effectively had to prove the cases afresh. Yes. All families have the right to formally request a review of a PPS decision not to prosecute. If that independent assessment of the decision does not recommend a reversal, there are other legal options. An official summons to appear before a district judge will be served. When he receives that letter, proceedings become active. The case will then progress through the magistrates' court before a decision is taken on whether it will be passed to the crown court for trial. While family members might like to see Soldier F brought back to Derry to face justice, security concerns would likely prevent the trial being heard in the city's Bishop Street courthouse - a building targeted by a dissident republican car bomb earlier this year. Belfast Crown Court is a more realistic venue. This is where other major Troubles related cases are held. The building is linked to a local police station, making it easier to transport high-profile defendants to court. This is a timely question. For decades, any cases linked to the Troubles have been held without a jury. A judge instead decides guilt or innocence in proceedings formerly known as Diplock trials. However, another military veteran who is facing a conflict-related attempted murder charge - 77-year-old Dennis Hutchings - is currently challenging the decision to sit without a trial in the Supreme Court. The judgment in that case may well impact whether Soldier F's trial will be tried by judge or jury. Anonymity orders covering 17 soldiers and two suspected Official IRA men were imposed during the Bloody Sunday inquiry and remain in place. The decision on whether Soldier F's identity will continue to be kept from the public will be addressed during the future court proceedings. Northern Ireland Secretary Karen Bradley confirmed on Wednesday that Bloody Sunday is not currently covered by legislation dealing with reduced jail terms for Troubles-related offences. However, she noted there are plans to change the law, which were agreed five years ago. Existing legislation only covers offences committed between 1973 and 1998 - the Bloody Sunday killings happened in 1972. A new start date of 1968 is proposed in legislation yet to be implemented. This remains an issue of intense controversy in Northern Ireland. Last year, the government angered some of its own backbenchers, and Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson, when it did not include a statute of limitations on prosecutions of ex-service personnel among proposals for dealing with Northern Ireland's past. Karen Bradley said such a measure would be unacceptable, because it would also have to cover terror suspects accused of historic crimes. The prospect of a statute of limitations met with vocal opposition in Northern Ireland. Both Sinn Fein and the DUP voiced concern, as did the Irish Government and representatives of victims..", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 600, "answer_end": 1014, "text": "No. The long-running investigation by Lord Saville ran under the terms of the Tribunal of Evidence Act 1921. As such, it was not bound by strict rules of admissibility of evidence that criminal proceedings are governed by. So while Saville may have reached certain conclusions about the soldiers, the PPS could not rely on the same evidence for criminal proceedings - and effectively had to prove the cases afresh."}], "question": "Were prosecutors able to rely on the testimony of the Bloody Sunday Inquiry?", "id": "269_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1015, "answer_end": 1221, "text": "Yes. All families have the right to formally request a review of a PPS decision not to prosecute. If that independent assessment of the decision does not recommend a reversal, there are other legal options."}], "question": "Can the families challenge decisions not to prosecute?", "id": "269_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1222, "answer_end": 1493, "text": "An official summons to appear before a district judge will be served. When he receives that letter, proceedings become active. The case will then progress through the magistrates' court before a decision is taken on whether it will be passed to the crown court for trial."}], "question": "What next for Soldier F?", "id": "269_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1494, "answer_end": 1977, "text": "While family members might like to see Soldier F brought back to Derry to face justice, security concerns would likely prevent the trial being heard in the city's Bishop Street courthouse - a building targeted by a dissident republican car bomb earlier this year. Belfast Crown Court is a more realistic venue. This is where other major Troubles related cases are held. The building is linked to a local police station, making it easier to transport high-profile defendants to court."}], "question": "Where would a potential trial be held?", "id": "269_3"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1978, "answer_end": 2480, "text": "This is a timely question. For decades, any cases linked to the Troubles have been held without a jury. A judge instead decides guilt or innocence in proceedings formerly known as Diplock trials. However, another military veteran who is facing a conflict-related attempted murder charge - 77-year-old Dennis Hutchings - is currently challenging the decision to sit without a trial in the Supreme Court. The judgment in that case may well impact whether Soldier F's trial will be tried by judge or jury."}], "question": "Will there be a jury?", "id": "269_4"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2481, "answer_end": 2761, "text": "Anonymity orders covering 17 soldiers and two suspected Official IRA men were imposed during the Bloody Sunday inquiry and remain in place. The decision on whether Soldier F's identity will continue to be kept from the public will be addressed during the future court proceedings."}], "question": "Will the soldier's identity be revealed?", "id": "269_5"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2762, "answer_end": 3231, "text": "Northern Ireland Secretary Karen Bradley confirmed on Wednesday that Bloody Sunday is not currently covered by legislation dealing with reduced jail terms for Troubles-related offences. However, she noted there are plans to change the law, which were agreed five years ago. Existing legislation only covers offences committed between 1973 and 1998 - the Bloody Sunday killings happened in 1972. A new start date of 1968 is proposed in legislation yet to be implemented."}], "question": "Would Soldier F be eligible for a reduced sentence, like paramilitaries found guilty of Troubles-related offences?", "id": "269_6"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3232, "answer_end": 3877, "text": "This remains an issue of intense controversy in Northern Ireland. Last year, the government angered some of its own backbenchers, and Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson, when it did not include a statute of limitations on prosecutions of ex-service personnel among proposals for dealing with Northern Ireland's past. Karen Bradley said such a measure would be unacceptable, because it would also have to cover terror suspects accused of historic crimes. The prospect of a statute of limitations met with vocal opposition in Northern Ireland. Both Sinn Fein and the DUP voiced concern, as did the Irish Government and representatives of victims.."}], "question": "Could there be a future amnesty for veterans?", "id": "269_7"}]}]}, {"title": "Syria conflict: First Russian planes leave after Putin surprise move", "date": "15 March 2016", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Russian forces have started leaving Syria after Monday's surprise withdrawal announcement by President Vladimir Putin. Russian defence ministry video showed the first group of aircraft taking off from Hmeimim air base in Syria on Tuesday morning and later in flight. But Russia will continue air strikes, and keep several hundred personnel and air defence systems, officials said. Peace talks aimed at resolving the conflict are entering a second day. UN Special Envoy Staffan de Mistura, who is mediating in the talks, welcomed the Russian decision. \"The announcement by President Putin on the very day of the beginning of this round of Intra-Syrian Talks in Geneva is a significant development, which we hope will have a positive impact on the progress of the negotiations,\" he said. The Russian force reduction was announced during a meeting between Mr Putin and his defence and foreign ministers. Russia is a key ally of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, and his office sought to reject speculation there was a rift between the two countries, saying the move was mutually agreed. The Russian air campaign started last September, tipping the balance in favour of the Syrian government and allowing it to recapture territory from rebels, but on Tuesday the defence ministry announced the withdrawal. \"The first group of Russian planes has flown out of the Hmeimim air base for their permanent bases on the territory of the Russian Federation,\" it said in a statement (in Russian). Aircraft from the base would make the flight to Russia - more than 5,000km - in small groups each led by Il-76 or Tu-154 transport planes, the statement said. They would then go their separate ways to their own bases after crossing the Russian border, it added. Su-24 tactical bombers, Su-25 attack fighters, Su-34 strike fighters and helicopters were returning home, the TV said. Mr Putin, however, said Hmeimim and Russia's Mediterranean naval base at Tartous would continue to operate as normal. Deputy Defence Minister Nikolay Pankov said some air strikes would continue. \"Certain positive results have been achieved... However, it is too early to talk about victory over terrorism. A Russian air group has the task of continuing to strike terrorist facilities,\" he said, quoted by Ria news agency. Russia's military intervention bolstered president Assad's forces on key front lines where they were close to collapse. Russia now wants to see an end to this war - and it is known to be concerned about the Syrian government's tough line on talks which have just resumed in Geneva, as well as president Assad's recent comments in an interview that he would one day take back, militarily, all the territory he lost. That is not a war president Mr Putin can afford to be part of. And he has a bigger game here - his wider relationship with the West and most of all Washington which is also anxious to find a way out of this crisis in Syria - as hard as that is. Another senior official, Federation Council defence committee head Viktor Ozerov, said as many as two battalions - some 800 servicemen - could remain in Syria after the withdrawal to guard the two bases, Interfax news agency reported. Military advisers training Syrian government troops would also stay, he added. Meanwhile Kremlin chief-of-staff Sergey Ivanov said Russia would keep its advanced S-400 surface-to-air missile system in place. \"We are leaving completely reliable cover for the remaining contingent... To effectively ensure security, including from the air, we need the most modern air defence systems,\" Russian media quoted him as saying. It is not clear how many military personnel Russia has deployed, but US estimates suggest the number ranges from 3,000 to 6,000, AP reports. Russia had long insisted its bombing campaign only targeted terrorist groups but Western powers had complained the raids hit political opponents of President Assad. In a statement, the Syrian government said the plan was agreed between the two countries. - Russian aircraft flew more than 9,000 sorties - Destroyed 209 oil production and transfer facilities - Helped Syrian government troops to retake 400 settlements - Helped Damascus to regain control over more than 10,000 sq km (3,860 sq miles) of territory Source: Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu, quoted by Russian media Most participants in the Syria conflict agreed to a cessation of hostilities, which has been largely holding despite reports of some violations on all sides. Meanwhile, the UN Commission of Inquiry on Syria has presented its report on war crimes committed by all sides in Syria's war to the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva. Its chairman Paulo Pinheiro said the task of pursuing war criminals should not wait for a final peace agreement as there was now \"hope of an end in sight\". In a phone call, Mr Putin and US President Barack Obama discussed the situation in Syria and the \"next steps required to fully implement the cessation of hostilities\" agreed last month, the White House said. The Kremlin said both \"called for an intensification of the process for a political settlement\" to the conflict. The Russian move has received a guarded welcome from Western diplomats and the Syrian opposition. An unnamed US official quoted by Reuters said Washington was encouraged by the Russian move, but it was too early to say what it means or what was behind it. Russia is one of President Bashar al-Assad's most important international backers and the survival of his government is critical to maintaining Russian interests in Syria. Russia has a key naval facility which it leases at the port of Tartus and has forces at the Hmeimim airbase in Latakia. In September 2015, with rebel forces advancing on Latakia, Russian forces launched an air campaign which President Vladimir Putin said was aimed at \"stabilising\" the Syrian government and creating conditions for \"a political compromise\" that would end the five-year conflict. In March 2016, Mr Putin ordered the \"main part\" of Russia's forces to withdraw from Syria, saying their mission had \"on the whole\" been accomplished. Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu said Russian aircraft had flown more than 9,000 sorties over almost six months, killing more than 2,000 \"bandits\" and helping Syrian government forces regain control of 10,000 sq km (3,860 sq miles) of territory, including 400 population centres. The claims have not yet been independently verified, but it is clear the air campaign turned the tide of the war in favour of Mr Assad, allowing Syrian government ground forces to regain territory around Latakia, in the southern province of Deraa and around the divided northern city of Aleppo. Moscow stressed that its air strikes only targeted \"terrorists\", but activists said Russian aircraft mainly bombed Western-backed rebel groups and civilian areas. In December, Amnesty International said Russian aircraft appeared to have directly attacked civilians by striking residential areas with no evident military target, which it warned might amount to war crimes. Russia's defence ministry dismissed the report as containing \"fake information\". However, the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported in early March that 1,733 civilians, including 429 children, had been killed in Russian air strikes, along with some 1,492 rebels and members of the al-Qaeda-affiliated al-Nusra Front, and 1,183 Islamic State (IS) militants.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 5385, "answer_end": 5952, "text": "Russia is one of President Bashar al-Assad's most important international backers and the survival of his government is critical to maintaining Russian interests in Syria. Russia has a key naval facility which it leases at the port of Tartus and has forces at the Hmeimim airbase in Latakia. In September 2015, with rebel forces advancing on Latakia, Russian forces launched an air campaign which President Vladimir Putin said was aimed at \"stabilising\" the Syrian government and creating conditions for \"a political compromise\" that would end the five-year conflict."}], "question": "Why did Russia launch an air campaign in Syria?", "id": "270_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 5953, "answer_end": 6675, "text": "In March 2016, Mr Putin ordered the \"main part\" of Russia's forces to withdraw from Syria, saying their mission had \"on the whole\" been accomplished. Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu said Russian aircraft had flown more than 9,000 sorties over almost six months, killing more than 2,000 \"bandits\" and helping Syrian government forces regain control of 10,000 sq km (3,860 sq miles) of territory, including 400 population centres. The claims have not yet been independently verified, but it is clear the air campaign turned the tide of the war in favour of Mr Assad, allowing Syrian government ground forces to regain territory around Latakia, in the southern province of Deraa and around the divided northern city of Aleppo."}], "question": "What does Russia say its intervention achieved?", "id": "270_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 6676, "answer_end": 7420, "text": "Moscow stressed that its air strikes only targeted \"terrorists\", but activists said Russian aircraft mainly bombed Western-backed rebel groups and civilian areas. In December, Amnesty International said Russian aircraft appeared to have directly attacked civilians by striking residential areas with no evident military target, which it warned might amount to war crimes. Russia's defence ministry dismissed the report as containing \"fake information\". However, the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported in early March that 1,733 civilians, including 429 children, had been killed in Russian air strikes, along with some 1,492 rebels and members of the al-Qaeda-affiliated al-Nusra Front, and 1,183 Islamic State (IS) militants."}], "question": "What do critics say?", "id": "270_2"}]}]}, {"title": "Iran suicide bombing 'kills 27 Revolutionary Guards'", "date": "13 February 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "A suicide attack in south-eastern Iran has killed at least 27 members of the Revolutionary Guards and wounded 13 others, state media say. The bomber targeted a bus transporting personnel in Sistan-Baluchestan province near the border with Pakistan. The Sunni Muslim militant group, Jaish al-Adl (Army of Justice), has said it was behind the bombing. The Revolutionary Guards, which is a major military, political and economic force in Iran, blamed foreign powers. The Revolutionary Guards branch in south-eastern Iran said a unit of its ground forces had been returning from the Pakistan border area on Wednesday when a car filled with explosives blew up beside their bus on the Khash-Zahedan road. In a statement, it blamed \"takfiri terrorists and mercenaries of the intelligence services of hegemonic powers\". \"Takfiri\" is a term used to describe Sunni extremists who see other Muslims as non-believers. It did not identify the \"hegemonic powers\", but Iran's foreign minister linked the bombing to a US-led conference on the Middle East taking place in Warsaw, Poland, that will include discussions about Iran's activities in the region. This is one of the deadliest attacks on the elite forces in years, correspondents say. - Created to defend the country's Islamic system and to provide a counterweight to the regular armed forces - Estimated to have some 125,000 troops - Includes ground forces, navy, air force, intelligence and special forces - Thought to control around a third of Iran's economy through a series of subsidiaries and trusts - Believed to have staff in embassies around the world, from where it allegedly conducts intelligence operations and organises training camps and arms shipments for foreign militant groups Profile: Iran's Revolutionary Guards Revolutionary Guards take lead on foreign affairs Jaish al-Adl took up arms in 2012 to fight for what it says are the rights of Iranian Sunnis, who complain of discrimination by the Shia establishment. The group has carried out several recent attacks against security personnel in Sistan-Baluchestan, which has a large mainly Sunni ethnic Baluchi community. Earlier this month, Jaish al-Adl was blamed for an attack on a paramilitary base in Nik Shahr that left one Revolutionary Guard dead and five others wounded. The group also said it had carried out two bombings that wounded three police officers in Zahedan at the end of January. And in October, Jaish al-Adl kidnapped at least 10 security personnel, including several Revolutionary Guards, at a border post in Mirjaveh. In September, gunmen killed at least 24 people at a military parade in the south-western city of Ahvaz. Both the jihadist group Islamic State (IS) and Iranian ethnic Arab separatists claimed they were behind the assault, but neither provided conclusive evidence.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 464, "answer_end": 1226, "text": "The Revolutionary Guards branch in south-eastern Iran said a unit of its ground forces had been returning from the Pakistan border area on Wednesday when a car filled with explosives blew up beside their bus on the Khash-Zahedan road. In a statement, it blamed \"takfiri terrorists and mercenaries of the intelligence services of hegemonic powers\". \"Takfiri\" is a term used to describe Sunni extremists who see other Muslims as non-believers. It did not identify the \"hegemonic powers\", but Iran's foreign minister linked the bombing to a US-led conference on the Middle East taking place in Warsaw, Poland, that will include discussions about Iran's activities in the region. This is one of the deadliest attacks on the elite forces in years, correspondents say."}], "question": "What do we know about the attack?", "id": "271_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1824, "answer_end": 2814, "text": "Jaish al-Adl took up arms in 2012 to fight for what it says are the rights of Iranian Sunnis, who complain of discrimination by the Shia establishment. The group has carried out several recent attacks against security personnel in Sistan-Baluchestan, which has a large mainly Sunni ethnic Baluchi community. Earlier this month, Jaish al-Adl was blamed for an attack on a paramilitary base in Nik Shahr that left one Revolutionary Guard dead and five others wounded. The group also said it had carried out two bombings that wounded three police officers in Zahedan at the end of January. And in October, Jaish al-Adl kidnapped at least 10 security personnel, including several Revolutionary Guards, at a border post in Mirjaveh. In September, gunmen killed at least 24 people at a military parade in the south-western city of Ahvaz. Both the jihadist group Islamic State (IS) and Iranian ethnic Arab separatists claimed they were behind the assault, but neither provided conclusive evidence."}], "question": "What do we known about Jaish al-Adl?", "id": "271_1"}]}]}, {"title": "Mueller report: Trump cleared of conspiring with Russia", "date": "25 March 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "US President Donald Trump's campaign did not conspire with Russia during the 2016 election, a summary of Special Counsel Robert Mueller's report says. The allegation clouded the first two years of Mr Trump's presidency and his allies see the report's finding as a boost to his re-election chances. But Attorney General William Barr's summary is inconclusive as to whether Mr Trump obstructed justice. Opposition Democrats are demanding full access to Mr Mueller's report. Having repeatedly described the inquiry as a witch hunt, Mr Trump said it was an \"illegal takedown that failed\". Despite the inconclusiveness of the report regarding allegations he obstructed justice, the president said it constituted \"complete and total exoneration\". The report was the culmination of two years of investigation by Mr Mueller which saw some of the president's closest former aides prosecuted and, in some cases, imprisoned, although not on charges related to the alleged Russian collusion. \"The special counsel did not find that any US person or Trump campaign official conspired or knowingly co-ordinated with Russia,\" Mr Barr writes. On the issue of whether justice was obstructed, Mr Mueller's report says: \"While this report does not conclude that the president committed a crime, it also does not exonerate him.\" In his summary, Mr Barr said the report \"ultimately determined not to make a traditional prosecutorial judgment\". There was, he adds, insufficient evidence \"to establish that the president committed an obstruction-of-justice offence\". Mr Barr ends his letter by saying further extracts from the report will be released but notes that some of the material is subject to justice department restrictions. Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, who has been sharply critical of the president in the past, tweeted that it was a \"great day for President Trump and his team\". \"The cloud hanging over President Trump has been removed by this report,\" he said. \"Great job by Mr. Mueller and his team to thoroughly examine all things Russia,\" he added. \"Now it is time to move on, govern the country, and get ready to combat Russia and other foreign actors ahead of 2020.\" White House adviser Kellyanne Conway sent the president \"congratulations\" on Twitter, saying: \"Today you won the 2016 election all over again. And got a gift for the 2020 election.\" \"They'll never get you because they'll never 'get' you.\" Mr Trump's lawyer, Rudy Giuliani, said the report had been better than he had expected while Republican Senator Mitt Romney welcomed the \"good news\", tweeting that it was now \"time for the country to move forward\". Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer said in a joint statement that Mr Barr's letter \"raises as many questions as it answers\" and called for access to the full report. \"For the president to say he is completely exonerated directly contradicts the words of Mr Mueller and is not to be taken with any degree of credibility,\" the statement said. Congressman Jerry Nadler, the Democratic Chair of the House of Representatives Judiciary Committee, emphasised that Mr Trump had not been cleared of obstructing justice. \"Barr says that the president may have acted to obstruct justice, but that for an obstruction conviction, 'the government would need to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that a person, acting with corrupt intent, engaged in obstructive conduct'.\" Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal, a member of the Senate's Judiciary Committee, said that while there was a lack of evidence to support \"a prosecutable criminal conspiracy\", questions remained over whether Mr Trump had been compromised. Russia has denied being involved in hacking to influence the 2016 US election result. Responding to news that Mr Trump had been cleared of collusion, Alexei Pushkov, a member of Russia's upper house, tweeted: \"Democrats, Russophobes and leading media created a virtual conspiracy which existed only in their heads and in headlines, and nowhere else.\" The release of the report's key findings on Sunday could mark the start of a lengthy battle to see the entire Mueller report made public. Whenever further details are handed to Congress, Democrats may mount legal challenges if it is anything less than the entire report. Jerry Nadler said he would ask Mr Barr to testify in front of the House Judiciary Committee \"in the near future\" over \"very concerning discrepancies and final decision making at the Justice Department\". About a dozen other investigations are continuing into Mr Trump's activities. These include a federal inquiry in New York into possible election law violations by the Trump campaign and his businesses, and possible misconduct by the Trump inaugural committee. Congress is also continuing its own inquiries, mostly in the Democratic-controlled House of Representatives. Attorney General Barr summarises, mostly in his own words, the conclusions of the special counsel's investigation. In one key line, however, he directly quotes the report. \"The investigation did not establish that members of the Trump campaign conspired or co-ordinated with the Russian government in its election interference activities.\" There, in Robert Mueller's own words, is the end result of nearly two years of work, 2,800 subpoenas, hundreds of search warrants and countless hours of interviews. There were \"multiple offers\" of help from \"Russian-affiliated individuals\" to the Trump campaign, but they never took the bait. There was, as Donald Trump might say, \"no collusion\". At least, no evidence of it was unearthed. The obstruction of justice component is a murkier matter. The decision of whether to charge Mr Trump with interference with the various investigations wasn't Mr Mueller's. Saying it involved \"difficult issues\", the former FBI director punted. Instead, Mr Barr - in consultation with Department of Justice staff - decided not to prosecute, in part because there was no apparent underlying crime to obstruct. Make no mistake, today was a very good day for Mr Trump. While a bevy of inquiries into his presidency will grind on, the shadow of Mr Mueller's investigation - hovering over the White House since May 2017 - has been lifted.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1710, "answer_end": 2620, "text": "Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, who has been sharply critical of the president in the past, tweeted that it was a \"great day for President Trump and his team\". \"The cloud hanging over President Trump has been removed by this report,\" he said. \"Great job by Mr. Mueller and his team to thoroughly examine all things Russia,\" he added. \"Now it is time to move on, govern the country, and get ready to combat Russia and other foreign actors ahead of 2020.\" White House adviser Kellyanne Conway sent the president \"congratulations\" on Twitter, saying: \"Today you won the 2016 election all over again. And got a gift for the 2020 election.\" \"They'll never get you because they'll never 'get' you.\" Mr Trump's lawyer, Rudy Giuliani, said the report had been better than he had expected while Republican Senator Mitt Romney welcomed the \"good news\", tweeting that it was now \"time for the country to move forward\"."}], "question": "How have Trump's allies responded?", "id": "272_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2621, "answer_end": 3664, "text": "Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer said in a joint statement that Mr Barr's letter \"raises as many questions as it answers\" and called for access to the full report. \"For the president to say he is completely exonerated directly contradicts the words of Mr Mueller and is not to be taken with any degree of credibility,\" the statement said. Congressman Jerry Nadler, the Democratic Chair of the House of Representatives Judiciary Committee, emphasised that Mr Trump had not been cleared of obstructing justice. \"Barr says that the president may have acted to obstruct justice, but that for an obstruction conviction, 'the government would need to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that a person, acting with corrupt intent, engaged in obstructive conduct'.\" Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal, a member of the Senate's Judiciary Committee, said that while there was a lack of evidence to support \"a prosecutable criminal conspiracy\", questions remained over whether Mr Trump had been compromised."}], "question": "What are the Democrats saying?", "id": "272_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3665, "answer_end": 4015, "text": "Russia has denied being involved in hacking to influence the 2016 US election result. Responding to news that Mr Trump had been cleared of collusion, Alexei Pushkov, a member of Russia's upper house, tweeted: \"Democrats, Russophobes and leading media created a virtual conspiracy which existed only in their heads and in headlines, and nowhere else.\""}], "question": "What are they saying in Russia?", "id": "272_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 4016, "answer_end": 4858, "text": "The release of the report's key findings on Sunday could mark the start of a lengthy battle to see the entire Mueller report made public. Whenever further details are handed to Congress, Democrats may mount legal challenges if it is anything less than the entire report. Jerry Nadler said he would ask Mr Barr to testify in front of the House Judiciary Committee \"in the near future\" over \"very concerning discrepancies and final decision making at the Justice Department\". About a dozen other investigations are continuing into Mr Trump's activities. These include a federal inquiry in New York into possible election law violations by the Trump campaign and his businesses, and possible misconduct by the Trump inaugural committee. Congress is also continuing its own inquiries, mostly in the Democratic-controlled House of Representatives."}], "question": "What happens next?", "id": "272_3"}]}]}, {"title": "Brexit: What does Ireland do if there\u2019s no deal?", "date": "13 December 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "The Irish government has been consistent that whatever happens in the Brexit process there will be no hardening of the Irish border. Asked earlier this year, Taoiseach (Irish prime minister) Leo Varadkar said: \"That will just never happen - ever.\" But how can that promise be kept in the event that the UK leaves the EU without a deal? If there is no deal, there is no transition period or backstop. It would mean the UK becomes a country with which the EU has no trade deal of any description. For countries like that, the EU normally imposes a range of checks at its borders. There are customs checks, like those on the Norway-Sweden border, and regulatory checks particularly in regard to food products. These involve hard borders of the sort the Irish government says it will never accept. The EU says these border checks are necessary to protect what it refers to as the \"integrity\" of its single market and customs union. Essentially, it means that the EU wants to prevent products entering its market which could be unsafe or represent unfair competition. The EU's chief negotiator, Michel Barnier, has consistently emphasised this. In July he said: \"The single market is our main economic public good. We will not damage it.\" So if there is no deal, what will the Irish government be expected to do to protect the integrity of the single market at the frontier with the UK? If no deal is as much of a disaster as forecast then the EU may calculate that the UK will be back at the negotiating table within weeks. So would it be feasible, for a very temporary period, to have no new checks on products crossing the Irish border? Arguably there would be little risk to the integrity of the single market, as on Brexit day the UK would be aligned with EU product standards. It is possible that if EU authorities decide not to check UK goods at the Irish border, but do check them at Calais or Dunkirk, it would provoke a complaint to the WTO. However, if this is only a very short-term arrangement, such a complaint is unlikely to go anywhere. Daniel Keohane, senior researcher at the Center for Security Studies at ETH Zurich, says such a crisis response would probably be feasible and seems to be the main hope in Dublin. But he doubts such an arrangement could last more than a few weeks. \"If, for example, large quantities of prohibited goods were proven to have circulated in the EU single market during that period because of the open Irish border, there would be huge pressure on Dublin from EU partners to have checks at or near the border,\" he said. If the UK finds itself able to cope with a no deal there will inevitably be a difficult conversation between Brussels and Dublin about what to do next. Could there be checks close to the border rather than at the border? Back in May 2017 the head of Ireland's customs authorities raised the prospect of what he called \"trade facilitation posts\". Revenue Commissioner Liam Irwin said these could be facilities which were not at the border but \"10 or 15 kilometres back\". He suggested up to 8% of cross border freight could be checked there, complemented by some form of risk-based, customs checks carried out by mobile units. He also emphasised that customs declarations would happen electronically, and most transactions would be immediately approved. This sounds a lot like the \"maximum facilitation\" proposals floated by the UK government in 2017 and rejected by the EU. This sort of arrangement would also be a hard border by the Irish government's current definition. Mr Keohane said that if checks had to be carried out, they would \"probably look like what the Revenue Commissioners suggest, which is not that dissimilar to current customs posts at the Swiss-EU border, even if not directly on the border\". He says in such a scenario Ireland could expect financial help and perhaps political cover from the EU. \"Dublin does not have to - nor in any way wants to - legitimise it (a hard border) as a permanent feature - so the EU could politically agree that this is a crisis measure, similar to the 2001 foot and mouth crisis,\" Mr Keohane adds. The pro-Brexit economist Andrew Lilico has suggested what he calls a \"Celtic Sea border\". That would mean that the Irish land border would remain soft with no new checks and controls but goods leaving the island of Ireland would be subject to checks if they were going to the EU. Mr Lilico says such checks should be less problematic, in sovereignty or market integrity terms, than new checks on goods moving between Great Britain and Northern Ireland. He points to the movement of people as a precedent. Ireland is not a member of the EU's Schengen arrangement but instead forms a Common Travel Area with the UK. \"There are already border checks at the Celtic Sea border in respect of persons (and hence of services) because Ireland is not in Schengen,\" said Mr Lilico. \"Yet I put it to you that no-one thinks those make Ireland a 'semi-detached part of the single market'.\" He also proposes that the NI Assembly would have the power to align regulation, in various areas, with Ireland's, thereby having the choice to shift some checks to the Irish Sea border. Mr Keohane agrees that such an arrangement is technically feasible in the short term but sees much greater political difficulties. \"It is not politically acceptable for Ireland, as a remaining EU member, since it would diminish its membership rights,\" he adds. \"The rest of the EU would also unlikely want to set such a precedent, that one of its members could have its membership rights diminished because of the action of a third country (as the UK would be at that stage).\"", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1382, "answer_end": 2562, "text": "If no deal is as much of a disaster as forecast then the EU may calculate that the UK will be back at the negotiating table within weeks. So would it be feasible, for a very temporary period, to have no new checks on products crossing the Irish border? Arguably there would be little risk to the integrity of the single market, as on Brexit day the UK would be aligned with EU product standards. It is possible that if EU authorities decide not to check UK goods at the Irish border, but do check them at Calais or Dunkirk, it would provoke a complaint to the WTO. However, if this is only a very short-term arrangement, such a complaint is unlikely to go anywhere. Daniel Keohane, senior researcher at the Center for Security Studies at ETH Zurich, says such a crisis response would probably be feasible and seems to be the main hope in Dublin. But he doubts such an arrangement could last more than a few weeks. \"If, for example, large quantities of prohibited goods were proven to have circulated in the EU single market during that period because of the open Irish border, there would be huge pressure on Dublin from EU partners to have checks at or near the border,\" he said."}], "question": "Do nothing (temporarily)?", "id": "273_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2563, "answer_end": 4112, "text": "If the UK finds itself able to cope with a no deal there will inevitably be a difficult conversation between Brussels and Dublin about what to do next. Could there be checks close to the border rather than at the border? Back in May 2017 the head of Ireland's customs authorities raised the prospect of what he called \"trade facilitation posts\". Revenue Commissioner Liam Irwin said these could be facilities which were not at the border but \"10 or 15 kilometres back\". He suggested up to 8% of cross border freight could be checked there, complemented by some form of risk-based, customs checks carried out by mobile units. He also emphasised that customs declarations would happen electronically, and most transactions would be immediately approved. This sounds a lot like the \"maximum facilitation\" proposals floated by the UK government in 2017 and rejected by the EU. This sort of arrangement would also be a hard border by the Irish government's current definition. Mr Keohane said that if checks had to be carried out, they would \"probably look like what the Revenue Commissioners suggest, which is not that dissimilar to current customs posts at the Swiss-EU border, even if not directly on the border\". He says in such a scenario Ireland could expect financial help and perhaps political cover from the EU. \"Dublin does not have to - nor in any way wants to - legitimise it (a hard border) as a permanent feature - so the EU could politically agree that this is a crisis measure, similar to the 2001 foot and mouth crisis,\" Mr Keohane adds."}], "question": "Do checks away from the border?", "id": "273_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 4113, "answer_end": 5651, "text": "The pro-Brexit economist Andrew Lilico has suggested what he calls a \"Celtic Sea border\". That would mean that the Irish land border would remain soft with no new checks and controls but goods leaving the island of Ireland would be subject to checks if they were going to the EU. Mr Lilico says such checks should be less problematic, in sovereignty or market integrity terms, than new checks on goods moving between Great Britain and Northern Ireland. He points to the movement of people as a precedent. Ireland is not a member of the EU's Schengen arrangement but instead forms a Common Travel Area with the UK. \"There are already border checks at the Celtic Sea border in respect of persons (and hence of services) because Ireland is not in Schengen,\" said Mr Lilico. \"Yet I put it to you that no-one thinks those make Ireland a 'semi-detached part of the single market'.\" He also proposes that the NI Assembly would have the power to align regulation, in various areas, with Ireland's, thereby having the choice to shift some checks to the Irish Sea border. Mr Keohane agrees that such an arrangement is technically feasible in the short term but sees much greater political difficulties. \"It is not politically acceptable for Ireland, as a remaining EU member, since it would diminish its membership rights,\" he adds. \"The rest of the EU would also unlikely want to set such a precedent, that one of its members could have its membership rights diminished because of the action of a third country (as the UK would be at that stage).\""}], "question": "Do checks at sea ports?", "id": "273_2"}]}]}, {"title": "Syria's Druze vow to free women and children kidnapped by IS", "date": "12 August 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "One religious minority has been largely spared the horrors of Syria's seven-year civil war: the Druze. Most live in the rugged Jabal al-Druze region, in the south-western province of Suweida. It has been mostly calm except for some isolated attacks. However, that all changed two weeks ago. On the night of 25 July, a highly co-ordinated assault by the jihadist group Islamic State (IS) left more than 200 dead, most of them civilians. IS militants also kidnapped 13 women, 17 children and a 19-year-old man, who was later killed. On Thursday, the jihadists phoned the family of one of the women to say that she had died because of ill health. The fates of the other hostages are unknown. \"In the end we will get them back, whether martyred or alive,\" said Fareez Abu Ammar, a 30 year old from Suweida who lost his mother, uncle and many other close relatives in the attack. His sister-in-law and her three children - sons Rafat and Yorub, and daughter Lana - are among those who were kidnapped. Abu Ammar lives in Beirut, in neighbouring Lebanon, and he could not return to Suweida to attend his mother's funeral because he is wanted by the Syrian authorities for avoiding compulsory military service. The Druze religion arose from Ismailism, a branch of Shia Islam, in the 11th Century. It takes its name from Mohammed bin Ismail al-Darazi, a mystic from Central Asia who regarded the third Fatamid caliph of Egypt, al-Hakim, as an incarnation of God. In 1021, al-Hakim disappeared under mysterious circumstances. Druze believe that he will reappear at the end of time to establish universal justice. Al-Hakim's successor, al-Zahir, rejected his claim of divinity and persecuted the Druze, forcing them to take refuge in remote mountainous areas, chiefly in Lebanon and Syria. To avoid persecution, Druze have been secretive about their religion. Only a small number who demonstrate extreme piety and devotion are allowed to participate fully in rituals and have access to scriptures. And although Druze have played prominent roles in shaping the region's history, they have traditionally been considered political quietists. For a long time after the war began, most Syrian Druze remained loyal to President Bashar al-Assad - a member of the Shia Alawite sect - fearing that if he was overthrown, minorities would be targeted and communities destroyed by extremists among the country's Sunni majority. However, they have resisted being drawn into the conflict. In 2015, Druze leaders declared that members of the sect were no longer obliged to enlist in the Syrian armed forces. \"That decision not to take either side in the conflict was grudgingly accepted by the regime,\" said Maha Yahya, director of the Carnegie Middle East Center. \"It had no interest back then in alienating yet another community. The last thing it needed was to see yet another community taking up arms against it.\" It is estimated that 35,000 young Druze men have not signed up for military service. A large majority of them have fled Syria. This might explain the lack of resistance the IS militants - who consider the Druze to be heretics - encountered when they attacked Suweida. Mr Abu Ammar recounted the details of what happened on 25 July as they were relayed to him by members of his community there. \"It all started at around 03:30. [The militants] knocked on doors and called the owners of the houses by their names, which made people think that whoever was knocking on their door knew them,\" he said. \"This is why people opened their doors and how IS fighters entered their homes and killed them. \"In a matter of two-and-a-half hours they had committed all sorts of ugly and horrific crimes against children and civilians.\" Mr Abu Ammar did not lose his composure as he described the events. His voice was steady and calm. \"They entered houses and slaughtered the parents in front of their children. Then they slaughtered the children, leaving only one child alive so he could tell people about what happened,\" he said. \"The kids who were later found alive were in a horrible and traumatic state.\" The attack sent shockwaves across Syria and beyond. It was the first assault on this scale by IS since the group lost control last October of the northern city of Raqqa, the de facto capital of the \"caliphate\" stretching across Syria and Iraq whose establishment it proclaimed in 2014. \"IS has been substantially weakened as an organisation, but the root causes of why this organisation emerged have not been addressed,\" Dr Yahya said. \"We may see IS emerging in a different form, or we may see a continuation of it as no longer a territorially-coherent caliphate but more operating on the model of al-Qaeda,\" he added. In parallel to the door-to-door attacks in the villages on 25 July, IS members carried out several suicide bombings in the centre of Suweida city. It is not clear if the bombings were intended to serve as a diversion, but they delayed the arrival of security personnel in the villages. But many in Suweida speak of other factors that they believe facilitated the IS operation. The residents we spoke to stopped short of accusing the Syrian government and its allies of any collusion. But they pointed out many circumstantial factors surrounding the attack. First, they noted that the IS members who were responsible for the attack had left the Yarmouk Palestinian refugee camp in the capital Damascus only a few weeks earlier as part of a surrender agreement with the government. They had been involved in intense battles against the Syrian army in Yarmouk and were transferred to a desert area just 50km (30 miles) from the attacked villages. Also, many residents said there had been power cuts in the villages before and during the attacks. On top of this, Syrian security forces did not reach the targeted villages for several hours. \"The regime forces could have stepped in to prevent the attack or at least mitigate it once it happened,\" Dr Yahya said. \"It's very easy for people to see this as a payback for them having not sided with the regime or for their attempt to take a neutral position in the conflict.\" Syrian state media said the military had battled the militants with both ground forces and air strikes. Days after the attack, the Syrian army launched an offensive against IS in the desert in north-eastern Suweida province. State media report that they have made advances. But many in Suweida have little hope about the fate of those kidnapped. \"I place my hope only in the sons of Suweida, the men of the Druze community,\" said Mr Abu Ammar. He talked of efforts to rally local forces to rescue the women and children being held hostage. There are claims that they have already captured dozens of IS militants. In one recent video circulated on social media, a man thought to be an IS fighter is seen being lynched in the town centre. \"For us Druze, honour and land cannot be compromised and must be defended no matter what,\" Mr Abu Ammar said.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1203, "answer_end": 2127, "text": "The Druze religion arose from Ismailism, a branch of Shia Islam, in the 11th Century. It takes its name from Mohammed bin Ismail al-Darazi, a mystic from Central Asia who regarded the third Fatamid caliph of Egypt, al-Hakim, as an incarnation of God. In 1021, al-Hakim disappeared under mysterious circumstances. Druze believe that he will reappear at the end of time to establish universal justice. Al-Hakim's successor, al-Zahir, rejected his claim of divinity and persecuted the Druze, forcing them to take refuge in remote mountainous areas, chiefly in Lebanon and Syria. To avoid persecution, Druze have been secretive about their religion. Only a small number who demonstrate extreme piety and devotion are allowed to participate fully in rituals and have access to scriptures. And although Druze have played prominent roles in shaping the region's history, they have traditionally been considered political quietists."}], "question": "Who are the Druze?", "id": "274_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Surabaya attacks: Family of five bomb Indonesia police headquarters", "date": "14 May 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "A suicide bombing at a police headquarters in the Indonesian city of Surabaya on Monday was carried out by a family of five riding on two motorbikes, police say. It came after another family carried out bomb attacks on three churches on Sunday. Police blamed an Islamic State-inspired network. An eight-year-old daughter survived the latest attack, police say. Indonesia is the world's most populous Muslim-majority country. The archipelago, home to 260 million people, has seen a resurgence of Islamist militancy in recent years but the scale of the attacks in Surabaya has raised fresh concerns about the potency of jihadist networks. Video footage of the latest attack on the police headquarters shows two motorbikes approaching a checkpoint just before the blast. Six civilians and four police officers were injured, the authorities say. The young girl who survived had been wedged between her mother and father on the motorbike as they carried out the attack. CCTV footage shows her stumbling around after the blast. Indonesia was on high alert after bombings on Sunday by a single family targeted three churches in Surabaya, the capital of East Java province. The mother targeted one church alongside her two daughters, aged nine and 12, while the father and two sons attacked two other churches. The incident represented the first time a female suicide bomber had successfully carried out an attack, national police chief Tito Karnavian said. A 28-year-old woman had planned to bomb the Presidential Palace last year but was caught and jailed, he added. The authorities originally said the family of six were among hundreds of Indonesians who had returned from conflict-hit Syria but have since said the family did not actually travel there. The coordinated attacks killed 18 people, including the bombers, and injured more than 40. They were the deadliest bombings in Indonesia in more than a decade. Police say the father, Dita Oepriarto, was the head of the local branch of Jemaah Ansharut Daulah (JAD), an Indonesian IS-inspired network. Six members of the same family carried out a series of attacks on Sunday: 1. Two teenaged sons rode motorcycles into Santa Maria Catholic Church and detonated explosives at 07:30 local time (00:30 GMT) 2. The father drove a bomb-laden car at Surabaya Centre Pentecostal Church at 07:35 local time 3. A mother, with her two daughters, carried out a bomb attack on Diponegoro Indonesian Christian Church a few minutes later There was another suspected terror-linked incident on Sunday night: 4. A bomb exploded at Rusunawa Wonocolo flats, Sidoarjo regency at around 21:00 local time A second family carried out an attack on Monday: 5. The family of five rode motorbikes to a checkpoint at Surabaya police headquarters and detonated bombs at 08:50 local time The bomb that exploded on Sunday night in an apartment killed three members of a family who police said may have been planning an attack and had connections with Oepriarto. Pipe bombs were found. Separately, police said on Monday that they had arrested six people plotting attacks in Surabaya, the Jakarta Post reported. President Joko Widodo has described the attacks as \"cowardly, undignified and inhumane\" and said he will push through a long-awaited anti-terrorism bill if parliament does not pass it. The bill has faced criticism from human rights groups, but defenders say it is needed to prosecute militants returning from the Middle East. \"There will be no compromise in taking action on the ground to stop terrorism,\" he said. Officials said police, backed by military forces, would increase security across the country. In Australia, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said the nature of Sunday's attack - involving an entire family - \"almost beggars belief\". \"These people are the worst of the worst. They are threatening civilised nations, they're threatening civilised way of life. They're threatening people's harmony and religion. They are debasing and defaming Islam, as President Widodo has often said.\" The South East Asian country has long struggled with Islamist militancy. Indonesia's worst ever terror attack was in Bali in 2002, when 202 people - mostly foreigners - were killed in an attack on a tourist nightlife district. That attack was carried out by the Jemaah Islamiah (JI) militant network and prompted a sustained crackdown on militants. The first attack claimed by IS in Indonesia took place in January 2016, when four civilians and four attackers were killed in a series of explosions and shootings in central Jakarta. IS-inspired groups have since mostly carried out \"amateurish\" plots but the attacks in Surabaya suggest better planning and a higher level of \"technical proficiency\", Zachary Abuza of the National War College in Washington DC told the BBC. The use of children in the attacks was \"absolutely unprecedented\" in the region, he said, and speaks to the \"ideological indoctrination\" of JAD. By BBC Monitoring * JAD is a local network of Indonesian militants who have pledged allegiance to IS * The group was formed in 2015 following a merger of several militant factions run by influential Indonesian cleric and convicted terrorist Aman Abdurrahman * Abdurrahman, also known as Oman Rochman, is serving a nine-year prison sentence but is said to manage his followers, conduct recruitment and spread IS propaganda from behind bars * JAD campaigns for a caliphate system across Indonesia and says it is \"justified in using violence\" to do so. The group encourages attacks on the police, which it regards as \"infidels\" * Indonesia's National Counterterrorism Agency has said that JAD is \"currently the most dangerous terrorist organisation\" in Indonesia", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1022, "answer_end": 2048, "text": "Indonesia was on high alert after bombings on Sunday by a single family targeted three churches in Surabaya, the capital of East Java province. The mother targeted one church alongside her two daughters, aged nine and 12, while the father and two sons attacked two other churches. The incident represented the first time a female suicide bomber had successfully carried out an attack, national police chief Tito Karnavian said. A 28-year-old woman had planned to bomb the Presidential Palace last year but was caught and jailed, he added. The authorities originally said the family of six were among hundreds of Indonesians who had returned from conflict-hit Syria but have since said the family did not actually travel there. The coordinated attacks killed 18 people, including the bombers, and injured more than 40. They were the deadliest bombings in Indonesia in more than a decade. Police say the father, Dita Oepriarto, was the head of the local branch of Jemaah Ansharut Daulah (JAD), an Indonesian IS-inspired network."}], "question": "What preceded the latest attack?", "id": "275_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3126, "answer_end": 4022, "text": "President Joko Widodo has described the attacks as \"cowardly, undignified and inhumane\" and said he will push through a long-awaited anti-terrorism bill if parliament does not pass it. The bill has faced criticism from human rights groups, but defenders say it is needed to prosecute militants returning from the Middle East. \"There will be no compromise in taking action on the ground to stop terrorism,\" he said. Officials said police, backed by military forces, would increase security across the country. In Australia, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said the nature of Sunday's attack - involving an entire family - \"almost beggars belief\". \"These people are the worst of the worst. They are threatening civilised nations, they're threatening civilised way of life. They're threatening people's harmony and religion. They are debasing and defaming Islam, as President Widodo has often said.\""}], "question": "What has the reaction been?", "id": "275_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 4023, "answer_end": 4939, "text": "The South East Asian country has long struggled with Islamist militancy. Indonesia's worst ever terror attack was in Bali in 2002, when 202 people - mostly foreigners - were killed in an attack on a tourist nightlife district. That attack was carried out by the Jemaah Islamiah (JI) militant network and prompted a sustained crackdown on militants. The first attack claimed by IS in Indonesia took place in January 2016, when four civilians and four attackers were killed in a series of explosions and shootings in central Jakarta. IS-inspired groups have since mostly carried out \"amateurish\" plots but the attacks in Surabaya suggest better planning and a higher level of \"technical proficiency\", Zachary Abuza of the National War College in Washington DC told the BBC. The use of children in the attacks was \"absolutely unprecedented\" in the region, he said, and speaks to the \"ideological indoctrination\" of JAD."}], "question": "What is the history of militancy in Indonesia?", "id": "275_2"}]}]}, {"title": "Sudan crisis: Military arrests opposition figures after mediation bid", "date": "8 June 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Sudan's security forces have reportedly arrested three prominent opposition figures after they met the Ethiopian prime minister who was in Khartoum to try to restart peace talks. Opposition politician Mohamed Esmat was arrested on Friday soon after his meeting with PM Abiy Ahmed, aides said. Ismail Jalab, a leader of the rebel SPLM-N group, and his spokesman Mubarak Ardol were detained early on Saturday. It comes days after a crackdown on pro-democracy protesters left dozens dead. Protest leaders have rejected an offer of talks from the Transitional Military Council (TMC), saying it cannot be trusted after the bloodshed. Sudan has been controlled by the TMC since protests led to the ousting of long-time President Omar al-Bashir in April. The military promised a transition to civilian rule but protesters had maintained a sit-in in Khartoum until security forces swept in on Monday and opened fire. \"A group of armed men came in vehicles at 03:00 (01:00 GMT) and took away Ismail Jalab... without giving any reason,\" aide Rashid Anwar told AFP, adding that SPLM-N (Sudan People's Liberation Movement North) spokesman Mubarak Ardol was also taken. \"We don't know where they are being held,\" he added. The whereabouts of Mohamed Esmat are also not clear. On Wednesday, the SPLM-N said its deputy head, Yasir Arman, was arrested at his house in Khartoum. He had returned from exile following the downfall of Mr Bashir. Mr Esmat and Mr Jalab are both leading members of the Alliance for Freedom and Change, an umbrella organisation of opposition figures, protest leaders and rebel groups. \"This amounts to a practical response from the military council that effectively rejects the Ethiopian prime minister's mediation effort,\" Khalid Omar Yousef, an opposition alliance leader, told Reuters after Mr Esmat's arrest. The TMC has not yet commented on the arrests. BBC World Service Africa editor Mary Harper says the latest move suggests that the mediation efforts by Abiy Ahmed have indeed not been taken seriously by the military. The TMC seems emboldened by the political and financial support it has received from Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Egypt, none of which are keen on fully fledged democracy, she adds. Opposition activists say a feared paramilitary unit, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), killed 108 people in the crackdown, with at least 40 bodies pulled from the River Nile in Khartoum on Tuesday. Officials, however, put the figure at 46. The leader of the RSF claims rogue elements and drug dealers were behind the violence. The RSF, formerly known as the Janjaweed militia, gained notoriety for brutal atrocities in the Darfur conflict in western Sudan in 2003. Khartoum residents have told the BBC that they are living in fear in the capital. A number of women arrested by the RSF told the BBC that they were repeatedly beaten with sticks and threatened with execution. They said RSF troops told them to run for their lives, then opened fire. Other victims, they said, were forced to drink sewage water and urinated on. On Thursday the African Union suspended Sudan's membership \"with immediate effect\" and warned of further action if power was not transferred to a civilian authority. The chairman of the African Union commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat, called for an \"immediate and transparent\" investigation into the killings. In his visit to Khartoum on Friday, Ethiopia's Abiy Ahmed urged both sides to exercise \"bravery\" and try to agree steps towards democracy. Reports said he had proposed setting up a transitional council comprised of eight civilians and seven military officers with a rotating presidency. It is not known how the proposal was received.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 909, "answer_end": 2216, "text": "\"A group of armed men came in vehicles at 03:00 (01:00 GMT) and took away Ismail Jalab... without giving any reason,\" aide Rashid Anwar told AFP, adding that SPLM-N (Sudan People's Liberation Movement North) spokesman Mubarak Ardol was also taken. \"We don't know where they are being held,\" he added. The whereabouts of Mohamed Esmat are also not clear. On Wednesday, the SPLM-N said its deputy head, Yasir Arman, was arrested at his house in Khartoum. He had returned from exile following the downfall of Mr Bashir. Mr Esmat and Mr Jalab are both leading members of the Alliance for Freedom and Change, an umbrella organisation of opposition figures, protest leaders and rebel groups. \"This amounts to a practical response from the military council that effectively rejects the Ethiopian prime minister's mediation effort,\" Khalid Omar Yousef, an opposition alliance leader, told Reuters after Mr Esmat's arrest. The TMC has not yet commented on the arrests. BBC World Service Africa editor Mary Harper says the latest move suggests that the mediation efforts by Abiy Ahmed have indeed not been taken seriously by the military. The TMC seems emboldened by the political and financial support it has received from Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Egypt, none of which are keen on fully fledged democracy, she adds."}], "question": "What do we know of the arrests?", "id": "276_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2217, "answer_end": 3038, "text": "Opposition activists say a feared paramilitary unit, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), killed 108 people in the crackdown, with at least 40 bodies pulled from the River Nile in Khartoum on Tuesday. Officials, however, put the figure at 46. The leader of the RSF claims rogue elements and drug dealers were behind the violence. The RSF, formerly known as the Janjaweed militia, gained notoriety for brutal atrocities in the Darfur conflict in western Sudan in 2003. Khartoum residents have told the BBC that they are living in fear in the capital. A number of women arrested by the RSF told the BBC that they were repeatedly beaten with sticks and threatened with execution. They said RSF troops told them to run for their lives, then opened fire. Other victims, they said, were forced to drink sewage water and urinated on."}], "question": "How bad was the violence?", "id": "276_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3039, "answer_end": 3680, "text": "On Thursday the African Union suspended Sudan's membership \"with immediate effect\" and warned of further action if power was not transferred to a civilian authority. The chairman of the African Union commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat, called for an \"immediate and transparent\" investigation into the killings. In his visit to Khartoum on Friday, Ethiopia's Abiy Ahmed urged both sides to exercise \"bravery\" and try to agree steps towards democracy. Reports said he had proposed setting up a transitional council comprised of eight civilians and seven military officers with a rotating presidency. It is not known how the proposal was received."}], "question": "Can the crisis be resolved diplomatically?", "id": "276_2"}]}]}, {"title": "Papua leaders demand end to Indonesian military operation", "date": "21 December 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "The governor of Indonesia's eastern Papua province has called for an end to an intense military operation against independence rebels in the remote jungle-covered region. Troops are hunting for members of the armed wing of the Free Papua Movement (OPM), who killed at least 17 construction workers early this month. It was the deadliest attack for years. Local officials said at least four civilians had so far been killed in the military response. Hundreds more are said to have fled into the jungle to escape the violence. The OPM attack in the mountainous Nduga region represents a major escalation in the decades-old low-level insurgency. Previous reports had put the number of victims at 24. Papua declared independence from the Netherlands in 1961 but was incorporated into Indonesia eight years later, becoming its easternmost province. In a rare criticism of the central government, Papuan Governor Lukas Enembe said the military should now leave. \"We pay our respects to the past and present victims, but this is enough,\" said Governor Lukas Enembe. \"There must be no further civilian casualties, civilians have not been evacuated. So we want all troops out first.\" He added that the pro-independence fighters were unlikely to be still in the area. The Speaker of the Papua parliament, Yunus Wonda, told BBC Indonesia that the military operation was terrifying communities. At least 300 villagers are reported to have fled to escape the military sweep. \"They are traumatised and very scared. They have fled into the jungle,\" said Mr Yunus. \"We want people in Papua in those districts to celebrate this holy month with their families, their wives and children. Christmas should be a time of peace but not a time of fear.\" A local government fact-finding team found at least four civilians had been killed in the operation, which has been under way for nearly three weeks Journalists have been unable to enter the area because of security concerns, and international media are restricted from entering Papua. In 2015, Indonesian President Joko Widodo promised to lift the ban but in practice unimpeded reporting in Papua remains very difficult. However, BBC Indonesia has spoken with civilians from the conflict area in the highlands regional capital Wamena. A 14-year-old boy who asked not to be named over fears of reprisals from the military said his father had been killed. \"I saw two helicopters come down, everyone fled including my dad. Then police and military got out. And then the military shot my father.\" \"I was in shock. I jumped and I was also shot at but they missed me. I ran with my older brother into jungle,\" he said. Local human rights activist Raga Kogeya said the community needed to be able to bury its dead in peace. \"We are not enemies of the state. We are citizens of Indonesia. The government has to take full responsibility for those that have been killed,\" she said. Earlier this month, Human Rights Watch said impunity for rights violators was \"the norm\" in Papua because of a lack of accountability within security forces and a poorly functioning justice system. It says it has come under attack while trying to retrieve the bodies of the construction workers, and insists it is not targeting unarmed civilians and only firing in self-defence. However Papua military spokesman Muhammad Aidi told BBC Indonesia that it was difficult to differentiate between rebels and civilians. \"In the villagers, the rebels will hide weapons and mix closely with the civilians, and we cannot recognise them,\" he said. \"It is very difficult because they use guerrilla warfare techniques. They could be anywhere and they know the region very well while we are outsiders.\" \"We don't know what they look like, we have never met them. So we only know them from some photos and assumptions about them.\" He said the joint military and police operation would continue. \"There is no time limit on it. The perpetrators have to be caught alive or dead.\" The construction workers who were killed were from other islands. They had been hired and brought to the Nduga area to build a vast network of roads and bridges cutting through pristine jungle. A soldier was also shot dead when a team of police and security forces were sent to investigate the killings, authorities said. The massive trans-Papua highway project is part of President Joko Widodo's drive to improve infrastructure in the impoverished province. OPM rebels say they believe the workers were working for the military. But grieving families like 27-year-old Alpianu's say he had taken the job to support his young family. He had not been home since February this year. His wife Anita Limbu Datu recalled the last phone conversation she had with him from her home in the central region of Sulawesi island. \"I said: 'Please be careful in the highlands. When you have come back down please call me straightaway.'\" They have a daughter together and he had promised he be home in time for Christmas. \"I was so shocked when I heard what happened. I don't really know what do to anymore,\" Ms Datu said. Reporting by BBC Indonesia", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 844, "answer_end": 1729, "text": "In a rare criticism of the central government, Papuan Governor Lukas Enembe said the military should now leave. \"We pay our respects to the past and present victims, but this is enough,\" said Governor Lukas Enembe. \"There must be no further civilian casualties, civilians have not been evacuated. So we want all troops out first.\" He added that the pro-independence fighters were unlikely to be still in the area. The Speaker of the Papua parliament, Yunus Wonda, told BBC Indonesia that the military operation was terrifying communities. At least 300 villagers are reported to have fled to escape the military sweep. \"They are traumatised and very scared. They have fled into the jungle,\" said Mr Yunus. \"We want people in Papua in those districts to celebrate this holy month with their families, their wives and children. Christmas should be a time of peace but not a time of fear.\""}], "question": "What did Papua's governor say?", "id": "277_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1730, "answer_end": 3100, "text": "A local government fact-finding team found at least four civilians had been killed in the operation, which has been under way for nearly three weeks Journalists have been unable to enter the area because of security concerns, and international media are restricted from entering Papua. In 2015, Indonesian President Joko Widodo promised to lift the ban but in practice unimpeded reporting in Papua remains very difficult. However, BBC Indonesia has spoken with civilians from the conflict area in the highlands regional capital Wamena. A 14-year-old boy who asked not to be named over fears of reprisals from the military said his father had been killed. \"I saw two helicopters come down, everyone fled including my dad. Then police and military got out. And then the military shot my father.\" \"I was in shock. I jumped and I was also shot at but they missed me. I ran with my older brother into jungle,\" he said. Local human rights activist Raga Kogeya said the community needed to be able to bury its dead in peace. \"We are not enemies of the state. We are citizens of Indonesia. The government has to take full responsibility for those that have been killed,\" she said. Earlier this month, Human Rights Watch said impunity for rights violators was \"the norm\" in Papua because of a lack of accountability within security forces and a poorly functioning justice system."}], "question": "What do Papuans say the military is doing?", "id": "277_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3101, "answer_end": 3965, "text": "It says it has come under attack while trying to retrieve the bodies of the construction workers, and insists it is not targeting unarmed civilians and only firing in self-defence. However Papua military spokesman Muhammad Aidi told BBC Indonesia that it was difficult to differentiate between rebels and civilians. \"In the villagers, the rebels will hide weapons and mix closely with the civilians, and we cannot recognise them,\" he said. \"It is very difficult because they use guerrilla warfare techniques. They could be anywhere and they know the region very well while we are outsiders.\" \"We don't know what they look like, we have never met them. So we only know them from some photos and assumptions about them.\" He said the joint military and police operation would continue. \"There is no time limit on it. The perpetrators have to be caught alive or dead.\""}], "question": "What does the military say?", "id": "277_2"}]}]}, {"title": "UN refugee agency: Record 65.6 million people displaced worldwide", "date": "19 June 2017", "paragraphs": [{"context": "A record 65.6 million people are either refugees, asylum seekers or internally displaced across the globe, the UN refugee agency said. The estimated figure for the end of 2016 is an increase of 300,000 on 2015, according to its annual report. It is a smaller increase than 2014-15, when the figure rose by five million. But the UN high commissioner for refugees Filippo Grandi said it was still a disheartening failure of international diplomacy. \"The world seems to have become unable to make peace,\" Mr Grandi said. \"So you will see old conflicts that continue to linger, and new conflicts erupting, and both produce displacement... forced displacement is a symbol for wars that never end.\" In 2016, some 340,000 people fled the violence in South Sudan into neighbouring Uganda. That was more than any other country - even more than the 200,000 people estimated to have fled Syria. Just 36 hours after crossing the border by a simple wooden plank bridge, refugees are given a small plot of land and the materials they need to start growing their own food. A year ago, the village of Bidi Bidi was just that, but now it is one of the biggest refugee settlements in the world - home to more than a quarter of a million people and covering 250 square kilometres. The UN said it hoped Monday's record breaking numbers of displaced would encourage wealthy countries to think again: not just to accept more refugees, but to invest in peace promotion, and reconstruction. Mr Grandi also warned of the burden being placed on many of the world's poorest states, as some 84% of the world's displaced people are living in poor and middle income countries. \"How am I to ask countries with far less resources, in Africa, in the Middle East, in Asia, to take millions of refugees if the richer countries are refusing to do so?\" he said. There are 65.6 million displaced people in the world - more people than live in the UK. Of these: - 22.5 million are refugees - 40.3 million are displaced in their own country - 2.8 million are seeking asylum Where do the refugees come from? - Syria: 5.5 million* - Afghanistan: 2.5 million - South Sudan: 1.4 million Who is hosting the refugees? - Turkey: 2.9 million - Pakistan: 1.4 million - Lebanon: 1 million - Iran: 979,4000 - Uganda: 940,800 - Ethiopia: 791,600 *Another 6.3 million Syrians are internally displaced", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 693, "answer_end": 1261, "text": "In 2016, some 340,000 people fled the violence in South Sudan into neighbouring Uganda. That was more than any other country - even more than the 200,000 people estimated to have fled Syria. Just 36 hours after crossing the border by a simple wooden plank bridge, refugees are given a small plot of land and the materials they need to start growing their own food. A year ago, the village of Bidi Bidi was just that, but now it is one of the biggest refugee settlements in the world - home to more than a quarter of a million people and covering 250 square kilometres."}], "question": "Uganda: The 'best place' to be a refugee?", "id": "278_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Does Trump have the power to go to war?", "date": "30 October 2017", "paragraphs": [{"context": "US senators are asking cabinet secretaries about the campaign against extremist groups in Niger and other places - and whether a new law authorising the use of military force should be written. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and Defence Secretary Jim Mattis are speaking on Monday about the president authority to wage war - the first time this has been debated publicly. The hearing, convened by the foreign relations committee, will shine a spotlight on Mr Trump's efforts to combat extremist organisations in Niger. To add to the tension, the committee is chaired by Bob Corker, a Republican from Tennessee who's been engaged in an intense social-media war with the president. Under scrutiny is the 2001 authorisation to use military force (AUMF), which was passed shortly after the 11 September 2001 al-Qaeda attacks. Here are some key questions: The president relies on this law to conduct life-or-death operations. As commander-in-chief, the president can send troops to battle. Yet the US Constitution says that only Congress can declare war for an extended time. White House officials found a workaround in the days after the al-Qaeda attacks, however. Lawmakers approved a resolution that gave President George W Bush authority to track down and destroy al-Qaeda and the Taliban. Members of congress approved a second resolution in 2002, allowing Bush to wage war against Iraq. In recent years, the authorisation began to seem limited. \"It said: 'Destroy al-Qaeda,'\" says Jens David Ohlin, a Cornell Law School professor. \"Well, that's not really applicable.\" President Barack Obama maintained that the laws gave him the authority that he needed for the campaign against the Islamic State (IS) group, an organisation that didn't exist when the laws were written. Mr Trump has continued to carry out an aggressive campaign against the militants, whether in Niger or other countries. Obama and Trump, says Ohlin, have both \"shoehorned\" their military efforts into the antiquated authorisations. Most people pay little attention to the president's authorisations or the military campaigns themselves, though, until something happens. In October three staff sergeants, Bryan Black, Jeremiah Johnson and Dustin Wright, as well as Sgt La David Johnson, were killed in Niger. \"All of a sudden people are saying: 'What are we doing there?'\" says Carnegie Mellon's Melanie Marlowe, a scholar who writes about presidential power. Even senators were taken aback. \"I didn't know there was a thousand troops [in Niger],\" said Lindsey Graham, a Republican from South Carolina, on NBC's Meet the Press. The US troops were training local forces in West Africa so they could fight extremist groups in a more efficient manner. The senators and ordinary US citizens wanted to know why these men were fighting and dying in remote parts of Africa and how their efforts helped to promote the interests of the US. On Monday senators will discuss these questions with Tillerson and Mattis - and will also examine the president's authority to send US soldiers into villages in Niger and other countries around the world. Many people think so. In September Republican Senator Rand Paul tried to repeal the current authorisations. He said the laws allowed the president to engage in war \"anywhere, anytime, any place on the globe\". Most senators agree - in theory - that these resolutions should be modernised. They believe that a new law would help the president and ordinary citizens clarify their goals as a nation and determine what they hope to achieve through military action. Administration officials have said they'd support a new law. Mattis told members of congress earlier this year that a new law would help to create a united front against extremist groups. \"It'd be a statement of the American people's resolve,\" he said. But the senators disagree about what the new law should look like. Some want the law to impose a time limit for military operations as well as list the countries where they'd take place. Others think the law should clarify that the military campaign will be limited in scope, conducted without ground troops. The current authorisations are rife with problems, but they've remained in place. It seems unlikely that a new law will be written - at least not soon. Creating a new one means that the president, lawmakers and people across the country would all have to agree on how the US should wage war. It's a broad mandate - one that senators and cabinet secretaries will debate on Monday. Follow @Tara_Mc", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 853, "answer_end": 3106, "text": "The president relies on this law to conduct life-or-death operations. As commander-in-chief, the president can send troops to battle. Yet the US Constitution says that only Congress can declare war for an extended time. White House officials found a workaround in the days after the al-Qaeda attacks, however. Lawmakers approved a resolution that gave President George W Bush authority to track down and destroy al-Qaeda and the Taliban. Members of congress approved a second resolution in 2002, allowing Bush to wage war against Iraq. In recent years, the authorisation began to seem limited. \"It said: 'Destroy al-Qaeda,'\" says Jens David Ohlin, a Cornell Law School professor. \"Well, that's not really applicable.\" President Barack Obama maintained that the laws gave him the authority that he needed for the campaign against the Islamic State (IS) group, an organisation that didn't exist when the laws were written. Mr Trump has continued to carry out an aggressive campaign against the militants, whether in Niger or other countries. Obama and Trump, says Ohlin, have both \"shoehorned\" their military efforts into the antiquated authorisations. Most people pay little attention to the president's authorisations or the military campaigns themselves, though, until something happens. In October three staff sergeants, Bryan Black, Jeremiah Johnson and Dustin Wright, as well as Sgt La David Johnson, were killed in Niger. \"All of a sudden people are saying: 'What are we doing there?'\" says Carnegie Mellon's Melanie Marlowe, a scholar who writes about presidential power. Even senators were taken aback. \"I didn't know there was a thousand troops [in Niger],\" said Lindsey Graham, a Republican from South Carolina, on NBC's Meet the Press. The US troops were training local forces in West Africa so they could fight extremist groups in a more efficient manner. The senators and ordinary US citizens wanted to know why these men were fighting and dying in remote parts of Africa and how their efforts helped to promote the interests of the US. On Monday senators will discuss these questions with Tillerson and Mattis - and will also examine the president's authority to send US soldiers into villages in Niger and other countries around the world."}], "question": "Why is the AUMF so important - and controversial?", "id": "279_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3107, "answer_end": 4128, "text": "Many people think so. In September Republican Senator Rand Paul tried to repeal the current authorisations. He said the laws allowed the president to engage in war \"anywhere, anytime, any place on the globe\". Most senators agree - in theory - that these resolutions should be modernised. They believe that a new law would help the president and ordinary citizens clarify their goals as a nation and determine what they hope to achieve through military action. Administration officials have said they'd support a new law. Mattis told members of congress earlier this year that a new law would help to create a united front against extremist groups. \"It'd be a statement of the American people's resolve,\" he said. But the senators disagree about what the new law should look like. Some want the law to impose a time limit for military operations as well as list the countries where they'd take place. Others think the law should clarify that the military campaign will be limited in scope, conducted without ground troops."}], "question": "Is a new AUMF necessary?", "id": "279_1"}]}]}, {"title": "EU referendum: How will official lead campaigns be chosen?", "date": "8 February 2016", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Campaigning for the EU referendum is effectively under way already even though we don't yet know when it will be held or what the final package of reforms to the UK's membership that David Cameron will put to the British public. Another unknown factor to add to the mix is the question of which will be the official campaigns on the In/Remain and Out/Leave sides. While a plethora of groups have been set up to argue the case for the UK to stay in or leave the EU, to quote Christopher Lambert from the cult movie Highlander, \"there can be only one\" when it comes to the official lead campaign for either side. So how does the process work? Referendums are relatively rare in British political history but when they do happen, they are governed by a series of protocols and rules enshrined in law. One of these is that a lead campaign is officially designated on each side, if it meets certain criteria. For instance, in the 2014 Scottish independence referendum, Better Together was chosen as the official pro-UK lead campaign while Yes Scotland was chosen as the official pro-independence lead group. The Electoral Commission, which is in charge of making sure the EU referendum is a fair contest, will make the decision. The choice is very important, not merely for the increased media profile it confers on the chosen campaigns but also for the financial benefits. The official campaigns will get access to a grant of up to PS600,000, an overall spending limit of PS7m, campaign broadcasts on TV and radio, free mail shots and free access to meeting rooms. Other groups are free to run their own campaigns but they will be limited to a spend of PS700,000 if they register with the Electoral Commission and will have to report the source of donations. If they don't register with the Commission they will be limited to spending less than PS10,000. On one side of the fence, the state of play looks relatively straightforward. Britain Stronger In Europe is the main, and as yet unchallenged, campaign group making the case for the UK's continued membership of the EU. Although the SNP and Labour have both said they will run their own separate campaigns, and there are other internal Tory groups, this umbrella body - which is chaired by former M&S chair Lord Rose - commands broad support among those who believe the UK's future lies within the EU. However, it is a very different picture among those arguing that leaving the EU will benefit Britain. At the moment, there are three rival groups who could all ultimately vie for the nod from the Electoral Commission. Six months ago, it looked like a straight fight between Vote Leave and Leave.EU. The former was spawned out of the Business for Britain group, a longstanding Eurosceptic lobby group which campaigned for the UK to overhaul its status with the EU. It has historic links with the Conservative Party - it is now chaired by former Conservative chancellor Lord Lawson and its campaign director is Dominic Cummings, a former special adviser to Michael Gove. It also has experience of fighting and winning referendums. Its chief executive Matthew Elliott ran the successful No 2 AV campaign in 2011, which opposed any change to the electoral system. Its deputy chairman is Labour donor John Mills and it includes UKIP's MP, Douglas Carswell, amongst its backers. Leave.EU is a different animal altogether. It was set up last July by businessman Arron Banks, a former Conservative donor who became one of UKIP's biggest supporters in the run-up to last year's election, It has portrayed itself as more of a popular movement focused on immigration. Relations between the two groups have never been cordial, amid claims of hidden agendas, differences in strategies, and failing to reach out to others in the Out camp. Amid signs that their differences were irreconcilable, a new outfit - Grassroots Out - sprung up last month and has gained support. GO was formed by Tory MPs Peter Bone and Tom Pursglove and Labour's Kate Hoey. It has since won the backing of UKIP leader Nigel Farage and the party's ruling body which described it as a \"genuinely cross party, well organised, energetic campaigning group\". All of the groups concerned are making big play of their cross-party credentials and being a \"broad church\". This is not a coincidence. Any group seeking the official designation has to meet a series of criteria, set down by the watchdog. In other words, it has to pass a series of tests. One of these is demonstrating that it commands support from across the political spectrum. The other criteria are: - Does its objectives fit with the referendum outcome it supports? - How organised it is and how capable is it of representing its supporters? - Can it properly fight a campaign and is it financially sound? The Electoral Commission has said it will chose \"whichever of the applicants appears...to represent to the greatest extent those campaigning for that outcome\". However, it is not as simple as that. The watchdog has the power to reject all applications to be the lead campaign on the grounds they do not meet the criteria set down in the 2000 Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act. To do this, however, would be highly unusual and controversial. Whichever Out campaign is chosen is likely to influence the tone and conduct of the campaign as well as who its figurehead is. Nigel Farage is likely to play a much more prominent role if either Leave.EU or Go is chosen - with the campaign likely to have the issues of immigration and security at its heart. Many Tory Eurosceptics - including a number of Cabinet ministers - will feel more comfortable with Vote Leave, which wants, according to UKIP MP Douglas Carswell, to have a \"broad-based, optimistic, upbeat campaign\", with a focus on what they claim will be the economic benefits of leaving the EU. Labour Eurosceptics, at the moment, seem uncertain about which horse to back, with John Mills - the founder of Labour Leave - insisting that it remains affiliated to Vote Leave despite rumours to the contrary. The watchdog has said it will publish details of the designation process once David Cameron has named the date for the referendum, which could happen as early as Monday 22 February, if a deal on his draft renegotiation package is agreed by EU leaders the previous weekend. The timing of the process will be among details set out in legislation relating to the EU poll that will have to be approved by MPs. With the prospect of the referendum itself taking place in late June, campaigners on both sides will be keen for the watchdog to make a speedy decision, potentially before the Easter holiday at the end of March. The Scottish referendum campaigns were designated on 23 April 2014, just under five months before the referendum was held on 18 September. While the period is likely to be slightly shorter this time, activists will be arguing that time is of the essence in getting their message across. Guide: All you need to know about the referendum EU renegotiation: Did Cameron get what he wanted? Referendum timeline: What will happen when? The view from Europe: What's in it for the others? More: BBC News EU referendum special", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 641, "answer_end": 1368, "text": "Referendums are relatively rare in British political history but when they do happen, they are governed by a series of protocols and rules enshrined in law. One of these is that a lead campaign is officially designated on each side, if it meets certain criteria. For instance, in the 2014 Scottish independence referendum, Better Together was chosen as the official pro-UK lead campaign while Yes Scotland was chosen as the official pro-independence lead group. The Electoral Commission, which is in charge of making sure the EU referendum is a fair contest, will make the decision. The choice is very important, not merely for the increased media profile it confers on the chosen campaigns but also for the financial benefits."}], "question": "What is a lead campaign?", "id": "280_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1369, "answer_end": 1850, "text": "The official campaigns will get access to a grant of up to PS600,000, an overall spending limit of PS7m, campaign broadcasts on TV and radio, free mail shots and free access to meeting rooms. Other groups are free to run their own campaigns but they will be limited to a spend of PS700,000 if they register with the Electoral Commission and will have to report the source of donations. If they don't register with the Commission they will be limited to spending less than PS10,000."}], "question": "What are the benefits?", "id": "280_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1851, "answer_end": 4166, "text": "On one side of the fence, the state of play looks relatively straightforward. Britain Stronger In Europe is the main, and as yet unchallenged, campaign group making the case for the UK's continued membership of the EU. Although the SNP and Labour have both said they will run their own separate campaigns, and there are other internal Tory groups, this umbrella body - which is chaired by former M&S chair Lord Rose - commands broad support among those who believe the UK's future lies within the EU. However, it is a very different picture among those arguing that leaving the EU will benefit Britain. At the moment, there are three rival groups who could all ultimately vie for the nod from the Electoral Commission. Six months ago, it looked like a straight fight between Vote Leave and Leave.EU. The former was spawned out of the Business for Britain group, a longstanding Eurosceptic lobby group which campaigned for the UK to overhaul its status with the EU. It has historic links with the Conservative Party - it is now chaired by former Conservative chancellor Lord Lawson and its campaign director is Dominic Cummings, a former special adviser to Michael Gove. It also has experience of fighting and winning referendums. Its chief executive Matthew Elliott ran the successful No 2 AV campaign in 2011, which opposed any change to the electoral system. Its deputy chairman is Labour donor John Mills and it includes UKIP's MP, Douglas Carswell, amongst its backers. Leave.EU is a different animal altogether. It was set up last July by businessman Arron Banks, a former Conservative donor who became one of UKIP's biggest supporters in the run-up to last year's election, It has portrayed itself as more of a popular movement focused on immigration. Relations between the two groups have never been cordial, amid claims of hidden agendas, differences in strategies, and failing to reach out to others in the Out camp. Amid signs that their differences were irreconcilable, a new outfit - Grassroots Out - sprung up last month and has gained support. GO was formed by Tory MPs Peter Bone and Tom Pursglove and Labour's Kate Hoey. It has since won the backing of UKIP leader Nigel Farage and the party's ruling body which described it as a \"genuinely cross party, well organised, energetic campaigning group\"."}], "question": "Who is in the running?", "id": "280_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 4167, "answer_end": 6049, "text": "All of the groups concerned are making big play of their cross-party credentials and being a \"broad church\". This is not a coincidence. Any group seeking the official designation has to meet a series of criteria, set down by the watchdog. In other words, it has to pass a series of tests. One of these is demonstrating that it commands support from across the political spectrum. The other criteria are: - Does its objectives fit with the referendum outcome it supports? - How organised it is and how capable is it of representing its supporters? - Can it properly fight a campaign and is it financially sound? The Electoral Commission has said it will chose \"whichever of the applicants appears...to represent to the greatest extent those campaigning for that outcome\". However, it is not as simple as that. The watchdog has the power to reject all applications to be the lead campaign on the grounds they do not meet the criteria set down in the 2000 Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act. To do this, however, would be highly unusual and controversial. Whichever Out campaign is chosen is likely to influence the tone and conduct of the campaign as well as who its figurehead is. Nigel Farage is likely to play a much more prominent role if either Leave.EU or Go is chosen - with the campaign likely to have the issues of immigration and security at its heart. Many Tory Eurosceptics - including a number of Cabinet ministers - will feel more comfortable with Vote Leave, which wants, according to UKIP MP Douglas Carswell, to have a \"broad-based, optimistic, upbeat campaign\", with a focus on what they claim will be the economic benefits of leaving the EU. Labour Eurosceptics, at the moment, seem uncertain about which horse to back, with John Mills - the founder of Labour Leave - insisting that it remains affiliated to Vote Leave despite rumours to the contrary."}], "question": "Why does all of this matter?", "id": "280_3"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 6050, "answer_end": 6954, "text": "The watchdog has said it will publish details of the designation process once David Cameron has named the date for the referendum, which could happen as early as Monday 22 February, if a deal on his draft renegotiation package is agreed by EU leaders the previous weekend. The timing of the process will be among details set out in legislation relating to the EU poll that will have to be approved by MPs. With the prospect of the referendum itself taking place in late June, campaigners on both sides will be keen for the watchdog to make a speedy decision, potentially before the Easter holiday at the end of March. The Scottish referendum campaigns were designated on 23 April 2014, just under five months before the referendum was held on 18 September. While the period is likely to be slightly shorter this time, activists will be arguing that time is of the essence in getting their message across."}], "question": "When will we know the result?", "id": "280_4"}]}]}, {"title": "Sudan stand-off after Omar al-Bashir ousted", "date": "18 April 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "A week after the fall of Omar al-Bashir the street protests in the heart of Khartoum are as loud and energetic as ever. In the searing heat, the music and the speeches blare from the banks of speakers as the people who have already achieved so much in Sudan push for even greater and lasting change. While the military council is offering what it considers to be concessions, the protesters want more guarantees that the gains they have made so far will not be lost. They have barricaded themselves into a large area of central Khartoum near the military headquarters, creating traffic chaos which is testing people's patience. But their presence and the pressure they are applying are pivotal to the discussions going on behind the scenes as politicians and technocrats furiously work towards a civilian transition. Building a functioning, democratic state after 30 years of military rule does not happen in a week, and the opposition is far from being one cohesive unit. Like in Egypt the military here is strong. Its generals will not give up power easily as they have a great deal to lose, even if they give the impression of moving towards democracy. The Sudanese Professionals Association has led the street protests and is key to the talks with the military council over a transitional civilian authority. They are part of an umbrella group known as the Forces for Freedom and Change which has been meeting the ruling military council. Together with a political opposition group known as Sudan Call, the leftist Consensus Forces, an offshoot of the Unionists, and representatives of civil society, they provide a strong unified opposition block. But 30 years of division and in-fighting, alliances and rivalries within the traditional political parties makes it harder to put on a truly united front against the military council. One of those at the table is the University of Khartoum's Professors' Initiative. Since young people began to drive the demonstrations in December, hundreds of academics have been involved - secretly at first - bringing experts together to plan the transition. \"It was a surprise for everyone that it was started by the youth. We think they don't know much about politics and that they sit in restaurants drinking coffee or playing computer games, but they know a lot about politics and history,\" said Intisar Soghayroun, an archaeology professor. She says they began to write papers, gather experts and academics and set up working groups looking at key issues like the economy, infrastructure and agriculture. They are urging the protesters to stay on the streets to maintain pressure on the transitional military council which Prof Soghayroun believes will allow change. \"At the beginning we weren't sure, but now they are making some steps towards convincing people and gaining trust,\" she said. \"All the people in the sit-in do not trust this government because of 30 years of violence, mischievous work concerning economy, health, education and the collapse that happened in the Sudan.\" While the professors plan a four-year interim period run by technocrats they have the established politicians to deal with. \"All the groups who are under the change and freedom - if they can come together, then in one or two days they can decide who is going to be the prime minister,\" said Prof Soghayroun. \"But what we want is all the other parties that ruled or had been part of the ruling government before - we don't want them in power during the transitional period.\" Mohammed Usman Yahya is from the Unified Unionist Party and believes they are united. \"This revolution represents the entire Sudanese people. All the parties agreed to be united to the declaration of change and freedom. Consider it the voice of all Sudanese people,\" he said. \"We want the military council to deliver the authority to a civilian government and protect the Sudanese nation and maintain internal security.\" The ability of the opposition to create a strong, united front and have a clear vision of what a civilian-run Sudan could look like will be crucial to the success of negotiations with the military. There is also international pressure for different outcomes. The African Union has given Sudan two weeks to establish civilian rule. China, Russia, Saudi Arabia and the UAE favour the stability of a military council, but the troika of the US, Norway and the UK want a move towards democracy. \"Sudan is at a moment of potentially huge historic change and what we're looking for is this change to be positive and that means rule in Sudan returning back to civilians,\" said the British Ambassador to Khartoum, Irfan Siddiq. \"The military is currently in control and we are really keen to see civilians take over this transition. \"The civilian leadership of the protest movement have been very clear about how they want to form a civilian council, parliament and government. I think this is something the military council needs to listen to.\" The call for a million people to join the protest was an attempt by organisers to give more momentum to the movement. Huge numbers of people have been marching to the area surrounding the military headquarters - passing through numerous barricades controlled by demonstrators. But there's little sense among the crowds that the changes announced by the military council are real concessions or compromises. People want to see proof that former President Omar al-Bashir is in jail, and that justice will come to those who carried out atrocities under his regime. \"We cannot accept that justice has been served unless we see former president Bashir and those 'fat cats' in his regime actually tried,\" said Daud Ismael. \"We need a fair and neutral justice body to deal with them; otherwise we want them sent to The Hague,\" he added. referring to the International Criminal Court.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1156, "answer_end": 3029, "text": "The Sudanese Professionals Association has led the street protests and is key to the talks with the military council over a transitional civilian authority. They are part of an umbrella group known as the Forces for Freedom and Change which has been meeting the ruling military council. Together with a political opposition group known as Sudan Call, the leftist Consensus Forces, an offshoot of the Unionists, and representatives of civil society, they provide a strong unified opposition block. But 30 years of division and in-fighting, alliances and rivalries within the traditional political parties makes it harder to put on a truly united front against the military council. One of those at the table is the University of Khartoum's Professors' Initiative. Since young people began to drive the demonstrations in December, hundreds of academics have been involved - secretly at first - bringing experts together to plan the transition. \"It was a surprise for everyone that it was started by the youth. We think they don't know much about politics and that they sit in restaurants drinking coffee or playing computer games, but they know a lot about politics and history,\" said Intisar Soghayroun, an archaeology professor. She says they began to write papers, gather experts and academics and set up working groups looking at key issues like the economy, infrastructure and agriculture. They are urging the protesters to stay on the streets to maintain pressure on the transitional military council which Prof Soghayroun believes will allow change. \"At the beginning we weren't sure, but now they are making some steps towards convincing people and gaining trust,\" she said. \"All the people in the sit-in do not trust this government because of 30 years of violence, mischievous work concerning economy, health, education and the collapse that happened in the Sudan.\""}], "question": "Who are the protesters?", "id": "281_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3030, "answer_end": 3503, "text": "While the professors plan a four-year interim period run by technocrats they have the established politicians to deal with. \"All the groups who are under the change and freedom - if they can come together, then in one or two days they can decide who is going to be the prime minister,\" said Prof Soghayroun. \"But what we want is all the other parties that ruled or had been part of the ruling government before - we don't want them in power during the transitional period.\""}], "question": "Can they remain united?", "id": "281_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 4415, "answer_end": 5838, "text": "\"Sudan is at a moment of potentially huge historic change and what we're looking for is this change to be positive and that means rule in Sudan returning back to civilians,\" said the British Ambassador to Khartoum, Irfan Siddiq. \"The military is currently in control and we are really keen to see civilians take over this transition. \"The civilian leadership of the protest movement have been very clear about how they want to form a civilian council, parliament and government. I think this is something the military council needs to listen to.\" The call for a million people to join the protest was an attempt by organisers to give more momentum to the movement. Huge numbers of people have been marching to the area surrounding the military headquarters - passing through numerous barricades controlled by demonstrators. But there's little sense among the crowds that the changes announced by the military council are real concessions or compromises. People want to see proof that former President Omar al-Bashir is in jail, and that justice will come to those who carried out atrocities under his regime. \"We cannot accept that justice has been served unless we see former president Bashir and those 'fat cats' in his regime actually tried,\" said Daud Ismael. \"We need a fair and neutral justice body to deal with them; otherwise we want them sent to The Hague,\" he added. referring to the International Criminal Court."}], "question": "Will the military listen to the protesters' demands?", "id": "281_2"}]}]}, {"title": "100 Women: How South Korea stopped its parents aborting girls", "date": "13 January 2017", "paragraphs": [{"context": "For every 100 baby girls born in India, there are 111 baby boys. In China, the ratio is 100 to 115. One other country saw similar rates in 1990, but has since brought its population back into balance. How did South Korea do it? Yvette Tan reports. \"One daughter is equal to 10 sons,\" was the message desperately being promoted by the South Korean government. It was some two decades ago and gender imbalance was at a high, reaching 116.5 boys for every 100 girls at its peak. The preference for sons goes back centuries in Korean tradition. They were seen to carry on the family line, provide financial support and take care of their parents in old age. \"There was the idea that daughters were not regarded as part of their own family after marriage,\" says Ms Park-Cha Okkyung, the executive director of the Korean Women's Associations United. The government was looking for a solution - and fast. In an effort to reduce the incidence of selective abortions, South Korea enacted a law in 1988 making it illegal for a doctor to reveal the gender of a foetus to expectant parents. At the same time women were also becoming more educated, with many more starting to join the workforce, challenging the convention that it was the job of a man to provide for his family. It worked, but it was not for one reason alone. Rather, a combination of these factors led to the eventual gender rebalancing. South Korea was acknowledged as the \"first Asian country to reverse the trend in rising sex ratios at birth\", in a report by the World Bank. In 2013, the ratio was down to 105.3, a number comparable to major Western nations such as Canada. Monica Das Gupta, research professor in sociology at the University of Maryland who has studied gender disparity across Asia, says factors other than legislation are likely to be the most significant in accounting for this change. A legal ban can \"dampen things a bit\", but she points out that \"seven years after the law [was instituted] sex-selective abortions continued\". Rather she attributes the change to the \"blistering pace\" of urbanisation and industrialisation in South Korea. While the country was predominantly a rural society there was great emphasis on male lineage and boys staying at home to inherit their fathers' land. But in just a few decades a large part of the population has moved to living in apartment blocks with people they don't know and working in factories with people they don't know, and the system has become much more impersonal, Dr Das Gupta says. China and India, though, still have a stark gender imbalance, despite India outlawing, and China regulating against, sex-selective testing and abortions. So why is that? Dr Das Gupta believes that in China this may be because until last year, the rule that your household registration - known as the hukou system - remained in the village where you were from, regardless of the fact that you might work in the city, meant that there was still an emphasis on male lineage and land ownership, but that this should now start to shift. But she also stressed that the change is not always linear. As people gain economic advantage they have better access to sex-selective testing and have fewer children, which actually then puts greater emphasis on their gender. In India in 1961, there were 976 girls for every 1,000 boys under the age of seven. According to the latest census figures released in 2011, that figure had dropped to a dismal 914 and campaigners say the decline is largely due to the increased availability of antenatal sex screening, despite the fact that both the tests and sex-selective abortion have been outlawed since 1994. They say that in the past decade alone, 8 million female foetuses may have been aborted in the country. But she argues that several factors in India are slowly having a trickle-down effect on attitudes to women including media representation of women functioning in the outside world, and legislative changes enforcing equal inheritance rules and requiring one-third of elected positions be reserved for women. BBC 100 Women names 100 influential and inspirational women around the world every year. We create documentaries, features and interviews about their lives, giving more space for stories that put women at the centre. Other stories you might like: The English girls' school reborn in a Nairobi slum Parents who regret having children Who is on the BBC's 100 Women 2016 list? While South Korea may have rebalanced its population, this does not necessarily equate gender equality, Ms Okkyung argues. \"Even though Korea has a normal gender ratio balance, discrimination against women still continues,\" the 47-year-old says. \"We need to pay more attention to the real situations that women face rather than just looking at the numbers.\" Women in South Korea face one of the largest gender wage gaps amongst developed countries - at 36% in 2013. By comparison, New Zealand has a gap of some 5%. \"Nowadays women go to university at a higher rate than men in South Korea. However, the problem starts when women enter into the labour market,\" Ms Okkyung explains. \"The glass ceiling is very solid and there is a low percentage of women at higher positions in offices.\" One of the reasons it is harder for women to compete in the workplace is because they are expected to devote their time to both work and family. \"One example is that working mothers have a dilemma, as children in elementary schools come home early after lunch. Therefore, mothers who cannot see a sustainable future in the workplace tend to quit their jobs,\" says Ms Okkyung. Dr Hyekung Lee was one of the few Korean women in her generation that did find workplace success. \"I have been very lucky that I was brought up in a very enlightened family. My family had three girls and two boys, and all were given the same support for education,\" says 68-year-old Dr Lee, who is the chairperson of the Korea Foundation for Women, the country's only non-profit organisation for women. \"But when I became a full-time faculty member in my university, I had to be the only woman professor in my department throughout my 30 years there.\" Generally, attitudes towards women have improved as today's Korean men become more educated and exposed to global norms. They also inevitably mix with women across all spheres of life, in workplaces, schools or social circles, something that perhaps was not so common decades ago. It is amongst the older generation that many still cling on to the preference for sons. Emily [not her real name], 26, recalls that growing up as an only child, she was always treated equally by her grandparents - until her step-brothers were born. \"I only noticed the difference when my brothers came,\" she said. \"Then I realised that they would never do stuff like the housework.\" \"My birthday is also one day before my father's so my grandparents didn't allow me to celebrate it because as they said: 'How dare a girl celebrate a birthday before her father?'\" \"I think Korea is at that transitional phase that people are more aware now than previous generations, but it's still not quite equal compared to Western countries,\" she says. \"I've had friends tell me I can only keep my career if I stay single, and others tell me I've chased away men because I was too bossy on the dates and took the initiative.\" She also notes that there is also a substantial difference in attitudes towards women in bigger cities and smaller towns. \"Cities like Busan are more traditional. I've had friends from Busan get a culture shock when they come to Seoul,\" she says. \"In the capital, things are more progressive.\" Yet she believes change will come. \"Women in Korea need to be aware that there is gender discrimination,\" says Emily, who is now studying in the Netherlands. \"I didn't know until I left - I thought the way things were was just how they were.\" \"It's not until you expose yourself to other cultures that you start to question your own. I think things will change, but it will take a lot of time.\" Additional reporting by the BBC's Geeta Pandey and Yuwen Wu.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 4066, "answer_end": 4439, "text": "BBC 100 Women names 100 influential and inspirational women around the world every year. We create documentaries, features and interviews about their lives, giving more space for stories that put women at the centre. Other stories you might like: The English girls' school reborn in a Nairobi slum Parents who regret having children Who is on the BBC's 100 Women 2016 list?"}], "question": "What is 100 women?", "id": "282_0"}]}]}, {"title": "South Africa elections: Who controls the country's business sector?", "date": "5 May 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "South Africans go to the polls on 8 May, with the African National Congress (ANC) seeking to retain the power it has held since 1994. In the decades since the end of apartheid, the ANC has sought to provide opportunities for the country's majority black population to achieve greater economic status and influence. Black economic empowerment was introduced to address racial inequality in South Africa and takes the form of affirmative action, including preferential employment, skills training and selective procurement of government contracts. The opposition Democratic Alliance says the policy has been a failure which \"has only served to enrich a politically connected elite and to dampen economic growth.\" So, how unequal is the workplace in South Africa and are the numbers changing? A starting point in this highly contested debate is to look at who occupies management positions, using racial categories adopted by the South African government. Companies are required to report this information to an employment equity commission. First let's look at the most senior level - the top managers. Although black South Africans make up nearly 80% of the economically active population, they hold just 14% of top management jobs. In comparison, 67% of these top positions are held by white employees - a figure which has declined slightly in the last three years. White people make up 9% of the economically active population, according to the equity commission. Indian-South Africans are 2.8% of the economically active population, and hold 9% of the top management jobs. In the private sector, around 70% of top managers are white, while more than 70% of top managers in government jobs are black. The equality commission has also found that 77% of top management posts are occupied by men. \"A white, male-dominant organisational culture still prevails,\" said South Africa's labour minister, Mildred Oliphant, commenting on these findings. Senior management roles - a level down - follow a similar pattern, although the level of non-white participation is slightly higher. Of these positions, 56% are filled by white South Africans. For the third tier defined by the equality commission - those with professional qualifications filling mid-management positions - there's evidence of a further trend towards greater non-white participation. Here, non-white workers hold more than half of the positions. A decade ago, white workers filled the majority of these jobs. Another measure of empowerment is to look not at who works for the country's leading companies, but who owns them. According to figures reported to South Africa's black economic empowerment commission, black ownership of companies on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) in 2017 was 27%. However, the data for this is only partial. Fewer than half of the companies listed on the JSE provided the information asked for. The commission itself has expressed frustration at the slow pace of change. Its head, Zodwa Ntuli, says progress towards towards black empowerment has been \"insignificant compared to where we should be.\" One more indication of the skewed nature of ownership comes from analysis carried out by the National Empowerment Fund - a body set up by the government to support black business - which looks at  companies listed on the JSE. By this measure, just 3% of the biggest firms are controlled by black South Africans. Read more from Reality Check Send us your questions Follow us on Twitter", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 2469, "answer_end": 3404, "text": "Another measure of empowerment is to look not at who works for the country's leading companies, but who owns them. According to figures reported to South Africa's black economic empowerment commission, black ownership of companies on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) in 2017 was 27%. However, the data for this is only partial. Fewer than half of the companies listed on the JSE provided the information asked for. The commission itself has expressed frustration at the slow pace of change. Its head, Zodwa Ntuli, says progress towards towards black empowerment has been \"insignificant compared to where we should be.\" One more indication of the skewed nature of ownership comes from analysis carried out by the National Empowerment Fund - a body set up by the government to support black business - which looks at  companies listed on the JSE. By this measure, just 3% of the biggest firms are controlled by black South Africans."}], "question": "Who controls the largest companies?", "id": "283_0"}]}]}, {"title": "North Korea conducts 'crucial test' - state media", "date": "14 December 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "North Korea has conducted a \"crucial test\" at a satellite launch site to boost its nuclear deterrent, state media report. A spokesman told KNCA news agency it took place late on Friday at the Sohae Satellite Launching Ground, but did not give specific details. This is the second test to take place at the Sohae site in less than a week. Talks between the US and North Korea about its nuclear programme remain stalled. US President Donald Trump has refused to lift biting sanctions until North Korea fully abandons its nuclear programme. North Korea has stepped up its weapons tests and its strong rhetoric in recent weeks, and leader Kim Jong-un has been asking for new concessions from the US by the end of the year. Pyongyang has said it will adopt a \"new way\" if that does not happen - saying the US can expect an ominous \"Christmas gift\" if it does not comply. It is not clear exactly what North Korea tested at the site. 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. South Korea's defence minister had described that as the purpose of the previous test in December. After Saturday's test, North Korea's Chief of the General Staff Pak Jong Chon warned \"hostile forces\" that they should not provoke his country, according to state media. North Korea had previously promised to dismantle the Sohae site. Last month, Japan condemned Pyongyang for \"repeated launches of ballistic missiles\" after two projectiles were fired. The North however said it was testing a \"super-large multiple-rocket launcher\", and threatened that Japan \"may see what a real ballistic missile is in the not distant future\". The test comes amid heightening tensions in the region. The UN Security Council met on Wednesday at the request of the US to discuss North Korea's weapons programme - a move North Korea called a \"serious provocation\". And on Sunday, US Special Representative for North Korea Stephen Biegun will arrive in the South Korean capital Seoul for a three-day visit, where they are expected to discuss recent developments and denuclearisation. US President Donald Trump has said he still hopes to reach an agreement with North Korea. The president made pursuing diplomacy with North Korea a centre-piece of his foreign policy agenda in 2018 but has failed to extract significant concessions on denuclearisation despite holding two summits with leader Kim Jong-un and even briefly setting foot in North Korea. The US tested a medium-range ballistic missile over the Pacific Ocean on Thursday - a weapon that would have been prohibited under the 1987 Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty which President Trump left earlier this year.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 866, "answer_end": 1699, "text": "It is not clear exactly what North Korea tested at the site. 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. South Korea's defence minister had described that as the purpose of the previous test in December. After Saturday's test, North Korea's Chief of the General Staff Pak Jong Chon warned \"hostile forces\" that they should not provoke his country, according to state media. North Korea had previously promised to dismantle the Sohae site. Last month, Japan condemned Pyongyang for \"repeated launches of ballistic missiles\" after two projectiles were fired. The North however said it was testing a \"super-large multiple-rocket launcher\", and threatened that Japan \"may see what a real ballistic missile is in the not distant future\"."}], "question": "What was the test?", "id": "284_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1700, "answer_end": 2727, "text": "The test comes amid heightening tensions in the region. The UN Security Council met on Wednesday at the request of the US to discuss North Korea's weapons programme - a move North Korea called a \"serious provocation\". And on Sunday, US Special Representative for North Korea Stephen Biegun will arrive in the South Korean capital Seoul for a three-day visit, where they are expected to discuss recent developments and denuclearisation. US President Donald Trump has said he still hopes to reach an agreement with North Korea. The president made pursuing diplomacy with North Korea a centre-piece of his foreign policy agenda in 2018 but has failed to extract significant concessions on denuclearisation despite holding two summits with leader Kim Jong-un and even briefly setting foot in North Korea. The US tested a medium-range ballistic missile over the Pacific Ocean on Thursday - a weapon that would have been prohibited under the 1987 Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty which President Trump left earlier this year."}], "question": "Why is North Korea conducting a test now?", "id": "284_1"}]}]}, {"title": "Is Theresa May the UK's Merkel?", "date": "13 July 2016", "paragraphs": [{"context": "German media have greeted the arrival of the UK's new Prime Minister Theresa May with headlines such as \"England's Angela Merkel\", \"May is Britain's Merkel,\" or simply \"The British Merkel\". But does the new British PM really have much in common with Europe's most powerful leader? No-one ever compared the haircuts and outfits of Angela Merkel's predecessor Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder with those of his UK counterpart, Tony Blair. The fact that comparisons are being drawn between the two women arguably says more about sexism in society than any actual similarity between Angela Merkel and Theresa May. The same goes for the gendered use of the terms \"steely\" and \"ice queen\", which have been used to describe both women. The point that both are married but without children would also not be made about male leaders. But it all proves that gender does play a role, and both women have worked their way to the top in male-dominated parties. Both women have had to deal with the media's scrutiny of aspects of their appearance: Theresa May's leopard-print shoes and Angela Merkel's hairstyle. There was much media chatter when the chancellor's pudding-bowl scientist look was transformed into her current battle-ready, hair-sprayed helmet. Mrs Merkel very quickly came up with the female equivalent of an anonymous male political outfit, with alternating coloured blazers. They were standard enough not to detract from the matter in hand, but bright enough to stand out amid the grey suits of an EU summit. Cameron bows out: Live updates Merkel: Negotiations with UK will be difficult Brexit: View from the Reichstag Theresa May's lengthy to-do list Much has been made of the fact that both Mrs May and Mrs Merkel are the daughters of Protestant clergymen. What is often left out is that Angela Merkel's childhood in a Protestant family in communist East Germany made her an outsider. Christianity was viewed by the ruling Communists with suspicion and was seen as a dissident force. And the Church played a crucial role in fall of the Berlin Wall, whereas in Britain the family of an Anglican vicar would traditionally be very much part of the establishment. But for both politicians their religious background does appear to inform their policy decisions. Chancellor Merkel has justified her decision to welcome in refugees as a moral imperative, and her Christian Democrat party, founded on religious values, is not just conservative, but also sees the welfare of wider society as part of its brief. Theresa May's recent comments about social reform and reducing inequality indicate that deep down she may be more of a German-style Christian Democrat than a \"no such thing as society\" Thatcherite Tory. Because Angela Merkel will be Theresa May's most important negotiating partner in Brexit talks between the EU and London. The German chancellor never tires of saying that this is a decision for 27 EU members. But it is her voice that will be the most influential in the room. Mrs Merkel is the longest serving leader in the EU, and as head of Europe's strongest economy, the most powerful. The talks will be led by the member states, not the European Commission, meaning that the chemistry between the British and German leaders will be crucial. It has not gone unnoticed that both politicians like cooking and hiking: admirably down-to-earth pursuits for voters who have had enough of slick, political PR. Both women are renowned for their consistency and attention to detail, and there is an almost audible sigh of relief in the corridors of power in Berlin that the fight for power among the Conservatives did not become a protracted fight. Germany was saddened by the UK's vote to leave the EU. It is seen here as an emotional break-up. But the priority for many in Berlin is to make the divorce as swift as possible, to avoid economic damage. So far German politicians have been cautious in their comments about Theresa May, possibly because UK politics has become so unpredictable. The only thing Chancellor Merkel has said about her UK counterpart is that that her first duty will be to \"clarify what sort of future relationship Britain wants to build with the EU\". Then Article 50 must be triggered, says Mrs Merkel, to start the two-year clock on the UK's exit from the EU. Only after that can negotiations start. This will be the first clash between the two leaders, as Theresa May wants to start talks before triggering Article 50. Article 50: A simple explanation Hard or soft Brexit? Five models for post-Brexit trade The biggest challenge is that they have opposing aims when it comes to what Brexit should look like. Theresa May will now be under pressure from Leave campaigners to somehow deliver full trade access to the European single market, while at the same time control migration from the EU. But Angela Merkel has been adamant for years that, despite what Brexiteers have been claiming, this is not possible. For Germany the single market is not simply about free trade. It's also about free movement of workers. One without the other would undermine the whole project. Both women have a reputation for being good negotiators and for having a non-ideological and flexible approach to problem-solving. They're going to have to be.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 2708, "answer_end": 3651, "text": "Because Angela Merkel will be Theresa May's most important negotiating partner in Brexit talks between the EU and London. The German chancellor never tires of saying that this is a decision for 27 EU members. But it is her voice that will be the most influential in the room. Mrs Merkel is the longest serving leader in the EU, and as head of Europe's strongest economy, the most powerful. The talks will be led by the member states, not the European Commission, meaning that the chemistry between the British and German leaders will be crucial. It has not gone unnoticed that both politicians like cooking and hiking: admirably down-to-earth pursuits for voters who have had enough of slick, political PR. Both women are renowned for their consistency and attention to detail, and there is an almost audible sigh of relief in the corridors of power in Berlin that the fight for power among the Conservatives did not become a protracted fight."}], "question": "Why compare the two anyway?", "id": "285_0"}]}]}, {"title": "News this week: Trump blames 'both sides' in Charlottesville", "date": "18 August 2017", "paragraphs": [{"context": " Over the weekend, a far-right rally in Charlottesville, Virginia turned deadly when a car ran into a group of anti-fascist protesters, injuring many and killing one woman. On Tuesday, after switching back and forth between condemning white nationalism and refusing to assign blame, President Trump said \"both sides\" of the protest were to blame for the violence. This sparked a storm of criticism, much from within his own party. The \"Unite the Right\" march was called to protest against plans to remove a statue of a general who had fought for the pro-slavery Confederacy during the US Civil War. Many of those attending were white supremacists who shouted racist slogans and carried weapons. There were several violent clashes. On Wednesday, Canada headed to the negotiating table to sit down with the US and Mexico and discuss the free trade agreement Nafta. The US is calling for a major overhaul, and wants to reduce its trade deficit with both countries, get rid of third-party dispute panels, and impose stricter rules of origin. Meanwhile, Canada maintains that those panels - which have rejected US complaints in the past for industries such as softwood lumber - are critical. It also wants to make Nafta more \"progressive\" by ensuring more labour and environmental protections. Mexico wants to make its manufacturing sector more competitive, and clarify migration rules for seasonal workers in the other two countries.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1, "answer_end": 730, "text": "Over the weekend, a far-right rally in Charlottesville, Virginia turned deadly when a car ran into a group of anti-fascist protesters, injuring many and killing one woman. On Tuesday, after switching back and forth between condemning white nationalism and refusing to assign blame, President Trump said \"both sides\" of the protest were to blame for the violence. This sparked a storm of criticism, much from within his own party. The \"Unite the Right\" march was called to protest against plans to remove a statue of a general who had fought for the pro-slavery Confederacy during the US Civil War. Many of those attending were white supremacists who shouted racist slogans and carried weapons. There were several violent clashes."}], "question": "Charlottesville - who's to blame?", "id": "286_0"}]}]}, {"title": "100 Women: I want to break the stigma of painful sex", "date": "9 February 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "One woman's story of a decade of wrongly diagnosed sexual pain has inspired a play - and with it, the hope that other women with sexual dysfunction can be helped. It was on a cold winter's day just over a year ago that actress Emily Francis heard an item on the radio that moved her to tears. \"I felt desperately sad listening to Callista's story. This problem with her vagina had destroyed her life. She'd lost her relationship, become depressed... it felt tragic,\" she says. Callista, a fashion stylist in San Francisco, had been speaking to BBC 100 Women about her long journey to finding a cure for unbearably painful sex. When Callista first tried to use a tampon aged 12, she experienced a searing pain at the opening of her vulva. For years after that, even while she was sitting down or going about her day she would experience a burning sensation between her legs. When she touched her vulva, she says the pain was much more intense and it felt like she was being cut. The National Vulvodynia Association has links to help and information about vulvodynia. Callista finally worked up the courage to talk to a doctor about it when she was in her 20s. They did an examination and said she looked perfectly normal and that the pain must be psychological. So she went to see a counsellor, who told her the same thing. As she got older, it became even harder to deal with. \"When I was in my mid-20s I met someone amazing and we fell in love and we got a place together by the beach,\" says Callista. \"We had sky lights in the kitchen, a piano and a big dining table where we hosted dinner parties... It was the life I always dreamed of. We talked about marriage... but there was always a 'but'. 'When we had sex it was excruciating. I either had to black out and leave my body, or get really drunk to endure it. When you're with someone who loves you very much, it's horrible. He couldn't accept it.\" Eventually Callista and her boyfriend broke up. \"It was the saddest thing ever. I was heartbroken.\" But the pain wasn't just affecting her relationship. It made her depressed, distracted her at work and damaged her relationship with her parents. Counsellors said the pain may have been linked to the fact that her parents were religious, so Callista started to blame them. Eight years later and after seeing 20 different doctors, Callista finally found herself in front of a specialist who told her she had congenital neuroproliferative vestibulodynia. It meant she was born with 30 times the normal amount of nerve endings in the opening of her vagina - and she was able to have surgery to cure it. Listening in London, Emily felt so frustrated by this aspect of the story that she got in touch with Callista. \"I felt so angry that she was told the problem was all in her head for so long,\" she says. \"Why was this girl's life allowed to be so marred by something so simple in an era of modern medicine?\" Over the next few months, Emily and Callista spent hours engrossed in cross-Atlantic conversations. Emily felt compelled to find out more about the condition. She discovered that although Callista's specific condition is quite rare, vulvodynia is not uncommon. That refers to experiencing pain when the vulva is touched or pressure is applied to it, or constant spontaneous pain. Research studies suggest as many as 16% of women in the US suffer from it at some point in their lives. There are no official statistics on how many women in the UK are affected by it. \"The idea that lots of people are not able to experience sex without pain is horrible and everything we read pointed to the idea that the reason was partly because women don't know how to talk about it, or they accept it,\" says Emily. \"Even some women in our [play] production team accept it as 'normal'. It's accepted that 'the first time normally hurts.'\" Emily also wanted to tackle another aspect; why so many doctors said the pain was psychological. Emily spoke to some doctors she knew. One hadn't heard of vulvodynia and others had heard of it but weren't given much formal training on causes, diagnosis or treatment. That reflected what she'd heard in the BBC's investigation that revealed medical researchers often failed to get funding if they focused on female sexual pleasure or dysfunction. So Emily worked Callista's personal journey into a play about women, sex and the internet \"We felt like women and men deserve to have the ability to have a happy, pain free sex life. It's a fundamental part of what it is to be a human being,\" says Emily. Callista has read the script of the play and is honoured to have inspired it. But what the play doesn't cover is what happened after Callista's surgery. The procedure involved removing a layer of skin around the opening of her vagina and replacing it with her healthy cells from elsewhere and it took her months to heal. When she was finally ready to have sex, Calista had a slight problem - she was single. She opted for a pragmatic approach. \"I just called up my very good friend and I was like, 'Come round and let's do it!'\" Callista was able to have pain free sex for the first time in her life. \"I couldn't believe it. I was elated, I was ecstatic. I cried, it was so emotional and it was so beautiful.' She went onto have a relationship with someone else (\"it was fun, we were like teenagers having sex everywhere\") but eventually she realised the great sex masked other problems in the relationship. They have split up and now Callista says she is on a quest to find out what sex means for her. \"It's been transformative in every possible way. I am living pain free and I believe in myself again,\" she says. Callista feels excited about the play in London and hopes it means no one else has to have the same struggle she did. \"What I want the most in the whole world, is for young women who are up against this to know that there is a language for their issue, it's not some mysterious, imagined thing. It's real,\" she says. \"I want every young girl and woman to know it's not her fault and that she isn't the only one.\" BBC Advice has more information about the vulva and vagina. The Internet Was Made for Adults is showing at London's Vault Theatre until 11 February. 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.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 6212, "answer_end": 6428, "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."}], "question": "What is 100 Women?", "id": "287_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Willow Creek: Church leaders quit over sexual misconduct scandal", "date": "9 August 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "The leaders at one of the biggest megachurches in the US have quit over a sexual misconduct scandal that has already claimed its founder. A statement from elders at the Willow Creek church said a \"new start\" was needed, and that they should have handled the allegations better. Bill Hybels stepped down earlier this year after accusations of inappropriate conduct emerged. He has denied the allegations but said he had become a distraction. With more than 25,000 members and locations in Chicago, Willow Creek is thought to be the fifth largest megachurch in the US. Megachurches are defined as congregations with regular weekly attendance of at least 2,000 persons. Several women have come forward with accusations against Mr Hybels dating back to the 1990s. Earlier this year, the Chicago Tribune and Christianity Today both detailed allegations that he had made unwanted advances and suggestive comments to church members. Church leaders were reportedly told four years ago that Mr Hybels was having an affair with one woman and was accused of harassment by others. An internal investigation cleared him of wrongdoing. But in April, after the allegations went public, Mr Hybels said he would step down, months ahead of his planned retirement date in October this year. His announcement brought gasps from his congregation. New allegations emerged over the weekend, with a former assistant alleging he groped her repeatedly. The latest claims prompted the resignation of one of Mr Hybels' successors Steve Carter, who quit over the church's handling of the misconduct allegations. It appears the rest of the church leaders also felt compelled to act. In their statement, church elders said investigations had been \"flawed\" and that their trust in Willow Creek's founder had \"clouded our judgement\". \"We, as a board, know Willow needs and deserves a fresh start, and the entire board will step down to create room for a new board,\" it said. The church's lead pastor, Heather Larson. who also stepped down, said trust had been broken and there was an urgency to \"move in a better direction\". The announcement comes as it is due to host a summit of hundreds of churches, but scores have dropped out. Willow Creek has appointed Steve Gillen as a new lead pastor and has promised an independent review of its governance. Leaving the church after learning the news, churchgoer Lisa Dudley told the New York Times: \"I never had a personal relationship with any of those pastors, but I have a personal relationship with God.\"", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 667, "answer_end": 1652, "text": "Several women have come forward with accusations against Mr Hybels dating back to the 1990s. Earlier this year, the Chicago Tribune and Christianity Today both detailed allegations that he had made unwanted advances and suggestive comments to church members. Church leaders were reportedly told four years ago that Mr Hybels was having an affair with one woman and was accused of harassment by others. An internal investigation cleared him of wrongdoing. But in April, after the allegations went public, Mr Hybels said he would step down, months ahead of his planned retirement date in October this year. His announcement brought gasps from his congregation. New allegations emerged over the weekend, with a former assistant alleging he groped her repeatedly. The latest claims prompted the resignation of one of Mr Hybels' successors Steve Carter, who quit over the church's handling of the misconduct allegations. It appears the rest of the church leaders also felt compelled to act."}], "question": "What's Hybels accused of?", "id": "288_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1653, "answer_end": 2091, "text": "In their statement, church elders said investigations had been \"flawed\" and that their trust in Willow Creek's founder had \"clouded our judgement\". \"We, as a board, know Willow needs and deserves a fresh start, and the entire board will step down to create room for a new board,\" it said. The church's lead pastor, Heather Larson. who also stepped down, said trust had been broken and there was an urgency to \"move in a better direction\"."}], "question": "What do the leaders say?", "id": "288_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2092, "answer_end": 2519, "text": "The announcement comes as it is due to host a summit of hundreds of churches, but scores have dropped out. Willow Creek has appointed Steve Gillen as a new lead pastor and has promised an independent review of its governance. Leaving the church after learning the news, churchgoer Lisa Dudley told the New York Times: \"I never had a personal relationship with any of those pastors, but I have a personal relationship with God.\""}], "question": "Where does this leave Willow Creek?", "id": "288_2"}]}]}, {"title": "Sir Bradley Wiggins: No unfair advantage from drug", "date": "25 September 2016", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Sir Bradley Wiggins has insisted he was not trying to gain an \"unfair advantage\" from being allowed to use a banned steroid before major races. The Olympic cyclist told the BBC's Andrew Marr Show he took the powerful anti-inflammatory drug triamcinolone for allergies and respiratory problems. Sir Bradley said he sought therapeutic use exemptions (TUEs) to \"put himself back on a level playing field\". TUEs allow the use of banned substances if athletes have genuine medical need. Sir Bradley's TUEs were approved by British authorities and cycling's world governing body, the UCI. There is no suggestion that either he or Team Sky, his former team, have broken any rules. Sir Hugh Robertson, vice-chairman of the British Olympic Association, told BBC Radio 5 live's Sportsweek: \"Whatever you think about whether he should have been allowed to do this, the fact is the anti-doping rules at the time allowed him to do so. \"There was a set of rules in place with which he complied entirely.\" Sir Bradley's use of the substance has come under scrutiny following revelations made by computer hackers known as Fancy Bears, last week. The details were revealed after the group accessed the private medical data of some of the world's leading athletes from the World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada). Dozens of athletes have been affected and there is no suggestion they have broken anti-doping rules. But a former team doctor of Sir Bradley told BBC Newsnight on Friday that he was \"surprised\" he had been prescribed the drug. The stolen data revealed Sir Bradley was given permission to inject the banned drug triamcinolone, a powerful corticosteroid, just days before three major races. He took the drug shortly before the 2011 and 2012 editions of the Tour de France and the 2013 Giro d'Italia. The five-time Olympic champion and 2012 Tour de France winner told BBC One's Andrew Marr Show he had been \"a life-long sufferer of asthma\". \"I went to my team doctor at the time and we went, in turn, to a specialist to see if there's anything else we could do to cure these problems.\" Sir Bradley said doping within cycling was still \"an open wound\" and said triamcinolone had previously been \"abused\" by riders. However, he added: \"This was to cure a medical condition. This wasn't about trying to find a way to gain an unfair advantage. \"This was about putting myself back on a level playing-field in order to compete at the highest level.\" He said he had been \"struggling\" with asthma and his breathing before the 2012 Tour de France and decided to \"take that medical advice\". \"When you win the race three weeks out from the Tour de France, as I did, you're the favourite for the Tour. \"(And) you have the medical team and coaches checking everything's OK - 'Bradley, you're on track here, you're the favourite to win this race, now we need to make sure the next three weeks... is there anything we can help with at the moment?' \"(I say) 'Well, I'm still struggling with this breathing, I know it didn't look like it but is there anything else you can do just to make sure that I don't, this doesn't become an issue into a three-week race at the height of the season?' \"And, in turn, I took that medical advice (to take triamcinolone).\" A TUE allows an athlete, for medical reasons, to take a banned substance or have treatment that is otherwise prohibited. The Wada rules for obtaining TUEs include: - the banned drug can only be used to treat an acute or chronic medical condition - it must be highly unlikely to produce any additional enhancement of performance - and that there's no reasonable therapeutic alternative. The Andrew Marr interview was recorded before a former team doctor of Sir Bradley questioned the decision to allow him to use the drug just days before major races. Prentice Steffen told BBC's Newsnight that the sport's governing body was wrong to give the cyclist permission to use a powerful corticosteroid before major races. He said: \"I was surprised to see there were TUEs documented for intramuscular triamcinolone just before three major events - two Tours de France and one Tour d'Italia. \"You do have to think it is kind of coincidental that a big dose of intramuscular long-acting corticosteroids would be needed at that... exact time before the most important race of the season. \"I would say certainly now in retrospect it doesn't look good, it doesn't look right from a health or sporting perspective.\" BBC Newsnight also spoke to the convicted doper Michael Rasmussen, who said that, taken in isolation, the pattern of Wiggins's use of the corticosteroid triamcinolone ahead of major races seemed \"suspicious\". Team Sky has previously defended its use of TUEs, saying: \"TUEs for Team Sky riders have been granted by the appropriate authorities and in complete accordance with the rules. \"This is a complex area given the obvious issues around medical confidentiality. There is a legitimate debate across sport on where best to draw the line on transparency. \"It is very rare that a rider needs a TUE and we have robust internal processes in place that we are confident in and which we constantly review. \"Team Sky's approach to anti-doping and our commitment to clean competition are well known.\" A spokesman for the UCI said: \"The management of Therapeutic Use Exemptions in cycling is robust and fully safeguarded.\"", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 3226, "answer_end": 4636, "text": "A TUE allows an athlete, for medical reasons, to take a banned substance or have treatment that is otherwise prohibited. The Wada rules for obtaining TUEs include: - the banned drug can only be used to treat an acute or chronic medical condition - it must be highly unlikely to produce any additional enhancement of performance - and that there's no reasonable therapeutic alternative. The Andrew Marr interview was recorded before a former team doctor of Sir Bradley questioned the decision to allow him to use the drug just days before major races. Prentice Steffen told BBC's Newsnight that the sport's governing body was wrong to give the cyclist permission to use a powerful corticosteroid before major races. He said: \"I was surprised to see there were TUEs documented for intramuscular triamcinolone just before three major events - two Tours de France and one Tour d'Italia. \"You do have to think it is kind of coincidental that a big dose of intramuscular long-acting corticosteroids would be needed at that... exact time before the most important race of the season. \"I would say certainly now in retrospect it doesn't look good, it doesn't look right from a health or sporting perspective.\" BBC Newsnight also spoke to the convicted doper Michael Rasmussen, who said that, taken in isolation, the pattern of Wiggins's use of the corticosteroid triamcinolone ahead of major races seemed \"suspicious\"."}], "question": "What are therapeutic use exemptions?", "id": "289_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Trump's mental health debate: What is it about?", "date": "16 February 2017", "paragraphs": [{"context": "It seems an incredible question to ask of a man who ran a multi-billion-dollar business and vanquished seasoned political opponents on his way to highest office in the US. But experts are debating the mental health of the US president. The discussion of Donald Trump's mental health has come to the fore following an open letter from dozens of professionals who say his \"grave emotional instability\" makes him unfit for the presidency. The call seems to break a long-standing rule among experts of not diagnosing public people, and has been condemned by a leading psychiatrist, who described the \"psychiatric name-calling\" as an insult to the mentally ill. Debate over Mr Trump's mental fitness is nothing new, and existed even before his election, last November. But the majority of mental health professionals have refrained from making public statements, following a self-imposed principle known as the \"Goldwater rule\", adopted by the American Psychiatric Association (APA) in 1973. It prohibits psychiatrists from giving diagnosis about someone they have not personally evaluated. It was instated after a magazine asked thousands of experts in 1964 whether Republican nominee Barry Goldwater was psychologically fit to be president. The APA warned last year that breaking the rule in trying to analyse the candidates in the presidential election was \"irresponsible, potentially stigmatising, and definitely unethical\". But now, some professionals have spoken out, including those who have signed a petition asking for Mr Trump's removal. It has now gathered more than 23,000 signatures. Some have suggested that Mr Trump has Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD). People with this condition often show some of the following characteristics, according to Psychology Today: - Grandiosity, a lack of empathy for other people and a need for admiration - They believe they are superior or may deserve special treatment - They seek excessive admiration and attention, and struggle with criticism or defeat In a letter to the New York Times, 35 mental health professionals warned that the \"grave emotional instability\" indicated in Mr Trump's speech and actions made him \"incapable of serving safely as president\". They said experts had remained silent because of the Goldwater rule, but that it was time to speak out. \"This silence has resulted in a failure to lend our expertise to worried journalists and members of Congress at this critical time. We fear that too much is at stake to be silent any longer.\" The letter added: \"Mr Trump's speech and actions demonstrate an inability to tolerate views different from his own, leading to rage reactions. His words and behaviour suggest a profound inability to empathise. \"Individuals with these traits distort reality to suit their psychological state, attacking facts and those who convey them (journalists, scientists).\" Earlier this week, Democratic Sen Al Franken said that \"a few\" of his Republican colleagues had expressed concern to him about Mr Trump's mental health. The concerns, he said, stemmed from questions about the president's truthfulness and the suspicion that Mr Trump \"lies a lot\". Apart from the apparent break of the Goldwater rule, other professionals say the psychiatric diagnosis of Mr Trump is an insult to the mentally ill. Also in a letter to the NYT, Dr Allen Frances, who helped write the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders IV, one of the main key manuals used to classify mental disorders, said that \"most amateur diagnosticians have mislabelled\" Mr Trump with the diagnosis of \"narcissistic personality disorder\". \"He may be a world-class narcissist, but this doesn't make him mentally ill, because he does not suffer from the distress and impairment required to diagnose mental disorder.\" He added: \"Mr Trump causes severe distress rather than experiencing it and has been richly rewarded, rather than punished, for his grandiosity, self-absorption and lack of empathy. \"It is a stigmatising insult to the mentally ill (who are mostly well behaved and well meaning) to be lumped with Mr Trump (who is neither). \"Bad behaviour is rarely a sign of mental illness, and the mentally ill behave badly only rarely. Psychiatric name-calling is a misguided way of countering Mr Trump's attack on democracy.\"", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 2007, "answer_end": 3152, "text": "In a letter to the New York Times, 35 mental health professionals warned that the \"grave emotional instability\" indicated in Mr Trump's speech and actions made him \"incapable of serving safely as president\". They said experts had remained silent because of the Goldwater rule, but that it was time to speak out. \"This silence has resulted in a failure to lend our expertise to worried journalists and members of Congress at this critical time. We fear that too much is at stake to be silent any longer.\" The letter added: \"Mr Trump's speech and actions demonstrate an inability to tolerate views different from his own, leading to rage reactions. His words and behaviour suggest a profound inability to empathise. \"Individuals with these traits distort reality to suit their psychological state, attacking facts and those who convey them (journalists, scientists).\" Earlier this week, Democratic Sen Al Franken said that \"a few\" of his Republican colleagues had expressed concern to him about Mr Trump's mental health. The concerns, he said, stemmed from questions about the president's truthfulness and the suspicion that Mr Trump \"lies a lot\"."}], "question": "What is new?", "id": "290_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3153, "answer_end": 4302, "text": "Apart from the apparent break of the Goldwater rule, other professionals say the psychiatric diagnosis of Mr Trump is an insult to the mentally ill. Also in a letter to the NYT, Dr Allen Frances, who helped write the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders IV, one of the main key manuals used to classify mental disorders, said that \"most amateur diagnosticians have mislabelled\" Mr Trump with the diagnosis of \"narcissistic personality disorder\". \"He may be a world-class narcissist, but this doesn't make him mentally ill, because he does not suffer from the distress and impairment required to diagnose mental disorder.\" He added: \"Mr Trump causes severe distress rather than experiencing it and has been richly rewarded, rather than punished, for his grandiosity, self-absorption and lack of empathy. \"It is a stigmatising insult to the mentally ill (who are mostly well behaved and well meaning) to be lumped with Mr Trump (who is neither). \"Bad behaviour is rarely a sign of mental illness, and the mentally ill behave badly only rarely. Psychiatric name-calling is a misguided way of countering Mr Trump's attack on democracy.\""}], "question": "Why the controversy?", "id": "290_1"}]}]}, {"title": "Thai PM Yingluck probed over 'corrupt rice subsidy scheme'", "date": "16 January 2014", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Thailand's official anti-corruption commission says it is investigating Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra in connection with the government's controversial rice subsidy scheme. The policy guarantees Thai rice farmers a much higher price than on the global market, but critics say it is too expensive and vulnerable to corruption. The commission has already charged one minister, and is investigating others. The news comes as Ms Yingluck already faces intense pressure to resign. Anti-government protesters have been marching through the capital, saying they will shut it down until their demands are met. They accuse her government of being under the control of her brother, ousted former leader Thaksin Shinawatra. They say they want an unelected \"People's Council\" instead, to reform the electoral system. The rice purchase scheme was launched in 2011, with the aim of boosting farmers' incomes and helping alleviate rural poverty. But it has resulted in the accumulation of huge stockpiles of rice, which the government cannot sell. The National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) says it is looking into Ms Yingluck's role in the scheme, and investigating her for possible negligence of duty. \"Those who oversaw the scheme knew there were losses but did not put a stop to it,\" NACC spokesman Vicha Mahakhun told a news conference. As prime minister, Ms Yingluck is nominally the head of the National Rice Committee. Farmers have traditionally been some of Ms Yingluck's most ardent supporters. Her Pheu Thai Party was helped to power in 2011 by offering to buy rice at above the market price. But the rice policy is thought to be costing Thailand around $10bn ( PS6bn) a year - and the government has been unable to pay farmers for their most recent harvest, because a bond issue last year failed to raise sufficient funds. That could cost the government support from one of its most important constituencies, according to the BBC's Jonathan Head in Bangkok. Farmers are already talking about marching on Bangkok in protest, he says. In addition, if the NACC finds Prime Minister Yingluck guilty, she could be banned from politics, along with other ministers. This would cast another shadow over the election she has called for next month, our correspondent says. The election is already proving contentious. The main opposition Democrat Party is boycotting the polls, which it fears will once again return the Shinawatra family to power. Anti-government protesters have also rejected the elections, demanding electoral reforms. Ms Yingluck is currently moving around Bangkok to avoid the protesters blockading her office - although police said on Thursday that the crowds on the streets were gradually dwindling in number. The rallies are the latest twist in a nearly eight-year long saga, which started when Ms Yingluck's brother Thaksin was ousted in a military coup.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 810, "answer_end": 2875, "text": "The rice purchase scheme was launched in 2011, with the aim of boosting farmers' incomes and helping alleviate rural poverty. But it has resulted in the accumulation of huge stockpiles of rice, which the government cannot sell. The National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) says it is looking into Ms Yingluck's role in the scheme, and investigating her for possible negligence of duty. \"Those who oversaw the scheme knew there were losses but did not put a stop to it,\" NACC spokesman Vicha Mahakhun told a news conference. As prime minister, Ms Yingluck is nominally the head of the National Rice Committee. Farmers have traditionally been some of Ms Yingluck's most ardent supporters. Her Pheu Thai Party was helped to power in 2011 by offering to buy rice at above the market price. But the rice policy is thought to be costing Thailand around $10bn ( PS6bn) a year - and the government has been unable to pay farmers for their most recent harvest, because a bond issue last year failed to raise sufficient funds. That could cost the government support from one of its most important constituencies, according to the BBC's Jonathan Head in Bangkok. Farmers are already talking about marching on Bangkok in protest, he says. In addition, if the NACC finds Prime Minister Yingluck guilty, she could be banned from politics, along with other ministers. This would cast another shadow over the election she has called for next month, our correspondent says. The election is already proving contentious. The main opposition Democrat Party is boycotting the polls, which it fears will once again return the Shinawatra family to power. Anti-government protesters have also rejected the elections, demanding electoral reforms. Ms Yingluck is currently moving around Bangkok to avoid the protesters blockading her office - although police said on Thursday that the crowds on the streets were gradually dwindling in number. The rallies are the latest twist in a nearly eight-year long saga, which started when Ms Yingluck's brother Thaksin was ousted in a military coup."}], "question": "Negligence of duty?", "id": "291_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Brazil judges delay vote which could topple president", "date": "8 June 2017", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Brazil's Superior Electoral Court has deliberated but delayed voting on a case which could topple the country's President, Michel Temer. The court, tasked with overseeing the electoral process, is looking at whether the 2014 elections were won using illegal campaign donations. These were the elections that Dilma Rousseff won, with Mr Temer as her running mate. Ms Rousseff has since been impeached and replaced by Mr Temer. She was accused of illegally moving funds between government budgets. As a result, Mr Temer took over as Brazil's president in August 2016. However, this case - which was paused in April - could render the entire result from 2014 invalid, meaning he too could be removed from office. Seven judges are overseeing the case. Their hearing on Wednesday was marked by clashes between the rapporteur of the case and the president of the court, but no vote was held. Instead, more sessions have been scheduled to take place over the next three days. If the judges rule that the election campaign was indeed illegally financed, then the elections could be annulled and Mr Temer will be out of a job. But that is the most straightforward scenario, BBC South America correspondent Katy Watson writes. Experts warn it probably will not be so simple. They could implicate the entire Rousseff-Temer ticket or implicate just Ms Rousseff. And even if Mr Temer is implicated and out of a job, he could appeal or the judges could ask for more time to consider the case. It seems the only thing that is certain is that there is unlikely to be much more clarity by the end of the week. In the first of the four court sessions, the prosecution set out its case and defence lawyers responded. Mr Temer did not appear and local media report that he cancelled an official event to watch the court session on TV in the presidential palace. His lawyer said Mr Temer should not have to pay the price for the history of corruption in Brazil but the prosecution argued that there had been a clear abuse of economic power. The judges did not cast any votes. Riot police lined up outside the Superior Electoral Court but only a small number of protesters were there. The case comes at an especially difficult time for Brazilian politics, which has been in a state of crisis for a while now. Since March 2014, the country's largest-ever corruption investigation, known as Operation Car Wash, has implicated some of Brazil's biggest names. A third of the cabinet are under investigation for corruption. Then last month, leaked audio recordings surfaced that seemed to show the president encouraging the payment of hush money to Eduardo Cunha, the former lower house speaker who led the impeachment process against Ms Rousseff. At first sight, this case taking place in Brasilia seems unconnected to the latest uproar because it started before the audio recordings surfaced. But it is all dirty politics, say experts. \"I think they're part of the same phenomenon,\" says Ivar Hartmann, a professor at the Getulio Vargas Foundation Law school in Rio de Janeiro. Referring to Michel Temer trying to keep Eduardo Cunha quiet, he says: \"That's part of the same type of corruption that was used in the 2014 campaign so they're all related.\" And the allegations against Mr Temer are so serious that they are expected to play a part in any ruling. \"There's a big political element to it, a political calculus to it,\" says Joao Augusto de Castro Neves, the Latin America director at the Eurasia Group. \"Even though the case does not specifically deal with the recording of two weeks ago, that recording does provide a backdrop, a context in which judges will make a decision.\" Even before the recordings surfaced, Mr Temer had approval ratings in the single digits. But among the political and business elite he was tolerated, partly because he was trying to push through pension reforms aimed at reshaping and improving Brazil's ailing economy. But despite the country exiting its longest-ever recession last week, his future still hangs in the balance. \"We thought before that as long as Temer was being seen as the answer to the political crisis, and by keeping the reform momentum going in Congress, things were starting to improve,\" says Mr de Castro Neves. \"We thought that that would make judges at the Electoral Court a little bit more risk-averse, meaning if they take Temer out, the cost of removing Temer is too high, basically plunging the country back into instability.\" But that calculation is shifting day by day with the drip-drip of new leaks, allegations and arrests. Whether or not the judges come to a decision at the end of this week, Mr Temer's role may be untenable if uncertainty continues and he loses political support. But if Mr Temer is pushed out of office, there will be the added complication of who replaces him and how. According to the Brazilian constitution, if there are fewer than two years left in a term, Congress will choose a caretaker president to govern until the 2018 elections. But nobody really knows the rules of this kind of election because it has never happened before. People here are fed up. They say they did not elect Mr Temer in the 2014 election. They want direct elections so they can choose a new leader rather than have it chosen by a Congress that is seen as part of the problem. Brazil's politics have gone from the sublime to the ridiculous.  Brazil is now in uncharted territory, experts say.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 710, "answer_end": 1592, "text": "Seven judges are overseeing the case. Their hearing on Wednesday was marked by clashes between the rapporteur of the case and the president of the court, but no vote was held. Instead, more sessions have been scheduled to take place over the next three days. If the judges rule that the election campaign was indeed illegally financed, then the elections could be annulled and Mr Temer will be out of a job. But that is the most straightforward scenario, BBC South America correspondent Katy Watson writes. Experts warn it probably will not be so simple. They could implicate the entire Rousseff-Temer ticket or implicate just Ms Rousseff. And even if Mr Temer is implicated and out of a job, he could appeal or the judges could ask for more time to consider the case. It seems the only thing that is certain is that there is unlikely to be much more clarity by the end of the week."}], "question": "Which way will the judges rule?", "id": "292_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1593, "answer_end": 2162, "text": "In the first of the four court sessions, the prosecution set out its case and defence lawyers responded. Mr Temer did not appear and local media report that he cancelled an official event to watch the court session on TV in the presidential palace. His lawyer said Mr Temer should not have to pay the price for the history of corruption in Brazil but the prosecution argued that there had been a clear abuse of economic power. The judges did not cast any votes. Riot police lined up outside the Superior Electoral Court but only a small number of protesters were there."}], "question": "What happened in Tuesday's proceedings?", "id": "292_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3661, "answer_end": 5439, "text": "Even before the recordings surfaced, Mr Temer had approval ratings in the single digits. But among the political and business elite he was tolerated, partly because he was trying to push through pension reforms aimed at reshaping and improving Brazil's ailing economy. But despite the country exiting its longest-ever recession last week, his future still hangs in the balance. \"We thought before that as long as Temer was being seen as the answer to the political crisis, and by keeping the reform momentum going in Congress, things were starting to improve,\" says Mr de Castro Neves. \"We thought that that would make judges at the Electoral Court a little bit more risk-averse, meaning if they take Temer out, the cost of removing Temer is too high, basically plunging the country back into instability.\" But that calculation is shifting day by day with the drip-drip of new leaks, allegations and arrests. Whether or not the judges come to a decision at the end of this week, Mr Temer's role may be untenable if uncertainty continues and he loses political support. But if Mr Temer is pushed out of office, there will be the added complication of who replaces him and how. According to the Brazilian constitution, if there are fewer than two years left in a term, Congress will choose a caretaker president to govern until the 2018 elections. But nobody really knows the rules of this kind of election because it has never happened before. People here are fed up. They say they did not elect Mr Temer in the 2014 election. They want direct elections so they can choose a new leader rather than have it chosen by a Congress that is seen as part of the problem. Brazil's politics have gone from the sublime to the ridiculous.  Brazil is now in uncharted territory, experts say."}], "question": " Will Temer stay or will he go?", "id": "292_2"}]}]}, {"title": "California fires: Thirteen dead in wine country", "date": "10 October 2017", "paragraphs": [{"context": "At least 13 people have now died in fast-spreading fires that are ravaging parts of California's wine region. A state of emergency was declared in northern areas after mass evacuations, with 2,000 structures destroyed. About 20,000 people fled from Napa, Sonoma and Yuba counties in response to some the state's worst-ever wildfires. Such fires are more common in southern California but a combination of dry weather and strong winds has fuelled the destruction in the north. Wildfire's 'dark' skies at Disneyland Cal Fire officials said on Tuesday morning that 17 wildfires in nine counties have burned more than 115,000 acres in just the past 12 hours. \"These fires have destroyed structures and continue to threaten thousands of homes, necessitating the evacuation of thousands of residents,\" Governor Jerry Brown said. President Donald Trump has approved a disaster declaration for the fire-ravaged state, allowing federal emergency aid to be sent. There is little sign the weather in the coming days will bring much relief to firefighters, BBC Weather says. More tinder dry conditions are forecast, with no rain expected. Meanwhile, in southern California, a separate wildfire burnt 24 homes or other buildings in the wealthy Anaheim Hills area of Orange County, forcing thousands of residents to evacuate. California fires: In pictures The fires - considered among the deadliest in state history - have sent smoke as far south as San Francisco, located about 60 miles (96km) away. A new fire is reportedly burning near the Oakmont area of Santa Rosa, a city that has already been devastated by the blazes. Hundreds of homes have been destroyed in the city by flames so hot that glass melted on cars. Details of how the seven people died in Sonoma were not immediately available, but country sheriff Rob Giordano said he expected the death toll to rise. \"There is a lot of burned homes and a lot of burned areas, so it's just logical that we're gonna find more people,\" he said. Two people also died in Napa county and one in Mendocino county when thousands of acres burned in one valley. Sonoma County officials said they had received more than 150 missing-person reports by Tuesday. Authorities said they have found a few of the missing persons but most of the reports were still under investigation, Sonoma County spokesman Scott Alonso said. Dozens of vineyard workers were reportedly airlifted to safety overnight. Wineries belonging to the rich and famous were abandoned. One belonging to musician Dave Matthews was closed and at risk of being burned to the ground, staff said, as was the nearby Francis Ford Coppola Winery. The vine harvest is already under way and many of the grapes have been picked. It is not yet known how the fires started on Sunday night but such blazes are particularly fast-spreading because of a combination of 60mph 96km/h) winds, low humidity and hot, dry weather. Ken Moholt-Siebert, a vineyard owner who thought his property had probably been destroyed after he and his family escaped on Sunday night, described the suddenness of the disaster. \"There was no wind, then there would be a rush of wind and it would stop. Then there would be another gust from a different direction. The flames wrapped around us,\" he told the LA Times. The fires come in a year of record-setting heat and persistent drought, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. The combination of conditions is more typical of southern California, the LA Times reports. \"This is exactly what you would expect in the Southern California fall fire season,\" Cal Fire director Ken Pimlott said. Valerie Schropp, a resident of Santa Rosa, which was badly affected by the fire, told the BBC they had never seen anything like this before. \"We don't expect fires to come into the city and burn at the rate they did,\" she said. Are you in the areas of California affected by these fires? If it is safe for you to share your experiences then please email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your stories. 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 7525 900971 - Send pictures/video to yourpics@bbc.co.uk - 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", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1342, "answer_end": 2714, "text": "The fires - considered among the deadliest in state history - have sent smoke as far south as San Francisco, located about 60 miles (96km) away. A new fire is reportedly burning near the Oakmont area of Santa Rosa, a city that has already been devastated by the blazes. Hundreds of homes have been destroyed in the city by flames so hot that glass melted on cars. Details of how the seven people died in Sonoma were not immediately available, but country sheriff Rob Giordano said he expected the death toll to rise. \"There is a lot of burned homes and a lot of burned areas, so it's just logical that we're gonna find more people,\" he said. Two people also died in Napa county and one in Mendocino county when thousands of acres burned in one valley. Sonoma County officials said they had received more than 150 missing-person reports by Tuesday. Authorities said they have found a few of the missing persons but most of the reports were still under investigation, Sonoma County spokesman Scott Alonso said. Dozens of vineyard workers were reportedly airlifted to safety overnight. Wineries belonging to the rich and famous were abandoned. One belonging to musician Dave Matthews was closed and at risk of being burned to the ground, staff said, as was the nearby Francis Ford Coppola Winery. The vine harvest is already under way and many of the grapes have been picked."}], "question": "What do we know of the loss of life and damage?", "id": "293_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2715, "answer_end": 3387, "text": "It is not yet known how the fires started on Sunday night but such blazes are particularly fast-spreading because of a combination of 60mph 96km/h) winds, low humidity and hot, dry weather. Ken Moholt-Siebert, a vineyard owner who thought his property had probably been destroyed after he and his family escaped on Sunday night, described the suddenness of the disaster. \"There was no wind, then there would be a rush of wind and it would stop. Then there would be another gust from a different direction. The flames wrapped around us,\" he told the LA Times. The fires come in a year of record-setting heat and persistent drought, according to the San Francisco Chronicle."}], "question": "Why did the fires spread so fast?", "id": "293_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3388, "answer_end": 3828, "text": "The combination of conditions is more typical of southern California, the LA Times reports. \"This is exactly what you would expect in the Southern California fall fire season,\" Cal Fire director Ken Pimlott said. Valerie Schropp, a resident of Santa Rosa, which was badly affected by the fire, told the BBC they had never seen anything like this before. \"We don't expect fires to come into the city and burn at the rate they did,\" she said."}], "question": "Why are these fires unusual?", "id": "293_2"}]}]}, {"title": "Harry sues Sun and Mirror's owners in phone-hacking claim", "date": "4 October 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "The Duke of Sussex has begun legal action against the owners of the Sun, the defunct News of the World, and the Daily Mirror, in relation to alleged phone-hacking. Documents have been filed on behalf of Prince Harry over the alleged illegal interception of voicemail messages, Buckingham Palace has confirmed. His wife Meghan this week began legal action against the Mail on Sunday. It is accused of unlawfully publishing a private letter to her father. A spokeswoman for News Group Newspapers (NGN) - the publishers of the Sun and the News of The World - said: \"We confirm that a claim has been issued by the Duke of Sussex.\" The details of the duke's new legal action were first reported by the website Byline. The BBC understands the duke's allegations against NGN predate 2010, but it is not yet clear when his claims against the Mirror date from. A source at Reach, which owns the Mirror, told the Press Association it was aware proceedings had been issued but had not yet received them, so was unable to comment further. Jonny Dymond, the BBC's royal correspondent, says the presumption is the legal action goes back to the phone-hacking scandal of the early 2000s. Allegations of phone-hacking at the News of the World led to the closure of the tabloid in 2011 and an eight-month trial. The story dates back to around 2007, when Clive Goodman, the then News of the World royal editor, and Glenn Mulcaire, a private investigator were convicted of intercepting voicemail messages left for royal aides and subsequently jailed. The technique saw journalists hack into voicemail messages of celebrities by using a default factory-set Pin code and subsequently use the information to write news stories. Princes William and Harry and the then Kate Middleton were all named among the victims in the 2011 trial, which led to a public inquiry. One journalist pleaded guilty to phone-hacking at both the News of the World and the Sunday Mirror, while a judge in a civil trial against the Mirror ruled that phone-hacking at the paper was \"widespread\". Between them, the two newspaper groups have paid out almost PS500m to victims of phone-hacking in settlements and legal costs. The duke's fresh legal claim comes just days after he accused the British tabloid press of \"relentless propaganda\" in his statement announcing his wife's legal action. In the statement, which was issued during the couple's tour of southern Africa, Prince Harry said the \"painful\" impact of intrusive media coverage had forced them to take action. Referring to his late mother Diana, Princess of Wales, the prince said his \"deepest fear is history repeating itself\". \"I've seen what happens when someone I love is commoditised to the point that they are no longer treated or seen as a real person,\" he said. Brian Cathcart, co-founder of Hacked Off, a campaign group which represents phone-hacking victims, told BBC News the move was a \"measure of how far the couple have been pushed\". \"For years and years the royals have been a free shot for the press,\" he said. \"This man has suffered very badly because of that - we know what happened to his mother.\" He added: \"I think we've moved on from the idea that celebrities are not entitled to privacy. \"The duke and duchess need to draw a line, they've had years of abuse.\" The two newspaper groups could face a total bill for phone-hacking of up to PS1bn, Hacked Off said earlier this year. Dozens of celebrities have settled claims with the Mirror group, including actor Hugh Grant, while Sir Elton John, Elizabeth Hurley and Heather Mills settled claims against News Group Newspapers earlier this year. Paul Connew, former deputy editor at the News of the World and the Sunday Mirror, told the BBC the duke was \"determined to attack the popular press\" in suing over \"allegations which date back about 15 years.\" Mr Connew suggested that the duke had launched the claim following \"the rather over the top statement earlier this week attacking the press as a whole\". He added: \"Prince William has a more mature take of the press and I expect that in the long run Prince Harry could come to regret this.\" Media lawyer Mark Stephens said royals \"rarely\" take legal action because it can be a \"high-risk strategy\". He told the BBC that the processes of legal disclosure of information between lawyers and then the royals being cross-examined could take them to \"places they don't really want\". \"So it is a high-risk strategy because things are outside their control. \"But it's also a high-risk strategy for the editors who are going to have to give evidence, too.\"", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1172, "answer_end": 2174, "text": "Allegations of phone-hacking at the News of the World led to the closure of the tabloid in 2011 and an eight-month trial. The story dates back to around 2007, when Clive Goodman, the then News of the World royal editor, and Glenn Mulcaire, a private investigator were convicted of intercepting voicemail messages left for royal aides and subsequently jailed. The technique saw journalists hack into voicemail messages of celebrities by using a default factory-set Pin code and subsequently use the information to write news stories. Princes William and Harry and the then Kate Middleton were all named among the victims in the 2011 trial, which led to a public inquiry. One journalist pleaded guilty to phone-hacking at both the News of the World and the Sunday Mirror, while a judge in a civil trial against the Mirror ruled that phone-hacking at the paper was \"widespread\". Between them, the two newspaper groups have paid out almost PS500m to victims of phone-hacking in settlements and legal costs."}], "question": "What is the phone-hacking scandal?", "id": "294_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Reality Check: Does the UK trade with 'the rest of world' on WTO rules?", "date": "6 November 2017", "paragraphs": [{"context": "The claim: The UK trades with \"the rest of the world\" (non-EU countries) under World Trade Organization (WTO) rules. The EU and the UK have said they want to reach an agreement on future trade, but leading Brexiteers say failing to reach a deal would not be disastrous. They have said the UK could revert to rules set by the WTO, and have claimed that's how we currently trade with the rest of the world. \"It is perfectly fine for the UK to leave and trade with [the EU] as we trade with the rest of the world at the moment, under world trade rules,\" said MP John Redwood on 19 October. \"Even if we leave [the EU] without a deal, we still get most favoured nation status under WTO rules, which is how we trade with the rest of the world,\" said Bernard Jenkin MP on 17 January. Reality Check verdict: This is wrong. With regard to tariffs, the UK trades with 24 countries and territories under WTO rules alone. With 68 others it has, as part of the EU, free trade agreements, either fully or partly in place, which all enable trade on better terms. Currently the UK's trading relationships are based on its membership of the EU. The EU rules prohibit individual countries from negotiating their own deal. Instead the EU negotiates trade deals on behalf of all 28 member states. Over the years, the EU has negotiated a number of free trade deals and other agreements that enable it to trade with the rest of the world on better terms. According to the European Commission, with regard to tariffs, there are 24 countries or territories with which the EU trades on WTO rules alone. Even with those 24, the EU has a variety of arrangements which make trade easier. For example, there is an agreement between the EU and the US about the language which can be used by wine exporters on their bottles. The EU - and therefore the UK as a member - has trade deals with other countries, like South Korea, Mexico and recently Canada. The agreements vary in breadth and depth, but can mean trade happens on a \"preferential basis\", so tariffs are lower than the WTO maximums. After Brexit, or any transitional period, the UK could not automatically adopt trade arrangements that currently exist between the EU and other countries - it would have to negotiate its own. Some would be easier to nail down than others and Britain is a large market so there is a clear incentive for countries to negotiate. The UK wants to negotiate a \"comprehensive, bold and ambitious\" free trade agreement with the EU. If it can't achieve that, there are a number of other possible arrangements of varying depth before the UK reaches the point where it has no preferential trade relationship with the EU other than common membership of the WTO. If the UK had to trade under WTO rules, tariffs - a tax on traded goods - would be applied to all UK exports. The average WTO tariff varies from product to product, from 0% on mineral fuels and pharmaceuticals, to around 20-35% on processed food and 45-50% on meat. Source: CEPS If you look at the WTO database which lists all regional trade agreements, there is nothing for Mauritania. That's led some to suggest Mauritania is the only member to trade solely on WTO rules. However, according to the WTO, Mauritania has joined the Economic Community of West African States, and it has preferential trade arrangements with some 20 WTO members. There are some countries which aren't WTO members, including Algeria, Serbia and North Korea, but the WTO says all of its members have some sort of bilateral or regional trade agreement in place. Update: There are arrangements between the EU and 24 other countries and territories that are not related to tariffs. This article has been updated to make that clearer. Read more from Reality Check Follow us on Twitter", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 2991, "answer_end": 3720, "text": "If you look at the WTO database which lists all regional trade agreements, there is nothing for Mauritania. That's led some to suggest Mauritania is the only member to trade solely on WTO rules. However, according to the WTO, Mauritania has joined the Economic Community of West African States, and it has preferential trade arrangements with some 20 WTO members. There are some countries which aren't WTO members, including Algeria, Serbia and North Korea, but the WTO says all of its members have some sort of bilateral or regional trade agreement in place. Update: There are arrangements between the EU and 24 other countries and territories that are not related to tariffs. This article has been updated to make that clearer."}], "question": "Does any other country trade on WTO rules alone?", "id": "295_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Ellen urges Kevin Hart to reconsider hosting the Oscars", "date": "4 January 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Ellen DeGeneres said she will \"talk\" Kevin Hart into hosting the Oscars. US comedian and actor Hart pulled out of hosting the awards in December, amid controversy over homophobic tweets he posted almost a decade ago. In an hour-long interview on The Ellen Show, Hart said he is \"evaluating\" his options. It is airing in the US on Friday on NBC at 15:00 GMT. DeGeneres also revealed she had spoken to the Academy about Hart, and tweeted the hashtag, #OscarsNeedHart. \"In this conversation, @KevinHart4real was authentic and real, and I'm in his corner,\" she said. During the interview with DeGeneres, who is openly gay and hosted the Oscars in 2014 and 2007, Hart apologised again for the tweets, but said he did not want the awards to be about his \"tweets from 10 years ago and homophobia\". \"I do not want to stand on that stage and make that night about me and my past, when you have got people who have worked hard to step on that stage for the first time and receive a reward.\" He added: \"Either my apology is accepted or it isn't. Either I can move forward as a person or I can't. But you can't grow as a person without mistakes. \"There is no perfect bone in my body. I have made mistakes and I have embraced them all because I am a better man today because of it. I want to be done with this conversation.\" He added that he had apologised at the time, 10 years ago, for the tweets. DeGeneres said: \"I know you are not that guy because I know you. I think the night will be about you, and it should be about you, and you should host the Oscars, and I'm going to talk you into it.\" But Nick Levine, a UK journalist who writes about pop culture and LGBT issues, told the BBC: \"Like Ellen DeGeneres, I believe in forgiveness and second chances, but I also believe those things need to be earned. \"Has Kevin Hart made any meaningful effort to reach out to the... community and listen to their perspective on why his past comments are so offensive and damaging? \"I think if he did that, he'd understand why things he said a long time ago - which he's apologised for, and I'm sure completely regrets - have caused him to lose this incredible global platform. \"Once he demonstrates a greater awareness of why his comments hurt... we can start talking about forgiveness and the possibility of Hart hosting the Oscars again.\" Others have expressed a similar sentiment on social media. DeGeneres called the academy prior to the interview, because she had initially been \"so excited\" about Hart being asked. \"They were like, 'Oh my God, we want him to host,'\" DeGeneres recounted, explaining that they admitted the situation could possibly have been mishandled. \"The academy is saying, 'What can we do to make this happen?'\", she said. DeGeneres urged the Get Hard actor to \"not pay attention\" to the \"haters on the internet.\" However, Hart described the revelation of his past tweets as a \"malicious attack on his character...to destroy (him)\". \"It's bigger than just the Oscars,\" he said, emphatically stating that \"somebody has to take a stand against the trolls\". \"Then they win,\" DeGeneres responded, before saying she prays that he comes back. \"You have grown. You have apologised. You're apologising again right now... don't let those people win. Host the Oscars.\" Hollywood Reporter recent said: \"It's January, so why is there still no host?\"  saying only twice before has the host not been announced until this month. It said Jon Stewart was announced on 5 January 2006 and Whoopi Goldberg was revealed as host on 7 January 2002. Last year's ceremony attracted its smallest recorded US TV audience with 26.5 million total viewers, down from 32.9 million in 2017. The magazine has also called hosting the Oscars \"the least wanted job in Hollywood\". It said: \"Many who might appear perfect to host have sidestepped the job. Oprah Winfrey. Justin Timberlake. Julia Louis-Dreyfus. Jerry Seinfeld... \"Even Tina Fey and Amy Poehler, who dazzled at the Golden Globes in 2013, 2014 and 2015, have reportedly passed on the Oscar job.\" This latest controversy comes after a difficult few years for the academy that have seen Envelopegate, the OscarsSoWhite campaign and the scrapping of a proposed popular film award category. The Oscars will take place in Los Angeles on 24 February 2019. Follow us on Facebook, on Twitter @BBCNewsEnts, or on Instagram at bbcnewsents. If you have a story suggestion email entertainment.news@bbc.co.uk.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1585, "answer_end": 2379, "text": "But Nick Levine, a UK journalist who writes about pop culture and LGBT issues, told the BBC: \"Like Ellen DeGeneres, I believe in forgiveness and second chances, but I also believe those things need to be earned. \"Has Kevin Hart made any meaningful effort to reach out to the... community and listen to their perspective on why his past comments are so offensive and damaging? \"I think if he did that, he'd understand why things he said a long time ago - which he's apologised for, and I'm sure completely regrets - have caused him to lose this incredible global platform. \"Once he demonstrates a greater awareness of why his comments hurt... we can start talking about forgiveness and the possibility of Hart hosting the Oscars again.\" Others have expressed a similar sentiment on social media."}], "question": "Has Hart 'reached out'?", "id": "296_0"}]}]}, {"title": "China's economic slowdown: How bad is it?", "date": "26 September 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "China's economy has been slowing for the better part of the past decade, but a recent run of poor data has prompted fresh concerns. What is making investors nervous, and how China has responded? China became a key engine of world economic growth as developed countries licked their wounds after the 2008 global financial crisis. Now, the world's second-largest economy is expanding at its slowest pace since the early 1990s. China saw industrial output grow at its slowest pace since 2002 in August. Weeks later China's Premier Li Keqiang said it would not be easy for the country to sustain growth rates of above 6%. Domestic issues, the US-led trade war, and swine fever are all putting a brake on China's rapid expansion. \"The slowdown in China is becoming quite significant,\" says Tommy Wu, senior Asia economist at Oxford Economics. \"Both the weakening in the domestic economy and deteriorating external environment, including both a global slowdown, and the US-China trade tensions, have a role to play in China's slowdown.\" Given China's importance in the global economy, and its healthy demand for anything from commodities to machinery, any downturn is likely to have far-reaching consequences. Gary Hufbauer, of the Peterson Institute for International Economics, estimates that a one percentage point drop in Chinese growth would probably take 0.2 percentage points off global growth. The official data paints an increasingly cloudy outlook. Industrial output is growing at its weakest pace since 2002, and retail sales are slowing. Chinese exports fell in August by 1% from a year earlier, and by a sharp 16% to the US - a clear sign that the dispute with the US is hurting bilateral trade. But while growth is down from double digit levels in the mid-2000's, the more recent slowdown has been relatively gradual. China's economy grew 6.2% year-on-year in the second quarter, easing from 6.4% in the first three months of the year, and from 6.6% in 2018. \"It's not as if Chinese growth has completely fallen off a cliff,\" says Frederic Neumann, co-head of Asian economics research at HSBC. \"On the contrary, there are still many pockets of growth,\" he adds, pointing to housing construction and spending in the services sector. China's government has sought to support the economy this year through tax cuts, and by taking measures to boost liquidity in the financial system. But Mr Neumann says that this time around, the government was being \"fairly restrained\" when providing credit to firms and individuals, and administering stimulus. That's because the government believes China needs to curb the risk in its financial system, and cool the rapid credit growth of recent years, he adds. \"Chinese authorities are not really showing signs of wavering from this track... so it's by design in many ways, rather than by accident, that we've seen weaker economic growth numbers,\" says Mr Neumann. Having relied heavily on infrastructure spending to stimulate the economy over the years, analysts say Beijing had limited room to do much more on that front. Instead they have opted for tax cuts, which tend to be less effective in boosting growth than infrastructure spending, says Mr Wu. Mr Wu expected Beijing to do more to stimulate the economy going forward - both through fiscal and monetary policy -  but worried this would not be enough. \"We do expect more to come to help stabilise growth by next year. But the key downside risk is that the authorities do not step up policy support enough to stabilise growth.\" The US and China have been fighting a trade war for more than a year, and more tariffs are expected. The impact from the US tariffs has been offset to some extent by a weaker yuan, says Julian Evans-Pritchard at Capital Economics, while China has also sought to bypass the taxes by exporting to the US via other Asian countries. He says that China's share of global exports has actually grown over the past year, showing that the fall in Chinese exports has been less pronounced than those from other countries. Western businesses, meanwhile, are finding it increasingly hard to navigate the uncertainty. Some have been shifting production out of China, even though the numbers have not been large enough to show up in the economic data, says Mr Evans-Pritchard. \"The longer these tariffs remain in place, the longer this drags on, the higher the chance we are going to see more firms shifting out of China, and it also makes the country a less attractive place to invest in the first place,\" he says. While many firms will want to keep some production in China to cater for its important domestic market, there are signs some firms are already considering their options. According to a 2019 survey by the American Chamber of Commerce in China, 65% of members said trade tensions are influencing their longer-term business strategies. Nearly a fourth of all respondents are delaying China investments, it said. The deadly swine fever has placed an additional drag on the Chinese economy over the past year. China, the world's biggest producer of pork, has struggled to control the disease even after slaughtering more than one million pigs. The supply shortage has sent pork prices soaring - by 46.7% in August on a year earlier- and that is eating into household incomes. More from the BBC's series taking an international perspective on trade: \"The price of pork has almost doubled,\" said the Peterson Institute's Hufbauer, adding that this was \"very painful for low income Chinese.\" Pork is one of China's main food staples, and accounts for more than 60% of the country's meat consumption. While for now the surge has been partly offset by more subdued non-food inflation, analysts say this could quickly change. \"What worries me is that they just don't seem to have gotten the disease under control yet. The pig stock is still falling,\" says Mr Evans-Pritchard. \"At this stage it's already pointing towards pork price inflation rising above 80% year-on-year within the next six months.\"", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 2240, "answer_end": 3528, "text": "China's government has sought to support the economy this year through tax cuts, and by taking measures to boost liquidity in the financial system. But Mr Neumann says that this time around, the government was being \"fairly restrained\" when providing credit to firms and individuals, and administering stimulus. That's because the government believes China needs to curb the risk in its financial system, and cool the rapid credit growth of recent years, he adds. \"Chinese authorities are not really showing signs of wavering from this track... so it's by design in many ways, rather than by accident, that we've seen weaker economic growth numbers,\" says Mr Neumann. Having relied heavily on infrastructure spending to stimulate the economy over the years, analysts say Beijing had limited room to do much more on that front. Instead they have opted for tax cuts, which tend to be less effective in boosting growth than infrastructure spending, says Mr Wu. Mr Wu expected Beijing to do more to stimulate the economy going forward - both through fiscal and monetary policy -  but worried this would not be enough. \"We do expect more to come to help stabilise growth by next year. But the key downside risk is that the authorities do not step up policy support enough to stabilise growth.\""}], "question": "How effective has stimulus been?", "id": "297_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3529, "answer_end": 4939, "text": "The US and China have been fighting a trade war for more than a year, and more tariffs are expected. The impact from the US tariffs has been offset to some extent by a weaker yuan, says Julian Evans-Pritchard at Capital Economics, while China has also sought to bypass the taxes by exporting to the US via other Asian countries. He says that China's share of global exports has actually grown over the past year, showing that the fall in Chinese exports has been less pronounced than those from other countries. Western businesses, meanwhile, are finding it increasingly hard to navigate the uncertainty. Some have been shifting production out of China, even though the numbers have not been large enough to show up in the economic data, says Mr Evans-Pritchard. \"The longer these tariffs remain in place, the longer this drags on, the higher the chance we are going to see more firms shifting out of China, and it also makes the country a less attractive place to invest in the first place,\" he says. While many firms will want to keep some production in China to cater for its important domestic market, there are signs some firms are already considering their options. According to a 2019 survey by the American Chamber of Commerce in China, 65% of members said trade tensions are influencing their longer-term business strategies. Nearly a fourth of all respondents are delaying China investments, it said."}], "question": "What has been the fallout from the trade war?", "id": "297_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 4940, "answer_end": 5301, "text": "The deadly swine fever has placed an additional drag on the Chinese economy over the past year. China, the world's biggest producer of pork, has struggled to control the disease even after slaughtering more than one million pigs. The supply shortage has sent pork prices soaring - by 46.7% in August on a year earlier- and that is eating into household incomes."}], "question": "How about the swine fever outbreak?", "id": "297_2"}]}]}, {"title": "South Africa: ANC decides Zuma must go", "date": "13 February 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "South Africa's ruling African National Congress (ANC) has formally asked President Jacob Zuma to resign, a senior party official has confirmed. The decision to \"recall\" him \"urgently\" followed marathon talks of the ANC's top leadership body. Mr Zuma, 75, agreed to step down, but only in the next three to six months, the official added. Mr Zuma, who has been in power since 2009, has been dogged by corruption allegations. But he has resisted increasing pressure to quit since December, when Cyril Ramaphosa replaced him as leader of the ANC. Ace Magashule, the ANC's secretary-general, told reporters the ANC's National Executive Committee (NEC) decided the removal should be \"treated with urgency\". \"It is obvious we want Comrade Ramaphosa to come in as the president of South Africa,\" he added. Despite Mr Magashule telling reporters \"the decision is now final\", he revealed Mr Zuma told him that he \"did not believe the NEC has the right\" to make such a ruling. He said the president was expected to respond to the NEC's decision on Wednesday, although they had given him no deadline. Mr Zuma's presidency has been overshadowed by allegations of corruption which he has always vehemently denied. In 2016, South Africa's highest court ruled that Mr Zuma had violated the constitution when he failed to repay government money spent on his private home. Last year the Supreme Court of Appeal ruled that he must face 18 counts of corruption, fraud, racketeering and money-laundering relating to a 1999 arms deal. More recently, Mr Zuma's links to the wealthy India-born Gupta family, who are alleged to have influenced the government, have caused his popularity to plummet. Both Mr Zuma and the Guptas deny the allegations. Correspondents say it will be very difficult for him to resist a formal request to resign but he would not be legally obliged to do so and could technically carry on as president despite losing the faith of his party. However, he would then be expected to face a confidence vote in parliament. This has been scheduled for 22 February, but it could be held earlier. Mr Zuma has survived other such votes but he is not expected to pull it off again. A confidence vote would be considered a humiliating process for him and the party. South African media are calling President Zuma's seemingly inevitable exit \"Zexit\". His predecessor, Thabo Mbeki, resigned in 2008, also after a power struggle with his deputy. The deputy in question was Jacob Zuma, who took over the presidency the following year. The ANC was badly rattled by its performance at the 2016 local elections when it won its lowest share of the vote since coming to power under the late Nelson Mandela in 1994. It wants to project a fresh image for next year's general election. Having served two terms in office (South African presidents are elected by parliament), Mr Zuma cannot legally return to power in any case. On Monday, opposition parties called for an early election. \"Anyone from the ANC that wants to lead this country, must get their mandate from the people of South Africa,\" Democratic Alliance leader Mmusi Maimane told reporters.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1090, "answer_end": 1724, "text": "Mr Zuma's presidency has been overshadowed by allegations of corruption which he has always vehemently denied. In 2016, South Africa's highest court ruled that Mr Zuma had violated the constitution when he failed to repay government money spent on his private home. Last year the Supreme Court of Appeal ruled that he must face 18 counts of corruption, fraud, racketeering and money-laundering relating to a 1999 arms deal. More recently, Mr Zuma's links to the wealthy India-born Gupta family, who are alleged to have influenced the government, have caused his popularity to plummet. Both Mr Zuma and the Guptas deny the allegations."}], "question": "What has Mr Zuma done wrong?", "id": "298_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1725, "answer_end": 2520, "text": "Correspondents say it will be very difficult for him to resist a formal request to resign but he would not be legally obliged to do so and could technically carry on as president despite losing the faith of his party. However, he would then be expected to face a confidence vote in parliament. This has been scheduled for 22 February, but it could be held earlier. Mr Zuma has survived other such votes but he is not expected to pull it off again. A confidence vote would be considered a humiliating process for him and the party. South African media are calling President Zuma's seemingly inevitable exit \"Zexit\". His predecessor, Thabo Mbeki, resigned in 2008, also after a power struggle with his deputy. The deputy in question was Jacob Zuma, who took over the presidency the following year."}], "question": "How likely is Mr Zuma to quit?", "id": "298_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2521, "answer_end": 3131, "text": "The ANC was badly rattled by its performance at the 2016 local elections when it won its lowest share of the vote since coming to power under the late Nelson Mandela in 1994. It wants to project a fresh image for next year's general election. Having served two terms in office (South African presidents are elected by parliament), Mr Zuma cannot legally return to power in any case. On Monday, opposition parties called for an early election. \"Anyone from the ANC that wants to lead this country, must get their mandate from the people of South Africa,\" Democratic Alliance leader Mmusi Maimane told reporters."}], "question": "Why is this happening now?", "id": "298_2"}]}]}, {"title": "Bosnia in spat with Croatia over 'arms in mosques'", "date": "20 April 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "It sounds like a political satire storyline rejected for being just a little too far-fetched. In this week's episode: The president makes wild and unverifiable claims portraying the neighbouring country as a security threat and safe haven for thousands of Islamist terrorists. Much outrage ensues, until her country's intelligence agency rides to the rescue - and attempts to make the facts resemble the rhetoric. One suspects the writers of the American satire Veep would have laughed the idea out of the room. But there are few chuckles in Bosnia, where this week the presidency has ordered a diplomatic note of protest to be sent across the border to Croatia. The contents of this missive have yet to be confirmed. But it is likely to contain some hot words about the alleged conduct of Croatia's Security Intelligence Agency (SOA). Even by the standards of the Western Balkans, the claims are extraordinary. Last month, the independent news website Zurnal, based in Sarajevo, published interviews with Bosnian Muslims who said the SOA had tried to coerce them into smuggling weapons into places connected with the Salafi Islamist movement in Bosnia. The \"discovery\" of these arms caches would then justify comments made by Croatia's President, Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic. Two years ago, she said there were 10,000 people with \"very radical rhetoric and intentions\" in Bosnia - remarks which caused outrage at the time. Not surprisingly, Zurnal's allegations caused a furore. Croatia's Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic called the story \"a matter of creative manipulation\" during a visit to the Bosnian town of Neum. The SOA described the claims as \"false and malicious\", though it confirmed that its officers had been in contact with the Bosnian citizens quoted in the story. Meanwhile, Bosnia's Security Minister Dragan Mektic rushed to claim credit for foiling a \"false flag\" operation which would have tarnished his country's international reputation. \"The plan was to discredit Bosnia and show it as a terrorist hub and a threat to the region and Europe,\" he said. It seemed logical when Bosnia's state prosecutor stepped in to investigate the allegations. But then it turned out that the focus of the investigation was Mr Mektic. The prosecutor suspected the security minister of revealing secret information and giving false statements. Mr Mektic called the investigation \"a farce... to mislead the public\". Confusion would be understandable. But Bosnians understand that the claims and counter-claims fit into a queasy ethno-political game which has persisted since the Dayton Agreement brought an end to Bosnia's ruinous conflict in 1995. Read more about Bosnia-Herzegovina: Nationalist politicians in Bosnia-Herzegovina still promote the idea of secession - and have strong links to parties in Croatia and Serbia. The governing HDZ party in Croatia has a highly influential sister organisation over the border. \"They're more on the side of Croatia than their own country,\" says Ivana Maric, an independent political analyst based in Sarajevo. Ms Maric says it is \"not impossible\" that the SOA was involved in a plot, as Zurnal alleged. She points out that Slovenia recently recalled its ambassador from Zagreb in protest at the Croatian intelligence agency's activities. \"The SOA knows that it has partners in Bosnia who will help,\" she says. But she believes the real problem is politicians who perpetuate ethnic tensions to divide, rule and profit. \"They all need this. This is the game the politicians play the whole time - good guy/bad guy, pretending there are lots of enemies and they don't have to do anything for the voters.\" Zurnal journalist Avdo Avdic says his story was the result of months of research, but that the state prosecutor showed little interest in the evidence he had gathered. He puts this down to ethno-politics. \"For years we have been warning that our neighbours, Croatia and Serbia, control key institutions in Bosnia. I was interviewed at the prosecutor's office, but they did not ask a single question related to this case.\" The affair was slipping from the headlines, but Bosnia's presidency has apparently revived the row by ordering the foreign ministry to prepare a diplomatic note. Avdo Avdic says this is the result of information from Bosnia's own intelligence agency. \"Probably they received some information which they consider significant,\" foreign ministry spokesman Nebojsa Regoje told the BBC. \"I expect there will be no serious consequences when it comes to diplomatic relations or co-operation in any sector - including security,\" he says. Business as usual, in other words. The latest instalment may have been baffling for outsiders - but for weary onlookers in Bosnia, it is just part of a seemingly never-ending series.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 836, "answer_end": 4064, "text": "Even by the standards of the Western Balkans, the claims are extraordinary. Last month, the independent news website Zurnal, based in Sarajevo, published interviews with Bosnian Muslims who said the SOA had tried to coerce them into smuggling weapons into places connected with the Salafi Islamist movement in Bosnia. The \"discovery\" of these arms caches would then justify comments made by Croatia's President, Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic. Two years ago, she said there were 10,000 people with \"very radical rhetoric and intentions\" in Bosnia - remarks which caused outrage at the time. Not surprisingly, Zurnal's allegations caused a furore. Croatia's Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic called the story \"a matter of creative manipulation\" during a visit to the Bosnian town of Neum. The SOA described the claims as \"false and malicious\", though it confirmed that its officers had been in contact with the Bosnian citizens quoted in the story. Meanwhile, Bosnia's Security Minister Dragan Mektic rushed to claim credit for foiling a \"false flag\" operation which would have tarnished his country's international reputation. \"The plan was to discredit Bosnia and show it as a terrorist hub and a threat to the region and Europe,\" he said. It seemed logical when Bosnia's state prosecutor stepped in to investigate the allegations. But then it turned out that the focus of the investigation was Mr Mektic. The prosecutor suspected the security minister of revealing secret information and giving false statements. Mr Mektic called the investigation \"a farce... to mislead the public\". Confusion would be understandable. But Bosnians understand that the claims and counter-claims fit into a queasy ethno-political game which has persisted since the Dayton Agreement brought an end to Bosnia's ruinous conflict in 1995. Read more about Bosnia-Herzegovina: Nationalist politicians in Bosnia-Herzegovina still promote the idea of secession - and have strong links to parties in Croatia and Serbia. The governing HDZ party in Croatia has a highly influential sister organisation over the border. \"They're more on the side of Croatia than their own country,\" says Ivana Maric, an independent political analyst based in Sarajevo. Ms Maric says it is \"not impossible\" that the SOA was involved in a plot, as Zurnal alleged. She points out that Slovenia recently recalled its ambassador from Zagreb in protest at the Croatian intelligence agency's activities. \"The SOA knows that it has partners in Bosnia who will help,\" she says. But she believes the real problem is politicians who perpetuate ethnic tensions to divide, rule and profit. \"They all need this. This is the game the politicians play the whole time - good guy/bad guy, pretending there are lots of enemies and they don't have to do anything for the voters.\" Zurnal journalist Avdo Avdic says his story was the result of months of research, but that the state prosecutor showed little interest in the evidence he had gathered. He puts this down to ethno-politics. \"For years we have been warning that our neighbours, Croatia and Serbia, control key institutions in Bosnia. I was interviewed at the prosecutor's office, but they did not ask a single question related to this case.\""}], "question": "Arming Islamists?", "id": "299_0"}]}]}, {"title": "CIA hacking tools: Should we be worried?", "date": "8 March 2017", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Thousands of documents said to detail the CIA's hacking tools were published by Wikileaks on Tuesday. They included allegations that the CIA had developed ways to listen in on smartphone and smart TV microphones. The CIA has been criticised by civil rights groups who say the agency \"stockpiled\" security flaws in devices to use them for its work, but left the population at risk by doing so. \"Our digital security has been compromised because the CIA has been stockpiling vulnerabilities rather than working with companies to patch them,\" said Nathan White, from the civil liberties group Access Now. \"It's not a surprise that people who have a mission to find bad guys and protect nations are using every means at their disposal to gather intelligence on a focused target,\" said Don Smith from cybersecurity firm SecureWorks. \"If the CIA doesn't have capabilities for eavesdropping, it's not doing its job.\" Alan Woodward, a security researcher who advises Europol and previously advised UK spy agency GCHQ, said the public should be \"encouraged\" by the information published. \"Most of the leaked documents are about targeted attacks. This is not about mass surveillance and vacuuming up a haystack of data to search for a needle,\" he told the BBC. \"They need warrants, they can't just tap in to any phone - it doesn't work like that. One of the reasons people have faith in the security services is that they tend to obey the law, and when they don't it comes out. \"If Wikileaks has the code behind these exploits, it has a responsibility not to publish that. To do so would expose the public to the very real danger of criminals reusing those exploits still working. These were kept in a controlled environment for a reason.\" However, Access Now said the CIA's decision to keep security flaws to itself had \"significant repercussions for human rights and digital security\". Whistleblower Edward Snowden criticised the scope of the CIA's methods. \"Imagine a world where the actual CIA spends its time figuring out how to spy on you through your TV,\" he wrote on Twitter. \"That's today\". Homes are becoming increasingly \"smart\", with everything from light switches to voice-activated kitchen appliances connected to the internet. If unsecured, these could reveal our activities in the home. \"The concept that intelligence agencies are doing broad personal surveillance using these devices is not realistic,\" said Mr Smith. \"I would be amazed if that was the case because the resources to make sense of all the data just aren't there. \"My concern is much more what online criminals might be able to achieve with these devices. There are plenty of examples of things such as baby monitors being open to the wider internet.\" The documents published by Wikileaks detail ways in which some Samsung televisions could be used to spy on their owners. Mr Woodward said it was unlikely the exploit was widely used. \"They're talking about a few models of Samsung TV. If you read the documents, they have been vulnerable for a while. It would be surprising if the CIA was not looking into that,\" he said. \"Has the CIA remotely hacked them? No. They have to get into your home and plug a USB drive in to them. It's a high risk. If you have to get in to somebody's house you can give yourself away.\" Mr Woodward said anybody worried that their appliances were spying on them could \"unplug them at the wall\". That advice may not help those with a modern voice-controlled fridge-freezer, the likes of which have started to go on sale. However, SecureWorks' Mike McLellan, who previously worked at the UK government's National Cyber Security Centre, said the average household should have \"bigger concerns\". \"You are more likely to be a victim of cybercrime or ransomware, than happen to become a subject of interest for an intelligence agency.\" Encrypted messaging apps offer people some peace of mind that their private messages cannot be intercepted as they travel across the internet, as the messages are scrambled. The CIA documents describe methods to compromise smartphone operating systems such as Android and iOS, which could let agents read messages sent via encrypted services such as WhatsApp and Signal. Mr Woodward said the documents did not suggest the CIA had \"cracked\" the encryption of either platform. Instead, messages could be read by compromising the \"end point\" - the sender or receiver's smartphone - where the messages are already decrypted. He said the documents indicated that governments \"accept that encryption is going to become commonplace on networks\" and that they must focus efforts on \"getting in to the end points to read messages\". \"They know banning encryption is not going to work,\" he said. Mr Snowden has described the CIA as \"reckless beyond words\", for keeping knowledge of security holes in devices such as smartphones to itself. \"The CIA reports show the [United States government] developing vulnerabilities in US products, then intentionally keeping the holes open,\" he wrote on Twitter. \"Why is this dangerous? Because until closed, any hacker can use the security hole the CIA left open to break in to any iPhone in the world.\" Mr Woodward said he was not surprised that the CIA had not disclosed security holes it had found to manufacturers such as Apple and Google. \"If your mission is to spy, are you going to tell people something only you know about?\" he asked. \"This is the CIA, not a computer security agency. If they have [exploits] they are going to use them. It's somebody else's job to fix them.\" Mr McLellan said it was \"a fact of life that intelligence agencies will look for security vulnerabilities\", but added that private companies were also searching for flaws and \"selling them to the highest bidder\". That concerns Mr White, who suggests keeping flaws secret puts ordinary citizens at risk. \"It's simply a fantasy to believe that only the 'good guys' will be able to use these tools,\" he said in a blogpost. \"It is critical for governments, law enforcement, technologists, and civil society to have an honest conversation about the impact of government hacking in the digital age.\" However, Mr Woodward said it was likely that many of the security flaws in the leaked documents had already been fixed. \"The idea that the CIA is hoarding [security flaws] is not true. These things are relatively rare... and fixes for them move so quickly that a year or two is almost another era in technical terms,\" he said. \"I would be surprised if they were 'stockpiling' such exploits.  I think you'll find they use them while they still can.\" Routine recording of the population would be a huge, and potentially unfeasible, undertaking for an intelligence agency. However, developments in artificial intelligence could make processing data faster and easier. Companies - including Amazon and Google -  already sell voice-controlled speakers and smartphones that can understand commands and transcribe speech.  Such technology could one day be used to help monitor citizens. \"There is the ability to collect telephony en masse now,\" said Mr Smith. \"AI may speed it up and make more sense of the data, but I don't think it's something the average person should be worried about. It could be a future risk, among many future risks.\" Mr Woodward added: \"Think of the volumes of data you'd be dealing with. They don't have the ability to record every phone conversation in the world, let alone every conversation within ear-shot of a phone. \"If you're not a person of interest, they just don't have the capacity.\"", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 602, "answer_end": 2089, "text": "\"It's not a surprise that people who have a mission to find bad guys and protect nations are using every means at their disposal to gather intelligence on a focused target,\" said Don Smith from cybersecurity firm SecureWorks. \"If the CIA doesn't have capabilities for eavesdropping, it's not doing its job.\" Alan Woodward, a security researcher who advises Europol and previously advised UK spy agency GCHQ, said the public should be \"encouraged\" by the information published. \"Most of the leaked documents are about targeted attacks. This is not about mass surveillance and vacuuming up a haystack of data to search for a needle,\" he told the BBC. \"They need warrants, they can't just tap in to any phone - it doesn't work like that. One of the reasons people have faith in the security services is that they tend to obey the law, and when they don't it comes out. \"If Wikileaks has the code behind these exploits, it has a responsibility not to publish that. To do so would expose the public to the very real danger of criminals reusing those exploits still working. These were kept in a controlled environment for a reason.\" However, Access Now said the CIA's decision to keep security flaws to itself had \"significant repercussions for human rights and digital security\". Whistleblower Edward Snowden criticised the scope of the CIA's methods. \"Imagine a world where the actual CIA spends its time figuring out how to spy on you through your TV,\" he wrote on Twitter. \"That's today\"."}], "question": "Should we be worried?", "id": "300_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2090, "answer_end": 3830, "text": "Homes are becoming increasingly \"smart\", with everything from light switches to voice-activated kitchen appliances connected to the internet. If unsecured, these could reveal our activities in the home. \"The concept that intelligence agencies are doing broad personal surveillance using these devices is not realistic,\" said Mr Smith. \"I would be amazed if that was the case because the resources to make sense of all the data just aren't there. \"My concern is much more what online criminals might be able to achieve with these devices. There are plenty of examples of things such as baby monitors being open to the wider internet.\" The documents published by Wikileaks detail ways in which some Samsung televisions could be used to spy on their owners. Mr Woodward said it was unlikely the exploit was widely used. \"They're talking about a few models of Samsung TV. If you read the documents, they have been vulnerable for a while. It would be surprising if the CIA was not looking into that,\" he said. \"Has the CIA remotely hacked them? No. They have to get into your home and plug a USB drive in to them. It's a high risk. If you have to get in to somebody's house you can give yourself away.\" Mr Woodward said anybody worried that their appliances were spying on them could \"unplug them at the wall\". That advice may not help those with a modern voice-controlled fridge-freezer, the likes of which have started to go on sale. However, SecureWorks' Mike McLellan, who previously worked at the UK government's National Cyber Security Centre, said the average household should have \"bigger concerns\". \"You are more likely to be a victim of cybercrime or ransomware, than happen to become a subject of interest for an intelligence agency.\""}], "question": "Are 'smart' devices safe?", "id": "300_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3831, "answer_end": 4715, "text": "Encrypted messaging apps offer people some peace of mind that their private messages cannot be intercepted as they travel across the internet, as the messages are scrambled. The CIA documents describe methods to compromise smartphone operating systems such as Android and iOS, which could let agents read messages sent via encrypted services such as WhatsApp and Signal. Mr Woodward said the documents did not suggest the CIA had \"cracked\" the encryption of either platform. Instead, messages could be read by compromising the \"end point\" - the sender or receiver's smartphone - where the messages are already decrypted. He said the documents indicated that governments \"accept that encryption is going to become commonplace on networks\" and that they must focus efforts on \"getting in to the end points to read messages\". \"They know banning encryption is not going to work,\" he said."}], "question": "Can the CIA read my WhatsApp or Signal messages?", "id": "300_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 4716, "answer_end": 6584, "text": "Mr Snowden has described the CIA as \"reckless beyond words\", for keeping knowledge of security holes in devices such as smartphones to itself. \"The CIA reports show the [United States government] developing vulnerabilities in US products, then intentionally keeping the holes open,\" he wrote on Twitter. \"Why is this dangerous? Because until closed, any hacker can use the security hole the CIA left open to break in to any iPhone in the world.\" Mr Woodward said he was not surprised that the CIA had not disclosed security holes it had found to manufacturers such as Apple and Google. \"If your mission is to spy, are you going to tell people something only you know about?\" he asked. \"This is the CIA, not a computer security agency. If they have [exploits] they are going to use them. It's somebody else's job to fix them.\" Mr McLellan said it was \"a fact of life that intelligence agencies will look for security vulnerabilities\", but added that private companies were also searching for flaws and \"selling them to the highest bidder\". That concerns Mr White, who suggests keeping flaws secret puts ordinary citizens at risk. \"It's simply a fantasy to believe that only the 'good guys' will be able to use these tools,\" he said in a blogpost. \"It is critical for governments, law enforcement, technologists, and civil society to have an honest conversation about the impact of government hacking in the digital age.\" However, Mr Woodward said it was likely that many of the security flaws in the leaked documents had already been fixed. \"The idea that the CIA is hoarding [security flaws] is not true. These things are relatively rare... and fixes for them move so quickly that a year or two is almost another era in technical terms,\" he said. \"I would be surprised if they were 'stockpiling' such exploits.  I think you'll find they use them while they still can.\""}], "question": "Should the CIA have helped fix security flaws?", "id": "300_3"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 6585, "answer_end": 7550, "text": "Routine recording of the population would be a huge, and potentially unfeasible, undertaking for an intelligence agency. However, developments in artificial intelligence could make processing data faster and easier. Companies - including Amazon and Google -  already sell voice-controlled speakers and smartphones that can understand commands and transcribe speech.  Such technology could one day be used to help monitor citizens. \"There is the ability to collect telephony en masse now,\" said Mr Smith. \"AI may speed it up and make more sense of the data, but I don't think it's something the average person should be worried about. It could be a future risk, among many future risks.\" Mr Woodward added: \"Think of the volumes of data you'd be dealing with. They don't have the ability to record every phone conversation in the world, let alone every conversation within ear-shot of a phone. \"If you're not a person of interest, they just don't have the capacity.\""}], "question": "Will artificial intelligence threaten our privacy?", "id": "300_4"}]}]}, {"title": "Sir James Dyson: From barrows to billions", "date": "22 January 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Today he is one of the UK's richest men and a well-known supporter of Brexit, but how did Sir James Dyson make his fortune? Sir James Dyson's most profitable idea began with some humble cardboard and sticky tape. One day, in the late 1970s, it struck him that the industrial dust extractor at his factory could perhaps be scaled down for use in the home. The machine in his factory had a potentially blockbuster feature that had never been used in domestic appliances before. It did not need a bag to collect dust; instead it spun air really fast, creating a cyclone that flung dust outwards where it could be collected. He realised the potential was there for a bag-free and more efficient machine. Sir James rushed back to his house, dismantled his vacuum cleaner and attached a cyclone device, hastily made from cardboard and sticking tape. \"I started pushing it around the room and it worked,\" he told Sue Lawley on Desert Island Discs in 1999. Four years, and more than 5,000 prototypes later, he had a machine that worked to his satisfaction. It was not obvious from Sir James's schooling and early college years that he would become a leading inventor and industrial designer. Sir James, whose father died when he was a child, grew up in Norfolk in the 1950s. Speaking about his childhood he said, \"Money was very unimportant and what was much more important to me, and was a greater gift, was the countryside, the seaside, the sand dunes, the freedom.\" Having studied art at school, he went on to art college in London where the principal suggested that he go into design. He became influenced by the ideas of US architect and designer Buckminster Fuller, known for elegant domes. \"Here was an engineer creating this engineering structure which was incredibly beautiful, without even trying to be beautiful. \"Its elegance came not from its styling but from its engineering and I latched on to that.\" Inspired by such work, he helped design the Sea Truck, a high-speed boat, built for beach landings. But Sir James wanted his own project and that came in 1974 - a wheelbarrow that featured a large spherical plastic wheel. The ballbarrow was designed to be easier to fill, empty and manoeuvre than existing barrows. The invention was a commercial success, but in building the business Sir James lost control to outside investors and it was sold against his wishes. It was an experience he was determined not to repeat with his next invention, the bagless vacuum cleaner. By the early 1980s he had a working prototype, but developing it into a commercial product was a gruelling process that took another 10 years and almost bankrupted him. At one stage he owed his bank more than a million pounds. \"That's probably why it took me such a long time to get the vacuum cleaner going, because I didn't have any money. I've always been heavily in debt. \"The bank got pretty nervous at times, but they stood by me,\" he said. After some false starts, the first machine sold under the Dyson brand was launched in the UK in 1993 and soon became the biggest selling vacuum cleaner in the country. Dyson products were made in Wiltshire until 2002, when the firm switched vacuum cleaner production to Malaysia, a move that was unpopular with many at the time, but has proved to be a commercial success. In recent years Dyson has launched hairdryers, fans and lights and now employs more than 12,000 staff worldwide, including around 4,800 in the UK. That has all translated into healthy profits. The most recent available results from Dyson are from 2017 and show an underlying profit of PS801m, up 27% on the previous year. It has also made Sir James a very wealthy man. Forbes estimates his wealth at more than $5bn (PS3.9bn). He is also reported to be the UK's biggest farmer, owning large amounts of land in Lincolnshire, Oxfordshire and Gloucestershire. Sir James is one of the most high-profile business leaders to support Brexit. In 2016, before the referendum on the UK's membership of the European Union, he argued that the UK would be wealthier outside the EU. His business had been directly affected by European Union regulation. He fought, and last year won, a long legal battle over the way vacuum cleaners are labelled for energy efficiency in the EU. He had argued that the labels were based on flawed tests. The next challenge for Dyson could be the company's biggest so far - to take on the market for electric cars. The car will be built in Singapore, where the firm says there are the engineers and suppliers it needs, as well as important markets. It also plans to move its headquarters there. Sir James has supported engineering in this country through the James Dyson Foundation which introduces young people to the subject. The Foundation also runs an annual competition for young engineers and designers. In 2017 Sir James launched the Dyson Institute of Engineering and Technology, offering engineering degrees.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 4318, "answer_end": 4930, "text": "The next challenge for Dyson could be the company's biggest so far - to take on the market for electric cars. The car will be built in Singapore, where the firm says there are the engineers and suppliers it needs, as well as important markets. It also plans to move its headquarters there. Sir James has supported engineering in this country through the James Dyson Foundation which introduces young people to the subject. The Foundation also runs an annual competition for young engineers and designers. In 2017 Sir James launched the Dyson Institute of Engineering and Technology, offering engineering degrees."}], "question": "Four-wheeled future?", "id": "301_0"}]}]}, {"title": "What are Scotland's tax powers?", "date": "30 November 2016", "paragraphs": [{"context": " When the Scottish Parliament was created 17 years ago it was given the power to put up or cut income tax by 3p in the pound. That power has never been used. The bulk of Holyrood's money comes from Westminster, calculated through the Barnett Formula. Devolved administrations in Northern Ireland and Wales - which were also set up in 1999 - were not given powers to vary income tax. In April 2015, a new tax to replace Stamp Duty, called the Land and Buildings Transaction Tax, was introduced in Scotland. It ditched flat tax payments and instead took a graduated, or stepped, approach - similar to income tax. There have also been changes to how Stamp Duty operates in the rest of the UK. In December 2014, Chancellor George Osborne announced a similar graduated system. However, you will not pay the same tax on house purchases north and south of the border as the bands and rates are different. In April this year a Scottish Rate of Income Tax was introduced. It meant that... - of the 20p now being paid from PS1 of basic rate income, 10p of that is going to be levied by the Scottish Parliament - and that 10p amount could be varied up or down. In February this year, Scotland's then Treasury Secretary, John Swinney, choose not to vary the figure. And why not? Well, the minister believed the new power was inflexible as he will not have full control over bands and rates of tax. In April 2017, the Scottish Parliament will receive a package of powers. These include; - power to set the rates and bands of income tax on non-savings and non-dividend income - half the share of VAT receipts in Scotland being assigned to the Scottish government's budget - and power over Air Passenger Duty and Aggregates Levy The formal transfer of those powers from Westminster to Holyrood has now taken place. Crucially, what the Scottish government will not be able to do is alter the rates of National Insurance and VAT, which are the two big sources of revenue, along with income tax. And one of the significant tax powers that is not included in this new batch of changes is Corporation Tax, levied on the profits of companies. That's unlike Northern Ireland which is set to be given control over that tax in 2018. Its politicians successfully argued that it needed to remain competitive with its island neighbours in the Republic which has a Corporation Tax rate of 12.5% - that contrasts with the current UK rate of 20%. Although Holyrood will have more control over income tax, it will not be able to set the personal allowance - basically the starting figure at which people pay tax. The SNP-led Holyrood administration said it would not adopt the UK government's plan to take anyone earning less than PS45,000 out of the 40p tax rate. However, it does not intend to increase the 45p rate currently levied on those earning PS150,000 or more a year in Scotland. A Scottish Conservative-appointed commission argued that the total tax burden should not rise any higher in Scotland than it is in the rest of the UK. It backs the UK government's approach to thresholds. Scottish Labour has put on record that it does not want to see the 40p tax threshold change north of the border. This is at odds with the UK party which has not objected to the Conservative government's proposal. Scottish Labour has also made clear that it wants to put 1p on tax rates in order to raise money \"to protect public services\". It said it could give a rebate to those earning less than PS20,000. In addition, it would like to see the highest rate of tax - affecting those earning more than PS150,000 a year - raised from 45p to 50p. The Scottish Liberal Democrats want a similar penny increase as Scottish Labour, aimed at protection of education spending. It also says it objects to the 40p threshold change. The Scottish Greens say there should be new rates and bands to give a tax cut to those on lower than average incomes and workers on higher wages should pay more tax.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1, "answer_end": 382, "text": "When the Scottish Parliament was created 17 years ago it was given the power to put up or cut income tax by 3p in the pound. That power has never been used. The bulk of Holyrood's money comes from Westminster, calculated through the Barnett Formula. Devolved administrations in Northern Ireland and Wales - which were also set up in 1999 - were not given powers to vary income tax."}], "question": "What powers did Scotland get in 1999?", "id": "302_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 383, "answer_end": 897, "text": "In April 2015, a new tax to replace Stamp Duty, called the Land and Buildings Transaction Tax, was introduced in Scotland. It ditched flat tax payments and instead took a graduated, or stepped, approach - similar to income tax. There have also been changes to how Stamp Duty operates in the rest of the UK. In December 2014, Chancellor George Osborne announced a similar graduated system. However, you will not pay the same tax on house purchases north and south of the border as the bands and rates are different."}], "question": "Property tax is different in Scotland, what's changed?", "id": "302_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 898, "answer_end": 1385, "text": "In April this year a Scottish Rate of Income Tax was introduced. It meant that... - of the 20p now being paid from PS1 of basic rate income, 10p of that is going to be levied by the Scottish Parliament - and that 10p amount could be varied up or down. In February this year, Scotland's then Treasury Secretary, John Swinney, choose not to vary the figure. And why not? Well, the minister believed the new power was inflexible as he will not have full control over bands and rates of tax."}], "question": "What new tax powers came to Scotland in 2016?", "id": "302_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1386, "answer_end": 1799, "text": "In April 2017, the Scottish Parliament will receive a package of powers. These include; - power to set the rates and bands of income tax on non-savings and non-dividend income - half the share of VAT receipts in Scotland being assigned to the Scottish government's budget - and power over Air Passenger Duty and Aggregates Levy The formal transfer of those powers from Westminster to Holyrood has now taken place."}], "question": "What other financial powers are going to Holyrood?", "id": "302_3"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1800, "answer_end": 2581, "text": "Crucially, what the Scottish government will not be able to do is alter the rates of National Insurance and VAT, which are the two big sources of revenue, along with income tax. And one of the significant tax powers that is not included in this new batch of changes is Corporation Tax, levied on the profits of companies. That's unlike Northern Ireland which is set to be given control over that tax in 2018. Its politicians successfully argued that it needed to remain competitive with its island neighbours in the Republic which has a Corporation Tax rate of 12.5% - that contrasts with the current UK rate of 20%. Although Holyrood will have more control over income tax, it will not be able to set the personal allowance - basically the starting figure at which people pay tax."}], "question": "What will Holyrood not have power over?", "id": "302_4"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2582, "answer_end": 3950, "text": "The SNP-led Holyrood administration said it would not adopt the UK government's plan to take anyone earning less than PS45,000 out of the 40p tax rate. However, it does not intend to increase the 45p rate currently levied on those earning PS150,000 or more a year in Scotland. A Scottish Conservative-appointed commission argued that the total tax burden should not rise any higher in Scotland than it is in the rest of the UK. It backs the UK government's approach to thresholds. Scottish Labour has put on record that it does not want to see the 40p tax threshold change north of the border. This is at odds with the UK party which has not objected to the Conservative government's proposal. Scottish Labour has also made clear that it wants to put 1p on tax rates in order to raise money \"to protect public services\". It said it could give a rebate to those earning less than PS20,000. In addition, it would like to see the highest rate of tax - affecting those earning more than PS150,000 a year - raised from 45p to 50p. The Scottish Liberal Democrats want a similar penny increase as Scottish Labour, aimed at protection of education spending. It also says it objects to the 40p threshold change. The Scottish Greens say there should be new rates and bands to give a tax cut to those on lower than average incomes and workers on higher wages should pay more tax."}], "question": "What are Scotland's political parties saying?", "id": "302_5"}]}]}, {"title": "Barry Sherman: Family disputes reports on mystery double death in Canada", "date": "17 December 2017", "paragraphs": [{"context": "The family of a Canadian billionaire and his wife have hit back at reports surrounding their recent deaths. Police are treating the deaths of Barry Sherman, 75, and his wife Honey, whose bodies were found in their Toronto home on Friday, as \"suspicious\" but say no suspects are being sought. Canadian media, citing police sources, say the case is being investigated as a possible murder-suicide. But a family statement said no-one close to the couple believed this. \"Our parents shared an enthusiasm for life and commitment to their family and community totally inconsistent with the rumours regrettably circulated in the media as to the circumstances surrounding their deaths,\" it read. The statement went on to call for a \"thorough, intensive and objective criminal investigation\" and for the media to stop reporting on the cause of the deaths until the investigation was finished. The couple's bodies were found by their estate agent, who had been trying to sell the property. There was no sign of forced entry. Police say they are awaiting the results of post-mortem exams before deciding on their next steps. Several Canadian newspapers say they were told investigators were working on the assumption Mr Sherman had killed his wife before killing himself. Tributes have meanwhile been pouring in for the pair, with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau tweeting \"condolences to their family & friends, and to everyone touched by their vision & spirit\". One of Canada's richest men, Mr Sherman was the founder and chairman of pharmaceutical giant Apotex, which sells generic medicines around the world. A gifted student, Mr Sherman entered the trade through his uncle's Empire Laboratories, working for him while still at university before buying the company when his uncle died. He went on to sell Empire, creating Apotex, the company that made him a billionaire and which now employs more than 10,000 people. But he became embroiled in a family dispute, with his uncle's children seeking a stake in Apotex, arguing they had been cheated. A judge threw out their claim earlier this year. He also faced an investigation as to whether he had improperly held a fundraiser for Justin Trudeau before he became prime minister. Mrs Sherman was a board member for several hospitals, charities and Jewish organisations. The couple had four children and have given millions to charity.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1459, "answer_end": 2381, "text": "One of Canada's richest men, Mr Sherman was the founder and chairman of pharmaceutical giant Apotex, which sells generic medicines around the world. A gifted student, Mr Sherman entered the trade through his uncle's Empire Laboratories, working for him while still at university before buying the company when his uncle died. He went on to sell Empire, creating Apotex, the company that made him a billionaire and which now employs more than 10,000 people. But he became embroiled in a family dispute, with his uncle's children seeking a stake in Apotex, arguing they had been cheated. A judge threw out their claim earlier this year. He also faced an investigation as to whether he had improperly held a fundraiser for Justin Trudeau before he became prime minister. Mrs Sherman was a board member for several hospitals, charities and Jewish organisations. The couple had four children and have given millions to charity."}], "question": "Who were Barry and Honey Sherman?", "id": "303_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Armenia election: Gloves come off after \u2018Velvet Revolution\u2019", "date": "8 December 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "The man behind the extraordinary \"Velvet Revolution\" that convulsed Armenia in April faces a key test with an early parliamentary election on Sunday. Former journalist-turned-politician Nikol Pashinyan, 43, engineered a peaceful transfer of power and raised hopes for an economic transformation. Nearly a third of Armenia's 3m people are officially classed as poor. The unemployment rate is about 16% and the average monthly wage is 166,540 drams (PS270; $343). One of Mr Pashinyan's key promises to the tens of thousands of Armenians who took part in street protests was to hold the country's first democratic parliamentary elections. He is still very popular and few doubt that his My Step Alliance will come top among the 11 parties and political blocs in the vote. But Mr Pashinyan's critics say the early vote puts many parties at a disadvantage. \"All political parties were deprived of time to prepare well for the elections,\" says Armen Ashotyan, vice-president of the former governing Republican Party. He claims his party members have been harassed and intimidated, and has accused Mr Pashinyan of hate speech. At one rally Mr Pashinyan said he would \"grab them by the throat\" - referring to Republican Party loyalists - and \"throw them out of office\". \"There's still a so-called post-revolutionary euphoria in Armenia, which will be reflected in the voting. And that means that Armenia's multi-party democracy is at risk,\" says Mr Ashotyan. Mr Pashinyan uses regular Facebook live broadcasts to come across as an accessible politician. Yerevan shopkeeper Andranik Grigorian was so impressed he renamed his shop after Mr Pashinyan. \"I'm not afraid of him becoming too powerful,\" he insists. \"I'm sure he will remain as honest as he is today.\" Shortly after the change of power in May, Armenia's man of the moment made another popular move, launching an anti-corruption campaign. When state security agents raided the villa of a retired army general in June, they found an arsenal of weapons, a fleet of vintage cars and a stockpile of canned food. That food had originally been donated for Armenian soldiers deployed in the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region, in neighbouring Azerbaijan. The general allegedly kept the food to feed animals in his private zoo, which included bears and tigers. Mr Pashinyan announced last month that a sum of more than $20m that had been misappropriated since May was being returned to the state budget. When he came to power, Mr Pashinyan reassured Russia that the street protests were an internal issue and would pose no threat to Armenia's external policy. The country is after all a strategic ally for Moscow in the Caucasus. But Russia is sensitive to so-called revolutions anywhere in the former Soviet Union. It maintains a military base in Armenia and is watching developments closely. Mr Pashinyan had initially promised there would be no political vendetta, but he then went after former political leaders and their relatives. Charges were brought against ex-President Robert Kocharyan for his role in post-election violence in 2008, in which 10 people were killed. After Mr Kocharyan was released on bail, he received a birthday phone call from Russian President Vladimir Putin. Mr Putin's spokesperson Dmitry Peskov commented that the two leaders were just good friends. ,", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1451, "answer_end": 2442, "text": "Mr Pashinyan uses regular Facebook live broadcasts to come across as an accessible politician. Yerevan shopkeeper Andranik Grigorian was so impressed he renamed his shop after Mr Pashinyan. \"I'm not afraid of him becoming too powerful,\" he insists. \"I'm sure he will remain as honest as he is today.\" Shortly after the change of power in May, Armenia's man of the moment made another popular move, launching an anti-corruption campaign. When state security agents raided the villa of a retired army general in June, they found an arsenal of weapons, a fleet of vintage cars and a stockpile of canned food. That food had originally been donated for Armenian soldiers deployed in the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region, in neighbouring Azerbaijan. The general allegedly kept the food to feed animals in his private zoo, which included bears and tigers. Mr Pashinyan announced last month that a sum of more than $20m that had been misappropriated since May was being returned to the state budget."}], "question": "What makes this leader so popular?", "id": "304_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2443, "answer_end": 3323, "text": "When he came to power, Mr Pashinyan reassured Russia that the street protests were an internal issue and would pose no threat to Armenia's external policy. The country is after all a strategic ally for Moscow in the Caucasus. But Russia is sensitive to so-called revolutions anywhere in the former Soviet Union. It maintains a military base in Armenia and is watching developments closely. Mr Pashinyan had initially promised there would be no political vendetta, but he then went after former political leaders and their relatives. Charges were brought against ex-President Robert Kocharyan for his role in post-election violence in 2008, in which 10 people were killed. After Mr Kocharyan was released on bail, he received a birthday phone call from Russian President Vladimir Putin. Mr Putin's spokesperson Dmitry Peskov commented that the two leaders were just good friends. ,"}], "question": "Will Russia step in?", "id": "304_1"}]}]}, {"title": "Japan military legislation changes draw protests", "date": "30 August 2015", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Thousands of people have protested outside of Japan's parliament against new legislation that would allow the military to deploy overseas. The changes would allow Japanese troops to fight abroad for the first time since World War Two. The legislation has already been passed by Japan's lower house and is expected to be endorsed by the upper chamber. Under its constitution, Japan is barred from using force to resolve conflicts except in cases of self-defence. But a reinterpretation of the law will now allow \"collective self-defence\" - using force to defend allies under attack. Police are lining the streets and telling protesters to move along in an attempt to minimise disruption in the capital's centre. Despite the wet weather conditions, tens of thousands of protesters poured out onto the streets demanding that their pacifist constitution be protected and calling for the prime minister to step down. The streets were lined with police vans but given how unprecedented it is for the Japanese to be so vocal, there was never any fear that things would get out of hand. These demonstrations have been taking place all summer, mainly led by students and young people who say they wish to protect Japan's pacifist constitution. They are often accused of being apolitical and apathetic but it appears they have woken up and are refusing to be silenced. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe says the changes are necessary to protect Japan, but polls show many Japanese oppose them. The plan was criticised at a recent memorial ceremony commemorating the dropping of a US atomic bomb in August 1945 on the city of Nagasaki, which killed 70,000 people. One survivor of the attack, 86-year-old Sumiteru Taniguchi, said he could not accept Mr Abe's new legislation. Mr Abe has previously said that the change would not lead to involvement in foreign wars. Japan's post-World War Two constitution bars it from using force to resolve conflicts except in cases of self-defence. Mr Abe's government has pushed for a change that would revise the laws such that Japan's military would be able to mobilise overseas when these three conditions are met: - when Japan is attacked, or when a close ally is attacked, and the result threatens Japan's survival and poses a clear danger to people - when there is no other appropriate means available to repel the attack and ensure Japan's survival and protect its people - use of force is restricted to a necessary minimum What's behind Japan's military shift?", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1846, "answer_end": 2485, "text": "Japan's post-World War Two constitution bars it from using force to resolve conflicts except in cases of self-defence. Mr Abe's government has pushed for a change that would revise the laws such that Japan's military would be able to mobilise overseas when these three conditions are met: - when Japan is attacked, or when a close ally is attacked, and the result threatens Japan's survival and poses a clear danger to people - when there is no other appropriate means available to repel the attack and ensure Japan's survival and protect its people - use of force is restricted to a necessary minimum What's behind Japan's military shift?"}], "question": "What is collective self-defence?", "id": "305_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Boeing to temporarily halt 737 Max production in January", "date": "17 December 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Boeing will temporarily halt production of its troubled 737 Max airliner in January, the manufacturer said. Production of the jet had continued despite the model being grounded for nine months after two deadly crashes. More than 300 people died when two 737 Max aircraft crashed in Indonesia and Ethiopia after reported problems with a new feature. Boeing had been hoping to have the planes back in the air by the end of this year. But US regulators made it clear that they would not be certified to return to the skies that quickly. Boeing is one of the largest US exporters. The company said in a statement that it would not lay off workers associated with the 737 Max, but the stoppage is likely to affect suppliers and the wider economy. \"Safely returning the 737 Max to service is our top priority,\" the aircraft manufacturer said. \"We know that the process of approving the 737 Max's return to service, and of determining appropriate training requirements, must be extraordinarily thorough and robust, to ensure that our regulators, customers, and the flying public have confidence in the 737 Max updates.\" Last week a congressional hearing was told that US aviation regulators were aware, following the first crash in Indonesia in October 2018, that there was a risk of further accidents. The Federal Aviation Authority's analysis suggested there could be more than a dozen more crashes over the lifetime of the aircraft unless changes were made to its design. Despite that, the 737 Max was not grounded until after the second crash in Ethiopia in March 2019. Boeing is redesigning the automated control system thought to have been the primary cause of the crashes. The manufacturer said it had 400 of the 737 Max aircraft in storage and would focus on delivering those to customers. While many airlines around the world have the planes on order, delivery was halted to allow Boeing's engineers to develop software fixes. The situation surrounding the 737 Max is extraordinary. Nine months after the aircraft was grounded worldwide, it is still not clear when it will be certified to fly again. Regulators - criticised for allowing a flawed aircraft to fly in the first place - are now playing hardball. For Boeing, being forced to shut down the production line is deeply embarrassing - and likely to prove costly. But it is a huge business, and it can at least redeploy many of its workers. But if the stoppage goes on for long, suppliers could be badly hit. Boeing sits at the top of a global supply chain, ranging from major businesses to small operators. Here in the UK, for example, the company works across 65 sites, including a factory in Sheffield. But it draws on a network of some 300 suppliers. For smaller firms in particular, losing 737-related work could prove serious - hitting revenues and potentially forcing them to lay off workers as well. Travel industry analyst Henry Harteveldt said the decision to suspend production was unprecedented and likely to have a \"massive impact on Boeing, its suppliers and the airlines\". \"It's really going to create some chaos for the airlines that are involved in this as well as the 600 or so companies that are part of the 737 Max supply chain and Boeing itself.\" The suspension of the 737 Max has already cost Boeing around $9bn (PS6.75bn). Boeing shares fell more than 4% on Monday amid speculation production would be suspended. The production freeze is expected to be felt across the plane's global supply chain. Teal Group aviation analyst Richard Aboulafia described Boeing's options for managing the blow to its suppliers as \"bad and worse\". He said the plane maker could either allow them to take a hit, or pay them to wait for when the 737 Max is finally cleared to fly. US carriers operate the largest 737 Max fleets, though airlines around the world also use it. \"The Chinese carriers would [also] be quite badly affected. They're some of the biggest users of the Max,\" said Shukor Yusof, aviation analyst at Endau Analytics. In fact, China's three largest carriers were among the first to press Boeing for compensation over the grounded planes. Aviation analyst Chris Tarry told the Today programme: \"The last thing any manufacturer wants is to stop the production line and it's going to take time to get it going again when the aircraft takes to the skies. \"If we look at it in terms of the volume of the impact on capacity growth in the industry, it is significant and it will take time to recover the production. Boeing's reputation will take time to recover from this as well.\" Some suppliers, such as fuselage maker Spirit AeroSystems, are highly dependent on the jet, with half of its revenue attached to it, according to Mr Aboulafia. So far, the supplier has only said it is \"working closely\" with Boeing to determine what impact the production suspension may have. The move by Boeing is unlikely to affect passengers as airlines have leased additional aircraft to replace the 737 Max. It's a different story for airlines, who have the added expense of leasing planes and managing their grounded aircraft. In July, Boeing set aside nearly $5bn to compensate those affected. However, that figure assumed that the 737 Max would fly again this year.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1113, "answer_end": 1928, "text": "Last week a congressional hearing was told that US aviation regulators were aware, following the first crash in Indonesia in October 2018, that there was a risk of further accidents. The Federal Aviation Authority's analysis suggested there could be more than a dozen more crashes over the lifetime of the aircraft unless changes were made to its design. Despite that, the 737 Max was not grounded until after the second crash in Ethiopia in March 2019. Boeing is redesigning the automated control system thought to have been the primary cause of the crashes. The manufacturer said it had 400 of the 737 Max aircraft in storage and would focus on delivering those to customers. While many airlines around the world have the planes on order, delivery was halted to allow Boeing's engineers to develop software fixes."}], "question": "What went wrong with the planes?", "id": "306_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2866, "answer_end": 4555, "text": "Travel industry analyst Henry Harteveldt said the decision to suspend production was unprecedented and likely to have a \"massive impact on Boeing, its suppliers and the airlines\". \"It's really going to create some chaos for the airlines that are involved in this as well as the 600 or so companies that are part of the 737 Max supply chain and Boeing itself.\" The suspension of the 737 Max has already cost Boeing around $9bn (PS6.75bn). Boeing shares fell more than 4% on Monday amid speculation production would be suspended. The production freeze is expected to be felt across the plane's global supply chain. Teal Group aviation analyst Richard Aboulafia described Boeing's options for managing the blow to its suppliers as \"bad and worse\". He said the plane maker could either allow them to take a hit, or pay them to wait for when the 737 Max is finally cleared to fly. US carriers operate the largest 737 Max fleets, though airlines around the world also use it. \"The Chinese carriers would [also] be quite badly affected. They're some of the biggest users of the Max,\" said Shukor Yusof, aviation analyst at Endau Analytics. In fact, China's three largest carriers were among the first to press Boeing for compensation over the grounded planes. Aviation analyst Chris Tarry told the Today programme: \"The last thing any manufacturer wants is to stop the production line and it's going to take time to get it going again when the aircraft takes to the skies. \"If we look at it in terms of the volume of the impact on capacity growth in the industry, it is significant and it will take time to recover the production. Boeing's reputation will take time to recover from this as well.\""}], "question": "What has the reaction been?", "id": "306_1"}]}]}, {"title": "Julian Assange subjected to psychological torture, UN expert says", "date": "31 May 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Julian Assange has suffered \"prolonged exposure to psychological torture\", the UN's torture expert has said. Nils Melzer urged Britain not to extradite the Wikileaks founder, warning that his human rights would be violated and that he is not fit to stand trial. He also accused \"several democratic states\" of a \"concerted effort to break [Assange's] will\". But the UK foreign secretary said Assange \"chose to hide\" from justice. In a tweet Jeremy Hunt said Mr Melzer \"should allow British courts to make their judgements without his interference or inflammatory accusations\". A justice ministry spokesperson also said the UK did not participate in torture, and that the government disagreed with a number of Mr Melzer's findings. Judges were independent of the government and anyone convicted had the right to appeal, the spokesman added. But Mr Melzer responded to Mr Hunt's tweet, saying Assange was \"about as 'free to leave' as someone sitting on a rubberboat in a sharkpool\". Assange, 47, is fighting extradition to the US over charges related to leaking government secrets. He sought political asylum in the Ecuadorean embassy in London in 2012 to avoid extradition to Sweden on a rape allegation he has repeatedly denied. He stayed until his arrest earlier this year. Earlier this month, Swedish prosecutors reopened their investigation into rape allegations against Assange. Mr Melzer, who met Assange earlier in May, told the Washington Post that he was initially reluctant to get involved in the case, as he is not a fan of Wikileaks and considered its founder to be a bad actor. The UN's special rapporteur on torture said that Assange had been subjected to sustained collective persecution - including threatening statements and incitement to violence against him. \"I've worked in many areas of war in my life, in situations of violence, and I've talked to victims of persecution around the world and I've seen very serious atrocities,\" Mr Melzer told the BBC. \"But [what] I have never seen is that a single person has been deliberately isolated and, I would say, persecuted - not prosecuted, but persecuted - by several democratic states in a concerted effort to eventually break his will.\" He added that he believes Assange \"has a very strong case, and a very reasonable fear, that if he gets extradited to the Unites States he has no chance to get a fair trial with the level of public and official prejudice that exists there for him\". Mr Melzer added that, because of his treatment, his health was at serious risk. \"We could see that Assange showed all the symptoms that are typical for prolonged exposure to psychological torture,\" he said. Assange, he said, needs access to a psychiatrist who is \"not part of the prison service - someone he can fully trust\" - to avoid his health deteriorating further. Assange is currently serving a 50-week sentence in Belmarsh Prison in south east London for bail violations. He had been due to appear at a hearing at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Thursday - the second in his extradition case. However, his lawyer Gareth Peirce said that he was \"not very well\". A spokesman for Wikileaks later said that he had been moved to the medical ward in jail, adding that he had \"dramatically lost weight\" while in prison. \"Defence lawyer for Assange, Per Samuelson, said that Julian Assange's health state last Friday was such 'that it was not possible to conduct a normal conversation with him',\" he added. The US Justice Department has charged Assange with receiving and publishing thousands of classified documents linked to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The US wants the UK to extradite him, but Assange has formally refused consent.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1589, "answer_end": 2820, "text": "The UN's special rapporteur on torture said that Assange had been subjected to sustained collective persecution - including threatening statements and incitement to violence against him. \"I've worked in many areas of war in my life, in situations of violence, and I've talked to victims of persecution around the world and I've seen very serious atrocities,\" Mr Melzer told the BBC. \"But [what] I have never seen is that a single person has been deliberately isolated and, I would say, persecuted - not prosecuted, but persecuted - by several democratic states in a concerted effort to eventually break his will.\" He added that he believes Assange \"has a very strong case, and a very reasonable fear, that if he gets extradited to the Unites States he has no chance to get a fair trial with the level of public and official prejudice that exists there for him\". Mr Melzer added that, because of his treatment, his health was at serious risk. \"We could see that Assange showed all the symptoms that are typical for prolonged exposure to psychological torture,\" he said. Assange, he said, needs access to a psychiatrist who is \"not part of the prison service - someone he can fully trust\" - to avoid his health deteriorating further."}], "question": "What did Nils Melzer say?", "id": "307_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2821, "answer_end": 3692, "text": "Assange is currently serving a 50-week sentence in Belmarsh Prison in south east London for bail violations. He had been due to appear at a hearing at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Thursday - the second in his extradition case. However, his lawyer Gareth Peirce said that he was \"not very well\". A spokesman for Wikileaks later said that he had been moved to the medical ward in jail, adding that he had \"dramatically lost weight\" while in prison. \"Defence lawyer for Assange, Per Samuelson, said that Julian Assange's health state last Friday was such 'that it was not possible to conduct a normal conversation with him',\" he added. The US Justice Department has charged Assange with receiving and publishing thousands of classified documents linked to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The US wants the UK to extradite him, but Assange has formally refused consent."}], "question": "What is the latest with the Julian Assange case?", "id": "307_1"}]}]}, {"title": "Hawaii missile alert: False alarm sparks panic in US state", "date": "14 January 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "An incoming missile alert plunged residents of Hawaii into panic on Saturday morning before it was declared a false alarm. Mobile phone users received a message saying: \"Ballistic missile threat inbound to Hawaii. Seek immediate shelter. This is not a drill.\" State Governor David Ige apologised and said it was caused by an employee pressing the wrong button. The US government announced there would be a full investigation. An alert system is in place because of the potential proximity of Hawaii to North Korean missiles. In December, the state tested its nuclear warning siren for the first time since the end of the Cold War. The false warning message was sent to people's mobile devices, and was also broadcast on television and radio stations. The phone message notification, all in capital letters, went out at 08:07 (18:07 GMT). It was corrected by email 18 minutes later but there was no follow-up mobile text for 38 minutes, the Honolulu Star-Advertiser reports. Governor Ige said human error during one of the thrice-daily shift changes at the state's Emergency Management Agency (EMA) was to blame for the false alert. \"It was a procedure that occurs at the change of shift where they go through to make sure that the system, that it's working. And an employee pushed the wrong button,\" he explained. \"It was an inadvertent mistake,\" said EMA administrator Vern Miyagi. \"The change of shift is about three people. That should have been caught... it should not have happened.\" Television and radio broadcasts across the state were interrupted with a recorded emergency message instructing people to stay indoors. \"If you are outdoors seek immediate shelter in a building. Remain indoors well away from windows. If you are driving pull safely to the side of the road and seek shelter in a building while laying on the floor. We'll announce when the threat has ended. This is not a drill!\" People in the US state have been sharing stories of momentary frenzy and the panic-stricken messages they exchanged with loved ones after they received the alert. Videos posted on social media appeared to show students at the University of Hawaii running for shelter after the missile threat was issued. Matt Lopresti, a member of the Hawaiian House of Representatives, was at home when he received the alert on his mobile phone. He described how he and his family had sought shelter in a bath tub. \"We got our children, grabbed our emergency supplies, put them in our most enclosed room in our house which is our bathroom,\" he told local broadcaster KGMB. \"We put them in the bath tub, said our prayers, tried to find out what the hell was going on because we didn't hear any alarms, any of the sirens. \"There's not much else you can do in that situation. You know, we did what we could... and I am very angry right now because it shouldn't be this easy to make such a big mistake.\" Golfers were also thrown into alarm ahead of the US PGA Hawaii Open in Honolulu, with US player Talor Gooch tweeting that \"birdies didn't seem too important for a few minutes\". After the US military confirmed no missile threat had been detected, and the alert had been released in error, Governor Ige explained: \"It was a procedure that occurs at the change of shift which they go through to make sure that the system is working, and an employee pushed the wrong button.\" Ajit Pai, chairman of the US Federal Communications Commission, announced the investigation on Twitter. US President Donald Trump, who was in Florida at the time of the alert, was briefed on the false alert, the White House said. Senator Mazie Hirono, a Democrat from Hawaii, tweeted: \"Today's alert was a false alarm. At a time of heightened tensions, we need to make sure all information released to the community is accurate. We need to get to the bottom of what happened and make sure it never happens again.\" North Korea's missile and nuclear programme is seen as a growing threat to America. Hawaii is one of the US states closest to North Korea. In September Pyongyang carried out its sixth nuclear test. Last month, the Star-Advertiser reported that a missile launched from North Korea could strike Hawaii within 20 minutes of launch. A false earthquake warning was sent to millions of Japanese people's phones on 5 January, causing a brief panic and disrupting Tokyo's transport network. It turned out to be a false alarm triggered by an error in the earthquake warning system.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 631, "answer_end": 1899, "text": "The false warning message was sent to people's mobile devices, and was also broadcast on television and radio stations. The phone message notification, all in capital letters, went out at 08:07 (18:07 GMT). It was corrected by email 18 minutes later but there was no follow-up mobile text for 38 minutes, the Honolulu Star-Advertiser reports. Governor Ige said human error during one of the thrice-daily shift changes at the state's Emergency Management Agency (EMA) was to blame for the false alert. \"It was a procedure that occurs at the change of shift where they go through to make sure that the system, that it's working. And an employee pushed the wrong button,\" he explained. \"It was an inadvertent mistake,\" said EMA administrator Vern Miyagi. \"The change of shift is about three people. That should have been caught... it should not have happened.\" Television and radio broadcasts across the state were interrupted with a recorded emergency message instructing people to stay indoors. \"If you are outdoors seek immediate shelter in a building. Remain indoors well away from windows. If you are driving pull safely to the side of the road and seek shelter in a building while laying on the floor. We'll announce when the threat has ended. This is not a drill!\""}], "question": "How was the alert released?", "id": "308_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1900, "answer_end": 3060, "text": "People in the US state have been sharing stories of momentary frenzy and the panic-stricken messages they exchanged with loved ones after they received the alert. Videos posted on social media appeared to show students at the University of Hawaii running for shelter after the missile threat was issued. Matt Lopresti, a member of the Hawaiian House of Representatives, was at home when he received the alert on his mobile phone. He described how he and his family had sought shelter in a bath tub. \"We got our children, grabbed our emergency supplies, put them in our most enclosed room in our house which is our bathroom,\" he told local broadcaster KGMB. \"We put them in the bath tub, said our prayers, tried to find out what the hell was going on because we didn't hear any alarms, any of the sirens. \"There's not much else you can do in that situation. You know, we did what we could... and I am very angry right now because it shouldn't be this easy to make such a big mistake.\" Golfers were also thrown into alarm ahead of the US PGA Hawaii Open in Honolulu, with US player Talor Gooch tweeting that \"birdies didn't seem too important for a few minutes\"."}], "question": "How did Hawaiians react?", "id": "308_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3061, "answer_end": 3355, "text": "After the US military confirmed no missile threat had been detected, and the alert had been released in error, Governor Ige explained: \"It was a procedure that occurs at the change of shift which they go through to make sure that the system is working, and an employee pushed the wrong button.\""}], "question": "What happened with the button?", "id": "308_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3870, "answer_end": 4198, "text": "North Korea's missile and nuclear programme is seen as a growing threat to America. Hawaii is one of the US states closest to North Korea. In September Pyongyang carried out its sixth nuclear test. Last month, the Star-Advertiser reported that a missile launched from North Korea could strike Hawaii within 20 minutes of launch."}], "question": "Why was Hawaii already on edge?", "id": "308_3"}]}]}, {"title": "US settlement move endorses 'law of the jungle' - Palestinians", "date": "19 November 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Palestinians have condemned a decision by the US to abandon its four-decades-old position that Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank are inconsistent with international law. Chief negotiator Saeb Erekat said it threatened to replace international law with the \"law of the jungle\". But Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised the US move, saying it \"rights a historical wrong\". The UN regards the settlements as being illegal under international law. Settlements are communities established by Israel on land occupied in the 1967 Middle East war. They have long been a source of dispute between Israel and the international community, and the Palestinians. On Monday, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said: \"The establishment of Israeli civilian settlements is not, per se, inconsistent with international law\". The status of the West Bank, he added, was \"for the Israelis and the Palestinians to negotiate\". The move was seen as a victory for Mr Netanyahu, who has pledged to apply Israeli sovereignty over all the settlements, as well as the Jordan Valley and northern Dead Sea. The Palestinians have long called for the removal of the settlements, where about 600,000 Jews live, arguing that their presence on land they claim for a future independent Palestinian state makes it almost impossible to make such a state a reality. \"Israeli colonial settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories, including East Jerusalem, are not only illegal under international law, they are war crimes,\" said Mr Erekat. \"Once the Trump administration decides to undermine international law... this constitutes a major threat to international peace and security.\" Nabil Abu Rudeina, a spokesman for Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, said: \"The United States is neither qualified nor is authorised to negate international legitimacy resolutions, and it has no right to give any legitimacy to Israeli settlement.\" Palestinian militant groups also weighed in, calling it the official funeral of the Oslo peace process - which laid the foundations for Palestinian self-rule in the West Bank, East Jerusalem and Gaza Strip - and urging stepped-up resistance to the Israeli occupation. In 2017, US President Donald Trump recognised Jerusalem as Israel's capital and ordered the relocation of the US embassy to the city from Tel Aviv. The decision was condemned by Palestinians, who want East Jerusalem to be the capital of a future Palestinian state, and the UN General Assembly demanded its cancellation. And earlier this year, Mr Trump recognised Israeli sovereignty over the occupied Golan Heights, which were seized from Syria in the 1967 war. Mr Pompeo's announcement was made two days ahead of a deadline for Benny Gantz, Mr Netanyahu's political rival, to form a coalition government following an inconclusive general election in September. Mr Gantz was given the opportunity after Mr Netanyahu himself failed to form a ruling coalition. Hours later, the US state department alerted Americans planning to visit Jerusalem, West Bank or Gaza that \"those opposed to the secretary of state's announcement may target US [government] facilities, interests, and citizens\". In praising the US move, Mr Netanyahu said Israeli courts were the \"appropriate place\" to decide the legality of the settlements, \"not biased international forums that pay no attention to history or facts\". \"Israel remains ready and willing to conduct peace negotiations with the Palestinians regarding all final status issues in an effort to achieve a durable peace,\" he said, \"but will continue to reject all arguments regarding the illegality of the settlements.\" Meanwhile, the UN human rights office reaffirmed its position that the settlements were unlawful, saying the change \"of one state does not modify existing international law nor its interpretation by the International Court of Justice and the [UN] Security Council\". The European Union's foreign policy chief, Federica Mogherini, said the bloc's position was that \"all settlement activity is illegal under international law and it erodes the viability of the two-state solution and the prospects for a lasting peace\". Ayman Safadi, Foreign Minister of Jordan - the custodian of a holy site in Jerusalem known to Muslims as al-Haram al-Sharif (the Noble Sanctuary) and to Jews as the Temple Mount - said the change would \"kill\" a two-state solution, calling the settlements \"a blatant violation of international law\". Two years ago, Mr Trump promised a \"deal of the century\" to end the conflict created by Jared Kushner, his son-in-law and senior adviser. But, apart from an ambitious plan for investment in Palestinian areas and Arab countries, few details have been made public. Mike Pompeo said the decision would create the political space for a more likely resolution of the conflict. But that resolution is now more likely to be on Israel's terms, since it is by far the stronger party. Dismissing the international legal prohibitions on Jewish settlements undermines the legal framework for the peace process, including the notion of Palestinian national rights and the principle of self-determination. It will almost certainly boost the movement to expand and annex the Jewish settlements. There has already been a sharp increase in settlement planning and construction since Mr Trump took office. Palestinians will be dismayed, although not surprised. Palestinian analysts I have spoken with say the growth of Jewish settlements has essentially killed the potential for a viable two-state solution. They speak in terms of a war of position, saying that staying on the land and simply continuing their lives is a kind of non-violent resistance. In 1978, the Carter administration concluded that the establishment of civilian settlements was inconsistent with international law. In 1981, President Ronald Reagan disagreed with that conclusion, saying he did not believe the settlements were inherently illegal. Since then, the US has adopted a position of describing the settlements as \"illegitimate\" - though not \"illegal\" - and sheltering Israel from condemnatory resolutions on the issue at the United Nations. However, one of the last acts of the Obama administration, at the end of 2016, was to break with US practice by not vetoing a UN resolution that urged an end to illegal Israeli settlements. President Trump's administration has displayed a much more tolerant attitude towards settlement activity than President Obama's. Mr Pompeo said the Trump administration had studied all sides of the debate and agreed with Mr Reagan. Most of the international community, including the UN and the International Court of Justice, say the settlements are illegal. The basis for this is the 1949 Fourth Geneva Convention which forbids the transfer by an occupying power of its people to occupied territory. However, Israel says the Fourth Geneva Convention does not apply de jure to the West Bank because, it says, the territory is not technically occupied. Israel says it is legally there as a result of a defensive war, and did not take control of the West Bank from a legitimate sovereign power. It says the legal right of Jewish settlement there, as recognised by the 1922 League of Nations Mandate for Palestine, was preserved under the UN's charter.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1098, "answer_end": 3187, "text": "The Palestinians have long called for the removal of the settlements, where about 600,000 Jews live, arguing that their presence on land they claim for a future independent Palestinian state makes it almost impossible to make such a state a reality. \"Israeli colonial settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories, including East Jerusalem, are not only illegal under international law, they are war crimes,\" said Mr Erekat. \"Once the Trump administration decides to undermine international law... this constitutes a major threat to international peace and security.\" Nabil Abu Rudeina, a spokesman for Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, said: \"The United States is neither qualified nor is authorised to negate international legitimacy resolutions, and it has no right to give any legitimacy to Israeli settlement.\" Palestinian militant groups also weighed in, calling it the official funeral of the Oslo peace process - which laid the foundations for Palestinian self-rule in the West Bank, East Jerusalem and Gaza Strip - and urging stepped-up resistance to the Israeli occupation. In 2017, US President Donald Trump recognised Jerusalem as Israel's capital and ordered the relocation of the US embassy to the city from Tel Aviv. The decision was condemned by Palestinians, who want East Jerusalem to be the capital of a future Palestinian state, and the UN General Assembly demanded its cancellation. And earlier this year, Mr Trump recognised Israeli sovereignty over the occupied Golan Heights, which were seized from Syria in the 1967 war. Mr Pompeo's announcement was made two days ahead of a deadline for Benny Gantz, Mr Netanyahu's political rival, to form a coalition government following an inconclusive general election in September. Mr Gantz was given the opportunity after Mr Netanyahu himself failed to form a ruling coalition. Hours later, the US state department alerted Americans planning to visit Jerusalem, West Bank or Gaza that \"those opposed to the secretary of state's announcement may target US [government] facilities, interests, and citizens\"."}], "question": "What are the Palestinians saying?", "id": "309_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3188, "answer_end": 4733, "text": "In praising the US move, Mr Netanyahu said Israeli courts were the \"appropriate place\" to decide the legality of the settlements, \"not biased international forums that pay no attention to history or facts\". \"Israel remains ready and willing to conduct peace negotiations with the Palestinians regarding all final status issues in an effort to achieve a durable peace,\" he said, \"but will continue to reject all arguments regarding the illegality of the settlements.\" Meanwhile, the UN human rights office reaffirmed its position that the settlements were unlawful, saying the change \"of one state does not modify existing international law nor its interpretation by the International Court of Justice and the [UN] Security Council\". The European Union's foreign policy chief, Federica Mogherini, said the bloc's position was that \"all settlement activity is illegal under international law and it erodes the viability of the two-state solution and the prospects for a lasting peace\". Ayman Safadi, Foreign Minister of Jordan - the custodian of a holy site in Jerusalem known to Muslims as al-Haram al-Sharif (the Noble Sanctuary) and to Jews as the Temple Mount - said the change would \"kill\" a two-state solution, calling the settlements \"a blatant violation of international law\". Two years ago, Mr Trump promised a \"deal of the century\" to end the conflict created by Jared Kushner, his son-in-law and senior adviser. But, apart from an ambitious plan for investment in Palestinian areas and Arab countries, few details have been made public."}], "question": "What has Israel said?", "id": "309_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 5706, "answer_end": 6595, "text": "In 1978, the Carter administration concluded that the establishment of civilian settlements was inconsistent with international law. In 1981, President Ronald Reagan disagreed with that conclusion, saying he did not believe the settlements were inherently illegal. Since then, the US has adopted a position of describing the settlements as \"illegitimate\" - though not \"illegal\" - and sheltering Israel from condemnatory resolutions on the issue at the United Nations. However, one of the last acts of the Obama administration, at the end of 2016, was to break with US practice by not vetoing a UN resolution that urged an end to illegal Israeli settlements. President Trump's administration has displayed a much more tolerant attitude towards settlement activity than President Obama's. Mr Pompeo said the Trump administration had studied all sides of the debate and agreed with Mr Reagan."}], "question": "What was the previous US position?", "id": "309_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 6596, "answer_end": 7313, "text": "Most of the international community, including the UN and the International Court of Justice, say the settlements are illegal. The basis for this is the 1949 Fourth Geneva Convention which forbids the transfer by an occupying power of its people to occupied territory. However, Israel says the Fourth Geneva Convention does not apply de jure to the West Bank because, it says, the territory is not technically occupied. Israel says it is legally there as a result of a defensive war, and did not take control of the West Bank from a legitimate sovereign power. It says the legal right of Jewish settlement there, as recognised by the 1922 League of Nations Mandate for Palestine, was preserved under the UN's charter."}], "question": "Are settlements illegal under international law?", "id": "309_3"}]}]}, {"title": "Marriott hack hits 500 million Starwood guests", "date": "30 November 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "The records of 500 million customers of the hotel group Marriott International have been involved in a data breach. The hotel chain said the guest reservation database of its Starwood division had been compromised by an unauthorised party. It said an internal investigation found an attacker had been able to access the Starwood network since 2014. The company said it would notify customers whose records were in the database. Marriott International bought Starwood in 2016, creating the largest hotel chain in the world with more than 5,800 properties. Starwood's hotel brands include W Hotels, Sheraton, Le Meridien and Four Points by Sheraton. Marriott-branded hotels use a separate reservation system on a different network. Marriott said it was alerted by an internal security tool that somebody was attempting to access the Starwood database. After investigating, it discovered that an \"unauthorised party had copied and encrypted information\". It said it believed its database contained records of up to 500 million customers. For about 327 million guests, the information included \"some combination\" of: - name - address - phone number - email address - passport number - account information - date of birth - gender - arrival and departure information It said some records also included encrypted payment card information, but it could not rule out the possibility that the encryption keys had also been stolen. \"We deeply regret this incident happened,\" the company said in a statement. \"Marriott reported this incident to law enforcement and continues to support their investigation.  The company has already begun notifying regulatory authorities.\" The company has set up a website to give affected customers more information. It will also offer customers in the US and some other countries a year-long subscription to a fraud-detecting service. In a statement, the UK's Information Commissioner's Office said: \"We have received a data breach report from Marriott involving its Starwood Hotels and will be making enquiries. If anyone has concerns about how their data has been handled they can report these concerns to us.\" The Marriott group said it would contact affected customers whose email addresses were in the Starwood reservation database. The database contained details of reservations made on or before 10 September 2018. The company has set up a dedicated help website for those affected and is also operating a free helpline. For UK customers the number is 0808 189 1065. Marriott is not certain whether the attackers were able to obtain payment information, so be aware of any suspicious transactions on your account. Also be aware that scammers may be sending out mass emails pretending to represent the Marriott group. The company says it will not include attachments in its notification emails and will not ask for personal information over email. If in doubt, call the helpline. The company is offering affected customers a year-long subscription to a fraud-checking service. by Chris Fox, technology reporter It's not the biggest data breach we've ever seen (that dubious honour goes to Yahoo!) but it's certainly up there with some of the worst. Not only were up to 500 million customer records accessed and potentially copied, but the attackers had had unauthorised access since 2014. And even though payment card information was encrypted, the company thinks the key may have been stolen too. The UK's data regulator has confirmed it is investigating, and so the threat of a whopping GDPR penalty looms. Although the Marriott group's headquarters are in the US, it has to comply with the EU's GDPR rules when dealing with citizens in the EU. The way it has disclosed this breach, notified customers and offered fraud-checking services will certainly help its cause. But the ICO and other international regulators may rule the company has been too slow to act. As always with a big data breach, be aware that scammers may send out emails claiming to be from the Marriott group. The hotel chain says it will not send any notification emails with attachments, and will not request any information from its customers by email.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 2137, "answer_end": 3006, "text": "The Marriott group said it would contact affected customers whose email addresses were in the Starwood reservation database. The database contained details of reservations made on or before 10 September 2018. The company has set up a dedicated help website for those affected and is also operating a free helpline. For UK customers the number is 0808 189 1065. Marriott is not certain whether the attackers were able to obtain payment information, so be aware of any suspicious transactions on your account. Also be aware that scammers may be sending out mass emails pretending to represent the Marriott group. The company says it will not include attachments in its notification emails and will not ask for personal information over email. If in doubt, call the helpline. The company is offering affected customers a year-long subscription to a fraud-checking service."}], "question": "What should I do if I'm affected?", "id": "310_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Retirement age: Poland broke EU law with ruling on judges", "date": "5 November 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "The EU's Court of Justice has ruled that Poland's decision to lower judges' retirement ages contravened EU law, in a new setback to the government's bid to reform the judiciary. Poland has already reversed the 2017 reforms, after an outcry at home as well as in Brussels. Poland broke EU law on two fronts. The Court said it was wrong to set a lower retirement age for women and to give a minister a final decision on which judges could stay in a job. The Polish foreign ministry responded by saying the law had been changed. As the verdict \"relates to an old situation\" it said the complaint should have been withdrawn. At the time, both male and female judges and prosecutors retired at 67 but Poland's socially conservative government cut the age to 60 for women and 65 for men. Poland's government, run by the Law and Justice Party (PiS), argued it was trying to fight corruption and replace judges whose careers dated back to the communist era, but critics said it was seeking to appoint loyalists instead. Some 100 judges were forced to retire before the law was withdrawn. The Luxembourg-based court said that under EU law judges and prosecutors were entitled to equal pay and treatment for equal work. It rejected a Polish argument that it was applying positive discrimination. It also rejected a provision that gave the justice minister the power to decide whether particular judges could continue to practise once they had reached the new retirement age, because the reasons would have been \"vague and unverifiable\". By Adam Easton, BBC Warsaw correspondent The Court's ruling is another blow for the PiS in its long-running dispute with the European Commission over judicial reform. In June, the Court of Justice ruled that Poland broke EU law by lowering the retirement age for Supreme Court judges too, a change that forced about one third of Supreme Court justices into early retirement. In both cases, Law and Justice reversed the changes before the Luxembourg court announced its ruling, so in practice today's ruling changes little. The truly landmark ruling is due to be announced later this month, in a case that will go straight to the heart of PiS' judicial reforms. Polish judges are nominated by the National Judicial Council (NCJ), a body that is supposed to safeguard the independence of the judiciary, and which until recently consisted of a majority of judges selected by their peers. In 2018, the ruling party changed the law so that the majority of judges sitting on the NCJ were appointed by the lower house of parliament, which Law and Justice controls. This has led to Poland's NCJ having its membership of the European Network of Councils for the Judiciary suspended on the grounds it is no longer politically independent. The case also affects Poland's Supreme Court because another government reform created two new chambers for the court that have been filled by judges nominated by the new, politically appointed NCJ. If the Court rules that those changes broke EU law, as a legal adviser to the court has already said, then the government could be forced to reverse some key elements of its judicial reform. Poland's government, re-elected only last month, is still trying to change the make-up of the judiciary. On Monday the government nominated three new judges, including two former hardline Law and Justice MPs, to Poland's Constitutional Court. One of the nominees is former communist-era prosecutor, Stanislaw Piotrowicz, who prosecuted an opposition activist during the 1980s. Critics have pointed out that a key justification for the ruling party's judicial reforms was the need to weed out communist-era judges, Adam Easton reports. Another nominee, Krystyna Pawlowicz, has targeted Poland's opposition, using vocabulary such as \"homos\" and \"eco-terrorists\". Poland's confrontation with the EU's executive body is also set to continue. In April, the European Commission referred Poland to the Court of Justice again, accusing the government of undermining the independence of Polish judges. The Commission said Polish judges were being subjected to disciplinary investigations on the basis of their judgements and it argued that the disciplinary process was overseen by judges selected by a panel appointed by MPs.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 621, "answer_end": 1079, "text": "At the time, both male and female judges and prosecutors retired at 67 but Poland's socially conservative government cut the age to 60 for women and 65 for men. Poland's government, run by the Law and Justice Party (PiS), argued it was trying to fight corruption and replace judges whose careers dated back to the communist era, but critics said it was seeking to appoint loyalists instead. Some 100 judges were forced to retire before the law was withdrawn."}], "question": "What happened to the law?", "id": "311_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Bosnia's biggest foreign investment: Bonanza or threat?", "date": "23 September 2016", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Gaze across the pristine green hills of Trnovo and you'd be hard pressed to find a single sign of civilisation. And that's precisely the point. A Dubai-based property developer sees this clearing on Mt. Bjelasnica - home to part of the 1984 Sarajevo Winter Olympics - as a prime location to realise Bosnia's biggest ever foreign investment: Buroj Ozone City. The planned holiday city of 40,000 people will include private villas, luxury hotels, a shopping mall and a hospital. Its construction will cost a reported 4.5 billion Bosnian Marks (BAM) ($2.5bn; PS2bn) and it should be completed by 2025. Bosnia, which has Muslim majority, is one of Europe's poorest countries and its people welcome all the foreign business they can get. But the enormous size of the project - it equates to 15% of Bosnia's GDP [gross domestic product] - is fuelling some unease. Increasing numbers of Arab tourists and property buyers are coming in to the country, while investment by Western investors is shrinking. What impact might this project have on the country's development and culture? Buroj International Group organised a celebration here for the ceremonial start of construction earlier this week, with speeches by Bosnian politicians and folk dancers, free grilled meat and non-alcoholic drinks. Ismail Ahmed, the group's chief executive, says he expects the project to increase tourism and investment in Bosnia, create thousands of jobs, and result in \"a full city with full facilities for everything\" that is open to everyone. He claims the new properties will be accessible to Bosnians as well, with prices for private villas starting at BAM 2,300 ($1,300) per square metre. \"We have sent a message to the whole world that Bosnia is a safe place for investment,\" says Mr Ahmed. But will ordinary Bosnians be able to afford such prices? Watching the event with a sort of hopeful scepticism, is Omar Krupalija, a clerk born 5km away. He says the investors are attracted to the beautiful and untouched landscape, the fresh mountain air and clean water. \"They often say that this part of the world is 'jannat': the Arabic word for paradise,\" he says. \"Bosnia is in such a state that we welcome any investment from anywhere.\" What's important to Bosnians is that the investors act responsibly and deliver on their promises, he says. \"Like during the war, when Bosnia was under siege from all sides and the Mujahedeen came to help us. In that situation even if the devil came, we would have accepted his help. \"Economically, we are in the same situation today.\" Economist Zarko Papic, director of the Initiative for Better and Human Inclusion, a Sarajevo-based think tank, agrees. \"Bosnia desperately needs foreign investment,\" he says. Monthly wages here average $475 (837 BAM) and the political stalemate between ethnic communities has paralysed the badly needed government reform process for years. \"Let's say hypothetically that the project is implemented in full. That will be a good thing,\" says Mr Papic. \"But the real question is: who will buy these properties? To me, this is still an abstraction.\" Gulf Arabs have been buying property around Sarajevo and prices have doubled in the last three years, Mr Papic says. The most popular spot is Ilidza, the leafy western end of Sarajevo tucked into the foothills of Mt. Igman along the Bosnia River. Bosnians see Ilidza as an Arab enclave. Street signs now offer all sorts of business services in Arabic language: real estate, restaurants, dentists, travel agencies and souvenir shops. The Hollywood Hotel is one of the most popular places to stay. In the hotel's billiards room, a group of young Kuwaitis enjoy their last days of summer vacation before heading home. Fahad Alhunaidi, an accounting student says: \"Now everyone in the Gulf countries is talking about Bosnia. They say it's a new country with a growing economy. It's not expensive. And it's easy to communicate with people.\" While the new Arab-owned businesses, such as shopping malls and restaurants, don't serve alcohol, secular Bosnians don't seem concerned. Few worry that they will have to go far out of their way for a drink. Nor are there concerns that the Arabs' alcohol-free policy will be imposed on existing Bosnian businesses. At the City Pub, one of the popular bars in the centre of Sarajevo, waitress Belma Eminagic, 25, is taking a cigarette break. \"Waiters and taxi drivers see them as walking money bags and treat them very well,\" she says. \"They say 'hello, my brother.' Sometimes they cheat them and sometimes they get good tips. When people treat them like a god, and everything is cheap, it's really nice for them. \"In the beginning when they came here, they asked if we were Muslims,\" she says. \"When we said 'yes' they said very judgmentally: 'But you are drinking and smoking?' Now they accept us and have a nice time here.\" Bosnians say their anxieties are mainly economic. There are concerns that Arab buyers will dominate the property market and drive up prices for Bosnians. And that an increasing number of Bosnians will be working for wealthy Arabs. \"We are going to become their slaves, slowly but surely,\" says Adin Bjelak, 30, a waiter, drinking a coffee in the cafe Balkan Express. While Mr Bjelak has worked with Arabs and has had plenty of positive experiences - as well as some negative - his pessimism is more about Bosnia's poor prospects than Arabs' aggressive business practices. He is also concerned about the cultural impact on Bosnia. While Bosnians are European, he says, Arabs have different table manners; they speak more loudly in public, and are more likely drop litter. He admits that he and his friends refer to covered Gulf Arab women in black face veils as \"ninjas\". \"It's changing our culture because we are getting used to their lifestyle,\" he says. After prayer time at the 16th Century Gazi Husrev-bey Mosque, Sarajevo's largest, Adnan Ducic is passing the time smoking rough Drina cigarettes. With a neatly trimmed beard, Ducic, 34, is unemployed - like 44% of Bosnians. With typical Bosnian gallows humour, Ducic explains why only Arabs want to invest in Bosnia. \"The Arabs are new here, whereas the Europeans have been here for a long time,\" he says. \"When the Arabs get more experience with our state administration and our way of doing things, they will want to leave, too. \"We have a saying in Bosnia: 'God please give us health, since everything else has already been promised to us.'\"", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1074, "answer_end": 3096, "text": "Buroj International Group organised a celebration here for the ceremonial start of construction earlier this week, with speeches by Bosnian politicians and folk dancers, free grilled meat and non-alcoholic drinks. Ismail Ahmed, the group's chief executive, says he expects the project to increase tourism and investment in Bosnia, create thousands of jobs, and result in \"a full city with full facilities for everything\" that is open to everyone. He claims the new properties will be accessible to Bosnians as well, with prices for private villas starting at BAM 2,300 ($1,300) per square metre. \"We have sent a message to the whole world that Bosnia is a safe place for investment,\" says Mr Ahmed. But will ordinary Bosnians be able to afford such prices? Watching the event with a sort of hopeful scepticism, is Omar Krupalija, a clerk born 5km away. He says the investors are attracted to the beautiful and untouched landscape, the fresh mountain air and clean water. \"They often say that this part of the world is 'jannat': the Arabic word for paradise,\" he says. \"Bosnia is in such a state that we welcome any investment from anywhere.\" What's important to Bosnians is that the investors act responsibly and deliver on their promises, he says. \"Like during the war, when Bosnia was under siege from all sides and the Mujahedeen came to help us. In that situation even if the devil came, we would have accepted his help. \"Economically, we are in the same situation today.\" Economist Zarko Papic, director of the Initiative for Better and Human Inclusion, a Sarajevo-based think tank, agrees. \"Bosnia desperately needs foreign investment,\" he says. Monthly wages here average $475 (837 BAM) and the political stalemate between ethnic communities has paralysed the badly needed government reform process for years. \"Let's say hypothetically that the project is implemented in full. That will be a good thing,\" says Mr Papic. \"But the real question is: who will buy these properties? To me, this is still an abstraction.\""}], "question": "Paradise for investors?", "id": "312_0"}]}]}, {"title": "France summons Italian envoy over Africa remarks", "date": "22 January 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "France has summoned Italy's ambassador after the Italian deputy prime minister accused the French of exploiting Africa and fuelling migration. On Sunday, Luigi di Maio called on the European Union to impose sanctions on France for its policies in Africa. He said France had \"never stopped colonising tens of African states\". Italy's populist leadership has repeatedly clashed with France in recent months, on issues such as migration, protests and culture. As Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte tried to soothe the row on Tuesday, highlighting the two countries' \"solid friendship\", right-wing Interior Minister Matteo Salvini appeared to intensify it, condemning France's Emmanuel Macron as a \"terrible president\". Ever since Italy's Five Star and League parties came to power in June 2018 relations have been tense. Much of the tension has been about migration. The two countries have argued over France sending back migrants across Italy's northern border. When France criticised Italy for not allowing rescue boats carrying migrants in the Mediterranean to dock, Italy responded by accusing France itself of refusing to accept migrants. But the rows have spilled into other areas. Right-wing Interior Minister Matteo Salvini accused France last week of harbouring 14 \"terrorists\" wanted by Italy, after a fugitive ex-militant was extradited from Bolivia. He said they should be sent back to Italy to end up in jail, rather than \"quaffing champagne under the Eiffel Tower\". Coalition colleague Mr Di Maio, leader of the Five Star Movement (M5S) has found common cause with France's \"gilets jaunes\" protesters, urging them not to give up and offering them \"the support you need\". He made his latest comments during a visit to central Italy at the weekend. It came as the UN said about 170 migrants were feared drowned in two separate Mediterranean shipwrecks. \"The EU should impose sanctions on France and all countries like France that impoverish Africa and make these people leave, because Africans should be in Africa, not at the bottom of the Mediterranean,\" he said. \"If people are leaving today it's because European countries, France above all, have never stopped colonising dozens of African countries.\" He said if it wasn't for Africa, France would rank 15th among world economies, not in the top six. The Italian ambassador to France, Teresa Castaldo, was summoned to the foreign ministry in Paris on Monday. French diplomatic sources quoted by Italian news agency Ansa called Mr Di Maio's remarks \"hostile and without cause given the partnership between France and Italy in the European Union\". Mr Di Maio, who is also labour and economy minister, was unrepentant. He accused France of manipulating the economies of African countries that use the CFA franc, a colonial-era currency backed by the French treasury. \"France is one of those countries that by printing money for 14 African states prevents their economic development and contributes to the fact that the refugees leave and then die in the sea or arrive on our coasts,\" he said. \"If Europe wants to be brave, it must have the courage to confront the issue of decolonisation in Africa.\" Mr Salvini agreed, labelling France as \"one of those countries\" that take Africa's wealth away. France says the CFA franc is a guarantee of financial stability but others have attacked it as a colonial relic and opposition to it has grown in recent years. The CFA franc is split into two zones, in eight countries that make up the West African Economic and Monetary Union and a further six in the Central African Economic and Monetary Community. Dating back to December 1945, when it was tied to the French franc, the CFA franc has since 1999 been pegged to the euro. Currently a euro is worth 656 CFA francs. While the French central bank guarantees the currency, the 14 countries that use it have to deposit half their foreign exchange reserves in a French treasury account. Supporters point to the currency's stability and credibility. Critics say many of the 14 countries that use the CFA franc are impoverished and complain that it holds back economic and political development. In 2017, controversial Franco-Beninese activist Kemi Seba was thrown out of Senegal after he burned a 5,000 CFA note. Listen:Is the CFA franc a colonial currency?", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 711, "answer_end": 1676, "text": "Ever since Italy's Five Star and League parties came to power in June 2018 relations have been tense. Much of the tension has been about migration. The two countries have argued over France sending back migrants across Italy's northern border. When France criticised Italy for not allowing rescue boats carrying migrants in the Mediterranean to dock, Italy responded by accusing France itself of refusing to accept migrants. But the rows have spilled into other areas. Right-wing Interior Minister Matteo Salvini accused France last week of harbouring 14 \"terrorists\" wanted by Italy, after a fugitive ex-militant was extradited from Bolivia. He said they should be sent back to Italy to end up in jail, rather than \"quaffing champagne under the Eiffel Tower\". Coalition colleague Mr Di Maio, leader of the Five Star Movement (M5S) has found common cause with France's \"gilets jaunes\" protesters, urging them not to give up and offering them \"the support you need\"."}], "question": "Why are these neighbours arguing?", "id": "313_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1677, "answer_end": 3249, "text": "He made his latest comments during a visit to central Italy at the weekend. It came as the UN said about 170 migrants were feared drowned in two separate Mediterranean shipwrecks. \"The EU should impose sanctions on France and all countries like France that impoverish Africa and make these people leave, because Africans should be in Africa, not at the bottom of the Mediterranean,\" he said. \"If people are leaving today it's because European countries, France above all, have never stopped colonising dozens of African countries.\" He said if it wasn't for Africa, France would rank 15th among world economies, not in the top six. The Italian ambassador to France, Teresa Castaldo, was summoned to the foreign ministry in Paris on Monday. French diplomatic sources quoted by Italian news agency Ansa called Mr Di Maio's remarks \"hostile and without cause given the partnership between France and Italy in the European Union\". Mr Di Maio, who is also labour and economy minister, was unrepentant. He accused France of manipulating the economies of African countries that use the CFA franc, a colonial-era currency backed by the French treasury. \"France is one of those countries that by printing money for 14 African states prevents their economic development and contributes to the fact that the refugees leave and then die in the sea or arrive on our coasts,\" he said. \"If Europe wants to be brave, it must have the courage to confront the issue of decolonisation in Africa.\" Mr Salvini agreed, labelling France as \"one of those countries\" that take Africa's wealth away."}], "question": "What did Di Maio say?", "id": "313_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3250, "answer_end": 4300, "text": "France says the CFA franc is a guarantee of financial stability but others have attacked it as a colonial relic and opposition to it has grown in recent years. The CFA franc is split into two zones, in eight countries that make up the West African Economic and Monetary Union and a further six in the Central African Economic and Monetary Community. Dating back to December 1945, when it was tied to the French franc, the CFA franc has since 1999 been pegged to the euro. Currently a euro is worth 656 CFA francs. While the French central bank guarantees the currency, the 14 countries that use it have to deposit half their foreign exchange reserves in a French treasury account. Supporters point to the currency's stability and credibility. Critics say many of the 14 countries that use the CFA franc are impoverished and complain that it holds back economic and political development. In 2017, controversial Franco-Beninese activist Kemi Seba was thrown out of Senegal after he burned a 5,000 CFA note. Listen:Is the CFA franc a colonial currency?"}], "question": "What is the CFA franc?", "id": "313_2"}]}]}, {"title": "Why the Scottish court ruling on proroguing Parliament is significant", "date": "11 September 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "The ruling by Scotland's highest civil court that it was illegal to shut the UK Parliament is - in the true sense of the word - extraordinary. Normally courts do not intervene in the decisions of the government, using the principle of a \"margin of appreciation,\" which gives ministers more leeway under the law than that of ordinary people or organisations. So the fact that all three judges at the Court of Session have - albeit by different routes - arrived at the decision that they can intervene is highly significant. Stephen Tierney, professor of Constitutional Theory at Edinburgh University, believed the significance of this judgement would be felt not only in the short term but in the longer term also. He explained: \"The normal view of the courts is that it would not be appropriate to rule on the exercise of prerogative power. \"So the long-term significance of this ruling is very important.\" \"The lower court had said the actions of the executive were 'non-justiciable' - meaning they were not to be examined by judges. \"But this decision indicates the courts are more prepared than many people had expected to intervene in government actions.\" The case was brought to the Court of Session by a cross-party group of 75 parliamentarians, who argued the PM had exceeded his powers. Lord Doherty heard both sides of the argument and ruled last week that the issue was for the judgement of politicians and voters, and not the courts. But when the case was taken to three appeal judges, they saw it differently. They concluded that the PM was attempting to prevent Parliament holding the government to account, ahead of Brexit. Jim Cormack, a constitutional law expert at lawyers Pinsent Mason in Edinburgh said: \"The judges have decided this was a clear case in which the government had stepped outside of the normal room for manoeuvre it is allowed by the courts, when it gave its advice to HM the Queen. He added: \"This decision of the Scottish appeal court radically changes the legal landscape ahead of an expected hearing before the United Kingdom Supreme Court next week.\" This case was brought in a Scottish court because at the time the High Court in England was on holiday. But that does not diminish the effect of the ruling, as the case was against the actions of the Westminister government which, within the devolution settlement, affects the whole of the UK. So the ruling in Edinburgh is binding on the UK government - although this is by no means the end of the legal battle since the case will now be appealed to the UK Supreme Court which will make a definitive decision. It is also likely to hear arguments arising from decisions in similar cases brought at the High Court in London under English law and the Northern Ireland High Court. Although proroguing parliament - or suspending it from sitting - is not unheard of, this time it was seen as different. Parliamentary sessions normally last a year, but the current one has been going on for more than two years - ever since the June 2017 election. When Parliament is prorogued, no debates and votes are held - and most laws that haven't completed their passage through Parliament die a death. This is different to \"dissolving\" Parliament - where all MPs give up their seats to campaign in a general election. What will happen next, and whether MPs head back to Westminster, will be fought out in both the political and legal arenas. - 22 July - It emerges that a cross-party group of MPs and peers plans legal action to prevent Parliament being \"closed down\" in the run-up to Brexit - 13 August - The group go to the Court of Session in Edinburgh and Lord Doherty agrees to hear arguments from both sides in September - 28 August - The parliamentarians seek an interim interdict to block Boris Johnson's move to prorogue Parliament - 29 August - Lord Doherty hears four hours of argument from both sides - 30 August - The judge refuses an interim interdict but brings the full hearing forward to 3 September - 3 September - The court hears that Prime Minister Boris Johnson approved the Parliament shutdown two weeks before it was publicly declared - 4 September - Lord Doherty rejects a bid to have the shut down declared illegal. The campaigners say they will appeal - 5 September - Three judges at the Court of Session in Edinburgh begin to hear an appeal on Lord Doherty's ruling - 11 September - The panel, led by Lord Carloway, says Boris Johnson's suspension of the UK Parliament is unlawful", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 2090, "answer_end": 2767, "text": "This case was brought in a Scottish court because at the time the High Court in England was on holiday. But that does not diminish the effect of the ruling, as the case was against the actions of the Westminister government which, within the devolution settlement, affects the whole of the UK. So the ruling in Edinburgh is binding on the UK government - although this is by no means the end of the legal battle since the case will now be appealed to the UK Supreme Court which will make a definitive decision. It is also likely to hear arguments arising from decisions in similar cases brought at the High Court in London under English law and the Northern Ireland High Court."}], "question": "Why did Scotland's judges get involved?", "id": "314_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2768, "answer_end": 3416, "text": "Although proroguing parliament - or suspending it from sitting - is not unheard of, this time it was seen as different. Parliamentary sessions normally last a year, but the current one has been going on for more than two years - ever since the June 2017 election. When Parliament is prorogued, no debates and votes are held - and most laws that haven't completed their passage through Parliament die a death. This is different to \"dissolving\" Parliament - where all MPs give up their seats to campaign in a general election. What will happen next, and whether MPs head back to Westminster, will be fought out in both the political and legal arenas."}], "question": "What does proroguing parliament mean?", "id": "314_1"}]}]}, {"title": "South Korea's presidential scandal", "date": "6 April 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "In 2016, South Korea saw the start of a massive corruption scandal involving its political and business elite that brought down its first female president Park Geun-hye. The scandal, which continues to ripple through South Korean society, generated huge protests. It has centred on Park's relationship with an old friend, Choi Soon-sil, and has brought to the surface allegations of cult activities, influence-peddling and leaks of classified information. In 1974, Park Geun-hye's mother was killed by a North Korean assassin. Park, then aged 22, became a stand-in first lady for her widowed father, then-military leader Park Chung-hee. She got to know Choi Tae-min, a pseudo-Christian cult leader dubbed \"the Korean Rasputin\". He became a close family friend and Park's mentor, while also amassing considerable wealth and power. Park's father was assassinated in 1979. By this point she was firm friends with Mr Choi's daughter, Choi Soon-sil, who later became her adviser when Park became president. Their critics believe Choi perpetuated her father's habits, and some media reports suggested that Ms Park held shamanist rituals at the presidential compound under Choi's influence, which Park denied. In February 2018, Choi was sentenced to 20 years in jail for corruption, influence-peddling and abuse of power. She was earlier found guilty of using her position to solicit favours for her daughter. Choi was found to have had used her presidential connections to pressure conglomerates - including electronics giant Samsung - for millions of dollars in donations to two non-profit foundations she controlled. Park meanwhile has been accused of colluding with Choi, and giving her unauthorised access to state documents. Ms Park was officially ousted in March 2017, following parliament's decision to impeach her in December. She was the country's first democratically-elected president to be forced from office. After losing her presidential immunity, she was charged with bribery, abusing state power and leaking state secrets. Both women denied wrongdoing in their trials. They had earlier apologised, but it was unclear exactly what they were apologising for. Choi said she had committed an \"unpardonable crime\", though her lawyer said this was not a legal admission of guilt. Park admitted she had committed lapses, and apologised to the public for causing \"national concern\". The firm was one of eight that has admitted making payments to the foundation, but denied it did so in return for any favours. In August 2017, Samsung's de facto head, Lee Jae-yong, was jailed for five years for bribery and embezzlement. He was later freed in February after an appeals court reduced and suspended his sentence. Lee was convicted over payments of 43bn won ($36.4m; PS30.3m) made to Choi's foundations, as well as for giving a horse and several million dollars to assist the equestrian career of Choi's daughter. Prosecutors had accused Lee of approving these payments and gifts in order to win government support for a major restructuring of Samsung. The 2015 merger of two Samsung units, which paved the way for Lee to become the eventual head of South Korea's largest conglomerate, sparked controversy at that time. While Lee did not dispute that the payments were made, he maintained during his trial that he was not involved in the decisions and denied that he sought government favours. Lee was also found guilty of hiding assets overseas, concealing criminal proceeds, and perjury. Who is Samsung's Lee Jae-yong? A host of other players have either been implicated, investigated or jailed in connection with the wide-reaching scandal. These include Samsung executives, various figures in the entertainment world, a former minister, presidential aides, university officials and former associates. One of them is Choi's daughter, Chung Yoo-ra, a former national equestrian and recipient of Samsung's gift horse. Choi was convicted for influencing officials at Ms Chung's university to admit her daughter and give her grades for papers or exams she never took. Prosecutors say Ms Chung was involved in or had knowledge of several of her mother's crimes, but she has denied it. She was extradited to South Korea from Denmark in early 2017, but has not been detained. Since it began the whole affair prompted numerous mass protests in South Korea, many of which called for Park to step down. It fuelled discontent against the government, the political elite and family-run conglomerates which dominate South Korea's economy. It also propelled the liberal Moon Jae-in, who campaigned on a platform of a clean government, into power after Park. Though Choi and Lee have been convicted, much of the attention has still been focused on Park. For many South Koreans, the former president who has been at the centre of one of the country's biggest scandals still has a lot to answer for.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 456, "answer_end": 1202, "text": "In 1974, Park Geun-hye's mother was killed by a North Korean assassin. Park, then aged 22, became a stand-in first lady for her widowed father, then-military leader Park Chung-hee. She got to know Choi Tae-min, a pseudo-Christian cult leader dubbed \"the Korean Rasputin\". He became a close family friend and Park's mentor, while also amassing considerable wealth and power. Park's father was assassinated in 1979. By this point she was firm friends with Mr Choi's daughter, Choi Soon-sil, who later became her adviser when Park became president. Their critics believe Choi perpetuated her father's habits, and some media reports suggested that Ms Park held shamanist rituals at the presidential compound under Choi's influence, which Park denied."}], "question": "What is the relationship at the heart of the scandal?", "id": "315_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1203, "answer_end": 2384, "text": "In February 2018, Choi was sentenced to 20 years in jail for corruption, influence-peddling and abuse of power. She was earlier found guilty of using her position to solicit favours for her daughter. Choi was found to have had used her presidential connections to pressure conglomerates - including electronics giant Samsung - for millions of dollars in donations to two non-profit foundations she controlled. Park meanwhile has been accused of colluding with Choi, and giving her unauthorised access to state documents. Ms Park was officially ousted in March 2017, following parliament's decision to impeach her in December. She was the country's first democratically-elected president to be forced from office. After losing her presidential immunity, she was charged with bribery, abusing state power and leaking state secrets. Both women denied wrongdoing in their trials. They had earlier apologised, but it was unclear exactly what they were apologising for. Choi said she had committed an \"unpardonable crime\", though her lawyer said this was not a legal admission of guilt. Park admitted she had committed lapses, and apologised to the public for causing \"national concern\"."}], "question": "Why did the friendship become problematic?", "id": "315_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2385, "answer_end": 3519, "text": "The firm was one of eight that has admitted making payments to the foundation, but denied it did so in return for any favours. In August 2017, Samsung's de facto head, Lee Jae-yong, was jailed for five years for bribery and embezzlement. He was later freed in February after an appeals court reduced and suspended his sentence. Lee was convicted over payments of 43bn won ($36.4m; PS30.3m) made to Choi's foundations, as well as for giving a horse and several million dollars to assist the equestrian career of Choi's daughter. Prosecutors had accused Lee of approving these payments and gifts in order to win government support for a major restructuring of Samsung. The 2015 merger of two Samsung units, which paved the way for Lee to become the eventual head of South Korea's largest conglomerate, sparked controversy at that time. While Lee did not dispute that the payments were made, he maintained during his trial that he was not involved in the decisions and denied that he sought government favours. Lee was also found guilty of hiding assets overseas, concealing criminal proceeds, and perjury. Who is Samsung's Lee Jae-yong?"}], "question": "So how is Samsung involved?", "id": "315_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3520, "answer_end": 4269, "text": "A host of other players have either been implicated, investigated or jailed in connection with the wide-reaching scandal. These include Samsung executives, various figures in the entertainment world, a former minister, presidential aides, university officials and former associates. One of them is Choi's daughter, Chung Yoo-ra, a former national equestrian and recipient of Samsung's gift horse. Choi was convicted for influencing officials at Ms Chung's university to admit her daughter and give her grades for papers or exams she never took. Prosecutors say Ms Chung was involved in or had knowledge of several of her mother's crimes, but she has denied it. She was extradited to South Korea from Denmark in early 2017, but has not been detained."}], "question": "Is anyone else involved?", "id": "315_3"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 4270, "answer_end": 4883, "text": "Since it began the whole affair prompted numerous mass protests in South Korea, many of which called for Park to step down. It fuelled discontent against the government, the political elite and family-run conglomerates which dominate South Korea's economy. It also propelled the liberal Moon Jae-in, who campaigned on a platform of a clean government, into power after Park. Though Choi and Lee have been convicted, much of the attention has still been focused on Park. For many South Koreans, the former president who has been at the centre of one of the country's biggest scandals still has a lot to answer for."}], "question": "How has the scandal affected South Korean society?", "id": "315_4"}]}]}, {"title": "Bank warns of 'more frequent' rate increases than expected", "date": "2 May 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Interest rate increases could be \"more frequent\" than expected if the economy performs as the Bank of England is expecting, governor Mark Carney says. The markets are forecasting just one interest rate increase by 2021. But if there is a resolution to the Brexit impasse, and inflation and growth continue to pick-up, then more increases are likely, Mr Carney said. As expected, the Bank kept interest rates on hold at 0.75% at its latest policy meeting. Interest rates have been at that level since last August, when the Bank raised them by a quarter of a percentage point. The Bank is expecting growth and inflation to pick up over the next two years. In a news conference, Mr Carney said: \"If something broadly like this forecast comes to pass... it will require interest rate increases over that period and it will require more, and more frequent interest rate increases, than the market currently expects.\" The Bank's forecasts are based on a \"smooth adjustment\" to any new trading relationship with the European Union. In its Quarterly Inflation Report, the Bank of England raised its UK growth forecast for this year, in part because the outlook for the global economy is a bit brighter. The Bank now sees growth of 1.5% this year, up from February's forecast of 1.2%. Economic growth has been subdued since the UK voted in June 2016 to leave the EU. In particular, business investment has been falling. The Bank says stockpiling has been giving the economy a short-term boost, but for this year, the strengthening of the global economy will have a more important effect. In the minutes from its latest policy meeting, the Bank said \"global growth had shown signs of stabilisation, and had been a little better than expected\". It also forecasts the unemployment rate will continue falling in the coming years to 3.5% by 2022, which would be the lowest rate since 1973. The Bank is reluctant to move interest rates until there is further clarity, not least about the path of Brexit. For as it highlights (again), the movement in rates then could be \"in either direction\", depending on the outcome, the impact on the economy and whether it decides to support growth or inflation. If all goes smoothly, then the Bank is likely to turn its firepower on inflation and proceed with raising rates \"at a gradual pace and to a limited extent\" - especially if there's a bounce in investment and hiring. At the moment, the MPC reckons \"the cost of waiting for further information is relatively low\". But that, given the degree of inflationary pressure it's forecasting, is quite a gamble. If the Bank has missed the boat, then rates might have to ultimately rise faster and by more than originally envisaged to curb inflation. That would be an unenviable parting gift from Mr Carney to his successor. Read Dharshini's analysis in full. Moves in interest rates are important to the 3.5 million people with variable or tracker mortgages. Even a small quarter-point rise can add hundreds of pounds to their annual mortgage costs. Mortgage market experts say that for those who can afford to buy a home, now is a good time to borrow. \"Right now, you've got lenders that want your business and rates are exceptionally low,\" said David Hollingworth, from L&C Mortgages. Some lenders are offering five-year fixed deals at below 2%, he said. Even borrowers with a small deposit can find competitive rates of interest, he added. The Bank expects a fall in UK house prices this year, with property values predicted to drop by 1.25%. It says some households are likely to have delayed moving house because of Brexit uncertainty. It also says that affordability is also slowing the market, particularly in areas where prices are high, such as London and the South East. Last month, the government launched the recruitment process for a new governor for the Bank of England. Mark Carney will step down on 31 January 2020 after more than six years in the post. Interviews will be held over the summer and the appointment will be made by the government in the autumn. The government is under pressure to consider female candidates, as men hold the Bank's key positions. At the moment, the Monetary Policy Committee, which sets interest rates, only has one female among its nine members. When asked about the lack of diversity at the Bank, Mr Carney said \"big progress\" had been made with women now making up 31% of senior management.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1025, "answer_end": 1875, "text": "In its Quarterly Inflation Report, the Bank of England raised its UK growth forecast for this year, in part because the outlook for the global economy is a bit brighter. The Bank now sees growth of 1.5% this year, up from February's forecast of 1.2%. Economic growth has been subdued since the UK voted in June 2016 to leave the EU. In particular, business investment has been falling. The Bank says stockpiling has been giving the economy a short-term boost, but for this year, the strengthening of the global economy will have a more important effect. In the minutes from its latest policy meeting, the Bank said \"global growth had shown signs of stabilisation, and had been a little better than expected\". It also forecasts the unemployment rate will continue falling in the coming years to 3.5% by 2022, which would be the lowest rate since 1973."}], "question": "What did the Bank say about the economy?", "id": "316_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1876, "answer_end": 2831, "text": "The Bank is reluctant to move interest rates until there is further clarity, not least about the path of Brexit. For as it highlights (again), the movement in rates then could be \"in either direction\", depending on the outcome, the impact on the economy and whether it decides to support growth or inflation. If all goes smoothly, then the Bank is likely to turn its firepower on inflation and proceed with raising rates \"at a gradual pace and to a limited extent\" - especially if there's a bounce in investment and hiring. At the moment, the MPC reckons \"the cost of waiting for further information is relatively low\". But that, given the degree of inflationary pressure it's forecasting, is quite a gamble. If the Bank has missed the boat, then rates might have to ultimately rise faster and by more than originally envisaged to curb inflation. That would be an unenviable parting gift from Mr Carney to his successor. Read Dharshini's analysis in full."}], "question": "Will the Bank raise interest rates soon?", "id": "316_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2832, "answer_end": 3415, "text": "Moves in interest rates are important to the 3.5 million people with variable or tracker mortgages. Even a small quarter-point rise can add hundreds of pounds to their annual mortgage costs. Mortgage market experts say that for those who can afford to buy a home, now is a good time to borrow. \"Right now, you've got lenders that want your business and rates are exceptionally low,\" said David Hollingworth, from L&C Mortgages. Some lenders are offering five-year fixed deals at below 2%, he said. Even borrowers with a small deposit can find competitive rates of interest, he added."}], "question": "What does it mean for mortgages?", "id": "316_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3416, "answer_end": 3753, "text": "The Bank expects a fall in UK house prices this year, with property values predicted to drop by 1.25%. It says some households are likely to have delayed moving house because of Brexit uncertainty. It also says that affordability is also slowing the market, particularly in areas where prices are high, such as London and the South East."}], "question": "What is the outlook for the housing market?", "id": "316_3"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3754, "answer_end": 4414, "text": "Last month, the government launched the recruitment process for a new governor for the Bank of England. Mark Carney will step down on 31 January 2020 after more than six years in the post. Interviews will be held over the summer and the appointment will be made by the government in the autumn. The government is under pressure to consider female candidates, as men hold the Bank's key positions. At the moment, the Monetary Policy Committee, which sets interest rates, only has one female among its nine members. When asked about the lack of diversity at the Bank, Mr Carney said \"big progress\" had been made with women now making up 31% of senior management."}], "question": "When will Mark Carney step down?", "id": "316_4"}]}]}, {"title": "Cardinal George Pell: Prosecutors defend 'unimpeachable' verdict", "date": "6 June 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Australian prosecutors have argued that Cardinal George Pell's conviction for child sexual abuse is \"unimpeachable\", on the final day of his appeal hearing. The ex-Vatican treasurer was found guilty by a jury last year of abusing two boys in 1996 in a Melbourne church. He was later jailed for six years. Pell, 77, is the most senior Catholic figure to be convicted of such crimes. But he maintains his innocence and is seeking to overturn the jury's verdict, arguing it was \"unreasonable\". The two-day hearing at Victoria's Court of Appeal ended on Thursday and the three judges reserved their decision, which will be published at an unspecified date. The former Vatican treasurer was returned to prison to await the outcome. Pell's lawyers detailed several arguments for why the abuse could not have occurred, but prosecutors have rejected those claims. \"When looking at the whole of the evidence, the integrity of the jury's verdicts is unimpeachable,\" they said in submissions to the appeal court. His conviction has rocked the Catholic Church, where he had been among Pope Francis's closest advisers. Last year, the County Court of Victoria heard that Pell had abused two 13-year-old boys following a mass in 1996, when he was archbishop of Melbourne. He abused one of the boys again in 1997, the court was told. A jury unanimously convicted him on one charge of sexually penetrating a child under 16, and four counts of committing an indecent act on a child under 16. The trial heard testimony from one of the victims. The other died of a drug overdose in 2014. Pell chose not to give evidence during the trial. Pell has contested the verdict on three grounds. The first - and most debated - asserts that the jury was \"unreasonable\" in their verdict, because they relied too heavily on the testimony of the surviving victim. Pell's lawyer, Bret Walker SC, said that other witnesses' evidence and an alleged timeline showed that it would be \"literally, logically impossible for the offending to have occurred\". The second aspect of the appeal asserts that the trial judge had wrongly prevented a defence animation from being played at the trial. The video represents the locations of witnesses inside St Patrick's Cathedral. Pell's lawyers argue that he could not have committed abuse because it was impossible for him to be alone. The third challenge contends that Pell was prevented from entering his plea before a jury - against court process. Prosecutors rebutted each of those claims on Thursday. They described the testimony of the surviving victim - who cannot be named - as \"compelling\", adding that he was a \"witness of truth\". The appeal has been heard by three judges in the Court of Appeal - a division of the Supreme Court of Victoria. The judges must also decide whether Pell can be granted leave to appeal at all - in other words, whether he is allowed to do so. A successful appeal could result in a retrial or Pell being immediately released, legal experts say. That decision requires only two of the three judges to agree. Any decision could be challenged further in the High Court of Australia - the nation's top court. The Vatican has previously said that Pell has the right to \"defend himself to the last degree\". Pell's surviving victim  has previously expressed concern that the verdict could be overturned. \"There is no rest for me. Everything is overshadowed by the forthcoming appeal,\" he said in March.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 727, "answer_end": 1105, "text": "Pell's lawyers detailed several arguments for why the abuse could not have occurred, but prosecutors have rejected those claims. \"When looking at the whole of the evidence, the integrity of the jury's verdicts is unimpeachable,\" they said in submissions to the appeal court. His conviction has rocked the Catholic Church, where he had been among Pope Francis's closest advisers."}], "question": "What happened on Thursday?", "id": "317_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1106, "answer_end": 1617, "text": "Last year, the County Court of Victoria heard that Pell had abused two 13-year-old boys following a mass in 1996, when he was archbishop of Melbourne. He abused one of the boys again in 1997, the court was told. A jury unanimously convicted him on one charge of sexually penetrating a child under 16, and four counts of committing an indecent act on a child under 16. The trial heard testimony from one of the victims. The other died of a drug overdose in 2014. Pell chose not to give evidence during the trial."}], "question": "What was Pell convicted of?", "id": "317_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1618, "answer_end": 3434, "text": "Pell has contested the verdict on three grounds. The first - and most debated - asserts that the jury was \"unreasonable\" in their verdict, because they relied too heavily on the testimony of the surviving victim. Pell's lawyer, Bret Walker SC, said that other witnesses' evidence and an alleged timeline showed that it would be \"literally, logically impossible for the offending to have occurred\". The second aspect of the appeal asserts that the trial judge had wrongly prevented a defence animation from being played at the trial. The video represents the locations of witnesses inside St Patrick's Cathedral. Pell's lawyers argue that he could not have committed abuse because it was impossible for him to be alone. The third challenge contends that Pell was prevented from entering his plea before a jury - against court process. Prosecutors rebutted each of those claims on Thursday. They described the testimony of the surviving victim - who cannot be named - as \"compelling\", adding that he was a \"witness of truth\". The appeal has been heard by three judges in the Court of Appeal - a division of the Supreme Court of Victoria. The judges must also decide whether Pell can be granted leave to appeal at all - in other words, whether he is allowed to do so. A successful appeal could result in a retrial or Pell being immediately released, legal experts say. That decision requires only two of the three judges to agree. Any decision could be challenged further in the High Court of Australia - the nation's top court. The Vatican has previously said that Pell has the right to \"defend himself to the last degree\". Pell's surviving victim  has previously expressed concern that the verdict could be overturned. \"There is no rest for me. Everything is overshadowed by the forthcoming appeal,\" he said in March."}], "question": "What is the appeal?", "id": "317_2"}]}]}, {"title": "SNP politicians raise transgender law concerns", "date": "24 April 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Fifteen senior SNP politicians have urged the Scottish government not to \"rush\" into \"changing the definition of male and female\". The government wants to make it easier for trans people to change their legally recognised gender. But in their letter, the politicians raise concerns about the potential implications for women of allowing people to self-identify their sex. It has been signed by three government ministers, and several MSPs and MPs. The letter comes a week after it emerged three female SNP MSPs had accused First Minister Nicola Sturgeon of being \"out of step\" with her colleagues over transgender rights in a private online conversation that was subsequently leaked. They were responding to a speech in which Ms Sturgeon said transgender rights are not \"a threat to me as a woman\". Concerns have been raised by some that allowing people to self-identify their gender could damage the legal protections given to women under the Equality Act - including the right to single-sex spaces such as changing rooms, and women-only shortlists. Transgender people who want to change their legally recognised gender are able to apply under the Gender Recognition Act (GRA). But in order to do so, they must satisfy a panel that they have, or have had, gender dysphoria - distress as a result of the sex and gender they were assigned at birth - and produce two medical reports detailing this diagnosis. They must also have lived in their acquired gender for at least two years, and make a formal declaration that they intend to continue to do so for the rest of their life. The Scottish government believes this process is intrusive and outdated, and wants to move to a \"self-declaration\" model. This would mean applicants no longer need to have been diagnosed with gender dysphoria, or prove that they have been living as their acquired gender for two years. Similar laws are already in place in countries including Ireland, Denmark, Norway and Argentina. The government also wants to lower the age that a person can apply to change their legally-recognised gender from 18 to 16. Its consultation on the proposals closed in March of last year - but it has still not responded to the comments it received. The letter, which has been published in the Scotsman newspaper, says that many people are \"only now developing an understanding of the implications of the self-identification of sex, particularly on women\". It adds: \"Conflating sex with gender identification affects a wide range of policy and service delivery, including data collection, education, health and social care, justice and sport. New information about this topic is emerging all the time and deserves to be properly scrutinised. \"Changing the definition of male and female is a matter of profound significance. It is not something we should rush.\" The letter also stresses that all of those who signed it are \"committed to human rights, equality and dignity for all people\" and calls for an end to \"knee-jerk accusations of transphobia\" against anyone who raises concerns about the proposals. It has been signed by government ministers Kate Forbes, Ash Denham and Ivan McKee, as well as SNP MSPs Joan McAlpine, Ruth Maguire, Christine Grahame and Kenneth Gibson, and MPs Carol Monaghan, Angus Macneil, Patricia Gibson and Joanna Cherry. Four senior SNP councillors - Chris McEleny, Caroline McAllister, Shaun Macaulay and Lynne Anderson - have also added their signatures. In a speech to the United Nations in New York in February, Ms Sturgeon said that \"some of the concerns that are expressed on the part of women and feminists are misplaced\". She added: \"As an ardent, passionate feminist, and have been all of my life, I don't see the greater recognition of transgender rights as a threat to me as a woman or to my feminism. \"But I think there is a need to bring different parts of this debate together and to try to find the way forward that will respect the rights of transgender people and recognizes and hopefully addresses some of the concerns that are expressed.\" An image was leaked on Twitter last week which showed SNP MSP Ruth Maguire responding to Ms Sturgeon's speech by posting \"FFS\" in a private online conversation with colleagues Ash Denham and Gillian Martin. Ms Denham and Ms Martin then appeared to suggest that Ms Sturgeon, the SNP leader, is \"out of step\" with her party over the issue. Responding to the leak, the SNP said it \"supports trans rights and women's rights as part of our commitment to human rights and equality\". The Scottish government says trans men and women are among the most stigmatised groups in society, and it remains committed to changing that. It also insists it does not want to change the definition of male and female, and has pledged to listen to and address the concerns that have been raised. Responding to the letter, the Equality Network tweeted that: \"Trans people don't want to change the definitions of male and female; they simply want to be recognised, and treated with dignity, as the sex they are.\" Colin Macfarlane, the director of Stonewall Scotland, claimed that none of the SNP MSPs who signed the letter had attended an event in the Scottish Parliament on Tuesday evening where trans people described the barriers and discrimination that they face. He added: \"A recurring theme from that event was the anxiety and fear trans folk are experiencing due to the delay in the Scottish government responding to the GRA consultation. It has been over a year since the consultation closed.\" Mr Macfarlane also highlighted the support that the proposed changes have received from women's groups including Scottish Women's Aid, Rape Crisis Scotland and Women 50:50.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 2210, "answer_end": 3445, "text": "The letter, which has been published in the Scotsman newspaper, says that many people are \"only now developing an understanding of the implications of the self-identification of sex, particularly on women\". It adds: \"Conflating sex with gender identification affects a wide range of policy and service delivery, including data collection, education, health and social care, justice and sport. New information about this topic is emerging all the time and deserves to be properly scrutinised. \"Changing the definition of male and female is a matter of profound significance. It is not something we should rush.\" The letter also stresses that all of those who signed it are \"committed to human rights, equality and dignity for all people\" and calls for an end to \"knee-jerk accusations of transphobia\" against anyone who raises concerns about the proposals. It has been signed by government ministers Kate Forbes, Ash Denham and Ivan McKee, as well as SNP MSPs Joan McAlpine, Ruth Maguire, Christine Grahame and Kenneth Gibson, and MPs Carol Monaghan, Angus Macneil, Patricia Gibson and Joanna Cherry. Four senior SNP councillors - Chris McEleny, Caroline McAllister, Shaun Macaulay and Lynne Anderson - have also added their signatures."}], "question": "What do the SNP politicians say in their letter?", "id": "318_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3446, "answer_end": 4820, "text": "In a speech to the United Nations in New York in February, Ms Sturgeon said that \"some of the concerns that are expressed on the part of women and feminists are misplaced\". She added: \"As an ardent, passionate feminist, and have been all of my life, I don't see the greater recognition of transgender rights as a threat to me as a woman or to my feminism. \"But I think there is a need to bring different parts of this debate together and to try to find the way forward that will respect the rights of transgender people and recognizes and hopefully addresses some of the concerns that are expressed.\" An image was leaked on Twitter last week which showed SNP MSP Ruth Maguire responding to Ms Sturgeon's speech by posting \"FFS\" in a private online conversation with colleagues Ash Denham and Gillian Martin. Ms Denham and Ms Martin then appeared to suggest that Ms Sturgeon, the SNP leader, is \"out of step\" with her party over the issue. Responding to the leak, the SNP said it \"supports trans rights and women's rights as part of our commitment to human rights and equality\". The Scottish government says trans men and women are among the most stigmatised groups in society, and it remains committed to changing that. It also insists it does not want to change the definition of male and female, and has pledged to listen to and address the concerns that have been raised."}], "question": "What has Ms Sturgeon said about the issue?", "id": "318_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 4821, "answer_end": 5697, "text": "Responding to the letter, the Equality Network tweeted that: \"Trans people don't want to change the definitions of male and female; they simply want to be recognised, and treated with dignity, as the sex they are.\" Colin Macfarlane, the director of Stonewall Scotland, claimed that none of the SNP MSPs who signed the letter had attended an event in the Scottish Parliament on Tuesday evening where trans people described the barriers and discrimination that they face. He added: \"A recurring theme from that event was the anxiety and fear trans folk are experiencing due to the delay in the Scottish government responding to the GRA consultation. It has been over a year since the consultation closed.\" Mr Macfarlane also highlighted the support that the proposed changes have received from women's groups including Scottish Women's Aid, Rape Crisis Scotland and Women 50:50."}], "question": "What about trans groups?", "id": "318_2"}]}]}, {"title": "Nigeria election 2019: Appeal for calm after shock delay", "date": "16 February 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Nigeria's president and leading opposition candidate have appealed for calm after the shock move to delay elections for a week. President Muhammadu Buhari said he was \"deeply disappointed\" but urged people to refrain from \"civil disorder\". Main rival Atiku Abubakar called for patience but accused the administration of \"anti-democratic acts\". Election officials cited \"logistical\" reasons for the 11th-hour delay in presidential and parliamentary polls. In a press conference on Saturday, the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (Inec), Mahmood Yakubu, said the decision to delay had \"nothing to do with political influence\". The two main groups, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the People's Democratic Party (PDP), both condemned the move and accused each other of trying to manipulate the vote. President Buhari, of the APC party, urged Nigerians to \"refrain from civil disorder and remain peaceful, patriotic and united to ensure that no force or conspiracy derail our democratic development\". His main rival, Atiku Abubakar, called for calm over the next seven days saying: \"I'm appealing to Nigerians to please come out and vote and I'm asking them to be patient about it.\" In a tweet he said the administration was trying to disenfranchise the electorate. The chairman of the PDP, Uche Secondu, said the delay was \"dangerous to our democracy\", accusing Mr Buhari of trying to \"cling on to power even when it's obvious to him that Nigerians want him out\". In many cases they reacted with disappointment, frustration and anger. In the northern town of Daura, Musa Abubakar, who had travelled 550km (342 miles) from Abuja to take part in the election, told the BBC that he \"couldn't believe\" what had happened. Hajiya Sa'adatu said she was \"greatly disappointed\" to learn of the delay when she came out to cast her vote in the northern city of Kano. \"We spent all night without sleeping hoping to vote today,\" Auwolu Usman, a voter in Maiduguri, told Reuters. Oyi Adamezie, in the city of Warri, told Agence France-Presse: \"I see this postponement of the election as a ploy to rig.\" Yusuf Ibrahim, in Abuja, told Associated Press: \"I came all the way from my home to cast my vote this morning... I am not happy, I'm very, very angry.\" Election officials bore the brunt of the anger: The electoral chief, Mr Yakubu, said: \"Our decision was entirely taken by the commission. It has nothing to do with security, nothing to do with political influence.\" He said the delay was down to problems with the transportation of electoral materials - ballot papers and results sheets - to some parts of the country. He had earlier said the decision was made because of a \"determination to conduct free, fair and credible elections\". In the past two weeks several Inec offices have been set alight, with thousands of electronic smart card readers and voter cards destroyed. Nigeria has seen violence in the run-up to the elections and on Saturday 11 people were killed in an attack by Boko Haram militants south of Maiduguri. By Fergal Keane, BBC Africa editor, Abuja Suspicions of skulduggery, rampant rumour-mongering - and a pre-disposition to suspect the worst based on past experience - are hallmarks of Nigeria's election season. It is not surprising that some voters expressed their fears that a fix was being organised. The election commission chairman has denied this, citing bad weather and the challenge of getting the necessary resources to the right areas. But as recently as last Wednesday he was assuring Nigerians that the commission was ready for the elections. Recriminations began soon after the announcement. The opposition claimed there was a government plan to create a low turnout that would harm its candidate. But there have been no calls for street protests from the opposition, which is prepared to wait for the polls next Saturday. Importantly, the two main contenders have appealed to their supporters to remain calm. The presidential and parliamentary votes have been rescheduled for Saturday 23 February. Governorship, state assembly and federal area council elections have been rescheduled until Saturday 9 March. The contest between the two main presidential contenders is expected to be tight. Presidential elections in 2011 and 2015 were also delayed. The future of Africa's most populous nation and largest economy is at stake. Whoever wins will have to address power shortages, corruption, security problems and a sluggish economy. There are 73 registered candidates in the presidential election, but campaigning has been dominated by President Buhari, 76, and Atiku Abubakar, 72. Mr Buhari says he has built a strong foundation for prosperity, but his rival says Nigeria is not functioning. Both men are from the mainly Muslim north of the country. While both are in their 70s, more than half of Nigeria's 84 million registered voters are under 35.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 649, "answer_end": 1498, "text": "The two main groups, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the People's Democratic Party (PDP), both condemned the move and accused each other of trying to manipulate the vote. President Buhari, of the APC party, urged Nigerians to \"refrain from civil disorder and remain peaceful, patriotic and united to ensure that no force or conspiracy derail our democratic development\". His main rival, Atiku Abubakar, called for calm over the next seven days saying: \"I'm appealing to Nigerians to please come out and vote and I'm asking them to be patient about it.\" In a tweet he said the administration was trying to disenfranchise the electorate. The chairman of the PDP, Uche Secondu, said the delay was \"dangerous to our democracy\", accusing Mr Buhari of trying to \"cling on to power even when it's obvious to him that Nigerians want him out\"."}], "question": "How have the political parties reacted?", "id": "319_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1499, "answer_end": 2323, "text": "In many cases they reacted with disappointment, frustration and anger. In the northern town of Daura, Musa Abubakar, who had travelled 550km (342 miles) from Abuja to take part in the election, told the BBC that he \"couldn't believe\" what had happened. Hajiya Sa'adatu said she was \"greatly disappointed\" to learn of the delay when she came out to cast her vote in the northern city of Kano. \"We spent all night without sleeping hoping to vote today,\" Auwolu Usman, a voter in Maiduguri, told Reuters. Oyi Adamezie, in the city of Warri, told Agence France-Presse: \"I see this postponement of the election as a ploy to rig.\" Yusuf Ibrahim, in Abuja, told Associated Press: \"I came all the way from my home to cast my vote this morning... I am not happy, I'm very, very angry.\" Election officials bore the brunt of the anger:"}], "question": "And the voters?", "id": "319_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2324, "answer_end": 3052, "text": "The electoral chief, Mr Yakubu, said: \"Our decision was entirely taken by the commission. It has nothing to do with security, nothing to do with political influence.\" He said the delay was down to problems with the transportation of electoral materials - ballot papers and results sheets - to some parts of the country. He had earlier said the decision was made because of a \"determination to conduct free, fair and credible elections\". In the past two weeks several Inec offices have been set alight, with thousands of electronic smart card readers and voter cards destroyed. Nigeria has seen violence in the run-up to the elections and on Saturday 11 people were killed in an attack by Boko Haram militants south of Maiduguri."}], "question": "So why was voting postponed?", "id": "319_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3974, "answer_end": 4313, "text": "The presidential and parliamentary votes have been rescheduled for Saturday 23 February. Governorship, state assembly and federal area council elections have been rescheduled until Saturday 9 March. The contest between the two main presidential contenders is expected to be tight. Presidential elections in 2011 and 2015 were also delayed."}], "question": "What happens next?", "id": "319_3"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 4314, "answer_end": 4913, "text": "The future of Africa's most populous nation and largest economy is at stake. Whoever wins will have to address power shortages, corruption, security problems and a sluggish economy. There are 73 registered candidates in the presidential election, but campaigning has been dominated by President Buhari, 76, and Atiku Abubakar, 72. Mr Buhari says he has built a strong foundation for prosperity, but his rival says Nigeria is not functioning. Both men are from the mainly Muslim north of the country. While both are in their 70s, more than half of Nigeria's 84 million registered voters are under 35."}], "question": "How important is this poll?", "id": "319_4"}]}]}, {"title": "Florida school shooting: Trump links FBI's missteps to Russia investigation", "date": "18 February 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "President Donald Trump has rebuked the FBI for missing signals before Wednesday's school shooting in Florida. The agency was \"spending too much time trying to prove Russian collusion with the Trump campaign\", Mr Trump tweeted. \"There is no collusion. Get back to the basics and make us all proud.\" The FBI has admitted it failed to act on a tip-off about suspected shooter Nikolas Cruz, who has confessed to the shooting at a high school in Parkland in which 17 people died. It was the deadliest US school shooting since 2012 and has re-ignited long-running debates about tougher firearm restrictions. Earlier, students who survived the shooting rallied in Florida, demanding tighter legislation on gun control and criticising the president for receiving financial support from the National Rifle Association (NRA) during his presidential campaign. In his tweet, he wrote: \"Very sad that the FBI missed all of the many signals sent out by the Florida school shooter. This is not acceptable.\" He appeared to link the agency's failures in the specific case to the time it has spent investigating possible collusion between Russia and the Trump team during the 2016 presidential campaign. He has repeatedly denied any links with Moscow. Earlier this week, 13 Russians were charged with interfering in the US election, in a major development in an FBI investigation now led by Special Counsel Robert Mueller. Three Russian companies were also named in the indictment. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Saturday dismissed the charges as \"blather\", saying he would not comment further until he saw \"facts\". It said it did not properly follow up on a tip-off about Mr Cruz last month when a person close to the suspect contacted the agency to provide \"information about Cruz's gun ownership, desire to kill people, erratic behaviour, and disturbing social media posts, as well as the potential of him conducting a school shooting\". The 5 January tip was not the only information the FBI received. In September, a Mississippi man reported to the law enforcement agency a disturbing comment left on a YouTube video under Mr Cruz's name. Mr Cruz, 19, was also reportedly investigated by local police and the Department of Children and Family Services in 2016 after posting evidence of self-harm on the Snapchat app, according to US media reports. Child services said he had planned to buy a gun, but authorities determined he was already receiving adequate support, the reports say. Students and their parents - as well as politicians - took part in the event in Fort Lauderdale, close to Parkland. Thousands of people attended, according to the Associated Press. Arguably the most memorable moment came when high school student Emma Gonzalez took to the podium and attacked the US president and other politicians for accepting political donations from the NRA, a powerful gun rights lobby group. \"If the president wants to come up to me and tell me to my face that it was a terrible tragedy and... how nothing is going to be done about it, I'm going to happily ask him how much money he received from the National Rifle Association,\" said Ms Gonzalez. \"It doesn't matter because I already know. Thirty million dollars,\" the 18-year-old said. \"To every politician who is taking donations from the NRA - shame on you!\" said Ms Gonzalez, who took cover on the floor of her secondary school's auditorium during the attack. Responding to her passionate speech, the crowds started chanting \"Shame on you!\" According to the Center for Responsive Politics, the NRA spent $11.4m (PS8.1m) supporting Mr Trump in the 2016 campaign, and $19.7m opposing Hillary Clinton. Ryan Deitsch, who was among those hiding in a school toilet during the attack, urged lawmakers to pass more restrictive measures on gun ownership. \"The least lawmakers can do is vote on something. What's the worst that can happen?\" the 18-year-old said. In another development, a prominent Republican donor is threatening to withhold funding from candidates who fail to endorse legislation against assault weapons. Al Hoffman Jr, a Florida real estate developer, announced the move in an email to several Republican leaders, including the state's governor, Rick Scott, according to the New York Times. In a tweet late on Saturday, the Republican president accused the Democrats of not acting on gun legislation \"when they had both the House & Senate during the Obama Administration. \"Because they didn't want to, and now they just talk!\" he wrote, referring to criticism from Democrats following Wednesday's shooting. The president's views on gun control have shifted over time. In recent years, he has pledged to fiercely defend the Second Amendment to the US Constitution, which protects people's right to keep and bear arms. Last year, he told an NRA convention he would \"never, ever infringe\" on that right. \"The eight-year assault on your Second Amendment freedoms has come to a crashing end,\" he said.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 849, "answer_end": 1608, "text": "In his tweet, he wrote: \"Very sad that the FBI missed all of the many signals sent out by the Florida school shooter. This is not acceptable.\" He appeared to link the agency's failures in the specific case to the time it has spent investigating possible collusion between Russia and the Trump team during the 2016 presidential campaign. He has repeatedly denied any links with Moscow. Earlier this week, 13 Russians were charged with interfering in the US election, in a major development in an FBI investigation now led by Special Counsel Robert Mueller. Three Russian companies were also named in the indictment. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Saturday dismissed the charges as \"blather\", saying he would not comment further until he saw \"facts\"."}], "question": "What was President Trump referring to?", "id": "320_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1609, "answer_end": 2480, "text": "It said it did not properly follow up on a tip-off about Mr Cruz last month when a person close to the suspect contacted the agency to provide \"information about Cruz's gun ownership, desire to kill people, erratic behaviour, and disturbing social media posts, as well as the potential of him conducting a school shooting\". The 5 January tip was not the only information the FBI received. In September, a Mississippi man reported to the law enforcement agency a disturbing comment left on a YouTube video under Mr Cruz's name. Mr Cruz, 19, was also reportedly investigated by local police and the Department of Children and Family Services in 2016 after posting evidence of self-harm on the Snapchat app, according to US media reports. Child services said he had planned to buy a gun, but authorities determined he was already receiving adequate support, the reports say."}], "question": "What mistakes did the FBI admit to?", "id": "320_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2481, "answer_end": 4258, "text": "Students and their parents - as well as politicians - took part in the event in Fort Lauderdale, close to Parkland. Thousands of people attended, according to the Associated Press. Arguably the most memorable moment came when high school student Emma Gonzalez took to the podium and attacked the US president and other politicians for accepting political donations from the NRA, a powerful gun rights lobby group. \"If the president wants to come up to me and tell me to my face that it was a terrible tragedy and... how nothing is going to be done about it, I'm going to happily ask him how much money he received from the National Rifle Association,\" said Ms Gonzalez. \"It doesn't matter because I already know. Thirty million dollars,\" the 18-year-old said. \"To every politician who is taking donations from the NRA - shame on you!\" said Ms Gonzalez, who took cover on the floor of her secondary school's auditorium during the attack. Responding to her passionate speech, the crowds started chanting \"Shame on you!\" According to the Center for Responsive Politics, the NRA spent $11.4m (PS8.1m) supporting Mr Trump in the 2016 campaign, and $19.7m opposing Hillary Clinton. Ryan Deitsch, who was among those hiding in a school toilet during the attack, urged lawmakers to pass more restrictive measures on gun ownership. \"The least lawmakers can do is vote on something. What's the worst that can happen?\" the 18-year-old said. In another development, a prominent Republican donor is threatening to withhold funding from candidates who fail to endorse legislation against assault weapons. Al Hoffman Jr, a Florida real estate developer, announced the move in an email to several Republican leaders, including the state's governor, Rick Scott, according to the New York Times."}], "question": "What happened at Saturday's rally in Florida?", "id": "320_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 4259, "answer_end": 4964, "text": "In a tweet late on Saturday, the Republican president accused the Democrats of not acting on gun legislation \"when they had both the House & Senate during the Obama Administration. \"Because they didn't want to, and now they just talk!\" he wrote, referring to criticism from Democrats following Wednesday's shooting. The president's views on gun control have shifted over time. In recent years, he has pledged to fiercely defend the Second Amendment to the US Constitution, which protects people's right to keep and bear arms. Last year, he told an NRA convention he would \"never, ever infringe\" on that right. \"The eight-year assault on your Second Amendment freedoms has come to a crashing end,\" he said."}], "question": "What is Mr Trump's stance on gun control?", "id": "320_3"}]}]}, {"title": "Brexit: Government studies handed to MPs amid secrecy row", "date": "28 November 2017", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Parliament is being treated with contempt over the partial release of Brexit documents, Labour has claimed. MPs will see for the first time later studies of how the UK's exit will affect 58 sectors of the economy, but certain sections will not be released. Ministers say they are being as \"open as possible\" but some sensitive details which risk \"undermining the UK's negotiating hand\" will be kept private. Labour said the will of Parliament was being ignored and transparency ditched. The 850-pages of documents - which MPs demanded be published in a vote earlier this month - has been handed to the Commons and Lords Brexit committees, whose members will begin to study it in private later. Brexit minister Robin Walker said he hoped the \"accessible and informative\" material would be made available to all MPs in due course - in a reading room - but defended the removal of commercially sensitive details which he suggested could damage the UK's negotiating strategy. But Labour MP Hilary Benn, who chairs the Brexit committee, said it was \"their job\" to decide what was published and he objected to the suggestion it could not be trusted to respect confidentiality. In other Brexit news, a Downing Street source said there was no settlement on the UK's so-called divorce bill, as newspaper reports - citing a range of figures - claimed it had been agreed. There has been huge speculation about what is in the Brexit papers, which reportedly run to 800 pages. Until now only senior ministers and civil servants knew what was in the papers, which were kept in a safe overnight in several lever arch folders. The Commons and Lords Brexit committee will starting reading them in private later, while they have also been shared with the Scottish and Welsh governments and Northern Irish officials. But there are bits which they won't be able to see because they have either been handed over with bits blacked out, or not been handed over by ministers. The BBC's economics editor Kamal Ahmed says he has been told that the reports are not - as has been claimed by some - in-depth \"impact assessments\". He says they will not put a figure on the costs to different industries if there is no comprehensive free trade agreement between the UK and EU after the UK leaves in March 2019. The government says the reports will show the size of each of the sectors, their worth to the UK economy and how they are regulated at the moment within the EU single market and customs union. In a letter to the Commons committee, Brexit Secretary David Davis said certain details were being kept private because there was no guarantee all of the 21 MPs on the committee would keep them secret. One Conservative member of the committee, Craig McKinlay, has backed this stance, suggesting some of his fellow committee members may \"use this information against the national interest\". The cross-party committee, he told the BBC, was \"deeply divided\" between those \"refighting the referendum\" and those who want to \"move on\" and he trusted the government to decide what information to share. \"If we get this wrong, it could cost the country billions,\" he told BBC Radio 4's Today. Earlier this month, MPs voted for the documents to be released, although Conservative MPs abstained. Ministers claim the analysis \"does not exist in the form Parliament requested\" and claim they have satisfied the terms of the parliamentary motion, but Labour disagrees and says the MPs' decision was clearly \"binding\". \"It is simply not open to the secretary of state to choose to ignore it and to pass to the select committee the documents that he chooses,\" Shadow Brexit Secretary Sir Keir Starmer said. \"Whether he's in contempt of parliament is a matter we'll come to at some later date - but he's certainly treating parliament with contempt.\" Many Tory MPs, including prominent Brexiteers, also criticised the government's actions, Philip Hollobone telling MPs it was \"skating on very thin parliamentary ice\". Speaking in Parliament, the SNP's Pete Wishart said the \"government must be held accountable for its failure to comply\" but Commons Speaker John Bercow said any MPs alleging contempt of Parliament must write to him officially, assuring them he would respond promptly. It is up to the Speaker to rule on whether Parliamentary rules have been flouted and to decide whether to refer it to the Committee on Standards and Privileges for investigation. The amount of money the UK will pay as part of Brexit has been one of the main sticking points in the first round of negotiations with the EU. Brussels has consistently called for the UK to put more cash on the table and last week Theresa May won ministers' backing to increase the offer. According to the Daily Telegraph and the Financial Times, agreement has been reached between the two sets of negotiators on how the bill could be calculated. Here's what BBC political editor Laura Kuenssberg makes of it:", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1361, "answer_end": 2472, "text": "There has been huge speculation about what is in the Brexit papers, which reportedly run to 800 pages. Until now only senior ministers and civil servants knew what was in the papers, which were kept in a safe overnight in several lever arch folders. The Commons and Lords Brexit committee will starting reading them in private later, while they have also been shared with the Scottish and Welsh governments and Northern Irish officials. But there are bits which they won't be able to see because they have either been handed over with bits blacked out, or not been handed over by ministers. The BBC's economics editor Kamal Ahmed says he has been told that the reports are not - as has been claimed by some - in-depth \"impact assessments\". He says they will not put a figure on the costs to different industries if there is no comprehensive free trade agreement between the UK and EU after the UK leaves in March 2019. The government says the reports will show the size of each of the sectors, their worth to the UK economy and how they are regulated at the moment within the EU single market and customs union."}], "question": "What is in the documents?", "id": "321_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2473, "answer_end": 3157, "text": "In a letter to the Commons committee, Brexit Secretary David Davis said certain details were being kept private because there was no guarantee all of the 21 MPs on the committee would keep them secret. One Conservative member of the committee, Craig McKinlay, has backed this stance, suggesting some of his fellow committee members may \"use this information against the national interest\". The cross-party committee, he told the BBC, was \"deeply divided\" between those \"refighting the referendum\" and those who want to \"move on\" and he trusted the government to decide what information to share. \"If we get this wrong, it could cost the country billions,\" he told BBC Radio 4's Today."}], "question": "Why are they incomplete?", "id": "321_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3158, "answer_end": 4420, "text": "Earlier this month, MPs voted for the documents to be released, although Conservative MPs abstained. Ministers claim the analysis \"does not exist in the form Parliament requested\" and claim they have satisfied the terms of the parliamentary motion, but Labour disagrees and says the MPs' decision was clearly \"binding\". \"It is simply not open to the secretary of state to choose to ignore it and to pass to the select committee the documents that he chooses,\" Shadow Brexit Secretary Sir Keir Starmer said. \"Whether he's in contempt of parliament is a matter we'll come to at some later date - but he's certainly treating parliament with contempt.\" Many Tory MPs, including prominent Brexiteers, also criticised the government's actions, Philip Hollobone telling MPs it was \"skating on very thin parliamentary ice\". Speaking in Parliament, the SNP's Pete Wishart said the \"government must be held accountable for its failure to comply\" but Commons Speaker John Bercow said any MPs alleging contempt of Parliament must write to him officially, assuring them he would respond promptly. It is up to the Speaker to rule on whether Parliamentary rules have been flouted and to decide whether to refer it to the Committee on Standards and Privileges for investigation."}], "question": "What's all this talk of contempt of Parliament?", "id": "321_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 4421, "answer_end": 4930, "text": "The amount of money the UK will pay as part of Brexit has been one of the main sticking points in the first round of negotiations with the EU. Brussels has consistently called for the UK to put more cash on the table and last week Theresa May won ministers' backing to increase the offer. According to the Daily Telegraph and the Financial Times, agreement has been reached between the two sets of negotiators on how the bill could be calculated. Here's what BBC political editor Laura Kuenssberg makes of it:"}], "question": "So what about the UK's divorce bill?", "id": "321_3"}]}]}, {"title": "Oxfam Haiti sex claims: Charity 'failed in moral leadership'", "date": "11 February 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Ministers could cut off funding for Oxfam if it cannot account for the way it handled claims of sexual misconduct by aid workers, the international development secretary has warned. Penny Mordaunt will meet the charity on Monday to hear more about claims staff used prostitutes in Haiti in 2011. She said Oxfam had failed in its \"moral leadership\" over the \"scandal\". Meanwhile, Oxfam has announced new measures for the prevention and handling of sexual abuse cases. Ms Mordaunt told the BBC's Andrew Marr she had written to other organisations funded by Department for International Development (DfID) urging them to report any safeguarding issues, past or present, and pledged they would all be followed up. Oxfam has faced growing criticism for the way it handled the allegations of misconduct by its staff in Haiti, where they were working in the aftermath of the huge earthquake that devastated they country in 2010. The charity's own investigation into the allegations led to four people being sacked and three others resigning - among them its country director, Roland van Hauwermeiren. Ms Mordaunt said the allegations were \"a complete betrayal of both the people Oxfam were there to help and also the people that sent them there to do that job\". She said Oxfam did \"absolutely the wrong thing\" by not reporting the detail of the allegations and that no organisation could be a government partner if it did not \"have the moral leadership to do the right thing\". She said she was considering whether Oxfam should receive any more funding from the government - which gave it PS32m ($44m) in the last financial year. Oxfam's chairman of trustees, Caroline Thomson, said the reports in the Times newspaper had led to other staff coming forward with concerns about how employees were recruited and vetted. She said the charity's board had appointed a consultant earlier this year to review its culture and working practices, which would now be extended. \"If that review brings about a safer environment for all, then the publicity of the last few days, painful as it has been, will also have been valuable,\" she said. \"It is not sufficient to be appalled by the behaviour of our former staff - we must and will learn from it and use it as a spur to improvement.\" The charity will also introduce tougher vetting of staff and mandatory safeguarding training for new recruits and work with the rest of the aid sector to make it easier to share intelligence about people who have been found guilty of sexual misconduct. This will be in addition to measures designed to prevent sexual abuse and misconduct and improve the handling of allegations which Oxfam says it introduced in the wake of the Haiti case in 2011. Meanwhile, Oxfam is facing further allegations, reported in the Observer, that staff on its mission in Chad - also led by Mr van Hauwermeiren - used prostitutes in 2006. Oxfam said it could not corroborate the latest claims. The Sunday Times has also reported new allegations, saying more than 120 workers from UK charities were accused of sexual abuse in the past year. Ms Mordaunt's predecessor Priti Patel said she was aware of a wider issue of sexual abuse and child exploitation from when she was at DfID. She told Radio 5 live's Pienaar's Politics there was \"a culture of denial in the aid sector about the exploitation and sexual abuse that has taken place historically for decades\" and called for a database for \"predatory paedophiles\" who she claimed could be infiltrating the organisations. Ms Mordaunt said she suspected there were paedophiles targeting the sector to carry out predatory activities, making it important that aid organisations reported offences. The allegations of misconduct by Oxfam staff in Haiti date from 2011 but came to light in a report in the Times on Friday, which said the charity's country director for Haiti, Roland Van Hauwermeiren, was alleged to have used prostitutes at a villa rented for him by Oxfam in the aftermath of the 2010 earthquake. Oxfam knew about the allegations at the time and launched an internal investigation, as a result of which four members of staff were dismissed. Three others, including Mr Van Hauwermeiren, were allowed to resign before the end of the investigation. Mr Van Hauwermeiren went on to work elsewhere in the sector, but Oxfam said it would not have provided a positive reference. The charity says it made a report public at the time which said \"serious misconduct\" had taken place in Haiti and issued a press release - but did not give details of the allegations. It told the Charity Commission it was investigating inappropriate sexual behaviour, bullying, harassment and staff intimidation but did again not reveal the exact details. The regulator took no further action at the time, but has since said it would have acted differently had it known all the facts. Oxfam has denied any cover-up. Its chief executive, Mark Goldring, told the BBC that describing details of the behaviour at the time could have drawn \"extreme attention\" to it, which he said would have been in no-one's best interest.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 3687, "answer_end": 5093, "text": "The allegations of misconduct by Oxfam staff in Haiti date from 2011 but came to light in a report in the Times on Friday, which said the charity's country director for Haiti, Roland Van Hauwermeiren, was alleged to have used prostitutes at a villa rented for him by Oxfam in the aftermath of the 2010 earthquake. Oxfam knew about the allegations at the time and launched an internal investigation, as a result of which four members of staff were dismissed. Three others, including Mr Van Hauwermeiren, were allowed to resign before the end of the investigation. Mr Van Hauwermeiren went on to work elsewhere in the sector, but Oxfam said it would not have provided a positive reference. The charity says it made a report public at the time which said \"serious misconduct\" had taken place in Haiti and issued a press release - but did not give details of the allegations. It told the Charity Commission it was investigating inappropriate sexual behaviour, bullying, harassment and staff intimidation but did again not reveal the exact details. The regulator took no further action at the time, but has since said it would have acted differently had it known all the facts. Oxfam has denied any cover-up. Its chief executive, Mark Goldring, told the BBC that describing details of the behaviour at the time could have drawn \"extreme attention\" to it, which he said would have been in no-one's best interest."}], "question": "What happened when?", "id": "322_0"}]}]}, {"title": "What has Venezuela's constituent assembly achieved?", "date": "30 August 2017", "paragraphs": [{"context": "A month ago, elections for a constituent assembly were held in Venezuela. The assembly was controversial from the start, with opposition activists denouncing it as unconstitutional while its supporters argued it would bring peace to the polarised South American nation. BBC News takes a closer look at what it has and has not achieved so far. The decree [in Spanish] convening the constituent assembly listed a number of objectives, including: - Achieving peace through a national dialogue - \"Perfecting\" Venezuela's economic model to fully meet the needs of the people - Safeguard and expand social programmes introduced by late President Hugo Chavez - Expand the justice system to eradicate impunity The announcement by President Nicolas Maduro that he would convene a constituent assembly to draw up a new constitution came as a surprise. Mr Maduro had always praised the 1999 constitution, which was drafted and passed when his mentor, President Hugo Chavez, was in office. One of the main criticisms was that President Maduro did not consult the Venezuelan people in a referendum before convening the assembly. Many opposition activists also alleged that Mr Maduro was only interested in creating the constituent assembly because it would give him more power and allow him to by-pass the opposition-controlled National Assembly. But their main objection is that they see it as a way for President Maduro to maximise his power and cling on to it for longer. The opposition did not field any candidates and called on its supporters to boycott the election. The government said more than eight million people cast their votes, but the company that provided the voting system later alleged that number had been inflated by at least one million. Among those elected on 30 July are key government figures such as former foreign minister Delcy Rodriguez, former vice-president Aristobulo Isturiz, former prison minister Iris Varela and President Chavez's brother, Adan, as well as  President Maduro's wife and his son. The fact that all the proposals have so far been passed unanimously suggests that its 545 members are staunch government supporters. - Extended the time it will meet from six months to a maximum of two years - Sacked chief prosecutor Luisa Ortega and replaced her with government loyalist Tarek William Saab - Created a \"truth commission\" to investigate \"acts of violence\" carried out at recent anti-government protests - Brought forward elections for governors scheduled for December to October - Expressed its support for President Maduro and the armed forces following US sanctions - Gave itself the power to legislate on issues including the \"preservation of peace, security, sovereignty, the socio-economic and financial system\" - Voted to put opposition leaders on trial for treason Opposition lawmakers say their fears that the constituent assembly would bypass the legislative body, the National Assembly, have been vindicated. Not only is the constituent assembly meeting in the same room as the National Assembly, it has also stated that its powers outweigh those of any other body or individual, including those of President Maduro. The National Assembly has refused to subordinate itself to the constituent assembly, meaning that there are now two bodies passing legislation. International reaction has been largely critical, with French President Emmanuel Macron accusing Mr Maduro of creating a \"dictatorship\". The EU foreign policy chief, the US, Pope Francis, Spain, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Mexico, Panama and Peru have denounced the constituent assembly as unconstitutional and said they will not recognise it. Among the countries backing the constituent assembly are Venezuela's Latin American left-wing allies Bolivia, Nicaragua and Cuba, and further afield, China and Russia. President Maduro convened the constituent assembly amid daily anti-government protests with the stated aim of fostering dialogue with the opposition. However, with the assembly being made up only of government supporters that aim has not materialised. The government does point to the fact that street protests have become much less frequent since the constituent assembly was elected, which they say is down to the pacifying influence the assembly is wielding. The opposition, on the other hand, says that repression of people critical of the government has increased in that time. They point to the constituent assembly's latest decision to put opposition leaders who backed US sanctions on trial for treason as evidence. If anything, the rhetoric on both sides has become more heated and the name-calling more frequent. One month in, the constituent assembly has fired senior officials, confirmed others in their posts, asserted its power over any other body in Venezuela, and backed the president. It has not yet rewritten any articles in the existing constitution or drafted any new ones, the purpose for which it was originally created. The constituent assembly can continue meeting for another 23 months, having allowed itself two years to fulfil its remit. In its first month it has passed decrees which have proven very worrying to the opposition. Despite international condemnation, the body is passing decrees at record speed. With the opposition divided about how to proceed, the constituent assembly look set to continue meeting and further taking over the power of the opposition-controlled National Assembly.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 702, "answer_end": 1461, "text": "The announcement by President Nicolas Maduro that he would convene a constituent assembly to draw up a new constitution came as a surprise. Mr Maduro had always praised the 1999 constitution, which was drafted and passed when his mentor, President Hugo Chavez, was in office. One of the main criticisms was that President Maduro did not consult the Venezuelan people in a referendum before convening the assembly. Many opposition activists also alleged that Mr Maduro was only interested in creating the constituent assembly because it would give him more power and allow him to by-pass the opposition-controlled National Assembly. But their main objection is that they see it as a way for President Maduro to maximise his power and cling on to it for longer."}], "question": "Why was there so much opposition to it?", "id": "323_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1462, "answer_end": 2149, "text": "The opposition did not field any candidates and called on its supporters to boycott the election. The government said more than eight million people cast their votes, but the company that provided the voting system later alleged that number had been inflated by at least one million. Among those elected on 30 July are key government figures such as former foreign minister Delcy Rodriguez, former vice-president Aristobulo Isturiz, former prison minister Iris Varela and President Chavez's brother, Adan, as well as  President Maduro's wife and his son. The fact that all the proposals have so far been passed unanimously suggests that its 545 members are staunch government supporters."}], "question": "Who makes up the constituent assembly?", "id": "323_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2806, "answer_end": 3836, "text": "Opposition lawmakers say their fears that the constituent assembly would bypass the legislative body, the National Assembly, have been vindicated. Not only is the constituent assembly meeting in the same room as the National Assembly, it has also stated that its powers outweigh those of any other body or individual, including those of President Maduro. The National Assembly has refused to subordinate itself to the constituent assembly, meaning that there are now two bodies passing legislation. International reaction has been largely critical, with French President Emmanuel Macron accusing Mr Maduro of creating a \"dictatorship\". The EU foreign policy chief, the US, Pope Francis, Spain, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Mexico, Panama and Peru have denounced the constituent assembly as unconstitutional and said they will not recognise it. Among the countries backing the constituent assembly are Venezuela's Latin American left-wing allies Bolivia, Nicaragua and Cuba, and further afield, China and Russia."}], "question": "What has the reaction been?", "id": "323_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3837, "answer_end": 4659, "text": "President Maduro convened the constituent assembly amid daily anti-government protests with the stated aim of fostering dialogue with the opposition. However, with the assembly being made up only of government supporters that aim has not materialised. The government does point to the fact that street protests have become much less frequent since the constituent assembly was elected, which they say is down to the pacifying influence the assembly is wielding. The opposition, on the other hand, says that repression of people critical of the government has increased in that time. They point to the constituent assembly's latest decision to put opposition leaders who backed US sanctions on trial for treason as evidence. If anything, the rhetoric on both sides has become more heated and the name-calling more frequent."}], "question": "Has the constituent assembly achieved peace?", "id": "323_3"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 4660, "answer_end": 4979, "text": "One month in, the constituent assembly has fired senior officials, confirmed others in their posts, asserted its power over any other body in Venezuela, and backed the president. It has not yet rewritten any articles in the existing constitution or drafted any new ones, the purpose for which it was originally created."}], "question": "Has it made headway drafting a new constitution?", "id": "323_4"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 4980, "answer_end": 5460, "text": "The constituent assembly can continue meeting for another 23 months, having allowed itself two years to fulfil its remit. In its first month it has passed decrees which have proven very worrying to the opposition. Despite international condemnation, the body is passing decrees at record speed. With the opposition divided about how to proceed, the constituent assembly look set to continue meeting and further taking over the power of the opposition-controlled National Assembly."}], "question": "What next?", "id": "323_5"}]}]}, {"title": "Canada to buy Kinder Morgan pipeline project assets", "date": "29 May 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Canada will purchase Kinder Morgan's Trans Mountain pipeline and related infrastructure in a C$4.5bn ($3.4bn; PS2.6bn) federal investment. Finance Minister Bill Morneau said the government would acquire the troubled pipeline expansion project on Tuesday. The Trans Mountain extension would connect Alberta to British Columbia and triple Kinder Morgan's capacity. The project faces fierce opposition from the government of British Columbia (BC) and environmentalists. The federal government seeks to buy Texas-based Kinder Morgan's Trans Mountain pipeline for C$4.5bn in order to develop the controversial Trans Mountain expansion, which would connect oil reserves in Alberta, the home base of Canada's oil industry, to BC. The government would also be financially responsible for developing the project, which could cost billions above and beyond the pipeline's purchase price. Mr Morneau said the deal with Kinder Morgan is likely to be closed by August 2018. \"This is an investment in Canada's future,\" he said. The federal finance minister said the government does not plan to be the long-term owner of the pipeline and expects the project to be transferred to private sector investors \"at an appropriate time\". The pipeline has faced a number of legal and regulatory challenges from the BC government that has delayed construction of the project, which was approved by the federal government in 2016. In April, Kinder Morgan suspended non-essential spending on the project. The company said it would decide on the pipeline project's fate on 31 May. The company's announcement ramped up the fight over the contentious project, which has pit the federal government and the landlocked province of Alberta against BC. The two western provinces have been sparring over the pipeline, a situation that Mr Morneau said cannot be allowed to \"fester\". Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has maintained that Kinder Morgan's Trans Mountain pipeline expansion is in the national economic interest. Alberta's premier Rachel Notley, who has faced political pressure within her own province on the pipeline's delays, said the deal is \"a major step forward\". Canada's Chamber of Commerce, which represents Canadian businesses, said they support moving forward with the pipeline expansion project. \"While these are exceptional circumstances, we are pleased that the Trans Mountain Expansion project will proceed, beginning this construction season,\" spokesperson Alita Fabiano said in a statement. The project has been opposed by BC's provincial government, led by John Horgan. It is deeply unpopular with the province's environmentalists and many indigenous groups, and Mr Horgan has been fighting to delay its construction over regulatory concerns. He said the government's announcement does not assuage these concerns, but that he would rather deal with the federal government than a private corporation. \"The good news though is that I now know the owner and have his phone number and I can call him with my concerns,\" he told CBC on Tuesday. Opponents of the Kinder Morgan project are concerned over the environmental impact of extracting more fossil fuels from Alberta's oil sands and the possibility of an oil tanker spill in Canada's Pacific waters. Many expressed outrage at the government's decision to buy the pipeline. Social activist and author Naomi Klein called the government's plans a \"desperate scam\". Green Party of Canada leader Elizabeth May, who is an MP in BC, tweeted that Kinder Morgan was \"laughing all the way to the bank\" and accused the government of subsidising fossil fuels. On Monday, she pleaded guilty to criminal contempt in relation to her March arrest during a pipeline protest. A judge ordered her to pay a C$1500 fine. Opposition to the government's proposal comes also from fiscal conservatives, who question the logic behind what they describe as a government bailout. \"This move sets a terrible precedent and signals to other prospective investors that large projects such as pipelines cannot be built by private industry in Canada,\" said Aaron Wudrick, federal director of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation. \"Worst of all, the cost and risk of a $7bn project that was going to be willingly financed entirely by a private company will now be unnecessarily transferred onto the backs of Canadian taxpayers.\" Last month, about 200 protesters opposing the expansion were arrested for breaking a court injunction barring them from entering within five metres (16ft) of two Kinder Morgan terminals in Burnaby, BC.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 467, "answer_end": 1214, "text": "The federal government seeks to buy Texas-based Kinder Morgan's Trans Mountain pipeline for C$4.5bn in order to develop the controversial Trans Mountain expansion, which would connect oil reserves in Alberta, the home base of Canada's oil industry, to BC. The government would also be financially responsible for developing the project, which could cost billions above and beyond the pipeline's purchase price. Mr Morneau said the deal with Kinder Morgan is likely to be closed by August 2018. \"This is an investment in Canada's future,\" he said. The federal finance minister said the government does not plan to be the long-term owner of the pipeline and expects the project to be transferred to private sector investors \"at an appropriate time\"."}], "question": "What is the proposal?", "id": "324_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1215, "answer_end": 1845, "text": "The pipeline has faced a number of legal and regulatory challenges from the BC government that has delayed construction of the project, which was approved by the federal government in 2016. In April, Kinder Morgan suspended non-essential spending on the project. The company said it would decide on the pipeline project's fate on 31 May. The company's announcement ramped up the fight over the contentious project, which has pit the federal government and the landlocked province of Alberta against BC. The two western provinces have been sparring over the pipeline, a situation that Mr Morneau said cannot be allowed to \"fester\"."}], "question": "Why now?", "id": "324_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1846, "answer_end": 2478, "text": "Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has maintained that Kinder Morgan's Trans Mountain pipeline expansion is in the national economic interest. Alberta's premier Rachel Notley, who has faced political pressure within her own province on the pipeline's delays, said the deal is \"a major step forward\". Canada's Chamber of Commerce, which represents Canadian businesses, said they support moving forward with the pipeline expansion project. \"While these are exceptional circumstances, we are pleased that the Trans Mountain Expansion project will proceed, beginning this construction season,\" spokesperson Alita Fabiano said in a statement."}], "question": "Who supports the deal?", "id": "324_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2479, "answer_end": 4531, "text": "The project has been opposed by BC's provincial government, led by John Horgan. It is deeply unpopular with the province's environmentalists and many indigenous groups, and Mr Horgan has been fighting to delay its construction over regulatory concerns. He said the government's announcement does not assuage these concerns, but that he would rather deal with the federal government than a private corporation. \"The good news though is that I now know the owner and have his phone number and I can call him with my concerns,\" he told CBC on Tuesday. Opponents of the Kinder Morgan project are concerned over the environmental impact of extracting more fossil fuels from Alberta's oil sands and the possibility of an oil tanker spill in Canada's Pacific waters. Many expressed outrage at the government's decision to buy the pipeline. Social activist and author Naomi Klein called the government's plans a \"desperate scam\". Green Party of Canada leader Elizabeth May, who is an MP in BC, tweeted that Kinder Morgan was \"laughing all the way to the bank\" and accused the government of subsidising fossil fuels. On Monday, she pleaded guilty to criminal contempt in relation to her March arrest during a pipeline protest. A judge ordered her to pay a C$1500 fine. Opposition to the government's proposal comes also from fiscal conservatives, who question the logic behind what they describe as a government bailout. \"This move sets a terrible precedent and signals to other prospective investors that large projects such as pipelines cannot be built by private industry in Canada,\" said Aaron Wudrick, federal director of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation. \"Worst of all, the cost and risk of a $7bn project that was going to be willingly financed entirely by a private company will now be unnecessarily transferred onto the backs of Canadian taxpayers.\" Last month, about 200 protesters opposing the expansion were arrested for breaking a court injunction barring them from entering within five metres (16ft) of two Kinder Morgan terminals in Burnaby, BC."}], "question": "Who is opposed?", "id": "324_3"}]}]}, {"title": "Why Barclays came under SFO fire", "date": "20 June 2017", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Former top executives at Barclays will be the first senior managers to face criminal charges over their activities during the financial crisis nearly a decade ago. A five-year Serious Fraud Office (SFO) inquiry will see charges brought against both Barclays PLC, the holding company of Barclays Bank (an important distinction as I'll try and explain later)  as well as four executives, including former chief executive John Varley, and Roger Jenkins, who was head of investment banking and wealth management for Barclays in the Middle East. The charges relate to an injection of cash that Barclays received from Middle East investors in 2008. Taxpayer bailouts of freewheeling high-paying banks stoked public anger and contributed to the loss of trust in business that can be seen in every line of both main parties' manifestos going into the recent election. Which begs a question. Why, over the past decade, has the SFO been at its most dogged in the pursuit of a bank that DIDN'T require a taxpayer bailout? In fact, it was Barclays' very efforts to SPARE the taxpayer that gave rise to this investigation. In October 2008, around the time that Lloyds and RBS were being propped up with taxpayer money, Barclays raised PS7.3bn from investors in the Middle East, including Qatar Holdings - a state owned investment fund. There are two features of this deal that prompted investigation. First was a payment to Qatar Holding - which was initially not disclosed - for \"advisory\" services. Barclays later admitted that PS332m was paid to this company over five years. The charge is essentially that this advisory agreement sweetened the deal for Barclays' new benefactors for non-existent advice. Second was a loan of PS2bn extended by Barclays to the Qataris at around the time of the investment. An adviser to a separate investor has claimed in court that Barclays was lending to Qatar Holding to fund its investment in Barclays shares. The allegation essentially was that the bank was lending to itself: a very big no-no with banking regulators and today the SFO charged that this amounted to unlawful financial assistance. Roger Jenkins has said he will vigorously defend himself against the charges. Barclays has said it is considering its position and is waiting for further details of the charges. The BBC understands that Barclays PLC (the holding company for the operating company Barclays Bank) is considering pleading guilty to the charges. Not because they accept they acted wrongly, but if pleading guilty means that it can continue its operations unimpaired, while accepting a fine in the low hundreds of millions of pounds, then it might enable it to move on from an episode that has provided another unwelcome distraction to an entirely new management team. That decision is thought to depend on whether the SFO brings similar charges against the operating company (Barclays Bank PLC rather than Barclays PLC). So far it has not, but Barclays acknowledged this morning that this remains a possibility. Companies often go to extraordinary lengths to avoid criminal proceedings as they can lead to them being barred from bidding from contracts in certain countries - including the US. Jet engine maker Rolls Royce agreed to pay PS671m to settle corruption cases spanning nearly 30 years. A criminal conviction could have barred it from winning civil and military aviation contracts in the US. In that case, the judge took the interests of thousands of employees into account while also pointing to the high level of co-operation it received from Rolls Royce and the installation of a new leadership team. By charging the holding company rather than the bank, it would appear the SFO has considered the damage a conviction against the UK's last full service retail and investment bank would cause. Barclays might feel slightly hard done by, if a similar option was not offered to them. In Barclays' defence, insiders point to the fact that unlike decades of internal corruption at Rolls Royce, these were transactions done at a time of unprecedented stress in the financial markets and in an effort to avoid a partial nationalisation. The old guard are similarly all gone and as for co-operation, Barclays said it was advised that certain documents it withheld from the SFO enjoyed legal privilege and questioned whether it was fair to penalise a company for exercising its rights. The boss of the SFO, David Green, saw it differently, saying Barclays had led it a \"merry dance\". The net practical result, however, may be much the same. Although the Barclays holding company gets a rap sheet, the operating company doesn't - so can continue to do business in the US. Meanwhile the SFO tries to claims a big corporate scalp and may pocket enough money to offset its investigation expenses and then some. Finally - and for many, the most important and most overdue element of this episode - is that the individuals at the top will face a court of law. It's worth remembering that taxpayers didn't bail out Barclays and small shareholders didn't suffer the massive losses that those of RBS and Lloyds did. One former Barclays insider said that if there was a crime then it was \"victimless\" and you could argue that Barclays - and its executives - did taxpayers and its own shareholders a massive favour. A decade after the financial crisis, while the mounties at the SFO may one day finally get their man - some will wonder if it was the right one.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 3897, "answer_end": 5456, "text": "In Barclays' defence, insiders point to the fact that unlike decades of internal corruption at Rolls Royce, these were transactions done at a time of unprecedented stress in the financial markets and in an effort to avoid a partial nationalisation. The old guard are similarly all gone and as for co-operation, Barclays said it was advised that certain documents it withheld from the SFO enjoyed legal privilege and questioned whether it was fair to penalise a company for exercising its rights. The boss of the SFO, David Green, saw it differently, saying Barclays had led it a \"merry dance\". The net practical result, however, may be much the same. Although the Barclays holding company gets a rap sheet, the operating company doesn't - so can continue to do business in the US. Meanwhile the SFO tries to claims a big corporate scalp and may pocket enough money to offset its investigation expenses and then some. Finally - and for many, the most important and most overdue element of this episode - is that the individuals at the top will face a court of law. It's worth remembering that taxpayers didn't bail out Barclays and small shareholders didn't suffer the massive losses that those of RBS and Lloyds did. One former Barclays insider said that if there was a crime then it was \"victimless\" and you could argue that Barclays - and its executives - did taxpayers and its own shareholders a massive favour. A decade after the financial crisis, while the mounties at the SFO may one day finally get their man - some will wonder if it was the right one."}], "question": "'Victimless' crime?", "id": "325_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Highest September temperature since 1911 as 34.4C recorded", "date": "13 September 2016", "paragraphs": [{"context": "The UK's hottest day of the year so far - and the warmest September day since 1911 - has been recorded in Gravesend, Kent, where it reached 34.4C (93.9F). The spell of warm Autumn weather is forecast to continue across parts of England until Friday. Public Health England (PHE) and NHS England have both warned that the weather can pose a risk to health. Elsewhere, there has been heavy rain and thunderstorms in parts of northern England and on the south coast. A yellow warning for rain is in place for northern England, as well as for southern Scotland. As much as 30mm (one inch) of thundery, torrential rain could cause flash flooding and travel disruption, the Met Office said. Prestbury in Cheshire had 32.4mm of rain in an hour, the Met Office said, while Manchester City's Champions League clash with Borussia Monchengladbach has been postponed - with pictures showing huge amounts of water on the pitch. Storms strike transport and football What heatwave? Torrential downpours for many The highest temperature of 2016 had previously been 34.1C, which was reached on 23 August at Faversham in Kent. The all-time record for September of 35.6C (96.1F) was set in 1906, in Bawtry, South Yorkshire. NHS England has declared a level-two heat alert, which means there is a high chance that an average temperature of 30C (86F) by day and 15C (59F) overnight will occur over the next two to three days. These temperatures can have a \"significant effect\" on a person's health if they last for at least two days and the night in between, it said. Dr Thomas Waite, from the extreme events team at PHE, said: \"Think today about what you can do, and for those around you, to stay cool during the daytime and particularly at night. \"Much of the advice on beating the heat is common sense and for most people there's nothing to really worry about. \"But for some people, such as older people, those with underlying health conditions and those with young children, summer heat can bring real health risks.\" How do you get to sleep in hot weather? How hot is it where you are v rest of the world? Heatwave myths and how to stay cool Meanwhile, meteorologist Mark Wilson said there had been \"a lot of rain in a very short space of time\" in north-west England, along with \"a lot\" of thunder and lightning. \"There are some torrential downpours passing through parts of the country at the moment but they will ease,\" he said. The forecaster said the band of rain and thunderstorms looked set to push eastwards into Yorkshire and up to Scotland over the course of the night. Manchester Airport tweeted that some inbound flights had been affected because of the storm, but later added that it was \"fully operational again\". Jacob Cope, BBC Weather Centre Meteorologist Hurricane Hermine, which hit Florida in early September, pushed large kinks into the jet stream - large atmospheric waves which lock our weather patterns in place. For Spain and Portugal, that meant temperatures rising to 10C above average last week. A large area of high pressure centred over northern Europe has brought southerly winds, which have drawn this warm air northwards, reaching our shores today. And we have mainly clear skies across much of England, so we're topping it up ourselves. We saw 31C in September in 1973, and in 1961, in Gatwick, the temperature recorded was 31.6C. It's very doubtful that we will break the all-time record though, as a 1906 heat wave brought September temperatures of 35.6C (96.08F). The earlier high temperatures meant that Britain was hotter than forecasts for Madrid and Los Angeles. Dr Waite added: \"The hot weather won't make life difficult for all of us; indeed, many of us will make the most of it when the sun shines. \"But some people may not be able to adapt to the extra strain hot weather will put on their bodies and may feel the ill-effects. \"Each year we hear stories of people who have fallen seriously ill because, even though it's hotter, they may wear clothes which are too warm for hot weather, they may not drink enough or just try to do too much.\" Dr Waite advised people to close curtains on windows that face the sun during the day, and to open windows once the sun is no longer on them to get a breeze. He added that people should think about turning off electrical devices, as they can generate unwanted heat.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 2709, "answer_end": 3481, "text": "Jacob Cope, BBC Weather Centre Meteorologist Hurricane Hermine, which hit Florida in early September, pushed large kinks into the jet stream - large atmospheric waves which lock our weather patterns in place. For Spain and Portugal, that meant temperatures rising to 10C above average last week. A large area of high pressure centred over northern Europe has brought southerly winds, which have drawn this warm air northwards, reaching our shores today. And we have mainly clear skies across much of England, so we're topping it up ourselves. We saw 31C in September in 1973, and in 1961, in Gatwick, the temperature recorded was 31.6C. It's very doubtful that we will break the all-time record though, as a 1906 heat wave brought September temperatures of 35.6C (96.08F)."}], "question": "Why is it so hot?", "id": "326_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Lawyer's murder hints at secrets of Australia mafia", "date": "24 March 2016", "paragraphs": [{"context": "The killing of criminal lawyer Joseph \"Pino\" Acquaro in Melbourne sheds light on the hidden machinations of the 'Ndrangheta, says Australian crime writer Adam Shand. Liborio Benvenuto, who died in 1988, was the last of the old-time Australian godfathers. He understood his power but also its limits. His protege Joseph \"Pino\" Acquaro, who was murdered in a Melbourne street last week, was not so wise. Benvenuto became the leader of The Honoured Society, a Melbourne-based Calabrian mafia group, after a bloody internal battle in the early 1960s dubbed the Market Wars. He presided over a quarter century of relative peace until he died of natural causes in 1988. It was Benvenuto who encouraged Acquaro, the son of a prominent accountant in the Calabrian community, to become a lawyer. Violence was bad for business, so a bright young advocate would be an asset, not only to the Calabrian community, but also to the crime gangs that sheltered within it. Acquaro was for many years a go-to lawyer for Melbourne's gangland figures and became deeply involved in mafia politics. But a falling out with one of his most high-profile clients alienated him from some in the Calabrian community. He consorted with journalists and police, which deepened suspicions surrounding him. Acquaro, 54, knew that people wanted to kill him. But perhaps he thought his knowledge and associations would protect him. There is a paradox at the heart of Melbourne's Calabrian mafia, the so-called 'Ndrangheta. It's a secret society that relies upon building a public reputation for ruthlessness. \"The Honoured Society was never quite as big and influential in Australia as people thought,\" former Victorian policeman Brian \"The Skull\" Murphy says. \"Benvenuto had to cast a big shadow to maintain the status quo. This occasionally had to be backed up by action, lest the aura of power diminish. To get the young Italians to show loyalty to him required a fear of the unknown.\" Murphy remembers Benvenuto as a gracious, courtly figure.  \"He would greet police with the utmost deference, with a nod and a slight bow. He always liked to keep everybody onside,\" Murphy remembers. The Honoured Society, or 'Ndrangheta, got its start in rural Queensland, running rackets in the fruit and vegetable industry. By the early 1960s the group had spread to Melbourne. The death of a 'Ndrangheta godfather in 1962 created a power vacuum that sparked a bloody battle for control of Victoria Market, known as the Market Wars. Liborio Benvenuto, a stallholder at the market, emerged as the group's new leader. He would remain in charge until his death in 1988. Authorities in the 1960s were worried enough about the group's activities to bring in FBI and Italian organised crime experts. They predicted that Australian mafiosi would diversify and create monopolies in a wide range of businesses, both legitimate and otherwise. The 'Ndrangheta did just that, largely staying beneath the radar as they expanded in the 1970s. But from the 1980s onwards they have often been the subject of police attention. Calabrians will kill each other over money but a personal insult, especially an infidelity, is usually the trigger.  Some matters can be only settled in blood and in public. The murder of Acquaro last week outside his ice-cream bar in Melbourne's East Brunswick was about restoring the status quo, putting the fear back into the mafia community. He is the latest in a line of rebellious fringe players to meet that fate, says Murphy. Acquaro's first big brief was to represent Calabrians called as witnesses in the investigation into the 1992 murder of fruiterer Alfonso Muratore, who had been married to Liborio Benvenuto's daughter. On his deathbed, Benvenuto had anointed Muratore as his successor. This was no small matter. Yet Muratore declined the offer and added further insult by leaving his wife for an outsider named Karen Mansfield. The loss of face this caused for the Benvenuto family ensured Muratore's death warrant. Acquaro's demise, if the talk is right, follows the same theme with a different script. He is said to have fallen out with a former Calabrian client Francesco \"Frank\" Madafferi, with whom him he had a physical altercation. He made the mistake of winning the fight. Madafferi is serving a 10-year jail sentence for drug trafficking. Later, Acquaro isolated himself from most of his mob clients and contacts, even leaving his Italian wife for a much younger woman. \"That lost him a lot of support. As a Calabrian you can be unfaithful but you don't leave your wife,\" says a former Acquaro associate. To make matters worse, he was seen in the company of police officers and journalists. Later, when The Age newspaper published stories about the Madafferi family's alleged mafia connections, patriarch Antonio \"Tony\" Madafferi sued the newspaper trying to unmask Acquaro as the source. It was revealed in that defamation case that police had last June warned Tony Madafferi that if Acquaro was harmed they would know where to start looking. They had heard there was a A$200,000 ($150,000, PS107,000) contract on Acquaro's head. Mr Madafferi, the owner of a national pizza restaurant chain, has denied any involvement. His lawyer Gina Schoff said the murder of Acquaro was an \"incredible coincidence\". Police reportedly still fear for the safety of another Calabrian crime figure, convicted drug importer Pasquale Barbaro, who is in maximum security at Victoria's Barwon Jail. There is intelligence that his business partners in Italy want him dead over a massive ecstasy shipment that was seized in 2007. This followed revelations that six snipers were sent from overseas to murder Barbaro and an associate at their homes in Griffith in NSW before they were arrested over the 2007 shipment. It was suspected the pair had double-crossed their partners over the shipment, which had in fact been intercepted by police. History suggests there is little chance that police will catch Acquaro's killer.  In more than a century of mafia slayings in Australia, only a couple of perpetrators have been brought to justice. Melbourne hitman James Bazley was convicted of killing anti-drugs campaigner Donald Mackay in 1977, but never gave up those who ordered the hit. Otherwise, most investigations into mafia hits have been fruitless due to the strict observance of omerta, the code of silence. Adam Shand is an award-winning writer and journalist who has published several books about Melbourne's underworld.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 2152, "answer_end": 3063, "text": "The Honoured Society, or 'Ndrangheta, got its start in rural Queensland, running rackets in the fruit and vegetable industry. By the early 1960s the group had spread to Melbourne. The death of a 'Ndrangheta godfather in 1962 created a power vacuum that sparked a bloody battle for control of Victoria Market, known as the Market Wars. Liborio Benvenuto, a stallholder at the market, emerged as the group's new leader. He would remain in charge until his death in 1988. Authorities in the 1960s were worried enough about the group's activities to bring in FBI and Italian organised crime experts. They predicted that Australian mafiosi would diversify and create monopolies in a wide range of businesses, both legitimate and otherwise. The 'Ndrangheta did just that, largely staying beneath the radar as they expanded in the 1970s. But from the 1980s onwards they have often been the subject of police attention."}], "question": "Who are the 'Ndrangheta?", "id": "327_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Why US top court is so much more political than UK's", "date": "6 October 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "The confirmation of Brett Kavanaugh changes the composition of the US Supreme Court and has revived discussions about how political the selection is. The debate is unlike any the UK has when justices at the Supreme Court are replaced, as a different appointment system means their political views are rarely publicly known and, according to experts, do not have any influence in the process. In the US, the nine-member Supreme Court is the third branch of the federal government and its decisions have a profound impact on American society. It is often the final word on highly contentious laws, disputes between state and federal governments, and final appeals to stay executions. Under Article 2 of the constitution, the president has the power to make a nomination. \"There's no clear view as to why the president was granted this power,\" said Bruce Ackerman, Sterling Professor of Law at Yale University. The Senate has the task to approve a candidate, in usually tense hearings, a method that enforces the concept of checks and balances between the powers envisioned by the Founding Fathers. Candidates do not have to meet any qualifications and serve lifetime terms - a contentious topic for many. That is why replacing a justice is one of the most consequential decisions of a president. So, unsurprisingly, every nomination is a highly politicised affair. Divisions at the top court are not new, as presidents tend to nominate people with the same ideological positions, but scholars say there was little evidence of partisan division until recently. Dissent in the past was infrequent and, when it happened, did not tend to break along party lines, Prof Neal Devins and Prof Lawrence Baum wrote in How Party Polarization Turned the Supreme Court into a Partisan Court. Take the Dred Scott v Sandford case, in which the court declared in 1857 that slaves were not US citizens and could not sue in federal courts. The two diverging votes in one of the most important decisions of that time came from judges who had been appointed by both the Whig and Democratic parties. The lack of partisan divide remained over the following decades but signs of divisions started to emerge. Byron White was the last conservative-leaning nomination by a Democrat - President John F Kennedy in 1962 - while David Souter was the last liberal-leaning justice appointed by a Republican president - George H W Bush in 1990. Things changed in 2010, with the retirement of John Paul Stevens, a liberal justice appointed by Republican President Gerald Ford in 1975. Since then, all of the nominations by Democrats have been liberal while all those appointed by Republicans are conservative, the first time in the court's history that ideological positions coincide with party lines, Prof Devins and Prof Baum wrote. \"Today's partisan split, while unprecedented, is likely enduring.\" The partial exception, they said, was Justice Anthony Kennedy, a Republican appointee who sided with liberal justices on key issues like abortion, death penalty and gay rights, and has now retired. Now that Brett Kavanaugh, who by all accounts is a reliable conservative, has been confirmed as Mr Kennedy's replacement, he is expected to push the court to the right, restoring a conservative majority of 5-4. And being relatively young, 53 years old, he is likely to be there for many years. That is one of the reasons why his nomination has an even bigger significance. Analysts say Mr Kavanaugh's nomination hearings, which included a row over documents related to his years in the George W Bush administration that were shielded from Senate Democrats and the public as well as allegations of sexual misconduct that he denied, have been the most contentious in recent history, and highlighted how partisan divisions can dominate the process. Writing in the Stanford Law Review Online in 2012, Eric Hamilton said: \"Politicisation of the Supreme Court causes the American public to lose faith in the Court\". In the UK, the 12-member Supreme Court was created in 2009, replacing the Law Lords in Parliament, bringing the UK into line with many comparable modern states. It acts as a final court of appeal in cases of major public importance. The justices are nominated by an independent commission, chaired by the president of the court, a senior judge from anywhere in the UK to be named by the president and members of the appointment commissions from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. A number of senior judges must be consulted by the commission before any decision is taken. Candidates must have been a senior judge for at least two years or a qualified lawyer for at least 15. When someone is chosen, the name is sent to the justice secretary, who can accept or reject it. If accepted, the nomination is then sent to the prime minister, who recommends it to the Queen, who makes the appointment. These rules, experts say, mean that political positions of nominees are often unknown or irrelevant in the process. \"[Changes were not] very controversial at all. There was no discussion of it in the press when the names were announced and when we looked at the people who were there it was all understandable,\" said Alison Young, Prof of Public Law at the University of Cambridge. \"We have a completely independent process... It's almost seen like an internal promotion system rather than a politicised process,\" she added, saying that citizens can officially complain over alleged political bias. Another difference is that the UK has no codified, written constitution, so the court does not have the ability to strike down a law as unconstitutional, unlike in the US, where the court has also been involved in key political decisions. In 1997, in a case involving then President Bill Clinton, the US Supreme Court ruled that sitting US presidents could be prosecuted. In 1974, it ordered President Richard Nixon to deliver tape recordings related to the Watergate scandal. There is no limit to UK justices' terms but they must retire when they are 75 years old. Similar age restrictions are in place in other Western European countries too. In Germany, for example, the top judges serve 12-year terms with no re-election allowed and must retire at the age of 68. In Switzerland, they serve six-year terms and can be re-elected an unlimited number of times - but they must resign at the age of 68. (Both countries have different selection processes.) Lifetime appointments in the US were originally designed to isolate them from political pressure. But given the current climate, critics argue that, in fact, the opposite is happening and some have defended the introduction of fixed terms. \"It doesn't make sense at all,\" said Prof Ackerman, from Yale, about lifetime terms. And so, members nominated at a relatively young age - Justice Clarence Thomas, another controversial nomination, was 43 when he was appointed in 1991 - can serve for several decades. Opponents to terms, meanwhile, say they could actually make the politicisation even worse, as presidents would be more inclined to make partisan nominations as justices would have temporary terms.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 5959, "answer_end": 7140, "text": "There is no limit to UK justices' terms but they must retire when they are 75 years old. Similar age restrictions are in place in other Western European countries too. In Germany, for example, the top judges serve 12-year terms with no re-election allowed and must retire at the age of 68. In Switzerland, they serve six-year terms and can be re-elected an unlimited number of times - but they must resign at the age of 68. (Both countries have different selection processes.) Lifetime appointments in the US were originally designed to isolate them from political pressure. But given the current climate, critics argue that, in fact, the opposite is happening and some have defended the introduction of fixed terms. \"It doesn't make sense at all,\" said Prof Ackerman, from Yale, about lifetime terms. And so, members nominated at a relatively young age - Justice Clarence Thomas, another controversial nomination, was 43 when he was appointed in 1991 - can serve for several decades. Opponents to terms, meanwhile, say they could actually make the politicisation even worse, as presidents would be more inclined to make partisan nominations as justices would have temporary terms."}], "question": "For life or not for life?", "id": "328_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Venezuela protests: Maduro rejects calls for fresh elections", "date": "30 January 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro has dismissed calls for new presidential elections amid fresh protests against his leadership. In a show of defiance, he insisted his victory in polls last spring had been legitimate. Opposition leader Juan Guaido declared himself interim president last week, prompting an escalating power struggle. In an interview with a Russian news agency, Mr Maduro said he was prepared to hold talks with the opposition. \"I am ready to sit down at the negotiating table with the opposition so that we could talk for the good of Venezuela,\" he told Russian news agency RIA in Caracas. Mr Maduro said that if the US and others wanted a fresh vote, they would have to wait until 2025, but added that he would support early parliamentary elections as \"a good form of political discussion\". He added that he was not prepared to accept ultimatums or blackmail, and insisted that he has the backing of Venezuela's military, and accused deserters of conspiring to plot a coup. \"Military deserters have become mercenaries of the Colombian oligarchy and conspire from Colombia to divide the armed forces,\" he said, without providing further details. His comments came as new protests called by Mr Guaido began. The opposition leader, who is head of Venezuela's National Assembly, says the constitution allows him to assume power temporarily when the president is deemed illegitimate. Analysis by Barbara Plett Usher, BBC News, Washington While Nicolas Maduro and his allies moved to curb Juan Guaido inside Venezuela, Mr Guaido's man in Washington, Carlos Vecchio, was working to make the most of US support. He was pushing at an open door, with meetings on Capitol Hill, at the White House and the Treasury. This was about consolidating diplomatic legitimacy for Mr Guaido's government, but also about money: Mr Vecchio told us he was working to gain control of Venezuelan assets recently frozen by the administration. Mr Vecchio assured us his Washington appointment would be \"the shortest of his life\" because he wanted to get back to Caracas. But in the meantime he hoped his access to the Venezuelan embassy building could be resolved \"in the days to come\". In a briefing, the state department's Venezuela envoy, Elliot Abrams, downplayed his dark history of supporting US-backed Latin American dictators during the Reagan administration in the 1980s, saying \"this was 2019\" and that the US was supporting Venezuela's democratic opposition. The US and more than 20 other nations have backed Mr Guaido. The White House said on Wednesday that he and President Trump had agreed to maintain regular communication to \"support Venezuela's path back to stability\". Venezuela's Supreme Court has banned Mr Guaido from leaving the country, however, and frozen his bank accounts. Mr Maduro has the backing of Russia, China, Mexico and Turkey. Russian officials have denied reports that mercenaries from the country have been sent to protect his life. US officials have previously stated that all options \"are on the table\" to resolve the crisis in Venezuela, which observers have taken to include possible military action. Curbs were imposed on the country's state-owned oil firm PDVSA on Monday, which US National Security Adviser John Bolton said was to ensure that President Maduro could \"no longer loot the assets of the Venezuelan people\". Mr Bolton also appeared at a news briefing with a notepad showing the words \"5,000 troops to Colombia\" - which borders Venezuela. Venezuela is facing acute economic problems and there has been an upsurge in violence in recent weeks. Protests have been held across the country since Mr Maduro began his second term on 10 January. He was elected last year during a controversial vote in which many opposition candidates were barred from running, or jailed. At least 40 people are believed to have died and hundreds have been arrested since 21 January, the UN says. Hyperinflation and shortages of essentials such as food and medicine have forced millions to flee the nation.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 2462, "answer_end": 3485, "text": "The US and more than 20 other nations have backed Mr Guaido. The White House said on Wednesday that he and President Trump had agreed to maintain regular communication to \"support Venezuela's path back to stability\". Venezuela's Supreme Court has banned Mr Guaido from leaving the country, however, and frozen his bank accounts. Mr Maduro has the backing of Russia, China, Mexico and Turkey. Russian officials have denied reports that mercenaries from the country have been sent to protect his life. US officials have previously stated that all options \"are on the table\" to resolve the crisis in Venezuela, which observers have taken to include possible military action. Curbs were imposed on the country's state-owned oil firm PDVSA on Monday, which US National Security Adviser John Bolton said was to ensure that President Maduro could \"no longer loot the assets of the Venezuelan people\". Mr Bolton also appeared at a news briefing with a notepad showing the words \"5,000 troops to Colombia\" - which borders Venezuela."}], "question": "How does the world see the crisis?", "id": "329_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Wukan's 'rebel' villagers take to streets in ongoing protest", "date": "25 June 2016", "paragraphs": [{"context": "This has been a place which - unlike anywhere else in China - had a genuinely elected government but many here are wondering if the so-called \"Wukan experiment\" is about to die. If it does it won't be without a fight. Thousands of villagers have been taking to the streets every day in a brazen challenge to the authorities. At the time of writing there has not yet been an attempt to smash these demonstrations but special police are moving into the area by the busload. The Guangdong Government has been urging us to leave. There are really only two possibilities. One: They think that without media coverage some of the steam will come out of the protests, allowing the nearby city government to come up with some sort of negotiated settlement. Two: With no international media to observe and record, the riot police can be sent in to bring Wukan under control the hard way. We asked government official Chen Jiasheng, if we left, how likely it would be for this second option to occur and he told the BBC: \"As head of the Guangdong provincial press office I can guarantee you that your fantasy will never happen.\" Local Communist Party Secretary Lin Zuluan is seen as a hero to the villagers. He's now in custody but people here want him released. He was one of the leaders in the rebellion of 2011 when the former government was overthrown. Elections were permitted as part of the deal to end the conflict nearly five years ago and he was chosen as village chief in a landslide. But recently he had threatened to re-start the protest movement as a way of pushing yet again for these people to receive compensation for the land they say was stolen from them in the past by corrupt officials. Yet, before he could make good with this threat, the 72 year old was taken away. In an interview with the BBC, Shanwei City Chief Prosecutor Yuan Huaiyu said, following a tip off from \"someone on the internet or maybe even a villager\", Lin Zuluan was being held in custody and investigated in relation to kickbacks on several infrastructure projects including roads and a school library. The prosecutor wouldn't say how much money was allegedly involved. He said they have received evidence from developers giving bribes and some documents. Asked about the timing of Lin Zuluan's detention he said: \"We've had a preliminary investigation lasting more than three months. Possibly the timing is a coincidence but this is a judicial process and we're doing our job\". Even though their former leader has been shown on television in a recorded \"confession\", the villagers of Wukan think these are trumped up charges to shut down an effective campaigner. Prosecutor Yuan says the villagers don't yet understand what their leader has done but said he expects they'll change their mind once they see the evidence. Asked by the BBC if there was any chance that Lin Zuluan could be released, Prosecutor Yuan laughed out loud and said: \"We need to see how this case develops\". The election of Wukan's government had given people in villages right around the country great hope for what might be possible under the Chinese system as it stands today. Where else could you see virtually the entire population of town or a village filling the streets in support for their Communist Party Secretary? Even given the risks involved - in a country where you can be thrown in jail for challenging the Party - there is a remarkable unity of purpose amongst the people of Wukan, from primary school children to elderly fishermen who each day answer the call to join in the struggle. \"Free Lin Zuluan!\" they chant as they march. \"Return our land!\" And, it's always followed by: \"Long live the Communist Party!\" They're hoping that more senior political figures might override the nearby city government and come to their aid. In 2011 that's exactly what happened. After expelling the officials they saw as corrupt, they barricaded the village. The former Guangdong Party Chief Wang Yang brought an end to the standoff which had lasted months. He gave permission for a directly-elected government and said this would become known as \"the Wukan model\". Wang Yang was seen as a peacemaker: a powerful party leader prepared to push for a calm and reasonable outcome as opposed to the heavy-handed tactics normally employed to crush dissent in China. He appeared destined for promotion into the elite politburo standing committee. But he didn't get there. Now there's no Wang Yang as Guangdong party chief. Some analysts believe that Wukan's elections could only have happened in that unique moment in history and that the window has now closed. What's more if Lin Zuluan is prosecuted and most likely given a prison sentence it is hard to see such an open election process being allowed in order to choose his successor. But the problem for Party elites trying to decide what to do with Wukan is that people here are now used to having one of their own in charge. They're organised. They're committed. They're united. They know the meaning of a long political struggle. Getting them to settle for anything less than what they have now is not going to be easy.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1118, "answer_end": 2644, "text": "Local Communist Party Secretary Lin Zuluan is seen as a hero to the villagers. He's now in custody but people here want him released. He was one of the leaders in the rebellion of 2011 when the former government was overthrown. Elections were permitted as part of the deal to end the conflict nearly five years ago and he was chosen as village chief in a landslide. But recently he had threatened to re-start the protest movement as a way of pushing yet again for these people to receive compensation for the land they say was stolen from them in the past by corrupt officials. Yet, before he could make good with this threat, the 72 year old was taken away. In an interview with the BBC, Shanwei City Chief Prosecutor Yuan Huaiyu said, following a tip off from \"someone on the internet or maybe even a villager\", Lin Zuluan was being held in custody and investigated in relation to kickbacks on several infrastructure projects including roads and a school library. The prosecutor wouldn't say how much money was allegedly involved. He said they have received evidence from developers giving bribes and some documents. Asked about the timing of Lin Zuluan's detention he said: \"We've had a preliminary investigation lasting more than three months. Possibly the timing is a coincidence but this is a judicial process and we're doing our job\". Even though their former leader has been shown on television in a recorded \"confession\", the villagers of Wukan think these are trumped up charges to shut down an effective campaigner."}], "question": "Restarting a movement?", "id": "330_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Facebook hires former deputy PM Sir Nick Clegg", "date": "19 October 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Facebook has hired former deputy prime minister Sir Nick Clegg as head of its global affairs and communications team. The 51-year-old politician was leader of the Liberal Democrats and formed a coalition government with David Cameron and the Conservatives in 2010. Facebook has faced intense scrutiny and the threat of government regulation following the Cambridge Analytica data scandal and alleged election meddling. Several prominent executives have left the company in the last year. Sir Nick's new job title will be vice-president of global affairs and communications at Facebook. He will start work on Monday and will spend a week at the company's Menlo Park headquarters, before moving to California with his family permanently in the new year. Sir Nick told BBC media editor Amol Rajan he has been working on the frontier between technology and politics for the last few years. \"I thought, I could do this academically, as a commentator, running a start-up, but then I thought, in for a penny, in for a pound,\" he explained. Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg and chief operating officer Sheryl Sandberg were personally involved in the recruitment, the Financial Times reported. In a statement, Sir Nick said he was delighted to join the company. \"Having spoken at length to Mark and Sheryl over the last few months, I have been struck by their recognition that the company is on a journey which brings new responsibilities not only to the users of Facebook's apps but to society at large. I hope I will be able to play a role in helping to navigate that journey,\" he wrote. The former Lib Dem leader has expanded further on his reasons for joining the company in a Guardian article, stating that he remains \"a stubborn optimist about the progressive potential to society of technological innovation\". He added: \"If the tech industry can work sensibly with governments, regulators, parliaments and civic society around the world, I believe we can enhance the benefits of technology while diminishing the often unintended downsides.\" Sir Nick has previously written about Facebook for a number of UK newspapers. In 2016, he wrote in the Evening Standard: \"I'm not especially bedazzled by Facebook. While I have good friends who work at the company, I actually find the messianic Californian new-worldy-touchy-feely culture of Facebook a little grating.\" Analysis by Chris Fox, BBC technology reporter Facebook has had a turbulent few years and is trying to get a grip on its policies and reputation. The Cambridge Analytica data scandal revealed that the personal information of millions of people had been misused, potentially influencing the results of elections. The company has also removed \"billions\" of fake accounts, linked to the spread of fake news and disinformation, possibly connected to countries such as Russia and Iran. Facebook hopes Sir Nick will challenge the company on its issues. With his political experience as part of the UK government, and as a former MEP, he will also be well-placed to advise how to keep the regulators away. In a Facebook post, Sheryl Sandberg said the company needed \"new perspectives to help us though this time of change\". Sir Nick is not the first Liberal Democrat to take a senior role at Facebook. Lord Allan of Hallam is currently the company's public policy chief for Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Nick Clegg was a Liberal Democrat MP for Sheffield Hallam from 2005 until 2017. In 2010, when he was leader of the Liberal Democrats, he became deputy prime minister in a coalition government with the Conservatives. But he faced a backlash from his supporters when he broke a promise that he would vote against any rise in university tuition fees. The Liberal Democrats lost a majority of their seats in the 2015 general election, ending up with just eight MPs, down from 57. Although he had kept his own seat, Nick Clegg resigned as the party leader. He lost his seat in the snap general election of 2017, but was given a knighthood in January 2018. In his statement announcing his new job at Facebook, he said it was \"wrenching\" to \"leave the public debate at a crucial time in the Brexit process\". \"But the key decisions will soon pass to Parliament, of which I am no longer a member, and once I had decided to take up this unique new challenge at Facebook, I felt it was best to get going sooner rather than later,\" he said. Jon Trickett MP, Labour's shadow minister for the cabinet office, said Sir Nick's new job was \"a damning indictment of the sorry state of our country's politics\". \"At a time when digital giants such as Facebook are rightly coming under public scrutiny, our former deputy prime minister has been hired to lobby on their behalf.\" by Rory Cellan-Jones, BBC technology correspondent In the UK, the reaction has been \"What?\" while in the United States and elsewhere most people will say \"Who?\" - so why has Facebook decided that Sir Nick Clegg is the right fit for one of the most challenging - and best paid - jobs in communications? From the moment in the summer that Sir Nick's predecessor, Elliot Schrage, announced he was leaving, Facebook made clear that it was not going to look inside or to other seasoned PR professionals for his replacement. Instead, bruised and blinking in the spotlight after a catalogue of scandals tarnished its image, it wanted someone who could guide it through choppy political waters in Washington, Brussels and elsewhere. Given how partisan US politics have become, choosing an American politician would have brought allegations of bias. In the UK, Sir Nick may be a divisive figure - especially over Brexit - but elsewhere that will not be such an issue. Facebook will hope that someone who has survived - just about - the cauldron of British politics will not flinch under fire from US senators or EU regulators. Sir Nick may find he needs to challenge Mark Zuckerberg pretty frequently. Just how well he handles his relationship with his new boss will be crucial. If he succeeds he could wield more power than he ever did in politics. If the relationship sours he will be heading home from California pretty quickly. David Cameron After quitting as prime minister in September 2016, Mr Cameron has taken on a raft of paid and unpaid roles - straddling both the private and charitable sectors. Most recently, he became a paid consultant to life-sciences firm Illumina and vice-chairman of a new UK-China investment fund. He also sits on the boards of a number of organisations involved in international development and foreign relations as well as being president of Alzheimer's Research UK. Sir Nick Clegg Before the former deputy prime minister was hired by Facebook he was busy with his thinktank Open Reason, campaigning for a referendum on the final Brexit deal, and writing his book How To Stop Brexit. George Osborne The former chancellor added what is thought to be his eighth role to his bulging portfolio of post-politics jobs in May. The London Evening Standard editor was made chairman of a panel of advisers to Exor, which owns Juventus football club and has major stakes in Ferrari and Fiat Chrysler cars. It comes on top of academic posts and a PS650,000 a year role with US investment fund Blackrock. Sir Danny Alexander After losing his parliamentary seat in 2015, Sir Danny went on to work with the Britain Stronger in Europe campaign and schools cricket charity Chance To Shine. He became vice-president of Chinese-led Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank in 2016. Ed Balls The former Labour cabinet minister took on academic roles when he left politics before a stint on Strictly Come Dancing in 2016 saw him turn his attentions to television, where his BBC documentary, Travels in Trumpland, has proved a success this year. Ed Miliband The former Labour leader is still an MP but dips his toes into the world of radio from time to time, standing in for Jeremy Vine on his BBC Radio 2 programme and hosting his own podcast.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 2359, "answer_end": 3361, "text": "Analysis by Chris Fox, BBC technology reporter Facebook has had a turbulent few years and is trying to get a grip on its policies and reputation. The Cambridge Analytica data scandal revealed that the personal information of millions of people had been misused, potentially influencing the results of elections. The company has also removed \"billions\" of fake accounts, linked to the spread of fake news and disinformation, possibly connected to countries such as Russia and Iran. Facebook hopes Sir Nick will challenge the company on its issues. With his political experience as part of the UK government, and as a former MEP, he will also be well-placed to advise how to keep the regulators away. In a Facebook post, Sheryl Sandberg said the company needed \"new perspectives to help us though this time of change\". Sir Nick is not the first Liberal Democrat to take a senior role at Facebook. Lord Allan of Hallam is currently the company's public policy chief for Europe, the Middle East and Africa."}], "question": "What does Facebook want Sir Nick for?", "id": "331_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3362, "answer_end": 4718, "text": "Nick Clegg was a Liberal Democrat MP for Sheffield Hallam from 2005 until 2017. In 2010, when he was leader of the Liberal Democrats, he became deputy prime minister in a coalition government with the Conservatives. But he faced a backlash from his supporters when he broke a promise that he would vote against any rise in university tuition fees. The Liberal Democrats lost a majority of their seats in the 2015 general election, ending up with just eight MPs, down from 57. Although he had kept his own seat, Nick Clegg resigned as the party leader. He lost his seat in the snap general election of 2017, but was given a knighthood in January 2018. In his statement announcing his new job at Facebook, he said it was \"wrenching\" to \"leave the public debate at a crucial time in the Brexit process\". \"But the key decisions will soon pass to Parliament, of which I am no longer a member, and once I had decided to take up this unique new challenge at Facebook, I felt it was best to get going sooner rather than later,\" he said. Jon Trickett MP, Labour's shadow minister for the cabinet office, said Sir Nick's new job was \"a damning indictment of the sorry state of our country's politics\". \"At a time when digital giants such as Facebook are rightly coming under public scrutiny, our former deputy prime minister has been hired to lobby on their behalf.\""}], "question": "Who is Sir Nick Clegg?", "id": "331_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 6142, "answer_end": 7507, "text": "David Cameron After quitting as prime minister in September 2016, Mr Cameron has taken on a raft of paid and unpaid roles - straddling both the private and charitable sectors. Most recently, he became a paid consultant to life-sciences firm Illumina and vice-chairman of a new UK-China investment fund. He also sits on the boards of a number of organisations involved in international development and foreign relations as well as being president of Alzheimer's Research UK. Sir Nick Clegg Before the former deputy prime minister was hired by Facebook he was busy with his thinktank Open Reason, campaigning for a referendum on the final Brexit deal, and writing his book How To Stop Brexit. George Osborne The former chancellor added what is thought to be his eighth role to his bulging portfolio of post-politics jobs in May. The London Evening Standard editor was made chairman of a panel of advisers to Exor, which owns Juventus football club and has major stakes in Ferrari and Fiat Chrysler cars. It comes on top of academic posts and a PS650,000 a year role with US investment fund Blackrock. Sir Danny Alexander After losing his parliamentary seat in 2015, Sir Danny went on to work with the Britain Stronger in Europe campaign and schools cricket charity Chance To Shine. He became vice-president of Chinese-led Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank in 2016."}], "question": "The 'coalition quad' - where are they now?", "id": "331_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 7508, "answer_end": 7967, "text": "Ed Balls The former Labour cabinet minister took on academic roles when he left politics before a stint on Strictly Come Dancing in 2016 saw him turn his attentions to television, where his BBC documentary, Travels in Trumpland, has proved a success this year. Ed Miliband The former Labour leader is still an MP but dips his toes into the world of radio from time to time, standing in for Jeremy Vine on his BBC Radio 2 programme and hosting his own podcast."}], "question": "And what about..?", "id": "331_3"}]}]}, {"title": "US judge blocks Missouri eight-week abortion ban", "date": "27 August 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "A US federal judge has temporarily blocked Missouri from enforcing a law banning nearly all abortions in the state after eight weeks of pregnancy. The law was set to take effect on Wednesday. It would ban abortions after eight weeks except in cases of medical emergency. US District Judge Howard Sachs said it was not to be enforced, \"pending litigation or further order of the court\". The decision to block the law's enforcement followed a legal challenge by Planned Parenthood and the American Civil Liberties Union. They sued Missouri last month, arguing that the law was unconstitutional and went against the Supreme Court's landmark 1973 Roe v Wade ruling, which legalised abortion nationwide. A number of US states have introduced or proposed restrictive abortion regulations this year in an effort to challenge the ruling. \"While federal courts should generally be very cautious before delaying the effect of State laws, the sense of caution may be mitigated when the legislation seems designed, as here, as a protest against Supreme Court decisions,\"  Mr Sachs wrote in his opinion on Tuesday. A portion of the legislation prohibiting abortions based solely on race, sex or a diagnosis indicating the potential for Down syndrome was permitted to take effect. Planned Parenthood said it would continue fighting to oppose that section of the law, too. \"Every reason to have an abortion is a valid reason,\" Dr Colleen McNicholas, a chief medical officer with the organisation, said. Attorneys for the state can now appeal against the ruling. A spokesman for Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt said his office was reviewing the ruling before deciding what steps to take next. The law, dubbed Missouri Stands With The Unborn, would outlaw performing an abortion in nearly all cases. Exemptions would be made for medical emergencies, but not pregnancies caused by rape or incest. Doctors who performed abortions more than eight weeks into pregnancy would face five to 15 years in prison. A woman who had an abortion would not be held criminally liable. Republican Governor Mike Parson said it would allow Missouri to become \"one of the strongest pro-life states in the country\". Abortion is one of the most divisive political issues in the US. Missouri already has some of the nation's most restrictive regulations, with just one clinic in the state currently performing abortions. A judge in May temporarily blocked Missouri from becoming the first US state not to have an abortion clinic in nearly half a century. The Missouri bill was approved amid a nationwide push for new restrictions by opponents of abortions. They have been emboldened by the addition of two conservative justices nominated by President Donald Trump, Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh, who give the nine-member court a conservative majority. Their aim, they say, is for the landmark 1973 Roe v Wade ruling to be undermined or overturned completely.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 2522, "answer_end": 2928, "text": "The Missouri bill was approved amid a nationwide push for new restrictions by opponents of abortions. They have been emboldened by the addition of two conservative justices nominated by President Donald Trump, Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh, who give the nine-member court a conservative majority. Their aim, they say, is for the landmark 1973 Roe v Wade ruling to be undermined or overturned completely."}], "question": "Why is this happening now?", "id": "332_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Could this 'biodegradable bag' cut plastic pollution?", "date": "19 July 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Plastic bags that biodegrade to nothing. It sounds like one solution to the problems of plastic pollution. One British company that makes so-called \"Oxo-biodegradable\" bags said they break down in the environment \"in the same way as a leaf, only quicker\". The technology is now being widely used across Africa and the Middle East. But if it's so good, why has the EU Parliament passed a directive preventing Oxo products from being described as biodegradable? And why is the EU Commission considering a total ban? Michael Laurier, the chief executive of Symphony Environmental, the biggest producer of Oxo products in the UK, points to a white plastic carrier bag with his company logo printed across it. \"This is an insurance policy,\" he says. Symphony makes an additive called d2w, which contains a mixture of salts that is added to raw plastic in the factory. The firm says within two years, and as long as oxygen is present, a plastic bag containing d2w will turn into something with \"a different molecular structure\". \"It will biodegrade in the open environment,\" it claims on its website. \"If you do just drop it in the ocean, we've shown that versus non-degradable products that it degrades and biodegrades an awful lot faster than conventional plastics,\" Mr Laurier says. Symphony's turnover was PS8.2m in 2017, its chairman is the Conservative MEP Nirj Deva and it sells to countries across the Middle East and Africa. Saudi Arabia has even passed a law banning all single use plastic bags except those made with Oxo technology. But the EU Commission is yet to be convinced. In a report published in January of this year on Oxo bags, the commission concluded: - No evidence the bags will \"fully biodegrade\" in a \"reasonable time\" - Claims the bags could offer a solution to issues of littering are \"not substantiated\" - The bags are \"not suited for long-term use, recycling or composting\" - The bags are \"not a solution for the environment\" The commission is being asked by the European Parliament to consider banning Oxo products by 2020. The EU Parliament also passed a directive in April banning the term \"biodegradable\" in relation to Oxo technology. It concluded: \"Oxo-degradable plastic packaging shall not be considered as biodegradable.\" In April environmentalist Chris Packham was a guest on the BBC One Show's special programme on plastics. Raising the issue of Oxo plastics, he said: \"Plastic is always going to escape into the environment. And there are technologies out there, now Oxo-biodegradable plastics, which will break down very rapidly.\" The environment secretary was also on the programme. Later in the show, Packham said: \"We have answers now. And we critically need a solution now. When we've got technologies like Oxo-biodegradable.\" BBC News later learned that Packham is a paid adviser to Symphony Environmental, the UK's biggest producer of Oxo additives. But he did not declare that fact on air or to the One Show itself. BBC guidelines say a conflict of interest \"may arise when the external activities of anyone involved in making our content affects the BBC's reputation for integrity, independence and high standards, or may be reasonably perceived to do so\". In a statement, the BBC said the presenter appeared \"in his capacity as a naturalist in his own right\".  As a private individual he was not bound by those guidelines. The statement also said: \"The One Show did not appreciate the full extent of Chris Packham's involvement with the Oxo Biodegradable industry. \"If they had been they would have made it clear on the show.\" Packham's agent said his client did not want to comment on the issue. European Green Party MEP Margrete Auken has spearheaded attempts to restrict this technology. \"The marketing of Oxo-degradable plastic as an environmentally friendly solution is absurd,\" she said. \"If you see anything labelled as Oxo-degradable, burn it. Reusing it will only release more micro-plastic into soil and water resources.\" As for the UK government's view, Environment Secretary Michael Gove has asked the chief scientific adviser \"to look at the science behind it\". Mr Gove told the One Show in April: \"It's a potentially exciting development. \"But we need to be certain actually, that if we're going to put public money behind some of these schemes that we are absolutely confident that we deliver the results that the inventors and the entrepreneurs behind them are so anxious to deliver.\" There have been numerous scientific reports into Oxo-biodegradable technology, but scientific opinion remains divided. For example, a research paper from 2011 concluded it would be possible to create Oxo bags \"that will almost completely biodegrade in soil within two years\". But Richard Thompson, a professor of marine biology at Plymouth University, is sceptical. He has buried Oxo bags underground and suspended them in sea and monitored the results. He showed a BBC team a d2w bag made by Symphony that he said had been under water in Plymouth harbour for more than two years. \"It's probably still strong enough to carry your shopping home in it,\" he said. He believes there are two questions: do the bags degrade quickly enough? And when they do break down, do they in reality form microplastics? Under a microscope he showed the BBC a bag that was more than 10 years old and had broken down into tiny pieces. \"It's degraded as a carrier bag, that bit's true. But is this an environmental solution, as what we've now got is millions and millions of very small bits of plastic?\" Mr Laurier, from Symphony, dismisses that as bad science. \"This is going to convert basically, organically to a material similar to a leaf.  It couldn't be better,\" he said. It is estimated that 500 billion plastic bags are made globally every year, but only 1-3% get recycled.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 4447, "answer_end": 5807, "text": "There have been numerous scientific reports into Oxo-biodegradable technology, but scientific opinion remains divided. For example, a research paper from 2011 concluded it would be possible to create Oxo bags \"that will almost completely biodegrade in soil within two years\". But Richard Thompson, a professor of marine biology at Plymouth University, is sceptical. He has buried Oxo bags underground and suspended them in sea and monitored the results. He showed a BBC team a d2w bag made by Symphony that he said had been under water in Plymouth harbour for more than two years. \"It's probably still strong enough to carry your shopping home in it,\" he said. He believes there are two questions: do the bags degrade quickly enough? And when they do break down, do they in reality form microplastics? Under a microscope he showed the BBC a bag that was more than 10 years old and had broken down into tiny pieces. \"It's degraded as a carrier bag, that bit's true. But is this an environmental solution, as what we've now got is millions and millions of very small bits of plastic?\" Mr Laurier, from Symphony, dismisses that as bad science. \"This is going to convert basically, organically to a material similar to a leaf.  It couldn't be better,\" he said. It is estimated that 500 billion plastic bags are made globally every year, but only 1-3% get recycled."}], "question": "What do scientists say?", "id": "333_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Rio Olympics: Ex-governor says he paid $2m bribe", "date": "5 July 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "A former governor of Rio de Janeiro says he helped pay a $2m (PS1.6m) bribe to secure the Olympic Games for the Brazilian city in 2016. Sergio Cabral told a judge the payment was made to secure votes in the decision-making meeting in 2009. He said that Carlos Nuzman, then the chairman of the Brazilian Olympic Committee, handled the negotiations. In 2017, Mr Nuzman was arrested amid an investigation into the alleged vote-buying scheme. He denies wrongdoing. Cabral is currently serving a 200-year sentence for several corruption cases. On Thursday, he said the then-president of the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF), Senegal's Lamine Diack, also served as intermediary in the alleged deal. Mr Diack is to stand trial in France, having been arrested there in 2015. He has been accused of taking payments for deferring sanctions against Russian drugs cheats. He has previously denied wrongdoing, but has not yet responded to the latest allegations. Both Mr Diack and Mr Nuzman were suspended from their roles, and later resigned. Cabral also said Brazil's then-president, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, had been informed after the money had allegedly changed hands. Lula's lawyers have said this is untrue. He has been jailed in a separate corruption case. Ongoing criminal investigations into alleged bribery - led by prosecutors in Brazil and France - have already implicated Mr Nuzman, Mr Diack and his son, and then-IOC executive board member Frank Fredericks. However, no leading officials have admitted involvement until now. Cabral, who served two terms as Rio state governor from 2007 to 2014, spoke out during a hearing requested by his new defence team as he seeks a plea deal. He hopes the information might reduce his lengthy sentences faced by him. He was convicted of passive corruption, money laundering and embezzlement - linked to various cases from an expose known as Operation Carwash. His wife, Adriana Ancelmo, was also jailed after a period under house arrest. Several high-powered Brazilian executives and politicians have recently reduced their sentences through plea bargains and giving evidence against others. Cabral told investigators that his bribe had been aimed at winning the support of nine of the committee's 95 members. He implicated several top athletes who had voting rights. Olympic gold medallists Sergey Bubka and Alexander Popov have both since denied taking a bribe, and said they were considering suing for defamation. Mr Popov, a Russian former swimmer, released a statement via social media, saying he did not vote for the city, or participate in any negotiations. Mr Bukba, a Ukrainian pole-vault champion, posted a series of tweets, in which he said he completely rejected \"all the false claims made by the former Rio State governor\". The ex-governor also said the money was provided by businessman Arthur Soares, one of his close friends, and transferred to Diack's son, Papa Massata, who has previously denied wrongdoing. Brazilian prosecutors charged Mr Soares - nicknamed King Arthur - for alleged involvement in bribery in 2017. He moved to the US during the investigations. The International Olympics Commission (IOC) says its chief ethics officer is following up on the latest allegations. The IOC implemented a series of reforms in 2014. On Friday, it said: \"The IOC is fully committed to address any issues, including those which happened before the far-reaching reforms.\" Rio won its Olympic bid in 2009, beating co-finalists Chicago, Madrid and Tokyo. It was the first South American city ever to host the Games. In January, news broke that the bidding process for Tokyo 2020 was also under investigation by French authorities. The Japanese government has always insisted its Tokyo bid was clean.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 2159, "answer_end": 3148, "text": "Cabral told investigators that his bribe had been aimed at winning the support of nine of the committee's 95 members. He implicated several top athletes who had voting rights. Olympic gold medallists Sergey Bubka and Alexander Popov have both since denied taking a bribe, and said they were considering suing for defamation. Mr Popov, a Russian former swimmer, released a statement via social media, saying he did not vote for the city, or participate in any negotiations. Mr Bukba, a Ukrainian pole-vault champion, posted a series of tweets, in which he said he completely rejected \"all the false claims made by the former Rio State governor\". The ex-governor also said the money was provided by businessman Arthur Soares, one of his close friends, and transferred to Diack's son, Papa Massata, who has previously denied wrongdoing. Brazilian prosecutors charged Mr Soares - nicknamed King Arthur - for alleged involvement in bribery in 2017. He moved to the US during the investigations."}], "question": "Who else was named?", "id": "334_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Brexit plans centre stage in Queen's Speech", "date": "13 October 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Measures to help the UK prosper after Brexit are to be set out in the Queen's Speech, the government has said. Plans to end the free movement of EU citizens into the UK and provide faster access to medicines will be unveiled. Ministers say a Brexit deal is a \"priority\" and they hope one can be passed through Parliament \"at pace\". But the UK and EU are still involved in talks ahead of a key summit - with a Downing Street source saying they were \"a long way from a final deal\". The UK is due to leave the EU at 23:00 GMT on 31 October and the European leaders' summit next Thursday and Friday is being seen as the last chance to agree any deal before that deadline. Prime Minister Boris Johnson updated his cabinet on the progress of the talks in Brussels on Sunday, saying he believed there was a \"way forward\" but also \"a significant amount of work\" to do. Speaking on the BBC's Andrew Marr Show, Home Secretary Priti Patel said she believed it was important for people to see Parliament delivering on the issues that matter to them. She said: \"Tomorrow you will see a Queen's Speech being announced - 22 new bills, working on the people's priorities, these are the types of issues that absolutely matter to the British public.\" The first Queen's Speech of Mr Johnson's premiership, delivered during the State Opening of Parliament on Monday, will see the government highlight its priorities. Mr Johnson said: \"Getting Brexit done by 31 October is absolutely crucial, and we are continuing to work on an exit deal so we can move on to negotiating a future relationship based on free trade and friendly co-operation with our European friends. \"But the people of this country don't just want us to sort out Brexit... this optimistic and ambitious Queen's Speech sets us on a course to make all that happen, and more besides.\" The government says the Queen's Speech will outline 22 bills including some that will introduce measures to allow the UK to \"seize the opportunities that Brexit presents\". The proposals include: - An Immigration and Social Co-ordination Bill to end freedom of movement and bring in a points-based immigration system from 2021. EU citizens arriving after January 2021 would be subject to the same immigration controls as non-EU citizens, based on people's skills. The immigration status of Irish citizens will be clarified once free movement rules are removed. It would also allow for changes to current rules for access to benefits for EU nationals. - Scrapping the rail franchise system - the contracting out of services introduced when the rail system was privatised in the 1990s. Reforms will focus on getting trains to run on time, a simplified fares system, a new commercial model and industry structure, and new proposals for a skilled, diverse and engaged workforce. - Plans for an independent NHS investigations body with legal powers - the Health Service Safety Investigations Body (HSSIB) - intended to improve patient safety, and a pledge to update the Mental Health Act intended to reduce the number of detentions made under the act. - An environment bill that will set legally binding targets to reduce plastics, cut air pollution, restore biodiversity and improve water quality. There are also proposals to tackle serious and violent crime, improve building standards, and increase investment in infrastructure and science. The government said if it can strike a deal with the EU, it will introduce a withdrawal agreement bill and aim to secure its passage through Parliament before 31 October. But Labour has criticised the decision to hold a Queen's Speech before any general election as a \"stunt\". Party leader Jeremy Corbyn told Sky News: \"Having a Queen's Speech and a State Opening of Parliament tomorrow is ludicrous. What we have got in effect is a party political broadcast from the steps of the throne.\" The government does not have a Commons majority but Conservative Party chairman James Cleverly is urging opposition MPs not to reject the Queen's Speech - saying they should \"put differences over Brexit aside and give Parliament the power to get our country moving forward\". Monday 14 October - The Commons is due to return, and the government will use the Queen's Speech to set out its legislative agenda. The speech will then be debated by MPs throughout the week. Thursday 17 October - Crucial two-day summit of EU leaders begins in Brussels. This is the last such meeting currently scheduled before the Brexit deadline. Saturday 19 October - Special sitting of Parliament and the date by which the PM must ask the EU for another delay to Brexit under the Benn Act, if no Brexit deal has been approved by Parliament and they have not agreed to the UK leaving with no-deal. Thursday 31 October - Date by which the UK is due to leave the EU, with or without a withdrawal agreement.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 4131, "answer_end": 4838, "text": "Monday 14 October - The Commons is due to return, and the government will use the Queen's Speech to set out its legislative agenda. The speech will then be debated by MPs throughout the week. Thursday 17 October - Crucial two-day summit of EU leaders begins in Brussels. This is the last such meeting currently scheduled before the Brexit deadline. Saturday 19 October - Special sitting of Parliament and the date by which the PM must ask the EU for another delay to Brexit under the Benn Act, if no Brexit deal has been approved by Parliament and they have not agreed to the UK leaving with no-deal. Thursday 31 October - Date by which the UK is due to leave the EU, with or without a withdrawal agreement."}], "question": "Timeline: What's happening ahead of Brexit deadline?", "id": "335_0"}]}]}, {"title": "When is it hunting and when is it poaching?", "date": "29 July 2015", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Cecil the lion was a renowned figure in Zimbabwe's Hwange National Park. Earlier this month, however, American dentist Walter Palmer paid roughly $50,000 (PS32,000) for the chance to kill the popular animal, although he says he was unaware of Cecil's fame and reputation. That prompted revulsion from many on social media, with tens of thousands signing a petition calling for Cecil's killer to be brought to justice. But what is the difference between hunting an animal and poaching? The crucial distinction to be made between poaching and hunting is where each sits in the eyes of the law. Put simply, poaching is hunting without legal permission from whoever controls the land. Hunting lions is not prohibited per se in Zimbabwe, and indeed in many other countries in Africa. Hunting is regulated by the government, and hunters must obtain permits authorising them to kill certain animals. Tourists who wish to hunt in the country may do so. Where and what they hunt, and what type of weaponry they use, is all the subject of regulation. Foreigners hunting in Zimbabwe must be accompanied by a licensed professional hunter, and tour operators which sell hunting packages to tourists are regulated by the government. Browsing online, it is possible to find package hunting trips in Zimbabwean game reserves for around $50,000 - about the same amount Mr Palmer says he paid for the hunt which has earned him global infamy. The dentist who has attracted numerous unwanted headlines over the last couple of days, has insisted that he believed \"everything about this trip was legal and properly handled\", prior to killing Cecil the lion. Some animals, such as elephants and rhinos, attract poachers because selling their tusks can prove extremely lucrative. Earlier this year, Kenya's president set fire to a pile containing 15 tonnes of seized elephant ivory with an estimated value of more than $30m (PS19m). Uhuru Kenyatta lamented that the tusks had been taken from elephants which had been \"wantonly slaughtered by criminals\". Rhino and elephant tusks are routinely exported to Asia, where ivory is used to make ornaments, and in traditional medicines. For some, like Walter Palmer, however, the act of hunting itself is the attraction. That, and the prospect of a \"trophy\", such as a lion's head, after the kill is made. Since he acknowledged having killed Cecil, photographs of the hunter with the carcasses of other animals have been widely shared online. He has expressed regret that \"my pursuit of an activity I love\" had resulted in the death of such a popular animal. It is estimated that more than 650 lion carcass \"trophies\" are exported from Africa each year. The main argument against unauthorised hunting is the effect it has on the numbers of animals living in the wild. The level of public outcry when a case such as the slaying of Cecil the lion comes to the fore is accentuated by the fact that poachers often target some of the planet's most impressive and treasured creatures. The Born Free Foundation estimates that between 30% and 50% of Africa's lion population has been wiped out over the course of the last two decades. Just 32,000 of the animals remain in the wild. Hunting big game in its natural habitat is undoubtedly an attractive prospect for some tourists - and something many are willing to pay tens of thousands of dollars to experience. Emmanuel Fundira, president of the Safari Operators Association of Zimbabwe, has described Cecil's killing as a \"tragedy\" for tourism in Zimbabwe. However, he is in favour of hunting, providing it is done, as he puts it \"sustainably\". The money paid by big game hunters can be used for conservation, and employs locals who otherwise may have become poachers. Wild animals inhabit the same land as locals, so in some cases numbers need to be kept down to protect lives and livestock. Mr Fundira says tourism, of which hunting is a part, contributes \"close to 15% of gross domestic product\" in Zimbabwe. But critics say that while tourism is a key revenue generator in many of the areas where hunting is common, less than 0.5% of the Zimbabwe's GDP comes from trophy hunting itself, and that the benefits often fail to reach ordinary Zimbabweans.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 485, "answer_end": 1635, "text": "The crucial distinction to be made between poaching and hunting is where each sits in the eyes of the law. Put simply, poaching is hunting without legal permission from whoever controls the land. Hunting lions is not prohibited per se in Zimbabwe, and indeed in many other countries in Africa. Hunting is regulated by the government, and hunters must obtain permits authorising them to kill certain animals. Tourists who wish to hunt in the country may do so. Where and what they hunt, and what type of weaponry they use, is all the subject of regulation. Foreigners hunting in Zimbabwe must be accompanied by a licensed professional hunter, and tour operators which sell hunting packages to tourists are regulated by the government. Browsing online, it is possible to find package hunting trips in Zimbabwean game reserves for around $50,000 - about the same amount Mr Palmer says he paid for the hunt which has earned him global infamy. The dentist who has attracted numerous unwanted headlines over the last couple of days, has insisted that he believed \"everything about this trip was legal and properly handled\", prior to killing Cecil the lion."}], "question": "What is poaching?", "id": "336_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1636, "answer_end": 2672, "text": "Some animals, such as elephants and rhinos, attract poachers because selling their tusks can prove extremely lucrative. Earlier this year, Kenya's president set fire to a pile containing 15 tonnes of seized elephant ivory with an estimated value of more than $30m (PS19m). Uhuru Kenyatta lamented that the tusks had been taken from elephants which had been \"wantonly slaughtered by criminals\". Rhino and elephant tusks are routinely exported to Asia, where ivory is used to make ornaments, and in traditional medicines. For some, like Walter Palmer, however, the act of hunting itself is the attraction. That, and the prospect of a \"trophy\", such as a lion's head, after the kill is made. Since he acknowledged having killed Cecil, photographs of the hunter with the carcasses of other animals have been widely shared online. He has expressed regret that \"my pursuit of an activity I love\" had resulted in the death of such a popular animal. It is estimated that more than 650 lion carcass \"trophies\" are exported from Africa each year."}], "question": "Why do people poach?", "id": "336_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2673, "answer_end": 3192, "text": "The main argument against unauthorised hunting is the effect it has on the numbers of animals living in the wild. The level of public outcry when a case such as the slaying of Cecil the lion comes to the fore is accentuated by the fact that poachers often target some of the planet's most impressive and treasured creatures. The Born Free Foundation estimates that between 30% and 50% of Africa's lion population has been wiped out over the course of the last two decades. Just 32,000 of the animals remain in the wild."}], "question": "What are the effects of poaching?", "id": "336_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3193, "answer_end": 4217, "text": "Hunting big game in its natural habitat is undoubtedly an attractive prospect for some tourists - and something many are willing to pay tens of thousands of dollars to experience. Emmanuel Fundira, president of the Safari Operators Association of Zimbabwe, has described Cecil's killing as a \"tragedy\" for tourism in Zimbabwe. However, he is in favour of hunting, providing it is done, as he puts it \"sustainably\". The money paid by big game hunters can be used for conservation, and employs locals who otherwise may have become poachers. Wild animals inhabit the same land as locals, so in some cases numbers need to be kept down to protect lives and livestock. Mr Fundira says tourism, of which hunting is a part, contributes \"close to 15% of gross domestic product\" in Zimbabwe. But critics say that while tourism is a key revenue generator in many of the areas where hunting is common, less than 0.5% of the Zimbabwe's GDP comes from trophy hunting itself, and that the benefits often fail to reach ordinary Zimbabweans."}], "question": "Can hunting have a positive impact?", "id": "336_3"}]}]}, {"title": "Save the Children 'failed' to deal with women's complaints", "date": "7 March 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Save the Children \"failed\" to adequately deal with allegations against its ex-chief executive Justin Forsyth, according to leaked documents. A 2015 report seen by the BBC contains evidence suggesting then chairman Sir Alan Parker's \"very close\" relationship with Mr Forsyth may have affected how he responded to complaints. Three women employees accused Mr Forsyth of inappropriate behaviour, for which he said he had apologised. Sir Alan said he had nothing to add. A leaked email from the time recommended that Mr Forsyth should not be alone with female employees. Mr Forsyth said that he had taken \"responsibility\" for his mistakes \"many years ago\", but did \"not accept as accurate much of what has been reported today, either in tone or fact\". He said he \"strongly refutes a number of the claims\" and added that he had not seen the 2015 report. On Tuesday, protesters from the Women's Equality Party interrupted the charity's board meeting to call for Sir Alan's resignation as Chairman of Save the Children International. Alexia Pepper de Caires, a former Save the Children employee and Women's Equality Party member, was invited to meet the board on Wednesday following the protest. \"The board now has the information it needs to make decisions on the future of (Sir Alan's) leadership,\" she said. Save the Children UK said a new review of workplace ethics would ensure that what caused previous claimants hurt \"cannot be repeated\". It said the charity's \"new leadership\" and its trustees are \"committed to respect in the workplace\". Ethics expert Dr Suzanne Shale, who is leading a new independent review for the charity, said she \"acknowledges that past events may have caused distress to staff, and disquiet amongst those who support the work of the charity. We will listen to those accounts very carefully and with utmost consideration\". Last month, the BBC revealed Mr Forsyth faced three complaints of inappropriate behaviour towards female staff before leaving Save the Children in 2015. Days later, Mr Forsyth resigned from his role as deputy director of UNICEF, saying he did not want coverage of his past to \"damage\" the charities. Now a report leaked to Radio 4's PM programme, which has never been made public by the charity, exposes failures in how these complaints were handled. In it, a complainant claims Save the Children told her not to tell anyone about her case and that both her and Mr Forsyth's reputations were at risk. \"They weren't trying to protect me or safeguard any other women. It was just about covering this up as quickly as they could,\" she said. The report - by law firm Lewis Silkin - was commissioned as part of a review of how Save the Children had handled complaints of inappropriate behaviour. It was written in October 2015. Months later, Save the Children provided a reference for Mr Forsyth when he applied for a job at UNICEF, which made no mention of the complaints. In a separate leaked email in 2015, a senior staff member said that allegations of sexual harassment made against Mr Forsyth were \"not being treated with the appropriate degree of seriousness\" and that \"he should not be unaccompanied with female members of staff\" until they could be sure his behaviour would not be repeated. The senior staff member wrote that they had no confidence in Sir Alan Parker's handling of the complaints, saying he had \"made a deliberate choice...not to fully investigate these allegations\" and as a result had a \"conflict of interest\" in relation to the review. As well as being the international chairman of Save the Children, Sir Alan is the founder and chairman of the PR firm Brunswick and counts former prime ministers among his friends. Gordon Brown is godfather to his youngest son, and when David Cameron left Number 10, it was Sir Alan's west London mansion that became the Camerons' temporary home. More than 240 people have signed a petition calling for Sir Alan, who was chair of Save the Children UK at the time of the complaints against Mr Forsyth, to be held accountable and removed from his current role. The petition claims \"his abuse of that power to dampen the situation is widely known\" and signatories include current and former Save the Children staff. The first case was reported in 2012. The victim described receiving numerous inappropriate text messages from Mr Forsyth, who was her boss. When she made it clear to Mr Forsyth that these texts were unwelcome and made her feel uncomfortable, he persisted in sending them. When she complained again, she alleges that he took her phone when he saw it had been left on her desk and deleted some of the texts. She then lodged an official complaint. The head of HR at the time is quoted in the report as saying: \"I thought the deleting of the texts was intimidating.\" Because Save The Children never formally questioned Mr Forsyth about the allegations, the report does not reflect his account of events. His lawyers say he categorically denies that he deleted any texts. The report is clear that a disciplinary investigation should have been held but states: \"no adequate investigation took place\". Instead, Sir Alan instructed a trustee to meet the complainant for a chat. In the evidence, the trustee claims that Sir Alan briefed him in advance that he believed she may have \"overreacted\". The complainant for her part described feeling \"just so scared\" when she would see Mr Forsyth. Sir Alan wrote a formal warning to Mr Forsyth. This letter no longer exists although the report says it should have remained on Mr Forsyth's record. A draft of that letter in the report warned that \"this type of conduct can amount to unlawful harassment\". In the report, Mr Forsyth insists the complaint was dealt with appropriately, adding that he had given up his bonus - worth PS20,000 - that year. Sir Alan was on the Performance and Remuneration Committee that awarded that bonus in 2012. The complainant said she was assured the formal warning would remain on Mr Forsyth's record and that \"if this ever happened again, Alan will walk (Mr Forsyth) out of the door.\" Both failed to happen and in 2015, two more women came forward with complaints. The second complainant was an employee who would often go on business trips with Mr Forsyth to where Save the Children operated in the field. During these trips, according to the leaked report, she received late night text messages from him, complimenting her on her work performance and asking her out for a drink. She declined but - according to her - the messages became \"more demanding\". Between trips, Mr Forsyth invited her for \"career chats\" after work. On one occasion, Mr Forsyth is alleged to have said: \"Look, I fancy you, you fancy me. Why don't we just stop pretending?\" She says she made it clear she wasn't interested and subsequently made excuses to avoid business trips with him. He sent her emails asking if she was avoiding him and she said that since then, she felt marginalised at work. The third complainant's account set out in the report describes how one night on a business trip \"they continued their work discussion, stopping outside (Mr Forsyth's) room... and (he) invited her into his room for a glass of wine. \"She sat on the table and he invited her to sit on the bed. She declined. She went to the bathroom and when she returned, he was reclining on his bed.\" On another evening, Mr Forsyth is alleged to have announced he was \"not CEO for the night\" and asked her about her love life. He began to talk about his sex life and told her she was \"beautiful and talented\". The complainant says she made it clear she was not interested and refused his advances. In a statement issued by his legal representatives, Mr Forsyth admitted \"personal mistakes during my time at Save The Children\". \"I recognise that on a few occasions I had unsuitable and thoughtless conversations with colleagues, which I subsequently discovered caused offence and hurt,\" he said. \"When this was brought to my attention on two separate occasions, I apologised unreservedly to the three colleagues involved.  The concerns were handled through a process of mediation.\" After the two later complaints, Save the Children's head of HR alerted Sir Alan, but evidence in the report shows he claimed he received a \"less than supportive response\". Recalling a conversation with Sir Alan, he said it was \"along the lines of 'Justin Forsyth is very important to the organisation; people behave differently when they're abroad; they would have been tired; they would have needed some mutual support; what were the complainants doing by agreeing to go to his hotel room in the first place.\" The account goes on to record that the head of HR was \"frustrated\" by Sir Alan's response, \"which he feared was as a result of Sir Alan Parker and Justin Forsyth being very close\". One complainant is quoted in the report saying: \"It's more about who Alan is and having Alan and his best mate Justin sort of talking to each other about how best to handle these girls.\" According to the report, Sir Alan said he didn't think there had been any \"serious misconduct\" or \"predatory behaviour\". He also rejected suggestions there should be any work done to look at the \"leadership culture\" at Save the Children in light of these complaints and \"generalised complaints of sexual advances and bullying\" by Brendan Cox, the widower of the MP Jo Cox, who was accused of sexual assault by a member of staff at the charity a couple of months later. Mr Cox says he does not accept the allegations, but acknowledges he \"made mistakes\" while working for Save the Children. Sir Alan is described as saying, \"the best way to protect the organisation from reputational risk is not to let the organisational response become disproportionate\".", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 3508, "answer_end": 4220, "text": "As well as being the international chairman of Save the Children, Sir Alan is the founder and chairman of the PR firm Brunswick and counts former prime ministers among his friends. Gordon Brown is godfather to his youngest son, and when David Cameron left Number 10, it was Sir Alan's west London mansion that became the Camerons' temporary home. More than 240 people have signed a petition calling for Sir Alan, who was chair of Save the Children UK at the time of the complaints against Mr Forsyth, to be held accountable and removed from his current role. The petition claims \"his abuse of that power to dampen the situation is widely known\" and signatories include current and former Save the Children staff."}], "question": "Who is Sir Alan Parker?", "id": "337_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Massive protests held in Puerto Rico after governor refuses to step down", "date": "23 July 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Hundreds of thousands of people have taken to the streets in Puerto Rico to demand the resignation of the island's embattled governor, Ricardo Rossello. It comes a day after Mr Rossello said he would not step down over a leaked online chat in which he and top aides exchanged obscenity-laced messages. He said he would leave office next year, at the end of his term. But protesters have said he must stand down immediately and the number of marchers on the streets has increased. The leaked text messages included homophobic slurs as well as insults about victims of the deadly Hurricane Maria in 2017. Asked about the matter, US President Donald Trump said Mr Rossello was \"a terrible governor\". \"You have totally grossly incompetent leadership at the top of Puerto Rico,\" he told reporters at the White House. \"The leadership is corrupt and incompetent.\" Footage early on Monday morning showed crowded trains headed to the capital, and long lines of protesters preparing to march in the sweltering Caribbean heat. Some protesters were seen blocking highways while chanting \"Ricky resign\". The hashtags #RickyRenuncia (\"Ricky resign\") and #ParoNacional (national strike) both trended on Twitter. Experts predicted the crowd size would eclipse the largest protest in the island's history 15 years ago, when Puerto Ricans successfully petitioned the US military to end training missions on the island of Vieques. The chat, which contained 880 pages of exchanges between the governor and 11 all-male allies, was leaked on 13 July and has led to days of protests outside the governor's mansion in San Juan. Several of the texts mock victims of Hurricane Maria, which devastated the island in 2017, and may have led to more than 4,000 deaths. In one instance, Mr Rossello criticised the former speaker of the New York City Council, Melissa Mark-Viverito, saying people should \"beat up that whore\". When the island's chief fiscal office wrote that he was \"salivating to shoot\" the mayor of San Juan, Mr Rossello replied: \"You'd be doing me a grand favour.\" On Sunday, the 40-year-old governor refused to resign, but said he would step down as leader of the New Progressive Party, a Puerto Rican political party which advocates for US statehood. In an attempt to appease protesters, he said he would not seek re-election. \"I hear you,\" Mr Rossello said in a Facebook video. \"I have made mistakes and I have apologised.\" \"I know that apologising is not enough,\" he said. \"A significant sector of the population has been protesting for days. I'm aware of the dissatisfaction and discomfort they feel. Only my work will help restore the trust of these sectors.\" The island's largest newspaper, El Nuevo Dia, called on the governor to resign in its Monday editorial. \"Puerto Rico has spoken up, not only as a strong, broad and united voice, but as the right voice,\" the editorial said. \"With a gesture of nobility and humility, Governor, it is time to listen to the people. You have to resign.\" San Juan Mayor Carmen Yulin Cruz said in a Twitter message on Monday: \"They can't deny it: The power is in the street.\" Singer Ricky Martin, who was targeted in the secret messages, was among those calling for the governor to resign, as well as Hamilton creator Lin-Manuel Miranda and reggaeton star Bad Bunny. \"They mocked our dead, they mocked women, they mocked the LGBT community, they made fun of people with physical and mental disabilities, they made fun of obesity. It's enough. This cannot be,\" Martin said in a video on Twitter. The island's political crisis has made headlines throughout mainland US. The New York Times editorial board wrote that the \"callousness and partisan self-dealing\" exposed by the messages serve as exorbitant strain for the long-suffering island, effectively \"rubbing salt into a long-festering wound\". \"The Puerto Rican people have no use for petty political feuding,\" the New York Times wrote. \"Their territory is struggling under the weight of government corruption, incompetence and indifference. Having been failed by their leaders at every level, they are out of patience. They deserve better.\" Similarly, the editorial board for the Washington Post said that while Puerto Ricans may be aware that the mainland treats them \"like second-class citizens\", the messages are evidence that their local government also regards them with contempt. And the island's problems run much deeper than Mr Rossello, the Post wrote. \"It is clear that the island's problems won't be solved simply with his departure. Serious, systematic reform is needed.\" Indeed, several outlets described the scandal as a consequence of foundational failings among Puerto Rico's political class. \"You may think the protests erupting in Puerto Rico are all about the government's texting scandal,\" CNN reported. \"But the problems run much deeper.\" The last two weeks \"are just the culmination of the worst political crisis in modern Puerto Rico's history\", a journalist for NBC wrote. \"All of this dysfunction is a product of a corrupt (mostly white, mostly privileged) political class that has ruled the island for decades.\"", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1412, "answer_end": 2051, "text": "The chat, which contained 880 pages of exchanges between the governor and 11 all-male allies, was leaked on 13 July and has led to days of protests outside the governor's mansion in San Juan. Several of the texts mock victims of Hurricane Maria, which devastated the island in 2017, and may have led to more than 4,000 deaths. In one instance, Mr Rossello criticised the former speaker of the New York City Council, Melissa Mark-Viverito, saying people should \"beat up that whore\". When the island's chief fiscal office wrote that he was \"salivating to shoot\" the mayor of San Juan, Mr Rossello replied: \"You'd be doing me a grand favour.\""}], "question": "What are the secret messages?", "id": "338_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2052, "answer_end": 2652, "text": "On Sunday, the 40-year-old governor refused to resign, but said he would step down as leader of the New Progressive Party, a Puerto Rican political party which advocates for US statehood. In an attempt to appease protesters, he said he would not seek re-election. \"I hear you,\" Mr Rossello said in a Facebook video. \"I have made mistakes and I have apologised.\" \"I know that apologising is not enough,\" he said. \"A significant sector of the population has been protesting for days. I'm aware of the dissatisfaction and discomfort they feel. Only my work will help restore the trust of these sectors.\""}], "question": "What has the governor said?", "id": "338_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2653, "answer_end": 3523, "text": "The island's largest newspaper, El Nuevo Dia, called on the governor to resign in its Monday editorial. \"Puerto Rico has spoken up, not only as a strong, broad and united voice, but as the right voice,\" the editorial said. \"With a gesture of nobility and humility, Governor, it is time to listen to the people. You have to resign.\" San Juan Mayor Carmen Yulin Cruz said in a Twitter message on Monday: \"They can't deny it: The power is in the street.\" Singer Ricky Martin, who was targeted in the secret messages, was among those calling for the governor to resign, as well as Hamilton creator Lin-Manuel Miranda and reggaeton star Bad Bunny. \"They mocked our dead, they mocked women, they mocked the LGBT community, they made fun of people with physical and mental disabilities, they made fun of obesity. It's enough. This cannot be,\" Martin said in a video on Twitter."}], "question": "What has the reaction been?", "id": "338_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3524, "answer_end": 5119, "text": "The island's political crisis has made headlines throughout mainland US. The New York Times editorial board wrote that the \"callousness and partisan self-dealing\" exposed by the messages serve as exorbitant strain for the long-suffering island, effectively \"rubbing salt into a long-festering wound\". \"The Puerto Rican people have no use for petty political feuding,\" the New York Times wrote. \"Their territory is struggling under the weight of government corruption, incompetence and indifference. Having been failed by their leaders at every level, they are out of patience. They deserve better.\" Similarly, the editorial board for the Washington Post said that while Puerto Ricans may be aware that the mainland treats them \"like second-class citizens\", the messages are evidence that their local government also regards them with contempt. And the island's problems run much deeper than Mr Rossello, the Post wrote. \"It is clear that the island's problems won't be solved simply with his departure. Serious, systematic reform is needed.\" Indeed, several outlets described the scandal as a consequence of foundational failings among Puerto Rico's political class. \"You may think the protests erupting in Puerto Rico are all about the government's texting scandal,\" CNN reported. \"But the problems run much deeper.\" The last two weeks \"are just the culmination of the worst political crisis in modern Puerto Rico's history\", a journalist for NBC wrote. \"All of this dysfunction is a product of a corrupt (mostly white, mostly privileged) political class that has ruled the island for decades.\""}], "question": "What are US media saying?", "id": "338_3"}]}]}, {"title": "Julian Assange: Man 'close' to Wikileaks co-founder arrested in Ecuador", "date": "12 April 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "A man with close ties to Wikileaks co-founder Julian Assange has been arrested while trying to leave Ecuador, the country's interior ministry says. Interior Minister Maria Paula Romo did not name the man but said he had been arrested for \"investigative purposes\". An unnamed government official told the Associated Press that the man is Ola Bini, a Swedish software developer. It comes just hours after Assange was himself arrested at the Ecuadorean embassy in London. \"A person close to Wikileaks, who has been residing in Ecuador, was arrested this afternoon when he was preparing to travel to Japan,\" Ecuador's interior ministry tweeted late on Thursday. The man has lived in Ecuador for several years and has frequently travelled to the country's London embassy where Assange had been staying, Ms Romo told CNN's Spanish language service. \"He has been detained simply for investigation purposes,\" she said. An Ecuadorean official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told the Associated Press that Mr Bini had been arrested at Quito Airport. As news of the arrest broke, friends and colleagues of Mr Bini expressed their concern on social media. \"I'm very concerned to hear that [he] has been arrested,\" Martin Fowler, a US-based computer programmer, tweeted. \"He is a strong advocate and developer supporting privacy and has not been able to speak to any lawyers.\" Earlier on Thursday, Ms Romo held a press conference and said a person with close links to Wikileaks was living in Ecuador. In response, Mr Bini said on Twitter that her comments showed a \"witch hunt\" was under way. Ecuador withdrew Assange's asylum on Thursday and the Metropolitan Police say they were then invited into the embassy to arrest him. He took refuge in the embassy in 2012 to avoid extradition to Sweden over a sexual assault case that has since been dropped. Ecuadorean President Lenin Moreno said the country had \"reached its limit on the behaviour of Mr Assange\". There has been a long-running dispute between the Ecuadorian authorities and Assange about what he was and was not allowed to do in the embassy. After his arrest, Assange was taken to a central London court and found guilty of failing to surrender to the court in 2012. As well as that charge, he now faces US federal conspiracy charges related to one of the largest ever leaks of government secrets. The UK will decide whether to extradite him to the US. His lawyer said they would fight the extradition request because it set a \"dangerous precedent for journalists, whistleblowers, and other journalistic sources that the US may wish to pursue in the future.\" - August 2010 - The Swedish Prosecutor's Office first issues an arrest warrant for Assange. It says there are two separate allegations - one of rape and one of molestation. Assange says the claims are \"without basis\" - December 2010 - Assange is arrested in London and bailed at the second attempt - May 2012 - The UK's Supreme Court rules he should be extradited to Sweden to face questioning over the allegations - June 2012 - Assange enters the Ecuadorean embassy in London - August 2012 - Ecuador grants asylum to Assange, saying there are fears his human rights might be violated if he is extradited - August 2015 - Swedish prosecutors drop their investigation into two allegations - one of sexual molestation and one of unlawful coercion because they have run out of time to question him. But he still faces the more serious accusation of rape. - October 2015 - Metropolitan Police announces that officers will no longer be stationed outside the Ecuadorean embassy - February 2016 - A UN panel rules that Assange has been \"arbitrarily detained\" by UK and Swedish authorities since 2010 - May 2017 - Sweden's director of public prosecutions announces that the rape investigation into Assange is being dropped - July 2018 - The UK and Ecuador confirm they are holding ongoing talks over the fate of Assange - October 2018 - Assange is given a set of house rules at the Ecuadorean embassy in London. He then launches legal action against the government of Ecuador - December 2018 - Assange's lawyer rejects an agreement announced by Ecuador's president to see him leave the Ecuadorean embassy - February 2019 - Australia grants Assange a new passport amid fears Ecuador may bring his asylum to an end - April 2019 - The Metropolitan Police arrests him for \"failing to surrender to the court\" over a warrant issued in 2012. He is found guilty and faces up to 12 months in prison, as well as extradition over US charges of conspiracy to commit computer intrusion.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1587, "answer_end": 2613, "text": "Ecuador withdrew Assange's asylum on Thursday and the Metropolitan Police say they were then invited into the embassy to arrest him. He took refuge in the embassy in 2012 to avoid extradition to Sweden over a sexual assault case that has since been dropped. Ecuadorean President Lenin Moreno said the country had \"reached its limit on the behaviour of Mr Assange\". There has been a long-running dispute between the Ecuadorian authorities and Assange about what he was and was not allowed to do in the embassy. After his arrest, Assange was taken to a central London court and found guilty of failing to surrender to the court in 2012. As well as that charge, he now faces US federal conspiracy charges related to one of the largest ever leaks of government secrets. The UK will decide whether to extradite him to the US. His lawyer said they would fight the extradition request because it set a \"dangerous precedent for journalists, whistleblowers, and other journalistic sources that the US may wish to pursue in the future.\""}], "question": "What happened on Thursday?", "id": "339_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Pro-Trump massacre video prompts media condemnation", "date": "14 October 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "American media groups have urged the White House to condemn a parody video showing the US president massacring media outlets and political rivals. The White House Correspondents' Association said it was \"horrified\" and urged Mr Trump to denounce the video. It was on shown at an event organised by American Priority, a pro-Trump group. Organisers said the video had been part of a \"meme exhibition\". President Trump's 2020 re-election campaign has disavowed it. Campaign spokesman Tim Murtaugh told the BBC on Sunday: \"That video was not produced by the campaign, and we do not condone violence.\" On Monday, White House spokeswoman Stephanie Grisham wrote on Twitter that Mr Trump had \"not yet seen the video\". \"But based upon everything he has heard, he strongly condemns this video,\" she said. However US media groups demanded that the president personally censure the video, which was played at a Trump resort in Miami, Florida, last week. \"All Americans should condemn this depiction of violence directed toward journalists and the President's political opponents,\" said Jonathan Karl, president of the White House Correspondents' Association. \"We have previously told the President his rhetoric could incite violence.\" A pro-Trump creator of viral video, MemeWorld, said the clip had been generated by one of its contributors, by TheGeekzTeam. MemeWorld said in a statement that it did not condone violence. \"The Kingsman video is clearly satirical and the violence depicted is metaphoric,\" said its owner, who goes by the name Carpe Donktum. \"No reasonable person would believe that this video was a call to action, or an endorsement of violence towards the media.\" Mr Trump's head is superimposed on the body of a man who goes on a killing rampage inside \"the Church of Fake News\". The heads of the people he kills have been replaced with the logos of media organisations, including BBC News, CNN and the Washington Post, and political opponents such as Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton. The video is a doctored version of scenes from 2014 movie Kingsman: The Secret Service, starring Colin Firth. American Priority also sought to disassociate itself with the video, saying it was \"not approved, seen, or sanctioned\" by event organisers. The video, the group added, was shown in a \"side room\" at the event and was only brought to the attention of organisers by the New York Times. The president's son, Donald Trump Jr, and former White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders were scheduled to speak at the event, according to the New York Times. \"I wasn't aware of any video, nor do I support violence of any kind against anyone,\" Ms Sanders told the paper. On Monday, Republican Party Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel took to Twitter to denounce the \"horrific\" video. CNN said in a statement on Sunday: \"Sadly, this is not the first time that supporters of the President have promoted violence against the media in a video they apparently find entertaining - but it is by far and away the worst. During his 2016 campaign, and as president, Mr Trump has repeatedly lashed out at what the \"fake news media\", describing media outlets as \"enemies of the people\". In recent weeks, Mr Trump ramped up his attacks on his political rivals and media organisations as an impeachment inquiry into his presidency escalated. A similar parody video was shared on Mr Trump's Twitter page in 2017. That clip was an altered version of Mr Trump's appearance at a WWE wrestling event in 2007, in which he \"attacked\" franchise owner Vince McMahon. In the video, a CNN logo appeared in place of Mr McMahon's head.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1672, "answer_end": 3599, "text": "Mr Trump's head is superimposed on the body of a man who goes on a killing rampage inside \"the Church of Fake News\". The heads of the people he kills have been replaced with the logos of media organisations, including BBC News, CNN and the Washington Post, and political opponents such as Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton. The video is a doctored version of scenes from 2014 movie Kingsman: The Secret Service, starring Colin Firth. American Priority also sought to disassociate itself with the video, saying it was \"not approved, seen, or sanctioned\" by event organisers. The video, the group added, was shown in a \"side room\" at the event and was only brought to the attention of organisers by the New York Times. The president's son, Donald Trump Jr, and former White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders were scheduled to speak at the event, according to the New York Times. \"I wasn't aware of any video, nor do I support violence of any kind against anyone,\" Ms Sanders told the paper. On Monday, Republican Party Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel took to Twitter to denounce the \"horrific\" video. CNN said in a statement on Sunday: \"Sadly, this is not the first time that supporters of the President have promoted violence against the media in a video they apparently find entertaining - but it is by far and away the worst. During his 2016 campaign, and as president, Mr Trump has repeatedly lashed out at what the \"fake news media\", describing media outlets as \"enemies of the people\". In recent weeks, Mr Trump ramped up his attacks on his political rivals and media organisations as an impeachment inquiry into his presidency escalated. A similar parody video was shared on Mr Trump's Twitter page in 2017. That clip was an altered version of Mr Trump's appearance at a WWE wrestling event in 2007, in which he \"attacked\" franchise owner Vince McMahon. In the video, a CNN logo appeared in place of Mr McMahon's head."}], "question": "What is in the video?", "id": "340_0"}]}]}, {"title": "DR Congo Ebola outbreak 'not global emergency'", "date": "18 May 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "An Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo is not yet an international public health emergency, the World Health Organization has said. It said there was a \"strong reason to believe that the outbreak can be brought under control\". At least 45 people are believed to have been infected in the current outbreak and 25 deaths are being investigated. Cases emerged in a rural area with one now confirmed in the north-western city of Mbandaka. The city of about one million people is a transport hub on the River Congo, prompting fears that the virus could now spread further, threatening the capital Kinshasa and surrounding countries. Ebola is an infectious illness that causes internal bleeding and often proves fatal. It can spread rapidly through contact with small amounts of bodily fluid, and its early flu-like symptoms are not always obvious. At an emergency meeting, WHO experts said that \"the conditions for a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) have not currently been met\". Had they decided otherwise, a larger response to the outbreak would have been triggered. Although Ebola had already spread to an urban area, the experts said they believed the outbreak could be brought under control. They also stressed that it was \"particularly important there should be no international travel or trade restrictions\". The WHO said it had identified more than 500 people who had potentially come into contact with Ebola patients in the country. It said they would be closely monitored for symptoms of the disease and were likely to be among the first to be given an Ebola vaccine, which - although still in the experimental stage - proved effective during a trial. The WHO said some health workers had become infected with Ebola. WHO has previously admitted that it was too slow to respond to a deadly Ebola outbreak in West Africa from 2014-2016 that killed more than 11,000 people. One teacher in the region told the BBC's Newsday programme that people had stopped shaking hands when they greet. Ziko Ilema said: \"I tried to greet a friend by shaking hands and he said: 'No, did you forget that Ebola is here?'\" \"They forbid people to greet by using hands, eating animals from the forest, and people are now living with fear,\" he added. Ebola is thought to be spread over long distances by fruit bats and is often transmitted to humans eating contaminated bushmeat - meat from wild animals such as monkeys or antelopes. Bars, restaurants and offices in Mbandaka have started to provide soap and basins of water for people to wash their hands as a way to prevent the spread of the disease, according to the AFP news agency. It also reports that officials are using infrared thermometers at the city's river ports to scan travellers in case they have a fever. \"But we don't have enough of the thermometers, so people are crowding up and getting annoyed,\" said Joseph Dangbele, an official at the private Menge port. Health Minister Oly Ilunga has announced that all healthcare in the affected areas would be free. WHO says that of the 45 Ebola cases reported, 14 are confirmed, 21 are probable, and 10 are suspected. They were recorded in Congo's Equateur province. Mbandaka is the provincial capital. Mr Salama said that isolation and rudimentary management facilities had been set up in the city. He said the disease could have been taken there by people who attended the funeral of an Ebola victim in Bikoro, south of Mbandaka, before travelling to the city. On Wednesday more than 4,000 doses of an experimental vaccine sent by the WHO arrived in Kinshasa with another batch expected soon. These would be given as a priority to people in Mbandaka who had been in contact with those suspected of carrying the Ebola virus before people in any other affected area, Mr Salama said. The vaccine, from pharmaceutical firm Merck, is unlicensed but was effective in limited trials during the West Africa outbreak. However, it needs to be stored at a temperature of between -60 and -80 C, which is a challenge in DR Congo because electricity supplies are unreliable. WHO said health workers had identified 430 people who may have had contact with the disease and were working to trace more than 4,000 contacts of Ebola patients who had spread across north-west DR Congo. Many of these people were in remote areas, Mr Salama said. This is the ninth outbreak of Ebola in DR Congo - it was named after the country's Ebola river. Ebola can be introduced into the human population through contact with the blood, organs or other bodily fluids of infected animals. These can include chimpanzees, gorillas, monkeys, antelope and porcupines. It is not possible to eradicate all the animals who might be a host for Ebola. As long as humans come in contact with them, there is always a possibility that Ebola could return.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 858, "answer_end": 1914, "text": "At an emergency meeting, WHO experts said that \"the conditions for a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) have not currently been met\". Had they decided otherwise, a larger response to the outbreak would have been triggered. Although Ebola had already spread to an urban area, the experts said they believed the outbreak could be brought under control. They also stressed that it was \"particularly important there should be no international travel or trade restrictions\". The WHO said it had identified more than 500 people who had potentially come into contact with Ebola patients in the country. It said they would be closely monitored for symptoms of the disease and were likely to be among the first to be given an Ebola vaccine, which - although still in the experimental stage - proved effective during a trial. The WHO said some health workers had become infected with Ebola. WHO has previously admitted that it was too slow to respond to a deadly Ebola outbreak in West Africa from 2014-2016 that killed more than 11,000 people."}], "question": "What did WHO conclude?", "id": "341_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3045, "answer_end": 4355, "text": "WHO says that of the 45 Ebola cases reported, 14 are confirmed, 21 are probable, and 10 are suspected. They were recorded in Congo's Equateur province. Mbandaka is the provincial capital. Mr Salama said that isolation and rudimentary management facilities had been set up in the city. He said the disease could have been taken there by people who attended the funeral of an Ebola victim in Bikoro, south of Mbandaka, before travelling to the city. On Wednesday more than 4,000 doses of an experimental vaccine sent by the WHO arrived in Kinshasa with another batch expected soon. These would be given as a priority to people in Mbandaka who had been in contact with those suspected of carrying the Ebola virus before people in any other affected area, Mr Salama said. The vaccine, from pharmaceutical firm Merck, is unlicensed but was effective in limited trials during the West Africa outbreak. However, it needs to be stored at a temperature of between -60 and -80 C, which is a challenge in DR Congo because electricity supplies are unreliable. WHO said health workers had identified 430 people who may have had contact with the disease and were working to trace more than 4,000 contacts of Ebola patients who had spread across north-west DR Congo. Many of these people were in remote areas, Mr Salama said."}], "question": "What is being done to contain the outbreak?", "id": "341_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 4356, "answer_end": 4838, "text": "This is the ninth outbreak of Ebola in DR Congo - it was named after the country's Ebola river. Ebola can be introduced into the human population through contact with the blood, organs or other bodily fluids of infected animals. These can include chimpanzees, gorillas, monkeys, antelope and porcupines. It is not possible to eradicate all the animals who might be a host for Ebola. As long as humans come in contact with them, there is always a possibility that Ebola could return."}], "question": "Why does Ebola keep returning?", "id": "341_2"}]}]}, {"title": "International Women's Day: Eight moments that make it the Year of the Woman", "date": "8 March 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "The #MeToo movement against male harassment has empowered women in the US and elsewhere, but it is not the only women's movement to have an impact over the last year. We asked BBC journalists to choose other key triumphs that have made this a momentous year for women around the world. The #MeToo movement to expose harassment has become a worldwide phenomenon, but in a country like China - a one-party state with strict censorship - women have fewer ways to challenge the status quo. That hasn't stopped them from using a combination of two emojis - a bowl of rice and a rabbit - to get round the authorities. In early January, Luo Xixi, a female graduate of a well-known Beijing university wrote an open letter on Chinese social media platform Weibo describing her former professor had tried to pressure her into sex. The university launched  an investigation which found Chen Xiaowu guilty of sexual harassment and removed him from his post. While this has happened in China before, the issue has for the most part been ignored in public discourse. This time it was different. What followed was a movement spearheaded by Chinese feminists, university students and alumni across China, but soon some universities warned students to tone down their activism. There were reports of open letters being deleted and hashtags censored. \"Rice bunny\" - which in Mandarin Chinese is pronounced \"mi tu\" - became a nickname for the movement. Rice bunnies might sound cute, but they have given Chinese women a tool to discuss their experience of sexual harassment without fear of censorship. Reporting by Lara Owen, East Asia Women's Affairs Journalist 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. On 8 March, BBC 100 Women will be showcasing inspirational stories from women in the UK and across the world. Follow BBC 100 Women on Instagram and Facebook and join the conversation. Two female flight attendants sued the major Russian airline Aeroflot for alleged discrimination in September, saying they had been shifted to less lucrative routes because of their body size. While more young female activists talk about the importance of body positive attitude, a lot of people in Russia still believe that in order to be successful a woman should be young, thin and conventionally sexually attractive. Evgenia Magurina and Irina Ierusalimskaya learned this the hard way when, after six and 19 years respectively of working for Aeroflot, their salaries dropped by 30% in summer 2016. When they confronted their bosses they were told they didn't meet the size limit Aeroflot had set for its cabin crew. This was a Russian size 48 - about a UK 14 or US 12. That's why, instead of long-haul flights - to Miami for example -  they had been relegated to shorter night trips around Russia, \"so no-one will see us\" they told the BBC. The two flight attendants lost their first case in court, which angered many on social media, but later won on appeal. The judge ruled that Aeroflot had to pay them their full salaries and also awarded both women compensation for emotional distress. Although the compensation was purely symbolic - 5,000 roubles (PS65) each - Ms Magurina and Ms Ierusalimskaya were pleased with the outcome as the court also told the airline to eliminate the article in its regulations concerning body size. Reporting by Nina Nazarova, Russia Women's Affairs Journalist Beauty pageants continue to draw huge audiences in Latin America. That's probably not surprising given that Latin American candidates have won more than 20 of the Miss Universe pageants since they started in 1952. Traditional ideas of female beauty are still held high in Latin American societies where machismo rules and women are meant to, above all, look pretty. That's also why plastic surgery is so popular, not just with the rich, but across society. Pageants are also seen as a chance for young women, who may lack other opportunities, to get highly paid jobs as models, in advertising or in TV - as well as to travel, if not the world, than at least the country. There has been some criticism of their prevalence in the region. In 2012 the then-governor of the Colombian province of Antioquia banned pageants from schools. \"School is for studying, not for runways,\" he said, and promoted science competitions instead. But even so beauty pageants in the region have generally remained politics-free zones, except for the often-expressed desire of contestants for \"world peace\". So it came as a total surprise when participants in Peru's Miss Universe pageant came on stage one by one in October reciting not their bust, waist and hip measurements but statistics of gender violence. \"My measurements are: 2,202 cases of reported murders of women in the last year in my country,\" one contestant said. \"My measurements are: 70% of women have been harassed in the street,\" said another. While the statements had been planned with the organisers of the event, the statistics came as a surprise to viewers, many of whom had tuned in for an evening of light entertainment. Some said that the pageant was not the right forum, but many more supported the move and expressed their solidarity on social media under the hashtag #MisMedidasSon (#MyMeasurementsAre). Reporting by Vanessa Buschschluter, Latin America and Caribbean editor, BBC News website In the terrible aftermath of the Valentine's Day fatal shooting in Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, Florida, a young woman emerged to spit out the collective fury of her fellow students. Tearful but impassioned, 18-year-old Emma Gonzalez crystallised the indignation and grief of her community in an eloquent and rhetorical address. \"I am going to happily ask [US President Trump] how much money he received from the National Rifle Association [NRA],\" she said, adding, \"OK. You want to know something? It doesn't matter because I already know,\" she proclaimed. \"$30 million!\", she went on. \"And divided by the number of gunshot victims in the United States, in the one and one-half months in 2018 alone, that comes out to being $5,800 [per victim]. Is that how much these people are worth to you, Trump?\" As a Latina, bisexual woman Ms Gonzalez represents many of the communities who have felt victimised ever since President Trump came to power, but her speech was anything but disempowered. \"This is the movement that you're going to read about in a text book one day,\" she told the BBC. \"You're either killing the children or you are saving them.\" Reporting by Sarah Buckley, 100 Women Journalist In Afghanistan's largely conservative society, calling and identifying a woman in public by her first name is taboo. Indeed in many parts of Afghanistan it is considered a disgrace for men if their mother, sister, wife or daughter's first name is known to men outside their family. It is not a legal ban, but rather a cultural barrier. On everything from wedding invitations to gravestones, women's names are left off - they are usually referred to simply as 'the daughter of Mr X', or simply, 'Miss'. In public women are simply referred to as 'the wife of', 'the mother of', or 'the daughter of', a man. Last year Afghan women started an online campaign called #WhereIsMyName, aimed at breaking this taboo and reclaiming women's identities. Laleh Osmani, one of the campaign organisers, was motivated to start the campaign when she came across the death notice of the wife of a famous poet on Facebook. In the notice there was no mention of the name of the deceased, or her female relatives. She realised that even among the intellectual elite, who might be expected to be more open minded, this tradition was being upheld. The women behind the campaign urged clerics and mullahs to help change the culture surrounding women's identities. Reporting by Faranak Amidi, Middle East Women's Affairs Journalist An unusual rebellion took centre stage in India during the hot summer, featuring hundreds of selfies using the middle finger. The Hindi-language film Lipstick Under My Burkha was finally released in India, examining the lives and desires of four women from small-town India, after a six-month legal tussle with the film censors. It had initially been refused certification for being too \"lady oriented\" with \"continuous sex scenes\", \"abusive words\" and \"audio pornography\". The Censor Board did not elaborate on these objections but it is not unusual for it to suggest cuts or ban films altogether, and film makers often have to approach higher tribunals to get their films passed. In the recent past, the board has been criticised by the film industry for being irrational and making decisions on an inconsistent basis. It has been asked to edit out scenes involving sex and violence, swear words or even a kiss. The director of Lipstick Under My Burkha, Alankrita Shrivastava, told the BBC, \"The Central Board of Film Certification is outdated and illogical. Its members have no idea about gender issues and gender politics.\" Bollywood has traditionally shied away from being very confrontational, but that is changing. For Ms Shrivastava and the makers of her film, just getting the certification (with some cuts) was not enough. They launched a new poster that used lipstick as the middle finger of a woman's hand. The female leads of the film then all posted similar photos, using the hashtag #LipstickRebellion, and the trend caught on. For more than a month, as the film was being shown, both actors and the public - both men and women - posted selfies giving the middle finger to patriarchy. Reporting by Divya Arya, South Asia Women's Affairs Journalist In many communities in Arabic cultures, women who have been raped are seen as a source of shame for their families and so the crime is hidden to avoid a scandal. Women are neither socially nor legally supported to speak up and the rapists who are identified are legally exempt from punishment if they marry their victims. It is not easy to explain how powerful this patriarchal mindset is, but it lives in a context in which sex outside of marriage is not acceptable for women. Indeed in many cultures, being a virgin is a prerequisite for future wives. Last summer, Tunisia, Lebanon and Jordan scrapped the laws which saved rapists from jail if they married their victims. This is something local activists have been pushing for for years. In Lebanon, for example, in one of the campaigns more than 30 white wedding dresses were hung from nooses between the palm trees. Earlier, women dressed in wedding dresses made from bandages to protest against the law. Similarly, Jordanians launched an e-campaign to stress their demands. Egypt was the first Arabic country to scrap the law in 1999, but change is slow, and three countries in one year feels like a watershed moment. Reporting by Alma Hassoun, Arabic Women's Affairs Journalist On 19 July 2017 three men were sentenced to death for robbing, stripping, and sexually assaulting a female passenger for wearing a miniskirt at a public bus stop in Kenya's Githurai district. The case ruling was momentous for women not only in Kenya but all over Africa. This was one of two landmark cases involving the sexual assault and violent robbery of women on public transport in a country where women make up the majority of commuters. For many Kenyan women like Naomi Mwaura, a reproductive health and gender rights activist who helped organise the protest, \"this ruling is the strong message needed to criminalise violence against women and reaffirm the rights of women to live free of violence in public spaces, especially the transport industry\". Three years earlier, in November 2014, hundreds of people came together on the Nairobi streets for a historic march to protest the sexual violence of women in the capital, after a video of the attack surfaced online.  The protest was later coined #MyDressMyChoice and influenced the court's decision and became a global movement. The Kenyan's court pronouncement sent a clear signal to the rest of Africa that women's rights are not to be tampered with. \"I feel honoured to have supported the cause,\" said Ms Mwaura who helped organize the protest, \"and most importantly, to see justice in my lifetime.\" Reporting by Abigail Ony Nwaohuocha, Africa Women's Affairs Journalist", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1644, "answer_end": 2044, "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. On 8 March, BBC 100 Women will be showcasing inspirational stories from women in the UK and across the world. Follow BBC 100 Women on Instagram and Facebook and join the conversation."}], "question": "What is 100 Women?", "id": "342_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Argentines debate Kirchners' cultural legacy", "date": "10 December 2015", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Only 500m (0.3 miles) from the presidential palace in Buenos Aires, there is a grandiose eight-storey building that occupies an entire block. It is Latin America's largest cultural centre, with 116,000 sq m of galleries, auditoriums and concert halls. It is one of the most visible legacies of former presidents Nestor Kirchner and his wife Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner. After 12 years in power - which come to an end on Thursday with the swearing-in of president-elect Mauricio Macri - it is an example of one of their more controversial policies. Some say the centre is an overpriced vanity project, while others argue it is a necessary investment in an underfunded area. The controversy starts with its name, engraved on the building's front: Centro Cultural Kirchner. \"We would all be saying great things about this centre if it had a different name,\" explains Dario Loperfido, the newly-appointed culture minister for the city of Buenos Aires. \"The government pretended to build a place that gives importance to culture, but what stands out is the concept of self-glorification,\" he says. Outgoing President Fernandez de Kirchner inaugurated the centre in May 2015, dedicating it to her late husband and predecessor in office, Nestor Kirchner. Before it housed the cultural centre, the building was the headquarters of the Post Office. Mr Kirchner was a child when he first entered it with his father, a Post Office employee. When it first opened in 1928, the Palacio de Correos (Post Office Palace) was the largest public building in Argentina. It was so grandiose that in the 1940s, the president at the time, Juan Domingo Peron, spent a lot of time there as his wife, Eva Peron, had her foundation's headquarters inside the building. In 2010 - after the Post Office had moved to a smaller, more modern building - it became the new home of the Bicentennial Cultural Centre. This was a few months before Mr Kirchner's death. Two years later, Ms Fernandez de Kirchner signed a presidential decree changing the centre's name to that of her late husband. Aside from its controversial name, the state-run centre has been widely welcomed by musicians and music lovers. Architects worked closely with Argentina's National Symphony Orchestra in order to create a state-of-the-art concert hall. Original frescos, stuccos, marble hallways and stained-glass ceilings were maintained while the rest of the building - which was initially destined as offices and was not as magnificent - was completely transformed, using new, modern materials. The Ballena Azul (Blue Whale) concert hall was mounted on shock-absorbing stilts and suspended in the middle of the building in order to avoid the vibrations created by the underground, which runs below the building. The concert hall has since become the permanent seat of the National Symphony Orchestra, which had been homeless since its foundation in 1948. Several Argentine-born musicians working abroad are being invited to play with the orchestra, which finally has a proper rehearsal space. \"Having a home, like in normal life, brings a sense of belonging,\" says Mariano Chiacchiarini, an Argentine conductor based in Germany who has been working with the National Symphony Orchestra over the past months. But critics question the sustainability of the centre, which cost the government $2.5 million (PS1.6 million). It charges no entry fee and also takes its shows and workshops to other provinces for free. This is in stark contrast with other art spaces in Buenos Aires. At the Colon Theatre, an opera ticket costs up to 3,000 pesos ($300; PS200), half the monthly minimum wage. Mr Loperfido, who is the director of the Colon Theatre as well as the city's culture minister, says that in the long run it is not possible to sustain a place of excellence without charging. \"Things are never free,\" he argues. \"Everybody pays through taxes. It's best to charge fewer taxes and let people do what they want with their money.\" Others allege the centre is not politically independent. Federico Andahazi, one of Argentina's best-known contemporary writers and an outspoken critic of the Kirchner era, says the centre is \"a perfect metaphor of these [Kirchner] years\". \"Kirchnerism used culture to advertise itself.\" Looking at the programme, there are plenty of signs of political affiliation, such as the permanent exhibit celebrating the life of President Nestor Kirchner. But a large part of the programming has undoubted artistic value. For example, in July, the symphony hosted Argentina's own Martha Argerich, one of the world's great classical pianists. Over one million people tried to book tickets for the concert in the auditorium, which can seat just under 2,000 people. Public television broadcast the show live. Playwright Mauricio Kartun says the centre may appear excessive in terms of size and offer, \"but when one compares it with the huge cultural offer and demand in Buenos Aires, it seems quite appropriate\". He believes that access to culture is as important as access to health and education and should be managed by the state. \"Culture is not an ornament or a pastime. Culture is a door to inclusion,\" he argues. When he moves into the presidential palace on Thursday, newly elected President Mauricio Macri will be within earshot of the centre. Vanity project or not, Buenos Aires' music and culture lovers are hoping his government will continue to invest in the centre so it can establish itself as a cultural hub free from political ties.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 676, "answer_end": 1432, "text": "The controversy starts with its name, engraved on the building's front: Centro Cultural Kirchner. \"We would all be saying great things about this centre if it had a different name,\" explains Dario Loperfido, the newly-appointed culture minister for the city of Buenos Aires. \"The government pretended to build a place that gives importance to culture, but what stands out is the concept of self-glorification,\" he says. Outgoing President Fernandez de Kirchner inaugurated the centre in May 2015, dedicating it to her late husband and predecessor in office, Nestor Kirchner. Before it housed the cultural centre, the building was the headquarters of the Post Office. Mr Kirchner was a child when he first entered it with his father, a Post Office employee."}], "question": "What's in a name?", "id": "343_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3971, "answer_end": 5507, "text": "Others allege the centre is not politically independent. Federico Andahazi, one of Argentina's best-known contemporary writers and an outspoken critic of the Kirchner era, says the centre is \"a perfect metaphor of these [Kirchner] years\". \"Kirchnerism used culture to advertise itself.\" Looking at the programme, there are plenty of signs of political affiliation, such as the permanent exhibit celebrating the life of President Nestor Kirchner. But a large part of the programming has undoubted artistic value. For example, in July, the symphony hosted Argentina's own Martha Argerich, one of the world's great classical pianists. Over one million people tried to book tickets for the concert in the auditorium, which can seat just under 2,000 people. Public television broadcast the show live. Playwright Mauricio Kartun says the centre may appear excessive in terms of size and offer, \"but when one compares it with the huge cultural offer and demand in Buenos Aires, it seems quite appropriate\". He believes that access to culture is as important as access to health and education and should be managed by the state. \"Culture is not an ornament or a pastime. Culture is a door to inclusion,\" he argues. When he moves into the presidential palace on Thursday, newly elected President Mauricio Macri will be within earshot of the centre. Vanity project or not, Buenos Aires' music and culture lovers are hoping his government will continue to invest in the centre so it can establish itself as a cultural hub free from political ties."}], "question": "Artistic freedom?", "id": "343_1"}]}]}, {"title": "Citizenship Amendment Bill: 'Anti-Muslim' law challenged in India court", "date": "12 December 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "A bill that grants Indian citizenship to non-Muslim illegal immigrants has been challenged in the Supreme Court. The Indian Union Muslim League, a political party, has petitioned the court to declare the bill illegal. The parliament on Wednesday passed the bill which applies to migrants from Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan. Critics say the bill is against Muslims, but the ruling Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has defended it. The BJP says the Citizenship Amendment Bill (CAB) will give sanctuary to people fleeing religious persecution. In their petition to the Supreme Court, the Indian Union Muslim League argued that the bill violated articles of equality, fundamental rights and the right to life. It was passed in the upper house of parliament by 125 votes to 105 on Wednesday. It had already cleared the lower house. It will become a law once the president signs it, which is a formality at this stage. The CAB has also triggered huge protests in the north-eastern state of Assam, forcing authorities to declare a curfew and shut down internet services. Prime Minister Narendra Modi sought to reassure people in Assam, telling them they had \"nothing to worry\" about. \"The Central Government and I are totally committed to constitutionally safeguard the political, linguistic, cultural and land rights of the Assamese people,\" he tweeted. However, with internet and mobile services still shut down, correspondents say it is unlikely residents would have been able to read his tweets. The situation in Assam remains tense, as people defied curfew to protest in the state capital, Guwahati, on Thursday morning. Train services are suspended and some airlines have started offering rescheduling or cancellation fee waivers. Protests have also taken place in the north-eastern state of Tripura which borders Bangladesh. People in Assam and Tripura fear that they will be \"overrun\" by illegal non-Muslim migrants from neighbouring Bangladesh. The army has been sent into the state of Tripura and thousands of troops have been deployed to Assam. The chief minister of Assam was stranded at the airport for several hours on Wednesday because roads were blocked by protests. A curfew was declared in the state capital and internet and mobile services were blocked in a number of districts to try to prevent further violence. Violent anti-migrant protests in the same region meant that the bill could not be passed in the upper house when it was tabled ahead of general elections earlier this year. The protesters are particularly vocal in Assam, which in August saw two million residents left off a citizens' register. Illegal migration from Bangladesh has long been a concern in the state. The CAB is seen as being linked to the register, although it is not the same thing. The National Register of Citizens (NRC) is a list of people who can prove they came to the state by 24 March 1971, a day before neighbouring Bangladesh became an independent country. In the run-up to its publication, the BJP had supported the NRC, but changed tack days before the final list was published, saying it was error-ridden. The reason for that was a lot of Bengali Hindus - a strong voter base for the BJP - were also left out of the list, and would possibly become illegal immigrants. The CAB will help protect non-Muslims who are excluded from the register and face the threat of deportation or internment. Those protesting against the bill say it is part of the BJP's agenda to marginalise Muslims and violates India's secular principles. \"Muslims are already being persecuted. This will make them more vulnerable,\" a participant at a protest against the bill in Delhi told the BBC. More than 700 eminent Indian personalities, including jurists, lawyers, academics and actors, have signed a statement \"categorically\" condemning the bill. It says that the government seems \"intent on causing huge upheavals within Indian society\". Many others have questioned why it only refers to non-Muslim migrants from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan, when minorities from other neighbouring countries were also being persecuted. Tamil film superstar-turned-politician Kamal Haasan asked why the same courtesy was not being extended to Sri Lankan migrants from minority communities. In parliament as well, a number of opposition parties and politicians raised similar concerns. Prominent Muslim MP Asaddudin Owaisi said it was \"worse than Hitler's laws and a conspiracy to make Muslims stateless\". A senior leader of the main opposition Congress party, Rahul Gandhi, said anyone supporting the bill was \"destroying India's foundation\". And a leading regional politician Akhilesh Yadav called it a \"divisive plot to divert attention\" from the failures of the government. But BJP leaders, including Home Minister Amit Shah, say the bill is not against Muslims. \"The Muslims of this country don't have to worry about anything. But should the Muslims of Pakistan be made citizens? Should Muslims from Bangladesh and Afghanistan and the rest of the world also be given citizenship? The country cannot run like this. The citizenship will be given only to persecuted religious minorities only from these three countries,\" Mr Shah said in parliament.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1846, "answer_end": 3416, "text": "People in Assam and Tripura fear that they will be \"overrun\" by illegal non-Muslim migrants from neighbouring Bangladesh. The army has been sent into the state of Tripura and thousands of troops have been deployed to Assam. The chief minister of Assam was stranded at the airport for several hours on Wednesday because roads were blocked by protests. A curfew was declared in the state capital and internet and mobile services were blocked in a number of districts to try to prevent further violence. Violent anti-migrant protests in the same region meant that the bill could not be passed in the upper house when it was tabled ahead of general elections earlier this year. The protesters are particularly vocal in Assam, which in August saw two million residents left off a citizens' register. Illegal migration from Bangladesh has long been a concern in the state. The CAB is seen as being linked to the register, although it is not the same thing. The National Register of Citizens (NRC) is a list of people who can prove they came to the state by 24 March 1971, a day before neighbouring Bangladesh became an independent country. In the run-up to its publication, the BJP had supported the NRC, but changed tack days before the final list was published, saying it was error-ridden. The reason for that was a lot of Bengali Hindus - a strong voter base for the BJP - were also left out of the list, and would possibly become illegal immigrants. The CAB will help protect non-Muslims who are excluded from the register and face the threat of deportation or internment."}], "question": "Why are there protests in the north-east?", "id": "344_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3417, "answer_end": 5244, "text": "Those protesting against the bill say it is part of the BJP's agenda to marginalise Muslims and violates India's secular principles. \"Muslims are already being persecuted. This will make them more vulnerable,\" a participant at a protest against the bill in Delhi told the BBC. More than 700 eminent Indian personalities, including jurists, lawyers, academics and actors, have signed a statement \"categorically\" condemning the bill. It says that the government seems \"intent on causing huge upheavals within Indian society\". Many others have questioned why it only refers to non-Muslim migrants from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan, when minorities from other neighbouring countries were also being persecuted. Tamil film superstar-turned-politician Kamal Haasan asked why the same courtesy was not being extended to Sri Lankan migrants from minority communities. In parliament as well, a number of opposition parties and politicians raised similar concerns. Prominent Muslim MP Asaddudin Owaisi said it was \"worse than Hitler's laws and a conspiracy to make Muslims stateless\". A senior leader of the main opposition Congress party, Rahul Gandhi, said anyone supporting the bill was \"destroying India's foundation\". And a leading regional politician Akhilesh Yadav called it a \"divisive plot to divert attention\" from the failures of the government. But BJP leaders, including Home Minister Amit Shah, say the bill is not against Muslims. \"The Muslims of this country don't have to worry about anything. But should the Muslims of Pakistan be made citizens? Should Muslims from Bangladesh and Afghanistan and the rest of the world also be given citizenship? The country cannot run like this. The citizenship will be given only to persecuted religious minorities only from these three countries,\" Mr Shah said in parliament."}], "question": "What are critics saying?", "id": "344_1"}]}]}, {"title": "Trump and Macron hint at new Iran nuclear deal", "date": "25 April 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "US President Donald Trump and his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron have suggested there could be a new agreement on Iran's nuclear programme. After talks in the US, Mr Trump, who is sceptical of an accord that was struck in 2015, spoke about \"doing a much bigger, maybe, deal\". Mr Macron said a new pact must cover Iran's ballistic missile programme and its role in the Middle East. Iran warned of \"severe consequences\" if the US withdraws from the deal. In 2015, Iran agreed to mothball its nuclear programme in return for an easing of economic sanctions on Iran. The US president has been threatening to reject an extension of the Obama-era nuclear pact reached between Tehran and world powers by a 12 May deadline. Mr Macron had been lobbying Mr Trump to stick with the deal, saying there was no better option. Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel is due to visit the US on Friday to make a last-minute bid to dissuade Mr Trump from potentially torpedoing the agreement. Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif was quoted as saying that Tehran would \"most likely\" abandon the accord if the US pulled out. \"I think we will have a great shot at doing a much bigger, maybe, deal,\" the US president said, adding that any new agreement must be built on \"solid foundations\". \"They should have made a deal that covered Yemen, that covered Syria, that covered other parts of the Middle East,\" said Mr Trump, referring to the 2015 accord which he described as \"insane\". Meanwhile, Mr Macron agreed that Tehran's influence in the region must be part of negotiations. He also stressed that - as well as controlling Iran's nuclear programme for the next decade as envisaged by the current agreement - a fresh deal would need to cover its nuclear activities longer-term, as well as its ballistic missile programme. And he talked about working with President Trump to build a \"new framework\" in the Middle East - and especially in Syria. Mr Macron said he did not know whether Mr Trump would extend the 12 May deadline, adding: \"I can say that we have had very frank discussions on that, just the two of us.\" Mr Trump earlier warned Iran against resuming its nuclear programme. \"They're not going to be restarting anything. They restart it they're going to have big problems, bigger than they've ever had before.\" Analysis by the BBC's Barbara Plett Usher The visit was a strange mix. On the one hand, a display of stark differences - Mr Macron almost channelling an anti-Trump in his opening admonition to resist \"aggressive nationalism\" and \"build a new multilateralism.\" On the other hand, an overt display of deliberate chumminess punctuated with tussling handshakes and capped by the very odd dandruff episode, where Mr Trump seemed to hover between playfulness and aggression. But whether or not the French president felt humiliated by the bout of unexpected grooming, he did manage to get Mr Trump's attention on the Iran nuclear accord. He framed his appeal to preserve the deal with the promise of a \"bigger, better\" one. In other words, build on the existing agreement to address its flaws, rather than scrap it and start fresh. Whether or not this is possible is an open question. But the suggestion was enough to intrigue Mr Trump. His tone changed, moving from a blistering harangue of the deal before the meeting to something more considered - although still noncommittal - afterwards. And that shows the influence of personal engagement with the president, from someone who - like Mr Macron - knows how to talk to him. On Monday, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani threatened \"severe consequences\" if the US withdrew from the deal. Meanwhile, Mr Zarif said just hours before the Trump-Macron summit that a probable response would be to restart the enrichment of uranium - a key bomb-making ingredient. \"You cannot stop the process or not engage just because of a fear of failure. But at least you need to have some hope of success, some prospect for success, in order for this process to start,\" the Iranian foreign minister was quoted as saying by Reuters. \"And I do not believe that, under the present circumstances, with the present tone, and language and approach of the current administration in Washington, you would have much prospect.\" Iran maintains its nuclear programme is solely for peaceful civilian purposes. The US president has long complained that the accord - signed by the US, Iran, Europe, Russia, China and Germany - does nothing to halt Iran's support for militant groups in the region such as Hezbollah. Mr Trump is also demanding that signatories to the pact agree permanent restrictions on Iran's uranium enrichment. Under the current deal they are set to expire in 2025. Mr Macron, on a three-day visit to the US, is the first foreign leader to be treated to a state visit during the Trump presidency. President Macron and his wife, Brigitte, attended a state dinner in their honour at the White House on Tuesday. Guests included former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger and Apple chief executive Tim Cook. \"May our friendship grow even deeper, may our kinship grow even stronger, and may our sacred liberty never die,\" Mr Trump said in his toast. In response, Mr Macron spoke of \"how deep, how strong, and how intense the relationship is between our two countries\". \"I got to know you, you got to know me. We both know that none of us easily changes our minds, but we will work together, and we have this ability to listen to one another,\" he said. The Iran deal is not the only potential source of discord between the two leaders. Also on the agenda is the Paris climate accord, the US decision to recognise Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, and planned US tariffs on EU steel and aluminium. Mr Trump thanked France for joining the US and Britain earlier this month in launching air strikes after an alleged chemical attack in Syria.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1105, "answer_end": 2299, "text": "\"I think we will have a great shot at doing a much bigger, maybe, deal,\" the US president said, adding that any new agreement must be built on \"solid foundations\". \"They should have made a deal that covered Yemen, that covered Syria, that covered other parts of the Middle East,\" said Mr Trump, referring to the 2015 accord which he described as \"insane\". Meanwhile, Mr Macron agreed that Tehran's influence in the region must be part of negotiations. He also stressed that - as well as controlling Iran's nuclear programme for the next decade as envisaged by the current agreement - a fresh deal would need to cover its nuclear activities longer-term, as well as its ballistic missile programme. And he talked about working with President Trump to build a \"new framework\" in the Middle East - and especially in Syria. Mr Macron said he did not know whether Mr Trump would extend the 12 May deadline, adding: \"I can say that we have had very frank discussions on that, just the two of us.\" Mr Trump earlier warned Iran against resuming its nuclear programme. \"They're not going to be restarting anything. They restart it they're going to have big problems, bigger than they've ever had before.\""}], "question": "What did Trump and Macron say in Washington?", "id": "345_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3520, "answer_end": 4321, "text": "On Monday, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani threatened \"severe consequences\" if the US withdrew from the deal. Meanwhile, Mr Zarif said just hours before the Trump-Macron summit that a probable response would be to restart the enrichment of uranium - a key bomb-making ingredient. \"You cannot stop the process or not engage just because of a fear of failure. But at least you need to have some hope of success, some prospect for success, in order for this process to start,\" the Iranian foreign minister was quoted as saying by Reuters. \"And I do not believe that, under the present circumstances, with the present tone, and language and approach of the current administration in Washington, you would have much prospect.\" Iran maintains its nuclear programme is solely for peaceful civilian purposes."}], "question": "What was Iran's response?", "id": "345_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 4322, "answer_end": 4695, "text": "The US president has long complained that the accord - signed by the US, Iran, Europe, Russia, China and Germany - does nothing to halt Iran's support for militant groups in the region such as Hezbollah. Mr Trump is also demanding that signatories to the pact agree permanent restrictions on Iran's uranium enrichment. Under the current deal they are set to expire in 2025."}], "question": "What are Trump's objections to the 2015 accord?", "id": "345_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 4696, "answer_end": 5863, "text": "Mr Macron, on a three-day visit to the US, is the first foreign leader to be treated to a state visit during the Trump presidency. President Macron and his wife, Brigitte, attended a state dinner in their honour at the White House on Tuesday. Guests included former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger and Apple chief executive Tim Cook. \"May our friendship grow even deeper, may our kinship grow even stronger, and may our sacred liberty never die,\" Mr Trump said in his toast. In response, Mr Macron spoke of \"how deep, how strong, and how intense the relationship is between our two countries\". \"I got to know you, you got to know me. We both know that none of us easily changes our minds, but we will work together, and we have this ability to listen to one another,\" he said. The Iran deal is not the only potential source of discord between the two leaders. Also on the agenda is the Paris climate accord, the US decision to recognise Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, and planned US tariffs on EU steel and aluminium. Mr Trump thanked France for joining the US and Britain earlier this month in launching air strikes after an alleged chemical attack in Syria."}], "question": "What about other issues discussed in Washington?", "id": "345_3"}]}]}, {"title": "Five facts about Qatar you might not know", "date": "5 June 2017", "paragraphs": [{"context": "The sovereign state of Qatar is currently at the centre of a storm, with its neighbours cutting off diplomatic relations. But this is not a country which often finds itself dominating the headlines. So what do people actually know about Qatar, apart from it hosting the football World Cup in 2022? Here are five facts to get you started. In a country of about 2.5 million people, there are fewer than 700,000 women. This imbalance can be attributed to Qatar's sudden population explosion: this is a state built by immigrants, who are overwhelmingly young and male. The promise of a job has meant people have flooded into Qatar - which is about the same size as Yorkshire - in recent years, taking its population from less than 700,000 in 2003, to an estimated 2.5 million in 2016. While there are female migrants, the vast majority are men building the infrastructure needed for the upcoming World Cup. They come from all over the world, although the largest numbers come from India and Nepal, making Hindus the third largest religious group in the country, after Muslims and Christians, according to the CIA's World Factbook. However, despite the promise of work and a better future, several reports in recent years have said migrants are being forced to work in appalling conditions, with more than half still living in labour camps around the country. Qatar has promised to improve life for its workers, but Amnesty International's report for 2016/17 said they  \"continued to face exploitation and abuse\". Qatar has been busy over the last decade or so buying up large swathes of London. Its portfolio includes, but is not limited to, the Shard, Harrods, Chelsea Barracks and the Olympic Village, as well having a stake in Canary Wharf. Ali Shareef al-Emadi, the country's finance minister, told the BBC in March he estimated the country had \"more than PS35bn to PS40bn ($45bn to $51bn) of investments already in the UK\". What's more, Mr Emadi said the country was planning to invest another PS5bn in the UK over the next three to five years - including more property. Qatar is known as a conservative country, yet, in the last few years it has sponsored a number of exhibitions - including hosting the somewhat controversial artist Damien Hirst's first solo retrospective in the Middle East, in 2013. The same year Sheikha al-Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani - the sister of the emir, and head of Qatar Museums Authority - topped the Art Review's Power 100. - Read more: Qatar's influence over the art world At one time, it was rumoured she was spending up to $1bn a year on art, with work from Andy Warhol, Mark Rothko, Paul Gauguin and Paul Cezanne all making their way into the collection. The country also boasts the Museum of Islamic Art in Doha, which opened in 2008. It is said to house one of the most comprehensive collections of Islamic art in the world, exhibiting works from across three continents and 1,400 years. Qatar's love of art has spilled over from the museums and into its public spaces. Indeed, anyone who has ever been through Doha's Hamad International Airport could not have missed the 23-foot yellow teddy sitting in the middle of the terminal. Lamp/Bear was created by Swiss artist Urs Fischer more than a decade ago, is cast from bronze and weighs almost 20 tonnes. According to Hamad International Airport's official description, the bear is a \"playful piece that humanises the space around it and reminds travellers of childhood or precious objects from home\". But this playful piece did not come cheap: the cast bronze sculpture was bought at auction in New York for $6.8m (PS5.3m) back in 2011. How does such a small country pay for all this? Well, thanks to its oil and gas reserves, as well as some good investments, Qatar has the highest GDP per capita in the world. In 2016, it was $129,700 (PS100,500) - more than $20,000 higher than the next closest country, Luxembourg, the CIA's World Factbook said. At the other end of the scale, Somalia's GDP was estimated to be just $400 per head. However, Qatar's wealth is in no way equally spread. The former Emir, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, is reportedly worth $2.4bn.  But migrants interviewed by the BBC in 2015 revealed they were earning as little as $350 a month.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1509, "answer_end": 2071, "text": "Qatar has been busy over the last decade or so buying up large swathes of London. Its portfolio includes, but is not limited to, the Shard, Harrods, Chelsea Barracks and the Olympic Village, as well having a stake in Canary Wharf. Ali Shareef al-Emadi, the country's finance minister, told the BBC in March he estimated the country had \"more than PS35bn to PS40bn ($45bn to $51bn) of investments already in the UK\". What's more, Mr Emadi said the country was planning to invest another PS5bn in the UK over the next three to five years - including more property."}], "question": "London's biggest landlords?", "id": "346_0"}]}]}, {"title": "The race for North Carolina's early votes", "date": "26 September 2016", "paragraphs": [{"context": "There are 44 days to go until the American presidency is decided, on 8 November. But that is misleading. Go to any campaign headquarters in the swing states, and you'll find out why. I visited one of Hillary Clinton's 33 offices in North Carolina a few days ago and listened to some of the volunteers calling voters. One of their first questions was - are you going to vote early? In that state, which Donald Trump must win if he's to have a genuine chance for victory (Mitt Romney squeaked home for the Republicans in 2012), Democrat campaigners expect about 50% of those who vote to have returned their ballots before polling day. Voting starts 17 days before 8 November; in some states it will be more than a month before. The point is that in states where both parties expect the race to be close - our old friend Ohio, Florida, North Carolina, Nevada, perhaps Arizona - organisation on the ground could make the difference. The campaign that gets the early voters out, and knows by early November which of its supporters haven't yet done their duty, is likely to win. After the debates are over - whether they skew the contest one way or another, or end up as a spectacular draw - that truth will become clear. And it's one of the principal differences in the two campaigns. Donald Trump's strength is in his outsider's appeal to people who are fed up, or bitter, about \"the system\" that has let them down. That is the case whether it is because their real incomes haven't recovered since the 2008 crash, or they haven't a job, or the college bills for the kids are through the roof, or because they've developed a deep antagonism to a political elite of which they see Hillary Clinton as the perfect representative. Talking, for example, to a tobacco farmer, Pat Short, in North Carolina - once a registered Democrat - I found the perfect expression of that attraction. Trump, he said, would hire good advisers, put together a team, and approach the country's problems like any businessman or farmer would. With practical solutions. With Clinton, it would be more of the same. So Trump is attracting support like that, measured in the polls as being just over 40% nationwide, on average in the last week or two between two and three points behind Clinton. But that doesn't tell the whole story. National polling reveals very little about what will happen on 8 November, in the state-by-state contest to decide the race, and what lies behind is the weakness that needs to be set against Trump's strength. His campaign has always been a one-man band. The big decisions are his, and everyone knows that although he may take pieces of advice day-by-day on how to rile his opponent the style will be set by him and no one else. Now that he has beside him Roger Ailes, recently forced out of Fox News by the Murdochs over sexual harassment claims, his instinct to play rough will certainly be encouraged. He will have a voice in his ear telling him to be \"the real Trump\" if he is ever tempted to cool down. That is likely to prove a handicap in the run-in to polling day, because it rests on a belief that he will always make the right call. And it also means that the focus of his campaign is more on tone than on organisation, many Republican old hands having stayed away from his campaign because of their distaste for it. Yet he badly needs a good ground game. Consider the mathematics of the electoral college, with the winner in each state taking all its electoral votes (corresponding roughly to population). The winner needs 270. If Trump wins everything taken by Romney in 2012 (including the finely-balanced North Carolina) he will have 206, and needs 64 more. Where will they come from? Ohio and Florida (where he and Clinton are neck and neck) wouldn't be enough. And the others that have been in play for Republicans in recent elections - Wisconsin, Michigan, Colorado - are leaning strongly to Clinton. Pennsylvania, which would do the trick, seems at the moment to be well out of reach. As Republicans know, it's a daunting picture. That's why talk among Trump true-believers of a silent majority waiting to rise is not enough. He needs better organisation and a bigger army of volunteers in the right places. How they must dream of the Clinton database, which Obama campaign managers of 2008 say is even better than the formidable machine they built, which in its day was a wonder. Victory won't depend just on rhetoric, but on getting out the vote. And it starts soon.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 2301, "answer_end": 3326, "text": "National polling reveals very little about what will happen on 8 November, in the state-by-state contest to decide the race, and what lies behind is the weakness that needs to be set against Trump's strength. His campaign has always been a one-man band. The big decisions are his, and everyone knows that although he may take pieces of advice day-by-day on how to rile his opponent the style will be set by him and no one else. Now that he has beside him Roger Ailes, recently forced out of Fox News by the Murdochs over sexual harassment claims, his instinct to play rough will certainly be encouraged. He will have a voice in his ear telling him to be \"the real Trump\" if he is ever tempted to cool down. That is likely to prove a handicap in the run-in to polling day, because it rests on a belief that he will always make the right call. And it also means that the focus of his campaign is more on tone than on organisation, many Republican old hands having stayed away from his campaign because of their distaste for it."}], "question": "One man band?", "id": "347_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Buzzfeed's Trump lawyer report not accurate - Mueller's office", "date": "19 January 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "US special counsel Robert Mueller has disputed a claim that President Trump told his long-time lawyer Michael Cohen to lie to Congress. Mr Mueller's office said the report by Buzzfeed was \"not accurate\". The website said that Cohen had told investigators that Donald Trump had instructed him to lie about plans to build a Trump Tower in Moscow. Mr Trump later denied the report saying his ex-lawyer had lied to investigators to \"reduce his jail time\". On Saturday the president thanked Mr Mueller's office, saying the statement was \"very appropriate\". Responding to the special counsel's statement, Buzzfeed editor-in-chief Ben Smith tweeted that he stood by the story. Democratic politicians have said they will investigate the allegations. In a brief statement, it said: \"Buzzfeed's description of specific statements to the Special Counsel's Office, and characterisation of documents and testimony obtained by this office, regarding Michael Cohen's Congressional testimony are not accurate.\" The statement did not say which parts of the BuzzFeed report were inaccurate. It is extremely rare for Mr Mueller's office to issue such a statement. The special counsel is investigating alleged Russian interference in the US presidential election and whether Trump campaign figures were complicit - a claim repeatedly denied by Mr Trump. Buzzfeed said its report was based on testimony from two unnamed law enforcement officials investigating the matter. Cohen told Congress that talks over the Trump Tower plan had taken place between September 2015 and January 2016, when the project was scrapped. But he now says that the talks lasted until June, when Mr Trump was a candidate for president. Quoting the officials, Buzzfeed said Cohen told the special counsel that after the November 2016 elections, Mr Trump \"personally instructed him to lie\" - by claiming that negotiations ended months earlier than they actually did - \"in order to obscure Trump's involvement\". Mr Mueller had already revealed that Cohen lied about the date the Moscow Trump Tower project ended. The Buzzfeed report also said Mr Trump had allegedly encouraged Cohen to plan a trip to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin during the election campaign. Cohen was sentenced to 36 months in jail in December after he pleaded guilty to lying to Congress over the Trump Tower plan. He also admitted campaign finance violations and tax evasion. In court he said his \"weakness was a blind loyalty to Donald Trump\" - whose \"dirty deeds\" he had felt compelled to cover up. Responding to the allegations in the report, Mr Trump said that Cohen was \"lying to reduce his jail time\". He then posted a tweet late on Friday questioning Buzzfeed's editorial judgment, referring to the website's decision to publish a dossier in 2017 that alleged collusion between his election team and Russia. \"Remember it was Buzzfeed that released the totally discredited \"Dossier,\" paid for by Crooked Hillary Clinton and the Democrats,\" he wrote in a Twitter post. Mr Mueller's investigation is still ongoing and it is unclear when he will submit his findings to the attorney general. It is up to the attorney general to notify Congress and decide whether the report will be released publicly. Mr Trump's nominee for attorney general, William Barr, who is currently undergoing confirmation in Congress, has said he will make as much of the Mueller report public as possible but has not promised to publish it all. So far Mr Mueller's investigation has led to charges against more than two dozen Russians, as well as several people connected to Mr Trump himself, including his former national security adviser and the former chairman of his election campaign. A number of them, including Cohen, are known to be co-operating with Mr Mueller's inquiry. Cohen must report to prison by 6 March, but before that, he has agreed to testify before the House Oversight Committee in February.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 742, "answer_end": 1333, "text": "In a brief statement, it said: \"Buzzfeed's description of specific statements to the Special Counsel's Office, and characterisation of documents and testimony obtained by this office, regarding Michael Cohen's Congressional testimony are not accurate.\" The statement did not say which parts of the BuzzFeed report were inaccurate. It is extremely rare for Mr Mueller's office to issue such a statement. The special counsel is investigating alleged Russian interference in the US presidential election and whether Trump campaign figures were complicit - a claim repeatedly denied by Mr Trump."}], "question": "What did Mueller's office say?", "id": "348_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1334, "answer_end": 2532, "text": "Buzzfeed said its report was based on testimony from two unnamed law enforcement officials investigating the matter. Cohen told Congress that talks over the Trump Tower plan had taken place between September 2015 and January 2016, when the project was scrapped. But he now says that the talks lasted until June, when Mr Trump was a candidate for president. Quoting the officials, Buzzfeed said Cohen told the special counsel that after the November 2016 elections, Mr Trump \"personally instructed him to lie\" - by claiming that negotiations ended months earlier than they actually did - \"in order to obscure Trump's involvement\". Mr Mueller had already revealed that Cohen lied about the date the Moscow Trump Tower project ended. The Buzzfeed report also said Mr Trump had allegedly encouraged Cohen to plan a trip to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin during the election campaign. Cohen was sentenced to 36 months in jail in December after he pleaded guilty to lying to Congress over the Trump Tower plan. He also admitted campaign finance violations and tax evasion. In court he said his \"weakness was a blind loyalty to Donald Trump\" - whose \"dirty deeds\" he had felt compelled to cover up."}], "question": "What did the Buzzfeed report say?", "id": "348_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2533, "answer_end": 3005, "text": "Responding to the allegations in the report, Mr Trump said that Cohen was \"lying to reduce his jail time\". He then posted a tweet late on Friday questioning Buzzfeed's editorial judgment, referring to the website's decision to publish a dossier in 2017 that alleged collusion between his election team and Russia. \"Remember it was Buzzfeed that released the totally discredited \"Dossier,\" paid for by Crooked Hillary Clinton and the Democrats,\" he wrote in a Twitter post."}], "question": "What has Mr Trump said?", "id": "348_2"}]}]}, {"title": "London Bridge attack: Sentencing row - who did what?", "date": "1 December 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Usman Khan's murderous rampage has thrown the spotlight on the way in which he was sentenced and how his sentence was reviewed and changed by the Court of Appeal. It has also led to claims and counter claims by Labour and the Conservatives over who was to blame for a sentencing regime which allowed Khan's automatic release with its tragic consequences. Sentencing is massively complex, even for lawyers and judges.  So, let's try and pick a way through the thicket of sentencing laws involved in this case and understand what happened. Usman Khan pleaded guilty and was convicted in January 2012 of engaging in conduct in preparation for acts of terrorism. Although the offence carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment, he was given a sentence of detention for public protection (DPP) with a minimum term in custody of eight years. It is a version of the sentence of Imprisonment for Public Protection (IPP). IPPs were a highly controversial new kind of sentence introduced by Labour in England and Wales, under the Criminal Justice Act of 2003. They were designed for serious offenders who posed a significant risk of harm to the public, but who did not merit a life sentence. DPPs were only given to those aged between 18-21. The offender had to serve a minimum term, following which they had to satisfy the Parole Board that they no longer posed a risk to the public. They were controversial because many IPPs were given to lower level criminals (street robbers and one to a man who set fire to a wheelie bin). They were often given short minimum terms and it was extremely difficult for offenders with borderline personality disorders to prove they did not pose a risk. The numbers on IPPs rapidly grew into the thousands under Labour - many regarded them as \"life sentences by default\". Under the DPP given to Khan the Parole Board would have played a key role in his release. If it had considered he posed a risk at the end of his minimum term of eight years he would not have been released and would not have been able to carry out his murderous attack. IPPs and DPPs were scrapped by the Conservatives in 2012, by which time the number of prisoners serving them had risen to over 6,000. It followed a ruling by the European Court of Human Rights that the sentences were unlawful because the lack of rehabilitation courses meant offenders could not reduce or eliminate the risk they posed to the public. Khan appealed his sentence to the Court of Appeal. In 2013, it was quashed and substituted with what is known as an extended sentence Khan was a member of a group in Stoke who had liaised with a group in London planning to bomb the London Stock Exchange. The original sentencing judge Mr Justice Wilkie considered that although the criminality of both groups was equally serious, the Stoke group were more sophisticated and so more dangerous. The Court of Appeal disagreed, finding that if the plans of the groups were equally serious the risk posed by the Stoke group could not be greater than the London group who were far more advanced in their plans. So, Khan and the Stoke group were given extended sentences - the same as those given to the London group. Basically it is a sentence given to an offender who is deemed to be \"dangerous\" and for whom a \"determinate\" sentence is not thought to be sufficient to manage the risk he poses to the public. The offender is given a prison term - 16 years in Khan's case - plus an extended period on licence of five years. This can be eight years for an offender sentenced for serious sexual offences. Here is where there is real confusion.  In 2008 Labour introduced changes that affected extended sentences. Offenders serving them were no longer reviewed by the Parole Board - instead they were released automatically halfway through their sentence. The change was in part to deal with the problem of a prison population that had swelled due to the numbers of dangerous prisoners who had been given IPPs  and could not be released because they could not prove they no longer posed a risk to the public. However, extended sentences were changed again by the Conservative-led coalition government in December 2012. From that date offenders like Khan serving a custodial period of more than 10 years would serve two thirds of their sentence and then be considered for release by the Parole Board. This was not applied retrospectively though so did not apply to Khan. So, in effect, he was the beneficiary of a period between 2008 and December 2012 where prisoners on extended sentences were freed automatically at the half-way point in their sentence. Before and after that period they were subject to Parole Board assessment before release. In his judgment Lord Justice Leveson said: \"Given that it is difficult to identify the extent to which those who have been radicalised (perhaps as a result of immaturity or otherwise) will have modified their views having served a substantial term of imprisonment and there is an argument for concluding that anyone convicted of such an offence should be incentivised to demonstrate that he can safely be released; such a decision is then better left to the parole board for consideration proximate in time to the date when release becomes possible.\" That has caused some to question whether the court had in mind an extended sentence for Khan subject to Parole Board risk assessment when no such assessment was in fact possible. Other commentators such as the Secret Barrister do not see confusion or error in the Court of Appeal's decision. He writes that Lord Justice Leveson was \"simply weighing up the competing arguments before concluding that an (extended sentence) even though it meant automatic release, was appropriate\". If the court had dismissed Khan's appeal and kept his DPP sentence in place, his release would have been subject to assessment by the Parole Board. If it had considered him a risk, he would have remained in prison and unable to carry out his plan to murder. Judges never explain or unpick their judgements so we will not hear from the Court of Appeal on this. The current law however means that no-one sentenced to a terrorism offence is now subject to automatic early release.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 538, "answer_end": 840, "text": "Usman Khan pleaded guilty and was convicted in January 2012 of engaging in conduct in preparation for acts of terrorism. Although the offence carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment, he was given a sentence of detention for public protection (DPP) with a minimum term in custody of eight years."}], "question": "What was his original sentence?", "id": "349_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2420, "answer_end": 3180, "text": "Khan appealed his sentence to the Court of Appeal. In 2013, it was quashed and substituted with what is known as an extended sentence Khan was a member of a group in Stoke who had liaised with a group in London planning to bomb the London Stock Exchange. The original sentencing judge Mr Justice Wilkie considered that although the criminality of both groups was equally serious, the Stoke group were more sophisticated and so more dangerous. The Court of Appeal disagreed, finding that if the plans of the groups were equally serious the risk posed by the Stoke group could not be greater than the London group who were far more advanced in their plans. So, Khan and the Stoke group were given extended sentences - the same as those given to the London group."}], "question": "Why did the Court of Appeal change the sentence?", "id": "349_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3181, "answer_end": 3566, "text": "Basically it is a sentence given to an offender who is deemed to be \"dangerous\" and for whom a \"determinate\" sentence is not thought to be sufficient to manage the risk he poses to the public. The offender is given a prison term - 16 years in Khan's case - plus an extended period on licence of five years. This can be eight years for an offender sentenced for serious sexual offences."}], "question": "What is an extended sentence?", "id": "349_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3567, "answer_end": 4705, "text": "Here is where there is real confusion.  In 2008 Labour introduced changes that affected extended sentences. Offenders serving them were no longer reviewed by the Parole Board - instead they were released automatically halfway through their sentence. The change was in part to deal with the problem of a prison population that had swelled due to the numbers of dangerous prisoners who had been given IPPs  and could not be released because they could not prove they no longer posed a risk to the public. However, extended sentences were changed again by the Conservative-led coalition government in December 2012. From that date offenders like Khan serving a custodial period of more than 10 years would serve two thirds of their sentence and then be considered for release by the Parole Board. This was not applied retrospectively though so did not apply to Khan. So, in effect, he was the beneficiary of a period between 2008 and December 2012 where prisoners on extended sentences were freed automatically at the half-way point in their sentence. Before and after that period they were subject to Parole Board assessment before release."}], "question": "Why was he automatically released after eight years?", "id": "349_3"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 4706, "answer_end": 6214, "text": "In his judgment Lord Justice Leveson said: \"Given that it is difficult to identify the extent to which those who have been radicalised (perhaps as a result of immaturity or otherwise) will have modified their views having served a substantial term of imprisonment and there is an argument for concluding that anyone convicted of such an offence should be incentivised to demonstrate that he can safely be released; such a decision is then better left to the parole board for consideration proximate in time to the date when release becomes possible.\" That has caused some to question whether the court had in mind an extended sentence for Khan subject to Parole Board risk assessment when no such assessment was in fact possible. Other commentators such as the Secret Barrister do not see confusion or error in the Court of Appeal's decision. He writes that Lord Justice Leveson was \"simply weighing up the competing arguments before concluding that an (extended sentence) even though it meant automatic release, was appropriate\". If the court had dismissed Khan's appeal and kept his DPP sentence in place, his release would have been subject to assessment by the Parole Board. If it had considered him a risk, he would have remained in prison and unable to carry out his plan to murder. Judges never explain or unpick their judgements so we will not hear from the Court of Appeal on this. The current law however means that no-one sentenced to a terrorism offence is now subject to automatic early release."}], "question": "Confusion in the Court of Appeal?", "id": "349_4"}]}]}, {"title": "Garissa University College attack in Kenya: What happened?", "date": "19 June 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "On 3 April 2015, four gunmen stormed Kenya's Garissa University College and began firing indiscriminately. The attackers singled out and shot those identified as Christians as they roamed from building to building. By the end, 148 people had been killed - mostly students. Security forces eventually surrounded and killed the men. Somali Islamist group al-Shabab said it was behind the terror attack, the second deadliest in Kenyan history. Students were getting ready for morning prayers when the shooting began at about 05:00 local time (02:00 GMT). Gunmen first killed two security guards on the gate before entering the campus and opening fire. They moved through administrative buildings and classrooms to the dormitories. Almost 900 students were at the university. 1.  Militants enter the university grounds, two guards are shot dead 2.  Shooting begins within the campus 3.  Students attacked in their classrooms while preparing for exams 4.  Gunmen believed isolated in the female dormitories 5.  Some students make an escape through the fence One student recounted how the militants went from room to room, asking if people were Christian or Muslim. \"If you were a Christian you were shot on the spot,\" he told the Associated Press. \"With each blast of the gun I thought I was going to die.\" Reports suggested the gunmen forced people out of their dormitories and made them lie on the ground before killing them. Kenya Defence Forces sealed off the campus and moved in to evacuate students. The troops managed to clear three of the four dormitories, helping more than 580 people to escape. At least 79 people were injured. After almost 16 hours, the four attackers were eventually surrounded and killed in one of the women's halls. Of the 148 victims, three were soldiers, three staff and 142 were students. Authorities had warned of a possible planned attack on a university in the days before the militants stormed Garissa. Somalia-based Islamist militants took responsibility for the shooting. Al-Shabab, which is affiliated to al-Qaeda, has been behind several attacks in Kenya - including an assault on Nairobi's Westgate mall in 2013, which left 67 people dead and 200 injured, and a siege on a Nairobi hotel complex in January this year in which 21 people were killed. The militants said they were retaliating for acts by Kenya's security forces, which are part of the African Union's mission in Somalia against al-Shabab. The US military said they had killed leader Ahmed Godane in a drone strike in September 2014, and has increased airstrikes recently. But these forces have been unable to destroy al-Shabab, which remains active in East Africa - and in particular in Somalia's capital, Mogadishu, where it killed nearly 600 people in a lorry explosion in October 2017 - the deadliest bomb attack in the war-torn country's history.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 441, "answer_end": 771, "text": "Students were getting ready for morning prayers when the shooting began at about 05:00 local time (02:00 GMT). Gunmen first killed two security guards on the gate before entering the campus and opening fire. They moved through administrative buildings and classrooms to the dormitories. Almost 900 students were at the university."}], "question": "How did the attack unfold?", "id": "350_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1936, "answer_end": 2851, "text": "Somalia-based Islamist militants took responsibility for the shooting. Al-Shabab, which is affiliated to al-Qaeda, has been behind several attacks in Kenya - including an assault on Nairobi's Westgate mall in 2013, which left 67 people dead and 200 injured, and a siege on a Nairobi hotel complex in January this year in which 21 people were killed. The militants said they were retaliating for acts by Kenya's security forces, which are part of the African Union's mission in Somalia against al-Shabab. The US military said they had killed leader Ahmed Godane in a drone strike in September 2014, and has increased airstrikes recently. But these forces have been unable to destroy al-Shabab, which remains active in East Africa - and in particular in Somalia's capital, Mogadishu, where it killed nearly 600 people in a lorry explosion in October 2017 - the deadliest bomb attack in the war-torn country's history."}], "question": "Who were the attackers?", "id": "350_1"}]}]}, {"title": "How do you decide on a baby name?", "date": "8 May 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Naming a baby is a big decision. Even if you're not a member of the Royal Family and your choice won't be shared with millions, choosing the right name is important. In England and Wales, new parents have 42 days to register the name after the baby is born, meaning the Duke and Duchess of Sussex could have had six weeks of thinking time if they had needed it before choosing Archie Harrison. Missing this deadline - as was reportedly the case for former celebrity couple Liam Payne and Cheryl Cole in 2017 - could incur a fine of up to PS200. In other countries the naming deadline is longer - parents in Sweden have three months to decide, while those in Denmark have half a year. The meaning behind Archie and Harrison Sarah Redshaw, managing editor of parenting website BabyCentre, urged parents to spend some time alone testing the name they choose. \"You don't want to regret it a year down the line,\" she said. \"We sometimes see posts that they have named a baby, then a year down the line they don't like it.\" Ms Redshaw added that her first baby remained unnamed for three weeks as she and her husband disagreed. \"I wore my husband down,\" she said. \"We had a shortlist of about five or six but there was one I certainly preferred more than the others. In the end, he chose the middle name.\" Other new parents take different approaches to naming their child. Alan Marritt, 79, from Leeds, said he called his daughter Christine Donna, so her initials - with her surname - spelt out CDM. Why? \"For the simple reason her mum was eating a hundred weight of Cadbury's dairy milk chocolate before the child was born,\" he explained. \"I bought a whole box of it so I didn't have to go out when it was raining.\" He also had a novel way for naming his second daughter. \"The other one was born a minute after midnight so we called her Andrea,\" he said, so the initials spelt out AM. Donna Slater, 40, who comes from Swansea but now lives in Bristol, came up with the name for her firstborn by scrolling through the Welsh rugby team and reading out each name to her husband. \"I was kind of surreptitiously on my phone looking at the Welsh rugby team. 'What about Gareth?' and he'd say 'no, I don't like that one'\". She eventually got to Toby - after player Toby Faletau - which they both liked. Donna did not tell her English husband how she'd come up with the name until weeks later. And when player Faletau later became known by his actual Tongan name Taulupe, Donna joked: \"We thought should we update our child's name?\" Richard Jones, a university lecturer from Salford, said he and his wife had an \"exhaustive list\" of criteria for naming his first daughter. \"We were really keen to have a name that was unusual, but not wacky. We didn't want one that there was going to be a whole class full of them. We also didn't want to go for a made-up one.\" The couple ruled out anything in the top 100 most popular names list and, because he is Scottish and his wife is Welsh, wanted the name to originate from either of those places. It needed to be easily shortened, both the short and long names had to work with both the single and double-barrelled versions of their surname and it couldn't start with the same initial as the mum or dad. \"But apart from that we didn't really think too much about it,\" he joked. They were happy with their choice of Gwendolen - Gwen for short - because it's unique but a \"name that everyone knows\". Meanwhile, within the Sikh tradition parents have part of the name decided for them. During a naming ceremony, the Sikh holy scripture - the Guru Granth Sahib - is randomly opened. On whatever page it falls, the first letter of the first word of that passage will be the first letter of the baby's name. In terms of the name itself, the UK's rules on baby names are among the most liberal in the world. According to the General Register Office, there are no restrictions on parents in the UK when naming their child - except for in exceptional cases, such as a name which could be deemed offensive, when an official could refuse to register it. But that does not mean anything can be allowed. In 2016, a mother in Powys was banned from naming her baby daughter Cyanide - a type of poison which Adolf Hitler took before shooting himself. In that case, Lady Justice King said the courts would intervene to prevent a parent naming a child \"in only the most extreme cases\". Denmark is known for its strictest naming laws, which was set up to protect the country's cultural heritage from odder name choices and spellings. Parents have a list of names from which they must choose - or seek permission from the government and local church. Unisex names are also not allowed and each name on the list is assigned to a gender. Meanwhile, in Germany, the parents' chosen name must also indicate the gender - and needs to be approved by the registry office, the Standesamt, in the area of the birth. In the US, parents are mostly free to name their child whatever they like - although there are restrictions which depend on the state. Some states have limits on how long the name can be, or ban the use of numbers or obscenities. More recently, so-called \"baby name consultants\" have reportedly cropped up, offering help to find a name. In Egypt, a naming ceremony is held seven days after the baby is born, with three candles - each representing a name- set alight. The one that burns the longest is the winning name. Joe Little, managing editor of Majesty magazine, said the couple had a lot more freedom than the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, because of a \"bit more distance between this new baby and the throne\". Speaking before the name was announced, Mr Little said: \"William and Catherine, when naming their baby, were aware their first born was destined to be king one day. \"Harry, as time goes on, will move from being sixth in line to much further down so the likelihood of many of his offspring on the throne will become more and more remote. \"One thing to bear in mind, this child is still going to be quite high profile. He will never lead a totally private life, so convention still needs to be adhered to but to a lesser degree.\"", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 5436, "answer_end": 6162, "text": "Joe Little, managing editor of Majesty magazine, said the couple had a lot more freedom than the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, because of a \"bit more distance between this new baby and the throne\". Speaking before the name was announced, Mr Little said: \"William and Catherine, when naming their baby, were aware their first born was destined to be king one day. \"Harry, as time goes on, will move from being sixth in line to much further down so the likelihood of many of his offspring on the throne will become more and more remote. \"One thing to bear in mind, this child is still going to be quite high profile. He will never lead a totally private life, so convention still needs to be adhered to but to a lesser degree.\""}], "question": "Would Harry and Meghan have rules over baby name?", "id": "351_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Kabul suicide bomber kills dozens at gathering of clerics", "date": "20 November 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "A suicide bomb attack on a gathering of religious scholars in the Afghan capital, Kabul, has killed at least 50 people. At least 83 people were also wounded as the clerics met at the Uranus wedding hall, a large banqueting complex near the airport, to mark the birthday of the Prophet Muhammad. It is one of the deadliest attacks in Kabul in recent months. No-one has yet claimed it was behind the blast. So-called Islamic State and the Taliban have carried out a string of attacks in recent years. But the Taliban has denied involvement and condemned the attack. Some 1,000 people were said to be in the complex at the time of the explosion. Basir Mujahid, a spokesman for Kabul police, said that \"Islamic scholars and their followers had gathered to recite verses from the holy Koran to observe the Eid Milad-un-Nabi festival\". The suicide bomber gained entry and headed for the centre of the gathering, where he detonated his explosives. Religious studies lecturer Mohammad Hanif said there was a deafening explosion and \"everyone in the halls was screaming for help\". Images from the scene showed ripped and blood-stained clothes, broken glass and overturned furniture. Afghan President Ashraf Ghani condemned the attack as an \"unforgivable crime\" and declared Wednesday a day of national mourning. The Islamic State in Afghanistan group, sometimes known as Islamic State Khorasan, has claimed responsibility for most of the recent deadly attacks of this kind. It said it was behind two attacks in Kabul in August that killed dozens of people. Dozens of people were also killed across the country as voters cast ballots in the nation's parliamentary elections in October. The Taliban have also continued attacks, although many of them target security forces. There are some with the Taliban. This month, Taliban militants for the first time attended an international meeting, hosted by Russia, to discuss ending the decades-long conflict. The US special envoy for Afghanistan has also been meeting Taliban officials in Qatar, but no agreement has so far been reached. The Taliban's power and reach have surged since foreign combat troops left Afghanistan in 2014. The Islamic State group is another matter. Opposed by the Taliban and considered a major threat by Western powers, the Sunni militants aim to turn the conflict in Afghanistan into a sectarian war with Shias, who they consider apostates. The violence is not easing. Civilian deaths and injuries have hit record highs. Casualty figures for the conflict, which began in 2001, are the highest since the UN started keeping records in 2009.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 564, "answer_end": 1302, "text": "Some 1,000 people were said to be in the complex at the time of the explosion. Basir Mujahid, a spokesman for Kabul police, said that \"Islamic scholars and their followers had gathered to recite verses from the holy Koran to observe the Eid Milad-un-Nabi festival\". The suicide bomber gained entry and headed for the centre of the gathering, where he detonated his explosives. Religious studies lecturer Mohammad Hanif said there was a deafening explosion and \"everyone in the halls was screaming for help\". Images from the scene showed ripped and blood-stained clothes, broken glass and overturned furniture. Afghan President Ashraf Ghani condemned the attack as an \"unforgivable crime\" and declared Wednesday a day of national mourning."}], "question": "What happened at the hall?", "id": "352_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1303, "answer_end": 1762, "text": "The Islamic State in Afghanistan group, sometimes known as Islamic State Khorasan, has claimed responsibility for most of the recent deadly attacks of this kind. It said it was behind two attacks in Kabul in August that killed dozens of people. Dozens of people were also killed across the country as voters cast ballots in the nation's parliamentary elections in October. The Taliban have also continued attacks, although many of them target security forces."}], "question": "Who could have been responsible?", "id": "352_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1763, "answer_end": 2602, "text": "There are some with the Taliban. This month, Taliban militants for the first time attended an international meeting, hosted by Russia, to discuss ending the decades-long conflict. The US special envoy for Afghanistan has also been meeting Taliban officials in Qatar, but no agreement has so far been reached. The Taliban's power and reach have surged since foreign combat troops left Afghanistan in 2014. The Islamic State group is another matter. Opposed by the Taliban and considered a major threat by Western powers, the Sunni militants aim to turn the conflict in Afghanistan into a sectarian war with Shias, who they consider apostates. The violence is not easing. Civilian deaths and injuries have hit record highs. Casualty figures for the conflict, which began in 2001, are the highest since the UN started keeping records in 2009."}], "question": "Are there moves to end the violence?", "id": "352_2"}]}]}, {"title": "Raheel Sharif: The army chief who ruled without a coup", "date": "23 November 2016", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Days before he hangs up his spurs and retires on 29 November, Pakistan's army chief General Raheel Sharif stands at the height of his popularity. His massive portraits adorn the backs of lorries, posters depict him as saviour of the nation and he continues to inspire devotional social media hashtags. Indeed when it was announced on Monday that the general was kicking off \"farewell visits\", many media reports hailed him as \"Pakistan's beloved army chief\", while the reaction on Twitter was similarly effusive. The announcement apparently put an end to fears of an 11th hour surprise, and many people praised the fact that he was sticking to the retirement plan, instead of finding a way to stay in power. Why is Pakistan's army chief all over social media? Viewpoint: How Peshawar massacre changed Pakistan Pakistan's military has long played a prominent role in the country's politics, having staged three coups since independence in 1947. The army chief is widely seen as the most powerful person in the country - above the prime minister. Gen Sharif stepped into the top job in the winter of 2013, just after a historic transfer of power between two civilian administrations. But the military has done anything but cede power and influence to the government during his reign. Instead, it has grown even more powerful. Gen Sharif has a distinguished pedigree. His father was an army major, and his late brother, Major Shabbir Sharif, was awarded Pakistan's highest gallantry award. Months after taking charge, the general took the bold step of launching a ground offensive to clear the Waziristan region of militant sanctuaries - a move Pakistan had been dragging its feet on despite repeated demands from its Western allies. It led to a dramatic decline in militant attacks in northern Pakistan, instantly boosting his popularity ratings. In the south, the paramilitary Sindh Rangers under his watch took on the task of clearing Karachi, Pakistan's largest city, of a confusing array of armed militants, organised criminal groups and festering political corruption. The results were equally impressive. The extortion rackets, targeted killings and kidnappings for ransom that had become a permanent feature of life in Karachi diminished visibly. Moreover, Gen Sharif has been determined to make operational a $46bn Chinese funded economic corridor that links up the southern port of Gwadar to China's western Xinjiang province - a key part of China's bid to shore up its influence and strategic links in the region. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif (no relation) won a landslide victory in 2013 and embarked on projects considered the exclusive domain of the military. He instituted peace talks with the Pakistani Taliban, opened dialogue with separatists in Balochistan and made peace overtures to India. He even tried to set a precedent by arraigning former army coup leader and later president, Pervez Musharraf, on charges of treason. It was amid this civilian resurgence that he chose Gen Sharif as army chief, elevating him over two more senior officers. But if he made the choice thinking Gen Sharif would behave like a professional soldier and accept civilian supremacy, it was not to be. Room for criticism of the military has worsened since Gen Sharif took charge, says Ayesha Siddiqa, an analyst and expert on the Pakistani army. The country's once vibrant electronic media has stopped reporting on \"sensitive\" and longstanding issues such as the military's alleged patronage of selected extremist groups and their political wings. And it has desisted from asking questions about the links between these groups and those who continue to hit targets in Pakistan. Instead, it happily buys the military's line that these attacks are planned by Indian and Afghan intelligence services to harm the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor. The media fell in line following a gun attack on a famous TV journalist, Hamid Mir, in March 2014. His family blamed the attack on the military intelligence service, the ISI. They said he was targeted for challenging the military's narrative about Baloch separatists. The ISI denied the charge, but Geo TV, for which Mr Mir worked, remained off air for several weeks without any direct order from the government. The army's huge financial clout means that it \"is not answerable to anyone\", Ms Siddiqa says. In 2007, the military's private economy was estimated at roughly $20bn, handled mostly through its welfare wings that run vast industrial, services, real estate and retail empires. In addition, its position as a political force means it accrues the lion's share of foreign assistance that Pakistan receives. While the US post-9/11 aid pipelines are now drying up, China is providing tens of billions of dollars of assistance. Over decades, Pakistan's civilian institutions have crumbled - arguably due to corruption and mismanagement - while those of the military have prospered. This trajectory hasn't changed during Gen Sharif's reign. \"Under him, the military has operated outside the institutional plane, and as a result militarism in our policy has increased,\" Ms Siddiqa says. It is believed that the general decided to launch the military operation in Waziristan in June 2014 without a nod from political leaders in Islamabad. The December 2014 militant attack on an army school in Peshawar further helped the military consolidate its hold on political decision making. The government formalised the military's role in law enforcement at the provincial level by giving it representation in \"apex committees\" created under a national action plan. A constitutional amendment was then passed by parliament allowing terror suspects to be tried in military courts. At the same time, the military's media wing, the ISPR, launched an aggressive campaign to build up Gen Sharif's political image, charting each and every move he made and making sure that he received prime coverage on TV channels. The ISPR has since invested in producing songs, anthems and films to promote the military's image. There are several four-star generals who could be chosen as chief of army staff, but only a handful of them have headed corps and are therefore seen as qualified for the job. All come from infantry. In making his choice, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif will be guided by personal and political considerations. But regardless of who takes charge, the military is seen as wanting to control the political narrative going forward in order to protect and expand its financial empire. The narrative it prefers tends to be pro-religion, anti-India and at times anti-US. So civilians in Pakistan are likely to continue for the foreseeable future to battle to regain their lost space as the military continues to find more subtle ways of controlling democracy. The question as to who succeeds General Raheel Sharif and what style that person may bring to the job, therefore, is of little consequence.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1324, "answer_end": 2521, "text": "Gen Sharif has a distinguished pedigree. His father was an army major, and his late brother, Major Shabbir Sharif, was awarded Pakistan's highest gallantry award. Months after taking charge, the general took the bold step of launching a ground offensive to clear the Waziristan region of militant sanctuaries - a move Pakistan had been dragging its feet on despite repeated demands from its Western allies. It led to a dramatic decline in militant attacks in northern Pakistan, instantly boosting his popularity ratings. In the south, the paramilitary Sindh Rangers under his watch took on the task of clearing Karachi, Pakistan's largest city, of a confusing array of armed militants, organised criminal groups and festering political corruption. The results were equally impressive. The extortion rackets, targeted killings and kidnappings for ransom that had become a permanent feature of life in Karachi diminished visibly. Moreover, Gen Sharif has been determined to make operational a $46bn Chinese funded economic corridor that links up the southern port of Gwadar to China's western Xinjiang province - a key part of China's bid to shore up its influence and strategic links in the region."}], "question": "Why is he so popular?", "id": "353_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2522, "answer_end": 3197, "text": "Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif (no relation) won a landslide victory in 2013 and embarked on projects considered the exclusive domain of the military. He instituted peace talks with the Pakistani Taliban, opened dialogue with separatists in Balochistan and made peace overtures to India. He even tried to set a precedent by arraigning former army coup leader and later president, Pervez Musharraf, on charges of treason. It was amid this civilian resurgence that he chose Gen Sharif as army chief, elevating him over two more senior officers. But if he made the choice thinking Gen Sharif would behave like a professional soldier and accept civilian supremacy, it was not to be."}], "question": "Why was he chosen?", "id": "353_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3198, "answer_end": 4251, "text": "Room for criticism of the military has worsened since Gen Sharif took charge, says Ayesha Siddiqa, an analyst and expert on the Pakistani army. The country's once vibrant electronic media has stopped reporting on \"sensitive\" and longstanding issues such as the military's alleged patronage of selected extremist groups and their political wings. And it has desisted from asking questions about the links between these groups and those who continue to hit targets in Pakistan. Instead, it happily buys the military's line that these attacks are planned by Indian and Afghan intelligence services to harm the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor. The media fell in line following a gun attack on a famous TV journalist, Hamid Mir, in March 2014. His family blamed the attack on the military intelligence service, the ISI. They said he was targeted for challenging the military's narrative about Baloch separatists. The ISI denied the charge, but Geo TV, for which Mr Mir worked, remained off air for several weeks without any direct order from the government."}], "question": "How has Pakistan changed?", "id": "353_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 4252, "answer_end": 5128, "text": "The army's huge financial clout means that it \"is not answerable to anyone\", Ms Siddiqa says. In 2007, the military's private economy was estimated at roughly $20bn, handled mostly through its welfare wings that run vast industrial, services, real estate and retail empires. In addition, its position as a political force means it accrues the lion's share of foreign assistance that Pakistan receives. While the US post-9/11 aid pipelines are now drying up, China is providing tens of billions of dollars of assistance. Over decades, Pakistan's civilian institutions have crumbled - arguably due to corruption and mismanagement - while those of the military have prospered. This trajectory hasn't changed during Gen Sharif's reign. \"Under him, the military has operated outside the institutional plane, and as a result militarism in our policy has increased,\" Ms Siddiqa says."}], "question": "What underpins the army's power?", "id": "353_3"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 5129, "answer_end": 6041, "text": "It is believed that the general decided to launch the military operation in Waziristan in June 2014 without a nod from political leaders in Islamabad. The December 2014 militant attack on an army school in Peshawar further helped the military consolidate its hold on political decision making. The government formalised the military's role in law enforcement at the provincial level by giving it representation in \"apex committees\" created under a national action plan. A constitutional amendment was then passed by parliament allowing terror suspects to be tried in military courts. At the same time, the military's media wing, the ISPR, launched an aggressive campaign to build up Gen Sharif's political image, charting each and every move he made and making sure that he received prime coverage on TV channels. The ISPR has since invested in producing songs, anthems and films to promote the military's image."}], "question": "In what ways has the military strengthened its role?", "id": "353_4"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 6042, "answer_end": 6930, "text": "There are several four-star generals who could be chosen as chief of army staff, but only a handful of them have headed corps and are therefore seen as qualified for the job. All come from infantry. In making his choice, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif will be guided by personal and political considerations. But regardless of who takes charge, the military is seen as wanting to control the political narrative going forward in order to protect and expand its financial empire. The narrative it prefers tends to be pro-religion, anti-India and at times anti-US. So civilians in Pakistan are likely to continue for the foreseeable future to battle to regain their lost space as the military continues to find more subtle ways of controlling democracy. The question as to who succeeds General Raheel Sharif and what style that person may bring to the job, therefore, is of little consequence."}], "question": "Who will be the next army chief?", "id": "353_5"}]}]}, {"title": "'New dawn' for Scottish private renters", "date": "1 December 2017", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Major changes to the law have come into effect for Scotland's 760,000 private renters. The private residential tenancy rules will bring an end to fixed-term rentals, meaning leases will effectively be open-ended. Rent increases can only be made once every 12 months, and tenants who believe them to be unfair can take them to a rent officer. Shelter Scotland described the change as a \"new dawn\" for private renters. Anyone signing a tenancy from 1 December will be covered by the new rules. All landlord and tenant disputes will be heard in a new specialist tribunal and, from next month, all letting agents will have to register and adhere to a code of practice. Tenants will have indefinite security of tenure, meaning \"no-fault\" evictions will no longer be possible. Other key measures include: - Longer notice periods, with tenants who have been in a property for more than six months receiving at least 84 day notice to leave, unless they are at fault - Simpler notices, with a simpler notice to leave process - The introduction of a model tenancy agreement which can be used by landlords to set up a tenancy The new law does, however, allow landlords to ask tenants to leave on a number of grounds, including wanting to sell or refurbish the property or if they intend to live there themselves. If the tenant fails to vacate at the end of the notice period, the landlord can apply to a tribunal for an eviction notice. The new law has been welcomed by housing charity Shelter Scotland. Director Graeme Brown said: \"Today represents a new dawn for all private renters in Scotland. \"These new laws bring unprecedented security of tenure to private renters, with landlords now needing a good reason to evict tenants. \"We have campaigned passionately for 10 years now for reform of private renting in Scotland, ending with our Make Renting Right campaign, which had extensive support from the public and local and national politicians.\" He added: \"Shelter Scotland is pleased to be working with the Scottish government on a major awareness raising campaign to ensure that everyone involved in private renting - from tenants and landlords to letting agents and housing professionals - understand their new rights and responsibilities.\" Independent property specialists Rettie and Co have landlords and tenants as clients. Their director of research Dr John Boyle said: \"It will make things a bit easier to organise. It should be a smoother process with less paperwork.\" He pointed out that most tenants and landlords have a good relationship, but said the rules will change when things go wrong. \"The end of no-fault possession will be a concern,\" he said. \"(But) there are grounds for possession and these may prove to be workable.\" Dr Boyle said some owners will worry that there is no initial minimum period of rental. He said: \"In essence, the tenant has long-term security but the landlord does not. That weakens security for the landlord.\" In areas like Edinburgh, Dr Boyle said there may be problems for landlords who rent to students during term-time, then to festival-goers in the summer. Some landlords may decide to pull out of the student letting sector if they cannot be sure of students moving out at the end of the academic year. The legislation also allows for Rent Pressure Zones, where annual rent increases would be capped. Dr Boyle points out that, in other countries with similar regulations, long waiting lists for housing can build up. But the Scottish government believes it has struck the right balance between the needs of tenants and landlords. Housing minister Kevin Stewart said: \"This is the biggest change to the sector for a generation and will bring about significant improvements in private renting, benefiting both tenants and landlords. \"We want to ensure everyone has a safe and warm place to call home. \"The new tenancy sits alongside our wider ambitions for housing in Scotland - not least our ambitious commitment to deliver at least 50,000 affordable homes during this parliament, including that for rent.\" Leanne McGuire has lived in the private rented sector for most of her adult life. With her daughter Cleone to consider, she says security of tenure has become very important. \"I've lived in private rent from when I was about 20, so you're talking 17 years I've been private renting. \"In those 17 years, I've had four or five flats sold from under me. \"Before I had Cleone, I moved around a lot - of course I did because you're younger and you don't really have a lot of responsibilities. \"If I didn't like a flat that was fine. I just moved our after six months. \"But since having Cleone we've settled and unfortunately that first flat that we had together - it was very sudden - I had been paying rent but the landlord hadn't been paying his mortgage. \"We ended up having to be evicted from there and move on. \"That's quite stressful. \"Then the next flat we stayed in for seven years, which was great. \"We had put down a lot of roots. That's where Cleone grew up, almost. \"Unfortunately we found out last year that (the landlord) wanted to sell and he gave us two months to find somewhere else.\"", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 4050, "answer_end": 5146, "text": "Leanne McGuire has lived in the private rented sector for most of her adult life. With her daughter Cleone to consider, she says security of tenure has become very important. \"I've lived in private rent from when I was about 20, so you're talking 17 years I've been private renting. \"In those 17 years, I've had four or five flats sold from under me. \"Before I had Cleone, I moved around a lot - of course I did because you're younger and you don't really have a lot of responsibilities. \"If I didn't like a flat that was fine. I just moved our after six months. \"But since having Cleone we've settled and unfortunately that first flat that we had together - it was very sudden - I had been paying rent but the landlord hadn't been paying his mortgage. \"We ended up having to be evicted from there and move on. \"That's quite stressful. \"Then the next flat we stayed in for seven years, which was great. \"We had put down a lot of roots. That's where Cleone grew up, almost. \"Unfortunately we found out last year that (the landlord) wanted to sell and he gave us two months to find somewhere else.\""}], "question": "What is it like to live in rented accommodation?", "id": "354_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Syria war: Air strikes resume hours after UN approves ceasefire", "date": "26 February 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Air strikes by the Syrian government on a rebel-held enclave have continued despite a ceasefire resolution passed by the UN Security Council on Saturday. Hundreds of people have died in a week of bombardment of the Eastern Ghouta enclave near the capital, Damascus. The latest attacks include a ground offensive that began hours after the UN urged a 30-day truce \"without delay\". On Sunday, France and Germany called on Russia to put pressure on the Syrian government to honour the ceasefire. Speaking to Russian President Vladimir Putin in a joint telephone conversation, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron have asked for help with implementing the UN resolution. The UN resolution was agreed to allow for aid deliveries and medical evacuations, but operations against the biggest jihadist rebel groups are not covered by the truce. The region is the last major rebel-held area near the capital Damascus. Government air strikes took place in the rebel enclave on Sunday - soon after the resolution was agreed in New York, although at far lower level than in previous days. At least three people are reported to have died in the latest attacks, while one rebel group in the Eastern Ghouta said it had killed a number of government soldiers. The strikes targeted the outskirts of Douma, the main town in the Eastern Ghouta, according to the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR). It also reported several casualties on both sides after Syrian government forces clashed with rebels in southern areas of the enclave. Syrian forces on the ground are pushing to enter the Eastern Ghouta, both opposition and pro-government sources said on Sunday. The government has been trying to advance on several fronts but its forces have so far been repelled, rebel groups say. Meanwhile, Iran said that while it would \"adhere\" to the ceasefire, it would continue its military operations in areas around Damascus that were not covered, Reuters news agency reports. \"Parts of the suburbs of Damascus, which are specifically controlled by the terrorists of the Nusra Front and other terrorist groups, are not subject to ceasefire,\" Iran's military chief of staff, Maj Gen Mohammad Baqeri, is quoted as saying. Iran, along with Russia, is a key supporter of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and has played a vital role in enabling him to recapture territory across the country. The Syrian American Medical Society, a relief organisation, told the BBC one of its hospitals in the area had received patients suffering from symptoms that indicated a chemical attack. It said one child had died. Eastern Ghouta resident Mohammed Adel said one of his colleagues had visited the hospital and said the child - a boy - had \"suffocated from the chemical attack\". The SOHR said it had received similar information but had not yet been able to confirm if there had been a gas attack. The reports could not be independently verified. The Syrian government has repeatedly denied using chemical weapons. However, a UN report last October concluded that the Syrian government was responsible for a deadly chemical attack in the north-western town of Khan Sheikhoun on 4 April 2017 Rebels operating in the Eastern Ghouta include a variety of factions, and infighting between them has led to past losses of ground to the Syrian government. The draft resolution had said that the ceasefire would not apply to operations against the Islamic State (IS) group, al-Qaeda and the Nusra Front. The Nusra Front is a former al-Qaeda affiliate in Syria which leads an alliance of factions under the name of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS). The Syrian government says its attempts to recapture the Eastern Ghouta are directly due to the HTS presence there. UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres has said the situation in the Eastern Ghouta is like \"hell on Earth\". On Sunday, Pope Francis said the violence was \"inhuman\" and called for an immediate halt to the deadly bombardment to allow access for humanitarian aid. Barrel bombs and shells have been dropped on the area, where some 393,000 people remain trapped. While hundreds of people are said to have been killed in assaults by government forces since last Sunday, rebels firing on Damascus have reportedly killed at least 16 civilians. The Syrian government has repeatedly denied targeting civilians and said it is trying to liberate the Eastern Ghouta from \"terrorists\" - a term it has used to describe both the jihadist militants and the mainstream rebel groups that hold the enclave.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 940, "answer_end": 2406, "text": "Government air strikes took place in the rebel enclave on Sunday - soon after the resolution was agreed in New York, although at far lower level than in previous days. At least three people are reported to have died in the latest attacks, while one rebel group in the Eastern Ghouta said it had killed a number of government soldiers. The strikes targeted the outskirts of Douma, the main town in the Eastern Ghouta, according to the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR). It also reported several casualties on both sides after Syrian government forces clashed with rebels in southern areas of the enclave. Syrian forces on the ground are pushing to enter the Eastern Ghouta, both opposition and pro-government sources said on Sunday. The government has been trying to advance on several fronts but its forces have so far been repelled, rebel groups say. Meanwhile, Iran said that while it would \"adhere\" to the ceasefire, it would continue its military operations in areas around Damascus that were not covered, Reuters news agency reports. \"Parts of the suburbs of Damascus, which are specifically controlled by the terrorists of the Nusra Front and other terrorist groups, are not subject to ceasefire,\" Iran's military chief of staff, Maj Gen Mohammad Baqeri, is quoted as saying. Iran, along with Russia, is a key supporter of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and has played a vital role in enabling him to recapture territory across the country."}], "question": "What happened on Sunday?", "id": "355_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3195, "answer_end": 3752, "text": "Rebels operating in the Eastern Ghouta include a variety of factions, and infighting between them has led to past losses of ground to the Syrian government. The draft resolution had said that the ceasefire would not apply to operations against the Islamic State (IS) group, al-Qaeda and the Nusra Front. The Nusra Front is a former al-Qaeda affiliate in Syria which leads an alliance of factions under the name of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS). The Syrian government says its attempts to recapture the Eastern Ghouta are directly due to the HTS presence there."}], "question": "Who are the rebels not included in truce?", "id": "355_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3753, "answer_end": 4539, "text": "UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres has said the situation in the Eastern Ghouta is like \"hell on Earth\". On Sunday, Pope Francis said the violence was \"inhuman\" and called for an immediate halt to the deadly bombardment to allow access for humanitarian aid. Barrel bombs and shells have been dropped on the area, where some 393,000 people remain trapped. While hundreds of people are said to have been killed in assaults by government forces since last Sunday, rebels firing on Damascus have reportedly killed at least 16 civilians. The Syrian government has repeatedly denied targeting civilians and said it is trying to liberate the Eastern Ghouta from \"terrorists\" - a term it has used to describe both the jihadist militants and the mainstream rebel groups that hold the enclave."}], "question": "How bad is the situation in the Eastern Ghouta?", "id": "355_2"}]}]}, {"title": "Koreas to march under single 'united' flag in Olympic Games", "date": "17 January 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "North and South Korea have agreed to march together under a single \"unified Korea\" flag at next month's Winter Olympics in the South. They also agreed to field a joint women's ice hockey team in rare talks at the truce village of Panmunjom. These are the first high-level talks between the countries in more than two years. It marks a thaw in relations that began in the new year when North Korea offered to send a team to the games. The games will take place between 9 and 25 February in Pyeongchang in South Korea. If the plans are realised, a hundreds-strong North Korean delegation - including 230 cheerleaders, 140 orchestral musicians and 30 taekwondo athletes - could cross into the South via the land border to attend the Winter Olympics. It will mean the opening of the cross border road for the first time in almost two years. The two countries have also agreed to field a joint team for the sport of women's ice hockey. It would be the first time athletes from both Koreas have competed together in the same team at an Olympic Games. The North has also agreed to send a smaller, 150-member delegation to the Paralympics in March. The agreement will have to be approved by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) meeting in Lausanne, Switzerland, on Saturday, because North Korea has missed registration deadlines or failed to qualify. South Korea will also need to find ways to host the North Korean delegation without violating UN Security Council sanctions outlawing cash transfers to Pyongyang and blacklisting certain senior North officials. South Korea's hockey coach and conservative newspapers have expressed concern about the prospect of a united hockey team, saying it could damage South Korea's chances of winning a medal. Tens of thousands of people are said to have signed online petitions urging President Moon Jae-in to scrap the plan. But the liberal leader told South Korean Olympic athletes on Wednesday that the North's participation in the Games would help improve inter-Korean relations. Japan has viewed the latest detente with suspicion, with Foreign Minister Taro Kono saying the world should not be blinded by Pyongyang's recent \"charm offensive\". \"It is not the time to ease pressure or to reward North Korea,\" Mr Kono said, according to Reuters news agency. \"The fact that North Korea is engaging in dialogue could be interpreted as proof that the sanctions are working.\" Analysis by Jonathan Marcus, BBC Defence and Diplomatic Correspondent The Olympic embrace between North and South Korea represents a rare moment of hope in a crisis that at times has appeared to be steadily moving towards another war on the Korean peninsula. But is this a brief respite from the bluster and war-like words exchanged between Pyongyang and President Donald Trump, Seoul's main ally? Or does it really offer a platform for a diplomatic route out of this crisis? The enormity of an armed conflict is clear to all - even President Trump. However, the Olympic detente does not alter the realities of North Korea's nuclear and ballistic missile programmes. Both programmes need more testing to demonstrate a true inter-continental capability. And with Mr Trump insisting that this is a capability that the North will not be allowed to obtain, it is hard to see this developing into a Korean spring, let alone a definitive resolution of the nuclear dispute. The talks which resulted in this agreement came after tensions on the Korean peninsula reached their highest point in decades. This is because North Korea has made rapid advances in its nuclear and conventional weapons programmes in recent years. Its latest ballistic missile test, on 28 November, sparked a series of fresh sanctions from the UN targeting petrol shipments and travel. Soon afterwards North Korean leader Kim Jong-un said he was \"open to dialogue\". In a New Year speech, he said he was considering sending a team to the Winter Olympics. South Korea's Olympics chief had said last year that the North's athletes would be welcome. Then, on 9 January, the two countries made the breakthrough announcement that the North would be sending a delegation. It was also agreed that a military hotline between the nations, suspended for nearly two years, would be reinstated. President Moon Jae-in has said the Olympic agreement could pave the way for the nuclear issue to be addressed and lead to dialogue between the North and the US, according to Yonhap news agency in Seoul.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 517, "answer_end": 1558, "text": "If the plans are realised, a hundreds-strong North Korean delegation - including 230 cheerleaders, 140 orchestral musicians and 30 taekwondo athletes - could cross into the South via the land border to attend the Winter Olympics. It will mean the opening of the cross border road for the first time in almost two years. The two countries have also agreed to field a joint team for the sport of women's ice hockey. It would be the first time athletes from both Koreas have competed together in the same team at an Olympic Games. The North has also agreed to send a smaller, 150-member delegation to the Paralympics in March. The agreement will have to be approved by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) meeting in Lausanne, Switzerland, on Saturday, because North Korea has missed registration deadlines or failed to qualify. South Korea will also need to find ways to host the North Korean delegation without violating UN Security Council sanctions outlawing cash transfers to Pyongyang and blacklisting certain senior North officials."}], "question": "What will happen?", "id": "356_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1559, "answer_end": 2410, "text": "South Korea's hockey coach and conservative newspapers have expressed concern about the prospect of a united hockey team, saying it could damage South Korea's chances of winning a medal. Tens of thousands of people are said to have signed online petitions urging President Moon Jae-in to scrap the plan. But the liberal leader told South Korean Olympic athletes on Wednesday that the North's participation in the Games would help improve inter-Korean relations. Japan has viewed the latest detente with suspicion, with Foreign Minister Taro Kono saying the world should not be blinded by Pyongyang's recent \"charm offensive\". \"It is not the time to ease pressure or to reward North Korea,\" Mr Kono said, according to Reuters news agency. \"The fact that North Korea is engaging in dialogue could be interpreted as proof that the sanctions are working.\""}], "question": "What has the reaction been?", "id": "356_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3378, "answer_end": 4461, "text": "The talks which resulted in this agreement came after tensions on the Korean peninsula reached their highest point in decades. This is because North Korea has made rapid advances in its nuclear and conventional weapons programmes in recent years. Its latest ballistic missile test, on 28 November, sparked a series of fresh sanctions from the UN targeting petrol shipments and travel. Soon afterwards North Korean leader Kim Jong-un said he was \"open to dialogue\". In a New Year speech, he said he was considering sending a team to the Winter Olympics. South Korea's Olympics chief had said last year that the North's athletes would be welcome. Then, on 9 January, the two countries made the breakthrough announcement that the North would be sending a delegation. It was also agreed that a military hotline between the nations, suspended for nearly two years, would be reinstated. President Moon Jae-in has said the Olympic agreement could pave the way for the nuclear issue to be addressed and lead to dialogue between the North and the US, according to Yonhap news agency in Seoul."}], "question": "How did the agreement come about?", "id": "356_2"}]}]}, {"title": "Children need three hours exercise a day - Finland", "date": "8 September 2016", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Children should spend at least three hours a day performing physical activities, according to the Finnish government. Parents have been advised to actively encourage their children to pursue hobbies and interests that require physical exertion. Children aged eight and under have been targeted in the move. Finland is known for producing some of the most physically fit children in Europe. It also produces some of the highest academic results among schoolchildren in the developed world. Finland's Minister for Education and Culture, Sanni Grahn-Laasonen, believes this is no coincidence. Ms Grahn-Laasonen said physical activity contributed to a child's happiness and promoted learning by developing a young person's ability to interact socially. \"When children exercise together they develop interaction skills and connect socially, and it's healthy, too,\" she told local media. The minister's recommendation has been embraced by those who set the educational agenda, with the move expected to have a positive impact on results. Anneli Rautiainen, head of basic education with the Finnish National Board of Education, told the BBC that schools would now be experimenting with new ways of teaching. \"In our new curriculum, we are looking at two to three hours a week of physical education and more outdoor activities. But we are also looking at non-traditional ways of teaching,\" she said. These include removing desks and chairs from some classrooms, so that children are not sitting as much while learning regular subjects. \"Some children learn very well sitting at a desk and listening, others would benefit greatly from moving around the room talking with their classmates,\" said Ms Rautiainen. \"The child has an active role. We will emphasise personalised learning. The learning environment should be modern and support different learners.\" Finland is one of the first countries to put forward these recommendations, which will use classrooms to connect physical exercise with traditional learning. A report published last month by the child and family services change programme revealed that young people in Finland were in favour of more physical activity in schools. The idea was widely supported among those questioned, who suggested using the school gym during breaks and increasing out-of-hours school club activities. Guidelines issued by the World Health Organisation (WHO) suggest that children and young teenagers aged between 5 and 17 should perform at least an hour of moderate physical exercise a day. But the public health body goes on to say that more than an hour will provide additional health benefits, including later in life. Finland's obsession with health dates back to the 1970s, when it had the highest rate of deaths from heart-related issues in the world. This was largely due to a thriving dairy sector, which played a large part in the Finnish diet. In an effort to tackle the issue from a young age, schoolchildren were weighed on an annual basis and the results were recorded in end-of-year reports. If there was a problem, a doctor was called in. This led to the Finnish National Nutrition Council, a government body that issues dietary guidelines, eventually introducing a directive that schools should not only provide free lunches, but that the food should be nutritional. According to the WHO, Finland's population is still among the healthiest, but economic, social and cultural developments through globalisation are having a detrimental impact. As in many countries, health inequalities are on the rise in Finland. Finland introduced child health clinics way back in the 1940s, a pioneering move that was later introduced in other nations. The primary focus at the time was on physical development and nutrition, early identification of abnormal conditions or disease and immunisation. With this latest focus on physical activity among schoolchildren, Finland remains a leading nation when it comes to the health of its young citizens.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 2006, "answer_end": 2331, "text": "A report published last month by the child and family services change programme revealed that young people in Finland were in favour of more physical activity in schools. The idea was widely supported among those questioned, who suggested using the school gym during breaks and increasing out-of-hours school club activities."}], "question": "What do young people think?", "id": "357_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2332, "answer_end": 2652, "text": "Guidelines issued by the World Health Organisation (WHO) suggest that children and young teenagers aged between 5 and 17 should perform at least an hour of moderate physical exercise a day. But the public health body goes on to say that more than an hour will provide additional health benefits, including later in life."}], "question": "What is the current recommendation?", "id": "357_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3314, "answer_end": 3559, "text": "According to the WHO, Finland's population is still among the healthiest, but economic, social and cultural developments through globalisation are having a detrimental impact. As in many countries, health inequalities are on the rise in Finland."}], "question": "Why is more exercise needed?", "id": "357_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3560, "answer_end": 3980, "text": "Finland introduced child health clinics way back in the 1940s, a pioneering move that was later introduced in other nations. The primary focus at the time was on physical development and nutrition, early identification of abnormal conditions or disease and immunisation. With this latest focus on physical activity among schoolchildren, Finland remains a leading nation when it comes to the health of its young citizens."}], "question": "Is Finland ahead of the game?", "id": "357_3"}]}]}, {"title": "Nato defence spending target met, government insists", "date": "14 February 2017", "paragraphs": [{"context": "The government has rejected a think tank's claim that it missed Nato's target of spending at least 2% of national income on defence. In a new report, the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) claimed spending had fallen to 1.98% in 2016 as a result of the British economy growing faster than the defence budget. But a Ministry of Defence spokesman said its figures were \"wrong\". It pointed out that Nato itself said the UK met the 2% target. A spokeswoman for the alliance confirmed five countries - the UK, US, Poland, Greece and Estonia, met its target, which was set in 2006, last year. The UK has called on other countries to increase their spending, and US President Donald Trump has complained of European members failing to pay their fair share for collective defence arrangements. In its report, the IISS said only Greece and Estonia spent 2% or more, with the UK falling short by about PS380m. Its researchers said there was \"no shared understanding\" of what constitutes a nation's defence expenditure, pointing out that Nato's definition includes not only defence ministry budgets but also pensions, expenditure for peacekeeping and humanitarian operations, and research and development costs. They added that \"very different results\" could be reached depending on how expenditure is converted into US dollars and that different GDP figures could also distort the figures. They also questioned the \"increasingly prominent\" role of the 2% figure, saying it \"only provides a limited representation of countries' defence capabilities and commitments\". \"Ultimately, it is the output that matters,\" they added. Jonathan Marcus, BBC defence correspondent In some senses the 2% of GDP target for projected defence spending is an arbitrary benchmark - bound to fluctuate due to external economic factors, as today's row illustrates. It was the level chosen to try to get the Europeans to up their game while not setting too difficult a target for countries already experiencing economic difficulties. Another benchmark - that countries should spend at least 20% of their defence budget on equipment - is perhaps more meaningful. But some people argue that these arbitrary input targets are less important than \"outputs\" - exactly what real military capabilities countries are adding to Nato's force structure. Nato says more spending is needed to counter what is seen as a growing Russian assertiveness, but also a variety of problems threatening Nato's southern flank. And in the short term the need is to convince the new US administration and lawmakers on Capitol Hill that European allies are not seeking a cheap ride on America's purse strings. The Ministry of Defence dismissed the think tank's assessment of the UK's spending. \"These figures are wrong,\" it said. \"Nato's own figures clearly show that the UK spends over 2% of its GDP on defence. \"Our defence budget is the biggest in Europe, the second largest in Nato, and it is growing each year as we invest PS178bn in new equipment and the UK steps up globally, with new ships, submarines and aircraft over the next decade.\" The MoD said the IISS calculation may have been affected by fluctuations in exchange rates. The think tank's report was released ahead of a meeting of Nato defence ministers in Brussels on Wednesday. At a press conference ahead of the summit, Nato secretary general Jens Stoltenberg  unveiled figures showing that European members and Canada had between them increased defence spending by 3.8% above inflation last year. Mr Stoltenberg said the figures were \"significantly higher than what we had originally foreseen\" and showed Nato had \"turned a corner\" after many years of steep cuts in spending. He said: \"Regardless of language, the most important thing is that we increase defence spending and that is exactly what we are doing.\" MPs have previously questioned the way the UK government records its spending to meet the 2% target. In April, the cross-party defence committee said including what is spent on intelligence gathering and war pensions could be seen as \"creative accounting\".", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1631, "answer_end": 2666, "text": "Jonathan Marcus, BBC defence correspondent In some senses the 2% of GDP target for projected defence spending is an arbitrary benchmark - bound to fluctuate due to external economic factors, as today's row illustrates. It was the level chosen to try to get the Europeans to up their game while not setting too difficult a target for countries already experiencing economic difficulties. Another benchmark - that countries should spend at least 20% of their defence budget on equipment - is perhaps more meaningful. But some people argue that these arbitrary input targets are less important than \"outputs\" - exactly what real military capabilities countries are adding to Nato's force structure. Nato says more spending is needed to counter what is seen as a growing Russian assertiveness, but also a variety of problems threatening Nato's southern flank. And in the short term the need is to convince the new US administration and lawmakers on Capitol Hill that European allies are not seeking a cheap ride on America's purse strings."}], "question": "An arbitrary target?", "id": "358_0"}]}]}, {"title": "The OA cancelled: 'It showed the limitless potential of TV on a streaming platform'", "date": "6 August 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": " \"Netflix, you cannot leave us in a cliffhanger like this.\" That's just one of the thousands of shocked responses to the cancellation of The OA, an original drama about cross-dimensional travel, life after death, angels and magic dancing. Netflix axed Brit Marling and Zal Batmanglij's surreal sci-fi(ish) show after just two seasons, despite being a huge hit with critics and viewers. The OA has an 84% rating from reviewers on RottenTomatoes, and 83% from fans. By comparison, controversial teen suicide drama 13 Reasons Why, (which has been renewed for a fourth and final season), has a 52% critics score and 66% viewer rating. \"We are incredibly proud of the 16 mesmerizing chapters of The OA,\" says Cindy Holland, Netflix's head of original content, about the show's premature ending. \"We look forward to working with them again in the future, in this and perhaps many other dimensions.\" Neflix describes The OA as \"a big creative swing we were proud to take,\" but says that when it comes to deciding what to renew and what to cancel, \"viewing versus cost\" is always what it takes into account. So for all the goodwill in the world, it seems like there just weren't enough people watching it. \"Netflix can be cryptic and they're at a time now when they're going to be competing against Disney+ and potentially Apple's new upcoming TV service,\" Scott Bryan, co-host of the BBC's Must Watch podcast, tells Newsbeat. \"I think they're starting to cut shows that obviously don't work for them as well as others.\" He says that axing cult shows like this to possibly \"focus on another more mediocre show\" runs the risk of betraying or alienating some subscribers. Scott is, in his own words, \"gutted\" at hearing The OA won't return for a third series. He says it showed \"the complete limitless potential of having a show on a streaming platform.\" Every episode was a different length leaving its creators to tell the story at the pace they wanted, without the usual time and production restrictions for each chapter. And the show's opening credits were only ever seen once - close to the very end of the first episode of season one. \"It was also a show that had an ambition and scale that I've never seen in pretty much any other,\" Scott adds. \"I was so excited by the potential of where season three could go - and now we're never going to know.\" What we do know is that there were meant to be five seasons of The OA, which Brandon Perea, who played French, confirmed on Twitter. The plot of the first season of The OA went a bit like this: Prairie Johnson, a blind, adopted Russian girl who had grown up in small town America, returns home with her sight restored after seven years missing, abducted by a doctor obsessed with using his victims to travel to alternate dimensions. She knows a set of dance moves that make this possible and tells her story - and the secrets of those movements - to a group of outcasts. It's all in the hope of rescuing the man she loves who she believes is still captured. Season two involved a detective, a mysterious app and a twist which Scott Bryan describes as a \"huge moment.\" It's a storyline which Hanna Flint, a freelance TV and film journalist, describes as more of a \"fairy tale, a fantasy\" than the sci-fi genre it was often forced into. \"Each episode feels very individual, like a Brothers Grimm fairy-tale as we learn about the OA, her background and whether she's telling the truth or lying,\" Hanna explains. She says the show's diverse main cast - from young transgender actor Ian Alexander to 68-year-old Phyllis Smith - was one of its biggest appeals. \"A lot of the actors in there were brand new, some people we've never seen, and some people in roles we wouldn't imagine them in,\" she says. Hanna says she's disappointed by the choice to cancel the show. \"Netflix has constantly positioned itself as a streaming service that's looking to champion new TV shows and films that break the mould, stuff that supports diverse film-makers,\" she says. \"It just feels that if you're going to start championing new artists, you can't rely on an algorithm to define what you're going to keep on producing.\" But of course, there's always the chance another network could pick up The OA and finish the story, but that - Hanna says - will depend on the contract its makers signed with Netflix. \"I hope places that are doing this kind of prestige television like HBO, Showtime or AMC are interested in picking it up,\" says Hanna. \"I hope we get some sort of closure on this, but how many times in the past have we seen TV shows that never really got to do that?\" But in a goodbye message on Instagram, Brit Marling said that she had \"had a good cry\" when she heard the news, and says that \"maybe, in some ways, it's okay not to conclude these characters.\" 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_start": 2479, "answer_end": 4791, "text": "The plot of the first season of The OA went a bit like this: Prairie Johnson, a blind, adopted Russian girl who had grown up in small town America, returns home with her sight restored after seven years missing, abducted by a doctor obsessed with using his victims to travel to alternate dimensions. She knows a set of dance moves that make this possible and tells her story - and the secrets of those movements - to a group of outcasts. It's all in the hope of rescuing the man she loves who she believes is still captured. Season two involved a detective, a mysterious app and a twist which Scott Bryan describes as a \"huge moment.\" It's a storyline which Hanna Flint, a freelance TV and film journalist, describes as more of a \"fairy tale, a fantasy\" than the sci-fi genre it was often forced into. \"Each episode feels very individual, like a Brothers Grimm fairy-tale as we learn about the OA, her background and whether she's telling the truth or lying,\" Hanna explains. She says the show's diverse main cast - from young transgender actor Ian Alexander to 68-year-old Phyllis Smith - was one of its biggest appeals. \"A lot of the actors in there were brand new, some people we've never seen, and some people in roles we wouldn't imagine them in,\" she says. Hanna says she's disappointed by the choice to cancel the show. \"Netflix has constantly positioned itself as a streaming service that's looking to champion new TV shows and films that break the mould, stuff that supports diverse film-makers,\" she says. \"It just feels that if you're going to start championing new artists, you can't rely on an algorithm to define what you're going to keep on producing.\" But of course, there's always the chance another network could pick up The OA and finish the story, but that - Hanna says - will depend on the contract its makers signed with Netflix. \"I hope places that are doing this kind of prestige television like HBO, Showtime or AMC are interested in picking it up,\" says Hanna. \"I hope we get some sort of closure on this, but how many times in the past have we seen TV shows that never really got to do that?\" But in a goodbye message on Instagram, Brit Marling said that she had \"had a good cry\" when she heard the news, and says that \"maybe, in some ways, it's okay not to conclude these characters.\""}], "question": "So, what was The OA about?", "id": "359_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Macron government launches overhaul of France's labour laws", "date": "31 August 2017", "paragraphs": [{"context": "President Emmanuel Macron's government has begun its drive to overhaul France's rigid labour laws, vowing to \"free up the energy of the workforce\". The reforms aim to make it easier for bosses to hire and fire. Prime Minister Edouard Philippe said they were ambitious, balanced and fair but it was natural that not everyone would support the changes. Protests against the plan are expected next month, but two of the biggest unions say they will not take part. Jean-Claude Mailly, the leader of Force Ouvriere (FO), said that while the reforms were far from perfect, the government had carried out \"real consultation\" and FO would play no role in demonstrations on 12 September. The union with the biggest presence in the private sector, CFDT, said its members would not take to the streets either, although it was ultimately disappointed that its position was not reflected in the final text. Further protests are promised on 23 September by far-left leader Jean-Luc Melenchon, who is expected to spearhead opposition to the reforms. France has an unemployment rate of 9.5%, double that of the other big European economies and Mr Macron has vowed to cut it to 7% by 2022. France's labour code is some 3,000 pages long and is seen by many as a straitjacket for business. Among the biggest reforms, individual firms are to be offered more flexibility in negotiating wages and conditions. Labour Minister Muriel Penicaud said 36 new measures would be aimed at promoting \"social dialogue\". If a business reached a deal with the majority of its workforce on working hours and pay that agreement would trump any agreement in the wider industry. Over half of French workers are employed by small or medium-sized businesses. The government wants to facilitate deals at local level by encouraging companies with fewer than 50 employees to set up workers' committees that can bypass unions. One of the thorniest problems for the government is how to make it easier for companies to dismiss staff. There is to be a cap on damages that can be awarded to workers for unfair dismissal. However, after months of consultations, ministers have agreed to increase the cap from their original proposal. The cap would be limited to three months' pay for two years of work and 20 months' pay for 30 years. Until now the minimum pay-out for two years' employment was six months of salary. In contrast, normal severance pay will increase. He has a far greater chance than anyone before him. Francois Hollande's Socialist government watered down plans to reform the labour code in the face of street protests. However, Mr Macron has already won parliamentary backing to push these reforms through by decree. An opinion poll on Wednesday showed that nine out of 10 French people agreed that their country's labour code had to be reformed, although 60% were worried about the Macron plan. By Hugh Schofield, BBC News, Paris There were plenty of warnings that Emmanuel Macron would face a \"hot autumn\" of strikes once the detail of his labour reforms were released. The reality is likely to be less dramatic. Yes, the unions are unhappy but some are more unhappy than others. Of the three big federations, only the CGT is calling for protests on September 12. Two points set these reforms apart from previous botched efforts to change the labour code.  Even the most hostile union leaders concede that the government's method has been impeccable. There were proper negotiations, and there was give and take. But more important, the democratic legitimacy behind the Macron plan is unarguable.  Nothing in the plan is a surprise. Everything had been announced ahead of his election. Mobilising the country to stop what it has just voted for was never going to be an easy sell. The president knows the challenge he faces in winning over the electorate and he says he is expecting months of resistance to the proposals. France was \"the only big EU economy that hasn't combated mass unemployment for more than three decades\", he said in an interview on Wednesday, adding that the biggest victims were the young and the unskilled. Mr Macron has seen his popularity slide dramatically since he came to power on 7 May. A poll on 27 August suggested his approval ratings had fallen from 57% in July to 40%. Last week, on a visit to Romania, he complained that France was not a \"reformable country... because French men and women hate reform\". He quickly went on to explain that what France needed was \"transformation\" rather than reform.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1035, "answer_end": 2416, "text": "France has an unemployment rate of 9.5%, double that of the other big European economies and Mr Macron has vowed to cut it to 7% by 2022. France's labour code is some 3,000 pages long and is seen by many as a straitjacket for business. Among the biggest reforms, individual firms are to be offered more flexibility in negotiating wages and conditions. Labour Minister Muriel Penicaud said 36 new measures would be aimed at promoting \"social dialogue\". If a business reached a deal with the majority of its workforce on working hours and pay that agreement would trump any agreement in the wider industry. Over half of French workers are employed by small or medium-sized businesses. The government wants to facilitate deals at local level by encouraging companies with fewer than 50 employees to set up workers' committees that can bypass unions. One of the thorniest problems for the government is how to make it easier for companies to dismiss staff. There is to be a cap on damages that can be awarded to workers for unfair dismissal. However, after months of consultations, ministers have agreed to increase the cap from their original proposal. The cap would be limited to three months' pay for two years of work and 20 months' pay for 30 years. Until now the minimum pay-out for two years' employment was six months of salary. In contrast, normal severance pay will increase."}], "question": "What does Macron want to do?", "id": "360_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2417, "answer_end": 2863, "text": "He has a far greater chance than anyone before him. Francois Hollande's Socialist government watered down plans to reform the labour code in the face of street protests. However, Mr Macron has already won parliamentary backing to push these reforms through by decree. An opinion poll on Wednesday showed that nine out of 10 French people agreed that their country's labour code had to be reformed, although 60% were worried about the Macron plan."}], "question": "Will Macron succeed?", "id": "360_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2864, "answer_end": 3748, "text": "By Hugh Schofield, BBC News, Paris There were plenty of warnings that Emmanuel Macron would face a \"hot autumn\" of strikes once the detail of his labour reforms were released. The reality is likely to be less dramatic. Yes, the unions are unhappy but some are more unhappy than others. Of the three big federations, only the CGT is calling for protests on September 12. Two points set these reforms apart from previous botched efforts to change the labour code.  Even the most hostile union leaders concede that the government's method has been impeccable. There were proper negotiations, and there was give and take. But more important, the democratic legitimacy behind the Macron plan is unarguable.  Nothing in the plan is a surprise. Everything had been announced ahead of his election. Mobilising the country to stop what it has just voted for was never going to be an easy sell."}], "question": "Will France take to the streets?", "id": "360_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3749, "answer_end": 4502, "text": "The president knows the challenge he faces in winning over the electorate and he says he is expecting months of resistance to the proposals. France was \"the only big EU economy that hasn't combated mass unemployment for more than three decades\", he said in an interview on Wednesday, adding that the biggest victims were the young and the unskilled. Mr Macron has seen his popularity slide dramatically since he came to power on 7 May. A poll on 27 August suggested his approval ratings had fallen from 57% in July to 40%. Last week, on a visit to Romania, he complained that France was not a \"reformable country... because French men and women hate reform\". He quickly went on to explain that what France needed was \"transformation\" rather than reform."}], "question": "What does Macron say?", "id": "360_3"}]}]}, {"title": "Trump dismisses E. Jean Carroll rape allegation as 'fiction'", "date": "22 June 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "US President Donald Trump has dismissed allegations that he raped a woman in a department store dressing room in the mid-1990s as \"fiction\". The US president says he never met E. Jean Carroll and accuses her of making up the allegation to sell a new book. Ms Carroll says she did not report the alleged attack at the time after being advised by a friend she had no chance of winning in court. Her story was published in New York magazine on Friday. More than a dozen women have previously made sexual misconduct allegations against Mr Trump, which he has denied. In the article, she describes meeting Mr Trump in late 1995 or early 1996, in Bergdorf Goodman. She says she recognised him as the \"real estate tycoon\" and that he told her he was buying a present for \"a girl\". She says Mr Trump knew she was a TV agony aunt and the two joked around, encouraging each other to try on some lingerie. She alleges that they then went to a dressing room, where she accuses him of raping her. Both Mr Trump and Ms Carroll were aged around 50 at the time, and he was married to Marla Maples. Ms Carroll says she told two friends about the alleged incident, one of whom advised her to go to the police. But she says the other advised her against telling anyone saying: \"Forget it! He has 200 lawyers. He'll bury you.\" The accusation is one of six alleged attacks by \"hideous men\" that Ms Carroll details in her article. Another alleged incident involves Les Moonves, the former CEO of CBS. He resigned in 2018 after allegations of sexual misconduct. Mr Moonves' representative told New York magazine he \"emphatically denies\" the incident. Ms Carroll ends the article by saying Mr Trump was her \"last hideous man\" and she has not had sex since then. \"I've never met this person in my life,\" the US president said in a statement. \"She is trying to sell a new book - that should indicate her motivation.  It should be sold in the fiction section.\" However, the New York magazine article included an image of Mr Trump and Ms Carroll together at an NBC party around 1987. When he was asked about the photo on Saturday, Mr Trump said: \"Standing with my coat on in a line, give me a break, with my back to the camera. I have no idea who she is.\" He added: \"There is some picture where we're shaking hands it looks like at some kind of event. I have my coat on, I have my wife standing next to me, and I didn't know her husband but he was a newscaster. But I have no idea who she is.\" Mr Trump encouraged anyone with information that the Democratic Party is working with Ms Carroll or New York magazine to notify the White House. He accused the publication of \"peddling fake news\" and called the magazine a \"failing business.\" \"Shame on those who make up false stories of assault to try to get publicity for themselves, or sell a book, or carry out a political agenda,\" he said. \"It's just as bad for people to believe it, particularly when there is zero evidence,\" he added. In his statement, Mr Trump thanked Bergdorf Goodman, the upmarket New York department store where the incident allegedly took place, for \"confirming they have no video footage of any such incident\".", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 563, "answer_end": 1737, "text": "In the article, she describes meeting Mr Trump in late 1995 or early 1996, in Bergdorf Goodman. She says she recognised him as the \"real estate tycoon\" and that he told her he was buying a present for \"a girl\". She says Mr Trump knew she was a TV agony aunt and the two joked around, encouraging each other to try on some lingerie. She alleges that they then went to a dressing room, where she accuses him of raping her. Both Mr Trump and Ms Carroll were aged around 50 at the time, and he was married to Marla Maples. Ms Carroll says she told two friends about the alleged incident, one of whom advised her to go to the police. But she says the other advised her against telling anyone saying: \"Forget it! He has 200 lawyers. He'll bury you.\" The accusation is one of six alleged attacks by \"hideous men\" that Ms Carroll details in her article. Another alleged incident involves Les Moonves, the former CEO of CBS. He resigned in 2018 after allegations of sexual misconduct. Mr Moonves' representative told New York magazine he \"emphatically denies\" the incident. Ms Carroll ends the article by saying Mr Trump was her \"last hideous man\" and she has not had sex since then."}], "question": "What does E. Jean Carroll allege?", "id": "361_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1738, "answer_end": 3155, "text": "\"I've never met this person in my life,\" the US president said in a statement. \"She is trying to sell a new book - that should indicate her motivation.  It should be sold in the fiction section.\" However, the New York magazine article included an image of Mr Trump and Ms Carroll together at an NBC party around 1987. When he was asked about the photo on Saturday, Mr Trump said: \"Standing with my coat on in a line, give me a break, with my back to the camera. I have no idea who she is.\" He added: \"There is some picture where we're shaking hands it looks like at some kind of event. I have my coat on, I have my wife standing next to me, and I didn't know her husband but he was a newscaster. But I have no idea who she is.\" Mr Trump encouraged anyone with information that the Democratic Party is working with Ms Carroll or New York magazine to notify the White House. He accused the publication of \"peddling fake news\" and called the magazine a \"failing business.\" \"Shame on those who make up false stories of assault to try to get publicity for themselves, or sell a book, or carry out a political agenda,\" he said. \"It's just as bad for people to believe it, particularly when there is zero evidence,\" he added. In his statement, Mr Trump thanked Bergdorf Goodman, the upmarket New York department store where the incident allegedly took place, for \"confirming they have no video footage of any such incident\"."}], "question": "How did Trump respond?", "id": "361_1"}]}]}, {"title": "Mitt Romney: Trump has caused worldwide dismay", "date": "2 January 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "The former Republican US presidential candidate and incoming senator for Utah, Mitt Romney, has launched a scathing attack on Donald Trump, saying he has caused dismay around the world. Writing in the Washington Post, he said the US president had not \"risen to the mantle\" of the presidency. Mr Romney has been fiercely critical of Mr Trump before but won his backing for his run in Utah. Mr Trump hit back by tweeting, \"I won big and he didn't.\" However, while he drew a comparison with Jeff Flake, the outgoing Republican senator who last year attacked Mr Trump as he announced his retirement, Mr Trump sounded conciliatory, calling for Mr Romney to be a \"team player\". The timing of Mr Romney's article, just two days before he is sworn in, has prompted some to speculate he is positioning himself as a challenger to Mr Trump securing the Republican presidential nomination. In the article, Mr Romney praised many of Mr Trump's policies, such as his tax reforms and appointment of conservative judges, and crackdown on \"China's unfair trade practices\" - polices which he said \"mainstream Republicans\" had promoted for years. But he went on to say: \"With the nation so divided, resentful and angry, presidential leadership in qualities of character is indispensable. And it is in this province where the incumbent's shortfall has been most glaring.\" Mr Romney said he would support the president in policies he thought were in the best interests of Utah or the US but speak out against actions \"that are divisive, racist, sexist, anti-immigrant, dishonest or destructive to democratic institutions\". \"The appointment of senior persons of lesser experience, the abandonment of allies who fight beside us, and the president's thoughtless claim that America has long been a 'sucker' in world affairs all defined his presidency down,\" he wrote. \"Trump's words and actions have caused dismay around the world.\" The world \"needs American leadership\", he argued, and \"the alternative... offered by China and Russia is autocratic, corrupt and brutal\". Mr Romney's article has been widely discussed and covered across US media. Several outlets suggested that Mr Romney was positioning himself to be Mr Trump's leading critic in Congress. The New York Times said much of the essay \"sounded like the makings of a primary challenge against Mr. Trump from Mr. Romney\". Mr Trump's manager for the 2020 presidential campaign accused Mr Romney of jealousy. On social media some praised Mr Romney, others said he should have gone further. Conservative commentators and pro-Trump writers have accused him of duplicity and opportunism. A complicated one. During the 2016 campaign, Mr Romney said Mr Trump had neither \"the temperament nor the judgement to be president\" while Mr Trump called Mr Romney a \"choke artist\" and called his bid for the presidency in 2012 \"the worst ever\". The same year though, the pair met for dinner amid reports Mr Trump was mulling appointing Mr Romney as his secretary of state. Mr Romney has also taken issue with Mr Trump labelling the press the \"enemy of the people\"  as well as his response to a violent far-right rally in Charlottesville. When US Congress reconvenes on Thursday, Mr Trump faces a new challenge on the domestic front - in November's mid-terms the Republicans strengthened their hold of the Senate but lost the House of Representatives.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 878, "answer_end": 2045, "text": "In the article, Mr Romney praised many of Mr Trump's policies, such as his tax reforms and appointment of conservative judges, and crackdown on \"China's unfair trade practices\" - polices which he said \"mainstream Republicans\" had promoted for years. But he went on to say: \"With the nation so divided, resentful and angry, presidential leadership in qualities of character is indispensable. And it is in this province where the incumbent's shortfall has been most glaring.\" Mr Romney said he would support the president in policies he thought were in the best interests of Utah or the US but speak out against actions \"that are divisive, racist, sexist, anti-immigrant, dishonest or destructive to democratic institutions\". \"The appointment of senior persons of lesser experience, the abandonment of allies who fight beside us, and the president's thoughtless claim that America has long been a 'sucker' in world affairs all defined his presidency down,\" he wrote. \"Trump's words and actions have caused dismay around the world.\" The world \"needs American leadership\", he argued, and \"the alternative... offered by China and Russia is autocratic, corrupt and brutal\"."}], "question": "What did the opinion piece say?", "id": "362_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2046, "answer_end": 2618, "text": "Mr Romney's article has been widely discussed and covered across US media. Several outlets suggested that Mr Romney was positioning himself to be Mr Trump's leading critic in Congress. The New York Times said much of the essay \"sounded like the makings of a primary challenge against Mr. Trump from Mr. Romney\". Mr Trump's manager for the 2020 presidential campaign accused Mr Romney of jealousy. On social media some praised Mr Romney, others said he should have gone further. Conservative commentators and pro-Trump writers have accused him of duplicity and opportunism."}], "question": "What's the reaction been?", "id": "362_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2619, "answer_end": 3370, "text": "A complicated one. During the 2016 campaign, Mr Romney said Mr Trump had neither \"the temperament nor the judgement to be president\" while Mr Trump called Mr Romney a \"choke artist\" and called his bid for the presidency in 2012 \"the worst ever\". The same year though, the pair met for dinner amid reports Mr Trump was mulling appointing Mr Romney as his secretary of state. Mr Romney has also taken issue with Mr Trump labelling the press the \"enemy of the people\"  as well as his response to a violent far-right rally in Charlottesville. When US Congress reconvenes on Thursday, Mr Trump faces a new challenge on the domestic front - in November's mid-terms the Republicans strengthened their hold of the Senate but lost the House of Representatives."}], "question": "What kind of relationship do the two men have?", "id": "362_2"}]}]}, {"title": "Greater Bay Area: China's ambitious but vague economic plan", "date": "26 February 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "China's ambitious plan to develop the so-called Greater Bay Area is designed to spur the economy, but analysts question whether its lofty goals can be achieved, as the BBC's Ana Nicolaci da Costa explains. The Greater Bay Area plan, unveiled this week, would link Hong Kong, Macau and nine other cities in southern China. The project aims to foster growth in the world's second largest economy by developing technology and innovation, boosting infrastructure and increasing financial links between the cities. Some say China is trying to create an innovation cluster to rival the likes of Silicon Valley. The Greater Bay Area region is already very important to China. It is home to about 70 million people, produces 37% of the country's exports and 12% of its gross domestic product, according to HSBC. China hopes closer integration of the region's cities can boost that output further. The plan aims to develop technology, deepen links between financial systems and infrastructure, while securing quality of life. Some of the infrastructure projects are already under way. Chinese President Xi Jinping last year officially opened a bridge connecting Hong Kong to Macau and the mainland Chinese city of Zhuhai - the world's longest sea crossing bridge - as part of China's plan to connect Greater Bay Area. The blueprint lays out strategic visions for the major cities in the region to become hubs in different sectors, reports say. Hong Kong would strengthen its status as a finance and trade hub, Shenzhen - home to Chinese telecoms giant Huawei - would consolidate as a tech hub, while Macau would focus on tourism and trade with the Portuguese-speaking world. \"If you think about the cities that are included in the Greater Bay Area... they are complementary to each other,\" says Albert Hu, associate professor at the National University of Singapore. Prof Hu says it \"makes a lot of sense to try to improve connectivity between these cities\". \"If all these things could be implemented, I think the area would be more productive than the sum of the individual cities.\" The plan also highlights the central government's goal of improving innovation capacity in the region, developing modern services and promoting offshore business, says Yue Su, China economist at the Economist Intelligence Unit. But Ms Su says the \"vagueness\" of the 11-chapter document \"suggests that officials will struggle to realise the initiative's goals\". The whole region stands to benefit from a more integrated market with easier movement of people and resources, analysts say. For Hong Kong, greater integration could boost its role as a global trade and financial centre. It could even ease demand on its red-hot housing market, if it encourages and makes it easier for Hong Kong citizens to move to the mainland. But closer economic integration could be challenging for a region with different customs, legal systems and public services, they say. \"An enormous amount of red tape related to transport, customs, immigration will need to be cut to make it actually easy to move people, goods and money between these areas,\" says Martin Chorzempa, research fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics in Washington. The plan has also sparked some concern about the \"one country, two systems\" framework which gives Hong Kong a high degree of freedom in political, economic and legal matters. \"Hong Kong's prosperity is founded on global recognition of its autonomy from China,\" Ms Su says. \"A potential growing influence of the central Chinese government over the territory is likely to bring concerns to Hong Kong's major trade partners.\" The apparent focus on technology and innovation has drawn comparisons between the Greater Bay Area and California's Silicon Valley. But analysts say the region has a long way to go to compete with the US tech hub, if that is indeed its aim. \"China tech firms are only worth about a third as much as America's. They also generate relatively little revenue abroad,\" Ms Su says. Others say the comparison is ill-conceived, or amounts to comparing apples and oranges. \"It's not comparable,\" says Adam Xu, partner at global strategy consulting firm OC&C in Shanghai. \"The biggest difference is this development is very planned or guided, while the other is very market-driven,\" Mr Xu says. \"The aim of the plan is to grow the regional economy rather than competing with Silicon Valley per se.\"", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 889, "answer_end": 2435, "text": "The plan aims to develop technology, deepen links between financial systems and infrastructure, while securing quality of life. Some of the infrastructure projects are already under way. Chinese President Xi Jinping last year officially opened a bridge connecting Hong Kong to Macau and the mainland Chinese city of Zhuhai - the world's longest sea crossing bridge - as part of China's plan to connect Greater Bay Area. The blueprint lays out strategic visions for the major cities in the region to become hubs in different sectors, reports say. Hong Kong would strengthen its status as a finance and trade hub, Shenzhen - home to Chinese telecoms giant Huawei - would consolidate as a tech hub, while Macau would focus on tourism and trade with the Portuguese-speaking world. \"If you think about the cities that are included in the Greater Bay Area... they are complementary to each other,\" says Albert Hu, associate professor at the National University of Singapore. Prof Hu says it \"makes a lot of sense to try to improve connectivity between these cities\". \"If all these things could be implemented, I think the area would be more productive than the sum of the individual cities.\" The plan also highlights the central government's goal of improving innovation capacity in the region, developing modern services and promoting offshore business, says Yue Su, China economist at the Economist Intelligence Unit. But Ms Su says the \"vagueness\" of the 11-chapter document \"suggests that officials will struggle to realise the initiative's goals\"."}], "question": "What is the plan?", "id": "363_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2436, "answer_end": 3638, "text": "The whole region stands to benefit from a more integrated market with easier movement of people and resources, analysts say. For Hong Kong, greater integration could boost its role as a global trade and financial centre. It could even ease demand on its red-hot housing market, if it encourages and makes it easier for Hong Kong citizens to move to the mainland. But closer economic integration could be challenging for a region with different customs, legal systems and public services, they say. \"An enormous amount of red tape related to transport, customs, immigration will need to be cut to make it actually easy to move people, goods and money between these areas,\" says Martin Chorzempa, research fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics in Washington. The plan has also sparked some concern about the \"one country, two systems\" framework which gives Hong Kong a high degree of freedom in political, economic and legal matters. \"Hong Kong's prosperity is founded on global recognition of its autonomy from China,\" Ms Su says. \"A potential growing influence of the central Chinese government over the territory is likely to bring concerns to Hong Kong's major trade partners.\""}], "question": "What are the potential challenges?", "id": "363_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3639, "answer_end": 4427, "text": "The apparent focus on technology and innovation has drawn comparisons between the Greater Bay Area and California's Silicon Valley. But analysts say the region has a long way to go to compete with the US tech hub, if that is indeed its aim. \"China tech firms are only worth about a third as much as America's. They also generate relatively little revenue abroad,\" Ms Su says. Others say the comparison is ill-conceived, or amounts to comparing apples and oranges. \"It's not comparable,\" says Adam Xu, partner at global strategy consulting firm OC&C in Shanghai. \"The biggest difference is this development is very planned or guided, while the other is very market-driven,\" Mr Xu says. \"The aim of the plan is to grow the regional economy rather than competing with Silicon Valley per se.\""}], "question": "Can it really rival Silicon Valley?", "id": "363_2"}]}]}, {"title": "South Sudan: Mass evacuation of foreigners", "date": "13 July 2016", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Several countries are evacuating their citizens from South Sudan following days of fighting that saw hundreds of people killed. Germany, the UK, Italy, Japan, India and Uganda have already started taking their citizens out of the country. A ceasefire between forces loyal to President Salva Kiir and Vice-President Riek Machar is holding for a second day in the capital, Juba. Mr Machar and his troops have also left Juba \"to avoid further confrontation\". Africa Live: More on this and other African stories 'We want peace - and ice cream' Five obstacles to peace The evacuations are being carried out by military and chartered planes, as commercial flights have not yet resumed. However, Kenyan Foreign Minister Amina Mohammed has told the BBC that Kenyan nationals would not be evacuated, as the ceasefire in South Sudan was holding. The US embassy in Juba said it was organising flights to evacuate non-essential staff and all US citizens wishing to leave. President Barack Obama later announced 47 troops were being sent to protect the US embassy and its staff. He added that 130 more personnel were being sent to Djibouti to stand ready for deployment if necessary. Germany's foreign ministry said its air force was evacuating other European nationals, as well as its own citizens. During the fighting, Mr Machar's base in Juba was overrun. Mr Machar's spokesman James Gatdet Dak told the BBC that the vice-president was now near the capital but refused to be more specific. He called for an international buffer force to be deployed to avoid \"further confrontation\" and ensure that the ceasefire holds. July 2011 - South Sudan becomes an independent country after more than 20 years of guerrilla warfare, which claimed the lives of at least 1.5 million people and displaced more than four million. December 2013 - Civil war breaks out after President Salva Kiir sacks the cabinet and accuses Vice-President Riek Machar of planning a coup. The war is fought broadly between the country's biggest ethnic groups - the Dinka, led by Mr Kiir, and the Nuer, under Mr Machar. More than 2.2 million people are displaced by the fighting. Famine puts the lives of thousands at risk. Tens of thousands of people are reported killed, and Mr Machar flees the country. August 2015 - President Kiir signs a peace deal with rebels after a threat of sanctions from the UN. April 2016 - Mr Machar returns to South Sudan to take up his job as first vice-president in a new unity government led by President Kiir.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1609, "answer_end": 2499, "text": "July 2011 - South Sudan becomes an independent country after more than 20 years of guerrilla warfare, which claimed the lives of at least 1.5 million people and displaced more than four million. December 2013 - Civil war breaks out after President Salva Kiir sacks the cabinet and accuses Vice-President Riek Machar of planning a coup. The war is fought broadly between the country's biggest ethnic groups - the Dinka, led by Mr Kiir, and the Nuer, under Mr Machar. More than 2.2 million people are displaced by the fighting. Famine puts the lives of thousands at risk. Tens of thousands of people are reported killed, and Mr Machar flees the country. August 2015 - President Kiir signs a peace deal with rebels after a threat of sanctions from the UN. April 2016 - Mr Machar returns to South Sudan to take up his job as first vice-president in a new unity government led by President Kiir."}], "question": "How did we get here?", "id": "364_0"}]}]}, {"title": "North Korea fires second ballistic missile over Japan", "date": "15 September 2017", "paragraphs": [{"context": "North Korea has fired a ballistic missile across Japan, creating new tension in the region after its nuclear bomb test less than two weeks ago. The missile reached an altitude of about 770km (478 miles), travelling 3,700km before landing in the sea off Hokkaido, South Korea's military says. It flew higher and further than one fired over Japan late last month. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said his country would \"never tolerate\" such \"dangerous provocative action\". South Korea responded within minutes by firing two ballistic missiles into the sea in a simulated strike on the North. US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson also condemned the launch and the UN Security Council will meet later on Friday in New York at the request of the United States and Japan. The launch took place from the Sunan district of the capital Pyongyang just before 07:00 local time (22:00 GMT on Thursday), South Korea's military says. Sunan is home to Pyongyang International Airport, 24km north of the city centre. As with the last test on 29 August, the missile flew over Japan's northern Hokkaido island before splashing down in the Pacific Ocean. There were no immediate reports of damage to aircraft or ships. Sirens sounded across the region and text message alerts were sent out warning people to take cover. Observers say it is likely to have been an intermediate range ballistic missile (IRBM) though Japanese officials believe there is still a possibility it was an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM). What is so alarming about the new launch is that the US Pacific territory of Guam, which North Korea says it has plans to fire missiles towards, is 3,400km from Pyongyang, putting it within range of the latest missile. Sanctions on the North were tightened this week in response to its sixth nuclear test on 3 September, which reportedly involved a miniaturised hydrogen bomb that could be loaded on to a long-range missile. After the latest round of sanctions, it is not clear what other course of action is open to the UN Security Council. Only on Monday, the Security Council voted unanimously to restrict oil imports and ban textile exports, in an attempt to starve the North of fuel and income for its weapons programmes. Mr Tillerson put the burden of response to the latest test on China and Russia, the North's main economic partners. They \"must indicate their intolerance for these reckless missile launches by taking direct actions of their own\", he said. He said that China supplied North Korea with most of its oil, while Russia was the largest employer of North Korean forced labour. Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said her country was not the \"focal point of the conflict\". \"The various directly involved parties should take responsibility,\" she added, in remarks that appeared aimed at the US and South Korea. \"Any attempt to wash their hands of the issue is irresponsible.\" Ms Hua called for a peaceful solution \"through formal diplomatic means\". Russia's foreign ministry condemned North Korea's \"illegal\" test, but added: \"Regrettably, aggressive rhetoric is the only thing coming from Washington.\" Have North Korea's missile tests paid off? In South Korea, President Moon Jae-in held an emergency meeting of his national security council, where he said that dialogue with the North was \"impossible in a situation like this\". Officials have been ordered to prepare for possible North Korean chemical, biological and electromagnetic pulse (EMP) attacks, a presidential spokesman said. North Korea has said it has bombs capable of sending EMP shock waves, which would disrupt power supplies, although the claim has been greeted with some scepticism. The country does have an extensive chemical arsenal and may also have biological weapons. It insists it needs a nuclear-weapons programme to ensure its survival and there has been no let-up in its fiery rhetoric. On Thursday, it threatened to \"sink Japan and turn America to ashes\". A commentary in North Korea's state-run Rodong Sinmun newspaper after the missile launch accuses the US and South Korea of conducting \"ceaseless\" exercises as a provocation. - Watch: Was your T-shirt made in North Korea? - Pyongyang has been developing weapons, initially based on the Soviet-developed Scud, for decades - Conducted short and medium-range missile tests on many occasions, sometimes to mark domestic events or periods of regional tension - Pace of tests has increased in recent months; experts say North Korea appears to be making significant advances towards building a reliable long-range nuclear-capable weapon - On 3 September, North Korea said it tested a hydrogen bomb that could be miniaturised and loaded on a long-range missile Rupert Wingfield-Hayes, BBC News, Tokyo This test came as a surprise to nobody. North Korea is steadily proceeding down the path to full ICBM capability. To do that, it needs to test-fire its projectiles - every other missile-armed nation has done the same. It started earlier this year by firing its new longer-range Hwasong missiles into the Sea of Japan, then flew one over Hokkaido in August. Next it tested a powerful nuclear device, which it claims it can put on a missile. Now it has tested another intermediate range missile at longer range and higher altitude. The next step will almost certainly be a test of the Hwasong-14 ICBM over Japan and far out into the Pacific. The aim of all this is to develop and deploy a reliable missile that can hit the mainland US.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 768, "answer_end": 1930, "text": "The launch took place from the Sunan district of the capital Pyongyang just before 07:00 local time (22:00 GMT on Thursday), South Korea's military says. Sunan is home to Pyongyang International Airport, 24km north of the city centre. As with the last test on 29 August, the missile flew over Japan's northern Hokkaido island before splashing down in the Pacific Ocean. There were no immediate reports of damage to aircraft or ships. Sirens sounded across the region and text message alerts were sent out warning people to take cover. Observers say it is likely to have been an intermediate range ballistic missile (IRBM) though Japanese officials believe there is still a possibility it was an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM). What is so alarming about the new launch is that the US Pacific territory of Guam, which North Korea says it has plans to fire missiles towards, is 3,400km from Pyongyang, putting it within range of the latest missile. Sanctions on the North were tightened this week in response to its sixth nuclear test on 3 September, which reportedly involved a miniaturised hydrogen bomb that could be loaded on to a long-range missile."}], "question": "Why does this new test matter?", "id": "365_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2603, "answer_end": 3184, "text": "Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said her country was not the \"focal point of the conflict\". \"The various directly involved parties should take responsibility,\" she added, in remarks that appeared aimed at the US and South Korea. \"Any attempt to wash their hands of the issue is irresponsible.\" Ms Hua called for a peaceful solution \"through formal diplomatic means\". Russia's foreign ministry condemned North Korea's \"illegal\" test, but added: \"Regrettably, aggressive rhetoric is the only thing coming from Washington.\" Have North Korea's missile tests paid off?"}], "question": "What was the reaction from China and Russia?", "id": "365_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3185, "answer_end": 3780, "text": "In South Korea, President Moon Jae-in held an emergency meeting of his national security council, where he said that dialogue with the North was \"impossible in a situation like this\". Officials have been ordered to prepare for possible North Korean chemical, biological and electromagnetic pulse (EMP) attacks, a presidential spokesman said. North Korea has said it has bombs capable of sending EMP shock waves, which would disrupt power supplies, although the claim has been greeted with some scepticism. The country does have an extensive chemical arsenal and may also have biological weapons."}], "question": "How is South Korea responding?", "id": "365_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3781, "answer_end": 4194, "text": "It insists it needs a nuclear-weapons programme to ensure its survival and there has been no let-up in its fiery rhetoric. On Thursday, it threatened to \"sink Japan and turn America to ashes\". A commentary in North Korea's state-run Rodong Sinmun newspaper after the missile launch accuses the US and South Korea of conducting \"ceaseless\" exercises as a provocation. - Watch: Was your T-shirt made in North Korea?"}], "question": "Why is the North acting like this?", "id": "365_3"}]}]}, {"title": "Who controls Canada's indigenous lands?", "date": "10 February 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "The courts in Canada are grappling with a decision central to the relationship between Canadian and traditional indigenous laws. The dispute involves the construction of a multi-billion dollar gas pipeline in the province of British Columbia. It's a project which has exposed a rift between elected and hereditary chiefs of the Wet'suwet'en people, who disagree about whether to allow the pipeline to be built through traditional lands. The elected councils have jurisdiction within the boundaries of the reserves to administer federal government legislation, but not the wider traditional territory which the pipeline would pass through. The hereditary chiefs of the Wet'suwet'en nation are stewards and protecters of 22,000 square km (13,670 square miles) of traditional territory, outside the reserves. They are concerned about the impact of the project on their land and natural resources. Hereditary Chief Na'Moks of the Tsayu clan, which is part of the Wet'suwet'en people, told the BBC: \"You always have to put the environment first.\" So what's behind the dispute, and who have the courts favoured? The proposed pipeline would carry gas to the port of Kitimat from the interior of British Columbia, a journey of 670 km (420 miles), passing partly through indigenous lands. The construction company Coastal GasLink has reached deals with elected indigenous councils along the route. This involved permission to build the pipeline in return for local jobs and investment in the area. Coastal GasLink says it also consulted the hereditary leaders. But the chiefs say that did not happen, and that they did not give their approval because of environmental concerns. Suzanne Wilton, a communications adviser for the company, told the BBC:  \"Coastal GasLink initiated consultation with the Office of the Wet'suwet'en Hereditary Chiefs in June 2012 by providing formal notification of the proposed project. \"Since then, Coastal GasLink has engaged in a wide range of consultation activities with Wet'suwet'en Hereditary Chiefs.\" Chief Na'Moks responded:  \"That is their statement...we ensured that we stated at any meetings that these meetings cannot be misconstrued as 'consultation'.\" Protests by groups supporting the hereditary leaders' decision have followed near the proposed construction site, and across Canada. In December, the Supreme Court in British Columbia issued an injunction so that construction could go ahead, and protesters were ordered to remove barriers from access roads. Police arrived to break up the barriers and remove the protesters, 14 of whom were arrested. But this provincial Supreme Court ruling was only temporary, and it will shortly make a final decision on the case. At its heart, this is a dispute about who represents and speaks for Canada's indigenous communities. Responding to a question at a recent town hall meeting, Canada's prime minister Justin Trudeau highlighted the problem of dealing with two distinct groups of indigenous representatives. \"It is not for the federal government to decide who speaks for you. That's not my job,\" he said. Hereditary chiefs are chosen by elders and clan members. The elected indigenous councils were set up by the federal government under the Indian Act of 1876, which defined \"Indian\" status in Canada, and were designed as a means to assimilate indigenous people. As such, the elected councils remain a controversial legacy of the past. \"Canada has a long and terrible history in regards to indigenous people,\" said Justin Trudeau at the same town hall meeting. \"We have not treated indigenous peoples as partners and stewards of this land.\" The Indian Act does not recognise hereditary indigenous chiefs, although they do often serve on elected councils, and the two groups work together on community-wide projects. \"We are hereditary chiefs,\" Chief Na'Moks told local media recently in British Columbia, and, referring to the route through which the pipeline would pass, he said \"we have control of this land.\" \"What's called the hereditary system is the historic legal and political and economic system of the Wet'suwet'ens, which was in place for thousands and thousands of years before Europeans came to what became Canada,\" says Val Napoleon at the University of Victoria in British Columbia. A federal Supreme Court ruling in 1997 gave indigenous people title over their own traditional lands which had not been ceded to the government. This gave hope to First Nation communities across Canada which had been campaigning to protect their lands from developers. Tensions have remained in some areas over precisely which indigenous representatives have these rights in Canada. It's a complex issue as indigenous leadership structures vary across the country. But the forthcoming ruling by the Supreme Court of British Columbia will have important implications for the future of the Coastal GasLink pipeline through Wet'suwet'en territory. Read more from Reality Check Send us your questions Follow us on Twitter", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 2704, "answer_end": 4282, "text": "At its heart, this is a dispute about who represents and speaks for Canada's indigenous communities. Responding to a question at a recent town hall meeting, Canada's prime minister Justin Trudeau highlighted the problem of dealing with two distinct groups of indigenous representatives. \"It is not for the federal government to decide who speaks for you. That's not my job,\" he said. Hereditary chiefs are chosen by elders and clan members. The elected indigenous councils were set up by the federal government under the Indian Act of 1876, which defined \"Indian\" status in Canada, and were designed as a means to assimilate indigenous people. As such, the elected councils remain a controversial legacy of the past. \"Canada has a long and terrible history in regards to indigenous people,\" said Justin Trudeau at the same town hall meeting. \"We have not treated indigenous peoples as partners and stewards of this land.\" The Indian Act does not recognise hereditary indigenous chiefs, although they do often serve on elected councils, and the two groups work together on community-wide projects. \"We are hereditary chiefs,\" Chief Na'Moks told local media recently in British Columbia, and, referring to the route through which the pipeline would pass, he said \"we have control of this land.\" \"What's called the hereditary system is the historic legal and political and economic system of the Wet'suwet'ens, which was in place for thousands and thousands of years before Europeans came to what became Canada,\" says Val Napoleon at the University of Victoria in British Columbia."}], "question": "Who speaks for indigenous peoples?", "id": "366_0"}]}]}, {"title": "French police arrest teenager over 'IS terror plot'", "date": "14 September 2016", "paragraphs": [{"context": "French police have arrested a 15-year-old boy suspected of plotting to carry out terror attacks in the country. The teenager was detained in Paris and is believed to have links with a French member of so-called Islamic State (IS), Rashid Kassim. Investigators say the boy was under surveillance since April and had contacted IS through social media. Another boy, also 15 and also suspected of links to Kassim, was arrested in Paris on Saturday. Kassim targets vulnerable youngsters through their mobile phones. French officials say he is a key instigator who uses encrypted forums to direct recruits on how and where to carry out attacks in Europe. French Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve said the arrests were part of efforts to pinpoint vulnerable citizens in France who have been targeted with \"calls to carry out killings, led by a certain number of actors in Syria\". The arrests this week follow the detention of three women, including a 19-year-old, who had allegedly wanted to attack a Paris railway station using a car laden with gas cylinders. Kassim, who has appeared in propaganda videos in Iraq or Syria, is thought to have planned at least four terror attacks in France since June. An amateur rapper and youth leader from Roanne, north-east of France's second city Lyon, Rashid Kassim is thought to have been radicalised either over the internet or on a trip to Algeria in 2011. He fell out with his local Muslim community and left France with his wife and three children for Egypt the following year. Little was known of him until he appeared in a brutal IS propaganda video after the Bastille Day lorry attack on Nice in July. In the video, he murders two Syrian prisoners and threatens similar attacks on the streets of France by French citizens. Also known as Ibn Qassim, his focus is recruiting young French would-be jihadists, using social media and chat groups. He has urged his 300 followers on Telegram to carry out what prosecutors term \"terrorisme de proximite\" (local terrorism). Who is French jihadist Rashid Kassim? French Prime Minister Manuel Valls has said the country's security services are foiling terror plots and dismantling militant networks \"every day\". He said about 15,000 people were being monitored for radicalisation. France has been under a state of emergency since IS attacks on Paris in November killed 130 people in what President Francois Hollande called an \"act of war\".", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1198, "answer_end": 2045, "text": "An amateur rapper and youth leader from Roanne, north-east of France's second city Lyon, Rashid Kassim is thought to have been radicalised either over the internet or on a trip to Algeria in 2011. He fell out with his local Muslim community and left France with his wife and three children for Egypt the following year. Little was known of him until he appeared in a brutal IS propaganda video after the Bastille Day lorry attack on Nice in July. In the video, he murders two Syrian prisoners and threatens similar attacks on the streets of France by French citizens. Also known as Ibn Qassim, his focus is recruiting young French would-be jihadists, using social media and chat groups. He has urged his 300 followers on Telegram to carry out what prosecutors term \"terrorisme de proximite\" (local terrorism). Who is French jihadist Rashid Kassim?"}], "question": "Who is Rashid Kassim?", "id": "367_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Will Indonesia's new capital just move the problem to the jungle?", "date": "3 September 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "After years of speculation and debate, Indonesia announced last week that it will be moving its capital from Jakarta to East Kalimantan, nearly 1,300km (800 miles) away. Jakarta has become crowded and polluted and is sinking at an alarming rate. East Kalimantan, on Indonesia's part of Borneo island, couldn't be more of a contrast - it's known for its lush rainforest and is home to orang-utans and other rare wildlife. The move will cost an estimated 466 trillion rupiah ($32.79bn; PS26.73bn) and will be one of the biggest infrastructure projects the government has ever undertaken. So what will it take to uproot a capital - and at what cost? Researchers say that large parts of Jakarta, home to more than 10 million people, could be entirely submerged by 2050. North Jakarta has sunk by 2.5m (8ft) over the past 10 years and is continuing to sink an average of 1-15cm a year. Almost half the city is already below sea level. One of the main causes is the extraction of groundwater to meet the growing city's needs. The city is also built on marshy lands and the surrounding seas are rising. The city's traffic jams are also notorious - government ministers have to be escorted by police convoys to get to meetings on time. The planning minister has said snarl-ups costs the economy 100 trillion rupiah ($6.8bn, PS5.4bn) a year. Jakarta is also one of the most air-polluted in the world and is overcrowded and expensive - many people live in informal housing settlements. It will be built across two regencies called Kutai Kartanegara and Penajam Paser Utara in the region of East Kalimantan. Work is slated to begin in 2024. Plans show it will cover around 180,000 hectares - that's three times the size of Jakarta. Indonesian President Joko Widodo has said the area was chosen for several reasons. For one, it's not as exposed to the natural disasters - floods, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions and tsunamis - which plague other parts of Indonesia. It's also near urban areas that are already relatively developed - the cities of Balikpapan and Samarinda. \"[There is already] some infrastructure and existing cities [nearby],\" Johannes Widodo, an associate professor in the National University of Singapore's School of Design and Environment told the BBC. The actual site of the new capital, however, is relatively undeveloped. It's mostly palm oil plantations and forests that have been cleared by logging, said WWF Indonesia director for Kalimantan Irwan Gunawan. These areas were once home to rich vegetation but have already been \"destroyed\" in the years past - and Mr Gunawan told the BBC he was worried that this destruction will only grow once the new capital is developed. Jakarta will still remain the centre of business and trade - it's just the country's administrative headquarters that will be moving. But Mr Gunawan said that \"as a developing country, all the decisions are made in the central government area. This is \"going to attract massive migration and if people are moving in it's unavoidable they would need houses, and you need timber for construction... so it's possible that logging would get worse\". Some of this migration is already happening. Agung Podomoro Land, a property developer, announced that it would be building luxury apartments, hotels, shopping malls and other facilities in East Kalimantan. In nearby North Kalimantan province, a massive project to build a hydropower plant said to be worth $17.8bn is also in the works. It's clear the government is doing its bit to develop Kalimantan as a whole. East Kalimantan is still home to a diverse range of wildlife and lush rainforests. It's especially known for being home to orang-utans. The Indonesian government says at least 50% of the capital will consist of green spaces. The Minister of National Development Planning Bambang Brodjonegoro has called the concept a \"forest city\". But Mr Gunawan isn't convinced. \"It's not enough by saying that this new capital would be maintained as a forest city - it's not only that exact area but the surrounding areas that need to be considered,\" he said. \"Orang-utans have already suffered significant decline over the past 20 years due to the expansion of palm oil plantations and logging. Their habitats are far away from the new capital but as it grows, new settlements will grow... and will eventually reduce the habitats of the orang-utans. It's just a matter of time.\" Another campaigner from environmental group The Indonesian Forum for the Environment (WALHI) agrees. \"Deforestation will happen. More mining for construction material [will take place],\" Sawung, an Urban and Energy campaigner at WALHI, told the BBC. Sawung - who uses one name - adds that if the government does not do its part to tackle the problems that plagued Jakarta, \"it's only [moving] Jakarta's problems - of water, air pollution, transport and housing - to Kalimantan\". At the moment, almost all of the wealth from the natural resources in this area flow to Java - the island on which Jakarta sits. Indonesians outside of Java have long complained about being neglected by the central government. One resident of East Kalimantan told BBC News Indonesian that it would be \"nice to be close to the central government\". Another said they hoped it would translate to better resources in the area. But Mr Sawung say many locals still remain \"sceptical\" about the move, saying they believed only \"government officials and businessman\" would benefit. And there's another big group of people who have not been consulted - Kalimantan's indigenous groups, known collectively as the Dayaks. \"The Dayak are forest-dependent people... their ways help us maintain the forest ecosystem. Their rights should be protected. We don't want them to become like the [indigenous people] of Jakarta who have been sidelined,\" said Mr Gunawan. Advocacy group Minority Rights Group International (MRGI) says the move would \"destroy\" the Dayak's environment. \"The Dayaks have been persistent victims of environmental degradation,\" Joshua Castellino of the MRGI told news agency Reuters. \"The abandonment of Jakarta due to pollution and overcrowding is hardly an endorsement for a move into someone else's backyard where the same will likely occur.\" Reporting by the BBC's Yvette Tan and additional reporting by Callistasia Wijaya", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 647, "answer_end": 1475, "text": "Researchers say that large parts of Jakarta, home to more than 10 million people, could be entirely submerged by 2050. North Jakarta has sunk by 2.5m (8ft) over the past 10 years and is continuing to sink an average of 1-15cm a year. Almost half the city is already below sea level. One of the main causes is the extraction of groundwater to meet the growing city's needs. The city is also built on marshy lands and the surrounding seas are rising. The city's traffic jams are also notorious - government ministers have to be escorted by police convoys to get to meetings on time. The planning minister has said snarl-ups costs the economy 100 trillion rupiah ($6.8bn, PS5.4bn) a year. Jakarta is also one of the most air-polluted in the world and is overcrowded and expensive - many people live in informal housing settlements."}], "question": "Why is this happening?", "id": "368_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1476, "answer_end": 3544, "text": "It will be built across two regencies called Kutai Kartanegara and Penajam Paser Utara in the region of East Kalimantan. Work is slated to begin in 2024. Plans show it will cover around 180,000 hectares - that's three times the size of Jakarta. Indonesian President Joko Widodo has said the area was chosen for several reasons. For one, it's not as exposed to the natural disasters - floods, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions and tsunamis - which plague other parts of Indonesia. It's also near urban areas that are already relatively developed - the cities of Balikpapan and Samarinda. \"[There is already] some infrastructure and existing cities [nearby],\" Johannes Widodo, an associate professor in the National University of Singapore's School of Design and Environment told the BBC. The actual site of the new capital, however, is relatively undeveloped. It's mostly palm oil plantations and forests that have been cleared by logging, said WWF Indonesia director for Kalimantan Irwan Gunawan. These areas were once home to rich vegetation but have already been \"destroyed\" in the years past - and Mr Gunawan told the BBC he was worried that this destruction will only grow once the new capital is developed. Jakarta will still remain the centre of business and trade - it's just the country's administrative headquarters that will be moving. But Mr Gunawan said that \"as a developing country, all the decisions are made in the central government area. This is \"going to attract massive migration and if people are moving in it's unavoidable they would need houses, and you need timber for construction... so it's possible that logging would get worse\". Some of this migration is already happening. Agung Podomoro Land, a property developer, announced that it would be building luxury apartments, hotels, shopping malls and other facilities in East Kalimantan. In nearby North Kalimantan province, a massive project to build a hydropower plant said to be worth $17.8bn is also in the works. It's clear the government is doing its bit to develop Kalimantan as a whole."}], "question": "Where will the new capital be?", "id": "368_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3545, "answer_end": 4889, "text": "East Kalimantan is still home to a diverse range of wildlife and lush rainforests. It's especially known for being home to orang-utans. The Indonesian government says at least 50% of the capital will consist of green spaces. The Minister of National Development Planning Bambang Brodjonegoro has called the concept a \"forest city\". But Mr Gunawan isn't convinced. \"It's not enough by saying that this new capital would be maintained as a forest city - it's not only that exact area but the surrounding areas that need to be considered,\" he said. \"Orang-utans have already suffered significant decline over the past 20 years due to the expansion of palm oil plantations and logging. Their habitats are far away from the new capital but as it grows, new settlements will grow... and will eventually reduce the habitats of the orang-utans. It's just a matter of time.\" Another campaigner from environmental group The Indonesian Forum for the Environment (WALHI) agrees. \"Deforestation will happen. More mining for construction material [will take place],\" Sawung, an Urban and Energy campaigner at WALHI, told the BBC. Sawung - who uses one name - adds that if the government does not do its part to tackle the problems that plagued Jakarta, \"it's only [moving] Jakarta's problems - of water, air pollution, transport and housing - to Kalimantan\"."}], "question": "What effect will this have on the environment?", "id": "368_2"}]}]}, {"title": "Venezuela crisis: Hunt for pilot after attack on Supreme Court", "date": "28 June 2017", "paragraphs": [{"context": "The Venezuelan military is hunting for a rogue elite police officer suspected of carrying out a helicopter attack on the country's Supreme Court. Oscar Perez posted Instagram videos admitting the attack and calling on Venezuelans to rise up against the government of President Nicolas Maduro. The officer's home has been searched as the president put the entire military on alert, citing a \"terrorist attack\". The country is in the midst of a deep economic and political crisis. Nobody was injured in the helicopter attack, which took place at around sunset on Tuesday evening. One police source reported by Reuters said that the helicopter had been dumped in Higuerote, on the Caribbean coast, but that the pilot had not been found. The report has not been verified. A blue police helicopter was seen flying over central Caracas carrying a banner reading \"350 Freedom\" - a reference to a clause in the constitution cited by opponents of Mr Maduro to claim his government is illegitimate. The helicopter, reportedly stolen, carried the marks of the CICPC forensic police force, for which Oscar Perez has worked for 15 years. Images on social media showed two occupants, one masked. The government said 15 shots were fired at a social event at the interior ministry. The helicopter then flew to the court and dropped four Israeli-made grenades of \"Colombian origin\". One failed to detonate. No-one was injured. Many of those opposed to Mr Maduro see the Supreme Court as one of his main supporters. The police officer identified himself as Oscar Perez in the Instagram video statements. Appearing in military fatigues and flanked by armed, masked men in uniform, he appealed to Venezuelans to oppose \"tyranny\". \"We are a coalition of military employees, policemen and civilians who are looking for balance and are against this criminal government,\" he said. \"We don't belong to any political tendency or party. We are nationalists, patriots and institutionalists.\" He said the \"fight\" was not against the security forces but \"against the impunity of this government. It is against tyranny\". Mr Perez is a colourful character, judging by his posts on social media. He is pictured brandishing a high-calibre weapon while scuba-diving, and in another video shows off his gun skills by shooting a target over his shoulder, using only a make-up mirror as a guide. He also appeared in the 2015 Venezuelan movie, Suspended Death, which tells the story of elite police officers rescuing the victim of a kidnapping. President Maduro appeared on state television to denounce the attack. He said: \"I have activated the entire armed forces to defend the peace. And you can be assured that sooner or later, we are going to capture that helicopter and those that carried out this terror attack against the institutions of the country.\" Defence Minister Vladimir Padrino Lopez urged Venezuelans to remain calm and stay vigilant. State TV showed images of the pilot in front of the US Capitol building in Washington. Mr Maduro has long claimed the US government is attempting to have him overthrown. Some of the president's opponents took to social media to suggest he was responsible for staging the helicopter attack in order to justify a further crackdown on dissent. Julio Borges, leader of the opposition-controlled legislature, said: \"It seems like a movie. Some people say it is a hoax, some say it is real, some say that it was police personnel who really are fed up. \"I summarise it like this: a government is decaying and rotting, while a nation is fighting for dignity.\" Freddy Guevara, of the opposition MUD alliance, posted a tweet on Wednesday calling on people to continue to oppose the Maduro government. He said: \"Maduro knows that nobody supports him, so today more than ever we must continue in the street, generating pressure to overcome this dictatorship!\" President Maduro has often alleged attempts to unseat him, and was quick to suggest this was another, but it is unclear how much support the police officer has. He said the pilot had previously worked for former Interior and Justice Minister Miguel Rodriguez Torres, who the president has accused of links to the CIA. Mr Rodriguez Torres quickly denied any involvement, saying he was \"not convinced\" by the helicopter event. \"Conclusion? A cheap show. Who gains from this? Only Nicolas, for two reasons: to give credibility to his coup d'etat talk, and to blame [me],\" he said. There have been almost daily anti-government protests in Venezuela for more than two months as the country's economic and political crisis worsens. Those opposed to the government say they are determined to keep protests going until fresh elections are called and the government is ousted. More than 70 people have been killed in protest-related violence since 1 April, according to the chief prosecutor's office.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 768, "answer_end": 1497, "text": "A blue police helicopter was seen flying over central Caracas carrying a banner reading \"350 Freedom\" - a reference to a clause in the constitution cited by opponents of Mr Maduro to claim his government is illegitimate. The helicopter, reportedly stolen, carried the marks of the CICPC forensic police force, for which Oscar Perez has worked for 15 years. Images on social media showed two occupants, one masked. The government said 15 shots were fired at a social event at the interior ministry. The helicopter then flew to the court and dropped four Israeli-made grenades of \"Colombian origin\". One failed to detonate. No-one was injured. Many of those opposed to Mr Maduro see the Supreme Court as one of his main supporters."}], "question": "What happened in the attack?", "id": "369_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1498, "answer_end": 2505, "text": "The police officer identified himself as Oscar Perez in the Instagram video statements. Appearing in military fatigues and flanked by armed, masked men in uniform, he appealed to Venezuelans to oppose \"tyranny\". \"We are a coalition of military employees, policemen and civilians who are looking for balance and are against this criminal government,\" he said. \"We don't belong to any political tendency or party. We are nationalists, patriots and institutionalists.\" He said the \"fight\" was not against the security forces but \"against the impunity of this government. It is against tyranny\". Mr Perez is a colourful character, judging by his posts on social media. He is pictured brandishing a high-calibre weapon while scuba-diving, and in another video shows off his gun skills by shooting a target over his shoulder, using only a make-up mirror as a guide. He also appeared in the 2015 Venezuelan movie, Suspended Death, which tells the story of elite police officers rescuing the victim of a kidnapping."}], "question": "Who flew the helicopter?", "id": "369_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2506, "answer_end": 3082, "text": "President Maduro appeared on state television to denounce the attack. He said: \"I have activated the entire armed forces to defend the peace. And you can be assured that sooner or later, we are going to capture that helicopter and those that carried out this terror attack against the institutions of the country.\" Defence Minister Vladimir Padrino Lopez urged Venezuelans to remain calm and stay vigilant. State TV showed images of the pilot in front of the US Capitol building in Washington. Mr Maduro has long claimed the US government is attempting to have him overthrown."}], "question": "How has the government responded?", "id": "369_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3083, "answer_end": 3860, "text": "Some of the president's opponents took to social media to suggest he was responsible for staging the helicopter attack in order to justify a further crackdown on dissent. Julio Borges, leader of the opposition-controlled legislature, said: \"It seems like a movie. Some people say it is a hoax, some say it is real, some say that it was police personnel who really are fed up. \"I summarise it like this: a government is decaying and rotting, while a nation is fighting for dignity.\" Freddy Guevara, of the opposition MUD alliance, posted a tweet on Wednesday calling on people to continue to oppose the Maduro government. He said: \"Maduro knows that nobody supports him, so today more than ever we must continue in the street, generating pressure to overcome this dictatorship!\""}], "question": "And the opposition?", "id": "369_3"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3861, "answer_end": 4438, "text": "President Maduro has often alleged attempts to unseat him, and was quick to suggest this was another, but it is unclear how much support the police officer has. He said the pilot had previously worked for former Interior and Justice Minister Miguel Rodriguez Torres, who the president has accused of links to the CIA. Mr Rodriguez Torres quickly denied any involvement, saying he was \"not convinced\" by the helicopter event. \"Conclusion? A cheap show. Who gains from this? Only Nicolas, for two reasons: to give credibility to his coup d'etat talk, and to blame [me],\" he said."}], "question": "Could this have been a coup attempt?", "id": "369_4"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 4439, "answer_end": 4852, "text": "There have been almost daily anti-government protests in Venezuela for more than two months as the country's economic and political crisis worsens. Those opposed to the government say they are determined to keep protests going until fresh elections are called and the government is ousted. More than 70 people have been killed in protest-related violence since 1 April, according to the chief prosecutor's office."}], "question": "The wider picture in Venezuela?", "id": "369_5"}]}]}, {"title": "Detroit man who lived his life in the US dies after deportation to Iraq", "date": "8 August 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "A man who moved to the US as a child and lived his life in Detroit died on Tuesday after he was deported to Iraq, his lawyer told the BBC. Jimmy Aldaoud, 41, had been unable to obtain insulin to treat his diabetes, immigration lawyer Edward Bajoka said. Aldaoud had never been to Iraq and did not speak Arabic. He was deported in June as part of a crackdown on Iraqi immigrants with criminal convictions. Mr Bajoka said his client was convicted of disorderly conduct and burglary. The US Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency (ICE) said Aldaoud had accrued 20 convictions over two decades including assault with a dangerous weapon, domestic violence and home invasion. The agency said that he had absconded from ICE's non-custodial supervision program and remained at large for about four months, before he was arrested again on suspicion of theft. It also said he was \"supplied with a full complement of medicine to ensure continuity of care\" when he was deported. Aldaoud was born in Greece and moved to the US as a child with his family, Mr Bajoka said. \"They really put him in the worst possible situation,\" Mr Bajoka told the BBC, referring to ICE. \"It was really cruel what they did to him and ultimately he died because of that cruelty,\" he said. Human Rights Watch called Aldaoud's death a \"shocking but not unpredictable result of cruel US immigration policies\". Mr Aldaoud's family, based in Detroit, is understood to be exploring options for legal action. In June 2017 the Trump administration began targeting for deportation more than 1,000 Iraqis with criminal records. The deportations came after a deal was struck with Iraq, on the condition the country would be removed from the Trump administration's travel ban list, the Reuters news agency reported. According to a Trump administration order, cited by Reuters, Iraq was taken off the list after efforts \"to enhance travel documentation, information sharing, and the return of Iraqi nationals subject to final orders of removal\". Aldaoud was among dozens of Iraqi Chaldean Catholics arrested by immigration authorities in sweeping raids in Detroit and across the US in June 2017. Human rights groups say that Catholic Chaldeans, whose origins can be traced to ancient Mesopotamia in present-day Iraq, are at risk of attack by the so-called Islamic State. Mr Bajoka, Aldaoud's lawyer, was part of the legal team that launched a class action lawsuit to prevent their deportation from the US to Iraq. \"The manner in which they deported him [Aldaoud] was particularly cruel,\" Mr Bajoka said. \"He's diabetic, and they deported him with no insulin, no medication. They picked him up, and with no warning to him or his family, put him in a jail and a few weeks later he was on a plane.\" The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) told the BBC that Aldaoud's death was due in part to a lack of access to insulin in Iraq. \"Jimmy's death has devastated his family and us,\" said Miriam Aukerman, senior staff attorney for the ACLU. \"We knew he would not survive if deported. What we don't know is how many more people ICE will send to their deaths.\" In a video widely shared on social media, Aldaoud spoke about his deportation to Iraq and his struggle with diabetes. In the undated footage, apparently filmed in Iraq, Aldaoud said he had no insulin to treat his condition and had been \"sleeping in the street\" with no food. \"I begged them,\" he said, describing his pleas with US immigration authorities. \"I said, 'Please, I've never seen that country, I've never been there.' However, they forced me.\" In a series of tweets, Democratic congressman for Michigan Andy Levin argued Mr Aldaoud should never have been sent to Iraq if doing so \"would put his life in extreme danger\". Mr Levin said Aldaoud's death \"could and should have been prevented\" and argued it amounted to a death sentence. \"My Republican colleagues and I have repeatedly called on the Executive Branch to cease deportation of such vulnerable people,\" he said. \"Now, someone has died. We cannot wait one more day for action.\"", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1472, "answer_end": 2752, "text": "In June 2017 the Trump administration began targeting for deportation more than 1,000 Iraqis with criminal records. The deportations came after a deal was struck with Iraq, on the condition the country would be removed from the Trump administration's travel ban list, the Reuters news agency reported. According to a Trump administration order, cited by Reuters, Iraq was taken off the list after efforts \"to enhance travel documentation, information sharing, and the return of Iraqi nationals subject to final orders of removal\". Aldaoud was among dozens of Iraqi Chaldean Catholics arrested by immigration authorities in sweeping raids in Detroit and across the US in June 2017. Human rights groups say that Catholic Chaldeans, whose origins can be traced to ancient Mesopotamia in present-day Iraq, are at risk of attack by the so-called Islamic State. Mr Bajoka, Aldaoud's lawyer, was part of the legal team that launched a class action lawsuit to prevent their deportation from the US to Iraq. \"The manner in which they deported him [Aldaoud] was particularly cruel,\" Mr Bajoka said. \"He's diabetic, and they deported him with no insulin, no medication. They picked him up, and with no warning to him or his family, put him in a jail and a few weeks later he was on a plane.\""}], "question": "Why was Jimmy Aldaoud sent to Iraq?", "id": "370_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2753, "answer_end": 4054, "text": "The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) told the BBC that Aldaoud's death was due in part to a lack of access to insulin in Iraq. \"Jimmy's death has devastated his family and us,\" said Miriam Aukerman, senior staff attorney for the ACLU. \"We knew he would not survive if deported. What we don't know is how many more people ICE will send to their deaths.\" In a video widely shared on social media, Aldaoud spoke about his deportation to Iraq and his struggle with diabetes. In the undated footage, apparently filmed in Iraq, Aldaoud said he had no insulin to treat his condition and had been \"sleeping in the street\" with no food. \"I begged them,\" he said, describing his pleas with US immigration authorities. \"I said, 'Please, I've never seen that country, I've never been there.' However, they forced me.\" In a series of tweets, Democratic congressman for Michigan Andy Levin argued Mr Aldaoud should never have been sent to Iraq if doing so \"would put his life in extreme danger\". Mr Levin said Aldaoud's death \"could and should have been prevented\" and argued it amounted to a death sentence. \"My Republican colleagues and I have repeatedly called on the Executive Branch to cease deportation of such vulnerable people,\" he said. \"Now, someone has died. We cannot wait one more day for action.\""}], "question": "How did Jimmy Aldaoud die?", "id": "370_1"}]}]}, {"title": "North Korean missile and Kim Jong-un's 'Christmas gift' decision", "date": "5 December 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Kim Jong-un has a big decision to make. Talks with Donald Trump have not gone to plan. Strict economic sanctions remain in place and it appears Washington is not going to budge despite Pyongyang's insistence that they come up with another deal to resolve the nuclear issue by the end of the year. Donald Trump, too, seems to be frustrated. He has once again hinted at the possibility of military action against North Korea if necessary, despite highlighting his \"good relationship\" with the North Korean leader. These next few weeks may be critical for US-North Korean diplomacy. \"I think we're seeing the start of what could be a return to a very familiar crisis in 2020,\" Ankit Panda, North Korea expert at the Federation of American Scientists, told the BBC. \"We're beginning to see the scenario that many of us had warned of from the get-go of diplomacy: a capricious and irritable Trump coming to terms with the reality of his reality-TV diplomacy with North Korea.\" Despite the \"reality TV\" nature of Trump and Kim's summitry and their handshakes during a surprise visit to the North-South Korea border in June, South Korea once described the US president's decision to engage with Kim Jong-un as \"courageous\". His approach was unconventional, they said, but there was hope that just perhaps this time things would be different. Just 15 months ago, the leaders of North and South held hands on Mt Paektu, optimistic that they would be able to come to some kind of an agreement to finally end the Korean War. That hope has now gone. Pyongyang is refusing to hold talks with Seoul. Last week North Korea carried out artillery drills near the sea border with the South at Kim Jong-un's request. This breached a military agreement reached between the two countries last year. The South has every reason to be cautious when the North is near this border. In November 2010, North Korean forces fired around 170 artillery shells and rockets at Yeonpyeong Island, killing four South Koreans. There are now fears that tensions are beginning to ramp up once again. There is certainly no shortage of warning signs from North Korea about where its diplomatic relationship with Washington and Seoul is heading. The latest came earlier this week. Deputy Foreign Minister Ri Thae Song hinted that the regime could resume long-range missile tests in the next few weeks if Washington refused to change its negotiating position and said \"it is entirely up to the US what Christmas gift it will select\" - a phrase that was almost certainly designed to be picked up by the US press pack. Then, once again, the Supreme Leader got back on his white horse and climbed Mt Paektu, North Korea's most sacred mountain. The images and prose in state media were rich in political and ideological messaging. Dozens of photos showed him ploughing through the snow on his way to the \"revolutionary\" mountain top. The visit comes at a time when \"the imperialists and class enemies make a more frantic attempt to undermine the ideological, revolutionary and class positions of our Party\", the North Korean leader is quoted as saying. The statement added that he was getting his people ready for \"the harshness and protracted character of our revolution\". North Koreans are being warned that hard times lie ahead. Kim Jong-un is also convening a surprise meeting of his ruling party leaders. North Korea's most powerful political committee will meet in late December to \"discuss and decide on critical issues\". Put simply, this does not bode well. It is possible Mr Kim is already convinced that talks with the US will not work and is getting ready to hand out new orders. So is rocket man ready to make a return? Some would argue he never left. This year has been one of North Korea's busiest in terms of testing. Kim Jong-un's small impoverished state which is under strict international sanctions has managed to develop three new missile systems, all of which have been tested since talks between Mr Trump and the North Korean leader broke down in Hanoi in February. \"All of the missiles have several things in common,\" Vipin Narang, a security studies professor at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, told me earlier this year. \"They are solid fuel, they are mobile, they are fast, they fly low, and at least the KN-23 can manoeuvre inflight, which is very impressive. \"Any one of the missiles would pose a challenge to regional and ROK missile defences given these characteristics. Together, they pose a nightmare.\" But all 13 launches in 2019 were brushed off by Mr Trump. After all, Mr Kim had kept his promise not to test long-range weapons or a nuclear weapon. However, the North Korean leader also hinted that this promise had an expiry date and that the moratorium on testing would end on 31 December if there was no deal with the US. Kim Jong-un may think that if he wants to win back the US president's attention and pressure him for a better deal, he is going to have to go bigger and bolder. There are also various components of his new short-range missiles that he may be eager to try out on longer-range weapons. One way to do that would be to launch a satellite. It wouldn't technically break his promise, and it would be headline-grabbing both domestically and internationally. \"The reasons to suspect a satellite launch may be awaiting us are complex, \" said Ankit Panda, \"but broadly speaking, we have several indicators, including evidence of work on new SLVs [satellite launch vehicles] from 2017 and increased references to space activities in state media this year. \"We're also overdue for one, given the lack of any serious space activities despite a well-maintained space program in North Korea since 2016.\" Analysts are watching the satellite launch station in Sohae carefully. This site was one which North Korea had pledged to dismantle. \"We haven't seen any activity which would indicate that there's an impending test,\" said Melissa Hanham, an expert on open-source intelligence and director of the Datayo Project at the One Earth Future Foundation. \"However, it is still a fully functioning facility. They didn't dismantle the launch pad - they can still test missiles from there.\" Another option for Pyongyang would be to try out its new solid-fuel technology on a longer-range missile. Melissa Hanham said this fuel type has tactical advantages and would make North Korea's long-range missiles quicker and more powerful. \"Solid fuel missiles are easier to hide from surveillance and spy satellites, because they can be fuelled and don't necessarily have a convoy of fuel vehicles around them for satellites to detect. They can also be stored and launch more quickly than liquid fuel missiles since they are pre-fuelled and ready to go.\" But surely testing a long-range missile which Washington could see as a threat to the US would risk angering an unpredictable Donald Trump? The US president declared the stand-off with North Korea as \"largely solved\" last year. He may find that a difficult claim to make at his re-election rallies if Pyongyang is firing off missiles capable of hitting Los Angeles. \"At best, North Korea is trying to get the US to negotiate on its terms by ramping up public pressure and urgency. At worst, North Korea doesn't really intend to negotiate at all, and is just trying to lay the public groundwork for Washington to bear the blame for an escalation of tensions,\" said Mintaro Oba, a former Korea Desk Officer at the US Department of State. \"Either way, North Korea is skilled at using public means to put the burden of action - and the burden of blame - on the United States. \"It's like Santa Claus saying his gifts depend on you being naughty or nice, if he had little track record of actually giving gifts and he's probably already put you on the naughty list.\" Rachel Minyoung Lee, an analyst at NK News, also believes North Korea has already made up its mind that talks with the US will not work. \"In fact, I have my doubts about whether Pyongyang had much faith in an outcome from its diplomacy with the US even before the Stockholm talks were held in October,\" she said. Washington has played down the significance of North Korea's year-end deadline. The US Special Representative for North Korea, Stephen Biegun, called it \"artificial\" and warned it would be a \"huge mistake and a missed opportunity\" for North Korea to take any provocative steps. It is true that Kim Jong-un's plans are still not clear but all the signs coming from Pyongyang would suggest they are serious about this countdown. As Prof John Delury of Seoul's Yonsei University told Reuters news agency, \"The signals suggest the window for diplomacy is closing fast, if not already shut.\"", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 3285, "answer_end": 4819, "text": "Kim Jong-un is also convening a surprise meeting of his ruling party leaders. North Korea's most powerful political committee will meet in late December to \"discuss and decide on critical issues\". Put simply, this does not bode well. It is possible Mr Kim is already convinced that talks with the US will not work and is getting ready to hand out new orders. So is rocket man ready to make a return? Some would argue he never left. This year has been one of North Korea's busiest in terms of testing. Kim Jong-un's small impoverished state which is under strict international sanctions has managed to develop three new missile systems, all of which have been tested since talks between Mr Trump and the North Korean leader broke down in Hanoi in February. \"All of the missiles have several things in common,\" Vipin Narang, a security studies professor at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, told me earlier this year. \"They are solid fuel, they are mobile, they are fast, they fly low, and at least the KN-23 can manoeuvre inflight, which is very impressive. \"Any one of the missiles would pose a challenge to regional and ROK missile defences given these characteristics. Together, they pose a nightmare.\" But all 13 launches in 2019 were brushed off by Mr Trump. After all, Mr Kim had kept his promise not to test long-range weapons or a nuclear weapon. However, the North Korean leader also hinted that this promise had an expiry date and that the moratorium on testing would end on 31 December if there was no deal with the US."}], "question": "Return of rocket man?", "id": "371_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 4820, "answer_end": 8705, "text": "Kim Jong-un may think that if he wants to win back the US president's attention and pressure him for a better deal, he is going to have to go bigger and bolder. There are also various components of his new short-range missiles that he may be eager to try out on longer-range weapons. One way to do that would be to launch a satellite. It wouldn't technically break his promise, and it would be headline-grabbing both domestically and internationally. \"The reasons to suspect a satellite launch may be awaiting us are complex, \" said Ankit Panda, \"but broadly speaking, we have several indicators, including evidence of work on new SLVs [satellite launch vehicles] from 2017 and increased references to space activities in state media this year. \"We're also overdue for one, given the lack of any serious space activities despite a well-maintained space program in North Korea since 2016.\" Analysts are watching the satellite launch station in Sohae carefully. This site was one which North Korea had pledged to dismantle. \"We haven't seen any activity which would indicate that there's an impending test,\" said Melissa Hanham, an expert on open-source intelligence and director of the Datayo Project at the One Earth Future Foundation. \"However, it is still a fully functioning facility. They didn't dismantle the launch pad - they can still test missiles from there.\" Another option for Pyongyang would be to try out its new solid-fuel technology on a longer-range missile. Melissa Hanham said this fuel type has tactical advantages and would make North Korea's long-range missiles quicker and more powerful. \"Solid fuel missiles are easier to hide from surveillance and spy satellites, because they can be fuelled and don't necessarily have a convoy of fuel vehicles around them for satellites to detect. They can also be stored and launch more quickly than liquid fuel missiles since they are pre-fuelled and ready to go.\" But surely testing a long-range missile which Washington could see as a threat to the US would risk angering an unpredictable Donald Trump? The US president declared the stand-off with North Korea as \"largely solved\" last year. He may find that a difficult claim to make at his re-election rallies if Pyongyang is firing off missiles capable of hitting Los Angeles. \"At best, North Korea is trying to get the US to negotiate on its terms by ramping up public pressure and urgency. At worst, North Korea doesn't really intend to negotiate at all, and is just trying to lay the public groundwork for Washington to bear the blame for an escalation of tensions,\" said Mintaro Oba, a former Korea Desk Officer at the US Department of State. \"Either way, North Korea is skilled at using public means to put the burden of action - and the burden of blame - on the United States. \"It's like Santa Claus saying his gifts depend on you being naughty or nice, if he had little track record of actually giving gifts and he's probably already put you on the naughty list.\" Rachel Minyoung Lee, an analyst at NK News, also believes North Korea has already made up its mind that talks with the US will not work. \"In fact, I have my doubts about whether Pyongyang had much faith in an outcome from its diplomacy with the US even before the Stockholm talks were held in October,\" she said. Washington has played down the significance of North Korea's year-end deadline. The US Special Representative for North Korea, Stephen Biegun, called it \"artificial\" and warned it would be a \"huge mistake and a missed opportunity\" for North Korea to take any provocative steps. It is true that Kim Jong-un's plans are still not clear but all the signs coming from Pyongyang would suggest they are serious about this countdown. As Prof John Delury of Seoul's Yonsei University told Reuters news agency, \"The signals suggest the window for diplomacy is closing fast, if not already shut.\""}], "question": "Satellite launch?", "id": "371_1"}]}]}, {"title": "How could a shipwreck disappear?", "date": "18 November 2016", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Dutch and British World War Two shipwrecks have mysteriously disappeared from the Java Sea, prompting outrage. The BBC asks experts what could have happened to the vessels. For decades the wreckages of three Dutch warships - HNLMS De Ruyter, HNLMS Java and HNLMS Kortenaer - were lost to the world, sitting at the bottom of the Java Sea. The victims of a fierce 1942 sea battle with the Japanese, the ships had gone down along with 915 Dutch and 259 Indonesian sailors. Their 2002 discovery by amateur divers was a cause for celebration, and the ships were declared war graves. But now it seems they have been lost again - possibly permanently - with the Dutch government confirming this week that the ships have vanished from the seabed. The Indonesian navy is investigating. In Britain, the Guardian newspaper reported that three UK warships that had been sunk in the same battle had disappeared as well. There is now suspicion that the ships were stolen and sold as scrap metal, a commonplace practice in a region that is littered with old wrecks. The diver who found the wrecks intact in 2002, Vidar Skoglie,  told Dutch broadcaster NOS that he believed Indonesians had towed the ships to the port-city of Surabaya for demolition - although this theory was disputed by an expedition team that recently visited the site. The three ships were located 100km (60 miles) off the Java coast at a depth of between 60 and 70m. Ship salvage experts told the BBC that any attempt to raise and tow huge ageing warships from such depths would be a massive operation involving multiple barges, cranes and trained divers. This raises the question of how the ships could have been taken without authorities noticing - though some have pointed out that Indonesia has a vast coastline, and its navy and coast guard have limited resources. What was more likely was that locals clandestinely stripped the wrecks in a piecemeal fashion over the years until nothing was left. Bas Wiebe, commercial manager of salvage company Resolve's Asia operations, said they could have cut away parts of the rotting wreckage using mechanical equipment known as grabs. \"If time is not of the essence, you have a barge and equipment, you could just nibble away,\" said another expert who declined to be named citing political sensitivities. Another possibility is that the ships were blown up into smaller pieces - a cheaper and faster way to disintegrate wrecks. \"It is not like an huge explosion like you see on TV. It's basically fairly contained but enough to break apart the vessel and if you do it a few times, you can just fish out the pieces,\" said Mr Wiebe. But one expert disputes this theory citing a lack of debris surrounding the ships' imprints on the seabed. \"Using regular explosives would create a debris field, and an even bigger one if ordnance remaining onboard exploded as well,\" said Arnab Chakravorty, from ship salvage firm Ardent Asia-Pacific. Some experts raised the possibility that heavy storms, shifts in tectonic plates, or even the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami may have caused the ships to drift to a different location. Mr Wiebe cast doubt on that theory given the ships' depth and duration spent at the bottom of the sea. \"Over the decades the ships would have filled up with sand, so they would be even heavier now. Even if they moved, they wouldn't have shifted very much,\" he said. What is certain is that the Dutch have lost an important part of their maritime history - and it remains to be seen whether the ships can ever be found again.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 907, "answer_end": 1825, "text": "There is now suspicion that the ships were stolen and sold as scrap metal, a commonplace practice in a region that is littered with old wrecks. The diver who found the wrecks intact in 2002, Vidar Skoglie,  told Dutch broadcaster NOS that he believed Indonesians had towed the ships to the port-city of Surabaya for demolition - although this theory was disputed by an expedition team that recently visited the site. The three ships were located 100km (60 miles) off the Java coast at a depth of between 60 and 70m. Ship salvage experts told the BBC that any attempt to raise and tow huge ageing warships from such depths would be a massive operation involving multiple barges, cranes and trained divers. This raises the question of how the ships could have been taken without authorities noticing - though some have pointed out that Indonesia has a vast coastline, and its navy and coast guard have limited resources."}], "question": "Sold for scrap?", "id": "372_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Cancer blood test \u2018enormously exciting\u2019", "date": "19 January 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Scientists have taken a step towards one of the biggest goals in medicine - a universal blood test for cancer. A team at Johns Hopkins University has trialled a method that detects eight common forms of the disease. Their vision is an annual test designed to catch cancer early and save lives. UK experts said it was \"enormously exciting\". However, one said more work was needed to assess the test's effectiveness at detecting early-stage cancers. Tumours release tiny traces of their mutated DNA and proteins they make into the bloodstream. 'Exciting' blood test spots cancer a year early Blood tests spot ovarian cancer early Prostate cancer blood test 'helps target treatment' The CancerSEEK test looks for mutations in 16 genes that regularly arise in cancer and eight proteins that are often released. It was trialled on 1,005 patients with cancers in the ovary, liver, stomach, pancreas, oesophagus, colon, lung or breast that had not yet spread to other tissues. Overall, the test found 70% of the cancers. Dr Cristian Tomasetti, from Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, told the BBC: \"This field of early detection is critical. \"I think this can have an enormous impact on cancer mortality.\" The earlier a cancer is found, the greater the chance of being able to treat it. Five of the eight cancers investigated have no screening programmes for early detection. In some cases, the test also provided information about the tissue-of-origin of the cancer - but not all. Pancreatic cancer has so few symptoms and is detected so late that four in five patients die in the year they are diagnosed. Finding tumours when they could still be surgically removed would be \"a night and day difference\" for survival, said Dr Tomasetti. CancerSEEK is now being trialled in people who have not been diagnosed with cancer, which will be the real test of its usefulness. The hope is it can complement other screening tools such as mammograms for breast cancer and colonoscopies for colorectal cancer. Dr Tomasetti said: \"We envision a blood test we could use once a year.\" The CancerSEEK test, reported in the journal Science, is novel because it hunts for both the mutated DNA and the proteins. Increasing the number of mutations and proteins being analysed would allow it to test for a wider range of cancers. Dr Gert Attard, team leader in the Centre for Evolution and Cancer at the Institute of Cancer Research, London, and consultant medical oncologist at the Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, told the BBC: \"This is of massive potential. \"I'm enormously excited. This is the Holy Grail - a blood test to diagnose cancer without all the other procedures like scans or colonoscopy.\" He said \"we're very close\" to using blood tests to screen for cancer as \"we have the technology\". But he cautioned there was still uncertainty about what to do when a cancer was diagnosed. In some cases, the treatment may be worse than living with a cancer that is not immediately life-threatening. Men can already have slow growing prostate cancers closely monitored rather than treated. \"When we detect cancer in a different way, we can't take for granted that everyone will need treatment,\" Dr Attard said. Prof Richard Marais, from Cancer Research UK, said it would take time to prove that it worked as an early diagnosis for cancer - at least five to six years. \"Detecting cancer early, before the disease has spread is one of the most powerful ways to improve cancer survival and this interesting research is a step towards being able to do this earlier than is currently possible.\" Paul Pharoah, professor of cancer epidemiology at the University of Cambridge, said more work was needed to assess how the test performs when cancers are less advanced. He said: \"Demonstrating that a test can detect advanced cancers does not mean that the test will be useful in detecting early stage symptomatic cancer, much less pre-symptomatic cancer.  The sensitivity for the stage 1 cancers in the study was only 40%.\" And Dr Mangesh Thorat from the Centre for Cancer Prevention, Queen Mary University of London, said it looked promising \"but with several caveats\" \"A significant amount of further research is needed before we can even contemplate how this might play out in screening settings,\" he said. \"This is only a case-control study, and therefore needs further evaluation in large cohorts more representative of general population where such screening might be introduced.\" The cost of CancerSEEK is less than $500 (PS360) per patient, which is around the same price as a colonoscopy. Follow James on twitter.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 2074, "answer_end": 3199, "text": "The CancerSEEK test, reported in the journal Science, is novel because it hunts for both the mutated DNA and the proteins. Increasing the number of mutations and proteins being analysed would allow it to test for a wider range of cancers. Dr Gert Attard, team leader in the Centre for Evolution and Cancer at the Institute of Cancer Research, London, and consultant medical oncologist at the Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, told the BBC: \"This is of massive potential. \"I'm enormously excited. This is the Holy Grail - a blood test to diagnose cancer without all the other procedures like scans or colonoscopy.\" He said \"we're very close\" to using blood tests to screen for cancer as \"we have the technology\". But he cautioned there was still uncertainty about what to do when a cancer was diagnosed. In some cases, the treatment may be worse than living with a cancer that is not immediately life-threatening. Men can already have slow growing prostate cancers closely monitored rather than treated. \"When we detect cancer in a different way, we can't take for granted that everyone will need treatment,\" Dr Attard said."}], "question": "Universal test?", "id": "373_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Trudeau and Wilson-Raybould: The crisis that could unseat Canada's PM", "date": "14 August 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "A Canadian ethics commissioner has said that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau violated federal conflict of interest rules in the handling of the SNC-Lavalin affair. Here's what you need to know about the political crisis and the latest developments. Earlier this year, Mr Trudeau was accused of pressuring his former attorney general to cut a deal with a company facing corruption charges - and retaliating when she refused to play ball. The former AG, Jody Wilson-Raybould, said Mr Trudeau and his staff spent months trying to convince her that taking the company to trial would cost Canadians jobs, and their party votes. She also said she was subject to \"veiled threats\", which she believes were made good when she was shuffled out of her department. Another minister, Jane Philpott, also quit, saying it was \"untenable\" for her to continue due to \"serious concerns\" raised by the case. But Gerald Butts, Mr Trudeau's former principal secretary, says there was no political pressure - only concerns for how the prosecution could affect local economies. In August, the independent federal ethics commissioner released the report of his investigation of the matter, saying that Mr Trudeau violated the conflict of interest act. Commissioner Mario Dion said that the prime minister, directly and through his senior officials, used various means to exert influence over Ms Wilson-Raybould. The ex-minister: Jody Wilson-Raybould was Canada's attorney general and justice minister. Unlike in the UK, the two roles are held by the same person. She was also Canada's first indigenous justice minister and worked on a number of pieces of landmark legislation, including legalising cannabis and assisted dying. In January, she was shuffled from the justice department to the department of veterans' affairs -  a move many saw as a demotion. She was later expelled from the Liberal caucus and is running for re-election as an independent candidate. The corporation: SNC-Lavalin is one of the world's largest engineering and construction companies. The company faces fraud and corruption charges in relation to approximately C$48m ($36m; PS28m) in bribes it is alleged to have offered to Libyan officials between 2001 and 2011, when Muammar Gaddafi was in power. The firm has openly lobbied to be allowed to enter into a remediation agreement instead of going to trial, saying it has cleaned house and changed its ways. The PM: Justin Trudeau is Canada's prime minister. He won a majority government in 2015 on a platform of transparency, gender equality and a commitment to reconciliation with Canada's indigenous peoples. He faces a federal election in October 2019. The Trudeau ally who quit: Jane Philpott is described as one of his most trusted ministers. But her resignation statement explaining why she was quitting as Treasury Board president could not have been more pointed. Citing the SNC-Lavallin affair, she said: \"I must abide by my core values, my ethical responsibilities, constitutional obligations. There can be a cost to acting on one's principles, but there is a bigger cost to abandoning them.\" She was later expelled from the Liberal caucus along with Ms Wilson-Raybould and is running for re-election as an independent candidate. Trudeau's right-hand man: Gerald Butts has been described as the \"most important Liberal in Canada today\" whose last name is not \"Trudeau\". But all that changed in February, when Mr Butts resigned amid rumours he had pressured the justice minister to cut a deal with SNC-Lavalin. Mr Butts is one of Mr Trudeau's closest allies, and the two have been friends since their university days in Montreal. He is credited with helping Mr Trudeau win the Liberal party leadership in 2013 and was a key architect in the Liberal party's sweeping 2015 electoral victory. SNC-Lavalin is based in Quebec, a swing province that has long been viewed as essential ground for the Liberal Party to win during an election - which is coming up in October. When the Liberals win Quebec, they often win a majority of seats in parliament. At the time that Wilson-Raybould says she was being pressured to cut a deal, Quebec was also in the middle of a heated provincial election that eventually led to the ousting of Quebec Liberal premier Philippe Couillard. Wilson-Raybould says the federal Liberal Party kept raising the Quebec election as one of the reasons why she should consider cutting a deal with SNC-Lavalin. A conviction for SNC-Lavalin at trial could also result in a decade-long ban on bidding on Canadian federal contracts and would allow authorities to cancel the company's current such contracts. Trudeau had previously denied wrongdoing and says any lobbying by him or his inner circle for engineering giant SNC-Lavalin was done to protect jobs. Following the release of the ethics commissioner's report, he said that he took responsibility but disagreed with some of its conclusions. On how the SNC-Lavalin affair was handled, he said \"we recognise the way this happened shouldn't have happened\" but maintained his government was acting in national economic interests. The crisis has already proved to be politically costly for Mr Trudeau. In February and March, it led to the resignation of two high-profile cabinet ministers, his top personal aide and the head of the federal bureaucracy - and it cast a shadow over his leadership. But as the matter died down over the ensuing months, his polling numbers seemed to recover. Now the scathing report has brought the SNC-Lavalin back into the news 10 weeks before Canadian voters head to the polls.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1386, "answer_end": 3799, "text": "The ex-minister: Jody Wilson-Raybould was Canada's attorney general and justice minister. Unlike in the UK, the two roles are held by the same person. She was also Canada's first indigenous justice minister and worked on a number of pieces of landmark legislation, including legalising cannabis and assisted dying. In January, she was shuffled from the justice department to the department of veterans' affairs -  a move many saw as a demotion. She was later expelled from the Liberal caucus and is running for re-election as an independent candidate. The corporation: SNC-Lavalin is one of the world's largest engineering and construction companies. The company faces fraud and corruption charges in relation to approximately C$48m ($36m; PS28m) in bribes it is alleged to have offered to Libyan officials between 2001 and 2011, when Muammar Gaddafi was in power. The firm has openly lobbied to be allowed to enter into a remediation agreement instead of going to trial, saying it has cleaned house and changed its ways. The PM: Justin Trudeau is Canada's prime minister. He won a majority government in 2015 on a platform of transparency, gender equality and a commitment to reconciliation with Canada's indigenous peoples. He faces a federal election in October 2019. The Trudeau ally who quit: Jane Philpott is described as one of his most trusted ministers. But her resignation statement explaining why she was quitting as Treasury Board president could not have been more pointed. Citing the SNC-Lavallin affair, she said: \"I must abide by my core values, my ethical responsibilities, constitutional obligations. There can be a cost to acting on one's principles, but there is a bigger cost to abandoning them.\" She was later expelled from the Liberal caucus along with Ms Wilson-Raybould and is running for re-election as an independent candidate. Trudeau's right-hand man: Gerald Butts has been described as the \"most important Liberal in Canada today\" whose last name is not \"Trudeau\". But all that changed in February, when Mr Butts resigned amid rumours he had pressured the justice minister to cut a deal with SNC-Lavalin. Mr Butts is one of Mr Trudeau's closest allies, and the two have been friends since their university days in Montreal. He is credited with helping Mr Trudeau win the Liberal party leadership in 2013 and was a key architect in the Liberal party's sweeping 2015 electoral victory."}], "question": "Who are the players?", "id": "374_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3800, "answer_end": 4628, "text": "SNC-Lavalin is based in Quebec, a swing province that has long been viewed as essential ground for the Liberal Party to win during an election - which is coming up in October. When the Liberals win Quebec, they often win a majority of seats in parliament. At the time that Wilson-Raybould says she was being pressured to cut a deal, Quebec was also in the middle of a heated provincial election that eventually led to the ousting of Quebec Liberal premier Philippe Couillard. Wilson-Raybould says the federal Liberal Party kept raising the Quebec election as one of the reasons why she should consider cutting a deal with SNC-Lavalin. A conviction for SNC-Lavalin at trial could also result in a decade-long ban on bidding on Canadian federal contracts and would allow authorities to cancel the company's current such contracts."}], "question": "Why would Trudeau care about SNC-Lavalin?", "id": "374_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 4629, "answer_end": 5102, "text": "Trudeau had previously denied wrongdoing and says any lobbying by him or his inner circle for engineering giant SNC-Lavalin was done to protect jobs. Following the release of the ethics commissioner's report, he said that he took responsibility but disagreed with some of its conclusions. On how the SNC-Lavalin affair was handled, he said \"we recognise the way this happened shouldn't have happened\" but maintained his government was acting in national economic interests."}], "question": "What does Trudeau say?", "id": "374_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 5103, "answer_end": 5581, "text": "The crisis has already proved to be politically costly for Mr Trudeau. In February and March, it led to the resignation of two high-profile cabinet ministers, his top personal aide and the head of the federal bureaucracy - and it cast a shadow over his leadership. But as the matter died down over the ensuing months, his polling numbers seemed to recover. Now the scathing report has brought the SNC-Lavalin back into the news 10 weeks before Canadian voters head to the polls."}], "question": "What could the fallout be?", "id": "374_3"}]}]}, {"title": "Oh, what a lovely (cold) war!", "date": "16 February 2016", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Speaking at the annual Munich Security Conference at the weekend, Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev claimed that Europe was \"rapidly rolling into a period of a new cold war\". \"Russia,\" he said, \"has been presented as well-nigh the biggest threat to Nato, or to Europe, America and other countries. \"I am sometimes confused,\" he went on. \"Is this 2016 or 1962?\" Just a few days earlier in Washington, the director of the US National Intelligence Agency, James Clapper, was giving evidence on \"worldwide threats\" to the influential Senate Armed Services Committee. \"I think the Russians fundamentally are paranoid about Nato,\" he said. \"We could be into another Cold War-like spiral here.\" So from both the Russians and the Americans come claims of a renewed cold war. Tensions between Russia and the West are certainly bad. The Russian annexation of Crimea initiated the chill which turned frosty over Ukraine and is now getting steadily worse due to very different perceptions as to what should be done about the human catastrophe in Syria. But in truth things were not terribly good even before the Crimea crisis. Russia opposed Nato expansion and US plans for missile defence. It argued for an entirely new European security order that went beyond institutions like Nato that were simply products of the Cold War. - A period of ideological confrontation between the former Soviet Union and Western countries - Began after World War Two and ended with the collapse of the Soviet-led communist camp in the early 1990s, which came soon after the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 - The 45 years of tension were marked by espionage and proxy wars involving client states and a variety of \"liberation\" movements - All of these were undertaken with the knowledge or fear of the nuclear catastrophe that actual war would bring - The Nato alliance was established in 1949 to protect Western countries Of course for a time in the wake of the collapse of communism there was effectively no Russian foreign policy and not much of a military to back it up. I remember vividly visiting the Black Sea fleet's base in Sevastopol in 1991. In a showy display of sea power, Soviet warships bristling with weapons were tied up alongside the dock. But venture into the base - amazingly nobody could be bothered to stop me wandering around - and you found drums leaking chemicals, rubbish and chaos everywhere, and, as if to symbolise the Soviet collapse, a ship the size of a minesweeper simply sunk at its moorings. Now Russia is back. It is determined to defend its interests in both the near-abroad - Ukraine - and farther afield in Syria. Russia is rearming. Its Syrian intervention has become a showcase and proving ground for some of its most modern weapons systems. And its rhetoric has stepped up several notches too with, particularly alarming to the West, rather loose talk about the potential use of nuclear weapons. So it all looks a little like a new cold war, but is it really one? Nobody should underestimate the depth of the differences between Russia and the West nor the potential danger to which they may lead. But hindsight is a funny thing. Commentators and politicians alike prefer the familiar. If something can be referenced to a similar situation in the past it appears easier to understand and the policy implications seemingly suggest themselves. In hindsight, we have a rather benign and unrealistic view of what the real Cold War was about. Its edge has simply gone. Think back to Winston Churchill's famous speech at Fulton, Missouri in March 1946. In it he coined a phrase that characterised the deep division of Europe. \"From Stettin in the Baltic to Trieste in the Adriatic, an iron curtain,\" he said, \"has descended across the continent.\" That \"iron curtain\" and the Soviet Union have both gone. This new \"cold war\"  is not a struggle of two great ideological blocs vying with each other for  global dominance. It is largely a weakened Russia seeking to stand its ground and defend its interests, as it sees them, in a hostile world. Where is the threat of world war leading to nuclear annihilation? Russia, it is said, potentially threatens the Baltic Republics. Nato has got itself in a spin over a supposedly new kind of warfare seemingly practised by the Russians - so-called hybrid war - blurring the boundaries between peace and conflict. But there are no huge Russian tank armies waiting to roll westwards towards France. There are no Warsaw Pact armies to act as Moscow's allies. And there is probably nothing in the threat that does exist that some prudent reinforcement by Nato (currently under way) cannot forestall. We forget too that the Soviet Union was ultimately beaten economically. It was a hollow force. It could not sustain the panoply of a global superpower. Well today's Russia does not even start in the superpower stakes. It is a regional player at best with an economy that is too dependent upon tumbling oil prices. Russia is in many ways a crisis waiting to happen. Indices of public health, mortality and so on are depressingly poor. It is true that Russia - through its satellite channels, its funding of curious political forces in the West and so on - seeks to create a counter-culture to the prevailing Western view. In this it has had modest success. But this is a pale shadow of the propaganda activities of Soviet days, nor are there the legions of the wrong but well-meaning supporters who saw in Soviet communism the salvation of mankind. That is not to discount current tensions. Certainly Mr Putin could over-reach. It is not impossible to imagine Nato and Russia in some peripheral sense confronting each other, say if Turkey went toe-to-toe with Moscow in Syria. But for now at least this falls short of the potential Armageddon that was, for a significant part of the Cold War, seen as an all-pervading threat. If anything this is just a throwback, a reprise of the Cold War in a minor vein. The cast is different. Many have changed sides. The context is different. The geographical scope of the rivalry is much reduced and the relative power of the players has also changed. It is simply not the Cold War of old, though, one must admit, in some ways it still seems strangely familiar.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 4053, "answer_end": 5080, "text": "Where is the threat of world war leading to nuclear annihilation? Russia, it is said, potentially threatens the Baltic Republics. Nato has got itself in a spin over a supposedly new kind of warfare seemingly practised by the Russians - so-called hybrid war - blurring the boundaries between peace and conflict. But there are no huge Russian tank armies waiting to roll westwards towards France. There are no Warsaw Pact armies to act as Moscow's allies. And there is probably nothing in the threat that does exist that some prudent reinforcement by Nato (currently under way) cannot forestall. We forget too that the Soviet Union was ultimately beaten economically. It was a hollow force. It could not sustain the panoply of a global superpower. Well today's Russia does not even start in the superpower stakes. It is a regional player at best with an economy that is too dependent upon tumbling oil prices. Russia is in many ways a crisis waiting to happen. Indices of public health, mortality and so on are depressingly poor."}], "question": "Hybrid war?", "id": "375_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Barcelona blocks tiny 'haibu' living pods", "date": "7 September 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Could 2.4 sq m (25.8 sq ft) living pods be the answer to the housing crisis in Western cities? One company in the Spanish city of Barcelona thinks so - but the city's mayor disagrees and has blocked them. \"Fortunately piling up people is prohibited,\" Ada Colau, a former housing and anti-eviction activist, told reporters. Barcelona's regulations say housing units must have a minimum floor space of 40 sq m, El Pais newspaper reports. Inigo Errejon, an MP from the anti-austerity party Podemos, said there were \"similar houses in cemeteries - they are called coffins\". \"A shameful project that thankfully the Barcelona authorities appear to be halting,\" he tweeted. Undeterred, the company, Haibu 4.0, is pressing on with its project Haibu, which means beehive in Japanese, and takes inspiration from Japan's popular capsule hotels. It has started building the first pods on empty business premises and says they will be ready by the end of the month. A total of 38 capsules will be available, it says. Each capsule has a bed, TV, storage space and power plugs. There is also a living area with a kitchen equipped with several microwave ovens, a lounge and bathrooms. The monthly rent of EUR200 (PS180; $235) includes bills and wifi, the company's website says. They are significantly smaller than shipping containers, which have been converted into low-cost housing in several locations around the world and come in two sizes, offering 15 sq m or 30 sq m of floor space. The pods would be rented to people aged between 25 and 45 who had a minimum salary of EUR450. About 500 people have shown an interest, the company says. People are social creatures meant to live in supportive communities, the website adds. However the rules stipulate that no more than one person is allowed to live in a pod and people are not allowed to have sex in them \"in order to maintain respect for the others living there\". Victoria Cerdan, one of the entrepreneurs behind the project, told AFP news agency the pods would enable people who could not afford available housing to \"band together and move ahead\". \"Obviously it is not adequate housing, no one would want it for themselves,\" she said. \"But no one wants a monthly salary of 500 euros and unfortunately they exist. Instead of living on the street, we offer this.\" Another partner at Haibu 4.0, Edi Wattenwil, told El Pais that the pods aimed to provide accommodation with greater privacy than could be found in hostels with several beds to a room. \"Citizens who are going through a difficult financial period should not have to sleep out on the streets or in a hostel. Our company lets them live with dignity...\" It comes against a background of soaring rents in big Spanish cities. In Barcelona the average rent for a flat rose by nearly a third between 2014 and 2017 to just over EUR900, AFP reports. In 2016, the average monthly salary in Spain was EUR1,930, the country's National Institute of Statistics says. Those under 30 were earning an average of less than EUR1,400. Haibu 4.0, says it is ready to move its project to another European city with similarly high rents such as Copenhagen, Paris or Rome if the Barcelona authorities do not allow it to operate, El Pais reports.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 667, "answer_end": 1472, "text": "Undeterred, the company, Haibu 4.0, is pressing on with its project Haibu, which means beehive in Japanese, and takes inspiration from Japan's popular capsule hotels. It has started building the first pods on empty business premises and says they will be ready by the end of the month. A total of 38 capsules will be available, it says. Each capsule has a bed, TV, storage space and power plugs. There is also a living area with a kitchen equipped with several microwave ovens, a lounge and bathrooms. The monthly rent of EUR200 (PS180; $235) includes bills and wifi, the company's website says. They are significantly smaller than shipping containers, which have been converted into low-cost housing in several locations around the world and come in two sizes, offering 15 sq m or 30 sq m of floor space."}], "question": "What are the pods like?", "id": "376_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1473, "answer_end": 2653, "text": "The pods would be rented to people aged between 25 and 45 who had a minimum salary of EUR450. About 500 people have shown an interest, the company says. People are social creatures meant to live in supportive communities, the website adds. However the rules stipulate that no more than one person is allowed to live in a pod and people are not allowed to have sex in them \"in order to maintain respect for the others living there\". Victoria Cerdan, one of the entrepreneurs behind the project, told AFP news agency the pods would enable people who could not afford available housing to \"band together and move ahead\". \"Obviously it is not adequate housing, no one would want it for themselves,\" she said. \"But no one wants a monthly salary of 500 euros and unfortunately they exist. Instead of living on the street, we offer this.\" Another partner at Haibu 4.0, Edi Wattenwil, told El Pais that the pods aimed to provide accommodation with greater privacy than could be found in hostels with several beds to a room. \"Citizens who are going through a difficult financial period should not have to sleep out on the streets or in a hostel. Our company lets them live with dignity...\""}], "question": "Who would live in them?", "id": "376_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2654, "answer_end": 3224, "text": "It comes against a background of soaring rents in big Spanish cities. In Barcelona the average rent for a flat rose by nearly a third between 2014 and 2017 to just over EUR900, AFP reports. In 2016, the average monthly salary in Spain was EUR1,930, the country's National Institute of Statistics says. Those under 30 were earning an average of less than EUR1,400. Haibu 4.0, says it is ready to move its project to another European city with similarly high rents such as Copenhagen, Paris or Rome if the Barcelona authorities do not allow it to operate, El Pais reports."}], "question": "Does it fill a gap in the market?", "id": "376_2"}]}]}, {"title": "US-Iran: Trump announces 'major' sanctions amid tensions", "date": "22 June 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "The US will impose \"major\" additional sanctions on Iran in a bid to prevent the country obtaining nuclear weapons, President Donald Trump says. He said economic pressure would be maintained unless the leadership in Tehran changed course. \"We're putting additional sanctions on,\" he told reporters. \"In [some] cases we are moving rapidly.\" It comes after Iran announced it would exceed internationally agreed limits on its nuclear programme. The limit on its stockpile of enriched uranium was set under a 2015 nuclear deal with world powers. In return, relevant sanctions were lifted, allowing Iran to resume oil exports - the government's main source of revenue. But the US pulled out of the deal last year and reinstated sanctions. This triggered an economic meltdown in Iran, pushing the value of its currency to record lows and driving away foreign investors. Iran has responded by scaling back its commitments under the nuclear deal. \"If Iran wants to become a prosperous nation... it's OK with me,\" Mr Trump said.  \"But they're never going to do it if they think in five or six years they're going to have nuclear weapons.\" \"Let's make Iran great again,\" he added, echoing his campaign slogan from the 2016 presidential election. In a later tweet, Mr Trump said the \"major additional sanctions\" would come into force on Monday. President Trump may have had second thoughts about carrying out a military strike against Iran, but he is set to toughen economic sanctions - the very policy that has helped bring the two countries to the brink of war. Iran's economy is suffering badly and it is threatening to breach some of the terms of the nuclear agreement it reached with the major powers. Mr Trump is also calling for negotiations with Iran. Earlier this month, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo offered talks with no conditions, save that Iran start behaving like \"a normal nation\". But Tehran dismissed this as \"wordplay\". Mr Trump's new sanctions will do nothing to reduce these tensions. A diplomatic \"off-ramp\" in this crisis seems as elusive as ever. The reinstatement of US sanctions last year - particularly those imposed on the energy, shipping and financial sectors - caused foreign investment to dry up and hit oil exports. The sanctions bar US companies from trading with Iran, but also with foreign firms or countries that are dealing with Iran. This has led to shortages of imported goods and products that are made with raw materials from abroad, most notably babies' nappies. The plunging value of the rial has also affected the cost of locally produced staples such as meat and eggs, which have soared in price. Iran has responded to the economic pressure by violating some of the nuclear deal's commitments.  It has also accused European countries of failing to live up to their promises of protecting Iran's economy from US sanctions. President Trump's announcement that additional sanctions will be imposed on Iran comes at a time of escalating tensions between the two countries. On Thursday, an unmanned US drone was shot down by Iranian forces in the Gulf. Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said the drone's downing was a \"clear message\" to the US that Iran's borders were \"our red line\". But US military officials maintain the drone was in international airspace over the Strait of Hormuz at the time. Amir Ali Hajizadeh, a high-ranking officer in the IRGC, said another military aircraft, carrying 35 passengers, had been flying close to the drone. \"We could have shot down that one too, but we did not,\" he said. The shooting down of the drone followed accusations by the US that Iran had attacked two oil tankers with mines just outside the Strait of Hormuz. Mr Trump has said he does not want war with Iran, but warned it it would face \"obliteration\" if conflict broke out.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 2060, "answer_end": 2856, "text": "The reinstatement of US sanctions last year - particularly those imposed on the energy, shipping and financial sectors - caused foreign investment to dry up and hit oil exports. The sanctions bar US companies from trading with Iran, but also with foreign firms or countries that are dealing with Iran. This has led to shortages of imported goods and products that are made with raw materials from abroad, most notably babies' nappies. The plunging value of the rial has also affected the cost of locally produced staples such as meat and eggs, which have soared in price. Iran has responded to the economic pressure by violating some of the nuclear deal's commitments.  It has also accused European countries of failing to live up to their promises of protecting Iran's economy from US sanctions."}], "question": "How have US sanctions hit Iran?", "id": "377_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2857, "answer_end": 3818, "text": "President Trump's announcement that additional sanctions will be imposed on Iran comes at a time of escalating tensions between the two countries. On Thursday, an unmanned US drone was shot down by Iranian forces in the Gulf. Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said the drone's downing was a \"clear message\" to the US that Iran's borders were \"our red line\". But US military officials maintain the drone was in international airspace over the Strait of Hormuz at the time. Amir Ali Hajizadeh, a high-ranking officer in the IRGC, said another military aircraft, carrying 35 passengers, had been flying close to the drone. \"We could have shot down that one too, but we did not,\" he said. The shooting down of the drone followed accusations by the US that Iran had attacked two oil tankers with mines just outside the Strait of Hormuz. Mr Trump has said he does not want war with Iran, but warned it it would face \"obliteration\" if conflict broke out."}], "question": "What is the bigger picture?", "id": "377_1"}]}]}, {"title": "Head-to-head: How Theresa May and Andrea Leadsom compare", "date": "7 July 2016", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Andrea Leadsom and Theresa May are vying to be the next Conservative leader - and the second female prime minister in British history. How do the two contenders measure up? Age: 59 Position: Home Secretary, MP for Maidenhead since 1997 Education: Grammar school, degree in Geography from Oxford University Job before politics: Financial consultant at Bank of England Family: Only child of a Church of England vicar. Grew up in Oxfordshire. Married for 36 years, no children. Off-duty: Guards her personal life - and has spoken of her regret at not being able to have children. Enjoys spending time in the kitchen and claims to own 100 cookbooks, but none by Delia Smith (she is not a fan).  She is a fan of cricket, however. Full Theresa May profile Age: 53 Position: Energy and climate change minister, MP for South Northamptonshire since 2010 Education: Grammar School, degree in Political Science from Warwick University Job before politics: Banking Family: Daughter of a builder's merchant, her mother divorced when she was four. Grew up in Kent. Married for 23 years, two sons and one daughter. Off-duty: Charity work with organisation that helps parents bond with their babies. Committed Christian who takes part in Bible studies groups with other MPs. Watches her favourite film Four Weddings and a Funeral at least once a year. Rugby fan who supports Northampton Saints. Full Andrea Leadsom profile Theresa May: \"We have immediate work to do to restore political stability and economic certainty, to bring together the Party and the country, and to negotiate a sensible and orderly departure from the European Union. But more than that, we have a mission to make Britain a country that works not for the privileged and not for the few but for every one of our citizens.\" Andrea Leadsom: \"I want to spread prosperity to every corner of our country.  I want to help create more jobs, because we need to hear and heed those millions of our fellow citizens who feel and fear that their country's leaders are not worrying about them enough.\" Theresa May: Officially a Remainer, but she kept a low profile during the campaign and has now accepted the verdict of the people, saying \"Brexit is Brexit\". Andrea Leadsom: A star performer for the Leave campaign during the referendum, although she appears, from comments made in 2013, to have been a recent convert to the cause. Theresa May: Experience. One of Britain's longest-serving home secretaries with a reputation for toughness. Proudly claims not be a member of any Westminster cliques or the privileged party elite. Not afraid to take on vested interests, such as the Police Federation. Andrea Leadsom: Backed Brexit, like many grassroots Conservative members who will choose the next PM. Relatively humble background may work in her favour among Tory members seeking a break from Etonians. A fresh face carrying little baggage from the Conservatives' six years in government. Theresa May: On the losing side in the EU referendum, making some question whether she is the right person to negotiate Britain's exit. Her failure to curb immigration will also be used against her. Andrea Leadsom: Lack of experience in government - she has never been a cabinet minister - although supporters say she has real world experience. She has also faced questions over whether her banking career was as stellar as initially claimed. Her business and tax affairs have also faced press scrutiny. Theresa May: May was one of the modernising forces during the Conservatives' wilderness years, famously telling Tory activists they were seen as the \"nasty\" party over their perceived intolerance of minorities. Backed same sex marriage. After six years as Home Secretary the view is that she would be a serious, sober presence in Number 10,  not springing too many surprises and adopting a strong - critics might say authoritarian - line on law and order. Andrea Leadsom: We still have more to learn about her style of leadership, but she is known to be more socially conservative than May - has said she supports gay marriage but \"does not like\" gay marriage laws - but is equally determined to reach out to neglected voters in unfashionable parts of Britain. Is passionate about her belief in the power of early years intervention to cure society's ills. There might be a hint of Thatcher in her approach - she has been hailed as a \"Thatcherite figure\" by Tory grandee Lord Tebbit. Every Tory leader since Margaret Thatcher, who was prime minister for 11 years, has been measured against the Iron Lady by Tory activists and often found wanting. The comparison is even harder to avoid with two women vying to follow in her footsteps. Theresa May: Has spoken of her admiration for Margaret Thatcher but claims not to have a role model in politics, preferring to forge her own path. Was described by former cabinet colleague Ken Clarke, in candid remarks recorded without his knowledge, as a \"bloody difficult woman,\" although nothing compared to his former boss Thatcher. Mrs May appears to have taken it as a compliment, saying she would be \"bloody difficult\" with EU bosses in the Brexit negotiations. Andrea Leadsom: Has said she aspires to emulate her political heroine Margaret Thatcher by combining toughness with \"personal warmth\". \"As a person, she was always kind and courteous and as a leader she was steely and determined,\" she told The Daily Telegraph.  The same age as Thatcher when she became prime minister. Theresa May: Philip May, a pension fund manager she met at university, where, according to The Guardian, they were introduced to each other by Benazir Bhutto, who would later become the prime minister of Pakistan, at a Conservative Association dance. Andrea Leadsom: Ben Leadsom, an investment banker and former director of a company that designed software algorithms for hedge funds, who reportedly donated PS10,000 to his wife's election campaign. \"I know that Theresa has the qualities and the character to take our country forward and, with her quietly determined, down-to-earth style, to re-unite us after the referendum, behind a plan to address the deep divisions in our society that it has exposed,\" Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond. \"Andrea Leadsom has that rare combination of deep compassion for those less fortunate than herself coupled with real world experience which has given her enormous ability to make clear and informed decisions when needed,\" former work and pensions secretary Iain Duncan Smith.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 3438, "answer_end": 4421, "text": "Theresa May: May was one of the modernising forces during the Conservatives' wilderness years, famously telling Tory activists they were seen as the \"nasty\" party over their perceived intolerance of minorities. Backed same sex marriage. After six years as Home Secretary the view is that she would be a serious, sober presence in Number 10,  not springing too many surprises and adopting a strong - critics might say authoritarian - line on law and order. Andrea Leadsom: We still have more to learn about her style of leadership, but she is known to be more socially conservative than May - has said she supports gay marriage but \"does not like\" gay marriage laws - but is equally determined to reach out to neglected voters in unfashionable parts of Britain. Is passionate about her belief in the power of early years intervention to cure society's ills. There might be a hint of Thatcher in her approach - she has been hailed as a \"Thatcherite figure\" by Tory grandee Lord Tebbit."}], "question": "What kind of prime minister would they be?", "id": "378_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Canada election: Charity confused against climate change ads", "date": "21 August 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Canada's election watchdog has warned environmentalists that saying climate change is real could break the law. The issue arose because one party running in October's election denies climate change is a threat. That has led Elections Canada to warn groups that if they run paid advertisements about climate change they must register with the government. Advocates called the guidance \"ludicrous\" and say it will dampen urgent climate discussions. The UN has called for decisive political action by 2020 to put an end to climate change. \"The guidance is extremely troubling,\" Stephen Cornish, the CEO of the David Suzuki Foundation, an environmental charity, told the BBC. \"We would have to bury the scientific consensus around climate change when we should be ramping up our activities.\" Canada has strict regulations on partisan advertising during the election period, whether they be from candidates, parties or third-party organisations. Individuals or organisations that take out \"issue\" advertisements that cost C$500 ($375, PS309) or more during the election period have to register with Elections Canada as a third party. \"Issue\" advertisements are paid media campaigns that take positions on issues related to parties' platforms but do not explicitly address a particular candidate or party. The election period will begin when the writ is dropped sometime in September, before Canadians head to the polls on 21 October. Elections Canada told environmental groups that because one candidate does not believe in a climate change emergency, any ad urging action on climate change could be considered \"issue advertising\" during the election period. Maxime Bernier, the leader of the People's Party of Canada, has said numerous times that he does not believe climate change is a crisis. \"There is no climate change urgency in this country,\" Mr Bernier said in June. Mr Bernier split from the Conservative Party of Canada last year to create the People's Party. The party's platform states that \"it is an undisputed fact that the world's climate has always changed and will continue to change\". Mr Cornish says it is \"absolutely ludicrous\" that charities are barred from advocacy work on climate change during the election just because one of the party's platforms denies it is an issue. \"We're talking here about someone's opinion overruling scientific consensus around the need to adapt to climate change,\" he said. A spokesperson for Elections Canada told the BBC there is no way of knowing if climate change will be an issue until the election officially begins, but that the law does not care whether the position taken by a candidate is correct or not. \"The validity of the position does not matter,\" explained Elections Canada spokesperson Natasha Gauthier. Keith Brooks, programme director for advocacy group Environmental Defence, says he and other groups were told by Elections Canada that ads urging action on climate change would be considered partisan. This was concerning because as a charity, Environmental Defence is not allowed to engage in partisan activity, and could lose its tax-exempt status. But after media reported on Elections Canada's guidance, Canada's chief electoral officer clarified the authority's position. Issue advertisements are not considered partisan, so long as they do not name a party or candidate directly. They are considered election ads, and the groups that pay for them must still register with the government. This is still a no-go for Mr Brooks. The registration process is onerous and would end up costing the organisation more money. \"The clarification is helpful,\" he said. \"But we would still like to be able to talk about climate change as an established scientific fact without having to register.\"", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 788, "answer_end": 1428, "text": "Canada has strict regulations on partisan advertising during the election period, whether they be from candidates, parties or third-party organisations. Individuals or organisations that take out \"issue\" advertisements that cost C$500 ($375, PS309) or more during the election period have to register with Elections Canada as a third party. \"Issue\" advertisements are paid media campaigns that take positions on issues related to parties' platforms but do not explicitly address a particular candidate or party. The election period will begin when the writ is dropped sometime in September, before Canadians head to the polls on 21 October."}], "question": "What are the rules?", "id": "379_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1429, "answer_end": 2097, "text": "Elections Canada told environmental groups that because one candidate does not believe in a climate change emergency, any ad urging action on climate change could be considered \"issue advertising\" during the election period. Maxime Bernier, the leader of the People's Party of Canada, has said numerous times that he does not believe climate change is a crisis. \"There is no climate change urgency in this country,\" Mr Bernier said in June. Mr Bernier split from the Conservative Party of Canada last year to create the People's Party. The party's platform states that \"it is an undisputed fact that the world's climate has always changed and will continue to change\"."}], "question": "Why is climate change an issue?", "id": "379_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2098, "answer_end": 2767, "text": "Mr Cornish says it is \"absolutely ludicrous\" that charities are barred from advocacy work on climate change during the election just because one of the party's platforms denies it is an issue. \"We're talking here about someone's opinion overruling scientific consensus around the need to adapt to climate change,\" he said. A spokesperson for Elections Canada told the BBC there is no way of knowing if climate change will be an issue until the election officially begins, but that the law does not care whether the position taken by a candidate is correct or not. \"The validity of the position does not matter,\" explained Elections Canada spokesperson Natasha Gauthier."}], "question": "What do environmental groups say?", "id": "379_2"}]}]}, {"title": "Why should we care about free trade?", "date": "9 November 2017", "paragraphs": [{"context": "The next time you head down to your High Street for a bit of weekend shopping, take a minute to look at where that pair of jeans you're eyeing is made. Chances are, they will have been made in Bangladesh, Vietnam or even Indonesia, stitched together by a worker in a factory somewhere, and then shipped over to you at a fraction of the cost these jeans would have set you back a few decades ago. How does this happen? Free trade. Simply put, it's the practice of removing restrictions on imports and exports between countries. The more you lower tariffs - or taxes that countries put on goods coming from elsewhere to protect their own industries - the more buying and selling there will be, or so the theory goes. Free trade evangelists will tell you that the optimum scenario is a future where there will be zero tariffs on goods going from one country to another, and we will all be buying what we need from country A because we will be able to sell them the things they don't have from country B. Makes sense? Except there's a problem. The US President Donald Trump doesn't agree with this vision.  He's railed against free trade deals, saying globalisation has \"wiped out\" America's middle class. That's ironic, given that up until recently US and American companies have been the biggest proponents of free trade deals. But President Trump wants \"fair trade\" instead, and is pushing an America First strategy. He pulled out of the Obama-backed 12 nation Trans Pacific Partnership agreement - or TPP - soon after he was elected, because he said it was a bad deal for US workers. President Trump has also threatened to pull out of the North American Free Trade Agreement if no deal can be reached with trade partners Canada and Mexico, wants to renegotiate a trade agreement with South Korea (although not much mention of it on his recent trip) and has called free trade agreements a \"disaster\". In short, he doesn't like them. For many of the delegates at the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit in Danang, President Trump's trade tantrums have been seen as a sign of US disengagement from the region - so they're still continuing with the Trans Pacific trade deal, just without the US, with the participating countries known as the TPP-11. It's a sentiment I've heard a lot at the APEC meeting this week - that trade negotiations will go on with or without the US. As the Australian Trade Minister Steven Ciobo told me, \"History has taught that countries can put up tariff walls or put up barriers to trade thinking that's in some way going to enrich those countries. Well, they're the ones that are going to be the worse off.\" So if free trade creates new markets, lowers prices and creates jobs, then why isn't everyone a fan? Part of the problem is that there will always be winners and losers in this game. Take that pair of jeans example again. The factory worker in Asia, who perhaps had been working on a farm before getting a job in the factory, will definitely benefit thanks to a stable income, and the prospect of higher wages. You too will benefit - you will pay far less for a pair of jeans you're after than you did perhaps a decade or so ago. But what happens when there's a third party involved - ie, the person who used to make the jeans in a factory down the road from you, before the manufacturing line was outsourced overseas? Not everyone is better off, Scott A Wolla and Anna Esenther from the Federal Bank of St Louis point out: \"The costs and benefits of trade extend beyond the actual buyer and seller in the transaction. \"And once third parties are included, it is clear that trade can create winners and losers.\" Generally the winners are the consumers and companies selling the products that are being manufactured elsewhere. Also in this box are the countries that have benefited most from the free trade movement over the last few decades - China, India, much of South East Asia - that turned into Factory Asia, churning out products for the whole world, pushing prices for us down and their living standards up. But there are losers. The companies that can't compete in this new marketplace where costs are lower. They shut down their businesses, and workers lose jobs. That anger of being left behind and not participating in the benefits of free trade is what helped Donald Trump to win the election, according to many observers. But it's not just because these workers were out of jobs. It's also because there hasn't been what the President of Peru Pedro Pablo Kuczynski called a lack of \"technical education.\" \"This creates a very large dissatisfied class which is looking for people to blame for their problems,\" he told me on the sidelines of the Apec summit. \"You can see that in the elections in the US a year ago. The anger led to that result.\" But even as President Kuczynski remains a free trade advocate, he admits it isn't easy to entirely mitigate the negative impact of globalisation. \"Peru has almost zero tariffs,\" he said \"but it still has some protectionist measures in agriculture and we need to change that.\" So even the freest of free traders has to put some measures in place to protect domestic industries. The anti-trade rhetoric has been a key feature of President Trump's first term. But what it actually achieved? Beyond pulling out of the TPP - which was unlikely to have been approved by the US Congress without more changes - not very much. President Trump hasn't renegotiated any deals yet with China or Japan. He's not won any major concessions. A few companies have made high profile announcements of investments and job creation in the US, but nothing like he had said would happen on the campaign trail. And according to this BBC poll, American workers aren't feeling that much more optimistic under President Trump, despite his assurances that jobs are coming back to the US. Perhaps the businessman in President Trump realises that while talking about trade negatively is in vogue now and sells well with the voters back home, it's not particularly practical. \"It is the maxim of every prudent master of a family, never to attempt to make at home what it will cost him more to make than buy,\" wrote Adam Smith in the Wealth of Nations. \"If a foreign country can supply with us a commodity cheaper than we ourselves can make it, better buy it of them with some part of the produce of our own industry.\" In theory, this makes perfect economic sense. But in practice, there will always be winners and losers from free trade. And it's not just that - automation is the next big trend for businesses looking to save costs, and that will undoubtedly have more of an impact on job security than free trade ever did, and mostly in the emerging economies that benefited from the low-cost manufacturing jobs. Both governments and businesses need to address how to mitigate the negatives of free trade, or face a protectionist backlash from their citizens in the future.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 2740, "answer_end": 4211, "text": "Part of the problem is that there will always be winners and losers in this game. Take that pair of jeans example again. The factory worker in Asia, who perhaps had been working on a farm before getting a job in the factory, will definitely benefit thanks to a stable income, and the prospect of higher wages. You too will benefit - you will pay far less for a pair of jeans you're after than you did perhaps a decade or so ago. But what happens when there's a third party involved - ie, the person who used to make the jeans in a factory down the road from you, before the manufacturing line was outsourced overseas? Not everyone is better off, Scott A Wolla and Anna Esenther from the Federal Bank of St Louis point out: \"The costs and benefits of trade extend beyond the actual buyer and seller in the transaction. \"And once third parties are included, it is clear that trade can create winners and losers.\" Generally the winners are the consumers and companies selling the products that are being manufactured elsewhere. Also in this box are the countries that have benefited most from the free trade movement over the last few decades - China, India, much of South East Asia - that turned into Factory Asia, churning out products for the whole world, pushing prices for us down and their living standards up. But there are losers. The companies that can't compete in this new marketplace where costs are lower. They shut down their businesses, and workers lose jobs."}], "question": "Who loses out?", "id": "380_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Is populism a threat to Europe's economies?", "date": "26 May 2016", "paragraphs": [{"context": "The Financial Stability Review isn't bedtime reading for most of us, but among the 143 pages of its latest edition, a short passage of just a few lines has ruffled some feathers. The report is published twice a year by the European Central Bank - a key institution responsible for implementing monetary policy across the continental union. On page 12, nestled among warnings about \"weak profitability expectations\" and \"prospective stress in the investment fund sector\", is a rather starkly political message: \"Political risks have increased across the euro area and pose a challenge to fiscal and structural reform implementation and, by extension, to public debt sustainability.\" The rise of populist parties across Europe, it is saying, has made the implementation of the orthodox economic reforms - espoused by the EU as a route to greater economic success and stability - less certain. \"This, in turn, may cause renewed pressure on more vulnerable sovereigns and potentially contribute to contagion and re-fragmentation in the euro area\". Re-fragmentation in the euro area? That really doesn't sound healthy for the future of the part of the bloc using the single currency. And the survival of the monetary union is indeed one of the big worries of these pillars of the European establishment. The document feeds in to a broader narrative about the crisis - whereby the perceived failure of centrist or social democratic parties and the political establishment to deal with economic malaise has opened the door to upstart parties with \"extreme\" solutions - whether of the right or left. From Finland to France to Hungary, the nationalist right has enjoyed recent success; and in Greece and Spain, radical left parties have gained fresh electoral appeal. As populations ring the changes at the ballot box, European policymakers are keen to the threat that may be posed to their policy prescriptions by new parties which reject the old political and economic consensus. I spoke to Christoph Schneider, a director at the federal chamber of commerce in Austria - where just days ago, the far-right Freedom Party failed by a whisker to take the presidency. It is a largely ceremonial role but, many argue, would have been an important step for the party on the way to a more muscular political presence. He told me that despite a \"period of tension\" in the run-up to the election, businesses in Austria were unsettled rather than panicked by the rise of the nationalist right. \"The Freedom Party doesn't really have a programme so we don't know what they stand for - except for their opposition to mass immigration, you can't pin them down,\" he said. In a previous coalition government in 2000, the party actually spearheaded a package of reforms seen as successful. At the moment, he would describe the party as \"an opportunist rather than a populist party\" which is benefiting from the established political parties' failures to take popular concerns about Europe seriously. But he said there were longer term concerns, both in the business community and the wider population. \"Until five years ago, we had economic success, political stability and social peace. Now the first two are in question - and once those falter, the third is next in line.\" For Steve Barrow, strategist for Standard Bank, the ECB's warnings about populism has to be assessed on a country-by-country basis. \"I can see the ECB's point - but maybe it depends on what this populist force does with whatever power it might achieve.\" Syriza in Greece, for instance, has \"actually probably not done anything to the political orthodoxy\" because it had so few options other than toe the line or exit the eurozone entirely. \"In Austria, Finland, France perhaps - you could argue that it would be different if a populist party had more power, that they're in a stronger position than Greece, not going cap in hand to the EU, in terms of doing things the EU doesn't like.\" Nevertheless, for Mr Barrow, the crisis has highlighted the weakness of the European Union as much as the creditor countries. \"The EU should really be fining some countries for their budget indiscretions, but that's politically unacceptable - and part of the reason for that is that if we have traditional parties in power and they're not doing as much as the EU likes, and then the EU turns round and fines them, then you'll actually create an even bigger hotbed for the populist-type movement that rebels against what the EU is doing.\" Instead, countries who are falling behind get a blind eye turned to them and more money loaned - \"it's more 'extend and pretend', as economists like to call it. But potentially unsustainable debt is a problem for everyone\". It has, according to Olivier Vardakoulias, economist at the UK's New Economics Foundation (NEF). \"The ECB is mistaking the effect for the cause,\" he says - the rise of so-called populist parties is the result of economic and financial turbulence brought about by the way the crisis was handled by eurozone authorities, member states, and of course European institutions including the ECB itself. Its response was to force member states to undertake \"structural reforms\" - \"reactionary social measures including dismantling of the welfare state, dismantling of labour rights, reduction in social spending and so on\", themselves deepening the crisis. That in turn provoked different reactions - a pro-European far left challenging austerity and an openly anti-European far right. In Greece and elsewhere, he says, the pro-European parties have been humiliated. \"Greece was literally crushed and its democratic sovereignty was crushed\" - \"a reaction which was itself extreme\". \"This is the danger, I think - if these movements fail to offer an alternative then I very much fear that people will turn to nationalist anti-European parties - and this will be a disaster for Europe.\" Mr Vardakoulias insists that Europe needs to come to terms with the fact that its strategy has not delivered - and is putting at risk the political stability of Europe. \"The question is do they want to or are they ready to accept these facts and move towards an alternative policy for Europe as a whole - democratising the institutions, and actually resolving the crisis in the periphery but also in countries like France? \"If they don't there is a high risk that the eurozone will implode.\"", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 682, "answer_end": 1298, "text": "The rise of populist parties across Europe, it is saying, has made the implementation of the orthodox economic reforms - espoused by the EU as a route to greater economic success and stability - less certain. \"This, in turn, may cause renewed pressure on more vulnerable sovereigns and potentially contribute to contagion and re-fragmentation in the euro area\". Re-fragmentation in the euro area? That really doesn't sound healthy for the future of the part of the bloc using the single currency. And the survival of the monetary union is indeed one of the big worries of these pillars of the European establishment."}], "question": "In other words?", "id": "381_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1299, "answer_end": 1972, "text": "The document feeds in to a broader narrative about the crisis - whereby the perceived failure of centrist or social democratic parties and the political establishment to deal with economic malaise has opened the door to upstart parties with \"extreme\" solutions - whether of the right or left. From Finland to France to Hungary, the nationalist right has enjoyed recent success; and in Greece and Spain, radical left parties have gained fresh electoral appeal. As populations ring the changes at the ballot box, European policymakers are keen to the threat that may be posed to their policy prescriptions by new parties which reject the old political and economic consensus."}], "question": "What's the context?", "id": "381_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1973, "answer_end": 3251, "text": "I spoke to Christoph Schneider, a director at the federal chamber of commerce in Austria - where just days ago, the far-right Freedom Party failed by a whisker to take the presidency. It is a largely ceremonial role but, many argue, would have been an important step for the party on the way to a more muscular political presence. He told me that despite a \"period of tension\" in the run-up to the election, businesses in Austria were unsettled rather than panicked by the rise of the nationalist right. \"The Freedom Party doesn't really have a programme so we don't know what they stand for - except for their opposition to mass immigration, you can't pin them down,\" he said. In a previous coalition government in 2000, the party actually spearheaded a package of reforms seen as successful. At the moment, he would describe the party as \"an opportunist rather than a populist party\" which is benefiting from the established political parties' failures to take popular concerns about Europe seriously. But he said there were longer term concerns, both in the business community and the wider population. \"Until five years ago, we had economic success, political stability and social peace. Now the first two are in question - and once those falter, the third is next in line.\""}], "question": "Does business share these concerns?", "id": "381_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3252, "answer_end": 4700, "text": "For Steve Barrow, strategist for Standard Bank, the ECB's warnings about populism has to be assessed on a country-by-country basis. \"I can see the ECB's point - but maybe it depends on what this populist force does with whatever power it might achieve.\" Syriza in Greece, for instance, has \"actually probably not done anything to the political orthodoxy\" because it had so few options other than toe the line or exit the eurozone entirely. \"In Austria, Finland, France perhaps - you could argue that it would be different if a populist party had more power, that they're in a stronger position than Greece, not going cap in hand to the EU, in terms of doing things the EU doesn't like.\" Nevertheless, for Mr Barrow, the crisis has highlighted the weakness of the European Union as much as the creditor countries. \"The EU should really be fining some countries for their budget indiscretions, but that's politically unacceptable - and part of the reason for that is that if we have traditional parties in power and they're not doing as much as the EU likes, and then the EU turns round and fines them, then you'll actually create an even bigger hotbed for the populist-type movement that rebels against what the EU is doing.\" Instead, countries who are falling behind get a blind eye turned to them and more money loaned - \"it's more 'extend and pretend', as economists like to call it. But potentially unsustainable debt is a problem for everyone\"."}], "question": "What about the view from the markets?", "id": "381_3"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 4701, "answer_end": 5877, "text": "It has, according to Olivier Vardakoulias, economist at the UK's New Economics Foundation (NEF). \"The ECB is mistaking the effect for the cause,\" he says - the rise of so-called populist parties is the result of economic and financial turbulence brought about by the way the crisis was handled by eurozone authorities, member states, and of course European institutions including the ECB itself. Its response was to force member states to undertake \"structural reforms\" - \"reactionary social measures including dismantling of the welfare state, dismantling of labour rights, reduction in social spending and so on\", themselves deepening the crisis. That in turn provoked different reactions - a pro-European far left challenging austerity and an openly anti-European far right. In Greece and elsewhere, he says, the pro-European parties have been humiliated. \"Greece was literally crushed and its democratic sovereignty was crushed\" - \"a reaction which was itself extreme\". \"This is the danger, I think - if these movements fail to offer an alternative then I very much fear that people will turn to nationalist anti-European parties - and this will be a disaster for Europe.\""}], "question": "Has the ECB got its analysis the wrong way about?", "id": "381_4"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 5878, "answer_end": 6369, "text": "Mr Vardakoulias insists that Europe needs to come to terms with the fact that its strategy has not delivered - and is putting at risk the political stability of Europe. \"The question is do they want to or are they ready to accept these facts and move towards an alternative policy for Europe as a whole - democratising the institutions, and actually resolving the crisis in the periphery but also in countries like France? \"If they don't there is a high risk that the eurozone will implode.\""}], "question": "What's his alternative?", "id": "381_5"}]}]}, {"title": "US firm apologises for seeking 'preferably Caucasian' candidate", "date": "29 April 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "A US recruitment firm has been accused of racism after posting a job advert stating that it would prefer to hear from white candidates. Cynet Systems listed the account manager role on a number of websites, including LinkedIn and Glassdoor. In the job description, it said the ideal applicant would be \"preferably Caucasian who has good technical background including knowledge of RPA\". The company later apologised and removed the listing. A screenshot of the listing went viral after it was posted on Twitter by Florida-based coder Helena McCabe. \"How could you POSSIBLY think that's okay?\" she asked the firm - to which another Twitter user added, \"or legal, for that matter?\" Others expressed confusion as the firm's two co-CEOs, Nikhil Budhiraja and Ashwani Mayur, are themselves Indian-American. In a statement posted by both Mr Budhiraja and the company's official Twitter account, Cynet Systems said it had made \"a terrible mistake\" and that \"the concerned recruiter will be undergoing re-training\". However, after significant further backlash, the company said the person responsible had been fired. In a statement sent to the BBC, Mr Mayur said Cynet Systems had a policy against advertising for clients who discriminate based on race. \"We have already begun a review of all currently existing and upcoming ads to ensure no similar issues exist,\" he said. \"We are also looking at measures that could help us catch offensive or outside-of-policy ads before they ever go live.\" He added that his firm has two Indian-American owners and a workforce that is \"over 60% minority\". Some suggested Ms McCabe should report the listing to the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, which is responsible for enforcing federal anti-discrimination laws. According to the EEOC, it is \"illegal to discriminate against a job applicant or an employee because of the person's race, colour, religion, sex... national origin, age (40 or older), disability or genetic information\". But a fellow recruiter - posting under the name Kandi - said that despite this law, such hiring practices remained commonplace. \"If only you knew,\" she wrote in response to the ad. \"As a recruiter I can tell you you'll receive a 'profile' request like this all the time.\"", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 802, "answer_end": 1584, "text": "In a statement posted by both Mr Budhiraja and the company's official Twitter account, Cynet Systems said it had made \"a terrible mistake\" and that \"the concerned recruiter will be undergoing re-training\". However, after significant further backlash, the company said the person responsible had been fired. In a statement sent to the BBC, Mr Mayur said Cynet Systems had a policy against advertising for clients who discriminate based on race. \"We have already begun a review of all currently existing and upcoming ads to ensure no similar issues exist,\" he said. \"We are also looking at measures that could help us catch offensive or outside-of-policy ads before they ever go live.\" He added that his firm has two Indian-American owners and a workforce that is \"over 60% minority\"."}], "question": "What has the company said?", "id": "382_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1585, "answer_end": 2247, "text": "Some suggested Ms McCabe should report the listing to the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, which is responsible for enforcing federal anti-discrimination laws. According to the EEOC, it is \"illegal to discriminate against a job applicant or an employee because of the person's race, colour, religion, sex... national origin, age (40 or older), disability or genetic information\". But a fellow recruiter - posting under the name Kandi - said that despite this law, such hiring practices remained commonplace. \"If only you knew,\" she wrote in response to the ad. \"As a recruiter I can tell you you'll receive a 'profile' request like this all the time.\""}], "question": "Is this job description legal?", "id": "382_1"}]}]}, {"title": "Ashley Madison, MySpace and LinkedIn hacks: what changed?", "date": "24 September 2016", "paragraphs": [{"context": "As half a billion people's Yahoo account information appears to have been stolen by hackers, we take a look at the most well-known recent hacks and ask what happened next - for customers, companies and the rest of us. Last year, real-world account details of millions of people using the Ashley Madison site were leaked. They had all been using a site intended for married people who wanted to find somebody to cheat on their spouse with. In terms of numbers, this was not the biggest hack of recent years by a long shot. But it had a huge impact on peoples' lives. Some relationships ended. Other people lived in fear that their significant others - who might never have heard of the website before the breach - would find out they were looking for the chance to have affairs. The hack also damaged the firm's most valuable commodity - trust in its website. Ashley Madison had assured users they were entering an \"anonymous\" website, but their details were made public. It had even offered a \"delete\" service that turned out not to work. People who had paid $19 (PS15) for a \"full delete\" found their names and email addresses were still on the searchable database. Two women explain how the Ashley Madison hack changed their lives But there were extremely serious consequences worldwide. Police in Canada said two people's suicides were linked to the data leakage. And activists warned that being publicly outed put many LGBT people at risk worldwide, especially in places where they might be beaten up or worse. The UK phone and broadband provider TalkTalk suffered three data breaches in the course of a year. In one case, after hundreds of thousands of customer names and email address and 21,000 bank account details were hacked, police arrested six people under the age of 21. The company lost more than 100,000 subscribers in the third quarter of 2016 after that attack. Its profits more than halved, although it said part of that loss was due to the money it spent on boosting security. Why do companies keep getting hacked? In May this year, hundreds of millions of passwords to the MySpace social media site went up for sale online. The logins were thought to have been stolen several years before. The techniques used to protect the passwords had been quite weak. MySpace said it had invalidated passwords used before 2013 and was using automated tools to \"identify and block\" suspicious activity. The website was long past its heyday, having been overtaken in popularity by sites like Facebook and Twitter, so the impact was not huge. But it may have put people at risk who were using the same password across multiple online accounts. Also in May this year, the same person (or at least somebody with the same username) tried to sell more than 100 million logins for the LinkedIn business-focused and recruitment social network. These logins were four years old but third parties found some of the passwords still worked. The social network had tried to secure accounts after a previous, smaller, attack but some tech experts said they should have broadened their efforts to all users. Security researcher Troy Hunt was one of those to comment on the spate of events. He said there must be \"some catalyst\" behind why MySpace, Tumblr and LinkedIn hacks all came to light at the same time. It is hard to say. Companies tend to keep the methods used under wraps, and it is usually not until security details are breached that such information comes to light. As Steven Murdoch from University College London says: \"If the criminals don't know what security measures they're using, it's obviously better for the companies.\" Quoting an old maxim, \"security through obscurity\", he says that although companies \"shouldn't depend on it, it does help\". Internet security experts agree that these hacks threw the spotlight onto the shortcomings of certain types of password protection. Rik Ferguson from the security software company Trend Micro says that one algorithm used by some of these companies, known as MD5, is 10 years out of date and that if they are still storing passwords \"the same way they have always done it\", then they are \"absolutely not doing anything\". He argues that all companies, no matter how small, should be using the techniques of \"salting and hashing\". \"Salting\" = adding random characters to every password to make it harder to break \"Hashing\" = turning the password's string of text into a string of numbers But all agree that some of the responsibility lies with people who are making passwords - that is, us. - Use a different password for each online account so that if one is breached they are not all at risk - criminals know that is a weakness - The longer it is, the stronger it is - Consider setting up a password manager - a program that stores all your passwords so you only have to log in once - but make sure you are satisfied with the security strength of the password manager software. Unless, Dr Murdoch says, you do not care if your account is hacked. Then \"it really doesn't matter which password you use\".", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 3302, "answer_end": 5058, "text": "It is hard to say. Companies tend to keep the methods used under wraps, and it is usually not until security details are breached that such information comes to light. As Steven Murdoch from University College London says: \"If the criminals don't know what security measures they're using, it's obviously better for the companies.\" Quoting an old maxim, \"security through obscurity\", he says that although companies \"shouldn't depend on it, it does help\". Internet security experts agree that these hacks threw the spotlight onto the shortcomings of certain types of password protection. Rik Ferguson from the security software company Trend Micro says that one algorithm used by some of these companies, known as MD5, is 10 years out of date and that if they are still storing passwords \"the same way they have always done it\", then they are \"absolutely not doing anything\". He argues that all companies, no matter how small, should be using the techniques of \"salting and hashing\". \"Salting\" = adding random characters to every password to make it harder to break \"Hashing\" = turning the password's string of text into a string of numbers But all agree that some of the responsibility lies with people who are making passwords - that is, us. - Use a different password for each online account so that if one is breached they are not all at risk - criminals know that is a weakness - The longer it is, the stronger it is - Consider setting up a password manager - a program that stores all your passwords so you only have to log in once - but make sure you are satisfied with the security strength of the password manager software. Unless, Dr Murdoch says, you do not care if your account is hacked. Then \"it really doesn't matter which password you use\"."}], "question": "What have companies changed about how they protect our data?", "id": "383_0"}]}]}, {"title": "John Bolton ready to testify in Trump impeachment trial", "date": "6 January 2020", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Former White House National Security Adviser John Bolton says he is willing to testify at President Donald Trump's impeachment trial in the Senate. \"I have concluded that, if the Senate issues a subpoena for my testimony, I am prepared to testify,\" Mr Bolton said in a statement. He has previously complied with the White House directive not to co-operate with the Democratic-led inquiry. Mr Bolton would be the most senior former Trump adviser to testify. Mr Trump, a Republican, was impeached by the Democratic-controlled House of Representatives last month. He was the third US president ever to incur such a congressional sanction. Mr Bolton wrote on his website on Monday: \"During the present impeachment controversy, I have tried to meet my obligations both as a citizen and as former National Security Adviser. \"Since my testimony is once again at issue, I have had to resolve the serious competing issues as best I could, based on careful consideration and study.\" The hawkish former national security adviser was fired by President Trump in September after 16 months on the job. John Bolton is a potentially important witness in the abuse-of-power case against Donald Trump. If he testifies in a Senate trial of the president, it could be a blockbuster moment. It's hard not to see Mr Bolton's latest announcement, however, in the context of his previous hints, pirouettes and provocative tweets on testifying. While he threatened a protracted legal battle to prevent appearing before House impeachment investigators, for instance, his lawyer hinted that there were many previously undisclosed \"meetings and conversations\" of which Mr Bolton had knowledge. Stonewall, wink, repeat. It may be a good strategy for staying in the public eye - and, perhaps, boosting upcoming book sales - but Democrats will find it infuriating. It's also far from guaranteed that Mr Bolton will ever be subpoenaed by the Senate. His announcement might marginally increase the pressure on moderate Senate Republicans to join with Democrats and form a majority to call for witnesses in the presidential trial. Republican Senate Leader Mitch McConnell has proven skilled at keeping his party in line, however, and immune to pressure when it comes to pursuing the course of action he views as most politically beneficial. It will take more than a Bolton statement to make him fold. His potential firsthand knowledge of key events surrounding the Democratic-led investigation would make him a prize witness. Mr Trump is accused of abusing the power of his office by withholding US military aid in order to pressure Ukraine into smearing his political rival, former US Vice-President Joe Biden. Mr Bolton likened that alleged White House bargaining chip to a \"drug deal\", according to witness testimony during the House impeachment investigation. His aides testified that he was deeply concerned by Mr Trump's actions related to Ukraine. Mr Bolton has kept a relatively low profile since leaving the White House, though he inked a book deal in November with publishing giant Simon & Schuster, reportedly worth $2m (PS1.5m). Amid a political row, House Democrats have held off formally sending the two articles of impeachment to the Senate, which would trigger a trial in that chamber. It is so far unclear when they might do so. The Republican-controlled Senate has been resisting Democratic demands for witnesses to be called in the trial. Mr Bolton's announcement may put pressure on the chamber's Republican leader, Mitch McConnell, to allow such testimony. Speaking from the chamber floor on Monday, Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer compared Mr McConnell's handling of the impeachment proceedings to \"Alice in Wonderland - first the trial and then the evidence\". \"If the Senate were to agree to leader McConnell's proposal, the Senate would act as little more than a nationally televised meeting of a mock trial club,\" said the New York Democrat. The Senate is controlled by the president's fellow Republicans and therefore it is highly unlikely they will vote for Mr Trump to be removed from office.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 2367, "answer_end": 3106, "text": "His potential firsthand knowledge of key events surrounding the Democratic-led investigation would make him a prize witness. Mr Trump is accused of abusing the power of his office by withholding US military aid in order to pressure Ukraine into smearing his political rival, former US Vice-President Joe Biden. Mr Bolton likened that alleged White House bargaining chip to a \"drug deal\", according to witness testimony during the House impeachment investigation. His aides testified that he was deeply concerned by Mr Trump's actions related to Ukraine. Mr Bolton has kept a relatively low profile since leaving the White House, though he inked a book deal in November with publishing giant Simon & Schuster, reportedly worth $2m (PS1.5m)."}], "question": "Why might Bolton's testimony be important?", "id": "384_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3107, "answer_end": 4093, "text": "Amid a political row, House Democrats have held off formally sending the two articles of impeachment to the Senate, which would trigger a trial in that chamber. It is so far unclear when they might do so. The Republican-controlled Senate has been resisting Democratic demands for witnesses to be called in the trial. Mr Bolton's announcement may put pressure on the chamber's Republican leader, Mitch McConnell, to allow such testimony. Speaking from the chamber floor on Monday, Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer compared Mr McConnell's handling of the impeachment proceedings to \"Alice in Wonderland - first the trial and then the evidence\". \"If the Senate were to agree to leader McConnell's proposal, the Senate would act as little more than a nationally televised meeting of a mock trial club,\" said the New York Democrat. The Senate is controlled by the president's fellow Republicans and therefore it is highly unlikely they will vote for Mr Trump to be removed from office."}], "question": "When is the Senate trial?", "id": "384_1"}]}]}, {"title": "Armenia crisis: Protesters bring cities to standstill after vote", "date": "2 May 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Tens of thousands of supporters of Armenia's protest leader, Nikol Pashinyan, have responded to his call for civil disobedience, blocking key roads and government buildings. He has led weeks of anti-government protests that forced Serzh Sargsyan to resign after 10 years in power. Mr Pashinyan called for a general strike after ruling party MPs refused to back him as interim prime minister. Protests broke out across the capital Yerevan and other main cities. Cars and lorries blocked intersections in the capital, while demonstrators stopped traffic on the route to the main airport. Tourists had to abandon vehicles and carry their luggage. Metro stations in Yerevan were closed as part of the campaign of disobedience. Teachers and school students were among those taking part in the protests in the landlocked former Soviet state of 2.9 million people, a close ally of Russia. The southern Caucasus country shares borders with Turkey, Georgia, Iran and Azerbaijan. Mr Sargsyan left the presidency last month after 10 years in power and was then elected prime minister by a parliament controlled by his Republican party. Under a 2015 referendum marred by irregularities, Armenia shifted powers from the president to parliament. Mr Sargsyan's move was seen by critics as a way of clinging to office. Demonstrators poured on to the streets of Yerevan after Mr Pashinyan addressed crowds on Tuesday night in Republic Square, close to parliament. He told the BBC on Wednesday that protesters were fighting for their rights and dignity. \"I want to be clear, it isn't a fight for Nikol Pashinyan becoming prime minister, it's a fight for human rights, for democracy, for rule of law and that is why our people aren't tired and won't be tired.\" The acting head of government, Karen Karapetyan, has called for talks to end the crisis. \"A prime minister should only be elected in parliament according to the constitution,\" he said. By Rayhan Demytrie in Yerevan Yerevan's Republic Square is packed again. Thousands of Armenians from different corners of the country have come here to show their support for Nikol Pashinyan. His face is printed on T-shirts, flags and posters. Sara Akopyan is wearing such a shirt; she is in the square with her colleagues from a real estate agency. \"It's a general strike today and we are not working, this strike is by far the biggest one that swept Armenia,\" she says. Her friends say they are ready to miss work for however long it takes, because this time around there is no turning back for Armenians. \"We are doing this for our future, we want to live in a country ruled by law and not by a gang.\" They are saying that Armenians are united in their desire to move forward, and right now it's 55 people against the whole nation, a reference to the MPs from the Republican Party that rejected Nikol Pashinyan's bid for premiership on Tuesday. One lady I interviewed today, from the Sevan region, said she was no longer afraid to talk openly about the problems in the country. Entrances to several ministry buildings in Yerevan were blockaded and rail services were disrupted. Trains were not running between Yerevan and the second city, Gyumri, and checkpoints near the Georgian border were affected. There was further disruption in Gyumri itself and in the third city Vanadzor, where a large crowd of protesters blockaded the mayor's office and other civic buildings. Three thousand workers from a local sewing factory walked out and cut off some of Vanadzor's biggest roads, reports said. During the day Mr Pashinyan posted a message on social media, urging protesters to halt disruption at the airport, while other opposition politicians appealed to people not to impede emergency services. Police tried to move protesters off the roads but there was no sign of violence. In his Tuesday speech, Mr Pashinyan had called on police to join the protests. Parliament is expected to try again to elect a prime minister on 8 May. There are concerns that a lack of stability in Armenia could cause disruption in the wider region. The country has a decades-long territorial dispute, which has produced periods of conflict, with Azerbaijan over the Nagorno-Karabakh region. Russia has been strongly aligned with Armenia since the Soviet era and has military bases in the county. However, Mr Pashinyan has promised that the two countries will remain strategic allies if he comes to power, according to Russian agency Tass. The leader has also told supporters he has received reassurance from Moscow that \"Russia would not intervene in Armenia's internal affairs\". The son of a sports teacher, Mr Pashinyan came to prominence in 1995 when he began writing about government corruption. He founded a newspaper three years later and went on to take the role of editor at a best-selling daily, which criticised the government of President Robert Kocharyan and then of President Sargsyan. When Mr Sargsyan was elected president in 2008, Mr Pashinyan was among the leaders of protests that turned violent and left 10 people dead. At that point he went into hiding, surrendering to authorities the following year. Jailed the following year on charges of murder and organising mass unrest, he was eventually released under an amnesty in 2011. In 2012, he was first elected to Armenia's parliament. He argues that only he can steer Armenia to free and fair elections. His critics accuse him of bringing chaos to the streets and question his ability to lead as prime minister. Mr Pashinyan fell eight votes short of the 53 he needed to secure a majority in the 105-seat chamber on Tuesday, when he failed to persuade the ruling Republican party to back him. During a marathon nine-hour question-and-answer session, he warned MPs what would happen if they rejected his candidacy. \"Your behaviour, treating the tolerance of the people as a weakness, could become the cause of a tsunami.\" Republican MPs had reportedly given assurances they would not block Mr Pashinyan's bid for office and did not put up their own candidate in a bid to ease tensions. However, some still questioned his leadership qualities. \"Mr Pashinyan, I don't see you at the post of prime minister, I don't see you at the post of commander-in-chief,\" said Eduard Sharmazanov, deputy speaker of parliament and Republican spokesman. Mr Pashinyan's supporters shouted \"shame\" when the result of the parliamentary vote was shown on two huge screens in Republic Square. The opposition leader, accompanied by his wife, arrived in the square soon after, with the crowd chanting \"Nikol, Nikol\".", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 970, "answer_end": 1926, "text": "Mr Sargsyan left the presidency last month after 10 years in power and was then elected prime minister by a parliament controlled by his Republican party. Under a 2015 referendum marred by irregularities, Armenia shifted powers from the president to parliament. Mr Sargsyan's move was seen by critics as a way of clinging to office. Demonstrators poured on to the streets of Yerevan after Mr Pashinyan addressed crowds on Tuesday night in Republic Square, close to parliament. He told the BBC on Wednesday that protesters were fighting for their rights and dignity. \"I want to be clear, it isn't a fight for Nikol Pashinyan becoming prime minister, it's a fight for human rights, for democracy, for rule of law and that is why our people aren't tired and won't be tired.\" The acting head of government, Karen Karapetyan, has called for talks to end the crisis. \"A prime minister should only be elected in parliament according to the constitution,\" he said."}], "question": "How did we get here?", "id": "385_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 4588, "answer_end": 5489, "text": "The son of a sports teacher, Mr Pashinyan came to prominence in 1995 when he began writing about government corruption. He founded a newspaper three years later and went on to take the role of editor at a best-selling daily, which criticised the government of President Robert Kocharyan and then of President Sargsyan. When Mr Sargsyan was elected president in 2008, Mr Pashinyan was among the leaders of protests that turned violent and left 10 people dead. At that point he went into hiding, surrendering to authorities the following year. Jailed the following year on charges of murder and organising mass unrest, he was eventually released under an amnesty in 2011. In 2012, he was first elected to Armenia's parliament. He argues that only he can steer Armenia to free and fair elections. His critics accuse him of bringing chaos to the streets and question his ability to lead as prime minister."}], "question": "Who is Nikol Pashinyan?", "id": "385_1"}]}]}, {"title": "Sex tape row: German court orders man to destroy naked images", "date": "22 December 2015", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Germany's highest court has ordered a man to destroy intimate photos and videos of his ex-partner because they violate her right to privacy. The Federal Court said the man, a photographer, should no longer possess naked photos and sex tapes, even if he had no intention of sharing them. The woman had originally agreed to the images but this consent stopped when the relationship ended, the court said. Germany has some of the strictest privacy laws in Europe. The Federal Court was called upon to rule in a dispute between a former couple, who were arguing over whether or not the man should delete intimate photos and videos. In its ruling (in German), the court said everyone had the right to decide whether to grant insight into their sex life - including to whom they grant permission and in what form. It said that by retaining the images, the photographer had a certain \"manipulative power\" over his ex-lover. He should no longer have rights to the photos and videos once the relationship had ended, it concluded. It is not clear how the ruling will be enforced. Recent cases of naked images being leaked online have sparked a debate about victims' rights, with some countries making so-called \"revenge porn\" a criminal offence. Commenting on the Federal Court ruling, German lawyer Katja Weber said two important points had to be established in such cases: - Which photos are to be defined as \"intimate\" - Whether the original consent for having the pictures taken was restricted to the duration of the relationship. She said \"intimate\" photos were not exclusively those taken before, during or after sex. However, \"that was the type of photo considered in this case\", she said. \"One can imagine plenty of situations where, during a relationship, compromising photos might be taken. \"Even, for instance, photos showing one's partner minus some clothes can be categorised as intimate shots, which should therefore be deleted.\" Consent for having the pictures taken does not have to be written - it can be verbal, the lawyer added. If someone maintains that their ex-partner was willing for the photos to be used after the end of the relationship, that consent would still have to be proven, according to the new ruling, Ms Weber argued.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1070, "answer_end": 2243, "text": "Recent cases of naked images being leaked online have sparked a debate about victims' rights, with some countries making so-called \"revenge porn\" a criminal offence. Commenting on the Federal Court ruling, German lawyer Katja Weber said two important points had to be established in such cases: - Which photos are to be defined as \"intimate\" - Whether the original consent for having the pictures taken was restricted to the duration of the relationship. She said \"intimate\" photos were not exclusively those taken before, during or after sex. However, \"that was the type of photo considered in this case\", she said. \"One can imagine plenty of situations where, during a relationship, compromising photos might be taken. \"Even, for instance, photos showing one's partner minus some clothes can be categorised as intimate shots, which should therefore be deleted.\" Consent for having the pictures taken does not have to be written - it can be verbal, the lawyer added. If someone maintains that their ex-partner was willing for the photos to be used after the end of the relationship, that consent would still have to be proven, according to the new ruling, Ms Weber argued."}], "question": "What counts as 'intimate'?", "id": "386_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Yulin dog meat festival begins in China amid widespread criticism", "date": "21 June 2016", "paragraphs": [{"context": "An annual dog meat festival has begun in southern China, amid widespread domestic and international opposition. About 10,000 dogs and cats are expected to be killed and eaten during the controversial 10-day festival in Yulin. Activists say the event is cruel, and this year a petition calling for it to be banned collected 11 million signatures. The local government says the festival does not have official backing but is staged by private businesses. The Lychee and Dog Meat Festival sees people gathering in Yulin to sample dog meat hotpot, lychee fruits and local liquor. A tradition of eating dog meat dates back some 500 years in China, South Korea and other countries, where many believe it wards off the heat in summer months. However the Yulin festival, celebrated during the summer solstice, is a relatively new one, beginning only in recent years. Residents and vendors in Yulin say the animals are killed in a humane way. But critics say animals are killed brutally and publicly, and are sometimes beaten to death or cooked while still alive. Ahead of the festival, dogs are often kept in small, cramped cages. Some photographs show animals wearing collars, suggesting they may have been stolen pets. Many dogs are transported from other cities in cramped lorries and unsanitary conditions, allowing diseases to spread easily. According to campaign group  Stop Yulin Forever, dogs are denied food and water for days during their trip. Selling dog meat for human consumption is legal in China, with an estimated 10 million dogs killed for human consumption every year. The Yulin event is a source of pride for many locals, with many restaurants serving dog dishes and people travelling to the city to join in. But it attracts widespread and growing criticism each year. A poll published this week in state news agency Xinhua showed that 64% of people aged 16 to 50 would support a permanent end to the festival. Another 51.7%, including Yulin residents, wanted the dog meat trade banned completely, with 69.5% claiming to have never eaten dog meat. \"It's embarrassing to us that the world wrongly believes that the brutally cruel Yulin festival is part of Chinese culture,\" said Qin Xiaona, director of the Capital Animal Welfare Association charity, one of many groups that commissioned the survey. \"It isn't.\" Many activist groups, like Humane Society International (HSI) are also working to rescue dogs from local slaughterhouses. The HSI rescued 20 dogs from a slaughterhouse just a day ahead of the festival. \"It's shocking to think that if we had not been there, all these animals would have been beaten to death and eaten,\" said Peter Li, HSI's China policy specialist. On China's Sina Weibo social network, the majority of netizens have voiced disapproval, with one user saying his dog was \"family, not food\". However, another Weibo user said it was hypocritical to say that eating other forms of meat such as pork was alright, yet shun dog meat just because dogs \"were cute\". The Yulin government has distanced itself from the gathering, saying that it does not officially organise the festival. This year, media reports say officials have banned the slaughter of dogs in public. In anticipation of protests, they have also increased security on streets near well-known restaurants and markets. HSI says it believes that business is slowing down. \"A Yulin official told us that contrary to what has been reported in some media, dog meat sales have in fact been declining continuously,\" said Mr Li. \"The authorities seem nervous and are alerting government employees to stay away from the dog meat restaurants.\" Andrea Gung, founder of the Duo Duo project which aims to end the dog and cat meat trade, says the local government is aware of the problem, but no one wants to \"stick their neck out\" to stop it. However, one dog meat seller said that the opposition to the festival had actually backfired. \"Because of the protests, more people know that Yulin has a dog meat festival, so everyone comes and tries it,\" Lin told AFP.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 453, "answer_end": 858, "text": "The Lychee and Dog Meat Festival sees people gathering in Yulin to sample dog meat hotpot, lychee fruits and local liquor. A tradition of eating dog meat dates back some 500 years in China, South Korea and other countries, where many believe it wards off the heat in summer months. However the Yulin festival, celebrated during the summer solstice, is a relatively new one, beginning only in recent years."}], "question": "What is the festival about?", "id": "387_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 859, "answer_end": 1446, "text": "Residents and vendors in Yulin say the animals are killed in a humane way. But critics say animals are killed brutally and publicly, and are sometimes beaten to death or cooked while still alive. Ahead of the festival, dogs are often kept in small, cramped cages. Some photographs show animals wearing collars, suggesting they may have been stolen pets. Many dogs are transported from other cities in cramped lorries and unsanitary conditions, allowing diseases to spread easily. According to campaign group  Stop Yulin Forever, dogs are denied food and water for days during their trip."}], "question": "What happens to the animals?", "id": "387_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1447, "answer_end": 2995, "text": "Selling dog meat for human consumption is legal in China, with an estimated 10 million dogs killed for human consumption every year. The Yulin event is a source of pride for many locals, with many restaurants serving dog dishes and people travelling to the city to join in. But it attracts widespread and growing criticism each year. A poll published this week in state news agency Xinhua showed that 64% of people aged 16 to 50 would support a permanent end to the festival. Another 51.7%, including Yulin residents, wanted the dog meat trade banned completely, with 69.5% claiming to have never eaten dog meat. \"It's embarrassing to us that the world wrongly believes that the brutally cruel Yulin festival is part of Chinese culture,\" said Qin Xiaona, director of the Capital Animal Welfare Association charity, one of many groups that commissioned the survey. \"It isn't.\" Many activist groups, like Humane Society International (HSI) are also working to rescue dogs from local slaughterhouses. The HSI rescued 20 dogs from a slaughterhouse just a day ahead of the festival. \"It's shocking to think that if we had not been there, all these animals would have been beaten to death and eaten,\" said Peter Li, HSI's China policy specialist. On China's Sina Weibo social network, the majority of netizens have voiced disapproval, with one user saying his dog was \"family, not food\". However, another Weibo user said it was hypocritical to say that eating other forms of meat such as pork was alright, yet shun dog meat just because dogs \"were cute\"."}], "question": "Does the festival have popular support?", "id": "387_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2996, "answer_end": 4046, "text": "The Yulin government has distanced itself from the gathering, saying that it does not officially organise the festival. This year, media reports say officials have banned the slaughter of dogs in public. In anticipation of protests, they have also increased security on streets near well-known restaurants and markets. HSI says it believes that business is slowing down. \"A Yulin official told us that contrary to what has been reported in some media, dog meat sales have in fact been declining continuously,\" said Mr Li. \"The authorities seem nervous and are alerting government employees to stay away from the dog meat restaurants.\" Andrea Gung, founder of the Duo Duo project which aims to end the dog and cat meat trade, says the local government is aware of the problem, but no one wants to \"stick their neck out\" to stop it. However, one dog meat seller said that the opposition to the festival had actually backfired. \"Because of the protests, more people know that Yulin has a dog meat festival, so everyone comes and tries it,\" Lin told AFP."}], "question": "Have the protests had any impact?", "id": "387_3"}]}]}, {"title": "Teenage campaigner challenges 100-calorie snack advert", "date": "1 February 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "\"The 100-calorie snack benchmark assumes that all children's needs are the same,\" says Tallulah Self, 18, who has a history of anorexia nervosa. \"It's like saying all cars need the same fuel - and the same amount.\" Tallulah is critical of a campaign launched by Public Health England (PHE) in the new year, urging parents to limit children's snacks to 100 calories - and to let them have only two a day. The campaign is aimed at tackling the growing problem of childhood obesity. But for Tallulah - who spent six months in hospital in 2016 with anorexia - the Change4Life \"Look for 100 calorie snacks\" adverts touched a raw nerve. \"As someone with experience of an eating disorder, I was angered by the misleading and potentially harmful message, promoting restriction and calorie-counting. \"I messaged a couple of my friends saying, 'Would it be crazy to make a video about this?' and I gave myself four days to make a film.\" Tallulah, who has a BTec in media production, recently got a job in London as a film-maker, having decided not to apply to university currently because of her illness. She decided to use her skills to make a YouTube video, compiling the views of young people who have had eating disorders, parents and bloggers and vloggers. The contributors express their concern that the Change4Life campaign could be seen to promote a mindset of dieting and calorie-counting. Tallulah adds: \"The diet culture is unavoidable in the media, but this campaign seems to reflect this diet culture and almost puts it on to the future generation, which I don't think is what we should be teaching them or reinforcing in society.\" \"Of course obesity is an issue,\" says Tallulah. \"I totally support what Change4Life are doing, I just think they're going about it in a potentially harmful and misleading way. \"Obesity is an issue and needs addressing, but so are eating disorders. \"Yes, maybe a higher proportion of kids have obesity rather than eating disorders, but in terms of what we're teaching children it shouldn't be focused on calorie-counting. \"Teaching them that that's normal is not healthy or sustainable and to those pre-disposed to or with eating disorders, of course it's harmful.\" PHE figures show that 34% of children aged 10 and 11 in England are overweight and obese, while 1.3% are underweight. Almost two-thirds of adults (61%) are overweight or obese and 2% are underweight. PHE hopes its campaign will empower parents to make healthier snacking choices for their children, as childhood obesity continues to be a problem. Dr Alison Tedstone, chief nutritionist at PHE, says: \"There's no doubt people coping with the difficulty of an eating disorder require additional support. \"But with more than a third of children leaving primary school overweight or obese, Change4Life was developed to help tackle the childhood obesity crisis gripping our nation. \"This particular campaign responds directly to parents' concerns about unhealthy snacks and provides tips to help them choose healthier options.\" Tallulah hopes her video will make policymakers think twice about the messages they send out. \"I hope the film creates an impact - ultimately reaching PHE,\" she says. \"Hopefully they will reconsider the campaign and future campaigns, in the messages they are sending out, how they can be misinterpreted or harmful and how they can affect wider audiences.\" She also hopes that by speaking out about her own struggle, she can help others talk about mental health issues. \"I hope that I can turn my personal battle into something positive by inspiring others, showing them they aren't alone and also using film and my creativity to challenge stigmas and create conversation. \"As daunting as it is speaking out so publicly - when I've held it very close to me and privately for so long - I hope to show others that it's OK to talk and encourage others to speak out too, as we shouldn't be embarrassed or ashamed by mental health issues.\"", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1635, "answer_end": 2199, "text": "\"Of course obesity is an issue,\" says Tallulah. \"I totally support what Change4Life are doing, I just think they're going about it in a potentially harmful and misleading way. \"Obesity is an issue and needs addressing, but so are eating disorders. \"Yes, maybe a higher proportion of kids have obesity rather than eating disorders, but in terms of what we're teaching children it shouldn't be focused on calorie-counting. \"Teaching them that that's normal is not healthy or sustainable and to those pre-disposed to or with eating disorders, of course it's harmful.\""}], "question": "Change4Life is only trying to tackle childhood obesity, so why is Tallulah critical?", "id": "388_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2200, "answer_end": 3022, "text": "PHE figures show that 34% of children aged 10 and 11 in England are overweight and obese, while 1.3% are underweight. Almost two-thirds of adults (61%) are overweight or obese and 2% are underweight. PHE hopes its campaign will empower parents to make healthier snacking choices for their children, as childhood obesity continues to be a problem. Dr Alison Tedstone, chief nutritionist at PHE, says: \"There's no doubt people coping with the difficulty of an eating disorder require additional support. \"But with more than a third of children leaving primary school overweight or obese, Change4Life was developed to help tackle the childhood obesity crisis gripping our nation. \"This particular campaign responds directly to parents' concerns about unhealthy snacks and provides tips to help them choose healthier options.\""}], "question": "What does the Change4Life campaign say in response?", "id": "388_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3023, "answer_end": 3956, "text": "Tallulah hopes her video will make policymakers think twice about the messages they send out. \"I hope the film creates an impact - ultimately reaching PHE,\" she says. \"Hopefully they will reconsider the campaign and future campaigns, in the messages they are sending out, how they can be misinterpreted or harmful and how they can affect wider audiences.\" She also hopes that by speaking out about her own struggle, she can help others talk about mental health issues. \"I hope that I can turn my personal battle into something positive by inspiring others, showing them they aren't alone and also using film and my creativity to challenge stigmas and create conversation. \"As daunting as it is speaking out so publicly - when I've held it very close to me and privately for so long - I hope to show others that it's OK to talk and encourage others to speak out too, as we shouldn't be embarrassed or ashamed by mental health issues.\""}], "question": "Where does Tallulah hope to go from here?", "id": "388_2"}]}]}, {"title": "Edward Gallagher: The story behind Trump, Fox News and the Navy Seal", "date": "25 November 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "The US navy secretary has been forced out after clashing with the White House over the case of a US Navy Seal who was prosecuted for war crimes. The dispute has turned into a high-stakes and confusing drama. Here is a guide to how we got here. Mr Spencer, the US navy's highest-level civilian leader, was forced to resign on Sunday. But the three key players in the drama, the president, the US defense secretary and Mr Spencer himself have different versions of events. President Trump said Mr Spencer was sacked in part because of the way he handled the case of Chief Petty Officer Edward Gallagher, a man who was accused of killing a young, wounded Islamic State militant who was taken prisoner. Gallagher was acquitted of the boy's killing but was found guilty of posing with his dead body in photos. As a result, Gallagher was demoted. Mr Trump reversed the decision, however, restoring his position in the elite Navy Seal unit. Mr Trump also said that poor management was behind the secretary's resignation: \"I was not pleased with the way that Navy Seal Eddie Gallagher's trial was handled by the Navy.\" Speaking to reporters on Monday, the president defended his decision to get involved, saying: \"I have to protect our war fighters.\" Meanwhile the US defense secretary, Mark Esper, said he had been \"deeply troubled\" by Mr Spencer's handling of the case because he had broken his chain of command and sent out conflicting messages about the Navy Seal's fate. Mr Spencer said publicly that Gallagher should face a disciplinary hearing, but Mr Esper alleges that he was in fact negotiating in secret with White House officials to ensure the Navy Seal would be able to stay in his unit. And what did the man himself say? Mr Spencer saw the situation differently - he wrote in a resignation letter that he left his position because he felt that he and the president \"no longer share the same understanding\" about \"good order and discipline\". He told CBS News on Monday that the president's actions would send a dangerous message to the troops - \"that you can get away with things\". The full truth about why Mr Spencer left the White House may not be known for some time - if ever. But there is no mystery about the underlying reason - the Gallagher case had become highly politicised, with the president rallying behind him. Mr Spencer was caught in the middle and soon out of a job. Mr Trump stirred up controversy earlier this month by publicly defending Chief Petty Officer Gallagher and two other service members who were implicated in war crimes. Some saw the president's intervention in these cases as an abuse of power, while others applauded his actions because they believed that the military men had been wrongly accused. Regardless of how one saw the individual cases, the story of the president and the navy has reverberated for those in the military and beyond. The president said that Chief Petty Officer Gallagher should not be demoted. Yet Navy officials nevertheless planned for a disciplinary proceeding that would remove him from the elite unit and take away his Trident pin, a gold-coloured insignia that shows he is a member of the unit. The hearing and Chief Petty Officer Gallagher's membership in the elite unit was at the heart of the dispute among the president and other high-powered men in Washington. On Monday, the US defense secretary, Mark Esper, told reporters that the president had issued an ordered that ensured that Chief Petty Officer Gallagher would be able to keep his Trident pin. Absolutely. As commander-in-chief, Mr Trump has the legal authority to weigh in on all military matters. Many welcomed it. David Gurfein, a retired lieutenant colonel who served in the US Marine Corps and is now chief executive officer of United American Patriots, an advocacy organisation that assists military personnel who are charged with war crimes, says he has been pleased with the president's role in the story. He and many members of the military believe Gallagher and others have been wrongly accused of war crimes and that an atmosphere of \"political correctness\" has led to overzealous prosecutions of military personnel for their actions on the battlefield. \"The president's actions are now setting the tone,\" says Mr Gurfein. Others see the president's actions in a different way. A retired military judge, Gary Solis, who served as an officer in Vietnam, acknowledges the president has the right to intervene but that doesn't mean he should, because this will make it harder for military lawyers, investigators and others to pursue war-crimes cases. \"Men and women who witness war crimes are going to be less likely to report them now - it's going to undermine the position of commanders who refer these cases to the court.\" Conservatives and Fox News commentators took up the case after Gallagher was arrested last year, saying he was being maligned by the liberal media and persecuted by the military justice system. Pete Hegseth, an advocate for veterans and a regular on Fox News, pressed the president to help and Gallagher's family also acted as his defenders. Andrea Gallagher made her view clear to me as I covered the trial in San Diego - her husband was innocent. During one of his Fox News appearances, Gallagher's brother Sean denounced what he described as \"false accusations\" that were made against his brother. One of Gallagher's lawyers also had ties to the president as a lawyer for the Trump Organization. The commander of the Navy Seals, Rear Admiral Collin Green, ordered a review of the unit earlier this year in order to examine possible wrongdoing within its ranks as well as to improve morale among the members and boost the unit's reputation. Some say these efforts at reform will be hampered by the president's intervention in the Gallagher case. Mr Solis is unequivocal in his belief. \"The actions of the president have undermined military justice.\"", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 244, "answer_end": 2388, "text": "Mr Spencer, the US navy's highest-level civilian leader, was forced to resign on Sunday. But the three key players in the drama, the president, the US defense secretary and Mr Spencer himself have different versions of events. President Trump said Mr Spencer was sacked in part because of the way he handled the case of Chief Petty Officer Edward Gallagher, a man who was accused of killing a young, wounded Islamic State militant who was taken prisoner. Gallagher was acquitted of the boy's killing but was found guilty of posing with his dead body in photos. As a result, Gallagher was demoted. Mr Trump reversed the decision, however, restoring his position in the elite Navy Seal unit. Mr Trump also said that poor management was behind the secretary's resignation: \"I was not pleased with the way that Navy Seal Eddie Gallagher's trial was handled by the Navy.\" Speaking to reporters on Monday, the president defended his decision to get involved, saying: \"I have to protect our war fighters.\" Meanwhile the US defense secretary, Mark Esper, said he had been \"deeply troubled\" by Mr Spencer's handling of the case because he had broken his chain of command and sent out conflicting messages about the Navy Seal's fate. Mr Spencer said publicly that Gallagher should face a disciplinary hearing, but Mr Esper alleges that he was in fact negotiating in secret with White House officials to ensure the Navy Seal would be able to stay in his unit. And what did the man himself say? Mr Spencer saw the situation differently - he wrote in a resignation letter that he left his position because he felt that he and the president \"no longer share the same understanding\" about \"good order and discipline\". He told CBS News on Monday that the president's actions would send a dangerous message to the troops - \"that you can get away with things\". The full truth about why Mr Spencer left the White House may not be known for some time - if ever. But there is no mystery about the underlying reason - the Gallagher case had become highly politicised, with the president rallying behind him. Mr Spencer was caught in the middle and soon out of a job."}], "question": "What just happened?", "id": "389_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2389, "answer_end": 3526, "text": "Mr Trump stirred up controversy earlier this month by publicly defending Chief Petty Officer Gallagher and two other service members who were implicated in war crimes. Some saw the president's intervention in these cases as an abuse of power, while others applauded his actions because they believed that the military men had been wrongly accused. Regardless of how one saw the individual cases, the story of the president and the navy has reverberated for those in the military and beyond. The president said that Chief Petty Officer Gallagher should not be demoted. Yet Navy officials nevertheless planned for a disciplinary proceeding that would remove him from the elite unit and take away his Trident pin, a gold-coloured insignia that shows he is a member of the unit. The hearing and Chief Petty Officer Gallagher's membership in the elite unit was at the heart of the dispute among the president and other high-powered men in Washington. On Monday, the US defense secretary, Mark Esper, told reporters that the president had issued an ordered that ensured that Chief Petty Officer Gallagher would be able to keep his Trident pin."}], "question": "What's the back story?", "id": "389_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3527, "answer_end": 4766, "text": "Absolutely. As commander-in-chief, Mr Trump has the legal authority to weigh in on all military matters. Many welcomed it. David Gurfein, a retired lieutenant colonel who served in the US Marine Corps and is now chief executive officer of United American Patriots, an advocacy organisation that assists military personnel who are charged with war crimes, says he has been pleased with the president's role in the story. He and many members of the military believe Gallagher and others have been wrongly accused of war crimes and that an atmosphere of \"political correctness\" has led to overzealous prosecutions of military personnel for their actions on the battlefield. \"The president's actions are now setting the tone,\" says Mr Gurfein. Others see the president's actions in a different way. A retired military judge, Gary Solis, who served as an officer in Vietnam, acknowledges the president has the right to intervene but that doesn't mean he should, because this will make it harder for military lawyers, investigators and others to pursue war-crimes cases. \"Men and women who witness war crimes are going to be less likely to report them now - it's going to undermine the position of commanders who refer these cases to the court.\""}], "question": "Can the president intervene like this?", "id": "389_2"}]}]}, {"title": "Trump impeachment: Democrats unveil resolution for next steps", "date": "30 October 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Democrats in the US House of Representatives have published a resolution setting out the next steps in their impeachment efforts against President Donald Trump. The motion sets out a more public phase of the inquiry and hands the lead role in hearings to the chairman of the intelligence committee, Adam Schiff. The House, controlled by the Democrats, will vote on the measure on Thursday. A White House spokeswoman said the resolution was an \"illegitimate sham\". So far, hearings have been held behind closed doors. This vote to make the impeachment process public is about the procedure, and not a ballot on whether or not to impeach the president. Republicans have criticised Democrats for the closed hearings up to this point, in which Republican lawmakers have also taken part. But Democrats insist they were needed to gather evidence ahead of the public stage of the inquiry, and deny allegations they have been secretive. President Trump is accused of trying to pressure Ukraine into investigating unsubstantiated corruption claims against his political rival, Joe Biden, and his son who worked with Ukrainian gas company Burisma. Mr Trump denies wrongdoing and calls the impeachment inquiry a \"witch hunt\". On Tuesday, the impeachment inquiry heard from Lt Col Alexander Vindman, a White House official who had monitored a phone call on 25 July between Mr Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. That call sparked a whistleblower complaint and led to the impeachment probe. Col Vindman said he was \"concerned\" by the call as he \"did not think it was proper to demand that a foreign government investigate a US citizen\". Some details of the call were omitted from the official transcript, despite his attempts to have them included, Col Vindman added, according to US media citing sources. The eight-page document sets out a two-stage process for the next phase of the inquiry. In the first, the House Intelligence Committee will continue its investigations and hold public hearings. It will have the right to make public transcripts of depositions taken in private. In the second phase, a public report on the findings will be sent to the House Judiciary Committee which will conduct its own proceedings and report on \"such resolutions, articles of impeachment, or other recommendations as it deems proper\". President Trump's lawyers will be allowed to take part in the Judiciary Committee stage. Republicans on the committees will be able to subpoena documents or witnesses - although they could still be blocked as both committees are Democrat-controlled. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has said a House vote on the resolution would take place on Thursday. She has previously said such a vote is not required under the US Constitution. \"The resolution put forward by Speaker Pelosi confirms that House Democrats' impeachment has been an illegitimate sham from the start as it lacked any proper authorisation by a House vote,\" said White House spokeswoman Stephanie Grisham. House Republican leader Kevin McCarthy, speaking before the resolution was unveiled, said the entire process was a \"sham.\" Referring to the closed-door meetings and depositions he said: \"You can't put the genie back in the bottle. Due process starts at the beginning.\" In an opening statement released ahead of Tuesday's closed-door testimony, Col Vindman said his worries began at a 10 July meeting between US and Ukrainian national security officials. The meeting was cut short by then-National Security Adviser John Bolton when talk arose of Ukraine opening investigations for the White House, Col Vindman said. US ambassador Gordon Sondland had brought up \"Ukraine delivering specific investigations in order to secure [a] meeting with the president\", which alarmed Mr Bolton and Col Vindman. At a debriefing afterwards, Col Vindman said the ambassador had again \"emphasised the importance that Ukraine deliver the investigations into the 2016 election, the Bidens and Burisma\". \"I stated to Ambassador Sondland that his statements were inappropriate, that the request to investigate Biden and his son had nothing to do with national security.\" Following this incident, Col Vindman reported his concerns to the National Security Council's lead counsel. He reported his objections again after the 25 July call. Col Vindman said he attempted to edit a White House transcript of the call to include some missing details, US media cite sources as saying. While some amendments were accepted, other omissions remained, including a reference to Burisma by Mr Zelensky, and Mr Trump alleging there were recordings of Mr Biden discussing corruption in Ukraine, the New York Times and Washington Post report. President Trump has previously described the transcript as \"exact\". As the testimony was due to begin, Mr Trump suggested Col Vindman was a \"Never Trumper witness\" in a tweet. Other conservatives have also attacked Col Vindman's credibility because he was born in Ukraine - though some have since defended the veteran officer. Republican congresswoman Liz Cheney denounced these gibes as \"shameful\", while Senator Mitt Romney called the criticism \"absurd\" and \"disgusting\". \"This is a decorated American soldier and he should be given the respect that his service to our country demands,\" he said. But many other Republicans stood by Mr Trump. House Minority leader Kevin McCarthy said Col Vindman was \"wrong\". \"Nothing in that phone call is impeachable,\" he said. Impeachment is the first part - the charges - of a two-stage political process by which Congress can remove a president from office. If the House of Representatives votes to pass articles of impeachment, the Senate is forced to hold a trial. A Senate vote requires a two-thirds majority to convict - unlikely in this case, given that Mr Trump's party controls the chamber. Only two US presidents in history - Bill Clinton and Andrew Johnson - have been impeached, but neither was convicted and removed. President Richard Nixon resigned before he could be impeached.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1807, "answer_end": 2751, "text": "The eight-page document sets out a two-stage process for the next phase of the inquiry. In the first, the House Intelligence Committee will continue its investigations and hold public hearings. It will have the right to make public transcripts of depositions taken in private. In the second phase, a public report on the findings will be sent to the House Judiciary Committee which will conduct its own proceedings and report on \"such resolutions, articles of impeachment, or other recommendations as it deems proper\". President Trump's lawyers will be allowed to take part in the Judiciary Committee stage. Republicans on the committees will be able to subpoena documents or witnesses - although they could still be blocked as both committees are Democrat-controlled. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has said a House vote on the resolution would take place on Thursday. She has previously said such a vote is not required under the US Constitution."}], "question": "What does the resolution say?", "id": "390_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2752, "answer_end": 3258, "text": "\"The resolution put forward by Speaker Pelosi confirms that House Democrats' impeachment has been an illegitimate sham from the start as it lacked any proper authorisation by a House vote,\" said White House spokeswoman Stephanie Grisham. House Republican leader Kevin McCarthy, speaking before the resolution was unveiled, said the entire process was a \"sham.\" Referring to the closed-door meetings and depositions he said: \"You can't put the genie back in the bottle. Due process starts at the beginning.\""}], "question": "What do Mr Trump's supporters say?", "id": "390_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3259, "answer_end": 4761, "text": "In an opening statement released ahead of Tuesday's closed-door testimony, Col Vindman said his worries began at a 10 July meeting between US and Ukrainian national security officials. The meeting was cut short by then-National Security Adviser John Bolton when talk arose of Ukraine opening investigations for the White House, Col Vindman said. US ambassador Gordon Sondland had brought up \"Ukraine delivering specific investigations in order to secure [a] meeting with the president\", which alarmed Mr Bolton and Col Vindman. At a debriefing afterwards, Col Vindman said the ambassador had again \"emphasised the importance that Ukraine deliver the investigations into the 2016 election, the Bidens and Burisma\". \"I stated to Ambassador Sondland that his statements were inappropriate, that the request to investigate Biden and his son had nothing to do with national security.\" Following this incident, Col Vindman reported his concerns to the National Security Council's lead counsel. He reported his objections again after the 25 July call. Col Vindman said he attempted to edit a White House transcript of the call to include some missing details, US media cite sources as saying. While some amendments were accepted, other omissions remained, including a reference to Burisma by Mr Zelensky, and Mr Trump alleging there were recordings of Mr Biden discussing corruption in Ukraine, the New York Times and Washington Post report. President Trump has previously described the transcript as \"exact\"."}], "question": "What did Col Vindman say?", "id": "390_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 4762, "answer_end": 5458, "text": "As the testimony was due to begin, Mr Trump suggested Col Vindman was a \"Never Trumper witness\" in a tweet. Other conservatives have also attacked Col Vindman's credibility because he was born in Ukraine - though some have since defended the veteran officer. Republican congresswoman Liz Cheney denounced these gibes as \"shameful\", while Senator Mitt Romney called the criticism \"absurd\" and \"disgusting\". \"This is a decorated American soldier and he should be given the respect that his service to our country demands,\" he said. But many other Republicans stood by Mr Trump. House Minority leader Kevin McCarthy said Col Vindman was \"wrong\". \"Nothing in that phone call is impeachable,\" he said."}], "question": "What was the reaction?", "id": "390_3"}]}]}, {"title": "Macron aide: French MPs grill minister in beating row", "date": "23 July 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "France's interior minister has been grilled by MPs over his handling of a policing scandal in which a presidential security aide was filmed assaulting a demonstrator on 1 May. Gerard Collomb said he learned of the video on 2 May and did not report it to prosecutors because it was a matter for President Emmanuel Macron's staff. Mr Macron fired the aide, Alexandre Benalla, on Friday, but MPs want to know why he did not act sooner. Mr Benalla, 26, faces several charges. He is accused of assault with an accomplice, interfering in police work, impersonating a police officer and illegally receiving surveillance footage. On Monday Mr Benalla, who was Mr Macron's top bodyguard during last year's election campaign, defended his actions, claiming that he was \"lending a hand\" to the riot officers at the scene after he was \"invited to observe\" their operations. He added that he believed his behaviour was being exploited for \"media and political ends\", his lawyers said. Vincent Crase, a security agent for Mr Macron's La Republique en Marche (Republic on the Move) party, has also been charged. Three police officers were charged and questioned on Saturday for allegedly passing surveillance footage to Mr Benalla to try to prove his innocence. Mr Collomb told MPs: \"I condemn in the strongest possible terms the actions of Mr Benalla.\" He said his staff had informed Mr Macron's administration about the incident and \"it was up to them to respond\". \"I did not pursue this matter any further.\" Besides the MPs' inquiry, the police disciplinary body, IGPN, is also investigating the assault. The BBC's Hugh Schofield in Paris writes: There is no private militia at the Elysee Palace. People can sense that the real culprit is Alexandre Benalla himself, who for a self-declared security officer showed himself disgracefully lacking in self-control. But it is also true that President Macron will not emerge unscathed. His silence has come across as a sort of majestic insouciance, which irritates. Read Hugh's analysis in full here. The French presidency has been accused of trying to cover up the assault and failing to act swiftly against Mr Benalla. Mr Macron is already under scrutiny over what some see as an elitist presidential style: there have been controversies over his expensive new dinner service and plans for a private swimming pool. Public outrage has been stoked by additional footage that appears to show several police officers watching the Benalla incident without intervening. The video shows Mr Benalla dragging away a woman and then beating a man during May Day protests in Paris. Read related stories on this topic: Mr Macron has ordered a staff shake-up. Under growing pressure, he met several ministers on Sunday to discuss the row. An official said Mr Macron had described the incident as \"unacceptable\" and promised there would be \"no impunity\". But Mr Macron has not yet spoken publicly about it. Senior presidential official Alexis Kohler is to look into reorganising Mr Macron's private office so as to prevent a repeat of the incident, officials say. The video was posted on social media in May, but the case only became a political scandal after Le Monde newspaper revealed on 18 July that the attacker was Mr Benalla. He was hired as an aide to the president's chief of staff after last year's election. He was then given an apartment in an upmarket Paris district and a chauffeur-driven car, French media say. He also had the highest security clearance to parliament. In May, a few days after the incident, he was suspended for two weeks but nothing was reported to prosecutors. The incident took place in a popular tourist spot in Paris' Latin Quarter, where about 100 people had gathered during demonstrations against Mr Macron's public sector labour reforms - in particular the cutting of public sector workers and the introduction of merit-based pay. Police later said that about 1,200 masked and hooded individuals attended the 1 May demonstration by labour unions before clashes erupted with officers policing the event. In the original video of the assault, footage shows a man wearing a police helmet, but no uniform, joining CRS riot police as they tried to control the crowds. He grabs a woman by the neck, dragging her down the street, before both disappear off camera. Shortly afterwards he returns to the scene, attacking a male protester who had been carried a short distance by police before being left alone on the ground. The man in the helmet can be seen grabbing the young protester around the neck, hitting him on the head and apparently stamping on his stomach when he falls to the ground.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 3083, "answer_end": 3613, "text": "The video was posted on social media in May, but the case only became a political scandal after Le Monde newspaper revealed on 18 July that the attacker was Mr Benalla. He was hired as an aide to the president's chief of staff after last year's election. He was then given an apartment in an upmarket Paris district and a chauffeur-driven car, French media say. He also had the highest security clearance to parliament. In May, a few days after the incident, he was suspended for two weeks but nothing was reported to prosecutors."}], "question": "How did we get here?", "id": "391_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3614, "answer_end": 4645, "text": "The incident took place in a popular tourist spot in Paris' Latin Quarter, where about 100 people had gathered during demonstrations against Mr Macron's public sector labour reforms - in particular the cutting of public sector workers and the introduction of merit-based pay. Police later said that about 1,200 masked and hooded individuals attended the 1 May demonstration by labour unions before clashes erupted with officers policing the event. In the original video of the assault, footage shows a man wearing a police helmet, but no uniform, joining CRS riot police as they tried to control the crowds. He grabs a woman by the neck, dragging her down the street, before both disappear off camera. Shortly afterwards he returns to the scene, attacking a male protester who had been carried a short distance by police before being left alone on the ground. The man in the helmet can be seen grabbing the young protester around the neck, hitting him on the head and apparently stamping on his stomach when he falls to the ground."}], "question": "What happened on May Day?", "id": "391_1"}]}]}, {"title": "West Virginia prison cadets fired over Nazi salute", "date": "31 December 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "At least 30 US prison cadets have been fired after a photo emerged showing them giving what appears to be a Nazi salute. The image shows the cadets at the West Virginia Division of Corrections and Rehabilitation making the gesture below a sign that reads \"Hail Byrd!\", referring to a class instructor. The state governor announced on Monday that the cadets would be fired. The picture was taken on their graduation day on 27 November. \"As I said from the beginning, I condemn the photo of Basic Training Class 18 in the strongest possible terms,\" Governor Jim Justice said in a statement. \"This kind of behaviour will not be tolerated on my watch in any agency of state government.\" In addition to those who appeared in the photo, two trainers and a cadet were dismissed earlier. It shows around 30 blurred faces and appears to have been recently shot for the state's \"Basic Training Class #18\". The photo does not include names of the employees and the location is not known. The class reportedly took place from 21 October to 27 November. The text referred to class leader Kassie Byrd, the state's Department of Military Affairs and Public Safety said. According to a report from the department, a member of staff expressed her concerns to Ms Byrd after receiving the photo. Ms Byrd responded by saying there was nothing wrong with the picture, the report said. She explained the caption by saying: \"They do that because I'm a hard-ass like Hitler.\" None of the names of those dismissed have been officially released.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 780, "answer_end": 1519, "text": "It shows around 30 blurred faces and appears to have been recently shot for the state's \"Basic Training Class #18\". The photo does not include names of the employees and the location is not known. The class reportedly took place from 21 October to 27 November. The text referred to class leader Kassie Byrd, the state's Department of Military Affairs and Public Safety said. According to a report from the department, a member of staff expressed her concerns to Ms Byrd after receiving the photo. Ms Byrd responded by saying there was nothing wrong with the picture, the report said. She explained the caption by saying: \"They do that because I'm a hard-ass like Hitler.\" None of the names of those dismissed have been officially released."}], "question": "What do we know about the photo?", "id": "392_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Why do Americans pay so much for prescription drugs?", "date": "21 July 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "President Donald Trump said that prescription drug prices dropped for the first time in half a century in the US last year. Since taking office, the president has made repeated attacks against those who set drug prices and has pledged to take radical steps to reduce them. Mr Trump appears to be referring to the Bureau of Labour Statistics Consumer Price Index (CPI), which measures the increase in the cost of household items in the US. In the year to May 2019, the average monthly cost of prescription drugs fell by 0.2%. This is the first price decrease over a 12-month period since 1973, some 47 years ago - so by this measure, his assertion is broadly correct. However, this is not the most reliable way to measure drug prices according to Inma Hernandez, a pharmacy lecturer at the University of Pittsburgh. \"The CPI is based on a basket of drugs which is representative of popular drugs. So it tends to include widely-used drugs, which are usually cheaper,\" she says. \"However, it is less likely to include newer or less-prescribed drugs, which are more expensive and have higher price increases.\" Additionally, this basket of goods is based on the price that pharmaceutical companies say they are going to charge for products, or \"list prices\". In the US, individuals are encouraged to get health insurance plans because very few people have access to free healthcare. These \"list prices\" are then negotiated down by insurers as an incentive to offer the drugs to patients. So, even if the list price goes down, it is not known whether the actual price paid by insurers has decreased with it. This affects patients because in the US, health plans contribute to some of the costs of the drugs they cover, although they will also have to make some out-of-pocket payments. In theory, if insurers are paying less for their drugs, these savings will trickle down to those on health plans and reduce these out-of-pocket or insurance payments. Given a general lack of transparency on drug price negotiations, it is very difficult to assess this aspect of medicine costs. Some companies, including Pfizer, Bayer and Allergen, publically committed to lowering or freezing costs last year. This was after a series of comments made by Mr Trump. \"He thinks because he has made a lot of noise, it has prevented drug prices from increasing. It is not clear whether that is the case or not,\" says Ms Hernandez. However, an Associated Press analysis of drug list prices found that for every drug which reduced in price in the first half of last year, 96 increased. The investigation did note that the increases \"were not quite as steep as in past years\". According to a report by the OECD group of industrialised nations, the USA spends roughly twice the average amount spent by other member countries on pharmaceuticals per head. For example, where the UK paid PS398 ($497) per head in 2015, the USA paid $1,162. This is despite having similar prescription drug usage. \"One reason the UK pays less is because the government will say no to new drugs which don't offer much better value,\" says Prof Michelle Mello, a health policy specialist at the Stanford Law School. \"We don't have a government that buys drugs in the US, except in a few cases,\" says Prof Mello. Instead, insurers use middlemen called pharmacy benefit managers - or PBMs - to negotiate prices on their behalf. Because they are generally larger than individual health insurers, they are seen to have more purchasing power. But the Trump administration has criticised them in the past for not passing on enough savings to consumers. In England and Wales, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence represents almost all patients, so the drug companies have to lower their prices to access the market. In Scotland, the Scottish Medicine Consortium performs the same role. The Trump administration is exploring a number of policies either through ad hoc announcements or through an initiative launched last year called American Patients First. These policies are generally aimed at decreasing prices for government health plans such as Medicare, the insurance policy used by almost 60 million elderly and disabled Americans. Policy recommendations have included: - Introducing a flat fee for PBMs so more savings are passed on to consumers - Encouraging foreign countries to pay more for US medicines - Increasing the approval and prescription of generics - copies of more expensive brand-name drugs where the patents have expired. One plan to force drug companies to reveal the cost of drugs in television adverts was recently blocked by a judge. \"The big blueprint the White House put out had a fleet of policy ideas which were evidence-based. However, not many of them have crept in,\" says Prof Mello, citing the difficulty in passing legislation in a divided and clogged Congress. Read more from Reality Check Send us your questions Follow us on Twitter", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 2648, "answer_end": 3841, "text": "According to a report by the OECD group of industrialised nations, the USA spends roughly twice the average amount spent by other member countries on pharmaceuticals per head. For example, where the UK paid PS398 ($497) per head in 2015, the USA paid $1,162. This is despite having similar prescription drug usage. \"One reason the UK pays less is because the government will say no to new drugs which don't offer much better value,\" says Prof Michelle Mello, a health policy specialist at the Stanford Law School. \"We don't have a government that buys drugs in the US, except in a few cases,\" says Prof Mello. Instead, insurers use middlemen called pharmacy benefit managers - or PBMs - to negotiate prices on their behalf. Because they are generally larger than individual health insurers, they are seen to have more purchasing power. But the Trump administration has criticised them in the past for not passing on enough savings to consumers. In England and Wales, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence represents almost all patients, so the drug companies have to lower their prices to access the market. In Scotland, the Scottish Medicine Consortium performs the same role."}], "question": "Why are drugs expensive in the US?", "id": "393_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3842, "answer_end": 4853, "text": "The Trump administration is exploring a number of policies either through ad hoc announcements or through an initiative launched last year called American Patients First. These policies are generally aimed at decreasing prices for government health plans such as Medicare, the insurance policy used by almost 60 million elderly and disabled Americans. Policy recommendations have included: - Introducing a flat fee for PBMs so more savings are passed on to consumers - Encouraging foreign countries to pay more for US medicines - Increasing the approval and prescription of generics - copies of more expensive brand-name drugs where the patents have expired. One plan to force drug companies to reveal the cost of drugs in television adverts was recently blocked by a judge. \"The big blueprint the White House put out had a fleet of policy ideas which were evidence-based. However, not many of them have crept in,\" says Prof Mello, citing the difficulty in passing legislation in a divided and clogged Congress."}], "question": "What is Mr Trump doing about it?", "id": "393_1"}]}]}, {"title": "Pakistan MQM founder Altaf Hussain arrested in UK", "date": "11 June 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Altaf Hussain, the self-exiled founder of one of Pakistan's biggest political parties, has been arrested in the UK, his spokesman has said. The Metropolitan Police would only confirm that a man in his 60s had been held in an investigation into speeches related to his MQM party. Mr Hussain, 65, requested asylum in the 1990s and later gained UK citizenship. Despite a split in the MQM, he still wields considerable influence in the party and its main power base, Karachi. Correspondents say Mr Hussain is a maverick politician who has encouraged a personality cult to build up around him. His spokesman Qasim Raza confirmed to the BBC Urdu service that he had been taken in for questioning. The Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) has dominated politics in Karachi for three decades because of its support in the densely populated working class neighbourhoods of Urdu-speaking Muhajirs, descendants of Muslims who migrated from India when Pakistan was created in 1947. From his self-imposed exile in London, Mr Hussain would address crowds of supporters of his MQM party in Pakistan via telephone. The Pakistani authorities have repeatedly demanded action be taken against him - but his supporters have always maintained his innocence. It does not name Mr Hussain, referring instead to \"an individual associated with the Muttahida Qaumi Movement in Pakistan\". He was arrested at an \"address in north-west London... on suspicion of intentionally encouraging or assisting offences contrary to Section 44 of the Serious Crime Act 2007\". The man remains in custody. Two premises are being searched, in an investigation led by the Met's Counter Terrorism Command. It focuses on \"a speech broadcast in August 2016 by an individual associated with the MQM movement in Pakistan as well as other speeches previously broadcast by the same person\". 1984: Founded as the party of Urdu-speakers who migrated from India at the time of the 1947 partition, known as Muhajirs 1988: Wins all seats in Karachi, becoming Pakistan's third largest party 1992: Altaf Hussain leaves the country after an arrest warrant is issued in a murder case; army claims to have busted \"torture cells\" used by MQM activists to punish opponents 2009: Under a 2009 amnesty in Pakistan 72 cases are dropped against Altaf Hussain, including 31 allegations of murder 2015: MQM wins local government election with a huge margin in Karachi 2016: The party splits into two: a faction led by Altaf Hussain - the MQM-L - in London, and one in Pakistan - the MQM-P - which is opposed to him. 2018: The MQM-L faction boycotts the general election, citing what it calls the military's oppression of Muhajirs. The MQM-P wins seven seats and becomes a member of Pakistan's governing coalition", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1231, "answer_end": 1832, "text": "It does not name Mr Hussain, referring instead to \"an individual associated with the Muttahida Qaumi Movement in Pakistan\". He was arrested at an \"address in north-west London... on suspicion of intentionally encouraging or assisting offences contrary to Section 44 of the Serious Crime Act 2007\". The man remains in custody. Two premises are being searched, in an investigation led by the Met's Counter Terrorism Command. It focuses on \"a speech broadcast in August 2016 by an individual associated with the MQM movement in Pakistan as well as other speeches previously broadcast by the same person\"."}], "question": "What does the Met statement say?", "id": "394_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Why Ukraine has become ensnared in US collusion claims", "date": "18 May 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "This was a story long thought dead and buried, but the allegation that Ukraine actively worked with US Democrats to damage Donald Trump's election chances in 2016 has been revived by the top prosecutor in Kiev. President Trump's personal lawyer, Rudy Giuliani, has repeatedly called on Ukraine to investigate claims of collusion in favour of Hillary Clinton and he has been in regular contact with the prosecutor general, Yuriy Lutsenko. Now Mr Lutsenko has breathed new life into the story, announcing a new investigation, and citing a court ruling that Ukrainians unlawfully interfered in the 2016 election. Mr Giuliani also wants Kiev to look into claims that former Vice-President and 2020 Democrat contender Joe Biden may have got Ukraine's then top prosecutor fired to help his son's business interests. The collusion narrative is based around the summer 2016 publication of a \"black ledger\" in Ukraine which showed off-the-book payments to Paul Manafort. Manafort, 69, was jailed by a US court in March for fraud, in part for his work as an adviser for a pro-Russian political party in Ukraine, before he became President Donald Trump's campaigner manager. It was the black ledger payment revelations that forced Manafort to resign from the Trump campaign. Those arguing that there was collusion, among them Mr Giuliani, allege that the ledger might be fake and that it was maliciously leaked after contacts between Mr Trump's Democrat opponents and Ukrainian diplomats. Ukraine's prosecutor general gave Mr Giuliani's claims a boost this week by announcing that he was investigating Ukrainian MP Sergiy Leshchenko, who has admitted to being behind the publication of some of the pages of the black ledger. The problem is that the parts of the ledger that mentioned Mr Manafort weren't leaked by Mr Leshchenko. They were published by an official Ukrainian state body. There's been no credible evidence that the ledger is fake, indeed many of the smaller payments on it have been tracked down and verified. The MP has hit back, accusing the prosecutor of making Ukraine a bargaining chip in US politics. The surprise ruling that Ukraine interfered in the 2016 US election came from Kiev's District Administrative Court. It is supposed to rule only on public matters but is infamous for controversial judgements. Ruling on alleged interference in a foreign election is far beyond the court's jurisdiction. \"It's nonsensical,\" says Mykhailo Zhernakov, a former lawyer and co-founder of judicial reform group Dejure. \"There is no such crime of foreign election interference in Ukraine and it's not a criminal court,\" Mr Zhernakov says. In recent months the court's judges have: - Reinstated the head of Ukraine's tax service in his job, despite him being on trial for corruption, which he denies - Suspended a reforming health minister - Ruled that the nationalisation of Privatbank because of a $5bn (PS3.9bn) hole in its books should be returned to its owners If interference isn't a crime in Ukraine, quite where that leaves Prosecutor Yuriy Lutsenko's subsequent \"new investigation\" is unclear. Mr Giuliani's questions about alleged Ukrainian collusion have become a useful counterpoint as Washington continues to debate and digest the Mueller report into the Trump campaign and Russia. He recently cancelled a planned trip to Ukraine, saying he had discovered that Ukraine's next president, Volodymyr Zelensky, was surrounded by \"enemies\" of Mr Trump. With Ukraine dependent on US support to stand up to Russian aggression, they were words that sent a shiver through many in Kiev. Mr Giuliani specifically named Mr Leshchenko - now an adviser to Mr Zelensky, who will be inaugurated as Ukraine's head of state on Monday. Prosecutor General Lutsenko, meanwhile, is an appointee of the outgoing president and few believe he will survive the change of administration. Not on the evidence so far. The Mueller report established that Russian state actors attempted to interfere and influence the US 2016 presidential election. It stated that individuals had violated US criminal law through its social media campaigns and the hacking of emails. The question then became whether any of the Trump team had coordinated with the Russians in these illegal activities. Mr Mueller's final verdict was that he could not prove they had. Nothing has been produced or even suggested of anything comparable involving Ukraine. The release of documents by a Ukrainian anti-corruption agency cannot reasonably be equated with a massive illegal email hack. This story has filled air-time and column inches on US conservative websites and TV channels - but has not yielded anything worthy of serious legal investigation. Joe Biden is currently the Democrat front-runner to take on Mr Trump in next year's presidential election. But in the final years of Barack Obama's presidency Ukraine was a key country for the Biden family. Mr Biden was the administration's point man as the country faced a Russian invasion and annexation - and the vice-president made numerous trips to Kiev. At the same time, Joe Biden's son Hunter was a well-paid director at one Ukraine's largest energy companies, Burisma. Burisma had been subject to several investigations and was founded and run by Mykola Zlochevsky, a minister in the deposed pro-Russian government of Viktor Yanukovych. Clearly the father-son-Ukraine links don't look great, but questions have been raised as to whether Hunter Biden's lucrative job in any way shaped the US's Ukraine policy. And, specifically, whether it played any role in the sacking of Ukraine's then prosecutor general Viktor Shokin in early 2016. It's the sort of foreign interference that Joe Biden has proudly claimed credit for. Last year he told the story of how he used a billion-dollar loan guarantee to force Mr Shokin out. \"I looked at them and said 'I'm leaving in six hours: if the prosecutor is not fired, you're not getting the money'. Well, son of a bitch. He got fired.\" At the time it was almost universally reported that Mr Shokin was removed because he was an obstacle to Ukraine's fight against corruption. The question now being asked by some is whether it was rather because he was investigating Hunter Biden's company Burisma. Based on the evidence currently in the public domain the answer is a pretty clear no. Mr Shokin himself has suggested that his investigations of Burisma were behind his sacking but the available facts do not back him up. The timeline of cases shows that most of the Burisma investigations were stalled before Mr Shokin became prosecutor general and that when in office he showed no appetite for pursuing them. \"There was no pressure from anyone from the US to close cases against [Burisma founder] Zlochevsky,\" Vitaly Kasko, Mr Shokin's deputy in the prosecutor's office at the time, told Bloomberg News. Comments from both the US and the EU before and at the time of Mr Shokin's sacking reflect that they saw him as an obstacle to change. With no credible evidence that Mr Shokin was really interested in investigating Burisma or that Joe Biden got him sacked for ulterior reasons, this story, like the collusion allegation, remains very much unproven. Indeed, amid widespread criticism of his conduct in Kiev, Mr Lutsenko this week clarified that he had no evidence of any wrongdoing by the Bidens. That's not saying we won't be hearing a lot more about them in the coming months.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 810, "answer_end": 2109, "text": "The collusion narrative is based around the summer 2016 publication of a \"black ledger\" in Ukraine which showed off-the-book payments to Paul Manafort. Manafort, 69, was jailed by a US court in March for fraud, in part for his work as an adviser for a pro-Russian political party in Ukraine, before he became President Donald Trump's campaigner manager. It was the black ledger payment revelations that forced Manafort to resign from the Trump campaign. Those arguing that there was collusion, among them Mr Giuliani, allege that the ledger might be fake and that it was maliciously leaked after contacts between Mr Trump's Democrat opponents and Ukrainian diplomats. Ukraine's prosecutor general gave Mr Giuliani's claims a boost this week by announcing that he was investigating Ukrainian MP Sergiy Leshchenko, who has admitted to being behind the publication of some of the pages of the black ledger. The problem is that the parts of the ledger that mentioned Mr Manafort weren't leaked by Mr Leshchenko. They were published by an official Ukrainian state body. There's been no credible evidence that the ledger is fake, indeed many of the smaller payments on it have been tracked down and verified. The MP has hit back, accusing the prosecutor of making Ukraine a bargaining chip in US politics."}], "question": "Was there collusion?", "id": "395_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2110, "answer_end": 3101, "text": "The surprise ruling that Ukraine interfered in the 2016 US election came from Kiev's District Administrative Court. It is supposed to rule only on public matters but is infamous for controversial judgements. Ruling on alleged interference in a foreign election is far beyond the court's jurisdiction. \"It's nonsensical,\" says Mykhailo Zhernakov, a former lawyer and co-founder of judicial reform group Dejure. \"There is no such crime of foreign election interference in Ukraine and it's not a criminal court,\" Mr Zhernakov says. In recent months the court's judges have: - Reinstated the head of Ukraine's tax service in his job, despite him being on trial for corruption, which he denies - Suspended a reforming health minister - Ruled that the nationalisation of Privatbank because of a $5bn (PS3.9bn) hole in its books should be returned to its owners If interference isn't a crime in Ukraine, quite where that leaves Prosecutor Yuriy Lutsenko's subsequent \"new investigation\" is unclear."}], "question": "Who says there was interference in the US?", "id": "395_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3102, "answer_end": 3872, "text": "Mr Giuliani's questions about alleged Ukrainian collusion have become a useful counterpoint as Washington continues to debate and digest the Mueller report into the Trump campaign and Russia. He recently cancelled a planned trip to Ukraine, saying he had discovered that Ukraine's next president, Volodymyr Zelensky, was surrounded by \"enemies\" of Mr Trump. With Ukraine dependent on US support to stand up to Russian aggression, they were words that sent a shiver through many in Kiev. Mr Giuliani specifically named Mr Leshchenko - now an adviser to Mr Zelensky, who will be inaugurated as Ukraine's head of state on Monday. Prosecutor General Lutsenko, meanwhile, is an appointee of the outgoing president and few believe he will survive the change of administration."}], "question": "Why is Rudy Giuliani involved?", "id": "395_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3873, "answer_end": 4706, "text": "Not on the evidence so far. The Mueller report established that Russian state actors attempted to interfere and influence the US 2016 presidential election. It stated that individuals had violated US criminal law through its social media campaigns and the hacking of emails. The question then became whether any of the Trump team had coordinated with the Russians in these illegal activities. Mr Mueller's final verdict was that he could not prove they had. Nothing has been produced or even suggested of anything comparable involving Ukraine. The release of documents by a Ukrainian anti-corruption agency cannot reasonably be equated with a massive illegal email hack. This story has filled air-time and column inches on US conservative websites and TV channels - but has not yielded anything worthy of serious legal investigation."}], "question": "Is this the Democrats' version of Trump/Russia?", "id": "395_3"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 4707, "answer_end": 6252, "text": "Joe Biden is currently the Democrat front-runner to take on Mr Trump in next year's presidential election. But in the final years of Barack Obama's presidency Ukraine was a key country for the Biden family. Mr Biden was the administration's point man as the country faced a Russian invasion and annexation - and the vice-president made numerous trips to Kiev. At the same time, Joe Biden's son Hunter was a well-paid director at one Ukraine's largest energy companies, Burisma. Burisma had been subject to several investigations and was founded and run by Mykola Zlochevsky, a minister in the deposed pro-Russian government of Viktor Yanukovych. Clearly the father-son-Ukraine links don't look great, but questions have been raised as to whether Hunter Biden's lucrative job in any way shaped the US's Ukraine policy. And, specifically, whether it played any role in the sacking of Ukraine's then prosecutor general Viktor Shokin in early 2016. It's the sort of foreign interference that Joe Biden has proudly claimed credit for. Last year he told the story of how he used a billion-dollar loan guarantee to force Mr Shokin out. \"I looked at them and said 'I'm leaving in six hours: if the prosecutor is not fired, you're not getting the money'. Well, son of a bitch. He got fired.\" At the time it was almost universally reported that Mr Shokin was removed because he was an obstacle to Ukraine's fight against corruption. The question now being asked by some is whether it was rather because he was investigating Hunter Biden's company Burisma."}], "question": "What are the allegations against Joe Biden?", "id": "395_4"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 6253, "answer_end": 7435, "text": "Based on the evidence currently in the public domain the answer is a pretty clear no. Mr Shokin himself has suggested that his investigations of Burisma were behind his sacking but the available facts do not back him up. The timeline of cases shows that most of the Burisma investigations were stalled before Mr Shokin became prosecutor general and that when in office he showed no appetite for pursuing them. \"There was no pressure from anyone from the US to close cases against [Burisma founder] Zlochevsky,\" Vitaly Kasko, Mr Shokin's deputy in the prosecutor's office at the time, told Bloomberg News. Comments from both the US and the EU before and at the time of Mr Shokin's sacking reflect that they saw him as an obstacle to change. With no credible evidence that Mr Shokin was really interested in investigating Burisma or that Joe Biden got him sacked for ulterior reasons, this story, like the collusion allegation, remains very much unproven. Indeed, amid widespread criticism of his conduct in Kiev, Mr Lutsenko this week clarified that he had no evidence of any wrongdoing by the Bidens. That's not saying we won't be hearing a lot more about them in the coming months."}], "question": "Did Ukraine's prosecutor get fired to help Biden's son?", "id": "395_5"}]}]}, {"title": "Coronavirus: No change in outbreak despite China spike, WHO says", "date": "14 February 2020", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Coronavirus cases are not rising dramatically outside China despite a spike in Hubei province, the World Health Organization (WHO) says. The only exception was on a cruise liner docked in Japan, where 44 new cases were reported, bringing the total there to 218. There was also no major shift in the coronavirus's pattern of mortality or severity, according to the WHO. The latest figures show 121 new deaths in China, bringing the total to 1,380. The total infections jumped by 5,090 to 63,851 cases on 13 February, the National Health Commission said on Friday. Health officials said six health workers were among those who had died, and that 1,716 health workers had been infected. The fatalities include Li Wenliang, a doctor who tried to alert authorities to the virus early on but was accused by police of \"spreading rumours. His death on 7 February provoked a burst of public anger and grief. The latest figures from Hubei recorded 116 deaths and 4,823 new cases. That is a smaller increase than the previous day when there was a spike with 240 new deaths and nearly 15,000 new cases. However, most of this was down to Hubei using a broader definition to diagnose people, said Mike Ryan, head of WHO's health emergencies programme. \"This does not represent a significant change in the trajectory of the outbreak,\" he said. Outside China there had been two deaths and 447 cases in 24 countries, he said. On Thursday Japan announced its first coronavirus death - a woman in her 80s who lived in Kanagawa, south-west of Tokyo. The woman's diagnosis was confirmed after her death and she had no obvious link to China's Hubei province, the epicentre of the outbreak, Japanese media reported. On Thursday, the US state department said it was \"deeply concerned\" about the possible effect of an outbreak in North Korea, which has so far not reported any cases. The vessel is in quarantine in Yokohama. Not all the 3,700 people on board have been tested yet. People with the virus are taken to hospitals on land to be treated, while those on board are largely confined to their cabins. However on Thursday Japan said it would allow those aged 80 or over who have tested negative for the coronavirus to disembark. Health Minister Katsunobu Kato said they could be allowed off the ship as early as Friday but would have to stay in accommodation provided by the government, the Japan Times reported. Meanwhile another cruise ship - the MS Westerdam - carrying more than 2,000 people docked in Cambodia after being turned away by ports in Japan, Taiwan, Guam, the Philippines and Thailand despite having no sick patients on board. Until Wednesday's increases, the number of people with the virus in Hubei was stabilising. The new cases and deaths in the province have pushed the national death toll above 1,350 with almost 60,000 infections in total. White House economic advisor Larry Kudlow said there had been \"surprise\" in the US at the new cases. \"We're a little disappointed in the lack of transparency coming from the Chinese, these numbers are jumping around,\" he said. China sacked two top officials in Hubei province hours after the new figures were revealed. Mr Ryan, from the WHO, said the spike reflected a change in the way cases were diagnosed and many were days or weeks old. Only Hubei province - which accounts for more than 80% of overall Chinese infections - is using the new definition to diagnose new cases. - In the UK, officials are attempting to trace the contacts of the latest person to be diagnosed with coronavirus. The woman, who flew into London Heathrow from China a few days ago, is the ninth case to be confirmed - Australia has extended its ban on people coming from mainland China for another week, to 22 February - China said it would stagger the return of children to school - several provinces have closed schools until the end of February - In Vietnam, which borders China, thousands of people in villages near the capital, Hanoi, have been put under quarantine after several cases were discovered. Vietnam has now confirmed at least 16 cases - The Red Cross has called for sanctions relief for North Korea, which would allow the aid agency to transfer funds to buy equipment. Testing kits and protective clothing are urgently needed to prepare for a possible outbreak, it says - British rap star Stormzy has postponed the Asian leg of his tour - he had been due to play in locations including Shanghai, Hong Kong, Singapore and Malaysia in March - A Russian woman - who was put into a coronavirus quarantine but escaped - is resisting attempts by officials to bring her back to hospital by force. Alla Ilyina, 32, has been refusing to open the door of her St Petersburg apartment to police SHOULD WE WORRY? Our health correspondent explains YOUR QUESTIONS: Can you get it more than once? WHAT YOU CAN DO: Do masks really help? UNDERSTANDING THE SPREAD: A visual guide to the outbreak Are you in Hubei? Or do you have information to share? Get in touch by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. 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 yourpics@bbc.co.uk - Please read our terms & conditions and privacy policy", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1859, "answer_end": 2623, "text": "The vessel is in quarantine in Yokohama. Not all the 3,700 people on board have been tested yet. People with the virus are taken to hospitals on land to be treated, while those on board are largely confined to their cabins. However on Thursday Japan said it would allow those aged 80 or over who have tested negative for the coronavirus to disembark. Health Minister Katsunobu Kato said they could be allowed off the ship as early as Friday but would have to stay in accommodation provided by the government, the Japan Times reported. Meanwhile another cruise ship - the MS Westerdam - carrying more than 2,000 people docked in Cambodia after being turned away by ports in Japan, Taiwan, Guam, the Philippines and Thailand despite having no sick patients on board."}], "question": "What is happening on the Diamond Princess?", "id": "396_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2624, "answer_end": 3422, "text": "Until Wednesday's increases, the number of people with the virus in Hubei was stabilising. The new cases and deaths in the province have pushed the national death toll above 1,350 with almost 60,000 infections in total. White House economic advisor Larry Kudlow said there had been \"surprise\" in the US at the new cases. \"We're a little disappointed in the lack of transparency coming from the Chinese, these numbers are jumping around,\" he said. China sacked two top officials in Hubei province hours after the new figures were revealed. Mr Ryan, from the WHO, said the spike reflected a change in the way cases were diagnosed and many were days or weeks old. Only Hubei province - which accounts for more than 80% of overall Chinese infections - is using the new definition to diagnose new cases."}], "question": "What's behind the Hubei spike?", "id": "396_1"}]}]}, {"title": "Twitter to ban all political advertising", "date": "31 October 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Twitter is to ban all political advertising worldwide, saying that the reach of such messages \"should be earned, not bought\". \"While internet advertising is incredibly powerful and very effective for commercial advertisers, that power brings significant risks to politics,\" company CEO Jack Dorsey tweeted. Social media rival Facebook recently ruled out a ban on political ads. News of the ban divided America's political camps for the 2020 election. Brad Parscale, manager of President Donald Trump's re-election campaign, said the ban was \"yet another attempt by the left to silence Trump and conservatives\". But Bill Russo, spokesman for the campaign to elect Democratic front-runner Joe Biden, said: \"When faced with a choice between ad dollars and the integrity of our democracy, it is encouraging that, for once, revenue did not win out.\" Reacting to the move, Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg defended his company's policy. \"In a democracy, I don't think it's right for private companies to censor politicians or the news,\" he said during a conference call with journalists. Twitter's ban will be enforced from 22 November, with full details released by 15 November. Mr Dorsey explained his position in a thread of tweets. Internet political ads, he said, presented \"entirely new challenges to civic discourse\". These challenges included \"machine learning-based optimisation of messaging\", \"micro-targeting, unchecked misleading information, and deep fakes\". \"It's not credible,\" he wrote, \"for us to say: 'We're working hard to stop people from gaming our systems to spread misleading info, but if someone pays us to target and force people to see their political ad...well...they can say whatever they want!'\" Countering the argument that the new policy might be seen as favouring leaders already in office, he pointed out that \"many social movements reach massive scale without any political advertising\". Ads in support of voter registration would not be affected by the ban, he added. Hillary Clinton, the former Democratic candidate who lost to Mr Trump in the 2016 presidential election, welcomed Twitter's ban and appeared to challenge Facebook to rethink its stance. Social media analyst Carl Miller said it was \"one of the first times a tech giant has stepped back in concern for the enormous disruptions they're doing to the institutions that don't move as quickly as them\". Jack Dorsey's decision is more significant for its timing and the principle it upholds than the practical effects it will have on modern democracy. Political ads on Twitter are just a fraction, in scale and impact, of those on Facebook. Mr Dorsey knew - and his chief financial officer has since confirmed - that this decision would have little impact on the company's bottom line. They therefore calculated that they could win a thumbs up from regulators and public opinion at little cost to the business. And they could also mischievously provoke Facebook, who are in a more difficult position on the subject. It cannot be mere coincidence that Mr Dorsey's tweet was just a fortnight after Mark Zuckerberg's speech on the same subject. A dividing line between the companies is useful for Twitter. It puts the onus on Facebook to once again defend its stance. It is very easy to find damaging or deceitful ads online. But asking Californian companies to decide what should or shouldn't be in the public domain grants them enormous power that is hard to undo. They already make such decisions on things like violent or hateful content; asking them to go further is, in effect, turning them into editorial arbiters of public conversation. That is, journalists. Earlier this month, Mr Zuckerberg went before an audience of students in Washington DC to defend the firm's decision not to ban political adverts that contain falsehoods. He had considered barring all political ads on his platforms, but said he believed the move would favour incumbent politicians and whoever the media chose to cover. The company should \"err on the side of greater expression\", he argued. Another spokesman for Mr Biden had criticised the firm for refusing to remove a video posted by Mr Trump's 2020 re-election campaign which promoted an unproven conspiracy theory involving the former vice-president and his son. \"It is unacceptable for any social media company to knowingly allow deliberately misleading material to corrupt its platform,\" TJ Ducklo said. Fellow Democratic candidate Senator Elizabeth Warren then paid to run an intentionally misleading advert on Facebook that claimed Mr Zuckerberg had personally endorsed Donald Trump for re-election. She said she had done so to protest against the firm's decision to allow politicians to run ads containing \"known lies\". US federal campaigns are expected to spend about $6bn (PS4.6bn) on advertising but most of it will go on TV ads, with about 20% put into digital ads, advertising research firm Kantar estimates. Twitter is also much smaller than Facebook. In February, it said it had 126m daily active users while Facebook boasted 1.63bn in September. Meanwhile the BBC's political editor Laura Kuenssberg said political strategists often counted on their message being spread for free.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1174, "answer_end": 1996, "text": "Mr Dorsey explained his position in a thread of tweets. Internet political ads, he said, presented \"entirely new challenges to civic discourse\". These challenges included \"machine learning-based optimisation of messaging\", \"micro-targeting, unchecked misleading information, and deep fakes\". \"It's not credible,\" he wrote, \"for us to say: 'We're working hard to stop people from gaming our systems to spread misleading info, but if someone pays us to target and force people to see their political ad...well...they can say whatever they want!'\" Countering the argument that the new policy might be seen as favouring leaders already in office, he pointed out that \"many social movements reach massive scale without any political advertising\". Ads in support of voter registration would not be affected by the ban, he added."}], "question": "How does Dorsey justify the ban?", "id": "397_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1997, "answer_end": 2392, "text": "Hillary Clinton, the former Democratic candidate who lost to Mr Trump in the 2016 presidential election, welcomed Twitter's ban and appeared to challenge Facebook to rethink its stance. Social media analyst Carl Miller said it was \"one of the first times a tech giant has stepped back in concern for the enormous disruptions they're doing to the institutions that don't move as quickly as them\"."}], "question": "How is news of the ban playing out?", "id": "397_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 4749, "answer_end": 5217, "text": "US federal campaigns are expected to spend about $6bn (PS4.6bn) on advertising but most of it will go on TV ads, with about 20% put into digital ads, advertising research firm Kantar estimates. Twitter is also much smaller than Facebook. In February, it said it had 126m daily active users while Facebook boasted 1.63bn in September. Meanwhile the BBC's political editor Laura Kuenssberg said political strategists often counted on their message being spread for free."}], "question": "How much impact will this have on the US election?", "id": "397_2"}]}]}, {"title": "Mexico butterfly conservationist's disappearance sparks alarm", "date": "21 January 2020", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Concern is growing in Mexico about an environmental activist and expert on the monarch butterfly who has been missing for more than a week. Homero Gomez manages a butterfly sanctuary in western Michoacan state, a region which is notorious for its violent criminal gangs. Rights groups fear illegal loggers may have targeted Mr Gomez for his activism to conserve the local forest which is the home of the monarch butterfly. He was last seen on 13 January. Since 2006, 60,000 people have disappeared in Mexico. Many of them have fallen victim to criminal gangs which control large areas of Mexico and kill anyone who could interfere with their illegal activities, which range from drug and human trafficking to extortion, logging and mining. Mr Gomez is a 50-year-old agricultural engineer who manages the El Rosario sanctuary for the monarch butterfly, one of the biggest in Mexico. On his Twitter account he invited people to visit the sanctuary. He is a tireless campaigner for the conservation of the monarch butterfly. Millions of the species migrate annually from Canada and the US to the conifer forests of Mexico. The sanctuary Mr Gomez manages opened in November as part of a strategy to stop illegal logging in the area, which is a key habitat for the monarch butterfly. It was praised by the WWF's Mexico director Jorge Rickards as a model of conservation work when it was inaugurated. Scientists have been fascinated with the orange and black butterflies because of the vast distances they fly each year to hibernate in Mexico - the longest migration of any insect. Researchers found that the butterflies use a kind of internal solar compass to guide them during their flight from Canada and the US to the same area on the border between Michoacan and Mexico state every year. Once they reach the mountain hillsides of the oyamel fir forests in that area, they cluster together to stay warm. Tens of thousands of butterflies can be seen on a single tree, creating a colourful spectacle which has become a draw for tourists. But environmentalists have warned that illegal logging poses a major risk for these forests and the butterflies which spend the winters here. Mr Gomez was last seen in person attending a meeting in the village of El Soldado on the afternoon of 13 January. Messages promoting his butterfly sanctuary were still being sent from his mobile phone the next morning. But after his mobile went silent on Tuesday afternoon, his family reported him missing. More than 200 volunteers have joined the search for the environmentalist. Frustrated with the lack of any clues to his whereabouts, his relatives protested in front of the offices of the Michoacan state attorney general on Friday. Human rights organisations have also asked the authorities to intensify their efforts to find Mr Gomez and to investigate if his disappearance may be linked to his anti-logging campaign. Mayte Cardona of the Michoacan Human Rights Commission said that Mr Gomez \"was probably hurting the interests of people illegally logging in the area\".", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 740, "answer_end": 1394, "text": "Mr Gomez is a 50-year-old agricultural engineer who manages the El Rosario sanctuary for the monarch butterfly, one of the biggest in Mexico. On his Twitter account he invited people to visit the sanctuary. He is a tireless campaigner for the conservation of the monarch butterfly. Millions of the species migrate annually from Canada and the US to the conifer forests of Mexico. The sanctuary Mr Gomez manages opened in November as part of a strategy to stop illegal logging in the area, which is a key habitat for the monarch butterfly. It was praised by the WWF's Mexico director Jorge Rickards as a model of conservation work when it was inaugurated."}], "question": "Who is Homero Gomez?", "id": "398_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1395, "answer_end": 2175, "text": "Scientists have been fascinated with the orange and black butterflies because of the vast distances they fly each year to hibernate in Mexico - the longest migration of any insect. Researchers found that the butterflies use a kind of internal solar compass to guide them during their flight from Canada and the US to the same area on the border between Michoacan and Mexico state every year. Once they reach the mountain hillsides of the oyamel fir forests in that area, they cluster together to stay warm. Tens of thousands of butterflies can be seen on a single tree, creating a colourful spectacle which has become a draw for tourists. But environmentalists have warned that illegal logging poses a major risk for these forests and the butterflies which spend the winters here."}], "question": "What's special about the monarch butterfly?", "id": "398_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2176, "answer_end": 3052, "text": "Mr Gomez was last seen in person attending a meeting in the village of El Soldado on the afternoon of 13 January. Messages promoting his butterfly sanctuary were still being sent from his mobile phone the next morning. But after his mobile went silent on Tuesday afternoon, his family reported him missing. More than 200 volunteers have joined the search for the environmentalist. Frustrated with the lack of any clues to his whereabouts, his relatives protested in front of the offices of the Michoacan state attorney general on Friday. Human rights organisations have also asked the authorities to intensify their efforts to find Mr Gomez and to investigate if his disappearance may be linked to his anti-logging campaign. Mayte Cardona of the Michoacan Human Rights Commission said that Mr Gomez \"was probably hurting the interests of people illegally logging in the area\"."}], "question": "What happened?", "id": "398_2"}]}]}, {"title": "Five Trumps in one nomination speech", "date": "22 July 2016", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Nearly 50 years ago Richard Nixon launched his successful election under the banner of restoring \"law and order\" to a nation wrecked by violent protests and social upheaval. Now, another Republican nominee, Donald Trump, is going to run under that same banner. His speech began with darkness and ended - more than an hour later and well out of prime time - with glimmers of hope. Mr Trump painted a picture of a nation let down by its leaders, who have failed to \"put America first\" in policies both foreign and domestic. The Republican nominee had an answer, however. \"I am your voice,\" he shouted to thunderous applause and chants. Donald Trump is the solution. The goal for Mr Trump on Thursday was to reshape the image Americans have of him. Polls show he has record high negative numbers for a modern major-party presidential candidate. His presidential  acceptance speech tried to replace this perception with one that can garner a winning electoral majority. Here's how Mr Trump tried to do it, in five personas he wants to inhabit. \"We will be a country of generosity and warmth. But we will also be a country of law and order.\" Mr Trump started his speech painting a dark portrait of a nation under siege. He cited an array of statistics that he asserted showed crime out of control. Then he recounted the recent episodes of police shootings and anecdotes about Americans killed by undocumented immigrants. As NBC's Mark Murray points out, however, the larger statistics paint a different picture. The violent crime rate at the beginning of the Obama administration was 431 incidents per 100,000 Americans. It has dropped to 351 per 100,000. It's a common tactic for the party out of political power during a presidential race to highlight the negative, and Mr Trump certainly followed this strategy. \"The first task for our new administration will be to liberate our citizens from the crime and terrorism and lawlessness that threatens their communities,\" he said. His solutions included his trademark calls for a border wall and a ban on Muslim immigrants that was rebranded as a temporary suspension of immigration from \"any nation that has been compromised by terrorism\". The America Mr Trump sees is not in good shape - and while the remedy Mr Trump is offering has been controversial, he used his speech to insist that it is the only cure. \"These reforms that I will outline tonight will be opposed by some of our nation's most powerful special interests - that is because these interests have rigged our political and economic system for their exclusive benefit.\" Mr Trump has run an us-against-them campaign from the moment he descended the golden escalator at his launch, and that attitude pervaded his speech - in its content and his sharp, shouted delivery. It's Mr Trump against the world, his style seemed to imply, but it is a fight he's going to win. \"All of the people telling you that you can't have the country you want, are the same people telling you that I wouldn't be standing here tonight,\" Mr Trump said to cheers. If the state of the nation is bad, Mr Trump argued, it's because those currently in office - the establishment he has rocketed to power condemning - has made it that way. This \"rigged system\" rhetoric is also a favourite theme of that insurgent candidate on the left, Bernie Sanders. Mr Trump made a direct appeal to the Vermont senator's voters on the issue he said is most important to them - trade. He said he would establish a \"new, fair trade policy that protects our jobs and stands up to countries that cheat\". Open-trade policy has been a staple of elites on both the left and the right, and Mr Trump will attack it from all directions. If he is going to be elected president, he will have to convince voters - not just from the right but also the disaffected left - that the political experience he lacks is his strength. If the system is broken, only someone totally removed from the system can fix it. \"I will tell you the plain facts that have been edited out of your nightly news and your morning newspaper\" Part of Mr Trump's success has been his willingness to pull back the curtain on US politics and let Americans in on what he sees as the joke. Trump supporters almost universally point to his willingness to say controversial things - to \"not be politically correct\", as he puts it - as a sign that his promises to improve their lives aren't empty. Several times during his speech, Mr Trump attempted to pursue this tack again. \"If you want to hear the corporate spin, the carefully crafted lies, and the media myths the Democrats are holding their convention next week,\" he said to laughter. He assured the viewers that he was going to tell the truth \"and nothing else\". It's the kind of bluntness that is difficult for smoother, more polished politicians to pull off. But if there's one thing Mr Trump isn't, it's smooth and polished. Then there was the moment toward the end of Mr Trump's speech where, in thanking evangelical conservatives for their support, he quipped that he wasn't sure he deserved it. The crowd laughed - but not because his off-script comment was a joke, but because it was likely true. It's the kind of candour that has made Mr Trump a unique phenomenon in US politics. \"Every action I take, I will ask myself: does this make life better for young Americans in Baltimore, Chicago, Detroit, Ferguson who have as much of a right to live out their dreams as any other child America?\" Despite all the darkness of the opening and the rawness of Mr Trump's tone, his speech made a determined effort to expand his appeal beyond the angry white, working-class voters who make up the core of his support. He reached out to blacks - talking about their high levels of unemployment and poverty. He said the Obama administration has failed the inner cities on education, jobs and crime. If Mr Trump's law-and-order pitch is to be successful, it can't only be to his base - and this was a speech that acknowledged this. In addition, Mr Trump once again went off-script when he spoke about protecting gay Americans from \"violence and oppression of a hateful foreign ideology\". When the crowd cheered, he paused. \"As a Republican, it is so nice to be hearing you cheering for what I just said,\" he noted. It was a decided change in tone from a Republican nominee - and a stark contrast even from the platform his own party adopted just days earlier. \"This is the legacy of Hillary Clinton: death, destruction and weakness.\" The 2016 Republican convention has been dominated by anti-Clinton vitriol. The impromptu chant day after day when a speaker condemned their Democratic opponent was \"lock her up!\" They did so again during Mr Trump's speech, but he tried to cool the crowd. \"Let's defeat her in November,\" he said. Mr Trump's speech did give plenty of anti-Clinton red meat to the audience, however. There was the obligatory Benghazi reference when he spoke about Libya. He cited the former secretary of state's email-server controversies and the FBI report that, while not recommending criminal charges, was very critical. \"Her single greatest accomplishment may be committing such an egregious crime and getting away with it,\" Mr Trump said. Once again, Mr Trump laid all the turmoil in the Middle East at Mrs Clinton's feet. Libya, Egypt, Iran, Syria, Iraq and the rise of the so-called Islamic state were the presumptive Democratic nominee's doing. He blasted her on trade and immigration, taxes and healthcare. In a week, Mrs Clinton will have her opportunity to answer - and then the general election campaign will have started in earnest.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 3961, "answer_end": 5263, "text": "\"I will tell you the plain facts that have been edited out of your nightly news and your morning newspaper\" Part of Mr Trump's success has been his willingness to pull back the curtain on US politics and let Americans in on what he sees as the joke. Trump supporters almost universally point to his willingness to say controversial things - to \"not be politically correct\", as he puts it - as a sign that his promises to improve their lives aren't empty. Several times during his speech, Mr Trump attempted to pursue this tack again. \"If you want to hear the corporate spin, the carefully crafted lies, and the media myths the Democrats are holding their convention next week,\" he said to laughter. He assured the viewers that he was going to tell the truth \"and nothing else\". It's the kind of bluntness that is difficult for smoother, more polished politicians to pull off. But if there's one thing Mr Trump isn't, it's smooth and polished. Then there was the moment toward the end of Mr Trump's speech where, in thanking evangelical conservatives for their support, he quipped that he wasn't sure he deserved it. The crowd laughed - but not because his off-script comment was a joke, but because it was likely true. It's the kind of candour that has made Mr Trump a unique phenomenon in US politics."}], "question": "The truth-teller?", "id": "399_0"}]}]}, {"title": "A real white wedding and other snow stories", "date": "1 March 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Snow has caused disruption across the UK. Here are some of the quirkier stories of people battling against the elements. With heavy road disruption and travel chaos, a wedding in snowy conditions could be tough. Rebecca McKenzie and Daniel Hodgson were due to marry on Thursday at St Cuthbert's church in Benfieldside, Shotley Bridge, County Durham. However, the road to the church was impassable due to the heavy snow. A Facebook appeal was made and dozens of helpers, some with diggers, came forward to clear the path. It took the kindness of a local car dealership to get groom Mike Enright to his wedding on time. Heavy snow left Mr Enright, his parents, and best man Ben Yarnell stuck 25 miles from the Lincoln wedding venue. But after an appeal on local BBC radio, two 4x4s transported the party - and the wedding cake - to waiting bride, Gina Metcalf. When the BBC's Concert Orchestra - in Skegness, Lincolnshire for a now-cancelled schools project - discovered a wedding at their hotel, there was only one thing to do. With some instruments stranded on a lorry the other side of the town, those with something to play prepared a version of Pachelbel's Canon. The bride was told of the plan, and was thrilled to accept. A woman has given birth to a baby girl in a car on the roadside of the A66 in snowy County Durham. Daniella and Andrew Waring were on their way to hospital when they realised they weren't going to make it in time. Mr Waring said he pulled over and copied what he had seen when he was at the birth of his other two children. \"I opened the passenger door and knelt in the snow to deliver the baby,\" he told the BBC. Anne Hodgson, ward sister at Darlington Memorial Hospital, said mother and baby were doing well despite their experience. Chris and Vicky Robinson were excited to celebrate their honeymoon with a balmy luxury holiday in the Maldives, away from their home of Stranraer. Unfortunately the newlyweds did not arrive in the 30C heat of the Indian Ocean on Wednesday, but instead spent the night in Glasgow Airport. Mrs Robinson said: \"There were tears to start with but there's not much you can do.\" In some areas of the UK, roads are like ice rinks. That was the case on a road in the Fairmilehead area of Edinburgh. A car became stranded on the wrong side of the road, veering into oncoming traffic. Luckily a bus driver swerved in time to avoid the vehicle. Due to the heavy snowfall some rural communities have found themselves cut off from basic amenities like shops and GP surgeries. In some areas of Norfolk you would need a 4x4 to get around. Luckily Norwich-based TV presenter Jake Humphrey has one, and he's here to help. Taking to Twitter he offered his help to \"anyone vulnerable\" who may need a visit or \"a bit of shopping doing\". But his kind gesture led to ridicule as some compared the selfless act to car-bragging fictional radio DJ Alan Partridge. One comment asked: \"My friend Alan can't get his Rover out, he's stuck at the Linton Travel Tavern near you.\" Drivers on the M62 between Milnrow and Saddleworth were facing treacherous conditions on Thursday morning after some had become trapped on the icy road. Luckily a Highways England vehicle came to their aid, unfortunately a bad day got worse when the recovery 4x4 caught fire. Jordan Schofield, who witnessed the incident wrote on Twitter: \"The last thing you want to see is the car that's pulling people out... set on fire.\" Highways England said no-one was injured. With wind chill making the temperature in parts of the UK feel like -12C, most people would wrap up with long johns and winter warmers before daring to weather the outdoors. But not for postman Kev Park in Weymouth, Dorset. Amazingly he is not the only on. Twitter users also photographed short-wearing posties battling the snow in Sheffield and Truro. It doesn't matter what age you are, everyone loves to build a snowman. But what happens when you're without a scarf and carrot? Two tourists from Essex decided to take on a more ambitious project, and build an igloo in George Square, Glasgow.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 2397, "answer_end": 3011, "text": "Due to the heavy snowfall some rural communities have found themselves cut off from basic amenities like shops and GP surgeries. In some areas of Norfolk you would need a 4x4 to get around. Luckily Norwich-based TV presenter Jake Humphrey has one, and he's here to help. Taking to Twitter he offered his help to \"anyone vulnerable\" who may need a visit or \"a bit of shopping doing\". But his kind gesture led to ridicule as some compared the selfless act to car-bragging fictional radio DJ Alan Partridge. One comment asked: \"My friend Alan can't get his Rover out, he's stuck at the Linton Travel Tavern near you.\""}], "question": "Jake Humphrey, the new Alan Partridge?", "id": "400_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Manchester attacks: What teenagers need to know", "date": "23 May 2017", "paragraphs": [{"context": "US singer Ariana Grande was just leaving the stage at Manchester Arena when a bomb exploded right outside, killing and injuring dozens - including teenagers. Here, Alison Jamieson, author of Talking about Terrorism, answers some of your questions. The gig was just about over and crowds were swarming towards the exits when a \"huge bang\" went off. Some thought the noise was balloons popping, but in fact it was a man setting off a home-made bomb. We know that 22 people died - including an eight-year-old girl and a student - and more than 50 were hurt. The impact threw some people into the air and sent the music fans into a state of panic, desperate to get out of the building. At the moment, we know very little about the man who did this. Terrorists - people who try to make themselves heard through violence - think they are acting not just for themselves but for the wider community. Somebody who does this sort of thing may be acting out of hatred towards a particular group of people or feel that they have been treated badly. Alison says attackers are usually acting out of anger. They have sometimes followed instructions through websites, or acted alone, or they might have been trained. It's too early to know for certain if the man who carried out this attack had views connected to political or religious belief systems. But the so-called Islamic State, which is a group fighting wars in Iraq and Syria, has said it is behind this attack. Sometimes with attacks like these the person involved might be miserable, hate his life and want to get into the history books. Again, an attacker could be lonely or unwell, and may not be thinking in a way that most people think. We don't know exactly who he meant to target but with a lot of these sorts of attacks, it's a question of opportunity. Some places like underground rail systems, shopping centres or, in this case, Manchester Arena can't be completely protected. These types of venue are possibly easier to target than Parliament or town halls, so you can sometimes say the attacker is just choosing the easier option. Terror attacks are very, very rare in most countries. But no-one is 100% safe and you can't give people false assurances, says Alison. Britain is largely a safe place to live. It's an island so it's not easy to smuggle weapons in and it's also a place where people look out for each other. Whatever your background, there's a group who will look out for you. The police, security services and the government are all working to keep you safe. - Stay alert and keep your eyes open - Tell someone where you are going - Keep phone numbers with you so you can stay in touch - Be friendly and don't stir up antagonism - Remember we are all part of a community and all want to live together peacefully Manchester seems to have shown extraordinary courage and generosity, says Alison. Kind people offered beds for people to sleep in, gave them lifts and left food and drink at the scene for the emergency services. Some ideas for how you and your friends could help include: - Writing a letter to an affected school - Offer to raise funds for a school or youth centre - Hold a concert in your own school - Set up a students' bursary in the name of a victim - Organise anything that involves breaking down boundaries by bringing together groups of people who wouldn't normally meet Alison Jamieson has written Radicalisation and Terrorism: A Teachers' Handbook for Addressing Extremism (2015) and Talking about Terrorism: Responding to Children's Questions (2017)", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 248, "answer_end": 681, "text": "The gig was just about over and crowds were swarming towards the exits when a \"huge bang\" went off. Some thought the noise was balloons popping, but in fact it was a man setting off a home-made bomb. We know that 22 people died - including an eight-year-old girl and a student - and more than 50 were hurt. The impact threw some people into the air and sent the music fans into a state of panic, desperate to get out of the building."}], "question": "What happened?", "id": "401_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 682, "answer_end": 1685, "text": "At the moment, we know very little about the man who did this. Terrorists - people who try to make themselves heard through violence - think they are acting not just for themselves but for the wider community. Somebody who does this sort of thing may be acting out of hatred towards a particular group of people or feel that they have been treated badly. Alison says attackers are usually acting out of anger. They have sometimes followed instructions through websites, or acted alone, or they might have been trained. It's too early to know for certain if the man who carried out this attack had views connected to political or religious belief systems. But the so-called Islamic State, which is a group fighting wars in Iraq and Syria, has said it is behind this attack. Sometimes with attacks like these the person involved might be miserable, hate his life and want to get into the history books. Again, an attacker could be lonely or unwell, and may not be thinking in a way that most people think."}], "question": "Who does things like this?", "id": "401_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1686, "answer_end": 2086, "text": "We don't know exactly who he meant to target but with a lot of these sorts of attacks, it's a question of opportunity. Some places like underground rail systems, shopping centres or, in this case, Manchester Arena can't be completely protected. These types of venue are possibly easier to target than Parliament or town halls, so you can sometimes say the attacker is just choosing the easier option."}], "question": "Why target young people?", "id": "401_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2087, "answer_end": 2528, "text": "Terror attacks are very, very rare in most countries. But no-one is 100% safe and you can't give people false assurances, says Alison. Britain is largely a safe place to live. It's an island so it's not easy to smuggle weapons in and it's also a place where people look out for each other. Whatever your background, there's a group who will look out for you. The police, security services and the government are all working to keep you safe."}], "question": "Could this happen to me?", "id": "401_3"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2782, "answer_end": 3541, "text": "Manchester seems to have shown extraordinary courage and generosity, says Alison. Kind people offered beds for people to sleep in, gave them lifts and left food and drink at the scene for the emergency services. Some ideas for how you and your friends could help include: - Writing a letter to an affected school - Offer to raise funds for a school or youth centre - Hold a concert in your own school - Set up a students' bursary in the name of a victim - Organise anything that involves breaking down boundaries by bringing together groups of people who wouldn't normally meet Alison Jamieson has written Radicalisation and Terrorism: A Teachers' Handbook for Addressing Extremism (2015) and Talking about Terrorism: Responding to Children's Questions (2017)"}], "question": "What can I do to help?", "id": "401_4"}]}]}, {"title": "Iraq protests: Fresh clashes leave five people dead", "date": "26 October 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "At least five people have been killed in fresh clashes with security forces in Iraq as nationwide anti-government protests entered a second day. Three of the dead were reportedly hit by tear gas canisters fired by security forces in the capital Baghdad. At least two more were killed when protesters tried to storm an official's home in the city of Nasiriya, reports say. The unrest follows a day of protests that left dozens dead on Friday. Protesters are demanding more jobs, better public services and an end to corruption. Similar protests earlier this month were brutally put down by security forces, leaving nearly 150 people dead. A government report has acknowledged that authorities used excessive force in quelling that unrest. Violence flared again on Saturday despite calls from protest leaders to pause the demonstrations to give the government time to respond to their demands. Hundreds took to the streets of Baghdad and Iraq's southern provinces, with protesters chanting slogans against the government, demanding its resignation. Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi has promised a cabinet reshuffle and a package of reforms to address protesters' demands, but many remain unconvinced. \"Our demands are very simple but they can't even give us that. This is our country,\" one protester told Reuters news agency on Saturday. The protests started in Baghdad on 1 October. Most of those taking part were young and unemployed. After security forces used live ammunition against demonstrators, the unrest escalated and spread to other cities and towns. A government committee tasked with investigating the violence said 149 civilians and eight security personnel had been killed in protests between 1 and 6 October. The committee concluded that \"officers and commanders lost control over their forces during the protests\". The government's handling of those protests in early October fuelled discontent with the Shia-led Iraqi government, which has been accused of corruption and stoking sectarian divides. A second phase of protests erupted on Friday, leading to the imposition of a curfew by the government.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1335, "answer_end": 2115, "text": "The protests started in Baghdad on 1 October. Most of those taking part were young and unemployed. After security forces used live ammunition against demonstrators, the unrest escalated and spread to other cities and towns. A government committee tasked with investigating the violence said 149 civilians and eight security personnel had been killed in protests between 1 and 6 October. The committee concluded that \"officers and commanders lost control over their forces during the protests\". The government's handling of those protests in early October fuelled discontent with the Shia-led Iraqi government, which has been accused of corruption and stoking sectarian divides. A second phase of protests erupted on Friday, leading to the imposition of a curfew by the government."}], "question": "What's the background?", "id": "402_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Iran plane downing: 'Several people detained' over airliner loss", "date": "14 January 2020", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Several people have been detained in Iran over the accidental shooting down of a Ukrainian passenger plane with a missile, the country's judiciary says. Spokesman Gholamhossein Esmaili said investigations into the incident were continuing, but provided no details. President Hassan Rouhani said the probe would be overseen by a \"special court\". Ukrainian International Airlines flight PS752 was brought down shortly it took off from Tehran on Wednesday, killing all 176 people on board. Most of the victims were Iranian and Canadian citizens. For the first three days after the crash, Iran denied that its armed forces had shot down the Boeing 737-800 and suggested there had been a technical failure. But as evidence mounted, the Revolutionary Guards said the operator of a missile defence system had mistaken the aircraft for a US cruise missile and fired at it. Iran's air defences had been on high alert because the country had just fired ballistic missiles at two US bases in Iraq, in retaliation for the killing of top Iranian general Qasem Soleimani in a US drone strike in Baghdad. The admission of responsibility provoked widespread anger in Iran, and protesters took to the streets in the capital and several other cities to denounce government lies and the clerical leadership including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Mr Esmaili told a news conference in Tehran that the judiciary would \"investigate the causes and direct impact of the incident\". He added: \"We will investigate the extent to which US warmongering caused this event. Several people have been detained and the investigation continues.\" In a televised speech, President Rouhani said the judiciary would assemble a special court with a high-ranking judge and tens of experts to oversee the probe. \"This will not be a regular and usual case. The whole world will be watching this court,\" he added. Mr Rouhani also stressed that Wednesday's \"tragic event\" should not be blamed on one individual. \"It's not only the person who pulled the trigger, but also others who are responsible,\" he said. \"Iranian armed forces admitting their mistake is a good first step,\" he added. \"We should assure people that it will not happen again.\" The president also said he wanted relevant officials to explain publicly why it took days for the authorities to disclose that missiles were fired at flight PS752. The Iranian government's spokesman has denied that it was involved a cover-up, saying Mr Rouhani was not told what had happened until Friday evening. The commander of the Revolutionary Guards' Aerospace Force said on Saturday that he had informed \"officials\" about the strike hours after the incident. Mr Esmaili also said about 30 people had been arrested for \"taking part in illegal gatherings\" - an apparent reference to the recent anti-government protests. \"We have tolerance towards legal rallies,\" he added. On Monday, Tehran's police force denied it had fired live ammunition at protesters, after at least one person was reportedly shot and wounded the previous night. UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson told the BBC on Tuesday that he was \"glad\" Iran had acknowledged making a \"terrible mistake\" in shooting down the plane. \"It's good that they've apologised. The most important thing now is that tensions in the region calm down,\" he added. \"I was in Oman just at the weekend, talking to people in the region, and they don't want a military conflict between the West and Iran.\" Mr Johnson said the next step for Iran was to \"repatriate in a dignified way\" the bodies of the passengers and crew of flight PS752, who included three Britons. Ukraine's Foreign Minister Vadym Prystaiko said on Monday that five of the countries that had citizens on board the airliner - Canada, Ukraine, Afghanistan, Sweden and an unnamed country - would meet in London on Thursday to discuss possible legal action. He said the \"grieving nations\" would work out what steps to take individually and collectively to \"bring the perpetrators to justice and how we can repay those families who have suffered\". Canada, which lost 57 citizens, will meanwhile play a more active role than international rules require in the investigation into the shooting down of the airliner, according to the head of its Transportation Safety Board (TSB). The Canadian Transportation Safety Board's Kathy Fox said there were signs that Iran would allow the TSB to participate in the downloading and analysis of data from the plane's flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1337, "answer_end": 3048, "text": "Mr Esmaili told a news conference in Tehran that the judiciary would \"investigate the causes and direct impact of the incident\". He added: \"We will investigate the extent to which US warmongering caused this event. Several people have been detained and the investigation continues.\" In a televised speech, President Rouhani said the judiciary would assemble a special court with a high-ranking judge and tens of experts to oversee the probe. \"This will not be a regular and usual case. The whole world will be watching this court,\" he added. Mr Rouhani also stressed that Wednesday's \"tragic event\" should not be blamed on one individual. \"It's not only the person who pulled the trigger, but also others who are responsible,\" he said. \"Iranian armed forces admitting their mistake is a good first step,\" he added. \"We should assure people that it will not happen again.\" The president also said he wanted relevant officials to explain publicly why it took days for the authorities to disclose that missiles were fired at flight PS752. The Iranian government's spokesman has denied that it was involved a cover-up, saying Mr Rouhani was not told what had happened until Friday evening. The commander of the Revolutionary Guards' Aerospace Force said on Saturday that he had informed \"officials\" about the strike hours after the incident. Mr Esmaili also said about 30 people had been arrested for \"taking part in illegal gatherings\" - an apparent reference to the recent anti-government protests. \"We have tolerance towards legal rallies,\" he added. On Monday, Tehran's police force denied it had fired live ammunition at protesters, after at least one person was reportedly shot and wounded the previous night."}], "question": "What do we know about Iran's investigation?", "id": "403_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3049, "answer_end": 4517, "text": "UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson told the BBC on Tuesday that he was \"glad\" Iran had acknowledged making a \"terrible mistake\" in shooting down the plane. \"It's good that they've apologised. The most important thing now is that tensions in the region calm down,\" he added. \"I was in Oman just at the weekend, talking to people in the region, and they don't want a military conflict between the West and Iran.\" Mr Johnson said the next step for Iran was to \"repatriate in a dignified way\" the bodies of the passengers and crew of flight PS752, who included three Britons. Ukraine's Foreign Minister Vadym Prystaiko said on Monday that five of the countries that had citizens on board the airliner - Canada, Ukraine, Afghanistan, Sweden and an unnamed country - would meet in London on Thursday to discuss possible legal action. He said the \"grieving nations\" would work out what steps to take individually and collectively to \"bring the perpetrators to justice and how we can repay those families who have suffered\". Canada, which lost 57 citizens, will meanwhile play a more active role than international rules require in the investigation into the shooting down of the airliner, according to the head of its Transportation Safety Board (TSB). The Canadian Transportation Safety Board's Kathy Fox said there were signs that Iran would allow the TSB to participate in the downloading and analysis of data from the plane's flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder."}], "question": "What are other countries saying?", "id": "403_1"}]}]}, {"title": "How antibiotic resistance could take us back to the 'dark ages'", "date": "1 November 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Scientists are working on a new antibiotic that has produced promising results in early trials. Medicine will need more of these in coming years if increasing bacterial resistance is not to pose a very serious threat to human health. When they were introduced, in the 1940s, antibiotics were hailed as a \"wonder drug\". But there are major concerns that over-prescription has led to increasing resistance to the drugs. Last week, the Chief Medical Officer for England, Prof Dame Sally Davies, went as far as to say we were \"at risk of putting medicine back in the dark ages\" - but why has this happened? Scottish chemist Alexander Fleming discovered the first true antibiotic, penicillin, in 1928, as a mould on a petri dish that inhibited the growth of bacteria. His discovery revolutionised the treatment of certain types of bacterial infection, saving countless lives in the process. Antibiotics fight bacteria in a number of ways, including by killing them or preventing them from spreading. However, they also have a major weakness. Antibiotics are very effective at killing most, but not all, bacteria. Some bacteria acquire genes that protect them from the drug's attack. They survive treatment and reproduce themselves, spreading the key genes more widely so the drug becomes ever less effective. If somebody is infected by these drug-resistant bacteria, then it can become harder to deploy antibiotics to treat them successfully. At present other types of antibiotic might do the trick but the options are starting to narrow as bacteria develop the ability to block more than one drug. In the past four years in England, there has been a 35% increase in antibiotic-resistant blood infections. This is because there have been greater efforts by clinicians and other health professionals to identify sepsis cases. However, even though the absolute number of infections being detected has increased, the relative proportion of blood infections resistant to antibiotics has remained stable. From the point of view of health experts, a key to reduce antibiotic-resistant blood infections is to ensure that resistant bacteria cannot become prevalent in the first place. A recent report highlights that without effective antibiotics, life-threatening infections linked to operations such as hip replacements and Caesarean sections could increase. Since 2013, Public Health England has actively been campaigning to reduce the amount of antibiotics taken by patients. They say that over-prescription of antibiotics is a major cause of the increase in resistance to them. This is because the more antibiotics are used are used, the less effective they become. In addition, GPs have been prescribing antibiotics to patients who are not infected with bacterial diseases, even though they will never work. Antibiotic consumption in England has decreased by about 5% since 2013 - but the average daily dose per 1,000 people varies across the country. Public Health England points out that antibiotic resistance and prescription are \"inextricably linked - areas with high levels of antibiotic prescribing also have high levels of resistance\". Its campaign involves ensuring all areas have access to best practices for using antibiotics - in particular in community care, as 90% of antibiotics are prescribed by GPs. They want to see patients and carers educated about the inappropriate use of antibiotics and greater efforts by health professionals in preventing infections in the first place. And in 2016 the government called for a 50% reduction in the inappropriate prescription of antibiotics by 2021. About half of all patients with a cough or cold leave their GP's surgery with a prescription for antibiotics. And there are concerns that patient expectations are driving the problem. Recent research suggests 38% of people expect to be prescribed antibiotics when they go to the doctor. So efforts are now being made not only to reduce the number of antibiotics prescribed but also for GPs not to prescribe antibiotics for conditions that will naturally clear up by themselves after a few days. Over-prescription is not a problem unique to the UK. The European Surveillance of Antimicrobial Consumption Network has called the spread of drug-resistant bacteria a \"public health threat\", with estimates suggesting that 25,000 people die in Europe from linked infections every year. Currently, the UK has below average consumption compared with other EU countries. Efforts to mitigate future costs related to the problem have led countries with high consumption to learn from others - in particular in northern Europe - who consume fewer antibiotics. One of the biggest global concerns regarding antibiotics is over drug-resistant tuberculosis (TB). According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), TB remains the world's deadliest infectious disease. Treatment has been effective, with an estimated 54 million lives saved through diagnosis and treatment between 2000 and 2017. Even so, and with the global incidence of TB falling at about 2% per year, it remains one of top 10 causes of death worldwide. In 2017, 10 million people fell ill with TB and 1.6 million died from the disease, mainly in developing countries. The WHO says that 490,000 people have multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB), when bacteria do not respond to the two most powerful first-line anti-TB drugs, isoniazid and rifampicin. Second-line drugs can treat and cure MDR-TB. However, such treatment options can mean that patients have to undergo up to two years of chemotherapy involving costly and toxic medicines. It has been 30 years since a new class of antibiotic became available. And resistance has developed to all those that do exist. But antibiotics are expensive to produce and can take a long time to become available to clinicians and patients. In 2017, Public Health England warned that a failure to address resistance to antibiotics could lead to an estimated 10 million deaths every year globally by 2050 at a cost of PS66trillion in lost productivity to the global economy. That is why they, and other health organisations, are calling for a reduction in the overuse and misuse of antibiotics.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 4094, "answer_end": 4646, "text": "Over-prescription is not a problem unique to the UK. The European Surveillance of Antimicrobial Consumption Network has called the spread of drug-resistant bacteria a \"public health threat\", with estimates suggesting that 25,000 people die in Europe from linked infections every year. Currently, the UK has below average consumption compared with other EU countries. Efforts to mitigate future costs related to the problem have led countries with high consumption to learn from others - in particular in northern Europe - who consume fewer antibiotics."}], "question": "How does the UK compare?", "id": "404_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Gender equality: 'No room at the top for women scientists'", "date": "6 September 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "The number of women climbing the career ladder in science is \"disappointingly low\", say researchers. Women make up half of students in the life sciences, but only one in four professors, according to data from 500 scientific institutions worldwide. The main problem lies with retaining and promoting women into influential positions, the study concluded. It found women had fewer chances to serve on committees or speak at scientific meetings. - Four women who changed the face of physics. Other factors included unconscious bias, tensions with work-life balance, poor funding and pay, and a lack of networking opportunities. The data, published in the journal Cell Stem Cell, came from 541 universities and research institutions in 38 countries in the US, Europe and Australia. Women made up more than half of undergraduate and postgraduate students, 42% of assistant professors and 23% of full professors, although rates varied by institution. The findings back the view of many women in science that more must be done to address the problem of the \"leaky pipeline\" - where women leave the profession due to problems such as harassment and issues around promotion and pay. \"There is no point in encouraging more girls into science if the system is set up to exclude them,\" Dr Jessica Wade of Imperial College London, who champions women in physics but was not connected with this particular study, told the BBC. \"Improving gender balance in science will take institutional commitments to support women in their applications for promotion, act when there are reports of sexual harassment or bullying and make work allocation more transparent.\" The Royal Society of Chemistry said its own report, Breaking the barriers, which looked at the picture in the UK, showed a similar picture - 44% of chemists at undergraduate level are women - but only 9% of professors are. \"More worryingly, a staggering 99% of women told us they had experienced or witnessed barriers to women's progression and retention,\" said Dr Jo Reynolds, director of science & communities. To address the issue, they plan to launch a helpline and are researching whether gender bias exists within scientific publishing - the mainstay of a research career. Women have made important contributions to science throughout history, but have consistently been underrepresented at all levels. One recent study found that closing the gender gap in physics will take hundreds of years, given the current rate of progress. Follow Helen on Twitter.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 626, "answer_end": 945, "text": "The data, published in the journal Cell Stem Cell, came from 541 universities and research institutions in 38 countries in the US, Europe and Australia. Women made up more than half of undergraduate and postgraduate students, 42% of assistant professors and 23% of full professors, although rates varied by institution."}], "question": "What did the study show?", "id": "405_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 946, "answer_end": 2505, "text": "The findings back the view of many women in science that more must be done to address the problem of the \"leaky pipeline\" - where women leave the profession due to problems such as harassment and issues around promotion and pay. \"There is no point in encouraging more girls into science if the system is set up to exclude them,\" Dr Jessica Wade of Imperial College London, who champions women in physics but was not connected with this particular study, told the BBC. \"Improving gender balance in science will take institutional commitments to support women in their applications for promotion, act when there are reports of sexual harassment or bullying and make work allocation more transparent.\" The Royal Society of Chemistry said its own report, Breaking the barriers, which looked at the picture in the UK, showed a similar picture - 44% of chemists at undergraduate level are women - but only 9% of professors are. \"More worryingly, a staggering 99% of women told us they had experienced or witnessed barriers to women's progression and retention,\" said Dr Jo Reynolds, director of science & communities. To address the issue, they plan to launch a helpline and are researching whether gender bias exists within scientific publishing - the mainstay of a research career. Women have made important contributions to science throughout history, but have consistently been underrepresented at all levels. One recent study found that closing the gender gap in physics will take hundreds of years, given the current rate of progress. Follow Helen on Twitter."}], "question": "What are the lessons learned?", "id": "405_1"}]}]}, {"title": "How Jinnah's ideology shapes Pakistan's identity", "date": "18 August 2017", "paragraphs": [{"context": "In 1940 in Lahore Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the man who founded Pakistan, gave a seminal speech setting out the need for a separate state for Muslims on the subcontinent. Prior to the division of India in 1947, Hindus and Muslims had lived together across the country. But Jinnah described them as two separate nations. \"It is a dream that the Hindus and Muslims can ever evolve a common nationality,\" he said. \"Hindus and Muslims belong to two different religious philosophies, social customs and literary traditions. They neither intermarry nor eat together, and indeed they belong to two different civilisations which are based mainly on conflicting ideas and conceptions.\" This \"Two Nation Theory\", as it came to be known, has become the official Pakistani narrative for the creation of the state and key to how Pakistan defines itself. Pakistan was perhaps the first country to be formed on the basis not of a common ethnicity or language, but religion. Yet at the same time it is not, and never has been, a theocracy. This dichotomy is behind much of the debate around Pakistan's national identity and issues such as its treatment of minorities. Before partition, there was real concern among Muslims living in British India at the prospect of becoming a minority in a Hindu-dominated independent India. About one quarter of the population was Muslim. Despite the Congress Party's assertions of its secular values, many Muslims were sceptical and feared that the Hindu majority would seek to marginalise them. Jinnah himself was an advocate of Hindu-Muslim unity before becoming disillusioned with the attitude of Congress. But did, for example, a Malayalam-speaking Sunni Muslim from southern India really have more in common with a Punjabi Shia from the North than with his Hindu neighbour? There existed vast differences in language, culture and religious interpretations between Indian Muslims, even if they were united by a common faith. Jinnah was not the first to articulate the Two Nation Theory, but with the creation of Pakistan he transformed it into a political reality. The theory is now taught to all school children in Pakistan. It is why many see independence as liberation from India, as opposed to independence from British colonial rule. At a tutoring centre in Islamabad, I asked teenagers why Pakistan was created. \"Hindus and Muslims had nothing in common other than the fact that they shared a land,\" one said. \"Their religion, their values, and their culture were all different. So that was why a new country was needed to get their rights.\" But when Pakistan was created, more Muslims stayed on in India than left. And then in 1971 Pakistan itself split in two, with the creation of an independent Bangladesh. \"If the Muslims are supposed to be one nation - then how come they are living in three different states?\" asks historian and author Ayesha Jalal. She says the official Pakistani narrative favours teaching ideology over history. But Atta-ur Rahman, a former head of the Higher Education Commission in Pakistan, points to growing levels of intolerance in India towards Muslims as proof that the Two Nation Theory is correct. He claims Muslims who moved to Pakistan have done \"far, far better\" in terms of literacy levels and economic opportunities than those who stayed in India. He rejects the suggestion that the independence of Bangladesh following a bloody civil war undermines the idea all Muslims in the subcontinent could be categorised as \"one nation\". \"It was political interests which led to the division; it doesn't mean the Two Nation Theory was wrong,\" he said. It is clear that the theory is key to Pakistan's national identity. Islam is the principal bond between its ethnically diverse inhabitants. The national language, Urdu, is native to a small minority only. - Perhaps the biggest movement of people in history, outside war and famine - Two newly-independent states were created - India and Pakistan - About 12 million people became refugees. Between half a million and a million people were killed in religious violence - Tens of thousands of women were abducted Read more: To disavow the theory would be to question the strength of the bond holding Pakistan together. Yet some ethnic groups in Pakistan feel they are treated differently from others. This is particularly the case for people in the western province of Balochistan, where there has been a long-running nationalist insurgency. Jehanzeb Jamaldini of the Balochistan National Party, which campaigns for greater autonomy, says it would have been better for Pakistan to have recognised different ethnic groups as \"four or five different nations\" within a federation. Instead there is a feeling among many in Pakistan that one ethnic group, Punjabis, dominate the rest of the country. The Two Nation Theory has also led to debate over whether Pakistan was intended as a secular homeland for Indian Muslims or an Islamic state, and what role religious minorities should play. Most Hindus left Pakistan at the time of partition but there are about two million who stayed. Ramesh Vankwani, a Hindu member of parliament, says he believes in the theory, yet he also says Hindus and Muslims living in Pakistan \"are one nation - Pakistani\". For Mr Vankwani, Jinnah's statements in the lead up to independence are more important. Just days before Pakistan was created, Jinnah said: \"You are free to go to your temples; you are free to go to your mosques or to any other place of worship in this State of Pakistan. You may belong to any religion or caste or creed - that has nothing to do with the business of the State.\" For Mr Vankwani this is proof that Jinnah wanted equal rights for all and that Pakistan was not just for Muslims. But others in Pakistan ask what the point of creating a homeland for Muslims was if it wasn't to be an Islamic state? Historian Ayesha Jalal is clear that Jinnah envisaged Pakistan as a \"homeland for India's Muslims\", as opposed to an Islamic state. But she says that his theory has been used by Islamists \"as an ideological device\" to justify claims for Pakistan to be a theocratic state. And as a result, she says, \"clarity has gone of how a homeland is distinct from a country run by the guardians of the faith\". These nuanced distinctions are lost on many ordinary Pakistanis. I spoke to the father of a university student accused of inciting a mob to beat to death one of their classmates for having committed blasphemy with his allegedly \"atheist\" views. Sharafatullah asked me: \"We are told Pakistan was created on the basis of the Two Nation Theory. If people are free to be atheists and spread atheist views, then what was the point of creating Pakistan?\" Yet at the same time Islamist parties have never been able to garner significant support in elections. After Bangladesh was declared independent in 1971, then-Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi declared the Two Nation Theory \"dead\". In Pakistan it certainly is not, but it continues to feed into debates about the country's identity. At the same time in India, Ms Jalal notes that the rise of right-wing Hindu ideology seems to be a surreptitious endorsement of the idea from a country that has long rejected it.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 4801, "answer_end": 6258, "text": "The Two Nation Theory has also led to debate over whether Pakistan was intended as a secular homeland for Indian Muslims or an Islamic state, and what role religious minorities should play. Most Hindus left Pakistan at the time of partition but there are about two million who stayed. Ramesh Vankwani, a Hindu member of parliament, says he believes in the theory, yet he also says Hindus and Muslims living in Pakistan \"are one nation - Pakistani\". For Mr Vankwani, Jinnah's statements in the lead up to independence are more important. Just days before Pakistan was created, Jinnah said: \"You are free to go to your temples; you are free to go to your mosques or to any other place of worship in this State of Pakistan. You may belong to any religion or caste or creed - that has nothing to do with the business of the State.\" For Mr Vankwani this is proof that Jinnah wanted equal rights for all and that Pakistan was not just for Muslims. But others in Pakistan ask what the point of creating a homeland for Muslims was if it wasn't to be an Islamic state? Historian Ayesha Jalal is clear that Jinnah envisaged Pakistan as a \"homeland for India's Muslims\", as opposed to an Islamic state. But she says that his theory has been used by Islamists \"as an ideological device\" to justify claims for Pakistan to be a theocratic state. And as a result, she says, \"clarity has gone of how a homeland is distinct from a country run by the guardians of the faith\"."}], "question": "Islamic state?", "id": "406_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Alabama Senate election: Roy Moore faces verdict of voters", "date": "13 December 2017", "paragraphs": [{"context": "The polls have closed in Alabama, where a firebrand Republican conservative is battling for a Senate seat against a Democrat hoping for a huge upset. President Donald Trump's populist brand will be tested after he backed Roy Moore, who denies allegations of sexual misconduct with teenage girls. Much of the Republican establishment has distanced itself from the 70-year-old former Alabama judge. The race between Mr Moore and Democrat Doug Jones is too close to call. The Republican candidate has said homosexual activity should be illegal and argued against removing segregationist language from the state constitution. But it is sexual abuse claims against him by a number of women, some when they were teenagers, that have made Washington conservatives baulk. One accuser alleges Mr Moore molested her when she was 14. The scandal has put an Alabama Senate seat within reach of Democrats for the first time in more than two decades. Gary O'Donoghue, BBC News, Montgomery Elections are rarely competitive in Alabama. It's the kind of place Republicans might as well weigh their votes rather than count them, such is the party's dominance here. This special election has upended all the normal expectations and still, at this late stage, remains too close to call. Democrat Doug Jones can win if he manages to galvanise the black vote in cities such as Birmingham and Montgomery. Roy Moore, his Republican rival, could easily lose if those rural, white, church-going conservatives stay at home amid the allegations against him. Whatever the outcome, the repercussions will be felt beyond Alabama. If the Republicans lose, their Senate advantage contracts to just one vote. If they win, their candidate is likely to face months of ethics inquiries, and an outside chance of being expelled from the Senate. For the Democrats, a win would bolster their bargaining power in Congress, and place control of the Senate within definite grasp at next year's mid-term elections. On Tuesday, the world's press were waiting as he emerged on horseback from woodland to a ballot station. He said people should \"go out and vote their conscience\". Making his final pitch on election eve, Mr Moore reiterated his denials, again questioning why his accusers had kept quiet for 40 years while he had held various political offices. Speaking alongside Mr Trump's former chief strategist, Steve Bannon, in front of a crowd that chanted the president's slogan \"Drain the Swamp\", Mr Moore drew heavily from the Bible. \"I want America great,\" he said, \"but I want America good and she can't be good until we go back to God.\" Mr Moore was joined at Monday's rally by his wife Kayla, who said separate allegations last week that her husband was anti-Semitic were \"fake news\". \"One of our attorneys is a Jew, we have very close friends who are Jewish,\" she said. In an automated phone message on Monday, Mr Trump's voice warned voters that his agenda would be \"stopped cold\" if Mr Moore lost. But many other leading Republicans, including Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, have kept arm's length from their party's candidate, or shunned him altogether. Without mentioning Mr Moore by name, Republican former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, an African-American who grew up in Alabama, urged her home state to \"reject bigotry, sexism, and intolerance\". Richard Shelby, Alabama's other senator, said on Sunday the state \"deserves better\" than Mr Moore. A Democratic lawmaker has sent a letter to the Senate urging steps to protect teenagers working in the chamber's page programme from Mr Moore's \"predatory conduct\". Mr Jones, a 63-year-old former prosecutor, denies opponents' claims he will be a \"puppet\" of the Democratic congressional leadership. He is lauded for helping convict two Ku Klux Klan members who bombed a black church in 1963 in Birmingham, killing four girls. But Mr Jones' support for abortion rights is toxic to many Christian conservatives in Alabama. After casting his ballot on Tuesday morning, he predicted: \"I don't think Roy Moore is going to win this election.\" Former President Barack Obama has recorded an automated phone message for Mr Jones. \"This one's serious,\" Mr Obama told voters in his call. \"You can't sit it out.\"", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1971, "answer_end": 2837, "text": "On Tuesday, the world's press were waiting as he emerged on horseback from woodland to a ballot station. He said people should \"go out and vote their conscience\". Making his final pitch on election eve, Mr Moore reiterated his denials, again questioning why his accusers had kept quiet for 40 years while he had held various political offices. Speaking alongside Mr Trump's former chief strategist, Steve Bannon, in front of a crowd that chanted the president's slogan \"Drain the Swamp\", Mr Moore drew heavily from the Bible. \"I want America great,\" he said, \"but I want America good and she can't be good until we go back to God.\" Mr Moore was joined at Monday's rally by his wife Kayla, who said separate allegations last week that her husband was anti-Semitic were \"fake news\". \"One of our attorneys is a Jew, we have very close friends who are Jewish,\" she said."}], "question": "How does Moore respond?", "id": "407_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2838, "answer_end": 3600, "text": "In an automated phone message on Monday, Mr Trump's voice warned voters that his agenda would be \"stopped cold\" if Mr Moore lost. But many other leading Republicans, including Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, have kept arm's length from their party's candidate, or shunned him altogether. Without mentioning Mr Moore by name, Republican former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, an African-American who grew up in Alabama, urged her home state to \"reject bigotry, sexism, and intolerance\". Richard Shelby, Alabama's other senator, said on Sunday the state \"deserves better\" than Mr Moore. A Democratic lawmaker has sent a letter to the Senate urging steps to protect teenagers working in the chamber's page programme from Mr Moore's \"predatory conduct\"."}], "question": "How has Washington reacted?", "id": "407_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3601, "answer_end": 4236, "text": "Mr Jones, a 63-year-old former prosecutor, denies opponents' claims he will be a \"puppet\" of the Democratic congressional leadership. He is lauded for helping convict two Ku Klux Klan members who bombed a black church in 1963 in Birmingham, killing four girls. But Mr Jones' support for abortion rights is toxic to many Christian conservatives in Alabama. After casting his ballot on Tuesday morning, he predicted: \"I don't think Roy Moore is going to win this election.\" Former President Barack Obama has recorded an automated phone message for Mr Jones. \"This one's serious,\" Mr Obama told voters in his call. \"You can't sit it out.\""}], "question": "Who is Moore's opponent?", "id": "407_2"}]}]}, {"title": "Kushner 'discussed secret line to Moscow' - US media reports", "date": "27 May 2017", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Donald Trump's son-in-law attempted to set up secret communications with Moscow a month after Mr Trump's election, US media say. Jared Kushner wanted to use Russian facilities to avoid US interception of discussions with Moscow, the Washington Post and New York Times said. Mr Kushner, a senior White House aide, has not commented. He is said to be under scrutiny by the FBI as part of its inquiry into Russian interference favouring Mr Trump's win. Reports in the US say investigators believe he has relevant information, but he is not necessarily suspected of a crime. Imagine, for a moment, that Jared Kushner and Michael Flynn had succeeded in setting up secure communications with Russia that bypassed US government channels. The past few months might have turned out very differently. Mr Flynn's late December contact with Ambassador Sergei Kislyak to discuss the recently imposed punitive sanctions on Russia for meddling in the presidential election likely would not have been intercepted up by US intelligence surveillance. Without that intercept there would have been no urgent meeting between acting attorney general Sally Yates and Trump administration officials to discuss Mr Flynn's possible susceptibility to Russian blackmail. There would have been no leaks to the US media that eventually exposed Mr Flynn as having been less than forthcoming about those conversations to the public and Vice-President Mike Pence. Mr Trump likely wouldn't have felt compelled to fire Flynn from his national security adviser job in mid-February - a move the president reportedly still regrets. In this scenario Mr Flynn - who accepted money to advocate for Turkish interests last year and is currently under FBI investigation - could be in a top White House post to this very day. Just imagine. The most recent reports - which cited unnamed US officials as sources - said Mr Kushner had spoken with Moscow's Ambassador to the US, Sergei Kislyak, about setting up a back channel using Russian diplomatic facilities in America. The meeting was held in early December at Trump Tower in New York - Mr Trump's power base. According to both reports, Mr Trump's first national security adviser Michael Flynn was present at the meeting. The secret channel was supposed to be used to discuss Syria and other policy issues during the transition period between Mr Trump's election in November and his inauguration in January 2017. The Washington Post says the proposal surprised Mr Kislyak as it meant Americans using Russian facilities at their diplomatic missions in the US. The New York Times said the line was never established. The US and Moscow have always had a hotline - popularly referred to as the Red Phone, even though it was not a telephone. This was meant to enable the two superpowers to avoid nuclear catastrophe during the Cold War. Mr Kushner appears to be proposing a similar set-up. But what is unusual is that this would be a channel using Russian hardware. So this would have been outside official communications normally used by a team about to assume the leadership of the US - meaning US leaders were using Russian channels instead of their own. And, significantly, these communications would not form part of documented US policy-making. Very. Remember that Russian allegations of interference to sway the election in favour of Donald Trump emerged in May 2016 with the first reports of hackers targeting the Democratic Party. What followed were reports that US intelligence agencies had traced the breaches back to Russian hackers. In August, Wikileaks released 20,000 internal emails of members of the Democratic National Convention (DNC), stolen by the hackers. Mr Trump's then campaign manager, Paul Manafort, resigned after being accused of accepting millions of dollars in cash for representing Russian interests in Ukraine and US. In October, the US intelligence community released a unanimous statement formally accusing Russia of being behind the DNC hacking. So, by December when the alleged Kushner-Flynn-Kislyak meeting was held, the Trump team would have had grounds to believe in the existence of an investigation into the Russian links. The Washington Post had already reported FBI investigators were focusing on meetings Mr Kushner held last year with Mr Kislyak, as well as a banker from Moscow, Sergei Gorkov. Mr Gorkov is the head of Vnesheconombank, which has been subject to sanctions imposed by the Obama administration in response to Russia's annexation of Crimea and its support for separatists in eastern Ukraine. The bank is under the control of Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev and other members of the government, and has been used to fund major projects such as the 2014 Winter Olympics in the southern Russian resort of Sochi. Mr Kushner has said he did not discuss sanctions with Mr Gorkov. His lawyer has previously said his client would co-operate with any inquiry.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1795, "answer_end": 2621, "text": "The most recent reports - which cited unnamed US officials as sources - said Mr Kushner had spoken with Moscow's Ambassador to the US, Sergei Kislyak, about setting up a back channel using Russian diplomatic facilities in America. The meeting was held in early December at Trump Tower in New York - Mr Trump's power base. According to both reports, Mr Trump's first national security adviser Michael Flynn was present at the meeting. The secret channel was supposed to be used to discuss Syria and other policy issues during the transition period between Mr Trump's election in November and his inauguration in January 2017. The Washington Post says the proposal surprised Mr Kislyak as it meant Americans using Russian facilities at their diplomatic missions in the US. The New York Times said the line was never established."}], "question": "What did Kushner do?", "id": "408_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2622, "answer_end": 3252, "text": "The US and Moscow have always had a hotline - popularly referred to as the Red Phone, even though it was not a telephone. This was meant to enable the two superpowers to avoid nuclear catastrophe during the Cold War. Mr Kushner appears to be proposing a similar set-up. But what is unusual is that this would be a channel using Russian hardware. So this would have been outside official communications normally used by a team about to assume the leadership of the US - meaning US leaders were using Russian channels instead of their own. And, significantly, these communications would not form part of documented US policy-making."}], "question": "What's unusual about a direct line to Moscow?", "id": "408_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3253, "answer_end": 4166, "text": "Very. Remember that Russian allegations of interference to sway the election in favour of Donald Trump emerged in May 2016 with the first reports of hackers targeting the Democratic Party. What followed were reports that US intelligence agencies had traced the breaches back to Russian hackers. In August, Wikileaks released 20,000 internal emails of members of the Democratic National Convention (DNC), stolen by the hackers. Mr Trump's then campaign manager, Paul Manafort, resigned after being accused of accepting millions of dollars in cash for representing Russian interests in Ukraine and US. In October, the US intelligence community released a unanimous statement formally accusing Russia of being behind the DNC hacking. So, by December when the alleged Kushner-Flynn-Kislyak meeting was held, the Trump team would have had grounds to believe in the existence of an investigation into the Russian links."}], "question": "Is the timing significant?", "id": "408_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 4167, "answer_end": 4919, "text": "The Washington Post had already reported FBI investigators were focusing on meetings Mr Kushner held last year with Mr Kislyak, as well as a banker from Moscow, Sergei Gorkov. Mr Gorkov is the head of Vnesheconombank, which has been subject to sanctions imposed by the Obama administration in response to Russia's annexation of Crimea and its support for separatists in eastern Ukraine. The bank is under the control of Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev and other members of the government, and has been used to fund major projects such as the 2014 Winter Olympics in the southern Russian resort of Sochi. Mr Kushner has said he did not discuss sanctions with Mr Gorkov. His lawyer has previously said his client would co-operate with any inquiry."}], "question": "Is Kushner accused of any wrongdoing?", "id": "408_3"}]}]}, {"title": "Tory leadership contest: Javid says 'No, no, no' to second referendum", "date": "1 June 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Tory leadership hopeful Sajid Javid has ruled out a second referendum, a general election and revoking Article 50 if he becomes the next PM. Writing in Saturday's Daily Mail, the home secretary said another vote \"would be disastrous for trust in politics\". He said he planned to negotiate an amendment to the Irish backstop \"directly with Ireland\" to get a deal that could pass through Parliament. And he also said the UK \"must prepare fully\" for a no-deal Brexit. In his article, he said after Tory defeats in local and European elections \"the British people's frustration and the need to make good on the referendum have never been greater\". He invoked Margaret Thatcher's 1990 parliamentary speech on Europe, by saying \"No, no, no\" to a second referendum, a general election and revoking Article 50. \"Never in this country's history have we asked people to go to the polls a second time without implementing their verdict from the first,\" said Mr Javid, who supported Remain in the 2016 referendum. - Rule out a second referendum, an early general election or revoking Article 50 - Prepare fully for a no-deal Brexit - Find a deal that can be approved by Parliament - Work with Ireland to amend the Irish backstop to include a time limit or exit clause - Either get a revised deal through Parliament or - \"with great regret\" leave without one on 31 October Mr Javid's candidacy for the Conservative Party leadership comes after Prime Minister Theresa May announced she will resign as leader on 7 June. The 12 Tory leadership candidates have clashed over whether to pursue a no-deal Brexit if a withdrawal agreement cannot be passed by Parliament. Both Mr Javid and former Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson have said they are prepared to leave the EU without a deal, if necessary. But Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt said trying to push through a no-deal Brexit would be committing \"political suicide\", although he agreed the option had to remain on the negotiating table. Fellow leadership hopeful Esther McVey said \"political suicide\" would be not leaving the EU on 31 October. International Development Secretary and leadership candidate Rory Stewart ruled out serving under Boris Johnson because his vision of Brexit was \"undeliverable, unnecessary and is going to damage our country and economy\". The party said it hoped a new leader could be in place by the end of July. On Saturday US president Donald Trump, who will arrive for a state visit to the UK on Monday, said Mr Johnson would be an \"excellent\" choice for the Conservative Party leadership. The winner of the contest to lead the Conservative Party will become the next prime minister.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 2555, "answer_end": 2648, "text": "The winner of the contest to lead the Conservative Party will become the next prime minister."}], "question": "Who will replace Theresa May?", "id": "409_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Brexit: Merkel says 'no need to be nasty' in leaving talks", "date": "26 June 2016", "paragraphs": [{"context": "German Chancellor Angela Merkel has said the European Union has \"no need to be particularly nasty in any way\" in the negotiations with Britain about its exit from the bloc. She insisted that deterring other countries from leaving the EU should not be a priority in the talks. And she added she was not in favour of pushing for a speedy withdrawal. Britain narrowly voted to end its membership in a historic referendum last Thursday. Mrs Merkel was speaking after several EU foreign ministers - including Germany's - had urged Britain to quickly implement its exit. \"It shouldn't take forever, that's right, but I would not fight for a short timeframe,\" she said. She added that she was seeking an \"objective, good\" climate in the talks with Britain, which \"must be conducted properly\". German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier had earlier said negotiations should begin as \"soon as possible\". He made the comments after an urgent meeting of the six EU founder members to discuss the decision. British Prime Minister David Cameron has said he will step down by October to allow his successor to conduct talks. The six countries attending the summit in Berlin - Germany, France, Italy, Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands - first joined forces in the 1950s and still form the core of the EU. \"We say here together, this process should get under way as soon as possible so that we are not left in limbo but rather can concentrate on the future of Europe,\" Mr Steinmeier said. His Dutch counterpart Bert Koenders said the continent could not accept a political vacuum, saying \"this will not be business as usual\". Speaking later to the BBC, Estonian President Toomas Hendrik Ilves said he didn't think it was \"even legally possible\" to force the UK to speed up the exit process. \"I understand it is very difficult for Prime Minister Cameron, who was against leaving the European Union, to now go ahead and do this,\" he told the BBC World Service's Newshour programme. \"I think we should give them time; let them decide how quickly they want to do it.\" He described Britain's exit from the bloc as \"a disaster\" saying Estonia had often aligned itself with the UK and had counted on Britain to present their shared views. In other developments: - Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon says she will seek \"immediate discussions\" with Brussels to \"protect Scotland's place in the EU\" - A petition calling for a second referendum on UK's membership of the EU has gained more than two million signatures - There are warnings British financial institutions could lose their prized access to the EU if the UK leaves the single market - Britain's European Commissioner, Lord Hill, who oversees financial services, is to resign The first summit of EU leaders with no British representation will be held on Wednesday, a day after Mr Cameron holds talks with members. Global stock markets and the pound fell heavily on the news of the so-called \"Brexit\", while credit rating agency Moody's cut the UK's outlook to \"negative\". The UK must now invoke Article 50 of the EU Lisbon Treaty, which sets out a two-year timetable for negotiations on withdrawal. European Commission head Jean-Claude Juncker said the EU-UK split was \"not an amicable divorce\", but nor had they had a \"deep love affair\". He has also said exit negotiations should begin immediately. \"Britons decided yesterday [Thursday] that they want to leave the European Union, so it doesn't make any sense to wait until October to try to negotiate the terms of their departure,\" Mr Juncker said in an interview with Germany's ARD television network. Leaders of Eurosceptic parties in France, the Netherlands and Italy quickly demanded referendums in their own countries. \"OUTsch!\"; \"Well done little Britain\"; \"Completely detached\". Germany's press reflects the widespread shock at the British decision to leave the EU. At the highest level of government, no-one really expected this. And they are scrambling to defend German and European interests. The German position is focused on two major, and delicate, decisions. Firstly, whether to use Brexit as an opportunity to deepen European integration, or to view it as a \"wake-up call\" and create more flexibility within the union. And, secondly, how to deal with Britain - an important trading partner - as a \"third country\". Senior economists and business leaders warn against barriers to free trade. But politicians are talking tough. Concessions, they say, might encourage other member states to leave. For this reason one senior MP told me: \"There must be consequences for Britain\". Brexit: What happens now? - In force since 2009 but never tested - Allows governments to notify intent to leave. Talks then begin on a range of issues between the leaving nation and other EU members - If no deal is reached, membership will automatically cease two years after notification - The article is only a basic template for leaving, settling the date and some other matters. It does not automatically include issues such as movement of people or trade. The latter could take years to conclude", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 4595, "answer_end": 4620, "text": "Brexit: What happens now?"}], "question": "What comes next?", "id": "410_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Trump accuses Jewish Democrat voters of 'great disloyalty'", "date": "21 August 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "US President Donald Trump has said Jewish Americans who vote for the Democratic Party show \"either a total lack of knowledge or great disloyalty\". The remark drew sharp criticism that Mr Trump had used an anti-Semitic trope accusing Jews of dual loyalty. The Jewish Democratic Council of America said the president was trying to \"weaponise and politicise anti-Semitism\" for political gain. The remark followed attacks by Mr Trump on two Muslim Democratic congresswomen. The president has repeatedly accused Democratic representatives Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib of anti-Semitism. Under pressure from Mr Trump, Israel last week blocked Ms Omar and Ms Tlaib from entering the country. The two women, who are vocal critics of the Israeli government, had been due to visit the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem. Israel later agreed to let Ms Tlaib make a \"humanitarian\" visit to her grandmother in the occupied West Bank, but she declined, saying she could not comply with the \"oppressive conditions\" being imposed. Analysis by Paul Danahar, Americas Bureau Chief President Trump is not a man who is careful with his words. He has often seemed to consider exaggerations, untruths and insults to simply be part of the rough and tumble of American politics. But words matter for the Jewish community because words have been used throughout history as a means to slaughter them by the millions. So when President Trump casually threw out what appeared to be an anti-Semitic trope about 'dual loyalty' during his freewheeling press conference in the Oval Office, Jews had reason to be alarmed. In the present climate, with a resurgence of white supremacists and neo-Nazis, the president, seeming to question where their 'loyalty' lay, will be truly frightening for the Jewish community. It re-injects a racist fringe group conspiracy into the body politic. The allegation makes no sense on many levels but also because many Jews have found their political home in the Democratic Party because, in its modern form, it has been the party that's sought to protect minority groups. Many American Jews, just like many American Christians, are very supportive of the State of Israel even if they are often sharply critical of the Israeli government. However, it's only Jews that are quizzed about what that support says about their loyalty to the US. With white nationalists across the world often writing '\"political manifestos\" before they commit mass murder against minorities, the old World War 2 adage that 'Careless words cost lives' seems increasingly relevant today for anyone who holds public office. Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Mr Trump said: \"I think any Jewish people that vote for a Democrat, I think it shows either a total lack of knowledge or great disloyalty.\" On Wednesday, he denied his comments were racist and told reporters: \"If you vote for a Democrat, you're being disloyal to Jewish people and you're being very disloyal to Israel.\" Earlier in the day, he quoted a conservative commentator's praise on Twitter who said \"the Jewish people in Israel love him like he's the King of Israel\". \"They love him like he is the second coming of God,\" Mr Trump's tweet continued. The remark was denounced by a number of Jewish American groups, which said it played on an anti-Semitic canard that accuses Jews of being more devoted to Israel or their faith than to their own countries. The same notion of dual loyalty has landed Ms Omar, a Minnesota congresswoman, in hot water. She has apologised after claiming that Israel had \"hypnotised\" the world. She was also rebuked by the Democratic-controlled House of Representatives over comments targeting lobbying firms that support Israel. Ahead of the vote, which condemned \"hateful expressions of intolerance\", Ms Omar pushed back by questioning what she termed \"the political influence in this country that says it is OK for people to push for allegiance to a foreign country\". The comment sparked fresh complaints of anti-Semitism. \"If this is about Israel, then Trump is repeating a dual loyalty claim, which is a form of anti-Semitism,\" Halie Soifer, executive director of the Jewish Democratic Council of America, wrote on Twitter. \"If this is about Jews being 'loyal' to him, then Trump needs a reality check\", she continued. Jonathan Greenblatt, the head of the Anti-Defamation League, said \"charges of disloyalty have long been used to attack Jews\", while the American Jewish Committee described the remark as \"inappropriate, unwelcome and downright dangerous\". However, the Republican Jewish Committee maintained that Mr Trump was right. \"It shows a great deal of disloyalty to oneself to defend a party that protects/emboldens people that hate you for your religion,\" it said in a statement. Recent polls show that roughly 75% of Jewish Americans identify as Democrats.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 3191, "answer_end": 3993, "text": "The remark was denounced by a number of Jewish American groups, which said it played on an anti-Semitic canard that accuses Jews of being more devoted to Israel or their faith than to their own countries. The same notion of dual loyalty has landed Ms Omar, a Minnesota congresswoman, in hot water. She has apologised after claiming that Israel had \"hypnotised\" the world. She was also rebuked by the Democratic-controlled House of Representatives over comments targeting lobbying firms that support Israel. Ahead of the vote, which condemned \"hateful expressions of intolerance\", Ms Omar pushed back by questioning what she termed \"the political influence in this country that says it is OK for people to push for allegiance to a foreign country\". The comment sparked fresh complaints of anti-Semitism."}], "question": "Why is it being called anti-Semitic?", "id": "411_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3994, "answer_end": 4839, "text": "\"If this is about Israel, then Trump is repeating a dual loyalty claim, which is a form of anti-Semitism,\" Halie Soifer, executive director of the Jewish Democratic Council of America, wrote on Twitter. \"If this is about Jews being 'loyal' to him, then Trump needs a reality check\", she continued. Jonathan Greenblatt, the head of the Anti-Defamation League, said \"charges of disloyalty have long been used to attack Jews\", while the American Jewish Committee described the remark as \"inappropriate, unwelcome and downright dangerous\". However, the Republican Jewish Committee maintained that Mr Trump was right. \"It shows a great deal of disloyalty to oneself to defend a party that protects/emboldens people that hate you for your religion,\" it said in a statement. Recent polls show that roughly 75% of Jewish Americans identify as Democrats."}], "question": "What have critics said?", "id": "411_1"}]}]}, {"title": "US reverses deportation of husband of soldier killed in Afghanistan", "date": "16 April 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "A man whose wife died in Afghanistan while fighting for the US military was deported and sent to Mexico before he was later returned to the US. Jose Gonzalez Carranza, 30, was arrested last week by Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers (Ice). He was deported to Mexico, the country of his birth, leaving his 12-year-old daughter, a US citizen, behind. But after his case was reported by US media, the decision was reversed and he was driven back to Phoenix, Arizona. Mr Gonzalez Carranza married Army Pfc Barbara Vieyra - a first-generation American born to Mexican immigrant parents - in 2007. Vieyra, who deployed to Afghanistan as a military police officer, was killed by enemy fighters in Konar province, east of Kabul, in 2010 at the age of 22. After her death, her widower was granted parole in place - a US immigration exemption for \"urgent humanitarian reasons or significant public benefit\" for the families of service members - according to his lawyer Ezequiel Hernandez. Mr Gonzalez Carranza himself had illegally entered the US from Veracruz, Mexico in 2004 as a teenager. According to his lawyer, Ice decided to re-open his case in 2018 and a judge subsequently ordered him to be deported after he failed to show up for a court hearing. But Mr Hernandez said that Ice sent the notice to appear in court to the wrong address, which is why his client never attended his hearing. Last Monday, Mr Gonzalez Carranza was arrested at his home as he prepared for his welding job. On Thursday, he was deported to Nogales, Mexico, where he spent several days living in a shelter for immigrants deported from the US, he told the Arizona Republic newspaper. \"I feel so bad,\" he said, describing how worried he was for his daughter, who lives with her grandparents. \"I'm thinking about, I might never see her again,\" he said. But on Monday afternoon he was told by US officials that he could cross back into the country at the DeConcini port of entry, where Ice agents picked him up and brought him back to Tucson to be transported to Phoenix. A spokeswoman for Arizona Senator Kyrsten Sinema said her office was working with Ice and the deported man's lawyer to assist the family. Congresswoman Ann Kirkpatrick decried Ice's action and blamed President Donald Trump, who has led a crackdown on illegal immigration since taking office two years ago. \"I'm relieved to now learn that Mr Gonzalez has been allowed to re-enter the states and be reunited with his daughter, but the story of his arrest is just another example of the president's inhumane immigration policies,\" she said in a written statement. In an interview with the Washington Post, Mr Hernandez said the situation was difficult for Mr Gonzalez Carranza's daughter. \"There is extreme and unusual hardship on this little girl,\" he said. \"Not every deportation includes a child whose mom was killed in Afghanistan.\"", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 474, "answer_end": 1091, "text": "Mr Gonzalez Carranza married Army Pfc Barbara Vieyra - a first-generation American born to Mexican immigrant parents - in 2007. Vieyra, who deployed to Afghanistan as a military police officer, was killed by enemy fighters in Konar province, east of Kabul, in 2010 at the age of 22. After her death, her widower was granted parole in place - a US immigration exemption for \"urgent humanitarian reasons or significant public benefit\" for the families of service members - according to his lawyer Ezequiel Hernandez. Mr Gonzalez Carranza himself had illegally entered the US from Veracruz, Mexico in 2004 as a teenager."}], "question": "What is the background?", "id": "412_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1092, "answer_end": 2188, "text": "According to his lawyer, Ice decided to re-open his case in 2018 and a judge subsequently ordered him to be deported after he failed to show up for a court hearing. But Mr Hernandez said that Ice sent the notice to appear in court to the wrong address, which is why his client never attended his hearing. Last Monday, Mr Gonzalez Carranza was arrested at his home as he prepared for his welding job. On Thursday, he was deported to Nogales, Mexico, where he spent several days living in a shelter for immigrants deported from the US, he told the Arizona Republic newspaper. \"I feel so bad,\" he said, describing how worried he was for his daughter, who lives with her grandparents. \"I'm thinking about, I might never see her again,\" he said. But on Monday afternoon he was told by US officials that he could cross back into the country at the DeConcini port of entry, where Ice agents picked him up and brought him back to Tucson to be transported to Phoenix. A spokeswoman for Arizona Senator Kyrsten Sinema said her office was working with Ice and the deported man's lawyer to assist the family."}], "question": "Why was he deported?", "id": "412_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2189, "answer_end": 2884, "text": "Congresswoman Ann Kirkpatrick decried Ice's action and blamed President Donald Trump, who has led a crackdown on illegal immigration since taking office two years ago. \"I'm relieved to now learn that Mr Gonzalez has been allowed to re-enter the states and be reunited with his daughter, but the story of his arrest is just another example of the president's inhumane immigration policies,\" she said in a written statement. In an interview with the Washington Post, Mr Hernandez said the situation was difficult for Mr Gonzalez Carranza's daughter. \"There is extreme and unusual hardship on this little girl,\" he said. \"Not every deportation includes a child whose mom was killed in Afghanistan.\""}], "question": "What's the reaction?", "id": "412_2"}]}]}, {"title": "Would you work for free to secure a job?", "date": "16 February 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "If you didn't have a job, how far would you go to get one? SNP MP Stewart McDonald thinks some employers are \"exploiting\" people by asking them to work shifts for free to prove they are up to the job. Concerns have been raised about unpaid trial shifts. This is where you are asked to do a job for a while so a potential employer can decide if you're any good. Unions say it is a problem they are seeing more and more. Mr McDonald wants to see them banned or for the workers to be paid. Zoe Leckie is a student in Glasgow. She turned up smartly dressed for an interview in a restaurant but was told by the company they wanted her to do a shift as part of the selection process. She went home, got changed and returned to find herself thrown in at the deep end. \"It was very much you're now theoretically a member of staff, this is what the staff do, you'll be doing exactly the same as them, we expect you to work to exactly the same standard,\" she recalls. She was told: \"Just act as if you've been doing it for ages.\" That might sound OK for a first day, but Zoe hadn't had any training. And she wasn't being paid. \"They had me setting tables, cleaning tables, restocking food products, serving drinks,\" she says. \"I wasn't even offered a break or a drink of water or anything. It was full on for six hours.\" No payment for the shift was discussed. She was eventually offered the job, but turned it down after being told she'd have to be available seven days a week. \"I think it was total exploitation,\" she says now. \"If I was to go back to that moment in time, I would have just walked out.\" There has not been a comprehensive study of how many people are doing work like this. But the Unite union has been running a campaign on fair work and found many people contacting them with similar stories. \"We've seen a massive increase in the use of unpaid trial shifts, particularly in the hospitality and restaurant industry - from family restaurants to large multinational corporations,\" says Bryan Simpson from the union. And he says cases are not just about people being tested before being offered a job. \"[They're] using unpaid trial shifts to cover absences within the workplace - if workers are sick they are bringing people in to do eight hour-long trial shifts with no intention of ever giving them a job.\" Willie Macleod, the British Hospitality Association's executive director for Scotland, said it was normal to ask someone to demonstrate their skillset as part of a recruitment or selection process. He said: \"For example a chef in a kitchen showing he can actually cook something or a cocktail barman showing he can actually make the cocktails he'll be selling.\" But Mr Macleod said: \"Unpaid trial shifts is a poor business practice. \"To work a full or half shift and not be paid for it is unacceptable.\" The Edinburgh-based chef Mark Greenaway also says it is not about free labour, but checking someone's skills. He told The Caterer last year that people might work unpaid in his restaurant for a few hours as part of the recruitment process, but he said he was against lengthier spells. SNP MP Stewart McDonald, who represents Glasgow South, is publishing a bill he hopes to get through the Westminster parliament. In short, that would mean people need to be offered at least the minimum wage if they are going to do the work a member of staff would normally carry out. Mr McDonald says: \"This doesn't end the ability of an employer to try people out. It just sets new rules and boundaries on how they do that.\" Employers would have to make clear what jobs are available, to make sure they are not just using trial shifts to fill staff shortages. And anyone doing a paid trial would be guaranteed feedback if they don't get the job. Mr McDonald says a \"trial shift\" is very different to work experience, which often involves shadowing an employee and is not usually a job application. He said it became a \"trial shift\" when someone was performing all the tasks they would be required to fulfil if they were actually doing the job. Mr Macleod said work experience was vital to expose potential recruits to the industry. He said: \"The hospitality industry is not necessarily for everybody. You have to be comfortable giving service, you have to be comfortable with people. \"Getting that experience is vital to the employee and beneficial to the employer but it is not to be exploited and not to be abused.\" Mr McDonald said his private member's bill aimed to end the \"cynical exploitation\" of unpaid trial work, where people are working for long hours in the hope of getting a job. The UK government said a review by Matthew Taylor was published in July 2017. It said Mr Taylor, a former aide to Tony Blair, had stated that the law was already sufficient in this area. In its response to the Taylor review, the government committed to take action to ensure interns were paid at least minimum wage rates when doing the job of a worker. A Department for Business spokesman said: \"The law is already clear that it is illegal to employ people on unpaid trial work periods for an excessive period of time, or where there is no job at the end of it. \"If you are a worker you should be paid at least the minimum wage and this year the government will spend a record PS25.3m on ensuring the UK's lowest paid workers get what they're owed.\"", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 201, "answer_end": 486, "text": "Concerns have been raised about unpaid trial shifts. This is where you are asked to do a job for a while so a potential employer can decide if you're any good. Unions say it is a problem they are seeing more and more. Mr McDonald wants to see them banned or for the workers to be paid."}], "question": "What's the issue?", "id": "413_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1596, "answer_end": 2315, "text": "There has not been a comprehensive study of how many people are doing work like this. But the Unite union has been running a campaign on fair work and found many people contacting them with similar stories. \"We've seen a massive increase in the use of unpaid trial shifts, particularly in the hospitality and restaurant industry - from family restaurants to large multinational corporations,\" says Bryan Simpson from the union. And he says cases are not just about people being tested before being offered a job. \"[They're] using unpaid trial shifts to cover absences within the workplace - if workers are sick they are bringing people in to do eight hour-long trial shifts with no intention of ever giving them a job.\""}], "question": "Is this common?", "id": "413_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3105, "answer_end": 3750, "text": "SNP MP Stewart McDonald, who represents Glasgow South, is publishing a bill he hopes to get through the Westminster parliament. In short, that would mean people need to be offered at least the minimum wage if they are going to do the work a member of staff would normally carry out. Mr McDonald says: \"This doesn't end the ability of an employer to try people out. It just sets new rules and boundaries on how they do that.\" Employers would have to make clear what jobs are available, to make sure they are not just using trial shifts to fill staff shortages. And anyone doing a paid trial would be guaranteed feedback if they don't get the job."}], "question": "What would happen if there's a ban?", "id": "413_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3751, "answer_end": 4597, "text": "Mr McDonald says a \"trial shift\" is very different to work experience, which often involves shadowing an employee and is not usually a job application. He said it became a \"trial shift\" when someone was performing all the tasks they would be required to fulfil if they were actually doing the job. Mr Macleod said work experience was vital to expose potential recruits to the industry. He said: \"The hospitality industry is not necessarily for everybody. You have to be comfortable giving service, you have to be comfortable with people. \"Getting that experience is vital to the employee and beneficial to the employer but it is not to be exploited and not to be abused.\" Mr McDonald said his private member's bill aimed to end the \"cynical exploitation\" of unpaid trial work, where people are working for long hours in the hope of getting a job."}], "question": "What about things like work experience?", "id": "413_3"}]}]}, {"title": "Germany to quash 50,000 gay convictions", "date": "22 March 2017", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Germany's cabinet has backed a bill to clear men handed sentences for homosexuality after World War Two under a Nazi-era law. The notorious Paragraph 175 of the penal code was eventually relaxed in 1969, but not before 50,000 men were convicted. Many were sent to jail and some took their own lives because of the stigma. Justice Minister Heiko Maas said it was a flagrant injustice and those still alive would be given compensation. The German government's decision comes months after the UK said it was pardoning 65,000 gay and bisexual men who were convicted under the Sexual Offences Act that criminalised private homosexual acts in England and Wales until 1967 and later in Scotland and Northern Ireland. Alan Turing law: Thousands to be pardoned The cabinet decided on Wednesday to back a bill annulling the sentences and handing compensation to all those affected. If the law is passed, every man convicted who is still alive will receive a EUR3,000 (PS2,600; $3,240) lump sum plus a further EUR1,500 for each year spent in jail. Only 5,000 men are thought to be eligible for compensation as most have since died. Condemning the convictions as the \"crimes of the state\", the justice minister said the men's rehabilitation was long overdue. \"It was only because of their love of men and their sexual identity that they were persecuted, punished and outlawed by the German state,\" said Mr Maas. The law prohibiting \"sexual acts contrary to nature\" first appeared in Germany's criminal code in 1871 shortly after the country was unified. Unsuccessful attempts were made to repeal it under the Weimar Republic, but under the Nazis it was tightened in 1935 to criminalise \"lewd and lascivious acts\" between men. Tens of thousands of homosexuals were imprisoned and many died in concentration camps. The article remained part of the criminal code in East and West Germany. In the East it was removed in 1968 and in the West it was relaxed before being finally repealed by the unified German government in 1994. Between 1949 and 1969 50,000 men were prosecuted and there were a further 14,000 cases until 1994. Wolfgang Lauinger, now 98, was persecuted first by the Nazis and then held in prison uncharged for several months in 1950 by the West German authorities. \"I still believe they used old Gestapo files,\" he said of his post-war interrogators in a 2016 interview. Alan Turing was both a renowned mathematician and World War Two codebreaker when he was convicted of gross indecency in 1952 for having sex with a man. He lost his job, was chemically castrated and two years later took his life aged 42. He was finally pardoned in 2013. In January 2017, the UK government granted a posthumous pardon under the \"Turing law\" to an estimated 50,000 men convicted of having consensual homosexual sex. Some 15,000 are still alive but have to apply to have their conviction removed under a \"disregard process\". No compensation is involved.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 752, "answer_end": 1399, "text": "The cabinet decided on Wednesday to back a bill annulling the sentences and handing compensation to all those affected. If the law is passed, every man convicted who is still alive will receive a EUR3,000 (PS2,600; $3,240) lump sum plus a further EUR1,500 for each year spent in jail. Only 5,000 men are thought to be eligible for compensation as most have since died. Condemning the convictions as the \"crimes of the state\", the justice minister said the men's rehabilitation was long overdue. \"It was only because of their love of men and their sexual identity that they were persecuted, punished and outlawed by the German state,\" said Mr Maas."}], "question": "What will quashing the sentences mean?", "id": "414_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1400, "answer_end": 2370, "text": "The law prohibiting \"sexual acts contrary to nature\" first appeared in Germany's criminal code in 1871 shortly after the country was unified. Unsuccessful attempts were made to repeal it under the Weimar Republic, but under the Nazis it was tightened in 1935 to criminalise \"lewd and lascivious acts\" between men. Tens of thousands of homosexuals were imprisoned and many died in concentration camps. The article remained part of the criminal code in East and West Germany. In the East it was removed in 1968 and in the West it was relaxed before being finally repealed by the unified German government in 1994. Between 1949 and 1969 50,000 men were prosecuted and there were a further 14,000 cases until 1994. Wolfgang Lauinger, now 98, was persecuted first by the Nazis and then held in prison uncharged for several months in 1950 by the West German authorities. \"I still believe they used old Gestapo files,\" he said of his post-war interrogators in a 2016 interview."}], "question": "What was Paragraph 175?", "id": "414_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2371, "answer_end": 2937, "text": "Alan Turing was both a renowned mathematician and World War Two codebreaker when he was convicted of gross indecency in 1952 for having sex with a man. He lost his job, was chemically castrated and two years later took his life aged 42. He was finally pardoned in 2013. In January 2017, the UK government granted a posthumous pardon under the \"Turing law\" to an estimated 50,000 men convicted of having consensual homosexual sex. Some 15,000 are still alive but have to apply to have their conviction removed under a \"disregard process\". No compensation is involved."}], "question": "What is the Turing law?", "id": "414_2"}]}]}, {"title": "Airbnb host fined \u00a3100,000 for letting council flat", "date": "29 July 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "An Airbnb host who rented out his central London council flat to tourists has been fined PS100,000 and evicted. Council tenant Toby Harman, 37, created the fake identity \"Lara\" on Airbnb to rent out his studio apartment. The flat, in Victoria, had been advertised since 2013 and received more than 300 reviews, Westminster City Council said. Anti-fraud software had found Harman's first name in reviews and connected the listing to him. Harman's bank statements showed he had been receiving payments from Airbnb for a number of years. He had been taken to court and, after a failed appeal, evicted and ordered to pay PS100,974 in unlawful profits, the Times reported. Airbnb told BBC News the council property listing had been removed from its website earlier this year. \"We regularly remind hosts to check and follow local rules - including on subsidised housing - and we take action on issues brought to our attention,\" said a spokeswoman. \"Airbnb... works with London to limit how often hosts can share their space and we support proposals from the mayor of London for a registration system to help local authorities regulate short-term lets and ensure rules are applied equally to hosts on all platforms in the capital.\" Westminster Council said it was currently investigating at least 1,500 properties in the borough for short-term letting. \"Social housing is there to provide much-needed homes for our residents, not to generate illicit profits for dishonest tenants,\" the council's Andrew Smith said. \"It's illegal for council tenants to sublet their homes and we carry out tenancy checks, as well as monitoring short-term letting websites for any potential illegal sublets.\" It said it would now be able to allocate the property to someone else. \"We're also pressing government to introduce a national registration scheme to make it far easier for us to take action against anyone who breaks the rules on short-term letting,\" he added. London's Airbnb market has quadrupled since 2015, from 20,000 to 80,000 listings. One of the most popular areas for Airbnb listings in the country is Shoreditch, particularly the area around Brick Lane. Arla Propertymark, the professional body representing UK lettings agents, told the BBC that people renting out their homes for days or weeks at a time is on the rise. \"We increasingly hear anecdotal evidence from our members in the big cities London, Birmingham and Manchester) about properties that have been let on tenancy agreements appearing on short-term letting sites...which is reducing the number of properties within the traditional rental market,\" said Arla Propertymark's chief executive David Cox. One legal expert said that most private residential landlords would not allow their properties to be sub-let. Louise Hebborn, partner at the law firm Stephensons said that almost all \"well-drafted\" Assured Shorthold Tenancy agreements include a provision that bans the act, which would cover listing rooms on Airbnb. \"Landlords in general are very cautious of having multiple people in properties because the implication of that is that the landlord has to have a Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMO) licence,\" she said. There would also be concerns about whether the property was adequately insured, she added. She said that her law firm had been involved in cases where tenants had been taken to court for breaking the rules.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 2147, "answer_end": 3383, "text": "Arla Propertymark, the professional body representing UK lettings agents, told the BBC that people renting out their homes for days or weeks at a time is on the rise. \"We increasingly hear anecdotal evidence from our members in the big cities London, Birmingham and Manchester) about properties that have been let on tenancy agreements appearing on short-term letting sites...which is reducing the number of properties within the traditional rental market,\" said Arla Propertymark's chief executive David Cox. One legal expert said that most private residential landlords would not allow their properties to be sub-let. Louise Hebborn, partner at the law firm Stephensons said that almost all \"well-drafted\" Assured Shorthold Tenancy agreements include a provision that bans the act, which would cover listing rooms on Airbnb. \"Landlords in general are very cautious of having multiple people in properties because the implication of that is that the landlord has to have a Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMO) licence,\" she said. There would also be concerns about whether the property was adequately insured, she added. She said that her law firm had been involved in cases where tenants had been taken to court for breaking the rules."}], "question": "What about residential lets?", "id": "415_0"}]}]}, {"title": "'OK boomer': Abigail Disney tells those offended to 'sit down'", "date": "12 November 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Abigail Disney has hit out at people taking offence at the \"OK boomer\" trend, telling them to \"sit... down and let the kids drive\". In a thread on Twitter, the 59-year-old Disney heiress asks fellow members of the baby boomer generation when they became \"so easily triggered\". \"OK boomer\" is a viral phrase used to dismiss or mock those who seem dismissive of younger generations' concerns. Critics say the phrase is ageist. In her expletive-laden Twitter thread, Ms Disney said baby boomers needed to \"face up to the fact that the world is changing fast but you are not.\" \"The more often you object to Millenials' [sic] understandable resentment toward a generation that has selfishly poisoned their water, blown past every climate warning so they could drive their stupid hummers, and looked away or worse for sexual, racial and economic injustice, the more you prove their point that you just don't understand anything of value to them.\" she added. \"How about you guys sit the [expletive] down and let the kids drive,\" she wrote. Ms Disney, a filmmaker and granddaughter of Walt Disney Company co-founder Roy Oliver Disney, has been an outspoken critic of issues such as income inequality. Earlier this year, she was among a group of ultra-wealthy Americans asking to be taxed more. A \"boomer\" is shorthand for a baby boomer - someone born between 1946 and 1964. In internet parlance, \"OK boomer\" is a derogatory phrase used primarily by the next generations to show their indignation towards older people deemed indifferent to their concerns. It is used widely on platforms like Twitter and TikTok. A 25-year-old New Zealand politician hit headlines last week for using the phrase in parliament when an older lawmaker interrupted her speech on climate change. \"Boomer is a state of mind,\" the politician, Chloe Swarbrick, later told news site Stuff.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1286, "answer_end": 1853, "text": "A \"boomer\" is shorthand for a baby boomer - someone born between 1946 and 1964. In internet parlance, \"OK boomer\" is a derogatory phrase used primarily by the next generations to show their indignation towards older people deemed indifferent to their concerns. It is used widely on platforms like Twitter and TikTok. A 25-year-old New Zealand politician hit headlines last week for using the phrase in parliament when an older lawmaker interrupted her speech on climate change. \"Boomer is a state of mind,\" the politician, Chloe Swarbrick, later told news site Stuff."}], "question": "What exactly does 'OK boomer' mean?", "id": "416_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Israeli police set up East Jerusalem checkpoints", "date": "14 October 2015", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Israeli forces have begun a major security operation in Arab areas of occupied East Jerusalem, after a surge in attacks by Palestinians. On Wednesday morning police blocked entrances to Jabal Mukaber, a district that is home to three men accused of killing three Israelis on Tuesday. The Israeli military also deployed hundreds of soldiers to assist. Later, police said they shot dead a Palestinian who stabbed an Israeli woman at Jerusalem's main bus station. A Palestinian also attempted to stab a policeman at the Damascus Gate of the walled Old City, but was shot dead by police, they added. Is social media driving Israel-Palestinian violence? Can Israel and the Palestinians contain spiralling violence? Since the beginning of October, seven Israelis have been killed and dozens wounded in shooting and stabbing attacks, the Israeli authorities say. At least 30 Palestinians have also been killed, including assailants, and hundreds have been injured, according to the Palestinian health ministry. Speaking for the first time since the upsurge in violence began, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas said Israeli actions were \"threatening to spark a religious conflict that would burn everything\". He also accused Israel of carrying out \"executions of our children in cold blood\", highlighting the case of a 13-year-old Palestinian boy who was shot by Israeli police after he and a 15-year-old stabbed an Israeli on Monday. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has described the Palestinian leader's comments as \"lies and incitement\", adding that the boy was alive in hospital, the Jerusalem Post reports. He said on Tuesday the new security measures were aimed at \"those who try murder and with all those who assist them\". On Tuesday night, Israel's security cabinet authorised police to close or surround \"centres of friction and incitement\" in Jerusalem. It also announced that the homes of Palestinians who attacked Israelis would be demolished within days and never rebuilt, and that their families' right to live in Jerusalem would be taken away. On Wednesday morning, a police spokeswoman told the AFP news agency that checkpoints were being set up at \"the exits of Palestinian villages and neighbourhoods in East Jerusalem\". Israeli newspapers later reported that several entrances to Jabal Mukaber had been blocked by police, with neither people nor vehicles allowed in or out. Across some roads leading into Arab neighbourhoods, a police vehicle blocks access; at other points, heavily armed police keep guard; at one access point, what was a lightly-staffed police checkpoint has been beefed up. For years, Israel has tightly controlled access in and out of the West Bank and Gaza, where the vast majority of Palestinians live. East Jerusalem's checkpoints are not like the ones around the West Bank and Gaza; they are much more informal affairs. But they are, for the first time since 1967, restricting access to and from largely Arab East Jerusalem. How long they will last is difficult to call. East Jerusalem's residents have the right to move freely through the city and Israel. It doesn't seem feasible to cut off whole neighbourhoods for long. And the roadblocks and checkpoints strike at the idea promulgated by the Israeli right that Jerusalem is the undivided capital of the Israeli state. The checkpoints have the feel of short-term solution to an acute security problem. But with Israelis mourning their dead, and in fear of their lives, there is extraordinary pressure on the government to act. Human Rights Watch warned on Tuesday night that locking down parts of East Jerusalem would \"infringe upon the freedom of movement of all Palestinian residents rather than being a narrowly tailored response to a specific concern\". \"The checkpoints are a recipe for harassment and abuse,\" said Sari Bashi, the group's Israel/Palestine country director, in a statement. Meanwhile, the Israeli military said it was preparing to deploy six companies to assist police. Three hundred soldiers are already providing additional security under police command. The security cabinet's decisions were made after the bloodiest day in Jerusalem since the latest wave of unrest began in early October. In Tuesday's first attack, two Palestinian men boarded a bus and began shooting and stabbing passengers, killing two Israelis, police said. Police shot dead one of the assailants and wounded the other. Just a few minutes later, another Palestinian rammed his car into a bus stop before getting out and stabbing people. The attacker was fatally shot by a security guard. There were also two separate knife attacks in Raanana, a town in central Israel. Police identified the assailants as Palestinian residents of East Jerusalem. Clashes between Palestinian protesters and Israeli soldiers meanwhile continued in the West Bank after Palestinian activists called for a \"day of rage\". Palestinian medics said one Palestinian was killed by Israeli fire in Bethlehem. The BBC's Yolande Knell in Jerusalem says the violence, coming at a time when peace prospects seem dim, has fuelled a sense of panic in Israel and raised fears of a new Palestinian uprising, or intifada. There has been a spate of stabbings of Israelis - several of them fatal - by Palestinians since early October, and one apparent revenge stabbing by an Israeli. The attackers have struck in Jerusalem and central and northern Israel, and in the occupied West Bank. Israel has tightened security and its security forces have clashed with rioting Palestinians, leading to deaths on the Palestinian side. The violence has also spread to the border with Gaza. After a period of relative quiet, violence between the two communities has spiralled since clashes erupted at a flashpoint Jerusalem holy site in mid-September. It was fuelled by rumours among Palestinians that Israel was attempting to alter a long-standing religious arrangement governing the site. Israel repeatedly dismissed the rumours as incitement. Soon afterwards, two Israelis were shot dead by Palestinians in the West Bank and the stabbing attacks began. Both Israel and the Palestinian authorities have accused one another of doing nothing to protect each other's communities. There have been two organised uprisings by Palestinians against Israeli occupation, in the 1980s and early 2000s. With peace talks moribund, some observers have questioned whether we are now seeing a third. The stabbing attacks seem to be opportunistic and although they have been praised by militant groups, Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas has said Palestinians are not interested in a further escalation.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 5191, "answer_end": 5644, "text": "There has been a spate of stabbings of Israelis - several of them fatal - by Palestinians since early October, and one apparent revenge stabbing by an Israeli. The attackers have struck in Jerusalem and central and northern Israel, and in the occupied West Bank. Israel has tightened security and its security forces have clashed with rioting Palestinians, leading to deaths on the Palestinian side. The violence has also spread to the border with Gaza."}], "question": "What is happening between Israelis and Palestinians?", "id": "417_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 5645, "answer_end": 6232, "text": "After a period of relative quiet, violence between the two communities has spiralled since clashes erupted at a flashpoint Jerusalem holy site in mid-September. It was fuelled by rumours among Palestinians that Israel was attempting to alter a long-standing religious arrangement governing the site. Israel repeatedly dismissed the rumours as incitement. Soon afterwards, two Israelis were shot dead by Palestinians in the West Bank and the stabbing attacks began. Both Israel and the Palestinian authorities have accused one another of doing nothing to protect each other's communities."}], "question": "What's behind the latest unrest?", "id": "417_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 6233, "answer_end": 6640, "text": "There have been two organised uprisings by Palestinians against Israeli occupation, in the 1980s and early 2000s. With peace talks moribund, some observers have questioned whether we are now seeing a third. The stabbing attacks seem to be opportunistic and although they have been praised by militant groups, Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas has said Palestinians are not interested in a further escalation."}], "question": "Is this a new Palestinian intifada, or uprising?", "id": "417_2"}]}]}, {"title": "The bruising clash over a Facebook Live stream", "date": "10 February 2017", "paragraphs": [{"context": "In the red corner: a mechanic who streamed Australia's most anticipated boxing match for free on Facebook Live. In the blue corner: a cable TV company that risked a public backlash to protect its lucrative broadcast rights. It's a skirmish that has sparked intriguing debate in Australia this week, raising questions about whether individuals - and social media companies - should be held accountable for copyright infringement. A boxing match between high-profile Australian boxers Anthony Mundine and Danny Green took place last Friday, a final chapter in their long-running rivalry. Cable TV rights-holder Foxtel charged viewers almost A$60 (PS37; $46) to watch it. But only 27% of Australians have access to cable TV and annual Foxtel subscriptions cost between A$600 and A$1800. One fan, Darren Sharpe, took matters into his own hands. Using a function available to all Facebook users, he broadcast the fight from his phone to \"a few friends who couldn't afford the event\". His Facebook Live stream was rapidly shared, and at one point more than 100,000 people were watching the feed. It did not go unnoticed by Foxtel. A representative for the company phoned Mr Sharpe asking him to end his stream. The call was also broadcast live. Mr Sharpe is heard saying: \"I'm not doing anything wrong, mate. What can you do to me?\" The representative replies: \"It's a criminal offence against the Copyright Act, mate. We've got technical protection methods inside the box so exactly this thing can't happen.\" Mr Sharpe's actions earned him real-time internet status: memes, a hashtag (#RemotesOutForDazza) and an entry on slang website Urban Dictionary (\"Doin a Dazza\"). Foxtel quickly threatened him with legal action. Mr Sharpe then started a fundraising page for a possible defence, drawing some donations. \"The incident with Facebook last weekend is not just theft,\" Foxtel chief executive Peter Tonagh told News Corp. \"It is a threat to the future viability of live events such as boxing and to the sustainability of the content industry generally.\" Industry commentators queried the company's hard line. Tim Burrowes, on industry website Mumbrella, wrote: \"The Australian public like a Robin Hood figure, and taking extreme legal action - which the company has threatened - will turn Sharpe and his compadres into exactly that.\" David Lipson said consumers demanded instant access. \"If it's not easy to buy, and relatively cheap, technology allows them to go elsewhere,\" he wrote for the Australian Broadcasting Corp. Days later, Foxtel said it would \"educate\" Mr Sharpe about copyright, rather than take legal action. It coincided with an apology by Mr Sharpe on his Facebook page. \"I know that this was illegal and the wrong thing to do,\" he wrote on Thursday. \"Foxtel and the event promoters invested hundreds of thousands of dollars to produce the fight and to broadcast it.\" The social network has human moderators who monitor streams but only after videos reach an undisclosed audience threshold. It also has a Rights Manager page allowing copyright holders to request the removal of material. Facebook did not respond to a request for comment, but in a blog post last year it claimed to have taken steps to protect live broadcasts. \"We check every Facebook Live video stream against files in the Rights Manager reference library, and if a match surfaces, we'll interrupt that live video,\" it said. Under Australian law, serious copyright infringements can attract fines of up to A$117,000 or five years in jail. In the US, \"safe harbour\" provisions offer protection to companies - such as Facebook - from copyright infringements made by third parties. However, Fiona Phillips, chief executive of the Australian Copyright Council, said it was not the same in Australia. \"It only applies to ISPs (internet service providers) not to other service providers, so it doesn't apply to Google, Twitter, Facebook, etc,\" she told the BBC. Twitter's live-streaming app Periscope has also hosted unsanctioned broadcasts. But in an Australian first, the company last year secured official rights to stream Australia's Melbourne Cup horse race. It has also signed a deal to stream NFL matches in the US. Experts believe it may be a sign of things to come. Professor Nigel Phair, from the University of Canberra, points to similarities with piracy in the music industry. \"iTunes made their songs cheap enough that people stopped trying to bootleg music, because you could buy songs for 99 cents each,\" he said. Live sporting broadcasts are a key reason many people subscribe to cable or satellite television. Netflix has said it is not interested in buying rights from established leagues. However, Amazon is reportedly interested in sports including tennis, rugby, football and car racing. Dr Matthew Rimmer, from Queensland University of Technology, said internet companies had a fundamentally different approach. \"TV companies still try to divide programmes in terms of different geographical markets and timeslots,\" the intellectual property law expert told the BBC. \"By contrast, a lot of the internet services can globally distribute an event widely and break down those old geographic and temporal limitations.\" Mr Sharpe did not respond to requests for comment.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 429, "answer_end": 1804, "text": "A boxing match between high-profile Australian boxers Anthony Mundine and Danny Green took place last Friday, a final chapter in their long-running rivalry. Cable TV rights-holder Foxtel charged viewers almost A$60 (PS37; $46) to watch it. But only 27% of Australians have access to cable TV and annual Foxtel subscriptions cost between A$600 and A$1800. One fan, Darren Sharpe, took matters into his own hands. Using a function available to all Facebook users, he broadcast the fight from his phone to \"a few friends who couldn't afford the event\". His Facebook Live stream was rapidly shared, and at one point more than 100,000 people were watching the feed. It did not go unnoticed by Foxtel. A representative for the company phoned Mr Sharpe asking him to end his stream. The call was also broadcast live. Mr Sharpe is heard saying: \"I'm not doing anything wrong, mate. What can you do to me?\" The representative replies: \"It's a criminal offence against the Copyright Act, mate. We've got technical protection methods inside the box so exactly this thing can't happen.\" Mr Sharpe's actions earned him real-time internet status: memes, a hashtag (#RemotesOutForDazza) and an entry on slang website Urban Dictionary (\"Doin a Dazza\"). Foxtel quickly threatened him with legal action. Mr Sharpe then started a fundraising page for a possible defence, drawing some donations."}], "question": "What's this all about?", "id": "418_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1805, "answer_end": 2880, "text": "\"The incident with Facebook last weekend is not just theft,\" Foxtel chief executive Peter Tonagh told News Corp. \"It is a threat to the future viability of live events such as boxing and to the sustainability of the content industry generally.\" Industry commentators queried the company's hard line. Tim Burrowes, on industry website Mumbrella, wrote: \"The Australian public like a Robin Hood figure, and taking extreme legal action - which the company has threatened - will turn Sharpe and his compadres into exactly that.\" David Lipson said consumers demanded instant access. \"If it's not easy to buy, and relatively cheap, technology allows them to go elsewhere,\" he wrote for the Australian Broadcasting Corp. Days later, Foxtel said it would \"educate\" Mr Sharpe about copyright, rather than take legal action. It coincided with an apology by Mr Sharpe on his Facebook page. \"I know that this was illegal and the wrong thing to do,\" he wrote on Thursday. \"Foxtel and the event promoters invested hundreds of thousands of dollars to produce the fight and to broadcast it.\""}], "question": "What happened next?", "id": "418_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2881, "answer_end": 3405, "text": "The social network has human moderators who monitor streams but only after videos reach an undisclosed audience threshold. It also has a Rights Manager page allowing copyright holders to request the removal of material. Facebook did not respond to a request for comment, but in a blog post last year it claimed to have taken steps to protect live broadcasts. \"We check every Facebook Live video stream against files in the Rights Manager reference library, and if a match surfaces, we'll interrupt that live video,\" it said."}], "question": "What is Facebook doing to prevent illegal streams?", "id": "418_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3937, "answer_end": 4503, "text": "Twitter's live-streaming app Periscope has also hosted unsanctioned broadcasts. But in an Australian first, the company last year secured official rights to stream Australia's Melbourne Cup horse race. It has also signed a deal to stream NFL matches in the US. Experts believe it may be a sign of things to come. Professor Nigel Phair, from the University of Canberra, points to similarities with piracy in the music industry. \"iTunes made their songs cheap enough that people stopped trying to bootleg music, because you could buy songs for 99 cents each,\" he said."}], "question": "Will rights holders change their approach?", "id": "418_3"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 4504, "answer_end": 5262, "text": "Live sporting broadcasts are a key reason many people subscribe to cable or satellite television. Netflix has said it is not interested in buying rights from established leagues. However, Amazon is reportedly interested in sports including tennis, rugby, football and car racing. Dr Matthew Rimmer, from Queensland University of Technology, said internet companies had a fundamentally different approach. \"TV companies still try to divide programmes in terms of different geographical markets and timeslots,\" the intellectual property law expert told the BBC. \"By contrast, a lot of the internet services can globally distribute an event widely and break down those old geographic and temporal limitations.\" Mr Sharpe did not respond to requests for comment."}], "question": "Is the pay-per-view model broken?", "id": "418_4"}]}]}, {"title": "Ministers 'will agree Brexit stance' at Chequers summit", "date": "1 July 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "A cabinet minister says he is \"confident\" his colleagues will settle their differences over Brexit at a crunch summit at Chequers on Friday. James Brokenshire said there were \"strong views\" on both sides but predicted the away-day would yield a \"clear direction\" from the UK. Ministers are under increasing pressure to spell out what type of relationship with the EU the UK should pursue. EU chiefs demanded clarity from the UK at last week's Brussels summit. Theresa May has promised more details in a White Paper that will be published after Friday's cabinet get-together at her official country residence. The UK is leaving the EU on 29 March 2019, and negotiations are taking place on what their future relationship will look like. But there is disagreement on the UK side about what sort of trading relationship to pursue with the EU, and how closely aligned they should be in years to come. Speaking on the BBC's Andrew Marr Show, Mr Brokenshire, the secretary of state for local government and housing, said: \"I think there's no doubt that there are strong views on either side and that's what I would expect as we lead into the discussions on Friday. \"But, equally, I remain confident that we will come out from that meeting with that clear direction, the White Paper that will follow, and actually setting out our vision for our future with our EU partners.\" After Brexit day in March 2019, a temporary transition period is planned until the end of 2020 to allow an \"orderly withdrawal\" for the UK. Business Secretary Greg Clark did not rule out an extension to this arrangement, telling Sky News the government had to be \"guided by the evidence\" and avoid \"frictions\" at the border. He said the government would assess how long a new customs system would take to put in place, adding that \"it seems to me that any reasonable person would have to be guided by the facts and the evidence\". Ministers have yet to agree on how to replace the UK's membership of the EU customs union - on Saturday it was revealed Environment Secretary Michael Gove had physically torn apart a report on Theresa May's preferred \"partnership\" arrangement. Brexiteer Conservative MPs have said they will not accept any extension to the transition phase. More than 30 have signed a letter to Mrs May urging her to face down people trying to \"undermine\" the 2016 vote to leave the EU. Their other demands include not replicating the EU's customs union and an end to the free movement of EU citizens. \"Our departure must be absolute,\" the MPs say. \"We must not remain entangled with the EU's institutions if this restricts our ability to exercise our sovereignty as an independent nation.  Anything less will be a weakening of our democracy. Britain must stand firm.\" Conservative MP Andrea Jenkyns, who delivered the letter to the PM, tweeted: \"We must be clear to those in the cabinet and on the back benches, we will not sit back & allow a small minority to dominate.\" Eurosceptic former Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith said Theresa May \"probably doesn't need letters... to tell her what to do\". He added: \"I just think we simply have to get behind her and say, 'let's get her over there and tell the European Union they need to do a trade agreement with us and do it pretty quickly'.\" But pro-EU Labour MP Alison McGovern said there was a \"serious\" price attached to the government's negotiating red lines like leaving the EU's single market and customs union. And she said the Chequers meeting was vital. \"We now need to know what it is the cabinet is trying to achieve - so this cannot be more important.\" There are also Brexit divisions within the Labour Party, with Jeremy Corbyn urged by some of his MPs to back staying in the EU's single market or support another referendum on the final deal. Campaigners for a so-called \"People's Vote\" have published a survey of members of Unite - the trade union that is Labour's biggest donor - where a majority were in favour of a second referendum. Of almost 1,000 polled by YouGov, 57% backed a second referendum compared with 34% who were against, while respondents believed, by a margin of by a margin of 58% to 21%, that leaving the single market would make Britain worse off. The People's Vote campaign said its survey provided \"clear evidence that workers are turning decisively against the bad Brexit deal emerging from political machinations in Westminster and botched negotiations in Brussels\". Mr Corbyn told the BBC's Sunday Politics: \"It's not our policy to have a second referendum - it's our policy to respect the result of the referendum but to have serious negotiations with the EU to gain a customs union and access to the single market to protect jobs in this country.\" He added that one of the reasons people voted to leave the EU was because of the UK's \"deeply unequal society where many former industrial areas lose out very badly because they haven't had the investment they need\".", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1368, "answer_end": 2141, "text": "After Brexit day in March 2019, a temporary transition period is planned until the end of 2020 to allow an \"orderly withdrawal\" for the UK. Business Secretary Greg Clark did not rule out an extension to this arrangement, telling Sky News the government had to be \"guided by the evidence\" and avoid \"frictions\" at the border. He said the government would assess how long a new customs system would take to put in place, adding that \"it seems to me that any reasonable person would have to be guided by the facts and the evidence\". Ministers have yet to agree on how to replace the UK's membership of the EU customs union - on Saturday it was revealed Environment Secretary Michael Gove had physically torn apart a report on Theresa May's preferred \"partnership\" arrangement."}], "question": "Transition extension?", "id": "419_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Spain's forgotten Thalidomide victims see glimmer of hope", "date": "23 December 2016", "paragraphs": [{"context": "For decades, Spain's Thalidomide survivors have been the forgotten victims of a drug that caused deformities in some 20,000 babies worldwide after their mothers took it during pregnancy. Once the drug's disastrous side-effects were revealed, German pharmaceutical company Gruenenthal withdrew it from the market in most countries in late 1961. Survivors in countries such as the UK were recognised and paid compensation. But in Spain hundreds of people who believe their disabilities were caused by the drug remain unrecognised and do not get the special assistance they need to live normal lives. Many were born long after the truth about Thalidomide had been established. Analia Munoz was born more than 20 years afterwards, in 1983, with short arms and legs, no ankles or hip joints and a cleft palate. Ms Munoz lives at home near Granada with her parents, both in their mid-sixties. Ana Maria, her mother, remembers going to hospital while pregnant and being given medication. But she cannot prove she took Thalidomide. \"My husband and I both have to carry Analia up and down the stairs and help her in the bathroom. We have no real life outside the home.\" Nor does Analia. \"I would like to work. I have studied to be a secretary and I once had an interview, but the office wasn't practical for my needs. I am frightened about how I am going to get along when my parents aren't around and I am alone.\" Six decades after Thalidomide was launched in 1956, Spain's political parties have now united in support of proposed new legislation intended to provide the basis of proper assistance and compensation for Spanish survivors. By 2010, the government had recognised just 24 victims, all born in the early 1960s, offering them one-off compensation payments of up to EUR100,000 (PS84,000; $104,000). Rafael Basterrechea, born in 1965, was one of the 24. As vice-president of Avite, the association that represents Spain's Thalidomide survivors, he is scathing about the inaction of successive governments and Gruenenthal's refusal to accept responsibility. \"They are waiting for us to die. Gruenenthal makes millions selling its drugs in this country; if the Spanish government put just a little pressure on them, we would get a deal tomorrow,\" he says. Sceptical that the government is prepared to help, he calls it a national disgrace that it has taken so long to help an estimated 400 people in a country of 46 million. \"Thalidomide was on the state register of official drugs until 1975. It was not made illegal to prescribe until 1985, when a law was passed meaning the doctor had to sign that he accepted responsibility for the effects. Only then, after 1985, do the cases disappear,\" says Mr Basterrechea. - 1956: Chemie Gruenenthal's drug Thalidomide is licensed in Germany as an anticonvulsant and anti-anxiety drug - Also considered to reduce \"morning sickness\" in pregnant women it is sold over the counter in much of Europe - 1961:  Gruenenthal is presented with studies suggesting the drug's dangerous side-effects on unborn babies - November 1961: Thalidomide withdrawn from sale - 1973: UK distributor Distillers recognises and compensates 460 Thalidomide survivors - Gruenenthal helps victims in 38 countries through two foundations it has set up, in recognition of its role in the health disaster. Avite was founded in 2004 by Jose Riquelme, who believes he only found out about his condition aged 17, when he came across a magazine in a rubbish dump near his home in Murcia in 1980 and read an article about Thalidomide survivors abroad. His campaign group, which now has 286 members, successfully sued Gruenenthal in 2013, when a Spanish judge agreed that the company had not taken the necessary care to ensure that Thalidomide was safe. The judge in that case ordered Gruenenthal to compensate 20 Spanish survivors out of the 186 named in Avite's lawsuit. But Gruenenthal won on appeal, arguing that after 50 years there could be no proof that these individuals' deformities were related to their drug. \"No other substance can produce the malformations presented by 250 Spanish victims,\" according to Xavier Garcia Mora of the Catalan Association of Forensic Medics, who made a detailed study of Avite's members. Dr Garcia Mora says 90% of those who suffered from the drug's side-effects would have died during childhood. Avite's campaigners have produced what appears to be a letter from Gruenenthal to its sister company in Madrid, dated 21 December 1961 - shortly after Thalidomide was withdrawn from European markets. In the letter the German company accepts that it is not necessary to warn all Spanish doctors of the drug's danger due to \"the extremely minor distribution\" of Softenon, the commercial name used in Spain. \"Spain was like a Third-World country up to the 1980s,\" says Rafael Basterrechea. \"Doctors were prescribing to illiterate people a lot of the time and pharmaceutical companies could do whatever they liked.\" In a written response to the BBC, Gruenenthal says it \"sincerely regrets the Thalidomide tragedy\", but argues that distribution of Softenon in Spain ceased under company instructions in November 1961. \"However, in Spain, Thalidomide-containing medicines were also marketed by other companies which had (illegally) manufactured and marketed their own products independently [meaning] Gruenenthal therefore had no control over their operations.\" Sofia Maria Garcia Duran, 46, spends the week at a care home in Sant Feliu de Llobregat, near Barcelona, and weekends with her mother Antonia and her husband. She has never received any compensation for her condition, despite being born with no legs and tiny, fingerless stumps for arms. \"I could live alone if I could afford a flat in a decent condition to live in,\" says Ms Garcia Duran. \"But all I get is EUR550 a month, and the care home costs EUR450.\" Her mother was given unknown medication when suffering severe nausea during pregnancy in 1970. It was in Hamburg that Claus Knapp, 88, and senior partner Widukind Lenz uncovered the cause of so many deformities in babies. \"I was working as a radiologist, sitting there looking at plates all day. Then one day I saw the X-ray of a child with no bottom half: no hips, no legs, nothing. \"I set it to one side, as I had no idea what this was or what could cause this. Then a few more appeared. Every day I gave a demonstration to student doctors and hung up X-ray plates. \"People said: 'Why are you always showing us this same case? We don't know what this is.' And I said: 'But it is not the same one - there are many'.\" For three weeks in autumn 1961, the two partners drove around Hamburg visiting parents, many of them mourning a Thalidomide baby who had died, trying to find an explanation. The common denominator was Thalidomide, taken by all of the mothers they had checked, from factory workers who helped themselves to freely available pills to help them get though their shifts, to others taken to hospital during their pregnancies for appendicitis or other ailments. Dr Knapp moved back to his native Spain in 1963, and believed for many years that the country had been spared the scourge of Thalidomide, until he found out about Avite's campaign for justice. Widukind Lenz has since died and Dr Knapp, shocked that the fight is still going on after 55 years, says \"I'm the last witness\".", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1406, "answer_end": 2713, "text": "Six decades after Thalidomide was launched in 1956, Spain's political parties have now united in support of proposed new legislation intended to provide the basis of proper assistance and compensation for Spanish survivors. By 2010, the government had recognised just 24 victims, all born in the early 1960s, offering them one-off compensation payments of up to EUR100,000 (PS84,000; $104,000). Rafael Basterrechea, born in 1965, was one of the 24. As vice-president of Avite, the association that represents Spain's Thalidomide survivors, he is scathing about the inaction of successive governments and Gruenenthal's refusal to accept responsibility. \"They are waiting for us to die. Gruenenthal makes millions selling its drugs in this country; if the Spanish government put just a little pressure on them, we would get a deal tomorrow,\" he says. Sceptical that the government is prepared to help, he calls it a national disgrace that it has taken so long to help an estimated 400 people in a country of 46 million. \"Thalidomide was on the state register of official drugs until 1975. It was not made illegal to prescribe until 1985, when a law was passed meaning the doctor had to sign that he accepted responsibility for the effects. Only then, after 1985, do the cases disappear,\" says Mr Basterrechea."}], "question": "Why was Spain so slow to help?", "id": "420_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Why is India's next president so unknown?", "date": "20 July 2017", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Ram Nath Kovind, former governor of the northern Indian state state of Bihar, has been elected as the country's new president. BBC Hindi's Vineet Khare profiles a man many Indians have never heard of. \"I have been writing about the Dalits [formerly untouchables] for 27 years. But I first heard of Ram Nath Kovind the day he was nominated for India's next president.\" Dalit writer-activist Chandrabhan Prasad is not alone in claiming that he does not know about the man who has just been elected to the top constitutional post. His nomination by the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) caused so much surprise that a local media report quipped that it \"seems only two people knew about his candidature. PM Narendra Modi and God\". It added that his name had been entered more than 500,000 times on Google within 24 hours of the announcement of his candidacy. When BJP president Amit Shah  declared that Mr Kovind would be the party's nominee, he described him as a Dalit who had \"struggled his way up to such a high position in his political career\". The Dalits sit at the bottom of the Hindu caste system in India and complaints of discrimination are still widespread. Many in fact, accuse the BJP of perpetuating the Brahmin-led caste order where Dalits figure at the bottom, and say Mr Kovind's nomination comes at a time when the party is being accused of being insensitive towards the community. The five-year job is largely ceremonial but could be crucial when elections throw up fragmented mandates. However, many prominent Dalits say they are unaware what contributions, if any, the new first citizen has made on behalf of the community. \"I go to seminars on Dalits. I write opinion pieces. I appear on TV debates. My job is to work around the subject. But I don't know anything about him,\" said Mr Prasad. \"I have never heard him take a stand on Dalit issues. It could be my ignorance. \"He seems to be an educated, conscientious person but I have never heard him comment on the atrocities against the Dalits,\" complained another Dalit writer, who preferred anonymity. \"The move to install a Dalit to the ornamental post is symbolic. Did the appointment of [India's first Dalit president] KR Narayanan help the community in any way? If the ideology of the party is not supportive of the Dalit cause, it doesn't make much difference,\" he said. \"The party has gone for a man who is not towering, is media shy and whose political and ideological orientation is in sync with Mr Modi,\" senior journalist Siddharth Varadarajan told the BBC. Mr Kovind's long-time neighbour Jageshwar, a Dalit in the northern city of Kanpur, claims he cannot recall if Mr Kovind, \"son of a cloth-seller, ever campaigned for a Dalit cause\". Kanpur journalist Ramesh Verma agrees the new president has kept a low profile. \"He stayed away from the media as he didn't want to be controversial,\" Mr Verma told the BBC. \"I never saw him attend Dalit programmes. In fact, he never projected himself as a Dalit leader.\" So what is known about Mr Kovind? A handful of YouTube videos of his speeches show that he is fluent in both Hindi and English. The activists who spoke to the BBC agree that he is a soft-spoken man who \"prefers to stay away from controversies\". 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. 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. A \"committed member\" of the right-wing RSS, the ideological fountainhead of the BJP, Mr Kovind rose to become a lawyer and served two terms in the upper house of parliament. He has also been the party's spokesperson, led a BJP Dalit organisation and has held several important party posts. \"His closeness to the RSS helped him go places,\" senior Dalit leader in the BJP Sanjay Paswan told the BBC. \"Mr Modi and Mr Kovind have known each other for a long time. There is nothing wrong if the PM goes for a man with whom he shares chemistry,\" he said. Mr Paswan also blamed the \"caste bias\" of the media for Mr Kovind's \"anonymity\". \"Dalit spokespersons are the last choice for India media,\" he claimed. Mr Paswan also said Mr Kovind had many \"achievements\" that the \"media refuse to talk about\". \"He has been instrumental in installing memorials of Dalit leader BR Ambedkar. He got the name of the welfare ministry changed to the social justice empowerment ministry - a phrase that conveys the true work of the ministry. He did a lot of work for the Dalit cause.\" Another BJP spokesperson, Dr Bizay Sonkar Shastri, a Dalit who has known Mr Kovind for a long time, says his \"presidential term would help bring forth the real problems of the Dalits\". \"The question 'Kovind who?' is a commentary on the state of political journalism in India - an ecosystem based on babalog [childlike] and inheritor 'sources',\" tweeted journalist Swapan Dasgupta, who is considered close to the BJP. But Mr Kovind is not entirely without controversy. A 2010 Hindustan Times report quoted him as saying that \"Islam and Christianity are alien to the nation\" at a press conference calling for the scrapping of a report that recommended government job reservations for socially and economically disadvantaged sections among religious and linguistic minorities. \"This was a political statement and is still the stand of the BJP. Mr Kovind's statement was a political one and it should be seen in that context,\" Mr Paswan said.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 3240, "answer_end": 3638, "text": "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. 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."}], "question": "What is India's caste system?", "id": "421_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Strictly Come Dancing: Who's been hit by the curse?", "date": "8 October 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "With dances such as the steamy tango or sensual samba, the professional dancers and their celebrity partners get up close and personal on Strictly Come Dancing. And over the years, it's been claimed the BBC One show has been the cause of several relationship break-ups or scandals - which has become known as the \"Strictly curse\". Comedian Seann Walsh and his married dance partner Katya Jones are the latest to be caught up in the drama. They apologised after photos emerged showing them kissing each other in the street during a night out - which they say was a \"drunken mistake\". So who else has been struck by the Strictly curse? Natasha was paired with Brendan during the 2004 series of the show - the first that paired professional dancers and celebrities - and became the couple that sparked the famous \"Strictly curse\" nickname. Brendan split from his fiancee Camilla Dallerup during the show as rumours circulated that he was getting close to Natasha. The newsreader has always insisted there was no romantic relationship between her and her dancing partner. \"There was chemistry, of course, and I certainly fell in love with dancing, but I did not fall in love with Brendan,\" she said at the time. Brendan previously admitted there was \"chemistry\" between the pair - but also denied they had an affair. Boxer Joe Calzaghe split with his girlfriend of five years, Jo-Emma Larvin, shortly after signing up for the 2009 series of Strictly. Jo-Emma later revealed the couple broke up during Joe's first week of Strictly training with his dance partner Kristina Rihanoff. Joe and Kristina ended up getting together and dated for four years before splitting up in 2013 - blaming their hectic work schedules. Kristina went on to find love with another Strictly celeb... World Cup-winning rugby union star Ben Cohen was partnered with Kristina Rihanoff for the 2013 series of Strictly. At the time, he was married to wife Abby Blayney, with whom he had two daughters. In 2014, a spokesman for the couple announced they had split but insisted there was \"no third-party involved\". A year later, Ben and Kristina publicly revealed they were dating. Speaking to the Daily Mirror in 2015, Kristina defended the romance. \"He left his wife a year ago. Recently we started dating but we're allowed to see each other as two single people,\" she said. The couple are still together and have a daughter. Professional dancer Flavia Cacace was in a long-term relationship with fellow dancer Vincent Simone when series five of Strictly started in 2007. She was partnered with ex-EastEnders actor Matt Di Angelo and not long into the series it was revealed she and Vincent had split up. Matt and Flavia ended the series as runners-up and soon after Strictly finished they started dating. The relationship lasted three years. In 2012, Matt told the Daily Mail the focus on the love triangle between him, Flavia and Vincent was a \"pretty crazy time\". \"But in reality, there wasn't much drama. There was never a raised voice, and often the three of us would be sitting down having a cup of tea together.\" Flavia went on to date another soap actor, Jimi Mistry - with whom she was partnered on Strictly in 2010. She and the former Coronation Street star have since married. Countdown star Rachel Riley split with her husband of a year just a few months after appearing on Strictly in 2013. A year later she confirmed she was dating her dance partner Pasha Kovalev - although she said their romance only started after the show ended. \"On Strictly, you form a close bond with your partner, but there was nothing romantic when Pasha and I were dancing. It was just dancing.\" Speaking to the Daily Mail's Event magazine in January, Rachel said she doesn't believe in the Strictly curse. Instead she said the show \"serves as a magnifying glass that shows up pre-existing fault lines.\" The couple are still together. Actress Georgia May Foote was dating fellow Corrie actor Sean Ward when she took part in the 13th series of Strictly. She was partnered with Giovanni Pernice and many viewers remarked on their chemistry during the 2015 show. Georgia split with Sean in December, just shortly after the Strictly final. A few weeks later Georgia and Giovanni confirmed they were dating. They split up in August 2016. Dance psychologist Dr Peter Lovatt says he believes there are several scientific reasons to explain why the Strictly curse can strike. \"The first is social bonding,\" he said. \"Shared movement brings people together. \"Even when you have a baby and bounce it in time or out of time with other people, when you bounce it in time the child will afterwards show more pro-social behaviour to those other people. \"In Strictly, you have this shared movement day after day after day.\" He said another reason may be down to the mood changes that dancing can cause. \"Different types of dance changes people's moods,\" said Dr Lovatt, who leads the Dance Psychology Lab at the University of Hertfordshire. \"What's happening in these couples, there's a synchronisation in their mood changes. This will make them feel like a single entity. Their emotions are going up and down together, the same emotional rollercoaster.\" The intimacy of the ballroom and Latin dances also means that changes in a woman's menstrual cycle can also be felt by their partner, Dr Lovatt adds. Through dance, you can have \"intimate knowledge of other person's state of fertility\", he said. And another reason may be because couples form an \"in group and out group\" mentality after dancing together week after week. \"The couples are bonded so tightly that they form an in group and the other judges and couples are an out group. \"Their names are up on a screen together and you see the professional partners defending their celebrities when criticism comes which helps to form this group.\"", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 4291, "answer_end": 5842, "text": "Dance psychologist Dr Peter Lovatt says he believes there are several scientific reasons to explain why the Strictly curse can strike. \"The first is social bonding,\" he said. \"Shared movement brings people together. \"Even when you have a baby and bounce it in time or out of time with other people, when you bounce it in time the child will afterwards show more pro-social behaviour to those other people. \"In Strictly, you have this shared movement day after day after day.\" He said another reason may be down to the mood changes that dancing can cause. \"Different types of dance changes people's moods,\" said Dr Lovatt, who leads the Dance Psychology Lab at the University of Hertfordshire. \"What's happening in these couples, there's a synchronisation in their mood changes. This will make them feel like a single entity. Their emotions are going up and down together, the same emotional rollercoaster.\" The intimacy of the ballroom and Latin dances also means that changes in a woman's menstrual cycle can also be felt by their partner, Dr Lovatt adds. Through dance, you can have \"intimate knowledge of other person's state of fertility\", he said. And another reason may be because couples form an \"in group and out group\" mentality after dancing together week after week. \"The couples are bonded so tightly that they form an in group and the other judges and couples are an out group. \"Their names are up on a screen together and you see the professional partners defending their celebrities when criticism comes which helps to form this group.\""}], "question": "Is the curse real?", "id": "422_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Nuclear tensions rising in South Asia", "date": "14 April 2015", "paragraphs": [{"context": "The time, attention and effort devoted to reaching a deal with Iran over its nuclear ambitions has unwittingly tended to obscure the growing dangers of nuclear proliferation elsewhere in the world. South Asia, a volatile and unstable region, has been witnessing an escalation in military and nuclear rivalry, somewhat overshadowed by the understandable fears of a nuclear arms race in the Middle East. This part of the world, according to analysts, is fast becoming a race for nuclear supremacy between three powers - India, Pakistan and China (while technically not classified as South Asia, the country shares borders with both India and Pakistan). This rivalry in the eyes of many analysts is dangerous in itself but is made even more complex by the mutual suspicions and historical enmities that bedevil the region. First, take Pakistan. The country is plagued by economic and political insecurity but is locked in a fight for military bragging rights with India. The country is believed to have one of the world's fastest growing nuclear arsenals. A recent report indicated that it had tripled the number of warheads it had a decade ago. Nuclear strength is a political and military strategy in the eyes of the Pakistani governing class, a way of countering India's political and military clout. Pakistan has no official nuclear doctrine, but official communiques speak of \"restraint\" and \"deterrence\". The Pakistan government recently approved the purchase of eight submarines from China. It is not clear from reports whether they have the capacity to be equipped with nuclear missiles. The deal, said to be worth billions, is one of China's biggest arms deals. It also threatens to intensify a growing battle for military supremacy in the Indian Ocean, a stretch of sea that has long been a source of rivalry and tensions in the region. The reported deal sheds light on one other area of conflict and rivalry. China has long been one of Pakistan's main arms suppliers, accounting for half of Pakistani weapons imports, according to a report published by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute. China and Pakistan have been close for decades, based largely on their mutual suspicion of India. In other developments, the Pakistanis are reported to have test-fired a missile recently that appears capable of carrying a nuclear warhead. Pakistan possesses the medium-range Shaheen-III missile with a range of some 1,700 miles, leaving India easily within range. A recent leader article in the New York Times reported claims that Pakistan continues to develop short-range tactical nuclear weapons. Again, leaving India well within range. No-one should underestimate the rivalry between the two countries, informed by their troubled history, which includes outright wars in 1947, 1965 and 1971. India is estimated by analysts to have some 110 warheads but continues to expand its nuclear programme but at a slower pace, according to some reports. The country has a mixed strategy, combining short and long-range ballistic missiles, nuclear submarines and cruise missiles. It tested its first nuclear device in 1974. India has a No First Use doctrine, recently confirmed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Security is a key part of India's nuclear strategy. China's nuclear strength is a worry to India, as is its more advanced strategic weapons and its numerically superior military force.  Also a worry is the traditionally close relationship between China and Pakistan, India's erstwhile enemy. Informed analysis estimates that China's nuclear weapons number some 250 warheads - a mixture of short, intermediate, and long-range ballistic missiles. China's ambitions encompass land, air and sea-based nuclear delivery systems. China's nuclear ambitions took off in the 1950s, in the wake of the Korean War. Its first nuclear test is believed to have been conducted in 1964. It is a view among informed commentators that the country's nuclear capability will continue to grow in the coming years. China has always maintained that its own No First Use policy is defensive. The country is a signatory to the Non-Proliferation Treaty, the NPT. It is also a signatory to the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) but has yet to ratify it. The fierce nuclear competition in South Asia is seen by many as a recipe for instability in a region already burdened with problems. It is a potentially lethal addition to the cocktail of territorial disputes and cross-border terrorism. The capacity of other world powers to influence the situation is hampered by the fact that neither India nor Pakistan belong to the NPT. Pakistan's economic and political instability also poses huge and troubling questions. The country is persistently challenged by militant groups and fears persist that these groups could get their hands on nuclear materials, despite strong insistence from Pakistani officials that its nuclear facilities are secure. America and Russia still possess more than 90% of the world's nuclear weapons but South Asia, home to three nuclear states, remains a growing worry, perhaps one that will get more attention in the coming months.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 4255, "answer_end": 5156, "text": "The fierce nuclear competition in South Asia is seen by many as a recipe for instability in a region already burdened with problems. It is a potentially lethal addition to the cocktail of territorial disputes and cross-border terrorism. The capacity of other world powers to influence the situation is hampered by the fact that neither India nor Pakistan belong to the NPT. Pakistan's economic and political instability also poses huge and troubling questions. The country is persistently challenged by militant groups and fears persist that these groups could get their hands on nuclear materials, despite strong insistence from Pakistani officials that its nuclear facilities are secure. America and Russia still possess more than 90% of the world's nuclear weapons but South Asia, home to three nuclear states, remains a growing worry, perhaps one that will get more attention in the coming months."}], "question": "Lethal cocktail?", "id": "423_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Foie gras ban: New York restaurateurs enraged by 'unjust and unfair' measure", "date": "31 October 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "New York's proposed foie gras ban has been met with fury by the food industry, with one wholesaler claiming it could backfire. Ariane Daguin from food manufacturer D'Artagnan said chefs were likely to order more \"because they are so mad\". On Wednesday the city council voted to ban sales of the controversial product, a move hailed by animal rights groups. Foie gras is made from the livers of ducks and geese that have traditionally been force-fed corn. The law, which would be introduced in 2022, now needs to be signed into effect by Mayor Bill de Blasio. Ms Daguin from D'Artagnan told the BBC she thought it was a \"very bad\" decision. \"There are 1,000 restaurateurs in New York City who have foie gras on their menu right now. They are all very incensed,\" she said. Izzy Yanay, co-founder and general manager of Hudson Valley Foie Gras, one of New York's state major foie gras producers, meanwhile told AFP the industry would fight back. \"We're going to kick their ass in court.\" Council members approved the ban by 42 votes to six. Jeremy Unger, spokesman for council member Carlina Riviera, who introduced the bill, said: \"The council is banning a really cruel and inhumane practice.\" Those found in violation of the law will be fined between $500 (PS386) and $2,000. Matthew Dominguez from campaign group Voters for Animal Rights said Wednesday's vote marked a \"historic day for New York City\". While foie gras can be produced by natural feeding, in France it must be made by a process known as gavage in which ducks and geese are force-fed corn through a tube. The force-feeding occurs for about two weeks after the animals reach maturity. The practice is banned in some countries. However Ms Daguin said the farms she uses feed the ducks \"without stress and without harm\". \"These farmers respect the animals get good results because they do not stress the animals out. I have visited them several times and I know and am convinced in my heart that we are not harming those ducks,\" she said. \"This law is unfair, unjust and we think illegal.\" She said that council members had been invited to tour the farms ahead of the vote but says not one member visited. New York isn't the first city to ban the product. California issued a ban on foie gras in 2012. Chicago issued a ban in 2006 which was reversed two years later after then-mayor Richard Daley called it the \"silliest ordinance\" ever passed in the city.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 559, "answer_end": 984, "text": "Ms Daguin from D'Artagnan told the BBC she thought it was a \"very bad\" decision. \"There are 1,000 restaurateurs in New York City who have foie gras on their menu right now. They are all very incensed,\" she said. Izzy Yanay, co-founder and general manager of Hudson Valley Foie Gras, one of New York's state major foie gras producers, meanwhile told AFP the industry would fight back. \"We're going to kick their ass in court.\""}], "question": "What is the food industry saying?", "id": "424_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 985, "answer_end": 1402, "text": "Council members approved the ban by 42 votes to six. Jeremy Unger, spokesman for council member Carlina Riviera, who introduced the bill, said: \"The council is banning a really cruel and inhumane practice.\" Those found in violation of the law will be fined between $500 (PS386) and $2,000. Matthew Dominguez from campaign group Voters for Animal Rights said Wednesday's vote marked a \"historic day for New York City\"."}], "question": "How did the city's decision come about?", "id": "424_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1403, "answer_end": 2418, "text": "While foie gras can be produced by natural feeding, in France it must be made by a process known as gavage in which ducks and geese are force-fed corn through a tube. The force-feeding occurs for about two weeks after the animals reach maturity. The practice is banned in some countries. However Ms Daguin said the farms she uses feed the ducks \"without stress and without harm\". \"These farmers respect the animals get good results because they do not stress the animals out. I have visited them several times and I know and am convinced in my heart that we are not harming those ducks,\" she said. \"This law is unfair, unjust and we think illegal.\" She said that council members had been invited to tour the farms ahead of the vote but says not one member visited. New York isn't the first city to ban the product. California issued a ban on foie gras in 2012. Chicago issued a ban in 2006 which was reversed two years later after then-mayor Richard Daley called it the \"silliest ordinance\" ever passed in the city."}], "question": "How is foie gras produced?", "id": "424_2"}]}]}, {"title": "Gay dating apps still leaking location data", "date": "8 August 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Some of the most popular gay dating apps, including Grindr, Romeo and Recon, have been exposing the exact location of their users. In a demonstration for BBC News, cyber-security researchers were able to generate a map of users across London, revealing their precise locations. This problem and the associated risks have been known about for years but some of the biggest apps have still not fixed the issue. After the researchers shared their findings with the apps involved, Recon made changes - but Grindr and Romeo did not. Most of the popular gay dating and hook-up apps show who is nearby, based on smartphone location data. Several also show how far away individual men are. And if that information is accurate, their precise location can be revealed using a process called trilateration. Here's an example. Imagine a man shows up on a dating app as \"200m away\". You can draw a 200m (650ft) radius around your own location on a map and know he is somewhere on the edge of that circle. If you then move down the road and the same man shows up as 350m away, and you move again and he is 100m away, you can then draw all of these circles on the map at the same time and where they intersect will reveal exactly where the man is. In reality, you don't even have to leave the house to do this. Researchers from the cyber-security company Pen Test Partners created a tool that faked its location and did all the calculations automatically, in bulk. They also found that Grindr, Recon and Romeo had not fully secured the application programming interface (API) powering their apps. The researchers were able to generate maps of thousands of users at a time. \"We think it is absolutely unacceptable for app-makers to leak the precise location of their customers in this fashion. It leaves their users at risk from stalkers, exes, criminals and nation states,\" the researchers said in a blog post. LGBT rights charity Stonewall told BBC News: \"Protecting individual data and privacy is hugely important, especially for LGBT people worldwide who face discrimination, even persecution, if they are open about their identity.\" There are several ways apps could hide their users' precise locations without compromising their core functionality. These include: - only storing the first three decimal places of latitude and longitude data, which would let people find other users in their street or neighbourhood without revealing their exact location - overlaying a grid across the world map and snapping each user to their nearest grid line, obscuring their exact location The security company told Grindr, Recon and Romeo about its findings. Recon told BBC News it had since made changes to its apps to obscure the precise location of its users. It said: \"Historically we've found that our members appreciate having accurate information when looking for members nearby. \"In hindsight, we realise that the risk to our members' privacy associated with accurate distance calculations is too high and have therefore implemented the snap-to-grid method to protect the privacy of our members' location information.\" Grindr told BBC News users had the option to \"hide their distance information from their profiles\". It added Grindr did obfuscate location data \"in countries where it is dangerous or illegal to be a member of the LGBTQ+ community\". However, it is still possible to trilaterate users' exact locations in the UK. Romeo told the BBC that it took security \"extremely seriously\". Its website incorrectly claims it is \"technically impossible\" to stop attackers trilaterating users' positions. However, the app does let users fix their location to a point on the map if they wish to hide their exact location. This is not enabled by default. The company also said premium members could switch on a \"stealth mode\" to appear offline, and users in 82 countries that criminalise homosexuality were offered Plus membership for free. BBC News also contacted two other gay social apps, which offer location-based features but were not included in the security company's research. Scruff told BBC News it used a location-scrambling algorithm. It is enabled by default in \"80 regions around the world where same-sex acts are criminalised\" and all other members can switch it on in the settings menu. Hornet told BBC News it snapped its users to a grid rather than presenting their exact location. It also lets members hide their distance in the settings menu. There is another way to work out a target's location, even if they have chosen to hide their distance in the settings menu. Most of the popular gay dating apps show a grid of nearby men, with the closest appearing at the top left of the grid. In 2016, researchers demonstrated it was possible to locate a target by surrounding him with several fake profiles and moving the fake profiles around the map. \"Each pair of fake users sandwiching the target reveals a narrow circular band in which the target can be located,\" Wired reported. The only app to confirm it had taken steps to mitigate this attack was Hornet, which told BBC News it randomised the grid of nearby profiles. \"The risks are unthinkable,\" said Prof Angela Sasse, a cyber-security and privacy expert at UCL. Location sharing should be \"always something the user enables voluntarily after being reminded what the risks are,\" she added.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 2567, "answer_end": 4448, "text": "The security company told Grindr, Recon and Romeo about its findings. Recon told BBC News it had since made changes to its apps to obscure the precise location of its users. It said: \"Historically we've found that our members appreciate having accurate information when looking for members nearby. \"In hindsight, we realise that the risk to our members' privacy associated with accurate distance calculations is too high and have therefore implemented the snap-to-grid method to protect the privacy of our members' location information.\" Grindr told BBC News users had the option to \"hide their distance information from their profiles\". It added Grindr did obfuscate location data \"in countries where it is dangerous or illegal to be a member of the LGBTQ+ community\". However, it is still possible to trilaterate users' exact locations in the UK. Romeo told the BBC that it took security \"extremely seriously\". Its website incorrectly claims it is \"technically impossible\" to stop attackers trilaterating users' positions. However, the app does let users fix their location to a point on the map if they wish to hide their exact location. This is not enabled by default. The company also said premium members could switch on a \"stealth mode\" to appear offline, and users in 82 countries that criminalise homosexuality were offered Plus membership for free. BBC News also contacted two other gay social apps, which offer location-based features but were not included in the security company's research. Scruff told BBC News it used a location-scrambling algorithm. It is enabled by default in \"80 regions around the world where same-sex acts are criminalised\" and all other members can switch it on in the settings menu. Hornet told BBC News it snapped its users to a grid rather than presenting their exact location. It also lets members hide their distance in the settings menu."}], "question": "How have the apps responded?", "id": "425_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 4449, "answer_end": 5349, "text": "There is another way to work out a target's location, even if they have chosen to hide their distance in the settings menu. Most of the popular gay dating apps show a grid of nearby men, with the closest appearing at the top left of the grid. In 2016, researchers demonstrated it was possible to locate a target by surrounding him with several fake profiles and moving the fake profiles around the map. \"Each pair of fake users sandwiching the target reveals a narrow circular band in which the target can be located,\" Wired reported. The only app to confirm it had taken steps to mitigate this attack was Hornet, which told BBC News it randomised the grid of nearby profiles. \"The risks are unthinkable,\" said Prof Angela Sasse, a cyber-security and privacy expert at UCL. Location sharing should be \"always something the user enables voluntarily after being reminded what the risks are,\" she added."}], "question": "Are there other technical issues?", "id": "425_1"}]}]}, {"title": "Chinese activist Zheng Churan: 'Hey Trump, feminists are watching you\"", "date": "15 December 2016", "paragraphs": [{"context": "One of China's most prominent women's rights activists has written a letter warning US President-elect Donald Trump against \"sexist behaviour\". Zheng Churan says \"feminists around the world are watching\" Mr Trump for signs of \"straight man cancer\". The Chinese term refers to sexual discrimination and male chauvinism. She was among five women dubbed the \"Feminist Five\", who were detained by Chinese authorities last year for their activism. Ms Zheng said she wanted to point out Mr Trump's \"sexual discrimination\" in her open letter as she found that in China \"the general opinion from society is that they don't think it's a big deal\". Ms Zheng believes there has not been enough outrage in China about aspects of Mr Trump's behaviour towards women. \"They say Trump is a crazy man, but he is better than Hillary Clinton who is a cheater,\" she told the BBC. \"(They think) feminism and gender equality should make a concession for a country's development. I think it is very horrible, and it is wrong.\" Ms Zheng said she was worried Mr Trump would crack down on US women's rights activists, mirroring the clampdown she herself has faced in recent years in China. \"My real goal is to make people who support Trump's behaviour to realise that even feminists in... China are all concerned about it, and we aspire to fight back instead of just sitting there.\" In her letter, which she posted to Mr Trump on Monday as well as posted online (in Chinese), Ms Zheng says: \"We are far away in China, but we have seen reports of your sexist behaviour. \"Gender equality is a global issue and the feminist movement will not stop just because of 'straight man cancer'. \"If those with 'straight man cancer' carelessly insult, discriminate, or are violent towards women, they will be made to pay a price for their actions and words. \"We hope you know that feminists around the world are watching you.\" Ms Zheng also encloses a list of top \"straight man cancer\" types of behaviour, culled from a poll she conducted online with more than 10,000 respondents. They include \"using double standards\" to judge women and \"underestimating women's creativity and scientific knowledge\". The 27-year-old is known for her vocal activism on a range of women's rights issues in China. One of the BBC's 100 Women this year, one of her latest campaigns is for companies to offer every woman menstrual leave. She and four other women activists were detained in the run-up to International Women's Day in China last year. They were eventually let go several weeks later after calls for their release by the UK's Foreign Office, the EU and the US ambassador to the UN Samantha Power.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 2162, "answer_end": 2649, "text": "The 27-year-old is known for her vocal activism on a range of women's rights issues in China. One of the BBC's 100 Women this year, one of her latest campaigns is for companies to offer every woman menstrual leave. She and four other women activists were detained in the run-up to International Women's Day in China last year. They were eventually let go several weeks later after calls for their release by the UK's Foreign Office, the EU and the US ambassador to the UN Samantha Power."}], "question": "Who is Zheng Churan?", "id": "426_0"}]}]}, {"title": "India student refuses to be 'anti-Pakistan' poster girl", "date": "22 November 2017", "paragraphs": [{"context": "The Twitter account of an unofficial Pakistani defence blog is suspended after it doctored an image of an Indian student to portray her as someone who hated her country. Indian media swiftly hailed it as a \"victory\" against Pakistani propaganda, but the student, Kawalpreet Kaur, says she is uncomfortable with this narrative. The original tweet from Ms Kaur in June, featured her standing outside the 16 Century Jama Masjid in the capital Delhi, holding a placard that read: \"I am a citizen of India and I stand with the secular values of our Constitution. I will write against communal mob lynching of Muslims in our country. #CitizensAgainstMobLynching.\" Ms Kaur told the BBC that she had taken the picture in June as part of nationwide protests titled \"not in my name\" against rising attacks on Muslims and Dalits (formerly untouchables) by vigilante groups seeking to protect cows, which are sacred to Hindus. The doctored image by Pakistan Defence saw the text on her sign changed to: \"I am an Indian but I hate India, because India is a colonial entity that has occupied nations such as Nagas, Kashmiris, Manipuris, Hyderabad, Junagadh, Sikkim, Mizoram, Goa.\" The accompanying tweet read: \"Indians are finally realising the truth; their country is actually a colonialist entity.\" Pakistan Defence, which describes itself as a \"one stop resource for Pakistan defence, strategic affairs, security issues, world defence and military affairs\" is not officially affiliated to the Pakistan government. However it is followed by many members of the military and Pakistani commentators and analysts believe it follows the agenda of the establishment. It is known for propagating extreme right-wing content, and has routinely targeted journalists and liberal voices in the country. It did not respond to requests by the BBC for comment. Even though its Twitter account has been suspended, Pakistan Defence is far from silenced. Its website is still active, as is its Facebook page, which has more than 8 million followers. And although Pakistan Defence is not an official blog of the government, many were quick to draw comparisons to an embarrassing instance in September when Pakistan's permanent representative to the United Nations, Maleeha Lodhi, held up a photograph as proof of \"Indian brutality\" in Kashmir. The image was really of a 17-year-old Palestinian girl, taken in Gaza in 2014 by award-winning photographer Heidi Levine. Ms Kaur said she was alerted to the doctored image of her by a friend some hours after it had been tweeted out by Pakistan Defence. \"I saw that the handle was a verified account so I tweeted at them asking them to remove the tweet and apologise so that we could end the matter there. But they responded by retweeting my reply with the message that it was to alert Indians to what they have done with Kashmir, which was just absurd,\" she told the BBC. Ms Kaur then appealed to people to report the account to Twitter, a call which was taken up in both India and Pakistan. Many Pakistanis, she added, had defended her even before she saw the doctored image. The account was suspended on Saturday, creating headlines in Indian media outlets, many of whom mistakenly thought the account belonged to Pakistan's defence ministry. Ms Kaur said she was relieved by the action, but had suddenly found herself the unwilling poster child for India's \"triumph\" against Pakistan. She made several appeals to people to not \"make this an India-Pakistan war\" and \"sensationalise\" the issue. \"The last thing I want is to be used as a pawn for spreading anti-India and anti-Pakistan sentiments,\" she wrote  in a Facebook post shortly after. What was more galling, she told the BBC, was the fact that the same picture had been doctored earlier by Indian right-wing groups. \"I made a complaint to the cyber security cell but no one even bothered to respond. What does this say then? That it's only not alright for me to be targeted by Pakistani right-wing accounts, but when it happens in India it's ok?\" She said that the coverage of the issue also ignored the fact that liberal voices in India were routinely targeted by government-affiliated right-wing organisations too. \"So many people are trolled and even death threats are issued against them. So much so, that many people choose to self-censor rather than criticise the government. \"I would like some accountability from my own country as well.\"", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 327, "answer_end": 1286, "text": "The original tweet from Ms Kaur in June, featured her standing outside the 16 Century Jama Masjid in the capital Delhi, holding a placard that read: \"I am a citizen of India and I stand with the secular values of our Constitution. I will write against communal mob lynching of Muslims in our country. #CitizensAgainstMobLynching.\" Ms Kaur told the BBC that she had taken the picture in June as part of nationwide protests titled \"not in my name\" against rising attacks on Muslims and Dalits (formerly untouchables) by vigilante groups seeking to protect cows, which are sacred to Hindus. The doctored image by Pakistan Defence saw the text on her sign changed to: \"I am an Indian but I hate India, because India is a colonial entity that has occupied nations such as Nagas, Kashmiris, Manipuris, Hyderabad, Junagadh, Sikkim, Mizoram, Goa.\" The accompanying tweet read: \"Indians are finally realising the truth; their country is actually a colonialist entity.\""}], "question": "What did the tweets say?", "id": "427_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1287, "answer_end": 3259, "text": "Pakistan Defence, which describes itself as a \"one stop resource for Pakistan defence, strategic affairs, security issues, world defence and military affairs\" is not officially affiliated to the Pakistan government. However it is followed by many members of the military and Pakistani commentators and analysts believe it follows the agenda of the establishment. It is known for propagating extreme right-wing content, and has routinely targeted journalists and liberal voices in the country. It did not respond to requests by the BBC for comment. Even though its Twitter account has been suspended, Pakistan Defence is far from silenced. Its website is still active, as is its Facebook page, which has more than 8 million followers. And although Pakistan Defence is not an official blog of the government, many were quick to draw comparisons to an embarrassing instance in September when Pakistan's permanent representative to the United Nations, Maleeha Lodhi, held up a photograph as proof of \"Indian brutality\" in Kashmir. The image was really of a 17-year-old Palestinian girl, taken in Gaza in 2014 by award-winning photographer Heidi Levine. Ms Kaur said she was alerted to the doctored image of her by a friend some hours after it had been tweeted out by Pakistan Defence. \"I saw that the handle was a verified account so I tweeted at them asking them to remove the tweet and apologise so that we could end the matter there. But they responded by retweeting my reply with the message that it was to alert Indians to what they have done with Kashmir, which was just absurd,\" she told the BBC. Ms Kaur then appealed to people to report the account to Twitter, a call which was taken up in both India and Pakistan. Many Pakistanis, she added, had defended her even before she saw the doctored image. The account was suspended on Saturday, creating headlines in Indian media outlets, many of whom mistakenly thought the account belonged to Pakistan's defence ministry."}], "question": "Who are Pakistan Defence?", "id": "427_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3260, "answer_end": 4419, "text": "Ms Kaur said she was relieved by the action, but had suddenly found herself the unwilling poster child for India's \"triumph\" against Pakistan. She made several appeals to people to not \"make this an India-Pakistan war\" and \"sensationalise\" the issue. \"The last thing I want is to be used as a pawn for spreading anti-India and anti-Pakistan sentiments,\" she wrote  in a Facebook post shortly after. What was more galling, she told the BBC, was the fact that the same picture had been doctored earlier by Indian right-wing groups. \"I made a complaint to the cyber security cell but no one even bothered to respond. What does this say then? That it's only not alright for me to be targeted by Pakistani right-wing accounts, but when it happens in India it's ok?\" She said that the coverage of the issue also ignored the fact that liberal voices in India were routinely targeted by government-affiliated right-wing organisations too. \"So many people are trolled and even death threats are issued against them. So much so, that many people choose to self-censor rather than criticise the government. \"I would like some accountability from my own country as well.\""}], "question": "What does Ms Kaur say?", "id": "427_2"}]}]}, {"title": "Hamid Ansari: 'Love-struck' Indian home after Pakistan jail ordeal", "date": "18 December 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "An Indian man held for six years in Pakistan after illegally entering the country has returned to his family. Hamid Ansari was convicted on charges of spying after he was found with a fake Pakistani identity card. But his supporters said he had entered the country to pursue \"blind and stupid\" love with a woman he met online. It is not clear, however, if he ever met the woman he crossed the border for. Ansari was greeted at India's Wagah border by his family, government officials and journalists. His return ends a years-long ordeal for his family who fought to first track him down, and then secure his release. Though officially convicted in 2015, Ansari had been in Pakistani custody since 2012. His jail term officially ended on Sunday, but his release was delayed because legal formalities had not been completed. India and Pakistan have fought three wars since independence and the partition of India in 1947 and regularly jail each others citizens. Hamid Ansari is the youngest son of Fauzia Ansari, the vice-principal of a Mumbai college, and banker Nihal Ansari. In November 2012, the 33-year-old had just started a new job as a lecturer at an educational institute when he told his parents that he was going to Afghanistan for an interview with an airline company. But a few days after he landed in the Afghan capital Kabul, Ansari went missing. His family says that he stopped communicating with them, and his phone number was switched off. Activist Jatin Desai, who has been at the forefront of efforts to get Ansari released, told BBC Hindi that that the family had then checked his laptop, where they discovered that he had been communicating with several people from Pakistan via email and social media. They had also realised that he was in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of the country. \"Blind and stupid love,\" according to Mr Desai. In comments to India's Mumbai Mirror newspaper, Mr Desai said that he first met Ansari when he had approached him about six months before his disappearance, asking for help with getting a Pakistani visa. He claimed he wanted to marry a woman in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa who he had met online. \"I had a big laugh when he told me that he wanted to marry a woman in a place notorious for honour killings. I told him to stop being stupid and concentrate on his career,\" the newspaper quoted him as saying. But the determined Ansari reportedly reached out to people in Pakistan, who apparently told him he could enter the country through Afghanistan more easily. He entered through Torkham in Afghanistan after obtaining a fake Pakistani identity card under the name Hamza. Then, according to documents released later, he was arrested from a hotel in Kohat city, where the girl he had come to find reportedly lived. After his family was unable to trace his whereabouts in Pakistan, they reached out to government officials and activists for help. Among them was Mr Desai, who has been working for many years to secure the release of both Indian and Pakistani prisoners jailed in each others countries. A Pakistani journalist - who was later detained for a long period - managed to get in touch with Hamid's mother in Mumbai and filed a missing person's petition in court on her behalf. She played an important role in encouraging a government commission on enforced disappearances to investigate his case. As a result, security agencies, in early 2016, eventually admitted that Ansari was in their custody and had been jailed. The Indian Express newspaper quoted official sources as saying that the Pakistan government did not allow any Indian officials to meet Ansari for the entire six years, His release now is being seen as a \"humanitarian gesture\" by the new Pakistan government, led by Imran Khan. Ilyas Khan, BBC News, Islamabad The morning headlines on Pakistani television channels were unanimous: \"Indian spy released after completing prison term,\" they said. But the reality may not be as stark. Hamid Ansari was missing for well over three years before it was disclosed that he'd actually been picked up by an intelligence agency and sentenced to three years by a military court for espionage. Since the military court records remain secret, it is not clear what the actual evidence was. But investigations conducted by the human rights cell of the Supreme Court and hearings held at Peshawar High Court found Mr Ansari's account of events to be reliable in the light of evidence put before it. At one point, Mr Ansari's lawyer even pleaded that he should be charged for illegal entry only and that espionage charges be dropped. But the Peshawar court refused this in the end on grounds that it had no jurisdiction to overturn the ruling of a military court. Pakistan's foreign ministry spokesman on Monday still described Ansari as an \"Indian spy\" but the narrative in India is very different. However given Mr Ansari trespassed into Pakistan at a time when militancy was at its peak, and the fact that he is an Indian national, the military court actually took a rather lenient view of his case, observers here say.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 960, "answer_end": 1808, "text": "Hamid Ansari is the youngest son of Fauzia Ansari, the vice-principal of a Mumbai college, and banker Nihal Ansari. In November 2012, the 33-year-old had just started a new job as a lecturer at an educational institute when he told his parents that he was going to Afghanistan for an interview with an airline company. But a few days after he landed in the Afghan capital Kabul, Ansari went missing. His family says that he stopped communicating with them, and his phone number was switched off. Activist Jatin Desai, who has been at the forefront of efforts to get Ansari released, told BBC Hindi that that the family had then checked his laptop, where they discovered that he had been communicating with several people from Pakistan via email and social media. They had also realised that he was in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of the country."}], "question": "Who is Hamid Ansari?", "id": "428_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1809, "answer_end": 2761, "text": "\"Blind and stupid love,\" according to Mr Desai. In comments to India's Mumbai Mirror newspaper, Mr Desai said that he first met Ansari when he had approached him about six months before his disappearance, asking for help with getting a Pakistani visa. He claimed he wanted to marry a woman in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa who he had met online. \"I had a big laugh when he told me that he wanted to marry a woman in a place notorious for honour killings. I told him to stop being stupid and concentrate on his career,\" the newspaper quoted him as saying. But the determined Ansari reportedly reached out to people in Pakistan, who apparently told him he could enter the country through Afghanistan more easily. He entered through Torkham in Afghanistan after obtaining a fake Pakistani identity card under the name Hamza. Then, according to documents released later, he was arrested from a hotel in Kohat city, where the girl he had come to find reportedly lived."}], "question": "So why did he go?", "id": "428_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2762, "answer_end": 3749, "text": "After his family was unable to trace his whereabouts in Pakistan, they reached out to government officials and activists for help. Among them was Mr Desai, who has been working for many years to secure the release of both Indian and Pakistani prisoners jailed in each others countries. A Pakistani journalist - who was later detained for a long period - managed to get in touch with Hamid's mother in Mumbai and filed a missing person's petition in court on her behalf. She played an important role in encouraging a government commission on enforced disappearances to investigate his case. As a result, security agencies, in early 2016, eventually admitted that Ansari was in their custody and had been jailed. The Indian Express newspaper quoted official sources as saying that the Pakistan government did not allow any Indian officials to meet Ansari for the entire six years, His release now is being seen as a \"humanitarian gesture\" by the new Pakistan government, led by Imran Khan."}], "question": "How did his release come about?", "id": "428_2"}]}]}, {"title": "Amber Rudd hits back at Tory Brexiteers", "date": "4 February 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Home Secretary Amber Rudd has hit back at Tory Brexiteers over attacks on the civil service and claims of disunity. Ms Rudd said backbencher Jacob Rees-Mogg was \"wrong\" to accuse the Treasury of \"fiddling the figures\" with forecasts showing the UK would be worse off outside the EU. The leaked forecast that sparked the row was a cross-departmental \"tool\" to \"help inform the debate\", she said. And she said ministers were more united over Brexit than critics claim. Speaking on the BBC's Andrew Marr show, she said she was \"not intimidated\" by Brexiteers' warnings over the customs union and that the UK government would not \"surrender too quickly\" in its battle for a \"bespoke\" trade deal with the EU. Negotiations are taking place between the UK and the EU ahead of the UK's scheduled exit in March 2019. Ahead of a week of key meetings, Theresa May is facing growing calls to set out in detail what she wants to secure - in particular how closely-bound the UK will be to the EU after it leaves. Writing in the Sunday Telegraph,  Bernard Jenkin, a Conservative MP who was a key Leave campaigner, accused the government of being \"vague\" and \"divided\" on the issue. But Ms Rudd told Andrew Marr she had \"a surprise for the Brexiteers\", that the key Brexit committee of ministers was \"more united than they think\". The cabinet agrees on the need for \"frictionless trade\", the ability to strike international trade deals and avoid a hard border in Ireland, she said. And on the key point of the customs union - which currently prevents the UK from striking international trade deals - she suggested \"a form of customs agreement\" would be needed. Last week International Trade Secretary Liam Fox said it was \"very difficult\" to see how staying in a customs union would allow the UK to have an \"independent trade policy\" after Brexit. BBC political correspondent Susana Mendonca The accusations of cabinet divisions and disunity have kept coming from Brexit-supporting MPs over the past week. Now the home secretary has pushed back, saying the cabinet is \"more united than they think\". If that is the case, the cabinet will be expected to demonstrate some of that unity this week when discussions between Theresa May, David Davis and EU negotiator Michel Barnier are bound to throw up some bones of contention - the transition deal being the main one. Will the cabinet be singing from the same hymn sheet on that? And what about the customs union, another thorny issue that key ministers have very different views on? To silence its detractors, the cabinet will have to demonstrate this week it is neither \"vague\" nor \"divided\" - but whatever approach it comes up with is likely to lead to divisions with those who think they are going too far or not far enough. The role of the civil service has been thrust into the limelight in recent days by a leaked analysis predicting an economic hit to the UK after Brexit. Ms Rudd said the report did not \"model everything\" and predicted the UK economy would \"absolutely grow\" after Brexit, but said putting up trade barriers would have \"consequences\". Describing the civil service as the envy of the world, she added: \"We have to have these forecasts before making decisions.\" She said she had been \"surprised\" at Mr Rees-Mogg's remarks and added that ministerial Brexit colleague Steve Baker - who has clashed with Whitehall unions and apologised to Parliament - had had an \"interesting week\". Mr Baker's apology followed a Commons exchange after which he was accused of not challenging Mr Rees-Mogg's suggestion of Treasury bias against Brexit. On the BBC's Sunday Politics, Conservative Party Chairman Brandon Lewis echoed Ms Rudd in saying Mr Rees-Mogg was wrong and defending Whitehall. Former top civil servants have also hit back at critics. Speaking on ITV's Peston on Sunday, ex-cabinet secretary Lord O'Donnell said claims officials were distorting figures were \"crazy\". People who do not like their analysis tend to shoot the \"messenger\", he said. \"We look at the evidence and we go where it is. \"Of course if you are selling snake oil, you don't like the idea of experts testing your products.\" His predecessor Andrew Turnbull, who was cabinet secretary under Tony Blair, told the Observer that attacks on the civil service were similar to tactics used by German nationalists between the two world wars. BBC business reporter Rob Young Customs union members each apply the same tariff to goods bought from outside the EU. Goods from inside the EU are not subject to tariffs. Theresa May says Britain is leaving the customs union - so what will replace it? For a lot of firms, customs rules are just as important as a trade deal. Brexit could disrupt many supply chains, if businesses buy parts from Germany or Italy, for example. Many exporters want a new customs deal with the EU to reduce the need for border checks - limiting queues and paperwork. But this could restrict Britain's ability to strike international trade deals outside the EU. Some worry this undermines one of the key potential benefits of Brexit. Customs are also key to the future border with Ireland. No wonder this is one of the thorniest issues arising from Brexit. The UK and the EU do not currently agree on whether EU citizens moving to the UK during the planned two-year transition period after Brexit should get the same long-term rights as those who arrive before the UK leaves. Defending the UK's position, Ms Rudd said it was \"right to have a distinction between before March 2019 and afterwards\". Chancellor Philip Hammond has been the focus of much of the criticism from Brexiteers in the Conservative Party, and in his Telegraph article Mr Jenkin suggested Mr Hammond was not toeing the party line. \"If ministers are vague or divided, life for officials becomes impossible, as we can see now. Ministerial collective responsibility really matters,\" he said. He added: \"If the prime minister sticks to one policy and the chancellor keeps advocating another, what are officials meant to do?\" Earlier this month, Mr Hammond suggested the UK's relationship with the EU would change only \"very modestly\" after Brexit. But Mr Jenkin urged the prime minister to stick to her position and ensure, among other things, Britain leaves the single market and customs union. He wrote: \"She can only command a majority in Parliament on her present policy. \"Her MPs will back her, because we are overwhelmingly at one with the majority of the British people who now want a clean Brexit and an end to the present uncertainty.\"", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1832, "answer_end": 2759, "text": "BBC political correspondent Susana Mendonca The accusations of cabinet divisions and disunity have kept coming from Brexit-supporting MPs over the past week. Now the home secretary has pushed back, saying the cabinet is \"more united than they think\". If that is the case, the cabinet will be expected to demonstrate some of that unity this week when discussions between Theresa May, David Davis and EU negotiator Michel Barnier are bound to throw up some bones of contention - the transition deal being the main one. Will the cabinet be singing from the same hymn sheet on that? And what about the customs union, another thorny issue that key ministers have very different views on? To silence its detractors, the cabinet will have to demonstrate this week it is neither \"vague\" nor \"divided\" - but whatever approach it comes up with is likely to lead to divisions with those who think they are going too far or not far enough."}], "question": "Is the cabinet really united?", "id": "429_0"}]}]}, {"title": "How happy chatbots could become our new best friends", "date": "31 May 2016", "paragraphs": [{"context": "How do we stop intelligent machines from taking over the world and enslaving us all? Give them emotions. That's the radical suggestion of Patrick Levy Rosenthal, founder and chief executive of Emoshape, a tech firm that has developed a computer chip that can synthesise 12 human emotions. \"It's logical to conclude that autonomous machines made of electricity and metal will eventually see us as their main competitors for those resources, and try to take control,\" he says. This is the dystopian vision of artificial intelligence (AI) run amok that luminaries such as physicist Prof Stephen Hawking, and tech entrepreneurs Bill Gates and Elon Musk, worry about. But Mr Rosenthal believes this nightmare scenario will be avoided if we create machines that can empathise. \"We can teach them to feel happiness when they perform well, solve problems and receive positive feedback from humans,\" he says. \"This will reduce the threat, because they will always work to achieve human happiness.\" Machines that can understand human emotion - and express their own emotions - will also be more effective colleagues and helpers, he believes. By analysing our tone of voice, facial expressions and phrases, computers will become adept at reading our emotional states and this will help them better understand what we're asking them to do, argues Mr Rosenthal. So why do some people think robots and self-learning programs are such a threat? Even the tech optimists admit that many jobs involving menial or repetitive tasks will be automated. Machines can do a lot of what we do faster, more accurately, and at lower cost. And they don't go off sick, strike, or ask for pay rises. It's the latest development of the industrial revolution, and could be just as disruptive. Only recently, mobile phone components manufacturer Foxconn announced that it would replace 60,000 factory workers with robots. Already some cars are made entirely by robots; warehouses full of goods hum in the darkness staffed by robots who do not need light to know where they are going; companies are increasingly using \"chatbots\" to deal with customers. By some estimates, nearly half of all the jobs we do now could be performed by machines in the near future. Click here to find out how vulnerable your job may be to automation. And once these intelligent programs, with access to limitless data crunched by increasingly powerful computers, can learn from past mistakes and create new programs autonomously without any human intervention, we could lose control. AI could become like Frankenstein's monster. That's the fear at least. But tech evangelists are fond of pointing out that before the machine age, around two-thirds of all jobs were in agriculture. Now, with entire farms capable of being managed by automated robots, the sector accounts for just 2% of jobs. The point being that we created new jobs - we adapted. Jaap Zuiderveld, European vice-president for chip maker Nvidia, says: \"Every new technology is an opportunity and a threat. But from my point of view, AI is only creating opportunities. Yes, it may replace many jobs, but it could also help humanity cure cancer.\" And he reminds us that when it comes to the crucial decisions, we should always have the final say. Frank Palermo, executive vice-president of global digital solutions for Virtusa Polaris, which numbers JPMorgan Chase, AIG and BT among its clients, thinks AI will be for \"enabling workers and empowering them to make better decisions\". This benign or \"weak AI\", as he calls it, will \"help workers navigate the working day\", organising our calendars, booking meeting rooms, warning us about traffic congestion, and so on. And we'll be chatting naturally to these supersmart assistants wherever we happen to be - in cars, offices, homes and via our smartphones. We'll only need to type on a keyboard when we don't want people to hear what we're saying. They will be capable of natural conversations but have huge computing power behind them, tapping in to supercomputers like IBM's Watson or Google's AI platforms, Mr Palermo believes. The big tech companies - Apple, Microsoft, Google, Amazon, Samsung - are all convinced that this is the way we'll be interacting with service providers in the future. And as menial tasks are automated it will leave us free to concentrate on more valuable activities, like developing better customer relationships or dreaming up new products and services, he argues. Work will no longer be about sitting behind a desk and screen but \"will be more of a natural discussion with your surroundings... much more of an interactive experience\". \"I don't have a doom and gloom outlook,\" he says. \"I think the man-plus-machine model will be the template for many years to come. I don't think machines will ever run things by themselves.\" Emoshape's Mr Rosenthal agrees, saying: \"By 2050, humans will talk more to AI than to other humans. It is like electricity was at the beginning of the 20th Century - soon AI will be everywhere.\" And these chatty assistants will have personalities as well as emotional complexity, he believes, imbuing driverless cars, for example, with unique characteristics that we can fall in love with. But if AI programs develop personalities, emotions and can generate new, improved versions of themselves, does this make them effectively \"people\" legally speaking? Could they be given rights and obligations? \"In the US, they've already decided that the 'driver' of a driverless car could be the AI, legally speaking. So who is liable if it has a crash?\" says Andrew Joint, commercial technology partner at law firm Kemp Little. At the moment car manufacturers accept the responsibility, but generations of self-learning driverless cars could eventually operate independently, some think. What then? \"And in the workplace, if an autonomous AI program takes discriminatory decisions against employees, you can see how some employers might try to duck their responsibilities and blame the AI,\" says Mr Joint. This is another reason why firms will want to keep a tight rein on AI programs they employ, he believes. Whether you believe AI programs will be chatty, helpful chums or power-mad dictators, one thing is clear: they're going to have a profound effect on the world of work. Follow Matthew on Twitter @matthew_wall Click here for more Technology of Business features", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 2599, "answer_end": 3673, "text": "But tech evangelists are fond of pointing out that before the machine age, around two-thirds of all jobs were in agriculture. Now, with entire farms capable of being managed by automated robots, the sector accounts for just 2% of jobs. The point being that we created new jobs - we adapted. Jaap Zuiderveld, European vice-president for chip maker Nvidia, says: \"Every new technology is an opportunity and a threat. But from my point of view, AI is only creating opportunities. Yes, it may replace many jobs, but it could also help humanity cure cancer.\" And he reminds us that when it comes to the crucial decisions, we should always have the final say. Frank Palermo, executive vice-president of global digital solutions for Virtusa Polaris, which numbers JPMorgan Chase, AIG and BT among its clients, thinks AI will be for \"enabling workers and empowering them to make better decisions\". This benign or \"weak AI\", as he calls it, will \"help workers navigate the working day\", organising our calendars, booking meeting rooms, warning us about traffic congestion, and so on."}], "question": "Friends not enemies?", "id": "430_0"}]}]}, {"title": "New York truck attack: Trump urges death penalty for Sayfullo Saipov", "date": "3 November 2017", "paragraphs": [{"context": "US President Donald Trump has repeated calls for the suspect in the New York truck attack to get the death penalty. But Mr Trump backed away from his call a day earlier to send Sayfullo Saipov to Guantanamo Bay, saying \"that process takes much longer\". The suspect, who allegedly drove along a Manhattan cycle path killing eight people, told police he \"felt good\" about Tuesday's Halloween attack. Later, so-called Islamic State (IS) said it had carried out the attack. The attacker was \"one of the caliphate soldiers\", it said in its weekly al-Naba newspaper, without providing evidence to support the claim. The victims were five Argentines who had travelled to New York to celebrate 30 years since their high school graduation, a young mother from Belgium and two Americans. Mr Saipov, 29, an Uzbek immigrant, was shot at the scene by police, according to officials. Investigators say he told them he was inspired by IS. Mr Saipov, who appeared in court on Wednesday in a wheelchair, faces federal terrorism charges, which means the government could override New York state's ban on capital punishment. \"There is also something appropriate about keeping him in the home of the horrible crime he committed,\" tweeted the Republican president, a native New Yorker, on Thursday morning. Repeating his initial call tweeted overnight for Mr Saipov to be executed, Mr Trump added: \"Should move fast. DEATH PENALTY!\" However, some legal commentators suggest that Mr Trump's comments could be seen as prejudicial to a trial. Earlier this week, a military judge said he would consider a lighter sentence for Bowe Bergdahl, a US soldier who deserted his Afghan base, because of Mr Trump's previous urging for that defendant to face the death penalty. It is unusual for US presidents to hold forth on pending criminal cases, but not unheard of. In 1970, lawyers for mass murderer Charles Manson called for a mistrial after President Richard Nixon declared the cult leader guilty - in the middle of his trial. Nixon backtracked and the judge allowed the case to go ahead. Mr Trump has previously called for capital punishment to be applied in high-profile cases. In 1989, when a group of five black and Latino men were charged with a particularly brutal rape of a woman in New York City, Mr Trump paid $85,000 for an ad in city newspapers with the headline \"Bring Back the Death Penalty!\" The five defendants were later cleared by DNA evidence. Prosecutors say Mr Saipov spoke freely to them, waiving his right to avoid self-incrimination while in custody. According to federal court papers, he said: - The attack was a year in the planning and he carried out a trial run with a rental truck last month - He originally planned to target the Brooklyn Bridge as well - He wanted to display IS flags on the truck, but decided not to draw attention to himself - He was inspired by 90 graphic and violent propaganda videos found on his phone - in particular, one in which IS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi asks what Muslims are doing to avenge deaths in Iraq. Mr Saipov was charged with one count of providing material support and resources to IS and another count of violence and destruction of motor vehicles. CBS News quotes an intelligence source as saying Mr Saipov was known to US authorities after his name was associated with the subjects of FBI counter-terrorism investigations in 2015. The source says the suspect had some contact with individuals who were considered radicalised extremists, at least one of whom was Uzbek. It is unclear whether those being investigated were in the US or overseas. It is not known if Mr Saipov, who was not the main focus of the investigation, was interviewed at that time by the FBI. The FBI meanwhile says they have located a second Uzbek man, 32-year-old Mukhammadzoir Kadirov, who was wanted for questioning in connection with Tuesday's attack. The five Argentines  - all men aged 48 or 49 - were named as Hernan Diego Mendoza, Diego Enrique Angelini, Alejandro Damian Pagnucco, Ariel Erlij and Hernan Ferrucci. Belgian officials said Anne-Laure Decadt, a 31-year-old mother-of-two from Staden in Flanders, was also killed. Three Belgians were wounded. The two Americans have been identified as Darren Drake, 32, and Nicholas Cleves, 23. Twelve others were injured, four of whom remain in critical condition.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 924, "answer_end": 1742, "text": "Mr Saipov, who appeared in court on Wednesday in a wheelchair, faces federal terrorism charges, which means the government could override New York state's ban on capital punishment. \"There is also something appropriate about keeping him in the home of the horrible crime he committed,\" tweeted the Republican president, a native New Yorker, on Thursday morning. Repeating his initial call tweeted overnight for Mr Saipov to be executed, Mr Trump added: \"Should move fast. DEATH PENALTY!\" However, some legal commentators suggest that Mr Trump's comments could be seen as prejudicial to a trial. Earlier this week, a military judge said he would consider a lighter sentence for Bowe Bergdahl, a US soldier who deserted his Afghan base, because of Mr Trump's previous urging for that defendant to face the death penalty."}], "question": "Could Trump's remarks jeopardise a fair trial?", "id": "431_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1743, "answer_end": 2434, "text": "It is unusual for US presidents to hold forth on pending criminal cases, but not unheard of. In 1970, lawyers for mass murderer Charles Manson called for a mistrial after President Richard Nixon declared the cult leader guilty - in the middle of his trial. Nixon backtracked and the judge allowed the case to go ahead. Mr Trump has previously called for capital punishment to be applied in high-profile cases. In 1989, when a group of five black and Latino men were charged with a particularly brutal rape of a woman in New York City, Mr Trump paid $85,000 for an ad in city newspapers with the headline \"Bring Back the Death Penalty!\" The five defendants were later cleared by DNA evidence."}], "question": "Is there a precedent for this?", "id": "431_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2435, "answer_end": 3193, "text": "Prosecutors say Mr Saipov spoke freely to them, waiving his right to avoid self-incrimination while in custody. According to federal court papers, he said: - The attack was a year in the planning and he carried out a trial run with a rental truck last month - He originally planned to target the Brooklyn Bridge as well - He wanted to display IS flags on the truck, but decided not to draw attention to himself - He was inspired by 90 graphic and violent propaganda videos found on his phone - in particular, one in which IS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi asks what Muslims are doing to avenge deaths in Iraq. Mr Saipov was charged with one count of providing material support and resources to IS and another count of violence and destruction of motor vehicles."}], "question": "What did the New York suspect say?", "id": "431_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3194, "answer_end": 3874, "text": "CBS News quotes an intelligence source as saying Mr Saipov was known to US authorities after his name was associated with the subjects of FBI counter-terrorism investigations in 2015. The source says the suspect had some contact with individuals who were considered radicalised extremists, at least one of whom was Uzbek. It is unclear whether those being investigated were in the US or overseas. It is not known if Mr Saipov, who was not the main focus of the investigation, was interviewed at that time by the FBI. The FBI meanwhile says they have located a second Uzbek man, 32-year-old Mukhammadzoir Kadirov, who was wanted for questioning in connection with Tuesday's attack."}], "question": "Was suspect on law enforcement's radar?", "id": "431_3"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3875, "answer_end": 4338, "text": "The five Argentines  - all men aged 48 or 49 - were named as Hernan Diego Mendoza, Diego Enrique Angelini, Alejandro Damian Pagnucco, Ariel Erlij and Hernan Ferrucci. Belgian officials said Anne-Laure Decadt, a 31-year-old mother-of-two from Staden in Flanders, was also killed. Three Belgians were wounded. The two Americans have been identified as Darren Drake, 32, and Nicholas Cleves, 23. Twelve others were injured, four of whom remain in critical condition."}], "question": "Who were the victims?", "id": "431_4"}]}]}, {"title": "Universities could face fines over free speech curbs", "date": "26 December 2017", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Universities must protect free speech and \"open minds, not close them\", the universities minister has said in a speech in Birmingham. Jo Johnson said \"no-platforming\", the policy of banning controversial speakers, is stifling debate. From next April, a new regulator - the Office for Students - will have the power to fine universities that fail to uphold free speech. Universities UK has said it will not allow legitimate debate to be stifled. In his speech, Mr Johnson said: \"In universities in America and worryingly in the UK, we have seen examples of groups seeking to stifle those who do not agree with them. \"We must not allow this to happen. Young people should have the resilience and confidence to challenge controversial opinions and take part in open, frank and rigorous discussions.\" \"No-platforming\" is the practice of banning certain groups from taking part in a debate if their views are considered to be offensive or unacceptable. \"Safe space\" policies are intended to protect students from views and language they find offensive, including discrimination. In 2016, nearly two-thirds of university students believed the National Union of Students was right to have a \"no-platform\" policy. That approach means people or groups on a banned list for holding racist or fascist views are not given a platform to speak on student union premises. The NUS official no-platform list contains six groups including the BNP and Al-Muhajiroun, but individual unions and student groups can decide their own. At Canterbury Christ Church University, an NUS representative refused to share a platform with LGBT activist Peter Tatchell, whom she regarded as having been racist and \"transphobic\". Mr Johnson was speaking at the Limmud Festival, which celebrates Jewish learning and culture. In his speech, Mr Johnson said that the Office for Students will ensure universities promote \"freedom of speech within the law\". Proposals for the new body, which are open for consultation, could see universities being fined, suspended or deregistered, if they do not protect free speech within the law. Universities UK chief executive Alistair Jarvis said: \"There is already a legal duty on the higher education sector to secure free speech within the law and universities take these responsibilities very seriously.\" He added that institutions also had a duty of care to the \"safety of students and staff\". Sir Anthony Seldon, the vice-chancellor of the University of Buckingham, agrees with Mr Johnson's plan, saying it is a \"duty\" of universities to \"open up dialogue\". But he says it is \"degrading\" that the minister has had to step in. \"The universities themselves autonomously didn't get their eggs in order, so the universities minister is having to tell us what to do,\" he told the BBC News Channel. \"I think that really is quite a shame for us, and almost rather degrading that we're in that position.\" Mr Johnson's speech comes as one of the UK's oldest universities has been criticised by academics for a project on the ethics of the British Empire. Up to 60 Oxford University academics have signed a letter in opposition to \"the agenda\" of the project. The programme is led by Prof Nigel Biggar, who claimed in a recent article in The Times, there are aspects of empire Britain can be proud of. A university spokesperson said \"arguments and differing approaches\" are to be expected, and defended Prof Biggar as an \"entirely suitable\" person to lead the \"valid evidence-led academic\"  project.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 797, "answer_end": 1694, "text": "\"No-platforming\" is the practice of banning certain groups from taking part in a debate if their views are considered to be offensive or unacceptable. \"Safe space\" policies are intended to protect students from views and language they find offensive, including discrimination. In 2016, nearly two-thirds of university students believed the National Union of Students was right to have a \"no-platform\" policy. That approach means people or groups on a banned list for holding racist or fascist views are not given a platform to speak on student union premises. The NUS official no-platform list contains six groups including the BNP and Al-Muhajiroun, but individual unions and student groups can decide their own. At Canterbury Christ Church University, an NUS representative refused to share a platform with LGBT activist Peter Tatchell, whom she regarded as having been racist and \"transphobic\"."}], "question": "What are 'no-platforming' and 'safe space' policies?", "id": "432_0"}]}]}, {"title": "RHI: Invest NI 'missed opportunity' over scheme flaws", "date": "21 September 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "There was a \"missed opportunity\" to raise early concerns about critical flaws with the RHI scheme, the head of Invest NI has said. Alastair Hamilton was giving evidence to the RHI inquiry. On Thursday, a heating consultant said he identified problems in 2013, just months after RHI became operational, and passed them on to Invest NI. Invest NI is part of the enterprise department, which set up the flawed green energy scheme. Mr Hamilton is the top official in charge of business development in Northern Ireland. He has been chief executive of Invest NI since 2009. Prior to that role, Mr Hamilton served as a DUP special adviser in the first minister's office. Invest NI employed consultants who would provide advice to the arms-length body's clients about how to make their businesses more energy efficient. Some of the firms wanted to put in RHI boilers even though they were not viewed to be the best solution for their energy requirements. The consultants reported back to Invest NI that lucrative RHI subsidies were driving investment decisions that companies were making. They also told them how firms were installing multiple boilers to maximise subsidy income. In one case, a hotel was insisting in putting in four containerised RHI boilers, even though it meant sacrificing a large portion of its car park. An Invest NI official questioned on Thursday said that while the agency saw the reports, it assumed that high subsidies and short payback terms for the boilers was part of government policy. On Friday, Mr Hamilton said that he had not become aware of the RHI scheme until 2014/15. He was asked why Invest NI had not been consulted on its design and implementation, given that it had the business experts and officials, while those in the enterprise department running it were generalists with no energy experience. Inquiry chair Sir Patrick Coghlin asked him: \"Do you think that that served the people of Northern Ireland adequately?\" \"I think there was a capability that wasn't tapped into,\" said Mr Hamilton. \"Why was that?\" Sir Patrick asked. \"I can't answer that, sir,\" Mr Hamilton said. Inquiry counsel Donal Lunny said: \"Our theme today is in relation to the missed opportunity of Invest NI\". Mr Hamilton said he acknowledged that on Invest NI's part and that as accounting officer, he was responsible for that. \"Clearly there was a missed opportunity here, for all the reasons as to why that might have happened - we had evidence, we had information in reports that clearly showed this scheme was not operating as it was intended,\" he said. The RHI scheme was set up by the Northern Ireland Executive in 2012 as a way of encouraging businesses to switch from using fossil fuels to renewable sources for generating their heat. Those who signed up were offered financial incentives to buy new heating systems and the fuel to run them. The scheme's budget ran out of control because of critical flaws in the way it was set up: Claimants could effectively earn more money the more fuel they burned because the subsidies on offer for renewable fuels were far greater than the cost of the fuels themselves. At one point the estimate for the overspend was set at PS700m if permanent cost controls were not introduced - temporary cuts have since pulled the budget back on track for now. Whatever the scale of the bill, it will have to be picked up by the Northern Ireland taxpayer. Later, it emerged that Invest NI did not feed relevant information into an assembly question. It had been asked by Steven Agnew of the Green Party in October 2013 about whether the RHI scheme was disincentivising energy efficiency. By then, Invest NI had reports showing the problems in the scheme. Mr Lunny said had the correct information been given, it would have brought the issue to the attention of the then-Enterprise Minister Arlene Foster. Mr Hamilton said it had never been the case that Invest NI sought to encourage its client firms to use RHI as a means of making money. The information it had, that the RHI scheme was encouraging energy inefficiency, which was not fed into an assembly question, suggested that very situation, the inquiry heard. On Friday afternoon, Janet McCollum, former chief executive at the poultry production giant Moy Park, gave evidence to the inquiry again. She said she now accepts that RHI financially benefited the poultry giant. Poultry farmers make up a significant share of the claimants on the RHI scheme - almost all of them supply Moy Park. Janet McCollum said she could now see how the company had benefited \"indirectly\". Moy Park was only paying about half the cost of farmers' biomass fuel bills. The producers were able to bear the cost because substantial RHI subsidies more than made up the income gap. Mr Lunny said Moy Park had a \"sophisticated\" organisation when it came to costs and pricing. He suggested it would have been obvious to the company what was happening. But Mrs McCollum said the firm had not identified the fuel cost differential as an indirect benefit to it at that point. Mr Lunny suggested it did not take a \"genius\" to work it out. The inquiry has already heard evidence that the poultry industry was the root cause of a spike in applications to the scheme in 2015, when plans were under way to try and bring it under control. Officials wanted to introduce tariffs that October to reduce the level of lucrative subsidies claimants could earn, but a further four-week delay allowed a massive spike in applications to the scheme, which had a huge impact on the public purse. Mrs McCollum said Moy Park \"definitely contributed to the spike\", but did not drive the spike. Later, she was asked about the progress of planned changes to the RHI scheme that would make it less lucrative, and what Moy Park knew about it. Officials from the enterprise department also gave the firm a heads-up about what was happening, when plans to bring the scheme to a complete close in 2016 were under way. The scheme ultimately shut at the end of February 2016. In January that year, the then-Finance Minister Mervyn Storey and his DUP special adviser Andrew Crawford - who has given evidence to the inquiry - met Moy Park executives, including Mrs McCollum. She said she \"specifically\" remembered Mr Crawford telling her that the scheme would be closing. Asked if he had mentioned if it would be closing soon, Mrs McCollum said she felt there was an \"impetus\" about what he said. Mr Crawford has denied that he tipped off Moy Park about the scheme's closure.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 2567, "answer_end": 3399, "text": "The RHI scheme was set up by the Northern Ireland Executive in 2012 as a way of encouraging businesses to switch from using fossil fuels to renewable sources for generating their heat. Those who signed up were offered financial incentives to buy new heating systems and the fuel to run them. The scheme's budget ran out of control because of critical flaws in the way it was set up: Claimants could effectively earn more money the more fuel they burned because the subsidies on offer for renewable fuels were far greater than the cost of the fuels themselves. At one point the estimate for the overspend was set at PS700m if permanent cost controls were not introduced - temporary cuts have since pulled the budget back on track for now. Whatever the scale of the bill, it will have to be picked up by the Northern Ireland taxpayer."}], "question": "What was the Renewable Heat Incentive scheme?", "id": "433_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Amsterdam attack: Jihadist knifeman shot in nine seconds", "date": "5 September 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "A 19-year-old Afghan who stabbed two American tourists in Amsterdam was shot just nine seconds after he launched his attack, the city's police chief has revealed. Commissioner Pieter-Jaap Aalbersberg said a special \"spotter\" had been watching the suspect when he pulled out a knife at Amsterdam's central station. Moments later teenager Jawed S was shot in the hip, he said. The suspect's lawyer has revealed the man had expected to die in the attack. Jawed S, an asylum seeker who arrived in Germany in 2015, had travelled by train to Amsterdam on Friday. The German authorities say they were tipped off in February that he had become radicalised while living at a youth facility. \"My client appears to have made the assumption that he wasn't going to survive his attack, because a will was found at his home in Germany,\" said lawyer Simon van der Woude. He believed the teenager had been acting in response to a cartoon competition proposed by anti-Islam politician Geert Wilders, as well as an earlier video involving the Prophet Muhammad. Dutch prosecutors said this week that Jawed S had had a \"terrorist motive\" and had been \"of the opinion that in the Netherlands the Prophet Muhammad, Islam and the Koran were insulted\". Mr Wilders had cancelled the competition the day before the attack but Mr Van der Woude said his client did not appear to know. In a statement on Wednesday the two victims of the attack thanked Dutch police and praised hospital staff for delivering \"life altering news as gently as possible\". The Amsterdam police chief told Dutch TV that Jawed S had got off a train shortly before midday on Friday and a few minutes afterwards his \"abnormal behaviour\" had come to the notice of a member of a team of public transport police trained to spot pickpockets as well as potential terrorists. \"He called two colleagues over,\" said Mr Aalbersberg. \"While they are working out how to go and talk to him, they see he starts stabbing.\" One of the tourists was stabbed in the back at a kiosk before a second was attacked. The police, who were by now 20m (65ft) away, drew their weapons. As Jawed S ran towards another potential victim, an officer opened fire and brought him down. Within minutes, police had looked through CCTV images and determined that the man had been acting on his own. \"There were two victims and that is very serious, but the number was kept to a minimum,\" the commissioner said. \"Within nine seconds it was over and the officers made the difference during one precise moment,\" he added, stressing that they had saved lives. The attacker was apparently unaware his victims were Americans. US ambassador Pete Hoekstra told Dutch TV late on Tuesday that it was an \"attack on Western values\". Police say the central station in Amsterdam has long been identified as a potential target for attack and that they have a permanent team on duty. They adapted an Israeli approach called \"predictive profiling\" whereby a suspect can be identified through suspicious patterns of behaviour. \"First of all a spotter assesses what behaviour is normal in a particular place,\" police trainer Geoffrey Rijtslag told the Volkskrant newspaper. Anyone who deviated from that or started hanging around aimlessly was considered abnormal. At that point they would be approached by at least two officers. The Amsterdam police chief said there were other indicators that spotters would consider too. Anyone who was waiting for a train would normally be expected to look at departure boards.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 452, "answer_end": 1521, "text": "Jawed S, an asylum seeker who arrived in Germany in 2015, had travelled by train to Amsterdam on Friday. The German authorities say they were tipped off in February that he had become radicalised while living at a youth facility. \"My client appears to have made the assumption that he wasn't going to survive his attack, because a will was found at his home in Germany,\" said lawyer Simon van der Woude. He believed the teenager had been acting in response to a cartoon competition proposed by anti-Islam politician Geert Wilders, as well as an earlier video involving the Prophet Muhammad. Dutch prosecutors said this week that Jawed S had had a \"terrorist motive\" and had been \"of the opinion that in the Netherlands the Prophet Muhammad, Islam and the Koran were insulted\". Mr Wilders had cancelled the competition the day before the attack but Mr Van der Woude said his client did not appear to know. In a statement on Wednesday the two victims of the attack thanked Dutch police and praised hospital staff for delivering \"life altering news as gently as possible\"."}], "question": "Who is the suspect?", "id": "434_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1522, "answer_end": 2729, "text": "The Amsterdam police chief told Dutch TV that Jawed S had got off a train shortly before midday on Friday and a few minutes afterwards his \"abnormal behaviour\" had come to the notice of a member of a team of public transport police trained to spot pickpockets as well as potential terrorists. \"He called two colleagues over,\" said Mr Aalbersberg. \"While they are working out how to go and talk to him, they see he starts stabbing.\" One of the tourists was stabbed in the back at a kiosk before a second was attacked. The police, who were by now 20m (65ft) away, drew their weapons. As Jawed S ran towards another potential victim, an officer opened fire and brought him down. Within minutes, police had looked through CCTV images and determined that the man had been acting on his own. \"There were two victims and that is very serious, but the number was kept to a minimum,\" the commissioner said. \"Within nine seconds it was over and the officers made the difference during one precise moment,\" he added, stressing that they had saved lives. The attacker was apparently unaware his victims were Americans. US ambassador Pete Hoekstra told Dutch TV late on Tuesday that it was an \"attack on Western values\"."}], "question": "How did attack unfold?", "id": "434_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2730, "answer_end": 3504, "text": "Police say the central station in Amsterdam has long been identified as a potential target for attack and that they have a permanent team on duty. They adapted an Israeli approach called \"predictive profiling\" whereby a suspect can be identified through suspicious patterns of behaviour. \"First of all a spotter assesses what behaviour is normal in a particular place,\" police trainer Geoffrey Rijtslag told the Volkskrant newspaper. Anyone who deviated from that or started hanging around aimlessly was considered abnormal. At that point they would be approached by at least two officers. The Amsterdam police chief said there were other indicators that spotters would consider too. Anyone who was waiting for a train would normally be expected to look at departure boards."}], "question": "What is the role of spotters?", "id": "434_2"}]}]}, {"title": "Ex-US Air Force officer Monica Witt charged with spying for Iran", "date": "13 February 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "US prosecutors have accused a former US Air Force officer of spying for Iran in an elaborate operation that targeted her fellow intelligence officers. Monica Witt, who allegedly defected to Iran in 2013, had previously worked as a US counterintelligence officer. Four Iranian citizens have also been charged with attempting to install spy software on computers belonging to Ms Witt's colleagues. According to the FBI, Ms Witt was last seen in southwest Asia in July 2013. Prosecutors say Ms Witt had been granted the highest level of US security clearance and worked in the US Air Force from 1997 to 2008. The US Department of Treasury has also sanctioned two Iranian companies - New Horizon Organization and Net Peygard Samavat Company - for their role in the plot. \"It is a sad day for America when one of its citizens betrays our country, said Assistant Attorney General John Demers, the head of the justice department's national security division. Ms Witt is accused of sharing US government secrets, including the name of agents and specifics of operations, with Iran as early as January 2012. In a charging document, investigators say the 39-year-old was deployed by the US to locations in the Middle East to conduct classified counterintelligence operations. Prosecutors allege that shortly after defecting to Iran, she handed over information on her colleagues in order to cause \"serious damage\" to the United States. According to officials, she sent a message to her Iranian contact in 2012 saying: \"I loved the work, and I am endeavouring to put the training I received to good use instead of evil. Thanks for giving me the opportunity.\" Investigators allege Ms Witt was recruited after attending two conferences hosted by New Horizon Organization, which was working on behalf of the Iranian National Guard's Quds Force to collect intelligence on attendees. Several conferences sponsored by the New Horizon Organization have taken place in Iran and Iraq in recent years, according to US officials. The conferences often included an \"anti-Western\" sentiment and \"propagate anti-Semitism and conspiracy theories including Holocaust denial\". At least one of those New Horizon conferences was organised by Iranian-American journalist Marzieh Hashemi, who was detained by US officials in January as a material witness in a federal criminal case, according to the Tehran Times. The Department of Treasury accuses Net Peygard Samavat Company of being \"involved in a malicious cyber campaign to gain access to and implant malware on the computer systems of current and former counterintelligence agents\". Monica Elfriede Witt, a former Texas resident, left the US military in 2008 after more than a decade of service. A previously issued FBI missing persons poster said she was working as an English teacher in either Afghanistan or Tajikistan, and had lived overseas for more than a year before vanishing. While in Iran, she also allegedly converted to Islam during a television segment after identifying herself as a US veteran, and delivered several broadcasts in which she criticised the US. In the weeks after defecting, she also conducted several Facebook searches of her former colleagues, and is alleged to have exposed one agent's true identity, \"thereby risking the life of this individual\". A warrant has been issued for Ms Witt, who remains at large. Last November, US President Donald Trump re-imposed all sanctions on Iran that had been suspended due to the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) nuclear agreement. Mr Trump has withdrawn the US from the agreement, leading to a foreign policy rift between the US and the European nations who are party to the deal. Diplomats are expected to discuss Iran during a US-led two day summit on \"peace and security\" that began on Wednesday in Warsaw. On the conference's opening day, Mr Trump's personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani gave a speech in which he called for regime change in Iran. The US and Iran do not maintain diplomatic relations, and communications between the two nations are exchanged through Swiss diplomats.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 952, "answer_end": 2606, "text": "Ms Witt is accused of sharing US government secrets, including the name of agents and specifics of operations, with Iran as early as January 2012. In a charging document, investigators say the 39-year-old was deployed by the US to locations in the Middle East to conduct classified counterintelligence operations. Prosecutors allege that shortly after defecting to Iran, she handed over information on her colleagues in order to cause \"serious damage\" to the United States. According to officials, she sent a message to her Iranian contact in 2012 saying: \"I loved the work, and I am endeavouring to put the training I received to good use instead of evil. Thanks for giving me the opportunity.\" Investigators allege Ms Witt was recruited after attending two conferences hosted by New Horizon Organization, which was working on behalf of the Iranian National Guard's Quds Force to collect intelligence on attendees. Several conferences sponsored by the New Horizon Organization have taken place in Iran and Iraq in recent years, according to US officials. The conferences often included an \"anti-Western\" sentiment and \"propagate anti-Semitism and conspiracy theories including Holocaust denial\". At least one of those New Horizon conferences was organised by Iranian-American journalist Marzieh Hashemi, who was detained by US officials in January as a material witness in a federal criminal case, according to the Tehran Times. The Department of Treasury accuses Net Peygard Samavat Company of being \"involved in a malicious cyber campaign to gain access to and implant malware on the computer systems of current and former counterintelligence agents\"."}], "question": "What are the charges?", "id": "435_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3365, "answer_end": 4089, "text": "Last November, US President Donald Trump re-imposed all sanctions on Iran that had been suspended due to the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) nuclear agreement. Mr Trump has withdrawn the US from the agreement, leading to a foreign policy rift between the US and the European nations who are party to the deal. Diplomats are expected to discuss Iran during a US-led two day summit on \"peace and security\" that began on Wednesday in Warsaw. On the conference's opening day, Mr Trump's personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani gave a speech in which he called for regime change in Iran. The US and Iran do not maintain diplomatic relations, and communications between the two nations are exchanged through Swiss diplomats."}], "question": "What's the state of US-Iran relations?", "id": "435_1"}]}]}, {"title": "Waddingtons board games archive reveals wacky finds", "date": "28 May 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "When one of Britain's biggest game makers folded it left behind a huge archive of titles. But for every family favourite, there were quite a few you might not have heard of. For decades, Waddingtons products sat on living room shelves across the country. The Leeds-based firm was the UK publisher of Monopoly - with its stack of pastel paper money and fights over who gets to play the top hat - and a host of other classics. But after its final roll of the dice in 1994, it donated its entire collection of more than 1,000 games and jigsaws to local museums. And not all were household names, as staff discovered during a recent stock-take. Kitty Ross, Leeds Museums and Galleries social history curator, said: \"We've certainly uncovered a quirky collection of weird and wonderful games which haven't quite stood the test of time.\" Among the, ahem, hidden gems is your typical rainy-day mix of spooky thrills, hip-thrusting, and bovine reproductive fluids. Wait. What? Yep, you read that right. The snappily-titled Grade Up to Elite Cow - imagine Monopoly but with cattle - probably has the most uses of the word \"semen\" ever seen in a board game. Marketed as a game of \"skill and chance for dairy farmers\" and created in partnership with the British Friesian Cattle Society, the aim is to invest and trade in bull sperm in order to improve the quality of your herd. Each player starts with six cows and PS1,500 from the bank. Cows can only be upgraded by collecting semen discs as players work their way around the board. But beware the pitfalls on the way - pick up a market card which states \"This cow has persistent Mastitis sell her at the market price\" and you won't advance to greener pastures. The first player to grade up four of their non-pedigree cows to elite status is crowned the winner. Proceeds from sales of the game were donated to a young farmer's group, although it's not clear if Elite Cow made them a lot of moo-lah. Ms Ross said: \"I'm not sure how many families would have cheerfully sat down for a game about dairy farming. \"I think it's fair to say it had a very limited appeal.\" Some 20 years before it unleashed Elite Cow on an unsuspecting public, Waddingtons decided to reintroduce the quaint Victorian pastime of attempting to commune with the dead as a harmless game of fun for children. The most famous entry on the list, and key ingredient of any good teenage sleepover, Ouija had been popular since the 19th Century, with American toy maker Parker Brothers acquiring rights to the board from businessman William Fuld. In 1968, Waddingtons brought out their own version to sell in toy shops around the UK. A company magazine from the time states: \"This board contains the words \"yes\", \"no\" and \"goodbye\", and set out in three lines are the letters of the alphabet and the numbers 0-9. \"It is operated by two people, who place their fingers on a heart-shaped stand, which in the centre has a round glass window. \"Together the two people can explore the telepathy and seek advice of those in another world.\" Although the game was a big commercial success, the subsequent media hysteria proved its downfall. \"It caught a particular time when superstitions were coming back and people were getting more uptight about the occult,\" Ms Ross said. \"There was a moral panic that teenagers were sat in their bedrooms calling up the spirit world. \"Waddingtons decided this probably wasn't ideal for a family business so it disappeared from the shelves after a year.\" While some of the games in the Leeds archive were made by Waddingtons, the firm was often sent products from manufacturers overseas - including modern-day video game giant Nintendo. Before it turned an Italian plumber in red dungarees into a national icon of Japan, the Kyoto-based firm traded in more analogue delights Among its 1960s offerings was Hippu Furippu (Hip Flip in English), a version of US firm Parker Brothers' answer to the hula hoop craze and an \"extremely healthy game for the whole body\", according to its manual. Two players suspend the Flipper - a plastic contraption with a bell attached - in the air by pressing either end of a metal arm into their stomach. The gyrating pair begin by slowly moving from left to right in tandem, introducing a pendulum-like motion. Their aim is to build - and maintain - enough power to keep the Flipper spinning in full revolutions on its axis without it falling to the ground. \"I guess it's about how long you can hip flip before you get the giggles or the strap falls off,\" Ms Ross said. To really get the party swinging, the instructions urge players to match their movements to some music (especially if it has a \"go-go rhythm\") to create \"a fun and pleasant atmosphere\". Once you've mastered that, the makers challenge players to get a bit more daring: \"As you get better at spinning in the normal way, try attaching the Flipper to your back or sides\". And, true to its family-friendly image, Nintendo made it possible to halve the length of the device so kids could get in on the hip-thrusting fun. Seemingly, even toy makers have their spies. This game ended up in the Waddingtons archive after being sent from Madrid as evidence of potential copyright infringement, Ms Ross said. La Paz is essentially Monopoly, the firm's most popular game, albeit with a Spanish name which translates to peace in English. Waddingtons was sent a copy from Madrid to investigate potential copyright infringement, Ms Ross said. La Paz was made in 1950 at a time when Spain was under the rule of dictator Francisco Franco and not trading internationally. It's likely that Parker Brothers, which owned the rights to Monopoly, would have taken a dim view of bootleg versions. Ms Ross explained: \"Because Spain was not trading with other countries the company did not have the power to prosecute them. \"But it's interesting that they had eyes around the world looking out for this kind of copycat behaviour.\" She added: \"The fact this game was called peace is ironic because Monopoly is pretty ruthless and renowned for causing many a family argument.\" Keep it simple, stupid. The unofficial mantra of many a hard-nosed paper editor. But the creators of Scoop - a 1953 game of daily newspapers and their reporters with a bewildering array of pieces - perhaps didn't get the message. Despite this, the game makes a fair fist of recreating the thrill of Fleet Street, where journalists race their rivals to get to the best stories. Every player is a reporter with a front page to fill with stories and adverts of as high a value as possible. Ms Ross said: \"Just by the title alone you can tell this is a very British game and was very typical of the 1950s. \"There're some great stories for budding reporters to to pick from to fill their page, such as 'aerobatic thief steals PS3,000 from singer's flat'.\" The winner is the player who completes the front page and goes to press first. Surely the most unnerving part of the game would be the dreaded call from the editor to find out if your story is going to be binned or not.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 2105, "answer_end": 3488, "text": "Some 20 years before it unleashed Elite Cow on an unsuspecting public, Waddingtons decided to reintroduce the quaint Victorian pastime of attempting to commune with the dead as a harmless game of fun for children. The most famous entry on the list, and key ingredient of any good teenage sleepover, Ouija had been popular since the 19th Century, with American toy maker Parker Brothers acquiring rights to the board from businessman William Fuld. In 1968, Waddingtons brought out their own version to sell in toy shops around the UK. A company magazine from the time states: \"This board contains the words \"yes\", \"no\" and \"goodbye\", and set out in three lines are the letters of the alphabet and the numbers 0-9. \"It is operated by two people, who place their fingers on a heart-shaped stand, which in the centre has a round glass window. \"Together the two people can explore the telepathy and seek advice of those in another world.\" Although the game was a big commercial success, the subsequent media hysteria proved its downfall. \"It caught a particular time when superstitions were coming back and people were getting more uptight about the occult,\" Ms Ross said. \"There was a moral panic that teenagers were sat in their bedrooms calling up the spirit world. \"Waddingtons decided this probably wasn't ideal for a family business so it disappeared from the shelves after a year.\""}], "question": "Paranormal activity?", "id": "436_0"}]}]}, {"title": "How does government get out of Brexit linguistic hole?", "date": "5 December 2017", "paragraphs": [{"context": "\"Rubbish\" - the response from a senior DUP source when I put it to them that the party had been kept in the loop about Theresa May's Brexit deal, but got cold feet when the likes of Nicola Sturgeon, Carwyn Jones and Sadiq Khan started demanding the same special treatment for Scotland, Wales and London. Something doesn't add up. Last Thursday, DUP leader Arlene Foster declared that her party was \"in constant contact on these issues with the government\". Was that via face-to-face meetings of the two parties' \"co-ordination committee\", or just via telephone conversations? If the latter, the line must have been very crackly. But also last Thursday, the DUP loudly and publicly denounced a report in The Times which talked about the devolution of extra powers to Stormont and hinted at the possibility of customs convergence. It wasn't exactly what the Eurocrats were working on in their draft texts. However, the similarity of the proposals and the vehemence of the DUP reaction should surely have alerted the negotiators to sound out the DUP first, rather than bouncing them into accepting a fait accompli. How to get out of this hole? The diplomats could try raiding a thesaurus to find synonyms for \"regulatory alignment\", although the DUP will now be on their guard for any cosmetic change which does not alter the thrust of the draft UK-EU agreement. Earlier, another DUP source told me unionists just wanted to be treated the same as the rest of the UK. If regulations on animal health or agriculture are good enough for Northern Ireland, went the argument, then why not for the UK as a whole? The DUP's critics are quick to point out that the party has been prepared to contemplate different regimes for corporation tax, air passenger duty and water charges. Not to mention that it doesn't back a \"one-size-fits-all\" UK-wide policy on abortion or same-sex marriage. Putting all that to one side for the purpose of this Brexit negotiation, one obvious way to resolve the current conundrum might be for the government to pledge that any \"regulatory alignment\" between Northern Ireland and the European Union will also apply across the UK. Such a wider east-west deal would not offend the DUP's unionist sensibilities, although it might create tensions between Theresa May and some of her Conservative Brexit purists. So you could widen out the deal. However, another approach might be to narrow down its terms. The draft text referred to \"regulatory alignment\" in areas relevant to the Good Friday Agreement (the 1998 deal that brought to an end the 30 years of sectarian conflict in Northern Ireland). That is open to interpretation - some say the EU provided the entire context in which the 1998 Agreement was negotiated. By contrast the UK Supreme Court ruled that Brexit was not in breach of the Agreement. We have had north-south \"areas of cooperation\" for the past 19 years. Transport is one of them, but drivers still need to stick to speed limits in kilometres south of the border and in miles per hour on the north. Tourism is another area of cooperation, but airport bosses in Northern Ireland will remind you that their passengers pay duty which the Irish Republic abolished some time ago. So simply saying the magic words \"Good Friday Agreement\" doesn't mean every rule and regulation has to be the same. Two different forms of words are now doing the rounds. Leaks from Brussels on Monday claimed a draft text said: \"In the absence of agreed solutions, the UK will ensure that continued regulatory alignment with those rules of the internal market and the customs union which, now or in the future, support north-south cooperation and the protection of the Good Friday Agreement.\" This would be open to the UK government to parse on the grounds of which rules are relevant to that agreement. The Irish Times has reported another formula which has apparently been disputed by the British government. It says: \"The UK remains committed to protecting north-south co-operation and a guarantee to avoiding a hard border. \"The UK's intention is to achieve these objectives through the overall EU-UK relationship. \"Should this not be possible, the UK will propose specific solutions to address the unique circumstances of the island of Ireland. \"In the absence of agreed solutions, the UK will maintain full alignment with the internal market, customs union and protection of the Good Friday agreement.\" This appears more a comprehensive text, less open to interpretation and potentially creating an internal customs barrier within a post-Brexit UK. So does the government widen the playing field across the UK or try to narrow the terms of the text dealing with Ireland? Either way it's quite a challenge to rescue this deal.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 3814, "answer_end": 4741, "text": "The Irish Times has reported another formula which has apparently been disputed by the British government. It says: \"The UK remains committed to protecting north-south co-operation and a guarantee to avoiding a hard border. \"The UK's intention is to achieve these objectives through the overall EU-UK relationship. \"Should this not be possible, the UK will propose specific solutions to address the unique circumstances of the island of Ireland. \"In the absence of agreed solutions, the UK will maintain full alignment with the internal market, customs union and protection of the Good Friday agreement.\" This appears more a comprehensive text, less open to interpretation and potentially creating an internal customs barrier within a post-Brexit UK. So does the government widen the playing field across the UK or try to narrow the terms of the text dealing with Ireland? Either way it's quite a challenge to rescue this deal."}], "question": "Wider playing field?", "id": "437_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Impunity feared in Mexico photojournalist's murder", "date": "10 August 2015", "paragraphs": [{"context": "\"No pasa nada\" is a saying you often hear in Mexico. It means \"nothing happens\" but people often use it reassuringly as in: \"Don't worry about it, it's nothing.\" When it comes to solving murders, \"no pasa nada\" is a pretty accurate description. According to Mexico's statistics institute, 98% of homicides in 2012 went unsolved. The culture of impunity is frightening. The 31 July murder of photojournalist Ruben Espinosa along with four women in a middle-class neighbourhood of Mexico City is a crime that many fear will once again go unsolved. Mr Espinosa worked as a photojournalist in the eastern state of Veracruz for the investigative magazine Proceso, among others. He had recently left Veracruz for Mexico City because of safety fears. Veracruz is the most dangerous place to be a journalist in Mexico, which itself is deemed one of the most dangerous countries for journalists. Nationwide, 88 journalists have been murdered since 2000, according to free speech organisation Article 19. Fourteen journalists from Veracruz state alone have died since current governor Javier Duarte took office in 2010. That makes Veracruz the most lethal state for journalists out of Mexico's 31 states and its federal district. Relations between the Veracruz governor and the media have been tense. In July, Governor Duarte accused some journalists of having criminal ties. He went on to warn them to \"behave\", arguing that if anything were to happen to them, it would be him who would be \"crucified\". Some local journalists saw this as a thinly veiled threat against them. Human rights investigator Patrick Timmons says that while Veracruz may currently be the most risky place for journalists in Mexico, other states are not immune from violence against the media. \"We have to understand that what we're seeing in Veracruz has happened in other states and it will happen in other states too,\" he warns. Mexican authorities investigating the multiple murder said they were keeping all lines of investigation open, including robbery. But friends and relatives of Mr Espinosa think he was deliberately targeted, pointing to the execution-style nature of the killing. All five victims were shot in the head. Mr Espinosa's body showed signs of torture and three of the four women were raped. So far, one suspect has been arrested. Investigators said his fingerprints had been found at the crime scene and matched to a database which showed he had a criminal record for rape and assault. But Emily Edmonds-Poli, associate professor of political science at the University of San Diego and author of a paper on violence against journalists in Mexico, is sceptical. \"That's so old-hat in Mexico, you pick up the nearest criminal and you accuse them of the crime,\" she said. \"I don't believe anyone is fooled by that,\" she added, Many of the journalists killed in Mexico reported on organised crime and drug trafficking, considered inherently risky beats. But Prof Edmonds-Poli thinks their killings should not be dismissed that easily. \"Many of them have covered corruption beats or politics, they are not necessarily chasing ambulances and trying to report on cartel activities,\" she argues. She says that \"it's the nexus between drug-trafficking organisations and the government, and that's why this really isn't solely a drug-related issue\". \"It's about how the state deals with being exposed,\" she adds. The fact that Mr Espinosa was killed in Mexico City after having fled Veracruz, where he had received death threats, is seen by many as a dark development. Mexico City had for several years been seen as a safe haven, a bubble for journalists. But that bubble has now burst. Free speech group Article 19 argues that Mr Espinosa's murder marks a new level of violence against journalists in Mexico. \"If you get pursued into Mexico City, that shows another level of determination on the part of people who are interested in silencing journalists,\" said Emily Edmonds-Poli. Ruben Espinosa's murder shows that it is no longer true that in Mexico City \"no pasa nada\".", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 2814, "answer_end": 3392, "text": "Many of the journalists killed in Mexico reported on organised crime and drug trafficking, considered inherently risky beats. But Prof Edmonds-Poli thinks their killings should not be dismissed that easily. \"Many of them have covered corruption beats or politics, they are not necessarily chasing ambulances and trying to report on cartel activities,\" she argues. She says that \"it's the nexus between drug-trafficking organisations and the government, and that's why this really isn't solely a drug-related issue\". \"It's about how the state deals with being exposed,\" she adds."}], "question": "Drugs war or politics?", "id": "438_0"}]}]}, {"title": "How to stay safe at the beach and in the sea", "date": "25 August 2016", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Twelve people have died in less than a week following a series of incidents around the UK and Channel Islands coastline. Five men died after being pulled from the water at Camber Sands in East Sussex, while two-year-old Mckayla Bruynius and her father died after being swept off rocks in Cornwall. Other fatal incidents included a mother and son who died in the sea off Aberdeen. So what are the greatest risks at the seaside and how can they be avoided? The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) urges people to \"respect the water and visit a lifeguarded beach\". This year, the RNLI has lifeguards on 238 beaches across the UK and the Channel Islands. It says \"seconds count\" in emergencies at the beach - and its lifeguards responded to more than 17,000 incidents last year. \"For the best chance of survival, you need someone on the beach who can see the dangers develop: someone who can prevent accidents before they happen and respond instantly if they occur,\" it says. - The area between two red and yellow flags (top picture) is patrolled by lifeguards and is the safest place to swim, bodyboard and use inflatables, the RNLI says - Areas between black and white chequered flags (see above) are for watersports like surfing and kayaking. People should not swim in these areas - An orange windsock (also above) denotes strong or offshore winds. The RNLI says inflatables should not be used in these conditions - A red flag means it is dangerous to go in the water Basically, a rip current is a narrow channel of fast-moving water. \"Rips can be very difficult to spot, but sometimes can be identified by a channel of churning, choppy water or debris on the sea's surface,\" the RNLI says. These can be dangerous because they can drag people out to sea, and can reach up to 4.5mph (7.2km/h). That may not sound fast, but it's quicker than Team GB swimmer Adam Peaty's world-record pace in the 100m breaststroke at the Rio Olympics. Keep calm, raise your hand and shout for help. If it's a rip current, don't swim against it. As explained above, it's almost impossible to swim faster than a powerful rip, so attempting this will lead to exhaustion. Stand rather than swim if the water is shallow enough. If not, swim parallel to the shore until free of the rip, then head for shore. If you find yourself in the water unexpectedly, the initial shock may cause you to gasp and panic. The RNLI advises people in this situation not to attempt swimming straight away, but to relax, float and try to find something buoyant before swimming towards safety if possible. Call 999 and ask for the Coastguard. If you have something that floats or something the struggling person can hold on to, throw it to them. The RNLI says: \"Don't go in the water yourself - too many people drown trying to save others.\" Many coastal emergencies happen when people get cut off by rising water. Visitors are advised to check tides before walking along beaches, as well as watching out for signs about hazards such as falling rocks. Tide timetables are available from the BBC. \"Respect the water,\" says RNLI lifeguard manager Kester Sheppard. \"It's like a fire. If you could see a fire burning, you wouldn't walk towards it would you?\" He says many people who go near the sea in rough weather - for example, to take pictures - get caught out by an unexpectedly large wave, and he urges: \"Don't go too close.\" What is safe will depend on the conditions, but people should be aware of the risks and follow any advice from nearby signs and authorities, Mr Sheppard adds. - Never swim alone - Supervise children at all times - Don't go in the sea after drinking alcohol - Don't jump from height into the sea (known as tombstoning)", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 455, "answer_end": 978, "text": "The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) urges people to \"respect the water and visit a lifeguarded beach\". This year, the RNLI has lifeguards on 238 beaches across the UK and the Channel Islands. It says \"seconds count\" in emergencies at the beach - and its lifeguards responded to more than 17,000 incidents last year. \"For the best chance of survival, you need someone on the beach who can see the dangers develop: someone who can prevent accidents before they happen and respond instantly if they occur,\" it says."}], "question": "Should you stick to beaches with a lifeguard?", "id": "439_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1474, "answer_end": 1938, "text": "Basically, a rip current is a narrow channel of fast-moving water. \"Rips can be very difficult to spot, but sometimes can be identified by a channel of churning, choppy water or debris on the sea's surface,\" the RNLI says. These can be dangerous because they can drag people out to sea, and can reach up to 4.5mph (7.2km/h). That may not sound fast, but it's quicker than Team GB swimmer Adam Peaty's world-record pace in the 100m breaststroke at the Rio Olympics."}], "question": "What is a rip current?", "id": "439_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1939, "answer_end": 2566, "text": "Keep calm, raise your hand and shout for help. If it's a rip current, don't swim against it. As explained above, it's almost impossible to swim faster than a powerful rip, so attempting this will lead to exhaustion. Stand rather than swim if the water is shallow enough. If not, swim parallel to the shore until free of the rip, then head for shore. If you find yourself in the water unexpectedly, the initial shock may cause you to gasp and panic. The RNLI advises people in this situation not to attempt swimming straight away, but to relax, float and try to find something buoyant before swimming towards safety if possible."}], "question": "What should you do if you get into trouble?", "id": "439_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2567, "answer_end": 2801, "text": "Call 999 and ask for the Coastguard. If you have something that floats or something the struggling person can hold on to, throw it to them. The RNLI says: \"Don't go in the water yourself - too many people drown trying to save others.\""}], "question": "What if you see someone else in trouble?", "id": "439_3"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2802, "answer_end": 3055, "text": "Many coastal emergencies happen when people get cut off by rising water. Visitors are advised to check tides before walking along beaches, as well as watching out for signs about hazards such as falling rocks. Tide timetables are available from the BBC."}], "question": "What do you need to know about tides?", "id": "439_4"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3056, "answer_end": 3546, "text": "\"Respect the water,\" says RNLI lifeguard manager Kester Sheppard. \"It's like a fire. If you could see a fire burning, you wouldn't walk towards it would you?\" He says many people who go near the sea in rough weather - for example, to take pictures - get caught out by an unexpectedly large wave, and he urges: \"Don't go too close.\" What is safe will depend on the conditions, but people should be aware of the risks and follow any advice from nearby signs and authorities, Mr Sheppard adds."}], "question": "When should you stay away from the sea?", "id": "439_5"}]}]}, {"title": "Hurricane Irma: Florida braces for storm arrival", "date": "10 September 2017", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Hurricane Irma has strengthened to a category four storm as it nears Florida, with maximum sustained winds of 130mph (209km/h). Hurricane force wind gusts are battering islands in Florida's south, the governor says, with the mainland due to be hit in the coming hours. Water levels are already rising on the coast of the US state where a huge storm surge is expected. At least 25 people died when Irma earlier hit several Caribbean islands. In Florida, 6.3 million people - about 30% of the state's population - had been told to evacuate. But on Saturday, the state governor said it was now too late to leave for anyone remaining. Live updates The National Hurricane Center has issued warnings against \"life-threatening\" storm surges in  the Florida Keys - a chain of small islands in Florida's south - as well as Tampa Bay and other coastal areas. More than 200,000 homes in the state have been affected by power outages, with 164,000 outages in Miami Dade county alone, according to utilities company Florida Power & Light. Irma is predicted to hit the coast on Sunday morning, but the outer bands are already affecting the south of the state and central Miami is being lashed by heavy rain. The Florida Keys have suffered some minor damage and are expected to bear the brunt of the storm in the coming hours. \"If you're in an evacuation zone, you've got to get to a shelter ... there's not many hours left\", Florida Governor Rick Scott warned earlier. He urged residents at home to \"stay indoors and move to an interior room away from windows\". The western Gulf coast is expected to be worst affected, with cities such as Tampa and St Petersburg in the path of the storm. The Tampa Bay area, with a population of about three million, has not been hit by a major hurricane since 1921. Some 50,000 people have gone to shelters throughout the state, the governor said. Media reports say shelters in some areas have been filling up quickly and some people have been turned away. Miami city and Broward county have imposed curfews to help clear the roads of traffic. - Cuba: Officials have reported \"significant damage\", without giving further details, but said there were no confirmed casualties yet, the AFP news agency reports - St Martin and St Barthelemy: Six out of 10 homes on St Martin, an island shared between France and the Netherlands, now uninhabitable, French officials say. They said nine people had died and seven were missing in the French territories, while two are known to have died in Dutch Sint Maarten - Turks and Caicos Islands: Widespread damage, although extent unclear - Barbuda: The small island is said to be \"barely habitable\", with 95% of the buildings damaged. Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister Gaston Browne estimates reconstruction will cost $100m (PS80m). One death has been confirmed - Anguilla: Extensive damage with one person confirmed dead - Puerto Rico: More than 6,000 residents of the US territory are in shelters and many more without power. At least three people have died - British Virgin Islands:Widespread damage reported, and five dead - US Virgin Islands: Damage to infrastructure was said to be widespread, with four deaths confirmed - Haiti and the Dominican Republic: Both battered by the storm, but neither had as much damage as initially feared Another storm, Jose, further out in the Atlantic behind Irma, is now a category four hurricane, with winds of up to 145mph. It is following a similar path to Irma and already hampering relief efforts in some of the worst affected areas. Residents of Barbuda, left the island as Jose approached but it is no longer expected to hit. However, tropical storm warnings are in place for St Martin and St Barthelemy, both also hit by Irma. Hurricane Katia, in the Gulf of Mexico, a category one storm with winds of up to 75mph, made landfall on the Mexican Gulf coast in the state of Veracruz late on Friday. It has now weakened to a tropical depression. Are you in the region? Are you a holidaymaker unable to get a flight home or a resident who has been preparing for Hurricane Irma? If it is safe for you to do so, share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. 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 yourpics@bbc.co.uk - Upload your pictures / video here - Send an SMS or MMS to 61124 or +44 7624 800 100", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1026, "answer_end": 2064, "text": "Irma is predicted to hit the coast on Sunday morning, but the outer bands are already affecting the south of the state and central Miami is being lashed by heavy rain. The Florida Keys have suffered some minor damage and are expected to bear the brunt of the storm in the coming hours. \"If you're in an evacuation zone, you've got to get to a shelter ... there's not many hours left\", Florida Governor Rick Scott warned earlier. He urged residents at home to \"stay indoors and move to an interior room away from windows\". The western Gulf coast is expected to be worst affected, with cities such as Tampa and St Petersburg in the path of the storm. The Tampa Bay area, with a population of about three million, has not been hit by a major hurricane since 1921. Some 50,000 people have gone to shelters throughout the state, the governor said. Media reports say shelters in some areas have been filling up quickly and some people have been turned away. Miami city and Broward county have imposed curfews to help clear the roads of traffic."}], "question": "What is happening in Florida?", "id": "440_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Brexit customs plan will offer 'best of both worlds'", "date": "2 July 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "A new plan for post-Brexit customs arrangements will be a \"significant step forward\", a Downing Street source has promised. The proposal, to be presented to ministers on Friday, will offer \"the best of both worlds\" - an independent trade policy and friction-free trade, the source added. But no details have yet been revealed about how it will work. Ministers have so far failed to agree what type of customs model to pursue. Friday's Chequers summit, which will be followed by a White Paper setting out more details, is aimed at finalising the UK's preferred path which can then be put to the EU. BBC political editor Laura Kuenssberg said some ministers appeared not to have been involved in drawing up the new proposal, which is being called a \"third way\" after two previous proposals divided opinion. Earlier, government divisions were underlined when Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson intervened in defence of Eurosceptic backbencher Jacob Rees-Mogg, who had been accused by two other foreign office ministers of \"threatening\" Theresa May over Brexit. The UK is due to leave the EU on 29 March 2019, and negotiations are taking place on what the future relationship between the UK and the EU will look like. Key things that have yet to be agreed are how the two sides will trade with each other in years to come - and how to avoid new border checks between Northern Ireland and the Republic, which is a member of the EU. Before reaching agreement with the EU, Mrs May needs to resolve splits within her cabinet on the shape of Brexit. BBC political editor Laura Kuenssberg The immediate problem with the \"new plan\" is whether or not it really exists. Because while Number 10 says it does, ask other people in government and they are not quite so sure. Ministers who you might have thought would be aware of the detail like - oh, you might imagine - the Brexit secretary had not agreed the lines, before Number 10 made their intervention. And it's said tonight that the reason he has not been involved in agreeing the \"new plan\" is because it does not actually exist yet. The customs decision expected in some parts of government therefore is what has been anticipated for some time as \"max fac plus\" - a souped up version of the proposal that originally won the day in the Brexit subcommittee what feels like a lifetime ago - with, you assume, a long lead-in time while the technology is made to work. Baffled? Quite possibly so. But it's perhaps only safe to say that four days before ministers are expected to actually make some final decisions, all is not precisely as you might have expected. Read the rest of Laura's blog Earlier, she urged the EU to consider her blueprint for future relations \"seriously\" as she updated MPs on last week's Brussels summit. Pressed to give more detail of her plans as she took questions in the Commons, Mrs May said she hoped her vision for the UK's future relations would address the \"real differences\" on the issue of the Irish border. \"The EU and its member states will want to consider our proposals seriously,\" she said. \"We both need to show flexibility to build the deep relationship after we have left that is in the interests of both our peoples.\" Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said the cabinet was irrevocably split between different Tory factions. But Mrs May rejected calls to \"pick a side\" between Remainers and Brexiteers, saying: \"I have picked the side of the British people and these are the ones for whom I will deliver.\" She is also due to have talks in Berlin with German Chancellor Angela Merkel ahead of the Chequers meeting. The BBC's Brussels reporter Adam Fleming Sources in both the European Council and the European Commission deny they have seen a draft of the UK's Brexit White Paper. Officials in Brussels predict it will mostly be a compilation of existing British positions - \"a best of\" is how one described it. Theresa May \"hinted\" at the publication of the document when she addressed EU leaders at their summit last week but she did not elaborate on its contents. Ministers from the remaining 27 member states are planning to respond to the White Paper at a meeting of the General Affairs Council on 20 July. EU officials expect to be going through the document until the end of July. The government has so far talked publicly about two potential customs options. One, a customs partnership, would mean the UK applies the EU's own tariffs and rules of origin to all goods arriving in the country and then hands over what was owed for goods that subsequently end up in the EU. The other, known as maximum facilitation or max-fac, aimed to employ new technology to remove the need for physical customs checks where possible. It is understood both options have been deemed practically or politically undeliverable and a third option is on the table, believed to involve \"alignment\" with the EU in regulations covering trade in goods but a looser relationship for services. Writing in the Daily Telegraph earlier, Mr Rees-Mogg said he and other members of the 60-strong group of Eurosceptic Tory MPs he leads, known as the European Research Group, would reject a deal that did not amount to a clean break with the EU. Mr Rees-Mogg said a deal which restricted the UK's ability to make trade agreements with other nations or control migration could not be accepted and Mrs May \"must stick to her righteous cause and deliver what she has said she would\". But, speaking in the Commons, pro-EU MP Anna Soubry said the public were tired of what she said were continual \"fudges\" on key questions and urged Mrs May to stamp her authority once and for all. And her colleague Nicky Morgan said Mrs May \"would not be thanked for the mess we will end up in\" if the government did not prioritise the needs of the economy in a \"pragmatic, sensible, flexible\" Brexit. The Democratic Unionist Party, whose support Theresa May needs to have a majority in key Commons votes, said it would not support any deal which did not give the UK full control over its borders. \"We don't give blank cheques to anybody,\" its Westminster leader Nigel Dodds said after meeting the PM for an hour in Downing Street. \"We want to see a proper Brexit which fulfils the referendum result but we have been very clear that it has to be on the basis of the whole of the UK leaving the EU as one.\" He accused Dublin and other European capitals of trying to \"bully\" the UK and using the issue of the Northern Irish border to \"create an outcome which is to their liking\", adding \"they won't succeed in that\".", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 3588, "answer_end": 4260, "text": "The BBC's Brussels reporter Adam Fleming Sources in both the European Council and the European Commission deny they have seen a draft of the UK's Brexit White Paper. Officials in Brussels predict it will mostly be a compilation of existing British positions - \"a best of\" is how one described it. Theresa May \"hinted\" at the publication of the document when she addressed EU leaders at their summit last week but she did not elaborate on its contents. Ministers from the remaining 27 member states are planning to respond to the White Paper at a meeting of the General Affairs Council on 20 July. EU officials expect to be going through the document until the end of July."}], "question": "The EU's view?", "id": "441_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Pinterest shares soar in stock market debut", "date": "18 April 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Shares in online scrapbook company Pinterest surged more than 28% on its first day of trading, valuing the firm at about $16bn (PS12bn). The  shares opened in New York at $23.75, well ahead of the $19 they were priced at, and closed at $24.40. Pinterest's listing is regarded as an indicator of investor appetite for \"unicorns\" - private, venture capital-backed firms valued at more than $1bn. Ride-hailing firm Uber is due to float next month. Video-conferencing firm Zoom Video Communications also made its stock market debut on the Nasdaq on Thursday. The shares closed at $62, a rise of 72% against the initial public offering price of $36 per share. Pinterest is a social-scrapbooking website that allows users to search for various topics, from DIY projects to travel tips, with results often showing infographics. It also allows users to create social \"boards\", which relate to certain topics or themes, and encourages users to follow each other and their boards. The company earns money through advertisements, which are placed among the \"pins\" or posts that users upload on the site. Pinterest's flotation comes before the widely-anticipated stock market debut of ride-hailing firm Uber next month. The loss-making firm is expected to raise about $10bn and be valued at $100bn. Uber rival Lyft was one of the first unicorns to float this year, but since listing on the Nasdaq index in March at $72 a share its stock has dropped by more than 22%. Other firms expected to float in 2019 include home-sharing site AirBnB and WeWork, the office provider. Losses are narrowing at Pinterest and sales are growing. Last year pre-tax losses dropped to $62.5m compared with $181.8m two years ago. Revenue rose to $755.9m last year from $298m in 2016. Pinterest has said that its business is heavily dependent on advertisers and a downturn in spending could harm it. It also expects to \"incur operating losses in the future and may never achieve or maintain profitability\". At its last private fundraising round in 2017 Pinterest was valued at $12bn.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1559, "answer_end": 2048, "text": "Losses are narrowing at Pinterest and sales are growing. Last year pre-tax losses dropped to $62.5m compared with $181.8m two years ago. Revenue rose to $755.9m last year from $298m in 2016. Pinterest has said that its business is heavily dependent on advertisers and a downturn in spending could harm it. It also expects to \"incur operating losses in the future and may never achieve or maintain profitability\". At its last private fundraising round in 2017 Pinterest was valued at $12bn."}], "question": "Pinning or pining?", "id": "442_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Trump's $4.1tr budget takes hatchet to safety net", "date": "23 May 2017", "paragraphs": [{"context": "The White House has unveiled a $4.1tr (PS3.1tr) budget that would take the axe to the social safety net for the poor. The plan would sharply slash food stamps, healthcare for low-income patients and disability benefits, and eliminate student loan subsidies. The budget also features an Ivanka Trump plan for paid parental leave. The US military would receive a 10% boost while $1.6bn would be allocated for a wall on the border with Mexico. President Trump, who is travelling overseas, missed the unveiling of his first full budget, titled A New Foundation for American Greatness. Mick Mulvaney, the White House budget director, told reporters on Tuesday the proposal is \"simply the president's priorities put on paper\". No. A US president's annual budget is a policy wish list that stands little chance of being enacted. The Senate and House of Representatives will pass their own versions, which will then go to congressional committees before the final spending plan is cemented. The Trump budget might have expected a sympathetic reading in the Republican-controlled Congress. But even fiscally hawkish conservatives are baulking at some of the $3.6tr in cuts. Critics say the plan would hurt some of Mr Trump's supporters hardest. - Its proposed $190bn reduction in food stamps surpasses previous cuts put forward by Republicans to a programme that serves about 42 million people - Representatives from agricultural states are objecting to a plan to limit farm subsidies - Mr Trump promised on the campaign trail not to cut Medicaid, the healthcare programme for the poor, but his budget would cut the scheme by $800bn - Republicans are also squeamish about proposed cuts to Meals on Wheels, which provides food to the homebound elderly, disabled and veterans - But the funding cut to family-planning groups that offer abortions, such as Planned Parenthood, is likely to be welcomed by conservatives The White House budget director said: \"Yes, you have to have compassion for folks who are receiving federal funds, but you also have to have compassion for the folks who are paying it.\" The US is the only developed country that does not grant new mothers or fathers a single day of paid time off. But the US first daughter, who also acts as assistant to the president, has championed a policy to change all that. Ivanka Trump's $19bn plan to offer six weeks of paid leave to mothers and fathers makes this the first Republican administration to put forth such a proposal. But congressional Republicans are unlikely to rubber-stamp a new government mandate. And even Democrats, who have long cried out for such a benefit, may be reluctant to lend their support to this president. Ivanka Trump: US first daughter This proposed budget should be seen as a presidential statement of principles - and those principles often run counter to the ones Mr Trump campaigned on last year. The defence spending boost is there, yes, but funds allocated for a border wall aren't nearly enough to realise Mr Trump's dream. Infrastructure spending is below the massive investment Mr Trump promised. Candidate Trump also pledged to protect entitlement spending, but his budget makes massive cuts in the Medicaid healthcare programme for the poor. There was always going to be some conflict between Mr Trump's campaign guarantees and reality, but this budget more closely resembles the agenda of the most aggressive Republican fiscal hawks. The budget will have some support in Congress from hardliners, but it would have been difficult to imagine during the heat of the campaign that President Trump would start so far to the right. This budget projects the US government will eliminate its deficit and be running a surplus by 2027 - for the first time since the 1990s. The plan promises to cut tax rates, relying largely on hoped-for economic growth of 3% to avoid adding to the deficit. But that forecast is well beyond the independent Congressional Budget Office assumptions of 1.9% growth. The Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, a bipartisan policy body, said the Trump budget is based on \"rosy assumptions\" and \"does not add up\". The White House budget director said on Tuesday 3% growth \"will be the new normal for this country\", but conceded that without it, the \"budget will never balance\". Democrats are predictably outraged. Hillary Clinton said the Trump budget shows an \"unimaginable level of cruelty\" for millions of Americans and children. Yet even conservatives are voicing anxiety about the magnitude of the cuts. Mark Walker, chairman of the spending hawks in the Republican Study Committee, told the Washington Post: \"There will be some concern if we go too deep in some of these areas.\" Mark Meadows, chairman of the hardline House Freedom Caucus, told the New York Times: \"Meals on Wheels, even for some of us who are considered to be fiscal hawks, may be a bridge too far.\" John Cornyn, the second ranking Republican in the Senate, said the plan was \"dead on arrival\".", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 721, "answer_end": 1164, "text": "No. A US president's annual budget is a policy wish list that stands little chance of being enacted. The Senate and House of Representatives will pass their own versions, which will then go to congressional committees before the final spending plan is cemented. The Trump budget might have expected a sympathetic reading in the Republican-controlled Congress. But even fiscally hawkish conservatives are baulking at some of the $3.6tr in cuts."}], "question": "Is the president's budget law?", "id": "443_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1165, "answer_end": 2090, "text": "Critics say the plan would hurt some of Mr Trump's supporters hardest. - Its proposed $190bn reduction in food stamps surpasses previous cuts put forward by Republicans to a programme that serves about 42 million people - Representatives from agricultural states are objecting to a plan to limit farm subsidies - Mr Trump promised on the campaign trail not to cut Medicaid, the healthcare programme for the poor, but his budget would cut the scheme by $800bn - Republicans are also squeamish about proposed cuts to Meals on Wheels, which provides food to the homebound elderly, disabled and veterans - But the funding cut to family-planning groups that offer abortions, such as Planned Parenthood, is likely to be welcomed by conservatives The White House budget director said: \"Yes, you have to have compassion for folks who are receiving federal funds, but you also have to have compassion for the folks who are paying it.\""}], "question": "What about these cuts?", "id": "443_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3619, "answer_end": 4293, "text": "This budget projects the US government will eliminate its deficit and be running a surplus by 2027 - for the first time since the 1990s. The plan promises to cut tax rates, relying largely on hoped-for economic growth of 3% to avoid adding to the deficit. But that forecast is well beyond the independent Congressional Budget Office assumptions of 1.9% growth. The Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, a bipartisan policy body, said the Trump budget is based on \"rosy assumptions\" and \"does not add up\". The White House budget director said on Tuesday 3% growth \"will be the new normal for this country\", but conceded that without it, the \"budget will never balance\"."}], "question": "Is the plan economically viable?", "id": "443_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 4294, "answer_end": 4984, "text": "Democrats are predictably outraged. Hillary Clinton said the Trump budget shows an \"unimaginable level of cruelty\" for millions of Americans and children. Yet even conservatives are voicing anxiety about the magnitude of the cuts. Mark Walker, chairman of the spending hawks in the Republican Study Committee, told the Washington Post: \"There will be some concern if we go too deep in some of these areas.\" Mark Meadows, chairman of the hardline House Freedom Caucus, told the New York Times: \"Meals on Wheels, even for some of us who are considered to be fiscal hawks, may be a bridge too far.\" John Cornyn, the second ranking Republican in the Senate, said the plan was \"dead on arrival\"."}], "question": "What's the reaction?", "id": "443_3"}]}]}, {"title": "Donald Trump's presidential inauguration: Order of the day", "date": "20 January 2017", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Hundreds of thousands of people poured into Washington to watch Donald Trump being sworn in as the 45th US president. All eyes were on the US Capitol as Mr Trump formally replaced President Barack Obama in the White House. Here is a guide to the historic transition. The newly elected US president is sworn into office by the Chief Justice of the United States every four years by noon (17:00 GMT) on 20 January, as prescribed by the US Constitution. Historically, the incoming president was inaugurated on 4 March, but the period of delay was shortened when the 20th Amendment was ratified in 1933. The oath is part of a ceremony marking the peaceful transition of power on the steps in front of the US Capitol. The ceremony is then followed by a parade down Pennsylvania Avenue and later celebrated through a series of inaugural balls. 1. Trump leaves from Blair House on Friday morning 2. St John's Episcopal Church for morning service 3. White House coffee with Obama 4. US Capitol for Oath of office and address 5. National Mall, where spectators watch parade 6. Trump walks past his hotel as he leads the parade to his new home FRIDAY, 20 JANUARY - Mr Trump attended a morning service at St John's Episcopal Church near the White House - Mr Trump and his wife, Melania, had coffee with President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama. - 10:30 (15:30 GMT) The couples took a motorcade to the Capitol. Inauguration ceremony began with musical performances - 11:30 (16:30 GMT) Opening remarks followed by Supreme Court Justice swearing in Mr Pence - 11:45-12:00 (16:45 - 17:00 GMT) President Obama's term of office ended at precisely noon. Mr Trump took the oath of office, administered by Chief Justice Roberts, at 12:00 (17:00 GMT). He then delivered his inaugural address - 13:00-15:45 (18:00-20:45 GMT) President Trump signed a series of documents in a room at the US Capitol before dining with lawmakers at the inaugural luncheon - 15:45-17:00 (20:45-22:00 GMT) Mr Trump and Mr Pence embarked on a 1.5 mile (2.4km) parade down Pennsylvania Avenue to the White House - 19:00-23:00 (00:00-04:00 GMT) Mr Trump, Mr Pence and their wives will attend three official inaugural balls SAT, 21 JANUARY - 10:00 (15:00 GMT) Mr Trump and Mr Pence attend the interfaith National Prayer Service at the Washington National Cathedral - 10:00 (15:00 GMT) The Women's March on Washington begins President Obama and the first lady accompanied Mr Trump in a motorcade to the US Capitol for the official ceremony, where they were joined by members of Congress, politicians as well as supporters. Former President Bill Clinton and Hillary Clinton, who lost to Mr Trump in November's election, are attending. George W Bush and his wife, Laura, as well as Jimmy Carter, are also there. George HW Bush, who was in hospital for respiratory problems, wrote a letter to Mr Trump wishing him well and apologising for missing the event due to health concerns. An estimated 800,000 to 900,000 people were expected to flood the nation's capital on Friday for the inauguration, but it is unclear whether they will be there in celebration or protest, officials said. President Barack Obama drew an estimated 1.8 million people to Washington when he took office eight years ago. The \"level of enthusiasm\" and demand for hotel rooms has not reached that of previous inaugurations, according to Elliott Ferguson, president of Destination DC, the city's convention and tourism bureau. In fact, some hotels have reduced the minimum-night stay from four nights to two. Other hotels are only 50% full, but higher-end hotels appeared to have more bookings, he added. More than 50 House Democrats are publicly refusing to attend the ceremony amid a feud between the newly elected president and the civil rights activist and congressman, John Lewis. Mr Lewis is among the congressmen who will not be in attendance. Some lawmakers have said they will instead attend the Women's March on Washington, a protest set to take place a day after the inauguration. Trump inauguration boycott escalates Several demonstrations both protesting and supporting Mr Trump will take place around the city over the weekend. Most notably, the Women's March on Washington is estimated to draw crowds of 200,000 people on 21 January. It sets out to demonstrate for racial and gender equality, affordable healthcare, abortion rights and voting rights - issues perceived to be under threat from a Trump presidency. The motorcycle group Bikers for Trump will also host a rally for the incoming president after the ceremony and before the inauguration parade. Other protests include: - Anti-war and anti-nuclear weapons rally attended by former Green Party presidential candidate Jill Stein - #DisruptJ20 Festival of Resistance, organised by the DC Counter-Inaugural Welcoming Committee - #Trump420 march, hosted by marijuana advocates who plan to hand out 4,200 free joints (which is legal in Washington) Mr Trump has enlisted the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, Radio City Rockettes, country stars Toby Keith and Lee Greenwood, 3 Doors Down as well as America's Got Talent contestant and singer Jackie Evancho to perform over the course of two days. Academy Award-winning actor Jon Voight also spoke at the welcome concert, telling the crowd: \"God answered all our prayers\" by electing Mr Trump. Evancho, 16, who took second place on the talent show, sang the national anthem. The Trump transition team had reportedly struggled to secure high-profile entertainers. A number of artists turned down the opportunity to play, including Elton John, Welsh singer Charlotte Church and American DJ Moby. Dreamgirls star Jennifer Holliday announced she had dropped an inauguration performance to stand in solidarity with the LGBT community while a Bruce Springsteen tribute band also decided to skip the event out of respect for the Boss, who is vocally critical of Mr Trump. The newly sworn-in president and vice-president will also stop by three official inaugural balls, which are typically attended by the incoming administration's supporters. The soon-to-be 45th president has vowed to roll back many of Mr Obama's policies on \"day one\" in office, but it is unclear whether that begins on Friday or Monday. The new White House press secretary, Sean Spicer, tweeted that the president was signing three things in a ceremony at an ornate room within the US Capitol: a waiver bill enabling Gen James Mattis to serve as Defence Secretary, the formal nominations to go to the Senate, and a proclamation for a national \"day of patriotism\". But Mr Trump had told the Times earlier this week that \"day one\" would not begin until Monday. \"I mean my day one is going to be Monday because I don't want to be signing and get it mixed up with lots of celebration,\" he told the newspaper. Where Trump stands on key issues Seven ways the world could change Can Obamacare be repealed? How can I follow all this on the BBC? To follow live coverage online, head to BBC News. BBC World News will broadcast rolling television coverage from 14:00 to 23:00 GMT (09:00 until 18:00 EST) on Friday. Our special broadcast presented by Katty Kay in Washington will carry the event live, and feature analysis and international reaction throughout the day. Audiences in the UK can watch a News Channel special between 15:00 and 22:00 GMT. BBC World Service radio will also be in Washington, broadcasting rolling coverage from 16:00 until 22:00 GMT (11:00 until 17:00 EST).", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 4054, "answer_end": 4941, "text": "Several demonstrations both protesting and supporting Mr Trump will take place around the city over the weekend. Most notably, the Women's March on Washington is estimated to draw crowds of 200,000 people on 21 January. It sets out to demonstrate for racial and gender equality, affordable healthcare, abortion rights and voting rights - issues perceived to be under threat from a Trump presidency. The motorcycle group Bikers for Trump will also host a rally for the incoming president after the ceremony and before the inauguration parade. Other protests include: - Anti-war and anti-nuclear weapons rally attended by former Green Party presidential candidate Jill Stein - #DisruptJ20 Festival of Resistance, organised by the DC Counter-Inaugural Welcoming Committee - #Trump420 march, hosted by marijuana advocates who plan to hand out 4,200 free joints (which is legal in Washington)"}], "question": "What are the protests about?", "id": "444_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Democratic memo to be released, US House committee says", "date": "6 February 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "A congressional panel has voted unanimously to release a Democratic rebuttal to a Republican memo alleging bias against President Donald Trump. The Republican president has five days to decide whether to declassify the 10-page document. The House Intelligence Committee released the Democratic memo, which highlights flaws in the Republican one. The Republican document claimed the FBI abused its power by investigating a Trump adviser. Adam Schiff, who wrote the second memo, welcomed Monday's vote by the Republican-controlled committee on which he is the top-ranking Democrat. The panel had previously blocked release of his document. Republicans, he said, had \"found themselves in an insupportable position when they released a misleading memo and refused to release the Democratic response, so I think they were compelled to take the action they did today\". The California congressman said it would be \"very hard\" for the Trump administration now to block its release. The four-page document centres on court-approved wiretapping of Carter Page, a foreign policy adviser to the Trump campaign, who was placed under electronic surveillance by the FBI. The memo accuses the FBI and justice department of using an unsubstantiated dossier to obtain a court's permission in October 2016 to eavesdrop on Mr Page. The so-called Steele dossier was compiled in an attempt to dig up dirt on Mr Trump, partly funded by the campaign of his rival, Hillary Clinton. The Republican memo says the dossier's author, former British intelligence agent Christopher Steele, told a senior justice department official he was \"desperate\" for Mr Trump to lose the White House race. The memo says all this represents \"a troubling breakdown of legal processes established to protect the American people from abuses\". The memo was top secret, but was approved for release by the House Intelligence Committee a week ago and by Mr Trump on Friday. The Democratic memo goes to the White House on Monday night, and the president has until Friday to formally declassify it. Democratic Senate leader Chuck Schumer has written to Mr Trump saying it was a matter of \"fundamental fairness\" that the president approve the declassification of the memo. Mr Schumer urged the president to demonstrate the Republican memo was not a ruse to discredit the ongoing justice department inquiry into alleged Russian interference in the 2016 election. The senator's letter said if the Democratic memo is not released it \"will confirm the American people's worst fears\". Mr Schumer argued \"that the American people be allowed to see both sides of the argument and make their own judgements\". The White House has expressed openness to the release of a partially redacted Democratic memo, according to The Hill. However, the Republican president attacked its author Mr Schiff publicly on Monday. Two hours later, Mr Trump tweeted his support for Republican congressman Devin Nunes, the author of the Republican memo. Mr Trump has said the Republican memo, which he declassified on Friday, \"vindicates\" him in the Russia inquiry into whether anyone connected with his campaign colluded with alleged Russian attempts to influence the 2016 US White House race. But that assertion has been disputed by several Republican congressmen. Republican Congressman Trey Gowdy, who helped write the Republican memo, told CBS programme Face the Nation on Sunday: \"There is a Russia investigation without a [Steele] dossier.\" He expressed \"tremendous respect\" for and trust in the FBI and the Department of Justice.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 974, "answer_end": 1922, "text": "The four-page document centres on court-approved wiretapping of Carter Page, a foreign policy adviser to the Trump campaign, who was placed under electronic surveillance by the FBI. The memo accuses the FBI and justice department of using an unsubstantiated dossier to obtain a court's permission in October 2016 to eavesdrop on Mr Page. The so-called Steele dossier was compiled in an attempt to dig up dirt on Mr Trump, partly funded by the campaign of his rival, Hillary Clinton. The Republican memo says the dossier's author, former British intelligence agent Christopher Steele, told a senior justice department official he was \"desperate\" for Mr Trump to lose the White House race. The memo says all this represents \"a troubling breakdown of legal processes established to protect the American people from abuses\". The memo was top secret, but was approved for release by the House Intelligence Committee a week ago and by Mr Trump on Friday."}], "question": "What was in the Republican memo?", "id": "445_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1923, "answer_end": 2646, "text": "The Democratic memo goes to the White House on Monday night, and the president has until Friday to formally declassify it. Democratic Senate leader Chuck Schumer has written to Mr Trump saying it was a matter of \"fundamental fairness\" that the president approve the declassification of the memo. Mr Schumer urged the president to demonstrate the Republican memo was not a ruse to discredit the ongoing justice department inquiry into alleged Russian interference in the 2016 election. The senator's letter said if the Democratic memo is not released it \"will confirm the American people's worst fears\". Mr Schumer argued \"that the American people be allowed to see both sides of the argument and make their own judgements\"."}], "question": "What next?", "id": "445_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2647, "answer_end": 3553, "text": "The White House has expressed openness to the release of a partially redacted Democratic memo, according to The Hill. However, the Republican president attacked its author Mr Schiff publicly on Monday. Two hours later, Mr Trump tweeted his support for Republican congressman Devin Nunes, the author of the Republican memo. Mr Trump has said the Republican memo, which he declassified on Friday, \"vindicates\" him in the Russia inquiry into whether anyone connected with his campaign colluded with alleged Russian attempts to influence the 2016 US White House race. But that assertion has been disputed by several Republican congressmen. Republican Congressman Trey Gowdy, who helped write the Republican memo, told CBS programme Face the Nation on Sunday: \"There is a Russia investigation without a [Steele] dossier.\" He expressed \"tremendous respect\" for and trust in the FBI and the Department of Justice."}], "question": "How have Republicans responded?", "id": "445_2"}]}]}, {"title": "Venezuela pulls highest-value banknote 'to strike against mafia'", "date": "12 December 2016", "paragraphs": [{"context": "The Venezuelan government has announced it will remove the country's highest-denomination banknote from circulation within 72 hours to combat contraband. Central bank data suggests there are more than six billion 100-bolivar notes in circulation, making up almost half of all currency. Venezuelans will have 10 days from Wednesday to exchange the notes for coins and new, higher-value bills. President Nicolas Maduro said the move would stop gangs hoarding the notes. But in India, a similar move to scrap high-value bank notes last month has caused major disruption. In a surprise announcement, Mr Maduro said on Sunday that the 100-bolivar note, worth about 2 US cents (PS0.015) on the black market, would be taken out of circulation on Wednesday. The president said the aim was to tackle transnational gangs which hoard the Venezuelan notes abroad, a move he has in the past described as part of the \"economic war\" being waged against his government. He said the gangs held more than 300bn bolivares worth of currency, most of it in 100-bolivar notes. President Maduro said there were \"entire warehouses full of 100-bolivar notes in the [Colombian cities of] Cucuta, Cartagena, Maicao and Buaramanga\". He said part of the plan was to block any of the 100-bolivar notes from being taken back into the country so the gangs would be unable to exchange their hoarded bills, making them worthless. \"I have given the orders to close all land, maritime and air possibilities so those bills taken out can't be returned and they're stuck with their fraud abroad,\" he said speaking on television. Venezuela's currency has fallen dramatically amid skyrocketing inflation. On the black market, its value dropped by 55% against the US dollar just in the past month, and the International Monetary Fund estimates that next year's prices will rise by more than 2,000%. Gangs can therefore buy up Venezuelan banknotes cheaply on the black market in exchange for dollars or Colombian pesos. They then use the Venezuelan currency to buy subsidised goods in Venezuela, which they in turn sell at a profit in neighbouring Colombia. Many Venezuelans living near the border buy Colombian pesos to purchase goods in Colombia which they cannot get in Venezuela due to chronic shortages. President Maduro blames both the shortages and Venezuela's record inflation on \"imperialist forces\" he says are trying to bring down his government. He said the aim of these \"forces\" was \"to destabilise out economy and our society, to leave the country without 100-bolivar notes\". Analysts say the move is likely to worsen the cash crunch in Venezuela, where people have already been limited in the amount of cash they can take out at automated teller machines. Venezuelans have only been given 10 days to exchange their 100-bolivar notes for new coins and bills ranging from 500 to 20,000 bolivars due to be introduced from 15 December. Critics of Mr Maduro have predicted chaos and doubt that the facilities will be in place for people to exchange all their 100-bolivar notes. \"When ineptitude governs! Who would possibly think of doing something like this in December amid all our problems?\" opposition leader Henrique Capriles  wrote on Twitter (in Spanish).", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 2266, "answer_end": 3228, "text": "President Maduro blames both the shortages and Venezuela's record inflation on \"imperialist forces\" he says are trying to bring down his government. He said the aim of these \"forces\" was \"to destabilise out economy and our society, to leave the country without 100-bolivar notes\". Analysts say the move is likely to worsen the cash crunch in Venezuela, where people have already been limited in the amount of cash they can take out at automated teller machines. Venezuelans have only been given 10 days to exchange their 100-bolivar notes for new coins and bills ranging from 500 to 20,000 bolivars due to be introduced from 15 December. Critics of Mr Maduro have predicted chaos and doubt that the facilities will be in place for people to exchange all their 100-bolivar notes. \"When ineptitude governs! Who would possibly think of doing something like this in December amid all our problems?\" opposition leader Henrique Capriles  wrote on Twitter (in Spanish)."}], "question": "Cash crunch?", "id": "446_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Crossbow German deaths: Two shot through heart, one in neck", "date": "14 May 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Two German medieval combat enthusiasts killed with crossbows were shot through the heart with arrows and a third fatally through the neck, reports say. The three were found in a hotel room in Bavaria on Saturday, along with three modern crossbows. Two were used to fire the arrows, prosecutors say. A man and woman were in bed, hand in hand, impaled with arrows. A woman hit in the neck was lying on the floor. The deaths, near Passau, were linked to two more deaths in north Germany. Passau prosecutors are sure there was nobody else in the hotel room apart from the three who died. There was no sign of any struggle. The hotel is in an idyllic spot by the River Ilz, popular with hikers. The three had checked in on Friday evening, for three nights without breakfast, and the bodies were found by a room maid. Two wills were found in the room, the prosecutors' spokesman said. They were linked to Torsten W, aged 53, and Kerstin E, aged 33, who were lying in bed. They were both from the western state of Rhineland-Palatinate. The third victim was named as Farina C, aged 30. All three are listed on a website run by the International Jousting League, based in Belgium. But an IJL spokesman told the BBC that the listing merely meant they had registered as affiliates at some time in the past, and that he did not know them. The IJL organises medieval-style tournaments and ranks its members according to their skill in the use of medieval weapons and horse-riding. But the spokesman said there was no competitive jousting in Germany at present. The bodies of two women were found in a flat on Monday in Wittingen, a town 650km (400 miles) north of the hotel. One was aged 35, a primary school teacher; the other was 19, police say. It is not clear how they died, but there were no crossbows in the flat. The 35-year-old taught German and religious studies, but had been off sick, German ntv news reported. They had apparently been dead for a few days, and there were no signs of violence, police said. The 19-year-old came from Rhineland-Palatinate - the state where the couple found dead in the hotel bed also lived. She is believed to have been living in the Wittingen flat, having had an argument with her parents. The two in Wittingen have not been named, but the 35-year-old was the partner of Farina C, who was resident in the flat, German media report. Farina C worked in a bakery. All five victims were resident in Germany. Prosecutors said the bodies in Wittingen had been found \"because one of the neighbours heard about the reports from Passau and told police that the letter box of the flat was overflowing and that a strange smell was coming from the flat\". The relationship between the three victims in the hotel remains unclear. Torsten W had been shot twice in the head and three times in the chest, while Kerstin E, next to him in bed, had one arrow in the head and another in the chest. Farina C was lying in front of the double bed and had one shot from a crossbow between the throat and the chin. Crossbows fire short arrows, also known as bolts. Hunting with bows or crossbows is banned in Germany, but anyone aged 18 and above can buy a crossbow. German tabloid Bild reports that Torsten W ran a medieval goods shop in the small western town of Hachenburg, selling items such as mead, swords and knives. Another hotel guest told local newspaper Passauer Neue Presse that it had been a \"completely quiet night\". Police seized a white truck, parked outside, registered in Westerwald, Rhineland-Palatinate. It had a sticker with the letters FMJ - believed to be a reference to Full Metal Jacket crossbow arrows made by a US firm, Easton Hunting. Torsten W had a long white beard and the women were dressed in black, another hotel guest said, describing them as \"strange\". On arrival on Friday evening they simply wished other guests a \"good evening\" and went upstairs to their second-floor room with bottles of water and Coca-Cola, said the guest, quoted by the daily Merkur. In Wittingen a neighbour quoted by Merkur described Farina C as \"always a bit odd - always dressed in black, sort of gothic\". The German Shooting Union (DSB) has 3,000 enthusiasts who use crossbows, Spiegelonline news reports. In all, the DSB has about 1.35 million members.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1548, "answer_end": 2673, "text": "The bodies of two women were found in a flat on Monday in Wittingen, a town 650km (400 miles) north of the hotel. One was aged 35, a primary school teacher; the other was 19, police say. It is not clear how they died, but there were no crossbows in the flat. The 35-year-old taught German and religious studies, but had been off sick, German ntv news reported. They had apparently been dead for a few days, and there were no signs of violence, police said. The 19-year-old came from Rhineland-Palatinate - the state where the couple found dead in the hotel bed also lived. She is believed to have been living in the Wittingen flat, having had an argument with her parents. The two in Wittingen have not been named, but the 35-year-old was the partner of Farina C, who was resident in the flat, German media report. Farina C worked in a bakery. All five victims were resident in Germany. Prosecutors said the bodies in Wittingen had been found \"because one of the neighbours heard about the reports from Passau and told police that the letter box of the flat was overflowing and that a strange smell was coming from the flat\"."}], "question": "What about the two deaths in north Germany?", "id": "447_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2674, "answer_end": 4272, "text": "The relationship between the three victims in the hotel remains unclear. Torsten W had been shot twice in the head and three times in the chest, while Kerstin E, next to him in bed, had one arrow in the head and another in the chest. Farina C was lying in front of the double bed and had one shot from a crossbow between the throat and the chin. Crossbows fire short arrows, also known as bolts. Hunting with bows or crossbows is banned in Germany, but anyone aged 18 and above can buy a crossbow. German tabloid Bild reports that Torsten W ran a medieval goods shop in the small western town of Hachenburg, selling items such as mead, swords and knives. Another hotel guest told local newspaper Passauer Neue Presse that it had been a \"completely quiet night\". Police seized a white truck, parked outside, registered in Westerwald, Rhineland-Palatinate. It had a sticker with the letters FMJ - believed to be a reference to Full Metal Jacket crossbow arrows made by a US firm, Easton Hunting. Torsten W had a long white beard and the women were dressed in black, another hotel guest said, describing them as \"strange\". On arrival on Friday evening they simply wished other guests a \"good evening\" and went upstairs to their second-floor room with bottles of water and Coca-Cola, said the guest, quoted by the daily Merkur. In Wittingen a neighbour quoted by Merkur described Farina C as \"always a bit odd - always dressed in black, sort of gothic\". The German Shooting Union (DSB) has 3,000 enthusiasts who use crossbows, Spiegelonline news reports. In all, the DSB has about 1.35 million members."}], "question": "What else is known about the victims?", "id": "447_1"}]}]}, {"title": "Cave diver tells court Elon Musk tweets 'humiliated' him", "date": "5 December 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "A British cave expert has testified that he was left feeling \"humiliated, ashamed\" and \"dirtied\" after Elon Musk labelled him \"pedo guy\" online. Vernon Unsworth is suing the Tesla founder for defamation. The diver, who helped rescue 12 boys trapped in a Thai cave last year, told a Los Angeles court that comments Mr Musk made were \"very hurtful\". The pair got into a public war of words after Mr Unsworth dismissed an offer of help from the billionaire. The case of the Thai boys, members of a football team who became trapped deep inside a cave in northern Thailand, captured the world's attention in June 2018. Mr Musk sent Tesla engineers and a small submarine to help free the boys during the Thai rescue effort - but it was never used. Mr Unsworth later labelled it a \"PR stunt\" and suggested the billionaire could \"stick his submarine where it hurts\" during an interview with CNN. Mr Musk - who has almost 30m Twitter followers - responded with a series of posts about Mr Unsworth including one where he labelled him \"pedo guy\". Mr Unsworth's legal team have described Mr Musk's now-deleted tweet as \"vile and false\" and are seeking unspecified punitive damages. US District Judge Stephen Wilson previously denied the defence's request to define Mr Unsworth as a \"public figure\" - meaning lawyers for Mr Unsworth do not have to prove Mr Musk acted with \"actual malice\" to win the case. Mr Unsworth, who court reporters said appeared on the verge of tears, said he felt Mr Musk had branded him a paedophile. \"It feels very raw. I feel humiliated. Ashamed. Dirtied,\" he told the court. \"Effectively, from day one, I was given a life sentence without parole. It hurts to talk about it,\" Mr Unsworth said. He described the tweet as \"very hurtful\" and said the experience had left him feeling \"very vulnerable\" and \"very isolated\". The experienced cave explorer, 64, splits his time between the UK and Thailand. During the rescue, he helped recruit experienced cave divers who were instrumental in freeing the boys safely. \"I find it disgusting,\" Mr Unsworth said about Mr Musk's \"pedo\" comment. \"I find it very hard to even read the word, never mind talk about.\" The Tesla and SpaceX founder testified across two days before Mr Unsworth took to the stand. During his testimony he apologised again to Mr Unsworth for the tweets, while insisting he posted them \"off the cuff\" and not in a serious manner. He told the court he had not expected the \"pedo\" tweet to be taken literally and at the time thought Mr Unsworth \"was just some random creepy guy\" who was \"unrelated to the rescue\". Mr Musk's lawyer, Alex Spiro, said in his opening statements that the term \"pedo guy\" was a common insult in South Africa, where the billionaire grew up. During his testimony Mr Musk also played down other tweets, which were also later deleted, including one where he replied \"bet ya a signed dollar it's true\" to a follower asking about the \"pedo\" comment. Mr Musk also acknowledged in court that he paid $52,000 (PS40,000) to a man posing as a private detective to dig up dirt about the British diver after it became clear he would be sued. The investigator turned out to be a conman, Mr Musk said. Under questioning on Wednesday, Mr Musk estimated his net worth to be about $20bn but insisted most of his wealth was held in stock. \"Sometimes people think I have a lot of cash. I actually don't,\" he told the court.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 2166, "answer_end": 3405, "text": "The Tesla and SpaceX founder testified across two days before Mr Unsworth took to the stand. During his testimony he apologised again to Mr Unsworth for the tweets, while insisting he posted them \"off the cuff\" and not in a serious manner. He told the court he had not expected the \"pedo\" tweet to be taken literally and at the time thought Mr Unsworth \"was just some random creepy guy\" who was \"unrelated to the rescue\". Mr Musk's lawyer, Alex Spiro, said in his opening statements that the term \"pedo guy\" was a common insult in South Africa, where the billionaire grew up. During his testimony Mr Musk also played down other tweets, which were also later deleted, including one where he replied \"bet ya a signed dollar it's true\" to a follower asking about the \"pedo\" comment. Mr Musk also acknowledged in court that he paid $52,000 (PS40,000) to a man posing as a private detective to dig up dirt about the British diver after it became clear he would be sued. The investigator turned out to be a conman, Mr Musk said. Under questioning on Wednesday, Mr Musk estimated his net worth to be about $20bn but insisted most of his wealth was held in stock. \"Sometimes people think I have a lot of cash. I actually don't,\" he told the court."}], "question": "What has Mr Musk said?", "id": "448_0"}]}]}, {"title": "The schoolteacher about to fight Manny Pacquiao", "date": "17 June 2017", "paragraphs": [{"context": "In the classroom he's known as Mr Horn. But in the ring, call him \"The Hornet\". A relatively unknown physical education (PE) teacher from Australia is weeks away from taking on Manny Pacquiao for boxing's world welterweight title. If 29-year-old Jeff Horn - the \"fighting schoolteacher\" as promoters have dubbed him - can match the reigning champion, his life could change forever. Eleven years ago, Horn was a self-described nerd from Brisbane who walked into a boxing club to learn self-defence. He read books, played board games in the library at lunchtime, and was often the victim of bullying. The only fighter in the family was his grandfather, Ray Horn, who put on exhibition matches in outback Queensland in the 1930s. His dad, Jeff Horn Sr, is a builder. His mum, Liza Sykstra, works for the St Vincent de Paul Society. \"I got into a few fights at high school,\" Horn told the BBC. \"I didn't win the majority of those fights either.\" But his trainer, Glenn Rushton, told Horn he could become an Australian champion and set about teaching him an unpredictable boxing style - \"broken rhythm pressure fighting\". In 2012, Horn made the Olympic boxing quarterfinals while studying for his education degree. He then turned professional. Working as a substitute teacher, Horns won prize purses sometimes as low as A$2,000 (PS1,100, $1,500). Until recently, he taught students at Pallara State School in Brisbane. But now his full-time job is being the second-best welterweight boxer in the world - behind only Pacquiao. \"I'm a month out from the biggest fight of my life,\" Horn said, earlier in June. \"I've been getting messages from past students wishing me luck.\" It has taken months of negotiations to bring about what's been hyped as the \"Battle of Brisbane\", scheduled for 2 July. An earlier proposed fight between Pacquiao and Britain's Amir Khan fell through. The event has, at least temporarily, rekindled Australia's interest in boxing. More than 50,000 people are expected to fill Queensland's Suncorp Stadium, with tickets selling for hundreds of dollars per seat. It will be televised in more than 150 countries, according to Horn's sports manager Jim Banaghan. The boxer's wife and parents have even been pulled into some of the media attention. \"They're happy for me but they're nervous as well. They don't want to see me get hurt,\" Horn said. After Pacquiao's fight with Floyd Mayweather in 2015 became the most lucrative in history, the Australian bout may be regarded as something of a sideshow. Pacquiao may meet Mayweather for an anticipated rematch. Pacquiao, 38, is also a serving senator in his native Philippines. During a series of promotional news conferences in Australia in April, Pacquiao appeared more interested in his phone than his opponent. It was a scene to disappoint fans of boxing trash-talk: two clean-cut fighters speaking politely and respectfully about one another. \"I know what my opponent is feeling right now is hunger,\" Pacquiao said. \"I've been there. I've been there in that situation. When I was starting, when I was young, even at night before I went to sleep, I was thinking about the fight.\" Whatever the result, the fight will change Horn's life. Overnight he will become a millionaire. A victory could go down as one of most important in Australian sporting history. Legendary promoter Bob Arum, who notably worked with Muhammad Ali, said the huge hometown crowd could hand Horn the advantage to stage a monumental upset. \"If his fight with Pacquiao was in Vegas or Madison Square Garden in New York, I wouldn't give him much of a chance because I think nerves would take over,\" he told the Courier-Mail newspaper. \"But the fact that Jeff is going to be fighting in front of so many of his countrymen will calm his nerves and I think he will give a great account of himself.\" Australian fighter Anthony Mundine, himself a three-time world champion, said an upset was possible but warns that 38-year-old Pacquiao is still a force to be reckoned with. \"Even though he is at his end and past his prime, I believe he is still a dangerous fighter,\" he told the Australian Associated Press. \"But anything can happen in boxing.\" Horn has been training six days a week before the match, visualising the ring surrounded by thousands of screaming fans and sidestepping inside it with Pacquiao. Superficially, it's hard to imagine two more different fighters. Pacquiao spent his childhood living in poverty in the Philippines, and entered politics. Horn grew up in relative prosperity in Australia, and became a teacher. Do they have anything in common? \"We're both nice guys by the sound of it - except in the ring,\" Horn said. \"We're going to be throwing leather trying to finish each other off.\"", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 382, "answer_end": 1666, "text": "Eleven years ago, Horn was a self-described nerd from Brisbane who walked into a boxing club to learn self-defence. He read books, played board games in the library at lunchtime, and was often the victim of bullying. The only fighter in the family was his grandfather, Ray Horn, who put on exhibition matches in outback Queensland in the 1930s. His dad, Jeff Horn Sr, is a builder. His mum, Liza Sykstra, works for the St Vincent de Paul Society. \"I got into a few fights at high school,\" Horn told the BBC. \"I didn't win the majority of those fights either.\" But his trainer, Glenn Rushton, told Horn he could become an Australian champion and set about teaching him an unpredictable boxing style - \"broken rhythm pressure fighting\". In 2012, Horn made the Olympic boxing quarterfinals while studying for his education degree. He then turned professional. Working as a substitute teacher, Horns won prize purses sometimes as low as A$2,000 (PS1,100, $1,500). Until recently, he taught students at Pallara State School in Brisbane. But now his full-time job is being the second-best welterweight boxer in the world - behind only Pacquiao. \"I'm a month out from the biggest fight of my life,\" Horn said, earlier in June. \"I've been getting messages from past students wishing me luck.\""}], "question": "Who is Jeff Horn?", "id": "449_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1667, "answer_end": 3143, "text": "It has taken months of negotiations to bring about what's been hyped as the \"Battle of Brisbane\", scheduled for 2 July. An earlier proposed fight between Pacquiao and Britain's Amir Khan fell through. The event has, at least temporarily, rekindled Australia's interest in boxing. More than 50,000 people are expected to fill Queensland's Suncorp Stadium, with tickets selling for hundreds of dollars per seat. It will be televised in more than 150 countries, according to Horn's sports manager Jim Banaghan. The boxer's wife and parents have even been pulled into some of the media attention. \"They're happy for me but they're nervous as well. They don't want to see me get hurt,\" Horn said. After Pacquiao's fight with Floyd Mayweather in 2015 became the most lucrative in history, the Australian bout may be regarded as something of a sideshow. Pacquiao may meet Mayweather for an anticipated rematch. Pacquiao, 38, is also a serving senator in his native Philippines. During a series of promotional news conferences in Australia in April, Pacquiao appeared more interested in his phone than his opponent. It was a scene to disappoint fans of boxing trash-talk: two clean-cut fighters speaking politely and respectfully about one another. \"I know what my opponent is feeling right now is hunger,\" Pacquiao said. \"I've been there. I've been there in that situation. When I was starting, when I was young, even at night before I went to sleep, I was thinking about the fight.\""}], "question": "How big is the fight?", "id": "449_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3144, "answer_end": 4741, "text": "Whatever the result, the fight will change Horn's life. Overnight he will become a millionaire. A victory could go down as one of most important in Australian sporting history. Legendary promoter Bob Arum, who notably worked with Muhammad Ali, said the huge hometown crowd could hand Horn the advantage to stage a monumental upset. \"If his fight with Pacquiao was in Vegas or Madison Square Garden in New York, I wouldn't give him much of a chance because I think nerves would take over,\" he told the Courier-Mail newspaper. \"But the fact that Jeff is going to be fighting in front of so many of his countrymen will calm his nerves and I think he will give a great account of himself.\" Australian fighter Anthony Mundine, himself a three-time world champion, said an upset was possible but warns that 38-year-old Pacquiao is still a force to be reckoned with. \"Even though he is at his end and past his prime, I believe he is still a dangerous fighter,\" he told the Australian Associated Press. \"But anything can happen in boxing.\" Horn has been training six days a week before the match, visualising the ring surrounded by thousands of screaming fans and sidestepping inside it with Pacquiao. Superficially, it's hard to imagine two more different fighters. Pacquiao spent his childhood living in poverty in the Philippines, and entered politics. Horn grew up in relative prosperity in Australia, and became a teacher. Do they have anything in common? \"We're both nice guys by the sound of it - except in the ring,\" Horn said. \"We're going to be throwing leather trying to finish each other off.\""}], "question": "Does Horn stand a chance?", "id": "449_2"}]}]}, {"title": "Interest rates: Your questions answered", "date": "2 August 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "The Bank of England has raised interest rates from 0.5% to 0.75% - creating extra burden for some borrowers but rewards for some savers. Following the decision, BBC News website readers submitted questions about how the Bank rate rise might affect them. Here, we have selected eight to answer. After the last rate rise in November, half of savings accounts were unchanged. Of those that did see a rise, it was not always the full 0.25%. The same may be true this time, with banks and building societies relatively choosy about which accounts and what level of savings will receive a better return. No easy access savings accounts pay more than the rate of inflation, and even those that top the best buy tables remain some way off. As to if, and when, they pay more than inflation, turn to a crystal ball. It is very unlikely and investors certainly do not expect another rise for about a year. The mood music from the Bank of England is that any future rises will be gradual and limited. The financial markets have taken this on board and are forecasting one, perhaps two, similar rises of a quarter of a percentage point before 2020. It also seems unlikely the UK will return to interest rates of 5% and above any time soon. Student loan rates (for loans after 2012, and postgraduate loans) are based on the level of inflation, as measured by RPI, the retail prices index. This is calculated using the March inflation rate, and changes in September. For these loans, there is no direct link to the Bank rate. However, interest rates are used by the Bank to keep the cost of living, measured by inflation, under control. The theory is that no interest rate rise might have pushed the inflation rate higher, which in turn could have eventually fed through to student loan rates. For earlier loans, we shall have to wait to see. This is a tricky one to answer, not least because there are a number of issues that are affecting the value of the pound. Sterling actually fell slightly against the dollar and the euro after the Bank announced its decision, and as the Bank's governor Mark Carney was speaking at a press conference afterwards. The reason for this seems to be investors' reaction to Mr Carney's comments on the risks of a cliff-edge Brexit, and that rates would only rise slowly and gradually in the future. \"Rates can be expected to rise gradually. Policy needs to walk, not run, to stand still,\" he said. The Bank of England says that, actually, there is a pick-up in the economy, which has been supported by a rise in household spending. The BBC's business editor Simon Jack says that the timing of the rise is mainly to do with pay levels. \"After five years of pay growing at a measly average of 1.75%, pay rises are now running at an average of 2.75% and are expected to go higher,\" he says. You can read more about why this matters here. Generally, an agreement in principle will not guarantee a certain rate, unless it is stated in writing. Andrew Montlake, director at mortgage brokers Coreco, says that usually it is only when an application is made - the point at which sometimes a fee is paid - that a rate is locked in. That said, assuming the deal is a fixed rate, there is a chance in a competitive market that the lender might not put up the cost anyway. A reminder: an annuity is a fixed retirement income for the rest of your life that can be bought once with a pension savings pot. The generosity of that income depends on the annuity rate, which generally would be expected to improve as gilt yields improve during a time of rising interest rates. William Burrows, of Better Retirement, says: \"Annuity rates have been in the doldrums since the EU referendum in 2016, when gilt yields fell dramatically. Any increase in the Bank rate should result in higher gilt yields, which will in turn lead to higher annuities. \"However, don't hold your breath waiting for annuity rates to rise, because it is normally a slow process.\" No. None of these fixed-rate deals will see an immediate rise. However, it may be the case that when it comes to renewing that mortgage, the new fixed deals on offer - or the default variable mortgage rate that your deal reverts to - may have become a little more expensive.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 294, "answer_end": 805, "text": "After the last rate rise in November, half of savings accounts were unchanged. Of those that did see a rise, it was not always the full 0.25%. The same may be true this time, with banks and building societies relatively choosy about which accounts and what level of savings will receive a better return. No easy access savings accounts pay more than the rate of inflation, and even those that top the best buy tables remain some way off. As to if, and when, they pay more than inflation, turn to a crystal ball."}], "question": "Steven Redpath asks: At this rate when can savers expect to see a return on their investments above the rate of inflation?", "id": "450_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 806, "answer_end": 1226, "text": "It is very unlikely and investors certainly do not expect another rise for about a year. The mood music from the Bank of England is that any future rises will be gradual and limited. The financial markets have taken this on board and are forecasting one, perhaps two, similar rises of a quarter of a percentage point before 2020. It also seems unlikely the UK will return to interest rates of 5% and above any time soon."}], "question": "Dapo asks: Are we likely to have another interest rate rise before the end of 2018?", "id": "450_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1227, "answer_end": 1827, "text": "Student loan rates (for loans after 2012, and postgraduate loans) are based on the level of inflation, as measured by RPI, the retail prices index. This is calculated using the March inflation rate, and changes in September. For these loans, there is no direct link to the Bank rate. However, interest rates are used by the Bank to keep the cost of living, measured by inflation, under control. The theory is that no interest rate rise might have pushed the inflation rate higher, which in turn could have eventually fed through to student loan rates. For earlier loans, we shall have to wait to see."}], "question": "Alex Day asks: Will this affect the interest rate on student loans?", "id": "450_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1828, "answer_end": 2417, "text": "This is a tricky one to answer, not least because there are a number of issues that are affecting the value of the pound. Sterling actually fell slightly against the dollar and the euro after the Bank announced its decision, and as the Bank's governor Mark Carney was speaking at a press conference afterwards. The reason for this seems to be investors' reaction to Mr Carney's comments on the risks of a cliff-edge Brexit, and that rates would only rise slowly and gradually in the future. \"Rates can be expected to rise gradually. Policy needs to walk, not run, to stand still,\" he said."}], "question": "Max asks: I live in the euro area with a pension from the UK. What are the forecasts for pound/euro exchange rates?", "id": "450_3"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2855, "answer_end": 3280, "text": "Generally, an agreement in principle will not guarantee a certain rate, unless it is stated in writing. Andrew Montlake, director at mortgage brokers Coreco, says that usually it is only when an application is made - the point at which sometimes a fee is paid - that a rate is locked in. That said, assuming the deal is a fixed rate, there is a chance in a competitive market that the lender might not put up the cost anyway."}], "question": "Sam Southby asks: I currently have a mortgage in principle with the bank. Will they honour the 0.5% rate, or will it be revised?", "id": "450_4"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3281, "answer_end": 3952, "text": "A reminder: an annuity is a fixed retirement income for the rest of your life that can be bought once with a pension savings pot. The generosity of that income depends on the annuity rate, which generally would be expected to improve as gilt yields improve during a time of rising interest rates. William Burrows, of Better Retirement, says: \"Annuity rates have been in the doldrums since the EU referendum in 2016, when gilt yields fell dramatically. Any increase in the Bank rate should result in higher gilt yields, which will in turn lead to higher annuities. \"However, don't hold your breath waiting for annuity rates to rise, because it is normally a slow process.\""}], "question": "Chwee Ange asks: How will the interest rate rise impact on pension annuity rates?", "id": "450_5"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3953, "answer_end": 4227, "text": "No. None of these fixed-rate deals will see an immediate rise. However, it may be the case that when it comes to renewing that mortgage, the new fixed deals on offer - or the default variable mortgage rate that your deal reverts to - may have become a little more expensive."}], "question": "Mark asks: I am on a repayment mortgage. Mortgage is fixed for two years. Is that going to affect my monthly payments?", "id": "450_6"}]}]}, {"title": "Eight killed in covert Israeli action in Gaza", "date": "12 November 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Seven Palestinians, including a local militant commander, have been killed during a covert Israeli operation in Gaza, Palestinian officials say. An Israeli soldier was also killed and another wounded, the Israeli military said, after a firefight erupted. Palestinians said an Israeli unit travelling in a civilian vehicle had killed the Hamas commander. It was followed by rocket-fire into Israel, while on Monday a Palestinian mortar hit an Israeli bus. Initial reports say the vehicle was empty, although a 19-year-old was seriously hurt, Israel's ambulance service said. According to Palestinian sources, the Israeli unit was about 3km (2 miles) inside the Gaza Strip, which borders Israel, when it fired at Nur Barakeh, a commander of the Izzedine al-Qassam brigades, Hamas' military wing. The incident is reported to have happened east of Khan Younis, in the south of the territory. A gun battle erupted and Israeli tanks and aircraft opened fire in the area, witnesses said. Six of the Palestinians killed belonged to Hamas - the militant Islamist group which controls the Gaza Strip - and the seventh was a member of the militant Popular Resistance Committees, AFP news agency cited Palestinian officials as saying. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said a member of the special unit involved was killed and another was lightly wounded. In the wake of the clashes, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu cut short his visit to Paris for events to mark the 100th anniversary of the end of World War One and returned to Israel, his office said. Due to the secrecy of the operation, Israel has not revealed specific details about the mission. The IDF said though that the operation was \"not intended to kill or abduct terrorists, but to strengthen Israeli security\". The BBC's Tom Bateman in Jerusalem says that according to a former Israeli general, the incident was likely to have been an intelligence gathering operation that went wrong. The exposure of such an operation by Israeli special forces inside Gaza would be extremely rare, he says. Fawzi Barhoum, a spokesman for the group, denounced the incident as a \"cowardly Israeli attack\". IDF chief Lt Gen Gadi Eisenkot said the Israeli unit had carried out \"a very meaningful operation to Israel's security\", without giving further details. The Israeli military said that after the clashes 17 rockets had been fired from Gaza into Israel and three were shot down. Hamas won Palestinian elections in 2006 and reinforced its power in the Gaza Strip after ousting West Bank-based Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' rival Fatah faction in clashes the following year. While Mr Abbas' umbrella Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) has signed peace accords with Israel, Hamas does not recognise Israel's right to exist and advocates the use of violence against it. Israel, along with Egypt, has maintained a blockade of Gaza since about 2006, in order, they say, to stop attacks by militants. Israel and Hamas have gone to war three times, and rocket-fire from Gaza and Israel air strikes against militant targets are a regular occurrence. Sunday night's incident comes after apparent progress in an Egyptian- and UN-brokered process to mediate after a series of escalations between the two sides in recent months. More than 200 Palestinians in Gaza have been killed by Israeli forces since the end of March - most during weekly protests along the border at which thousands have expressed their support for the declared right of Palestinian refugees to return to their ancestral homes in what is now Israel. Israel has said its soldiers have only opened fire in self-defence or on potential attackers trying to infiltrate its territory under the cover of the protests. One Israeli soldier was killed on the Gaza-Israel border by a Palestinian sniper in July.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 574, "answer_end": 1550, "text": "According to Palestinian sources, the Israeli unit was about 3km (2 miles) inside the Gaza Strip, which borders Israel, when it fired at Nur Barakeh, a commander of the Izzedine al-Qassam brigades, Hamas' military wing. The incident is reported to have happened east of Khan Younis, in the south of the territory. A gun battle erupted and Israeli tanks and aircraft opened fire in the area, witnesses said. Six of the Palestinians killed belonged to Hamas - the militant Islamist group which controls the Gaza Strip - and the seventh was a member of the militant Popular Resistance Committees, AFP news agency cited Palestinian officials as saying. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said a member of the special unit involved was killed and another was lightly wounded. In the wake of the clashes, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu cut short his visit to Paris for events to mark the 100th anniversary of the end of World War One and returned to Israel, his office said."}], "question": "What happened?", "id": "451_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1551, "answer_end": 2051, "text": "Due to the secrecy of the operation, Israel has not revealed specific details about the mission. The IDF said though that the operation was \"not intended to kill or abduct terrorists, but to strengthen Israeli security\". The BBC's Tom Bateman in Jerusalem says that according to a former Israeli general, the incident was likely to have been an intelligence gathering operation that went wrong. The exposure of such an operation by Israeli special forces inside Gaza would be extremely rare, he says."}], "question": "Why did Israel kill the commander?", "id": "451_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2052, "answer_end": 2424, "text": "Fawzi Barhoum, a spokesman for the group, denounced the incident as a \"cowardly Israeli attack\". IDF chief Lt Gen Gadi Eisenkot said the Israeli unit had carried out \"a very meaningful operation to Israel's security\", without giving further details. The Israeli military said that after the clashes 17 rockets had been fired from Gaza into Israel and three were shot down."}], "question": "What have both sides said?", "id": "451_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2425, "answer_end": 3817, "text": "Hamas won Palestinian elections in 2006 and reinforced its power in the Gaza Strip after ousting West Bank-based Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' rival Fatah faction in clashes the following year. While Mr Abbas' umbrella Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) has signed peace accords with Israel, Hamas does not recognise Israel's right to exist and advocates the use of violence against it. Israel, along with Egypt, has maintained a blockade of Gaza since about 2006, in order, they say, to stop attacks by militants. Israel and Hamas have gone to war three times, and rocket-fire from Gaza and Israel air strikes against militant targets are a regular occurrence. Sunday night's incident comes after apparent progress in an Egyptian- and UN-brokered process to mediate after a series of escalations between the two sides in recent months. More than 200 Palestinians in Gaza have been killed by Israeli forces since the end of March - most during weekly protests along the border at which thousands have expressed their support for the declared right of Palestinian refugees to return to their ancestral homes in what is now Israel. Israel has said its soldiers have only opened fire in self-defence or on potential attackers trying to infiltrate its territory under the cover of the protests. One Israeli soldier was killed on the Gaza-Israel border by a Palestinian sniper in July."}], "question": "Why are Israel and Hamas enemies?", "id": "451_3"}]}]}, {"title": "Why Afghanistan is more dangerous than ever", "date": "14 September 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Huge death tolls that would once have made headlines are becoming commonplace in Afghanistan, as the Taliban and other militant groups flex their muscles daily against a US-backed military struggling to cope. There remains no clear end in sight for a war that has turned into a bloody stalemate, as the BBC World Service's Dawood Azami explains. Since the US-led invasion in 2001, Afghanistan has never been as insecure as it is now. The Taliban control more territory than at any point since the removal of their regime 17 years ago. The Afghan war has already become the longest war in US history. With the passage of time, the conflict has not only become more intense - it has also become more complicated. The attacks are becoming bigger, more frequent, more widespread and much deadlier. Both sides - the Taliban and the US/Nato-backed Afghan government - are trying to gain the upper hand. On 10 August, the Taliban entered Ghazni, a strategic provincial capital on a key highway south of Kabul, before the Afghan security forces supported by US advisors and air strikes pushed them back. On 15 May, the Taliban entered the capital of Farah province in western Afghanistan, close to the Iranian border. Many Taliban fighters are killed and injured as they are pushed back after attacks on provincial capitals, but such attacks have a huge propaganda value for the group and boost their morale and recruitment. The insurgents also take weapons and vehicles with them as they retreat. Many other towns and district centres remain under constant Taliban threat. Large parts of provinces like Helmand and Kandahar - where hundreds of US, UK and other foreign troops were killed - are now under Taliban control. Meanwhile, civilian casualties are at an unprecedented level. According to the UN, more than 10,000 civilians were killed or injured in 2017, and the number is expected to be even higher in 2018. It has been a year since President Trump unveiled a new strategy for Afghanistan, vowing that the US would \"fight to win\". The Trump administration has sought to put pressure on the Taliban in four ways to break the stalemate, roll back the group and eventually force them to sit down for talks with the Afghan government. But these efforts have largely failed: - The intense military pressure has slowed the Taliban's territorial expansion and many Taliban fighters (including a few important commanders) have been killed over the past year. But the group has managed to hold its territory and retain its operational capacity to carry out deadly attacks across the country. On the other hand, the intensive aerial strikes have been criticised for causing civilian casualties. - Despite the bombing of drug labs, the Taliban don't appear to be facing a financial crisis. In fact evidence on the ground suggests their wealth has grown. - Islamic scholars have held various meetings, including in Indonesia and Saudi Arabia, during which the violence in Afghanistan was condemned and the Taliban were asked to enter into peace talks with the Afghan government. But the Taliban simply denounced these as being part of an \"American process\" to justify Washington's war. - The Trump administration has taken a tough approach with Pakistan and suspended security assistance and aid. Islamabad, which denies helping the Taliban, has said it is ready to help start an Afghan peace process. But there are few signs of a paradigm shift in Pakistan's Afghanistan strategy. Counting the cost of Trump's air war in Afghanistan Why are more troops going to Afghanistan? There are five major factors responsible for the intensification of the Afghanistan conflict. Given the high frequency and spread of Taliban violence, the Afghan security forces are overstretched and, in some cases, overwhelmed. Afghan forces have been fighting hard to stop the Taliban's expansion. But their casualty rate remains alarmingly high and appears to be increasing. Questions have been raised about the lack of robust and inspiring leadership, the timely supply of logistics, and corruption. The bickering between political and government leaders in Kabul is also having a negative impact on the smooth running of the government and the security situation. The two factions who formed the National Unity Government (NUG) after the 2014 presidential election have not yet truly united. Despite being in power for four years, the government in Kabul remains internally divided on several issues. Parliamentary polls, which have already been delayed by more than three years, are scheduled for 20 October 2018. The increasing violence has fuelled speculation over whether the elections will be held on time. There are already concerns about widespread fraud and pre-poll manipulation. There are also questions about how representative the next parliament will be if polls are not conducted in many parts of the country due to violence and intimidation. Presidential elections, which are due to take place in April 2019, will be an even bigger challenge. If not handled properly, both elections will test the strength of government institutions and pose a big challenge for overall political stability in Afghanistan. All sides now seem to be convinced that the conflict in Afghanistan cannot be solved by military means alone. A consensus is slowly building to start talks, with all parties saying that they want a negotiated settlement. A window of opportunity opened after an unprecedented three-day ceasefire in June, followed by a meeting between US officials and Taliban representatives in Qatar in July. This was the first time in seven years that the two sides met for face-to-face talks. They are scheduled to meet again soon. It is an acknowledgement that, despite the aggressive US military campaign, no one side can win the war. But there are still disagreements over the format, included the parties and framework for comprehensive peace negotiations. For meaningful progress to be made and trust to be built, compromise and flexibility will be required from all sides. The other major challenge is the co-operation of regional players. Peace in Afghanistan and the wider region can only be achieved through a multilateral mechanism involving the US as well as major regional players, including Pakistan, Russia, Iran, China, India and Saudi Arabia. But in the end, it will be the dialogue among Afghans themselves which will determine the political future of their war-torn Afghanistan.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 346, "answer_end": 1909, "text": "Since the US-led invasion in 2001, Afghanistan has never been as insecure as it is now. The Taliban control more territory than at any point since the removal of their regime 17 years ago. The Afghan war has already become the longest war in US history. With the passage of time, the conflict has not only become more intense - it has also become more complicated. The attacks are becoming bigger, more frequent, more widespread and much deadlier. Both sides - the Taliban and the US/Nato-backed Afghan government - are trying to gain the upper hand. On 10 August, the Taliban entered Ghazni, a strategic provincial capital on a key highway south of Kabul, before the Afghan security forces supported by US advisors and air strikes pushed them back. On 15 May, the Taliban entered the capital of Farah province in western Afghanistan, close to the Iranian border. Many Taliban fighters are killed and injured as they are pushed back after attacks on provincial capitals, but such attacks have a huge propaganda value for the group and boost their morale and recruitment. The insurgents also take weapons and vehicles with them as they retreat. Many other towns and district centres remain under constant Taliban threat. Large parts of provinces like Helmand and Kandahar - where hundreds of US, UK and other foreign troops were killed - are now under Taliban control. Meanwhile, civilian casualties are at an unprecedented level. According to the UN, more than 10,000 civilians were killed or injured in 2017, and the number is expected to be even higher in 2018."}], "question": "Is the violence getting worse?", "id": "452_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3566, "answer_end": 3659, "text": "There are five major factors responsible for the intensification of the Afghanistan conflict."}], "question": "What's driving the war?", "id": "452_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 4472, "answer_end": 5191, "text": "Parliamentary polls, which have already been delayed by more than three years, are scheduled for 20 October 2018. The increasing violence has fuelled speculation over whether the elections will be held on time. There are already concerns about widespread fraud and pre-poll manipulation. There are also questions about how representative the next parliament will be if polls are not conducted in many parts of the country due to violence and intimidation. Presidential elections, which are due to take place in April 2019, will be an even bigger challenge. If not handled properly, both elections will test the strength of government institutions and pose a big challenge for overall political stability in Afghanistan."}], "question": "Can elections really be held?", "id": "452_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 5192, "answer_end": 6474, "text": "All sides now seem to be convinced that the conflict in Afghanistan cannot be solved by military means alone. A consensus is slowly building to start talks, with all parties saying that they want a negotiated settlement. A window of opportunity opened after an unprecedented three-day ceasefire in June, followed by a meeting between US officials and Taliban representatives in Qatar in July. This was the first time in seven years that the two sides met for face-to-face talks. They are scheduled to meet again soon. It is an acknowledgement that, despite the aggressive US military campaign, no one side can win the war. But there are still disagreements over the format, included the parties and framework for comprehensive peace negotiations. For meaningful progress to be made and trust to be built, compromise and flexibility will be required from all sides. The other major challenge is the co-operation of regional players. Peace in Afghanistan and the wider region can only be achieved through a multilateral mechanism involving the US as well as major regional players, including Pakistan, Russia, Iran, China, India and Saudi Arabia. But in the end, it will be the dialogue among Afghans themselves which will determine the political future of their war-torn Afghanistan."}], "question": "What about peace talks?", "id": "452_3"}]}]}, {"title": "Bolivia crisis: Clashes as Morales supporters oppose interim rule", "date": "14 November 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Clashes have again broken out in Bolivia as supporters of former President Evo Morales oppose the rule of the new interim leader. Opposition senator Jeanine Anez assumed the presidency amid a power vacuum and has vowed to hold elections soon. Supporters of Mr Morales clashed with riot police, while lawmakers loyal to him sought to challenge the legitimacy of Ms Anez's appointment. Mr Morales resigned on Sunday and has since fled to Mexico. His resignation followed weeks of protests over a disputed presidential election result. He said he was forced to stand down but did so willingly \"so there would be no more bloodshed\". Ms Anez's appointment as interim leader has been endorsed by Bolivia's Constitutional Court. Riot police fired tear gas during clashes on Wednesday with supporters of Mr Morales, who marched towards the presidential palace in La Paz to protest against Ms Anez's appointment. Some demonstrators used wooden planks and sheets of metal as weapons. There were chants of \"Now, civil war\", the Associated Press reports. Protests were also reported elsewhere, including in La Paz's sister city of El Alto and the coca-growing region of El Chapare. The latest demonstrations came as lawmakers loyal to Mr Morales sought to challenge Ms Anez's legitimacy. They boycotted the session of congress called to formalise her claim to the presidency, preventing a quorum. They have since been trying to hold new counter sessions. Police reportedly blocked some lawmakers allied with Mr Morales from entering the country's parliamentary assembly on Wednesday. Ms Anez, 52, is a qualified lawyer and a fierce critic of Mr Morales. She was previously director of the Totalvision TV station, and has been a senator since 2010, representing the region of Beni in the National Assembly. As the deputy Senate leader, Ms Anez took temporary control of the body on Tuesday after Bolivia's vice-president and the leaders of the senate and lower house resigned. That put her next in line for the presidency under the constitution. Ms Anez said again on Wednesday that she wanted to hold elections as soon as possible and denied that a coup had taken place against Mr Morales. She also swore in new commanders-in-chief in all branches of the military. The US recognised her as the leader, saying it looked forward to working with Bolivia's interim administration. Brazil, one of Bolivia's top trading partners, also congratulated her on her \"constitutional\" assumption of the presidency Mr Morales has branded Ms Anez \"a coup-mongering right-wing senator\" and condemned the US recognition of her interim rule. In the country, reaction to Ms Anez's assumption of power has been mixed. \"We don't want any dictators. This lady has stepped on us - that's why we're so mad,\" one protester told the Associated Press news agency. Others hoped her interim role would bring stability to the country after weeks of unrest. \"It seems she is going to act in a fair way and will get us out of this mess,\" one person in La Paz told Reuters. Mr Morales, a former coca farmer, was first elected in 2005 and took office in 2006, the country's first leader from the indigenous community. He won plaudits for fighting poverty and improving Bolivia's economy but drew controversy by defying constitutional limits to run for a fourth term in October's election. Pressure had been growing on him since contested election results suggested he had won outright in the first round. The result was called into question by the Organization of American States, a regional body, which had found \"clear manipulation\" and called for the result to be annulled. In response, Mr Morales agreed to hold fresh elections. But his main rival, Carlos Mesa - who came second in the vote - said Mr Morales should not stand in any new vote. The chief of the armed forces, Gen Williams Kaliman, then urged Mr Morales to step down in the interests of peace and stability. Announcing his resignation, Mr Morales said he had taken the decision in order to stop fellow socialist leaders from being \"harassed, persecuted and threatened\". He fled to Mexico after three weeks of protests. After arriving in Mexico City on Tuesday, he thanked Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, whom he credited with saving his life. \"While I have life I'll stay in politics, the fight continues. All the people of the world have the right to free themselves from discrimination and humiliation,\" he said. There have been at least seven fatalities in the weeks of conflict in the country.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 722, "answer_end": 1571, "text": "Riot police fired tear gas during clashes on Wednesday with supporters of Mr Morales, who marched towards the presidential palace in La Paz to protest against Ms Anez's appointment. Some demonstrators used wooden planks and sheets of metal as weapons. There were chants of \"Now, civil war\", the Associated Press reports. Protests were also reported elsewhere, including in La Paz's sister city of El Alto and the coca-growing region of El Chapare. The latest demonstrations came as lawmakers loyal to Mr Morales sought to challenge Ms Anez's legitimacy. They boycotted the session of congress called to formalise her claim to the presidency, preventing a quorum. They have since been trying to hold new counter sessions. Police reportedly blocked some lawmakers allied with Mr Morales from entering the country's parliamentary assembly on Wednesday."}], "question": "What happened in the clashes?", "id": "453_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1572, "answer_end": 3027, "text": "Ms Anez, 52, is a qualified lawyer and a fierce critic of Mr Morales. She was previously director of the Totalvision TV station, and has been a senator since 2010, representing the region of Beni in the National Assembly. As the deputy Senate leader, Ms Anez took temporary control of the body on Tuesday after Bolivia's vice-president and the leaders of the senate and lower house resigned. That put her next in line for the presidency under the constitution. Ms Anez said again on Wednesday that she wanted to hold elections as soon as possible and denied that a coup had taken place against Mr Morales. She also swore in new commanders-in-chief in all branches of the military. The US recognised her as the leader, saying it looked forward to working with Bolivia's interim administration. Brazil, one of Bolivia's top trading partners, also congratulated her on her \"constitutional\" assumption of the presidency Mr Morales has branded Ms Anez \"a coup-mongering right-wing senator\" and condemned the US recognition of her interim rule. In the country, reaction to Ms Anez's assumption of power has been mixed. \"We don't want any dictators. This lady has stepped on us - that's why we're so mad,\" one protester told the Associated Press news agency. Others hoped her interim role would bring stability to the country after weeks of unrest. \"It seems she is going to act in a fair way and will get us out of this mess,\" one person in La Paz told Reuters."}], "question": "How did Jeanine Anez become leader?", "id": "453_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3028, "answer_end": 4533, "text": "Mr Morales, a former coca farmer, was first elected in 2005 and took office in 2006, the country's first leader from the indigenous community. He won plaudits for fighting poverty and improving Bolivia's economy but drew controversy by defying constitutional limits to run for a fourth term in October's election. Pressure had been growing on him since contested election results suggested he had won outright in the first round. The result was called into question by the Organization of American States, a regional body, which had found \"clear manipulation\" and called for the result to be annulled. In response, Mr Morales agreed to hold fresh elections. But his main rival, Carlos Mesa - who came second in the vote - said Mr Morales should not stand in any new vote. The chief of the armed forces, Gen Williams Kaliman, then urged Mr Morales to step down in the interests of peace and stability. Announcing his resignation, Mr Morales said he had taken the decision in order to stop fellow socialist leaders from being \"harassed, persecuted and threatened\". He fled to Mexico after three weeks of protests. After arriving in Mexico City on Tuesday, he thanked Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, whom he credited with saving his life. \"While I have life I'll stay in politics, the fight continues. All the people of the world have the right to free themselves from discrimination and humiliation,\" he said. There have been at least seven fatalities in the weeks of conflict in the country."}], "question": "How did we get here?", "id": "453_2"}]}]}, {"title": "Australia bushfires: Record number of emergencies in New South Wales", "date": "8 November 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Australian authorities say an \"unprecedented\" number of emergency-level bushfires are threatening the state of New South Wales (NSW). More than 80 blazes were raging across the state on Friday. Gusty winds and up to 35C heat have exacerbated the fires, many of which are in drought-affected areas. There are reports of people trapped in their homes in several places, with crew unable to reach them due to the strength of the fires. \"We are in uncharted territory,\" said Rural Fire Service Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons. \"We have never seen this many fires concurrently at emergency warning level.\" At one point, 17 emergency-level fires were burning simultaneously across NSW. But fire authorities said that falling temperatures, increases in humidity and helicopter assistance were helping with efforts to tackle the blazes. Authorities have deployed more than 1,000 firefighters and 70 aircraft to save \"as many people as possible\", Mr Fitzsimmons said. The Rural Fire Service tweeted on Friday that \"due to the size and speed of the fires we couldn't get to everyone, even by road or helicopter\". The blazes are spread across about 1,000 km (621 miles) of Australia's coast, stretching the emergency response. Some people were warned to seek shelter from fires rather than flee, as it was now too late to leave. Emergency warnings were also issued on Friday for bushfires burning in Queensland and Western Australia. In NSW, the worst-hit state, crews have fought hundreds of fires since September. Last month, two people died while trying to protect their home. Last week, one blaze burned though 2,000 hectares of bush which contained a koala sanctuary. Hundreds of the animals were feared to have died. More than half the koalas living at another sanctuary may have also been killed by wildfires, according to charity Koala Conservation Australia. Rains lashed NSW earlier this week, providing much relief to farmers. But the storms were not nearly enough to end the long-running drought. Authorities in the state warn that many fires will continue to burn unless there is more rain. \"We just cannot overstate the profound impact that the drought is having on fire behaviour,\" Mr Fitzsimmons said. Water-bombing aircraft are often flying long distances because of the difficulty of accessing water in dry areas. In some cases authorities have drilled bores to keep up with demand. \"We've very mindful of the scarcity of water and how precious it is but the reality is we can't do firefighting without water,\" Mr Fitzsimmons said. Last week, Sydney was blanketed by smoke for days due to fires in Port Macquarie - a region 380km away. The poor air quality prompted health warnings for those with asthma and other respiratory problems. Australia's fire season risks growing longer and more intense due to climate change, according to scientists. Authorities said they were concerned about the severity of the fires ahead of its hottest months, a year after the nation experienced its warmest summer on record. Officials have confirmed that 2018 and 2017 were Australia's third and fourth-hottest years on record respectively. The bureau's State of the Climate 2018 report said climate change had led to an increase in extreme heat events and increased the severity of other natural disasters, such as drought. Even if global temperatures are contained to a 2C rise above pre-industrial levels - a limit set out in the landmark Paris accord, agreed by 188 nations in 2015 - scientists believe the country is facing a dangerous new normal. Last year, a UN report said Australia was falling short in efforts to cut its CO2 emissions.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 828, "answer_end": 1855, "text": "Authorities have deployed more than 1,000 firefighters and 70 aircraft to save \"as many people as possible\", Mr Fitzsimmons said. The Rural Fire Service tweeted on Friday that \"due to the size and speed of the fires we couldn't get to everyone, even by road or helicopter\". The blazes are spread across about 1,000 km (621 miles) of Australia's coast, stretching the emergency response. Some people were warned to seek shelter from fires rather than flee, as it was now too late to leave. Emergency warnings were also issued on Friday for bushfires burning in Queensland and Western Australia. In NSW, the worst-hit state, crews have fought hundreds of fires since September. Last month, two people died while trying to protect their home. Last week, one blaze burned though 2,000 hectares of bush which contained a koala sanctuary. Hundreds of the animals were feared to have died. More than half the koalas living at another sanctuary may have also been killed by wildfires, according to charity Koala Conservation Australia."}], "question": "What's the latest?", "id": "454_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2742, "answer_end": 3636, "text": "Australia's fire season risks growing longer and more intense due to climate change, according to scientists. Authorities said they were concerned about the severity of the fires ahead of its hottest months, a year after the nation experienced its warmest summer on record. Officials have confirmed that 2018 and 2017 were Australia's third and fourth-hottest years on record respectively. The bureau's State of the Climate 2018 report said climate change had led to an increase in extreme heat events and increased the severity of other natural disasters, such as drought. Even if global temperatures are contained to a 2C rise above pre-industrial levels - a limit set out in the landmark Paris accord, agreed by 188 nations in 2015 - scientists believe the country is facing a dangerous new normal. Last year, a UN report said Australia was falling short in efforts to cut its CO2 emissions."}], "question": "Is this linked to climate change?", "id": "454_1"}]}]}, {"title": "Evidence of an economic slowdown is growing \u2013 over to you Mr Carney", "date": "3 August 2016", "paragraphs": [{"context": "The lowest figure since February 2009; the biggest fall since the figures started to be collected in 1996. For those hunting for poor economic data since the referendum result, today's Purchasing Managers' Index for the crucial services sector certainly provides significant pickings. And it builds on pretty poor figures from the construction and manufacturing sectors. It is now clear from the data that has been published that economic activity slowed markedly in the weeks following the referendum. Of course, part of that is down to uncertainty about the shape of the economy as the UK negotiates its way out of the European Union. Questions abound. What kind of trade deal will we have with the rest of the European Union? What effect will the dramatic fall in the value of sterling have - from exporting industries (likely to be pretty positive) to inflation (which is likely to be pushed up as import costs rise)? Answers to those questions will only become clear as the shape of the Brexit negotiations crystalises and more data becomes available. But it is important to remember that the economic shock we are seeing evidence of is not a simple reaction to Brexit. It is also a reaction to the political turmoil that followed, which to all intents and purposes gave the UK a new government. So, a political shock built on a referendum shock. That could mean - and it is only a \"could\" at this stage - that with a greater level of political certainty, businesses will feel more comfortable about investment decisions over the next few months than they did during the torrid weeks of July. Economists are still hedging their bets. UBS suggests there \"may\" be a recession. The National Institute of Economic and Social Research puts the probability of a recession over the next 18 months at \"evens\". Growth is likely to fall, by how much is not yet clear. What does this mean for the Bank of England's interest rate decision tomorrow? Many economists agree with Chris Williamson, the chief economist at Markit, which compiles the Purchasing Managers' Index, that a cut is a \"foregone conclusion\". Although I wouldn't go quite that far, it is clear that Mark Carney, the governor, favours more monetary easing up to and including an interest rate cut and has significant allies on the Monetary Policy Committee such as Andy Haldane, the Bank's chief economist. The MPC's nine members voted 8-1 against a cut at its July meeting. Expect the 1 - the external member of the MPC, Gertjan Vlieghe, who argued for a 0.25 percentage point cut in July - to be joined by many more this time around. There are a couple of flies in the \"let's cut interest rates now\" ointment. Yes, the economy has slowed, but can a small cut in interest rates - from already historically low levels - really make a difference? And second, inflationary concerns are growing. The Markit report suggests that \"cost pressures\" have hit a three month high, and with the pound weak, it is likely that as well as downgrading growth forecasts the Bank will also warn tomorrow that inflation could rise more rapidly than expected. Particularly if global growth strengthens. The Bank is treading a delicate line. Position monetary policy so that it supports the economy and mitigates any effects of uncertainty. But don't make policy so loose that inflation momentum builds quickly, making it far harder to, ultimately, control.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1598, "answer_end": 2434, "text": "Economists are still hedging their bets. UBS suggests there \"may\" be a recession. The National Institute of Economic and Social Research puts the probability of a recession over the next 18 months at \"evens\". Growth is likely to fall, by how much is not yet clear. What does this mean for the Bank of England's interest rate decision tomorrow? Many economists agree with Chris Williamson, the chief economist at Markit, which compiles the Purchasing Managers' Index, that a cut is a \"foregone conclusion\". Although I wouldn't go quite that far, it is clear that Mark Carney, the governor, favours more monetary easing up to and including an interest rate cut and has significant allies on the Monetary Policy Committee such as Andy Haldane, the Bank's chief economist. The MPC's nine members voted 8-1 against a cut at its July meeting."}], "question": "Recession ?", "id": "455_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Red poppy to mark civilian victims of war and 'acts of terrorism'", "date": "16 October 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "The red poppy will this year pay tribute to civilian victims of war and \"acts of terrorism\", along with the UK's armed forces. The Royal British Legion said it had updated its definition of the remembrance symbol to be \"more explicit\" about its meaning. Red poppies are traditionally worn to remember those who fought in war. It means the symbol will now encompass victims of incidents such the Manchester Arena attack in 2017. The move, first reported by the Guardian, comes ahead of the launch of the charity's latest poppy appeal on 24 October. The Royal British Legion's assistant director, Robert Lee, said that the organisation has \"always acknowledged the human cost of conflict\" since it was founded in 1912. He added: \"Our core positioning hasn't changed but we do want to make it more explicit in our language, because Remembrance is inclusive of all modern Britain.\" Previously the charity's website said that the poppy related \"to the armed forces community specifically, but not exclusively\" as a symbol of remembrance and \"hope for a peaceful future\". The website now says that the symbol: - Remembers the sacrifice of the armed forces from Britain and the Commonwealth - Pays tribute to the special contribution of families and the emergency services - Acknowledges innocent civilians who have lost their lives in conflict and \"acts of terrorism\" The Peace Pledge Union, which produces white poppies to remember all victims of war, welcomed the decision as \"a good step in the right direction\". But it urged the Royal British Legion \"to go further and promote remembrance for people of all nationalities affected by war\", noting that the change \"only uses the word acknowledge in reference to civilians\". Mr Lee added: \"As a charity we have a particular responsibility to the armed forces community under our charitable remit and the deaths of personnel who have served with the British armed forces will always be at the heart of Remembrance for the Legion. \"But Remembrance has a wider meaning and role, and this does include all civilians affected by conflict and terrorism.\" The Royal British Legion, which distributes 40 million poppies each year, raised more than PS50m for veterans of the British armed forces and their families in 2018. Red poppies began being used as a symbol in 1921 to help to remember those who fought in war. The flower was chosen because it grows wild in many fields in northern France and Belgium - where some of the deadliest battles of World War One took place. Its use was inspired by a poem, written by serving soldier John McCrae, which begins, \"In Flanders' fields the poppies blow / Between the crosses, row on row...\" The Royal British Legion stresses that is is a symbol for remembrance and hope and should not be seen as a symbol of religion or politics. White poppies have also been distributed by the Peace Pledge Union, the UK's oldest secular and pacifist group, since 1933. Like the red poppy, the white badge also symbolises remembrance for victims of war. Many people began wearing white poppies to stress the \"never again\" message, which emerged after World War One, and which pacifists feared was slipping away. The Peace Pledge Union says the white poppy also represents a lasting commitment to peace and the belief that war should not be celebrated or glamourised.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 2260, "answer_end": 3332, "text": "Red poppies began being used as a symbol in 1921 to help to remember those who fought in war. The flower was chosen because it grows wild in many fields in northern France and Belgium - where some of the deadliest battles of World War One took place. Its use was inspired by a poem, written by serving soldier John McCrae, which begins, \"In Flanders' fields the poppies blow / Between the crosses, row on row...\" The Royal British Legion stresses that is is a symbol for remembrance and hope and should not be seen as a symbol of religion or politics. White poppies have also been distributed by the Peace Pledge Union, the UK's oldest secular and pacifist group, since 1933. Like the red poppy, the white badge also symbolises remembrance for victims of war. Many people began wearing white poppies to stress the \"never again\" message, which emerged after World War One, and which pacifists feared was slipping away. The Peace Pledge Union says the white poppy also represents a lasting commitment to peace and the belief that war should not be celebrated or glamourised."}], "question": "Why do people wear poppies?", "id": "456_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Why your pizza may never be delivered by drone", "date": "14 December 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "For years tech companies such as Amazon, Alphabet and Uber have promised us delivery drones bringing goods to our doorsteps in a matter of minutes. So why are they taking so long to arrive? One word: regulation. If our skies are to become as crowded as our streets, airspace rules need updating to prevent accidents, terrorist attacks, and related problems, such as noise pollution. But that's easier said than done. Here's a rundown of the main issues. According to a recent study by Nasa, the noise made by road traffic was \"systematically judged to be less annoying\" than the high-pitched buzzing made by drones. The locals in the Australian suburb of Bonython, Canberra thought much the same thing when Wing, Google owner Alphabet's delivery drone service, began fast-food delivery trials there. \"With the windows closed, even with double glazing, you can hear the drones,\" one local resident told ABC News. Consequently, limiting noise pollution is an important consideration for regulators, many of whom have forbidden drone deliveries after dark - precisely the time many hungry householders would like that takeaway meal delivered. \"Noise pollution has been an area of debate during the drafting of the new European rules,\" says Yves Morier of the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). Even with relatively few drones in the skies, the number of potentially dangerous incidents is worryingly high. Just last month, a \"rogue\" drone closed Wellington Airport in New Zealand, while a UK drone user was charged with endangering lives by flying too close to a police helicopter. And Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro says he was recently the target of a drone \"attack\". Regulators are trying to take back control by implementing registration schemes. \"The vision is unified traffic management, digitalised, on all levels, from local to national and international,\" Benoit Curdy, secretary general of the Global Unmanned Aircraft Systems Traffic Management Association (GUTMA), said in September. \"Registration is the first step, as it enables the authorities to know who is flying.\" European regulators are equally concerned. \"Rogue drone use is a major concern for us,\" says the EASA's Mr Morier. \"We cannot reduce the risk to zero, but we can take steps to limit it. These include making registration obligatory for drones weighing more than 250g.\" Delivery drones will fall rapidly out of favour it they fall rapidly from the sky after running out of juice or crashing. In October, West Midlands Police reported a defect in its DJI Matrice 200 surveillance drone to the UK's Civil Aviation Authority. The drone experienced a sudden loss of power even when it had battery charge remaining. \"The biggest challenge is to reduce the risk of collisions between drones and other aircraft,\" says Mr Morier. Wing says it has performed \"tens of thousands of test flights\" in the US and Australia, and is heading to Finland next year. Its drones use \"redundant motors, batteries and navigation systems with intelligent controls, so back-up systems can help keep aircraft safely in flight\", the company says. But Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) flights - where drones travel autonomously or are controlled by pilots remotely - are only likely to become viable once \"detect and avoid\" technology has been approved by regulators. More Technology of Business \"Nasa has successfully built and flown a system this year,\" the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) says. \"But no 'detect and avoid' systems have received approval as yet.\" It's a point reiterated by European regulators. \"There is no 'detect and avoid' technology capable of ensuring [that drones don't collide with other aircraft] at the moment,\" says Mr Morier. For this reason it has stipulated that non-commercial drones cannot fly above 120m (394ft), although who polices this is another issue. Most countries now have - or will soon have - rules in place for small drones capable of carrying out surveillance or making deliveries. And bigger sky taxis are also in development. \"Some companies are already testing full-scale prototype pilotless air-vehicles,\" says the FAA. \"The fast pace of change is fundamentally changing the role of the regulator.\" But the rules on how and where you can fly drones differ widely from country to country. In the US, the FAA rules state that delivery-style drones must weigh less than 55lbs (25kg) in total and fly up to only 400ft (123m). In Saudi Arabia, all drones are banned. While more than 50 countries belong to Joint Authorities for Rulemaking of Unmanned Systems (JARUS), a final set of standards has yet to be agreed. Susanne Schodel, secretary general of FAI, the World Air Sports Federation, says: \"Authorities are working on this on a global scale, but integrating drones into the airspace is a very complex undertaking.\" One widely accepted standard is that drones will, initially at least, operate only in lower airspace, leaving the higher airspace free for commercial aircraft. First developed for military use during World War One, drones are now a global industry that investment bank Goldman Sachs expects to be worth $100bn (PS79bn) by 2020. Their commercial potential is already being exploited in many parts of the world, albeit on a trial basis. In Switzerland, the national postal service Swiss Post has started using drones to ferry laboratory samples between hospitals in Lugano and Bern. In China, e-commerce giant JD.com has been sending packages by drone in certain rural areas since last year. And residents of a remote First Nation island in northern Ontario, Canada, will begin receiving goods by drone in 2019. Video-equipped drones also pose a threat to privacy and threaten birds and other lower airspace users, critics say. \"We fear recreational airspace users such as paragliding pilots and hot air balloonists will have less freedom,\" says Ms Schodel. So if you're expecting a drone to deliver your pizza any time soon, you're likely to go hungry. - Follow Technology of Business editor Matthew Wall on Twitter and Facebook", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 454, "answer_end": 1295, "text": "According to a recent study by Nasa, the noise made by road traffic was \"systematically judged to be less annoying\" than the high-pitched buzzing made by drones. The locals in the Australian suburb of Bonython, Canberra thought much the same thing when Wing, Google owner Alphabet's delivery drone service, began fast-food delivery trials there. \"With the windows closed, even with double glazing, you can hear the drones,\" one local resident told ABC News. Consequently, limiting noise pollution is an important consideration for regulators, many of whom have forbidden drone deliveries after dark - precisely the time many hungry householders would like that takeaway meal delivered. \"Noise pollution has been an area of debate during the drafting of the new European rules,\" says Yves Morier of the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA)."}], "question": "Noisy nuisances?", "id": "457_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2358, "answer_end": 3330, "text": "Delivery drones will fall rapidly out of favour it they fall rapidly from the sky after running out of juice or crashing. In October, West Midlands Police reported a defect in its DJI Matrice 200 surveillance drone to the UK's Civil Aviation Authority. The drone experienced a sudden loss of power even when it had battery charge remaining. \"The biggest challenge is to reduce the risk of collisions between drones and other aircraft,\" says Mr Morier. Wing says it has performed \"tens of thousands of test flights\" in the US and Australia, and is heading to Finland next year. Its drones use \"redundant motors, batteries and navigation systems with intelligent controls, so back-up systems can help keep aircraft safely in flight\", the company says. But Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) flights - where drones travel autonomously or are controlled by pilots remotely - are only likely to become viable once \"detect and avoid\" technology has been approved by regulators."}], "question": "Are they safe?", "id": "457_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 5000, "answer_end": 5649, "text": "First developed for military use during World War One, drones are now a global industry that investment bank Goldman Sachs expects to be worth $100bn (PS79bn) by 2020. Their commercial potential is already being exploited in many parts of the world, albeit on a trial basis. In Switzerland, the national postal service Swiss Post has started using drones to ferry laboratory samples between hospitals in Lugano and Bern. In China, e-commerce giant JD.com has been sending packages by drone in certain rural areas since last year. And residents of a remote First Nation island in northern Ontario, Canada, will begin receiving goods by drone in 2019."}], "question": "Where are we now?", "id": "457_2"}]}]}, {"title": "The drugs being used at UK festivals", "date": "5 July 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Over the summer, thousands of people will flock to festivals to socialise and enjoy music. Despite all the warnings, some will take drugs - but what do we know about the substances being used and the risks they pose? In May two young adults died at the Mutiny dance music festival in Portsmouth, after organisers issued an alert about the availability of dangerous drugs at the site. The parents of victims Georgia Jones, 18, and Tommy Cowan, 20, warned others about drug use, but such stories are not uncommon - every year we hear of people dying at festivals. Knowing more about what people are using - and what the risks might be - is crucial to protect them from harm. Up-to-date information about the drugs being used at festivals and the number of people taking them is limited. However, as a large proportion of people at festivals are under the age of 35, drug use figures for UK 15- to 34-year-olds from the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA) may give some insight. These suggest that across the population as a whole, illegal drugs are used by a minority of young adults. The most common, cannabis, was used by 12% of people in this age group in 2017, while cocaine was used by 4%, ecstasy by 3% and ketamine and amphetamines by 1%. It is thought that rates of use are higher among clubbers and festivalgoers than the population as a whole. But figures from 10 major UK festivals between 2008-11 showed that seizures of drugs fell rapidly over the period. A later Freedom of Information request for drug seizures at the Glastonbury Festival between 2014-16 showed a sharp fall in the number of arrests but a rise in the amount of cocaine, ecstasy/MDMA and ketamine confiscated by police. Perhaps the most worrying trend is the recent rise in deaths attributed to club drugs, notably ecstasy and cocaine. Deaths in England and Wales linked to ecstasy pills reached their highest level in 2016 at 63 - up from 10 in 2010. Meanwhile, the number of cocaine-related deaths rose from 112 in 2011 to 371 in 2016. The number of people using drugs such as cocaine and ecstasy has remained largely stable, which suggests that the rise in deaths and hospital admissions is not down to more drugs being used. Instead, the big change has been a dramatic rise in purity and strength. For example, while the average content of MDMA - the active ingredient in ecstasy pills - was between 50mg and 80mg in the 2000s, it is thought that pills in Europe now contain an average of about 125mg. \"Super strength\" pills containing over 270mg have also been seen. Another worrying development is the emergence of so-called new psychoactive substances - synthetic drugs made in laboratories, designed to mimic the effects of \"traditional\" substances. By 2015 the EMCDDA was actively monitoring more than 450 substances, with the potential risks varying with each one. Often, they can have the same appearance as \"traditional\" drugs - frequently fine white powders - allowing them to be intentionally mis-sold to unwitting customers. - Cocaine: Overheating, paranoia, psychosis-like experiences, heart failure, nasal damage, dependence - Ecstasy/MDMA: Dehydration, overheating, panic attacks, heart attack, stroke, psychosis-like experiences, low mood in days after use - Ketamine: Accidents, psychosis-like experiences, severe bladder problems, nasal damage, dependence - Amphetamines: Heart problems, overheating, anxiety, high blood pressure, psychosis-like experiences, dependence - Cannabis: Paranoia, psychosis-like experiences, anxiety, lung damage, nausea, dependence - Alcohol: Accidents, nausea, high blood pressure, strokes, liver damage, cancer, dependence Source: The Loop, Talk to Frank, NHS Choices Ultimately, no drug use can be considered truly safe and the only way to avoid the risk of harm completely is to avoid using them. However, the reality is that, for some, drugs and festivals go hand in hand. Drugs campaign group The Loop has previously tested the contents of substances seized by police and security at events but wants more festivalgoers to be allowed to have samples tested themselves. It offered the service at a number of events last year and says that where this has happened about 20% of people decide not to take their drugs after hearing the results. This year, Bestival has said that although it \"strongly advises festivalgoers to avoid taking any illegal substances\", it will allow testing by The Loop to give people \"the opportunity to make informed choices\". Local police are aware and say they \"are exploring all safety options\". The Loop, which has said people who do use drugs should take only a small amount to test how it affects them, also issues alerts via social media about potentially dangerous adulterated or high-strength batches they have identified. However, some festival organisers have previously called for police to clarify whether they support offering testing to festivalgoers and have raised concerns that the results \"have the ability to mislead\". The Home Office has said \"no drug-taking can be assumed to be safe\". More like this: Those who do decide to keep their drugs after testing cannot be certain about all of the drugs they have. Substances can vary markedly in their content even within the same batches. And popular designs of pills, including logos, are often copied. It is not possible for someone to know all the pills they have are the same. Combining different drugs can cause very dangerous interactions. It would be an oversight not to mention the most ubiquitous festival drug - alcohol. Across society, it causes more harm than any other drug and has been linked to 337,000 hospital admissions in England in 2016-2017 and 5,507 deaths in 2016. Almost six out of 10 UK adults drink alcohol weekly and at festivals it is not unreasonable to assume that many people will be drinking more than usual. So, while some festivalgoers need to think very carefully about banned substances they plan to take, the problem facing a greater number will be making sure they don't overdo it on the drink. About this piece This analysis piece was commissioned by the BBC from experts working for an outside organisation. Jon Waldron and Prof Val Curran are members of the Electronic Music Scene Survey team, a European research project (funded in the UK by the Department of Health) and based at the Clinical Psychopharmacology Unit, University College London. Edited by Duncan Walker", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 673, "answer_end": 1727, "text": "Up-to-date information about the drugs being used at festivals and the number of people taking them is limited. However, as a large proportion of people at festivals are under the age of 35, drug use figures for UK 15- to 34-year-olds from the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA) may give some insight. These suggest that across the population as a whole, illegal drugs are used by a minority of young adults. The most common, cannabis, was used by 12% of people in this age group in 2017, while cocaine was used by 4%, ecstasy by 3% and ketamine and amphetamines by 1%. It is thought that rates of use are higher among clubbers and festivalgoers than the population as a whole. But figures from 10 major UK festivals between 2008-11 showed that seizures of drugs fell rapidly over the period. A later Freedom of Information request for drug seizures at the Glastonbury Festival between 2014-16 showed a sharp fall in the number of arrests but a rise in the amount of cocaine, ecstasy/MDMA and ketamine confiscated by police."}], "question": "Who is using drugs?", "id": "458_0"}]}]}, {"title": "What are UK's options over human rights laws?", "date": "7 June 2017", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Prime Minister Theresa May has said that the UK could opt out of some human rights laws in order to fight terrorism. How would that work? As a party to the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), the UK is permitted under Article 15 to \"derogate\" or depart from parts of the convention in limited circumstances. Derogation can happen only in \"time of emergency\", ie there must be a war or other public emergency \"threatening the life of the nation\". If that is the case, the UK can take measures derogating from its obligations, but only to the extent strictly required by the situation. In other words, the measures taken must be strictly limited to deal with the immediate threat and the government has to demonstrate the urgent need to suspend the UK's human rights obligations in order to protect the nation's security. The government would need to make an assessment as to whether there was a \"threat to the life of the nation\" based on the recent terrorist attacks and intelligence on the level and likelihood of future attacks. Any measures brought in must not breach the UK's other obligations under international law. Although nothing along these lines is being considered, it is worth noting that the US's unreviewable and limitless detention of enemy combatants at Guantanamo Bay was found to be a breach of international humanitarian law by the US Supreme Court. The government must also keep the secretary general of the Council of Europe fully informed of the measures and its reasons for imposing them. Derogation can and has previously been challenged in our domestic courts and at the European Court of Human Rights. It also requires some formal and public act, such as a declaration of martial law or state of emergency. If that is not done, the derogation would not be lawful even though the UK might have been entitled to derogate. Under Article 15, the judiciary and Parliament must exercise effective scrutiny over any derogation and ensure essential guarantees against the possibility of an arbitrary assessment by the government and the subsequent implementation of disproportionate measures. Derogations are permitted in respect of Article 5, the right to liberty and security, which protects individuals against arbitrary detention by the state. This is sometimes called internment, if it amounts to indefinite imprisonment without charge or trial. It is not possible to derogate from Article 2, the right to life (save in respect of lawful acts of war), or Article 3, the right that protects against torture and inhuman or degrading treatment. The UK derogated from Article 5 of the ECHR, the right to liberty and security, during the Troubles in Northern Ireland. In 1979, the European Court of Human Rights found the circumstances of Northern Ireland, and the use of preventative detention of terrorist suspects without trial, met the criteria for derogation. However, on another occasion the government attempted to detain terrorist suspects without charge for seven days without seeking a formal derogation of Article 5, and was found to have breached that article. It then sought a further notice of derogation, and in 1993 survived a legal challenge at the ECHR, which found the terror threat in Northern Ireland justified the UK's measures. States signed up to the convention are given a \"margin of appreciation\" to depart from Article 5 in the face of threats to the life of the nation. In this case, the UK acted within that margin. A derogation was sought after the 9/11 attacks in 2001 in order to indefinitely detain terror suspects at Belmarsh prison. The Law Lords (the predecessors of the Supreme Court) declared these measures disproportionate and unlawfully discriminatory because they targeted only non-UK citizens. Lord Hoffman ruled: \"The real threat to the life of the nation, in the sense of a people living in accordance with its traditional laws and political values, comes not from terrorism but from laws such as these.\"", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 2121, "answer_end": 2574, "text": "Derogations are permitted in respect of Article 5, the right to liberty and security, which protects individuals against arbitrary detention by the state. This is sometimes called internment, if it amounts to indefinite imprisonment without charge or trial. It is not possible to derogate from Article 2, the right to life (save in respect of lawful acts of war), or Article 3, the right that protects against torture and inhuman or degrading treatment."}], "question": "What rights would the UK seek to derogate from?", "id": "459_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Trump 'shared classified information with Russia'", "date": "16 May 2017", "paragraphs": [{"context": "President Donald Trump revealed highly classified information about so-called Islamic State (IS) to Russia's foreign minister, US media report. The information, related to the use of laptops on aircraft, came from a partner of the US which had not given permission for it to be shared with Russia, says the Washington Post. Mr Trump received Sergei Lavrov in the Oval Office last week. National Security Adviser HR McMaster dismissed the reporting as \"false\". The Trump campaign's alleged links to Moscow have dogged his presidency and are part of several investigations. But the president has dismissed such allegations as \"fake news\". During the election campaign, Mr Trump repeatedly criticised his Democratic opponent, Hillary Clinton, for how she handled sensitive material. In a conversation with the Russian foreign minister and Russian Ambassador Sergei Kislyak in the Oval Office, the president revealed details that could lead to the exposure of a source of information, officials told the Washington Post and the New York Times. The discussion was about an IS plot. The president reportedly went \"off-script\", revealing specifics of the plot, thought to centre on the use of laptop computers on aircraft, and the city from which that threat had been detected. The intelligence disclosed came from a US ally and was considered too sensitive to share with other US allies, the papers report. Others present realised the mistake and scrambled to \"contain the damage\" by informing the CIA and the National Security Agency (NSA), says the Post. Mr Trump's actions would not be illegal, as the US president has the authority to declassify information. The meeting came a day after Mr Trump fired his FBI chief, James Comey, sparking criticism that he had done so because the FBI was investigating alleged Russian ties. National Security Adviser HR McMaster told reporters that the story, \"as reported\", was \"false\". \"The president and foreign minister reviewed a range of common threats to our two countries, including threats to civil aviation,\" he said. \"At no time - at no time - were intelligence sources or methods discussed. And the president did not disclose any military operations that were not already publicly known.\" In a statement, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson echoed the point that \"the nature of specific threats were discussed, but they did not discuss sources, methods or military operations\". The Washington Post, which first broke the story, said this did not amount to a denial. Speaking to the BBC, reporter Greg Jaffe said the Post's story made it clear the president did not disclose sources or methods. But he added: \"Our story says that the nature of the information provided would have allowed the Russians to 'reverse engineer' to discover the sources and methods. He said so much that they could figure it out.\" On its website, the Washington Post said Mr McMaster \"seems to be saying that the thing that didn't happen is something The Post never actually reported\". Despite the denials issued by the White House that any actual intelligence sources were revealed to the Russians, whatever was said in that Oval Office meeting was enough to alarm certain officials and, reportedly, to alert the CIA and NSA. They in turn will have needed to warn the country that supplied the intelligence. There is a golden rule in the world of espionage that when one government supplies intelligence to another it must not be passed on to a third party without permission of the original supplier. The reason is simple: it could put the lives of their human informants at risk. In this case it appears to relate to the discovery of plans by jihadists in Syria to devise a way of smuggling viable explosive devices on board a plane inside a laptop computer. Given the well-publicised ban on laptops in cabins on certain Middle Eastern routes, whoever revealed that information is unlikely to be still in place. - Confidential: Information that reasonably could be expected to cause damage to the national security if disclosed to unauthorised sources. Most military personnel have this level of clearance - Secret: The same wording in the first sentence above, except it substitutes serious damage - Top Secret: Again, the same wording except to substitute exceptionally grave damage - Codeword: Adds a second level of clearance to Top Secret, so that only those cleared with the codeword can see it. Administered by the CIA. The material discussed by Mr Trump with the Russians was under a codeword, sources told the Washington Post The Senate's second-highest ranked Democrat, Dick Durbin, said Mr Trump's actions appeared to be \"dangerous\" and reckless\". A spokesman for Paul Ryan, Republican speaker of the House of Representatives, said: \"We have no way to know what was said, but protecting our nation's secrets is paramount. \"The speaker hopes for a full explanation of the facts from the administration.\" The Republican head of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Bob Corker, said the story was \"very, very troubling\" if true. \"Obviously they're in a downward spiral right now and they've got to figure out a way to come to grips\" with it, he told Bloomberg.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 780, "answer_end": 1823, "text": "In a conversation with the Russian foreign minister and Russian Ambassador Sergei Kislyak in the Oval Office, the president revealed details that could lead to the exposure of a source of information, officials told the Washington Post and the New York Times. The discussion was about an IS plot. The president reportedly went \"off-script\", revealing specifics of the plot, thought to centre on the use of laptop computers on aircraft, and the city from which that threat had been detected. The intelligence disclosed came from a US ally and was considered too sensitive to share with other US allies, the papers report. Others present realised the mistake and scrambled to \"contain the damage\" by informing the CIA and the National Security Agency (NSA), says the Post. Mr Trump's actions would not be illegal, as the US president has the authority to declassify information. The meeting came a day after Mr Trump fired his FBI chief, James Comey, sparking criticism that he had done so because the FBI was investigating alleged Russian ties."}], "question": "What actually happened?", "id": "460_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1824, "answer_end": 3003, "text": "National Security Adviser HR McMaster told reporters that the story, \"as reported\", was \"false\". \"The president and foreign minister reviewed a range of common threats to our two countries, including threats to civil aviation,\" he said. \"At no time - at no time - were intelligence sources or methods discussed. And the president did not disclose any military operations that were not already publicly known.\" In a statement, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson echoed the point that \"the nature of specific threats were discussed, but they did not discuss sources, methods or military operations\". The Washington Post, which first broke the story, said this did not amount to a denial. Speaking to the BBC, reporter Greg Jaffe said the Post's story made it clear the president did not disclose sources or methods. But he added: \"Our story says that the nature of the information provided would have allowed the Russians to 'reverse engineer' to discover the sources and methods. He said so much that they could figure it out.\" On its website, the Washington Post said Mr McMaster \"seems to be saying that the thing that didn't happen is something The Post never actually reported\"."}], "question": "What has the White House said?", "id": "460_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 4556, "answer_end": 5192, "text": "The Senate's second-highest ranked Democrat, Dick Durbin, said Mr Trump's actions appeared to be \"dangerous\" and reckless\". A spokesman for Paul Ryan, Republican speaker of the House of Representatives, said: \"We have no way to know what was said, but protecting our nation's secrets is paramount. \"The speaker hopes for a full explanation of the facts from the administration.\" The Republican head of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Bob Corker, said the story was \"very, very troubling\" if true. \"Obviously they're in a downward spiral right now and they've got to figure out a way to come to grips\" with it, he told Bloomberg."}], "question": "What has the reaction been?", "id": "460_2"}]}]}, {"title": "Millions of masks distributed to students in 'gas chamber' Delhi", "date": "1 November 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Five million masks are being distributed at schools in India's capital, Delhi, after pollution made the air so toxic officials were forced to declare a public health emergency. A Supreme Court-mandated panel imposed several restrictions in the city and two neighbouring states, as air quality deteriorated to \"severe\" levels. Dangerous particulate levels in the air are about 20 times the WHO maximum. The city's schools have also been closed until at least next Tuesday. All construction has been halted for a week and fireworks have been banned. From Monday, the city will introduce a temporary scheme so that only cars with odd or even numbered licence plates can drive on given days, in a bid to cut traffic pollution. Delhi's Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said the city had been turned into a \"gas chamber\". The masks are being handed out to students and their parents, and Mr Kejriwal has asked people to use them as much as possible. The levels of tiny particulate matter (known as PM2.5) that enter deep into the lungs are 533 micrograms per cubic metre in the city. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that the PM2.5 levels should not be more than 25 micrograms per cubic metre on average in 24 hours. As thick white smog blanketed the city, residents started tweeting pictures of their surroundings. Photos of German leader Angela Merkel's official visit showed the obscuring effect of the smog at the presidential palace - though both leaders ignored the declared public health emergency and declined to wear masks. Some workers were being told to work from home to avoid the pollution. One account director at market research firm Kantar, which employs several hundred people in the city, told Reuters staff had been told not to come in on Monday. Many local residents are furious that the situation remains the same year after year. Municipal workers and vulnerable groups have been given thousands of free high-grade N95 masks in recent years. \"I didn't realise how bad it would get,\" one resident said. \"Do we really want our kids to grow up in such an environment? No-one really cares, no-one wants to improve the situation.\" The hashtags #DelhiAirQuality and #FightAgainstDelhiPollition are trending on Twitter. The thick smog also raised concerns for the weekend's cricket clash between India and Bangladesh. A 2017 match in similar polluted conditions led to Sri Lankan players vomiting on the pitch. But Bangladesh's coach said that despite \"scratchy eyes\" and sore throats among his players, the game would go ahead. \"No-one is dying,\" Russell Domingo told the Press Trust of India. \"Look, there's a bit of pollution in Bangladesh as well, so it's a not a massive shock unlike some other countries. The players have just got on with the game and haven't complained too much about it,\" he said. One of the main reasons for air quality in the city worsening every year in November and December is that farmers in the neighbouring states of Punjab and Haryana burn crop stubble to clear their fields. It's made worse by the fireworks during the Hindu festival of Diwali. There are other reasons too, including construction dust, factory and vehicular emissions, but farm fires remain the biggest culprit. More than two million farmers burn 23 million tonnes of crop residue on some 80,000 sq km of farmland in northern India every winter. The stubble smoke is a lethal cocktail of particulate matter, carbon dioxide, nitrogen dioxide and sulphur dioxide. Using satellite data, Harvard University researchers estimated that nearly half of Delhi's air pollution between 2012 and 2016 was due to stubble burning. The burning is so widespread that it even shows up in satellite photos from Nasa. - Particulate matter, or PM, 2.5 is a type of pollution involving fine particles less than 2.5 microns (0.0025mm) in diameter - A second type, PM 10, is of coarser particles with a diameter of up to 10 microns - Some occur naturally - e.g. from dust storms and forest fires, others from human industrial processes - They often consist of fragments that are small enough to reach the lungs or, in the smallest cases, to cross into the bloodstream as well", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1223, "answer_end": 2826, "text": "As thick white smog blanketed the city, residents started tweeting pictures of their surroundings. Photos of German leader Angela Merkel's official visit showed the obscuring effect of the smog at the presidential palace - though both leaders ignored the declared public health emergency and declined to wear masks. Some workers were being told to work from home to avoid the pollution. One account director at market research firm Kantar, which employs several hundred people in the city, told Reuters staff had been told not to come in on Monday. Many local residents are furious that the situation remains the same year after year. Municipal workers and vulnerable groups have been given thousands of free high-grade N95 masks in recent years. \"I didn't realise how bad it would get,\" one resident said. \"Do we really want our kids to grow up in such an environment? No-one really cares, no-one wants to improve the situation.\" The hashtags #DelhiAirQuality and #FightAgainstDelhiPollition are trending on Twitter. The thick smog also raised concerns for the weekend's cricket clash between India and Bangladesh. A 2017 match in similar polluted conditions led to Sri Lankan players vomiting on the pitch. But Bangladesh's coach said that despite \"scratchy eyes\" and sore throats among his players, the game would go ahead. \"No-one is dying,\" Russell Domingo told the Press Trust of India. \"Look, there's a bit of pollution in Bangladesh as well, so it's a not a massive shock unlike some other countries. The players have just got on with the game and haven't complained too much about it,\" he said."}], "question": "How thick is the pollution?", "id": "461_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2827, "answer_end": 3721, "text": "One of the main reasons for air quality in the city worsening every year in November and December is that farmers in the neighbouring states of Punjab and Haryana burn crop stubble to clear their fields. It's made worse by the fireworks during the Hindu festival of Diwali. There are other reasons too, including construction dust, factory and vehicular emissions, but farm fires remain the biggest culprit. More than two million farmers burn 23 million tonnes of crop residue on some 80,000 sq km of farmland in northern India every winter. The stubble smoke is a lethal cocktail of particulate matter, carbon dioxide, nitrogen dioxide and sulphur dioxide. Using satellite data, Harvard University researchers estimated that nearly half of Delhi's air pollution between 2012 and 2016 was due to stubble burning. The burning is so widespread that it even shows up in satellite photos from Nasa."}], "question": "Why is the pollution so bad?", "id": "461_1"}]}]}, {"title": "Matthew Hedges: Who is the man at the centre of the spy row?", "date": "26 November 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Friends, family and colleagues of the British academic jailed in the United Arab Emirates after being accused of spying are united in one thing: They say he is not an intelligence agent. But who is he? Matthew Hedges is no stranger to the Middle East. He had spent time there when he was younger and had worked in the region for several years. But on a research trip for his PhD in May he was arrested. On 21 November he was jailed for life for \"spying for or on behalf of\" the UK government, but he was granted a presidential pardon and freed five days later. Here is what we know about the man who his family and friends insist is just an \"innocent victim\". The 31-year-old is a PhD student at Durham University but his status belies an established career in research and consultancy. He describes himself as \"an intelligence analyst at a cyber-intelligence firm in the UK\" and has been an advisor for consultancy firm Gulf State Analytics since January 2016. Corporate investigations, due diligence and research also appear in his areas of freelance consultancy expertise. His research covers subjects such as defence, security, international affairs and military policy in the Middle East. Since starting work on his PhD at Durham University he has been employed as an associate researcher at the university's Institute for Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies (IMEIS). He is married to publicist Daniela Tejada who he reportedly met while studying at the University of Exeter. Hedges was born in Surrey and went to the independent Cranleigh boarding school near Guildford. He spent his school and university holidays in the UAE with his family who worked there. Although relatives say he can neither speak nor read Arabic, his PhD supervisor in Durham said he \"knew the country very well\". Prof Clive Jones said he was \"very much a known face\", certainly among the \"Emirati political elite\". Many of those he went to the UAE to talk to for his PhD were people he knew personally or had worked for. This area of the world has clearly piqued his interest. Both his degree from the University of Bradford and his masters at the University of Exeter explored the Middle East and international relations. His MA thesis was entitled \"What has driven the UAE's military spending since 2001\". Latterly living in Exeter, Hedges has been a PhD student at Durham University since 2015, where he has been researching the effects of the Arab Spring on the Gulf states. His specific interest is the region's \"evolving national security strategy\". Other research interests including civil-military relations, Middle Eastern politics, security studies and political economy are listed in his Durham University biography. In a joint statement with the University of Exeter, his university said there had been \"no evidence whatsoever that Matt was conducting anything other than legitimate academic research\" while in the UAE. His thesis was nearly finished and had been carried out in \"full accordance\" with its research and ethics procedures, it said. Hedges has worked across the Middle East offering analysis on subjects such as defence, security, Gulf politics, international affairs and military capabilities. His research has covered battlefield technology and defence expenditure in the UAE and political and military policy in the Middle East. Defense News, Gulf States Newsletter, Military Balance and Defence Procurement International have all published his work. In March last year he wrote an article for the US-based Middle East Policy Council exploring the future of the Muslim Brotherhood and the Gulf Cooperation Council, of which the UAE is a member. Hedges has also worked for Dubai thinktank the Institute for Near East and Gulf Military Analysis (INEGMA) and media services company Babylon Communications. At Optimum Business Consultants he was involved in negotiations for natural resource extraction concessions in South-East Asia and West Africa.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 660, "answer_end": 1479, "text": "The 31-year-old is a PhD student at Durham University but his status belies an established career in research and consultancy. He describes himself as \"an intelligence analyst at a cyber-intelligence firm in the UK\" and has been an advisor for consultancy firm Gulf State Analytics since January 2016. Corporate investigations, due diligence and research also appear in his areas of freelance consultancy expertise. His research covers subjects such as defence, security, international affairs and military policy in the Middle East. Since starting work on his PhD at Durham University he has been employed as an associate researcher at the university's Institute for Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies (IMEIS). He is married to publicist Daniela Tejada who he reportedly met while studying at the University of Exeter."}], "question": "Who is Matthew Hedges?", "id": "462_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1480, "answer_end": 2287, "text": "Hedges was born in Surrey and went to the independent Cranleigh boarding school near Guildford. He spent his school and university holidays in the UAE with his family who worked there. Although relatives say he can neither speak nor read Arabic, his PhD supervisor in Durham said he \"knew the country very well\". Prof Clive Jones said he was \"very much a known face\", certainly among the \"Emirati political elite\". Many of those he went to the UAE to talk to for his PhD were people he knew personally or had worked for. This area of the world has clearly piqued his interest. Both his degree from the University of Bradford and his masters at the University of Exeter explored the Middle East and international relations. His MA thesis was entitled \"What has driven the UAE's military spending since 2001\"."}], "question": "What is his background?", "id": "462_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2288, "answer_end": 3038, "text": "Latterly living in Exeter, Hedges has been a PhD student at Durham University since 2015, where he has been researching the effects of the Arab Spring on the Gulf states. His specific interest is the region's \"evolving national security strategy\". Other research interests including civil-military relations, Middle Eastern politics, security studies and political economy are listed in his Durham University biography. In a joint statement with the University of Exeter, his university said there had been \"no evidence whatsoever that Matt was conducting anything other than legitimate academic research\" while in the UAE. His thesis was nearly finished and had been carried out in \"full accordance\" with its research and ethics procedures, it said."}], "question": "What was he doing before his arrest?", "id": "462_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3039, "answer_end": 3955, "text": "Hedges has worked across the Middle East offering analysis on subjects such as defence, security, Gulf politics, international affairs and military capabilities. His research has covered battlefield technology and defence expenditure in the UAE and political and military policy in the Middle East. Defense News, Gulf States Newsletter, Military Balance and Defence Procurement International have all published his work. In March last year he wrote an article for the US-based Middle East Policy Council exploring the future of the Muslim Brotherhood and the Gulf Cooperation Council, of which the UAE is a member. Hedges has also worked for Dubai thinktank the Institute for Near East and Gulf Military Analysis (INEGMA) and media services company Babylon Communications. At Optimum Business Consultants he was involved in negotiations for natural resource extraction concessions in South-East Asia and West Africa."}], "question": "What work has he done?", "id": "462_3"}]}]}, {"title": "North Korea floods: Tens of thousands displaced", "date": "13 September 2016", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Aid agencies have warned that North Korea is facing a humanitarian disaster after tens of thousands of people were displaced by flooding. The UN and the International Red Cross say the government has reported 133 deaths with nearly 400 people missing and homes and crops destroyed. Rescue teams have been unable to reach some of the worst-hit areas. North Korea already has chronic food shortages and is heavily dependent on foreign aid to feed its population. The UN has allocated $8m this year for humanitarian aid in the isolated country. The flooding, triggered by the recent Typhoon Lionrock, comes as North Korea faces global anger for conducting its fifth nuclear test. Friday's detonation, believed to be the North's biggest test so far, is expected to lead to a tightening of sanctions. The worst flooding is along the Tumen river, which borders China. Many areas in Musan and Yonsa counties are entirely cut off, said the UN. Chris Staines, who is leading a Red Cross delegation in North Korea, said the region was facing \"a very major and complex disaster\". \"The floods came through with such force, they destroyed everything in their path,\" AFP quoted him as saying. In some villages close to Hoeryong City there was \"barely a building left unscathed\". \"People displaced from the floods are now in a very difficult situation and there are real risks of secondary disasters, particularly relating to people's health,\" he added. The UN's Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has said 140,000 people are \"in urgent need of assistance\". Murat Sahin, a UN official in North Korea, said the scale of the disaster was \"beyond anything experienced by local officials\". North Korean state media said people are experiencing \"great suffering\" in the region. A week after the disaster struck, state media told citizens about the extent of the floods and launched a \"200-day\" campaign to rebuild affected areas. According to one report from state news agency KCNA, the campaign means that workers have been diverted from many of North Korea's set-piece construction projects and sent to Hamgyong Province to shore up river banks and build new homes. Tuesday's main evening news showed labourers hard at work in what could easily be a scene orchestrated for the cameras. Workers dug and shifted mud in front of propaganda banners, while a uniformed musical troupe sang in the background. However, the emergency is not the main news story in the country. That honour was given to Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un's visit to a farm, which was seen heaving with ripening crops.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1783, "answer_end": 2590, "text": "A week after the disaster struck, state media told citizens about the extent of the floods and launched a \"200-day\" campaign to rebuild affected areas. According to one report from state news agency KCNA, the campaign means that workers have been diverted from many of North Korea's set-piece construction projects and sent to Hamgyong Province to shore up river banks and build new homes. Tuesday's main evening news showed labourers hard at work in what could easily be a scene orchestrated for the cameras. Workers dug and shifted mud in front of propaganda banners, while a uniformed musical troupe sang in the background. However, the emergency is not the main news story in the country. That honour was given to Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un's visit to a farm, which was seen heaving with ripening crops."}], "question": "How is North Korea reporting the floods?", "id": "463_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Iran nuclear deal: European powers urge US not to withdraw", "date": "11 January 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "European powers have urged the US not to abandon the 2015 agreement with Iran that limits its nuclear programme, saying it is making the world safer. After meeting his Iranian, French, German and EU counterparts in Brussels, UK Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson insisted the deal was preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. He also challenged Washington to come up with a better alternative. US President Donald Trump wants to amend the deal or withdraw from it. In October, he refused to recertify for Congress that Iran was complying, accusing it of \"not living up to the spirit\" of the agreement. At a news conference after meeting Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif on Thursday, representatives of the EU, the UK, France and Germany reiterated their support for the nuclear deal they helped negotiate. \"The deal is working; it is delivering on its main goal, which means keeping the Iranian nuclear programme in check and under close surveillance,\" EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini said. \"The unity of the international community is essential to preserve a deal that is working, that is making the world safer and that is preventing a potential nuclear arms race in the region. And we expect all parties to continue to fully implement this agreement.\" Mr Johnson described the deal, which is known formally as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), as a \"considerable diplomatic accomplishment\". \"I don't think that anybody has produced a better alternative to the JCPOA as a way of preventing the Iranians from going ahead with the acquisition of a military nuclear capability,\" he said. \"It is incumbent on those who oppose the JCPOA to come up with that better solution, because we have not seen it so far.\" Iran's foreign ministry said on Tuesday that if the US withdrew from the agreement, it was ready to give an \"appropriate and heavy response\". The US president declared in October that the agreement was \"one of the worst and most one-sided transactions the United States has ever entered into\", and warned that within a few years Iran would be able to \"sprint towards a rapid nuclear weapons breakout\". He accused Iran of committing \"multiple violations\" and promised to work with Congress to \"address the deal's many serious flaws\". Mr Trump said they included the deal's \"sunset clauses\", one of which allows for the lifting of restrictions on Iran's uranium enrichment programme after 2025. He also wants to give the International Atomic Energy Agency access to Iranian military sites, and for the deal to cover Iran's ballistic missile programme. Critics of the deal in Congress have also proposed amending legislation to ensure that US sanctions would \"snap back\" automatically if Iran carried out certain actions. On Friday, Mr Trump is set to decide whether to extend relief for Iran from some US economic sanctions. The sanctions, which were suspended in 2016, had cut Iran's central bank out of the international financial system and imposed penalties for buying Iranian oil. US officials told the Associated Press on Wednesday that Mr Trump was expected to extend the sanctions relief for another 120 days. But they said he might also impose new, targeted sanctions on Iranian businesses and people allegedly involved in missile tests, supporting terrorism, and human rights abuses. On Thursday,  US Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin said he thought President Trump would impose new sanctions on Iran. \"I am expecting new sanctions on Iran,\" he told reporters. \"We continue to look at them. We've rolled them out and I think you can expect there will be more sanctions coming.\" The US and EU say Iranian ballistic missile tests conducted in the past year have violated UN Security Council resolution 2231, which endorsed the nuclear deal. The resolution calls upon Iran not to \"undertake any activity related to ballistic missiles designed to be capable of delivering nuclear weapons, including launches using such ballistic missile technology\". Iran says the missiles it has tested are not designed to carry nuclear warheads and insists its nuclear programme is entirely peaceful. The European ministers expressed serious concern about Iran's ballistic missile programme, as well as its alleged transfer of missiles and assistance to non-state entities in the Middle East. But they said the issue should be kept separate from the nuclear deal.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 606, "answer_end": 1892, "text": "At a news conference after meeting Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif on Thursday, representatives of the EU, the UK, France and Germany reiterated their support for the nuclear deal they helped negotiate. \"The deal is working; it is delivering on its main goal, which means keeping the Iranian nuclear programme in check and under close surveillance,\" EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini said. \"The unity of the international community is essential to preserve a deal that is working, that is making the world safer and that is preventing a potential nuclear arms race in the region. And we expect all parties to continue to fully implement this agreement.\" Mr Johnson described the deal, which is known formally as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), as a \"considerable diplomatic accomplishment\". \"I don't think that anybody has produced a better alternative to the JCPOA as a way of preventing the Iranians from going ahead with the acquisition of a military nuclear capability,\" he said. \"It is incumbent on those who oppose the JCPOA to come up with that better solution, because we have not seen it so far.\" Iran's foreign ministry said on Tuesday that if the US withdrew from the agreement, it was ready to give an \"appropriate and heavy response\"."}], "question": "Why does Europe back the deal?", "id": "464_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1893, "answer_end": 3636, "text": "The US president declared in October that the agreement was \"one of the worst and most one-sided transactions the United States has ever entered into\", and warned that within a few years Iran would be able to \"sprint towards a rapid nuclear weapons breakout\". He accused Iran of committing \"multiple violations\" and promised to work with Congress to \"address the deal's many serious flaws\". Mr Trump said they included the deal's \"sunset clauses\", one of which allows for the lifting of restrictions on Iran's uranium enrichment programme after 2025. He also wants to give the International Atomic Energy Agency access to Iranian military sites, and for the deal to cover Iran's ballistic missile programme. Critics of the deal in Congress have also proposed amending legislation to ensure that US sanctions would \"snap back\" automatically if Iran carried out certain actions. On Friday, Mr Trump is set to decide whether to extend relief for Iran from some US economic sanctions. The sanctions, which were suspended in 2016, had cut Iran's central bank out of the international financial system and imposed penalties for buying Iranian oil. US officials told the Associated Press on Wednesday that Mr Trump was expected to extend the sanctions relief for another 120 days. But they said he might also impose new, targeted sanctions on Iranian businesses and people allegedly involved in missile tests, supporting terrorism, and human rights abuses. On Thursday,  US Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin said he thought President Trump would impose new sanctions on Iran. \"I am expecting new sanctions on Iran,\" he told reporters. \"We continue to look at them. We've rolled them out and I think you can expect there will be more sanctions coming.\""}], "question": "What does Mr Trump want to change?", "id": "464_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3637, "answer_end": 4403, "text": "The US and EU say Iranian ballistic missile tests conducted in the past year have violated UN Security Council resolution 2231, which endorsed the nuclear deal. The resolution calls upon Iran not to \"undertake any activity related to ballistic missiles designed to be capable of delivering nuclear weapons, including launches using such ballistic missile technology\". Iran says the missiles it has tested are not designed to carry nuclear warheads and insists its nuclear programme is entirely peaceful. The European ministers expressed serious concern about Iran's ballistic missile programme, as well as its alleged transfer of missiles and assistance to non-state entities in the Middle East. But they said the issue should be kept separate from the nuclear deal."}], "question": "Why is Iran's missile programme controversial?", "id": "464_2"}]}]}, {"title": "North Korea: Mike Pompeo rejects 'gangster-like' accusation", "date": "8 July 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has dismissed accusations by North Korea that he engaged in \"gangster-like\" behaviour during a visit there. After two days of talks with senior officials, he said efforts to push Pyongyang towards abandoning nuclear weapons had international backing. He stressed that denuclearisation was a condition for lifting sanctions. It was Mr Pompeo's first visit to the North since last month's summit between Kim Jong-un and President Donald Trump. The North Korean leader says he is committed to denuclearisation, but how this will be achieved is unclear. Mr Pompeo did not meet Mr Kim. Instead, on Friday and Saturday he held talks with Kim Jong-chol, seen as the North Korean leader's right-hand man, on how to proceed with denuclearisation. Afterwards, state media carried a statement saying the US had gone against the spirit of the summit by acting unilaterally to put pressure on the country. \"We had anticipated the US side would come with a constructive idea, thinking we would take something in return,\" the statement said, warning its \"resolve for denuclearisation... may falter\". \"The US is fatally mistaken if it went to the extent of regarding that [North Korea] would be compelled to accept, out of its patience, demands reflecting its gangster-like mindset,\" it added. The statement, by an unnamed foreign ministry official, was in sharp contrast with the account given by Mr Pompeo as he left North Korea for Japan just hours before. He said the talks had \"made progress on almost all of the central issues\". North Korean state media often carries uncompromising language, and some analysts and officials speculated the use of the term may be a negotiating tactic. After talks with the foreign ministers of Japan and South Korea on Sunday, the secretary of state said his efforts to press the North on nuclear weapons were legitimate. \"If those requests were gangster-like, the world is a gangster, because there was a unanimous decision at the UN Security Council about what needs to be achieved,\" he told reporters in Tokyo. He added: \"When we spoke to them about denuclearisation, they did not push back.\" He also admitted that the \"road ahead will be difficult and challenging\". After the Singapore summit in June, which also saw the US promise to end military drills with South Korea, Mr Trump claimed that the North no longer posed a nuclear threat. However, the president has since renewed sanctions on North Korea, while US intelligence officials have said there is evidence North Korea continues to upgrade the infrastructure for its nuclear and missile programmes.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 584, "answer_end": 1708, "text": "Mr Pompeo did not meet Mr Kim. Instead, on Friday and Saturday he held talks with Kim Jong-chol, seen as the North Korean leader's right-hand man, on how to proceed with denuclearisation. Afterwards, state media carried a statement saying the US had gone against the spirit of the summit by acting unilaterally to put pressure on the country. \"We had anticipated the US side would come with a constructive idea, thinking we would take something in return,\" the statement said, warning its \"resolve for denuclearisation... may falter\". \"The US is fatally mistaken if it went to the extent of regarding that [North Korea] would be compelled to accept, out of its patience, demands reflecting its gangster-like mindset,\" it added. The statement, by an unnamed foreign ministry official, was in sharp contrast with the account given by Mr Pompeo as he left North Korea for Japan just hours before. He said the talks had \"made progress on almost all of the central issues\". North Korean state media often carries uncompromising language, and some analysts and officials speculated the use of the term may be a negotiating tactic."}], "question": "How did the North see the latest talks?", "id": "465_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1709, "answer_end": 2618, "text": "After talks with the foreign ministers of Japan and South Korea on Sunday, the secretary of state said his efforts to press the North on nuclear weapons were legitimate. \"If those requests were gangster-like, the world is a gangster, because there was a unanimous decision at the UN Security Council about what needs to be achieved,\" he told reporters in Tokyo. He added: \"When we spoke to them about denuclearisation, they did not push back.\" He also admitted that the \"road ahead will be difficult and challenging\". After the Singapore summit in June, which also saw the US promise to end military drills with South Korea, Mr Trump claimed that the North no longer posed a nuclear threat. However, the president has since renewed sanctions on North Korea, while US intelligence officials have said there is evidence North Korea continues to upgrade the infrastructure for its nuclear and missile programmes."}], "question": "How has Mr Pompeo responded?", "id": "465_1"}]}]}, {"title": "Brexit: Top MEP 'willing to revisit NI-only backstop'", "date": "12 September 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "The head of the European Parliament has said he is willing to revisit the proposal of a Northern Ireland-only backstop to break the Brexit deadlock. The President of the European Parliament, David Sassoli, said there would be no agreement without a backstop in some form. But on Wednesday, Prime Minister Boris Johnson ruled out an NI-only backstop. The UK is due to leave the EU on 31 October without a deal unless both sides can reach a compromise. Mr Sassoli was speaking at a press conference after talks between the European Parliament's political group leaders and EU chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier. The parliament is not directly negotiating with the UK, but will vote on any final Brexit deal. UK officials have been in Brussels for meetings this week with Mr Barnier's team. Mr Sassoli said \"the signals we're getting are not indicating any [UK] initiative that would reopen the negotiations, and we're not happy about that\". He outlined points to be included in a European Parliament resolution on Brexit, to be voted on by MEPs next week. It has proved to be the most contentious part of the Brexit negotiations. It is the insurance policy to avoid a hard border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland after Brexit, unless and until another solution is found. Westminster MPs rejected the backstop and withdrawal agreement negotiated by ex-PM Theresa May, which would have kept all of the UK in a \"temporary customs territory\" with the EU and would have seen Northern Ireland also continuing to follow other EU rules. The Democratic Unionists (DUP) had opposed it, saying it would create a border down the Irish Sea and risk the future of the union. There had been speculation in recent days that the UK was considering returning to the idea of a Northern Ireland-only backstop, which had originally been proposed by the EU in the early stages of the negotiations in 2017. The DUP had insisted it and No 10 would not back such a proposal as it would not have \"unionist consent\". After talks with Boris Johnson on Tuesday, the DUP said it was exploring all-island \"arrangements\" on food standards and animal safety as part of a solution to replace the backstop. Mr Sassoli said the European Parliament's draft resolution would say \"we are willing to go back to the original EU proposal\" of an NI-only backstop. \"You can't have an agreement without the backstop, it couldn't really be any clearer,\" he added. The resolution will also express MEPs' willingness to turn the political declaration on future EU-UK ties into \"a legally binding document\". The next EU summit is due to take place on 17-18 October, just several weeks before the UK is due to leave the EU on 31 October. Mr Johnson has insisted he will not seek another extension to the deadline, and said the UK would be ready to leave with or without a deal. He has said he hopes a deal can be reached and that he has an \"abundance of proposals\" to replace the backstop - but has not detailed what they might be. The Irish government has said it would also be willing to look at a \"Northern Ireland-specific solution\". Mr Sassoli said the EU had \"reached a moment where we need to express our positions with firmness and clarity\". The parliament is willing to extend the deadline beyond 31 October \"provided it's something done for overriding reasons\", Mr Sassoli said, such as to avoid no deal or to hold a general election. The resolution will say that if the UK exits without a deal \"it will be entirely the responsibility of the UK\". It would have kept Northern Ireland in the EU's customs union, which would have meant applying EU tariffs for goods entering NI from outside the EU customs union - including Great Britain. It would also have applied EU single market rules for goods and animal products in Northern Ireland. This would have got rid of the need for checks at the Irish border, but would have led to checks on goods passing between Northern Ireland and Great Britain. It was criticised by the DUP and other unionist parties for \"creating a border in the Irish Sea\" and posing a risk to the union. In February 2018, Theresa May said no prime minister could back such a proposal.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1058, "answer_end": 2580, "text": "It has proved to be the most contentious part of the Brexit negotiations. It is the insurance policy to avoid a hard border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland after Brexit, unless and until another solution is found. Westminster MPs rejected the backstop and withdrawal agreement negotiated by ex-PM Theresa May, which would have kept all of the UK in a \"temporary customs territory\" with the EU and would have seen Northern Ireland also continuing to follow other EU rules. The Democratic Unionists (DUP) had opposed it, saying it would create a border down the Irish Sea and risk the future of the union. There had been speculation in recent days that the UK was considering returning to the idea of a Northern Ireland-only backstop, which had originally been proposed by the EU in the early stages of the negotiations in 2017. The DUP had insisted it and No 10 would not back such a proposal as it would not have \"unionist consent\". After talks with Boris Johnson on Tuesday, the DUP said it was exploring all-island \"arrangements\" on food standards and animal safety as part of a solution to replace the backstop. Mr Sassoli said the European Parliament's draft resolution would say \"we are willing to go back to the original EU proposal\" of an NI-only backstop. \"You can't have an agreement without the backstop, it couldn't really be any clearer,\" he added. The resolution will also express MEPs' willingness to turn the political declaration on future EU-UK ties into \"a legally binding document\"."}], "question": "What is the backstop?", "id": "466_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3529, "answer_end": 4186, "text": "It would have kept Northern Ireland in the EU's customs union, which would have meant applying EU tariffs for goods entering NI from outside the EU customs union - including Great Britain. It would also have applied EU single market rules for goods and animal products in Northern Ireland. This would have got rid of the need for checks at the Irish border, but would have led to checks on goods passing between Northern Ireland and Great Britain. It was criticised by the DUP and other unionist parties for \"creating a border in the Irish Sea\" and posing a risk to the union. In February 2018, Theresa May said no prime minister could back such a proposal."}], "question": "What was the NI-only backstop?", "id": "466_1"}]}]}, {"title": "Qandeel Baloch: Brother of murdered social media star jailed", "date": "27 September 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "The brother of Pakistani social media star Qandeel Baloch has been jailed for life, three years after her murder. Waseem confessed to strangling Ms Baloch, 26, in July 2016. At the time, he said it was because the star had brought shame on the family. He was reported to be upset by pictures she had uploaded to social media. On Friday, a court acquitted six other men charged in connection with the killing, including religious scholar, Mufti Abdul Qavi. Ms Baloch's family had initially pointed the finger at the mufti, saying he had instigated the murder after he was criticised for taking selfies with the social media star a month before her death. He has always denied any involvement. Her brother Waseem is able to appeal against the sentence. His lawyer, Sardar Mehmood, told news agency AFP that he hoped Waseem Baloch would be \"acquitted by a high court\". Another brother, Arif, has been declared a fugitive in relation to Ms Baloch's death, the court said. At the court in Multan, there were scenes of celebration over the acquittals - and tears over the conviction. Photos shared on social media show Mufti Qavi being showered in rose petals as he left court, his supporters overjoyed with the verdict. Meanwhile, Ms Baloch's mother wept tears for her son. \"He is innocent,\" Anwar Mai told reporters before the sentence was handed down. She and her husband tried to free Waseem last month, saying they forgave their son for killing their daughter. Online, there was anger for Ms Baloch. Many described their reaction to the verdict as \"bittersweet\", and expressed fear that - despite the conviction - things may not change for women in Pakistan. \"It took three years to get a judgement for her brother,\" Sanam Maher - the author of a book on Ms Qandeel - tweeted. \"I wonder how long it will take us to recognise that we shouldn't let ourselves off the hook, that our social structure is rotten & works against people like #Qandeel who wish to make something of themselves on their own terms,\" she added. Analysis by BBC Pakistan correspondent Ilyas Khan Qandeel Baloch made headlines long before her murder shocked the country. Once, she offered on Facebook to \"strip for the nation\" if Pakistan beat India in cricket. Then she posted selfies with a known cleric, Mufti Abdul Qavi, in styles that conveyed intimacy. So when she was killed, many - including her family - pointed fingers at Mufti Qavi. This was despite Qandeel's brother admitting on camera that he did it all by himself. He did retract that statement during the trial - saying it was given under duress - which may be the reason he avoided capital punishment. He can appeal the judgment on the same ground. But while there may be a sense of relief among quarters sensitive to human and women's rights, the twists and turns that afflicted Qandeel's parents are a sad reflection of life in rural Pakistan. Qandeel Baloch was Pakistan's first social media star. She was born Fouzia Azeem, and came from a poor family in a town about 400km (248 miles) south-west of Lahore. Often dubbed the Kim Kardashian of Pakistan, she had hundreds of thousands of followers on social media. She posted images and videos of herself twerking and singing, breaking strict taboos in socially conservative Pakistan. As she became popular, she was paid to promote products on her social media accounts and appeared in music videos. Following her rise to fame in 2014, it emerged that she had been married as a teenager and had a child. But she claimed her husband was a \"savage man\" who abused her and she fled with her son, residing for some time in a refuge. However, she was unable to support the baby and returned him to her husband, who has always denied treating her badly. By 2015, she was named one of the top 10 Googled people in Pakistan. As she continued uploading controversial posts, she was warned by her digital branding consultant that she was going too far. Junaid Qasi told the Guardian that she refused to listen. Ms Baloch was invited to meet Mufti Abdul Qavi in Karachi during the holy month of Ramadan. She posted selfies with him to her social media accounts. In one image, she is wearing his signature sheepskin cap. He was criticised for behaving inappropriately by associating with a disreputable woman. He was humiliated and his membership of a religious committee revoked. Soon after, Ms Baloch was found dead in her bed. Her brother Waseem said he drugged and then strangled her \"for dishonouring\" the family name. According to the World Economic Forum, Pakistan is the second worst country in the world in terms of gender parity. Women hold fewer than 7% of managerial positions. Early marriage remains a serious issue in Pakistan, with 21% of girls in the country marrying before the age of 18, and 3% marrying before 15. More than five million primary school age children in Pakistan are not in school, most of them are girls, according to Human Rights Watch. There were 35,935 female suicides between 2014 and 2016 according to figures by White Ribbon Pakistan.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 968, "answer_end": 2015, "text": "At the court in Multan, there were scenes of celebration over the acquittals - and tears over the conviction. Photos shared on social media show Mufti Qavi being showered in rose petals as he left court, his supporters overjoyed with the verdict. Meanwhile, Ms Baloch's mother wept tears for her son. \"He is innocent,\" Anwar Mai told reporters before the sentence was handed down. She and her husband tried to free Waseem last month, saying they forgave their son for killing their daughter. Online, there was anger for Ms Baloch. Many described their reaction to the verdict as \"bittersweet\", and expressed fear that - despite the conviction - things may not change for women in Pakistan. \"It took three years to get a judgement for her brother,\" Sanam Maher - the author of a book on Ms Qandeel - tweeted. \"I wonder how long it will take us to recognise that we shouldn't let ourselves off the hook, that our social structure is rotten & works against people like #Qandeel who wish to make something of themselves on their own terms,\" she added."}], "question": "What was the reaction?", "id": "467_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2882, "answer_end": 3988, "text": "Qandeel Baloch was Pakistan's first social media star. She was born Fouzia Azeem, and came from a poor family in a town about 400km (248 miles) south-west of Lahore. Often dubbed the Kim Kardashian of Pakistan, she had hundreds of thousands of followers on social media. She posted images and videos of herself twerking and singing, breaking strict taboos in socially conservative Pakistan. As she became popular, she was paid to promote products on her social media accounts and appeared in music videos. Following her rise to fame in 2014, it emerged that she had been married as a teenager and had a child. But she claimed her husband was a \"savage man\" who abused her and she fled with her son, residing for some time in a refuge. However, she was unable to support the baby and returned him to her husband, who has always denied treating her badly. By 2015, she was named one of the top 10 Googled people in Pakistan. As she continued uploading controversial posts, she was warned by her digital branding consultant that she was going too far. Junaid Qasi told the Guardian that she refused to listen."}], "question": "Who was Qandeel Baloch?", "id": "467_1"}]}]}, {"title": "Australia and New Zealand to pursue 'TPP 12 minus one'", "date": "24 January 2017", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Australia and New Zealand say they are hopeful of pressing ahead with the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal, despite America's formal withdrawal. The US-led 12-nation agreement was set to cover 40% of the world's economic output. Pulling out of the TPP was one of Mr Trump's first executive orders and fulfils a long-held campaign promise. Australia has already devised a name for a possible new agreement: TPP 12 Minus One. The country's trade minister Steve Ciobo said Australia would not abandon the TPP just because it would require \"a little bit of elbow grease\" to keep it alive. Meanwhile China, which was not part of the deal, hinted it may look to take advantage of TTP's collapse saying it was in favour of \"open and transparent regional economic arrangements\". The trade agreement was negotiated by former US President Barack Obama and was aimed at deepening economic ties between its member countries, which were Japan, Malaysia, Vietnam, Singapore, Brunei, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Mexico, Chile and Peru. So what now for these countries - and indeed for China? Australia, among other nations, is looking for ways to salvage the TPP without the US. Mr Ciobo was in Switzerland last week to discuss new deals at the World Economic Forum in Davos. \"I've had conversations with Canada, with Mexico, with Japan, with New Zealand, with Singapore, Malaysia,\" he told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) from New York on Monday. \"I know that there's been conversations that have been had with Chile and with Peru. So there's quite a number of countries that have an interest in looking to see if we can make a TPP 12 minus one work,\" he said. Mr Ciobo also said the original architecture of the TPP was designed to enable other countries to join. \"Certainly I know that Indonesia has expressed a possible interest and there would be scope for China if we were able to reformulate it to be a TPP 12 minus one for countries like Indonesia or China or indeed other countries to consider joining and to join in order to get the benefits that flow as a consequence,\" he said. New Zealand Prime Minister Bill English has said he is hopeful of keeping a free trade deal alive with remaining members of the TPP agreement, while the country's trade minister Todd McClay told local media he expected TPP ministers would meet in the coming months to navigate a way forward. Like his Australian counterpart, Mr McClay said he had met with a number of TPP member countries in Davos. \"New Zealand's economy depends upon fair access to overseas markets. We will continue to advocate for the benefits of trade liberalisation on the world stage,\" he said. The country is also looking to hammer out bilateral deals with other countries and has recently been to the Middle East, promoting key New Zealand products including dairy. Last week, Mr McClay confirmed New Zealand and Sri Lanka would move ahead with discussions on new trade and investment opportunities, including a free trade agreement between the two countries. And the minister has said trade relations with the UK are in good shape, with an agreement in place to try and ensure there is no disruption to bilateral trade between New Zealand and Britain in the wake of Brexit. Any hope of resurrecting the TPP will surely depend on Japan, the world's third largest economy. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has reinforced his trust in President Trump's leadership and said he hopes to continue talks with the US around free trade. \"I believe President Trump understands the importance of free and fair trade, so I'd like to pursue his understanding on the strategic and economic importance of the TPP trade pact,\" said Mr Abe during a parliament session on Monday. Japan's finance minister Taro Aso reiterated this stance on Tuesday and told reporters that plans were being put in place for Mr Abe to visit the US and meet Mr Trump. Trade Minister Hiroshige Seko said he would now be closely watching for any changes to the North American Free Trade Agreement (Nafta) - which includes Canada, Mexico and the US - and how that might impact Japanese companies. China, which was left out of the TPP deal, has its eye on its own regional trade pacts. It has suggested a Free Trade Area of the Asia Pacific and is supportive of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), which could see a free trade deal between countries including Australia, China, India, Japan, South Korea and New Zealand. In Davos, President Xi Jinping defended the notion of free trade and said protectionism was akin to \"locking oneself in a dark room\". The Chinese leader's comments were widely viewed as a reference to Mr Trump's \"America first\" policies and a clear signal that Beijing saw the move as an opportunity to play an even larger role in world trade - filling the vacuum left by the US. At a press conference on Tuesday, a Beijing spokesman avoided answering questions about whether China would look to join the TPP. China had been advocating open transparent trade routes in the Pacific region \"along with win win solutions,\" he said. \"We believe in regional economic integration. We are for open and transparent regional economic arrangements.  The economies of the Asia Pacific region are diverse. It's important to behave in a open way. We're ready to work with all sides to provide impetus for the Asia Pacific and the global economy.\"", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 4122, "answer_end": 5398, "text": "China, which was left out of the TPP deal, has its eye on its own regional trade pacts. It has suggested a Free Trade Area of the Asia Pacific and is supportive of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), which could see a free trade deal between countries including Australia, China, India, Japan, South Korea and New Zealand. In Davos, President Xi Jinping defended the notion of free trade and said protectionism was akin to \"locking oneself in a dark room\". The Chinese leader's comments were widely viewed as a reference to Mr Trump's \"America first\" policies and a clear signal that Beijing saw the move as an opportunity to play an even larger role in world trade - filling the vacuum left by the US. At a press conference on Tuesday, a Beijing spokesman avoided answering questions about whether China would look to join the TPP. China had been advocating open transparent trade routes in the Pacific region \"along with win win solutions,\" he said. \"We believe in regional economic integration. We are for open and transparent regional economic arrangements.  The economies of the Asia Pacific region are diverse. It's important to behave in a open way. We're ready to work with all sides to provide impetus for the Asia Pacific and the global economy.\""}], "question": "China: Left out in the cold, is Beijing now rejoicing?", "id": "468_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Schools 'should help children with social media risk'", "date": "4 January 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Schools should play a bigger role in preparing children for social media's emotional demands as they move from primary to secondary school, England's children's commissioner says. Anne Longfield said she was worried many pupils at that stage became anxious about their identity and craved likes and comments for validation. Her study said children aged eight to 12 found it hard to manage the impact. The government said it was working with schools on online safety education. The report into the effects of social media on eight to 12-year-olds claimed many children were over-dependent on \"likes\" and comments for social validation. It said children approach a \"cliff-edge\" as they move from primary to secondary school, when social media becomes more important in their lives. The report spoke to 32 children in eight focus groups, aged eight to 12, and found some saying: - \"If I got 150 likes, I'd be like, 'that's pretty cool, it means they like you'\" - Aaron, 11 - \"I just edit my photos to make sure I look nice\" - Annie, 11 - \"My mum takes pictures of me on Snapchat... I don't like it when your friends and family take a picture of you when you don't want them to\" - Hassan, eight - \"I saw a pretty girl and everything she has I want, my aim is to be like her\" - Bridie, 11 Ms Longfield called on schools and parents to prepare children emotionally for the \"significant risks\" of social media as they move schools and meet new classmates - many of whom have their own phones. \"It's really when they hit secondary school that all of these things come together,\" she told BBC News. \"They find themselves chasing likes, chasing validation, being very anxious about their appearance online and offline and feeling that they can't disconnect - because that will be seen as socially damaging.\" Although most social media platforms have a minimum age limit of 13, the report said three-quarters of children aged 10 to 12 already had accounts. Ms Longfield said social media provided \"great benefits\" to children but was also exposing them to \"significant risks emotionally\". She suggested compulsory digital literacy and online resilience lessons for year six and seven pupils, so that they learn about the \"emotional side of social media\". Parents should also prepare their children, she said, by helping them \"navigate the emotional rollercoaster\" of the negative aspects of social media. Ella Brookbanks, mother to nine-year-old Sophie and 15-year-old Bradley, said her teenage son is \"expected\" to be on social media. \"He seems to want to buy things in order to take pictures of it to send to his friends to show that he has these type of things,\" she told BBC News. \"It's a recognition thing - 'look what I have, look what I can get, like me'.\" She says her daughter \"doesn't see that side of it just yet\" but worries Sophie will experience the negative side to social media when she starts secondary school. Parent Trevor said his 12-year-old twin daughters had moved schools as a result of the pressure from social media, but admits they \"can't walk away\" from it. He told BBC Radio 5 live: \"I can't say to them, 'You can't use that,' when I use it.\" He said teachers lacked the skills to educate children and said the approach by politicians was \"disappointing\". Matthew Reed, chief executive of the Children's Society, urged parents to have \"open conversations\" with their children about the sites and apps they use. \"This can include looking through their 'friends' lists together and finding out how their child knows different people,\" he said. \"Check their privacy settings and get children to think about what information and photos they are comfortable with others having access to.\" Tony Stower, the NSPCC's head of child safety online, said regular conversations would mean children felt able to turn to their parents if they had worries or concerns. \"It's worth reassuring children that people often present rose-tinted versions of their lives on social media, and they shouldn't feel pressured to lead the 'perfect' life, or to look a certain way,\" he said. Grace Barrett, co-founder of children's mental health charity the Self-Esteem Team, said it largely fell to parents to teach their children about social media. \"Teachers can't be equipped to do everything,\" she said. \"We should be helping young people understand that their value lies outside of 'likes' and outside of what they look like.\"", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 3274, "answer_end": 4420, "text": "Matthew Reed, chief executive of the Children's Society, urged parents to have \"open conversations\" with their children about the sites and apps they use. \"This can include looking through their 'friends' lists together and finding out how their child knows different people,\" he said. \"Check their privacy settings and get children to think about what information and photos they are comfortable with others having access to.\" Tony Stower, the NSPCC's head of child safety online, said regular conversations would mean children felt able to turn to their parents if they had worries or concerns. \"It's worth reassuring children that people often present rose-tinted versions of their lives on social media, and they shouldn't feel pressured to lead the 'perfect' life, or to look a certain way,\" he said. Grace Barrett, co-founder of children's mental health charity the Self-Esteem Team, said it largely fell to parents to teach their children about social media. \"Teachers can't be equipped to do everything,\" she said. \"We should be helping young people understand that their value lies outside of 'likes' and outside of what they look like.\""}], "question": "What can parents do?", "id": "469_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Austria chancellor calls for snap election after corruption scandal", "date": "19 May 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz has called a snap election following the collapse of his coalition government over a corruption scandal. The move came after Vice-Chancellor Heinz-Christian Strache resigned after secret footage emerged showing him talking to an alleged Russian investor. Mr Kurz's centre-right People's Party has been in government with Mr Strache's far-right Freedom Party. Austria's president recommended that elections should be held in September. \"This new beginning should take place quickly, as quickly as the provisions of the Federal Constitution permit, so I plead for elections... in September,\" President Alexander van der Bellen said on Sunday. On Saturday Mr Kurz said this was not the first time he had had difficulties with the party. \"Even if I didn't express myself publicly at the time, there were many situations that I found difficult to swallow,\" he said. \"After yesterday's video, I must say quite honestly: Enough is enough. \"The serious part of this [video] was the attitude towards abuse of power, towards dealing with taxpayers' money, towards the media in this country,\" Mr Kurz said, adding that he had been personally insulted in the footage. Mr Strache blamed his actions on alcohol and acting like a \"teenager\", saying his behaviour had been \"stupid\" and \"irresponsible\", and that he was leaving to avoid further damage to the government. Analysis by Bethany Bell, BBC News, Vienna The Freedom Party is one of Europe's best-established populist, nationalist parties. But while it is skilled in opposition, frequently gaining over 20% of the vote, its record is much more patchy when it comes to staying in power. In 2002, early elections had to be called when its coalition with the conservatives fell apart. In 2005, the party split over internal disagreements. Other European populist parties will be watching the Freedom Party's next steps closely. This scandal, which comes just a week before the EU elections, is likely to be a blow to attempts by Italy's Matteo Salvini to forge an alliance of nationalist European parties. The Freedom Party, once seen as an example to be emulated, could now serve as a warning. It was published by German media on Friday, but it is not known who recorded it. Neither is it clear who set up the meeting, which allegedly took place at a villa on the Spanish island of Ibiza in July 2017. The video shows Mr Strache and Johann Gudenus - also a Freedom Party politician - relaxing on sofas, drinking and talking to a woman who claims to be a wealthy Russian national looking to invest in Austria. In the footage, the woman offers to buy a 50% stake in Austria's Kronen-Zeitung newspaper and switch its editorial position to support the Freedom Party. In exchange, Mr Strache said he could award her public contracts, explaining that he wanted to \"build a media landscape like [Victor] Orban\", a reference to Hungary's prime minister, described by critics as an authoritarian leader. The vice-chancellor also speculates that the Russian's takeover of Kronen-Zeitung could boost support for the party to as much as 34%. \"If you take over the Kronen Zeitung three weeks before the election and get us into first place, then we can talk about everything,\" Mr Strache said. As part of the deal, he suggests the Russian woman \"set up a company like Strabag\", the Austrian construction firm. \"All the government orders that Strabag gets now, [you] would get,\" he continues. Mr Strache also names several journalists who would have to be \"pushed\" from the newspaper, and five other \"new people whom we will build up\".", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 2169, "answer_end": 3596, "text": "It was published by German media on Friday, but it is not known who recorded it. Neither is it clear who set up the meeting, which allegedly took place at a villa on the Spanish island of Ibiza in July 2017. The video shows Mr Strache and Johann Gudenus - also a Freedom Party politician - relaxing on sofas, drinking and talking to a woman who claims to be a wealthy Russian national looking to invest in Austria. In the footage, the woman offers to buy a 50% stake in Austria's Kronen-Zeitung newspaper and switch its editorial position to support the Freedom Party. In exchange, Mr Strache said he could award her public contracts, explaining that he wanted to \"build a media landscape like [Victor] Orban\", a reference to Hungary's prime minister, described by critics as an authoritarian leader. The vice-chancellor also speculates that the Russian's takeover of Kronen-Zeitung could boost support for the party to as much as 34%. \"If you take over the Kronen Zeitung three weeks before the election and get us into first place, then we can talk about everything,\" Mr Strache said. As part of the deal, he suggests the Russian woman \"set up a company like Strabag\", the Austrian construction firm. \"All the government orders that Strabag gets now, [you] would get,\" he continues. Mr Strache also names several journalists who would have to be \"pushed\" from the newspaper, and five other \"new people whom we will build up\"."}], "question": "What do we know about the video?", "id": "470_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Holey Artisan cafe: Bangladesh Islamists sentenced to death for 2016 attack", "date": "27 November 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Seven Islamists have been sentenced to death for a 2016 attack on a cafe in the Bangladeshi capital in which 22 people, mostly foreigners, were killed. The attack on the Holey Artisan cafe in Dhaka was carried out by a group of five men, who took diners hostage. Eight people were on trial, accused of planning the attack and supplying weapons. One man was acquitted. The 12-hour siege was Bangladesh's deadliest Islamist attack. Most of the victims were Italian or Japanese. The attack was claimed by the Islamic State (IS) group, but Bangladesh disputed this, instead holding a local militant group responsible. All of the gunmen were killed by police. Since the attack, Bangladesh authorities have led a brutal crackdown on militants it sees as a destabilising force in the predominantly Muslim country. Public prosecutor Golam Sarwar Khan, speaking after the verdict was delivered, said the charges against the accused \"were proved beyond any doubt\". \"The court gave them the highest punishment,\" the prosecutor told reporters. A defence lawyer said the seven men would appeal. Death sentences in Bangladesh are carried out by hanging. The wife of Robiul Islam, a policeman killed in the attack, said she hoped the death sentence would be carried out as soon as possible. \"In our society, it is really difficult for a widow to live with two kids. But I'll consider myself lucky because I've been showered with respect and support. My husband died for his country and is considered a martyr,\" Umme Salma told BBC Bengali. The seven convicted men were accused of belonging to Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB), a home-grown Islamist group outlawed in the country. Sentencing the men in Dhaka, the judge said they wanted to undermine public safety and create anarchy. Some of the men shouted \"Allahu Akbar\" (an Arabic phrase meaning \"God is greatest\") as they were led away from the packed courtroom, AFP news agency reported. A security cordon was put in place outside the court, with hundreds of armed police officers surrounding the building. One of the suspected masterminds of the attack, Nurul Islam Marzan, was killed in a shootout with anti-terrorism police in January 2017, authorities said. On the evening of 1 July 2016, five gunmen burst into the Holey Artisan cafe in the upmarket Gulshan district of Dhaka. Armed with assault rifles and machetes, the young attackers opened fire and took diners hostage at gun-point. The attack saw victims inside the cafe, most of whom were foreigners, shot or hacked to death by the militants. Army commandos were called in after two police officers died trying to fight the militants. After a 12-hour stand-off, the commandos stormed the building and rescued 13 hostages, killing all five militants behind the attack. The casualties included nine Italians, seven Japanese, an American and an Indian. Family members and friends of the victims had gathered in the vicinity, anxiously waiting for news. Bangladesh Army Brig Gen Naim Asraf Chowdhury said the victims had been \"brutally\" attacked with sharp weapons. \"It was an extremely heinous act,\" Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said in a televised address at the time. \"What kind of Muslims are these people? They don't have any religion.\" A police investigation found 21 militants in total were involved in carrying out and planning the attack, the Daily Star newspaper reported. Five were killed during the attack, eight in later anti-militant operations, the paper said. At least 80 suspected militants were killed and more than 300 people arrested during a wave of operations that followed the attack. Before that there had been a string of deadly attacks on secular writers, bloggers and members of religious minorities. The Bangladeshi government repeatedly denied international jihadist groups, such as IS and al-Qaeda, were behind these attacks, usually blaming the JMB instead. But security forces were subjected to intense criticism for failing to prevent the violence. The Holey Artisan cafe attack - claimed by IS - galvanised the country's security agencies into action. However there have been persistent worries over the authorities' tactics. The UN and others have accused the security forces of enforced disappearances, extra-judicial killings and use of torture. Analysis by Akbar Hossain, BBC Bengali, Dhaka The Holey Artisan cafe attack prompted massive anti-terror operations across the country. And there were huge human rights concerns over how the operations were conducted. The government claims it dismantled Islamist militant groups. The security forces and spy agencies in Bangladesh purchased sophisticated equipment to track militant activities over the internet. Security analysts recognise the government has successfully contained militancy - but it's not thought to have been completely uprooted. A recent picture released by the Islamic State group showed several young Bangladeshis expressing their support for the extremists' new leadership after US forces killed its former leader, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 3477, "answer_end": 4283, "text": "At least 80 suspected militants were killed and more than 300 people arrested during a wave of operations that followed the attack. Before that there had been a string of deadly attacks on secular writers, bloggers and members of religious minorities. The Bangladeshi government repeatedly denied international jihadist groups, such as IS and al-Qaeda, were behind these attacks, usually blaming the JMB instead. But security forces were subjected to intense criticism for failing to prevent the violence. The Holey Artisan cafe attack - claimed by IS - galvanised the country's security agencies into action. However there have been persistent worries over the authorities' tactics. The UN and others have accused the security forces of enforced disappearances, extra-judicial killings and use of torture."}], "question": "How did the authorities respond?", "id": "471_0"}]}]}, {"title": "'I was sexually abused by a shaman at an ayahuasca retreat'", "date": "16 January 2020", "paragraphs": [{"context": "The psychedelic powers of a traditional Amazonian plant medicine called ayahuasca are attracting more and more tourists. It's said to bring spiritual enlightenment and to help with addiction, depression and trauma. But a string of allegations suggests there's a darker side to the ayahuasca scene. Rebekah first tried ayahuasca on a \"complete whim\" when she was travelling in Peru in 2015. \"I thought it sounded interesting and I thought I might as well give it a try,\" says Rebekah, a New Zealander in her 20s who asked the BBC not to use her surname. \"So I found a retreat centre that I felt was good and I just went for it and it was amazing.\" Ayahuasca can induce visions of things like serpents, palaces, and alien beings - and bring up long-forgotten memories. Like many who've drunk the brew, Rebekah has a wide-eyed distant look as she reminisces about the experience. \"It was like being guided very gently and very kindly through some really awful experiences that I'd had in the past,\" Rebekah says. \"And returning back home after that, I felt like my relationships were a lot stronger. I felt it was a lot easier to share and receive love. \"They do say that ayahuasca is like 20 years of psychotherapy. And I completely believe that.\" Ayahuasca is usually taken in ceremonies at night, led by a healer - sometimes called a shaman. He or she will drink the sticky brown liquid - a brew of two Amazonian plants - then dole out helpings to the participants. It's been used by tribes in the Amazon region for centuries but now there's a boom in what's become known as \"ayahuasca tourism\", with ever more specialist retreat centres opening. Travellers often come for help dealing with mental health problems - and a growing body of scientific research suggests ayahuasca could be an effective treatment. About half an hour or so into a ceremony, the medicine takes its effect and the healer will start singing sacred chants, known as icaros, which guide the participants through their visions. Drinkers usually \"purge\" during ceremonies too, vomiting and sometimes getting diarrhoea as well. When Rebekah went on her first ayahuasca retreat, she was the only single woman there and noticed that the male healer was paying her special attention. \"How he treated me was very different, which I didn't find suspicious at the time. But upon reflection, now I do.\" A year later, by now a more experienced ayahuasca drinker, Rebekah returned to the same retreat in Peru. The same healer was leading the ceremonies. Once again, she says, she was treated differently from everyone else. There was a lot of flattery. Then the healer began confiding in Rebekah. \"He constantly told me that he had a lot of troubles,\" she says, \"and he said he was having problems with his wife, that he wasn't sexually fulfilled, and that I was the one who was able to cure him of that.\" Rebekah was 20 at the time; the healer in his 50s. \"He also promised me a lot of spiritual advancement or a lot of spiritual power, if we had a relationship - while his wife was down the road.\" - Listn to Simon Maybin and Josephine Casserly's documentary Ayahuasca: Fear and Healing in the Amazon  on BBC Sounds Rebekah says the healer sexually abused her, coercing her into sexual acts. \"It's disgusting,\" she says. \"Because he was a shaman, I thought he had moral superiority in a sense and I trusted him.\" After she was abused, Rebekah left the centre - and the country: \"I booked a flight and got the hell out of there.\" She was left with a tangle of painful emotions: \"Disgust, repulsion, betrayal - confusion, as well as to why a guide would do this, why a teacher would do this and why they would exploit their power like that.\" Rebekah's alleged abuser is still the head shaman at his centre - which gets five-star ratings on review sites. \"He is still there,\" Rebekah says, clearly deeply angered by the situation. Her hands are visibly shaking. \"There are other centres that I know of as well that are still operating. There've been multiple women that have been sexually abused in these centres.\" Experiences of sexual abuse seem to be widespread in this world. We've heard numerous allegations against numerous healers and read many testimonies of sexual abuse on online forums. One name that comes up repeatedly is Guillermo Arevalo, a well-known healer who's been honoured by the Peruvian Congress for his work on sustainable development. \"He came to Canada many times,\" says a woman in her 40s whom we're calling Anna. \"It was quite lucrative - big ceremonies. They'd fill up fast, people paying C$300 (PS175) to come and sit with Guillermo. He had kind of a status. It was an honour to sit in ceremony with him.\" Anna, who had long been interested in alternative medicine, hoped ayahuasca might help her deal with her addiction to heroin. At first, she was impressed by Arevalo. \"Like a lot of people, you're flabbergasted by the man's presence and power and ability to lead the ceremony - it's quite profound,\" she says. \"The chanting. He is a good healer.\" But a ceremony about seven years ago dramatically changed Anna's opinion. \"It was completely pitch black, the room had no windows. There were a lot of people. \"I was under the effects of the medicine. When you're under the effects there's lots of different sounds. People are crying, verbalising things that make no sense at all, purging or moaning. \"Even if I had been able to say something, nobody would respond.\" Anna was having a difficult time. She recalls lying down, moaning and groaning. \"Guillermo came and he sat with me and at first it was a sense of relief because I think I'm going to get some help,\" she says. \"He started to chant to me and put his hands on my stomach over my clothing which is normal. And then he put his hands down my pants. And there's this sense of feeling frozen. I lay there in fear and then he put his hands up my shirt and felt around my breasts.\" She remembers thinking: \"'What the heck was that all about?' Just a sense of disbelief and confusion.\" It's taken six years for Anna to feel able to speak out about what happened to her. \"Women are conditioned to accept this behaviour. For myself, coming from a history of addiction - and I've had abusive relationships with men that I've tolerated in my life - and a history of childhood sexual abuse, there's a sense of familiarity there, of normalcy. \"And also this weird co-dependent relationship for me where the medicine was helping me so I didn't want to speak up because I was afraid I would be ostracised from the community and then I would be kind of cut off from the medicine.\" While preliminary scientific studies have suggested that ayahuasca could have therapeutic benefits, it contains DMT, which is illegal in the UK, and there are potential risks. A 2015 report found six volunteers with depression showed a decrease in symptoms after taking it. A separate study two years later indicated that it held promise as a treatment for eating disorders. Psychologists have also speculated that it could help those with PTSD. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office warns that some people have \"suffered serious illnesses and in some cases death\" after taking part in ayahuasca ceremonies. It points out that retreats are typically some distance from populated areas and that while some have basic medical facilities, others do not. Could ayahuasca have health benefits? Around the same time, a group calling themselves Ayahuasca Community Awareness Canada - which included senior academics - put their names to a letter about Arevalo's behaviour and circulated it within the ayahuasca scene. The letter-writers say they took action because of the number of complaints made against the healer, citing reports of non-consensual or inappropriate sexual behaviour. When further named signatories were added to the letter in 2015 and it was made public, Arevalo stopped visiting Canada to lead ayahuasca ceremonies. But when we track him down it seems he's been active all around the world in the intervening years and is now based at a retreat centre in Peru. The place used to be called Anaconda but when we're there has its first group of foreign guests under a new name, Bena Shinan. They're milling around in a dining room behind us when we put the allegations of sexual abuse to Arevalo, a slight 71-year-old with silver hair and gold teeth. \"I don't accept the allegations because they're not true,\" he says firmly. \"Because sometimes people just imagine these things.\" He says he's heard about the letter by members of the Canadian ayahuasca community, but has never read it. \"It doesn't interest me because the allegations aren't true,\" he says. \"It doesn't bother me because I don't think an allegation's going to kill me.\" The claims against him, he says, are \"the imaginings of the unwell person\". \"When you touch someone who's been abused or raped, they think you're the same. That's what happens. That's how I make sense of it.\" When we put Anna's specific allegation to him, he says he doesn't remember ever touching a patient during a ceremony in Canada, saying she too must have imagined it. \"What else is he going to do other than just lie and deny it,\" Anna responds. \"Otherwise he would have to step up and take responsibility and be accountable for the way he has acted.\" What about his claim that she just imagined the sexual assault? \"It sounds like gaslighting to me, really,\" she says. \"That's what it feels like.\" Although Arevalo denies having sexually abused anyone, he does admit that healers working under him have had sex with \"unwell people\". He says he no longer works with those healers, but that in some cases it was the patients who initiated the relationships. \"Western women, when they come, they're also seeking out healers,\" he says. Anna's experience with ayahuasca and abuse doesn't end with Guillermo Arevalo. Despite her experiences with him, she didn't want to give up the benefits she received from the brew and continued taking it under the guidance of other healers. She says that in 2014 she was raped in ayahuasca ceremonies in Peru by a healer who is a member of Arevalo's extended family. She says again she \"just froze\" and \"let him do whatever he wanted to me\". \"I think he probably raped me four or five times and I noticed he was doing it to other people.\" Afterwards, Anna says she was in shock. She doesn't remember much about that period of her life. \"I started to develop symptoms of psychosis and ended up relapsing and becoming addicted to fentanyl and overdosed and almost died. I think I really blamed myself for a long time - why I couldn't say no, why I couldn't move, why I let him do those things. Those were the things that were going through my mind.\" We've spoken to another guest who was at the same retreat as Anna, who says the healer was later sacked from the centre, because of allegations made by other clients. We're not naming him because, despite our best efforts, we haven't been able to reach him to give him the chance to respond to the allegations. Emily Sinclair, a British doctoral student researching ayahuasca, is part of a group trying to raise awareness about the problem of sexual abuse in the ayahuasca world. Working with the Chacruna Institute, an organisation set up to share research on plant medicines and psychedelics, Sinclair helped put together the Ayahuasca Community Guide for the Awareness of Sexual Abuse. The guidelines highlight typical scenarios in which abuse happens. They also encourage people to drink with trusted companions and to research retreats by checking out review websites before they visit. Sinclair has been distributing the little green booklet to cafes, tourism offices and ayahuasca centres in the Iquitos area of Peru, known as the hub of ayahuasca tourism. \"A lot of abuse we've found occurs in the context of individual healings where a woman might be asked to remove her clothes unnecessarily,\" she says. \"And when she's in this unfamiliar context, she doesn't know if that's normal or not.\" Sinclair points out that it's not just indigenous healers abusing Westerners. \"Abuse happens across cultures and within them,\" she says. \"But one of the big problems is that a lot of people who come here romanticise shamans. So we put them on a pedestal. And it's very easy for that image to be taken advantage of. \"There's also assumptions that some of the people here may have about Western women and culture.\" Some of the red flags Sinclair warns people to watch out for echo Rebekah's experience. \"If he's overly touchy with you, he tells you his wife doesn't mind him having sex with other women, he encourages pacts of silence and secrecy between you, he says he wants to teach you 'love magic'. This kind of thing. And also that having sex with them will increase their power and energy. These are all things that have been reported to us as being said to women in this context.\" Those affected by sexual abuse understandably find it difficult to talk about openly. On top of that, there's a strong sense within the ayahuasca world that any kind of negative publicity could result in government intervention, which creates an additional pressure to stay silent. But Rebekah and Anna are speaking out because they hope it will prevent other women being abused. \"I think the only thing we can do is just speak out about it and talk about it,\" Rebekah says, \"make sure people know that it's happening.\" Rebekah says that after she was abused there's been \"a lot of sadness and a lot of therapy\". It's been hard work for her to trust a healer again, but now she's back in Peru, taking ayahuasca and researching her master's thesis on indigenous medicine. \"Regardless of everything that happened, obviously ayahuasca's great,\" Rebekah laughs, \"because I keep going back to it.\"", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 6618, "answer_end": 7404, "text": "While preliminary scientific studies have suggested that ayahuasca could have therapeutic benefits, it contains DMT, which is illegal in the UK, and there are potential risks. A 2015 report found six volunteers with depression showed a decrease in symptoms after taking it. A separate study two years later indicated that it held promise as a treatment for eating disorders. Psychologists have also speculated that it could help those with PTSD. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office warns that some people have \"suffered serious illnesses and in some cases death\" after taking part in ayahuasca ceremonies. It points out that retreats are typically some distance from populated areas and that while some have basic medical facilities, others do not. Could ayahuasca have health benefits?"}], "question": "Risks and benefits?", "id": "472_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Nobel Peace Prize for anti-rape activists Nadia Murad and Denis Mukwege", "date": "5 October 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "The 2018 Nobel Peace Prize has gone to campaigners against rape in warfare, Nadia Murad and Denis Mukwege. Ms Murad is an Iraqi Yazidi who was tortured and raped by Islamic State militants and later became the face of a campaign to free the Yazidi people. Dr Mukwege is a Congolese gynaecologist who, along with his colleagues, has treated tens of thousands of victims. Some 331 individuals and organisations were nominated for the prestigious peace award this year. The winners announced in the Norwegian capital Oslo on Friday won the award for their \"efforts to end the use of sexual violence as a weapon of war\", Berit Reiss-Andersen, the Nobel committee chair, said. The pair both made a \"crucial contribution to focusing attention on, and combating, such war crimes\", Ms Reiss-Andersen added. Ms Murad, 25, said in a statement that many Yazidis would \"look upon this prize and think of family members that were lost, are still unaccounted for, and of the 1,300 women and children, which remain in captivity\". \"For myself, I think of my mother, who was murdered by DAESH [IS], the children with whom I grew up, and what we must do to honour them,\" she added. \"Persecution of minorities must end. We must work together with determination - to prove that genocidal campaigns will not only fail, but lead to accountability for the perpetrators and justice for the survivors.\" New Iraqi President Barham Saleh called the award \"an honour for all Iraqis who fought terrorism and bigotry\". Dr Mukwege was operating at his hospital when he heard he had won the prize. \"I was in the operating room so when they started to make noise around [it] I wasn't really thinking about what was going on, and suddenly some people came in and told me the news,\" he told Norwegian newspaper VG. He dedicated his award to all women affected by sexual violence. \"This Nobel prize is a recognition of the suffering and the failure to adequately compensate women who are victims of rape and sexual violence in all countries around the world,\" he told reporters gathered outside his clinic. Ms Murad did not just lose her mother in the genocide. She endured three months as a sex slave at the hands of IS militants. She was bought and sold several times and subjected to sexual and physical abuse during her captivity. After escaping, she became an activist for the Yazidi people, campaigning to help put an end to human trafficking and calling on the world to take a tougher line on rape as a weapon of war. Ms Murad described her escape in a BBC interview in 2016, detailing how the women who were held captive were treated by IS. She was awarded the Vaclav Havel Human Rights Prize by the Council of Europe in 2016 and called for an international court to judge crimes committed by IS in her acceptance speech in Strasbourg. Ms Murad, the first Iraqi to win the award, was named the UN's first goodwill ambassador for survivors of human trafficking later that year. He has spent decades helping rape victims in the Democratic Republic of Congo. He and his colleagues are said to have treated about 30,000 rape victims, developing great expertise in the treatment of serious injuries sustained during sex assaults that were carried out as a weapon of war. The 63-year-old has won a number of international prizes, including the 2008 UN Human Rights Prize, and was named African of the Year in 2009. He lives under the permanent protection of UN peacekeepers at his hospital and has also previously called for a tougher line on rape as a weapon of war. It was in 1999 that our first rape victim was brought into the hospital. After being raped, bullets had been fired into her genitals and thighs. I thought that was a barbaric act of war but the real shock came three months later. Forty-five women came to us with the same story, they were all saying: \"People came into my village and raped me, tortured me.\" Other women came to us with burns. They said that after they had been raped, chemicals had been poured on their genitals. I started to ask myself what was going on. These weren't just violent acts of war, but part of a strategy. You had situations where multiple people were raped at the same time, publicly - a whole village might be raped during the night. In doing this, they hurt not just the victims but the whole community, which they force to watch. The result of this strategy is that people are forced to flee their villages, abandon their fields, their resources, everything. It's very effective. Earlier this week the Nobel prize for physics was awarded to Donna Strickland, only the third woman winner of the award and the first in 55 years. The Canadian was honoured along with Arthur Ashkin, from the US, and Gerard Mourou, from France. The Nobel prize for medicine was awarded to two scientists - Professor James P Allison from the US and Professor Tasuku Honjo from Japan - who discovered how to fight cancer using the body's immune system. For chemistry, the prize was awarded to three scientists for their discoveries in enzyme research. Americans Frances Arnold and George P Smith shared the prize with Briton Gregory Winter - Eligible nominators from around the world can put forward candidates up to 1 February of the award year, while Nobel Committee members have more time - All nominations are reviewed by the committee - whose five members are chosen by the Norwegian parliament - before a shortlist of 20-30 candidates is selected - A group of Norwegian and international advisers writes individual reports on the shortlisted candidates. Using these and further reports, the committee narrows the selection down to a handful - A decision is reached in the last meeting of the committee, usually in late September or early October, before the prize is announced - If a unanimous decision cannot be reached, a simple majority vote is used - After the announcement, the award ceremony takes place on 10 December, the date of Alfred Nobel's death - Previous winners include figures such as Nelson Mandela, Martin Luther King Jr, Mother Theresa and the Dalai Lama - Last year the prize was won by the anti-nuclear weapons group International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons, a coalition of NGOs whose work has highlighted the humanitarian risk of such weapons", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 799, "answer_end": 2070, "text": "Ms Murad, 25, said in a statement that many Yazidis would \"look upon this prize and think of family members that were lost, are still unaccounted for, and of the 1,300 women and children, which remain in captivity\". \"For myself, I think of my mother, who was murdered by DAESH [IS], the children with whom I grew up, and what we must do to honour them,\" she added. \"Persecution of minorities must end. We must work together with determination - to prove that genocidal campaigns will not only fail, but lead to accountability for the perpetrators and justice for the survivors.\" New Iraqi President Barham Saleh called the award \"an honour for all Iraqis who fought terrorism and bigotry\". Dr Mukwege was operating at his hospital when he heard he had won the prize. \"I was in the operating room so when they started to make noise around [it] I wasn't really thinking about what was going on, and suddenly some people came in and told me the news,\" he told Norwegian newspaper VG. He dedicated his award to all women affected by sexual violence. \"This Nobel prize is a recognition of the suffering and the failure to adequately compensate women who are victims of rape and sexual violence in all countries around the world,\" he told reporters gathered outside his clinic."}], "question": "How have the winners reacted?", "id": "473_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2071, "answer_end": 2948, "text": "Ms Murad did not just lose her mother in the genocide. She endured three months as a sex slave at the hands of IS militants. She was bought and sold several times and subjected to sexual and physical abuse during her captivity. After escaping, she became an activist for the Yazidi people, campaigning to help put an end to human trafficking and calling on the world to take a tougher line on rape as a weapon of war. Ms Murad described her escape in a BBC interview in 2016, detailing how the women who were held captive were treated by IS. She was awarded the Vaclav Havel Human Rights Prize by the Council of Europe in 2016 and called for an international court to judge crimes committed by IS in her acceptance speech in Strasbourg. Ms Murad, the first Iraqi to win the award, was named the UN's first goodwill ambassador for survivors of human trafficking later that year."}], "question": "Who is Nadia Murad?", "id": "473_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2949, "answer_end": 3533, "text": "He has spent decades helping rape victims in the Democratic Republic of Congo. He and his colleagues are said to have treated about 30,000 rape victims, developing great expertise in the treatment of serious injuries sustained during sex assaults that were carried out as a weapon of war. The 63-year-old has won a number of international prizes, including the 2008 UN Human Rights Prize, and was named African of the Year in 2009. He lives under the permanent protection of UN peacekeepers at his hospital and has also previously called for a tougher line on rape as a weapon of war."}], "question": "Who is Denis Mukwege?", "id": "473_2"}]}]}, {"title": "Red panda cub escapee from Belfast Zoo found", "date": "28 January 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "A rare red panda which escaped from Belfast Zoo has been found \"safe and well\". Amber was discovered in a garden in Collinbridge, Newtownabbey, less than a mile from the zoo. She had escaped from her enclosure on Sunday afternoon and was first sighted later that day at 17:30 GMT. The cub, which was born in June and is now almost an adult size, was found on Monday after a spot of sightseeing in the city. \"We are pleased to report that Amber has been safely returned to Belfast Zoo after a short time exploring the local area,\" said the zoo's manager, Alyn Cairns. \"We would like to thank all of those involved in the search for our missing red panda. We received several calls from local residents who reported sightings which helped the search team to track its location.\" Red pandas are an endangered species and slightly larger than a domestic cat. Belfast Zoo has a family of four red pandas and the escapee received a full health check by the zoo vet as soon as she returned home. \"Amber is in good health but continues to be observed,\" the zoo's statement said. The zoo's manager added that staff discovered \"a power fault\" in an electric fence in red panda habitat shortly after Amber went missing. \"Our maintenance team were informed at the earliest opportunity and the fence has since been repaired,\" Mr Cairns said. \"Safety and security of our animals is of paramount importance so we will continue to monitor this to ensure there are no further incidents.\" When the animal went missing, police said it was believed to be \"taking in the sights of beautiful Glengormley\". They warned motorists to be vigilant as \"our curious friend has not yet learned the green cross code\". While they are not aggressive by nature, they may be defensive when cornered. Amber and her sister Autumn were born as a result of a breeding programme at the zoo in Cavehill, north Belfast. last June. Their parents met after dad Chris was brought all the way from Beekse Bergen Safari Park in the Netherlands and mum Vixen came from Germany's Dresden Zoo. The animal is native to the Himalayas in Bhutan, Southern China, Pakistan, India, Laos, Nepal and Burma. It is also known as \"lesser\" panda or \"firefox\". Red pandas spend most of their time in the trees - their sharp claws make them agile climbers and they use their long, striped tails for balance. They feed mainly on bamboo but also fruit, eggs, small birds and insects. The russet-coloured animals are mainly active from dusk to dawn. They are rare and are classified as endangered by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 2044, "answer_end": 2588, "text": "The animal is native to the Himalayas in Bhutan, Southern China, Pakistan, India, Laos, Nepal and Burma. It is also known as \"lesser\" panda or \"firefox\". Red pandas spend most of their time in the trees - their sharp claws make them agile climbers and they use their long, striped tails for balance. They feed mainly on bamboo but also fruit, eggs, small birds and insects. The russet-coloured animals are mainly active from dusk to dawn. They are rare and are classified as endangered by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature."}], "question": "The lesser panda?", "id": "474_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Canada's Justin Trudeau cannot say how often he wore blackface", "date": "19 September 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Canada's PM Justin Trudeau has said he cannot remember how often he wore blackface as a younger man, as a scandal deepened ahead of an election. He was speaking after more images of him wearing black make-up when he was younger emerged. \"I am wary of being definitive about this because of the recent pictures that came out, I had not remembered,\" he told reporters in Winnipeg. The revelations have rattled his campaign in a tight election race. Canadians will go to the polls on 21 October. The images are so embarrassing for the prime minister because he has positioned himself as a champion of social justice, inclusivity and diversity. When his cabinet was sworn in in 2015, half the appointments were women; three were Sikhs and two members were from indigenous communities. A video came to light on Thursday in which he is seen in a white T-shirt and torn jeans, his face and limbs covered in black make-up. In the footage, shot in the 1990s,  he is seen laughing, throwing his hands in the air, sticking his tongue out and pulling faces. Mr Trudeau would have been in his late teens or early 20s at the time. Blackface, which was more prevalent in the past, particularly in the entertainment industry, involves white people painting their faces darker - and is widely condemned as a racist caricature. On Wednesday, the embattled PM apologised for wearing brownface make-up at a gala at a private Vancouver school where he taught nearly two decades ago. A 2001 yearbook picture obtained by Time Magazine shows Mr Trudeau, then aged 29, with skin-darkening make-up on his face and hands, at the West Point Grey Academy. Mr Trudeau dressed up in the photo in an Aladdin costume. Another photo has emerged showing Mr Trudeau, then a high school student, performing in a talent show, again wearing blackface. He was singing Day-O, a Jamaican folk song popularised by American civil rights activist Harry Belafonte. In Winnipeg on Thursday, the prime minister made his second appearance before reporters since the scandal broke. He said: \"Darkening your face, regardless of the context or the circumstances, is always unacceptable because of the racist history of blackface. \"I should have understood that then and I never should have done it.\" Mr Trudeau said he had let a lot of people down. \"I come to reflect on that and ask for forgiveness.\" He said that failing to realise how hurtful his actions were could have resulted from \"a massive blind spot\" due to his privileged background. Mr Trudeau has also been phoning Liberal candidates to apologise for his conduct. Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan, interviewed by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC), said what Mr Trudeau did was wrong but pointed to his policies on promoting diversity. Liberal MP Omar Alghabra told CBC his \"heart sank\" at the images. \"He's been a champion to combat against the type of pain this picture is causing,\" he said. The leader of the opposition Conservatives, Andrew Scheer, speaking on Thursday, dismissed Mr Trudeau's apology as \"not real\". \"He was specifically asked if there were other instances where he engaged in this type of racist behaviour and he indicated that there was only one other incident and now we know there are at least three.\" New Democratic Party leader Jagmeet Singh, a Sikh, said on Wednesday that the image was \"troubling\" and \"insulting\". Residents of Toronto approached by the BBC seemed fairly unfazed by controversy. \"I really don't think it's a big deal,\" one woman said. But another woman was disappointed: \"At the same time I recognise that many of us, especially we white people, have to take a hard look at the things we have done in our past that are racist.\" One man said: \"It's an awful long time ago. Maybe just look at what he does now instead of what he did when he was in his 20s.\" But one Ottawa resident, when asked if she found the images offensive, said: \"I do.\" Mustafa Farooq, executive director of the National Council of Canadian Muslims, said: \"Seeing the prime minister in brownface/blackface is deeply saddening. The wearing of blackface/brownface is reprehensible, and hearkens back to a history of racism and an Orientalist mythology which is unacceptable.\" The images have brought a strong response in Canadian media. The photos undermine perceptions of who Mr Trudeau \"really is\", a Canadian Broadcasting Corporation commentator says.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 781, "answer_end": 1309, "text": "A video came to light on Thursday in which he is seen in a white T-shirt and torn jeans, his face and limbs covered in black make-up. In the footage, shot in the 1990s,  he is seen laughing, throwing his hands in the air, sticking his tongue out and pulling faces. Mr Trudeau would have been in his late teens or early 20s at the time. Blackface, which was more prevalent in the past, particularly in the entertainment industry, involves white people painting their faces darker - and is widely condemned as a racist caricature."}], "question": "What are the latest images?", "id": "475_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1310, "answer_end": 1918, "text": "On Wednesday, the embattled PM apologised for wearing brownface make-up at a gala at a private Vancouver school where he taught nearly two decades ago. A 2001 yearbook picture obtained by Time Magazine shows Mr Trudeau, then aged 29, with skin-darkening make-up on his face and hands, at the West Point Grey Academy. Mr Trudeau dressed up in the photo in an Aladdin costume. Another photo has emerged showing Mr Trudeau, then a high school student, performing in a talent show, again wearing blackface. He was singing Day-O, a Jamaican folk song popularised by American civil rights activist Harry Belafonte."}], "question": "What about the other episodes?", "id": "475_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1919, "answer_end": 2574, "text": "In Winnipeg on Thursday, the prime minister made his second appearance before reporters since the scandal broke. He said: \"Darkening your face, regardless of the context or the circumstances, is always unacceptable because of the racist history of blackface. \"I should have understood that then and I never should have done it.\" Mr Trudeau said he had let a lot of people down. \"I come to reflect on that and ask for forgiveness.\" He said that failing to realise how hurtful his actions were could have resulted from \"a massive blind spot\" due to his privileged background. Mr Trudeau has also been phoning Liberal candidates to apologise for his conduct."}], "question": "How did Trudeau respond?", "id": "475_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2575, "answer_end": 4387, "text": "Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan, interviewed by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC), said what Mr Trudeau did was wrong but pointed to his policies on promoting diversity. Liberal MP Omar Alghabra told CBC his \"heart sank\" at the images. \"He's been a champion to combat against the type of pain this picture is causing,\" he said. The leader of the opposition Conservatives, Andrew Scheer, speaking on Thursday, dismissed Mr Trudeau's apology as \"not real\". \"He was specifically asked if there were other instances where he engaged in this type of racist behaviour and he indicated that there was only one other incident and now we know there are at least three.\" New Democratic Party leader Jagmeet Singh, a Sikh, said on Wednesday that the image was \"troubling\" and \"insulting\". Residents of Toronto approached by the BBC seemed fairly unfazed by controversy. \"I really don't think it's a big deal,\" one woman said. But another woman was disappointed: \"At the same time I recognise that many of us, especially we white people, have to take a hard look at the things we have done in our past that are racist.\" One man said: \"It's an awful long time ago. Maybe just look at what he does now instead of what he did when he was in his 20s.\" But one Ottawa resident, when asked if she found the images offensive, said: \"I do.\" Mustafa Farooq, executive director of the National Council of Canadian Muslims, said: \"Seeing the prime minister in brownface/blackface is deeply saddening. The wearing of blackface/brownface is reprehensible, and hearkens back to a history of racism and an Orientalist mythology which is unacceptable.\" The images have brought a strong response in Canadian media. The photos undermine perceptions of who Mr Trudeau \"really is\", a Canadian Broadcasting Corporation commentator says."}], "question": "What reaction has there been?", "id": "475_3"}]}]}, {"title": "Trump-Putin summit: US president under fire over poll meddling comments", "date": "17 July 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "There has been a barrage of criticism in the US after President Donald Trump defended Russia over claims of interference in the 2016 elections. At a summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Finland, Mr Trump contradicted US intelligence agencies, saying Russia had no reason to meddle. The top Republican in Congress, House Speaker Paul Ryan, said Mr Trump must see that \"Russia is not our ally\". The president's own intelligence chief publicly broke with him. Russia is responsible for \"ongoing, pervasive attempts\" to undermine US democracy, Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats said in a statement. Mr Putin denied the claim. On Monday the US and Russian presidents held nearly two hours of one-on-one talks without their advisers in the Finnish capital Helsinki . At a news conference after the summit, he was asked if he believed his own intelligence agencies or the Russian president when it came to allegations of meddling in the election. \"President Putin says it's not Russia. I don't see any reason why it would be,\" he replied. Mr Trump also blamed poor relations with Russia on past US administrations rather than Russian actions. US intelligence agencies concluded in 2016 that Russia was behind an effort to tip the scale of the US election against Hillary Clinton, with a state-authorised campaign of cyber attacks and fake news stories planted on social media. Mr Trump later backtracked, tweeting that he had \"great confidence in my intelligence people\". Badly. In a strongly worded statement, Mr Ryan said: \"There is no moral equivalence between the United States and Russia, which remains hostile to our most basic values and ideals. He added that there was \"no question\" Moscow had interfered in the 2016 election. Senator John McCain, a key member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said it was a \"disgraceful performance\". \"No prior president has ever abased himself more abjectly before a tyrant,\" Mr McCain said in a statement. Another senior Republican, Sen Lindsey Graham, also  a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, tweeted that it was a \"missed opportunity... to firmly hold Russia accountable for 2016 meddling\". In a series of tweets, Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said Mr Trump's actions had \"strengthened our adversaries while weakening our defences and those of our allies\". Former CIA director John Brennan said Mr Trump's news conference \"was nothing short of treasonous\". \"Not only were Trump's comments imbecilic, he is wholly in the pocket of Putin. Republican Patriots: Where are you???\" he tweeted. Meanwhile, Vice-President Mike Pence defended the summit and praised President Trump. Some US politicians had called for the summit to be cancelled after 12 Russian military intelligence agents were indicted last week, accused of hacking Hillary Clinton's election campaign. Speaking at the joint news conference, President Putin offered to allow US investigators to visit Russia to question the officers. In a later interview with Fox News, Mr Putin said it was \"ridiculous\" that some people thought Russia could have influenced the US elections. He said US-Russian relations should not be \"held hostage\" to an internal political struggle in America. Mr Putin also dismissed longstanding reports that Russian intelligence may hold compromising material on Mr Trump. The Russian president said that before the election Mr Trump was just a \"rich person\" and \"of no interest for us\". And Mr Putin accused the UK of making \"ungrounded accusations\" over the recent poisoning of ex-Soviet spy Sergei Skripal and three other people with the \"novichok\" nerve agent. One of those people has since died. Referring to the Skripal case, Mr Putin said Russia had received no evidence about it. \"Nobody gives it to us, he said. \"It's the same thing as the accusations with meddling into the election process in America.\" Analysis by BBC North America reporter Anthony Zurcher With no tangible results from the summit, the two leaders are framing this as the first of many meetings to come. Given the American reaction from across the political spectrum, however, future meetings may be difficult to pull off. After a week abroad, Mr Trump on Monday delivered the coup de grace for what has been a highly disruptive week in US foreign affairs. European allies are uneasy. US-Russia relations are uncertain. And the US political world - and even the White House's own communications team - is unsettled. Mr Putin described the Helsinki meeting as \"candid and useful\" while Mr Trump said there had been \"deeply productive dialogue\". Mr Trump said US-Russia relations had \"never been worse\" than before they met, but that had now changed. Relations between Russia and the West were severely strained by Moscow's annexation of Crimea from Ukraine in 2014 and Russia's support for separatists in eastern Ukraine.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 782, "answer_end": 1485, "text": "At a news conference after the summit, he was asked if he believed his own intelligence agencies or the Russian president when it came to allegations of meddling in the election. \"President Putin says it's not Russia. I don't see any reason why it would be,\" he replied. Mr Trump also blamed poor relations with Russia on past US administrations rather than Russian actions. US intelligence agencies concluded in 2016 that Russia was behind an effort to tip the scale of the US election against Hillary Clinton, with a state-authorised campaign of cyber attacks and fake news stories planted on social media. Mr Trump later backtracked, tweeting that he had \"great confidence in my intelligence people\"."}], "question": "What did President Trump say?", "id": "476_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1486, "answer_end": 2852, "text": "Badly. In a strongly worded statement, Mr Ryan said: \"There is no moral equivalence between the United States and Russia, which remains hostile to our most basic values and ideals. He added that there was \"no question\" Moscow had interfered in the 2016 election. Senator John McCain, a key member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said it was a \"disgraceful performance\". \"No prior president has ever abased himself more abjectly before a tyrant,\" Mr McCain said in a statement. Another senior Republican, Sen Lindsey Graham, also  a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, tweeted that it was a \"missed opportunity... to firmly hold Russia accountable for 2016 meddling\". In a series of tweets, Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said Mr Trump's actions had \"strengthened our adversaries while weakening our defences and those of our allies\". Former CIA director John Brennan said Mr Trump's news conference \"was nothing short of treasonous\". \"Not only were Trump's comments imbecilic, he is wholly in the pocket of Putin. Republican Patriots: Where are you???\" he tweeted. Meanwhile, Vice-President Mike Pence defended the summit and praised President Trump. Some US politicians had called for the summit to be cancelled after 12 Russian military intelligence agents were indicted last week, accused of hacking Hillary Clinton's election campaign."}], "question": "How did it play at home?", "id": "476_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2853, "answer_end": 3885, "text": "Speaking at the joint news conference, President Putin offered to allow US investigators to visit Russia to question the officers. In a later interview with Fox News, Mr Putin said it was \"ridiculous\" that some people thought Russia could have influenced the US elections. He said US-Russian relations should not be \"held hostage\" to an internal political struggle in America. Mr Putin also dismissed longstanding reports that Russian intelligence may hold compromising material on Mr Trump. The Russian president said that before the election Mr Trump was just a \"rich person\" and \"of no interest for us\". And Mr Putin accused the UK of making \"ungrounded accusations\" over the recent poisoning of ex-Soviet spy Sergei Skripal and three other people with the \"novichok\" nerve agent. One of those people has since died. Referring to the Skripal case, Mr Putin said Russia had received no evidence about it. \"Nobody gives it to us, he said. \"It's the same thing as the accusations with meddling into the election process in America.\""}], "question": "What did President Putin say?", "id": "476_2"}]}]}, {"title": "Russian government resigns as Vladimir Putin plans future", "date": "15 January 2020", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Russia's government has resigned, hours after President Vladimir Putin proposed sweeping constitutional changes that could prolong his stay in power. If approved by the public, the proposals would transfer power from the presidency to parliament. Mr Putin is due to step down in 2024 when his fourth term of office comes to an end. But there is speculation he could seek a new role or hold on to power behind the scenes. Mr Putin put forward his plans in his annual state of the nation address to lawmakers. Later, in an unexpected move, Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev announced that the government was resigning to help facilitate the changes. Russian government sources told the BBC that ministers did not know about the government's resignation ahead of the announcement. \"It was a complete surprise,\" one source said. The Russian leader said during a speech to both chambers of parliament that there would be a nationwide vote on changes that would shift power from the presidency to parliament. Constitutional reforms included giving the lower house of parliament, the State Duma, \"greater responsibility\" for the appointment of the prime minister and the cabinet. Currently, the president appoints the prime minister, and the Duma approves the decision. Mr Putin also suggested an increased role for an advisory body called the State Council. The council, which is currently chaired by Mr Putin, comprises the heads of Russia's federal regions. Mr Putin said it had proved to be \"highly effective\". Other measures include: - Limiting the supremacy of international law - Amending the rules that limit presidents to two consecutive terms - Strengthening laws that prohibit presidential candidates who have held foreign citizenship or foreign residency permits Mr Medvedev made his announcement on state television with President Putin sitting next to him. \"These changes, when they are adopted... will introduce substantial changes not only to an entire range of articles of the constitution, but also to the entire balance of power, the power of the executive, the power of the legislature, the power of judiciary,\" Mr Medvedev said of Mr Putin's proposals. \"In this context... the government in its current form has resigned.\" Mr Putin thanked Mr Medvedev for his work but said \"not everything\" had been accomplished. He asked Mr Medvedev to become deputy head of the National Security Council, which is chaired by Mr Putin. The president later nominated tax service chief Mikhail Mishustin to replace Mr Medvedev as prime minister. Mr Medvedev has been prime minister for several years. He previously served as president from 2008-2012, switching roles with Mr Putin - a close ally - after the latter served his first two terms as president. Russia's constitution only allows presidents to serve two consecutive terms. Even when he was prime minister, Mr Putin was widely seen as the power behind then President Medvedev. Opposition leader and leading Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny said he believed that any referendum on the constitutional changes would be \"fraudulent crap\". He said Mr Putin's goal was to be \"sole leader for life\". The last time Russia held a referendum was in 1993 when it adopted the constitution under President Boris Yeltsin, Mr Putin's predecessor. Mr Putin became acting president following Mr Yeltsin's resignation in 1999 and was formally inaugurated a year later. He has held the reins of power - as president or prime minister - ever since. President Putin likes stability. It's his thing. So the newsflash that the entire government had resigned was a big surprise. From the online chatter, it seems even the cabinet ministers didn't see it coming. For a moment it was like a flashback to Russia of the 1990s, when President Yeltsin changed prime ministers as readily as his socks. Vladimir Putin is no Yeltsin, though, and this move looks like part of some bigger plan that's all about consolidating - and extending - his hold on power. Under the current rules, Mr Putin must step down as president in 2024 and it's never been clear what he'd do next. That's still true. But the constitutional tweaks he's proposed are hints at some options. He's bumped up the status of the little-known State Council, which he already heads. Or he could become PM again, now he's slightly weakened the powers of Russia's president. If he is sticking around, perhaps he needs to make that palatable to people given all the social and economic problems he had to list once again in his annual address to the nation. If Mr Putin were to blame for their woes, Russians might well wonder why they should swallow him staying on, post-2024. Dmitry Medvedev - so often useful to Mr Putin - for now looks like a handy scapegoat. In his address to parliament, the president unveiled a series of plans to increase the number of children being born in Russia. Like several Eastern European states, Russia has been struggling with a declining birth rate. Last year Mr Putin promised tax breaks for bigger families. On Wednesday he pledged state funding for new mothers in a bid to increase the number of children being born from an average of fewer than 1.5 per woman to 1.7 within four years. So-called \"maternity capital\" has until now only been paid to families with at least two children. Welfare benefits will also be paid for children aged three to seven in low-income families, and free school meals will be provided for the first four years of school. Russia's population has struggled to recover from a dramatic decline in the 1990s.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1765, "answer_end": 3478, "text": "Mr Medvedev made his announcement on state television with President Putin sitting next to him. \"These changes, when they are adopted... will introduce substantial changes not only to an entire range of articles of the constitution, but also to the entire balance of power, the power of the executive, the power of the legislature, the power of judiciary,\" Mr Medvedev said of Mr Putin's proposals. \"In this context... the government in its current form has resigned.\" Mr Putin thanked Mr Medvedev for his work but said \"not everything\" had been accomplished. He asked Mr Medvedev to become deputy head of the National Security Council, which is chaired by Mr Putin. The president later nominated tax service chief Mikhail Mishustin to replace Mr Medvedev as prime minister. Mr Medvedev has been prime minister for several years. He previously served as president from 2008-2012, switching roles with Mr Putin - a close ally - after the latter served his first two terms as president. Russia's constitution only allows presidents to serve two consecutive terms. Even when he was prime minister, Mr Putin was widely seen as the power behind then President Medvedev. Opposition leader and leading Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny said he believed that any referendum on the constitutional changes would be \"fraudulent crap\". He said Mr Putin's goal was to be \"sole leader for life\". The last time Russia held a referendum was in 1993 when it adopted the constitution under President Boris Yeltsin, Mr Putin's predecessor. Mr Putin became acting president following Mr Yeltsin's resignation in 1999 and was formally inaugurated a year later. He has held the reins of power - as president or prime minister - ever since."}], "question": "What was the response?", "id": "477_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3479, "answer_end": 4744, "text": "President Putin likes stability. It's his thing. So the newsflash that the entire government had resigned was a big surprise. From the online chatter, it seems even the cabinet ministers didn't see it coming. For a moment it was like a flashback to Russia of the 1990s, when President Yeltsin changed prime ministers as readily as his socks. Vladimir Putin is no Yeltsin, though, and this move looks like part of some bigger plan that's all about consolidating - and extending - his hold on power. Under the current rules, Mr Putin must step down as president in 2024 and it's never been clear what he'd do next. That's still true. But the constitutional tweaks he's proposed are hints at some options. He's bumped up the status of the little-known State Council, which he already heads. Or he could become PM again, now he's slightly weakened the powers of Russia's president. If he is sticking around, perhaps he needs to make that palatable to people given all the social and economic problems he had to list once again in his annual address to the nation. If Mr Putin were to blame for their woes, Russians might well wonder why they should swallow him staying on, post-2024. Dmitry Medvedev - so often useful to Mr Putin - for now looks like a handy scapegoat."}], "question": "Part of Putin's bigger plan?", "id": "477_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 4745, "answer_end": 5554, "text": "In his address to parliament, the president unveiled a series of plans to increase the number of children being born in Russia. Like several Eastern European states, Russia has been struggling with a declining birth rate. Last year Mr Putin promised tax breaks for bigger families. On Wednesday he pledged state funding for new mothers in a bid to increase the number of children being born from an average of fewer than 1.5 per woman to 1.7 within four years. So-called \"maternity capital\" has until now only been paid to families with at least two children. Welfare benefits will also be paid for children aged three to seven in low-income families, and free school meals will be provided for the first four years of school. Russia's population has struggled to recover from a dramatic decline in the 1990s."}], "question": "What else did Mr Putin say?", "id": "477_2"}]}]}, {"title": "Thailand cave: Museum and film in the works for Tham Luang", "date": "12 July 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "The cave complex in northern Thailand where 12 boys and their football coach were trapped for more than two weeks is set to be turned into a museum. Rescue officials said the museum would showcase how the operation unfolded, predicting it would be a \"major attraction\" for Thailand. At least two companies are also looking to make a film telling the story of the rescue. The rescued group are all now recovering in hospital. Video has been released showing them in good health and in good spirits, though they will stay in quarantine for a week. The Thai Navy Seals have also published dramatic footage of the operation itself, showing how expert divers navigated the Wild Boar football team through the perilous journey to the surface. On Thursday, the Navy Seals were given flower garlands and an enthusiastic welcome as they arrived at a military airport south of the capital, Bangkok. The Tham Luang cave is one of the largest cave systems in Thailand. It lies under the mountains around the small town of Mae Sai, in northern Chiang Rai province on the border with Myanmar. The area is largely undeveloped with only limited tourism facilities. \"The area will become a living museum, to show how the operation unfolded,\" Narongsak Osottanakorn, the former governor and head of the rescue mission, told a news conference. \"An interactive data base will be set up. It will become another major attraction for Thailand.\" However, Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha has said precautions will have to be implemented both inside and outside the cave to safeguard tourists. It is not clear if the museum will be operational all year round, as Thailand is prone to heavy floods during the monsoon season, which lasts from June until October. It was the sudden onset of that rainy season that trapped the boys deep underground while they were exploring. Two production companies are racing to turn the extraordinary story into a film. Even before all 13 people had been brought out, US studio Pure Flix - which makes inspirational Christian films - had announced its producers were on the ground interviewing rescue workers, Studio co-founder Michael Scott, who lives in Thailand, said his wife had grown up with Saman Gunan, the former Thai Navy Seal member who lost his life during the mission. \"To see all that heroic bravery in the cave, and to get all the divers out, it's just such a touching event and so personal to me,\" he said in a video on Twitter, filmed at the rescue site. But according to Los Angeles-based Ivanhoe Pictures, they have been officially picked by the Thai government and navy to develop the film. US media quoted the company as saying the film would be directed by Jon M Chu. He last partnered with Ivanhoe in directing the forthcoming romantic comedy Crazy Rich Asians. Concerns are already being raised on social media that any film would focus more on the international characters while downplaying the role of Thais. Chu insisted on Twitter that his film would be fair. The 12 boys and their coach first made their way into the cave on 23 June but found themselves trapped after heavy rains caused it to flood. They were found by British divers after nine days and eventually rescued in an operation that involved dozens of divers and hundreds of other rescue workers.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 889, "answer_end": 1846, "text": "The Tham Luang cave is one of the largest cave systems in Thailand. It lies under the mountains around the small town of Mae Sai, in northern Chiang Rai province on the border with Myanmar. The area is largely undeveloped with only limited tourism facilities. \"The area will become a living museum, to show how the operation unfolded,\" Narongsak Osottanakorn, the former governor and head of the rescue mission, told a news conference. \"An interactive data base will be set up. It will become another major attraction for Thailand.\" However, Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha has said precautions will have to be implemented both inside and outside the cave to safeguard tourists. It is not clear if the museum will be operational all year round, as Thailand is prone to heavy floods during the monsoon season, which lasts from June until October. It was the sudden onset of that rainy season that trapped the boys deep underground while they were exploring."}], "question": "What will happen to the cave?", "id": "478_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1847, "answer_end": 3294, "text": "Two production companies are racing to turn the extraordinary story into a film. Even before all 13 people had been brought out, US studio Pure Flix - which makes inspirational Christian films - had announced its producers were on the ground interviewing rescue workers, Studio co-founder Michael Scott, who lives in Thailand, said his wife had grown up with Saman Gunan, the former Thai Navy Seal member who lost his life during the mission. \"To see all that heroic bravery in the cave, and to get all the divers out, it's just such a touching event and so personal to me,\" he said in a video on Twitter, filmed at the rescue site. But according to Los Angeles-based Ivanhoe Pictures, they have been officially picked by the Thai government and navy to develop the film. US media quoted the company as saying the film would be directed by Jon M Chu. He last partnered with Ivanhoe in directing the forthcoming romantic comedy Crazy Rich Asians. Concerns are already being raised on social media that any film would focus more on the international characters while downplaying the role of Thais. Chu insisted on Twitter that his film would be fair. The 12 boys and their coach first made their way into the cave on 23 June but found themselves trapped after heavy rains caused it to flood. They were found by British divers after nine days and eventually rescued in an operation that involved dozens of divers and hundreds of other rescue workers."}], "question": "Hollywood movie?", "id": "478_1"}]}]}, {"title": "Migrant crisis: What next for Germany's asylum seekers?", "date": "14 September 2015", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Germany has become the preferred destination for thousands of people reaching Europe in search of a better life. Some 450,000 asylum seekers have entered Germany already this year and up to a million are expected in 2015 - by far the most in the EU. The government in Berlin has broadly welcomed refugees, relaxing EU rules so that it no longer sends back Syrians to other EU countries. But it introduced temporary border controls on Sunday after admitting that its capacity had been stretched to the limit. Until now, the federal government has insisted it can cope with the high numbers of asylum seekers but wants the burden shared between EU countries. Authorities have been giving assistance to new arrivals at stations in Munich and other German cities before taking them to reception centres. The \"Koenigsteiner Key\" is used to distribute asylum seekers across Germany's 16 federal states, calculated according to their tax revenue and their population. For example, North-Rhine Westphalia, Germany's most populous state, will be expected to take 21% of all asylum seekers, while Thuringia, the focus of several attacks on asylum accommodation, is set to receive under 3%. With a huge build-up of asylum seekers in the Bavarian city of Munich, and reception centres apparently reaching capacity, authorities in affected states have been calling for the federal government in Berlin to do more. Bavarian Interior Minister Joachim Herrmann told radio station Bayern 2 that stricter controls were needed because \"many en route here are not really refugees\". \"It's got about in the last few days that you are successful if everyone claims to be Syrian,\" he added. The dispute has seen Chancellor Angela Merkel come under increasing pressure particularly from political allies in the Christian Social Union (CSU), which has ruled Bavaria, Germany's wealthiest state, for nearly 60 years. State Premier Horst Seehofer described the decision to open the borders as \"a mistake that will occupy us for a long time\". German Vice Chancellor Sigmar Gabriel told Tagesspiegel newspaper on Sunday that the problem was \"not the number of refugees but the rapidity at which they arrived\". He said \"Europe's inaction in the refugee crisis had driven Germany... to the limit of its capacity\". The government ordered police to begin checking travel documents on Sunday from anyone entering from the southern frontier with Austria, and federal police set up roadblocks on motorway networks. Rail services to Munich were affected by the changes, too. German Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere said the border controls would remain in place until further notice. \"The aim of this measure is to limit the current influx to Germany and to return to orderly entry procedures,\" he said. \"This is also urgently necessary for security reasons.\" The move goes against the principle of the Schengen zone, which allows free movement between many European countries. However, the Schengen agreement does allow for temporary suspensions. There have been warnings that the restrictions could make conditions worse for the thousands of migrants continuing to make the perilous journey across Europe to Germany. \"These measures will not create more order but only much more chaos,\" said Katrin Goering-Eckhardt, the parliamentary leader of the opposition Greens, according to Reuters. But the government argues that the new measures will not affect the rights of refugees coming to Germany. The temporary border controls were introduced hours before an emergency meeting of European interior ministers and Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere said they were \"a signal to Europe\". \"Germany is facing up to its humanitarian responsibility, but the burdens connected with the large number of refugees must be distributed in solidarity,\" he said. EU ministers were to vote on a May 2015 plan to redistribute an initial 40,000 asylum seekers from Syria and Eritrea through mandatory quotas. The EU has since raised the total number of people it seeks to share out through quotas to 160,000 asylum seekers across 23 EU states. But Germany says this still is not enough. Speaking in the German parliament last week, the vice chancellor described the plans as \"a first step, if one wants to be polite\". \"Or you could call it a drop in the ocean.\" An application for asylum is made at the reception centre on arrival, where personal details, fingerprints and photographs (for those over 14) are taken. A temporary permission to stay is granted. The asylum seeker will then be invited to an interview to decide his or her case. The current average time from application to decision is 5.3 months, according to the German government. If granted refugee status, a residence permit for three years will be granted. After this time a permanent residence permit can be applied for. Germany designates all EU states plus Ghana, Senegal, Serbia, Macedonia and Bosnia-Herzegovina as \"safe countries of origin\" - which means that asylum claims from nationals of these countries are likely to be rejected. On 7 September the government announced that Kosovo, Albania and Montenegro would be added to this list. Asylum seekers normally stay at reception centres for up to six weeks. After that they are offered either communal accommodation, or housed individually, depending on the policy of the federal state. People who are unable to support themselves financially \"receive what they need for their day-to-day life\", the German government says. Support varies from state to state, but generally includes non-cash benefits covering food and accommodation costs, plus limited spending money. After being in the country for three months, asylum seekers can apply for permission to start work, subject to various restrictions. Anyone given a residence permit has unrestricted access to the labour market after four years. No - Germany has a long and complicated history of population movement. After Germany's defeat in World War Two, millions of ethnic Germans were forced to leave areas of Poland, former Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Romania and Russia and resettle in West and East Germany. The booming economy of post-war West Germany required more workers, and huge numbers of \"guest workers\" arrived from Mediterranean countries such as Italy, Spain and - most significantly - Turkey. Communist East Germany also took on temporary workers from \"fraternal socialist countries\", including North Vietnam, Cuba and Mozambique, although most returned after German reunification. In 1991 the country enacted laws enabling Jews from the former Soviet Union to move to Germany - more than 200,000 Jewish people and their families immigrated in this way. Around 350,000 people fleeing the Bosnian conflict were given temporary refuge in Germany in the 1990s, but most have since left. In total, 20.3% of Germany's population now have \"a migration background\" - the term German officialdom uses to describe immigrants or their children. But Germany's population is shrinking, due to its low birth rate, and it has been argued that it needs migrants to keep its economy going.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 508, "answer_end": 1179, "text": "Until now, the federal government has insisted it can cope with the high numbers of asylum seekers but wants the burden shared between EU countries. Authorities have been giving assistance to new arrivals at stations in Munich and other German cities before taking them to reception centres. The \"Koenigsteiner Key\" is used to distribute asylum seekers across Germany's 16 federal states, calculated according to their tax revenue and their population. For example, North-Rhine Westphalia, Germany's most populous state, will be expected to take 21% of all asylum seekers, while Thuringia, the focus of several attacks on asylum accommodation, is set to receive under 3%."}], "question": "How is Germany handling the arrivals?", "id": "479_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1180, "answer_end": 2281, "text": "With a huge build-up of asylum seekers in the Bavarian city of Munich, and reception centres apparently reaching capacity, authorities in affected states have been calling for the federal government in Berlin to do more. Bavarian Interior Minister Joachim Herrmann told radio station Bayern 2 that stricter controls were needed because \"many en route here are not really refugees\". \"It's got about in the last few days that you are successful if everyone claims to be Syrian,\" he added. The dispute has seen Chancellor Angela Merkel come under increasing pressure particularly from political allies in the Christian Social Union (CSU), which has ruled Bavaria, Germany's wealthiest state, for nearly 60 years. State Premier Horst Seehofer described the decision to open the borders as \"a mistake that will occupy us for a long time\". German Vice Chancellor Sigmar Gabriel told Tagesspiegel newspaper on Sunday that the problem was \"not the number of refugees but the rapidity at which they arrived\". He said \"Europe's inaction in the refugee crisis had driven Germany... to the limit of its capacity\"."}], "question": "What has changed?", "id": "479_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2282, "answer_end": 3463, "text": "The government ordered police to begin checking travel documents on Sunday from anyone entering from the southern frontier with Austria, and federal police set up roadblocks on motorway networks. Rail services to Munich were affected by the changes, too. German Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere said the border controls would remain in place until further notice. \"The aim of this measure is to limit the current influx to Germany and to return to orderly entry procedures,\" he said. \"This is also urgently necessary for security reasons.\" The move goes against the principle of the Schengen zone, which allows free movement between many European countries. However, the Schengen agreement does allow for temporary suspensions. There have been warnings that the restrictions could make conditions worse for the thousands of migrants continuing to make the perilous journey across Europe to Germany. \"These measures will not create more order but only much more chaos,\" said Katrin Goering-Eckhardt, the parliamentary leader of the opposition Greens, according to Reuters. But the government argues that the new measures will not affect the rights of refugees coming to Germany."}], "question": "What is Germany doing about it?", "id": "479_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3464, "answer_end": 4311, "text": "The temporary border controls were introduced hours before an emergency meeting of European interior ministers and Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere said they were \"a signal to Europe\". \"Germany is facing up to its humanitarian responsibility, but the burdens connected with the large number of refugees must be distributed in solidarity,\" he said. EU ministers were to vote on a May 2015 plan to redistribute an initial 40,000 asylum seekers from Syria and Eritrea through mandatory quotas. The EU has since raised the total number of people it seeks to share out through quotas to 160,000 asylum seekers across 23 EU states. But Germany says this still is not enough. Speaking in the German parliament last week, the vice chancellor described the plans as \"a first step, if one wants to be polite\". \"Or you could call it a drop in the ocean.\""}], "question": "What does Germany want to happen?", "id": "479_3"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 4312, "answer_end": 5163, "text": "An application for asylum is made at the reception centre on arrival, where personal details, fingerprints and photographs (for those over 14) are taken. A temporary permission to stay is granted. The asylum seeker will then be invited to an interview to decide his or her case. The current average time from application to decision is 5.3 months, according to the German government. If granted refugee status, a residence permit for three years will be granted. After this time a permanent residence permit can be applied for. Germany designates all EU states plus Ghana, Senegal, Serbia, Macedonia and Bosnia-Herzegovina as \"safe countries of origin\" - which means that asylum claims from nationals of these countries are likely to be rejected. On 7 September the government announced that Kosovo, Albania and Montenegro would be added to this list."}], "question": "Who is given asylum in Germany?", "id": "479_4"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 5164, "answer_end": 5872, "text": "Asylum seekers normally stay at reception centres for up to six weeks. After that they are offered either communal accommodation, or housed individually, depending on the policy of the federal state. People who are unable to support themselves financially \"receive what they need for their day-to-day life\", the German government says. Support varies from state to state, but generally includes non-cash benefits covering food and accommodation costs, plus limited spending money. After being in the country for three months, asylum seekers can apply for permission to start work, subject to various restrictions. Anyone given a residence permit has unrestricted access to the labour market after four years."}], "question": "What about accommodation and money?", "id": "479_5"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 5873, "answer_end": 7118, "text": "No - Germany has a long and complicated history of population movement. After Germany's defeat in World War Two, millions of ethnic Germans were forced to leave areas of Poland, former Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Romania and Russia and resettle in West and East Germany. The booming economy of post-war West Germany required more workers, and huge numbers of \"guest workers\" arrived from Mediterranean countries such as Italy, Spain and - most significantly - Turkey. Communist East Germany also took on temporary workers from \"fraternal socialist countries\", including North Vietnam, Cuba and Mozambique, although most returned after German reunification. In 1991 the country enacted laws enabling Jews from the former Soviet Union to move to Germany - more than 200,000 Jewish people and their families immigrated in this way. Around 350,000 people fleeing the Bosnian conflict were given temporary refuge in Germany in the 1990s, but most have since left. In total, 20.3% of Germany's population now have \"a migration background\" - the term German officialdom uses to describe immigrants or their children. But Germany's population is shrinking, due to its low birth rate, and it has been argued that it needs migrants to keep its economy going."}], "question": "Is this the first time Germany has dealt with such mass migration?", "id": "479_6"}]}]}, {"title": "Qatar row: Al Jazeera hits back over closure demands", "date": "23 June 2017", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Qatari-funded media network Al Jazeera has hit back at Arab states' calls for it to be closed down. The demands were an attempt to \"silence freedom of expression\", it said. Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Bahrain have imposed severe sanctions on Qatar, and sent a list of 13 demands it must meet before sanctions are lifted. They also want Qatar to reduce ties with Iran and close a Turkish military base - all within 10 days. It comes after more than two weeks of unprecedented diplomatic and economic sanctions in what is the worst political crisis among Gulf countries in decades. Qatar, which sought to raise its profile in recent years, denies accusations that it is funding terrorism and fostering instability. In a statement, Al Jazeera said, \"We assert our right to practise our journalism professionally without bowing to pressure from any government or authority.\" Qatar crisis deepens as Gulf allies dig in Why Qatar is the focus of terrorism claims Five surprising facts about Qatar Qatari Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani said earlier that it would not negotiate until the punitive measures were lifted. He also denied his country supported \"any terrorist organisation\". Anwar Gargash, the UAE's state minister for foreign affairs, tweeted: \"It would be prudent [for Qatar] to take the demands and concerns of its neighbours seriously. Alternatively, the reality is divorce.\" According to the Associated Press news agency, which obtained a copy of the list, Qatar must also: - Sever all ties with the Muslim Brotherhood, which is banned in other Arab states - Refuse to naturalise citizens from the four countries and expel those currently on its territory, in what the countries describe as an effort to keep Qatar from meddling in their internal affairs - Hand over all individuals who are wanted by the four countries for terrorism - Stop funding any extremist entities that are designated as terrorist groups by the US - Provide detailed information about opposition figures whom Qatar has funded, ostensibly in Saudi Arabia and the other nations - Align itself politically, economically and otherwise with the Gulf Co-operation Council - Stop funding other news outlets in addition to Al Jazeera, including Arabi21 and Middle East Eye - Pay an unspecified sum in compensation An unnamed official from one of the four countries told Reuters news agency that Qatar was also being asked to sever links with so-called Islamic State, al-Qaeda and Lebanese Shia militant group Hezbollah. According to the document seen by AP, Qatar is being asked to shut down diplomatic posts in Iran, expel any members of Iran's elite Revolutionary Guard and only conduct trade with Iran that complies with US sanctions. The demands have not been officially unveiled. Their publication has increased the friction between the two sides. Mr Gargash accused Qatar of leaking the details, saying it was \"an attempt to abort the mediation in a childish act that we have grown accustomed to from our brother\". The document specifies that both Al Jazeera and all of its affiliates must be shut down. Al Jazeera, which has an English-language branch, is one of the most widely watched Arabic satellite channels. Gulf countries and Saudi Arabia's close ally, Egypt, have long accused the broadcaster of providing a platform for Islamist movements and encouraging dissent - claims the broadcaster has denied. Speaking to the BBC World Service, Jamal al-Shayyal, a senior journalist and spokesman for the award-winning network, said: \"The fact that the claims are being levelled by countries who are directly involved either in the creation or funding of [extremist] organisations is beyond ironic. \"Nobody has shown any evidence of any misdoing by our network that would amount to such a ridiculous accusation.\" He said staff would be continuing to work as normal to defend press freedoms and \"speak truth to power\". Press freedom campaigners have also raised concerns over the proposed shutdown. \"Al Jazeera and press freedom must not be used as a bargaining chip,\" said free speech organisation Index on Censorship. Can Al Jazeera survive Qatar crisis? If 10 days pass and Qatar has failed to comply, the list becomes \"void\", the Reuters source said. It would appear that at least some of the demands are unacceptable to Qatar. Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed said this week his country would not accept any \"foreign dictations\" and \"rejected discussing any matter related to the Al Jazeera channel as it considered it an internal affair\". Turkey has been supplying Qatar with food and other goods by air since the sanctions started, and dispatched its first ship carrying food this week, Reuters reports. Exports from Turkey to the Gulf state have tripled from their normal levels to $32.5m since the sanctions, Turkish Customs and Trade Minister Bulent Tufenkci said on Thursday. Turkish Economy Minister Nihat Zeybekci was quoted as saying that 105 planeloads of supplies had been sent but airlifting supplies was not sustainable in the long run. The Turkish military base in Qatar was set up under an agreement signed in 2014. Two dozen more Turkish soldiers and five armoured cars arrived in Qatar on Thursday, Turkish newspaper Hurriyet reports. Turkey already has some 90 soldiers deployed at the base. Turkish Defence Minister Fikri Isik was quoted by Reuters as saying any demand for the base's closure would represent interference in Ankara's relations with Qatar. Qatar is also supplied by Iran, which sends about 1,100 tonnes of fruit and vegetables each day by sea, Iran's Fars news agency reports. It has also opened its airspace to flights to and from Qatar, which has been banned from using Saudi and other countries' airspace. The list of demands was announced after US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson urged Qatar's neighbours to make their demands \"reasonable and actionable\". Correspondents say there has been frustration in Washington, which is seeking to resolve the dispute, over the time taken by the Saudis and others to formalise their demands. US President Donald Trump has taken a hard line towards Qatar, accusing it of being a \"high level\" sponsor of terrorism. However, the Arab states involved in the crisis are all close allies of the US. The largest US base in the Middle East is in Qatar. Do you live in Qatar? Have you been affected by the sanctions? Let us know by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk You can also contact us in the following ways: - Tweet: @BBC_HaveYourSay - WhatsApp: +447555 173285 - Text an SMS or MMS to +44 7624 800 100 (international) - Please read our terms & conditions", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1438, "answer_end": 3049, "text": "According to the Associated Press news agency, which obtained a copy of the list, Qatar must also: - Sever all ties with the Muslim Brotherhood, which is banned in other Arab states - Refuse to naturalise citizens from the four countries and expel those currently on its territory, in what the countries describe as an effort to keep Qatar from meddling in their internal affairs - Hand over all individuals who are wanted by the four countries for terrorism - Stop funding any extremist entities that are designated as terrorist groups by the US - Provide detailed information about opposition figures whom Qatar has funded, ostensibly in Saudi Arabia and the other nations - Align itself politically, economically and otherwise with the Gulf Co-operation Council - Stop funding other news outlets in addition to Al Jazeera, including Arabi21 and Middle East Eye - Pay an unspecified sum in compensation An unnamed official from one of the four countries told Reuters news agency that Qatar was also being asked to sever links with so-called Islamic State, al-Qaeda and Lebanese Shia militant group Hezbollah. According to the document seen by AP, Qatar is being asked to shut down diplomatic posts in Iran, expel any members of Iran's elite Revolutionary Guard and only conduct trade with Iran that complies with US sanctions. The demands have not been officially unveiled. Their publication has increased the friction between the two sides. Mr Gargash accused Qatar of leaking the details, saying it was \"an attempt to abort the mediation in a childish act that we have grown accustomed to from our brother\"."}], "question": "What are the other demands?", "id": "480_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3050, "answer_end": 4190, "text": "The document specifies that both Al Jazeera and all of its affiliates must be shut down. Al Jazeera, which has an English-language branch, is one of the most widely watched Arabic satellite channels. Gulf countries and Saudi Arabia's close ally, Egypt, have long accused the broadcaster of providing a platform for Islamist movements and encouraging dissent - claims the broadcaster has denied. Speaking to the BBC World Service, Jamal al-Shayyal, a senior journalist and spokesman for the award-winning network, said: \"The fact that the claims are being levelled by countries who are directly involved either in the creation or funding of [extremist] organisations is beyond ironic. \"Nobody has shown any evidence of any misdoing by our network that would amount to such a ridiculous accusation.\" He said staff would be continuing to work as normal to defend press freedoms and \"speak truth to power\". Press freedom campaigners have also raised concerns over the proposed shutdown. \"Al Jazeera and press freedom must not be used as a bargaining chip,\" said free speech organisation Index on Censorship. Can Al Jazeera survive Qatar crisis?"}], "question": "Why is Al Jazeera being targeted?", "id": "480_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 4579, "answer_end": 5782, "text": "Turkey has been supplying Qatar with food and other goods by air since the sanctions started, and dispatched its first ship carrying food this week, Reuters reports. Exports from Turkey to the Gulf state have tripled from their normal levels to $32.5m since the sanctions, Turkish Customs and Trade Minister Bulent Tufenkci said on Thursday. Turkish Economy Minister Nihat Zeybekci was quoted as saying that 105 planeloads of supplies had been sent but airlifting supplies was not sustainable in the long run. The Turkish military base in Qatar was set up under an agreement signed in 2014. Two dozen more Turkish soldiers and five armoured cars arrived in Qatar on Thursday, Turkish newspaper Hurriyet reports. Turkey already has some 90 soldiers deployed at the base. Turkish Defence Minister Fikri Isik was quoted by Reuters as saying any demand for the base's closure would represent interference in Ankara's relations with Qatar. Qatar is also supplied by Iran, which sends about 1,100 tonnes of fruit and vegetables each day by sea, Iran's Fars news agency reports. It has also opened its airspace to flights to and from Qatar, which has been banned from using Saudi and other countries' airspace."}], "question": "Who is helping Qatar?", "id": "480_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 5783, "answer_end": 6362, "text": "The list of demands was announced after US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson urged Qatar's neighbours to make their demands \"reasonable and actionable\". Correspondents say there has been frustration in Washington, which is seeking to resolve the dispute, over the time taken by the Saudis and others to formalise their demands. US President Donald Trump has taken a hard line towards Qatar, accusing it of being a \"high level\" sponsor of terrorism. However, the Arab states involved in the crisis are all close allies of the US. The largest US base in the Middle East is in Qatar."}], "question": "Where is the US in this?", "id": "480_3"}]}]}, {"title": "Florida shooting: At least 17 dead in high school attack", "date": "15 February 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "At least 17 people are dead after a 19-year-old man opened fire at a high school campus in Parkland, Florida. The suspect was Nikolas Cruz, a former student at the school who had been expelled. He escaped with fleeing students but is now in police custody. As the attack unfolded students were forced to hide as police swooped in on the building. It is the deadliest school shooting since 26 people were killed at Connecticut school Sandy Hook in 2012. It is the sixth school shooting incident this year so far that has either wounded or killed students. Broward County Sheriff Scott Israel told reporters Mr Cruz killed three people outside the school, before entering the building and killing another 12. Two people later died after being taken to hospital. \"It's catastrophic. There really are no words,\" Sheriff Israel tweeted later. Three people remain in a critical condition and three others are in stable condition, health officials said. The victims are still being identified. Sheriff Israel said a football coach was among the dead but no names have been released. The attack began at 14:30 local time (19:30 GMT) on Wednesday at the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, about an hour north of Miami. The local public school district tweeted that \"students and staff heard what sounded like gunfire\" just before the end of the day. Witnesses said that the suspect set off a fire alarm before he began shooting. Police and Swat team members swarmed the campus and began clearing students from the school, as parents and ambulances converged on the scene. Mr Cruz, who had been expelled for \"disciplinary reasons\", was taken into custody without incident in the nearby town of Coral Springs about an hour after he left the high school, according to police. Officials gave no details of the reasons for his expulsion but student Victoria Olvera, 17, told the Associated Press it was because of a fight with his ex-girlfriend's new boyfriend. She also said he had been abusive towards the ex-girlfriend. Local media report that Mr Cruz bought his gun, an AR-15, legally and kept it locked away in the house of the family he was staying with, following his adoptive mother's death in November. Neighbours and friends said Mr Cruz was known to shoot at chickens, and talk about shooting lizards, squirrels and frogs. \"We have already begun to dissect his websites and things on social media that he was on and some of the things... are very, very disturbing,\" Sheriff Israel said. The school has nearly 3,000 students. Classes are cancelled for the rest of this week. Many students said they thought it was a drill because a fire alarm practice had taken place shortly before the shooting. Students told US media they hid under desks, in closets or barricaded doors as loud shots rang out. One student, Bailey Vosberg, said: \"I heard what sounded like fireworks and I looked at my friend and he asked me if I heard that.\" \"Immediately, I knew. I didn't say anything to him, I just hopped over the fence and I went straight to the road that our school is located on - and as I got there there was just Swat cars and police units, police vehicles just flying by, helicopters over the top of us.\" Caesar Figueroa, a parent, told CBS News his daughter was hiding in a closet when she called him. He told the news outlet that he told her not to call him because he did not want the gunman to hear her voice. \"It's the worst nightmare not hearing from my daughter for 20 minutes, it was the longest 20 minutes of my life,\" Mr Figeuroa said. A teacher told WSVN that she hid in a closet with 19 students for 40 minutes - and that the school underwent training for such a situation six weeks ago. Florida Senator Marco Rubio tweeted that the shooting was \"designed & executed to maximize loss of life\". But he said that it was too soon to debate whether tighter gun laws could have stopped it. \"You should know the facts of that incident before you run out and prescribe some law that you claim could have prevented it,\" he told Fox News. Florida Governor Rick Scott said the shooting was \"pure evil\", but also refused to be drawn into a discussion about gun control. \"There's a time to continue to have these conversations about how through law enforcement... we make sure people are safe,\" he said. President Donald Trump tweeted his condolences. Congressman Ted Deutch, the district's representative, tweeted: \"I'm sick about this news from home. Just spoke with the sheriff. This is devastating.\" Wednesday's attack is at least the 18th shooting in the US this year on or around school premises, according to research by Everytown for Gun Safety. Since 2013, there have been 291 reported school shootings in America, which averages out to about one per week. This is the worst shooting since 2012, when gunman Adam Lanza attacked Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut. He shot dead 20 young children and six adults before killing himself.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 3707, "answer_end": 4510, "text": "Florida Senator Marco Rubio tweeted that the shooting was \"designed & executed to maximize loss of life\". But he said that it was too soon to debate whether tighter gun laws could have stopped it. \"You should know the facts of that incident before you run out and prescribe some law that you claim could have prevented it,\" he told Fox News. Florida Governor Rick Scott said the shooting was \"pure evil\", but also refused to be drawn into a discussion about gun control. \"There's a time to continue to have these conversations about how through law enforcement... we make sure people are safe,\" he said. President Donald Trump tweeted his condolences. Congressman Ted Deutch, the district's representative, tweeted: \"I'm sick about this news from home. Just spoke with the sheriff. This is devastating.\""}], "question": "What's the reaction been?", "id": "481_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 4511, "answer_end": 4967, "text": "Wednesday's attack is at least the 18th shooting in the US this year on or around school premises, according to research by Everytown for Gun Safety. Since 2013, there have been 291 reported school shootings in America, which averages out to about one per week. This is the worst shooting since 2012, when gunman Adam Lanza attacked Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut. He shot dead 20 young children and six adults before killing himself."}], "question": "How do previous school shootings compare?", "id": "481_1"}]}]}, {"title": "Doomsday Clock frozen at two minutes to apocalypse", "date": "24 January 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "The \"new abnormal\" the world is facing from risks like nuclear war and climate change has led the symbolic Doomsday Clock to be frozen at the closest it has ever been to midnight. The clock, created by the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists (BAS) in 1947, intends to warn of impending disasters. Its 2019 setting was announced on Thursday - staying in the same perilous position it was set at last year. The BAS has warned we are \"normalising a very dangerous world\". It marks only the third year the clock has been so close to midnight - first reaching the position in 1953 after the US and the Soviet Union tested highly destructive hydrogen bombs. In Thursday's announcement in Washington, representatives from the Bulletin said the clock's maintained position was \"bad news indeed\". \"Though unchanged from 2018, this setting should be taken not as a sign of stability but as a stark warning to leaders and citizens around the world,\" BAS President and CEO, Rachel Bronson, said. \"This new abnormal is simply too volatile and too dangerous to accept,\" Ms Bronson warned at the unveiling. Former California governor Jerry Brown, who serves as BAS executive chair, also cautioned: \"We're playing Russian roulette with humanity.\" In the announcement, the bulletin did acknowledge improvements in US-North Korean relations, but also criticised developments like increased carbon emissions from some nations and continued diplomatic schisms across the world. The group cites nuclear weapons and climate change as the two major ongoing threats to mankind - and warned their risks were being \"exacerbated\" by the \"increased use of information warfare to undermine democracy around the world\". Herb Lin, a senior research scholar for cyber policy and security from Stanford University, spoke about the particular risks from \"fake news\" at Thursday's announcement. \"It's a terrible world in which rage and fantasy replace truth,\" he cautioned. When it debuted the clock's hand stood at seven minutes to midnight and it has been reset 23 times since. According to the Bulletin, its design was conceived by artist Martyl Langsdorf. She wanted to illustrate impassioned observations she had heard from scientists about the consequences of the world's first atomic weapons, which they helped develop. Today, the board - made up of physicists and environmental scientists from around the world - decides whether to adjust the clock in consultation with the group's Board of Sponsors, which include Nobel laureates.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 650, "answer_end": 2502, "text": "In Thursday's announcement in Washington, representatives from the Bulletin said the clock's maintained position was \"bad news indeed\". \"Though unchanged from 2018, this setting should be taken not as a sign of stability but as a stark warning to leaders and citizens around the world,\" BAS President and CEO, Rachel Bronson, said. \"This new abnormal is simply too volatile and too dangerous to accept,\" Ms Bronson warned at the unveiling. Former California governor Jerry Brown, who serves as BAS executive chair, also cautioned: \"We're playing Russian roulette with humanity.\" In the announcement, the bulletin did acknowledge improvements in US-North Korean relations, but also criticised developments like increased carbon emissions from some nations and continued diplomatic schisms across the world. The group cites nuclear weapons and climate change as the two major ongoing threats to mankind - and warned their risks were being \"exacerbated\" by the \"increased use of information warfare to undermine democracy around the world\". Herb Lin, a senior research scholar for cyber policy and security from Stanford University, spoke about the particular risks from \"fake news\" at Thursday's announcement. \"It's a terrible world in which rage and fantasy replace truth,\" he cautioned. When it debuted the clock's hand stood at seven minutes to midnight and it has been reset 23 times since. According to the Bulletin, its design was conceived by artist Martyl Langsdorf. She wanted to illustrate impassioned observations she had heard from scientists about the consequences of the world's first atomic weapons, which they helped develop. Today, the board - made up of physicists and environmental scientists from around the world - decides whether to adjust the clock in consultation with the group's Board of Sponsors, which include Nobel laureates."}], "question": "Why has it stayed the same?", "id": "482_0"}]}]}, {"title": "EU referendum: Will Turkey's EU hopes affect UK vote?", "date": "27 April 2016", "paragraphs": [{"context": "The question of whether Turkey and six Balkan countries will join the European Union and, if so, what it will mean for the UK has become a live issue in the EU referendum campaign. Campaigners wanting to leave the EU say such a further enlargement could result in a migration \"free-for-all\" and pose a \"serious and direct threat\" to UK public services. Is there any truth in this? Turkey, Serbia, Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Montenegro, Kosovo and Macedonia all hope to join the European Union. Turkey first approached the European Economic Community - the predecessor to the EU - about membership almost 30 years ago. But progress has been extremely slow. In the case of the others - Macedonia (applied in 2004); Montenegro (2008); Serbia (2009); Albania (2009) - their interest is much more recent. Bosnia only submitted its application earlier this year, while Kosovo has yet to do so officially. Despite the current problems in the EU, membership is still widely coveted. It can bring enormous financial benefits and a fair amount of political prestige, particularly for countries with recent histories of conflict and economic strife. Getting to sit in the room alongside mature democracies and some of the largest economies in the world, when big decisions are taken, is a huge political prize - proven by the fact that EU membership has nearly doubled in the past 15 years. It is impossible to say with any certainty, but the process by which a country applies to join the EU - known as accession - takes years. For Croatia, the newest EU member, which joined the club in 2013, it took eight years. The candidate countries are at different stages and face different obstacles. Detailed negotiations have been taking place with Serbia and Montenegro for several years, while talks with Turkey first began in 2005. Nothing will happen for at least three years, because European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker imposed a five-year moratorium on enlargement in 2014. Seasoned EU-watchers say Montenegro and Serbia are, to coin a phrase, at the front of the queue, while there are major hurdles to overcome with Albania, Bosnia, Kosovo and Macedonia. As for Turkey, the challenges it faces in meeting the membership criteria are so big, and it has become such a thorny issue, that its prospects are receding. In short, yes. Turkey has a customs union with the EU, but its troubled relations with the Republic of Cyprus have always been a unique stumbling block - a situation exacerbated by Cyprus' own admission to the EU in 2004. Turkey would also be the first country with a majority Muslim population to join the EU, in itself a major development. Some see a future advantage for Europe if many young Turkish workers fill jobs, as ageing populations cause the labour force to shrink. But the migrant crisis, caused by the five-year civil war in Syria, has fuelled doubts among those EU politicians who, in principle, have always been in favour of letting Turkey in. More than two million Syrian refugees have fled to Turkey, a country which already had a population of nearly 76 million. EU leaders are desperate to uphold free movement rules, enshrining the right of any EU national to live and work elsewhere in the union. They are nervous that admitting a country of Turkey's size could make this untenable. Under a recent agreement with Turkey to curb the migrant influx to Greece, the EU undertook to \"re-energise\" the stalled accession talks. But there are major concerns about Turkish human rights violations, including curbs on the media and rule of law - all key issues when judging a country's fitness to join the EU. At the same time, economic hardship, Islamist terror and the migrant crisis have fuelled a nationalist backlash in much of Europe, often expressed as hostility to Islam. Leave campaigners have sought to exploit the uncertainty surrounding future enlargement to reinforce one of their key campaign arguments - that EU membership means the UK cannot control who comes into the country. They are warning that the UK will have to help financially under-write the process of preparing Turkey and other countries for joining the EU. And they say it would give an extra 88 million people - that's the combined populations of the seven candidate countries - the right to live and work in the UK under current rules, and the British public might not even be consulted. Prominent Leave figures such as Michael Gove and Iain Duncan Smith have said future enlargement will put an \"unquantifiable strain\" on public services that are already under pressure. As evidence of this, they point to the spike in migration after Poland and nine other countries joined the EU in 2004 - when the option of transitional controls was not taken up - and the fact EU migration is driving the current high levels of net migration above 300,000. Even politicians in favour of EU membership, such as Home Secretary Theresa May, have signalled that further enlargement needs to be reconsidered for countries with \"poor populations and serious problems with organised crime, corruption and sometimes even terrorism\". Successive British government have been, in principle, in support of Turkey joining the EU if it meets the criteria, a position endorsed by David Cameron several times since he became prime minister. But the mood music has definitely changed in recent months. Ministers have emphasised that the UK has the right of veto over future prospective members, while insisting the talks with Turkey and other countries are unlikely to be rushed and, as such, the issue will not come to a head for a while. Last month, George Osborne said a Turkish agreement was \"not on the cards any time soon\" and insisted the UK would not allow any free movement deal with countries which weren't closely aligned in terms of size and prosperity. Pro-EU campaigners have also pointed out that if the UK votes to leave, it will have no say over the matter and could still find itself bound by freedom of movement rules like Norway, which is outside the EU but part of the European Economic Area. Further reading: The UK's EU vote: All you need to know Turkey EU membership 'not on the cards' Cyprus threat to EU-Turkey migrant deal EU enlargement: The next seven", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 381, "answer_end": 1381, "text": "Turkey, Serbia, Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Montenegro, Kosovo and Macedonia all hope to join the European Union. Turkey first approached the European Economic Community - the predecessor to the EU - about membership almost 30 years ago. But progress has been extremely slow. In the case of the others - Macedonia (applied in 2004); Montenegro (2008); Serbia (2009); Albania (2009) - their interest is much more recent. Bosnia only submitted its application earlier this year, while Kosovo has yet to do so officially. Despite the current problems in the EU, membership is still widely coveted. It can bring enormous financial benefits and a fair amount of political prestige, particularly for countries with recent histories of conflict and economic strife. Getting to sit in the room alongside mature democracies and some of the largest economies in the world, when big decisions are taken, is a huge political prize - proven by the fact that EU membership has nearly doubled in the past 15 years."}], "question": "Who wants to join the EU and why?", "id": "483_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1382, "answer_end": 2320, "text": "It is impossible to say with any certainty, but the process by which a country applies to join the EU - known as accession - takes years. For Croatia, the newest EU member, which joined the club in 2013, it took eight years. The candidate countries are at different stages and face different obstacles. Detailed negotiations have been taking place with Serbia and Montenegro for several years, while talks with Turkey first began in 2005. Nothing will happen for at least three years, because European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker imposed a five-year moratorium on enlargement in 2014. Seasoned EU-watchers say Montenegro and Serbia are, to coin a phrase, at the front of the queue, while there are major hurdles to overcome with Albania, Bosnia, Kosovo and Macedonia. As for Turkey, the challenges it faces in meeting the membership criteria are so big, and it has become such a thorny issue, that its prospects are receding."}], "question": "How long will it take?", "id": "483_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2321, "answer_end": 3812, "text": "In short, yes. Turkey has a customs union with the EU, but its troubled relations with the Republic of Cyprus have always been a unique stumbling block - a situation exacerbated by Cyprus' own admission to the EU in 2004. Turkey would also be the first country with a majority Muslim population to join the EU, in itself a major development. Some see a future advantage for Europe if many young Turkish workers fill jobs, as ageing populations cause the labour force to shrink. But the migrant crisis, caused by the five-year civil war in Syria, has fuelled doubts among those EU politicians who, in principle, have always been in favour of letting Turkey in. More than two million Syrian refugees have fled to Turkey, a country which already had a population of nearly 76 million. EU leaders are desperate to uphold free movement rules, enshrining the right of any EU national to live and work elsewhere in the union. They are nervous that admitting a country of Turkey's size could make this untenable. Under a recent agreement with Turkey to curb the migrant influx to Greece, the EU undertook to \"re-energise\" the stalled accession talks. But there are major concerns about Turkish human rights violations, including curbs on the media and rule of law - all key issues when judging a country's fitness to join the EU. At the same time, economic hardship, Islamist terror and the migrant crisis have fuelled a nationalist backlash in much of Europe, often expressed as hostility to Islam."}], "question": "Is Turkey a special case?", "id": "483_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3813, "answer_end": 5127, "text": "Leave campaigners have sought to exploit the uncertainty surrounding future enlargement to reinforce one of their key campaign arguments - that EU membership means the UK cannot control who comes into the country. They are warning that the UK will have to help financially under-write the process of preparing Turkey and other countries for joining the EU. And they say it would give an extra 88 million people - that's the combined populations of the seven candidate countries - the right to live and work in the UK under current rules, and the British public might not even be consulted. Prominent Leave figures such as Michael Gove and Iain Duncan Smith have said future enlargement will put an \"unquantifiable strain\" on public services that are already under pressure. As evidence of this, they point to the spike in migration after Poland and nine other countries joined the EU in 2004 - when the option of transitional controls was not taken up - and the fact EU migration is driving the current high levels of net migration above 300,000. Even politicians in favour of EU membership, such as Home Secretary Theresa May, have signalled that further enlargement needs to be reconsidered for countries with \"poor populations and serious problems with organised crime, corruption and sometimes even terrorism\"."}], "question": "What are those who want to leave the EU saying?", "id": "483_3"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 5128, "answer_end": 6099, "text": "Successive British government have been, in principle, in support of Turkey joining the EU if it meets the criteria, a position endorsed by David Cameron several times since he became prime minister. But the mood music has definitely changed in recent months. Ministers have emphasised that the UK has the right of veto over future prospective members, while insisting the talks with Turkey and other countries are unlikely to be rushed and, as such, the issue will not come to a head for a while. Last month, George Osborne said a Turkish agreement was \"not on the cards any time soon\" and insisted the UK would not allow any free movement deal with countries which weren't closely aligned in terms of size and prosperity. Pro-EU campaigners have also pointed out that if the UK votes to leave, it will have no say over the matter and could still find itself bound by freedom of movement rules like Norway, which is outside the EU but part of the European Economic Area."}], "question": "And what about pro-EU campaigners?", "id": "483_4"}]}]}, {"title": "What to do if your child is overweight", "date": "13 October 2017", "paragraphs": [{"context": "One in ten young people in the UK, aged between five and 19, is obese, according to new research that looks at obesity trends in over 200 countries. It's not always easy to tell if your child is overweight - especially as even slimmer people are heavier than they would have been 10 years ago. Consultant paediatrician Prof Mary Rudolf, who advises the government on obesity, says many parents would not know that \"a healthy 10-year-old's ribs should be clearly visible - many parents would consider that such a child was quite underweight\". The \"most robust\" way is to check their body mass index (BMI) to see if their weight falls within the healthy range for their height - according to the Department of Health. All children in England are measured and weighed for their BMI in reception class (aged four to five) and in year six (aged 10 to 11), under the government's National Child Measurement Programme. Some local authorities send letters informing parents of the result. Generally, the higher the BMI, the greater the risk of medical problems. If your local authority does not do this, you can check your child's BMI using the NHS's BMI calculator - you will need to know their height and weight. Experts believe one of the most powerful ways to encourage your child to eat well and be active is to do so yourself, as children learn by example. Research cited by the NHS in 2009 found that the risk of a girl being obese at the age of eight was significantly raised - a ten-fold increase in fact - if her mother was obese. The risk for a boy was increased six-fold if his father was obese. NHS Choices advises that any changes made to a child's diet and lifestyle are much more likely to be accepted if the changes involve the whole family. Its list of 10 tips includes advice such as eating together at the table, banning sweetened drinks, preparing more meals at home or choosing healthier takeaways. Children are recommended to have 60 minutes of exercise a day - but this does not have to be done all at once. It can be done in several short 10 or five-minute bursts of activity throughout the day. Overweight children do not need to do more exercise than slimmer children, as their extra body weight means they will naturally burn more calories for the same activity. Swapping the car for walking or cycling on small journeys is seen as an easy way to get the whole family moving. Children, like adults, should aim to eat five or more portions of fruit and vegetables every day. Experts say unsweetened 100% fruit juice, vegetable juice and smoothies should only count as one portion of a child's five a day, because of the high level of sugar they contain. They recommend a combined total of no more than 150ml a day - which is one small glass. This is because when fruit is blended or juiced it releases natural sugars which increase the risk of tooth decay, so it is also best to drink fruit juice or smoothies at meal times. The NHS says many children are getting half of their sugar intake from sweetened soft drinks and unhealthy snacks. For example, one can of coke can have up to nine cubes of sugar in it. But the maximum daily amounts of added sugar for children are: - 4-6 years old - 5 cubes of sugar or 19 grams - 7-10 years old - 6 cubes of sugar or 24 grams - over 11 - 7 cubes of sugar or 30 grams There is little official guidance on precisely how much food children require. But experts advise avoiding adult-sized plates for younger children as it encourages them to eat more than they need. Other tips include starting meals with small servings and letting your child ask for more if they are still hungry. It is also advised that children be encouraged to eat slowly, and not forced to finish everything on their plate. It also helps to have set meal times. Sleep is important for children as it has been shown that those who do not have the recommended amount of sleep are more likely to be overweight. Researchers found that those children who had less sleep in their earlier years were at greater risk of having a higher BMI at age seven. This link continued even when other risk factors, such as gender and physical activity, were accounted for in their research. Using fMRI (functional magnetic resonance imaging), poor sleep has been shown to affect the brain areas responsible for complex decision-making, and our response to rewards, causing us to favour unhealthy foods. Although getting the recommended amount of sleep at night is encouraged, sitting and lying around too much in the day makes children more likely to put on weight. Experts advise that children should watch no more than two hours of television each day. And parents are encouraged to remove all screens, including mobile phones, from their bedroom at night. Aisling Pigott, a paediatric dietitian and spokesperson for the British Dietetic Association, says it is important to \"talk to children from a young age openly and honestly about food as a positive thing\". \"Have open discussions about enjoying food, take the focus away from body image to health and wellbeing, as opposed to look and image,\" she says. \"Don't use negative words like 'fat' and 'ugly' with your children - don't talk about cutting down and not eating certain foods as it makes children want them more,\" she adds. With older children there are many more influences so teenagers should be approached sensitively, Ms Pigott points out. \"Don't attack and don't talk about long-term consequences for their health because they don't care, as teenagers live in the here and now,\" she explains. \"Focus on how they look at the moment and help them work on gaining more positive self-esteem.\" Overweight teenagers will display unhealthy eating behaviours - often restricting their food intake and then overeating. Boosting their self esteem can work well in stabilising their eating habits, according to Ms Pigott. \"Reassure them and remind them everyone is a different shape and size - and it's just about keeping within healthy norms.\"", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 542, "answer_end": 1206, "text": "The \"most robust\" way is to check their body mass index (BMI) to see if their weight falls within the healthy range for their height - according to the Department of Health. All children in England are measured and weighed for their BMI in reception class (aged four to five) and in year six (aged 10 to 11), under the government's National Child Measurement Programme. Some local authorities send letters informing parents of the result. Generally, the higher the BMI, the greater the risk of medical problems. If your local authority does not do this, you can check your child's BMI using the NHS's BMI calculator - you will need to know their height and weight."}], "question": "How do you know if your child is obese?", "id": "484_0"}]}]}, {"title": "How will the US move to cut aid affect Pakistan?", "date": "5 January 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "The Trump administration says it is cutting almost all security aid to Pakistan until it deals with terrorist networks operating on its soil. But will the cuts have any impact, asks the BBC's M Ilyas Khan. The US has yet to announce exactly how much aid will be cut - but defence experts believe the total impact of the visible aid suspension may fall in the range of more than $900m (PS660m). This includes the suspension of $255m due to Pakistan for military equipment and training under the Foreign Military Financing (FMF) fund, and $700m under the Coalition Support Fund (CSF) - paid to Pakistan for conducting operations against militant groups. Experts believe the total financial impact of an adverse US policy on Pakistan could be much higher than this though, especially as the US state department has said an unspecified amount of other security assistance managed by the department of defence could be cut. Security experts believe the cuts are likely to put a squeeze on the Pakistani military, at least in the short run. \"If the US pipeline dries up, the military's immediate plans for upgrading of materiel and manpower resources will be stalled,\" says Prof Hasan Askari Rizvi, a defence analyst and author of the book, Military, State and Society in Pakistan. \"It will also be a setback in the long term as China or any other friendly country cannot totally replace the resources that Pakistan needs to keep its military machine well oiled,\" he says. This could explain the government's response to the cuts. While Pakistani politicians have been quick to condemn the US in the media, with Foreign Minister Khwaja Asif calling the US a \"friend-killer\" whose attitude \"matches neither that of a friend nor an ally\" and Defence Minister Khurram Dastgir warning against \"American mischief\", other government reaction has been more cautious. The foreign office talked of Pakistan's efforts to bring peace to the region, which it said was done mostly at its own cost - $120bn over 15 years - and argued that \"arbitrary deadlines, unilateral pronouncements and shifting goalposts are counterproductive in addressing common threats\". Meanwhile, in a written reply to the BBC an army spokesman said Pakistan had \"never fought for money but for peace\". Experts believe that, despite the verbal sparring on TV, the military will actually be tempted to put a squeeze on militant groups that are believed to have sanctuaries, recruitment and training facilities on Pakistani soil - just as the US has demanded. \"Though it may not be visible, there certainly will be some changes in Pakistan's approach to militants,\" says Prof Askari. \"At the very least, they may ask groups like the Haqqani network to go low-key for a while.\" Pakistan's main leverage with the US lies in its geographical location and its role in Afghanistan - the fact that it controls the only supply line into the landlocked country for international troops, and has influence over the militant groups that are fighting there. The question is, will Pakistan try to press its advantage by shutting overland access of US supplies to Kabul? It's happened before. Pakistan blocked this route for several months in 2011 and 2012 after a series of embarrassing events, including the killing of Osama Bin Laden in a secret operation by US Navy Seals, and the bombing of a Pakistani post by American jets that killed more than 20 soldiers. But Prof Askari believes Pakistan may not take that route this time. In 2011, the US appeared more accommodating, following Pakistani anger at the US operation and the bombing of the post. But this time, the anger is coming from the US side - and too drastic a move from Pakistan could aggravate the situation. \"Pakistanis may create hurdles or cause delays in the transit of such supplies, but they are unlikely to block it completely, because that could lead to suspension of all ties,\" Prof Askari says. At the moment, the US is still providing Pakistan with non-military aid. And even in the case of military assistance, it is believed the US may follow a \"condition and issue-based approach\" where funds would be released for identified and measurable actions. By contrast, a total cut-off of relations would mean that the US could remove Pakistan from its list of major non-Nato allies, designate it as a state sponsor of terrorism, or work with India and Afghanistan to more aggressively counter its interests in the region. Neither side is likely to want such a drastic move. Analysts have pointed out that the US does not want instability in Pakistan. Pakistan has one of the world's fastest-growing nuclear programmes, as well as several Islamist terrorist organisations on its soil, so \"America and its allies are rightly concerned that any instability in Pakistan may result in terrorists getting their hands on Pakistan's nuclear technology\", Christine Fair, a US-based South Asia expert, says.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 919, "answer_end": 2731, "text": "Security experts believe the cuts are likely to put a squeeze on the Pakistani military, at least in the short run. \"If the US pipeline dries up, the military's immediate plans for upgrading of materiel and manpower resources will be stalled,\" says Prof Hasan Askari Rizvi, a defence analyst and author of the book, Military, State and Society in Pakistan. \"It will also be a setback in the long term as China or any other friendly country cannot totally replace the resources that Pakistan needs to keep its military machine well oiled,\" he says. This could explain the government's response to the cuts. While Pakistani politicians have been quick to condemn the US in the media, with Foreign Minister Khwaja Asif calling the US a \"friend-killer\" whose attitude \"matches neither that of a friend nor an ally\" and Defence Minister Khurram Dastgir warning against \"American mischief\", other government reaction has been more cautious. The foreign office talked of Pakistan's efforts to bring peace to the region, which it said was done mostly at its own cost - $120bn over 15 years - and argued that \"arbitrary deadlines, unilateral pronouncements and shifting goalposts are counterproductive in addressing common threats\". Meanwhile, in a written reply to the BBC an army spokesman said Pakistan had \"never fought for money but for peace\". Experts believe that, despite the verbal sparring on TV, the military will actually be tempted to put a squeeze on militant groups that are believed to have sanctuaries, recruitment and training facilities on Pakistani soil - just as the US has demanded. \"Though it may not be visible, there certainly will be some changes in Pakistan's approach to militants,\" says Prof Askari. \"At the very least, they may ask groups like the Haqqani network to go low-key for a while.\""}], "question": "How reliant is Pakistan on US security aid?", "id": "485_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2732, "answer_end": 4914, "text": "Pakistan's main leverage with the US lies in its geographical location and its role in Afghanistan - the fact that it controls the only supply line into the landlocked country for international troops, and has influence over the militant groups that are fighting there. The question is, will Pakistan try to press its advantage by shutting overland access of US supplies to Kabul? It's happened before. Pakistan blocked this route for several months in 2011 and 2012 after a series of embarrassing events, including the killing of Osama Bin Laden in a secret operation by US Navy Seals, and the bombing of a Pakistani post by American jets that killed more than 20 soldiers. But Prof Askari believes Pakistan may not take that route this time. In 2011, the US appeared more accommodating, following Pakistani anger at the US operation and the bombing of the post. But this time, the anger is coming from the US side - and too drastic a move from Pakistan could aggravate the situation. \"Pakistanis may create hurdles or cause delays in the transit of such supplies, but they are unlikely to block it completely, because that could lead to suspension of all ties,\" Prof Askari says. At the moment, the US is still providing Pakistan with non-military aid. And even in the case of military assistance, it is believed the US may follow a \"condition and issue-based approach\" where funds would be released for identified and measurable actions. By contrast, a total cut-off of relations would mean that the US could remove Pakistan from its list of major non-Nato allies, designate it as a state sponsor of terrorism, or work with India and Afghanistan to more aggressively counter its interests in the region. Neither side is likely to want such a drastic move. Analysts have pointed out that the US does not want instability in Pakistan. Pakistan has one of the world's fastest-growing nuclear programmes, as well as several Islamist terrorist organisations on its soil, so \"America and its allies are rightly concerned that any instability in Pakistan may result in terrorists getting their hands on Pakistan's nuclear technology\", Christine Fair, a US-based South Asia expert, says."}], "question": "Will Pakistan try to retaliate?", "id": "485_1"}]}]}, {"title": "Darwin shooting: Banned shotgun used in four killings, police say", "date": "5 June 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "A man alleged to have killed four people and injured another in the Australian city of Darwin used an illegal pump-action shotgun, police say. The 45-year-old suspect, known to police, was arrested about an hour after the first shots were fired on Tuesday. Police said he carried out attacks at several locations and may have been searching for a \"specific individual\". It was not terror-related, they added. Authorities have not identified the victims nor the suspect. However Australian media have identified the gunman as Darwin man Benjamin Hoffman. One of the victims has also been named as Hassan Baydoun, a 33-year-old taxi driver from Lebanon. A relative told the Sydney Morning Herald: \"It's a big loss... he was one of the best people i knew in my life.\" Mass shootings - defined in Australia as incidents with four or more deaths - have been a rare occurrence since the country overhauled its gun laws in 1996, in the wake of a shooting in Tasmania that left 35 people dead. Those reforms included restrictions on gun ownership and the banning of semi-automatic and automatic firearms. The weapon used on Tuesday was a prohibited 12-gauge pump-action shotgun. Northern Territory Police Commissioner Reece Kershaw said it \"may have been stolen as far back as 1997\". Such a weapon should have been surrendered or destroyed under the government crackdown on firearms at the time, experts have said. How did the shootings unfold? The alleged gunman, who had been on parole since January, was wearing an electronic tag at the time. Police said he had served four years of a six-year sentence. Police said he travelled to several places across the city, including the Palms Hotel in the suburb of Woolner. There he allegedly opened fire in a number of rooms before fleeing. One man was killed at the hotel, and another person was wounded, police said. Another person was killed at Buff Club, another at Gardens Hill Crescent and another at Jolly Street. Police said the suspect also went to the Peter McAulay Centre - a police operations base. Witnesses said the suspect appeared to have been searching for a specific person called \"Alex\". \"We know he was looking for one individual,\" Commissioner Kershaw told reporters on Wednesday. The suspect remains in police custody at the Royal Darwin Hospital and is expected to be charged with murder, he added. Northern Territory Chief Minister Michael Gunner said officials would conduct an urgent review of all prisoners on parole in the wake of the shootings. \"The Northern Territory Government will do everything in its power to determine what led to these tragic events and how this violence occurred,\" Mr Gunner said. Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said on Tuesday the shootings were a \"terrible act of violence\". Gun crime is rare in Australia, but it saw its worst mass shooting incident in more than 20 years last year when seven members of the same family died in a murder-suicide. More recently, a man was killed and three others wounded in a shooting outside a popular nightclub in Melbourne in April.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 2360, "answer_end": 3072, "text": "Northern Territory Chief Minister Michael Gunner said officials would conduct an urgent review of all prisoners on parole in the wake of the shootings. \"The Northern Territory Government will do everything in its power to determine what led to these tragic events and how this violence occurred,\" Mr Gunner said. Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said on Tuesday the shootings were a \"terrible act of violence\". Gun crime is rare in Australia, but it saw its worst mass shooting incident in more than 20 years last year when seven members of the same family died in a murder-suicide. More recently, a man was killed and three others wounded in a shooting outside a popular nightclub in Melbourne in April."}], "question": "What has been the response?", "id": "486_0"}]}]}, {"title": "India election 2019: Has the government controlled inflation?", "date": "11 March 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Claim: The opposition Congress party in India has criticised the BJP government's record on inflation, saying it has done nothing to keep it in check, despite what it calls a favourable global outlook. Verdict:  Inflation - the rate of increase of prices for goods and services - has been kept lower under this government than the previous one.  The drop in the global price of oil after 2014 has contributed along with a squeeze on incomes in the rural economy. In the first in a series of articles looking at claims and pledges by the main political parties ahead of India's election, Reality Check looks at the figures behind one of the ruling BJP's key policy commitments. India's prime minister Narendra Modi pledged to control prices and says that inflation is now the lowest it has been for decades. But the main opposition Congress party has been strongly critical of the government's record. \"The BJP came to power on the promise of controlling inflation, but despite favourable global conditions, nothing was done by the government,\" said Sachin Pilot, the Congress leader in Rajasthan state, last year. Rahul Gandhi, the national leader of the Congress party, has also called on Mr Modi to get prices under control or \"quit the throne\". So, who is right? After the BJP won power in 2014, a target of 4% was set - allowing for a flexible two percentage point range either side. Under the previous Congress-led government, inflation had reached a peak of nearly 12% in 2010 and in 2013, its last year in office, it was about 11%. Inflation has fallen significantly since 2014 and it is now lower than it has been for a decade. In 2017, the average annual rate was below 4%, with the latest figures for 2018 indicating a rise to around 4.5%. So on current evidence, the BJP is meeting its promise on prices. In a large and varied country such as India, calculating inflation is a complex affair. The authorities used to track wholesale prices in order to capture inflation. But in 2014, the Reserve Bank of India - the country's central bank - switched to using the consumer price index (CPI). CPI looks at the prices of goods and services used directly for household consumption or - simply put - retail prices. A similar methodology is used in many other countries. A steady decline in the oil price - during the first years of Mr Modi's term - has been cited by many analysts as one of the biggest factors. India imports 80% of its oil and global price fluctuations can have an effect on inflation. India's crude oil imports cost nearly $120 (PS90) per barrel in 2011, when Congress was in power. This had gone down to just under $40 per barrel by April 2016, although the price went up again in the following two years. But there are other elements at play in the economy that also affect inflation. One important factor has been declining food prices, especially in rural areas. It is worth remembering that well over 60% of India's population live in the countryside. India's former chief statistician Pronab Sen says that inflation has dipped in recent years because of a squeeze on farm incomes. He believes this is largely down to two things: - the current government reducing financial support for a huge scheme to guarantee incomes in rural areas - minimal increases in the prices that the government guarantees to farmers for their crops \"In the preceding eight to 10 years [of Congress-led rule], the rural employment scheme had raised rural wages, leading to increased food spending,\" says Mr Sen. But he adds that these wage rises have now tailed off. And that effectively reduces demand, and with it inflation. There have also been other policy decisions that have helped to keep demand in check and therefore curbed inflation. The central bank has not been in a hurry to lower interest rates, which would have allowed consumers to borrow and spend more. The rate cut announced in early February was the first for 18 months. The government has also been aiming to keep its fiscal deficit under control - that is the difference between the amount it earns and the amount it spends. Lower fiscal deficits tend to help check inflation, because the government is borrowing and spending less. However, with an election looming, the government may feel under pressure to increase spending - particularly in rural areas - which would fan inflationary pressures. Read more from Reality Check Send us your questions Follow us on Twitter", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1816, "answer_end": 2275, "text": "In a large and varied country such as India, calculating inflation is a complex affair. The authorities used to track wholesale prices in order to capture inflation. But in 2014, the Reserve Bank of India - the country's central bank - switched to using the consumer price index (CPI). CPI looks at the prices of goods and services used directly for household consumption or - simply put - retail prices. A similar methodology is used in many other countries."}], "question": "How is inflation calculated?", "id": "487_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2276, "answer_end": 3634, "text": "A steady decline in the oil price - during the first years of Mr Modi's term - has been cited by many analysts as one of the biggest factors. India imports 80% of its oil and global price fluctuations can have an effect on inflation. India's crude oil imports cost nearly $120 (PS90) per barrel in 2011, when Congress was in power. This had gone down to just under $40 per barrel by April 2016, although the price went up again in the following two years. But there are other elements at play in the economy that also affect inflation. One important factor has been declining food prices, especially in rural areas. It is worth remembering that well over 60% of India's population live in the countryside. India's former chief statistician Pronab Sen says that inflation has dipped in recent years because of a squeeze on farm incomes. He believes this is largely down to two things: - the current government reducing financial support for a huge scheme to guarantee incomes in rural areas - minimal increases in the prices that the government guarantees to farmers for their crops \"In the preceding eight to 10 years [of Congress-led rule], the rural employment scheme had raised rural wages, leading to increased food spending,\" says Mr Sen. But he adds that these wage rises have now tailed off. And that effectively reduces demand, and with it inflation."}], "question": "Why has inflation come down?", "id": "487_1"}]}]}, {"title": "Slovakia alarmed by pro-Putin Night Wolves bikers' base", "date": "31 July 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "The Slovak foreign ministry says it is \"disturbing\" that the Night Wolves - a Russian nationalist biker gang close to President Vladimir Putin - now have a base in Slovakia. The base has old military vehicles and lies in Dolna Krupa, a village 70km (44 miles) from the capital Bratislava. The Russian government calls it the Night Wolves' \"European headquarters\". The bikers are under US sanctions, accused of providing military help for the pro-Russian rebels in Ukraine. Slovak foreign ministry spokesman Peter Susko told the BBC that the Night Wolves' activities would have to be \"carefully monitored\". \"We think the influence of their members is harmful, especially in spreading their opinions that strive to rewrite history,\" he said in a phone interview. When asked to specify those controversial opinions he said \"that Crimea is, was and will be Russian, that Stalin was a great hero, that Nato is a criminal organisation, etc\". Slovakia is a member of both Nato and the EU. Formerly part of communist Czechoslovakia, it was an ally of Moscow during the Cold War. A Slovak nationalist group called NV Europa, led by Jozef Hambalek, is sharing the compound with the Night Wolves. Mr Hambalek owns the site, which was previously a pig farm, Slovak media report. Last week he threatened Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty journalists who were filming outside the base. The Russian bikers say they are turning the site into a World War Two museum honouring Soviet units who used motorbikes. Speaking on Tuesday, Slovak President Andrej Kiska called the Night Wolves \"a tool of the regime that has been involved in the occupation of a neighbouring country\" - referring to Russia's intervention in Ukraine. He called the bikers' base \"a serious security risk\" for Slovakia. Mr Susko told the BBC \"they claim to be a club\" and \"they are not a government organisation, so it's difficult to intervene through the [Russian] embassy\". \"It's a case of clear concern that people who express views directly contrasting with the foreign policy outlook of Slovakia are trying to organise themselves on the territory of Slovakia,\" he said. Read more on related topics: Their leader Alexander Zaldostanov - known as \"The Surgeon\" - has appeared often alongside President Putin. Indeed, in 2011 Mr Putin rode with the Night Wolves at a biker festival in Novorossiysk. In 2013 Mr Putin pinned a Russian Medal of Honour on Mr Zaldostanov. The US government accuses the Night Wolves of direct involvement in the Ukraine conflict. Mr Zaldostanov is among many Russian political and military figures on the sanctions list, accused of involvement in the Russian annexation of Crimea in 2014 and/or the separatists' revolt in eastern Ukraine. Two businesses linked to the bikers are also on the sanctions list: Wolf Holding of Security Structures, allegedly a supplier of military services, and Bike Center, allegedly run by Mr Zaldostanov. The US government says the Night Wolves \"have been closely connected to the Russian special services, have helped to recruit separatist fighters for Donetsk and Luhansk, Ukraine, and were deployed to the cities of Luhansk and Kharkiv\". It says that during the annexation of Crimea the Night Wolves \"participated in the storming of the gas distribution station in Strikolkove and the storming of the Ukrainian Naval Forces Headquarters in Sevastopol\". Slovak TV Noviny reports that the Night Wolves have more than 5,000 members and branches in several European countries, including Serbia, Romania, Macedonia and Bulgaria. Slovakia is on the bikers' route when they ride across Europe annually to mark the WW2 victory anniversary. In 2016 Latvia expelled the local Night Wolves chief, Igor Lakatosh, for security reasons. And Poland banned the bikers from entering the country - a move that infuriated the Russian foreign ministry. In a statement (in Russian) quoted by Mr Hambalek, the Night Wolves leader linked his new base in Slovakia to the Soviet \"liberation\" of the country in World War Two. \"In Slovakia they pay homage to the heroes who liberated the world from fascism, so the creation of the museum complex, dedicated to the events of World War Two, is logical, legitimate and desirable,\" Mr Zaldostanov wrote. \"The liberal Western media, gripped by Russophobia and infected with anti-Soviet prejudice, have attacked this historical museum that is being set up painstakingly by enthusiasts - attacked it foaming at the mouth and yelling 'grab it all and share it out'.\" He makes frequent trips to Crimea, where he defends Russia's annexation of the peninsula, the population of which is mainly ethnic Russian.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 3850, "answer_end": 4638, "text": "In a statement (in Russian) quoted by Mr Hambalek, the Night Wolves leader linked his new base in Slovakia to the Soviet \"liberation\" of the country in World War Two. \"In Slovakia they pay homage to the heroes who liberated the world from fascism, so the creation of the museum complex, dedicated to the events of World War Two, is logical, legitimate and desirable,\" Mr Zaldostanov wrote. \"The liberal Western media, gripped by Russophobia and infected with anti-Soviet prejudice, have attacked this historical museum that is being set up painstakingly by enthusiasts - attacked it foaming at the mouth and yelling 'grab it all and share it out'.\" He makes frequent trips to Crimea, where he defends Russia's annexation of the peninsula, the population of which is mainly ethnic Russian."}], "question": "What does Mr Zaldostanov say?", "id": "488_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Turkey ramps up drilling off Cyprus on eve of peace talks", "date": "8 August 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Turkey is ramping up its drilling operations off the coast of Cyprus, sending a third ship to the eastern Mediterranean despite EU warnings. Two Turkish vessels are already drilling for natural gas and oil off the island. The EU has said Turkey's actions are \"totally unacceptable\". The Republic of Cyprus is in the EU, but the breakaway north is pro-Turkey. Ankara's latest move comes on the eve of talks between the president of Cyprus and the Turkish Cypriot leader. On Friday, Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades is expected to discuss with Mustafa Akinci ways of resuming negotiations aimed at reuniting the divided island after talks failed two years ago. Turkey has said its drilling operations, which are raising tensions in the region, are taking place inside its continental shelf, and therefore comply with international law. The two drilling ships, the Fatih and the Yavuz, will be joined in the coming days by a further exploration vessel, which is expected to begin its operations by the end of August. But the EU has threatened to impose sanctions on Turkey if it continues what EU Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker described as \"illegal drilling\". In June, the European Council - the EU government leaders - called on Turkey to \"show restraint, respect the sovereign rights of Cyprus and refrain from any such actions\". Turkey is a candidate for EU membership but its negotiations are currently frozen. The EU Commission has said President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's government has backtracked on pledges to improve justice and the rule of law. The Greek- and Turkish-Cypriot communities have been split since conflict erupted in 1974. Tens of thousands of Cypriots fled their homes when Turkey invaded the north of the island in response to a military coup in Cyprus backed by Greece. A UN buffer zone, known as the Green Line, now separates the two communities on the island in the Mediterranean. Cyprus is badly in need of income and energy and there have been long-running disagreements between the two sides over drilling for oil and gas. Things came to a head in June when the EU threatened sanctions against Turkey if it continued \"illegal\" exploration in waters near Cyprus. The Republic of Cyprus is in the EU, but the self-declared Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus in the north is recognised only by Turkey, and is internationally isolated. Turkey had threatened to start drilling back in 2011 after Cyprus licensed Texas-based Noble Energy to carry out exploratory work for gas off its southern coast. Property - What should happen to properties that Greek Cypriots had to abandon in 1974? - Should they get the right to take their old homes back, or be compensated - and if so by how much? Security - How can the security of Turkish Cypriots be guaranteed if Turkish troops withdraw? - Greek Cypriots see them as an occupying force, so should some stay or should Turkey retain the right to intervene? - Who would act as a guarantor of the deal? The EU, of which Cyprus is already a member, or the UK, which has two military bases on the island? Power and the role of the EU - There is talk of a rotating presidency, but how would that work? - Could a Turkish Cypriot president really represent the country from time-to-time at EU summits? Territory - How much more territory should Greek Cypriots gain to reflect the fact that they make up the majority of the island's population? UN peacekeeping forces estimate that 165,000 Greek Cypriots fled or were expelled from the north, and 45,000 Turkish Cypriots from the south, although the parties to the conflict say the figures are higher. - 1955 - Greek Cypriots seeking unification with Greece begin guerrilla war against British rule - 1960 - Independence from British rule leads to power-sharing between Greek Cypriot majority and Turkish Cypriot minority - 1963-1964 - Inter-communal violence - 1974 - Cypriot President Archbishop Makarios deposed in a coup backed by Greece's military junta. Turkey sends troops to the island, who then occupy a third of it in the north - 1983 - Rauf Denktash declares breakaway Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, recognised only by Turkey - 2004 - Cyprus, still divided, joins the EU, after a UN peace plan was backed by Turkish Cypriots - but rejected by Greek Cypriots", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1564, "answer_end": 2534, "text": "The Greek- and Turkish-Cypriot communities have been split since conflict erupted in 1974. Tens of thousands of Cypriots fled their homes when Turkey invaded the north of the island in response to a military coup in Cyprus backed by Greece. A UN buffer zone, known as the Green Line, now separates the two communities on the island in the Mediterranean. Cyprus is badly in need of income and energy and there have been long-running disagreements between the two sides over drilling for oil and gas. Things came to a head in June when the EU threatened sanctions against Turkey if it continued \"illegal\" exploration in waters near Cyprus. The Republic of Cyprus is in the EU, but the self-declared Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus in the north is recognised only by Turkey, and is internationally isolated. Turkey had threatened to start drilling back in 2011 after Cyprus licensed Texas-based Noble Energy to carry out exploratory work for gas off its southern coast."}], "question": "Why have tensions worsened?", "id": "489_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2535, "answer_end": 3621, "text": "Property - What should happen to properties that Greek Cypriots had to abandon in 1974? - Should they get the right to take their old homes back, or be compensated - and if so by how much? Security - How can the security of Turkish Cypriots be guaranteed if Turkish troops withdraw? - Greek Cypriots see them as an occupying force, so should some stay or should Turkey retain the right to intervene? - Who would act as a guarantor of the deal? The EU, of which Cyprus is already a member, or the UK, which has two military bases on the island? Power and the role of the EU - There is talk of a rotating presidency, but how would that work? - Could a Turkish Cypriot president really represent the country from time-to-time at EU summits? Territory - How much more territory should Greek Cypriots gain to reflect the fact that they make up the majority of the island's population? UN peacekeeping forces estimate that 165,000 Greek Cypriots fled or were expelled from the north, and 45,000 Turkish Cypriots from the south, although the parties to the conflict say the figures are higher."}], "question": "What are the other sticking points?", "id": "489_1"}]}]}, {"title": "UK funding increased to fight neglected tropical diseases", "date": "16 April 2017", "paragraphs": [{"context": "The UK government is investing an extra PS200m in programmes to fight neglected tropical diseases, which affect more than a billion people in the world's poorest countries. Without treatment, river blindness, guinea-worm and trachoma can disable children and stop adults working. The funding will go towards the distribution of tablets to treat diseases and research into new drugs. Ministers said the aim was to eliminate neglected tropical diseases for good. The announcement comes ahead of a World Health Organization conference in Geneva dedicated to neglected tropical diseases and their eradication. Over the next four years, the UK will spend a total of PS360m on programmes to tackle diseases such as: - Visceral leishmaniasis - a parasitic disease, caused by infected sand flies, which destroys the internal organs - Guinea-worm disease - an infection transmitted through dirty drinking water containing water fleas - Trachoma - infection from poor hygiene practices which can cause blindness - Lymphatic filariasis - infection transmitted by mosquitoes which can cause swelling of lower limbs This is double what has been spent annually in the previous four years, the Department for International Development said. International Development Secretary Priti Patel said the UK's support would protect more than 200 million people \"from a future blighted by tropical disease\". \"These diseases belong to the last century. They cause unimaginable suffering and pain to some of the world's poorest people, forcing them into a deeper cycle of poverty with no way out. Yet they are treatable. \"These diseases have been named 'neglected' for a reason, but I'm not prepared for them to be neglected any longer.\" The WHO has classified 18 diseases as neglected but treatable tropical diseases, including dengue and chikungunya, leprosy, sleeping sickness and Chagas disease. They are all infectious diseases that occur in tropical and subtropical conditions in 149 countries of the world. They mainly affect people who live in poverty, who have no clean drinking water and who are in close contact with infectious insects and animals, such as mosquitoes. They cost billions of dollars every year to developing economies because adults affected are too ill to go to work. The diseases are avoidable but if not treated, they can deform, disable and even kill.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1713, "answer_end": 2357, "text": "The WHO has classified 18 diseases as neglected but treatable tropical diseases, including dengue and chikungunya, leprosy, sleeping sickness and Chagas disease. They are all infectious diseases that occur in tropical and subtropical conditions in 149 countries of the world. They mainly affect people who live in poverty, who have no clean drinking water and who are in close contact with infectious insects and animals, such as mosquitoes. They cost billions of dollars every year to developing economies because adults affected are too ill to go to work. The diseases are avoidable but if not treated, they can deform, disable and even kill."}], "question": "What are neglected tropical diseases?", "id": "490_0"}]}]}, {"title": "100 Women: 'Mo Salah is so important to Muslim children like mine'", "date": "27 April 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "\"Mohamed Salah! Go Mo, go!\" The shouts echo around my house as Mohamed Salah scores a sublime opening goal against Roma in the UEFA Champions League semi-final on Tuesday night. My children, Hanaa, aged eight, and Muhammad, six, beam from ear to ear as we all watch Salah lay face down on the ground, in his trademark goal celebration. The rise of Liverpool's Egyptian King hasn't gone unnoticed in homes like mine across the country, if not the world. At the top of his game, Mohamed Salah is uniting communities. He will pray on the pitch, he will sport his beard with pride and he will play some of the best football you have seen this year. Do you have any idea how powerful that is to children like mine? He's a role model of our time. I was born and brought up in east London, England to parents that emigrated here from Yemen and Burma. Unlike many people my age, I never struggled with the notion of belonging to this country. However, I am more than aware that in today's climate children from faith and minority backgrounds don't feel the same. They are exposed to a news agenda that makes them apprehensive about displaying their Islamic heritage. So it's not surprising when a player like Salah comes along it sparks pride in their hearts. My daughter Hanaa watches in awe when Salah raises his hands to the heavens and prays after scoring a goal. \"Mamma, we do that too!\" she says. As with Islamic tradition, many men of the faith have beards. Salah is no different. So when I catch my six-year-old son standing in front of a mirror trying to pick at tiny baby hairs on his chin and proclaim he too has a beard now just like Salah, my heart soars. He is arguably the best player in the world right now. Mohamed Salah is bringing communities together and I for one am relishing it. Banners depicting him as a Pharoah are held aloft around Anfield. Songs and chants about mosques and Muslims ring out around stands up and down the country by Liverpool fans who have taken him to their heart. They're full of love and admiration, and Muslims around the world are excited to see it. In his home country of Egypt, Salah is King. The jewel in the crown of his national team, his status was cemented when he scored the winning penalty that saw his side through to this summer's World Cup finals in Russia. Whether he plays for Liverpool or Egypt, for 90 or so minutes he unites a fractured nation and political rivalries are set aside as cafes and homes across Egypt cheer on this mega star. As a hijab-wearing woman, it is fantastic watching women in headscarves of Liverpool red or the Egyptian flag celebrate alongside Salah's male fans. And that's why for families like mine, it's more than just a game of football. 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. A few weeks ago, Hanaa came home from school visibly distressed. There had been talk amongst her group of friends of a campaign to attack Muslims on the 3 April. She was scared and upset. We spent the next few days explaining that it was a tiny minority of people who didn't understand Islam and Muslims, and the majority of people in this country didn't feel like that at all. Unfortunately when 3 April came around, she didn't want to go out - she was still too frightened. As parents, it broke our hearts. How do you explain to young children that there isn't anything to be afraid of, when the reality is, we think about these risks almost daily? But Mohamed Salah is changing the perception of Muslims, and it's wonderful to see. For the first time in a long time, Muslims aren't the bogeymen. My Liverpool-supporting friends who aren't Muslim echo the sentiment. They tell me his status and character is important to celebrate because it challenges the views of the narrow-minded. I don't profess to be an expert on football tactics or the history of the game. All I know is that Mohamed Salah has done more for interfaith relations in his short sweet time at Liverpool than any campaign I can remember. He is unapologetically Muslim. That's how I like to think of him. - Full name: Mohamed Salah Ghal - Born: 15/06/1992 - El Gharbia, Egypt - Club: Liverpool FC - bought from AS Roma for PS34 million in June 2017 - Position: Attacking Midfielder - National Team: Egypt - First Egyptian footballer to be named the Professional Footballers' Association (PFA) Player of the Year in the EPL In an interview earlier this week, Liverpool Manager Jurgen Klopp talked about how Salah, and the other Muslim players, Sadio Mane and Emre Can, prepare for a game by performing the Islamic ritual of ablution. Klopp said the rest of the team wait for them and respect the time they need to do that. It's hard to sum up how important that is to hear for me and my children. We perform ablutions before we pray our five daily prayers - it's a form of purifying the body and then standing before God. For such a small act to be talked about openly and respected by a wider community sends out a powerful message to my children and many like them all over the world. In Islam we talk a lot about respect and hard work. It's the backbone of our parenting, and bringing up our children to be well-rounded individuals. So it's no surprise that Salah's clean sheet as a player is often used by my husband as an example of honest hard work. Salah's brief spell at Chelsea is also a tale of dedication paying off - he kept trying and he got better. Hanaa, Muhammad and millions of children like them can look to that for inspiration. We have a glorious summer ahead of us watching and praying for this young man as he heads for the heights of super-stardom. Rabiya Limbada is on Twitter @Rabiya", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 2726, "answer_end": 4292, "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. A few weeks ago, Hanaa came home from school visibly distressed. There had been talk amongst her group of friends of a campaign to attack Muslims on the 3 April. She was scared and upset. We spent the next few days explaining that it was a tiny minority of people who didn't understand Islam and Muslims, and the majority of people in this country didn't feel like that at all. Unfortunately when 3 April came around, she didn't want to go out - she was still too frightened. As parents, it broke our hearts. How do you explain to young children that there isn't anything to be afraid of, when the reality is, we think about these risks almost daily? But Mohamed Salah is changing the perception of Muslims, and it's wonderful to see. For the first time in a long time, Muslims aren't the bogeymen. My Liverpool-supporting friends who aren't Muslim echo the sentiment. They tell me his status and character is important to celebrate because it challenges the views of the narrow-minded. I don't profess to be an expert on football tactics or the history of the game. All I know is that Mohamed Salah has done more for interfaith relations in his short sweet time at Liverpool than any campaign I can remember. He is unapologetically Muslim. That's how I like to think of him."}], "question": "What is 100 Women?", "id": "491_0"}]}]}, {"title": "US-China trade war: Moving to Vietnam to avoid sanctions", "date": "20 May 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Companies operating in China are facing stiff increases in tariffs on exports to the United States as the trade war between the two countries escalates. So, there's an incentive for manufacturers in China to move their production to countries not subject to these tariffs. And one of these beneficiary countries has been Vietnam, China's increasingly business-friendly southern neighbour. So what can we say about changing Chinese investment into Vietnam? The first thing to note is that foreign firms, including those from China, have long taken advantage of Vietnam's cheaper labour and attractive business environment, well before the imposition of the first round of US sanctions last September. \"Vietnam has already been gaining as wages have been rising in China,\" says Mary Lovely at the Peterson Institute for International Economics, a US-based think tank. But there are also indications that investment has accelerated since the imposition of US sanctions on China last year. In the first four months of 2019, Chinese investment into Vietnam has already reached about 65% of the total for 2018. So there's certainly been an upsurge in Chinese investment, but how much of this is to do with tariffs? Vietnam's economy has grown rapidly in the past decade. Its manufacturing industry has done particularly well, with multinationals like IKEA, for instance, bolstering operations there. And while the growth of industry is a long-term trend, experts say there's growing evidence that an increasingly stringent US tariff regime on Chinese goods is driving further investment into Vietnam. \"Many companies were investing in production outside of China, particularly in South East Asia, before the current trade conflict\", according to corporate law firm, Baker & McKenzie, based in Hong Kong, but \"the recent trade friction has simply accelerated this evolution.\" There are, however, clear signs that the pressures of rapid growth in Vietnam are taking their toll. There were just over 14.5 million people in 2018 working in industry in Vietnam, according to the International Labour Organization. That compares with more than 200 million in China. Labour costs in Vietnam are rising, and the pool of new labour to draw on is much smaller than for its giant neighbour. The ability for Vietnam to continue to absorb foreign investment will also be constrained by rising land and factory costs. According to JLL Vietnam, a firm that specializes in real estate, industrial rental prices rose by 11% in the second half of 2018 in southern Vietnam. This has been attributed to the shift of producers from China, partly because of tariffs. For firms moving all or part of their supply chains from China to Vietnam to avoid US sanctions, there is a risk that the US could take action against Vietnam as well. Some multinationals are taking on a \"China plus one\" approach - firms keeping a foothold in China while also operating in a low-wage economy elsewhere in Asia. The US administration is aware of the shift into production operations outside China as a way to avoid sanctions. President Trump recently tweeted: \"Many Tariffed companies will be leaving China for Vietnam and other such countries in Asia. That's why China wants to make a deal so badly!\" In the escalating trade war between the United States and China, the label \"Made in Vietnam\" may not in the future be enough to avoid US tariffs. Read more from Reality Check Send us your questions Follow us on Twitter", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 2639, "answer_end": 3402, "text": "For firms moving all or part of their supply chains from China to Vietnam to avoid US sanctions, there is a risk that the US could take action against Vietnam as well. Some multinationals are taking on a \"China plus one\" approach - firms keeping a foothold in China while also operating in a low-wage economy elsewhere in Asia. The US administration is aware of the shift into production operations outside China as a way to avoid sanctions. President Trump recently tweeted: \"Many Tariffed companies will be leaving China for Vietnam and other such countries in Asia. That's why China wants to make a deal so badly!\" In the escalating trade war between the United States and China, the label \"Made in Vietnam\" may not in the future be enough to avoid US tariffs."}], "question": "Sanctions against Vietnam?", "id": "492_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Is Russia arming the Afghan Taliban?", "date": "2 April 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "The US accuses Russia of trying to destabilise Afghanistan by supporting the Taliban. Senior US officials have been saying for months that Moscow is even supplying the militants with weapons. Russia and the Taliban, who are historic foes, deny the charges. They come amid what some observers see as a \"new Cold War\" - so how much truth is there to the US claims? In a BBC interview in late March, the commander of US forces in Afghanistan Gen John Nicholson alleged that Russian weapons were being smuggled across the Tajik border to the Taliban. He accused Russia of exaggerating the number of Islamic State (IS) fighters in Afghanistan \"to legitimise the actions of the Taliban and provide some degree of support to the Taliban\". \"We've had weapons brought to this headquarters and given to us by Afghan leaders and [they] said, this was given by the Russians to the Taliban,\" he said. Some Afghan police and military officials told the BBC that the Russian military equipment includes night-vision goggles, medium and heavy machine guns, and small arms. US officials have accused Moscow of supporting the Taliban for more than a year. In December 2016 Gen Nicholson criticised Russia and Iran for establishing links with the Taliban and \"legitimising\" the group. Since then a number of high-ranking US officials, mainly military, have made similar claims, some suggesting Russia is also arming the Taliban. But a number of US and Nato officials have been more cautious. Testifying at a Senate hearing in May 2017, US Defense Intelligence Agency Director Lt-Gen Vincent R Stewart said: \"I have not seen real physical evidence of weapons or money being transferred.\" US Defense Secretary James Mattis told the House Armed Services Committee in October 2017 that he wanted to see more evidence about the level of Russian support for the Taliban, adding that what he had seen \"doesn't make sense\". Nato Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg is on record saying, in July 2017, \"we haven't seen any proofs, any confirmed information about that kind of support\". For its part Tajikistan has denied funnelling Russian weapons to the Taliban, calling Gen Nicholson's claim \"groundless\". The Afghan authorities have also given contradictory statements. A few provincial officials have been explicit in alleging Moscow's military support for the Taliban. But the spokesman for Afghanistan's chief executive officer (CEO) said in May 2017 that there was no evidence. Last October President Ashraf Ghani publicly taunted the Taliban for accepting Russian guns. However, his defence minister said the following month that such reports were just \"rumours\" and \"we don't have evidence\". Moscow and the Taliban deny the US claims that they are working together. They separately rejected Gen Nicholson's comments to the BBC, saying he had no evidence. The Russian embassy in Kabul and the foreign ministry in Moscow dismissed such claims as \"baseless\" and \"idle gossip\". A Taliban spokesman said they had not \"received military assistance from any country\". Moscow has repeatedly accused the US and Nato of trying to blame Russia for their \"failures\" and worsening security in Afghanistan. Russian officials and politicians have even implied that the US and Nato support IS in Afghanistan; a charge the US vehemently denies and most observers find incredible. Russia denies materially supporting the insurgents but acknowledges \"contacts\" with the Taliban. According to some Taliban sources, a communication channel between Moscow and the Taliban was established almost a decade ago, following the Taliban's removal from power by the US in 2001. But ties between Moscow and the Taliban have improved significantly over the past three years, especially since the establishment of the so-called \"IS Khorasan\" group in Afghanistan in January 2015. Taliban sources confirm their representatives have met Russian officials inside Russia and \"other\" countries several times. As part of these new \"links\", some Taliban expected sophisticated weapons from Russia that could dramatically turn the Afghan war in their favour - anti-aircraft guns and missiles that could challenge US air supremacy; similar to the surface-to-air Stinger missile the US provided to the Afghan resistance fighters during the Soviet-Afghan war in the 1980s. So far this remains wishful thinking on the part of the Taliban mainly for two reasons - such weapons could be easily traced back to the source and US-Russia relations are not that bad to justify such a drastic measure. For the Taliban, moral and political support by a major regional power is more important than the light weapons they say are widely available in Afghanistan and can be bought on the black market in the wider region. Taliban diplomatic outreach also extends to building relations with China and Iran. This is a morale-booster and has strengthened Taliban conviction in the \"legitimacy\" of their struggle to oust US-led forces from Afghanistan. The fact that Russia and Iran are accused of supporting the Taliban challenges the narrative that the militants are solely dependent on Pakistan. Softening its approach towards the Afghan Taliban is a dramatic and somehow unexpected shift for Russia. Almost all founding members of the Taliban movement were part of the mujahideen, which fought against the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan in the 1980s. During the factional war that followed the Soviet pullout, Russia provided financial and military support to groups opposed to the Taliban. But after the US invasion of Afghanistan following the 9/11 attacks in the US, the Taliban apparently saw an opportunity to work with Russia. Russia now no longer sees the Taliban as a pressing security threat. Instead, policymakers in Moscow view the group as a reality in Afghanistan which cannot be ignored. In March 2017, President Putin's special envoy for Afghanistan, Zamir Kabulov, even said the Taliban's demand for the withdrawal of foreign troops from Afghanistan was \"justified\" and criticised the long-term presence of US and Nato forces in the country. There are three major reasons for Russia-Taliban links. Firstly, Russian officials say these contacts are aimed at ensuring the security of Russian citizens and political offices in Afghanistan, especially in areas where the resurgent Taliban have expanded their territorial control in recent years. At least two Russians were captured by the Afghan Taliban on two separate occasions, in 2013 and 2016, when their helicopters crashed in Taliban-controlled areas. Both were released after lengthy negotiations. Secondly, the emergence of IS in Afghanistan prompted fears in Moscow that the group may expand into Central Asia and Russia. The Afghan Taliban have been fighting against IS in Afghanistan and repeatedly assured neighbouring countries, that unlike IS, their armed struggle is limited to Afghanistan. In December 2015, the Russian president's special representative to Afghanistan, Zamir Kabulov, declared that \"the Taliban interest objectively coincides with ours\" in the fight against IS. Russia has also suggested the possibility of staging a Syrian-style intervention in Afghanistan if IS gained strength and became a \"serious threat\" to the stability of Central Asian countries on the pretext of protecting its \"backyard\". However, US officials say Moscow uses the IS presence as an excuse to justify its meddling in Afghanistan and to further grow its military influence in Central Asia. Thirdly, Russian officials insist the Afghan conflict needs a political, not a military, solution. They have grown increasingly frustrated by and suspicious of the US strategy that has not so far stabilised Afghanistan after 16 years of fighting. Moscow says the contacts are intended to encourage the Taliban to enter peace talks. A resurgent Russia under President Putin has been pushing for influence in Afghanistan, in moves seen as part of an effort to ensure a seat for Moscow at the top table in any future arrangement in the country. This comes at a time when US-Russian relations are at a low point and the geopolitical situation is changing fast. Moscow's increasingly assertive stance is linked to US-Russian tensions in other parts of the world, especially Ukraine and Syria. By establishing links with the Taliban, Moscow seems to be aiming to pressurise and even undermine the US and Nato. Meanwhile, as the rift between Washington and Islamabad grows, Russia and Pakistan are building diplomatic and military relations after decades of hostility. Moscow's reappearance in Afghan affairs is largely designed to irritate the Americans. The persistent accusations traded by the former Cold War powers has to be seen in the context of a wider blame game. Their rivalry is complicating the conflict in Afghanistan, where the number of actors is increasing. This has renewed fears of a \"new Great Game\", with Afghanistan once more a battlefield for regional and international players. A way out of the decades-long quagmire appears as far off as ever.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 363, "answer_end": 1056, "text": "In a BBC interview in late March, the commander of US forces in Afghanistan Gen John Nicholson alleged that Russian weapons were being smuggled across the Tajik border to the Taliban. He accused Russia of exaggerating the number of Islamic State (IS) fighters in Afghanistan \"to legitimise the actions of the Taliban and provide some degree of support to the Taliban\". \"We've had weapons brought to this headquarters and given to us by Afghan leaders and [they] said, this was given by the Russians to the Taliban,\" he said. Some Afghan police and military officials told the BBC that the Russian military equipment includes night-vision goggles, medium and heavy machine guns, and small arms."}], "question": "What is the US alleging?", "id": "493_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1057, "answer_end": 2177, "text": "US officials have accused Moscow of supporting the Taliban for more than a year. In December 2016 Gen Nicholson criticised Russia and Iran for establishing links with the Taliban and \"legitimising\" the group. Since then a number of high-ranking US officials, mainly military, have made similar claims, some suggesting Russia is also arming the Taliban. But a number of US and Nato officials have been more cautious. Testifying at a Senate hearing in May 2017, US Defense Intelligence Agency Director Lt-Gen Vincent R Stewart said: \"I have not seen real physical evidence of weapons or money being transferred.\" US Defense Secretary James Mattis told the House Armed Services Committee in October 2017 that he wanted to see more evidence about the level of Russian support for the Taliban, adding that what he had seen \"doesn't make sense\". Nato Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg is on record saying, in July 2017, \"we haven't seen any proofs, any confirmed information about that kind of support\". For its part Tajikistan has denied funnelling Russian weapons to the Taliban, calling Gen Nicholson's claim \"groundless\"."}], "question": "Who agrees?", "id": "493_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2178, "answer_end": 2670, "text": "The Afghan authorities have also given contradictory statements. A few provincial officials have been explicit in alleging Moscow's military support for the Taliban. But the spokesman for Afghanistan's chief executive officer (CEO) said in May 2017 that there was no evidence. Last October President Ashraf Ghani publicly taunted the Taliban for accepting Russian guns. However, his defence minister said the following month that such reports were just \"rumours\" and \"we don't have evidence\"."}], "question": "What's the view of Afghan officials?", "id": "493_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2671, "answer_end": 3341, "text": "Moscow and the Taliban deny the US claims that they are working together. They separately rejected Gen Nicholson's comments to the BBC, saying he had no evidence. The Russian embassy in Kabul and the foreign ministry in Moscow dismissed such claims as \"baseless\" and \"idle gossip\". A Taliban spokesman said they had not \"received military assistance from any country\". Moscow has repeatedly accused the US and Nato of trying to blame Russia for their \"failures\" and worsening security in Afghanistan. Russian officials and politicians have even implied that the US and Nato support IS in Afghanistan; a charge the US vehemently denies and most observers find incredible."}], "question": "What do Russia and the Taliban say?", "id": "493_3"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3342, "answer_end": 4528, "text": "Russia denies materially supporting the insurgents but acknowledges \"contacts\" with the Taliban. According to some Taliban sources, a communication channel between Moscow and the Taliban was established almost a decade ago, following the Taliban's removal from power by the US in 2001. But ties between Moscow and the Taliban have improved significantly over the past three years, especially since the establishment of the so-called \"IS Khorasan\" group in Afghanistan in January 2015. Taliban sources confirm their representatives have met Russian officials inside Russia and \"other\" countries several times. As part of these new \"links\", some Taliban expected sophisticated weapons from Russia that could dramatically turn the Afghan war in their favour - anti-aircraft guns and missiles that could challenge US air supremacy; similar to the surface-to-air Stinger missile the US provided to the Afghan resistance fighters during the Soviet-Afghan war in the 1980s. So far this remains wishful thinking on the part of the Taliban mainly for two reasons - such weapons could be easily traced back to the source and US-Russia relations are not that bad to justify such a drastic measure."}], "question": "Do Russia and the Taliban acknowledge links?", "id": "493_4"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 4529, "answer_end": 5117, "text": "For the Taliban, moral and political support by a major regional power is more important than the light weapons they say are widely available in Afghanistan and can be bought on the black market in the wider region. Taliban diplomatic outreach also extends to building relations with China and Iran. This is a morale-booster and has strengthened Taliban conviction in the \"legitimacy\" of their struggle to oust US-led forces from Afghanistan. The fact that Russia and Iran are accused of supporting the Taliban challenges the narrative that the militants are solely dependent on Pakistan."}], "question": "What do the Taliban gain from Russia?", "id": "493_5"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 5118, "answer_end": 6082, "text": "Softening its approach towards the Afghan Taliban is a dramatic and somehow unexpected shift for Russia. Almost all founding members of the Taliban movement were part of the mujahideen, which fought against the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan in the 1980s. During the factional war that followed the Soviet pullout, Russia provided financial and military support to groups opposed to the Taliban. But after the US invasion of Afghanistan following the 9/11 attacks in the US, the Taliban apparently saw an opportunity to work with Russia. Russia now no longer sees the Taliban as a pressing security threat. Instead, policymakers in Moscow view the group as a reality in Afghanistan which cannot be ignored. In March 2017, President Putin's special envoy for Afghanistan, Zamir Kabulov, even said the Taliban's demand for the withdrawal of foreign troops from Afghanistan was \"justified\" and criticised the long-term presence of US and Nato forces in the country."}], "question": "From enemies to frenemies?", "id": "493_6"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 6083, "answer_end": 7818, "text": "There are three major reasons for Russia-Taliban links. Firstly, Russian officials say these contacts are aimed at ensuring the security of Russian citizens and political offices in Afghanistan, especially in areas where the resurgent Taliban have expanded their territorial control in recent years. At least two Russians were captured by the Afghan Taliban on two separate occasions, in 2013 and 2016, when their helicopters crashed in Taliban-controlled areas. Both were released after lengthy negotiations. Secondly, the emergence of IS in Afghanistan prompted fears in Moscow that the group may expand into Central Asia and Russia. The Afghan Taliban have been fighting against IS in Afghanistan and repeatedly assured neighbouring countries, that unlike IS, their armed struggle is limited to Afghanistan. In December 2015, the Russian president's special representative to Afghanistan, Zamir Kabulov, declared that \"the Taliban interest objectively coincides with ours\" in the fight against IS. Russia has also suggested the possibility of staging a Syrian-style intervention in Afghanistan if IS gained strength and became a \"serious threat\" to the stability of Central Asian countries on the pretext of protecting its \"backyard\". However, US officials say Moscow uses the IS presence as an excuse to justify its meddling in Afghanistan and to further grow its military influence in Central Asia. Thirdly, Russian officials insist the Afghan conflict needs a political, not a military, solution. They have grown increasingly frustrated by and suspicious of the US strategy that has not so far stabilised Afghanistan after 16 years of fighting. Moscow says the contacts are intended to encourage the Taliban to enter peace talks."}], "question": "What does Russia gain?", "id": "493_7"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 7819, "answer_end": 9047, "text": "A resurgent Russia under President Putin has been pushing for influence in Afghanistan, in moves seen as part of an effort to ensure a seat for Moscow at the top table in any future arrangement in the country. This comes at a time when US-Russian relations are at a low point and the geopolitical situation is changing fast. Moscow's increasingly assertive stance is linked to US-Russian tensions in other parts of the world, especially Ukraine and Syria. By establishing links with the Taliban, Moscow seems to be aiming to pressurise and even undermine the US and Nato. Meanwhile, as the rift between Washington and Islamabad grows, Russia and Pakistan are building diplomatic and military relations after decades of hostility. Moscow's reappearance in Afghan affairs is largely designed to irritate the Americans. The persistent accusations traded by the former Cold War powers has to be seen in the context of a wider blame game. Their rivalry is complicating the conflict in Afghanistan, where the number of actors is increasing. This has renewed fears of a \"new Great Game\", with Afghanistan once more a battlefield for regional and international players. A way out of the decades-long quagmire appears as far off as ever."}], "question": "What's the effect on the Afghan conflict?", "id": "493_8"}]}]}, {"title": "Kellyanne Conway: 'I'm a victim of sexual assault'", "date": "30 September 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "White House adviser Kellyanne Conway has revealed that she was sexually assaulted as a younger woman. \"I'm a victim of sexual assault,\" she told CNN without giving details. Ms Conway, 51, has hinted previously that she was molested by Congressmen. The comment came as she was defending President Trump's embattled Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh, who is facing allegations of sexual assault. \"I feel very empathetic... towards victims of sexual assault,\" she said. The Senate vote on Mr Kavanaugh's nomination was delayed dramatically this week when the president ordered further FBI background checks on his character. In an earlier confirmation hearing watched by millions in the US and around the world, Dr Christine Blasey Ford accused the judge of sexually assaulting her when they were teenagers in the 1980s. The FBI is also investigating an allegation of historic sexual misconduct made by at least one other woman, Deborah Ramirez. It is not the first time that she has spoken of prior sexual assault. Ms Conway raised the issue in 2016 while managing Mr Trump's election campaign, passionately defending him when asked in an MSNBC interview about his record in dealing with women. \"I would talk to some of the members of Congress out there,\" she said. \"When I was younger and prettier, them rubbing up against girls, sticking their tongues down women's throats, uninvited, who didn't like it.\" In 2017,  she described that interview as her \"#MeToo moment\", but said that \"nobody cared\" about it due to her political views. Ms Conway made her latest disclosure to CNN's Jake Tapper on his State of the Union news show, saying: \"I feel very empathetic, frankly, towards victims of sexual assault and sexual harassment and rape.\" \"I'm a victim of sexual assault. I don't expect Judge Kavanaugh, or Jake Tapper, or Jeff Flake, or anybody, to be held responsible for that. You have to be responsible for your own conduct,\" she added. \"We do treat people differently who are either the victims or the perpetrators of this based on their politics now, based on their gender. That is a huge mistake.\"", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 947, "answer_end": 1538, "text": "It is not the first time that she has spoken of prior sexual assault. Ms Conway raised the issue in 2016 while managing Mr Trump's election campaign, passionately defending him when asked in an MSNBC interview about his record in dealing with women. \"I would talk to some of the members of Congress out there,\" she said. \"When I was younger and prettier, them rubbing up against girls, sticking their tongues down women's throats, uninvited, who didn't like it.\" In 2017,  she described that interview as her \"#MeToo moment\", but said that \"nobody cared\" about it due to her political views."}], "question": "What did Conway say previously about being assaulted?", "id": "494_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi: IS leader's underwear 'stolen' for DNA test", "date": "29 October 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) have said their spy stole Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi's underwear which was then DNA tested and used to prove his identity before he was killed. A senior SDF commander claimed their source also played a vital role in tracking down the Islamic State (IS) leader's location before an operation by US special forces in Syria. Baghdadi killed himself in the raid. US President Donald Trump has downplayed the role of Kurdish forces. When announcing the raid on 27 October, Mr Trump said the Kurds provided \"helpful\" information but added that they had not carried out \"a military role at all\". But Polat Can insisted the SDF played an important part in the raid in a Twitter thread posted on Monday. \"All intelligence and access to al-Baghdadi as well as the identification of his place were the result of our own work. Our intelligence source was involved in sending coordinates, directing the airdrop, participating in and making the operation a success until the last minute,\" he said. Mr Can added that the SDF had been working with the CIA to track Baghdadi since 15 May, and had discovered that he was hiding in Idlib province, where the raid took place. The source, said Mr Can, had found out that the IS leader was about to move to a new location in Jarablus. The SDF have been key allies of the US in the battle against the Islamic State (IS) group, but earlier this month Mr Trump pulled American troops out of northern Syria. Analysts say the US withdrawal in effect gave Turkey the green light to begin a cross-border assault on the region. Several US allies or powers in the region were given advance notification of the raid, including Turkey, Iraq, Kurdish forces in north-eastern Syria, and Russia, which controls airspace over Idlib. The troops arrived to a barrage of shots from the ground, reports said. On landing, the US force called on Baghdadi, who had fled into a tunnel, to come out and surrender. The force blew holes in the walls to avoid any booby traps in doors. The retreating Baghdadi then detonated his suicide vest, killing himself and three children in the tunnel. Mr Trump said test results carried out on the remains \"gave certain, immediate and totally positive identification\" that it was Baghdadi. The tests were carried out on site by technicians who accompanied the special forces personnel and had samples of Baghdadi's DNA with them, reports said. They combined facial recognition technology and a smaller DNA reader that troops can use aboard their helicopters to obtain the results, according to the Daily Beast. The technicians also brought \"substantial pieces\" of the body back with them on the helicopters. On Monday, the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen Mike Milley, said that American officials had disposed of Baghdadi's remains. He said the burial was now \"complete and was handled appropriately\" without providing any further details. An anonymous official told the Reuters news agency that Baghdadi had been given religious rites according to the Islamic custom and buried at sea. A similar process was carried out following the killing of al-Qaeda founder Osama bin Laden in Pakistan in 2011.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1589, "answer_end": 3180, "text": "Several US allies or powers in the region were given advance notification of the raid, including Turkey, Iraq, Kurdish forces in north-eastern Syria, and Russia, which controls airspace over Idlib. The troops arrived to a barrage of shots from the ground, reports said. On landing, the US force called on Baghdadi, who had fled into a tunnel, to come out and surrender. The force blew holes in the walls to avoid any booby traps in doors. The retreating Baghdadi then detonated his suicide vest, killing himself and three children in the tunnel. Mr Trump said test results carried out on the remains \"gave certain, immediate and totally positive identification\" that it was Baghdadi. The tests were carried out on site by technicians who accompanied the special forces personnel and had samples of Baghdadi's DNA with them, reports said. They combined facial recognition technology and a smaller DNA reader that troops can use aboard their helicopters to obtain the results, according to the Daily Beast. The technicians also brought \"substantial pieces\" of the body back with them on the helicopters. On Monday, the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen Mike Milley, said that American officials had disposed of Baghdadi's remains. He said the burial was now \"complete and was handled appropriately\" without providing any further details. An anonymous official told the Reuters news agency that Baghdadi had been given religious rites according to the Islamic custom and buried at sea. A similar process was carried out following the killing of al-Qaeda founder Osama bin Laden in Pakistan in 2011."}], "question": "What do we know about the raid?", "id": "495_0"}]}]}, {"title": "RHI inquiry: 'No resistance' from DUP spads to RHI scheme on agenda", "date": "5 September 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "A senior civil servant has said he does not \"recall any resistance\" from DUP special advisers to the RHI scheme being placed on the agenda during meetings. Andrew McCormick was appearing before the RHI public inquiry on Wednesday. The claim was made by former enterprise minister Jonathan Bell in his witness statements, which have just been published. Dr McCormick was the top civil servant in the department that ran RHI. He was asked about departmental meetings in the summer of 2015, shortly after Mr Bell became the enterprise minister, as attempts were being made to rush through changes that would stop the haemorrhage of public funds. Mr Bell has claimed in his witness statement that his special adviser, Timothy Cairns, said several DUP advisers did not \"wish the RHI scheme to be on the agenda\". Dr McCormick said he did \"not recall any reluctance or resistance\" from DUP special advisers to the RHI scheme being placed on the agenda during meetings. \"That's the kind of thing I would remember,\" he said. Jonathan Bell is due to appear before the RHI inquiry on Thursday and Friday. When the scandal around the flawed green energy scheme first emerged in December 2016, Mr Bell made the claim that DUP advisers had pressured him not to close the scheme. The inquiry has already received evidence from Dr McCormick claiming Mr Bell had a tense relationship with his special adviser, Timothy Cairns. On Wednesday, Dr McCormick gave more details on that issue and about a row the pair had in a London restaurant in June 2015 over the extent to which Mr Bell was able, as minister, to take his own decisions without recourse to the wider DUP. He said the relationship \"visibly wasn't\" a good one, and that there was an abrupt tone - but it \"didn't cross a line into abusive\". Earlier, Dr McCormick told the inquiry senior officials in the Enterprise Department \"rushed the fences\" in their haste to fix the RHI scheme. He said by the summer of 2015 they could see the obvious issues, but no-one took time to consider whether there was a fundamental flaw that was causing them. Officials knew the RHI scheme was over budget, was attracting a sudden increase in applications and that approval for spending on the scheme from the Department of Finance had lapsed. But they failed to identify that the subsidy on offer was higher than the cost of the fuel for biomass boilers - the central flaw. \"We were too focused on what we thought were the problems,\" Dr McCormick said. All this was happening at the time when the department had already been heavily criticised by auditors in respect of another project it had run. A Public Accounts Committee investigation and an audit office report in March 2015 found that \"poor regard for value for money was endemic in the department\" in respect of a cross-border broadband project called Bytel. Inquiry chair Sir Patrick Coghlin said had Dr McCormick not asked himself the question about RHI: \"Could this be another Bytel\"? Dr McCormick said the thought \"did not crystalise. It probably should have\". Dr McCormick was also asked about a claim from another official that he had \"formally escalated\" concerns to him about potential overcompensation for RHI applicants and suggested a way of suspending the scheme. At a meeting in June 2015, the official suggested that if RHI was in breach of EU state aid rules, it could give the department solid legal ground to stop it. Dr McCormick said it was \"unfortunate\" that the idea had not been pursued, though he disputed that it had been formally escalated, saying there was no record that had been done. Pressed on the detail of the email chain, Dr McCormick said he felt \"very frustrated\" that officials seemed to have gotten \"so close to asking the right questions\". The RHI (Renewable Heat Incentive) scheme was established to encourage uptake of eco-friendly heat systems over the use of fossil fuels. However, an overgenerous offer of fuel subsidies meant it could cost taxpayers an extra PS490m. An independent inquiry into the RHI scandal was established in January 2017. On Wednesday, Dr McCormick also told the RHI inquiry he still struggles with why a whistleblower warning about the key flaw in the scheme was ignored by officials. Businesswoman Janette O'Hagan told the department in 2015 that it was being abused and businesses were burning fuel to harvest subsidy, but the warning was not followed up. Dr McCormick said he only found out about Ms O'Hagan's contact after RHI was closed. He said she had \"exposed the fundamental error\" after just five minutes of research. She had identified that the value of the subsidy being paid for renewable heat was higher than the cost of the fuel to run the biomass boilers. Dr McCormick said he could not understand why she had been ignored at a time when officials were beginning to realise they had a budget problem. He said he could see no \"defensible explanation\" why the information had not been acted on. It had been \"glaringly obvious\" and all it took was for someone to put \"two and two together to get four\". Dr McCormick said it was one of the most serious aspects of the case, but it was a delicate area because it impacted on potential disciplinary processes. The hearing also heard evidence about the working culture within the enterprise department when problems with the scheme first began to emerge. Inquiry panellist Dr Keith MacLean asked if staff were reluctant to speak out because of power struggles or took the view that \"it's not my business and if I do say something I'll get my head bitten off for it\". Dr McCormick said there should have been a message of conveying confidence to staff, adding: \"Machiavelli said culture is the hardest thing to change.\" The senior civil servant also spoke of communication difficulties between civil servants in the energy and finance teams when it came to looking at the scheme's budget, which led to a reliance on emails. Dr MacLean asked: \"Is this an example where someone should have gone along the corridor and banged heads together until they got an answer?\" Dr McCormick said there was a culture of self-protection within the department, adding: \"I know how that feels, I'm not immune to that kind of behaviour.\" He is due to appear to give evidence to the inquiry again in October.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 3761, "answer_end": 4721, "text": "The RHI (Renewable Heat Incentive) scheme was established to encourage uptake of eco-friendly heat systems over the use of fossil fuels. However, an overgenerous offer of fuel subsidies meant it could cost taxpayers an extra PS490m. An independent inquiry into the RHI scandal was established in January 2017. On Wednesday, Dr McCormick also told the RHI inquiry he still struggles with why a whistleblower warning about the key flaw in the scheme was ignored by officials. Businesswoman Janette O'Hagan told the department in 2015 that it was being abused and businesses were burning fuel to harvest subsidy, but the warning was not followed up. Dr McCormick said he only found out about Ms O'Hagan's contact after RHI was closed. He said she had \"exposed the fundamental error\" after just five minutes of research. She had identified that the value of the subsidy being paid for renewable heat was higher than the cost of the fuel to run the biomass boilers."}], "question": "What was the RHI scheme?", "id": "496_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Trump's China tariffs could be imposed in June", "date": "29 May 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "The US has said it plans to impose 25% tariffs on $50bn worth of Chinese imports \"shortly\" after mid-June. Critics had accused the administration of going soft on China after Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said tariffs were on hold while the two sides continue trade talks. But the White House said on Tuesday that a final list of imports slated for tariffs will be published by 15 June. China said it was both \"surprised and unsurprised\" by the move. In a statement, China's Commerce Ministry called on the US to act in the spirit of earlier joint comments. It said: \"This is obviously contrary to the consensus reached between the two sides in Washington not long ago.\" The tougher line from the White House comes ahead of another round of negotiations. US Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross is scheduled to travel to China this week. The trip follows talks in Washington in May. Those ended with a pledge by the Chinese to buy more US agricultural and energy products, but few firm commitments. The tariffs and investment restrictions, as well as a case brought by the US against China before the World Trade Organisation, are the outcome of an investigation the US launched last year into intellectual property practices in China. The US is pushing China to reduce taxes on imports and stop practices that allegedly encourage transfer of intellectual property to Chinese companies, such as requirements that foreign firms share ownership with local partners to access the Chinese market. However, the administration is torn between groups worried about a trade war and hardliners calling for stronger action. US officials published a first draft of items targeted for potential tariffs this spring, triggering a period for comments and feedback. The initial list included about 1,300 items, including medical devices and industrial machinery. The White House said on Tuesday: \"The final list of covered imports will be announced by June 15, 2018, and tariffs will be imposed on those imports shortly thereafter.\" The White House also said it plans to announce new measures to restrict Chinese investment \"related to the acquisition of industrially significant technology\" by 30 June. Those would also be implemented \"shortly thereafter\". On Tuesday, Chuck Schumer, who leads Democrats in the Senate, praised the plans. He said: \"While obviously more details are needed, this outline represents the kind of actions we have needed to take for a long time, but the president must stick with it and not bargain it away.\" If the two sides fail to reach an agreement and the US moves forward with tariffs, Chinese officials have said they plan to retaliate with tariffs of their own on US exports such as soybeans. The White House said on Tuesday: \"Discussions with China will continue on these topics, and the United States looks forward to resolving long-standing structural issues and expanding our exports by eliminating China's severe import restrictions.\"", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 997, "answer_end": 2958, "text": "The tariffs and investment restrictions, as well as a case brought by the US against China before the World Trade Organisation, are the outcome of an investigation the US launched last year into intellectual property practices in China. The US is pushing China to reduce taxes on imports and stop practices that allegedly encourage transfer of intellectual property to Chinese companies, such as requirements that foreign firms share ownership with local partners to access the Chinese market. However, the administration is torn between groups worried about a trade war and hardliners calling for stronger action. US officials published a first draft of items targeted for potential tariffs this spring, triggering a period for comments and feedback. The initial list included about 1,300 items, including medical devices and industrial machinery. The White House said on Tuesday: \"The final list of covered imports will be announced by June 15, 2018, and tariffs will be imposed on those imports shortly thereafter.\" The White House also said it plans to announce new measures to restrict Chinese investment \"related to the acquisition of industrially significant technology\" by 30 June. Those would also be implemented \"shortly thereafter\". On Tuesday, Chuck Schumer, who leads Democrats in the Senate, praised the plans. He said: \"While obviously more details are needed, this outline represents the kind of actions we have needed to take for a long time, but the president must stick with it and not bargain it away.\" If the two sides fail to reach an agreement and the US moves forward with tariffs, Chinese officials have said they plan to retaliate with tariffs of their own on US exports such as soybeans. The White House said on Tuesday: \"Discussions with China will continue on these topics, and the United States looks forward to resolving long-standing structural issues and expanding our exports by eliminating China's severe import restrictions.\""}], "question": "Where did this start?", "id": "497_0"}]}]}, {"title": "James Bond 25: Rami Malek joins cast and Phoebe Waller-Bridge to co-write", "date": "25 April 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Oscar-winning actor Rami Malek is to play a villain in the 25th official James Bond film - but the movie still does not have a title. The cast and creative team have been unveiled at a launch event in Jamaica, with Fleabag creator Phoebe Waller-Bridge confirmed as one of the writers. The unnamed film, which will be released next April, will be Daniel Craig's fifth and final outing as 007. Malek won an Oscar for playing singer Freddie Mercury in Bohemian Rhapsody. The official plot summary mentions \"a mysterious villain armed with dangerous new technology\". Details of Malek's character haven't been revealed and he wasn't at the official launch on Thursday, but he sent a video message confirming he will play a villain. \"I'm stuck here in New York in production but I'm very much looking forward to joining the whole cast and crew,\" said the Egyptian-American actor, who is currently filming TV show Mr Robot. \"I will be making sure Mr Bond does not have an easy ride in this, his 25th outing. See you all soon.\" After watching that, Craig joked that he was \"scared\" about what lay in store for Ian Fleming's suave secret agent. Bond will again be called upon to save the world from a shadowy adversary - all in a day's work for 007. The official plot summary reads: \"Bond has left active service and is enjoying a tranquil life in Jamaica. His peace is short-lived when his old friend Felix Leiter from the CIA turns up asking for help. \"The mission to rescue a kidnapped scientist turns out to be far more treacherous than expected, leading Bond onto the trail of a mysterious villain armed with dangerous new technology.\" At the launch, producer Barbara Broccoli said Bond's attitudes to women would move with the times. \"The Me Too movement has had a huge impact - rightfully, thankfully - on society, and these films should reflect that, as everything we do should,\" she said. Craig told BBC News: \"Bond has always adapted for the times. But you're dealing with a character who is flawed, who has issues, and I think that's something that's worth still exploring and grappling with. \"Of course, we wouldn't be movie-makers or creative people if we didn't have an eye on what was going on in the outside world.\" It was also confirmed that Ralph Fiennes and Ben Whishaw will return as M and Q respectively, with Naomie Harris coming back as Moneypenny and Rory Kinnear again playing MI6 chief of staff Bill Tanner. Lea Seydoux is reprising her Madeleine Swann character from 2015's Spectre, while Jeffrey Wright is returning as ex-CIA agent Felix Leiter. As well as Malek, new cast members include: - English actress Lashana Lynch played Maria Rambeau, the best friend of Brie Larson's Carol Danvers in Captain Marvel, and starred as Rosaline Capulet in ABC's Romeo and Juliet \"sequel\" Still Star-Crossed. - Billy Magnussen, a US actor, has had roles in Black Mirror, Game Night and Bond 25 director Cary Joji Fukunaga's Netflix drama Maniac. - Cuban rising star Ana de Armas was Joi in Blade Runner 2049 and will be seen opposite Daniel Craig in another film, Knives Out, in November. - This is the first major film for French newcomer Dali Benssalah, who studied economics and trained as a Thai boxer before turning to acting. - Swedish-Danish actor David Dencik is best known for roles in Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy and Top of the Lake: China Girl. Writer and actress Waller-Bridge, who was also behind the first series of Killing Eve, is just the second female writer in Bond history - after Johanna Harwood, who worked on Dr No and From Russia With Love. Barbara Broccoli said: \"Daniel [Craig] suggested Phoebe, who we all love, so we leapt at the opportunity and she's been amazing, doing great work.\" The other co-writers on Bond 25 are seasoned Bond scribes Neal Purvis and Robert Wade along with Scott Z Burns, whose credits include 2007's The Bourne Ultimatum. The film is being directed by Cary Joji Fukunaga, whose credits include the first series of HBO's True Detective and Netflix's Maniac. Fukunaga said: \"Daniel is my favourite Bond and I want to make sure this run of films, which have been fantastic, have a really great next chapter and keep upping the ante so whoever is next has a harder job.\" Fukunaga came on board last year after Danny Boyle left the project over unspecified \"creative differences\". There are also changes elsewhere behind the camera. Cinematographer Linus Sandgren, who won an Oscar for Hollywood musical La La Land, comes in as director of photography, while editor Tom Cross won an Oscar for Whiplash. The news of Malek's casting and the other announcements generally went down well on social media. Follow us on Facebook, on Twitter @BBCNewsEnts, or on Instagram at bbcnewsents. If you have a story suggestion email entertainment.news@bbc.co.uk.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 468, "answer_end": 1135, "text": "The official plot summary mentions \"a mysterious villain armed with dangerous new technology\". Details of Malek's character haven't been revealed and he wasn't at the official launch on Thursday, but he sent a video message confirming he will play a villain. \"I'm stuck here in New York in production but I'm very much looking forward to joining the whole cast and crew,\" said the Egyptian-American actor, who is currently filming TV show Mr Robot. \"I will be making sure Mr Bond does not have an easy ride in this, his 25th outing. See you all soon.\" After watching that, Craig joked that he was \"scared\" about what lay in store for Ian Fleming's suave secret agent."}], "question": "What role will Malek play?", "id": "498_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1136, "answer_end": 2222, "text": "Bond will again be called upon to save the world from a shadowy adversary - all in a day's work for 007. The official plot summary reads: \"Bond has left active service and is enjoying a tranquil life in Jamaica. His peace is short-lived when his old friend Felix Leiter from the CIA turns up asking for help. \"The mission to rescue a kidnapped scientist turns out to be far more treacherous than expected, leading Bond onto the trail of a mysterious villain armed with dangerous new technology.\" At the launch, producer Barbara Broccoli said Bond's attitudes to women would move with the times. \"The Me Too movement has had a huge impact - rightfully, thankfully - on society, and these films should reflect that, as everything we do should,\" she said. Craig told BBC News: \"Bond has always adapted for the times. But you're dealing with a character who is flawed, who has issues, and I think that's something that's worth still exploring and grappling with. \"Of course, we wouldn't be movie-makers or creative people if we didn't have an eye on what was going on in the outside world.\""}], "question": "What do we know about the plot?", "id": "498_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2223, "answer_end": 3363, "text": "It was also confirmed that Ralph Fiennes and Ben Whishaw will return as M and Q respectively, with Naomie Harris coming back as Moneypenny and Rory Kinnear again playing MI6 chief of staff Bill Tanner. Lea Seydoux is reprising her Madeleine Swann character from 2015's Spectre, while Jeffrey Wright is returning as ex-CIA agent Felix Leiter. As well as Malek, new cast members include: - English actress Lashana Lynch played Maria Rambeau, the best friend of Brie Larson's Carol Danvers in Captain Marvel, and starred as Rosaline Capulet in ABC's Romeo and Juliet \"sequel\" Still Star-Crossed. - Billy Magnussen, a US actor, has had roles in Black Mirror, Game Night and Bond 25 director Cary Joji Fukunaga's Netflix drama Maniac. - Cuban rising star Ana de Armas was Joi in Blade Runner 2049 and will be seen opposite Daniel Craig in another film, Knives Out, in November. - This is the first major film for French newcomer Dali Benssalah, who studied economics and trained as a Thai boxer before turning to acting. - Swedish-Danish actor David Dencik is best known for roles in Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy and Top of the Lake: China Girl."}], "question": "Who else is in the cast?", "id": "498_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3364, "answer_end": 4558, "text": "Writer and actress Waller-Bridge, who was also behind the first series of Killing Eve, is just the second female writer in Bond history - after Johanna Harwood, who worked on Dr No and From Russia With Love. Barbara Broccoli said: \"Daniel [Craig] suggested Phoebe, who we all love, so we leapt at the opportunity and she's been amazing, doing great work.\" The other co-writers on Bond 25 are seasoned Bond scribes Neal Purvis and Robert Wade along with Scott Z Burns, whose credits include 2007's The Bourne Ultimatum. The film is being directed by Cary Joji Fukunaga, whose credits include the first series of HBO's True Detective and Netflix's Maniac. Fukunaga said: \"Daniel is my favourite Bond and I want to make sure this run of films, which have been fantastic, have a really great next chapter and keep upping the ante so whoever is next has a harder job.\" Fukunaga came on board last year after Danny Boyle left the project over unspecified \"creative differences\". There are also changes elsewhere behind the camera. Cinematographer Linus Sandgren, who won an Oscar for Hollywood musical La La Land, comes in as director of photography, while editor Tom Cross won an Oscar for Whiplash."}], "question": "Who is making the film?", "id": "498_3"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 4559, "answer_end": 4656, "text": "The news of Malek's casting and the other announcements generally went down well on social media."}], "question": "How did fans react?", "id": "498_4"}]}]}, {"title": "Korean loudspeakers: What are the North and South shouting about?", "date": "12 January 2016", "paragraphs": [{"context": "South Korea has responded to North Korea's recent claim to have tested a hydrogen bomb by switching back on its gigantic loudspeakers pointed across the border. North Korea has in turn switched on its own giant speakers. As the world continues to investigate whether the North's bomb claim is true and how it should respond, what are the two Koreas shouting at each other? For the South, their purpose is propaganda - persuading North Korean soldiers to doubt their own regime or even defect. The propaganda programming, running on and off since the Korean War, has become more subtle in recent years. It includes weather reports - making it a useful thing for Northern soldiers to listen to - news from both Koreas and abroad which won't otherwise be heard over the border, dramas, favourable discussion of democracy, capitalism and life in South Korea, and less favourable comments on corruption and mismanagement in the North. The speakers also blast music in the form of Korea's much-loved K-pop, which is banned in the North. Songs from Korean girl band Apink, singer IU and boy band Big Bang - including their megahit Bang Bang Bang - are on the propagandists' playlists. The North's broadcasts are harder to hear - possibly the result of poor speakers - and carry its characteristically strident condemnations of Seoul and its allies. They may not be as powerful, but it is thought they do help cancel out the sound of the South's speakers to some extent. A South Korean military spokesperson said there were two to six hours of broadcasts daily, day and night, at irregular hours. While the exact distance the sound travels will depend on topography, weather conditions and so on, the South Korean military claim the broadcasts can be heard as much as 10 km (6.2 miles) across the border in the day, and up to 24 km (15 miles) across at night. That would easily reach North Korean troops, and would be audible by any civilians in the area. In August, when the South briefly turned its speakers back on after an 11-year break, the military said there were 11 loudspeaker sites. But it has not confirmed if that is still the case. Their exact location along the border is also not officially disclosed. One South Korean government official said the North appears to have expanded its own speaker operations, from two sites to \"several\". \"In fact, the anti-South loudspeaker broadcasts appear to be coming from every location where we are broadcasting,\" the unnamed official told the Yonhap news agency. Pyongyang says it considers them an act of war and has threatened to blow up the speakers. Apart from the regime's usual sensitivity to insults and threats, its anger could be because they might be working. The pop-cultural \"Korean Wave\" has not just broken on distant shores - North Koreans too are fans of movies and dramas smuggled across the border, says Kim Yong Hun, president of Daily NK, an online newspaper reporting on North Korea, with a network of sources inside the country. \"Its popularity trickles down to ordinary residents and is especially favoured by younger generations. Soldiers are not exempt from the obsession; songs and cultural programming transmitted by their brethren in the South holds massive power to influence how young soldiers view the North Korean system.\" \"Prolonged listening of these broadcasts day and night typically has a gradated and ultimately transformative effect,\" Kim Yong Hun says. \"The North Korean government's enraged response is proof positive of the threat these broadcasts pose to its grip on power.\" It is impossible to know. In 2004, the broadcasts were stopped as part of a North-South deal. Seoul threatened to restart theirs in 2010 - going as far as reinstalling them along the border, before settling for radio broadcasts instead. They finally did restart on 10 August 2015 - after a border landmine maimed two South Korean soldiers - only to end just weeks later, as part of another deal with the North to dial back tensions. Some see the broadcasts as unnecessarily provocative. British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond, on a recent visit to Japan, said that resuming the broadcasts was \"simply rising to the bait\". But their defenders argue that the North is annoyed by them precisely because they do work, or at least that they are a useful bargaining chip to use in negotiations. The South also has a radio programme, called \"The Voice of Freedom\", which is transmitted into the North by radio. Dedicated listeners in Seoul can even tune in on FM107.3. Like the loudspeaker broadcasts, they are also sometimes halted. The North also attempts to jam the signal. Other organisations, such as Unification Media Group, also broadcast radio into the North, though typically in a more neutral way than the military's efforts. Still other groups, mostly made up of defectors, drop leaflets, DVDs, USB sticks and other material across the border, using balloons. Nearby residents say this could encourage the North to open fire, and while the government does not like the campaigns, it says it will not stop them.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 373, "answer_end": 1462, "text": "For the South, their purpose is propaganda - persuading North Korean soldiers to doubt their own regime or even defect. The propaganda programming, running on and off since the Korean War, has become more subtle in recent years. It includes weather reports - making it a useful thing for Northern soldiers to listen to - news from both Koreas and abroad which won't otherwise be heard over the border, dramas, favourable discussion of democracy, capitalism and life in South Korea, and less favourable comments on corruption and mismanagement in the North. The speakers also blast music in the form of Korea's much-loved K-pop, which is banned in the North. Songs from Korean girl band Apink, singer IU and boy band Big Bang - including their megahit Bang Bang Bang - are on the propagandists' playlists. The North's broadcasts are harder to hear - possibly the result of poor speakers - and carry its characteristically strident condemnations of Seoul and its allies. They may not be as powerful, but it is thought they do help cancel out the sound of the South's speakers to some extent."}], "question": "What's coming out of the speakers?", "id": "499_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1463, "answer_end": 2508, "text": "A South Korean military spokesperson said there were two to six hours of broadcasts daily, day and night, at irregular hours. While the exact distance the sound travels will depend on topography, weather conditions and so on, the South Korean military claim the broadcasts can be heard as much as 10 km (6.2 miles) across the border in the day, and up to 24 km (15 miles) across at night. That would easily reach North Korean troops, and would be audible by any civilians in the area. In August, when the South briefly turned its speakers back on after an 11-year break, the military said there were 11 loudspeaker sites. But it has not confirmed if that is still the case. Their exact location along the border is also not officially disclosed. One South Korean government official said the North appears to have expanded its own speaker operations, from two sites to \"several\". \"In fact, the anti-South loudspeaker broadcasts appear to be coming from every location where we are broadcasting,\" the unnamed official told the Yonhap news agency."}], "question": "How many broadcasts a day?", "id": "499_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2509, "answer_end": 3563, "text": "Pyongyang says it considers them an act of war and has threatened to blow up the speakers. Apart from the regime's usual sensitivity to insults and threats, its anger could be because they might be working. The pop-cultural \"Korean Wave\" has not just broken on distant shores - North Koreans too are fans of movies and dramas smuggled across the border, says Kim Yong Hun, president of Daily NK, an online newspaper reporting on North Korea, with a network of sources inside the country. \"Its popularity trickles down to ordinary residents and is especially favoured by younger generations. Soldiers are not exempt from the obsession; songs and cultural programming transmitted by their brethren in the South holds massive power to influence how young soldiers view the North Korean system.\" \"Prolonged listening of these broadcasts day and night typically has a gradated and ultimately transformative effect,\" Kim Yong Hun says. \"The North Korean government's enraged response is proof positive of the threat these broadcasts pose to its grip on power.\""}], "question": "Why does North Korea hate them so much?", "id": "499_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3564, "answer_end": 4354, "text": "It is impossible to know. In 2004, the broadcasts were stopped as part of a North-South deal. Seoul threatened to restart theirs in 2010 - going as far as reinstalling them along the border, before settling for radio broadcasts instead. They finally did restart on 10 August 2015 - after a border landmine maimed two South Korean soldiers - only to end just weeks later, as part of another deal with the North to dial back tensions. Some see the broadcasts as unnecessarily provocative. British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond, on a recent visit to Japan, said that resuming the broadcasts was \"simply rising to the bait\". But their defenders argue that the North is annoyed by them precisely because they do work, or at least that they are a useful bargaining chip to use in negotiations."}], "question": "How long will it continue?", "id": "499_3"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 4355, "answer_end": 5080, "text": "The South also has a radio programme, called \"The Voice of Freedom\", which is transmitted into the North by radio. Dedicated listeners in Seoul can even tune in on FM107.3. Like the loudspeaker broadcasts, they are also sometimes halted. The North also attempts to jam the signal. Other organisations, such as Unification Media Group, also broadcast radio into the North, though typically in a more neutral way than the military's efforts. Still other groups, mostly made up of defectors, drop leaflets, DVDs, USB sticks and other material across the border, using balloons. Nearby residents say this could encourage the North to open fire, and while the government does not like the campaigns, it says it will not stop them."}], "question": "How else do messages cross the border?", "id": "499_4"}]}]}, {"title": "Repeat Caesareans 'often safer birth option'", "date": "25 September 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Planned Caesarean delivery can be the safest option for women who have had a Caesarean in the past, according to new research in PLoS Medicine. Attempting a vaginal birth was linked with a small but increased chance of complications for mother and baby compared with repeat Caesareans. The findings come from more than 74,000 births in Scotland. Experts say mums-to-be should be offered a choice of how to deliver - vaginal or Caesarean - when possible. A recent investigation by the BBC's Victoria Derbyshire programme suggests this is not always happening, with many women requesting a Caesarean being denied one. Caesarean sections are when a baby is delivered by making a surgical cut into the abdomen and womb. They can be: - elective or planned -  at the mother's request or for medical reasons, such as the baby is either in the wrong position or very large - emergency - usually because of complications during labour More than one in four births in the UK are by Caesarean. Half of these are planned or elective and half are emergency. Birthing carries risks whichever way it is done. The research carried out in Scotland compared the risks of a planned or elective Caesarean with vaginal delivery (in women who had had a Caesarean in the past) and found: - 45,579 women gave birth by planned Caesarean and 28,464 attempted vaginal birth - 28.4% of those attempting a vaginal birth went on to have an emergency Caesarean - attempting vaginal birth was associated with an increased risk of the mother having serious birth and post-birth related problems compared with electing for another Caesarean section - 1.8% of those attempting a vaginal birth and 0.8% of those having a planned Caesarean experienced serious maternal complications, such as womb rupture, bleeding or infection - Complications for the baby occurred in 8% of the pregnancies with an attempted vaginal birth and 6.4% of the planned Caesareans According to the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, in most cases, women can safely be offered the choice of either because the associated risks will be low. Generally, after one Caesarean about three in four women who go into labour naturally give birth vaginally, while one in four ends up needing an emergency Caesarean. An emergency Caesarean has more risk than a planned one, which women need to be made aware of. Recovering from a Caesarean can take longer and there is a risk of infection and bleeding from the operation. More scar tissue occurs with each Caesarean, which increases the chance of the placenta growing into the scar during future pregnancies and causing complications. There are also small risks to the baby with Caesarean birth which include temporary breathing difficulties and being accidentally cut (which happens to around two in every 100 babies, but usually heals without further harm). A vaginal birth can mean a shorter hospital stay, a quicker recovery and return to everyday activities such as driving, and avoiding the risks of an operation. But it can sometimes lead to a tearing of the perineum - the skin between the vagina and anus. Additionally, for women who have had a previous Caesarean: - a vaginal birth can put strain on the Caesarean scar, which may separate or rupture. This happens to around one in every 200 women - serious risk to the baby, such as brain injury or stillbirth, is higher with vaginal delivery than for a planned Caesarean section A vaginal delivery is not advisable if a woman has had three or more previous Caesareans, say guidelines. Dr Pat O'Brien, consultant obstetrician and spokesperson for the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, said the new research provided useful data to inform women and clinicians when discussing and making decisions around birthing plans. He said: \"Women can be assured that in most cases it is possible and safe to have a vaginal birth, or a planned repeat Caesarean birth, after a previous Caesarean birth. \"A detailed conversation with a woman and her senior obstetrician should take place so she can make an informed choice about the safest way she can plan to give birth and be supported by a team of specialists.\"", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 616, "answer_end": 1044, "text": "Caesarean sections are when a baby is delivered by making a surgical cut into the abdomen and womb. They can be: - elective or planned -  at the mother's request or for medical reasons, such as the baby is either in the wrong position or very large - emergency - usually because of complications during labour More than one in four births in the UK are by Caesarean. Half of these are planned or elective and half are emergency."}], "question": "What is a Caesarean birth?", "id": "500_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1045, "answer_end": 2355, "text": "Birthing carries risks whichever way it is done. The research carried out in Scotland compared the risks of a planned or elective Caesarean with vaginal delivery (in women who had had a Caesarean in the past) and found: - 45,579 women gave birth by planned Caesarean and 28,464 attempted vaginal birth - 28.4% of those attempting a vaginal birth went on to have an emergency Caesarean - attempting vaginal birth was associated with an increased risk of the mother having serious birth and post-birth related problems compared with electing for another Caesarean section - 1.8% of those attempting a vaginal birth and 0.8% of those having a planned Caesarean experienced serious maternal complications, such as womb rupture, bleeding or infection - Complications for the baby occurred in 8% of the pregnancies with an attempted vaginal birth and 6.4% of the planned Caesareans According to the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, in most cases, women can safely be offered the choice of either because the associated risks will be low. Generally, after one Caesarean about three in four women who go into labour naturally give birth vaginally, while one in four ends up needing an emergency Caesarean. An emergency Caesarean has more risk than a planned one, which women need to be made aware of."}], "question": "Which is safer - vaginal or Caesarean?", "id": "500_1"}]}]}, {"title": "Afghan conflict: What we know about Kunduz hospital bombing", "date": "25 November 2015", "paragraphs": [{"context": "International charity Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) has demanded an independent international investigation into the US bombing of its hospital in the city of Kunduz in northern Afghanistan. At least 30 people, including MSF staff, were killed in the early morning attack of 3 October. MSF says dozens were injured and the hospital severely damaged. The US in November 2015 said that the crew of a warplane that attacked the hospital misidentified it - believing it to be a government compound taken over by the Taliban. In the early morning of 3 October, a US AC-130 gunship conducted an air strike on what crew members thought was a Taliban compound. US officials have blamed malfunctioning electronics and human error for the targeting mistake. An investigation by the US in November 2015 said that the crew of the AC-130 gunship relied on a physical description of the compound provided by Afghan forces. It was this which led the crew to attack the wrong hospital, which was about 410m (1345ft) away from the intended target. The US military and MSF have differing accounts of the barrage, including the duration and the attempts made to stop it. The military claims that the strike lasted for approximately 29 minutes, and ended before commanders realised a mistake had been made - despite a call from MSF urging an end to the firing 12 minutes into the attack. The charity says that the firing lasted for nearly an hour, and desperate phone calls asking the military to stop firing were still being made about 20 minutes after the military says the assault ended. MSF says the warring sides were well aware of the hospital's location in Kunduz, and have described the attack as a war crime and a black day in its history. In a review released in early November, the charity said there were no weapons or fighting inside the compound in Kunduz before the bombing started. The report said hospital staff were shot at from the air while fleeing the premises. The US investigators said they found no evidence that the aircraft crew or US Special Forces on the ground knew the targeted compound was a hospital at the time of the attack. The Afghan defence ministry said \"armed terrorists\" were using the hospital \"as a position to target Afghan forces and civilians\". But MSF has denied this: \"Not a single member of our staff reported any fighting inside the hospital compound prior to the US air strike on Saturday morning.\" The US military's explanation for the incident has been muddied because it has changed its account of how the air strike came about. Statements initially said US forces had come under fire, but then said air strikes were requested by Afghan forces under Taliban fire. The US military chief in Afghanistan Gen John Campbell admitted in October 2015 that \"the decision to provide aerial fires was a US decision, made within the US chain of command\". In November, he said that the US had \"learned from this terrible incident,\" and that officials would be taking \"administrative and disciplinary action through a process that is fair and thorough (and) considers the available evidence.\" MSF says that statements from the Afghan and US forces imply they worked together to deliberately target the hospital - and amount to an admission of a war crime. The organisation's president Joanne Liu said they \"cannot rely on internal military investigations by the US, Nato and Afghan forces\". She has called on the International Humanitarian Fact-Finding Commission (IHFFC) - a never-used body established in 1991 under the Geneva Conventions - to investigate. The IHFFC is \"the only permanent body set up specifically to investigate violations of international humanitarian law\", Ms Liu said, and she called on the commission's signatory states to activate an inquiry. However, according to the IHFFC provisions, an inquiry needs the specific endorsement of the parties to the conflict. Neither the US nor Afghanistan is a signatory, and therefore they would have to issue separate declarations of consent to the investigation of the Kunduz bombing. After details of the November 2015 US military investigation were released, MSF reiterated its calls for \"an independent and impartial investigation into the attack,\" and said the errors detailed in the investigation illustrate \"gross negligence on the part of US forces and violations of the rules of war\". War crimes are acts that constitute a grave breach of the laws of war. At the heart of the concept is the idea that an individual can be held responsible for the actions of a country or that nation's soldiers. According to the International Criminal Court (ICC), war crimes can include: - murder - mutilation, cruel treatment and torture - taking of hostages - intentionally directing attacks against the civilian population - intentionally directing attacks against buildings dedicated to religion, education, art, science or charitable purposes, historical monuments or hospitals - pillaging - rape, sexual slavery, forced pregnancy or any other form of sexual violence - conscripting or enlisting children under the age of 15 years into armed forces or groups or using them to participate actively in hostilities. International humanitarian law bans any attack on patients and medical personnel - indeed, any attack on medical facilities, which are zones that must be respected under the rules of war. Even if combatants, such as the Taliban, take refuge in them, they should not be attacked. In the case of Kunduz, US investigators say that the attacking plane fired 211 shells at the compound over a 25-minute period before commanders realised their mistake and ordered a halt. Under rules established by the ICC, any such incident would probably result in too high a number of civilian casualties - what is called the rule of proportionality. According to Human Rights Watch, \"given the hospital's protected status and the large numbers of civilians and medical personnel in the facility, attacking the hospital would still likely have been an unlawfully disproportionate attack, causing greater harm to civilians and civilian structures than any immediate military gain. \"The laws of war require that even if military forces misuse a hospital to deploy able-bodied combatants or weapons, the attacking force must issue a warning to cease this misuse, setting a reasonable time limit for it to end, and attacking only after such a warning has gone unheeded,\" the group said in a statement. Under international humanitarian law \"constant care must be taken to spare the civilian population, civilians and civilian objects\". Medical units, the rules say, \"must be respected and protected in all circumstances\", although \"they lose their protection if they are being used, outside their humanitarian function, to commit acts harmful to the enemy\". In February 2009, nine people were killed by shells which hit a hospital in a rebel-held area of north-east Sri Lanka. The hospital, in the town of Puthukkudiyiruppu, Mullaitivu district, was hit three times in 24 hours, and shells were said to have hit a crowded paediatric unit. Sri Lanka's army denied it was behind the shelling. It accused separatist Tamil Tiger rebels of using civilians as human shields. The International Committee of the Red Cross at the time called the strikes \"significant breaches of international humanitarian law\". Last year, at least five people were killed and 70 injured by an Israeli strike on a hospital in Gaza. Doctors at the al-Aqsa Hospital in Deir al-Balah in the central Gaza Strip say several Israeli tank shells hit the hospital's reception, intensive care unit and operating theatres. The Israeli military said it had targeted a cache of anti-tank missiles in the hospital's \"immediate vicinity\". \"Civilian casualties are a tragic inevitability of [Hamas'] brutal and systematic exploitation of homes, hospitals and mosques in Gaza,\" it said in a statement. Experts point out that this is not the first time international humanitarian law may have been violated in Afghanistan's current conflict. At least 18,000 civilians have died in 14 years of war. Hundreds of people have been killed in coalition raids and bombings - although many more have been killed in militant attacks. At times, foreign and local troops have entered medical facilities to arrest people. But because of its long-term implications on medical assistance, the Kunduz incident, in the words of one ICRC official, ranks as an especially serious one.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 522, "answer_end": 1031, "text": "In the early morning of 3 October, a US AC-130 gunship conducted an air strike on what crew members thought was a Taliban compound. US officials have blamed malfunctioning electronics and human error for the targeting mistake. An investigation by the US in November 2015 said that the crew of the AC-130 gunship relied on a physical description of the compound provided by Afghan forces. It was this which led the crew to attack the wrong hospital, which was about 410m (1345ft) away from the intended target."}], "question": "What happened?", "id": "501_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1032, "answer_end": 3113, "text": "The US military and MSF have differing accounts of the barrage, including the duration and the attempts made to stop it. The military claims that the strike lasted for approximately 29 minutes, and ended before commanders realised a mistake had been made - despite a call from MSF urging an end to the firing 12 minutes into the attack. The charity says that the firing lasted for nearly an hour, and desperate phone calls asking the military to stop firing were still being made about 20 minutes after the military says the assault ended. MSF says the warring sides were well aware of the hospital's location in Kunduz, and have described the attack as a war crime and a black day in its history. In a review released in early November, the charity said there were no weapons or fighting inside the compound in Kunduz before the bombing started. The report said hospital staff were shot at from the air while fleeing the premises. The US investigators said they found no evidence that the aircraft crew or US Special Forces on the ground knew the targeted compound was a hospital at the time of the attack. The Afghan defence ministry said \"armed terrorists\" were using the hospital \"as a position to target Afghan forces and civilians\". But MSF has denied this: \"Not a single member of our staff reported any fighting inside the hospital compound prior to the US air strike on Saturday morning.\" The US military's explanation for the incident has been muddied because it has changed its account of how the air strike came about. Statements initially said US forces had come under fire, but then said air strikes were requested by Afghan forces under Taliban fire. The US military chief in Afghanistan Gen John Campbell admitted in October 2015 that \"the decision to provide aerial fires was a US decision, made within the US chain of command\". In November, he said that the US had \"learned from this terrible incident,\" and that officials would be taking \"administrative and disciplinary action through a process that is fair and thorough (and) considers the available evidence.\""}], "question": "Who is saying what?", "id": "501_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3114, "answer_end": 4377, "text": "MSF says that statements from the Afghan and US forces imply they worked together to deliberately target the hospital - and amount to an admission of a war crime. The organisation's president Joanne Liu said they \"cannot rely on internal military investigations by the US, Nato and Afghan forces\". She has called on the International Humanitarian Fact-Finding Commission (IHFFC) - a never-used body established in 1991 under the Geneva Conventions - to investigate. The IHFFC is \"the only permanent body set up specifically to investigate violations of international humanitarian law\", Ms Liu said, and she called on the commission's signatory states to activate an inquiry. However, according to the IHFFC provisions, an inquiry needs the specific endorsement of the parties to the conflict. Neither the US nor Afghanistan is a signatory, and therefore they would have to issue separate declarations of consent to the investigation of the Kunduz bombing. After details of the November 2015 US military investigation were released, MSF reiterated its calls for \"an independent and impartial investigation into the attack,\" and said the errors detailed in the investigation illustrate \"gross negligence on the part of US forces and violations of the rules of war\"."}], "question": "What does MSF want to happen now?", "id": "501_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 4378, "answer_end": 5194, "text": "War crimes are acts that constitute a grave breach of the laws of war. At the heart of the concept is the idea that an individual can be held responsible for the actions of a country or that nation's soldiers. According to the International Criminal Court (ICC), war crimes can include: - murder - mutilation, cruel treatment and torture - taking of hostages - intentionally directing attacks against the civilian population - intentionally directing attacks against buildings dedicated to religion, education, art, science or charitable purposes, historical monuments or hospitals - pillaging - rape, sexual slavery, forced pregnancy or any other form of sexual violence - conscripting or enlisting children under the age of 15 years into armed forces or groups or using them to participate actively in hostilities."}], "question": "What constitutes a war crime?", "id": "501_3"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 5195, "answer_end": 6828, "text": "International humanitarian law bans any attack on patients and medical personnel - indeed, any attack on medical facilities, which are zones that must be respected under the rules of war. Even if combatants, such as the Taliban, take refuge in them, they should not be attacked. In the case of Kunduz, US investigators say that the attacking plane fired 211 shells at the compound over a 25-minute period before commanders realised their mistake and ordered a halt. Under rules established by the ICC, any such incident would probably result in too high a number of civilian casualties - what is called the rule of proportionality. According to Human Rights Watch, \"given the hospital's protected status and the large numbers of civilians and medical personnel in the facility, attacking the hospital would still likely have been an unlawfully disproportionate attack, causing greater harm to civilians and civilian structures than any immediate military gain. \"The laws of war require that even if military forces misuse a hospital to deploy able-bodied combatants or weapons, the attacking force must issue a warning to cease this misuse, setting a reasonable time limit for it to end, and attacking only after such a warning has gone unheeded,\" the group said in a statement. Under international humanitarian law \"constant care must be taken to spare the civilian population, civilians and civilian objects\". Medical units, the rules say, \"must be respected and protected in all circumstances\", although \"they lose their protection if they are being used, outside their humanitarian function, to commit acts harmful to the enemy\"."}], "question": "What do international rules say about the bombing of hospitals?", "id": "501_4"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 6829, "answer_end": 7930, "text": "In February 2009, nine people were killed by shells which hit a hospital in a rebel-held area of north-east Sri Lanka. The hospital, in the town of Puthukkudiyiruppu, Mullaitivu district, was hit three times in 24 hours, and shells were said to have hit a crowded paediatric unit. Sri Lanka's army denied it was behind the shelling. It accused separatist Tamil Tiger rebels of using civilians as human shields. The International Committee of the Red Cross at the time called the strikes \"significant breaches of international humanitarian law\". Last year, at least five people were killed and 70 injured by an Israeli strike on a hospital in Gaza. Doctors at the al-Aqsa Hospital in Deir al-Balah in the central Gaza Strip say several Israeli tank shells hit the hospital's reception, intensive care unit and operating theatres. The Israeli military said it had targeted a cache of anti-tank missiles in the hospital's \"immediate vicinity\". \"Civilian casualties are a tragic inevitability of [Hamas'] brutal and systematic exploitation of homes, hospitals and mosques in Gaza,\" it said in a statement."}], "question": "Have there been other such bombings elsewhere?", "id": "501_5"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 7931, "answer_end": 8494, "text": "Experts point out that this is not the first time international humanitarian law may have been violated in Afghanistan's current conflict. At least 18,000 civilians have died in 14 years of war. Hundreds of people have been killed in coalition raids and bombings - although many more have been killed in militant attacks. At times, foreign and local troops have entered medical facilities to arrest people. But because of its long-term implications on medical assistance, the Kunduz incident, in the words of one ICRC official, ranks as an especially serious one."}], "question": "Has something like this happened before in Afghanistan?", "id": "501_6"}]}]}, {"title": "Uber to block low-rating riders in Australia and New Zealand", "date": "5 September 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Uber is to block customers in Australia and New Zealand from its ride service if they have a low passenger rating. Riders rated four-out-of-five stars or lower will be banned for six months. Ratings are based on feedback left by drivers after each journey. The move is aimed at improving passenger behaviour, the company said. Uber told the BBC that Australia and New Zealand had been identified as a place to bring in the rule after feedback from drivers. The same policy was introduced in Brazil earlier this this year, Uber said, but it's the first time the control has been rolled out in an English-speaking market. An Uber spokeswoman declined to be drawn on exactly how many of its 2.8 million users in Australia and New Zealand currently had ratings of below 4.0 - but conceded it was only \"a few thousand\". The \"vast majority\" - believed to be more than 90% - had ratings of at least 4.5, the company said. The policy will kick in on 19 September and passengers will receive several warnings before they are banned. Susan Anderson, general director of Uber in Australia and New Zealand, said riders with a 4.0 rating or below would have received a number of one-star reviews from drivers. \"These are the small percentage of riders who are persistently not treating drivers with respect,\" she told Channel Seven's Sunrise programme on Wednesday. She said drivers expected basic courtesy from riders. Poor behaviour included users not being at their pick-up spot, or organising pick-ups in unsafe areas on the road. \"Be polite and considerate. Take your rubbish with you and don't make a mess in the car,\" Ms Anderson said. The company sent out a number of tips to users last month aimed at improving customer scores.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1024, "answer_end": 1723, "text": "Susan Anderson, general director of Uber in Australia and New Zealand, said riders with a 4.0 rating or below would have received a number of one-star reviews from drivers. \"These are the small percentage of riders who are persistently not treating drivers with respect,\" she told Channel Seven's Sunrise programme on Wednesday. She said drivers expected basic courtesy from riders. Poor behaviour included users not being at their pick-up spot, or organising pick-ups in unsafe areas on the road. \"Be polite and considerate. Take your rubbish with you and don't make a mess in the car,\" Ms Anderson said. The company sent out a number of tips to users last month aimed at improving customer scores."}], "question": "What lowers your score?", "id": "502_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Spy poisoning: Russia expels more UK diplomats", "date": "31 March 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Russia has told Britain a total of more than 50 of its diplomats will have to leave, amid a deepening row over the poisoning of a former Russian spy and his daughter in the UK. Moscow initially expelled 23 British diplomats after 23 Russian diplomats were ordered out by London. But now the Russians are insisting that even more UK diplomats should leave. It says the UK and Russian diplomatic missions should be the same size in each country. In practice that would mean at least another 27 UK officials being sent home, the BBC's Paul Adams reports from Moscow. But it is also possible that some of the additional reduction could be made up by laying off local staff. The British government blames Russia for the nerve agent attack on Sergei and Yulia Skripal in Salisbury in southern England on 4 March. Moscow denies it. Mr Skripal remains in a critical but stable condition. Yulia's condition is said to be improving. On Friday the British ambassador in Moscow, Laurie Bristow, was told that the UK had a month to cut its diplomatic mission in Russia to the same size as the Russian mission in Britain. On Saturday, Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told Reuters news agency that meant Britain would have to cut \"a little over 50\" of its diplomats in Russia. \"We asked for parity,\" she said. A UK Foreign Office spokeswoman said: \"The Russian response is regrettable but in light of Russia's previous behaviour, we anticipated a response. \"However, this doesn't change the facts of the matter: the attempted assassination of two people on British soil, for which there is no alternative conclusion other than that the Russian state was culpable.\" Some 150 Russian diplomats have been expelled by mainly Western countries as their governments have rallied behind Britain. Russia initially hit back at the UK, but then announced 60 US expulsions in reaction to Washington's expulsion of a similar number of Russian diplomats. On Friday, Russia called in a string of foreign ambassadors with news that their own countries' measures were being matched. UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres on Thursday issued a warning over \"a situation that is similar, to a large extent, to what we lived during the Cold War\". Russia's ministry of transport has meanwhile demanded an official explanation over the searching of an Aeroflot passenger plane by UK officials at London's Heathrow airport on Friday. \"If there is no explanation, the Russian side will deem the actions towards our plane as illegal and also reserve the right to take similar action against British airlines,\" it said in a statement. UK Security Minister Ben Wallace said in a statement that it was \"routine for Border Force to search aircraft to protect the UK from organised crime and from those who attempt to bring harmful substances like drugs or firearms into the country\". He added: \"Once these checks were carried out the plane was allowed to carry on with its onward journey.\" A man identified as the pilot, Vitaly Mitrofanov, has told Russian TV he refused to leave the aircraft and was confined to the cockpit while British officials accompanied by a sniffer dog searched it. By Paul Adams, BBC News, Moscow British diplomats left Moscow a week ago, but ambassador Laurie Bristow was summoned back to the foreign ministry for additional punishment. Beyond the issue of parity, the Russian side hasn't really explained why it's made the latest demand. But it's clear that Russia sees Britain as the ringleader of an international conspiracy which resulted in the biggest mass expulsion of Russian diplomats in history. Britain's \"provocative and unjustified actions\", the ministry said, had \"inspired the unfounded expulsion of Russian diplomats\". It's a backhanded compliment to Prime Minister Theresa May, who has successfully corralled a wider international coalition than anyone would have thought possible a month ago. Russia has railed against the British government over its efforts to internationalise what officials here call \"the so-called Skripal affair\". The solidarity expressed by so many countries has been dismissed as a result of financial and political pressure, orchestrated in tandem with the US. Twenty-nine countries expelled 145 Russian officials in solidarity with the UK - and Nato also ordered 10 Russians out of its mission in Belgium. The US expelled the largest single number - 60 diplomats - and closed the Russian consulate general in Seattle. Russia reciprocated on Thursday declaring 58 US diplomats in Moscow and two in the city of Yekaterinburg to be \"personae non gratae\". It also announced the closure of the US consulate in St Petersburg. The US said it had been expecting the move and warned it may take further action. On Friday, ambassadors from Albania, Australia, Canada, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Macedonia, Moldova, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Romania, Spain, Sweden and Ukraine were told to send home staff from their missions - corresponding to the same number of Russians their countries had expelled. A statement by the Russian foreign ministry also said that Russia \"reserves the right to take retaliatory measures\" against Belgium, Hungary, Georgia and Montenegro - countries that had joined the co-ordinated action against Russia \"at the last moment\". Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has blamed \"harsh pressure from the United States and Britain under the pretext of the so-called Skripal case\". He reiterated Russian calls for consular access to Yulia Skripal - a Russian citizen. The UK Foreign Office says it is considering this \"in line with our obligations under international  and domestic law, including the rights and wishes of Yulia Skripal\". Russia, Mr Lavrov said, was also seeking a meeting with leaders of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) to \"establish the truth\".", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1316, "answer_end": 2232, "text": "A UK Foreign Office spokeswoman said: \"The Russian response is regrettable but in light of Russia's previous behaviour, we anticipated a response. \"However, this doesn't change the facts of the matter: the attempted assassination of two people on British soil, for which there is no alternative conclusion other than that the Russian state was culpable.\" Some 150 Russian diplomats have been expelled by mainly Western countries as their governments have rallied behind Britain. Russia initially hit back at the UK, but then announced 60 US expulsions in reaction to Washington's expulsion of a similar number of Russian diplomats. On Friday, Russia called in a string of foreign ambassadors with news that their own countries' measures were being matched. UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres on Thursday issued a warning over \"a situation that is similar, to a large extent, to what we lived during the Cold War\"."}], "question": "How has the UK reacted?", "id": "503_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 4208, "answer_end": 5381, "text": "Twenty-nine countries expelled 145 Russian officials in solidarity with the UK - and Nato also ordered 10 Russians out of its mission in Belgium. The US expelled the largest single number - 60 diplomats - and closed the Russian consulate general in Seattle. Russia reciprocated on Thursday declaring 58 US diplomats in Moscow and two in the city of Yekaterinburg to be \"personae non gratae\". It also announced the closure of the US consulate in St Petersburg. The US said it had been expecting the move and warned it may take further action. On Friday, ambassadors from Albania, Australia, Canada, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Macedonia, Moldova, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Romania, Spain, Sweden and Ukraine were told to send home staff from their missions - corresponding to the same number of Russians their countries had expelled. A statement by the Russian foreign ministry also said that Russia \"reserves the right to take retaliatory measures\" against Belgium, Hungary, Georgia and Montenegro - countries that had joined the co-ordinated action against Russia \"at the last moment\"."}], "question": "Which other countries are involved?", "id": "503_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 5382, "answer_end": 5945, "text": "Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has blamed \"harsh pressure from the United States and Britain under the pretext of the so-called Skripal case\". He reiterated Russian calls for consular access to Yulia Skripal - a Russian citizen. The UK Foreign Office says it is considering this \"in line with our obligations under international  and domestic law, including the rights and wishes of Yulia Skripal\". Russia, Mr Lavrov said, was also seeking a meeting with leaders of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) to \"establish the truth\"."}], "question": "What is Russia's argument?", "id": "503_2"}]}]}, {"title": "John Worboys: Parole chief apologises to victims", "date": "5 January 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "The chairman of the Parole Board has apologised \"unreservedly\" that some victims of sex attacker John Worboys were not told about his release. The former black-cab driver served ten years after being convicted of 19 offences, including one rape, although police believe he attacked many more. The CPS said 83 complaints were made during the initial investigation, but many did not pass the evidential test. A number of victims' groups have condemned his release. Parole Board chairman Nick Hardwick said hearing the decision must have been \"horrible\" for the women, but the board was \"confident\" 60-year-old Worboys would not reoffend. He said the fact some victims were not informed was a fault with the parole system, but the decision itself would have been carefully considered. Prof Hardwick is to be summoned before the House of Commons Justice Committee to explain how the decision was reached and why some victims had not been informed. \"We look at a whole range of evidence - both what happened in the original offences, the judge's sentencing remarks, the programmes or work a prisoner has done, reports from people who know the prisoner well,\" he said. \"So we look at a whole range of evidence in coming to our decision. And we have to be confident that someone won't reoffend before we release them. And that's what the panel would have done in this case.\" The CPS said Sir Keir Starmer did not have \"any involvement\" in Worboys' case. He had faced questions over the release as he was director of public prosecutions at the time of Worboys' trial. Why was he released from indefinite term? The committee's chairman Bob Neill said what had happened was \"very disturbing\" and it was \"vital that the public has confidence in Parole Board decisions\". London Mayor Sadiq Khan, who called on the Parole Board to reconsider its decision, said: \"Too often victims are at best treated as an afterthought, or ignored altogether and this seems to have happened again in this case.\" The Met Police revealed in 2010 that 19 other victims had come forward in the wake of Worboys's conviction. Officers suspected he had attacked more than 100 women between 2002 and 2008. These allegations were investigated, but no further action was taken on the advice of the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), police said. In a statement, the Metropolitan Police added that \"all 19 complainants were notified.\" In October 2010, the CPS said in a statement: \"We have seen no new material since the trial and we actually considered somewhere between 35 and 40 case files at the time.\" BBC home affairs correspondent Danny Shaw said it was \"far from clear that the Met Police ever asked the CPS to make further charging decisions\". Speaking outside his home on Friday, Sir Keir Starmer said that if anybody felt allegations they had made had not been sufficiently investigated they should \"go to the police\". When asked whether he thought the right decision was made by prosecutors, the shadow Brexit secretary said only the Crown Prosecution Service could provide \"an accurate readout of the decisions that were made\". As BBC home affairs correspondent Danny Shaw explains, Parole Board members are kept busy. Last year they dealt with 500 cases each week, most of which were considered \"on the papers\", in other words by reading documents and reports about a prisoner. But in the most serious cases, involving about 7,000 inmates, they held oral hearings. These enable the parole panel to question the prisoner who is seeking release and form a judgment about whether they are prepared for life beyond bars, committed to reform their ways and able to be safely managed in the community. To help them make that assessment, panels usually take evidence from prison and probation staff and psychologists who have examined the offender. A representative of the justice secretary will make a submission and the offender's victims are allowed to read out a statement. Parole members will also have spent time scrutinising dozens of files detailing the prisoner's offending history, the trial judge's sentencing remarks and a record of their progress in jail. One of Worboys's victims told BBC News she was unaware that his parole hearing had been successful and he was due to be let out. And Harriet Wistrich, a lawyer who represents two of Worboys's victims, said neither woman had received a letter to inform them the convicted rapist would be released. She said one of the women felt she should not have had to \"receive the news and see his face everywhere while cooking tea for her children\". Responsibility for informing victims about Worboys's release rested with the National Probation Service. The Ministry of Justice said some victims had chosen not to be updated about the case while others decided to be informed by letters which would have taken some time to arrive. \"Our priority is to support victims and it is right that we respect their decisions about how they are contacted,\" a spokesperson said. The ruling by the Parole Board - which examines the cases of prisoners in England and Wales - has sparked outrage among victims' support groups. The charity Rape Crisis described Worboys's period of incarceration as \"woefully short\" for such a \"dangerous and manipulative perpetrator\". Lisa Thompson, from the Rape and Sexual Violence Project charity, said the decision was \"a massive failure of women who courageously went to the police in the first place and had then gone to court\". Specialist abuse lawyer Richard Scorer, whose firm represented 11 of the victims, said the Parole Board must reveal whether \"manipulative\" Worboys \"has finally admitted his crimes and shown any remorse\". Chair of the House of Commons Home Affairs Committee Yvette Cooper has called for the Parole Board to publish its decisions, although Prof Hardwick said the board was forbidden by law from disclosing such details. A cross party group of 58 MPs has also written to the Secretary of State for Justice David Lidington calling for investigation into whether the voices of Worboys's victims were heard during the decision to release him. Prof Hardwick said he wanted to make the Parole Board's decisions more transparent and he would \"welcome the backing of MPs to do that\". But he said a consultation was required first \"as it was not straightforward process\". Worboys, a former stripper from Rotherhithe, south-east London, targeted young women who had been drinking in the West End of London After deceiving them with a ruse that he had won the lottery, he produced champagne and a carrier bag stuffed with cash, before inviting them to celebrate with him. But the alcohol was laced with powerful sedatives, and once the drugs had taken hold he attacked the women in the back of his cab. Worboys was convicted in 2009 of 19 charges of drugging and sexually assaulting 12 passengers and one charge of rape. He was given an indeterminate sentence of imprisonment for public protection (IPP) and told he would not be released until parole officials were convinced he did not pose a threat to women. Worboys was ordered to serve at least eight years in jail. When he is released from prison later this month he will have spent a decade in custody, including a period on remand. IPP sentences were abolished in 2012 after it emerged that they were being used more widely than intended, but the decision was not applied retrospectively to more than 6,000 IPP prisoners - including Worboys - who were behind bars at that time. Malcolm Fowler, a retired solicitor with 48 years' experience, said Worboys \"would be anything but a free man\" on his release from prison. The 60 year old will be subject to licence conditions including weekly reporting to his supervisor. Any breach of his conditions could lead to his recall to prison.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1983, "answer_end": 3098, "text": "The Met Police revealed in 2010 that 19 other victims had come forward in the wake of Worboys's conviction. Officers suspected he had attacked more than 100 women between 2002 and 2008. These allegations were investigated, but no further action was taken on the advice of the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), police said. In a statement, the Metropolitan Police added that \"all 19 complainants were notified.\" In October 2010, the CPS said in a statement: \"We have seen no new material since the trial and we actually considered somewhere between 35 and 40 case files at the time.\" BBC home affairs correspondent Danny Shaw said it was \"far from clear that the Met Police ever asked the CPS to make further charging decisions\". Speaking outside his home on Friday, Sir Keir Starmer said that if anybody felt allegations they had made had not been sufficiently investigated they should \"go to the police\". When asked whether he thought the right decision was made by prosecutors, the shadow Brexit secretary said only the Crown Prosecution Service could provide \"an accurate readout of the decisions that were made\"."}], "question": "Why do the police believe he attacked more women - and why were no more prosecutions brought?", "id": "504_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3099, "answer_end": 4133, "text": "As BBC home affairs correspondent Danny Shaw explains, Parole Board members are kept busy. Last year they dealt with 500 cases each week, most of which were considered \"on the papers\", in other words by reading documents and reports about a prisoner. But in the most serious cases, involving about 7,000 inmates, they held oral hearings. These enable the parole panel to question the prisoner who is seeking release and form a judgment about whether they are prepared for life beyond bars, committed to reform their ways and able to be safely managed in the community. To help them make that assessment, panels usually take evidence from prison and probation staff and psychologists who have examined the offender. A representative of the justice secretary will make a submission and the offender's victims are allowed to read out a statement. Parole members will also have spent time scrutinising dozens of files detailing the prisoner's offending history, the trial judge's sentencing remarks and a record of their progress in jail."}], "question": "How does the Parole Board operate?", "id": "504_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 4134, "answer_end": 4989, "text": "One of Worboys's victims told BBC News she was unaware that his parole hearing had been successful and he was due to be let out. And Harriet Wistrich, a lawyer who represents two of Worboys's victims, said neither woman had received a letter to inform them the convicted rapist would be released. She said one of the women felt she should not have had to \"receive the news and see his face everywhere while cooking tea for her children\". Responsibility for informing victims about Worboys's release rested with the National Probation Service. The Ministry of Justice said some victims had chosen not to be updated about the case while others decided to be informed by letters which would have taken some time to arrive. \"Our priority is to support victims and it is right that we respect their decisions about how they are contacted,\" a spokesperson said."}], "question": "Why were some victims not told about Worboys's release?", "id": "504_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 4990, "answer_end": 6112, "text": "The ruling by the Parole Board - which examines the cases of prisoners in England and Wales - has sparked outrage among victims' support groups. The charity Rape Crisis described Worboys's period of incarceration as \"woefully short\" for such a \"dangerous and manipulative perpetrator\". Lisa Thompson, from the Rape and Sexual Violence Project charity, said the decision was \"a massive failure of women who courageously went to the police in the first place and had then gone to court\". Specialist abuse lawyer Richard Scorer, whose firm represented 11 of the victims, said the Parole Board must reveal whether \"manipulative\" Worboys \"has finally admitted his crimes and shown any remorse\". Chair of the House of Commons Home Affairs Committee Yvette Cooper has called for the Parole Board to publish its decisions, although Prof Hardwick said the board was forbidden by law from disclosing such details. A cross party group of 58 MPs has also written to the Secretary of State for Justice David Lidington calling for investigation into whether the voices of Worboys's victims were heard during the decision to release him."}], "question": "Were victims' voices heard strongly enough?", "id": "504_3"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 6113, "answer_end": 6336, "text": "Prof Hardwick said he wanted to make the Parole Board's decisions more transparent and he would \"welcome the backing of MPs to do that\". But he said a consultation was required first \"as it was not straightforward process\"."}], "question": "What might happen now?", "id": "504_4"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 6337, "answer_end": 6765, "text": "Worboys, a former stripper from Rotherhithe, south-east London, targeted young women who had been drinking in the West End of London After deceiving them with a ruse that he had won the lottery, he produced champagne and a carrier bag stuffed with cash, before inviting them to celebrate with him. But the alcohol was laced with powerful sedatives, and once the drugs had taken hold he attacked the women in the back of his cab."}], "question": "How did Worboys carry out his crimes?", "id": "504_5"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 7498, "answer_end": 7801, "text": "Malcolm Fowler, a retired solicitor with 48 years' experience, said Worboys \"would be anything but a free man\" on his release from prison. The 60 year old will be subject to licence conditions including weekly reporting to his supervisor. Any breach of his conditions could lead to his recall to prison."}], "question": "What will his freedom look like?", "id": "504_6"}]}]}, {"title": "Theresa May hails 'defining' Brexit moment", "date": "14 March 2017", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Parliament's backing for the government's Brexit bill will be a \"defining moment for our whole country\", Theresa May has told MPs. The prime minister said her timetable of triggering formal negotiations by the end of March remained on track. And she told the SNP - which has called for a second independence referendum - not to \"play politics or create uncertainty or division\". Labour's Jeremy Corbyn accused the government of being \"complacent\". Mrs May's statement to MPs on last week's European Council summit came after the EU withdrawal bill was backed by the House of Lords, clearing the way for it to receive Royal Assent and become law. This gives her the power to invoke Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty and begin formal negotiations, which is expected to happen at the end of March. It also comes after Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said she wanted an independence referendum to be held between the autumn of 2018 and the spring of the following year. Welcoming Parliament's backing for her Brexit bill, the PM told MPs: \"This will be a defining moment for our whole country as we begin to forge the new relationship with Europe and a new role for ourselves in the world.\" Brexit, she said, would \"work for the whole of the United Kingdom\", adding: \"That's why we have been working closely with the devolved administrations, including the Scottish government - listening to their proposals and recognising the many areas of common ground, such as protecting workers rights and our security from crime and terrorism. \"So this is not a moment to play politics and create uncertainty - it's a moment to bring our country together, to honour the will of the British people and shape for them a better Britain.\" Ms Sturgeon has said a second independence referendum was needed to protect Scottish interests in the wake of the UK voting to leave the EU. And the SNP's Westminster leader, Angus Robertson, pressed Mrs May to say if she was willing \"even at this late stage... to secure a comprehensive UK-wide approach\" to leaving the EU \"or do you still plan to plough on regardless, even though you know what the consequences of that will be?\" The prime minister, who is considering how to respond to the demand for a referendum, said she had been in discussions with all the devolved administrations and criticised \"constitutional game-playing with the future of the United Kingdom\". She claimed most people in Scotland do not want a second referendum, saying that \"the most important single market for Scotland is the single market of the United Kingdom\". But Mr Corbyn warned the prime minister that there was \"no doubt that if the wrong decisions are made, we'll pay the price for decades to come\". \"Now more than ever we need an inclusive government that listens and acts accordingly,\" he said, adding that \"all the signs are that we have a complacent government\". He urged Mrs May to listen to the \"collective wisdom\" of Parliament, saying MPs deserved better than a \"take it or leave it\" decision on the final Brexit deal as he called for a \"meaningful\" vote. He also pressed Mrs May to guarantee the rights of EU nationals living in the UK as soon as possible. The prime minister repeated her desire to deal with the future of EU nationals at an \"early stage\" in Brexit talks, adding that UK expats in other member states also need to be considered. Former Labour minister Kate Hoey, one of a small number of Labour MPs to have been Leave campaigners, told Mrs May that \"millions\" of Labour supporters would be delighted that she can now trigger Article 50.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1868, "answer_end": 2884, "text": "And the SNP's Westminster leader, Angus Robertson, pressed Mrs May to say if she was willing \"even at this late stage... to secure a comprehensive UK-wide approach\" to leaving the EU \"or do you still plan to plough on regardless, even though you know what the consequences of that will be?\" The prime minister, who is considering how to respond to the demand for a referendum, said she had been in discussions with all the devolved administrations and criticised \"constitutional game-playing with the future of the United Kingdom\". She claimed most people in Scotland do not want a second referendum, saying that \"the most important single market for Scotland is the single market of the United Kingdom\". But Mr Corbyn warned the prime minister that there was \"no doubt that if the wrong decisions are made, we'll pay the price for decades to come\". \"Now more than ever we need an inclusive government that listens and acts accordingly,\" he said, adding that \"all the signs are that we have a complacent government\"."}], "question": "High price?", "id": "505_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2885, "answer_end": 3580, "text": "He urged Mrs May to listen to the \"collective wisdom\" of Parliament, saying MPs deserved better than a \"take it or leave it\" decision on the final Brexit deal as he called for a \"meaningful\" vote. He also pressed Mrs May to guarantee the rights of EU nationals living in the UK as soon as possible. The prime minister repeated her desire to deal with the future of EU nationals at an \"early stage\" in Brexit talks, adding that UK expats in other member states also need to be considered. Former Labour minister Kate Hoey, one of a small number of Labour MPs to have been Leave campaigners, told Mrs May that \"millions\" of Labour supporters would be delighted that she can now trigger Article 50."}], "question": "Labour supporters backing PM?", "id": "505_1"}]}]}, {"title": "Ilhan Omar: The 9/11 row embroiling the US congresswoman", "date": "14 April 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "A Democratic congresswoman says she will not be silenced after facing a barrage of criticism over comments she made about the 9/11 attacks - including from Donald Trump. The US president tweeted \"WE WILL NEVER FORGET\" alongside a video showing footage of the 11 September 2001 terrorist attacks spliced with a speech by Representative Ilhan Omar. \"Some people did something,\" she is seen saying, in between footage of planes hitting the Twin Towers and people fleeing the buildings. Republicans have accused her of downplaying the attacks, but Democrats have largely rallied to her defence, saying she had been quoted out of context and some accusing Mr Trump of inciting violence against her and Muslims. Here is how the row developed. Ms Omar won a Minnesota seat in the House of Representatives last November, becoming one of the first two Muslim women ever elected to the US Congress. Her family originally came to the US as refugees from Somalia and she is the first congresswoman to wear the hijab. Despite being a newcomer to Washington, this is not the first time Ms Omar has made headlines. She has been accused of anti-Semitism over comments she made about Israel and pro-Israel lobbyists. After being rebuked last month, including by Democrats, she apologised and said she was \"listening and learning\". The congresswoman has also raised the alarm about anti-Muslim rhetoric surrounding her, in response to a Republican poster that showed her alongside the Twin Towers. Just last week, police arrested a 55-year-old man in New York state for allegedly calling her office with a graphic death threat in which he reportedly labelled her a \"terrorist\". The \"some people did something\" quote was from a speech Ms Omar gave to a civil rights group, the Council on American-Islamic Relations (Cair), on 23 March. In the 20-minute speech she discussed issues affecting the community like Islamophobia and the recent mosque attack in New Zealand. The comments in Mr Trump's video were taken from a point she made about the treatment of US Muslims in the aftermath of the 11 September attacks: \"Here's the truth. For far too long we have lived with the discomfort of being a second-class citizen and, frankly, I'm tired of it, and every single Muslim in this country should be tired of it. Cair was founded after 9/11 because they recognized that some people did something and that all of us were starting to lose access to our civil liberties.\" After the Washington Post fact-checked the statement to clarify Cair was actually founded in 1994, a spokesman for Ms Omar told the paper that she misspoke and meant to say the organisation's size had doubled after the attacks. Her speech began getting attention on 9 April, when a clip was shared by Texas Republican Representative Dan Crenshaw, who described her phrasing as \"unbelievable\". Conservative media outlets, including Fox News, then started discussing it in-depth. Ronna McDaniel, chair of the Republican National Committee, described the congresswoman as \"anti-American\". Ms Omar responded by calling some of the comments as \"dangerous incitement, given the death threats I face\" and comparing her remarks to ones made by former President George Bush. On Thursday, the New York Post published a front-page spread of an image of the attack with the headline: \"Here's your something\" The cover proved divisive. Some on social media praised it, but others heavily criticised the use of 9/11 images. Then, on Friday, President Trump posted the video of Ms Omar. It is currently pinned to the top of his account and has been shared tens of thousands of times. Many social media users responded by using #IStandWithIlhan - which trended worldwide on Twitter on Friday. CNN showed the clip in discussions, but then presenter Chris Cuomo apologised for airing it. MSNBC host Joy Reid also refused to show it. A number of high-ranking Democrats, including many in the running for the 2020 presidential nomination, have come out to criticise Mr Trump and defend Ms Omar. Elizabeth Warren accused the president of \"inciting violence against a sitting congresswoman\". Bernie Sanders referred to \"disgusting and dangerous attacks\" against Ms Omar. Senators Amy Klobuchar and Kamala Harris both accused the president of spreading hate. Kirsten Gillibrand did not defend Ms Omar's comments but she also called Mr Trump's rhetoric \"disgusting\". Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the House, said Mr Trump was wrong to use the images but also suggested Ms Omar had been dismissive of the attacks. One reply to Ms Pelosi, by film director and frequent Trump critic Ava DuVernay, which said Ms Pelosi's comment was \"not enough\", has been liked thousands of times. Rashida Tlaib, the other Muslim serving in Congress, and another Democratic Congresswoman, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, have both called on senior Democrats to do more to support Ms Omar. Responding directly in a series of tweets on Saturday, the congresswoman thanked people for their support and vowed that she \"did not run for Congress to be silent\".", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 737, "answer_end": 1659, "text": "Ms Omar won a Minnesota seat in the House of Representatives last November, becoming one of the first two Muslim women ever elected to the US Congress. Her family originally came to the US as refugees from Somalia and she is the first congresswoman to wear the hijab. Despite being a newcomer to Washington, this is not the first time Ms Omar has made headlines. She has been accused of anti-Semitism over comments she made about Israel and pro-Israel lobbyists. After being rebuked last month, including by Democrats, she apologised and said she was \"listening and learning\". The congresswoman has also raised the alarm about anti-Muslim rhetoric surrounding her, in response to a Republican poster that showed her alongside the Twin Towers. Just last week, police arrested a 55-year-old man in New York state for allegedly calling her office with a graphic death threat in which he reportedly labelled her a \"terrorist\"."}], "question": "Who is Congresswoman Omar?", "id": "506_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1660, "answer_end": 2674, "text": "The \"some people did something\" quote was from a speech Ms Omar gave to a civil rights group, the Council on American-Islamic Relations (Cair), on 23 March. In the 20-minute speech she discussed issues affecting the community like Islamophobia and the recent mosque attack in New Zealand. The comments in Mr Trump's video were taken from a point she made about the treatment of US Muslims in the aftermath of the 11 September attacks: \"Here's the truth. For far too long we have lived with the discomfort of being a second-class citizen and, frankly, I'm tired of it, and every single Muslim in this country should be tired of it. Cair was founded after 9/11 because they recognized that some people did something and that all of us were starting to lose access to our civil liberties.\" After the Washington Post fact-checked the statement to clarify Cair was actually founded in 1994, a spokesman for Ms Omar told the paper that she misspoke and meant to say the organisation's size had doubled after the attacks."}], "question": "What did she say?", "id": "506_1"}]}]}, {"title": "Coachella 2018: Brilliant Beyonce and other highlights", "date": "16 April 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Hands up if your timeline was flooded with news from Coachella this weekend? You're not alone. Social media was buzzing with Beyonce's headline set, The Weeknd \"crying\" and a pregnant Cardi B twerking. Around 100,000 fans are expected in California for the two-week festival which runs until 22 April. If the cost of flights and a hotel, plus the PS300 tickets meant you couldn't be there, here's a rundown of the best bits. Once again the the 36-year-old singer showed why she's considered one of the world's greatest entertainers. B opened her two-hour set surrounded by dancers in military-themed costumes before husband Jay-Z joined her for a rendition of her 2003 hit, Crazy In Love. If the venue had a roof, it would've come off, when Beyonce was joined onstage by Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams. It's the first time the trio, aka Destiny's Child, have appeared together since the Stellar Gospel Music Awards in 2015. Beyonce was due to headline Coachella last year but pulled out due to the fact she was pregnant with twins Rumi and Sir. Judging by the reaction on social media, it was worth wait. At one point Beyonce was responsible for 15 of Twitter's 20 trending positions. We are used to numerous costume changes but some eagle-eyed fans even spotted that Beyonce executed a nail change during her set. What do you mean who? Walmart Yodel Boy is actually 11-year-old Mason Ramsey. He became a viral sensation after a video of him singing in the aisle of a supermarket was uploaded. More than 20 million views later and appearances on shows like the Ellen Degeneres Show - Mason was invited by Coachella to perform. Mason admitted he had been bullied and trolled because of the video but no doubt he got the last laugh when it turns out Justin Bieber is a fan. The pair met backstage at the festival and had a chat before posing for pictures. Being pregnant may have stopped Beyonce performing last year but it didn't stop Cardi B this year. The rapper, who confirmed her pregnancy earlier this month, ran through hits from her debut album Invasion of Privacy. She was also joined by Chance the Rapper and G-Eazy during her set. Although the 28-year-old twerking was the moment most fans were gushing about online. Obviously not a Coachella highlight because the Nigerian singer failed to make it to the festival. Although the musician hasn't confirmed the reasons why, it seems his team didn't have the right travel documents to make the trip. Coachella has announced that he will be performing during the second week of the event instead. It was left to Eminem to close out the first weekend of the festival when he headlined on Sunday night. But fans were left frustrated when the set wasn't available on the official Coachella YouTube page. This fan seemed to offer a suitable explanation as to why the show wasn't live streamed. Looks like anyone hoping to catch it online missed a decent show. Em was joined on stage by 50 Cent, Dr Dre and Bebe Rexha. 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_start": 2557, "answer_end": 3150, "text": "It was left to Eminem to close out the first weekend of the festival when he headlined on Sunday night. But fans were left frustrated when the set wasn't available on the official Coachella YouTube page. This fan seemed to offer a suitable explanation as to why the show wasn't live streamed. Looks like anyone hoping to catch it online missed a decent show. Em was joined on stage by 50 Cent, Dr Dre and Bebe Rexha. 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."}], "question": "Where's Eminem?", "id": "507_0"}]}]}, {"title": "G20: UK-US trade deal to happen quickly, says Trump", "date": "8 July 2017", "paragraphs": [{"context": "US President Donald Trump has said he expects a \"powerful\" trade deal with the UK to be completed \"very quickly\". Speaking at the G20 summit in Hamburg, he said he would visit London. Asked when, he said: \"We'll work that out.\" In one-to-one talks, Mr Trump and UK Prime Minister Theresa May agreed to prioritise work on a post-Brexit trade deal, a UK government official said. Mrs May said she was \"optimistic\" about a deal, but warned there was \"a limit\" to what could be done before Brexit. She told a news conference that world leaders - including those from China, India and Japan, as well as the US - had expressed a \"strong desire\" to forge \"ambitious new bilateral trading relationships\" with Britain. The prime minister hailed it as a \"powerful vote of confidence\" in Britain. Asked about Mr Trump's visit the UK, Mrs May said: \"We don't have a date yet, we are still working on a date.\" Earlier, during a 50-minute meeting with Mr Trump - which overran by 20 minutes - the two leaders spent a \"significant\" amount of time on trade, in a discussion described as entirely \"positive\", Downing Street said. Before their meeting, Mr Trump hailed the \"very special relationship\" he had developed with Mrs May. \"There is no country that could possibly be closer than our countries,\" he told reporters. \"We have been working on a trade deal which will be a very, very big deal, a very powerful deal, great for both countries and I think we will have that done very, very quickly.\" Under EU rules, formal talks between London and Washington cannot begin until after the UK leaves the EU in March 2019, without EU agreement. Sir Christopher Meyer, a former British ambassador to Washington, said Mr Trump's statement of intent was a \"very good sign for the future\" and would be \"useful\" to Mrs May. However, Sir Simon Fraser, a former diplomat who served as a permanent under-secretary at the Foreign Office, cast doubt on how soon any trade deal could be reached. \"The point is we can't negotiate with them or anyone else until we've left the European Union,\" he said. \"And the Americans and others will not negotiate with us until they know what our relationship with the EU is going to be, because the access we have in Europe is hugely important for the advantages that they can get from their relations with us.\" Mr Trump has previously accepted an invitation for a state visit to the UK - a prospect that has caused controversy - although no date has been given. Mr Meyer said his visit would be a \"very important moment\" to nail down Mr Trump's commitment to a strong bilateral agreement. By Rob Young, BBC business correspondent Under EU rules, formal talks between London and Washington cannot begin until March 2019, unless Brussels agrees the UK can make a start earlier. Trade talks tend to be complex and technical, lasting several years. The EU and Japan took four years to reach an agreement in principle. But those discussions involved 29 nations; UK-US talks would involve just two. With strong political will and determination, a transatlantic agreement could perhaps be completed more speedily than has been the norm for trade pacts. Talks would cover cutting customs duties, making products such as cars and food cheaper. The average UK-US tariff is relatively low anyway, at 3%, and huge amounts of trade already take place. Negotiations usually cover thornier topics, such as food safety and environmental standards. If one side agreed to accept the other's rules, a deal could be done quickly. But that would be controversial in various sectors. That's when negotiations can begin to drag. Mrs May later said she was \"dismayed\" Mr Trump had withdrawn the US from the Paris Agreement on climate change. The accord, signed in Paris in 2015, is an international agreement on how to deal with greenhouse gas emissions. Mrs May said she raised the issue during one of \"a number\" of conversations she had with Mr Trump at the summit - not during the official bilateral talks. The prime minister said she had \"urged President Trump to rejoin\", adding: \"I continue to hope that is exactly what the United States will do.\" Mrs May also held a 20-minute meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and a 25-minute meeting with Indian prime minister Narendra Modi. Talks with Mr Abe focused on trade and North Korea's nuclear missile programme. Japan's new trade deal with the EU, signed off on Thursday, \"could form the basis\" of an agreement between London and Tokyo following Brexit, Mrs May told her fellow leader. Meanwhile, Mr Modi told Mrs May he wanted to see economic links with the UK deepen now and after Brexit, according to a UK government official. After a meeting on Friday, Chinese President Xi Jinping said China and the UK were in a \"golden era\" of relations and increased investment from his country since the Brexit vote showed its confidence in Britain. The G20 summit is the first gathering of world leaders since the UK's general election last month, during which Mrs May's Conservative party lost seats and her performance was widely criticised. The two-day meeting is being held against a backdrop of violent protests on the streets of Hamburg, with demonstrators and heavily-armed police clashing into the early hours of Saturday. The protests centre mainly on the presence of Mr Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, climate change and global wealth inequalities.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 2596, "answer_end": 3612, "text": "By Rob Young, BBC business correspondent Under EU rules, formal talks between London and Washington cannot begin until March 2019, unless Brussels agrees the UK can make a start earlier. Trade talks tend to be complex and technical, lasting several years. The EU and Japan took four years to reach an agreement in principle. But those discussions involved 29 nations; UK-US talks would involve just two. With strong political will and determination, a transatlantic agreement could perhaps be completed more speedily than has been the norm for trade pacts. Talks would cover cutting customs duties, making products such as cars and food cheaper. The average UK-US tariff is relatively low anyway, at 3%, and huge amounts of trade already take place. Negotiations usually cover thornier topics, such as food safety and environmental standards. If one side agreed to accept the other's rules, a deal could be done quickly. But that would be controversial in various sectors. That's when negotiations can begin to drag."}], "question": "Analysis: Is a quick deal possible?", "id": "508_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Trump condemns attacks on media after BBC incident", "date": "12 February 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Donald Trump has condemned attacks on the media after an incident involving a BBC cameraman at the US president's rally in Texas on Monday. A White House statement did not refer to the specific incident. It said the president \"condemns all acts of violence against any individual or group of people - including members of the press\". The BBC's Ron Skeans was shoved and sworn at by a man in a Make America Great Again cap in El Paso. The BBC later asked the White House to review security for media attending President Trump's rallies. In a letter, the BBC said the press area was unsupervised, and no security had tried to intervene during the incident. The White House statement, from Press Secretary Sarah Sanders, added: \"We ask that anyone attending an event do so in a peaceful and respectful manner.\" Mr Trump has been critical of media, which he has called the enemy of the people. After Monday's incident, Mr Trump's campaign team thanked law enforcement for ejecting the unidentified man. \"An individual involved in a physical altercation with a news cameraman was removed from last night's rally,\" said Michael Glassner, the chief operating officer for Trump for President Inc. \"We appreciate the swift action from venue security and law enforcement officers.\" The man, who a Trump campaign official said appeared to be drunk, gave Mr Skeans a \"very hard shove\", according to the cameraman. Mr Skeans said the man almost knocked him and his camera over twice before he was wrestled away by a blogger. President Trump saw the attack, checked they were well with a thumbs up and continued his speech after Mr Skeans returned the gesture. BBC Washington producer Eleanor Montague and Washington correspondent Gary O'Donoghue were sitting in front of the camera. Ms Montague said the protester had attacked other news crews but Mr Skeans \"got the brunt of it\". In the letter to Ms Sanders, the BBC's Americas Bureaux Editor Paul Danahar asked for a review of security arrangements for members of the press attending the president's rallies. Mr Danahar pointed out \"that access into the media area last night was unsupervised and that no member of law enforcement or security stopped the attacker entering, intervened when he began his attack or followed up on the incident with our colleagues afterwards\". The president went to El Paso, on the US border with Mexico, to campaign for a border wall, a divisive issue which caused the longest government shutdown in US history. Ms Montague said the president had spoken of \"fake news\" and how the media misrepresented him in the run up to the assault. Speaking to BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Mr O'Donoghue said it was \"an incredibly violent attack\". Last August UN experts warned Mr Trump's attacks \"increase the risk of journalists being targeted with violence\", calling his rhetoric \"strategic\". New York Times publisher AG Sulzberger has urged the president to stop his media assaults.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1272, "answer_end": 1867, "text": "The man, who a Trump campaign official said appeared to be drunk, gave Mr Skeans a \"very hard shove\", according to the cameraman. Mr Skeans said the man almost knocked him and his camera over twice before he was wrestled away by a blogger. President Trump saw the attack, checked they were well with a thumbs up and continued his speech after Mr Skeans returned the gesture. BBC Washington producer Eleanor Montague and Washington correspondent Gary O'Donoghue were sitting in front of the camera. Ms Montague said the protester had attacked other news crews but Mr Skeans \"got the brunt of it\"."}], "question": "What happened at the rally?", "id": "509_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1868, "answer_end": 2312, "text": "In the letter to Ms Sanders, the BBC's Americas Bureaux Editor Paul Danahar asked for a review of security arrangements for members of the press attending the president's rallies. Mr Danahar pointed out \"that access into the media area last night was unsupervised and that no member of law enforcement or security stopped the attacker entering, intervened when he began his attack or followed up on the incident with our colleagues afterwards\"."}], "question": "What did the BBC letter say?", "id": "509_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2313, "answer_end": 2945, "text": "The president went to El Paso, on the US border with Mexico, to campaign for a border wall, a divisive issue which caused the longest government shutdown in US history. Ms Montague said the president had spoken of \"fake news\" and how the media misrepresented him in the run up to the assault. Speaking to BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Mr O'Donoghue said it was \"an incredibly violent attack\". Last August UN experts warned Mr Trump's attacks \"increase the risk of journalists being targeted with violence\", calling his rhetoric \"strategic\". New York Times publisher AG Sulzberger has urged the president to stop his media assaults."}], "question": "What is the background?", "id": "509_2"}]}]}, {"title": "Galapagos finches caught in act of becoming new species", "date": "23 November 2017", "paragraphs": [{"context": "A population of finches on the Galapagos has been discovered in the process of becoming a new species. This is the first example of speciation that scientists have been able to observe directly in the field. Researchers followed the entire population of finches on a tiny Galapagos island called Daphne Major, for many years, and so they were able to watch the speciation in progress. The research was published in the journal Science. The group of finch species to which the Big Bird population belongs are collectively known as Darwin's finches and helped Charles Darwin to uncover the process of evolution by natural selection. In 1981, the researchers noticed the arrival of a male of a non-native species, the large cactus finch. Professors Rosemary and Peter Grant noticed that this male proceeded to mate with a female of one of the local species, a medium ground finch, producing fertile young. Almost 40 years later, the progeny of that original mating are still being observed, and number around 30 individuals. \"It's an extreme case of something we're coming to realise more generally over the years. Evolution in general can happen very quickly,\" said Prof Roger Butlin, a speciation expert who wasn't involved in the study. This new finch population is sufficiently different in form and habits to the native birds, as to be marked out as a new species, and individuals from the different populations don't interbreed. Prof Butlin told the BBC that people working on speciation credit the Grant professors with altering our understanding of rapid evolutionary change in the field. In the past, it was thought that two different species must be unable to produce fertile offspring in order to be defined as such.  But in more recent years, it has been established that many birds and other animals that we consider to be unique species are in fact able to interbreed with others to produce fertile young. \"We tend not to argue about what defines a species anymore, because that doesn't get you anywhere,\" said Prof Butlin. What he says is more interesting is understanding the role that hybridisation can have in the process of creating new species, which is why this observation of Galapagos finches is so important. The researchers think that the original male must have flown 65 miles from the large cactus finches' home island of Espanola. That's a very long way for a small finch to fly, and so it would be very unlikely for the bird to make a successful return flight. By identifying one way that new species can arise, and following the entire population, the researchers state this as an example of speciation occurring in a timescale we can observe. In most cases, the offspring of cross-species matings are poorly adapted to their environment. But in this instance, the new finches on Daphne Major are larger than other species on the island, and have taken hold of new and unexploited food. For this reason, the researchers are calling the animals the \"Big Bird population\". To scientifically test whether the Big Bird population was genetically distinct from the three species of finch native to the island, Peter and Rosemary Grant collaborated with Prof Leif Andersson of Sweden's Uppsala University who analysed the population genetically for the new study. Prof Andersson told BBC News: \"The surprise was that we would expect the hybrid would start to breed with one of the other species on the island and be absorbed... we have confirmed that they are a closed breeding group.\" Due to an inability to recognise the songs of the new males, native females won't pair with this new species. And in this paper, new genetic evidence shows that after two generations, there was complete reproductive isolation from the native birds. As a result, they are now reproductively - and genetically - isolated. So they have been breeding exclusively with each other over the years. \"What we are saying is that this group of birds behave as a distinct species. If you didn't know anything about [Daphne Major's] history and a taxonomist arrived on this island they would say there are four species on this island,\" said Prof Andersson. There is no evidence that they will breed again with the native medium ground finch, but even if they did, they now have a larger size and can exploit new opportunities. Those advantageous traits may be maintained by natural selection. So hybridisation can lead to speciation, simply through the addition of one individual to a population.  It may therefore be a way for new traits to evolve quickly. \"If you just wait for mutations causing one change at a time, then it would make it more difficult to raise a new species that way. But hybridisation may be more effective than mutation,\" said Prof Butlin. Follow Rory on Twitter.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1237, "answer_end": 4781, "text": "This new finch population is sufficiently different in form and habits to the native birds, as to be marked out as a new species, and individuals from the different populations don't interbreed. Prof Butlin told the BBC that people working on speciation credit the Grant professors with altering our understanding of rapid evolutionary change in the field. In the past, it was thought that two different species must be unable to produce fertile offspring in order to be defined as such.  But in more recent years, it has been established that many birds and other animals that we consider to be unique species are in fact able to interbreed with others to produce fertile young. \"We tend not to argue about what defines a species anymore, because that doesn't get you anywhere,\" said Prof Butlin. What he says is more interesting is understanding the role that hybridisation can have in the process of creating new species, which is why this observation of Galapagos finches is so important. The researchers think that the original male must have flown 65 miles from the large cactus finches' home island of Espanola. That's a very long way for a small finch to fly, and so it would be very unlikely for the bird to make a successful return flight. By identifying one way that new species can arise, and following the entire population, the researchers state this as an example of speciation occurring in a timescale we can observe. In most cases, the offspring of cross-species matings are poorly adapted to their environment. But in this instance, the new finches on Daphne Major are larger than other species on the island, and have taken hold of new and unexploited food. For this reason, the researchers are calling the animals the \"Big Bird population\". To scientifically test whether the Big Bird population was genetically distinct from the three species of finch native to the island, Peter and Rosemary Grant collaborated with Prof Leif Andersson of Sweden's Uppsala University who analysed the population genetically for the new study. Prof Andersson told BBC News: \"The surprise was that we would expect the hybrid would start to breed with one of the other species on the island and be absorbed... we have confirmed that they are a closed breeding group.\" Due to an inability to recognise the songs of the new males, native females won't pair with this new species. And in this paper, new genetic evidence shows that after two generations, there was complete reproductive isolation from the native birds. As a result, they are now reproductively - and genetically - isolated. So they have been breeding exclusively with each other over the years. \"What we are saying is that this group of birds behave as a distinct species. If you didn't know anything about [Daphne Major's] history and a taxonomist arrived on this island they would say there are four species on this island,\" said Prof Andersson. There is no evidence that they will breed again with the native medium ground finch, but even if they did, they now have a larger size and can exploit new opportunities. Those advantageous traits may be maintained by natural selection. So hybridisation can lead to speciation, simply through the addition of one individual to a population.  It may therefore be a way for new traits to evolve quickly. \"If you just wait for mutations causing one change at a time, then it would make it more difficult to raise a new species that way. But hybridisation may be more effective than mutation,\" said Prof Butlin. Follow Rory on Twitter."}], "question": "What makes a species?", "id": "510_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Libya rivals agree 'historic' election plan", "date": "29 May 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Rival factions in Libya have agreed to hold parliamentary and presidential elections on 10 December. The four groups, meeting in the French capital, Paris, also agreed to adopt the necessary laws by mid-September. French President Emmanuel Macron described the accord as historic and an essential step towards reconciliation. Libya has been in a state of lawlessness since the toppling and killing of Colonel Muammar Gaddafi in 2011. The North African nation is now controlled by disparate armed groups and fighting is continuing in the east and south of the country. European leaders see stabilising Libya as key to tackling jihadist threats and migration from the country, which has become a departure point for hundreds of thousands of Africans trying to reach Europe. - Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj, (above second left) head of the UN-backed unity government based in the capital, Tripoli - Khalifa Haftar, (above right)  the 75-year-old military strongman , whose rival Libyan National Army fighters dominate the country's east - Aguila Saleh Issa, (above second right)  the parliament speaker based in the  eastern city of Tobruk, who opposes the UN-backed administration - Khalid al-Mishri, (above left) head of the High Council of State, Libya's highest consultative body formed from the 2012 parliament. Representatives from EU countries, the US, and regional neighbours were also at the meeting hosted by the French president. Tunisian President Beji Caid Essebsi told the Libyan leaders in Paris, \"There is no solution other than via you... if things go badly, it's your responsibility.\" By Rana Jawad, BBC North Africa correspondent President Macron has walked away with one real achievement today - bringing together key rival Libyan blocs, as well as regional neighbours seen as exacerbating the conflict, like Egypt, Qatar and Turkey. However, nothing was actually signed in Paris. Instead, Libya's rival representatives verbally agreed to a set of promises and dates - and diplomats tell me it \"wasn't easy\" to get them to do that. There is a worry that giving the four big Libyan personalities a platform in Paris will only harden the views of other factions in Libya, triggering more divisions among the militias who nominally ally themselves to rival political institutions. Invited representatives from the key western city of Misrata chose to stay away from the talks. Various militias from the west also said the talks don't represent them. The success of today's agreement will rely on whether the rival armed groups allow the elections to take place and then respect the results. The last parliamentary election in 2014 plunged the country into a deeper crisis.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1601, "answer_end": 2687, "text": "By Rana Jawad, BBC North Africa correspondent President Macron has walked away with one real achievement today - bringing together key rival Libyan blocs, as well as regional neighbours seen as exacerbating the conflict, like Egypt, Qatar and Turkey. However, nothing was actually signed in Paris. Instead, Libya's rival representatives verbally agreed to a set of promises and dates - and diplomats tell me it \"wasn't easy\" to get them to do that. There is a worry that giving the four big Libyan personalities a platform in Paris will only harden the views of other factions in Libya, triggering more divisions among the militias who nominally ally themselves to rival political institutions. Invited representatives from the key western city of Misrata chose to stay away from the talks. Various militias from the west also said the talks don't represent them. The success of today's agreement will rely on whether the rival armed groups allow the elections to take place and then respect the results. The last parliamentary election in 2014 plunged the country into a deeper crisis."}], "question": "Analysis: Will the election plan work?", "id": "511_0"}]}]}, {"title": "The twists and turns of naming diseases", "date": "29 November 2015", "paragraphs": [{"context": "When a new disease is identified in a group of patients it needs a name so it can be described, researched and treated. But, unlike naming a child, there is no little book of names for diseases. So how do you choose the right name for a new condition? It isn't easy. In the 1970s, Dr Graham Hughes, a rheumatologist working at London Bridge Hospital noticed that a group of his patients suffered from \"sticky\" blood that increased their risk of dangerous blood clots. His colleagues decided to name the condition after him, a recognition which is rare these days. \"It was an honour for me,\" explained Dr Hughes. \"Hopefully, when I kick the bucket, I'll be remembered for it.\" Dr Hughes now diagnoses patients with Hughes Syndrome. Fortunately, it is treatable. But what does it feel like to be named after diseases that inflict terrible pain and suffering such as Parkinson's or Alzheimer's? There was a time when the medical profession honoured its members by naming diseases after them. But more recently it has been felt that this leads to stigma and further distress. During the 19th and early 20th centuries a more systematic analysis of patients' symptoms led to the identification of new conditions, each of which needed a name. \"Naming a disease after the doctor who described it was a way to assert the authority of scientific medicine,\" explained Dr Richard Barnett, a historian of medicine. Like many others, Dr Alois Alzheimer and Dr James Parkinson didn't choose to name diseases after themselves. Parkinson suggested the name \"Paralysis agitans\" but it was \"Parkinson's disease\" that stuck, a name suggested by neurologist Jean-Martin Charcot after Parkinson's death. This was during the \"heyday\" of medical eponymy - naming diseases after people - and many major diseases are now known for the person who discovered them. But times have changed, and gone is the time of the gentleman scientist or lone pioneering doctor. \"Most cutting-edge research is done by large teams rather than individuals. Eponyms don't provide useful clinical information, and they don't always mean very much when they cross cultural or linguistic boundaries,\" said Dr Barnett. There is also greater awareness of the impact of naming a disease for a person or the group of people in whom the condition was first identified. The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention originally called HIV/Aids \"the 4H disease\" as it seemed to only affect Haitians, homosexuals, heroin users and haemophiliacs, whilst the press referred to it as Grid -  which was short for gay-related immune deficiency. Naming a condition for a place rather than people might seem like a safer choice. But not everyone is pleased about having the place they live associated with a disease. In recent years a host of potentially lethal viruses have emerged, including Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (Mers). The World Health Organization (WHO) have warned that the use of people and place names have \"unintended negative impacts\" which could have \"serious consequences for peoples' lives and livelihoods\". This is something Prof Linfa Wang, of Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School in Singapore, knows only too well. He and his team suggested they name a newly-discovered virus after the place where it was discovered - Hendra, Australia. \"We thought Hendra is a small suburb of Brisbane and not too many people will know; so it's 'safe',\" he explained. The name Hendra virus, was quickly accepted by the scientific community. However, there were soon rumblings of unhappiness from Hendra itself. People there believed that this name was having a negative impact on the suburb. \"From time to time, I received 'angry' calls from residents and real estate agents and even journalists,\" said Prof Wang. In 2011, 10 years after their suburb's name was associated with the virus, residents were still trying to get the name changed. Since then, Prof Wang has named other viruses carefully, wary of how a name might offend. But others have taken a different approach to being associated with a disease. In the 1970s, Old Lyme, Connecticut, saw a large number of children and adults come down with a tick-borne disease that came to be known as Lyme disease. When Ralph Eno, an official for the town of Lyme, was asked how they felt about the association he explained: \"We're actually quite proud of it.\" He said that people visiting the area really do worry about getting infected, but the town's residents take this in their stride. The Lyme county store sells T-shirts with pictures of ticks on, and the local youth lacrosse team is called the Ticks. \"It is a serious health issue - we make light of it because we've been so close to it for so long,\" he said. Despite this, there can be unintended negative consequences even if the intentions behind naming diseases for a place were good. \"There might be disputes over who gets the credit for discovery - and there can be political or ethical reasons why we might not want to commemorate a particular clinician,\" explained Dr Barnett. \"Until about 15 years ago granulomatosis with polyangiitis [a rare condition that causes inflammation in blood vessels that restricts blood flow to organs] was known as 'Wegener's granulomatosis'. \"But this name was dropped after it emerged that Friedrich Wegener [for who the disease was named] was a Nazi Party member who may have participated in experiments on concentration camp inmates,' he said. In an effort to combat offending people in the future, the WHO recommended in May 2015 that new human diseases be given socially acceptable names. These are names that include \"generic descriptive terms\" based on things such as symptoms and severity rather using the names of person or a specific location. But some suggest that this might be too politically correct and some new names might be too complex or easy to grasp. \"A lot of the diseases I treat are such complicated diseases - you would need 10 words to describe them,\" explained Dr Hughes. It seems that a little book of socially acceptable names might be useful after all.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1072, "answer_end": 2766, "text": "During the 19th and early 20th centuries a more systematic analysis of patients' symptoms led to the identification of new conditions, each of which needed a name. \"Naming a disease after the doctor who described it was a way to assert the authority of scientific medicine,\" explained Dr Richard Barnett, a historian of medicine. Like many others, Dr Alois Alzheimer and Dr James Parkinson didn't choose to name diseases after themselves. Parkinson suggested the name \"Paralysis agitans\" but it was \"Parkinson's disease\" that stuck, a name suggested by neurologist Jean-Martin Charcot after Parkinson's death. This was during the \"heyday\" of medical eponymy - naming diseases after people - and many major diseases are now known for the person who discovered them. But times have changed, and gone is the time of the gentleman scientist or lone pioneering doctor. \"Most cutting-edge research is done by large teams rather than individuals. Eponyms don't provide useful clinical information, and they don't always mean very much when they cross cultural or linguistic boundaries,\" said Dr Barnett. There is also greater awareness of the impact of naming a disease for a person or the group of people in whom the condition was first identified. The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention originally called HIV/Aids \"the 4H disease\" as it seemed to only affect Haitians, homosexuals, heroin users and haemophiliacs, whilst the press referred to it as Grid -  which was short for gay-related immune deficiency. Naming a condition for a place rather than people might seem like a safer choice. But not everyone is pleased about having the place they live associated with a disease."}], "question": "What's in a name?", "id": "512_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Coronavirus: Worldwide cases overtake 2003 Sars outbreak", "date": "31 January 2020", "paragraphs": [{"context": "The number of coronavirus cases worldwide has overtaken that of the Sars epidemic, which spread to more than two dozen countries in 2003. There were around 8,100 cases of Sars - severe acute respiratory syndrome - reported during the eight-month outbreak. But nearly 10,000 cases of the new virus have been confirmed, most in China, since it emerged in December. More than 100 cases have been reported outside China, in 22 countries. The number of deaths so far stands at 213 - all in China. In total, 774 people were killed by Sars. On Thursday, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared a global health emergency over the new outbreak. The UK on Friday confirmed its first two cases of the virus. In another development, the US also declared a public health emergency and said it would bar any foreign nationals who have visited China in the past two weeks from entering the country. Estimates by the University of Hong Kong suggest the true total number of cases could be far higher than official figures suggest. Based on mathematical models of the outbreak, experts there say more than 75,000 people may have been infected in the Chinese city of Wuhan alone, where the virus originated. Most cases outside China are in people who have been to Wuhan. But Germany, Japan, Vietnam, the United States, Thailand and South Korea have reported person-to-person cases - patients being infected by people who had travelled to China. Wuhan's Communist Party chief said on Friday the city should have taken measures sooner to contain the virus. \"If strict control measures had been taken earlier, the result would have been better than now,\" Ma Guoqiang told state broadcaster CCTV. As governments around the world acted to contain the virus, WHO spokesman Chris Lindmeier warned that closing borders could in fact accelerate its spread, with travellers entering countries unofficially. \"As we know from other scenarios, be it Ebola or other cases, whenever people want to travel, they will. And if the official paths are not opened, they will find unofficial paths,\" he said. He said the best way to track the virus was at official border crossings. Sars was a type of coronavirus that first emerged in China's Guangdong province in November 2002. By the time the outbreak ended the following July, it had spread to more than two dozen countries. The new coronavirus emerged only last month. So far, it has spread to fewer countries and - while more people have been infected globally - it has resulted in fewer deaths. On Wednesday, the number of confirmed cases within China surpassed the Sars epidemic. Sars was also estimated to have cost the global economy more than $30bn (PS22bn). But economists have said the new coronavirus could have an even bigger impact on the world economy. It has forced global companies including tech giants, car makers and retailers to shut down temporarily in China. China was also criticised by the UN's global health body for concealing the scale of the original Sars outbreak. It has been praised for responding to the latest virus with tough measures, including effectively quarantining millions of residents in cities. But in his interview with CCTV on Friday, the Wuhan Communist Party chief said transport restrictions should have been brought in at least 10 days earlier. \"The epidemic may have been alleviated somewhat, and not got to the current situation,\" Mr Ma said. The estimates from the University of Hong Kong suggest the epidemic is doubling in size roughly every week and that multiple Chinese cities may have imported sufficient cases to start local epidemics. \"Large cities overseas with close transport links to China could potentially also become outbreak epicentres because of substantial spread of pre-symptomatic cases unless substantial public health interventions at both the population and personal levels are implemented immediately,\" Professor Joseph Wu said. Why is this outbreak more difficult to stop than Sars? The answer is not down to China - the speed and scale of the country's response to this new virus is widely considered to be unprecedented. The difference is the way the virus behaves inside the human body. Sars was a brutal infection that you couldn't miss - patients were contagious only when they had symptoms. This made it relatively easy to isolate the sick and quarantine anyone who might have been exposed. But the new virus, 2019-nCov, is harder to spot and therefore harder to stop. From the virus's perspective, it has a far smarter evolutionary survival strategy than Sars. The best estimate is only one-in-five cases cause severe symptoms, so instead of infected people turning up in hospital, you have to go out and find them. And we are getting detailed documented cases of people spreading the virus before they even have symptoms. There is a tendency to focus only on how deadly a virus is. But it is this, in combination with a virus's ability to spread, that determines its true threat. A confirmed case in Tibet means the virus has now reached every region in mainland China. The central province of Hubei, where nearly all deaths have occurred, is in a state of lockdown. The province of 60 million people is home to Wuhan, which is at the heart of the outbreak. The city has effectively been sealed off and China has put numerous transport restrictions in place to curb the spread of the virus. People who have been in Hubei are also being told to work from home. China has said it will send charter planes to bring back Hubei residents who are overseas \"as soon as possible\". A foreign ministry spokesman said this was because of the \"practical difficulties\" Chinese citizens had faced abroad. The virus is affecting China's economy, the world's second-largest, with a growing number of countries advising their citizens to avoid all non-essential travel to the country. Voluntary evacuations of hundreds of foreign nationals from Wuhan are under way. The UK, Australia, South Korea, Singapore and New Zealand are expected to quarantine all evacuees for two weeks to monitor them for symptoms and avoid contagion. Australia plans to quarantine its evacuees on Christmas Island, 2,000km (1,200 miles) from the mainland in a detention centre that has been used to house asylum seekers. In other recent developments: - Sweden confirmed its first case - a woman in her 20s who arrived in the country on 24 January after visiting the Wuhan area - Russia said two Chinese citizens had been placed in isolation after they tested positive for the virus - Singapore closed its borders to all travellers from China - Germany confirmed its seventh case - a man from a company in Bavaria where five other workers have tested positive - Italy declared a six-month state of emergency after two Chinese tourists in Rome were diagnosed with the coronavirus - Thailand confirmed its first case of human-to-human transmission - Mongolia suspended all arrivals from China until 2 March. It also banned its citizens from travelling to the country - In the US, Chicago health officials reported the first US case of human-to-human transmission - Russia decided to close its 4,300km (2,670-mile) far-eastern border with China - Japan raised its infectious disease advisory level for China - Some 250 French nationals were evacuated from Wuhan - India confirmed its first case of the virus - a student in the southern state of Kerala who was studying in Wuhan - Israel barred all flight connections with China - North Korea suspended all flights and trains to and from China, said the British ambassador to North Korea - Guatemala announced new travel restrictions, saying anyone who had been to China in the past 15 days would be prevented from reaching the country Have you been affected by any of the issues raised? You can share your experience by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: - WhatsApp: +44 7756 165803 - Send pictures/video to yourpics@bbc.co.uk - Or Upload your pictures/video here - Tweet: @BBC_HaveYourSay - Please read our terms & conditions and privacy policy", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 2148, "answer_end": 3923, "text": "Sars was a type of coronavirus that first emerged in China's Guangdong province in November 2002. By the time the outbreak ended the following July, it had spread to more than two dozen countries. The new coronavirus emerged only last month. So far, it has spread to fewer countries and - while more people have been infected globally - it has resulted in fewer deaths. On Wednesday, the number of confirmed cases within China surpassed the Sars epidemic. Sars was also estimated to have cost the global economy more than $30bn (PS22bn). But economists have said the new coronavirus could have an even bigger impact on the world economy. It has forced global companies including tech giants, car makers and retailers to shut down temporarily in China. China was also criticised by the UN's global health body for concealing the scale of the original Sars outbreak. It has been praised for responding to the latest virus with tough measures, including effectively quarantining millions of residents in cities. But in his interview with CCTV on Friday, the Wuhan Communist Party chief said transport restrictions should have been brought in at least 10 days earlier. \"The epidemic may have been alleviated somewhat, and not got to the current situation,\" Mr Ma said. The estimates from the University of Hong Kong suggest the epidemic is doubling in size roughly every week and that multiple Chinese cities may have imported sufficient cases to start local epidemics. \"Large cities overseas with close transport links to China could potentially also become outbreak epicentres because of substantial spread of pre-symptomatic cases unless substantial public health interventions at both the population and personal levels are implemented immediately,\" Professor Joseph Wu said."}], "question": "How does this outbreak compare to Sars?", "id": "513_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 4984, "answer_end": 5871, "text": "A confirmed case in Tibet means the virus has now reached every region in mainland China. The central province of Hubei, where nearly all deaths have occurred, is in a state of lockdown. The province of 60 million people is home to Wuhan, which is at the heart of the outbreak. The city has effectively been sealed off and China has put numerous transport restrictions in place to curb the spread of the virus. People who have been in Hubei are also being told to work from home. China has said it will send charter planes to bring back Hubei residents who are overseas \"as soon as possible\". A foreign ministry spokesman said this was because of the \"practical difficulties\" Chinese citizens had faced abroad. The virus is affecting China's economy, the world's second-largest, with a growing number of countries advising their citizens to avoid all non-essential travel to the country."}], "question": "How is China handling this?", "id": "513_1"}]}]}, {"title": "Exit polls: How accurate are they?", "date": "12 December 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "As the polls closed at 22:00 GMT on Thursday night, the UK had its first real indication of the general election result with an exit poll for the BBC, ITV and Sky News. The survey taken at UK polling stations suggested that the Conservatives would get 368 MPs - 50 more than at the 2017 election - when all the results were counted. The exit poll is a survey of thousands of voters just after they have cast their ballot. It covers England, Scotland and Wales but not Northern Ireland, where a different set of parties dominate politics. The exit poll is based on 144 constituencies in England, Scotland and Wales. The constituencies are chosen to be demographically representative of the country, balanced between rural and urban seats, and weighted slightly in favour of marginal areas. The same constituencies are surveyed from one election to the next, for consistency. But there are a number of exceptions to this rule: if a seat disappears from the electoral map because of boundary changes, for example, or if the seat is held by the Speaker, whose election is traditionally not contested by other parties. Exit pollsters base themselves at a selected polling station in a chosen constituency. Voters emerging from the polling station are waylaid at regular intervals - every 10th voter, for example - by these fieldworkers, employed by polling specialists Ipsos Mori. They are given a replica ballot paper and asked to fill it in without anyone watching. They then drop the replica paper into a box that will be opened later. Crucially, they do not have to say out loud how they voted - the idea is this increases the accuracy of the results, says Stephen Fisher, associate professor of political sociology at the University of Oxford. The results are then analysed by a team of experts at a secret location in London. It has been becoming more accurate as the methodology improves. The rough rule of thumb is an exit poll that comes within 15 seats of the final outcome is considered accurate, Prof Fisher says. The 2015 exit poll was more accurate than the opinion polls during the campaign but did not predict a Conservative majority. In 2017, the first take of the exit poll correctly predicted the Conservatives would be the largest party, but stopped short of saying there would be a hung Parliament. One of the worst misfires was in 1992, when two separate exit polls, for the BBC and ITN, both predicted a hung Parliament. Instead, John Major's Conservative government held its position, albeit with a significantly reduced majority. The first result from the 2019 exit poll will not cover the last half hour or so of voting. If there's a late rush of voters that could change the result, the exit poll could be updated with a new headline after about 23:00 GMT. They are not included directly but the analysts do consider any evidence the changes among postal voters in the polls are different from those among in-person voters, Prof Fisher says. It may take some time for the full picture to emerge but if there's a strong trend, the first seats to declare, traditionally in the north-east of England, will confirm the exit poll's prediction - or not. The only way to find out is to be watching on Thursday night.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 333, "answer_end": 537, "text": "The exit poll is a survey of thousands of voters just after they have cast their ballot. It covers England, Scotland and Wales but not Northern Ireland, where a different set of parties dominate politics."}], "question": "What is the exit poll?", "id": "514_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 538, "answer_end": 1826, "text": "The exit poll is based on 144 constituencies in England, Scotland and Wales. The constituencies are chosen to be demographically representative of the country, balanced between rural and urban seats, and weighted slightly in favour of marginal areas. The same constituencies are surveyed from one election to the next, for consistency. But there are a number of exceptions to this rule: if a seat disappears from the electoral map because of boundary changes, for example, or if the seat is held by the Speaker, whose election is traditionally not contested by other parties. Exit pollsters base themselves at a selected polling station in a chosen constituency. Voters emerging from the polling station are waylaid at regular intervals - every 10th voter, for example - by these fieldworkers, employed by polling specialists Ipsos Mori. They are given a replica ballot paper and asked to fill it in without anyone watching. They then drop the replica paper into a box that will be opened later. Crucially, they do not have to say out loud how they voted - the idea is this increases the accuracy of the results, says Stephen Fisher, associate professor of political sociology at the University of Oxford. The results are then analysed by a team of experts at a secret location in London."}], "question": "How does it work?", "id": "514_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1827, "answer_end": 2778, "text": "It has been becoming more accurate as the methodology improves. The rough rule of thumb is an exit poll that comes within 15 seats of the final outcome is considered accurate, Prof Fisher says. The 2015 exit poll was more accurate than the opinion polls during the campaign but did not predict a Conservative majority. In 2017, the first take of the exit poll correctly predicted the Conservatives would be the largest party, but stopped short of saying there would be a hung Parliament. One of the worst misfires was in 1992, when two separate exit polls, for the BBC and ITN, both predicted a hung Parliament. Instead, John Major's Conservative government held its position, albeit with a significantly reduced majority. The first result from the 2019 exit poll will not cover the last half hour or so of voting. If there's a late rush of voters that could change the result, the exit poll could be updated with a new headline after about 23:00 GMT."}], "question": "How accurate is the exit poll?", "id": "514_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2779, "answer_end": 2963, "text": "They are not included directly but the analysts do consider any evidence the changes among postal voters in the polls are different from those among in-person voters, Prof Fisher says."}], "question": "What about postal votes?", "id": "514_3"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2964, "answer_end": 3231, "text": "It may take some time for the full picture to emerge but if there's a strong trend, the first seats to declare, traditionally in the north-east of England, will confirm the exit poll's prediction - or not. The only way to find out is to be watching on Thursday night."}], "question": "How quickly will we know if the exit poll was right?", "id": "514_4"}]}]}, {"title": "Jazmine Barnes: Second man charged in drive-by shooting", "date": "8 January 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Police in Houston have filed capital murder charges against a second man in connection with the drive-by shooting death of a seven-year-old girl. Police say Larry Woodruffe, 24, killed Jazmine Barnes after he fired into her mother's car on 30 December. He and Eric Black Jr, 20 - who authorities say acted as his getaway driver - have now been charged. Police say the killing arose from a case of mistaken identity and that the family was not deliberately targeted. Tuesday's arrest came as Jazmine's funeral was held - her family opted for an open coffin before the ceremony at a Houston church. Jazmine's mother, LaPorsha Washington, was in the car with Jazmine and her three sisters near a Houston-area Walmart store on 30 December when a red pick-up truck pulled alongside them and a man inside opened fire. Jazmine was struck in the head by a bullet and died at the scene. Ms Washington was shot and injured in the arm. The case caused widespread outrage and celebrities joined an appeal to find Jazmine's killer using the hashtag #JusticeForJazmine. A rally in Houston on Saturday attracted about 1,000 people. Ms Washington tearfully recounted the attack from her hospital bed and urged the gunman to give himself up. A $100,000 (PS79,300) reward for finding Jazmine's killer was also offered. Both Eric Black and Larry Woodruffe were arrested on Saturday as the result of a tip-off, Harris County Sheriff's Office said. Mr Black admitted taking part in the shooting. Charges were finally brought against Mr Woodruffe on the basis of corroborating evidence Both men charged are black but a photofit of a suspect released last week showed a white male believed to be in his 30s or 40s. Campaigners had feared the shooting, targeting an African-American family, might be racially motivated. When the suspect was wrongly identified as Robert Cantrell, his photos were circulated online by bloggers. Police now believe the man in the photofit was a witness that Jazmine's sisters remembered, not a suspect, WABC-TV reports. His niece, Hailey Cantrell, said that threats had been sent to her Facebook page and she asked people to \"back off\". \"I just want everyone to back off,\" she said. \"The truth is out. It had nothing to do with us, nothing to do with my uncle at all.\"", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1564, "answer_end": 2275, "text": "Both men charged are black but a photofit of a suspect released last week showed a white male believed to be in his 30s or 40s. Campaigners had feared the shooting, targeting an African-American family, might be racially motivated. When the suspect was wrongly identified as Robert Cantrell, his photos were circulated online by bloggers. Police now believe the man in the photofit was a witness that Jazmine's sisters remembered, not a suspect, WABC-TV reports. His niece, Hailey Cantrell, said that threats had been sent to her Facebook page and she asked people to \"back off\". \"I just want everyone to back off,\" she said. \"The truth is out. It had nothing to do with us, nothing to do with my uncle at all.\""}], "question": "Who is the man in the photofit?", "id": "515_0"}]}]}, {"title": "British expats urged to register for EU vote by 7 June", "date": "1 June 2016", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Britons living abroad are being urged by the Electoral Commission to register to vote in the UK's EU referendum before the 7 June midnight deadline. Some expats have told the BBC there has been confusion over the registration cut off, which some thought was 16 May. This was the advisory date widely publicised to make sure people had time to get and return a postal vote, the Electoral Commission said. Only those on the UK electoral register in the last 15 years can register. The in-out referendum on the UK's membership of the European Union takes place on 23 June. Midnight on 7 June is the final registration deadline for both UK and overseas voters. The deadline to apply for a postal vote is 17:00 BST on 8 June. Postal vote ballot papers must arrive back by 22:00 BST on 23 June to be counted. Overseas voters who want to vote by proxy must register and then complete and return an application form to their local electoral registration office by 17:00 BST on 15 June in Great Britain, and by 17:00 BST on 3 June in Northern Ireland. You can vote in this referendum if you are registered to vote in the UK, are 18 or over on the day and are: - A British or Irish citizen living in the UK - A Commonwealth citizen living in the UK who has leave to remain in the UK or who does not require leave to remain in the UK - A British citizen living overseas who has been registered to vote in the UK in the last 15 years (For those who were too young to register when they left the UK, their parent or guardian must been have registered) - An Irish citizen living overseas who was born in Northern Ireland and who has been registered to vote in Northern Ireland in the last 15 years - A citizen of Gibraltar Those eligible can register to vote online. More information about postal votes or using a proxy voter is available at www.aboutmyvote.co.uk. Daniel Tetlow, a British expat living in Berlin who is part of a campaign to encourage Britons abroad to sign up to vote, told the BBC there had been \"misinformation\" about the cut off point, as the 16 May advisory date had been misinterpreted in some quarters as the final deadline. For example, a tweet from the British embassy in Berlin stated the 16 May was \"the deadline\" to register as an overseas voter in the EU referendum. The confusion was \"obviously serious and threatens to disenfranchise thousands of Brits who have the right to vote, but don't know it\", he said. Jane Golding, also a member of the campaign, said there had been a spike in applications to register by British citizens abroad on 15 and 16 May - prior to the advisory deadline - but numbers had since dropped off. The Electoral Commission had done \"great work\" with its registration drive, but the potential misunderstandings were \"concerning\", she said. With just one week to go before registration closes, the Electoral Commission says many people are still not signed up to vote in the EU referendum. Campaign groups Hope Not Hate and Bite The Ballot are launching a week of action on Wednesday to encourage 500,000 young people to get their name on the electoral register. Bite The Ballot has also teamed up with dating app Tinder to launch Swipe The Vote UK, which aims to encourage 18 to 34-year-olds to cast a vote on 23 June.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1043, "answer_end": 1850, "text": "You can vote in this referendum if you are registered to vote in the UK, are 18 or over on the day and are: - A British or Irish citizen living in the UK - A Commonwealth citizen living in the UK who has leave to remain in the UK or who does not require leave to remain in the UK - A British citizen living overseas who has been registered to vote in the UK in the last 15 years (For those who were too young to register when they left the UK, their parent or guardian must been have registered) - An Irish citizen living overseas who was born in Northern Ireland and who has been registered to vote in Northern Ireland in the last 15 years - A citizen of Gibraltar Those eligible can register to vote online. More information about postal votes or using a proxy voter is available at www.aboutmyvote.co.uk."}], "question": "Who can vote in the referendum?", "id": "516_0"}]}]}, {"title": "For US Olympians, gold medals come with a hefty tax bill", "date": "17 August 2016", "paragraphs": [{"context": "She has flipped, tumbled and leapt her way into the hearts of millions over the course of the Olympic games. But when Simone Biles returns home she will be in for not just a major celebration but also a hefty tax bill. The 19-year-old has won five Olympic medals - four gold and one bronze. She has cemented her title as the world's best gymnast by taking home the gold in the all-around after three successive world championship titles - a feat only accomplished by three others in history. But all that winning will cost her. On 21 August, Biles could be slapped with a tax bill close to $43,560 (PS33,479) That estimate is based on the $2m that she has accumulated in endorsement deals and assuming she is charged in the highest income tax bracket in the US - 39.6%. Biles is not alone, her fellow US medallists will be slapped with tax bills for their victories as well. American Olympians are subject to a so-called \"victory tax\" - a tax on both the money they receive from the Olympic committee for winning and on the value of the Olympic medal. US athletes who win a medal at the Rio games will take home the hardware and a cash bonus from the US Olympic Committee. Gold medallists will receive $25,000, silver medallists get $15,000, and bronze winners earn $10,000. Those winnings are taxed as income, the same way Americans are taxed on other prize money, like lottery winnings. Most countries exempt their athletes from these taxes. But there's more, the medals are also given a value and taxed. The value is based on the value of the materials the medals are made of. Gold medals - which are mostly made of silver with a gold plating - are worth roughly $600 based on current commodity prices, silver medals are worth close to $300, bronze medals - which consist mostly of copper - have barely any monetary value, approximately $4. Assuming the athlete was already a high-income earner, paying the top bracket of US taxes, they would be paying 39.6% on the combined value of the medal and cash payout. Americans for Tax Reform calculated the bills to be: for a gold medallist $9,900, for silver $5,940, and for bronze $3,960. That's also assuming the athlete only won one medal. For US athletes like Michael Phelps and Simone Biles, who have multiple victories, including multiple gold medals that bill could be much higher. Some analysts believe Phelps, who's worth an estimated $55m, could face a tax bill of $55,000. It's worth noting athletes in a lower tax bracket would have to pay less and most athletes can deduct the cost of training from their tax bill. For years politicians, athletes and fans have debated whether the tax is reasonable. Why should an athlete who worked so hard to represent and win for their country be charged for their victory? \"This tax places a hardship on our athletes and unfairly taxes them for representing our country and reaching the pinnacle of their sport,\" said Jim Leahy, the executive director of the US Olympic luge committee. In July, a bill to stop taxation on Olympians and Paralympians, sponsored by Republican Senator John Thune and Democratic Senator Chuck Schumer, passed a vote by the Senate. A similar bill has been proposed in the House of Representatives, but it has not come up for a vote. \"After a successful and hard-fought victory, it's just not right for the US to welcome these athletes home with a tax on that victory,\" Senator Schumer said. He noted that most countries subsidise the cost of training for the Olympics and don't charge their athletes for winning. Most US athletes must pay for their own training and few can sustain a professional living on their athletic winnings alone. The US Olympic committee pays for health insurance and stipends for only a small number of US athletes. This is not the first attempt at changing the taxation rules around Olympic victories. In 2012, Florida Senator Marco Rubio introduced a bill to prevent Olympic athletes from being subject to taxes on their winnings at the London games. \"We can all agree that these Olympians who dedicate their lives to athletic excellence should not be punished when they achieve it,\" said Senator Rubio at the time.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1052, "answer_end": 1843, "text": "US athletes who win a medal at the Rio games will take home the hardware and a cash bonus from the US Olympic Committee. Gold medallists will receive $25,000, silver medallists get $15,000, and bronze winners earn $10,000. Those winnings are taxed as income, the same way Americans are taxed on other prize money, like lottery winnings. Most countries exempt their athletes from these taxes. But there's more, the medals are also given a value and taxed. The value is based on the value of the materials the medals are made of. Gold medals - which are mostly made of silver with a gold plating - are worth roughly $600 based on current commodity prices, silver medals are worth close to $300, bronze medals - which consist mostly of copper - have barely any monetary value, approximately $4."}], "question": "What are they taxed on?", "id": "517_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1844, "answer_end": 2575, "text": "Assuming the athlete was already a high-income earner, paying the top bracket of US taxes, they would be paying 39.6% on the combined value of the medal and cash payout. Americans for Tax Reform calculated the bills to be: for a gold medallist $9,900, for silver $5,940, and for bronze $3,960. That's also assuming the athlete only won one medal. For US athletes like Michael Phelps and Simone Biles, who have multiple victories, including multiple gold medals that bill could be much higher. Some analysts believe Phelps, who's worth an estimated $55m, could face a tax bill of $55,000. It's worth noting athletes in a lower tax bracket would have to pay less and most athletes can deduct the cost of training from their tax bill."}], "question": "How much is the tax?", "id": "517_1"}]}]}, {"title": "US justice department defends 'lawful' Trump travel ban", "date": "7 February 2017", "paragraphs": [{"context": "The US justice department has defended President Donald Trump's travel ban and urged an appeals court to reinstate it in the interests of national security. A 15-page brief argued it was a \"lawful exercise of the president's authority\" and not a ban on Muslims. The executive order temporarily banned entry for all refugees and visitors from seven mainly Muslim countries. A hearing has been set for Tuesday on whether to allow or reject the ban. The filing was made to the San Francisco-based 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals in response to the halting of Mr Trump's order on Friday by a federal judge in Washington state. The judge had ruled the ban was unconstitutional and harmful to the state's interests. As a result, people from the seven countries - Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen - with valid visas were able to travel to the US again. The brief filed on Monday evening said the Washington court had \"erred in entering an injunction barring enforcement of the order\". \"But even if some relief were appropriate, the court's sweeping nationwide injunction is vastly overbroad,\" the department of justice added. The key arguments in the brief are: - the president is best placed to make decisions about national security - it is \"incorrect\" to call it a ban on Muslims because the seven countries were identified for their terror risk - the executive order is therefore \"neutral with respect to religion\" - aliens outside the US have no rights to due process The executive order issued by President Trump on 25 January fulfilled his campaign promise to tighten restrictions on arrivals to the US. Its main components were: - nationals from Iraq, Syria, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen - even those with visas - banned from entering the US; - a temporary ban on all refugee admissions; - the reprioritisation of minority religion (interpreted to mean Christian) refugee claims; - a ban on all Syrian refugees; - a cap on total annual refugee admissions to the US of 50,000. It caused confusion at US and foreign airports when it came into force, and was widely condemned, although polls suggest that US public opinion is sharply divided on the policy. The states of Washington and Minnesota have argued that as well as being unconstitutional, the travel ban is harmful to their residents, businesses and universities. Attorneys general in 16 states have signed a letter condemning the ban, and lawsuits have been launched in 14 states. Former secretaries of state John Kerry and Madeleine Albright and former CIA director Leon Panetta have joined others in drafting a letter which describes the travel ban as ineffective, dangerous and counterproductive. And lawyers for tech firms including Apple and Google have also lodged arguments with the court, saying that the travel ban would harm their companies by making it more difficult to recruit employees. Mr Trump's tweets are in line with the arguments from the Department of Justice - that national security is at risk. The president has attacked the \"so-called\" judge behind the Washington ruling, and said: \"If something happens blame him and court system.\" Whatever the decision of the appeals court on Tuesday, the case could end up in the highest court in the US, the Supreme Court. The last immigration case that reached the justices there ended in a 4-4 tie. But if Mr Trump's nominee to fill the ninth berth, Neil Gorsuch, is confirmed in time, it could tip the balance in the president's favour.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 2182, "answer_end": 2885, "text": "The states of Washington and Minnesota have argued that as well as being unconstitutional, the travel ban is harmful to their residents, businesses and universities. Attorneys general in 16 states have signed a letter condemning the ban, and lawsuits have been launched in 14 states. Former secretaries of state John Kerry and Madeleine Albright and former CIA director Leon Panetta have joined others in drafting a letter which describes the travel ban as ineffective, dangerous and counterproductive. And lawyers for tech firms including Apple and Google have also lodged arguments with the court, saying that the travel ban would harm their companies by making it more difficult to recruit employees."}], "question": "Who has spoken out against the ban?", "id": "518_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Examining China's hypersonic transport plans", "date": "2 March 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Chinese researchers have presented a new design concept for a hypersonic aircraft, which they say is a big step towards one day flying from Beijing to New York in just a few hours. Which would no doubt be a speedier and perhaps more convenient option than the current 14 hours. Research into hypersonic flight itself is nothing new, but it usually focuses on military applications where there is more money for research and less pressure to break even. So will flights five times the speed of sound ever make commercial sense, and carry passengers in two hours across the Pacific? When it comes to measuring aircraft going really fast the benchmark used is the speed of sound or Mach 1, around 1,235km/h (767mph). - Subsonic - anything below the speed of sound; such as current passenger airliners - Supersonic - faster than Mach 1 and up to Mach 5 (five times the speed of sound); such as Concorde, which flew between Europe and the US from 1976 until its retirement in 2003 - Hypersonic - anything faster than Mach 5; currently just small experimental vehicles Hypersonic is what the Chinese research is focusing on, with a team at the Chinese Academy of Sciences looking at one of the two big challenges; the aerodynamics, and the engine, which is much harder to solve. In terms of design, hypersonic flight requires something that can minimise drag, that is the resistance to motion from the air; the faster the aircraft, the more drag becomes an issue. \"It goes approximately as velocity squared: if you double velocity, you quadruple the drag,\" explains professor Nicholas Hutchins of the University of Melbourne. What's new about the design proposed and tested in China is a second layer of wings attached above the usual wings, in order to reduce drag; it's a little similar to a biplane. At the moment the developers have only tested a scaled down model in a wind tunnel. So the project is still far from, quite literally, taking off. Even if a design manages to cut down on drag, there are still other challenges that remain. Heat resistance is one, for instance. But then there's also the not inconsiderable issue of the sonic boom. If a plane breaks the speed of sound, it generates shockwaves. In simple terms that's a really loud bang. So loud it can shatter glass. The engine is the more tricky bit when it comes to getting a future hypersonic aircraft airborne. Once a vehicle has reached Mach 5, it can be propelled by a so-called scramjet engine: an air-breathing jet engine that sucks in air and uses that to burn its fuel. But, and it's a big but, this type of engine only works from Mach 5 onwards, so it requires another jet engine to get the aircraft going this fast in the first place. That could be an extremely powerful, traditional jet engine but eventually some combination of the two would be needed, say experts. \"There's been a major programme going on in China over the last couple of years to basically design that engine,\" explains professor Michael Smart, chair of hypersonic propulsion at the University of Queensland. \"That's what would be the real breakthrough.\" Aside from technical advances and possible landmark moments, the question is of course whether there's ever going to be a commercial market for hypersonic flights. Steal a quick glance at Concorde and you might have your doubts. The supersonic Anglo-French jet was hailed as the future of air travel when it first flew in 1969, but few were ever built, and it was eventually axed in 2003 with no sign of a successor. For one thing, the flights were too expensive for most travellers. And remember the sonic boom? Well that meant Concorde was only allowed to fly faster than sound once over the ocean. This restricted routes to trips across the Atlantic, and hence hurt its commercial viability. So although recent years have seen renewed interest in supersonic airliners, it's all still at development stage. Challenges would be even bigger with hypersonic flights. They'd be even more expensive and also cause a sonic boom. The research paper published in the February edition of Physics, Mechanics & Astronomy boldly assumes that in the future, hypersonic flights will be \"more convenient and efficient\" than getting on board a conventional plane. But it is \"at least 15 to 20 years\" before any such plans could be commercially viable, says Ellis Taylor of Flight Global. \"It's hard to see a market for this at the moment,\" he says. \"Historically in fact, air fares have been going down rather than up and it would be hard to get a wider clientele for a hypersonic flight. \"It would be a very, very niche thing - and that of course significantly upsets the economics of a commercial service.\" According to Chinese media reports, the scientists behind the research are also involved in Beijing's military projects around hypersonic speed, and it is defence that lies at the heart of hypersonic ambition. Think of aerial surveillance for instance that could be deployed very quickly, and would be hard to intercept. Or perhaps hypersonic missiles that could render existing defence systems useless. The big players on that stage are the US, China and to some extent also Russia. Unsurprisingly, military research is a lot more secretive and it's hard to say who has the edge. \"Historically, the US has always been in the lead, but China is catching up very quickly,\" says Prof Smart. So the plans for a commercial hypersonic jet, even if they are at the early stages, are a bold marker leaving little doubt over China's ambition.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 3101, "answer_end": 4695, "text": "Aside from technical advances and possible landmark moments, the question is of course whether there's ever going to be a commercial market for hypersonic flights. Steal a quick glance at Concorde and you might have your doubts. The supersonic Anglo-French jet was hailed as the future of air travel when it first flew in 1969, but few were ever built, and it was eventually axed in 2003 with no sign of a successor. For one thing, the flights were too expensive for most travellers. And remember the sonic boom? Well that meant Concorde was only allowed to fly faster than sound once over the ocean. This restricted routes to trips across the Atlantic, and hence hurt its commercial viability. So although recent years have seen renewed interest in supersonic airliners, it's all still at development stage. Challenges would be even bigger with hypersonic flights. They'd be even more expensive and also cause a sonic boom. The research paper published in the February edition of Physics, Mechanics & Astronomy boldly assumes that in the future, hypersonic flights will be \"more convenient and efficient\" than getting on board a conventional plane. But it is \"at least 15 to 20 years\" before any such plans could be commercially viable, says Ellis Taylor of Flight Global. \"It's hard to see a market for this at the moment,\" he says. \"Historically in fact, air fares have been going down rather than up and it would be hard to get a wider clientele for a hypersonic flight. \"It would be a very, very niche thing - and that of course significantly upsets the economics of a commercial service.\""}], "question": "Commercially viable?", "id": "519_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Sudan crisis: Military issue protest warning", "date": "22 April 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Sudan's military government has told protesters to take down their road blocks in the capital, Khartoum. Demonstrators have been manning barricades leading to the military HQ, which has been the focus of the protests that helped lead to the ousting of President Omar al-Bashir. On Sunday, protest leaders said they had ended contact with the military council that removed the president. They accused it of being composed of \"remnants\" of Mr Bashir's regime. The military says it is committed to handing over power and will consider a joint military-civilian council. But it insisted that it was responsible for security in the country. \"It can't continue like this,\" said the head of the military council, Lt Gen Abdel Fattah Abdelrahman Burhan. It was not clear if the protesters would respond to the call. \"We will carry on manning the checkpoints as usual,\" 23-year-old demonstrator Kawthar Hasaballah told AFP news agency. \"No one, not even the military council, will remove us from our places.\" A mass sit-in outside the military HQ has been taking place since 6 April. Five days later Mr Bashir was overthrown and replaced by a military council that promised it would hand over power to civilians within two years. Leaders of the protest movement have suspended talks and co-operation with the military. There had been hopes that the talks would lead to civilian rule. A spokesman, Mohamed al-Amin, called the military council an extension of the old regime and said they no longer recognised it, adding that a civilian administration would be unveiled in the next couple of days. By Fergal Keane, BBC Africa Editor The crowds are still large and the cheering is still emphatic. But after more than a fortnight of protests the broad front of groups that makes up the Sudanese opposition finds itself confronted with one of the most fundamental quandaries to face a peaceful protest movement: what to do when those you seek to overthrow refuse to accede? The protest leaders had been expected to announce their candidates for a civilian council to rule Sudan through a transition to full democracy. But last night - after days of expectation - they failed to do that. This has prompted speculation about divisions as different groups argue about policy and positions. Instead the opposition said it was suspending negotiations with the ruling military council and called for escalating protests. For now the generals on the ruling military council seem to have regained some cohesion. They have also been given strong backing - including more than $3bn (PS2.3bn) in aid - from the Saudis and the United Arab Emirates. There is widespread scepticism among the opposition about any military willingness to hand over power to a civilian-dominated transitional council. The military council has said protesters must immediately open the roads to allow for the movement of \"essential items\". It has made such calls before but has not moved to enforce the removal of barricades and checkpoints. On Sunday it said it would respond to the call for civilian rule within a week, and indicated it might favour a joint council. It has, however, released political prisoners and on Saturday arrested a number of top members of Mr Bashir's former ruling party. In December 2018, the government tried to stave off economic collapse by imposing emergency austerity measures and a sharp currency devaluation. Cuts to bread and fuel subsidies sparked demonstrations in the east over living standards, but the anger soon spread to Khartoum. The protests quickly widened into demands for the removal of President Bashir, in charge for nearly 30 years, and his government. The Sudanese military toppled Mr Bashir on 11 April but demonstrators have vowed to stay on the streets until there is a move to civilian rule. The economic problems brought Sudanese from all walks of life on to the streets but the organisation of demonstrations was taken on by the SPA, a collaboration of doctors, health workers and lawyers. A large proportion of the protesters have been women and the demonstrators are mostly young.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1587, "answer_end": 2770, "text": "By Fergal Keane, BBC Africa Editor The crowds are still large and the cheering is still emphatic. But after more than a fortnight of protests the broad front of groups that makes up the Sudanese opposition finds itself confronted with one of the most fundamental quandaries to face a peaceful protest movement: what to do when those you seek to overthrow refuse to accede? The protest leaders had been expected to announce their candidates for a civilian council to rule Sudan through a transition to full democracy. But last night - after days of expectation - they failed to do that. This has prompted speculation about divisions as different groups argue about policy and positions. Instead the opposition said it was suspending negotiations with the ruling military council and called for escalating protests. For now the generals on the ruling military council seem to have regained some cohesion. They have also been given strong backing - including more than $3bn (PS2.3bn) in aid - from the Saudis and the United Arab Emirates. There is widespread scepticism among the opposition about any military willingness to hand over power to a civilian-dominated transitional council."}], "question": "What now for Sudan's opposition?", "id": "520_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2771, "answer_end": 3251, "text": "The military council has said protesters must immediately open the roads to allow for the movement of \"essential items\". It has made such calls before but has not moved to enforce the removal of barricades and checkpoints. On Sunday it said it would respond to the call for civilian rule within a week, and indicated it might favour a joint council. It has, however, released political prisoners and on Saturday arrested a number of top members of Mr Bashir's former ruling party."}], "question": "What will the military do?", "id": "520_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3252, "answer_end": 3800, "text": "In December 2018, the government tried to stave off economic collapse by imposing emergency austerity measures and a sharp currency devaluation. Cuts to bread and fuel subsidies sparked demonstrations in the east over living standards, but the anger soon spread to Khartoum. The protests quickly widened into demands for the removal of President Bashir, in charge for nearly 30 years, and his government. The Sudanese military toppled Mr Bashir on 11 April but demonstrators have vowed to stay on the streets until there is a move to civilian rule."}], "question": "How did it all begin?", "id": "520_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3801, "answer_end": 4093, "text": "The economic problems brought Sudanese from all walks of life on to the streets but the organisation of demonstrations was taken on by the SPA, a collaboration of doctors, health workers and lawyers. A large proportion of the protesters have been women and the demonstrators are mostly young."}], "question": "Who are the protesters?", "id": "520_3"}]}]}, {"title": "Jewish newspapers unite against Labour 'threat'", "date": "25 July 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "The UK's three main Jewish newspapers have published the same front page, warning that a Jeremy Corbyn-led government would pose an \"existential threat to Jewish life\". The Jewish Chronicle,Jewish News and Jewish Telegraph move comes amid anger over Labour's anti-Semitism code. They say the party must sign up to the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance's definition of anti-Semitism. Labour says its version \"expands on and contextualises\" the IHRA definition. The party added the security and wellbeing of Jewish people was a priority and a Labour government would pose \"no threat of any kind\" to Jewish people. Labour's new code of conduct was approved by its National Executive Committee last week, but it has been criticised by Jewish leaders and some of its own MPs. Although it includes the definition of anti-Semitism given by the IHRA, it has not included all of the body's \"working examples\". Labour MPs will vote in September on whether to adopt the full IHRA wording after passing an emergency motion at a meeting on Monday night. Under the same headline, \"United we stand\", the newspapers said Labour had \"diluted\" the IHRA definition in its new code and there was a \"stubborn refusal\" from the party to accept it. They said the party had the choice of accepting the definition or \"be seen by all decent people as a racist, anti-Semitic party\". \"The stain and shame of anti-Semitism has coursed through Her Majesty's Opposition since Jeremy Corbyn became leader in 2015,\" the papers say. Labour veteran Dame Margaret Hodge confronted Mr Corbyn in the Commons last week, reportedly swearing at him and calling him an anti-Semite. Speaking to BBC political editor Laura Kuenssberg, the MP said she \"blew my top\" when she found out Labour had, despite criticism, written its anti-Semitism guidelines in such a way. \"And I thought rather than do what politicians usually do, and talk each other down behind our backs, I would go and confront him,\" she added. The party launched a disciplinary inquiry into the MP, which shadow defence secretary Nia Griffith has called \"completely absurd\". Speaking on Nick Robinson's Political Thinking podcast, Ms Griffith said: \"The idea that Jeremy would want to set up an atmosphere in the party where people couldn't go and say things to him is completely absurd. \"It's just not his way of dealing with things. I think we'd all prefer to have somebody speak to your face rather than behind your back.\" Shadow chancellor John McDonnell felt Dame Margaret had \"misunderstood\" Labour's new code of conduct. He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: \"I can understand why she was so angry, if that's what she believed this code had done, and I think it is a complete misunderstanding and we can resolve that amicably.\" He said the issue had to be resolved quickly and that Mr Corbyn had asked Labour's chief whip and general secretary to do this. Asked about Mr McDonnell's comments, Jeremy Corbyn said: \"I hope she [Dame Margaret] has now had a chance to read the code of conduct that we agreed at the national executive, and I hope she has had time to reflect that this is a very honest endeavour to ensure we prevent any anti-Semitism rising in our party.\" The Labour Party said it was \"fully committed to the support, defence and celebration of the Jewish community and its organisations\". \"The next Labour government poses no threat of any kind whatsoever to Jewish people,\" a statement said. \"The security and wellbeing of Jewish people is a priority for our party and in government we will always ensure schools, synagogues and institutions are properly protected. \"We understand the strong concerns raised in the Jewish community and are seeking to engage with communal organisations to build trust and confidence in our party. We know there is a huge amount of work to do.\" The party said it was \"committed to tackling and eradicating anti-Semitism in all its forms, in our party and our society\". Labour's code of conduct was drawn up after the 2016 Chakrabarti inquiry. It followed allegations of anti-Semitism within party ranks. The code does reproduce the IHRA's \"working definition\" of anti-Semitism and lists behaviours likely to be regarded as anti-Semitic - but critics point out that it leaves out four examples provided by the IHRA definition: - Accusing Jewish people of being more loyal to Israel than their home country - Claiming that Israel's existence as a state is a racist endeavour - Requiring higher standards of behaviour from Israel than other nations - Comparing contemporary Israeli policies to those of the Nazis But Labour has insisted that while the examples are not reproduced word for word, they are covered elsewhere in the new code.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 3957, "answer_end": 4723, "text": "Labour's code of conduct was drawn up after the 2016 Chakrabarti inquiry. It followed allegations of anti-Semitism within party ranks. The code does reproduce the IHRA's \"working definition\" of anti-Semitism and lists behaviours likely to be regarded as anti-Semitic - but critics point out that it leaves out four examples provided by the IHRA definition: - Accusing Jewish people of being more loyal to Israel than their home country - Claiming that Israel's existence as a state is a racist endeavour - Requiring higher standards of behaviour from Israel than other nations - Comparing contemporary Israeli policies to those of the Nazis But Labour has insisted that while the examples are not reproduced word for word, they are covered elsewhere in the new code."}], "question": "What are the differences?", "id": "521_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Ethiopia's Abiy Ahmed gets a new ruling party", "date": "22 November 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Ethiopian politics is about to enter a new phase following the merger of three of the four ethnically-based parties in the governing coalition, which has been in place since 1991. The new Prosperity Party will also include other allies of the Ethiopian Peoples' Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) that currently controls every seat in parliament. Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, who backed the plan, has hailed the decision as a \"crucial step in harnessing our energy to work toward a shared vision\". But the refusal of the Tigrayan People's Liberation Front (TPLF) to become part of the new party highlights what problems could lie ahead for the prime minister. He faces his first electoral test next year when his vision of a country that is unified on the one hand and ethnically diverse on the other will be voted on. Talks about a merger have been going on for more than a decade. But the prime minister, in power since April last year, is bent on recreating and rebranding the party because he believes the EPRDF has a tarnished image. He also wants to lead a party that more closely reflects his own ideals. The coalition was formed in 1988 by ethnically-based groups fighting the dictator Mengistu Haile Mariam. It brought together the TPLF, the Amhara Democratic Party, the Oromo Democratic Party (ODP) and the Southern Ethiopian People's Democratic Movement. All four had their roots in Marxist guerrilla movements, and although they moved away from that economic approach, the EPRDF backed large state involvement when it came to development. The Prosperity Party under Mr Abiy says it will have a more liberal economic outlook and give more room to the private sector. Mr Abiy has promoted his philosophy of medemer, meaning \"addition\", which is about encouraging everyone's contribution and ending ethnic separatism. The Prosperity Party, unlike the EPRDF, will include people from all ethnic groups. Historically, with the four parties making up the EPRDF, other ethnicities had a secondary status. The prime minister also says he wants people to be appointed to office on the basis of merit rather than based on an idea of balancing ethnic groups. On the other hand, Mr Abiy, an ethnic Oromo, is keen on promoting diversity in the country. He came to power following a wave of protests from people in Oromia, who had been complaining of political and economic marginalisation, and he is aware that he needs to address these concerns without returning the country to a highly centralised state. But there are still big questions about how the Prosperity Party is going to operate in the country's regional states which are ethnically based. When the EPRDF came to power, the TPLF was the dominant party. Meles Zenawi, who led the government from 1991 until his death in 2012, and other key figures were from the Tigray region. But as Tigrayans make up around 6% of the population they would lose a lot of influence in the new merged party. That influence has already waned since Mr Abiy came to power and there has been growing tension between him and the TPLF leadership. They also feel that Ethiopia's growth is down to their approach to economic development, which is based on state intervention and seems to be at odds with the Prosperity Party's outlook. But it is not only the TPLF that is concerned. Some members of the ODP, which the prime minister chairs, are reported to be worried that the new party implies a loss of their identity. It is not yet clear if the TPLF will break away, or whether some members will join the new party while others will leave. The prime minister appears to be having some back-channel discussions with TPLF members, but the result of those talks is not known. You may also be interested in: If there was a split, it would mean that the TPLF would become an opposition party but still be in control of the Tigray regional state. That could lead to greater tension with the federal government and, in the most extreme case, the possibility of the creation of a de facto separate Tigrayan state. In many people's eyes, no matter how much reform there has been, the EPRDF remains associated with oppression and human rights abuses, which would be problematic at the ballot box. The idea of the new party has already got a positive reaction among some people, but the last few years has seen so many changes that it is unpredictable how things will turn out in next year's polls.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1680, "answer_end": 2653, "text": "Mr Abiy has promoted his philosophy of medemer, meaning \"addition\", which is about encouraging everyone's contribution and ending ethnic separatism. The Prosperity Party, unlike the EPRDF, will include people from all ethnic groups. Historically, with the four parties making up the EPRDF, other ethnicities had a secondary status. The prime minister also says he wants people to be appointed to office on the basis of merit rather than based on an idea of balancing ethnic groups. On the other hand, Mr Abiy, an ethnic Oromo, is keen on promoting diversity in the country. He came to power following a wave of protests from people in Oromia, who had been complaining of political and economic marginalisation, and he is aware that he needs to address these concerns without returning the country to a highly centralised state. But there are still big questions about how the Prosperity Party is going to operate in the country's regional states which are ethnically based."}], "question": "What difference will it make?", "id": "522_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2654, "answer_end": 3457, "text": "When the EPRDF came to power, the TPLF was the dominant party. Meles Zenawi, who led the government from 1991 until his death in 2012, and other key figures were from the Tigray region. But as Tigrayans make up around 6% of the population they would lose a lot of influence in the new merged party. That influence has already waned since Mr Abiy came to power and there has been growing tension between him and the TPLF leadership. They also feel that Ethiopia's growth is down to their approach to economic development, which is based on state intervention and seems to be at odds with the Prosperity Party's outlook. But it is not only the TPLF that is concerned. Some members of the ODP, which the prime minister chairs, are reported to be worried that the new party implies a loss of their identity."}], "question": "Why is the TPLF objecting?", "id": "522_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3458, "answer_end": 3712, "text": "It is not yet clear if the TPLF will break away, or whether some members will join the new party while others will leave. The prime minister appears to be having some back-channel discussions with TPLF members, but the result of those talks is not known."}], "question": "What implications could a split have?", "id": "522_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 4046, "answer_end": 4427, "text": "In many people's eyes, no matter how much reform there has been, the EPRDF remains associated with oppression and human rights abuses, which would be problematic at the ballot box. The idea of the new party has already got a positive reaction among some people, but the last few years has seen so many changes that it is unpredictable how things will turn out in next year's polls."}], "question": "What difference could it make to the 2020 election?", "id": "522_3"}]}]}, {"title": "Faster pace of climate change is 'scary', former chief scientist says", "date": "16 September 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Extreme events linked to climate change, such as the heatwave in Europe this year, are occurring sooner than expected, an ex-chief scientist says. Prof Sir David King says he's been scared by the number of extreme events, and he called for the UK to advance its climate targets by 10 years. But the UN's weather chief said using words like \"scared\" could make young people depressed and anxious. Campaigners argue that people won't act unless they feel fearful. Speaking to the BBC, Prof King, a former chief scientific adviser to the government, said: \"It's appropriate to be scared. We predicted temperatures would rise, but we didn't foresee these sorts of extreme events we're getting so soon.\" He said the world had changed faster than generally predicted in the fifth assessment report from the UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) in 2014. He referred especially to the loss of land ice and sea ice, and to the weather extremes in which he said warming probably played a role. Several other scientists contacted by the BBC supported his emotive language. The physicist Prof Jo Haigh from Imperial College London said: \"David King is right to be scared - I'm scared too.\" \"We do the analysis, we think what's going to happen, then publish in a very scientific way. \"Then we have a human response to that... and it is scary.\" Petteri Taalas, the secretary-general of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), a specialised UN agency, said he fully supported United Nations climate goals, but he criticised radical green campaigners for forecasting the end of the world. It's the latest chapter in the long debate over how to communicate climate science to the public. Dr Taalas agrees polar ice is melting faster than expected, but he's concerned that public fear could lead to paralysis - and also to mental health problems amongst the young. \"We are fully behind climate science and fully behind the (upcoming) New York climate summit\", he said. \"But I want to stick to the facts, which are quite convincing and dramatic enough. We should avoid interpreting them too much. \"When I was young we were afraid of nuclear war. We seriously thought it's better not to have children. \"I'm feeling the same sentiment among young people at the moment. So we have to be a bit careful with our communication style.\" He said most of the changes were within the IPCC forecast range - although some - like polar ice - were at the top end of the range. The polar scientist Andrew Shepherd, from Leeds University, agreed with that assessment. He also said scientists should normally avoid emotional terms: \"I  would not use the term (scary) in general, but it is certainly surprising to see record (or near record) losses of ice. 2019 has been a bad year for Earth's ice.\" It seems though, that some scientists believe their communications in the past have been failing to provoke an emotional response that would convince the public to act. The Telegraph reports that psychologists working with the University of Bath are counselling growing numbers of young people suffering from eco-anxiety. However, some scientists appear to believe that their communications in the past have been failing to provoke an emotional response that would convince the public to act. We tested Prof King's views with the main authors of the authoritative Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Fifth Assessment Report (AR5), published in 2014. The consensus among those who replied was that climate models had accurately forecast the rise in global mean temperature. But the models hadn't been sufficiently sophisticated to foresee events like this year's extreme European heatwave or the slow-moving Hurricane Dorian - described by Nasa as \"extraordinary\" and \"a nightmare scenario\". Others mentioned severe ice melting at the poles; Tasmania suffering record droughts and floods in consecutive years; record wildfires in the Arctic and an unprecedented two large cyclones in Mozambique in one year. Gerald Meehl, a senior scientist at the US National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) in Boulder, Colorado, told us he'd been anticipating changes like these for four decades, although he hadn't been certain when they would arrive. \"I have a sense of the numbing inevitability of it all,\" he said. Few of the scientists we contacted had faith that governments would do what was needed to rescue the climate in time. They're alarmed that global warming of just over 1C so far has already created a new normal in which historic temperature records will inevitably be broken more often. This is the predictable side of climate change. Prof King argues that some changes were not well forecast. The loss of land ice in Antarctica, for instance, is at the upper range of predictions in the IPCC AR5. And there are record ice losses in Greenland Then there's this year's French heatwave. Dr Friederike Otto from Oxford University is an expert in the attribution of extreme events to climate change. She told us that in a pre-climate change world, a heatwave like this might strike once in 1,000 years. In a post-warming world, the heatwave was a one-in-a-100 year phenomenon. In other words, natural variability is amplifying human-induced climate heating. \"With European heatwaves, we have realised that climate change is a total game-changer,\" she said. \"It has increased the likelihood (of events) by orders of magnitude.\" Researchers had not yet had time to investigate the links between all of the major extreme weather events and climate change, she said. With some phenomena such as droughts and floods there was no clear evidence yet of any involvement from climate change. And it was impossible to be sure that the slow progress of Dorian was caused by climate change. Prof King said the world could not wait for scientific certainty on events like Hurricane Dorian. \"Scientists like to be certain,\" he said. \"But these events are all about probabilities. What is the likelihood that (Dorian) is a climate change event? I'm going to say 'very high'. \"I can't say that with 100% certainty, but what I can say is that the energy from the hurricane comes from the warm ocean and if that ocean gets warmer we must expect more energy in hurricanes.\" He continued: \"If you got in a plane with a one in 100 chance of crashing you would be appropriately scared. \"But we are experimenting with the climate in a way that throws up probabilities of very severe consequences of much more than that.\" Pierre Friedlingstein from Exeter University said he'd been surprised by the onslaught of extreme weather. He said he expected extremes to happen as forecast by the IPCC - but had not expected them so quickly. Prof King said the situation was so grave that the UK should bring forward its date for cutting emissions of greenhouse gases to almost zero from 2050 to 2040. Some of the IPCC scientists we contacted didn't share his urge to engage with the public on an emotional level. Others agreed with him. Prof John Church from the University of New South Wales in Sydney, Australia told us: \"Some things appear to be happening faster than projected. This may be partially related to the interaction of climate change and natural variability as well as the uncertainty in our understanding and projections. \"In my own area of sea level change, things are happening near the upper end of the projections. \"What is scary is our lack of appropriate response. Our continued lack of action is committing the world to major and essentially irreversible change.\" Follow Roger on Twitter.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1693, "answer_end": 3276, "text": "Dr Taalas agrees polar ice is melting faster than expected, but he's concerned that public fear could lead to paralysis - and also to mental health problems amongst the young. \"We are fully behind climate science and fully behind the (upcoming) New York climate summit\", he said. \"But I want to stick to the facts, which are quite convincing and dramatic enough. We should avoid interpreting them too much. \"When I was young we were afraid of nuclear war. We seriously thought it's better not to have children. \"I'm feeling the same sentiment among young people at the moment. So we have to be a bit careful with our communication style.\" He said most of the changes were within the IPCC forecast range - although some - like polar ice - were at the top end of the range. The polar scientist Andrew Shepherd, from Leeds University, agreed with that assessment. He also said scientists should normally avoid emotional terms: \"I  would not use the term (scary) in general, but it is certainly surprising to see record (or near record) losses of ice. 2019 has been a bad year for Earth's ice.\" It seems though, that some scientists believe their communications in the past have been failing to provoke an emotional response that would convince the public to act. The Telegraph reports that psychologists working with the University of Bath are counselling growing numbers of young people suffering from eco-anxiety. However, some scientists appear to believe that their communications in the past have been failing to provoke an emotional response that would convince the public to act."}], "question": "Will emotive language leave young people depressed?", "id": "523_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3277, "answer_end": 4003, "text": "We tested Prof King's views with the main authors of the authoritative Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Fifth Assessment Report (AR5), published in 2014. The consensus among those who replied was that climate models had accurately forecast the rise in global mean temperature. But the models hadn't been sufficiently sophisticated to foresee events like this year's extreme European heatwave or the slow-moving Hurricane Dorian - described by Nasa as \"extraordinary\" and \"a nightmare scenario\". Others mentioned severe ice melting at the poles; Tasmania suffering record droughts and floods in consecutive years; record wildfires in the Arctic and an unprecedented two large cyclones in Mozambique in one year."}], "question": " Do scientists agree climate change is scary?", "id": "523_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 4700, "answer_end": 5780, "text": "The loss of land ice in Antarctica, for instance, is at the upper range of predictions in the IPCC AR5. And there are record ice losses in Greenland Then there's this year's French heatwave. Dr Friederike Otto from Oxford University is an expert in the attribution of extreme events to climate change. She told us that in a pre-climate change world, a heatwave like this might strike once in 1,000 years. In a post-warming world, the heatwave was a one-in-a-100 year phenomenon. In other words, natural variability is amplifying human-induced climate heating. \"With European heatwaves, we have realised that climate change is a total game-changer,\" she said. \"It has increased the likelihood (of events) by orders of magnitude.\" Researchers had not yet had time to investigate the links between all of the major extreme weather events and climate change, she said. With some phenomena such as droughts and floods there was no clear evidence yet of any involvement from climate change. And it was impossible to be sure that the slow progress of Dorian was caused by climate change."}], "question": "What is the science behind extreme weather events?", "id": "523_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 6500, "answer_end": 7580, "text": "Pierre Friedlingstein from Exeter University said he'd been surprised by the onslaught of extreme weather. He said he expected extremes to happen as forecast by the IPCC - but had not expected them so quickly. Prof King said the situation was so grave that the UK should bring forward its date for cutting emissions of greenhouse gases to almost zero from 2050 to 2040. Some of the IPCC scientists we contacted didn't share his urge to engage with the public on an emotional level. Others agreed with him. Prof John Church from the University of New South Wales in Sydney, Australia told us: \"Some things appear to be happening faster than projected. This may be partially related to the interaction of climate change and natural variability as well as the uncertainty in our understanding and projections. \"In my own area of sea level change, things are happening near the upper end of the projections. \"What is scary is our lack of appropriate response. Our continued lack of action is committing the world to major and essentially irreversible change.\" Follow Roger on Twitter."}], "question": "Should the UK bring climate targets earlier?", "id": "523_3"}]}]}, {"title": "What will director Danny Boyle bring to James Bond?", "date": "26 May 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "It's an official secret no more: Danny Boyle is to direct the next James Bond film. Set for release in October 2019, it marks the 25th instalment in the franchise - the first since 2015's Spectre, The film, which is yet to be given a title, reunites Oscar-winning director Boyle with Craig for the first time since Bond's spoof London 2012 cameo. But this, Craig's fifth official mission as Bond, is no laughing matter. Will it be a case of Bond, same Bond, or will 007, in these changing times, find his Martini both shaken and stirred? Confirmation of Boyle's appointment followed months of speculation and rumour. The 61-year-old is a titan of the British film industry - renowned for his spunky grit - typified by his 1996 film Trainspotting. Thomas Hobbs, a film writer for Little White Lies, says Boyle's willingness to \"experiment with pacing and cinematography so profoundly\" - on films such as Trainspotting and 28 Days later - cultivated his \"radical image\". \"He wasn't afraid to experiment with the movement of the camera to create claustrophobia or explore themes in graphic detail,\" he says. Boyle's depictions in his directorial debut Shallow Grave, and the dead baby hallucination in Trainspotting, are moments that \"other mainstream auteurs might sanitise a little\", Hobbs adds. This risk-taking history is something many Bond connoisseurs are excited about, openly admitting that Bond is in dire need of a new suit. After three films that got \"bogged down\" in a family origins story arc that \"just doesn't fit this world,\" John Rain, the host of Smersh Pod - a podcast celebrating all things Bond - hopes Boyle's appointment will bring a \"breath of fresh air\". \"I think if everybody involved with Bond was honest, they would admit that Spectre was a mistake,\" Rain says. \"And the attempt at trying to stitch the plots of the last three films together was folly.\" But this time around, Bond, saddled with the same writing team since The World Is Not Enough, from 1999, is set to have his mission objectives modernised by Boyle's long-time screenwriter, John Hodge. Rain says news of the partnership, based on an original idea from Boyle himself, has \"lifted my spirits no end\" about the new film. However, not everybody has such confidence in Boyle's abilities. Hobbs argues that the the man who dragged cinema into '90s Cool Britannia \"is vastly different to the Danny Boyle making the safe, slightly boring, genre movies such as Trance, 127 Hours and Slumdog Millionaire over recent years\". Beth Webb, a broadcaster and film journalist, agrees, admitting that despite Boyle's long and prestigious career in British film, she \"rolled her eyes a bit\" at news of his appointment. \"He's another white, male director, when really this was an opportunity to do something new and exciting,\" she says. Webb finds it ironic that for Bond - a character supposedly so daring and defined by risk-taking - \"the people behind the films are playing it very safe\". Her preferred choice would have been Lynne Ramsay, the creative force behind the big screen adaptation of Jonathan Ames' novel You Were Never Really Here - a psychological drama framed in a dark, violent world of amoral paedophile rings, which Webb argues proved female directors \"can handle suspense, violence and fragile masculinity\". The idea of a more human, emotive Bond detached from his traditionally misogynistic stereotype feels particularly pertinent in the \"Me Too\" era. James Chapman, author of numerous books on Britain's most famous fictitious spy, argues that while critics regard Bond as a sexual predator, epitomised by his treatment of Pussy Galore in Goldfinger, recent instalments have adapted accordingly. \"I'd argue that the Bond films have responded to changing gender politics not so much through changing Bond himself (who remains largely a \"sexist, misogynist dinosaur\" in Judi Dench's M's memorable phrase from Goldeneye) but rather by changing the attitudes of the characters around him towards Bond. \"Ever since Goldeneye, now some 23 years ago, Bond has often been confronted with women in positions of authority,\" he says. Boyle therefore needs to approach Bond with a self-aware, yet fearless, mindset to stay relevant in 2018, claims Hobbs. \"For Bond to really evolve and strike gold again, the series needs to invest its time in a director and star who aren't afraid to experiment with the formula and are happy to take people outside of their comfort zone,\" he says. Bond and Boyle may have found each other at just the right time.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 2213, "answer_end": 3303, "text": "However, not everybody has such confidence in Boyle's abilities. Hobbs argues that the the man who dragged cinema into '90s Cool Britannia \"is vastly different to the Danny Boyle making the safe, slightly boring, genre movies such as Trance, 127 Hours and Slumdog Millionaire over recent years\". Beth Webb, a broadcaster and film journalist, agrees, admitting that despite Boyle's long and prestigious career in British film, she \"rolled her eyes a bit\" at news of his appointment. \"He's another white, male director, when really this was an opportunity to do something new and exciting,\" she says. Webb finds it ironic that for Bond - a character supposedly so daring and defined by risk-taking - \"the people behind the films are playing it very safe\". Her preferred choice would have been Lynne Ramsay, the creative force behind the big screen adaptation of Jonathan Ames' novel You Were Never Really Here - a psychological drama framed in a dark, violent world of amoral paedophile rings, which Webb argues proved female directors \"can handle suspense, violence and fragile masculinity\"."}], "question": "A stale mission?", "id": "524_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Syria war: Eastern Ghouta rebels announce ceasefire", "date": "23 March 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "One of the remaining Syrian rebel groups in the besieged enclave of Eastern Ghouta, outside Damascus, has announced a ceasefire. The Faylaq al-Rahman group said the UN-brokered truce was to begin in the south of the enclave at 22:00 GMT. It said the move would allow talks with the Russian military, Syria's ally, on guarantees for the safety of civilians. Rebels in another part of the area reached a similar deal earlier. Syrian troops have taken 70% of the enclave. In recent weeks, they have cut the Eastern Ghouta into three separate pockets. Spokesman Wael Alwan said late on Thursday that a ceasefire had been agreed \"in order to negotiate with the Russian side about finding a solution to guarantee the safety of civilians\". The truce deal was reached \"through the auspices of the United Nations\", said the group, which controls the southern pocket around Arbin and Zamalka. There has been no comment from either Russia's military, the Syrian government or the UN. It was not immediately known whether the truce was actually in force after 22:00 GMT on Thursday. It was offered by the Syrian army to Ahrar al-Sham rebels, who until recently controlled the key town of Harasta in the north-west. The rebels agreed to lay down their weapons and leave Harasta. Buses carrying 1,480 people, including 600 Ahrar al-Sham rebels, drove out of the town earlier on Thursday, en route to the rebel-held northern province of Idlib. A military source said hundreds more were expected to follow on Friday. That evacuation deal was the first agreed since the offensive on the Eastern Ghouta was stepped up a month ago. A monitoring group says the air and ground assault has killed 1,500 civilians, injured 5,300 others, and forced 82,000 to flee in recent days.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 548, "answer_end": 1070, "text": "Spokesman Wael Alwan said late on Thursday that a ceasefire had been agreed \"in order to negotiate with the Russian side about finding a solution to guarantee the safety of civilians\". The truce deal was reached \"through the auspices of the United Nations\", said the group, which controls the southern pocket around Arbin and Zamalka. There has been no comment from either Russia's military, the Syrian government or the UN. It was not immediately known whether the truce was actually in force after 22:00 GMT on Thursday."}], "question": "What did Faylaq al-Rahman say?", "id": "525_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1071, "answer_end": 1755, "text": "It was offered by the Syrian army to Ahrar al-Sham rebels, who until recently controlled the key town of Harasta in the north-west. The rebels agreed to lay down their weapons and leave Harasta. Buses carrying 1,480 people, including 600 Ahrar al-Sham rebels, drove out of the town earlier on Thursday, en route to the rebel-held northern province of Idlib. A military source said hundreds more were expected to follow on Friday. That evacuation deal was the first agreed since the offensive on the Eastern Ghouta was stepped up a month ago. A monitoring group says the air and ground assault has killed 1,500 civilians, injured 5,300 others, and forced 82,000 to flee in recent days."}], "question": "What about the earlier ceasefire deal?", "id": "525_1"}]}]}, {"title": "Amazon opens a supermarket with no checkouts", "date": "22 January 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "In a move that could revolutionise the way we buy groceries, Amazon has opened a supermarket with no checkout operators or self-service tills. Long queues formed outside the Amazon Go store in Seattle before it opened its doors to the public on Monday. It uses hundreds of ceiling-mounted cameras and electronic sensors to identify each customer and track the items they select. Purchases are billed to customers' credit cards when they leave the store. On entering the store, shoppers walk through gates similar to those in the London underground, swiping their smartphones loaded with the Amazon Go app. Then they are free to put any of the sandwiches, salads, drinks and biscuits on the shelves straight into their shopping bags. There's no need for a trolley or basket, since you won't be unpacking it again at the till.  In fact, unless you need to be ID-checked for an alcohol purchase, there's also no need for any human interaction at all. With the help of sensors on the shelves, items are added to customers' Amazon Go account as they pick them up - and delete any they put back. An electronic receipt is issued as they exit. The store opened to employees of the online retail giant in December 2016 and had been expected to allow the public in more quickly. But there were some teething problems with correctly identifying shoppers of similar body types - and children moving items to the wrong places on shelves, according to an Amazon insider. Gianna Puerini, head of Amazon Go, said the store had operated well during the test phase: \"This technology didn't exist - it was really advancing the state of the art of computer vision and machine learning.\" Grab-and-go shopping has been the \"future of retail\" for some time now. But now Amazon believes its time has come - or at least that it is ready for real-world testing. They're calling it \"Just walk out\" and while they won't spill the beans on just how it works, they say it uses \"computer vision, deep learning algorithms and sensor fusion, much like you'd find in a self-driving car\". You scan a QR code as you enter. After that, your phone can go back in your pocket. Hundreds of infra-red ceiling cameras have been trained (with Amazon employees as guinea pigs) over the past year to differentiate between customers as they move around the store, and between items for sale, even those with similar appearances, such as different flavours of the same canned drink. There are weight sensors on the shelves to help indicate if an item has been taken or put back. And some items carry a visual dot code, like a bar code, to help cameras identify them. Amazon isn't offering any information on how accurate the system is. However, one journalist attempted to shoplift some cans of soft drink - but the system spotted it and added them on his bill. Amazon has not said if it will be opening more Go stores, which are separate from the Whole Foods chain that it bought last year for $13.7bn (PS10.7bn). As yet the company has no plans to introduce the technology to the hundreds of Whole Foods stores. However, retailers know that the faster customers can make their purchases, the more likely they are to return. Making the dreaded supermarket queue a thing of the past will give any retailer a huge advantage over its competitors. The Seattle store is not Amazon's first foray into bricks and mortar retailing. In 2015 the firm opened its first physical bookshop, also in Seattle where the company is based. There are now 13 in the US - as well as dozens of temporary pop-up outlets. In its third quarter results in October, Amazon for the first time put a figure on the revenues generated by its physical stores: $1.28bn. Yet almost all of that was generated by Whole Foods. While its stores may not yet be moneyspinners, analysts have said Amazon is using them to raise brand awareness and promote its Prime membership scheme. Prime members pay online prices at its bookstores, for example, while non-members are charged the cover price. Brian Olsavsky, Amazon chief financial officer, recently hinted that rivals should expect more Amazon shops in the months and years ahead. \"You will see more expansion from us - it's still early, so those plans will develop over time,\" he said in October.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1667, "answer_end": 2814, "text": "Grab-and-go shopping has been the \"future of retail\" for some time now. But now Amazon believes its time has come - or at least that it is ready for real-world testing. They're calling it \"Just walk out\" and while they won't spill the beans on just how it works, they say it uses \"computer vision, deep learning algorithms and sensor fusion, much like you'd find in a self-driving car\". You scan a QR code as you enter. After that, your phone can go back in your pocket. Hundreds of infra-red ceiling cameras have been trained (with Amazon employees as guinea pigs) over the past year to differentiate between customers as they move around the store, and between items for sale, even those with similar appearances, such as different flavours of the same canned drink. There are weight sensors on the shelves to help indicate if an item has been taken or put back. And some items carry a visual dot code, like a bar code, to help cameras identify them. Amazon isn't offering any information on how accurate the system is. However, one journalist attempted to shoplift some cans of soft drink - but the system spotted it and added them on his bill."}], "question": "How does it work?", "id": "526_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Ecuador election: Who will succeed Rafael Correa?", "date": "18 February 2017", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Ecuadoreans will go to the polls on Sunday to elect a successor to President Rafael Correa after three terms of what he and his administration have dubbed \"21st-Century socialism\". After 10 years in power and three election wins, President Correa will not be running again, so change at the top is inevitable. When he was first elected in 2007, Mr Correa was one of a group of left-wing leaders in power in Latin America, including Argentina's Nestor Kirchner, Bolivia's Evo Morales, Brazil's Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Cuba's Raul Castro, Nicaragua's Daniel Ortega and Venezuela's Hugo Chavez. Some observers spoke of a \"pink tide\" sweeping across the continent. A decade on, Argentina and Brazil are led by conservative presidents, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro faces a hostile legislative and Evo Morales is on his last term after Bolivians rejected a proposal to change the constitution to allow him to run again. Will Ecuadoreans follow the lead of Argentines and Peruvians and turn their backs on left-wing politics and favour a conservative candidate? Or will they favour the man who served as Mr Correa's vice-president? With Mr Correa not running again, his governing leftist Alianza PAIS (Country Alliance) party threw its weight behind former vice-president Lenin Moreno. Despite having been a key figure in Mr Correa's cabinet between 2007-2013, Mr Moreno has sought to differentiate himself from the outgoing leader. Challenged when he disagreed with the president about tax policies, Mr Moreno simply stated: \"The President has the right to think differently. Each one decides in his own government.\" Observers say the 63-year-old's style is less confrontational than that of Mr Correa and they suspect Mr Moreno may try to jettison some aspects of his predecessor's socialist policies. As vice-president, Mr Moreno, who became paraplegic after being shot in the back in 1998, set out to improve the rights of people with disabilities. Not only did he give motivational talks, he also published books on humour and happiness with titles proclaiming: \"Being Happy is Easy and Fun\". Most recently, he served as UN Special Envoy on Disability and Accessibility. Among his main campaign promises are increasing employment opportunities and ensuring that all Ecuadoreans have the chance to go on to higher education. Most polls suggest Mr Moreno is likely to get a majority of the votes on 19 February, but not the 40% needed to win outright in the first round. His main rival is centre-right businessman and former presidential candidate Guillermo Lasso. The 61-year-old is running for the Creando Oportunidades (Creating Opportunities) party. A banker, Mr Lasso wants to create jobs by promoting foreign investment and has promised to cut taxes for big companies. He also has plans to make Ecuador's central bank independent of the government.  The youngest of 11 children, he says he wants to \"create an Ecuador with opportunities for all\". Hot on his heels in the polls is Christian-Socialist candidate Cynthia Viteri. The 51-year-old lawyer has also pledged to cut taxes to promote job creation. She wants to slash government spending by at least $700m (PS560m) on existing programmes she calls \"luxuries\". If whoever wins the first round on 19 February does not get 40% or more of the vote, a run-off will be held on 2 April. The eventual winner of the election will be sworn in to a four-year term in May. Economic recovery is likely to be a top priority for Ecuador. The oil-exporting country has suffered from a drop in international oil prices and has seen its GDP contract 1.7% in 2016. Corruption is another major problem with officials from Brazilian construction giant Odebrecht recently revealing that they paid close to $35.5m in bribes to Ecuadorean officials in exchange for contracts. Officials of Mr Correa's government, including his former energy minister Carlos Pareja, are also under investigation over the granting of contracts by state-owned oil company Petroecuador. In foreign policy, the new president will have to deal with US President Donald Trump and his potentially more protectionist economic policies. He or she will also have to adapt to a shift of alliances in the region, following the departure from power of left-wing governments in Argentina, Brazil and Peru over the last two years. Rafael Correa was elected in 2007 on a promise of bringing radical social and political reforms to Ecuador. During his tenure, Mr Correa increased government spending on social programmes and looked to diversify Ecuador's trade and political relationships. He forged close ties with the left-wing regional group Alba, which includes Cuba, Nicaragua and Venezuela among others. He also moved Ecuador much closer economically to China, which is now one of the country's major creditors and trade partners. Mr Correa has been credited with reducing poverty until 2014, when the oil price slump hit government revenue and its ability to finance poverty reduction programmes. But recent corruption scandals and Mr Correa's frequent clashes with the media have produced some disillusionment. One poll suggests 70% of Ecuadoreans want \"important changes\" to be made. Voting is mandatory and more than 12 million people are entitled to vote for the president, the vice-president and also 137 seats in the legislature. 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_start": 181, "answer_end": 1134, "text": "After 10 years in power and three election wins, President Correa will not be running again, so change at the top is inevitable. When he was first elected in 2007, Mr Correa was one of a group of left-wing leaders in power in Latin America, including Argentina's Nestor Kirchner, Bolivia's Evo Morales, Brazil's Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Cuba's Raul Castro, Nicaragua's Daniel Ortega and Venezuela's Hugo Chavez. Some observers spoke of a \"pink tide\" sweeping across the continent. A decade on, Argentina and Brazil are led by conservative presidents, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro faces a hostile legislative and Evo Morales is on his last term after Bolivians rejected a proposal to change the constitution to allow him to run again. Will Ecuadoreans follow the lead of Argentines and Peruvians and turn their backs on left-wing politics and favour a conservative candidate? Or will they favour the man who served as Mr Correa's vice-president?"}], "question": "Why does it matter?", "id": "527_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1135, "answer_end": 2476, "text": "With Mr Correa not running again, his governing leftist Alianza PAIS (Country Alliance) party threw its weight behind former vice-president Lenin Moreno. Despite having been a key figure in Mr Correa's cabinet between 2007-2013, Mr Moreno has sought to differentiate himself from the outgoing leader. Challenged when he disagreed with the president about tax policies, Mr Moreno simply stated: \"The President has the right to think differently. Each one decides in his own government.\" Observers say the 63-year-old's style is less confrontational than that of Mr Correa and they suspect Mr Moreno may try to jettison some aspects of his predecessor's socialist policies. As vice-president, Mr Moreno, who became paraplegic after being shot in the back in 1998, set out to improve the rights of people with disabilities. Not only did he give motivational talks, he also published books on humour and happiness with titles proclaiming: \"Being Happy is Easy and Fun\". Most recently, he served as UN Special Envoy on Disability and Accessibility. Among his main campaign promises are increasing employment opportunities and ensuring that all Ecuadoreans have the chance to go on to higher education. Most polls suggest Mr Moreno is likely to get a majority of the votes on 19 February, but not the 40% needed to win outright in the first round."}], "question": "Who are the main contenders?", "id": "527_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3227, "answer_end": 4340, "text": "If whoever wins the first round on 19 February does not get 40% or more of the vote, a run-off will be held on 2 April. The eventual winner of the election will be sworn in to a four-year term in May. Economic recovery is likely to be a top priority for Ecuador. The oil-exporting country has suffered from a drop in international oil prices and has seen its GDP contract 1.7% in 2016. Corruption is another major problem with officials from Brazilian construction giant Odebrecht recently revealing that they paid close to $35.5m in bribes to Ecuadorean officials in exchange for contracts. Officials of Mr Correa's government, including his former energy minister Carlos Pareja, are also under investigation over the granting of contracts by state-owned oil company Petroecuador. In foreign policy, the new president will have to deal with US President Donald Trump and his potentially more protectionist economic policies. He or she will also have to adapt to a shift of alliances in the region, following the departure from power of left-wing governments in Argentina, Brazil and Peru over the last two years."}], "question": "What awaits the winner?", "id": "527_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 4341, "answer_end": 5501, "text": "Rafael Correa was elected in 2007 on a promise of bringing radical social and political reforms to Ecuador. During his tenure, Mr Correa increased government spending on social programmes and looked to diversify Ecuador's trade and political relationships. He forged close ties with the left-wing regional group Alba, which includes Cuba, Nicaragua and Venezuela among others. He also moved Ecuador much closer economically to China, which is now one of the country's major creditors and trade partners. Mr Correa has been credited with reducing poverty until 2014, when the oil price slump hit government revenue and its ability to finance poverty reduction programmes. But recent corruption scandals and Mr Correa's frequent clashes with the media have produced some disillusionment. One poll suggests 70% of Ecuadoreans want \"important changes\" to be made. Voting is mandatory and more than 12 million people are entitled to vote for the president, the vice-president and also 137 seats in the legislature. 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."}], "question": "What is Mr Correa's legacy?", "id": "527_3"}]}]}, {"title": "Nazi guard Palij deported by US to Germany", "date": "21 August 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "A 95-year-old former Nazi collaborator who served in the notorious SS as a labour camp guard in World War Two has arrived in Germany after a long deportation battle in the US. Jakiw Palij has been stateless since a federal judge revoked his US citizenship in 2003. For years Germany refused to accept him as he never had German nationality. After arriving in Dusseldorf he was being taken to a care home for the elderly, German reports say. The US ambassador in Berlin, Richard Grenell, praised Germany's new government and President Donald Trump's \"crucial leadership\" in resolving the case. Authorities believed he was the last Nazi collaborator still living in the US, and his residence in the Queens area of New York City attracted protests from residents. Palij is said to have been born in an area of Poland that is now in Ukraine. In 1943 he went to the Trawniki SS training camp in Nazi-occupied Poland. Trawniki was notorious because it trained thousands of civilians from the area who went on to become active as death camp guards at Sobibor, Treblinka and Belzec. Its most notorious camp guard was John Demjanjuk, who was convicted by a German court of being an accessory to 28,000 murders at Sobibor. He too was deported by the US, in 2009. Jews were sent to the camps as part of Operation Reinhard, the Nazi plan to murder more than two million Jews in occupied Poland. Trawniki also housed a forced labour camp where more than 6,000 Jews were murdered on a single day - 3 November 1943. A White House statement said Palij served as an armed guard and had played an \"indispensable role\" in ensuring Jews were killed. He arrived in the US in 1949 and was given citizenship in 1957. Although a US court ruled he had assisted in the persecution of prisoners, he was not found personally responsible for deaths. His deportation was ordered in 2004 after a judge said he had falsified his immigration application. Palij himself has denied collaborating with the Nazis. He told the New York Times in 2003 that he had never set foot in a camp and only agreed to work as a guard because he believed the Nazis would kill his family if he refused. Read more on the Holocaust: The Holocaust year by year Who are the missing million? The hidden graves of the Holocaust US authorities were unable to persuade Germany, Ukraine or Poland to take him in. He never had German citizenship. The US ambassador said a change of heart came with the advent of Chancellor Angela Merkel's new cabinet earlier this year. Mr Grenell said on social media that President Trump had also played an important role in securing the deportation. Centre-left Foreign Minister Heiko Maas told Frankfurter Allgemeine newspaper (in German) that Germany had a \"moral duty\" to \"come to terms with and face up to the crimes of the Nazi reign of terror\". The website reported that he was taken on arrival in Germany to a care facility in Ahlen near the western city of Munster. Nazi-hunter Efraim Zuroff from the Simon Wiesenthal Center in Jerusalem praised the US \"determination\" to deport Palij and said he wished there was a way of bringing him to justice. A German ruling in the John Demjanjuk case meant that prosecutors were able to charge SS guards with being accessories to mass murder, without direct proof of participation in atrocities. However, prosecutors in the German city of Wurzburg halted the case against Palij in 2016, citing lack of evidence. Four cases involving Nazi concentration camp guards are currently being investigated. A German man in his nineties was charged earlier this year with aiding and abetting the murder of more than 13,000 people at Auschwitz-Birkenau death camp.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 593, "answer_end": 2150, "text": "Authorities believed he was the last Nazi collaborator still living in the US, and his residence in the Queens area of New York City attracted protests from residents. Palij is said to have been born in an area of Poland that is now in Ukraine. In 1943 he went to the Trawniki SS training camp in Nazi-occupied Poland. Trawniki was notorious because it trained thousands of civilians from the area who went on to become active as death camp guards at Sobibor, Treblinka and Belzec. Its most notorious camp guard was John Demjanjuk, who was convicted by a German court of being an accessory to 28,000 murders at Sobibor. He too was deported by the US, in 2009. Jews were sent to the camps as part of Operation Reinhard, the Nazi plan to murder more than two million Jews in occupied Poland. Trawniki also housed a forced labour camp where more than 6,000 Jews were murdered on a single day - 3 November 1943. A White House statement said Palij served as an armed guard and had played an \"indispensable role\" in ensuring Jews were killed. He arrived in the US in 1949 and was given citizenship in 1957. Although a US court ruled he had assisted in the persecution of prisoners, he was not found personally responsible for deaths. His deportation was ordered in 2004 after a judge said he had falsified his immigration application. Palij himself has denied collaborating with the Nazis. He told the New York Times in 2003 that he had never set foot in a camp and only agreed to work as a guard because he believed the Nazis would kill his family if he refused."}], "question": "Who is Jakiw Palij?", "id": "528_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2270, "answer_end": 3675, "text": "US authorities were unable to persuade Germany, Ukraine or Poland to take him in. He never had German citizenship. The US ambassador said a change of heart came with the advent of Chancellor Angela Merkel's new cabinet earlier this year. Mr Grenell said on social media that President Trump had also played an important role in securing the deportation. Centre-left Foreign Minister Heiko Maas told Frankfurter Allgemeine newspaper (in German) that Germany had a \"moral duty\" to \"come to terms with and face up to the crimes of the Nazi reign of terror\". The website reported that he was taken on arrival in Germany to a care facility in Ahlen near the western city of Munster. Nazi-hunter Efraim Zuroff from the Simon Wiesenthal Center in Jerusalem praised the US \"determination\" to deport Palij and said he wished there was a way of bringing him to justice. A German ruling in the John Demjanjuk case meant that prosecutors were able to charge SS guards with being accessories to mass murder, without direct proof of participation in atrocities. However, prosecutors in the German city of Wurzburg halted the case against Palij in 2016, citing lack of evidence. Four cases involving Nazi concentration camp guards are currently being investigated. A German man in his nineties was charged earlier this year with aiding and abetting the murder of more than 13,000 people at Auschwitz-Birkenau death camp."}], "question": "Why did deportation take so long?", "id": "528_1"}]}]}, {"title": "Honduran president's brother guilty of drug smuggling", "date": "18 October 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "A jury in New York has found the brother of Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez guilty of drug smuggling. Juan Antonio \"Tony\" Hernandez, 41, was arrested in November 2018 in Miami. Prosecutors said the former Congressman had used his government connections to smuggle cocaine through Honduras to the US. Dismissing the verdict as \"inconsistent with the truth\", his attorney said they would appeal against the ruling. On Friday, supporters of Hernandez were met with protesters as they left the courthouse, US media report. Some chanted \"Fuera JOH,\" meaning \"Out with JOH\", referring to the initials of the Honduran president. A former Honduran congressman, Tony Hernandez, 41, was convicted on four separate charges, including drug conspiracy to import cocaine into the US and weapons offences. Assistant US Attorney Jason Richman said during the trial that he was part of a \"state-sponsored organisation\" that distributed cocaine in the US for years, and that corrupt \"mayors, congressmen, military generals (and) police chiefs protected\" him. Some of the cocaine he transported was said to have been labelled with his initials \"TH\". He was also found guilty of providing heavily-armed security for the drug shipments. The drug smuggling network is said to have operated in Colombia, Honduras and Mexico using planes, speedboats and a submarine. US Attorney Geoffrey S Berman said \"Mr Hernandez arranged machine gun-toting security for cocaine shipments, bribed law enforcement officials for sensitive information to protect drug shipments, and solicited large bribes from major drug traffickers\". US prosecutors also said jailed Mexican drug lord Joaquin \"El Chapo\" Guzman gave Tony Hernandez $1m (PS810,000) as a bribe that was meant to reach the president. The 50-year-old president was not charged in the case and has consistently disputed the charges against his brother. On Friday, he took to Twitter, writing the ruling brought him \"great sadness\", and based on the testimonies of \"confessed murderers\" - referring to the testimonies of several Honduran drug traffickers who are now in US custody. President Hernandez is facing growing calls to step down following the release of a court document linked to his brother's case. It alleged that his 2013 presidential campaign had been financed by drug money, and labelled him as a co-conspirator. He denies the claims. The president was re-elected to a second term in 2017 in polls which his opponents said were fraudulent. Honduras is a major transit route for cocaine smuggled from Colombia and other South American nations to the US. Thousands of Hondurans have left the country in recent years, mainly for the US, because of violence and poverty.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 632, "answer_end": 2111, "text": "A former Honduran congressman, Tony Hernandez, 41, was convicted on four separate charges, including drug conspiracy to import cocaine into the US and weapons offences. Assistant US Attorney Jason Richman said during the trial that he was part of a \"state-sponsored organisation\" that distributed cocaine in the US for years, and that corrupt \"mayors, congressmen, military generals (and) police chiefs protected\" him. Some of the cocaine he transported was said to have been labelled with his initials \"TH\". He was also found guilty of providing heavily-armed security for the drug shipments. The drug smuggling network is said to have operated in Colombia, Honduras and Mexico using planes, speedboats and a submarine. US Attorney Geoffrey S Berman said \"Mr Hernandez arranged machine gun-toting security for cocaine shipments, bribed law enforcement officials for sensitive information to protect drug shipments, and solicited large bribes from major drug traffickers\". US prosecutors also said jailed Mexican drug lord Joaquin \"El Chapo\" Guzman gave Tony Hernandez $1m (PS810,000) as a bribe that was meant to reach the president. The 50-year-old president was not charged in the case and has consistently disputed the charges against his brother. On Friday, he took to Twitter, writing the ruling brought him \"great sadness\", and based on the testimonies of \"confessed murderers\" - referring to the testimonies of several Honduran drug traffickers who are now in US custody."}], "question": "What was he found guilty of?", "id": "529_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2112, "answer_end": 2712, "text": "President Hernandez is facing growing calls to step down following the release of a court document linked to his brother's case. It alleged that his 2013 presidential campaign had been financed by drug money, and labelled him as a co-conspirator. He denies the claims. The president was re-elected to a second term in 2017 in polls which his opponents said were fraudulent. Honduras is a major transit route for cocaine smuggled from Colombia and other South American nations to the US. Thousands of Hondurans have left the country in recent years, mainly for the US, because of violence and poverty."}], "question": "What's the background?", "id": "529_1"}]}]}, {"title": "South Sudan soldiers jailed for rape and murder", "date": "6 September 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "A military court in South Sudan has sentenced 10 soldiers to jail terms ranging from seven years to life for a rampage in which a journalist was killed and foreign aid workers raped. The court also ordered South Sudan's government to pay each rape survivor $4,000 (PS3,000) in compensation. The crimes were committed during an attack in the Terrain Hotel in the capital Juba in 2016. A UN report accused peacekeepers of failing to respond to pleas for help. South Sudan's military and rebel forces have been accused of committing numerous atrocities since the outbreak of a civil war in 2013, but this was the worst attack against foreigners. This is the first time soldiers have been sentenced for committing atrocities in South Sudan, the world's youngest nation, which only gained independence in 2011. The court ordered the government to give the family of local community radio journalist John Gatluak 51 cows as compensation. He was taking shelter in the hotel compound when he was killed. Two soldiers were convicted of his murder and sentenced to life. Three others were found guilty of raping aid workers, four of sexual harassment, and one of theft and armed robbery. They have been sentenced to between seven and 14 years in jail. Thursday's judgment was delivered in a military courtroom packed with diplomats, aid workers and officials. One accused soldier was acquitted. Another died in detention of natural causes. The attack took place during heavy fighting in Juba between government and rebel forces. More than 70 people, including two UN peacekeepers, were killed in three days of fighting. Five foreign aid workers were raped when troops stormed the hotel compound. A lawyer representing the rape survivors, Issa Muzamil Sebit, said his clients were not \"relieved\" by the ruling. The compensation offered to them was \"very embarrassing and it is an insult to the victims\", he added. In his reaction, the defendants' lawyer, Peter Malual Deng, said he was shocked by the verdict, and would appeal against it. Human rights group Amnesty International welcomed the convictions. \"After much foot dragging, today's convictions and sentences represent a first step towards ending chronic impunity in South Sudan, where both government forces and the armed opposition have committed human rights violations and crimes under international law, with complete disregard for human life,\" it said in a statement. By Tomi Oladipo, BBC Africa security correspondent South Sudan's government will use this trial to claim that it is tackling abuses carried out by soldiers. But this was a high-profile case and it is difficult to see soldiers being put on trial for atrocities committed against locals. The military top brass on both sides of the conflict seem to be struggling to rein in their troops. The UN and human rights groups have repeatedly accused them of committing war crimes. In 2015, the African Union called for a special court to be set up to try war crimes suspects. However, this has not yet happened. Meanwhile, humanitarian groups continue to complain of the security risk. About 100 aid workers, mostly locals, have been killed in the conflict. This makes it more difficult to get food and medicine to the millions of people affected by the conflict. In his evidence during the trial, British hotel manager Mike Woodward said between 50 and 100 soldiers had entered the compound, looted it and raped five women. \"One group proceeded straight to the bar and restaurant while another group  continued to the residential area,\" he was quoted as saying in court. The rampage lasted for several hours, and included beatings, torture and mock executions, Mr Woodward said. The UN ordered an investigation after aid workers accused its peacekeepers of failing to come their rescue, despite the fact that they were based near the hotel. The investigation found that there had been \"a chaotic and ineffective response to the violence\" by UN troops. The findings led to the sacking of the force commander, Kenya's Lt Gen Johnson Mogoa Kimani Ondieki. The UN has about 13,000 troops in South Sudan. President Salva Kiir and rebel leader Rieck Machar signed a peace deal in August. The agreement stated that Mr Machar will return to government as one of five vice-presidents. However, this has not yet happened and several previous peace deals have collapsed. The conflict started after Mr Kiir sacked Mr Machar as his deputy, and accused him of plotting a coup in 2013. Mr Machar denied the allegation, and accused Mr Kiir of being an authoritarian ruler who had invented the charges against him to avoid a leadership contest. The dispute led to troops loyal to the two men clashing in Juba, and the fighting then spread to other parts of the country. It has created one of the worst humanitarian disasters in Africa, with tens of thousands of people killed and millions forced to flee their homes.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 806, "answer_end": 1685, "text": "The court ordered the government to give the family of local community radio journalist John Gatluak 51 cows as compensation. He was taking shelter in the hotel compound when he was killed. Two soldiers were convicted of his murder and sentenced to life. Three others were found guilty of raping aid workers, four of sexual harassment, and one of theft and armed robbery. They have been sentenced to between seven and 14 years in jail. Thursday's judgment was delivered in a military courtroom packed with diplomats, aid workers and officials. One accused soldier was acquitted. Another died in detention of natural causes. The attack took place during heavy fighting in Juba between government and rebel forces. More than 70 people, including two UN peacekeepers, were killed in three days of fighting. Five foreign aid workers were raped when troops stormed the hotel compound."}], "question": "What happened in court?", "id": "530_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1686, "answer_end": 2420, "text": "A lawyer representing the rape survivors, Issa Muzamil Sebit, said his clients were not \"relieved\" by the ruling. The compensation offered to them was \"very embarrassing and it is an insult to the victims\", he added. In his reaction, the defendants' lawyer, Peter Malual Deng, said he was shocked by the verdict, and would appeal against it. Human rights group Amnesty International welcomed the convictions. \"After much foot dragging, today's convictions and sentences represent a first step towards ending chronic impunity in South Sudan, where both government forces and the armed opposition have committed human rights violations and crimes under international law, with complete disregard for human life,\" it said in a statement."}], "question": "What have people said about the verdicts?", "id": "530_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2421, "answer_end": 3275, "text": "By Tomi Oladipo, BBC Africa security correspondent South Sudan's government will use this trial to claim that it is tackling abuses carried out by soldiers. But this was a high-profile case and it is difficult to see soldiers being put on trial for atrocities committed against locals. The military top brass on both sides of the conflict seem to be struggling to rein in their troops. The UN and human rights groups have repeatedly accused them of committing war crimes. In 2015, the African Union called for a special court to be set up to try war crimes suspects. However, this has not yet happened. Meanwhile, humanitarian groups continue to complain of the security risk. About 100 aid workers, mostly locals, have been killed in the conflict. This makes it more difficult to get food and medicine to the millions of people affected by the conflict."}], "question": "How significant are the verdicts?", "id": "530_2"}]}]}, {"title": "Why won't Democrats vote to authorise impeachment?", "date": "17 October 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Democratic Speaker of the House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi has refused to hold a chamber-wide vote to authorise the impeachment inquiry, despite vehement pushback from the White House and Republicans. Why not? Mrs Pelosi affirmed on Tuesday that there is no need for a full chamber vote as her party's probe proceeds. \"There's no requirement that we have a vote, so at this time we will not be having a vote and I'm very pleased with the thoughtfulness of our caucus with the path that we are on,\" she told reporters. But Republicans, who control the Senate, where any impeachment measure would go to trial, disagree. Citing past impeachments, the president's supporters have called for a full House vote to formally start the inquiry and to give Republican lawmakers more powers, like being able to issue subpoenas for their own witnesses and schedule hearings. As it stands, several House committees, all chaired by Democrats, are investigating the president, looking for evidence to support impeachment. The White House has refused to co-operate. \"We're not here to call bluffs. We're here to find the truth, to uphold the Constitution of the United States,\" Mrs Pelosi said on Tuesday. \"This is not a game for us. This is deadly serious, and we're on a path that is getting us to a path to truth and timetable that respects our Constitution.\" Article One of the constitution simply states that the House \"shall have the sole power of impeachment\", acting as grand jury and levying charges. The Senate, meanwhile, has \"the sole power to try all impeachments\" and convict a president of any \"treason, bribery or other high crimes and misdemeanours\". The nation's founding document does not expand on how the chambers ought to carry out impeachment. Jonathan Turley, a professor of constitutional law at George Washington University, explains: \"The Constitution does not require anything other than a majority vote of the House to impeach a president. \"It is silent on the procedures used to reach that vote, and courts have largely deferred to Congress to create its own internal rules and processes in fulfilling constitutional functions.\" But he adds, at least historically, \"a vote of the chamber as a whole was required to commit a matter to the House Judiciary Committee or a select committee for an impeachment investigation of a sitting president\". The US Supreme Court has held up the broad powers promised to Congress in the constitution. In a 1993 case over the Senate's impeachment rights, the justices unanimously ruled that the constitution's use of \"the word 'sole' is of considerable significance\" and meant the Supreme Court could not intervene - particularly as impeachment is an important check on the judiciary branch by the legislative. Indeed, the court noted, the word \"sole\" appears only twice in the constitution - when granting Congress the right to impeach. Congressman Kevin McCarthy, the Republican minority leader in the House, said in a letter to Mrs Pelosi earlier this month that she offered \"no clear indication as to how your impeachment inquiry will proceed - including whether key historical precedents or basic standards of due process will be observed\". The White House echoed a similar complaint in counsel Pat Cipollone's letter to Mrs Pelosi, which stated the inquiry was \"constitutionally invalid\" without a full vote. \"In the history of our nation, the House of Representatives has never attempted to launch an impeachment inquiry against the president without a majority of the House taking political accountability for that decision by voting to authorise such a dramatic constitutional step.\" But that may not be entirely true. There have only been two presidential impeachments in US history - Andrew Johnson in 1868 and Bill Clinton in 1998. Richard Nixon was not impeached, but in 1974, the House held a full vote to authorise the formal impeachment investigation against him. A similar vote was called in the Clinton case - though the initial investigation into the president had already been conducted by an outside counsel. President Johnson's impeachment was set in motion by a House resolution authorising a general investigation first. Mrs Pelosi has responded to Republican pushback by saying House committees are allowed to begin investigations as they see fit, including impeachment. For Prof Turley, the lack of a full chamber vote in the face of these precedents only serves to \"undermine the position of the House\". \"The reason for that traditional practice is obvious. Before the House takes the momentous step toward impeachment of an American president, all of its members should be on record with that consequential action. \"Most importantly, it gives clarity to a federal court in balancing congressional demands against executive privilege.\" \"The 'impeachment by press conference' action of Pelosi is an entirely new animal,\" Prof Turley adds.  \"It is now clear that the casual approach is by design. The question is 'why'.\" With almost every Democrat in the House on board, Nancy Pelosi has the votes to pass an impeachment inquiry resolution. So why hasn't she pulled the trigger? The House speaker might be trying to protect the handful of holdout Democrats or view the move as a waste of time. She might also be afraid that a House vote would encourage Republicans to press for the kinds of investigatory powers that congressional minority parties had in past impeachment proceedings. The last thing Democrats want is congressional Republicans subpoenaing Joe or Hunter Biden in an attempt to shift the focus away from Donald Trump. Ms Pelosi could also be hoping that the longer the investigation grinds on, the greater the chance Democrats could uncover that damning bit of evidence that breaks Republicans ranks. She may believe that it would be easier for Republicans to support impeachment if they weren't on the record voting against an investigation. Without a vote, however, Trump administration officials will continue to cite it as a reason why they should not comply with requests for documents and depositions. It's a judgement call, and for the moment Ms Pelosi decided it's a move she doesn't need to make.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 215, "answer_end": 1351, "text": "Mrs Pelosi affirmed on Tuesday that there is no need for a full chamber vote as her party's probe proceeds. \"There's no requirement that we have a vote, so at this time we will not be having a vote and I'm very pleased with the thoughtfulness of our caucus with the path that we are on,\" she told reporters. But Republicans, who control the Senate, where any impeachment measure would go to trial, disagree. Citing past impeachments, the president's supporters have called for a full House vote to formally start the inquiry and to give Republican lawmakers more powers, like being able to issue subpoenas for their own witnesses and schedule hearings. As it stands, several House committees, all chaired by Democrats, are investigating the president, looking for evidence to support impeachment. The White House has refused to co-operate. \"We're not here to call bluffs. We're here to find the truth, to uphold the Constitution of the United States,\" Mrs Pelosi said on Tuesday. \"This is not a game for us. This is deadly serious, and we're on a path that is getting us to a path to truth and timetable that respects our Constitution.\""}], "question": "What's the debate about?", "id": "531_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2891, "answer_end": 4998, "text": "Congressman Kevin McCarthy, the Republican minority leader in the House, said in a letter to Mrs Pelosi earlier this month that she offered \"no clear indication as to how your impeachment inquiry will proceed - including whether key historical precedents or basic standards of due process will be observed\". The White House echoed a similar complaint in counsel Pat Cipollone's letter to Mrs Pelosi, which stated the inquiry was \"constitutionally invalid\" without a full vote. \"In the history of our nation, the House of Representatives has never attempted to launch an impeachment inquiry against the president without a majority of the House taking political accountability for that decision by voting to authorise such a dramatic constitutional step.\" But that may not be entirely true. There have only been two presidential impeachments in US history - Andrew Johnson in 1868 and Bill Clinton in 1998. Richard Nixon was not impeached, but in 1974, the House held a full vote to authorise the formal impeachment investigation against him. A similar vote was called in the Clinton case - though the initial investigation into the president had already been conducted by an outside counsel. President Johnson's impeachment was set in motion by a House resolution authorising a general investigation first. Mrs Pelosi has responded to Republican pushback by saying House committees are allowed to begin investigations as they see fit, including impeachment. For Prof Turley, the lack of a full chamber vote in the face of these precedents only serves to \"undermine the position of the House\". \"The reason for that traditional practice is obvious. Before the House takes the momentous step toward impeachment of an American president, all of its members should be on record with that consequential action. \"Most importantly, it gives clarity to a federal court in balancing congressional demands against executive privilege.\" \"The 'impeachment by press conference' action of Pelosi is an entirely new animal,\" Prof Turley adds.  \"It is now clear that the casual approach is by design. The question is 'why'.\""}], "question": "But what does precedent suggest?", "id": "531_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 4999, "answer_end": 6198, "text": "With almost every Democrat in the House on board, Nancy Pelosi has the votes to pass an impeachment inquiry resolution. So why hasn't she pulled the trigger? The House speaker might be trying to protect the handful of holdout Democrats or view the move as a waste of time. She might also be afraid that a House vote would encourage Republicans to press for the kinds of investigatory powers that congressional minority parties had in past impeachment proceedings. The last thing Democrats want is congressional Republicans subpoenaing Joe or Hunter Biden in an attempt to shift the focus away from Donald Trump. Ms Pelosi could also be hoping that the longer the investigation grinds on, the greater the chance Democrats could uncover that damning bit of evidence that breaks Republicans ranks. She may believe that it would be easier for Republicans to support impeachment if they weren't on the record voting against an investigation. Without a vote, however, Trump administration officials will continue to cite it as a reason why they should not comply with requests for documents and depositions. It's a judgement call, and for the moment Ms Pelosi decided it's a move she doesn't need to make."}], "question": "Why won't Pelosi pull the trigger?", "id": "531_2"}]}]}, {"title": "Hezbollah commander Badreddine killed in Syria", "date": "13 May 2016", "paragraphs": [{"context": "The man believed to be Hezbollah's most senior military commander in Syria's war has been killed in Damascus. Mustafa Amine Badreddine died in a large explosion near Damascus airport, the Lebanon-based militant group said in a statement on its al-Manar website. Hezbollah supports Syria's President Bashar al-Assad and has sent thousands of fighters into Syria. In 2015, the US said that Badreddine was behind all Hezbollah's military operations in Syria since 2011. The US treasury, which imposed sanctions on Badreddine last July, said at the time he was behind the movement of Hezbollah fighters from Lebanon to Syria, and was in charge of the key battle for the town of al-Qusair in 2013. Obituary: Mustafa Badreddine Profile: Lebanon's Hezbollah Who stands accused of Hariri killing? Badreddine was also charged with leading the assassination of former Lebanese PM Rafik Hariri in the Lebanese capital, Beirut, in 2005. The funeral for Badreddine is scheduled for Friday afternoon south of Beirut. An initial report by Lebanon's al-Mayadeen TV said that Badreddine, 55, died in an Israeli air strike. But a later statement by Hezbollah on al-Manar's website did not mention Israel. Israeli media reported that the government refused to comment on whether it was involved in Badreddine's death. Israel has been accused by Hezbollah of killing a number of its fighters in Syria since the conflict began. The group was established in the wake of the Israeli occupation of Lebanon in the early 1980s, and has called for the \"obliteration\" of Israel. A number of Twitter accounts supporting Syrian rebel groups and the al-Qaeda-affiliated al-Nusra Front say Badreddine was killed in a battle in Khan Touman, southern Aleppo, rather than in Damascus. Khan Touman was captured by a coalition of groups including al-Nusra Front last week and has been subject to heavy shelling in recent days. No official sources have commented on the reports. Born in 1961, Badreddine is believed to have been a senior figure in Hezbollah's military wing. He was a cousin and brother-in-law of Imad Mughniyeh, who was the military wing's chief until his assassination by car bomb in Damascus in 2008. According to one report, a Hezbollah member interrogated by the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS), described Badreddine as \"more dangerous\" than Mughniyeh, who was \"his teacher in terrorism\". They are alleged to have worked together on the October 1983 bombing of the US Marine Corps and French army barracks in Beirut that killed 305 people. Badreddine is reported to have sat on Hezbollah's Shura Council and served as an adviser to the group's overall leader Hassan Nasrallah. Badreddine was tried in absentia by the ongoing Special Tribunal for Lebanon, in The Hague, over the killing of Mr Hariri. He was indicted on four charges and was said by the tribunal to be \"the overall controller of the operation\" to kill Mr Hariri. Three other Hezbollah members also stand accused of their role in the assassination. The indictment also details Badreddine's role in bombings in Kuwait in 1983, that targeted the French and US embassies and other facilities, and killed six people. He was sentenced to death over the attacks, but later escaped from prison. What is Hezbollah doing in Syria? The Lebanese Shia Islamist movement has played a major role in helping Iran, its main military and financial backer, to prop up the government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad since the uprising erupted in 2011. Thousands of Hezbollah fighters are assisting government forces on battlefields across Syria, particularly those near the Lebanese border, and hundreds are believed to have been killed. Who could have killed Mustafa Badreddine? Any of the armed groups seeking to overthrow Mr Assad might have sought to kill the man co-ordinating Hezbollah military activities. However, suspicion is likely to fall on Israel, which fought a war against Hezbollah in 2006. Israel has been accused of killing several of the group's leaders over the years, although it has never officially confirmed its involvement. Hezbollah military chief Imad Mughniyeh was killed in a car bombing in Damascus in 2008 that US intelligence officials said last year was a joint operation by the CIA and Israel's Mossad spy agency. In January 2015, a suspected Israeli air strike in the Syrian Golan Heights killed six Hezbollah fighters, including Mughniyeh's son Jihad, and an Iranian Revolutionary Guards general. And in December, Hezbollah said one of its senior figures, Samir Qantar, was killed when missiles fired by Israeli jets struck a block of flats in Damascus. Israel has also reportedly conducted air strikes aimed at preventing advanced weapons shipments from Iran from reaching Hezbollah via Syria. Update 23 May, 2016: The death toll in the 1983 Beirut bombings has been amended to include all the fatalities.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1003, "answer_end": 3248, "text": "An initial report by Lebanon's al-Mayadeen TV said that Badreddine, 55, died in an Israeli air strike. But a later statement by Hezbollah on al-Manar's website did not mention Israel. Israeli media reported that the government refused to comment on whether it was involved in Badreddine's death. Israel has been accused by Hezbollah of killing a number of its fighters in Syria since the conflict began. The group was established in the wake of the Israeli occupation of Lebanon in the early 1980s, and has called for the \"obliteration\" of Israel. A number of Twitter accounts supporting Syrian rebel groups and the al-Qaeda-affiliated al-Nusra Front say Badreddine was killed in a battle in Khan Touman, southern Aleppo, rather than in Damascus. Khan Touman was captured by a coalition of groups including al-Nusra Front last week and has been subject to heavy shelling in recent days. No official sources have commented on the reports. Born in 1961, Badreddine is believed to have been a senior figure in Hezbollah's military wing. He was a cousin and brother-in-law of Imad Mughniyeh, who was the military wing's chief until his assassination by car bomb in Damascus in 2008. According to one report, a Hezbollah member interrogated by the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS), described Badreddine as \"more dangerous\" than Mughniyeh, who was \"his teacher in terrorism\". They are alleged to have worked together on the October 1983 bombing of the US Marine Corps and French army barracks in Beirut that killed 305 people. Badreddine is reported to have sat on Hezbollah's Shura Council and served as an adviser to the group's overall leader Hassan Nasrallah. Badreddine was tried in absentia by the ongoing Special Tribunal for Lebanon, in The Hague, over the killing of Mr Hariri. He was indicted on four charges and was said by the tribunal to be \"the overall controller of the operation\" to kill Mr Hariri. Three other Hezbollah members also stand accused of their role in the assassination. The indictment also details Badreddine's role in bombings in Kuwait in 1983, that targeted the French and US embassies and other facilities, and killed six people. He was sentenced to death over the attacks, but later escaped from prison."}], "question": "Death near Aleppo?", "id": "532_0"}]}]}, {"title": "General election 2017: Conservatives top donation list in first week", "date": "18 May 2017", "paragraphs": [{"context": "The Conservatives received the largest amount of money in the first official week of the general election campaign, followed by Labour. The Conservatives were given PS4.1m and Labour PS2.7m between 3 and 9 May, according to the Electoral Commission. Donations to the Lib Dems totalled PS180,000 and for UKIP the figure was PS48,000. Parties standing in June's election have to submit details of donations and loans of over PS7,500 on a weekly basis. The Women's Equality Party reported a donation worth PS20,544 - more than the Green Party, which received PS15,000. The UK Independence Party (UKIP) also reported a loan of PS10,000. The largest single donation to the Conservatives was PS900,000, made by John Griffin, founder of taxi firm Addison Lee. Labour's largest donor was the Unite union, which donated PS2.4m in total. One non-party campaign group, the People's Assembly Against Austerity, was given PS65,000. Ahead of the 2015 general election, almost PS2.5 million in donations were reported to the Electoral Commission in the first reporting period. A total of almost PS14.4 million in donations and loans were reported during the 2015 general election campaign.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 633, "answer_end": 1174, "text": "The largest single donation to the Conservatives was PS900,000, made by John Griffin, founder of taxi firm Addison Lee. Labour's largest donor was the Unite union, which donated PS2.4m in total. One non-party campaign group, the People's Assembly Against Austerity, was given PS65,000. Ahead of the 2015 general election, almost PS2.5 million in donations were reported to the Electoral Commission in the first reporting period. A total of almost PS14.4 million in donations and loans were reported during the 2015 general election campaign."}], "question": "Who gave the most money?", "id": "533_0"}]}]}, {"title": "German van attack: 'Suspect had mental health problems'", "date": "8 April 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "The man suspected of carrying out a van attack in Munster was a lone German who suffered mental health problems, the state interior minister has said. Authorities have searched four homes associated with the suspect, and said they have found \"no clues\" pointing to an extremist or political motive. Two people were killed when a van was driven into a restaurant terrace area of the west German city on Saturday. The 48-year-old driver shot and killed himself after hitting diners. He has been identified in German media as Jens R - prosecutors say he was known to police. In 2015 and 2016, he had faced allegations of making threats, damaging property, a hit-and-run traffic accident and fraud, all of which were dropped. \"The person in focus had [psychological] abnormalities\" that needed careful investigation, regional interior minister Herbert Reul said after placing flowers at the scene of the attack. He said there was no evidence linking the suspect to Islamist militancy, and that he was not a refugee. \"We are assuming the motives and origins [of the crime] lie within the perpetrator himself,\" Hajo Kuhlisch, chief of local police told reporters. The victims were a 51-year-old woman from near Luneburg, in the north of the country, and a 65-year-old man from Borken, near Munster. Some 20 others were injured. \"We now know it was in all likelihood a lone perpetrator, a German,\" Mr Reul said. Prosecutors said there had been three criminal proceedings against him in Munster, and one in the city of Ansbach dating back to 2015 and 2016. \"We have no indications of a politically motivated background [for the crime]\", senior prosecutor Elke Adomeit said. Although officials have provided few details, the German newspaper Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung reported that the man lived just 2km (1.2 miles) from the restaurant. A vehicle, reportedly a grey VW van, was driven into a tourist square in the 300,000-population city at 15:27 local time (13:27 GMT) on Saturday. Eyewitnesses said it was driven at speed and photographs of the aftermath showed tables and chairs strewn across a restaurant terrace area. A bang was heard and people screamed, one cafe employee told local media. Daniel Kollenberg, who witnessed the aftermath, told the BBC: \"I think it is a deliberate attack because it's not allowed for cars to go in this area.\" Chancellor Angela Merkel said in a statement that she was \"deeply shaken\" by the incident. \"Everything possible is now being done to clarify the facts and to support the victims and their relatives,\" she said. French President Emmanuel Macron tweeted in French and German, saying his country was suffering with Germany.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1322, "answer_end": 1833, "text": "\"We now know it was in all likelihood a lone perpetrator, a German,\" Mr Reul said. Prosecutors said there had been three criminal proceedings against him in Munster, and one in the city of Ansbach dating back to 2015 and 2016. \"We have no indications of a politically motivated background [for the crime]\", senior prosecutor Elke Adomeit said. Although officials have provided few details, the German newspaper Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung reported that the man lived just 2km (1.2 miles) from the restaurant."}], "question": "What else do we know about the perpetrator?", "id": "534_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1834, "answer_end": 2665, "text": "A vehicle, reportedly a grey VW van, was driven into a tourist square in the 300,000-population city at 15:27 local time (13:27 GMT) on Saturday. Eyewitnesses said it was driven at speed and photographs of the aftermath showed tables and chairs strewn across a restaurant terrace area. A bang was heard and people screamed, one cafe employee told local media. Daniel Kollenberg, who witnessed the aftermath, told the BBC: \"I think it is a deliberate attack because it's not allowed for cars to go in this area.\" Chancellor Angela Merkel said in a statement that she was \"deeply shaken\" by the incident. \"Everything possible is now being done to clarify the facts and to support the victims and their relatives,\" she said. French President Emmanuel Macron tweeted in French and German, saying his country was suffering with Germany."}], "question": "How did the incident unfold?", "id": "534_1"}]}]}, {"title": "Government still committed to net migration target - Brokenshire", "date": "18 December 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "The government's target of reducing net migration to less than 100,000 a year has been left out of draft proposals for a new immigration system. But Communities Secretary James Brokenshire said the government remained committed to the target. He said the aim was to get net migration down to \"sustainable\" levels. The final version of the much-delayed immigration plan, which aims to end free movement from the EU after Brexit, has yet to be agreed. Ministers had insisted it would be issued this week, before the Christmas break, but it is unclear if that will now happen as officials work round the clock to finalise the plans. The goal of cutting net migration - the difference between the number of people entering and leaving the country - was introduced by David Cameron in 2011 and was a Conservative manifesto commitment at last year's general election. The BBC's Home Affairs correspondent Danny Shaw said removing it from the immigration white paper would be a \"hugely symbolic step\". The government has never come close to meeting the target and has faced repeated calls to drop it. The number of EU citizens moving to the UK has fallen since Britain voted to leave the EU, but more people coming from elsewhere means the overall migration rate is unchanged and stands at 273,000 a year. Home Secretary Sajid Javid will reportedly use the immigration white paper to set out plans to cut net migration from the EU by as much as 80%. He wants to limit the number of low and medium-skilled workers coming to the UK from EU countries by saying they must earn at least PS30,000 a year. But there will be no cap on the number of highly skilled workers, reports suggest. This will create a level playing field with immigration from outside the EU, the government says. But some businesses have warned of labour shortages, and Chancellor Philip Hammond and Business Secretary Greg Clark are arguing for the proposed PS30,000 minimum salary for low-skilled workers to be reduced, according to The Daily Mail. By Political Reporter Brian Wheeler The Conservatives went into the 2010 general election with a pledge to return to the \"sustainable\" levels of net migration seen in the 1990s. David Cameron promised to meet the target \"no ifs, no buts\". But the idea has always had its critics. A country can only control how many people come in, not how many emigrate. And Mr Cameron only had limited control over those coming in anyway, because of EU free movement rules. But focusing on net migration did shift attention away from the far higher immigration figure - 630,000 in 2017 - which had previously dominated the headlines. Communities Secretary James Brokenshire refused to speculate on the contents of the draft white paper, which have been shown to the cabinet for the first time this week. He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: \"We are committed to seeing net migration reduced to those sustainable numbers that we saw back before 1998 when it was less than 100,000.\" He said the government had focused on that number \"because that is what is sustainable in the long-term\". Global employment consultancy Mercer has predicted a UK workforce shortage of 1.9 million by 2025, if the government remains committed to its 100,000 target and demand for labour continues to rise at the same rate as it has for the past 10 years. But the company claims there is an \"untapped\" workforce of 1.8 million UK-born workers, if firms started recruiting more workers aged over 50, women, and people with disabilities.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 2011, "answer_end": 2629, "text": "By Political Reporter Brian Wheeler The Conservatives went into the 2010 general election with a pledge to return to the \"sustainable\" levels of net migration seen in the 1990s. David Cameron promised to meet the target \"no ifs, no buts\". But the idea has always had its critics. A country can only control how many people come in, not how many emigrate. And Mr Cameron only had limited control over those coming in anyway, because of EU free movement rules. But focusing on net migration did shift attention away from the far higher immigration figure - 630,000 in 2017 - which had previously dominated the headlines."}], "question": "Why 'net migration'?", "id": "535_0"}]}]}, {"title": "FaceApp: How accurate are the predictions?", "date": "19 July 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "It might feel like every person you've ever met is using FaceApp at the moment. Your timelines have been flooded with people from school posting photos of what they might look like when they're older. The app has got its critics. There have been warnings over how its creators use your data - and one politician in America even wants the FBI to investigate it. But how accurate are the app's results? We've put pictures of celebrities from their younger days through it to see how they compare to now. The app is pretty much bang on with Sir Ian McKellen aka Gandalf in The Lord of the Rings. The picture on the left was taken in his late 20s back in 1968. The one in the middle is after it's been worked on by FaceApp and the right is when Sir Ian played Magneto in X-Men: Days of Future Past - aged 75. Newsbeat rating: 10/10. Solid. Yeah, not too bad. Taken in 1965, on the left is Sir David Attenborough aged 39. The middle picture is the result after going through the app and on the right is earlier this year aged 93. Newsbeat rating: 7/10. Good effort. OK, this is probably not the greatest. On the left is country singer and all round general icon Dolly Parton in her early 30s back in 1977. Centre is after she's been app'd and the right was earlier in 2019, aged 73. If anything, she's aged better than the app has done... Newsbeat rating: 2/10. Requires A LOT of improvement. Morgan Freeman looks good here - especially in the left picture, which is from 1990 when he was in his early 50s. But you can't help but feel he's lost a little bit of the glimmer in his eye in the middle FaceApp'd picture. Luckily, it's definitely still there on the right, which was taken in June this year. Newsbeat rating: 6/10. FaceApp makes Morgan sad. On the left, legendary actor Dame Judi Dench aged 33 back in 1967. Middle? You guessed it. After she's been through the app. On the right, in 2019, aged 84. If anything, we don't think the James Bond actor would be too happy with the results. Newsbeat rating: 6/10. Try harder. This is pretty decent, to be fair. On the left, a picture of a young Austrian actor called Arnold Schwarzenegger in 1976. The middle picture is after he's been processed by the app. On the right, serious politician Arnold Schwarzenegger in a photo taken of him in 2019 aged 74. Newsbeat rating: 8/10. Pretty impressive. By Chris Baraniuk, BBC Technology reporter FaceApp is not new. It first hit the headlines two years ago with its \"ethnicity filters\". These purported to transform faces of one ethnicity into another - a feature that sparked a backlash and was quickly dropped. The app can, however, turn blank or grumpy expressions into smiling ones. And it can tweak make-up styles. The app also works on painted portraits - although the effect is sometimes unnerving. It's done with the help of artificial intelligence (AI). An algorithm takes the input picture of your face and adjusts it based on other imagery. This makes it possible to insert a toothy smile, for instance, while adjusting lines around the mouth, chin and cheeks for a natural look. 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_start": 2345, "answer_end": 3082, "text": "By Chris Baraniuk, BBC Technology reporter FaceApp is not new. It first hit the headlines two years ago with its \"ethnicity filters\". These purported to transform faces of one ethnicity into another - a feature that sparked a backlash and was quickly dropped. The app can, however, turn blank or grumpy expressions into smiling ones. And it can tweak make-up styles. The app also works on painted portraits - although the effect is sometimes unnerving. It's done with the help of artificial intelligence (AI). An algorithm takes the input picture of your face and adjusts it based on other imagery. This makes it possible to insert a toothy smile, for instance, while adjusting lines around the mouth, chin and cheeks for a natural look."}], "question": "What is FaceApp?", "id": "536_0"}]}]}, {"title": "At least six dead in Florida university bridge collapse", "date": "16 March 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "At least six people have been killed and nine others hurt after a footbridge collapsed near Florida International University in Miami. Police announced the deaths after rescuers spent the night searching for victims trapped beneath the structure. The 862-tonne, 174ft (53m) bridge fell over an eight-lane street on Thursday afternoon, crushing at least eight vehicles, police said. The bridge was erected on Saturday in just six hours. It was built using a method called \"accelerated bridge construction\" to avoid traffic disruption. A major section of the bridge was assembled on the side of the road and then raised into place. Announcing the deaths early on Friday, Miami-Dade police spokesman Alvaro Zabaleta said the operation was now moving from rescue to recovery. Workers at the site were having to take extreme care because of the possibility of finding more victims and for their own safety. At one point during the operation, police ordered TV helicopters to leave the area so rescue teams could hear for any sounds of people calling for help under the wreckage, CBS Miami television reported. FIU students are currently on their spring break until 17 March. They told local media that vehicles were stopped at a traffic light when the structure collapsed at about 13:30 local time (17:30 GMT). One witness told ABC News that the screams coming from the cars were \"terrifying\". \"As soon as I looked outside, I saw dust flying everywhere,\" Tiona Page said. \"I knew the bridge had collapsed.\" Another witness, Damany Reed, told CBS News: \"I heard a big kaboom... it sounded continuous. We look outside... we thought something had fallen but it was the bridge that collapsed. It was just surreal at that moment and pretty scary.\" \"I saw there were multiple cars crushed under the bridge. It was just terrible,\" Jacob Miller, an FIU student, was quoted as saying by the Associated Press. President Donald Trump tweeted on Thursday night he was monitoring \"the heartbreaking bridge collapse\". Florida Governor Rick Scott and Senator Marco Rubio were at the scene on Thursday night, along with a team of specialists from the National Transportation Safety Board. \"There will clearly be an investigation to find out exactly what happened and why this happened,\" Gov Scott said. \"But the most important thing we can do right now is pray for the individuals that ended up in the hospital for their full recovery. Pray for the family members that have lost loved ones,\" he said. \"Just last week we were celebrating the expanse being completed and now we are here dealing with a tragedy,\" Sweetwater Mayor Orlando Lopez said. The span connected the college to a student housing area in the city of Sweetwater. It had long been requested by students and staff at the university so they could avoid the traffic below, according to the Miami Herald. In August 2017, a student was hit and killed by cars while crossing the busy road. Munilla Construction company (MCM), a family-owned contractor that helped build the bridge, tweeted \"thoughts and prayers\" for those affected by the tragedy. FIGG Engineering said it also was behind the bridge project. Both firms said they would co-operate with investigators. The university had touted the new swinging span on Twitter just days ago. Costing $14.2m (PS12.5m), the cable-supported footbridge was funded by the US Department of Transportation. According to a brochure on the university website, it was designed to withstand a Category Five hurricane and last 100 years. It was also the first bridge in the world to be constructed entirely of self-cleaning concrete, it said. It was to be publicly opened in 2019, according to local media.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1170, "answer_end": 1894, "text": "They told local media that vehicles were stopped at a traffic light when the structure collapsed at about 13:30 local time (17:30 GMT). One witness told ABC News that the screams coming from the cars were \"terrifying\". \"As soon as I looked outside, I saw dust flying everywhere,\" Tiona Page said. \"I knew the bridge had collapsed.\" Another witness, Damany Reed, told CBS News: \"I heard a big kaboom... it sounded continuous. We look outside... we thought something had fallen but it was the bridge that collapsed. It was just surreal at that moment and pretty scary.\" \"I saw there were multiple cars crushed under the bridge. It was just terrible,\" Jacob Miller, an FIU student, was quoted as saying by the Associated Press."}], "question": "What have eyewitnesses said?", "id": "537_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1895, "answer_end": 2625, "text": "President Donald Trump tweeted on Thursday night he was monitoring \"the heartbreaking bridge collapse\". Florida Governor Rick Scott and Senator Marco Rubio were at the scene on Thursday night, along with a team of specialists from the National Transportation Safety Board. \"There will clearly be an investigation to find out exactly what happened and why this happened,\" Gov Scott said. \"But the most important thing we can do right now is pray for the individuals that ended up in the hospital for their full recovery. Pray for the family members that have lost loved ones,\" he said. \"Just last week we were celebrating the expanse being completed and now we are here dealing with a tragedy,\" Sweetwater Mayor Orlando Lopez said."}], "question": "How have US officials reacted?", "id": "537_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2626, "answer_end": 3683, "text": "The span connected the college to a student housing area in the city of Sweetwater. It had long been requested by students and staff at the university so they could avoid the traffic below, according to the Miami Herald. In August 2017, a student was hit and killed by cars while crossing the busy road. Munilla Construction company (MCM), a family-owned contractor that helped build the bridge, tweeted \"thoughts and prayers\" for those affected by the tragedy. FIGG Engineering said it also was behind the bridge project. Both firms said they would co-operate with investigators. The university had touted the new swinging span on Twitter just days ago. Costing $14.2m (PS12.5m), the cable-supported footbridge was funded by the US Department of Transportation. According to a brochure on the university website, it was designed to withstand a Category Five hurricane and last 100 years. It was also the first bridge in the world to be constructed entirely of self-cleaning concrete, it said. It was to be publicly opened in 2019, according to local media."}], "question": "Why was the bridge needed over the street?", "id": "537_2"}]}]}, {"title": "Cannabis use in teens linked to depression", "date": "13 February 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Parents should not be complacent about the risks of teenagers using cannabis, experts are warning. UK and Canada researchers said they had found \"robust\" evidence showing using the drug in adolescence increased the risk of developing depression in adulthood by 37%. They said the findings should act as a warning to families who saw cannabis use as part of the growing-up process. The team added that the developing brain was particularly susceptible. The researchers - from University of Oxford and Montreal's McGill University - said cannabis use in the young was an \"important public health issue\", particularly given that cannabis available today tends to be much stronger than it was previously. Around one in nine young adults and teenagers use the drug each year in England and Wales. Report author Prof Andrea Cipriani conceded some parents had a relaxed attitude to the drug, but added the evidence was clear. \"This is important information for parents and teenagers. The risk is modest, but it can have a devastating impact.\" This is the first time the actual risk has been quantified in this way. The team looked at 11 previous studies, covering more than 23,000 young people, the journal JAMA Psychiatry reported. Young people who had already shown signs of depression or had a family history of the condition were excluded. It found cannabis use before 18 increased the chance of an individual developing depression in young adulthood - defined as before the age of 35 - by 37%. In terms of numbers that means around one in 14 cases of depression in that age group - around 60,000 in the UK - could be attributed to drug use in the teenage years. The study also looked at whether there was an association with anxiety and suicide attempts. There was an increased risk of anxiety developing in young adulthood, but it was not considered statistically significant. Meanwhile, those who used cannabis in their teenage years were three times more likely to try to kill themselves - although the data on that trend was not considered robust enough to draw a firm conclusion. No. The researchers were unable to prove cannabis use was definitively causing depression. Instead, they could only say it looked to be a strong link. This is because of the figures they found, but also what is known about the impact cannabis has on the developing brain. Evidence has suggested that the drug affects the parts of brain that govern rational and emotional thinking as well as serotonin levels that influence mood. To prove the link, trials would have to be conducted on young people - something that will never be done because it is unethical. King's College London psychiatrist Prof Sir Robin Murray said the research could not be considered conclusive, but acknowledged the findings were \"probably correct\". He said the risk of developing depression was smaller than what has already been established for schizophrenia-like psychosis. He also said it was likely that any risk would be also down to the amounts of cannabis consumed and the strength - something this study was unable to unpick.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1036, "answer_end": 2082, "text": "This is the first time the actual risk has been quantified in this way. The team looked at 11 previous studies, covering more than 23,000 young people, the journal JAMA Psychiatry reported. Young people who had already shown signs of depression or had a family history of the condition were excluded. It found cannabis use before 18 increased the chance of an individual developing depression in young adulthood - defined as before the age of 35 - by 37%. In terms of numbers that means around one in 14 cases of depression in that age group - around 60,000 in the UK - could be attributed to drug use in the teenage years. The study also looked at whether there was an association with anxiety and suicide attempts. There was an increased risk of anxiety developing in young adulthood, but it was not considered statistically significant. Meanwhile, those who used cannabis in their teenage years were three times more likely to try to kill themselves - although the data on that trend was not considered robust enough to draw a firm conclusion."}], "question": "How risky is cannabis?", "id": "538_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2083, "answer_end": 3092, "text": "No. The researchers were unable to prove cannabis use was definitively causing depression. Instead, they could only say it looked to be a strong link. This is because of the figures they found, but also what is known about the impact cannabis has on the developing brain. Evidence has suggested that the drug affects the parts of brain that govern rational and emotional thinking as well as serotonin levels that influence mood. To prove the link, trials would have to be conducted on young people - something that will never be done because it is unethical. King's College London psychiatrist Prof Sir Robin Murray said the research could not be considered conclusive, but acknowledged the findings were \"probably correct\". He said the risk of developing depression was smaller than what has already been established for schizophrenia-like psychosis. He also said it was likely that any risk would be also down to the amounts of cannabis consumed and the strength - something this study was unable to unpick."}], "question": "So is this proof?", "id": "538_1"}]}]}, {"title": "IS, al-Qaeda, and how jihad uses chemical weapons", "date": "16 September 2015", "paragraphs": [{"context": "The disturbing reports of homemade mustard gas being used by so-called Islamic State (IS) militants in Syria and Iraq, while shocking, should come as no surprise. There is a history of modern jihadists experimenting with and sometimes using chemical weapons, dating back to al-Qaeda's training camps in Afghanistan in the 1990s. There is also a clear link between those experiments at the time and the IS leadership's strategy against its enemies today. \"The thing that surprised me is that they haven't used it (mustard gas) earlier,\" says Aimen Deen, a former al-Qaeda operative who witnessed chemical experiments first-hand. \"The experiments date back to 1997 in Afghanistan. They experimented with many different varieties of chemical weapons.\" He says the gasses tested were homemade and included phosgene, chlorine and hydrogen cyanide. Rabbits and dogs were the most common animals to be used. \"They used to bring in these kind of aquariums, fishing aquariums, basically, one meter by half a metre and they will put a rabbit inside, or a small dog or puppy inside. \"And then they seal it with silicone and they insert first the powder element - I'm not going to name them for obvious reasons - and then they will add later the liquid element in order to see if there is a reaction.\" The term \"mustard gas\" is commonly used to describe the agent, but it is liquid at ambient temperature. Sulphur mustard sometimes smells - like garlic, onions, or mustard - and sometimes has no odour. It can be clear to yellow or brown. People can be exposed through skin contact, eye contact or breathing if it is released into the air as a vapour, or by consuming it or getting it on their skin if it is in liquid or solid form. It causes blistering of the skin and mucous membranes on contact. Though exposure to sulphur mustard usually is not fatal, there is no treatment or antidote to mustard which means the agent must be removed entirely from the body. \"Once the gas is materialised due to the reaction then you will immediately see the animals writhe in pain and then die. Sometimes within seconds and then others longer.\" Al-Qaeda were able to operate freely in Afghanistan for five years, from 1996-2001. Thousands passed through its training camps, learning about firearms and explosives, before dispersing to countries all over the world. After the 9/11 attacks in 2001 and the subsequent US-led Operation Enduring Freedom, the jihadists fled from the camps, mostly over the border into Pakistan, leaving behind videotaped evidence of their chemical experiments. But one key leader survived to take his knowledge to a new theatre of war. Abu Musab al-Zarqawi was a Jordanian jihadist who was released from prison in Jordan in 1998. He went straight to Afghanistan where he was intensively trained by a master bomb-maker before setting up his own camp at Herat in the west of the country. After 9/11, al-Zarqawi fled westwards through Iran to a Kurdish region of northern Iraq where he joined forces with a jihadist group called Ansar al-Islam. Once the Americans invaded Iraq in 2003 al-Zarqawi was instrumental in forming the al-Qaeda cell that eventually morphed into today's self-styled Islamic State. Al-Zarqawi, who is believed to have murdered the British engineer Ken Bigley as well as other prisoners, was killed in 2006 in a US air strike in Iraq. Chlorine was and still is readily available in Iraq and has been used frequently in truck bombs by jihadists there and also in Syria in barrel bombs dropped from the air by President Assad's forces against rebels. \"It was the easiest of all the gases al-Qaeda experiments on to make,\" says Mr Deen. \"Since the substances that are necessary for chlorine are easily available everywhere, it was his (al-Zarqawi's) weapon of choice. \"Since it wasn't lethal, (it was still) potent enough to cause irritation or cases of severe respiratory problems and difficulties and that will drive an enemy away and cause casualties.\" Mr Deen, who is now an international consultant on jihadism, believes that IS leaders are being cautious in their use of chemical weapons as they are wary of retaliation by the US. But I asked him what he thought was behind IS's recent use of mustard gas against opponents in the Middle East. \"In Syria,\" he says, \"where their opponents are other jihadists who are as suicidal and as stubborn as they are, the best way to dislodge them is to use chemical weapons. \"So I think it was a strategic choice and they felt that to some extent using the chemical weapons on other jihadists will not invite the wrath of the US at this stage.\"", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1290, "answer_end": 1950, "text": "The term \"mustard gas\" is commonly used to describe the agent, but it is liquid at ambient temperature. Sulphur mustard sometimes smells - like garlic, onions, or mustard - and sometimes has no odour. It can be clear to yellow or brown. People can be exposed through skin contact, eye contact or breathing if it is released into the air as a vapour, or by consuming it or getting it on their skin if it is in liquid or solid form. It causes blistering of the skin and mucous membranes on contact. Though exposure to sulphur mustard usually is not fatal, there is no treatment or antidote to mustard which means the agent must be removed entirely from the body."}], "question": "What is mustard agent?", "id": "539_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Italy's populist coalition: What you should know", "date": "1 June 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Italy's new populist government has been sworn in, ending months of political uncertainty. The anti-establishment Five Star Movement and right-wing League have gone into coalition, preparing to set the eurozone's third biggest economy on a path of tax cuts, a guaranteed basic income for the poor and deportations of 500,000 migrants. They reject years of EU austerity and want to renegotiate Italy's debt. So what will this government, led by law professor Giuseppe Conte, mean for Italy and the rest of Europe? Neither Five Star nor The League are fans of the single currency. League leader Matteo Salvini said not long ago that the euro was \"a mistake\" for Italy's economy, while Five Star had wanted a referendum on Italy's future membership. But they have dropped their initial ambition of exit from the euro and now talk of trying to reform it from within. Not everyone is convinced by their change of heart. France's Economy Minister Bruno Le Maire earned a rebuke from the leader of The League by warning the populist parties to respect Italy's budget commitments. The markets are wary, too. Italy's borrowing costs have touched levels not seen since 2016. Italy was ravaged by the 2008 financial crisis that left the economy some 6% smaller and three million more people in poverty. The answer for The League and Five Star is to move Italians out of poverty. But their policies will cost tens of billions of euros, for a country with the second biggest public debt in the EU after Greece. It stands at 132% of national output. Poor families will get a EUR780 (PS682; $919) basic monthly income, provided recipients actively seek work, the parties say. It is a popular idea but one that will cost an estimated EUR17bn to implement. Its most expensive policy is the idea of two \"flat tax\" rates set at 15% and 20%. Families would receive a EUR3,000 annual tax deduction based on household income. Sales and excise tax increases next year, worth EUR12.5bn, will be scrapped. The 58-page joint pact, or \"contract\", does not explain how all the extra spending will be financed. But economists estimate it could cost some EUR50bn in lost revenue. The minimum monthly pension is to be set at EUR780. The plan abolishes the current pension reform that raises the retirement age in phases. Instead, a new points system would combine people's total years of social security contributions with their age. The total must be at least 100, meaning that someone who has paid into the system for 41 years, for example, could retire at 59. The populist parties say they want revisions to the EU's Stability and Growth Pact, which sets a tough budget deficit limit of 3% of GDP. The plan aims to reduce debt through \"the revival of internal demand\", not by continuing austerity. Italy's populists are not just aiming to reset the economy and revisit the EU's rules on debt. The League is strongly anti-immigration and their joint plan reflects that. It demands more EU help for Italy - the main destination for migrants arriving from North Africa - and it insists that the estimated 500,000 undocumented migrants in Italy must be deported \"as a priority\". That would require the creation of \"temporary stay facilities\" throughout Italy for migrants earmarked for expulsion, the parties say. The plan calls for effective relocation of asylum-seekers EU-wide - a scheme already rejected by some EU states. And it demands stronger co-operation to fight people-smuggling gangs. The populist leaders disagree with the EU sanctions on Russia and want them lifted. They do not see Russia as a military threat, but as \"a potential partner for the EU and Nato\". They want to work with Russia against the smuggling of migrants across the Mediterranean and the continuing influence of violent Islamists. They also see Russia as a key player in ending the wars in the Middle East. The EU and US accuse Russia of hostile anti-Western activities and relations became icy after Russia's annexation of Crimea in 2014.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1165, "answer_end": 1535, "text": "Italy was ravaged by the 2008 financial crisis that left the economy some 6% smaller and three million more people in poverty. The answer for The League and Five Star is to move Italians out of poverty. But their policies will cost tens of billions of euros, for a country with the second biggest public debt in the EU after Greece. It stands at 132% of national output."}], "question": "What do populist parties plan for Italy?", "id": "540_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Minimum wage: How high could the lowest salaries go?", "date": "1 October 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "The National Living Wage will rise to PS10.50 an hour by 2025, the government has said. So, how high could the lowest wages actually go? What happens to the minimum wage already affects lots of low paid people - from bar staff to waiters and nursery nurses to sales assistants. But the planned increases - announced by Chancellor Sajid Javid - mean the wage will increasingly affect many more. When it reaches PS10.50, it will be two-thirds of the median (middle) wage. It is likely to affect one in four employees and will be extended to all employees aged 21 and over by the mid 2020s. But is there a limit to increasing the lowest wages and what are the benefits and risks of paying more? The UK already has one of the world's highest minimum wages. For workers aged 25 and over it is currently PS8.21 an hour - a level known as the \"National Living Wage\". There are also lower rates for younger workers, ranging from PS4.35 to PS7.70. The National Living Wage is currently 59% of the hourly rate of PS14 earned by those on the median (middle) wage. That is up from about 50% of the median as recently as 2010. It is paid to around 1.6 million people aged 25 and over - up from 700,000 in 1999. The government suggested that the planned increases would benefit four million employees. Only five industrialised countries - France, Portugal, New Zealand, Israel and Korea - had a higher minimum hourly wage (as a proportion of average salaries) than the UK in 2018. The planned increases would probably take the UK to the top of the table. Some wealthy countries have much lower minimum wages, including the US, Spain and Japan. Many others - including Italy and Sweden do not have a minimum wage at all. The obvious reason for having a higher minimum wage is to boost the pay of those with low hourly pay. In the UK, this often includes cleaners, hairdressers, carers and kitchen assistants, but as it rises will increasingly cover higher paid jobs too. More than six out of 10 people currently on the minimum wage work part-time. A similar number are women, and almost nine out of 10 work in the private sector. Boosting their wages may also help those on slightly more pay: employers often have to maintain different wages between different jobs. However, while raising the minimum wage is often seen as a way to reduce poverty, it is not that simple. Only one in five of those on the lowest wages lives in the UK's poorest households. This may be because many people on low incomes have a partner who earns more - raising their household income to a higher level. Many of the very poorest people are not affected by the minimum wage. This may be because they are out of work, or because they are self-employed. And on its own, a higher minimum wage will not necessarily lift many people out of poverty. This is particularly true if they have a high cost of living, for example because of having children or high housing costs. More like this Given that minimum wages benefit low-paid workers, why not keep on raising them? First, unless higher wages make workers more productive, they come at a cost. That could mean increasing prices paid by consumers, cutting profits for companies, or cutting wages for other workers. It could also mean cutting back on other parts of workers' pay, such as paid holidays, or pension contributions. Second, there is a risk that higher minimum wages might lead employers to give fewer people jobs, or to cut hours. But, so far, there is relatively little evidence that higher minimum wages have reduced overall employment levels, at least in the UK. This might be because for many firms it is still profitable to hire these workers, despite paying higher salaries. - National Living Wage - for 25-year-olds and over: PS8.21 an hour - Minimum wage - 21 to 24-year-olds: PS7.70 an hour - Minimum wage - 18 to 20-year-olds: PS6.15 an hour - Minimum wage - 16 to 17-year-olds: PS4.35 an hour - Apprentice rate: PS3.90 an hour - The charity the Living Wage Foundation says the wage level needed to \"meet the costs of living\" is PS9 across the UK and PS10.55 in London However, at some point, if raised high enough, firms would lose money by employing someone on a high minimum wage. The trouble is that we do not know exactly how high these salaries can go before they lead to a reduction in the number of jobs available. With few countries offering higher minimum wages than the UK, it is difficult to look for the answer overseas. There is an extra risk in the government's announcement: extending the higher minimum wage to younger workers aged 21 to 24. Where studies have found negative effects of minimum wages on employment, they tend to be bigger for younger workers. And that is concerning, because youth unemployment can have long lasting consequences for people later in life too. Therefore, watching what happens as the minimum wage rises - particularly among younger workers - will be essential to avoid any unwanted consequences. About this piece This analysis piece was commissioned by the BBC from an expert working for an outside organisation. Jonathan Cribb is a senior research economist at the Institute for Fiscal Studies, which describes itself as an independent research institute that aims to inform public debate on economics. More details about its work can be found here and on Twitter. Edited by Duncan Walker", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 692, "answer_end": 1705, "text": "The UK already has one of the world's highest minimum wages. For workers aged 25 and over it is currently PS8.21 an hour - a level known as the \"National Living Wage\". There are also lower rates for younger workers, ranging from PS4.35 to PS7.70. The National Living Wage is currently 59% of the hourly rate of PS14 earned by those on the median (middle) wage. That is up from about 50% of the median as recently as 2010. It is paid to around 1.6 million people aged 25 and over - up from 700,000 in 1999. The government suggested that the planned increases would benefit four million employees. Only five industrialised countries - France, Portugal, New Zealand, Israel and Korea - had a higher minimum hourly wage (as a proportion of average salaries) than the UK in 2018. The planned increases would probably take the UK to the top of the table. Some wealthy countries have much lower minimum wages, including the US, Spain and Japan. Many others - including Italy and Sweden do not have a minimum wage at all."}], "question": "How high is the minimum wage?", "id": "541_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2947, "answer_end": 3703, "text": "Given that minimum wages benefit low-paid workers, why not keep on raising them? First, unless higher wages make workers more productive, they come at a cost. That could mean increasing prices paid by consumers, cutting profits for companies, or cutting wages for other workers. It could also mean cutting back on other parts of workers' pay, such as paid holidays, or pension contributions. Second, there is a risk that higher minimum wages might lead employers to give fewer people jobs, or to cut hours. But, so far, there is relatively little evidence that higher minimum wages have reduced overall employment levels, at least in the UK. This might be because for many firms it is still profitable to hire these workers, despite paying higher salaries."}], "question": "What are the risks of a higher minimum wage?", "id": "541_1"}]}]}, {"title": "Warmbier family rebuke Trump's praise of Kim Jong-un", "date": "1 March 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "The family of a US student who died after he was jailed in North Korea have implicitly rebuked President Donald Trump's lauding of Kim Jong-un. Otto Warmbier's parents said they had been \"respectful\" during Mr Trump and the North Korean leader's recent summit, but were now speaking out. They said \"no excuse or lavish praise can change\" that \"Kim and his evil regime\" killed their son. Their statement came after Mr Trump heaped compliments on Mr Kim. Mr Trump's second nuclear summit with Mr Kim this week in Vietnam ended without agreement. After the family's blistering statement was released, Mr Trump took to Twitter where he said he had been \"misinterpreted\". The family released a brief statement on Friday condemning praise for the North Korean leader, without mentioning Mr Trump by name. \"We have been respectful during this summit process. Now we must speak out,\" wrote Fred and Cindy Warmbier. \"Kim and his evil regime are responsible for the death of our son Otto. \"Kim and his evil regime are responsible for unimaginable cruelty and inhumanity. \"No excuse or lavish praise can change that.\" Warmbier was jailed in Pyongyang in January 2016 during an organised tour, accused of stealing a hotel poster. The University of Virginia student was sentenced to 15 years' hard labour, but released after 17 months. The 22-year-old was returned to the US in a vegetative state in June 2017, and died days later in his hometown of Cincinnati, Ohio. The Warmbiers attended the 2018 State of the Union speech as the president's guests, weeping as he called them \"powerful witnesses to a menace that threatens our world\". What did Trump say about Kim? Mr Trump told reporters in Hanoi on Thursday morning, referring to Mr Warmbier's death: \"He [Mr Kim] tells me he didn't know about it, and I will take him at his word.\" The president added that the North Korean leader felt \"very badly\" about the case. In a Fox News interview aired late on Thursday, Mr Trump said Mr Kim was \"sharp as you can be\" and \"a real leader\". \"Some people say I shouldn't like him,\" the US president told host Sean Hannity, a vocal Trump advocate. \"Why shouldn't I like him?\" The president - who is now back at the White House - said he gets along \"really well\" with Mr Kim. \"And he's a real personality and he's very smart. He's sharp as you can be, and he's a real leader, and he's pretty mercurial. \"I don't say that necessarily in a bad way, but he's a pretty mercurial guy.\" Explaining why the summit broke down, Mr Trump said: \"Well, they wanted to denuke certain areas and I wanted everything.\" The Fox host defended the president's decision to walk away, recommending a reading of Mr Trump's book, The Art of the Deal, to truly \"understand\" his tactics. After the talks broke down, North Korean officials contradicted Mr Trump's contention that a sticking point was Pyongyang's demand for total sanctions relief. Foreign Minister Ri Yong-ho said the nation had only asked for partial sanctions relief in exchange for disabling its main nuclear complex at Yongbyon and permanently halting nuclear and long-range rocket testing. \"This proposal was the biggest denuclearisation measure we could take at the present stage when taking into consideration the current level of confidence between the DPRK [North Korea] and the United States,\" said Mr Ri. North Korea's state-run media struck an upbeat tone on Friday, without mentioning that the summit had ended early. News agency KCNA said the two leaders had promised to remain in touch in order to continue the \"epochal development\" of bilateral relations and the denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula. \"The top leaders of the two countries highly appreciated at the one-on-one talks and extended talks that a remarkable progress has been made in the historic course of implementing the Singapore joint statement,\" said KCNA. On Friday, Mr Trump tweeted: \"I never like being misinterpreted, but especially when it comes to Otto Warmbier and his great family.\" He said that Warmbier and his family \"have become a tremendous symbol of strong passion and strength, which will last for many years into the future\". \"I love Otto and think of him often!\" he added. It comes after Democrats led criticism of the president, pointing out that Mr Trump has previously sided with strongmen. After meeting Russian President Vladimir Putin in Helsinki in July 2018, the US president said he believed his denial that the Kremlin sought to interfere in the 2016 US election, despite US intelligence officials concluding otherwise. Critics also pointed out that last December, Mr Trump defended Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman despite CIA officials' belief that the royal had ordered the gruesome murder of a US-based reporter, Jamal Khashoggi. Later on Friday, White House aide Kellyanne Conway said Mr Trump \"agrees with the Warmbier family and holds North Korea responsible\" for their son's death. \"He has deep affection and shares the grief with the Warmbier family,\" she told Fox News. \"What the president is saying is that there's no indication Chairman Kim knew what happened to Otto Warmbier when it happened,\" she added. By BBC Monitoring Russian state-controlled media - once quite the fans of Donald Trump - were scathing about the US president's performance at the talks. A Channel One report from the summit said it had \"failed miserably, dealing another blow to the reputation of the American leader\". Over on Rossiya 1 TV, a presenter said the outcome was \"predictable\", as Mr Trump had \"arrived at the new summit with old tactics\", while NTV pointed out that Russia had warned Washington's \"position of ultimatums\" would not work. One Rossiya 1 presenter suggested Mr Trump had only been interested in distracting people from the testimony of his former lawyer, Michael Cohen. In the papers, the independent Novaya Gazeta looks on the bright side, saying that the leaders - while \"still extremely far from the Nobel Peace Prize\" - have at least stopped swapping insults. But in mass tabloid Moskovsky Komsomolets, one pundit is withering, saying one \"has to understand the core of a subject to make compromises, while Trump is the most ignorant head of state in US history\".", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 667, "answer_end": 2741, "text": "The family released a brief statement on Friday condemning praise for the North Korean leader, without mentioning Mr Trump by name. \"We have been respectful during this summit process. Now we must speak out,\" wrote Fred and Cindy Warmbier. \"Kim and his evil regime are responsible for the death of our son Otto. \"Kim and his evil regime are responsible for unimaginable cruelty and inhumanity. \"No excuse or lavish praise can change that.\" Warmbier was jailed in Pyongyang in January 2016 during an organised tour, accused of stealing a hotel poster. The University of Virginia student was sentenced to 15 years' hard labour, but released after 17 months. The 22-year-old was returned to the US in a vegetative state in June 2017, and died days later in his hometown of Cincinnati, Ohio. The Warmbiers attended the 2018 State of the Union speech as the president's guests, weeping as he called them \"powerful witnesses to a menace that threatens our world\". What did Trump say about Kim? Mr Trump told reporters in Hanoi on Thursday morning, referring to Mr Warmbier's death: \"He [Mr Kim] tells me he didn't know about it, and I will take him at his word.\" The president added that the North Korean leader felt \"very badly\" about the case. In a Fox News interview aired late on Thursday, Mr Trump said Mr Kim was \"sharp as you can be\" and \"a real leader\". \"Some people say I shouldn't like him,\" the US president told host Sean Hannity, a vocal Trump advocate. \"Why shouldn't I like him?\" The president - who is now back at the White House - said he gets along \"really well\" with Mr Kim. \"And he's a real personality and he's very smart. He's sharp as you can be, and he's a real leader, and he's pretty mercurial. \"I don't say that necessarily in a bad way, but he's a pretty mercurial guy.\" Explaining why the summit broke down, Mr Trump said: \"Well, they wanted to denuke certain areas and I wanted everything.\" The Fox host defended the president's decision to walk away, recommending a reading of Mr Trump's book, The Art of the Deal, to truly \"understand\" his tactics."}], "question": "What did the Warmbiers say?", "id": "542_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2742, "answer_end": 3863, "text": "After the talks broke down, North Korean officials contradicted Mr Trump's contention that a sticking point was Pyongyang's demand for total sanctions relief. Foreign Minister Ri Yong-ho said the nation had only asked for partial sanctions relief in exchange for disabling its main nuclear complex at Yongbyon and permanently halting nuclear and long-range rocket testing. \"This proposal was the biggest denuclearisation measure we could take at the present stage when taking into consideration the current level of confidence between the DPRK [North Korea] and the United States,\" said Mr Ri. North Korea's state-run media struck an upbeat tone on Friday, without mentioning that the summit had ended early. News agency KCNA said the two leaders had promised to remain in touch in order to continue the \"epochal development\" of bilateral relations and the denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula. \"The top leaders of the two countries highly appreciated at the one-on-one talks and extended talks that a remarkable progress has been made in the historic course of implementing the Singapore joint statement,\" said KCNA."}], "question": "What did the North Koreans say?", "id": "542_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3864, "answer_end": 5158, "text": "On Friday, Mr Trump tweeted: \"I never like being misinterpreted, but especially when it comes to Otto Warmbier and his great family.\" He said that Warmbier and his family \"have become a tremendous symbol of strong passion and strength, which will last for many years into the future\". \"I love Otto and think of him often!\" he added. It comes after Democrats led criticism of the president, pointing out that Mr Trump has previously sided with strongmen. After meeting Russian President Vladimir Putin in Helsinki in July 2018, the US president said he believed his denial that the Kremlin sought to interfere in the 2016 US election, despite US intelligence officials concluding otherwise. Critics also pointed out that last December, Mr Trump defended Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman despite CIA officials' belief that the royal had ordered the gruesome murder of a US-based reporter, Jamal Khashoggi. Later on Friday, White House aide Kellyanne Conway said Mr Trump \"agrees with the Warmbier family and holds North Korea responsible\" for their son's death. \"He has deep affection and shares the grief with the Warmbier family,\" she told Fox News. \"What the president is saying is that there's no indication Chairman Kim knew what happened to Otto Warmbier when it happened,\" she added."}], "question": "What's the reaction?", "id": "542_2"}]}]}, {"title": "South Koreans jailed over 'Russian treasure find'", "date": "1 May 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "A South Korean court has sentenced three business executives to prison after finding them guilty of falsely claiming they had found a long-lost treasure-laden shipwreck. Shinil Group said in July it had found the Russian cruiser Dmitrii Donskoi, which sank in 1905 and was rumoured to hold gold worth billions of dollars. The company attracted 8.9bn won ($7.6m; PS5.8m) from thousands of investors. But suspicion spread that it might have been a scam. The group did not comment. The Shinil Group claimed that the Donskoi contained around 200 tonnes of gold but a Seoul court on Wednesday found this to be a lie. A vice-chairman of the group, identified only as Kim, was issued a five-year prison term, while the former head of the group, whose family name is Ryu, and another key accomplice were sentenced to two years and four years in prison, respectively, according to Yonhap news agency. \"Their responsibility for the crime is very heavy, given the method and scale, as it's a case where they swindled many unspecified people and took huge gains,\" Judge Choi Yeon-mi said in court. The Dmitrii Donskoi was scuttled by its crew in 1905 after Japan's victory in the Battle of Tsushima - a key moment of the Russo-Japanese War. Ever since, rumours have persisted that the ship was carrying a large amount of gold for Russia's Pacific Fleet, to pay crew salaries and docking fees. If true, the gold on board would be worth billions of dollars today. Experts have raised doubts that Russia would ever have put that much gold on a single vessel, when it could have carried the precious cargo more safely by rail to its eastern port of Vladivostok. Suspicions were swiftly raised over Shinil Group after its claim. South Korean news website Chosun Biz reported that the group was only founded in June, even though it says it is the successor company to Shinil Corporation, formed in 1957. Moreover, the company was reportedly only formed with about 100m won not even enough to apply for salvage rights, which are 10% of a find's estimated value. The firm was accused of artificially boosting share prices, or seducing investors into buying a crypto-currency issued by a Singaporean company, also named Shinil Group. Choi Yong-seok, CEO of the South Korean company, had insisted the two firms were unconnected - though their founders are siblings. Yonhap reported that the ship's alleged treasure was initially claimed to be worth 130tr won but in subsequent documents for the excavation approval the value was lowered to 1.2bn won.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1646, "answer_end": 2528, "text": "Suspicions were swiftly raised over Shinil Group after its claim. South Korean news website Chosun Biz reported that the group was only founded in June, even though it says it is the successor company to Shinil Corporation, formed in 1957. Moreover, the company was reportedly only formed with about 100m won not even enough to apply for salvage rights, which are 10% of a find's estimated value. The firm was accused of artificially boosting share prices, or seducing investors into buying a crypto-currency issued by a Singaporean company, also named Shinil Group. Choi Yong-seok, CEO of the South Korean company, had insisted the two firms were unconnected - though their founders are siblings. Yonhap reported that the ship's alleged treasure was initially claimed to be worth 130tr won but in subsequent documents for the excavation approval the value was lowered to 1.2bn won."}], "question": "How did the story unfold?", "id": "543_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Alabama tornadoes: Three children among the dead", "date": "4 March 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "At least three children have died in eastern Alabama after two tornadoes caused extensive damage to buildings and roads, rescue officials say. At least 23 people are known to have died in Lee County, with the youngest believed to have been six years old. There are fears that the death toll will rise as emergency crews dig through rubble. Dozens more are hurt. The sheriff of Lee County, Jay Jones, told local media that the devastation caused by the winds was \"incredible\". He said: \"It looks like someone has taken a giant knife and scraped the ground. There are slabs where homes formerly stood, debris everywhere... whole forested areas with trees are snapped and lying on the ground... a lot of devastation out there.\" Lee County coroner Bill Harris said on Monday that at least three children - aged six, nine, and 10 - were among the dead. Taylor Thornton was named as one of the young victims. Her school, Lee-Scott Academy, announced the news on Monday and directed people to an online fundraising page to support her family with funeral expenses. \"She never met a stranger - everybody was a friend,\" her uncle James Thornton told Reuters news agency. \"She had a huge life at 10 years old. She had a footprint bigger than most people who are 70, 80, 90 years old.\" Six-year-old AJ Hernandez Jr was also identified by family members on social media, with his aunt calling him a \"precious little man\". \"I will miss your little smile and your sweet voice and face,\" Tina Melton wrote on Facebook. \"He was always eager to give hugs and loved his family.\" Nearly 2,000 homes in the affected area are without power following the tornadoes. A state of emergency is in operation, with resources from across Alabama pouring into the affected area. Drones with infrared capability are being used in an attempt to find survivors. The area around Beauregard, about 60 miles (95km) east of Alabama's state capital Montgomery, appears to have borne the brunt. The tornadoes there struck at about 14:00 (20:00 GMT) on Sunday, carving a path at least a half a mile wide and at least a mile long. Footage of the aftermath shows snapped communications poles, roads littered with debris and wrecked houses. The National Weather Service (NWS) made a classification of at least EF-3 - meaning winds of up to 165mph. Local resident Scott Fillmer said: \"Everything just kind of went dark, when it was almost like night outside. And it's that old cliche that it sounds like a freight train coming, well that's what it sounded like.\" Residents of Smiths Station told local TV they had seen businesses destroyed there. A large bar called the Buck Wild Saloon had its roof torn off. Tornado warnings were also issued for Georgia, Florida and South Carolina. Footage showed smashed buildings and snapped trees in Talbotton, about 80 miles south of Atlanta. A sign from a flea market in Lee County was found 20 miles away in Hamilton, Georgia. All of the deaths reported so far have been in Lee County. Authorities say they are still working to identify the victims and the injured. \"We've never had a mass fatality situation, that I can remember, like this in my lifetime,\" Lee County coroner Bill Harris said. Alabama meteorologist Eric Snitil tweeted that there had been more tornado deaths in Lee County in one day than in the whole US during 2018. Several people were reported hurt in Talbotton in Georgia, though none seriously. Alabama Governor Kay Ivey posted on Twitter to warn residents there could be more extreme weather to come. \"Our hearts go out to those who lost their lives in the storms that hit Lee County today,\" she wrote. President Donald Trump tweeted: \"To the great people of Alabama and surrounding areas: Please be careful and safe... To the families and friends of the victims, and to the injured, God bless you all!\" Apple CEO Tim Cook, who was born in Mobile in the south-west of the state, said he was \"devastated\" by the news, saying Lee County was \"a place close to my heart\". This series has occurred earlier than the traditional peak season for tornadoes, which runs from April to June, when more than half of the year's tornadoes generally strike. Weather systems are more conducive in these months. Warm air flows north from the Gulf of Mexico at the same time as storm systems are propelled into the south and mid-west by a southward dip in the jet stream. These latest tornadoes appear to have caused the highest death toll since 35 people were killed in Arkansas and Mississippi in April 2014. A \"super outbreak\" of tornadoes across a swathe of the US in April 2011 killed more than 300 people. Are you in the area? If it is safe to do so, share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: - WhatsApp: +44 7555 173285 - Tweet: @BBC_HaveYourSay - Send pictures/video to yourpics@bbc.co.uk - Text an SMS or MMS to 61124 or +44 7624 800 100 - Please read our terms of use and privacy policy", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1829, "answer_end": 2924, "text": "The area around Beauregard, about 60 miles (95km) east of Alabama's state capital Montgomery, appears to have borne the brunt. The tornadoes there struck at about 14:00 (20:00 GMT) on Sunday, carving a path at least a half a mile wide and at least a mile long. Footage of the aftermath shows snapped communications poles, roads littered with debris and wrecked houses. The National Weather Service (NWS) made a classification of at least EF-3 - meaning winds of up to 165mph. Local resident Scott Fillmer said: \"Everything just kind of went dark, when it was almost like night outside. And it's that old cliche that it sounds like a freight train coming, well that's what it sounded like.\" Residents of Smiths Station told local TV they had seen businesses destroyed there. A large bar called the Buck Wild Saloon had its roof torn off. Tornado warnings were also issued for Georgia, Florida and South Carolina. Footage showed smashed buildings and snapped trees in Talbotton, about 80 miles south of Atlanta. A sign from a flea market in Lee County was found 20 miles away in Hamilton, Georgia."}], "question": "Where did the tornadoes strike?", "id": "544_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2925, "answer_end": 3415, "text": "All of the deaths reported so far have been in Lee County. Authorities say they are still working to identify the victims and the injured. \"We've never had a mass fatality situation, that I can remember, like this in my lifetime,\" Lee County coroner Bill Harris said. Alabama meteorologist Eric Snitil tweeted that there had been more tornado deaths in Lee County in one day than in the whole US during 2018. Several people were reported hurt in Talbotton in Georgia, though none seriously."}], "question": "What do we know about the casualties?", "id": "544_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3416, "answer_end": 3989, "text": "Alabama Governor Kay Ivey posted on Twitter to warn residents there could be more extreme weather to come. \"Our hearts go out to those who lost their lives in the storms that hit Lee County today,\" she wrote. President Donald Trump tweeted: \"To the great people of Alabama and surrounding areas: Please be careful and safe... To the families and friends of the victims, and to the injured, God bless you all!\" Apple CEO Tim Cook, who was born in Mobile in the south-west of the state, said he was \"devastated\" by the news, saying Lee County was \"a place close to my heart\"."}], "question": "What's been the reaction?", "id": "544_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3990, "answer_end": 4614, "text": "This series has occurred earlier than the traditional peak season for tornadoes, which runs from April to June, when more than half of the year's tornadoes generally strike. Weather systems are more conducive in these months. Warm air flows north from the Gulf of Mexico at the same time as storm systems are propelled into the south and mid-west by a southward dip in the jet stream. These latest tornadoes appear to have caused the highest death toll since 35 people were killed in Arkansas and Mississippi in April 2014. A \"super outbreak\" of tornadoes across a swathe of the US in April 2011 killed more than 300 people."}], "question": "Are tornadoes expected at this time of year?", "id": "544_3"}]}]}, {"title": "Thailand shooting: Survivors recall ordeal of gun rampage", "date": "9 February 2020", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Terrified residents of the Thai city of Nakhon Ratchasima have been reliving their ordeal after a gunman roamed around a shopping centre on a shooting spree that killed 29 people. Some barricaded themselves in toilets or hid under tables, frantically searching for information on mobiles. Jakraphanth Thomma began his rampage on Saturday afternoon, but it only ended with his death 16 hours later. A vigil for victims has been held on Sunday, with monks chanting prayers. Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha said the 32-year-old soldier, who had posted images during his attack on social media, appeared to have been motivated by a land dispute. Another 57 people were injured in the incident, an \"unprecedented number in Thailand\", the PM said. Jakraphanth began his attack at about 15:30 local time on Saturday (08:30 GMT) at a military camp, but it was his arrival at the Terminal 21 shopping complex that led to an indiscriminate shooting spree. Many of the victims were killed as he arrived, some in their cars, others outside the complex. Graphic images appeared on social media. Inside Terminal 21, a seven-floor complex designed on an airport theme, terrified shoppers were unsure whether to flee or hide. Nattaya Nganiem was leaving the complex by car when she heard gunfire and saw one woman \"run out from the mall hysterically\". She saw a motorcyclist dump his motorcycle and run. One who saw the gunman, Diaw, told Amarin TV the attacker \"was shooting everywhere and his shots were very precise\". He aimed at the heads of victims, Diaw said, adding that one of his colleagues was killed. Up on the fourth floor, Chanathip Somsakul, 33, barricaded himself into the women's toilets with dozens of others, using cubicle doors to wedge the entrance shut. They all scoured mobile devices to get information. But he said there was so much information, no-one knew what to believe. \"Everyone was terrified. A friend who works at the mall was talking to a guy in the CCTV control room... he gave us updates on the location of the gunman,\" he told AFP news agency. When police arrived at about 21:00, they left in an orderly fashion, but started running when shots rang out. Charlie Crowson, a teacher of English who lives in Nakhon Ratchasima, told the BBC there were \"bodies on the streets\" of the normally peaceful city. He said one of his girlfriend's former students was among those killed in the attack. Jakraphanth was eventually shot dead by the security forces. At the city morgue on Sunday, Natthawut Karnchanamethee was mourning the loss of his 13-year-old son, Ratchanon Karnchanamethee. \"He's my only son. I allowed him to do anything he wanted to. I never set expectations for him. I only wanted him to be a good person,\" Mr Natthawut said. At the vigil on Sunday, 13-year-old Lapasrada Khumpeepong said she and her mother had been cornered in a bathroom at the complex for five hours. She wrote on a condolence board: \"Thank you to those who sacrificed themselves to keep others alive. Without you, we would not be here today.\" Mr Prayuth travelled to Nakhon Ratchasima, also known as Korat, to meet wounded survivors. The PM said he believed the gunman was involved in a \"personal conflict... over a house deal\" that involved a relative of his commanding officer, both of whom Jakraphanth shot dead at the military base at the start of his rampage. Mr Prayuth said: \"I hope this is the only one and the last incident, and that it never happens again. No-one wants this to happen. It could be because of this person's mental health in this particular moment.\" Forensic experts continue to work at the shopping complex. Jakraphanth served at Suatham Phithak military camp, about 250km (155 miles) from the capital, Bangkok. Army sources said he was a sharpshooter and had taken courses on attacks, including the planning of ambushes. He used social media heavily, including posting pictures of himself with weapons. Jakraphanth killed another soldier as he stole a military vehicle and weapons - two rifles, one M60 machine gun and 770 rounds of ammunition - from the base. A Facebook post before the attack read: \"Rich from cheating. Taking advantage of other people. Do they think they can spend the money in hell?\" During the attack - and before his Facebook account was taken down - he wrote: \"Death is inevitable for everyone.\"", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 743, "answer_end": 3042, "text": "Jakraphanth began his attack at about 15:30 local time on Saturday (08:30 GMT) at a military camp, but it was his arrival at the Terminal 21 shopping complex that led to an indiscriminate shooting spree. Many of the victims were killed as he arrived, some in their cars, others outside the complex. Graphic images appeared on social media. Inside Terminal 21, a seven-floor complex designed on an airport theme, terrified shoppers were unsure whether to flee or hide. Nattaya Nganiem was leaving the complex by car when she heard gunfire and saw one woman \"run out from the mall hysterically\". She saw a motorcyclist dump his motorcycle and run. One who saw the gunman, Diaw, told Amarin TV the attacker \"was shooting everywhere and his shots were very precise\". He aimed at the heads of victims, Diaw said, adding that one of his colleagues was killed. Up on the fourth floor, Chanathip Somsakul, 33, barricaded himself into the women's toilets with dozens of others, using cubicle doors to wedge the entrance shut. They all scoured mobile devices to get information. But he said there was so much information, no-one knew what to believe. \"Everyone was terrified. A friend who works at the mall was talking to a guy in the CCTV control room... he gave us updates on the location of the gunman,\" he told AFP news agency. When police arrived at about 21:00, they left in an orderly fashion, but started running when shots rang out. Charlie Crowson, a teacher of English who lives in Nakhon Ratchasima, told the BBC there were \"bodies on the streets\" of the normally peaceful city. He said one of his girlfriend's former students was among those killed in the attack. Jakraphanth was eventually shot dead by the security forces. At the city morgue on Sunday, Natthawut Karnchanamethee was mourning the loss of his 13-year-old son, Ratchanon Karnchanamethee. \"He's my only son. I allowed him to do anything he wanted to. I never set expectations for him. I only wanted him to be a good person,\" Mr Natthawut said. At the vigil on Sunday, 13-year-old Lapasrada Khumpeepong said she and her mother had been cornered in a bathroom at the complex for five hours. She wrote on a condolence board: \"Thank you to those who sacrificed themselves to keep others alive. Without you, we would not be here today.\""}], "question": "What have the survivors been saying?", "id": "545_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3043, "answer_end": 4346, "text": "Mr Prayuth travelled to Nakhon Ratchasima, also known as Korat, to meet wounded survivors. The PM said he believed the gunman was involved in a \"personal conflict... over a house deal\" that involved a relative of his commanding officer, both of whom Jakraphanth shot dead at the military base at the start of his rampage. Mr Prayuth said: \"I hope this is the only one and the last incident, and that it never happens again. No-one wants this to happen. It could be because of this person's mental health in this particular moment.\" Forensic experts continue to work at the shopping complex. Jakraphanth served at Suatham Phithak military camp, about 250km (155 miles) from the capital, Bangkok. Army sources said he was a sharpshooter and had taken courses on attacks, including the planning of ambushes. He used social media heavily, including posting pictures of himself with weapons. Jakraphanth killed another soldier as he stole a military vehicle and weapons - two rifles, one M60 machine gun and 770 rounds of ammunition - from the base. A Facebook post before the attack read: \"Rich from cheating. Taking advantage of other people. Do they think they can spend the money in hell?\" During the attack - and before his Facebook account was taken down - he wrote: \"Death is inevitable for everyone.\""}], "question": "What have the authorities said about the attack?", "id": "545_1"}]}]}, {"title": "How do you end a 16 year hunger strike safely?", "date": "10 August 2016", "paragraphs": [{"context": "How much time will it take for a person to return to a normal diet after more than a decade of hunger striking? In the case of Indian activist Irom Sharmila, who has been described as the world's longest hunger striker, doctors say it could be anything between four and six weeks before she can eat normally again. The 44-year-old activist's campaign against a controversial security law had led to her being detained in a hospital room in Imphal, the capital of India's restive north-eastern state of Manipur, for most of 16 years. In detention, she was surrounded by armed guards and a team of doctors and nurses who would force-feed her liquid nutrients through a nasogastric tube. Once a year, she'd be released because the maximum sentence for attempting suicide is one year - but police would quickly re-arrest her after she continued her fast. On Tuesday, she symbolically ended the fast by tasting some honey, saying she would end the hunger strike in order to enter politics. A nasogastric tube is a feeding pipe inserted through the nose, past the throat and into the stomach. Feeding through the tube prevents dehydration and starvation, and maintains the person's body weight. Doctor say feeding through the tube is common for people in coma over a long period of time or patients in advanced stages of degenerative neurological diseases. They are fed with tubes because they cannot eat or swallow and food can get stuck in their windpipe. Patients suffering in coma have been fed through tubes for decades. A nurse, who spent 42 years in a persistent vegetative state after being raped and strangled, was fed through the nose to keep her alive. She died last year in a hospital in Mumbai. Through the tube, Ms Sharmila was force fed a carefully calibrated liquid diet containing protein, carbohydrates and vitamins up to three times a day - reduced to two times in recent years. The diet included food supplements, apple juice and vitamin syrups. Doctors say they altered the dosage if she lost or gained weight. \"You can maintain a balanced diet through liquid food fed through a nose or directly to the stomach through an incision in the abdomen,\" says Dr Randeep Guleria from All India Institute of Medical Sciences, who treated Ms Sharmila once when she was admitted to hospital in 2006. Doctors reckon a total of around 800ml-1000ml of liquid nutrients providing fats, proteins and carbohydrates, divided into three to four dosages every day is sufficient to keep the patient on a nutritious, nasal-fed diet. People who have not consumed solids in more than a decade will have to be careful when they go back to eating normally. \"Ms Sharmila will have to slowly graduate to a solid diet. Since she's not eaten orally for long, her chewing can be slow, and her muscle of mastication used for chewing may have wasted a bit. So she will have to begin with semi-solid food and graduate to solids,\" says Dr Guleria. Doctors have to keep a close watch on her during this period. Doctors say she could suffer from acidity and gastric problems if she consumed too much solids too soon. \"Ms Sharmila should be under the supervision of a nutritionist as she returns to a normal diet,\" says Dr Rommel Tickoo. \"She will begin with semi-solid food which is easy to digest like mashed potatoes and bananas, and have curd. Her sodium and potassium levels have to kept in control.\" But, if that goes well, Ms Sharmila will finally be able to eat - including her favourite curry, made from fermented soya bean and vegetables, again.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 985, "answer_end": 2526, "text": "A nasogastric tube is a feeding pipe inserted through the nose, past the throat and into the stomach. Feeding through the tube prevents dehydration and starvation, and maintains the person's body weight. Doctor say feeding through the tube is common for people in coma over a long period of time or patients in advanced stages of degenerative neurological diseases. They are fed with tubes because they cannot eat or swallow and food can get stuck in their windpipe. Patients suffering in coma have been fed through tubes for decades. A nurse, who spent 42 years in a persistent vegetative state after being raped and strangled, was fed through the nose to keep her alive. She died last year in a hospital in Mumbai. Through the tube, Ms Sharmila was force fed a carefully calibrated liquid diet containing protein, carbohydrates and vitamins up to three times a day - reduced to two times in recent years. The diet included food supplements, apple juice and vitamin syrups. Doctors say they altered the dosage if she lost or gained weight. \"You can maintain a balanced diet through liquid food fed through a nose or directly to the stomach through an incision in the abdomen,\" says Dr Randeep Guleria from All India Institute of Medical Sciences, who treated Ms Sharmila once when she was admitted to hospital in 2006. Doctors reckon a total of around 800ml-1000ml of liquid nutrients providing fats, proteins and carbohydrates, divided into three to four dosages every day is sufficient to keep the patient on a nutritious, nasal-fed diet."}], "question": "How does nasal force feeding work?", "id": "546_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2527, "answer_end": 3533, "text": "People who have not consumed solids in more than a decade will have to be careful when they go back to eating normally. \"Ms Sharmila will have to slowly graduate to a solid diet. Since she's not eaten orally for long, her chewing can be slow, and her muscle of mastication used for chewing may have wasted a bit. So she will have to begin with semi-solid food and graduate to solids,\" says Dr Guleria. Doctors have to keep a close watch on her during this period. Doctors say she could suffer from acidity and gastric problems if she consumed too much solids too soon. \"Ms Sharmila should be under the supervision of a nutritionist as she returns to a normal diet,\" says Dr Rommel Tickoo. \"She will begin with semi-solid food which is easy to digest like mashed potatoes and bananas, and have curd. Her sodium and potassium levels have to kept in control.\" But, if that goes well, Ms Sharmila will finally be able to eat - including her favourite curry, made from fermented soya bean and vegetables, again."}], "question": "Can she eat normally again?", "id": "546_1"}]}]}, {"title": "Delhi air quality: Judges accuse authorities of 'passing the buck'", "date": "4 November 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "India's top court has accused state governments of \"passing the buck\" on air pollution and failing to take action to tackle Delhi's toxic smog. The Supreme Court said authorities were only interested in \"gimmicks\", rather than concrete measures to combat pollution levels. Levels of dangerous particles in the air - known as PM2.5 - are at well over 10 times safe limits in the capital. City authorities have responded by launching a car rationing system. \"Delhi is choking every year and we are unable to do anything,\" said Supreme Court Justice Arun Mishra. \"The state machinery is not acting... They are passing the buck to each other... Everybody is interested in gimmicks and elections.\" From 4 to 15 November, cars with odd or even number plates will only be allowed on the roads on alternate days, officials said. Such a system has been used before but it is not clear if it helps lower pollution levels. Cars are not believed to be the main cause of Delhi's toxic air, with experts pointing instead to crop burning by farmers in neighbouring states to clear fields. Health officials have asked people to stay indoors and refrain from doing any physical activity as millions are at risk of respiratory illness. Schools are closed until Tuesday and the shutdown is likely to be extended until Friday as the city chokes under a thick blanket of smog. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said the car rationing system, known as the \"odd-even plan\", would take hundreds of thousands of cars off the road. Those ignoring the rule face a fine of 4,000 rupees (PS44; $56) - double that of previous years. by Krutika Pathi, BBC News, Delhi Teary eyes, a throat like sandpaper, and a hacking cough that left me breathless - these were the side effects after I went for a walk around my neighbourhood in Delhi. Whenever \"pollution season\" starts to set in, I notice the changes in my body rather quickly. I've lost count of the number of times I've woken up with a severe cough during the winter season. From your nose to your chest, it feels like things aren't working the way they should be. On some days, it's just a blocked nose and on others, it's almost a struggle to breathe normally. The effects go beyond the physical too. I'm constantly thinking about Air Quality Index numbers and whether the air is breathable - I even activate my air purifier via an app as I leave work so that my room has clean air by the time I'm home. \"The perfect storm of conditions during November has created almost 30% higher atmospheric concentrations of fine particulate matter,\" said a Cornell University study published in July. Delhi's geography - it is landlocked and sits on a flat plain that is blocked off by the Himalayas - means it is more drastically affected. Only public transport, emergency vehicles, taxis and two-wheelers will be allowed. Women driving alone will also be exempt from the rule. The Supreme Court has ordered Delhi's state government to produce data which proves that the car rationing system works. Experts say emissions from vehicles are just one of several factors that have turned the city into - in Mr Kejriwal's words - a \"gas chamber\". A major cause of the high pollution levels at this time of year is farmers in neighbouring states burning crop stubble to clear their fields. This creates a lethal cocktail of particulate matter and gases - carbon dioxide, nitrogen dioxide and sulphur dioxide - all worsened by fireworks set off during the Hindu festival of Diwali a week ago. Construction and industrial emissions have also contributed to the smog. Efforts to identify a cause have sparked a row between state and federal politicians, with Mr Kejriwal calling on the neighbouring states of Punjab and Haryana to crack down on crop burning. Federal Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar accused Mr Kejriwal of politicising the issue and painting his neighbours as \"villains\". The Supreme Court also summoned the chief secretaries of Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh states to appear before it to answer questions about efforts to tackle stubble burning. The level of PM2.5 - tiny particulates that can enter deep into the lungs - was at one point seven times higher than in the Chinese capital Beijing, which has battled similar pollution problems in recent years. Five million masks were handed out in schools on Friday as officials declared a public health emergency. Part of the reason is a change in crop cycles and harvesting in the agricultural states of Punjab and Haryana. A decade ago the two states passed identical laws intended to preserve ground water, which effectively compelled farmers to plant their rice crops in mid-June rather than at the end of April, as was the tradition. This was to enable them to make use of monsoonal rains to grow the heavily water-dependent crop. The delay in the planting cycle meant the harvesting cycle was also delayed. Farmers now have much less time to prepare their fields for the next crop cycle and burning stubble is a cheap and effective way to clear the land. Unfortunately, this coincides with changing wind patterns over Delhi and the rest of north India. India's National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has recommended some guidelines for residents of Delhi to cope with the elevated smog levels. They include avoiding strenuous activities and hard labour if possible, and exercising indoors. When outdoors, avoiding main roads and congested areas can help, as smaller roads and bylanes tend to be less polluted. Wearing a mask can help filter out pollutants, but simple surgical masks or comfort masks will not. A smog mask with a respirator is recommended. Do not burn rubbish or other discarded items outdoors, and try to avoid or share car trips to reduce the number of cars on the road. Are you in Delhi? How has the air pollution affected your day-to-day life? Tell us about your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk 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 yourpics@bbc.co.uk - Text an SMS or MMS to 61124 or +44 7624 800 100 - Please read our terms of use and privacy policy", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 3018, "answer_end": 4399, "text": "Experts say emissions from vehicles are just one of several factors that have turned the city into - in Mr Kejriwal's words - a \"gas chamber\". A major cause of the high pollution levels at this time of year is farmers in neighbouring states burning crop stubble to clear their fields. This creates a lethal cocktail of particulate matter and gases - carbon dioxide, nitrogen dioxide and sulphur dioxide - all worsened by fireworks set off during the Hindu festival of Diwali a week ago. Construction and industrial emissions have also contributed to the smog. Efforts to identify a cause have sparked a row between state and federal politicians, with Mr Kejriwal calling on the neighbouring states of Punjab and Haryana to crack down on crop burning. Federal Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar accused Mr Kejriwal of politicising the issue and painting his neighbours as \"villains\". The Supreme Court also summoned the chief secretaries of Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh states to appear before it to answer questions about efforts to tackle stubble burning. The level of PM2.5 - tiny particulates that can enter deep into the lungs - was at one point seven times higher than in the Chinese capital Beijing, which has battled similar pollution problems in recent years. Five million masks were handed out in schools on Friday as officials declared a public health emergency."}], "question": "What's caused the pollution?", "id": "547_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 4400, "answer_end": 5144, "text": "Part of the reason is a change in crop cycles and harvesting in the agricultural states of Punjab and Haryana. A decade ago the two states passed identical laws intended to preserve ground water, which effectively compelled farmers to plant their rice crops in mid-June rather than at the end of April, as was the tradition. This was to enable them to make use of monsoonal rains to grow the heavily water-dependent crop. The delay in the planting cycle meant the harvesting cycle was also delayed. Farmers now have much less time to prepare their fields for the next crop cycle and burning stubble is a cheap and effective way to clear the land. Unfortunately, this coincides with changing wind patterns over Delhi and the rest of north India."}], "question": "Why has it been so bad in recent years?", "id": "547_1"}]}]}, {"title": "Brexit: What does the draft withdrawal agreement reveal?", "date": "15 November 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "The draft withdrawal agreement is all about how the UK leaves the European Union. It's not about any permanent future relationship. It's a long read - 585 pages long - and we've just had a first look at the text. There will be plenty more to say in the days ahead. But what's in this draft document, that some people thought might never materialise? Well we've known about a lot of the content for some time. There are details of the financial settlement (often dubbed the divorce bill) that the two sides agreed some months ago: over time, it means the UK will pay at least PS39bn to the EU to cover all its financial obligations. There's also a long section on citizens' rights after Brexit for EU citizens in the UK and Brits elsewhere in Europe. It maintains their existing residency rights, but big questions remain about a host of issues, including the rights of UK citizens to work across borders elsewhere in the EU. The legal basis for a transition (or implementation) period, beginning after Brexit. It would be 21 months during which the UK would continue to follow all European Union rules (in order to give governments and businesses more time to prepare for long term change). That means that during transition, the UK would remain under the jurisdiction of the European Court of Justice (in fact, the ECJ is mentioned more than 60 times in this document). The document says that decisions adopted by European Union institutions during this period \"shall be binding on and in the United Kingdom\". The transition period is also designed to allow time for the UK and the EU to reach a trade deal. The draft agreement says both sides will use their \"best endeavours\" to ensure that a long term trade deal is in place by the end of 2020. Significantly, if more time is needed, the option of extending the transition appears in the document (although, it makes it clear that the UK would have to pay for it). The document doesn't say how long the transition could be extended for (in fact they've left the date blank), only that the Joint Committee may take a decision \"extending the transition period up to [31 December 20XX].\" UK officials hope that the date will be clarified by the time of the proposed EU summit on 25 November. If there was no long term trade agreement and no extension of the transition, that's when the so-called \"backstop\" would kick in. It's the issue that has dominated negotiations for the last few weeks and months: how to ensure that no hard border (with checks or physical infrastructure) emerges after Brexit between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. Both sides agreed back in December 2017 that there should be a guarantee to avoid a hard border under all circumstances. That guarantee came to be known as the backstop, but agreeing a legal text proved very difficult. So what exactly does this draft agreement say about the border, the backstop and the legal guarantees that underpin it? If a backstop is needed, it will - as expected - take the form of a temporary customs union encompassing not just Northern Ireland but the whole of the UK. The draft agreement describes this as a \"single customs territory\". Northern Ireland, though, will be in a deeper customs relationship with the EU than Great Britain, and even more closely tied to the rules of the EU single market. One policy area is excluded from these potential customs arrangements: fishing. That's because the trade-off between access for UK fish produce to EU markets, and access for EU boats to UK waters, is too controversial. The draft agreement simply states that \"the Union and the United Kingdom shall use their best endeavours to conclude and ratify\" an agreement \"on access to waters and fishing opportunities\". There are also details of one of the last issues to be negotiated - the terms on which the UK may be able to leave this temporary customs arrangement in the future. If either party notifies the other that it wants the backstop to come to an end, a joint ministerial committee will meet within six months to consider the details. But the backstop (which is part of the Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland) would only cease to apply if \"the Union and the United Kingdom decide jointly\" that it is no longer necessary. In other words, the UK will not have a unilateral right to bring those arrangements to an end. For some Brexiteers, that is simply unacceptable. But, don't forget, other countries will also have their concerns. They too will focus on the language surrounding a temporary customs union, to ensure that nothing is hidden there which could, in their view, give the UK rights without responsibilities; and - potentially - a competitive advantage. The EU insists the draft agreement \"includes the corresponding level playing field commitments and appropriate enforcement mechanisms to ensure fair competition between the EU27 and the UK.\" So, it's not just in London that this document will be closely scrutinised. Finally one big question: to what extent could these temporary customs arrangements form the basis for a permanent future relationship, which can only be negotiated formally after Brexit has actually happened?", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 3741, "answer_end": 5177, "text": "There are also details of one of the last issues to be negotiated - the terms on which the UK may be able to leave this temporary customs arrangement in the future. If either party notifies the other that it wants the backstop to come to an end, a joint ministerial committee will meet within six months to consider the details. But the backstop (which is part of the Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland) would only cease to apply if \"the Union and the United Kingdom decide jointly\" that it is no longer necessary. In other words, the UK will not have a unilateral right to bring those arrangements to an end. For some Brexiteers, that is simply unacceptable. But, don't forget, other countries will also have their concerns. They too will focus on the language surrounding a temporary customs union, to ensure that nothing is hidden there which could, in their view, give the UK rights without responsibilities; and - potentially - a competitive advantage. The EU insists the draft agreement \"includes the corresponding level playing field commitments and appropriate enforcement mechanisms to ensure fair competition between the EU27 and the UK.\" So, it's not just in London that this document will be closely scrutinised. Finally one big question: to what extent could these temporary customs arrangements form the basis for a permanent future relationship, which can only be negotiated formally after Brexit has actually happened?"}], "question": "The way out?", "id": "548_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Nine lessons for a happy family Christmas", "date": "23 December 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "From the Christmas Eve inter-sibling skirmish to reverting to your teenage self and scrapping over the TV remote on Christmas Day, the annual festivities all too often put family relationships on edge. So, when the weather outside is frightful, how do you keep home life delightful and stop the Christmas spirit turning sour? Going home for Christmas is great - but when you get there, will you be sleeping in your old teenage bedroom - maybe along with your partner and kids? \"Even if we're busy at work or at home, we have time alone don't we?\" says Relate counsellor Dee Holmes. But at Christmas people are often \"forced too much into each other's space\". \"If you've got a houseful of relatives, there's always something to be done or someone who wants to talk to you. \"Children are used to having time when their parents ignore them, in front of the telly... and suddenly: 'Aunty Freda's here, let's play a game...'\" So appreciate that your nearest and dearest need some space and that having a happy family Christmas doesn't mean you all want to be together 24/7. Instead of expecting everyone to join in every moment of Christmas Day, maybe agree some key times, like opening presents and Christmas lunch, but otherwise be flexible, she suggests. Let's face it, Christmas catering is really hard work. And even if you prepare as much as you can in advance, timing a roast to perfection is a fine art - and if it goes wrong, can result in overcooked veg, cold turkey - and a large helping of stress. So if you're the designated cook, don't be afraid to ask for help, says Dee. \"Make sure there's a bit of a rota about people all helping and everyone mucking in.\" It's important everyone has some downtime - including the cook, she says. And if cooking at home is just too much of a stress point, Kim Moore, a mental-health expert at Birmingham City University, advocates considering going out to eat. \"There's the child-centred Christmas and there's the adult-centred Christmas - and sometimes, in a family environment, they clash,\" says Dee. Danger points abound where different generations are forced into close proximity, she warns - from sleepy teens woken before it gets light by their over-excited younger cousins or people without children annoyed if they have to open all the presents before breakfast, to the adults who are drunk before it gets dark and argue heatedly about politics. \"Another big thing is how people revert to their traditional roles in the family when they all get back together,\" Dee says. \"So you know you live the rest of the year being a successful professional person or you're doing your own thing and as soon as you get home, you're the youngest one or the naughty one.\" This sort of stereotyping is a big cause of Christmas rows, says Dee, who urges family members to cultivate tolerance, empathy and \"a bit of sensitivity to other people's expectations\". Agreeing ground rules on subjects to avoid over Christmas can be a really good idea, says senior mental-health nursing lecturer Kim. In addition it's wise to try to resolve in advance any outstanding issues between family members which could lead to rows on the day, she advises. \"Try just to be respectful of the other people,\" adds Dee. \"And if you want to have an argument with someone, is today really the day? \"If someone said something that annoys you, maybe you say, 'I'm just going to ignore that for now.'\" Remember the days when there was one TV in the corner of the sitting room and the rows over channel choice? The good news is that those days are long gone and everyone with a phone can potentially choose when and how to watch whatever they like. So the traditional arguments over who controls the remote are less problematical, says Dee. But she warns adults who want to recapture possibly fictitious past family Christmases, where everyone sat down to watch Doctor Who together, are unlikely to succeed. And then there's the problem of prising teens away from their phones. \"If you spend all year with your teenagers in their bedrooms... don't have unrealistic expectations of family life being suddenly different because you wake up and it's Christmas morning,\" warns Dee. \"Don't expect a miracle.\" Music is a great way of bringing families together and making everyone feel better, says Kim. Karaoke or just pass the parcel to Christmas songs can be \"a great way to engage all family members from young to old\" and create some fantastic memories, she says. Alternatively, you might prefer charades or board games - but beware the Christmas scrabble row. Some families choose to go for walks on Christmas or Boxing Day but Dee says a relaxed family Christmas often depends on not expecting everyone to join in with everything. \"Just because you have a ritual and you've always gone on a walk after the Queen's speech doesn't mean you always have to keep doing it.\" The urge to overspend at Christmas can be enormous, with families targeted by massive marketing campaigns months ahead. January is a tough month, too often made worse by credit card bills and overdrafts, so managing spending and expectation in the run-up to Christmas is key, says Dee. \"I think it's important to talk about what the limitations are, what the budgets are.\" More and more families are choosing to discuss Christmas gift budgets with their children, she says, even when they're quite young. \"It's not about saying we can't afford it... or making them scared that you've no money, or anything like that, but being realistic.\" And try to make gifts \"fair\", she says. \"Children will soon pick up if they feel there's an unfairness.\" Christmas is meant to be a fun time so it is particularly tough when it goes wrong, throwing family problems into stark focus. More people contact Relate for relationship counselling in the weeks after Christmas than at any other time of year, says Dee. If disagreements spill into violence, Kim says not to be afraid to ask for help, even if this means calling the police. And if you fear for your safety, organisations such as Women's Aid and Men's Advice Line also offer advice. If you're worried about fuelling family rows over the festive season, why wait until January to go teetotal? \"The use and overuse of alcohol can be a major trigger of family discontent over Christmas,\" Kim warns. Dee adds that the best-laid plans and intentions can all too easily be forgotten when you've had a few - tolerance and sensitivity can go out of the window and it's all too easy to say the wrong thing, with minor disagreements becoming full-blown family bust-ups. \"I have certainly heard some horror stories,\" she says. Dee says it's really important to make sure drinkers have plenty to eat  - and rather than banning booze altogether, she suggests spritzing wine and making bucks fizz with your champagne or prosecco, with plenty of suggestions available online for non-alcoholic festive drinks to lightly enhance feelings of goodwill to all - even your siblings.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 4214, "answer_end": 4879, "text": "Music is a great way of bringing families together and making everyone feel better, says Kim. Karaoke or just pass the parcel to Christmas songs can be \"a great way to engage all family members from young to old\" and create some fantastic memories, she says. Alternatively, you might prefer charades or board games - but beware the Christmas scrabble row. Some families choose to go for walks on Christmas or Boxing Day but Dee says a relaxed family Christmas often depends on not expecting everyone to join in with everything. \"Just because you have a ritual and you've always gone on a walk after the Queen's speech doesn't mean you always have to keep doing it.\""}], "question": "6. Christmas karaoke?", "id": "549_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Rohingya crisis: How much power does Aung San Suu Kyi really have?", "date": "13 September 2017", "paragraphs": [{"context": "The huge exodus of Rohingya from Myanmar's Rakhine State, and the brutal tactics of the security forces, have stirred up strong condemnations of the Nobel Laureate and de-facto leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, who has defended her government's actions as a legitimate response to terrorism. As it emerges Ms Suu Kyi will miss next week's UN General Assembly debate, how much power does she really have inside her country? Aung San Suu Kyi's formal title is \"state counsellor\". It is a position she created to get around a clause in the constitution - aimed specifically at her - that bars anyone with a foreign spouse or foreign children from the presidency. Ms Suu Kyi is by far the most popular political figure in Myanmar and she led her National League for Democracy (NLD) to a landslide victory in the 2015 election. She makes most of the important decisions in her party and cabinet. She also holds the position of foreign minister. In practice, the actual president, Htin Kyaw, answers to her. The constitution was drafted by the previous military government, which had been in power in one form or another since 1962. It was approved in a questionable referendum in 2008. At the time, it was not recognised by the NLD or Ms Suu Kyi. It was the key to the military's declared plan to ensure it still had a guiding role in what it called a \"discipline-flourishing democracy\". Under it, the armed forces are guaranteed one quarter of the seats in parliament. The military retains control of three vital ministries - home affairs, defence and border affairs. That means it also controls the police. Six out of 11 seats on the powerful National Defence and Security Council, which has the power to suspend democratic government, are military appointees. Former military personnel occupy many top civil positions. The military also still has significant business interests. Defence spending is still 14% of the budget, more than health and education combined. For more than 20 years the military and Aung San Suu Kyi were bitterly opposed. She spent 15 of those years under house arrest. After the election, they had to find ways to work together. She had the mandate. The generals had the real power. They still disagreed on important issues, like amending the constitution, which she wants, and the pace of peace talks with the various ethnic armies that have been fighting the government from Myanmar's borders for the past 70 years. But they agreed on the need to reform and improve the economy and the need for stability - \"rule of law\" is Ms Suu Kyi's favourite mantra - at a time when rapid change has been stirring up social tension. But on the issue of the Rohingya, Ms Suu Kyi must tread carefully. There is little public sympathy for the Rohingya. Much of the Burmese population agrees with the official view that they are not citizens of Myanmar, but illegal immigrants from Bangladesh, even though many Rohingya families have been in the country for generations. That hostility has increased markedly after the attacks on police posts by militants from the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army in October last year and this August. Inside Rakhine State, the local Buddhist population are even more hostile. Conflict between them and the Rohingya - who they refer to as Bengalis - goes back many decades. Many Rakhine Buddhists believe they will eventually become a minority, and fear that their identity will be destroyed. The Rakhine nationalist party, the ANP, dominates the local assembly, one of the few not controlled by Ms Suu Kyi's NLD. There is strong sympathy for them among the police - almost half of whose officers are Rakhine Buddhist - and the military. The military is the real power in northern Rakhine State, along the border with Bangladesh, where access is tightly controlled. And the powerful armed forces commander, Gen Min Aung Hlaing, has made it clear he has little sympathy for the Rohingya. He has referred to the current \"clearance\" operations there as necessary to finish a problem that dates back to 1942, a period of shifting front lines between Japanese and British forces that saw bitter communal fighting between Rohingya and Rakhine Buddhists. The military sees itself now as fighting an externally funded terrorist movement, a view shared by much of the public. It seems to be applying its \"four cuts\" strategy, used in other conflict areas, in which soldiers destroy and terrorise communities thought to be giving support to insurgencies. The media is also a factor. One of the biggest changes in Myanmar over the past five years has been the proliferation of new, independent media outlets, and the dramatic growth of mobile phone and internet use, in a country that scarcely had landlines a decade ago. But very few media have shown what is happening inside Bangladesh, or the suffering of the Rohingya. Most have focused instead on displaced Buddhists and Hindus inside Rakhine, who are far fewer in number. The popularity of social media has allowed disinformation and hate speech to spread quickly. So Aung San Suu Kyi has very little power over events in Rakhine State. And speaking out in support of the Rohingya would almost certainly prompt an angry reaction from Buddhist nationalists. Whether, with her immense moral authority, it might start to change public prejudice against the Rohingya, is an open question. She has calculated that it is a gamble not worth taking. She is known to be very stubborn once she has made up her mind. Is there a risk that the military might step in and replace her, should she challenge what they are doing in Rakhine? They have the power to do so. In the current climate, they might even have some public support. But it is worth remembering that the current power-sharing arrangements with the NLD are more or less what the military was aiming for when it announced its Seven Stage Roadmap to Democracy back in 2003. At the time this was dismissed as a sham. But it turns out Myanmar's political development over the next 14 years followed that roadmap closely. Even after its own political party was trounced in 2015's election, the military remains by far the most powerful institution in the country. Only this time, it has Aung San Suu Kyi as a shield, to be battered by the international outcry over its actions.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 4743, "answer_end": 6301, "text": "But very few media have shown what is happening inside Bangladesh, or the suffering of the Rohingya. Most have focused instead on displaced Buddhists and Hindus inside Rakhine, who are far fewer in number. The popularity of social media has allowed disinformation and hate speech to spread quickly. So Aung San Suu Kyi has very little power over events in Rakhine State. And speaking out in support of the Rohingya would almost certainly prompt an angry reaction from Buddhist nationalists. Whether, with her immense moral authority, it might start to change public prejudice against the Rohingya, is an open question. She has calculated that it is a gamble not worth taking. She is known to be very stubborn once she has made up her mind. Is there a risk that the military might step in and replace her, should she challenge what they are doing in Rakhine? They have the power to do so. In the current climate, they might even have some public support. But it is worth remembering that the current power-sharing arrangements with the NLD are more or less what the military was aiming for when it announced its Seven Stage Roadmap to Democracy back in 2003. At the time this was dismissed as a sham. But it turns out Myanmar's political development over the next 14 years followed that roadmap closely. Even after its own political party was trounced in 2015's election, the military remains by far the most powerful institution in the country. Only this time, it has Aung San Suu Kyi as a shield, to be battered by the international outcry over its actions."}], "question": "Moral authority?", "id": "550_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Trump makes way for Turkey operation against Kurds in Syria", "date": "7 October 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "The US says it is stepping aside for an imminent Turkish operation against Kurdish-led forces within Syria that have until now been a key US ally. Kurdish militias played a major role in defeating the Islamic State (IS) group, but Turkey regards them as terrorists. The US - which has hundreds of troops in north-eastern Syria - has begun to withdraw them from a border area where Turkey seeks to set up a \"safe zone\". Syria's main Kurdish-led group called the US move a \"stab in the back\". In January, President Trump threatened to \"devastate Turkey economically\" if it attacked Kurdish forces. However, a White House statement issued on Sunday makes no reference to the Kurdish fighters. The statement followed a phone call between President Donald Trump and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. \"Turkey will soon be moving forward with its long-planned operation into northern Syria,\" the statement said. \"The United States Armed Forces will not support or be involved in the operation, and United States forces, having defeated the Isis territorial 'Caliphate', will no longer be in the immediate area.\" The White House also said that Turkey would take over all responsibility for IS fighters captured by Kurdish forces over the past two years. More than 12,000 men are held on suspicion of being IS members in Kurdish-controlled camps located south of the Turkey's planned \"safe zone\". At least 4,000 of them are foreign nationals. This represents a significant shift in US policy - President Trump acting against the advice of many in the Pentagon and state department. It risks a recasting of alliances in Syria. The Kurds may be forced to seek an accommodation with the Syrian government. The potential chaos could facilitate a resurgence of IS. Indeed, the US pullback of its forces from the border area may herald the full withdrawal of troops from Syria that Mr Trump has long wanted. It marks a betrayal of Washington's Kurdish allies, a betrayal that many other countries in the region will note with alarm. Both the Saudis and the Israelis are coming to realise that Mr Trump's robust rhetoric is rarely matched by actions. Last month the Syria Study Group, a bipartisan body commissioned by Congress, stated in its final report that the US still has significant security interests in Syria and retains some policy levers with which to influence events there. But that is clearly not Present Trump's view. On Monday a spokesman for the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) - who occupy former IS territory in north-eastern Syria - strongly condemned the US move. \"There were assurances from the United States of America that it would not allow any Turkish military operations against the region,\" Kino Gabriel told Arabic TV station al-Hadath. He added: \"The (US) statement was a surprise and we can say that it is a stab in the back for the SDF.\" Kurdish TV in northern Iraq said the SDF had put some of its units on alert because the Turkish army had mobilised troops on the border on Monday. Late on Sunday, Mr Erdogan's office said that he and President Trump had spoken on the phone about Turkey's plan to set up a \"safe zone\" in north-eastern Syria. It said the 20-mile (32km) zone along the border was needed to combat \"terrorists\" and create \"the conditions necessary for the return of Syrian refugees\". Turkey considers the Kurdish YPG militia - the dominant force in the SDF alliance - an extension of the banned Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which has fought for Kurdish autonomy in Turkey for three decades. Turkey hosts more than 3.6 million Syrians who fled the civil war that began in 2011. It wants to move up to two million of them into the zone. In his call with Mr Trump, President Erdogan also expressed his \"frustration over the US military and security bureaucracy's failure\" to implement an agreement reached in August about the zone, his office said. On Saturday, he warned that Turkish forces could launch a cross-border offensive in the coming days, but gave no details. Analysis by Quentin Sommerville, Middle East correspondent Invasion or incursion? That's the uppermost question about Turkish action in north-eastern Syria. Initial indications would point to a limited incursion by Turkey along a 60-mile (100km) stretch between the towns of Tal Abyad and Ras al-Ain. It's a sparsely populated, mostly Arab area. American forces have already withdrawn from four border positions there, but they haven't withdrawn from any positions further east and west. Similarly, the big Kurdish towns and cities along the border - Kobane, Qamishili and others - remain calm. There's been no call for people to evacuate. Prisons full of IS foreign fighters are further south and will remain under Kurdish control - if Turkey restricts itself to a limited assault. However, it may not stop there: regime sources are calling it \"a full incremental invasion\".  So British and American special forces have for months been making preparations for a partial or full withdrawal from the area if the situation escalates.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 2423, "answer_end": 3017, "text": "On Monday a spokesman for the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) - who occupy former IS territory in north-eastern Syria - strongly condemned the US move. \"There were assurances from the United States of America that it would not allow any Turkish military operations against the region,\" Kino Gabriel told Arabic TV station al-Hadath. He added: \"The (US) statement was a surprise and we can say that it is a stab in the back for the SDF.\" Kurdish TV in northern Iraq said the SDF had put some of its units on alert because the Turkish army had mobilised troops on the border on Monday."}], "question": "How have the Kurds reacted?", "id": "551_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3018, "answer_end": 4021, "text": "Late on Sunday, Mr Erdogan's office said that he and President Trump had spoken on the phone about Turkey's plan to set up a \"safe zone\" in north-eastern Syria. It said the 20-mile (32km) zone along the border was needed to combat \"terrorists\" and create \"the conditions necessary for the return of Syrian refugees\". Turkey considers the Kurdish YPG militia - the dominant force in the SDF alliance - an extension of the banned Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which has fought for Kurdish autonomy in Turkey for three decades. Turkey hosts more than 3.6 million Syrians who fled the civil war that began in 2011. It wants to move up to two million of them into the zone. In his call with Mr Trump, President Erdogan also expressed his \"frustration over the US military and security bureaucracy's failure\" to implement an agreement reached in August about the zone, his office said. On Saturday, he warned that Turkish forces could launch a cross-border offensive in the coming days, but gave no details."}], "question": "What is Turkey planning?", "id": "551_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 4022, "answer_end": 5053, "text": "Analysis by Quentin Sommerville, Middle East correspondent Invasion or incursion? That's the uppermost question about Turkish action in north-eastern Syria. Initial indications would point to a limited incursion by Turkey along a 60-mile (100km) stretch between the towns of Tal Abyad and Ras al-Ain. It's a sparsely populated, mostly Arab area. American forces have already withdrawn from four border positions there, but they haven't withdrawn from any positions further east and west. Similarly, the big Kurdish towns and cities along the border - Kobane, Qamishili and others - remain calm. There's been no call for people to evacuate. Prisons full of IS foreign fighters are further south and will remain under Kurdish control - if Turkey restricts itself to a limited assault. However, it may not stop there: regime sources are calling it \"a full incremental invasion\".  So British and American special forces have for months been making preparations for a partial or full withdrawal from the area if the situation escalates."}], "question": "How large will the Turkish operation be?", "id": "551_2"}]}]}, {"title": "Brexit: Cross-party deal must include new referendum - Sir Keir Starmer", "date": "13 May 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "A cross-party Brexit deal will not get through Parliament unless it is subject to a fresh public vote, shadow Brexit secretary Sir Keir Starmer says. Talks between Labour and ministers over leaving the EU have been going on for a month with little sign of progress. Sir Keir told the Guardian that without a new referendum up to 150 Labour MPs would vote against any agreement made. Environment Secretary Michael Gove suggested Labour needed more time to come to terms with the idea of a deal. \"For some in the Labour Party it will be a significant step to accept supporting Brexit and to come behind the prime minister's approach,\" he told the BBC. After talks broke up on Monday evening, a Labour spokesperson said the shadow cabinet would be updated on what had been discussed. The BBC's Iain Watson said: \"It sounds like the plug has not been pulled on these yet, but it doesn't sound as if there's substantial progress to report.\" A Downing Street spokesperson said: \"In preparation for an update to cabinet tomorrow, today's meeting took stock across the range of issues discussed in talks over the last few weeks\". \"We continue to seek to agree a way forward in order to secure our orderly withdrawal from the EU.\" The UK was due to leave the EU on 29 March but the deadline was pushed back to 31 October after MPs rejected Theresa May's proposed deal three times. Talks between the government and Labour aimed at finding a way to end the impasse resumed on Monday, with pressure growing on both sides to show progress or pull out. No 10 said there was a \"clear desire\" to get on with the process. Asked if there was a deadline, a spokesman said: \"Let's see where we get to this evening.\" If there is no agreement, Theresa May has said she will return to Parliament and ask MPs to vote again on a range of possible options. Parliament failed to unite behind a way forward in a series of \"indicative votes\" in March, but the PM says the government would now be prepared to accept whatever commanded a majority, so long as Labour did too. Sir Keir said he would not be afraid to end the talks as soon as this week if the PM did not budge on her so-called red lines - positions that she feels cannot be changed in the Brexit deal. He suggested a referendum on the final deal had become a red line of its own for many Labour MPs, saying \"A significant number, probably 120 if not 150, would not back a deal if it hasn't got a confirmatory vote.\" Labour's stated policy is that it supports a further referendum on Brexit under certain circumstances. It has rejected the idea of campaigning for one in any event but will demand a public vote if it cannot get changes to the government's deal or an election. Labour's Stephen Kinnock, who backs the UK leaving but retaining the closest possible economic links with the EU, said it would be a \"real shame\" if the talks were \"torpedoed\" by his party's insistence on another referendum. \"If you try to insert a second referendum into these talks they won't get through because the Conservatives will not whip their MPs to support it,\" he told Radio 4's World At One. However, Labour's deputy leader, Tom Watson, said another public vote was the only \"way out\" of the current stalemate. Asked whether Labour wanted to leave or remain in the EU, he told Radio 4's Today: \"We are a remain and reform party,\" but \"when it comes to a deal people can form their own view.\" In a speech later marking the 25th anniversary of former Labour leader John Smith's death, Mr Watson reflected on Mr Smith's pro-Europeanism and said he would have backed a \"People's Vote\". Asked if a deadline should be set for the talks, Mr Gove said the government needed time to properly \"understand and explore\" Labour's position. While another referendum would be a \"bad idea\" he said, Mr Gove declined to rule out any of Labour's main proposals, such as some form of customs union with the EU. The reality is these talks have been genuine, but very difficult. Neither side wanted to pull the plug before the local elections 10 days or so ago. But now, as time goes on, it may well be we are reaching the moment where they have to throw up their hands and say: \"We just can't do it.\" Jeremy Corbyn and Theresa May are both on lonely tightropes trying to get across the other side of this slow-moving crisis. I think they would both like it to be over with, maybe with a cross-party deal. But the prime minister doesn't want to put a huge compromise on the table, she doesn't want another referendum. Jeremy Corbyn doesn't want to help out the government unless he can get genuine changes. If neither of them feel they can really budge, well, the talks are not going to be able to succeed, and the government will then have to try to move on to votes in Parliament, the next part of the process. June 2017 - Labour's general election manifesto accepts referendum result March 2018 - Shadow Northern Ireland secretary Owen Smith sacked for supporting second referendum on final deal September - Labour agrees if a general election cannot be achieved it \"must support all options... including a public vote\" 18 November - Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn says a new referendum is \"an option for the future\" but \"not an option for today\" 28 November - Shadow chancellor John McDonnell says Labour will \"inevitably\" back a second referendum if unable to secure general election 16 January 2019 - 71 Labour MPs say they support a public vote 6 February - Mr Corbyn writes a letter to Mrs May outlining five changes with no mention of a \"People's Vote\" 28 February - Labour says it will back a public vote after its proposed Brexit deal is rejected 14 March - Five Labour MPs quit party roles to oppose a further referendum 27 March - The party backs a confirmatory public vote in Parliament's indicative votes on a way forward for Brexit 30 April - Party agrees to demand a public vote if it cannot get changes to the government's deal or an election, as it decides wording to EU election manifesto", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 3914, "answer_end": 4813, "text": "The reality is these talks have been genuine, but very difficult. Neither side wanted to pull the plug before the local elections 10 days or so ago. But now, as time goes on, it may well be we are reaching the moment where they have to throw up their hands and say: \"We just can't do it.\" Jeremy Corbyn and Theresa May are both on lonely tightropes trying to get across the other side of this slow-moving crisis. I think they would both like it to be over with, maybe with a cross-party deal. But the prime minister doesn't want to put a huge compromise on the table, she doesn't want another referendum. Jeremy Corbyn doesn't want to help out the government unless he can get genuine changes. If neither of them feel they can really budge, well, the talks are not going to be able to succeed, and the government will then have to try to move on to votes in Parliament, the next part of the process."}], "question": "Can cross-party talks continue for much longer?", "id": "552_0"}]}]}, {"title": "UK industrial output grows strongly", "date": "9 August 2016", "paragraphs": [{"context": "UK industrial output grew at the fastest rate for 17 years in the April-to-June quarter, official figures show. Industrial output grew 2.1% compared with the first quarter of the year, the Office for National Statistics said. Despite the quarterly figures there were signs that growth on a monthly basis was slowing during the three-month period. But the ONS said \"very few\" respondents had been affected by the uncertainty from the EU referendum vote on 23 June. The production figures reflect the latest official growth figures for the whole economy which show strong GDP growth in April, followed by a sharp easing off in May and June. Meanwhile in a separate report the ONS said the deficit on trade in goods and services was PS5.1bn in June, compared with a PS4.2bn the month before. The UK exported PS12bn worth of goods and services to the European Union in June, an increase of PS500m compared with May. Most of the growth in the quarter came in April when output rose by more than 2% on the previous month. By June the month on month increase had slowed to just 0.1% Samuel Tombs, chief UK economist at Pantheon Macroeconomics, said: \"The 2.1% quarter-on-quarter rise in production in the second quarter... mainly reflected the 2.3% month-to-month jump in production in April.\" Some recent surveys have suggested the economy slowed sharply in the wake of the Brexit vote. Lee Hopley, chief economist at EEF, the manufacturers' organisation, said: \"Clearly, indicators of sentiment post referendum suggest that we've hit the high point for manufacturing this year. \"Amidst the wavering levels of confidence however we should take away some positive news, firstly that manufacturing entered this period of uncertainty from a relatively strong stance and the weaker exchange rate could yet bring benefits on the export side.\" However, Mr Tombs said: \"We fear that the trade boost could take even longer than usual to materialise this time, because exporters will be very reluctant to invest until the UK's future trade arrangements are known. \"In short, hopes that exports will surge and offset the Brexit hit to domestic demand seem misplaced.\"", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 912, "answer_end": 2151, "text": "Most of the growth in the quarter came in April when output rose by more than 2% on the previous month. By June the month on month increase had slowed to just 0.1% Samuel Tombs, chief UK economist at Pantheon Macroeconomics, said: \"The 2.1% quarter-on-quarter rise in production in the second quarter... mainly reflected the 2.3% month-to-month jump in production in April.\" Some recent surveys have suggested the economy slowed sharply in the wake of the Brexit vote. Lee Hopley, chief economist at EEF, the manufacturers' organisation, said: \"Clearly, indicators of sentiment post referendum suggest that we've hit the high point for manufacturing this year. \"Amidst the wavering levels of confidence however we should take away some positive news, firstly that manufacturing entered this period of uncertainty from a relatively strong stance and the weaker exchange rate could yet bring benefits on the export side.\" However, Mr Tombs said: \"We fear that the trade boost could take even longer than usual to materialise this time, because exporters will be very reluctant to invest until the UK's future trade arrangements are known. \"In short, hopes that exports will surge and offset the Brexit hit to domestic demand seem misplaced.\""}], "question": "High point?", "id": "553_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Vtech breach: Passwords 'not securely stored'", "date": "7 December 2015", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Toy giant Vtech has been accused of not securely storing customer passwords in its database, security experts say - with one calling it \"unforgivable\". Hackers accessed more than six million children's account details last month. Security researchers say Vtech did not take common steps to protect customer passwords in the event of a breach. On Monday, Vtech emailed affected customers and said their passwords had been \"encrypted\" but it was \"possible the hacker may have decrypted\" them. However, Rik Ferguson, from cybersecurity firm Trend Micro, said Vtech had not properly scrambled customer passwords in its database and had also stored customers' security questions and answers in plain text. Secure websites never store your chosen password in a readable format. Instead, a mathematical algorithm scrambles or hashes the password into a string of code. Only the \"hash\" of your password is stored by the website. When you type your password on a website, it is hashed again and compared to the copy stored in the database. If the two hashes match, you are allowed in. Vtech did hash its customers' passwords, but this process alone is not complex enough to stop people working out the stored passwords. To add extra complexity to the hashing process, randomly generated text known as \"salt\" can be added to each user's password before it is scrambled. Salting makes every hash different, even if two people have chosen the same password. The process makes it very time-consuming and impractical for criminals to try and work out customers' passwords. However, Vtech did not salt its customers' passwords - exposing them to a hash table attack. Unlike encryption, which can be unlocked with the right key, hashing is a one-way process which cannot be reversed. However, hackers can sometimes work out passwords with a hash table attack. \"If you know the algorithm, you can take a dictionary of known words or commonly used passwords and generate all the hashes for them,\" said Mr Ferguson. \"That gives you a rainbow table and you can then look to see if any of the hashes match those in the customer database.\" Salting makes this method impractical because criminals would need to create a unique rainbow table for each person on the database. Mr Ferguson said Vtech had also used a vulnerable algorithm to hash its customers' passwords. \"They made a poor choice. The MD5 algorithm has been known to be flawed for a decade,\" he told the BBC. \"It is unforgivable, for a technology company making products for children.  They had an enormous duty of care and they failed. \"If you used the same password on any other website, change it immediately - and let this be a lesson never to reuse passwords on more than one site. \"Don't forget that the security password and question have been exposed too - so if you used those anywhere else, change them too.\" The BBC has invited Vtech to comment.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 701, "answer_end": 1651, "text": "Secure websites never store your chosen password in a readable format. Instead, a mathematical algorithm scrambles or hashes the password into a string of code. Only the \"hash\" of your password is stored by the website. When you type your password on a website, it is hashed again and compared to the copy stored in the database. If the two hashes match, you are allowed in. Vtech did hash its customers' passwords, but this process alone is not complex enough to stop people working out the stored passwords. To add extra complexity to the hashing process, randomly generated text known as \"salt\" can be added to each user's password before it is scrambled. Salting makes every hash different, even if two people have chosen the same password. The process makes it very time-consuming and impractical for criminals to try and work out customers' passwords. However, Vtech did not salt its customers' passwords - exposing them to a hash table attack."}], "question": "How should websites store your password?", "id": "554_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1652, "answer_end": 2250, "text": "Unlike encryption, which can be unlocked with the right key, hashing is a one-way process which cannot be reversed. However, hackers can sometimes work out passwords with a hash table attack. \"If you know the algorithm, you can take a dictionary of known words or commonly used passwords and generate all the hashes for them,\" said Mr Ferguson. \"That gives you a rainbow table and you can then look to see if any of the hashes match those in the customer database.\" Salting makes this method impractical because criminals would need to create a unique rainbow table for each person on the database."}], "question": "What is a hash table attack?", "id": "554_1"}]}]}, {"title": "Afghan defence chiefs resign over deadly Taliban attack", "date": "24 April 2017", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Afghanistan's defence minister and army chief of staff have resigned in the wake of Friday's Taliban attack that left scores of soldiers dead, the presidential palace says. The attack happened at an army base near the northern Mazar-e Sharif city. Insurgents targeted troops leaving Friday prayers at the base's mosque and in a canteen, the army said. It was the Taliban's deadliest attack on the armed forces since US-led forces drove them from power in 2001. The resignations coincided with the arrival of US Defence Secretary Jim Mattis for a visit to Kabul. Mr Mattis said the attack \"shows why we stand with the people of this country against such heinous acts\". Insurgents are also reported to have attacked a base in eastern Khost province. A car bomb detonated at the entrance to Camp Chapman, a US-operated base, and there were a number of Afghan casualties, Reuters reported. About 10 Taliban insurgents dressed in Afghan military uniforms and driving military vehicles made their way into the base and opened fire. Many of those who died were young recruits. Witnesses described chaotic scenes as the soldiers struggled to work out who was friend or foe. The attackers were armed with guns, grenades and some were wearing suicide vests, reports said. The defence ministry said the attackers were all killed. The Afghan defence ministry has not released firm casualty figures, only saying more than 100 people were killed or injured. Other officials have told BBC that at least 136 people died. But some sources say the toll was even higher. One eyewitness told the BBC he counted 165 bodies. The resignations of Defence Minister Abdullah Habibi and army chief Qadam Shah Shahim might reflect well on the Afghan government from an ethical standpoint - but they will do little to prevent future similar attacks. Under former President Hamid Karzai, the then spy chief Amruallah Saleh and Interior Minister Atmar resigned over failing to prevent mortar attacks at a traditional grand assembly. However, suicide attacks and other insurgent operations only intensified after that. A stronger international crackdown on covert support channels to insurgents in Afghanistan, a stronger Afghan intelligence force, and a more professional, corruption-free and better trained army might help. The Afghan commando forces are a positive example. It is not just the top tier of the military leadership that needs to change; what would have an impact would be injecting a sense of responsibility across the force. The resignations were announced in a brief statement. No explanation was given but the attack has caused widespread anger, with many questioning the government's ability to counter the Taliban insurgency. It comes just weeks after the deadly assault on the military hospital in Kabul. That attack was blamed on the so-called Islamic State, but many have questioned the official narrative, saying the attackers shouted pro-Taliban slogans. People have also questioned the inability of the authorities to prevent such attacks, the lack of clarity regarding death tolls and the possibility of insider involvement. The recent fall of Sangin in the south -  a strategically important centre - has also shaken confidence in the defence establishment. Since the US-led Nato troops ended their mission, the Afghan military has struggled to contain the insurgents. According to a US government estimate in November 2016, the government had uncontested control of only 57% of the country - down from 72% a year earlier. IS militants have also established a small stronghold in the east and have carried out attacks in Kabul. Earlier this month the US dropped its largest ever conventional bomb on suspected IS fighters, killing dozens. But Mirwais Yasini, an Afghan MP, said the US focus on IS was misguided, when the Taliban was the biggest threat. There are still about 8,400 US troops and 5,000 Nato soldiers in Afghanistan helping to build local forces. In February the top US commander in the country, General John Nicholson, said several thousand more were needed. But White House policy remains unclear. Donald Trump's administration has not yet appointed an ambassador to Afghanistan or set out its strategy for the region. Recent visits, however, could signal new engagement. Earlier this month, National Security Adviser HR McMaster was in Kabul and said officials would present Mr Trump with a \"range of options\". The surprise arrival of Mr Mattis could suggest new focus from the White House on this long-running conflict.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 886, "answer_end": 1602, "text": "About 10 Taliban insurgents dressed in Afghan military uniforms and driving military vehicles made their way into the base and opened fire. Many of those who died were young recruits. Witnesses described chaotic scenes as the soldiers struggled to work out who was friend or foe. The attackers were armed with guns, grenades and some were wearing suicide vests, reports said. The defence ministry said the attackers were all killed. The Afghan defence ministry has not released firm casualty figures, only saying more than 100 people were killed or injured. Other officials have told BBC that at least 136 people died. But some sources say the toll was even higher. One eyewitness told the BBC he counted 165 bodies."}], "question": "How did the Mazar-e Sharif attack unfold?", "id": "555_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2511, "answer_end": 3255, "text": "The resignations were announced in a brief statement. No explanation was given but the attack has caused widespread anger, with many questioning the government's ability to counter the Taliban insurgency. It comes just weeks after the deadly assault on the military hospital in Kabul. That attack was blamed on the so-called Islamic State, but many have questioned the official narrative, saying the attackers shouted pro-Taliban slogans. People have also questioned the inability of the authorities to prevent such attacks, the lack of clarity regarding death tolls and the possibility of insider involvement. The recent fall of Sangin in the south -  a strategically important centre - has also shaken confidence in the defence establishment."}], "question": "Why have officials resigned?", "id": "555_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3851, "answer_end": 4535, "text": "There are still about 8,400 US troops and 5,000 Nato soldiers in Afghanistan helping to build local forces. In February the top US commander in the country, General John Nicholson, said several thousand more were needed. But White House policy remains unclear. Donald Trump's administration has not yet appointed an ambassador to Afghanistan or set out its strategy for the region. Recent visits, however, could signal new engagement. Earlier this month, National Security Adviser HR McMaster was in Kabul and said officials would present Mr Trump with a \"range of options\". The surprise arrival of Mr Mattis could suggest new focus from the White House on this long-running conflict."}], "question": "What is the US doing?", "id": "555_2"}]}]}, {"title": "Judge dismisses no-deal Brexit court move", "date": "7 October 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "A Scottish judge has dismissed a move to force Boris Johnson to comply with a law aimed at avoiding a no-deal Brexit. Campaigners had wanted to ensure that the prime minister would write to the EU to request an extension if no deal is in place by 19 October. They argued that statements made by the government showed that it could not be trusted. But Lord Pentland said there could be \"no doubt\" that the prime minister had agreed to abide by the law. As a result, he said there was no need for \"coercive orders\" against the UK government or against the prime minister. And he said it would be \"destructive of one of the core principles of constitutional propriety and of the mutual trust that is the bedrock of the relationship between the court and the Crown\" if Mr Johnson reneged on his assurances to the court. The Scottish legal action was initiated by businessman Dale Vince, QC Jo Maugham and SNP MP Joanna Cherry. They wanted the Court of Session, Scotland's highest court, to rule on the extent to which Mr Johnson was bound by the so-called Benn Act. The legislation was passed by MPs with the intention of preventing the UK leaving the European Union without a deal on 31 October. It requires the prime minister to send a letter to the EU formally requesting an extension to the Brexit timetable if no deal is signed off by Parliament by 19 October - unless MPs agree to a no-deal Brexit. The petitioners had argued that a series of public statements by the prime minster indicated that he was planning to break the law by refusing to ask for an extension. Mr Johnson has said he would rather be \"dead in a ditch\" than ask for a delay. However, government papers submitted to the court said that Mr Johnson would send a letter to the EU if a deal was not agreed by the deadline. In his ruling, Lord Pentland said the UK government had accepted it must \"comply fully\" with the act and would not seek to \"frustrate its purpose\". As a result, he said there was \"no proper basis\" on which the court could decide that the government would fail to deliver on that undertaking. The judge ruled that the UK government's public statements were an expression of its \"political policy\" and were \"clearly not intended to be taken as conclusive statements of the government's understanding of its legal obligations\". Lord Pentland said the prime minister and the government had given \"unequivocal assurances\" to comply with the 2019 Act. As a result, he was \"not persuaded that it was necessary for the court to grant the orders sought or any variant of them\". Those behind the petition said they would appeal against the ruling. It is thought that the appeal could be heard on Tuesday. Jo Maugham QC said the decision had left Mr Johnson with \"wriggle room\". \"I very much hope the court is right and that the government will - as the government has promised to do - abide by the law,\" Mr Maugham said. \"But there is very real doubt in my mind that the government will act in accordance with the law and so tomorrow we will pursue our appeal against the decision of the Outer House to the Inner House of the Court of Session, Scotland's highest court.\" - 4 September - MPs back a bill aimed at blocking a no-deal Brexit on 31 October. The so-called Benn Act says Boris Johnson has until 19 October to either pass a deal in Parliament or get MPs to approve a no-deal Brexit. - 4 October - The Court of Session in Edinburgh starts to hear a case from Remain supporters who want a legal guarantee that if there is no deal on Brexit Mr Johnson will write a letter to the EU requesting an extension to the deadline. - 4 October - During that hearing papers are lodged at the court saying the prime minister will send the letter to the EU. - 7 October - Judge Lord Pentland dismisses the case saying there is \"no doubt\" that the PM accepts he will comply with the requirements of the act and send the letter in the event of a no deal. \"Dear Mr President, The UK Parliament has passed the European Union (Withdrawal) (No. 2) Act 2019. Its provisions now require Her Majesty's Government to seek an extension of the period provided under Article 50(3) of the Treaty on European Union, including as applied by Article 106a of the Euratom Treaty, currently due to expire at 11.00pm GMT on 31 October 2019, until 11.00pm GMT on 31 January 2020. I am writing therefore to inform the European Council that the United Kingdom is seeking a further extension to the period provided under Article 50(3) of the Treaty on European Union, including as applied by Article 106a of the Euratom Treaty. The United Kingdom proposes that this period should end at 11.00pm GMT on 31 January 2020. If the parties are able to ratify before this date, the Government proposes that the period should be terminated early. Yours sincerely, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland\"", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 816, "answer_end": 1790, "text": "The Scottish legal action was initiated by businessman Dale Vince, QC Jo Maugham and SNP MP Joanna Cherry. They wanted the Court of Session, Scotland's highest court, to rule on the extent to which Mr Johnson was bound by the so-called Benn Act. The legislation was passed by MPs with the intention of preventing the UK leaving the European Union without a deal on 31 October. It requires the prime minister to send a letter to the EU formally requesting an extension to the Brexit timetable if no deal is signed off by Parliament by 19 October - unless MPs agree to a no-deal Brexit. The petitioners had argued that a series of public statements by the prime minster indicated that he was planning to break the law by refusing to ask for an extension. Mr Johnson has said he would rather be \"dead in a ditch\" than ask for a delay. However, government papers submitted to the court said that Mr Johnson would send a letter to the EU if a deal was not agreed by the deadline."}], "question": "What was the case about?", "id": "556_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1791, "answer_end": 2559, "text": "In his ruling, Lord Pentland said the UK government had accepted it must \"comply fully\" with the act and would not seek to \"frustrate its purpose\". As a result, he said there was \"no proper basis\" on which the court could decide that the government would fail to deliver on that undertaking. The judge ruled that the UK government's public statements were an expression of its \"political policy\" and were \"clearly not intended to be taken as conclusive statements of the government's understanding of its legal obligations\". Lord Pentland said the prime minister and the government had given \"unequivocal assurances\" to comply with the 2019 Act. As a result, he was \"not persuaded that it was necessary for the court to grant the orders sought or any variant of them\"."}], "question": "What did the court decide?", "id": "556_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2560, "answer_end": 3151, "text": "Those behind the petition said they would appeal against the ruling. It is thought that the appeal could be heard on Tuesday. Jo Maugham QC said the decision had left Mr Johnson with \"wriggle room\". \"I very much hope the court is right and that the government will - as the government has promised to do - abide by the law,\" Mr Maugham said. \"But there is very real doubt in my mind that the government will act in accordance with the law and so tomorrow we will pursue our appeal against the decision of the Outer House to the Inner House of the Court of Session, Scotland's highest court.\""}], "question": "What happens next?", "id": "556_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3928, "answer_end": 4881, "text": "\"Dear Mr President, The UK Parliament has passed the European Union (Withdrawal) (No. 2) Act 2019. Its provisions now require Her Majesty's Government to seek an extension of the period provided under Article 50(3) of the Treaty on European Union, including as applied by Article 106a of the Euratom Treaty, currently due to expire at 11.00pm GMT on 31 October 2019, until 11.00pm GMT on 31 January 2020. I am writing therefore to inform the European Council that the United Kingdom is seeking a further extension to the period provided under Article 50(3) of the Treaty on European Union, including as applied by Article 106a of the Euratom Treaty. The United Kingdom proposes that this period should end at 11.00pm GMT on 31 January 2020. If the parties are able to ratify before this date, the Government proposes that the period should be terminated early. Yours sincerely, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland\""}], "question": "What is the letter Boris Johnson would have to write?", "id": "556_3"}]}]}, {"title": "Trump Russia investigation: Mueller 'frustrated' by report summary", "date": "1 May 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "US Special Counsel Robert Mueller wrote to the country's top lawyer to express frustration at his summary of the Russia investigation. He told Attorney General William Barr in March that his four-page summary lacked \"context\". Mr Barr's summary said there was no collusion between Russia and the Trump campaign, but it did not exonerate the president of obstruction of justice. Mr Mueller has agreed to testify in Congress later in May. According to Mr Mueller's letter released on Wednesday, he has twice requested that Mr Barr reveal more information about his investigation's conclusions. He said the additional information was necessary as Mr Barr's original summary led to \"public confusion about critical aspects of the results of our investigation\". A justice department spokeswoman said in a statement that \"the Special Counsel emphasised that nothing in the Attorney General's [summary] was inaccurate or misleading\". \"But he expressed frustration over the lack of context... regarding the [report's] obstruction analysis,\" she said. Mr Mueller's investigation into alleged Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election has led to 35 people being charged, including several who were a part of Mr Trump's campaign and administration. Mr Barr, who was appointed by Mr Trump, held a news conference before the full report was made public in which he backed the president. But the mammoth document was released on 18 April in redacted form and senior Democrats said the attorney general's summary had been \"misleading\". In his letter to Mr Barr, Mr Mueller said his summary \"did not fully capture the context, nature and substance of this office's work and conclusions\". \"There is now public confusion about critical aspects of the results of our investigation,\" he said. \"This threatens to undermine a central purpose for which the Department appointed the Special Counsel: to assure full public confidence in the outcome of the investigations,\" he added. In a statement, the Justice Department said Mr Mueller had been frustrated over a lack of context in media coverage. The news of Mr Mueller's letter came shortly before Mr Barr appeared before Congress. He is appearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Wednesday and the equivalent House committee on Thursday. Democrats are expected to question him on his handling of the Russia report. Moments before the hearing began, House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerry Nadler told reporters that Mr Mueller and the committee had reached an agreement for him testify later in May, although no specific date has yet been chosen. A number of top Democrats, including House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, have strongly criticised Mr Barr in recent days. \"Attorney General Barr misled the public and owes the American people answers,\" Ms Pelosi wrote on Twitter.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1534, "answer_end": 2820, "text": "In his letter to Mr Barr, Mr Mueller said his summary \"did not fully capture the context, nature and substance of this office's work and conclusions\". \"There is now public confusion about critical aspects of the results of our investigation,\" he said. \"This threatens to undermine a central purpose for which the Department appointed the Special Counsel: to assure full public confidence in the outcome of the investigations,\" he added. In a statement, the Justice Department said Mr Mueller had been frustrated over a lack of context in media coverage. The news of Mr Mueller's letter came shortly before Mr Barr appeared before Congress. He is appearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Wednesday and the equivalent House committee on Thursday. Democrats are expected to question him on his handling of the Russia report. Moments before the hearing began, House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerry Nadler told reporters that Mr Mueller and the committee had reached an agreement for him testify later in May, although no specific date has yet been chosen. A number of top Democrats, including House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, have strongly criticised Mr Barr in recent days. \"Attorney General Barr misled the public and owes the American people answers,\" Ms Pelosi wrote on Twitter."}], "question": "What did Mueller say?", "id": "557_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Chinese media 'racist' video on India clash sparks anger", "date": "17 August 2017", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Chinese state media have released a propaganda video that lambasts India over a border dispute, sparking accusations of racism. The English-language clip, accusing India of committing \"sins\", features a Chinese actor in a Sikh turban, speaking in a mock Indian accent. Xinhua published the clip on Wednesday from a chat show discussing a border stand-off between the two countries. It has been met with both bewilderment and anger in India, and amongst Sikhs. Titled \"7 Sins of India\", the video stars female presenter, Dier Wang, who lists out China's grievances against India in the ongoing border dispute in the Doklam area, which borders China, India and Bhutan. It is the latest episode of an online series called The Spark, an English-language online chat show recently launched by Xinhua. Speaking in an amused yet indignant tone, she accuses India of \"trampling international law\" and \"inventing various excuses to whitewash its illegal moves\". Her monologue is interspersed with dialogue from an \"Indian\", depicted by a Chinese actor wearing a turban, sunglasses, and an obviously ill-fitting beard. In what appear to be attempts at humour, he waggles his head and speaks English in an exaggerated Indian accent, amid canned laughter. In another scene he points a pair of scissors at another actor who is supposed to represent Bhutan - a clear reference to the Chinese view that India is \"bullying\" the tiny Himalayan nation. The video appears to be solely targeted at a foreign audience. It is delivered entirely in English and appears on Xinhua's YouTube, Twitter and Facebook feeds - services which are banned in China. Chinese reports say the online chat show aims to \"comment on hot domestic and international topics from China's perspective and with an international vision\". Previous episodes have also focused on the stand-off and Sino-Indian relations, as well as relations with the US and President Donald Trump, but were more sober than this one. Indian news outlets have rounded on the video, slamming it as racist. The Hindustan Times said Xinhua released \"a racist video parodying Indians\" which \"particularly targets the Sikh minority\". News portal The Quint said it was \"yet another attempt by Chinese media to push its aggressive rhetoric on the stand-off\", while India Today accused Chinese media of going a \"step further\" in mocking India. The UK-based Sikh Press Association said it was \"sad to see just how low Chinese media have stooped in using Sikh identity as a pawn in their state propaganda against India,\" pointing out that Sikhs make up less than 2% of India's population. The video also prompted criticism from social media users. But it has also generated some debate on the Doklam stand-off, with many on Facebook arguing about which country has sovereignty over the disputed territory. The conflict began in mid-June when India opposed China's attempt to extend a border road through a plateau known as Doklam in India and Donglang in China. The plateau, which lies at a junction between China, the north-eastern Indian state of Sikkim and the Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan, is currently disputed between Beijing and Bhutan. India supports Bhutan's claim over it. India and China fought a war over the border in 1962, and disputes remain unresolved in several areas, causing tensions to rise from time to time. Each side has reinforced its troops and called on the other to back down. On Wednesday, Indian officials said another border confrontation had flared up, this time in the Western Himalayas.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 460, "answer_end": 1966, "text": "Titled \"7 Sins of India\", the video stars female presenter, Dier Wang, who lists out China's grievances against India in the ongoing border dispute in the Doklam area, which borders China, India and Bhutan. It is the latest episode of an online series called The Spark, an English-language online chat show recently launched by Xinhua. Speaking in an amused yet indignant tone, she accuses India of \"trampling international law\" and \"inventing various excuses to whitewash its illegal moves\". Her monologue is interspersed with dialogue from an \"Indian\", depicted by a Chinese actor wearing a turban, sunglasses, and an obviously ill-fitting beard. In what appear to be attempts at humour, he waggles his head and speaks English in an exaggerated Indian accent, amid canned laughter. In another scene he points a pair of scissors at another actor who is supposed to represent Bhutan - a clear reference to the Chinese view that India is \"bullying\" the tiny Himalayan nation. The video appears to be solely targeted at a foreign audience. It is delivered entirely in English and appears on Xinhua's YouTube, Twitter and Facebook feeds - services which are banned in China. Chinese reports say the online chat show aims to \"comment on hot domestic and international topics from China's perspective and with an international vision\". Previous episodes have also focused on the stand-off and Sino-Indian relations, as well as relations with the US and President Donald Trump, but were more sober than this one."}], "question": "What happens in the clip?", "id": "558_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1967, "answer_end": 2827, "text": "Indian news outlets have rounded on the video, slamming it as racist. The Hindustan Times said Xinhua released \"a racist video parodying Indians\" which \"particularly targets the Sikh minority\". News portal The Quint said it was \"yet another attempt by Chinese media to push its aggressive rhetoric on the stand-off\", while India Today accused Chinese media of going a \"step further\" in mocking India. The UK-based Sikh Press Association said it was \"sad to see just how low Chinese media have stooped in using Sikh identity as a pawn in their state propaganda against India,\" pointing out that Sikhs make up less than 2% of India's population. The video also prompted criticism from social media users. But it has also generated some debate on the Doklam stand-off, with many on Facebook arguing about which country has sovereignty over the disputed territory."}], "question": "What has been the reaction?", "id": "558_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2828, "answer_end": 3540, "text": "The conflict began in mid-June when India opposed China's attempt to extend a border road through a plateau known as Doklam in India and Donglang in China. The plateau, which lies at a junction between China, the north-eastern Indian state of Sikkim and the Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan, is currently disputed between Beijing and Bhutan. India supports Bhutan's claim over it. India and China fought a war over the border in 1962, and disputes remain unresolved in several areas, causing tensions to rise from time to time. Each side has reinforced its troops and called on the other to back down. On Wednesday, Indian officials said another border confrontation had flared up, this time in the Western Himalayas."}], "question": "How did all this begin?", "id": "558_2"}]}]}, {"title": "Syria conflict: Russia strikes 'undermining peace talks'", "date": "5 February 2016", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Russian air strikes in Syria are \"undermining\" efforts to find a political solution to the war, Nato's secretary general has said. Jens Stoltenberg said the raids were mainly targeting the Syrian opposition. Moscow insists it is battling \"terrorism\". This week, fledgling peace talks were suspended as Syrian government forces, backed by the Russian military, launched a fresh offensive against rebels in Aleppo. Thousands of civilians are reported to be fleeing Syria's largest city. \"The intense Russian air strikes mainly targeting opposition groups in Syria are undermining the efforts to find a political solution to the conflict,\" Mr Stoltenberg said. He said the air strikes posed a particular problem for Nato member Turkey, which is already embroiled in a row with Russia after Turkey shot down a Russian jet it accused of violating its airspace. Increased Russian activity \"creates risks and heightens tensions and is of course a challenge for Nato\", Mr Stoltenberg said. On Thursday, Turkey warned up to 70,000 people might be heading to its border from Aleppo, but on Friday a BBC correspondent at the border town of Kilis saw no indication yet of large numbers of refugees. Separately, the United Nations said at least 15,000 people had fled Aleppo. The Syrian government is reported to have made further gains on the ground on Friday, recapturing the town of Ratyan, north of Aleppo. Earlier in the week, it claimed a major victory by breaking the rebel siege of two towns in Aleppo province, severing an opposition supply line from Turkey to Aleppo city. A rebel commander fighting under the Free Syrian Army told Reuters the northern countryside in Aleppo province was \"totally encircled, and the humanitarian situation is very difficult\". \"It feels like a siege of Aleppo is about to begin,\" said a spokesman for aid group Mercy Corpsm David Evans, who said the main humanitarian route was cut off. Since 2012, Aleppo has been divided into rebel and government-held areas. Before the conflict it was a key commercial centre and home to over two million people. Meanwhile Turkey has dismissed Russian claims that it was planning to invade Syria. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan called the accusation \"laughable\", according to state media. Why is there a war in Syria? Anti-government protests developed into a civil war that, four years on, has ground to a stalemate, with the Assad government, the so-called Islamic State group, an array of Syrian rebels and Kurdish fighters all holding territory. Who is fighting whom? Government forces concentrated in Damascus and the centre and west of Syria are fighting the jihadists of Islamic State and al-Nusra Front, as well as less numerous so-called \"moderate\" rebel groups, which are strongest in the north and east. These groups are also battling each other. More than 250,000 Syrians have been killed and a million injured. Some 11 million others have been forced from their homes, of whom four million have fled abroad - including growing numbers who are making the dangerous journey to Europe. How has the world reacted? Iran, Russia and Lebanon's Hezbollah movement are propping up the Alawite-led Assad government, while Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Qatar back the more moderate Sunni-dominated opposition, along with the US, UK and France. Hezbollah and Iran are believed to have troops and officers on the ground, while a Western-led coalition and Russia are carrying out air strikes.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 2262, "answer_end": 2830, "text": "Why is there a war in Syria? Anti-government protests developed into a civil war that, four years on, has ground to a stalemate, with the Assad government, the so-called Islamic State group, an array of Syrian rebels and Kurdish fighters all holding territory. Who is fighting whom? Government forces concentrated in Damascus and the centre and west of Syria are fighting the jihadists of Islamic State and al-Nusra Front, as well as less numerous so-called \"moderate\" rebel groups, which are strongest in the north and east. These groups are also battling each other."}], "question": "What is the Syria conflict?", "id": "559_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2831, "answer_end": 3459, "text": "More than 250,000 Syrians have been killed and a million injured. Some 11 million others have been forced from their homes, of whom four million have fled abroad - including growing numbers who are making the dangerous journey to Europe. How has the world reacted? Iran, Russia and Lebanon's Hezbollah movement are propping up the Alawite-led Assad government, while Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Qatar back the more moderate Sunni-dominated opposition, along with the US, UK and France. Hezbollah and Iran are believed to have troops and officers on the ground, while a Western-led coalition and Russia are carrying out air strikes."}], "question": "What's the human cost?", "id": "559_1"}]}]}, {"title": "MH370 search: Doubts over 'debris burn marks'", "date": "22 September 2016", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Australian authorities have cast doubt on the theory that Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 may have had a fire on board before it went missing. Earlier this month, pieces of debris appearing to show burn marks were recovered in Madagascar. However, authorities say there is no evidence yet that the debris came from MH370 - and the dark marks were caused by resin on the debris, not fire. MH370 had 239 people on board when it vanished in March 2014. The flight, which was flying from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing, is presumed to have crashed into the southern Indian Ocean after veering off course. The five fragments had been found by debris hunter Blaine Gibson, who has previously found other parts of the plane. The pieces were recovered near Sainte Luce, in south-eastern Madagascar. Two of the pieces appeared to show burn marks, which, experts said, could provide more information on what happened to flight MH370 if confirmed. However, Australian Transport Minister Darren Chester said on Thursday that an initial investigation showed that \"contrary to speculation there is no evidence the item was exposed to heat or fire\". The dark markings on the two pieces of debris \"related exclusively to a translucent resin that had been applied to those surfaces\", a report from the Australian Transport Safety Bureau said. There were three small marks on one fragment that smelt burnt - but the heat damage appeared to be recent and a result of \"localised heating\", the ATSB added. A number of other pieces of debris, some confirmed to have come from MH370, have been found in countries near Madagascar. They include a section of the wing called a flaperon, found on Reunion Island, and a horizontal stabilizer from the tail section and a stabilizer panel with a \"No Step\" stencil discovered in Mozambique. Mr Gibson, a lawyer from Seattle, has funded his own search for debris in east Africa. Australia has been leading the search for the missing aircraft, using underwater drones and sonar equipment deployed from specialist ships. The search, also involving Malaysia and China, has led to more than 105,000 sq km (40,500 sq miles) of the 120,000 sq km search zone being scoured so far. But countries have agreed that in the absence of \"credible new information\" the search is expected to end later this year.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1477, "answer_end": 2306, "text": "A number of other pieces of debris, some confirmed to have come from MH370, have been found in countries near Madagascar. They include a section of the wing called a flaperon, found on Reunion Island, and a horizontal stabilizer from the tail section and a stabilizer panel with a \"No Step\" stencil discovered in Mozambique. Mr Gibson, a lawyer from Seattle, has funded his own search for debris in east Africa. Australia has been leading the search for the missing aircraft, using underwater drones and sonar equipment deployed from specialist ships. The search, also involving Malaysia and China, has led to more than 105,000 sq km (40,500 sq miles) of the 120,000 sq km search zone being scoured so far. But countries have agreed that in the absence of \"credible new information\" the search is expected to end later this year."}], "question": "End of search?", "id": "560_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Brexit: Theresa May to make plea for 30 June delay at EU summit", "date": "10 April 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "EU leaders will meet at 17:00 BST for an emergency summit in Brussels to decide whether to offer the UK another delay to Brexit. Theresa May wants to postpone the UK's exit beyond this Friday, until 30 June. But the EU is expected to offer a longer delay, after European Council President Donald Tusk urged the other 27 leaders to back a flexible extension of up to a year - with conditions. Mr Tusk added that \"neither side should be allowed to feel humiliated\". Leaders will begin arriving at the summit from 16:00. Earlier, Mrs May appeared in the Commons for the weekly question session with opposition leader Jeremy Corbyn at Prime Minister's Questions. That head-to-head followed five days of talks between the government and Labour officials aimed at breaking the Brexit impasse. The 1922 Committee - made up of Tory backbench MPs - will also meet at 17:00, with some members seeking a firm date for Mrs May to step down as leader of the party. The UK is currently due to leave the EU at 23:00 BST on Friday, 12 April. If no extension is granted, the default position would be for the UK to leave on Friday without a deal. So far, UK MPs have rejected the withdrawal agreement Mrs May reached with other European leaders last year. But the Commons has also voted against leaving in a no-deal scenario. To prevent this happening, a group of backbench MPs managed to get a bill through Parliament to force Mrs May to ask for an extension to Article 50 - the process that defines the UK exit date - by law. Mrs May will ask EU leaders to extend the exit date until 30 June. BBC political editor Laura Kuenssberg said the PM had to convince EU leaders about the credibility of talks with Labour and prove they were \"a genuine political plan that has a chance of getting the UK out of this maze\". Every EU member state needs to agree on any delay before it can be granted. So, at the summit - which begins at about 18:00 local time (17:00 BST) on Wednesday evening - Mrs May will formally present her case for a short delay, with the option for the UK to leave earlier if her Brexit deal is ratified. The other EU leaders will then have dinner without her and discuss how to respond. EU Council President Donald Tusk and European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker are expected to make statements afterwards. In a formal letter to the leaders on the eve of the summit, Mr Tusk proposed a longer, flexible extension - although \"no longer than one year\" - to avoid creating more cliff-edge extensions or emergency summits in the future. Any delay should have conditions attached, he said - including that there would be no reopening of the withdrawal agreement talks. And the UK would have the option to leave earlier if a Brexit deal was ratified. Referring to Mrs May's proposal for an extension until the end of June, Mr Tusk said there was \"little reason to believe\" that Mrs May's deal could be ratified by then. And if the European Council did not agree on an extension at all, \"there would be a risk of an accidental no-deal Brexit\", he added. Mr Tusk also warned that \"neither side should be allowed to feel humiliated at any stage in this difficult process\". EU officials have also prepared a draft document for the leaders to discuss at the summit - but the end date of the delay has been left blank for the EU leaders to fill in once deliberations have ended. BBC Europe editor Katya Adler said the blank space showed EU leaders were still divided on the issue. BBC Europe correspondent Kevin Connolly said \"much has been spelled out in advance\", including the condition that if the UK remains a member of the EU at the end of May it will have to hold elections to the European Parliament or be forced to leave immediately. He added that, during the delay, the UK would be expected to commit to not disrupting EU business, such as the preparation of the next budget, and its influence \"would be sharply reduced and its voice muted\". Brexit Secretary Stephen Barclay said neither he nor the PM wanted to see a longer extension, but it was a possibility because MPs had not backed Mrs May's deal. But others have called for the UK to leave the EU on Friday without an agreement. Tory Brexiteer Anne Marie Morris told BBC News that exiting on World Trade Organisation rules - the default if the UK leaves without an agreement - was \"actually a very good deal\" for the country. Other Leave-supporting backbenchers are seeking an exit day for Mrs May, after she vowed to step down ahead of the second phase of Brexit negotiations. Former Conservative leader Iain Duncan Smith said although the PM had \"hinged\" her resignation on MPs supporting her deal, the \"reality\" is her \"firm date of departure\" should be in May or June. \"To have a leadership contest in the Conservative Party is going to take the better part of 10 to 11 weeks, and that will take you to the autumn, so this thing is going to have to happen,\" he told the BBC. But some in Westminster back a longer extension, saying it would give time for another referendum to take place. The People's Vote campaign held a rally on Tuesday to drum up support, with former Speaker of the House, Baroness Boothroyd, calling for a public ballot. Talks between Labour and the Conservatives are scheduled to resume after Mrs May returns from the summit. The Brexit Secretary, Stephen Barclay, said holding talks with the opposition was \"contrary to the normal tradition\", but they were taking place \"in good faith\". A Labour spokesman said the discussions were being conducted \"in a serious, detailed, and engaged way\", but they had \"yet to see clear evidence of real change and compromise that would be necessary to find agreement\". If the two sides do not come to an agreement, the PM has said she will put a number of options on a way forward to Parliament and make the votes binding.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 952, "answer_end": 1798, "text": "The UK is currently due to leave the EU at 23:00 BST on Friday, 12 April. If no extension is granted, the default position would be for the UK to leave on Friday without a deal. So far, UK MPs have rejected the withdrawal agreement Mrs May reached with other European leaders last year. But the Commons has also voted against leaving in a no-deal scenario. To prevent this happening, a group of backbench MPs managed to get a bill through Parliament to force Mrs May to ask for an extension to Article 50 - the process that defines the UK exit date - by law. Mrs May will ask EU leaders to extend the exit date until 30 June. BBC political editor Laura Kuenssberg said the PM had to convince EU leaders about the credibility of talks with Labour and prove they were \"a genuine political plan that has a chance of getting the UK out of this maze\"."}], "question": "Why is the PM asking for a delay?", "id": "561_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1799, "answer_end": 2316, "text": "Every EU member state needs to agree on any delay before it can be granted. So, at the summit - which begins at about 18:00 local time (17:00 BST) on Wednesday evening - Mrs May will formally present her case for a short delay, with the option for the UK to leave earlier if her Brexit deal is ratified. The other EU leaders will then have dinner without her and discuss how to respond. EU Council President Donald Tusk and European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker are expected to make statements afterwards."}], "question": "What will happen at the EU summit?", "id": "561_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2317, "answer_end": 3949, "text": "In a formal letter to the leaders on the eve of the summit, Mr Tusk proposed a longer, flexible extension - although \"no longer than one year\" - to avoid creating more cliff-edge extensions or emergency summits in the future. Any delay should have conditions attached, he said - including that there would be no reopening of the withdrawal agreement talks. And the UK would have the option to leave earlier if a Brexit deal was ratified. Referring to Mrs May's proposal for an extension until the end of June, Mr Tusk said there was \"little reason to believe\" that Mrs May's deal could be ratified by then. And if the European Council did not agree on an extension at all, \"there would be a risk of an accidental no-deal Brexit\", he added. Mr Tusk also warned that \"neither side should be allowed to feel humiliated at any stage in this difficult process\". EU officials have also prepared a draft document for the leaders to discuss at the summit - but the end date of the delay has been left blank for the EU leaders to fill in once deliberations have ended. BBC Europe editor Katya Adler said the blank space showed EU leaders were still divided on the issue. BBC Europe correspondent Kevin Connolly said \"much has been spelled out in advance\", including the condition that if the UK remains a member of the EU at the end of May it will have to hold elections to the European Parliament or be forced to leave immediately. He added that, during the delay, the UK would be expected to commit to not disrupting EU business, such as the preparation of the next budget, and its influence \"would be sharply reduced and its voice muted\"."}], "question": "What has the EU said ahead of the summit?", "id": "561_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3950, "answer_end": 5210, "text": "Brexit Secretary Stephen Barclay said neither he nor the PM wanted to see a longer extension, but it was a possibility because MPs had not backed Mrs May's deal. But others have called for the UK to leave the EU on Friday without an agreement. Tory Brexiteer Anne Marie Morris told BBC News that exiting on World Trade Organisation rules - the default if the UK leaves without an agreement - was \"actually a very good deal\" for the country. Other Leave-supporting backbenchers are seeking an exit day for Mrs May, after she vowed to step down ahead of the second phase of Brexit negotiations. Former Conservative leader Iain Duncan Smith said although the PM had \"hinged\" her resignation on MPs supporting her deal, the \"reality\" is her \"firm date of departure\" should be in May or June. \"To have a leadership contest in the Conservative Party is going to take the better part of 10 to 11 weeks, and that will take you to the autumn, so this thing is going to have to happen,\" he told the BBC. But some in Westminster back a longer extension, saying it would give time for another referendum to take place. The People's Vote campaign held a rally on Tuesday to drum up support, with former Speaker of the House, Baroness Boothroyd, calling for a public ballot."}], "question": "How have MPs reacted?", "id": "561_3"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 5211, "answer_end": 5850, "text": "Talks between Labour and the Conservatives are scheduled to resume after Mrs May returns from the summit. The Brexit Secretary, Stephen Barclay, said holding talks with the opposition was \"contrary to the normal tradition\", but they were taking place \"in good faith\". A Labour spokesman said the discussions were being conducted \"in a serious, detailed, and engaged way\", but they had \"yet to see clear evidence of real change and compromise that would be necessary to find agreement\". If the two sides do not come to an agreement, the PM has said she will put a number of options on a way forward to Parliament and make the votes binding."}], "question": "What is the plan for Brexit if a delay is agreed?", "id": "561_4"}]}]}, {"title": "How Greenland scorched its underside", "date": "1 August 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Greenland has been hiding a secret underneath its 3km-thick ice sheet. From its northwest corner to its southeast coast, the world's biggest island has a band of relatively warm bedrock. Scientists say this confirms Greenland ran over a hotspot of upwelling molten rock tens of millions of years ago as it shifted towards the Arctic. It's like the underside of the island got a good roasting in the distant past and still has the big scar to prove it. That hotspot, by the way, is the one which today is building Iceland in the middle of the North Atlantic. The plume of broiling rock rising from deep inside the Earth has broken through the thin ocean floor at Iceland's location and is now creating new land with regular eruptions of lava. - The heat map records Greenland's passage over the Iceland hotspot - A band of relatively warm rock runs from the island's NW to its SE - It took tens of millions of years for Greenland to complete the journey - Eventually, the warmer rocks will cool to match their surroundings - Today, Iceland is being built at the site of hot, upwelling material Greenland's warm NW-SE band is reported by a team of researchers led by the US space agency (Nasa) and the British Antarctic Survey (BAS). Their new map of \"geothermal heat flux\" is essentially a picture of the variation in warmth escaping from the Earth's interior. It's the most detailed ever produced for the region and is reported in the journal Geophysical Research Letters. Two major reasons. First, it tells us about how the outer skin of the Earth - its network of tectonic plates - has shuffled around over time. Scientists still debate the precise details of when and how America and Europe drifted apart during the opening of the Atlantic. It was thought that Greenland ran over the Iceland hotspot; we now have a better idea of the track it took. Secondly, the map will help us assess the future of Greenland's ice sheet. After Antarctica, this is the next largest store of frozen water on the planet - and it is melting - losing some 280 billion tonnes to the ocean every year. Sea-levels are rising globally as a result. Climate change scenarios suggest further, accelerated melting. But the stability of the ice depends in part on the bedrock's temperature. The warmer the base, the easier it is for the ice above to move. Computer models must take the heat flux into account when they try to project what will happen in the decades and centuries ahead. Because Greenland is covered by hundreds of metres of ice, it's extremely difficult to get access to the bedrock to calculate heat flux. Boreholes have been drilled through the ice to record deep temperature data, but these drill sites are very sparse. Instead, the researchers will rely on indirect methods, and their most fruitful approach is to analyse the magnetism of rocks. This property can be sensed by instruments flown by planes above the surface of the ice sheet. What happens next is really smart. Scientists know the temperature at which hot minerals lose their magnetism. It's called the Curie temperature and it occurs at 580C. The researchers will gauge how close this happens to where the rock meets the ice. The closer the Curie depth is to the boundary, the higher the heat flux. Greenland is a collection of old bits of continent that came together over a billion years ago. Geologists call it a craton - a stable region of crust that is not undergoing major activity. It's not being stretched, split apart or squashed. As such, Greenland's rockbed should not show much variation in temperature. \"We expected things to be uniform,\" explained the study's first author Dr Yasmina Martos from Nasa's Goddard Space Flight Center. \"But when we saw this track crossing Greenland, we thought, 'wow - this means something',\" she told BBC News. Just seeing a track of warmth does not of itself prove Greenland ran across a rising plume of material. But the scientists theorised that if it had then some magma should also have been accreted to the base of the continental crust that makes up the island. It's called under-plating. And that's indeed what the team found when they examined gravity and seismic data - there is a wedge of dense material that aligns with the warm track. \"If you move a sheet of paper over a candle you get a scorch mark on the paper,\" said Dr Tom Jordan from BAS. \"The residual warmth along that line in the paper is like the hotspot trail we see in Greenland. \"And the soot mark on the underside of the paper would be like the under-plating that is burnt on to the bottom of the craton and which we can detect from the gravity and seismic signals.\" Jonathan.Amos-INTERNET@bbc.co.uk and follow me on Twitter: @BBCAmos", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1473, "answer_end": 2461, "text": "Two major reasons. First, it tells us about how the outer skin of the Earth - its network of tectonic plates - has shuffled around over time. Scientists still debate the precise details of when and how America and Europe drifted apart during the opening of the Atlantic. It was thought that Greenland ran over the Iceland hotspot; we now have a better idea of the track it took. Secondly, the map will help us assess the future of Greenland's ice sheet. After Antarctica, this is the next largest store of frozen water on the planet - and it is melting - losing some 280 billion tonnes to the ocean every year. Sea-levels are rising globally as a result. Climate change scenarios suggest further, accelerated melting. But the stability of the ice depends in part on the bedrock's temperature. The warmer the base, the easier it is for the ice above to move. Computer models must take the heat flux into account when they try to project what will happen in the decades and centuries ahead."}], "question": "Why does this matter?", "id": "562_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2462, "answer_end": 3260, "text": "Because Greenland is covered by hundreds of metres of ice, it's extremely difficult to get access to the bedrock to calculate heat flux. Boreholes have been drilled through the ice to record deep temperature data, but these drill sites are very sparse. Instead, the researchers will rely on indirect methods, and their most fruitful approach is to analyse the magnetism of rocks. This property can be sensed by instruments flown by planes above the surface of the ice sheet. What happens next is really smart. Scientists know the temperature at which hot minerals lose their magnetism. It's called the Curie temperature and it occurs at 580C. The researchers will gauge how close this happens to where the rock meets the ice. The closer the Curie depth is to the boundary, the higher the heat flux."}], "question": "How was the discovery made?", "id": "562_1"}]}]}, {"title": "Swedish Social Democrats' Twitter account hacked", "date": "15 April 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Sweden's ruling Social Democratic Party is investigating after its official Twitter account suffered a hacking attack overnight. Social media users were alerted to the hack by a stream of unusual activity, including anti-Muslim and anti-immigration rhetoric. One post also claimed PM and party leader, Stefan Lofven, would resign. It is unclear who was responsible for hijacking the account but the police have been informed. Early on Monday morning social media users noticed a string of odd tweets sent from the Social Democratic Party's Twitter account. More than 20 tweets on a range of topics were shared before the party regained control of the account. The tweets were subsequently deleted from the account's timeline. \"We contacted the police immediately and are working with Twitter,\" a party spokesperson told the BBC. \"Attacks on political parties are attacks on free speech and democracy. We do everything we can to prevent these kind of intrusions.\" The hijacked account made a number of false assertions and touched on far-right issues. It also claimed the Swedish prime minister, party leader Stefan Lofven, would resign, that cannabis had been legalised and that Sweden's official currency had been replaced with Bitcoin. The account shared a screenshot of a direct message it claimed to have sent to Social Security Minister Annika Strandhall. Interspersed with the claims was anti-Muslim and anti-immigration rhetoric. \"One like equals one dead Muslim,\" read one tweet sent from the account. \"Celebrate that we have reached a record number of rape victims with raising taxes and opening up the borders. Socialism for the win,\" another post read. Another expressed support for the anti-immigration politician, Hanif Bali. It's unclear who hijacked the account or why. \"I do not want to speculate on what or who is behind the attack,\" a spokesperson for the party told the BBC. But the hack targeted a centre-left political party and used its platform to make threats against Muslims, criticise immigration and joke about firing a prominent feminist. It's entirely possible it's the product of trolling, but if so this is trolls reflecting far right views. Since 2015, when more than 163,000 people submitted asylum applications at the height of Europe's migrant crisis, the Scandinavian country has become a regular fixture in international far-right discussions. The nationalist Sweden Democrats have become a more pronounced electoral force, capitalising on widespread insecurity about immigration. The party won 18% of the vote in the 2018 election, up from 13% in 2014.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 426, "answer_end": 962, "text": "Early on Monday morning social media users noticed a string of odd tweets sent from the Social Democratic Party's Twitter account. More than 20 tweets on a range of topics were shared before the party regained control of the account. The tweets were subsequently deleted from the account's timeline. \"We contacted the police immediately and are working with Twitter,\" a party spokesperson told the BBC. \"Attacks on political parties are attacks on free speech and democracy. We do everything we can to prevent these kind of intrusions.\""}], "question": "What happened?", "id": "563_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 963, "answer_end": 1738, "text": "The hijacked account made a number of false assertions and touched on far-right issues. It also claimed the Swedish prime minister, party leader Stefan Lofven, would resign, that cannabis had been legalised and that Sweden's official currency had been replaced with Bitcoin. The account shared a screenshot of a direct message it claimed to have sent to Social Security Minister Annika Strandhall. Interspersed with the claims was anti-Muslim and anti-immigration rhetoric. \"One like equals one dead Muslim,\" read one tweet sent from the account. \"Celebrate that we have reached a record number of rape victims with raising taxes and opening up the borders. Socialism for the win,\" another post read. Another expressed support for the anti-immigration politician, Hanif Bali."}], "question": "What did the posts say?", "id": "563_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1739, "answer_end": 2590, "text": "It's unclear who hijacked the account or why. \"I do not want to speculate on what or who is behind the attack,\" a spokesperson for the party told the BBC. But the hack targeted a centre-left political party and used its platform to make threats against Muslims, criticise immigration and joke about firing a prominent feminist. It's entirely possible it's the product of trolling, but if so this is trolls reflecting far right views. Since 2015, when more than 163,000 people submitted asylum applications at the height of Europe's migrant crisis, the Scandinavian country has become a regular fixture in international far-right discussions. The nationalist Sweden Democrats have become a more pronounced electoral force, capitalising on widespread insecurity about immigration. The party won 18% of the vote in the 2018 election, up from 13% in 2014."}], "question": "Who's behind it?", "id": "563_2"}]}]}, {"title": "Budget 2017: UK growth forecast cut by Hammond", "date": "22 November 2017", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Chancellor Philip Hammond has given a sobering assessment of the economy, saying it is expected to grow more slowly than previously thought. But he sought to rally Conservative MPs in his Budget by scrapping stamp duty for the first PS300,000 spent by first-time buyers, a saving of up to PS5,000. The cut will apply to buyers in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Mr Hammond also promised PS1.5bn to \"address concerns\" about the flagship universal credit scheme. Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said the government had a \"record of failure\". At the start of his speech, Mr Hammond struck a positive note, saying the economy continued to \"confound those who seek to talk it down\" by creating jobs and continuing to grow. But he then said productivity levels remained \"stubbornly flat\" with growth until 2021 expected to be lower than predicted in March. It is the first time in a generation that growth is forecast to grow below 2% every year. Mr Hammond's statement came with him under pressure from Eurosceptic Tory MPs and others calling for more spending to ease austerity. The chancellor - who has been accused of being too pessimistic about life outside the EU - said PS3bn would be spent on Brexit planning, and that the government would prepare for \"every possible outcome\" - Freezing alcohol duty apart from an increase in duty on high-strength white ciders - The price of 20 cigarettes goes up by 28p and by 41p for 30g of rolling tobacco - A promise to fund a pay rise for nurses if one is recommended by an independent panel - Refunds on VAT for Scottish emergency services - A one-off tax on new diesel cars that do not meet latest emissions standards - PS28m for Kensington and Chelsea council for counselling and regeneration in the aftermath of the Grenfell Tower fire - Bringing forward a planned cut in business rate rises by two years to 2018 - An extra PS2.8bn for the NHS in England up to 2022 - Support for electric cars including a PS400m charging infrastructure fund - A new railcard offering discounts to those aged between 26 and 30 Housing had been billed as one of the key themes of the Budget - and the chancellor promised the \"next generation\" that getting on the housing ladder would not be just a \"dream\". Promising the government would deliver 300,000 new homes a year, he pledged PS44bn capital investment and measures aimed at getting building projects started. And towards the end of his speech he made the pledge on stamp duty, which is paid by people buying properties over a certain value. Rates vary across the UK - in England, Wales and Northern Ireland it kicks in at PS125,000 - and in Scotland, which has its own devolved tax - at PS145,000. The cut will only operate in Wales until the matter is devolved next April and stamp duty replaced by a land transaction tax. Mr Hammond said his change would benefit 95% of first-time buyers. But in its assessment, the Office for Budget Responsibility said the main gainers would be those who already own a home. It also said it would lead to higher house prices and predicted it would only lead to an extra 3,500 first-time buyer purchases. Among the PS44bn package was a pledge to make it easier for councils to build in areas of high housing need. There was also a threat to intervene with compulsory purchase orders if landowners and developers were found to be holding back on building \"for commercial rather than technical reasons\". Mr Hammond said investing more money alone would simply inflate prices and make matters worse. He added: \"Solving the housing challenge takes more than money, it takes planning reform. We will focus on the urban areas where people want to live... building high quality, high density homes.\" As well as spending announcements, the chancellor also uses his Budget to update MPs on the state of the economy. And they cast a shadow on his other announcements, with the Office for Budget Responsibility predicting the economy would grow by 1.5% this year, down from the estimate of 2% it made in March. Growth, it says, will drop to 1.3% by 2020 and then rise to 1.5% in 2021, lower in every year than was predicted in March. Borrowing was predicted to be PS8.4bn lower than in March, but long-term deficit predictions were hiked to PS34.7bn in 2019, going down to PS30.1bn in 2021. Mr Hammond said he was still on track to hit his target to balance the nation's books by the middle of the next decade. Another high-profile announcement was on universal credit, which is the government's major reform to the way benefits are paid and is currently being rolled out across the UK. Campaigners and MPs in all parties have been calling for changes to the way it is managed. The PS1.5bn will remove a mandatory seven-day wait after someone submits a claim, taking the overall wait down from six weeks to five. Mr Hammond also said it would become  easier for claimants to receive an advance. Responding in the Commons, Mr Corbyn predicted the Budget would unravel, warning \"misery\" will continue for people across the country. He cited falling wages and added that economic growth in the first three quarters of this year was the lowest since 2009. The Labour leader also noted the lack of major social care policies in Mr Hammond's statement. And he reacted angrily to a heckle from the Tory benches as he said elderly people were not receiving good enough care. Addressing Conservative ranks, he shouted: \"I hope the honourable member begins to understand what it's like to wait for social care stuck in a hospital bed while other people are having to give up their work to care for them.\" It wasn't a drama - it wasn't a Budget that would inspire queues at the Box Office. No surprise. When \"Box Office Phil\" was given that nickname, it wasn't because he has a reputation for delivering political thrillers. What he tried to do was to act on concerns expressed at the general election and by rebels on the Tory backbenches as well as the Labour opposition. SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon welcomed the news that the emergency services would no longer have to pay VAT - but stressed the Tory government must refund earlier payments to the two forces. She set out her reaction to Mr Hammond's statement on Twitter: Also on Twitter, the top doctor in NHS England was not convinced by the extra funds being allocated to the NHS: The CBI said the Budget \"balances support for people on squeezed incomes with vital action to help grow the UK out of austerity\", and the Federation of Small Business said it was a \"business-friendly Budget\", But the GMB union said it was a \"let down\", and that the public sector pay cap continued to bring \"misery\" to thousands of workers. Liberal Democrat leader Sir Vince Cable criticised the PS3bn being spent on leaving the EU, saying the cash was \"disappearing down a Brexit black hole\". But on the other side of the EU debate, the Leave Means Leave campaign welcomed what it said was the \"first time the chancellor has had anything positive to say about Brexit\". You might also be interested in:", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 2057, "answer_end": 3714, "text": "Housing had been billed as one of the key themes of the Budget - and the chancellor promised the \"next generation\" that getting on the housing ladder would not be just a \"dream\". Promising the government would deliver 300,000 new homes a year, he pledged PS44bn capital investment and measures aimed at getting building projects started. And towards the end of his speech he made the pledge on stamp duty, which is paid by people buying properties over a certain value. Rates vary across the UK - in England, Wales and Northern Ireland it kicks in at PS125,000 - and in Scotland, which has its own devolved tax - at PS145,000. The cut will only operate in Wales until the matter is devolved next April and stamp duty replaced by a land transaction tax. Mr Hammond said his change would benefit 95% of first-time buyers. But in its assessment, the Office for Budget Responsibility said the main gainers would be those who already own a home. It also said it would lead to higher house prices and predicted it would only lead to an extra 3,500 first-time buyer purchases. Among the PS44bn package was a pledge to make it easier for councils to build in areas of high housing need. There was also a threat to intervene with compulsory purchase orders if landowners and developers were found to be holding back on building \"for commercial rather than technical reasons\". Mr Hammond said investing more money alone would simply inflate prices and make matters worse. He added: \"Solving the housing challenge takes more than money, it takes planning reform. We will focus on the urban areas where people want to live... building high quality, high density homes.\""}], "question": "Housing - what's changing?", "id": "564_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 4422, "answer_end": 4905, "text": "Another high-profile announcement was on universal credit, which is the government's major reform to the way benefits are paid and is currently being rolled out across the UK. Campaigners and MPs in all parties have been calling for changes to the way it is managed. The PS1.5bn will remove a mandatory seven-day wait after someone submits a claim, taking the overall wait down from six weeks to five. Mr Hammond also said it would become  easier for claimants to receive an advance."}], "question": "What were the universal credit changes?", "id": "564_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 5606, "answer_end": 5973, "text": "It wasn't a drama - it wasn't a Budget that would inspire queues at the Box Office. No surprise. When \"Box Office Phil\" was given that nickname, it wasn't because he has a reputation for delivering political thrillers. What he tried to do was to act on concerns expressed at the general election and by rebels on the Tory backbenches as well as the Labour opposition."}], "question": "What did the BBC's Laura Kuenssberg think?", "id": "564_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 5974, "answer_end": 7039, "text": "SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon welcomed the news that the emergency services would no longer have to pay VAT - but stressed the Tory government must refund earlier payments to the two forces. She set out her reaction to Mr Hammond's statement on Twitter: Also on Twitter, the top doctor in NHS England was not convinced by the extra funds being allocated to the NHS: The CBI said the Budget \"balances support for people on squeezed incomes with vital action to help grow the UK out of austerity\", and the Federation of Small Business said it was a \"business-friendly Budget\", But the GMB union said it was a \"let down\", and that the public sector pay cap continued to bring \"misery\" to thousands of workers. Liberal Democrat leader Sir Vince Cable criticised the PS3bn being spent on leaving the EU, saying the cash was \"disappearing down a Brexit black hole\". But on the other side of the EU debate, the Leave Means Leave campaign welcomed what it said was the \"first time the chancellor has had anything positive to say about Brexit\". You might also be interested in:"}], "question": "What are people saying about it all?", "id": "564_3"}]}]}, {"title": "Matteo Renzi's referendum defeat risks Italy political crisis", "date": "5 December 2016", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Italian PM Matteo Renzi's referendum defeat on Sunday has left Italy facing political and economic uncertainty. Mr Renzi announced he was stepping down after his constitution reform plan was rejected by voters. He met President Sergio Mattarella and will offer him his resignation later. Mr Mattarella must decide whether to appoint a new PM or hold elections. There are concerns the instability may trigger a deeper crisis for Italy's already vulnerable banking sector. A consortium organising a possible bailout for one leading bank, Banca Monte dei Paschi di Siena, is meeting on Monday to consider whether to pursue the rescue bid. With most ballots counted, the No vote leads with 60% against 40% for Yes, with a 70% turnout. Mr Renzi staked his political future on his attempt to change Italy's cumbersome political system. He wanted to strengthen central government and weaken the Senate, the upper house of parliament. His opponents - including some within his own party - had argued that the reforms would give the prime minister too much power. The electorate agreed. But the referendum was more than a vote on constitutional reform, it was widely regarded as a chance to reject establishment politics. It was a resounding victory for the No camp, a medley of populist parties headed by the Five Star Movement, which capitalised on Mr Renzi's declining popularity, years of economic stagnation, and the problems caused by tens of thousands of migrants arriving in Italy from Africa. EU leaders won't have slept much on Sunday night. Angst about Italy makes an uncomfortable bedfellow and there's plenty for them to worry about.  Particularly in Brussels. Prime Minister Renzi was the only premier left in Europe with a vision for the EU's future. Angela Merkel is too busy crisis-managing while much of France is in thrall to Front National eurosceptics. But Matteo Renzi is no more. The self-styled reformer with his promise to stabilise politics and kick-start the Italian economy has managed quite the reverse. Italy wakes up on Monday to the threat of a banking crisis, political turmoil, and a group of anti-establishment populists banging on the doors of government. Eurozone beware and EU be warned. Italy is the euro currency's third largest economy and it's in for a bumpy ride. And there are more unpredictable votes to come in 2017: in France, Germany, the Netherlands and perhaps here in Italy too. The No vote's victory was even bigger than the last opinion poll in November had predicted. Five Star says it is getting ready to govern Italy. Its leader Beppe Grillo said an election should be called \"within a week\". Another opposition leader Matteo Salvini, of the anti-immigrant Northern League, called the referendum a \"victory of the people against the strong powers of three-quarters of the world\". Mr Renzi will hand in his resignation to President Sergio Mattarella after the final cabinet meeting. The president may ask him to stay on at least until parliament has passed a budget bill due later this month. In spite of the pressure from the opposition, early elections are thought to be unlikely. Instead, the president may appoint a caretaker administration led by Mr Renzi's Democratic Party, which would carry on until an election due in the spring of 2018. Finance Minister Pier Carlo Padoan is the favourite to succeed Mr Renzi as prime minister. The result is being seen as a blow to the EU, although there is no question of Italy following the UK out of the door. Both Five Star and the Northern League are opposed to the eurozone but not to membership of the EU itself. Jeroen Dijsselbloem, who heads the group of 19 eurozone countries, denied any impending crisis. \"It doesn't really change the situation economically in Italy or in the Italian banks. The problems that we have today are the problems that we had yesterday,\" he said. Reuters news agency quoted German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble as saying there was no reason for a euro crisis but that Italy urgently needed a functioning government. Meanwhile a spokesman for Chancellor Angela Merkel said she \"took note with regret\" of Mr Renzi's resignation but Germany would offer to work closely with the next Italian government. But the leader of far-right Front National in France, Marine Le Pen, tweeted: \"The Italians have disavowed the EU and Renzi. We must listen to this thirst for freedom of nations.\" Markets seemed to have taken Mr Renzi's departure in their stride. Stocks and the euro fell in early trading in Asia but there were no signs of panic, as the possibility of his resignation had already been factored in. But the referendum result could have longer-term implications. There have been growing concerns over financial stability in the eurozone's third largest economy. Italy's economy is 12% smaller than when the financial crisis began in 2008. The banks remain weak and the country's debt-to-GDP ratio, at 133%, is second only to Greece's. There is a risk that the failure of a major bank could set off a wider crisis, but repairing the banks becomes more difficult amid political uncertainty. One of the threatened banks is the world's oldest and Italy's third-largest, Banca Monte dei Paschi di Siena, which has been ordered by the European Central Bank to reduce its holdings of bad debt. The bank is trying to raise new capital to the tune of EUR5bn (PS4.2bn; $5.3bn), but a consortium which had hoped to organise a rescue plan will meet on Monday morning to review its options. With Mr Renzi gone, and populist parties on the rise, the question is whether Italy can keep a lid on the problems.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 636, "answer_end": 1492, "text": "With most ballots counted, the No vote leads with 60% against 40% for Yes, with a 70% turnout. Mr Renzi staked his political future on his attempt to change Italy's cumbersome political system. He wanted to strengthen central government and weaken the Senate, the upper house of parliament. His opponents - including some within his own party - had argued that the reforms would give the prime minister too much power. The electorate agreed. But the referendum was more than a vote on constitutional reform, it was widely regarded as a chance to reject establishment politics. It was a resounding victory for the No camp, a medley of populist parties headed by the Five Star Movement, which capitalised on Mr Renzi's declining popularity, years of economic stagnation, and the problems caused by tens of thousands of migrants arriving in Italy from Africa."}], "question": "Why did he lose?", "id": "565_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2421, "answer_end": 2826, "text": "The No vote's victory was even bigger than the last opinion poll in November had predicted. Five Star says it is getting ready to govern Italy. Its leader Beppe Grillo said an election should be called \"within a week\". Another opposition leader Matteo Salvini, of the anti-immigrant Northern League, called the referendum a \"victory of the people against the strong powers of three-quarters of the world\"."}], "question": "Has this strengthened anti-establishment parties?", "id": "565_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2827, "answer_end": 3383, "text": "Mr Renzi will hand in his resignation to President Sergio Mattarella after the final cabinet meeting. The president may ask him to stay on at least until parliament has passed a budget bill due later this month. In spite of the pressure from the opposition, early elections are thought to be unlikely. Instead, the president may appoint a caretaker administration led by Mr Renzi's Democratic Party, which would carry on until an election due in the spring of 2018. Finance Minister Pier Carlo Padoan is the favourite to succeed Mr Renzi as prime minister."}], "question": "What will happen next?", "id": "565_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3384, "answer_end": 4413, "text": "The result is being seen as a blow to the EU, although there is no question of Italy following the UK out of the door. Both Five Star and the Northern League are opposed to the eurozone but not to membership of the EU itself. Jeroen Dijsselbloem, who heads the group of 19 eurozone countries, denied any impending crisis. \"It doesn't really change the situation economically in Italy or in the Italian banks. The problems that we have today are the problems that we had yesterday,\" he said. Reuters news agency quoted German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble as saying there was no reason for a euro crisis but that Italy urgently needed a functioning government. Meanwhile a spokesman for Chancellor Angela Merkel said she \"took note with regret\" of Mr Renzi's resignation but Germany would offer to work closely with the next Italian government. But the leader of far-right Front National in France, Marine Le Pen, tweeted: \"The Italians have disavowed the EU and Renzi. We must listen to this thirst for freedom of nations.\""}], "question": "How is Europe reacting?", "id": "565_3"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 4414, "answer_end": 5626, "text": "Markets seemed to have taken Mr Renzi's departure in their stride. Stocks and the euro fell in early trading in Asia but there were no signs of panic, as the possibility of his resignation had already been factored in. But the referendum result could have longer-term implications. There have been growing concerns over financial stability in the eurozone's third largest economy. Italy's economy is 12% smaller than when the financial crisis began in 2008. The banks remain weak and the country's debt-to-GDP ratio, at 133%, is second only to Greece's. There is a risk that the failure of a major bank could set off a wider crisis, but repairing the banks becomes more difficult amid political uncertainty. One of the threatened banks is the world's oldest and Italy's third-largest, Banca Monte dei Paschi di Siena, which has been ordered by the European Central Bank to reduce its holdings of bad debt. The bank is trying to raise new capital to the tune of EUR5bn (PS4.2bn; $5.3bn), but a consortium which had hoped to organise a rescue plan will meet on Monday morning to review its options. With Mr Renzi gone, and populist parties on the rise, the question is whether Italy can keep a lid on the problems."}], "question": "What will it do to the economy?", "id": "565_4"}]}]}, {"title": "Belgium children face DNA tests amid DR Congo kidnap fears", "date": "29 January 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Belgian authorities have asked for DNA samples of children adopted from the Democratic Republic of Congo to establish if their biological parents are still alive, reports say. They have contacted the adoptive parents of some 15 children to find out if the youngsters were kidnapped, according to Belgian newspapers. Prosecutors suspect the parents thought they were sending their children to a Kinshasa holiday camp not an orphanage. The orphanage has since been shut down. \"There are only losers in this story and the judge will have to determine where the best interests of the kids lie,\" Flemish MP Lorin Parys told the BBC. Thousands of African children have been adopted in recent years from countries including Ethiopia and Uganda. Fears of child-smuggling in DR Congo prompted the central African country to halt exit permits for adopted children in 2013. Some cases continued to go through because they had already begun. DR Congo has one of the highest rates of orphaned children, but it emerged in 2017 that four children who had been adopted in Belgium had been falsely declared as orphans. All four had been aged between two and four when they were taken to Belgium from the Tumaini orphanage in Kinshasa. A team of Belgian journalists traced the children's parents to a town about 850km (530 miles) from the capital Kinshasa. The parents said their children had been given the opportunity of going with a young organisation to a holiday camp but had never returned. Since the original four cases emerged, Belgian authorities have investigated a series of adoptions of children who came from the Tumaini orphanage. All 15 are thought to have come to Belgium between 2013 and 2015. A spokesman for Belgium's public prosecutor said couples had been contacted with a request for an expert to conduct a DNA test on their adopted child, Nieuwsblad reports. Belgium's judiciary has strong indications that the children's parents are still alive. Like the four other children, the parents are thought to have sent their youngsters to the Tumaini orphanage under the assumption that they were going to a holiday camp. \"They are different age ranges but the kids who've been here the shortest time have been here three and a half years, so they have all been integrated,\" explained Mr Parys, an MP with the N-VA party in the Flemish parliament. \"The parents here have done nothing wrong and of course the parents in Congo are devastated that they lost their kids under false pretences.\" Belgian-Congolese lawyer Julienne Mpemba has been investigated for her role as head of the orphanage. Her lawyer was unavailable for comment on Tuesday, however he has in the past declared that she is innocent. Georges-Henri Beauthier, a lawyer representing three of the adoptive families, said the DNA tests would not change anything. \"No-one I know is arguing that the children here came here in a network with false papers,\" he told Belgian public broadcaster RTBF. \"What my clients have been calling for for two and a half years is that those who are the true heads of these networks are questioned and arrested and answer for their actions.\"", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 628, "answer_end": 1478, "text": "Thousands of African children have been adopted in recent years from countries including Ethiopia and Uganda. Fears of child-smuggling in DR Congo prompted the central African country to halt exit permits for adopted children in 2013. Some cases continued to go through because they had already begun. DR Congo has one of the highest rates of orphaned children, but it emerged in 2017 that four children who had been adopted in Belgium had been falsely declared as orphans. All four had been aged between two and four when they were taken to Belgium from the Tumaini orphanage in Kinshasa. A team of Belgian journalists traced the children's parents to a town about 850km (530 miles) from the capital Kinshasa. The parents said their children had been given the opportunity of going with a young organisation to a holiday camp but had never returned."}], "question": "What happened to the children?", "id": "566_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1479, "answer_end": 3136, "text": "Since the original four cases emerged, Belgian authorities have investigated a series of adoptions of children who came from the Tumaini orphanage. All 15 are thought to have come to Belgium between 2013 and 2015. A spokesman for Belgium's public prosecutor said couples had been contacted with a request for an expert to conduct a DNA test on their adopted child, Nieuwsblad reports. Belgium's judiciary has strong indications that the children's parents are still alive. Like the four other children, the parents are thought to have sent their youngsters to the Tumaini orphanage under the assumption that they were going to a holiday camp. \"They are different age ranges but the kids who've been here the shortest time have been here three and a half years, so they have all been integrated,\" explained Mr Parys, an MP with the N-VA party in the Flemish parliament. \"The parents here have done nothing wrong and of course the parents in Congo are devastated that they lost their kids under false pretences.\" Belgian-Congolese lawyer Julienne Mpemba has been investigated for her role as head of the orphanage. Her lawyer was unavailable for comment on Tuesday, however he has in the past declared that she is innocent. Georges-Henri Beauthier, a lawyer representing three of the adoptive families, said the DNA tests would not change anything. \"No-one I know is arguing that the children here came here in a network with false papers,\" he told Belgian public broadcaster RTBF. \"What my clients have been calling for for two and a half years is that those who are the true heads of these networks are questioned and arrested and answer for their actions.\""}], "question": "Why have new cases emerged?", "id": "566_1"}]}]}, {"title": "Turkey Syria offensive: US builds pressure to halt incursion against Kurds", "date": "12 October 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Pressure is building in the US to stop Turkey continuing its offensive against Kurdish-held areas in Syria. Defence Secretary Mark Esper warned of \"serious consequences\"  while Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin held out the prospect of fresh sanctions. President Donald Trump's decision to withdraw US troops effectively triggered the Turkish incursion. He has said he would like the US to negotiate a truce between Nato ally Turkey and the Kurds. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, however, says the military operation will continue. Kurdish leaders accuse the US of stabbing them in the back. Meanwhile, the Pentagon said US forces near the town of Kobane - which were not included in the US withdrawal - had come under Turkish artillery fire on Friday evening. According to the UN more than 100,000 people have fled their homes since the offensive began on Wednesday. President Erdogan says he wants to create a \"safe zone\" in northern Syria free of Kurdish militias which could also be home to Syrian refugees. One major concern for the international community is the fate of thousands of suspected IS prisoners, including many foreign nationals, being guarded by Kurdish-led forces in the region. On Friday, the Pentagon said its base near the northern Syrian town of Kobane - an area known by Turkey to have US forces present - had seen shell fire from Turkish positions. \"All US troops are accounted for with no injuries,\" Navy Captain Brook DeWalt said in a statement. \"The US demands that Turkey avoid actions that could result in immediate defensive action.\" Turkey denied deliberately targeting US forces. The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) - a key US ally in the region - are facing numerous Turkish ground and air assaults along a stretch of the Turkey-Syria border about 75 miles (120km) long, correspondents say. Dozens of fighters from the SDF and pro-Turkish factions have been killed. Turkey's military confirmed the first death of a Turkish soldier and said three others had been wounded. At least 11 civilians have been killed and humanitarian groups say the number of people affected will rise. Defence Secretary Esper insisted that the US had not abandoned its Kurdish allies, despite the widespread view that the decision to withdraw US troops effectively triggered the Turkish incursion. The official warned of unspecified \"serious consequences\" for Ankara if it did not halt the assault. Mr Esper accused President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of taking \"impulsive action\" and warned that the operation \"risks the security of ISIS (Islamic State) prison camps\". Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said President Trump had authorised officials to draft what he called \"very significant\" new economic sanctions against Turkey. \"We can shut down the Turkish economy if we need to,\" he said. President Trump spoke briefly about the situation as he prepared to head to a rally on Friday, saying: \"We don't want them killing a lot of people... if we have to use sanctions we will.\" Meanwhile in Congress, lawmakers from both sides of the political divide were preparing legislation to pile pressure on Turkey. A bill to issue sanctions against Turkish officials and banks involved in the offensive was introduced by the Democratic chairman of the House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee, Eliot Engel, and the committee's ranking Republican Mike McCaul. \"Now there are threats coming from left and right, telling us to stop this,\" President Erdogan said on Friday. \"We will not step back.\" He previously threatened to send some of the 3.6 million Syrian refugees it hosts to Europe if the offensive was described as an occupation. A refugee crisis is developing. The UN's Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) gave the figure of 100,000 but aid groups say as many as 450,000 people could be forced to move. According to aid workers on the ground, the vast majority of civilians have fled Tal Abyad and those who remain fear for their lives. OCHA said the Turkish bombardment had affected key civilian infrastructure such as water stations. Thousands of people could lose adequate access to clean water in the Hassakeh region, it reports. Turkey wants to create a \"safe zone\" running for 480km (300 miles) along the Syrian side of the border but says it will not advance deeper than a planned 32km limit.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1207, "answer_end": 2132, "text": "On Friday, the Pentagon said its base near the northern Syrian town of Kobane - an area known by Turkey to have US forces present - had seen shell fire from Turkish positions. \"All US troops are accounted for with no injuries,\" Navy Captain Brook DeWalt said in a statement. \"The US demands that Turkey avoid actions that could result in immediate defensive action.\" Turkey denied deliberately targeting US forces. The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) - a key US ally in the region - are facing numerous Turkish ground and air assaults along a stretch of the Turkey-Syria border about 75 miles (120km) long, correspondents say. Dozens of fighters from the SDF and pro-Turkish factions have been killed. Turkey's military confirmed the first death of a Turkish soldier and said three others had been wounded. At least 11 civilians have been killed and humanitarian groups say the number of people affected will rise."}], "question": "What happened to the US troops?", "id": "567_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2133, "answer_end": 3390, "text": "Defence Secretary Esper insisted that the US had not abandoned its Kurdish allies, despite the widespread view that the decision to withdraw US troops effectively triggered the Turkish incursion. The official warned of unspecified \"serious consequences\" for Ankara if it did not halt the assault. Mr Esper accused President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of taking \"impulsive action\" and warned that the operation \"risks the security of ISIS (Islamic State) prison camps\". Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said President Trump had authorised officials to draft what he called \"very significant\" new economic sanctions against Turkey. \"We can shut down the Turkish economy if we need to,\" he said. President Trump spoke briefly about the situation as he prepared to head to a rally on Friday, saying: \"We don't want them killing a lot of people... if we have to use sanctions we will.\" Meanwhile in Congress, lawmakers from both sides of the political divide were preparing legislation to pile pressure on Turkey. A bill to issue sanctions against Turkish officials and banks involved in the offensive was introduced by the Democratic chairman of the House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee, Eliot Engel, and the committee's ranking Republican Mike McCaul."}], "question": "What is the US now doing to pressure Turkey?", "id": "567_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3391, "answer_end": 3667, "text": "\"Now there are threats coming from left and right, telling us to stop this,\" President Erdogan said on Friday. \"We will not step back.\" He previously threatened to send some of the 3.6 million Syrian refugees it hosts to Europe if the offensive was described as an occupation."}], "question": "What has Turkey said?", "id": "567_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3668, "answer_end": 4362, "text": "A refugee crisis is developing. The UN's Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) gave the figure of 100,000 but aid groups say as many as 450,000 people could be forced to move. According to aid workers on the ground, the vast majority of civilians have fled Tal Abyad and those who remain fear for their lives. OCHA said the Turkish bombardment had affected key civilian infrastructure such as water stations. Thousands of people could lose adequate access to clean water in the Hassakeh region, it reports. Turkey wants to create a \"safe zone\" running for 480km (300 miles) along the Syrian side of the border but says it will not advance deeper than a planned 32km limit."}], "question": "What are the humanitarian fears?", "id": "567_3"}]}]}, {"title": "Somali defector: Why I left al-Shabab", "date": "20 May 2015", "paragraphs": [{"context": "One of the most senior figures to defect from Somalia's al-Qaeda-linked militant group al-Shabab has urged his former colleagues to stop targeting civilians and to begin negotiations with the Somali government. In his first interview with a foreign journalist, Zakariya Ahmed Ismail Hersi - who once had a $3m (PS1.9m; EUR2.7m) bounty from the US government on his head - condemned al-Shabab's attack on Garissa University College in Kenya in April, where 148 students were killed. Speaking at a government safe-house in Mogadishu, he described it as \"wrong and unlawful\" and offered his condolences to the victims and their families. Inside his heavily guarded residence he tells me the story of his rise through the ranks of the jihadists until the group's policy of extreme attacks on civilians forced him to flee for his life. Mr Hersi's defection - a lengthy process that appears to have begun in 2013, if not before - is now the centrepiece of a new government amnesty initiative designed to convince other militant leaders to follow suit. \"The path became wrong... and I had a tipping point,\" he said in fluent English. Mr Hersi - widely known as Zaki - is a youthful, slim 33-year-old with a neatly trimmed beard and moustache. Wearing a new, Western-style checked shirt he struck me as proud, thoughtful, and extremely careful in the way he sought to present himself as a devout Somali patriot, who had been trapped inside a militant group that had lost its way. \"Now they're trying to kill me,\" he said of his former colleagues in al-Shabab, which explains the tight security at the safe house where a soldier manned a makeshift watchtower and two more guarded the gate. After months of debriefing, Mr Hersi is now technically a free man, with access to a mobile phone. \"I'm on social media, Twitter and Facebook,\" he volunteered. I asked him if he had been in touch with people in al-Shabab, and indeed whether it was a condition of his defection that he try to persuade others to swap sides. \"It's not a condition. But if I got a [phone] connection I will try to encourage them definitely,\" he said, praising his treatment at the hands of Somalia's intelligence services. \"They treated me very nice. Welcomed me in a very good way and I thank the government for that welcome.\" Somalia's President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud says Mr Hersi's defection - the third of its kind in recent times - is the result of growing military pressure on al-Shabab. \"There was no defection two or even one year back. They were not fighting among themselves or killing some of their own leaders. The reason we have some high value targets defecting today is because of pressure... from the Somali National Army and Amisom (the African Union peacekeeping force) and in the air by our international partners,\" President Mohamud told me. He was referring to the US drone strikes which he praised for their \"minimal collateral effect - surgically targeted to al-Shabab's high level leadership\". President Mohamud acknowledged that al-Shabab remains a powerful force inside Somalia - as shown by its continuing attacks in Mogadishu - and that the government's own weaknesses were \"considerable\". But he said the government was improving its approach to tackling the group, citing a recent attack on the education ministry in the city that was quickly contained by security forces. \"That would never have ended like that in the past. Someone who wants to die - you hardly know how to stop them. \"But we succeeded to minimize the impact. Every single attack al-Shabab makes, the casualties are less, because we are learning. The Somali people are learning and are alerting the security forces,\" he said. Mr Hersi told me he had given the government \"very good advice\" about how to defeat al-Shabab. He declined to give details but said he thinks \"they're doing the right things\". However, he did suggest that a few amnesties and a few drone strikes would not be enough, and that \"a complete strategy\" was required to tackle \"the thousands still inside the organisation\". Mr Hersi joined the militant group in 2007. He had been studying economics in Pakistan and came home for a holiday to get married. Neighbouring Ethiopia had recently invaded Somalia, with implicit US support, to oust the Islamic Courts Union (ICU). The conservative religious group had succeeded in bringing much needed stability to Mogadishu, but it included figures linked to international terrorism. The ICU was quickly eclipsed by its increasingly militant armed wing, al-Shabab. \"Our aim was to liberate the country,\" said Mr Hersi, proudly comparing the fight against Ethiopia to Britain's war against Nazi Germany. \"Did Churchill waste his time? We were doing just what they were doing,\" he said forcefully. Mr Hersi appears to have risen quickly in the ranks. \"As an educated person my job was in a leading position. I was running some offices, like media, like regional affairs. In 2010 I joined military intelligence,\" he says. Mr Hersi eventually ran that group, but vehemently denied that he also led al-Shabab's notorious Amniyat - the intelligence service responsible for planning atrocities like the attack in Kenya on Nairobi's Westgate Mall in September 2013. \"Such operations were not in the duty of the military. It was Aminyat's operation, not ours. I was not in al-Shabab at that time. I left in June 2013,\" he said. It was a growing sense of disillusionment with the group's direction that Mr Hersi says pushed him towards defecting. Forming an alliance with al-Qaeda \"was a very big mistake. Our duty at that time was only to liberate Somalia - our interests were local.\" He added that it had a huge effect and diverted al-Shabab from is purpose. \"Now it turns to terror acts, organised crime... we were against all that. In late 2010/2011 there was a lot of misunderstanding within the core leadership of al-Shabab... in terms of these terrorism events. \"When we failed to get an agreement with [the group's former leader, killed by a US drone strike in 2014, Ahmed Abdi] Godane and his inner circle, they started to silence all opposition. \"They started arresting and killing... some of my colleagues have been killed; some are still in prison,\" he said, insisting that he had finally abandoned al-Shabab in order to save his own life. Who are al-Shabab? Al-Shabab recruiting in Kenyan towns I suggested to Mr Hersi that he was lying about his past, neatly tailoring his curriculum vitae, and had only jumped ship because he had lost a power struggle within al-Shabab. His response illustrated the moral and political tight rope he is now walking as he seeks to win some sort of public acceptance outside al-Shabab. On the one hand, Mr Hersi seemed stung by the idea that he had lost power within the organisation. \"When I was leaving, I was in a fully powerful position. I decided on my own choice,\" he said tetchily, insisting he had defected with only one precondition, that he not be harmed, or handed over \"to some other foreign countries\". On the other hand, Mr Hersi sought to present himself as an isolated figure in a highly bureaucratic system that prevented him from knowing about, or having any responsibility for, al-Shabab's brutal activities. \"I haven't seen such an event,\" he said of the group's frequent public stonings and beheadings. \"Most of the time I was in civil positions... a normal job,\" he later insisted. \"The wrong activities came from other persons. But me personally, I believe I didn't commit any wrong thing. \"Such an act [like the Garissa attack] is not discussed in an open way. It is between the Amniyat and the Emir [leader] only. \"This is the nature of the organisation. You have to be with your duty only. You can't ask anything about what they're doing. Otherwise they will suspect you - so you have to save your life,\" Mr Hersi said. Some may find this hard to believe. But in public, at least, Somalia's intelligence services are hiding any scepticism. \"I think that's the typical story of many, many former al-Shabab members, whether at a senior level or low level. We understand that's the situation [with Mr Hersi],\" said senior government counter-terrorism advisor Hussein Sheikh Ali. \"Of course he's been part of that organisation at the decision-making level, but we don't have any evidence that he was part of any particular [terror] incident,\" he said. Mr Ali declined to reveal how many senior al-Shabab leaders were now in talks with the government about defecting, but credible sources suggest about 10 of the top 50 figures may have made some sort of contact. \"We cannot kill every member, or put every member in prison. The plan is to offer them a chance to leave - to give them an exit route where they can change their mind. \"So we must persuade them that they must come to a normal life. We're talking about senior levels - a very few at the decision-making level,\" said Mr Ali. An earlier defection - of former leader Sheikh Hassan Dahir Aweys - was widely considered to have been badly handled, with the elderly man shown publicly in handcuffs. \"Overall they want assurances that when they come over they will receive fair treatment and they will be able to live a normal life,\" said Mr Ali, giving a flavour of the sort of private discussions he has been having with al-Shabab leaders who appear to be following Mr Hersi's case with great interest. \"We want to keep him secure and help him to go back to a normal life. He's a very known figure with al-Shabab's leadership and overall within the organisation, and he is committed to talk to those members that he left... hopefully on a personal level. \"So this is a domino effect where all those members who left the organisation will tell the real story here so those remaining can make up their mind.... that coming over is not something they're going to regret. I'm sure they're watching very closely,\" said Mr Ali. Somalia's government, which is coordinating its defectors programme closely with the international community, is combining the carrot of an amnesty with the stick of its own new \"wanted\" list, with 13 names, and a combined bounty of at least $1.3m (EUR1.1m, PS800,000). Will there be a domino effect? Some observers are sceptical. \"I'm not persuaded this was the coup the government and its partners tried to portray it as,\" said Somalia analyst Matt Bryden. \"These public recantations are given a lot of importance. They're noteworthy, but there's only so much value to be had in parading defectors or prisoners in this way, \"It's clear these decapitations have not seriously degraded the organisation's capability,\" he added, pointing to the continued attacks in both Somalia and Kenya. Although Somalia's government says some 80% of the country is now under its control - a dramatic shift from just 3 or 4 years ago - the organisation clearly remains a highly influential and powerful force. There is growing concern about the extent to which  al-Shabab has now infiltrated Kenya, as well as real fears of escalating violence in Jubaland, the border area inside Somalia where Kenya's military has sought to carve out a buffer zone. Meanwhile, Mr Hersi waits in his safe-house. The afternoon I met him he seemed generally relaxed, often breaking into a smile, and claimed to be busy planning his own \"bright future... saving the country\". There is talk of a cooling-off period, perhaps studying abroad, but Mr Hersi did not hide his own political ambitions. \"I haven't decided yet, but it seems so,\" he said, when I asked if he wanted to run for office in Somalia. As for his agenda - he said he had no interest in al-Shabab's professed commitment to building a regional Islamic caliphate. \"We have Sharia law here [already]. We have to make further developments... in security, education. To improve the livelihoods of the people,\" he said. In the gloomy, but spacious house he now shares with his own personal bodyguards and an assistant, he showed me a small collection of books. I spotted Islam and Democracy, The Black Man's Burden and Malcolm Gladwell's The Tipping Point. \"I live a normal life,\" he said with a short, ambiguous laugh. His wife and children are, he said, also being kept somewhere secure in Mogadishu. I asked him if he felt joining al-Shabab had been a mistake, whether he was weighed down by regret. No, he insisted. So did he really think that people in Mogadishu - a city now slowly emerging from decades of anarchy and conflict - might one day vote for him? \"The vote depends on your agenda. And how you prepare it,\" he said, in confident tones of a man shrugging off one mission, and embarking on a new one.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 6370, "answer_end": 8381, "text": "I suggested to Mr Hersi that he was lying about his past, neatly tailoring his curriculum vitae, and had only jumped ship because he had lost a power struggle within al-Shabab. His response illustrated the moral and political tight rope he is now walking as he seeks to win some sort of public acceptance outside al-Shabab. On the one hand, Mr Hersi seemed stung by the idea that he had lost power within the organisation. \"When I was leaving, I was in a fully powerful position. I decided on my own choice,\" he said tetchily, insisting he had defected with only one precondition, that he not be harmed, or handed over \"to some other foreign countries\". On the other hand, Mr Hersi sought to present himself as an isolated figure in a highly bureaucratic system that prevented him from knowing about, or having any responsibility for, al-Shabab's brutal activities. \"I haven't seen such an event,\" he said of the group's frequent public stonings and beheadings. \"Most of the time I was in civil positions... a normal job,\" he later insisted. \"The wrong activities came from other persons. But me personally, I believe I didn't commit any wrong thing. \"Such an act [like the Garissa attack] is not discussed in an open way. It is between the Amniyat and the Emir [leader] only. \"This is the nature of the organisation. You have to be with your duty only. You can't ask anything about what they're doing. Otherwise they will suspect you - so you have to save your life,\" Mr Hersi said. Some may find this hard to believe. But in public, at least, Somalia's intelligence services are hiding any scepticism. \"I think that's the typical story of many, many former al-Shabab members, whether at a senior level or low level. We understand that's the situation [with Mr Hersi],\" said senior government counter-terrorism advisor Hussein Sheikh Ali. \"Of course he's been part of that organisation at the decision-making level, but we don't have any evidence that he was part of any particular [terror] incident,\" he said."}], "question": "Lying?", "id": "568_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 8382, "answer_end": 9907, "text": "Mr Ali declined to reveal how many senior al-Shabab leaders were now in talks with the government about defecting, but credible sources suggest about 10 of the top 50 figures may have made some sort of contact. \"We cannot kill every member, or put every member in prison. The plan is to offer them a chance to leave - to give them an exit route where they can change their mind. \"So we must persuade them that they must come to a normal life. We're talking about senior levels - a very few at the decision-making level,\" said Mr Ali. An earlier defection - of former leader Sheikh Hassan Dahir Aweys - was widely considered to have been badly handled, with the elderly man shown publicly in handcuffs. \"Overall they want assurances that when they come over they will receive fair treatment and they will be able to live a normal life,\" said Mr Ali, giving a flavour of the sort of private discussions he has been having with al-Shabab leaders who appear to be following Mr Hersi's case with great interest. \"We want to keep him secure and help him to go back to a normal life. He's a very known figure with al-Shabab's leadership and overall within the organisation, and he is committed to talk to those members that he left... hopefully on a personal level. \"So this is a domino effect where all those members who left the organisation will tell the real story here so those remaining can make up their mind.... that coming over is not something they're going to regret. I'm sure they're watching very closely,\" said Mr Ali."}], "question": "Further defections?", "id": "568_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 9908, "answer_end": 11851, "text": "Somalia's government, which is coordinating its defectors programme closely with the international community, is combining the carrot of an amnesty with the stick of its own new \"wanted\" list, with 13 names, and a combined bounty of at least $1.3m (EUR1.1m, PS800,000). Will there be a domino effect? Some observers are sceptical. \"I'm not persuaded this was the coup the government and its partners tried to portray it as,\" said Somalia analyst Matt Bryden. \"These public recantations are given a lot of importance. They're noteworthy, but there's only so much value to be had in parading defectors or prisoners in this way, \"It's clear these decapitations have not seriously degraded the organisation's capability,\" he added, pointing to the continued attacks in both Somalia and Kenya. Although Somalia's government says some 80% of the country is now under its control - a dramatic shift from just 3 or 4 years ago - the organisation clearly remains a highly influential and powerful force. There is growing concern about the extent to which  al-Shabab has now infiltrated Kenya, as well as real fears of escalating violence in Jubaland, the border area inside Somalia where Kenya's military has sought to carve out a buffer zone. Meanwhile, Mr Hersi waits in his safe-house. The afternoon I met him he seemed generally relaxed, often breaking into a smile, and claimed to be busy planning his own \"bright future... saving the country\". There is talk of a cooling-off period, perhaps studying abroad, but Mr Hersi did not hide his own political ambitions. \"I haven't decided yet, but it seems so,\" he said, when I asked if he wanted to run for office in Somalia. As for his agenda - he said he had no interest in al-Shabab's professed commitment to building a regional Islamic caliphate. \"We have Sharia law here [already]. We have to make further developments... in security, education. To improve the livelihoods of the people,\" he said."}], "question": "Domino defections?", "id": "568_2"}]}]}, {"title": "Does gum disease have a key role in Alzheimer's?", "date": "24 January 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Does gum disease play a key role in the development of Alzheimer's? Scientists believe this may be the case after their study found further evidence of the link between bacteria in a common type of gum disease and people with dementia. Researchers say their findings offer hope for a new way of tackling the illness, for which there is no cure and no effective treatments. But does it mean people should be more worried about their oral health? Scientists analysed brain tissue, spinal fluid, and saliva from dead and living patients with diagnosed and suspected Alzheimer's. Their study, published in the journal Science Advances, found bacteria associated with chronic gum disease, Porphyromonas gingivalis, in the brains of people with Alzheimer's. Tests on mice confirmed the bacteria could travel from the mouth to the brain and showed the toxic protein they secrete, called gingipain, destroyed brain neurons. The bacteria also increased production of amyloid beta, a component of the amyloid plaques commonly associated with Alzheimer's. Following this, scientists tested drugs in mice aimed at blocking the toxic proteins and found they were able to halt degeneration in the brain. The authors of the study concluded: \"The findings of this study offer evidence that Porphyromonas gingivalis and gingipains in the brain play a central role in the pathogenesis [development] of AD [Alzheimer's disease], providing a new conceptual framework for disease treatment.\" The team has now developed a new drug they hope could form the basis of a human treatment and plan to test it in people with mild to moderate Alzheimer's, in a clinical trial, later this year. Scientists not involved in the research said it added to the evidence of the link between gum disease and dementia, the umbrella term for brain conditions that include Alzheimer's. But they say it is still not clear what role gum disease bacteria has in the development of Alzheimer's. People with Alzheimer's are more susceptible to getting infections in their brains, so it may be that the gum disease bacteria and the toxic proteins they secrete are a by-product of Alzheimer's rather than a cause. There was also caution about the fact the drug tests had been in mice. Prof Tara Spires-Jones, from the UK Dementia Research Institute, at the University of Edinburgh, said it was \"great news\" that the study provided evidence these drugs may affect Alzheimer's-related proteins. \"However, we will have to await the larger clinical trial to see if it will be beneficial to people living with Alzheimer's disease,\" she said. Studies have previously linked gum disease and dementia. Last year, a Taiwanese study found that people with a 10-year or longer history of chronic periodontitis (CP) were 70% more likely than people without the condition to develop Alzheimer's. Another study found people with mild to moderate Alzheimer's who had gum disease experienced a quicker rate of cognitive decline compared with those without. The researchers of this new study say one explanation for the link is that bacteria from gum disease may access the brain by infecting immune system cells or spreading through cranial nerves passing through the head and jaw. But, alternatively, it may be that people with Alzheimer's have poorer oral hygiene, perhaps because the condition makes them less able to look after their teeth and gums. The charity Alzheimer's Society, responding to this study, said the research it had been involved in had not found gum disease to be a key risk factor for Alzheimer's. And Alzheimer's Research UK said the presence of a single type of bacteria was \"extremely unlikely to be the only cause of the condition\". But given that the condition of teeth and gums is important for overall health anyway, Prof Clive Ballard, from the University of Exeter, said the study suggested oral health should be a \"much higher public health priority, especially in older people\".", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 445, "answer_end": 1663, "text": "Scientists analysed brain tissue, spinal fluid, and saliva from dead and living patients with diagnosed and suspected Alzheimer's. Their study, published in the journal Science Advances, found bacteria associated with chronic gum disease, Porphyromonas gingivalis, in the brains of people with Alzheimer's. Tests on mice confirmed the bacteria could travel from the mouth to the brain and showed the toxic protein they secrete, called gingipain, destroyed brain neurons. The bacteria also increased production of amyloid beta, a component of the amyloid plaques commonly associated with Alzheimer's. Following this, scientists tested drugs in mice aimed at blocking the toxic proteins and found they were able to halt degeneration in the brain. The authors of the study concluded: \"The findings of this study offer evidence that Porphyromonas gingivalis and gingipains in the brain play a central role in the pathogenesis [development] of AD [Alzheimer's disease], providing a new conceptual framework for disease treatment.\" The team has now developed a new drug they hope could form the basis of a human treatment and plan to test it in people with mild to moderate Alzheimer's, in a clinical trial, later this year."}], "question": "What did the research find?", "id": "569_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1664, "answer_end": 2588, "text": "Scientists not involved in the research said it added to the evidence of the link between gum disease and dementia, the umbrella term for brain conditions that include Alzheimer's. But they say it is still not clear what role gum disease bacteria has in the development of Alzheimer's. People with Alzheimer's are more susceptible to getting infections in their brains, so it may be that the gum disease bacteria and the toxic proteins they secrete are a by-product of Alzheimer's rather than a cause. There was also caution about the fact the drug tests had been in mice. Prof Tara Spires-Jones, from the UK Dementia Research Institute, at the University of Edinburgh, said it was \"great news\" that the study provided evidence these drugs may affect Alzheimer's-related proteins. \"However, we will have to await the larger clinical trial to see if it will be beneficial to people living with Alzheimer's disease,\" she said."}], "question": "What do other scientists say about the study?", "id": "569_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2589, "answer_end": 3389, "text": "Studies have previously linked gum disease and dementia. Last year, a Taiwanese study found that people with a 10-year or longer history of chronic periodontitis (CP) were 70% more likely than people without the condition to develop Alzheimer's. Another study found people with mild to moderate Alzheimer's who had gum disease experienced a quicker rate of cognitive decline compared with those without. The researchers of this new study say one explanation for the link is that bacteria from gum disease may access the brain by infecting immune system cells or spreading through cranial nerves passing through the head and jaw. But, alternatively, it may be that people with Alzheimer's have poorer oral hygiene, perhaps because the condition makes them less able to look after their teeth and gums."}], "question": "What was the previous evidence?", "id": "569_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3390, "answer_end": 3949, "text": "The charity Alzheimer's Society, responding to this study, said the research it had been involved in had not found gum disease to be a key risk factor for Alzheimer's. And Alzheimer's Research UK said the presence of a single type of bacteria was \"extremely unlikely to be the only cause of the condition\". But given that the condition of teeth and gums is important for overall health anyway, Prof Clive Ballard, from the University of Exeter, said the study suggested oral health should be a \"much higher public health priority, especially in older people\"."}], "question": "So where does this leave us?", "id": "569_3"}]}]}, {"title": "Would a bigger house make you happier?", "date": "10 September 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "The UK is often said to be experiencing a dire shortage of living space, but does having more room necessarily make people more content? It is common to hear concerns about pokey new-builds and sky-high rents forcing people into ever smaller homes. But the reality is that living spaces in England and Wales are actually larger than ever, with the average home increasing from 88 to 90 square metres between 2004 and 2016. Instead, the issue is that the distribution of space has become more unequal. Owner-occupiers often have a lot of space compared with younger renters, who may be sharing a home with several others. In 2017, about 28% of UK households contained one person, up from 17% in 1971. Meanwhile, the proportion of families and individuals sharing private rented housing has almost tripled since 1992 to 6.6%, according to research by the Resolution Foundation think tank. So, does more space always mean happier occupants, or is there a cut-off point? A London-based colleague recently told me about her aunt coming to visit her from Hong Kong. Upon seeing her shoe-box bedroom, she was filled not with pity, but with envy. The aunt had grown up seven people to one room, and thought this living arrangement the height of luxury. This illustrates how the level of space that we expect or aspire to can depend on what we are used to. Even after people move to a bigger house, it may not take long for them to start to feel like they don't have enough. Surveying almost 1,000 people who chose to upsize their home, my research found that housing satisfaction initially increased after a move by 1.2 points on a seven-point scale. But within three years, this rise had diminished by about 30% as people's space expectations increased. You might think that people with very big houses would be more satisfied with their property. But I found that any increase beyond four rooms per person resulted in no uplift in housing satisfaction at all. This category is likely to include some older people who would like a smaller space but are reluctant to leave the family home. But even for the average household, more space may not necessarily lead to more happiness. Our space expectations are conditioned not only by where we have lived before, but also by our neighbours. Because house size is a status symbol, we feel worse off when other people get larger houses. A recent US study found that an increase in the size of the largest 10% of \"superstar\" houses had a significant negative effect on their neighbours, even if those people had also moved to bigger homes. Previous surveys have suggested people would be prepared to have less living space overall if it meant they had more than others. This is not to say that everyone is consciously competing with their neighbours over who has the biggest house. Most of the concern about house size may stem from an underlying desire to fit in and do things which are considered \"normal\". This could be having dinner around the family table or watching TV on the sofa - which requires us to have what we consider to be a \"normal\" level of living space. If home sizes increase then so does the amount of space we feel like we need just to keep up. For example, if we all had space for a home gym then having friends round for a workout could well become as normal as having them round for dinner. As a nation, we do not seem to be getting any happier with our housing, even though living space and housing conditions have improved for many people. The US-based study draws similar conclusions. It suggests that for people living in a detached house, satisfaction has stayed the same since the 1980s even as the amount of space per person has grown by about 40%, to more than 900 square feet. Of course, more people moving into bigger homes does not come without costs. More like this Spending more on housing often means people incurring more mortgage debt, working longer hours, or commuting a longer distance, while building more homes has significant and irreversible environmental costs. There is an overwhelming case for providing more genuinely affordable housing for those suffering the most cramped, unaffordable living conditions. Beyond this, whether an increase in average living spaces would improve our wellbeing as a society is up for debate. About this piece This analysis piece was commissioned by the BBC from an expert working for an outside organisation. Dr Chris Foye is a knowledge exchange associate with the University of Glasgow, and the UK Collaborative Centre for Housing Evidence. His role involves building relationships between housing researchers, policymakers, practitioners and residents. Edited by Eleanor Lawrie.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 2706, "answer_end": 3351, "text": "This is not to say that everyone is consciously competing with their neighbours over who has the biggest house. Most of the concern about house size may stem from an underlying desire to fit in and do things which are considered \"normal\". This could be having dinner around the family table or watching TV on the sofa - which requires us to have what we consider to be a \"normal\" level of living space. If home sizes increase then so does the amount of space we feel like we need just to keep up. For example, if we all had space for a home gym then having friends round for a workout could well become as normal as having them round for dinner."}], "question": "Are you 'normal'?", "id": "570_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Amber Rudd quits cabinet blaming Brexit inaction", "date": "8 September 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Amber Rudd has quit Boris Johnson's cabinet, with an outspoken attack on the government's approach to Brexit. The ex-work and pensions secretary said the government was having no \"formal negotiations\" with the EU about a new deal, only \"conversations\". Instead, 80-90% of Brexit work was spent preparing for an \"inferior\" no-deal option, she said. But Chancellor Sajid Javid said ministers were \"straining every sinew\" to get a deal with the EU. He told the BBC's Andrew Marr Show a \"tremendous amount of effort\" had gone into securing a revised deal. Mr Javid added that preparations for a no-deal scenario would \"concentrate minds\" in Europe regarding working towards a new agreement. Downing Street says environment minister Therese Coffey will replace Ms Rudd as work and pensions secretary. BBC political correspondent Jonathan Blake said the prime minister spent Sunday meeting his closest advisers at the government's countryside residence Chevening House, in Kent, \"perhaps planning the next move\". Ms Rudd told the Sunday Times she would be considering whether to stand as an independent Conservative should there be an general election. In her resignation letter to the prime minister, Ms Rudd said: \"I joined your cabinet in good faith: accepting that no-deal had to be on the table, because it was the means by which we would have the best chance of achieving a new deal to leave on 31 October. \"However, I no longer believe leaving with a deal is the government's main objective.\" She called the PM's decision to expel 21 MPs from the parliamentary Conservative party an \"act of political vandalism\", after her former colleagues rebelled last week over a bill designed to avoid a no-deal Brexit. \"If we become a party which has no place for the type of moderates that I am, the centre-right Conservatives, then we will not win [a general election],\" she said. by John Pienaar, BBC deputy political editor Amber Rudd's resignation was symptomatic of a deeper struggle going on inside the government and inside the Conservative Party. Whatever anyone says, a number of ministers are considered to be privately unhappy with the government's strategy and contemplating the possibility of resigning in the wake of Amber Rudd's resignation. The former chancellor, Philip Hammond, was saying this weekend that usurpers were turning the Tory party into an extreme right-wing sect. He was clearly referring to people like the prime minister's famously abrasive, divisive adviser, Dominic Cummings. But there's no sign of the inner circle in No 10 relenting or repenting - just the opposite. One minister said to me today: \"Look at the opinion polls. Tories well ahead - it's working.\" Losing colleagues, to him, was collateral damage. Ms Rudd, the MP for Hastings and Rye, who supported Remain in the 2016 referendum, has resigned the Tory whip - meaning she will remain an MP but no longer sit as part of the Conservative party in Parliament. She told the BBC there was \"very little evidence\" the government would get a new Brexit deal, and she had only received a \"one-page summary\" of efforts to get an agreement when she asked for details earlier this week. She said \"proper discussions about policy\" had not been taking place, suggesting senior ministers had limited involvement in the PM's decisions. Cabinet ministers had also not been shown legal advice to the prime minister about his decision to prorogue - or suspend - Parliament from next week until 14 October, Ms Rudd said. Asked who was running the country, if not the cabinet, she replied: \"If I knew that, I would perhaps have had further conversations with the prime minister, or them.\" However, Mr Javid said there had been \"progress\" in talks with the EU about making changes to former PM Theresa May's Brexit deal, which was rejected three times by the House of Commons. He said the government has \"many new ideas\" for proposals to break the deadlock over the contentious backstop plan in the deal aiming to preserve seamless border on the island of Ireland. However he said it would be \"madness\" to talk through the details of the government's proposals openly. \"Anyone who understands how negotiation works, you would not discuss those in public,\" he added. Former Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt said Ms Rudd's departure was \"desperately sad news\", describing her as \"one of the most principled and capable ministers I've worked with\". Former Chancellor Philip Hammond tweeted that the Conservative Party had been \"taken over by unelected advisors, entryists and usurpers\". Shadow Brexit secretary Sir Keir Starmer tweeted that her departure showed Mr Johnson's government was \"falling apart\". Labour Party chair Ian Lavery said the resignation was a sign that \"no one trusts\" Mr Johnson. \"The prime minister has run out of authority in record time and his Brexit plan has been exposed as a sham,\" he said. SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford called on the prime minister to resign, arguing he had \"no support or credibility left\". But Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said Mr Johnson had made clear to all his cabinet ministers they needed to support his policy of leaving the EU by 31 October, in all circumstances. \"We all accepted that, and I think the prime minister was right to restore some discipline - and I think he's right to expect it from his top team,\" he told Sky News. In other developments: - Senior ministers insist Mr Johnson won't break the new law which says he must seek a Brexit extension from the EU if no new deal has been agreed by 14 October - but the UK will still leave with or without a deal on 31 October - The government is planning - in a breach of convention - to stand a candidate against the Speaker of the Commons, John Bercow, at the next election - French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian says France will not be able to support another Brexit delay \"in the current circumstances\" - Asked to rule out a possible pact with The Brexit Party at a future election, Mr Javid says the Tories \"don't need an electoral alliance with anyone\" - Former Labour MP Angela Smith has joined the Liberal Democrats, calling them \"the strongest party to stop Brexit\". - The 56-year old has been MP for Hastings and Rye in East Sussex since 2010 - Her majority in the 2017 election was just 346 votes - In the 2016 referendum, she was a Remain supporter - her brother helped to fund the campaign - Ms Rudd was appointed home secretary in July 2016 - She resigned as home secretary in 2018 over the Windrush scandal, saying she \"inadvertently misled\" MPs - But an inquiry concluded she was let down by her officials and she returned to the cabinet as work and pensions secretary months later - Ms Rudd was married for five years to the late journalist and writer AA Gill - An Edinburgh University graduate, she previously worked in banking and recruitment - She was credited as a consultant on the 1994 hit film Four Weddings and a Funeral - In the 2016 Tory leadership debates, she described Boris Johnson as the \"life and soul of the party but not the man you want driving you home at the end of the evening\". - Ms Coffey was first elected as MP for Suffolk Coastal in 2010 - She has held a number of government positions including Commons deputy leader, assistant whip and, most recently, environment minister - She backed Remain in the 2016 referendum and later voted in favour of Theresa May's Brexit deal - However, she has since spoken about the need to honour the referendum result and backed Mr Johnson's Tory leadership bid. Monday - MPs vote again on whether to trigger an early election - the vote is expected to fail - The cross-party bill designed to prevent a no-deal Brexit on 31 October is set to gain royal assent - Parliament could be prorogued (suspended) until 14 October from Monday but this could happen as late as Thursday - Mr Johnson meets Irish Taoiseach (prime minister) Leo Varadkar Wednesday: - Mr Johnson is due to appear in front of the Commons' Liaison Committee, made up of the chairs of all select committees, facing questions on Brexit, social policy and climate change - A ruling is expected from Scotland's highest civil court on whether the proroguing of Parliament is illegal, in response to an appeal by a group of MPs and peers Thursday: - This is the last day Parliament could be prorogued", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 4235, "answer_end": 6166, "text": "Former Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt said Ms Rudd's departure was \"desperately sad news\", describing her as \"one of the most principled and capable ministers I've worked with\". Former Chancellor Philip Hammond tweeted that the Conservative Party had been \"taken over by unelected advisors, entryists and usurpers\". Shadow Brexit secretary Sir Keir Starmer tweeted that her departure showed Mr Johnson's government was \"falling apart\". Labour Party chair Ian Lavery said the resignation was a sign that \"no one trusts\" Mr Johnson. \"The prime minister has run out of authority in record time and his Brexit plan has been exposed as a sham,\" he said. SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford called on the prime minister to resign, arguing he had \"no support or credibility left\". But Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said Mr Johnson had made clear to all his cabinet ministers they needed to support his policy of leaving the EU by 31 October, in all circumstances. \"We all accepted that, and I think the prime minister was right to restore some discipline - and I think he's right to expect it from his top team,\" he told Sky News. In other developments: - Senior ministers insist Mr Johnson won't break the new law which says he must seek a Brexit extension from the EU if no new deal has been agreed by 14 October - but the UK will still leave with or without a deal on 31 October - The government is planning - in a breach of convention - to stand a candidate against the Speaker of the Commons, John Bercow, at the next election - French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian says France will not be able to support another Brexit delay \"in the current circumstances\" - Asked to rule out a possible pact with The Brexit Party at a future election, Mr Javid says the Tories \"don't need an electoral alliance with anyone\" - Former Labour MP Angela Smith has joined the Liberal Democrats, calling them \"the strongest party to stop Brexit\"."}], "question": "What has the reaction been to her resignation?", "id": "571_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Meet the singer Taylor Swift calls 'little sis'", "date": "2 November 2017", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Earlier this year, Kelsea Ballerini got to go to the Grammys for the first time. The 24-year-old was up for best new artist, and scheduled to perform with Lukas Graham - but she was still a little star-struck. \"My mum was my date - and we were both sitting there fan-girling like, 'Oh my God, that's Adele! Don't look! Don't look!'\" Ballerini, it turns out, is not the sort of person who keeps her cool when she meets an idol. \"The first time I met Carrie Underwood was at the Opry, before I had a record deal,\" she recalls. \"I was waiting backstage with a bunch of people to say hello and finally it was my turn. \"I was going to say something normal - but then I saw her and went \"Girl! You got so much sooouul!\". \"Of all the things I could have said, that's what I chose,\" she grimaces. \"It was very weird.\" Awkward celebrity encounters aside, Ballerini has been living in a fairytale for the last few years. She released her debut album, The First Time, in 2015 and watched its first three singles go to number one on Billboard's country airplay chart - an historic achievement for a female artist. The bubbly, vivacious melodies and autobiographical lyrics of Love Me Like You Mean It and Peter Pan won comparisons to Taylor Swift, who quickly befriended the artist (she calls Ballerini her \"little sis\") and invited her onto her 1989 world tour. That led to her Grammy appearance and, at next week's Country Music Association Awards, a nomination for female artist of the year. All told, it's turned out pretty well for someone who was shunned by the establishment when she first arrived in Nashville. \"I could not get into a room with a hit writer to save my life,\" she recalls of making her first album. \"I was a new girl, on an independent label and those were two strikes against me. No-one would write with me.\" It turned out to be a blessing. Left to her own devices, Ballerini, whose first concert was Britney Spears, channelled her love of pop and R&B into the album, giving her songs a vitality and immediacy that's sometimes missing from traditional country. The star's co-producer, Forest Glen Whitehead, even refers to her as a \"country Beyonce\". \"I grew up on a farm in Eastern Tennessee and country is where my roots are,\" explains the singer, \"but I listen to rap and I listen to R&B and I love pop. \"I've always been open about that because, as a songwriter, I always want to make sure that I'm trying new things.\" Despite the strength of her singles, Ballerini still faced an uphill struggle in the insular world of country. Her debut came out in the midst of what's been called \"tomato-gate\", where radio consultant Keith Hill advised stations not to play too many songs by women and not to play two women back to back. \"If you want to make ratings in country radio, take females out,\" he told trade publication Country Radio Aircheck. \"They're just not the lettuce in our salad. The lettuce is Luke Bryan and Blake Shelton, Keith Urban and artists like that. The tomatoes of our salad are the females.\" Like many others, Ballerini was perplexed by his comments. \"When you think of country music history obviously you have George Jones, Garth Brooks, George Strait - all these iconic males. But you cannot talk about the history of country music without Loretta Lynn, Dolly Parton, Shania Twain. I mean some of the biggest artists in country music history are female.\" In the end, she thinks, the uproar over Hill's comments helped her cause. \"Love Me Like You Mean It was in the top five when tomato-gate came out - and I think radio stations went, 'Well, watch this!' and helped me get to number one.\" But how do you follow up such a successful debut? With great difficulty, says Ballerini. \"I didn't know how to make my second record for a long time. \"The first one worked so well that I was like, 'How do I make that record again?' And then I realised I can't. That's not who I am any more.\" The answer was simple: Write an album about the person she's become - and luckily Ballerini had a lot of material to draw on. Unapologetically, released this Friday, is the chronological story of the last two years, as the singer left behind a \"gross break-up\" and got engaged to fellow country singer Morgan Evans. One of the first tracks is Miss Me More, a slinky stomp in which the singer describes how her ex-boyfriend slowly eroded her identity. \"I retired my red lipstick 'cause you said you didn't like it,\" she sings. \"I didn't wear my high heel shoes / 'Cause I couldn't be taller than you.\" \"In a lot of young relationships, you fall in love for the first time and you give every part of yourself to make it work,\" she explains. \"But sometimes, when it's not treated right, that's how you lose yourself. \"I think it's really a beautiful moment when you get to the other side, and you're looking in the mirror and you're like, 'Huh, I thought I was going to miss him but -  actually - I miss me!'\" Ballerini says she found it easier to write those \"super dark\" lyrics than the love songs that close the album. In fact, she's so bad at the soppy stuff that she came up with a track called I Hate Love Songs. A pastiche of saccharine 1950s doo-wop hits, it opens with the lyric: \"I hate Shakespeare and Gosling and cakes with white frosting.\" \"Do I really hate Ryan Gosling? Lord no!\" she screeches. \"He's a beautiful man! \"But I love that song. It talks about that heart and head battle. I don't want to be a cliched person in love; but I kind of am turning into that. \"Then the next song [on the album] is Unapologetically, where it's finally like I'm fully in love. I love the tension of those two together.\" With its pop leanings and infectiously catchy choruses, Unapologetically looks destined to bring Ballerini to a wider audience - and the UK in particular. Lead single Legends has been playlisted by BBC Radio 2, while the singer is booked to play the Country to Country festival in London and Glasgow next March. She'll also perform a duet with country legend Reba McIntyre (\"it's going to be so cool\") at the CMA Awards, which will be screened later in the month on BBC Four. Just don't expect Ballerini to stop being star-struck as her own star rises. \"I still freak out when I'm around Carrie Underwood,\" she laughs, \"and now I see her all the time.\" Unapologetically is released on Friday, 3 November. Highlights of the CMA Awards will be broadcast on BBC Radio 2 on Sunday, 11 November and later in the month on BBC Four. Follow us on Facebook, on Twitter @BBCNewsEnts, or on Instagram at bbcnewsents. If you have a story suggestion email entertainment.news@bbc.co.uk.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 4045, "answer_end": 6463, "text": "Unapologetically, released this Friday, is the chronological story of the last two years, as the singer left behind a \"gross break-up\" and got engaged to fellow country singer Morgan Evans. One of the first tracks is Miss Me More, a slinky stomp in which the singer describes how her ex-boyfriend slowly eroded her identity. \"I retired my red lipstick 'cause you said you didn't like it,\" she sings. \"I didn't wear my high heel shoes / 'Cause I couldn't be taller than you.\" \"In a lot of young relationships, you fall in love for the first time and you give every part of yourself to make it work,\" she explains. \"But sometimes, when it's not treated right, that's how you lose yourself. \"I think it's really a beautiful moment when you get to the other side, and you're looking in the mirror and you're like, 'Huh, I thought I was going to miss him but -  actually - I miss me!'\" Ballerini says she found it easier to write those \"super dark\" lyrics than the love songs that close the album. In fact, she's so bad at the soppy stuff that she came up with a track called I Hate Love Songs. A pastiche of saccharine 1950s doo-wop hits, it opens with the lyric: \"I hate Shakespeare and Gosling and cakes with white frosting.\" \"Do I really hate Ryan Gosling? Lord no!\" she screeches. \"He's a beautiful man! \"But I love that song. It talks about that heart and head battle. I don't want to be a cliched person in love; but I kind of am turning into that. \"Then the next song [on the album] is Unapologetically, where it's finally like I'm fully in love. I love the tension of those two together.\" With its pop leanings and infectiously catchy choruses, Unapologetically looks destined to bring Ballerini to a wider audience - and the UK in particular. Lead single Legends has been playlisted by BBC Radio 2, while the singer is booked to play the Country to Country festival in London and Glasgow next March. She'll also perform a duet with country legend Reba McIntyre (\"it's going to be so cool\") at the CMA Awards, which will be screened later in the month on BBC Four. Just don't expect Ballerini to stop being star-struck as her own star rises. \"I still freak out when I'm around Carrie Underwood,\" she laughs, \"and now I see her all the time.\" Unapologetically is released on Friday, 3 November. Highlights of the CMA Awards will be broadcast on BBC Radio 2 on Sunday, 11 November and later in the month on BBC Four."}], "question": "No more love songs?", "id": "572_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Russia's Vladimir Putin and wife Lyudmila divorce", "date": "6 June 2013", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Russian President Vladimir Putin and his wife Lyudmila have said their marriage is over. The couple, who had been married for 30 years, made their divorce public on Russian state television after attending a ballet performance. \"It was a joint decision: we hardly see each other, each of us has our own life,\" Mr Putin said. Mrs Putin had rarely been seen in public in recent months, prompting much speculation in Russian media. She is known to dislike publicity, and told the TV reporter that flying was difficult for her. \"Vladimir Vladimirovich is completely drowned in work,\" she said. The divorce was \"civilised\" and the couple would \"always remain close\", she said. \"I am very grateful to Vladimir... that he still supports me. And the children, he really cares for them and the children feel this,\" she added. Mr Putin confirmed on TV that the two were no longer living together. \"We are always going to be very close to each other. I am sure, forever,\" he said. Vladimir Putin and Lyudmila Shkrebneva were married in 1983. They have two daughters, Maria and Yekaterina, both in their 20s. \"Our children have grown up; they have their own lives,\" Mrs Putin added. She and Mr Putin were last seen together at his inauguration for his third term as president on 7 May 2012. Neither clarified whether or not their marriage had been legally dissolved, but Mrs Putin referred to the separation as a \"civilised divorce\". The announcement came after the couple had gone to see the ballet Esmeralda at the Kremlin Palace - they left after the first act. The BBC's Steve Rosenberg in Moscow says that Thursday's announcement confirms what had been rumoured for years, that the Putins were having marital problems. But the news has still come as a shock to many Russians, who are not used to their leaders getting divorced - even though Russia has one of the highest divorce rates in the world, our correspondent adds. The question already dominating the Russian blogosphere is, \"will Russia's president marry again?\", he says. The Putins' marriage had been the subject of speculation before. In 2008, Mr Putin denied rumours that he had secretly divorced and was planning to marry former Olympic gymnast Alina Kabayeva.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1279, "answer_end": 2217, "text": "Neither clarified whether or not their marriage had been legally dissolved, but Mrs Putin referred to the separation as a \"civilised divorce\". The announcement came after the couple had gone to see the ballet Esmeralda at the Kremlin Palace - they left after the first act. The BBC's Steve Rosenberg in Moscow says that Thursday's announcement confirms what had been rumoured for years, that the Putins were having marital problems. But the news has still come as a shock to many Russians, who are not used to their leaders getting divorced - even though Russia has one of the highest divorce rates in the world, our correspondent adds. The question already dominating the Russian blogosphere is, \"will Russia's president marry again?\", he says. The Putins' marriage had been the subject of speculation before. In 2008, Mr Putin denied rumours that he had secretly divorced and was planning to marry former Olympic gymnast Alina Kabayeva."}], "question": "Remarriage?", "id": "573_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Mistrial declared in Blackwater guard's Iraqi murder case", "date": "5 September 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "A judge has declared a mistrial in the case of a former Blackwater security guard accused of inciting a firefight that killed 14 Iraqi civilians in 2007. The jury remained deadlocked in the trial of Nicholas Slatten, who was charged with first-degree murder for allegedly firing the first shots. The case was a retrial, after a court ruled Slatten should not have been tried alongside three other guards. Neither Slatten nor prosecutors have commented on Wednesday's ruling. US District Judge Royce Lamberth in Washington DC declared a mistrial after the jury of seven women and five men could not reach a unanimous verdict. The jury had deliberated for 16 days, even asking Judge Lamberth last week to advise them, the Washington Post reported. The judge gave them until Tuesday to make a decision. Prosecutors charged Slatten, who was a former Army sniper, with murder as his case had passed the time limit for manslaughter charges. First-degree murder charges, however, have a higher burden of proof. During the retrial, prosecutors alleged Slatten, 34, fired first, sparking the violence that left 14 dead. They accused Slatten of hating Iraqis and starting the firefight as an act of revenge for the 9/11 terrorist attacks, USA Today reported. The defence retaliated by saying Slatten was innocent, especially as another Blackwater guard - Paul Slough - had initially confessed to firing the first shots. According to prosecutors, Slough was inconsistent - at first, he denied that he started the firefight, then changed his statement and said he had. Dane Butswinkas, an attorney for Slatten, said the government's case was made up of \"guesswork, speculation and conjecture\". The Justice Department has not commented regarding retrying the case, US media say. The Post reported that many jurors stayed after the mistrial ruling to speak with attorneys for Slatten and the government about the case. In Baghdad's Nisoor Square in 2007, the Blackwater security guards opened fire while escorting a US convoy. Fourteen civilians died and another 17 were injured. The men claimed they were under fire from insurgents. The firefight ignited an international debate over the role of defence contractors and strained US-Iraq relations. Since 2008, the cases of these Blackwater employees have been in and out of the courts. Dozens of survivors and relatives of those killed by the shooting have testified in the US during the course of the proceedings. Slatten and his colleagues Paul Slough, Dustin Heard and Evan Liberty were convicted in 2014 and sentenced the following year. Slatten received a life sentence for murder while the other three were jailed for multiple counts of manslaughter, attempted manslaughter and using firearms while committing a felony. A panel of judges on the US Court of Appeals later ruled 2-1 that the sentencing - 30 years each - for Slough, Heard and Liberty violated the constitution as \"cruel and unusual punishment\" and that they should be resentenced. Last year, a court ordered a retrial for Slatten, saying he should not have been tried alongside the three other security guards who were convicted for the Baghdad incident as Slough initially claimed he had fired the first shots.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1905, "answer_end": 3219, "text": "In Baghdad's Nisoor Square in 2007, the Blackwater security guards opened fire while escorting a US convoy. Fourteen civilians died and another 17 were injured. The men claimed they were under fire from insurgents. The firefight ignited an international debate over the role of defence contractors and strained US-Iraq relations. Since 2008, the cases of these Blackwater employees have been in and out of the courts. Dozens of survivors and relatives of those killed by the shooting have testified in the US during the course of the proceedings. Slatten and his colleagues Paul Slough, Dustin Heard and Evan Liberty were convicted in 2014 and sentenced the following year. Slatten received a life sentence for murder while the other three were jailed for multiple counts of manslaughter, attempted manslaughter and using firearms while committing a felony. A panel of judges on the US Court of Appeals later ruled 2-1 that the sentencing - 30 years each - for Slough, Heard and Liberty violated the constitution as \"cruel and unusual punishment\" and that they should be resentenced. Last year, a court ordered a retrial for Slatten, saying he should not have been tried alongside the three other security guards who were convicted for the Baghdad incident as Slough initially claimed he had fired the first shots."}], "question": "What's the background?", "id": "574_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Third Brexit vote must be different - Speaker", "date": "18 March 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Speaker John Bercow has thrown the UK's Brexit plans into further confusion by ruling out another vote on the PM's deal unless MPs are given a new motion. In a surprise ruling, he said he would not allow a third \"meaningful vote\" in the coming days on \"substantially the same\" motion as MPs rejected last week. With 11 days to go before the UK is due to leave the EU, ministers have warned of a looming \"constitutional crisis\". The UK is currently due to leave the EU on 29 March. Theresa May has negotiated the withdrawal deal with the EU but it must also be agreed by MPs. They have voted against it twice, and the government has been considering a third attempt to get it through Parliament. Mr Bercow cited a convention dating back to 1604 that a defeated motion could not be brought back in the same form during the course of a parliamentary session. He said the second vote on the prime minister's deal last week was \"in order\" as it was substantially different to the first, but any further votes must pass the \"test\" he set out to be allowed. The BBC's political editor Laura Kuenssberg said the speaker's intervention does not stop Brexit from happening, but it makes it \"extremely unlikely\" that the government will put another vote on the deal to Parliament this week. She said this makes it less likely the prime minister will ask EU leaders at a summit this week for a short extension - which Mrs May had said she would do if her deal got through Parliament. This in turn makes it more likely there will be a longer delay to Brexit, she added. She said: \"The conclusion that most people in Westminster would reach from that means that we're heading - it's likely - towards a closer relationship with the European Union, a softer Brexit than the one Theresa May has set out.\" However, she added: \"That said, the government does believe that, although they're not clear about what it might be yet,  there is a way round this complication - but it is another significant obstacle for Number 10 tonight and it has, in the words of one senior official, made things significantly more complicated.\" Mr Bercow's statement appeared to take Downing Street by surprise, with the prime minister's official spokesman saying it had not been warned of its contents \"or indeed the fact that he was making one\". Later, a Number 10 spokesman said the statement had been noted and required \"proper consideration\". The role of the speaker, who is the highest authority of the House of Commons, includes controlling debates, calling MPs to speak and choosing which amendments can be debated. Analysis by BBC political correspondent Iain Watson How can the government get another vote on Theresa May's deal? Well, first of all, rules are there to be changed. If MPs suspend or change the \"standing orders\" of Parliament, they could get the Brexit deal back on the agenda. Secondly, the government could change the proposition on offer. The former Attorney General Dominic Grieve has suggested that something \"substantially\" different would be to ask Parliament to vote for the deal subject to a referendum. Or change the Parliament? If MPs can't discuss the same thing in the same session of Parliament, why not simply start a new one? Read Iain's complete analysis here. The prime minister had been expected to submit her Brexit deal for MPs to vote on for a third time this week - a week after they rejected it by 149 votes - and ahead of the EU summit on Thursday. Last week MPs also voted in favour of ruling out leaving the EU without a deal, and in favour of extending the Brexit process - though an extension would have to be agreed by all 27 EU member states. Brexit minister Kwasi Kwarteng has confirmed Mrs May will be writing to European Council President Donald Tusk to ask to postpone the UK's exit date. If the EU agreed, the government would ask both Houses of Parliament to approve the change, he said. Mr Kwarteng said the length of the extension would depend on \"whether the meaningful vote goes through or not\". \"If we have a deal... we will ask for a short extension,\" he said. \"Now if for whatever reason that vote doesn't happen, or is frustrated or is voted down, we will probably ask for a long extension of the period - and that would be a matter for the EU and for our government to decide.\" European leaders are expected to discuss the UK request to extend the Brexit process and delay the UK's departure at the summit on Thursday. Shadow Brexit minister Matthew Pennycook said the fact that Article 50 needed to be extended was \"a mark of this government's failure\". Meanwhile, the government has been trying to convince the DUP and Tory Brexiteers, who have both voiced concerns about the backstop - the controversial arrangement to prevent physical checks on the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland - to vote in favour of the deal. The DUP has opposed the deal up to now and are seeking further \"clarifications\" on the government's legal advice about the backstop, and how the UK could exit it. Ministers and MPs supportive of Mrs May's deal expressed anger at the timing of Mr Bercow's intervention. Conservative MP James Gray, who plans to vote for the deal after rejecting it twice, said he was \"absolutely furious\"; while fellow Tory Greg Hands suggested Mr Bercow was the only person in the country who was \"accountable to nobody\". Solicitor General Robert Buckland warned there was now a \"constitutional crisis\" and suggested the onus was on the EU to come up with \"new solutions\" to enable MPs to vote on the deal again. \"Frankly we could have done without this, but it is something we are going to have to deal with,\" he said. He suggested \"there were ways around this\" - including potentially cutting short the current session of Parliament, a move which would lead to calls for a general election. Some opponents of the PM's Brexit deal welcomed the Speaker's ruling. Conservative former cabinet minister Owen Paterson said it was a \"game-changer\" and would \"concentrate minds\" ahead of Thursday's EU summit. Sir Bill Cash, chairman of the European Scrutiny Committee, said it seemed to make an \"enormous amount of sense\" given that the Brexit deal has been defeated twice and there would need to be a \"substantial difference\" to allow a third vote. But the SNP's Westminster leader Ian Blackford suggested there was now a \"constitutional crisis\" and he suggested the prime minister should \"immediately\" call a meeting of opposition leaders. And Brexiteer Nadhim Zahawi, Tory minister for children and families, told BBC Newsnight that the Speaker had \"made it now much more difficult to have the short extension\" and a meaningful vote, \"therefore the longer extension is now clearly on the table. I don't believe that's a good thing\". By BBC Brussels reporter Adam Fleming The EU's official position is that they are waiting for Theresa May to come to a summit in Brussels on Thursday with a clear statement about how she plans to proceed, and there definitely won't be any more negotiations when she gets here. Unofficially, EU officials wonder if the government can get itself out of this situation, either with Parliamentary wizardry or by coming up with UK-only additions to the package, such as new guarantees about the role of Northern Ireland's Stormont Assembly in the future. And could the joint UK/EU decision about an extension to the Brexit process, due to be taken on Thursday, be appended to the deal and then count as something new enough to justify another vote in the Commons? But explain to diplomats that the solution might be the Queen closing Parliament and re-opening a new session with a speech and their reactions are priceless.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 3264, "answer_end": 5040, "text": "The prime minister had been expected to submit her Brexit deal for MPs to vote on for a third time this week - a week after they rejected it by 149 votes - and ahead of the EU summit on Thursday. Last week MPs also voted in favour of ruling out leaving the EU without a deal, and in favour of extending the Brexit process - though an extension would have to be agreed by all 27 EU member states. Brexit minister Kwasi Kwarteng has confirmed Mrs May will be writing to European Council President Donald Tusk to ask to postpone the UK's exit date. If the EU agreed, the government would ask both Houses of Parliament to approve the change, he said. Mr Kwarteng said the length of the extension would depend on \"whether the meaningful vote goes through or not\". \"If we have a deal... we will ask for a short extension,\" he said. \"Now if for whatever reason that vote doesn't happen, or is frustrated or is voted down, we will probably ask for a long extension of the period - and that would be a matter for the EU and for our government to decide.\" European leaders are expected to discuss the UK request to extend the Brexit process and delay the UK's departure at the summit on Thursday. Shadow Brexit minister Matthew Pennycook said the fact that Article 50 needed to be extended was \"a mark of this government's failure\". Meanwhile, the government has been trying to convince the DUP and Tory Brexiteers, who have both voiced concerns about the backstop - the controversial arrangement to prevent physical checks on the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland - to vote in favour of the deal. The DUP has opposed the deal up to now and are seeking further \"clarifications\" on the government's legal advice about the backstop, and how the UK could exit it."}], "question": "What's the current state of play?", "id": "575_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 5041, "answer_end": 6791, "text": "Ministers and MPs supportive of Mrs May's deal expressed anger at the timing of Mr Bercow's intervention. Conservative MP James Gray, who plans to vote for the deal after rejecting it twice, said he was \"absolutely furious\"; while fellow Tory Greg Hands suggested Mr Bercow was the only person in the country who was \"accountable to nobody\". Solicitor General Robert Buckland warned there was now a \"constitutional crisis\" and suggested the onus was on the EU to come up with \"new solutions\" to enable MPs to vote on the deal again. \"Frankly we could have done without this, but it is something we are going to have to deal with,\" he said. He suggested \"there were ways around this\" - including potentially cutting short the current session of Parliament, a move which would lead to calls for a general election. Some opponents of the PM's Brexit deal welcomed the Speaker's ruling. Conservative former cabinet minister Owen Paterson said it was a \"game-changer\" and would \"concentrate minds\" ahead of Thursday's EU summit. Sir Bill Cash, chairman of the European Scrutiny Committee, said it seemed to make an \"enormous amount of sense\" given that the Brexit deal has been defeated twice and there would need to be a \"substantial difference\" to allow a third vote. But the SNP's Westminster leader Ian Blackford suggested there was now a \"constitutional crisis\" and he suggested the prime minister should \"immediately\" call a meeting of opposition leaders. And Brexiteer Nadhim Zahawi, Tory minister for children and families, told BBC Newsnight that the Speaker had \"made it now much more difficult to have the short extension\" and a meaningful vote, \"therefore the longer extension is now clearly on the table. I don't believe that's a good thing\"."}], "question": "What's been the reaction to the speaker's intervention?", "id": "575_1"}]}]}, {"title": "Syrian war: Who next to intervene?", "date": "5 February 2016", "paragraphs": [{"context": "With Syrian government forces, backed up by Russian air power, making headway around Aleppo, there are warnings that more countries may seek to weigh in on the rebel side. So who might intervene? And what, if any, difference would it make to the already complicated dynamics of the fighting in Syria? There are already a variety of external actors  - western countries, the Gulf Arabs and so on - providing weaponry and training to the various factions battling against President Bashar al-Assad's forces on the ground. Western air power is waging a daily, but limited, campaign against fighters of the so-called Islamic State (IS), the tempo of air operations rising when there is some discernible movement on the ground. Other forces are more directly involved in the fighting. Russia is engaged in an air campaign which, while claimed to be against \"terrorism and so-called IS\", has largely served to bolster the Assad regime's forces. Iranian and Hezbollah fighters have also taken an active role on the ground fighting alongside Syrian government units. Russia's involvement now seems to be paying dividends for the Assad regime, not just by consolidating its position but by enabling some significant advances, such as threatening to cut off rebel forces in Aleppo from their vital supply lines which reach back to Turkey. This has prompted impassioned calls from the Turkish government. Turkey's Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, speaking in London on Thursday, said \"the humanitarian logistic corridor\" between Turkey and Aleppo was \"under the invasion of these foreign fighters and regime forces (with) the support of Russian warplanes\". The Turks are alarmed at the additional refugee problems that this new offensive is causing, quite apart from the advance of regime forces so close to their own border. Aleppo is only some 30 miles (50km) from the Turkish frontier. But most of all Turkey is concerned at the wider shifting dynamics in the region. The instability in Syria and Iraq is prompting fears of the emergence of a viable Kurdish state of some kind. This explains Turkey's crackdown in its own Kurdish areas - a military campaign that has drawn only muted criticism from its allies in the West - and it also explains why the Turks have periodically wondered about some kind of full-blown intervention to secure an area of the Syrian border closest to them. Turkey might be tempted to intervene but this would depend upon Kurdish dynamics. This is a reflection of Ankara's strategic calculations and less an effort to resolve the Syrian crisis once and for all. For now the Turkish government is insisting it has no intention of making any incursion into Syria and it blames Russian propaganda for stoking up the fears. The Saudis too seem to be mulling an intervention of sorts. This, though, may be more a signal of their frustration at Russia's role; the limited efforts of the West to strengthen Syrian rebels, and the stuttering of the diplomatic process to reach a settlement. But do the Saudis really want to intervene? The involvement of the Saudis and other Arab states has been short-lived and largely symbolic. Riyadh preferred to turn its attention to the battle closer to home in Yemen. Indeed, if anything, the Saudis' engagement in Yemen may have opened their eyes to the pitfalls of foreign military adventure. And they have in any case made their involvement dependent upon a greater US military role on the ground. But were new outside actors to intervene on the rebel side, what might they do, and would this hasten a resolution of the Syrian conflict ? The Turks, for one, should not be under-estimated. They could move mechanised and armoured units across the border and sustain them. But this would risk a confrontation with the Russians and their allies - a potential battle between a Nato member and Moscow which could have serious consequences. Relations between Turkey and Russia are already in the freezer after the Turks shot down a Russian warplane that briefly intruded into their territory last November. The Saudis' capabilities are more limited and for now they are presenting any potential role as being one alongside the Americans. The US is clearly stepping up its training and special forces activities. In Iraq, where there are more credible allied ground forces, there may be a significant expansion of the US ground role. But Syria is very different. The shifting alliances of anti-government rebels, the strongest of whom have ties to al-Qaeda-related groups, is not a context which would encourage a significant US ground presence. One cannot escape the conclusion that the involvement of additional actors would only complicate Syria's multiple conflicts while offering no necessary likelihood of a speedy conclusion to the fighting. Why is there a war in Syria? Anti-government protests developed into a civil war that, four years on, has ground to a stalemate, with the Assad government, the so-called Islamic State group, an array of Syrian rebels and Kurdish fighters all holding territory. Who is fighting whom? Government forces concentrated in Damascus and the centre and west of Syria are fighting the jihadists of Islamic State and al-Nusra Front, as well as less numerous so-called \"moderate\" rebel groups, who are strongest in the north and east. These groups are also battling each other. How has the world reacted? Iran, Russia and Lebanon's Hezbollah movement are propping up the Alawite-led Assad government, while Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Qatar back the more moderate Sunni-dominated opposition, along with the US, UK and France. Hezbollah and Iran are believed to have troops and officers on the ground, while a Western-led coalition and Russia are carrying out air strikes.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 4797, "answer_end": 5754, "text": "Why is there a war in Syria? Anti-government protests developed into a civil war that, four years on, has ground to a stalemate, with the Assad government, the so-called Islamic State group, an array of Syrian rebels and Kurdish fighters all holding territory. Who is fighting whom? Government forces concentrated in Damascus and the centre and west of Syria are fighting the jihadists of Islamic State and al-Nusra Front, as well as less numerous so-called \"moderate\" rebel groups, who are strongest in the north and east. These groups are also battling each other. How has the world reacted? Iran, Russia and Lebanon's Hezbollah movement are propping up the Alawite-led Assad government, while Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Qatar back the more moderate Sunni-dominated opposition, along with the US, UK and France. Hezbollah and Iran are believed to have troops and officers on the ground, while a Western-led coalition and Russia are carrying out air strikes."}], "question": "What is the Syria conflict?", "id": "576_0"}]}]}, {"title": "World economy facing delicate moment, IMF says", "date": "9 April 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "The global economy is at what the International Monetary Fund's chief economist calls a \"delicate moment\". Gita Gopinath says that while she does not predict a global recession, \"there are are many downside risks\". The IMF has released its regular assessment of the World Economic Outlook, which forecasts global growth of 3.3% this year and 3.6% in 2020. That would be slower growth than last year - and for 2019, a downgrade compared with the previous forecast. The downward revision of 0.2 percentage points for global growth is spread widely. Developed economies affected include the US, the UK and the eurozone. The UK economy is predicted to grow by 1.2% in 2019, down 0.3% from the IMF forecast in January. Growth in 2020 has also been revised down. The revisions are especially marked for Germany and Italy, which is already in recession. The IMF expects weaker performance in Latin America, as well as in the Middle East and North Africa. For China, there are small revisions, upward for this year and downward for next.  The slowdown there, which began at the start of the decade, is expected to continue. The weakness in the forecast reflects a slowdown in the latter part of 2018, which the IMF expects to continue in the first half of this year. After that, growth should pick up more pace, with the additional momentum continuing into next year. But Ms Gopinath describes that recovery as \"precarious\". She says it depends on a recovery in a number of developing economies that are stressed, notably Turkey and Argentina. Ms Gopinath also expects a partial recovery in the eurozone. The US, however, is likely to slow further, growing by slightly less than 2% next year as the impact of President Donald Trump's tax cuts fades. There is no sign in her blog, or in the IMF's report, of any sympathy for President Trump's view that the main thing holding back the US economy is the Federal Reserve's increases in interest rates over the last two years. The risks that Ms Gopinath warns about include some familiar ones. The first she mentions is the possibility that global trade tensions could flare up again and spread into new areas. She refers to cars in particular, an area where President Trump is considering new tariffs on imported goods. That, she suggests, could lead to \"large disruptions to global supply chains\". She says the escalation of US-China trade tensions contributed to last year's slowdown. She also mentions risks associated with Brexit. The forecasts for the UK are based on the expectation of an orderly departure - with a deal -  from the EU later this year. A no-deal Brexit would be more costly. Other risks include the possibility of a deterioration in financial markets, leading to higher borrowing costs, including for governments. That raises the possibility of what she calls sovereign/bank doom loops. That was a particular problem in the euro-area financial crisis, when financial problems for governments and banks reinforced one another.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1965, "answer_end": 2987, "text": "The risks that Ms Gopinath warns about include some familiar ones. The first she mentions is the possibility that global trade tensions could flare up again and spread into new areas. She refers to cars in particular, an area where President Trump is considering new tariffs on imported goods. That, she suggests, could lead to \"large disruptions to global supply chains\". She says the escalation of US-China trade tensions contributed to last year's slowdown. She also mentions risks associated with Brexit. The forecasts for the UK are based on the expectation of an orderly departure - with a deal -  from the EU later this year. A no-deal Brexit would be more costly. Other risks include the possibility of a deterioration in financial markets, leading to higher borrowing costs, including for governments. That raises the possibility of what she calls sovereign/bank doom loops. That was a particular problem in the euro-area financial crisis, when financial problems for governments and banks reinforced one another."}], "question": "Flare of disruption?", "id": "577_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Vaginal fluid transplants may soon be available in US", "date": "11 September 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "US doctors are hoping to start offering women vaginal fluid transplants and have set up a programme to screen potential donors. They believe some women could benefit from a dose of healthy vaginal microbes to protect against an infection called bacterial vaginosis (BV). The Johns Hopkins University team say they were inspired by the success of faecal or poo transplants. Although antibiotics can treat BV, it often comes back. BV is not a sexually transmitted disease, despite being an infection. It's quite common and women who have it may notice that they have an unusual discharge that has a strong fishy smell. The condition is not usually serious, but should be treated because having BV makes women more vulnerable to catching sexually transmitted infections and getting urinary infections. If the woman is pregnant, it increases the risk of her having the baby early. BV can happen when there is a change in the natural balance of bacteria in the vagina. The vagina, like the gut, is home to lots of different microorganisms. Our diets, lifestyles and some types of medication that we may take can upset this finely balanced ecosystem. While there has been a large amount of work into the gut microbiome, less is known about the vagina. Experts know healthy microorganisms in the vagina prefer an acidic environment, and when the pH becomes too alkaline other bacteria - including those that cause BV - can thrive. A number of factors can raise vaginal pH and make BV more likely, including having sex (semen and saliva are slightly alkaline) and using douches or vaginal washes, as well as hormonal changes at particular times of the month during a woman's menstrual cycle. The researchers have been looking at what makes a fit, safe donation in preparation for starting to offer women with BV the transplants - which they hope to do soon now that they have regulatory approval from the Food and Drugs Administration. They screened a small number of volunteers and have reported their findings in the journal Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology. Based on the 20 women they have tested, the researchers say they have gained some insights into what might make an \"ideal\" donor. Vaginal fluid samples dominated by a bacterium called Lactobacillus crispatus tended to have higher protective lactic acid content and a lower pH which might be beneficial, they say. As a precaution, donors would be asked to abstain from sex for at least 30 days before giving a sample and would be screened for any infections, including HIV, to prevent them being passed on to any recipient, they add. One of the researchers, Dr Laura Ensign, said: \"The donation is a self collection, which we know people tend to prefer.\" The woman inserts and then removes a flexible plastic disc - similar to a menstrual cup or a contraceptive diaphragm - to collect the sample. \"It's quick and easy and one sample collected like that would be enough material to make one dose for transfer,\" she said. It would be drawn up into an applicator for the recipient to insert in a similar way to a tampon. Dr Ensign said: \"If we can get funding, we could start right away. Some of the donors that we studied said they would want to take part. \"We'd plan to give transplants to 40 recipients to begin with. Some would receive the real thing and others a placebo. All of them would get antibiotics for their BV too though.\"", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 429, "answer_end": 876, "text": "BV is not a sexually transmitted disease, despite being an infection. It's quite common and women who have it may notice that they have an unusual discharge that has a strong fishy smell. The condition is not usually serious, but should be treated because having BV makes women more vulnerable to catching sexually transmitted infections and getting urinary infections. If the woman is pregnant, it increases the risk of her having the baby early."}], "question": "What is BV?", "id": "578_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 877, "answer_end": 1683, "text": "BV can happen when there is a change in the natural balance of bacteria in the vagina. The vagina, like the gut, is home to lots of different microorganisms. Our diets, lifestyles and some types of medication that we may take can upset this finely balanced ecosystem. While there has been a large amount of work into the gut microbiome, less is known about the vagina. Experts know healthy microorganisms in the vagina prefer an acidic environment, and when the pH becomes too alkaline other bacteria - including those that cause BV - can thrive. A number of factors can raise vaginal pH and make BV more likely, including having sex (semen and saliva are slightly alkaline) and using douches or vaginal washes, as well as hormonal changes at particular times of the month during a woman's menstrual cycle."}], "question": "Why might donor vaginal fluid help?", "id": "578_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1684, "answer_end": 3401, "text": "The researchers have been looking at what makes a fit, safe donation in preparation for starting to offer women with BV the transplants - which they hope to do soon now that they have regulatory approval from the Food and Drugs Administration. They screened a small number of volunteers and have reported their findings in the journal Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology. Based on the 20 women they have tested, the researchers say they have gained some insights into what might make an \"ideal\" donor. Vaginal fluid samples dominated by a bacterium called Lactobacillus crispatus tended to have higher protective lactic acid content and a lower pH which might be beneficial, they say. As a precaution, donors would be asked to abstain from sex for at least 30 days before giving a sample and would be screened for any infections, including HIV, to prevent them being passed on to any recipient, they add. One of the researchers, Dr Laura Ensign, said: \"The donation is a self collection, which we know people tend to prefer.\" The woman inserts and then removes a flexible plastic disc - similar to a menstrual cup or a contraceptive diaphragm - to collect the sample. \"It's quick and easy and one sample collected like that would be enough material to make one dose for transfer,\" she said. It would be drawn up into an applicator for the recipient to insert in a similar way to a tampon. Dr Ensign said: \"If we can get funding, we could start right away. Some of the donors that we studied said they would want to take part. \"We'd plan to give transplants to 40 recipients to begin with. Some would receive the real thing and others a placebo. All of them would get antibiotics for their BV too though.\""}], "question": "What would the transplant involve?", "id": "578_2"}]}]}, {"title": "South Korea president Park Geun-hye ousted by court", "date": "10 March 2017", "paragraphs": [{"context": "South Korea's President Park Geun-hye has become the country's first democratically elected leader to be forced from office. Judges unanimously upheld parliament's decision to impeach Ms Park over her role in a corruption scandal involving her close friend, Choi Soon-sil. She now loses her presidential immunity and could face criminal charges. There have been angry scenes outside the court. Police said two protesters had died. The court ruling is the culmination of months of political turmoil and public protest. An election must now be held within 60 days. Ms Park's office said she would not be leaving the Blue House, South Korea's presidential palace, on Friday nor making any statement. Acting President Hwang Kyo-ahn has called for calm, saying the government should remain stable to prevent internal conflict from spreading. At the heart of the drama lies the close friendship between the president and Ms Choi. Ms Choi is accused of using her presidential connections to pressure companies to give millions of dollars in donations to non-profit foundations she controlled. Ms Park is alleged to have been personally involved in this, and to have given Ms Choi unacceptable levels of access to official documents. Parliament voted to impeach Ms Park in December and the Constitutional Court has since been deciding whether to uphold or overturn this. On Friday, a panel of eight judges ruled Ms Park's actions \"seriously impaired the spirit of... democracy and the rule of law\". The court said she had broken the law by allowing Ms Choi to meddle in state affairs, and had breached guidelines on official secrets by leaking numerous documents. Ms Park had \"concealed completely Choi's meddling in state affairs and denied it whenever suspicions over the act emerged and even criticised those who raised the suspicions,\" it said. But the judges dismissed some charges, including accusations Ms Park had infringed on freedom of the press by creating a media blacklist of cultural figures, and criticism of her response during the 2014 Sewol ferry disaster. Ms Park was already suspended from presidential duties, with the prime minister taking over her responsibilities. But she must now leave office - and her official residence - and a presidential election will be held within the next 60 days. She has also lost her presidential immunity so could now face criminal charges over allegations she colluded with Ms Choi. As the various twists and turns of the scandal came to light public fury across South Korea intensified, with many staging demonstrations calling for her to step down. The final decision is being celebrated by many, but as the verdict came through angry scenes erupted outside court. Pro-Park protesters - mostly older conservatives - turned on police. Two people believed to be pro-Park died. South Korea's Yon hap news agency reported that one was killed when a loudspeaker fell on them, while an elderly man fell from a police van. Besides a possible criminal trial for Ms Park, there is also the ongoing prosecution of Ms Choi. The de-facto head of Samsung, Lee Jae-yong, is also on trial for a string of corruption charges linked to the scandal. Analysts say the protests in recent months have sent a strong signal that the close relationship between politicians and the chaebols - large family businesses that dominate the economy - needs to change. A new election could change the political landscape of South Korea. But society remains deeply divided. The moment the judgement was announced, there was cheering in the streets. But there is also pro-Park feeling. The country is split and nobody quite knows what will happen. One argument is that if a court can remove a president, democracy is not weak. The outcome is uncertain, but polls indicate a leftward shift.  If the government does move to the left, that has consequences for the relationship with North Korea and the United States. A leftish government might well re-open the industrial complex just inside North Korea, but with South Korean firms and managers. It might also seek more contact with North Korea, running counter to recent US-South Korean policy. There is also a personal tragedy here. Ms Park is the daughter of Park Chung-hee, the general who seized power in 1961 and who set the country on a route towards industrialisation. He was assassinated, as was her mother. She has lived an isolated life ever since, even as president. She has relied on her best friend for 40 years - Choi Soon-sil. The friendship has cost her the presidency and an honourable place in history.  It may now put her behind bars.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 837, "answer_end": 2066, "text": "At the heart of the drama lies the close friendship between the president and Ms Choi. Ms Choi is accused of using her presidential connections to pressure companies to give millions of dollars in donations to non-profit foundations she controlled. Ms Park is alleged to have been personally involved in this, and to have given Ms Choi unacceptable levels of access to official documents. Parliament voted to impeach Ms Park in December and the Constitutional Court has since been deciding whether to uphold or overturn this. On Friday, a panel of eight judges ruled Ms Park's actions \"seriously impaired the spirit of... democracy and the rule of law\". The court said she had broken the law by allowing Ms Choi to meddle in state affairs, and had breached guidelines on official secrets by leaking numerous documents. Ms Park had \"concealed completely Choi's meddling in state affairs and denied it whenever suspicions over the act emerged and even criticised those who raised the suspicions,\" it said. But the judges dismissed some charges, including accusations Ms Park had infringed on freedom of the press by creating a media blacklist of cultural figures, and criticism of her response during the 2014 Sewol ferry disaster."}], "question": "Why did Park lose her job?", "id": "579_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2067, "answer_end": 2430, "text": "Ms Park was already suspended from presidential duties, with the prime minister taking over her responsibilities. But she must now leave office - and her official residence - and a presidential election will be held within the next 60 days. She has also lost her presidential immunity so could now face criminal charges over allegations she colluded with Ms Choi."}], "question": "What happens now?", "id": "579_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2431, "answer_end": 2965, "text": "As the various twists and turns of the scandal came to light public fury across South Korea intensified, with many staging demonstrations calling for her to step down. The final decision is being celebrated by many, but as the verdict came through angry scenes erupted outside court. Pro-Park protesters - mostly older conservatives - turned on police. Two people believed to be pro-Park died. South Korea's Yon hap news agency reported that one was killed when a loudspeaker fell on them, while an elderly man fell from a police van."}], "question": "What has been the reaction?", "id": "579_2"}]}]}, {"title": "China hails 'first Antarctica flight' for its tourists", "date": "18 December 2017", "paragraphs": [{"context": "According to Chinese media, the country's first commercial flight to Antarctica brought 22 lucky tourists to the exotic destination this weekend. The trip is hailed as a milestone - but is it really? And what does it tell us about China's geopolitical ambitions in the region? Described in Chinese papers as the beginning of a new era in the country's tourism to Antarctica, the trip took the select few from Hong Kong all the way to the actual South Pole. That meant a 15-hour flight to South Africa, refuelling in Cape Town and then another 5.5 hours to Antarctica.  From there, it's another five to six hours to the pole, where the flight landed on a 2.5-km (1.5-mile) runway carved into the ice. The Chinese tour operator describes the trip as a milestone, saying it means Chinese tourists no longer have to book via foreign agencies. But how much of a first was it really? The leg from Cape Town onwards was in fact organised by White Desert, a tour operator who offers such trips to the pole on a regular basis. That means it was rather a co-operation between a Chinese tour organiser and one of the established players based in South Africa. Does a trip that long strike you as something of an ordeal? Just consider that the usual tourist route is significantly longer. Heading to the seventh continent by plane is the exception rather than the rule. Almost all tourists come by boat - typically from Argentina's southernmost port of Ushuaia. Another option is from New Zealand - a route often picked by people interested in a more historical itinerary tracing the footsteps of famous past explorers like Sir Ernest Shackleton for instance. \"Trips differ in length - they can be six days to three weeks or even longer,\" Leanne Flanagan Smith of tour operator BackTrack Adventures told the BBC. Why do people want to go there? There are many reasons, she says. \"For some people it's simply a bucket list thing - it's their seventh continent and they want to tick it off. Others come for the wildlife but usually end up being more impressed and overwhelmed by the ice and the spectacular landscapes,\" she say. Travel season is during the Antarctic summer from November until the end of March. What's the price tag? The cheapest options will cost you around $5,000 (PS3,750) - that's by boat from Ushuaia so you'll still have a substantial additional air fare just to get to Argentina. On the whole, visitor numbers are going up. After having reached an all-time high of 46,265 visitors in the 2007-2008 season, visitor numbers dropped in the following years due to the global economic crisis. But numbers have been steadily on the rise again over the past years. Last season 44,367 tourists visited the continent and numbers are expected to keep rising. The International Association of Antarctic Tour Operators (IAATO) was created to promote a safe and environmentally responsible tourism industry and works closely with the Antarctic Treaty Parties, which is a partnership of more than 50 countries jointly governing the continent. There's still room for more tourists, Amanda Lynnes of IAATO told the BBC. \"But continuous monitoring is absolutely key,\" she added. The tour operators are following very strict guidelines laid by the organisation, according to Ms Lynnes. One such rule for instances is that there can never be more than 100 people on shore at any one landing point at any one time. Once on land there are also strict rules - even detailing how close you are allowed to walk up to a penguin. \"This is very symbolic,\" explains Dr Nengye Liu of the University of Adelaide. \"It ties in with the bigger picture of China getting more and more actively involved in Antarctic affairs.\" Chinese tourists already make up the second largest group of visitors, second only to those from the US. The number of Chinese tourists to Antarctica has grown significantly in recent years, from fewer than 100 in 2008 to 3,944 in 2016. And if the steep rise in interest from past years is anything to go by, Chinese visitors will soon top the table. \"In Chinese media, this is presented as the first time that tourists can travel through a Chinese operator,\" Mr Liu says. \"Of course it's extremely expensive but it does showcase China's growing interest in the region.\" Since 2013, China has identified the polar regions as one of the country's new strategic frontiers. And that means there's a strong political will in being part of how the governing of the poles will be shaped in the future. At the recent Communist Party Congress, Beijing's new five-year plan clearly stated that the government wanted to invest huge amounts of money in projects towards the exploration of the poles. \"Eventually, China's ambition is that they will be able to put forward their own proposal to influence how the two polar regions will be governed,\" Mr Liu says. Despite the current example of a top-of-the-menu extravaganza all the way to the pole, most Chinese tourists of course take the normal route by cruise ship from South America. In fact, only 1% of tourists fly to the interior of the continent. \"A flight that takes you to Antarctica and then continuing on to the actual Pole with another plane - that's really just for the bucket list people: tourists that really want to tick off the South Pole and can afford it,\" Ms Flanagan Smith says.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1277, "answer_end": 2389, "text": "Heading to the seventh continent by plane is the exception rather than the rule. Almost all tourists come by boat - typically from Argentina's southernmost port of Ushuaia. Another option is from New Zealand - a route often picked by people interested in a more historical itinerary tracing the footsteps of famous past explorers like Sir Ernest Shackleton for instance. \"Trips differ in length - they can be six days to three weeks or even longer,\" Leanne Flanagan Smith of tour operator BackTrack Adventures told the BBC. Why do people want to go there? There are many reasons, she says. \"For some people it's simply a bucket list thing - it's their seventh continent and they want to tick it off. Others come for the wildlife but usually end up being more impressed and overwhelmed by the ice and the spectacular landscapes,\" she say. Travel season is during the Antarctic summer from November until the end of March. What's the price tag? The cheapest options will cost you around $5,000 (PS3,750) - that's by boat from Ushuaia so you'll still have a substantial additional air fare just to get to Argentina."}], "question": "What is there to see?", "id": "580_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2390, "answer_end": 3513, "text": "On the whole, visitor numbers are going up. After having reached an all-time high of 46,265 visitors in the 2007-2008 season, visitor numbers dropped in the following years due to the global economic crisis. But numbers have been steadily on the rise again over the past years. Last season 44,367 tourists visited the continent and numbers are expected to keep rising. The International Association of Antarctic Tour Operators (IAATO) was created to promote a safe and environmentally responsible tourism industry and works closely with the Antarctic Treaty Parties, which is a partnership of more than 50 countries jointly governing the continent. There's still room for more tourists, Amanda Lynnes of IAATO told the BBC. \"But continuous monitoring is absolutely key,\" she added. The tour operators are following very strict guidelines laid by the organisation, according to Ms Lynnes. One such rule for instances is that there can never be more than 100 people on shore at any one landing point at any one time. Once on land there are also strict rules - even detailing how close you are allowed to walk up to a penguin."}], "question": "Can Antarctica cope with mass tourism?", "id": "580_1"}]}]}, {"title": "Armenia leader intervenes in protest against predecessor", "date": "21 April 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "The new president of Armenia has intervened personally with opposition supporters protesting at his predecessor's attempts to retain power. Armen Sargsyan walked up to the leader of the protests in the capital Yerevan to shake hands and chat briefly, apparently to propose formal talks. Unrest has gripped the republic in the Caucasus Mountains for nine days. Serzh Sargsyan (no relation) stepped down as president but returned as prime minister, breaking his own promise. While he was president, the country shifted from a presidential system to a parliamentary republic, vesting real power in the office of the prime minister. Riot police have been facing off with crowds of demonstrators for days and scuffles have broken out, with a number of arrests. Many Armenians want to see genuine change in their country but they feel that they are being deprived of that opportunity because the leadership remains the same, the BBC's Rayhan Demytrie reports. The small landlocked country, population 3.1 million, saw an economic recovery last year, the World Bank reports. However, it is vulnerable to developments in Russia, its biggest trading partner after the EU and a major destination for its migrant workers. The president approached protest leader Nikol Pashinyan on Republic Square, removing his tie as he did so, apparently to emphasise it was an informal meeting. They talked for about 10 minutes, reporters say, with Mr Sargsyan suggesting they move to a hotel to hold proper negotiations. Mr Pashinyan declined the offer of immediate talks but asked for a guarantee that force would not be used against the demonstrators. Escorted by his bodyguards, the president then walked back to his car and left as the crowd chanted \"take a step - overthrow Serzh\". Mr Pashinyan later announced he would meet Serzh Sargsyan at  hotel on Sunday morning. There was no immediate official confirmation that the meeting would take place. Mr Pashinyan recently described the action he leads as a \"velvet revolution\", referring to the peaceful protests in 1989 that ended communist rule in Czechoslovakia (which later split into two states, the Czech Republic and Slovakia). The veteran opposition activist, who was jailed over his part in violent protests against Mr Sargsyan in 2008,  called on supporters to \"paralyse the entire state system\" because \"power should pass to the people\". In the past, Serzh Sargsyan said he had no intention of becoming prime minister at the end of his second five-year presidential term. However, on Tuesday he was chosen by parliament to serve as prime minister. In 2008, when Mr Sargsyan was first elected president, demonstrations erupted, with protesters alleging vote-rigging. At least eight people died in clashes with the authorities. His supporters argue that the tough veteran of the Nagorno-Karabakh war with Azerbaijan has provided the national security Armenia needs but he has been accused of failing to address continuing tensions with Azerbaijan and Turkey. Closer to home, critics have identified his rule with widespread poverty and over-dependence on Russia.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1930, "answer_end": 3101, "text": "Mr Pashinyan recently described the action he leads as a \"velvet revolution\", referring to the peaceful protests in 1989 that ended communist rule in Czechoslovakia (which later split into two states, the Czech Republic and Slovakia). The veteran opposition activist, who was jailed over his part in violent protests against Mr Sargsyan in 2008,  called on supporters to \"paralyse the entire state system\" because \"power should pass to the people\". In the past, Serzh Sargsyan said he had no intention of becoming prime minister at the end of his second five-year presidential term. However, on Tuesday he was chosen by parliament to serve as prime minister. In 2008, when Mr Sargsyan was first elected president, demonstrations erupted, with protesters alleging vote-rigging. At least eight people died in clashes with the authorities. His supporters argue that the tough veteran of the Nagorno-Karabakh war with Azerbaijan has provided the national security Armenia needs but he has been accused of failing to address continuing tensions with Azerbaijan and Turkey. Closer to home, critics have identified his rule with widespread poverty and over-dependence on Russia."}], "question": "Why is there such anger at Serzh Sargsyan?", "id": "581_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Queen Elizabeth Prize for Engineering: GPS pioneers lauded", "date": "12 February 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "This year's PS1m QE Engineering Prize has been won by four individuals who played key roles in developing GPS. The Americans Brad Parkinson, James Spilker Jr, Hugo Fruehauf, and Richard Schwartz were all present at the London ceremony held to announce the honour. HRH The Princess Royal made the award. The Global Positioning System began as a military project but has since had a revolutionary impact on wider society, and now underpins hundreds of billions of dollars of economic activity. Dr Parkinson said it was an extraordinary honour to receive the Queen Elizabeth Prize for Engineering, but he was then quick to pay tribute to the many people who were involved in the innovation. \"It is an awesome honour. There is no prize for engineering greater than this,\" he told BBC News. \"The nice part is that it's a recognition for technology that is good for humanity around the world. And it's humbling because, candidly, the four of us represent another score of engineers, and more, who made critical contributions. Nobody does everything.\" GPS is made possible by a network of 24-plus spacecraft in orbit that transmit precise timing and positional information to receivers around the globe. And while most people will be familiar with the technology from their smartphone or car sat-nav device - the signals are used in myriad and ever-expanding ways, helping to synchronise cellular and data networks; to time-stamp financial transactions; and to co-ordinate supply chains, whether they involve trucks, planes, ships or trains. Indeed, it is hard to think of an activity in modern society that doesn't lean in some way on GPS and its sister services now coming online, such as Europe's Galileo network. And this reliance will only go deeper as we enter two new eras - that of the so-called \"Internet of Things\", where all manner of objects are connected through the internet; and that of Big Data, where huge volumes of information points are analysed by powerful computers to reveal entirely new behavioural patterns and trends. Bradford Parkinson is sometimes referred to as the \"father of GPS\". The retired United States Air Force Colonel led the development of the system we know today. He pulled together experts over Labor Day weekend, 1973, to brainstorm the project, producing a 7-page report that was then implemented with initial funding of $200m. Dr Parkinson recruited James Spilker Jr, who designed the signal that's transmitted by the satellites. Hugo Freuhauf is credited with miniaturising laboratory atomic clocks so they could be carried aboard a spacecraft. These small, super-accurate timepieces are at the heart of the system. And Richard Schwartz takes a share in the prize for the radiation-hardened design of the satellites, which at the start of the project were made by Rockwell International. The GPS spacecraft operate in a Medium-Earth Orbit (MEO) at an altitude of 20,000km, where energetic particles can trip electronic circuits unless they're properly protected. Prof Sir Christopher Snowden, chair of the Queen Elizabeth Prize for Engineering Judging Panel, said: \"GPS is something which pulls together so many different technologies, and it was an incredibly complicated challenge to develop it. \"It even has the Theory of Relativity applied into it. If you're looking for something that spans nearly every aspect of engineering and science - you've got it with GPS.\" Lord Browne of Madingley, who chairs the foundation that runs the prize, added: \"Engineering is the foundation of civilisation; there is no other foundation; it makes things happen. And that's exactly what today's Laureates have done - they've made things happen. They've re-written, in a major way, the infrastructure of our world.\" The USAF currently has 31 operational satellites in orbit to deliver the GPS signals. The first of a new design for the spacecraft, now built by Lockheed Martin, was launched in December. Known as Block III, this iteration of satellite has three times better accuracy and is said to be significantly more resistant to jamming and \"spoofing\" (making a receiver think it is somewhere it is not). The Block III also incorporates an addition to its signal structure that will improve interoperability with the likes of Galileo. The prize was announced at the Royal Academy of Engineering, which released a report in 2011 that warned of the dangers for society if it became over-reliant on GPS. A more recent study even calculated the cost to the British economy should there be a network failure. It put this at a billion pounds a day. Dr Parkinson said he shared the concern. \"Like all good things, GPS is something on which we can become too dependent,\" he told BBC News. \"We have a concept - PTA, which stands for Protect, Toughen and Augment. Protect the frequencies and the signal. Toughen the receivers, and Augment the system - put in place other systems which may not be as accurate or as robust but which provide a back-up, and give a user in trouble a backdoor to get out of trouble.\"", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1045, "answer_end": 2036, "text": "GPS is made possible by a network of 24-plus spacecraft in orbit that transmit precise timing and positional information to receivers around the globe. And while most people will be familiar with the technology from their smartphone or car sat-nav device - the signals are used in myriad and ever-expanding ways, helping to synchronise cellular and data networks; to time-stamp financial transactions; and to co-ordinate supply chains, whether they involve trucks, planes, ships or trains. Indeed, it is hard to think of an activity in modern society that doesn't lean in some way on GPS and its sister services now coming online, such as Europe's Galileo network. And this reliance will only go deeper as we enter two new eras - that of the so-called \"Internet of Things\", where all manner of objects are connected through the internet; and that of Big Data, where huge volumes of information points are analysed by powerful computers to reveal entirely new behavioural patterns and trends."}], "question": "How important is GPS?", "id": "582_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2037, "answer_end": 3001, "text": "Bradford Parkinson is sometimes referred to as the \"father of GPS\". The retired United States Air Force Colonel led the development of the system we know today. He pulled together experts over Labor Day weekend, 1973, to brainstorm the project, producing a 7-page report that was then implemented with initial funding of $200m. Dr Parkinson recruited James Spilker Jr, who designed the signal that's transmitted by the satellites. Hugo Freuhauf is credited with miniaturising laboratory atomic clocks so they could be carried aboard a spacecraft. These small, super-accurate timepieces are at the heart of the system. And Richard Schwartz takes a share in the prize for the radiation-hardened design of the satellites, which at the start of the project were made by Rockwell International. The GPS spacecraft operate in a Medium-Earth Orbit (MEO) at an altitude of 20,000km, where energetic particles can trip electronic circuits unless they're properly protected."}], "question": "What did the laureates do?", "id": "582_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3002, "answer_end": 3930, "text": "Prof Sir Christopher Snowden, chair of the Queen Elizabeth Prize for Engineering Judging Panel, said: \"GPS is something which pulls together so many different technologies, and it was an incredibly complicated challenge to develop it. \"It even has the Theory of Relativity applied into it. If you're looking for something that spans nearly every aspect of engineering and science - you've got it with GPS.\" Lord Browne of Madingley, who chairs the foundation that runs the prize, added: \"Engineering is the foundation of civilisation; there is no other foundation; it makes things happen. And that's exactly what today's Laureates have done - they've made things happen. They've re-written, in a major way, the infrastructure of our world.\" The USAF currently has 31 operational satellites in orbit to deliver the GPS signals. The first of a new design for the spacecraft, now built by Lockheed Martin, was launched in December."}], "question": "Why does this award matter?", "id": "582_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3931, "answer_end": 5033, "text": "Known as Block III, this iteration of satellite has three times better accuracy and is said to be significantly more resistant to jamming and \"spoofing\" (making a receiver think it is somewhere it is not). The Block III also incorporates an addition to its signal structure that will improve interoperability with the likes of Galileo. The prize was announced at the Royal Academy of Engineering, which released a report in 2011 that warned of the dangers for society if it became over-reliant on GPS. A more recent study even calculated the cost to the British economy should there be a network failure. It put this at a billion pounds a day. Dr Parkinson said he shared the concern. \"Like all good things, GPS is something on which we can become too dependent,\" he told BBC News. \"We have a concept - PTA, which stands for Protect, Toughen and Augment. Protect the frequencies and the signal. Toughen the receivers, and Augment the system - put in place other systems which may not be as accurate or as robust but which provide a back-up, and give a user in trouble a backdoor to get out of trouble.\""}], "question": "How is GPS being improved?", "id": "582_3"}]}]}, {"title": "Who loses out in the US-China trade war?", "date": "14 May 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "The US-China trade war has escalated in recent days, with both countries announcing new tariffs on each other's goods. US President Donald Trump has said repeatedly that China will pay these taxes, even though his economic advisor, Larry Kudlow, on Sunday admitted that US firms pay the tariffs on any goods brought in from China. So is Mr Trump wrong when he says the trade war is good for the US, and generating billions of dollars for the US Treasury? And who will lose most as the conflict escalates? US importers, not Chinese firms, pay the tariffs in the form of taxes to the US government, confirms Christophe Bondy, a lawyer at Cooley LLP. Mr Bondy, who was senior counsel to the Canadian government during the Canada-EU free trade agreement negotiations, says it is likely that these additional costs are then simply passed on to US consumers in the form of higher prices. \"They [the tariffs] have a strongly disruptive effect on supply chains,\" he said. China remains America's top trading partner, with exports rising 7% last year. However, trade flows to the US slipped 9% in the first quarter of 2019, suggesting the trade war is starting to bite. Despite this, Dr Meredith Crowley, a trade expert at the University of Cambridge, says there is no evidence that Chinese firms have cut their prices in a bid to keep US firms buying. \"Some exporters of highly substitutable goods have just dropped out of the market as US firms have started importing from elsewhere. Their margins are too thin and tariffs are clearly hurting them. \"I suspect those selling highly differentiated goods have not reduced their prices, possibly because US importers rely on them too much.\" According to two academic studies published in March, American businesses and consumers paid almost the entire cost of US trade tariffs imposed on imports from China and elsewhere last year. Economists from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, Princeton University and Columbia University calculated that duties imposed on a wide range of imports, from steel to washing machines, cost US firms and consumers $3bn (PS2.3bn) a month in additional tax costs. It also identified a further $1.4bn in losses linked to depressed demand. The second paper, penned by among others, Pinelopi Goldberg, the World Bank's chief economist, also found that consumers and US companies were paying most of the costs of the tariffs. According to its analysis, after taking into account the retaliation by other countries, the biggest victims of Trump's trade wars were farmers and blue-collar workers in areas that supported Trump in the 2016 election. Mr Trump has said US firms that import from China should look elsewhere - perhaps to Vietnam - or better still buy their goods from American manufacturers. But Mr Bondy says it is not so simple. \"It takes a long time for productivity and value chains to be reoriented and that all comes at a cost. \"Take the steel tariffs the US imposed last year - it is not like all of a sudden there are hundreds of new factories being built in the US.\" China is also a manufacturing powerhouse, dwarfing its nearest rivals, which makes it hard to replace it in global supply chains. There is little evidence to suggest they have, say both Dr Crowley and Mr Bondy. In 2009, President Obama placed a steep tariff of 35% on Chinese tyres, citing a surge in imports that was costing US jobs. However, research from the Peterson Institute for International Economics in 2012 found the cost to American consumers from higher tyre prices was around $1.1bn in 2011. Although about 1,200 manufacturing jobs were saved, it said, the additional money US consumers spent reduced their spending on other retail goods, \"indirectly lowering employment in the retail industry\". \"Adding further to the loss column, China retaliated by imposing antidumping duties on US exports of chicken parts, costing that industry around $1bn in sales,\" it said. The one example usually given to defend tariffs is US President Ronald Reagan's decision to impose steep duties on Japanese motorcycles in 1983. The move is credited as saving struggling US bike-maker Harley Davidson from a surge of foreign competition. But some have argued it was the company's own efforts - including modernising its factories and building better engines - that really drove its turnaround. Dr Crowley says the duties may draw China back to the negotiating table, but she does not expect them to offer radical compromises. \"Yes they are having more of a growth slowdown, and they export more to the US than vice versa, so they will suffer more from a trade war. \"But they are not really interested in changing their laws, and even if they did, do they really have the legal culture to enforce it?\" Mr Bondy thinks Mr Trump's tariffs threats are more about whipping up his voter base and making headlines. \"Tariffs are easier to understand than the painstaking work of negotiating common sets of rules on things like the behaviour of state-owned entities, protection of intellectual property, fair access to markets and baseline protections for workers and the environment.\"", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 964, "answer_end": 1679, "text": "China remains America's top trading partner, with exports rising 7% last year. However, trade flows to the US slipped 9% in the first quarter of 2019, suggesting the trade war is starting to bite. Despite this, Dr Meredith Crowley, a trade expert at the University of Cambridge, says there is no evidence that Chinese firms have cut their prices in a bid to keep US firms buying. \"Some exporters of highly substitutable goods have just dropped out of the market as US firms have started importing from elsewhere. Their margins are too thin and tariffs are clearly hurting them. \"I suspect those selling highly differentiated goods have not reduced their prices, possibly because US importers rely on them too much.\""}], "question": "What has the impact been on China?", "id": "583_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1680, "answer_end": 2614, "text": "According to two academic studies published in March, American businesses and consumers paid almost the entire cost of US trade tariffs imposed on imports from China and elsewhere last year. Economists from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, Princeton University and Columbia University calculated that duties imposed on a wide range of imports, from steel to washing machines, cost US firms and consumers $3bn (PS2.3bn) a month in additional tax costs. It also identified a further $1.4bn in losses linked to depressed demand. The second paper, penned by among others, Pinelopi Goldberg, the World Bank's chief economist, also found that consumers and US companies were paying most of the costs of the tariffs. According to its analysis, after taking into account the retaliation by other countries, the biggest victims of Trump's trade wars were farmers and blue-collar workers in areas that supported Trump in the 2016 election."}], "question": "What has the impact on the US been?", "id": "583_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2615, "answer_end": 3184, "text": "Mr Trump has said US firms that import from China should look elsewhere - perhaps to Vietnam - or better still buy their goods from American manufacturers. But Mr Bondy says it is not so simple. \"It takes a long time for productivity and value chains to be reoriented and that all comes at a cost. \"Take the steel tariffs the US imposed last year - it is not like all of a sudden there are hundreds of new factories being built in the US.\" China is also a manufacturing powerhouse, dwarfing its nearest rivals, which makes it hard to replace it in global supply chains."}], "question": "Can't US firms just buy their goods from other countries?", "id": "583_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3185, "answer_end": 4343, "text": "There is little evidence to suggest they have, say both Dr Crowley and Mr Bondy. In 2009, President Obama placed a steep tariff of 35% on Chinese tyres, citing a surge in imports that was costing US jobs. However, research from the Peterson Institute for International Economics in 2012 found the cost to American consumers from higher tyre prices was around $1.1bn in 2011. Although about 1,200 manufacturing jobs were saved, it said, the additional money US consumers spent reduced their spending on other retail goods, \"indirectly lowering employment in the retail industry\". \"Adding further to the loss column, China retaliated by imposing antidumping duties on US exports of chicken parts, costing that industry around $1bn in sales,\" it said. The one example usually given to defend tariffs is US President Ronald Reagan's decision to impose steep duties on Japanese motorcycles in 1983. The move is credited as saving struggling US bike-maker Harley Davidson from a surge of foreign competition. But some have argued it was the company's own efforts - including modernising its factories and building better engines - that really drove its turnaround."}], "question": "Have trade tariffs ever worked?", "id": "583_3"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 4344, "answer_end": 5126, "text": "Dr Crowley says the duties may draw China back to the negotiating table, but she does not expect them to offer radical compromises. \"Yes they are having more of a growth slowdown, and they export more to the US than vice versa, so they will suffer more from a trade war. \"But they are not really interested in changing their laws, and even if they did, do they really have the legal culture to enforce it?\" Mr Bondy thinks Mr Trump's tariffs threats are more about whipping up his voter base and making headlines. \"Tariffs are easier to understand than the painstaking work of negotiating common sets of rules on things like the behaviour of state-owned entities, protection of intellectual property, fair access to markets and baseline protections for workers and the environment.\""}], "question": "Will the US tariffs force China to strike a deal?", "id": "583_4"}]}]}, {"title": "Austria blocks EU-Mercosur trade deal with South America", "date": "19 September 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "MPs in Austria have dealt a blow to the EU's landmark trade deal with South America's economic bloc, by demanding a government veto on the deal. The draft free trade agreement took 20 years to complete and the EU has described it as its biggest so far. France and Ireland have already warned they will reject the deal if Brazil does not do more to curb fires in the Amazon rainforest. Austrian groups say the deal must do more to tackle environment issues. All but one of Austria's main parties rejected the deal in a parliamentary sub-committee, from the far right to the centre left. Mercosur includes four South American economies - Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay. A fifth member, Venezuela, is currently suspended. Without backing from every government in the EU, the Mercosur deal cannot go through. Jorg Leichtfried of the centre-left SPO hailed the decision as a \"great success for consumers, the environment and animal welfare as well as human rights\", warning that it would have been bad for climate protection and labour rights in South America. Austria's trade union federation OGB had campaigned against the deal, arguing it had not sought binding rules on workers and the environment but focused on the interests of industry rather than people. Green MEP Monika Vana praised the decision as \"laying down a marker in Europe\". Austria's federation of industry, however, has backed the Mercosur deal, warning against \"populist scaremongering and free-trade myths\" and insisting that the deal includes a commitment to the Paris Climate Agreement and the fight against deforestation in the Amazon. The liberal Neos party was alone in rejecting a veto, calling instead for the deal to be renegotiated. Austrians are currently in the grip of an election campaign ahead of a 29 September vote. The centre-right alliance with the far-right Freedom Party fell apart in May amidst a corruption scandal. The deal was announced amid great fanfare in June, but weeks later Europe's leaders were shocked by the spread of fires raging in the Amazon rainforest. Brazil's President, Jair Bolsonaro, was accused by France's Emmanuel Macron of lying over his stance on climate change. When Mr Macron pledged millions of dollars in aid to help reforest the Amazon, Mr Bolsonaro hit back by accusing him of treating it as a \"colony or a no-man's land\". Ireland and Luxembourg also threatened to block the deal because of the far-right Brazilian leader's environmental policy. The EU is already Mercosur's biggest trade partner, accounting last year for 20.1% of the bloc's trade in goods such as food, drink, farm products and tobacco. EU exports account for only 2.3% of the European bloc's total and tariffs on EU products are as high as 35% for cars and clothing. The agreement, which would cover 780 million people, aims to remove trade barriers and promote high standards, with a commitment to sustainable management and conservation of forests and respect for labour rights. European Council President Donald Tusk said last month it was difficult to see the accord getting through while fires were continuing in the Amazon rainforest.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 814, "answer_end": 1913, "text": "Jorg Leichtfried of the centre-left SPO hailed the decision as a \"great success for consumers, the environment and animal welfare as well as human rights\", warning that it would have been bad for climate protection and labour rights in South America. Austria's trade union federation OGB had campaigned against the deal, arguing it had not sought binding rules on workers and the environment but focused on the interests of industry rather than people. Green MEP Monika Vana praised the decision as \"laying down a marker in Europe\". Austria's federation of industry, however, has backed the Mercosur deal, warning against \"populist scaremongering and free-trade myths\" and insisting that the deal includes a commitment to the Paris Climate Agreement and the fight against deforestation in the Amazon. The liberal Neos party was alone in rejecting a veto, calling instead for the deal to be renegotiated. Austrians are currently in the grip of an election campaign ahead of a 29 September vote. The centre-right alliance with the far-right Freedom Party fell apart in May amidst a corruption scandal."}], "question": "Why do Austrian MPs dislike the deal?", "id": "584_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1914, "answer_end": 2475, "text": "The deal was announced amid great fanfare in June, but weeks later Europe's leaders were shocked by the spread of fires raging in the Amazon rainforest. Brazil's President, Jair Bolsonaro, was accused by France's Emmanuel Macron of lying over his stance on climate change. When Mr Macron pledged millions of dollars in aid to help reforest the Amazon, Mr Bolsonaro hit back by accusing him of treating it as a \"colony or a no-man's land\". Ireland and Luxembourg also threatened to block the deal because of the far-right Brazilian leader's environmental policy."}], "question": "What is France's objection?", "id": "584_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2476, "answer_end": 3140, "text": "The EU is already Mercosur's biggest trade partner, accounting last year for 20.1% of the bloc's trade in goods such as food, drink, farm products and tobacco. EU exports account for only 2.3% of the European bloc's total and tariffs on EU products are as high as 35% for cars and clothing. The agreement, which would cover 780 million people, aims to remove trade barriers and promote high standards, with a commitment to sustainable management and conservation of forests and respect for labour rights. European Council President Donald Tusk said last month it was difficult to see the accord getting through while fires were continuing in the Amazon rainforest."}], "question": "What's in the EU deal?", "id": "584_2"}]}]}, {"title": "Albania manhunt after gang target plane in '\u20ac10m heist'", "date": "10 April 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "A suspected gang leader was shot dead after a dramatic raid on an Austrian airlines plane on the runway at Tirana airport in Albania. Passengers waiting for the Airbus plane to leave Mother Teresa airport near the capital saw the gang approach security police wielding AK-47 rifles. They are then thought to have entered the plane to steal as much as EUR10m (PS8.5m; $11m) in cash. The gang fled but then ran into a police patrol and opened fire. Albanian media showed footage of a white van carrying tax agency signs being driven inside the airport fence before the robbery at around 15:00 on Tuesday. It had apparently burst on to the site through a gate used by emergency services. It is thought the masked gang had inside knowledge of the cash cargo that had been loaded on to the plane ahead of its flight to Vienna. As Albania's central bank does not accept deposits of hard currency, some locally based foreign banks have to ship foreign currency to Austria by plane. The airport has been targeted by robbers before. The gang held up the guards and forced open the plane's cargo doors before loading their vehicle with most of the cash on the plane. The robbery lasted three or four minutes, reports said. They then drove away in the van but were confronted by police a short distance away. They opened fire and, when the patrol fired back, one of the three robbers was shot in the head. Albanian reports say the dead man was later identified by his family as Admir Murataj. Deputy Prime Minister Erion Brace praised the police, saying they had \"eliminated the leader\" and were pursuing the rest of the gang, saying all the robbers had been identified. The robbers' van was later found burned out and one witness told Albanian TV that they had escaped by bicycle. As news of the robbery emerged, banking officials said they may have to stop transfers of cash to Vienna. Organised crime gangs have been behind previous raids on cash transfers to Vienna. Almost EUR1m was stolen in a raid in 2016 not far from the airport. Then in February 2017 thieves stole EUR3.2m ($3.6m; PS2.7m). Police later found some of the money stashed underground in pressure cookers.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 447, "answer_end": 2166, "text": "Albanian media showed footage of a white van carrying tax agency signs being driven inside the airport fence before the robbery at around 15:00 on Tuesday. It had apparently burst on to the site through a gate used by emergency services. It is thought the masked gang had inside knowledge of the cash cargo that had been loaded on to the plane ahead of its flight to Vienna. As Albania's central bank does not accept deposits of hard currency, some locally based foreign banks have to ship foreign currency to Austria by plane. The airport has been targeted by robbers before. The gang held up the guards and forced open the plane's cargo doors before loading their vehicle with most of the cash on the plane. The robbery lasted three or four minutes, reports said. They then drove away in the van but were confronted by police a short distance away. They opened fire and, when the patrol fired back, one of the three robbers was shot in the head. Albanian reports say the dead man was later identified by his family as Admir Murataj. Deputy Prime Minister Erion Brace praised the police, saying they had \"eliminated the leader\" and were pursuing the rest of the gang, saying all the robbers had been identified. The robbers' van was later found burned out and one witness told Albanian TV that they had escaped by bicycle. As news of the robbery emerged, banking officials said they may have to stop transfers of cash to Vienna. Organised crime gangs have been behind previous raids on cash transfers to Vienna. Almost EUR1m was stolen in a raid in 2016 not far from the airport. Then in February 2017 thieves stole EUR3.2m ($3.6m; PS2.7m). Police later found some of the money stashed underground in pressure cookers."}], "question": "What happened at the airport?", "id": "585_0"}]}]}, {"title": "From Pepsi to Nivea: Some of the worst advertising fails", "date": "6 April 2017", "paragraphs": [{"context": "An advert released by drinks giant Pepsi and starring reality TV star and model Kendall Jenner has left a bad taste around the world. Pepsi apologised and pulled the ad after accusations that it trivialised recent street protests across the US. But it wasn't the only company copping flak for poor creativity this week. German skincare brand Nivea also said sorry over its \"white is purity\" deodorant advert that was deemed discriminatory and racially insensitive. Meanwhile, in the UK, the Co-op supermarket was accused of \"outrageous sexism\" in an advert for chocolate Easter eggs that encouraged parents to \"treat your daughter for doing the washing up\", while Cadbury was criticised after dropping the word \"Easter\" from its egg hunts. These campaigns have now taken their place in the pantheon of bad advertising. Here are a few more picks from recent memory. Here's another one that left a sour taste. The Snickers TV advert featuring Mr T as BA Baracus from The A-Team was pulled after it was accused of being insulting to gay men. Mr T is shown firing Snickers chocolate bars at a man who's speed walking in tight yellow shorts, while yelling, \"You are a disgrace to the man race. It's time to run like a real man.\" Confectionery giant Mars, which owns Snickers, released a statement saying the advert was intended to be funny but that \"humour is highly subjective\". In the US and most of the West, this poster would have caused outrage and accusations of racism. But in Thailand, an image of a woman in blackface and bright pink lipstick to promote a new \"charcoal donut\" wasn't deemed a big deal. The chief executive of the Thai franchise - whose daughter was the model - reportedly said at the time: \"I don't get it. What's the big fuss? What if the product was white and I painted someone white, would that be racist?\" But a spokesman for Dunkin' Brands apologised. The use of blackface - which historically was used by non-black performers to represent a black person - is still used in some Asian countries. Last year, a company in China used it to promote a laundry detergent. The US carmaker was forced to issue an apology over a poster that featured three gagged and bound women in the boot of a car. It also showed former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi in the driver's seat grinning and flashing the peace sign. The advert for Ford's new Fido hatchback was posted online soon after India passed a new law on violence against women following a fatal gang rape. This anti-gambling advert deserves to be ranked in the Hall of Fame (or shame) for the amount of jokes it generated. It was released to coincide with the 2014 World Cup and featured a boy complaining to friends that his dad had bet his life savings on Germany winning. The trouble is... Germany won. Singapore officials updated the ad but not before it got lampooned around the world. It takes quite a lot to shock in France, a country many consider to be one of the most liberal in Europe. But a 2010 anti-smoking advertisement featuring teenagers and oral sex innuendos did just that, with one minister calling it an \"outrage to decency\". Critics said the highly suggestive pictures trivialised the sexual abuse of minors. Thankfully we've since moved on to pictures of diseased organs to put people off smoking instead. There wasn't any cheering when the US department store Bloomingdale's released its Christmas catalogue two years ago. The photo of an attractive, well-dressed woman being eyeballed by an unsmiling man looked innocent enough... Until you read the creepy caption that said \"spike your best friend's eggnog when they're not looking\". The online backlash was swift with many interpreting it as supporting date rape. Bloomingdale's admitted the ad was \"in poor taste\". Benetton's \"Unhate\" campaign (which still exists) had good intentions when it launched in 2011. But on one of its images the Italian clothing company clearly took its photo-editing skills too far. It received a warning and the threat of legal action from the Vatican for a \"totally unacceptable\" image of Pope Benedict XVI kissing an Egyptian imam, and subsequently withdrew the ad. The Vatican said in a statement that the ad was \"damaging not only to the dignity of the Pope and the Catholic Church but also to the feelings of believers\". The White House also disapproved of the images featuring then-President Barack Obama but Benetton kept those. We live in a time where race and gender and sexual orientation remain highly sensitive topics. So what can brands do to generate buzz without offending? David Meikle, who founded marketing consultancy Salt, doubts that Pepsi will suffer from any long-term damage from the Kendall Jenner ad fiasco. \"Pepsi seems to have managed the retraction and apology quite well. Most importantly Pepsi was swift and decisive in its response to the feedback,\" he says. Simon Kemp, a marketing expert with almost two decades of experience, agrees that Pepsi has handled the fallout well but says all eyes will be on its next campaign. \"I think Pepsi has built sufficient goodwill over the years that their core customers will forgive them this time, although they may not forget as quickly as the brand would like. The real test will come when the brand launches its next campaign though, and Pepsi will need to tread carefully for that.\" Share your thoughts and follow Leisha on Twitter.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 4426, "answer_end": 5399, "text": "We live in a time where race and gender and sexual orientation remain highly sensitive topics. So what can brands do to generate buzz without offending? David Meikle, who founded marketing consultancy Salt, doubts that Pepsi will suffer from any long-term damage from the Kendall Jenner ad fiasco. \"Pepsi seems to have managed the retraction and apology quite well. Most importantly Pepsi was swift and decisive in its response to the feedback,\" he says. Simon Kemp, a marketing expert with almost two decades of experience, agrees that Pepsi has handled the fallout well but says all eyes will be on its next campaign. \"I think Pepsi has built sufficient goodwill over the years that their core customers will forgive them this time, although they may not forget as quickly as the brand would like. The real test will come when the brand launches its next campaign though, and Pepsi will need to tread carefully for that.\" Share your thoughts and follow Leisha on Twitter."}], "question": "So what can brands do to avoid this?", "id": "586_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Mario Cerciello Rega case: US students in Italian court over police murder", "date": "26 February 2020", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Two US students accused of murdering a police officer have appeared in court in Italy at the start of their trial. Mario Cerciello Rega, 35, was stabbed to death last July as he investigated a drug deal gone wrong in central Rome. Californian students Finnegan Lee Elder and Gabriel Christian Natale-Hjorth face life sentences if convicted. The US students say they were acting in self-defence, believing the two officers - who they say did not identify themselves - were criminals. Rega's murder received huge amounts of attention in Italy. He had only just returned to duty from his honeymoon, and huge crowds turned out for his funeral at the same church where was married just 43 days before. But there have also been questions about how the case has been handled. Mr Elder and Mr Natale-Hjorth - both teenagers at the time - were allegedly trying to buy cocaine last summer in the Trastevere area, near to Vatican City. Investigators said a man named Sergio Brugiatelli helped the pair find a dealer. But the students were allegedly sold crushed aspirin instead of drugs. Both men then are said to have taken Mr Brugiatelli's rucksack, and demanded their money back and a gram of cocaine in exchange. At this point, Mr Brugiatelli allegedly rang the police. Undercover officers Rega and his partner, Andrea Varriale, arrived soon after. During the ensuing brawl Rega was stabbed 11 times with an 18cm (7 inch) blade. Police said they later found the weapon hidden behind a false panel in the US students' hotel room. Mr Elder has admitted stabbing the officer. But both he and Mr Natale-Hjorth stand accused of murdering Rega, and are also facing extortion charges. There have been a number of questions raised about the case in both the Italian and US media. A leaked photo showing Mr Natale-Hjorth blindfolded and restrained at a police station appeared in the press shortly after their arrest. Rega's partner Mr Varriale later said he had filmed Mr Natale-Hjorth's interrogation on his phone, which is where the photo came from. The police officer said he and Rega identified themselves on the night. But the US students say they saw no evidence they were police. And Mr Varriale also faced a \"dereliction of duty\" charge for not carrying his weapon on the night. Neither he nor Rega were armed, which is against procedure. Defence lawyers for the US students have also raised questions about the case. Talks between Mr Elder and his lawyer appeared in the Italian media which suggested he had confessed. But the defence said the transcripts were badly translated and seemed to omit parts of their conversation. Some in the US have even compared the case to that of Amanda Knox. The US student served four years in prison for the murder of Meredith Kercher. Italy's top appeals court overturned her conviction in 2015.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 769, "answer_end": 1670, "text": "Mr Elder and Mr Natale-Hjorth - both teenagers at the time - were allegedly trying to buy cocaine last summer in the Trastevere area, near to Vatican City. Investigators said a man named Sergio Brugiatelli helped the pair find a dealer. But the students were allegedly sold crushed aspirin instead of drugs. Both men then are said to have taken Mr Brugiatelli's rucksack, and demanded their money back and a gram of cocaine in exchange. At this point, Mr Brugiatelli allegedly rang the police. Undercover officers Rega and his partner, Andrea Varriale, arrived soon after. During the ensuing brawl Rega was stabbed 11 times with an 18cm (7 inch) blade. Police said they later found the weapon hidden behind a false panel in the US students' hotel room. Mr Elder has admitted stabbing the officer. But both he and Mr Natale-Hjorth stand accused of murdering Rega, and are also facing extortion charges."}], "question": "How did Rega die?", "id": "587_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1671, "answer_end": 2826, "text": "There have been a number of questions raised about the case in both the Italian and US media. A leaked photo showing Mr Natale-Hjorth blindfolded and restrained at a police station appeared in the press shortly after their arrest. Rega's partner Mr Varriale later said he had filmed Mr Natale-Hjorth's interrogation on his phone, which is where the photo came from. The police officer said he and Rega identified themselves on the night. But the US students say they saw no evidence they were police. And Mr Varriale also faced a \"dereliction of duty\" charge for not carrying his weapon on the night. Neither he nor Rega were armed, which is against procedure. Defence lawyers for the US students have also raised questions about the case. Talks between Mr Elder and his lawyer appeared in the Italian media which suggested he had confessed. But the defence said the transcripts were badly translated and seemed to omit parts of their conversation. Some in the US have even compared the case to that of Amanda Knox. The US student served four years in prison for the murder of Meredith Kercher. Italy's top appeals court overturned her conviction in 2015."}], "question": "How has the case been handled?", "id": "587_1"}]}]}, {"title": "Snow, ice and driving winds causing severe disruption", "date": "2 March 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Flights and trains have been cancelled and drivers stranded as sub-zero conditions continue across the UK. Rail networks Southeastern, South Western and ScotRail advised people not to travel on their routes on Friday. Thousands of properties were left without power across the south west of England, south Wales and the Midlands. The Met Office's red warning has been lifted but flood warnings remain in place in the south-west and north-east of England. Services stopped leaving London Waterloo station just before 22:00 GMT with the South Western Railway network shutting down early. Meanwhile, the RAC says that freezing rain could pose the biggest threat to drivers as black ice forms on roads. There were severe delays to services in Lewisham, south London after passengers stuck on four Southeastern trains \"forced open\" doors, left the carriages and started walking along the tracks. The rail company said police and the fire service assisted in helping to restore power on the tracks and get trains moving again. Major incidents were declared in Wiltshire, Hampshire and Avon and Somerset, as blizzards brought roads to a standstill. The M62 near Manchester was closed while the military helped police free stranded motorists. Around 100 cars were stuck on the A505 between Hitchin and Luton but were able to complete their journey after a few hours. The body of a woman has been found during a search for missing 51-year-old hillwalker Alison Fox, who went walking in the Ochil Hills behind Menstrie, Clackmannanshire, on Thursday afternoon. A police spokesman said formal identification had not yet taken place but Ms Fox's family had been informed. There are yellow weather warnings for snow, ice and wind in place across the UK throughout Friday and Saturday, with a Scottish warning in force until 23:55 GMT on Monday, but there are no more of the more serious amber alerts currently in place. Prime Minister Theresa May has thanked everyone \"going the extra mile\". In Scotland the armed forces are transporting vital NHS staff to the hospitals where they work. Electricity North West says it restored power to 20,000 homes in the north west of England but some rural areas could be without power overnight on Friday. The Environment Agency has issued 15 flood warnings and 36 flood alerts for coastal areas in the south-west and north-east of England. Severe flooding has been reported in Penzance, Cornwall, due to high river levels and swollen seas. The Met Office said the UK has officially broken its record for the lowest temperatures in a 24-hour period in March. Temperatures in the town of Tredegar in south Wales did not get above -5.2C on Thursday. Police forces around the UK have told people to travel only if necessary. There is a warning of black ice on the M6, while some of the worst problems are near Rochdale on the M62 - which is closed as stranded vehicles are cleared - and on the A303 near Ilminster and the A31 in the New Forest. On the M62, volunteers from Milnrow, Rochdale, took hot drinks, food and blankets to some of those stuck - including a bottle of warm milk for a five-week-old baby. Responding to a call for help on social media, farmers used their tractor to drive off-duty midwives to a woman who had gone into labour in the remote village of Balgedie, near Kinross which had been cut off by the snow. In Cumbria, a farmer ran out of feed for his 4,000 hens near Penrith and asked for a route to be cleared. By BBC transport correspondent Victoria Fritz The more normal response to this level of travel disruption would be exasperation and even anger amongst marooned passengers. But after a week of widespread chaos, the mood in Waterloo station on Friday at rush hour is almost jubilant. The weekend is around the corner and many of the thousands here will be granted a temporary reprieve from doing daily battle with the railways. The biggest gripe amongst passengers is that there has been precious little information of last minute changes to schedules. Most are understanding of the extraordinary challenges track and train operators are facing. Station staff are out in force and briefing passengers when they can. With the weather rapidly closing in, it's a dash for all to get home before the clock strikes 22:00 GMT. Much of Wales was brought to a standstill, where routine operations were cancelled as health boards made a plea for staff to attend work. Travel conditions in Scotland remain treacherous. The Premier League has said games are expected to go ahead despite the weather. However, four matches in the Championship and two games in the Scottish Premiership have been cancelled. Across the UK, more than 20 rail operators are running a reduced service.  National Rail has been advising passengers to check their service before travelling. Some train operators urged people not to travel at all. - Virgin Trains is not running any services north of Newcastle on Saturday, with their route between Carlisle and Scotland - affecting the London to Glasgow and London to Edinburgh routes - closed with no replacement buses running - Arriva Trains Wales has said a limited service will run on Saturday and passengers have been advised only to travel if essential up until Monday morning. There are limited trains between Shrewsbury and Crewe, Crewe and Chester, Chester and Holyhead, Wrexham and Bidston and Swansea and Carmarthen - Great Western Railway said there will be a limited timetable with no services between Cheltenham and Paddington, and the North Downs trains have been cancelled - Heathrow Express services between London Paddington and Heathrow Airport will run three times an hour - East Midlands Trains are running a reduced timetable with no trains between Lincoln Central and Grimsby Town, and between Sleaford and Skegness - On the Northern network, there are no services between Leeds and Carlisle/Lancaster, Liverpool and Manchester Airport, and Hazel Grove and Buxton. It warns passengers of possible timetable changes throughout Saturday - ScotRail aims to have several of its routes operational from early morning on Saturday but advises passengers to check before they travel - CrossCountry is not running trains between Birmingham and the South West and, Birmingham and Cardiff until after 09:00 GMT. No services will operate between Newcastle and Scotland and trains between Reading and Southampton/Bournemouth are not expected to run until mid afternoon - Southeastern railway said it will run an amended timetable on Saturday and services will start later after track inspections More than 1,250 flights were cancelled across the UK and Ireland on Friday. - Glasgow Airport: Open after \"the worst snowfall in its history\" but still warns of delays and cancellations - Edinburgh Airport: Ryanair will resume its full schedule of flights after a day of cancellations on Friday - Dublin Airport: Most flights will start later on Saturday but passengers are urged to check before they travel - Cardiff Airport: The airport will be closed until Saturday morning - Bristol Airport: There were significant disruptions on Friday and passengers are advised to contact their airline before travelling - East Midlands Airport: After a day of cancellations and delays, the airport is expected to be fully operational - Leeds Bradford: The airport is open but is experiencing delays - Heathrow Airport: The airport advises passengers to check before travelling - Gatwick Airport: There are delays and cancellations - City Airport: The runway was closed on Friday because of the snow and the airline advises passengers that delays and cancellations could be likely - Birmingham Airport: Runway unlikely to reopen before Saturday morning with travellers warned to check with their airline The Met Office says the cold weather could last into next week and possibly the following week. Up to 50cm (19 inches) of snow is forecast in parts of Dartmoor, Exmoor and uplands parts of south-east Wales accompanied by gales or severe gales in exposed areas. Gusts of 60-70mph are possible in parts of northern England and Wales. Up to 10cm (four inches) of snow is forecast in parts of Scotland and northern England, with up to 25cm over the area's hills. How has the cold weather affected you? Share your pictures, video and experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. 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 yourpics@bbc.co.uk - Send an SMS or MMS to 61124 or +44 7624 800 100", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 7770, "answer_end": 8228, "text": "The Met Office says the cold weather could last into next week and possibly the following week. Up to 50cm (19 inches) of snow is forecast in parts of Dartmoor, Exmoor and uplands parts of south-east Wales accompanied by gales or severe gales in exposed areas. Gusts of 60-70mph are possible in parts of northern England and Wales. Up to 10cm (four inches) of snow is forecast in parts of Scotland and northern England, with up to 25cm over the area's hills."}], "question": "What is the forecast?", "id": "588_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Why bamboo is booming again in Taiwan", "date": "9 April 2014", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Bamboo is ubiquitous in Chinese culture. Sturdy and tenacious, it symbolises virtue. In fact, the plant has had a profound impact on the daily life, culture and spirituality of the Chinese. In the past, a wide variety of products were made from bamboo - from roof tiles and rafts, to shoes, furniture and agricultural tools. But despite the close relationship between Chinese-speaking societies and the natural material, Taiwan's bamboo industry has suffered a decline in recent decades. It nearly collapsed because of people's preference for more modern-looking products, or just cheaper plastic goods - and the impact of less expensive bamboo imports from China and South East Asia. Nowhere was this more apparent than in central Taiwan's Zhushan or \"Bamboo Mountain\" town. Hundreds of families used to make bamboo products there in the centre of the country's bamboo industry. Now there are only about 50. It's a trend reflected in other parts of Taiwan - only about 240 bamboo-products businesses remain on the island. \"In the past, every part of Taiwan had people working in this industry, but over the years, bamboo has been replaced by plastic or steel to make all sorts of products, such as clothes hanging poles, baby cribs, and furniture,\" says Yang Chun-hsien, director of the Forestry Bureau's reforestation and production division. However, an earthquake and strong resolve on the part of the government and industry to continue using bamboo have led to a revival and transformation in its use. In recent years, bamboo has been used to make items never before associated with the plant - from shampoo and insect repellent, to socks, gloves, and even roasted peanuts. This reinvention of how bamboo is used has made it possible for the small family businesses which make up the industry to stay alive and to start reversing the decades of decline. At the height of bamboo production in Taiwan in the 1970s, more than 13 million stalks were harvested each year, and sales of the stalks alone - not including the finished products - amounted to $3.5m (PS2.1m) per annum. But in the past decade, the annual harvest amounted to only about 1.67 million stalks with sales adding up to just $456,000 - a little over 10% of the peak level. Production and sales, however, have been steadily climbing in recent years. Following a devastating earthquake on 21 September 1999 centred in Nantou county, where Zhushan lies, the central government decided to help the local economy by commissioning the country's non-profit Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI) to find new ways to help the bamboo industry grow. ITRI developed a method to carbonise bamboo stalks to produce high quality bamboo charcoal, which has a multitude of different uses. Naturally insulating, the charcoal can be turned into fibres and woven into fabric to make hats, scarves, gloves, socks and pants. Also said to be health giving, it is increasingly added to bodycare products, such as skin creams. Meanwhile, in industry it is used to purify water and air. Yet its most unusual application has to be in the production of bamboo charcoal-coated peanuts - which look exactly as they sound - peanuts covered with charcoal. Many people who have never tasted them are queasy about giving them a try, but they actually taste good, not at all like charcoal, and are believed to have health benefits. Such diversification has bought new hope to Taiwan's bamboo industry. \"When I was growing up, the toys we played with were made of bamboo,\" says Chen Ching-fu, general manager of the Bamboo Culture Park in Zhushan - a manufacturer of bamboo product, and the first visitor attraction in Taiwan devoted to the plant. \"Bamboo was all around us, but never did we imagine bamboo can be used to make so many different types of products.\" Like other businesses, Mr Chen's now sells not only traditional bamboo furniture, but other products such as air fresheners and clothing. Besides bamboo charcoal, the Taiwanese have also found ways to use the actual bamboo to make a much wider variety of products than their ancestors did, including floor panels, pens, clothes hangers and even laptop casings. Sales of goods made from all forms of bamboo in Taiwan now reach $100m, with exports increasing alongside domestic sales. One of the trends helping to drive the revival of the industry is the return of second or third generation young people to help run family businesses. Lin Li-wei, 36, worked at a post office in the capital Taipei after graduating from college. But, making only about $600 a month, he came back to assist his father, who made bamboo ear diggers used by Chinese and Japanese people to remove earwax. He's now put a new spin on the family business - making modern looking clocks, lamps and wall lights out of bamboo. He has been receiving orders for his creations. \"My father supports me trying to innovate,\" says Mr Lin. \"Only through innovations can we add value to our products and continue our business.\" Now he and his father make $5,000 a month. Many of the manufacturers in Zhushan are breaking even, but not making big profits. Still, they persevere, seeing it as their mission to continue to promote the use of bamboo. Bamboo grows fast - just five years to reach maturity, making it one of the most environmentally-friendly plants to use. So growers and industry leaders hope they can replace the use of many types of other wood, and plastic. \"Plastic is very cheap and can be used for a longer time, but what a shame. Bamboo is more environmentally friendly, no chemicals are used to make bamboo products, and the trees grow without the need for fertiliser or pesticides,\" said the Forestry Bureau's Mr Yang. \"Bamboo can also absorb a lot of carbon dioxide and can reduce greenhouse gases.\" Back at the Bamboo Culture Park, Mr Chen has created a do-it-yourself workshop where schoolchildren and other tourists can learn how bamboo charcoal is made and make their own bamboo products. \"Taiwan can't be without bamboo because it's a material we've relied on for generations,\" says Mr Chen. \"I want to help people understand the importance and benefits of using bamboo.\" To hear Cindy Sui's radio version of her look at Taiwan's bamboo industry, check out the latest edition of the BBC World Service's Business Matters programme.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1860, "answer_end": 4292, "text": "At the height of bamboo production in Taiwan in the 1970s, more than 13 million stalks were harvested each year, and sales of the stalks alone - not including the finished products - amounted to $3.5m (PS2.1m) per annum. But in the past decade, the annual harvest amounted to only about 1.67 million stalks with sales adding up to just $456,000 - a little over 10% of the peak level. Production and sales, however, have been steadily climbing in recent years. Following a devastating earthquake on 21 September 1999 centred in Nantou county, where Zhushan lies, the central government decided to help the local economy by commissioning the country's non-profit Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI) to find new ways to help the bamboo industry grow. ITRI developed a method to carbonise bamboo stalks to produce high quality bamboo charcoal, which has a multitude of different uses. Naturally insulating, the charcoal can be turned into fibres and woven into fabric to make hats, scarves, gloves, socks and pants. Also said to be health giving, it is increasingly added to bodycare products, such as skin creams. Meanwhile, in industry it is used to purify water and air. Yet its most unusual application has to be in the production of bamboo charcoal-coated peanuts - which look exactly as they sound - peanuts covered with charcoal. Many people who have never tasted them are queasy about giving them a try, but they actually taste good, not at all like charcoal, and are believed to have health benefits. Such diversification has bought new hope to Taiwan's bamboo industry. \"When I was growing up, the toys we played with were made of bamboo,\" says Chen Ching-fu, general manager of the Bamboo Culture Park in Zhushan - a manufacturer of bamboo product, and the first visitor attraction in Taiwan devoted to the plant. \"Bamboo was all around us, but never did we imagine bamboo can be used to make so many different types of products.\" Like other businesses, Mr Chen's now sells not only traditional bamboo furniture, but other products such as air fresheners and clothing. Besides bamboo charcoal, the Taiwanese have also found ways to use the actual bamboo to make a much wider variety of products than their ancestors did, including floor panels, pens, clothes hangers and even laptop casings. Sales of goods made from all forms of bamboo in Taiwan now reach $100m, with exports increasing alongside domestic sales."}], "question": "Health benefits?", "id": "589_0"}]}]}, {"title": "How the cap on care costs works", "date": "22 July 2015", "paragraphs": [{"context": "In England the cost of care will be capped from 2020 (the government has delayed the original 2016 date). It will mean for the first time since the system was created after the Second World War, that there will be a limit on how much people pay for their care in their old age. This covers the help people get in their own homes for tasks such as washing and dressing, to places in residential or nursing care homes. Social care is means-tested, which means only the poorest get state help towards their costs. Currently anyone with assets of over PS23,250 has to pay the full cost of their care. If you are being cared for in your own home, that figure only takes into account any savings, stocks or shares you have. If you are moving into a care home the value of your home may be taken into account, depending on your circumstances. The costs people face, therefore, can run into thousands of pounds. One in 10 who enter the care system end up paying over PS100,000 in fees. About 4m older people - nearly half the over 65 population - have care needs. But only 850,000 qualify for state help. Some 370,000 of these are getting help in their home and nearly 240,000 in care homes or nursing homes. The rest get help from other services, such as day care, meals on wheels, or via home adaptations and equipments. Once those who fund themselves are taken into account, the numbers getting help in their own home rises to about 850,000 and in care and nursing homes to about 450,000.  Another 1.5m are reported to be relying on family and friends to provide support. From April 2020 the amount you pay for care if you are over 65 is being capped at PS72,000. To be eligible, you first need to be assessed by your council as having very high needs. Whether care is provided in your home or in a residential home, only the rate set by the council will count towards the cap. In residential care, you will still be responsible for food and lodging when you hit the cap. A flat rate of PS230 a week is proposed. The government says no one will be worse off under these changes. It is estimated only one in eight people will reach the cap, mainly because people do not live long enough in care homes to accrue such spending on care. That depends on how much you have in savings and assets. People in care homes can get help if their assets drop below PS118,000. That figure may include the value of your home. If a close relative lives in the property, such as your spouse, the home is not taken into account in the assessment, but the threshold drops to PS27,000. The threshold is also PS27,000 if you are getting help in your own home or from other community services. Once you drop below these thresholds an assessment is made to calculate how much the council will contribute to your care. Those people with high incomes, say from a good occupational pension, may still be liable for the full cost of their care. If you are funding yourself, you will be able to ask your council to negotiate the care home fee for you. But many care homes say the local authority rate doesn't cover their costs. Some people may choose to pay more to stay in a care home with better services and facilities. This is known as a top-up fee. Anything you pay above the council rate will not count towards the cap. Once you reach the cap, you will still be responsible for paying any extra costs. The government has said no one should have to sell their home to meet care costs. From April 2015, all councils are expected to offer deferred payment schemes which mean that the costs will be taken from your estate after death. It is expected 2.65% interest will be charged on the loan. Councils only have to offer these if an individual has less than PS23,250 in assets other than their property, although they are free to be more generous if they wish.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 417, "answer_end": 977, "text": "Social care is means-tested, which means only the poorest get state help towards their costs. Currently anyone with assets of over PS23,250 has to pay the full cost of their care. If you are being cared for in your own home, that figure only takes into account any savings, stocks or shares you have. If you are moving into a care home the value of your home may be taken into account, depending on your circumstances. The costs people face, therefore, can run into thousands of pounds. One in 10 who enter the care system end up paying over PS100,000 in fees."}], "question": "How does the system work currently?", "id": "590_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 978, "answer_end": 1566, "text": "About 4m older people - nearly half the over 65 population - have care needs. But only 850,000 qualify for state help. Some 370,000 of these are getting help in their home and nearly 240,000 in care homes or nursing homes. The rest get help from other services, such as day care, meals on wheels, or via home adaptations and equipments. Once those who fund themselves are taken into account, the numbers getting help in their own home rises to about 850,000 and in care and nursing homes to about 450,000.  Another 1.5m are reported to be relying on family and friends to provide support."}], "question": "How many people get help?", "id": "590_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1567, "answer_end": 2227, "text": "From April 2020 the amount you pay for care if you are over 65 is being capped at PS72,000. To be eligible, you first need to be assessed by your council as having very high needs. Whether care is provided in your home or in a residential home, only the rate set by the council will count towards the cap. In residential care, you will still be responsible for food and lodging when you hit the cap. A flat rate of PS230 a week is proposed. The government says no one will be worse off under these changes. It is estimated only one in eight people will reach the cap, mainly because people do not live long enough in care homes to accrue such spending on care."}], "question": "So how will the cap work?", "id": "590_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2228, "answer_end": 2911, "text": "That depends on how much you have in savings and assets. People in care homes can get help if their assets drop below PS118,000. That figure may include the value of your home. If a close relative lives in the property, such as your spouse, the home is not taken into account in the assessment, but the threshold drops to PS27,000. The threshold is also PS27,000 if you are getting help in your own home or from other community services. Once you drop below these thresholds an assessment is made to calculate how much the council will contribute to your care. Those people with high incomes, say from a good occupational pension, may still be liable for the full cost of their care."}], "question": "Can I get help with care costs before I reach the cap?", "id": "590_3"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2912, "answer_end": 3373, "text": "If you are funding yourself, you will be able to ask your council to negotiate the care home fee for you. But many care homes say the local authority rate doesn't cover their costs. Some people may choose to pay more to stay in a care home with better services and facilities. This is known as a top-up fee. Anything you pay above the council rate will not count towards the cap. Once you reach the cap, you will still be responsible for paying any extra costs."}], "question": "What if my care home charges more than the council rate?", "id": "590_4"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3374, "answer_end": 3829, "text": "The government has said no one should have to sell their home to meet care costs. From April 2015, all councils are expected to offer deferred payment schemes which mean that the costs will be taken from your estate after death. It is expected 2.65% interest will be charged on the loan. Councils only have to offer these if an individual has less than PS23,250 in assets other than their property, although they are free to be more generous if they wish."}], "question": "Will I have to sell my home to meet the costs?", "id": "590_5"}]}]}, {"title": "Peru in turmoil after President Vizcarra dissolves Congress", "date": "1 October 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Peru has been thrown into political crisis after President Martin Vizcarra made good on a threat to dissolve Congress unless lawmakers backed his anti-corruption reforms. Opposition lawmakers, who are in the majority in Congress, said the dissolution amounted to a coup d'etat. They suspended Mr Vizcarra and swore in Vice-President Mercedes Araoz as acting leader. Meanwhile, Mr Vizcarra decreed that fresh elections be held on 26 January. Mr Vizcarra and Ms Araoz each claim to be the legitimate leader of Peru. Mr Vizcarra argued that his move to dissolve Congress was constitutional, but opposition lawmakers said it was dictatorial and have refused to leave the building. A majority of 86 out of 130 members of Congress then voted in favour of suspending Mr Vizcarra for a year. They also declared Ms Araoz acting president. Ms Araoz said she was \"temporarily assuming the presidency of the Republic\". But a government source said the vote and swearing-in of Ms Araoz were null and void because they had occurred after Congress had been dissolved. The heads of the armed forces and the police have thrown their weight behind Mr Vizcarra, releasing statements saying that they recognised him as the constitutional president and commander-in-chief. The presidency's press office also published a photo showing the commanders of the army, navy, air force and the police attending a meeting chaired by Mr Vizcarra at the presidential palace in Lima. Thousands of people also gathered outside the Congress building to show their support for Mr Vizcarra. But opposition lawmakers said Mr Vizcarra overstepped his powers when he dissolved the democratically elected Congress. They called his move unconstitutional and him a dictator. They sang the national anthem and refused to leave Congress while pledging their loyalty to Vice-President Araoz. The stand-off between opposition members of Congress and Mr Vizcarra is likely to continue over the coming days with Congress planning to meet again on Friday to vote on a motion to dismiss President Vizcarra altogether. Mr Vizcarra has issued a decree setting parliamentary elections for 26 January. \"This exceptional measure will permit the citizenry to finally express themselves and define, at the polls and through their participation, the future of our country,\" he said. Meanwhile, a legal battle is expected to kick off to determine if the dissolution of Congress was constitutional or not. Mr Vizcarra was sworn in in March 2018 after his running mate and then-President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski resigned over a vote-buying scandal. He said he would fight graft head-on, which endeared him to Peruvians tired of endless corruption scandals that have tainted not only Mr Kuczynski but also the three previous Peruvian presidents. - Pedro Pablo Kuczynski: Under house arrest while under investigation for alleged corruption linked to Brazilian construction giant Odebrecht - Ollanta Humala: Accused of accepting $3m in illegal financing from Odebrecht for his electoral campaign - Alan Garcia: Killed himself in April as police arrived to detain him over bribery allegations also linked to Odebrecht - Alejandro Toledo: In jail in the US, Peru has requested his extradition for allegedly taking $20m in bribes from Odebrecht For more on Odebrecht read: Brazil's Odebrecht corruption scandal explained Mr Vizcarra says Congress, which is dominated by the right-wing Popular Force party led by Keiko Fujimori, blocked him from passing a raft of anti-corruption measures. Ms Fujimori, the daughter of former President Alberto Fujimori, is in jail awaiting trial for allegedly accepting illegal funds from Odebrecht. Mr Vizcarra accused her party of trying to shield itself from corruption investigations by obstructing his reforms. \"The parliamentary majority resorts to innumerable arguments and tricks, destined to harm not just government but society as a whole,\" he said in a televised address. He also argued that Congress's appointment of a new judge to the constitutional court would interfere with his efforts to stamp out corruption. Among other things, the court is soon due to decide whether to free Keiko Fujimori from pre-trial detention.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 441, "answer_end": 1052, "text": "Mr Vizcarra and Ms Araoz each claim to be the legitimate leader of Peru. Mr Vizcarra argued that his move to dissolve Congress was constitutional, but opposition lawmakers said it was dictatorial and have refused to leave the building. A majority of 86 out of 130 members of Congress then voted in favour of suspending Mr Vizcarra for a year. They also declared Ms Araoz acting president. Ms Araoz said she was \"temporarily assuming the presidency of the Republic\". But a government source said the vote and swearing-in of Ms Araoz were null and void because they had occurred after Congress had been dissolved."}], "question": "Who is in charge now?", "id": "591_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1053, "answer_end": 1845, "text": "The heads of the armed forces and the police have thrown their weight behind Mr Vizcarra, releasing statements saying that they recognised him as the constitutional president and commander-in-chief. The presidency's press office also published a photo showing the commanders of the army, navy, air force and the police attending a meeting chaired by Mr Vizcarra at the presidential palace in Lima. Thousands of people also gathered outside the Congress building to show their support for Mr Vizcarra. But opposition lawmakers said Mr Vizcarra overstepped his powers when he dissolved the democratically elected Congress. They called his move unconstitutional and him a dictator. They sang the national anthem and refused to leave Congress while pledging their loyalty to Vice-President Araoz."}], "question": "Who is backing whom?", "id": "591_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1846, "answer_end": 2444, "text": "The stand-off between opposition members of Congress and Mr Vizcarra is likely to continue over the coming days with Congress planning to meet again on Friday to vote on a motion to dismiss President Vizcarra altogether. Mr Vizcarra has issued a decree setting parliamentary elections for 26 January. \"This exceptional measure will permit the citizenry to finally express themselves and define, at the polls and through their participation, the future of our country,\" he said. Meanwhile, a legal battle is expected to kick off to determine if the dissolution of Congress was constitutional or not."}], "question": "What happens next?", "id": "591_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2445, "answer_end": 2780, "text": "Mr Vizcarra was sworn in in March 2018 after his running mate and then-President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski resigned over a vote-buying scandal. He said he would fight graft head-on, which endeared him to Peruvians tired of endless corruption scandals that have tainted not only Mr Kuczynski but also the three previous Peruvian presidents."}], "question": "How did it come to this?", "id": "591_3"}]}]}, {"title": "Why Pokemon Go may have passed its peak", "date": "24 August 2016", "paragraphs": [{"context": "It is quite possibly the biggest gaming phenomenon of the smartphone age - but is Pokemon Go's popularity dwindling? Since the augmented-reality app launched in July, Pokemon Go has swept up gamers in a craze of monster-catching across the world. Just a week after its release in the US, Apple said the game had broken the App Store record for most downloads in a week. Gamers chasing down the likes of Pikachu and Snorlax have filled public spaces - such as New York's Central Park - with congregations of people wandering about with phones in hand. But now, a month since Pokemon Go's release, independent analysis suggests its popularity has plummeted. Some churn was only to be expected - the huge publicity it generated was always going to have attracted players who would briefly try it out and then set it aside. However, the drop-off occurred during a period when the app was launching across much of Asia and Latin America as well as France. No official figures on Pokemon Go's downloads have been made public, but according to data compiled by Axiom Capital Management, more than 10 million players have turned away since mid-July. Pokemon Go's Daily Active Users (DAUs) - an industry metric that determines how many people switch on an app each day - suggested that the game edged close to 45 million users on 17 July. By 16 August, that figure fell to just above 30 million. This would imply that Pokemon Go has lost more than 10 million daily active users in a month, which equates to nearly a quarter of its DAUs. Crucially, this is during a phase where Pokemon Go was launching across Brazil, Indonesia, the Philippines and dozens of other countries, meaning that the fall in popularity had significantly offset growth in new territories. Pokemon Go's downloads, engagement, and time spent on the app per day are all in decline too, according to Axiom's data. Nevertheless, in Apple's UK App Store charts, Pokemon Go is currently in seventh place in the \"free\" category, and still in first place on the \"top-grossing\" chart. The game is similarly popular on Google's Play store. Nintendo, which owns about a third of The Pokemon Company, has seen its share price fall about 3% in the wake of Axiom's report. In the context of the volatility of Nintendo's share price in the past month, that 3% drop isn't too drastic. The Kyoto-based firm's valuation surged upon Pokemon Go's release and subsequently plummeted when it warned investors that the game's popularity wouldn't make a significant change to its revenues. Axiom senior analyst Victor Anthony said the decline should curb concerns that Pokemon Go would weaken the usage of other popular smartphone apps such as Instagram, Snapchat, and Twitter. In July, independent analysis of Android app usage showed that Pokemon Go had overtaken Twitter in the US. \"The declining trends should assuage investor concerns about the impact of Pokemon Go on time spent on [other apps],\" Mr Anthony wrote. Considering the finite capacity of Android and iOS owners, as well as the extraordinary speed with which Pokemon Go caught on, a decline in popularity of some kind was almost inevitable. \"It's rare for games to explode in popularity like Pokemon Go has, but a drop in users was always expected after a big launch,\" said Craig Chapple, editor of mobile games trade publication PocketGamer.Biz. He told the BBC: \"Players do typically churn from these free-to-play games. Another recent launch, Supercell's Clash Royale, is also being hit by a decline in active and paying users, but it's still making millions of dollars every day.\" However, the sheer speed with which Pokemon Go appears to be losing players should raise concerns, Mr Chapple said. \"The numbers, if accurate, do raise some questions about long-term retention in Pokemon Go - whether or not players are finding enough variety and fun in the core experience right now to stick with it.\" He added: \"But it's important to note it continues to be a top-grossing game in most countries, so players are still spending and enjoying it.\" It's difficult to say whether Pokemon Go's decline would have been so steep had its developer Niantic not removed a core feature from the game. At the start of August, ardent players aired their grievances at Niantic after the developer reduced the functionality of the game's \"nearby\" feature. Before the game's update, players were able to look at a list of Pokemon creatures and estimate how close they were. At the same time, Niantic also cracked down on third-party websites such as Pokevision that let players see where the creatures were located. Axiom's data suggests the decline in Pokemon Go's popularity commenced mid-July - more than a week before the controversial removal of the nearby feature - but retention rates fell sharply following the update. Niantic was, by its own admission, caught off-guard by the sheer popularity of Pokemon Go, but it has pledged to continue supporting the game with bi-weekly updates. \"Running a product like Pokemon Go at scale is challenging,\" the developer recently wrote on its blog. For now, the game has yet to be released across many parts of Asia and Africa, which could improve its usage figures once the game arrives in those territories. However, Mr Chapple believes that fewer people playing Pokemon Go in the West could diminish the game's social aspect, which in turn would make it a less attractive game for those who stick around. \"Pokemon Go is unique. At the moment it relies on people in your local area playing with you, not someone on the other side of the world. If the numbers continued to drop so dramatically, who will be left to play you in your small, local town?\"", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 2094, "answer_end": 2960, "text": "Nintendo, which owns about a third of The Pokemon Company, has seen its share price fall about 3% in the wake of Axiom's report. In the context of the volatility of Nintendo's share price in the past month, that 3% drop isn't too drastic. The Kyoto-based firm's valuation surged upon Pokemon Go's release and subsequently plummeted when it warned investors that the game's popularity wouldn't make a significant change to its revenues. Axiom senior analyst Victor Anthony said the decline should curb concerns that Pokemon Go would weaken the usage of other popular smartphone apps such as Instagram, Snapchat, and Twitter. In July, independent analysis of Android app usage showed that Pokemon Go had overtaken Twitter in the US. \"The declining trends should assuage investor concerns about the impact of Pokemon Go on time spent on [other apps],\" Mr Anthony wrote."}], "question": "What is the effect of the decline?", "id": "592_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2961, "answer_end": 4054, "text": "Considering the finite capacity of Android and iOS owners, as well as the extraordinary speed with which Pokemon Go caught on, a decline in popularity of some kind was almost inevitable. \"It's rare for games to explode in popularity like Pokemon Go has, but a drop in users was always expected after a big launch,\" said Craig Chapple, editor of mobile games trade publication PocketGamer.Biz. He told the BBC: \"Players do typically churn from these free-to-play games. Another recent launch, Supercell's Clash Royale, is also being hit by a decline in active and paying users, but it's still making millions of dollars every day.\" However, the sheer speed with which Pokemon Go appears to be losing players should raise concerns, Mr Chapple said. \"The numbers, if accurate, do raise some questions about long-term retention in Pokemon Go - whether or not players are finding enough variety and fun in the core experience right now to stick with it.\" He added: \"But it's important to note it continues to be a top-grossing game in most countries, so players are still spending and enjoying it.\""}], "question": "Was the drop-off inevitable?", "id": "592_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 4055, "answer_end": 4819, "text": "It's difficult to say whether Pokemon Go's decline would have been so steep had its developer Niantic not removed a core feature from the game. At the start of August, ardent players aired their grievances at Niantic after the developer reduced the functionality of the game's \"nearby\" feature. Before the game's update, players were able to look at a list of Pokemon creatures and estimate how close they were. At the same time, Niantic also cracked down on third-party websites such as Pokevision that let players see where the creatures were located. Axiom's data suggests the decline in Pokemon Go's popularity commenced mid-July - more than a week before the controversial removal of the nearby feature - but retention rates fell sharply following the update."}], "question": "Could Niantic have done more to prevent it?", "id": "592_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 4820, "answer_end": 5692, "text": "Niantic was, by its own admission, caught off-guard by the sheer popularity of Pokemon Go, but it has pledged to continue supporting the game with bi-weekly updates. \"Running a product like Pokemon Go at scale is challenging,\" the developer recently wrote on its blog. For now, the game has yet to be released across many parts of Asia and Africa, which could improve its usage figures once the game arrives in those territories. However, Mr Chapple believes that fewer people playing Pokemon Go in the West could diminish the game's social aspect, which in turn would make it a less attractive game for those who stick around. \"Pokemon Go is unique. At the moment it relies on people in your local area playing with you, not someone on the other side of the world. If the numbers continued to drop so dramatically, who will be left to play you in your small, local town?\""}], "question": "What happens next?", "id": "592_3"}]}]}, {"title": "Coronavirus: Unexplained West Coast cases raise fears in US", "date": "29 February 2020", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Officials on the US West Coast have reported three unexplained coronavirus cases, raising concerns the virus could be spreading within the community. The patients - in California, Oregon and Washington State - have no known connection to a badly hit country. A total of 59 coronavirus cases have been confirmed in the US, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Meanwhile South Korea, which has the highest number of cases outside China, mobilised the army on Saturday. Soldiers are disinfecting large parts of Daegu, the south-eastern city that has been at the centre of the country's coronavirus outbreak. South Korea on Saturday reported a sharp rise in the number of cases of the Covid-19 disease. It now stands at 3,150. The respiratory illness has killed 17 people in the country so far. On Friday health officials in California's Santa Clara County said an older woman with chronic health conditions had been diagnosed with Covid-19. Officials say she is not known to have travelled to a country badly affected by the virus or been in contact with a person who had. \"This new case indicates that there is evidence of community transmission but the extent is still not clear,\" said Dr Sara Cody, director of the Santa Clara County Public Health Department. Oregon health officials said a school employee in Clackamas County had tested positive for the virus. In Washington State, authorities said another case concerned a high school student in Snohomish County. Neither had any contact with a known case nor any history of travel to an affected region. These bring the total of unexplained cases in the country to four, after another such case was reported in California on Tuesday. The Democratic Party has criticised President Donald Trump's response to the outbreak, arguing that he has contradicted his own health officials and tried to downplay the severity of the virus. On Friday, the president hit back at Democrats, accusing them of politicising the outbreak. \"This is their new hoax,\" he told a rally in South Carolina. He accused Democrats of advocating a policy of open borders and said this was \"a direct threat to the health and wellbeing of all Americans\". No. Earlier this week a patient who had no known connection with an affected region died in France. On Friday, a patient diagnosed with the virus in England was said to be the first to catch it in the UK. The latest developments came as the WHO on Friday upgraded the global risk of the outbreak to its highest level. But the UN body said there was still a chance of containing the virus if its chain of transmission was broken. WHO head Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus also stressed that fear and misinformation were the biggest challenges to overcome. \"Our greatest enemy right now is not the #coronavirus itself. It's fear, rumours and stigma. And our greatest assets are facts, reason and solidarity,\" he wrote on Twitter. The spread of the virus there has been linked to the fringe Christian group Shincheonji Church. Authorities believe members infected one another during services in Daegu and then fanned out around the country, apparently undetected. South Korean health officials believe that a 61-year-old member of the sect who last week tested positive for the virus was among the first to be infected. The female patient initially refused to be transferred to a hospital to be tested and is known to have attended several church gatherings before testing positive. Officials warned on Saturday that they a expect a large number of new coronavirus cases to be reported in Daego as authorities carry out intensive tests on followers of the Shincheonji Church there, according to Yonhap news agency. As of Saturday morning, members of the church accounted for about half of the cases in the country. In neighbouring North Korea, leader Kim Jong-un has warned of \"serious consequences\" if his officials fail to prevent an outbreak. - More than 50 countries have now reported cases of coronavirus - More than 83,650 cases of coronavirus have been confirmed globally, the vast majority of them in China, where 78,961 people have been infected and 2,791 have died - Iran on Saturday said the total number of infections there had reached 593 and 43 patients had died - Factory activity in China fell to a record low in February as manufacturers closed their operations to contain the spread of the disease - Qatar reported its first case, after a 36-year-old Qatari woman who was evacuated to the country from Iran tested positive for the virus, according to state media - Five Italian Serie A football games have been postponed, including a Juventus match against rivals AC Milan. The games were going to be played behind closed doors, but the league decided to call them off on Saturday - France reported a jump in confirmed cases, with the total now standing at 73, compared to 57 the previous day. The country also temporarily banned gatherings of more than 5,000 people \"in confined spaces\" Have you been affected by the coronavirus? Or do you have any information to share? Get in touch by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. 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 yourpics@bbc.co.uk - Please read our terms & conditions and privacy policy", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 804, "answer_end": 2188, "text": "On Friday health officials in California's Santa Clara County said an older woman with chronic health conditions had been diagnosed with Covid-19. Officials say she is not known to have travelled to a country badly affected by the virus or been in contact with a person who had. \"This new case indicates that there is evidence of community transmission but the extent is still not clear,\" said Dr Sara Cody, director of the Santa Clara County Public Health Department. Oregon health officials said a school employee in Clackamas County had tested positive for the virus. In Washington State, authorities said another case concerned a high school student in Snohomish County. Neither had any contact with a known case nor any history of travel to an affected region. These bring the total of unexplained cases in the country to four, after another such case was reported in California on Tuesday. The Democratic Party has criticised President Donald Trump's response to the outbreak, arguing that he has contradicted his own health officials and tried to downplay the severity of the virus. On Friday, the president hit back at Democrats, accusing them of politicising the outbreak. \"This is their new hoax,\" he told a rally in South Carolina. He accused Democrats of advocating a policy of open borders and said this was \"a direct threat to the health and wellbeing of all Americans\"."}], "question": "What is happening in the US?", "id": "593_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2189, "answer_end": 2913, "text": "No. Earlier this week a patient who had no known connection with an affected region died in France. On Friday, a patient diagnosed with the virus in England was said to be the first to catch it in the UK. The latest developments came as the WHO on Friday upgraded the global risk of the outbreak to its highest level. But the UN body said there was still a chance of containing the virus if its chain of transmission was broken. WHO head Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus also stressed that fear and misinformation were the biggest challenges to overcome. \"Our greatest enemy right now is not the #coronavirus itself. It's fear, rumours and stigma. And our greatest assets are facts, reason and solidarity,\" he wrote on Twitter."}], "question": "Are those the first untraced cases?", "id": "593_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2914, "answer_end": 3928, "text": "The spread of the virus there has been linked to the fringe Christian group Shincheonji Church. Authorities believe members infected one another during services in Daegu and then fanned out around the country, apparently undetected. South Korean health officials believe that a 61-year-old member of the sect who last week tested positive for the virus was among the first to be infected. The female patient initially refused to be transferred to a hospital to be tested and is known to have attended several church gatherings before testing positive. Officials warned on Saturday that they a expect a large number of new coronavirus cases to be reported in Daego as authorities carry out intensive tests on followers of the Shincheonji Church there, according to Yonhap news agency. As of Saturday morning, members of the church accounted for about half of the cases in the country. In neighbouring North Korea, leader Kim Jong-un has warned of \"serious consequences\" if his officials fail to prevent an outbreak."}], "question": "What's happening in South Korea?", "id": "593_2"}]}]}, {"title": "Can this radio detect your mood and play songs to match?", "date": "10 February 2017", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Would we get on better with clever machines if they understood what mood we were in? Many roboticists and computer engineers seem to think so, because they're always trying to make their creations more human. Take Solo, the \"emotional radio\", for example. A wall-mounted device that resembles a large clock, it features a liquid crystal display at its centre. When you approach it, the pictogram face shows a neutral expression. But it then takes a photo of your face, a rod or antenna on the side cranks into life, and the LCD display indicates that it's thinking. \"When it's doing this, it's analysing different features of your face and deciding how happy, sad or angry you are,\" explains Mike Shorter, senior creative technologist at the Liverpool-based design and innovation company, Uniform, Solo's creator. \"It will then start to reflect your mood through music.\" If Solo thinks you look happy, it will play you an upbeat number like Hey Ya! by Outkast. A more downbeat expression may turn up Everybody Hurts by REM. Your reward for being angry could be a dose of Motorhead. As well as playing music to suit your mood, Solo's makers envisage their smart radio being able to alter your mood. - For more on this listen to the BBC Tech Tent radio show Say you've been driving for a long time, it could recognise signs of tiredness on your face and play upbeat music to pep you up. The study of how to make computers and machines more empathetic is known as affective computing, and examples of supposedly emotionally intelligent gadgets have been springing up around the world. Japan's Softbank Robotics has been plugging its Nao and Pepper robots for a while now. The 1.2m (4ft) tall cute humanoid, Pepper, developed jointly with French robotics firm Aldebaran, has been deployed in hospitals, shopping centres, banks and train stations. While toddler-sized Nao (59cm) has been used in schools to help kids with autism and paediatric units of hospitals. Softbank is also behind the \"emotion engine\" within the Honda NeuV (pronounced new-vee), an automated electric concept car unveiled at this year's Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. This AI-driven technology - combining biometric sensors as well as cameras - will try to detect drivers' emotions and learn from the type of actions that result from them. So angry drivers who are driving rashly and erratically, for example, might be encouraged to calm down. The AI might even reduce the car's power temporarily, or switch to autonomous mode, until you've cooled off. This \"network assistant\" will check on the driver's emotional well-being - making music recommendations based on mood, changing the lighting scheme, and even triggering mood-enhancing scents. Boston-based Affectiva has developed \"emotion recognition software\" called Affdex that monitors the minute changes in our facial expressions when we're watching adverts, TV programmes or films. The AI software has learned from studying nearly four million faces - and their changing expressions - from more than 75 countries. Companies such as Sony are using the software to test how audiences respond to film trailers, and advertising agencies such as Millward Brown are using it to measure responses to their TV ads. Affectiva, which emerged from Massachusetts Institute of Technology's Media Lab, is similar to Emotient, another company teaching computers how to recognise expression and emotion. It was bought by Apple last year. But while emotion-reading tech might be all the rage at the moment, does it actually work? David Lane, professor of autonomous systems engineering at Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh, points out that mistakes made by affective computing applications could have serious consequences. \"There's lots of research in this field with robots sensitive to gesture, tone of voice, eye expressions and so on, but one of the issues is getting it right,\" he says. \"If Siri or some other voice-activated assistant on your phone fails to give you the football results, you have alternatives, but if a critical, affective computing function fails, that will cause serious frustration at the very least. \"Put simply, if it doesn't work, people will switch off.\" Christian Madsbjerg, a founding partner of \"human science\" consultancy Red Associates, is concerned that affective applications are \"built to Western, Japanese or Chinese models, and emotions are different in other cultures\". He also points out that our bodies, and their physical context, are crucial to our moods and reactions. \"An emotional response to a given commercial in the warm, dark room of the focus group may have no relation to the way that same commercial is perceived at home or on a subway platform,\" he argues. A violinist soloing at Carnegie Hall at a high point in her career may be feeling exultant, but her face won't show it, he says, because she's concentrating so hard. A robot would struggle to interpret her \"frozen\" facial expression, he maintains. Solo's creators admit that the radio doesn't always read emotions correctly. And even Pepper the robot gets it wrong sometimes. \"After a few late nights and being in a somewhat grumpy mood, Pepper added 10 to 12 years on to my age when she evaluated it,\" says Carl Clement, a founder of Emotion Robotics, a UK-based partner with Softbank in Europe. Solo, the emotional radio, might just manage a wry smile at that. And possibly play Frank Sinatra's Young at Heart? Follow Matthew Wall, Technology of Business editor, on Twitter and Facebook Click here for more Technology of Business features", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 3457, "answer_end": 5446, "text": "But while emotion-reading tech might be all the rage at the moment, does it actually work? David Lane, professor of autonomous systems engineering at Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh, points out that mistakes made by affective computing applications could have serious consequences. \"There's lots of research in this field with robots sensitive to gesture, tone of voice, eye expressions and so on, but one of the issues is getting it right,\" he says. \"If Siri or some other voice-activated assistant on your phone fails to give you the football results, you have alternatives, but if a critical, affective computing function fails, that will cause serious frustration at the very least. \"Put simply, if it doesn't work, people will switch off.\" Christian Madsbjerg, a founding partner of \"human science\" consultancy Red Associates, is concerned that affective applications are \"built to Western, Japanese or Chinese models, and emotions are different in other cultures\". He also points out that our bodies, and their physical context, are crucial to our moods and reactions. \"An emotional response to a given commercial in the warm, dark room of the focus group may have no relation to the way that same commercial is perceived at home or on a subway platform,\" he argues. A violinist soloing at Carnegie Hall at a high point in her career may be feeling exultant, but her face won't show it, he says, because she's concentrating so hard. A robot would struggle to interpret her \"frozen\" facial expression, he maintains. Solo's creators admit that the radio doesn't always read emotions correctly. And even Pepper the robot gets it wrong sometimes. \"After a few late nights and being in a somewhat grumpy mood, Pepper added 10 to 12 years on to my age when she evaluated it,\" says Carl Clement, a founder of Emotion Robotics, a UK-based partner with Softbank in Europe. Solo, the emotional radio, might just manage a wry smile at that. And possibly play Frank Sinatra's Young at Heart?"}], "question": "Misreading the situation?", "id": "594_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Nigeria Chibok abductions: What we know", "date": "8 May 2017", "paragraphs": [{"context": "More than 100 girls are still missing after they were abducted from their school in the north-east Nigerian town of Chibok in 2014 by militant Islamist group Boko Haram. Originally, 276 were kidnapped, sparking one of the biggest global social media campaigns, with tweeters using the hashtag #BringBackOurGirls. Some managed to escape shortly after they were seized, while about 100 have been freed in exchange for Boko Haram militants, in negotiations brokered by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). On 14 April 2014, Boko Haram militants attacked a government secondary boarding school in Chibok, Borno state, where girls from surrounding areas had gone to take exams. Many schools in the region had shut down. Boko Haram was targeting them because of their opposition to Western education, which the militants believe corrupts the values of Muslims. But Chibok had not been attacked before, so it was felt safe to use the school for the important final year exams. Many of the pupils were Christians. The gunmen arrived in the town late at night in a blaze of gunfire and headed for the school where they raided the dormitories and loaded 276 girls on to lorries. Some managed to escape within hours of their kidnapping, mostly by jumping off the lorries and running off into the bushes. In total 219 girls were taken away. One of those who did escape told the BBC Hausa service the militants had said: \"You're only coming to school for prostitution. Boko [Western education] is haram [forbidden] so what are you doing in school?\" The abduction and the blaze of publicity that followed came as Boko Haram was growing in strength and capturing territory. Captives from the villages they were taking over were generally put to work, the boys as fighters while women and girls were often forced to become wives of men in the group. For two years, little was heard of the 219 girls. Then in May 2016, an army-backed vigilante group in the Sambisa Forest, a Boko Haram stronghold close to the border with Cameroon, found one of the girls with a child. Two other girls managed to escape in September 2016 and January 2017. October 2016 saw the first mass release with 21 girls being freed following negotiations between the government and Boko Haram, brokered by the ICRC. It is believed that Boko Haram prisoners were freed in exchange. Then in May 2017, another 82 girls were freed, once again with the help of the ICRC. This leaves 113 girls who are still unaccounted for. It is believed that they are still being held by Boko Haram, although there are reports that some may have died. Some of the group of 57 who managed to escape on the night of the abduction in April 2014 went to the US to continue their education. But there was some criticism that those in the US were asked to tell and retell their stories \"to the detriment of their mental, physical, academic and emotional wellbeing,\" psychologist Somiari Demm told the BBC. Another group of girls received scholarships to study at the American University of Nigeria. Eighteen are studying on the foundation programme there, while six are now on the degree programme, PRI reports. None of the 21 girls who were released in October have been able to move back home, and nearly seven months later they are still being held on a military re-integration programme. They did go back to Chibok at Christmas time last year, but they were held in the house of a local politician and the families had to go there to see them. The 82 released in May were sent to a secret location in Abuja after meeting the president. There are also concerns that those girls who go back to their communities may have trouble reintegrating. One girl, Zara, who was kidnapped by Boko Haram, though not from Chibok, told the BBC how she was stigmatised on her return because she was pregnant. She was called a Boko Haram bride and was shunned. Three videos have been released to date. On 14 August 2016, a Boko Haram tape showed about 50 of the girls and contained a demand for the release of imprisoned militants in exchange for them. The group also said some girls had been killed or injured in government air strikes. In April 2016 a video was broadcast by CNN, which appeared to show some of the kidnapped schoolgirls alive. In May 2014, Boko Haram released a video of around 130 girls gathered together reciting the Koran. Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau has said all the girls have converted to Islam and had been \"married off\". Last year, three women who claim they were held in the same camps as some of the Chibok girls told the BBC some of them had become fighters - though this testimony has never been verified. In February 2015, the Nigerian military launched a major offensive against Boko Haram which had controlled large parts of the north-east of Nigeria. Nigeria was backed by a regional forces and has also had help from the US, UK and France. The militants have now lost nearly all their territory and have switched tactics to carrying out suicide bombings against the military and civilians. But if the remaining girls are still being held in one place, that has not been found. President Muhammadu Buhari said that the government \"will spare no effort to see that they and all other Nigerians who have been abducted safely regain their freedom\". The girls kidnapped in Chibok in 2014 represent a small fraction of the number of people taken by Boko Haram. Exact figures are hard to come by, but in 2015 Amnesty International said at least 2,000 women and girls had been taken since 2014, with many of them being forced into sexual slavery. But some of those have been freed. Amnesty Nigeria's spokesperson Isa Sanusi said that since 2014 his organisation has recorded 14 mass abductions and that it still gets reports of kidnappings on a regular basis. \"Almost all towns and villages in Borno state have a long list of missing persons, mostly women, girls and young men,\" he told the BBC in an email. The town that lost its girls Torment of a freed Boko Haram 'bride' 'How I almost became a suicide bomber' Who are Boko Haram?", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 519, "answer_end": 1344, "text": "On 14 April 2014, Boko Haram militants attacked a government secondary boarding school in Chibok, Borno state, where girls from surrounding areas had gone to take exams. Many schools in the region had shut down. Boko Haram was targeting them because of their opposition to Western education, which the militants believe corrupts the values of Muslims. But Chibok had not been attacked before, so it was felt safe to use the school for the important final year exams. Many of the pupils were Christians. The gunmen arrived in the town late at night in a blaze of gunfire and headed for the school where they raided the dormitories and loaded 276 girls on to lorries. Some managed to escape within hours of their kidnapping, mostly by jumping off the lorries and running off into the bushes. In total 219 girls were taken away."}], "question": "How were they kidnapped?", "id": "595_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1345, "answer_end": 1849, "text": "One of those who did escape told the BBC Hausa service the militants had said: \"You're only coming to school for prostitution. Boko [Western education] is haram [forbidden] so what are you doing in school?\" The abduction and the blaze of publicity that followed came as Boko Haram was growing in strength and capturing territory. Captives from the villages they were taking over were generally put to work, the boys as fighters while women and girls were often forced to become wives of men in the group."}], "question": "Why were they taken?", "id": "595_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1850, "answer_end": 2603, "text": "For two years, little was heard of the 219 girls. Then in May 2016, an army-backed vigilante group in the Sambisa Forest, a Boko Haram stronghold close to the border with Cameroon, found one of the girls with a child. Two other girls managed to escape in September 2016 and January 2017. October 2016 saw the first mass release with 21 girls being freed following negotiations between the government and Boko Haram, brokered by the ICRC. It is believed that Boko Haram prisoners were freed in exchange. Then in May 2017, another 82 girls were freed, once again with the help of the ICRC. This leaves 113 girls who are still unaccounted for. It is believed that they are still being held by Boko Haram, although there are reports that some may have died."}], "question": "How many have been released?", "id": "595_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2604, "answer_end": 3892, "text": "Some of the group of 57 who managed to escape on the night of the abduction in April 2014 went to the US to continue their education. But there was some criticism that those in the US were asked to tell and retell their stories \"to the detriment of their mental, physical, academic and emotional wellbeing,\" psychologist Somiari Demm told the BBC. Another group of girls received scholarships to study at the American University of Nigeria. Eighteen are studying on the foundation programme there, while six are now on the degree programme, PRI reports. None of the 21 girls who were released in October have been able to move back home, and nearly seven months later they are still being held on a military re-integration programme. They did go back to Chibok at Christmas time last year, but they were held in the house of a local politician and the families had to go there to see them. The 82 released in May were sent to a secret location in Abuja after meeting the president. There are also concerns that those girls who go back to their communities may have trouble reintegrating. One girl, Zara, who was kidnapped by Boko Haram, though not from Chibok, told the BBC how she was stigmatised on her return because she was pregnant. She was called a Boko Haram bride and was shunned."}], "question": "What has happened to those who have been freed?", "id": "595_3"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3893, "answer_end": 4674, "text": "Three videos have been released to date. On 14 August 2016, a Boko Haram tape showed about 50 of the girls and contained a demand for the release of imprisoned militants in exchange for them. The group also said some girls had been killed or injured in government air strikes. In April 2016 a video was broadcast by CNN, which appeared to show some of the kidnapped schoolgirls alive. In May 2014, Boko Haram released a video of around 130 girls gathered together reciting the Koran. Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau has said all the girls have converted to Islam and had been \"married off\". Last year, three women who claim they were held in the same camps as some of the Chibok girls told the BBC some of them had become fighters - though this testimony has never been verified."}], "question": "When have the girls been seen?", "id": "595_4"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 4675, "answer_end": 5318, "text": "In February 2015, the Nigerian military launched a major offensive against Boko Haram which had controlled large parts of the north-east of Nigeria. Nigeria was backed by a regional forces and has also had help from the US, UK and France. The militants have now lost nearly all their territory and have switched tactics to carrying out suicide bombings against the military and civilians. But if the remaining girls are still being held in one place, that has not been found. President Muhammadu Buhari said that the government \"will spare no effort to see that they and all other Nigerians who have been abducted safely regain their freedom\"."}], "question": "So what is being done to find them?", "id": "595_5"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 5319, "answer_end": 5973, "text": "The girls kidnapped in Chibok in 2014 represent a small fraction of the number of people taken by Boko Haram. Exact figures are hard to come by, but in 2015 Amnesty International said at least 2,000 women and girls had been taken since 2014, with many of them being forced into sexual slavery. But some of those have been freed. Amnesty Nigeria's spokesperson Isa Sanusi said that since 2014 his organisation has recorded 14 mass abductions and that it still gets reports of kidnappings on a regular basis. \"Almost all towns and villages in Borno state have a long list of missing persons, mostly women, girls and young men,\" he told the BBC in an email."}], "question": "How many other people is Boko Haram holding?", "id": "595_6"}]}]}, {"title": "China facial recognition: Law professor sues wildlife park", "date": "8 November 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "A university professor is suing a wildlife park for enforcing facial recognition, in one of the first significant legal challenges to China's rapidly growing use of the technology. It is an issue that has become a matter of heated debate. Prof Guo Bing says the Hangzhou Safari Park is \"violating consumer protection law by compulsorily collecting visitors' individual characteristics\", after it suddenly made facial recognition registration a mandatory requirement for visitor entrance. The park has since compromised by offering visitors a choice between using the previous fingerprint system and high-tech facial recognition, China Daily reports. The park is one of many institutions to introduce facial recognition at its entrances. China has been aggressively rolling out facial recognition in the past five years, originally as a means of boosting security but now as a means of bringing consumer convenience to people's lives, particularly in e-payments. However, since Prof Guo questioned the necessity of it, there have been bigger conversations about the extensive amount of data kept on citizens. Prof Guo, a law professor at the Zhejiang Sci-Tech University in eastern China, is a season ticket holder at the Hangzhou Safari Park. In previous years, he has used fingerprint recognition to enter. But on 17 October, he received a message telling him that the park's system had been upgraded, and it had become mandatory for visitors to register their details using the facial recognition system. \"I clearly expressed my dissatisfaction with the collection of facial data,\" he told popular news website The Paper. He said that he was willing to continue scanning with his fingerprints, but he was told that was not possible. When he said that he would like to cancel his card, he was told he would not receive a full refund. So on 28 October, he took the park to court. The official China Daily newspaper said his case, which has been accepted by the Fuyang District People's Court, was \"the first court case involving the use of facial recognition in China\". The case is reported as still ongoing. Dr Mimi Zou, a Fangda Career Development Fellow in Chinese Commercial Law at the University of Oxford, says the case is very likely to be dismissed if Prof Guo continues to pursue it. She says that, at present, \"there is not a legally binding instrument that deals directly\" with his claim, which is that the park is making collection of his biometric data a condition of entry, and therefore rendering his consent meaningless. However, she says that there has been \"a growing yet fragmented regulatory landscape of privacy and data protection laws in recent years\", as well as \"a national voluntary standard on data privacy known as the Personal Information Security Specifications\". Dr Zou tells the BBC that, although it is currently voluntary, it \"lays a normative foundation for a more binding legal framework\". She says that several big tech companies like Tencent and Alipay have trialled the scheme based on its current standards. \"I believe the rapid development of these standards reflects the growing privacy concerns among the general public in relation to how non-state actors are collecting and using their personal data. We are seeing an increasing responsiveness of Chinese regulators in tackling these concerns,\" she says. But she notes that state surveillance is \"the elephant in the room\" in cases against commercial/business actors that involve the legal protection of Chinese people's data or privacy rights. \"In this realm - and not just in China - there is no such thing as personal privacy.\" Now that questions about facial recognition have entered the courts, there are big discussions online in China about the technology. Weibo users note that \"many places are now forcibly collecting personal information\". One user's comment that they fear \"there will be risks in the future\" related to it has received 2,000 likes. \"In China, people's privacy is not protected,\" another user adds, \"and the illegal collection of facial recognition information is extremely scary.\" \"Technology changes lives and brings convenience to people's lives,\" another user says. \"But you should absolutely be cautious in the event of a security breach.\" \"It's too horrible,\" another adds. \"Everyone is collecting personal information from all over the place.\" Facial recognition has been in China for a number of years now. In 2017, it was lauded for being extensively built into the country's surveillance networks and helping the country identify and catch fugitives. Last year, media noted that police were able to pick a fugitive out of a crowd of 60,000 at a concert due to facial recognition. In the same year, police equipped with the technology were able to identify suspected criminals in sunglasses. But in recent months, it has seen a much more aggressive rollout in private institutes, such as gyms, office buildings and even schools. Facial recognition for payment in shops and supermarkets has increasingly become the norm, replacing the earlier trend of scanning QR codes attached to mobile apps. And it has even been popularised among young people as a tool for entertainment. In late August, a mobile app called Zao made headlines because it could sophisticatedly take a print of somebody's face, and put it almost seamlessly on the body of a celebrity, making people appear as if they were a character in their favourite film or TV programme. However, within a week of Zao being launched, it was removed from online stores, after users noted the app's terms and conditions \"gave the developers the global right to permanently use any image created on the app for free\". It is unlikely that the momentum for facial recognition will slow down in China, particularly because of its success in netting wanted fugitives. Much has been written by official media on the \"successful use\" of facial recognition to net hundreds of criminals in China's \"Operation Fox Hunt\". What's more, China has indicated that it will aggressively extend its surveillance operations by 2020 using a highly sophisticated \"Skynet\" surveillance network. In 2017, China had approximately 170 million CCTV cameras. But an estimated 400 million new cameras, many fitted with artificial intelligence and facial recognition, are expected to be in place by the end of the year. 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_start": 1108, "answer_end": 2108, "text": "Prof Guo, a law professor at the Zhejiang Sci-Tech University in eastern China, is a season ticket holder at the Hangzhou Safari Park. In previous years, he has used fingerprint recognition to enter. But on 17 October, he received a message telling him that the park's system had been upgraded, and it had become mandatory for visitors to register their details using the facial recognition system. \"I clearly expressed my dissatisfaction with the collection of facial data,\" he told popular news website The Paper. He said that he was willing to continue scanning with his fingerprints, but he was told that was not possible. When he said that he would like to cancel his card, he was told he would not receive a full refund. So on 28 October, he took the park to court. The official China Daily newspaper said his case, which has been accepted by the Fuyang District People's Court, was \"the first court case involving the use of facial recognition in China\". The case is reported as still ongoing."}], "question": "What happened at the park?", "id": "596_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2109, "answer_end": 3624, "text": "Dr Mimi Zou, a Fangda Career Development Fellow in Chinese Commercial Law at the University of Oxford, says the case is very likely to be dismissed if Prof Guo continues to pursue it. She says that, at present, \"there is not a legally binding instrument that deals directly\" with his claim, which is that the park is making collection of his biometric data a condition of entry, and therefore rendering his consent meaningless. However, she says that there has been \"a growing yet fragmented regulatory landscape of privacy and data protection laws in recent years\", as well as \"a national voluntary standard on data privacy known as the Personal Information Security Specifications\". Dr Zou tells the BBC that, although it is currently voluntary, it \"lays a normative foundation for a more binding legal framework\". She says that several big tech companies like Tencent and Alipay have trialled the scheme based on its current standards. \"I believe the rapid development of these standards reflects the growing privacy concerns among the general public in relation to how non-state actors are collecting and using their personal data. We are seeing an increasing responsiveness of Chinese regulators in tackling these concerns,\" she says. But she notes that state surveillance is \"the elephant in the room\" in cases against commercial/business actors that involve the legal protection of Chinese people's data or privacy rights. \"In this realm - and not just in China - there is no such thing as personal privacy.\""}], "question": "Will he succeed?", "id": "596_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 4372, "answer_end": 5699, "text": "Facial recognition has been in China for a number of years now. In 2017, it was lauded for being extensively built into the country's surveillance networks and helping the country identify and catch fugitives. Last year, media noted that police were able to pick a fugitive out of a crowd of 60,000 at a concert due to facial recognition. In the same year, police equipped with the technology were able to identify suspected criminals in sunglasses. But in recent months, it has seen a much more aggressive rollout in private institutes, such as gyms, office buildings and even schools. Facial recognition for payment in shops and supermarkets has increasingly become the norm, replacing the earlier trend of scanning QR codes attached to mobile apps. And it has even been popularised among young people as a tool for entertainment. In late August, a mobile app called Zao made headlines because it could sophisticatedly take a print of somebody's face, and put it almost seamlessly on the body of a celebrity, making people appear as if they were a character in their favourite film or TV programme. However, within a week of Zao being launched, it was removed from online stores, after users noted the app's terms and conditions \"gave the developers the global right to permanently use any image created on the app for free\"."}], "question": "How widespread is it?", "id": "596_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 5700, "answer_end": 6523, "text": "It is unlikely that the momentum for facial recognition will slow down in China, particularly because of its success in netting wanted fugitives. Much has been written by official media on the \"successful use\" of facial recognition to net hundreds of criminals in China's \"Operation Fox Hunt\". What's more, China has indicated that it will aggressively extend its surveillance operations by 2020 using a highly sophisticated \"Skynet\" surveillance network. In 2017, China had approximately 170 million CCTV cameras. But an estimated 400 million new cameras, many fitted with artificial intelligence and facial recognition, are expected to be in place by the end of the year. 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."}], "question": "Will it slow down?", "id": "596_3"}]}]}, {"title": "Russia: Opposition figure Navalny's foundation declared 'foreign agent'", "date": "9 October 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Russia has declared opposition leader Alexei Navalny's Anti-Corruption Foundation a \"foreign agent\". The move by the justice ministry means the organisation will now be subject to more checks by the authorities. It will also have to clearly state its \"foreign agent\" status on all official documents, and could be suspended. Mr Navalny, who has led nationwide protests against President Vladimir Putin's rule, denied his foundation had received \"foreign money\". The 43-year-old opposition leader, who has been arrested a number of times, describes the governing United Russia party as a group of \"crooks and thieves\". His candidacy in the 2018 presidential election was banned by authorities over his conviction by a Russian court of embezzlement, which bars him from running for office. Mr Navalny vehemently denies the accusations, saying his legal troubles are Kremlin reprisals for his fierce criticism. In a short statement, the Russian justice ministry said the decision to classify Mr Navalny's non-commercial foundation as a \"foreign agent\" was taken following an audit. It provided no further details. In August, a money-laundering investigation was launched into Mr Navalny's foundation, amid big street protests in Moscow against the exclusion of opposition candidates from elections to the city parliament. Last month, dozens of Mr Navalny's regional offices were raided. Introduced in 2012, it requires non-profit organisations, charities and civil society groups that have foreign funding and engage in political activity in Russia to declare themselves as \"foreign agents\". They then automatically become subject to additional requirements, and failure to meet them could result in the suspension of their activities. Opponents accuse the Russian authorities of trying to suppress its critics and curb basic freedoms in the country. The Kremlin denies this, saying the law prevents foreign organisations from interfering in Russia's internal affairs.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1384, "answer_end": 1965, "text": "Introduced in 2012, it requires non-profit organisations, charities and civil society groups that have foreign funding and engage in political activity in Russia to declare themselves as \"foreign agents\". They then automatically become subject to additional requirements, and failure to meet them could result in the suspension of their activities. Opponents accuse the Russian authorities of trying to suppress its critics and curb basic freedoms in the country. The Kremlin denies this, saying the law prevents foreign organisations from interfering in Russia's internal affairs."}], "question": "What is the 'foreign agent' law?", "id": "597_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Will fees review make any difference?", "date": "19 February 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Is anything going to happen as a result of the review of university costs in England? There had been claims that a year-long review would be a delaying tactic that would let ministers put off any tough decisions, allowing them to dodge difficult questions about tuition fees by saying they \"don't want to pre-empt the findings of the review\". But Theresa May has already made one of the biggest calls, effectively ruling out scrapping tuition fees, and drawing up the battle lines against one of Labour's most youth-friendly policies. The prime minister said it would not be fair on taxpayers who didn't go to university, it would leave higher education in a losing struggle for funding with schools and hospitals, and it would mean limiting university places and funding. And although the prime minister conceded the current system in England was more expensive than almost anywhere else in the world, there were no signs, from anything said by ministers publicly or briefed privately, to suggest the tuition fee level was expected to be radically reduced. It's an independent review so might take its own unexpected path, but the trajectory from the launch seemed to be towards changing the current system rather than inventing a new one. There were no signs of any slashing of fees. The idea of students paying back fees is the assumed starting point - and alternative approaches such as a graduate tax seem to be downplayed. That means focusing on the lower-hanging fruit in terms of cutting costs - such as cutting interest rates, which are currently up to 6.1%, and have been attacked as bafflingly high by a long line of former Conservative and Labour education ministers. The example of Wales could also be followed, with an emphasis on ensuring more maintenance support while students are studying. The most immediate effect will be that the freeze on tuition fees of PS9,250 is almost certainly going to be extended - probably indefinitely. It's a big change from only a year ago, when the government decided to allow universities to increase fees every year, which would have seen them soon heading over PS10,000. But with a review lasting a year, fees are not going up until at least the application cycle for 2020-21. In such uncertain political waters - and with Labour promising to completely scrap fees - it's hard to imagine that any outcome from the review will see fees being allowed to rise. The Education Secretary, Damian Hinds, has called for more \"variety\" in fees - concerned that almost every course at every university is charged at the maximum PS9,250 per year. This has been interpreted as suggesting that some courses - such as arts and humanities - could be made cheaper than sciences, which are more expensive to deliver and where graduate earnings are likely to be higher. But this is far from straightforward. If arts subjects had lower fees, it might act as a disincentive to apply for science subjects, particularly for those poorer students most sensitive to the cost. It would also tend to give even higher levels of tuition fee income to the most prestigious courses and institutions - described by Lord Willetts as a \"reverse pupil premium\". Such unintended consequences make such \"differential fees\" less likely to be recommended. The other big complication in trying to create a variable market in fees is that the level of fees is directly connected to the loan system that underpins it. This type of \"voucher system\", where the student has a guaranteed amount of public support, has an in-built tendency to see all providers pushing up their charges to the maximum of the subsidy. There will be other particular expectations from the review. There is a consensus that more support is needed for part-time students and those wanting to work and study. This will also be a broader post-18 review, with an expectation that vocational and technical training will receive more support. A much overlooked constituency in all this has been parents, who often have to fill the gaps in student living costs. Parents, who might be struggling themselves after years of wage stagnation, might be facing difficult bills for their student children's accommodation. Nick Hillman, director of the Higher Education Policy Unit, said the prime minister's review team had \"enormous expectations on their shoulders\". There is a long shopping list of demands for reducing fees and at the same time increasing levels of support. \"The government has encouraged this speculation but it will be hard to satisfy all the hopes, especially if the Treasury is not willing to allow additional public spending on post-compulsory education,\" said Mr Hillman.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 2412, "answer_end": 3624, "text": "The Education Secretary, Damian Hinds, has called for more \"variety\" in fees - concerned that almost every course at every university is charged at the maximum PS9,250 per year. This has been interpreted as suggesting that some courses - such as arts and humanities - could be made cheaper than sciences, which are more expensive to deliver and where graduate earnings are likely to be higher. But this is far from straightforward. If arts subjects had lower fees, it might act as a disincentive to apply for science subjects, particularly for those poorer students most sensitive to the cost. It would also tend to give even higher levels of tuition fee income to the most prestigious courses and institutions - described by Lord Willetts as a \"reverse pupil premium\". Such unintended consequences make such \"differential fees\" less likely to be recommended. The other big complication in trying to create a variable market in fees is that the level of fees is directly connected to the loan system that underpins it. This type of \"voucher system\", where the student has a guaranteed amount of public support, has an in-built tendency to see all providers pushing up their charges to the maximum of the subsidy."}], "question": "More for science?", "id": "598_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Why is the South China Sea contentious?", "date": "12 July 2016", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Rival countries have wrangled over territory in the South China Sea for centuries, but tension has steadily increased in recent years. China, Vietnam, the Philippines, Taiwan, Malaysia and Brunei all have competing claims. China has backed its expansive claims with island-building and naval patrols. The US says it does not take sides in territorial disputes, but has sent military ships and planes near disputed islands, calling them \"freedom of navigation\" operations to ensure access to key shipping and air routes. Both sides have accused each other of \"militarising\" the South China Sea. There are fears that the area is becoming a flashpoint, with potentially serious global consequences. It is a dispute over territory and sovereignty over ocean areas, and the Paracels and the Spratlys - two island chains claimed in whole or in part by a number of countries. Alongside the fully fledged islands, there are dozens of rocky outcrops, atolls, sandbanks and reefs, such as the Scarborough Shoal. Although largely uninhabited, the Paracels and the Spratlys may have reserves of natural resources around them. There has been little detailed exploration of the area, so estimates are largely extrapolated from the mineral wealth of neighbouring areas. The sea is also a major shipping route and home to fishing grounds that supply the livelihoods of people across the region. China claims by far the largest portion of territory - an area defined by the \"nine-dash line\" which stretches hundreds of miles south and east from its most southerly province of Hainan. Beijing says its right to the area goes back centuries to when the Paracel and Spratly island chains were regarded as integral parts of the Chinese nation, and in 1947 it issued a map detailing its claims. It showed the two island groups falling entirely within its territory. Those claims are mirrored by Taiwan. However, critics say China has not clarified its claims sufficiently - and that the nine-dash line that appears on Chinese maps encompassing almost the entirety of the South China Sea includes no coordinates. It is also not clear whether China claims only land territory within the nine-dash line, or all the territorial waters within the line as well. Vietnam hotly disputes China's historical account, saying China had never claimed sovereignty over the islands before the 1940s. Vietnam says it has actively ruled over both the Paracels and the Spratlys since the 17th Century - and has the documents to prove it. The other major claimant in the area is the Philippines, which invokes its geographical proximity to the Spratly Islands as the main basis of its claim for part of the grouping. Both the Philippines and China lay claim to the Scarborough Shoal (known as Huangyan Island in China) - a little more than 100 miles (160km) from the Philippines and 500 miles from China. Malaysia and Brunei also lay claim to territory in the South China Sea that they say falls within their economic exclusion zones, as defined by UNCLOS - the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. Brunei does not claim any of the disputed islands, but Malaysia claims a small number of islands in the Spratlys. The most serious trouble in recent decades has flared between Vietnam and China, and there have also been stand-offs between the Philippines and China. Some of the incidents include: - In 1974 the Chinese seized the Paracels from Vietnam, killing more than 70 Vietnamese troops. - In 1988 the two sides clashed in the Spratlys, with Vietnam again coming off worse, losing about 60 sailors. - In early 2012, China and the Philippines engaged in a lengthy maritime stand-off, accusing each other of intrusions in the Scarborough Shoal. - Unverified claims that the Chinese navy sabotaged two Vietnamese exploration operations in late 2012 led to large anti-China protests on Vietnam's streets. - In January 2013, Manila said it was taking China to a UN tribunal under the auspices of the UN Convention on the Laws of the Sea, to challenge its claims. - In May 2014, the introduction by China of a drilling rig into waters near the Paracel Islands led to multiple collisions between Vietnamese and Chinese ships. China prefers bilateral negotiations with the other parties. But many of its neighbours argue that China's relative size and clout give it an unfair advantage. Some countries have argued that China should negotiate with Asean (the Association of South East Asian Nations), a 10-member regional grouping that consists of Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Brunei, Laos, Vietnam, Myanmar and Cambodia. However, China is opposed to this, while Asean is also divided over how to resolve the dispute. The Philippines has sought international arbitration instead. In 2013, it announced it would take China to an arbitration tribunal under the auspices of the UN Convention on the Laws of the Sea, to challenge its claims. In July 2016, the tribunal backed the Philippines' case, saying China had violated the Philippines' sovereign rights. China had boycotted the proceedings, and called the ruling \"ill-founded\". It says it will not be bound by it.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 696, "answer_end": 1001, "text": "It is a dispute over territory and sovereignty over ocean areas, and the Paracels and the Spratlys - two island chains claimed in whole or in part by a number of countries. Alongside the fully fledged islands, there are dozens of rocky outcrops, atolls, sandbanks and reefs, such as the Scarborough Shoal."}], "question": "What is the argument about?", "id": "599_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1002, "answer_end": 1378, "text": "Although largely uninhabited, the Paracels and the Spratlys may have reserves of natural resources around them. There has been little detailed exploration of the area, so estimates are largely extrapolated from the mineral wealth of neighbouring areas. The sea is also a major shipping route and home to fishing grounds that supply the livelihoods of people across the region."}], "question": "Why are they worth arguing over?", "id": "599_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1379, "answer_end": 3183, "text": "China claims by far the largest portion of territory - an area defined by the \"nine-dash line\" which stretches hundreds of miles south and east from its most southerly province of Hainan. Beijing says its right to the area goes back centuries to when the Paracel and Spratly island chains were regarded as integral parts of the Chinese nation, and in 1947 it issued a map detailing its claims. It showed the two island groups falling entirely within its territory. Those claims are mirrored by Taiwan. However, critics say China has not clarified its claims sufficiently - and that the nine-dash line that appears on Chinese maps encompassing almost the entirety of the South China Sea includes no coordinates. It is also not clear whether China claims only land territory within the nine-dash line, or all the territorial waters within the line as well. Vietnam hotly disputes China's historical account, saying China had never claimed sovereignty over the islands before the 1940s. Vietnam says it has actively ruled over both the Paracels and the Spratlys since the 17th Century - and has the documents to prove it. The other major claimant in the area is the Philippines, which invokes its geographical proximity to the Spratly Islands as the main basis of its claim for part of the grouping. Both the Philippines and China lay claim to the Scarborough Shoal (known as Huangyan Island in China) - a little more than 100 miles (160km) from the Philippines and 500 miles from China. Malaysia and Brunei also lay claim to territory in the South China Sea that they say falls within their economic exclusion zones, as defined by UNCLOS - the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. Brunei does not claim any of the disputed islands, but Malaysia claims a small number of islands in the Spratlys."}], "question": "Who claims what?", "id": "599_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 4194, "answer_end": 5161, "text": "China prefers bilateral negotiations with the other parties. But many of its neighbours argue that China's relative size and clout give it an unfair advantage. Some countries have argued that China should negotiate with Asean (the Association of South East Asian Nations), a 10-member regional grouping that consists of Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Brunei, Laos, Vietnam, Myanmar and Cambodia. However, China is opposed to this, while Asean is also divided over how to resolve the dispute. The Philippines has sought international arbitration instead. In 2013, it announced it would take China to an arbitration tribunal under the auspices of the UN Convention on the Laws of the Sea, to challenge its claims. In July 2016, the tribunal backed the Philippines' case, saying China had violated the Philippines' sovereign rights. China had boycotted the proceedings, and called the ruling \"ill-founded\". It says it will not be bound by it."}], "question": "Have they tried to reach a resolution?", "id": "599_3"}]}]}, {"title": "The people hoping to persuade UK to vote to stay in the EU", "date": "13 June 2016", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Meet the men and women who have been given the job of persuading Britain to stay in the EU in 23 June's referendum. David Cameron called the referendum and, with many commentators speculating that his political future rests on the outcome, he has taken centre stage in the campaign to remain in the EU. The prime minister has devoted much of the past four months to taking his pro-EU message around the country, hammering home warnings about the economic risks of leaving and saying peace in Europe cannot be taken for granted. He has angered some in his own party with his outspoken stance and tactics, accusing Leave supporters of spreading \"scare stories\", sharing a platform with Labour figures like Sadiq Khan and Harriet Harman and backing a controversial PS9m pro-EU leaflet drop. Mr Cameron, who has insisted that he will remain in Downing Street whatever the result, has said he will not debate directly against any other Conservatives head-to-head before 23 June so as not to inflame so-called \"blue on blue attacks\". Britain Stronger in Europe was chosen as the official lead campaign to make the case for the UK remaining in the European Union. It draws its support from across the political spectrum, including key figures from the  Conservative Party, the Labour Party and the former leader of the Green Party. The cross-party umbrella group was the only organisation to apply to the Electoral Commission for the status of flag bearer for the Remain side, which confers special financial benefits. It is able to spend up to PS7m during the campaign, including a PS600,000 public grant for a free public mailshot and TV broadcasts. There are a number of other groups backing the Remain campaign but they have a spending limit of PS700,000. Britain Stronger in Europe has played a crucial role in shaping the referendum debate and taking on the arguments of its rival Vote Leave. It has focused primarily on the economic benefits of the UK remaining in the EU, the enhanced global influence that membership brings for Britain and the uncertainty that will be caused by a vote to leave. It is a Westminster-based group, which has the support of a plethora of pro-EU campaign groups, including the European Movement, Open Europe and the Centre for European Reform. It has sought to broaden its appeal, particularly to younger and BME voters. Its board members include Megan Dunn, the president of the National Union of Students, theatre director Jude Kelly and former Channel 4 presenter June Sarpong. The group's biggest donor so far has been Lord Sainsbury, the former supermarket magnate who was a science minister during the last Labour government. He gave Stronger In PS2.3m between 1 February and 21 April. There have also been significant contributions from the City. Investment banks Goldman Sachs and Citi have said they will support the campaign with six-figure sums while hedge fund boss David Harding, who is on the board of the organisation, has given PS750,000 so far. Other donors include Travelex founder Lloyd Dorfman and property developer Nathan Kirsh. George Osborne - Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne has been a pivotal figure in the Remain campaign, personifying the government's view that the UK would be damaged economically by leaving the EU. He has appeared alongside business leaders as they warned about the risk of job losses after Brexit and put his name to two controversial Treasury reports which painted a grim picture of the impact on jobs, growth, house prices and the pound of a vote to leave. As the campaign progressed, his attacks on Leave have strengthened, labelling Nigel Farage's vision for the UK \"mean and divisive\" Lord Rose - former chair of Marks and Spencer The former chief executive of Burton Group, Argos and Arcadia Group, who became a Tory peer in 2014, is chair of Stronger In. Launching the campaign last year, he said the EU was not perfect, but staying in was the \"patriotic course for Britain\". Since then, he has played a low-key role, working behind the scenes to court business support. Critics have questioned whether such an establishment figure is what is needed to win over undecided voters and his sure-footedness and command of detail came under scrutiny when he appeared before MPs. Will Straw - executive director The son of former Labour home secretary Jack Straw, the Oxford graduate and former head of the National Union of Students worked for the IPPR think tank and as a Treasury adviser under Alistair Darling. He attempted to enter Parliament last year but failed as he lost the Rossendale and Darwin seat in Lancashire by 5,654 votes. He has fielded tough questions on policy and sought to bring cross-party appeal. Roland Rudd - Treasurer The founder and chairman of financial PR firm Finsbury, he is a City networker with impeccable political contacts - one of his sisters is the Climate Change and Energy Secretary Amber Rudd, while he has numerous friends in New Labour circles. He founded Business for a New Europe in 2006 to speak up on behalf of the benefits of EU membership but was on the losing side in the 2011 referendum on the voting system, when he backed the Alternative Vote. Lucy Thomas - deputy director A regular presence putting the Remain case on TV and radio, Lucy Thomas is a former BBC producer and Lib Dem press officer who held a variety of senior roles, including campaign director, for Business for New Europe before joining Britain Stronger in Europe. Brendan Barber - former TUC boss The former head of the Trade Union Congress is one of a dozen other figures on the organisation's board, including politicians, businessmen, entrepreneurs and broadcasters. Mr Barber is responsible for liaising with the trade union movement, which is largely in support of EU membership and whose contribution will be vital if the In campaign is to be successful. But there have been growing concerns about who is going to enthuse and mobilise the blue collar vote. There are a number of other groups linked to political parties supporting EU membership, although many of these have taken a back seat as the focus has been on splits in the Conservative Party. The Labour In For Britain campaign is being fronted by ex-Home Secretary Alan Johnson, who promises to \"put the country's future above party machinations\". The Liberal Democrats say staying in the EU will keep the UK \"prosperous, secure and relevant\" while the Green Party says the UK will \"flourish when we work together on the shared challenges we face\", including the environment. SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon, who is effectively leading the Remain campaign in Scotland, has warned David Cameron against fighting a \"miserable, negative, fear-based\" campaign elsewhere. The Conservative Party is neutral on the issue of the referendum. More than 100 Tory MPs, including four Cabinet members, take the opposite view to Mr Cameron and want the UK to leave. Those that back Remain camp have their own Conservatives IN campaign. There have also been pro-EU interventions from other high-profile figures, including ex-premiers Tony Blair, Gordon Brown and John Major, warning of the impact on the rest of the UK of a Leave vote. The Labour leader's role in the EU debate has been the subject of a huge amount of press attention and speculation. He has made a number of speeches making the case for EU membership, focusing on the risk to workers rights and employment protections of a vote to Leave, and encouraging young people to register to vote. But Mr Corbyn, who is more Eurosceptic than his predecessors and has said he rates his passion for the EU as seven out of 10, has had a lower profile than many in Labour would have liked and has declined to share a platform with figures from other parties. Many of his allies are backing a separate campaign, Another Europe is Possible, accentuating the social benefits of being in the EU. In the final 10 days of the campaign, Labour has mounted a \"fight back\" amid fears that many of its traditional supporters are leaning towards Leave, with Gordon Brown taking an increasingly high-profile role as he did during the 2014 Scottish independence referendum. Referendum on the UK's future in the European Union The UK is to have a referendum by the end of 2017 on whether to remain a member of the European Union or to leave. The vote is being proceeded by a process of negotiations in which the Conservative government is seeking to secure a new deal for the UK. Guide: All you need to know about the referendum More: BBC News EU referendum special report", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1028, "answer_end": 1752, "text": "Britain Stronger in Europe was chosen as the official lead campaign to make the case for the UK remaining in the European Union. It draws its support from across the political spectrum, including key figures from the  Conservative Party, the Labour Party and the former leader of the Green Party. The cross-party umbrella group was the only organisation to apply to the Electoral Commission for the status of flag bearer for the Remain side, which confers special financial benefits. It is able to spend up to PS7m during the campaign, including a PS600,000 public grant for a free public mailshot and TV broadcasts. There are a number of other groups backing the Remain campaign but they have a spending limit of PS700,000."}], "question": "What is Britain Stronger in Europe?", "id": "600_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1753, "answer_end": 2511, "text": "Britain Stronger in Europe has played a crucial role in shaping the referendum debate and taking on the arguments of its rival Vote Leave. It has focused primarily on the economic benefits of the UK remaining in the EU, the enhanced global influence that membership brings for Britain and the uncertainty that will be caused by a vote to leave. It is a Westminster-based group, which has the support of a plethora of pro-EU campaign groups, including the European Movement, Open Europe and the Centre for European Reform. It has sought to broaden its appeal, particularly to younger and BME voters. Its board members include Megan Dunn, the president of the National Union of Students, theatre director Jude Kelly and former Channel 4 presenter June Sarpong."}], "question": "What does it do?", "id": "600_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2512, "answer_end": 3081, "text": "The group's biggest donor so far has been Lord Sainsbury, the former supermarket magnate who was a science minister during the last Labour government. He gave Stronger In PS2.3m between 1 February and 21 April. There have also been significant contributions from the City. Investment banks Goldman Sachs and Citi have said they will support the campaign with six-figure sums while hedge fund boss David Harding, who is on the board of the organisation, has given PS750,000 so far. Other donors include Travelex founder Lloyd Dorfman and property developer Nathan Kirsh."}], "question": "Who funds it?", "id": "600_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 7196, "answer_end": 8174, "text": "The Labour leader's role in the EU debate has been the subject of a huge amount of press attention and speculation. He has made a number of speeches making the case for EU membership, focusing on the risk to workers rights and employment protections of a vote to Leave, and encouraging young people to register to vote. But Mr Corbyn, who is more Eurosceptic than his predecessors and has said he rates his passion for the EU as seven out of 10, has had a lower profile than many in Labour would have liked and has declined to share a platform with figures from other parties. Many of his allies are backing a separate campaign, Another Europe is Possible, accentuating the social benefits of being in the EU. In the final 10 days of the campaign, Labour has mounted a \"fight back\" amid fears that many of its traditional supporters are leaning towards Leave, with Gordon Brown taking an increasingly high-profile role as he did during the 2014 Scottish independence referendum."}], "question": "What about Jeremy Corbyn?", "id": "600_3"}]}]}, {"title": "New \u00a31.35bn Queensferry Crossing opens to vehicles", "date": "30 August 2017", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Drivers have faced long delays as the new PS1.35bn crossing over the Forth officially opened to traffic. The first vehicles travelled across the Queensferry Crossing in the early hours. Motorists faced delays of more than an hour during both the morning and evening rush hours, especially northbound. Officials believe traffic was heavier than expected because of sightseers wanting to cross the bridge. The crossing is essentially an extension of the M90 motorway across the Forth with a 70mph speed limit, although operators said an initial 40mph limit will be in place to take account of \"driver distraction\". Earlier, the bridge was hit by its first breakdown when a lorry stopped at about 07:00. Traffic Scotland tweeted: \"First breakdown on the @FRC-Queensferry. Mostly on hard shoulder but bum sticking out...slightly!\" The new bridge will take most of the traffic that currently uses the 53-year-old Forth Road Bridge. The old one will remain open for cyclists, pedestrians and buses. The Queensferry Crossing will be closed again at the weekend to allow members of the public to walk across it. About 50,000 people were given tickets after a ballot for a \"once-in-a-lifetime\" chance to walk over the new bridge on Saturday and Sunday. There will then be a royal visit from the Queen next Monday, ahead of the bridge fully opening later next week. On Monday night a collection of vintage, modern and electric vehicles drove on the bridge in a procession to mark the symbolic handover from contractors to the Scottish government. It was followed by a light show across the bridge to celebrate the completion of the biggest infrastructure project in Scotland in a generation. First Minister Nicola Sturgeon took part in the procession on Monday night and thanked workers for their efforts. Economy Secretary Keith Brown said: \"It's fantastic. You immediately notice coming over the new bridge - as traffic is now doing - the absence of the slap, slap, slap that you get on the existing bridge. \"It's a very smooth passage right across the Queensferry Crossing. Also, just the excitement of looking at this fantastic new structure from a new angle. \"I think it will be extremely well-received by the people in Scotland who are going to use this bridge.\" He added: \"It has wind protection, which we couldn't put on the old bridge. \"It will mean this bridge should virtually never have to close because of high winds, which frequently happens on the old bridge. \"So it's a different kind of bridge and it benefits from the advances we have had in engineering. It's a superb addition to the landscape here at the Forth.\" The 1.7-mile crossing has a design life of 120 years but could last longer as it has been \"designed for maintenance\" to ensure it runs smoothly for decades. To avoid closures the existing bridge has faced in bad weather, wind barriers that can withstand the strongest gusts have been installed along the Queensferry Crossing. About 1,000 sensors have been fitted to give advanced warning of any problems, allowing maintenance teams to pre-empt potential issues. Friday 1 September Early in the morning, the Queensferry Crossing will close again to all traffic. Police will redirect all vehicles back across the Forth Road Bridge. It will remain closed until the early hours of Thursday. Saturday 2 and Sunday 3 September About 50,000 members of the public, who were given tickets after a ballot, will get a \"once in a lifetime\" chance to walk over the new bridge on Saturday and Sunday. The Queen will officially open the Queensferry Crossing. She will be joined by the Duke of Edinburgh. The Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland will bless the bridge, and the Queen will cut a ribbon on the south side. Tuesday 5 September A chance for a further 10,000 local people and school children to walk the bridge. Thursday 7 September The bridge will re-open to traffic, with no pedestrian access. The initial speed limit will be 40mph but after work has been completed to adapt the Forth Road Bridge public transport will be switched back to the old bridge and the Queensferry Crossing will become a 70mph motorway. Are you and your children using the Queensferry Crossing today? Share your photos, video and experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. 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 yourpics@bbc.co.uk - Send an SMS or MMS to 61124 or +44 7624 800 100", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 3085, "answer_end": 3509, "text": "Friday 1 September Early in the morning, the Queensferry Crossing will close again to all traffic. Police will redirect all vehicles back across the Forth Road Bridge. It will remain closed until the early hours of Thursday. Saturday 2 and Sunday 3 September About 50,000 members of the public, who were given tickets after a ballot, will get a \"once in a lifetime\" chance to walk over the new bridge on Saturday and Sunday."}], "question": "Opening the Queensferry Crossing: What now?", "id": "601_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Citizenship Amendment Bill: Are India's claims about minorities in other countries true?", "date": "12 December 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "The Indian government has introduced a controversial bill offering citizenship to illegal immigrants from three neighbouring countries if they belong to non-Muslim minority groups. Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis and Christians who have entered India illegally can apply for citizenship if they can prove they originate from Muslim-majority Pakistan, Bangladesh or Afghanistan. The government argues that minorities in those countries are dwindling, and that they face persecution on the grounds of their faith. The legislation has been criticised as discriminatory in India because it excludes Muslims seeking citizenship as well. So what is the situation facing non-Muslims in those three neighbouring states? Amit Shah, India's Home Minister, says Pakistan's non-Muslim population has dwindled dramatically since 1951. This follows the mass exodus of non-Muslims from Pakistan after partition in 1947 and the flight of Muslims from India to Pakistan. Mr Shah cited a remaining minority population in Pakistan of 23%, and he says this has shrunk over the decades due to persecution. He also cited a figure for Bangladesh of 22%, which he said had also gone down over the years. But Mr Shah's figures need to be challenged as he appears to have used the same data for what is now the state of Pakistan (formerly west Pakistan) and again for what is now Bangladesh (formerly east Pakistan), when at the time they were one country. Census data for 1998 shows that the Hindu population of Pakistan (which was formerly west Pakistan) had not really changed significantly from its 1951 level of around 1.5 to 2%. But the data also suggests that the Hindu population of Bangladesh did fall - from around 22% or 23% in 1951 to around 8% in 2011. There are other non-Muslim religious minorities in Pakistan and Bangladesh, such as Christians, Buddhists, Sikhs, and Parsis. And in Pakistan, there are also Ahmadis, who were declared non-Muslim by the government in the 1970s, and are estimated to be around four million strong, making them the largest religious minority in the country. In Afghanistan, non-Muslim groups include Hindus, Sikhs, Bahais and Christians, and make up less than 0.3% of the population. In 2018, there were just 700 Sikhs and Hindus left in Afghanistan as families had been leaving because of the conflict there, according to a report for the US State Department. The Indian government's citizenship bill states: \"The constitutions of Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh provide for a specific state religion. As a result, many persons belonging to Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi and Christian communities have faced persecution on grounds of religion in those countries. \" It's true that the state religion of Pakistan is Islam. Afghanistan is also an Islamic state. In Bangladesh the situation is more complicated. The country came into being in 1971 with a secular constitution, but in 1988 Islam was made the official state religion. A lengthy legal battle to get that reversed ended in 2016 when Bangladesh's top court ruled that Islam should remain the state religion. However, all these countries have constitutional provisions stating that non-Muslims have rights and are free to practise their faith. And individual Hindus have risen to prominent positions in both Pakistan and Bangladesh, notably as chief justices in the two countries. In practice, non-Muslim minorities do face discrimination and persecution. Human rights group Amnesty International has pointed to Pakistan's blasphemy laws, which it says \"are vaguely formulated and arbitrarily enforced by the police and judiciary in a way which amounts to harassment and persecution of religious minorities\". Pakistani Hindus who moved to India in recent years told the BBC they face social and religious discrimination, with a particular issue being the targeting of Hindu girls in Sindh province. But it's also true that Ahmadis, who are not covered by India's citizenship bill, face discrimination for their beliefs as they are regarded as heretical by the Muslim majority. And the majority of blasphemy cases up to 2018 had been filed against other Muslims and Ahmadis, not against Christians or Hindus. In Bangladesh, there are various reasons for the decline in the proportion of Hindus over the years.  The better-off Hindu population have had their homes and businesses targeted, sometimes in attempts to get them to leave so their land or assets can be taken over. Hindus have also been the targets of attacks by religious militants. The Bangladesh government has rejected India's claims about minorities being targeted. Foreign Minister Abdul Monem told the BBC:  \"We don't have examples of minorities being persecuted in this country.\" According to UN data, the number of refugees in India went up by 17% between 2016-19. As of August this year, the biggest numbers registered with the UN were actually from Tibet and Sri Lanka. Read more from Reality Check Send us your questions Follow us on Twitter", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 720, "answer_end": 2389, "text": "Amit Shah, India's Home Minister, says Pakistan's non-Muslim population has dwindled dramatically since 1951. This follows the mass exodus of non-Muslims from Pakistan after partition in 1947 and the flight of Muslims from India to Pakistan. Mr Shah cited a remaining minority population in Pakistan of 23%, and he says this has shrunk over the decades due to persecution. He also cited a figure for Bangladesh of 22%, which he said had also gone down over the years. But Mr Shah's figures need to be challenged as he appears to have used the same data for what is now the state of Pakistan (formerly west Pakistan) and again for what is now Bangladesh (formerly east Pakistan), when at the time they were one country. Census data for 1998 shows that the Hindu population of Pakistan (which was formerly west Pakistan) had not really changed significantly from its 1951 level of around 1.5 to 2%. But the data also suggests that the Hindu population of Bangladesh did fall - from around 22% or 23% in 1951 to around 8% in 2011. There are other non-Muslim religious minorities in Pakistan and Bangladesh, such as Christians, Buddhists, Sikhs, and Parsis. And in Pakistan, there are also Ahmadis, who were declared non-Muslim by the government in the 1970s, and are estimated to be around four million strong, making them the largest religious minority in the country. In Afghanistan, non-Muslim groups include Hindus, Sikhs, Bahais and Christians, and make up less than 0.3% of the population. In 2018, there were just 700 Sikhs and Hindus left in Afghanistan as families had been leaving because of the conflict there, according to a report for the US State Department."}], "question": "How many non-Muslims?", "id": "602_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2390, "answer_end": 3377, "text": "The Indian government's citizenship bill states: \"The constitutions of Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh provide for a specific state religion. As a result, many persons belonging to Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi and Christian communities have faced persecution on grounds of religion in those countries. \" It's true that the state religion of Pakistan is Islam. Afghanistan is also an Islamic state. In Bangladesh the situation is more complicated. The country came into being in 1971 with a secular constitution, but in 1988 Islam was made the official state religion. A lengthy legal battle to get that reversed ended in 2016 when Bangladesh's top court ruled that Islam should remain the state religion. However, all these countries have constitutional provisions stating that non-Muslims have rights and are free to practise their faith. And individual Hindus have risen to prominent positions in both Pakistan and Bangladesh, notably as chief justices in the two countries."}], "question": "What's the official status of non-Muslims?", "id": "602_1"}]}]}, {"title": "Trump rules out Afghan troops withdrawal", "date": "22 August 2017", "paragraphs": [{"context": "President Donald Trump has said a hasty US withdrawal from Afghanistan would leave a vacuum for terrorists to fill. He said his original instinct was to pull US forces out, but had instead decided to stay and \"fight to win\" to avoid the mistakes made in Iraq. He said he wanted to shift from a time-based approach in Afghanistan to one based on conditions on the ground, adding he would not set deadlines. However, the US president warned it was not a \"blank cheque\" for Afghanistan. \"America will work with the Afghan government, so long as we see commitment and progress,\" he said. The Taliban responded by saying that Afghanistan would become \"another graveyard\" for the US if it did not withdraw its troops. President Trump has committed to stepping up the US military's engagement in Afghanistan, but details were few and far between. He said his new approach would be more pragmatic than idealistic, and would switch from nation building to \"killing terrorists\". But he refused to get drawn on how many extra troops, if any, would be deployed and gave no timeline for ending the US presence in the country. Washington is expected to send up to 4,000 additional troops, but Mr Trump did not comment on this. The president did, however, put pressure on neighbouring Pakistan, warning that the US would no longer tolerate it offering \"safe havens\" to extremists - an accusation swiftly dismissed by a Pakistani army spokesman. The president also, for the first time, left the door open for an eventual peace deal with the Taliban, saying: \"Someday, after an effective military effort, perhaps it will be possible to have a political settlement that includes elements of the Taliban in Afghanistan.\" However, Mr Trump said there would be an escalation in the battle against groups like al-Qaeda and so-called Islamic State. \"[They] need to know they have nowhere to hide - that no place is beyond the reach of American arms,\" he said. Meanwhile, Mr Trump made it clear he expects his existing allies - singling out India - to support him in his new strategy, and urged them to raise their countries' contributions \"in line with our own\". Read more on Trump's presidency: By Secunder Kermani, BBC correspondent in Kabul Even with a few thousand extra US soldiers in Afghanistan - deployment levels would remain far lower than their peak in 2010/11 when there were around 100,000 US personnel in the country. So what is different this time? Firstly, that there is no deadline by which the US will begin to scale operations back. Critics of President Obama's surge say that because he made it clear it was temporary - the Taliban were encouraged to wait the Americans out. The second difference is that the US will put more pressure on Pakistan to end \"safe havens\" for the Taliban, according to President Trump. One analyst told me that the key to solving the conflict lies in Islamabad not in Afghanistan. But it is not clear how much leverage the US still has over Pakistan - or how Pakistan will respond to the accusations, given its consistent denial that it operates a \"good terrorist, bad terrorist\" policy. Pakistan has grown increasingly close to China, and has already had millions of dollars of US aid withheld for allegedly not taking enough action against the Taliban-allied Haqqani network. Before his presidency, Mr Trump was not shy about criticising his predecessors on their Afghanistan policy. He previously supported pulling US troops out of the conflict, which began under President George W Bush in 2001 after the 9/11 attacks. Early on in his presidential campaign, however, he did acknowledge that US troops would have to stay in order to avoid the total collapse of the Afghan government. And this long-awaited announcement came after a months-long review, with the president himself acknowledging that his original instinct to pull-out had been reversed after discussions with national security advisers. BBC correspondent Aleem Maqbool in Washington says the people who might object to Mr Trump's strategy are the very ones who voted for him. They were told the president would focus on a policy of \"America First\", but he now says he wants a win in Afghanistan to make all the sacrifice worthwhile, our correspondent adds. Afghan President Ashraf Ghani welcomed the plan, saying: \"The US-Afghan partnership is stronger than ever in overcoming the threat of terrorism that threaten us all.\" He said the new strategy would enhance the training of Afghan security forces. Nato chief Jens Stoltenberg also praised the move and said the alliance, which has about 12,000 troops in Afghanistan, would not allow the country to become \"a safe haven for terrorists who would attack our own countries\". General John Nicholson, the head of both US and international forces in Afghanistan, said it \"means the Taliban cannot win militarily\". But Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid dismissed Mr Trump's strategy as \"nothing new\", telling the US to think of an exit strategy \"instead of continuing the war\". US combat operations against the Taliban officially ended in 2014, more than 8,000 special forces continue to provide support to Afghan troops. The Afghan government continues to battle insurgency groups and controls just half of the country.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 712, "answer_end": 2139, "text": "President Trump has committed to stepping up the US military's engagement in Afghanistan, but details were few and far between. He said his new approach would be more pragmatic than idealistic, and would switch from nation building to \"killing terrorists\". But he refused to get drawn on how many extra troops, if any, would be deployed and gave no timeline for ending the US presence in the country. Washington is expected to send up to 4,000 additional troops, but Mr Trump did not comment on this. The president did, however, put pressure on neighbouring Pakistan, warning that the US would no longer tolerate it offering \"safe havens\" to extremists - an accusation swiftly dismissed by a Pakistani army spokesman. The president also, for the first time, left the door open for an eventual peace deal with the Taliban, saying: \"Someday, after an effective military effort, perhaps it will be possible to have a political settlement that includes elements of the Taliban in Afghanistan.\" However, Mr Trump said there would be an escalation in the battle against groups like al-Qaeda and so-called Islamic State. \"[They] need to know they have nowhere to hide - that no place is beyond the reach of American arms,\" he said. Meanwhile, Mr Trump made it clear he expects his existing allies - singling out India - to support him in his new strategy, and urged them to raise their countries' contributions \"in line with our own\"."}], "question": "What is the new strategy?", "id": "603_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3304, "answer_end": 4249, "text": "Before his presidency, Mr Trump was not shy about criticising his predecessors on their Afghanistan policy. He previously supported pulling US troops out of the conflict, which began under President George W Bush in 2001 after the 9/11 attacks. Early on in his presidential campaign, however, he did acknowledge that US troops would have to stay in order to avoid the total collapse of the Afghan government. And this long-awaited announcement came after a months-long review, with the president himself acknowledging that his original instinct to pull-out had been reversed after discussions with national security advisers. BBC correspondent Aleem Maqbool in Washington says the people who might object to Mr Trump's strategy are the very ones who voted for him. They were told the president would focus on a policy of \"America First\", but he now says he wants a win in Afghanistan to make all the sacrifice worthwhile, our correspondent adds."}], "question": "Is Trump flip-flopping?", "id": "603_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 4250, "answer_end": 5262, "text": "Afghan President Ashraf Ghani welcomed the plan, saying: \"The US-Afghan partnership is stronger than ever in overcoming the threat of terrorism that threaten us all.\" He said the new strategy would enhance the training of Afghan security forces. Nato chief Jens Stoltenberg also praised the move and said the alliance, which has about 12,000 troops in Afghanistan, would not allow the country to become \"a safe haven for terrorists who would attack our own countries\". General John Nicholson, the head of both US and international forces in Afghanistan, said it \"means the Taliban cannot win militarily\". But Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid dismissed Mr Trump's strategy as \"nothing new\", telling the US to think of an exit strategy \"instead of continuing the war\". US combat operations against the Taliban officially ended in 2014, more than 8,000 special forces continue to provide support to Afghan troops. The Afghan government continues to battle insurgency groups and controls just half of the country."}], "question": "What is the reaction?", "id": "603_2"}]}]}, {"title": "Yemen migrants killed in 'second deliberate drowning'", "date": "10 August 2017", "paragraphs": [{"context": "At least 19 migrants have died after being deliberately drowned, the UN's migration agency says. Many of the drowned were thought to be teenagers originating from Somalia and Ethiopia. Hundreds of migrants were forced from a boat off the coast of Yemen for the second time in two days. A spokeswoman for the International Organisation of Migration (IOM) said the incidents \"may be the start of a new trend\". \"Smugglers know the situation is dangerous for them and they could be shot at, so they drop them near the shore.\" In a video statement posted on Twitter, William Lacey Swing, the Director General of the IOM said: \"The utter disregard for human life by these smugglers, and all human smugglers worldwide, is nothing less than immoral.\" The UN say another 180 people were forced off a boat near the coast of Yemen on Thursday. On Wednesday the IOM uncovered bodies of 29 of migrants in shallow graves on a beach. They say survivors of the incident had tried to bury them after the smugglers had forced about 120 of them from a boat close to Shabwa, Yemen. Nineteen are thought to have died in Thursday's incident and the IOM think as many as 50 could have died in Wednesday's drowning. The UN say the migrants were a mix of men and women, and estimated their average age to just be 16. Migrants and refugees have been travelling from the Horn of Africa for decades, because of its proximity and the perception of Yemen as a gateway to other Gulf states and Europe. But the country is in the midst of a civil war and is facing a dire humanitarian crisis. In 2016 over 255,000 Somalis fled to Yemen according to the UNHCR. But thousands have travelled back because of the violence in the country. About 55,000 migrants have left the Horn of Africa to come to Yemen so far in 2017. The IOM estimates more than half of them were under the age of 18 and a third were thought to be female. But this is just a portion of the wider migrant crisis as tens of thousands attempt to travel into Europe. The main route is through Libya, which has been unsettled since the overthrow of Muammar Gaddafi in 2011. More than 94,000 migrants have crossed the Mediterranean to Italy so far this year, according to the UN. But more than 2,370 people have died trying. Italy threatened to shut its ports in order to get help in dealing with the tens of thousands of migrants that have arrived this year. In July, Amnesty International blamed \"failing EU policies\" for the soaring death toll among refugees and migrants in the Mediterranean. 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_start": 743, "answer_end": 1291, "text": "The UN say another 180 people were forced off a boat near the coast of Yemen on Thursday. On Wednesday the IOM uncovered bodies of 29 of migrants in shallow graves on a beach. They say survivors of the incident had tried to bury them after the smugglers had forced about 120 of them from a boat close to Shabwa, Yemen. Nineteen are thought to have died in Thursday's incident and the IOM think as many as 50 could have died in Wednesday's drowning. The UN say the migrants were a mix of men and women, and estimated their average age to just be 16."}], "question": "How many are known to have died?", "id": "604_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1292, "answer_end": 1700, "text": "Migrants and refugees have been travelling from the Horn of Africa for decades, because of its proximity and the perception of Yemen as a gateway to other Gulf states and Europe. But the country is in the midst of a civil war and is facing a dire humanitarian crisis. In 2016 over 255,000 Somalis fled to Yemen according to the UNHCR. But thousands have travelled back because of the violence in the country."}], "question": "Why were they travelling to Yemen?", "id": "604_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1701, "answer_end": 2904, "text": "About 55,000 migrants have left the Horn of Africa to come to Yemen so far in 2017. The IOM estimates more than half of them were under the age of 18 and a third were thought to be female. But this is just a portion of the wider migrant crisis as tens of thousands attempt to travel into Europe. The main route is through Libya, which has been unsettled since the overthrow of Muammar Gaddafi in 2011. More than 94,000 migrants have crossed the Mediterranean to Italy so far this year, according to the UN. But more than 2,370 people have died trying. Italy threatened to shut its ports in order to get help in dealing with the tens of thousands of migrants that have arrived this year. In July, Amnesty International blamed \"failing EU policies\" for the soaring death toll among refugees and migrants in the Mediterranean. 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."}], "question": "How does this fit into the wider migrant crisis?", "id": "604_2"}]}]}, {"title": "Alabama police admit killing wrong man after mall shooting", "date": "25 November 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Protesters have demanded answers after Alabama police admitted killing a man who they wrongly suspected of shooting two people in a shopping mall. Emantic Fitzgerald Bradford Jr, 21, was shot dead at the mall in Hoover. But on Friday, authorities said Bradford was probably not the gunman, and the actual perpetrator remained at large. Around 200 demonstrators marched in the Riverchase Galleria on Saturday demanding answers from the police. \"Where is the bodycam footage -- why we ain't seen it yet?\" one protester said to CBS News. The policeman who killed Bradford has reportedly been placed on administrative leave. According to FBI data, a disproportionately high proportion of police shootings in the US involve black people. The shooting occurred on Thanksgiving night on Thursday. Police arrived at the scene after an 18-year-old and a 12-year-old were shot by a gunman, as shoppers ran for their lives. The condition of the two victims has not been made public, but both were reportedly treated in hospital. Authorities announced on Thursday that Bradford was the gunman, and had been brandishing a weapon. A uniformed officer then shot him to death. However, that story changed on Friday evening when police admitted their initial report was \"not totally accurate\". \"New evidence now suggests that while Mr Bradford may have been involved in some aspect of the altercation, he likely did not fire the rounds that injured the 18-year-old victim,\" a statement reportedly read. Police now believe at least one gunman remains at large. They are continuing to investigate the event. Demonstrators marched through the mall on Friday evening, and held a moment of silence at the spot where Bradford was shot dead. Bradford had received some military training, but he was reportedly discharged from the US Army in August before it was completed. His mother, April Pipkins, said in an interview on Saturday that her son was licensed to carry a weapon, and that he may have been trying to protect shoppers, the New York Times reported. According to the Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence, Alabama does not have laws against public carrying of firearms. \"He was trying to be somebody who helped save people, yet he was killed,\" Ms Pipkins lawyer, Benjamin Crump said. A prominent civil rights lawyer, Mr Crump previously represented the family of Trayvon Martin.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 733, "answer_end": 1588, "text": "The shooting occurred on Thanksgiving night on Thursday. Police arrived at the scene after an 18-year-old and a 12-year-old were shot by a gunman, as shoppers ran for their lives. The condition of the two victims has not been made public, but both were reportedly treated in hospital. Authorities announced on Thursday that Bradford was the gunman, and had been brandishing a weapon. A uniformed officer then shot him to death. However, that story changed on Friday evening when police admitted their initial report was \"not totally accurate\". \"New evidence now suggests that while Mr Bradford may have been involved in some aspect of the altercation, he likely did not fire the rounds that injured the 18-year-old victim,\" a statement reportedly read. Police now believe at least one gunman remains at large. They are continuing to investigate the event."}], "question": "What happened at the mall?", "id": "605_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1589, "answer_end": 2371, "text": "Demonstrators marched through the mall on Friday evening, and held a moment of silence at the spot where Bradford was shot dead. Bradford had received some military training, but he was reportedly discharged from the US Army in August before it was completed. His mother, April Pipkins, said in an interview on Saturday that her son was licensed to carry a weapon, and that he may have been trying to protect shoppers, the New York Times reported. According to the Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence, Alabama does not have laws against public carrying of firearms. \"He was trying to be somebody who helped save people, yet he was killed,\" Ms Pipkins lawyer, Benjamin Crump said. A prominent civil rights lawyer, Mr Crump previously represented the family of Trayvon Martin."}], "question": "Who was Emantic Bradford?", "id": "605_1"}]}]}, {"title": "New Zealand whales: Authorities to move 300 carcasses", "date": "13 February 2017", "paragraphs": [{"context": "New Zealand authorities have said they will move the carcasses of hundreds of whales that died in a mass stranding to an area not open to the public. About 300 whales will be moved with a digger and buried in the sand dunes further up Farewell Spit, South Island. On Monday, conservation workers pierced the bodies to release gas built up during decomposition, following warnings the carcasses might explode. Thursday's stranding was one of the country's worst. It is not clear why more than 400 pilot whales - which are technically members of the dolphin family - came ashore last week, but since then more have stranded themselves including about 200 on Saturday. The 200 were mostly refloated, but Department of Conservation (DOC) official Trish Grant told the BBC on Monday that the pod was still dangerously close to the beach and the whales could strand themselves again. \"We have staff in a boat offshore because there is a risk they could re-strand,\" she said. Diggers will be used to move the hundreds of heavy carcasses to an area of sand dunes in a part of the local nature reserve that is not normally open to the general public. The DOC originally considered leaving the carcasses where they were, with fences around them, but decided it would be better to keep the rotting bodies away from the public. \"It's a big job\" admitted the DOC's Trish Grant, adding that it would take a few days as the bodies can only be moved at low tide. Workers in protective clothing have spent Monday morning cutting holes in whale carcasses with knives and long needles to prevent them from exploding because of gas build-up. No-one knows for sure. One theory is that they may have been driven on to land by sharks, after bite marks were found on one of the dead whales. But the shape of the coastline and its shallow tidal waters has also been cited as likely factors. The DOC's Herb Christophers earlier told the BBC that the whales were trying to get around the top of South Island, but if their navigation went wrong they ended up on the beach. In the shallow waters, the animals' use of echo location was impaired. \"It's a very difficult place if you get lost in there and you are a whale,\" he said. Experts say that whales that become beached also send out distress signals, attracting other members of their pod, who may then also get stranded. Sometimes stranded whales are old, sick, or injured. New Zealand has one of the highest stranding rates in the world. About 300 dolphins and whales end up on beaches in the country every year, according to Project Jonah. Many of these incidents happen at Farewell Spit. In February 2015 about 200 whales beached themselves at the same location, of which at least half died. Even so, the beaching of more than 600 whales on the 5km-long (three mile-long) stretch next to Golden Bay, of which around 300 died, is one of the worst such incidents in New Zealand's history.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 969, "answer_end": 1621, "text": "Diggers will be used to move the hundreds of heavy carcasses to an area of sand dunes in a part of the local nature reserve that is not normally open to the general public. The DOC originally considered leaving the carcasses where they were, with fences around them, but decided it would be better to keep the rotting bodies away from the public. \"It's a big job\" admitted the DOC's Trish Grant, adding that it would take a few days as the bodies can only be moved at low tide. Workers in protective clothing have spent Monday morning cutting holes in whale carcasses with knives and long needles to prevent them from exploding because of gas build-up."}], "question": "How will the dead whales be moved?", "id": "606_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1622, "answer_end": 2400, "text": "No-one knows for sure. One theory is that they may have been driven on to land by sharks, after bite marks were found on one of the dead whales. But the shape of the coastline and its shallow tidal waters has also been cited as likely factors. The DOC's Herb Christophers earlier told the BBC that the whales were trying to get around the top of South Island, but if their navigation went wrong they ended up on the beach. In the shallow waters, the animals' use of echo location was impaired. \"It's a very difficult place if you get lost in there and you are a whale,\" he said. Experts say that whales that become beached also send out distress signals, attracting other members of their pod, who may then also get stranded. Sometimes stranded whales are old, sick, or injured."}], "question": "Why do they keep beaching?", "id": "606_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2401, "answer_end": 2916, "text": "New Zealand has one of the highest stranding rates in the world. About 300 dolphins and whales end up on beaches in the country every year, according to Project Jonah. Many of these incidents happen at Farewell Spit. In February 2015 about 200 whales beached themselves at the same location, of which at least half died. Even so, the beaching of more than 600 whales on the 5km-long (three mile-long) stretch next to Golden Bay, of which around 300 died, is one of the worst such incidents in New Zealand's history."}], "question": "Has this happened before?", "id": "606_2"}]}]}, {"title": "The challenge of assessing Syria's chemical weapons", "date": "23 May 2015", "paragraphs": [{"context": "For the past year, since the last declared material left the country, there have been reports that chemicals such as chlorine and ammonia continue to be used for attacks in Syria. In April this year, members of the UN Security Council witnessed video and heard first-hand reports of one such attack, involving chlorine. Chlorine is a common industrial chemical, but its use as a weapon is banned by the Chemical Weapons Convention. There has also been an increasing number of statements expressing concern with the veracity of Syria's initial chemical weapons declaration. In early May, a leaked report acquired by Reuters indicated that evidence of chemical weapons material was found at an undeclared site. So is the Syria declaration complete? Are chemical weapons still being used in Syria? And why is it so difficult to monitor what weapons they still have? In 2013, Syria signed the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) and agreed to the destruction of its chemical weapons. It approved the initiative after the nerve agent sarin was used in an attack on several suburbs of Damascus that killed hundreds of people. Western powers said it could only have been carried out by Syria's government. The regime and its ally Russia blamed opposition forces. In June 2014, the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) declared that the last of Syria's declared chemical weapons were shipped out of the country for destruction, but since then reports have persisted of chemical attacks. The OPCW has sought to address this by setting up two teams: - The Declaration Assessment Team (DAT) was responsible for engaging with Syria's chemical weapons programme leaders to better understand and obtain clarification on issues within the declaration - The Fact Finding Mission (FFM) whose role was to determine whether chemical weapons were continuing to be used The FFM's report in late 2014 stated that it had found information constituting \"compelling confirmation\" that a toxic chemical was used as a weapon \"systematically and repeatedly\" in a number of attacks on Syrian opposition-held villages. The report also stated: \"The descriptions, physical properties, behaviour of the gas, and signs and symptoms resulting from exposure, as well as the response of patients to the treatment, leads the FFM to conclude with a high degree of confidence that chlorine, either pure or in mixture, is the toxic chemical in question.\" There are a number of possible reasons including: - The desire to retain some sort of strategic capability. Whilst any retained quantity is now probably sub-strategic, if Syria were to hand over the material to Hezbollah, the Lebanese Shia militant group, it might have a strategic effect - Perhaps more likely is that some may be retained in the event of catastrophic regime collapse. The Alawites - the sect to which President Bashar al-Assad belongs and which dominates senior positions in the government and security services - and any allies may plan to consolidate in their traditional areas of north-west Syria as some form of mini, quasi-state. With little left to lose, chemical weapons may become the weapon of last resort - It may just be a very simple reason: old habits die hard. There may be no specific rational plan. The regime and the programme leaders just don't want to let go of a high-won, extremely expensive capability OPCW inspections are based primarily on the member state's own declaration. Routine inspection missions occur to verify such information by visits to the declared facilities. In the course of reviewing Syria's initial declaration, the OPCW encountered a number of issues on which it required further clarification, including Syria's production of ricin (a toxin banned under the CWC), the destruction of mustard agent prior to joining the CWC, and the conversion of unfilled chemical munitions into conventional, explosive ordnance. The DAT work is an informal process, as OPCW director general Ahmet Uzumcu freely admits. It was reported in March 2015 that the team was on its eighth visit to Syria. A more formal, but potentially more confrontational, approach would be for a member state to accuse Syria of hiding something. Article IX of the CWC, or a small paragraph tucked away in the UN Resolution and EC Decision allows this option. An OPCW team could have the mandate to visit any site suspected of containing evidence of a breach to the Convention, a so-called \"Challenge Inspection\". Thus, rather than working from information supplied in Syria's own declaration, or as a result of the OPCW's own analysis, this mission would be based on a third party's intelligence information. This is likely to raise the tension significantly. In theory, Syria is obliged to allow this team to go anywhere. However, unlike the Saddam regime's relationship with UN Special Commission inspections two decades ago, the Syrian government holds all the cards. They have a range of options to impede an inspection team's activities. They could stop movement to a specific location by simply stating that it too dangerous. If a team ignores this advice, there are a number of options to ensure they do not get to their destination. The ultimate sanction being a physical attack, deniable under the \"fog\" of the civil war. What is so challenging about an investigation into a non-persistent toxic substance such as chlorine is the very character of the material. As a volatile gas, chlorine does not hang around in nature. It is either dispersed to undetectable levels, or binds with other compounds and becomes part of the background. Distinguishing chlorine used as a weapon, either from environmental samples in soil, or from the blood or tissue of victims, is extremely difficult. The only real chance is if samples are taken within a very few hours of an attack. The 2013 UN investigation led by Prof Ake Sellstrom focused primarily on the August attacks around Damascus. A key reason that his reports were so robust was the relatively short time between the events and the sampling and interviews - less than 100 hours. Whilst sarin nerve agent is also considered to be \"non-persistent\", its molecular structure means that breakdown products and unique physiological markers remain detectable for a much longer period after use. To maintain a credible process, particularly in such a politically charged arena, it is not sufficient just to conduct inspections in a scientifically sound manner. So the other key aspect of the Sellstrom mission was his team's robust system of acquiring and managing the evidence. As well as being scientifically rigorous, the investigation was completely impartial, and most importantly it was seen to be so. Investigators into the alleged chlorine attacks might only really rely on witness interviews and secondary evidence such as videos. Whilst the evidence they acquire might be compelling, it will be challenging to use it for further purposes. The precise standards of evidence vary around the world, but the common approach is that in criminal cases prosecutors need to demonstrate \"beyond reasonable doubt\", whereas civil cases require only a \"balance of probability\". The question is whether the evidence in an investigation into these alleged uses is sufficient in either case. The nature of the current Syrian environment is a significant constraint on any investigation. Establishing and maintaining a proper evidence management system, with mutually supporting data, is difficult at the best of times. In this war the challenges increase exponentially. Of course it is not impossible. The fact-finding team may be able to further establish some very strong circumstantial evidence. To some extent this has already occurred: with the reporting that some of the chemical weapons were dropped from an aircraft, thereby implicating the government as the sole user of such military hardware. But to prove the use of chlorine as a weapon, let alone determine the perpetrator, will be a huge challenge. Jerry Smith is the former head of contingency operations at the OPCW. He was the deputy head of the OPCW-UN Joint Mission to Syria. He is now an independent security risk management consultant.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 863, "answer_end": 2434, "text": "In 2013, Syria signed the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) and agreed to the destruction of its chemical weapons. It approved the initiative after the nerve agent sarin was used in an attack on several suburbs of Damascus that killed hundreds of people. Western powers said it could only have been carried out by Syria's government. The regime and its ally Russia blamed opposition forces. In June 2014, the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) declared that the last of Syria's declared chemical weapons were shipped out of the country for destruction, but since then reports have persisted of chemical attacks. The OPCW has sought to address this by setting up two teams: - The Declaration Assessment Team (DAT) was responsible for engaging with Syria's chemical weapons programme leaders to better understand and obtain clarification on issues within the declaration - The Fact Finding Mission (FFM) whose role was to determine whether chemical weapons were continuing to be used The FFM's report in late 2014 stated that it had found information constituting \"compelling confirmation\" that a toxic chemical was used as a weapon \"systematically and repeatedly\" in a number of attacks on Syrian opposition-held villages. The report also stated: \"The descriptions, physical properties, behaviour of the gas, and signs and symptoms resulting from exposure, as well as the response of patients to the treatment, leads the FFM to conclude with a high degree of confidence that chlorine, either pure or in mixture, is the toxic chemical in question.\""}], "question": "What has happened so far?", "id": "607_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3377, "answer_end": 5289, "text": "OPCW inspections are based primarily on the member state's own declaration. Routine inspection missions occur to verify such information by visits to the declared facilities. In the course of reviewing Syria's initial declaration, the OPCW encountered a number of issues on which it required further clarification, including Syria's production of ricin (a toxin banned under the CWC), the destruction of mustard agent prior to joining the CWC, and the conversion of unfilled chemical munitions into conventional, explosive ordnance. The DAT work is an informal process, as OPCW director general Ahmet Uzumcu freely admits. It was reported in March 2015 that the team was on its eighth visit to Syria. A more formal, but potentially more confrontational, approach would be for a member state to accuse Syria of hiding something. Article IX of the CWC, or a small paragraph tucked away in the UN Resolution and EC Decision allows this option. An OPCW team could have the mandate to visit any site suspected of containing evidence of a breach to the Convention, a so-called \"Challenge Inspection\". Thus, rather than working from information supplied in Syria's own declaration, or as a result of the OPCW's own analysis, this mission would be based on a third party's intelligence information. This is likely to raise the tension significantly. In theory, Syria is obliged to allow this team to go anywhere. However, unlike the Saddam regime's relationship with UN Special Commission inspections two decades ago, the Syrian government holds all the cards. They have a range of options to impede an inspection team's activities. They could stop movement to a specific location by simply stating that it too dangerous. If a team ignores this advice, there are a number of options to ensure they do not get to their destination. The ultimate sanction being a physical attack, deniable under the \"fog\" of the civil war."}], "question": "What are the difficulties on the ground for inspectors?", "id": "607_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 5290, "answer_end": 6301, "text": "What is so challenging about an investigation into a non-persistent toxic substance such as chlorine is the very character of the material. As a volatile gas, chlorine does not hang around in nature. It is either dispersed to undetectable levels, or binds with other compounds and becomes part of the background. Distinguishing chlorine used as a weapon, either from environmental samples in soil, or from the blood or tissue of victims, is extremely difficult. The only real chance is if samples are taken within a very few hours of an attack. The 2013 UN investigation led by Prof Ake Sellstrom focused primarily on the August attacks around Damascus. A key reason that his reports were so robust was the relatively short time between the events and the sampling and interviews - less than 100 hours. Whilst sarin nerve agent is also considered to be \"non-persistent\", its molecular structure means that breakdown products and unique physiological markers remain detectable for a much longer period after use."}], "question": "What problems does the chemistry throw up?", "id": "607_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 6302, "answer_end": 8207, "text": "To maintain a credible process, particularly in such a politically charged arena, it is not sufficient just to conduct inspections in a scientifically sound manner. So the other key aspect of the Sellstrom mission was his team's robust system of acquiring and managing the evidence. As well as being scientifically rigorous, the investigation was completely impartial, and most importantly it was seen to be so. Investigators into the alleged chlorine attacks might only really rely on witness interviews and secondary evidence such as videos. Whilst the evidence they acquire might be compelling, it will be challenging to use it for further purposes. The precise standards of evidence vary around the world, but the common approach is that in criminal cases prosecutors need to demonstrate \"beyond reasonable doubt\", whereas civil cases require only a \"balance of probability\". The question is whether the evidence in an investigation into these alleged uses is sufficient in either case. The nature of the current Syrian environment is a significant constraint on any investigation. Establishing and maintaining a proper evidence management system, with mutually supporting data, is difficult at the best of times. In this war the challenges increase exponentially. Of course it is not impossible. The fact-finding team may be able to further establish some very strong circumstantial evidence. To some extent this has already occurred: with the reporting that some of the chemical weapons were dropped from an aircraft, thereby implicating the government as the sole user of such military hardware. But to prove the use of chlorine as a weapon, let alone determine the perpetrator, will be a huge challenge. Jerry Smith is the former head of contingency operations at the OPCW. He was the deputy head of the OPCW-UN Joint Mission to Syria. He is now an independent security risk management consultant."}], "question": "What standards must the evidence meet?", "id": "607_3"}]}]}, {"title": "Tunisia protests: Hundreds arrested", "date": "10 January 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "More than 200 people have been arrested across Tunisia during a second night of protests, a government spokesperson has said. At least 49 police officers were also injured during clashes with demonstrators, the spokesman added. People had taken to the streets to protest against the government's austerity measures. This was despite Prime Minister Yousef Chahed's assurances that 2018 would be the last \"difficult\" year. He had previously acknowledged that the country was facing extraordinary and difficult times, and promised to end economic hardship. Protests have taken place in at least 10 different areas in the last few days. One person has died. The protests began peacefully last week, but escalated on Monday evening. According to reports, on Tuesday night hundreds of young people gathered in some places, with some throwing rocks, blocking roads and looting, and others torching police cars and attacking government officials, interior ministry spokesperson Khelifa Chibani said. Police responded by firing tear gas at the demonstrators. As many as 237 people have been arrested, including two Islamists, news agency Reuters said. A Jewish school on the island of Djerba was also petrol bombed. It is thought the attackers were taking advantage of police attention being elsewhere. No-one was injured. The defence ministry said the army is now protecting banks, post offices and other government buildings in Tunisia's main cities. The anti-austerity demonstrators are demanding the government drop the 2018 budget, which opposition groups describe as \"unfair\". They also want to see better welfare for Tunisia's struggling families. The protest comes after the government announced an increase in value-added tax and social contributions in the budget. The new financial year has also brought with it price hikes on some goods and increased taxes on imports. One Tunisian told the BBC: \"Our demands include, primarily, the scrapping of the 2018 financial law, reducing the prices of essential goods, the reversal of privatisation of state entities..., social security and health coverage for the unemployed, provision of housing for families with a limited income, and a national and strategic plan in the fight against corruption. \"If they do not answer these demands, we will call for the scrapping of parliament.\" Tunisia has been struggling with finances since the 2011 revolution, when Zine El Abidine Ben Ali - who ruled for more than 20 years - was forced to flee. The revolution was sparked by the country's high unemployment rates and worries about corruption. Seven years on, and nine governments later, some of those same problems remain - not helped by a number of terrorist attacks which have damaged Tunisia's tourism industry and foreign investment opportunities. In December 2017, the International Monetary Fund told Tunisia it needed to take \"urgent action\" and \"decisive measures\" to reduce its deficit. It gave the country a $2.9bn loan in 2015. But Prime Minister Chahed says this will be the last bad year for Tunisians. \"People have to understand that the situation is extraordinary and their country is having difficulties, but we believe that 2018 will be the last difficult year for the Tunisians,\" he said on Tuesday.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 554, "answer_end": 1443, "text": "Protests have taken place in at least 10 different areas in the last few days. One person has died. The protests began peacefully last week, but escalated on Monday evening. According to reports, on Tuesday night hundreds of young people gathered in some places, with some throwing rocks, blocking roads and looting, and others torching police cars and attacking government officials, interior ministry spokesperson Khelifa Chibani said. Police responded by firing tear gas at the demonstrators. As many as 237 people have been arrested, including two Islamists, news agency Reuters said. A Jewish school on the island of Djerba was also petrol bombed. It is thought the attackers were taking advantage of police attention being elsewhere. No-one was injured. The defence ministry said the army is now protecting banks, post offices and other government buildings in Tunisia's main cities."}], "question": "What is happening in Tunisia?", "id": "608_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1444, "answer_end": 2329, "text": "The anti-austerity demonstrators are demanding the government drop the 2018 budget, which opposition groups describe as \"unfair\". They also want to see better welfare for Tunisia's struggling families. The protest comes after the government announced an increase in value-added tax and social contributions in the budget. The new financial year has also brought with it price hikes on some goods and increased taxes on imports. One Tunisian told the BBC: \"Our demands include, primarily, the scrapping of the 2018 financial law, reducing the prices of essential goods, the reversal of privatisation of state entities..., social security and health coverage for the unemployed, provision of housing for families with a limited income, and a national and strategic plan in the fight against corruption. \"If they do not answer these demands, we will call for the scrapping of parliament.\""}], "question": "Why are they protesting?", "id": "608_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2330, "answer_end": 3257, "text": "Tunisia has been struggling with finances since the 2011 revolution, when Zine El Abidine Ben Ali - who ruled for more than 20 years - was forced to flee. The revolution was sparked by the country's high unemployment rates and worries about corruption. Seven years on, and nine governments later, some of those same problems remain - not helped by a number of terrorist attacks which have damaged Tunisia's tourism industry and foreign investment opportunities. In December 2017, the International Monetary Fund told Tunisia it needed to take \"urgent action\" and \"decisive measures\" to reduce its deficit. It gave the country a $2.9bn loan in 2015. But Prime Minister Chahed says this will be the last bad year for Tunisians. \"People have to understand that the situation is extraordinary and their country is having difficulties, but we believe that 2018 will be the last difficult year for the Tunisians,\" he said on Tuesday."}], "question": "What is the economic situation in Tunisia?", "id": "608_2"}]}]}, {"title": "Pope Francis's apology over Amazon statues theft", "date": "25 October 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Pope Francis has apologised after indigenous Amazonian statues were stolen from a church in Rome and dumped into the Tiber River. \"As a bishop of the diocese, I ask forgiveness from the persons who were offended by this,\" he said. The five wooden statues of a naked, pregnant woman were taken from the church on Monday. Unidentified perpetrators - believed to be conservative Catholic militants - described the statues as \"idols\". They later posted a video of showing how the so-called Pachamama statues were stolen and then thrown in the river. Pachamama is a goddess revered by indigenous communities in the Amazon. The Pope's apology came on Friday, the penultimate day of a three-week assembly at the Vatican. The gathering, known as the synod, is discussing the future of the Church in the Amazon - a vast region in South America. The pontiff said the statues had been recovered by Italian police and appeared to be not damaged. Francis also stressed that there \"was no idolatrous intention\" in bringing the statues to the church in Rome. The Vatican earlier condemned the theft, with senior officials saying the statues simply represented life, fertility and mother earth. The Pope has faced strong criticism from ultra-conservatives over whether married men will be allowed to become priests. This is one of the most hotly discussed issues at the synod. - A synod is a gathering of priests and bishops to discuss issues affecting the Church - The Amazon Synod is a special synod to discuss issues affecting people living in the Amazon region - Most participants are bishops and priests from the Amazon region - After discussion, the synod will vote on their conclusions and then present a final document to the Pope - The conclusions of the synod are advisory. It is the Pope who makes any final decision", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 618, "answer_end": 1360, "text": "The Pope's apology came on Friday, the penultimate day of a three-week assembly at the Vatican. The gathering, known as the synod, is discussing the future of the Church in the Amazon - a vast region in South America. The pontiff said the statues had been recovered by Italian police and appeared to be not damaged. Francis also stressed that there \"was no idolatrous intention\" in bringing the statues to the church in Rome. The Vatican earlier condemned the theft, with senior officials saying the statues simply represented life, fertility and mother earth. The Pope has faced strong criticism from ultra-conservatives over whether married men will be allowed to become priests. This is one of the most hotly discussed issues at the synod."}], "question": "What did the Pope say?", "id": "609_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Paris attacks: Was Salim Benghalem the real ringleader?", "date": "26 January 2016", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Ever since the 13 November attacks, Abdelhamid Abaaoud has been identified as the man who co-ordinated the triple gun and bomb onslaught on the Stade de France, the Bataclan concert hall and the Paris cafes and restaurants. But Abaaoud died in a police raid the following week in Seine-Saint-Denis and there has always been a suspicion that he was more of a participant than the chief organiser. Now US-based terrorism research centre TRAC identifies Frenchman Salim Benghalem as the real ringleader behind the atrocities that claimed 130 lives. Early in January, a Paris court sentenced Benghalem, who left for Syria in 2013, to 15 years in jail in absentia. A notorious jihadist convicted of recruiting others to so-called Islamic State (IS), he has long been known to French authorities and is widely implicated in other attacks on French soil. In September 2014 he was cited on a US list of 10 Designated Global Terrorists (SDGT). \"Salim Benghalem is a Syria-based French extremist and ISIL member, who carries out executions on behalf of the group.\" The true nature of Abaaoud's role in the Paris attacks has never been clear. In the aftermath of the atrocities he was identified as the ringleader and Belgian authorities had for months tried to track him down on suspicion of co-ordinating a terror cell in Belgium. French authorities implicated him in four out of six foiled attacks in the months leading up to November. A propaganda video of nine of the Paris attackers either in Syria or Iraq circulated by IS is also preceded with a rant by Abaaoud, so he is clearly being promoted as a major player. But French authorities have long suspected that the plot must have emanated from Syria and TRAC Director Veryan Khan agrees. \"Abaaoud was the on-site coordinator but according to our sources didn't have control of the capacity to carry out a very professional attack on such a scale,\" she told Belgian newspaper De Morgen (in Dutch). And would the ringleader have taken part in the bar and restaurant attacks himself and endured such an ignominious end? In the four days after the murders he is said to have lived hidden in undergrowth beside a main road. Eventually he emerged with the help of his cousin and both died when police raided their flat hours later. Who died in the November 2015 attacks on Paris? Who were the November attackers? Who was Abdelhamid Abaaoud? He certainly has a higher profile than Abaaoud. Within a month of the January 2015 Paris attacks, Benghalem appeared on an IS propaganda video from Syria praising the killers and appealing to others in France to launch attacks as \"lone wolves\". Benghalem had known all three attackers while being part of the radical Islamist Buttes-Chaumont group in Paris. They had followed similar routes from low-level delinquency to violent jihadism. Benghalem was radicalised while serving time in jail for attempted murder and is thought to have come under the influence of the group's leader, Mohamed El-Ayouni. Later, he became friendly with the two Charlie Hebdo killers, Said and Cherif Kouachi, and kosher supermarket gunman Ahmedy Coulibaly. He joined one of the Kouachis and Coulibaly in a botched attempt to spring a Paris Islamist from jail in 2010 and is thought to have travelled with Cherif Kouachi to Yemen in 2011 where both came under the influence of Anwar al-Awlaki, then leader of Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP). By 2013 he was in Syria earning a reputation for Islamist brutality. Three days of terror in Paris: Charlie Hebdo attacks The victims of the January 2015 Paris attacks Benghalem also forged a friendship in Syria with another Islamist, Mehdi Nemmouche, the man on trial for four murders at the Brussels Jewish museum in May 2014. The pair had acted as jailers for four French hostages held in Aleppo between July and December 2013. One of the four, Nicolas Henin, described how Nemmouche had tortured Syrian prisoners and mistreated him too. But one source told French media that Benghalem was in charge. \"When Nemmouche struck, it was Benghalem asking the questions,\" French intelligence are said to believe he may be part of an IS \"police force\", taking part in executions and corporal punishment, according to Le Monde, as part of a self-styled Islamic Tribunal near Aleppo. It would make sense that the Paris plot was hatched and supervised in Syria but Benghalem does not appear to be linked to the November attackers in the way he was close to Coulibaly and the Kouachi brothers. More individuals are yet to be exposed. Ominously, the EU's police agency Europol has now warned of similar potential plots in other European cities with the main purpose being \"mass casualties\". If Salim Benghalem was behind the November atrocities in Paris, he may not be alone.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 546, "answer_end": 1054, "text": "Early in January, a Paris court sentenced Benghalem, who left for Syria in 2013, to 15 years in jail in absentia. A notorious jihadist convicted of recruiting others to so-called Islamic State (IS), he has long been known to French authorities and is widely implicated in other attacks on French soil. In September 2014 he was cited on a US list of 10 Designated Global Terrorists (SDGT). \"Salim Benghalem is a Syria-based French extremist and ISIL member, who carries out executions on behalf of the group.\""}], "question": "Who is Salim Benghalem?", "id": "610_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1055, "answer_end": 2382, "text": "The true nature of Abaaoud's role in the Paris attacks has never been clear. In the aftermath of the atrocities he was identified as the ringleader and Belgian authorities had for months tried to track him down on suspicion of co-ordinating a terror cell in Belgium. French authorities implicated him in four out of six foiled attacks in the months leading up to November. A propaganda video of nine of the Paris attackers either in Syria or Iraq circulated by IS is also preceded with a rant by Abaaoud, so he is clearly being promoted as a major player. But French authorities have long suspected that the plot must have emanated from Syria and TRAC Director Veryan Khan agrees. \"Abaaoud was the on-site coordinator but according to our sources didn't have control of the capacity to carry out a very professional attack on such a scale,\" she told Belgian newspaper De Morgen (in Dutch). And would the ringleader have taken part in the bar and restaurant attacks himself and endured such an ignominious end? In the four days after the murders he is said to have lived hidden in undergrowth beside a main road. Eventually he emerged with the help of his cousin and both died when police raided their flat hours later. Who died in the November 2015 attacks on Paris? Who were the November attackers? Who was Abdelhamid Abaaoud?"}], "question": "Wasn't Abaaoud the ringleader?", "id": "610_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 4082, "answer_end": 4779, "text": "French intelligence are said to believe he may be part of an IS \"police force\", taking part in executions and corporal punishment, according to Le Monde, as part of a self-styled Islamic Tribunal near Aleppo. It would make sense that the Paris plot was hatched and supervised in Syria but Benghalem does not appear to be linked to the November attackers in the way he was close to Coulibaly and the Kouachi brothers. More individuals are yet to be exposed. Ominously, the EU's police agency Europol has now warned of similar potential plots in other European cities with the main purpose being \"mass casualties\". If Salim Benghalem was behind the November atrocities in Paris, he may not be alone."}], "question": "Could Benghalem have plotted the 13 November attacks?", "id": "610_2"}]}]}, {"title": "Extinction Rebellion: PM labels protesters 'uncooperative crusties'", "date": "8 October 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Extinction Rebellion protesters on the streets of London have been labelled \"uncooperative crusties\" by Prime Minister Boris Johnson. The demonstrators - who are demanding action on climate change - should abandon their \"hemp-smelling bivouacs\" and stop blocking roads, the PM added. Police have already arrested more than 300 people at the start of two weeks of protests by environmental campaigners. Some activists glued themselves to government buildings early on Tuesday. Speaking at a book launch, Mr Johnson said:  \"I am afraid that the security people didn't want me to come along tonight because they said the road was full of uncooperative crusties and protesters of all kinds littering the road. \"They said there was some risk that I would be egged.\" Mr Johnson added protesters could learn from former PM Margaret Thatcher, who he said had taken the issue of greenhouse gases seriously long before activists such as Greta Thunberg were born. \"I hope that when we go out from this place tonight and we are waylaid by importunate nose-ringed climate change protesters, we remind them that she was also right about greenhouse gases.\" Extinction Rebellion activists are protesting in cities around the world, including Berlin, Amsterdam and Sydney. The Metropolitan Police said there have been 319 arrests in relation to the demonstrations since 00:01 BST on Tuesday. Some 200 campaigners who camped overnight on streets in central London also faced arrest on Tuesday morning after being issued with warnings by police. Activists who blocked Horseferry Road, in Westminster, throughout the night were warned that they will be arrested unless they move to nearby Trafalgar Square. But many said they were prepared to stay in the camp. Mike Gumn, 33, from Bristol, told the PA news agency: \"We will decide as a group when we are going to move and we are not going to let police tell us when.\" By Becky Morton, BBC News Behind Parliament Square there are dozens of tents where protesters from Scotland, Cumbria and north-east England have camped overnight. Mikaela Loach, 21, travelled from Edinburgh on Monday with a friend on a bus organised for protesters. She says she has attended protests before but this is her first time camping out overnight. \"I was a bit worried about police coming in the middle of the night, but it was a nice atmosphere having people around you that are here for the same cause,\" she said. \"I've spoken to my local MP, I've taken part in protests, I just feel like I haven't been listened to. This is a last resort,\" she said. \"I have been changing things in my lifestyle for a long time to try and be more eco-friendly, but I had a realisation that it doesn't matter if I go vegan or zero waste if the government doesn't do anything. \"There need to be big structural changes.\" Some activists glued themselves to the Department for Transport building early on Tuesday, a tactic used in demonstrations earlier this year. A lorry was also parked on Marsham Street, outside the entrance to the Home Office, with protesters attaching themselves to the vehicle. On Monday, organisers blockaded key sites in central London, in addition to demonstrating outside government departments. Some glued and chained themselves to roads and vehicles - those who did so outside Westminster Abbey were later removed by police. The roads behind Downing Street were blocked throughout the day by protesters, some of whom had erected tents in the street and were sitting down and singing songs together. The protests are calling for urgent action on global climate and wildlife emergencies. Further road closures are expected on Tuesday, with Parliament Street, Great Smith Street and Westminster and Lambeth bridges predicted to be heavily affected. Extinction Rebellion claims protests in the capital will be five times bigger than similar events in April, which saw more than 1,100 people were arrested. Extinction Rebellion (XR for short) wants governments to declare a \"climate and ecological emergency\" and take immediate action to address climate change. It describes itself as an international \"non-violent civil disobedience activist movement\". Extinction Rebellion was launched in 2018 and organisers say it now has groups willing to take action in dozens of countries. In April, the group held a large demonstration in London that brought major routes in the city to a standstill. Read more here.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 3921, "answer_end": 4421, "text": "Extinction Rebellion (XR for short) wants governments to declare a \"climate and ecological emergency\" and take immediate action to address climate change. It describes itself as an international \"non-violent civil disobedience activist movement\". Extinction Rebellion was launched in 2018 and organisers say it now has groups willing to take action in dozens of countries. In April, the group held a large demonstration in London that brought major routes in the city to a standstill. Read more here."}], "question": "What is Extinction Rebellion?", "id": "611_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Poland's tussle over abortion ban", "date": "6 October 2016", "paragraphs": [{"context": "The touchstone issue of abortion has again fought its way to the centre of Polish politics. In this staunchly Catholic nation, a citizens' initiative calling for an almost complete ban drew 450,000 signatures and looked close to being passed, before some 100,000 Poles, most of them women, took to the streets in protest. The socially-conservative government distanced itself from the ban and MPs then voted overwhelmingly against it. Abortion is already mostly banned. The only exceptions are a severe and irreversible damage to the foetus, a serious threat to the mother's health, or when pregnancy is the result of rape or incest. Even by conservative estimates there are far more illegal abortions than legal ones in Poland - between 10,000 and 150,000, compared to about 1,000 or 2,000 legal terminations. Access to contraception has also been tightened. The only over-the-counter contraception now available is the condom. Anti-abortion activists, led mainly by one group called Stop Abortion, demanded what is widely regarded in Poland as a total ban, even in cases of rape and incest. The only exception would have been where the mother's life was in danger. Under the proposals, abortion was to be punishable with a five-year prison term. Doctors in Poland already risk punishment if they are found to have carried out an illegal termination, but under the bill all doctors performing abortions would have been criminalised. The changes would have aligned Poland with two other European states, Malta and Vatican City. Stop Abortion argues that human life starts at conception and should be protected from that moment. The government never officially backed the citizens' initiative but initially figures such as Prime Minister Beata Szydlo and the deputy justice minister Patryk Jaki indicated their personal support. And many MPs in the ruling Law and Justice (PiS) party backed the bill when it first went before parliament last month. Watch: Moves to ban abortion in Poland are dividing opinion The Catholic Church had also backed the bill but changed its stance ahead of the 6 October vote in parliament, saying it could not support women being jailed for having an abortion. Conservative Catholic weekly Gosc Niedzielny quoted Joanna Banasiuk, a university lawyer and activist, telling parliament that abortion was the \"butchering of innocent children, hell for women and moral bankruptcy for men\". In one south-eastern region, Podkarpackie, where the ruling PiS and the Catholic Church enjoy unusually high support, hospitals and doctors signed a \"declaration of conscience\" and refused to carry out any abortions, in effect removing legal abortion locally as an option. When parliament (the Sejm) began to debate the motion there were demonstrations for and against the proposals outside the building in Warsaw. The bill was sent to a committee for further consideration. The influence of the church is indirect but significant. No parliamentary party has the word \"Catholic\" or \"Christian\" in its name, but 87% of the nation declare to be Roman Catholic. If you want to find the roots of the Polish conscience you need to look in the Vatican, say some. And although the PiS does not follow Church teachings blindly, a significant section of its supporters are religious. Others argue that the Church's influence on the nation is waning. Attendance at Sunday mass has dropped below 40%. More Poles are willing, these days, to challenge the moral leadership of the Church. Opinion polls suggest that between two-thirds and three-quarters of Poles wanted no change to the existing abortion laws. When an estimated 100,000 people, most of them women, turned out in nationwide rallies in Poland on 3 October, the government took notice. They bore placards that read \"No women, no kraj\", a reference to a Bob Marley song but with a Polish word that changed the meaning to \"No women, no country\". The prime minister quickly distanced herself from the bill and then Deputy Prime Minister Jaroslaw Gowin gave a radio interview, saying the protests had given \"food for thought and certainly taught us humility\". Smaller rallies took place in several other European cities. The main group, Save the Women, argues that the current law is already extremely restrictive. It is supported by Poland's main opposition party, Nowoczesna (Modern), which complains current regulations are \"medieval\", drive abortion underground and deny pregnant women choice - except for more affluent women, who are able to afford to go abroad for terminations. Coat-hangers representing back-street abortions have been a regular feature of protests; recent web-based protests have seen women posting pictures of themselves wearing black mourning clothes, symbolising the death of choice and their own futures. Save the Women's Barbara Nowacka said that to reduce the number of illegal abortions the state had to introduce \"sex education, state-funded contraception... and [better] access to doctors as well as the right to abortion\". The pro-choice movement also garnered enough signatures (about 250,000) to see their proposals debated by parliament - but it immediately struck the motion out. The campaign for a near-total ban appears to have run out of steam. What is now most likely is that a 23-year-old compromise will remain in place that only allows abortion in cases of rape or incest, or when the health of the mother or foetus is seriously endangered. European countries are among the world's most pro-choice when it comes to abortion. There are exceptions: Malta and Vatican City are among six countries worldwide where abortion is banned outright under law. There are severe restrictions in Ireland, Northern Ireland (where the law differs from the rest of the UK), San Marino, Liechtenstein and Andorra. Abortion study: 25% of pregnancies terminated, estimates suggest", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 435, "answer_end": 928, "text": "Abortion is already mostly banned. The only exceptions are a severe and irreversible damage to the foetus, a serious threat to the mother's health, or when pregnancy is the result of rape or incest. Even by conservative estimates there are far more illegal abortions than legal ones in Poland - between 10,000 and 150,000, compared to about 1,000 or 2,000 legal terminations. Access to contraception has also been tightened. The only over-the-counter contraception now available is the condom."}], "question": "What's the law in Poland now?", "id": "612_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 929, "answer_end": 1627, "text": "Anti-abortion activists, led mainly by one group called Stop Abortion, demanded what is widely regarded in Poland as a total ban, even in cases of rape and incest. The only exception would have been where the mother's life was in danger. Under the proposals, abortion was to be punishable with a five-year prison term. Doctors in Poland already risk punishment if they are found to have carried out an illegal termination, but under the bill all doctors performing abortions would have been criminalised. The changes would have aligned Poland with two other European states, Malta and Vatican City. Stop Abortion argues that human life starts at conception and should be protected from that moment."}], "question": "What would have changed under the proposed ban?", "id": "612_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1628, "answer_end": 2888, "text": "The government never officially backed the citizens' initiative but initially figures such as Prime Minister Beata Szydlo and the deputy justice minister Patryk Jaki indicated their personal support. And many MPs in the ruling Law and Justice (PiS) party backed the bill when it first went before parliament last month. Watch: Moves to ban abortion in Poland are dividing opinion The Catholic Church had also backed the bill but changed its stance ahead of the 6 October vote in parliament, saying it could not support women being jailed for having an abortion. Conservative Catholic weekly Gosc Niedzielny quoted Joanna Banasiuk, a university lawyer and activist, telling parliament that abortion was the \"butchering of innocent children, hell for women and moral bankruptcy for men\". In one south-eastern region, Podkarpackie, where the ruling PiS and the Catholic Church enjoy unusually high support, hospitals and doctors signed a \"declaration of conscience\" and refused to carry out any abortions, in effect removing legal abortion locally as an option. When parliament (the Sejm) began to debate the motion there were demonstrations for and against the proposals outside the building in Warsaw. The bill was sent to a committee for further consideration."}], "question": "Who supported the changes?", "id": "612_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2889, "answer_end": 3610, "text": "The influence of the church is indirect but significant. No parliamentary party has the word \"Catholic\" or \"Christian\" in its name, but 87% of the nation declare to be Roman Catholic. If you want to find the roots of the Polish conscience you need to look in the Vatican, say some. And although the PiS does not follow Church teachings blindly, a significant section of its supporters are religious. Others argue that the Church's influence on the nation is waning. Attendance at Sunday mass has dropped below 40%. More Poles are willing, these days, to challenge the moral leadership of the Church. Opinion polls suggest that between two-thirds and three-quarters of Poles wanted no change to the existing abortion laws."}], "question": "What role does the Catholic Church play?", "id": "612_3"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3611, "answer_end": 4180, "text": "When an estimated 100,000 people, most of them women, turned out in nationwide rallies in Poland on 3 October, the government took notice. They bore placards that read \"No women, no kraj\", a reference to a Bob Marley song but with a Polish word that changed the meaning to \"No women, no country\". The prime minister quickly distanced herself from the bill and then Deputy Prime Minister Jaroslaw Gowin gave a radio interview, saying the protests had given \"food for thought and certainly taught us humility\". Smaller rallies took place in several other European cities."}], "question": "Did women stop the abortion ban?", "id": "612_4"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 4181, "answer_end": 5178, "text": "The main group, Save the Women, argues that the current law is already extremely restrictive. It is supported by Poland's main opposition party, Nowoczesna (Modern), which complains current regulations are \"medieval\", drive abortion underground and deny pregnant women choice - except for more affluent women, who are able to afford to go abroad for terminations. Coat-hangers representing back-street abortions have been a regular feature of protests; recent web-based protests have seen women posting pictures of themselves wearing black mourning clothes, symbolising the death of choice and their own futures. Save the Women's Barbara Nowacka said that to reduce the number of illegal abortions the state had to introduce \"sex education, state-funded contraception... and [better] access to doctors as well as the right to abortion\". The pro-choice movement also garnered enough signatures (about 250,000) to see their proposals debated by parliament - but it immediately struck the motion out."}], "question": "Who backed the protests?", "id": "612_5"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 5179, "answer_end": 5446, "text": "The campaign for a near-total ban appears to have run out of steam. What is now most likely is that a 23-year-old compromise will remain in place that only allows abortion in cases of rape or incest, or when the health of the mother or foetus is seriously endangered."}], "question": "So what happens next?", "id": "612_6"}]}]}, {"title": "'My breast implants made me feel like I was dying'", "date": "20 December 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "\"I thought, 'I'm dying, there's something horribly wrong but nobody will listen to me.'\" Malene El Rafaey was a successful glamour model who had contracts with FHM, Playboy and the Daily Star. She never felt her boobs were quite good enough though, so when she was 25 she decided to get breast implants. At first she loved them but about six years later, she started experiencing some serious health problems. \"I couldn't get out of bed in the morning, I couldn't work, I just slept all day long,\" Malene tells Radio 1 Newsbeat. She also developed multiple allergies. \"Body wash, my creams, I could literally have a piece of bread and I would be coming out in a rash. In the end I just stopped eating.\" Malene says she was suffering from what's known as breast implant illness (BII). Hundreds of thousands of other women believe they have it too - the problem is, medical experts can't agree whether it's real or not. But for the first time, Newsbeat has been told by three major cosmetic surgery associations they will be warning women about the risks associated with breast implants. BAAPS, BAPRAS and ABS have told us in a statement the issue of breast implant illness, \"should be discussed with women who are considering breast augmentation\". They're also updating advice leaflets to ensure patients have access to the latest information. At the moment BII is self-diagnosed. Symptoms reported by those who say they have the illness - mainly related to the immune system - are broad. They include fatigue, chest pain, hair loss, headaches, chills, photosensitivity, chronic pain, brain fog and sleep disturbance. BII is not officially recognised as a condition in the UK. BAAPS (The British Association of Aesthetics and Plastic Surgeons) says there is no scientific evidence to support a direct link between the illness and implants. \"If you feel better, I'll believe you but I have to say it's in your head it's not in your breasts,\" says plastic surgeon Graeme Perks. \"Any scientist would tell you if the illness is related to a problem with the silicone, it doesn't switch off the moment the silicone implant is removed, and so that makes you very suspicious that we don't know enough about what's going on,\" he adds. Breast implants are still the most common cosmetic surgery procedure in the UK, with around 8,000 women a year going under the knife. While most of those will have no problems, more and more women now say their implants are making them seriously ill. Further research is being made a priority in countries including Australia and the USA where scientists say BII is a form of autoimmune disease - a condition where your immune system mistakenly attacks your body. Prof Jan Cohen-Tervaert has spent more than 25 years researching it: \"We have sufficient evidence to show breast implant illness is caused by breast implants. \"They can cause a foreign body reaction and you can see that the immune system is activated. What more proof do we need?\" The Food and Drug Association, which is the drugs regulator in the US, has recently called for warnings about the risks associated with breast implants to be put on packaging containing the implants. It also acknowledges women do have \"symptoms that may resolve when their breast implants are removed.\" A common complaint from women who say they have BII is the lack of support when they seek medical advice. Malene felt like she had no help, so turned to the internet. \"It wasn't until a girl on Instagram told me about this group on Facebook and it was like, 'oh my god I have breast implant illness, it's my implants'. There was no doubt in my mind that's what it was.\" Prof Jan agrees the UK is lagging behind other countries and is wrong for not warning patients about the risks of BII. \"Women have the right to know what they're going through, so information is crucial.\" The Department of Health hasn't responded to Newsbeat's request for a statement - but the Labour former Shadow Health Minister Sharon Hodgson says women need to be taken more seriously: \"This is real. All of these women, their symptoms disappear once they have their implants taken out. That proves what's causing their symptoms. Surgeons need to take a long hard look in the mirror and ask themselves why they believe it doesn't exist because the evidence doesn't lie.\" She's calling for women to be told about the risks of BII before they sign a consent form to go ahead with breast implants. The UK healthcare regulator, the Medicine and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) says: 'We will always investigate where there are safety concerns raised about a medical device. We continue to work with European and international regulators, breast implant registries and experts to monitor issues and will take appropriate safety action where necessary.\" BAAPS, BAPRAS and ABS add: \"The UK Plastic and Breast Surgery associations are closely involved in a growing international collaboration by the healthcare community to collect the information needed to find out more about breast implants and inform our patients. Our guidance will be updated in the light of new evidence.\" Malene was left in so much pain that she decided to have her implants removed. And she's delighted she did. \"That brain fog that was sitting on top of my eyes had gone, my rashes were literally disappearing in front of my eyes. I don't even care what size my breasts are, because I'm happy and healthy and I think ultimately that's what all the women want.\" 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_start": 1343, "answer_end": 3643, "text": "At the moment BII is self-diagnosed. Symptoms reported by those who say they have the illness - mainly related to the immune system - are broad. They include fatigue, chest pain, hair loss, headaches, chills, photosensitivity, chronic pain, brain fog and sleep disturbance. BII is not officially recognised as a condition in the UK. BAAPS (The British Association of Aesthetics and Plastic Surgeons) says there is no scientific evidence to support a direct link between the illness and implants. \"If you feel better, I'll believe you but I have to say it's in your head it's not in your breasts,\" says plastic surgeon Graeme Perks. \"Any scientist would tell you if the illness is related to a problem with the silicone, it doesn't switch off the moment the silicone implant is removed, and so that makes you very suspicious that we don't know enough about what's going on,\" he adds. Breast implants are still the most common cosmetic surgery procedure in the UK, with around 8,000 women a year going under the knife. While most of those will have no problems, more and more women now say their implants are making them seriously ill. Further research is being made a priority in countries including Australia and the USA where scientists say BII is a form of autoimmune disease - a condition where your immune system mistakenly attacks your body. Prof Jan Cohen-Tervaert has spent more than 25 years researching it: \"We have sufficient evidence to show breast implant illness is caused by breast implants. \"They can cause a foreign body reaction and you can see that the immune system is activated. What more proof do we need?\" The Food and Drug Association, which is the drugs regulator in the US, has recently called for warnings about the risks associated with breast implants to be put on packaging containing the implants. It also acknowledges women do have \"symptoms that may resolve when their breast implants are removed.\" A common complaint from women who say they have BII is the lack of support when they seek medical advice. Malene felt like she had no help, so turned to the internet. \"It wasn't until a girl on Instagram told me about this group on Facebook and it was like, 'oh my god I have breast implant illness, it's my implants'. There was no doubt in my mind that's what it was.\""}], "question": "What is breast implant illness?", "id": "613_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Morocco tourist murders: Swiss-Spanish national arrested", "date": "30 December 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "A dual Swiss-Spanish national has been arrested in Morocco for alleged involvement in the killings of two Scandinavian tourists. The man, who has not been named, was detained in Marrakesh for allegedly trying to recruit Moroccans \"to carry out terrorist plots\", a statement said. Louisa Vesterager Jespersen, 24, from Denmark, and Maren Ueland, 28, from Norway, were murdered in December. Their bodies were found in the High Atlas mountains near a tourist spot. Norwegian police have said a video appearing to show one of the tourists being beheaded was likely to be real. Morocco's Central Bureau for Judicial Investigations said on Saturday the Swiss-Spanish national was suspected of \"teaching some of those arrested... about communication tools involving new technology and of training them in marksmanship\". The Swiss-Spanish national followed an \"extremist ideology\", the statement said. Police said four main suspects in the killings had pledged allegiance to the Islamic State group, although investigators believe there was no contact with groups in Syria or Iraq. Hundreds across Morocco have attended vigils for the two women. In the capital Rabat a minute's silence was held with Danish and Norwegian diplomats present, while hundreds more people attended a vigil in the southern village of Imlil, near where the women's bodies were found. Flowers were also laid in the city of Marrakesh. Ms Jespersen, who was 24 and from Denmark, and 28-year-old Norwegian Ms Ueland had been studying outdoor activities at the University of Southeastern Norway. They had arrived on a month-long holiday in Morocco on 9 December and had travelled to the foothills of Mount Toubkal, North Africa's highest peak, 10km (6 miles) from Imlil. Their bodies were found in their tent. Both women had taken full precautions ahead of their trip, Maren Ueland's mother said.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1401, "answer_end": 1859, "text": "Ms Jespersen, who was 24 and from Denmark, and 28-year-old Norwegian Ms Ueland had been studying outdoor activities at the University of Southeastern Norway. They had arrived on a month-long holiday in Morocco on 9 December and had travelled to the foothills of Mount Toubkal, North Africa's highest peak, 10km (6 miles) from Imlil. Their bodies were found in their tent. Both women had taken full precautions ahead of their trip, Maren Ueland's mother said."}], "question": "Who were the victims?", "id": "614_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Chapecoense air crash: Leaked tape shows plane 'ran out of fuel'", "date": "1 December 2016", "paragraphs": [{"context": "The plane which crashed in Colombia killing most of a Brazilian football side had run out of fuel, according to a leaked audio recording. A pilot can be heard repeatedly requesting permission to land due to an electric failure and lack of fuel. Only six of the 77 people on board the plane survived. The team, Chapecoense, had been due to play a cup final in Medellin on Wednesday evening. Fans instead gathered to pay tribute. Thousands of people carrying candles and wearing white filled the stadium where Chapecoense was to have played Atletico Nacional. At the same time, Chapecoense fans held a tearful vigil at their home stadium in Chapeco, Brazil, which was draped in black ribbons. Both stadiums were filled to capacity. The leaked conversations between the flight crew and a Colombian air traffic controller give a glimpse of the frantic, final moments of the doomed plane. The pilot and can be heard warning of a \"total electric failure\" and \"lack of fuel\". Just before the tape ends, he says he is flying at an altitude of 9,000ft (2,743m). The plane slammed into a mountainside near the Colombian city of Medellin late on Monday. That there was no explosion when the plane came down also points to lack of fuel, with one Colombian military source telling the AFP agency its absence was \"suspicious\". It is not known why the plane was out of fuel: whether it was because of a leak or because there was not enough on board. Investigators have yet to announce any single cause for the crash and a full analysis is expected to take months. What we know Chapecoense were flying to Medellin for what would have been the biggest match in their history - the final of regional tournament the Copa Sudamericana. The team lost 19 players in the crash. Twenty journalists were also killed. Among the survivors, Chapecoense said that two players remained in a critical but stable condition, while the club's goalkeeper had had one leg amputated and might still lose his other foot. An injured journalist also remained in critical condition, the club said. Another survivor, flight technician Erwin Tumiri, said he was still alive because he followed safety instructions. \"Many stood up and started shouting,\" he said. \"I put the suitcases between my legs and assumed the brace position.\" A team torn apart Three days of official mourning is under way in Brazil, with thousands of fans in the city of Chapeco massing in their home stadium to mark their loss. Chapecoense directors say they expect up to 100,000 to attend collective funerals once all the bodies have been identified, most likely on Friday or Saturday. \"We're very anxious for the arrival of the bodies, to give them a last tribute, which they deserve. The city has stopped, waiting for that moment to come,\" said one supporter. There has been an outpouring of grief and support from the football world. The team Chapecoense were due to play in the Copa Sudamericana, Atletico Nacional, have offered to concede the game so Chapecoense are declared winners, while leading Brazilian sides have asked the league to protect the side from relegation. Many of football's most famous names, from Lionel Messi to Pele, have offered condolences.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 2307, "answer_end": 3201, "text": "Three days of official mourning is under way in Brazil, with thousands of fans in the city of Chapeco massing in their home stadium to mark their loss. Chapecoense directors say they expect up to 100,000 to attend collective funerals once all the bodies have been identified, most likely on Friday or Saturday. \"We're very anxious for the arrival of the bodies, to give them a last tribute, which they deserve. The city has stopped, waiting for that moment to come,\" said one supporter. There has been an outpouring of grief and support from the football world. The team Chapecoense were due to play in the Copa Sudamericana, Atletico Nacional, have offered to concede the game so Chapecoense are declared winners, while leading Brazilian sides have asked the league to protect the side from relegation. Many of football's most famous names, from Lionel Messi to Pele, have offered condolences."}], "question": "What has the reaction been?", "id": "615_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Queen agrees 'transition' to new role for Harry and Meghan", "date": "14 January 2020", "paragraphs": [{"context": "The Queen has agreed a \"period of transition\" in which the Duke and Duchess of Sussex will spend time in Canada and the UK. She said she was \"entirely supportive\" of their desire for a new role but \"would have preferred\" them to remain full-time working royals. She expected final decisions to be made in the coming days, she said. Senior royals have been in talks about Prince Harry and Meghan's role after they said they wanted to \"step back\". In a statement, the Queen said the talks at Sandringham, which also involved the Prince of Wales and the Duke of Cambridge, had been \"very constructive\". \"My family and I are entirely supportive of Harry and Meghan's desire to create a new life as a young family,\" she said. \"Although we would have preferred them to remain full-time working members of the Royal Family, we respect and understand their wish to live a more independent life as a family while remaining a valued part of my family.\" She said it had been agreed there would be \"a period of transition in which the Sussexes will spend time in Canada and the UK\" after Harry and Meghan \"made clear that they do not want to be reliant on public funds in their new lives\". \"These are complex matters for my family to resolve, and there is some more work to be done, but I have asked for final decisions to be reached in the coming days,\" she said. The urgent talks were convened after the Sussexes surprised the rest of the Royal Family on Wednesday with a statement expressing their desire to \"step back as 'senior' members of the Royal Family\". They also said they wanted a \"progressive new role\" within the institution, where they would be financially independent and divide their time between the UK and North America. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau told Global News there had been \"no discussions\" about the details of the couple's move, including on the issues of security and any potential impact on Canada's taxpayers. Although no other family member was consulted about the timing of the announcement, the duke and duchess said it came after \"many months of reflection and internal discussions\". Both Prince Harry and Meghan spoke of the difficulties of royal life and media attention in recent months, with the duke saying he feared his wife would fall victim to \"the same powerful forces\" that led to his mother's death. The talks about their future took place as Prince Harry and Prince William issued a joint statement denying \"false claims\" that their relationship had been damaged by \"bullying\" on the part of the older brother. They said that the \"inflammatory language\" in the claims was \"offensive\" and \"potentially harmful\", given their support for mental health causes. This is a remarkably candid and informal, almost personal, statement from the Queen. Her regret over Harry and Meghan's move is obvious - she would have preferred them to stay in their current roles. But she also makes clear that they are still royals and that they will be valued in the family as they become a more independent couple. There are buckets of questions outstanding - on their future royal role, their relationship with the rest of the Palace, on who will pay what (not, the Queen says, the taxpayer), and on how Harry and Meghan will support themselves. There's still a lot to thrash out and to agree on. Not all of it may become public. And it looks like the Queen sees this as a process, not an event. She writes of a transition period when Harry and Meghan divide their time between Canada and the UK. The Queen has asked for decisions to be made over the next few days. But those decisions may well be up for review in the coming months and years. Historian Robert Lacey told the BBC Radio 4's PM programme the Queen's statement following the meeting was unusually personal, with several references to \"my family\" and \"my grandson\". \"It is remarkably hands-on. I mean it may have been processed through officials but this is the Queen, speaking to her people and speaking about her family, and I think coming right through it is the concern she feels,\" he said. Instead of using the formal titles of the couple - the Duke and Duchess of Sussex - the Queen simply called them \"Harry and Meghan\". Penny Junor, an author of books about the royals, said that the statement \"read to me like a grandmother talking about the family\", adding that it would \"take the pressure off\" the duke and duchess. \"I think they're in a very vulnerable state at the moment. I think they're unhappy, they feel isolated and unloved, unappreciated and they needed careful handling,\" she said. \"My reading from that statement is that the family has been sensitive to their vulnerability.\" In their statement on Wednesday, posted on the couple's official Instagram account, the duke and duchess said they intend to \"step back\" as senior royals, spending time in North America, while \"continuing to honour our duty to the Queen, the Commonwealth, and our patronages\". It came after an interview last October, when Prince Harry and Meghan publicly revealed their struggles under the media spotlight. The duke also issued an impassioned statement attacking what he described as \"relentless propaganda\" in parts of the media, as lawyers for his wife began legal action against the Mail on Sunday. The couple were already preparing to launch their own Sussex Royal charity, which they set up after splitting from the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's foundation in June last year. It was revealed in December that the couple had made an application to trademark their Sussex Royal brand for items including books, calendars, clothing, charitable fundraising, education and social care services.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 4686, "answer_end": 5683, "text": "In their statement on Wednesday, posted on the couple's official Instagram account, the duke and duchess said they intend to \"step back\" as senior royals, spending time in North America, while \"continuing to honour our duty to the Queen, the Commonwealth, and our patronages\". It came after an interview last October, when Prince Harry and Meghan publicly revealed their struggles under the media spotlight. The duke also issued an impassioned statement attacking what he described as \"relentless propaganda\" in parts of the media, as lawyers for his wife began legal action against the Mail on Sunday. The couple were already preparing to launch their own Sussex Royal charity, which they set up after splitting from the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's foundation in June last year. It was revealed in December that the couple had made an application to trademark their Sussex Royal brand for items including books, calendars, clothing, charitable fundraising, education and social care services."}], "question": "How did we get here?", "id": "616_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Study: Half of US adults have had close family member jailed", "date": "6 December 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Nearly half of all US adults have had an immediate family member incarcerated at some point in their lives, according to a new study. Researchers also reported one in seven adults have seen immediate family incarcerated for over a year, with minorities most impacted. The study by criminal justice non-profit FWD.us and Cornell University surveyed over 4,000 American adults. Over 2 million Americans are currently in prison in the US. The report estimates 64% of US adults have had someone in their family spend at least one night in jail or prison. The study's authors said it pointed to a nationwide \"incarceration crisis\". \"These numbers are stunning, all the more so if you think of them not as numbers but as stories like mine,\" Felicity Rose, FWD director said in a foreword to the report. \"One of the worst parts of growing up with a father in and out of prison was the isolation and shame I felt,\" she added. One in five US adults has had a parent incarcerated, according to the study, resulting in serious financial and emotional consequences. The study said that 113 million US adults have had an immediate family member incarcerated. At the time of the research, 6.5 million adults said an immediate family member was currently in jail or prison. One in seven adults have had a spouse incarcerated; one in eight have had a child locked up. And only one in four are ever able to visit an incarcerated family member. There was no difference in incarceration rates along political lines, but the researchers did find that people of colour were most negatively impacted. African American adults were 50% more likely than white Americans to have had a family member jailed, and three times as likely to have family jailed for 10 years or more, found the research. Latino adults were 70% more likely than white Americans to have a loved one incarcerated for over a year. Low income families were also disproportionately affected, with adults making less than $25,000 (PS19,000) a year 61% more likely to have family incarcerated than those earning over $100,000 a year. And 54% of jailed parents were the breadwinners of their families. Incarceration rates were highest in the southern and western states, with residents 60% more likely to experience family incarceration than people in the northeast. According to the Prison Policy Initiative, the US incarcerates more people per capita than anywhere else in the world. FWD reports local jails have admitted over 10 million people every year for the past two decades. Despite recent declines in imprisonment rates, the US still incarcerates 710 people per 100,000. The UK's incarceration rate is 147 per 100,000, according to FWD.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1054, "answer_end": 2687, "text": "The study said that 113 million US adults have had an immediate family member incarcerated. At the time of the research, 6.5 million adults said an immediate family member was currently in jail or prison. One in seven adults have had a spouse incarcerated; one in eight have had a child locked up. And only one in four are ever able to visit an incarcerated family member. There was no difference in incarceration rates along political lines, but the researchers did find that people of colour were most negatively impacted. African American adults were 50% more likely than white Americans to have had a family member jailed, and three times as likely to have family jailed for 10 years or more, found the research. Latino adults were 70% more likely than white Americans to have a loved one incarcerated for over a year. Low income families were also disproportionately affected, with adults making less than $25,000 (PS19,000) a year 61% more likely to have family incarcerated than those earning over $100,000 a year. And 54% of jailed parents were the breadwinners of their families. Incarceration rates were highest in the southern and western states, with residents 60% more likely to experience family incarceration than people in the northeast. According to the Prison Policy Initiative, the US incarcerates more people per capita than anywhere else in the world. FWD reports local jails have admitted over 10 million people every year for the past two decades. Despite recent declines in imprisonment rates, the US still incarcerates 710 people per 100,000. The UK's incarceration rate is 147 per 100,000, according to FWD."}], "question": "What were the findings?", "id": "617_0"}]}]}, {"title": "The story of historically black colleges in the US", "date": "15 February 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "When Kamala Harris, one of the early frontrunners for the 2020 Democratic nomination, talked about the importance of the university she attended, she shone a spotlight on historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs). \"When the federal government gives attention to HBCUs we end up having a profound impact on black people in America,\" said the California senator, when asked about her alma mater, Howard University, in an interview following the launch of her presidential bid. HBCUs like Howard, one of the top ranked and most well known historically black universities in the country, are recognised around the globe. Dr Gracie Lawson-Borders, dean of Howard's school of communications, says that for a lot of the students \"this opportunity to be accepted at Howard, at Bennett or at any HBCU is just a part of their growing war chest of preparation to make a difference in this world\". Historically black colleges and universities, commonly called HBCUs, were created to provide higher education to disenfranchised African Americans in the United States, who were otherwise prohibited from attending most colleges. The first and oldest HBCU, Cheyney University, was founded in 1837 in Pennsylvania. At the time, Blacks were not allowed to attend most colleges and postsecondary institutions, as a result of slavery and segregation. Under the 1965 Higher Education Act, HBCUs were officially defined as institutions of higher learning that were accredited and established before 1964. The act allocated federal grants and funding to those colleges and universities. These institutions would become largely responsible for the black middle class composed of doctors, lawyers, teachers, engineers and other professionals. HBCUs continue to produce black celebrities, professionals, and leaders. The two oldest HBCU medical schools Meharry Medical College and Howard University are responsible for more than 80% of African American doctors and dentists practicing in the US today, according to the US Department of Education. Notable African American alum - like Senator Kamala Harris - aren't far and few. The long list of successful African Americans who attended HBCUs include civil rights leader Martin Luther King, the first African American US Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall, media mogul Oprah Winfrey and director Spike Lee - to name a few. Bennett College, founded in 1873, made headlines in recent months after the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges voted to revoke its accreditation due to financial instability. The university was then faced with a task of raising $5m (PS3.8m) by February or permanently closing its doors, leaving only its legacy. Bennett College launched the campaign #StandWithBennett and surpassed their goal by February, raising more than $8.5m(PS6.5m). Bennett College is one of 101 HBCUs, but its struggle to maintain accreditation is not unprecedented. While some HBCUs continue to thrive, others struggle risk accreditation and enrolment. In fact, five have closed completely since 1989. While the initial mission was focused on educating marginalised African Americans, today these colleges are comprised of all demographics. As of 2016, non-black students made up 23% of enrolment at HBCUs. Still, historically black institutions are considered safe-havens for African Americans. Many students at Howard, founded in 1867, say that HBCUs are one of the only places that transcend racism still prevalent in society. \"It is necessary to hone in on black spaces where we can thrive, support and reach each other before stepping out into a society ruled by racism and built on keeping black people in last place,\" says Autasia Ramos, a recent graduate of Howard University. The lack of barriers allow students to learn about their history, see their potential through the lens of other successful African Americans who have come before them, and become resilient in a society that still struggles to appreciate them. Mara Peoples, Howard's student body vice-president who met Ms Harris when she launched her presidential bid, points to the California senator as an example of how HBCUs foster that potential. \"I feel that I've found validation in myself going to an HBCU because I am able to learn more about my background and I have more opportunities that are geared toward me, as a black individual,\" she says. Professor Jennifer Thomas, an alumna of Howard University, who now teaches at the school, says she would not be where she is without the education she received at Howard. \"The classes were rigorous, the professors were experienced, but most of all I felt I was in a nurturing environment with people who were committed to my success.\" Supporters of HBCUs say they are not only important for African Americans, but for all of society. Mark McCluskey, a white student at Howard, says for the first time in his life he is considered a minority, but shares his peers' sentiment about the value of preserving HBCUs. \"HBCUs are really relevant in today's society because they can spread a lot of knowledge about the cultures that America has largely ignored over the past couple of centuries.\"", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 897, "answer_end": 2363, "text": "Historically black colleges and universities, commonly called HBCUs, were created to provide higher education to disenfranchised African Americans in the United States, who were otherwise prohibited from attending most colleges. The first and oldest HBCU, Cheyney University, was founded in 1837 in Pennsylvania. At the time, Blacks were not allowed to attend most colleges and postsecondary institutions, as a result of slavery and segregation. Under the 1965 Higher Education Act, HBCUs were officially defined as institutions of higher learning that were accredited and established before 1964. The act allocated federal grants and funding to those colleges and universities. These institutions would become largely responsible for the black middle class composed of doctors, lawyers, teachers, engineers and other professionals. HBCUs continue to produce black celebrities, professionals, and leaders. The two oldest HBCU medical schools Meharry Medical College and Howard University are responsible for more than 80% of African American doctors and dentists practicing in the US today, according to the US Department of Education. Notable African American alum - like Senator Kamala Harris - aren't far and few. The long list of successful African Americans who attended HBCUs include civil rights leader Martin Luther King, the first African American US Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall, media mogul Oprah Winfrey and director Spike Lee - to name a few."}], "question": "Why did the US need HBCUs?", "id": "618_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3074, "answer_end": 5184, "text": "While the initial mission was focused on educating marginalised African Americans, today these colleges are comprised of all demographics. As of 2016, non-black students made up 23% of enrolment at HBCUs. Still, historically black institutions are considered safe-havens for African Americans. Many students at Howard, founded in 1867, say that HBCUs are one of the only places that transcend racism still prevalent in society. \"It is necessary to hone in on black spaces where we can thrive, support and reach each other before stepping out into a society ruled by racism and built on keeping black people in last place,\" says Autasia Ramos, a recent graduate of Howard University. The lack of barriers allow students to learn about their history, see their potential through the lens of other successful African Americans who have come before them, and become resilient in a society that still struggles to appreciate them. Mara Peoples, Howard's student body vice-president who met Ms Harris when she launched her presidential bid, points to the California senator as an example of how HBCUs foster that potential. \"I feel that I've found validation in myself going to an HBCU because I am able to learn more about my background and I have more opportunities that are geared toward me, as a black individual,\" she says. Professor Jennifer Thomas, an alumna of Howard University, who now teaches at the school, says she would not be where she is without the education she received at Howard. \"The classes were rigorous, the professors were experienced, but most of all I felt I was in a nurturing environment with people who were committed to my success.\" Supporters of HBCUs say they are not only important for African Americans, but for all of society. Mark McCluskey, a white student at Howard, says for the first time in his life he is considered a minority, but shares his peers' sentiment about the value of preserving HBCUs. \"HBCUs are really relevant in today's society because they can spread a lot of knowledge about the cultures that America has largely ignored over the past couple of centuries.\""}], "question": "Why are they still relevant today?", "id": "618_1"}]}]}, {"title": "Emiliano Sala: Who owned the plane the Cardiff player died in?", "date": "9 February 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "The obscure world of plane ownership is under the spotlight following the death of Cardiff City player Emiliano Sala. While the wreckage of the aircraft rests at the bottom of the English Channel - holding, investigators hope, at least some of the answers as to how this tragedy unfolded - parallels could be drawn with the impenetrable trail of ownership and registration enveloping this plane. This story has dominated the headlines for more than two weeks and has fuelled speculation in some circles about safety and regulatory issues in this area of aviation. Cardiff's record signing agreed to join the Bluebirds for PS15m on 19 January - their great hope in a fraught season fighting to stay in the Premier League - but fate conspired that he would never kick a ball for the club. Two days later, after a quick trip to his previous club Nantes to say farewell to friends, the 28-year-old Argentine boarded the Piper Malibu N264DB. Football agent Willie McKay, whose son Mark was acting for Nantes in the transfer, arranged the flight, which was piloted by David Ibbotson, from Crowle, North Lincolnshire. It lost contact with air traffic control north of Guernsey after requesting permission to descend from 5,000ft (1,500m) to 2,300ft (700m). Wreckage of the plane was found on the seabed two weeks later by a private underwater search paid for by a fundraising appeal. One body was still on board and Dorset Police confirmed late on Thursday night it was Sala. The body of Mr Ibbotson, a 59-year-old father of three, has not been found. The N prefix on the plane means it was registered in the US, but it is thought it was based in Britain - often flying out of Retford Gamston Airport in Nottinghamshire. It is not unusual for US-registered aircraft to be based elsewhere. A source has told us that this might be done for legal or pragmatic reasons, the maintenance and regulatory regime in the US being perceived as less stringent than in Europe. This is entirely lawful and it is estimated there are hundreds of planes flying out of UK airports registered this way. Documents from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in the US reveal the aircraft was registered in the name of a \"trustee\" firm - Southern Aircraft Consultancy (SAC), based in Bungay, Suffolk. This serves as an administrative \"screen\" and obscures the true beneficial owner or owners of an aircraft - the people with ultimate control and use of it. On its website, SAC says: \"We specialise in providing individual trust agreements to non-US citizens to enable them to legally register their aircraft on the American 'N' register.\" SAC said it could not divulge who the owners were due to data protection laws, but had passed this information to the Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB). The registration document can be found on the FAA database, stating the fixed-wing, single-engine aircraft's year of manufacture was 1984. But an associated document disclosing more ownership detail, including any associated companies or individuals, appears to have been removed from the database. One person who is known to have a connection to the aircraft is David Henderson. Mr Henderson, 60, from York, is an experienced charter pilot who was filmed by the BBC with the plane at Retford Gamston Airport in 2015 for a feature about ferry flying - the perilous but lucrative activity of transporting small planes across continents to new owners. In the hours after the disappearance of N264DB, he was reported by French media as having been on board the plane - it is thought because his name was on Nantes airport documentation relating to the flight. Mr Henderson posted a Facebook message early on the morning of 22 January stating that rumours of his death were untrue. In an interview with a French newspaper, Willie McKay, whose family organised the flight, has been reported as saying that he asked Mr Henderson to fly Emiliano Sala. It is believed that Mr Henderson was unable to do the trip and Mr Ibbotson flew the plane instead. The BBC has tried several times to speak to Mr Henderson but he has not issued any comment. There are restrictions on the use of US-registered aircraft anywhere outside of the country. BBC Wales understands that in order to fly a US-registered aircraft outside the US with paying passengers, the owner or operator must hold an Air Operators' Certificate and the pilot must have a commercial licence. Both UK and US law state private pilots cannot make a profit by carrying passengers. Many pilots who only hold a private licence are signed up with online flight-sharing platforms such as Wingly - which has been described as \"the Uber of the skies\" - connecting passengers with pilots. As flying is an expensive pastime, this allows pilots to notch up their flying hours while sharing the cost of fuel, landing fees and other expenses with passengers. In a blog post in May 2018, Tony Rapson, head of Civil Aviation Authority's general aviation unit, warned: \"It is important that the risks and the nature of the flight are understood by both parties.\" The complex nature of pilot licensing and the opaque nature of the aircraft ownership make for many unanswered questions about where liability rests in the event of a disaster such as this. If any illegality is established around the flight carrying Sala from France to Wales, the aircraft's insurers may ultimately question their liability - this could potentially leave the plane's hull and third party liability insurance null and void. The company that insured the plane is understood to be specialist aviation insurers Hayward Aviation, who declined to comment. An Air Accidents Investigation Branch spokesman said, \"We will be looking at operational aspects of the flight including licensing and flight plans.\" Its safety investigation \"does not apportion blame or liability\" and any separate inquiry into licensing matters would be instigated by the CAA's enforcement division. David Ibbotson was a keen amateur pilot who worked as a gas boiler engineer and sometime DJ. The CAA confirmed he held a private pilot's licence in the UK. He also held a US private pilot's licence, issued in 2014, which he passed a medical for in November. It is not known if he held a pilot's licence in any other country. Described by one friend as a man who \"lived for flying,\" he flew parachutists and skydivers from Hibaldstow Airfield in North Lincolnshire. A former member of the British Parachute Association's council, he was well-known in skydiving circles in the north of England. It is thought that he was flying parachutists on a non-commercial, voluntary basis for expenses only. Posting on a skydivers' forum under his nickname of Dibbo in October 2012, he refers to having more than 3,000 hours flying experience, including 2,000 flying parachutists. He said he was \"available at short notice, and very reliable, just back recently from six weeks flying in Norway\". As well as being a man who had a passion for flying it is also known that Mr Ibbotson faced challenges. He had PS23,400 worth of county court judgements against him - at least one of which is thought to be related to his work as a gas boiler engineer. The most recent, for PS4,412, was imposed just 10 days before the fatal flight left Nantes. While it is known that Sala did not pay for the flight what is not known is if Mr Ibbotson would have undertaken such a journey without payment in line with the constraints of his licence. Mr Ibbotson's family have yet to speak publicly about their loss. The pub where he was a regular, The Red Lion in Crowle, has opened a book of condolence and family and friends have been laying flowers and tributes in the centre of the village. In a statement released on Friday, Sala's family said their thoughts went out \"to David Ibbotson and his family, hoping that the authorities will do their best to find him\". While the grieving process for the Sala family can begin, the agony and uncertainty for Mr Ibbotson's loved ones goes on. - BBC Wales News Focus can be contacted by emailing: news.focus.team@bbc.co.uk", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1545, "answer_end": 4110, "text": "The N prefix on the plane means it was registered in the US, but it is thought it was based in Britain - often flying out of Retford Gamston Airport in Nottinghamshire. It is not unusual for US-registered aircraft to be based elsewhere. A source has told us that this might be done for legal or pragmatic reasons, the maintenance and regulatory regime in the US being perceived as less stringent than in Europe. This is entirely lawful and it is estimated there are hundreds of planes flying out of UK airports registered this way. Documents from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in the US reveal the aircraft was registered in the name of a \"trustee\" firm - Southern Aircraft Consultancy (SAC), based in Bungay, Suffolk. This serves as an administrative \"screen\" and obscures the true beneficial owner or owners of an aircraft - the people with ultimate control and use of it. On its website, SAC says: \"We specialise in providing individual trust agreements to non-US citizens to enable them to legally register their aircraft on the American 'N' register.\" SAC said it could not divulge who the owners were due to data protection laws, but had passed this information to the Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB). The registration document can be found on the FAA database, stating the fixed-wing, single-engine aircraft's year of manufacture was 1984. But an associated document disclosing more ownership detail, including any associated companies or individuals, appears to have been removed from the database. One person who is known to have a connection to the aircraft is David Henderson. Mr Henderson, 60, from York, is an experienced charter pilot who was filmed by the BBC with the plane at Retford Gamston Airport in 2015 for a feature about ferry flying - the perilous but lucrative activity of transporting small planes across continents to new owners. In the hours after the disappearance of N264DB, he was reported by French media as having been on board the plane - it is thought because his name was on Nantes airport documentation relating to the flight. Mr Henderson posted a Facebook message early on the morning of 22 January stating that rumours of his death were untrue. In an interview with a French newspaper, Willie McKay, whose family organised the flight, has been reported as saying that he asked Mr Henderson to fly Emiliano Sala. It is believed that Mr Henderson was unable to do the trip and Mr Ibbotson flew the plane instead. The BBC has tried several times to speak to Mr Henderson but he has not issued any comment."}], "question": "Who owned the plane?", "id": "619_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 4111, "answer_end": 5071, "text": "There are restrictions on the use of US-registered aircraft anywhere outside of the country. BBC Wales understands that in order to fly a US-registered aircraft outside the US with paying passengers, the owner or operator must hold an Air Operators' Certificate and the pilot must have a commercial licence. Both UK and US law state private pilots cannot make a profit by carrying passengers. Many pilots who only hold a private licence are signed up with online flight-sharing platforms such as Wingly - which has been described as \"the Uber of the skies\" - connecting passengers with pilots. As flying is an expensive pastime, this allows pilots to notch up their flying hours while sharing the cost of fuel, landing fees and other expenses with passengers. In a blog post in May 2018, Tony Rapson, head of Civil Aviation Authority's general aviation unit, warned: \"It is important that the risks and the nature of the flight are understood by both parties.\""}], "question": "Who are pilots allowed to fly?", "id": "619_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 5072, "answer_end": 5956, "text": "The complex nature of pilot licensing and the opaque nature of the aircraft ownership make for many unanswered questions about where liability rests in the event of a disaster such as this. If any illegality is established around the flight carrying Sala from France to Wales, the aircraft's insurers may ultimately question their liability - this could potentially leave the plane's hull and third party liability insurance null and void. The company that insured the plane is understood to be specialist aviation insurers Hayward Aviation, who declined to comment. An Air Accidents Investigation Branch spokesman said, \"We will be looking at operational aspects of the flight including licensing and flight plans.\" Its safety investigation \"does not apportion blame or liability\" and any separate inquiry into licensing matters would be instigated by the CAA's enforcement division."}], "question": "Who is liable in this tragedy?", "id": "619_2"}]}]}, {"title": "Venezuela crisis: Juan Guaid\u00f3 'on way back home'", "date": "4 March 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Venezuela's self-proclaimed interim president Juan Guaido says he is on his way back to Venezuela despite the risk of being arrested upon arrival. In a recording posted on his Twitter account, he said: \"Venezuelan brothers and sisters, the moment you hear this message I will be on my way back home.\" He also called on Venezuelans to join anti-government protests planned for Monday and Tuesday. Mr Guaido has called on President Nicolas Maduro to resign. The two men have been at loggerheads for more than a month. While Mr Guaido has been recognised by more than 50 countries, Mr Maduro, who is backed by China, Russia and Cuba, insists he is the only legitimate president. After Mr Guaido proclaimed himself interim president on 23 January, Venezuela's Supreme Court - which is dominated by loyalists of President Maduro - placed a travel ban on the opposition leader. Mr Guaido defied that to attend a fund-raising concert in Colombia on 22 February organised by billionaire Richard Branson. Mr Guaido also led efforts to try to bring humanitarian aid, mainly donated by the US, into Venezuela. The government of Mr Maduro rejected the aid, arguing it was part of a US plot to overthrow him. The president ordered the closure of borders with Colombia and Brazil. Soldiers blocked the aid trucks, leading to clashes that left at least five dead. The Maduro government alleged - without giving any evidence - that the aid was contaminated and carcinogenic. It is not clear. He had left by secretly sneaking across the Venezuela-Colombia border, reportedly with the help of sympathetic Venezuelan soldiers. Mr Guaido could sneak back over the porous 2,200km (1,370 mile) border on one of the many paths used by smugglers. He could also go via Brazil or Guyana, which also share borders, mostly in deep jungle. In all three cases, he would face a long journey to Caracas. The other option, and the most confrontational one, would be to fly directly into Caracas. There are direct commercial flights from Bogota and Panama City. Flouting the travel ban imposed by Venezuela's highest court is likely to get Mr Guaido into trouble. President Maduro has hinted at such. \"He can't come and go, the justice system had banned him from leaving the country. I respect the laws,\" he told ABC last week. The Venezuelan government has in the past not been shy to arrest opposition leaders. Lawmaker Juan Requesens has been in jail since August over his alleged role in a drone attack on President Maduro. Others have left the country for fear of arrest. However, when the secret police arrested Mr Guaido on 13 January, he was released after half an hour. Communications Minister Jorge Rodriguez said that arrest was \"irregular\" and the agents involved were dismissed. Mr Guaido appears willing to face the risk of arrest, saying: \"If the regime dares, of course, to kidnap us, it will be the last mistake they make.\" He also tweeted [in Spanish] that he had left instructions for his international allies for \"a clear route to follow\" should he be detained. Arresting Mr Guaido would cause a huge outcry. US National Security Adviser John Bolton wrote of a \"strong and significant response\" on Twitter. EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini said that any measure that would put at risk Mr Guaido's \"freedom, safety or personal integrity would represent a major escalation of tensions\". Diplomats from the Lima group, a bloc of 14 Western Hemisphere countries created to tackle the Venezuela crisis, said last week that \"serious and credible threats\" had been made against the life of Mr Guaido. It said \"any violent actions against Guaido, his wife, or family\" would be met by all \"legal and political mechanisms\". While international pressure on President Maduro has steadily increased, the Venezuelan leader has dismissed all calls for him to step down and denounced them as attempted coups d'etat. According to Colombian migration officials, more than 500 soldiers have deserted from the Venezuelan army over the past weeks. While this is a sign that lower-ranking soldiers are suffering the same hardships - shortages of food and medicine - as the general population and are willing to follow the more than three million people who have left Venezuela over the past years, there is no sign yet of a general switch in loyalty. Government loyalists also still control much of the judiciary and the National Constituent Assembly, a body Mr Maduro set up to bypass the opposition-controlled legislative. However, there are unconfirmed reports that Diosdado Cabello, the National Constituent Assembly head, sent his two children to Hong Kong, which the opposition thinks is a sign of growing nervousness. The government also appears to be feeling the sanctions imposed by the US. Reuters reported last week it had taken eight tonnes of gold from the Central Bank to sell abroad to raise badly needed cash.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 676, "answer_end": 1458, "text": "After Mr Guaido proclaimed himself interim president on 23 January, Venezuela's Supreme Court - which is dominated by loyalists of President Maduro - placed a travel ban on the opposition leader. Mr Guaido defied that to attend a fund-raising concert in Colombia on 22 February organised by billionaire Richard Branson. Mr Guaido also led efforts to try to bring humanitarian aid, mainly donated by the US, into Venezuela. The government of Mr Maduro rejected the aid, arguing it was part of a US plot to overthrow him. The president ordered the closure of borders with Colombia and Brazil. Soldiers blocked the aid trucks, leading to clashes that left at least five dead. The Maduro government alleged - without giving any evidence - that the aid was contaminated and carcinogenic."}], "question": "Why is Mr Guaido's return risky?", "id": "620_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1459, "answer_end": 2027, "text": "It is not clear. He had left by secretly sneaking across the Venezuela-Colombia border, reportedly with the help of sympathetic Venezuelan soldiers. Mr Guaido could sneak back over the porous 2,200km (1,370 mile) border on one of the many paths used by smugglers. He could also go via Brazil or Guyana, which also share borders, mostly in deep jungle. In all three cases, he would face a long journey to Caracas. The other option, and the most confrontational one, would be to fly directly into Caracas. There are direct commercial flights from Bogota and Panama City."}], "question": "How will he get back in?", "id": "620_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2028, "answer_end": 3047, "text": "Flouting the travel ban imposed by Venezuela's highest court is likely to get Mr Guaido into trouble. President Maduro has hinted at such. \"He can't come and go, the justice system had banned him from leaving the country. I respect the laws,\" he told ABC last week. The Venezuelan government has in the past not been shy to arrest opposition leaders. Lawmaker Juan Requesens has been in jail since August over his alleged role in a drone attack on President Maduro. Others have left the country for fear of arrest. However, when the secret police arrested Mr Guaido on 13 January, he was released after half an hour. Communications Minister Jorge Rodriguez said that arrest was \"irregular\" and the agents involved were dismissed. Mr Guaido appears willing to face the risk of arrest, saying: \"If the regime dares, of course, to kidnap us, it will be the last mistake they make.\" He also tweeted [in Spanish] that he had left instructions for his international allies for \"a clear route to follow\" should he be detained."}], "question": "How likely is his arrest?", "id": "620_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3048, "answer_end": 3709, "text": "Arresting Mr Guaido would cause a huge outcry. US National Security Adviser John Bolton wrote of a \"strong and significant response\" on Twitter. EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini said that any measure that would put at risk Mr Guaido's \"freedom, safety or personal integrity would represent a major escalation of tensions\". Diplomats from the Lima group, a bloc of 14 Western Hemisphere countries created to tackle the Venezuela crisis, said last week that \"serious and credible threats\" had been made against the life of Mr Guaido. It said \"any violent actions against Guaido, his wife, or family\" would be met by all \"legal and political mechanisms\"."}], "question": "What would be the likely reaction to his arrest?", "id": "620_3"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3710, "answer_end": 4899, "text": "While international pressure on President Maduro has steadily increased, the Venezuelan leader has dismissed all calls for him to step down and denounced them as attempted coups d'etat. According to Colombian migration officials, more than 500 soldiers have deserted from the Venezuelan army over the past weeks. While this is a sign that lower-ranking soldiers are suffering the same hardships - shortages of food and medicine - as the general population and are willing to follow the more than three million people who have left Venezuela over the past years, there is no sign yet of a general switch in loyalty. Government loyalists also still control much of the judiciary and the National Constituent Assembly, a body Mr Maduro set up to bypass the opposition-controlled legislative. However, there are unconfirmed reports that Diosdado Cabello, the National Constituent Assembly head, sent his two children to Hong Kong, which the opposition thinks is a sign of growing nervousness. The government also appears to be feeling the sanctions imposed by the US. Reuters reported last week it had taken eight tonnes of gold from the Central Bank to sell abroad to raise badly needed cash."}], "question": "How secure is President Maduro?", "id": "620_4"}]}]}, {"title": "UK Brexit position paper opposes Irish border posts", "date": "16 August 2017", "paragraphs": [{"context": "The government has said there must be an \"unprecedented solution\" for the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic after Brexit. A paper detailing its proposals focuses on the need to avoid a hard border. The government stresses there should be no physical infrastructure, such as customs posts, at the border, which has almost 300 crossing points. Critics say the proposals lack credible detail, with Labour deriding the plans for the border as \"a fantasy frontier\". The government's paper does not envisage CCTV cameras or number plate recognition technology at the border, or set back from it. Instead, the government is arguing for a wide-ranging exemption under which small and medium-sized businesses will not have to comply with any new customs tariffs. Northern Ireland is the only part of the UK that will share a land border with an EU state post-Brexit. The future management of that border is a highly sensitive issue and is one of three main priorities in UK-EU Brexit negotiations. Northern Ireland Office officials say 80% of firms in Northern Ireland are small or medium sized and engaged in local business rather than international trade. If the proposals are accepted, customs officials envisage using a mix of technology and physical checks to monitor the compliance of bigger businesses engaged in international trade. Such firms might be required to declare their import and export businesses online. The government has repeated its desire to maintain the Common Travel Area and the rights of UK and Irish citizens, and to uphold the 1998 Good Friday Agreement, of which the UK is a co-guarantor. Prime Minister Theresa May said she wanted to reassure nationalists living in Northern Ireland. \"No one voted to end the special ties between the UK and Ireland, or to undermine the unique arrangements between Ireland and Northern Ireland which have underpinned the peace process and have been in place well before our membership of the EU,\"  she said. Irish Foreign Minister Simon Coveney said he broadly agreed with the position paper's \"aspirational\" principles. \"They reflect a lot of the language that the Irish government has been using, actually, in terms of maintaining the status quo, frictionless borders,\" he said. Adam Fleming, BBC Brussels Reporter The European Commission responded to the publication of the UK paper by saying there had to be a political deal to protect the Good Friday Agreement before a discussion could begin on technical measures. The paper is full of language and examples designed to soothe the EU about its worries. Michel Barnier said the Good Friday Agreement must be guaranteed. The UK said it would be. The Common Travel Area, which allows free movement between the UK and Ireland, is enshrined in an EU Treaty and letting it continue wouldn't be illegal under European Law. One British official said privately that if no agreement is reached, EU rules would compel the Irish government to introduce the hard border it does not want. Labour's spokesman on Northern Ireland, Stephen Pound, said an ID card system would have to be introduced to manage immigration after Brexit. \"The idea of having a CGI, virtual reality border is nonsense, it's just a pipe dream but the second thing is it's about goods, it's not about people,\" he said. Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said he had discussed the issue at length with EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier during a meeting in Brussels, in which he said there must be no hard border. \"I hope there can now be negotiations to make sure there is a continuation of absolute free movement between the Republic and Northern Ireland,\" he said. Critics argue the re-introduction of the hard border would severely damage the Northern Ireland peace process and have a negative economic impact. A European Commission spokeswoman said: \"We must discuss how to maintain the Common Travel Area and protect, in all of its dimensions, the Good Friday Agreement. \"It is essential that we have a political discussion on this before looking at technical solutions.\" The position paper forms part of the government's negotiations with the European Union, ahead of the UK leaving the EU in March 2019. As revealed on Tuesday, Brexit Secretary David Davis wants a limited transition period to implement any new customs arrangements, including considerations relating to the \"unique circumstances\" of Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. Both the UK and Irish governments have repeatedly stated their opposition to a hard border, but the situation is complicated as the UK intends to leave the EU's customs union. The position paper sets out two \"broad approaches\" to future customs arrangements that the UK hopes will help to prevent physical customs posts along the Irish border. The suggestions are a \"new customs partnership\" or a \"highly streamlined customs arrangement\". The partnership model would \"align\" customs approaches between the UK and the EU, resulting in \"no customs border at all between the UK and Ireland,\" the paper claims. The paper suggests the second, \"highly-streamlined\" arrangement could include: - A continued waiver on submitting entry/exit declarations - Continued membership of the Common Transit Convention to help Northern Ireland and Irish companies transit goods - A new \"trusted trader\" arrangement for larger businesses - A \"cross-border trade exemption\" which would mean no new customs processes at all for smaller traders The paper also dismisses the idea of a customs border in the Irish Sea, saying it would be economically and constitutionally unviable. It recognises that all this needs to be negotiated with the EU, in the hope that the border between the EU and the UK will be as \"seamless\" as possible. Northern Ireland Secretary James Brokenshire said he did not accept that the EU would be unwilling to facilitate the government's proposals. \"If you look at what [EU chief negotiator] Michel Barnier has said... there is a recognition that there will need to be specific arrangements in relation to customs and other elements in terms of creating that frictionless border,\" he said. \"There is a shared objective that we have, that the EU has and the Irish government has, in finding that solution.\" - PS13.6bn worth of goods exported to the Republic of Ireland from Great Britain in 2016 - PS9.1bn worth of goods exported to Great Britain from the Republic of Ireland in 2016 - PS10.7bn worth of goods from Northern Ireland were sold in Great Britain in 2015 - PS2.7bn worth of goods from Northern Ireland were exported to the Republic of Ireland in 2015 - More than 80% of cross-border trade on the island of Ireland is by small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) The Ulster Unionist Party welcomed the government's position paper, while Democratic Unionist Party leader Arlene Foster said it was a \"constructive step\". \"It is clear the government has listened to voices in Belfast, Dublin, Brussels and London about how the United Kingdom's only EU land border could be managed after we exit the EU,\" said Mrs Foster, NI's former first minister. However, Sinn Fein northern leader Michelle O'Neill said Northern Ireland was \"a fleeting concern for the British government, we are collateral damage\". \"What we need to see is the Irish government acting in the national interest and defending the rights of those people here in the north that voted to stay with the European Union,\" she said. Colum Eastwood, leader of the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP), said the government seemed to be \"effectively playing for more time\". Countries in the customs union do not impose tariffs - taxes on imports - on each other's goods. Every country inside the union levies the same tariffs on imports from abroad. So, for example, a 10% tariff is imposed on some cars imported from outside the customs union, while 7.5% is imposed on roasted coffee. Other goods - such as soap or slate - have no tariffs. The UK has said it is leaving the EU's customs union because as a member it is unable to strike trade deals with other countries.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 7579, "answer_end": 8075, "text": "Countries in the customs union do not impose tariffs - taxes on imports - on each other's goods. Every country inside the union levies the same tariffs on imports from abroad. So, for example, a 10% tariff is imposed on some cars imported from outside the customs union, while 7.5% is imposed on roasted coffee. Other goods - such as soap or slate - have no tariffs. The UK has said it is leaving the EU's customs union because as a member it is unable to strike trade deals with other countries."}], "question": "What is the customs union?", "id": "621_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Fidel Castro death: Cuban dissidents call off weekly march", "date": "27 November 2016", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Cuba's most prominent dissident group has called off its traditional protest for the first time in 13 years following the death of the country's revolutionary leader Fidel Castro. The Ladies in White say the decision is to avoid tensions. The group, founded by wives of jailed dissidents, has long defied a protest ban in Cuba with a weekly march. Castro died on Friday at the age of 90. Flags are flying at half mast as the country observes nine days of mourning. From Monday, people will be able to pay their respects at memorials and rallies before Castro's ashes are taken to Santiago de Cuba where he launched his bid for power. And a mass public ceremony is planned at Havana's Revolutionary Square on Tuesday. But there have been further celebrations in the US city of Miami where many anti-Castro Cuban exiles and their families have settled. The cause of death has not yet been revealed but Castro had been in poor health since he nearly died of an intestinal illness in 2006. The mood in the capital remains subdued, the BBC's Barbara Plett-Usher in Havana says, with people still absorbing the news. Castro came to power in 1959 and ushered in a Communist revolution. Supporters say he returned Cuba to the people, and praise him for some of his social programs, such as public health and education. But critics call him a dictator, who led a government that did not tolerate opposition and dissent, accused of numerous alleged human rights abuses. The regular Sunday march of the Ladies in White is a rare expression of dissent largely tolerated by the government. But police have clamped down in recent months, our correspondent in Havana adds. The women march in silence through the streets of Havana following Mass at a Roman Catholic Church, asking for the release of political prisoners and for human rights to be respected. \"We're not going to march today [Sunday] so that the government does not take it as a provocation and so that they can pay their tributes,\" the group's leader, Berta Soler, said. \"We respect the mourning of others and will not celebrate the death of any human being.\" In a tweet reacting to the former leader's death, the group said: \"Fidel Castro has died, may God forgive him, I WON'T\" Cuban authorities say the Ladies in White are in the pay of the United States and form part of Washington's \"decades-old effort to undermine Cuba's socialist revolution\". The government says there are no political prisoners in the country. Throughout the Cold War, Fidel Castro was a thorn in Washington's side. An accomplished tactician on the battlefield, he and his small army of guerrillas overthrew the military leader Fulgencio Batista in 1959 to widespread popular support. Within two years of taking power, he declared the revolution to be Marxist-Leninist in nature and allied Cuba firmly to the Soviet Union - a move that led to the missile crisis in 1962, bringing the world to the brink of nuclear war before the Soviet Union abandoned its plan to put missiles on Cuban soil. Despite the constant threat of a US invasion as well as the long-standing economic embargo on the island, Castro managed to maintain a communist revolution in a nation just 90 miles (145km) off the coast of Florida. Despised by his critics as much as he was revered by his followers, he maintained his rule through 10 US  presidents and survived scores of attempts on his life by the CIA. He established a one-party state, with hundreds of supporters of the Batista government executed. Political opponents have been imprisoned, the independent media suppressed. Thousands of Cubans have fled into exile. Many world leaders have paid tribute to Castro. Russian President Vladimir Putin described him as a \"reliable and sincere friend\" of Russia, while Chinese President Xi Jinping said his people had \"lost a good and true comrade\". The Soviet Union's last leader, Mikhail Gorbachev, said: \"Fidel stood up and strengthened his country during the harshest American blockade, when there was colossal pressure on him.\" However, US President-elect Donald Trump said Castro had been a \"brutal dictator\". Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau came under fire on social media and from political opponents for describing Castro as a \"remarkable leader\", who despite being a \"controversial figure\" made significant improvements to the education and healthcare of Cubans. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon acknowledged advances in education, literary and health under Castro, but said he hoped Cuba would \"continue to advance on a path of reform, greater prosperity and human rights\". Pope Francis, who met Castro, an atheist, when he visited Cuba in 2015, called his death \"sad news\". In Venezuela, Cuba's main regional ally, President Nicolas Maduro said \"revolutionaries of the world must follow his legacy\". - 1926: Born in the south-eastern Oriente Province of Cuba - 1953: Imprisoned after leading an unsuccessful rising against Batista's regime - 1955: Released from prison under an amnesty deal - 1956: With Che Guevara, begins a guerrilla war against the government - 1959: Defeats Batista, sworn in as prime minister of Cuba - 1961: Fights off CIA-sponsored Bay of Pigs invasion by Cuban exiles - 1962: Sparks Cuban missile crisis by agreeing that USSR can deploy nuclear missiles in Cuba - 1976: Elected president by Cuba's National Assembly - 1992: Reaches an agreement with US over Cuban refugees - 2006: Hands over reins to brother Raul due to health issues, stands down as president two years later Cuba's revolutionary leader", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 3623, "answer_end": 4819, "text": "Many world leaders have paid tribute to Castro. Russian President Vladimir Putin described him as a \"reliable and sincere friend\" of Russia, while Chinese President Xi Jinping said his people had \"lost a good and true comrade\". The Soviet Union's last leader, Mikhail Gorbachev, said: \"Fidel stood up and strengthened his country during the harshest American blockade, when there was colossal pressure on him.\" However, US President-elect Donald Trump said Castro had been a \"brutal dictator\". Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau came under fire on social media and from political opponents for describing Castro as a \"remarkable leader\", who despite being a \"controversial figure\" made significant improvements to the education and healthcare of Cubans. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon acknowledged advances in education, literary and health under Castro, but said he hoped Cuba would \"continue to advance on a path of reform, greater prosperity and human rights\". Pope Francis, who met Castro, an atheist, when he visited Cuba in 2015, called his death \"sad news\". In Venezuela, Cuba's main regional ally, President Nicolas Maduro said \"revolutionaries of the world must follow his legacy\"."}], "question": "How has the world reacted?", "id": "622_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Menstrual cups 'as reliable as tampons'", "date": "17 July 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Women can be assured that menstrual cups are as leakproof as tampons and pads, say researchers who have carried out the first, large scientific review of sanitary products. Menstrual cups collect rather than absorb period blood. They fit into the vagina but, unlike tampons, are reusable. Although they have been gaining in popularity, the review found awareness of menstrual cups among women was relatively low. The work, published in the Lancet Public Health journal, looked at 43 studies involving 3,300 women and girls living in rich and poor countries. Common concerns about trying a menstrual cup included pain and difficulty fitting or removing it, as well as leakage and chafing. But the review found complications were rare. Results from 13 of the studies found about 70% of women wanted to continue using menstrual cups once they were familiar with how they worked. Four studies, involving nearly 300 women compared leakage between menstrual cups and disposable pads or tampons. Leakage was similar in three of the studies and significantly less among menstrual cups in one study. Menstrual cups are made of soft, flexible material, such as rubber or silicone. Once inserted into the vagina they create a suction seal to stop any seepage of blood. They can collect more menstrual blood than tampons or sanitary pads, but need to be emptied and washed regularly. There are two main types - a vaginal cup which is generally bell-shaped and sits lower in the vagina, and a cervical cup which is placed higher up, much like a diaphragm for contraception. Catherina Petit-van Hoey, 62, who lives in Hemel Hempstead and Valencia, Spain, said she used a menstrual cup for decades since the late 1980s after hearing about it from a friend. \"It took some time to adjust, but when I got the hang of using it, I never looked back,\" she said. \"It was easy, I saved money and I did my bit to 'save' the environment.\" She added: \"I used one cup for all my periods over more than 20 years. I never sterilised it, but washed it well with soap, which may be questionable.\" To wash it out while using public toilets, she said she sometimes used disabled toilets or \"waited until I heard no-one at the public sinks\". Martina Fraternali, 31, from Manchester, said she has been using a cup for nearly 10 years and has \"not once looked back\". \"Yes at times it can be messy especially when you do not have a sink with clean water available at all times, but the costs and the environmental benefits of the cup outweigh it all. \"It's so convenient and comfortable that it feels like not wearing anything most times. \"I'd strongly recommend it and I'd go as far as saying that in this era of environmental concern, it should be a tax-deductible item and promoted as largely as other menstrual products\". Find the right size cup to fit your body. The size does not relate to your menstrual flow. Make sure the cup is clean and dry before use. Fold the cup and place it into the vagina where it can then unfold and form a leak-free seal. To remove, squeeze the bottom of the cup to release the seal. Empty the contents into the toilet and rinse or wipe the cup clean. Sterilise the cup between periods. Lots of different brands are available to try, but a menstrual cup may not be for everyone. It can take several attempts to feel confident about using one. Debra Holloway, gynaecology nurse consultant and member of the Royal College of Nursing said: \"There's a whole range of products out there and it's worth persevering and finding the right thing that suits you.\" What women use should be a personal choice, say experts. But better advice and evidence is needed to give them the information they need to make this decision. Lead author of the research, Prof Penelope Phillips-Howard from the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, said: \"Despite the fact that 1.9 billion women globally are of menstruating age - spending on average 65 days a year dealing with menstrual blood flow, few good quality studies exist that compare sanitary products.\" Between the ages of 12 and 52, a woman who does not have children will have about 480 periods, according to the NHS. A cup costs around PS15 to PS25, which is much more than a box of tampons, but it can be reused every month and lasts for up to 10 years, making it a cost-effective option in the long term. Being reusable, rather than disposable, menstrual cups are also seen as a greener option for the environment than tampons and sanitary towels. Reusable, washable menstrual underwear is also available. The researchers believe that making menstrual cups available globally could help to tackle period poverty and health problems such as infections - even where water and toilet facilities are poor.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1091, "answer_end": 1560, "text": "Menstrual cups are made of soft, flexible material, such as rubber or silicone. Once inserted into the vagina they create a suction seal to stop any seepage of blood. They can collect more menstrual blood than tampons or sanitary pads, but need to be emptied and washed regularly. There are two main types - a vaginal cup which is generally bell-shaped and sits lower in the vagina, and a cervical cup which is placed higher up, much like a diaphragm for contraception."}], "question": "How do they work?", "id": "623_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3186, "answer_end": 4035, "text": "Lots of different brands are available to try, but a menstrual cup may not be for everyone. It can take several attempts to feel confident about using one. Debra Holloway, gynaecology nurse consultant and member of the Royal College of Nursing said: \"There's a whole range of products out there and it's worth persevering and finding the right thing that suits you.\" What women use should be a personal choice, say experts. But better advice and evidence is needed to give them the information they need to make this decision. Lead author of the research, Prof Penelope Phillips-Howard from the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, said: \"Despite the fact that 1.9 billion women globally are of menstruating age - spending on average 65 days a year dealing with menstrual blood flow, few good quality studies exist that compare sanitary products.\""}], "question": "Not a fan?", "id": "623_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 4036, "answer_end": 4739, "text": "Between the ages of 12 and 52, a woman who does not have children will have about 480 periods, according to the NHS. A cup costs around PS15 to PS25, which is much more than a box of tampons, but it can be reused every month and lasts for up to 10 years, making it a cost-effective option in the long term. Being reusable, rather than disposable, menstrual cups are also seen as a greener option for the environment than tampons and sanitary towels. Reusable, washable menstrual underwear is also available. The researchers believe that making menstrual cups available globally could help to tackle period poverty and health problems such as infections - even where water and toilet facilities are poor."}], "question": "Are they cheaper than tampons or sanitary towels?", "id": "623_2"}]}]}, {"title": "UK flight ban on electronic devices announced", "date": "22 March 2017", "paragraphs": [{"context": "The UK government has announced a cabin baggage ban on laptops and tablets on direct flights to the UK from Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan, Egypt, Tunisia and Saudi Arabia. The ban follows a similar move in the US, where officials say bombs could be hidden in a series of devices. Downing Street said it was \"necessary, effective and proportionate\". The government has not given a start-date for the ban, but says airlines are \"in the process of implementing it\". The ban applies to any device larger than 16cm long, 9.3cm wide or 1.5cm deep. It includes smart phones, but most fall inside these limits. Any affected device, including e-readers, will need to be placed into hold luggage. Passengers can still take most smartphones, games consoles and DVD players onto the plane, a government spokeswoman said. Number 10 said it was up to individual airlines to decide when to begin enforcing the ban and passengers should contact their airline for more information. Six UK carriers: Eight overseas carriers: Transport Secretary Chris Grayling said: \"We understand the frustration that these measures may cause and we are working with the aviation industry to minimise any impact.\" Air industry consultant John Strickland said the ban would cause \"headaches for airlines and customers\", but carriers had \"no choice but to put security first\". What are the new rules? Simon Calder, travel editor of the Independent, told the BBC the ban would particularly affect passengers who booked cheaper, hand luggage-only tickets, but would now have to pay to check a bag in. He added that about 1,000 UK-bound passengers used Turkish Airlines every day to fly from long-haul destinations and would also be affected as their planes were routed via Istanbul. While the US government cited unspecified \"threats\" in its announcement, the prime minister's official spokesman declined to discuss whether the new rules were prompted by specific intelligence. The US ban applies to flights from 10 airports in eight countries. Nine airlines are affected - Royal Jordanian, EgyptAir, Turkish Airlines, Saudi Arabian Airlines, Kuwait Airways, Royal Air Maroc, Qatar Airways, Emirates and Etihad Airways. Asked why the US ban differed from the UK, Theresa May's spokesman said: \"We have each taken our own decisions.\" By Frank Gardner, BBC security correspondent This is a controversial decision, and, I'm told, not an easy one for the government. The UK ban goes even further than the US move which does not affect national carriers. It is not the result of a specific, identified terrorist plot, but of mounting concern in US and British intelligence circles at the ongoing interest amongst jihadist groups in the Middle East in blowing up a passenger plane in mid-air. There are some in Whitehall who fear this may be an over-reaction, with damaging commercial and diplomatic consequences. But others have pointed to last year's laptop bomb smuggled onto a flight from Somalia by insurgents from Al-Shabaab. The year before, so-called Islamic State blew up a Russian passenger plane over the Sinai Peninsula. But that bomb was hidden in the hold, where laptops and other devices will still be allowed. The editor of Aviation Security International, Philip Baum, told the BBC that \"encouraging people to check laptops, and other such items, into the luggage hold simply makes the challenge of screening even harder\". For more than two years, the official UK threat level for international terrorism has stood at severe, meaning an attack is \"highly likely\". In July 2014, passengers at UK airports were advised to ensure electronic devices were charged so they could be switched on for security checks. The ban on liquids over 100ml in hand luggage - introduced after a foiled 2006 plot to blow up planes using explosives hidden in drink bottles - also remains in place. The US has given airlines 96 hours, beginning at 07:00 GMT on Tuesday, to implement its ban, which officials said had no end date. Passengers on some 50 flights a day from some of the busiest hubs in the Middle East, Turkey and North Africa will be affected. The Turkish government has said the US ban is wrong and should be reversed. But the Department of Homeland Security said extremists were seeking \"innovative methods\" to bring down jets. Citing the Somalia incident in February 2016, as well as the 2015 downing of a Russian airline in Egypt and attacks at airports in Brussels and Istanbul, it added: \"Evaluated intelligence indicates that terrorist groups continue to target commercial aviation, to include smuggling explosive devices in various consumer items.\" Get news from the BBC in your inbox, each weekday morning", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 959, "answer_end": 1000, "text": "Six UK carriers: Eight overseas carriers:"}], "question": "Which airlines are affected?", "id": "624_0"}]}]}, {"title": "US immigration: Drowning exposes risks of illegal crossing", "date": "26 June 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "El Salvador's government has warned people against risking their lives to reach the US after a man and his baby daughter drowned in the Rio Grande. Photos of their bodies, found face down in shallow water with the 23-month-old girl's arm around her father's neck, have sparked condemnation. \"I hate it,\" US President Donald Trump said later of the photos. This comes as the US and Mexico implement tougher policies to stem the flow of undocumented migrants. Most of them are from Central America. At least six have died in recent days. Warning: This article contains a distressing image Many of the migrants say they are fleeing violence and poverty in Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador, and plan to seek asylum in the US. Critics of Mr Trump's tougher stance on immigration say his approach is driving migrants to take more dangerous routes. At least 283 migrants died on the US-Mexico border in 2018, according to US Border Patrol, but human rights activists say the number is likely to be higher. Oscar Alberto Martinez Ramirez, 25, and his daughter Valeria drowned on Sunday while trying to cross from Matamoros, in the northern Mexican state of Tamaulipas, into Texas. The image, which surfaced on Monday, was captured by journalist Julia Le Duc and published by Mexican newspaper La Jornada. \"I am hoping [that] with this photo someone will do something and we don't have to continue taking photos of drowned migrants in the river,\" the journalist told the BBC. Mr Martinez's wife and the daughter's mother, Tania Vanessa Avalos, 21, said they had been living in Mexico for two months on a humanitarian visa, AP news agency reports. Frustrated after being unable to present themselves to US officials and seek asylum, they had decided to cross the river. Mr Martinez managed to get across with their daughter and set her down on the bank, then began returning for his wife, she told Mexican police. But alone on the riverbank, Valeria panicked and jumped in after her father. He made it back to her but both were swept away by the river's dangerous currents. \"I begged them not to go, but he wanted to scrape together money to build a home,\" Rosa Ramirez, Oscar's mother, told AP. El Salvador's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Alexandra Hill, has called on citizens to stop putting their lives at risk by trying to migrate illegally. The government said it would cover the expenses needed to bring back the two bodies and would provide \"necessary support\" to their relatives. Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador also warned against making the perilous border journey, describing the deaths as \"very regrettable\". \"People are losing their lives, in the desert or crossing the Rio Grande, we've always condemned it and we don't want it.\" In a statement, the Vatican said Pope Francis had seen the pictures, adding: \"The Pope is profoundly saddened by their death, and is praying for them and for all migrants who have lost their lives while seeking to flee war and misery.\" After seeing the traumatic picture, he told reporters later on Thursday: \"I hate it.\" \"That father... was probably a wonderful guy,\" he said. \"A very very dangerous journey. And by the way many other things happened. Women being raped; women being raped in numbers nobody believed.\" The US president added that the refusal by the opposition Democrats to back his border policies were to blame for deaths of illegal migrants. \"Well, that's what I've been saying if they fixed the laws you wouldn't have this,\" he said. The picture has also drawn comparisons to the photo of young Syrian boy Alan Kurdi, who became a symbol of the human cost of the war in Syria. Earlier this month, Mexico reached a deal with the Trump administration to try to stem the flow of undocumented migrants travelling to the US. Since then, deportations and detentions of undocumented migrants have reportedly increased. Meanwhile, Democrats in the US House of Representatives approved $4.5bn (PS3.5bn) in humanitarian aid for the US-Mexico border. The bill, however, faces a tough path through the Republican-controlled Senate. In February, Mr Trump declared an emergency on the country's southern border, saying it was necessary to tackle what he said was a crisis there.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 2189, "answer_end": 2986, "text": "El Salvador's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Alexandra Hill, has called on citizens to stop putting their lives at risk by trying to migrate illegally. The government said it would cover the expenses needed to bring back the two bodies and would provide \"necessary support\" to their relatives. Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador also warned against making the perilous border journey, describing the deaths as \"very regrettable\". \"People are losing their lives, in the desert or crossing the Rio Grande, we've always condemned it and we don't want it.\" In a statement, the Vatican said Pope Francis had seen the pictures, adding: \"The Pope is profoundly saddened by their death, and is praying for them and for all migrants who have lost their lives while seeking to flee war and misery.\""}], "question": "What has the reaction been?", "id": "625_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2987, "answer_end": 4235, "text": "After seeing the traumatic picture, he told reporters later on Thursday: \"I hate it.\" \"That father... was probably a wonderful guy,\" he said. \"A very very dangerous journey. And by the way many other things happened. Women being raped; women being raped in numbers nobody believed.\" The US president added that the refusal by the opposition Democrats to back his border policies were to blame for deaths of illegal migrants. \"Well, that's what I've been saying if they fixed the laws you wouldn't have this,\" he said. The picture has also drawn comparisons to the photo of young Syrian boy Alan Kurdi, who became a symbol of the human cost of the war in Syria. Earlier this month, Mexico reached a deal with the Trump administration to try to stem the flow of undocumented migrants travelling to the US. Since then, deportations and detentions of undocumented migrants have reportedly increased. Meanwhile, Democrats in the US House of Representatives approved $4.5bn (PS3.5bn) in humanitarian aid for the US-Mexico border. The bill, however, faces a tough path through the Republican-controlled Senate. In February, Mr Trump declared an emergency on the country's southern border, saying it was necessary to tackle what he said was a crisis there."}], "question": "What did President Trump say?", "id": "625_1"}]}]}, {"title": "Girl Power: How can books empower young girls?", "date": "27 January 2017", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Girl Power needs to start young - with storybooks - to challenge the assumption that boys are smarter, an education expert has said. Professor Gemma Moss singled out Princess Smartypants by Babette Cole as a great example of a book turning  expectation on its head, when \"the princess refuses to hook up with the prince, and instead rides off on a motorbike\". She was responding to a US report stating girls start to see themselves as less innately talented than boys do when they are just six years old. The report suggests if you give a six-year-old a storybook with a \"really, really smart\" character and ask them if it's a girl or boy, boys will tend to tell you it's a boy. And girls will say that it's... a boy. But when the children were asked the same question aged five, there was no such gender bias. Books can help parents chat with their children about gender stereotypes, Prof Moss, head of the UCL Institute of Education's International Literacy Centre, said. Plus they can help make it the norm for girls to see themselves as daring, inventive and, of course, clever. There is a wealth of information online, from A Mighty Girl to Goodnet to No Time for Flash Cards, to name just a few. Here are some titles which cropped up: The Paper Bag Princess by Robert Munsch: A princess saves her prince after he's kidnapped by a fire-breathing dragon, wearing nothing but a paper bag after all her clothes are burned. Despite him not liking her appearance, she doesn't care that she doesn't look like a typical princess. Cinder Edna by Ellen Jackson: Can a girl who prefers loafers to glass slippers live happily ever after? Yes! JoJo's Flying Side Kick by Brian Pinkney: When JoJo is ready to take the test for her Tae Kwon Do yellow belt, butterflies start fluttering in her stomach.  JoJo needs to find a way to turn her fears into success, and she soon realises there's only one person who can help her do that - herself. Stone Girl Bone Girl: The Story of Mary Anning by Laurence Anholt: Mary Anning, born in England in 1799, made an astounding discovery at age 12 when she unearthed the first full skeleton of a giant ichthyosaur in the cliffs above her home in Lyme Regis. It was the beginning of a long career that saw Mary become world-famous fossil hunter. Allie's Basketball Dream by Barbara E Barber: Allie is very excited when her dad gives her a basketball for her birthday, practising daily in the hope of becoming a professional basketball player. Despite her friends saying it's a  \"boy's game\", she is encouraged by her dad, doesn't give up and proves her worth. Great Books for Girls by Kathleen Odean: This is a guide which lists books with \"images of strong females who are leaders, adventurers, scientists, artists, problem-solvers, and more\", offering books which \"will encourage, challenge, and ultimately nurture in girls the strong qualities our culture so often suppresses\". \"There are some really nice stories out there,\" Prof Moss told BBC Radio 4's Today programme. \"There's all kinds of resources out there targeted at young children that make sure everybody realises there are different kinds of avenues ahead of them.\" Author Jeanette Winterson recently helped schoolchildren rewrite Cinderella, having discussed ways in which it's \"sexist\" and how they might \"make it more equal between the men and the women\". Their reversioned story ends with: \"Cindy decides she and the prince won't get married. They become friends and world famous explorers.\" Winterson told the BBC she recalled \"how enthusiastically the children wanted to reinvent the story once they were given permission to do so\". \"Boys and girls said 'we don't have to follow these rules, we can do it differently.'\" Laura Lund, who worked as a primary school head teacher for more than 13 years, told Today she was \"quite shocked\" at the young age of children in the report. \"In my experience girls of six don't necessarily behave in that way, and wouldn't necessarily choose male role models over female; however I can see it is certainly a significant point as they get older.\" She added: \"We don't want to say to girls they should be more like boys, we need to value their identity.\" Follow us on Facebook, on Twitter @BBCNewsEnts, or on Instagram at bbcnewsents. If you have a story suggestion email entertainment.news@bbc.co.uk.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1083, "answer_end": 4189, "text": "There is a wealth of information online, from A Mighty Girl to Goodnet to No Time for Flash Cards, to name just a few. Here are some titles which cropped up: The Paper Bag Princess by Robert Munsch: A princess saves her prince after he's kidnapped by a fire-breathing dragon, wearing nothing but a paper bag after all her clothes are burned. Despite him not liking her appearance, she doesn't care that she doesn't look like a typical princess. Cinder Edna by Ellen Jackson: Can a girl who prefers loafers to glass slippers live happily ever after? Yes! JoJo's Flying Side Kick by Brian Pinkney: When JoJo is ready to take the test for her Tae Kwon Do yellow belt, butterflies start fluttering in her stomach.  JoJo needs to find a way to turn her fears into success, and she soon realises there's only one person who can help her do that - herself. Stone Girl Bone Girl: The Story of Mary Anning by Laurence Anholt: Mary Anning, born in England in 1799, made an astounding discovery at age 12 when she unearthed the first full skeleton of a giant ichthyosaur in the cliffs above her home in Lyme Regis. It was the beginning of a long career that saw Mary become world-famous fossil hunter. Allie's Basketball Dream by Barbara E Barber: Allie is very excited when her dad gives her a basketball for her birthday, practising daily in the hope of becoming a professional basketball player. Despite her friends saying it's a  \"boy's game\", she is encouraged by her dad, doesn't give up and proves her worth. Great Books for Girls by Kathleen Odean: This is a guide which lists books with \"images of strong females who are leaders, adventurers, scientists, artists, problem-solvers, and more\", offering books which \"will encourage, challenge, and ultimately nurture in girls the strong qualities our culture so often suppresses\". \"There are some really nice stories out there,\" Prof Moss told BBC Radio 4's Today programme. \"There's all kinds of resources out there targeted at young children that make sure everybody realises there are different kinds of avenues ahead of them.\" Author Jeanette Winterson recently helped schoolchildren rewrite Cinderella, having discussed ways in which it's \"sexist\" and how they might \"make it more equal between the men and the women\". Their reversioned story ends with: \"Cindy decides she and the prince won't get married. They become friends and world famous explorers.\" Winterson told the BBC she recalled \"how enthusiastically the children wanted to reinvent the story once they were given permission to do so\". \"Boys and girls said 'we don't have to follow these rules, we can do it differently.'\" Laura Lund, who worked as a primary school head teacher for more than 13 years, told Today she was \"quite shocked\" at the young age of children in the report. \"In my experience girls of six don't necessarily behave in that way, and wouldn't necessarily choose male role models over female; however I can see it is certainly a significant point as they get older.\" She added: \"We don't want to say to girls they should be more like boys, we need to value their identity.\""}], "question": "Which books could help empower young girls from a young age?", "id": "626_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Princess Eugenie: 'I wanted my wedding dress to show my scar'", "date": "12 October 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "The Dress. For many brides what to wear on their big day is one of the most important decisions they'll make. Ivory or white? A-line or mermaid? Long or short? Fitted or puffy? But for Princess Eugenie there was an extra factor at play. The Queen's granddaughter had major surgery on her back to treat a curvature of the spine at the age of 12. Sixteen years on, and the princess chose to wear a wedding dress that showed her scar, saying she hoped it would honour those who had helped her and inspire others with the condition of scoliosis. Ahead of the wedding, the princess spoke of the importance of showing \"people your scars\". And earlier this year she revealed for the first time her own X-rays from when she was treated for scoliosis as a child. \"I had an operation when I was 12 on my back, and you'll see on Friday [at the wedding], but it's a lovely way to honour the people who looked after me and a way of standing up for young people who also go through this,\" she told ITV's This Morning. \"I think you can change the way beauty is, and you can show people your scars and I think it's really special to stand up for that.\" Scoliosis is a condition that causes the spine to bend to one side, making the back appear rounded and shoulder blades stick out. It most often starts in children aged 10 to 15 but there is often no known cause. Sometimes it is caused by the bones not forming properly in the womb or other medical conditions, including cerebral palsy. Three to four children in 1,000 need treatment from a specialist. The Scoliosis Association UK says about five out of six people with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis are female - but it is not known why. In Princess Eugenie's case, it required corrective surgery and she had the operation at the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital. The princess, now 28, has previously spoken of how she felt in the weeks before her surgery, saying it was \"a scary prospect for a 12-year-old; I can still vividly remember how nervous I felt\". \"During my operation, which took eight hours, my surgeons inserted eight-inch titanium rods into each side of my spine and one-and-a-half inch screws at the top of my neck. After three days in intensive care, I spent a week on a ward and six days in a wheelchair, but I was walking again after that,\" she says in her story on the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital's website. Trainee teacher Camilla Seckin also had surgery for the condition at the same hospital. \"I was really terrified and really in denial about having the surgery, but I knew it was something that I had to get done. \"At this point my back was at a 72-degree curvature and the prognosis was that I'd be in a wheel chair by the age of 30. \"I felt very insecure about my appearance but I feel confident now and I'm not ashamed of having the condition.\" Camilla encourages sufferers to speak up \"as it can be quite lonely if you don't\". \"Building a network with people who have had the surgery has really helped me. I can still do things despite my condition.\" Jan Lehovsky, a spinal surgeon who was part of the team who operated on the princess, said: \"Most of the patients affected by scoliosis are young girls and she's a real role model for them. \"She's someone who can inspire them, which is so important for the young ladies coming through the surgery.\"", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1137, "answer_end": 2376, "text": "Scoliosis is a condition that causes the spine to bend to one side, making the back appear rounded and shoulder blades stick out. It most often starts in children aged 10 to 15 but there is often no known cause. Sometimes it is caused by the bones not forming properly in the womb or other medical conditions, including cerebral palsy. Three to four children in 1,000 need treatment from a specialist. The Scoliosis Association UK says about five out of six people with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis are female - but it is not known why. In Princess Eugenie's case, it required corrective surgery and she had the operation at the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital. The princess, now 28, has previously spoken of how she felt in the weeks before her surgery, saying it was \"a scary prospect for a 12-year-old; I can still vividly remember how nervous I felt\". \"During my operation, which took eight hours, my surgeons inserted eight-inch titanium rods into each side of my spine and one-and-a-half inch screws at the top of my neck. After three days in intensive care, I spent a week on a ward and six days in a wheelchair, but I was walking again after that,\" she says in her story on the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital's website."}], "question": "What is scoliosis and why does it mostly affect young girls?", "id": "627_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Poland aims to thwart Tusk bid for new term as EU leader", "date": "6 March 2017", "paragraphs": [{"context": "The Polish government has put forward its own candidate to rival Donald Tusk, the EU's Polish leader who is seeking a new 30-month term later this week. Such national hostility to a fellow countryman is highly unusual in EU politics. But Mr Tusk is still expected to get enough support to keep his post. As European Council president, Mr Tusk looks set to play a major role in the UK's Brexit negotiations. A top Tusk ally rejected the candidacy of Polish rival Jacek Saryusz-Wolski. German MEP Manfred Weber heads the main conservative bloc in the EU, the European People's Party (EPP). He said the EPP would expel Mr Saryusz-Wolski if he did not give up his bid to thwart Mr Tusk. The European Council brings together the heads of state and government of the 28 EU member states. Jointly they set the EU's strategic direction in key areas, such as reform of the eurozone, the Greek debt crisis, the migrant challenge and relations with Russia. The Council president aims to achieve consensus - deploying all his diplomatic skills - on these tricky issues, where national tensions often dictate how leaders behave. Mr Tusk took charge in late 2014 and his term ends on 31 May. If his fellow leaders back him on Thursday, he will have another 30-month term, lasting until 30 November 2019. That period coincides with the expected two-year Brexit talks on UK withdrawal from the EU. Malta, currently chairing EU business, is likely to seek approval of Mr Tusk by consensus. Poland's hostility might push it to a vote - but then Mr Tusk is still likely to win by a qualified majority. Mr Tusk was Polish prime minister in 2007-2014. As leader of centre-right Civic Platform, his chief rival then was the nationalist Law and Justice Party (PiS), which is now in power. PiS leader Jaroslaw Kaczynski holds Mr Tusk politically responsible for the 2010 plane crash in Russia which killed his twin Lech Kaczynski, and all other 95 people on board. The plane crashed in dense fog. Official investigations ruled pilot error was the principal cause. In 2012, Jaroslaw Kaczynski told Mr Tusk in parliament: \"In the political sense you bear 100% responsibility for the catastrophe in Smolensk.\" Many Poles believe Mr Tusk's government did not do enough to explain the causes of the crash. Critics say Mr Tusk should not have allowed the Russians to conduct the first crash investigation. Jaroslaw Kaczynski also said Mr Tusk \"favours solutions that are extremely harmful to Poland\". The European Commission has clashed with the PiS government over Poland's refusal to take in refugees - a move that would ease the burden on Greece and Italy. The Commission is also investigating the party's changes to Poland's constitutional court and media, suspecting that they violate EU rule of law principles.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 683, "answer_end": 1582, "text": "The European Council brings together the heads of state and government of the 28 EU member states. Jointly they set the EU's strategic direction in key areas, such as reform of the eurozone, the Greek debt crisis, the migrant challenge and relations with Russia. The Council president aims to achieve consensus - deploying all his diplomatic skills - on these tricky issues, where national tensions often dictate how leaders behave. Mr Tusk took charge in late 2014 and his term ends on 31 May. If his fellow leaders back him on Thursday, he will have another 30-month term, lasting until 30 November 2019. That period coincides with the expected two-year Brexit talks on UK withdrawal from the EU. Malta, currently chairing EU business, is likely to seek approval of Mr Tusk by consensus. Poland's hostility might push it to a vote - but then Mr Tusk is still likely to win by a qualified majority."}], "question": "What does the European Council president do?", "id": "628_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1583, "answer_end": 2786, "text": "Mr Tusk was Polish prime minister in 2007-2014. As leader of centre-right Civic Platform, his chief rival then was the nationalist Law and Justice Party (PiS), which is now in power. PiS leader Jaroslaw Kaczynski holds Mr Tusk politically responsible for the 2010 plane crash in Russia which killed his twin Lech Kaczynski, and all other 95 people on board. The plane crashed in dense fog. Official investigations ruled pilot error was the principal cause. In 2012, Jaroslaw Kaczynski told Mr Tusk in parliament: \"In the political sense you bear 100% responsibility for the catastrophe in Smolensk.\" Many Poles believe Mr Tusk's government did not do enough to explain the causes of the crash. Critics say Mr Tusk should not have allowed the Russians to conduct the first crash investigation. Jaroslaw Kaczynski also said Mr Tusk \"favours solutions that are extremely harmful to Poland\". The European Commission has clashed with the PiS government over Poland's refusal to take in refugees - a move that would ease the burden on Greece and Italy. The Commission is also investigating the party's changes to Poland's constitutional court and media, suspecting that they violate EU rule of law principles."}], "question": "Why is the Polish government so hostile to him?", "id": "628_1"}]}]}, {"title": "Davos: Trump decries climate 'prophets of doom' with Thunberg in audience", "date": "21 January 2020", "paragraphs": [{"context": "US President Donald Trump has decried climate \"prophets of doom\" in a speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos, where sustainability is the main theme. He called for a rejection of \"predictions of the apocalypse\" and said America would defend its economy. Mr Trump did not directly name the teenage climate activist Greta Thunberg, who was in the audience. Later, she excoriated political leaders, saying the world \"in case you hadn't noticed, is currently on fire\". Environmental destruction is at the top of the agenda at the annual summit of the world's decision-makers, which takes place at a Swiss ski resort. In his keynote speech, Mr Trump said that it was a time for optimism, not pessimism, in a speech that touted his administration's economic achievements and America's energy boom. Speaking of climate activists, he said: \"These alarmists always demand the same thing - absolute power to dominate, transform and control every aspect of our lives.\" They were, he said, \"the heirs of yesterday's foolish fortune tellers\". Mr Trump also announced that the US would join an initiative to plant, restore and conserve a trillion trees. \"We're committed to conserving the majesty of God's creation and the natural beauty of our world,\" he said. The president was speaking hours before his impeachment trial began in the US Senate. Soon after Mr Trump spoke, Ms Thunberg, the 17-year-old Swedish climate activist who has led a global movement of school strikes calling for urgent environmental action, opened a session on \"Averting a Climate Apocalypse\". She refrained from naming Mr Trump but issued this warning to the world's leaders. \"I wonder, what will you tell your children was the reason to fail and leave them facing... climate chaos that you knowingly brought upon them? That it seemed so bad for the economy that we decided to resign the idea of securing future living conditions without even trying? \"Our house is still on fire. Your inaction is fuelling the flames by the hour, and we are telling you to act as if you loved your children above all else.\" She strongly criticised politicians and business leaders for what she said were continuous \"empty words and promises\". \"You say: 'We won't let you down. Don't be so pessimistic.' And then, silence.\" The timing of President Trump's \"don't panic\" message is intriguing. He's reassuring the Davos rich club about the climate just as the pillars of capitalism are themselves starting to treat global warming as a crisis. The leading bank Goldman Sachs will no longer fund new investments in Arctic oil or in coal for power stations. And the boss of investment giant BlackRock has defined climate change as the biggest threat to markets as rising temperatures put profits at risk. His company manages more than $6.5 trillion (PS5tn) of savers' cash. Meanwhile the outgoing governor of the Bank of England warns that firms which don't change will go to the wall. President Trump - astride an American economy fuelled by cheap gas - thinks they are wrong. And he's not alone. Leaders in Australia, Brazil, Russia and Saudi Arabia also cling to economies driven by fossil fuels. It's politics vs science: the battle of our age. Follow Roger on twitter @rharrabin Economist Joseph Stiglitz, a Nobel Laureate, criticised Mr Trump's speech. According to Reuters news agency he said it was \"astounding\" and made \"as if what we are seeing with our eyes are not there\". The joint leader of Germany's Green Party, Robert Habeck, was scathing. \"Only self-praise, ignorance, disregard for everyone, no perception of global problems. It was the worst speech I've ever heard in my life.\" The world's nations committed in the 2015 Paris Agreement to keep temperatures well inside 2.0C (3.6F) above pre-industrial times. They agreed to try to keep the rise to 1.5C but scientists say they are well off that target. Last year, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change said the Earth was heading instead for 3C and that \"rapid, far-reaching and unprecedented changes in all aspects of society\" would be needed to keep to the preferred target of 1.5C. The renowned naturalist and broadcaster David Attenborough recently told the BBC that \"the moment of crisis has come\" in efforts to tackle climate change, referencing the bushfires that have ravaged parts of south-eastern Australia. The US is withdrawing from the Paris climate agreement, which Mr Trump has called a \"bad deal.\" The pull-out will take effect the day after the 2020 US presidential election - assuming that Mr Trump is re-elected.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 618, "answer_end": 1338, "text": "In his keynote speech, Mr Trump said that it was a time for optimism, not pessimism, in a speech that touted his administration's economic achievements and America's energy boom. Speaking of climate activists, he said: \"These alarmists always demand the same thing - absolute power to dominate, transform and control every aspect of our lives.\" They were, he said, \"the heirs of yesterday's foolish fortune tellers\". Mr Trump also announced that the US would join an initiative to plant, restore and conserve a trillion trees. \"We're committed to conserving the majesty of God's creation and the natural beauty of our world,\" he said. The president was speaking hours before his impeachment trial began in the US Senate."}], "question": "What else did the president say?", "id": "629_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1339, "answer_end": 2274, "text": "Soon after Mr Trump spoke, Ms Thunberg, the 17-year-old Swedish climate activist who has led a global movement of school strikes calling for urgent environmental action, opened a session on \"Averting a Climate Apocalypse\". She refrained from naming Mr Trump but issued this warning to the world's leaders. \"I wonder, what will you tell your children was the reason to fail and leave them facing... climate chaos that you knowingly brought upon them? That it seemed so bad for the economy that we decided to resign the idea of securing future living conditions without even trying? \"Our house is still on fire. Your inaction is fuelling the flames by the hour, and we are telling you to act as if you loved your children above all else.\" She strongly criticised politicians and business leaders for what she said were continuous \"empty words and promises\". \"You say: 'We won't let you down. Don't be so pessimistic.' And then, silence.\""}], "question": "What has Greta Thunberg been saying?", "id": "629_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3231, "answer_end": 3644, "text": "Economist Joseph Stiglitz, a Nobel Laureate, criticised Mr Trump's speech. According to Reuters news agency he said it was \"astounding\" and made \"as if what we are seeing with our eyes are not there\". The joint leader of Germany's Green Party, Robert Habeck, was scathing. \"Only self-praise, ignorance, disregard for everyone, no perception of global problems. It was the worst speech I've ever heard in my life.\""}], "question": "What other reaction has there been?", "id": "629_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3645, "answer_end": 4555, "text": "The world's nations committed in the 2015 Paris Agreement to keep temperatures well inside 2.0C (3.6F) above pre-industrial times. They agreed to try to keep the rise to 1.5C but scientists say they are well off that target. Last year, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change said the Earth was heading instead for 3C and that \"rapid, far-reaching and unprecedented changes in all aspects of society\" would be needed to keep to the preferred target of 1.5C. The renowned naturalist and broadcaster David Attenborough recently told the BBC that \"the moment of crisis has come\" in efforts to tackle climate change, referencing the bushfires that have ravaged parts of south-eastern Australia. The US is withdrawing from the Paris climate agreement, which Mr Trump has called a \"bad deal.\" The pull-out will take effect the day after the 2020 US presidential election - assuming that Mr Trump is re-elected."}], "question": "What are the climate targets?", "id": "629_3"}]}]}, {"title": "Islamic State group: Why is it attacking Turkey?", "date": "30 June 2016", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Two days on from a brazen attack on Europe's third busiest airport, there has been no claim of responsibility. But then the so-called Islamic State (IS) group has never claimed any of the attacks in Turkey that it is believed to have committed. The Turkish government and the CIA both say the assault on Istanbul's Ataturk airport bears all the signs of the jihadist group. Over the past year, Turkey has been gripped by a wave of bombings across the country. Those claimed by Kurdish militants have tended to hit organs of the Turkish state - police vehicles or military buildings - with which the PKK is fighting a renewed conflict. But a high-profile international target is more the style of IS. In a recent message, a supposed spokesman for the group called for specific attacks during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, which is now. And Tuesday - the day the airport was hit - marks exactly two years since IS declared its \"caliphate\". It's conceivable that this was an anniversary show of strength: the jihadists may have lost Falluja but they're certainly still in business. Six big IS attacks in Turkey in the space of 12 months. What on earth is happening to the once stable corner of the Middle East? As ever in Turkey, the answer depends on which side of the deep political divide you find yourself. For the diehard supporters of Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Turkey's polarising president, this is revenge for the country's fight against terrorism. \"[The West] left us alone in fighting Daesh that attacked Turkey,\" said Mr Erdogan last month, using another acronym for IS. \"None of those who said they're fighting Daesh have either made them suffer the losses or pay the price Turkey has done.\" He and his government have even repeatedly suggested that IS and the PKK are working in cahoots to destabilise Turkey: a seemingly absurd suggestion, given the hatred between the two. But for the arch critics of Turkey's president, the past 12 months show a litany of intelligence lapses and policy failures. Known IS cells in Turkey, notably in the southern city of Adiyaman, were left to plot successive attacks in a murky tea-house before striking in Diyarbakir last June and Ankara in October - attacks that killed more than 100 people. \"We have the list of possible suicide bombers in Turkey - but cannot arrest them until they act\", said the then Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu. And, goes the argument, it proves the widely-held view that Turkey was too slow to wake up to the threat of IS. Many believe that some elements within Turkey's Islamist-leaning government stomached, or even fostered, jihadist groups in Syria that tallied with their beliefs, creating an environment in which IS could grow. For the first few years of the Syrian war, Turkey's border with Syria was somewhat porous, allowing jihadists and weapons to cross in both directions - until pressure from the US and others grew and Turkey tightened controls. Ankara has always vehemently denied the allegations, claiming there is no proof of sinister cross-border movement and that the media and Western governments are attempting to besmirch Turkey while ignoring the fact that it has taken in almost three million Syrian refugees. But what is clear is that as Turkey has become a more active part of the US-led coalition against Islamic State, it is considerably more vulnerable. Any sympathies that the group thought it might have had in Turkey have been largely obliterated by successive attacks, making this country much more of a target. Turkey's southern US airbase at Incirlik is used for nightly bombings of IS positions. Revenge is now a key reason why Turkey keeps getting hit. And, as the attacks in Paris, Brussels and elsewhere have shown, IS remains a formidable force, albeit a depleted one. Its militants have the ability to circumvent powerful governments with strong intelligence agencies. And in a country like Turkey, with a 500-mile-long (800km) border with Syria and 200 miles (320km) with Iraq, it has easier passage - and fertile ground. Turkey is reeling from yet another devastating attack. Security across the country has been stepped up. But it's increasingly clear that the government is trying to close the stable door after the horse has bolted. And the reality, for this nervous nation, is that more strikes will come.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1212, "answer_end": 3519, "text": "As ever in Turkey, the answer depends on which side of the deep political divide you find yourself. For the diehard supporters of Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Turkey's polarising president, this is revenge for the country's fight against terrorism. \"[The West] left us alone in fighting Daesh that attacked Turkey,\" said Mr Erdogan last month, using another acronym for IS. \"None of those who said they're fighting Daesh have either made them suffer the losses or pay the price Turkey has done.\" He and his government have even repeatedly suggested that IS and the PKK are working in cahoots to destabilise Turkey: a seemingly absurd suggestion, given the hatred between the two. But for the arch critics of Turkey's president, the past 12 months show a litany of intelligence lapses and policy failures. Known IS cells in Turkey, notably in the southern city of Adiyaman, were left to plot successive attacks in a murky tea-house before striking in Diyarbakir last June and Ankara in October - attacks that killed more than 100 people. \"We have the list of possible suicide bombers in Turkey - but cannot arrest them until they act\", said the then Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu. And, goes the argument, it proves the widely-held view that Turkey was too slow to wake up to the threat of IS. Many believe that some elements within Turkey's Islamist-leaning government stomached, or even fostered, jihadist groups in Syria that tallied with their beliefs, creating an environment in which IS could grow. For the first few years of the Syrian war, Turkey's border with Syria was somewhat porous, allowing jihadists and weapons to cross in both directions - until pressure from the US and others grew and Turkey tightened controls. Ankara has always vehemently denied the allegations, claiming there is no proof of sinister cross-border movement and that the media and Western governments are attempting to besmirch Turkey while ignoring the fact that it has taken in almost three million Syrian refugees. But what is clear is that as Turkey has become a more active part of the US-led coalition against Islamic State, it is considerably more vulnerable. Any sympathies that the group thought it might have had in Turkey have been largely obliterated by successive attacks, making this country much more of a target."}], "question": "A little too late?", "id": "630_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Jeopardy!: James Holzhauer's winning streak ends short of money record", "date": "4 June 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "A professional gambler's 32-game winning streak on US quiz show Jeopardy! has come to an end after he was beaten by a university librarian. James Holzhauer had won $2.46m (PS1.9m) before losing to Emma Boettcher. He is only the second contestant in the show's history to earn more than $1m in one run. Jeopardy! contestants must answer clues in the form of a question. It is one of the longest-running quiz shows on US televisions. Mr Holzhauer's winnings were just short of Ken Jenning's record $2.52m earned in 74 consecutive games. The 34-year-old gained celebrity status for his playing tactics. His style differed from previous contestants as he opted to target the \"expensive\" difficult clues first instead of solving easy clues. He also made large bets on \"Daily Double\" questions where players can risk as much as their entire score in one answer. He said he prepared for the game by reading children's books. After being beaten he told the New York Times: \"Nobody likes to lose. But I'm very proud of how I did, and I really exceeded my own expectations for the show. So I don't feel bad about it.\" An average of 10.3 million viewers tuned in during the first 12 days of Mr Holzhauer's run, audience data indicated. Ms Boettcher, a librarian at the University of Chicago, wrote her master's thesis at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill on predicting the difficulty of trivia questions using text features. The 27-year-old used Jeopardy! as her basis for the study, analysing thousands of clues. She also holds a degree in English from Princeton University - and told New York Magazine's Vulture that the final question topic of Shakespeare was her \"dream category\". Ms Boettcher described her winning strategy to Vulture as \"a little bit whimsical\", but based on data gathered from years watching the show. \"I was a little more guided by intuition and feeling as opposed to having sussed out the exact, optimal strategy beforehand and using that every single time,\" she said. \"'Whimsical' and 'data driven' probably don't belong in the same sentence, but as a librarian, it makes me happy.\" Ms Boettcher told the Chicago Tribune she plans on using her $46,801 winnings to pay off student loans and give back to the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill School of Information and Library Science.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1225, "answer_end": 2317, "text": "Ms Boettcher, a librarian at the University of Chicago, wrote her master's thesis at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill on predicting the difficulty of trivia questions using text features. The 27-year-old used Jeopardy! as her basis for the study, analysing thousands of clues. She also holds a degree in English from Princeton University - and told New York Magazine's Vulture that the final question topic of Shakespeare was her \"dream category\". Ms Boettcher described her winning strategy to Vulture as \"a little bit whimsical\", but based on data gathered from years watching the show. \"I was a little more guided by intuition and feeling as opposed to having sussed out the exact, optimal strategy beforehand and using that every single time,\" she said. \"'Whimsical' and 'data driven' probably don't belong in the same sentence, but as a librarian, it makes me happy.\" Ms Boettcher told the Chicago Tribune she plans on using her $46,801 winnings to pay off student loans and give back to the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill School of Information and Library Science."}], "question": "Who is Emma Boettcher?", "id": "631_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Barnett formula: Which parts of the UK have the most money spent on them?", "date": "13 January 2020", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Northern Ireland is set to receive a funding boost, following the restoration of its devolved government. While the exact figure is not yet known, the extra spending will be on top of the public money Northern Ireland already receives. So which parts of the UK receive the most government funding and why is it controversial? For 42 years, public spending across Northern Ireland, Scotland, England and Wales has been based around something called the Barnett formula. In principle, the way this works is extremely simple. When the UK government decides to spend more or less on things such as health and education in England, the Barnett formula is used to decide how much money the other nations receive. For example, if health spending increases by PS100 per person in England, the devolved governments should receive the equivalent amount. This exact amount is based on the size of their population. However, the devolved governments are free to spend any extra money on whatever they want. Funding doesn't have to go on health just because the money went on health in England. As well as population, the size of the grant will also be affected by the level of responsibility the devolved governments have for different policy areas. For example, the Welsh Government does not have responsibility for police funding, so its grant is not affected by changes in this area. The formula is named after its inventor, the former Labour Chief Secretary to the Treasury Joel Barnett. He devised it in 1978 when he was a member of the government of James Callaghan. It has no legal status and is merely a convention used by the Treasury. Public spending per head varies across the UK. Last year, Northern Ireland spent the most per head, at PS11,590, followed by: - Scotland at PS11,247 - Wales at PS10,656 - England at PS9,296 For the whole of the UK, spending per head was PS9,584. Separately, the Office for National Statistics has produced data on surplus/deficit per person - ie the gap between what is raised in revenues and what is spent. On that measure, Northern Ireland had the highest net fiscal deficit per head, at PS4,978, in 2018-2019, followed by: - Wales at PS4,289 - Scotland at PS2,713 - England at PS68 London was one of three regions to record a surplus, at PS4,369 per person. According to the House of Commons Library, there are several reasons why some nations need to spend more: - The cost of providing public services can be higher if the population is spread more thinly - Some UK nations have a bigger public sector. For example, the water industry is publicly owned in Scotland but not in England - Different demographics, such as an older population, may mean more demand in some nations If the Barnett formula is applied strictly, public spending should, in theory, be the same across the UK over time. But the UK government can also allocate additional funding outside of this arrangement. In 2017, for example, the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) negotiated an extra PS1bn in funding for Northern Ireland over five years, in exchange for supporting Theresa May's minority Conservative government. Scotland and Wales did not receive any additional funding, despite arguing the extra PS1bn for Northern Ireland was intended for areas of devolved policy. In July, a group of MPs on the Public Accounts Committee said there was a lack of transparency about how these sort of decisions were made. They called for more clarity on funding the UK's nations.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 326, "answer_end": 1632, "text": "For 42 years, public spending across Northern Ireland, Scotland, England and Wales has been based around something called the Barnett formula. In principle, the way this works is extremely simple. When the UK government decides to spend more or less on things such as health and education in England, the Barnett formula is used to decide how much money the other nations receive. For example, if health spending increases by PS100 per person in England, the devolved governments should receive the equivalent amount. This exact amount is based on the size of their population. However, the devolved governments are free to spend any extra money on whatever they want. Funding doesn't have to go on health just because the money went on health in England. As well as population, the size of the grant will also be affected by the level of responsibility the devolved governments have for different policy areas. For example, the Welsh Government does not have responsibility for police funding, so its grant is not affected by changes in this area. The formula is named after its inventor, the former Labour Chief Secretary to the Treasury Joel Barnett. He devised it in 1978 when he was a member of the government of James Callaghan. It has no legal status and is merely a convention used by the Treasury."}], "question": "What is the Barnett formula?", "id": "632_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1633, "answer_end": 2293, "text": "Public spending per head varies across the UK. Last year, Northern Ireland spent the most per head, at PS11,590, followed by: - Scotland at PS11,247 - Wales at PS10,656 - England at PS9,296 For the whole of the UK, spending per head was PS9,584. Separately, the Office for National Statistics has produced data on surplus/deficit per person - ie the gap between what is raised in revenues and what is spent. On that measure, Northern Ireland had the highest net fiscal deficit per head, at PS4,978, in 2018-2019, followed by: - Wales at PS4,289 - Scotland at PS2,713 - England at PS68 London was one of three regions to record a surplus, at PS4,369 per person."}], "question": "How much does each nation spend on public services?", "id": "632_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2294, "answer_end": 3478, "text": "According to the House of Commons Library, there are several reasons why some nations need to spend more: - The cost of providing public services can be higher if the population is spread more thinly - Some UK nations have a bigger public sector. For example, the water industry is publicly owned in Scotland but not in England - Different demographics, such as an older population, may mean more demand in some nations If the Barnett formula is applied strictly, public spending should, in theory, be the same across the UK over time. But the UK government can also allocate additional funding outside of this arrangement. In 2017, for example, the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) negotiated an extra PS1bn in funding for Northern Ireland over five years, in exchange for supporting Theresa May's minority Conservative government. Scotland and Wales did not receive any additional funding, despite arguing the extra PS1bn for Northern Ireland was intended for areas of devolved policy. In July, a group of MPs on the Public Accounts Committee said there was a lack of transparency about how these sort of decisions were made. They called for more clarity on funding the UK's nations."}], "question": "Why does Northern Ireland spend the most?", "id": "632_2"}]}]}, {"title": "US election 2020: Trump taunts 'little' Bloomberg to challenge him", "date": "9 November 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "US President Donald Trump has taunted former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who has taken a key step towards joining the White House race. Speaking to reporters early on Friday, Mr Trump said of the billionaire: \"There is nobody I'd rather run against than little Michael.\" Mr Bloomberg later filed paperwork for the Democratic presidential primary in Alabama. But he has so far not announced that he is running for president. On Friday, Mr Trump said Mr Bloomberg \"doesn't have the magic\" to make it to the White House. He continued: \"He's not going to do well, but I think he's going to hurt Biden actually.\" Calling him \"a nothing\", Mr Trump said that Mr Bloomberg \"will fail\" if he joins the Democratic race. In a statement late on Thursday, Bloomberg adviser Howard Wolfson said: \"We now need to finish the job and ensure that Trump is defeated. \"But Mike is increasingly concerned that the current field of candidates is not well positioned to do that.\" Mr Bloomberg is said to be fully aware such a belated entry to the race presents challenges in states like Iowa and New Hampshire, where other Democratic contenders have been campaigning for months. The Bloomberg team reportedly sees a possible pathway through the so-called Super Tuesday contests in March, when 14 states, including California, Alabama and Colorado, will vote on a single day for their preferred White House nominee. Mr Bloomberg, 77, considered running for the White House as an independent candidate in 2008 and 2016. In March of this year he said he would not join the 2020 race. Analysis - Anthony Zurcher, BBC News, Washington Why is he contemplating a run for the highest political job in the land just a few months after announcing he would watch 2020 from the sidelines? Here are a few theories. - Because he thinks he can win - Because he wants to shape the debate - Because he can afford to The top one is the obvious response. Bloomberg has plenty of pollsters and political strategists at his disposal and is reported to be a very data-driven businessman. It doesn't take an advanced degree in quantitative analysis, however, to realise that the Democratic field, even at this (relatively) late date is still in flux. There are four candidates at or near the top of early state and national primary polls - Joe Biden, Elizabeth Warren, Bernie Sanders and Pete Buttigieg. All of them have their strengths, of course, but all of them also have obvious weaknesses. Mr Bloomberg's advisers are reportedly preparing the paperwork for other states with upcoming deadlines. Both Arkansas and New Hampshire require candidates to file by next week. State-by-state votes, known as primaries and caucuses, will be held from February next year to pick a Democratic White House nominee. The eventual winner will be crowned at the party convention in Wisconsin in July. He or she is expected to face President Trump, a Republican, in the general election in November. A total of 17 Democratic candidates are vying to be the party's standard-bearer. Joe Biden, Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren and Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders are the current front-runners. Mr Biden told media on Friday that he had \"no problem\" with Mr Bloomberg joining the Democratic field. \"Michael is a solid guy,\" Mr Biden said. \"Let's see where it goes.\" Ms Warren welcomed Mr Bloomberg to the race on Twitter, linking to her own campaign website and suggesting the former mayor take a look for potential policy plans. In tweet seemingly directed at Mr Bloomberg, Mr Sanders wrote: \"The billionaire class is scared and they should be scared.\" Some recent opinion polls have suggested that Ms Warren and Mr Sanders - who are more politically liberal than Mr Biden - might face an uphill battle against Mr Trump. The Republican National Committee said in a statement that the billionaire's prospective entry \"underscores the weak Democrat field\". Mr Bloomberg's net worth is $52bn (PS40bn), according to Forbes - 17 times more than Mr Trump ($3.1bn). He was a Wall Street banker before going on to create the financial publishing empire that bears his name. He staged a successful campaign for New York mayor in 2001, remaining in office for three consecutive terms through 2013. A philanthropist, he has donated millions of dollars to educational, medical and other causes. Originally a Democrat, Mr Bloomberg became a Republican to mount his campaign for New York mayor. Now regarded as a moderate Democrat, he rejoined the party only last year. Mr Bloomberg has liberal views on issues such as climate change, gun control, immigration and abortion rights. But he is more conservative on topics like the economy and policing.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 435, "answer_end": 720, "text": "On Friday, Mr Trump said Mr Bloomberg \"doesn't have the magic\" to make it to the White House. He continued: \"He's not going to do well, but I think he's going to hurt Biden actually.\" Calling him \"a nothing\", Mr Trump said that Mr Bloomberg \"will fail\" if he joins the Democratic race."}], "question": "What else did President Trump say?", "id": "633_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1569, "answer_end": 2459, "text": "Analysis - Anthony Zurcher, BBC News, Washington Why is he contemplating a run for the highest political job in the land just a few months after announcing he would watch 2020 from the sidelines? Here are a few theories. - Because he thinks he can win - Because he wants to shape the debate - Because he can afford to The top one is the obvious response. Bloomberg has plenty of pollsters and political strategists at his disposal and is reported to be a very data-driven businessman. It doesn't take an advanced degree in quantitative analysis, however, to realise that the Democratic field, even at this (relatively) late date is still in flux. There are four candidates at or near the top of early state and national primary polls - Joe Biden, Elizabeth Warren, Bernie Sanders and Pete Buttigieg. All of them have their strengths, of course, but all of them also have obvious weaknesses."}], "question": "Why is he running now?", "id": "633_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2460, "answer_end": 3148, "text": "Mr Bloomberg's advisers are reportedly preparing the paperwork for other states with upcoming deadlines. Both Arkansas and New Hampshire require candidates to file by next week. State-by-state votes, known as primaries and caucuses, will be held from February next year to pick a Democratic White House nominee. The eventual winner will be crowned at the party convention in Wisconsin in July. He or she is expected to face President Trump, a Republican, in the general election in November. A total of 17 Democratic candidates are vying to be the party's standard-bearer. Joe Biden, Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren and Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders are the current front-runners."}], "question": "What happens after after Alabama?", "id": "633_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3149, "answer_end": 3909, "text": "Mr Biden told media on Friday that he had \"no problem\" with Mr Bloomberg joining the Democratic field. \"Michael is a solid guy,\" Mr Biden said. \"Let's see where it goes.\" Ms Warren welcomed Mr Bloomberg to the race on Twitter, linking to her own campaign website and suggesting the former mayor take a look for potential policy plans. In tweet seemingly directed at Mr Bloomberg, Mr Sanders wrote: \"The billionaire class is scared and they should be scared.\" Some recent opinion polls have suggested that Ms Warren and Mr Sanders - who are more politically liberal than Mr Biden - might face an uphill battle against Mr Trump. The Republican National Committee said in a statement that the billionaire's prospective entry \"underscores the weak Democrat field\"."}], "question": "What's the other reaction?", "id": "633_3"}]}]}, {"title": "Air-France KLM: Dutch surprise France by taking airline stake", "date": "27 February 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "France has reacted frostily to the Dutch government's sudden purchase of a stake in Air France-KLM in attempt to counter French influence. Shares in the airline company fell 11% after the Netherlands government said late on Tuesday it was acting to protect \"Dutch interests\". The Dutch bought a 14% stake, aiming to match France's 14.3% share. French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire insisted the company should be \"managed without national public interference\". The Dutch move began late on Tuesday, with an initial acquisition of 12.7% of Air France-KLM shares. According to French reports, the government in Paris was informed of the Dutch move only an hour before a press conference on Tuesday night, and after the shares had been bought. A ministry source told AFP news agency the Dutch move was both \"surprising\" and \"unfriendly\", more in the manner of market traders than a state shareholder. The Dutch government then upped its stake on Wednesday to 14%. French President Emmanuel Macron said the Dutch government should \"clarify its intentions\". \"Buying this stake ensures we have a seat at the table,\" Dutch Finance Minister Wopke Hoekstra said of the initial move, which cost about EUR680m (PS583m; $774m). By the end of Wednesday it had spent EUR774m. The justification, he said, was to protect Dutch economic interests and jobs - particularly regarding Amsterdam's Schiphol airport. Schiphol is Europe's third busiest airport after London Heathrow and Paris Charles de Gaulle. KLM is more profitable than its French counterpart and retains much public support for its reputation as the national carrier. The monarch of the Netherlands, King Willem-Alexander, even serves as a co-pilot on the company's planes on a regular basis to maintain his pilot's licence. There was widespread political support in the Netherlands for the secret share-purchase. Centre-right CDA leader Sybrand Buma said it was of \"great significance for a solid future for KLM\". Mr Hoekstra is expected to meet his French counterpart later in the week, which French government spokesman Benjamin Griveaux predicted would be a \"frank but friendly, but especially frank\" discussion. Air France-KLM was formed out of a merger of the two national flag carriers in 2004 - though the airlines themselves have continued to operate under their own separate banners. Until now, the Netherlands held only a 6% stake in KLM - the smaller subsidiary - while France owns 14.3% of the parent company. The surprise move from the Dutch came after a series of disagreements in which the Dutch felt they did not have enough influence in the holding company, which was deciding strategy. Disagreements between the holding company and KLM management - mainly about the autonomy of the Dutch airline - have been made public in the past year. Strikes in France in 2018 caused company-wide losses, much to KLM's frustration. A Canadian CEO, Ben Smith, was appointed at the holding company and seen as trying to assert greater authority over the Dutch subsidiary. In recent weeks, reports emerged that the position of KLM's CEO Pieter Elbers could be under threat because of his vocal support for keeping the two operations separate. Last week, the group announced a \"goal of simplifying and improving the governance\", part of which involves increasing collaboration. French financial newspaper La Tribune characterised the sudden move by the Netherlands as a \"thunderbolt\" while Le Monde saw it as a \"stock market blitzkrieg\". The Air France-KLM board of directors was expected to meet on Wednesday to discuss the fallout. Delta Air Lines and China Eastern Airlines each hold a 8.8% stake in the company.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 2165, "answer_end": 3665, "text": "Air France-KLM was formed out of a merger of the two national flag carriers in 2004 - though the airlines themselves have continued to operate under their own separate banners. Until now, the Netherlands held only a 6% stake in KLM - the smaller subsidiary - while France owns 14.3% of the parent company. The surprise move from the Dutch came after a series of disagreements in which the Dutch felt they did not have enough influence in the holding company, which was deciding strategy. Disagreements between the holding company and KLM management - mainly about the autonomy of the Dutch airline - have been made public in the past year. Strikes in France in 2018 caused company-wide losses, much to KLM's frustration. A Canadian CEO, Ben Smith, was appointed at the holding company and seen as trying to assert greater authority over the Dutch subsidiary. In recent weeks, reports emerged that the position of KLM's CEO Pieter Elbers could be under threat because of his vocal support for keeping the two operations separate. Last week, the group announced a \"goal of simplifying and improving the governance\", part of which involves increasing collaboration. French financial newspaper La Tribune characterised the sudden move by the Netherlands as a \"thunderbolt\" while Le Monde saw it as a \"stock market blitzkrieg\". The Air France-KLM board of directors was expected to meet on Wednesday to discuss the fallout. Delta Air Lines and China Eastern Airlines each hold a 8.8% stake in the company."}], "question": "Why the surprise move?", "id": "634_0"}]}]}, {"title": "COP21: Business needs to act on forests, says Charles", "date": "1 December 2015", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Prince Charles has expressed hope that politicians and businesses are starting to act on the need to protect forests. The Prince of Wales told a meeting at the Paris climate summit that attitudes were beginning to change, with forest protection initiatives being introduced. But he said too many companies still turned a blind eye to their commercial activities destroying forests. We are testing the world to destruction, he said. \"It's very simple. We must save our forests,\" he added. \"There is no Plan B to tackle climate change without them.\" He said the best way for governments to save forests is to grant legal title to the indigenous people who inhabit them. \"We must do all that we can to support the communities that live within forests. For indigenous peoples, this is a question of the proper safeguarding of their reserves, traditions and cultures.\" Prince Charles commended a declaration by 17 government leaders at the Paris summit on the essential role of forests for climate and development. He said forests play a vital role in stabilising the climate by sucking carbon dioxide (CO2) out of the atmosphere and fixing it into soils. Forests are estimated to hold more CO2 than the atmosphere - yet every year around 12 million hectares are destroyed. The loss of forests accounts for around 12% of carbon emissions caused by human activity, the second biggest source after burning fossil fuels, according to scientific evidence. For some developing nations, deforestation is the largest source of emissions. Tuesday's meeting heard that governments must now shift from talk to action. Forest nations have set up schemes to monitor and protect forests under an internationally negotiated agreement known as REDD+. But finance is now needed under that scheme to compensate developing nations for foregoing the profit from cutting their forests. Andrew Mitchell from the Oxford-based Global Canopy Programme told BBC News that aid flows to countries for forest conservation now total $1bn. That compares with the $135bn value of the industries causing forest destruction, including timber, pulp, beef, soy and palm oil. He said forests would not be protected by transfer of aid from rich countries to poor countries for preserving trees. The financial sums needed could only be achieved by ensuring that the cost of forest destruction is factored into the price of goods and food produced from forest regions, he explained. Other speakers talked about the need to put pressure on major companies to take notice of the impact of their business on forests. Prince Charles held up Unilever as an example of a business that had committed to end any involvement with deforestation. The Prince also said forest protection was not enough - the world needed to re-forest deforested lands. \"Given that we have managed to reduce the world's tropical forests so significantly over recent decades (with over 500 million hectares lost since 1950), the restoration of forest landscapes should not be an afterthought - but an equal priority to halting deforestation and degradation.\" Prince Charles' causes receive a mixed reception in the UK media. But in the Paris meeting he was commended for using his \"convening power\" to bring together governments, businesses, pressure groups and indigenous people to find solutions together. At the Paris summit, negotiators from 195 nations seek to reach a deal within two weeks to reduce global carbon emissions. The agreement is aimed at limiting global warming to 2C (3.6F). Follow Roger on Twitter. Major points of contention include: - Limits: The UN has endorsed a goal of limiting global warming to no more than 2C over pre-industrial levels by the end of the century. But more than 100 poorer countries and low-lying, small-island states are calling for a tougher goal of 1.5C. - Fairness: Developing nations say industrialised countries should do more to cut emissions, having polluted for much longer. But rich countries insist that the burden must be shared to reach the 2C target. - Money: One of the few firm decisions from the 2009 UN climate conference in Copenhagen was a pledge from rich economies to provide $100 billion (93 billion euros) a year in financial support for poor countries from 2020 to develop technology and build infrastructure to cut emissions. Where that money will come from and how it will be distributed has yet to be agreed. COP 21 - the 21st session of the Conference of the Parties - will see more than 190 nations gather in Paris to discuss a possible new global agreement on climate change, aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions to avoid the threat of dangerous warming due to human activities. COP21 live: The latest updates from Paris Explained: What is climate change? In video: Why does the Paris conference matter? Analysis: From BBC environment correspondent Matt McGrath More: BBC News special report The ultimate aim is to limit warming to 2C (3.6F) above pre-industrial levels, widely seen as a dangerous threshold. Since 1880, the average global temperature has already risen by almost 1C.  About 0.6C of this has occurred in the past three decades. When the Earth warms about 2C above pre-industrial times, scientists say there will be dangerous and unpredictable impacts on our climate system. And we're already half-way to that danger point.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 4899, "answer_end": 5150, "text": "The ultimate aim is to limit warming to 2C (3.6F) above pre-industrial levels, widely seen as a dangerous threshold. Since 1880, the average global temperature has already risen by almost 1C.  About 0.6C of this has occurred in the past three decades."}], "question": "What are the specific goals of COP21?", "id": "635_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 5151, "answer_end": 5345, "text": "When the Earth warms about 2C above pre-industrial times, scientists say there will be dangerous and unpredictable impacts on our climate system. And we're already half-way to that danger point."}], "question": "Why does this matter?", "id": "635_1"}]}]}, {"title": "Bob Hawke: Australia's former PM dies at 89", "date": "16 May 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Former Australian prime minister and Labor Party leader Bob Hawke, who dominated the country's politics in the 1980s, has died at the age of 89. The charismatic politician, renowned for his love of beer and cricket, served from 1983 to 1991 and is credited with modernising the economy. He was the centre-left Labor Party's longest-serving PM, who achieved the highest approval ratings of any leader. He died \"peacefully at home\", his wife said in a statement. \"Today we lost Bob Hawke, a great Australian - many would say the greatest Australian of the post-war era,\" Blanche d'Alpuget added. Mr Hawke joined the Labor Party at the age of 18 in 1947 and would go on to win a Rhodes Scholarship to the University of Oxford in 1953. He later joined the trade union movement, rising to become president of the Australian Council of Trade Unions by 1969. He first won a seat in parliament in 1980 and became Labor leader in 1983. He and Labor won a general election by a landslide soon after. Mr Hawke was known for his maverick style and will be remembered as Australia's \"larrikin\" leader - the prime minister who loved a drink and joke, and made the serious work of politics look like fun. He set a world record for drinking a yard (1.4l) of beer in 11 seconds while at Oxford University, and he would still perform his party trick of downing a glass of beer at cricket matches well into his late 80s. He cried publicly a number of times - most famously in 1989 at a memorial service at Parliament House following the crackdown on Chinese students at Beijing's Tiananmen square. He was known for his concern for Australia's vulnerable, once declaring that he wanted to create a country where there were \"no second-class Australians\". He created Australia's universal healthcare system, Medicare. But he is also lauded by many for making radical market reforms, including floating the Australian dollar. \"Among his proudest achievements were large increases in the proportion of children finishing high school, his role in ending apartheid in South Africa, and his successful international campaign to protect Antarctica from mining,\" the statement from his family said. He \"abhorred racism and bigotry\", it added, and \"foresaw the Asian Century\". By Hywel Griffith, BBC Sydney Correspondent Australia loves a larrikin - a rambunctious rogue who does not care about convention. In Bob Hawke, it found a natural leader, happy to play the role. He still holds the highest approval rating of any Australian prime minister. But his antics belied a sharp political mind that understood the need to build consensus and keep the voters on his side. His landslide election victory in 1983 gave him a mandate to push through contentious changes, with an agenda of privatisation and deregulation at odds with his party's traditions. But some of his reforms were clearly too ambitious - he did not achieve his goal of \"no Australian child living in poverty\". Despite losing office and divorcing his wife to marry his long-term mistress, Bob Hawke regularly appeared in public, his reputation restored and his place in history assured. For most Australians he will always be remembered as the prime minister who loved a drink and joke, and made the serious work of politics look like fun. Tributes are pouring in for a man who was highly popular with the Australian public and led Labor to four election victories. \"The labour movement salutes our greatest son,\" tweeted Bill Shorten, current Labor Party leader. Prime Minister Scott Morrison called him \"a great Australian\", adding that he had \"a unique ability to speak to all Australians and will be greatly missed\". Former Labor PM Julia Gillard tweeted that he was \"the greatest peacetime leader Australia has ever had\" and sent her condolences to his family, while Kevin Rudd - Ms Gillard's predecessor and successor - called him \"a giant of Australian politics\". Australian actor Russell Crowe described him as a \"great man who never lost his humility\": Bob Hawke's death comes days before Australians go to the polls in a federal election. His former rival and the man who succeeded him as Labor leader and prime minister, Paul Keating, said that the pair had enjoyed a \"great partnership\". \"What remains and what will endure from that partnership are the monumental foundations of modern Australia,\" he said.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 594, "answer_end": 2246, "text": "Mr Hawke joined the Labor Party at the age of 18 in 1947 and would go on to win a Rhodes Scholarship to the University of Oxford in 1953. He later joined the trade union movement, rising to become president of the Australian Council of Trade Unions by 1969. He first won a seat in parliament in 1980 and became Labor leader in 1983. He and Labor won a general election by a landslide soon after. Mr Hawke was known for his maverick style and will be remembered as Australia's \"larrikin\" leader - the prime minister who loved a drink and joke, and made the serious work of politics look like fun. He set a world record for drinking a yard (1.4l) of beer in 11 seconds while at Oxford University, and he would still perform his party trick of downing a glass of beer at cricket matches well into his late 80s. He cried publicly a number of times - most famously in 1989 at a memorial service at Parliament House following the crackdown on Chinese students at Beijing's Tiananmen square. He was known for his concern for Australia's vulnerable, once declaring that he wanted to create a country where there were \"no second-class Australians\". He created Australia's universal healthcare system, Medicare. But he is also lauded by many for making radical market reforms, including floating the Australian dollar. \"Among his proudest achievements were large increases in the proportion of children finishing high school, his role in ending apartheid in South Africa, and his successful international campaign to protect Antarctica from mining,\" the statement from his family said. He \"abhorred racism and bigotry\", it added, and \"foresaw the Asian Century\"."}], "question": "Who was Bob Hawke?", "id": "636_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3276, "answer_end": 4354, "text": "Tributes are pouring in for a man who was highly popular with the Australian public and led Labor to four election victories. \"The labour movement salutes our greatest son,\" tweeted Bill Shorten, current Labor Party leader. Prime Minister Scott Morrison called him \"a great Australian\", adding that he had \"a unique ability to speak to all Australians and will be greatly missed\". Former Labor PM Julia Gillard tweeted that he was \"the greatest peacetime leader Australia has ever had\" and sent her condolences to his family, while Kevin Rudd - Ms Gillard's predecessor and successor - called him \"a giant of Australian politics\". Australian actor Russell Crowe described him as a \"great man who never lost his humility\": Bob Hawke's death comes days before Australians go to the polls in a federal election. His former rival and the man who succeeded him as Labor leader and prime minister, Paul Keating, said that the pair had enjoyed a \"great partnership\". \"What remains and what will endure from that partnership are the monumental foundations of modern Australia,\" he said."}], "question": "What has the reaction been?", "id": "636_1"}]}]}, {"title": "United Nations: Survey finds third of workers sexually harassed", "date": "16 January 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "One in three UN workers has been sexually harassed in the past two years, a UN report has revealed. Just 30,364 staff and contractors completed the survey in November - 17% of the total number eligible to do so. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres says the report, and the \"moderately low\" response rate, is a sign that they \"still have a long way to go\". The report comes amid the global #MeToo movement against sexual harassment, abuse and assault. Mr Guterres says the relatively low number of participants in the survey could be a sign of an \"ongoing sense of mistrust, perceptions of inaction and lack of accountability\" in the UN. The survey contained \"some sobering statistics\", he added, as well as \"evidence of what needs to change to make a harassment-free workplace real for all of us\". \"As an organisation founded on equality, dignity and human rights, we must lead by example and set the standard,\" he said. According to the survey, which was carried out by Deloitte, more than half of those who experienced sexual harassment at the UN say it happened in an office environment, while another 17.1% say it took place at a work-related social event. More than a fifth - 21.7% - say they were told inappropriate sexual stories or jokes. Another 14.2% received offensive comments about their appearance, body or sexual activities, and 13% have had colleagues try to draw them into sexual discussions that have made them feel uncomfortable. And 10.9% were subjected to sexual gestures or use of body language that offended or embarrassed them. Around a tenth - 10.1% - of people who responded were touched inappropriately. Two out of three harassers were male, the report says. Only one in three workers who experienced sexual harassment took action afterwards. The report comes as the head of the UN agency for HIV and Aids gets ready to step down in June, six months before the end of his term, over claims of bullying. An independent panel found that his \"defective leadership\" had tolerated \"a culture of harassment, including sexual harassment, bullying, and abuse of power\". The UN has also been hit with a string of sex abuse allegations in the last few years, mainly levelled against their peacekeeping missions in African countries. In 2017, a peacekeeper in the Democratic Republic of Congo was suspended following claims he fathered a child with an underage girl. He was one of five peacekeepers accused of sex abuse and exploitation in the first three months of that year. And a year earlier, in 2016, more than 100 UN peacekeepers were sent home from the Central African Republic after an investigation into sex abuse claims. In response, the UN has tried to increase transparency and strengthen the way it deals with allegations - for example, by adopting a policy of 'naming and shaming' countries where workers are accused of abuse.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 920, "answer_end": 2855, "text": "According to the survey, which was carried out by Deloitte, more than half of those who experienced sexual harassment at the UN say it happened in an office environment, while another 17.1% say it took place at a work-related social event. More than a fifth - 21.7% - say they were told inappropriate sexual stories or jokes. Another 14.2% received offensive comments about their appearance, body or sexual activities, and 13% have had colleagues try to draw them into sexual discussions that have made them feel uncomfortable. And 10.9% were subjected to sexual gestures or use of body language that offended or embarrassed them. Around a tenth - 10.1% - of people who responded were touched inappropriately. Two out of three harassers were male, the report says. Only one in three workers who experienced sexual harassment took action afterwards. The report comes as the head of the UN agency for HIV and Aids gets ready to step down in June, six months before the end of his term, over claims of bullying. An independent panel found that his \"defective leadership\" had tolerated \"a culture of harassment, including sexual harassment, bullying, and abuse of power\". The UN has also been hit with a string of sex abuse allegations in the last few years, mainly levelled against their peacekeeping missions in African countries. In 2017, a peacekeeper in the Democratic Republic of Congo was suspended following claims he fathered a child with an underage girl. He was one of five peacekeepers accused of sex abuse and exploitation in the first three months of that year. And a year earlier, in 2016, more than 100 UN peacekeepers were sent home from the Central African Republic after an investigation into sex abuse claims. In response, the UN has tried to increase transparency and strengthen the way it deals with allegations - for example, by adopting a policy of 'naming and shaming' countries where workers are accused of abuse."}], "question": "What does the report say?", "id": "637_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Jussie Smollett: US actor 'staged attack over salary'", "date": "21 February 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "US actor Jussie Smollett staged a fake attack on himself because he was \"dissatisfied with his salary\", Chicago police say. Police Superintendent Eddie Johnson said in a news conference that he \"took advantage of the pain and anger of racism to promote his career\". Mr Smollett, 36, is charged with filing a false police report after he said he was the victim of a homophobic attack. Police say he also had sent a racist letter to himself at a Fox studio. On Thursday, Mr Smollett appeared in court and was ordered to submit a bond of $10,000 and surrender his passport. Judge John Fitzgerald Lyke called the charges \"utterly outrageous\" and \"despicable\" if true. The star of the TV series Empire is suspected of paying two brothers to stage the attack. They are both co-operating with the investigation, police say. On Wednesday his lawyers said they would \"mount an aggressive defence\". In a scathing news conference on Thursday, Supt Johnson accused the actor of committing a crime \"to further his own profile\". He said Mr Smollett had betrayed the city of Chicago, and said \"this publicity stunt was a scar that Chicago didn't earn and certainly didn't deserve\". The \"hoax\", he said, \"received national attention for weeks\", and may deter future hate crime victims from coming forward for fear that their allegations may be met with scepticism. He called upon the actor \"to apologise to this city that he smeared\". \"Celebrities, news commentators, and even presidential candidates weighed in on something that was choreographed by an actor,\" he said, with palpable anger as he spoke. \"I'm left hanging my head and asking why,\" he said, describing Mr Smollett's actions as a \"slap in the face\" to Chicagoans. Suspicion over the actor's allegations started to grow after police said they could not find any video footage of the alleged incident from over 50 surveillance cameras they reviewed. There were also no witnesses. But investigators managed to track and identify two men who appeared on video footage near where the actor said he had been attacked through a ride-sharing app. The men - Ola and Abel Osundairo - had left the US following the alleged attack and were held for nearly 48 hours after they returned last week. They were released without charges after providing information that \"shifted the trajectory of the investigation\", police said. One of the brothers is Mr Smollett's personal trainer and both have worked as extras on Empire, a hit Fox show that depicts the lives of a music mogul and his family in Chicago. Police say they have a cheque that Mr Smollett signed and that he had agreed to pay $3,500 (PS2,700) for the brothers' participation. Supt Johnson said that he had told at least one of the brothers that he was \"dissatisfied\" with his salary from Fox. He added that Mr Smollett first \"attempted to gain attention by sending a false letter that relied on racial, homophobic and political language\" to Fox studios. Police had confirmed in early February that a letter containing a white powder - later identified as aspirin - was included in the threatening letter that authorities now believe was now sent by the actor himself. During a news conference on Thursday, police said Mr Smollett had also claimed that three days before the attack he received an unidentified phone call from a man who uttered a homophobic slur then hung up. He told police the incident happened near a surveillance camera. It was the same camera that police say he would later point out to the Osundairo brothers in preparation for the alleged hoax attack. On Wednesday, CBS Chicago obtained footage which appeared to show two people buying materials, including ski masks, that had allegedly been worn by the actor's attackers. Mr Smollett turned himself in early on Thursday and is in custody of Chicago police. The actor, who is gay, said he had gone out to buy food late at night in downtown Chicago when two white men hurled racial and homophobic insults at him. They allegedly punched the actor, poured a chemical substance over him and put a rope around his neck. Police said on Thursday that some minor scrapes on his face were probably self-inflicted. \"I'm left hanging my head and asking why. Why would anyone, especially an African-American man, use the symbolism of a noose to make false accusations?\" said Supt Johnson. \"How could someone look at the hatred and suffering associated with that symbol and see an opportunity to manipulate that symbol to further his own public profile?\" Mr Smollett also claimed the men had told him \"this is Maga country\", apparently referring to President Donald Trump's \"Make America Great Again\" slogan. The president tweeted his condemnation after the police news conference, slamming Mr Smollett's \"racist and dangerous comments\". In an interview last week with ABC's morning TV show, the actor tearfully said he had been \"forever changed\" by the alleged incident. An outpouring of support followed, including from Oscar winner Viola Davis and supermodel Naomi Campbell.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 889, "answer_end": 1711, "text": "In a scathing news conference on Thursday, Supt Johnson accused the actor of committing a crime \"to further his own profile\". He said Mr Smollett had betrayed the city of Chicago, and said \"this publicity stunt was a scar that Chicago didn't earn and certainly didn't deserve\". The \"hoax\", he said, \"received national attention for weeks\", and may deter future hate crime victims from coming forward for fear that their allegations may be met with scepticism. He called upon the actor \"to apologise to this city that he smeared\". \"Celebrities, news commentators, and even presidential candidates weighed in on something that was choreographed by an actor,\" he said, with palpable anger as he spoke. \"I'm left hanging my head and asking why,\" he said, describing Mr Smollett's actions as a \"slap in the face\" to Chicagoans."}], "question": "What do police say?", "id": "638_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1712, "answer_end": 3825, "text": "Suspicion over the actor's allegations started to grow after police said they could not find any video footage of the alleged incident from over 50 surveillance cameras they reviewed. There were also no witnesses. But investigators managed to track and identify two men who appeared on video footage near where the actor said he had been attacked through a ride-sharing app. The men - Ola and Abel Osundairo - had left the US following the alleged attack and were held for nearly 48 hours after they returned last week. They were released without charges after providing information that \"shifted the trajectory of the investigation\", police said. One of the brothers is Mr Smollett's personal trainer and both have worked as extras on Empire, a hit Fox show that depicts the lives of a music mogul and his family in Chicago. Police say they have a cheque that Mr Smollett signed and that he had agreed to pay $3,500 (PS2,700) for the brothers' participation. Supt Johnson said that he had told at least one of the brothers that he was \"dissatisfied\" with his salary from Fox. He added that Mr Smollett first \"attempted to gain attention by sending a false letter that relied on racial, homophobic and political language\" to Fox studios. Police had confirmed in early February that a letter containing a white powder - later identified as aspirin - was included in the threatening letter that authorities now believe was now sent by the actor himself. During a news conference on Thursday, police said Mr Smollett had also claimed that three days before the attack he received an unidentified phone call from a man who uttered a homophobic slur then hung up. He told police the incident happened near a surveillance camera. It was the same camera that police say he would later point out to the Osundairo brothers in preparation for the alleged hoax attack. On Wednesday, CBS Chicago obtained footage which appeared to show two people buying materials, including ski masks, that had allegedly been worn by the actor's attackers. Mr Smollett turned himself in early on Thursday and is in custody of Chicago police."}], "question": "How did the case unfold?", "id": "638_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3826, "answer_end": 5032, "text": "The actor, who is gay, said he had gone out to buy food late at night in downtown Chicago when two white men hurled racial and homophobic insults at him. They allegedly punched the actor, poured a chemical substance over him and put a rope around his neck. Police said on Thursday that some minor scrapes on his face were probably self-inflicted. \"I'm left hanging my head and asking why. Why would anyone, especially an African-American man, use the symbolism of a noose to make false accusations?\" said Supt Johnson. \"How could someone look at the hatred and suffering associated with that symbol and see an opportunity to manipulate that symbol to further his own public profile?\" Mr Smollett also claimed the men had told him \"this is Maga country\", apparently referring to President Donald Trump's \"Make America Great Again\" slogan. The president tweeted his condemnation after the police news conference, slamming Mr Smollett's \"racist and dangerous comments\". In an interview last week with ABC's morning TV show, the actor tearfully said he had been \"forever changed\" by the alleged incident. An outpouring of support followed, including from Oscar winner Viola Davis and supermodel Naomi Campbell."}], "question": "What does Smollett say happened?", "id": "638_2"}]}]}, {"title": "Ruth Davidson given DUP gay rights assurance", "date": "9 June 2017", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Ruth Davidson has been told by the prime minister that any Conservative deal with the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) will not affect LGBTI rights. The Scottish Conservative leader, who is gay, plans to marry her partner in the near future. The DUP opposes same-sex marriage, with Northern Ireland the only part of the UK where it is not legal. Ms Davidson said she had been given an assurance that gay rights would not be eroded in return for DUP support. In a tweet sent on Friday afternoon, Ms Davidson highlighted a speech she made in Belfast about the importance of equal marriage. She told the BBC's Reporting Scotland programme that she had spoken about the issue with Theresa May on Friday evening. Ms Davidson said: \"I was fairly straightforward with her and I told her that there were a number of things that count to me more than party. \"One of them is country, one of the others is LGBTI rights.\" The Scottish Tory leader said she had asked for, and received, a \"categoric assurance\" from Mrs May that any arrangement between the Conservatives and the DUP would see \"absolutely no rescission of LGBTI rights in the rest of the UK\". And she said the prime minister agreed to try to use her influence to advance LGBTI rights in Northern Ireland. Ms May, whose party lost its majority at Westminster in Thursday's general election, says she will put together a minority government with the support of the DUP to guide the UK through crucial Brexit talks. The DUP, which returned 10 MPs to Westminster, has garnered a reputation for its strong and controversial views on a number of social issues. It opposes same-sex marriage and is anti-abortion - with abortion remaining illegal in Northern Ireland, except in specific medical cases. In a short statement outside Downing Street after an audience with the Queen, Mrs May said she would join with her DUP \"friends\" to \"get to work\" on Brexit. She referred to the \"strong relationship\" she had with the DUP, but gave little detail of how their arrangement might work. It is thought Mrs May will seek some kind of informal arrangement with the DUP that could see it \"lend\" its support to the Tories on a vote-by-vote basis, known as \"confidence and supply\". When asked whether she was comfortable about the arrangement given the DUP's views, Ms Davidson said there was \"no suggestion\" that the Conservative government would be dependent on the support of the DUP. She added: \"The prime minister has already made it clear that it is not going to be a formal coalition, so let's see how the future days go ahead.\" Ms Davidson, who backed Remain in the EU referendum, has called for the Tories to listen to other parties to deliver an \"open Brexit\", which she defines as ensuring that free trade is at the heart of the Brexit negotiations. She said: \"I want to make sure that Scottish businesses can trade as freely as possible with the other 27 countries in the EU as well as the other countries around the world.\" Ms Davidson's party won 13 seats in Scotland as its vote surged across the country. Scottish Labour and the Liberal Democrats returned seven and four MPs respectively, with the SNP winning 35 - a drop of 21 from the 56 the party won two years ago. The DUP are pro-union (not Europe but UK), pro-Brexit and socially conservative. The party, which returned 10 MPs to Westminster, has garnered a reputation for its strong, sometimes controversial views. It opposes same-sex marriage and is anti-abortion - abortion remains illegal in Northern Ireland, except in specific medical cases. One MP is a devout climate change denier, while a former MP once called for creationism - the belief that human life did not evolve over millions of years but was created by God - to be taught alongside evolution in science classes. During the election campaign, the DUP's Emma Little-Pengelly was endorsed by the three biggest loyalist paramilitary organisations. Read more about the DUP here and meet their MPs here.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 3218, "answer_end": 3971, "text": "The DUP are pro-union (not Europe but UK), pro-Brexit and socially conservative. The party, which returned 10 MPs to Westminster, has garnered a reputation for its strong, sometimes controversial views. It opposes same-sex marriage and is anti-abortion - abortion remains illegal in Northern Ireland, except in specific medical cases. One MP is a devout climate change denier, while a former MP once called for creationism - the belief that human life did not evolve over millions of years but was created by God - to be taught alongside evolution in science classes. During the election campaign, the DUP's Emma Little-Pengelly was endorsed by the three biggest loyalist paramilitary organisations. Read more about the DUP here and meet their MPs here."}], "question": "Who are the DUP?", "id": "639_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Jacques Chirac: Former French president dies aged 86", "date": "26 September 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Jacques Chirac, the former French president who championed the European Union, but whose later years were blighted by corruption scandals, has died aged 86. \"President Jacques Chirac died this morning surrounded by his family, peacefully,\" his son-in-law told AFP. Chirac served two terms as president and twice as PM, and took France into the single European currency. French President Emmanuel Macron hailed Chirac as a \"great Frenchman\". The French National Assembly observed a minute's silence in his memory. A towering figure in French politics for five decades, Chirac will be remembered for his opposition to the US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003, his pragmatic statesmanship and his advocacy of the European Union. In a televised address from the Elysee Palace, Mr Macron mourned his death, calling him a president who \"embodied a certain idea of France\". \"We French have lost a statesman whom we loved as much as he loved us,\" Mr Macron said. \"Whether we share, or not, his ideas or what he fought for, we all recognise ourselves in this man who resembled us, and brought us together.\" Mr Macron's office said a national day of mourning will take place on Monday, when a mass at the Saint-Sulpice church in Paris will be held. On Thursday night, the illuminations at the Eiffel Tower will be switched off two hours earlier than usual in honour of Chirac, a former Paris mayor. Jean-Claude Juncker, the president of the European Commission and former Luxembourg prime minister, said he was \"moved and devastated\" to learn the news. \"Europe is not only losing a great statesman, but the president is losing a great friend,\" he said in a statement. German Chancellor Angela Merkel said she was \"very sad\" to hear about the death of Chirac, who she described as an \"outstanding partner and friend\". Former French President Francois Hollande also paid homage to Chirac: \"I know that today, the French people, whatever their convictions, have just lost a friend,\" he said in a statement. Another former French President, Nicolas Sarkozy, said on learning the news: \"A part of my life has disappeared today\", adding that Chirac \"embodied a France faithful to its universal values\". A known admirer of Chirac, Russian President Vladimir Putin, praised the \"wise and far-sighted statesman\" for his \"intellect and huge knowledge\". British prime ministers past and present were among those to pay their respect, with John Major and Boris Johnson both hailing his political prowess. French television stations are playing wall-to-wall tributes, and it is moving to be taken back once again to that long epoch in French history when Jacques Chirac was at the centre of it all. There he is as a chisel-chinned prime minister in the 1970s; later in a flared three-piece suit, announcing the creation of his Gaullist party; then as president upbraiding Israeli soldiers in Jerusalem; or glad-handing at the annual farm show in Paris. The years have passed and no-one particularly wants to dwell on the many failings of the man. No mention in the tributes of the corruption and the flip-flops. What remains for most is the memory of a likeable man, a man of culture (at least that was the image he cultivated), and a president who acted like a French president is supposed to - that is, projecting the permanent conviction that France, of course, is the best place in the world. Chirac won domestic and international plaudits for his fierce opposition to French involvement in the Iraq War, presciently warning it would prove a \"nightmare\". \"War is always a last resort. It is always proof of failure,\" Chirac said, in comments days before the war started. In 1995, Chirac became the first French leader to recognise the country's role in the deportation of Jews to death camps during World War Two. After winning the 1995 presidential election on a platform of healing the \"social rift\", his promised economic reforms were considered piecemeal. Among his major domestic political reforms was a reduction of the presidential term of office from seven to five years, and the abolition of compulsory military service. Described by some as a political chameleon, by others as the \"bulldozer\", Chirac was seen as a leader who could bridge the gap between left and right. As president, he pressed for a more federal Europe within the European Union. In the 2000s, Chirac championed the European project and an EU constitution, which was later rejected in a poll by the majority of French voters. Born in 1932, Chirac was the son of a bank manager. A graduate of Harvard University, he began his career as a high-level civil servant before entering politics. He served as head of state from 1995 to 2007 - making him France's second longest serving post-war president after his immediate Socialist predecessor Francois Mitterrand. Chirac's health steadily deteriorated after he stepped down until his death on Thursday. In 2005, he suffered a stroke, and in 2014 his wife Bernadette said he would no longer speak in public, noting he had memory trouble. Chirac also served as French prime minister twice, from 1974 to 1976 and from 1986 to 1988. Chirac was beset by a series of corruption scandals dating back to his tenure as the mayor of Paris between 1977 and 1995. He and his entourage were accused of using city funds to pay for his political party, the RPR. A ruling by the country's constitutional council in 1999 gave the president blanket immunity from prosecution while in office. But in 2011 he was convicted of diverting public funds while serving as mayor, a ruling Chirac rejected. He was found guilty and given a suspended sentence of two years, but remained popular despite his conviction.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1384, "answer_end": 2477, "text": "Jean-Claude Juncker, the president of the European Commission and former Luxembourg prime minister, said he was \"moved and devastated\" to learn the news. \"Europe is not only losing a great statesman, but the president is losing a great friend,\" he said in a statement. German Chancellor Angela Merkel said she was \"very sad\" to hear about the death of Chirac, who she described as an \"outstanding partner and friend\". Former French President Francois Hollande also paid homage to Chirac: \"I know that today, the French people, whatever their convictions, have just lost a friend,\" he said in a statement. Another former French President, Nicolas Sarkozy, said on learning the news: \"A part of my life has disappeared today\", adding that Chirac \"embodied a France faithful to its universal values\". A known admirer of Chirac, Russian President Vladimir Putin, praised the \"wise and far-sighted statesman\" for his \"intellect and huge knowledge\". British prime ministers past and present were among those to pay their respect, with John Major and Boris Johnson both hailing his political prowess."}], "question": "Who has paid tribute?", "id": "640_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3369, "answer_end": 4480, "text": "Chirac won domestic and international plaudits for his fierce opposition to French involvement in the Iraq War, presciently warning it would prove a \"nightmare\". \"War is always a last resort. It is always proof of failure,\" Chirac said, in comments days before the war started. In 1995, Chirac became the first French leader to recognise the country's role in the deportation of Jews to death camps during World War Two. After winning the 1995 presidential election on a platform of healing the \"social rift\", his promised economic reforms were considered piecemeal. Among his major domestic political reforms was a reduction of the presidential term of office from seven to five years, and the abolition of compulsory military service. Described by some as a political chameleon, by others as the \"bulldozer\", Chirac was seen as a leader who could bridge the gap between left and right. As president, he pressed for a more federal Europe within the European Union. In the 2000s, Chirac championed the European project and an EU constitution, which was later rejected in a poll by the majority of French voters."}], "question": "What is his legacy?", "id": "640_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 4481, "answer_end": 5129, "text": "Born in 1932, Chirac was the son of a bank manager. A graduate of Harvard University, he began his career as a high-level civil servant before entering politics. He served as head of state from 1995 to 2007 - making him France's second longest serving post-war president after his immediate Socialist predecessor Francois Mitterrand. Chirac's health steadily deteriorated after he stepped down until his death on Thursday. In 2005, he suffered a stroke, and in 2014 his wife Bernadette said he would no longer speak in public, noting he had memory trouble. Chirac also served as French prime minister twice, from 1974 to 1976 and from 1986 to 1988."}], "question": "Who is Jacques Chirac?", "id": "640_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 5130, "answer_end": 5689, "text": "Chirac was beset by a series of corruption scandals dating back to his tenure as the mayor of Paris between 1977 and 1995. He and his entourage were accused of using city funds to pay for his political party, the RPR. A ruling by the country's constitutional council in 1999 gave the president blanket immunity from prosecution while in office. But in 2011 he was convicted of diverting public funds while serving as mayor, a ruling Chirac rejected. He was found guilty and given a suspended sentence of two years, but remained popular despite his conviction."}], "question": "What were the corruption scandals?", "id": "640_3"}]}]}, {"title": "Mila: 'No regrets' for French teen targeted for criticising Islam", "date": "4 February 2020", "paragraphs": [{"context": "A teenager has sparked a national debate about blasphemy in France after an Instagram post calling Islam a \"religion of hate\". Mila, 16, posted her comments online after receiving homophobic abuse from a Muslim commenter. She received death threats and has not attended school since. But Mila has refused to back down, saying in her first television interview that she \"wanted to blaspheme\". She has since deactivated her Instagram account. The post has sparked a huge debate in France over freedom of speech. The country has no national blasphemy laws and has a rigidly secular constitution. Police initially opened two investigations: the first into whether Mila was guilty of hate speech, and the second into her online attackers. They have since dropped the hate speech case as Mila was expressing a personal opinion on religion and not targeting individuals. On Tuesday, Interior Minister Christophe Castaner told the National Assembly that Mila and her family were under police protection. Appearing on the Quotidien programme on the TMC channel, Mila apologised for insulting people who practise their religion \"in peace\" and said she regretted the \"vulgarity\" of her words and their spread online. But she defended her remarks. \"I have absolutely no regrets about what I said, it was really my thought,\" she told the interviewer. Mina said her life was \"clearly on hold\" amid the controversy. She had to leave school because of the threats against her, saying she could have been \"burned with acid, hit, stripped naked in public or buried alive\". On Monday, education minister Jean-Michel Blanquer said that authorities were trying to \"return her to school peacefully so that she can have a normal life\". The controversy began on 18 January, after Mila did a live broadcast on her Instagram account. After speaking about her sexuality she was called a \"dirty lesbian\" by a Muslim commenter. In response, Mila posted an attack on Islam. \"I hate religion. The Koran is a religion of hate,\" she said, before using stronger words to attack Islam. \"I am not racist. You cannot be racist towards a religion. I said what I thought, you're not going to make me regret it.\" Critics said her comments were offensive. Some sent her death threats, and others posted her personal information online. The head of the French Council of the Muslim Faith, Mohammed Moussaoui, said nothing justified death threats no matter how serious her remarks. Supporters defended her right to attack Islam, and the hashtag #JeSuisMila (I am Mila) started trending in France. Opponents hit back with the hashtag #JeNeSuisPasMila. French justice minister Nicole Belloubet waded into the controversy, saying that death threats against the teenager were \"unacceptable\". However, Ms Belloubet herself was criticised after arguing that an attack on religion was \"an attack on freedom of conscience\". French Senator Laurence Rossignol gave Ms Belloubet \"0/20 in constitutional law\", saying that in France \"it is forbidden to insult the followers of a religion but one can insult a religion, its figures, its symbols\". Ms Belloubet later said her comments had been \"clumsy\". Mila's cause has been embraced by the far right. National Rally leader Marine Le Pen said Mila had \"more courage than the entire political class in power for the past 30 years\". In October, French President Emmanuel Macron warned against \"stigmatising\" Muslims or linking Islam with the fight against terrorism.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 996, "answer_end": 1712, "text": "Appearing on the Quotidien programme on the TMC channel, Mila apologised for insulting people who practise their religion \"in peace\" and said she regretted the \"vulgarity\" of her words and their spread online. But she defended her remarks. \"I have absolutely no regrets about what I said, it was really my thought,\" she told the interviewer. Mina said her life was \"clearly on hold\" amid the controversy. She had to leave school because of the threats against her, saying she could have been \"burned with acid, hit, stripped naked in public or buried alive\". On Monday, education minister Jean-Michel Blanquer said that authorities were trying to \"return her to school peacefully so that she can have a normal life\"."}], "question": "What did Mila say?", "id": "641_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1713, "answer_end": 3457, "text": "The controversy began on 18 January, after Mila did a live broadcast on her Instagram account. After speaking about her sexuality she was called a \"dirty lesbian\" by a Muslim commenter. In response, Mila posted an attack on Islam. \"I hate religion. The Koran is a religion of hate,\" she said, before using stronger words to attack Islam. \"I am not racist. You cannot be racist towards a religion. I said what I thought, you're not going to make me regret it.\" Critics said her comments were offensive. Some sent her death threats, and others posted her personal information online. The head of the French Council of the Muslim Faith, Mohammed Moussaoui, said nothing justified death threats no matter how serious her remarks. Supporters defended her right to attack Islam, and the hashtag #JeSuisMila (I am Mila) started trending in France. Opponents hit back with the hashtag #JeNeSuisPasMila. French justice minister Nicole Belloubet waded into the controversy, saying that death threats against the teenager were \"unacceptable\". However, Ms Belloubet herself was criticised after arguing that an attack on religion was \"an attack on freedom of conscience\". French Senator Laurence Rossignol gave Ms Belloubet \"0/20 in constitutional law\", saying that in France \"it is forbidden to insult the followers of a religion but one can insult a religion, its figures, its symbols\". Ms Belloubet later said her comments had been \"clumsy\". Mila's cause has been embraced by the far right. National Rally leader Marine Le Pen said Mila had \"more courage than the entire political class in power for the past 30 years\". In October, French President Emmanuel Macron warned against \"stigmatising\" Muslims or linking Islam with the fight against terrorism."}], "question": "How did the controversy start?", "id": "641_1"}]}]}, {"title": "Sajid Javid faces massive task at Home Office", "date": "30 April 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "The new Home Secretary Sajid Javid faces a massive task. And none of it - from terrorism through to the Windrush crisis - is easy to fix. The Home Office sits at the heart of some of the most complex and challenging decisions in government - and, if his predecessors' experiences are any guide, Mr Javid should probably give up now on the hope of having much of a life beyond his red ministerial boxes. I'll come back to immigration in a moment, but first on the list for any incoming home secretary is appreciating the scale of the security threat. Every day, he will see a dozen dossiers from the police and intelligence agencies asking for permission to intercept the communications of people who are a threat to the UK. There are regular top secret security briefings on the latest possible terror plot. This is his first responsibility: keeping the UK safe. Mr Javid inherits very thorny issues over the future of the security and intelligence agencies. MI5 is under pressure to share more of what it knows with local agencies like social services, in the hope they will uncover potential extremists more quickly. Local police chiefs and counter-terrorism coordinators also regard neighbourhood teams as the frontline of counter-terrorism intelligence gathering. They want more cash to keep those officers on the beat. This, in turn, feeds into the questions of police funding - with figures showing rising knife and violent crime. One of Ms Rudd's last acts was to launch the Home Office's latest strategy to end serious violence. It's not clear how it really differs from what has gone before. Will Mr Javid rip it up and start again? She was also particularly focused on overhauling protection for victims of domestic violence - and the Home Office is consulting on new laws. Will this legislation stay on track, or fall by the wayside if Mr Javid comes under pressure to put all his energies into reforming the immigration system? Then there are unexpected events. Nobody foresaw the Salisbury poisoning of Sergei and Yulia Skripal. As and when the domestic intelligence agencies uncover new details of how it happened, Mr Javid will need to be clear about how he wants to respond. Similarly, while there is a tried-and-tested plan to respond to terrorism attacks, if the worst were to happen again, he will be expected to take a lead, even though he has absolutely no experience in this area. One of the biggest challenges in the in-tray is making sure that the UK secures co-operation with the EU member states on crime and security before Brexit becomes reality. Amber Rudd's team have been working on a new security treaty. This isn't headline-writing stuff - but it is crucial to every nation's mutual security. Amid the politics of Brexit, Mr Javid, who said he voted to remain but is also considered a Eurosceptic, will have to play a careful hand to keep continental partners on side. Ultimately, the biggest job he faces is sorting out immigration. From removal targets to a plan for EU citizens; from staff for a stretched NHS through to students and the net migration target; the task is enormous. Almost exactly 12 years ago, another Home Secretary - Labour's Charles Clarke - lost his job over his department's failure to properly manage the removal of foreign national offenders. In between his sacking and the resignation of Amber Rudd on Sunday, there has been a string of reorganisations of the immigration system. But the same problems remain: damning reports underlining that the system is creaking, underfunded and struggling with backlogs, poor decision-making and, now, the accusation that the Windrush generation became an easy target to improve the statistics. In the week that Parliament was awash with anger over the treatment of people like Paulette Wilson, who came to the UK from Jamaica as a child in the 1960s, an Iraqi man called Rbar Mala was jailed for helping hundreds of IS fighters. The Home Office had told him he had no right to be in the UK. For many critics, why Mrs Wilson was labelled an illegal immigrant, but a man like Mala was not deported goes right to the questions of trust and competence. I have lost count of the number of people who have said to me down the years that the Home Office is \"too big to manage\" - and therefore incapable of caring. That is unfair to the many civil servants who are trying to make a positive difference but find their efforts constantly battered by political winds and the sheer bureaucracy of the place. Perhaps Sajid Javid, the son of Pakistani immigrants, who became a successful investment banker, will finally bring not just new management skills but a human touch to the Home Office.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1437, "answer_end": 2901, "text": "One of Ms Rudd's last acts was to launch the Home Office's latest strategy to end serious violence. It's not clear how it really differs from what has gone before. Will Mr Javid rip it up and start again? She was also particularly focused on overhauling protection for victims of domestic violence - and the Home Office is consulting on new laws. Will this legislation stay on track, or fall by the wayside if Mr Javid comes under pressure to put all his energies into reforming the immigration system? Then there are unexpected events. Nobody foresaw the Salisbury poisoning of Sergei and Yulia Skripal. As and when the domestic intelligence agencies uncover new details of how it happened, Mr Javid will need to be clear about how he wants to respond. Similarly, while there is a tried-and-tested plan to respond to terrorism attacks, if the worst were to happen again, he will be expected to take a lead, even though he has absolutely no experience in this area. One of the biggest challenges in the in-tray is making sure that the UK secures co-operation with the EU member states on crime and security before Brexit becomes reality. Amber Rudd's team have been working on a new security treaty. This isn't headline-writing stuff - but it is crucial to every nation's mutual security. Amid the politics of Brexit, Mr Javid, who said he voted to remain but is also considered a Eurosceptic, will have to play a careful hand to keep continental partners on side."}], "question": "Will Rudd's priorities fall away?", "id": "642_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Brexit: Show us Ireland border legal advice, says Gove", "date": "7 November 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "The government is facing calls to reveal legal advice on how a post-Brexit plan for Northern Ireland's border could work. Environment Secretary Michael Gove wants cabinet ministers to see the full details of the so-called \"backstop\" that would prevent a hard border. And Northern Ireland's DUP - which supports the government in key votes - wants it released in full. The border is proving the main sticking point in reaching a Brexit deal. EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier said it was \"clear that more work is needed\". Both sides have agreed to put in place a backstop, also referred to as an insurance policy, that would only be triggered if a future trade deal is not in place by the end of 2020 - or if this final deal does not ensure a frictionless border. This is because there have been warnings that a return of visible border checks could undermine the peace process in Northern Ireland as well as damaging businesses operating on both sides. One option for a backstop is for the whole of the UK to remain temporarily aligned to the EU's customs union, avoiding the need for customs checks at the border. BBC political correspondent Iain Watson said Mr Gove was concerned that legally, under this arrangement, Northern Ireland could have to continue to follow EU rules while the rest of the UK would merely mirror them. He wants to see the full legal advice, fearing cabinet members will only see a summary before having to decide whether to back a deal with Brussels. The DUP - whose votes Theresa May relies on to win key votes in the Commons - has gone further, saying the legal advice should be released to the public. DUP chief whip Sir Jeffrey Donaldson told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: \"I think it's in the public interest we understand fully what's happening here. \"It's because it affects the whole UK, therefore it shouldn't just be the DUP that sees this advice, or the government. \"If the House of Commons is going to have a meaningful vote on a deal that includes, and upon which this legal advice is very, very important, then I think people are entitled to know what that advice is.\" Sir Keir Starmer, Labour's shadow Brexit secretary, said it was \"essential\" MPs saw the legal advice before voting on any deal. \"At this crucial stage, Parliament should not be kept in the dark nor should the government try to bounce MPs into an agreement without all the facts,\" he added. But Conservative MP Anna Soubry said there was a convention not to publish legal advice so government lawyers were not put off from providing \"robust\" opinions. \"If you are a lawyer giving advice to your client you don't expect that to be disclosed to a wider audience,\" she told the BBC. Downing Street said it did not comment on legal advice. Housing Secretary James Brokenshire told the BBC there would be \"good informed conversation between cabinet ministers\". If a deal is reached with the EU, MPs will be asked to approve it in a crucial House of Commons vote before Brexit day on 29 March. Labour votes could be vital to the government's hopes. Sir Keir said it was not the opposition's \"duty\" to back Mrs May's deal. \"We can't be expected, with a gun to our head, to back the prime minister whatever she comes back with,\" he told the Today programme. Sir Keir, who is holding talks with EU figures in Brussels, insisted Labour could persuade the EU to back its proposed Brexit plan of a customs union with freedom for the UK on trade deals and immigration. In response, the Tories said Labour would \"take the country back to square one\" on Brexit. Cabinet ministers met at Downing Street on Tuesday where they agreed they wanted to reach a deal with the EU by the end of the month. The EU says it will only schedule a special summit to agree a deal if enough progress has been made in the negotiations. The government will need to convince both critics within the Tory party and other parties to support any deal that is reached. And on Tuesday, leaked notes showed how this might be presented. The proposals included key speeches from Theresa May, and interventions from supportive business and foreign leaders. One of those mentioned, Labour Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham, told the Today programme this was \"news to me\". The government dismissed the notes, saying: \"The misspelling and childish language in this document should be enough to make clear it doesn't represent the government's thinking.\"", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 954, "answer_end": 2867, "text": "One option for a backstop is for the whole of the UK to remain temporarily aligned to the EU's customs union, avoiding the need for customs checks at the border. BBC political correspondent Iain Watson said Mr Gove was concerned that legally, under this arrangement, Northern Ireland could have to continue to follow EU rules while the rest of the UK would merely mirror them. He wants to see the full legal advice, fearing cabinet members will only see a summary before having to decide whether to back a deal with Brussels. The DUP - whose votes Theresa May relies on to win key votes in the Commons - has gone further, saying the legal advice should be released to the public. DUP chief whip Sir Jeffrey Donaldson told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: \"I think it's in the public interest we understand fully what's happening here. \"It's because it affects the whole UK, therefore it shouldn't just be the DUP that sees this advice, or the government. \"If the House of Commons is going to have a meaningful vote on a deal that includes, and upon which this legal advice is very, very important, then I think people are entitled to know what that advice is.\" Sir Keir Starmer, Labour's shadow Brexit secretary, said it was \"essential\" MPs saw the legal advice before voting on any deal. \"At this crucial stage, Parliament should not be kept in the dark nor should the government try to bounce MPs into an agreement without all the facts,\" he added. But Conservative MP Anna Soubry said there was a convention not to publish legal advice so government lawyers were not put off from providing \"robust\" opinions. \"If you are a lawyer giving advice to your client you don't expect that to be disclosed to a wider audience,\" she told the BBC. Downing Street said it did not comment on legal advice. Housing Secretary James Brokenshire told the BBC there would be \"good informed conversation between cabinet ministers\"."}], "question": "What's being discussed?", "id": "643_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3559, "answer_end": 4421, "text": "Cabinet ministers met at Downing Street on Tuesday where they agreed they wanted to reach a deal with the EU by the end of the month. The EU says it will only schedule a special summit to agree a deal if enough progress has been made in the negotiations. The government will need to convince both critics within the Tory party and other parties to support any deal that is reached. And on Tuesday, leaked notes showed how this might be presented. The proposals included key speeches from Theresa May, and interventions from supportive business and foreign leaders. One of those mentioned, Labour Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham, told the Today programme this was \"news to me\". The government dismissed the notes, saying: \"The misspelling and childish language in this document should be enough to make clear it doesn't represent the government's thinking.\""}], "question": "A plan to sell the deal?", "id": "643_1"}]}]}, {"title": "Iranian-Americans 'harassed' by US border officials", "date": "6 January 2020", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Iranians have reported being harassed by US border officials amid diplomatic tensions following last week's US assassination of Iranian General Qasem Soleimani. Several travellers of Iranian heritage told BBC News they faced inappropriate questions about their views. One group said they were stopped for hours at the Canadian-US border at the weekend. Democratic US lawmakers condemned the alleged incidents. Around 60 Iranians and Iranian-Americans said they were stopped for up to seven-and-a-half hours on Sunday while trying to cross into the US at the Peace Arch Border Crossing near Blaine, Washington. The Council on American-Islamic Relations (Cair), the largest Muslim advocacy group in the US, said the travellers had experienced \"harassment\" from US border officials. Sepehr Ebrahimzadeh, a Seattle-based engineer, told BBC Persian he had waited about six hours to cross the border at Blaine, and was repeatedly questioned during that time. A Canadian citizen with a US green card, he said he was trying to enter the US by land from British Columbia, Canada. Mr Ebrahimzadeh said US Border Patrol guards had questioned him about his birthplace, his high school years in Iran, his own military service and his father's, and about other relatives and his employment history. He said he saw other Iranians next to him who had to wait hours and were questioned about their social media accounts. Cair said that some travellers were only allowed to proceed after 10 hours of questioning, while others were denied entry altogether. Some, the advocacy group said, had their passports withheld while they were asked about their political views and allegiances. University of Pennsylvania professor John Qazvinian said he was taken to a room and questioned \"about the situation in Iran\" upon landing at JFK's New York City airport on Sunday. US Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) has issued a denial. \"Social media posts that CBP is detaining Iranian-Americans and refusing their entry into the US because of their country of origin are false,\" CBP spokesman Mike Friel said in a statement. The agency said security measures at border patrol crossing points have been ramped up amid heightened tensions with Iran. Average waiting times at the Blaine crossing point were around four hours when the Iranian group was attempting to cross, CBP added. The agency said the longer wait was due to a higher volume of travellers during the holiday season. US lawmakers expressed concern on Twitter about the reports. Senator Elizabeth Warren, a leading contender in the Democratic presidential race, called the reports \"deeply disturbing\". \"Iranian Americans have the same rights as all other U.S. citizens and should be treated with dignity and respect at our border - not bigoted, xenophobic scrutiny,\" Ms Warren said on Twitter. Washington state congresswoman Pramila Jayapal also said she was \"deeply disturbed\". California congresswoman Barbara Lee urged anyone with information to call her office about \"the detention of Iranian nationals, including US citizens and green card holders by border guards\". Canada Border Services Agency said it \"has no involvement in this matter\". \"All Canadian citizens, regardless of their background, are equal before and under the law, and no one will ever be arbitrarily detained at the Canadian border nor refused entry purely because of their ethnicity or religion,\" they said in a statement provided to BBC News.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1845, "answer_end": 2446, "text": "US Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) has issued a denial. \"Social media posts that CBP is detaining Iranian-Americans and refusing their entry into the US because of their country of origin are false,\" CBP spokesman Mike Friel said in a statement. The agency said security measures at border patrol crossing points have been ramped up amid heightened tensions with Iran. Average waiting times at the Blaine crossing point were around four hours when the Iranian group was attempting to cross, CBP added. The agency said the longer wait was due to a higher volume of travellers during the holiday season."}], "question": "What are the authorities saying?", "id": "644_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2447, "answer_end": 3448, "text": "US lawmakers expressed concern on Twitter about the reports. Senator Elizabeth Warren, a leading contender in the Democratic presidential race, called the reports \"deeply disturbing\". \"Iranian Americans have the same rights as all other U.S. citizens and should be treated with dignity and respect at our border - not bigoted, xenophobic scrutiny,\" Ms Warren said on Twitter. Washington state congresswoman Pramila Jayapal also said she was \"deeply disturbed\". California congresswoman Barbara Lee urged anyone with information to call her office about \"the detention of Iranian nationals, including US citizens and green card holders by border guards\". Canada Border Services Agency said it \"has no involvement in this matter\". \"All Canadian citizens, regardless of their background, are equal before and under the law, and no one will ever be arbitrarily detained at the Canadian border nor refused entry purely because of their ethnicity or religion,\" they said in a statement provided to BBC News."}], "question": "What other reaction is there?", "id": "644_1"}]}]}, {"title": "Lawmakers investigate Trump, Giuliani and Ukraine", "date": "9 September 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "US lawmakers are investigating whether the White House tried to \"manipulate\" the Ukrainian government into digging up dirt on top Democrat Joe Biden. Three US House of Representatives panels are looking into the alleged efforts involving US President Donald Trump's personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani. The Democratic committee chairmen have requested records from the White House and Department of State. Republicans have questioned Mr Biden's son's role with a Ukrainian gas firm. The White House has not yet commented on the investigation. The joint investigation was launched on Monday by three Democratic panel heads: Eliot Engel (foreign affairs), Adam Schiff (intelligence) and Elijah Cummings (oversight). Their statement said they had \"demanded records relating to President Trump's and Mr Giuliani's attempts to manipulate the Ukrainian justice system to benefit the President's re-election campaign and target a possible political opponent\". They noted that Mr Trump had reportedly threatened at the end of last month to withhold more than $250m (PS200m) in congressional military aid to Ukraine. The lawmakers said their inquiry would examine whether aid was being dangled to \"coerce the Ukrainian government into pursuing politically-motivated investigations... in service of President Trump's 2020 re-election campaign\". The committee chairmen have requested White House records including transcripts of a 25 July phone call between Mr Trump and new Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. The panels are also seeking any items referring to Mr Giuliani, the possible suspension of security aid, and any staff records on the legal cases involving Ukraine, former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort, Mr Biden's son, Hunter, and other related individuals. Similar records have been requested from the Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. The committees have given the White House and Department of State a deadline of 16 September. Mr Trump and his fellow Republicans have questioned whether it represented a conflict of interest that Hunter Biden had served on the board of Burisma, a Ukrainian gas company. In May, Ukraine's prosecutor general said there was no evidence of wrongdoing by Joe or Hunter Biden. The younger Biden joined the firm in 2014 shortly after his father's visit to Ukraine. White House officials denied at the time there was any impropriety. A statement on the company's website said Hunter Biden would help the company with \"transparency, corporate governance and responsibility, international expansion\". Mr Biden has previously boasted of how as US vice-president he threatened in March 2016 to withhold $1bn in loan guarantees to Ukraine unless it removed its allegedly corrupt prosecutor general, Viktor Shokin. Mr Shokin, who soon afterwards left office, had begun an investigation into Burisma, though it was reportedly inactive at the time he lost his job. Mr Giuliani last month told US media he \"strongly urged\" a Ukrainian presidential representative to look into claims that Mr Biden had sought to help his son's business interests in the former Soviet republic. He said he was acting as a private citizen and not in an official capacity. The president's attorney was also reportedly seeking an investigation into how the US Department of Justice Special Counsel Robert Mueller's inquiry into Russian election interference began.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 537, "answer_end": 1934, "text": "The joint investigation was launched on Monday by three Democratic panel heads: Eliot Engel (foreign affairs), Adam Schiff (intelligence) and Elijah Cummings (oversight). Their statement said they had \"demanded records relating to President Trump's and Mr Giuliani's attempts to manipulate the Ukrainian justice system to benefit the President's re-election campaign and target a possible political opponent\". They noted that Mr Trump had reportedly threatened at the end of last month to withhold more than $250m (PS200m) in congressional military aid to Ukraine. The lawmakers said their inquiry would examine whether aid was being dangled to \"coerce the Ukrainian government into pursuing politically-motivated investigations... in service of President Trump's 2020 re-election campaign\". The committee chairmen have requested White House records including transcripts of a 25 July phone call between Mr Trump and new Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. The panels are also seeking any items referring to Mr Giuliani, the possible suspension of security aid, and any staff records on the legal cases involving Ukraine, former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort, Mr Biden's son, Hunter, and other related individuals. Similar records have been requested from the Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. The committees have given the White House and Department of State a deadline of 16 September."}], "question": "What did the committee chairman say?", "id": "645_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1935, "answer_end": 3368, "text": "Mr Trump and his fellow Republicans have questioned whether it represented a conflict of interest that Hunter Biden had served on the board of Burisma, a Ukrainian gas company. In May, Ukraine's prosecutor general said there was no evidence of wrongdoing by Joe or Hunter Biden. The younger Biden joined the firm in 2014 shortly after his father's visit to Ukraine. White House officials denied at the time there was any impropriety. A statement on the company's website said Hunter Biden would help the company with \"transparency, corporate governance and responsibility, international expansion\". Mr Biden has previously boasted of how as US vice-president he threatened in March 2016 to withhold $1bn in loan guarantees to Ukraine unless it removed its allegedly corrupt prosecutor general, Viktor Shokin. Mr Shokin, who soon afterwards left office, had begun an investigation into Burisma, though it was reportedly inactive at the time he lost his job. Mr Giuliani last month told US media he \"strongly urged\" a Ukrainian presidential representative to look into claims that Mr Biden had sought to help his son's business interests in the former Soviet republic. He said he was acting as a private citizen and not in an official capacity. The president's attorney was also reportedly seeking an investigation into how the US Department of Justice Special Counsel Robert Mueller's inquiry into Russian election interference began."}], "question": "What does Joe Biden's son have to do with it?", "id": "645_1"}]}]}, {"title": "General election 2017: The non-Brit's guide to the UK election", "date": "7 June 2017", "paragraphs": [{"context": "You may have heard that voters in the UK are going to the polls on 8 June to choose the entire national parliament - all 650 seats. But for those who don't know what a Tory is and can't pronounce Plaid Cymru, here's a crash course in the UK's general election. It's been a busy year in politics here. Yes, there was an election in May 2015, where the Conservative Party defied expectations to edge a tiny majority in parliament - after having been in a coalition government with another smaller party. Part of their election strategy was promising a referendum on Britain's membership of the European Union - even though the party officially wanted to stay in. The British exit (or Brexit) referendum happened in June 2016, and the result was a surprise to many. Voters chose to leave the EU. But the prime minister at the time, David Cameron, had campaigned to stay - so after his defeat, he decided it was time to surrender the top job. Theresa May became the prime minister (more on that later), and repeatedly said the government would serve its five-year term. Then, in April, she suddenly called a new election for just seven weeks' time. Why? She said she needed a bigger majority to guarantee political stability in the Brexit negotiations with the EU. Opponents, though, believe she was tempted by poor polling numbers for the main opposition party, Labour - and saw a political opportunity. Britain traditionally has two major parties: the Conservatives (who are nicknamed the Tories), and Labour (just Labour). The Conservatives traditionally lean to the political right; Labour has its origins in the trade union movement, and leans left. Those two titans are joined by the centrist Liberal Democrats, a once-strong party almost wiped out in the last election; the environmentally-aware Greens; and the pro-Brexit right-wing UK Independence Party (UKIP). England accounts for 533 of the seats - it's got the biggest population in the UK by far. In Scotland, the Scottish National Party (SNP) holds 56 of 59 seats - a dominant position it won in 2015 at Labour's expense. The nationalists want to hold on to that. Internationally, they're best known for campaigning for Scottish independence. In Wales, Plaid Cymru - a Welsh term meaning the Party of Wales, and pronounced \"PLIGHD KUM-ri\"- has just three seats out of 40. And Northern Ireland accounts for another 18 seats. The UK voting system for general elections is simple - whoever gets the most votes in their constituency wins the seat. No transfers, and no proportional representation. That system tends to favour the big established parties over the smaller ones, and tactical voting is a big part of the process. All of which means there's a sharp focus on not just the local candidates, but the party leaders who could be the prime minister. Those leaders are Theresa May (Conservatives) and Jeremy Corbyn (Labour). But both are unusual. The Conservative leadership campaign was a political soap opera all by itself, with a dramatic drop-out on live TV, labelled by our political correspondent as \"Richard III meets Scarface, with a bit of Godfather thrown in.\" In the end, Theresa May was the only candidate left - and became Britain's new prime minister by default, without a vote. On the other side, there's Mr Corbyn - a life-long socialist, whose election in 2015 as leader, aged 66, was one of the biggest upsets in British political history. He reluctantly put his name down for the top job because none of his friends on Labour's socialist left wing wanted to do it. Bookies gave him odds of 200-1. His election victory- fuelled by a grassroots movement of ordinary Labour members - split the party in two, and the party's MPs almost immediately attempted to depose him. But his popular support has kept the bicycle-riding, left-leaning Labour leader in power - while his political opponents seek to capitalise on the party's perceived crisis. In a nutshell, the Conservatives are looking for a big majority in parliament for the Brexit negotiations, keeping things \"strong and stable\", as they put it. And put it again, and again. When Theresa May called the election, polls showed she was likely to win a landslide - and cement her political power. But things move quickly in politics. Since then, almost three million people have applied to vote - more than a million of whom are aged under 25. It's not clear how that might affect the outcome. And opinion polls, for what they're worth, seem to suggest Labour has closed the gap. Despite politicians from both sides focusing on security in the final days, neither the attack in Manchester last month or the London Bridge attack this week seems to have made much difference to the trend. Recent polls have given The Conservatives a lead of anywhere between one and 12 points - and they are still widely seen as the most likely to win this election. But if they end up losing seats in parliament, it's possible - if unlikely - that someone with completely different plans could be sitting at the negotiating table in Europe. Then again, Labour says it will still push ahead with Brexit - so it's a question of how rather than if. There's another possibility - one recent poll, splashed on the front page of the Times newspaper suggested the Tories could lose seats, resulting in a \"hung parliament\". That's just a British term for no single party having an outright majority. That might be common in many nations that usually have coalition governments, but it's a little rarer in the UK. Almost certainly. Immigration is a big issue on the campaign trail. The current Conservative government wants to reduce net migration - the difference between people entering the UK and people leaving - to \"tens of thousands\" a year (it's currently about +248,000 a year). The Conservatives' manifesto says they want to double the Immigration Skills Charge - a levy of up to PS1,000 ($1,300) they introduced in April, charging companies for every foreign worker they sponsor. They've promised to increase the minimum income someone has to earn to come on a family visa, and \"toughen\" visa requirements for students. And the party says it will triple the Immigration Health Surcharge - a levy foreigners have to pay to let them use the National Health Service (NHS) - from PS200 to PS600. Labour acknowledges that Brexit means the free movement of people from Europe will end - but promises it won't \"scapegoat migrants\". Instead of raising income thresholds for migrants, Labour plans to end them - but oblige people coming here to survive without falling back on public money. Its manifesto contains a pledge to \"protect those already working here, whatever their ethnicity\" and says it won't count international students in the main immigration numbers. But at the same time, it says it will recruit an extra 500 border guards. Both the Liberal Democrats and the Green party support free movement between the UK and the EU. The Lib Dems say they would allow \"high-skilled immigration\", and, like Labour and Plaid Cymru, take students out of the immigration statistics. The Greens also say their immigration and asylum system would be \"humane\". And Plaid Cymru says it will introduce a new, Wales-specific visa. Why the UK election isn't exciting Americans The BBC's election team have put together a comprehensive guide where you can choose an issue and get a quick comparison, or find links to every manifesto in fill. Not unless you already registered - the deadline was 22 May. If you're not a UK citizen, you can't vote anyway - except for Irish nationals, or Commonwealth citizens living in the UK legally. If you're from one of those countries and have registered before - in the local elections or the Brexit referendum, for example - you might be on the electoral roll, which you can check with your local authority. - Looking for more? Check out our comprehensive index to all our party guides, profiles, and leader biographies.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 261, "answer_end": 1400, "text": "It's been a busy year in politics here. Yes, there was an election in May 2015, where the Conservative Party defied expectations to edge a tiny majority in parliament - after having been in a coalition government with another smaller party. Part of their election strategy was promising a referendum on Britain's membership of the European Union - even though the party officially wanted to stay in. The British exit (or Brexit) referendum happened in June 2016, and the result was a surprise to many. Voters chose to leave the EU. But the prime minister at the time, David Cameron, had campaigned to stay - so after his defeat, he decided it was time to surrender the top job. Theresa May became the prime minister (more on that later), and repeatedly said the government would serve its five-year term. Then, in April, she suddenly called a new election for just seven weeks' time. Why? She said she needed a bigger majority to guarantee political stability in the Brexit negotiations with the EU. Opponents, though, believe she was tempted by poor polling numbers for the main opposition party, Labour - and saw a political opportunity."}], "question": "Why is there an election? Didn't Britain just get a new prime minister?", "id": "646_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1401, "answer_end": 2384, "text": "Britain traditionally has two major parties: the Conservatives (who are nicknamed the Tories), and Labour (just Labour). The Conservatives traditionally lean to the political right; Labour has its origins in the trade union movement, and leans left. Those two titans are joined by the centrist Liberal Democrats, a once-strong party almost wiped out in the last election; the environmentally-aware Greens; and the pro-Brexit right-wing UK Independence Party (UKIP). England accounts for 533 of the seats - it's got the biggest population in the UK by far. In Scotland, the Scottish National Party (SNP) holds 56 of 59 seats - a dominant position it won in 2015 at Labour's expense. The nationalists want to hold on to that. Internationally, they're best known for campaigning for Scottish independence. In Wales, Plaid Cymru - a Welsh term meaning the Party of Wales, and pronounced \"PLIGHD KUM-ri\"- has just three seats out of 40. And Northern Ireland accounts for another 18 seats."}], "question": "Ok. So who are the main parties and what are their differences?", "id": "646_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 7279, "answer_end": 7442, "text": "The BBC's election team have put together a comprehensive guide where you can choose an issue and get a quick comparison, or find links to every manifesto in fill."}], "question": "But what about the other policies, like health and taxes?", "id": "646_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 7443, "answer_end": 7960, "text": "Not unless you already registered - the deadline was 22 May. If you're not a UK citizen, you can't vote anyway - except for Irish nationals, or Commonwealth citizens living in the UK legally. If you're from one of those countries and have registered before - in the local elections or the Brexit referendum, for example - you might be on the electoral roll, which you can check with your local authority. - Looking for more? Check out our comprehensive index to all our party guides, profiles, and leader biographies."}], "question": "Got it. I'm a foreigner living in the UK - can I vote?", "id": "646_3"}]}]}, {"title": "DR Congo measles: More than 6,000 dead in world's worst outbreak", "date": "8 January 2020", "paragraphs": [{"context": "The number of people killed by a measles epidemic in the Democratic Republic of Congo has passed 6,000, the World Health Organization (WHO) has said. The WHO says the epidemic is the world's largest and fastest moving. Around 310,000 suspected measles cases have been reported since the start of 2019, the WHO says. The Congolese government and the WHO launched an emergency vaccination programme last September. More than 18 million children under five were vaccinated across the country in 2019, the WHO says. But poor infrastructure, attacks on health centres and a lack of access to routine healthcare have all hindered efforts to stop the spread of the disease. Every one of the country's 26 provinces has reported cases of measles since the outbreak was declared in June last year. DR Congo is also experiencing the second most deadly outbreak of Ebola the world has ever seen but this has killed less than half as many people as measles in the country. \"We are doing our utmost to bring this epidemic under control,\" said Dr Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa. \"Yet to be truly successful we must ensure that no child faces the unnecessary risk of death from a disease that is easily preventable by a vaccine. We urge our donor partners to urgently step up their assistance.\" The WHO says an extra $40m (PS30m) is required to extend the vaccination to children between six and 14 years and strengthen outbreak response. Measles is a virus that initially causes a runny nose, sneezing and fever. A few days later it leads to a blotchy rash that starts off on the face and spreads across the body. Most people will recover, but measles can cause life-long disability. It can be deadly, especially if it causes pneumonia in the lungs or encephalitis (swelling in the brain). It is estimated that a global total of 110,000 people die from measles each year.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1443, "answer_end": 1876, "text": "Measles is a virus that initially causes a runny nose, sneezing and fever. A few days later it leads to a blotchy rash that starts off on the face and spreads across the body. Most people will recover, but measles can cause life-long disability. It can be deadly, especially if it causes pneumonia in the lungs or encephalitis (swelling in the brain). It is estimated that a global total of 110,000 people die from measles each year."}], "question": "What is measles?", "id": "647_0"}]}]}, {"title": "El Chapo trial: Mexican drug lord Joaqu\u00edn Guzm\u00e1n found guilty", "date": "12 February 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Mexican drug kingpin Joaquin \"El Chapo\" Guzman has been found guilty on all 10 counts at his drug-trafficking trial at a federal court in New York. Guzman, 61, was convicted on numerous counts including the distribution of cocaine and heroin, illegal firearms possession and money laundering. He has yet to be sentenced, but the verdict could mean life in jail. Guzman was arrested in January 2016 after escaping from a Mexican prison through a tunnel five months earlier. He was extradited to the US in 2017. The Mexican was accused of being behind the all-powerful Sinaloa drug cartel, which prosecutors say was the biggest supplier of drugs to the US. Tuesday's unanimous verdict by a jury in Brooklyn, which was read out in a packed courtroom, followed an 11-week trial. Guzman, wearing a dark suit jacket and tie, showed no visible sign of emotion as the verdict was announced, CBS News reported. As he was escorted from the courtroom, Guzman shook the hands of his lawyers before exchanging glances with his wife, Emma Coronel, a 29-year-old former beauty queen, and giving her the thumbs up. Judge Brian Cogan, who presided over the trial, thanked the jurors for their dedication at what he described as a complex trial, saying it was \"remarkable and it made me very proud to be an American\". Guzman's lawyers said they planned to launch an appeal. \"El Chapo\" (or \"Shorty\") ran the Sinaloa cartel in northern Mexico. Over time, it became one of the biggest traffickers of drugs to the US. In 2009, Guzman entered Forbes' list of the world's richest men at number 701, with an estimated worth of $1bn (PS775m). He was accused of having helped export hundreds of tonnes of cocaine into the US and of conspiring to manufacture and distribute heroin, methamphetamine and marijuana. He was also said to have used hitmen to carry out \"hundreds\" of murders, assaults, kidnappings and acts of torture on rivals. Key associates, including one former lieutenant, testified against Guzman. It provided shocking revelations about the Mexican drug lord's life. Court papers accused him of having girls as young as 13 drugged before raping them. Guzman \"called the youngest of the girls his 'vitamins' because he believed that sexual activity with young girls gave him 'life'\", a former associate, Colombian drug trafficker Alex Cifuentes, was quoted as saying. During the trial Cifuentes also alleged that Guzman gave a $100m (PS77m) bribe to former Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto, who is said to have contacted him after taking office in 2012 and asked for $250m in return for ending a manhunt for him. Mr Pena Nieto has not publicly commented. Another witness described seeing Guzman murder at least three men. Former bodyguard Isaias Valdez Rios said Guzman beat two people who had joined a rival cartel until they were \"completely like rag dolls\". He then shot them in the head and ordered their bodies be thrown on a fire. In another incident, he had a member of the rival Arellano Felix cartel burned and imprisoned before taking him to a graveyard, shooting him and having him buried alive. Guzman is also alleged to have had his own cousin killed for lying about being out of town, and ordered a hit on the brother of another cartel leader because he did not shake his hand. When asked by a former cartel lieutenant why he killed people, he is alleged to have said: \"Either your mom's going to cry or their mom's going to cry.\" The court heard details of his 2015 escape from Mexico's maximum-security Altiplano prison. His sons bought a property near the prison and a GPS watch smuggled into the prison gave diggers his exact location. At one point Guzman complained that he could hear the digging from his cell. He escaped by riding a specially adapted small motorcycle through the tunnel. He also used software on his phone to spy on his wife and mistresses, which allowed the FBI to present his text messages in court. In one set of texts, he recounted to his wife how he had fled a villa during a raid by US and Mexican officials, before asking her to bring him new clothes, shoes and black moustache dye. Guzman is the highest profile Mexican drug cartel boss so far to stand trial in the US. The drug war in Mexico - pitting the Mexican and US authorities against cartels smuggling drugs into the US and the cartels against each other - has killed about 100,000 people over more than a decade. Guzman achieved notoriety for twice escaping custody in Mexico as well as avoiding arrest on numerous other occasions. Among some in his home state, he had the status of a folk hero, a popular subject of \"narcocorridos\" - musical tributes to drugs barons. In 2016, he gave an interview to Hollywood actor Sean Penn in a Mexican jungle following his escape the previous year and boasted that he was the world's leading supplier of heroin, methamphetamine, cocaine and marijuana. He was later recaptured in the north-western town of Los Mochis. During the raid he fled through a drain but was later caught by troops in a shootout. The US indictment against him was a consolidation of charges from six federal jurisdictions across the country, including New York, Chicago and Miami. Prosecutors pooled together evidence acquired over more than a decade, including from international partners such as Mexico and Colombia, to build their sweeping case. The trial jurors were anonymous and were escorted to and from the courthouse in Brooklyn by armed marshals after prosecutors argued that Guzman had a history of intimidating witnesses and even ordering their murders.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 655, "answer_end": 1355, "text": "Tuesday's unanimous verdict by a jury in Brooklyn, which was read out in a packed courtroom, followed an 11-week trial. Guzman, wearing a dark suit jacket and tie, showed no visible sign of emotion as the verdict was announced, CBS News reported. As he was escorted from the courtroom, Guzman shook the hands of his lawyers before exchanging glances with his wife, Emma Coronel, a 29-year-old former beauty queen, and giving her the thumbs up. Judge Brian Cogan, who presided over the trial, thanked the jurors for their dedication at what he described as a complex trial, saying it was \"remarkable and it made me very proud to be an American\". Guzman's lawyers said they planned to launch an appeal."}], "question": "What happened in court?", "id": "648_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1356, "answer_end": 1985, "text": "\"El Chapo\" (or \"Shorty\") ran the Sinaloa cartel in northern Mexico. Over time, it became one of the biggest traffickers of drugs to the US. In 2009, Guzman entered Forbes' list of the world's richest men at number 701, with an estimated worth of $1bn (PS775m). He was accused of having helped export hundreds of tonnes of cocaine into the US and of conspiring to manufacture and distribute heroin, methamphetamine and marijuana. He was also said to have used hitmen to carry out \"hundreds\" of murders, assaults, kidnappings and acts of torture on rivals. Key associates, including one former lieutenant, testified against Guzman."}], "question": "Who is El Chapo?", "id": "648_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1986, "answer_end": 4118, "text": "It provided shocking revelations about the Mexican drug lord's life. Court papers accused him of having girls as young as 13 drugged before raping them. Guzman \"called the youngest of the girls his 'vitamins' because he believed that sexual activity with young girls gave him 'life'\", a former associate, Colombian drug trafficker Alex Cifuentes, was quoted as saying. During the trial Cifuentes also alleged that Guzman gave a $100m (PS77m) bribe to former Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto, who is said to have contacted him after taking office in 2012 and asked for $250m in return for ending a manhunt for him. Mr Pena Nieto has not publicly commented. Another witness described seeing Guzman murder at least three men. Former bodyguard Isaias Valdez Rios said Guzman beat two people who had joined a rival cartel until they were \"completely like rag dolls\". He then shot them in the head and ordered their bodies be thrown on a fire. In another incident, he had a member of the rival Arellano Felix cartel burned and imprisoned before taking him to a graveyard, shooting him and having him buried alive. Guzman is also alleged to have had his own cousin killed for lying about being out of town, and ordered a hit on the brother of another cartel leader because he did not shake his hand. When asked by a former cartel lieutenant why he killed people, he is alleged to have said: \"Either your mom's going to cry or their mom's going to cry.\" The court heard details of his 2015 escape from Mexico's maximum-security Altiplano prison. His sons bought a property near the prison and a GPS watch smuggled into the prison gave diggers his exact location. At one point Guzman complained that he could hear the digging from his cell. He escaped by riding a specially adapted small motorcycle through the tunnel. He also used software on his phone to spy on his wife and mistresses, which allowed the FBI to present his text messages in court. In one set of texts, he recounted to his wife how he had fled a villa during a raid by US and Mexican officials, before asking her to bring him new clothes, shoes and black moustache dye."}], "question": "What was heard during the trial?", "id": "648_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 4119, "answer_end": 5573, "text": "Guzman is the highest profile Mexican drug cartel boss so far to stand trial in the US. The drug war in Mexico - pitting the Mexican and US authorities against cartels smuggling drugs into the US and the cartels against each other - has killed about 100,000 people over more than a decade. Guzman achieved notoriety for twice escaping custody in Mexico as well as avoiding arrest on numerous other occasions. Among some in his home state, he had the status of a folk hero, a popular subject of \"narcocorridos\" - musical tributes to drugs barons. In 2016, he gave an interview to Hollywood actor Sean Penn in a Mexican jungle following his escape the previous year and boasted that he was the world's leading supplier of heroin, methamphetamine, cocaine and marijuana. He was later recaptured in the north-western town of Los Mochis. During the raid he fled through a drain but was later caught by troops in a shootout. The US indictment against him was a consolidation of charges from six federal jurisdictions across the country, including New York, Chicago and Miami. Prosecutors pooled together evidence acquired over more than a decade, including from international partners such as Mexico and Colombia, to build their sweeping case. The trial jurors were anonymous and were escorted to and from the courthouse in Brooklyn by armed marshals after prosecutors argued that Guzman had a history of intimidating witnesses and even ordering their murders."}], "question": "Why was this trial significant?", "id": "648_3"}]}]}, {"title": "Tasmania election: Gun control row clouds Liberals victory", "date": "3 March 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "In 1996 Australia suffered the deadliest mass shooting in its history; 35 people gunned down in the popular tourist spot of Port Arthur in Tasmania. The Australian government's response was tough. Strict and highly successful new gun laws that have been highlighted by activists in the US as a possible way forward there after the recent killings at a Florida school. So given the sensitivity, proposals by Tasmania's ruling Liberal government to ease firearms laws as it headed into Saturday's state elections created a fierce debate. Not least because of how apparently low-key the Liberals had kept the plans; laying them out in a letter to a firearms consultation group but not posting them on the party website. State Minister for Police, Fire and Emergency Management Rene Hidding wrote the letter in early February but the contents only became known on the eve of the election. The Liberals have now been returned with a majority, their opponents have conceded defeat, but the controversy over the gun issue is unlikely to go away. Roland Browne from Gun Control Australia told ABC the Liberals \"need to be putting this policy forward well before an election and debating it\", arguing it went against the National Firearms Agreement (NFA), which was brought in after Port Arthur. \"It's a move against the NFA, which makes Tasmania a national embarrassment.\" Federal Opposition Leader Bill Shorten accused Tasmania Premier Will Hodgman of \"backroom deals\". \"Gun laws shouldn't be the subject of last-minute bargaining to chase a few votes,\" he said. So what has been proposed? The main areas appear to be: - Extending the gun licence duration from five to 10 years - Ending the mandatory removal of a weapon for minor breaches of storage - Discussions on allowing more users of Category C firearms, potentially giving sports shooters access to rapid-fire and pump-action shotguns - Discussions on creating a new category to allow \"certain specialists\" to use banned guns Mr Hodgman was adamant the proposals were not a watering down of the NFA and denied there had been any attempt at concealment. \"Key stakeholders or those with an interest in this have been advised, it's publicly available,\" he told ABC Radio. Rene Hidding also insisted he was a strong supporter of the NFA and said the plans \"won't do anything which is inconsistent\" with them. On 28 April, 1996, 28-year-old Martin Bryant killed the two elderly owners of a Port Arthur guesthouse. He later entered the Broad Arrow Cafe and shot dead 22 people. The killing spree continued in the car park, before Bryant drove back to the guesthouse. After an 18-hour standoff he set it on fire and was captured outside. In total, 35 people were murdered. His trial was told of intellectual disabilities and a low IQ. He changed his plea to guilty and was sentenced to life in prison. He remains in the Wilfred Lopes Centre. After the killings, Australia introduced a strict system of licensing and ownership, cracking down on semi-automatic rifles and all semi-automatic and pump-action shotguns. There have been no such killing sprees since. Some commentators in the US have highlighted Australia's response to the Port Arthur shooting as a template for action in the US. Farming groups have backed the Liberals' plans. Peter Skillern, of the Tasmanian Farmers and Graziers Association, said there was \"nothing in these proposals that would in any shape or form diminish community safety\". And just how much the gun control issue played in the minds of voters is unclear. The Liberals campaigned primarily on jobs and the economy, Many commentators also pointed to Labor's proposals to remove poker machines - \"pokies\" - from clubs and pubs as a defining issue.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 2356, "answer_end": 3234, "text": "On 28 April, 1996, 28-year-old Martin Bryant killed the two elderly owners of a Port Arthur guesthouse. He later entered the Broad Arrow Cafe and shot dead 22 people. The killing spree continued in the car park, before Bryant drove back to the guesthouse. After an 18-hour standoff he set it on fire and was captured outside. In total, 35 people were murdered. His trial was told of intellectual disabilities and a low IQ. He changed his plea to guilty and was sentenced to life in prison. He remains in the Wilfred Lopes Centre. After the killings, Australia introduced a strict system of licensing and ownership, cracking down on semi-automatic rifles and all semi-automatic and pump-action shotguns. There have been no such killing sprees since. Some commentators in the US have highlighted Australia's response to the Port Arthur shooting as a template for action in the US."}], "question": "What happened at Port Arthur and afterwards?", "id": "649_0"}]}]}, {"title": "IS chief Baghdadi probably still alive - US commander", "date": "1 September 2017", "paragraphs": [{"context": "The leader of the Islamic State (IS) group is probably still alive, a senior US general has said, contradicting a claim by Russia that it probably killed him in a raid in Syria in May. Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi may be hiding in a remote border area between Iraq and Syria, said Gen Stephen Townsend, commander of the anti-IS coalition. He may have fled as IS strongholds have been under attack in both countries. Baghdadi's whereabouts have been unknown for some time. In June, Russia said there was a \"high probability\" that Baghdadi had been killed a month earlier in a Russian air strike on Raqqa, IS's de facto capital in northern Syria. Since then local anti-IS groups have intensified a ground assault on the city, where an estimated 2,000 militants are holed up. There have been several previous reports of Baghdadi's death. But on Thursday, Gen Townsend said there were \"indicators in intelligence channels that he's still alive\". \"We're looking for him every day. I don't think he's dead,\" he told reporters, repeating that he had \"no clue\" as to where the IS leader was. \"The last stand of Isis will be in the Middle Euphrates River Valley,\" he added, using an alternative name for IS. \"When we find him, I think we'll just try to kill him first. It's probably not worth all the trouble to try and capture him.\" Baghdadi was believed to be in Mosul, Iraq, before a US-led coalition began an effort to reclaim the city in October 2016. He has made only one public appearance in recent years - in a video delivering a sermon in Mosul on 5 July 2014, shortly after IS captured the city. His last audio message was released on 2 November last year. Baghdadi - a nom de guerre rather than his real name - is believed to have been born in Samarra, north of Baghdad, in 1971. Reports suggest he was a cleric in a mosque in the city around the time of the US-led invasion in 2003. Some believe he was already a militant jihadist during the rule of Saddam Hussein. Others suggest he was radicalised during the four years he was held at Camp Bucca, a US facility in southern Iraq where many al-Qaeda commanders were detained. He emerged as the leader of al-Qaeda in Iraq, one of the groups that later became Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (IS), in 2010. In October 2011, the US officially designated Baghdadi as a terrorist. It has offered a reward of up to $25m (PS19.6m) for information leading to his capture or death.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1650, "answer_end": 2422, "text": "Baghdadi - a nom de guerre rather than his real name - is believed to have been born in Samarra, north of Baghdad, in 1971. Reports suggest he was a cleric in a mosque in the city around the time of the US-led invasion in 2003. Some believe he was already a militant jihadist during the rule of Saddam Hussein. Others suggest he was radicalised during the four years he was held at Camp Bucca, a US facility in southern Iraq where many al-Qaeda commanders were detained. He emerged as the leader of al-Qaeda in Iraq, one of the groups that later became Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (IS), in 2010. In October 2011, the US officially designated Baghdadi as a terrorist. It has offered a reward of up to $25m (PS19.6m) for information leading to his capture or death."}], "question": "Who is Baghdadi?", "id": "650_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Obamacare is 'dead' says Trump after healthcare victory", "date": "5 May 2017", "paragraphs": [{"context": "President Donald Trump has declared Obamacare \"dead\" after the Republican healthcare bill was narrowly passed by the lower chamber of Congress. The 217-213 vote marked his first legislative victory and goes some way to keeping a key campaign promise to roll back his predecessor's law. Democrats say the American Health Care Act will leave millions uninsured. The bill now heads to the Senate, where Republicans have indicated they will cast it aside and write a new law. Protesters shouted \"Shame on you!\" as lawmakers left Capitol Hill after the knife-edge vote. But there were celebrations moments later on the White House lawn, where the president laid on a reception for Republicans in the House of Representatives. Six weeks ago, their healthcare attempts appeared doomed when they did not have enough support to have a vote. But that bill has undergone several revisions to satisfy both the conservative and moderate wings of the Republican party. Five big consequences of Trumpcare win Obamacare v Republican plan compared \"Make no mistake, this is a repeal,\" said a triumphant Mr Trump in the Rose Garden. Obamacare, he added, was \"essentially dead\". \"Premiums will be coming down, deductibles will be coming down, but very importantly it's a great plan.\" The Democrats think the effect of this bill would be the opposite, stripping insurance from the poor, giving tax breaks to the wealthy and casting doubt on health provisions for the chronically sick. \"Thousands of Americans would die because they would no longer have access to care,\" said Senator Bernie Sanders. Groups representing hospitals and doctors have also expressed concerns about the Republican plan, which they say has yet to be properly assessed. The ill-fated Republican bill in March would result in 24 million more Americans losing insurance within a decade, the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office said at the time. One amendment added since then to placate conservatives means states can opt out of providing essential benefits such as cancer treatment and emergency room visits. And when $8bn (PS6.2bn) over five years was thrown in towards coverage for sick people who otherwise might face higher costs, several moderate Republicans changed course and backed it. About 20 million Americans gained healthcare coverage under President Barack Obama's 2010 Affordable Care Act, but Republicans viewed it as an overreach of the federal government and said patients had less choice and higher premiums. Trump health bill: Winners and losers Patients tell their Obamacare stories The New York attorney general said on Thursday evening that he would challenge the bill in court if it became law, on the basis that it would deny people access to care. The bill, if it becomes law, would mark a major overhaul in the US health system. But key elements could be ditched by Republican senators, who have said they will start fresh. Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski said she would like \"a clean slate\", while Senator Bob Corker said the current bill has \"zero\" chance in the Senate. The party controls the chamber 52-48, meaning it can lose no more than two Republicans in order for it to pass. If the Senate passes its own bill, the plan then goes back to the House for approval or more negotiations and amendments. Round one of the battle over Obamacare repeal is in the books. Round two is set to begin, with the opponents more powerful and the obstacles more imposing. It's worth remembering that passage of the Republican healthcare plan in the House of Representatives was supposed to be the easy part. House Speaker Paul Ryan had a sizeable majority at his disposal and the political tools to reward support and punish transgressions. Instead the American Health Care Act's long, laborious journey exposed divisions within the Republican Party and the limits in Donald Trump's powers of persuasion. These challenges won't disappear. The fault lines will be put under greater pressure and Mr Trump's skills will be further tested when action heads to the Senate. Unlike the House, the Republican majority there is narrow, and already some in the party are showing misgivings about the current legislation. Democrats, who have more parliamentary tricks up their sleeves, will attempt to disrupt the process at every turn. Still, a win is a win. It wasn't pretty. It may not last. But Mr Trump and the Republican House leadership will take it. - New bill repeals the individual mandate requiring those who can afford it to have health insurance - Ditches Obamacare requirement for companies with 50 or more staff to provide insurance coverage for employees. - Keeps element allowing under-26s to stay covered on parents' policies - Enables insurers to charge at least five times as much to older customers. - States can opt out of essential benefits like emergency care and cancer treatment - And they can waive the guarantee to provide healthcare to people with pre-existing conditions.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1265, "answer_end": 1901, "text": "The Democrats think the effect of this bill would be the opposite, stripping insurance from the poor, giving tax breaks to the wealthy and casting doubt on health provisions for the chronically sick. \"Thousands of Americans would die because they would no longer have access to care,\" said Senator Bernie Sanders. Groups representing hospitals and doctors have also expressed concerns about the Republican plan, which they say has yet to be properly assessed. The ill-fated Republican bill in March would result in 24 million more Americans losing insurance within a decade, the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office said at the time."}], "question": "What do Democrats say?", "id": "651_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1902, "answer_end": 2731, "text": "One amendment added since then to placate conservatives means states can opt out of providing essential benefits such as cancer treatment and emergency room visits. And when $8bn (PS6.2bn) over five years was thrown in towards coverage for sick people who otherwise might face higher costs, several moderate Republicans changed course and backed it. About 20 million Americans gained healthcare coverage under President Barack Obama's 2010 Affordable Care Act, but Republicans viewed it as an overreach of the federal government and said patients had less choice and higher premiums. Trump health bill: Winners and losers Patients tell their Obamacare stories The New York attorney general said on Thursday evening that he would challenge the bill in court if it became law, on the basis that it would deny people access to care."}], "question": "What changed since March?", "id": "651_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2732, "answer_end": 3293, "text": "The bill, if it becomes law, would mark a major overhaul in the US health system. But key elements could be ditched by Republican senators, who have said they will start fresh. Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski said she would like \"a clean slate\", while Senator Bob Corker said the current bill has \"zero\" chance in the Senate. The party controls the chamber 52-48, meaning it can lose no more than two Republicans in order for it to pass. If the Senate passes its own bill, the plan then goes back to the House for approval or more negotiations and amendments."}], "question": "What happens now?", "id": "651_2"}]}]}, {"title": "British-Canadian AI expert Geoffrey Hinton wins Turing Award", "date": "27 March 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "British-born artificial intelligence (AI) expert Geoffrey Hinton has won the Turing Award, sometimes referred to as \"the Nobel Prize of computing\". Mr Hinton, who now lives in Canada, shares the award with Yoshua Bengio and Yann LeCun - two other proponents of deep learning, a popular form of AI. \"The three of us have been the people who most believed in this approach,\" he told BBC News. \"It's very nice to be recognised now that it is fashionable.\" A deep neural network uses many layers of artificial neurons, loosely mimicking the structure of animal brains. Such AI is increasingly used in products that people use every day - from smart speakers to Facebook. Deep learning is also seen as a promising, though not flawless, tool for the development of self-driving cars and other futuristic technologies. The 2019 Turing Award recipients' various engineering breakthroughs - made independently and, in some cases, together - had turned deep learning into \"a critical component of computing\", according to the Association for Computing Machinery, which announced the award. Prof Hinton, who works for the University of Toronto and Google, told BBC News he and his co-recipients had all pursued deep learning even when it had been unusual to do so. \"I think it's great that the computer science community has recognised that this stuff is not flaky,\" he said. \"For many years, they thought that neural nets were not respectable. \"I think we're just at the beginning of a big revolution.\" The other recipients have also responded to the award announcement. Yoshua Bengio, who is a professor at the University of Montreal, said on Twitter he was \"extremely honoured\" to be a recipient. And Yann LeCun, director of AI at Facebook, said he was \"very honoured and thankful\". Sir Tim Berners-Lee, the British inventor of the world wide web, won the Turing Award in 2017. Deep learning involves building computer programs that loosely mimic the structure of animal brains, with many layers of artificial neurons that process data. When such networks digest data, their many neurons have individual responses within each layer. These outputs are passed to the next layer until the network finally forms a decision or judgement about the input. A system such as this can learn, for example, to transcribe human speech or recognise a person's face in different photographs. Prof Hinton's great-great-grandfather was British mathematician George Boole. Boole invented Boolean logic, which later became a key concept in computer science. In 2015, Prof Hinton told BBC News he did not fear a hostile attack on humanity by AI, though he acknowledged there was still \"a lot to worry about\". When asked after his award win about the ethical questions around how AI could be misused, he said: \"If you get something that increases productivity, it should be good, whether or not it actually is good [and] helps people in general is a question for the political system.\" When Prof Hinton finished his PhD in the 1970s, he found it difficult to find a job working in AI in the UK, which prompted his move to Canada. He is now a British and Canadian citizen. However, he said the prospects for AI researchers in the UK had since improved greatly. \"You have big labs like the Deep Mind lab and there was nothing like that in 1978,\" he said.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1870, "answer_end": 3323, "text": "Deep learning involves building computer programs that loosely mimic the structure of animal brains, with many layers of artificial neurons that process data. When such networks digest data, their many neurons have individual responses within each layer. These outputs are passed to the next layer until the network finally forms a decision or judgement about the input. A system such as this can learn, for example, to transcribe human speech or recognise a person's face in different photographs. Prof Hinton's great-great-grandfather was British mathematician George Boole. Boole invented Boolean logic, which later became a key concept in computer science. In 2015, Prof Hinton told BBC News he did not fear a hostile attack on humanity by AI, though he acknowledged there was still \"a lot to worry about\". When asked after his award win about the ethical questions around how AI could be misused, he said: \"If you get something that increases productivity, it should be good, whether or not it actually is good [and] helps people in general is a question for the political system.\" When Prof Hinton finished his PhD in the 1970s, he found it difficult to find a job working in AI in the UK, which prompted his move to Canada. He is now a British and Canadian citizen. However, he said the prospects for AI researchers in the UK had since improved greatly. \"You have big labs like the Deep Mind lab and there was nothing like that in 1978,\" he said."}], "question": "What is 'deep learning'?", "id": "652_0"}]}]}, {"title": "The Amazon in Brazil is on fire - how bad is it?", "date": "30 August 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Thousands of fires are ravaging the Amazon rainforest in Brazil - the most intense blazes for almost a decade. The northern states of Roraima, Acre, Rondonia and Amazonas have been particularly badly affected. Huge fires have also been burning across the border in Bolivia, devastating swaths of the country's tropical forest and savannah. So what's happening exactly and how bad are the fires? Brazil - home to more than half the Amazon rainforest - has seen a high number of fires in 2019, Brazilian space agency data suggests. The National Institute for Space Research (Inpe) says its satellite data shows an 76% increase on the same period in 2018. The official figures show more than 87,000 forest fires were recorded in Brazil in the first eight months of the year - the highest number since 2010. That compares with 49,000 in the same period in 2018. Nasa, which provides Inpe with its active fire data, confirmed recordings from its satellite sensors also indicated 2019 had been the most active year for almost a decade. However, 2019 is not the worst year in recent history. Brazil experienced more fire activity in the 2000s - with 2005 seeing more than 142,000 fires in the first eight months of the year. Forest fires are common in the Amazon during the dry season, which runs from July to October. They can be caused by naturally occurring events, such as lightning strikes, but this year most are believed to have been started by farmers and loggers clearing land for crops or grazing. There had been a noticeable increase in large, intense, and persistent fires along major roads in the central Brazilian Amazon, said Douglas Morton, head of the Biospheric Sciences Laboratory at Nasa's Goddard Space Flight Center. The timing and location of the fires were more consistent with land clearing than with regional drought, he added. Activists say the anti-environment rhetoric of Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro has encouraged such tree-clearing activities since he came into power in January. In response to criticism at home and abroad, Mr Bolsonaro announced he was banning setting fires to clear land for 60 days. The president has also accepted an offer of four planes to fight the fires from the Chilean government and has deployed 44,000 soldiers to seven states to combat the fires. However, he has refused a G7 offer of $22m (PS18m) following a dispute with French President Emmanuel Macron. Most of the worst-affected regions are in the north of the country. Roraima, Acre, Rondonia and Amazonas all saw a large percentage increase in fires when compared with the average across the last four years (2015-2018). Roraima saw a 141% increase, Acre 138%, Rondonia 115% and Amazonas 81%. Mato Grosso do Sul, further south, saw a 114% increase. Amazonas, the largest state in Brazil, has declared a state of emergency. The recent increase in the number of fires in the Amazon is directly related to intentional deforestation and not the result of an extremely dry season, according to the Amazon Environmental Research Institute (Ipam). Ipam's director Ane Alencar said fires were often used as a way of clearing land for cattle ranches after deforesting operations. \"They cut the trees, leave the wood to dry and later put fire to it, so that the ashes can fertilise the soil,\" she told the Mongabay website. While the exact scale of deforestation in the rainforest will only be certain when 2019 figures are published at the end of the year, preliminary data suggests there has been a significant rise already this year. Monthly data shows the scale of the areas cleared has been creeping up since January, but with a spike in July this year - almost 278% higher than in July 2018, according to Inpe. Inpe tracks suspected deforestation in real-time using satellite data, sending out alerts to flag areas that may have been cleared. More than 10,000 alerts were sent out in July alone. The record number of fires also coincides with a sharp drop in fines being handed out for environmental violations, BBC analysis has found. Plumes of smoke from the fires have spread across the Amazon region and beyond. According to the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (Cams), a part of the European Union's Earth observation programme, the smoke has been travelling as far as the Atlantic coast. The fires have been releasing a large amount of carbon dioxide, the equivalent of 228 megatonnes so far this year, according to Cams, the highest since 2010. They are also emitting carbon monoxide - a gas released when wood is burned and does not have much access to oxygen. Maps from Cams show this carbon monoxide - a pollutant that is toxic at high levels - being carried beyond South America's coastlines. The Amazon basin - home to about three million species of plants and animals, and one million indigenous people - is crucial to regulating global warming, with its forests absorbing millions of tonnes of carbon every year. But when trees are cut or burned, the carbon they are storing is released into the atmosphere and the rainforest's capacity to absorb carbon is reduced. While the number of fires in Brazil is at its highest level for almost a decade, the data suggests that Brazil - and the wider Amazon region - has experienced more intense burning in the past. An analysis of Nasa satellite data this month indicated that the total fire activity in 2019 across the Amazon, not just Brazil, is close to the average when compared with a longer 15 year period. Figures from Brazil's Inpe, dating back to 1998, also show the country suffered worse periods of fire activity in the 2000s. Reports in mid-August, including on the BBC, had said there were a record number of fires in Brazil this year. Inpe has since made more data easily accessible, showing how far back its records stretched. We have now amended our reports to reflect this information. Inpe's historic figures are backed by numbers from Cams, which show total CO2 equivalent emissions - used to measure of the amount and intensity of fire activity - were also higher in Brazil the mid-2000s. A number of other countries in the Amazon basin - an area spanning 7.4m sq km (2.9m sq miles) - have also seen a high number of fires this year. Venezuela has experienced the second-highest number, with more than 26,000 fires, with Bolivia coming in third, with more than 19,000. This is a rise of 79% on last year. Peru, in fifth place, has seen a rise of 92%. The size of the fires in Bolivia is estimated to have doubled since late last week. About one million hectares - or more than 3,800 square miles - are affected. Bolivia has hired a Boeing 747 \"supertanker\" from the US to drop water, and accepted an offer of aid from G7 leaders. Extra emergency workers have also been sent to the region, and sanctuaries are being set up for animals escaping the flames. South American countries are planning to meet in the Colombian city of Leticia next week to discuss a co-ordinated response to the fires. By Lucy Rodgers, Nassos Stylianou, Clara Guibourg, Mike Hills and Dominic Bailey. Design by Mark Bryson.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 2841, "answer_end": 4049, "text": "The recent increase in the number of fires in the Amazon is directly related to intentional deforestation and not the result of an extremely dry season, according to the Amazon Environmental Research Institute (Ipam). Ipam's director Ane Alencar said fires were often used as a way of clearing land for cattle ranches after deforesting operations. \"They cut the trees, leave the wood to dry and later put fire to it, so that the ashes can fertilise the soil,\" she told the Mongabay website. While the exact scale of deforestation in the rainforest will only be certain when 2019 figures are published at the end of the year, preliminary data suggests there has been a significant rise already this year. Monthly data shows the scale of the areas cleared has been creeping up since January, but with a spike in July this year - almost 278% higher than in July 2018, according to Inpe. Inpe tracks suspected deforestation in real-time using satellite data, sending out alerts to flag areas that may have been cleared. More than 10,000 alerts were sent out in July alone. The record number of fires also coincides with a sharp drop in fines being handed out for environmental violations, BBC analysis has found."}], "question": "Deliberate deforestation?", "id": "653_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Iraq protests: Capital Baghdad blocked as unrest escalates", "date": "3 November 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Protesters have blocked the main thoroughfares in the Iraqi capital Baghdad, as mass anti-government protests continue. Demonstrators were seen parking cars across key junctions of the city as police looked on without intervening. Since 1 October, tens of thousands of people have taken part in two waves of protests to demand more jobs, an end to corruption, and better services. More than 250 have been killed in clashes with security forces. Last week, Iraqi President Barham Saleh said Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi would resign if political parties could agree on his replacement. On Sunday, protesters shut down the main roads of the capital. They continued to defy a curfew introduced in late October. Students staged sit-ins at their schools and government offices were closed on the first day of the working week in the Muslim nation. \"We decided to cut the roads as a message to the government that we will keep protesting until the corrupt people and thieves are kicked out and the regime falls,\" Tahseen Nasser, a 25-year-old protester, was quoted as saying by the AFP news agency. \"We're not allowing government workers to reach their offices, just those in humanitarian fields,\" he said. Alaa Wissam, a 25-year-old architect, said young people were heading to the square to volunteer their help. \"This thing will help young people to have a role in the change that is happening,\" she said. Riot police deployed along the bridges fired tear gas at protesters. Amnesty International has criticised Iraqi forces for using two types of military-grade tear gas canisters that have pierced protesters' skulls and lungs. The Iraqi High Commission for Human Rights said that Siba al-Mahdawi, an activist and doctor who provided medical care to protesters, was abducted on Saturday night by an unknown group. The Commission called on the government to reveal her whereabouts. The epicentre of the unrest has been Baghdad's central Tahrir Square. Protesters there have been attempting to cross a nearby bridge to the fortified Green Zone, which houses government buildings and foreign embassies. Similar protests have taken place in the city of Kut, south-east of Baghdad. Many government offices and schools were shut on Sunday in a number of cities and towns further south. Mr Abdul Mahdi, a veteran Shia Islamist politician with a background in economics, became prime minister just over a year ago, promising reforms that have not materialised. On 1 October, young Iraqis angered by his failure to tackle high unemployment, endemic corruption and poor public services took to the streets of Baghdad for the first time. The protests escalated and spread across the country after security personnel responded with deadly force. After the first wave of protests, which lasted six days and saw 149 civilians killed, Mr Abdul Mahdi promised to reshuffle his cabinet, cut the salaries of high-ranking officials, and announced schemes to reduce youth unemployment. But the protesters said their demands had not been met and returned to the streets in late October.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 588, "answer_end": 2281, "text": "On Sunday, protesters shut down the main roads of the capital. They continued to defy a curfew introduced in late October. Students staged sit-ins at their schools and government offices were closed on the first day of the working week in the Muslim nation. \"We decided to cut the roads as a message to the government that we will keep protesting until the corrupt people and thieves are kicked out and the regime falls,\" Tahseen Nasser, a 25-year-old protester, was quoted as saying by the AFP news agency. \"We're not allowing government workers to reach their offices, just those in humanitarian fields,\" he said. Alaa Wissam, a 25-year-old architect, said young people were heading to the square to volunteer their help. \"This thing will help young people to have a role in the change that is happening,\" she said. Riot police deployed along the bridges fired tear gas at protesters. Amnesty International has criticised Iraqi forces for using two types of military-grade tear gas canisters that have pierced protesters' skulls and lungs. The Iraqi High Commission for Human Rights said that Siba al-Mahdawi, an activist and doctor who provided medical care to protesters, was abducted on Saturday night by an unknown group. The Commission called on the government to reveal her whereabouts. The epicentre of the unrest has been Baghdad's central Tahrir Square. Protesters there have been attempting to cross a nearby bridge to the fortified Green Zone, which houses government buildings and foreign embassies. Similar protests have taken place in the city of Kut, south-east of Baghdad. Many government offices and schools were shut on Sunday in a number of cities and towns further south."}], "question": "What's happening in Baghdad?", "id": "654_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2282, "answer_end": 3067, "text": "Mr Abdul Mahdi, a veteran Shia Islamist politician with a background in economics, became prime minister just over a year ago, promising reforms that have not materialised. On 1 October, young Iraqis angered by his failure to tackle high unemployment, endemic corruption and poor public services took to the streets of Baghdad for the first time. The protests escalated and spread across the country after security personnel responded with deadly force. After the first wave of protests, which lasted six days and saw 149 civilians killed, Mr Abdul Mahdi promised to reshuffle his cabinet, cut the salaries of high-ranking officials, and announced schemes to reduce youth unemployment. But the protesters said their demands had not been met and returned to the streets in late October."}], "question": "What's the background?", "id": "654_1"}]}]}, {"title": "Trump ex-lawyer Michael Cohen's help with Russia probe revealed", "date": "8 December 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "President Donald Trump's ex-lawyer has given substantial help on how Russian nationals tried to affect the 2016 election, a legal memo has revealed. Michael Cohen's help is detailed in the memo from Robert Mueller, who is heading the probe into alleged Russian collusion with the Trump team. The memo is mainly to guide sentencing for crimes Cohen has admitted. A second Mueller memo sets out the case against ex-campaign chief Paul Manafort for breaching a plea bargain deal. Cohen and Manafort are among a number of Trump aides being investigated in Special Counsel Mueller's probe. Both have been co-operating with his team but Mr Mueller now accuses Manafort of lying. In a separate court filing on Friday, prosecutors in New York made their case for the length of Cohen's sentence when it is delivered on Wednesday. They say he should serve a \"substantial\" jail term after admitting violating campaign finance laws, committing tax evasion and lying to Congress. President Trump has repeatedly denied there was any collusion with Russian officials, calling the investigation a \"witch hunt\". The White House said Friday's memos offered nothing new or damaging about the president. Mr Trump tweeted: \"Totally clears the President. Thank you!\" although it was unclear to what he was referring. It is a government sentencing memorandum on the one charge of lying to Congress. Cohen had admitted making false statements about a Trump property deal, out of loyalty to the president. The memo says that although this crime was serious, any sentencing should be served concurrently with the New York prosecutors' recommendations on other crimes. The memo says Cohen has taken \"significant steps to mitigate his criminal conduct\". The key elements of the memo are about the Russian links. They are that Cohen: - \"Provided information about his own contacts with Russian interests during the campaign and discussions with others in the course of making those contacts\" - \"Also provided information about attempts by other Russian nationals to reach the campaign\" - Spoke to \"a Russian national who claimed to be a 'trusted person' in the Russian Federation who could offer the campaign 'political synergy' and 'synergy on a government level'\". This person proposed a meeting between Individual 1 (previously identified by Cohen as Mr Trump) and the Russian president, saying it could have a \"phenomenal\" impact \"not only in political but in a business dimension as well\". The meeting did not take place - Provided \"relevant and useful information concerning his contacts with persons connected to the White House during the 2017-2018 time period The New York prosecutors' submission said Cohen had committed four federal crimes over several years. \"He was motivated to do so by personal greed, and repeatedly used his power and influence for deceptive ends,\" the filing said. One of the crimes Cohen admitted was paying hush money to two women who alleged they had affairs with Mr Trump. This could amount to a violation of US campaign finance laws. While the prosecutors accepted Cohen's help with the Mueller investigation should be taken into account in sentencing, they said it should only bring a \"modest\" reduction on the guidelines of four to five years. Analysis by BBC North America reporter Anthony Zurcher In a one-two punch of court filings, the memos say that Cohen should get credit for providing useful information to investigators. But not too much credit. Some of the information in the special counsel's document is already known. The negotiations for a Trump Tower in Moscow, which lasted well into the 2016 presidential campaign, were once again outlined. But the document drives home the point that Donald Trump was kept informed about the possible deal, which could have netted \"hundreds of millions of dollars\" and that the negotiations took place \"at a time of sustained efforts by the Russian government to interfere with the US election\". Other details Cohen supplied are largely left to the imagination. The president is also once again implicated in the campaign finance charges against Cohen. The New York prosecutors state that Mr Trump's lawyer acted to silence two women who claim they had affairs with Mr Trump in order to \"influence the 2016 presidential election\". What's more, Cohen \"acted in co-ordination with and at the direction of Individual 1\". What all this means is that prosecutors in New York and Washington are claiming the president had implicit knowledge and involvement in a campaign finance crime. He also had knowledge of a massive property deal that involved contacts with Russian government officials while he was running for president in an election that was being targeted for influence by the Russian government. The picture they paint is a dark one. Paul Manafort served for five months with the Trump campaign team, three of them as campaign manager, before being sacked. This latest memo, from Mr Mueller's office, tries to spell out how the special counsel believes Manafort breached a plea bargain deal by lying to investigators. Manafort was convicted of financial fraud in August relating to his work as a political consultant in Ukraine. He then accepted a plea bargain deal under which he would help with the Russia inquiry. The deal had meant Manafort would face up to 10 years in prison, with certain charges dismissed. His lawyers deny he has lied. The memo lists five allegations of breaching the deal by lying: - On his interaction with Konstantin Kilimnik, a business associate who Mr Mueller says is tied to Russian intelligence. The actual allegations in the memo are redacted - A second case involving Kilimnik and obstruction of justice - Payment to a firm working for Manafort - On a separate department of justice inquiry - On contacts with Trump administration officials The memo calls these \"multiple discernible lies - these were not instances of mere memory lapse\". Our correspondent, Anthony Zurcher, says that given the central focus of Mr Mueller's investigation is Russia-Trump links, the Kilimnik connection could prove to be of particular interest.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 2640, "answer_end": 3255, "text": "The New York prosecutors' submission said Cohen had committed four federal crimes over several years. \"He was motivated to do so by personal greed, and repeatedly used his power and influence for deceptive ends,\" the filing said. One of the crimes Cohen admitted was paying hush money to two women who alleged they had affairs with Mr Trump. This could amount to a violation of US campaign finance laws. While the prosecutors accepted Cohen's help with the Mueller investigation should be taken into account in sentencing, they said it should only bring a \"modest\" reduction on the guidelines of four to five years."}], "question": "What was in the New York prosecutors' memo?", "id": "655_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3256, "answer_end": 4801, "text": "Analysis by BBC North America reporter Anthony Zurcher In a one-two punch of court filings, the memos say that Cohen should get credit for providing useful information to investigators. But not too much credit. Some of the information in the special counsel's document is already known. The negotiations for a Trump Tower in Moscow, which lasted well into the 2016 presidential campaign, were once again outlined. But the document drives home the point that Donald Trump was kept informed about the possible deal, which could have netted \"hundreds of millions of dollars\" and that the negotiations took place \"at a time of sustained efforts by the Russian government to interfere with the US election\". Other details Cohen supplied are largely left to the imagination. The president is also once again implicated in the campaign finance charges against Cohen. The New York prosecutors state that Mr Trump's lawyer acted to silence two women who claim they had affairs with Mr Trump in order to \"influence the 2016 presidential election\". What's more, Cohen \"acted in co-ordination with and at the direction of Individual 1\". What all this means is that prosecutors in New York and Washington are claiming the president had implicit knowledge and involvement in a campaign finance crime. He also had knowledge of a massive property deal that involved contacts with Russian government officials while he was running for president in an election that was being targeted for influence by the Russian government. The picture they paint is a dark one."}], "question": "What do the Cohen memos all mean?", "id": "655_1"}]}]}, {"title": "Jamal Khashoggi: Turkey investigates missing journalist", "date": "7 October 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Turkish prosecutors have opened an investigation into the disappearance of a missing Saudi journalist. Jamal Khashoggi, a critic of Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, has not been seen since Tuesday, when he entered the Saudi consulate in Istanbul. Turkish sources quoted by Reuters and the Washington Post say they believe he has been killed inside the consulate. They did not give any evidence for the claim, nor suggest how he was killed. Saudi officials have not yet commented, however a source at the consulate - also quoted by Reuters - described the accusations as baseless. The source added that a security team had arrived in Istanbul to investigate Mr Khashoggi's disappearance. Earlier, Prince bin Salman told Bloomberg News that Turkish authorities were welcome to search the building. Turkish media said prosecutors were now looking closely at the case, although this may be a widening of an inquiry begun on Tuesday. The two unnamed sources said on Saturday that the initial assessment of police was that Mr Khashoggi had been killed at the consulate. \"We believe that the murder was premeditated and the body was subsequently moved out of the consulate,\" one of the sources told Reuters. A source quoted by The Washington Post said the journalist was killed by a 15-member Saudi team sent \"specifically for the murder\". The BBC's Mark Lowen says that, if confirmed, the state-sponsored murder on Turkish soil of a high-profile Saudi dissident would worsen already strained relations between Turkey and Saudi Arabia. Turkey has taken the side of Qatar over its blockade by Saudi Arabia and other neighbours, and Turkey's rapprochement with Iran has riled the government in Riyadh. Reuters earlier quoted the Turkish ruling party as saying the investigation would be comprehensive and that the government's sensitivity about the case was at the \"highest level\". The AK Party said Mr Khashoggi's whereabouts would be uncovered. The head of the Turkish-Arab Media Association told the New York Times that Turkish police officers providing security for the consulate had checked their security cameras and did not see the journalist leave on foot. But Turan Kislakci added that diplomatic cars had been seen moving in and out. On Wednesday, the Turkish foreign ministry summoned Saudi Arabia's ambassador and asked for an explanation about the disappearance. Prince bin Salman told Bloomberg: \"He's a Saudi citizen and we are very keen to know what happened to him. And we will continue our dialogue with the Turkish government to see what happened to Jamal there. \"My understanding is he entered and he got out after a few minutes or one hour. I'm not sure. We are investigating this through the foreign ministry to see exactly what happened at that time. \"The premises are sovereign territory, but we will allow them to enter and search and do whatever they want to do. If they ask for that, of course, we will allow them. We have nothing to hide.\" When asked if Mr Khashoggi faced charges in Saudi Arabia, the crown prince said his country would need to know where he was first. Mr Khashoggi went to the consulate to obtain a document certifying he had divorced his ex-wife, so that he could marry his Turkish fiancee, Hatice, who went with him to the building and waited outside, but did not see him leave. She said that he was \"stressed and sad\" that he was forced to go to the building. He was required to surrender his mobile phone, which is standard practice in some diplomatic missions. Hatice said he left the phone with her and told her to call an adviser to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan if he did not return. She said she waited for him outside the consulate from about 13:00 (10:00 GMT) until after midnight and did not see him leave. She returned when the consulate reopened on Wednesday morning. The 59-year-old journalist is one of the most prominent critics of the crown prince, who has unveiled reforms praised by the West while carrying out an apparent crackdown on dissent, which has seen human and women's rights activists, intellectuals and clerics arrested, and waging a war in Yemen that has triggered a humanitarian crisis. A former editor of the al-Watan newspaper and a short-lived Saudi TV news channel, Mr Khashoggi was for years seen as close to the Saudi royal family. He served as an adviser to senior Saudi officials. After several of his friends were arrested, his column was cancelled by the al-Hayat newspaper and he was allegedly warned to stop tweeting, Mr Khashoggi left Saudi Arabia for the US, from where he wrote opinion pieces for the Washington Post and continued to appear on Arab and Western TV channels. \"I have left my home, my family and my job, and I am raising my voice,\" he wrote in September 2017. \"To do otherwise would betray those who languish in prison. I can speak when so many cannot.\" The Washington Post on Friday blanked out his column in support.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 812, "answer_end": 2382, "text": "Turkish media said prosecutors were now looking closely at the case, although this may be a widening of an inquiry begun on Tuesday. The two unnamed sources said on Saturday that the initial assessment of police was that Mr Khashoggi had been killed at the consulate. \"We believe that the murder was premeditated and the body was subsequently moved out of the consulate,\" one of the sources told Reuters. A source quoted by The Washington Post said the journalist was killed by a 15-member Saudi team sent \"specifically for the murder\". The BBC's Mark Lowen says that, if confirmed, the state-sponsored murder on Turkish soil of a high-profile Saudi dissident would worsen already strained relations between Turkey and Saudi Arabia. Turkey has taken the side of Qatar over its blockade by Saudi Arabia and other neighbours, and Turkey's rapprochement with Iran has riled the government in Riyadh. Reuters earlier quoted the Turkish ruling party as saying the investigation would be comprehensive and that the government's sensitivity about the case was at the \"highest level\". The AK Party said Mr Khashoggi's whereabouts would be uncovered. The head of the Turkish-Arab Media Association told the New York Times that Turkish police officers providing security for the consulate had checked their security cameras and did not see the journalist leave on foot. But Turan Kislakci added that diplomatic cars had been seen moving in and out. On Wednesday, the Turkish foreign ministry summoned Saudi Arabia's ambassador and asked for an explanation about the disappearance."}], "question": "What is Turkey doing?", "id": "656_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2383, "answer_end": 3105, "text": "Prince bin Salman told Bloomberg: \"He's a Saudi citizen and we are very keen to know what happened to him. And we will continue our dialogue with the Turkish government to see what happened to Jamal there. \"My understanding is he entered and he got out after a few minutes or one hour. I'm not sure. We are investigating this through the foreign ministry to see exactly what happened at that time. \"The premises are sovereign territory, but we will allow them to enter and search and do whatever they want to do. If they ask for that, of course, we will allow them. We have nothing to hide.\" When asked if Mr Khashoggi faced charges in Saudi Arabia, the crown prince said his country would need to know where he was first."}], "question": "What have the Saudis said?", "id": "656_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3106, "answer_end": 3844, "text": "Mr Khashoggi went to the consulate to obtain a document certifying he had divorced his ex-wife, so that he could marry his Turkish fiancee, Hatice, who went with him to the building and waited outside, but did not see him leave. She said that he was \"stressed and sad\" that he was forced to go to the building. He was required to surrender his mobile phone, which is standard practice in some diplomatic missions. Hatice said he left the phone with her and told her to call an adviser to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan if he did not return. She said she waited for him outside the consulate from about 13:00 (10:00 GMT) until after midnight and did not see him leave. She returned when the consulate reopened on Wednesday morning."}], "question": "What happened on Tuesday?", "id": "656_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3845, "answer_end": 4943, "text": "The 59-year-old journalist is one of the most prominent critics of the crown prince, who has unveiled reforms praised by the West while carrying out an apparent crackdown on dissent, which has seen human and women's rights activists, intellectuals and clerics arrested, and waging a war in Yemen that has triggered a humanitarian crisis. A former editor of the al-Watan newspaper and a short-lived Saudi TV news channel, Mr Khashoggi was for years seen as close to the Saudi royal family. He served as an adviser to senior Saudi officials. After several of his friends were arrested, his column was cancelled by the al-Hayat newspaper and he was allegedly warned to stop tweeting, Mr Khashoggi left Saudi Arabia for the US, from where he wrote opinion pieces for the Washington Post and continued to appear on Arab and Western TV channels. \"I have left my home, my family and my job, and I am raising my voice,\" he wrote in September 2017. \"To do otherwise would betray those who languish in prison. I can speak when so many cannot.\" The Washington Post on Friday blanked out his column in support."}], "question": "Why might Saudi Arabia want to hold Khashoggi?", "id": "656_3"}]}]}, {"title": "Travel strikes: Your questions answered", "date": "20 December 2016", "paragraphs": [{"context": "With pre-Christmas strikes planned on the rail network and by airlines, thousands of travellers are set to be affected over the festive period. Here, we try to answer some of your questions. Southern Rail is the only rail company affected by planned strike action, on Tuesday 20 December and 31 December until 2 January. Gatwick Express services will also be affected on these dates. But there are lots of lines which will be affected by maintenance work over the festive period: there are no less than 200 engineering projects planned. No train services will run on Christmas Day and few services operate on Boxing Day. Elsewhere, major disruptions include: - All lines will be closed between London Paddington and Ealing Broadway between 24 and 29 December - As a result of this there will be no trains to or from London Paddington, including Heathrow Connect and Heathrow Express services - Arriva Trains Wales services between Manchester Piccadilly and Warrington Bank Quay will be replaced by buses - Manchester Oxford Road and Deansgate stations will be closed to trains on 27 December and from 31 December to 2 January - Northern trains between Manchester Airport, Blackpool North and Barrow-in-Furness are being diverted, running from Manchester Victoria instead Plan ahead with National Rail to avoid (more) frustration. Shadow Home Secretary Diane Abbott, has criticised Southern Rail and told the public to remember \"it takes two to cause a strike\". She said that despite being potentially \"disastrous\" for people over Christmas, workers had the legal right to strike. This comes after slightly less sympathetic comments from her Labour colleague Meg Hillier, Public Accounts Committee chairman, who said unions needed a \"wake-up call\" about the impact on hard-working people over Christmas. She warned \"they could be shooting themselves in the foot\". Prime Minister Theresa May asked Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn to condemn the strikes. He has not. British Airways says it plans to run a full schedule on Christmas Day and Boxing Day despite the proposed industrial action by cabin crew belonging to the Unite union. However, people booked on certain short-haul flights to and from Heathrow on 25 and 26 December can rebook if they would like. Rebooking is permitted on flights to and from Aberdeen, Basel, Belfast, Bergen, Bilbao, Bologna, Budapest, Dusseldorf, Gibraltar, Gothenburg, Hamburg, Hanover, Helsinki, Kiev, Krakow, Lisbon, Luxembourg, Manchester, Marseille, Oslo, Paris Orly, Pisa, Prague, Stavanger, St Petersburg, Stuttgart, Vienna, Venice, Warsaw and Zagreb. As always check the BA website for the most up-to-date information. The airline's Twitter account is also useful. Members of the Unite union employed by Swissport, who work on behalf of airlines as baggage handlers, have cancelled the industrial action planned for 23 and 24 December 2016. Conciliation is the process offered to both sides of a dispute, with the aim of settling the matter without the need for a legal claim to be lodged. It is facilitated by a conciliation service such as Acas. However, it is voluntary and neither party is legally obliged to take part in conciliation and can stop whenever they wish. This, according to industrial relations expert Prof Roger Seifert, is quite simply because by definition, you cannot force an agreement. On Tuesday, it was announced that a strike by airport baggage handlers planned for 23 and 24 December had been called off. Unite had said more than 1,500 workers at Swissport would walk out for 48 hours from 23 December in a row over pay and conditions. But in this instance, if action had gone ahead, compensation would not have been an option according to the Civil Aviation Authority. The European regulation that gives passengers the right to claim if checked luggage is lost, delayed or damaged cannot be used in this case. Unfortunately strike action is one such \"extraordinary circumstance\" under which airline operators are not liable to pay out. In a situation like this, there is a chance the airline would get the luggage to you on a later flight once the strike is over. But to avoid turning up at the airport with a full suitcase, only to be told you cannot take it with you, check with your airline for the latest advice. From April, MPs are expected to get 1.4% increase, bringing their salaries from PS74,962 to PS76,011. BA cabin crew belonging to Unite voted to reject a 2% pay rise. They argue staff who joined since 2010 on \"mixed fleet\" contracts are starting on just over PS12,000 plus PS3 an hour flying pay. Workers on Southern rail are striking over the guards' roles on new trains. Unions argue there are safety concerns over drivers taking on responsibility for opening and closing doors. Thousands of Post Office workers are protesting against pension changes, job security and closures. Weetabix workers have voted to strike in the new year over new shift patterns.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1330, "answer_end": 1959, "text": "Shadow Home Secretary Diane Abbott, has criticised Southern Rail and told the public to remember \"it takes two to cause a strike\". She said that despite being potentially \"disastrous\" for people over Christmas, workers had the legal right to strike. This comes after slightly less sympathetic comments from her Labour colleague Meg Hillier, Public Accounts Committee chairman, who said unions needed a \"wake-up call\" about the impact on hard-working people over Christmas. She warned \"they could be shooting themselves in the foot\". Prime Minister Theresa May asked Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn to condemn the strikes. He has not."}], "question": "What is Labour's view on these strikes?", "id": "657_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1960, "answer_end": 2875, "text": "British Airways says it plans to run a full schedule on Christmas Day and Boxing Day despite the proposed industrial action by cabin crew belonging to the Unite union. However, people booked on certain short-haul flights to and from Heathrow on 25 and 26 December can rebook if they would like. Rebooking is permitted on flights to and from Aberdeen, Basel, Belfast, Bergen, Bilbao, Bologna, Budapest, Dusseldorf, Gibraltar, Gothenburg, Hamburg, Hanover, Helsinki, Kiev, Krakow, Lisbon, Luxembourg, Manchester, Marseille, Oslo, Paris Orly, Pisa, Prague, Stavanger, St Petersburg, Stuttgart, Vienna, Venice, Warsaw and Zagreb. As always check the BA website for the most up-to-date information. The airline's Twitter account is also useful. Members of the Unite union employed by Swissport, who work on behalf of airlines as baggage handlers, have cancelled the industrial action planned for 23 and 24 December 2016."}], "question": "How can I find out if strikes by BA cabin crew and airport baggage handlers will affect my flight?", "id": "657_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2876, "answer_end": 3343, "text": "Conciliation is the process offered to both sides of a dispute, with the aim of settling the matter without the need for a legal claim to be lodged. It is facilitated by a conciliation service such as Acas. However, it is voluntary and neither party is legally obliged to take part in conciliation and can stop whenever they wish. This, according to industrial relations expert Prof Roger Seifert, is quite simply because by definition, you cannot force an agreement."}], "question": "Why is it not compulsory for companies and workers in dispute to attend conciliation until the matter is resolved?", "id": "657_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3344, "answer_end": 4279, "text": "On Tuesday, it was announced that a strike by airport baggage handlers planned for 23 and 24 December had been called off. Unite had said more than 1,500 workers at Swissport would walk out for 48 hours from 23 December in a row over pay and conditions. But in this instance, if action had gone ahead, compensation would not have been an option according to the Civil Aviation Authority. The European regulation that gives passengers the right to claim if checked luggage is lost, delayed or damaged cannot be used in this case. Unfortunately strike action is one such \"extraordinary circumstance\" under which airline operators are not liable to pay out. In a situation like this, there is a chance the airline would get the luggage to you on a later flight once the strike is over. But to avoid turning up at the airport with a full suitcase, only to be told you cannot take it with you, check with your airline for the latest advice."}], "question": "If I'm only allowed to take hand luggage on a flight due to strike action, despite booking and paying for hold luggage, can I claim compensation?", "id": "657_3"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 4280, "answer_end": 4938, "text": "From April, MPs are expected to get 1.4% increase, bringing their salaries from PS74,962 to PS76,011. BA cabin crew belonging to Unite voted to reject a 2% pay rise. They argue staff who joined since 2010 on \"mixed fleet\" contracts are starting on just over PS12,000 plus PS3 an hour flying pay. Workers on Southern rail are striking over the guards' roles on new trains. Unions argue there are safety concerns over drivers taking on responsibility for opening and closing doors. Thousands of Post Office workers are protesting against pension changes, job security and closures. Weetabix workers have voted to strike in the new year over new shift patterns."}], "question": "Would these strikes be taking place at all if staff were given the same pay rises as MPs?", "id": "657_4"}]}]}, {"title": "Hunter Biden defends Ukraine and China business dealings", "date": "15 October 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "The son of former US Vice-President Joe Biden has defended his foreign business dealings amid attacks by the White House and increasing media scrutiny. Hunter Biden - who has had business ties in Ukraine and China in recent years - told ABC news that he had done \"nothing wrong\". But he admitted to \"poor judgment\", leaving him open to political attacks. His foreign work - and Donald Trump's intervention - have sparked impeachment proceedings against the president. Mr Biden's interview with ABC comes ahead of Tuesday evening's Democratic debate, where Joe Biden - a 2020 frontrunner - will square off against 11 other presidential hopefuls. Breaking his silence on his foreign business dealings, Hunter Biden, 49, dismissed claims of impropriety. \"Did I do anything improper? No, and not in any way. Not in any way whatsoever. I joined a board, I served honourably,\" Mr Biden said, adding that he did not discuss such business with his father. But Mr Biden acknowledged the possible political ramifications of his work, saying his failure to do so previously demonstrated \"poor judgment\". \"Did I make a mistake? Well, maybe in the grand scheme of things, yeah,\" he said. \"But did I make a mistake based upon some ethical lapse? Absolutely not.\" Mr Biden stressed his record on the board of the UN World Food Programme and work for US corporations to defend his lucrative role as a board member for a Ukrainian gas company. \"I think that I had as much knowledge as anybody else that was on the board, if not more,\" Mr Biden said. But he acknowledged the appointment may have resulted from his father's clout. \"I don't think that there's a lot of things that would have happened in my life if my last name wasn't Biden,\" he said. What's the controversy about? Mr Biden's foreign business ventures have pulled him to the epicentre of the ongoing impeachment inquiry into Mr Trump. The president and his allies have claimed that as vice-president the elder Biden encouraged the firing of Ukraine's top prosecutor because the prosecutor was investigating Burisma, a gas company that employed Hunter Biden. These allegations - though widely discredited - were raised by Mr Trump in a 25 July phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. This call has fuelled the Democratic-led impeachment investigation. The inquiry is trying to establish whether Mr Trump withheld nearly $400m (PS327m) in aid to nudge Mr Zelensky into launching an inquiry into the Bidens. Mr Trump has continued to seize on Mr Biden's dealings in Ukraine and China to stage political attacks against Mr Biden and his father, charging both Bidens with corruption, without offering specific evidence. In Tuesday's interview, Mr Biden dismissed the president's claims as a \"ridiculous conspiracy idea\". Last week, Hunter Biden announced he would step down from the board of BHR (Shanghai) Equity Investment Fund Management Company. His lawyer, George Mesires, told US media his client had not acquired an equity interest in the fund until 2017, after his father had left office. Mr Biden said last week that he would not work for any foreign-owned companies if his father is elected president. What's the status of the impeachment inquiry? Mr Trump is accused by Democrats of breaking the law by pressuring his Ukrainian counterpart to dig up damaging information on Mr Biden on a July call. The call occurred days after Mr Trump blocked about $391m (PS316m) in military aid to Ukraine. Democrats argue this aid was used as a bargaining chip to pressure the new government in Kyiv, a claim Mr Trump has denied. In recent weeks the US president has also faced charges that he used his personal lawyer, Rudy Giuliani, to pursue personal interests through political backchannels. On Tuesday Mr Giuliani said he would not comply with a subpoena to appear before the impeachment inquiry. Hunter Biden's interview comes hours before his father appears in Westerville, Ohio for his fourth Democratic debate. Mr Biden will be centre stage as one of 12 hopefuls on Tuesday night, making it the biggest presidential primary debate in US history. The former vice-president joins Senator Elizabeth Warren and Senator Bernie Sanders as one of three leading candidates. But Mr Biden's campaign has been hit by dogged attacks from the president and his allies, especially those related to his son, who may be subject to discussion in the debate. Mr Biden's initial lead has narrowed in recent polls, with an 8 October Quinnipiac poll finding Ms Warren had overtaken Mr Biden among Democratic voters. The debate will also mark the return of Mr Sanders to the campaign trail. He suspended his campaign after suffering a minor heart attack in early October.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 645, "answer_end": 3858, "text": "Breaking his silence on his foreign business dealings, Hunter Biden, 49, dismissed claims of impropriety. \"Did I do anything improper? No, and not in any way. Not in any way whatsoever. I joined a board, I served honourably,\" Mr Biden said, adding that he did not discuss such business with his father. But Mr Biden acknowledged the possible political ramifications of his work, saying his failure to do so previously demonstrated \"poor judgment\". \"Did I make a mistake? Well, maybe in the grand scheme of things, yeah,\" he said. \"But did I make a mistake based upon some ethical lapse? Absolutely not.\" Mr Biden stressed his record on the board of the UN World Food Programme and work for US corporations to defend his lucrative role as a board member for a Ukrainian gas company. \"I think that I had as much knowledge as anybody else that was on the board, if not more,\" Mr Biden said. But he acknowledged the appointment may have resulted from his father's clout. \"I don't think that there's a lot of things that would have happened in my life if my last name wasn't Biden,\" he said. What's the controversy about? Mr Biden's foreign business ventures have pulled him to the epicentre of the ongoing impeachment inquiry into Mr Trump. The president and his allies have claimed that as vice-president the elder Biden encouraged the firing of Ukraine's top prosecutor because the prosecutor was investigating Burisma, a gas company that employed Hunter Biden. These allegations - though widely discredited - were raised by Mr Trump in a 25 July phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. This call has fuelled the Democratic-led impeachment investigation. The inquiry is trying to establish whether Mr Trump withheld nearly $400m (PS327m) in aid to nudge Mr Zelensky into launching an inquiry into the Bidens. Mr Trump has continued to seize on Mr Biden's dealings in Ukraine and China to stage political attacks against Mr Biden and his father, charging both Bidens with corruption, without offering specific evidence. In Tuesday's interview, Mr Biden dismissed the president's claims as a \"ridiculous conspiracy idea\". Last week, Hunter Biden announced he would step down from the board of BHR (Shanghai) Equity Investment Fund Management Company. His lawyer, George Mesires, told US media his client had not acquired an equity interest in the fund until 2017, after his father had left office. Mr Biden said last week that he would not work for any foreign-owned companies if his father is elected president. What's the status of the impeachment inquiry? Mr Trump is accused by Democrats of breaking the law by pressuring his Ukrainian counterpart to dig up damaging information on Mr Biden on a July call. The call occurred days after Mr Trump blocked about $391m (PS316m) in military aid to Ukraine. Democrats argue this aid was used as a bargaining chip to pressure the new government in Kyiv, a claim Mr Trump has denied. In recent weeks the US president has also faced charges that he used his personal lawyer, Rudy Giuliani, to pursue personal interests through political backchannels. On Tuesday Mr Giuliani said he would not comply with a subpoena to appear before the impeachment inquiry."}], "question": "What did he say?", "id": "658_0"}]}]}, {"title": "The Niger Delta Avengers: Nigeria's newest militants", "date": "2 June 2016", "paragraphs": [{"context": "With a name that sounds like it has come from the pages of a superhero comic book, the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) is the latest militant group to emerge in Nigeria - attacking oil installations in a campaign which threatens the economy of Africa's most populous state. \"We are a group of educated and well-travelled individuals that are poised to take the Niger Delta struggle to new heights that has never been seen in this nation before,\" the NDA proclaimed in one of their first statement's on their website in April. \"We have well-equipped human resources to meet this goal.\" It was not an idle threat. The NDA has carried out a barrage of attacks on oil installations in the Niger Delta region, causing a huge decline in oil production, which is the mainstay of the West African state's economy. \"The renewed activities of the militants in the Niger Delta is seriously affecting our oil production,\" Minister of Finance Kemi Adeosun admitted on state-owned NTA television. This is the first armed group to emerge in the region - where most people are poor despite the fact that it is rich in oil - since late Nigerian President Umar Musa Yar'Adua granted amnesty to militants there seven years ago. At the time, militants in the region said they wanted a better deal for their people who have suffered environmental degradation and economic dislocation because of oil production by some of the world's leading firms. Many of the militants were encouraged to drop their arms and agitation in exchange for some cash incentives and training. Former President Goodluck Jonathan, who comes from the Niger Delta, continued the scheme. The amnesty programme, which provides tens of thousands of former oil militants with a monthly stipend from the government, stemmed the level of violence. But in the latest budget, President Muhammadu Buhari reduced funding for it by 70%, and has spoken of phasing it out entirely by 2018. It is difficult to identify or determine who the members of the NDA are - their Twitter handle currently has an AFP photo of a Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (Mend) militant taken in September 2008 as its profile picture. Local people in the region believe members of the group are largely elements of previous militant groups like Mend - led by Henry Okah, who has been incarcerated in South Africa - or the Niger Delta People's Salvation Front led by the vocal Mujahideen Asari Dokubo. They were left out of the government's amnesty programme. Many say the NDA militants are followers of former Niger Delta warlords like Government Ekpemupolo, who has the alias Tompolo. He signed up to the amnesty programme but has been on the run since February, refusing to be questioned by Nigeria's anti-corruption agency in connection with $231m (PS163m) in missing government funds. Mr Ekpemupolo has dissociated himself from the group - but none of the former militant leaders have commented. Others believe the new militants are criminal elements that want to draw attention to themselves now that their kinsman, ex-President Jonathan, is out of power. Currently, it is not known who officially leads the group, although a Col Mudoch Agbinibo has been signing press releases on behalf of the NDA. There are suggestions that \"Mudoch\" is a pseudonym, like the one-time \"Jomo Gbomo\" of Mend. Whatever perceptions people might have of the group, its activities in the Niger Delta appear well co-ordinated with a high level of technical expertise. The NDA has stated unambiguously what it is setting out to achieve: \"Our goal is to cripple Nigeria's economy.\" After declaring what it called \"Operation Red Economy\" in February, it blew up an underwater pipeline forcing Royal Dutch Shell to shut down a terminal which normally produces 250,000 barrels of oil a day (bpd). Last month, Shell declared a force majeure, which excuses a company from contractual agreements because events beyond its control, on exports of high grade crude oil after an attack on one of its trunk lines. A few days later, US firm Chevron shut its Valve Platform following another attack, also claimed by the Avengers. And ahead of President Buhari's first expected visit to the region on Thursday, the NDA said it had blown up two Chevron export terminals. These attacks have dealt a huge blow to the revenue of the Nigerian government, which says the renewed activities of the militants are seriously affecting oil production. In fact the country's production has dropped to 1.65 million bpd, as against the projected 2.2 million bpd. The military has issued a stern warning that it will deal decisively with any group fermenting trouble in the country, including those it has described as \"criminal elements in the Niger Delta\". But this appears to have emboldened the Avengers into more attacks that have had a knock-on affect on the supply of electricity that depends on gas from the oil-producing companies. For President Buhari, who just marked one year in office, the NDA presents another fresh security challenge to the government which has been grappling with Islamist insurgency in the north-east of the country.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 978, "answer_end": 3479, "text": "This is the first armed group to emerge in the region - where most people are poor despite the fact that it is rich in oil - since late Nigerian President Umar Musa Yar'Adua granted amnesty to militants there seven years ago. At the time, militants in the region said they wanted a better deal for their people who have suffered environmental degradation and economic dislocation because of oil production by some of the world's leading firms. Many of the militants were encouraged to drop their arms and agitation in exchange for some cash incentives and training. Former President Goodluck Jonathan, who comes from the Niger Delta, continued the scheme. The amnesty programme, which provides tens of thousands of former oil militants with a monthly stipend from the government, stemmed the level of violence. But in the latest budget, President Muhammadu Buhari reduced funding for it by 70%, and has spoken of phasing it out entirely by 2018. It is difficult to identify or determine who the members of the NDA are - their Twitter handle currently has an AFP photo of a Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (Mend) militant taken in September 2008 as its profile picture. Local people in the region believe members of the group are largely elements of previous militant groups like Mend - led by Henry Okah, who has been incarcerated in South Africa - or the Niger Delta People's Salvation Front led by the vocal Mujahideen Asari Dokubo. They were left out of the government's amnesty programme. Many say the NDA militants are followers of former Niger Delta warlords like Government Ekpemupolo, who has the alias Tompolo. He signed up to the amnesty programme but has been on the run since February, refusing to be questioned by Nigeria's anti-corruption agency in connection with $231m (PS163m) in missing government funds. Mr Ekpemupolo has dissociated himself from the group - but none of the former militant leaders have commented. Others believe the new militants are criminal elements that want to draw attention to themselves now that their kinsman, ex-President Jonathan, is out of power. Currently, it is not known who officially leads the group, although a Col Mudoch Agbinibo has been signing press releases on behalf of the NDA. There are suggestions that \"Mudoch\" is a pseudonym, like the one-time \"Jomo Gbomo\" of Mend. Whatever perceptions people might have of the group, its activities in the Niger Delta appear well co-ordinated with a high level of technical expertise."}], "question": "Who is their leader?", "id": "659_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Pokemon Go: All you need to know", "date": "12 July 2016", "paragraphs": [{"context": " Yes - Pokemon Go is an augmented reality game on smartphones. It uses your GPS. You play by walking around the real world catching cutesy little virtual monsters like Pikachu and Jigglypuff in places near your phone location and training them to fight each other. The monsters in it were first popular in the 1990s when they started on the Nintendo Game Boy. Trading cards were a huge hit in school playgrounds well before Minecraft, but after yoyos and, well, marbles. Pokemon has been out on Game Boy and DS, it's been a cartoon programme and it's been a low-tech trading card game, but this is the first time it's been a smartphone game. Dave Lee, tech reporter: Pokemon Go is a monster mobile hit - Pokemon = pocket monster - Pokestop = landmark - Pokeball = a supply that you can throw to capture Pokemon for training - Gym = a location where Pokemon battle each other - Pikachu = the most famous Pokemon and an icon of Japanese culture On the App Store (iPhone) or Google Play (Android). It's free but as with other free games, there are things to buy with real money once you're in the game. It's out in Australia, New Zealand and the US and will be released in Japan soon, but people in the UK have to wait for some time yet. So many people have been using it that the servers have been crashing. That's why the makers Niantic Inc - a spin-off of Google's parent company Alphabet Inc - are holding off on rolling it out all across the world for now. Oh, take your pick... An American woman found a dead body while she was looking for a Pokemon in a river near her home. Police said the man had died within the last 24 hours and no foul play was suspected. Four people were arrested after they used the game to lure players to remote places and then rob them at gunpoint. In response, the makers of Pokemon Go have said people should \"play with friends when going to new or unfamiliar places\" and \"remember to be safe and alert at all times\". The anti-gay Westboro Baptist Church in the US is the location of a gym in the game, and players planted a pink \"Clefairy\" Pokemon called Love is Love there. The church has responded with a series of social media posts calling the Pokemon a sodomite. There have also been plenty of reports of people falling over and grazing or cutting themselves because they're not paying attention to what's in front of them while they play. Some people have pointed out that because it works in real time, if you are close to another player in the game you can probably see them in real life. When you sign up to play, you allow Niantic Labs to use your location and share it through the app. This is similar to what all social networking apps ask for, but while you can turn the location functionality off with the likes of Facebook and Twitter, doing the same for Pokemon Go is going to make you less able to actually play the game. Hasn't it just! It's added more than $7bn (PS5.4bn) to Nintendo's value by virtue of shares in the company rallying since it was released. The game has dominated gaming charts in the US and it seems to be capturing two markets - the teens who are \"catching em all\" for the first time, and the people in their late 20s and early 30s who remember it all from the first time round and fancy a little nostalgia.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 943, "answer_end": 1458, "text": "On the App Store (iPhone) or Google Play (Android). It's free but as with other free games, there are things to buy with real money once you're in the game. It's out in Australia, New Zealand and the US and will be released in Japan soon, but people in the UK have to wait for some time yet. So many people have been using it that the servers have been crashing. That's why the makers Niantic Inc - a spin-off of Google's parent company Alphabet Inc - are holding off on rolling it out all across the world for now."}], "question": "How can I get my hands on the game?", "id": "660_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1459, "answer_end": 2378, "text": "Oh, take your pick... An American woman found a dead body while she was looking for a Pokemon in a river near her home. Police said the man had died within the last 24 hours and no foul play was suspected. Four people were arrested after they used the game to lure players to remote places and then rob them at gunpoint. In response, the makers of Pokemon Go have said people should \"play with friends when going to new or unfamiliar places\" and \"remember to be safe and alert at all times\". The anti-gay Westboro Baptist Church in the US is the location of a gym in the game, and players planted a pink \"Clefairy\" Pokemon called Love is Love there. The church has responded with a series of social media posts calling the Pokemon a sodomite. There have also been plenty of reports of people falling over and grazing or cutting themselves because they're not paying attention to what's in front of them while they play."}], "question": "What's the weirdest thing that's happened someone playing it?", "id": "660_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2379, "answer_end": 2872, "text": "Some people have pointed out that because it works in real time, if you are close to another player in the game you can probably see them in real life. When you sign up to play, you allow Niantic Labs to use your location and share it through the app. This is similar to what all social networking apps ask for, but while you can turn the location functionality off with the likes of Facebook and Twitter, doing the same for Pokemon Go is going to make you less able to actually play the game."}], "question": "Should I worry about my privacy?", "id": "660_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2873, "answer_end": 3280, "text": "Hasn't it just! It's added more than $7bn (PS5.4bn) to Nintendo's value by virtue of shares in the company rallying since it was released. The game has dominated gaming charts in the US and it seems to be capturing two markets - the teens who are \"catching em all\" for the first time, and the people in their late 20s and early 30s who remember it all from the first time round and fancy a little nostalgia."}], "question": "Has the game been successful so far?", "id": "660_3"}]}]}, {"title": "A rasher of bacon a day 'ups cancer risk'", "date": "17 April 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Even small amounts of red and processed meat - such as a rasher of bacon a day - can increase the risk of bowel cancer, according to research. The latest study led by Oxford University and funded by Cancer Research UK, adds to evidence, including from the World Health Organization, that eating red meat can be harmful. But exactly how big is the risk? And how much is too much? Here's what you need to know. Researchers analysed data from almost half a million people involved in the UK Biobank study. Over the six years of their study they found 2,609 people developed bowel cancer. They estimate: - Eating three rashers of bacon a day rather than just one could increase the risk of bowel cancer by 20% - For every 10,000 people in the study who ate 21g a day of red and processed meat, 40 were diagnosed with bowel cancer - The comparable figure for those who ate 76g a day, was 48 According to the NHS, 76g of cooked red meat is equivalent to about half an 8oz sirloin steak. A slice of ham or rasher of bacon is about 23g of processed meat. It's not clear. Cancer Research UK (CRUK) says 5,400 of the 41,804 cases of bowel cancer seen each year in the UK could be prevented if people did not eat processed meat at all. According to Emma Shields, information manager at CRUK,  \"This study shows the more meat you eat, the higher your risk of getting cancer and obviously the reverse is true - the less you eat the less likely you are to get bowel cancer,\" But she acknowledges smoking poses a much bigger risk, causing 54,300 cases of cancer each year. Public Health England says from its surveys many people eat too much red and processed meat. And experts advise people who eat lots of it to find ways to cut down. The Department of Health advises anyone eating more than 90g a day of red and processed meat should cut down to 70g. NHS guidance says there are some benefits of red meat - iron and protein content, for example - that must be balanced against potential risks. People can still eat meat and be healthy. Processed meat - including bacon, some sausages, hot dogs, salami - is modified to either extend its shelf-life or change the taste - the main methods are smoking, curing, or adding salt or preservatives. It is thought the chemicals involved in the processing could be increasing the risk of cancer. High temperature cooking, such as on a barbecue, can also create carcinogenic chemicals. When it comes to red meat like beef, lamb and pork, there are suggestions that one of the proteins (that gives it its red colour) can damage the gut when it is broken down. But experts are still trying to fully understand the link. Prof Gunter Kuhnle, at the University of Reading, described the study as a very thorough analysis of the link between meat intake and bowel (also known as colorectal) cancer. He said: \"The results confirm previous findings that both, red and processed meat consumption, increase the risk of colorectal cancer. \"The increase in risk of approximately 20% per 50g increase of red and processed meat intake is in line with what has been reported previously, and confirms these findings. \"The study also shows that dietary fibre reduces the risk of colorectal cancer. An increased consumption of fibre, as shown by this study, would be of considerably more benefit.\" Carrie Ruxton, of the Meat Advisory Panel, an industry-funded body, said: \"Red meat provides valuable nutrients, such as protein, iron, zinc, vitamin D and B vitamins.\" She said it was known that \"a range of lifestyle factors have a significant impact on the risk of bowel cancer, most notably age, genetics, lack of dietary fibre, inactivity and high alcohol consumption\". The study is published in the International Journal of Epidemiology.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1839, "answer_end": 2023, "text": "NHS guidance says there are some benefits of red meat - iron and protein content, for example - that must be balanced against potential risks. People can still eat meat and be healthy."}], "question": "Is eating some OK?", "id": "661_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2645, "answer_end": 3749, "text": "Prof Gunter Kuhnle, at the University of Reading, described the study as a very thorough analysis of the link between meat intake and bowel (also known as colorectal) cancer. He said: \"The results confirm previous findings that both, red and processed meat consumption, increase the risk of colorectal cancer. \"The increase in risk of approximately 20% per 50g increase of red and processed meat intake is in line with what has been reported previously, and confirms these findings. \"The study also shows that dietary fibre reduces the risk of colorectal cancer. An increased consumption of fibre, as shown by this study, would be of considerably more benefit.\" Carrie Ruxton, of the Meat Advisory Panel, an industry-funded body, said: \"Red meat provides valuable nutrients, such as protein, iron, zinc, vitamin D and B vitamins.\" She said it was known that \"a range of lifestyle factors have a significant impact on the risk of bowel cancer, most notably age, genetics, lack of dietary fibre, inactivity and high alcohol consumption\". The study is published in the International Journal of Epidemiology."}], "question": "What do experts say?", "id": "661_1"}]}]}, {"title": "Colombia Farc: Dissident leader Rodrigo Cadete killed in military operation", "date": "3 February 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "The Colombian military says it has killed one of the leaders of a faction of Farc rebels who have refused to abide by the peace process. Rodrigo Cadete, 52, died in an operation in the southern Caqueta region along with nine other militants. Colombian Defence Minister Guillermo Botero said Cadete had been trying to unite some of the 1,700 members of the Farc who have not handed in their arms. Most are now operating in remote jungle areas, fighting other armed groups. The overwhelming majority of the Farc are honouring the 2016 peace agreement that ended decades of armed conflict. Rodrigo Cadete took part in the peace negotiations held for nearly four years in the Cuban capital, Havana, but refused to accept the deal. He was considered second in command in the main group of dissidents led by Gentil Duarte, who was expelled by Farc in 2016 for refusing to demobilise. \"Today in a seamless operation the criminal known as Rodrigo Cadete, one of the most feared figures of terrorism in our country, was neutralised,\" President Ivan Duque said at an event in the city of Manizales. Mr Botero said fighting was continuing in the region. The Farc, or Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, is now a political party known as the Revolutionary Alternative Common Force with five seats in the Senate and five in the House of Representatives. The Farc was formed in 1964 with the stated intention of overthrowing the government and installing a Marxist regime. Their main founders were small farmers and land workers who had banded together to fight against the staggering levels of inequality in Colombia at the time. After modest beginnings, the left-wing group rose to prominence through the 1980s and 1990s as its association with the drugs trade improved its financial standing. At its peak it was the largest and best-equipped guerrilla force in Latin America. During half a century of conflict between Farc and the authorities, eight million people died, disappeared or were displaced. The 2016 peace deal, reached after years of negotiations, resulted in about 7,000 ex-fighters laying down their weapons.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1345, "answer_end": 2115, "text": "The Farc was formed in 1964 with the stated intention of overthrowing the government and installing a Marxist regime. Their main founders were small farmers and land workers who had banded together to fight against the staggering levels of inequality in Colombia at the time. After modest beginnings, the left-wing group rose to prominence through the 1980s and 1990s as its association with the drugs trade improved its financial standing. At its peak it was the largest and best-equipped guerrilla force in Latin America. During half a century of conflict between Farc and the authorities, eight million people died, disappeared or were displaced. The 2016 peace deal, reached after years of negotiations, resulted in about 7,000 ex-fighters laying down their weapons."}], "question": "Who were the Farc?", "id": "662_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Supporters rally around Brazil's Lula as jail term looms", "date": "7 April 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Former Brazilian President Luis Inacio Lula da Silva has appeared on stage before supporters outside Sao Paulo as he defies a court order to begin a 12-year jail term for corruption. He emerged from the union building where he is staying to attend a Mass for his late wife, Marisa Leticia. Dilma Rousseff, his impeached successor as president, joined him on the stage along with several priests. Two last-minute appeals to have his arrest warrant suspended have failed. Lula says the case against him was politically motivated. A large crowd of supporters are surrounding the union building in the suburb of Sao Bernardo do Campo, where Lula built his trade union and political career. The former metalworker and trade union activist is an iconic figure for the left in Latin America. He is the first left-wing leader to make it to the Brazilian presidency in nearly half a century. The authorities stress he is not being regarded as a fugitive, as everyone knows where he is. Lula says his conviction was designed to stop him from running for president in October's poll, which he had been favourite to win. In an order issued on Thursday, federal judge Sergio Moro said Lula had to present himself before 17:00 local time (20:00 GMT) on Friday at the federal police headquarters in the southern city of Curitiba. Minutes before the deadline, his lawyers lost a bid to keep him out of jail while he appealed against his conviction. By Katy Watson, BBC News, Sao Bernardo do Campo These past 24 hours have captivated Brazil. Helicopters have been circling the metalworkers' union building where Lula is with his supporters, broadcasting every move for viewers across the country. As Friday went on the crowds got bigger. The deadline came and went, and the thousands of Lula fans waiting outside carried on regardless - chanting their support for a man many say was the best president Brazil ever had. What happens now though is unclear - even for a country used to complicated political sagas, this is uncharted territory. Will he go willingly, or could he - and his supporters - put up a fight? There is concern that Lula's demise could yet turn violent. Lula served as president from 2003-2011. Despite a lead in opinion polls ahead of October's election, he remains a divisive figure. While he was in office, Brazil experienced its longest period of economic growth in three decades, allowing his administration to spend lavishly on social programmes. Tens of millions of people were lifted out of poverty thanks to the initiatives taken by his government and he left office after two consecutive terms (the maximum allowed in Brazil) with record popularity ratings. The charges against Lula came from an anti-corruption investigation known as Operation Car Wash, which has embroiled top politicians from several parties. He was convicted of receiving a renovated beachfront apartment worth some 3.7m reais ($1.1m, PS790,000), as a bribe from engineering firm OAS. The defence says Lula's ownership of the apartment has never been proven and that his conviction rests largely on the word of the former chairman of OAS, himself convicted of corruption. Supreme Court Justice Edson Fachin rejected Lula's appeal on Saturday, a day after his appeal to the   Superior Court was declined. The two courts did not re-examine Lula's conviction, only whether legal procedures were followed correctly and his constitutional rights were observed. Ordering his surrender on Thursday, Judge Moro said the former president would have a separate cell with its own toilet in Curitiba. He would not be handcuffed if he came quietly, the judge promised.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 977, "answer_end": 1432, "text": "Lula says his conviction was designed to stop him from running for president in October's poll, which he had been favourite to win. In an order issued on Thursday, federal judge Sergio Moro said Lula had to present himself before 17:00 local time (20:00 GMT) on Friday at the federal police headquarters in the southern city of Curitiba. Minutes before the deadline, his lawyers lost a bid to keep him out of jail while he appealed against his conviction."}], "question": "Why is Lula doing this?", "id": "663_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2157, "answer_end": 2670, "text": "Lula served as president from 2003-2011. Despite a lead in opinion polls ahead of October's election, he remains a divisive figure. While he was in office, Brazil experienced its longest period of economic growth in three decades, allowing his administration to spend lavishly on social programmes. Tens of millions of people were lifted out of poverty thanks to the initiatives taken by his government and he left office after two consecutive terms (the maximum allowed in Brazil) with record popularity ratings."}], "question": "Who is Lula?", "id": "663_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2671, "answer_end": 3155, "text": "The charges against Lula came from an anti-corruption investigation known as Operation Car Wash, which has embroiled top politicians from several parties. He was convicted of receiving a renovated beachfront apartment worth some 3.7m reais ($1.1m, PS790,000), as a bribe from engineering firm OAS. The defence says Lula's ownership of the apartment has never been proven and that his conviction rests largely on the word of the former chairman of OAS, himself convicted of corruption."}], "question": "What was he convicted of?", "id": "663_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3156, "answer_end": 3639, "text": "Supreme Court Justice Edson Fachin rejected Lula's appeal on Saturday, a day after his appeal to the   Superior Court was declined. The two courts did not re-examine Lula's conviction, only whether legal procedures were followed correctly and his constitutional rights were observed. Ordering his surrender on Thursday, Judge Moro said the former president would have a separate cell with its own toilet in Curitiba. He would not be handcuffed if he came quietly, the judge promised."}], "question": "What happens next?", "id": "663_3"}]}]}, {"title": "New Zealand votes tipsy pigeon bird of the year", "date": "15 October 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "New Zealand has voted for its bird of the year 2018 and it's one known for being \"drunk, clumsy and a bit of a clown\", organisers say. The kereru has a liking for fermented fruits, which contain alcohol. And that means the birds can get quite tipsy at times, displaying clumsy antics and falling off trees. This year's campaign saw celebrity endorsements from actor Stephen Fry and comedian Bill Bailey, while one species even had a Tinder profile. The kereru is one of the few native birds in New Zealand that is not endangered. \"They have quite a reputation of being large and clumsy and being a bit of a clown,\" Megan Hubscher of Forest & Bird, the conservationist group that runs the annual vote, told the BBC. The bird loves fruit and depending on the season, these fruits might be fermented. Hence, the bird will get drunk. \"There are a lot of videos around of kereru getting drunk and stumbling around in a comical manner,\" Ms Hubscher laughs. \"That's part of the charm. they're just very loveable birds.\" The kereru is found all across New Zealand and in most areas is doing well. \"It's only some parts where there's not enough predator control that introduced species like rats or possums will eat their eggs or their chicks while they're still in the nest,\" explains Ms Hubscher. But that's the exception: \"Only one in five of the country's native birds are doing ok. That means 80% are threatened with extinction and so they do need a lot of focus and attention.\" The whole campaign to elect a bird of the year is run by Forest & Bird to draw attention to New Zealand's birds and the threats they face. This time round, the vote received quite a bit of attention from around the globe. Celebrity endorsements saw Stephen Fry for instance back the kakapo - of which there are only 150 animals left - while Bill Bailey supported the takahe. Another bird, the kaki or black stilt, had its campaign team set up its very own profile on the dating app Tinder, where it got some 500 matches across the country. Sadly, that's a lot more than there are kaki around - only 123 known adult birds live on the South Island. Ms Hubscher says the annual campaign to vote for a bird of the year has really taken off and each year gets bigger. Celebrity endorsements, Tinder profiles and politicians throwing their weight in are all a case in point. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern was quick to congratulate the kereru even though she had been rooting for the taiko, or black petrel. There's a special connection with birds in New Zealand says Ms Hubscher. The kiwi is a national symbol and there is a strong sense that the unique environment with its many native species is part of the country's identity. \"We even have birds on all of our banknotes so that certainly is something special. It's something that really catches the imagination of people.\"", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 530, "answer_end": 1474, "text": "\"They have quite a reputation of being large and clumsy and being a bit of a clown,\" Megan Hubscher of Forest & Bird, the conservationist group that runs the annual vote, told the BBC. The bird loves fruit and depending on the season, these fruits might be fermented. Hence, the bird will get drunk. \"There are a lot of videos around of kereru getting drunk and stumbling around in a comical manner,\" Ms Hubscher laughs. \"That's part of the charm. they're just very loveable birds.\" The kereru is found all across New Zealand and in most areas is doing well. \"It's only some parts where there's not enough predator control that introduced species like rats or possums will eat their eggs or their chicks while they're still in the nest,\" explains Ms Hubscher. But that's the exception: \"Only one in five of the country's native birds are doing ok. That means 80% are threatened with extinction and so they do need a lot of focus and attention.\""}], "question": "What kind of bird is it?", "id": "664_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1475, "answer_end": 2845, "text": "The whole campaign to elect a bird of the year is run by Forest & Bird to draw attention to New Zealand's birds and the threats they face. This time round, the vote received quite a bit of attention from around the globe. Celebrity endorsements saw Stephen Fry for instance back the kakapo - of which there are only 150 animals left - while Bill Bailey supported the takahe. Another bird, the kaki or black stilt, had its campaign team set up its very own profile on the dating app Tinder, where it got some 500 matches across the country. Sadly, that's a lot more than there are kaki around - only 123 known adult birds live on the South Island. Ms Hubscher says the annual campaign to vote for a bird of the year has really taken off and each year gets bigger. Celebrity endorsements, Tinder profiles and politicians throwing their weight in are all a case in point. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern was quick to congratulate the kereru even though she had been rooting for the taiko, or black petrel. There's a special connection with birds in New Zealand says Ms Hubscher. The kiwi is a national symbol and there is a strong sense that the unique environment with its many native species is part of the country's identity. \"We even have birds on all of our banknotes so that certainly is something special. It's something that really catches the imagination of people.\""}], "question": "Why choose a 'bird of the year'?", "id": "664_1"}]}]}, {"title": "Candidates spar for European Commission president job", "date": "16 May 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "The candidates to take over from Jean-Claude Juncker as President of the European Commission have clashed in a televised debate broadcast across the EU. It was part of the spitzenkandidat - or \"lead candidate\" - process, where contenders for the role are put forward by the pan-European groups of like-minded political parties in the European Parliament. Each applicant has to be running in the European elections which will be held on 23-26 May. The job comes with a staff of more than 30,000, a seat at summits of EU leaders and the right to propose new European laws. The concept was tried for the first time in 2014. It is meant to make the appointment seem more democratic by putting the winner through something resembling an election campaign. Six candidates were on stage in Brussels: Manfred Weber has been a high-flyer in the EU's influential bloc of centre-right parties from a young age. He often stresses his Bavarian roots as he promotes his 10-point plan for Europe. He is the closest the contest has to a front-runner but the only thing he has ever run is the EPP delegation in the European Parliament. During the debate, he promised to appoint a commissioner to oversee a new relationship with  Africa to help control migration to Europe. He said future trade deals with other countries would include clauses banning child labour. But he had to fend off accusations that his centre-right colleagues had voted against climate change measures. He is the supremely multilingual First Vice-President of the European Commission. The Dutchman steered through EU legislation banning plastic straws and negotiated the EU's deal with Turkey to reduce the flow of migrants. His signature proposal in the debate was a minimum rate of corporation tax across the EU of 18%. Ms Vestager, from Denmark, currently oversees competition policy at the European Commission, where she led investigations that ended in big fines for Google and Apple. But she admitted during the debate that the Commission had alienated voters. \"Last year we got digital citizens' rights. That we called GDPR. How can we expect people to appreciate that?\" Unusually the Liberals have fielded a slate of six others for the EU's top job, including the European Parliament's Brexit co-ordinator Guy Verhofstadt. This is Ska Keller's second time as a spitzenkandidat. Although she is a Green, she is as likely to talk about the rights of migrants as the plight of the environment. She demanded that future agreements contain better protections for human rights. Dutch environmentalist Bas Eickhout is also standing for the Greens. The far left's representative is a former metalworker from Spain who grew up in Belgium. \"EU unity is at risk because of austerity policies of unheard-of violence being applied in Southern Europe,\" he said. He shares the role with Violeta Tomic, a former TV actress and member of the Slovenian Parliament. The European Conservative and Reformists selected this Czech MEP to make the case for limiting the powers of the EU institutions and reinforcing the role of the individual member states. He quoted opinion polls from his home country which showed that 90% of  citizens wanted to stay in the EU but 70% did not want to join the single currency, the euro. \"There is a clear example that people like the European Union but do not like everything that comes from the European Union,\" he said at the debate. Figures from various other political tribes had been mentioned as potential spitzenkandidaten but either failed to fulfil the criteria for taking part in the TV debate or never quite embraced the idea. The includes the Deputy Prime Minister of Italy Matteo Salvini, the former Greek finance minister Yannis Varoufakis and Oriol Junqueras, currently in jail for his role in the 2017 Catalan independence referendum, declared illegal by Spain. But there is no guarantee that any of them will end up as President of the European Commission. Previously the job went to the person whose group won the most seats in the election. That's how Jean-Claude Juncker got the job five years ago, despite objections from David Cameron and the Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban. This time round, EU leaders have said the European treaties give them the sole authority to nominate someone for the role, and that they only have to nod towards the results of the European Parliament election when they make their choice. The successful candidate then has to secure a majority in the European Parliament. And the appointment is more likely to be the product of power-plays between countries, and the need for a gender and geographical balance among the EU's other upcoming vacancies, which include the head of the European Central Bank, the President of the European Council and the bloc's Foreign Policy chief. \"It means we might end up with everyone's second choice,\" explained one EU official. That could be the EU's Chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier who impressed many governments with his ability to keep 27 countries on the same page during the talks with the UK. But the Brussels rumour mill's current favourite fantasy candidate is the German Chancellor Angela Merkel, even though there is no evidence whatsoever she has any interest in the job. The days after the European elections will see a race for control of the process that will pit the European political parties against EU leaders, who will discuss the issue at a special summit on 28 May.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 3413, "answer_end": 5460, "text": "Figures from various other political tribes had been mentioned as potential spitzenkandidaten but either failed to fulfil the criteria for taking part in the TV debate or never quite embraced the idea. The includes the Deputy Prime Minister of Italy Matteo Salvini, the former Greek finance minister Yannis Varoufakis and Oriol Junqueras, currently in jail for his role in the 2017 Catalan independence referendum, declared illegal by Spain. But there is no guarantee that any of them will end up as President of the European Commission. Previously the job went to the person whose group won the most seats in the election. That's how Jean-Claude Juncker got the job five years ago, despite objections from David Cameron and the Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban. This time round, EU leaders have said the European treaties give them the sole authority to nominate someone for the role, and that they only have to nod towards the results of the European Parliament election when they make their choice. The successful candidate then has to secure a majority in the European Parliament. And the appointment is more likely to be the product of power-plays between countries, and the need for a gender and geographical balance among the EU's other upcoming vacancies, which include the head of the European Central Bank, the President of the European Council and the bloc's Foreign Policy chief. \"It means we might end up with everyone's second choice,\" explained one EU official. That could be the EU's Chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier who impressed many governments with his ability to keep 27 countries on the same page during the talks with the UK. But the Brussels rumour mill's current favourite fantasy candidate is the German Chancellor Angela Merkel, even though there is no evidence whatsoever she has any interest in the job. The days after the European elections will see a race for control of the process that will pit the European political parties against EU leaders, who will discuss the issue at a special summit on 28 May."}], "question": "So who's going to win?", "id": "665_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Protesters call on Sudan's President Bashir to step down", "date": "4 January 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Hundreds of protesters have gathered in the Sudanese city of Omdurman to call for an end to the nearly 30-year rule of President Omar al-Bashir. The BBC's Mohamed Osman says security forces have used tear gas against some of the 300 or so demonstrators there. Sudan has already been rocked by two weeks of sometimes deadly street demonstrations prompted by a rise in the cost of living. The anti-government protests first erupted in mid-December over inflation. The price of bread had tripled in some places and fuel costs have also risen. The protests in Omdurman, close to the capital Khartoum, began after Friday prayers. People were heard chanting: \"Freedom, peace, and justice. Revolution is the people's choice.\" Many of those taking part came straight from the Al Syiad Abderhaman mosque, which is linked to the opposition Umma party. Demonstrations began on 19 December after the government announced price rises for fuel and bread. The protests have escalated into broader calls for an end to the rule of President Bashir, who came to power after a coup in 1989. Activists accuse him of mismanaging the economy. Over the past year, the cost of some goods has more than doubled, while the Sudanese pound has plunged in value. Three-quarters of Sudan's oil wealth has been lost after the country's southern half voted to secede in 2011, leading to the formation of South Sudan. Its economy has also been strained by over 20 years of US sanctions, which were lifted in October 2017. The US had introduced economic sanctions after accusing Sudan of sponsoring terrorist groups. Mr Bashir's regime has been accused of widespread human rights abuses. In 2009 and 2010, the International Criminal Court (ICC) charged him with several counts of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity, and a warrant was issued for his arrest.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 842, "answer_end": 1836, "text": "Demonstrations began on 19 December after the government announced price rises for fuel and bread. The protests have escalated into broader calls for an end to the rule of President Bashir, who came to power after a coup in 1989. Activists accuse him of mismanaging the economy. Over the past year, the cost of some goods has more than doubled, while the Sudanese pound has plunged in value. Three-quarters of Sudan's oil wealth has been lost after the country's southern half voted to secede in 2011, leading to the formation of South Sudan. Its economy has also been strained by over 20 years of US sanctions, which were lifted in October 2017. The US had introduced economic sanctions after accusing Sudan of sponsoring terrorist groups. Mr Bashir's regime has been accused of widespread human rights abuses. In 2009 and 2010, the International Criminal Court (ICC) charged him with several counts of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity, and a warrant was issued for his arrest."}], "question": "Why are people protesting?", "id": "666_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Living in a woodland wonderland: The rise of the tree house", "date": "24 June 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Freedom, fun and adventure. That is what tree houses have been about for generations of kids. Increasingly however, adults are being lured into spending a night or two among the branches. Vancouver Island in Canada is home to a rather unusual resort called Free Spirit Spheres. Founded in 1998 by Tom Chudleigh, it offers guests the opportunity to stay in one of three yellow spheres - Eva, Eryn or Melody - which are suspended from trees. Eve is made of yellow cedar wood and Eryn of Sitka spruce, while Melody is constructed from fibreglass. \"I start with a shell, then add frames and insulation and put in the floor,\" explains Mr Chudleigh. \"I make all the fixtures and fittings by hand; the local hardware stores don't make door hinges to fit spheres. When the pods are ready, they are hung from a spider's web of rope, which is replaced every three years.\" Guests enter the tree houses through a spiral staircase that wraps around one of the trees. Mr Chudleigh says that the pods' unique shape is not just a gimmick. \"The sphere works like a nutshell, it is nature's packaging unit. It is really light and strong and if something falls on it, for example a tree branch, the spherical shape means that the impact is spread over the entire structure.\" So does the sway make guests feel a bit queasy? Mr Chudleigh says not. \"The spheres always dwell in the centre of a triangle of trees. The tethers or support ropes are very near vertical... which makes sure the load is 'in column', or straight down the tree, and this minimizes the movement of the sphere.\" Typical customers are couples who want to do something a bit different, and despite the considerable price tag, demand is high. \"The average cost per sphere is $275 (PS157) a night,\" says Mr Chudleigh. \"Visitor numbers have probably doubled in the past five years. In 1998, Eve, our first pod, got about 30-50 guests a year. By 2012 each sphere was getting 200 sets of customers a year and they are rented out for around 300 nights of the year.\" Although Mr Chudleigh's designs appear to be from another dimension, they are part of a wider trend when it comes to modern tree houses; big, bold and often expensive creations built for and by adults. Pete Nelson, presenter of US TV series Treehouse Masters, was one of the pioneers of the new breed of tree dwellings. His 1994 book, Treehouses: The Art and Craft of Living Out on a Limb, became a surprise hit and inspired a new generation of tree house enthusiasts. Now, Mr Nelson designs and builds individual tree houses for private clients, as well as million dollar projects for corporate customers. One of his customers is the tech giant Microsoft, for which Mr Nelson is creating a three-building structure. The hope is that it will give employees space to think, away from a conventional office. \"Studies show people can work better in nature, they are more productive,\" says Mr Nelson. \"When I visited during the build there were around 15 people typing away on their laptops.\" The idea of getting away from it all is also fundamental to the Treehotel in Sweden. The brainchild of Kent and Britta Lindvall it consists of seven ethereal structures, erected in the forests near the village of Boden, 30 miles south of the Arctic Circle in Lapland. Walking round the complex is surreal. Turn a corner and you might spot a giant mirrored cube hanging among the trees, go down a clearing and you are greeted with a set of steps slowly descending from a UFO. Mr Lindvall says that there is method to this madness. Each of the rooms was designed by an architect tasked with making use of the changing light and natural surroundings. \"In some rooms there are big windows so that guests can get close to what is outside; snow, rain, the northern lights and the midnight sun in summer. Other rooms such as the UFO and the Birds' Nest don't have any windows; they deliberately feel cosy and dark.\" As travellers have widened their horizons, the Treehotel has expanded. \"In our first year, 2010, we had four rooms and around 1,500 guests a year,\" says Mr Lindvall. \"Today we have seven rooms and nearly 5,000 guests.\" While some of the most ambitious builds in the tree house world are done for companies and hotels, private customers are also part of the boom. In Bristol, UK, a firm called Squirrel Designs caters to families, with tree houses that cost up to PS70,000. Simon Martin, who runs the company with business partner Nick Low, says their creations can be seen as investments. \"Often our clients are trying to add value to their properties, it might be that they have renovated their house and want something to set it apart.\" Many customers are motivated by nostalgia, Mr Martin adds. \"A lot of the parents we talk to read [Enid Blyton's] Famous Five as kids and are fulfilling their own dreams. We'll build a treehouse that is supposedly for the kids, but often the first person down the zip wire or rope swing is the dad.\" One of Squirrel Designs' recent projects was a one-bedroom construction, the size of a small studio apartment, with a veranda big enough for a substantial dining table. It was built for Rebecca Moss, husband Nick and children Jack, Monty, Eddy and Harry. \"We use it as extra accommodation and for somewhere for the boys to have sleepovers,\" says Mrs Moss. \"We wanted something fun, but that would blend in with the woodland.\" Mrs Moss adds that although the the substantial hexagonal structure is a luxury item, it's not a folly, \"It's a form of house extension and if we did come to sell the house I think it would make it stand out. \"If we needed to we could put it on Airbnb or rent it out, so it definitely won't be just sitting there, rotting away.\"", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 4126, "answer_end": 5699, "text": "While some of the most ambitious builds in the tree house world are done for companies and hotels, private customers are also part of the boom. In Bristol, UK, a firm called Squirrel Designs caters to families, with tree houses that cost up to PS70,000. Simon Martin, who runs the company with business partner Nick Low, says their creations can be seen as investments. \"Often our clients are trying to add value to their properties, it might be that they have renovated their house and want something to set it apart.\" Many customers are motivated by nostalgia, Mr Martin adds. \"A lot of the parents we talk to read [Enid Blyton's] Famous Five as kids and are fulfilling their own dreams. We'll build a treehouse that is supposedly for the kids, but often the first person down the zip wire or rope swing is the dad.\" One of Squirrel Designs' recent projects was a one-bedroom construction, the size of a small studio apartment, with a veranda big enough for a substantial dining table. It was built for Rebecca Moss, husband Nick and children Jack, Monty, Eddy and Harry. \"We use it as extra accommodation and for somewhere for the boys to have sleepovers,\" says Mrs Moss. \"We wanted something fun, but that would blend in with the woodland.\" Mrs Moss adds that although the the substantial hexagonal structure is a luxury item, it's not a folly, \"It's a form of house extension and if we did come to sell the house I think it would make it stand out. \"If we needed to we could put it on Airbnb or rent it out, so it definitely won't be just sitting there, rotting away.\""}], "question": "Is it really for the kids?", "id": "667_0"}]}]}, {"title": "California fires: Firefighters hold containment lines in north", "date": "13 November 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Crews battling a deadly wildfire in northern California have managed to hold their containment lines, the state fire service says. They have contained 30% of the fire, stretching over 125,000 acres (50,500 ha), but do not expect to contain it fully until the end of the month. In the ruined town of Paradise, Butte County, forensics teams are continuing to search for human remains. The official death toll has risen to 48, with dozens of people missing. Another blaze in the south of the state, the Woolsey Fire, has killed at least two people, damaging beach resorts including Malibu, a favourite with the rich and famous. It is still burning across more than 96,000 acres but is 35% contained, the state fire service tweeted. Another, smaller blaze, the Hill Fire, is 90% contained in Ventura County, north of Los Angeles. President Donald Trump has paid tribute to emergency crews' \"incredible courage in the face of danger\". \"We mourn the lives of those lost and we pray for the victims and there were more victims than anybody would ever think possible,\" he said. By Dave Lee, BBC News, Paradise, northern California It's five days since the Camp Fire destroyed this town. Power lines are strewn across the streets, cars melted into their driveways. There are clues to the panic that must have swept through what was a charming town. A garden table, with food-serving tongs at the ready - both now fused together by the extreme heat. In nearby Chico, on the site of a fairground, impressive emergency planning is in action: last night's shift of firefighters sleep in a warehouse, while today's get their briefings. But being prepared for the worst doesn't make it any less traumatic. This is a county in shock - at lives, homes and livelihoods lost. And the knowledge that, in California, this will happen again. Convoys of fire engines could be seen rumbling through the charred ruins of the town on Tuesday, Reuters news agency reports, as crews headed out to fight the deadliest wildfire in the state's history. Workers used chainsaws to clear downed power lines and other obstacles from the streets. At least 6,607 residences have been destroyed in the county along with 1,032 commercial and other structures. \"Thirty percent [containment] is kind of where we're getting close to rounding the corner,\" said Cal Fire spokeswoman Erica Bain. \"When we're in the 30s and 40s, they're getting a good handle on it. By the end of this week I'd like to see that number up to 40, maybe 45.\" Another Cal Fire representative, Scott McLean, said firefighters were now more optimistic because of changing weather conditions. Officials warn that finding human remains could take weeks. It was expected that 150 search-and-recovery personnel would arrive on Tuesday to reinforce 13 coroner-led recovery teams in the fire zone, Reuters reports. Three portable morgue teams have been requested from the US military along with a \"disaster mortuary\" crew, cadaver dog units to locate human remains and three groups of forensic anthropologists. Many victims in Paradise are believed to have been elderly residents or people with mobility issues who would have found evacuating more difficult. Historically, California's \"wildfire season\" started in summer and ran into early autumn but experts have warned that the risk is now year-round. The California Public Utilities Commission is investigating what sparked the latest blazes - amid reports electrical companies may have suffered malfunctions near the sources shortly before the fires began. Low humidity, warm Santa Ana winds, and dry ground after a rain-free month have produced a prime fire-spreading environment. The state's 40-million-strong population also helps explain the fires' deadliness. That number is almost double what it was in the 1970s, and people are living closer to at-risk forest areas. Citing the role of a warming climate, California Governor Jerry Brown declared: \"This is not the new normal, this is the new abnormal.\"", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1820, "answer_end": 2622, "text": "Convoys of fire engines could be seen rumbling through the charred ruins of the town on Tuesday, Reuters news agency reports, as crews headed out to fight the deadliest wildfire in the state's history. Workers used chainsaws to clear downed power lines and other obstacles from the streets. At least 6,607 residences have been destroyed in the county along with 1,032 commercial and other structures. \"Thirty percent [containment] is kind of where we're getting close to rounding the corner,\" said Cal Fire spokeswoman Erica Bain. \"When we're in the 30s and 40s, they're getting a good handle on it. By the end of this week I'd like to see that number up to 40, maybe 45.\" Another Cal Fire representative, Scott McLean, said firefighters were now more optimistic because of changing weather conditions."}], "question": "How great is the challenge in Butte County?", "id": "668_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3184, "answer_end": 3989, "text": "Historically, California's \"wildfire season\" started in summer and ran into early autumn but experts have warned that the risk is now year-round. The California Public Utilities Commission is investigating what sparked the latest blazes - amid reports electrical companies may have suffered malfunctions near the sources shortly before the fires began. Low humidity, warm Santa Ana winds, and dry ground after a rain-free month have produced a prime fire-spreading environment. The state's 40-million-strong population also helps explain the fires' deadliness. That number is almost double what it was in the 1970s, and people are living closer to at-risk forest areas. Citing the role of a warming climate, California Governor Jerry Brown declared: \"This is not the new normal, this is the new abnormal.\""}], "question": "Why are the fires so bad?", "id": "668_1"}]}]}, {"title": "Heatwaves and the human body", "date": "25 July 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": " Our body will strive to keep a core temperature of about 37.5C whether we're in a snowstorm or a heatwave. It is the temperature our bodies have evolved to work at. But as the mercury rises, the body has to work harder to keep its core temperature down. So, it opens more blood vessels near the skin to lose heat to our surroundings and starts sweating. As the sweat evaporates, it dramatically increases the heat lost from the skin. This might sound simple but it puts a strain on the body - and the higher temperatures rise, the greater the strain. Those opened up blood vessels lead to a lower blood pressure and make the heart work harder and pump faster to push the blood around the body. This can cause mild symptoms such as an itchy heat rash or swollen feet as blood vessels become leaky. But if the pressure drops too low, then insufficient blood will reach the organs that need it and the risk of heart attacks rises. At the same time, sweating leads to the loss of fluids and salt and, crucially, the balance between them in the body changes. And this combined with the lowered blood pressure can lead to heat exhaustion, the symptoms of which include: * dizziness * fainting * confusion * nausea * muscle cramps * headaches * heavy sweating * tiredness If they can be cooled down within half an hour, then heat exhaustion is not normally serious. The NHS advice is to: - Move them to a cool place. - Get them to lie down and raise their feet slightly - Get them to drink plenty of water - sports or rehydration drinks are also OK - Cool their skin - spray or sponge them with cool water and fan them. Cold packs around the armpits or neck are good too However, if they do not recover within 30 minutes, then what follows is heat stroke. It is a medical emergency and you should call 999. People with heat stroke may stop sweating even though they are too hot, their temperature could have passed 40C and they may have seizures or lose consciousness. Healthy people should be able to cope with a heatwave by using common sense - but some are at greater risk. Old age or some long-term conditions, such as heart disease, can leave people less able to cope with the strain heat puts on the body. Diabetes, both types 1 and 2, can make the body lose water more quickly and some complications of the diseases can alter blood vessels and the ability to sweat. It is also crucial to be able to recognise you are too hot and then be able to do something about it. This will be something most of us take for granted. However, children and babies, those who are less mobile may be more vulnerable and brain diseases such as dementia can leave people unaware of the heat or unable to do anything about it. People who are homeless will also be more exposed to the power of the sun. And those living in top-floor flats will also face higher temperatures. Yes - but people should keep taking their medication as normal and need to make more effort to stay cool and hydrated. Diuretics increase the amount of water the body expels. They are taken widely, including for heart failure. In high temperatures, they increase the dangers of dehydration and imbalances in key minerals in the body. Antihypertensives - which lower blood pressure - can combine with the blood vessels that are dilating to cope with the heat and cause dangerous drops in blood pressure. Some epilepsy and anti-Parkinson's drugs can block sweating and make it harder for the body to cool itself. And other drugs such as lithium or statins can become more concentrated and problematic in the blood if there is too much fluid loss. Yes. There are about 2,000 deaths caused by high temperatures in England every year. Most of these will be heart attacks and strokes caused by the strain of trying to keep body temperatures stable. The higher death rate starts to kick in once the thermometer passes 25-26C. However, the evidence suggests the deaths tend to be caused by higher temperatures in spring or early summer rather than \"peak summer\". This could be because we start to change our day-to-day behaviour as summer progresses and we get more used to dealing with the heat. The evidence from previous heatwaves is the increase in deaths happens very quickly - within the first 24 hours of the heatwave. This is in contrast with cold snaps, which can also be deadly but take longer to have an impact. A 2010 study into the impact of heatwaves on deaths in nine European cities and found increases of anywhere from 7.6% (in Munich) to 33.6% (in Milan). Europe's 2003 heatwave caused about 70,000 additional deaths, according to estimates. The highest temperatures will obviously be during the day, when the sun is beating down on us, but night-time temperature is also crucial. The reason is the body needs a break. If the strain of keeping the core body temperature under control continues through day and night, then it increases the risk of health problems. The advice is pretty simple and obvious - stay cool and hydrated. One way of thinking about it is to act like you would on a hot, sunny holiday - you don't stop having fun but you do change your behaviour. Do you really need to do that 10k run at noon or can you wait until the evening? So, make sure you're drinking enough water or milk. Tea and coffee are also fine. The one to watch out for is excessive alcohol as it can increase the risk of dehydration. And try to keep cool - if it's hotter outside than inside your home, then you might be better off keeping the windows closed and the curtains drawn. You might find it more pleasant to head for a park, with some breeze and shade, than stay at home. Follow James on Twitter.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1, "answer_end": 434, "text": "Our body will strive to keep a core temperature of about 37.5C whether we're in a snowstorm or a heatwave. It is the temperature our bodies have evolved to work at. But as the mercury rises, the body has to work harder to keep its core temperature down. So, it opens more blood vessels near the skin to lose heat to our surroundings and starts sweating. As the sweat evaporates, it dramatically increases the heat lost from the skin."}], "question": "What impact does heat have on the body?", "id": "669_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1266, "answer_end": 1962, "text": "If they can be cooled down within half an hour, then heat exhaustion is not normally serious. The NHS advice is to: - Move them to a cool place. - Get them to lie down and raise their feet slightly - Get them to drink plenty of water - sports or rehydration drinks are also OK - Cool their skin - spray or sponge them with cool water and fan them. Cold packs around the armpits or neck are good too However, if they do not recover within 30 minutes, then what follows is heat stroke. It is a medical emergency and you should call 999. People with heat stroke may stop sweating even though they are too hot, their temperature could have passed 40C and they may have seizures or lose consciousness."}], "question": "What should I do if I see someone with heat exhaustion?", "id": "669_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1963, "answer_end": 2854, "text": "Healthy people should be able to cope with a heatwave by using common sense - but some are at greater risk. Old age or some long-term conditions, such as heart disease, can leave people less able to cope with the strain heat puts on the body. Diabetes, both types 1 and 2, can make the body lose water more quickly and some complications of the diseases can alter blood vessels and the ability to sweat. It is also crucial to be able to recognise you are too hot and then be able to do something about it. This will be something most of us take for granted. However, children and babies, those who are less mobile may be more vulnerable and brain diseases such as dementia can leave people unaware of the heat or unable to do anything about it. People who are homeless will also be more exposed to the power of the sun. And those living in top-floor flats will also face higher temperatures."}], "question": "Who is more at risk?", "id": "669_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2855, "answer_end": 3599, "text": "Yes - but people should keep taking their medication as normal and need to make more effort to stay cool and hydrated. Diuretics increase the amount of water the body expels. They are taken widely, including for heart failure. In high temperatures, they increase the dangers of dehydration and imbalances in key minerals in the body. Antihypertensives - which lower blood pressure - can combine with the blood vessels that are dilating to cope with the heat and cause dangerous drops in blood pressure. Some epilepsy and anti-Parkinson's drugs can block sweating and make it harder for the body to cool itself. And other drugs such as lithium or statins can become more concentrated and problematic in the blood if there is too much fluid loss."}], "question": "Do some drugs increase the risk?", "id": "669_3"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3600, "answer_end": 4606, "text": "Yes. There are about 2,000 deaths caused by high temperatures in England every year. Most of these will be heart attacks and strokes caused by the strain of trying to keep body temperatures stable. The higher death rate starts to kick in once the thermometer passes 25-26C. However, the evidence suggests the deaths tend to be caused by higher temperatures in spring or early summer rather than \"peak summer\". This could be because we start to change our day-to-day behaviour as summer progresses and we get more used to dealing with the heat. The evidence from previous heatwaves is the increase in deaths happens very quickly - within the first 24 hours of the heatwave. This is in contrast with cold snaps, which can also be deadly but take longer to have an impact. A 2010 study into the impact of heatwaves on deaths in nine European cities and found increases of anywhere from 7.6% (in Munich) to 33.6% (in Milan). Europe's 2003 heatwave caused about 70,000 additional deaths, according to estimates."}], "question": "Does heat kill?", "id": "669_4"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 4929, "answer_end": 5660, "text": "The advice is pretty simple and obvious - stay cool and hydrated. One way of thinking about it is to act like you would on a hot, sunny holiday - you don't stop having fun but you do change your behaviour. Do you really need to do that 10k run at noon or can you wait until the evening? So, make sure you're drinking enough water or milk. Tea and coffee are also fine. The one to watch out for is excessive alcohol as it can increase the risk of dehydration. And try to keep cool - if it's hotter outside than inside your home, then you might be better off keeping the windows closed and the curtains drawn. You might find it more pleasant to head for a park, with some breeze and shade, than stay at home. Follow James on Twitter."}], "question": "So what do I do about the heat?", "id": "669_5"}]}]}, {"title": "Greeks vote in snap general election", "date": "7 July 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Greeks are going to the polls to elect a new parliament, with the centre-right opposition mounting a strong challenge to the leftist government. The New Democracy party of Kyriakos Mitsotakis is hoping to end more than four years of rule by Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras's Syriza party. Mr Tsipras called snap elections soon after suffering an electoral defeat in May's European elections. Polling stations opened at 07:00 local time (04:00 GMT). It is Greece's sixth election since the global financial crisis in 2008. The crisis triggered a succession of financial bailouts, with the Greek economy shrinking by 28% between 2008 and 2016, and increasing unemployment has thrown many Greeks into poverty. Greece exited the bailout programme in August of last year and growth has returned. But with temperatures hitting 35C in much of the country, many politicians are concerned on the impact the weather may have on turnout, as voters stay cool at home - or head to the beach. Mr Mitsotakis is promising 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. Mr Tsipras, who came to power in 2015, has promised more investment and recently boosted pensions. His own investment policies would also have to be renegotiated with creditors as the country remains under eurozone supervision. Each of the country's numerous parties needs to gain at least 3% of the vote to get into the parliament and as many as seven of them could win seats. The winning party gets a 50-seat bonus and needs 151 seats in the 300-seat parliament to have a majority. At the European elections, New Democracy won 33.11% of the vote against 23.78% for Syriza. The highest percentage of 18-to-24 year olds (30.5%) at that election backed New Democracy.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 977, "answer_end": 1841, "text": "Mr Mitsotakis is promising 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. Mr Tsipras, who came to power in 2015, has promised more investment and recently boosted pensions. His own investment policies would also have to be renegotiated with creditors as the country remains under eurozone supervision. Each of the country's numerous parties needs to gain at least 3% of the vote to get into the parliament and as many as seven of them could win seats. The winning party gets a 50-seat bonus and needs 151 seats in the 300-seat parliament to have a majority. At the European elections, New Democracy won 33.11% of the vote against 23.78% for Syriza. The highest percentage of 18-to-24 year olds (30.5%) at that election backed New Democracy."}], "question": "What are the rival parties offering?", "id": "670_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Yellow vest protests: Paris police sacked, rally bans planned", "date": "18 March 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "The French government will replace the Paris police chief and ban rallies in some areas, after Saturday's violent protests. Prime Minister Edouard Philippe said the authorities would act as soon as \"radical groups\" were identified in the worst-hit areas. Last Saturday, rioters smashed shops on Paris's famed Champs-Elysees. About 10,000 people took part in the protest, a marked increase compared with similar recent rallies. The \"yellow vests\" (\"gilets jaunes\") began weekly protests across France four months ago, initially because of fuel tax rises. The movement escalated into a broader revolt against perceived elitism, for which activists blame President Emmanuel Macron. The famous Fouquet's restaurant - a haunt of previous French presidents - was badly damaged in Saturday's clashes. Rioters also vandalised a Boss menswear store and the luxury Longchamp handbag store. The Paris Ile-de-France Chamber of Commerce says that 91 businesses were hit, nearly all of them suffering serious damage. In a televised statement on Monday, Mr Philippe said: \"From next Saturday, we will ban 'yellow vest' protests in neighbourhoods that have been the worst hit as soon as we see signs of the presence of radical groups and their intent to cause damage.\" The restrictions would apply to Paris and other cities. Mr Philippe also admitted that \"inappropriate instructions\" had been given to Paris police to deal with protesters last Saturday. Mr Philippe said Paris police chief Michel Delpuech would be replaced on Wednesday by Didier Lallement, the top police official in the south-west Nouvelle-Aquitaine region. Organised groups of ultra-left radicals were largely responsible for last Saturday's violence, but there has also been widespread criticism of the police response, the BBC's Hugh Schofield in Paris reports. Far from intervening rapidly to stop the rioting, the police seemed to be on the defensive - one explanation being that they were reluctant to use their more powerful anti-riot ammunition because of concern over the injuries they can cause, our correspondent says. Meanwhile, President Macron cut short a skiing holiday and vowed \"tough\" action in response. \"Now that's the end. I demand that such scenes must not be repeated, especially on that [Champs-Elysees] avenue,\" he said. Police used water cannon and tear gas to disperse the protesters. More than 120 people were arrested. Protesters threw cobblestones at police at the Arc de Triomphe war memorial. During the clashes, a policeman was filmed apparently stuffing Paris Saint-Germain football shirts into a bag. Police are probing that incident. The video, tweeted by journalist Remy Buisine, appears to show police preventing him filming. Buisine is heard shouting: \"Why are you hitting me like that? What right have you to hit my phone?\" He also asks the police why their ID numbers are not visible. One is heard replying: \"You're liars.\" The \"gilets jaunes\" mobilisation was bigger than similar demonstrations in recent weeks. Some 32,300 in total took to the streets throughout France, according to the interior ministry. Mr Macron offered concessions to the protesters late last year after the movement swept the nation - including EUR10bn (PS8.5bn; $11bn) designed to boost the incomes of the poorest workers and pensioners. But discontent has rumbled on. For the past month the president has toured France, listening to local mayors and citizens as part of his \"grand debat\" - a big national debate.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1003, "answer_end": 3484, "text": "In a televised statement on Monday, Mr Philippe said: \"From next Saturday, we will ban 'yellow vest' protests in neighbourhoods that have been the worst hit as soon as we see signs of the presence of radical groups and their intent to cause damage.\" The restrictions would apply to Paris and other cities. Mr Philippe also admitted that \"inappropriate instructions\" had been given to Paris police to deal with protesters last Saturday. Mr Philippe said Paris police chief Michel Delpuech would be replaced on Wednesday by Didier Lallement, the top police official in the south-west Nouvelle-Aquitaine region. Organised groups of ultra-left radicals were largely responsible for last Saturday's violence, but there has also been widespread criticism of the police response, the BBC's Hugh Schofield in Paris reports. Far from intervening rapidly to stop the rioting, the police seemed to be on the defensive - one explanation being that they were reluctant to use their more powerful anti-riot ammunition because of concern over the injuries they can cause, our correspondent says. Meanwhile, President Macron cut short a skiing holiday and vowed \"tough\" action in response. \"Now that's the end. I demand that such scenes must not be repeated, especially on that [Champs-Elysees] avenue,\" he said. Police used water cannon and tear gas to disperse the protesters. More than 120 people were arrested. Protesters threw cobblestones at police at the Arc de Triomphe war memorial. During the clashes, a policeman was filmed apparently stuffing Paris Saint-Germain football shirts into a bag. Police are probing that incident. The video, tweeted by journalist Remy Buisine, appears to show police preventing him filming. Buisine is heard shouting: \"Why are you hitting me like that? What right have you to hit my phone?\" He also asks the police why their ID numbers are not visible. One is heard replying: \"You're liars.\" The \"gilets jaunes\" mobilisation was bigger than similar demonstrations in recent weeks. Some 32,300 in total took to the streets throughout France, according to the interior ministry. Mr Macron offered concessions to the protesters late last year after the movement swept the nation - including EUR10bn (PS8.5bn; $11bn) designed to boost the incomes of the poorest workers and pensioners. But discontent has rumbled on. For the past month the president has toured France, listening to local mayors and citizens as part of his \"grand debat\" - a big national debate."}], "question": "What did PM Philippe say?", "id": "671_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Kim Jong-nam killing: 'VX nerve agent' found on his face", "date": "24 February 2017", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Kim Jong-nam, the half-brother of North Korea's leader, was killed by a highly toxic nerve agent, says Malaysia. Mr Kim died last week after two women accosted him briefly in a check-in hall at a Kuala Lumpur airport. Malaysian toxicology reports indicate he was attacked using VX nerve agent, which is classified as a weapon of mass destruction by the United Nations. There is widespread suspicion that North Korea was responsible for the attack, which it fiercely denies. It responded furiously to Malaysia's insistence on conducting a post-mortem examination and has accused Malaysia of having \"sinister\" purposes. Malaysia's police chief Khalid Abu Bakar said on Friday that the presence of the nerve agent had been detected in swabs taken from Mr Kim's eyes and face. One of the women Mr Kim interacted with at the airport on 13 February had also fallen ill with vomiting afterwards, he added. Mr Khalid said other exhibits were still under analysis and that police were investigating how the banned substance might have entered Malaysia. \"If the amount of the chemical brought in was small, it would be difficult for us to detect,\" he said. - The most potent of the known chemical warfare agents, it is a clear, amber-coloured, oily liquid which is tasteless and odourless - Works by penetrating the skin and disrupting the transmission of nerve impulses - a drop on the skin can kill in minutes. Lower doses can cause eye pain, blurred vision, drowsiness and vomiting - It can be disseminated in a spray or vapour when used as a chemical weapon, or used to contaminate water, food, and agricultural products - VX can be absorbed into the body by inhalation, ingestion, skin contact, or eye contact - Clothing can carry VX for about 30 minutes after contact with the vapour, which can expose other people - Banned by the 1993 Chemical Weapons Convention Read more about VX Who could be behind the attack? Bruce Bennett, a weapons expert at the research institute the Rand Corporation, told the BBC it would have taken only a tiny amount of the substance to kill Mr Kim. He suggests a small quantity of VX - just a drop - was likely to have been put on cloths used by the attackers to touch his face. A separate spray may have been used as a diversion. Mr Khalid has previously said the fact the woman who accosted Mr Kim immediately went to wash her hands showed she was \"very aware\" that she had been handling a toxin. It would have begun affecting his nervous system immediately, causing first shaking and then death within minutes. More from expert Bruce Bennett The authorities say they intend to decontaminate the airport and areas the suspects are known to have visited. VX is a v-type nerve agent, which means the substance can remain lethal for a long period of time. \"It's as persistent as motor oil. It's going to stay there for a long time... which means anyone coming in contact with this could be intoxicated from it,\" forensic toxicologist John Trestrail told the Associated Press news agency. No passengers, airport workers or medical staff who treated Mr Kim were reported to have become ill in the aftermath of the incident, the news agency adds. Tens of thousands of passengers are believed to have passed through the airport since the attack more than 10 days ago. The well-travelled and multilingual oldest son of late North Korean leader Kim Jong-il, he was once considered a potential future leader. He has lived abroad  for years and was bypassed in favour of his half-brother, Kim Jong-un. He had been travelling on a passport under the name Kim Chol. North Korea has yet to confirm that the deceased was actually Kim Jong-nam. For many years, it was believed Kim Jong-nam was being groomed to succeed his father as the next leader. But that appears to have come to an end in 2001 when Kim was caught sneaking into Japan on a fake passport. He later became one of the regime's most high-profile critics, openly questioning the Stalinist policies and dynastic succession his grandfather Kim Il-sung began crafting in 1948. Kim Jong-nam: North Korea's critic in exile A woman was seen in CCTV footage approaching Mr Kim and wiping something across his face. He sought medical help at the airport, saying someone had splashed or sprayed him with liquid. He had a seizure and died on the way to hospital. His body remains in the hospital's mortuary, amid a diplomatic dispute over who should claim it. Main players in mysterious killing Malaysia says it was clearly an attack by North Korean agents. Four people are in custody, including one North Korean and the two women he interacted with at the airport. Seven North Koreans are being sought, including a diplomat. There are a number of North Korean organisations capable of directing such an attack, including the exclusive Guard Command. The North hit back at Malaysia on Thursday, saying it was responsible for the death of one of its citizens. In response, Malaysian Foreign Minister Anifah Aman warned North Korean envoy Kang Chol on Friday that he would be expelled unless he stopped \"spewing lies\" about the attack. Who in North Korea could organise a VX murder? North Korea's history of foreign assassinations North Korea is one of just six countries not to have signed the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) arms control treaty banning the production, stockpiling and use of chemical weapons. According to the Nuclear Threat Initiative project, however, North Korea is thought to have the third largest stockpile of chemical weapons, after the US and Russia. South Korea's defence ministry estimated in 2014 that the North has somewhere between 2,500 and 5,000 tonnes of nerve agents in stock, with VX identified as among them.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 618, "answer_end": 1146, "text": "Malaysia's police chief Khalid Abu Bakar said on Friday that the presence of the nerve agent had been detected in swabs taken from Mr Kim's eyes and face. One of the women Mr Kim interacted with at the airport on 13 February had also fallen ill with vomiting afterwards, he added. Mr Khalid said other exhibits were still under analysis and that police were investigating how the banned substance might have entered Malaysia. \"If the amount of the chemical brought in was small, it would be difficult for us to detect,\" he said."}], "question": "What does the toxicology report say?", "id": "672_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2572, "answer_end": 3289, "text": "The authorities say they intend to decontaminate the airport and areas the suspects are known to have visited. VX is a v-type nerve agent, which means the substance can remain lethal for a long period of time. \"It's as persistent as motor oil. It's going to stay there for a long time... which means anyone coming in contact with this could be intoxicated from it,\" forensic toxicologist John Trestrail told the Associated Press news agency. No passengers, airport workers or medical staff who treated Mr Kim were reported to have become ill in the aftermath of the incident, the news agency adds. Tens of thousands of passengers are believed to have passed through the airport since the attack more than 10 days ago."}], "question": "Is Kuala Lumpur airport safe?", "id": "672_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 5197, "answer_end": 5714, "text": "North Korea is one of just six countries not to have signed the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) arms control treaty banning the production, stockpiling and use of chemical weapons. According to the Nuclear Threat Initiative project, however, North Korea is thought to have the third largest stockpile of chemical weapons, after the US and Russia. South Korea's defence ministry estimated in 2014 that the North has somewhere between 2,500 and 5,000 tonnes of nerve agents in stock, with VX identified as among them."}], "question": "Does North Korea have VX?", "id": "672_2"}]}]}, {"title": "Armistice Day: Macron and Merkel mark end of World War One", "date": "10 November 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel have left their own mark of reconciliation at the start of events to mark the centenary of the end of World War One. They signed a book of remembrance in a railway carriage identical to the one in which the 1918 Armistice was sealed. US President Donald Trump is among world leaders attending the events. But Mr Trump caused controversy by cancelling a trip to a US cemetery on Saturday because of bad weather. The day had a tense beginning amid a row between Mr Trump and Mr Macron over European defence. The French leader said the EU needed a joint army now that the US was pulling out of a key disarmament treaty with Russia. Mr Trump described the comments as insulting and said Europe should pay its share of costs within Nato, the Euro-Atlantic alliance. After a meeting at the Elysee Palace, Mr Macron said he agreed that Europe should pay more. Mrs Merkel became the first German leader since World War Two to visit the forest near the town of Compiegne in northern France where the Armistice was signed. She and Mr Macron unveiled a plaque to Franco-German reconciliation, laid a wreath and signed a book of remembrance in a replica railway carriage. The original wagon, on which it was modelled, was used by Adolf Hitler to accept France's capitulation to Nazi Germany in June 1940. Around 70 world leaders are gathering in Paris for the events. Mr Macron will lead the main event of the centenary - a sombre commemoration on Sunday at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, a memorial to France's fallen under the Arc de Triomphe in Paris. Sunday afternoon will see Mr Macron and Mrs Merkel attend a peace conference - the Paris Peace Forum - with leaders including Russian President Vladimir Putin and Turkey's Recep Tayyip Erdogan. After an hour of talks with Mr Macron and lunch with their wives Melania and Brigitte, Mr Trump had been due to visit one of two American cemeteries on his schedule. But he cancelled his trip to the Aisne-Marne American Cemetery and Memorial due to \"scheduling and logistical difficulties caused by the weather\". White House officials later explained that low cloud would have prevented his helicopter from landing, and cited security concerns about arranging a motorcade to the site. Gen. John Kelly, the White House chief of staff, attended on the president's behalf. The decision attracted much derision on social media, including from President George W Bush speechwriter David Frum who, like many, drew comparisons with the conditions faced by the troops who fought and died in World War One. Particularly strong reaction came from Nicholas Soames, UK Conservative MP and grandson of British wartime leader Winston Churchill. Long read: The forgotten female soldier on the forgotten frontline Video: War footage brought alive in colour Interactive: What would you have done between 1914 and 1918? Living history: Why 'indecent' Armistice Day parties ended Meeting Mr Macron at the presidential palace in Paris, Mr Trump said the US wanted \"a strong Europe,\" but the defence bill \"has been largely on the United States\". Mr Macron said he agreed that \"we need a much better burden-sharing within Nato\". The row began when Mr Macron told French radio station Europe 1 radio on Tuesday \"we must have a Europe that can defend itself on its own without relying only on the United States\". Mr Macron went on to mention threats to Europe, including \"re-emerging authoritarian powers\" that were well-armed on Europe's borders, and attempts to launch cyber-attacks, before concluding: \"We have to protect ourselves with respect to China, Russia and even the United States of America.\" Mr Trump responded angrily in a Friday night tweet, writing: \"President Macron of France has just suggested that Europe build its own military in order to protect itself from the US, China and Russia. Very insulting, but perhaps Europe should first pay its fair share of NATO, which the US subsidizes greatly!\" Mr Macron has already raised spending considerably to meet a Nato target of 2% of the GDP going to defence. He is also overseeing the formation of a European Intervention Initiative, a 10-nation endeavour backed by Germany and the UK.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 922, "answer_end": 1807, "text": "Mrs Merkel became the first German leader since World War Two to visit the forest near the town of Compiegne in northern France where the Armistice was signed. She and Mr Macron unveiled a plaque to Franco-German reconciliation, laid a wreath and signed a book of remembrance in a replica railway carriage. The original wagon, on which it was modelled, was used by Adolf Hitler to accept France's capitulation to Nazi Germany in June 1940. Around 70 world leaders are gathering in Paris for the events. Mr Macron will lead the main event of the centenary - a sombre commemoration on Sunday at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, a memorial to France's fallen under the Arc de Triomphe in Paris. Sunday afternoon will see Mr Macron and Mrs Merkel attend a peace conference - the Paris Peace Forum - with leaders including Russian President Vladimir Putin and Turkey's Recep Tayyip Erdogan."}], "question": "What happened at the Armistice site?", "id": "673_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1808, "answer_end": 2738, "text": "After an hour of talks with Mr Macron and lunch with their wives Melania and Brigitte, Mr Trump had been due to visit one of two American cemeteries on his schedule. But he cancelled his trip to the Aisne-Marne American Cemetery and Memorial due to \"scheduling and logistical difficulties caused by the weather\". White House officials later explained that low cloud would have prevented his helicopter from landing, and cited security concerns about arranging a motorcade to the site. Gen. John Kelly, the White House chief of staff, attended on the president's behalf. The decision attracted much derision on social media, including from President George W Bush speechwriter David Frum who, like many, drew comparisons with the conditions faced by the troops who fought and died in World War One. Particularly strong reaction came from Nicholas Soames, UK Conservative MP and grandson of British wartime leader Winston Churchill."}], "question": "Why did Trump cancel his cemetery trip?", "id": "673_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2969, "answer_end": 4234, "text": "Meeting Mr Macron at the presidential palace in Paris, Mr Trump said the US wanted \"a strong Europe,\" but the defence bill \"has been largely on the United States\". Mr Macron said he agreed that \"we need a much better burden-sharing within Nato\". The row began when Mr Macron told French radio station Europe 1 radio on Tuesday \"we must have a Europe that can defend itself on its own without relying only on the United States\". Mr Macron went on to mention threats to Europe, including \"re-emerging authoritarian powers\" that were well-armed on Europe's borders, and attempts to launch cyber-attacks, before concluding: \"We have to protect ourselves with respect to China, Russia and even the United States of America.\" Mr Trump responded angrily in a Friday night tweet, writing: \"President Macron of France has just suggested that Europe build its own military in order to protect itself from the US, China and Russia. Very insulting, but perhaps Europe should first pay its fair share of NATO, which the US subsidizes greatly!\" Mr Macron has already raised spending considerably to meet a Nato target of 2% of the GDP going to defence. He is also overseeing the formation of a European Intervention Initiative, a 10-nation endeavour backed by Germany and the UK."}], "question": "Did Trump and Macron patch up their differences?", "id": "673_2"}]}]}, {"title": "Nuclear Posture Review: US wants smaller nukes to counter Russia", "date": "2 February 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "The US military has proposed diversifying its nuclear arsenal and developing new, smaller atomic bombs, largely to counter Russia. The latest thinking was revealed in a Pentagon policy statement known as the Nuclear Posture Review (NPR). The US military is concerned Moscow sees US nuclear weapons as too big to be used - meaning they are no longer an effective deterrent. Developing smaller nukes would challenge that assumption, it argues. Low-yield weapons are smaller, less powerful bombs with a strength below 20 kilotons. They are still devastating, however. The atomic bomb dropped on the Japanese city of Nagasaki at the end of World War Two had about the same explosive power, and killed more than 70,000 people. \"Our strategy will ensure Russia understands that any use of nuclear weapons, however limited, is unacceptable,\" the document said. US Deputy Secretary of Defence, Patrick Shanahan, said the country's nuclear arsenal had kept it safe for over 70 years. \"We cannot afford to let it become obsolete,\" he told a media briefing in Washington. It is the first time since 2010 that the US military has outlined its perception of future nuclear threats. The proposed \"tactical\" nukes would not increase America's arsenal, which is already considerable, but would repurpose existing warheads. Nonetheless, critics have accused the Trump administration of challenging the spirit of non-proliferation agreements. The NPR also highlights the White House's concerns about North Korea, China and Iran. Analysis by Jonathan Marcus, BBC Defence and Diplomatic Correspondent For the Trump Administration the goal of this review is to modernise and adapt the US nuclear arsenal for unsettled times. The three main elements of America's nuclear forces - land-based ballistic missiles, submarine-launched missiles, and air-delivered weapons - are to be extensively modernised. These are programmes which actually began under the Obama Administration. What is new is the perceived need for two new types of nuclear weapons to provide - in the words of US officials - \"more flexible capabilities to give tailored deterrence\". These include the modification of some submarine-launched nuclear warheads to give a lower-yield or less powerful detonation, as well as bringing back sea-based nuclear cruise missiles. US officials insist that this makes the US deterrent more credible and thus actually raises the nuclear threshold. But critics worry that such weapons could blur the distinction between nuclear and non-nuclear systems, and actually make a nuclear war more likely.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1511, "answer_end": 2576, "text": "Analysis by Jonathan Marcus, BBC Defence and Diplomatic Correspondent For the Trump Administration the goal of this review is to modernise and adapt the US nuclear arsenal for unsettled times. The three main elements of America's nuclear forces - land-based ballistic missiles, submarine-launched missiles, and air-delivered weapons - are to be extensively modernised. These are programmes which actually began under the Obama Administration. What is new is the perceived need for two new types of nuclear weapons to provide - in the words of US officials - \"more flexible capabilities to give tailored deterrence\". These include the modification of some submarine-launched nuclear warheads to give a lower-yield or less powerful detonation, as well as bringing back sea-based nuclear cruise missiles. US officials insist that this makes the US deterrent more credible and thus actually raises the nuclear threshold. But critics worry that such weapons could blur the distinction between nuclear and non-nuclear systems, and actually make a nuclear war more likely."}], "question": "Good insurance, or a step towards nuclear war?", "id": "674_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Shutdown averted as Trump signs budget bill", "date": "9 February 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "President Donald Trump has signed a sweeping budget bill approved by Congress to re-open the government after it was briefly closed overnight. Federal funding for government services expired at midnight (05:00 GMT), after the Senate missed a voting deadline. The 650-page plan proposes an increase in spending on defence and domestic services of about $300bn (PS215bn). The shutdown, which lasted five hours, was the second under the Republican-controlled Congress this year. The president, who signed the bill early on Friday, said the military \"will now be stronger than ever before\". The bill had been expected to pass before the midnight deadline but lawmakers struggled with last-minute objections from Republican Senator Rand Paul, which meant they could not vote in time. The shutdown came within three weeks of the last one. Lawmakers have wrangled over the spending plan and other political demands from either side. The House approved the bill by 240 votes to 186. The Senate had passed it by 71 to 28 three hours earlier. House Speaker Paul Ryan, a top Republican, said the bill was \"a great victory for our men and women in uniform\" as the military would get more resources. He said: \"Ultimately, neither side got everything it wanted in this agreement, but we reached a bipartisan compromise that puts the safety and wellbeing of the American people first.\" Politicians from both opposing parties criticised Senator Paul for slowing the bill up and provoking the shutdown. Democratic Senator Claire McCaskill said \"it looked like he was clueless\", while Republican Senator John Thune called the shutdown \"a colossal waste of time\". While the spending bill's funding for the Pentagon delighted the national security wing of the party, fiscal conservatives were concerned about ramifications for the nation's debt. In a doom-laden speech, Senator Paul angrily charged his fellow Republicans with fiscal profligacy, accusing his colleagues of \"spending us into oblivion\". \"I ran for office because I was very critical of President Obama's trillion-dollar deficits,\" he said. \"Now we have Republicans, hand-in-hand with Democrats, offering us trillion-dollar deficits. \"I can't in all good honesty, in all good faith, just look the other way just because my party is now complicit in the deficits.\" This would be \"the very definition of hypocrisy\", he added. The two-year budget deal, proposed by Senate leaders on Wednesday, increases spending by \"just shy\" of $300bn, according to White House legislative affairs director Marc Short. The Washington Post put the figure at half a trillion dollars. The bill contains $165bn of additional defence spending and $131bn in domestic spending, including funding for healthcare, infrastructure and tackling the US opioid crisis, reports Reuters news agency. The bipartisan agreement also keeps the government open until March 23, giving lawmakers more time to draft a full-year budget to fund federal agencies. The proposal would raise the US debt ceiling until March 2019. Despite the support of their Senate leader Chuck Schumer, who said the budget accord will \"break the long cycle of spending crises\", some Democrats have complained that the bill does not address immigration. The party's leader in the House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi, said on Thursday morning that she was opposed to the plan, but would not order rank-and-file Democrats to vote against it. The California congresswoman called for the bill to include a provision shielding so-called Dreamers, young immigrants who entered the US illegally as children, from deportation. Her remarks came a day after she told the stories of immigrants for eight hours on the floor of the lower chamber in a record-breaking speech. Obama-era guarantees for those immigrants were cancelled by US President Donald Trump and are set to become invalid next month. Illinois representative Luis Gutierrez, one of the leading congressional advocates for immigrants, urged colleagues to vote against the plan. \"Don't collude with this administration,\" he said. Many government agencies close during a shutdown as their future funding is theoretically not secure. Many employees are asked not to come to work and will not be paid - although some get back pay. Employees deemed essential - including military personnel and air traffic controllers - are required to work regardless of shutdowns. It was unclear which agencies would close on Friday if the shutdown continued into the working day. Some Twitter users shared stories of how the uncertainty was affecting people.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1645, "answer_end": 2177, "text": "While the spending bill's funding for the Pentagon delighted the national security wing of the party, fiscal conservatives were concerned about ramifications for the nation's debt. In a doom-laden speech, Senator Paul angrily charged his fellow Republicans with fiscal profligacy, accusing his colleagues of \"spending us into oblivion\". \"I ran for office because I was very critical of President Obama's trillion-dollar deficits,\" he said. \"Now we have Republicans, hand-in-hand with Democrats, offering us trillion-dollar deficits."}], "question": "Why were budget hawks opposed to the bill?", "id": "675_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2368, "answer_end": 3025, "text": "The two-year budget deal, proposed by Senate leaders on Wednesday, increases spending by \"just shy\" of $300bn, according to White House legislative affairs director Marc Short. The Washington Post put the figure at half a trillion dollars. The bill contains $165bn of additional defence spending and $131bn in domestic spending, including funding for healthcare, infrastructure and tackling the US opioid crisis, reports Reuters news agency. The bipartisan agreement also keeps the government open until March 23, giving lawmakers more time to draft a full-year budget to fund federal agencies. The proposal would raise the US debt ceiling until March 2019."}], "question": "What's in this bill?", "id": "675_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3026, "answer_end": 4065, "text": "Despite the support of their Senate leader Chuck Schumer, who said the budget accord will \"break the long cycle of spending crises\", some Democrats have complained that the bill does not address immigration. The party's leader in the House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi, said on Thursday morning that she was opposed to the plan, but would not order rank-and-file Democrats to vote against it. The California congresswoman called for the bill to include a provision shielding so-called Dreamers, young immigrants who entered the US illegally as children, from deportation. Her remarks came a day after she told the stories of immigrants for eight hours on the floor of the lower chamber in a record-breaking speech. Obama-era guarantees for those immigrants were cancelled by US President Donald Trump and are set to become invalid next month. Illinois representative Luis Gutierrez, one of the leading congressional advocates for immigrants, urged colleagues to vote against the plan. \"Don't collude with this administration,\" he said."}], "question": "Why were some Democrats unhappy?", "id": "675_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 4066, "answer_end": 4576, "text": "Many government agencies close during a shutdown as their future funding is theoretically not secure. Many employees are asked not to come to work and will not be paid - although some get back pay. Employees deemed essential - including military personnel and air traffic controllers - are required to work regardless of shutdowns. It was unclear which agencies would close on Friday if the shutdown continued into the working day. Some Twitter users shared stories of how the uncertainty was affecting people."}], "question": "What would a shutdown have meant for ordinary people?", "id": "675_3"}]}]}, {"title": "Venezuela holds uncle of opposition leader Juan Guaid\u00f3", "date": "13 February 2020", "paragraphs": [{"context": "A top Venezuelan government official has confirmed that the uncle of opposition leader Juan Guaido is being held on suspicion of smuggling \"dangerous material\" into the country. Juan Jose Marquez was travelling with Mr Guaido from Lisbon to Caracas by plane and vanished on Tuesday after being stopped by tax agency personnel. Mr Guaido called it a \"cowardly move\". The official did not say how Mr Marquez would have managed to smuggle the items onto an international flight. Mr Marquez is not the first person with links to Mr Guaido to be arrested. His chief of staff, Roberto Marrero, was detained last year and remains in prison. Diosdado Cabello, widely considered the second most powerful man in President Nicolas Maduro's government, spoke of Mr Marquez's arrest on his weekly TV programme. \"No, he's not forcibly disappeared, he is being held for bringing in forbidden substances on a flight,\" Mr Cabello alleged. Mr Cabello showed photos of a bulletproof vest and what he said was explosive material which Mr Marquez had allegedly tried to smuggle into Venezuela. \"He carried tactical flashlights which contained, hidden in the battery compartment, chemical substances of an explosive nature, presumably C-4 synthetic explosives,\" he said. Mr Cabello did not say how Mr Marquez would have managed to smuggle such items onto an international commercial flight from Lisbon in Portugal to Caracas. \"No doubt they [the opposition] are going to shout about this [arrest],\" Mr Cabello said. \"Let them, because if this arrest is going to save the life of one Venezuelan, so be it. Enough is enough, who knows who he was going to use those explosives on?\" he asked. \"Tomorrow, they're probably going to say we made this up and that he is a little saint.\" Mr Cabello said Mr Marquez would not be released and a court later ruled that he should continue to be held. Local media reported that Mr Marquez was driven away from the court in a car belonging to Venezuela's military counterintelligence agency (DGCIM). Mr Guaido called President Maduro a \"coward, who does not show his face, who does not dare to step into a public square without security... but mounts an attack on my family\". \"It's a crime, it's a kidnapping, he's been forcibly disappeared by the dictatorship, this cowardly dictatorship.\" Mr Marquez's wife said her husband, a pilot, had nothing to do with politics and had only accompanied his nephew on the flight out of concern for his safety. She said her husband had been carrying a \"protective vest\", which she said had been justified in light of the attacks that supporters of Mr Guaido and reporters had suffered as they welcomed him at the airport. The arrest has also been denounced by the US state department with the acting assistant secretary for Western Hemisphere Affairs denouncing it as \"a kidnapping\". Juan Guaido, 36, has been a thorn in the side of President Maduro for the past 13 months, ever since the former declared himself interim president and promised to oust Mr Maduro from office. Mr Guaido argues that the 2018 re-election of Mr Maduro was illegitimate and that he as leader of the National Assembly therefore had the duty to take over as interim president. He promised an \"end to the usurpation [of President Maduro], [to create] a transitional government and have free elections\". While Mr Guaido was recognised as Venezuela's legitimate leader by more than 50 countries he was not able to wrest control of the executive from Mr Maduro, who continues to have the backing of the country's influential military. In January, Mr Guaido defied a travel ban against him to go on a three-week tour to gain support for further sanctions on the Maduro government. He held talks with European leaders including Germany's Angela Merkel, France's Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson. In the US, he attended the State of the Union speech as a special guest of President Donald Trump. There was much expectation about how Mr Guaido would return to Venezuela and if he would be arrested. On Tuesday, he returned on a TAP airlines flight from Lisbon and while the immigration official seized his identity card, he was allowed to enter the country unhindered.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 634, "answer_end": 2011, "text": "Diosdado Cabello, widely considered the second most powerful man in President Nicolas Maduro's government, spoke of Mr Marquez's arrest on his weekly TV programme. \"No, he's not forcibly disappeared, he is being held for bringing in forbidden substances on a flight,\" Mr Cabello alleged. Mr Cabello showed photos of a bulletproof vest and what he said was explosive material which Mr Marquez had allegedly tried to smuggle into Venezuela. \"He carried tactical flashlights which contained, hidden in the battery compartment, chemical substances of an explosive nature, presumably C-4 synthetic explosives,\" he said. Mr Cabello did not say how Mr Marquez would have managed to smuggle such items onto an international commercial flight from Lisbon in Portugal to Caracas. \"No doubt they [the opposition] are going to shout about this [arrest],\" Mr Cabello said. \"Let them, because if this arrest is going to save the life of one Venezuelan, so be it. Enough is enough, who knows who he was going to use those explosives on?\" he asked. \"Tomorrow, they're probably going to say we made this up and that he is a little saint.\" Mr Cabello said Mr Marquez would not be released and a court later ruled that he should continue to be held. Local media reported that Mr Marquez was driven away from the court in a car belonging to Venezuela's military counterintelligence agency (DGCIM)."}], "question": "What does the government say?", "id": "676_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2012, "answer_end": 2833, "text": "Mr Guaido called President Maduro a \"coward, who does not show his face, who does not dare to step into a public square without security... but mounts an attack on my family\". \"It's a crime, it's a kidnapping, he's been forcibly disappeared by the dictatorship, this cowardly dictatorship.\" Mr Marquez's wife said her husband, a pilot, had nothing to do with politics and had only accompanied his nephew on the flight out of concern for his safety. She said her husband had been carrying a \"protective vest\", which she said had been justified in light of the attacks that supporters of Mr Guaido and reporters had suffered as they welcomed him at the airport. The arrest has also been denounced by the US state department with the acting assistant secretary for Western Hemisphere Affairs denouncing it as \"a kidnapping\"."}], "question": "What's the reaction been?", "id": "676_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2834, "answer_end": 4210, "text": "Juan Guaido, 36, has been a thorn in the side of President Maduro for the past 13 months, ever since the former declared himself interim president and promised to oust Mr Maduro from office. Mr Guaido argues that the 2018 re-election of Mr Maduro was illegitimate and that he as leader of the National Assembly therefore had the duty to take over as interim president. He promised an \"end to the usurpation [of President Maduro], [to create] a transitional government and have free elections\". While Mr Guaido was recognised as Venezuela's legitimate leader by more than 50 countries he was not able to wrest control of the executive from Mr Maduro, who continues to have the backing of the country's influential military. In January, Mr Guaido defied a travel ban against him to go on a three-week tour to gain support for further sanctions on the Maduro government. He held talks with European leaders including Germany's Angela Merkel, France's Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson. In the US, he attended the State of the Union speech as a special guest of President Donald Trump. There was much expectation about how Mr Guaido would return to Venezuela and if he would be arrested. On Tuesday, he returned on a TAP airlines flight from Lisbon and while the immigration official seized his identity card, he was allowed to enter the country unhindered."}], "question": "What's the background?", "id": "676_2"}]}]}, {"title": "Tanker seizure: Jeremy Hunt urges Iran to release Stena Impero", "date": "20 July 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "The foreign secretary has urged Iran to reverse its \"illegal\" seizure of a British-flagged tanker in the Gulf. Jeremy Hunt said it \"raises very serious questions\" about the security of British and international shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. It comes as Iran released new footage of the capture on Friday of the Stena Impero. Tehran said the vessel was \"violating international maritime rules\". Speaking after a phone call with his Iranian counterpart, Mr Hunt said Iran viewed this as a \"tit-for-tat situation\" following the detention of an Iranian tanker in Gibraltar. But he said \"nothing could be further from the truth\". The Stena Impero's owners said they wanted access at the port of Bandar Abbas to the 23 crew members, who they said are in good health. BBC security correspondent Frank Gardner said it appears the Iranian Revolutionary Guard was \"quite prepared to push this right up to the brink of a conflict, yet probably stopping just short of one\". The Stena Impero was seized by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard on Friday in a key shipping route in the Gulf. Footage emerged on Saturday appearing to show the moment the tanker was raided. It was released by Iran's Revolutionary Guard-affiliated Fars news agency. It shows masked forces dropping down ropes onto the ship from a helicopter after it was surrounded by high-speed vessels. A Royal Navy frigate, HMS Montrose, was alerted and raced to intervene, as it did - successfully - with another British-flagged tanker just over a week ago. But this time it was too far away to stop the Stena Impero being seized - the tanker was already in Iranian waters. Iran's state-run IRNA news agency said the tanker was captured after it collided with a fishing boat and failed to respond to calls from the smaller craft. But Mr Hunt said it was seized in Omani waters in \"clear contravention of international law\" and then forced to sail into Iran. The Stena Impero's Swedish owners, Stena Bulk, said it had been fully complying with regulations and had been in international waters at the time. It said the crew members, who are Indian, Russian, Latvian and Filipino, were in good health. A second British-owned Liberian-flagged tanker, the MV Mesdar, was also boarded by armed guards on the same day but was released. It came after Royal Marines helped seize Iranian tanker Grace 1 off Gibraltar earlier this month, because of evidence it was carrying oil to Syria in breach of EU sanctions. Iran described the incident as \"piracy\" but Mr Hunt said the Grace 1 was detained legally in Gibraltarian waters \"totally within the law\". On Saturday, UK government ministers held an emergency meeting of Cobra and a senior Iranian diplomat was summoned to the Foreign Office in London. Afterwards, Mr Hunt said MPs would be updated on Monday about what \"further measures\" the government would take, adding the threat level had been raised to the highest level of alert. \"Our priority continues to be to find a way to de-escalate the situation,\" he said. A UK government spokeswoman said earlier it had advised UK shipping to stay out of the area. 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 nuclear deal, which curbs Iran's nuclear activities in return for the lifting of sanctions tensions. However, the UK's decision to help seize the Iranian tanker Grace 1 off Gibraltar earlier this month infuriated Iran. 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 this seizure Iran had 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. A White House National Security Council spokesman said the latest incident on Friday was the second time in just over a week the UK had been \"the target of escalatory violence\" by Iran. 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. The Pentagon has said US troops are being deployed to Saudi Arabia to defend American interests in the region from \"emergent credible threats\". France and Germany called on the Iranian authorities to quickly release the Stena Impero. 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 BBC's Frank Gardner said the British government was in a \"bit of a bind\" because ministers do not have a great deal of options left. He said: \"What they would like to do is to have a firm, international response, preferably done through allies, possibly with the UN.\" 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 seizing of a British-flagged tanker in Omani waters, empty and inbound to a Saudi port, marks a serious escalation in a whole catalogue of recent incidents in the Gulf. It comes on the back of the mysterious mining of tankers, the downing of both US and Iranian drones and the near capture of another British-flagged tanker only a few days ago. Britain wants its response be two things: Measured and multinational. The government is trying to send a robust message to Iran that this action is unacceptable, not just to the UK but to the rest of the world, but not so robust that it ends up being part of an avoidable US military strike. This has become a highly volatile situation where not everyone believes in diplomacy. There are figures in Washington who have been pushing for an ever-tougher line with Iran. And there are figures in Iran, notably in the Revolutionary Guards Corps and the security apparatus, who are quite prepared to push this right up to the brink of a conflict, yet probably stopping just short of one.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 966, "answer_end": 3102, "text": "The Stena Impero was seized by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard on Friday in a key shipping route in the Gulf. Footage emerged on Saturday appearing to show the moment the tanker was raided. It was released by Iran's Revolutionary Guard-affiliated Fars news agency. It shows masked forces dropping down ropes onto the ship from a helicopter after it was surrounded by high-speed vessels. A Royal Navy frigate, HMS Montrose, was alerted and raced to intervene, as it did - successfully - with another British-flagged tanker just over a week ago. But this time it was too far away to stop the Stena Impero being seized - the tanker was already in Iranian waters. Iran's state-run IRNA news agency said the tanker was captured after it collided with a fishing boat and failed to respond to calls from the smaller craft. But Mr Hunt said it was seized in Omani waters in \"clear contravention of international law\" and then forced to sail into Iran. The Stena Impero's Swedish owners, Stena Bulk, said it had been fully complying with regulations and had been in international waters at the time. It said the crew members, who are Indian, Russian, Latvian and Filipino, were in good health. A second British-owned Liberian-flagged tanker, the MV Mesdar, was also boarded by armed guards on the same day but was released. It came after Royal Marines helped seize Iranian tanker Grace 1 off Gibraltar earlier this month, because of evidence it was carrying oil to Syria in breach of EU sanctions. Iran described the incident as \"piracy\" but Mr Hunt said the Grace 1 was detained legally in Gibraltarian waters \"totally within the law\". On Saturday, UK government ministers held an emergency meeting of Cobra and a senior Iranian diplomat was summoned to the Foreign Office in London. Afterwards, Mr Hunt said MPs would be updated on Monday about what \"further measures\" the government would take, adding the threat level had been raised to the highest level of alert. \"Our priority continues to be to find a way to de-escalate the situation,\" he said. A UK government spokeswoman said earlier it had advised UK shipping to stay out of the area."}], "question": "What happened?", "id": "677_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3103, "answer_end": 3655, "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."}], "question": "What does Iran say?", "id": "677_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3656, "answer_end": 4863, "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 nuclear deal, which curbs Iran's nuclear activities in return for the lifting of sanctions tensions. However, the UK's decision to help seize the Iranian tanker Grace 1 off Gibraltar earlier this month infuriated Iran. 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 this seizure Iran had 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."}], "question": "What's the background to this?", "id": "677_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 6654, "answer_end": 7692, "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."}], "question": "How 'British' is the tanker?", "id": "677_3"}]}]}, {"title": "China and Taiwan leaders hail historic talks", "date": "7 November 2015", "paragraphs": [{"context": "The leaders of China and Taiwan have held historic talks in Singapore - their first in more than 60 years. Chinese President Xi Jinping and Taiwan's President Ma Ying-jeou shook hands at the start of the talks, which were seen as largely symbolic. China views Taiwan as a breakaway province which will one day be reunited with the mainland. But many Taiwanese see it as independent and are concerned at China's growing influence. The awkward questions that could crop up What's behind the China-Taiwan divide? \"Both sides should respect each other's values and way of life,\" Mr Ma said as the talks began at a luxury hotel. Mr Xi told the Taiwanese leader: \"We are one family.\" The meeting \"has opened a historic chapter in the cross-Strait relations, and history will remember today\", he added. The meeting took place in neutral territory on the sidelines of a state visit by Mr Xi to Singapore. Relations between China and Taiwan have improved under Mr Ma since he took office in 2008, with better economic ties, improving tourism links, and a trade pact signed. The two sides split in 1949 when the Kuomintang lost to the Chinese Communist Party in the civil war and set up a new government in Taiwan. Mr Ma described the talks as \"positive and friendly\", but no major agreements or deals appear to have been reached. Mr Ma said in advance that the issue of the South China Sea disputes, which has dominated recent concerns in the region, would not be brought up. Mr Ma proposed reducing hostility across the Taiwan Strait, expanding exchanges and establishing a cross-strait hotline, according to Taiwan's central news agency. He said this was part of consolidating the \"1992 consensus\" - the agreement under which both sides recognise the principle of \"one China\" but define it in their own ways. Similar remarks were made by Mr Xi, who said upholding the consensus would help \"the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation\". It is not entirely clear why the meeting has happened at this time, as neither side has properly said. Mr Ma has built his presidency on closer links with China, so there is a good reason for him to meet Mr Xi, says the BBC World Service's Asia editor, Michael Bristow. There is also a presidential election in Taiwan in January. Mr Ma might think the meeting will give a boost to his party's candidate, who is trailing in the polls, our correspondent says. China also has something to gain, and that also concerns Taiwan's election. Mr Xi's decision to talk reminds Taiwanese voters that China is far friendlier to a government of Mr Ma's nationalist party than one formed by the opposition, which leans towards independence for Taiwan. It is a calculated gamble for Mr Xi, as China's attempts to influence Taiwanese voters have previously backfired, our correspondent adds. - 1949: Chiang Kai-shek's Kuomintang (KMT) nationalists form their own government in Taiwan after Mao Zedong's communists take power in Beijing - 1971: Taiwan loses its seat at the UN to China - 1979: The US establishes diplomatic relations with China while at the same time committing itself to defending Taiwan - 1993: First direct talks between the two sides take place in Singapore - 2005: Beijing brings in a law that makes secession by Taiwan illegal, at the risk of military action - 2008: High-level talks between the two sides resume after Ma Ying-jeou is elected president Taiwan profile China profile Growing fears over China's influence have led to widespread dissatisfaction in Taiwan. President Ma's Kuomintang (KMT) Party suffered a crushing defeat in local elections last year, a result that was widely seen as a rejection of Mr Ma's push for closer ties with China. In the Taiwanese capital there were protests before the talks and one group tried to enter the parliament building. State media in China heralded the meeting, with an editorial in the Chinese Communist Party mouthpiece People's Daily calling it a \"victory of peace and rationality\". It said critics were \"displaying jiggery-pokery from a small circle. Such extremism is bound to be stigmatised\".", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1930, "answer_end": 2805, "text": "It is not entirely clear why the meeting has happened at this time, as neither side has properly said. Mr Ma has built his presidency on closer links with China, so there is a good reason for him to meet Mr Xi, says the BBC World Service's Asia editor, Michael Bristow. There is also a presidential election in Taiwan in January. Mr Ma might think the meeting will give a boost to his party's candidate, who is trailing in the polls, our correspondent says. China also has something to gain, and that also concerns Taiwan's election. Mr Xi's decision to talk reminds Taiwanese voters that China is far friendlier to a government of Mr Ma's nationalist party than one formed by the opposition, which leans towards independence for Taiwan. It is a calculated gamble for Mr Xi, as China's attempts to influence Taiwanese voters have previously backfired, our correspondent adds."}], "question": "Why are they meeting now?", "id": "678_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Bill Cosby: Diehard fans stick by hometown hero", "date": "5 June 2017", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Less than two weeks before Father's Day, the man once affectionately known as America's Dad stepped back into the public spotlight to defend his legacy as he faced one of dozens of sexual assault allegations against him. Dressed in a dark navy suit, the 79-year-old was supported by the use of a cane and Keisha Knight Pulliam, the woman who played his precocious daughter, Rudy Huxtable, on the landmark television series The Cosby Show. But his reputation as a fatherly figure has been overshadowed in recent years by the more than 50 women who have come forward to accuse him of sexual assault. The actor and comedian is facing three counts of felony aggravated indecent assault stemming from a 2004 incident in which former Temple University employee Andrea Constand claims he drugged and molested her. He maintains his innocence, though some among the chorus of women who have offered up similar accounts appeared in court in Norristown, Pennsylvania, wearing pins with the words emblazoned: \"We stand in truth.\" Though the allegations have tarnished Mr Cosby's reputation, the actor has long been considered a Hollywood trailblazer for African Americans. He rose to fame as the first black actor to star in a major drama series, I Spy, in 1965. The role earned him three of his four Emmy awards before he created several shows including the influential The Cosby Show in 1984. Darnell Hunt, the director of the Ralph J Bunche Center for African American Studies at UCLA, says his depiction of an upwardly mobile African-American family transcended race and broke new ground in an era otherwise criticised for portraying the \"ghetto-centric\" black stereotypes. \"It showed that black people were American, too, which was sort of Cosby's political philosophy,\" he said. \"It was and is still one of the most talked about TV shows ever and it certainly had a huge impact on this sort of whole discussion of images of black people and media.\" In fact, Mr Cosby enlisted Harvard psychiatrist Dr Alvin Poussaint as a consultant to ensure the scripts underscored a genuine family dynamic. Which is why it may be difficult for some Americans to separate the career he has made on promoting family values and education from the man Assistant District Attorney Kristin Feden accused of being a sexual predator in court on Monday. Mr Cosby and one of his daughters have recently suggested race played a role in the allegations against him. The suggestion sparked outrage among some critics who point to previous comments he made in which he criticised single African-American mothers and young black men. \"Many blacks felt it was him talking down to them and blaming them as opposed to the systemic forces that keep black people subordinated,\" says Mr Hunt. \"But the sad reality is race is always a factor in America and that lens will be significant regardless of whether or not the allegations are racially motivated,\" says Mr Hunt, who wrote OJ Simpson Facts and Fictions, a book on the racial divide and perception of the American footballer's famous trial. \"There is probably a lot of ambivalence in the black community with respect to the meaning of all of this,\" he added. \"People are probably waiting to see how all of this works out with the trial.\" Some Philadelphia residents like Rickey A Rivera, who lives in Mr Cosby's childhood neighbourhood, remain convinced the case has racial undertones. \"He can never be who he was and that's what's sad to me,\" Mr Rivera says. Other Philadelphia residents have struggled to reconcile how to talk about the local hero and the allegations against him. A mural that once stood on Broad Street depicting Mr Cosby and other famed fathers has disappeared, but another still stands amid the housing projects where he grew up in North Philadelphia's Poplar neighbourhood. William \"Buddy\" Savin, who owns a funeral home in the area, points out his own partially eroded image on a similar pillar beneath an overpass less than 100ft (30 metres) away from the portrait of Mr Cosby. Mr Cosby is seen flashing his signature grin, holding his fist in what appears to be a nod to black power as children play in the foreground. Mr Savin grew up with Mr Cosby in the Richard Allen housing project and spoke to him as recently as last week about the death of a mutual friend and Philadelphia jazz legend, Mickey Roker. The projects have mostly been torn down and replaced with new rows of town homes, but remnants of a past life - and Mr Cosby's legacy - still exist. \"He was a black person who made it but he never forgot his roots,\" Mr Savin says. \"He always came back to the projects.\" Though some residents are cagey when asked about Mr Cosby, everyone seems to have an anecdote about the comedian. A women standing in her front yard not far from where his house stood explains how she once saw Mr Cosby perform at her high school, but demurs when asked about her feelings on him now. \"I have his autograph,\" she tells the BBC. \"That's all I can say about him.\" But Mr Savin is happy to recount Mr Cosby's community work despite the scandal that has engulfed him over the last few years. A bespectacled man dressed in a pinstriped suit, he recalls how Mr Cosby returned to the neighbourhood when the new Richard Allen townhomes opened in 2003. He speaks about Mr Cosby's generous funding for dozens of children's education and his contributions to the nearby Temple University. The Temple \"T\" logo stands tall atop a building visible from the Richard Allen homes. Mr Cosby, one of the Temple's most famous alumni, is often credited with helping to transform Temple from a local school to a nationally recognised university. The school, just blocks away, is where he met Ms Constand while serving on the school's board of trustees. In the wake of the allegations, Temple eventually joined a growing number of colleges and universities that revoked the dozens of honorary degrees he received over the years. He was also removed from the board of trustees. Mr Cosby's presence on campus has mostly been erased, but university students like Olivia Jefferson, 25, remain conflicted. \"He was the ideal black father. He showed this image personally we didn't see in the black community often growing up,\" she says.  \"And all these allegations coming out, it's a betrayal.\"", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 2324, "answer_end": 3473, "text": "Mr Cosby and one of his daughters have recently suggested race played a role in the allegations against him. The suggestion sparked outrage among some critics who point to previous comments he made in which he criticised single African-American mothers and young black men. \"Many blacks felt it was him talking down to them and blaming them as opposed to the systemic forces that keep black people subordinated,\" says Mr Hunt. \"But the sad reality is race is always a factor in America and that lens will be significant regardless of whether or not the allegations are racially motivated,\" says Mr Hunt, who wrote OJ Simpson Facts and Fictions, a book on the racial divide and perception of the American footballer's famous trial. \"There is probably a lot of ambivalence in the black community with respect to the meaning of all of this,\" he added. \"People are probably waiting to see how all of this works out with the trial.\" Some Philadelphia residents like Rickey A Rivera, who lives in Mr Cosby's childhood neighbourhood, remain convinced the case has racial undertones. \"He can never be who he was and that's what's sad to me,\" Mr Rivera says."}], "question": "Racial undertones?", "id": "679_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Market turmoil: How does it affect me?", "date": "21 January 2016", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Experts tell us not to panic, but that's just what it looks like. Slowing growth in China, collapsing oil prices, and now a bear market in shares all contribute to a scary scenario. Despite the odd short-term respite, stock markets in the UK, France and Japan have now dipped by more than 20% since their peak in April last year. The value of companies quoted on the FTSE 100 has fallen by no less than PS396bn since then - that is, more than PS6,000 per person in the UK. \"As markets globally enter bear territory, we have started to see panic creep into the market,\" says Adrian Lowcock, head of investing at AXA Wealth. \"This can cause investors to act irrationally and increase volatility in the short term.\" So how much are ordinary people affected, and if you are affected, how much should you worry? Even if you don't own shares directly, most workers in the UK now pay into an occupational pension scheme, thanks in part to the government's auto-enrolment programme. Such schemes are mostly - but not totally - invested in shares. The value of such schemes will have fallen significantly, and for those in defined contribution schemes, eventual pay-outs will look significantly smaller than they did nine months ago. That will be a problem if you are about to retire and you need to use your pension fund to buy an income immediately. If you can, experts advise holding off buying an annuity, for example, until share prices recover. \"You might be better served drawing an income from your fund in the short term, or looking to other savings,\" says Tom McPhail of Hargreaves Lansdown. For example, Hargreaves Lansdown calculates that someone buying an annuity with a PS50,000 fund would now get an annual income PS433 lower than if they had bought it last April. If you are some way off retirement, there may be no need to worry. Unless capitalism itself is under threat, markets will recover - eventually. Those who still pay into a final-salary scheme will not be affected at all, as such schemes promise a particular annual income. However, collapsing share prices could further threaten the viability of such schemes, should they persist. Members could be asked to increase their contributions as a result. In any case, many pension funds will not have been hit as badly as the FTSE 100, with its bias towards oil and mining companies. The following areas have performed much better: - The US market: This has fallen about 10% since its peak - half the fall on the FTSE 100 - The bond market: Funds investing in government or corporate bonds have only lost about 2% over the period - Individual funds: Neil Woodford's Equity Income Fund has fallen by just 3% since April; over the same time frame, Terry Smith's Fundsmith Equity, which invests heavily in US shares, has actually risen by 3%. - Cash: Many pension funds hold a proportion of your savings in cash, which will have held its value. Indeed, meagre returns of less than 1% on cash now look positively sparkling. In other words, although most pension funds will have lost some of the value of your savings, many will not have lost as much as the headlines suggest. Slowing growth in China, and fears that its currency has further to fall, constitute one reason for the current turmoil. There is good reason for that: China has been responsible for half the world's growth since the financial crisis. Indeed, falling Chinese demand is one factor behind the collapsing oil price, which itself has hit the value of companies such as Shell and BP, in which so many pension funds are invested. But some experts already think that the pessimism may have been overdone. \"For instance, the global economy is growing around 3%, and whilst China's economy - which is the focus of so much of the recent sell-offs - has slowed, there's still growth, strong consumption, and indeed the world's second-largest economy does look relatively stable,\" says Nigel Green, chief executive of the advisory De Vere Group. As far as oil is concerned, Bob Dudley, the boss of BP, expects prices to rebound this year to as much as $50 a barrel. It takes a brave investor to buy oil shares now, but even if they don't go up in value, they are currently paying high dividends. If Shell were to maintain its payout, for example, new investors could make a 9% return. BP's dividend is currently more than 7%. In principle, investors are usually advised to buy - not sell - shares when they are cheap. But equally, experts say it is hard to call the bottom of the market. Yet for those paying into pension funds on a regular basis, it is worth noting that you are currently buying shares cheaply anyway. This is known as dollar/pound cost averaging. Losses you make on having bought shares expensively in the past should be matched by the better value you are getting now. \"Long-term stock ownership is, typically, the best way to create and grow wealth for investors,\" says Nigel Green. \"Stock markets can be fairly predictable over long periods of time.\" If small investors do want to dip their toe in the water, Jason Hollands, of Tilney Bestinvest, thinks markets in Europe and Japan offer the best value, largely because their central banks are likely to introduce further stimulus for their economies. \"Both regions are already printing money, but are nowhere near their target rates of inflation, and therefore there is a real prospect of them stepping harder on the accelerator, which would support asset prices,\" he says. Overall, Nigel Green offers four top tips: - Don't panic sell - Consider buying good-value shares - Diversify portfolios across asset classes and regions - Keep some cash spare.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 3136, "answer_end": 4349, "text": "Slowing growth in China, and fears that its currency has further to fall, constitute one reason for the current turmoil. There is good reason for that: China has been responsible for half the world's growth since the financial crisis. Indeed, falling Chinese demand is one factor behind the collapsing oil price, which itself has hit the value of companies such as Shell and BP, in which so many pension funds are invested. But some experts already think that the pessimism may have been overdone. \"For instance, the global economy is growing around 3%, and whilst China's economy - which is the focus of so much of the recent sell-offs - has slowed, there's still growth, strong consumption, and indeed the world's second-largest economy does look relatively stable,\" says Nigel Green, chief executive of the advisory De Vere Group. As far as oil is concerned, Bob Dudley, the boss of BP, expects prices to rebound this year to as much as $50 a barrel. It takes a brave investor to buy oil shares now, but even if they don't go up in value, they are currently paying high dividends. If Shell were to maintain its payout, for example, new investors could make a 9% return. BP's dividend is currently more than 7%."}], "question": "China crisis?", "id": "680_0"}]}]}, {"title": "London Trans Pride is the 'one day we're not outcasts'", "date": "14 September 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "\"We're marching for the rights of trans people,\" says organiser Lucia Blayke at London's first ever Trans Pride. \"For healthcare, for social housing, for education, to stop the deportation of trans refugees in the UK and many other issues.\" The event on Saturday saw transgender people and allies marching through the streets of the city. It was set up because some trans people feel they are sidelined in the LGBT community. \"Trans people don't have the same acceptance as the rest of the LGBT community,\" Lucia told Radio 1 Newsbeat before the event. She added it's \"the one day of the year trans people can stand in an open space and think: 'Wow, I'm not the outcast'.\" A third of transgender people report being discriminated against in public in the last year because of their identity, according to a survey by LGBT charity Stonewall of 871 people. Almost half of those surveyed say they don't feel comfortable using public toilets for fear of harassment. \"It's still a celebration but we need to have this fire about us to say: no, this isn't acceptable.\" Lucia wants the event to remind people of Pride marches in the eighties - which took place during the AIDS crisis. \"Marchers went out there to create social change. They didn't go out there to see Kylie Minogue and have a few cocktails.\" Kylie Minogue headlined Brighton Pride this year, where trans people were part of the march and had their own space. Newsbeat has contacted Brighton Pride and Pride In London for comment. There were some safety concerns before the event, and the exact route was kept secret in case of violence against the trans marchers. The organisers worked with the Metropolitan Police and Newsbeat didn't see any trouble on the march. Stonewall describes a transgender person as someone whose \"gender is not the same as, or does not sit comfortably with, the sex they were assigned at birth.\" Some transgender people may transition to physically become the gender they identify with, which can include hormone therapy or surgery - but not all trans people do this. As a trans woman, Lucia support mainstream Pride marches, but they're also places where she feels excluded. \"I go to Pride every year, it's lovely, it's a fun celebration. But the fact is, at Pride I'm still an outsider,\" she says. \"Every day of my life walking around in public people point and laugh, stare - and sometimes they abuse me. This happens at Pride too.\" \"It's not the organisers of Pride's fault. It's not the message of Pride. It's just as simple as - we still don't fit in with wider society.\" But there are some who believe transgender people get preferential treatment in the LGBT community. At Pride In London 2018 and Manchester Pride 2019, a group of women staged protests, claiming lesbians are being erased by the \"misogyny\" of trans-activism. And they don't support London Trans Pride. \"It's ironic that trans people are seen as needing their own spaces - in Trans Pride and elsewhere,\" says a spokeswoman for the group Get The L Out, in a statement to Newsbeat. \"They are already centred in LGBT Pride marches and in mainstream feminism.\" There is widespread support for the event though - with London Mayor Sadiq Khan saying he is \"delighted\" that London is hosting its first Trans Pride. \"This event will be a fantastic example of how we celebrate and embrace our rich diversity,\" he tells Newsbeat in a statement. \"Trans people will always be welcome in our city and I will continue to work with charities, communities and the Met to improve the lives and protect the rights of all LGBTQ+ Londoners.\" Trans Pride also influenced restaurant chain Wagamama to introduce gender neutral toilets to 50 of their branches across the UK - despite admitting it's a \"subject that not everyone agrees on\". \"When London Trans Pride was announced this year it prompted us to really consider whether there was anything we could do to make a meaningful, positive impact on the lives of our transgender and non-binary team members and guests,\" a spokesman said. \"Hopefully Trans Pride will start conversations on health care, public safety, our suicide rates - which are through the roof - our mental health rates, which are not good, and our low employability rates,\" says organiser Lucia. A 2018 study quoted by Public Health England suggests that more than 34% of trans adults had attempted suicide at least once. \"I can't think of one example, in the history of the UK, where more than a few hundred trans people have gathered together in public,\" says Lucia. \"The message that will send out to the world really will inspire change.\" 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_start": 1724, "answer_end": 2053, "text": "Stonewall describes a transgender person as someone whose \"gender is not the same as, or does not sit comfortably with, the sex they were assigned at birth.\" Some transgender people may transition to physically become the gender they identify with, which can include hormone therapy or surgery - but not all trans people do this."}], "question": "What does transgender mean?", "id": "681_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Unanswered questions from Trump Jr saga", "date": "12 July 2017", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Now that Hurricane Junior has blown through Washington, special counsel Robert Mueller - charged with investigating possible ties between Russia and the Trump presidential campaign - faces the task of sifting through the debris. According to CNN, the former FBI director and his team of crack investigators were caught somewhat flat-footed by the recent email revelations. They were believed to have been focusing their attention on former National Security Advisor Michael Flynn, son-in-law Jared Kushner and former campaign chair Paul Manafort, among others. As it turns out, the first bit of concrete public evidence that someone in the president's inner circle might be open to Russian assistance in the presidential election involved Mr Trump's eldest son. The president, Trump Jr and his administration have quickly reformed their defences and are now dismissing the meeting with Russian lawyer Natalia Veselnitskaya last June as a minor event during a hurly-burly political season, largely lost in the fog of time, that led to nothing and which they have been admirably \"transparent\" in discussing. Key members of Congress seem to think otherwise, with senators like Republican Susan Collins of Maine calling for Trump Jr to be questioned by the Senate Intelligence Committee, and Republican Chuck Grassley of Iowa eager to bring Manafort before his Senate Judiciary Committee. But while Congress gears up for more hearings, Mr Mueller operates quietly behind the scenes. Where might he look first? What threads, revealed in Trump Jr's emails, will he and his team tug on, to see what unravels? Here are a few of the tempting questions he might be tempted to ask. Nestled toward the end of music publicist Goldstone's explosive first email to Trump Jr about the \"official documents and information\" the Russian government supposedly had about Hillary Clinton was that this constituted just \"part of\" Russia's support for his father, \"helped along by Aras and Emin\" Agalarov, the father-son Moscow-based real estate duo. It's a rather stunning detail for Goldstone to have offhandedly mentioned - and one that Trump Jr, in his \"love it\" response, seems to have breezed past with no comment. That kind of remark, however, would cause anyone looking for evidence of a Trump-Russia campaign collusion to stop dead in their tracks and ask: \"What's the rest of the story?\" Why is this British guy emailing Trump Jr? Even if one takes Veselnitskaya at her word that she is not an agent of the Russian government and did not know or provide any damaging information about Mrs Clinton to the Trump team during the 9 June meeting, her own recent admissions raise some pressing questions. On Tuesday she told an NBC interviewer that Trump Jr, Manafort and Kushner may have been \"longing for\" the dirt on their Democratic opponent. \"They wanted it so badly that they could only hear the thought that they wanted,\" she said. In other words, Veselnitskaya walked out of that meeting in New York with the belief that Mr Trump's campaign both was desperately seeking damaging information about Mrs Clinton and were open to talking to Russian nationals about what they might have to offer. Given that Veselnitskaya is at the very least a well-connected figure in Moscow, it doesn't require a great leap of faith to think this information eventually made its way to the Russian government. If the US intelligence community is to be believed, that government soon would acquire a trove of damaging information about Mrs Clinton and the Democrats as a result of hacks it co-ordinated into the Democratic National Committee server and the personal email of a senior member of Mrs Clinton's campaign team. In the ensuing months, details from those hacks would be made public via Wikileaks at times that were particularly damaging to Mrs Clinton. Derogatory statements about Mrs Clinton's Democratic opponent Bernie Sanders were produced the week before Democrats gathered for their national convention. Transcripts of Mrs Clinton's paid speeches to Goldman Sachs were published just days before the final presidential debate - and cited during that showdown by Mr Trump himself. The Trump campaign wanted dirt on Mrs Clinton. The Russian government had it in spades. Mr Mueller might want to see if those dots can be connected. Another choice tidbit in that first Goldstone email was his suggestion that he might \"send this info to your father via Rhona\" - a reference to Rhona Graff, the elder Trump's personal assistant. Graff has served as the gatekeeper to Mr Trump at the Trump organisation - and, according to a profile in Politico, still is the preferred method for the president's business associates to contact him outside of White House channels. \"If I really wanted to whisper something in his ear, I would probably go to Rhona,\" Trump business associate John Catsimatidis told the publication. The White House has said that Mr Trump did not know about the meeting with Veselnitskaya - despite the fact that his son, son-in-law and campaign chief were in attendance and it took place in his New York tower. If this assertion is proven to be inaccurate, Rhona could be the key. Trump Jr meeting scandal: The key players The middle portion of the email chain released on Tuesday morning involved Trump Jr and Goldstone trying to set up a phone conversation with Russian pop star/businessman Emin Agalarov. After a fair bit of wrangling the two apparently spoke, and the very next email was Goldstone informing Trump Jr he was scheduling the meeting with the \"Russian government attorney\" (Veselnitskaya) for later in the week. Mr Mueller and congressional investigators may be interested in learning what Agalarov said that convinced Mr Trump to move ahead with the plans for a face-to-face gathering. And what was the nature of the relationship between Agalarov and the Trump clan, in light of Goldstone's observation that Emin and his father were helping Russia's support of the Trump campaign? Did Donald Trump Jr break the law? Four days after the first email from Goldstone to Trump Jr about the incriminating information the Russia government was said to have about Mrs Clinton, candidate Trump promised to give a \"major speech\" the following week discussing \"all of the things that have taken place with the Clintons\", including Mrs Clinton's alleged misdeeds while serving as secretary of state. \"I think you're going to find it very informative and very, very interesting,\" he added. That speech, originally announced for the Monday after the Trump camp's New York meeting with Veselnitskaya, never took place. Was this an indication that the elder Trump may have known about the meeting - which, according to Trump Jr, did not produce the promised dirt on Mrs Clinton? That's one more question Mr Mueller might be mulling. Follow Anthony Zurcher on Twitter.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1671, "answer_end": 2416, "text": "Nestled toward the end of music publicist Goldstone's explosive first email to Trump Jr about the \"official documents and information\" the Russian government supposedly had about Hillary Clinton was that this constituted just \"part of\" Russia's support for his father, \"helped along by Aras and Emin\" Agalarov, the father-son Moscow-based real estate duo. It's a rather stunning detail for Goldstone to have offhandedly mentioned - and one that Trump Jr, in his \"love it\" response, seems to have breezed past with no comment. That kind of remark, however, would cause anyone looking for evidence of a Trump-Russia campaign collusion to stop dead in their tracks and ask: \"What's the rest of the story?\" Why is this British guy emailing Trump Jr?"}], "question": "What else did Rob Goldstone think the Russian government was doing to help Mr Trump?", "id": "682_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2417, "answer_end": 4312, "text": "Even if one takes Veselnitskaya at her word that she is not an agent of the Russian government and did not know or provide any damaging information about Mrs Clinton to the Trump team during the 9 June meeting, her own recent admissions raise some pressing questions. On Tuesday she told an NBC interviewer that Trump Jr, Manafort and Kushner may have been \"longing for\" the dirt on their Democratic opponent. \"They wanted it so badly that they could only hear the thought that they wanted,\" she said. In other words, Veselnitskaya walked out of that meeting in New York with the belief that Mr Trump's campaign both was desperately seeking damaging information about Mrs Clinton and were open to talking to Russian nationals about what they might have to offer. Given that Veselnitskaya is at the very least a well-connected figure in Moscow, it doesn't require a great leap of faith to think this information eventually made its way to the Russian government. If the US intelligence community is to be believed, that government soon would acquire a trove of damaging information about Mrs Clinton and the Democrats as a result of hacks it co-ordinated into the Democratic National Committee server and the personal email of a senior member of Mrs Clinton's campaign team. In the ensuing months, details from those hacks would be made public via Wikileaks at times that were particularly damaging to Mrs Clinton. Derogatory statements about Mrs Clinton's Democratic opponent Bernie Sanders were produced the week before Democrats gathered for their national convention. Transcripts of Mrs Clinton's paid speeches to Goldman Sachs were published just days before the final presidential debate - and cited during that showdown by Mr Trump himself. The Trump campaign wanted dirt on Mrs Clinton. The Russian government had it in spades. Mr Mueller might want to see if those dots can be connected."}], "question": "What did Veselnitskaya do next?", "id": "682_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 5215, "answer_end": 6025, "text": "The middle portion of the email chain released on Tuesday morning involved Trump Jr and Goldstone trying to set up a phone conversation with Russian pop star/businessman Emin Agalarov. After a fair bit of wrangling the two apparently spoke, and the very next email was Goldstone informing Trump Jr he was scheduling the meeting with the \"Russian government attorney\" (Veselnitskaya) for later in the week. Mr Mueller and congressional investigators may be interested in learning what Agalarov said that convinced Mr Trump to move ahead with the plans for a face-to-face gathering. And what was the nature of the relationship between Agalarov and the Trump clan, in light of Goldstone's observation that Emin and his father were helping Russia's support of the Trump campaign? Did Donald Trump Jr break the law?"}], "question": "What did Emin Agalarov and Trump Jr talk about on 6 June?", "id": "682_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 6026, "answer_end": 6861, "text": "Four days after the first email from Goldstone to Trump Jr about the incriminating information the Russia government was said to have about Mrs Clinton, candidate Trump promised to give a \"major speech\" the following week discussing \"all of the things that have taken place with the Clintons\", including Mrs Clinton's alleged misdeeds while serving as secretary of state. \"I think you're going to find it very informative and very, very interesting,\" he added. That speech, originally announced for the Monday after the Trump camp's New York meeting with Veselnitskaya, never took place. Was this an indication that the elder Trump may have known about the meeting - which, according to Trump Jr, did not produce the promised dirt on Mrs Clinton? That's one more question Mr Mueller might be mulling. Follow Anthony Zurcher on Twitter."}], "question": "What was the story behind Mr Trump's cancelled anti-Clinton speech?", "id": "682_3"}]}]}, {"title": "Syria: Turkish ground troops enter Afrin enclave", "date": "21 January 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Turkish ground troops have crossed into northern Syria as part of a major offensive to push out Kurdish militia, which Turkey regards as terrorists. The Kurdish group targeted, known as the YPG, is active in the Afrin region, across from Turkey's southern border. It says it has repelled Turkish troops in the area, and retaliated with rocket fire on Turkish border areas. The militia forms a crucial part of a US-backed alliance battling Islamic State (IS) jihadists in Syria. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has vowed to crush the YPG \"very quickly\", but the US is urging Turkish \"restraint\" in order to avoid civilian casualties. Turkey believes the group has links to the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), a banned militant group. The Turkish government has for several months been threatening to clear Kurdish fighters from Afrin and another city, Manbij, some 100km (60 miles) away. The military operation launched on Saturday, \"Olive Branch\", is aimed at moving Kurdish forces from Afrin . Plans for the operation were believed to have accelerated when the US announced earlier this month that it would help an anti-IS alliance, formed of these Kurds and ethnic Arab militias, to build a new \"border security force\" to prevent the return of the jihadists. The YPG and the alliance, called the Syrian Democratic Forces, deny any terrorist links - a claim backed by the US government. On Sunday, Turkish troops accompanied by pro-Turkey rebels from the Free Syrian Army (FSA), began their advance into Syrian territory following dozens of air strikes the previous day. Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said the aim was to establish a 30km (19-mile) \"safe zone\" deep inside Syria. But a spokesperson for the YPG, Nouri Mahmoudi, said the Turkish troops had been \"forced to retreat\". Some 25,000 FSA fighters have joined the offensive on the Turkish side, rebel commander Maj Yasser Abdul Rahim told Reuters. It is not clear how many Turkish soldiers are on the ground. Turkey's military said it had hit 45 targets on Sunday, as part of its air and ground campaign. It earlier said dozens of air strikes had taken out 153 targets belonging to Kurdish militants. President Erdogan vowed on Sunday to crush the Kurdish fighters in Syria, as well as the PKK. \"Our jets took off and started bombing. And now, the ground operation is under way. Now we see how the YPG... are fleeing in Afrin,\" he said. He also warned that anyone joining pro-Kurdish protests in Turkey over the operation would pay a \"heavy price\". Police later dispersed demonstrators in a number of Turkish cities, including Istanbul, and made several arrests. There are reports of fatalities on both sides. The YPG said at least four Turkish soldiers and 10 Syrian rebel fighters supporting them were killed in clashes on Sunday morning, but there has been no confirmation from Turkey. The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said Turkish air strikes had killed 11 civilians on Sunday. This follows at least nine deaths in strikes on Saturday - six civilians and three fighters - though Ankara said they were all Kurdish militants. Kurdish rockets also hit the Turkish border towns of Kilis and Reyhanli at the weekend, with casualties reported. Turkey's military has been shelling the Afrin region since Thursday, a move which it said was in response to fire coming from the area. Western powers, including the US and France, are urging restraint, and the UN Security Council is due to hold an emergency debate on Monday. \"They warned us before they launched the aircraft they were going to do it, in consultation with us. And we are working now on the way ahead,\" US Defence Secretary Jim Mattis told reporters on Sunday. \"We'll work this out,\" he added. Syrian President Bashar al-Assad condemned the incursion, saying: \"The brutal Turkish aggression\" on Afrin was part of Ankara's policy of \"support for terrorism\" in Syria. Russia - a key ally of President Assad - also said it was concerned by the news, and withdrew some of its troops based in the area. Moscow will demand Turkey halt its military operations at the UN meeting, according to Russian senator Frants Klintsevich, who is the deputy chairman of the defence and security committee. Iran, another Syria ally, called for a quick end to the operation \"to prevent a deepening of the crisis\" in Syria.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 893, "answer_end": 2636, "text": "The military operation launched on Saturday, \"Olive Branch\", is aimed at moving Kurdish forces from Afrin . Plans for the operation were believed to have accelerated when the US announced earlier this month that it would help an anti-IS alliance, formed of these Kurds and ethnic Arab militias, to build a new \"border security force\" to prevent the return of the jihadists. The YPG and the alliance, called the Syrian Democratic Forces, deny any terrorist links - a claim backed by the US government. On Sunday, Turkish troops accompanied by pro-Turkey rebels from the Free Syrian Army (FSA), began their advance into Syrian territory following dozens of air strikes the previous day. Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said the aim was to establish a 30km (19-mile) \"safe zone\" deep inside Syria. But a spokesperson for the YPG, Nouri Mahmoudi, said the Turkish troops had been \"forced to retreat\". Some 25,000 FSA fighters have joined the offensive on the Turkish side, rebel commander Maj Yasser Abdul Rahim told Reuters. It is not clear how many Turkish soldiers are on the ground. Turkey's military said it had hit 45 targets on Sunday, as part of its air and ground campaign. It earlier said dozens of air strikes had taken out 153 targets belonging to Kurdish militants. President Erdogan vowed on Sunday to crush the Kurdish fighters in Syria, as well as the PKK. \"Our jets took off and started bombing. And now, the ground operation is under way. Now we see how the YPG... are fleeing in Afrin,\" he said. He also warned that anyone joining pro-Kurdish protests in Turkey over the operation would pay a \"heavy price\". Police later dispersed demonstrators in a number of Turkish cities, including Istanbul, and made several arrests."}], "question": "What is happening in Afrin?", "id": "683_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2637, "answer_end": 3367, "text": "There are reports of fatalities on both sides. The YPG said at least four Turkish soldiers and 10 Syrian rebel fighters supporting them were killed in clashes on Sunday morning, but there has been no confirmation from Turkey. The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said Turkish air strikes had killed 11 civilians on Sunday. This follows at least nine deaths in strikes on Saturday - six civilians and three fighters - though Ankara said they were all Kurdish militants. Kurdish rockets also hit the Turkish border towns of Kilis and Reyhanli at the weekend, with casualties reported. Turkey's military has been shelling the Afrin region since Thursday, a move which it said was in response to fire coming from the area."}], "question": "Have there been any casualties?", "id": "683_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3368, "answer_end": 4350, "text": "Western powers, including the US and France, are urging restraint, and the UN Security Council is due to hold an emergency debate on Monday. \"They warned us before they launched the aircraft they were going to do it, in consultation with us. And we are working now on the way ahead,\" US Defence Secretary Jim Mattis told reporters on Sunday. \"We'll work this out,\" he added. Syrian President Bashar al-Assad condemned the incursion, saying: \"The brutal Turkish aggression\" on Afrin was part of Ankara's policy of \"support for terrorism\" in Syria. Russia - a key ally of President Assad - also said it was concerned by the news, and withdrew some of its troops based in the area. Moscow will demand Turkey halt its military operations at the UN meeting, according to Russian senator Frants Klintsevich, who is the deputy chairman of the defence and security committee. Iran, another Syria ally, called for a quick end to the operation \"to prevent a deepening of the crisis\" in Syria."}], "question": "How have key players reacted?", "id": "683_2"}]}]}, {"title": "Black Panther star on being 'young, gifted and black'", "date": "28 January 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Black Panther star Chadwick Boseman says the film has changed what it means to be \"young, gifted and black\". He was speaking as the cast collected the best ensemble prize at the 25th Screen Actors Guild Awards (SAGs). Chadwick Boseman, who plays T'Challa, said: \"All of us up here know what it's like to be told there is not a place for you to be featured.\" Black Panther is the first superhero film to win the prize. The actor says he wasn't expecting to have to speak, as the cast collected the award, but referred to a question which has followed the release of the film - has Black Panther changed the industry? \"All of us up here know what it's like to be told there is not a place for you to be featured, yet you are young, gifted and black,\" he said. \"We know what it's like to be told there's not a screen for you to be featured on, a stage for you to be featured on. \"We know what it's like to be the tail and not the head, to be beneath and not above and that is what we went to work with every day.\" Black Panther is the first superhero film to get a nomination for best picture (and six other awards) at the Oscars. The SAG awards are often seen as an indicator of how the Academy Awards could pan out. The actor also added to speculation about a sequel. \"One thing I do know, you can't have a Black Panther now without a 2 on it.\" There's no doubting the success of Black Panther. The film took more than $1bn (PS794m) at the global box office within a month of its release in February 2018, was widely praised as game-changing - including by Michelle Obama - for having a largely black cast and a black director. But has its success had an impact on the career prospects of other black actors? Alex Okoampa thinks so. He's 23 and touring with Motown The Musical. \"In the acting world, we've finally made it,\" he told Radio 1 Newsbeat.  \"We're not just seen as black actors or not just black people to include in films or on TV.\" Alex says he's not surprised it took until 2018 before Black Panther was made, but that the film was an inspiration. \"I felt so proud last night that Black Panther won the award and as a black actor myself it made me think anything is possible and there's no limit to your capabilities.\" 25 year-old Kiki Brown is an actress and at the moment works as a producer for theatre company, Tiata Fahodzi. \"I think it can still be difficult to a young, black actor because I feel like I am not represented,\" she told Radio 1 Newsbeat. \"I was told by a casting director the roles I'd be cast in are stereotypical care-giver roles like nurse or social worker or hyper-sexualised roles like prostitute. I just thought what if I want to play a CEO.\" But she feels like Black Panther has helped to change things. \"I think people are looking at us as contenders now.\" Trieve Blackwood-Cambridge who was in BBC Three's Enterprice agrees with Kiki. \"Before we were knocking on people's doors, but now I hope we won't be entirely reliant on the same people approaching us,\" he told Radio 1 Newsbeat. But it's not just actors: Trieve wants to see more black writers and producers: \"I hope that we're doing our own stuff.\" 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_start": 1344, "answer_end": 3324, "text": "There's no doubting the success of Black Panther. The film took more than $1bn (PS794m) at the global box office within a month of its release in February 2018, was widely praised as game-changing - including by Michelle Obama - for having a largely black cast and a black director. But has its success had an impact on the career prospects of other black actors? Alex Okoampa thinks so. He's 23 and touring with Motown The Musical. \"In the acting world, we've finally made it,\" he told Radio 1 Newsbeat.  \"We're not just seen as black actors or not just black people to include in films or on TV.\" Alex says he's not surprised it took until 2018 before Black Panther was made, but that the film was an inspiration. \"I felt so proud last night that Black Panther won the award and as a black actor myself it made me think anything is possible and there's no limit to your capabilities.\" 25 year-old Kiki Brown is an actress and at the moment works as a producer for theatre company, Tiata Fahodzi. \"I think it can still be difficult to a young, black actor because I feel like I am not represented,\" she told Radio 1 Newsbeat. \"I was told by a casting director the roles I'd be cast in are stereotypical care-giver roles like nurse or social worker or hyper-sexualised roles like prostitute. I just thought what if I want to play a CEO.\" But she feels like Black Panther has helped to change things. \"I think people are looking at us as contenders now.\" Trieve Blackwood-Cambridge who was in BBC Three's Enterprice agrees with Kiki. \"Before we were knocking on people's doors, but now I hope we won't be entirely reliant on the same people approaching us,\" he told Radio 1 Newsbeat. But it's not just actors: Trieve wants to see more black writers and producers: \"I hope that we're doing our own stuff.\" 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."}], "question": "Is Black Panther helping black British actors?", "id": "684_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Twelve Russians charged with US 2016 election hack", "date": "13 July 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "The US Department of Justice has charged 12 Russian intelligence officers with hacking Democratic officials in the 2016 US elections. Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein said the dozen accused used spear phishing emails and malicious software. He said the hackers also stole data on half a million voters from a state election board website. The Kremlin said there was no evidence linking the 12 to military intelligence or hacking. The claims were \"an old duck\" and a \"heap of conspiracy schemes\", said Moscow's foreign ministry in a statement. Friday's indictment was the first by US officials to directly charge Russia's government with meddling in the US vote two years ago. The 11-count indictment names the Russians defendants, alleging they began cyber-attacks in March 2016 on the email accounts of staff for Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign. Mr Rosenstein said the defendants corresponded with several Americans during the alleged conspiracy, but added there is no allegation that any US citizen committed a crime. The deputy attorney general said the conspirators used fictitious online personas, including \"DCLeaks\" and \"Guccifer 2.0\", to release thousands of stolen emails beginning in June 2016. They also plotted to hack into the computers of state boards of elections, secretaries of state, and voter software, according to the indictment. Mr Rosenstein said: \"We know that the goal of the conspirators was to have an impact on the election.\" The deputy attorney general said all 12 defendants were in the Russian intelligence service, the GRU. The DNC leak showed that top Democrats preferred Mrs Clinton for the presidential nomination, which confirmed the worst fears among supporters of her liberal challenger, Bernie Sanders. Clinton campaign manager John Podesta's emails were also hacked, which contained details of infighting and aides' disparaging remarks about Mrs Clinton. Analysis by Anthony Zurcher, BBC News If the Russian military had dropped a bomb on the headquarters of a US political party, it would be an act of war. Same if it had launched a missile at the home of the chair of a US presidential campaign. This isn't what happened, of course, but make no mistake, what the US Department of Justice is alleging - a cyber-attack by Russian military officers against a US political party and its leaders - is, or at least should be, equally inflammatory. The wreckage of what Robert Mueller's team says were Russian strikes on the US can be measured in damaged reputations and disrupted politics. Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein denies that Friday's announcement had anything to do with Donald Trump's upcoming meeting with Vladimir Putin - but they will cast a shadow over the summit nevertheless. After days of sharply criticising US allies, the world will closely watch how the president handles allegations of \"virtual\" warfare against the US when he sits down with the man whose military is accused of being behind it all. President Donald Trump was briefed about the indictments earlier in the week. He is currently in the UK, from where he once again dismissed the investigation as a \"rigged witch hunt\". During a joint news conference with British Prime Minister Theresa May on Friday, Mr Trump also said the Russia collusion allegations dogging his presidency were \"pure stupidity\". Next week he will meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin at a summit in Helsinki, Finland. Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer has urged the president to cancel that meeting, in light of the indictment. Special Counsel Robert Mueller is investigating US intelligence findings that Russians conspired to tilt the election in Mr Trump's favour, and whether any of his campaign aides colluded. As of Friday, the inquiry has indicted 32 people - mostly Russian nationals in absentia - as well as three companies and four former Trump advisers. None of the charges allege Trump advisers colluded with Russia to interfere with the presidential campaign. Former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn and George Papadopoulos, a former foreign policy adviser, have pleaded guilty to making false statements about their contacts with Russians. Former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort and his deputy Rick Gates were charged with money laundering relating to their political consultancy work in Ukraine.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 682, "answer_end": 1569, "text": "The 11-count indictment names the Russians defendants, alleging they began cyber-attacks in March 2016 on the email accounts of staff for Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign. Mr Rosenstein said the defendants corresponded with several Americans during the alleged conspiracy, but added there is no allegation that any US citizen committed a crime. The deputy attorney general said the conspirators used fictitious online personas, including \"DCLeaks\" and \"Guccifer 2.0\", to release thousands of stolen emails beginning in June 2016. They also plotted to hack into the computers of state boards of elections, secretaries of state, and voter software, according to the indictment. Mr Rosenstein said: \"We know that the goal of the conspirators was to have an impact on the election.\" The deputy attorney general said all 12 defendants were in the Russian intelligence service, the GRU."}], "question": "What are the allegations?", "id": "685_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1570, "answer_end": 1908, "text": "The DNC leak showed that top Democrats preferred Mrs Clinton for the presidential nomination, which confirmed the worst fears among supporters of her liberal challenger, Bernie Sanders. Clinton campaign manager John Podesta's emails were also hacked, which contained details of infighting and aides' disparaging remarks about Mrs Clinton."}], "question": "What did the hackers find out?", "id": "685_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2978, "answer_end": 3551, "text": "President Donald Trump was briefed about the indictments earlier in the week. He is currently in the UK, from where he once again dismissed the investigation as a \"rigged witch hunt\". During a joint news conference with British Prime Minister Theresa May on Friday, Mr Trump also said the Russia collusion allegations dogging his presidency were \"pure stupidity\". Next week he will meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin at a summit in Helsinki, Finland. Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer has urged the president to cancel that meeting, in light of the indictment."}], "question": "What has Trump said?", "id": "685_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3552, "answer_end": 4347, "text": "Special Counsel Robert Mueller is investigating US intelligence findings that Russians conspired to tilt the election in Mr Trump's favour, and whether any of his campaign aides colluded. As of Friday, the inquiry has indicted 32 people - mostly Russian nationals in absentia - as well as three companies and four former Trump advisers. None of the charges allege Trump advisers colluded with Russia to interfere with the presidential campaign. Former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn and George Papadopoulos, a former foreign policy adviser, have pleaded guilty to making false statements about their contacts with Russians. Former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort and his deputy Rick Gates were charged with money laundering relating to their political consultancy work in Ukraine."}], "question": "What's the big picture?", "id": "685_3"}]}]}, {"title": "Google's AI seeks further Go glory", "date": "10 April 2017", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Google has challenged China's top Go player to a series of games against its artificial intelligence technology. It said the software would play a best-of-three match against Ke Jie, among other games against humans in the eastern Chinese city of Wuzhen from 23-27 May. Last year, the Google program recorded a 4-1 victory against one of South Korea's top Go players. One expert said that result had come as a surprise. \"A lot of AI researchers have been working on Go because it's the most challenging board game we have,\" said Calum Chace, author of Surviving AI. \"The conventional wisdom was that machines would ultimately triumph but it would take 10 years or so. \"The win was a big wake-up call for a lot of people, including many outside the AI community.\" Google's AlphaGo software was developed by British computer company DeepMind, which was bought by the US search firm in 2014. Its defeat of Lee Se-dol in March 2016 is seen as a landmark moment, similar to that of IBM's Deep Blue AI beating Garry Kasparov at chess in 1997. Several of the moves AlphaGo made defied conventional wisdom but ended up paying off. However, many Go aficionados did not recognise Mr Lee as the world's top player at the time of the contest. So, the new competition against 19-year-old Mr Ke - who is the current number one according to a popular but unofficial player-ranking system - has the potential to bring additional prestige to Google. \"We've been hard at work improving AlphaGo to become even more creative, and since playing Lee Se-dol, the program has continued to learn through self-play training,\" a spokeswoman for DeepMind told the BBC. \"We intend to publish more scientific papers in the future, which will include further details of AlphaGo's progress.\" Google added that Mr Lee would also be invited, but was not sure if he would attend. In addition to the games against Mr Ke, AlphaGo will also: - play games involving one Chinese pro facing off against another, each of whom will have an AlphaGo-powered virtual teammate - challenge a five-person team containing some of China's top players, who will work together to try to beat the AI Over the past year, DeepMind's technology has also been used to find ways to reduce energy bills at Google's data centres as well as to try to improve care in British hospitals. A fresh wave of positive publicity could help Google find further uses for its tech. \"If it loses this match, a lot of people will be delighted to claim that Google and DeepMind has overpromised and that this is the kind of hype we always get with AI,\" commented Mr Chace. \"But I wouldn't have thought Google is taking a huge risk. \"[In recent months] it has been playing a lot of very, very good AlphaGo players online without disclosing it was an AI playing, and has won all of the games. \"Unless this Ke Jie is some magnitude better than Lee Se-dol, I would think they are confident of winning.\" Go is thought to date back to several thousand years ago in China. Using black-and-white stones on a grid, players gain the upper hand by surrounding their opponent's pieces with their own. The rules are simpler than those of chess, but a player typically has a choice of 200 moves, compared with about 20 in chess - there are more possible positions in Go than atoms in the universe, according to DeepMind's team. That means a computer cannot win simply via brute force -  searching through the consequences of millions of moves in seconds. It can be very difficult to determine who is winning, and many of the top human players rely on instinct. To prepare for its victory over Lee Se-dol, DeepMind trained its software on 30 million expert moves and then set the machine to play against itself millions of times to get a sense of what strategies worked. The result was that some of the innovative moves AlphaGo made in its landmark match were described as being \"beautiful\" and highly unusual by observers.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 2923, "answer_end": 3932, "text": "Go is thought to date back to several thousand years ago in China. Using black-and-white stones on a grid, players gain the upper hand by surrounding their opponent's pieces with their own. The rules are simpler than those of chess, but a player typically has a choice of 200 moves, compared with about 20 in chess - there are more possible positions in Go than atoms in the universe, according to DeepMind's team. That means a computer cannot win simply via brute force -  searching through the consequences of millions of moves in seconds. It can be very difficult to determine who is winning, and many of the top human players rely on instinct. To prepare for its victory over Lee Se-dol, DeepMind trained its software on 30 million expert moves and then set the machine to play against itself millions of times to get a sense of what strategies worked. The result was that some of the innovative moves AlphaGo made in its landmark match were described as being \"beautiful\" and highly unusual by observers."}], "question": "What is Go?", "id": "686_0"}]}]}, {"title": "US accuses Iran of 'alarming provocations' amid nuclear tensions", "date": "20 April 2017", "paragraphs": [{"context": "The US secretary of state has accused Iran of \"alarming ongoing provocations\" aimed at destabilising the Middle East and undermining America's interests. \"An unchecked Iran has the potential to travel the same path as North Korea and to take the world along with it,\" Rex Tillerson said. The US has ordered a review of the Iran nuclear deal, although it admits Iran is complying with its commitments. Iran's foreign minister dismissed Mr Tillerson's criticism as \"worn out\". The country has repeatedly denied accusations by the West that it was ever trying to develop nuclear weapons. On Tuesday, Washington accused North Korea of trying to \"provoke something\", after Pyongyang conducted a failed missile test over the weekend. North Korea said it may test missiles on a weekly basis, and warned of \"all-out war\" if the US takes military action. In a statement on Wednesday, Mr Tillerson said a review, which he had announced in a letter to Congress a day earlier, would look at the whole US policy towards Iran - taking in not only Tehran's compliance with the nuclear deal but also its actions in the Middle East. He accused the country of \"alarming and ongoing provocations that export terror and violence, destabilising more than one country at a time\". \"Iran is the world's leading state sponsor of terrorism and is responsible for intensifying multiple conflicts and undermining US interests in countries such as Syria, Yemen, Iraq, and Lebanon, and continuing to support attacks against Israel.\" As part of a long list of charges, he criticised Iran's involvement in the Syrian conflict and its support for President Bashar al-Assad. The secretary of state earlier acknowledged the Iranians had met the terms of the 2015 nuclear deal. But he said its \"nuclear ambitions\" remained \"a grave risk to international peace and security\". Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif reacted angrily on Twitter, saying \"worn-out US accusations\" could not \"mask its admission of Iran's compliance\" with the deal's requirements. He called on the US to change course and fulfil its own commitments. President Donald Trump has previously vowed to dismantle the nuclear deal but has not specified what he wants to do. The landmark 2015 agreement saw crippling sanctions on Iran lifted. It was secured after the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) certified that Tehran had restricted its sensitive nuclear activities. Barack Obama argued the deal, between Iran and six world powers including China, Russia and the UK, was the best way to prevent Iran getting a nuclear weapon. But President Trump has described the landmark agreement as the \"worst deal ever\". Read more: What does the Iran nuclear deal say? Iran says its nuclear programme is entirely peaceful and that it will continue missile development. One of the key requirements of the deal is the reconfiguration of Iran's Arak nuclear reactor so it does not produce weapons-grade plutonium usable in a nuclear bomb. On Thursday, Beijing said companies in China and Iran would be working together on the redesign to ensure these terms would be met. Analysis by BBC State Department correspondent Barbara Plett Usher In announcing a broad review of Iran policy the Trump administration has not jettisoned the nuclear deal. But Rex Tillerson has come pretty close to saying the agreement is not worth keeping, even though he's had to admit it's working. This week the secretary of state informed Congress that Tehran is keeping its side of the bargain to restrict its nuclear programme in exchange for the lifting of sanctions, which he's required to confirm every 90 days. In spoken remarks, though, he talked only of Iran's bad behaviour and linked that to the future of the deal - a message that will resonate far more on Capitol Hill and to which it was probably aimed. Former President Barack Obama would have agreed with all the charges: that Iran is a state sponsor of terrorism, that it supports proxies which undermine US interests in the region, that it's hostile to Israel and that its ballistic missile tests challenge UN Security Council prohibitions. But Mr Obama kept those issues separate from the nuclear agreement, which would have been impossible to achieve without that narrow focus. Mr Tillerson, on the other hand, called this a mistaken approach and said the review would take a comprehensive look at all of the threats posed by Iran. Read more from Barbara President Donald Trump has stepped up US pressure on North Korea, which has accelerated its nuclear and missile tests in recent years, despite international condemnation and UN sanctions. North Korea's aim is to be able to put a nuclear warhead on an intercontinental ballistic missile that can reach targets around the world, including the US. Mr Trump has said that will not happen, and \"all options are on the table\" in dealing with Pyongyang. On Wednesday, Mr Tillerson repeated the Trump administration's view that \"strategic patience is a failed approach\". And he said the US wanted to change course before Iran became a \"second piece of evidence\" for this. However, Iran says it has the right to nuclear energy - and stresses that its nuclear programme is for peaceful purposes only.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 846, "answer_end": 2204, "text": "In a statement on Wednesday, Mr Tillerson said a review, which he had announced in a letter to Congress a day earlier, would look at the whole US policy towards Iran - taking in not only Tehran's compliance with the nuclear deal but also its actions in the Middle East. He accused the country of \"alarming and ongoing provocations that export terror and violence, destabilising more than one country at a time\". \"Iran is the world's leading state sponsor of terrorism and is responsible for intensifying multiple conflicts and undermining US interests in countries such as Syria, Yemen, Iraq, and Lebanon, and continuing to support attacks against Israel.\" As part of a long list of charges, he criticised Iran's involvement in the Syrian conflict and its support for President Bashar al-Assad. The secretary of state earlier acknowledged the Iranians had met the terms of the 2015 nuclear deal. But he said its \"nuclear ambitions\" remained \"a grave risk to international peace and security\". Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif reacted angrily on Twitter, saying \"worn-out US accusations\" could not \"mask its admission of Iran's compliance\" with the deal's requirements. He called on the US to change course and fulfil its own commitments. President Donald Trump has previously vowed to dismantle the nuclear deal but has not specified what he wants to do."}], "question": "What is the US doing about Iran?", "id": "687_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2205, "answer_end": 3099, "text": "The landmark 2015 agreement saw crippling sanctions on Iran lifted. It was secured after the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) certified that Tehran had restricted its sensitive nuclear activities. Barack Obama argued the deal, between Iran and six world powers including China, Russia and the UK, was the best way to prevent Iran getting a nuclear weapon. But President Trump has described the landmark agreement as the \"worst deal ever\". Read more: What does the Iran nuclear deal say? Iran says its nuclear programme is entirely peaceful and that it will continue missile development. One of the key requirements of the deal is the reconfiguration of Iran's Arak nuclear reactor so it does not produce weapons-grade plutonium usable in a nuclear bomb. On Thursday, Beijing said companies in China and Iran would be working together on the redesign to ensure these terms would be met."}], "question": "What is the Iran nuclear deal?", "id": "687_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 4430, "answer_end": 5220, "text": "President Donald Trump has stepped up US pressure on North Korea, which has accelerated its nuclear and missile tests in recent years, despite international condemnation and UN sanctions. North Korea's aim is to be able to put a nuclear warhead on an intercontinental ballistic missile that can reach targets around the world, including the US. Mr Trump has said that will not happen, and \"all options are on the table\" in dealing with Pyongyang. On Wednesday, Mr Tillerson repeated the Trump administration's view that \"strategic patience is a failed approach\". And he said the US wanted to change course before Iran became a \"second piece of evidence\" for this. However, Iran says it has the right to nuclear energy - and stresses that its nuclear programme is for peaceful purposes only."}], "question": "What has this got to do with North Korea?", "id": "687_2"}]}]}, {"title": "Trump steps up war of words on trade with threat to tax EU cars", "date": "3 March 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "US President Donald Trump has stepped up his war of words over trade tariffs, threatening to \"apply a tax\" on imports of cars from the European Union. Mr Trump said other countries had taken advantage of the US for years because of its \"very stupid\" trade deals. The trade wrangle began on Thursday when Mr Trump vowed to impose hefty tariffs on steel and aluminium imports. That brought a stiff response from trading partners and criticism from the IMF and WTO. EU trade chiefs have reportedly been considering slapping 25% tariffs on around $3.5bn (PS2.5bn) of imports from the US, following Mr Trump's proposal of a 25% tariff on imported steel and 10% on aluminium. They would target iconic US exports including Levi's jeans, Harley-Davidson motorbikes and Bourbon whisky, European Commission head Jean-Claude Juncker said. In a tweet on Saturday, the president said: \"If the EU wants to further increase their already massive tariffs and barriers on US companies doing business there, we will simply apply a Tax on their Cars which freely pour into the US. \"They make it impossible for our cars (and more) to sell there. Big trade imbalance!\" A second tweet decried the \"$800 Billion Dollar Yearly Trade Deficit because of our 'very stupid' trade deals and policies\". Mr Trump added: \"Our jobs and wealth are being given to other countries that have taken advantage of us for years. They laugh at what fools our leaders have been. No more!\" The US is the largest export market for EU cars - making up 25% of the EUR192bn (PS171bn; $237bn) worth of motor vehicles the bloc exported in 2016 (China was second with 16%). Germany is responsible for just over half of the EU's car exports, so new US tariffs would hurt the car industry there. But German carmakers also build hundreds of thousands of cars in the US every year - providing many US jobs that German officials say Mr Trump overlooks. A number have questioned the wisdom of the tariff proposal and have been urging the president to reconsider. Senator Orrin Hatch said: \"I'm very surprised, he's had very bad advice from somebody down there. The people who are going to have to pay these tariffs are going to be the American citizens.\" Senator Ben Sasse said: \"Kooky 18th Century protectionism will jack up prices on American families - and will prompt retaliation.\" And industry bodies like the US Motor and Equipment Manufacturers Association have expressed deep concern, saying the benefits from the recent cuts in corporation tax \"could all be for naught\". But Mr Trump's Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross stood firmly behind the plans, saying the president was \"fed up with the continued over-capacity, he's fed up with the subsidisation of exports to us\". It chimes with his \"America First\" policy and the narrative that the US is getting a raw deal in its trade relations with other countries. Mr Trump tweeted on Friday that the US was \"losing billions of dollars\" and would find a trade war \"easy to win\". The president is using a clause in international trade rules which allows for tariffs for national security reasons. But his move has not come totally out of the blue. The commerce department recommended tariffs in February after conducting a review under rarely invoked national security regulations contained in a 1962 trade law. Mr Trump had already announced tariffs on solar panels and washing machines in January. The IMF said others could follow the US leader's precedent by claiming tough trade restrictions were needed to defend national security. Canada said tariffs would cause disruption on both sides of the border. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau slammed the tariffs as \"absolutely unacceptable\". He told reporters in Ontario he was \"confident we're going to continue to be able to defend Canadian industry\". It is one of several countries, including Brazil, Mexico and Japan, that have said they will consider retaliatory steps if the president presses ahead with his plan next week. World Trade Organization Director General Roberto Azevedo said: \"A trade war is in no-one's interests.\" But Mr Trump tweeted, \"Trade wars are good.\" Analysis by Theo Leggett, business correspondent If trade wars really were good and easy to win, the World Trade Organization probably wouldn't exist. Most countries believe that negotiations are best carried out and disputes settled through a rules-based system. Introducing trade barriers on a tit-for-tat basis has the potential to harm companies on both sides. But that's unlikely to bother Mr Trump. His campaign rhetoric drew heavily on the perceived threat to traditional US industries from foreign interlopers acting unfairly. He's simply continuing in that vein. And it's unlikely to register much with the steelworkers of Pennsylvania and Indiana. Concerned about their jobs and the future, many will welcome Mr Trump's comments.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 828, "answer_end": 1445, "text": "In a tweet on Saturday, the president said: \"If the EU wants to further increase their already massive tariffs and barriers on US companies doing business there, we will simply apply a Tax on their Cars which freely pour into the US. \"They make it impossible for our cars (and more) to sell there. Big trade imbalance!\" A second tweet decried the \"$800 Billion Dollar Yearly Trade Deficit because of our 'very stupid' trade deals and policies\". Mr Trump added: \"Our jobs and wealth are being given to other countries that have taken advantage of us for years. They laugh at what fools our leaders have been. No more!\""}], "question": "What has Mr Trump said now?", "id": "688_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1446, "answer_end": 1896, "text": "The US is the largest export market for EU cars - making up 25% of the EUR192bn (PS171bn; $237bn) worth of motor vehicles the bloc exported in 2016 (China was second with 16%). Germany is responsible for just over half of the EU's car exports, so new US tariffs would hurt the car industry there. But German carmakers also build hundreds of thousands of cars in the US every year - providing many US jobs that German officials say Mr Trump overlooks."}], "question": "How many EU-made cars go to the US?", "id": "688_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1897, "answer_end": 2720, "text": "A number have questioned the wisdom of the tariff proposal and have been urging the president to reconsider. Senator Orrin Hatch said: \"I'm very surprised, he's had very bad advice from somebody down there. The people who are going to have to pay these tariffs are going to be the American citizens.\" Senator Ben Sasse said: \"Kooky 18th Century protectionism will jack up prices on American families - and will prompt retaliation.\" And industry bodies like the US Motor and Equipment Manufacturers Association have expressed deep concern, saying the benefits from the recent cuts in corporation tax \"could all be for naught\". But Mr Trump's Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross stood firmly behind the plans, saying the president was \"fed up with the continued over-capacity, he's fed up with the subsidisation of exports to us\"."}], "question": "Do fellow Republicans back Mr Trump's trade threats?", "id": "688_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2721, "answer_end": 3393, "text": "It chimes with his \"America First\" policy and the narrative that the US is getting a raw deal in its trade relations with other countries. Mr Trump tweeted on Friday that the US was \"losing billions of dollars\" and would find a trade war \"easy to win\". The president is using a clause in international trade rules which allows for tariffs for national security reasons. But his move has not come totally out of the blue. The commerce department recommended tariffs in February after conducting a review under rarely invoked national security regulations contained in a 1962 trade law. Mr Trump had already announced tariffs on solar panels and washing machines in January."}], "question": "Why does he want to impose tariffs?", "id": "688_3"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3394, "answer_end": 4119, "text": "The IMF said others could follow the US leader's precedent by claiming tough trade restrictions were needed to defend national security. Canada said tariffs would cause disruption on both sides of the border. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau slammed the tariffs as \"absolutely unacceptable\". He told reporters in Ontario he was \"confident we're going to continue to be able to defend Canadian industry\". It is one of several countries, including Brazil, Mexico and Japan, that have said they will consider retaliatory steps if the president presses ahead with his plan next week. World Trade Organization Director General Roberto Azevedo said: \"A trade war is in no-one's interests.\" But Mr Trump tweeted, \"Trade wars are good.\""}], "question": "What has the international response been?", "id": "688_4"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 4120, "answer_end": 4859, "text": "Analysis by Theo Leggett, business correspondent If trade wars really were good and easy to win, the World Trade Organization probably wouldn't exist. Most countries believe that negotiations are best carried out and disputes settled through a rules-based system. Introducing trade barriers on a tit-for-tat basis has the potential to harm companies on both sides. But that's unlikely to bother Mr Trump. His campaign rhetoric drew heavily on the perceived threat to traditional US industries from foreign interlopers acting unfairly. He's simply continuing in that vein. And it's unlikely to register much with the steelworkers of Pennsylvania and Indiana. Concerned about their jobs and the future, many will welcome Mr Trump's comments."}], "question": "Are trade wars good?", "id": "688_5"}]}]}, {"title": "Iran oil: US to end sanctions exemptions for major importers", "date": "22 April 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "US President Donald Trump has decided to end exemptions from sanctions for countries still buying oil from Iran. The White House said waivers for China, India, Japan, South Korea and Turkey would expire in May, after which they could face US sanctions themselves. This decision is intended to bring Iran's oil exports to zero, denying the government its main source of revenue. Iran insisted the sanctions were illegal and that it had attached \"no value or credibility\" to the waivers. Mr Trump reinstated the sanctions last year after abandoning a landmark 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and six world powers. Under the accord, Iran agreed to limit its sensitive nuclear activities and allow in international inspectors in return for sanctions relief. The Trump administration hopes to compel Iran to negotiate a \"new deal\" that would cover not only its nuclear activities, but also its ballistic missile programme and what officials call its \"malign behaviour\" across the Middle East. The sanctions have led to a sharp downturn in Iran's economy, pushing the value of its currency to record lows, quadrupling its annual inflation rate, driving away foreign investors, and triggering protests. In November, the US reimposed sanctions on Iran's energy, ship building, shipping, and banking sectors, which officials called \"the core areas\" of its economy. However, six-month waivers from economic penalties were granted to the eight main buyers of Iranian crude - China, India, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Turkey, Italy and Greece - to give them time to find alternative sources and avoid causing a shock to global oil markets. Three of the eight buyers - Greece, Italy and Taiwan - have stopped importing Iranian oil. But the others had reportedly asked for their waivers to be extended. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Mr Trump's decision not to renew the waivers showed his administration was \"dramatically accelerating our pressure campaign in a calibrated way that meets our national security objectives while maintaining well supplied global oil markets\". \"We stand by our allies and partners as they transition away from Iranian crude to other alternatives,\" he added. \"We have had extensive and productive discussions with Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and other major producers to ease this transition and ensure sufficient supply. This, in addition to increasing US production, underscores our confidence that energy markets will remain well supplied.\" By Barbara Plett Usher, BBC state department correspondent In recent weeks, Japan and South Korea have either halted or sharply decreased Iranian oil imports. Both are heavily dependent on foreign oil and Mr Pompeo said the administration had been trying to find alternatives. But Monday's move could strain relations - already tested over issues of trade and US policy towards North Korea - with these close allies. It's an even bigger problem for India, which is also under American pressure to cut oil purchases from Venezuela. Iran is one of Delhi's main oil suppliers. But India also has deep cultural and political ties with Tehran, which make it difficult to join US efforts to isolate the Islamic Republic. China is Iran's other big customer: it has slammed the US decision, saying its trade is perfectly legal, and the US has no jurisdiction to interfere. The question is whether Beijing will try to skirt sanctions through companies not tied to the US financial system. Turkey was most outspoken in lobbying for a waiver extension. Ankara argues that it badly needs the oil, that as a neighbour it can't cut ties with Iran, and that the pressure campaign won't work anyway. Saudi Energy Minister Khalid al-Falih said his country would co-ordinate with fellow oil producers to ensure \"the global oil market does not go out of balance\". Iranian exports are currently estimated to be below 1 million barrels per day (bpd), compared to more than 2.5 million bpd before Mr Trump abandoned the nuclear deal last May. The price of global benchmark Brent crude rose by 3.33% to $74.37 a barrel in trading on Monday - the highest since 1 November. US oil - known as West Texas Intermediate - was meanwhile up 2.90% at $65.93. In recent months, the price of oil has risen due to an agreement between the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (Opec) cartel and its allies, including Russia, to cut their output by 1.2 million bpd. A spokesman for Iran's foreign ministry dismissed Mr Trump's decision, saying the country \"did not and does not attach any value or credibility to the waivers\". But Abbas Mousavi added that because of the sanctions' negative effects, Iran was in \"constant contact\" with its international partners and would act accordingly. Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu tweeted that the US move would \"not serve regional peace and stability, yet will harm Iranian people\". \"Turkey rejects unilateral sanctions and impositions on how to conduct relations with neighbours,\" he added. China said earlier that it opposed unilateral US sanctions. \"China-Iran co-operation is open, transparent and in accordance with law. It should be respected,\" foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang told reporters. Japan's chief cabinet secretary, Yoshihide Suga, was quoted by the Financial Times as saying there should be no \"negative effect on the operations of Japanese companies\". Its refineries reportedly halted Iranian imports in March. India's government was studying the implications of the US announcement, the PTI news agency cited sources as saying. The country had reportedly hoped to be allowed to continue to reduce its Iranian oil imports gradually. South Korea stopped buying Iranian oil for four months in response, but resumed in January. In March, it imported 284,600 bpd.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1195, "answer_end": 2478, "text": "In November, the US reimposed sanctions on Iran's energy, ship building, shipping, and banking sectors, which officials called \"the core areas\" of its economy. However, six-month waivers from economic penalties were granted to the eight main buyers of Iranian crude - China, India, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Turkey, Italy and Greece - to give them time to find alternative sources and avoid causing a shock to global oil markets. Three of the eight buyers - Greece, Italy and Taiwan - have stopped importing Iranian oil. But the others had reportedly asked for their waivers to be extended. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Mr Trump's decision not to renew the waivers showed his administration was \"dramatically accelerating our pressure campaign in a calibrated way that meets our national security objectives while maintaining well supplied global oil markets\". \"We stand by our allies and partners as they transition away from Iranian crude to other alternatives,\" he added. \"We have had extensive and productive discussions with Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and other major producers to ease this transition and ensure sufficient supply. This, in addition to increasing US production, underscores our confidence that energy markets will remain well supplied.\""}], "question": "Why aren't the waivers being renewed?", "id": "689_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 4000, "answer_end": 4420, "text": "The price of global benchmark Brent crude rose by 3.33% to $74.37 a barrel in trading on Monday - the highest since 1 November. US oil - known as West Texas Intermediate - was meanwhile up 2.90% at $65.93. In recent months, the price of oil has risen due to an agreement between the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (Opec) cartel and its allies, including Russia, to cut their output by 1.2 million bpd."}], "question": "What has been the impact on oil prices?", "id": "689_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 4421, "answer_end": 5791, "text": "A spokesman for Iran's foreign ministry dismissed Mr Trump's decision, saying the country \"did not and does not attach any value or credibility to the waivers\". But Abbas Mousavi added that because of the sanctions' negative effects, Iran was in \"constant contact\" with its international partners and would act accordingly. Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu tweeted that the US move would \"not serve regional peace and stability, yet will harm Iranian people\". \"Turkey rejects unilateral sanctions and impositions on how to conduct relations with neighbours,\" he added. China said earlier that it opposed unilateral US sanctions. \"China-Iran co-operation is open, transparent and in accordance with law. It should be respected,\" foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang told reporters. Japan's chief cabinet secretary, Yoshihide Suga, was quoted by the Financial Times as saying there should be no \"negative effect on the operations of Japanese companies\". Its refineries reportedly halted Iranian imports in March. India's government was studying the implications of the US announcement, the PTI news agency cited sources as saying. The country had reportedly hoped to be allowed to continue to reduce its Iranian oil imports gradually. South Korea stopped buying Iranian oil for four months in response, but resumed in January. In March, it imported 284,600 bpd."}], "question": "How have the countries affected reacted?", "id": "689_2"}]}]}, {"title": "Brexit: 'Breakthrough' deal paves way for future trade talks", "date": "8 December 2017", "paragraphs": [{"context": "PM Theresa May has struck a last-minute deal with the EU in a bid to move Brexit talks on to the next phase. There will be no \"hard border\" with Ireland; and the rights of EU citizens in the UK and UK citizens in the EU will be protected. The so-called \"divorce bill\" will amount to between PS35bn and PS39bn, Downing Street sources say. The European Commission president said it was a \"breakthrough\" and he was confident EU leaders will approve it. They are due to meet next Thursday for a European Council summit and need to give their backing to the deal if the next phase of negotiations are to begin. Talks can then move onto a transition deal to cover a period of up to two years after Brexit, and the \"framework for the future relationship\" - preliminary discussions about a future trade deal, although the EU says a deal can only be finalised once the UK has left the EU. A final withdrawal treaty and transition deal will have to be ratified by the EU nations and the UK Parliament, before the UK leaves in March 2019. Northern Ireland's Democratic Unionist Party, whose opposition on Monday led to talks breaking down,  said there was still \"more work to be done\" on the border issue and how it votes on the final deal \"will depend on its contents\". Mrs May depends on the party's support to win key votes in Westminster. The pound was trading at a six-month high against the euro as news broke of the draft agreement. - Guarantee that there will be \"no hard border\" between Northern Ireland and the Republic and that the \"constitutional and economic integrity of the United Kingdom\" will be maintained. - EU citizens living in the UK and vice versa will have their rights to live, work and study protected.  The agreement includes reunification rights for relatives who do not live in the UK to join them in their host country in the future - Financial settlement - No specific figure is in the document but Downing Street sources say it will be between PS35bn and PS39bn, including budget contributions during a two-year \"transition\" period after March 2019 The UK government and the EU want to maintain the free flow of goods, without border checks that they fear could threaten a return to The Troubles, but the DUP does not want Northern Ireland to be treated differently to the rest of the UK after Brexit. The joint EU-UK document says any future deal must protect \"North-South co-operation\" and hold to the UK's \"guarantee of avoiding a hard border\". The agreement also says \"no new regulatory barriers\" will be allowed between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK, and that Northern Ireland's businesses will continue to have \"unfettered access\" to the UK internal market - a passage thought to have been added to meet DUP concerns. But it also sets out a fallback position if the UK fails to agree a trade deal. This could prove controversial because it says there will continue to be \"full alignment\" between the EU and Northern Ireland on some elements of cross-border trade, as set out in the Good Friday Agreement. The DUP would have preferred this not to be in the agreement, says the BBC's Chris Morris, and there could be some hard negotiating to do further down the line. Agreement has been reached on what happens to the three million EU citizens living in the UK and more than a million UK citizens in EU states after Brexit. EU citizens currently in the UK would be allowed to continue living and working there - and those already in the country who do not yet have permanent residency would be able to acquire it after Brexit. Freedom of movement could continue for two years after March 2019, although the UK says new arrivals will have to register. The plan is that UK citizens in living in an EU country would get the same rights, although they would not retain them if they moved to another EU country. For eight years after Brexit, UK courts will be able to refer cases involving EU nationals to the European Court of Justice for interpretation. But the campaign group the 3million, which represents EU citizens in the UK, said there was \"still no clarity around the registration criteria for these rights\" and said of the eight years: \"Our rights should not have an expiry date\". A figure is not mentioned in the text of the agreement but Downing Street sources says it will be between PS35bn and PS39bn.  It will be paid over four years and the precise figure is unlikely to be known for some time. EU Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier said the EU had agreed to drop the cost of relocating UK-based EU agencies from the final divorce bill. The prime minister said it would be \"fair to the British taxpayer\" and would mean the UK in future \"will be able to invest more in our priorities at home, such as housing, schools and the NHS\". Technically a future trade deal cannot be signed while the UK remains a member of the EU but \"preliminary and preparatory discussions\" can begin. But the EU's chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier has said the withdrawal treaty and transition deal need to be ready by October 2018 - in order that they can be ratified by March 2019, before the \"real negotiation\" begins on the future relationship. Mr Barnier suggested on Friday that the only option for a future trade arrangement was a Canada-style deal, rather than a one based on Norway, which retains free movement and unrestricted access to the single market but pays into the EU budget. The European Council wants the UK to remain a \"member\" of the EU's customs union and single market and to remain under the full jurisdiction of the European Court of Justice during the transition period, according to a leaked document. The DUP, whose opposition on Monday led to talks breaking down, say there have been six \"substantial changes\" to the text. Party leader Arlene Foster said they would mean there was \"no red line down the Irish Sea\" - meaning no customs barrier between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK. But BBC Northern Ireland economics editor John Campbell says there is a lot of hard negotiating to come and compromises to be made. Another interpretation of the deal is that that it still leaves the door open for a special status for Northern Ireland, he adds. What does Brexit deal mean for NI? The prime minister made her decisions on Thursday night while the No 10 Downing Street Christmas party carried on. It isn't celebration on Friday though for her government, but relief. Read more from Laura Theresa May's cabinet colleagues heaped praise on her, with Environment Secretary Michael Gove saying it was a \"significant personal political achievement\" for Mrs May while Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson tweeted: \"Congratulations to PM for her determination in getting today's deal.\" But Labour's Brexit spokesman Sir Keir Starmer said Mrs May should \"seriously reflect on her approach to the negotiations so far\". He added: \"Despite being two months later than originally planned, it is encouraging that the European Commission has recommended sufficient progress in the Brexit negotiations.\" European press relieved at Brexit 'white smoke' DUP Leader Arlene Foster said it meant that Northern Ireland would \"not be separated constitutionally, politically, economically or regulatory from the rest of the United Kingdom\" and \"in all circumstances the United Kingdom will continue to ensure the same unfettered access for Northern Ireland's businesses to the whole of the UK internal market\". Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon tweeted: \"Move to phase 2 of talks is good - but the devil is in the detail and things now get really tough.\" Lib Dem leader Vince Cable, who backs a referendum on the final deal, said \"it reduces the risk of a catastrophic no-deal Brexit\" but questioned if it would last or be \"torn apart by Theresa May's own MPs\". Former UKIP leader Nigel Farage told the BBC the estimated bill was \"way more than we need to pay\" and he was unhappy that the European Court of Justice would continue to have a role for up to eight years. \"The whole thing is humiliating. We have collapsed at every level.\"", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 3203, "answer_end": 4220, "text": "Agreement has been reached on what happens to the three million EU citizens living in the UK and more than a million UK citizens in EU states after Brexit. EU citizens currently in the UK would be allowed to continue living and working there - and those already in the country who do not yet have permanent residency would be able to acquire it after Brexit. Freedom of movement could continue for two years after March 2019, although the UK says new arrivals will have to register. The plan is that UK citizens in living in an EU country would get the same rights, although they would not retain them if they moved to another EU country. For eight years after Brexit, UK courts will be able to refer cases involving EU nationals to the European Court of Justice for interpretation. But the campaign group the 3million, which represents EU citizens in the UK, said there was \"still no clarity around the registration criteria for these rights\" and said of the eight years: \"Our rights should not have an expiry date\"."}], "question": "Citizens' rights - same for everyone?", "id": "690_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 4775, "answer_end": 5654, "text": "Technically a future trade deal cannot be signed while the UK remains a member of the EU but \"preliminary and preparatory discussions\" can begin. But the EU's chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier has said the withdrawal treaty and transition deal need to be ready by October 2018 - in order that they can be ratified by March 2019, before the \"real negotiation\" begins on the future relationship. Mr Barnier suggested on Friday that the only option for a future trade arrangement was a Canada-style deal, rather than a one based on Norway, which retains free movement and unrestricted access to the single market but pays into the EU budget. The European Council wants the UK to remain a \"member\" of the EU's customs union and single market and to remain under the full jurisdiction of the European Court of Justice during the transition period, according to a leaked document."}], "question": "What happens next?", "id": "690_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 5655, "answer_end": 6243, "text": "The DUP, whose opposition on Monday led to talks breaking down, say there have been six \"substantial changes\" to the text. Party leader Arlene Foster said they would mean there was \"no red line down the Irish Sea\" - meaning no customs barrier between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK. But BBC Northern Ireland economics editor John Campbell says there is a lot of hard negotiating to come and compromises to be made. Another interpretation of the deal is that that it still leaves the door open for a special status for Northern Ireland, he adds. What does Brexit deal mean for NI?"}], "question": "What has changed since Monday?", "id": "690_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 6450, "answer_end": 8077, "text": "Theresa May's cabinet colleagues heaped praise on her, with Environment Secretary Michael Gove saying it was a \"significant personal political achievement\" for Mrs May while Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson tweeted: \"Congratulations to PM for her determination in getting today's deal.\" But Labour's Brexit spokesman Sir Keir Starmer said Mrs May should \"seriously reflect on her approach to the negotiations so far\". He added: \"Despite being two months later than originally planned, it is encouraging that the European Commission has recommended sufficient progress in the Brexit negotiations.\" European press relieved at Brexit 'white smoke' DUP Leader Arlene Foster said it meant that Northern Ireland would \"not be separated constitutionally, politically, economically or regulatory from the rest of the United Kingdom\" and \"in all circumstances the United Kingdom will continue to ensure the same unfettered access for Northern Ireland's businesses to the whole of the UK internal market\". Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon tweeted: \"Move to phase 2 of talks is good - but the devil is in the detail and things now get really tough.\" Lib Dem leader Vince Cable, who backs a referendum on the final deal, said \"it reduces the risk of a catastrophic no-deal Brexit\" but questioned if it would last or be \"torn apart by Theresa May's own MPs\". Former UKIP leader Nigel Farage told the BBC the estimated bill was \"way more than we need to pay\" and he was unhappy that the European Court of Justice would continue to have a role for up to eight years. \"The whole thing is humiliating. We have collapsed at every level.\""}], "question": "How has it been received?", "id": "690_3"}]}]}, {"title": "Egypt attack: President Sisi pledges forceful response", "date": "25 November 2017", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Egypt's President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi has vowed to respond with \"the utmost force\" after 300 people were killed at a North Sinai mosque during Friday prayers. The al-Rawda mosque in the town of Bir al-Abed was bombed and fleeing worshippers were then gunned down. The Egyptian military has said it has conducted air strikes on \"terrorist\" targets in response. No group has yet claimed the attack, the deadliest in recent memory. After bombs were set off, dozens of gunmen waiting outside the mosque opened fire on those trying to escape. The assailants reportedly set parked vehicles on fire in the vicinity to block off access to the building, and fired on ambulances trying to help victims. Thirty children are among the dead and at least 100 people have been wounded. \"What is happening is an attempt to stop us from our efforts in the fight against terrorism,\" Mr Sisi said in a televised address hours after the attack. \"The armed forces and the police will avenge our martyrs and restore security and stability with the utmost force.\" Egyptian security forces have for years been fighting an Islamist insurgency in the Sinai Peninsula, and militants affiliated with so-called Islamic State (IS) have been behind scores of deadly attacks in the desert region. Locals say the al-Rawda mosque is used by the local Sawarka tribe, which is known to cooperate with the security services against militants. It is also known to be popular with worshippers of Sufism, a mystical branch of Islam that is condemned by some jihadist groups. The head of IS's \"religious police\" in Sinai said last December that Sufis who did not \"repent\" would be killed, after the group beheaded two elderly men reported to be Sufi clerics. The number of victims is unprecedented for an attack of this type, says the BBC's Sally Nabil in Cairo. She adds that this is the first time that worshippers inside a mosque have been targeted by militants in North Sinai. An army spokesman said \"terrorist spots\", where weapons and ammunition were reportedly stocked, had been bombed by air force jets on Friday in response. The official also said that several vehicles used in the attack had been located and destroyed. Three days of national mourning have been declared. By Orla Guerin, Cairo correspondent This is a major challenge to the Egyptian state. If this was IS, it is always worth considering the broader regional dimension. In the last few months, IS has had massive territorial losses in Iraq and across the border in Syria. If IS was behind this, this could be an attempt to remind supporters around the world that they are still here, still relevant and can still inflict terrible damage on their enemies. What we don't know right now is if the Egyptian security establishment, if President Sisi, has anything else in the arsenal to try. He has already tried the hardline military approach - there has been a massive military operation going on in the Sinai peninsula for years. It has not delivered results that time and time again the Egyptian establishment has promised. But it is unclear if they have something new they can try to attempt to curb this very stubborn Islamic insurgency which has inflicted such terrible damage in this attack. Militant Islamists stepped up attacks in Sinai after Egypt's military overthrew Islamist President Mohammed Morsi following mass anti-government protests in July 2013. Hundreds of police, soldiers and civilians have been killed since then, mostly in attacks carried out by the Sinai Province group, which is affiliated to IS. Sinai Province has also carried out deadly attacks against Egypt's Coptic Christian minority elsewhere in the country, and said it was behind the bombing of a Russian plane carrying tourists in Sinai in 2015, killing 224 people on board. It has been operating mainly in North Sinai, which has been under a state of emergency since October 2014, when 33 security personnel were killed in an attack claimed by the group. Sinai Province is thought to want to take control of the Sinai peninsula in order to turn it into an Islamist province run by IS. Journalists, including from state-sponsored outlets, have not been allowed to report from North Sinai in the last few years. Correspondents say that the frequency of attacks raises doubts about the effectiveness of military operations against militants. Arab League chief Ahmed Aboul Gheit condemned the attack as a \"terrifying crime which again shows that Islam is innocent of those who follow extremist terrorist ideology\". Governments in the UK, US, France, Russia, Israel, Iran, Saudi Arabia and elsewhere have deplored the massacre.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1266, "answer_end": 1940, "text": "Locals say the al-Rawda mosque is used by the local Sawarka tribe, which is known to cooperate with the security services against militants. It is also known to be popular with worshippers of Sufism, a mystical branch of Islam that is condemned by some jihadist groups. The head of IS's \"religious police\" in Sinai said last December that Sufis who did not \"repent\" would be killed, after the group beheaded two elderly men reported to be Sufi clerics. The number of victims is unprecedented for an attack of this type, says the BBC's Sally Nabil in Cairo. She adds that this is the first time that worshippers inside a mosque have been targeted by militants in North Sinai."}], "question": "Who was targeted?", "id": "691_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2242, "answer_end": 3230, "text": "By Orla Guerin, Cairo correspondent This is a major challenge to the Egyptian state. If this was IS, it is always worth considering the broader regional dimension. In the last few months, IS has had massive territorial losses in Iraq and across the border in Syria. If IS was behind this, this could be an attempt to remind supporters around the world that they are still here, still relevant and can still inflict terrible damage on their enemies. What we don't know right now is if the Egyptian security establishment, if President Sisi, has anything else in the arsenal to try. He has already tried the hardline military approach - there has been a massive military operation going on in the Sinai peninsula for years. It has not delivered results that time and time again the Egyptian establishment has promised. But it is unclear if they have something new they can try to attempt to curb this very stubborn Islamic insurgency which has inflicted such terrible damage in this attack."}], "question": "Can Sisi curb a stubborn insurgency?", "id": "691_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3231, "answer_end": 4359, "text": "Militant Islamists stepped up attacks in Sinai after Egypt's military overthrew Islamist President Mohammed Morsi following mass anti-government protests in July 2013. Hundreds of police, soldiers and civilians have been killed since then, mostly in attacks carried out by the Sinai Province group, which is affiliated to IS. Sinai Province has also carried out deadly attacks against Egypt's Coptic Christian minority elsewhere in the country, and said it was behind the bombing of a Russian plane carrying tourists in Sinai in 2015, killing 224 people on board. It has been operating mainly in North Sinai, which has been under a state of emergency since October 2014, when 33 security personnel were killed in an attack claimed by the group. Sinai Province is thought to want to take control of the Sinai peninsula in order to turn it into an Islamist province run by IS. Journalists, including from state-sponsored outlets, have not been allowed to report from North Sinai in the last few years. Correspondents say that the frequency of attacks raises doubts about the effectiveness of military operations against militants."}], "question": "Which militants operate in the area?", "id": "691_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 4360, "answer_end": 4643, "text": "Arab League chief Ahmed Aboul Gheit condemned the attack as a \"terrifying crime which again shows that Islam is innocent of those who follow extremist terrorist ideology\". Governments in the UK, US, France, Russia, Israel, Iran, Saudi Arabia and elsewhere have deplored the massacre."}], "question": "What has the reaction been internationally?", "id": "691_3"}]}]}, {"title": "Cairo cathedral bombing: President Sisi names attacker, as funeral held", "date": "12 December 2016", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Egyptian President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi has attended a state funeral for victims of an attack at Cairo's Coptic Christian cathedral, naming the suicide bomber he said was responsible. Mr Sisi, who has declared three days of national mourning, named Shafik Mahmoud Mohamed Mostafa, 22, as the attacker. The bombing on Sunday killed 24 people, many of them women and children. Mr Sisi said that three men and a woman had been arrested in connection with the attack. Dozens more were injured in the blast in a chapel adjoining St Mark's cathedral during a Sunday service, which Mr Sisi said caused \"pain to all Egyptians\". He used his address to urge the government to amend the country's terrorism laws, which he said were \"restricting the judicial system\" in its battle to prevent such attacks in Egypt. Mourners earlier packed the Virgin Mary and St Athanasius Church for a service led by the spiritual head of Egypt's Orthodox Christians, Pope Tawadros II. However, hundreds of mourners were angry at being denied entry, the Reuters news agency reports, with a number of youths detained. Inside the church, banners bearing the names of the dead were hung on the walls. Pope Tawadros II prayed over the victims' coffins and called them martyrs. After the service, the victims' coffins were taken by ambulance to Nasr City for the state funeral. The Christian minority in Egypt has often been targeted by Islamist militants. There has so far not been any claim for responsibility for the attack. Egypt has seen a wave of attacks by militants since 2013 when the military overthrew President Mohammed Morsi, an elected leader who hailed from the Muslim Brotherhood, and launched a crackdown against Islamists. Some of Mr Morsi's supporters blamed Christians for supporting the overthrow. Sunday's explosion happened at about 10:00 local time (08:00 GMT). Video footage carried by regional media showed the interior of a chapel adjoining St Mark's Cathedral littered with broken and scattered furniture, along with blood and clothing on the floor. \"I found bodies, many of them women, lying on the pews. It was a horrible scene,\" said cathedral worker Attiya Mahrous. \"There were children. What have they done to deserve this? I wish I had died with them instead of seeing these scenes,'' another witness told the Associated Press news agency. Coptic Christians make up about 10% of Egypt's population. St Mark's Cathedral is the headquarters of the Coptic Orthodox church, and the home of Pope Tawadros II. The Coptic Orthodox Church is the main Christian Church in Egypt. While most Copts live in Egypt, the Church has about a million members outside the country. Copts believe that their Church dates back to around 50 AD, when the Apostle Mark is said to have visited Egypt. Mark is regarded as the first Pope of Alexandria - the head of their Church. This makes it one of the earliest Christian groups outside the Holy Land. The Church separated from other Christian denominations at the Council of Chalcedon (451 AD) in a dispute over the human and divine nature of Jesus Christ. The early Church suffered persecution under the Roman Empire, and there were intermittent persecutions after Egypt became a Muslim country. Many believe that continues to this day.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 2505, "answer_end": 3263, "text": "The Coptic Orthodox Church is the main Christian Church in Egypt. While most Copts live in Egypt, the Church has about a million members outside the country. Copts believe that their Church dates back to around 50 AD, when the Apostle Mark is said to have visited Egypt. Mark is regarded as the first Pope of Alexandria - the head of their Church. This makes it one of the earliest Christian groups outside the Holy Land. The Church separated from other Christian denominations at the Council of Chalcedon (451 AD) in a dispute over the human and divine nature of Jesus Christ. The early Church suffered persecution under the Roman Empire, and there were intermittent persecutions after Egypt became a Muslim country. Many believe that continues to this day."}], "question": "What is the Coptic Christian faith?", "id": "692_0"}]}]}, {"title": "What's happening in Bolivia?", "date": "12 November 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Bolivia's President Evo Morales has now left the country after a controversial election there. His resignation on Sunday sparked clashes in cities across the country, according to local media reports. There have also been protests in several neighbouring countries over what's happened, with claims of corruption and foreign interference. But if you're coming to the story for the first time, there's a lot to take in. So if that sounds like you, let's start from square one and bring you up to speed. Around 11 million people live in Bolivia, which stretches from the Andes mountains in the west to the Amazon rainforest in the east. You can see the national symbols on the country's flag - the condor and the llama. Bolivia gained independence from Spain in 1825 - and like much of south and central America - it now contains a mixture of people descended from both Spanish ancestors and the indigenous people of the area. But it's important to know that indigenous people make up around two thirds of the population. Dozens of indigenous languages are still widely spoken including Quechua which derives originally from the Inca people who ruled the region hundreds of years ago. Former coca farmer Evo Morales, 60, was elected to lead Bolivia in 2005 - the first president to come from an indigenous background. Back then, 38% of people there were classed as living in extreme poverty and he was praised for getting that figure down. He's left-wing, and nationalised the country's oil and gas industries. You can read more about his run as Bolivia's president here. Some claim that after almost 14 years in power, Evo Morales shouldn't have been allowed to run for president again. But he was allowed to stand following a decision from the country's Constitutional Court. So before a single vote was cast on 20 October, this was a controversial election. When the count showed a win for Mr Morales, there were claims of corruption from supporters of his opponent Carlos Mesa. Then a monitoring group - the Organisation of American States - agreed there had been \"manipulation\" and called for the result to be cancelled. Protests turned ugly as the days mounted up with no clear election result - at least three people died in clashes. And it wasn't just a matter of holding a fresh election. Crucially, Evo Morales lost the support of Bolivia's armed forces, and was finally forced to quit at the weekend. That led him to describe what happened as a coup - a military takeover. His supporters clashed again with the police, while his opponents took to the streets to celebrate. President Trump says he \"applauds the Bolivian people for demanding freedom\". Russia, on the other hand, claimed Mr Morales had won the election but couldn't take power because of a \"wave of violence\". Mexico, which also has a left-wing leadership, echoed Mr Morales' claim of a coup. Mr Morales has now travelled to Mexico, claiming he'll return to Bolivia with more \"strength and energy\". The deputy head of Bolivia's Senate, Jeanine Anez, has offered to take over as interim president until fresh elections can be held. But the atmosphere's tense, with the army now called in to back up the police against pro-Morales demonstrators. It's a delicately-balanced situation, with reports of looting and vandalism. Already, 20 people have been injured as fresh protests grow. 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_start": 1570, "answer_end": 2123, "text": "Some claim that after almost 14 years in power, Evo Morales shouldn't have been allowed to run for president again. But he was allowed to stand following a decision from the country's Constitutional Court. So before a single vote was cast on 20 October, this was a controversial election. When the count showed a win for Mr Morales, there were claims of corruption from supporters of his opponent Carlos Mesa. Then a monitoring group - the Organisation of American States - agreed there had been \"manipulation\" and called for the result to be cancelled."}], "question": "So what sparked the current trouble?", "id": "693_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2124, "answer_end": 2581, "text": "Protests turned ugly as the days mounted up with no clear election result - at least three people died in clashes. And it wasn't just a matter of holding a fresh election. Crucially, Evo Morales lost the support of Bolivia's armed forces, and was finally forced to quit at the weekend. That led him to describe what happened as a coup - a military takeover. His supporters clashed again with the police, while his opponents took to the streets to celebrate."}], "question": "Crisis or coup?", "id": "693_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2973, "answer_end": 3355, "text": "The deputy head of Bolivia's Senate, Jeanine Anez, has offered to take over as interim president until fresh elections can be held. But the atmosphere's tense, with the army now called in to back up the police against pro-Morales demonstrators. It's a delicately-balanced situation, with reports of looting and vandalism. Already, 20 people have been injured as fresh protests grow."}], "question": "So who's in charge now?", "id": "693_2"}]}]}, {"title": "Briton Audrey Schoeman revived after six-hour cardiac arrest", "date": "6 December 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "A British woman whose heart stopped beating for six hours has been brought back to life in what doctors have described as an \"exceptional case\". Audrey Schoeman developed severe hypothermia when she was caught in a snowstorm while hiking in the Spanish Pyrenees with her husband in November. Doctors say it is the longest cardiac arrest ever recorded in Spain. Mrs Schoeman, who has made a near-full recovery after the ordeal, says she hopes to be hiking again by spring. The 34-year-old, who lives in Barcelona, began having trouble speaking and moving during severe weather in the Pyrenees, later falling unconscious. Her condition worsened while waiting for emergency services and her husband Rohan believed she was dead. At a press conference on Thursday, Mr Schoeman told Catalan channel TV3: \"I was trying to feel a pulse... I couldn't feel a breath, I couldn't feel a heartbeat.\" When the rescue team arrived two hours later, Mrs Schoeman's body temperature had fallen to 18C. Upon arrival at Barcelona's Vall d'Hebron Hospital, she had no vital signs. But the low mountain temperatures which made Mrs Schoeman ill also helped to save her life, her doctor Eduard Argudo has said. \"She looked as though she was dead,\" he said in a statement. \"But we knew that, in the context of hypothermia, Audrey had a chance of surviving.\" Hypothermia had protected her body and brain from deteriorating while unconscious, Mr Argudo said, despite also bringing her to the brink of death. He added: \"If she had been in cardiac arrest for this long at a normal body temperature, she would be dead.\" In a race against time, doctors treating Mrs Schoeman turned to a specialised machine capable of removing blood, infusing it with oxygen and reintroducing it to the patient. Once her body temperature had reached 30C, they used a defibrillator to jump-start her heart some six hours after emergency services were contacted. Mrs Schoeman was released from hospital 12 days later, with only some lingering issues with the mobility and sensitivity of her hands due to the hypothermia. There have been other cases of adults and children surviving for long periods in very cold temperatures, then being slowly re-warmed in hospital using specialist equipment. But there is always the risk of brain damage. Normal body temperature is around 37C (98.6F). When it goes below 35C, shivering, confusion and tiredness can set in. Below 32C, people can pass out altogether and the heart can stop. In Mrs Schoeman's case, although extremely dangerous, the cold proved to be a blessing. The freezing temperatures appear to have slowed down her heart, blood pressure and breathing to extremely low levels, while protecting the brain from damage. How long her heart stopped for is not clear - she may still have had some circulation, although not detectable. Normally, after about an hour without the heart beating, even in the cold, brain damage would have occurred. \"We were very worried about any neurological damage,\" Mr Argudo added. \"Given there are practically no cases of people who have had their heart stop for so long and been revived.\" Speaking after her recovery, Mrs Schoeman said she had no memory of the six hours. \"I didn't really know what was going on in my first day or two that I woke up in intensive care,\" she said. \"But, since then, I've been trying to read more, obviously learning more about hypothermia and it feels really incredible that I survived it.\" Mrs Schoeman said she was lucky to be alive and paid tribute to hospital staff. \"It's like a miracle except it's all because of the doctors,\" she said. She added that it was likely she would not return to the mountains this winter. \"But I hope that in spring we will be able to start hiking again. I don't want this to take away that hobby from me,\" she said.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 2071, "answer_end": 2940, "text": "There have been other cases of adults and children surviving for long periods in very cold temperatures, then being slowly re-warmed in hospital using specialist equipment. But there is always the risk of brain damage. Normal body temperature is around 37C (98.6F). When it goes below 35C, shivering, confusion and tiredness can set in. Below 32C, people can pass out altogether and the heart can stop. In Mrs Schoeman's case, although extremely dangerous, the cold proved to be a blessing. The freezing temperatures appear to have slowed down her heart, blood pressure and breathing to extremely low levels, while protecting the brain from damage. How long her heart stopped for is not clear - she may still have had some circulation, although not detectable. Normally, after about an hour without the heart beating, even in the cold, brain damage would have occurred."}], "question": "What happens to the body in very cold temperatures?", "id": "694_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Russia Olympics ban: Kremlin 'will not bar athletes' from Games", "date": "6 December 2017", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Russia will not prevent any of its athletes from competing independently in the Winter Olympics in February, President Vladimir Putin says. The International Olympic Committee has excluded Russia from the Games in South Korea after two investigations outlined a state-sponsored doping programme. But athletes who can prove they are clean and have not previously been sanctioned will be allowed to compete. Mr Putin rejected the claims and said the ban was \"politically motivated\". There will be no Russian flags, anthems or uniforms during the Games in Pyeongchang. Russian athletes competing will carry a neutral flag and the name \"Olympic Athlete from Russia\", the IOC says. Russian state TV channels have said the allegations are an anti-Russia witch hunt and have pushed the #NoRussiaNoGames hashtag. But in his first comments after the IOC decision, Mr Putin said: \"We will not be announcing any kind of blockade. We will not prevent our Olympic athletes from taking part if anyone wants to take part in a personal capacity.\" He later added: \"This all looks like an absolutely staged and politically motivated decision.\" Earlier, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the situation was \"serious\" and required \"deep analysis\" but he called for Russians to avoid an \"emotional\" response. Mr Peskov said it would be wrong to jump to conclusions until Russia's athletes had met and the IOC had been contacted. He added that it would not be a priority to hold Russian officials responsible. A member of the Russian parliament, Valery Rashkin, has filed a lawsuit against former Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko over the row. Mr Mutko has been accused of presiding over a systematic cover-up of doping in Russian sport. Meanwhile, 22 Russian athletes have appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport over the IOC ban. By Dan Roan, BBC sports editor President Putin's decision will come as a major relief to the IOC, avoiding the first major boycott of a Games since 1984. But some critics will suspect that this is evidence of a behind-doors deal struck with the Russians. Although the country has suffered a humiliating ban, their competitors will be called \"Olympic Athletes from Russia\" as opposed to \"Neutral Athletes\", ensuring the country does at least have a presence in Pyeongchang The national flag could even be flown at the closing ceremony. Furthermore, IOC President Thomas Bach has suggested that after the Winter Olympics a line will be drawn under the crisis, allowing Russia to move on. These concessions may have been crucial in Mr Putin's decision, and are sure to lead to suspicions that the IOC was too lenient given the scale of cheating. In 2016, a report by lawyer Richard McLaren said that more than 1,000 Russians - including Olympic medallists - had benefited from a state-sponsored doping programme between 2011 and 2015. The IOC announcement on Tuesday followed a second investigation - the Schmid report - which found evidence of \"the systemic manipulation of the anti-doping rules and system\", despite repeated Russian denials. The IOC said the ban \"should draw a line under this damaging episode\".", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1815, "answer_end": 2657, "text": "By Dan Roan, BBC sports editor President Putin's decision will come as a major relief to the IOC, avoiding the first major boycott of a Games since 1984. But some critics will suspect that this is evidence of a behind-doors deal struck with the Russians. Although the country has suffered a humiliating ban, their competitors will be called \"Olympic Athletes from Russia\" as opposed to \"Neutral Athletes\", ensuring the country does at least have a presence in Pyeongchang The national flag could even be flown at the closing ceremony. Furthermore, IOC President Thomas Bach has suggested that after the Winter Olympics a line will be drawn under the crisis, allowing Russia to move on. These concessions may have been crucial in Mr Putin's decision, and are sure to lead to suspicions that the IOC was too lenient given the scale of cheating."}], "question": "A behind-doors deal?", "id": "695_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Trump-Russia inquiry: Lawyer Alex van der Zwaan pleads guilty", "date": "20 February 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "A lawyer has admitted making false statements to investigators examining links between Donald Trump's election campaign team and Russia. Court documents accuse Alex van der Zwaan, 33, of making false statements when questioned about his work for Ukraine's Ministry of Justice. He is the 19th person to be charged by special counsel Robert Mueller. On Friday, 13 Russians were charged with tampering in the 2016 US election. The charge against van der Zwaan make no reference to Mr Trump's 2016 election campaign. Van der Zwaan appeared in court in Washington DC on Tuesday and the judge set sentencing for 3 April. Court papers levelled the following accusations against him: - He deleted or did not produce emails sought by the special counsel's office - He made a false statement about when he was last in contact with \"Person A\", who has not been identified - He made a false statement about when he was last in contact with former Trump aide Rick Gates, who has already been charged by the special counsel with conspiracy to launder money Mr Gates and his former colleague Paul Manafort, who went on to become Mr Trump's campaign chief, have also been charged by the special counsel with acting as \"unregistered agents\" of Ukrainian politician Viktor Yanukovych and his party. Mr Yanukovych was a bitter rival of of former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko and defeated her to become president in 2010. He was later ousted. Court documents say van der Zwaan worked for a firm tasked in 2012 with preparing a report for Ukraine's Ministry of Justice on the trial of Ms Tymoshenko. Ms Tymoshenko was jailed the year before for criminally exceeding her powers, charges she said were politically motivated. The legal firm's report concluded her trial was justified and that due process was followed. The Dutch citizen works for the New York law firm Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom based in London. Last year, he married the art critic Eva Khan, whose father German Khan co-founded the Alfa Group, one of Russia's largest investment groups. An article on their wedding in the Russian edition of Tatler magazine last year said that Van der Zwaan had Russian roots and worked with Russian oligarchs. On Friday, it was announced that 13 Russians had been charged by Mr Mueller. They are alleged to have posed as Americans, and opened financial accounts in their name, as well as organising and promoting political rallies within the United States. Russia's foreign minister dismissed the charges as \"blather\" and President Trump said it was proof that there was no collusion between his camp and Russia.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 424, "answer_end": 1797, "text": "The charge against van der Zwaan make no reference to Mr Trump's 2016 election campaign. Van der Zwaan appeared in court in Washington DC on Tuesday and the judge set sentencing for 3 April. Court papers levelled the following accusations against him: - He deleted or did not produce emails sought by the special counsel's office - He made a false statement about when he was last in contact with \"Person A\", who has not been identified - He made a false statement about when he was last in contact with former Trump aide Rick Gates, who has already been charged by the special counsel with conspiracy to launder money Mr Gates and his former colleague Paul Manafort, who went on to become Mr Trump's campaign chief, have also been charged by the special counsel with acting as \"unregistered agents\" of Ukrainian politician Viktor Yanukovych and his party. Mr Yanukovych was a bitter rival of of former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko and defeated her to become president in 2010. He was later ousted. Court documents say van der Zwaan worked for a firm tasked in 2012 with preparing a report for Ukraine's Ministry of Justice on the trial of Ms Tymoshenko. Ms Tymoshenko was jailed the year before for criminally exceeding her powers, charges she said were politically motivated. The legal firm's report concluded her trial was justified and that due process was followed."}], "question": "What is the accusation?", "id": "696_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1798, "answer_end": 2200, "text": "The Dutch citizen works for the New York law firm Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom based in London. Last year, he married the art critic Eva Khan, whose father German Khan co-founded the Alfa Group, one of Russia's largest investment groups. An article on their wedding in the Russian edition of Tatler magazine last year said that Van der Zwaan had Russian roots and worked with Russian oligarchs."}], "question": "Who is Alex van der Zwaan?", "id": "696_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2201, "answer_end": 2603, "text": "On Friday, it was announced that 13 Russians had been charged by Mr Mueller. They are alleged to have posed as Americans, and opened financial accounts in their name, as well as organising and promoting political rallies within the United States. Russia's foreign minister dismissed the charges as \"blather\" and President Trump said it was proof that there was no collusion between his camp and Russia."}], "question": "What else is happening?", "id": "696_2"}]}]}, {"title": "Brazil ex-President Lula loses appeal against corruption conviction", "date": "25 January 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "An appeals court in Brazil has unanimously upheld a corruption conviction imposed last July on ex-President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. While he can still take his appeal to a higher court, the decision could rule Lula out as a candidate for October's presidential election. The ex-leader, who governed from 2003 to 2011, had been favourite to win. Speaking at a rally in Sao Paulo after the ruling, Lula said he would still contest the presidency. \"I know I haven't committed any crime,\" he told thousands of his supporters. On Wednesday, all three judges at the appeals court in the city of Porto Alegre said Lula had broken the law by accepting special favours over a seafront apartment from a construction company involved in a major corruption scheme. They increased his original sentence from nine-and-a-half years to 12 years and one month in jail. Even though the 72-year-old was sentenced in July 2017 and that conviction has now been upheld, he could remain out of prison for many months if he takes his appeal all the way to the Supreme Court. Lula supporters weren't contemplating any other scenario than him winning the appeal. They want him as their candidate in October's elections and they say this conviction is designed to stop him running. But his critics will be pleased. They want him locked up in jail for the crimes he's been accused of. They believe he and his Workers' Party are corrupt and justice needs to be done. Lula and his lawyers say they will explore all avenues to get him absolved. But the fact that it was a unanimous vote will make it harder to convince other courts. As for whether he will run for presidency, he has said he will keep campaigning, no matter the verdict. The appeals process could buy him time to stay in the race for a few months but with a criminal conviction, another Lula term is looking much less likely. When left-winger Lula rose to power in 2003, he promised an end to corruption-ridden politics. Then in 2005 a huge vote-buying scandal nearly cost him his job. Despite that, he won the support of the poor by pouring billions of dollars into social programmes, and left office in 2011 with record approval ratings. It was Brazil's biggest-ever corruption scandal, Operation Car Wash, that triggered Lula's current legal woes. The investigation, which began in 2014, sucked in more than 80 politicians and members of the business elite. In 2017, Lula was found guilty of accepting an upgrade to a beachfront flat he was buying from an engineering firm in return for help in winning contracts for Petrobras, Brazil's state oil company. That conviction was confirmed by Wednesday's ruling. He also faces other charges of money laundering, influence peddling and obstruction of justice. He has repeatedly denied those claims. The elections are scheduled for 7 October, and under Brazilian electoral rules, candidates cannot run for office if they have convictions. But Lula's lawyers argue that the rule cannot come into force until the defendant has exhausted all of his appeals. Even then, Lula could ask the Supreme Court to lift the ban and, if the court were to agree, he could stand for office. However, time is of the essence as Lula will need to have registered his candidacy by 15 August. The ruling will cause anger among Lula's many supporters and members of his Workers' Party. Thousands of them gathered in Porto Alegre, where the court met. Divisions in Brazilian society are likely to deepen following this decision. Lula's supporters will argue that the conviction is an attack on democracy and his critics will see the appeal court's decision as proof that the Workers' Party is corrupt. Ahead of the ruling, local Workers' Party leader Cleiton Leite Coutinho told the BBC: \"The Workers' Party does not have a plan B, C or D today. Our plan is called Luiz Inacio da Silva. \"Either Lula is a candidate, or we are going out on the streets, we will not accept any intrusion into Brazil's democracy.\" The party can put forward an alternative candidate as late as 20 days before the election.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1864, "answer_end": 2784, "text": "When left-winger Lula rose to power in 2003, he promised an end to corruption-ridden politics. Then in 2005 a huge vote-buying scandal nearly cost him his job. Despite that, he won the support of the poor by pouring billions of dollars into social programmes, and left office in 2011 with record approval ratings. It was Brazil's biggest-ever corruption scandal, Operation Car Wash, that triggered Lula's current legal woes. The investigation, which began in 2014, sucked in more than 80 politicians and members of the business elite. In 2017, Lula was found guilty of accepting an upgrade to a beachfront flat he was buying from an engineering firm in return for help in winning contracts for Petrobras, Brazil's state oil company. That conviction was confirmed by Wednesday's ruling. He also faces other charges of money laundering, influence peddling and obstruction of justice. He has repeatedly denied those claims."}], "question": "What exactly was Lula convicted of?", "id": "697_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2785, "answer_end": 3256, "text": "The elections are scheduled for 7 October, and under Brazilian electoral rules, candidates cannot run for office if they have convictions. But Lula's lawyers argue that the rule cannot come into force until the defendant has exhausted all of his appeals. Even then, Lula could ask the Supreme Court to lift the ban and, if the court were to agree, he could stand for office. However, time is of the essence as Lula will need to have registered his candidacy by 15 August."}], "question": "Will Lula still run for president?", "id": "697_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3257, "answer_end": 3663, "text": "The ruling will cause anger among Lula's many supporters and members of his Workers' Party. Thousands of them gathered in Porto Alegre, where the court met. Divisions in Brazilian society are likely to deepen following this decision. Lula's supporters will argue that the conviction is an attack on democracy and his critics will see the appeal court's decision as proof that the Workers' Party is corrupt."}], "question": "What will be the effect on Brazilians?", "id": "697_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3664, "answer_end": 4063, "text": "Ahead of the ruling, local Workers' Party leader Cleiton Leite Coutinho told the BBC: \"The Workers' Party does not have a plan B, C or D today. Our plan is called Luiz Inacio da Silva. \"Either Lula is a candidate, or we are going out on the streets, we will not accept any intrusion into Brazil's democracy.\" The party can put forward an alternative candidate as late as 20 days before the election."}], "question": "Will the Workers' Party put up an alternative candidate?", "id": "697_3"}]}]}, {"title": "Boris Johnson denies wrongdoing over Arcuri link", "date": "29 September 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Boris Johnson says there was \"no interest to declare\" regarding links with US businesswoman Jennifer Arcuri. It is alleged Ms Arcuri received favourable treatment due to her friendship with Mr Johnson. The police watchdog are deciding whether to investigate the prime minister for a potential criminal offence of misconduct in public office while he was London mayor. Mr Johnson said everything had been done \"with full propriety\". The allegations, first reported in the Sunday Times, claim Ms Arcuri joined trade missions led by Mr Johnson when he was mayor of London and that her company received several thousand pounds in sponsorship grants. The paper has also reported Ms Arcuri told four friends that she had an affair with Mr Johnson while he was mayor of London. On Friday, the Greater London Authority's monitoring officer referred the prime minister to the Independent Office of Police Conduct (IOPC) - whose job it is to oversee the conduct of the mayor and other members of the GLA. Asked on the Andrew Marr show if he had declared any interest, Mr Johnson said \"there was no interest to declare\". \"I was proud of everything I did as mayor of London,\" he added. He also attacked Sadiq Khan, the current mayor of London, saying the Labour politician \"could possibly spend more time investing in police officers than he is investing in press officers and peddling this kind of stuff\". Mr Johnson added that someone in his position \"expects a lot of shot and shell\". The woman at the centre of this story is Jennifer Arcuri, who describes herself on Twitter as an entrepreneur, cyber security expert and producer. She began her career as a DJ on Radio Disney, before moving into film - where she wrote, produced and directed a short film that went on to be sold at Cannes Film Festival. Ms Arcuri then brought in her tech skills to create a streaming platform for independent film makers. But it was her founding of The Innotech Network in London that saw her path cross with Boris Johnson. The network hosts events to discuss tech policy, and Mr Johnson was the keynote speaker at the first of those in 2012. Since then, Ms Arcuri has also founded another company called Hacker House, which uses ethical hackers to find tech solutions for businesses. Speaking on Sky News, Health Secretary Matt Hancock said the prime minister did not have questions to answer regarding alleged links with the US businesswoman. \"Any monies involved went through proper due process - this was a long time ago. \"Of course, in politics, there is always squalls and there are always debates about individuals.\" But Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said the GLA's monitoring officer had made a \"wholly independent assessment\" and decided there were \"serious questions to answer\". In a letter to Mr Johnson, the monitoring officer set out their reasons for referring the matter to the police watchdog. \"During this time [2008 - 2016] it has been brought to my attention that you maintained a friendship with Ms Jennifer Arcuri and as a result of that friendship allowed Ms Arcuri to participate in trade missions and receive sponsorship monies in circumstances when she and her companies could not have expected otherwise to receive those benefits,\" it said. The monitoring officer said it had referred the PM to the IOPC \"so it can assess whether or not it is necessary to investigate the former mayor of London for the criminal offence of misconduct in public office\". It said it had recorded a \"conduct matter\" against Mr Johnson, which happens when there is information that indicates a criminal offence may have been committed. But it does not mean that a criminal offence is proved in any way, the monitoring officer added.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1476, "answer_end": 2260, "text": "The woman at the centre of this story is Jennifer Arcuri, who describes herself on Twitter as an entrepreneur, cyber security expert and producer. She began her career as a DJ on Radio Disney, before moving into film - where she wrote, produced and directed a short film that went on to be sold at Cannes Film Festival. Ms Arcuri then brought in her tech skills to create a streaming platform for independent film makers. But it was her founding of The Innotech Network in London that saw her path cross with Boris Johnson. The network hosts events to discuss tech policy, and Mr Johnson was the keynote speaker at the first of those in 2012. Since then, Ms Arcuri has also founded another company called Hacker House, which uses ethical hackers to find tech solutions for businesses."}], "question": "Who is Jennifer Arcuri?", "id": "698_0"}]}]}, {"title": "China economy: Third quarter growth misses expectations", "date": "18 October 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "China's economy grew at a slower pace than expected in the third quarter as it struggled with a US-led trade war and softer domestic demand. In the three months to September, the economy expanded 6% from a year earlier, official figures showed. The result fell just short of expectations for 6.1% growth for the period. The slowdown comes despite government efforts to support the economy, including measures such as tax cuts. The latest figures mark a further loss of momentum in the world's second largest economy, which had already seen growth languishing at its slowest pace in around three decades. The rate remained within the government's target range for annual growth of between 6% and 6.5%. The strength of the Chinese economy is closely watched as slowing growth can have far-reaching consequences for the global economy. The country has become a key engine of growth in recent decades. Its healthy demand for a range of products, from commodities to machinery, has supported growth around the world. Some analysts worry that a sharp slowdown in China could hurt an already sluggish world economy and increase the risk of a recession. Julian Evans-Pritchard, senior China economist at Capital Economics, said pressure on the Chinese economy \"should intensify in the coming months\". He said more intervention by policymakers to support the economy was likely \"but it will take time for this to put a floor beneath economic growth\". China has been fighting a trade war with the US for the past year, which has created uncertainty for businesses and consumers. At the same time, it faces domestic challenges including a swine fever outbreak that has fuelled inflation and hit consumer spending. This week the International Monetary Fund trimmed its 2019 growth forecast for China to 6.1% from 6.2% due to the long-running trade dispute and slowing domestic demand. But there have been some signs of progress toward resolving the trade battle, with the US and China reaching a \"phase one deal\" earlier this month. The government has sought to help the economy  through tax cuts and by taking measures to boost liquidity in the financial system. Still, some analysts say the government has become more cautious in providing stimulus amid growing concerns about China's rising debt pile. Any analysis of China's economic data has to come with a caveat: Many economists believe the actual figures are much lower than what we are told, but it's the trajectory of growth and signalling from the government that you should pay attention to. The fact that the growth figures have come in below market expectations indicate that China's economy is hurting more than many thought. There were signs from China that these numbers were going to be worrying. Earlier this week, Premier Li Keqiang made the unusual move to warn local officials that they must do \"everything\" to make sure they hit growth targets for this year. China's economy is being hit on three fronts: The US-led trade war, slowing demand at home and rising domestic challenges including the outbreak of swine fever that has dealt a huge blow to its pork farmers. It's also pushed up prices for consumers. China's slowdown is nothing new. But these challenges pose new headaches for policymakers who are trying to manage the slowdown. The country's political stability depends on economic security - and over the last forty years, that's what the Communist Party has delivered. They're under pressure to keep that contract.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1442, "answer_end": 2292, "text": "China has been fighting a trade war with the US for the past year, which has created uncertainty for businesses and consumers. At the same time, it faces domestic challenges including a swine fever outbreak that has fuelled inflation and hit consumer spending. This week the International Monetary Fund trimmed its 2019 growth forecast for China to 6.1% from 6.2% due to the long-running trade dispute and slowing domestic demand. But there have been some signs of progress toward resolving the trade battle, with the US and China reaching a \"phase one deal\" earlier this month. The government has sought to help the economy  through tax cuts and by taking measures to boost liquidity in the financial system. Still, some analysts say the government has become more cautious in providing stimulus amid growing concerns about China's rising debt pile."}], "question": "What challenges does China face?", "id": "699_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Fast fashion: Zara promises all its clothes will be sustainable by 2025", "date": "17 July 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Zara - and other brands like Pull & Bear and Bershka - have promised to only sell sustainable clothes by 2025. The company that owns these shops says all cotton, linen and polyester they sell will be organic, sustainable or recycled. Zara has 64 UK stores, and its parent company has 7,490 shops worldwide. Reacting to the news, Friends of the Earth told Radio 1 Newsbeat it would be \"better for everyone if the industry sold clothes made to last.\" Over the past few years, a lot of what we buy has been criticised for being fast fashion - clothes we barely use. From next year, containers will appear in Zara stores to collect your old clothes so they can be reused or recycled into new items. Some people in the fashion industry have been calling for more clothes recycling in order to protect the environment - while politicians think brands and shops should fund clothes recycling. People in the UK send 235 million items of clothing to landfill each year, according to the most recent figures. Friends of the Earth told Newsbeat that high street chains can do more to tackle the environmental problems caused by fast fashion. \"Part of the problem is there are too many brands, with opaque supply chains, making a completely ridiculous amount of clothes,\" spokeswoman Muna Suleiman said. \"They rely on creating 'trends' so shoppers are pressured to come back to buy more stuff each season.\" Zara is one of the stores not to currently use plastic bags and Inditex, the company that owns the chain, says that by 2020 it will eliminate the use of plastic bags across all of its brands. Primark and Boots are among the big-name shops that have switched from plastic to paper bags. By 2023 Inditex promises it will have fully eliminated single use plastic in its stores. Inditex also has a scheme called Join Life running in its shops, which identifies clothes which are made with more environmentally friendly materials than conventional high street stores. These are made from things like organic cotton and recycled polyester. The boss of Inditex revealed the company's plans at its annual general meeting this week. \"Sustainability is a never-ending task in which everyone here at Inditex is involved and in which we are successfully engaging all of our suppliers,\" said Pablo Isla, in front of shareholders and company executives. 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_start": 563, "answer_end": 998, "text": "From next year, containers will appear in Zara stores to collect your old clothes so they can be reused or recycled into new items. Some people in the fashion industry have been calling for more clothes recycling in order to protect the environment - while politicians think brands and shops should fund clothes recycling. People in the UK send 235 million items of clothing to landfill each year, according to the most recent figures."}], "question": "What will you see in the shops?", "id": "700_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Who will be Iran's next Supreme Leader?", "date": "21 October 2014", "paragraphs": [{"context": "The head of the Assembly of Experts, the body that elects the Supreme Leader of Iran, has died after almost five months in a coma. Mohammad Reza Mahdavi Kani was considered to be a unifying figure in Iranian politics and his death opens up a period of uncertainty at a crucial time. It comes just a month after the country's 75-year-old Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei had prostate surgery, with official photographs showing him pale and fragile in his hospital bed. The events raise the question of who will eventually take over as leader, and how that choice will be made. The Supreme Leader is by far the most powerful man in Iran. He is commander-in-chief of the armed forces and appoints the heads of the judiciary and the state broadcaster, as well as half of the members of the Guardian Council - the powerful body which vets candidates for presidential and parliamentary elections. In a few cases, the Supreme Leader has ordered parliament to stop passing legislation. He has also ordered the house arrest of dissidents and opposition leaders. Key ministers are selected with the Supreme Leader's agreement and he has the ultimate say on Iran's foreign policy and nuclear programme. No substantial political change can happen in Iran unless it gets a green light from the Supreme Leader. This can create difficulty for whomever holds the elected role of president. Profile: Ayatollah Khamenei Khamenei surgery: What media coverage reveals Iran's first Supreme Leader was Grand Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini. When he took power after the Islamic Revolution in 1979 he was already 77 years old, so the succession was always an important but unspoken question. But a few years later, after Khomeini had suffered a series of strokes, a system was set up for choosing a new Supreme Leader. The Assembly of Experts, a council of 82 elected clerics, was charged with electing, supervising and even disqualifying the Supreme Leader. In 1989 when Khomeini died, the assembly selected Ayatollah Khamenei, who was then serving as president. Although Khomeini had said that the Supreme Leader must be a Grand Ayatollah, this was not the case for the clerics' choice and the law had to be changed. Another clause allowing people to choose the Supreme Leader directly was also removed from the constitution. What this made clear was that although in theory the process of selecting a new leader is established by law, in practice powerful lobbies can interpret and change the law as they want. Why Iran's watchdogs hold no fear for Supreme Leader Iran could have a very different future depending on which faction in the Assembly of Experts gains the upper hand in choosing the next leader. There are two groups - conservatives and moderates. The conservatives, who dominate the assembly, support Ayatollah Khamenei. They believe the leader of the Islamic regime is the representative of God on Earth and must be obeyed. The moderates believe in the divine role of the Supreme Leader but hold that he takes his legitimacy from the people and should be responsible to them. Some moderate members have called for changes to the current leadership model, suggesting the Ayatollah Khamenei's successor should serve for a fixed term rather than for life, and that a council of leaders should be set up to work with him. But Ayatollah Khamenei has dismissed all talk of reform as long as he is Supreme Leader. Fifteen members of the Assembly of Experts are charged with drawing up a list of potential candidates for the role of Supreme Leader. The list is not made public but is likely to contain a number of well-known names. The first of these is former president Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani. A moderate who also used to head the Assembly of Experts, he and Ayatollah Khamenei were once close friends. Mr Rafsanjani played a significant role in helping him become Supreme Leader, but their friendship soured, especially after Mr Rafsanjani backed the mass opposition protests that erupted after the disputed presidential election in 2009. The main candidates from the conservative faction are former heads of the judiciary, Grand Ayatollah Mahmoud Hashemi Shahroudi and Mohammad Yazdi, and current judiciary chief Sadeq Larijani. Judiciary heads are appointed by the Supreme Leader and thus are close allies. Two hardline clerics, Mohammad Taqi Mesbah-Yazdi and Ayatollah Abbas Vaez Tabasi, are usually mentioned because of their religious authority. But their lack of experience in government is generally considered to rule them out as serious contenders. There are two further names, both with family connections to the leadership. Mojtaba Khamenei, the son of the current Supreme Leader, who is close to the conservatives, and Hassan Khomeini, a grandson of the former leader who supports the moderates. Both are in their 40s and so considered quite young for such a senior position, but succession by blood is common in Shia Islam, and it is not impossible that either of them could succeed Ayatollah Khamenei. Over past decade conservatives have gained more seats in the Assembly of Experts because all candidates are vetted by the Guardian Council, whose most influential members are chosen directly and indirectly by the Supreme Leader. The next election to the Assembly of Experts will be held in February 2016 and it is expected that members who supported the 2009 opposition protest will be disqualified from standing again. The death of the Assembly head, Mohammad Reza Mahdavi Kani, is likely to change the current balance of power. He was close to both conservative and moderate candidates, and a battle is now likely between the two camps for control of the Assembly. Although the Assembly of Experts has the formal role of selecting the new leader, there will be intense behind the scenes lobbying to influence their decision. Key players are likely to be the powerful Revolutionary Guards, and the office of the current Supreme Leader. Another important group will be the supporters of whoever holds the presidency when a new leader is chosen. The incumbent, President, Hassan Rouhani, is a moderate member of the Assembly of Experts, and this has for now helped to boost the position of the moderates. Which leads to one more intriguing possibility. If President Rouhani can maintain good ties with Ayatollah Khamenei until the end of his term of office, then his name too could be added to the list of potential candidates to succeed him.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 2545, "answer_end": 3401, "text": "Iran could have a very different future depending on which faction in the Assembly of Experts gains the upper hand in choosing the next leader. There are two groups - conservatives and moderates. The conservatives, who dominate the assembly, support Ayatollah Khamenei. They believe the leader of the Islamic regime is the representative of God on Earth and must be obeyed. The moderates believe in the divine role of the Supreme Leader but hold that he takes his legitimacy from the people and should be responsible to them. Some moderate members have called for changes to the current leadership model, suggesting the Ayatollah Khamenei's successor should serve for a fixed term rather than for life, and that a council of leaders should be set up to work with him. But Ayatollah Khamenei has dismissed all talk of reform as long as he is Supreme Leader."}], "question": "Will the next Supreme Leader be as powerful?", "id": "701_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3402, "answer_end": 5010, "text": "Fifteen members of the Assembly of Experts are charged with drawing up a list of potential candidates for the role of Supreme Leader. The list is not made public but is likely to contain a number of well-known names. The first of these is former president Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani. A moderate who also used to head the Assembly of Experts, he and Ayatollah Khamenei were once close friends. Mr Rafsanjani played a significant role in helping him become Supreme Leader, but their friendship soured, especially after Mr Rafsanjani backed the mass opposition protests that erupted after the disputed presidential election in 2009. The main candidates from the conservative faction are former heads of the judiciary, Grand Ayatollah Mahmoud Hashemi Shahroudi and Mohammad Yazdi, and current judiciary chief Sadeq Larijani. Judiciary heads are appointed by the Supreme Leader and thus are close allies. Two hardline clerics, Mohammad Taqi Mesbah-Yazdi and Ayatollah Abbas Vaez Tabasi, are usually mentioned because of their religious authority. But their lack of experience in government is generally considered to rule them out as serious contenders. There are two further names, both with family connections to the leadership. Mojtaba Khamenei, the son of the current Supreme Leader, who is close to the conservatives, and Hassan Khomeini, a grandson of the former leader who supports the moderates. Both are in their 40s and so considered quite young for such a senior position, but succession by blood is common in Shia Islam, and it is not impossible that either of them could succeed Ayatollah Khamenei."}], "question": "So, who are the possible contenders?", "id": "701_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 5011, "answer_end": 5677, "text": "Over past decade conservatives have gained more seats in the Assembly of Experts because all candidates are vetted by the Guardian Council, whose most influential members are chosen directly and indirectly by the Supreme Leader. The next election to the Assembly of Experts will be held in February 2016 and it is expected that members who supported the 2009 opposition protest will be disqualified from standing again. The death of the Assembly head, Mohammad Reza Mahdavi Kani, is likely to change the current balance of power. He was close to both conservative and moderate candidates, and a battle is now likely between the two camps for control of the Assembly."}], "question": "Who has the upper hand - moderates or conservatives?", "id": "701_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 5678, "answer_end": 6452, "text": "Although the Assembly of Experts has the formal role of selecting the new leader, there will be intense behind the scenes lobbying to influence their decision. Key players are likely to be the powerful Revolutionary Guards, and the office of the current Supreme Leader. Another important group will be the supporters of whoever holds the presidency when a new leader is chosen. The incumbent, President, Hassan Rouhani, is a moderate member of the Assembly of Experts, and this has for now helped to boost the position of the moderates. Which leads to one more intriguing possibility. If President Rouhani can maintain good ties with Ayatollah Khamenei until the end of his term of office, then his name too could be added to the list of potential candidates to succeed him."}], "question": "Who else has a say?", "id": "701_3"}]}]}, {"title": "Venezuela referendum: Big show of support for opposition", "date": "17 July 2017", "paragraphs": [{"context": "More than seven million voters have taken part in an opposition-organised referendum in Venezuela, according to academics monitoring the poll. Voters strongly opposed government plans for a new constituent assembly with the power to scrap the National Assembly and rewrite the constitution. Venezuela is polarised between backers of President Nicolas Maduro and opponents, who want fresh elections. A nurse was shot dead while queuing to vote in the capital, Caracas. Men on motorbikes opened fire, killing 60-year-old Xiomara Soledad Scott, and wounding three others. The opposition blamed a \"paramilitary\" gang for the shooting, which prosecutors said they would investigate. Separately, journalist Luis Olavarrieta was grabbed by what he said were a group of government supporters who robbed and beat him, but he managed to escape. President Maduro's plan will see a vote on 30 July for the new constituent assembly. Its 545 members will have the power to dissolve state institutions, including the National Assembly, where opposition parties are in the majority. The opposition wants new elections before Mr Maduro's term expires in early 2019 and say rewriting the constitution would almost certainly delay this year's regional elections and next year's presidential election. It fears the new body could herald dictatorship. As Julio Borges, who heads the National Assembly, puts it: \"We don't want to be Cuba. We don't want to be a country without freedom.\" Mr Maduro argues that the constituent assembly is the only way to help Venezuela out of its economic and political crisis and he described Sunday's vote as \"meaningless\". \"They have convened an internal consultation with the opposition parties, with their own mechanisms, without electoral rulebooks, without prior verification, without further verification. As if they are autonomous and decide on their own,\" he said. On the same day as the unofficial referendum, the government held a \"trial run\" for the 30 July vote, which it described as a success. - Nearly 100 people have been killed in clashes stemming from the political conflict - The deep economic crisis is made worse by the falling price of oil, which accounts for about 95% of Venezuela's export revenues and was used to finance some of the government's social programmes. Forced to make cuts, President Nicolas Maduro has seen his support fall among core backers - Basic necessities, such as medicine and food, are in short supply - The opposition accuses Mr Maduro of mismanaging the economy and eroding democratic institutions - In March, the Supreme Court decided it would take over the National Assembly. The decision was reversed, but Mr Maduro was accused by opponents of trying to stage a coup. That sparked almost daily protests calling for his resignation - Mr Maduro says the opposition is trying to overthrow his government More on Venezuela's turmoil The rector of the Central University of Venezuela, Cecilia Garcia Arocha, said 6,492,381 people voted inside Venezuela and another 693,789 at polling stations abroad. However, the vote has no legal status. The turnout is slightly less than the 7.7m people who voted for opposition candidates at the 2015 parliamentary elections. There are 19.5m registered voters in the country. Voting on three questions, 98% rejected the new assembly proposed by President Maduro and backed a call for elections before 2019. They also voted for the armed forces to defend the current constitution. Sunday's unofficial poll was held in improvised polling stations at theatres, sports grounds and roundabouts. The opposition plans to burn ballot papers from the informal poll so those who voted against the government cannot be identified and victimised. While the vote was only symbolic, BBC South America correspondent Katy Watson said the opposition hopes the high turnout will heap pressure on the government. Are you in the region?  Did you take part in the referendum? Email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your stories. 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 7525 900971 - Send pictures/video to yourpics@bbc.co.uk - Tweet: @BBC_HaveYourSay - Send an SMS or MMS to 61124 or +44 7624 800 100", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1465, "answer_end": 2019, "text": "Mr Maduro argues that the constituent assembly is the only way to help Venezuela out of its economic and political crisis and he described Sunday's vote as \"meaningless\". \"They have convened an internal consultation with the opposition parties, with their own mechanisms, without electoral rulebooks, without prior verification, without further verification. As if they are autonomous and decide on their own,\" he said. On the same day as the unofficial referendum, the government held a \"trial run\" for the 30 July vote, which it described as a success."}], "question": "What does the government say?", "id": "702_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Ministers 'divided' over process for testing Brexit options", "date": "22 March 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "The cabinet is divided over how to handle the process of asking MPs to vote on alternative Brexit plans. The government has promised to give the Commons the chance to vote on different versions of Brexit if the prime minister's deal is rejected again. But the BBC's Laura Kuenssberg said it had not been decided in government whether the votes should be binding or not and what role ministers would play. MPs believe the process can help break the current parliamentary deadlock. It has been reported MPs could potentially consider up to six options, including remaining in the customs union and single market, a no-deal exit or cancelling Brexit, to gauge support for alternative courses of action. Cabinet minister Greg Clark said it would be the \"right step\" if the prime minister's deal failed again. He told Nick Robinson's Political Thinking podcast it was not good enough for any plan to \"get over the line\" and there needed to be as wide a consensus as possible behind the terms of withdrawal and the UK's future relations with the EU. \"Something that passes with a majority of one or two, I think, is not doing what we need to do which is to try to build as many people as possible together,\" he told Nick Robinson's Political Thinking Podcast. In the coming days, as many as six other options, in addition to Mrs May's deal, could be voted on: - Revoking Article 50 and cancelling Brexit - Another referendum - The PM's deal plus a customs union - The PM's deal plus both a customs union and single market access - A Canada-style free trade agreement - Leaving the EU without a deal Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, who wants his alternative plan for a customs union and guarantees on workers rights to be among those voted on, said there was support for a different way forward. Conservative MP Sir Oliver Letwin, who is spearheading the move with senior Labour MPs including Hilary Benn, said he believed enough MPs would back an amendment to a government motion on Monday to trigger the so-called \"indicative\" votes later in the week. But Conservative Brexiteer Marcus Fysh said the idea of giving MPs a menu of options after two years of negotiations was \"ludicrous and childish\", while ex-minister Steve Baker said it would end in \"national humiliation\". The EU has given the UK until 12 April to decide on a way forward in an attempt to break the current impasse. By the BBC's parliamentary correspondent Mark D'Arcy If the Letwin amendment passes on Monday, it could allow a rough and ready version of the \"indicative votes\" process MPs have been discussing for some time now. Alongside the PM's deal, as many as six other options could be voted on, including: - revoking Article 50 and cancelling Brexit - another referendum - the PM's deal plus a customs union - the PM's deal plus both a customs union and single market membership - a Canada-style free trade agreement - leaving the EU without a deal It is possible other options which could command reasonable levels of support might be added to the mix. At the end all would be voted on simultaneously. MPs would fill out a ballot paper on each, voting for or against, and the relative support could then be seen. Crucially, all the ballot-filling would be done at the same time; it would not be a case of MPs voting on one option, hearing the result, and then voting on the next. So there would be no tactical voting between options. On Thursday, EU leaders agreed to push back the date of Brexit from 29 March until 22 May if Parliament approves the withdrawal agreement at the third time of asking. However, they said the UK would need to come up with a plan B within three weeks if MPs throw out Mrs May's deal yet again. Sir Oliver and Mr Benn hope that Plan B could emerge from indicative votes - with MPs effectively asked to choose from a menu of different options, to see which one gets the most backing. MPs will debate the next steps for Brexit on Monday, as the government scrambles to persuade enough of them to back the prime minister's deal to hold another vote on it later in the week. The indicative votes would not be binding on ministers. But they would signal the degree of support among MPs for alternative options for the UK's future relationship with the EU. After meeting ministers on Friday, Sir Oliver said he believed those searching for a cross-party compromise \"have the numbers\" to guarantee indicative votes will go ahead on Wednesday. \"We are seeking to crystallise a majority in some form of proposition so we have a way forward,\" he said. MPs narrowly failed in an attempt to seize control of the Parliamentary agenda earlier this month to get indicative votes on to the Commons agenda.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 2376, "answer_end": 3402, "text": "By the BBC's parliamentary correspondent Mark D'Arcy If the Letwin amendment passes on Monday, it could allow a rough and ready version of the \"indicative votes\" process MPs have been discussing for some time now. Alongside the PM's deal, as many as six other options could be voted on, including: - revoking Article 50 and cancelling Brexit - another referendum - the PM's deal plus a customs union - the PM's deal plus both a customs union and single market membership - a Canada-style free trade agreement - leaving the EU without a deal It is possible other options which could command reasonable levels of support might be added to the mix. At the end all would be voted on simultaneously. MPs would fill out a ballot paper on each, voting for or against, and the relative support could then be seen. Crucially, all the ballot-filling would be done at the same time; it would not be a case of MPs voting on one option, hearing the result, and then voting on the next. So there would be no tactical voting between options."}], "question": "How would indicative votes work?", "id": "703_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Kenya airport strike strands hundreds of passengers", "date": "6 March 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Hundreds of passengers were stranded at Kenya's main international airport after a strike caused major disruption to flights. The military was deployed to try to overcome the industrial action at Nairobi's Jomo Kenyatta airport. By late afternoon, Kenya Airways said most of its affected departing flights had been rescheduled. However, some regional flights have been cancelled. Airports in Mombasa, Eldoret and Kisumu were also affected. Workers are unhappy about plans to merge the airport authority and the national airline. The government condemned the strike as illegal, and Kenyan air force personnel were brought in to help screen passengers. Earlier, there were clashes at Nairobi airport between demonstrating workers and paramilitary riot police. Officers used batons and tear gas to disperse strikers, some of whom were injured. A number of stranded passengers needed medical treatment after inhaling tear gas, according to a reporter for the AFP news agency. A key figure in organising the strike, Kenya Aviation Workers Union secretary-general Moss Ndiema, was arrested. A report on the privately owned Daily Nation newspaper's website said he had been \"roughed up\". Frustrated passengers complained of a lack of information and support from the authorities, with some travellers waiting for hours with no update on their flights. Others voiced anger at the use of force to break up the protest. It began at midnight local time (21:00 GMT on Tuesday). Fire engines were withdrawn from the runway, and security, check-in and baggage-handling staff also stopped working. The unions are opposed to a plan that would see the loss-making Kenya Airways taking over the management of airports from the profit-making Kenya Airports Authority (KAA). The aviation workers complain of unfair staff hiring, poor remuneration and that the proposed take-over would put their jobs at risk. Transport Minister James Macharia told journalists that jobs would not be lost in the merger, and branded the workers who had caused the disruption \"criminals\". \"We have identified those who were involved and action will follow shortly,\" he said.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1181, "answer_end": 1409, "text": "Frustrated passengers complained of a lack of information and support from the authorities, with some travellers waiting for hours with no update on their flights. Others voiced anger at the use of force to break up the protest."}], "question": "How did people react?", "id": "704_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1410, "answer_end": 2135, "text": "It began at midnight local time (21:00 GMT on Tuesday). Fire engines were withdrawn from the runway, and security, check-in and baggage-handling staff also stopped working. The unions are opposed to a plan that would see the loss-making Kenya Airways taking over the management of airports from the profit-making Kenya Airports Authority (KAA). The aviation workers complain of unfair staff hiring, poor remuneration and that the proposed take-over would put their jobs at risk. Transport Minister James Macharia told journalists that jobs would not be lost in the merger, and branded the workers who had caused the disruption \"criminals\". \"We have identified those who were involved and action will follow shortly,\" he said."}], "question": "What was the strike about?", "id": "704_1"}]}]}, {"title": "Tamil Nadu faces political vacuum after Jayalalitha's death", "date": "8 December 2016", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Jayaram Jayalalitha was the undisputed leader of the governing party in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu, but her sudden death has raised questions over who will replace her and what direction the party will take. It will take a while for supporters and other leaders of the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam party, or AIADMK, to come to terms with the huge void created by the death of Jayalalitha, one of India's most flamboyant and controversial leaders. The party, founded in 1972 by the charismatic MG Ramachandran, known as MGR, a film star turned politician, has been playing a crucial role in providing political stability in Tamil Nadu, which is among the most important Indian states economically and politically. Jayalalitha's death has triggered an air of uncertainty among the 75 million Tamils who have been used to seeing the AIADMK either as a governing party or as the main opposition for nearly four decades. Political stability has played a key role in Tamil Nadu's development over the years.  Its economy has been growing at a rate of around 12% in the past 10 years, much higher than the national average of around 8%. Tamil Nadu is also the second largest economy among Indian states, next only to Maharashtra. Its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 2015 was estimated to be around $150bn (PS119bn). And as a whole, GDP per person in Tamil Nadu is 68% higher than the national average of $1,390 (PS1,102) a year. For the moment, one of Jayalalitha's trusted lieutenants, O Panneerselvam, has taken over as chief minister. The smooth transition of power has surprised everyone. But there are challenges ahead. \"The party does not have any other leader who is similarly charismatic or popular. That is a vacuum. Right from its inception, the AIADMK has had popular leadership. For the first time, the party does not have a popular figure,\" says Gnani, a veteran political analyst. It is well known that there is no second - or even third - line of leadership in the party. The AIADMK flourished and succeeded mainly because of the charisma of Jayalalitha after she took over the party in 1990. At the helm, she never allowed anyone to challenge her and those who showed signs of rebellion were summarily dismissed. As a woman leader in a male-dominated society, she stamped her authority to instil respect or even fear among her party's men. Her autocratic style led to her ministers and senior party members prostrating in front of her in public, sometimes even in front of her car, to get her blessing or attention. The AIADMK leadership - both MGR and Jayalalitha - appealed directly to its supporters, mostly in rural and semi-urban areas. The middle-level leaders were usually hand-picked and most of them had no political base of their own. The winning formula was achieved by offering free tablets, bicycles, televisions and money, and also by striking alliance with smaller or caste-based political parties. The party's election symbol, Two Leaves, introduced by MGR, is still a powerful tool to attract votes. There is speculation that Jayalalitha's long-time friend and confidante Sasikala Natarajan is likely to play a crucial role in the party's affairs and establish a power structure around her. Though she was close to the former leader, Mrs Natarajan was never given any official position by Jayalalitha. Mrs Natarajan and her family members are influential within the party, but they do not have any political base of their own. If there is any trouble within the party over the growing influence of Mrs Natarajan, that will work to the advantage of the main opposition in Tamil Nadu, the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK). It is not uncommon in Tamil Nadu politics to engineer a split in the rival camp to bring down the government. Some regional leaders of the AIADMK, who were sidelined by Jayalalitha, may use the opportunity to stage a comeback and demand ministerial berths. Any infighting within the AIADMK is also likely to have an impact at the national level politics. In the past two decades, India's political direction has been dictated by powerful regional parties and the AIADMK was one of them. It took 30 years for a single party to achieve an outright majority in the Indian parliament, in 2014. Support of the regional parties was crucial in the formation of a national coalition government. But the political equation changed after Narendra Modi led the BJP to power two years ago. Whether in a coalition or not, an assertive Jayalalitha never hesitated for a moment to take on the central government, even eclipsing her mentor MGR. She castigated the federal government over their stance on the Sri Lankan Tamil issue or the Cauvery river water sharing dispute with neighbouring Karnataka state. There are concerns now that a weak AIADMK beset by internal squabbles will reduce the party's influence in central policies affecting the state. \"Regional parties have already lost their influence after the BJP got an absolute majority in parliament. If infighting erupts within the AIADMK, it will diminish the power and political leverage of the AIADMK. But the BJP still needs their support in the Rajya Sabha (Upper House) to pass crucial bills and laws,\" says AR Venkatachalapathy, historian and professor at the Madras Institute of Development Studies. If nothing goes wrong, the present AIADMK government is expected to complete its full term and the next state assembly elections are scheduled for 2021.  The challenge for the AIADMK will be how it will face the electorate if there is any election in the interim period. The two Dravidian parties - AIADMK and DMK - have been ruling the state for nearly five decades. The national parties, like Congress and the BJP, have been waiting for decades to make inroads in Tamil Nadu. Is it the right moment? \"It AIADMK weakens, then the main opposition DMK will benefit. I don't think any national party (like Congress or the BJP) will benefit from the situation. The DMK will move into the space,\" says N Ram, former editor-in-chief of the Hindu newspaper. Tamil Nadu has witnessed lots of political drama over the years, but it is now entering a new phase and getting used to a life without Ms Jayalalitha for the first time in 35 years. More twists and turns are on the cards.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 3478, "answer_end": 5322, "text": "If there is any trouble within the party over the growing influence of Mrs Natarajan, that will work to the advantage of the main opposition in Tamil Nadu, the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK). It is not uncommon in Tamil Nadu politics to engineer a split in the rival camp to bring down the government. Some regional leaders of the AIADMK, who were sidelined by Jayalalitha, may use the opportunity to stage a comeback and demand ministerial berths. Any infighting within the AIADMK is also likely to have an impact at the national level politics. In the past two decades, India's political direction has been dictated by powerful regional parties and the AIADMK was one of them. It took 30 years for a single party to achieve an outright majority in the Indian parliament, in 2014. Support of the regional parties was crucial in the formation of a national coalition government. But the political equation changed after Narendra Modi led the BJP to power two years ago. Whether in a coalition or not, an assertive Jayalalitha never hesitated for a moment to take on the central government, even eclipsing her mentor MGR. She castigated the federal government over their stance on the Sri Lankan Tamil issue or the Cauvery river water sharing dispute with neighbouring Karnataka state. There are concerns now that a weak AIADMK beset by internal squabbles will reduce the party's influence in central policies affecting the state. \"Regional parties have already lost their influence after the BJP got an absolute majority in parliament. If infighting erupts within the AIADMK, it will diminish the power and political leverage of the AIADMK. But the BJP still needs their support in the Rajya Sabha (Upper House) to pass crucial bills and laws,\" says AR Venkatachalapathy, historian and professor at the Madras Institute of Development Studies."}], "question": "Risk of infighting?", "id": "705_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Wow Air failure: 'They gave us pizza - then cancelled our flight'", "date": "28 March 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Dubliner Barrai Omuireagain is one of an estimated 10,000 people stranded by Thursday's collapse of Iceland's Wow Air. He was due to board his flight from Detroit to Dublin at 7pm local time last night. \"Then it was delayed, then it was delayed every hour, and finally at 11pm on Wednesday I asked what happens if the company goes bust? \"She said it wouldn't happen and gave us a pizza, saying we're expecting a flight plan in the next 15 minutes. \"Next thing the PA said the flight was cancelled.\" The family eventually spent the night in a hotel, and woke to find the airline had indeed stopped flying. Wow Air, which also operated flights from UK airports Gatwick, Stansted and Edinburgh, had been in talks this week with bondholders about raising new money. The past six months have seen talks about a potential sale of the carrier, first to Icelandair, then to US-based private equity firm Indigo Partners - which has stakes in several other airlines including Hungary's Wizz Air. But on Thursday Wow's website said it had ceased operations and cancelled all flights. It added that passengers needing to travel should book with other airlines. With Wow not flying, passengers are scrambling to find alternatives. The travel editor of the Independent, Simon Calder, said that in these situations other airlines do tend to step in as they would not seek to make money out of \"a bad situation\". He said passengers should not spend \"a fortune on alternative flights unless you are in a real hurry\". Norwegian said that repatriation fares would be available at a 25% discount, subject to availability, as long as passengers could show a valid Wow Air booking. These would be available until 8 April. Three other airlines are offering rescue fares for Wow passengers - Icelandair, EasyJet and Wizz Air. More information is available on the webpage of the Icelandic Transport Authority, along with further information on passenger rights. The Icelandic authorities said they would continue to monitor the availability of rescue fares for Wow passengers scheduled to travel over the next few days. These airlines are not ideal for Barrai Omuireagain, who needs to get to Dublin. He is hoping Aer Lingus will be able to help fly him to Dublin, but currently he says flights for himself and his wife Katie, and children Chase, 16 and Maeve, 6 would cost PS5,000 - more than double the normal fare. He is also less eligible for help as he currently lives in Indiana, and therefore is not stranded. His holiday would have started in Ireland. Another affected passenger was Aoife O'Dwyer, who was due to go on honeymoon to Iceland on Saturday with her wife, Jen. In a tweet she said she was \"devastated\" that her \"dream honeymoon trip\" was postponed. Wow's website, and that of the UK's Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), suggests a range of possible methods of redress. It says passengers covered by various protected booking methods, including booking by credit card or through a European travel agent, should try to get their money back from them. Otherwise it says they could be entitled to some compensation from Wow, \"including in accordance with European regulation on Air Passenger Rights\", or, in case of a bankruptcy, claims should be filed to the administrator or liquidator. Wow was founded in 2011 by its chief executive, Skuli Mogensen. It started flights in 2012 and grew to employ 1,000 people, carrying 3.5 million passengers last year in its 11 aircraft. It operated both short and long haul routes, flying to Copenhagen and Alicante in Europe and Washington and Boston in the US. Aviation expert Chris Tarry, from consultants Ctaira, said Wow was simply not able to make enough profit in a highly competitive market: \"Wow faced stiff competition on the northern Europe to North America route, which is being served by rival low-cost operator, Norwegian. Wow offered low fares - but so did the rest of the pack. Even the traditional carriers were offering keen fares. \"Travelling with Wow also involved going via Iceland - attractive if you have the time and money to spare on that, but with others pricing fares keenly, something people were thinking wasn't worth their time.\" Mr Mogensen wrote a letter to employees on Thursday which said: \"I will never be able to forgive myself for not taking action sooner, since it is evident that Wow was an amazing airline and we were on the right track to do great things again.\" Rory Boland, the travel editor of Which?, said Wow had been selling flights right up until 07:00 on Thursday morning. \"Passengers will quite rightly be appalled that Wow Air was still selling tickets right up to the moment it collapsed. \"You will need to check if you booked your flights as part of a package. \"If not, you may still be able to claim through your travel insurance or card issuer but it will depend on your circumstances.\" The CAA said Wow air flights were unlikely to have been booked as part of a package. Independent financial information business Defaqto warned that less than half (48%) of travel insurance policies offered cover for airline failure as standard, meaning that travellers could be left unprotected if the airline they have booked with gets into financial difficulty and they cannot travel. A number of airlines have run into financial trouble recently, with factors such as higher fuel bills and excess capacity in the sector contributing to their problems. Earlier this year, Germany's Germania filed for bankruptcy, and UK regional airline Flybmi stopped flying in February. The UK's struggling Flybe was taken over earlier this month for just one penny a share. Even giant budget airline Ryanair reported its first quarterly loss since March 2014 last month.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 2535, "answer_end": 5725, "text": "Another affected passenger was Aoife O'Dwyer, who was due to go on honeymoon to Iceland on Saturday with her wife, Jen. In a tweet she said she was \"devastated\" that her \"dream honeymoon trip\" was postponed. Wow's website, and that of the UK's Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), suggests a range of possible methods of redress. It says passengers covered by various protected booking methods, including booking by credit card or through a European travel agent, should try to get their money back from them. Otherwise it says they could be entitled to some compensation from Wow, \"including in accordance with European regulation on Air Passenger Rights\", or, in case of a bankruptcy, claims should be filed to the administrator or liquidator. Wow was founded in 2011 by its chief executive, Skuli Mogensen. It started flights in 2012 and grew to employ 1,000 people, carrying 3.5 million passengers last year in its 11 aircraft. It operated both short and long haul routes, flying to Copenhagen and Alicante in Europe and Washington and Boston in the US. Aviation expert Chris Tarry, from consultants Ctaira, said Wow was simply not able to make enough profit in a highly competitive market: \"Wow faced stiff competition on the northern Europe to North America route, which is being served by rival low-cost operator, Norwegian. Wow offered low fares - but so did the rest of the pack. Even the traditional carriers were offering keen fares. \"Travelling with Wow also involved going via Iceland - attractive if you have the time and money to spare on that, but with others pricing fares keenly, something people were thinking wasn't worth their time.\" Mr Mogensen wrote a letter to employees on Thursday which said: \"I will never be able to forgive myself for not taking action sooner, since it is evident that Wow was an amazing airline and we were on the right track to do great things again.\" Rory Boland, the travel editor of Which?, said Wow had been selling flights right up until 07:00 on Thursday morning. \"Passengers will quite rightly be appalled that Wow Air was still selling tickets right up to the moment it collapsed. \"You will need to check if you booked your flights as part of a package. \"If not, you may still be able to claim through your travel insurance or card issuer but it will depend on your circumstances.\" The CAA said Wow air flights were unlikely to have been booked as part of a package. Independent financial information business Defaqto warned that less than half (48%) of travel insurance policies offered cover for airline failure as standard, meaning that travellers could be left unprotected if the airline they have booked with gets into financial difficulty and they cannot travel. A number of airlines have run into financial trouble recently, with factors such as higher fuel bills and excess capacity in the sector contributing to their problems. Earlier this year, Germany's Germania filed for bankruptcy, and UK regional airline Flybmi stopped flying in February. The UK's struggling Flybe was taken over earlier this month for just one penny a share. Even giant budget airline Ryanair reported its first quarterly loss since March 2014 last month."}], "question": "Compensation?", "id": "706_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Greta Thunberg: 'Leaders failed us on climate change'", "date": "23 September 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Swedish campaigner Greta Thunberg has made a passionate speech to world leaders at the UN, accusing them of failing to act on climate change. \"You have stolen my dreams and my childhood with your empty words,\" she told a UN climate summit in New York. About 60 world leaders are taking part in the one-day meeting organised by UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres. He earlier said countries could only speak at the summit if they came with action plans to cut carbon emissions. US President Donald Trump, a climate change sceptic, had not been expected at the meeting - but he was briefly spotted in the audience. Brazil and Saudi Arabia are among the countries staying away. In an emotional speech, she said: \"This is all wrong. I shouldn't be up here. I should be back in school on the other side of the ocean, yet you all come to us young people for hope. How dare you? \"You have stolen my dreams and my childhood with your empty words,\" the 16-year-old said. And she urged world leaders to act urgently, saying: \"We will be watching you.\" Mr Guterres, who organised the meeting, said the world was \"in a deep climate hole\" and that urgent action was needed. \"Time is running out, but it's not too late,\" he said. German Chancellor Angela Merkel said her country would double to EUR4bn (PS3.5bn; $4.4bn) it financial commitment to fight global warming. French President Emmanuel Macron said international organisations had pledged to release $500m in additional aid to protect tropical forests. New Zealand's Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said things \"are starting to turn around\" in the country. \"Our gross emissions peaked in 2006, over 80% of our electricity already comes from renewable hydro and wind, and we have begun an ambitious agenda. \"We have introduced in parliament the zero carbon bill, the purpose of which is to ensure New Zealand lives within the threshold of 1.5C of global warming necessary to avoid catastrophic weather events for our Pacific neighbours.\" The summit comes days after several million people took part in a global climate strike led by youth activists. Ahead of the meeting, scientists warned the signs and impacts of global warming were speeding up. The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) said the amount of carbon dioxide going into the atmosphere between 2015 and 2019 had grown by 20% compared with the previous five years. \"We should listen to the loud cry coming from the schoolchildren,\" said Professor Brian Hoskins, chair of the Grantham Institute, Imperial College London, and professor of meteorology at the University of Reading. \"There is an emergency - one for action in both rapidly reducing our greenhouse gas emissions towards zero and adapting to the inevitable changes in climate,\" he said. By Roger Harrabin,  BBC environment analyst As the dangers of climate heating become ever more apparent, so does the absence of collective will to tackle the issue. In 2015 in Paris, all the world's leaders sounded their determination to curb the emissions that were heating the climate. The summit will see a host of initiatives from businesses and small- and medium-sized nations. But President Trump is encouraging fossil fuel use in every way he can. And China - in spite of its trend-setting commitment to solar and wind power -  is still building new coal-fired power stations. Even the UK, a global leader in climate policy-making, is veering away from its own medium-term targets to cut emissions. The government is still aiming to expand Heathrow airport and increase the road network in a way that will increase emissions in those sectors. Politicians appear to believe climate change can be challenged with a version of economic business as usual. Their scientists are telling them with increasing desperation that we humans are facing an unprecedented threat in need of an unprecedented response. Follow Roger on Twitter @rharrabin", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 677, "answer_end": 1043, "text": "In an emotional speech, she said: \"This is all wrong. I shouldn't be up here. I should be back in school on the other side of the ocean, yet you all come to us young people for hope. How dare you? \"You have stolen my dreams and my childhood with your empty words,\" the 16-year-old said. And she urged world leaders to act urgently, saying: \"We will be watching you.\""}], "question": "What did Greta Thunberg say?", "id": "707_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1044, "answer_end": 1980, "text": "Mr Guterres, who organised the meeting, said the world was \"in a deep climate hole\" and that urgent action was needed. \"Time is running out, but it's not too late,\" he said. German Chancellor Angela Merkel said her country would double to EUR4bn (PS3.5bn; $4.4bn) it financial commitment to fight global warming. French President Emmanuel Macron said international organisations had pledged to release $500m in additional aid to protect tropical forests. New Zealand's Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said things \"are starting to turn around\" in the country. \"Our gross emissions peaked in 2006, over 80% of our electricity already comes from renewable hydro and wind, and we have begun an ambitious agenda. \"We have introduced in parliament the zero carbon bill, the purpose of which is to ensure New Zealand lives within the threshold of 1.5C of global warming necessary to avoid catastrophic weather events for our Pacific neighbours.\""}], "question": "What did world leaders say?", "id": "707_1"}]}]}, {"title": "'Three-person babies - not three-parent babies'", "date": "1 February 2015", "paragraphs": [{"context": "On Tuesday, MPs will decide whether to allow the creation of babies from three people - mum, dad and a second, donor, woman. It could prevent deadly mitochondrial disease, but has provoked a fierce ethical debate. DNA for mitochondria - tiny compartments within cells which unlock the energy from food - is passed from mothers to children, so a donor woman's mitochondria might stop the disease. Prof Doug Turnbull, head of the centre in Newcastle that has pioneered the research, said the disease affects organs that are \"heavily dependent on energy metabolism\". \"So in the heart you have cardiac failure; progressive weakness in the muscles leading to extreme fatigue and respiratory failure; and in the brain, epilepsy, stroke-like episodes and cognitive decline,\" he said. \"In the most severe cases I've looked after, the children died in the first 48 hours of life. \"That is unusual; often these conditions are associated with increasing levels of disability. \"I saw a patient on Tuesday that I've looked after for 33 years.\" That patient was one of Prof Turnbull's first when he started out in the field as a young neurologist, \"fascinated\" about understanding, diagnosing and - more recently - preventing the disease. The centre in Newcastle sees patients from across the UK and is acknowledged as one of the best in the world for caring for people with mitochondrial disease. Yet even with the best available medicine there are many heartbreaking stories, including those of families who have lost multiple children. Six of Sharon Bernardi's children died within days of birth. Her son Edward survived to the age of 21, although he was often ill. Prof Turnbull said the huge desire of families to have healthy children motivated the team at the Newcastle centre. \"We've been discussing it since 2000,\" he said. \"It was the stories of the patients the whole team saw over the years that made us go 'Look, we've got to do better'. \"We have very limited treatments, so the most important thing for those families is to have children that are unaffected.\" The idea featured in a report by the UK Chief Medical Officer that year, and the Newcastle team's first application for funding was made in 2001. What emerged at Newcastle was a massive team effort between fertility experts, doctors caring for patients and experts in the genetics of mitochondria. Their objective was to reach a point where healthy DNA from parents could be combined with healthy mitochondria from a donor. The proposed therapy - called pronuclear transfer - is controversial. Last week the Catholic and Anglican churches urged UK politicians to delay their decision to allow more research and debate. The destruction of embryos as part of the process is among the ethical concerns raised. Others say it is a first step towards creating so-called \"designer babies\", where genetic characteristics could be chosen by parents. In pronuclear transfer, the mother's egg and the donor's egg are both fertilised as part of IVF to create a pair of embryos. The DNA from mum and dad form two balls of genetic information in the embryo called pronuclei, which will fuse to create the genetic blueprint for a child. These are transferred to the donor embryo, which is packed with healthy mitochondria and has its pronuclei removed. The Newcastle research passed a significant barrier in 2010. The group published a study in the journal Nature showing the technique was possible using eggs that would have been discarded as they were unsuitable for IVF. \"When we published that paper there was a recognition that... if we can make this work with abnormal eggs surely we should be moving forward with this,\" Prof Turnbull said. He credits his colleague Prof Alison Murdoch, from the Newcastle Fertility Centre, for having the foresight to begin making the case for starting the process that could lead to a change in the law. \"She was very wise at the time, she said we could get the science finished, but if we don't push forward with trying to get the regulations through Parliament then we could get the science sorted and it could take years to go through,\" he said. This is one of many times Prof Turnbull diverts the attention to colleagues - particularly to Prof Mary Herbert, another leader in the field of mitochondrial transfer. He comes across as a man keenly aware he needs to make the case, but unwilling to be the centre of attention. \"An awful lot of expertise has to go into developing anything like this, this is a massive team effort,\" he said. \"This has never been about the scientist, it's about the patients.\" The 2008 Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act left provision for babies to be \"created from material provided by two women\". But it required a debate and a vote in both the Commons and the Lords for it to be enacted. Five years, three scientific reviews and a public consultation later, the UK is about to decide. \"The whole process has been suitably rigorous and the UK should be suitably proud of its ability to regulate in such a sensitive area,\" Prof Turnbull said. However, there was a sense of frustration in his voice when I suggested things had progressed quickly since 2010. \"It was first mooted in 2000, discussed extensively prior to the 2008 act, a lot of the ground work was done in 2010,\" he said. \"Is that quick?\" Any child born through this technique would have about 99.9% of their DNA from their parents. But mitochondria have their own DNA, so that 0.1% would come from the donor. It has given rise to the headline that frustrates many in the field: \"Three-parent babies\". Prof Turnbull responds: \"We know precisely what those genes do. \"Those mitochondria are not going to influence any of the characteristics of these children, they're going to provide healthy mitochondria. But it's a catchy headline. \"Do I think it's accurate? Of course I don't. \"Is there anything I can do about it? Even less,\" he concludes with a resigned chuckle. But the headlines point to a deeper issue. The change to the child's genetic composition will be passed down through the generations. It is known as germ-line therapy and is illegal in many countries. Some argue we are sleep-walking into a society that allows these techniques and opening the door to other forms of genetic modification of children. I put these arguments to Prof Turnbull. \"I think people are perfectly entitled to their view, I've always felt that,\" he said. \"That the critics say 'I wouldn't have this' is of course reasonable, but I think the thing we all struggle with here at Newcastle is that they are denying other people the right to make those sorts of decisions. \"When you talk to patients with mitochondrial disease they want to make those decisions.\" If the vote in the Commons goes through on Tuesday, and the House of Lords agrees in the coming weeks, the UK fertility regulator could grant Newcastle the first license this year. The first attempt would then be expected this year, with the first baby born in 2016. Prof Turnbull admits to being a \"natural pessimist\" and says he is \"anxious\" ahead of the vote by MPs. His final argument is: \"This is research that has been suggested by the patients, supported by patients and is for the patients, and that's an important message.\"", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 5326, "answer_end": 7267, "text": "Any child born through this technique would have about 99.9% of their DNA from their parents. But mitochondria have their own DNA, so that 0.1% would come from the donor. It has given rise to the headline that frustrates many in the field: \"Three-parent babies\". Prof Turnbull responds: \"We know precisely what those genes do. \"Those mitochondria are not going to influence any of the characteristics of these children, they're going to provide healthy mitochondria. But it's a catchy headline. \"Do I think it's accurate? Of course I don't. \"Is there anything I can do about it? Even less,\" he concludes with a resigned chuckle. But the headlines point to a deeper issue. The change to the child's genetic composition will be passed down through the generations. It is known as germ-line therapy and is illegal in many countries. Some argue we are sleep-walking into a society that allows these techniques and opening the door to other forms of genetic modification of children. I put these arguments to Prof Turnbull. \"I think people are perfectly entitled to their view, I've always felt that,\" he said. \"That the critics say 'I wouldn't have this' is of course reasonable, but I think the thing we all struggle with here at Newcastle is that they are denying other people the right to make those sorts of decisions. \"When you talk to patients with mitochondrial disease they want to make those decisions.\" If the vote in the Commons goes through on Tuesday, and the House of Lords agrees in the coming weeks, the UK fertility regulator could grant Newcastle the first license this year. The first attempt would then be expected this year, with the first baby born in 2016. Prof Turnbull admits to being a \"natural pessimist\" and says he is \"anxious\" ahead of the vote by MPs. His final argument is: \"This is research that has been suggested by the patients, supported by patients and is for the patients, and that's an important message.\""}], "question": "Two mums?", "id": "708_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Brexit: What would no deal mean for Ireland?", "date": "29 July 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "The Irish government has been clear that a no-deal Brexit would cause significant damage. The first major study, commissioned early in 2018, estimated that no deal would reduce growth by 7% over the next 10 years, compared with a scenario where the UK stayed in the EU. In June, Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe said a \"disorderly Brexit\" could cost 55,000 Irish jobs within two years and a further 30,000 over the longer term. His summer economic statement assessed that no deal would cause \"severe disruption to Irish-UK bilateral trade\", presenting a \"clear and present danger to domestic living standards\". He did not forecast a recession but suggested that growth would be close to zero in 2020 if there were no deal. The Irish Fiscal Advisory Council (similar to the UK's Office for Budget Responsibility) was perhaps even gloomier in its most recent report. It concluded that no deal \"poses profound risks\" to Ireland's public finances and that the government had limited scope to respond. The council warned that the capacity to spend more to mitigate the impact of no deal was \"limited by the fact that the government debt burden remains high\". The UK and Ireland are major trading partners and a no-deal Brexit would disrupt that trade through the imposition of tariffs (taxes on imports) and other barriers. It is important to keep this trade relationship in perspective. The UK is not Ireland's biggest export market and has not been for years. The US is actually the largest external market, taking 27% of all goods exported in 2017. But the UK is number two - in 2017 12% of Ireland's goods exports, worth 16.5bn euros (PS14.8bn), were sold to the UK. Those exports are concentrated in particular sectors - about a fifth of Irish food and agriculture exports go to the UK. Red-meat producers are particularly exposed -about 50% of Ireland's beef exports by value are sold in the UK. These food exports would face tariffs and increased competition in the UK market in the event of no deal. The former chief economist of the Irish Farmers Association, Con Lucey, says it would mean a major reduction in Ireland's role in the UK beef market as \"prices would be too low and too volatile\". Damage to the UK trading relationship would also be concentrated among smaller firms. Research by Ireland's Central Statistics Office (CSO) suggests that among large businesses that export, only 1% are solely dependent on the UK market, but for small businesses it is 26%, and among micro-business exporters it is 68%. So in a no-deal Brexit it is likely that most of the damage would be to Irish-owned small- and medium-sized exporters, particularly in rural areas. Imports also matter: Ireland imported 21bn euros of goods from the UK in 2017, more than from any other country. In a no-deal scenario, some of these goods would also face tariffs that could increase prices for Irish consumers. Martina Lawless, a trade economist at the Economic and Social Research Institute in Dublin, says there's \"a serious risk of an immediate impact\". \"Trade barriers could pretty much immediately result in increased consumer prices of 2%-to-3%.\" Exports don't tell the whole story of the UK's importance to Irish trade. Every year around 18bn euros-worth of Irish goods pass through the UK on the way to other EU markets. This route, via the UK road and ports network, is known as the land bridge. It's particularly important for high-value or time-sensitive goods because it offers significantly faster transit times than alternative sea routes A study by the Irish Maritime Development Office suggests the land-bridge route from Dublin to Calais takes approximately 20 hours, while direct ferry services from Ireland to the continental EU can take twice as long. In recent weeks the UK's Brexit Secretary, Stephen Barclay, has been making the point that if no deal causes disruption at English Channel ports, that will have an impact on Irish traders who also use that route. Ireland will be seeking priority for its lorries as they arrive in the EU but it's difficult to see how they would avoid delays on the English side. More direct ferry capacity between Ireland and the EU has been developed, but that may not be much help to traders shipping the most time-sensitive goods. The Irish government has been preparing for a long time. It has been running information roadshows for businesses, often led by cabinet ministers, since September 2018. Grants of up to 5,000 euros have been made available for businesses to pay for professional advice and a 300m-euro Brexit loan scheme has been created. There is also the prospect of substantial EU support for Ireland to mitigate no-deal impacts: the Times has suggested a \"multibillion-euro\" aid package could be made available. The Irish government has set up a 100m-euro fund to help beef farmers who experience difficulties as a result of Brexit. No-deal Brexit legislation was passed in February, creating continuity in areas such as pensions and benefits, cross-border rail services and the all-island single electricity market. An additional 400 customs officers were due to be trained and in place by the end of March, with a further 200 in place by the end of this year. But in one key regard the Irish government has not been clear about its preparations. In its latest contingency plan it has warned that no deal would mean cross-border trade with Northern Ireland could not be as frictionless as it is today. It concedes that new checks will be \"necessary to preserve Ireland's full participation in the Single Market and Customs Union\". But it does not elaborate on where and how such checks would take place. What claims do you want BBC Reality Check to investigate? Get in touch Read more from Reality Check Follow us on Twitter", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1154, "answer_end": 3135, "text": "The UK and Ireland are major trading partners and a no-deal Brexit would disrupt that trade through the imposition of tariffs (taxes on imports) and other barriers. It is important to keep this trade relationship in perspective. The UK is not Ireland's biggest export market and has not been for years. The US is actually the largest external market, taking 27% of all goods exported in 2017. But the UK is number two - in 2017 12% of Ireland's goods exports, worth 16.5bn euros (PS14.8bn), were sold to the UK. Those exports are concentrated in particular sectors - about a fifth of Irish food and agriculture exports go to the UK. Red-meat producers are particularly exposed -about 50% of Ireland's beef exports by value are sold in the UK. These food exports would face tariffs and increased competition in the UK market in the event of no deal. The former chief economist of the Irish Farmers Association, Con Lucey, says it would mean a major reduction in Ireland's role in the UK beef market as \"prices would be too low and too volatile\". Damage to the UK trading relationship would also be concentrated among smaller firms. Research by Ireland's Central Statistics Office (CSO) suggests that among large businesses that export, only 1% are solely dependent on the UK market, but for small businesses it is 26%, and among micro-business exporters it is 68%. So in a no-deal Brexit it is likely that most of the damage would be to Irish-owned small- and medium-sized exporters, particularly in rural areas. Imports also matter: Ireland imported 21bn euros of goods from the UK in 2017, more than from any other country. In a no-deal scenario, some of these goods would also face tariffs that could increase prices for Irish consumers. Martina Lawless, a trade economist at the Economic and Social Research Institute in Dublin, says there's \"a serious risk of an immediate impact\". \"Trade barriers could pretty much immediately result in increased consumer prices of 2%-to-3%.\""}], "question": "Why would Ireland be damaged?", "id": "709_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3136, "answer_end": 4271, "text": "Exports don't tell the whole story of the UK's importance to Irish trade. Every year around 18bn euros-worth of Irish goods pass through the UK on the way to other EU markets. This route, via the UK road and ports network, is known as the land bridge. It's particularly important for high-value or time-sensitive goods because it offers significantly faster transit times than alternative sea routes A study by the Irish Maritime Development Office suggests the land-bridge route from Dublin to Calais takes approximately 20 hours, while direct ferry services from Ireland to the continental EU can take twice as long. In recent weeks the UK's Brexit Secretary, Stephen Barclay, has been making the point that if no deal causes disruption at English Channel ports, that will have an impact on Irish traders who also use that route. Ireland will be seeking priority for its lorries as they arrive in the EU but it's difficult to see how they would avoid delays on the English side. More direct ferry capacity between Ireland and the EU has been developed, but that may not be much help to traders shipping the most time-sensitive goods."}], "question": "What about the \"land bridge\"?", "id": "709_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 4272, "answer_end": 5662, "text": "The Irish government has been preparing for a long time. It has been running information roadshows for businesses, often led by cabinet ministers, since September 2018. Grants of up to 5,000 euros have been made available for businesses to pay for professional advice and a 300m-euro Brexit loan scheme has been created. There is also the prospect of substantial EU support for Ireland to mitigate no-deal impacts: the Times has suggested a \"multibillion-euro\" aid package could be made available. The Irish government has set up a 100m-euro fund to help beef farmers who experience difficulties as a result of Brexit. No-deal Brexit legislation was passed in February, creating continuity in areas such as pensions and benefits, cross-border rail services and the all-island single electricity market. An additional 400 customs officers were due to be trained and in place by the end of March, with a further 200 in place by the end of this year. But in one key regard the Irish government has not been clear about its preparations. In its latest contingency plan it has warned that no deal would mean cross-border trade with Northern Ireland could not be as frictionless as it is today. It concedes that new checks will be \"necessary to preserve Ireland's full participation in the Single Market and Customs Union\". But it does not elaborate on where and how such checks would take place."}], "question": "What are Ireland's contingency plans?", "id": "709_2"}]}]}, {"title": "What did the FBI inquiry into Kavanaugh result in?", "date": "4 October 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "On 4 October, the FBI handed over its report on sexual misconduct allegations against Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh. The findings are not for public eyes - but here's what we do know about it. Senators are taking turns reading the single copy of the report - which exists only on paper to prevent any leaks - in a secure room in the Capitol. The full Senate vote on whether Judge Kavanaugh gets a seat on America's top court was delayed while the FBI worked, and is now expected on Saturday. White House spokesman Raj Shah told CNN the FBI contacted 10 people and \"comprehensively interviewed\" nine of them. Official sources told US media the review focused on the alleged incidents involving Prof Ford and second accuser Deborah Ramirez. Here's who the FBI has interviewed, according to statements from their lawyers: - Deborah Ramirez, a Yale classmate who alleges Judge Kavanaugh exposed his genitals to her during a college party - Mark Judge, a childhood friend of Judge Kavanaugh, who Prof Ford testified was in the room during the alleged assault - Leland Keyser, Prof Ford's high school friend who was reportedly at the summer of 1982 party where the alleged assault occurred - PJ Smyth, another high school friend of Judge Kavanaugh, who says Prof Ford was at the July party - Timothy Gaudette, another high school friend of the judge's at whose house the party reportedly occurred - Christopher \"Squi\" Garrett, a close friend of Judge Kavanaugh, Prof Ford says she dated him for a few months in high school Republican Senator Bob Corker said the report is 46 pages long, with nine pages focusing on Mark Judge. But Democrats have criticised the narrow scope and time limitation of the FBI's inquiry - especially as neither the judge nor Prof Ford spoke with the FBI. Senator Dianne Feinstein said what she saw of the report, it appeared to be \"the product of an incomplete investigation\". Federal agents reportedly did not look into the judge's drinking habits or the claims of his third accuser, Julie Swetnick. A number of Judge Kavanaugh's former classmates have come forward since the hearings, willing to speak with the FBI about his behaviour, but it appears they have not been interviewed. Here are the people who have submitted statements or otherwise tried to contact the FBI: - Kenneth Appold, who was Judge Kavanaugh's suitemate at Yale, told the New Yorker he was \"100% certain\" he could corroborate Ms Ramirez's story - Two anonymous Georgetown Prep classmates who detailed the judge's drinking habits and questionable behaviour during high school - James Roche, another Yale roommate, who wrote in a piece for Slate that Judge Kavanaugh lied under oath about drinking - Kerry Berchem, a Yale classmate, who says she has text messages that suggest Judge Kavanaugh knew of Ms Ramirez's allegation before it was published In addition, Ms Ramirez's lawyers say they provided a list of 20 individuals with relevant information who have not been contacted by the FBI. Prof Ford's lawyers also shared a list of people who they said could support her claims. Judge Kavanaugh and Prof Ford were not interviewed. Not exactly. As many have pointed out, the FBI files a report but does not reach any conclusion regarding the credibility or significance of allegations. \"They report any corroborating information that they obtain, or any contradicting information,\" former FBI Assistant Director Chris Swecker told CNN, but added that \"they do not make conclusions\" in their reports. Former FBI Assistant Director Steve Pomerantz told Fox News: \"Hopefully they provide enough information within their reports that allow a reasonable person to reach a conclusion based on the work that they've done.\" Because it is not a criminal inquiry, witnesses were not compelled to co-operate with the investigation, but lying to an FBI agent does carry the threat of federal charges. Yes. The FBI has completed a traditional background check - provided to any federal appointee - on Judge Kavanaugh, who is currently a District of Columbia appeals court judge. In his confirmation hearing, the judicial nominee himself said he had been through \"six separate FBI background investigations over 26 years\". This was the seventh. But typical FBI background checks never look back as far as 36 years ago, when Prof Ford says the assault took place. Mr Trump gave the order at the request of the Senate Judiciary Committee, after Arizona Republican Jeff Flake made such an inquiry his condition for backing the judge. The president's party has only a razor-thin 51-49 Senate majority. That means that if all Democrats vote against confirming Judge Kavanaugh, he can only afford for one Republican to join them - since in a tie, Vice-President Mike Pence would get the casting vote. The timing matters because Republicans are keen to get their Supreme Court nominee - who would serve for life - confirmed before the US mid-term elections on 6 November. And Democrats would profit from seeing that process delayed - or blocked altogether. The FBI's 1991 investigation into then-Supreme Court nominee Clarence Thomas over sexual harassment allegations was open and shut in three days. He was subsequently confirmed by the Senate.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 500, "answer_end": 1906, "text": "White House spokesman Raj Shah told CNN the FBI contacted 10 people and \"comprehensively interviewed\" nine of them. Official sources told US media the review focused on the alleged incidents involving Prof Ford and second accuser Deborah Ramirez. Here's who the FBI has interviewed, according to statements from their lawyers: - Deborah Ramirez, a Yale classmate who alleges Judge Kavanaugh exposed his genitals to her during a college party - Mark Judge, a childhood friend of Judge Kavanaugh, who Prof Ford testified was in the room during the alleged assault - Leland Keyser, Prof Ford's high school friend who was reportedly at the summer of 1982 party where the alleged assault occurred - PJ Smyth, another high school friend of Judge Kavanaugh, who says Prof Ford was at the July party - Timothy Gaudette, another high school friend of the judge's at whose house the party reportedly occurred - Christopher \"Squi\" Garrett, a close friend of Judge Kavanaugh, Prof Ford says she dated him for a few months in high school Republican Senator Bob Corker said the report is 46 pages long, with nine pages focusing on Mark Judge. But Democrats have criticised the narrow scope and time limitation of the FBI's inquiry - especially as neither the judge nor Prof Ford spoke with the FBI. Senator Dianne Feinstein said what she saw of the report, it appeared to be \"the product of an incomplete investigation\"."}], "question": "Who did the FBI interview?", "id": "710_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1907, "answer_end": 3134, "text": "Federal agents reportedly did not look into the judge's drinking habits or the claims of his third accuser, Julie Swetnick. A number of Judge Kavanaugh's former classmates have come forward since the hearings, willing to speak with the FBI about his behaviour, but it appears they have not been interviewed. Here are the people who have submitted statements or otherwise tried to contact the FBI: - Kenneth Appold, who was Judge Kavanaugh's suitemate at Yale, told the New Yorker he was \"100% certain\" he could corroborate Ms Ramirez's story - Two anonymous Georgetown Prep classmates who detailed the judge's drinking habits and questionable behaviour during high school - James Roche, another Yale roommate, who wrote in a piece for Slate that Judge Kavanaugh lied under oath about drinking - Kerry Berchem, a Yale classmate, who says she has text messages that suggest Judge Kavanaugh knew of Ms Ramirez's allegation before it was published In addition, Ms Ramirez's lawyers say they provided a list of 20 individuals with relevant information who have not been contacted by the FBI. Prof Ford's lawyers also shared a list of people who they said could support her claims. Judge Kavanaugh and Prof Ford were not interviewed."}], "question": "And who didn't they speak to?", "id": "710_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3135, "answer_end": 3891, "text": "Not exactly. As many have pointed out, the FBI files a report but does not reach any conclusion regarding the credibility or significance of allegations. \"They report any corroborating information that they obtain, or any contradicting information,\" former FBI Assistant Director Chris Swecker told CNN, but added that \"they do not make conclusions\" in their reports. Former FBI Assistant Director Steve Pomerantz told Fox News: \"Hopefully they provide enough information within their reports that allow a reasonable person to reach a conclusion based on the work that they've done.\" Because it is not a criminal inquiry, witnesses were not compelled to co-operate with the investigation, but lying to an FBI agent does carry the threat of federal charges."}], "question": "Has the FBI has reached a definitive conclusion?", "id": "710_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3892, "answer_end": 4351, "text": "Yes. The FBI has completed a traditional background check - provided to any federal appointee - on Judge Kavanaugh, who is currently a District of Columbia appeals court judge. In his confirmation hearing, the judicial nominee himself said he had been through \"six separate FBI background investigations over 26 years\". This was the seventh. But typical FBI background checks never look back as far as 36 years ago, when Prof Ford says the assault took place."}], "question": "Hasn't the FBI checked out Kavanaugh already?", "id": "710_3"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 4784, "answer_end": 5228, "text": "The timing matters because Republicans are keen to get their Supreme Court nominee - who would serve for life - confirmed before the US mid-term elections on 6 November. And Democrats would profit from seeing that process delayed - or blocked altogether. The FBI's 1991 investigation into then-Supreme Court nominee Clarence Thomas over sexual harassment allegations was open and shut in three days. He was subsequently confirmed by the Senate."}], "question": "One last thing... Why did this take under a week?", "id": "710_4"}]}]}, {"title": "China describes Hong Kong protests as 'near terrorism'", "date": "14 August 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "China has condemned violent clashes in the Hong Kong protests as \"behaviour that is close to terrorism\" - in a sign of its rhetoric hardening. After days of peaceful protests at Hong Kong International Airport, clashes with police broke out on Tuesday night. Video showed an officer drawing his gun on protesters who beat him with his own truncheon during the disturbance. It is the second time in a week that Chinese officials have publicly likened the protests to terrorist activity. Some observers believe that the repeated use of such language suggests that China is losing patience with the protesters, and could increase the likelihood of an intervention from Beijing. The US said it was \"deeply concerned by reports of Chinese paramilitary movement along the Hong Kong border\" and urged China to respect Hong Kong's high degree of autonomy. However, most analysts consider that at this stage, a direct military intervention is still unlikely. The former British colony has a special status, with its own legal system and judiciary, and rights and freedoms not seen in mainland China. However, many activists believe this is now under threat. Millions of Hong Kong citizens have taken part in 10 weeks of anti-government protests, demanding democratic reform and an investigation into alleged police brutality. While many of the demonstrations were peaceful, an increasing number have ended in violent clashes with police. The latest protest, an \"occupation\" of the airport, led to hundreds of flights being cancelled after protesters escalated their action, though normal service has mostly resumed. But China seized on Tuesday's brief outbreak of violence as evidence of \"violent crimes\" that \"breached legal and moral bottom lines\". The airport had been the site of mostly peaceful protests since last Friday - but on Tuesday, protesters blocked travellers from accessing flights, using luggage trolleys to build barriers, and staging a mass sit-down. Some protesters held signs apologising to passengers for the inconvenience caused by their demonstrations. Two incidents, however, sparked clashes with police. At least two men were set upon by protesters, accused of being undercover police officers - a fear prompted after the police admitted they had deployed officers disguised as anti-government protesters. One man, who was tied up with zip ties, was later revealed to be Fu Guohao, a reporter for Chinese state media outlet the Global Times - though it is not clear if he identified himself. Appearing on state television in China the next day, Mr Fu said he \"didn't behave illegally or controversially. I don't think I should be treated violently\". Police, wearing riot gear and brandishing truncheons, arrived at the airport and clashed with protesters. The second major incident caught on camera involved an officer who reportedly manhandled a woman among the protesters. But instead, his own truncheon was taken from him and he was beaten with it after being rushed into a corner. He frantically drew his gun and pointed it at the crowd to disperse them, before being rescued by his fellow officers. Tensions between protesters and police have ramped up further in recent days, after police were seen firing pepper ball rounds on protesters at close range, and firing tear gas in an enclosed train station, during protests on Sunday. Hong Kong police said the officer's life had been \"under great danger\" and insisted he had only drawn his gun \"out of emergency and necessity\" and \"exercised great restraint\". Meanwhile, Chinese media are actively promoting the video of the reporter's ordeal in mainland China, where news of the Hong Kong demonstrations has been carefully managed, says the BBC's Asia-Pacific editor Michael Bristow. A statement released by the Hong Kong affairs office of China's state council condemned the violence in fierce terms, describing the demonstrators as \"radical violent elements\" who had attacked two people from mainland China and \"aimed lasers at their eyes\". The statement alleged they had \"encircled a police officer and snatched his baton\", without providing any additional context. Police likened the treatment of the men whom protesters had captured to \"torture\" and said they had arrested five people. The Hong Kong government called the \"violent acts... outrageous\" and said that they had \"overstepped the bottom line of a civilised society\". Officials in the US viewed events differently. Members of the House Foreign Affairs committee issued a joint statement expressing concern that China might consider \"brutally putting down peaceful protests\" and lauding \"the brave efforts of Hong Kong people\" in their demonstrations. The US state department also issued a travel advisory for Hong Kong on Wednesday, alongside its expression of concern over \"paramilitary movement\" on the border. It urged all sides to refrain from violence. Separately, an image released by satellite imaging firm Maxar Technologies showed what appeared to be military or security vehicles gathering out of public view inside a sports stadium in Shenzhen, which borders Hong Kong. The photo was taken on 12 August, the firm said. Overnight, protest groups issued online apologies for the violence at the airport, saying they were \"scared\" and appealed for help. \"We're deeply sorry about what happened yesterday,\" a banner held up in the arrivals hall on Wednesday morning said, according to Reuters news agency. \"We were desperate and we made imperfect decisions. Please accept our apologies.\" Some also handed out apology leaflets and chocolate to people arriving at the airport's train station.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1742, "answer_end": 3354, "text": "The airport had been the site of mostly peaceful protests since last Friday - but on Tuesday, protesters blocked travellers from accessing flights, using luggage trolleys to build barriers, and staging a mass sit-down. Some protesters held signs apologising to passengers for the inconvenience caused by their demonstrations. Two incidents, however, sparked clashes with police. At least two men were set upon by protesters, accused of being undercover police officers - a fear prompted after the police admitted they had deployed officers disguised as anti-government protesters. One man, who was tied up with zip ties, was later revealed to be Fu Guohao, a reporter for Chinese state media outlet the Global Times - though it is not clear if he identified himself. Appearing on state television in China the next day, Mr Fu said he \"didn't behave illegally or controversially. I don't think I should be treated violently\". Police, wearing riot gear and brandishing truncheons, arrived at the airport and clashed with protesters. The second major incident caught on camera involved an officer who reportedly manhandled a woman among the protesters. But instead, his own truncheon was taken from him and he was beaten with it after being rushed into a corner. He frantically drew his gun and pointed it at the crowd to disperse them, before being rescued by his fellow officers. Tensions between protesters and police have ramped up further in recent days, after police were seen firing pepper ball rounds on protesters at close range, and firing tear gas in an enclosed train station, during protests on Sunday."}], "question": "What happened at the airport on Tuesday?", "id": "711_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3355, "answer_end": 4404, "text": "Hong Kong police said the officer's life had been \"under great danger\" and insisted he had only drawn his gun \"out of emergency and necessity\" and \"exercised great restraint\". Meanwhile, Chinese media are actively promoting the video of the reporter's ordeal in mainland China, where news of the Hong Kong demonstrations has been carefully managed, says the BBC's Asia-Pacific editor Michael Bristow. A statement released by the Hong Kong affairs office of China's state council condemned the violence in fierce terms, describing the demonstrators as \"radical violent elements\" who had attacked two people from mainland China and \"aimed lasers at their eyes\". The statement alleged they had \"encircled a police officer and snatched his baton\", without providing any additional context. Police likened the treatment of the men whom protesters had captured to \"torture\" and said they had arrested five people. The Hong Kong government called the \"violent acts... outrageous\" and said that they had \"overstepped the bottom line of a civilised society\"."}], "question": "What have authorities said about Tuesday's clashes?", "id": "711_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 4405, "answer_end": 5634, "text": "Officials in the US viewed events differently. Members of the House Foreign Affairs committee issued a joint statement expressing concern that China might consider \"brutally putting down peaceful protests\" and lauding \"the brave efforts of Hong Kong people\" in their demonstrations. The US state department also issued a travel advisory for Hong Kong on Wednesday, alongside its expression of concern over \"paramilitary movement\" on the border. It urged all sides to refrain from violence. Separately, an image released by satellite imaging firm Maxar Technologies showed what appeared to be military or security vehicles gathering out of public view inside a sports stadium in Shenzhen, which borders Hong Kong. The photo was taken on 12 August, the firm said. Overnight, protest groups issued online apologies for the violence at the airport, saying they were \"scared\" and appealed for help. \"We're deeply sorry about what happened yesterday,\" a banner held up in the arrivals hall on Wednesday morning said, according to Reuters news agency. \"We were desperate and we made imperfect decisions. Please accept our apologies.\" Some also handed out apology leaflets and chocolate to people arriving at the airport's train station."}], "question": "What about international reaction?", "id": "711_2"}]}]}, {"title": "Maternal mental health: How far have we come?", "date": "28 November 2017", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Suicide is the leading cause of maternal death in the UK. Mental health problems around pregnancy are thought to cost the country PS8bn a year. And the impact on mothers and children can last for decades. While he was Prime Minister, David Cameron promised to tackle this with a \"revolution in mental health care\", including targeted support for new mothers. And Theresa May told the Conservative Party conference this autumn that she would use \"all her power\" to transform mental health services. But BBC Reality Check wanted to know what action had there been to match the talk. Maternal mental health care can be accessed by women from the beginning of their pregnancy through the first year of a baby's life. Treatment for women who suffer from poor mental health during this time falls into two main categories: - specialist services including inpatient care, for the most severely ill women - more general services, including GPs, midwives and health visitors In England, much of the focus has been on the first category - specialised mental health teams including psychiatrists, and mother-and-baby units for women needing to be admitted to a bed to receive inpatient care. In 2015, PS365m was pledged to be spent over five years on specialist maternal mental health services in England. The government also promised that 30,000 additional women would receive treatment by the year 2020-21. Unusually, the money was ring-fenced within the NHS budget, meaning the health service had to spend it on this purpose. Since then, an extra 6,000 women have received maternal mental health treatment, which is ahead of the target. Four new mother-and-baby units (MBUs) with eight beds each have been made available, as well as extra beds in existing MBUs. Once the new units are fully up and running, the bed capacity for the most severely ill women in England will have increased by half. And in the community, for women who don't need to be admitted to a bed, 20 new specialist services have been created covering 90 clinical commissioning group (CCG) areas around England. CCGs are the NHS bodies responsible for organising health and care services for their local communities. So the promises made in the past few years are beginning to materialise. Psychiatrist and national director of perinatal mental health for NHS England, Dr Jo Black, says: \"Over the last couple of years we've really started to see big progress is being made.\" She acknowledges there is still more work to do, but says there is \"lots to be really proud of\" and she has seen the difference these changes are making to women's lives. But what about people who need support but don't fall into this most severe category? While 0.2% of pregnant women and new mothers will experience postnatal psychosis or another chronic, serious mental illness, between 10% and 15% of women will suffer from mild to moderate depression or anxiety and 3% will suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder around their pregnancy and birth. And most of these women will be looking for help and advice in the community - from their GP, midwife or health visitor. But most GPs and midwives have not had specific training in mental health, let alone maternal mental health, according to Dr Alain Gregoire, who chairs the Maternal Mental Health Alliance, which campaigns for better care. These services have not received any extra money for maternal mental health. Health visitors generally receive better training in mental health, but since the responsibility for paying for them moved from the NHS to local councils in 2015, numbers have been falling. And the sums of money promised are comparatively small. The PS365m is to be spent over five years, but researchers at the London School of Economics estimate the NHS would need to spend PS337m a year to bring maternal mental health care up to the standard recommended by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE), the body that sets national health guidance. So government is keeping its promises but, according to Dr Gregoire, the promises do not go far enough. Healthcare is devolved and we're talking about England here. Campaigners had in the past often described the situation in England as a \"postcode lottery\", but provision in the other UK nations is even patchier. In Wales there are two specialist maternal mental health care services but no mother-and-baby units. Scotland has two mother-and-baby units. And Northern Ireland has no specialist mental health services for new mothers at all, either inpatient or in the community. You can find out more, watch highlights and get involved by going to bbc.co.uk/mumtakeover or search for #mumtakeover on social media Read more from Reality Check Follow us on Twitter", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1181, "answer_end": 1517, "text": "In 2015, PS365m was pledged to be spent over five years on specialist maternal mental health services in England. The government also promised that 30,000 additional women would receive treatment by the year 2020-21. Unusually, the money was ring-fenced within the NHS budget, meaning the health service had to spend it on this purpose."}], "question": "What's been promised?", "id": "712_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1518, "answer_end": 2608, "text": "Since then, an extra 6,000 women have received maternal mental health treatment, which is ahead of the target. Four new mother-and-baby units (MBUs) with eight beds each have been made available, as well as extra beds in existing MBUs. Once the new units are fully up and running, the bed capacity for the most severely ill women in England will have increased by half. And in the community, for women who don't need to be admitted to a bed, 20 new specialist services have been created covering 90 clinical commissioning group (CCG) areas around England. CCGs are the NHS bodies responsible for organising health and care services for their local communities. So the promises made in the past few years are beginning to materialise. Psychiatrist and national director of perinatal mental health for NHS England, Dr Jo Black, says: \"Over the last couple of years we've really started to see big progress is being made.\" She acknowledges there is still more work to do, but says there is \"lots to be really proud of\" and she has seen the difference these changes are making to women's lives."}], "question": "And what's changed?", "id": "712_1"}]}]}, {"title": "NHS staff shortage: How many doctors and nurses come from abroad?", "date": "13 May 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "The UK's National Health Service (NHS) will soon begin a major campaign to recruit health workers from other countries to meet growing staff shortages. Reports suggest a strategy has been drawn up to target a number of countries around the world, including poorer nations outside Europe. One estimate in March this year said the NHS will need 5,000 extra nurses every year - three times the figure it currently recruits annually. But what about the countries that it will recruit from - what impact will it have on them? The NHS already recruits globally to meet its staffing needs. More than 12% of the workforce reported their nationality as not British, according to a report published last year. The biggest group of foreign NHS workers are from the EU - 56 in every 1,000. But the report noted the number of new staff coming from the EU is falling, and that this decline particularly applies to nurses. In 2015-16, 19% of nurses who joined the NHS were from the EU. But by 2017-18, this had fallen to 7.9%. The biggest group of doctors from outside Europe is from India. There are smaller numbers from Pakistan, Egypt and Nigeria. As for nurses, the biggest numbers are from the Philippines and India, with smaller numbers from EU countries such as Ireland, Spain and Portugal. The UK regulator for nursing, the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC), says the numbers from outside Europe registering for the first time surged by 126% in a year. Between March 2017 and March 2018, there were 2,724 nationals from outside the European Economic Area (EEA) who registered for the first time. This number went up to 6,157 for the period March 2018 to March 2019. In the UK, the NHS Employers organisation, which handles recruitment issues, has a list of countries which it has agreed not to target because of their economic condition and the state of their health systems. It consists of those countries deemed eligible for aid from the OECD, the grouping which represents some of the world's wealthier nations. There are exceptions under country-to-country agreements which allow for recruitment, such as with the Philippines and some states in India. Nevertheless, there are staff from other countries on this list who are working in the NHS. NHS Employers told the BBC that individuals \"sometimes come to the UK independently on their own initiative without encouragement or support from the NHS.\" Some of the non-EU countries which have medical staff working in the UK face significant challenges with their own public healthcare systems. They spend far less than the UK spends on health as a percentage of GDP. World Health Organisation (WHO) data for 2015 shows that the UK had more than 27 doctors per 10,000 people, while Pakistan had fewer than 10, and India had under eight. As for nurses, the UK in 2015 had more than than eight nurses and midwives for every 1,000 people, while the Philippines had 0.24. Thousands of nurses leave the Philippines each year to work abroad -  nearly 15,000 were hired last year. The number coming to the UK is relatively small, but it has been growing since 2015, according to official data. Healthcare managers in the Philippines have been warning of growing staff shortages as a result of emigration, media reports say. But it's worth adding that some poorer countries whose medical staff work in the NHS, receive aid from the UK. In 2016, both Pakistan and Nigeria were among the top five recipients of UK overseas aid. Although much of this is spent on poverty reduction, some does go on projects to improve health infrastructure, including training health workers. There are also projects to create better health education and awareness. Some experts believe there are benefits as well as drawbacks to the migration of health workers. Staff who work abroad can learn valuable new skills, and contribute to their own country's economies through remittances. In the Philippines, the provision of trained medical staff to other countries is an important industry. And in India, there's now a thriving private sector producing doctors and nurses, who sometimes move to other parts of the country to work, as well as emigrating. Global competition for trained medical staff is increasing. As more countries become wealthier, their populations live for longer and start to suffer from the conditions associated with ageing. The WHO estimates that by 2030, there will be a need for more than 18m extra health workers around the world. And it says the worst shortages will be in the poorest countries, who have increasing populations, but whose skilled professionals are seeking better paid employment elsewhere. Read more from Reality Check Send us your questions Follow us on Twitter", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 521, "answer_end": 1011, "text": "The NHS already recruits globally to meet its staffing needs. More than 12% of the workforce reported their nationality as not British, according to a report published last year. The biggest group of foreign NHS workers are from the EU - 56 in every 1,000. But the report noted the number of new staff coming from the EU is falling, and that this decline particularly applies to nurses. In 2015-16, 19% of nurses who joined the NHS were from the EU. But by 2017-18, this had fallen to 7.9%."}], "question": "Where do non-UK staff come from?", "id": "713_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1012, "answer_end": 2398, "text": "The biggest group of doctors from outside Europe is from India. There are smaller numbers from Pakistan, Egypt and Nigeria. As for nurses, the biggest numbers are from the Philippines and India, with smaller numbers from EU countries such as Ireland, Spain and Portugal. The UK regulator for nursing, the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC), says the numbers from outside Europe registering for the first time surged by 126% in a year. Between March 2017 and March 2018, there were 2,724 nationals from outside the European Economic Area (EEA) who registered for the first time. This number went up to 6,157 for the period March 2018 to March 2019. In the UK, the NHS Employers organisation, which handles recruitment issues, has a list of countries which it has agreed not to target because of their economic condition and the state of their health systems. It consists of those countries deemed eligible for aid from the OECD, the grouping which represents some of the world's wealthier nations. There are exceptions under country-to-country agreements which allow for recruitment, such as with the Philippines and some states in India. Nevertheless, there are staff from other countries on this list who are working in the NHS. NHS Employers told the BBC that individuals \"sometimes come to the UK independently on their own initiative without encouragement or support from the NHS.\""}], "question": "Which non-EU countries supply staff?", "id": "713_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3684, "answer_end": 4650, "text": "Some experts believe there are benefits as well as drawbacks to the migration of health workers. Staff who work abroad can learn valuable new skills, and contribute to their own country's economies through remittances. In the Philippines, the provision of trained medical staff to other countries is an important industry. And in India, there's now a thriving private sector producing doctors and nurses, who sometimes move to other parts of the country to work, as well as emigrating. Global competition for trained medical staff is increasing. As more countries become wealthier, their populations live for longer and start to suffer from the conditions associated with ageing. The WHO estimates that by 2030, there will be a need for more than 18m extra health workers around the world. And it says the worst shortages will be in the poorest countries, who have increasing populations, but whose skilled professionals are seeking better paid employment elsewhere."}], "question": "Are there any benefits for overseas staff?", "id": "713_2"}]}]}, {"title": "Can war games help us avoid real-world conflict?", "date": "7 September 2017", "paragraphs": [{"context": "North Korea has just fired off an intercontinental ballistic missile over Japan. Japan is uncertain as to whether the US wants to start a war. It's trying to find out why a massive American naval fleet has just arrived in the region. But it's not getting any answers. There's chaos in the White House as various factions try to influence the president. Some of this might sound familiar. But this is not real life. It's the scenario in a war game called Dire Straits, set in 2020. And it's being acted out, not on the world stage, but in a lecture theatre and seminar rooms at King's College, London. More than 100 people are taking part - academics, students, serving military officers and civil servants, as well as a few who do this for a hobby. To an outsider, the game looks like chaos, but there are rules and referees. Tables have been set out representing countries. The participants wear badges with their national flag and their role. There's a Russian president and foreign minister, a UN secretary general, military commanders and even journalists. It's a noisy mix of debating society and board games: Risk meets Top Trumps meets chess. On one table, there's a map of the region with cards placed on top with pictures of military hardware such as a US aircraft carrier and a nuclear submarine. Then, there are the \"live inserts\". Tweets appear on giant television screens to signal another twist in the game. Some of them are the actual tweets of President Trump. It keeps everyone on their toes. It's all been choreographed by Jim Wallman and Prof Rex Brynen, of McGill University, in Montreal, who has also done these kind of games with the US military. Prof Brynen says in recent years there's been a \"major resurgence of war gaming as a serious analytical and training tool in both the US and UK\". In Dire Straits, he's overseeing events in the White House - a room down the corridor from the rest of the world in the lecture theatre. A dozen people are trying to influence President Trump, who's survived another election in this scenario. Alex Jonas, who plays the role of a beleaguered White House chief of staff, is trying to decide which of the advisers gets access to the president. Alex's real job as a web developer sounds less frantic. President Trump is not being played by a person. Instead, there's a board with chance cards that reveal his state of mind. Some are based on his own tweets. Before lunch, one of the cards warns North Korea of \"fire and fury\", echoing a phrase the president used in August. Prof Brynen says there are a lot of players trying to influence the president. \"He's blowing hot and cold on China, and US ambassadors in the region feel he's not really listening.\" Some of this might reflect his own views of President Trump. Over on the North Korea table, the man playing Kim Jong-un has demanded that his team applaud each decision he makes. The umpire for North Korea is a real-life British military officer, Maj Tom Mouat, who lectures at the Defence Academy, at Shrivenham. His presence suggest this is a serious business. He says war gaming \"allows you to better understand what options you have\". \"You avoid the group-think mindset,\" he says. He gives the example of the US academic Thomas Schelling, who was involved in war gaming during the Cold War and helped identify the need for a \"hotline\" for the US and Russian presidents to talk. Philip Sabin, professor of strategic studies at King's College, says war gaming highlights the dangers in a \"safe way\". He refers to a recent game involving Russia and its Baltic neighbours, in which nuclear weapons were fired. \"War games are designed to explore how things can go horribly wrong,\" he says. \"That helps you to avoid getting into that situation in real life.\" So what happens at the end of the Dire Straits war game? An unpredictable US policy led North Korea's neighbours to seek regional solutions. None relied on US leadership in the game. South Korea secretly prepared the way for its own nuclear weapons programme. Taiwan used the chaos to further its independence from China. The US accelerated the deployment of a new anti-ballistic missile system. As for North Korea, it made significant advances in its nuclear weapons programme. But no-one was prepared to risk a broader war, and the collapse of a nuclear-armed North Korea was seen as even more dangerous. In the end, the major powers helped to de-escalate the crisis. Even in war gaming - where the stakes are of course much lower than real life - jaw-jaw is often better than war-war.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 3774, "answer_end": 4561, "text": "So what happens at the end of the Dire Straits war game? An unpredictable US policy led North Korea's neighbours to seek regional solutions. None relied on US leadership in the game. South Korea secretly prepared the way for its own nuclear weapons programme. Taiwan used the chaos to further its independence from China. The US accelerated the deployment of a new anti-ballistic missile system. As for North Korea, it made significant advances in its nuclear weapons programme. But no-one was prepared to risk a broader war, and the collapse of a nuclear-armed North Korea was seen as even more dangerous. In the end, the major powers helped to de-escalate the crisis. Even in war gaming - where the stakes are of course much lower than real life - jaw-jaw is often better than war-war."}], "question": "Regional solution?", "id": "714_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Jussie Smollett: Five big questions that remain unanswered", "date": "27 March 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Jussie Smollett has walked free after one of the most eventful and unpredictable news stories of the year so far. The Empire actor was accused of faking an assault against him, after reporting an attack by two men in January 2019. He consistently denied the allegation. Jussie claimed that he had a rope put around his neck and had an unknown substance splashed on his face by two men using pro-Donald Trump slogans. The charges have been dropped but that doesn't mean we know what happened. Here are five big questions you might still have about what really happened in that  CCTV blind spot in Chicago earlier this year. We still don't know. Jussie Smollett was not found guilty of faking the attack, but neither was he proven innocent. That fact that prosecutors dropped the charges without sharing the reasons why means that people have no clearer knowledge about what happened. Jussie's fans have been celebrating the result as proof of his innocence, however. But the Mayor of Chicago doesn't believe he is innocent, saying that he was let off the charges because of his celebrity status. Obabinjo (Ola) and Abimbola (Abel) are the men who were, at one point, believed to have carried out the attack, as instructed by Jussie. They had appeared as extras on Empire and had trained with Jussie in the gym. Security footage taken on the night of the incident showed them buying items such as a ski mask and a red cap. They are yet to give their account of what happened that night and have not commented on their arrest and interview in connection with the case. In February, after the incident, there were reports that Jussie's scenes were cut from upcoming episodes of Empire. Earlier this month Lee Daniels, the show's creator, said that he and the show's cast has experienced \"pain and anger and sadness and frustration\" due to the allegations. But since the charges were dismissed, both the official Empire Twitter account and the account for the show's writers have voiced their support for the actor. Although many angry fans have reacted negatively to these statements in the comments on both posts. The actor told reporters he was grateful to those who stood by him and that he wouldn't have put his family \"through a fire like this\" for a lie. \"I have been truthful and consistent on every single level since Day One,\" he said in a short statement. \"I would not be my mother's son if I was capable of one drop of what I've been accused of.\" There is also uncertainty over Jussie giving up his $10,000 bail money. He agreed with prosecutors that this would not be returned to him, but insists this was not part of making a deal to secure his release. Chicago police Supt Eddie Johnson describes this as a \"brokered deal\" between the two parties. Jussie has also carried out voluntary community service in Chicago - which the Cook County State's Attorney Kimberly Foxx described as a \"just disposition and appropriate resolution to this case.\" The actor may have the support of the Empire team, but some believe he has a long way to go before he can fully repair his reputation with some fans. A former public relations manager for Sean Combs, Snoop Dogg and Nick Cannon told Metro that Jussie had been found \"guilty in the court of public opinion.\" \"Maybe this guy will appear on some third-rate reality show,\" said US PR Ronn Torossian. \"But I think that Jussie Smollett's career in Hollywood is essentially over.\" 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_start": 623, "answer_end": 1094, "text": "We still don't know. Jussie Smollett was not found guilty of faking the attack, but neither was he proven innocent. That fact that prosecutors dropped the charges without sharing the reasons why means that people have no clearer knowledge about what happened. Jussie's fans have been celebrating the result as proof of his innocence, however. But the Mayor of Chicago doesn't believe he is innocent, saying that he was let off the charges because of his celebrity status."}], "question": "Did he do it?", "id": "715_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1095, "answer_end": 1565, "text": "Obabinjo (Ola) and Abimbola (Abel) are the men who were, at one point, believed to have carried out the attack, as instructed by Jussie. They had appeared as extras on Empire and had trained with Jussie in the gym. Security footage taken on the night of the incident showed them buying items such as a ski mask and a red cap. They are yet to give their account of what happened that night and have not commented on their arrest and interview in connection with the case."}], "question": "What about Obabinjo and Abimbola Osundairo?", "id": "715_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1566, "answer_end": 2453, "text": "In February, after the incident, there were reports that Jussie's scenes were cut from upcoming episodes of Empire. Earlier this month Lee Daniels, the show's creator, said that he and the show's cast has experienced \"pain and anger and sadness and frustration\" due to the allegations. But since the charges were dismissed, both the official Empire Twitter account and the account for the show's writers have voiced their support for the actor. Although many angry fans have reacted negatively to these statements in the comments on both posts. The actor told reporters he was grateful to those who stood by him and that he wouldn't have put his family \"through a fire like this\" for a lie. \"I have been truthful and consistent on every single level since Day One,\" he said in a short statement. \"I would not be my mother's son if I was capable of one drop of what I've been accused of.\""}], "question": "What has happened with his role on Empire?", "id": "715_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2454, "answer_end": 2954, "text": "There is also uncertainty over Jussie giving up his $10,000 bail money. He agreed with prosecutors that this would not be returned to him, but insists this was not part of making a deal to secure his release. Chicago police Supt Eddie Johnson describes this as a \"brokered deal\" between the two parties. Jussie has also carried out voluntary community service in Chicago - which the Cook County State's Attorney Kimberly Foxx described as a \"just disposition and appropriate resolution to this case.\""}], "question": "Did he arrange a deal with prosecutors to go free?", "id": "715_3"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2955, "answer_end": 3604, "text": "The actor may have the support of the Empire team, but some believe he has a long way to go before he can fully repair his reputation with some fans. A former public relations manager for Sean Combs, Snoop Dogg and Nick Cannon told Metro that Jussie had been found \"guilty in the court of public opinion.\" \"Maybe this guy will appear on some third-rate reality show,\" said US PR Ronn Torossian. \"But I think that Jussie Smollett's career in Hollywood is essentially over.\" 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."}], "question": "Can Jussie's career survive?", "id": "715_4"}]}]}, {"title": "Whatever happened to the future?", "date": "26 January 2015", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Whatever happened to interplanetary travel, hover cars, and hypersonic jets? Once it seemed as if there were no limits to how far or fast we could travel, such were the leaps in technological development in the 19th and 20th Centuries. Inventors dreamed up all sorts wonderful vehicles, from rocket-propelled bicycles to flying cars, propeller-powered railways to monowheels. In 1895, HG Wells even imagined a machine that could travel through time. Steam power, the internal combustion engine and flight promised unprecedented levels of mobility and freedom. Nation competed with nation to travel further, higher and faster by land, sea and air. Speed was king. And when the nuclear age dawned it seemed as if we had another, almost limitless power supply at our disposal, prompting thrilling designs for nuclear-powered rockets, cars, planes, trains and boats. \"On that train all graphite and glitter; undersea by rail; 90 minutes from New York to Paris... What a beautiful world this will be, what a glorious time to be free.\" So sang Donald Fagen in the song I.G.Y. [International Geophysical Year] from his 1982 album, The Nightfly, evoking the technological optimism of his childhood in 1950s America. In 1957, the year the song is set, the USSR launched the world's first earth-orbiting satellite, Sputnik 1. Mankind seemed to be one step away from becoming Masters of the Universe. \"People were looking at the pace of technological development and as we got into quantum physics it even seemed that the notion of teleportation was plausible,\" says Glenn Lyons, professor of transport and society at the University of the West of England. \"There were certainly some leaps of faith.\" So why did so many of those wide-eyed visions for tomorrow's transport never come to pass? \"The reason they didn't happen is the same reason why they won't happen in the future - technological utopianism,\" says Colin Divall, professor of railway studies at York University. \"There's always a vested interested in overhyping new transport schemes, because inventors are looking for investment.\" And there's the rub - money, or lack of it. George Bennie's Railplane - a suspended carriage driven by propellers fore and aft - made it to the prototype stage near Glasgow in 1930, but did not then get commercial backing. Bennie went bust in 1937. \"Bennie's train did work as did other prototypes, such as the hovercraft on a track in the late 1960s, but they were never commercially viable,\" says Prof Divall. Rene Couzinet's elegant and intriguing Aerodyne RC-360 \"flying saucer\" failed to win government support and never got off the ground - literally. Concorde, the elegant delta-winged supersonic passenger jet capable of 1,350mph (2,173kph), was noisy, polluting and pricey. It made its last flight in 2003. Space travel in particular has proved astronomically expensive - pun intended - which is why no-one has revisited the Moon since the Apollo 17 mission in 1972. Nasa's 1972-2011 space shuttle programme cost nearly $200bn (PS132bn) in total for 135 missions - or about $1.5bn per flight. Gravity, it seems, is a very tough nut to crack. Tomorrow's Transport is a series exploring innovation in all forms of mobility against a backdrop of global warming and rising population. Alan Bond, founding director of Oxfordshire-based Reaction Engines, believes his company has developed a jet engine capable of powering a passenger plane at Mach 5 - five times the speed of sound - meaning a flight from London to Sydney would take under five hours. \"But at the moment no-one has moved on that because it's going to be very expensive to develop - there has to be a strong commercial incentive,\" he says. Innovation costs, and if the invention doesn't solve a pressing problem for the majority of people at a price they can afford, it's unlikely to take off. It also doesn't help if your futuristic transport project ends up killing people. The sinking of the \"unsinkable\" Titanic in 1912, with the loss of more than 1,500 lives, did little to increase the popularity of luxury ocean liners. But it did usher in a number of new maritime safety regulations and ultimately did little to halt the mid-20th Century boom in ocean travel. However, when the majestic Hindenburg, the largest hydrogen-filled zeppelin ever made, caught fire and crashed to the ground in 1937, killing 36 people, the disaster effectively ended the use of airships as passenger transport. Air travel in particular demanded stringent global safety standards to win public trust, leading to a conservatism in design and a cautious, iterative approach to technological development. The iconic Boeing 747 \"Jumbo Jet\", first flown commercially in 1970, looks almost identical to the 747s flying today, 45 years later. Similarly, motor cars of the early 20th Century were more distinctive and diverse than they are now, but the need for global safety standards saw a gradual homogenisation in design. Of course, global warming caused by manmade greenhouse gases has imposed severe strictures on all future transport projects. Transport contributes about 25% of global carbon dioxide emissions, yet the global population continues to rise along with demand for mobility. Car technology may have come on in leaps and bounds, but our potholed roads are gridlocked and many megacities around the world are wreathed in lethal pollution. Our wantonness with hydrocarbons has become self-destructive and cannot continue, argue many. So the race is on to switch to alternative low-carbon fuels - conventional electric batteries, hydrogen fuel cells, and compressed air to name a few. There is also a lot of work going on to make our existing vehicles more efficient - using more lightweight materials, for example - and making use of data analytics to improve how we operate and integrate our urban transport systems. But in the digital age, are we beginning to think differently about transport? \"Our cities will increasingly function through the mass movement of information rather than the movement of vehicles,\" argues Prof Lyons. Others disagree, believing the human need to travel, explore and trade will always keep us on the move. Over the coming weeks our Tomorrow's Transport series will be exploring how we are responding to these challenges and featuring forthcoming innovations in planes, trains and automobiles.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 4956, "answer_end": 6372, "text": "Of course, global warming caused by manmade greenhouse gases has imposed severe strictures on all future transport projects. Transport contributes about 25% of global carbon dioxide emissions, yet the global population continues to rise along with demand for mobility. Car technology may have come on in leaps and bounds, but our potholed roads are gridlocked and many megacities around the world are wreathed in lethal pollution. Our wantonness with hydrocarbons has become self-destructive and cannot continue, argue many. So the race is on to switch to alternative low-carbon fuels - conventional electric batteries, hydrogen fuel cells, and compressed air to name a few. There is also a lot of work going on to make our existing vehicles more efficient - using more lightweight materials, for example - and making use of data analytics to improve how we operate and integrate our urban transport systems. But in the digital age, are we beginning to think differently about transport? \"Our cities will increasingly function through the mass movement of information rather than the movement of vehicles,\" argues Prof Lyons. Others disagree, believing the human need to travel, explore and trade will always keep us on the move. Over the coming weeks our Tomorrow's Transport series will be exploring how we are responding to these challenges and featuring forthcoming innovations in planes, trains and automobiles."}], "question": "Low carbon future?", "id": "716_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Fort Worth shooting: Police officer charged with murder", "date": "15 October 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "A US police officer who shot dead a black woman in her bedroom on Saturday has been charged with murder. Police in Fort Worth, Texas arrested Aaron Dean and detained him briefly before releasing him on bail. On Monday police chief Ed Kraus told reporters Mr Dean had resigned from the force. Atatiana Jefferson was killed after two officers responded to a non-emergency call from her neighbour. Body cam footage showed an officer shooting within seconds of seeing her. The man who called police, James Smith, 62, said he was trying to be a good neighbour after noticing Ms Jefferson's front door was open and her lights were on. \"If I had never dialled the police department, she'd still be alive.\" Mr Smith told local media. \"It makes you not want to call the police.\" Allegations of police brutality in black communities have been a longstanding issue in the US. In its initial statement, the Fort Worth Police Department said the officer had \"perceived a threat\" when he drew his weapon. Police Chief Kraus said he would have fired the officer, had he not resigned, \"for violations of several policies including our use of force policy, our de-escalation policy and unprofessional conduct\". Earlier, Ms Jefferson's sister, Ashley Carr, said the victim had been \"killed by a reckless act\". Ms Carr called for a federal investigation. Lee Merritt, a civil rights lawyer who is representing the family, said: \"The investigation should be handled by someone other than the Fort Worth Police Department.\" He said the department was \"on track to be one of the deadliest police departments in the United States\". Accurate data on police shootings is difficult to obtain because local police forces are not obliged to provide figures. According to a database compiled by the Washington Post, 709 people have been killed by law enforcement officials so far this year and about 20% of victims were black. Texas had the second-highest number of total deaths. Fort Worth residents held a protest outside Ms Jefferson's home on Sunday evening. First planned as a vigil, the gathering became a demonstration as residents demanded justice for the 28-year-old victim. Participants held candles and chanted: \"No justice, no peace.\" \"State sanctioned violence has always been a culture for black people,\" said protester Michelle Andersen. \"It's not about a training issue.\" Fort Worth Mayor Betsy Price was present at the vigil, but left after she was approached by protesters shouting \"lock him up\", in reference to the officer, CBS News reported. The shooting happened at about 02:30 local time (07:30 GMT). Body cam footage of the incident showed police searching the perimeter of Jefferson's property before noticing a figure at the window. After demanding that the person put their hands up, an officer then fired through the glass. Ms Jefferson had been playing video games with her eight-year-old nephew before she went to investigate the noise outside the window and was shot, said a lawyer representing her family. The officers involved did not park their marked cars in front of her house and did not identify themselves as police, officials said. Ms Jefferson's killing came two weeks after Dallas police officer Amber Guyger, 31, was found guilty of murdering 26-year-old Botham Jean. Guyger shot and killed Jean as he sat eating ice cream on his apartment sofa, less than 35 miles (55km) from Saturday's incident. Guyger testified that he mistakenly thought she was in her own flat and believed Jean to be an intruder. She addmitted at her trial that she had killed \"an innocent man\".", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 2534, "answer_end": 3582, "text": "The shooting happened at about 02:30 local time (07:30 GMT). Body cam footage of the incident showed police searching the perimeter of Jefferson's property before noticing a figure at the window. After demanding that the person put their hands up, an officer then fired through the glass. Ms Jefferson had been playing video games with her eight-year-old nephew before she went to investigate the noise outside the window and was shot, said a lawyer representing her family. The officers involved did not park their marked cars in front of her house and did not identify themselves as police, officials said. Ms Jefferson's killing came two weeks after Dallas police officer Amber Guyger, 31, was found guilty of murdering 26-year-old Botham Jean. Guyger shot and killed Jean as he sat eating ice cream on his apartment sofa, less than 35 miles (55km) from Saturday's incident. Guyger testified that he mistakenly thought she was in her own flat and believed Jean to be an intruder. She addmitted at her trial that she had killed \"an innocent man\"."}], "question": "What happened on Saturday?", "id": "717_0"}]}]}, {"title": "China gripped after sighting of its own 'Loch Ness Monster'", "date": "17 September 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Something is lurking in the deep in China's famous Yangtze River - and social media discussion is rife over what it might be. On Friday, footage appeared on China's popular Sina Weibo microblog of what appeared to be a long, black creature, manoeuvring through the waters, and it has dominated online discussion ever since. Footage has quickly racked up millions of views, and theories are rife. Specialists have weighed in - but some think there may be a simple, and less murky, explanation. A video filmed off the coast of the city of Yichang in western Hubei province, close to the Three Gorges Dam, captured the unusual scene. The video has racked up more than six million views and hundreds of thousands of likes after being shared by the popular Pear Video, and shows what looks like a giant eel or snake slithering along the surface of the water. Locals are filmed watching the creature from the shore - and social media users have similarly been captivated over theories about what the creature might be. Many have posted using the hashtag #ThreeGorgesMonsterPhotos, and specialists have begun to weigh in with their thoughts. In an interview with Pear Video, Professor Wang Chunfang from the Huazhong Agricultural University dismissed the idea of it being a new species, saying it was likely a simple \"water snake\". Some users said that \"external factors such as pollution\" could have a role to play in a sea snake growing to an extraordinary size. But not everyone was convinced. Separate footage has led some users to question whether the unidentified object is actually a living creature at all. Popular news website The Paper shared separate footage of something long and black moving in the water that appeared to be less animated. It asked if the whole thing was simply \"a rumour\" - and interviewed a biologist, Ding Li, who said that the object was neither a fish nor a snake, but simply \"a floating object\". A picture has since gone viral showing a long piece of black cloth washed up on some rocks, fuelling discussion this might have been the mysterious object. Both have led to jokes about whether the local government was trying to attract tourism to the area, given the millions of dollars involved in building and maintaining the Three Gorges Dam. Others have made jokes about the quality of the footage, despite the rapid development in China of high quality smartphones. Some joked that the user obviously didn't have a Huawei phone. Another said: \"Monsters always appear only when there are few pixels.\" The Yangtze River is the longest river in Asia, and at 3,900 miles in length (6,300km), is the third longest in the world. But pollution has severely affected the river in recent years, meaning that its ecosystem has become narrower, rather than wider. The largest creature thought to exist in the waters at present is the Chinese giant salamander, which can reach some 1.8m in length. This species is critically endangered, largely as a result of pollution. China is no stranger to conspiracy theories about mythical creatures lurking in the deep. Since 1987, questions have been asked about whether a \"Lake Monster\" exists in the Kanas Lake in north-western Xinjiang, following numerous reports of sightings. However, specialists believe that this is a giant taimen, a species of salmon that can grow to 180cm long, the official China Daily said. More recently, in August 2017, footage went viral showing an unusual water creature seemingly raising its head in the waters of Luoping County in Southwest Yunnan province. Officials, however, dismissed the \"monster\" as either an alligator, or a piece of floating rubbish. 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_start": 2530, "answer_end": 2988, "text": "The Yangtze River is the longest river in Asia, and at 3,900 miles in length (6,300km), is the third longest in the world. But pollution has severely affected the river in recent years, meaning that its ecosystem has become narrower, rather than wider. The largest creature thought to exist in the waters at present is the Chinese giant salamander, which can reach some 1.8m in length. This species is critically endangered, largely as a result of pollution."}], "question": "So what does live in the Yangtze?", "id": "718_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Trump Putin: US president reverses remark on Russia meddling", "date": "18 July 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "US President Donald Trump has said he accepts US intelligence agencies' conclusion that Russia interfered in the 2016 election - despite declining to do so just a day ago. He said he had misspoken on Monday and had meant to say he saw no reason why it was not Russia that meddled. The original comments, after he met Russian President Vladimir Putin in Helsinki, drew a barrage of criticism. Even some of Mr Trump's allies had urged him to clarify his stance. In his latest remarks, he added that he had \"full faith and support\" in US intelligence agencies. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is to appear before Congress next week to answer questions on what happened during Mr Trump's two-hour meeting with President Putin on Monday. Analysis by the BBC's Anthony Zurcher in Washington Does Donald Trump believe in ominous metaphors? As he affirmed his support for US intelligence agencies, the lights went to black in the White House conference room. Once order was restored, he said he had been in the dark as to why a storm had swirled around his presidency since his Helsinki summit with Vladimir Putin. It was, he said, because he had misspoken. That is going to be hard for many of the president's critics to swallow, however. Even if he did mean to say, \"I don't see a reason why it wouldn't be Russia\", it is a pretty weak way to confront the head of a nation accused of targeting the heart of American democracy. What is more, the context of the president's comments make a simple slip of the tongue seem less likely. At the very least, the president gave his supporters some material to rally around. The damage, however, has been done. Mr Trump can give as many White House statements as he likes, but on the biggest stage - standing beside the Russian president - he fumbled. All the explanations cannot change that. The controversy centres on a response he gave to a question at a news conference on Monday following the summit with Mr Putin. This is an extract from the transcript posted by the White House. REPORTER: President Putin denied having anything to do with the election interference in 2016. Every US intelligence agency has concluded that Russia did. My first question for you, sir, is, who do you believe? TRUMP: My people came to me... they said they think it's Russia.  I have President Putin; he just said it's not Russia. I will say this: I don't see any reason why it would be. Mr Trump said he had reviewed the transcript and realised he needed to clarify. \"In a key sentence in my remarks, I said the word 'would' instead of 'wouldn't,\" he said. \"The sentence should have been: 'I don't see any reason why I wouldn't' or 'why it wouldn't be Russia'. Sort of a double negative.\" The US president added: \"I accept our intelligence community's conclusion that Russia's meddling in the 2016 election took place. Could be other people also. A lot of people out there.\" Mr Trump said that the interference had had no impact on the election, in which he defeated Hillary Clinton. However, he did not respond when reporters asked him if he would condemn Mr Putin. During the press conference with President Putin - in the same answer as the transcript above - Mr Trump went on to say: \"President Putin was extremely strong and powerful in his denial today. And what he did is an incredible offer; he offered to have the people working on the case come and work with their investigators with respect to the 12 people. I think that's an incredible offer.\" On Wednesday, Mr Trump said in a tweet that Russia had \"agreed to help with North Korea\", adding that \"the process is moving along\". \"There is no rush, the sanctions remain! Big benefits and exciting future for North Korea at end of process!\" the president wrote. He said that his meeting with Mr Putin was \"positive\" and \"may prove to be, in the long run... a success\". He added that because he \"got along\" with the Russian leader, it \"bothered many haters\". Chuck Schumer, leader of the opposition Democrats in the Senate, said Mr Trump's retraction of his previous comments was a sign of weakness. \"He made a horrible statement, tried to back off, but couldn't even bring himself to back off,\" he told the Senate. \"It shows the weakness of President Trump that he is afraid to confront Mr Putin directly.\" Republicans and Democrats alike were dumbfounded that Mr Trump had sided with Russia over his own intelligence officials after Monday's summit. The US and Russia have been long-term adversaries and remain far apart on major issues. Some lawmakers were also upset that Mr Trump had refused to offer specific criticisms of Russia and Mr Putin, instead saying both countries were responsible for poor relations. Even one of his most loyal Republican supporters, Newt Gingrich, said the comments were the \"most serious mistake of his presidency\". House Republican Mike Turner accused Mr Trump of having damaged American foreign policy by failing to take Russia to task. \"He's given them a pass and is certainly not holding them accountable for what they're doing,\" he added.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 3938, "answer_end": 5057, "text": "Chuck Schumer, leader of the opposition Democrats in the Senate, said Mr Trump's retraction of his previous comments was a sign of weakness. \"He made a horrible statement, tried to back off, but couldn't even bring himself to back off,\" he told the Senate. \"It shows the weakness of President Trump that he is afraid to confront Mr Putin directly.\" Republicans and Democrats alike were dumbfounded that Mr Trump had sided with Russia over his own intelligence officials after Monday's summit. The US and Russia have been long-term adversaries and remain far apart on major issues. Some lawmakers were also upset that Mr Trump had refused to offer specific criticisms of Russia and Mr Putin, instead saying both countries were responsible for poor relations. Even one of his most loyal Republican supporters, Newt Gingrich, said the comments were the \"most serious mistake of his presidency\". House Republican Mike Turner accused Mr Trump of having damaged American foreign policy by failing to take Russia to task. \"He's given them a pass and is certainly not holding them accountable for what they're doing,\" he added."}], "question": "How great is the outrage?", "id": "719_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Las Vegas shooting: At least 59 dead at Mandalay Bay Hotel", "date": "2 October 2017", "paragraphs": [{"context": "At least 59 people have been killed and another 527 injured in a mass shooting at a Las Vegas concert. A gunman, named as 64-year-old Nevada resident Stephen Paddock, opened fire from the 32nd floor of the Mandalay Bay Hotel towards an open-air music festival attended by 22,000. He killed himself as police stormed the room where 10 guns were found. Investigators have found no link to international terrorism, despite a claim from so-called Islamic State. In an address from the White House, President Donald Trump described the attack as \"pure evil\". He praised the efforts of the emergency services, saying their \"miraculous\" speed saved lives, and announced he would be visiting Las Vegas on Wednesday. With First Lady Melania by his side, he later observed a moment of silence on the White House lawn. The final shows of the three-day Route 91 country music festival were in full swing when the gunman struck. Thousands were enjoying a performance by top-billing singer Jason Aldean when the first of several bursts of automatic gunfire rang out - hundreds of shots, witnesses say. That was late on Sunday night - 22:08 local time (05:08 GMT on Monday). Hundreds of concert-goers scrambled for cover, flattening themselves against the ground, rushing for the exits or helping others to escape as Paddock sprayed the site from his high vantage point. \"One man had blood all over him and that's when I knew something was seriously wrong,\" Mike Thompson from London, told the BBC. \"People were running and there was chaos.\" Concert-goer Mike McGarry, who survived, told Reuters he lay on top of his children when the shots rang out. \"They're 20, I'm 53. I lived a good life,\" he said. Many hotels on the Las Vegas strip close to the scene were placed on police lockdown and parts of Las Vegas Boulevard were shut. Aldean, who was rushed off-stage, shared his reaction  on Instagram. \"Tonight has been beyond horrific,\" he wrote. Las Vegas police say the number of people injured stands at 515. Stephen Paddock, from a community of senior citizens in the small town of Mesquite north-east of Las Vegas, booked into the hotel on 28 September, police say. His motives for carrying out the deadliest mass shooting in recent US history remain a mystery. Some investigators have suggested psychological issues, but there is no confirmation of this. His brother, Eric, is dumbfounded that he acted this way. Las Vegas Sheriff Joe Lombardo described the shooting as a \"lone wolf\" attack. \"We have no idea what his belief system was,\" he said. So-called Islamic State (IS) has claimed to be behind the attack, saying that Paddock had converted to Islam some months ago. But the group provided no evidence for this and has made unsubstantiated claims in the past. FBI Special Agent Aaron Rouse told a news conference: \"We have determined at this point no connection to an international terrorist organisation.\" IS's claim of responsibility for the Las Vegas attack is very unusual in that the perpetrator's profile does not fit that of supporters or \"soldiers\" that the group has claimed in the past, writes Mina al-Lami, who monitors jihadist groups for the BBC. If true, his suicide would be deemed wholly \"un-Islamic\", she adds. Jihadist suicides involve the assailant blowing himself up in order to kill those around him. The investigation continues to gather pace, with searches at Paddock's Mesquite home, where more weapons were found, and a second property. Paddock lived in Mesquite with Marilou Danley. Police have interviewed her but say she does not appear to have been involved as she was out of the country. They are hoping to speak to her again. Police say he used some of her identity documents to check in to the Mandalay Bay. The authorities have yet to confirm the identities of any of the 58 killed. Jordan McIldoon, 23, from British Columbia in Canada, has been identified as a victim of the attack by CBC News. - 'We helped three victims' A nurse, Sonny Melton, of Big Sandy, Tennessee, has been named as another victim by The Jackson Sun newspaper. In a Facebook post, his wife, Dr Heather Gulish Melton, said she \"lost my true love and knight in shining armor. I appreciate the prayers but I just need some time.\" An off-duty Las Vegas police officer was another of those who died. By the BBC's James Cook in Las Vegas The scenes which played out in this stunned city were at once frantically urgent and wearily familiar. When gunfire rings out, Americans know the drill. Run. They fled from a gunman who left a city in chaos. For a time, Las Vegas looked and felt like a war zone. Hospitals were overwhelmed. There were not enough ambulances. A plea for blood donations echoed across the airwaves. And now the mourning, the relief, the tears, the elation, the grief and a hundred other emotions are barely beginning. Doctors are still battling to save lives. For a Western democracy, the United States has seen an astonishing amount of horror like this. But even for this country what happened here is carnage on a different scale. America's mass shooting disease now feels like a plague. Nevada has some of the least stringent gun laws in the United States. People are allowed to carry weapons and do not have to register themselves as a gun-owner. Background checks are done when people buy guns, but they are also allowed to sell them privately. Former congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, who survived a shooting six years ago, called for political leaders in Washington to introduce tougher gun laws following the Las Vegas attack. Her husband Mark Kelly read out a joint statement on the steps of the Capitol saying thoughts and prayers from the White House were not enough to stop the next shooting.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 808, "answer_end": 1996, "text": "The final shows of the three-day Route 91 country music festival were in full swing when the gunman struck. Thousands were enjoying a performance by top-billing singer Jason Aldean when the first of several bursts of automatic gunfire rang out - hundreds of shots, witnesses say. That was late on Sunday night - 22:08 local time (05:08 GMT on Monday). Hundreds of concert-goers scrambled for cover, flattening themselves against the ground, rushing for the exits or helping others to escape as Paddock sprayed the site from his high vantage point. \"One man had blood all over him and that's when I knew something was seriously wrong,\" Mike Thompson from London, told the BBC. \"People were running and there was chaos.\" Concert-goer Mike McGarry, who survived, told Reuters he lay on top of his children when the shots rang out. \"They're 20, I'm 53. I lived a good life,\" he said. Many hotels on the Las Vegas strip close to the scene were placed on police lockdown and parts of Las Vegas Boulevard were shut. Aldean, who was rushed off-stage, shared his reaction  on Instagram. \"Tonight has been beyond horrific,\" he wrote. Las Vegas police say the number of people injured stands at 515."}], "question": "How did the attack unfold?", "id": "720_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1997, "answer_end": 3736, "text": "Stephen Paddock, from a community of senior citizens in the small town of Mesquite north-east of Las Vegas, booked into the hotel on 28 September, police say. His motives for carrying out the deadliest mass shooting in recent US history remain a mystery. Some investigators have suggested psychological issues, but there is no confirmation of this. His brother, Eric, is dumbfounded that he acted this way. Las Vegas Sheriff Joe Lombardo described the shooting as a \"lone wolf\" attack. \"We have no idea what his belief system was,\" he said. So-called Islamic State (IS) has claimed to be behind the attack, saying that Paddock had converted to Islam some months ago. But the group provided no evidence for this and has made unsubstantiated claims in the past. FBI Special Agent Aaron Rouse told a news conference: \"We have determined at this point no connection to an international terrorist organisation.\" IS's claim of responsibility for the Las Vegas attack is very unusual in that the perpetrator's profile does not fit that of supporters or \"soldiers\" that the group has claimed in the past, writes Mina al-Lami, who monitors jihadist groups for the BBC. If true, his suicide would be deemed wholly \"un-Islamic\", she adds. Jihadist suicides involve the assailant blowing himself up in order to kill those around him. The investigation continues to gather pace, with searches at Paddock's Mesquite home, where more weapons were found, and a second property. Paddock lived in Mesquite with Marilou Danley. Police have interviewed her but say she does not appear to have been involved as she was out of the country. They are hoping to speak to her again. Police say he used some of her identity documents to check in to the Mandalay Bay."}], "question": "What do we know of the gunman?", "id": "720_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3737, "answer_end": 4298, "text": "The authorities have yet to confirm the identities of any of the 58 killed. Jordan McIldoon, 23, from British Columbia in Canada, has been identified as a victim of the attack by CBC News. - 'We helped three victims' A nurse, Sonny Melton, of Big Sandy, Tennessee, has been named as another victim by The Jackson Sun newspaper. In a Facebook post, his wife, Dr Heather Gulish Melton, said she \"lost my true love and knight in shining armor. I appreciate the prayers but I just need some time.\" An off-duty Las Vegas police officer was another of those who died."}], "question": "Who are the victims?", "id": "720_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 5107, "answer_end": 5721, "text": "Nevada has some of the least stringent gun laws in the United States. People are allowed to carry weapons and do not have to register themselves as a gun-owner. Background checks are done when people buy guns, but they are also allowed to sell them privately. Former congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, who survived a shooting six years ago, called for political leaders in Washington to introduce tougher gun laws following the Las Vegas attack. Her husband Mark Kelly read out a joint statement on the steps of the Capitol saying thoughts and prayers from the White House were not enough to stop the next shooting."}], "question": "What gun laws does Nevada have?", "id": "720_3"}]}]}, {"title": "Trump loses appeal court bid to reinstate travel ban", "date": "10 February 2017", "paragraphs": [{"context": "A US federal appeals court has rejected President Donald Trump's attempt to reinstate his ban on citizens from seven mainly Muslim countries. The 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals said it would not block a ruling by a Seattle court that halted the order. Mr Trump responded with an angry tweet saying national security was at risk and there would be a legal challenge. It was unclear whether he intended to file an appeal to the Supreme Court or keep fighting the case in Seattle. In its 3-0 unanimous ruling on Thursday, the appeals court said the government had not proved the terror threat justified reviving the ban. The ruling means that people from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen with visas can continue to enter the US, and refugees from around the world, who were also subject to a temporary ban, are no longer blocked either. However, the ruling does not affect one part of Mr Trump's controversial executive order: a cap of 50,000 refugees to be admitted in the current fiscal year, down from the ceiling of 110,000 established under his predecessor, Barack Obama. They accepted that the US president had sole discretion to set immigration policy but added that courts could still assess the order's compliance with the constitution. They discussed whether the ban violated the constitution by targeting a religious group (Muslims) but did not reach a conclusion. The judges also found \"no evidence that any alien from any of the countries named in the order\" had committed a terrorist attack in the US. However, the judges said both sides had made compelling cases: \"On the one hand, the public has a powerful interest in national security and in the ability of an elected president to enact policies. \"And on the other, the public also has an interest in free flow of travel, in avoiding separation of families, and in freedom from discrimination.\" The appeal judges did not rule on the constitutionality of the order, just on the question of ending the temporary ban. Mr Trump responded to the ruling by tweeting his dissent, and then gave an audio statement saying it was a political decision. The justice department, which made representations to the appeals court on behalf of the White House, said in a statement it was \"reviewing the decision and considering its options\". Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson, who had sued over the ban, said it was a complete victory for the north-western US state. New York City Mayor Bill De Blasio said: \"Here in New York - the safest big city in America - we will always protect our neighbours, no matter where they came from or when they got here. Those are our values.\" Defeated presidential challenger Hillary Clinton posted a tweet of the result: Donald Trump's lawyers did not make their case. In fact, according to three 9th Circuit judges, they did not even really try to make their case. Rather than explaining why the temporary travel ban was needed, the administration argued that the president's authority on immigration was so sweeping that they did not have to explain why the order was necessary. According to the court, the government was unable to say why Mr Trump's ban addressed a pressing national security threat that a temporary stay of the order would worsen. The lawyers for the challenging states, on the other hand, convinced the judges that re-imposing the order at this point would create further chaos by infringing on the due process rights of those on US soil, regardless of their immigration status. By issuing a unanimous, unsigned opinion, the judges avoid accusations of partisan bias, as one of the three was a Republican appointee. Mr Trump tweeted a sharp \"SEE YOU IN COURT\" following the decision - but which court? An appeal to the Supreme Court seems likely, although a better move for the president may be to fight in the lower court until Judge Neil Gorsuch joins the top court, establishing a conservative majority on the bench. Read more from Anthony The executive order, at the end of Mr Trump's first week in office, had sparked protests and confusion as people were stopped at US borders. Then a week later, the Seattle judge issued a temporary restraining order that stopped the ban in its tracks, after Washington state and Minnesota sued. The justice department appealed to the 9th Circuit in San Francisco, which heard oral arguments this week. Lawyers representing the US government argued that the ban was a \"lawful exercise\" of presidential authority. But the two US states said the ban had harmed universities in their states and discriminated against Muslims. Other legal challenges are also under way across the country.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1093, "answer_end": 1998, "text": "They accepted that the US president had sole discretion to set immigration policy but added that courts could still assess the order's compliance with the constitution. They discussed whether the ban violated the constitution by targeting a religious group (Muslims) but did not reach a conclusion. The judges also found \"no evidence that any alien from any of the countries named in the order\" had committed a terrorist attack in the US. However, the judges said both sides had made compelling cases: \"On the one hand, the public has a powerful interest in national security and in the ability of an elected president to enact policies. \"And on the other, the public also has an interest in free flow of travel, in avoiding separation of families, and in freedom from discrimination.\" The appeal judges did not rule on the constitutionality of the order, just on the question of ending the temporary ban."}], "question": "What did the three appeal judges say?", "id": "721_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1999, "answer_end": 2729, "text": "Mr Trump responded to the ruling by tweeting his dissent, and then gave an audio statement saying it was a political decision. The justice department, which made representations to the appeals court on behalf of the White House, said in a statement it was \"reviewing the decision and considering its options\". Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson, who had sued over the ban, said it was a complete victory for the north-western US state. New York City Mayor Bill De Blasio said: \"Here in New York - the safest big city in America - we will always protect our neighbours, no matter where they came from or when they got here. Those are our values.\" Defeated presidential challenger Hillary Clinton posted a tweet of the result:"}], "question": "What has the reaction been?", "id": "721_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3974, "answer_end": 4656, "text": "The executive order, at the end of Mr Trump's first week in office, had sparked protests and confusion as people were stopped at US borders. Then a week later, the Seattle judge issued a temporary restraining order that stopped the ban in its tracks, after Washington state and Minnesota sued. The justice department appealed to the 9th Circuit in San Francisco, which heard oral arguments this week. Lawyers representing the US government argued that the ban was a \"lawful exercise\" of presidential authority. But the two US states said the ban had harmed universities in their states and discriminated against Muslims. Other legal challenges are also under way across the country."}], "question": "How did we get here?", "id": "721_2"}]}]}, {"title": "What is behind tension between Eritrea and Djibouti?", "date": "20 June 2017", "paragraphs": [{"context": "The African Union is sending a fact-finding mission to Eritrea and Djibouti as tension mounts over their disputed border at one of the world's busiest shipping routes. The AU's move has been backed by the UN Security Council, which on 19 June urged the two countries to resolve their differences peacefully. The tension has been driven by Qatar's move to withdraw its peacekeeping forces from the border. The peacekeepers had been in place since 2010 as part of efforts to resolve a dispute over the status of Dumeira Mountain and Dumeira Island, claimed by both Djibouti and Eritrea. The tiny Dumeira Island lies just off the coast of the two countries, at the southern end of the Red Sea. It is close to the Bab-el-Mandeb strait, an important shipping lane for global commerce. The two countries' armed forces clashed on the border in 2008. Both states later accepted Qatar's offer of mediation and the deployment of peacekeepers, though bilateral relations have remained strained. The withdrawal of the Qatari peacekeepers appears to be related to the country's current diplomatic dispute with some of its Gulf neighbours, which over recent weeks have imposed a blockade. On 16 June, Djibouti accused Eritrea of sending its troops into the disputed territory, following the withdrawal of the Qatari peacekeepers, a move that Doha had confirmed two days earlier, though without giving any reason. Djibouti Foreign Minister Mahamoud Ali Youssouf accused Eritrea of occupying disputed territory on the border, and said his country wanted a peaceful solution but was ready for conflict if necessary. Both Djibouti and Eritrea have sided with Saudi Arabia in its dispute with Qatar. A statement issued by the Eritrean Information Ministry on 17 June made no direct mention of Djibouti's accusations of military activity. \"The government of Eritrea has so far refrained from issuing any statement, primarily because it is not privy to and has not, to date, obtained any information on the withdrawal from the party concerned: that is the State of Qatar,\" it said. Ethiopia - by far the Horn of Africa's largest and most powerful country, which shares borders with both Eritrea and Djibouti - says it backs the African Union move to send a fact-finding mission, and has urged the UN to support the initiative. The Ethiopian Foreign Ministry on 18 June called on its two neighbours to refrain from \"escalating tensions\" and instead \"resolve differences through peaceful means\". Aside from the adverse security and humanitarian effects on the two states themselves, any military conflict between Eritrea and Djibouti has the risk of inflaming the much more serious and longer running border row between Eritrea and Ethiopia. Ethiopia, which fought a border war with Eritrea in 1998-2000, enjoys good relations with Djibouti. The two countries have a defence alliance. 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_start": 1175, "answer_end": 1680, "text": "On 16 June, Djibouti accused Eritrea of sending its troops into the disputed territory, following the withdrawal of the Qatari peacekeepers, a move that Doha had confirmed two days earlier, though without giving any reason. Djibouti Foreign Minister Mahamoud Ali Youssouf accused Eritrea of occupying disputed territory on the border, and said his country wanted a peaceful solution but was ready for conflict if necessary. Both Djibouti and Eritrea have sided with Saudi Arabia in its dispute with Qatar."}], "question": "What happened and why?", "id": "722_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1681, "answer_end": 2472, "text": "A statement issued by the Eritrean Information Ministry on 17 June made no direct mention of Djibouti's accusations of military activity. \"The government of Eritrea has so far refrained from issuing any statement, primarily because it is not privy to and has not, to date, obtained any information on the withdrawal from the party concerned: that is the State of Qatar,\" it said. Ethiopia - by far the Horn of Africa's largest and most powerful country, which shares borders with both Eritrea and Djibouti - says it backs the African Union move to send a fact-finding mission, and has urged the UN to support the initiative. The Ethiopian Foreign Ministry on 18 June called on its two neighbours to refrain from \"escalating tensions\" and instead \"resolve differences through peaceful means\"."}], "question": "What has been the reaction?", "id": "722_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2473, "answer_end": 3011, "text": "Aside from the adverse security and humanitarian effects on the two states themselves, any military conflict between Eritrea and Djibouti has the risk of inflaming the much more serious and longer running border row between Eritrea and Ethiopia. Ethiopia, which fought a border war with Eritrea in 1998-2000, enjoys good relations with Djibouti. The two countries have a defence alliance. 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."}], "question": "What are the implications for regional security?", "id": "722_2"}]}]}, {"title": "Free transport in Luxembourg, but what's the cost?", "date": "29 February 2020", "paragraphs": [{"context": "It has had months of hype and now finally Luxembourg's free public transport has begun. With a population of only 614,000, it may be one of Europe's smallest countries and the idea is not unprecedented. But the \"free mobility\" drive has captured the imagination. Buses, trams and trains are now free to ride on and you don't need a ticket. One aim is to ease traffic congestion but critics see it as a PR stunt. \"The government wants Luxembourg to become a laboratory for mobility,\" says Mobility Minister Francois Bausch, who points to the grand duchy's fast-rising population, with a rise of 40% in 20 years. Some 200,000 workers - almost half of Luxembourg's workforce - commute from Belgium, France and Germany, attracted by high salaries and a wealthy economy. The big day is being heralded on Saturday with concerts at four train stations and numerous other events. Markus Hesse, professor of urban studies at the University of Luxembourg, says the \"bling bling\" they have organised is the wrong solution to a complex problem. One question is whether free public transport will really be free. Travelling on transport will be free for residents and visitors alike, except for first-class train passengers. The price of the project will be the EUR41m (PS35m; $44m) in lost ticket fares, but that will be shouldered by the taxpayer. \"Of course, just because I call it free transport doesn't mean nobody pays,\" said Mr Bausch, who is part of Luxembourg's green party, dei Greng. The total cost of running the service is more than EUR500m so the government sees the lost fare revenue as relatively small. Transport staff will not lose their jobs, they will merely spend less time checking tickets. It was not exactly pricey before 29 February. A fare cost EUR2, and double for a day pass. Many workers have their annual travel pass subsidised in Luxembourg, so few people spend much on transport anyway. The government has several reasons: - It talks of a social measure that will hit higher taxpayers more than others - It wants to get cars off the road - as Luxembourg has more cars per 1,000 people than anywhere else in the EU - It aims to have 20% more passengers on public transport within five years - It will alert Luxembourgers to their country's environmental problems - It wants to invest in the transport network to cope with an already big increase in passengers Luxembourg has a terrible traffic problem. Major roads are snarled up in the rush-hour, buses are old-fashioned and the rail system is notorious for its delays. Diesel and petrol costs are cheap in Luxembourg, compared with its neighbours, so not only do many commuters from neighbouring countries drive to work. but \"fuel tourists\" cross the border to fill their tanks. The free public transport will not really deal with the car problem, according to Prof Hesse, because Luxembourg has \"high salaries and low petrol prices so people buy cars\". Many of those commuting from neighbouring countries live in areas without decent public transport so he believes they will continue to drive. Luxembourgers who currently cycle may now get off their bikes to enjoy the free travel too. He also believes the government has picked the wrong moment. The new tram network is being expanded, and money is going into the trains and bus system, but it will take time, he argues. \"They're investing so much that while the total system is being overhauled the delays are actually increasing, because they are working on tracks trying to fix it.\" One of the key aims is to make public transport better, with a promise of almost EUR4bn on trains between 2018 and 2027. The government estimates that the number of transport users will rise by 20% in the next five years and that the expansion of the tram network and buses will be able to deal with that. Luxembourg spends more of its economic output on transport that most other European countries, with a reported EUR600 a year per person. Critics complain the scheme will not tackle the lack of housing, which has forced thousands of Luxembourgers to emigrate beyond the country's borders while keeping their jobs. Estonia's capital, Tallinn, introduced free public transport in 2013 but only for residents. It has not ruled out extending the scheme to non-residents but does not want to pay the extra EUR20m it would cost. The northern French city of Dunkirk (population: 200,000) also introduced free travel in 2018 and hailed a dramatic increase in bus passengers. It was such a success that it caught the eye of Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo. As part of a mayoral campaign pledge she wants to introduce free travel for under 18s. She has previously mooted the idea of free transport for all Parisians, but that would work out at around EUR500 per household, which is widely seen as too expensive.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1100, "answer_end": 1905, "text": "Travelling on transport will be free for residents and visitors alike, except for first-class train passengers. The price of the project will be the EUR41m (PS35m; $44m) in lost ticket fares, but that will be shouldered by the taxpayer. \"Of course, just because I call it free transport doesn't mean nobody pays,\" said Mr Bausch, who is part of Luxembourg's green party, dei Greng. The total cost of running the service is more than EUR500m so the government sees the lost fare revenue as relatively small. Transport staff will not lose their jobs, they will merely spend less time checking tickets. It was not exactly pricey before 29 February. A fare cost EUR2, and double for a day pass. Many workers have their annual travel pass subsidised in Luxembourg, so few people spend much on transport anyway."}], "question": "What is the cost?", "id": "723_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2378, "answer_end": 3508, "text": "Luxembourg has a terrible traffic problem. Major roads are snarled up in the rush-hour, buses are old-fashioned and the rail system is notorious for its delays. Diesel and petrol costs are cheap in Luxembourg, compared with its neighbours, so not only do many commuters from neighbouring countries drive to work. but \"fuel tourists\" cross the border to fill their tanks. The free public transport will not really deal with the car problem, according to Prof Hesse, because Luxembourg has \"high salaries and low petrol prices so people buy cars\". Many of those commuting from neighbouring countries live in areas without decent public transport so he believes they will continue to drive. Luxembourgers who currently cycle may now get off their bikes to enjoy the free travel too. He also believes the government has picked the wrong moment. The new tram network is being expanded, and money is going into the trains and bus system, but it will take time, he argues. \"They're investing so much that while the total system is being overhauled the delays are actually increasing, because they are working on tracks trying to fix it.\""}], "question": "What's not to like?", "id": "723_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3509, "answer_end": 4127, "text": "One of the key aims is to make public transport better, with a promise of almost EUR4bn on trains between 2018 and 2027. The government estimates that the number of transport users will rise by 20% in the next five years and that the expansion of the tram network and buses will be able to deal with that. Luxembourg spends more of its economic output on transport that most other European countries, with a reported EUR600 a year per person. Critics complain the scheme will not tackle the lack of housing, which has forced thousands of Luxembourgers to emigrate beyond the country's borders while keeping their jobs."}], "question": "Will Luxembourg's infrastructure improve?", "id": "723_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 4128, "answer_end": 4808, "text": "Estonia's capital, Tallinn, introduced free public transport in 2013 but only for residents. It has not ruled out extending the scheme to non-residents but does not want to pay the extra EUR20m it would cost. The northern French city of Dunkirk (population: 200,000) also introduced free travel in 2018 and hailed a dramatic increase in bus passengers. It was such a success that it caught the eye of Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo. As part of a mayoral campaign pledge she wants to introduce free travel for under 18s. She has previously mooted the idea of free transport for all Parisians, but that would work out at around EUR500 per household, which is widely seen as too expensive."}], "question": "Who else does free transport?", "id": "723_3"}]}]}, {"title": "Fifa corruption crisis: Key questions answered", "date": "21 December 2015", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Fifa, football's world governing body, has been engulfed by claims of widespread corruption since summer 2015, when the US Department of Justice indicted several top executives. It has now claimed the careers of two of the most powerful men in football, Fifa President Sepp Blatter and Uefa President Michel Platini, after they were banned for eight years from all football-related activities by Fifa's ethics committee. A Swiss criminal investigation into the pair is also continuing. Fifa's president Sepp Blatter has always denied any wrongdoing - but in September, he too was made the subject of a Swiss criminal investigation, launched alongside the US inquiry. The scandal erupted in May, with a raid on a luxury hotel in Zurich and the arrest of seven Fifa executives - conducted at the behest of the US authorities. In May the US indicted 14 current and former Fifa officials and associates on charges of \"rampant, systemic, and deep-rooted\" corruption following a major inquiry by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). And in December, 16 more officials were charged following the arrest of two Fifa vice-presidents in at the same hotel in Zurich. Former Brazil football federation chief Ricardo Teixeira was among those accused of being \"involved in criminal schemes involving well over $200m (PS132m) in bribes and kickbacks\". Fifa is the body responsible for running world football. It has recently been dogged by accusations of corruption, particularly after awarding the 2022 World Cup to the tiny but rich and influential Gulf state of Qatar. In December 2014, Fifa chose not to release its own investigation into corruption, instead releasing an executive summary which it said exonerated the bidding process. The report's independent author, American lawyer Michael Garcia, resigned in protest. The World Cup is the most-watched sporting event in the world, larger even than the Olympics. It generates billions of dollars in revenue from corporate sponsors, broadcasting rights and merchandising. These arrests and investigations cast doubt over the transparency and honesty for the process of allocating World Cup tournaments, electing its president, and the administration of funds, including those earmarked for improving football facilities in some of Fifa's poorer members. This is unclear. He was already suspended, so he was president in name only. Speaking after the verdict was delivered, he maintained that he could only be stripped of the presidency by a vote including all the member nations of Fifa. There is no precedent for these events so the point at which he no longer has the title of president is unclear. However, the one thing we do know is that he is not running the organisation. Yes, unless they win the appeals they intend to lodge against the charges. Mr Blatter had already said he would step down as Fifa president in February but the eight-year ban will make this immediate. Michel Platini had hoped to run as a candidate to replace Mr Blatter but the ban on him will halt these ambitions. He will also have to step down as the head of the European football association (Uefa). The bans would also likely mean that the two men would fail Fifa ethics standards if they ever tried to return. They were found guilty of breaches surrounding a PS1.3m ($2m) \"disloyal payment\" made to Platini in 2011. The Fifa ethics committee said that pair had demonstrated an \"abusive execution\" of their positions. They have both maintained that the payment was for work by Mr Platini as the president's advisor in 2002. Mr Blatter has maintained that Fifa did not have enough money to pay Mr Platini at the time, so they agreed to delay payment. Fifa is already holding a presidential election in February to replace Mr Blatter so this will continue as planned. Uefa will also have to hold elections to decide on a new head, but they may well wait until after Fifa has picked a new president. Both Mr Blatter and Mr Platini were already suspended and so were not running their organisations. Fifa will continue to be run by Fifa vice-president Issa Hayatou until after elections in the new year. Uefa will also continue to be run by its vice-president Angel Villar Llona, who is also head of Spain's football association. The FBI has been investigating Fifa for the past three years. The investigation was initially sparked by the bidding process for the Russia 2018 and Qatar 2022 World Cups, but was widened to look back at Fifa's dealings over the past 20 years. The Department of Justice's indictment says that the corruption was planned in the US, even if it was then carried out elsewhere. The use of US banks to transfer money appears to be key to the investigation. There is a separate criminal investigation by the Swiss attorney general, which has named Mr Blatter as a suspect. It was evidence unearthed during this investigation that led to his and Mr Platini's Fifa bans. Swiss prosecutors have accused Mr Blatter of criminal mismanagement or misappropriation over a TV rights deal and of a \"disloyal payment\" to European football chief Michel Platini. Meanwhile, the US authorities have charged 14 defendants with racketeering, wire fraud, and money laundering conspiracies. The 47-count indictment, unveiled in a US federal court in New York, said the defendants participated \"in a 24-year scheme to enrich themselves through the corruption of international soccer\". A key figure is Charles \"Chuck\" Blazer, former general secretary of the Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (Concacaf), who is co-operating with US prosecutors. He has said that between 2004 and 2011: - he and others on the Fifa executive committee agreed to accept bribes in connection with the selection of South Africa as the host of the 2010 World Cup - one of his co-conspirators received a bribe in Morocco for its bid to host the 1998 tournament, which was eventually awarded to France - he and others also accepted bribes in connection with broadcast and other rights to the Concacaf Gold Cup tournament in 1996, 1998, 2000, 2002 and 2003 Much attention has been focused on a $10m deal that US prosecutors say was a bribe to secure the 2010 World Cup for South Africa. An email obtained by a South African newspaper appears to show that the then South African President, Thabo Mbeki, and Mr Blatter agreed to the deal. In the email, Fifa Secretary-General Jerome Valcke wrote to a South African minister asking when the transfer could be made, and saying that both Mr Blatter and Mr Mbeki had discussed the matter previously. The South African government insists it was a legitimate payment to promote Caribbean football, but documents seen by the BBC suggest then Fifa vice-president Jack Warner used the payment for cash withdrawals, personal loans and to launder money. Michael Lauber, the Swiss attorney general, has said that he is investigating suspicious activity around Fifa's Swiss bank accounts. His team is combing through a \"huge amount\" of seized data, focusing on 53 \"banking relations\" reported by the Swiss anti-money laundering framework. Apart from Mr Blatter, the most senior figures accused are football powerbrokers in North America, Latin America and the Caribbean. They are connected to Concacaf, the continental confederation which operates under the Fifa umbrella and is essentially in charge of football in that region. One of its key roles is helping to agree World Cup TV and sponsorship deals in the US. Jeffrey Webb is the head of Concacaf and was widely seen as being groomed as a successor to Fifa president Sepp Blatter. He has been extradited to the US. His predecessor, the above-mentioned Jack Warner, has also been indicted. Mr Webb replaced Mr Warner after he was forced to step down after an internal Fifa fraud inquiry. Latin American football chiefs also figure heavily in the list. There are two former presidents of Conmebol, which represents South American football nations: Nicolas Leoz and Eugenio Figueredo. Switzerland is processing US extradition requests for several officials. Mr Warner is on bail in Trinidad pending extradition to the United States. Mr Leoz is currently under house arrest in Paraguay. Aaron Davidson, head of a sports marketing firm's US division, has pleaded not guilty in a federal court in New York to charges including racketeering conspiracy, wire fraud and money laundering, and has been released on bail. Former Fifa Vice-President Juan Napout has also pleaded not guilty. Four individuals - one of them Chuck Blazer - have already pleaded guilty. Massive amounts. The US indictment alleges that US and South American sports marketing executives paid and agreed to pay \"well over $150m\" in bribes and other illegal payments to obtain lucrative media and marketing rights to international football tournaments. That does not include other possible alleged corruption around the world. Fifa makes nearly all its revenue from the World Cup. Last year's tournament cost the host country Brazil an estimated $4bn, and yet Fifa made more than $2bn from the tournament via sponsors, the sale of broadcasting rights and merchandising. The costs of the next two World Cups are expected to dwarf this: Qatar 2022 is reported to be costing above $6bn. The future of the 2018 and 2022 World Cups is a major question. The US indictments focus on historical corruption but not the forthcoming World Cups. But the FBI - and a separate Swiss investigation - are now looking into the allocation of those tournaments. However, it would take overwhelming evidence to run the bidding processes again. In practical terms, moving the 2018 Russia World Cup would be fraught with difficulty. Very few countries have the stadiums, infrastructure or money to host the event at such short notice. Even most English stadiums would need a major refurbishment to meet Fifa standards. Germany offers the best option, having hosted the 2006 World Cup. Qatar is more vulnerable and has been dogged with controversy and allegations of corruption ever since it was awarded the tournament. However, it has already seen out several corruption scandals, an unprecedented move from a summer to winter tournament, and a scandal over the treatment of migrant workers.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1343, "answer_end": 2300, "text": "Fifa is the body responsible for running world football. It has recently been dogged by accusations of corruption, particularly after awarding the 2022 World Cup to the tiny but rich and influential Gulf state of Qatar. In December 2014, Fifa chose not to release its own investigation into corruption, instead releasing an executive summary which it said exonerated the bidding process. The report's independent author, American lawyer Michael Garcia, resigned in protest. The World Cup is the most-watched sporting event in the world, larger even than the Olympics. It generates billions of dollars in revenue from corporate sponsors, broadcasting rights and merchandising. These arrests and investigations cast doubt over the transparency and honesty for the process of allocating World Cup tournaments, electing its president, and the administration of funds, including those earmarked for improving football facilities in some of Fifa's poorer members."}], "question": "Why does this matter?", "id": "724_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2301, "answer_end": 2725, "text": "This is unclear. He was already suspended, so he was president in name only. Speaking after the verdict was delivered, he maintained that he could only be stripped of the presidency by a vote including all the member nations of Fifa. There is no precedent for these events so the point at which he no longer has the title of president is unclear. However, the one thing we do know is that he is not running the organisation."}], "question": "Is Sepp Blatter still Fifa president?", "id": "724_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2726, "answer_end": 3241, "text": "Yes, unless they win the appeals they intend to lodge against the charges. Mr Blatter had already said he would step down as Fifa president in February but the eight-year ban will make this immediate. Michel Platini had hoped to run as a candidate to replace Mr Blatter but the ban on him will halt these ambitions. He will also have to step down as the head of the European football association (Uefa). The bans would also likely mean that the two men would fail Fifa ethics standards if they ever tried to return."}], "question": "Is this the end for Sepp Blatter and Michel Platini?", "id": "724_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3242, "answer_end": 3680, "text": "They were found guilty of breaches surrounding a PS1.3m ($2m) \"disloyal payment\" made to Platini in 2011. The Fifa ethics committee said that pair had demonstrated an \"abusive execution\" of their positions. They have both maintained that the payment was for work by Mr Platini as the president's advisor in 2002. Mr Blatter has maintained that Fifa did not have enough money to pay Mr Platini at the time, so they agreed to delay payment."}], "question": "What were they accused of?", "id": "724_3"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3681, "answer_end": 4256, "text": "Fifa is already holding a presidential election in February to replace Mr Blatter so this will continue as planned. Uefa will also have to hold elections to decide on a new head, but they may well wait until after Fifa has picked a new president. Both Mr Blatter and Mr Platini were already suspended and so were not running their organisations. Fifa will continue to be run by Fifa vice-president Issa Hayatou until after elections in the new year. Uefa will also continue to be run by its vice-president Angel Villar Llona, who is also head of Spain's football association."}], "question": "What next?", "id": "724_4"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 4257, "answer_end": 4919, "text": "The FBI has been investigating Fifa for the past three years. The investigation was initially sparked by the bidding process for the Russia 2018 and Qatar 2022 World Cups, but was widened to look back at Fifa's dealings over the past 20 years. The Department of Justice's indictment says that the corruption was planned in the US, even if it was then carried out elsewhere. The use of US banks to transfer money appears to be key to the investigation. There is a separate criminal investigation by the Swiss attorney general, which has named Mr Blatter as a suspect. It was evidence unearthed during this investigation that led to his and Mr Platini's Fifa bans."}], "question": "Why were the officials accused?", "id": "724_5"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 4920, "answer_end": 7119, "text": "Swiss prosecutors have accused Mr Blatter of criminal mismanagement or misappropriation over a TV rights deal and of a \"disloyal payment\" to European football chief Michel Platini. Meanwhile, the US authorities have charged 14 defendants with racketeering, wire fraud, and money laundering conspiracies. The 47-count indictment, unveiled in a US federal court in New York, said the defendants participated \"in a 24-year scheme to enrich themselves through the corruption of international soccer\". A key figure is Charles \"Chuck\" Blazer, former general secretary of the Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (Concacaf), who is co-operating with US prosecutors. He has said that between 2004 and 2011: - he and others on the Fifa executive committee agreed to accept bribes in connection with the selection of South Africa as the host of the 2010 World Cup - one of his co-conspirators received a bribe in Morocco for its bid to host the 1998 tournament, which was eventually awarded to France - he and others also accepted bribes in connection with broadcast and other rights to the Concacaf Gold Cup tournament in 1996, 1998, 2000, 2002 and 2003 Much attention has been focused on a $10m deal that US prosecutors say was a bribe to secure the 2010 World Cup for South Africa. An email obtained by a South African newspaper appears to show that the then South African President, Thabo Mbeki, and Mr Blatter agreed to the deal. In the email, Fifa Secretary-General Jerome Valcke wrote to a South African minister asking when the transfer could be made, and saying that both Mr Blatter and Mr Mbeki had discussed the matter previously. The South African government insists it was a legitimate payment to promote Caribbean football, but documents seen by the BBC suggest then Fifa vice-president Jack Warner used the payment for cash withdrawals, personal loans and to launder money. Michael Lauber, the Swiss attorney general, has said that he is investigating suspicious activity around Fifa's Swiss bank accounts. His team is combing through a \"huge amount\" of seized data, focusing on 53 \"banking relations\" reported by the Swiss anti-money laundering framework."}], "question": "What is alleged?", "id": "724_6"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 7120, "answer_end": 8589, "text": "Apart from Mr Blatter, the most senior figures accused are football powerbrokers in North America, Latin America and the Caribbean. They are connected to Concacaf, the continental confederation which operates under the Fifa umbrella and is essentially in charge of football in that region. One of its key roles is helping to agree World Cup TV and sponsorship deals in the US. Jeffrey Webb is the head of Concacaf and was widely seen as being groomed as a successor to Fifa president Sepp Blatter. He has been extradited to the US. His predecessor, the above-mentioned Jack Warner, has also been indicted. Mr Webb replaced Mr Warner after he was forced to step down after an internal Fifa fraud inquiry. Latin American football chiefs also figure heavily in the list. There are two former presidents of Conmebol, which represents South American football nations: Nicolas Leoz and Eugenio Figueredo. Switzerland is processing US extradition requests for several officials. Mr Warner is on bail in Trinidad pending extradition to the United States. Mr Leoz is currently under house arrest in Paraguay. Aaron Davidson, head of a sports marketing firm's US division, has pleaded not guilty in a federal court in New York to charges including racketeering conspiracy, wire fraud and money laundering, and has been released on bail. Former Fifa Vice-President Juan Napout has also pleaded not guilty. Four individuals - one of them Chuck Blazer - have already pleaded guilty."}], "question": "Who are the accused?", "id": "724_7"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 8590, "answer_end": 9282, "text": "Massive amounts. The US indictment alleges that US and South American sports marketing executives paid and agreed to pay \"well over $150m\" in bribes and other illegal payments to obtain lucrative media and marketing rights to international football tournaments. That does not include other possible alleged corruption around the world. Fifa makes nearly all its revenue from the World Cup. Last year's tournament cost the host country Brazil an estimated $4bn, and yet Fifa made more than $2bn from the tournament via sponsors, the sale of broadcasting rights and merchandising. The costs of the next two World Cups are expected to dwarf this: Qatar 2022 is reported to be costing above $6bn."}], "question": "How much money is involved?", "id": "724_8"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 9283, "answer_end": 10268, "text": "The future of the 2018 and 2022 World Cups is a major question. The US indictments focus on historical corruption but not the forthcoming World Cups. But the FBI - and a separate Swiss investigation - are now looking into the allocation of those tournaments. However, it would take overwhelming evidence to run the bidding processes again. In practical terms, moving the 2018 Russia World Cup would be fraught with difficulty. Very few countries have the stadiums, infrastructure or money to host the event at such short notice. Even most English stadiums would need a major refurbishment to meet Fifa standards. Germany offers the best option, having hosted the 2006 World Cup. Qatar is more vulnerable and has been dogged with controversy and allegations of corruption ever since it was awarded the tournament. However, it has already seen out several corruption scandals, an unprecedented move from a summer to winter tournament, and a scandal over the treatment of migrant workers."}], "question": "And what next for football?", "id": "724_9"}]}]}, {"title": "Emiliano Sala 'exposed to carbon monoxide in plane crash'", "date": "14 August 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Footballer Emiliano Sala was exposed to high levels of carbon monoxide prior to a fatal plane crash in the English Channel, a report has revealed. Sala, 28, and pilot David Ibbotson, 59, crashed on 21 January while travelling from Nantes in France to Cardiff. Toxicology tests on Sala's body showed CO levels in his blood were so great it could have caused a seizure, unconsciousness or a heart attack. The Sala family said there should be a detailed examination of the plane. Mr Ibbotson, from Crowle, North Lincolnshire, has still not been found. The Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) said Sala's blood had a COHb (carboxyhaemoglobin - which forms in red blood cells upon contact with carbon monoxide) level of 58%. At this level, symptoms would include include seizure, unconsciousness and heart attack. It added: \"A COHb level of more than 50% in an otherwise healthy person is generally considered to be potentially fatal.\" It is likely Mr Ibbotson would also have been exposed to carbon monoxide. Piston engine aircraft such as the Piper Malibu involved in the crash produce high levels of carbon monoxide. The gas is normally conveyed away from the aircraft through the exhaust system, but poor sealing or leaks into the heating and ventilation system can enable it to enter the cabin. Several devices are available to alert pilots over the presence of carbon monoxide - they are not mandatory but can \"alert pilots or passengers to a potentially deadly threat\". Retired pilot and aviation safety commentator Terry Tozer said the finding was \"a surprise\", adding: \"It shows you can never tell what the root cause of an accident is until the investigators have dug into the nitty gritty. \"How and why did the carbon monoxide get in? Presumably through the exhaust system... the fumes get into the ventilation system.\" Mr Tozer said he had never encountered anything similar before and would not expect carbon monoxide poisoning to be a big risk on such an aircraft. He added: \"It's not like a car where you can open the windows. It can creep up on you, and that could be a slow process. \"It's odourless so you wouldn't necessarily know you were being fed these fumes unless you had a detection system - but that isn't mandatory for this type of aircraft.\" Mr Tozer agreed with the Sala family that salvaging the wreckage and examining it would be the only way to find how the leak occurred. \"Aviation accidents usually come about when a number of factors accumulate. \"So, we start with the pilot and his lack of qualifications, then circumstances that delay the flight to night time, possibly feeling pressure the pilot then takes off when he shouldn't and finds weather that he is struggling with and the final straw is that his ability is impaired by poisoning from a leak in the exhaust and he loses control.\" AAIB investigators are working with aircraft manufacturers in the USA  - where the Piper Malibu was registered - to look at how carbon monoxide could have entered the cabin. \"Operational, technical and human factors\" will be considered. Geraint Herbert, the AAIB's lead inspector for this investigation, said: \"Symptoms at low exposure levels [to carbon monoxide] can be drowsiness and dizziness, but as the exposure level increases, it can lead to unconsciousness and death. \"The investigation continues to look into a wide range of areas in relation to this accident, but in particular we are looking at the potential ways in which carbon monoxide can enter the cabin in this type of aircraft.\" Wednesday's bulletin was the second to be released following the crash, but the investigation is not expected to report its full findings until early 2020. Cardiff City said it was \"concerned\" by the report, adding: \"We continue to believe that those who were instrumental in arranging its [the plane's] usage are held to account for this tragedy.\" In an interview in February, football agent Willie McKay, who commissioned the flight, told the BBC he and his family paid for it. He was not involved, he said, in selecting the plane or the pilot and it was not a cost-share arrangement. Daniel Machover of Hickman & Rose solicitors, who represents Sala's family, said: \"The family believe that a detailed technical examination of the plane is necessary. \"The family and the public need to know how the carbon monoxide was able to enter the cabin. Future air safety rests on knowing as much as possible on this issue.\" Mr Ibbotson's wife Nora also said recovering the plane could help find answers. She told Sky News it had never occurred to her that carbon monoxide could potentially have played a part. She called it \"a massive shock\", adding: \"You can't smell it. You can't see it. It's lethal, they wouldn't have known. So it's nothing to do with the flying or anything like that, it's down to the aircraft.\" The AAIB responded to calls for the plane to be retrieved by saying it filmed substantial video evidence at the scene after the aircraft was found in February. \"It was not possible at the time to recover the wreckage,\" it said. \"We have carefully considered the feasibility and merits of returning to attempt to recover the wreckage. In this case, we consider that it will not add significantly to the investigation and we will identify the correct safety issues through other means.\" The statement said after a \"violent impact with the sea\", the wreckage may not even give definitive answers and the reasons for not retrieving the plane had been explained in detail to both the Sala and  Ibbotson families. By James Gallagher, health and science correspondent, BBC News Carbon monoxide is an invisible killer with no smell, colour or taste. It is deadly because the gas starves the body of vital oxygen. Your red blood cells contain haemoglobin - its job is to pick up oxygen from the lungs and transport it around the body. The problem is haemoglobin prefers carbon monoxide and binds to the gas incredibly tightly - the more carbon monoxide the body is exposed to, the less oxygen it can carry. This has consequences throughout the body, but highly active tissues in the heart and brain are affected first. Carbon monoxide poisoning affects balance, vision and eventually consciousness. High doses are outright deadly. The NHS says 30% carboxyhaemoglobin is a \"severe exposure\" - Sala's carboxyhaemoglobin level was 58%. The plane carrying the Argentine striker - Cardiff City's PS15m record signing - lost contact with radar near Guernsey. Sala signed for Cardiff on 19 January - just two days before the crash - and had returned to Nantes to say goodbye to his former teammates. An official search was called off on 24 January after Guernsey's harbour master said the chances of survival were \"extremely remote\". But an online appeal started by Sala's agent raised PS324,000 (371,000 euros) for a private search, led by marine scientist and oceanographer David Mearns. Sala's body was recovered from the wreckage of the Piper Malibu N264DB on 7 February and subsequently repatriated to Argentina. Mr Ibbotson has still not been found, but it has since been discovered he was not qualified to fly at night. Details released about Mr Ibbotson on Wednesday showed he had about 3,500 hours of flying experience - of which 30 were flying similar types of aircraft. He had flown for about 20 hours in the 90 days before the crash, and seven hours in the previous 28 days. Since Sala's death, Nantes and Cardiff City have been involved in a dispute over the transfer fee after the Welsh club claimed the deal was not legally binding. Sala's family and friends claimed he was \"abandoned like a dog\" before his death. His father Horacio died in April, three months after his son, after suffering a heart attack at home in Progreso, Argentina.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 549, "answer_end": 1477, "text": "The Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) said Sala's blood had a COHb (carboxyhaemoglobin - which forms in red blood cells upon contact with carbon monoxide) level of 58%. At this level, symptoms would include include seizure, unconsciousness and heart attack. It added: \"A COHb level of more than 50% in an otherwise healthy person is generally considered to be potentially fatal.\" It is likely Mr Ibbotson would also have been exposed to carbon monoxide. Piston engine aircraft such as the Piper Malibu involved in the crash produce high levels of carbon monoxide. The gas is normally conveyed away from the aircraft through the exhaust system, but poor sealing or leaks into the heating and ventilation system can enable it to enter the cabin. Several devices are available to alert pilots over the presence of carbon monoxide - they are not mandatory but can \"alert pilots or passengers to a potentially deadly threat\"."}], "question": "What does the report say?", "id": "725_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1478, "answer_end": 2826, "text": "Retired pilot and aviation safety commentator Terry Tozer said the finding was \"a surprise\", adding: \"It shows you can never tell what the root cause of an accident is until the investigators have dug into the nitty gritty. \"How and why did the carbon monoxide get in? Presumably through the exhaust system... the fumes get into the ventilation system.\" Mr Tozer said he had never encountered anything similar before and would not expect carbon monoxide poisoning to be a big risk on such an aircraft. He added: \"It's not like a car where you can open the windows. It can creep up on you, and that could be a slow process. \"It's odourless so you wouldn't necessarily know you were being fed these fumes unless you had a detection system - but that isn't mandatory for this type of aircraft.\" Mr Tozer agreed with the Sala family that salvaging the wreckage and examining it would be the only way to find how the leak occurred. \"Aviation accidents usually come about when a number of factors accumulate. \"So, we start with the pilot and his lack of qualifications, then circumstances that delay the flight to night time, possibly feeling pressure the pilot then takes off when he shouldn't and finds weather that he is struggling with and the final straw is that his ability is impaired by poisoning from a leak in the exhaust and he loses control.\""}], "question": "How have experts interpreted the report?", "id": "725_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2827, "answer_end": 4110, "text": "AAIB investigators are working with aircraft manufacturers in the USA  - where the Piper Malibu was registered - to look at how carbon monoxide could have entered the cabin. \"Operational, technical and human factors\" will be considered. Geraint Herbert, the AAIB's lead inspector for this investigation, said: \"Symptoms at low exposure levels [to carbon monoxide] can be drowsiness and dizziness, but as the exposure level increases, it can lead to unconsciousness and death. \"The investigation continues to look into a wide range of areas in relation to this accident, but in particular we are looking at the potential ways in which carbon monoxide can enter the cabin in this type of aircraft.\" Wednesday's bulletin was the second to be released following the crash, but the investigation is not expected to report its full findings until early 2020. Cardiff City said it was \"concerned\" by the report, adding: \"We continue to believe that those who were instrumental in arranging its [the plane's] usage are held to account for this tragedy.\" In an interview in February, football agent Willie McKay, who commissioned the flight, told the BBC he and his family paid for it. He was not involved, he said, in selecting the plane or the pilot and it was not a cost-share arrangement."}], "question": "What will happen next?", "id": "725_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 4111, "answer_end": 5543, "text": "Daniel Machover of Hickman & Rose solicitors, who represents Sala's family, said: \"The family believe that a detailed technical examination of the plane is necessary. \"The family and the public need to know how the carbon monoxide was able to enter the cabin. Future air safety rests on knowing as much as possible on this issue.\" Mr Ibbotson's wife Nora also said recovering the plane could help find answers. She told Sky News it had never occurred to her that carbon monoxide could potentially have played a part. She called it \"a massive shock\", adding: \"You can't smell it. You can't see it. It's lethal, they wouldn't have known. So it's nothing to do with the flying or anything like that, it's down to the aircraft.\" The AAIB responded to calls for the plane to be retrieved by saying it filmed substantial video evidence at the scene after the aircraft was found in February. \"It was not possible at the time to recover the wreckage,\" it said. \"We have carefully considered the feasibility and merits of returning to attempt to recover the wreckage. In this case, we consider that it will not add significantly to the investigation and we will identify the correct safety issues through other means.\" The statement said after a \"violent impact with the sea\", the wreckage may not even give definitive answers and the reasons for not retrieving the plane had been explained in detail to both the Sala and  Ibbotson families."}], "question": "Why hasn't the plane been recovered?", "id": "725_3"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 6360, "answer_end": 7774, "text": "The plane carrying the Argentine striker - Cardiff City's PS15m record signing - lost contact with radar near Guernsey. Sala signed for Cardiff on 19 January - just two days before the crash - and had returned to Nantes to say goodbye to his former teammates. An official search was called off on 24 January after Guernsey's harbour master said the chances of survival were \"extremely remote\". But an online appeal started by Sala's agent raised PS324,000 (371,000 euros) for a private search, led by marine scientist and oceanographer David Mearns. Sala's body was recovered from the wreckage of the Piper Malibu N264DB on 7 February and subsequently repatriated to Argentina. Mr Ibbotson has still not been found, but it has since been discovered he was not qualified to fly at night. Details released about Mr Ibbotson on Wednesday showed he had about 3,500 hours of flying experience - of which 30 were flying similar types of aircraft. He had flown for about 20 hours in the 90 days before the crash, and seven hours in the previous 28 days. Since Sala's death, Nantes and Cardiff City have been involved in a dispute over the transfer fee after the Welsh club claimed the deal was not legally binding. Sala's family and friends claimed he was \"abandoned like a dog\" before his death. His father Horacio died in April, three months after his son, after suffering a heart attack at home in Progreso, Argentina."}], "question": "What else do we know?", "id": "725_4"}]}]}, {"title": "What impact has Lean In had on women?", "date": "5 March 2015", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Eight professionals are seated around a conference table on the 36th floor of a sleek Manhattan office tower on a recent weekday evening. For two hours, they talk about work. Their conversation weaves between topics like venture capital funding, start-up marketing and management styles. \"You have to just do it, even if you don't want to,\" one woman says, referring to networking. Heads nod in agreement. \"All the best jobs, I hate to say it, they're just not posted.\" Everyone seated at the table is a woman. They meet monthly to talk about their professional struggles and triumphs. But they are not co-workers or long-time friends. This is a Lean In Circle, one of thousands born out of Sheryl Sandberg's best-selling 2013 book Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead. The book, co-written with Nell Scovell, calls on professional women to \"lean in\" by striving for leadership positions in their jobs and examines what factors often deter women from doing so. On Thursday, Leanin.org, Sandberg's non-profit organisation, launched its latest public awareness campaign, Lean In Together, or #LeanInTogether as it's being known, in partnership with basketball organisations the NBA and WNBA. The campaign is focused on men's roles in reaching gender equality. \"Why men? They're 50% of the population and if we're going to get to true equality we need them to participate,\" says Rachel Thomas, the president of Leanin.org. Lean In was published two years ago this month. Sandberg, Facebook's chief operating officer, describes it as \"sort of a feminist manifesto\". The original book has sold over 2.25 million copies worldwide. A newer edition, Lean In For Graduates, came out last April. \"The catchphrase of 'lean in' - that has gone global,\" says Astrid Henry, a professor of gender studies at Grinnell College, Iowa. She describes Sandberg as an enormously successful modern spokesperson for feminism: \"Her influence and her visibility at this moment can't be overestimated.\" One measure of Lean In's influence is its network of Lean In Circles. These small, in-person and online peer group meetings have cropped up within companies, on college campuses, and in towns and cities around the world. \"When we launched, we would have been happy with a thousand Lean In Circles,\" says Rachel Thomas. Today, there are over 21,000 Circles in 97 countries registered with Leanin.Org, including circles in all five branches of the US military. As part of Ban Bossy, its last major public awareness campaign, Leanin.org released a video with appearances from celebrities including Jennifer Garner and Beyonce. It has been viewed more than 2.5 million times on YouTube so far. Lean In's initial critical reception did not predict the growing worldwide engagement of hundreds of thousands of women within the next two years. Many reviewers deemed the book too narrowly focused on women like Sandberg: educated, white, wealthy and with opportunities beyond the reach of most women. Others questioned the messenger: could Sandberg, who has two Harvard degrees and an estimated net worth of $1bn (PS655m), offer relevant guidance to the average woman? Another oft-repeated criticism is that Sandberg's approach remains too focused on individual behaviour, rather than societal or structural shortcomings. Brenda Christensen, who runs her own public relations company in California, says she views Lean In as hypocritical in light of the fact that Facebook, Sandberg's employer, has a largely male workforce. \"She's been putting the onus on women,\" says Christensen. \"The onus needs to be on corporations.\" Or, others contend, on government. \"[Sandberg] sends out a message that's very important about self assertion and confidence, but the majority of women in the United States are making $15 an hour or less,\" says Prof Henry. \"They're not in jobs where they're going to have opportunities to lean in.\" She marked every page where Lean In discusses policy solutions and says she was disappointed to find there were \"so few of them\". Leanin.org's Rachel Thomas acknowledges that policy changes are \"incredibly important\" but goes on to say: \"We additionally believe that driving individual change is really what we need to do, as a culture, to move the dial.\" Criticisms notwithstanding, many of the women who have read and embraced Lean In say it has had a galvanising effect on their lives. Lauren Kay, 25, read Lean In from cover to cover on 23 March 2013. The next day she had the idea for her matchmaking start-up and bought the domain name DatingRing.com. \"[Before reading Lean In] I had always wanted to start a company in the dating space but I didn't really think I was qualified,\" says Kay. But Sandberg's explanation of imposter syndrome, or \"capable people being plagued by self-doubt\", changed her mind. Eileen Carey, 29, also credits Lean In directly with inspiring her to found her company, Glassbreakers, a peer-mentoring platform for women. Reading the book, Carey says, \"felt like this kind of wake-up call\". Debby Carreau, who runs her own human resources company, calls Lean In her \"passion project\". She says she's helped launch over 100 Circles and spoken at various Lean In events to thousands of women. Furthermore, she has seen several male chief executives give Lean In out to their employees. \"I know of at least six,\" she says. Lean In has also had a more personal impact on many women. This has been the case for Mindy Engberg, 52, a captain with United Airlines. For most of her career, Engberg downplayed her success as one of a relatively small number of female commercial pilots. \"It's not a big deal, anybody can do it,\" she used to say of her job. Since reading Lean In, however, Engberg says she has made concerted efforts at \"not apologising that I do fly a plane\". Vonetta Young, meanwhile, thinks about her marriage differently since reading Lean In. Young, 29, is an investment associate in New York City who works in private equity. Her husband is an attorney. \"I had this assumption that his career is going to be more important than mine,\" she says. \"Reading the book helped me see that obviously you have to make certain compromises in marriage, but the onus of that doesn't always have to fall to the woman.\" Young has talked about her shift in mindset with her husband, who is supportive and plans to read the book himself. Sandberg herself consistently hears about one outcome that Lean In has had in offices around the world. \"Everywhere Sheryl travels, CEOs take her aside and make the joke that Lean In is costing them money,\" says Rachel Thomas. That's because more and more women, these executives tell Sandberg, are asking for pay rises - and, in many cases, are getting them.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 2672, "answer_end": 4251, "text": "Lean In's initial critical reception did not predict the growing worldwide engagement of hundreds of thousands of women within the next two years. Many reviewers deemed the book too narrowly focused on women like Sandberg: educated, white, wealthy and with opportunities beyond the reach of most women. Others questioned the messenger: could Sandberg, who has two Harvard degrees and an estimated net worth of $1bn (PS655m), offer relevant guidance to the average woman? Another oft-repeated criticism is that Sandberg's approach remains too focused on individual behaviour, rather than societal or structural shortcomings. Brenda Christensen, who runs her own public relations company in California, says she views Lean In as hypocritical in light of the fact that Facebook, Sandberg's employer, has a largely male workforce. \"She's been putting the onus on women,\" says Christensen. \"The onus needs to be on corporations.\" Or, others contend, on government. \"[Sandberg] sends out a message that's very important about self assertion and confidence, but the majority of women in the United States are making $15 an hour or less,\" says Prof Henry. \"They're not in jobs where they're going to have opportunities to lean in.\" She marked every page where Lean In discusses policy solutions and says she was disappointed to find there were \"so few of them\". Leanin.org's Rachel Thomas acknowledges that policy changes are \"incredibly important\" but goes on to say: \"We additionally believe that driving individual change is really what we need to do, as a culture, to move the dial.\""}], "question": "Where does the onus lie?", "id": "726_0"}]}]}, {"title": "How could a UK points-based immigration system work?", "date": "18 February 2020", "paragraphs": [{"context": "The government has revealed more details of its plan for a new immigration system to replace freedom of movement, now the UK has left the EU. Under the new system, EU migrants will be treated the same as those from the rest of the world. It has published these proposals after considering recommendations from its expert advisers, the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC). Taking control of immigration was one of the key themes of the Leave campaign in the 2016 referendum. The government wants a \"points-based system\" which takes different factors like skills and language into account when awarding visas which would allow people to work in the UK. In a policy statement being published on Wednesday 19 February, the government says that to get a visa, applicants from anywhere in the world must: - Have a job offer from an \"approved employer\" at an \"appropriate skill level\" - Speak English That will get an applicant to 50 points. But they must have 70 points to be eligible for a visa. The most straightforward route to the final 20 points is that the applicant will: - Earn at least PS25,600 (reduced from the PS30,000 which currently applies to non-EU applicants. This was a recommendation from the MAC.) But they can also gain extra points for having better qualifications (10 points for a relevant PhD; or 20 points for a PhD in science, technology, engineering or maths) or an offer of a job in which the UK has a shortage (20 points), even if they don't earn as much money. Currently, those from within the EU do not need a visa to work in the UK because they benefit from freedom of movement - although there are limits on claiming certain benefits. For those from outside the EU, there is already a system in place based on points. These points are already awarded for having English language skills, being sponsored by a company and meeting a salary threshold. A maximum number of work visas are awarded - the cap is set at around 21,000 a year but it isn't often met. There are four \"tiers\" of visa assessed on points. There are a few other types of visa available, with different rules - for example, family visas for the spouses and relatives of people coming on work visas. The four points-based visas are for: - Temporary workers, for example people coming to do seasonal work on farms or in a theatre production or on a charity project - Students - Skilled workers - \"High-value\" migrants for example people with \"exceptional talent\" or major investors Under the new system, the government will continue with a pilot scheme for seasonal agricultural workers. But it does not intend to introduce a general low-skilled or temporary work route. Australia is the country often given as an example by politicians, although Canada and New Zealand also have points-based systems. They have a lot of similarities to the system the UK uses for non-EU migrants, although each system awards different numbers of points for different things. In these kinds of systems, \"there is only one way you can get in and that's if you meet all of those criteria,\" according to Madeleine Sumption, director of the Migration Observatory at University of Oxford. \"What the UK points system doesn't do is assess the individuals for things like their age and qualifications. The UK system trusts the employer to decide whether the person is qualified to do the job.\" In Australia, being aged between 25 and 33 years old will get you 30 points - almost halfway to the eligibility threshold of 65 points. The UK also does not have the same sort of decentralised system as Australia, in which different states may try to attract migrants with particular skills. Scotland is keen to introduce this sort of devolution and SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon unveiled proposals for a Scottish visa to address skills gaps and \"long-term demographic change\" on 27 January 2020, which were swiftly rejected in Westminster. What claims do you want BBC Reality Check to investigate? Get in touch Read more from Reality Check Follow us on Twitter", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1484, "answer_end": 2660, "text": "Currently, those from within the EU do not need a visa to work in the UK because they benefit from freedom of movement - although there are limits on claiming certain benefits. For those from outside the EU, there is already a system in place based on points. These points are already awarded for having English language skills, being sponsored by a company and meeting a salary threshold. A maximum number of work visas are awarded - the cap is set at around 21,000 a year but it isn't often met. There are four \"tiers\" of visa assessed on points. There are a few other types of visa available, with different rules - for example, family visas for the spouses and relatives of people coming on work visas. The four points-based visas are for: - Temporary workers, for example people coming to do seasonal work on farms or in a theatre production or on a charity project - Students - Skilled workers - \"High-value\" migrants for example people with \"exceptional talent\" or major investors Under the new system, the government will continue with a pilot scheme for seasonal agricultural workers. But it does not intend to introduce a general low-skilled or temporary work route."}], "question": "What's the UK system now?", "id": "727_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2661, "answer_end": 3896, "text": "Australia is the country often given as an example by politicians, although Canada and New Zealand also have points-based systems. They have a lot of similarities to the system the UK uses for non-EU migrants, although each system awards different numbers of points for different things. In these kinds of systems, \"there is only one way you can get in and that's if you meet all of those criteria,\" according to Madeleine Sumption, director of the Migration Observatory at University of Oxford. \"What the UK points system doesn't do is assess the individuals for things like their age and qualifications. The UK system trusts the employer to decide whether the person is qualified to do the job.\" In Australia, being aged between 25 and 33 years old will get you 30 points - almost halfway to the eligibility threshold of 65 points. The UK also does not have the same sort of decentralised system as Australia, in which different states may try to attract migrants with particular skills. Scotland is keen to introduce this sort of devolution and SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon unveiled proposals for a Scottish visa to address skills gaps and \"long-term demographic change\" on 27 January 2020, which were swiftly rejected in Westminster."}], "question": "Why do people keep talking about Australia?", "id": "727_1"}]}]}, {"title": "'North Korean train' in Beijing fuels Kim Jong-un visit rumours", "date": "27 March 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "There is widespread speculation that a senior North Korean official who made a surprise day-long visit to Beijing was Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un. Japanese media outlets first reported that a high-profile figure had arrived via a North Korean diplomatic train and was met with tight security. South Korea said it did not know the official's identity, but that it was trying to verify the situation. It would be Mr Kim's first foreign visit since taking office in 2011. There has been no official comment from North Korea, while China's foreign ministry said it had \"no information for the moment\", but more would \"be published in due course\". A visit by Mr Kim to Beijing would be seen as a significant development. Last month, US President Donald Trump accepted an unprecedented invitation to meet Mr Kim, and officials are believed to be working behind the scenes to work out the complex diplomatic requirements. Analysts have said the North Korean and Chinese leaders would be likely to meet before that summit goes ahead. China is North Korea's main economic ally. Japanese media reported on the train's arrival into Beijing on Monday evening. Footage of the train from the Tokyo-based Nippon News Network showed a green carriage with yellow horizontal lines. People in Beijing described seeing \"unusual\" scenes, including tightened security outside the train station, and tourists being ushered out of the capital's Tiananmen Square, which usually signals a high-level meeting in the Great Hall of the People there. Bloomberg cited three unnamed sources as saying the visitor was Mr Kim. But analysts speaking to South Korea's Yonhap news said the official could also be Mr Kim's younger sister Kim Yo-jong, who recently made an appearance at the Winter Olympics in South Korea, or military official Choe Ryong-hae. \"We have not confirmed yet who has travelled to Beijing,\" said an official from the presidential office in Seoul. \"We are carefully watching the situation... with all possibilities in mind.\" At the Chinese border city of Dandong, the main railway link between China and North Korea, similarly unusual scenes were also seen. Specialist North Korean news website NK News (paywall) said it had obtained pictures showing temporary boards blocking one entrance - though it said this may have been for construction work. The train, believed to be carrying the North Korean delegation, pulled out of Beijing on Tuesday afternoon, although it is not clear where it is headed next. It is not clear when North Korean or Chinese officials will release more details about the visit. Mr Kim's late father and predecessor Kim Jong-il had also made trips abroad by train, but these were often not confirmed until after the visits were over. Japanese media say the green and yellow train resembles the one used by Kim Jong-il when he visited China and Russia in 2011. South Korean daily Chosun Ibo has previously reported that Kim Jong-Il's armoured train featured about 90 carriages, and contained conference rooms, an audience chamber and bedrooms, with satellite phones and televisions installed for briefings. According to reports, Kim Jong-il had several private trains, and, while travelling by train across Russia, had live lobsters air-lifted to the train each day. Kim Jong-il and his father Kim Il-sung favoured trains to flights when visiting China and Russia, often attributed to a reported fear of heights, BBC Monitoring reports. However, Kim Jong-un did sometimes travel by air before he became leader. There has been a flurry of diplomatic activity in recent weeks since ties between North and South Korea began improving at the start of this year. Earlier in March, North Korea's foreign minister attended talks in Stockholm with Sweden's Prime Minister Stefan Lofven, ahead of the as yet unarranged meeting between Mr Trump and Mr Kim. The landmark US summit has been earmarked for May. It would be the first meeting between leaders of the US and North Korea. Mr Kim is also set to meet his South Korean counterpart,  Moon Jae-in, next month.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1068, "answer_end": 2745, "text": "Japanese media reported on the train's arrival into Beijing on Monday evening. Footage of the train from the Tokyo-based Nippon News Network showed a green carriage with yellow horizontal lines. People in Beijing described seeing \"unusual\" scenes, including tightened security outside the train station, and tourists being ushered out of the capital's Tiananmen Square, which usually signals a high-level meeting in the Great Hall of the People there. Bloomberg cited three unnamed sources as saying the visitor was Mr Kim. But analysts speaking to South Korea's Yonhap news said the official could also be Mr Kim's younger sister Kim Yo-jong, who recently made an appearance at the Winter Olympics in South Korea, or military official Choe Ryong-hae. \"We have not confirmed yet who has travelled to Beijing,\" said an official from the presidential office in Seoul. \"We are carefully watching the situation... with all possibilities in mind.\" At the Chinese border city of Dandong, the main railway link between China and North Korea, similarly unusual scenes were also seen. Specialist North Korean news website NK News (paywall) said it had obtained pictures showing temporary boards blocking one entrance - though it said this may have been for construction work. The train, believed to be carrying the North Korean delegation, pulled out of Beijing on Tuesday afternoon, although it is not clear where it is headed next. It is not clear when North Korean or Chinese officials will release more details about the visit. Mr Kim's late father and predecessor Kim Jong-il had also made trips abroad by train, but these were often not confirmed until after the visits were over."}], "question": "What do we know about the visit?", "id": "728_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2746, "answer_end": 3521, "text": "Japanese media say the green and yellow train resembles the one used by Kim Jong-il when he visited China and Russia in 2011. South Korean daily Chosun Ibo has previously reported that Kim Jong-Il's armoured train featured about 90 carriages, and contained conference rooms, an audience chamber and bedrooms, with satellite phones and televisions installed for briefings. According to reports, Kim Jong-il had several private trains, and, while travelling by train across Russia, had live lobsters air-lifted to the train each day. Kim Jong-il and his father Kim Il-sung favoured trains to flights when visiting China and Russia, often attributed to a reported fear of heights, BBC Monitoring reports. However, Kim Jong-un did sometimes travel by air before he became leader."}], "question": "What do we know about the train?", "id": "728_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3522, "answer_end": 4064, "text": "There has been a flurry of diplomatic activity in recent weeks since ties between North and South Korea began improving at the start of this year. Earlier in March, North Korea's foreign minister attended talks in Stockholm with Sweden's Prime Minister Stefan Lofven, ahead of the as yet unarranged meeting between Mr Trump and Mr Kim. The landmark US summit has been earmarked for May. It would be the first meeting between leaders of the US and North Korea. Mr Kim is also set to meet his South Korean counterpart,  Moon Jae-in, next month."}], "question": "What could happen next?", "id": "728_2"}]}]}, {"title": "DUP would reject 'hybrid Brexit backstop'", "date": "4 October 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "The DUP will not support a separate hybrid economic model for Northern Ireland after Brexit, the party's deputy leader has said. Nigel Dodds was responding to reports that UK officials were working on a \"hybrid backstop\" border proposal. It is understood the plan would involve \"light-touch regulatory checks\" between Great Britain and Northern Ireland. In Brussels, the taoiseach has said there is still an opportunity to get a Brexit deal in the next fortnight. Leo Varadkar, speaking on Thursday, called on the United Kingdom to propose plans for an alternative Irish border backstop \"well in advance\" of the EU summit on 17 October. Both the UK and the EU agree that a backstop position is needed to avoid a hard border in Ireland in the event of a no-deal Brexit. BBC political editor Laura Laura Kuenssberg has said UK officials are understood to be working on plans for a \"hybrid backstop\" that combines light-touch regulatory checks and the temporary extension of the customs union to the whole of the UK in the event that a free trade deal has not been completed. It has also been suggested the UK government is considering making any new backstop subject to democratic oversight by the Northern Ireland Assembly, which has not met for more than 600 days. The joint report agreed by the UK and the EU in December 2017 left open the possibility of the assembly agreeing \"distinct arrangements... appropriate for Northern Ireland\" in the future. Mr Dodds said the DUP could not accept Northern Ireland being in the EU single market but out of its customs union. \"If the whole of the UK is in both, then that's fine,\" he told the BBC. \"If the whole of the UK is out of both, then we must be out of both.\" Mr Dodds said that if \"light-touch regulatory checks\" are good enough for the east-west border between Great Britain and Northern Ireland, they should be acceptable for the land border in Ireland. He added, however, that \"you only need (east-west) checks if there's a different set of rules and we have been clear that we must leave the EU as one country, because to do otherwise, to put barriers up, would do real damage to the economic future of Northern Ireland\". In a backstop situation, there could in theory be two types of Irish Sea checks: - Customs - to make sure the right EU tariffs have been paid - Regulatory - to make sure goods meet EU safety and quality standards The government has been adamant it would never accept Irish Sea customs checks. But it has also been careful not to completely close down the prospect of regulatory checks. Mr Varadkar said that a UK-wide customs arrangement could not form part of the backstop and that there was no Northern Ireland Executive or Assembly to approve new regulatory checks in Northern Ireland. Sinn Fein sources have expressed concern about any proposal \"that would give the DUP a veto over the backstop arrangements\", arguing this would be \"totally unacceptable\" to all Northern Ireland's pro-remain parties and also the EU. Nigel Dodds said he can see the logic for the Stormont institutions having a role, as some of the issues under discussion are devolved. He added that \"it's interesting that some people who say they are strongly for devolution are not raising questions about this\". However, he added that he wants to see more details before commenting further. Mr Dodds said he hopes the government will learn lessons from what he described as \"December's debacle\", when Theresa May had to renegotiate a deal with the EU after last-minute DUP objections. The DUP's deputy leader insisted his party \"will not be bounces\" so far as the current negotiations are concerned.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 2178, "answer_end": 2563, "text": "In a backstop situation, there could in theory be two types of Irish Sea checks: - Customs - to make sure the right EU tariffs have been paid - Regulatory - to make sure goods meet EU safety and quality standards The government has been adamant it would never accept Irish Sea customs checks. But it has also been careful not to completely close down the prospect of regulatory checks."}], "question": "What do 'checks in the Irish Sea' mean?", "id": "729_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Iran nuclear deal: Trump to extend sanctions waiver - reports", "date": "12 January 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "US President Donald Trump will continue to suspend key sanctions on Iran, and so avoiding jeopardising the 2015 nuclear agreement, US officials say. But Mr Trump is expected to set a deadline for Congress and European allies to improve the deal or the US will abandon it, the officials say. He is also likely to impose a new set of sanctions targeting Iranian firms and individuals, a top aide has said. Mr Trump has strongly criticised the deal, which helped end a long crisis. European powers say that the accord is vital for international security. The agreement between six global powers and Iran saw decades of international and US nuclear-related sanctions suspended when Iran agreed to limit its nuclear programme. The US still maintains separate sanctions on Iran related to matters such as terrorism, human rights and ballistic missile development. The White House is due to make an official announcement on Friday. The US president declared in October that the agreement was \"one of the worst and most one-sided transactions the United States has ever entered into\", and warned that within a few years Iran would be able to \"sprint towards a rapid nuclear weapons breakout\". He accused Iran of committing \"multiple violations\" and promised to work with Congress to \"address the deal's many serious flaws\". Mr Trump said they included the deal's \"sunset clauses\", one of which allows for the lifting of restrictions on Iran's uranium enrichment programme after 2025. He also wants to give the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) access to Iranian military sites, and for the deal to cover Iran's ballistic missile programme. In its most recent quarterly review, the IAEA, the global nuclear body, said Iran was complying with treaty. Critics of the deal in the US Congress have also proposed amending legislation to ensure that sanctions would \"snap back\" automatically if Iran carried out certain actions. The sanctions, which were suspended in 2016, had cut Iran's central bank out of the international financial system and imposed penalties for buying Iranian oil. The foreign ministers of Britain, France, Germany and the European Union met their Iranian counterpart Mohammad Javad Zarif in Brussels on Thursday to reaffirm their commitment to the accord, which was also backed by China and Russia. At a news conference afterwards, representatives of the EU, the UK, France and Germany reiterated their support for the nuclear deal they helped negotiate. \"The deal is working; it is delivering on its main goal, which means keeping the Iranian nuclear programme in check and under close surveillance,\" EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini said. \"The unity of the international community is essential to preserve a deal that is working, that is making the world safer and that is preventing a potential nuclear arms race in the region. And we expect all parties to continue to fully implement this agreement.\" UK Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson insisted the deal was preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons, and challenged Washington to come up with a better alternative. He described the deal, which is known formally as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), as a \"considerable diplomatic accomplishment\". Mr Zarif warned that Iran's continued compliance depended on Washington honouring the deal. He said the Brussels meeting had shown a \"strong consensus\" that Iran was complying with the pact, had the right to enjoy its economic benefits and that any move that undermined it was \"unacceptable\". The US and EU say Iranian ballistic missile tests conducted in the past year have violated UN Security Council resolution 2231, which endorsed the nuclear deal. The resolution calls upon Iran not to \"undertake any activity related to ballistic missiles designed to be capable of delivering nuclear weapons, including launches using such ballistic missile technology\". Iran says the missiles it has tested are not designed to carry nuclear warheads and insists its nuclear programme is entirely peaceful. The European ministers expressed serious concern about Iran's ballistic missile programme, as well as its alleged transfer of missiles and assistance to non-state entities in the Middle East. But they said the issue should be kept separate from the nuclear deal.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 925, "answer_end": 2082, "text": "The US president declared in October that the agreement was \"one of the worst and most one-sided transactions the United States has ever entered into\", and warned that within a few years Iran would be able to \"sprint towards a rapid nuclear weapons breakout\". He accused Iran of committing \"multiple violations\" and promised to work with Congress to \"address the deal's many serious flaws\". Mr Trump said they included the deal's \"sunset clauses\", one of which allows for the lifting of restrictions on Iran's uranium enrichment programme after 2025. He also wants to give the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) access to Iranian military sites, and for the deal to cover Iran's ballistic missile programme. In its most recent quarterly review, the IAEA, the global nuclear body, said Iran was complying with treaty. Critics of the deal in the US Congress have also proposed amending legislation to ensure that sanctions would \"snap back\" automatically if Iran carried out certain actions. The sanctions, which were suspended in 2016, had cut Iran's central bank out of the international financial system and imposed penalties for buying Iranian oil."}], "question": "What does Mr Trump want to change in the Iran deal?", "id": "730_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2083, "answer_end": 3540, "text": "The foreign ministers of Britain, France, Germany and the European Union met their Iranian counterpart Mohammad Javad Zarif in Brussels on Thursday to reaffirm their commitment to the accord, which was also backed by China and Russia. At a news conference afterwards, representatives of the EU, the UK, France and Germany reiterated their support for the nuclear deal they helped negotiate. \"The deal is working; it is delivering on its main goal, which means keeping the Iranian nuclear programme in check and under close surveillance,\" EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini said. \"The unity of the international community is essential to preserve a deal that is working, that is making the world safer and that is preventing a potential nuclear arms race in the region. And we expect all parties to continue to fully implement this agreement.\" UK Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson insisted the deal was preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons, and challenged Washington to come up with a better alternative. He described the deal, which is known formally as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), as a \"considerable diplomatic accomplishment\". Mr Zarif warned that Iran's continued compliance depended on Washington honouring the deal. He said the Brussels meeting had shown a \"strong consensus\" that Iran was complying with the pact, had the right to enjoy its economic benefits and that any move that undermined it was \"unacceptable\"."}], "question": "Why does Europe back the nuclear deal?", "id": "730_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3541, "answer_end": 4307, "text": "The US and EU say Iranian ballistic missile tests conducted in the past year have violated UN Security Council resolution 2231, which endorsed the nuclear deal. The resolution calls upon Iran not to \"undertake any activity related to ballistic missiles designed to be capable of delivering nuclear weapons, including launches using such ballistic missile technology\". Iran says the missiles it has tested are not designed to carry nuclear warheads and insists its nuclear programme is entirely peaceful. The European ministers expressed serious concern about Iran's ballistic missile programme, as well as its alleged transfer of missiles and assistance to non-state entities in the Middle East. But they said the issue should be kept separate from the nuclear deal."}], "question": "Why is Iran's missile programme controversial?", "id": "730_2"}]}]}, {"title": "Irish government in single-use plastic ban", "date": "4 January 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Ireland's government is to ban single use plastics from its government departments and public bodies. The move will stop the purchasing of single-use plastic cups, cutlery and straws for use within their offices. Richard Bruton, Ireland's Communications, Climate Action and Environment minister, will make the announcement later on Friday. The move comes after the European Parliament voted for an EU-wide ban on single-use plastics in October. The ban will come into effect from 2021, under the draft plans. The European Commission, the 28-nation EU's executive arm, proposed banning such items that it said accounted for 70% of the waste in oceans and on beaches. The commission proposed a ban in May, following a surge in public support, attributed to documentaries such as David Attenborough's BBC Blue Planet series. The UK will have to incorporate the rules into national law if the ban becomes a fully-fledged directive before the end of a Brexit transition period. The directive targets some of the most common ocean-polluting plastics. The list of banned items - such as cutlery and cotton buds - was chosen because there are readily available alternatives, such as paper straws and cardboard containers. Other items, \"where no alternative exists\" will still have to be reduced by 25% in each country by 2025. Examples given include burger boxes and sandwich wrappers. MEPs also tacked on amendments to the plans for the filter on cigarettes, a plastic pollutant that is common litter on beaches. Cigarette makers will have to reduce the plastic by 50% by 2025 and 80% by 2030. Another ambitious target is to ensure 90% of all plastic drinks bottles are collected for recycling by 2025. Currently, bottles and their lids account for about 20% of all the sea plastic, said the European Parliament report. Manufacturers will also have to take more responsibility for what happens to their plastic products and packaging. The EU's research on the topic says about 150,000 tonnes of plastic are tossed into European waters every year. That is only a small contributor to the global problem, with an estimated eight million tonnes of plastic entering the world's oceans annually. And once there, plastic can travel great distances on ocean currents. Those plastics have a huge impact on marine life. Fish and large aquatic mammals can be killed by the pollution. Whales can eat plastic bags, making it impossible for them to eat real food, which can eventually lead to death. When plastic debris breaks down from wear and tear, it does not decompose the way other products (like wood) do - but instead breaks down into smaller and smaller pieces, becoming \"microplastic\". These tiny fragments often end up in fish and can then be passed on to humans. Large volumes of plastic waste wash up on beaches, where it can be eaten by sea birds and other animals and kill them.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 973, "answer_end": 1927, "text": "The directive targets some of the most common ocean-polluting plastics. The list of banned items - such as cutlery and cotton buds - was chosen because there are readily available alternatives, such as paper straws and cardboard containers. Other items, \"where no alternative exists\" will still have to be reduced by 25% in each country by 2025. Examples given include burger boxes and sandwich wrappers. MEPs also tacked on amendments to the plans for the filter on cigarettes, a plastic pollutant that is common litter on beaches. Cigarette makers will have to reduce the plastic by 50% by 2025 and 80% by 2030. Another ambitious target is to ensure 90% of all plastic drinks bottles are collected for recycling by 2025. Currently, bottles and their lids account for about 20% of all the sea plastic, said the European Parliament report. Manufacturers will also have to take more responsibility for what happens to their plastic products and packaging."}], "question": "What's being banned?", "id": "731_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1928, "answer_end": 2873, "text": "The EU's research on the topic says about 150,000 tonnes of plastic are tossed into European waters every year. That is only a small contributor to the global problem, with an estimated eight million tonnes of plastic entering the world's oceans annually. And once there, plastic can travel great distances on ocean currents. Those plastics have a huge impact on marine life. Fish and large aquatic mammals can be killed by the pollution. Whales can eat plastic bags, making it impossible for them to eat real food, which can eventually lead to death. When plastic debris breaks down from wear and tear, it does not decompose the way other products (like wood) do - but instead breaks down into smaller and smaller pieces, becoming \"microplastic\". These tiny fragments often end up in fish and can then be passed on to humans. Large volumes of plastic waste wash up on beaches, where it can be eaten by sea birds and other animals and kill them."}], "question": "How big is the problem?", "id": "731_1"}]}]}, {"title": "James Landale: What next for the Commonwealth?", "date": "15 April 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "This week thousands of people will descend on London from all corners of the world, pilgrims coming to worship at the altar of post-colonial multilateralism that is the Commonwealth of Nations. They will be drawn to the UK's capital for the organisation's biennial heads-of-government summit, known by its inelegant acronym, CHOGM. It will be an enormous jamboree, with most of the Commonwealth's 53 leaders expected to attend - the largest number ever - in honour, perhaps, of Her Majesty the Queen, whose last CHOGM this is likely to be now that her travelling days are coming to an end. And with the leaders and their spouses will come the officials and protection officers, the charity workers and think-tankers, the lobbyists and journalists, and all the other hangers-on in this riotous caravan of global diplomacy. But to what end? For what purpose will these many thousands gather for what some officials estimate will be the largest summit ever held in London? For many of the 2.4 billion people who live in the Commonwealth, the organisation plays little role in their lives. They might know it as a post-imperial club, a body that holds global sporting events such as the games in Australia that have been going on over the past two weeks. Or perhaps they have family or personal connections with another Commonwealth country. But even those with a keen awareness of the international organisation might struggle to explain what relevance it had to their daily lives. Yet the Commonwealth includes about a third of the world's people. It forms layer upon layer of intermingling networks of professional, sporting, business and cultural groups. It provides a forum for co-operation between nations, a bastion - at least in theory - of the democratic, rules-based international order, with the English language and legal system forming a core denominator for many countries. And it is an organisation that the Queen values highly and has fought to protect during her long reign. So why is a body that has so much potential so much in the shade? One reason, perhaps, is that it has always been in search of a role. This is a Commonwealth of nations that was united at first by nothing more than a past membership of the British Empire. Shared experience is one thing but it is rarely a foundation for future co-operation, particularly when that shared experience was distant, at times painful and not of mutual benefit. The Commonwealth has also often been divided between what historically had been seen as the white, Anglocentric nations - \"the ABCs\" as they are known after Australia, Britain and Canada - and the African members, and the many small island countries. And these divisions have at times been deep, not just between wealth and geography but also between culture and values. Let us not forget that 36 of the 53 countries retain legislation that criminalises homosexuality. CHOGM this week will undoubtedly be overshadowed by events in Syria. But beneath the diplomacy and ceremony, there will also be some tough questions about what the Commonwealth is for in the 21st Century. And many countries will bring different answers and agendas. Some British politicians look to the Commonwealth as a post-Brexit lifeboat, a multilateral organisation through which they can improve trade links outside the EU. And why not use this shared language, law and regulatory commonality to boost trade? Supporters point to what they call \"the Commonwealth effect\", the idea that trade between members is cheaper and easier. The Commonwealth Secretariat estimates that bilateral trade between members costs about 19% less than global averages. But while the British Empire was initially a trading empire, the Commonwealth is a different beast. And some members might resent being showered with love by a country that has often seemed to ignore the Commonwealth while its geopolitical and economic focus was on Europe. Many Commonwealth countries opposed Brexit. Some fear they will find it harder to access British markets. Others worry they will lose a powerful advocate for their rights around the EU table. After Brexit, the only Commonwealth countries remaining in the EU will be Cyprus and Malta. Other countries see the Commonwealth as an international club with huge soft power potential. Take India. For years it has been a restrained member of the Commonwealth, despite being one of its largest economies and containing about half its population. India was one of the eight founder members but it was the only one which did not count the Queen as its head of state. It has always been cautious about engaging fully with the offspring of an empire that rendered its countrymen subject to British rule. But now India appears full of enthusiasm. Narendra Modi will attend CHOGM, the first Indian prime minster to do so for almost a decade. Indian diplomats are suddenly appearing at Commonwealth events and meetings. Officials say this is because India sees the Commonwealth as an organisation through which it can project influence within Asia - this one club that India's great rival, China, cannot join. The UK seems willing to play along with this. British diplomats say that one way the Commonwealth could thrive, and - yes - survive, as a credible international organisation would be to embrace India. To that end, the UK appears ready to contemplate greater decentralisation, with India possibly taking greater responsibility for the Commonwealth's trade co-operation. But is this what the rest of the Commonwealth wants - to swap Anglo-centrism for Delhification? If you are from a developing African country or a small island nation in the Pacific, is this how you see the future of the organisation? Many of the smaller nations, for example, are looking to the Commonwealth to help them tackle the climate change that threatens them with rising sea levels and extreme weather events. We may be horrified by the growing tides of plastic floating across our oceans but to many island nations this poses an explicit danger to their maritime and tourist economies. The Commonwealth could help in a tangible and practical way to share best practice and form coalitions to protect these members from this environmental threat. Underlying this latest bout of Commonwealth introspection is the largely unspoken uncertainty about what happens when the Queen's reign comes to an end. There is a lack of clarity because it is not automatic that the Queen's heir, the Prince of Wales, will replace Her Majesty at the head of the Commonwealth. The decision is entirely in the gift of the heads of government at the time. This CHOGM will be a forum to discuss - sotto voce - what should happen. The British government appears ready to allow just enough debate to ensure that Prince Charles is established as the de facto heir apparent. But the UK equally does not want this to become a distracting row that could embarrass the Queen - something shadow international development secretary Kate Osamor has made a forlorn hope. She told The House magazine bluntly that the role should not be taken up by Prince Charles but by someone who was \"level-headed, someone people respect\". This matters not just because officials want to ensure a smooth transition, but also because the Queen has been so central to the Commonwealth that her absence could create a vacuum. Her leadership has been part of the glue that has held this organisation together. The risk is that without her, the Commonwealth could come unstuck. Hence the need, once again, for the Commonwealth to change and find a new role for the 21st Century.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 970, "answer_end": 2896, "text": "For many of the 2.4 billion people who live in the Commonwealth, the organisation plays little role in their lives. They might know it as a post-imperial club, a body that holds global sporting events such as the games in Australia that have been going on over the past two weeks. Or perhaps they have family or personal connections with another Commonwealth country. But even those with a keen awareness of the international organisation might struggle to explain what relevance it had to their daily lives. Yet the Commonwealth includes about a third of the world's people. It forms layer upon layer of intermingling networks of professional, sporting, business and cultural groups. It provides a forum for co-operation between nations, a bastion - at least in theory - of the democratic, rules-based international order, with the English language and legal system forming a core denominator for many countries. And it is an organisation that the Queen values highly and has fought to protect during her long reign. So why is a body that has so much potential so much in the shade? One reason, perhaps, is that it has always been in search of a role. This is a Commonwealth of nations that was united at first by nothing more than a past membership of the British Empire. Shared experience is one thing but it is rarely a foundation for future co-operation, particularly when that shared experience was distant, at times painful and not of mutual benefit. The Commonwealth has also often been divided between what historically had been seen as the white, Anglocentric nations - \"the ABCs\" as they are known after Australia, Britain and Canada - and the African members, and the many small island countries. And these divisions have at times been deep, not just between wealth and geography but also between culture and values. Let us not forget that 36 of the 53 countries retain legislation that criminalises homosexuality."}], "question": "Still relevant?", "id": "732_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Diamond Platnumz is in trouble for a kiss", "date": "17 April 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "One of Africa's top musicians - Diamond Platnumz - has been questioned by Tanzanian police after posting a video clip of himself playfully kissing a woman on Instagram, which authorities say is indecent. It comes a few weeks after the award-winning \"bongo flava\" hip hop star threatened to leave the East African nation when his songs were included in list of more than 10 banned by the government for having sexually suggestive video images or lyrics. Information Minister Harrison Mwakyembe told MPs the musician had fallen foul of the new Electronic and Postal Communications (Online Content) Regulations, introduced a few weeks ago. He said the authorities plan to file charges against Diamond Platnumz, who has since removed the offending Instagram post. Five things about Diamond Platnumz - One of East Africa's richest musicians - Popularised \"bongo flava\", Tanzanian hip hop - Sold second-hand clothes before he found fame - Recently launched his own TV and radio station If found guilty he could face a fine of at least five million Tanzanian shillings ($2,200; PS1,500) or a prison sentence of a minimum of 12 months, or both. Mr Mwakyembe said the government was also monitoring other artists who had been engaging in \"decadent behaviour\", and warned they would be brought to justice irrespective of their popularity. Apart from censoring obscene content, the legislation requires bloggers to pay a hefty registration fee of more than $900. They must also fulfil a long list of other requirements, like submitting staff CVs, to qualify for a licence to operate. Many activists, online content providers and ordinary users have accused the government of using these regulations to suppress freedom of expression. But the government says they are to protect the nation's \"culture\". Since coming to power in 2015, President John Magufuli, nicknamed \"The Bulldozer\", has taken a no-nonsense approach to running affairs - cracking down on corruption and government waste. His authoritarian nature has won him fans, but critics have also accused him of trying to silence dissenting voices. These online regulations follow the arrests of several people charged with \"abusing\" the president for criticising him on Facebook and WhatsApp. A couple of respected newspapers have also been either suspended or banned indefinitely after publishing content that the authorities deemed would incite violence or did not \"adhere to the principles of journalism\".", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 453, "answer_end": 759, "text": "Information Minister Harrison Mwakyembe told MPs the musician had fallen foul of the new Electronic and Postal Communications (Online Content) Regulations, introduced a few weeks ago. He said the authorities plan to file charges against Diamond Platnumz, who has since removed the offending Instagram post."}], "question": "What law is he accused of breaking?", "id": "733_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1329, "answer_end": 1790, "text": "Apart from censoring obscene content, the legislation requires bloggers to pay a hefty registration fee of more than $900. They must also fulfil a long list of other requirements, like submitting staff CVs, to qualify for a licence to operate. Many activists, online content providers and ordinary users have accused the government of using these regulations to suppress freedom of expression. But the government says they are to protect the nation's \"culture\"."}], "question": "What else do the regulations cover?", "id": "733_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1791, "answer_end": 2455, "text": "Since coming to power in 2015, President John Magufuli, nicknamed \"The Bulldozer\", has taken a no-nonsense approach to running affairs - cracking down on corruption and government waste. His authoritarian nature has won him fans, but critics have also accused him of trying to silence dissenting voices. These online regulations follow the arrests of several people charged with \"abusing\" the president for criticising him on Facebook and WhatsApp. A couple of respected newspapers have also been either suspended or banned indefinitely after publishing content that the authorities deemed would incite violence or did not \"adhere to the principles of journalism\"."}], "question": "What's behind the crackdown?", "id": "733_2"}]}]}, {"title": "Oldest person in the UK: How has life changed?", "date": "16 September 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "This year's birthday will be a little more special than normal for one woman. Not only is she expecting yet another card from the Queen but it is the first time she will blow out her candles as the UK's oldest living person. Born on 16 September 1906, Grace Jones of Broadway in Worcestershire has not only experienced the reign of five monarchs and 21 prime ministers, but is older than the invention of the perm, was three when Heinz cream of tomato soup was introduced to Britain and was the grand old age of 21 when the first \"talkie\", The Jazz Singer, was released. She has seen the outbreak and resolution of two world wars, and lived through the Russian Revolution, the sinking of the Titanic, and all three London Olympics. So how has day-to-day life changed since Mrs Jones came into the world? Mrs Jones is not the first Grace, nor even the first Grace Jones to hold the title of oldest person in the UK - she shares her name with a former holder of the record, who died aged 113 in 2013. In 1906, Grace was one of the most popular names for girls - Margaret was the most popular - and remained in the top 50 until 1925. It then faded from use until the mid-1990s before peaking again in 2005. Gladys, Doris, Hilda and Ethel were all in the top 20 in 1906 but they have all, at some point, all but disappeared since 1996. The name with an equivalent pattern for boys is Jack. In 1906 the top name for boys was William, and although none of 1906's top 20 names have disappeared, Harold, Reginald and Walter are among the least popular at the moment. When she was born, Mrs Jones could have been expected to live until the age of 54. Men had the lower life expectancy of 48. According to the Office for National Statistics, a boy born today is likely to live until he is 79 and a girl until she is 83. In 1906 the most common cause of death was due to infections such as tuberculosis and bronchopneumonia. But the discovery of antibiotics in 1929 and their wider introduction in the early 1940s meant that dangerous illnesses became curable. By 1945, motor vehicle crashes began to emerge as the leading cause of death in both young males and females, a figure exacerbated by the Blackout during World War Two, when vehicles drove in total darkness. The proportion of motor vehicle deaths dropped in 1985, which could have been down to the introduction of compulsory seat belts two years earlier. Now, the most common causes of death are cancer and heart-related disease. Mrs Jones was born in Liverpool. A 1909 study now held at the British Library shows a typical daily menu - breakfast, dinner, tea, supper - for an ordinary family in the city. Breakfast would consist of bread, margarine and fish; Sunday lunch would be rabbit, potatoes, vegetables and rice pudding, and the meal for the rest of the week would decrease as the rabbit was used up in stews or soups until Saturday, when only potatoes remained. Tea would be bread, margarine, marmalade and a cup of tea, while supper (if eaten) would be either bread or porridge with milk. By the 1920s, tinned food was growing in availability; the 1930s saw a \"milk for schools\" scheme, and the 1940s cook had to deal with rationing. The 1940s and 70s saw a surge in the popularity of curries. Mrs Jones says her favourite meal was always roast beef with Yorkshire pudding and vegetables. The origins of the Sunday roast are much older than the centenarian, and could date as far back as medieval times. Music hall, one of the most popular forms of entertainment, hit a crisis in January 1907 when Mrs Jones was about four months old. It arose from the fact that many performers were annoyed at exclusivity clauses employed by theatres. The clause meant artists could not appear at multiple venues on the same day, which limited the amount of money they could earn. Artists, musicians and stagehands went on strike across the country, organised by the Variety Artistes' Federation, which had been formed in 1906. Mrs Jones's daughter Deidre, now 80, became a singer on cruise ships and theatres. Mrs Jones says she enjoyed watching the performances, which featured artists such as Cheerful Charlie Chester, David Whitfield, Ken Platt and duo Pearl Carr and Teddy Johnson. She also enjoyed watching the 1950s ballroom TV programme Come Dancing - and now says her favourite entertainment is Strictly Come Dancing. Mrs Jones was a milliner before she married her husband Leonard in 1933. Mr Jones - who died in 1985 - told her to give up work, which she did, but she says she continued to enjoy dressing stylishly and still gets her hair done weekly at the retirement home where she lives. She says she has kept five wardrobes full of clothes. According to archives at the V&A Museum, when Mrs Jones was born, middle and upper-class women would wear corsets, puffed frilly blouses and broad-brim hats. Ladies would wear their hair in a centre parting and - in a trend that has come full circle - would sometimes incorporate false hair to create a more impressive hairline. Men wore three-piece suits with bowler or cloth caps. Jackets were narrow with small, high lapels. Some men wore their collars turned down, with rounded edges and modern knotted ties, and beards tended to be reserved for mainly older men, while most young men sported neat moustaches and short hair. The most popular adverts of all time - as voted by the British public - include Cadbury's gorilla playing the drums, Martians enjoying some Smash, and JR Hartley tracking down a copy of Fly Fishing via the Yellow Pages. A judgemental question about one's taste in vinegar did not make the top 10, but in 1906 \"the girl in the white cap\" urged the modern British housewife always to ask the grocer for Heinz. Those who failed to do so ran the risk of giving their family \"a harsh, crude product possibly more or less adulterated and dangerous\". Mrs Jones, whose daughter is organising a party to mark her 112th birthday, knows exactly how the day will end. \"I always have a little drop of whisky and water in bed at night,\" she says. \"Just a drop, and that's all, but I never miss it.\"", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 804, "answer_end": 1558, "text": "Mrs Jones is not the first Grace, nor even the first Grace Jones to hold the title of oldest person in the UK - she shares her name with a former holder of the record, who died aged 113 in 2013. In 1906, Grace was one of the most popular names for girls - Margaret was the most popular - and remained in the top 50 until 1925. It then faded from use until the mid-1990s before peaking again in 2005. Gladys, Doris, Hilda and Ethel were all in the top 20 in 1906 but they have all, at some point, all but disappeared since 1996. The name with an equivalent pattern for boys is Jack. In 1906 the top name for boys was William, and although none of 1906's top 20 names have disappeared, Harold, Reginald and Walter are among the least popular at the moment."}], "question": "What's in a name?", "id": "734_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Why India's rich don't give their money away", "date": "2 April 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Indian IT billionaire Azim Premji recently became India's top philanthropist, sealing his place among the world's top givers. But his generosity has put philanthropy in the spotlight in a country where charity does not appear to match wealth. The BBC's Aparna Alluri reports. With his recent pledge of $7.5bn, Mr Premji's total philanthropic contribution now stands at some 1.45tn rupees ($21bn; PS15.8bn). This puts him in the same league of givers - as philanthropists are called - as Bill and Melinda Gates, and Warren Buffet. What perhaps distinguishes him even more is that, unlike them, he is not one of the world's five richest people - the Bloomberg Billionaires Index ranks him at 51. But the philanthropic world was not surprised at his new status. \"This is not unusual for him because he's been the largest contributor in India and, even the continent, for some time,\" says Deval Sanghavi, co-founder of Dasra, a strategic philanthropy firm. It works with some of the biggest donors in India, directing their money to various causes and non-profits. In their universe, Mr Premji is a magnanimous \"outlier\". The 73-year-old software tycoon has been giving his wealth away for a long time. In 2013, he became the first Indian billionaire to sign the Giving Pledge, an initiative by Mr Gates and Mr Buffet that encourages wealthy individuals to pledge half their fortunes to philanthropy. He was just 21 when he dropped out of Stanford University to join Wipro, a company his father started in 1945. (He went back and finished school in 2000). Under him, Wipro, a refinery for vegetable oils, grew into one of India's biggest and most successful IT services firms. An intensely private man, Mr Premji rarely speaks in public or to the media. Yet, over the years, his unusually modest lifestyle and his generosity have earned him many admirers. Stories about how he still flies economy, or how he has, on occasion, hopped into a rickshaw, impress many in a country that values frugality, especially among the rich. News of his pledge came in a dry press statement issued by the Azim Premji Foundation and included no personal statement. According to one newspaper, he even asked \"what's all the fuss about\" when he was told that the pledge was generating headlines and buzz on social media. Mr Premji is not entirely alone in his generosity. IT billionaires Nandan and Rohini Nilekani have pledged 50% of their wealth to philanthropy; Biocon's Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw committed 75% of hers; and many other families fund hospitals, schools, community kitchens, the arts and scientific research. All of them, like Mr Premji, are pledging their personal wealth, largely earned in their own lifetimes. The Tata Trusts, endowed by the personal wealth and profits of one of India's biggest and oldest conglomerates, has been India's biggest philanthropic outfit for decades. It is only now rivalled by Mr Premji's foundation, which funds education, healthcare and independent media among other things. \"Premji's grant for the nation matches only what Jamsetji Tata and Dorabji Tata have done from a historical perspective,\" Amit Chandra, managing director, Bain Capital, told the Economic Times newspaper. Mr Premji's contributions over the past decade, he added, stand out across more than a century of Indian philanthropy - the first Tata trust was set up in 1892. Mr Premji accounted for 80% of the money given away by ultra-rich donors in India (anyone who has given more than $1.4m) in the 2018 financial year, according to a recent philanthropy report co-authored by Dasra and Bain. Philanthropy is growing, says Mr Sanghavi, but it's not growing fast enough. Private philanthropy in India grew at a rate of 15% per year between 2014 and 2018. The Dasra report sees this as \"particularly problematic\" since ultra-rich households have grown at a rate of 12% over the past five years and are expected to double in both volume and wealth by 2022. Compared to the percentage of net worth given away in the US every year, the report estimates that India's rich could give $5bn to $8bn more each year. \"There is a great fear of the taxman,\" says Ingrid Srinath, director of the Centre for Social Impact and Philanthropy at Delhi's Ashoka University. \"They [the rich] don't want to end up on any radar or become the subject of more appeals for money.\" She believes another reason could be that wealth in India is still only one generation old, and those who have it don't feel secure enough to give it away. But Ms Srinath also cautions against wholly relying on the data as it is incomplete, making it \"hard to say anything definitive about philanthropy in India\". There is no centralised directory tracking philanthropy in India. Tax laws are complex and there aren't many incentives for giving. So reports, such as the one by Dasra, rely on multiple sources, from the government to third-party trackers to individual declarations. And many people give anonymously, which further complicates estimates of philanthropy. \"It's not considered cool to talk about how much you are giving,\" Ms Srinath says. Ashoka University, she adds, was partly funded by some 100 donors, each of whom gave more than $1.4m but refused to be acknowledged publicly. But Anant Bhagwati, one of the authors of the Dasra report, says that no matter how weak the data collection, large pledges are unlikely to fall through the cracks. \"If you look at those who have the money, they are not giving it,\" he says. Ms Srinath agrees: \"The overwhelming sentiment is that we [Indians] could do better.\" Mr Bhagwati doesn't discount donors who fund individual universities or hospitals, but what Indian philanthropy needs, he says, is people who commit to solving a problem. And not just any problem - preferably, one of the daunting sustainable development goals or SDGs. These range from ending poverty and hunger to giving people access to clean energy. Strategic philanthropy - which Dasra advocates - makes a distinction between charity and philanthropy. While the former might involve feeding the poor on a single day, the latter would require investing in non-profits that work to decrease or end hunger altogether. By this measure, rich Indians might be charitable, but not enough of them are philanthropists. More importantly, Mr Bhagwati says, philanthropy needs donors who will invest in the fight itself. By this he means pledges that don't specify how the money is to be spent. So, for instance, a non-profit that works to improve sanitation could use donor funds to build toilets, hire more people or even buy a laptop or other equipment that might make them more efficient. But most donors, Mr Bhagwati says, will set conditions about how they want the money spent. In other words, they will insist on the toilets being built. He calls this \"restricted giving\" and says it's hard to coax people to give any other way. But some of this is changing. \"Earlier you gave as much as you could and hoped something came of it,\" Ms Srinath says, adding that earlier, most people wanted to fund education. \"Education is to Indian philanthropy what cricket is to Indian sport,\" she says, laughing. But now, she adds, Indian philanthropy is finally diversifying into areas beyond education - sanitation, mental health and scientific research. The biggest challenge has been the gap between what Mr Sanghavi calls \"action and intent\". Some billionaires are just more willing to give their wealth away than others. He says he has heard several Indian philanthropists, including the Nilekanis, speak of how they see themselves as \"trustees\" of their wealth, which, according to them, rightfully belongs to the larger community. That is, they believe they owe the world their wealth. In a note explaining his decision to sign the Giving Pledge, Mr Premji said his mother was the \"most significant influence\" in his life and that he was also \"deeply influenced by Gandhi's notion of holding one's wealth in trusteeship\". Ms Srinath says philanthropists could be influenced by many things, from parents to community to faith. But generosity as a trait, she adds, is inexorably linked to a way of seeing the world and your role in it. \"It certainly has nothing to do with how much money you have.\"", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 4099, "answer_end": 5568, "text": "\"There is a great fear of the taxman,\" says Ingrid Srinath, director of the Centre for Social Impact and Philanthropy at Delhi's Ashoka University. \"They [the rich] don't want to end up on any radar or become the subject of more appeals for money.\" She believes another reason could be that wealth in India is still only one generation old, and those who have it don't feel secure enough to give it away. But Ms Srinath also cautions against wholly relying on the data as it is incomplete, making it \"hard to say anything definitive about philanthropy in India\". There is no centralised directory tracking philanthropy in India. Tax laws are complex and there aren't many incentives for giving. So reports, such as the one by Dasra, rely on multiple sources, from the government to third-party trackers to individual declarations. And many people give anonymously, which further complicates estimates of philanthropy. \"It's not considered cool to talk about how much you are giving,\" Ms Srinath says. Ashoka University, she adds, was partly funded by some 100 donors, each of whom gave more than $1.4m but refused to be acknowledged publicly. But Anant Bhagwati, one of the authors of the Dasra report, says that no matter how weak the data collection, large pledges are unlikely to fall through the cracks. \"If you look at those who have the money, they are not giving it,\" he says. Ms Srinath agrees: \"The overwhelming sentiment is that we [Indians] could do better.\""}], "question": "What is stopping them?", "id": "735_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Amnesty links palm oil used in household goods to child labour in Indonesia", "date": "30 November 2016", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Children as young as eight are being used in Indonesia to produce palm oil found in popular household products, according to Amnesty International. Unilever, Colgate-Palmolive, Kellogg's and Nestle are among those linked to Singapore-based company Wilmar, the human rights group says. The Amnesty report alleges that children as young as eight are working in \"hazardous\" conditions in Indonesia. Wilmar said it was carrying out an \"assessment\" of the findings. It was, it said, \"aware of the issues\" raised by Amnesty. The BBC has not been able to verify the report's findings. Amnesty researchers investigated the working conditions at plantations in the Indonesian regions of Kalimantan and Sumatra. It found that the palm oil produced at the sites for the company Wilmar had been sold on to manufacturers that produce items ranging from toothpaste and cosmetics to ice-cream. The report \"will shock any consumer who thinks they are making ethical choices\" when selecting products that claim to use sustainable palm oil, Amnesty senior investigator Meghna Abraham said. \"Something is wrong when nine companies turning over a combined revenue of $325bn [PS260bn] in 2015 are unable to do something about the atrocious treatment of palm oil workers.\" The report details children aged between eight and 14 carrying out physical labour on plantations in Indonesia without safety equipment in areas exposed to pesticides. Some of the children had dropped out of school to work with parents, while others worked in the afternoons, at weekends and during holidays, Amnesty said. It added that its investigation had found that some plantation workers were earning as little as $2.50 a day. In response to the report, Wilmar said it had already been carrying out an \"internal assessment\" of its supply practices before being approached by Amnesty. \"We acknowledge that there are ongoing labour issues in the palm oil industry, and these issues could affect any palm company operating in Indonesia,\" the company said, adding that the report was welcome as it helped \"highlight labour issues\" within the trade. Amnesty said that seven of the nine companies mentioned in the report had admitted that they bought palm oil through Wilmar's Indonesian operations: - Unilever, which produces Knorr soups, Dove cosmetics and Pot Noodles, promised to work with its partners to address \"these deeply concerning social issues\" - Kellogg's cited \"traceability\" in the supply chain as a contributing factor when failing to identify abuses at the plantations; it said it would talk to its suppliers and cease to use them if concerns were \"not adequately addressed\" - Colgate and Nestle told Amnesty that none of the products listed by the organisation contained palm oil linked to Wilmar's Indonesian operations Amnesty's business and human rights programme director, Peter Frankental, said human rights abuses linked to any supply chain should result in a product being viewed as \"defective\". \"Using mealy-mouthed excuses about 'traceability' is a total cop-out from these companies,\" he said. \"You can be sure that if one these companies' products were contaminated and had to be taken off the shelves of supermarkets, they would ensure that they could trace the source to specific plantations.\"", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 2102, "answer_end": 3276, "text": "Amnesty said that seven of the nine companies mentioned in the report had admitted that they bought palm oil through Wilmar's Indonesian operations: - Unilever, which produces Knorr soups, Dove cosmetics and Pot Noodles, promised to work with its partners to address \"these deeply concerning social issues\" - Kellogg's cited \"traceability\" in the supply chain as a contributing factor when failing to identify abuses at the plantations; it said it would talk to its suppliers and cease to use them if concerns were \"not adequately addressed\" - Colgate and Nestle told Amnesty that none of the products listed by the organisation contained palm oil linked to Wilmar's Indonesian operations Amnesty's business and human rights programme director, Peter Frankental, said human rights abuses linked to any supply chain should result in a product being viewed as \"defective\". \"Using mealy-mouthed excuses about 'traceability' is a total cop-out from these companies,\" he said. \"You can be sure that if one these companies' products were contaminated and had to be taken off the shelves of supermarkets, they would ensure that they could trace the source to specific plantations.\""}], "question": "What do the companies say?", "id": "736_0"}]}]}, {"title": "UK-US trade deal: Envoy attacks 'myths' about US farming", "date": "2 March 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Fears over chlorine-washed chicken and hormone-fed beef are \"myths\", according to the US ambassador to the UK. In the Daily Telegraph, Woody Johnson urged the UK to embrace US farming methods after Washington published its objectives for a UK-US trade deal. EU rules currently limit US exports of certain food products, including chicken and beef - but Mr Johnson wants that to change in the UK after Brexit. Downing Street has repeatedly denied it will accept lower food standards. A No 10 spokeswoman said: \"We have always been very clear that we will not lower our food standards as part of a future trading agreement.\" Mr Johnson, however, described warnings over US farming practices as \"inflammatory and misleading\" smears from \"people with their own protectionist agenda\". He also said the EU's \"Museum of Agriculture\" approach was not sustainable, adding: \"American farmers are making a vital contribution to the rest of the world. Their efforts deserve to be recognised. \"Instead, they are being dismissed with misleading scare-stories which only tell you half the story.\" On chlorine-washed chicken, Mr Johnson said the process was the same as that used by EU farmers to treat their fruit and vegetables. Describing it as a \"public safety no-brainer\", he insisted it was the most effective and economical way of dealing with \"potentially lethal\" bacteria such as salmonella and campylobacter. President of the UK's National Farmer's Union (NFU) Minette Batters said that while Mr Johnson was correct in saying chlorine-washed chicken and hormone-fed beef was \"safe\" to eat, there were other factors that needed considering. \"The difference is welfare standards and environmental protection standards,\" she told BBC Radio 4's Today programme. \"Our consumer has demanded high standards of animal welfare, we've risen to that challenge - he's right to make the point that food security is crucially important, we would say the same - but all we're saying is: 'Produce the food to our standards and we'll have a trade deal.'\" Ms Batters said chicken farms in the US were not required, for example, to include windows in their sheds or clean out in between flocks. The US National Farmers' Union has always maintained that its chicken and beef, which use processes banned by the EU, are \"perfectly safe\" and argues there has been a lot of \"fear-mongering\". However, its British counterpart said the UK government should not accept a US deal \"which allows food to be imported into this country produced in ways which would be illegal here\". That, Ms Batters said, \"would just put British producers out of business\". Amy Mount from Greener UK, an environmental lobby group, said: \"This wish-list shows that a hard-Brexit pivot away from the EU in favour of the US would mean pressure to scrap important protections for our environment and food quality. \"Any future trade deals should reflect the high standards that the UK public both wants and expects.\" Despite the NFU's insistence that consumers are keen to maintain the current welfare standards in farming, Ms Batters said there was a possibility the UK would give in to the US. She said: \"There's always been the risk - and agriculture has always been the last chapter in any trade deal to be agreed - so yes there is a huge risk that British agriculture will be the sacrificial lamb in future trade deals.\" Meanwhile, Dr Emily Jones, who is an associate professor of public policy at the Blavatnik School of Government at the University of Oxford, also said the issue was likely to be a sticking point for the US. \"I think the US won't buy it in negotiations with the UK,\" said Dr Jones, referring to the UK's insistence on maintaining its current standards. \"It's wanted, for a very long time, the EU to harmonise with US regulations and approaches to the production of food and it's exactly what it'll ask of the UK as well.\" In the US, it is legal to wash chicken carcasses in strongly chlorinated water. Producers argue that it stops the spread of microbial contamination from the bird's digestive tract to the meat, a method approved by US regulators. But the practice has been banned in the EU since 1997, where only washing with cold air or water is allowed. The EU argues that chlorine washes could increase the risk of bacterial-based diseases such as salmonella on the grounds that dirty abattoirs with sloppy standards would rely on it as a decontaminant rather than making sure their basic hygiene protocols were up to scratch. There are also concerns that such \"washes\" would be used by less scrupulous meat processing plants to increase the shelf-life of meat, making it appear fresher than it really is.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 3888, "answer_end": 4678, "text": "In the US, it is legal to wash chicken carcasses in strongly chlorinated water. Producers argue that it stops the spread of microbial contamination from the bird's digestive tract to the meat, a method approved by US regulators. But the practice has been banned in the EU since 1997, where only washing with cold air or water is allowed. The EU argues that chlorine washes could increase the risk of bacterial-based diseases such as salmonella on the grounds that dirty abattoirs with sloppy standards would rely on it as a decontaminant rather than making sure their basic hygiene protocols were up to scratch. There are also concerns that such \"washes\" would be used by less scrupulous meat processing plants to increase the shelf-life of meat, making it appear fresher than it really is."}], "question": "What is chlorine-washed chicken?", "id": "737_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Queen's Speech: What is it and why is it important?", "date": "16 December 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "The Queen's Speech takes place on Thursday, one week after the Conservatives secured a majority at the general election. The last Queen's Speech was held just nine weeks ago. So what is it and why is another one happening? The Queen's Speech provides the government with an opportunity to highlight its priorities for the months ahead. It forms part of the State Opening of Parliament ceremony, which marks the start of the parliamentary year. The ceremony begins with a procession, in which the Queen travels from Buckingham Palace to Westminster - usually by carriage. MPs are summoned to the House of Lords by an official known as Black Rod. Before entering the Commons, Black Rod has the doors shut in their face, symbolising the chamber's independence from the monarchy. During the speech, the Queen sets out the laws the government wants Parliament to approve. By convention, it is announced by the monarch in the presence of MPs, peers and other dignitaries in the House of Lords. Normally, a Queen's Speech happens once a year, but this will be the second in two months. After becoming prime minister in July, Boris Johnson wanted to hold one. However, his initial attempt was blocked by the Supreme Court over the length of time Parliament was to be closed before it was held. Despite the controversy, Mr Johnson did eventually hold a Queen's Speech on 14 October. But now that a general election has been held, the new Conservative government needs another Queen's Speech to set out its agenda. The last Queen's Speech set out 26 bills - pieces of proposed legislation - covering areas such as Brexit, crime and education. Many of these bills are likely to reappear in this speech. The main ones are the Brexit bill, to ensure the UK leaves the EU by 31 January, and a bill to bring in tougher sentences for violent and sexual offenders. Some of the Conservatives' election pledges, such as extra NHS funding, are also likely to be included in the list of bills. It is written by ministers but delivered by the Queen from the throne of the House of Lords. Its length depends on the number of proposed laws and other announcements - such as foreign policy objectives - but it normally takes about 10 minutes. The Queen has delivered the speech 65 times but was absent in 1959 and 1963, when she was pregnant. On those occasions, the speech was read by the Lord Chancellor. Yes. The new session of Parliament begins almost immediately. About two hours after the speech is delivered, MPs reassemble in the House of Commons to begin debating its contents. After introductory speeches by two MPs, the prime minister will \"sell\" the speech to the Commons, setting out their vision for the country. The leader of the opposition then gets their chance to respond, before other MPs are allowed to contribute. The debate on what is known as the \"Humble Address\" normally lasts about five days. At the end of the debate there is a vote. It's normally seen as symbolic, as it is extremely rare for a government to lose it. In fact, the last time a government lost the vote was in January 1924, under Conservative Prime Minister Stanley Baldwin. Mr Baldwin proceeded with a King's Speech, under George V, despite having lost his majority in the previous month's general election.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 223, "answer_end": 987, "text": "The Queen's Speech provides the government with an opportunity to highlight its priorities for the months ahead. It forms part of the State Opening of Parliament ceremony, which marks the start of the parliamentary year. The ceremony begins with a procession, in which the Queen travels from Buckingham Palace to Westminster - usually by carriage. MPs are summoned to the House of Lords by an official known as Black Rod. Before entering the Commons, Black Rod has the doors shut in their face, symbolising the chamber's independence from the monarchy. During the speech, the Queen sets out the laws the government wants Parliament to approve. By convention, it is announced by the monarch in the presence of MPs, peers and other dignitaries in the House of Lords."}], "question": "What is the Queen's Speech?", "id": "738_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 988, "answer_end": 1504, "text": "Normally, a Queen's Speech happens once a year, but this will be the second in two months. After becoming prime minister in July, Boris Johnson wanted to hold one. However, his initial attempt was blocked by the Supreme Court over the length of time Parliament was to be closed before it was held. Despite the controversy, Mr Johnson did eventually hold a Queen's Speech on 14 October. But now that a general election has been held, the new Conservative government needs another Queen's Speech to set out its agenda."}], "question": "When is the Queen's Speech usually held?", "id": "738_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1505, "answer_end": 1972, "text": "The last Queen's Speech set out 26 bills - pieces of proposed legislation - covering areas such as Brexit, crime and education. Many of these bills are likely to reappear in this speech. The main ones are the Brexit bill, to ensure the UK leaves the EU by 31 January, and a bill to bring in tougher sentences for violent and sexual offenders. Some of the Conservatives' election pledges, such as extra NHS funding, are also likely to be included in the list of bills."}], "question": "What's going to be in the Queen's Speech?", "id": "738_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1973, "answer_end": 2217, "text": "It is written by ministers but delivered by the Queen from the throne of the House of Lords. Its length depends on the number of proposed laws and other announcements - such as foreign policy objectives - but it normally takes about 10 minutes."}], "question": "Who writes the Queen's Speech?", "id": "738_3"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2218, "answer_end": 2381, "text": "The Queen has delivered the speech 65 times but was absent in 1959 and 1963, when she was pregnant. On those occasions, the speech was read by the Lord Chancellor."}], "question": "Can anyone else deliver the Queen's Speech?", "id": "738_4"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2382, "answer_end": 3276, "text": "Yes. The new session of Parliament begins almost immediately. About two hours after the speech is delivered, MPs reassemble in the House of Commons to begin debating its contents. After introductory speeches by two MPs, the prime minister will \"sell\" the speech to the Commons, setting out their vision for the country. The leader of the opposition then gets their chance to respond, before other MPs are allowed to contribute. The debate on what is known as the \"Humble Address\" normally lasts about five days. At the end of the debate there is a vote. It's normally seen as symbolic, as it is extremely rare for a government to lose it. In fact, the last time a government lost the vote was in January 1924, under Conservative Prime Minister Stanley Baldwin. Mr Baldwin proceeded with a King's Speech, under George V, despite having lost his majority in the previous month's general election."}], "question": "Is there a vote on it?", "id": "738_5"}]}]}, {"title": "Colombia's President Santos says Farc deal must rebuild country", "date": "26 September 2016", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Colombia's President Juan Manuel Santos says peace with the Farc rebel group will boost economic growth and enable the country to rebuild its social fabric. \"War is always more costly than peace,\" he said in an interview with the BBC. Mr Santos and Farc leader Timoleon Jimenez, known as Timochenko, will sign a historic peace deal later on Monday. But it will take a long time for Colombian society to recover from more than five decades of conflict, he said. The Farc will be relaunched as a political party as part of the deal, which is due to be put to Colombian voters in a popular vote on 2 October. \"We could have grown between 2% and 3% more per year for the past 23 years,\" Mr Santos told the BBC's Lyse Doucet, adding that the conflict had also had a profound impact on Colombian society. \"We have even lost our compassion, which is the ability to feel some kind of pain for others. \"A country at war for 50 years is a country that has destroyed many of its values,\" said President Santos. Who are the Farc? President Santos: From hawk to dove The guerrilla leader who talks peace Female Farc fighter on abortions in the army Colombia's peace deal makes history in many ways, most of all for ending the last of the Cold War conflicts. But it also breaks new ground in trying to balance the desire for peace with the demands of justice which bedevil all peace talks. There's no amnesty, unlike all previous peace accords in the region. The Farc, as well as Colombia's security forces, have accepted special tribunals and a truth and reconciliation process. Many of the victims of the Farc's brutality have been brought into the process. If polls are to be believed, a majority will vote to accept this deal. But I kept meeting people in Bogota and Cartagena who said they would vote no. Fifty years of war also means decades of hatred and mistrust. Many doubt that the Farc will give up all its lucrative criminal activities. Will this deal also make history in being a peace deal which doesn't fall apart? The peace agreement was sealed last month after nearly four years of talks, which were held in the Cuban capital, Havana. A bilateral ceasefire came into force five days later,  effectively ending the conflict. Senior members of the Farc (Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia) voted unanimously to ratify the deal on the last day of their conference on Friday. The 52-year conflict has led to the deaths of an estimated 260,000 people with more than six million people internally displaced. \"The signature of the deal is simply the end of the conflict. Then the hard work starts: reconstructing our country,\" President Santos said. The Farc now has 180 days to disarm and move its estimated 7,500 fighters into disarmament zones set up by the UN. An amnesty will be granted for \"political crimes\" but this does not cover massacres, torture or rape. The Farc has already agreed to stop drug production in areas under its control and the government has pledged to help farmers earn a living without growing illicit crops. The Farc will become a political party, allocated 10 seats in the 268-member Congress. Once the deal is signed EU sanctions against the group are expected to be suspended, the bloc's ambassador in Bogota said. They could be permanently removed from the EU's list of terror organisations after six months have elapsed, according to EU officials. Both sides have pledged to provide land, loans and basic services to impoverished rural areas. Mr Santos says the deal with the Farc was fair and that it made those who committed war crimes accountable. Mr Santos and Farc leader Timoleon Jimenez will sign the historic peace deal at a ceremony in the port city of Cartagena on Monday evening. The document will be signed using a Baligrafo - a bullet turned into a pen - as a symbol of a peaceful future. Some 2,500 attendees are expected, among them UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, US Secretary of State John Kerry and several Latin American leaders including Cuba's Raul Castro. Victims of the conflict will also be present. Mr Santos said he was \"very, very confident\" that most Colombians would vote in favour of the deal. \"The latest polls say that between 65% and 70% of the people approve of the peace process,\" he said But he warned that if the agreement was rejected in the popular vote, the conflict would start again. \"We will go back six years and continue the war with the Farc. That's plan B,\" he said. Colombia's second largest rebel group, the ELN (National Liberation Army), announced on Sunday a unilateral ceasefire until the referendum. ELN leaders have publicly expressed their wish to engage in their own peace process with the Colombian government. 1964:  Set up as armed wing of Communist Party 2002:  At its height, it had an army of 20,000 fighters controlling up to a third of the country. Senator Ingrid Betancourt kidnapped and held for six years along with 14 other hostages 2008:  The Farc suffers a series of defeats in its worst year 2012:  Start of peace talks in Havana 2016:  Definitive ceasefire Full timeline of Farc conflict", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 2016, "answer_end": 2649, "text": "The peace agreement was sealed last month after nearly four years of talks, which were held in the Cuban capital, Havana. A bilateral ceasefire came into force five days later,  effectively ending the conflict. Senior members of the Farc (Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia) voted unanimously to ratify the deal on the last day of their conference on Friday. The 52-year conflict has led to the deaths of an estimated 260,000 people with more than six million people internally displaced. \"The signature of the deal is simply the end of the conflict. Then the hard work starts: reconstructing our country,\" President Santos said."}], "question": "How have we got here?", "id": "739_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2650, "answer_end": 3585, "text": "The Farc now has 180 days to disarm and move its estimated 7,500 fighters into disarmament zones set up by the UN. An amnesty will be granted for \"political crimes\" but this does not cover massacres, torture or rape. The Farc has already agreed to stop drug production in areas under its control and the government has pledged to help farmers earn a living without growing illicit crops. The Farc will become a political party, allocated 10 seats in the 268-member Congress. Once the deal is signed EU sanctions against the group are expected to be suspended, the bloc's ambassador in Bogota said. They could be permanently removed from the EU's list of terror organisations after six months have elapsed, according to EU officials. Both sides have pledged to provide land, loans and basic services to impoverished rural areas. Mr Santos says the deal with the Farc was fair and that it made those who committed war crimes accountable."}], "question": "What's in the deal?", "id": "739_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3586, "answer_end": 4060, "text": "Mr Santos and Farc leader Timoleon Jimenez will sign the historic peace deal at a ceremony in the port city of Cartagena on Monday evening. The document will be signed using a Baligrafo - a bullet turned into a pen - as a symbol of a peaceful future. Some 2,500 attendees are expected, among them UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, US Secretary of State John Kerry and several Latin American leaders including Cuba's Raul Castro. Victims of the conflict will also be present."}], "question": "Who's attending?", "id": "739_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 4061, "answer_end": 4705, "text": "Mr Santos said he was \"very, very confident\" that most Colombians would vote in favour of the deal. \"The latest polls say that between 65% and 70% of the people approve of the peace process,\" he said But he warned that if the agreement was rejected in the popular vote, the conflict would start again. \"We will go back six years and continue the war with the Farc. That's plan B,\" he said. Colombia's second largest rebel group, the ELN (National Liberation Army), announced on Sunday a unilateral ceasefire until the referendum. ELN leaders have publicly expressed their wish to engage in their own peace process with the Colombian government."}], "question": "What's next?", "id": "739_3"}]}]}, {"title": "Colombian government and Farc to sign new peace deal", "date": "23 November 2016", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Colombia's government says it will sign a new peace accord with Farc rebels on Thursday, after a previous deal was rejected in a referendum last month. The new revised agreement will be submitted to Congress for approval, rather than put to a popular vote. But opposition groups say it still does not go far enough in punishing rebels for human rights abuses. The deal is aimed at ending five decades of armed conflict, which has killed more than 260,000 people. After four years of formal talks between rebel and government negotiators, the two sides reached an agreement earlier this year. The deal was signed in an emotional ceremony before world leaders in the Colombian city of Cartagena on 26 September. But Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos had said from the start of the negotiations that he wanted the Colombian people to have a say in the peace process. He asked them to endorse or reject the peace agreement in a popular vote held on 2 October. Polls had suggested the deal would pass by a comfortable margin but in a shock result it was narrowly rejected. A bilateral ceasefire was extended until the end of the year to give the two sides time to plan their next steps. President Santos met former President Alvaro Uribe, a vociferous opponent of the peace deal, to listen to his objections. The government and the Farc then went back to the negotiating table to try to strike a new deal acceptable to those who had voted \"no\". Changes were made to all but one of the 57 points in the original agreement. The five main points which have been changed are: - The Farc will have to declare all their assets and hand them over. The money will be used for reparation payments for the victims of the conflict - Concerns by religious groups that the agreement undermined family values have been addressed - A time limit of 10 years has been set for the transitional justice system - Farc rebels will be expected to provide exhaustive information about any drug trafficking they may have been involved in - The peace agreement will not form part of Colombia's constitution President Santos has announced that the revised deal will be signed in a low-key ceremony in a theatre in the capital, Bogota, on Thursday. The deal will then be sent to Congress, where the government has a solid majority, with a vote expected to be scheduled for next week. The Democratic Centre party, founded by ex-President Uribe, has already said it will vote \"no\". Its leaders say that the changes are only \"cosmetic\" and object to the fact that the government has said the new deal is \"final\". It wants more of its demands met, including harsher sentences for Farc rebels who have committed crimes. It also demanded that the revised deal be put to another popular vote, which President Santos and the Farc have both ruled out. Other parties in Congress have given the deal its backing, so it is expected to pass. Public opinion remains divided into those who supported the original deal and those who remain suspicious of the Farc and their motives. Some say President Santos is ignoring the will of the people by refusing to put the revised deal to a popular vote. But others say Congress represents the Colombian people and its approval should suffice. Shortly after President Santos announced that the revised deal would be signed on Thursday, #PresidenteJustDoIt began trending on Twitter in Colombia. The posts urged Mr Santos to go ahead with the implementation of the peace deal. But there were also those who condemned the new agreement, saying that the venue for its signing, the Colon Theatre in Bogota, was appropriate for \"this political theatre\".", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 463, "answer_end": 1072, "text": "After four years of formal talks between rebel and government negotiators, the two sides reached an agreement earlier this year. The deal was signed in an emotional ceremony before world leaders in the Colombian city of Cartagena on 26 September. But Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos had said from the start of the negotiations that he wanted the Colombian people to have a say in the peace process. He asked them to endorse or reject the peace agreement in a popular vote held on 2 October. Polls had suggested the deal would pass by a comfortable margin but in a shock result it was narrowly rejected."}], "question": "Why was a new deal needed?", "id": "740_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1073, "answer_end": 1521, "text": "A bilateral ceasefire was extended until the end of the year to give the two sides time to plan their next steps. President Santos met former President Alvaro Uribe, a vociferous opponent of the peace deal, to listen to his objections. The government and the Farc then went back to the negotiating table to try to strike a new deal acceptable to those who had voted \"no\". Changes were made to all but one of the 57 points in the original agreement."}], "question": "What happened next?", "id": "740_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2082, "answer_end": 2356, "text": "President Santos has announced that the revised deal will be signed in a low-key ceremony in a theatre in the capital, Bogota, on Thursday. The deal will then be sent to Congress, where the government has a solid majority, with a vote expected to be scheduled for next week."}], "question": "What now?", "id": "740_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2357, "answer_end": 2901, "text": "The Democratic Centre party, founded by ex-President Uribe, has already said it will vote \"no\". Its leaders say that the changes are only \"cosmetic\" and object to the fact that the government has said the new deal is \"final\". It wants more of its demands met, including harsher sentences for Farc rebels who have committed crimes. It also demanded that the revised deal be put to another popular vote, which President Santos and the Farc have both ruled out. Other parties in Congress have given the deal its backing, so it is expected to pass."}], "question": "Will it pass?", "id": "740_3"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2902, "answer_end": 3394, "text": "Public opinion remains divided into those who supported the original deal and those who remain suspicious of the Farc and their motives. Some say President Santos is ignoring the will of the people by refusing to put the revised deal to a popular vote. But others say Congress represents the Colombian people and its approval should suffice. Shortly after President Santos announced that the revised deal would be signed on Thursday, #PresidenteJustDoIt began trending on Twitter in Colombia."}], "question": "What has the public reaction been?", "id": "740_4"}]}]}, {"title": "Does job success depend on data rather than your CV?", "date": "2 October 2014", "paragraphs": [{"context": "The bald truth is that most companies are pretty bad at recruitment. Nearly half of new recruits turn out to be duds within 18 months, according to one study, while two-thirds of hiring managers admit they've often chosen the wrong people. And the main reason for failure is not because applicants didn't have the requisite skills, but because their personalities clashed with the company's culture. So these days employers are resorting to big data analytics and other new methods to help make the fraught process of hiring and firing more scientific and effective. For job hunters, this means success is now as much to do with your online data trail as your finely crafted CV. While the internet has certainly made it easier to match jobseekers with vacancies, a number of firms are moving beyond automatic keyword matching to find \"suitable\" candidates and trying more sophisticated analyses instead. For example, recruitment technology firm Electronic Insight doesn't even bother to look at your skills and experience when analysing CVs on behalf of clients. \"We just look at what people write and how they structure their sentences,\" says Marc Mapes, the firm's chief innovation officer. Its algorithm analyses language patterns to reveal a candidate's personality and attitude, and then compares this against the cultural profile of the company. \"About 84% of people who get fired do so because of lack of cultural fit, not because of lack of skills,\" he maintains. And companies such as Silicon Valley start-up Knack are even developing games as a way of assessing the suitability of job candidates. While applicants play an online game designed to reveal their personality, emotional maturity and problem-solving skills, hundreds of pieces of information are being collected in the background and analysed by data scientists. For example, one game, Wasabi Waiter, involves the player serving customers in a restaurant and assessing their moods and desires. Every decision and choice the player makes tells a story, often unconsciously. Play reveals our true personality, the company argues. \"Gamification is definitely coming in,\" says Paul Finch, managing director of Konetic, an online recruitment technology company. \"Games can tell if you're a risk taker or innovator and they appeal to youngsters' gaming culture.\" But innovative personality tests are supplements to, not replacements for, big data analytics, many recruiters believe. Analysis of historic data from tens of millions of job applicants, successful or otherwise, is helping employers predict which new candidates are likely to be the best based on a comparison with the career paths, personalities and qualifications of previously successful employees. \"Now we're able to use our own data to track how long candidates stay in a role before seeking new opportunities,\" says Geoff Smith, managing director of recruitment consultancy Experis. \"We can also map out and predict typical career paths based on other candidates' career histories, which makes us more efficient and more able to help candidates with their future career ambitions,\" he says. Ben Hutt, chief executive of Talent Party, a UK and Australian job site aiming to become \"the Google of job search\", agrees that data science is saving recruiters a lot of time and money. \"We have 10 million candidate CVs on our database,\" he says. \"Using automated semantic analysis we can match suitable candidates to relevant jobs quickly and efficiently, saving human resources managers a lot of time.\" And Juan Urdiales, co-founder of recruitment website Jobandtalent, says machine learning algorithms are making the process of matching suitable candidates to relevant jobs much more accurate. \"We analyse more than 2.5 million profiles and more than 2.5 million job offers every month and learn which jobs the applicants click on and which they reject, refining the search process based on that data,\" he says. All this data analytics is also challenging perceptions about what skills and experiences candidates should have for the post. For example, San Francisco-based company Evolv found that long-term unemployed people perform no worse than those who have had more regular work. It also found that prior work experience and even education are not necessarily indicators of good performance in some roles. And for some reason, service industry workers who regularly use five social media platforms or more per week tend to be more productive but less loyal than their less digitally social colleagues. In addition to all the historic data analysts have at their disposal, social media is offering recruiters a rich new vein of real-time data. Our blogs, websites, Twitter rants and LinkedIn profiles reveal as much - if not more - about us than a semi-fictionalised CV. \"The days of keeping your personal and professional profiles separate are over,\" warns Experis's Geoff Smith. \"Social media is a great platform for individuals to demonstrate their expertise, experience and enthusiasm for their field of specialism. However, candidates need to be conscious of the online reputation they are building and the data trail they are leaving behind.\" A growing number of tech companies are offering tools that can sift through masses of social media data and spot patterns of behaviour and sentiment. \"Online tools, such as Sprout Social and Hootsuite enable our recruiters to keep an ear to the ground on what's going on with their clients, candidates and in the sectors we're working in,\" says Mr Smith. Konetic's Paul Finch agrees that applicants need to be aware what image their online profiles project. \"It's all about reputation. If people can't manage their own reputations, how are they going to protect the reputations of their future employers?\" he asks. But technology can only take us so far, argues Jerry Collier, director of global innovation at Alexander Mann Solutions, a company sourcing staff for blue-chip companies including HSBC, Rolls-Royce and Vodafone. \"Recruiting should be about relationships,\" he says. \"Technology is only there to make that process simpler and more efficient. \"If you want diversity and a richer, more creative workplace, you need people from different backgrounds and experiences. \"Leave that to an algorithm and it will probably come up with the same type of person every time.\" Talent Party's Ben Hutt agrees, saying: \"When you apply data science to 10 million CVs, it becomes something really useful. \"But data science is never going to replace the face-to-face interview.\"", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 679, "answer_end": 2327, "text": "While the internet has certainly made it easier to match jobseekers with vacancies, a number of firms are moving beyond automatic keyword matching to find \"suitable\" candidates and trying more sophisticated analyses instead. For example, recruitment technology firm Electronic Insight doesn't even bother to look at your skills and experience when analysing CVs on behalf of clients. \"We just look at what people write and how they structure their sentences,\" says Marc Mapes, the firm's chief innovation officer. Its algorithm analyses language patterns to reveal a candidate's personality and attitude, and then compares this against the cultural profile of the company. \"About 84% of people who get fired do so because of lack of cultural fit, not because of lack of skills,\" he maintains. And companies such as Silicon Valley start-up Knack are even developing games as a way of assessing the suitability of job candidates. While applicants play an online game designed to reveal their personality, emotional maturity and problem-solving skills, hundreds of pieces of information are being collected in the background and analysed by data scientists. For example, one game, Wasabi Waiter, involves the player serving customers in a restaurant and assessing their moods and desires. Every decision and choice the player makes tells a story, often unconsciously. Play reveals our true personality, the company argues. \"Gamification is definitely coming in,\" says Paul Finch, managing director of Konetic, an online recruitment technology company. \"Games can tell if you're a risk taker or innovator and they appeal to youngsters' gaming culture.\""}], "question": "Game for a job?", "id": "741_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Canada province cancels new sex-ed curriculum after protests", "date": "12 July 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "A Canadian province has cancelled a controversial sex education curriculum that taught children about gender identity, consent and social media. Newly elected Ontario Premier Doug Ford made good on his promise to cancel the lessons, which sparked protests when it was implemented in 2015. The curriculum was objected to by many who said it was age inappropriate and dismissed family values. Similar protests over sex ed have happened around the world. Ontario, Canada's most populous province, introduced a new sex-ed curriculum in 2015 in an attempt to modernise the programme in light of many changes to Canadian society and the growth of social media and sexting. The last time the curriculum had been updated was 1998. In 2005, same-sex marriage was legalised, and in 2012, Ontario passed a law prohibiting discrimination against transgender people. Meanwhile, the explosion of social media and the ubiquity of mobile phone ownership led to the rise of cyber-bullying, cyber-exploitation and sexting. Many socially conservative parents said the programme promoted progressive values and usurped their rights as parents to teach their children traditional values about sex and monogamy. Some parents and religious organisations especially objected to parts of the curriculum that taught children about different sexual and gender identities and masturbation. For instance, one lesson plan designed for children around 11 years old suggests describing masturbation as \"something that many people do and find pleasurable\". Other lessons plans for children mention concepts such as sexual orientation, children having two mothers or two fathers, and the idea that not everyone's gender corresponds with their sex at birth. \"The potential for causing serious sexual confusion in the minds of children is very real with this teaching,\" wrote the Campaign for Life Coalition, a Christian anti-abortion organisation. The curriculum also taught children about the importance of consent in sex, and about safety online. Objection did not just come from Catholic and evangelical parents and organisations. Many new Canadians of Middle Eastern and Asian descent also found the curriculum objectionable, and counter to their culture or religion's practices. When the curriculum was first announced, it generated fierce protests in many immigrant communities. In Thorncliffe Park, hundreds of parents staged a \"strike\", pulling their children from school. The issue was complicated by politics and prejudice - the head of the governing Liberal Party at the time, Kathleen Wynn, is a lesbian, and some conservatives parents accused her of \"pushing her agenda\" on families. Ontario's education minister announced on Thursday that come the autumn, children will be taught the old, 1998 version of the sex-ed curriculum. The move was praised by opponents of the new programme, but denounced by progressives and members of the LGBT community who accused the premier of caving to homophobia. This is not the first time that sex education has caused controversy. In April, parents across the US kept their children home to protest sex education curriculums in a number of states. They said the curriculums, which varied from state to state, promoted premarital sex and homosexuality. Sex education has long been a hot topic in the US, where only 21 states and the District of Columbia have mandatory curriculums. In contrast, 26 states have laws that require abstinence to be stressed. Teen pregnancy declined by 8% between 2015-16 in the US, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The CDC attributed the decline to a combination of more young people abstaining from sex or using more contraception. Still, the CDC notes that America remains first in developed nations for both STIs and teen pregnancy. Sex education was only made mandatory in England in 2017. In primary schools, children would be taught about building healthy relationships and staying safe, while in secondary school it would focus on sex as well as relationships. The new curriculum also addresses the dangers of sexting, online pornography and sexual harassment. The Safe at School Campaign, run by the Society for the Protection of Unborn Children, described the announcement as a \"tragedy\".", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1005, "answer_end": 2661, "text": "Many socially conservative parents said the programme promoted progressive values and usurped their rights as parents to teach their children traditional values about sex and monogamy. Some parents and religious organisations especially objected to parts of the curriculum that taught children about different sexual and gender identities and masturbation. For instance, one lesson plan designed for children around 11 years old suggests describing masturbation as \"something that many people do and find pleasurable\". Other lessons plans for children mention concepts such as sexual orientation, children having two mothers or two fathers, and the idea that not everyone's gender corresponds with their sex at birth. \"The potential for causing serious sexual confusion in the minds of children is very real with this teaching,\" wrote the Campaign for Life Coalition, a Christian anti-abortion organisation. The curriculum also taught children about the importance of consent in sex, and about safety online. Objection did not just come from Catholic and evangelical parents and organisations. Many new Canadians of Middle Eastern and Asian descent also found the curriculum objectionable, and counter to their culture or religion's practices. When the curriculum was first announced, it generated fierce protests in many immigrant communities. In Thorncliffe Park, hundreds of parents staged a \"strike\", pulling their children from school. The issue was complicated by politics and prejudice - the head of the governing Liberal Party at the time, Kathleen Wynn, is a lesbian, and some conservatives parents accused her of \"pushing her agenda\" on families."}], "question": "Who objected?", "id": "742_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2662, "answer_end": 2975, "text": "Ontario's education minister announced on Thursday that come the autumn, children will be taught the old, 1998 version of the sex-ed curriculum. The move was praised by opponents of the new programme, but denounced by progressives and members of the LGBT community who accused the premier of caving to homophobia."}], "question": "What's next?", "id": "742_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2976, "answer_end": 4272, "text": "This is not the first time that sex education has caused controversy. In April, parents across the US kept their children home to protest sex education curriculums in a number of states. They said the curriculums, which varied from state to state, promoted premarital sex and homosexuality. Sex education has long been a hot topic in the US, where only 21 states and the District of Columbia have mandatory curriculums. In contrast, 26 states have laws that require abstinence to be stressed. Teen pregnancy declined by 8% between 2015-16 in the US, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The CDC attributed the decline to a combination of more young people abstaining from sex or using more contraception. Still, the CDC notes that America remains first in developed nations for both STIs and teen pregnancy. Sex education was only made mandatory in England in 2017. In primary schools, children would be taught about building healthy relationships and staying safe, while in secondary school it would focus on sex as well as relationships. The new curriculum also addresses the dangers of sexting, online pornography and sexual harassment. The Safe at School Campaign, run by the Society for the Protection of Unborn Children, described the announcement as a \"tragedy\"."}], "question": "Has this debate happened elsewhere?", "id": "742_2"}]}]}, {"title": "Sarah Thomas: Woman first to swim Channel four times non-stop", "date": "17 September 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "A woman who was treated for breast cancer a year ago has become the first person to swim across the English Channel four times non-stop. Sarah Thomas, 37, began the epic challenge in the early hours of Sunday and finished after more than 54 hours. Ms Thomas - who completed her treatment in 2018 - dedicated her swim to \"all the survivors out there\". The swim was due to be about 80 miles but because of strong tides Ms Thomas ended up swimming closer to 130 miles. Ms Thomas, from Colorado in the United States, completed the final leg on Tuesday at about 06:30 BST. Speaking to the BBC after she came ashore at Dover, the open water ultra marathon swimmer said: \"I just can't believe we did it. I'm really just pretty numb. \"There was a lot of people on the beach to meet me and wish me well and it was really nice of them, but I feel just mostly stunned.\" She said she planned to sleep for the rest of the day, adding: \"I'm pretty tired right now.\" Swimmer Lewis Pugh said in a tweet: \"Just when we think we've reached the limit of human endurance, someone shatters the records.\" Ms Thomas's mother Becky Baxter told BBC Radio 4:  \"I've been on a lot of her trips. This was by far the scariest.\" She said her daughter was a \"freak of nature\" but did have \"a lot of trouble with stomach ache\" on this trip. Last year Ms Thomas had treatment for breast cancer and her support team said she \"used the swimming as her means of coping with the treatment\". Elaine Howley, a member of Ms Thomas's support team, said the swimmer had returned to her accommodation near Folkestone with her family to sleep and recuperate. She described her friend's achievement as \"unfathomable, super human, just extraordinary\". \"She has pushed out the boundaries of the sport of marathon swimming,\" she added. Experienced swimmer Ms Thomas completed her first open-water event in 2007. She first swam across the Channel in 2012 and then again in 2016. But that clearly wasn't far enough. Speaking to film-maker Jon Washer, she said: \"As I was doing 20 mile swims, it occurred to me that I could do more and I wanted to see what that more was.\" In August 2017, she swam 104.6 miles in Lake Champlain on the US/Canada border, but was later was diagnosed with cancer. Ms Thomas completed treatment for breast cancer in summer 2018 and dedicated her record-breaking Channel swim to other survivors. Ms Thomas swam from England to France and back - twice - in just over 54 hours. It should have been a total distance of about 80 miles (129 km) but the tidal pulls in the Channel increased the distance by more than 60%, meaning she ended up swimming nearly 130 miles (209 km). Only four swimmers have previously crossed the Channel three times without stopping. Before Ms Thomas no-one had ever completed a fourth leg. Author and broadcaster Charlie Connelly has described her achievement as \"one of the greatest feats of mental and physical endurance in human history\", while official observer Kevin Murphy said she had \"tested the limits of endurance\". Ms Thomas said dealing with the current was extremely tough as it was constantly pushing her off-course. And she was stung by a jellyfish. But the worst thing was \"dealing with the salt water... it really hurts your throat, your mouth and your tongue\", she said. Ms Thomas added: \"Every length had something that was really hard about it. \"Coming back from France the last time was definitely hard. It took forever and the current pushed me all over. \"I got stung in the face by a jellyfish. [The water] wasn't as cold as I thought it might be but it was still chilly.\" She also abided by the Channel Swimming and Piloting Federation rules when completing the crossing - so was only permitted to wear a cap, goggles, and a swimsuit. For nutrition, Ms Thomas relied on a protein recovery drink mixed with electrolytes and a little bit of caffeine to help offset sleepiness. Her mother said: \"It is tied to a rope and we get her attention every 30 minutes and throw it to her.\" She celebrated entering the record books and making dry land, with champagne and chocolates.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1788, "answer_end": 2372, "text": "Experienced swimmer Ms Thomas completed her first open-water event in 2007. She first swam across the Channel in 2012 and then again in 2016. But that clearly wasn't far enough. Speaking to film-maker Jon Washer, she said: \"As I was doing 20 mile swims, it occurred to me that I could do more and I wanted to see what that more was.\" In August 2017, she swam 104.6 miles in Lake Champlain on the US/Canada border, but was later was diagnosed with cancer. Ms Thomas completed treatment for breast cancer in summer 2018 and dedicated her record-breaking Channel swim to other survivors."}], "question": "What inspired the marathon swim?", "id": "743_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2373, "answer_end": 3027, "text": "Ms Thomas swam from England to France and back - twice - in just over 54 hours. It should have been a total distance of about 80 miles (129 km) but the tidal pulls in the Channel increased the distance by more than 60%, meaning she ended up swimming nearly 130 miles (209 km). Only four swimmers have previously crossed the Channel three times without stopping. Before Ms Thomas no-one had ever completed a fourth leg. Author and broadcaster Charlie Connelly has described her achievement as \"one of the greatest feats of mental and physical endurance in human history\", while official observer Kevin Murphy said she had \"tested the limits of endurance\"."}], "question": "How far did she swim?", "id": "743_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3028, "answer_end": 3760, "text": "Ms Thomas said dealing with the current was extremely tough as it was constantly pushing her off-course. And she was stung by a jellyfish. But the worst thing was \"dealing with the salt water... it really hurts your throat, your mouth and your tongue\", she said. Ms Thomas added: \"Every length had something that was really hard about it. \"Coming back from France the last time was definitely hard. It took forever and the current pushed me all over. \"I got stung in the face by a jellyfish. [The water] wasn't as cold as I thought it might be but it was still chilly.\" She also abided by the Channel Swimming and Piloting Federation rules when completing the crossing - so was only permitted to wear a cap, goggles, and a swimsuit."}], "question": "What were the challenges?", "id": "743_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3761, "answer_end": 4096, "text": "For nutrition, Ms Thomas relied on a protein recovery drink mixed with electrolytes and a little bit of caffeine to help offset sleepiness. Her mother said: \"It is tied to a rope and we get her attention every 30 minutes and throw it to her.\" She celebrated entering the record books and making dry land, with champagne and chocolates."}], "question": "How did she eat and drink - and stay awake?", "id": "743_3"}]}]}, {"title": "Brexit: Boris Johnson to make fresh general election bid", "date": "29 October 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Boris Johnson will try for a fourth time to secure an early general election, after MPs rejected his plan. The PM will now ask MPs to approve a 12 December election through a one-page bill - which needs the support of fewer MPs than his last attempt. But No 10 sources say they would accept an election on 11 December to get opposition parties on-board. Mr Johnson said the \"paralysis\" could not go on, but Labour said a no-deal Brexit had to be taken off the table. This comes after EU leaders accepted the UK's request to extend the Brexit deadline to 31 January - but the UK can leave earlier if a deal is agreed by Parliament. The Commons backed the government's election motion by 299 to 70 on Monday - but it was well short of the two-thirds of all 650 MPs whose support is needed to call an election under the Fixed-term Parliaments Act. All Conservative MPs backed the motion, but the vast majority of MPs from Labour - the largest opposition party - abstained, along with the Scottish National Party and Democratic Unionist Party from Northern Ireland. All but one MP from the Liberal Democrats voted against it. The government has now said it will abandon its attempt to pass its Brexit deal bill, for the time being. Instead, it has published its Early Parliamentary General Election Bill, which allows for an election to take place on 12 December. Former Chancellor Philip Hammond - who was expelled from the Conservative Party at Westminster after voting against a no-deal Brexit - said the idea of using \"precious time\" to hold an election, rather than passing the government's Brexit bill, \"frankly appals me\". But Home Office Minister Brandon Lewis said: \"We have to have an election to deliver a Parliament that can get Brexit through.\" Labour's shadow cabinet are meeting to discuss their position on the early election bill. On Monday, Boris Johnson officially accepted the EU's offer of an extension to the Brexit deadline to 31 January. This means the UK will not now leave the EU on Thursday - 31 October - a promise at the heart of Mr Johnson's campaign to become prime minister. In a letter to EU officials, Mr Johnson said the further delay - which he insists was forced upon him by Parliament - was \"unwanted\". MPs are due to begin debating the early election bill after 1230 GMT. The government is aiming to complete all of its Commons stages by the end of the day - a process that normally takes several days. A vote on the second reading of the bill is expected after 1630 GMT - this is the first Commons hurdle - and that will be followed later by a third reading vote. If MPs back that, then there is almost certain to be a pre-Christmas election, although the legislation will still have to clear the House of Lords. The date is a sticking point as things stand, but it is not impossible that will become unglued by the time MPs vote tonight. Conversations are going on through the \"usual channels\" - the party whips - and they may all find a way of climbing down to agree. But for both the government and the smaller opposition parties, they have to be willing to hold hands and jump into this together. The SNP and the Liberal Democrats are nervous as being seen as the PM's little helpers. Parliament is closer than it's ever been to an election. But it doesn't mean that it happens tonight and it is still possible after those MPs have walked through the voting lobbies, we still have no Brexit, no budget and no traditionally functioning government. Read more from Laura here. The legislation the PM will propose on Tuesday requires a lower threshold for approval than the motion he tabled on Monday. Mr Johnson originally tried to hold an election via the Fixed-term Parliament Act route, which is a simpler process than passing a bill as it cannot be amended by MPs. But with the need for two-thirds of all MPs to back it - rather than just a majority of one - his attempts have failed. Crucially for his new plan, the Lib Dems and the SNP have indicated they might be prepared to support it. However, there are arguments over the date of an election. Parliament has to be dissolved a minimum of 25 working days before the date of an election to allow sufficient preparations to take place. The Lib Dems and the SNP want an election on 9 December because they say that will prevent any chance of Mr Johnson's Brexit deal being approved before Parliament is dissolved. Both parties want to fight the election on a platform of stopping Brexit entirely. The government hopes to persuade the Lib Dems and the SNP to agree to the 12 December date by pledging not to bring back its Brexit deal bill before Parliament is dissolved. But No 10 sources have said they would accept a Lib Dem/SNP amendment allowing an election to take place on 11 December. Earlier, Home Office Minister Brandon Lewis said 12 December was \"the right date for a general election\", arguing a poll any earlier would not allow time for the government to pass \"key pieces of legislation\" - including around budget issues in Northern Ireland. However, Lib Dem leader Jo Swinson told MPs she did not trust Mr Johnson's assurances. The government maintains it would be very difficult for an election bill to pass through both the Commons and the Lords, and receive Royal Assent by 00:01 on Friday in order to meet a 9 December deadline. Most Labour MPs abstained from Monday's vote. The party's leader, Jeremy Corbyn, said he would consider the legislation, but would only support an election once a no-deal Brexit had been taken off the table. He also called for assurances that students would not be \"disenfranchised\" if the vote was held outside term time. But speaking to BBC Radio 4's Today programme, shadow international trade secretary Barry Gardiner said a 9 December election \"certainly would\" appeal more than a 12 December vote. The BBC's Laura Kuenssberg said there was a split in the party over whether to hold an election, with some MPs worried about their standings in the polls and confusion over their Brexit policy - to negotiate a new deal then hold another referendum. The DUP, which opposes Mr Johnson's Brexit agreement and which abstained in Monday's vote, could also potentially come on board - meaning the simple majority of one could be achieved. But the government may also need support from those MPs who had the Conservative whip removed for voting against a no-deal Brexit. One of those MPs, Mr Hammond, said: \"I think the government is trying to create a narrative that Parliament is blocking Brexit and therefore we need an election. But, that is simply untrue.\" The former chancellor argued the real motivation for an election was to \"change the shape of the Conservative Party\" and to \"get rid of a cohort of MPs that it regards as not robust enough\" on Brexit. \"There is a piece of blatant entryism to change what the Conservative Party is about,\" he added. However, the now-independent MP also said: \"It really doesn't matter how many times my party kicks me, abuses me, reviles me. They are not going to stop me feeling like a Conservative.\" Do you have any questions about the latest Brexit developments? Email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. 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 - Text an SMS or MMS to 61124 or +44 7624 800 100 - Please read our terms of use and privacy policy", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 2237, "answer_end": 2748, "text": "MPs are due to begin debating the early election bill after 1230 GMT. The government is aiming to complete all of its Commons stages by the end of the day - a process that normally takes several days. A vote on the second reading of the bill is expected after 1630 GMT - this is the first Commons hurdle - and that will be followed later by a third reading vote. If MPs back that, then there is almost certain to be a pre-Christmas election, although the legislation will still have to clear the House of Lords."}], "question": "How will today work?", "id": "744_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3514, "answer_end": 4090, "text": "The legislation the PM will propose on Tuesday requires a lower threshold for approval than the motion he tabled on Monday. Mr Johnson originally tried to hold an election via the Fixed-term Parliament Act route, which is a simpler process than passing a bill as it cannot be amended by MPs. But with the need for two-thirds of all MPs to back it - rather than just a majority of one - his attempts have failed. Crucially for his new plan, the Lib Dems and the SNP have indicated they might be prepared to support it. However, there are arguments over the date of an election."}], "question": "Why is the PM trying again?", "id": "744_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 4091, "answer_end": 5339, "text": "Parliament has to be dissolved a minimum of 25 working days before the date of an election to allow sufficient preparations to take place. The Lib Dems and the SNP want an election on 9 December because they say that will prevent any chance of Mr Johnson's Brexit deal being approved before Parliament is dissolved. Both parties want to fight the election on a platform of stopping Brexit entirely. The government hopes to persuade the Lib Dems and the SNP to agree to the 12 December date by pledging not to bring back its Brexit deal bill before Parliament is dissolved. But No 10 sources have said they would accept a Lib Dem/SNP amendment allowing an election to take place on 11 December. Earlier, Home Office Minister Brandon Lewis said 12 December was \"the right date for a general election\", arguing a poll any earlier would not allow time for the government to pass \"key pieces of legislation\" - including around budget issues in Northern Ireland. However, Lib Dem leader Jo Swinson told MPs she did not trust Mr Johnson's assurances. The government maintains it would be very difficult for an election bill to pass through both the Commons and the Lords, and receive Royal Assent by 00:01 on Friday in order to meet a 9 December deadline."}], "question": "Why does the date matter so much?", "id": "744_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 5340, "answer_end": 7082, "text": "Most Labour MPs abstained from Monday's vote. The party's leader, Jeremy Corbyn, said he would consider the legislation, but would only support an election once a no-deal Brexit had been taken off the table. He also called for assurances that students would not be \"disenfranchised\" if the vote was held outside term time. But speaking to BBC Radio 4's Today programme, shadow international trade secretary Barry Gardiner said a 9 December election \"certainly would\" appeal more than a 12 December vote. The BBC's Laura Kuenssberg said there was a split in the party over whether to hold an election, with some MPs worried about their standings in the polls and confusion over their Brexit policy - to negotiate a new deal then hold another referendum. The DUP, which opposes Mr Johnson's Brexit agreement and which abstained in Monday's vote, could also potentially come on board - meaning the simple majority of one could be achieved. But the government may also need support from those MPs who had the Conservative whip removed for voting against a no-deal Brexit. One of those MPs, Mr Hammond, said: \"I think the government is trying to create a narrative that Parliament is blocking Brexit and therefore we need an election. But, that is simply untrue.\" The former chancellor argued the real motivation for an election was to \"change the shape of the Conservative Party\" and to \"get rid of a cohort of MPs that it regards as not robust enough\" on Brexit. \"There is a piece of blatant entryism to change what the Conservative Party is about,\" he added. However, the now-independent MP also said: \"It really doesn't matter how many times my party kicks me, abuses me, reviles me. They are not going to stop me feeling like a Conservative.\""}], "question": "How do other MPs feel about an election?", "id": "744_3"}]}]}, {"title": "The massive phone scam problem vexing China and Taiwan", "date": "22 April 2016", "paragraphs": [{"context": "A recent diplomatic row between Taiwan and China has cast light on a massive international telecoms fraud problem. It is said to involve thousands of scammers, some of them pretending to be government officials to extract money from victims. The scam has reportedly cost mainland Chinese victims billions of yuan and to have driven some to suicide. Earlier this month a group of suspects, including Taiwanese, were deported from Kenya to China, angering Taiwan. On Friday, Chinese officials said those 45 Taiwanese suspects will face trial on the mainland, refusing Taiwan's request they be sent back to Taiwan. Both China and Taiwan have for several years been pursuing suspects in what appears to be a huge scam operation, in terms of both scale and spread. In comments released to state media, China's public security ministry said it believed the scammers were operating mostly out of South East Asia, Africa and the Pacific Islands. Besides the Kenya case, there were also recent arrests in Malaysia. The officials claimed to have arrested 7,700 telecoms fraud suspects, of which about 4,600 are Taiwanese, in South East Asia in the past seven years - since they signed a formal agreement with Taiwan to jointly tackle crime. Many of the other suspects are said to be Chinese. The scammers have made staggering amounts of money - one of the worst cases saw a person in Guizhou city tricked out of 117m yuan (PS12.6m; $18m) last December. Many of the victims are elderly, along with teachers, farmers, manual labourers, and students. Officials added that the scams had bankrupted families and businesses, driving \"many victims\" to suicide. It has been difficult to ascertain if the criminals belong to the same ring or are separate syndicates, but their techniques have been similar. They usually contact victims over the phone or on popular messaging apps like WeChat and QQ, and their main ruse involves pretending to be a public security official telling the victim he or she is suspected of money laundering and needs to transfer more money for investigations. Other methods reported (in Chinese) include scammers pretending to be insurance agents or employees of online shopping sites. In February, China's public security ministry released a warning to the public listing 48 types of telecoms scams, which also include hacking victims' messaging accounts to obtain their banking details. The Chinese authorities' comments indicate that previously, when suspects were nabbed for committing crimes in a third country, both sides would separately deal with their own suspects. But now Taiwanese suspects have been deported to the mainland, instead of their home, to face charges. This has angered Taiwan, which has accused China of \"extrajudicial abduction\". China regards Taiwan as a breakaway Chinese province not an independent country. It insists it has jurisdiction over the Taiwanese as their suspected victims have all been mainland Chinese. It also claims that in many cases, Taiwanese suspects often go unpunished by Taiwanese authorities and the scammed amounts thus cannot be recovered. Earlier this month China criticised Taiwan for releasing a group of Taiwanese suspects arrested in Malaysia. Correspondents say the dispute is likely to sour already strained cross-strait relations. The move by China is also seen by some as yet another sign of heavy-handedness, after the recent suspected abductions of five Hong Kong booksellers.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 612, "answer_end": 1643, "text": "Both China and Taiwan have for several years been pursuing suspects in what appears to be a huge scam operation, in terms of both scale and spread. In comments released to state media, China's public security ministry said it believed the scammers were operating mostly out of South East Asia, Africa and the Pacific Islands. Besides the Kenya case, there were also recent arrests in Malaysia. The officials claimed to have arrested 7,700 telecoms fraud suspects, of which about 4,600 are Taiwanese, in South East Asia in the past seven years - since they signed a formal agreement with Taiwan to jointly tackle crime. Many of the other suspects are said to be Chinese. The scammers have made staggering amounts of money - one of the worst cases saw a person in Guizhou city tricked out of 117m yuan (PS12.6m; $18m) last December. Many of the victims are elderly, along with teachers, farmers, manual labourers, and students. Officials added that the scams had bankrupted families and businesses, driving \"many victims\" to suicide."}], "question": "How big is this fraud?", "id": "745_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1644, "answer_end": 2397, "text": "It has been difficult to ascertain if the criminals belong to the same ring or are separate syndicates, but their techniques have been similar. They usually contact victims over the phone or on popular messaging apps like WeChat and QQ, and their main ruse involves pretending to be a public security official telling the victim he or she is suspected of money laundering and needs to transfer more money for investigations. Other methods reported (in Chinese) include scammers pretending to be insurance agents or employees of online shopping sites. In February, China's public security ministry released a warning to the public listing 48 types of telecoms scams, which also include hacking victims' messaging accounts to obtain their banking details."}], "question": "What are the scammers doing?", "id": "745_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2398, "answer_end": 3452, "text": "The Chinese authorities' comments indicate that previously, when suspects were nabbed for committing crimes in a third country, both sides would separately deal with their own suspects. But now Taiwanese suspects have been deported to the mainland, instead of their home, to face charges. This has angered Taiwan, which has accused China of \"extrajudicial abduction\". China regards Taiwan as a breakaway Chinese province not an independent country. It insists it has jurisdiction over the Taiwanese as their suspected victims have all been mainland Chinese. It also claims that in many cases, Taiwanese suspects often go unpunished by Taiwanese authorities and the scammed amounts thus cannot be recovered. Earlier this month China criticised Taiwan for releasing a group of Taiwanese suspects arrested in Malaysia. Correspondents say the dispute is likely to sour already strained cross-strait relations. The move by China is also seen by some as yet another sign of heavy-handedness, after the recent suspected abductions of five Hong Kong booksellers."}], "question": "Why is it causing controversy now?", "id": "745_2"}]}]}, {"title": "Viktor Orban victory in Hungary: German minister warns EU", "date": "9 April 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "A key German minister says the EU must drop its \"arrogance and condescension\" towards Hungary, where Eurosceptic PM Viktor Orban has just won re-election. Interior Minister Horst Seehofer wants curbs on Muslim migration to the EU, and Mr Orban sees himself as a defender of \"Christian\" Europe. It is a tense time in EU-Hungary relations, as Mr Orban is defying EU migration and rule-of-law policies. Election monitors said the vote was marred by media bias and xenophobia. Observers from Europe's OSCE security organisation said \"voters had a wide range of political options, but intimidating and xenophobic rhetoric, media bias and opaque campaign financing constricted the space for genuine political debate\". The vote took place in an \"adverse climate\" and political rivals could not compete with Mr Orban on an equal basis, the OSCE said. Mr Orban, 54, campaigned on a Eurosceptic, anti-immigration platform. His Fidesz party won a two-thirds majority in parliament, as it did in two previous elections. Anti-EU politicians, including France's Marine Le Pen, welcomed his win. Polish PM Mateusz Morawiecki also congratulated Mr Orban, saying \"the path of reform is never easy\", but \"the support of the majority of society shows that it is worth making this effort\". Poland's nationalist government shares Mr Orban's view that Muslim migrants threaten Europe's \"Christian\" heritage. Poland, along with Slovakia and the Czech Republic, refuse to take in Eritrean and Syrian refugees who are currently living in overcrowded camps in Italy and Greece, awaiting relocation under an EU quota scheme. Mr Orban was also congratulated by the centre-right European People's Party (EPP), the biggest bloc in the European Parliament. Fidesz is a member of that group, despite the policy disputes. The parliament's liberal leader Guy Verhofstadt tweeted that \"by congratulating Orban without calling on him to respect European values, the EPP legitimises his vile campaign, his attack on the rule of law & attempt to install authoritarianism\". Last month, Mr Seehofer spoke out against Chancellor Angela Merkel's liberal migration policy, saying \"Islam does not belong\" to Germany. His language echoed that of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD). He also wants migrants to be kept in so-called \"anchor centres\" for up to 18 months while their asylum requests are processed. But Mr Seehofer's Bavarian CSU party remains a vital ally of Mrs Merkel's Christian Democrats. The migrant crisis of 2015-2016 saw more than a million migrants - many of them refugees from the wars in Iraq, Syria and Afghanistan - reach Germany. Mrs Merkel's \"we can manage\" response riled many conservative Germans, but others reached out to help the asylum seekers. Voter turnout reached a near-record 69%. With almost all votes counted, the nationalist Jobbik party is in second place with 20%. The Socialists are in third with 12%, and the LMP, Hungary's main Green Party, is in fourth with 7%. The leaders of the second and third-placed parties have resigned. By the BBC's Budapest Correspondent Nick Thorpe As Fidesz paints the map of Hungary orange (its colour) once again, preliminary results show it will reach the 133 seats in the 199 seat parliament needed for a constitutional two-thirds majority. It won two-thirds victories at both previous elections, in 2010 and 2014. The prime minister's party won in most rural constituencies and in provincial towns, while opposition parties took most seats in the capital, Budapest. Mr Orban's legitimacy on a European level will probably be strengthened, as nationalist parties across the continent take heart from his victory. Fidesz did lose a large part of the youth vote. The next government can be expected to include younger ministers in an attempt to address this problem. The result spells trouble ahead for civil society groups which campaign for human rights and against corruption, and for critical media. Viktor Orban has promised a \"settling of accounts - moral, politically, and legally\" with his opponents. The election campaign was dominated by immigration, with Mr Orban promising to defend the country's borders and block migration by Muslims. In 2015, Hungary built a fence along its borders with Serbia and Croatia to stop illegal migrants. Mr Orban refused to debate publicly with his opponents or speak to the independent media, speaking instead at rallies for his supporters. He has promised to cut income taxes and pass pro-growth economic policies. 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_start": 2741, "answer_end": 3037, "text": "Voter turnout reached a near-record 69%. With almost all votes counted, the nationalist Jobbik party is in second place with 20%. The Socialists are in third with 12%, and the LMP, Hungary's main Green Party, is in fourth with 7%. The leaders of the second and third-placed parties have resigned."}], "question": "How did the result play out?", "id": "746_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 4049, "answer_end": 4880, "text": "The election campaign was dominated by immigration, with Mr Orban promising to defend the country's borders and block migration by Muslims. In 2015, Hungary built a fence along its borders with Serbia and Croatia to stop illegal migrants. Mr Orban refused to debate publicly with his opponents or speak to the independent media, speaking instead at rallies for his supporters. He has promised to cut income taxes and pass pro-growth economic policies. 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."}], "question": "What are Orban's policies?", "id": "746_1"}]}]}, {"title": "Trump-Russia: Special counsel Robert Mueller delivers report", "date": "23 March 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Special Counsel Robert Mueller has submitted his long-awaited report on alleged collusion between Russia and President Donald Trump's 2016 campaign. A justice department official said Mr Mueller's report did not recommend any further indictments. Six former Trump aides and a dozen Russians already face unrelated charges in connection with the investigation. The Attorney General William Barr will now summarise the report and decide how much to share with Congress. Mr Barr told congressional leaders in a letter that he anticipated being able to inform them of the report's key findings over the weekend. The report is intended to explain any prosecutorial decisions the special counsel has made in the 22 months since his appointment by deputy US Attorney General Rod Rosenstein. Mr Trump and other Republicans have repeatedly condemned the probe as a \"witch hunt\". In his letter to Congress' judiciary committee leaders - Senators Lindsey Graham and Dianne Feinstein and Congressmen Jerrold Nadler and Doug Collins - Mr Barr confirmed there were no instances during the investigation where the Department of Justice had interfered with Mr Mueller's work. The attorney general said he will now consult with Deputy Attorney General Rosenstein - who managed the inquiry prior to Mr Barr's appointment - and Mr Mueller \"to determine what other information from the report can be released to Congress and the public\". \"I remain committed to as much transparency as possible, and I will keep you informed as to the status of my review,\" he said. Over the past 22 months, the special counsel has revealed how Russian agents and operatives allegedly obtained information about US elections to initiate a campaign to influence Americans, fund political activities in the US and hack emails of top Democrats to undermine Hillary Clinton's campaign. Mr Mueller was also investigating whether Mr Trump obstructed justice with his firing of FBI director James Comey, or by trying to mislead or end the inquiry. Mr Trump has repeatedly said there was \"no collusion\" with Russia and \"no obstruction\". The president refused to sit for an interview with Mr Mueller's team during the inquiry, but his lawyers submitted written answers to questions after months of negotiating terms. Is this how the Mueller investigation ends? Not with a bang, but with a letter? The details of the final report have yet to be disclosed, but because Attorney General Barr has said there were no instances where he or his predecessors overrode the special counsel's prosecutorial decisions - and no new indictments have been announced - it seems possible that what we have seen with the criminal portion of the probe is what we're going to get. There may still be politically damaging revelations to come, but Donald Trump has shrugged off many a political threat in his rise to the White House. Without a criminal caseload directly related to \"collusion\" by members of the Trump campaign - the central thrust of the investigation - it seems certain the president and his White House surrogates will shout from the hilltops that their side has been exonerated. This is far from the end of legal jeopardy for the president, his family, his aides and his business empire, of course. Investigations at both the state and federal level into various financial and campaign finance violations grind on, not to mention the aggressive oversight coming down the pipe from the Democratic-controlled House of Representatives. After today's developments, however, the president will continue to claim he is the victim of an unfounded \"witch hunt\". His political adversaries, who were hoping for a courtroom coup de grace, will be left searching for a new silver bullet. White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders said in a statement: \"The next steps are up to Attorney General Barr and we look forward to the process taking its course. The White House has not received or been briefed on the Special Counsel's report.\" Mr Trump's personal lawyers Rudy Giuliani and Jay Sekulow echoed a similar sentiment, saying they were \"pleased\" the report had been delivered and trust Mr Barr to \"determine the appropriate next steps\". Mr Nadler, a New York Democrat, acknowledged the investigation had concluded on Twitter, saying: \"We look forward to getting the full Mueller report and related materials.\" Earlier this month, the House of Representatives voted unanimously for a resolution demanding the Department of Justice release the full report to the public, signalling support within both parties to find out whether Mr  Mueller discovered any criminal wrongdoing. Speaker of the House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi and Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer also called for transparency in a joint statement, adding that the White House \"must not be allowed to interfere\". \"The Special Counsel's investigation focused on questions that go to the integrity of our democracy itself: whether foreign powers corruptly interfered in our elections, and whether unlawful means were used to hinder that investigation.  The American people have a right to the truth.\" Mr Graham, a South Carolina Republican and vocal Trump supporter, said he \"always believed it was important that Mr Mueller be allowed to do his job without interference, and that has been accomplished\". What happens next is in Mr Barr's hands. Legally, the attorney general is under no obligation to release the report publicly, and his copy to Congress could contain redactions, but during his confirmation hearings before senators he vowed to release as much as he could. And if he does provide Congress with the full details, members could leak the report to the public. With the 2020 presidential elections looming, candidates are expected to campaign with promises of making the full report public. Many of the Democratic hopefuls - Beto O'Rourke, Bernie Sanders, Cory Booker, Amy Klobuchar, Kirsten Gillibrand, and Julian Castro - have called for the full release of the report. The House of Representatives will also continue to investigate the administration, and they could ask Mr Mueller to testify or demand that Mr Barr provide relevant materials.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 2270, "answer_end": 3726, "text": "Is this how the Mueller investigation ends? Not with a bang, but with a letter? The details of the final report have yet to be disclosed, but because Attorney General Barr has said there were no instances where he or his predecessors overrode the special counsel's prosecutorial decisions - and no new indictments have been announced - it seems possible that what we have seen with the criminal portion of the probe is what we're going to get. There may still be politically damaging revelations to come, but Donald Trump has shrugged off many a political threat in his rise to the White House. Without a criminal caseload directly related to \"collusion\" by members of the Trump campaign - the central thrust of the investigation - it seems certain the president and his White House surrogates will shout from the hilltops that their side has been exonerated. This is far from the end of legal jeopardy for the president, his family, his aides and his business empire, of course. Investigations at both the state and federal level into various financial and campaign finance violations grind on, not to mention the aggressive oversight coming down the pipe from the Democratic-controlled House of Representatives. After today's developments, however, the president will continue to claim he is the victim of an unfounded \"witch hunt\". His political adversaries, who were hoping for a courtroom coup de grace, will be left searching for a new silver bullet."}], "question": "Out with a letter, not a bang?", "id": "747_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3727, "answer_end": 5318, "text": "White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders said in a statement: \"The next steps are up to Attorney General Barr and we look forward to the process taking its course. The White House has not received or been briefed on the Special Counsel's report.\" Mr Trump's personal lawyers Rudy Giuliani and Jay Sekulow echoed a similar sentiment, saying they were \"pleased\" the report had been delivered and trust Mr Barr to \"determine the appropriate next steps\". Mr Nadler, a New York Democrat, acknowledged the investigation had concluded on Twitter, saying: \"We look forward to getting the full Mueller report and related materials.\" Earlier this month, the House of Representatives voted unanimously for a resolution demanding the Department of Justice release the full report to the public, signalling support within both parties to find out whether Mr  Mueller discovered any criminal wrongdoing. Speaker of the House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi and Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer also called for transparency in a joint statement, adding that the White House \"must not be allowed to interfere\". \"The Special Counsel's investigation focused on questions that go to the integrity of our democracy itself: whether foreign powers corruptly interfered in our elections, and whether unlawful means were used to hinder that investigation.  The American people have a right to the truth.\" Mr Graham, a South Carolina Republican and vocal Trump supporter, said he \"always believed it was important that Mr Mueller be allowed to do his job without interference, and that has been accomplished\"."}], "question": "What's the reaction?", "id": "747_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 5319, "answer_end": 6175, "text": "What happens next is in Mr Barr's hands. Legally, the attorney general is under no obligation to release the report publicly, and his copy to Congress could contain redactions, but during his confirmation hearings before senators he vowed to release as much as he could. And if he does provide Congress with the full details, members could leak the report to the public. With the 2020 presidential elections looming, candidates are expected to campaign with promises of making the full report public. Many of the Democratic hopefuls - Beto O'Rourke, Bernie Sanders, Cory Booker, Amy Klobuchar, Kirsten Gillibrand, and Julian Castro - have called for the full release of the report. The House of Representatives will also continue to investigate the administration, and they could ask Mr Mueller to testify or demand that Mr Barr provide relevant materials."}], "question": "What comes next?", "id": "747_2"}]}]}, {"title": "Vaping linked to teen's 'popcorn lung' type injury", "date": "22 November 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "A Canadian teenager has developed a vaping-related lung injury similar to \"popcorn lung\", his doctors say. The condition was previously seen in workers who were exposed to the chemical flavouring diacetyl as they packaged microwave popcorn. The Canadian case may be the first to show a new type of damage linked to vaping, distinct from lung injuries seen in the US and elsewhere. It is documented in the Canadian Medical Association Journal. Six doctors from London, Ontario, who treated the 17-year-old published the report on Thursday. Their patient, a previously healthy teenager, sought medical treatment after he developing persistent cough and a fever. The boy had vaped daily for five months using flavoured cartridges and regularly added THC - the psychoactive ingredient in cannabis - to his vaping fluid. His parents told the doctors he also had a habit of inhaling deeply when vaping. As his condition deteriorated, he was taken to intensive care. He spent 47 days in hospital and narrowly avoided needing a double lung transplant, though there may be severe long-lasting lung damage, his doctors say. After his physicians ruled out other causes for his illness they began suspecting flavoured e-liquids were the cause. \"This patient had severe, acute bronchiolitis, possibly related to inhalational injury from vaping, with several features suggestive of subsequent early bronchiolitis obliterans ['popcorn lung'],\" they write. \"Popcorn lung\" is a rare form of irreversible obstructive lung disease that scars the smallest airways in the lung - the bronchioles - and makes it difficult for air to flow. The disease was so named because a cluster of popcorn factory workers in the early 2000s were found to have the condition, eventually linked to a vapour from butter flavouring. Research has found many e-liquid vaping flavours tested contain some level of diacetyl. It is an agent that gives a butter flavour to food and is found in a wide range products, from butter to cocoa, coffee and alcoholic beverages. It is considered safe for ingestion. The chemical has been banned as an ingredient from e-cigarettes and e-liquids in Europe since 2016. Health Canada also notes that steps have been taken to reduce its use and it is less common in vaping products than before. While there has been concern about the use of diacetyl in e-liquid, Cancer Research UK said in 2018 there was \"no good evidence\" that vaping might cause \"popcorn lung\". The boy's doctors say there is a need for further research and tighter regulation of the vaping industry. Health Canada, the federal health agency, told the BBC that the patient's symptoms were consistent with the definition of vaping-associated lung illness. \"Rapid recognition of vaping associates lung illness by health care providers is critical to reduce severe outcomes,\" said spokesperson Eric Morrissette. The authority said its advice on vaping remained the same: \"If you do not vape, do not start. Non-smokers, people who are pregnant, and youth should not vape.\" E-cigarettes are battery-powered smoking devices filled with a liquid that contains nicotine, which is then heated into vapours that users inhale. More than 2,000 Americans have been affected by lung injuries attributed to vaping, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). Some 42 deaths have been confirmed in 24 states and more are under investigation. There have also been seven confirmed or probable cases in Canada. The symptoms people have reported include severe pneumonia, shortness of breath, coughing, fever, fatigue and respiratory failure - where your body either can't break down oxygen, produce carbon dioxide, or both. Lung function declines and breathing becomes difficult.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 660, "answer_end": 1440, "text": "The boy had vaped daily for five months using flavoured cartridges and regularly added THC - the psychoactive ingredient in cannabis - to his vaping fluid. His parents told the doctors he also had a habit of inhaling deeply when vaping. As his condition deteriorated, he was taken to intensive care. He spent 47 days in hospital and narrowly avoided needing a double lung transplant, though there may be severe long-lasting lung damage, his doctors say. After his physicians ruled out other causes for his illness they began suspecting flavoured e-liquids were the cause. \"This patient had severe, acute bronchiolitis, possibly related to inhalational injury from vaping, with several features suggestive of subsequent early bronchiolitis obliterans ['popcorn lung'],\" they write."}], "question": "What happened to the patient?", "id": "748_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3029, "answer_end": 3728, "text": "E-cigarettes are battery-powered smoking devices filled with a liquid that contains nicotine, which is then heated into vapours that users inhale. More than 2,000 Americans have been affected by lung injuries attributed to vaping, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). Some 42 deaths have been confirmed in 24 states and more are under investigation. There have also been seven confirmed or probable cases in Canada. The symptoms people have reported include severe pneumonia, shortness of breath, coughing, fever, fatigue and respiratory failure - where your body either can't break down oxygen, produce carbon dioxide, or both. Lung function declines and breathing becomes difficult."}], "question": "What about the US cases?", "id": "748_1"}]}]}, {"title": "Trump-Russia: New charges for Paul Manafort and Rick Gates", "date": "22 February 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "The special counsel investigating claims of Russian political meddling in the US has filed new charges against two former aides to Donald Trump. Robert Mueller indicted Mr Trump's former campaign chairman Paul Manafort and business associate Rick Gates on multiple counts of tax and bank fraud. Both were charged in October with conspiracy to launder money. But there are no criminal allegations of collusion with Russia, the justice department investigation's main thrust. A spokesman for Mr Manafort said he was innocent of the latest charges. Mr Gates' lawyer is yet to respond to requests for comment, Reuters reports. Mr Manafort resigned as chairman of the Trump campaign in August 2016 after being accused over his dealings with pro-Russian politicians in Ukraine. The seasoned political operative has worked on several Republican presidential campaigns, beginning with Gerald Ford's in 1976. Thursday's 32-count indictment alleges that the pair conspired to hide more than $30m (PS22m) in Mr Manafort's personal income from tax officials. It also claims that Mr Gates concealed more than $3m of his own income. The money \"flowed through\" a $75m offshore account controlled by them, according to the indictment filed by a federal grand jury in Alexandria, Virginia. It is also alleged the two defendants filed tax returns to the US authorities from 2010-14 that they knew to be factually incorrect. Mr Gates is accused of using his share of the cash to pay for \"personal expenses, including his mortgage, children's tuition\" and re-decorating his Virginia home. Earlier on Thursday a court denied Mr Manafort's request to modify the terms of his house arrest. The judge ruled that Mr Manafort's pledge to use his properties in Virginia and New York as bail collateral was \"unsatisfactory\". The special counsel had opposed the bail application. Mr Mueller's team argued the Manafort properties were related to \"additional criminal conduct\" and could be confiscated in the event of foreclosure. Nineteen people, including four former Trump advisers, have been indicted by the special counsel. But as President Trump has repeatedly pointed out, the ongoing inquiry has filed no charge that any of his associates colluded with an alleged Kremlin plot to influence the result of the 2016 presidential election. Mr Manafort and Mr Gates pleaded not guilty last October to 12 counts including money laundering and conspiracy against the US, relating to the pair's Ukrainian business dealings. Michael Flynn, a former US national security adviser, pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI over meetings he had with the Russian Ambassador, Sergei Kislyak. George Papadopoulos, a former Trump campaign adviser, admitted lying to the FBI about his contacts with Russians. Last week, 13 Russians were charged with tampering in the 2016 US election and a California man, Richard Pinedo, admitted an identity theft charge. This week a London-based lawyer, Alex van der Zwaan, pleaded guilty in court to making false statements when questioned about his work for Ukraine's Ministry of Justice.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 900, "answer_end": 1999, "text": "Thursday's 32-count indictment alleges that the pair conspired to hide more than $30m (PS22m) in Mr Manafort's personal income from tax officials. It also claims that Mr Gates concealed more than $3m of his own income. The money \"flowed through\" a $75m offshore account controlled by them, according to the indictment filed by a federal grand jury in Alexandria, Virginia. It is also alleged the two defendants filed tax returns to the US authorities from 2010-14 that they knew to be factually incorrect. Mr Gates is accused of using his share of the cash to pay for \"personal expenses, including his mortgage, children's tuition\" and re-decorating his Virginia home. Earlier on Thursday a court denied Mr Manafort's request to modify the terms of his house arrest. The judge ruled that Mr Manafort's pledge to use his properties in Virginia and New York as bail collateral was \"unsatisfactory\". The special counsel had opposed the bail application. Mr Mueller's team argued the Manafort properties were related to \"additional criminal conduct\" and could be confiscated in the event of foreclosure."}], "question": "What are the new charges?", "id": "749_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2000, "answer_end": 3079, "text": "Nineteen people, including four former Trump advisers, have been indicted by the special counsel. But as President Trump has repeatedly pointed out, the ongoing inquiry has filed no charge that any of his associates colluded with an alleged Kremlin plot to influence the result of the 2016 presidential election. Mr Manafort and Mr Gates pleaded not guilty last October to 12 counts including money laundering and conspiracy against the US, relating to the pair's Ukrainian business dealings. Michael Flynn, a former US national security adviser, pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI over meetings he had with the Russian Ambassador, Sergei Kislyak. George Papadopoulos, a former Trump campaign adviser, admitted lying to the FBI about his contacts with Russians. Last week, 13 Russians were charged with tampering in the 2016 US election and a California man, Richard Pinedo, admitted an identity theft charge. This week a London-based lawyer, Alex van der Zwaan, pleaded guilty in court to making false statements when questioned about his work for Ukraine's Ministry of Justice."}], "question": "How many people has Mueller charged?", "id": "749_1"}]}]}, {"title": "US-backed Syrian fighters 'overrun IS encampment'", "date": "19 March 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "US-backed Syrian fighters are reported to have overrun an encampment that made up most of the last patch of territory held by the Islamic State group. The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) alliance said militants refusing to surrender had pulled back to a sliver of land along the River Euphrates south of Baghuz, and that clashes continued. Although it warned the battle was not over, some fighters began celebrating. Baghuz's fall would bring an end to the \"caliphate\" proclaimed by IS in 2014. The jihadist group once controlled 88,000 sq km (34,000 sq miles) of land stretching across Syria and Iraq, imposed its rule on almost eight million people, and generated billions of dollars from oil, extortion, robbery and kidnapping. After five years of bloody battles, local forces backed by world powers have driven IS out of all but a few hundred square metres. But the group is by no means defeated. US officials believe IS may have 15,000 to 20,000 armed adherents active in the region, many of them in sleeper cells, and that it will return to its insurgent roots while attempting to rebuild. It is not known. At the start of March, when the SDF began its final assault on the village, commanders estimated there were a few hundred militants holed up inside. But the Kurdish-led alliance was forced to slow its offensive after it emerged that a large number of civilians were also there, sheltering in buildings, tents and tunnels. As many as 20,000 children and women - many of them foreign nationals - have since been evacuated to an SDF-run camp for displaced people at al-Hol, swelling its population to 70,000 and overwhelming aid workers. Several thousand men have also surrendered and been taken to separate SDF detention centres. Militants who chose to stay in Baghuz continued to put up fierce resistance, deploying suicide bombers and car bombs, but by Monday they had been driven back to a small patch of open farmland next to the Euphrates that was covered in tents, vehicles and foxholes. On Tuesday morning, SDF spokesman Mustafa Bali said it had taken control of the encampment and that the last militants had retreated to the riverbank. \"This is not a victory announcement, but a significant progress in the fight against [IS],\" he cautioned in a Twitter post. \"Clashes are continuing as a group of [IS] terrorists who are confined into a tiny area still fight back.\" Mr Bali added that hundreds of sick and wounded militants had been captured by the SDF as it took the encampment and that they had been taken to hospitals. On Tuesday afternoon, the BBC's Aleem Maqbool saw lorries leaving Baghuz packed with what he was told were hundreds of militants, as well as SDF fighters celebrating on their return from the front lines. Jiaker Amed, a spokesman for the Kurdish militia that dominates the SDF, told our correspondent they were celebrating \"a victory for all humanity\". Mr Amed declared that all IS territory in Baghuz had been retaken, although he admitted that some militants might be hiding underground in tunnels. Later, Mr Bali told Reuters news agency that fighting was continuing and that militants remained \"in several pockets\". \"Their presence is not limited to a defined geography,\" he added. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a UK-based monitoring group, meanwhile reported that at least 14 SDF fighters were killed and 30 others injured by IS gunfire and landmine explosions as they attacked the encampment. An Italian man fighting for the SDF, Lorenzo Orsetti, was killed on Sunday. Even with its defeat in Baghuz imminent, IS released a defiant audio recording purportedly from its spokesman Abu Hassan al-Muhajir that asserted that the caliphate was not over. Muhajir accused US President Donald Trump of \"falsely\" announcing victory over IS in Syria in December, and insisted IS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi was alive.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1095, "answer_end": 2541, "text": "It is not known. At the start of March, when the SDF began its final assault on the village, commanders estimated there were a few hundred militants holed up inside. But the Kurdish-led alliance was forced to slow its offensive after it emerged that a large number of civilians were also there, sheltering in buildings, tents and tunnels. As many as 20,000 children and women - many of them foreign nationals - have since been evacuated to an SDF-run camp for displaced people at al-Hol, swelling its population to 70,000 and overwhelming aid workers. Several thousand men have also surrendered and been taken to separate SDF detention centres. Militants who chose to stay in Baghuz continued to put up fierce resistance, deploying suicide bombers and car bombs, but by Monday they had been driven back to a small patch of open farmland next to the Euphrates that was covered in tents, vehicles and foxholes. On Tuesday morning, SDF spokesman Mustafa Bali said it had taken control of the encampment and that the last militants had retreated to the riverbank. \"This is not a victory announcement, but a significant progress in the fight against [IS],\" he cautioned in a Twitter post. \"Clashes are continuing as a group of [IS] terrorists who are confined into a tiny area still fight back.\" Mr Bali added that hundreds of sick and wounded militants had been captured by the SDF as it took the encampment and that they had been taken to hospitals."}], "question": "How many militants are left in Baghuz?", "id": "750_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2542, "answer_end": 3864, "text": "On Tuesday afternoon, the BBC's Aleem Maqbool saw lorries leaving Baghuz packed with what he was told were hundreds of militants, as well as SDF fighters celebrating on their return from the front lines. Jiaker Amed, a spokesman for the Kurdish militia that dominates the SDF, told our correspondent they were celebrating \"a victory for all humanity\". Mr Amed declared that all IS territory in Baghuz had been retaken, although he admitted that some militants might be hiding underground in tunnels. Later, Mr Bali told Reuters news agency that fighting was continuing and that militants remained \"in several pockets\". \"Their presence is not limited to a defined geography,\" he added. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a UK-based monitoring group, meanwhile reported that at least 14 SDF fighters were killed and 30 others injured by IS gunfire and landmine explosions as they attacked the encampment. An Italian man fighting for the SDF, Lorenzo Orsetti, was killed on Sunday. Even with its defeat in Baghuz imminent, IS released a defiant audio recording purportedly from its spokesman Abu Hassan al-Muhajir that asserted that the caliphate was not over. Muhajir accused US President Donald Trump of \"falsely\" announcing victory over IS in Syria in December, and insisted IS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi was alive."}], "question": "Are SDF fighters celebrating too early?", "id": "750_1"}]}]}, {"title": "Device could make underwater objects appear invisible to sonar", "date": "10 May 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "It sounds like the type of tech a Bond villain would have, but scientists have developed an acoustic underwater \"invisibility cloak\". The device makes sound waves scatter around an object making it invisible to sonar detection. In order to achieve this, the researchers used a \"smart\" material with special properties. The researchers have outlined their work at a major scientific meeting in Minneapolis, US. When a ship sends out a signal to detect objects in the ocean or to map the sea floor, the signal bounces back in a way that makes it appear as if the cloaked object isn't there at all. Amanda Hanford and her team at Pennsylvania State University in State College designed a 90cm (3ft) -tall pyramid out of perforated steel plates that could do just that. The smart \"metamaterial\" they developed for use in the \"cloak\" forces sound waves to spread their energy around the object, making it undetectable to underwater sensors. Metamaterials are made of composite materials, such as metals or plastics, and have arrangements that give them novel properties (see below). The structure was placed in a tank and the researchers directed sound waves between 7,000 and 12,000 Hz at it. Several receivers were set up to record the reflected waves. The waves reflected from the metamaterial were in the same \"phase\" as the reflected waves from the bottom of the tank, where the structure was sitting. If we think of waves as having peaks and valleys, waves that are in phase are arranged so peaks of multiple waves are synchronised with each other. This rendered the object effectively \"invisible\" to the detection instruments. \"These materials sound like a totally abstract concept, but the math is showing us that these properties are possible,\" Dr Hanford explained. \"So, we are working to open the floodgates to see what we can create with these materials.\" Traditionally, research was conducted to develop metamaterials that conceal objects in air, but the added factor of water takes the challenge one step further. This is because water is denser than air, which makes it harder to compress. These materials could potentially be used in real-world applications such as acoustic materials to dampen sound and appear invisible underwater. Sonar stands for SOund Navigation and Ranging. It is a method that is used to detect underwater objects or to map the sea floor. Sound waves are emitted from a ship or submarine and reflect off the surroundings allowing the detection of reefs, marine life and other vessels. This information is then used to communicate with or deter from other objects. This style of underwater echolocation was inspired by bats and dolphins. Metamaterials often have properties that are not found in nature. They are made of composite materials, such as metals or plastics, that are arranged in geometric structures, giving them interesting properties. They can be used to manipulate electromagnetic and sound waves in ways that go beyond what's possible with conventional materials. Follow Shivani on Twitter.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 2245, "answer_end": 2671, "text": "Sonar stands for SOund Navigation and Ranging. It is a method that is used to detect underwater objects or to map the sea floor. Sound waves are emitted from a ship or submarine and reflect off the surroundings allowing the detection of reefs, marine life and other vessels. This information is then used to communicate with or deter from other objects. This style of underwater echolocation was inspired by bats and dolphins."}], "question": "What is Sonar?", "id": "751_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2672, "answer_end": 3040, "text": "Metamaterials often have properties that are not found in nature. They are made of composite materials, such as metals or plastics, that are arranged in geometric structures, giving them interesting properties. They can be used to manipulate electromagnetic and sound waves in ways that go beyond what's possible with conventional materials. Follow Shivani on Twitter."}], "question": "What is a metamaterial?", "id": "751_1"}]}]}, {"title": "US women upset by random baby congratulation cards", "date": "29 October 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "A US motherhood company has come under fire after sending pregnancy congratulation cards to women who aren't expecting a baby. Mothers Lounge sent unsolicited gift vouchers and a card saying \"Holy guacamole, you're going to avo baby\". Many recipients took to social media complaining that the cards from the Utah-based firm were \"insensitive\" and had caused awkward conversations. The company said it had used a third-party marketing company's opt-in list. Many women who received the informal-looking cards - which were signed by a \"Jenny B\" - initially thought it had been sent by one of their friends. Bewildered recipients have asked on social media: \"Who is Jenny B?\" The cards seem to have been sent to women across the country. Twitter user @agnetts tweeted: \"Who the hell is Jenny B and why did she send me $245 in giftcards to my childhood home congratulating me on my pregnancy?! \"This is literally how my mother thought she was finding out that I was pregnant. I'm calling the FBI.\" The user behind the account - AG - lives in Memphis, Tennessee, but she told the BBC the unsolicited cards had been sent to her parents' home in Nashville. \"I got a call from my mother who asked me if there was something I wanted to tell her,\" she said. \"She was really worried and it was scaring me.\" The pair then had a video chat, and her mother asked her if she was pregnant. AG says: \"It was a really awkward situation and caused a lot of distress for the pair of us.\" AG said she had no idea how the company got her details, as she wasn't pregnant, planning to get pregnant and didn't know anyone pregnant. \"It's unsettling to me, especially as they have all these details. When I tried to call the number on the gift cards, nobody picked up so I had no idea who was behind this.\" And Ellie Hunter Acosta said as the card had been sent to her parents' house, she told her mum to unseal it. \"But when she opened it, she was immediately so excited and completely freaked out,\" said Ms Hunter Acosta. \"She was also angry some random person knew before she did and I had to quickly tell her I am not in fact pregnant.\" Ms Hunter Acosta, who is studying at Princeton University in New Jersey, said: \"If I was able to talk to Jenny, I would want to tell her that, aside from being an idiotic marketing strategy that will end up alienating potential clients/customers, this was basically just a cruel joke that only resulted in a stressful phone call with my parents.\" On Reddit, EllyNeko said she has undergone sterilisation surgery, and the card prompted an awkward conversation with her family. She told the BBC: \"They need to realise that this 'advertisement' is in poor taste at best and hurtful at worst. \"If a woman who had been trying (and failing) to conceive received this message, it would just thoughtlessly remind them of this difficulty.\" On Reddit, users said that they had experienced recent miscarriages and this level of marketing had been insensitive and \"a slap in the face\". Some recipients have complained to the Better Business Bureau, a private consumer watchdog, which said it is waiting for the company to respond. Mothers Lounge had previously been investigated by the bureau following complaints regarding other gift cards sent in the post. Those cards were then signed by a 'Jen'. The bureau said it has given the company an F rating because of the company's failure to respond to eight complaints filed against it and because of advertising issues. On the Mothers Lounge website, it states both Jenny Bosco and Kaleb Pierce established the business in 2005. The Mother's Lounge website says Jenny \"doesn't prefer the spotlight\" and instead a biography has been written by her employees describing Jenny as a mother-of five. It states that there are many brands under the Mothers Lounge umbrella and the company began when Jenny \"invented the Milk Bands breastfeeding bracelet\". The BBC has established that a Jeanette Court Pierce in Lehi, Utah, was the first registrant of the Milkbands domain. \"Jenny Pierce\" was also noted as an administrative contact for the Mothers Lounge site in 2012. A list profiling Ms Bosco on a 2016 blog post on the Mother's Lounge website indicates she has a twin sister. It also says she always knew she wanted lots of children, that she is now a Utahn, but will always identify as a southern Alberta (Canada) girl. Information on the blog post and the picture used by the company tallies with social media profiles the BBC has unearthed using Ms Bosco's married name. The BBC approached the company to seek an interview with Jenny Bosco. We also approached the woman believed to be Jenny directly via email and the social media profiles we found. Neither request has been acknowledged. But in an emailed statement, Scott Anderson from the company said: \"Mothers Lounge has mailed a heartfelt note which includes gift cards with proof of activation, and coupons to new mothers. \"The qualified recipients for this mailer have, at one point, subscribed to an opt-in list for maternity deals and coupons through a third-party marketing company. \"All information from third-party companies is only used internally for Mothers Lounge and is not sold or used for anything else other than the direct marketing of Mothers Lounge.\" He did not respond to additional requests for further information.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 3472, "answer_end": 5343, "text": "On the Mothers Lounge website, it states both Jenny Bosco and Kaleb Pierce established the business in 2005. The Mother's Lounge website says Jenny \"doesn't prefer the spotlight\" and instead a biography has been written by her employees describing Jenny as a mother-of five. It states that there are many brands under the Mothers Lounge umbrella and the company began when Jenny \"invented the Milk Bands breastfeeding bracelet\". The BBC has established that a Jeanette Court Pierce in Lehi, Utah, was the first registrant of the Milkbands domain. \"Jenny Pierce\" was also noted as an administrative contact for the Mothers Lounge site in 2012. A list profiling Ms Bosco on a 2016 blog post on the Mother's Lounge website indicates she has a twin sister. It also says she always knew she wanted lots of children, that she is now a Utahn, but will always identify as a southern Alberta (Canada) girl. Information on the blog post and the picture used by the company tallies with social media profiles the BBC has unearthed using Ms Bosco's married name. The BBC approached the company to seek an interview with Jenny Bosco. We also approached the woman believed to be Jenny directly via email and the social media profiles we found. Neither request has been acknowledged. But in an emailed statement, Scott Anderson from the company said: \"Mothers Lounge has mailed a heartfelt note which includes gift cards with proof of activation, and coupons to new mothers. \"The qualified recipients for this mailer have, at one point, subscribed to an opt-in list for maternity deals and coupons through a third-party marketing company. \"All information from third-party companies is only used internally for Mothers Lounge and is not sold or used for anything else other than the direct marketing of Mothers Lounge.\" He did not respond to additional requests for further information."}], "question": "Who is Jenny B?", "id": "752_0"}]}]}, {"title": "All systems go as Russia's Soyuz aims to erase space failures", "date": "1 December 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Soyuz launch number 138 should be as routine as it gets for space flight. The next crew are due to lift off on Monday heading for the International Space Station (ISS) from the same launch pad Yury Gagarin used in 1961 on his historic first flight into orbit. But two months ago an accident on the last Soyuz launch sent the Russian and American astronauts hurtling back to Earth. Shortly before that, the crew on the ISS had discovered a mysterious hole - located after air pressure on the Station began to drop, and successfully plugged. Both incidents have raised questions about the state of Russia's space industry - once the great pride of a Superpower - and the future of cosmic co-operation with the US. Investigators have pinned the blame for the failed launch on a faulty sensor on the Soyuz. The head of Roscosmos, the Russian space agency, told the BBC it was damaged during assembly when \"two cranes collided\". \"Our task is to take steps to ensure that doesn't happen again,\" said Dmitry Rogozin. He and his Nasa counterparts say they are confident in the coming mission. - David Saint-Jacques (L), 48, Canadian engineer, astrophysicist and family doctor - Oleg Kononenko (C), 54, Russian; three space flights on ISS in 2008, 2011-12 and 2015, totalling 534 days and including three space walks - Anne McClain (R), 39, American; experienced pilot who studied as postgraduate at University of Bath and Bristol in UK Some here warn that Russia's problems run deeper, though. \"[The failed launch] is a terrible blow to Russia's space industry and to the authorities,\" argues space expert Pavel Luzin. \"Two emergencies in a short time means something is going wrong.\" Mr Luzin says Moscow ranks its space programme alongside its nuclear arsenal and seat on the UN Security Council as things that grant Vladimir Putin's Russia the \"great power\" status it craves. But the accident, and the unexplained hole on the ISS, sparked reports of low salaries and minimal motivation in the country's space sector, which remains entirely state-run and funded. \"There's a major gap between the bosses' salaries and the general engineers, which doesn't help ensure conscientious work,\" Ivan Moiseyev, head of the Space Policy Institute in Moscow, points out. The Roscosmos boss even called it an \"open question\" whether the damage to the Soyuz during assembly was an act of sabotage. \"It probably wasn't,\" Mr Rogozin said. \"But we have to check.\" He raised similar questions about the two-millimetre-wide hole found on the ISS, which Russia concluded was drilled by a \"shaking hand\". In a sign of the tense political climate, the space chief argued that \"deliberate interference in space\" could not be ruled out. One newspaper reported that, behind closed doors, Roscosmos was actually blaming the American astronauts on the ISS for making the hole. In public both sides have been oozing positivity. \"We have full trust in each other. That's the only way it can be when we're sending our guys and gals into orbit,\" the Roscomos chief told the BBC at an event to mark 20 years of the ISS. \"Thank goodness the political winds don't touch us,\" Dmitry Rogozin added. \"The outside environment I don't think can understand... that there is trust in this sea of other noise,\" Nasa's William Gerstenmaier echoed him. Scepticism is certainly strong here. With US-Russia relations sorely strained by allegations of election meddling and the crisis in Ukraine, industry observers say professions of friendship and trust are largely \"polite diplomacy\". The Space Station remains a powerful, and increasingly rare, symbol of collaboration. But it is set to end operations in 2024. \"The politics won't affect work on the ISS, but future projects are very unlikely on the same scale,\" Ivan Moiseyev believes. A role for Russia on Nasa's Lunar Gateway is still under discussion: Moscow isn't happy at taking a bit-part in the American-led project to orbit the moon. \"For the scientists, the best thing would be to keep the ISS going as long as possible. But it's the politicians who give the money and they're the ones with the problems,\" Mr Moiseyev reasons. Russia is still talking like a space superpower. Dmitry Rogozin insists its heavy rocket Angara will launch, although the date has now slipped to 2028; with it, Russia has grand plans to colonise the moon. It also has a long record of failing to follow through on pronouncements. One thing Moscow can boast of: the Soyuz spacecraft is currently the only way to launch crews into orbit, since the US ended its Shuttle programme in 2011. \"We're confident in this vehicle; they figured out quickly what happened and why and how to prevent it again,\" Nasa's Anne McClain told a huddle of journalists. She then climbed into a Soyuz simulator for a final skills test ahead of her maiden flight. But like the ISS, that co-operation with Moscow is finite. Nasa expects crewed test flights of the two US commercial spacecraft under development next year. \"Why would Americans and Europeans need to co-operate with Russia then?\" Pavel Luzin asks. \"They don't want to depend on Russia. That's the political challenge for us.\"", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1486, "answer_end": 2844, "text": "\"[The failed launch] is a terrible blow to Russia's space industry and to the authorities,\" argues space expert Pavel Luzin. \"Two emergencies in a short time means something is going wrong.\" Mr Luzin says Moscow ranks its space programme alongside its nuclear arsenal and seat on the UN Security Council as things that grant Vladimir Putin's Russia the \"great power\" status it craves. But the accident, and the unexplained hole on the ISS, sparked reports of low salaries and minimal motivation in the country's space sector, which remains entirely state-run and funded. \"There's a major gap between the bosses' salaries and the general engineers, which doesn't help ensure conscientious work,\" Ivan Moiseyev, head of the Space Policy Institute in Moscow, points out. The Roscosmos boss even called it an \"open question\" whether the damage to the Soyuz during assembly was an act of sabotage. \"It probably wasn't,\" Mr Rogozin said. \"But we have to check.\" He raised similar questions about the two-millimetre-wide hole found on the ISS, which Russia concluded was drilled by a \"shaking hand\". In a sign of the tense political climate, the space chief argued that \"deliberate interference in space\" could not be ruled out. One newspaper reported that, behind closed doors, Roscosmos was actually blaming the American astronauts on the ISS for making the hole."}], "question": "Who is to blame for space failures?", "id": "753_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2845, "answer_end": 5153, "text": "In public both sides have been oozing positivity. \"We have full trust in each other. That's the only way it can be when we're sending our guys and gals into orbit,\" the Roscomos chief told the BBC at an event to mark 20 years of the ISS. \"Thank goodness the political winds don't touch us,\" Dmitry Rogozin added. \"The outside environment I don't think can understand... that there is trust in this sea of other noise,\" Nasa's William Gerstenmaier echoed him. Scepticism is certainly strong here. With US-Russia relations sorely strained by allegations of election meddling and the crisis in Ukraine, industry observers say professions of friendship and trust are largely \"polite diplomacy\". The Space Station remains a powerful, and increasingly rare, symbol of collaboration. But it is set to end operations in 2024. \"The politics won't affect work on the ISS, but future projects are very unlikely on the same scale,\" Ivan Moiseyev believes. A role for Russia on Nasa's Lunar Gateway is still under discussion: Moscow isn't happy at taking a bit-part in the American-led project to orbit the moon. \"For the scientists, the best thing would be to keep the ISS going as long as possible. But it's the politicians who give the money and they're the ones with the problems,\" Mr Moiseyev reasons. Russia is still talking like a space superpower. Dmitry Rogozin insists its heavy rocket Angara will launch, although the date has now slipped to 2028; with it, Russia has grand plans to colonise the moon. It also has a long record of failing to follow through on pronouncements. One thing Moscow can boast of: the Soyuz spacecraft is currently the only way to launch crews into orbit, since the US ended its Shuttle programme in 2011. \"We're confident in this vehicle; they figured out quickly what happened and why and how to prevent it again,\" Nasa's Anne McClain told a huddle of journalists. She then climbed into a Soyuz simulator for a final skills test ahead of her maiden flight. But like the ISS, that co-operation with Moscow is finite. Nasa expects crewed test flights of the two US commercial spacecraft under development next year. \"Why would Americans and Europeans need to co-operate with Russia then?\" Pavel Luzin asks. \"They don't want to depend on Russia. That's the political challenge for us.\""}], "question": "Will US-Russia relations survive in space?", "id": "753_1"}]}]}, {"title": "Jasvinder Sanghera: I ran away to escape a forced marriage", "date": "24 February 2017", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Jasvinder Sanghera was locked in a room by her parents when she was 16, when she refused to marry the man they had chosen for her. Here she describes how she escaped with the help of a secret boyfriend - but lost all contact with her family as a result. Growing up we had no freedom whatsoever. Everything was watched, monitored and controlled. We understood that we had to be careful how we behaved so as not to shame the family. I'm one of seven sisters and there's only one younger than me so I'd watched my sisters having to be married at very young ages - as young as 15. They would disappear to become a wife and go to India, come back, not go back to school and then go into these marriages and be physically and psychologically abused. And my impression of marriage was that this is what happens to you - you get married, you get beaten up, and then you're told to stay there. My parents were Sikh and Sikhism was born on the foundation of compassion and equality of men and women, and yet here we have women who were treated very differently. My brother was allowed total freedom of expression. He was also allowed to choose who he wanted to marry. But the women were treated differently and that was reinforced within the communities. It's gone unchallenged and it's deeply ingrained. I don't think I was smarter. I just don't know what it was within me. My mother used to say: \"You were born upside down, you were different from birth.\" Maybe she helped me out by saying that, because it made me question a number of things, and then when I was shown the photograph of this man, as a 14-year-old, knowing that I'd been promised to him from the age of eight and being expected to contemplate marriage, I looked at this picture thinking: \"Well he's shorter than me and he's very much older than me and I don't want this.\" And it was as simple as that. But within our family dynamic we were taught to be silent. Saying no to the marriage meant my family took me out of education and they held me a prisoner in my own home. I was 15 and I was locked in this room and literally I was not allowed to leave the room until I agreed to the marriage. It was padlocked on the outside and I had to knock on the door to go the toilet and they brought food to the door. My mother was the very person who enforced the rules. People don't think of women as the gatekeepers to an honour system. So in the end I said yes, purely to plan my escape. And it was as simple as that, because then I had freedom of movement. The only friends we were allowed had to be from an Indian community as well. And my best friend, who was Indian, it was her brother who helped me in the end. He became my secret boyfriend. He saved some money and said, \"I want to be with you and I'll help you to escape.\" He would come to the house at night and stand in the garden and we would secretly mouth things to each other through the window. One day he dressed up as a woman and went into a shoe shop and pretended he was shopping. He handed me a note which said, \"I'll be at the back of the house at this time - look out of the window.\" So I did, and he mouthed for me to pack my wardrobe and I lowered two cases down using sheets tied together, and flushed the toilets so my mother wouldn't hear. And then one day I was at home with my dad, who was at home because he worked nights, and the front door was open, and I just ran out. I ran all the way, a good three-and-a-half miles, to where my boyfriend worked and hid behind a wall and waited for him to come out. He went and got my cases and then picked me up in his Ford Escort and got me to close my eyes and put my finger on a map, and it landed on Newcastle. I sat in the footwell of the car all the way so no-one would see me and then when I saw the Tyne bridge I was absolutely amazed by it because I had never been anywhere outside Derby. My parents reported me missing to the police and it was the police officer who told me I had to ring home to let them know I was safe and well. My mother answered the phone and I said: \"Mom, it's me. You know, I want to come home but I don't want to marry that stranger.\" Her response has stayed with me for the rest of my life. She said: \"You either come back and marry who we say, or from this day forward you are now dead in our eyes.\" It was only later on when things settled down that I begin to think, \"I've done it but where's my family? I want my family.\" I was missing them terribly. You feel like a dead person walking. My boyfriend used to drive me to my hometown at 3am just so I could see my dad walking home from the foundry. What changed how I felt was the death of my sister, Robina. She was taken out of school at 15 for nine months, married to a man in India, and then came back and put in the same year as me and nobody questioned this at all. But he treated her terribly and when her son was around six months old she severed the relationship. She then married for love and my parents agreed to it because he was Indian - Sikh and from the same caste as us. She again suffered domestic abuse but my parents made it clear that because she had chosen him she had a duty, doubly, to make it work. She went to see a local community leader - they have a lot of power, my parents would have seen his word as the word of God - and he told her: \"You need to think of your husband's temper like a pan of milk - when it boils it rises to the top and a woman's role is to blow it to cool it down.\" When she was 25 she set herself on fire and she died.  When she was - I say - driven to commit suicide, that was the turning point for me. BBC 100 Women names 100 influential and inspirational women around the world every year. We create documentaries, features and interviews about their lives, giving more space for stories that put women at the centre. Other stories you might like: Trolled for giving sex advice to strangers Parents who regret having children Who was on the BBC's 100 Women 2016 list? I've learned to live my life with no expectations of family whatsoever. I've never had a birthday card in 35 years and neither have my children. For my children it's a total blank on their mother's side when it comes to family. I've got nephews and nieces that I'll never meet because all of my siblings sided with my parents. I have actually stipulated in my will that I do not want any of my estranged family to be at my funeral because I know the hypocrisy that exists within them. They will want to show their face, but if they couldn't show it when I was alive, I'm not going to give them that privilege when I'm gone. I have three children - Natasha who's 31, Anna who's 22 and Jordan who's 19. You almost live vicariously through your children because you want them to have everything you never had. My daughter married an Asian man and I was worried - I didn't want this family to take it out on her that her mother was disowned and had run away from home. But thankfully for me my fears were completely unfounded because here was an Indian family that did the exact opposite of what my family did. Starting a charity, Karma Nirvana, in 1993 from my kitchen table allowed me for the first time to start talking about my personal experiences and what had happened to my sister. My family wanted us to never speak about Robina again. Sometimes at Christmas my children would meet these different women at the dinner table - survivors disowned by their family - and they had no idea who would be the next person at our table, but they understood why. The charity will be 25 years old next year. We have helped make forced marriage a criminal offence, we have a helpline funded by the government which takes 750 calls a month - 58% of callers are victims and the others are professionals calling about a victim. We do risk assessments, offer refuge and help plan escapes. We still don't have enough responses from professionals and we've got to try to increase the reporting, but we're getting there. This is abuse, not part of culture where we make excuses - cultural acceptance does not mean accepting the unacceptable. Abuse is abuse. I'm a grandmother now - my daughter's expecting her second child in March. And you know when I look at them I think to myself, 'they're never going to inherit that legacy of abuse because of that decision I made when I was 16.' And that really makes me feel a lot stronger. Jasvinder appeared on The Conversation, on the BBC World Service - listen to the programme here - and also spoke to Sarah Buckley for 100 Women.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 5616, "answer_end": 5982, "text": "BBC 100 Women names 100 influential and inspirational women around the world every year. We create documentaries, features and interviews about their lives, giving more space for stories that put women at the centre. Other stories you might like: Trolled for giving sex advice to strangers Parents who regret having children Who was on the BBC's 100 Women 2016 list?"}], "question": "What is 100 women?", "id": "754_0"}]}]}, {"title": "South Africa elections: Are crime rates rising?", "date": "5 May 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "South Africa is a country notorious for high levels of crime. All the main parties agree it is a problem. The governing ANC - in power since 1994 - is frank about the situation. Its manifesto - published ahead of the general election on 8 May - says that drugs, violence and gang activity \"are wreaking havoc in many communities\". \"Gender-based violence has reached crisis proportions,\" it also states. In its manifesto for the last election in 2014, the ANC had promised: \"We will work to further reduce levels of crime, specifically contact crime like murder, rape and grievous bodily harm.\" So has any progress been made since then? Since 2014, official data shows a general decrease in all crime - with a slight uptick in the most recent year. This is from the Victims of Crime Survey, based on extensive interviews carried out annually by the government's statistics authority. This is the case with both household crime, which includes burglary and vehicle theft, and individual crime - violent and non-violent crime experienced by a person such as robbery and sexual assault. But what about most the serious crimes like murder? South Africa had the fifth highest murder rate in the world in 2015, according to data compiled by the UN. Since the last election, the number of murders has continued to rise each year. Murder rates are regarded as a reliable, well-documented crime statistic. There were just over 20,300 murders last year, over 3,000 more than in 2014. An upward trend began in 2012 and last year had the highest number in 15 years. Also, there has been a drop in the number of murder cases solved or concluded because there was no case to answer. Analysts say there has been a fall in the effectiveness of the police - despite an increase in funding. \"The capacity of the police has declined dramatically,\" says Gareth Newham, crime expert at the Institute for Security Studies (ISS Africa). Corruption has weakened the country's crime-fighting capacity, a government-initiated commission of inquiry heard in April this year. The ANC says it is cracking down on what is called \"state capture,\" attempts by private interests to influence public institutions in their favour. Incidences of murder vary across South Africa's nine provinces, and the factors driving killings can be heavily localised. Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal, the most populous regions, both have the highest number of murders. These regions have cities with areas that are prone to crime because of high levels of poverty and inadequate policing. The South African Cities Network, an organisation that promotes urban development, published a report this year showing that murder is more prevalent in the country's cities, with Cape Town being the worst. Their report notes gang violence and the supply of illegal arms as being factors in the rising murder rate. In early 2019, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa called rape and sexual assault in the country a \"national crisis\". The official numbers we have show that reported rapes were at just over 40,000 in 2018. That is down from when the ANC won in 2014 election, but the number of cases has gone up from 2017. But rape statistics are often considered unreliable. It is difficult to know the true extent because for a variety of reasons, many rapes go unreported. Grievous bodily harm has steadily decreased since the last election, following a long-term trend in previous years. But these figures could likewise underestimate the true extent, as victims of assault will not always report it to the police. Read more from Reality Check Send us your questions Follow us on Twitter", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 636, "answer_end": 2194, "text": "Since 2014, official data shows a general decrease in all crime - with a slight uptick in the most recent year. This is from the Victims of Crime Survey, based on extensive interviews carried out annually by the government's statistics authority. This is the case with both household crime, which includes burglary and vehicle theft, and individual crime - violent and non-violent crime experienced by a person such as robbery and sexual assault. But what about most the serious crimes like murder? South Africa had the fifth highest murder rate in the world in 2015, according to data compiled by the UN. Since the last election, the number of murders has continued to rise each year. Murder rates are regarded as a reliable, well-documented crime statistic. There were just over 20,300 murders last year, over 3,000 more than in 2014. An upward trend began in 2012 and last year had the highest number in 15 years. Also, there has been a drop in the number of murder cases solved or concluded because there was no case to answer. Analysts say there has been a fall in the effectiveness of the police - despite an increase in funding. \"The capacity of the police has declined dramatically,\" says Gareth Newham, crime expert at the Institute for Security Studies (ISS Africa). Corruption has weakened the country's crime-fighting capacity, a government-initiated commission of inquiry heard in April this year. The ANC says it is cracking down on what is called \"state capture,\" attempts by private interests to influence public institutions in their favour."}], "question": "Is crime getting worse?", "id": "755_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2195, "answer_end": 2847, "text": "Incidences of murder vary across South Africa's nine provinces, and the factors driving killings can be heavily localised. Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal, the most populous regions, both have the highest number of murders. These regions have cities with areas that are prone to crime because of high levels of poverty and inadequate policing. The South African Cities Network, an organisation that promotes urban development, published a report this year showing that murder is more prevalent in the country's cities, with Cape Town being the worst. Their report notes gang violence and the supply of illegal arms as being factors in the rising murder rate."}], "question": "Where is murder worst?", "id": "755_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2848, "answer_end": 3553, "text": "In early 2019, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa called rape and sexual assault in the country a \"national crisis\". The official numbers we have show that reported rapes were at just over 40,000 in 2018. That is down from when the ANC won in 2014 election, but the number of cases has gone up from 2017. But rape statistics are often considered unreliable. It is difficult to know the true extent because for a variety of reasons, many rapes go unreported. Grievous bodily harm has steadily decreased since the last election, following a long-term trend in previous years. But these figures could likewise underestimate the true extent, as victims of assault will not always report it to the police."}], "question": "What about sex crimes?", "id": "755_2"}]}]}, {"title": "Syria war: More than 200 dead in suicide attacks", "date": "25 July 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "At least 215 people have died in a series of apparently co-ordinated attacks in south-western Syria, local officials and a monitoring group say. Several suicide bombings struck in and around the government-held city of Suweida - the main city in the province - on Wednesday. The Islamic State group (IS) said it carried out the attacks. Pro-government forces were later reported to be engaged in gun battles with IS militants east of the city. The Syrian government, backed by Russia, recently launched a campaign to retake the remaining rebel-held areas across the south of the country. Wednesday's wave of attacks was the deadliest on government-held territory in months, correspondents say. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a UK-based monitoring group, reported a string of suicide blasts in Suweida, south of the capital Damascus, and in villages to the north and east. It said militants also stormed homes in the villages and killed the occupants. It said at least 221 people had been killed, 127 of them civilians. \"It's the bloodiest death toll in Suweida province since the start of the war [in 2011],\" observatory head Rami Abdel Rahman told AFP news agency. The Suweida health authority told pro-government radio station Sham FM that 215 people had been killed and 180 injured. State news agency Sana earlier reported one suicide attack at a market in Suweida and said security forces had killed two other attackers before they could blow themselves up. Militants also attacked three villages north-east of the city, it said. State TV also said government forces were \"targeting positions of the Daesh [IS] terrorist group\" in countryside to the east of Suweida. Suweida governor Amer al-Eshi told state-run Ikhbariyah TV that the city was now \"secure and calm\". Over the past year, IS has lost most of the land it once held across Syria and neighbouring Iraq. At the peak of its power, around 10 million people lived in IS-controlled areas, but the US military said earlier this year that the jihadist group had been ousted from 98% of its former territory. In Syria, the group is still present in small pockets in the southern provinces of Suweida and Deraa, as well as parts of the country's east. The Syrian military, backed by Russian forces, recently launched an operation to drive rebels from their remaining strongholds in the south-west. On Wednesday, Russia-backed government forces were also reported to be bombarding pockets of IS-held territory in Deraa, west of Suweida. At least 270,000 people have fled their homes in the region as fighting continues, the UN says. On Sunday, Israel allowed the evacuation of hundreds of White Helmets civil defence workers who were trapped in a war zone in southern Syria. The Syrian government condemned the move, describing it as a \"criminal operation\" by Israel and others.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 2219, "answer_end": 2844, "text": "The Syrian military, backed by Russian forces, recently launched an operation to drive rebels from their remaining strongholds in the south-west. On Wednesday, Russia-backed government forces were also reported to be bombarding pockets of IS-held territory in Deraa, west of Suweida. At least 270,000 people have fled their homes in the region as fighting continues, the UN says. On Sunday, Israel allowed the evacuation of hundreds of White Helmets civil defence workers who were trapped in a war zone in southern Syria. The Syrian government condemned the move, describing it as a \"criminal operation\" by Israel and others."}], "question": "What is happening elsewhere in the country?", "id": "756_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Cuba's new constitution: What's in and what's out", "date": "26 July 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "A draft of an updated constitution for Cuba approved by the island's National Assembly on 22 July has made headlines as much for what was left out as what was put in. Here are highlights of what's in, what's out and what's staying in the proposed new Cuban constitution. The proposed 224-article new constitution will replace the 1976 national charter that enshrined one-party communism on the island following Fidel Castro's 1959 revolution. Acknowledging that Cuba and the world had changed since 1976, newly-elected Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel said the new realities meant the constitution was \"obliged\" to be updated, and he called the reform \"deep\". Mr Diaz-Canel, who took over from Fidel Castro's brother Raul on 19 April - the first time for decades Cuba's head of state has not carried the name Castro - said the new document would reflect \"the now and the future of the nation\". Proposed changes that recognise same-sex marriage, but drop a previously stated objective of constructing a \"communist society\" in Cuba, have drawn intense media attention. However, the Caribbean nation definitely will be keeping its one-party socialist political and economic system, ruled over by the Communist Party of Cuba. While it has already been approved \"unanimously\" by the 600-plus assembly deputies, Cuban officials said the document would be subjected to a process of \"popular consultation\" among the island's people, to gather comments and suggestions, before being submitted for final approval in a national referendum. One alteration that attracted comment both inside and outside the island was the proposal to redefine the institution of marriage as being between \"two persons\" rather than \"a man and a woman\" - a change effectively opening the way for the legalisation of same-sex marriages. This was undoubtedly a novelty in a country where the communist authorities - in the name of \"revolutionary morality\" - had persecuted homosexuals as \"scum\" in the first few decades following the 1959 revolution, often dispatching them to work camps along with priests and other \"anti-social\" elements. Since the collapse of the Soviet bloc after 1989 which pushed Cuba to open up more to the outside world, official attitudes to both religion and homosexuality have eased. In the 21-22 July debate by the National Assembly on the revised constitution, Cuban media made a point of highlighting the support for the marriage re-definition expressed by \"deputy Mariela Castro\" - the 55-year-old daughter of Cuban Communist Party leader and former president Raul Castro. Mariela Castro, who is the director of the Cuban National Centre for Sex Education (CENESEX), has gained prominence as a defender of LGBT rights. While reaffirming the overriding principles of a \"socialist\" economy and central economic planning, the proposed new charter gives formal juridical recognition to the \"the role of the market\", and \"private property\" as one of a range of types of property existing in the Cuban economy. The \"market\" and \"private ownership\" are both key elements of Western capitalism which were long pilloried as corrupting generators of inequality by Cuba's Communist Party rulers. So the changes reflect the realities of Cuba's own experience, which saw the island forced to open itself up more to foreign tourism and investment after the disappearance of its Soviet benefactor, including allowing of private self-employed economic activities and enterprises for which more than half a million Cubans currently have licences. Observers saw the constitutional tweaks moving Cuba in the direction of - but still far from close to - the types of \"market socialism\" currently practised by political allies like China and Vietnam. However, unlike those countries, Cuban officials and state media were still expressing public aversion to the idea of excessive individual enrichment, and the revised constitution continues to prohibit private \"concentration of property\". The constitutional reform introduces proposed novelties in the organisation and hierarchy of the Cuban state. One is the creation of the post of prime minister, to lead the Council of Ministers (cabinet) in the day-to-day running of the country. This prime minister would be designated by the National Assembly at the proposal of the president. This reinstates a position that had existed in the early years of the Cuban revolution. Another change is a proposal to have governors ruling Cuba's 15 provinces - instead of the current presidents of provincial assemblies - but the new constitutional text also stresses the importance of \"municipal autonomy\". The elimination of the phrase \"to advance towards communist society\" has generated the most attention and comment. The revised article retains the goal of \"the construction of socialism\". Some media jumped on this change. \"Cuba renounces communism,\" was the excited headline carried by Cuban dissident website CiberCuba on 21 July. Even inside Cuba, the proposed alteration has produced debate, for example, on the curated readers' comments section of the official Communist Youth daily Juventud Rebelde on 22 July. Reader \"Juan R Oro\" wrote: \"The majority of us Cubans are not in agreement with this project of a constitution nor with the fact that the word communism is eliminated from this.\" Another reader, \"El Oriental\" (The Easterner) had a different view: \"Jose del Oro, if communism has been a failure in Europe and what it does is keep investors away, why keep insisting on an obsolete and demonstrably failed system which does not evolve, it simply disappears.\" Cuban leaders and official media made very clear however the island was not giving up its one-party socialist system, or the pre-dominance of the ruling Communist Party, specifically defined as \"Fidelist\" and \"Marxist-Leninist\". Communist Party daily Granma declared on 23 July: \"The [constitution] project reaffirms the socialist character of our political, economic and socialist system, as well as the directing role of the Communist Party of Cuba.\" In comments carried on state TV, Cuban National Assembly President Esteban Lazo assured viewers that \"the ideology\" was not being \"lost\" but updated to aim for \"sovereign, independent, democratic, prosperous and sustainable socialism\". Many Cuban exiles and anti-government dissidents were unimpressed by the proposed constitutional changes. In an apparently mocking reference to the continuation of the one-party state, Cuban dissident website 14yMedio carried a 22 July commentary headlined: \"There will be no transition in Cuba... not even to communism\". Some exile commentators were asking whether the alterations meant Cuba's schoolchildren, who start each day with a salute and the words \"Pioneers for communism! We will be like Che [Guevara]!\" would be changing their slogan now.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 271, "answer_end": 1529, "text": "The proposed 224-article new constitution will replace the 1976 national charter that enshrined one-party communism on the island following Fidel Castro's 1959 revolution. Acknowledging that Cuba and the world had changed since 1976, newly-elected Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel said the new realities meant the constitution was \"obliged\" to be updated, and he called the reform \"deep\". Mr Diaz-Canel, who took over from Fidel Castro's brother Raul on 19 April - the first time for decades Cuba's head of state has not carried the name Castro - said the new document would reflect \"the now and the future of the nation\". Proposed changes that recognise same-sex marriage, but drop a previously stated objective of constructing a \"communist society\" in Cuba, have drawn intense media attention. However, the Caribbean nation definitely will be keeping its one-party socialist political and economic system, ruled over by the Communist Party of Cuba. While it has already been approved \"unanimously\" by the 600-plus assembly deputies, Cuban officials said the document would be subjected to a process of \"popular consultation\" among the island's people, to gather comments and suggestions, before being submitted for final approval in a national referendum."}], "question": "Why the plans for a new constitution?", "id": "757_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Greenpeace hits back at Trump tweet on climate change denial", "date": "12 March 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Greenpeace has hit back against President Donald Trump for tweeting a climate change denial from a former member of the environmental group. Mr Trump quoted Patrick Moore, who he claimed was a founder of Greenpeace, as saying: \"The whole climate crisis is not only Fake News, it's Fake Science.\" Greenpeace said Mr Moore was not a founder, but a nuclear lobbyist who does not represent the group. The Republican president has frequently cast doubt on climate change science. Mr Trump tweeted about an interview Mr Moore gave on the Fox News programme Fox & Friends, where he denied that climate change was a threat. He was identified by the programme as being a co-founder of Greenpeace. Mr Moore also lashed out at freshman Democratic Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's Green New Deal, which is a resolution that aims to reduce carbon emissions and mitigate the impact of climate change in the US. Mr Moore called the congresswoman a \"twit\" and suggested global warming might be beneficial as carbon dioxide is a \"building block of life\". Mr Trump's tweet did not reference the Green New Deal, but quoted Mr Moore's denial of climate change science, adding: \"Wow!\" The president also labelled Mr Moore as a co-founder of Greenpeace. Mr Moore has since retweeted the president's approval. This is not the first time Mr Trump has questioned climate change. After a report from his own government warned of devastating effects, Mr Trump said: \"I don't believe it.\" As a candidate, Mr Trump called climate change \"a hoax\", though he eventually walked back that statement. Since taking office, his administration has pushed pro-fossil fuels policies while Mr Trump has accused climate change scientists of having a \"political agenda\". In a statement, Greenpeace said Mr Moore \"frequently cites a long-ago affiliation with Greenpeace to gain legitimacy in the media, and media outlets often either state or imply that Mr Moore still represents Greenpeace. He does not.\" The environmental group went a step further, referencing the Green New Deal as \"a vision for the future of this country with more equality, justice, fairness, & frankly, more common sense\". \"Climate deniers are trying to delegitimise it, the truth is that most people in this country support the #GreenNewDeal & support policies like ending fossil fuel subsidies. Wow!\" Mr Moore, an ecologist and former Greenpeace activist, was a part of the group during its early days in the 1970s. Greenpeace has denied links to Mr Moore before, and has created a page detailing Mr Moore's background, lobbying efforts and views that go against Greenpeace's mission. \"Although Mr Moore played a significant role in Greenpeace Canada for several years, he did not found Greenpeace,\" the organisation said. \"Phil Cotes, Irving Stowe, and Jim Bohlen founded Greenpeace in 1970.\" The group eventually voted him out of leadership roles and Mr Moore left Greenpeace in 1986. He has since become an independent environmental consultant and nuclear energy advocate. He is a member of the CO2 coalition, a nonprofit group that contends carbon emissions are not bad for the environment. On his Twitter biography, however, Mr Moore describes himself as a \"Greenpeace co-founder, 15 yr leader, dropped out in '86 to be The Sensible Environmentalist\".", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 475, "answer_end": 1736, "text": "Mr Trump tweeted about an interview Mr Moore gave on the Fox News programme Fox & Friends, where he denied that climate change was a threat. He was identified by the programme as being a co-founder of Greenpeace. Mr Moore also lashed out at freshman Democratic Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's Green New Deal, which is a resolution that aims to reduce carbon emissions and mitigate the impact of climate change in the US. Mr Moore called the congresswoman a \"twit\" and suggested global warming might be beneficial as carbon dioxide is a \"building block of life\". Mr Trump's tweet did not reference the Green New Deal, but quoted Mr Moore's denial of climate change science, adding: \"Wow!\" The president also labelled Mr Moore as a co-founder of Greenpeace. Mr Moore has since retweeted the president's approval. This is not the first time Mr Trump has questioned climate change. After a report from his own government warned of devastating effects, Mr Trump said: \"I don't believe it.\" As a candidate, Mr Trump called climate change \"a hoax\", though he eventually walked back that statement. Since taking office, his administration has pushed pro-fossil fuels policies while Mr Trump has accused climate change scientists of having a \"political agenda\"."}], "question": "What was the claim?", "id": "758_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1737, "answer_end": 2340, "text": "In a statement, Greenpeace said Mr Moore \"frequently cites a long-ago affiliation with Greenpeace to gain legitimacy in the media, and media outlets often either state or imply that Mr Moore still represents Greenpeace. He does not.\" The environmental group went a step further, referencing the Green New Deal as \"a vision for the future of this country with more equality, justice, fairness, & frankly, more common sense\". \"Climate deniers are trying to delegitimise it, the truth is that most people in this country support the #GreenNewDeal & support policies like ending fossil fuel subsidies. Wow!\""}], "question": "What did Greenpeace say?", "id": "758_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2341, "answer_end": 3296, "text": "Mr Moore, an ecologist and former Greenpeace activist, was a part of the group during its early days in the 1970s. Greenpeace has denied links to Mr Moore before, and has created a page detailing Mr Moore's background, lobbying efforts and views that go against Greenpeace's mission. \"Although Mr Moore played a significant role in Greenpeace Canada for several years, he did not found Greenpeace,\" the organisation said. \"Phil Cotes, Irving Stowe, and Jim Bohlen founded Greenpeace in 1970.\" The group eventually voted him out of leadership roles and Mr Moore left Greenpeace in 1986. He has since become an independent environmental consultant and nuclear energy advocate. He is a member of the CO2 coalition, a nonprofit group that contends carbon emissions are not bad for the environment. On his Twitter biography, however, Mr Moore describes himself as a \"Greenpeace co-founder, 15 yr leader, dropped out in '86 to be The Sensible Environmentalist\"."}], "question": "Who is Patrick Moore?", "id": "758_2"}]}]}, {"title": "Iraq protests: Death toll nears 100 as unrest enters fifth day", "date": "5 October 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "The death toll from anti-government protests in Iraq has risen to almost 100, says the country's parliamentary human rights commission. The unrest entered its fifth day on Saturday, with at least five people killed in the latest clashes in the capital Baghdad. The security forces are again reported to have used live rounds. Demonstrators say they are taking a stand against unemployment, poor public services and corruption. It is the deadliest unrest since so-called Islamic State was declared defeated in Iraq in 2017. It is seen as the first major challenge to Prime Minister Adel Abdel Mahdi's fragile government, nearly a year since he came to power. The authorities have been trying to control the protests through curfews and a near-total internet blackout. An emergency session of parliament failed to go ahead on Saturday afternoon. The daytime curfew in Baghdad was lifted on Saturday, and smaller groups of protesters began to renew their action. The city's Tahrir Square has been the focal point of protests, but it was blocked on Saturday, according to local news agencies. The violence has also affected majority Shia Muslim areas in the south, including Amara, Diwaniya and Hilla. A number of deaths were reported on Friday in the southern city of Nasiriya, about 320km (200 miles) away. A total of 540 protesters have been arrested, of whom nearly 200 remain in custody, the human rights commission said. It also said more than 3,000 people had been injured. The demonstrators do not appear to have any clear leadership at the moment, and their anger is increasingly radicalising their demands, says the BBC's Sebastian Usher. On Friday, Prime Minister Mahdi vowed to respond to protesters' concerns but warned there was no \"magic solution\" to Iraq's problems. He said he had given his full backing to security forces, insisting they were abiding by \"international standards\" in dealing with protesters. Iraq's most senior Shia cleric, Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, urged the government to respond to the demands for reform, saying it had \"not answered the demands of the people to fight corruption or achieved anything on the ground\". The UN and US have expressed concern over the violence, and urged the Iraqi authorities to exercise restraint. Corruption, unemployment and poor public services are at the heart of the discontent faced by young Iraqis today. The unrest began spontaneously with no formal leadership in mostly Shia areas in the south, and quickly spread. Iraq has the world's fourth-largest reserves of oil, but 22.5% of its population of 40 million were living on less than $1.90 (PS1.53) a day in 2014, according to the World Bank. One in six households has experienced some form of food insecurity. The unemployment rate was 7.9% last year, but among young people it was double that. And almost 17% of the economically active population is underemployed. The country is also struggling to recover after a brutal war against the Islamic State group, which seized control of large swathes of the north and west in 2014. Living conditions remain dire in many conflict-affected areas, with insufficient services.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1645, "answer_end": 2260, "text": "On Friday, Prime Minister Mahdi vowed to respond to protesters' concerns but warned there was no \"magic solution\" to Iraq's problems. He said he had given his full backing to security forces, insisting they were abiding by \"international standards\" in dealing with protesters. Iraq's most senior Shia cleric, Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, urged the government to respond to the demands for reform, saying it had \"not answered the demands of the people to fight corruption or achieved anything on the ground\". The UN and US have expressed concern over the violence, and urged the Iraqi authorities to exercise restraint."}], "question": "What's been the reaction?", "id": "759_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2261, "answer_end": 3143, "text": "Corruption, unemployment and poor public services are at the heart of the discontent faced by young Iraqis today. The unrest began spontaneously with no formal leadership in mostly Shia areas in the south, and quickly spread. Iraq has the world's fourth-largest reserves of oil, but 22.5% of its population of 40 million were living on less than $1.90 (PS1.53) a day in 2014, according to the World Bank. One in six households has experienced some form of food insecurity. The unemployment rate was 7.9% last year, but among young people it was double that. And almost 17% of the economically active population is underemployed. The country is also struggling to recover after a brutal war against the Islamic State group, which seized control of large swathes of the north and west in 2014. Living conditions remain dire in many conflict-affected areas, with insufficient services."}], "question": "Why is this happening now?", "id": "759_1"}]}]}, {"title": "These are the amazing things you can do in Japan on Cat Day", "date": "22 February 2016", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Are you a cat person? If so, Japan is the place to be on 22 February because this is when Cat Day is celebrated. Now in its 30th year, Cat Day has lit up Japanese social media with endless portraits of ...cats as well as cat-themed doughnuts, cat-shaped biscuits, cat manga, cats staring soulfully out of windows, kittens mewing expectantly and so on.  On this day it is Japan's hugest trend on social media. Known as \"Neko no Hi\",  it was chosen because the date's numerals, 2/22 (ni ni ni), are pronounced fairly closely to the sound a cat makes in Japan (nyan nyan nyan). You can play tricks on your cat This Twitter user pranked a sleeping pet cat which woke up to find itself buried under an avalanche of toy mice You can dress up as a cat Enthusiasts of cosplay, the art of dressing up like animated characters, posted pictures of themselves dressed as cats, or wearing \"nekomimi\" (cat's ears). You can make food look like cats You can monetise cats Over the years the day has become a commercial success, with shops and businesses releasing cat-themed items. Disney in Japan declared the day to be \"Marie Day,\" after the young female character from the Aristocats, while newspaper Asahi Shimbun marked the occasion with a special report from one of Japan's cat cafes, where you can sit for an hour or two in the company of numerous pampered and purring moggies. The event began in 1987 after an Executive Cat Day Committee polled cat-lovers across Japan and decided that February 22 should be Cat Day. Other countries also have days to celebrate cats,  but few marked with as much enthusiasm as Japan's. A cat called Tama made headlines after becoming honorary stationmaster of a train station in Wakayama prefecture. Wearing a special cat-sized stationmaster's hat, she was a popular tourist attraction until her death in June 2015. Tama was duly inducted into a hall of fame for the station's train line in February 2016. Meanwhile, a cat called Maru became an internet sensation with a series of YouTube videos. The videos have had huge viewing figures since 2008, with one early film gaining 21.7 million views. And then there's Nyancat - the internet meme which features a flying cartoon cat, creating an infinite rainbow through space, set to the sound of Hatsune Miku, a \"vocaloid\" human-sounding synthesiser. The original video has been viewed 131 million times. This is probably the day to clear up a common misconception about the global  phenomenon that is Hello Kitty - the white cat without a mouth first unveiled by Japanese company Sanrio in the 1970s. Not a cat, but a girl and actually British to boot. Fret not. This day, 22 February, is also Ninja Day in Japan (another play on 'two' being pronounced as 'ni'). Koka city in Shiga prefecture is one of the better known places to celebrate this occasion, with town hall staff dressing as elusive assassins for the day. Reporting by Jordan Allen, a freelance journalist in Tokyo.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 409, "answer_end": 1368, "text": "Known as \"Neko no Hi\",  it was chosen because the date's numerals, 2/22 (ni ni ni), are pronounced fairly closely to the sound a cat makes in Japan (nyan nyan nyan). You can play tricks on your cat This Twitter user pranked a sleeping pet cat which woke up to find itself buried under an avalanche of toy mice You can dress up as a cat Enthusiasts of cosplay, the art of dressing up like animated characters, posted pictures of themselves dressed as cats, or wearing \"nekomimi\" (cat's ears). You can make food look like cats You can monetise cats Over the years the day has become a commercial success, with shops and businesses releasing cat-themed items. Disney in Japan declared the day to be \"Marie Day,\" after the young female character from the Aristocats, while newspaper Asahi Shimbun marked the occasion with a special report from one of Japan's cat cafes, where you can sit for an hour or two in the company of numerous pampered and purring moggies."}], "question": "What happens on Cat Day?", "id": "760_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1369, "answer_end": 1610, "text": "The event began in 1987 after an Executive Cat Day Committee polled cat-lovers across Japan and decided that February 22 should be Cat Day. Other countries also have days to celebrate cats,  but few marked with as much enthusiasm as Japan's."}], "question": "How did it start?", "id": "760_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2627, "answer_end": 2952, "text": "Fret not. This day, 22 February, is also Ninja Day in Japan (another play on 'two' being pronounced as 'ni'). Koka city in Shiga prefecture is one of the better known places to celebrate this occasion, with town hall staff dressing as elusive assassins for the day. Reporting by Jordan Allen, a freelance journalist in Tokyo."}], "question": "But what if you're not a cat person?", "id": "760_2"}]}]}, {"title": "Thailand cave rescue: Boys found alive after nine days", "date": "2 July 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Twelve boys and their football coach missing in caves in Thailand for nine days have been found by divers, in a drama that has gripped the nation. They were discovered by two British divers on a ledge in a cavern after a marathon search operation in the Tham Luang caves in Chiang Rai. The challenge now will be to extract the party safely, with rising water and mud impeding access. Families of the missing group were ecstatic at news of the rescue. Rescuers had hoped they would find safety on a ledge in an underground chamber nicknamed Pattaya Beach but they were found 400m (440 yards) away having moved to higher ground to avoid the rising water. The two British rescuers are believed to be Rick Stanton and John Volanthen, who arrived in Thailand early last week. It took them several hours to reach the group on Monday. In video posted on Facebook by Thai Navy SEAL special forces, one can be heard speaking in English to the group, as they sit on a ledge above water in a cavern, picked out by torchlight. \"How many of you?\" the rescuer asks. \"Thirteen!\" comes the reply. \"Thirteen? Brilliant!\" The group appear to ask when they will be taken to safety and one of the unseen rescuers replies: \"Not today. There's two of us. We have to dive. We are coming. OK? Many people are coming. We are the first.\" One of the boys is heard to say: \"Eat, eat, eat, tell them we are hungry.\" When the group, whose voices are indistinct, ask what day it is, the divers pause, then one replies, \"Monday, Monday. You have been here... 10 days. You are very strong.\" The divers explain that they have to leave but will be back. \"Thank you so much,\" says one of the huddled group. \"Where you come from?\" \"England. The UK.\" \"Oh. See you tomorrow.\" The group's plight has gripped the country and led to an outpouring of support. The boys aged 11 to 16 and their coach went to explore the caves on 23 June. By Jonathan Head, BBC News, Tham Luang There are scenes of jubilation here at the cave entrance - drowned out by the generators powering the water pumps and filling the air tanks for the dozens of divers whose persistence in the toughest of underground conditions has paid off. Now the authorities must figure out how to extract them. The first priority is to get them medical treatment and food where they are, to rebuild their strength. The whole country has watched every stage of this operation, holding its breath for what seemed an increasingly unlikely happy ending. They are not out yet but this is an uplifting breakthrough after the Thai government threw everything it could at the effort to save these boys' lives. The 12 boys are members of the Moo Pa - or Wild Boar - football team. Their 25-year-old assistant coach, Ekkapol Janthawong, is known to have occasionally taken them out on day trips - including a trip to the same cave two years ago. The youngest member, Chanin \"Titan\" Wibrunrungrueang, is 11 - he started playing football aged seven. Duangpet \"Dom\" Promtep, 13, is the team captain and said to be the motivator of the group. Tinnakorn Boonpiem, whose 12-year-old son Mongkol is among the 13, told AFP news agency near the caves she was \"so glad\" to hear they were safe. \"I want to him to be physically and mentally fit,\" she said. \"I'm so happy I can't put it into words,\" another relative of one of the group told reporters as tears of joy streamed down his cheeks. \"They are all safe but the mission is not completed,\" Chiang Rai governor Narongsak Osottanakorn   told a press conference at the command centre at the cave entrance. \"Our mission is to search, rescue and return. So far we just found them. Next mission is to bring them out from the cave and send them home.\" The governor said they would continue to drain water out of the cave while sending doctors and nurses to dive into the cave to check the health of the boys and their coach. \"If the doctors say their physical condition is strong enough to be moved, they will take them out from the cave,\" he said. \"We will look after them until they can return to school.\" Edd Sorenson, a regional co-ordinator in Florida for the International Underwater Cave Rescue and Recovery Organisation, advises against trying to get the party out through the flooded caves using scuba gear. \"That is extremely dangerous and hazardous, and I would consider that an absolute last resort,\" he told the BBC. \"Having somebody in zero visibility that's not familiar with ... that kind of extreme conditions, it's real easy and very likely that they would panic, and either kill themselves and or the rescuers. \"So at this point, you know, I think they would be better off bringing in food, water, filtration systems, oxygen if the air space needs it and requires it, and at least they have lights and hope now, so I think waiting it out, as long as they can get supplies in there to make them comfortable and warm and fed and hydrated.\" More than 1,000 people have already been involved in the operation, including teams from China, Myanmar, Laos, Australia and the US, as well as Britain.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 653, "answer_end": 1893, "text": "The two British rescuers are believed to be Rick Stanton and John Volanthen, who arrived in Thailand early last week. It took them several hours to reach the group on Monday. In video posted on Facebook by Thai Navy SEAL special forces, one can be heard speaking in English to the group, as they sit on a ledge above water in a cavern, picked out by torchlight. \"How many of you?\" the rescuer asks. \"Thirteen!\" comes the reply. \"Thirteen? Brilliant!\" The group appear to ask when they will be taken to safety and one of the unseen rescuers replies: \"Not today. There's two of us. We have to dive. We are coming. OK? Many people are coming. We are the first.\" One of the boys is heard to say: \"Eat, eat, eat, tell them we are hungry.\" When the group, whose voices are indistinct, ask what day it is, the divers pause, then one replies, \"Monday, Monday. You have been here... 10 days. You are very strong.\" The divers explain that they have to leave but will be back. \"Thank you so much,\" says one of the huddled group. \"Where you come from?\" \"England. The UK.\" \"Oh. See you tomorrow.\" The group's plight has gripped the country and led to an outpouring of support. The boys aged 11 to 16 and their coach went to explore the caves on 23 June."}], "question": "How did they find them?", "id": "761_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2620, "answer_end": 3388, "text": "The 12 boys are members of the Moo Pa - or Wild Boar - football team. Their 25-year-old assistant coach, Ekkapol Janthawong, is known to have occasionally taken them out on day trips - including a trip to the same cave two years ago. The youngest member, Chanin \"Titan\" Wibrunrungrueang, is 11 - he started playing football aged seven. Duangpet \"Dom\" Promtep, 13, is the team captain and said to be the motivator of the group. Tinnakorn Boonpiem, whose 12-year-old son Mongkol is among the 13, told AFP news agency near the caves she was \"so glad\" to hear they were safe. \"I want to him to be physically and mentally fit,\" she said. \"I'm so happy I can't put it into words,\" another relative of one of the group told reporters as tears of joy streamed down his cheeks."}], "question": "Who are the 13?", "id": "761_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3389, "answer_end": 5055, "text": "\"They are all safe but the mission is not completed,\" Chiang Rai governor Narongsak Osottanakorn   told a press conference at the command centre at the cave entrance. \"Our mission is to search, rescue and return. So far we just found them. Next mission is to bring them out from the cave and send them home.\" The governor said they would continue to drain water out of the cave while sending doctors and nurses to dive into the cave to check the health of the boys and their coach. \"If the doctors say their physical condition is strong enough to be moved, they will take them out from the cave,\" he said. \"We will look after them until they can return to school.\" Edd Sorenson, a regional co-ordinator in Florida for the International Underwater Cave Rescue and Recovery Organisation, advises against trying to get the party out through the flooded caves using scuba gear. \"That is extremely dangerous and hazardous, and I would consider that an absolute last resort,\" he told the BBC. \"Having somebody in zero visibility that's not familiar with ... that kind of extreme conditions, it's real easy and very likely that they would panic, and either kill themselves and or the rescuers. \"So at this point, you know, I think they would be better off bringing in food, water, filtration systems, oxygen if the air space needs it and requires it, and at least they have lights and hope now, so I think waiting it out, as long as they can get supplies in there to make them comfortable and warm and fed and hydrated.\" More than 1,000 people have already been involved in the operation, including teams from China, Myanmar, Laos, Australia and the US, as well as Britain."}], "question": "What challenges lie ahead?", "id": "761_2"}]}]}, {"title": "Lee Ming-che: Taiwanese activist goes on trial in China", "date": "12 September 2017", "paragraphs": [{"context": "A Taiwanese pro-democracy activist has gone on trial in China accused of \"subverting state power\". Chinese authorities say Lee Ming-che promoted multi-party rule in group messaging chats. The 42-year-old activist went missing in China in March and was later revealed to have been detained. Little information has been given by Chinese authorities, but the case has gripped Taiwan amid already strained relations with China. His wife Lee Ching-yu, who has led calls for his release, is attending his trial in Hunan province. She had warned he may be pressured to make a confession against his will. Mr Lee, an NGO worker, is a well-known democracy and human rights activist in Taiwan. On 19 March he travelled to the semi-autonomous Chinese territory of Macau, then moved on to the southern mainland province of Guangdong where he went missing. His wife later held a press conference in Taiwan calling for answers from the Chinese government. On 29 March, China announced Mr Lee had been detained for \"pursuing activities harmful to national security\". In May, authorities said he was suspected of \"subverting state power\", and that he was being held in Hunan province. A Chinese activist, Peng Yuhua, is also on trial with Mr Lee on similar charges. Prosecutors at the Yueyang Intermediate Court in Hunan province, which is posting live updates on the trial online, accused Mr Lee of \"attacking Chinese society and encouraging multi-party rule\". They said he did this through an organisation called Plum Blossom Company set up with Mr Peng, and also through posts in a group chat with more than 2,000 members in the popular messaging platform QQ. Mr Lee was accused of using the medium to organise activities \"inciting others to subvert state power\" as well. Mr Lee was seen in a clip recorded at the trial saying he had \"no objection\" to the charges. He admitted that he had circulated and written articles that \"attacked and wickedly smeared the Chinese government\" and \"promoted Western-style multi-party democracy\" on various social media and messaging platforms. Mr Lee's family and colleagues have said he did regularly exchange messages with friends in mainland China discussing democracy and China-Taiwan relations, but that he had done nothing wrong and only shared his experiences as an activist. On Saturday, his wife told reporters: \"Please forgive Lee Ming-che if you see him doing or saying something embarrassing in court under duress. \"That is just the result of the Chinese government skilfully extracting a 'guilty confession',\" the CNA website (in Chinese) quoted her as saying. The case has strained relations between China and Taiwan, which Beijing considers a breakaway province to be reunited with the mainland one day. It is being watched particularly closely in Taiwan, where many often travel to mainland China for work or holidays. The incident comes during a period of souring ties which began when Tsai Ing-wen, from the pro-independence Democratic Progressive Party, became president last year. Ms Tsai has called on Chinese authorities to return Mr Lee safely, and to \"not let this case be an impediment\" to relations. \"China may perhaps see this as a small matter, but in reality, this is a huge cross-strait issue,\" she said in an interview (in Chinese) in April. The spokesman of China's Taiwan Affairs Office, Ma Xiaoguang, previously said the investigation into Mr Lee would be \"handled in line with legal procedures\".", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 598, "answer_end": 1249, "text": "Mr Lee, an NGO worker, is a well-known democracy and human rights activist in Taiwan. On 19 March he travelled to the semi-autonomous Chinese territory of Macau, then moved on to the southern mainland province of Guangdong where he went missing. His wife later held a press conference in Taiwan calling for answers from the Chinese government. On 29 March, China announced Mr Lee had been detained for \"pursuing activities harmful to national security\". In May, authorities said he was suspected of \"subverting state power\", and that he was being held in Hunan province. A Chinese activist, Peng Yuhua, is also on trial with Mr Lee on similar charges."}], "question": "What happened to him?", "id": "762_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1250, "answer_end": 2597, "text": "Prosecutors at the Yueyang Intermediate Court in Hunan province, which is posting live updates on the trial online, accused Mr Lee of \"attacking Chinese society and encouraging multi-party rule\". They said he did this through an organisation called Plum Blossom Company set up with Mr Peng, and also through posts in a group chat with more than 2,000 members in the popular messaging platform QQ. Mr Lee was accused of using the medium to organise activities \"inciting others to subvert state power\" as well. Mr Lee was seen in a clip recorded at the trial saying he had \"no objection\" to the charges. He admitted that he had circulated and written articles that \"attacked and wickedly smeared the Chinese government\" and \"promoted Western-style multi-party democracy\" on various social media and messaging platforms. Mr Lee's family and colleagues have said he did regularly exchange messages with friends in mainland China discussing democracy and China-Taiwan relations, but that he had done nothing wrong and only shared his experiences as an activist. On Saturday, his wife told reporters: \"Please forgive Lee Ming-che if you see him doing or saying something embarrassing in court under duress. \"That is just the result of the Chinese government skilfully extracting a 'guilty confession',\" the CNA website (in Chinese) quoted her as saying."}], "question": "What is he accused of doing?", "id": "762_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2598, "answer_end": 3454, "text": "The case has strained relations between China and Taiwan, which Beijing considers a breakaway province to be reunited with the mainland one day. It is being watched particularly closely in Taiwan, where many often travel to mainland China for work or holidays. The incident comes during a period of souring ties which began when Tsai Ing-wen, from the pro-independence Democratic Progressive Party, became president last year. Ms Tsai has called on Chinese authorities to return Mr Lee safely, and to \"not let this case be an impediment\" to relations. \"China may perhaps see this as a small matter, but in reality, this is a huge cross-strait issue,\" she said in an interview (in Chinese) in April. The spokesman of China's Taiwan Affairs Office, Ma Xiaoguang, previously said the investigation into Mr Lee would be \"handled in line with legal procedures\"."}], "question": "How big is this case?", "id": "762_2"}]}]}, {"title": "Dismay after Trump moves to cut aid to Central America", "date": "31 March 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "US opposition politicians and aid agencies have questioned a decision by President Donald Trump to cut off aid to three Central American states. Mr Trump ordered the suspension of aid payments to El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras to push their governments to stop migration into the US. Critics say the decision will hurt programmes that already aim to persuade people to stay at home. Congress may seek to stop the aid being redirected elsewhere. US officials say the immigration system at the border with Mexico is already at breaking point yet the administration wants to increase the number of asylum seekers sent back over the border fivefold - from 60 a day to 300. There has been a huge increase in asylum seekers fleeing violence in El Salvador, Honduras and Guatemala. The three nations are where most of the migrants on the US southern border come from. President Trump has also said he is likely to close the border if Mexico does not do more to stop migrants crossing. \"We are carrying out the President's direction and ending FY [fiscal year] 2017 and FY 2018 foreign assistance programs for the Northern Triangle,\" a state department spokesperson was quoted as saying by Reuters news agency, declining to give further details. According to the Washington Post, at stake is nearly $500m (PS383m) in 2018 funds plus millions more left over from the previous fiscal year. A Reuters source put the overall figure at about $700m. In 2017, Guatemala received over $248m while Honduras received $175m and El Salvador $115m. \"I've ended payments to Guatemala, to Honduras and El Salvador,\" Mr Trump told reporters on Friday. \"No money goes there anymore... We were paying them tremendous amounts of money and we're not paying them any more because they haven't done a thing for us.\" Aid advocates argue that the best way to stem migration from the region is to stimulate economic development and reduce violence there, and that it is too early to judge the impact of the aid, which was boosted in 2016 under President Barack Obama. Cutting off aid is \"shooting yourself in the foot\", Adriana Beltran, director of citizen security at the Washington Office on Latin America human rights research group, was quoted as saying by the New York Times. \"There are long-term challenges that are going to need a long-term sustainable solution,\" she added. \"You can have a discussion as to how we can ensure that the aid is effective, that assistance is not going to supporting corrupt governments.\" A group of House Democrats visiting El Salvador condemned Mr Trump's move in a joint statement, saying that Mr Trump's approach was \"entirely counterproductive\". Senator Bob Menendez, the top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, condemned the \"reckless announcement\". The state department said it would \"engage Congress in the process\", suggesting that lawmakers would need to approve the cuts. However, according to congressional staffers quoted by the Washington Post, the US president has \"some wiggle room to reprogram funds\". Adam Isaacson, a senior official at the Washington Office on Latin America, said presidents had previously shied away from reprogramming money because it irritated lawmakers who could retaliate by declining to fund key administration projects.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 983, "answer_end": 1790, "text": "\"We are carrying out the President's direction and ending FY [fiscal year] 2017 and FY 2018 foreign assistance programs for the Northern Triangle,\" a state department spokesperson was quoted as saying by Reuters news agency, declining to give further details. According to the Washington Post, at stake is nearly $500m (PS383m) in 2018 funds plus millions more left over from the previous fiscal year. A Reuters source put the overall figure at about $700m. In 2017, Guatemala received over $248m while Honduras received $175m and El Salvador $115m. \"I've ended payments to Guatemala, to Honduras and El Salvador,\" Mr Trump told reporters on Friday. \"No money goes there anymore... We were paying them tremendous amounts of money and we're not paying them any more because they haven't done a thing for us.\""}], "question": "How much money is  being cut?", "id": "763_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1791, "answer_end": 2779, "text": "Aid advocates argue that the best way to stem migration from the region is to stimulate economic development and reduce violence there, and that it is too early to judge the impact of the aid, which was boosted in 2016 under President Barack Obama. Cutting off aid is \"shooting yourself in the foot\", Adriana Beltran, director of citizen security at the Washington Office on Latin America human rights research group, was quoted as saying by the New York Times. \"There are long-term challenges that are going to need a long-term sustainable solution,\" she added. \"You can have a discussion as to how we can ensure that the aid is effective, that assistance is not going to supporting corrupt governments.\" A group of House Democrats visiting El Salvador condemned Mr Trump's move in a joint statement, saying that Mr Trump's approach was \"entirely counterproductive\". Senator Bob Menendez, the top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, condemned the \"reckless announcement\"."}], "question": "What impact could the cuts have?", "id": "763_1"}]}]}, {"title": "Pakistan election: Rival parties reject result and call for new poll", "date": "27 July 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "A group of Pakistani political parties has rejected the results of Wednesday's general election that looks poised to bring ex-cricketer Imran Khan to power. Mr Khan's PTI party is ahead in the poll and has declared victory, but rival parties allege vote rigging. After joint talks in Islamabad, one party leader said they would launch protests to demand fresh elections. The rival parties include the former governing PML-N, which had earlier said it was ready to go into opposition. Leader Shahbaz Sharif, brother of former PM Nawaz Sharif who is in jail on corruption charges, said the party had yet to decide whether or not to boycott parliament. Sitting alongside him at a news conference, Maulana Fazalur Rehman, leader of the MMA party and spokesman for the group of rival parties, said: \"We will run a movement for holding of elections again. There will be protests.\" Leaders of more than a dozen parties had called the conference to form a joint strategy after the election. The election was seen as a contest between Mr Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) party and Mr Sharif's Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N). With most votes counted, Mr Khan's party is leading with 115 seats in the 272 National Assembly constituencies being contested, far ahead of the PML-N on 64. In third place with 43 seats is the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) led by Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, son of assassinated two-time prime minister Benazir Bhutto. The PPP did not attend the meeting of rival parties on Friday. A total of 137 seats is required for a majority and while Mr Khan is on course to become prime minister, he will have to form a coalition government. Analysis by Anbarasan Ethirajan, South Asia Regional Editor Pakistani politics is full of twists and turns. A day after Imran Khan declared victory in the elections, several parties are calling for a new poll. If the protests go ahead as promised, it could cause political instability. Interestingly, the party of Nawaz Sharif appears undecided about boycotting parliament. Earlier, Mr Sharif's nephew said they were ready to sit on the opposition benches. But hours later his party joined the opposition alliance calling for a re-run. Mr Sharif's PML-N is also desperately trying to form a regional government in Pakistan's most populous Punjab province. Though it has emerged as the single largest in the assembly elections there, it has failed to secure an outright majority. It appears that the party is keen to retain Punjab, its traditional stronghold, as it cannot form a government at the federal level. But Mr Khan's PTI party, which is only a few seats behind the PML-N, is also in the fray to form a government in Punjab with the support of smaller parties and independents. The next few days are going to be busy for deal makers and the PML-N may not want to be left with nothing. Mr Khan, 65, has faced accusations that his campaign benefited from the backing of Pakistan's powerful military, a claim both he and the army deny. On Friday, a European Union monitoring team said the election campaign featured a \"lack of equality\". \"Although there were several legal provisions aimed at ensuring a level playing field, we have concluded that there was a lack of equality and opportunity,\" chief observer Michael Gahler told reporters. On Friday, the US expressed concern about \"flaws\" in the campaign process. \"These included constraints placed on freedoms of expression and association during the campaign period that were at odds with Pakistani authorities' stated goal of a fully fair and transparent election,\" the US State Department said. On Thursday Mr Khan - who captained Pakistan to a World Cup victory in 1992 - said the vote had been the \"clearest, fairest election Pakistan has ever had\". Earlier on Friday, senior PML-N leader Hamza Shahbaz Sharif said the party had \"reservations\" over the way the election was held, but it would concede victory in order to \"strengthen democracy in the country\". \"We are going to sit on opposition benches, despite all the reservations,\" the former prime minister's nephew said. \"Even if democracy is flawed, its solution is more democracy, and then more democracy.\" Nawaz Sharif, who is in prison after being convicted on corruption charges he disputes, said the election had been \"stolen\".", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 983, "answer_end": 1653, "text": "The election was seen as a contest between Mr Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) party and Mr Sharif's Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N). With most votes counted, Mr Khan's party is leading with 115 seats in the 272 National Assembly constituencies being contested, far ahead of the PML-N on 64. In third place with 43 seats is the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) led by Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, son of assassinated two-time prime minister Benazir Bhutto. The PPP did not attend the meeting of rival parties on Friday. A total of 137 seats is required for a majority and while Mr Khan is on course to become prime minister, he will have to form a coalition government."}], "question": "What are the latest figures?", "id": "764_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1654, "answer_end": 2846, "text": "Analysis by Anbarasan Ethirajan, South Asia Regional Editor Pakistani politics is full of twists and turns. A day after Imran Khan declared victory in the elections, several parties are calling for a new poll. If the protests go ahead as promised, it could cause political instability. Interestingly, the party of Nawaz Sharif appears undecided about boycotting parliament. Earlier, Mr Sharif's nephew said they were ready to sit on the opposition benches. But hours later his party joined the opposition alliance calling for a re-run. Mr Sharif's PML-N is also desperately trying to form a regional government in Pakistan's most populous Punjab province. Though it has emerged as the single largest in the assembly elections there, it has failed to secure an outright majority. It appears that the party is keen to retain Punjab, its traditional stronghold, as it cannot form a government at the federal level. But Mr Khan's PTI party, which is only a few seats behind the PML-N, is also in the fray to form a government in Punjab with the support of smaller parties and independents. The next few days are going to be busy for deal makers and the PML-N may not want to be left with nothing."}], "question": "Why the twists and turns?", "id": "764_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2847, "answer_end": 3766, "text": "Mr Khan, 65, has faced accusations that his campaign benefited from the backing of Pakistan's powerful military, a claim both he and the army deny. On Friday, a European Union monitoring team said the election campaign featured a \"lack of equality\". \"Although there were several legal provisions aimed at ensuring a level playing field, we have concluded that there was a lack of equality and opportunity,\" chief observer Michael Gahler told reporters. On Friday, the US expressed concern about \"flaws\" in the campaign process. \"These included constraints placed on freedoms of expression and association during the campaign period that were at odds with Pakistani authorities' stated goal of a fully fair and transparent election,\" the US State Department said. On Thursday Mr Khan - who captained Pakistan to a World Cup victory in 1992 - said the vote had been the \"clearest, fairest election Pakistan has ever had\"."}], "question": "Were the elections fair?", "id": "764_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3767, "answer_end": 4305, "text": "Earlier on Friday, senior PML-N leader Hamza Shahbaz Sharif said the party had \"reservations\" over the way the election was held, but it would concede victory in order to \"strengthen democracy in the country\". \"We are going to sit on opposition benches, despite all the reservations,\" the former prime minister's nephew said. \"Even if democracy is flawed, its solution is more democracy, and then more democracy.\" Nawaz Sharif, who is in prison after being convicted on corruption charges he disputes, said the election had been \"stolen\"."}], "question": "What has Nawaz Sharif's party said?", "id": "764_3"}]}]}, {"title": "Johnson & Johnson faces $417m payout in latest talc case", "date": "21 August 2017", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Johnson & Johnson has been ordered to pay $417m (PS323.4m)  to a woman who says she developed ovarian cancer after using products such as baby powder. The California jury's decision marks the largest award yet in a string of lawsuits that claim the firm did not adequately warn about cancer risks from talc-based products. A spokeswoman for Johnson & Johnson defended the products' safety. The firm plans to appeal, as it has in previous cases. \"We will appeal today's verdict because we are guided by the science,\" Carol Goodrich, spokesperson for Johnson & Johnson Consumer Inc, said in a statement. The evidence around any link between talc use and cancer is inconclusive. Johnson & Johnson, headquartered in New Jersey, faces thousands of claims from women who say they developed cancer due to using the firm's products to address concerns about vaginal odour and moisture. Johnson & Johnson has lost four of five previous cases tried before juries in Missouri, which have led to more than $300m in penalties. The California lawsuit was brought by Eva Echeverria, a 63-year-old woman who said she started using baby powder when she was 11 years old. She was diagnosed with ovarian cancer 10 years ago; the diagnosis is terminal, according to lawyers working on the case. The lawsuit alleged that the company was aware of cancer risk associated with talcum powder, but concealed that information from the public. The verdict included $70m in compensatory damages and $347m in punitive damages. Analysis: James Gallagher, health editor, BBC news website Is talc safe? There have been concerns for years that using talcum powder, particularly on the genitals, may increase the risk of ovarian cancer. But the evidence is not conclusive. The International Agency for Research on Cancer classifies talc used on the genitals as \"possibly carcinogenic\" because of the mixed evidence. Why is there any debate? The mineral talc in its natural form does contain asbestos and does cause cancer, however, asbestos-free talc has been used in baby powder and other cosmetics since the 1970s. But the studies on asbestos-free talc give contradictory results. It has been linked to a cancer risk in some studies, but there are concerns that the research may be biased as they often rely on people remembering how much talc they used years ago. Other studies have argued there is no link at all and there is no link between talc in contraceptives such as diaphragms and condoms (which would be close to the ovaries) and cancer. Also there does not seem to be a \"dose-response\" for talc, unlike with known carcinogens like tobacco where the more you smoke, the greater the risk of lung cancer. The charity Ovacome says there is no definitive evidence and that the worst-case scenario is that using talc increases the risk of cancer by a third. But it adds: \"Ovarian cancer is a rare disease, and increasing a small risk by a third still gives a small risk. So even if talc does increase the risk slightly, very few women who use talc will ever get ovarian cancer.\"", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 2680, "answer_end": 3050, "text": "The charity Ovacome says there is no definitive evidence and that the worst-case scenario is that using talc increases the risk of cancer by a third. But it adds: \"Ovarian cancer is a rare disease, and increasing a small risk by a third still gives a small risk. So even if talc does increase the risk slightly, very few women who use talc will ever get ovarian cancer.\""}], "question": "What should women do?", "id": "765_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Boss axed at controversy-hit Valeant Pharmaceuticals", "date": "21 March 2016", "paragraphs": [{"context": "The boss of Valeant Pharmaceuticals is to step down, saying he \"regrets the controversies\" that have affected the drugs maker in recent months. Michael Pearson, who will stay as chief executive until a replacement is found, said Valeant was still a \"strong and resilient company\". However, Valeant's former finance chief has declined to resign as a director. Shares in Valeant jumped 11% in early trading after heavy losses last week, driven by fears of a default. Valeant chairman Robert Ingram said: \"While the past few months have been difficult, Valeant has a collection of leading brands, valuable franchises and great people, and I am confident that the company will be able to rebuild its reputation and thrive under new leadership.\" Activist investor Bill Ackman, who has a 9% stake in Valeant, has been appointed to the board. Former chief financial officer Howard Schiller declined a request to step down from the board, meaning Katharine Stevenson voluntarily resigned instead to make space for Mr Ackman, the company said. Valeant added that Mr Schiller had contributed to the \"mis-statement\" of company results in 2014 and early 2015. However, Mr Schiller said: \"As a result of the fact that I did not engage in any improper conduct regarding this proposed restatement [of results], I have respectfully declined the request from the company's board to resign from the board.\" Bill Ackman, 48, the newest member of Valeant's board, is one of the world's most well-known activist hedge fund managers, and has been an outspoken supporter throughout the company's turmoil. Mr Ackman's hedge fund Pershing Square owns 9% of Valeant shares, making it the company's second largest investor. Last week, when the possibility that Valeant would default on its bonds was raised, Mr Ackman wasted no time reassuring Pershing Square investors that the drug company was still a good bet. In a letter he wrote that it was \"highly likely\" that banks would grant Valeant a waiver for missing the deadline to file financial information. Without that waiver Valeant could have entered a default on its loans. \"[Mr Ackman] has put his credibility on the line and it could make or break him,\" Aswath Damodaran a professor of finance at New York University, told the BBC. \"The markets are going to decide [Valeant's] value- his words could initially stem the problem, but they don't mean as much now,\" said Mr Damodaran. Mr Ackman's support for Valeant is not new. He teamed up with the drug maker in 2014 to make a bid for Botox-maker Allergan. In a controversial move Mr Ackman bought shares in both companies in an attempt to arrange the tie-up. He agreed to pay Valeant 15% of any profit made if Allergan was bought by a third party- which it eventually was. Allergan's board rejected several offers by Valeant and was eventually purchased by Actavis for $66bn (PS46bn). Mr Ackman is no stranger to public corporate disputes. He has spent $1bn betting against nutritional supplement brand Herbalife, and encouraged regulators to investigate its board. Mr Ackman has not reserved his insults for the company. He verbally spared with activist investors Carl Icahn and Daniel Lobe over Herbalife. During a televised interview on CNBC Mr Ackman said Mr Icahn was being dishonest with investors, while Mr Icahn accused Mr Ackman of being a \"cry-baby in the schoolyard\".  The two had a public reconciliation in 2014. Valeant shares more than halved last week after it lowered revenue forecasts and said that delays in filing its annual results could result in a notice of default. The firm is also facing an investigation by the Securities and Exchange Commission into its relationship with pharmacy Philidor, and an investigation by the US Congress into its drug pricing. Mr Schiller was acting chief executive for two months this year while Mr Pearson took a leave of absence due to severe pneumonia. Valeant makes a range of drugs for skin, eye, stomach and neurological conditions.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1389, "answer_end": 3405, "text": "Bill Ackman, 48, the newest member of Valeant's board, is one of the world's most well-known activist hedge fund managers, and has been an outspoken supporter throughout the company's turmoil. Mr Ackman's hedge fund Pershing Square owns 9% of Valeant shares, making it the company's second largest investor. Last week, when the possibility that Valeant would default on its bonds was raised, Mr Ackman wasted no time reassuring Pershing Square investors that the drug company was still a good bet. In a letter he wrote that it was \"highly likely\" that banks would grant Valeant a waiver for missing the deadline to file financial information. Without that waiver Valeant could have entered a default on its loans. \"[Mr Ackman] has put his credibility on the line and it could make or break him,\" Aswath Damodaran a professor of finance at New York University, told the BBC. \"The markets are going to decide [Valeant's] value- his words could initially stem the problem, but they don't mean as much now,\" said Mr Damodaran. Mr Ackman's support for Valeant is not new. He teamed up with the drug maker in 2014 to make a bid for Botox-maker Allergan. In a controversial move Mr Ackman bought shares in both companies in an attempt to arrange the tie-up. He agreed to pay Valeant 15% of any profit made if Allergan was bought by a third party- which it eventually was. Allergan's board rejected several offers by Valeant and was eventually purchased by Actavis for $66bn (PS46bn). Mr Ackman is no stranger to public corporate disputes. He has spent $1bn betting against nutritional supplement brand Herbalife, and encouraged regulators to investigate its board. Mr Ackman has not reserved his insults for the company. He verbally spared with activist investors Carl Icahn and Daniel Lobe over Herbalife. During a televised interview on CNBC Mr Ackman said Mr Icahn was being dishonest with investors, while Mr Icahn accused Mr Ackman of being a \"cry-baby in the schoolyard\".  The two had a public reconciliation in 2014."}], "question": "Who is Bill Ackman?", "id": "766_0"}]}]}, {"title": "World wide web creator Tim Berners-Lee targets fake news", "date": "12 March 2017", "paragraphs": [{"context": "The inventor of the world wide web, Sir Tim Berners-Lee, has unveiled a plan to tackle data abuse and fake news. In an open letter to mark the web's 28th anniversary, Sir Tim has set out a five-year strategy amid concerns he has about how the web is being used. Sir Tim said he wants to start to combat the misuse of personal data, which creates a \"chilling effect on free speech\". He also called for tighter regulation of \"unethical\" political adverts. The British computer scientist said he wants the people who have helped develop the web with blogs, tweets, photos, videos and web pages to help come up with practical solutions to make a web \"that gives equal power and opportunity to all\". Users are often unable to tell outlets what data they would not like shared, Sir Tim said. Terms and conditions were \"all or nothing\". Sir Tim said he wants to work with companies to put \"a fair level of data control back in the hands of people\". He also expressed concerns that government surveillance is going too far and stopping the web from being used to explore topics such as sensitive health issues, sexuality or religion. Social media sites and search engines must be encouraged to continue efforts to combat the problem of fake news, Sir Tim said. However, central bodies deciding what is true or not should be avoided, he added. Certain algorithms can favour sensationalist information designed to surprise or shock users rather than reflect the truth and can \"spread like wildfire\", Sir Tim said. The arrival of social media - and the fight for clicks - has meant real and fictional stories are presented in such a similar way that it can be hard to tell the two apart. So-called \"fake news\" could be false information deliberately circulated by those who have scant regard for the truth but hope to advance particular (often extreme) political causes and make money out of online traffic. Or it could be false information circulated by journalists who don't realise it's false. Fake news has become so prevalent that the Commons Culture, Media and Sport Committee is now investigating concerns about the public being swayed by propaganda and untruths. The committee was spurred by claims that voters in the US election were influenced by fake news, it said. Pope Francis was reported to have backed Donald Trump's presidency campaign, for example, when he had not made an endorsement. Meanwhile, Mr Trump himself has used the term fake news to refer to critical stories about his administration, picking out organisations such as CNN and BBC. Sir Tim advocated transparency so users can understand how web pages appear on their devices and suggested a set of common principles for sites to follow. And he raised concerns about how online political advertising had become a \"sophisticated\" industry. Sir Tim said there were indications some targeted advertising was being used in \"unethical ways\" to keep voters away from the polls or directing people to fake news sites. He suggested companies could put subscription payments and small automated charges in place to make money without these types of adverts. However, despite highlighting issues on the world wide web which be believed need addressing, Sir Tim has admitted the solutions \"will not be simple\".", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1504, "answer_end": 2550, "text": "The arrival of social media - and the fight for clicks - has meant real and fictional stories are presented in such a similar way that it can be hard to tell the two apart. So-called \"fake news\" could be false information deliberately circulated by those who have scant regard for the truth but hope to advance particular (often extreme) political causes and make money out of online traffic. Or it could be false information circulated by journalists who don't realise it's false. Fake news has become so prevalent that the Commons Culture, Media and Sport Committee is now investigating concerns about the public being swayed by propaganda and untruths. The committee was spurred by claims that voters in the US election were influenced by fake news, it said. Pope Francis was reported to have backed Donald Trump's presidency campaign, for example, when he had not made an endorsement. Meanwhile, Mr Trump himself has used the term fake news to refer to critical stories about his administration, picking out organisations such as CNN and BBC."}], "question": "What is fake news?", "id": "767_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Yalta: World War Two summit that reshaped the world", "date": "4 February 2020", "paragraphs": [{"context": "In February 1945, three men met in a holiday resort to decide the fate of the world. Nazi Germany was on its knees. Soviet troops were closing in on Berlin, while Allied forces had crossed Germany's western border. In the Pacific, US troops were steadily but bloodily advancing towards Japan. As their armies poised for victory, the so-called Big Three - US President Franklin Roosevelt, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill and Soviet leader Joseph Stalin - agreed to meet in Yalta, a Soviet resort on the Black Sea. At the end of the bloodiest conflict the world had ever known, 75 years ago, the Allies wanted to stop such devastation from ever happening again. But both the US and the USSR wanted co-operation on their own terms. Despite the Yalta agreements, within months the stage was set for the Cold War - the struggle between the two new superpowers that split the globe into ideological camps for decades. \"If the goal at Yalta was to lay the basis for a genuinely peaceful post-war order, then the conference failed,\" Prof Andrew Bacevich at Boston University told the BBC. \"But given the contradictory aspirations of the US and USSR, that goal was never in the cards.\" By the start of 1945 Nazi Germany had lost the war. The country maintained its bloody and increasingly desperate resistance, but the result of the conflict was no longer in doubt. In eastern Europe, the Soviet Union had turned the tide and shattered Germany's armies after four years of savage warfare. But while the USSR was militarily triumphant - about three-quarters of all German troop casualties in the war died on the Eastern Front - the country had suffered terribly. It is estimated that one in seven Soviet citizens, some 27 million people, died in the conflict - two-thirds of whom were civilians. Some academics put the numbers even higher. The country's cities and richest lands were devastated by the conflict. Industry, farms, homes and even roads had been wiped from the landscape. Joseph Stalin was determined to get his country back on its feet. He came to Yalta seeking a sphere of influence in eastern Europe as a buffer zone to protect the USSR. He also wanted to divide Germany, to ensure it could never pose a threat again, and to take huge reparations - in money, machinery and even men - to help his shattered nation. Stalin knew he would need the acceptance of the Western powers to achieve this. Winston Churchill understood Stalin's goals. The pair had met in Moscow in October 1944, and discussed the idea of carving Europe into spheres of influence for the USSR and the western powers. He also understood that the millions of Soviet troops that had pushed Germany out of central and eastern Europe far outnumbered the Allied forces in the west - and there was nothing the UK could do if Stalin chose to keep them there. The UK had declared war in September 1939 because Germany had invaded its ally, Poland, and Churchill was determined to ensure the country's freedom. The UK however had also paid a heavy price for victory, and was now essentially bankrupt. Churchill hoped the US would support him and stand up to Stalin. But US President Roosevelt had his own priorities. He wanted Stalin to sign up to the United Nations - a new global peacekeeping body for the post-war world. Prof Melvyn Leffler at the University of Virginia told the BBC that Roosevelt was well aware how acrimony between allies after World War One had led the US to step back from world politics in the 1920s and 1930s. \"What Roosevelt wanted most of all was to avert a return to American isolationism,\" he said. The president also wanted the Soviet Union to declare war on Japan. Though the tide had dramatically turned against the Japanese Empire, their forces were still inflicting heavy casualties on advancing US forces in the Pacific. Anxiety about a bloody invasion of the Japanese home islands loomed large in US strategic thinking. Although Roosevelt wanted to meet somewhere in the Mediterranean, Stalin - who had a fear of flying - instead offered up Yalta. Group talks took place between 4-11 February at the US delegation's residence, Livadia Palace, which was once the summer home of Russia's last Tsar, Nicholas II. The three leaders had met before, at Tehran in 1943. Roosevelt was more willing to trust Stalin than was Churchill, who saw the Soviet leader as an increasingly dangerous threat. After a week of talks, the Big Three announced their decisions to the world. Following its unconditional surrender, Germany would be broken apart. The leaders agreed in principle to four occupation zones, one for each country at Yalta and also for France, and the same division of Berlin. A declaration also said Germany would pay reparations \"to the greatest extent possible\", and a commission would be created in Moscow to determine how much they owed. The leaders also agreed to democratic elections throughout liberated Europe - including for Poland, which would have a new government \"with the inclusion of democratic leaders from Poland itself and from Poles abroad\". The Soviet Union had already placed a provisional Communist government in Warsaw, which they agreed would be expanded. But democracy meant something very different to Stalin. Though he publicly agreed to free elections for liberated Europe, his forces were already seizing key offices of state across central and eastern European countries for local communist parties. Moreover, the leaders decided - at Stalin's urging - that Poland's borders were to move westward, giving land to the USSR. The Baltic States would also join the Soviet Union. Historian Anne Applebaum wrote in her text Iron Curtain that the leaders \"decided the fate of whole swathes of Europe with amazing insouciance\". Roosevelt \"half-heartedly\" asked Stalin if the city of Lwow might stay a part of Poland, but did not push the idea, and it was quickly dropped. Roosevelt was more focused on his plan for the United Nations, and he got his wish. All three nations agreed to send delegates to San Francisco on 25 April 1945, to help set up the new international organisation. What's more, Stalin pledged to launch an invasion of Japan three months after the defeat of Germany. Churchill remained deeply concerned about the situation in eastern Europe after the summit, despite the agreements. He urged his forces and the Americans to move as far east as possible before the end of the war. Within months, the political situation had changed dramatically. Roosevelt died of a massive brain haemorrhage in April, and was replaced by Harry Truman. Germany surrendered unconditionally in May. And on 16 July, the US successfully tested its new secret weapon - the nuclear bomb. The very next day, President Truman met Winston Churchill and Joseph Stalin at the Potsdam conference outside Berlin. Truman did not know Stalin, and had been president for just four months. Winston Churchill, in power since May 1940, was replaced halfway through the conference by Clement Atlee after the 1945 general election. The mood at the conference was very different. US policymakers felt more confident after realising the power of the atomic bomb. Truman was far more sceptical of Stalin than Roosevelt had been. He and his advisers believed the USSR had no desire to stick to the Yalta accords. In less than two years, the US president announced the so-called Truman Doctrine, which pledged US power to contain Soviet expansion efforts around the world. The Cold War had begun. Both Churchill and Roosevelt were later criticised for giving way to Stalin at Yalta. But practically, there was little the US and UK could do. Stalin already had troops throughout central and eastern Europe. After Yalta, Churchill commissioned a plan of attack against the USSR - codenamed Operation Unthinkable - but British military planners realised it was totally unrealistic. Prof Leffler says that \"what Yalta did in regard to eastern Europe was simply to acknowledge the power realities that existed at the time\".", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1186, "answer_end": 1983, "text": "By the start of 1945 Nazi Germany had lost the war. The country maintained its bloody and increasingly desperate resistance, but the result of the conflict was no longer in doubt. In eastern Europe, the Soviet Union had turned the tide and shattered Germany's armies after four years of savage warfare. But while the USSR was militarily triumphant - about three-quarters of all German troop casualties in the war died on the Eastern Front - the country had suffered terribly. It is estimated that one in seven Soviet citizens, some 27 million people, died in the conflict - two-thirds of whom were civilians. Some academics put the numbers even higher. The country's cities and richest lands were devastated by the conflict. Industry, farms, homes and even roads had been wiped from the landscape."}], "question": "What was happening in February 1945?", "id": "768_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1984, "answer_end": 3932, "text": "Joseph Stalin was determined to get his country back on its feet. He came to Yalta seeking a sphere of influence in eastern Europe as a buffer zone to protect the USSR. He also wanted to divide Germany, to ensure it could never pose a threat again, and to take huge reparations - in money, machinery and even men - to help his shattered nation. Stalin knew he would need the acceptance of the Western powers to achieve this. Winston Churchill understood Stalin's goals. The pair had met in Moscow in October 1944, and discussed the idea of carving Europe into spheres of influence for the USSR and the western powers. He also understood that the millions of Soviet troops that had pushed Germany out of central and eastern Europe far outnumbered the Allied forces in the west - and there was nothing the UK could do if Stalin chose to keep them there. The UK had declared war in September 1939 because Germany had invaded its ally, Poland, and Churchill was determined to ensure the country's freedom. The UK however had also paid a heavy price for victory, and was now essentially bankrupt. Churchill hoped the US would support him and stand up to Stalin. But US President Roosevelt had his own priorities. He wanted Stalin to sign up to the United Nations - a new global peacekeeping body for the post-war world. Prof Melvyn Leffler at the University of Virginia told the BBC that Roosevelt was well aware how acrimony between allies after World War One had led the US to step back from world politics in the 1920s and 1930s. \"What Roosevelt wanted most of all was to avert a return to American isolationism,\" he said. The president also wanted the Soviet Union to declare war on Japan. Though the tide had dramatically turned against the Japanese Empire, their forces were still inflicting heavy casualties on advancing US forces in the Pacific. Anxiety about a bloody invasion of the Japanese home islands loomed large in US strategic thinking."}], "question": "What were the leaders' goals?", "id": "768_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3933, "answer_end": 6435, "text": "Although Roosevelt wanted to meet somewhere in the Mediterranean, Stalin - who had a fear of flying - instead offered up Yalta. Group talks took place between 4-11 February at the US delegation's residence, Livadia Palace, which was once the summer home of Russia's last Tsar, Nicholas II. The three leaders had met before, at Tehran in 1943. Roosevelt was more willing to trust Stalin than was Churchill, who saw the Soviet leader as an increasingly dangerous threat. After a week of talks, the Big Three announced their decisions to the world. Following its unconditional surrender, Germany would be broken apart. The leaders agreed in principle to four occupation zones, one for each country at Yalta and also for France, and the same division of Berlin. A declaration also said Germany would pay reparations \"to the greatest extent possible\", and a commission would be created in Moscow to determine how much they owed. The leaders also agreed to democratic elections throughout liberated Europe - including for Poland, which would have a new government \"with the inclusion of democratic leaders from Poland itself and from Poles abroad\". The Soviet Union had already placed a provisional Communist government in Warsaw, which they agreed would be expanded. But democracy meant something very different to Stalin. Though he publicly agreed to free elections for liberated Europe, his forces were already seizing key offices of state across central and eastern European countries for local communist parties. Moreover, the leaders decided - at Stalin's urging - that Poland's borders were to move westward, giving land to the USSR. The Baltic States would also join the Soviet Union. Historian Anne Applebaum wrote in her text Iron Curtain that the leaders \"decided the fate of whole swathes of Europe with amazing insouciance\". Roosevelt \"half-heartedly\" asked Stalin if the city of Lwow might stay a part of Poland, but did not push the idea, and it was quickly dropped. Roosevelt was more focused on his plan for the United Nations, and he got his wish. All three nations agreed to send delegates to San Francisco on 25 April 1945, to help set up the new international organisation. What's more, Stalin pledged to launch an invasion of Japan three months after the defeat of Germany. Churchill remained deeply concerned about the situation in eastern Europe after the summit, despite the agreements. He urged his forces and the Americans to move as far east as possible before the end of the war."}], "question": "What happened at Yalta?", "id": "768_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 6436, "answer_end": 8030, "text": "Within months, the political situation had changed dramatically. Roosevelt died of a massive brain haemorrhage in April, and was replaced by Harry Truman. Germany surrendered unconditionally in May. And on 16 July, the US successfully tested its new secret weapon - the nuclear bomb. The very next day, President Truman met Winston Churchill and Joseph Stalin at the Potsdam conference outside Berlin. Truman did not know Stalin, and had been president for just four months. Winston Churchill, in power since May 1940, was replaced halfway through the conference by Clement Atlee after the 1945 general election. The mood at the conference was very different. US policymakers felt more confident after realising the power of the atomic bomb. Truman was far more sceptical of Stalin than Roosevelt had been. He and his advisers believed the USSR had no desire to stick to the Yalta accords. In less than two years, the US president announced the so-called Truman Doctrine, which pledged US power to contain Soviet expansion efforts around the world. The Cold War had begun. Both Churchill and Roosevelt were later criticised for giving way to Stalin at Yalta. But practically, there was little the US and UK could do. Stalin already had troops throughout central and eastern Europe. After Yalta, Churchill commissioned a plan of attack against the USSR - codenamed Operation Unthinkable - but British military planners realised it was totally unrealistic. Prof Leffler says that \"what Yalta did in regard to eastern Europe was simply to acknowledge the power realities that existed at the time\"."}], "question": "What happened afterwards?", "id": "768_3"}]}]}, {"title": "India election 2019: Is India building enough new houses?", "date": "22 March 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Pledge: The current government has promised that every Indian will have a home to live in by 2022 - with 10 million homes ready by this year in rural areas and 10 million ready by 2022 in urban areas. Verdict: Millions of new homes have been planned and approved to deal with India's chronic homelessness problem. But so far, not nearly as many have actually been completed as the government claims.  The BJP government is, however, building new homes at a faster rate than the previous Congress-led government. In the run-up to the Indian election, which gets under way on 11 April, BBC Reality Check is examining claims and pledges made by the main political parties. In 2015, Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched a scheme to tackle homelessness, and, in February 2018, he said: \"We will achieve our target of housing for all by 2022.\" The last official estimate for India's homeless was 1.77 million, out of a total national population of 1.2 billion, in the census data from 2011. Those who work to help the homeless believe the actual total is a significantly higher. In Mumbai, India's most populous city, local non-governmental organisations estimate the number of homeless people is up to five times the official figure of around 60,000. So it is difficult to know exactly how many homes would be needed to ensure that everyone is actually housed. However, it is important to add that this scheme is aimed at helping not only those families who have no shelter at all, but also those living in very basic or sub-standard housing. The current scheme offers subsidies of up to 130,000 rupees ($1,856, PS1,411) per house for those lower income groups which qualify. The aim is to enable families to buy or build a home of reasonable quality with proper facilities like toilets, electricity and gas connections for cooking. In July 2018, Mr Modi said that 5.4 million homes out of the scheme target of 10 million had been approved for building in urban areas. Official data from the Ministry of Housing shows that by March 2019, 8 million homes had been approved. That is more than were approved under similar schemes run by previous governments between 2004 and 2014. Having said that, only 1.8 million had been finished by March this year. And it is worth mentioning that it takes more than a year for a house to get approval on paper - and several more years to get it constructed and then occupied. A report by the credit rating agency Crisil, published at the end of 2018, estimated that the government would need to spend a total of 1,500bn rupees ($21.8bn) to achieve its housing goals in urban areas by 2022. It said that the government had spent less than a quarter of this amount so far. Experts believe there are a number of issues holding back plans for lower-income housing: - lack of use of newer technology - land scarcity in urban areas - high land prices - issues around property and land holding records Dr Renu Khosla, director of the Centre for Urban and Rural Excellence, believes the land issue is key. \"In the absence of land in the heart of the city, you are forced to build in the outlying areas,\" she says. \"But people don't want to move to those places, because they lack transportation and jobs.\" Under the rural homebuilding scheme, 10 million houses were intended for construction over a period of three years from 2016 to 2019. In July last year, Mr Modi claimed that 10 million houses had actually been handed over to families in rural areas. But that is not correct, at least not according to the official data. This shows that since the scheme launched in 2015,  the total number of houses now built in rural areas stands at just over 7 million - not yet on target. But overall, the current government has improved on the performance of the previous Congress-led government from 2009 to 2014, which had its own rural housing scheme. An official Indian audit report in 2014 said that the annual rate of construction for the five years under the Congress-led government was 1.65 million homes. But under the current BJP government that figure had improved to 1.86 million houses a year for the period from 2016 to 2018. Read more from Reality Check Send us your questions Follow us on Twitter", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1829, "answer_end": 3229, "text": "In July 2018, Mr Modi said that 5.4 million homes out of the scheme target of 10 million had been approved for building in urban areas. Official data from the Ministry of Housing shows that by March 2019, 8 million homes had been approved. That is more than were approved under similar schemes run by previous governments between 2004 and 2014. Having said that, only 1.8 million had been finished by March this year. And it is worth mentioning that it takes more than a year for a house to get approval on paper - and several more years to get it constructed and then occupied. A report by the credit rating agency Crisil, published at the end of 2018, estimated that the government would need to spend a total of 1,500bn rupees ($21.8bn) to achieve its housing goals in urban areas by 2022. It said that the government had spent less than a quarter of this amount so far. Experts believe there are a number of issues holding back plans for lower-income housing: - lack of use of newer technology - land scarcity in urban areas - high land prices - issues around property and land holding records Dr Renu Khosla, director of the Centre for Urban and Rural Excellence, believes the land issue is key. \"In the absence of land in the heart of the city, you are forced to build in the outlying areas,\" she says. \"But people don't want to move to those places, because they lack transportation and jobs.\""}], "question": "How many urban houses have been built?", "id": "769_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Scottish government 'respects Catalan position'", "date": "27 October 2017", "paragraphs": [{"context": "The Scottish government has said it \"respects and understands\" the position of the Catalan government, which has declared independence from Spain. In a statement, External Affairs Secretary Fiona Hyslop did not explicitly recognise Catalonia as an independent state. But she said the people of Catalonia \"must have the ability to determine their own future\". And she called for a \"process of dialogue\" to resolve the crisis. It came after Catalan MPs voted to declare independence from Spain by 70 to 10 in a ballot boycotted by the opposition. In response, the Spanish parliament approved direct rule over the region. Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy had told senators direct rule was needed to return \"law, democracy and stability\" to Catalonia. He added: \"Spain is a serious country, it is a great nation and we are not prepared in any way to allow some people to liquidate our constitution.\" Downing Street has said the UK will not recognise the declaration of independence - a stance mirrored by major powers including France, Germany and the US, and by the EU itself. European Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker said the EU \"doesn't need any more cracks, more splits\". Crowds have been celebrating the declaration of independence and Spanish flags have been removed from some regional government buildings in Catalonia. The crisis began earlier this month when Catalonia held a controversial referendum on independence, which had been ruled illegal by Spain's constitutional court. In her statement, Ms Hyslop said: \"We understand and respect the position of the Catalan government. \"While Spain has the right to oppose independence, the people of Catalonia must have the ability to determine their own future. \"Today's Declaration of Independence came about only after repeated calls for dialogue were refused.\" Ms Hyslop called on those who \"consider themselves friends and allies of Spain\" to encourage talks between the two sides to find a way forward that \"respects democracy and the rule of law\". She said the imposition of direct role \"cannot be the solution and should be of concern to democrats everywhere.\" And she said the EU had \"political and moral responsibility\" to help identify a way of resolving the situation peacefully and democratically. Her statement was released as a spokesman for the UK prime minister said the country \"does not and will not recognise the unilateral declaration of independence made by the Catalan regional parliament\". The spokesman added: \"We continue to want to see the rule of law upheld, the Spanish constitution respected, and Spanish unity preserved.\" The Catalan independence movement has had close links with its Scottish counterpart since the 2014 independence referendum in Scotland. Several prominent SNP figures were in Barcelona for the Catalan referendum, which saw hundreds of people injured as Spanish police tried to prevent the vote taking place. The Catalan government said that of the 43% of potential voters who took part in the referendum on 1 October, 90% were in favour of independence. After the referendum, Catalan President Carles Puigdemont signed a declaration of independence but delayed implementation to allow talks with the Spanish government. A deadline set by Madrid for him to clarify his intentions came and went, prompting Mr Rajoy to announce plans to impose direct rule. Catalonia is one of Spain's richest, most distinctive regions and enjoys a high degree of autonomy. But many Catalans feel they pay more to Madrid than they get back, and there are historical grievances too, in particular Catalonia's treatment under the dictatorship of General Franco. Catalans are divided on the question of independence - an opinion poll earlier this year said 41% were in favour and 49% were opposed to independence.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 2920, "answer_end": 3802, "text": "The Catalan government said that of the 43% of potential voters who took part in the referendum on 1 October, 90% were in favour of independence. After the referendum, Catalan President Carles Puigdemont signed a declaration of independence but delayed implementation to allow talks with the Spanish government. A deadline set by Madrid for him to clarify his intentions came and went, prompting Mr Rajoy to announce plans to impose direct rule. Catalonia is one of Spain's richest, most distinctive regions and enjoys a high degree of autonomy. But many Catalans feel they pay more to Madrid than they get back, and there are historical grievances too, in particular Catalonia's treatment under the dictatorship of General Franco. Catalans are divided on the question of independence - an opinion poll earlier this year said 41% were in favour and 49% were opposed to independence."}], "question": "How did we get here?", "id": "770_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Geneva Conventions laws of war 'need fixing'", "date": "8 December 2015", "paragraphs": [{"context": "In 1949, following the horrors of the second world war, world leaders gathered in Switzerland to  sign the Geneva Conventions. 196 countries have ratified them, no other international treaty has received such broad support. These were the rules which were supposed to limit the savagery of war, to protect humanity from another Auschwitz, siege of Leningrad, or Dresden firestorm. It was an exciting time. The United Nations had been created and the Universal Declaration on Human Rights had been drafted. So heady was the mood for peace that the Swiss government, which had invited countries to Geneva to sign up to the conventions, had to reassure arriving heads of state that while of course the long-term goal was to end war altogether, in the meantime some rules were a good idea. So how are the Geneva Conventions doing today? Not very well, according to their guardian, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). In conflicts from Syria, to Yemen, to Mali, Ivory Coast, Iraq, or Afghanistan, war tactics include siege, attacks on hospitals, sexual violence and the arbitrary execution of detainees. It all adds up, says ICRC president Peter Maurer, to a \"shattering of the system of the Geneva Conventions\". So, this week in Geneva, the 196 countries which signed the Conventions will meet at the International Red Cross Conference to discuss how to fix them. Joanne Liu, president of the medical charity Medecins Sans Frontieres, will be listening carefully. When MSF's hospital in the Afghan city of Kunduz was bombed in October, Ms Liu felt \"astonishment and outrage\". As the fighting in Kunduz intensified, she had reassured her staff that the Conventions prohibiting attacks on medical facilities would protect them: US and Afghan forces knew exactly where the hospital was. \"I told my staff our hospital was the safest place to be,\" she remembers. But on the night of 3 October, 30 people, among them 13 MSF staff, were killed in a bomb attack lasting an hour. And although the US says the bombing was a mistake, Joanne Liu wants clarification about how committed states really are to the Geneva Conventions. Describing the Conventions as providing \"all the essentials needed to bring humanity in a conflict\", Ms Liu believes that \"we would be fine as long as they were respected\". But, some people question whether the Conventions really apply to modern warfare. They were written with traditional battlefields and traditional armies in mind. But where are the battlefields today? At Aleppo's water supply station? In a concert hall in Paris? And who are the armies to whom the Conventions apply - so-called Islamic State (IS), the Syrian army, the US airforce? David Rodin, a moral philosopher and co-director of the Oxford Institute for Ethics, Law and Armed Conflict, points out that \"if you look historically at where the law of armed conflict came from, it's about mutually advantageous reciprocity, it's in the interests of both to have some restraint\". He adds: \"So what do you do when you have a foe who is not interested in that reciprocity? There's no benefit to us in behaving well if the enemy doesn't.\" This might be a seductive line of argument for countries engaged in the so-called \"war on terror\". Back in 2002, the Bush administration suggested the Geneva Conventions on prisoners of war would not apply to those captured and taken to Guantanamo Bay. Mr Rodin, however, cautions against such thinking, saying: \"There are things we owe to people simply because we are human beings and we owe them that even if they don't recognise those obligations mutually.\" Such ideals led to the Geneva Conventions in the first place and to much of our human rights law - the Convention against Torture and the Convention against Racial Discrimination. But not much visionary international law has been drafted recently and it is no coincidence that three of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council (the US, Russia and China) have not ratified the International Criminal Court. States seem increasingly reluctant to adopt international treaties which might impinge on their own national policy. The Geneva Conventions are founded on just a few basic principles: Medical staff and hospitals in warzones must be protected and allowed to work freely. Those wounded in battle and no longer fighting are entitled to medical treatment. Prisoners of war must be treated humanely. Warring parties are obliged to protect civilians (this includes a prohibition on the targeting of civilian infrastructure such as power and water supplies). Geneva Conventions Marco Sassoli, professor of law at Geneva University, believes the current climate is not conducive. \"Today, and this is a bad sign for our international society, states would never adopt such protective and detailed conventions as the 1949 Conventions.\" Professor Sassoli believes even trying to modernise the Conventions could be \"a catastrophe\", warning that opening them up might end up weakening rather than strengthening them. And so member states meeting in Geneva this week will discuss something much more modest: a proposal, drafted by Switzerland and the ICRC, for a forum in which states can discuss the \"challenges and issues\" relating to the Conventions. In the hope of getting everyone on board, the forum \"will not deal with specific countries or specific situations\", explains Swiss diplomat Francois Voeffray, who added that some countries were concerned by the risk of politicisation. It sounds like a vague talking shop, but if it succeeds it will put all 196 signatory countries, from Syria, to Saudi Arabia, to Yemen, Russia, or the US, in the same room to discuss how to honour the rules to which they have signed up. Helen Durham, chief legal officer with the International Committee of the Red Cross, believes it could be the start of a very necessary debate - not about whether the Conventions are still relevant, but on how to strengthen respect for laws which she believes are \"more precious than ever\". \"Within times of armed conflict there is a space for humanity,\" she insists. \"We have to have laws that find (that) place for humanity and limit suffering. You don't throw out a good law because it is difficult to implement.\"", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 2305, "answer_end": 3780, "text": "But, some people question whether the Conventions really apply to modern warfare. They were written with traditional battlefields and traditional armies in mind. But where are the battlefields today? At Aleppo's water supply station? In a concert hall in Paris? And who are the armies to whom the Conventions apply - so-called Islamic State (IS), the Syrian army, the US airforce? David Rodin, a moral philosopher and co-director of the Oxford Institute for Ethics, Law and Armed Conflict, points out that \"if you look historically at where the law of armed conflict came from, it's about mutually advantageous reciprocity, it's in the interests of both to have some restraint\". He adds: \"So what do you do when you have a foe who is not interested in that reciprocity? There's no benefit to us in behaving well if the enemy doesn't.\" This might be a seductive line of argument for countries engaged in the so-called \"war on terror\". Back in 2002, the Bush administration suggested the Geneva Conventions on prisoners of war would not apply to those captured and taken to Guantanamo Bay. Mr Rodin, however, cautions against such thinking, saying: \"There are things we owe to people simply because we are human beings and we owe them that even if they don't recognise those obligations mutually.\" Such ideals led to the Geneva Conventions in the first place and to much of our human rights law - the Convention against Torture and the Convention against Racial Discrimination."}], "question": "Relevant to modern war?", "id": "771_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3781, "answer_end": 4136, "text": "But not much visionary international law has been drafted recently and it is no coincidence that three of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council (the US, Russia and China) have not ratified the International Criminal Court. States seem increasingly reluctant to adopt international treaties which might impinge on their own national policy."}], "question": "Wrong climate?", "id": "771_1"}]}]}, {"title": "EU Commission: France and Germany differ on Brussels' top job", "date": "28 May 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "France and Germany have disagreed on who should take one of the EU's key roles as leaders from the bloc met following parliamentary elections. It saw the big centrist blocs lose their majorities - with liberals, the Greens and nationalists gaining ground. German Chancellor Angela Merkel wants centre-right candidate Manfred Weber as the next EU Commission president. But French President Emmanuel Macron did not even mention Mr Weber as a contender for the influential position. Their comments came at a meeting on Tuesday in Brussels, which was a chance for EU leaders to discuss the new political landscape and who might take over the top jobs. The elections left the EU more fragmented with the chances of reaching consensus more difficult. The President of the European Council, Donald Tusk, said Brexit was a factor behind a majority of voters favouring pro-EU parties. \"As Europeans see what Brexit means in practice, they also draw conclusions. Brexit has been a vaccine against anti-EU propaganda and fake news.\" UK Prime Minister Theresa May took part in talks but Mr Tusk said Brexit was not discussed. The commission is the body that enforces EU rules and drafts EU law, and its presidency is currently held by Jean-Claude Juncker, who is at the end of his five-year term. In 2014 Mr Juncker was chosen to head the Commission as the centre-right European People's Party (EPP) candidate, after the EPP had won the election. But it is a much tougher challenge this time for the EPP's candidate Manfred Weber - a German - after his bloc shrank from 217 seats to 180 in the 751-seat parliament, although it remains the biggest grouping. After the talks Mrs Merkel said she stood by Mr Weber, but \"others stand by their candidate, which is obvious\". Earlier in the day, Mr Macron had said he did not want to talk about names, but also mentioned three, none of them Mr Weber. He later refused to name a favourite candidate, saying he wanted them to be \"the most charismatic, creative and competent possible\". Several others are in the running, among them chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier, who is French, Danish liberal Margrethe Vestager and Dutch centre-left candidate Frans Timmermans. The other top EU officials to be replaced later this year are: European Council President Donald Tusk (Polish); European Central Bank President Mario Draghi (Italian) and EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Federica Mogherini (Italian). After lengthy negotiations, the new top officials will take up their posts on 1 November, except for the new European Council chief, who starts on 1 December. The EU has committed to balance gender, political affiliation and geography when it fills its top jobs. The leaders of the 28 member states will have to compromise with each other, and with MEPs who get to approve the choice. The European Parliament has watered down its demands for the selection of the president of the European Commission, issuing a statement which says the winner only had to be someone \"who made his/her programme and personality known prior to the elections, and engaged in a European-wide campaign\". That potentially opens the door to candidates who weren't strictly candidates before, such as Margrethe Vestager or maybe even Michel Barnier. The previous front-runner Manfred Weber admits that his political family lost seats at the election which weakens his claim on the job. There are also hints that the European Parliament will focus its efforts on defining the EU's future direction, rather than seeking a powerful role in picking its personnel. A lot of names will come and go and rise and fall before the process eventually comes to an end later this year. - May-June: Consultations between EU leaders and parliamentary groups - 20-21 June: European Council decisions - July: European Parliament votes on nominee for Commission president - 1 November: New Commission president takes office, along with new High Representative and ECB president - 1 December: New European Council President takes office", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1114, "answer_end": 2014, "text": "The commission is the body that enforces EU rules and drafts EU law, and its presidency is currently held by Jean-Claude Juncker, who is at the end of his five-year term. In 2014 Mr Juncker was chosen to head the Commission as the centre-right European People's Party (EPP) candidate, after the EPP had won the election. But it is a much tougher challenge this time for the EPP's candidate Manfred Weber - a German - after his bloc shrank from 217 seats to 180 in the 751-seat parliament, although it remains the biggest grouping. After the talks Mrs Merkel said she stood by Mr Weber, but \"others stand by their candidate, which is obvious\". Earlier in the day, Mr Macron had said he did not want to talk about names, but also mentioned three, none of them Mr Weber. He later refused to name a favourite candidate, saying he wanted them to be \"the most charismatic, creative and competent possible\"."}], "question": "Who next for the EU Commission?", "id": "772_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2015, "answer_end": 2602, "text": "Several others are in the running, among them chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier, who is French, Danish liberal Margrethe Vestager and Dutch centre-left candidate Frans Timmermans. The other top EU officials to be replaced later this year are: European Council President Donald Tusk (Polish); European Central Bank President Mario Draghi (Italian) and EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Federica Mogherini (Italian). After lengthy negotiations, the new top officials will take up their posts on 1 November, except for the new European Council chief, who starts on 1 December."}], "question": "If not Weber, then who?", "id": "772_1"}]}]}, {"title": "Bitcoin expert: It was a mistake to blog about 'creator'", "date": "4 May 2016", "paragraphs": [{"context": "A leading figure in the Bitcoin community has expressed regret about a blog backing an Australian's claim to have invented the crypto-currency. Craig Wright announced on Monday that he was behind Satoshi Nakamoto - the pseudonym used by Bitcoin's creator. The same day, Gavin Andresen, chief scientist at the Bitcoin Foundation, wrote he was \"convinced beyond a reasonable doubt\" of Dr Wright's case. But Mr Andresen said he now thinks it was a \"mistake\" to have posted. The expert had written that he had privately witnessed Dr Wright using cryptographic keys that \"only Satoshi should possess\". But critics called Dr Wright's claim into doubt when it emerged that part of the evidence the entrepreneur presented in public could have been generated using a string of digits linked to a seven-year-old transaction made by Satoshi, accessible via a search engine. \"It was a mistake to agree to publish my post before I saw his - I assumed his post would simply be a signed message anybody could easily verify,\" Mr Andresen told security researcher Dan Kaminsky when he challenged the scientist over the matter. \"Of course he should just publish a signed message or (equivalently) move some bitcoins through the key associated with an early block.\" Mr Andresen has yet to update his blog to reflect this change of view. Dr Wright has promised to present further \"extraordinary proof\"  including \"independently-verifiable documents\" and the transfer of a bitcoin from one of the virtual currency's early blocks, which Satoshi would have access to. At this point, he still has the backing of Jon Matonis - the Bitcoin Foundation's founding director - who has said he has \"no doubt\" that Dr Wright is responsible for the Bitcoin technology. But Mr Kaminsky said he now disbelieved Dr Wright's claims bearing in mind Mr Andresen's own doubts. \"Gavin is making no excuses for Wright,\" Mr Kaminsky told the BBC, \"I don't expect Wright to deliver on his lofty promises, but I also don't expect him to go away. \"Some people just like negotiating with reality.\" Dr Wright has said he does not plan to give any further interviews. But in his most recent blog he noted: \"For some there is no burden of proof high enough, no evidence that cannot be dismissed as fabrication or manipulation. This is the nature of belief and swimming against this current would be futile.\" Bitcoin is a crypto-currency - a system of digitally created and traded tokens to which value is assigned. Computers have to solve cryptographic problems in order to add blocks to the blockchain - a ledger that records every transaction that has ever occurred with Bitcoin. In return, those computers receive bitcoins in a process known as bitcoin \"mining\". Users have a \"bitcoin address\", to which bitcoins may be sent or from which they may be used. Addresses are stored online in wallets that function like bank accounts. Although most people refer to Bitcoin as a currency, it is worth noting that for regulatory reasons many countries - including the United States - have decided to define it as a commodity instead.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 2358, "answer_end": 3079, "text": "Bitcoin is a crypto-currency - a system of digitally created and traded tokens to which value is assigned. Computers have to solve cryptographic problems in order to add blocks to the blockchain - a ledger that records every transaction that has ever occurred with Bitcoin. In return, those computers receive bitcoins in a process known as bitcoin \"mining\". Users have a \"bitcoin address\", to which bitcoins may be sent or from which they may be used. Addresses are stored online in wallets that function like bank accounts. Although most people refer to Bitcoin as a currency, it is worth noting that for regulatory reasons many countries - including the United States - have decided to define it as a commodity instead."}], "question": "What is Bitcoin?", "id": "773_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Brett Kavanaugh: Senate sets deadline for accuser testimony", "date": "20 September 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "The Senate has given a woman who accuses Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh of sexual assault until Friday to decide if she will testify. Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley sent a letter setting the 21 September deadline to Christine Blasey Ford's lawyers. Judge Kavanaugh, 53, has firmly denied the allegation. He has been meeting with White House officials this week. Prof Ford declined to testify unless the FBI begins investigating the judge. Her lawyers have said the California psychology lecturer is receiving death threats and has had to move home since alleging the nominee tried to rape her 36 years ago. Judge Kavanaugh, 53, has labelled the claim \"completely false\". The Senate Judiciary Committee has called on both Judge Kavanaugh and Prof Ford to testify - either publicly or in a closed-door session - next Monday. Prof Ford's legal team has declined the Senate's offer to testify. Her lawyer Lisa Banks said that before her client goes to Congress, she wants an FBI investigation into Judge Kavanaugh. In a statement on Wednesday Ms Banks said that the Committee's plan to move forward with a hearing that has only two witnesses is \"not a fair or good faith investigation\". \"There are multiple witnesses whose names have appeared publicly and should be included in any proceeding,\" the statement reads. \"The rush to a hearing is unnecessary, and contrary to the Committee discovering the truth,\" it adds. In his letter to Prof Ford's legal team, Mr Grassley said \"it is not the FBI's role to investigate a matter such as this\". \"I have reopened the hearing because I believe that anyone who comes forward with allegations of sexual assault has a right to be heard, and because it is the Committee's responsibility to fully evaluate the fitness of a nominee to the Supreme Court,\" the Iowa Republican wrote. The Senate, the committee chairman notes, \"and only the Senate\", is tasked with vetting a president's Supreme Court nominee. \"The FBI does not make a credibility assessment of any information it receives with respect to a nominee. \"Nor is it tasked with investigating a matter simply because the Committee deems it important.\" Back in 1991, however, the FBI did investigate sexual harassment claims against then-Supreme Court nominee Clarence Thomas. The White House under President George H W Bush ordered that inquiry. It took three days, CNN notes, and the claims by Anita Hill were dismissed as unfounded. Judge Thomas was narrowly confirmed and he remains a Supreme Court justice. Mr Grassley's letter states that Prof Ford has until Friday morning to provide the committee with her prepared testimony and biography if she plans to testify next Monday. He said he was \"disturbed\" to hear that she had been facing threats and harassment, but urged her to speak before the committee. \"You have stated repeatedly that Dr Ford wants to tell her story. I sincerely hope that Dr Ford will accept my invitation to do so, either privately or publicly, on Monday.\" Prof Ford has accused him of drunkenly trying to remove her clothing at a house party in a Washington DC suburb in 1982 when they were both teenagers. She says he pinned her to a bed and clamped his hand over her mouth when she tried to scream. Anita Hill - whose allegation against Clarence Thomas has drawn endless parallels with the Ford-Kavanaugh controversy - says the accuser must not be hurried. \"Do not rush these hearings,\" she wrote in an opinion piece for the New York Times. \"Doing so would not only signal that sexual assault accusations are not important.\" On Wednesday, President Donald Trump continued to support his nominee, telling reporters outside the White House: \"He is such an outstanding man, [it is] very hard for me to imagine anything happened.\" \"I want to see what she [Prof Ford] has to say but I want to give it all the time they need,\" the Republican president said. \"If she shows up that would be wonderful.\" Republican Senator Lindsey Graham tweeted on Wednesday that it was \"imperative\" to move forward on the Kavanaugh vote. He has called the allegation against Judge Kavanaugh \"a drive-by shooting\". \"I'll listen to the lady, but we're going to bring this to a close,\" said the South Carolina senator. Fellow Republican Susan Collins of Maine said on Wednesday that she hopes Prof Ford \"will reconsider and testify\" on Monday. Ms Collins and Alaskan Senator Lisa Murkowski are moderate Republicans who have voted with Democrats in the past, making them possible swing votes when it comes to Judge Kavanaugh. Both have called on Judge Kavanaugh and Prof Ford to testify under oath. On Wednesday, Senator Jeff Flake - who had previously said he would not decide his vote until hearing both testimonies - also called on Prof Ford to accept the Senate's invitation. Meanwhile, Democratic Senator Claire McCaskill - who is facing a tough re-election fight in Missouri - said she will \"vote no on Judge Kavanaugh\". \"My decision is not based on those allegations but rather on his position on several key issues, most importantly the avalanche of dark, anonymous money that is crushing our democracy,\" she said in a statement.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1441, "answer_end": 3574, "text": "In his letter to Prof Ford's legal team, Mr Grassley said \"it is not the FBI's role to investigate a matter such as this\". \"I have reopened the hearing because I believe that anyone who comes forward with allegations of sexual assault has a right to be heard, and because it is the Committee's responsibility to fully evaluate the fitness of a nominee to the Supreme Court,\" the Iowa Republican wrote. The Senate, the committee chairman notes, \"and only the Senate\", is tasked with vetting a president's Supreme Court nominee. \"The FBI does not make a credibility assessment of any information it receives with respect to a nominee. \"Nor is it tasked with investigating a matter simply because the Committee deems it important.\" Back in 1991, however, the FBI did investigate sexual harassment claims against then-Supreme Court nominee Clarence Thomas. The White House under President George H W Bush ordered that inquiry. It took three days, CNN notes, and the claims by Anita Hill were dismissed as unfounded. Judge Thomas was narrowly confirmed and he remains a Supreme Court justice. Mr Grassley's letter states that Prof Ford has until Friday morning to provide the committee with her prepared testimony and biography if she plans to testify next Monday. He said he was \"disturbed\" to hear that she had been facing threats and harassment, but urged her to speak before the committee. \"You have stated repeatedly that Dr Ford wants to tell her story. I sincerely hope that Dr Ford will accept my invitation to do so, either privately or publicly, on Monday.\" Prof Ford has accused him of drunkenly trying to remove her clothing at a house party in a Washington DC suburb in 1982 when they were both teenagers. She says he pinned her to a bed and clamped his hand over her mouth when she tried to scream. Anita Hill - whose allegation against Clarence Thomas has drawn endless parallels with the Ford-Kavanaugh controversy - says the accuser must not be hurried. \"Do not rush these hearings,\" she wrote in an opinion piece for the New York Times. \"Doing so would not only signal that sexual assault accusations are not important.\""}], "question": "Why is the Senate setting a deadline?", "id": "774_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3575, "answer_end": 5159, "text": "On Wednesday, President Donald Trump continued to support his nominee, telling reporters outside the White House: \"He is such an outstanding man, [it is] very hard for me to imagine anything happened.\" \"I want to see what she [Prof Ford] has to say but I want to give it all the time they need,\" the Republican president said. \"If she shows up that would be wonderful.\" Republican Senator Lindsey Graham tweeted on Wednesday that it was \"imperative\" to move forward on the Kavanaugh vote. He has called the allegation against Judge Kavanaugh \"a drive-by shooting\". \"I'll listen to the lady, but we're going to bring this to a close,\" said the South Carolina senator. Fellow Republican Susan Collins of Maine said on Wednesday that she hopes Prof Ford \"will reconsider and testify\" on Monday. Ms Collins and Alaskan Senator Lisa Murkowski are moderate Republicans who have voted with Democrats in the past, making them possible swing votes when it comes to Judge Kavanaugh. Both have called on Judge Kavanaugh and Prof Ford to testify under oath. On Wednesday, Senator Jeff Flake - who had previously said he would not decide his vote until hearing both testimonies - also called on Prof Ford to accept the Senate's invitation. Meanwhile, Democratic Senator Claire McCaskill - who is facing a tough re-election fight in Missouri - said she will \"vote no on Judge Kavanaugh\". \"My decision is not based on those allegations but rather on his position on several key issues, most importantly the avalanche of dark, anonymous money that is crushing our democracy,\" she said in a statement."}], "question": "What are Trump and other Republicans saying?", "id": "774_1"}]}]}, {"title": "Christchurch shootings: Jacinda Ardern calls for global anti-racism fight", "date": "20 March 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has called for a global fight to root out racist right-wing ideology following last week's deadly attack on two mosques in Christchurch. In one of her first interviews since then, she told the BBC that she rejected the idea that a rise in immigration was fuelling racism. Fifty people were killed and dozens more wounded in Friday's gun attacks. The first funerals, of a father and son from Syria, took place on Wednesday. Hundreds of mourners gathered at a cemetery near the Linwood Islamic Centre in Christchurch, one of two places of worship targeted. Australian Brenton Tarrant, 28, has been charged with murder. Fifty people died in the attack. Asked about the rise of right-wing nationalism she said: \"This was an Australian citizen but that is not to say that we do not have an ideology in New Zealand that would be an affront to the majority of New Zealanders.\" She said there was a responsibility \"to weed it out where it exists and make sure that we never create an environment where it can flourish\". \"But I would make that a global call,\" she added. \"What New Zealand experienced here was violence brought against us by someone who grew up and learned their ideology somewhere else. If we want to make sure globally that we are a safe and tolerant and inclusive world we cannot think about this in terms of boundaries.\" She defended New Zealand's record on accepting refugees, saying: \"We are a welcoming country. I utterly reject the idea that in any way in trying to ensure that we have a system that looks after those who choose to call New Zealand home, that we have perpetuated an environment where this kind of ideology can exist.\" Ms Ardern also defended her call not to refer to the suspect by name. \"One of his goals... was that he sought notoriety and we will absolutely deny him that,\" she said. Hywel Griffith, BBC News, Christchurch No leader can prepare for a moment like this. Carrying a nation through tragedy comes down to instinct and resolve. But Jacinda's Ardern's response to the Christchurch attack has been admired perhaps because it has felt honest and sincere. Compassionate but composed, from the first few hours she sought to place herself on the side of the victims and their families. Wearing a hijab as a sign of respect may seem a simple gesture, but it has resonated with the relatives and friends still lost in grief. So too have the phrases she has deliberately repeated since the attack. I have heard her words - \"we are one, they are us\" - spoken back to me by the families of victims here in Christchurch, and seen it written on countless cards and posters alongside all the bouquets of flowers. Of course, maintaining this feeling of national unity is a different challenge - but she has already created a platform of trust from which she could deliver meaningful change. Police on Wednesday named six of the victims of the shootings at the Al Noor mosque and hoped to release all 50 bodies to the families by the end of the day. All post-mortem examinations were complete, police said. However, some families expressed frustration with the delayed process. Mohamed Safi, 23, whose father Matiullah Safi died at the Al Noor mosque, complained about the lack of information. He told AFP news agency: \"They are just saying they are doing their procedures... Why do I not know what you are going through to identify the body?\" Police Commissioner Mike Bush has said authorities had to prove the cause of death to establish for the courts to treat it as murder. Christchurch city officials issued strict guidance to the media ahead of Wednesday's funerals and requested that the families be left alone.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 692, "answer_end": 1860, "text": "Asked about the rise of right-wing nationalism she said: \"This was an Australian citizen but that is not to say that we do not have an ideology in New Zealand that would be an affront to the majority of New Zealanders.\" She said there was a responsibility \"to weed it out where it exists and make sure that we never create an environment where it can flourish\". \"But I would make that a global call,\" she added. \"What New Zealand experienced here was violence brought against us by someone who grew up and learned their ideology somewhere else. If we want to make sure globally that we are a safe and tolerant and inclusive world we cannot think about this in terms of boundaries.\" She defended New Zealand's record on accepting refugees, saying: \"We are a welcoming country. I utterly reject the idea that in any way in trying to ensure that we have a system that looks after those who choose to call New Zealand home, that we have perpetuated an environment where this kind of ideology can exist.\" Ms Ardern also defended her call not to refer to the suspect by name. \"One of his goals... was that he sought notoriety and we will absolutely deny him that,\" she said."}], "question": "What did Ardern say?", "id": "775_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2864, "answer_end": 3690, "text": "Police on Wednesday named six of the victims of the shootings at the Al Noor mosque and hoped to release all 50 bodies to the families by the end of the day. All post-mortem examinations were complete, police said. However, some families expressed frustration with the delayed process. Mohamed Safi, 23, whose father Matiullah Safi died at the Al Noor mosque, complained about the lack of information. He told AFP news agency: \"They are just saying they are doing their procedures... Why do I not know what you are going through to identify the body?\" Police Commissioner Mike Bush has said authorities had to prove the cause of death to establish for the courts to treat it as murder. Christchurch city officials issued strict guidance to the media ahead of Wednesday's funerals and requested that the families be left alone."}], "question": "What are the latest developments?", "id": "775_1"}]}]}, {"title": "Algeria protests: President confirms fresh poll bid despite rallies", "date": "3 March 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Algeria's veteran President Abdelaziz Bouteflika has defied protesters by confirming he will run again - but says he will not serve a full term. In a letter he said if he won April's vote he would oversee a national dialogue leading to fresh elections that he would not contest. His decision to seek a fifth term in office sparked nationwide protests. Mr Bouteflika, 82, has rarely been seen in public since suffering a stroke in 2013. Sunday saw new protests as a midnight deadline loomed for candidates to register. By nightfall young people were again marching in the capital Algiers despite the president's offer. Mr Bouteflika's campaign manager submitted papers on behalf of the ailing president, who is undergoing medical treatment in Switzerland. The electoral commission has said candidates need to submit them in person, but the Constitutional Council ruled that he did not have to be physically present. The proposal came in the form of a letter to the Algerian people read out on state television. Should he be re-elected. Mr Bouteflika said he would hold an \"inclusive national conference\" followed by a vote to determine the next president. He said he would not run again and acknowledged the protests that have rocked Algeria. \"I listened and heard the heartfelt cry of protesters and in particular of the thousands of youth who asked me about the future of our country,\" the letter said, read by a presenter on ENTV. \"These youth express an understandable concern about the uncertainties they face. I have the duty and will to appease the hearts and spirits of my compatriots.\" So far, six other candidates have formally registered, among them a retired general, Ali Ghediri, who has promised to bring \"change\" to Algeria. Businessman Rachid Nekkaz, who has a sizeable Facebook following and is said to be popular among Algeria's young, announced plans to run, but was deemed ineligible. Instead his cousin, a car mechanic who is also called Rachid Nekkaz has entered and the businessman says he will serve as his campaign manager. Two opposition parties, the Labour Party, and the Islamist Movement of Society for Peace, have said they will boycott the election. A key challenger in previous elections, Ali Benflis, also is not running. Yes - public shows of dissent in Algeria are rare, and the protests have been the biggest since Mr Bouteflika came to power 20 years ago. Demonstrations broke out about 10 days ago after Mr Bouteflika announced his plans to run for office again. On Sunday, people again took to the streets of the capital Algiers and other major cities. Police reportedly used water cannon to disperse students rallying in Algiers. There have also been demonstrations in France, the former colonial power, which is home to a large Algerian community. \"We aren't opposed to the president, but he is unconscious, he doesn't exist anymore, his generals and those close to him are doing what they will behind his back,\" one demonstrator told the AFP news agency. Mr Bouteflika came to power in 1999 and is credited with putting an end to a civil war that is estimated to have killed more than 100,000 people. Protests against food prices and unemployment broke out in 2011 during the Arab Spring but he responded by lifting a nearly two-decades old state of emergency, meeting a key demand of protesters. After his stroke he won re-election in a poll denounced by the opposition and dissolved the country's powerful spy agency, replacing it with a body loyal to him. Critics say his ill health means that he is unable to perform his duties as president. Despite the dissent, Mr Bouteflika is still widely tipped to win the election this year. Algeria's opposition is divided and Mr Bouteflika won the last presidential elections in 2014 despite doing no personal campaigning.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 915, "answer_end": 1593, "text": "The proposal came in the form of a letter to the Algerian people read out on state television. Should he be re-elected. Mr Bouteflika said he would hold an \"inclusive national conference\" followed by a vote to determine the next president. He said he would not run again and acknowledged the protests that have rocked Algeria. \"I listened and heard the heartfelt cry of protesters and in particular of the thousands of youth who asked me about the future of our country,\" the letter said, read by a presenter on ENTV. \"These youth express an understandable concern about the uncertainties they face. I have the duty and will to appease the hearts and spirits of my compatriots.\""}], "question": "How does the president's idea work?", "id": "776_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1594, "answer_end": 2253, "text": "So far, six other candidates have formally registered, among them a retired general, Ali Ghediri, who has promised to bring \"change\" to Algeria. Businessman Rachid Nekkaz, who has a sizeable Facebook following and is said to be popular among Algeria's young, announced plans to run, but was deemed ineligible. Instead his cousin, a car mechanic who is also called Rachid Nekkaz has entered and the businessman says he will serve as his campaign manager. Two opposition parties, the Labour Party, and the Islamist Movement of Society for Peace, have said they will boycott the election. A key challenger in previous elections, Ali Benflis, also is not running."}], "question": "Who else is running?", "id": "776_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2254, "answer_end": 2995, "text": "Yes - public shows of dissent in Algeria are rare, and the protests have been the biggest since Mr Bouteflika came to power 20 years ago. Demonstrations broke out about 10 days ago after Mr Bouteflika announced his plans to run for office again. On Sunday, people again took to the streets of the capital Algiers and other major cities. Police reportedly used water cannon to disperse students rallying in Algiers. There have also been demonstrations in France, the former colonial power, which is home to a large Algerian community. \"We aren't opposed to the president, but he is unconscious, he doesn't exist anymore, his generals and those close to him are doing what they will behind his back,\" one demonstrator told the AFP news agency."}], "question": "Are these protests unusual?", "id": "776_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2996, "answer_end": 3808, "text": "Mr Bouteflika came to power in 1999 and is credited with putting an end to a civil war that is estimated to have killed more than 100,000 people. Protests against food prices and unemployment broke out in 2011 during the Arab Spring but he responded by lifting a nearly two-decades old state of emergency, meeting a key demand of protesters. After his stroke he won re-election in a poll denounced by the opposition and dissolved the country's powerful spy agency, replacing it with a body loyal to him. Critics say his ill health means that he is unable to perform his duties as president. Despite the dissent, Mr Bouteflika is still widely tipped to win the election this year. Algeria's opposition is divided and Mr Bouteflika won the last presidential elections in 2014 despite doing no personal campaigning."}], "question": "Who is Abdelaziz Bouteflika?", "id": "776_3"}]}]}, {"title": "Spanish raids seize Assad uncle's assets in corruption inquiry", "date": "4 April 2017", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Spain has ordered properties to be seized and bank accounts frozen in a money laundering investigation linked to the family of Rifaat al-Assad. Judiciary officials said that the uncle of Syria's President Bashar al-Assad was handed $300m of public money when he was sent into exile in 1984. Now aged 79, he was placed under formal investigation in France last year. Some of his fortune ended up in property in Marbella and Puerto Banus on the south coast, officials said. While his brother Hafez al-Assad was in power, Rifaat was renowned for the brutality with which he crushed an uprising in the Syrian city of Hama in 1982. Last year he was said to be living in Paris. He is under investigation in France for concealing stolen assets, money laundering and fiscal fraud. Several luxury properties have already been seized by French authorities in Paris and an appeal by the exiled former vice-president was turned down. Rifaat al-Assad has in the past said he was given the money by the Saudi royal family. The general council of Spain's judiciary said it was acting after French investigators found that part of his fortune had ended up in property in the Marbella area, under the name of companies managed by his wives and two of his children. In a statement (in Spanish), it said that 15 properties search orders had been carried out, mainly in Puerto Banus on the Costa del Sol. While the bank accounts of 16 individuals linked to the exiled Syrian were being blocked, another 76 accounts were also affected. Investigators said in total 503 properties linked to the family had been found, ranging from car parks to holiday homes, flats and a luxury hotel. Their total value was put at EUR691m (PS590m; $735m) and all had been seized, they said. One of the properties was a large farm called La Maquina worth an estimated EUR60m.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1009, "answer_end": 1834, "text": "The general council of Spain's judiciary said it was acting after French investigators found that part of his fortune had ended up in property in the Marbella area, under the name of companies managed by his wives and two of his children. In a statement (in Spanish), it said that 15 properties search orders had been carried out, mainly in Puerto Banus on the Costa del Sol. While the bank accounts of 16 individuals linked to the exiled Syrian were being blocked, another 76 accounts were also affected. Investigators said in total 503 properties linked to the family had been found, ranging from car parks to holiday homes, flats and a luxury hotel. Their total value was put at EUR691m (PS590m; $735m) and all had been seized, they said. One of the properties was a large farm called La Maquina worth an estimated EUR60m."}], "question": "Why have Spanish authorities acted now?", "id": "777_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Pollen clouds shroud parts of US south-east as allergies spike", "date": "9 April 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "A thick haze of yellow pollen has blanketed the sky across parts of the south-eastern US, with reports of spring allergy symptoms on the rise. One particularly dense cloud of pollen was photographed in Raleigh, North Carolina. A video of pollen erupting from a falling tree in Hixson, Tennessee, has been widely shared on social media. The high pollen levels have brought on the traditional itchy, watery eyes and sneezing. \"In April in North Carolina we have an overlap for a couple weeks where we have pretty high counts of tree and then grass also gets started,\" Dr Heather Gutekunst, of Allergy Partners of Raleigh, told ABC11. \"So when we see that, if you are allergic to both, we tend to see an escalation in symptoms.\" Pollen is made up of fine, microscopic grains released into the air by grass, plants and trees. They are carried on the wind, are easily inhaled by humans and pets and they stick to everything. Pollen season comes in three waves. Tree pollen season typically covers early to late spring. Grass pollen season follows, before weeds release irritants later in the year. On a typical high pollen count day - dry, warm and sunny - the first half of the morning and later in the afternoon until late evening are the times to avoid being outside. Pollen experts say it is advisable to shower and wash your hair and clothes at home after being outside and take medication if necessary.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 920, "answer_end": 1092, "text": "Pollen season comes in three waves. Tree pollen season typically covers early to late spring. Grass pollen season follows, before weeds release irritants later in the year."}], "question": "When is pollen season?", "id": "778_0"}]}]}, {"title": "George HW Bush's sponsorship made me successful, says Filipino man", "date": "21 December 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "A Filipino man sponsored by George HW Bush as a boy has described how letters from the former US president helped him to become \"successful and happy\". \"Out of so many kids... I was the one picked,\" Timothy Villalba told the TV network ABS-CBN, adding that Mr Bush had supplied him with gifts - such as a drawing set - that fed his creativity. Mr Bush, under the name George Walker, also helped with education and meals. Mr Villalba, now aged 25, was just seven when the sponsorship started. He learned his Compassion International sponsor's true identity when he left the scheme at 17 and was stunned. In an interview with ABS-CBN, Mr Villalba said he found it \"shocking that he was indeed a president\", adding: \"I can't explain how I'm feeling\". Mr Villalba, who is now married with a young daughter, said he remembers receiving a set of pens and watercolour paints from Mr Bush after mentioning his love of drawing and sketching. \"I loved the set because it was big. I showed it off at school,\" he said. He added that he was aware he was \"really lucky\", and that he hoped the charity would continue to help others. The former president wrote a number of letters that included occasional hints as to his true identity. \"Dear Timothy, I want to be your new pen pal,\" Mr Bush said in his first letter in 2002, using the pseudonym, a combination of his first and third names. \"I am an old man, 77 years old, but I love kids; and though we have not met I love you already,\" he wrote. \"I live in Texas - I will write you from time to time - good luck.\" Later, Mr Bush wrote: \"Timothy, have you ever heard of the White House? \"That's where the president of the USA lives. I got to go to the White House at Christmas time. Here is a little booklet that I got at the White House in Washington.\" Mr Bush, the 41st US president, died in November at the age of 94. Compassion International is a Christian, humanitarian charity that helps children living in poverty. Sponsoring a child through the organisation helps to fund medical care, education and mentoring sessions and also offers a personal connection through correspondence. The former president first learned about its child sponsorship scheme in 2001 during a Christmas concert in Washington. It is thought his identity was kept secret because of concerns that Mr Villalba - as a boy - could be targeted if people learned he was corresponding with a former US president. The charity revealed some of the letters to the Colorado Springs Gazette and later in an interview with CNN.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1118, "answer_end": 1855, "text": "The former president wrote a number of letters that included occasional hints as to his true identity. \"Dear Timothy, I want to be your new pen pal,\" Mr Bush said in his first letter in 2002, using the pseudonym, a combination of his first and third names. \"I am an old man, 77 years old, but I love kids; and though we have not met I love you already,\" he wrote. \"I live in Texas - I will write you from time to time - good luck.\" Later, Mr Bush wrote: \"Timothy, have you ever heard of the White House? \"That's where the president of the USA lives. I got to go to the White House at Christmas time. Here is a little booklet that I got at the White House in Washington.\" Mr Bush, the 41st US president, died in November at the age of 94."}], "question": "What was in Bush's letters?", "id": "779_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1856, "answer_end": 2530, "text": "Compassion International is a Christian, humanitarian charity that helps children living in poverty. Sponsoring a child through the organisation helps to fund medical care, education and mentoring sessions and also offers a personal connection through correspondence. The former president first learned about its child sponsorship scheme in 2001 during a Christmas concert in Washington. It is thought his identity was kept secret because of concerns that Mr Villalba - as a boy - could be targeted if people learned he was corresponding with a former US president. The charity revealed some of the letters to the Colorado Springs Gazette and later in an interview with CNN."}], "question": "What is the charity?", "id": "779_1"}]}]}, {"title": "Spain Catalonia: Puigdemont's arrest in Germany sparks mass protests", "date": "26 March 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Protests broke out across the Spanish region of Catalonia on Sunday after former leader Carles Puigdemont was taken into custody in Germany. At least 89 people were injured in clashes with police and four arrests were made. Mr Puigdemont, who is wanted in Spain for sedition and rebellion, was detained by German police acting on a European arrest warrant. He appeared before a German judge on Monday and was remanded in custody. Prosecutor Georg-Friedrich Guentge said Mr Puigdemont \"appeared calm and composed\". Mr Puigdemont was detained while crossing from Denmark on his way to Belgium, where he has been living in self-imposed exile since Catalonia's parliament unilaterally declared independence from Spain in October. A European warrant for his arrest was reissued on Friday. In central Barcelona, protesters chanted \"Freedom for the political prisoners\" and \"This Europe is shameful!\" as they headed to the offices of the European Commission and the German consulate. Spanish news agency Efe estimated crowds of 55,000 in the centre of the city. Smaller demonstrations were held in Girona, where Mr Puigdemont once served as mayor, Tarragona and Lleida. Some protesters also formed road blocks in various locations. Tensions in Catalonia are very high and its separatist leaders abandoned plans to name a new president after the arrest on Friday of the latest candidate, Jordi Turull, sparked protests in Barcelona. Spain's Supreme Court has ruled 25 that Catalan leaders should be tried for rebellion, embezzlement or disobeying the state. They all deny the allegations. German police said that Mr Puigdemont was detained by a highway patrol in the northern state of Schleswig-Holstein, which borders Denmark. He had been on a trip to Finland to meet lawmakers and attend a conference last week when the arrest warrant against him was reissued, taking him by surprise. He slipped out of Finland before the authorities could arrest him but only got as far as Germany before being intercepted. His spokesman, Joan Maria Pique, said he had been heading to Belgium \"to put himself, as always, at the disposal of Belgian justice\". International warrants for Mr Puigdemont and other Catalan leaders were withdrawn in December by a Spanish judge, who said they had shown a willingness to return to the country. Mr Puigdemont spent Sunday night in a prison in the north German town of Neumunster. His court appearance there on Monday was a formality to confirm his identity. The court remanded him in custody pending extradition proceedings. Mr Puigdemont faces charges of sedition, rebellion and misappropriation of public funds in Spain as a result of his role in last year's Catalan banned independence referendum. The charges in Spain could result in up to 30 years in prison. Germany has 60 days to decide whether to return him. In order to do so, its judges need to assess whether the Spanish charges are punishable under German law. Criminal lawyer Martin Heger told Germany's Spiegel website (in German) that the lesser charge of misappropriation of public funds was also a crime under German law, and therefore it was clear that the exiled ex-leader would have to be extradited. However, if he is extradited on that charge, he can only be tried on that offence. It is unclear whether the alleged crimes of rebellion and sedition are punishable in Germany. The extradition procedure can last about two months. Mt Puigdemont also has the right to oppose the warrant and apply for asylum in Germany. Spain's latest move is considered the most serious challenge to date to the Catalan independence movement. Almost the entire leadership now faces a major legal fight. Various other Catalan politicians have been subjected to new warrants, including Catalonia's former education minister, Clara Ponsati. She is in Scotland, where she has a position at the University of St Andrews, and is preparing to hand herself in. The number of European arrest warrants issued has increased since 2005, according to EU figures. In 2015, about 16,000 warrants were issued and about 5,000 executed. 1 October 2017: The independence referendum takes place in Catalonia; it is deemed illegal by Spain and boycotted by many potential voters 27 October: Catalonia's leaders declare independence, which leads to the Spanish government imposing direct rule on the region and dissolving its parliament 30 October: Charges of rebellion, sedition and misuse of public funds are brought against various sacked members of the Catalan government, including Mr Puigdemont 2 November: Several former Catalan ministers are taken into custody in Spain 3 November: European arrest warrants are issued against Mr Puigdemont and four of his allies, who have all fled to Belgium 5 December: A Spanish judge withdraws the European arrest warrants but says the group still face possible charges for sedition and rebellion 21 December: Carles Puigdemont is re-elected to parliament during Catalan's regional elections - which Spanish PM Mariano Rajoy had called to \"restore democracy\" 1 March 2018: Mr Puigdemont says he is stepping aside and he backs detained activist Jordi Sanchez to run as Catalonia's president 21 March: Mr Sanchez drops his leadership bid and instead the candidacy is passed to Jordi Turull, who the following day is rejected by hardline separatists 23 March: Mr Turull and various others are arrested in Spain, and the European arrest warrants are reissued 25 March: Mr Puigdemont is detained in Germany", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 2314, "answer_end": 4090, "text": "Mr Puigdemont spent Sunday night in a prison in the north German town of Neumunster. His court appearance there on Monday was a formality to confirm his identity. The court remanded him in custody pending extradition proceedings. Mr Puigdemont faces charges of sedition, rebellion and misappropriation of public funds in Spain as a result of his role in last year's Catalan banned independence referendum. The charges in Spain could result in up to 30 years in prison. Germany has 60 days to decide whether to return him. In order to do so, its judges need to assess whether the Spanish charges are punishable under German law. Criminal lawyer Martin Heger told Germany's Spiegel website (in German) that the lesser charge of misappropriation of public funds was also a crime under German law, and therefore it was clear that the exiled ex-leader would have to be extradited. However, if he is extradited on that charge, he can only be tried on that offence. It is unclear whether the alleged crimes of rebellion and sedition are punishable in Germany. The extradition procedure can last about two months. Mt Puigdemont also has the right to oppose the warrant and apply for asylum in Germany. Spain's latest move is considered the most serious challenge to date to the Catalan independence movement. Almost the entire leadership now faces a major legal fight. Various other Catalan politicians have been subjected to new warrants, including Catalonia's former education minister, Clara Ponsati. She is in Scotland, where she has a position at the University of St Andrews, and is preparing to hand herself in. The number of European arrest warrants issued has increased since 2005, according to EU figures. In 2015, about 16,000 warrants were issued and about 5,000 executed."}], "question": "What happens next?", "id": "780_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Venezuela opens disputed new constituent assembly", "date": "5 August 2017", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Venezuela's controversial new assembly has opened despite fierce opposition at home and abroad. President Nicolas Maduro says the constituent assembly is needed to bring peace after months of crisis. But the opposition says the new body, which has the ability to rewrite the constitution, is a way for the president to cling to power. In the capital Caracas, police used tear gas against opposition protesters who tried to reach parliament. Several people were injured as security forces tried to disperse a few hundred demonstrators, reports say. In other parts of the city, thousands of government supporters gathered to cheer and wave flags as the new members took office. Some carried pictures of late leader Hugo Chavez and the independence hero Simon Bolivar. Among those sitting for the first time in the 545-member assembly are Mr Maduro's wife and son. A close ally of Mr Maduro, former foreign minister Delcy Rodriguez, was elected president. Her opening speech attacked the opposition as \"fascist\" and warned the international community against interfering. Katy Watson, BBC South America correspondent, Caracas Despite the protests and despite the criticism both at home and abroad, the Maduro administration has refused to change tack. This constituent assembly was a \"victory\" for the government, even though most people see it as anything but. While the political wrangling continues, the economy is being pushed to the brink. When we arrived in Caracas a week ago, the unofficial exchange rate was around 10,000 bolivares to the dollar. It has now nearly doubled to 19,000. But how much worse can this country get? The feeling is that things could get worse before they get better and that the opposition will need patience. But the international community might not sit and wait for things to improve. Mr Maduro and several of his friends are already under sanctions. There is a suggestion that the US may broaden sanctions to cover the oil industry but that would be a very unpopular move. With the country relying on oil for more than 95% of its foreign earnings, the fall-out would hurt the people more than the politicians. Constituent assemblies are set up for the specific purpose of drafting or adopting a constitution, and as such can fundamentally change how a country is run. Venezuela is mired in a deep economic crisis and has seen waves of violent protests, and Mr Maduro presented the assembly as a way of promoting \"reconciliation and peace\". Ms Rodriguez added in her speech: \"The international community should not make a mistake over Venezuela. The message is clear, very clear: we Venezuelans will resolve our conflict, our crisis without any form of foreign interference.\" But the opposition has cried foul. The new assembly has the power to bypass and even dissolve the current opposition-led National Assembly. The two bodies are expected to run in parallel in the Legislative Palace in Caracas. The election for the constituent assembly was marred by violence and accusations of fraud. Venezuela's electoral authorities said more than eight million people, or 41.5% of the electorate, had voted, a figure the company that provided the voting system said was inflated. The opposition boycotted the poll and also held an unofficial referendum in which they said more than seven million Venezuelans voted against the constituent assembly. They have called for mass protests against the new body but demonstrations so far appear to have been muted. The Vatican has joined worldwide condemnation of the assembly by calling for it to be suspended. In a statement, it argued the assembly fomented a \"climate of tension\" rather than reconciliation and peace. The US has imposed sanctions on Mr Maduro, with the Trump administration calling him a \"dictator\". The European Union and major Latin American nations say they will not recognise the new body. Mr Maduro retains a major ally in Russia, however, and has the support of several left-wing nations in the Americas.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 2145, "answer_end": 2934, "text": "Constituent assemblies are set up for the specific purpose of drafting or adopting a constitution, and as such can fundamentally change how a country is run. Venezuela is mired in a deep economic crisis and has seen waves of violent protests, and Mr Maduro presented the assembly as a way of promoting \"reconciliation and peace\". Ms Rodriguez added in her speech: \"The international community should not make a mistake over Venezuela. The message is clear, very clear: we Venezuelans will resolve our conflict, our crisis without any form of foreign interference.\" But the opposition has cried foul. The new assembly has the power to bypass and even dissolve the current opposition-led National Assembly. The two bodies are expected to run in parallel in the Legislative Palace in Caracas."}], "question": "What is the new body - and why is it so controversial?", "id": "781_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2935, "answer_end": 3484, "text": "The election for the constituent assembly was marred by violence and accusations of fraud. Venezuela's electoral authorities said more than eight million people, or 41.5% of the electorate, had voted, a figure the company that provided the voting system said was inflated. The opposition boycotted the poll and also held an unofficial referendum in which they said more than seven million Venezuelans voted against the constituent assembly. They have called for mass protests against the new body but demonstrations so far appear to have been muted."}], "question": "How widely is it supported?", "id": "781_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3485, "answer_end": 4000, "text": "The Vatican has joined worldwide condemnation of the assembly by calling for it to be suspended. In a statement, it argued the assembly fomented a \"climate of tension\" rather than reconciliation and peace. The US has imposed sanctions on Mr Maduro, with the Trump administration calling him a \"dictator\". The European Union and major Latin American nations say they will not recognise the new body. Mr Maduro retains a major ally in Russia, however, and has the support of several left-wing nations in the Americas."}], "question": "How does the international community see it?", "id": "781_2"}]}]}, {"title": "One in 10 children has 'Aids defence'", "date": "29 September 2016", "paragraphs": [{"context": "A tenth of children have a \"monkey-like\" immune system that stops them developing Aids, a study suggests. The study, in Science Translational Medicine, found the children's immune systems were \"keeping calm\", which prevented them being wiped out. An untreated HIV infection will kill 60% of children within two and a half years, but the equivalent infection in monkeys is not fatal. The findings could lead to new immune-based therapies for HIV infection. The virus eventually wipes out the immune system, leaving the body vulnerable to other infections, what is known as acquired human immunodeficiency syndrome (Aids). The researchers analysed the blood of 170 children from South Africa who had HIV, had never had antiretroviral therapy and yet had not developed Aids. Tests showed they had tens of thousands of human immunodeficiency viruses in every millilitre of their blood. This would normally send their immune system into overdrive, trying to fight the infection, or simply make them seriously ill, but neither had happened. Prof Philip Goulder, one of the researchers from the University of Oxford, told the BBC: \"Essentially, their immune system is ignoring the virus as far as possible. \"Waging war against the virus is in most cases the wrong thing to do.\" Counter-intuitively, not attacking the virus seems to save the immune system. HIV kills white blood cells - the warriors of the immune system. And when the body's defences go into overdrive, even more of them can be killed by chronic levels of inflammation. Prof Goulder said: \"One of the things that comes out of this study is that HIV disease is not so much to do with HIV, but with the immune response to it.\" For scientists, the way the 10% of children cope with the virus has striking similarities to the way more than 40 non-human primate species cope with simian immunodeficiency virus or SIV. They have had hundreds of thousands of years to evolve ways to tackle the infection. \"Natural selection has worked in these cases, and the mechanism is very similar to the one in these kids that don't progress,\" Prof Goulder said. This defence against Aids is almost unique to children. Adult humans' immune systems tend to go all-out to finish off the virus in a campaign that nearly always ends in failure. Children have a relatively tolerant immune system, which becomes more aggressive in adulthood - chickenpox, for example, is far more severe in adults due to the way the immune system reacts. But this does mean that as the protected children age and their immune system matures, there is a risk of them developing Aids. Some do, some remain Aids-free. Dr Ann Chahroudi and Dr Guido Silvestri, from Emory University in the US, said the study may have found the \"very earliest signs of coevolution of HIV in humans\". In a commentary, they added: \"It is not known whether it would be clinically safe for these newly identified HIV infected paediatric non-progressors to remain off-therapy. \"This assessment is further complicated by the fact that prevention of HIV transmission to sexual partners becomes relevant in adolescence.\" People with HIV can have normal life-expectancy if they have access to antiretroviral drugs. But their super-heated immune system never returns to normal, and they face greater risks of cardiovascular disease, cancer and dementia. Prof Goulder believes these findings in children could ultimately help rebalance the immune system in all HIV patients. He told the BBC: \"We may be identifying an entirely new pathway by studying kids that in the longer term could be translated to new treatments for all HIV infected people.\" Follow James on Twitter.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 2103, "answer_end": 3656, "text": "This defence against Aids is almost unique to children. Adult humans' immune systems tend to go all-out to finish off the virus in a campaign that nearly always ends in failure. Children have a relatively tolerant immune system, which becomes more aggressive in adulthood - chickenpox, for example, is far more severe in adults due to the way the immune system reacts. But this does mean that as the protected children age and their immune system matures, there is a risk of them developing Aids. Some do, some remain Aids-free. Dr Ann Chahroudi and Dr Guido Silvestri, from Emory University in the US, said the study may have found the \"very earliest signs of coevolution of HIV in humans\". In a commentary, they added: \"It is not known whether it would be clinically safe for these newly identified HIV infected paediatric non-progressors to remain off-therapy. \"This assessment is further complicated by the fact that prevention of HIV transmission to sexual partners becomes relevant in adolescence.\" People with HIV can have normal life-expectancy if they have access to antiretroviral drugs. But their super-heated immune system never returns to normal, and they face greater risks of cardiovascular disease, cancer and dementia. Prof Goulder believes these findings in children could ultimately help rebalance the immune system in all HIV patients. He told the BBC: \"We may be identifying an entirely new pathway by studying kids that in the longer term could be translated to new treatments for all HIV infected people.\" Follow James on Twitter."}], "question": "War or peace?", "id": "782_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Article 370: India strips disputed Kashmir of special status", "date": "5 August 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "India's government has revoked part of the constitution that gives Indian-administered Kashmir special status, prompting fears of unrest. Article 370 is sensitive because it guarantees significant autonomy for the Muslim-majority state. The measure was accompanied by a telecoms and media blackout which began on Sunday evening. There is a long-running insurgency on the Indian side. India and Pakistan fought several conflicts over Kashmir. For many Kashmiris, Article 370 was the main justification for being a part of India and by revoking it, the BJP has irrevocably changed Delhi's relationship with the region, the BBC's Geeta Pandey reports from Delhi. Meanwhile India's parliament is expected to pass a bill splitting Indian-administered Kashmir into two territories governed directly by Delhi. Pakistan condemned India's decision to revoke the special status of its part of Kashmir as illegal, saying it would \"exercise all possible options\" to counter it. \"India is playing a dangerous game which will have serious consequences for regional peace and stability,\" said Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi. But an Indian government source said there was no external implication as the Line of Control, the de facto border, and boundaries of Kashmir had not been altered. During the partition of the Indian subcontinent in 1947, some expected Jammu and Kashmir, like other Muslim-majority regions, to go to Pakistan. But the ruler of the princely state, who had initially wanted Jammu and Kashmir to become independent, joined India in return for help against an invasion of tribesmen from Pakistan. War broke out between India and Pakistan, and Kashmir effectively became partitioned. The region, which remains one of the most militarised zones in the world, has been a flashpoint between India and Pakistan for more than six decades. By Aamir Peerzada, BBC News, Srinagar By the time we woke up this morning, the internet was gone and we now have no mobile connectivity. If people step out of their homes, they see paramilitary forces on every street. Almost every major road is shut - we are hearing that more troops are being deployed. No-one knows what is happening in other parts of the state - we can't talk to anyone else. People are concerned - they don't know what is happening, they don't know what is going to happen. It's an atmosphere of fear. People are scared to come out, they have stockpiled food for months. Kashmiris have always been willing to defend the state's special status. It looks like a long road ahead, and no-one knows what's next. In 1949, a special provision was added to India's constitution providing autonomy to Jammu and Kashmir. Article 370 allows the state to have its own constitution, a separate flag and independence over all matters except foreign affairs, defence and communications. Another provision later added under Article 370 - 35A - gives special privileges to permanent residents, including state government jobs and the exclusive right to own property in the state. It is seen as protecting the state's distinct demographic character as the only Muslim-majority state in India. The move by the Hindu nationalist BJP government prompted outrage in parliament, and some legal experts have called it an attack on the constitution. Critics fear the move is designed to change the demographic make-up of India-administered Kashmir - by giving people from the rest of the country to right to acquire property and settle there permanently. The state's former chief minister, Mehbooba Mufti, told the BBC she felt there was a \"sinister design\" to the decision. \"They just want to occupy our land and want to make this Muslim-majority state like any other state and reduce us to a minority and disempower us totally.\" The ruling BJP made revoking Article 370 part of the party's 2019 election manifesto - and it won a landslide victory earlier this year. It has argued that Article 370 has prevented the region's development and its integration with India. An Indian government source told journalists the region's special status had discouraged outside investment and affected its economy, while terrorism and smuggling were rife. \"A set of anachronistic provisions were not allowing the progress of Kashmir,\" the source said. \"The huge sum of money and resources which were going into the state were not being optimised.\" India's government announced a presidential order revoking all of Article 370 apart from one clause which says that the state is an integral part of India. The order was met by massive protests from the opposition - but has now been signed into law by President Ram Nath Kovind. Prior to the announcement, a telecoms and media blackout began on Sunday evening in the region. The government explained the move as being aimed at pre-empting any violence that the announcement might trigger. Officials said the restrictions would not be in place for long. Parliament is also expected to approve a measure dividing the state into two regions ruled by the central government. One region will combine Muslim-majority Kashmir and Hindu-majority Jammu. The other is Buddhist-majority Ladakh, which is culturally and historically close to Tibet. Indian-administered Kashmir is in a state of lockdown. Curfew-like conditions have been imposed, and orders preventing the assembly of more than four people have been introduced. Tens of thousands of Indian troops were deployed to the region ahead of Monday's announcement and tourists were told to leave under warnings of a terror threat. In the hours before Monday's announcement, two of the state's former chief ministers - Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti - were placed under house arrest.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1281, "answer_end": 1844, "text": "During the partition of the Indian subcontinent in 1947, some expected Jammu and Kashmir, like other Muslim-majority regions, to go to Pakistan. But the ruler of the princely state, who had initially wanted Jammu and Kashmir to become independent, joined India in return for help against an invasion of tribesmen from Pakistan. War broke out between India and Pakistan, and Kashmir effectively became partitioned. The region, which remains one of the most militarised zones in the world, has been a flashpoint between India and Pakistan for more than six decades."}], "question": "Why are there tensions over Kashmir?", "id": "783_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2572, "answer_end": 3139, "text": "In 1949, a special provision was added to India's constitution providing autonomy to Jammu and Kashmir. Article 370 allows the state to have its own constitution, a separate flag and independence over all matters except foreign affairs, defence and communications. Another provision later added under Article 370 - 35A - gives special privileges to permanent residents, including state government jobs and the exclusive right to own property in the state. It is seen as protecting the state's distinct demographic character as the only Muslim-majority state in India."}], "question": "What is Article 370?", "id": "783_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3140, "answer_end": 3770, "text": "The move by the Hindu nationalist BJP government prompted outrage in parliament, and some legal experts have called it an attack on the constitution. Critics fear the move is designed to change the demographic make-up of India-administered Kashmir - by giving people from the rest of the country to right to acquire property and settle there permanently. The state's former chief minister, Mehbooba Mufti, told the BBC she felt there was a \"sinister design\" to the decision. \"They just want to occupy our land and want to make this Muslim-majority state like any other state and reduce us to a minority and disempower us totally.\""}], "question": "So why is India's move controversial?", "id": "783_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3771, "answer_end": 4376, "text": "The ruling BJP made revoking Article 370 part of the party's 2019 election manifesto - and it won a landslide victory earlier this year. It has argued that Article 370 has prevented the region's development and its integration with India. An Indian government source told journalists the region's special status had discouraged outside investment and affected its economy, while terrorism and smuggling were rife. \"A set of anachronistic provisions were not allowing the progress of Kashmir,\" the source said. \"The huge sum of money and resources which were going into the state were not being optimised.\""}], "question": "Why is the government doing this?", "id": "783_3"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 4377, "answer_end": 5213, "text": "India's government announced a presidential order revoking all of Article 370 apart from one clause which says that the state is an integral part of India. The order was met by massive protests from the opposition - but has now been signed into law by President Ram Nath Kovind. Prior to the announcement, a telecoms and media blackout began on Sunday evening in the region. The government explained the move as being aimed at pre-empting any violence that the announcement might trigger. Officials said the restrictions would not be in place for long. Parliament is also expected to approve a measure dividing the state into two regions ruled by the central government. One region will combine Muslim-majority Kashmir and Hindu-majority Jammu. The other is Buddhist-majority Ladakh, which is culturally and historically close to Tibet."}], "question": "How did the government make the change?", "id": "783_4"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 5214, "answer_end": 5707, "text": "Indian-administered Kashmir is in a state of lockdown. Curfew-like conditions have been imposed, and orders preventing the assembly of more than four people have been introduced. Tens of thousands of Indian troops were deployed to the region ahead of Monday's announcement and tourists were told to leave under warnings of a terror threat. In the hours before Monday's announcement, two of the state's former chief ministers - Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti - were placed under house arrest."}], "question": "What has been happening in Kashmir?", "id": "783_5"}]}]}, {"title": "Tech Tent: How cats and Russia are using the blockchain", "date": "8 December 2017", "paragraphs": [{"context": "- Stream the latest Tech Tent episode on the BBC website - Download the latest episode as a podcast - Listen to previous episodes on the BBC website - Listen live every Friday at 14.00 GMT on the BBC World Service What do virtual cats and a Russian voting system have in common? They both depend on the blockchain, and on Tech Tent this week we discover why this technology is becoming hugely fashionable as the value of crypto-currencies which depend on it soar. Plus we hear from Taiwan, a high tech nation that is still struggling to create a start-up culture. 'CryptoKitties on the Ethereum blockchain' When I read out the above headline at a BBC editorial meeting, suggesting this was an important story, people looked at me as though I had lost my mind. But a new online craze where you buy virtual kittens with the crypto-currency Ethereum is a serious matter. CryptoKitties is based on Ethereum, the crypto-currency second only to Bitcoin in popularity, and uses the Ethereum blockchain, a networked database which records transactions on multiple computers. But such has been the excitement about these fantasy felines that Ethereum - and the blockchain which underpins it - have seized up at times during the week. Elsa Wilk, head of marketing for Axiom Zen, which is behind CryptoKitties, tells Tech Tent that it has  succeeded beyond the company's wildest expectations. One cat - the \"Genesis Kitty\" - went for an extraordinary $100,000 (PS74,700). But she says the project has a very important mission: \"We wanted to bring fun and games to a very serious matter, which is blockchain. It is seen as very technical, very difficult to use - we wanted to bring blockchain to the masses.\" What they have also done is show up some serious problems with the technology - that it can struggle to cope with large volumes of transactions. I've been trying and failing to buy a CryptoKitty all week, stuck watching nothing happen when I try to pay, and others report similar experiences. \"What you are seeing now is just growing pains,\" says Elsa Wilk. But with blockchain technology now being touted as the biggest thing since the arrival of the internet, the CryptoKitties are a warning that it may not always be fit for purpose. But wait a minute - if this technology really does guarantee trust and transparency then blockchain could be the way we stage elections, right? At least that's the theory behind a scheme in Russia which will see the technology adopted by Moscow's Active Citizen e-voting system. This is used for relatively trivial community votes on issues like the naming of a new subway station. But even here, the city's innovation adviser Andrey Belozerov tells us, there can be a lack of trust: \"In every large city there are some people who think authority is not transparent, - they say we increase votes.\" He says blockchain will make voting \"absolutely transparent\" - votes will be recorded just like Bitcoin transactions on multiple computers and any attempt to tamper with the results will be visible to everyone. I was somewhat sceptical that voters would understand what made this system so trustworthy but Mr Belozerov says \"any technologist who knows blockchain understands that it is impossible to change data or delete data after it is put in\". Mind you, here's one problem. The Moscow e-voting system is going to use the Ethereum blockchain. If it gets choked up with CryptoKitties, Russian voters may find that it cannot cope with a rush to the polls. Taiwan is one the world's leading locations for hi-tech manufacturing, churning out millions of laptops and mobile phones every year. But with competition from cheaper locations mounting, the country is hoping to nurture a new breed of software start-ups. The trouble is that Taiwanese culture is not too encouraging to entrepreneurs willing to risk all to start a business that is very likely to fail. Ronald Yu, who's building a mobile app to help people find parking spaces, admits it's a challenging environment: \"My family used to say \"It's hard, you're not going to be successful\" and the government says \"Are you going to do this? I'm afraid you're not going to survive in the next 3 to 5 months.\"\" He says the country needs to be more positive if it is to build the next Facebook or Instagram. Taiwan's digital minister Audrey Tang admits that entrepreneurs face all sorts of hurdles - regulation, a lack of venture capital, a brain drain of talent: \" I think the fourth is the general culture of being more risk-averse and not rewarding people who want to take risks enough. \" Nevertheless, there are plenty of hopeful young entrepreneurs who believe they can break through in new industries such as virtual reality. Like so many countries,  Taiwan has ambitions to be the next Silicon Valley - if it can bring a bit more risk-taking into its culture, it has as good a shot as anywhere.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 564, "answer_end": 2233, "text": "'CryptoKitties on the Ethereum blockchain' When I read out the above headline at a BBC editorial meeting, suggesting this was an important story, people looked at me as though I had lost my mind. But a new online craze where you buy virtual kittens with the crypto-currency Ethereum is a serious matter. CryptoKitties is based on Ethereum, the crypto-currency second only to Bitcoin in popularity, and uses the Ethereum blockchain, a networked database which records transactions on multiple computers. But such has been the excitement about these fantasy felines that Ethereum - and the blockchain which underpins it - have seized up at times during the week. Elsa Wilk, head of marketing for Axiom Zen, which is behind CryptoKitties, tells Tech Tent that it has  succeeded beyond the company's wildest expectations. One cat - the \"Genesis Kitty\" - went for an extraordinary $100,000 (PS74,700). But she says the project has a very important mission: \"We wanted to bring fun and games to a very serious matter, which is blockchain. It is seen as very technical, very difficult to use - we wanted to bring blockchain to the masses.\" What they have also done is show up some serious problems with the technology - that it can struggle to cope with large volumes of transactions. I've been trying and failing to buy a CryptoKitty all week, stuck watching nothing happen when I try to pay, and others report similar experiences. \"What you are seeing now is just growing pains,\" says Elsa Wilk. But with blockchain technology now being touted as the biggest thing since the arrival of the internet, the CryptoKitties are a warning that it may not always be fit for purpose."}], "question": "Blockchain for the masses?", "id": "784_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2234, "answer_end": 3488, "text": "But wait a minute - if this technology really does guarantee trust and transparency then blockchain could be the way we stage elections, right? At least that's the theory behind a scheme in Russia which will see the technology adopted by Moscow's Active Citizen e-voting system. This is used for relatively trivial community votes on issues like the naming of a new subway station. But even here, the city's innovation adviser Andrey Belozerov tells us, there can be a lack of trust: \"In every large city there are some people who think authority is not transparent, - they say we increase votes.\" He says blockchain will make voting \"absolutely transparent\" - votes will be recorded just like Bitcoin transactions on multiple computers and any attempt to tamper with the results will be visible to everyone. I was somewhat sceptical that voters would understand what made this system so trustworthy but Mr Belozerov says \"any technologist who knows blockchain understands that it is impossible to change data or delete data after it is put in\". Mind you, here's one problem. The Moscow e-voting system is going to use the Ethereum blockchain. If it gets choked up with CryptoKitties, Russian voters may find that it cannot cope with a rush to the polls."}], "question": "Voting via blockchain?", "id": "784_1"}]}]}, {"title": "MH17 missile owned by Russian brigade, investigators say", "date": "24 May 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "The missile that downed a Malaysia Airlines flight over eastern Ukraine in 2014 belonged to a Russian brigade, international investigators say. For the first time, the Dutch-led team said the missile had come from a unit based in western Russia. All 298 people on board the Boeing 777 died when it broke apart in mid-air flying from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur. It was hit by a missile fired from rebel-held territory in Ukraine. Russia says none of its weapons was used. But on Thursday Wilbert Paulissen, a Dutch official from the Joint Investigation Team (JIT), told reporters: \"All the vehicles in a convoy carrying the missile were part of the Russian armed forces.\" He restated the JIT's conclusion that the plane had been destroyed by a Russian-made Buk missile, adding that it had been supplied by the country's 53rd anti-aircraft brigade in Kursk. At a news conference in the Dutch city of Utrecht, the investigators also showed social media pictures which they said traced the route the missile convoy had taken to reach eastern Ukraine. The incident occurred at the height of the conflict between government troops and pro-Russian separatists. The plane left Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport on 17 July 2014 and was due to arrive at Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia on the following day. The plane lost contact with air traffic control about 50km (30 miles) from the Russia-Ukraine border. It crashed in the Donetsk area, in territory controlled by pro-Russian separatists. Footage was later released by the Ukrainian government suggesting that a Buk missile had been brought in from Russia on the day of the crash, and then taken back across the border the next day. In October 2015 the Dutch Safety Board concluded that the plane had indeed been hit by a Buk missile. In September 2016, the JIT - which includes officials from the Netherlands, Australia, Belgium, Malaysia and Ukraine - reached a similar conclusion in a preliminary report. It said it had \"irrefutable evidence\" that the missile had been brought in from Russian territory and fired from a field controlled by pro-Russian fighters. The investigators simulated various trajectories of the warhead. They showed it had exploded metres above the aeroplane's nose, showering the aircraft with fragments. On Thursday Russia restated its position that none of its forces had been involved. \"Not a single anti-aircraft missile system from the Russian Federation has ever crossed the Russia-Ukraine border,\" the defence ministry in Moscow said. Meanwhile Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko promised in a Facebook post (in Ukrainian) that he would \"spare no effort to ensure that the actions of the Russian Federation as a state which supports terrorism get an appropriate assessment\" in the International Court of Justice.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1046, "answer_end": 1664, "text": "The incident occurred at the height of the conflict between government troops and pro-Russian separatists. The plane left Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport on 17 July 2014 and was due to arrive at Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia on the following day. The plane lost contact with air traffic control about 50km (30 miles) from the Russia-Ukraine border. It crashed in the Donetsk area, in territory controlled by pro-Russian separatists. Footage was later released by the Ukrainian government suggesting that a Buk missile had been brought in from Russia on the day of the crash, and then taken back across the border the next day."}], "question": "What happened to MH17?", "id": "785_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1665, "answer_end": 2780, "text": "In October 2015 the Dutch Safety Board concluded that the plane had indeed been hit by a Buk missile. In September 2016, the JIT - which includes officials from the Netherlands, Australia, Belgium, Malaysia and Ukraine - reached a similar conclusion in a preliminary report. It said it had \"irrefutable evidence\" that the missile had been brought in from Russian territory and fired from a field controlled by pro-Russian fighters. The investigators simulated various trajectories of the warhead. They showed it had exploded metres above the aeroplane's nose, showering the aircraft with fragments. On Thursday Russia restated its position that none of its forces had been involved. \"Not a single anti-aircraft missile system from the Russian Federation has ever crossed the Russia-Ukraine border,\" the defence ministry in Moscow said. Meanwhile Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko promised in a Facebook post (in Ukrainian) that he would \"spare no effort to ensure that the actions of the Russian Federation as a state which supports terrorism get an appropriate assessment\" in the International Court of Justice."}], "question": "What has been said about the incident?", "id": "785_1"}]}]}, {"title": "Widespread revolt against the political centre", "date": "24 May 2016", "paragraphs": [{"context": "On both sides of the Atlantic, liberal democracy is on the defensive. Post-War politics, built on a moderate consensus, is under strain. The centre is holding but only just. Austrians in large numbers voted for a far-right candidate in the face of much of Europe warning against allowing the first right-wing populist to become head of state since World War Two. The strong showing of a candidate from the Austrian Freedom Party joins the anti-establishment success of Donald Trump in America. In France, Marine Le Pen's National Front party has regularly topped some of the polls. Although traditional parties appear embattled, the mainstream has proved resilient. The London mayoral elections and the general election outside of Scotland were old-fashioned contests between Labour and Conservative. In the last European elections, there were successes for anti-establishment parties - but power firmly remains with the centre-right European People's Party and the Socialists and Liberals. In the Netherlands, the populist politician Geert Wilders topped the polls but stumbled in the general election. In France, the National Front performed strongly in the recent regional elections but failed to make a breakthrough in the all-important second round of voting. More often than not, the story in Europe is of the outsiders, the upstarts, the captains of the resentful rattling the gates but rarely being entrusted with power. In Greece, there have been often violent protests against austerity, seen as imposed from Brussels - but when asked whether they wanted to leave the EU, fewer than 40% agreed. In Hungary and Poland, however, there are now parties in power prepared to challenge the European consensus and politics as usual. Austria 'rejects far-right president' Is Europe lurching to the far right? Guide to nationalist parties challenging Europe And, in America, Donald Trump has tapped into the current mood of discontent. He has defied all those who believed that the former Reality TV star would flame out and old politics would resume. It hasn't, and politicians in Europe are watching America anxiously. So what is driving this? First, the politics of 2016 are still being defined by the financial crash of 2008. Many middle-class Americans are working longer for less income than they earned decades before. The numbers who call themselves middle-class are shrinking. In the past six years, the US has created an impressive 14 million new jobs - but it is what those jobs are paying that gives politicians such as Mr Trump his opening. In a time of economic insecurity, inequality has increased. Inequality fosters mistrust of the elite. In the US, there is a residual dislike of Wall Street and the bankers. It has fuelled the success of the campaign of Bernie Sanders, an outsider candidate, who describes himself as a democratic socialist. One of the marks of this new politics is a hostility to trade agreements that are seen as having stripped out jobs from America. Even Hillary Clinton has had to appear lukewarm about signing future trade deals. All the indications are of an electorate losing faith in public institutions. Europe has been less successful at creating new jobs, and youth unemployment in many countries has remained stubbornly high. It has stoked fears of Europe as a low-growth region. Here, too, there is a protectionist streak running through the anti-establishment campaigns. And the migrant crisis has fed the mood of insecurity. There are really two narratives competing with each other. One sees itself as outward-looking, internationalist, at ease with a globalised world. It is more inclined to embrace migration as the mark of an open culture. In place of one identity linked to a nation state, they speak of multiple identities. It believes that globalisation cannot be slowed or reversed. Three decades ago, there were no smart phones. Now, there are more than billion, and technology is both connecting and shrinking how we live. They tend to see institutions such as the EU protecting smaller countries and giving them influence. Even though many manufacturing jobs have migrated to Asia, they argue that international trade benefits consumers and producers. The other narrative is that globalisation has damaged the interests of working people, with jobs moving elsewhere. Migration, for them, puts pressure on wages, increases demand for public services and dilutes the identity of long-standing communities. They believe democracy has been undermined and that parliaments need to recover their authority. The restlessness among voters on both sides of the Atlantic is rooted in the powerlessness of those in power. Politicians seem unable to respond to demands of the voters. In Europe, they struggle to deliver new jobs for young people. Those in power often doubt the policy of austerity, in private, but have to enforce it. Increasingly, it seems that decisions are decided by remote masters. These same politicians are no longer trusted to deal with implications of automation and robotics on the world of work. The populists at the gates of power, with their offer of \"strong\" leadership, promise to regain control of decisions made and that the certainties of the past can be reclaimed. The challenge for mainstream parties is to convince voters they can deliver security in the face of global challenges; that migration can be managed; that institutions can protect voters from the harsh winds of globalisation; that identity will not be threatened. In this debate, Donald Trump understands that social media gives him the opportunity to amplify the culture of complaint without the cross-examination of the mainstream media.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 2122, "answer_end": 3477, "text": "So what is driving this? First, the politics of 2016 are still being defined by the financial crash of 2008. Many middle-class Americans are working longer for less income than they earned decades before. The numbers who call themselves middle-class are shrinking. In the past six years, the US has created an impressive 14 million new jobs - but it is what those jobs are paying that gives politicians such as Mr Trump his opening. In a time of economic insecurity, inequality has increased. Inequality fosters mistrust of the elite. In the US, there is a residual dislike of Wall Street and the bankers. It has fuelled the success of the campaign of Bernie Sanders, an outsider candidate, who describes himself as a democratic socialist. One of the marks of this new politics is a hostility to trade agreements that are seen as having stripped out jobs from America. Even Hillary Clinton has had to appear lukewarm about signing future trade deals. All the indications are of an electorate losing faith in public institutions. Europe has been less successful at creating new jobs, and youth unemployment in many countries has remained stubbornly high. It has stoked fears of Europe as a low-growth region. Here, too, there is a protectionist streak running through the anti-establishment campaigns. And the migrant crisis has fed the mood of insecurity."}], "question": "What is the reason?", "id": "786_0"}]}]}, {"title": "US gives Turkey ultimatum on Russian missiles", "date": "9 June 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Turkey has been given a deadline of the end of July to choose between buying US fighter jets and Russian anti-aircraft missile systems. Acting US Defence Secretary Patrick Shanahan set out the ultimatum in a letter to his Turkish counterpart, Hulusi Akar. Turkey, he said, could not have both America's F-35 advanced fighter jets and Russia's S-400 systems. The two Nato allies have been locked in a row over the S-400 for months. America argues that the Russian systems are both incompatible with Nato defence systems and pose a security threat, and wants Turkey to buy its Patriot anti-aircraft systems instead. Turkey, which has been pursuing an increasingly independent defence policy, has signed up to buying 100 F-35s, and has invested heavily in the F-35 programme, with Turkish companies producing 937 of the plane's parts. This issue appears to be a red line for both nations, Turkey and the US. Speaking at the annual Globsec Security Forum here in Bratislava, Slovakia, Nato's new Supreme Allied Commander Europe, Gen Tod Wolters, said \"we are not interested in sharing the capabilities of our F-35 with Russia\". Clearly, the Pentagon believes that if Turkey were to acquire both this state-of-the-art F-35 fighter and Russia's formidable S-400 missile defence system - then Russian technicians would be able to access the plane's vulnerabilities, putting US pilots at additional risk. US, Turkish and Russian forces already operate in the same region in northern Syria. But a senior Turkish diplomat - who asked not to be named - told me that Washington had raised no objections while Turkey was negotiating the deal with Russia, only after it was signed. Now, he said, it was too late for Turkey to back out even if it wanted to. When Turkey makes a deal, he said, it sticks to it. Mr Shanahan says in his letter that the US is \"disappointed\" to hear that Turkish personnel have been sent to Russia to train on the S-400. \"Turkey will not receive the F-35 if Turkey takes delivery of the S-400,\" he writes. \"You still have the option to change course on the S-400.\" The letter includes a schedule for winding down Turkish participation in F-35 pilot training. \"We do not want to have the F-35 in close proximity to the S-400 over a period of time because of the ability to understand the profile of the F-35 on that particular piece of equipment,\" US Under Secretary of Defence Ellen Lord told reporters. The first four F-35s due to be delivered to Turkey have still not left the US, officially to allow Turkish pilots to train in them in America. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Tuesday his country was \"determined\" to proceed with the S-400 deal. \"Unfortunately we haven't received a positive proposal from the American side on the subject of Patriots like the S-400s from Russia,\" he said. Turkey has the second-largest army in Nato, a 29-member military alliance set up to defend against what was at the time the Soviet Union. The head of Russia's state defence conglomerate Rostec, Sergei Chemezov, was quoted as saying on Friday that Russia would start delivering the S-400 to Turkey in \"about two months\". The S-400 \"Triumf\" is one of the most sophisticated surface-to-air missile systems in the world. It has a range of 400km (250 miles), and one S-400 integrated system can shoot down up to 80 targets simultaneously. Russia says it can hit aerial targets ranging from low-flying drones to aircraft flying at various altitudes and long-range missiles.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1795, "answer_end": 3140, "text": "Mr Shanahan says in his letter that the US is \"disappointed\" to hear that Turkish personnel have been sent to Russia to train on the S-400. \"Turkey will not receive the F-35 if Turkey takes delivery of the S-400,\" he writes. \"You still have the option to change course on the S-400.\" The letter includes a schedule for winding down Turkish participation in F-35 pilot training. \"We do not want to have the F-35 in close proximity to the S-400 over a period of time because of the ability to understand the profile of the F-35 on that particular piece of equipment,\" US Under Secretary of Defence Ellen Lord told reporters. The first four F-35s due to be delivered to Turkey have still not left the US, officially to allow Turkish pilots to train in them in America. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Tuesday his country was \"determined\" to proceed with the S-400 deal. \"Unfortunately we haven't received a positive proposal from the American side on the subject of Patriots like the S-400s from Russia,\" he said. Turkey has the second-largest army in Nato, a 29-member military alliance set up to defend against what was at the time the Soviet Union. The head of Russia's state defence conglomerate Rostec, Sergei Chemezov, was quoted as saying on Friday that Russia would start delivering the S-400 to Turkey in \"about two months\"."}], "question": "What consequences does Turkey face?", "id": "787_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3141, "answer_end": 3488, "text": "The S-400 \"Triumf\" is one of the most sophisticated surface-to-air missile systems in the world. It has a range of 400km (250 miles), and one S-400 integrated system can shoot down up to 80 targets simultaneously. Russia says it can hit aerial targets ranging from low-flying drones to aircraft flying at various altitudes and long-range missiles."}], "question": "What is the S-400 system?", "id": "787_1"}]}]}, {"title": "Russian activist jailed after setting up Putin's fake gravestone", "date": "13 March 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "A court in Russia has sentenced a man to 28 days in jail for creating a fake gravestone of President Vladimir Putin. Activist Karim Yamadayev was sentenced on Tuesday in the city of Naberezhnye Chelny for a repeat violation of the law on holding public events. He said he was protesting against a bill on Russia's \"sovereign internet\", saying it threatened freedom of speech. On Wednesday, Russia passed two bills penalising disrespect of authorities and the spreading of fake news. The first ban refers to \"blatant disrespect\" of the state, its officials and Russian society, and repeat offenders face up to 15 days in jail. The second bill prohibits sharing \"false information of public interest, shared under the guise of fake news\". Journalists, human rights campaigners and even Russian government ministers have voiced their opposition, with some speaking of a new \"Iron Curtain\" on the internet being put up by Russia. Under President Putin the Russian state has taken control of the major TV channels and other mainstream media, so opposition voices are mainly confined to social media. The court in the central city found Karim Yamadayev guilty of a second violation of the law regulating the staging of public events in Russia. The court mentioned that in January he had been prosecuted for setting up an improvised monument to the victims of political repressions in Russia. Karim Yamadayev denied all the accusations. His lawyer said Russia's constitution guaranteed freedom of speech to every citizen. On Tuesday, another man - who had helped him to put up the gravestone - was given a six-day detention by the court. It was set up on 10 March near the building housing the city's investigative committee. The black gravestone had a picture of President Putin and years of life 1952-2019. Russian opposition leader Alexey Navalny tweeted the picture of the gravestone, saying: \"The dude, who made 'Putin's gravestone' has been given a 28-day detention. \"The installation, in my opinion, is absolutely idiotic, but Russian laws do not penalise for stupid jokes. The arrest of this person is a crime. Real lawlessness.\"", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1095, "answer_end": 1630, "text": "The court in the central city found Karim Yamadayev guilty of a second violation of the law regulating the staging of public events in Russia. The court mentioned that in January he had been prosecuted for setting up an improvised monument to the victims of political repressions in Russia. Karim Yamadayev denied all the accusations. His lawyer said Russia's constitution guaranteed freedom of speech to every citizen. On Tuesday, another man - who had helped him to put up the gravestone - was given a six-day detention by the court."}], "question": "What happened in Naberezhnye Chelny's court?", "id": "788_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Who's that girl? The curious case of Leah Palmer", "date": "5 March 2015", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Have you met Leah Palmer? She is an attractive, single, fun-loving 20-something Briton currently living the high life in Dubai. She has an active social-media presence and often chats with family and friends on sites such as Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. If you are a man, you might even have spotted Leah on dating app Tinder, looking for romance. Ignore the man in the photo. He is her nasty ex-boyfriend. Actually, Leah Palmer does not exist. The woman in the photograph is Ruth Palmer, and she is happily married to Benjamin Graves. He is not a horrible former partner, he is her husband. Ruth recently discovered that for the past three years somebody has been routinely lifting photographs of her, her family and friends from social networks, and setting up a network of fake media profiles of them - which all communicate with each other. This person, calling themselves Leah Palmer, branded Ruth's husband a \"psychotic ex\" in her version of Ruth's photos and had online relationships with at least six different men, who all thought they were cyber-dating Ruth - the woman in the pictures. While Ruth has 140 followers on Instagram, Leah has more than 800 - and all her photographs, more than 900, are of Ruth and her friends. Ruth only discovered her cyber-double in January this year. \"One day after work, one of my old university friends sent me a message and said, 'Have you seen this image, do you know who it belongs to?'\" she told the BBC. \"She sent me a photo of myself and some university friends from four years ago, but it was a screenshot taken from someone else's account on Instagram. \"I didn't know what was going on, so I asked my friend to go on her account and have a look and see if she had any more. \"There were just loads and loads of images, not just of me, there was me with my friends, pictures of just my friends,\" The term \"catfish\" is sometimes used to describe the practice of using other people's photographs when looking for relationships on the net. The name comes from the 2010 documentary Catfish, now also an MTV series. It charted an online relationship between a young man and a woman who turned out not to be as she seemed. \"It happens a fair amount,\" said web security expert Graham Cluley. \"Many people find it difficult to get the social networks to take action.\" Generally, people were unaware their photo was being used elsewhere, unless they found out by chance, Mr Cluley added. \"There are search engines for photos such as Tineye.com, where you can upload an image and see where it appears on the web,\" he said. Ruth said the images came from a mixture of social-media sources - both from her own accounts and those of her friends. \"There was a picture of my closest friend with her sister,\" Ruth said. \"She claimed that my friend was her friend and said my friend was a mum. \"She had written weird things about her, like, 'Oh she's so gorgeous, and she's a mummy, you'd never think it.' \"It was all very weird, and untrue.\" When she discovered the fictional Leah was also contacting men via these profiles, Ruth was able to make contact with some of them, via Skype, with her husband at her side. They had soon realised what had happened, Ruth said, not least because the young woman they had been faced with, who they had thought they had spoken to on the phone, had had a completely different accent. Ruth said: \"Some of these guys... they'd had online relationships with her, they'd been exchanging explicit images... I can't imagine. \"When they were talking to me, you could see it was like someone going through a break-up. \"One had ended a real-life relationship to have an online relationship with this girl who they thought was me.\" One man told Ruth he and Leah had got together on Tinder. \"I didn't even know what Tinder was,\" Ruth said. \"It's some dating app, right?\" Ruth tried to call \"Leah\" on the phone numbers she had given to the men. \"I have tried to phone her lots of times,\" she said. \"She had two phones. The first one rang through, she picked up, all I said was, 'Hello,' and within two seconds she put the phone down. \"After a good week or so both numbers were not in use.\" The men said sometimes they had spoken to two of \"Leah's friends\", who had been with her at the time of the call. \"Somebody out there knows who she is and what she's up to,\" Ruth said. Ruth contacted the social-network companies, who she said had been quick to remove the fake profiles - but they soon sprang up again. The police offered victim support, but as no crime had actually been committed and the person was not using Ruth's full name, they could only file her case \"for information\". She said she had always kept her social-media accounts on the maximum privacy settings. \"My Facebook and Instagram are private and have always been private,\" she said. \"I don't have a public profile or pages. I never had them because I am fully aware that there are people out there who can go on pages and do this sort of thing. \"I've been trying to do my own detective work, and the only thing I can think is that maybe when I first joined Instagram perhaps I had an open profile very briefly.\" The obvious uncomfortable thought is that \"Leah\" is somebody Ruth knows. \"I can't think of anybody who would want to do this - but you never know,\" she said. \"The only thing I do know is that whoever is doing this has lots of time on their hands. \"They've created profiles of my mum, my friends... and all these fake accounts are having conversations between each other.\" Despite all this, Ruth has not turned her back on social media. \"I'm an expat - it's great to see pictures and news from family and friends at home,\" she said. \"My generation has been geared up to using social media.\" She shared her story with British local paper, the Brighton Argus, because she wants not sympathy, but action. Ruth said she had heard from others with similar experiences. \"Identity theft or fraud shouldn't just be classified commercially,\" Ruth said. \"Children are using smartphones in schools, you hear about trolls and online bullying, this is another one of those very difficult cases that I think needs to be included. \"What can you do if social media goes wrong? There should be something - whether it's support or a law change.\" Security expert Prof Alan Woodward, from Surrey University, said: \"It's a classic online honey pot. \"To be fair to the police, what can they do? \"If someone is just misusing an image, what can you do? \"There are millions of images uploaded on to the internet every day. \"Can the police stop all illegal copying? But Prof Woodward added: \"I cannot help but think there is a crime in there somewhere, otherwise why would somebody bother? \"It is a precursor to fraud. \"People can end up having very intense relationships online with people they have never met.\" Prof Woodward urged caution with social-media use, whatever the privacy settings. \"Personally I don't think you should put anything on the web that you wouldn't be happy about being published in a local newspaper,\" he said. \"Privacy settings change, search terms change... images only need to be available for a couple of minutes to be copied on to somebody else's machine.\" Copyright lawyer Adam Rendle said Ruth's recourse may be through the photographs that had caused the problem in the first place. \"The imposter will not own the copyright in the photos and videos of the victim that he or she is using - the person who took them is likely to,\" he said. \"The victim could therefore try to use the copyright to stop the imposter using that material. \"Platforms will typically respond to takedown requests based on copyright.\"", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1851, "answer_end": 2567, "text": "The term \"catfish\" is sometimes used to describe the practice of using other people's photographs when looking for relationships on the net. The name comes from the 2010 documentary Catfish, now also an MTV series. It charted an online relationship between a young man and a woman who turned out not to be as she seemed. \"It happens a fair amount,\" said web security expert Graham Cluley. \"Many people find it difficult to get the social networks to take action.\" Generally, people were unaware their photo was being used elsewhere, unless they found out by chance, Mr Cluley added. \"There are search engines for photos such as Tineye.com, where you can upload an image and see where it appears on the web,\" he said."}], "question": "How common is online identity theft?", "id": "789_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Jerusalem: Trump's envoy Haley berates 'outrageous UN hostility'", "date": "8 December 2017", "paragraphs": [{"context": "The US envoy to the United Nations, Nikki Haley, has accused the UN of damaging the prospects for peace between Israel and the Palestinians. The organisation \"has outrageously been one of the world's foremost centres of hostility towards Israel\", she said. Mrs Haley was addressing an emergency meeting of the Security Council called after President Donald Trump's decision to move the US embassy to Jerusalem. The move has been widely condemned and sparked clashes in the West Bank. Israel has carried out air strikes against targets in the Gaza Strip, injuring a number of people, after Palestinian militants fired rockets into Israeli territory. Two Palestinian men died after Israeli troops fired on crowds in Gaza during clashes earlier on Friday. Tensions remain high across the Middle East after Mr Trump announced the US would recognise Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, reversing decades of US neutrality on the matter. Israel has always regarded Jerusalem as its capital, while the Palestinians claim East Jerusalem - occupied by Israel in the 1967 war - as the capital of a future Palestinian state. Mrs Haley said the decision \"recognises the obvious; that Jerusalem is the capital of Israel\". She said the US continued to be \"committed to achieving a lasting peace agreement\", and accused the UN of bias. \"Israel will never be, and never should be, bullied into an agreement by the United Nations or by any collection of countries that have proven their disregard for Israel's security.\" The Palestinian representative, Riyad Mansour, said Mr Trump's move meant the US could no longer be seen as a broker of peace. \"Complicity must be recognised,\" he said. Israel's representative, Danny Danon, thanked the US for what he called \"a milestone for Israel, for peace, and for the world\". Also on Friday: - Chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat said Palestinians would not talk to the US until Mr Trump reversed his decision - Both Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and the highest Sunni Muslim authority in the world, the imam of al-Azhar mosque in Egypt, said they would not meet US Vice President Mike Pence when he visited the Middle East later this month - US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said it could take two years before the US embassy was relocated from Tel Aviv - The Israeli army said a rocket had hit the town of Sderot in southern Israel, but did not say whether anyone had been injured - Israeli aircraft attacked Hamas military facilities in Gaza in retaliation, the Israeli army said, and the area's hospital said 14 people were wounded In the West Bank, Israeli forces clashed with Palestinians in the cities of Bethlehem, Ramallah, Hebron and Nablus, as well as smaller locations. Israel had deployed extra battalions to the West Bank in anticipation of violence after Palestinian leaders called for protests after Friday prayers. At least 217 Palestinians were wounded in confrontations in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, Palestinian medics said. Elsewhere, demonstrations against Mr Trump's announcement have spread. Thousands of pro-Palestinian protesters held noisy demonstrations in Jordan, Egypt, Iraq, Turkey, Tunisia and Iran. Further afield, protesters rallied in Malaysia, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Indian-administered Kashmir and Indonesia, the world's largest Muslim-majority country. Jerusalem is of huge importance to both Israel and the Palestinians. It contains sites sacred to the three major monotheistic faiths - Judaism, Islam and Christianity. Israel occupied the eastern sector - previously occupied by Jordan - in 1967, and annexed it in 1980, but the move has never been recognised internationally. Some 330,000 Palestinians live in East Jerusalem, along with about 200,000 Israeli Jews in a dozen settlements there. The settlements are considered illegal under international law, though Israel does not regard them as settlements but legitimate neighbourhoods. According to the 1993 Israel-Palestinian peace accords, the final status of Jerusalem is meant to be discussed in the latter stages of peace talks. The last round of talks between Israel and the Palestinians broke down in 2014 and while the US is formulating fresh proposals, Palestinian officials have said Mr Trump's announcement has disqualified the US from brokering future negotiations.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 2574, "answer_end": 3346, "text": "In the West Bank, Israeli forces clashed with Palestinians in the cities of Bethlehem, Ramallah, Hebron and Nablus, as well as smaller locations. Israel had deployed extra battalions to the West Bank in anticipation of violence after Palestinian leaders called for protests after Friday prayers. At least 217 Palestinians were wounded in confrontations in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, Palestinian medics said. Elsewhere, demonstrations against Mr Trump's announcement have spread. Thousands of pro-Palestinian protesters held noisy demonstrations in Jordan, Egypt, Iraq, Turkey, Tunisia and Iran. Further afield, protesters rallied in Malaysia, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Indian-administered Kashmir and Indonesia, the world's largest Muslim-majority country."}], "question": "Where has there been violence?", "id": "790_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3347, "answer_end": 4327, "text": "Jerusalem is of huge importance to both Israel and the Palestinians. It contains sites sacred to the three major monotheistic faiths - Judaism, Islam and Christianity. Israel occupied the eastern sector - previously occupied by Jordan - in 1967, and annexed it in 1980, but the move has never been recognised internationally. Some 330,000 Palestinians live in East Jerusalem, along with about 200,000 Israeli Jews in a dozen settlements there. The settlements are considered illegal under international law, though Israel does not regard them as settlements but legitimate neighbourhoods. According to the 1993 Israel-Palestinian peace accords, the final status of Jerusalem is meant to be discussed in the latter stages of peace talks. The last round of talks between Israel and the Palestinians broke down in 2014 and while the US is formulating fresh proposals, Palestinian officials have said Mr Trump's announcement has disqualified the US from brokering future negotiations."}], "question": "Why does Trump's announcement matter?", "id": "790_1"}]}]}, {"title": "Cuba's 'sonic weapon' may have been mosquito gas", "date": "20 September 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Canadian researchers say they may have identified the cause of a mystery illness which plagued diplomatic staff in Cuba in 2016. Some reports in the US suggested an \"acoustic attack\" caused US staff similar symptoms, sparking speculation about a secret sonic weapon. But the Canadian team suggests that neurotoxins from mosquito fumigation are the more likely cause. The Zika virus, carried by mosquitoes, was a major health concern at the time. So-called \"Havana syndrome\" caused symptoms including headaches, blurred vision, dizziness and tinnitus. It made international headlines when the US announced more than a dozen staff from its Cuban embassy were being treated. Cuba denied any suggestion of \"attacks\", and the reports led to increased tension between the two nations. In July, a US academic study showed \"brain abnormalities\" in the diplomats. \"It's not imagined, all I can say is that there is truth to be found,\" one of the authors said. The Canadian team from the Brain Repair Centre in Halifax thinks it now has the answer. Canadian diplomats were affected by similar reactions to US counterparts - though the study noted that the symptoms of the Canadians were more gradual than the \"acute, directional... auditory stimulus\" in some of the US cases. The study notes that tests carried out on 28 participants - seven of whom were tested both before and after being posted to Havana - support a diagnosis of brain injury acquired by diplomats and their families while in Cuba. The patterns of brain injury \"all raise the hypothesis of recurrent, low-dose exposure to neurotoxins\", the report said. Specifically, the results were \"highly suggestive\" of something called cholinesterase inhibitor intoxication. Cholinesterase is an important enzyme in the human nervous system, and blocking it through an inhibitor can lead to death. The chemical weapon, Sarin, is an example of a potent cholinesterase inhibitor, as is VX, which was used in the killing of Kim Jong-nam, the half-brother of North Korea's leader. But the low, consistent doses the researchers believe were delivered are consistent with exposure to commercial pesticides, the study's authors said. And fumigation in Cuba increased after the country \"declared war\" on the Zika virus in 2016, spraying gas around or even inside diplomats' homes. Embassy records showed a significant increase in fumigation with weekly exposure to high doses of pesticides, the study said. The Zika virus, spread by mosquitoes, affected 47 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean that year, causing  microcephaly in some newborn babies. The Canadian researchers said that proving the definitive cause was \"difficult, if not impossible at this time\" - but that their hypothesis offered \"a plausible explanation\". But \"other causes cannot be ruled out\", they wrote. The study focused purely on Canadians and did not cover any US diplomats, their families or Cuban residents of Havana. John Babcock, a spokesman for Canada's foreign ministry, told reporters that \"no definitive cause of the health incidents has been identified to date\". The Canadian government is exploring \"all avenues\", he said. The US government has never officially spoken about what it thinks the cause of the unusual symptoms could be. US media have quoted state department officials as referring to a \"sonic attack\", and a US medical study found brain abnormalities in US diplomats.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1039, "answer_end": 2597, "text": "Canadian diplomats were affected by similar reactions to US counterparts - though the study noted that the symptoms of the Canadians were more gradual than the \"acute, directional... auditory stimulus\" in some of the US cases. The study notes that tests carried out on 28 participants - seven of whom were tested both before and after being posted to Havana - support a diagnosis of brain injury acquired by diplomats and their families while in Cuba. The patterns of brain injury \"all raise the hypothesis of recurrent, low-dose exposure to neurotoxins\", the report said. Specifically, the results were \"highly suggestive\" of something called cholinesterase inhibitor intoxication. Cholinesterase is an important enzyme in the human nervous system, and blocking it through an inhibitor can lead to death. The chemical weapon, Sarin, is an example of a potent cholinesterase inhibitor, as is VX, which was used in the killing of Kim Jong-nam, the half-brother of North Korea's leader. But the low, consistent doses the researchers believe were delivered are consistent with exposure to commercial pesticides, the study's authors said. And fumigation in Cuba increased after the country \"declared war\" on the Zika virus in 2016, spraying gas around or even inside diplomats' homes. Embassy records showed a significant increase in fumigation with weekly exposure to high doses of pesticides, the study said. The Zika virus, spread by mosquitoes, affected 47 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean that year, causing  microcephaly in some newborn babies."}], "question": "What did the study find?", "id": "791_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2598, "answer_end": 3415, "text": "The Canadian researchers said that proving the definitive cause was \"difficult, if not impossible at this time\" - but that their hypothesis offered \"a plausible explanation\". But \"other causes cannot be ruled out\", they wrote. The study focused purely on Canadians and did not cover any US diplomats, their families or Cuban residents of Havana. John Babcock, a spokesman for Canada's foreign ministry, told reporters that \"no definitive cause of the health incidents has been identified to date\". The Canadian government is exploring \"all avenues\", he said. The US government has never officially spoken about what it thinks the cause of the unusual symptoms could be. US media have quoted state department officials as referring to a \"sonic attack\", and a US medical study found brain abnormalities in US diplomats."}], "question": "Has a sonic weapon been ruled out?", "id": "791_1"}]}]}, {"title": "Russia collusion inquiry: Grand jury term extended", "date": "5 January 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "The federal grand jury being used by Special Counsel Robert Mueller in his probe into Russian collusion in the US 2016 election has had its term extended by up to six months. The initial 18-month term was due to expire this weekend. The jury's members have heard dozens of witnesses and have approved a swathe of indictments so far. President Donald Trump has called the investigation a witch hunt and his aides have demanded a speedy end. There had been speculation the investigation could be winding up. As the judge issuing the extension has not given an exact time for it, that could still be the case. But it could also mean more indictments are on the way. In the US, grand juries are composed of members of the public who hear evidence in secret. Prosecutors use them to gather evidence, as they can compel people to testify or hand over documentation. They consider whether evidence is strong enough to issue indictments for a criminal trial. The juries do not decide the innocence or guilt of a potential defendant. The grand jury being used by Mr Mueller began hearing evidence in July 2017. President Trump's campaign and transition teams have been accused of colluding with Russian agents to influence the US election in the then Republican candidate's favour. US intelligence agencies concluded in 2016 that Russia was behind an effort to tip the scales of the US election against Hillary Clinton, with a state-authorised campaign of cyber attacks and fake news stories planted on social media. Both the Russian and US presidents have poured scorn on suggestions of collusion, with Mr Trump calling it \"the greatest political witch hunt in history\". The members have listened to dozens of witnesses and have approved several indictments. They include Mr Trump's former campaign chairman, Paul Manafort, and deputy Rick Gates. Both have pleaded guilty to a number of charges. Also indicted are more than 20 Russian individuals and companies accused of trying to sway US voters. Not all of the indictments and guilty pleas are directly related to Russian collusion allegations. The jury has worked in utmost secrecy and there is no indication who may still be indicted, including whether the president himself could be targeted. A number of Trump allies, including lawyer Rudy Giuliani, have regularly called for the investigation to end quickly. One thing that could affect it is the ongoing partial government shutdown. The federal court system has the funding at present but could run out soon.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 663, "answer_end": 1101, "text": "In the US, grand juries are composed of members of the public who hear evidence in secret. Prosecutors use them to gather evidence, as they can compel people to testify or hand over documentation. They consider whether evidence is strong enough to issue indictments for a criminal trial. The juries do not decide the innocence or guilt of a potential defendant. The grand jury being used by Mr Mueller began hearing evidence in July 2017."}], "question": "What is a grand jury?", "id": "792_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1102, "answer_end": 1662, "text": "President Trump's campaign and transition teams have been accused of colluding with Russian agents to influence the US election in the then Republican candidate's favour. US intelligence agencies concluded in 2016 that Russia was behind an effort to tip the scales of the US election against Hillary Clinton, with a state-authorised campaign of cyber attacks and fake news stories planted on social media. Both the Russian and US presidents have poured scorn on suggestions of collusion, with Mr Trump calling it \"the greatest political witch hunt in history\"."}], "question": "What's the inquiry all about?", "id": "792_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1663, "answer_end": 2508, "text": "The members have listened to dozens of witnesses and have approved several indictments. They include Mr Trump's former campaign chairman, Paul Manafort, and deputy Rick Gates. Both have pleaded guilty to a number of charges. Also indicted are more than 20 Russian individuals and companies accused of trying to sway US voters. Not all of the indictments and guilty pleas are directly related to Russian collusion allegations. The jury has worked in utmost secrecy and there is no indication who may still be indicted, including whether the president himself could be targeted. A number of Trump allies, including lawyer Rudy Giuliani, have regularly called for the investigation to end quickly. One thing that could affect it is the ongoing partial government shutdown. The federal court system has the funding at present but could run out soon."}], "question": "What has this grand jury done so far?", "id": "792_2"}]}]}, {"title": "British IS recruiter Sally-Anne Jones 'killed by drone'", "date": "12 October 2017", "paragraphs": [{"context": "British IS recruiter Sally-Anne Jones was reportedly killed in a US drone strike in Syria, in June. Jones, from Chatham in Kent, joined so-called Islamic State after converting to Islam and travelling to Syria in 2013. Her death was first reported by The Sun. The BBC's security correspondent Frank Gardner said Jones had been a useful propaganda agent for IS on social media and her death would be \"significant\". Whitehall officials have declined to comment publicly. However, they have not denied the story, and US sources are confident she was killed in an unmanned drone strike in June, our correspondent added. The 48-year-old was reportedly killed close to the border between Syria and Iraq by a US Air Force strike. Prime Minister Theresa May said she was \"aware of the reports\" around Jones's death, but was \"not in a position to comment further\". Her official spokesman said the coalition \"follows clear and lawful rules of engagement.\" Defence Secretary Sir Michael Fallon also refused to comment about Jones directly, but said if someone chose to fight for IS they have made themselves a \"legitimate target\" and \"run the risk every hour of every day of being on the wrong end of an RAF or a United States missile.\" Jones - who had no previous military training - had been married to the jihadist Junaid Hussain, who was killed in 2015 in a drone strike. Previously a punk musician, she had been used to recruit western girls to the group and posted threatening messages to Christians in the UK. Jones, who was born in Greenwich, London, also encouraged individuals to carry out attacks in Britain, offering guidance on how to construct home-made bombs. She used her Twitter account to provide practical advice on how to travel to Syria and shared pictures of herself posing with weapons. By BBC security correspondent Frank Gardner The death of Sally-Anne Jones, if confirmed, will make little or no tactical difference to the military fortunes of so-called Islamic State on the battlefield. Despite posing online variously with a Kalashnikov and a pistol, and reportedly \"leading a battalion of jihadist women\", her value to the group was iconic rather than military. But in this role she was definitely judged to be dangerous. Along with her late husband, Junaid Hussain, she maintained a stream of hostile online propaganda aimed at the West. This included luring western female recruits to the self-declared IS caliphate, encouraging attacks in the West and threatening to kill non-Muslims. She is believed to have been involved in planning previous attacks in the West, including a plot to assassinate the Queen and Prince Philip in 2015. There appears to have been no reaction to Jones's reported death from Arabic-speaking online supporters of IS, according to BBC Monitoring, which observes media worldwide. But it said this was typical in such cases. IS never publicly acknowledged Jones - also known as Umm Hussein al-Britaniyah - as a member. Women occasionally feature in IS's official propaganda and only as authors of articles in its monthly publications, BBC Monitoring added. Jones's husband was a computer hacker for IS and was regarded as a \"high value target\" before his death. In 2015 the then Prime Minister David Cameron said Junaid Hussain had been planning \"barbaric attacks against the West\", including terror plots targeting \"high profile public commemorations\". News of Jones's death has not previously been made public amid fears that her 12-year-old son, Jojo, may also have been killed in the June strike, according to The Sun. BBC correspondent Richard Lister said it was assumed the boy had been killed. Maj Gen Chip Chapman, former MoD head of counter terror, said under UN Charters the boy would be too young to be classed as a soldier and would not have been targeted, \"even if he got up to really bad things\". \"We don't know for sure whether he was with her or not,\" he added. When asked whether Jojo had been killed, the prime minister declined to comment. By Ciaran McCauley, BBC News Northern Ireland It's the image that turned Sally-Anne Jones, the British recruiter for the so-called Islamic State, into the \"nun with the gun\". The only problem? It isn't real - and its origins link back to the debut novel of Northern Ireland writer Colin Bateman in 1995. The original image, featuring a nun posing with a gun and a dog, was used on the front cover of his first book Divorcing Jack. The edited version, which is in black and white and has Jones' face superimposed on to the nun's body, is believed to have originated on her Twitter account. Read more about its origins here. Azadeh Moaveni, a journalist and author of the book Lipstick Jihad, told the BBC that Jones had been one of the most \"iconic\" recruiters for IS because she helped the group to project the idea it could \"get into the very reaches of British society\". The BBC's Frank Gardner said although it was \"very likely\" Jones has been killed, it was difficult to be certain because that would require sending a special forces team to gather DNA. Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said if Jones's death was confirmed, it would be \"significant\", but he said he would prefer to have seen her in court. \"I think people who have committed crimes ought to be put on trial,\" he said. \"That way... when you interrogate somebody, you get more information about the background to it.\" A Foreign Office spokeswoman said: \"We do not comment on matters of national security.\" Other high-profile British jihadists killed in air strikes include Mohammed Emwazi, also known as Jihadi John, who appeared in beheading videos for IS. He was killed in a US drone strike in November 2015.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 4005, "answer_end": 4627, "text": "By Ciaran McCauley, BBC News Northern Ireland It's the image that turned Sally-Anne Jones, the British recruiter for the so-called Islamic State, into the \"nun with the gun\". The only problem? It isn't real - and its origins link back to the debut novel of Northern Ireland writer Colin Bateman in 1995. The original image, featuring a nun posing with a gun and a dog, was used on the front cover of his first book Divorcing Jack. The edited version, which is in black and white and has Jones' face superimposed on to the nun's body, is believed to have originated on her Twitter account. Read more about its origins here."}], "question": "Where did the IS 'nun with a gun' image come from?", "id": "793_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Jamal Khashoggi: Turkey's Erdogan urges Saudi Arabia to release images", "date": "11 October 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has urged Saudi Arabia to release images proving that a missing reporter left its consulate in Istanbul. Mr Erdogan questioned whether it was \"possible for there to be no camera systems\" running at the building, the Turkish daily Hurriyet reports. Saudi national Jamal Khashoggi was last seen entering the consulate last week. Turkish officials claim that Mr Khashoggi was murdered within its walls. Saudi Arabia denies this. \"We are investigating all aspects of the event,\" Mr Erdogan said on Thursday, adding: \"This is an incident which took place in our country; it is not possible for us to remain silent.\" \"If a bird flew, or a fly or a mosquito appeared, the systems would capture this; they [Saudi Arabia] have the most cutting-edge systems,\" Hurriyet quoted him as saying. Mr Erdogan has previously challenged Saudi Arabia to provide proof of its version of events - that Mr Khashoggi, a prominent critic of the Saudi monarchy, had left the consulate \"after a few minutes or one hour\". The Turkish president's latest comments come just hours after US President Donald Trump vowed to \"get to the bottom\" of Mr Khashoggi's case. \"We cannot let this happen to reporters, to anybody,\" Mr Trump said on Wednesday, adding: \"We're demanding everything. We want to see what's going on there.\" Both Turkey and Saudi Arabia are allies of the United States. On Wednesday, Turkish media outlets published CCTV footage, which they say shows evidence of a plot linked to Mr Khashoggi's disappearance. Broadcast by Turkey's TRT World channel and apparently obtained from security cameras, it shows purported Saudi intelligence officers entering and leaving Turkey via Istanbul airport. Turkish investigators are looking into two Saudi Gulfstream jets that landed at the airport on 2 October. The video shows aircraft waiting on the tarmac. Mr Khashoggi was visiting the consulate to finalise his divorce so he could marry his fiancee, Hatice Cengiz. He is seen on the video entering the consulate, while his fiancee waited outside. Turkey's Sabah newspaper reports that it has identified 15 members of an intelligence team it says was involved in the Saudi's disappearance. Among them was a forensics expert, it says. Turkey says it will conduct a search of the Istanbul consulate, while Saudi Arabia's foreign ministry said the country was \"open to co-operation\" and a search of the building could go ahead. This is the timeline of events, according to Turkish media. 03:28: The first private jet carrying suspected Saudi agents arrives at Istanbul airport. 05:05: The group are seen checking into two hotels nearby to the Saudi consulate building. 12:13: Several diplomatic vehicles are filmed arriving at the consulate, allegedly carrying some of the Saudi agents. 13:14: Mr Khashoggi enters the building. 15:08: Vehicles leave the consulate and are filmed arriving at the nearby Saudi consul's residence. 17:15: A second private jet carrying a number of suspected Saudi officials lands in Istanbul. 17:33: Mr Khashoggi's fiancee, Hatice Cengiz, is seen on CCTV waiting outside the consulate. 18:20: One of the private jets departs from Istanbul airport. The final plane leaves at 21:00. A critic of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Mr Khashoggi was living in self-imposed exile in the US and writing opinion pieces for the Washington Post before his disappearance. A former editor of the al-Watan newspaper and a short-lived Saudi TV news channel, he was for years seen as close to the Saudi royal family. He served as an adviser to senior Saudi officials. But after several of his friends were arrested, his column was cancelled by the al-Hayat newspaper and he was allegedly warned to stop tweeting, Mr Khashoggi left Saudi Arabia for the US. Ms Cengiz has described her fiance as a \"valuable person, an exemplary thinker and a courageous man\". \"I don't know how I can keep living if he was abducted or killed in Turkey,\" she wrote in an emotional piece in the Washington Post.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1394, "answer_end": 2440, "text": "On Wednesday, Turkish media outlets published CCTV footage, which they say shows evidence of a plot linked to Mr Khashoggi's disappearance. Broadcast by Turkey's TRT World channel and apparently obtained from security cameras, it shows purported Saudi intelligence officers entering and leaving Turkey via Istanbul airport. Turkish investigators are looking into two Saudi Gulfstream jets that landed at the airport on 2 October. The video shows aircraft waiting on the tarmac. Mr Khashoggi was visiting the consulate to finalise his divorce so he could marry his fiancee, Hatice Cengiz. He is seen on the video entering the consulate, while his fiancee waited outside. Turkey's Sabah newspaper reports that it has identified 15 members of an intelligence team it says was involved in the Saudi's disappearance. Among them was a forensics expert, it says. Turkey says it will conduct a search of the Istanbul consulate, while Saudi Arabia's foreign ministry said the country was \"open to co-operation\" and a search of the building could go ahead."}], "question": "What information has Turkey provided?", "id": "794_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3223, "answer_end": 4016, "text": "A critic of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Mr Khashoggi was living in self-imposed exile in the US and writing opinion pieces for the Washington Post before his disappearance. A former editor of the al-Watan newspaper and a short-lived Saudi TV news channel, he was for years seen as close to the Saudi royal family. He served as an adviser to senior Saudi officials. But after several of his friends were arrested, his column was cancelled by the al-Hayat newspaper and he was allegedly warned to stop tweeting, Mr Khashoggi left Saudi Arabia for the US. Ms Cengiz has described her fiance as a \"valuable person, an exemplary thinker and a courageous man\". \"I don't know how I can keep living if he was abducted or killed in Turkey,\" she wrote in an emotional piece in the Washington Post."}], "question": "Who is Jamal Khashoggi?", "id": "794_1"}]}]}, {"title": "Sudan's Omar al-Bashir mocks 'Facebook protesters'", "date": "31 January 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Sudan's President Omar al-Bashir has ridiculed his opponents' use of social media to organise recent protests against his rule. \"Changing the government or presidents cannot be done through WhatsApp or Facebook. It can be done only through elections,\" he told his supporters. He was speaking as fresh demonstrations were held in the capital Khartoum. The protests started over cuts to bread subsidies in December but have since morphed into anger at Mr Bashir's rule. The Sudanese government says 30 people have been killed in clashes since the unrest began. Human rights groups put the death toll at more than 40. Mr Bashir used a rally of his supporters in the eastern city of Kassala to mock his political opponents. He said only elections could bring about a change of government. \"This is our pledge and commitment before the Sudanese people. The decision is your right, the masses of the Sudanese people,\" the president said. The Sudanese authorities have tried to block social media in the country. But a medic in Khartoum told the BBC earlier this week that people have been bypassing the blockade by using Virtual Private Networks (VPN), which can hide a user's location. In Kassala, near the Eritrean frontier, Mr Bashir also said that Sudan was reopening its border with Eritrea after about a year-long closure. The eastern frontier was shut after Sudan declared a state of emergency in two regions to tackle weapons trafficking. As Mr Bashir was speaking in Kassala, new rallies broke out in the capital and elsewhere. Riot police fired tear gas at crowds in Khartoum, a witness told the AFP news agency. Protests were also held in several villages south of the capital. The demonstrations are being led by the Sudanese Professionals Association (SPA), which represents health workers, lawyers, teachers and others. The protests started over cuts to bread and fuel subsidies, but now demonstrators are calling for the 75-year-old president to resign. Mr Bashir, who has won elections several times since coming to power in a coup in 1989, has struck a defiant note. On Wednesday, the Sudanese armed forces - who back the president - warned they would not allow a collapse of the state.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 615, "answer_end": 1440, "text": "Mr Bashir used a rally of his supporters in the eastern city of Kassala to mock his political opponents. He said only elections could bring about a change of government. \"This is our pledge and commitment before the Sudanese people. The decision is your right, the masses of the Sudanese people,\" the president said. The Sudanese authorities have tried to block social media in the country. But a medic in Khartoum told the BBC earlier this week that people have been bypassing the blockade by using Virtual Private Networks (VPN), which can hide a user's location. In Kassala, near the Eritrean frontier, Mr Bashir also said that Sudan was reopening its border with Eritrea after about a year-long closure. The eastern frontier was shut after Sudan declared a state of emergency in two regions to tackle weapons trafficking."}], "question": "What did President Bashir say?", "id": "795_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1441, "answer_end": 2197, "text": "As Mr Bashir was speaking in Kassala, new rallies broke out in the capital and elsewhere. Riot police fired tear gas at crowds in Khartoum, a witness told the AFP news agency. Protests were also held in several villages south of the capital. The demonstrations are being led by the Sudanese Professionals Association (SPA), which represents health workers, lawyers, teachers and others. The protests started over cuts to bread and fuel subsidies, but now demonstrators are calling for the 75-year-old president to resign. Mr Bashir, who has won elections several times since coming to power in a coup in 1989, has struck a defiant note. On Wednesday, the Sudanese armed forces - who back the president - warned they would not allow a collapse of the state."}], "question": "What's the latest on the protests?", "id": "795_1"}]}]}, {"title": "Afghanistan: The only gynaecologist for hundreds of miles", "date": "5 March 2017", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Fed up with what she felt was mismanagement at her hospital, gynaecologist Homa Amiri Kakar had walked out of her job in a remote part of Afghanistan and returned to the capital. But just a week later she agreed to go back, guilt-stricken about the women she had deserted, as the BBC's Sarah Buckley and Asif Maroof report. \"I am deeply unhappy that I left behind patients, especially female patients in remote villages - they are not in a condition to explain all types of their sickness to male doctors - so it would be very difficult without a female doctor,\" she says. Religious and cultural mores mean that women rarely visit male doctors for any condition, never mind a gynaecological one, and Dr Kakar, 39, realised that leaving her post in Paktika province left her patients dangerously vulnerable. \"Many times if there is not a female doctor many symptoms will remain untold by females and could cause a big problem, and even lead to their deaths,\" she told the BBC. If the patient's husband, father or other male relative cannot or will not find a way of transporting her to an area where there is a female doctor on hand, then she will simply not receive treatment, says ex-health minister Soraya Dalil, now Afghan ambassador to Switzerland. \"In Afghanistan the decisions are usually made by men... if they are a female patient then it depends on the male member of the family if they want to take the female to the doctor, or to take her to another area of the country where there is a female,\" she said. One woman on the other side of Afghanistan - in Herat province - told the BBC a neighbour died in childbirth before her eyes because she needed medical help and there were no female doctors available in her district. Her husband was too poor to arrange transport to a hospital which did have a female doctor. BBC 100 Women names 100 influential and inspirational women around the world every year. We create documentaries, features and interviews about their lives, giving more space for stories that put women at the centre. Other stories you might like: Audi's Daughter ad divides viewers Why I fought having my periods in a mud hut Who was on the BBC's 100 Women 2016 list? And in Paktia province a six-year-old girl narrowly escaped the same fate, Dr Kakar says. The girl had been married by her family to a 45-year-old man and sex with him had caused her to bleed and develop an infection. Because there was no female doctor in the area where she lived no-one could examine her and work out what was the matter. It was only after severe bleeding that her father eventually took her to a hospital some distance away that did have a female medic on hand. The authorities intervened and separated her from her husband and she is now living in a shelter. Whilst there is a lack of female doctors, there has been a major push in recent years by NGOs and health officials to train up more midwives. A report by UNFPA and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in 2002 found that for every 100,000 live births, some 1,600 women died from causes related to pregnancy or childbirth. But according to the UN, this has now fallen to 396 per 100,000 women. By contrast, the UK rate is 9 per 100,000 women. The Afghan government says this success is due to a concerted training programme for midwives - which have increased from 437 in 2002 to 4,600 last year. However Dr Kakar says that there is still insufficient midwifery presence in the province she works in because hospitals are not recruiting them - instead midwives are encouraged to make home visits. But she says they need to be under the authority of a hospital where they can receive proper mentoring by doctors. She also said that all too often unqualified unofficial midwives are operating in the community - offering women medicine without prescription, sometimes with fatal results. Elyas Wahdat, the governor of the province Dr Kakar has returned to, says they need more women doctors. \"We have many facilities and equipment but unfortunately the female doctors are not coming to Paktika,\" he said. Decades of under-developed female education means there are not many women doctors available in the country. \"Now the residents are being persuaded to send their girls to school - this year is the first year we graduated girls from school, and they are due to sit their exam for entering the university - but still we need another five years until they graduate [from university],\" he said. Under the Taliban, girls were almost completely excluded from school and university but according to the Afghan Ministry of Education today there are more than 9 million students enrolled in schools, 40% of whom are girls. But according to the Brookings Institute only 21% of girls finish even primary education, due to factors such as cultural barriers, early marriage, a lack of female teachers and long and dangerous routes to school. In its annual report on Afghanistan, the UN said that as a result of ground fighting between militants and troops in civilian areas 3,498 civilians were killed and 7,920 wounded in 2016, a 3% rise on 2015. The number of children killed or injured jumped by a quarter to its highest level to date. \"The other element is providing sufficient equipment for their education so the family should realise that if they send their girls to schools there is good equipment and teachers there so it's not a waste of time,\" says Soraya Dalil. Dr Kakar is clear that Paktika province needs her. \"I strongly feel that it's better for a female doctor to be there, that's why I accepted the request by the minister to go back.\"", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1826, "answer_end": 2193, "text": "BBC 100 Women names 100 influential and inspirational women around the world every year. We create documentaries, features and interviews about their lives, giving more space for stories that put women at the centre. Other stories you might like: Audi's Daughter ad divides viewers Why I fought having my periods in a mud hut Who was on the BBC's 100 Women 2016 list?"}], "question": "What is 100 women?", "id": "796_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Tunisia holds second free presidential election", "date": "15 September 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Polling booths have closed in Tunisia, which is holding its second free presidential poll since the 2011 uprising that toppled ex-president Ben Ali and sparked the Arab Spring. Twenty-six candidates, including two women, are running in the election. Exit polls suggest an independent outsider, Kais Saied, has done well in the first round of votes. Turnout has been low at 45%, despite an earlier call for young Tunisians to get out and vote. The election was brought forward after the death in July of Beji Caid Essebsi, the first democratically elected president, who took office in 2014. It is widely viewed as a test of one of the world's youngest democracies, but there were reports that few of those travelling to polling booths were young. \"Where are the young people? This is their country, their future,\" Adil Toumi, a man in his 60s who came to vote, told the AFP news agency. Official results are not expected until Tuesday. The outcome is difficult to predict but early exit polls suggest that Kais Saied, a 61-year-old law professor and independent, and Nabil Karoui - a media magnate currently in jail - could be well placed to make it to the second round. Mr Essebsi won Tunisia's first free presidential elections in 2014 and was credited with largely maintaining stability in the country during his almost five-year rule. At 92, he was the oldest sitting president in the world at the time of his death. Mr Essebsi had previously confirmed that he was not planning to run for re-election. His wife, Chadlia Saida Farhat, died on Sunday morning, aged 83, their son announced on Facebook as voting was getting under way. Parliament speaker Mohamed Ennaceur is currently acting as interim president. A candidate needs a majority of votes to win the election. If no-one gets a majority in the first round, the two candidates with most votes will face a second, decisive round. The winning candidate will be appointed to office for a five-year term. The constitution states that Tunisia's president has control over defence, foreign policy and national security. The prime minister, chosen by parliament, is responsible for other portfolios. Parliamentary elections are scheduled to take place in October. Some of the most prominent candidates include: Youssef Chahed: He became Tunisia's youngest-ever prime minister when he took office in 2016. Since then, the 43-year-old has carried out a series of cuts to public spending in a bid to reduce Tunisia's public debt. He has banned the wearing of the niqab, which covers the entire face apart from the eyes, in government offices, citing security reasons. Mr Chahed split from the government and formed his own secular party, Tahya Tounes (Long Live Tunisia), earlier this year. Nabil Karoui: The 56-year-old media mogul is running for office from behind bars after being detained last month on charges of money laundering and tax fraud, which he has denied. He founded a charity focused on fighting poverty - a central theme of his campaign. Critics have accused him of using the charity and his TV channel to further his political ambitions. On Saturday, a court rejected his request to be freed from detention pending a verdict in his case. He is still able to stand for election despite his arrest, but will not be able to vote unless he is allowed out of prison.  He began a hunger strike earlier this week to demand his freedom. Abdelfattah Mourou: He is the Tunisian lawyer who co-founded the moderate Islamist Ennahda party, which was banned for decades before the uprising. The 71-year-old is the first presidential candidate for Ennahda, which is now the largest party in Tunisia. Abir Moussi: One of two female candidates in the running, Ms Moussi is a 43-year-old lawyer who was a supporter of Tunisia's ousted ruler Ben Ali. She is known for her opposition to Tunisia's Islamists and has reportedly said she wants to change the constitution to ban parties based on religion. Abdelkarim Zbidi: The 69-year-old is a trained medical doctor who studied in France and has held the post of defence minister twice since 2011. He was a close friend of the late president, Essebsi. In a recent interview with Reuters news agency, he said he wanted to amend the constitution to end the \"unreasonable\" division of power between the prime minister and president. Moncef Marzouki: He was Tunisia's provisional leader after the Arab Spring uprising and Mr Marzouki now wants to take up the role of president again. The former human rights activist and opposition leader has accused other candidates of \"fighting each other with methods unworthy of democracy.\" He told the Associated Press news agency that dirty money was his \"most formidable rival\". The country has won praise as the only democracy to emerge from the Arab Spring uprisings that began in Tunisia, before spreading across the Middle East and North Africa. In what was hailed as a sign of its successful democratic transition, Tunisia this month held its first-ever televised debate of presidential candidates. However, it has not all been smooth sailing. In recent years, the country has suffered attacks by Islamists and economic problems, with unemployment a persistent issue. In 2018, protesters across the country took to the streets to oppose the government's austerity measures. Prime Minister Youssef Chahed told Reuters news agency that economic opportunities must improve \"if Tunisia is to join the club of strong democracy\". Tunisia is the birthplace of what has become known as the Arab Spring uprisings. Widespread discontent at economic hardship, decades of autocratic rule and corruption erupted into mass demonstrations in December 2010 after a street vendor set himself on fire when officials confiscated his cart. The unrest led to the ousting in 2011 of President Ben Ali, who had been in power for 23 years. Three years later, Tunisia's parliament approved a new constitution, which detailed how the new democracy would be run. The text was hailed by the United Nations as a \"historic milestone\". Significant aspects included the recognition of equality between men and women, guaranteeing personal freedoms and splitting power between the president and prime minister.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 4713, "answer_end": 5462, "text": "The country has won praise as the only democracy to emerge from the Arab Spring uprisings that began in Tunisia, before spreading across the Middle East and North Africa. In what was hailed as a sign of its successful democratic transition, Tunisia this month held its first-ever televised debate of presidential candidates. However, it has not all been smooth sailing. In recent years, the country has suffered attacks by Islamists and economic problems, with unemployment a persistent issue. In 2018, protesters across the country took to the streets to oppose the government's austerity measures. Prime Minister Youssef Chahed told Reuters news agency that economic opportunities must improve \"if Tunisia is to join the club of strong democracy\"."}], "question": "Why is this election significant?", "id": "797_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 5463, "answer_end": 6216, "text": "Tunisia is the birthplace of what has become known as the Arab Spring uprisings. Widespread discontent at economic hardship, decades of autocratic rule and corruption erupted into mass demonstrations in December 2010 after a street vendor set himself on fire when officials confiscated his cart. The unrest led to the ousting in 2011 of President Ben Ali, who had been in power for 23 years. Three years later, Tunisia's parliament approved a new constitution, which detailed how the new democracy would be run. The text was hailed by the United Nations as a \"historic milestone\". Significant aspects included the recognition of equality between men and women, guaranteeing personal freedoms and splitting power between the president and prime minister."}], "question": "How did we get here?", "id": "797_1"}]}]}, {"title": "Jeff Sessions: US attorney general hits back at Trump", "date": "24 August 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "US Attorney General Jeff Sessions has responded to Donald Trump's latest attack on him by insisting that the justice department he heads will not bend to political pressure. The apparent rebuke of Mr Trump came after the president said Mr Sessions was not in control of his department. Mr Trump has been vociferous in his criticism of the Department of Justice. He has been particularly riled by its handling of the inquiry into Russian interference in the 2016 election. Mr Sessions, an early supporter of Mr Trump's campaign, has stepped aside from that inquiry to avoid a potential conflict of interest and handed control to his deputy, Rod Rosenstein. That decision by Mr Sessions, and the ongoing progress of the inquiry under special counsel Robert Mueller - which is also reportedly now looking into whether Mr Trump has attempted to obstruct justice - have provoked frequent outbursts from the president, both in person and on his Twitter feed. The president remains insistent that there was no collusion between his campaign and the Russian government, and denies he has attempted to obstruct justice. After the latest exchanges, two key Republican senators signalled that they would support Mr Trump if he were to fire Mr Sessions after the November mid-term elections. However, other Republicans told Politico they thought this would be a bad move and said they were standing by the attorney general. \"I took control of the Department of Justice the day I was sworn in,\" the attorney general said in a statement. \"While I am attorney general, the actions of the Department of Justice will not be improperly influenced by political considerations. \"I demand the highest standards, and where they are not met, I take action.\" He added: \"No nation has a more talented, more dedicated group of law enforcement investigators and prosecutors than the United States. \"I am proud to serve with them and proud of the work we have done in successfully advancing the rule of law.\" Previously, Mr Sessions had been largely non-committal following criticism of him by the president, who appears to believe that Mr Sessions should have shown him greater loyalty instead of recusing himself from the Russia inquiry. In an earlier interview with the Fox and Friends programme, Mr Trump said:  \"I put in an attorney general that never took control of the justice department. Jeff Sessions never took control of the justice department and it's a sort of an incredible thing.\" Turning to the Russia inquiry, the president said: \"Jeff Sessions recused himself, which he shouldn't have done. Or he should have told me [before I appointed him]. \"Even my enemies say that Jeff Sessions should have told you that he was going to recuse himself, and then you wouldn't have put him in. He took the job and then he said I'm going to recuse myself.  I said: 'What kind of a man is this?' \"You know the only reason I gave him the job? Because I felt loyalty, he was an original supporter. He was on the campaign.  He knows there was no collusion.\" By Tara McKelvey, White House reporter Jeff Sessions was originally brought into the Trump campaign because of his hardline views on immigration. A stubborn man, Mr Sessions fought for decades for anti-immigration policies. Still, he has a gentle manner. I've seen him greeting colleagues with a shy smile at White House events. Mr Trump prides himself on never giving up, and he admires grit and determination in others - and found those traits in Mr Sessions. But now he is driving President Trump crazy. Mr Sessions is just as determined as Mr Trump is - and also refuses to back down. Only Mr Sessions is guided by a set of bedrock conservative principles, rather than the egotism and quicksilver impulses that fuel Mr Trump's tweets and, increasingly, his TV interviews. For these reasons Mr Sessions is a formidable enemy, and the battle between these two men could be long. Mr Sessions made his statement during a fraught week for the White House. Two days ago, in the most dramatic developments yet linked to the Russia inquiry, former Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort was found guilty of tax and bank fraud and Mr Trump's former personal lawyer Michael Cohen pleaded guilty to crimes including tax evasion, bank fraud and campaign finance violations. Under oath, Cohen said he had been directed by Mr Trump to organise secret payments to silence two women who claimed they had affairs with the then Republican presidential candidate, violating campaign finance laws. Mr Trump has denied he broke the law. The sense that the president's legal troubles are growing were not dampened by Thursday's US media reports that prosecutors in the Cohen case had granted immunity from prosecution to the chairman of the company that publishes the National Enquirer, David Pecker, a friend of Mr Trump. In the lead-up to the 2016 presidential election, Playboy model Karen McDougal sold her story of her alleged affair with Mr Trump to the Enquirer. The contract she signed gave the tabloid exclusive story rights and banned her from talking publicly about the alleged affair. The story was never published. Despite the sense of crisis, it is generally believed that the Department of Justice is very unlikely to bring charges against a sitting president. And correspondents say it is unlikely Mr Trump's opponents would try to impeach him before the mid-term elections. Mr Trump's most fervent supporters, what he refers to as his \"base\" outside the political cauldron of Washington DC, seem unfazed by the latest developments. During the Fox News interview that was aired on Thursday, the president: - Responded to speculation that he might be impeached by warning that any such move would damage the economy - Insisted that payments to two women alleging they had affairs with him had not broken election campaign rules - Attacked the \"flipping\" process - whereby prosecutors promise a suspect a short sentence in exchange for co-operation - as \"not fair\" and something that \"almost ought to be outlawed\" - Claimed that Cohen avoided up to 20 years in jail because \"if you can say something bad about Donald Trump... you'll go down to two years or three years, which is the deal he made\" - Said he would award himself an \"A-plus\" grade for his work as president so far.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1412, "answer_end": 2211, "text": "\"I took control of the Department of Justice the day I was sworn in,\" the attorney general said in a statement. \"While I am attorney general, the actions of the Department of Justice will not be improperly influenced by political considerations. \"I demand the highest standards, and where they are not met, I take action.\" He added: \"No nation has a more talented, more dedicated group of law enforcement investigators and prosecutors than the United States. \"I am proud to serve with them and proud of the work we have done in successfully advancing the rule of law.\" Previously, Mr Sessions had been largely non-committal following criticism of him by the president, who appears to believe that Mr Sessions should have shown him greater loyalty instead of recusing himself from the Russia inquiry."}], "question": "What did Sessions say?", "id": "798_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2212, "answer_end": 3029, "text": "In an earlier interview with the Fox and Friends programme, Mr Trump said:  \"I put in an attorney general that never took control of the justice department. Jeff Sessions never took control of the justice department and it's a sort of an incredible thing.\" Turning to the Russia inquiry, the president said: \"Jeff Sessions recused himself, which he shouldn't have done. Or he should have told me [before I appointed him]. \"Even my enemies say that Jeff Sessions should have told you that he was going to recuse himself, and then you wouldn't have put him in. He took the job and then he said I'm going to recuse myself.  I said: 'What kind of a man is this?' \"You know the only reason I gave him the job? Because I felt loyalty, he was an original supporter. He was on the campaign.  He knows there was no collusion.\""}], "question": "What did Trump say about Sessions?", "id": "798_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3911, "answer_end": 5558, "text": "Mr Sessions made his statement during a fraught week for the White House. Two days ago, in the most dramatic developments yet linked to the Russia inquiry, former Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort was found guilty of tax and bank fraud and Mr Trump's former personal lawyer Michael Cohen pleaded guilty to crimes including tax evasion, bank fraud and campaign finance violations. Under oath, Cohen said he had been directed by Mr Trump to organise secret payments to silence two women who claimed they had affairs with the then Republican presidential candidate, violating campaign finance laws. Mr Trump has denied he broke the law. The sense that the president's legal troubles are growing were not dampened by Thursday's US media reports that prosecutors in the Cohen case had granted immunity from prosecution to the chairman of the company that publishes the National Enquirer, David Pecker, a friend of Mr Trump. In the lead-up to the 2016 presidential election, Playboy model Karen McDougal sold her story of her alleged affair with Mr Trump to the Enquirer. The contract she signed gave the tabloid exclusive story rights and banned her from talking publicly about the alleged affair. The story was never published. Despite the sense of crisis, it is generally believed that the Department of Justice is very unlikely to bring charges against a sitting president. And correspondents say it is unlikely Mr Trump's opponents would try to impeach him before the mid-term elections. Mr Trump's most fervent supporters, what he refers to as his \"base\" outside the political cauldron of Washington DC, seem unfazed by the latest developments."}], "question": "Why now?", "id": "798_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 5559, "answer_end": 6302, "text": "During the Fox News interview that was aired on Thursday, the president: - Responded to speculation that he might be impeached by warning that any such move would damage the economy - Insisted that payments to two women alleging they had affairs with him had not broken election campaign rules - Attacked the \"flipping\" process - whereby prosecutors promise a suspect a short sentence in exchange for co-operation - as \"not fair\" and something that \"almost ought to be outlawed\" - Claimed that Cohen avoided up to 20 years in jail because \"if you can say something bad about Donald Trump... you'll go down to two years or three years, which is the deal he made\" - Said he would award himself an \"A-plus\" grade for his work as president so far."}], "question": "What else did Trump say in his interview?", "id": "798_3"}]}]}, {"title": "Paris attacks: The investigation so far", "date": "24 November 2015", "paragraphs": [{"context": "As French and Belgian investigators continue to examine events surrounding the deadly attacks in Paris, what do we know about their findings to date? At least nine people are believed to have been directly involved in carrying out the attacks, all nine are now dead. A tenth suspect, Salah Abdeslam, is still on the run. Seven of the suspects have been named; three more have yet to be identified by police. French security services are investigating whether Salah Abdeslam may have been part of a planned fourth attack, which never took place, in the 18th district. A suicide belt containing explosives was found in the Montrouge area of south-west Paris on 23 November, close to where the suspect was placed by mobile phone data on the night of the attacks. The suspected organiser of the atrocities, Abdelhamid Abaaoud, was killed in a police raid in the Saint Denis area of Paris five days after the attacks. The attackers appear to have worked in three co-ordinated teams using the same type of assault rifles, and wearing the same type of suicide vests, Paris prosecutor Francois Molins said. - Three attackers blew themselves up outside the Stade de France, north of central Paris - One attacker died after detonating his explosives at the Comptoir Voltaire cafe on the Boulevard Voltaire - Three men wearing suicide vests were involved in the deadliest attack of the night, at the Bataclan concert venue, in which 89 people were killed. Two of the gunmen died after detonating their vests; the third was shot by police What happened on 13 November Mr Molins said a plan to launch another attack, by a fourth team of militants, may have been thwarted by the Saint Denis raids. Three people died in a shootout, including Abdelhamid Abaaoud and his female cousin, Hasna Aitboulahcen. It was initially believed she had detonated an explosives vest during the raid - but French officials later said that was not the case. The identity of the third person has not been established. - Omar Ismail Mostefai was a 29-year-old French national of Algerian descent. He was known to police as a petty criminal and was identified in 2010 as a suspected Islamic radical. Since then, he appears to have been able to travel to Syria; he may have also spent time in Algeria. He blew himself up after the Bataclan massacre - Samy Amimour, a 28-year-old Frenchman, was charged with terror offences in 2012 over claims he had planned to go to Yemen. He was placed under judicial supervision, but then dropped off the radar. French media say he was with the Islamic State (IS) militant group in Syria last year and subsequently slipped back into France undetected. Amimour also blew himself up at the Bataclan - One other dead attacker, who has not yet been identified - Bilal Hadfi was a 20-year-old French national who had lived in Brussels. Belgian prosecutors have said they were aware he had gone to fight with IS in Syria, but did not know he had returned. He blew himself up after being denied entry to the stadium - A man who travelled to Europe via Greece using a fake Syrian passport in the name of \"Ahmad al-Mohammad\". He may have been posing as a Syrian refugee. He was the first of three to blow himself up at Stade de France stadium - One other dead attacker identified by the BBC as M al-Mahmod. He blew himself up outside the stadium. He arrived on the Greek island of Leros on 3 October, travelling with Ahmad al-Mohammed - Brahim Abdeslam, 31, a Frenchman living in Brussels, blew himself up at the Comptoir Voltaire. He was known to Belgian police, having travelled to Turkey this year intending to go on to Syria and been deported by the Turks back to Brussels. He had a bar in the Molenbeek area of Brussels, later reportedly shut down by police because of drug-taking there - Abdelhamid Abaaoud, 28, described as the ringleader in the Paris attacks. Investigators believe he was involved in the bar and restaurant killings. His fingerprints were found on a Kalashnikov left in the Seat car abandoned in Montreuil. He grew up in the Brussels district of Molenbeek and was an associate of Salah Abdeslam - French media have said another, unidentified, attacker was also involved, but this has not been confirmed - Salah Abdeslam, 26, Brahim's younger brother, is still on the run, having escaped from Paris after the attacks. He is reported to have worked for a period on the Brussels tram system and to have spent time in prison with Abdelhamid Abaaoud. Locals said he was a regular consumer of alcohol and drugs at his brother's bar Read more on the attackers A massive manhunt for the suspected attacker is continuing. French officials have said they do not know if he is in France. Police stopped his car three times in the hours after the attacks, on the last occasion near the Belgian border, but let him and his two fellow passengers go as they were not on a wanted list at the time. Belgian police have been investigating reports of possible sightings. The car in which Salah Abdeslam was travelling has been found by police in Brussels and taken away. The two men who were with Salah Abdeslam - Mohammed Amri, 27, and Hamza Attou, 20 or 21 - have been charged with terrorist offences. The three men are all from Molenbeek, which remains a focus for investigators. A lawyer for one of the men charged said they had helped their friend unwittingly, having answered a call to go to Paris to pick him up. Investigators have yet to say how a militant they believed to be in Syria was able to return to France undetected. More immediately, they have been trying to establish his movements shortly before, during and after Friday's attacks. French prosecutors have said Abaaoud was caught by CCTV footage at the Croix de Chavaux metro station in Paris on the night of the killings. The images were captured at 22:14 local time in the station in the Montreuil area, less than an hour after gunmen opened fire on cafes and restaurants in the Canal St-Martin district and while other attacks were continuing. The video places him near the black Seat car found in Montreuil later, which was hired by Brahim Abdeslam and believed to have been used in the attack on the restaurants. Two cars known to have been used in the attacks have been a focus of police activity. A black VW Polo - hired by Salah Abdeslam in Belgium and used by the Bataclan attackers - contained parking tickets issued in Molenbeek. It was reportedly these that first alerted French investigators to a link to that neighbourhood. As well as the VW Polo and the Seat found abandoned in eastern Paris, a black Renault Clio was found parked in Paris's 18th arrondissement. It was registered in Belgium and rented under the name of Salah Abdeslam, French newspaper Liberation reported. A fourth car, a VW Golf, has been taken away by Belgian investigators in Brussels. This is the vehicle that Salah Abdeslam was travelling in when he crossed back into Belgium on Saturday morning. Police are known to have uncovered two places thought to have been used by the suspected assailants prior to the attacks. Investigators searched a house in the Paris suburb of Bobigny that had been rented by one of the suicide bombers, but reportedly found little useful evidence. Syringes were found in a hotel room thought to have been rented by Salah Abdeslam in the eastern suburb of Alfortville - visible in video published by French magazine Le Point. Le Point speculates that they could have been used to make the explosives vests detonated by seven of the assailants, or to take drugs. Information collected from tapped phone conversations, surveillance and witness accounts then led police to storm the building on Rue du Corbillon in Saint Denis in the hunt for Abdelhamid Abaaoud. It has emerged that the younger brother of Abdelhamid Abaaoud was arrested last month in Morocco. Yassine Abaaoud was detained after he arrived in his father's hometown of Agadir, Moroccan security sources said. He has been held in custody since then. It is not clear if he has any connection to the Paris attacks and Moroccan police have given no details about why they have been holding him. French police and gendarmes have continued to carry out raids looking for suspected associates of the attackers and other jihadists. From 15-20 November, there were 793 raids, resulting in 107 arrests, French Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve has said. A further 164 people have been placed under house arrest. It is unclear what links, if any, these people may have with the attackers. On Saturday, French police freed seven out of the eight people arrested during the massive Saint Denis raid, prosecutors said according to AFP news agency. However, Jawad Bendaoud - who has admitted lending the apartment to two people from Belgium \"as a favour\", but denied knowing any more - is still being held in custody. The Belgian authorities have so far charged four people with involvement in the attacks. Another man, a Belgian of Moroccan descent, Ahmad Dahmani, 26, has been arrested at a luxury hotel in Antalya, Turkey, along with two other suspects, Turkish authorities have told the BBC. He is believed to have been in contact with the suspects who perpetrated the Paris attacks, an official said. He arrived in Turkey from Amsterdam on 14 November; there is no record of the Belgian authorities having warned Turkey about him, which is why he was not the subject of an entry ban, the official said. Police in Germany are questioning a 39-year-old Algerian man about possible links to the Paris attackers. He is in custody in Arnsberg, near Dortmund, and has been living in a refugee reception centre. Two Syrians there reported that he had spoken several days before the 13 November attacks about an act of violence coming to Paris. A handwritten note was found behind the wardrobe in his room, saying: \"Ali Baba 4, 13.11 Paris.\" The man has told police he is innocent. At least four of the Paris attackers were listed in a central counter-terrorism database maintained by the US intelligence community, US officials have told Reuters news agency. At least one was also on a no-fly list, officials said.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 150, "answer_end": 1983, "text": "At least nine people are believed to have been directly involved in carrying out the attacks, all nine are now dead. A tenth suspect, Salah Abdeslam, is still on the run. Seven of the suspects have been named; three more have yet to be identified by police. French security services are investigating whether Salah Abdeslam may have been part of a planned fourth attack, which never took place, in the 18th district. A suicide belt containing explosives was found in the Montrouge area of south-west Paris on 23 November, close to where the suspect was placed by mobile phone data on the night of the attacks. The suspected organiser of the atrocities, Abdelhamid Abaaoud, was killed in a police raid in the Saint Denis area of Paris five days after the attacks. The attackers appear to have worked in three co-ordinated teams using the same type of assault rifles, and wearing the same type of suicide vests, Paris prosecutor Francois Molins said. - Three attackers blew themselves up outside the Stade de France, north of central Paris - One attacker died after detonating his explosives at the Comptoir Voltaire cafe on the Boulevard Voltaire - Three men wearing suicide vests were involved in the deadliest attack of the night, at the Bataclan concert venue, in which 89 people were killed. Two of the gunmen died after detonating their vests; the third was shot by police What happened on 13 November Mr Molins said a plan to launch another attack, by a fourth team of militants, may have been thwarted by the Saint Denis raids. Three people died in a shootout, including Abdelhamid Abaaoud and his female cousin, Hasna Aitboulahcen. It was initially believed she had detonated an explosives vest during the raid - but French officials later said that was not the case. The identity of the third person has not been established."}], "question": "How many attackers were there?", "id": "799_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 4568, "answer_end": 5415, "text": "A massive manhunt for the suspected attacker is continuing. French officials have said they do not know if he is in France. Police stopped his car three times in the hours after the attacks, on the last occasion near the Belgian border, but let him and his two fellow passengers go as they were not on a wanted list at the time. Belgian police have been investigating reports of possible sightings. The car in which Salah Abdeslam was travelling has been found by police in Brussels and taken away. The two men who were with Salah Abdeslam - Mohammed Amri, 27, and Hamza Attou, 20 or 21 - have been charged with terrorist offences. The three men are all from Molenbeek, which remains a focus for investigators. A lawyer for one of the men charged said they had helped their friend unwittingly, having answered a call to go to Paris to pick him up."}], "question": "Where is Salah Abdeslam now?", "id": "799_1"}]}]}, {"title": "Has the hand-written signature had its day?", "date": "1 November 2016", "paragraphs": [{"context": "When President Obama signed the nattily named Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act in 2010, it marked the most significant regulatory overhaul of the US healthcare system since 1965. Fittingly, he used 22 different pens to sign the document - now more nattily nicknamed \"Obamacare\". It continued a long-held American tradition that sees the pens used to sign historic documents donated as thank-you gifts. The more pens used, the more gifts can be made. President Lyndon Johnson reportedly used more than 75 pens to sign the landmark Civil Rights Act in 1964. One, an Esterbrook, was given to Martin Luther King Jr. And these pens can give us a tangible slice of history. For example, the Parker Duofold Big Red used by General Douglas MacArthur to sign a surrender document aboard USS Missouri - effectively signalling the end of the Second World War - is now proudly displayed at the Cheshire Military Museum in Chester. But is this where ink pens and hand-written signatures now belong - in museums? On 1 July 2016, the European Union implemented new rules for electronic signatures, giving them the same legal weight as their \"wet\" - or ink-based - written counterparts. The new eIDAS (European Identity and Trust Services) regulation has effectively put an end to a confusing patchwork of laws, making them consistent across every EU country. So why has it taken so long? After all, the idea of a digital signature or certificate that proves you are who you say you are has been around for many years. Businesses have been slow to adopt electronic signatures because \"until now, there has been no legal framework or regulation which properly defines them,\" argues Mark Greenaway, director of digital media at software firm Adobe. Such confusion has fuelled scepticism. \"The technology has been around for a while, but adoption in the UK is now commencing because people are starting to believe in it,\" says Richard Croft, chief communications officer at software company Legalesign. The inability to prove online identity and authenticate documents has always been something of an Achilles heel for the internet. But a number of different technologies have emerged to tackle this. In Estonia, for example, every resident over the age of 15 has an ID card protected by a personal identification number and containing a digital signature. This enables them to access government services, digitally sign documents, and vote electronically in parliamentary elections. They can do this on their smartphones, too. Around 170,000 people voted digitally last year. \"I'd rather not spend precious time on administration,\" says Anna Piperal, managing director of e-Estonia Showroom at Enterprise Estonia. \"There is no value in that.\" But even without paper to shuffle and ink to dry, such pragmatism doesn't mean the end of face-to-face communication. \"We still like to meet and talk, discuss, but not sign papers in stacks and spend a fortune printing and scanning,\" she says. It is little wonder that 2% of Estonia's GDP [gross domestic product] is saved every year as a result of digital signatures. \"It makes business administration easy,\" she says. \"For example, you can start a company in just 18 minutes.\" And Legalesign has just launched an online witness product, enabling business people to sign contracts by typing their name, signing with a mouse or uploading their signature. The signature is made in the presence of a witness, and the ID of the signatory is verified over email. The final document is tamper-proofed using an encrypted digital certificate. The problem with written signatures - even those signed with a beautiful pen and a practised flourish - is that they can be forged. \"A [written] signature is simply weak evidence that somebody agreed to do something,\" says Jon Geater, chief technology officer at Thales e-security. \"It is not exactly unique or special, nor does it prove particularly well that a person was genuinely present or consenting.\" Digital counterparts, on the other hand, whether using blockchain technology, which relies on a consensus agreement before verifying a signature, or password-based digital signatures, do away with this uncertainty. \"Modern digital technology provides considerably greater assurance that a piece of information was genuinely approved or agreed,\" says Mr Geater. This enables business relationships to be \"described, enforced and verified without the unnecessary involvement of superfluous middlemen, and with much greater levels of proof,\" he says. Ron Hirson, chief product officer at US-based tech firm DocuSign, agrees, saying: \"The benefits of digital business are outweighing the nostalgia of the hand-written signature.\" But while describing written signatures unstintingly as \"extremely primitive\", Mr Croft does accept that digital versions lack theatre. \"Viewing the Magna Carta in person holds a certain magic. In a couple of generations time, the idea of inspecting a certified digital copy of the Great Repeal Bill signed with Her Majesty's encryption code might not be the same crowd-puller,\" he admits. And some of the world's biggest businesses rely on the ritual of putting pen to paper to please the crowd. \"Take Zlatan Ibrahimovic signing for Manchester United this summer,\" says Dr John Curran, a business anthropologist and founder of research firm JC Innovation and Strategy. \"It goes way beyond the signing of a lucrative contract. The ceremonial nature enables the club, as a brand, to display its intent for success, whereas for the fans, it satisfies their need that their team is developing.\" And we certainly don't seem to be losing our love of pens. In the US, traditional pen retail sales were up 4% in 2016 compared with 2015, according to the NPD Group. \"People still want that status or 'lifestyle piece' for important and meaningful signatures, like buying a house,\" says NPD analyst Leen Nsouli. That said, you might think twice before buying the latest luxury piece from Swiss company Caran d'Ache, which recently collaborated with watch and timepiece brand MB&F to create its limited edition Astrograph pen. It contains 99 components and is a snip at just under PS20,000. Follow Technology of Business editor Matthew Wall on Twitter Click here for more Technology of Business features", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1994, "answer_end": 3570, "text": "The inability to prove online identity and authenticate documents has always been something of an Achilles heel for the internet. But a number of different technologies have emerged to tackle this. In Estonia, for example, every resident over the age of 15 has an ID card protected by a personal identification number and containing a digital signature. This enables them to access government services, digitally sign documents, and vote electronically in parliamentary elections. They can do this on their smartphones, too. Around 170,000 people voted digitally last year. \"I'd rather not spend precious time on administration,\" says Anna Piperal, managing director of e-Estonia Showroom at Enterprise Estonia. \"There is no value in that.\" But even without paper to shuffle and ink to dry, such pragmatism doesn't mean the end of face-to-face communication. \"We still like to meet and talk, discuss, but not sign papers in stacks and spend a fortune printing and scanning,\" she says. It is little wonder that 2% of Estonia's GDP [gross domestic product] is saved every year as a result of digital signatures. \"It makes business administration easy,\" she says. \"For example, you can start a company in just 18 minutes.\" And Legalesign has just launched an online witness product, enabling business people to sign contracts by typing their name, signing with a mouse or uploading their signature. The signature is made in the presence of a witness, and the ID of the signatory is verified over email. The final document is tamper-proofed using an encrypted digital certificate."}], "question": "Who are you?", "id": "800_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Four held over New York state 'plot' against Muslims", "date": "23 January 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Three men and a teenage boy have been arrested and charged over an alleged plot against a small Islamic community in New York state. The suspects are accused of possessing homemade bombs and firearms, and planning to attack Islamberg, founded by a Pakistani cleric in the 1980s. The alleged plot was revealed following a tip-off from a school student. The Islamberg community has become a target for conspiracy theorists who say it is a terrorist training camp. The three men are due to appear in court on Wednesday. They have been named as Andrew Crysel, 18, Vincent Vetromile, 19, and 20-year-old Brian Colaneri. All are charged with criminal possession of a weapon and conspiracy. A 16-year-old boy is also facing charges. Police said at least three of them served together as boy scouts. Investigators say the group, based in the town of Greece in the north-west of the state, made at least three improvised explosive devices using duct tape and large jars and cylinders containing nails and other projectiles. The accused were found in the 16-year-old's home, police said. Some 23 firearms were also found at various locations. Greece Police Chief Patrick Phelan said the investigation was launched after comments made by the 16-year-old at school on Friday were overheard by a fellow student. - Located west of the Catskill mountains near the city of Binghamton, Islamberg is a Muslim enclave - Some 200 people live in the gated community, which local authorities and neighbours describe as peaceful - The mainly African American group settled there to escape crime and overcrowding in New York City in the 1980s - The hamlet is the base for the community organisation The Muslims of America - Right-wing conspiracy-led media outlets like Infowars have suggested without basis it is a training camp for Islamist militants In 2017 Robert Doggart, from Tennessee, was jailed for plotting to burn down the Islamberg community's mosque two years earlier. Also in 2015, Arizona man John Ritzheimer threatened the community with an armed confrontation.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 517, "answer_end": 1298, "text": "They have been named as Andrew Crysel, 18, Vincent Vetromile, 19, and 20-year-old Brian Colaneri. All are charged with criminal possession of a weapon and conspiracy. A 16-year-old boy is also facing charges. Police said at least three of them served together as boy scouts. Investigators say the group, based in the town of Greece in the north-west of the state, made at least three improvised explosive devices using duct tape and large jars and cylinders containing nails and other projectiles. The accused were found in the 16-year-old's home, police said. Some 23 firearms were also found at various locations. Greece Police Chief Patrick Phelan said the investigation was launched after comments made by the 16-year-old at school on Friday were overheard by a fellow student."}], "question": "Who are the accused?", "id": "801_0"}]}]}, {"title": "N Korea leader 'briefed' on Guam plan but opts to wait", "date": "15 August 2017", "paragraphs": [{"context": "North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has reviewed plans to fire missiles towards the US Pacific territory of Guam but will hold off, state media said. Although prepared for \"the enveloping fire at Guam\", the North said it would watch what \"the foolish Yankees\" do before taking a decision. Last week's threat against Guam escalated the sharp rhetoric being exchanged between the two sides. This latest report points to a pause in the increasingly bitter war of words. South Korea's President Moon Jae-in meanwhile has urged the US not to launch an attack on the Korean peninsula without its consent, saying \"no-one may decide to take military action without the consent\" of the South. In a separate incident in Guam, an emergency alert was broadcast in error on a radio station warning residents of \"civil danger\" on the island. The Guam Homeland Security Office said the alert, which went out shortly after midnight on Tuesday, was a result of human error and would not happen again. In a statement posted on Facebook, the office said that the broadcast was \"an unscheduled test\" and urged both residents and visitors to \"remain calm\". The report on state news agency KCNA said Kim Jong-un \"examined the plan for a long time\" and discussed it with senior military officials. The commander of North Korea's strategic force was now merely waiting for orders \"after rounding off the preparations for the enveloping fire at Guam\". But, crucially, the report also said that Mr Kim would watch the US before making any decision, signalling an apparent deceleration in the provocative rhetoric. Correspondents say that after days of menacing threats it might seem that Kim Jong-un could be in the mood to finally hit the pause button -  but in a nation as secretive as North Korea, one can never be sure. Analysts say it could simply mean Pyongyang is not fully ready to launch an attack on Guam, so it could just be buying more time. South Korea and China - North Korea's closest ally - have been urging calm and a renewed push for diplomatic resolutions. On Tuesday South Korean President Moon Jae-in said the US should not act unilaterally. The two countries' defence agreement states that they must \"consult together\" when either is threatened. Questions are being raised about whether America would need South Korea's approval to strike back at North Korea if Guam was attacked. According to international law, and the military agreement between South Korea and the US, it does not. So why would President Moon say no military action could be taken without Seoul's \"consent\"? Professor Hwee Rhak Park from Kookmin University says it might be a gesture towards liberals in South Korea - who are the president's main supporters - to show that the government is in control of the situation. South Korea is often criticised by its northern neighbour for being a puppet of the US, so this could also be a veiled message to America to tone down the rhetoric. Whatever he means, the South Korean president's stance has been quite clear from the start. He wants a diplomatic resolution, and has reiterated that he's open to talks with Pyongyang. The K-pop concert seeking to broker Korean peace China's foreign ministry on Monday reiterated its \"suspension for suspension proposal\", where North Korea stops its missile tests in exchange for a freeze on military exercises by the US and South Korea. China imposes N Korea imports ban Defence Secretary James Mattis earlier warned that any attack could quickly escalate into war, and if Pyongyang fired a missile towards Guam, \"then it's game on\". He told reporters that the US military would defend the country \"from any attack, at any time and from any quarter\". He also sought to reassure residents of Guam, home to US military bases and about 160,000 people, that they were well-protected and if a missile was fired, \"we'll take it out\". It comes after President Trump threatened Pyongyang with \"fire and fury\", saying: \"Military solutions are now fully in place, locked and loaded.\" The governor of Guam, Eddie Baza Calvo, has praised Mr Trump's rhetoric, saying it ensured the US position was clearly understood. North Korea threats unsettle Guam islanders - The 541sq km (209 sq miles) volcanic and coral island in the Pacific between the Philippines and Hawaii. - It is a \"non-incorporated\" US territory, with a population of about 163,000. - That means people born in Guam are US citizens, have an elected governor and House Representative, but cannot vote for a president in US national elections. - US military bases cover about a quarter of the island. About 6,000 personnel are based there and there are plans to move in thousands more. - It was a key US base in World War Two, and remains a vital staging post for US operations, giving access to potential flashpoints like the South China Sea, the Koreas and the Taiwan Straits. Guam profile from BBC Monitoring Over the past year North Korea has stepped up its missile tests, despite repeated warnings from all quarters. The state had already conducted five nuclear tests, but then in July it launched two intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) claiming it now had the ability to hit the US mainland. The UN then approved fresh economic sanctions against North Korea to pressure it into giving up its nuclear ambitions. The measures aim to reduce North Korea's export revenues by a third. Pyongyang reacted furiously to the new sanctions, calling them a \"violent violation of our sovereignty\" and warning that the US would \"pay a price\". Last week, US media reported that North Korea had achieved its goal of making a nuclear warhead small enough to fit inside its missiles. Although not confirmed, this was seen as North Korea overcoming a final obstacle to becoming a fully nuclear-armed state. Get news from the BBC in your inbox, each weekday morning", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1132, "answer_end": 1923, "text": "The report on state news agency KCNA said Kim Jong-un \"examined the plan for a long time\" and discussed it with senior military officials. The commander of North Korea's strategic force was now merely waiting for orders \"after rounding off the preparations for the enveloping fire at Guam\". But, crucially, the report also said that Mr Kim would watch the US before making any decision, signalling an apparent deceleration in the provocative rhetoric. Correspondents say that after days of menacing threats it might seem that Kim Jong-un could be in the mood to finally hit the pause button -  but in a nation as secretive as North Korea, one can never be sure. Analysts say it could simply mean Pyongyang is not fully ready to launch an attack on Guam, so it could just be buying more time."}], "question": "What does North Korea's statement really mean?", "id": "802_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1924, "answer_end": 2237, "text": "South Korea and China - North Korea's closest ally - have been urging calm and a renewed push for diplomatic resolutions. On Tuesday South Korean President Moon Jae-in said the US should not act unilaterally. The two countries' defence agreement states that they must \"consult together\" when either is threatened."}], "question": "What are North Korea's neighbours saying?", "id": "802_1"}]}]}, {"title": "Hungary boat crash: Strong currents hamper rescue efforts", "date": "31 May 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Rapid river currents are hindering rescue efforts in the Hungarian capital Budapest days after a tour boat sank. At least seven people died and more than 20 remain missing after a large vessel collided with the Hableany, or Mermaid, near the the Margit (Margaret) Bridge on the Danube on Wednesday. Relatives of South Korean victims have been arriving in Hungary. South Korea's foreign minister has vowed not to give up the search for more survivors. Kang Kyung-wha, speaking at a press conference with Hungary's foreign minister Peter Szijjarto, said she and her team \"won't give up our hopes about the possibility of finding survivors\". \"We strive to ensure no corpses are lost from the wreckage or the riverbed,\" she added. But officials say the conditions on the river are stopping several hundred rescuers on the scene from reaching the sunken ship. \"We have to say that circumstances are working against us,\" Mr Szijjarto said. Water levels, inflated by heavy rain, are not predicted to drop until Tuesday. The search has been expanded to cover the whole length of the river, and Hungary has contacted Serbian authorities downstream. Thirty South Korean tourists and three tour guides, as well as two Hungarian crew, were on board the Hableany. Only seven people are confirmed to have survived the incident, while seven South Korean tourists are known to have died. Most of the tourists were aged between 40 and 50 but the group also included a six-year-old child and a man in his 70s, South Korea's Yonhap news agency reported. CCTV footage showed a larger tour boat - Viking Sigyn - hitting the Hableany from behind in central Budapest after 21:00 local time (19:00 GMT) on Wednesday. \"The whole thing happened very quickly\" said Clay Findley, a US tourist who was on the Viking Sigyn. \"I thought at first we were going to miss it, but the front of the Viking hit the back of that little boat... and then the hull popped up on the opposite side of the ship, just a few seconds later, and then it was down.\" Viking Sgyn's captain, identified as 64-year-old Ukrainian national Yuriy C, has been held as a suspect over reckless misconduct in waterborne traffic leading to mass casualties. His lawyers issued a statement - carried on state news agency MTI - saying the captain denies breaking any rules or laws. He was \"shaken by the consequences of the accident\", they said, and expressed his condolences to the victims' families. Emergency crews found the wreckage of the Hableany, a double-decker river cruise boat built in 1949 in the former Soviet Union, on the riverbed near the Margaret Bridge and were preparing to lift it. A floating crane has been set up near the ship but an interior ministry statement said that the rapid currents \"preclude any approach of the hull\". One diver was immediately swept away in the Danube, and had himself to be be rescued. For South Koreans, the sinking is a painful reminder of the Sewol disaster in 2014, the BBC's Laura Bicker in Seoul reports. The ferry of that name sank off South Korea's Jindo island killing 304 people, almost all of them schoolchildren on a trip. The ship's captain was later convicted of murder.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1535, "answer_end": 2435, "text": "CCTV footage showed a larger tour boat - Viking Sigyn - hitting the Hableany from behind in central Budapest after 21:00 local time (19:00 GMT) on Wednesday. \"The whole thing happened very quickly\" said Clay Findley, a US tourist who was on the Viking Sigyn. \"I thought at first we were going to miss it, but the front of the Viking hit the back of that little boat... and then the hull popped up on the opposite side of the ship, just a few seconds later, and then it was down.\" Viking Sgyn's captain, identified as 64-year-old Ukrainian national Yuriy C, has been held as a suspect over reckless misconduct in waterborne traffic leading to mass casualties. His lawyers issued a statement - carried on state news agency MTI - saying the captain denies breaking any rules or laws. He was \"shaken by the consequences of the accident\", they said, and expressed his condolences to the victims' families."}], "question": "What happened to the tour ship?", "id": "803_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2436, "answer_end": 3168, "text": "Emergency crews found the wreckage of the Hableany, a double-decker river cruise boat built in 1949 in the former Soviet Union, on the riverbed near the Margaret Bridge and were preparing to lift it. A floating crane has been set up near the ship but an interior ministry statement said that the rapid currents \"preclude any approach of the hull\". One diver was immediately swept away in the Danube, and had himself to be be rescued. For South Koreans, the sinking is a painful reminder of the Sewol disaster in 2014, the BBC's Laura Bicker in Seoul reports. The ferry of that name sank off South Korea's Jindo island killing 304 people, almost all of them schoolchildren on a trip. The ship's captain was later convicted of murder."}], "question": "How are rescue efforts going?", "id": "803_1"}]}]}, {"title": "Oscar nominations: Seven things to look out for", "date": "22 January 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Predicting the result of the Oscars can be a tricky business. Especially as the Academy's membership, which votes for the awards, is changing year by year. Efforts to make it less old and less white have resulted in a significant influx of younger voters, people from ethnic minorities and a wider spread of international members. With multiple nominations in each category, perhaps the most visible effect of the changing nature of the Academy will be seen in who wins, rather than who is nominated. But Tuesday may still potentially tell us a lot, and might also provide a distraction from the fact that with the ceremony just weeks away, the Academy has yet to announce a new host. Here are seven things to look out for: The Hollywood remake of a remake of a remake, A Star Is Born looks likely to grab the most nominations, with The Favourite, Roma and maybe First Man not far behind. However, the film with the most nominations isn't automatically the favourite to win best film. In recent years, Gravity, The Revenant and La La Land have topped the list but then gone on to lose best picture. If the Marvel film gets a best picture nomination, it will make history as the first comic book superhero movie to be recognised in this way. It will also delight the people behind the Oscars who are keen to make the ceremony more relevant to audiences - Black Panther was the biggest film of 2018 at the US box office. If, as seems inevitable, Roma gets a best picture nomination, it will be the first Netflix film to be up for best film. With much of Hollywood split over whether the streaming service represents a huge threat or a huge boost to the future of cinema, in awards terms this reflects the ability of the streaming service and its huge financial coffers to attract some of the cinema's best film makers. The director of Roma is widely expected to get a best director nomination. But he also looks likely to be recognised for producing, writing, editing and cinematography. If you throw in an inevitable best foreign language film nomination (strictly the country is the official nominee, but the director picks up the award and their name goes on the statuette), then he'll be widely regarded as becoming only the second person ever to get nominated in six different categories in one year. (The first was Walt Disney.) It would be a big surprise if there weren't British performers in all four acting categories. Christian Bale and Olivia Colman are considered dead certs in the leading categories, as is Richard E Grant for supporting actor. While either Rachel Weisz or Claire Foy, or perhaps both, should land supporting actress nominations. As is customary, a wide array of UK talent should be evident behind the camera, ranging from Jim Beach and Graham King who produced Bohemian Rhapsody to Deborah Davis and Sandy Powell, for screenwriting and costume design (The Favourite). First Man's production designer Nathan Crowley and music super-producer Mark Ronson, who co-wrote Shallow for A Star Is Born, could also make the cut. Ah yes, the Corboulds! If Paul Corbould is nominated for his visual effects work on Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom, it will mean that for seven years in a row a Corbould sibling has landed an Oscar nomination, underlining their status as one of the Oscars' most ubiquitous families. His brothers Chris and Neil have gone on to win Oscars in the past. Paul has been nominated twice but never won. Follow us on Facebook, on Twitter @BBCNewsEnts, or on Instagram at bbcnewsents. If you have a story suggestion email entertainment.news@bbc.co.uk.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 3049, "answer_end": 3444, "text": "Ah yes, the Corboulds! If Paul Corbould is nominated for his visual effects work on Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom, it will mean that for seven years in a row a Corbould sibling has landed an Oscar nomination, underlining their status as one of the Oscars' most ubiquitous families. His brothers Chris and Neil have gone on to win Oscars in the past. Paul has been nominated twice but never won."}], "question": "7. What about the Corbould brothers?", "id": "804_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Philippines unrest: Who are the Abu Sayyaf group?", "date": "16 October 2017", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Abu Sayyaf is one of the smallest and most violent jihadist groups in the southern Philippines. Its name means \"bearer of the sword\" and it is notorious for kidnapping for ransom, and for attacks on civilians and the army. The group is believed to have an estimated 400 members and, since 2014, several of its factions have declared their allegiance to the so-called Islamic State (IS). In 2016, Isnilon Tontoni Hapilon, one of Abu Sayyaf's most prominent leaders, was recognised as the leader of all IS-aligned groups in the Philippines. Filipino authorities initially characterised the pledges as opportunistic attempts to obtain funds from IS. But IS recognised some pledges and the group's official media outlets have since claimed several attacks in the southern Philippines. Hapilon and other Abu Sayyaf militants took part in clashes against government forces in the southern Philippine city of Marawi, where militants linked to IS have fought an insurgency since May. Over the last year and a half Abu Sayyaf has also taken several people hostage - Malaysian and Indonesian workers, Western tourists and one Filipina among them. Three groups of Indonesians and Malaysians were released earlier in 2016, but two Canadians and one German  were killed after their ransom deadlines passed. The group has also carried out attacks outside its stronghold in the south. In 2004 it bombed a ferry in Manila Bay, killing 116 people. It's not clear to what extent the entire group sympathises with IS's cause. Abu Sayyaf has its roots in the separatist insurgency in the southern Philippines, an impoverished region where Muslims make up a majority of the population in contrast to the rest of the country, which is mainly Roman Catholic. It broke from the broader Moro National Liberation Front in 1991 because it disagreed with the MNLF's policy of pursuing autonomy and wanted to establish an independent Islamic state. Its founder, Abdurajak Abubakar Janjalani, was an Islamic preacher who fought in the Soviet-Afghan war, where he is said to have met Osama Bin Laden and been inspired by him. Al-Qaeda provided the group with funding and training when it was initially set up. After Janjalani died, the group split into two main networks whose leaders were then killed in 2006 to 2007. Since then, Abu Sayyaf has operated as a collection of factions that work with each other through kinship or personal ties but which also occasionally compete against each other. The beheading of a Malaysian hostage, Bernard Then, in 2015, for example, is reported to have resulted from a breakdown in negotiations as one of the two factions holding him wanted more money than was demanded, and different parties involved in the negotiations all sought a share of the ransom. There has been growing evidence of ties between the Abu Sayyaf members fighting in Marawi, IS fighters in the Middle East, and jihadist sympathisers elsewhere in the region. Authorities in Southeast Asia believe the group has co-ordinated with IS to send fighters to Malaysia to plan attacks. In April 2016, the body of a Moroccan bomb expert, Mohammad Khattab, was discovered following a battle between the group and the Philippine army. There are also fears that the group could be supporting terrorist activities by other IS-linked groups in the region. Investigators looking into the Jakarta attack in January said the weapons used in it had come from the southern Philippines. While there is no evidence that Abu Sayyaf was involved in this, the group has long had ties to prominent Indonesian militant groups like Mujahidin Indonesia Timur and Jemaah Islamiyah (JI). Several JI members involved in the Bali bombings found shelter with the group after fleeing Indonesia. Its kidnap of Indonesian, Malaysian and Vietnamese sailors has also prompted fears of the maritime region becoming a \"new Somalia\", as Indonesia's chief security minister put it, which could disrupt regional trade. Abu Sayyaf's hostages tend to be released if the ransom demanded for them is paid. This has been the outcome for most of their hostages. The group is known to kill captives if its demands are not met. The Kuala Lumpur-based Piracy Reporting Centre has warned ships to stay clear of small suspicious-looking vessels in the area. Abu Sayyaf has withstood numerous government crackdowns over the years and has continued to mount attacks in the face of military offensives. After taking office in June 2016, President Rodrigo Duterte threatened to \"eat alive\" the group's militants. In January, he launched renewed efforts to defeat the group, with the military conducting air strikes on Abu Sayyaf sanctuaries and killing prominent militants, leading to the surrender of dozens of the group's members. But a failed military operation to capture Isnilon Hapilon in May saw Abu Sayyaf militants re-emerge as part of the hostilities in Marawi. Southeast Asia's governments have recently increased joint efforts to deal with the threat Abu Sayyaf poses. The Philippines, Malaysia and Indonesia have launched joint air and sea patrols in the Sulu Sea, a lawless region that has long-been a hub of Islamist militancy. The patrols may help ensnare Abu Sayyaf militants who are fleeing the Marawi battle zone. Some observers argue that the roots of Abu Sayyaf lie in the economic and political disparities between the south and other parts of the country. \"As long as Muslims continue to be oppressed, there will always be Abu Sayyaf,\" the vice-chairman of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, Ghazali Jaafar, has said. 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_start": 1431, "answer_end": 2763, "text": "It's not clear to what extent the entire group sympathises with IS's cause. Abu Sayyaf has its roots in the separatist insurgency in the southern Philippines, an impoverished region where Muslims make up a majority of the population in contrast to the rest of the country, which is mainly Roman Catholic. It broke from the broader Moro National Liberation Front in 1991 because it disagreed with the MNLF's policy of pursuing autonomy and wanted to establish an independent Islamic state. Its founder, Abdurajak Abubakar Janjalani, was an Islamic preacher who fought in the Soviet-Afghan war, where he is said to have met Osama Bin Laden and been inspired by him. Al-Qaeda provided the group with funding and training when it was initially set up. After Janjalani died, the group split into two main networks whose leaders were then killed in 2006 to 2007. Since then, Abu Sayyaf has operated as a collection of factions that work with each other through kinship or personal ties but which also occasionally compete against each other. The beheading of a Malaysian hostage, Bernard Then, in 2015, for example, is reported to have resulted from a breakdown in negotiations as one of the two factions holding him wanted more money than was demanded, and different parties involved in the negotiations all sought a share of the ransom."}], "question": "What does it want?", "id": "805_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2764, "answer_end": 4282, "text": "There has been growing evidence of ties between the Abu Sayyaf members fighting in Marawi, IS fighters in the Middle East, and jihadist sympathisers elsewhere in the region. Authorities in Southeast Asia believe the group has co-ordinated with IS to send fighters to Malaysia to plan attacks. In April 2016, the body of a Moroccan bomb expert, Mohammad Khattab, was discovered following a battle between the group and the Philippine army. There are also fears that the group could be supporting terrorist activities by other IS-linked groups in the region. Investigators looking into the Jakarta attack in January said the weapons used in it had come from the southern Philippines. While there is no evidence that Abu Sayyaf was involved in this, the group has long had ties to prominent Indonesian militant groups like Mujahidin Indonesia Timur and Jemaah Islamiyah (JI). Several JI members involved in the Bali bombings found shelter with the group after fleeing Indonesia. Its kidnap of Indonesian, Malaysian and Vietnamese sailors has also prompted fears of the maritime region becoming a \"new Somalia\", as Indonesia's chief security minister put it, which could disrupt regional trade. Abu Sayyaf's hostages tend to be released if the ransom demanded for them is paid. This has been the outcome for most of their hostages. The group is known to kill captives if its demands are not met. The Kuala Lumpur-based Piracy Reporting Centre has warned ships to stay clear of small suspicious-looking vessels in the area."}], "question": "How dangerous is the group?", "id": "805_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 4283, "answer_end": 5711, "text": "Abu Sayyaf has withstood numerous government crackdowns over the years and has continued to mount attacks in the face of military offensives. After taking office in June 2016, President Rodrigo Duterte threatened to \"eat alive\" the group's militants. In January, he launched renewed efforts to defeat the group, with the military conducting air strikes on Abu Sayyaf sanctuaries and killing prominent militants, leading to the surrender of dozens of the group's members. But a failed military operation to capture Isnilon Hapilon in May saw Abu Sayyaf militants re-emerge as part of the hostilities in Marawi. Southeast Asia's governments have recently increased joint efforts to deal with the threat Abu Sayyaf poses. The Philippines, Malaysia and Indonesia have launched joint air and sea patrols in the Sulu Sea, a lawless region that has long-been a hub of Islamist militancy. The patrols may help ensnare Abu Sayyaf militants who are fleeing the Marawi battle zone. Some observers argue that the roots of Abu Sayyaf lie in the economic and political disparities between the south and other parts of the country. \"As long as Muslims continue to be oppressed, there will always be Abu Sayyaf,\" the vice-chairman of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, Ghazali Jaafar, has said. 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."}], "question": "What is the Philippine government doing about it?", "id": "805_2"}]}]}, {"title": "The hidden world of the doctors Cuba sends overseas", "date": "14 May 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Cuba has long been renowned for its medical diplomacy - thousands of its doctors work in healthcare missions around the world, earning the country billions of dollars in cash. But according to a new report, some of the doctors themselves say conditions can be nightmarish - controlled by minders, subject to a curfew and posted to extremely dangerous places, James Badcock reports. For Dayli Coro, medicine was a calling. \"I studied medicine out of vocation. I used to sleep between three and four hours because I studied so hard. I worked hard in my first year of practice, I took on a lot of extra shifts. And now here I am. I cannot be a doctor in Cuba. It's very frustrating.\" Dayli, now 31 years old, wanted to be an intensive care specialist. She says that after graduating, she was told that if she went on a medical mission to Venezuela, she would gain experience in her chosen field and that it would count as her three years of obligatory social service, which all graduates have to complete in Cuba before gaining full-status posts. She agreed to join what Havana calls its \"internationalist missions\", following a path trodden by hundreds of thousands of Cuban doctors.  Since 1960, their medical work overseas has been held up by the communist government as a symbol of its solidarity with people all over the world. Fidel Castro described the medics as Cuba's \"army of white coats\". As well as a source of great pride and prestige, it is also an economic lifeline for the regime. The scheme earns Cuba much-needed foreign currency. With more than 30,000 Cuban doctors currently active in 67 countries - many in Latin America and Africa, but also European nations including Portugal and Italy - Cuba's authorities draw up strict rules in an attempt to prevent citizens defecting once abroad. The wages on offer were another strong incentive for Dayli, who is originally from the small Cuban city of Camaguey, to join up. Going from a doctor's salary on the island of just $15 a month in 2011, she says she was paid $125 monthly for the first six months in Venezuela, a figure that rose to $250 after six months and $325 during her third year. Her family in Cuba also received a bonus of $50 a month. According to a report by Prisoners Defenders, a Spain-based NGO that campaigns for human rights in Cuba and is linked to the Patriotic Union of Cuba (UNPACU) opposition group, doctors on average receive between 10% and 25% of the salary paid by the host countries, with the rest being kept by Cuba's authorities. Dayli says she voluntarily signed a contract for a three-year stint, but she neither had time to read it, nor was she given a personal copy. In October 2011, the young doctor was posted to a clinic in the Venezuelan town of El Sombrero. The placement was part of the Barrio Adentro (Inside the Neighbourhood) scheme, which has distributed Cuban doctors around disadvantaged parts of the South American country since 2003 as a symbol of Cuban support for the regime of the late President Hugo Chavez and his successor, Nicolas Maduro. Venezuela pays for this and other services by Cuban workers with oil. Dayli says she found herself in a virtual war zone - one in which she became accustomed to having a gun pointed at her. Venezuela was at that time in the midst of a crime rate spiral that has led to a murder rate of 92 per 100,000 inhabitants in 2016, according to the NGO Venezuelan Observatory of Violence. World Bank figures put the 2016 figure at 56 per 100,000, topped only by El Salvador and Honduras. \"There were many criminal gangs,\" says Dayli. \"When they fought, they brought their injured to us, because the local Venezuelan hospital had a police presence, and we didn't. These kids would bring in a patient with 12 or 15 bullets in his body, point their guns at you and say you had to save him. If he died, you would die. That kind of thing happened on a daily basis. It was routine.\" The gang members she treated were often just teenagers of 15 and 16, she says. \"I had one with a bullet through the heart, another with five in the head. Some would be alive but you knew that if they were not operated on in 20 minutes, they would die, and we didn't have the necessary conditions. We didn't even have basic medicine to treat patients there. There were supposed to be four intensive care doctors, and normally there was only one on shift.\" These patients would often be transferred by ambulance to a general hospital 45 minutes away. Sometimes the gang members would order Dayli to get in the ambulance with them, she says. \"Once an ambulance was shot up by another gang and a Venezuelan doctor and the driver were killed,\" Dayli adds. \"There was always the possibility that the rival gang might try to finish off the patient during the transfer. I had a situation where a rival gang came in and shot the patient dead. \"I was 24, a tiny, skinny girl. But in a place where there is so much violence, you develop an incredible emotional coldness.\" The medical missions came under the spotlight following decision to withdraw Cuban doctors from Brazil in the wake of President Jair Bolsonaro's election last year. Bolsonaro questioned the qualifications of the Cuban doctors in the country and described their contractual situation as \"slave labour\", pointing out that they only kept 25% of the pay with the rest going to the Cuban government. In response, Cuban authorities strongly rejected the characterisation and said it was \"not acceptable to question the dignity, professionalism and altruism\" of its international medical staff. According to a report by the opposition-linked Cuban Prisoners Defenders, based on direct testimony from 46 doctors with experience of overseas medical missions, plus public-source information from statements by 64 other medics: - 89% said they had no prior knowledge of where they would be posted within a particular country - 41% said their passport was removed from them by a Cuban official on arrival in the host country - 91% said they were watched over by Cuban security officials while on their mission, and the same percentage reported being asked to pass on information about colleagues to security officials - 57% said they did not volunteer to join a mission, but felt obliged to do so, while 39% said they felt strongly pressured to serve abroad. The BBC made repeated requests for a response from the Cuban government but received no reply. However,  After the Cuban Prisoners Defenders report was published, Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel tweeted: \"Once again the empire's lies are trying to discredit Cuba's health cooperation programs with other countries, labelling them as \"modern slavery\" and \"human trafficking\" practices. They are upset about #Cuba's solidarity and example.\" Last December, he offered his support for \"the heroes of Cuban and Latin American medicine\" to mark Latin American Medicine Day. \"To those who fight for life, it is all the same in a modest Cuban neighbourhood or a village in the Amazon. More than doctors, they are guardians of human virtue,\" Cuba's leader tweeted. While Dayli at least managed to escape becoming a victim of violence in Venezuela, a compatriot and fellow woman medic was less fortunate. The 48-year-old family doctor wishes to be identified by the pseudonym \"Julia\" to spare her family knowledge of her ordeal. During her five-year mission in Venezuela, Julia was stationed in Bolivar state. \"I was unfortunate in that the mission co-ordinator took a shine to me, and I didn't agree to his repulsive insinuations. He had me sent away to a series of out-of-the-way locations in rural areas.\" At one point, along with another Cuban woman doctor, she was posted to a shack with a clear plastic roof. One day when they saw a door had been forced open, they called the co-ordinator - but Julia says he did nothing. Then, she says, \"I woke up one night, with someone holding my mouth shut. The doctor in the other room was screaming. There were two men in balaclavas, armed with guns.\" Julia says she was raped by both men. The mission co-ordinator came to take the two women away from this location, but, Julia says, he suffered no apparent consequences or official reprimand for having exposed members of his team to such danger. Julia was taken to Caracas where she was given anti-HIV medicine and sessions with a Cuban psychologist. \"Her treatment was not the best. The focus was basically 'Don't tell anyone this has happened.'\" While on a mission in Bolivia, Julia defected across the border into Chile, and now lives in Spain, where she has asked for asylum and works as a surgeon's assistant. Maria (not her real name) is another female Cuban medic who says her gender made her a target. She was a 26-year-old family doctor when she was deployed to Guatemala on her first international mission in 2009. During her journey into the state of Alta Verapaz, the mission co-ordinator began telling her about a rich man in the area, whom he referred to as an \"engineer\". Maria says: \"He insinuated that he liked Cuban women.\" She says she was given a mobile phone, on which the \"engineer\" began calling her every day. \"I didn't answer, and I even changed the number, but still he called,\" Maria says. \"The co-ordinator told me I would be sent home as a punishment if I didn't got to see this man, and I said that was fine with me. \"My principles were on the line. I went with the idea of helping poor people on a mission for my country. It was so frustrating - I felt scared but could not run away.\" Maria says that her passport was taken from her by her Cuban minders as soon as she arrived in Guatemala. After two months of resisting pressure to see the man, Maria was switched to another mission. Some months later she heard that the \"engineer\" had been arrested in an army raid, accused of being a drug trafficker. Maria completed two years in Guatemala, and later absconded from her next mission in Brazil by signing up to a US medical parole program, aimed at persuading Cuban doctors to defect. Dayli says she and her team in Venezuela had to meet weekly targets set by the Cuban mission leaders  related to the number of lives saved, patients admitted and treatments for certain conditions. She says she rejected what she considered unethical interference in honest medical care principles: \"That is where my problems began because I wasn't going to lie. If a patient is ready to go home and take medicine orally, I am not going to have them admitted for five days on a drip. I can't say how many heart attack patients I am going to have in a given week.\" According to the Prisoners Defenders report, more than half of 46 doctors with experience of overseas missions who were interviewed reported having to falsify statistics - inventing patients, patient visits and pathologies that did not exist. By exaggerating the missions' efficacy, the Cuban authorities can, the report says, demand greater levels of payment from the host country, or justify the enlargement of the operation. Dayli says the conflict she had with her senior medical colleagues at El Sombrero over the instructions to boost treatment statistics led to her being posted in lower-level destination in the calmer, more rural town of San Jose de Guaribe. But the twin pressures of working without sufficient medical equipment and orders to hit artificial or impossible targets remained. Once a woman arrived mid-labour, Dayli recalls, but the clinic did not have the right set of instruments for delivering a baby. Another time, she says she had to inset a tube into a patient by the light of her phone as there was no fuel for the generator. She alleges her request to transfer a man with lung cancer to Caracas was denied so he would count towards her clinic's statistics. \"The health of Venezuelans is not important to the mission,\" she says. \"I had an 11-year-old die in my arms when I was trying to put him on a breathing apparatus that was not working.\" Carlos Moises Avila tells a similar story. The 48-year-old doctor joined one of the first missions in Venezuela in 2004. \"We each had to report a life saved every day, so sometimes I had to grab someone who was healthy and stick them on a drip,\" Carlos says. \"Medicines arrived from Cuba out of date, so we had to destroy and bury them before including them in the inventory as used so they could be charged for. We would get our pay from soldiers, who were sometimes months late in coming, and would also take medicines from the hospital,\" recalls Carlos. Carlos says he signed up for the medical mission to improve his financial situation. Instead of getting around $20 a month in Cuba at that time, he started earning $300 in Brion, in Venezuela's Miranda province, although he says that the Cuban government was paid more than 10 times that amount for each doctor on the Barrio Adentro programme. Dayli says that all fraternising with Venezuelans outside of work was prohibited. The Cuban doctors lived together and had to respect a 6pm curfew. The mission co-ordinator was a Cuban security service official. \"He would ask you about your roommates in weekly interviews,\" Dayli says. \"He had network of paid local informers who would pass on any information about you in order to detect possible deserters. We weren't allowed to have a drink with a Venezuelan, or go to their house because you saved their life and to see how they're doing. If you fraternised with a dissident, you could have your mission revoked.\" Carlos says during the seven years he spent in Venezuela, he saw the way medicine was used as a political tool for propaganda purposes, sometimes at the expense of physicians' ethical code. \"During the 2004 campaign for the recall referendum, we doctors were sent out door to door to give out gifts and medicines to boost support for President [Hugo] Chavez,\" he says. \"We also had lists of patients according to their political tendencies. Chavez regime supporters were put down as having hypertension, while opposition people were listed as diabetics. The former got better treatment, and any information we gathered on locals was passed on to the mission co-ordinator, a Cuban woman who controlled all of our personal relationships and who we were allowed to meet.\" A New York Times report in March quoted Cuban doctors stationed in Venezuela describing how they had worked to persuade patients to vote for the country's ruling Socialist Party, including by refusing treatment for opposition supporters and canvassing on doorsteps with gifts of medicine to bribe waverers. In response, the Cuban government denied the claims, saying that its \"honourable\" doctors had saved nearly 1.5m lives in Venezuela, as well as citing their participation in the fight against Ebola in Africa and cholera in Haiti, among other examples. Carlos also made the move from a Brazilian mission to the US, where he is now rebuilding his life in Houston, working as a medical assistant. He is now unable to visit Cuba for fear of being imprisoned on the island for desertion. In 2018 he applied for a humanitarian visa to visit his mother who had cancer. It was denied, and he could not see her before she died. \"That's the way they play it, dangling permissions and gifts in front of you so people play ball. I soon realised our mission was more political than humanitarian.\" Dayli eventually came to a similar conclusion. She returned to Cuba in 2014 where she was posted to a hospital without an intensive care unit - a clear sign, she says, that she was out of favour. Later she was suspended from medical practice for alleged absences from work - an allegation she rejects. She says she began to be treated as a dissident, with a state security agent posted outside her house who followed her everywhere. Her family and friends were harassed. Eventually, she could take it no more and is currently visiting relatives in Spain, where she may decide to try and settle. \"I wanted to be a doctor in Cuba but I have given that up now. I don't want to be a risk to my family. I spoke my mind and this is the consequence. They want soldiers, not doctors.\" Cuba has faced more than 50 years of US sanctions. Now, for the first time, a unique drug developed on the communist island is being tested in New York state. But some American cancer patients are already taking it - by defying the embargo and flying to Havana for treatment. Why an American went to Cuba for cancer care", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 5576, "answer_end": 6334, "text": "According to a report by the opposition-linked Cuban Prisoners Defenders, based on direct testimony from 46 doctors with experience of overseas medical missions, plus public-source information from statements by 64 other medics: - 89% said they had no prior knowledge of where they would be posted within a particular country - 41% said their passport was removed from them by a Cuban official on arrival in the host country - 91% said they were watched over by Cuban security officials while on their mission, and the same percentage reported being asked to pass on information about colleagues to security officials - 57% said they did not volunteer to join a mission, but felt obliged to do so, while 39% said they felt strongly pressured to serve abroad."}], "question": "Doctor's orders?", "id": "806_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Judge orders Stormy Daniels to reimburse Trump's legal fees", "date": "11 December 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "A US judge has ordered porn actress Stormy Daniels to reimburse President Donald Trump's legal fees after her defamation case was thrown out. Ms Daniels, who says she had sex with Mr Trump in 2006, sued him after he mocked her claim that a stranger had threatened her to keep quiet. On Tuesday, a judge ordered her to pay over $293,052.33 (PS234,000) - roughly 75% of Mr Trump's legal fees. A lawyer for Mr Trump celebrated the ruling as a \"total victory\". In Tuesday's ruling, Los Angeles Judge James Otero declined to impose the \"significant additional sanctions\" requested by the US president's legal team against Ms Daniels. Mr Trump's attorney, Charles Harder, had earlier requested that Ms Daniels be forced to pay almost $800,000 after her lawsuit was dismissed in October. He said on Tuesday that the penalty includes $1,000 for having filed a \"meritless\" case. \"The court's order,\" Mr Harder said, \"along with the court's prior order dismissing Stormy Daniels' defamation case against the President, together constitute a total victory for the President, and a total defeat for Stormy Daniels in this case.\" Ms Daniels' lawyer, Michael Avenatti, said in a tweet that the ruling \"will never hold up on appeal\". Mr Avenatti is representing Ms Daniels in another lawsuit against Mr Trump and his former attorney Michael Cohen. The adult film actress is seeking to void a nondisclosure agreement about her alleged affair with the president. Ms Daniels, real name Stephanie Clifford, said last April that she had been threatened by a man in a car park to keep quiet about the alleged affair. She shared a sketch of the man who she claimed had threatened her and her child. Mr Trump retweeted the image, calling it a \"total con job\", and describing the image as being of a \"non-existent man\". She sued arguing that the president's tweet was defamatory as it accused Ms Daniels of \"committing a serious crime\" - namely, falsely accusing a person of threatening her. But in October, the judge ruled that Mr Trump's tweet was protected under the First Amendment, which guarantees the right to freedom of speech. The judge said Mr Trump's tweet was merely a \"hyperbolic statement\" against a political antagonist. After that initial court victory, Mr Trump promptly took to Twitter, saying his legal team could now \"go after Horseface and her 3rd rate lawyer\". Mr Trump's former personal attorney, Mr Cohen, will be sentenced in New York on Wednesday for paying Ms Daniels $130,000 to keep the alleged liaison private. According to prosecutors, Mr Cohen was directed to make the payment to Ms Daniels - and to another woman - by Mr Trump. Mr Trump has acknowledged the payment was made, describing it only this week as \"a simple private transaction\", though he denies having a sexual relationship with her. Mr Cohen has admitted the payment, which was not reported to election officials, was a violation of campaign finance laws. Memo reveals Cohen's help on Russia probe", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1446, "answer_end": 2358, "text": "Ms Daniels, real name Stephanie Clifford, said last April that she had been threatened by a man in a car park to keep quiet about the alleged affair. She shared a sketch of the man who she claimed had threatened her and her child. Mr Trump retweeted the image, calling it a \"total con job\", and describing the image as being of a \"non-existent man\". She sued arguing that the president's tweet was defamatory as it accused Ms Daniels of \"committing a serious crime\" - namely, falsely accusing a person of threatening her. But in October, the judge ruled that Mr Trump's tweet was protected under the First Amendment, which guarantees the right to freedom of speech. The judge said Mr Trump's tweet was merely a \"hyperbolic statement\" against a political antagonist. After that initial court victory, Mr Trump promptly took to Twitter, saying his legal team could now \"go after Horseface and her 3rd rate lawyer\"."}], "question": "What was the defamation case about?", "id": "807_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Man jailed after found with 3D-printed gun and 'lawmaker hit list'", "date": "14 February 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "A Dallas man has been sentenced to eight years in prison after he was found with a partially 3D-printed rifle and a hit list of US lawmakers. Eric McGinnis was prohibited from possessing firearms for two years after he attacked his girlfriend in 2015. McGinnis attempted to buy a gun in 2016 but failed the background check - so he instead purchased gun parts and a 3D printer to assemble his own weapon. He was arrested in 2017 after police heard him fire shots in the woods. McGinnis, now 43, had little more than a month left on his two-year domestic abuse firearm ban when police arrested him with the partially printed AR-15 rifle near Dallas, Texas, the US Attorney's office said in a statement on Wednesday. When police ordered him to surrender, McGinnis tried to say that he was a member of the CIA. Officers inspected McGinnis' backpack and discovered a hit list titled \"9/11/2001 list of American Terrorists\" that included the names of both Democratic and Republican federal lawmakers. A federal jury convicted McGinnis on charges of possessing an unregistered short-barreled rifle and unlawfully possessing ammunition under a protective order last June. The 3D-printed portion of McGinnis' weapon was not illegal, but by owning a firearm, he was in violation of the judge's order. Prosecutors at Wednesday's sentencing also noted that an analysis of McGinnis' electronic devices showed he had a \"strong interest\" in James Hodgkinson, who in 2017 shot and wounded Republican Representative Steve Scalise and others during a baseball game. In a jailhouse phone call, McGinnis admitted to a family member that he 3D-printed the mechanisms required to fire the gun. \"I didn't buy a gun, I built the gun,\" he said. \"When he realised he couldn't legally purchase a firearm, Eric McGinnis circumvented our gun laws by 3D-printing his weapon, eliminating the need for a background check,\" said US Attorney Erin Nealy Cox. Ms Nealy Cox said McGinnis' case \"should send a message to prohibited persons contemplating acquiring guns by any method\". Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) Bureau Special Agent Jeffrey Boshek also noted on Wednesday: \"Controls to determine if an individual is prohibited from purchasing firearms and ammunition worked.\" Mr Boshek instead criticised the \"evolving technology\" that allowed McGinnis to \"manufacture an untraceable firearm with apparent ease and anonymity\". Advances in 3D-printing technology have made it feasible to create gun parts using a simple set-up: a mill or plastic printer hooked up to a computer. These guns have no serial number and are illegal to buy or sell, but making one is still legal. In the US, most gun parts have little regulation and are not individually considered as \"firearms\". These parts can be shipped or sold without a federal firearms licence (FFL). The lower receiver, a part that essentially holds the gun together and the part McGinnis admitted to printing, is considered a firearm under US law, but only if it is complete. An 80% complete lower requires minimal effort to mill into a finished lower, but it is not considered a firearm. This finished lower can be tailored to build different guns, including AR-15s, full-sized rifles or pistols. In August, a US federal judge in Seattle temporarily blocked the release of software blueprints for 3D-printing fully working weapons.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 2399, "answer_end": 3356, "text": "Advances in 3D-printing technology have made it feasible to create gun parts using a simple set-up: a mill or plastic printer hooked up to a computer. These guns have no serial number and are illegal to buy or sell, but making one is still legal. In the US, most gun parts have little regulation and are not individually considered as \"firearms\". These parts can be shipped or sold without a federal firearms licence (FFL). The lower receiver, a part that essentially holds the gun together and the part McGinnis admitted to printing, is considered a firearm under US law, but only if it is complete. An 80% complete lower requires minimal effort to mill into a finished lower, but it is not considered a firearm. This finished lower can be tailored to build different guns, including AR-15s, full-sized rifles or pistols. In August, a US federal judge in Seattle temporarily blocked the release of software blueprints for 3D-printing fully working weapons."}], "question": "How does 3D-printing guns work?", "id": "808_0"}]}]}, {"title": "French sci-fi team called on to predict future threats", "date": "19 July 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "The French army is to create a \"red team\" of sci-fi writers to imagine possible future threats. A new report by the Defence Innovation Agency (DIA) said the visionaries will \"propose scenarios of disruption\" that military strategists may not think of. The team's highly confidential work will be important in the fight against \"malicious elements\", the report states. It comes amid efforts by the French to innovate its approaches to defence. An inventor piloted his jet-powered flyboard over crowds at Bastille Day military celebrations in Paris on Sunday. Tweeting after Franky Zapata stunned crowds, President Emmanuel Macron said: \"Proud of our army, modern and innovative\" with a video of the stunt. Comprised of just four or five sci-fi writers, the group will be expected to think more creatively than more traditional elements of the army. Through role play and other techniques, the team will attempt to imagine how terrorist organisations or foreign states could use advanced technology. French Defence Minister Florence Parly said the country \"holds all the aces in this race\" for military innovation. Also on display at the Bastille celebrations was the futuristic-looking Nerod F5 microwave jammer, a rifle-shaped weapon designed to target drones by blocking the pilot's signals. There have even been plans for robots to support French troops in Mali, with experiments currently underway. The Moon landing: Jules Verne's 1865 novel From the Earth to the Moon depicted three people being sent to the Moon in a spacecraft from Florida - with some similarities to the actual mission 104 years later. Video phones: The first example of a video phone appearing on screens was in the 1927 film Metropolis, although it was considerably larger than the devices we see today. Atomic bomb: HG Wells predicted the atomic bomb in his 1914 novel The World Set Free - which featured \"indefinitely\" exploding bombs based on then-early atomic science.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 705, "answer_end": 1401, "text": "Comprised of just four or five sci-fi writers, the group will be expected to think more creatively than more traditional elements of the army. Through role play and other techniques, the team will attempt to imagine how terrorist organisations or foreign states could use advanced technology. French Defence Minister Florence Parly said the country \"holds all the aces in this race\" for military innovation. Also on display at the Bastille celebrations was the futuristic-looking Nerod F5 microwave jammer, a rifle-shaped weapon designed to target drones by blocking the pilot's signals. There have even been plans for robots to support French troops in Mali, with experiments currently underway."}], "question": "Who are the 'red team'?", "id": "809_0"}]}]}, {"title": "R\u00e9doine Fa\u00efd: French helicopter jailbreak gangster captured", "date": "3 October 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Redoine Faid, a French gangster who broke out of jail using a hijacked helicopter in July, has been recaptured. The country's most wanted fugitive, he was detained north of Paris, reportedly with his brother and two men. Faid, 46, is a fan of gangster films, which he credits with teaching him how to pull off raids. He was first arrested in 1998 for armed robbery. The 1 July jailbreak was his second and most dramatic escape. He was sprung from a prison in Reau, south-east of Paris, by three heavily armed men who broke into the visitors' room. They then bundled him into a helicopter flown by a flying instructor who had been taken hostage. Faid had been serving a 25-year sentence for masterminding a botched robbery in which a policewoman was killed in 2010. He was recaptured in the early hours of Wednesday in the town of Creil. French Justice Minister Nicole Belloubet told Europe 1 radio: \"We're going to put him in a high-security facility where he will be watched extremely closely.\" The arrest came hours after Interior Minister Gerard Collomb - the country's top law-enforcement official - resigned to run for mayor in Lyon, France's second-largest city. The move is regarded as a fresh setback for President Emmanuel Macron, whose popularity has fallen sharply in recent weeks. The interior ministry will be temporarily headed by Prime Minister Edouard Philippe. Born in 1972, he grew up in Creil. In the 1990s he ran a gang involved in armed robbery and extortion. He has said Hollywood movies, such as the Al Pacino thriller Scarface, inspired his lifestyle and some of his schemes. During a 1997 attack on a security van, he used and his accomplices used ice-hockey goalkeeper masks, mimicking Robert de Niro's gang in the film Heat. He later said he had watched that movie \"hundreds of times\" on DVD and once told its director, Michael Mann, at a Paris film festival: \"You were my technical adviser.\" His fame was helped by a 2009 book outlining his younger days on the streets of Paris and his descent into the life of a professional criminal. That earned him the nickname \"L'Ecrivain\" - or \"the writer\" - among French police. - Faid's cycle of imprisonment and escape began with his arrest in 1998 for armed robbery and bank theft. - In 2009 he was freed on parole, swearing that he was a changed man - but by 2011, he had breached his terms of release and was back behind bars. - In 2013, he escaped from a prison near Lille, using explosives to blast his way through five prison doors while holding guards hostage as human shields. - In 2017, Faid was sentenced to 10 years' imprisonment for that jailbreak. He was also given 18 years for masterminding the 2010 robbery. - In 2018, following a failed appeal, Faid was given a heavier sentence of 25 years.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1378, "answer_end": 2146, "text": "Born in 1972, he grew up in Creil. In the 1990s he ran a gang involved in armed robbery and extortion. He has said Hollywood movies, such as the Al Pacino thriller Scarface, inspired his lifestyle and some of his schemes. During a 1997 attack on a security van, he used and his accomplices used ice-hockey goalkeeper masks, mimicking Robert de Niro's gang in the film Heat. He later said he had watched that movie \"hundreds of times\" on DVD and once told its director, Michael Mann, at a Paris film festival: \"You were my technical adviser.\" His fame was helped by a 2009 book outlining his younger days on the streets of Paris and his descent into the life of a professional criminal. That earned him the nickname \"L'Ecrivain\" - or \"the writer\" - among French police."}], "question": "Who is Redoine Faid?", "id": "810_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Left-handed DNA found - and it changes brain structure", "date": "5 September 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Scientists have found the first genetic instructions hardwired into human DNA that are linked to being left-handed. The instructions also seem to be heavily involved in the structure and function of the brain - particularly the parts involved in language. The team at the University of Oxford say left-handed people may have better verbal skills as a result. But many mysteries remain regarding the connection between brain development and the dominant hand. About one in 10 people is left handed. Studies on twins have already revealed genetics - the DNA inherited from parents - has some role to play. However, the specifics are only now being revealed. The research team turned to the UK Biobank - a study of about 400,000 people who had the full sequence of their genetic code, their DNA, recorded. Just over 38,000 were left-handed. And the scientists played a giant game of spot-the-difference to find the regions of their DNA that influenced left-handedness. The study, published in the journal Brain, found four hotspots. \"It tells us for the first time that handedness has a genetic component,\" Prof Gwenaelle Douaud, one of the researchers, told BBC News. The mutations were in instructions for the intricate \"scaffolding\" that organises the inside of the body's cells, called the cytoskeleton. Similar mutations that change the cytoskeleton in snails have been shown to lead to the molluscs having an anticlockwise or \"lefty\" shell. (Remember the quest to find Jeremy the garden snail a mate because, in the snail world, righties and lefties can't have sex as their genitals are in the wrong place as far as the other is concerned?) Scans of participants in the UK Biobank project showed the cytoskeleton was changing the structure of the white matter in the brain. \"For the first time in humans, we have been able to establish that these handedness-associated cytoskeletal differences are actually visible in the brain,\" Prof Douaud, who is herself left handed, said. In the left-handed participants, the two halves of the brain - the left and right hemispheres - were better connected and more co-ordinated in regions involved in language. The researchers speculate left-handed people may have better verbal skills, although they do not have the data from this study to prove it. The study also showed slightly higher risks of schizophrenia, and slightly lower risks of Parkinson's disease, in left-handed people. Being left-handed has often led to a raw deal. \"In many cultures being left handed is seen as being unlucky or malicious and that is reflected in language,\" said Prof Dominic Furniss, a hand surgeon and author on the report. In French, \"gauche\" can mean \"left\" or \"clumsy\". In English, \"right\" also means \"to be right\". \"What this study shows is that being left-handed is just a consequence of the developmental biology of the brain, it has nothing to do with luck or maliciousness,\" Prof Furniss said. \"And it is driven at least in part by genetic variants we've discovered. \"This adds to the understanding of what makes us human.\" Far from it. The best guess is handedness is 25% genetic and 75% down to the environment (anything that's not in the genes). Yet this study has found only the first 1% of that genetic component and only in a British population. So, much more work is needed to understand the genetic component of handedness in people across the globe, never mind what the huge environmental effects are, and then piece together how those elements result in people being either left or right handed. Follow James on Twitter.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 459, "answer_end": 1165, "text": "About one in 10 people is left handed. Studies on twins have already revealed genetics - the DNA inherited from parents - has some role to play. However, the specifics are only now being revealed. The research team turned to the UK Biobank - a study of about 400,000 people who had the full sequence of their genetic code, their DNA, recorded. Just over 38,000 were left-handed. And the scientists played a giant game of spot-the-difference to find the regions of their DNA that influenced left-handedness. The study, published in the journal Brain, found four hotspots. \"It tells us for the first time that handedness has a genetic component,\" Prof Gwenaelle Douaud, one of the researchers, told BBC News."}], "question": "What does this tell us?", "id": "811_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1166, "answer_end": 2426, "text": "The mutations were in instructions for the intricate \"scaffolding\" that organises the inside of the body's cells, called the cytoskeleton. Similar mutations that change the cytoskeleton in snails have been shown to lead to the molluscs having an anticlockwise or \"lefty\" shell. (Remember the quest to find Jeremy the garden snail a mate because, in the snail world, righties and lefties can't have sex as their genitals are in the wrong place as far as the other is concerned?) Scans of participants in the UK Biobank project showed the cytoskeleton was changing the structure of the white matter in the brain. \"For the first time in humans, we have been able to establish that these handedness-associated cytoskeletal differences are actually visible in the brain,\" Prof Douaud, who is herself left handed, said. In the left-handed participants, the two halves of the brain - the left and right hemispheres - were better connected and more co-ordinated in regions involved in language. The researchers speculate left-handed people may have better verbal skills, although they do not have the data from this study to prove it. The study also showed slightly higher risks of schizophrenia, and slightly lower risks of Parkinson's disease, in left-handed people."}], "question": "But how does it work?", "id": "811_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2427, "answer_end": 3059, "text": "Being left-handed has often led to a raw deal. \"In many cultures being left handed is seen as being unlucky or malicious and that is reflected in language,\" said Prof Dominic Furniss, a hand surgeon and author on the report. In French, \"gauche\" can mean \"left\" or \"clumsy\". In English, \"right\" also means \"to be right\". \"What this study shows is that being left-handed is just a consequence of the developmental biology of the brain, it has nothing to do with luck or maliciousness,\" Prof Furniss said. \"And it is driven at least in part by genetic variants we've discovered. \"This adds to the understanding of what makes us human.\""}], "question": "Does this change what it means to be left-handed?", "id": "811_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3060, "answer_end": 3566, "text": "Far from it. The best guess is handedness is 25% genetic and 75% down to the environment (anything that's not in the genes). Yet this study has found only the first 1% of that genetic component and only in a British population. So, much more work is needed to understand the genetic component of handedness in people across the globe, never mind what the huge environmental effects are, and then piece together how those elements result in people being either left or right handed. Follow James on Twitter."}], "question": "Is this the end of the story?", "id": "811_3"}]}]}, {"title": "US shutdown: Senate fails to agree on new budget", "date": "20 January 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "The US government is approaching a federal shutdown after the Senate failed to agree on a new budget. It was unclear which way the vote would go as the midnight deadline approached, with Republicans and Democrats split on key issues. Despite last minute bipartisan meetings, the bill to fund the government until 16 February did not receive the required 60 votes. The last US shutdown happened in 2013 and lasted for 16 days. The House of Representatives voted 230-197 on Thursday night to extend funding until next month, but the measure failed to pass the Senate. Many government offices will close unless a compromise is found before the midnight deadline. If the shutdown goes ahead essential services will still run. That includes national security, post, air traffic control, inpatient medical services, emergency outpatient medicine, disaster assistance, prisons, taxation and electricity production. National parks and monuments could face closure, which provoked an angry public reaction during the last shutdown. In the hours before the vote, President Donald Trump sounded pessimistic, tweeting that it was \"not looking good for our great Military or Safety & Security on the very dangerous Southern Border\". He had invited Democratic Senate leader Chuck Schumer, a fellow New Yorker, to the White House for last-ditch talks but they failed to find sufficient common ground. Emerging about an hour later, Mr Schumer told reporters \"some progress\" had been made, but a \"good number of disagreements\" remained, including a difference in opinion regarding the Democrats' desire to extend talks for another five days. The main bone of contention has been Democrats' demands for more than 700,000 undocumented immigrants who entered the US as children to be protected from deportation. These \"Dreamers\", as they are known, were granted temporary legal status under a programme established by former President Barack Obama. In September, Mr Trump announced he was ending the programme and allowing Congress until March to come up with a replacement. The Republican president and congressional conservatives have been using the issue as a bargaining chip in an attempt to wring concessions from Democrats. Mr Trump wants funding for tough new border controls, including his proposed US-Mexico wall. Republicans have added to the bill a sweetener in the form of a six-year extension to a health insurance programme for children in lower-income families. They are essentially daring Democrats to vote against a measure that has been a longstanding liberal priority. But Democrats say they want this programme extended permanently. The legislative negotiations went up in flames last week after Mr Trump allegedly complained the US was letting in immigrants from certain \"shithole countries\". The blame game is already in full swing with neither party wishing to be held accountable for closing the government as midterm elections loom in November. This would be the first shutdown while one party is in control of both chambers of Congress and the White House, which could be politically embarrassing for Republicans. A new Washington Post-ABC poll suggests that by a 20-point margin more Americans blame President Trump and his party for the imbroglio, rather than Democrats. But a shutdown would also be problematic for 10 Democratic senators who are up for re-election this year in states won by Mr Trump. They would face voters this autumn amid a hail of attack ads claiming they closed the US government to help illegal immigrants. In a late-night speech on the Senate floor, top Republican Mitch McConnell accused Democrats of trying to \"hold the entire country hostage\". Mindful of the risks, Democrats have shifted their messaging in recent days to say their opposition is about much more than just immigration. Democrats hope to make it instead about the president and Republicans' ability to govern. Tennessee Democrat Steve Cohen tweeted of Mr Trump: \"This man doesn't comprehend work ethic, the office of President, or duty to the country. He understands golf, ice cream, and Big Macs!\" US Defence Secretary Jim Mattis said that over 50% of his department would not go to work, and some maintenance, training and intelligence operations would come to a halt. \"We do a lot of intelligence operations around the world and they cost money, these obviously would stop,\" Mr Mattis said when asked about the impending shutdown, \"it's got a huge morale impact.\" The Trump administration is reportedly making contingency plans to keep the parks running if no deal is reached. Visa and passport processing could also be delayed.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1625, "answer_end": 2793, "text": "The main bone of contention has been Democrats' demands for more than 700,000 undocumented immigrants who entered the US as children to be protected from deportation. These \"Dreamers\", as they are known, were granted temporary legal status under a programme established by former President Barack Obama. In September, Mr Trump announced he was ending the programme and allowing Congress until March to come up with a replacement. The Republican president and congressional conservatives have been using the issue as a bargaining chip in an attempt to wring concessions from Democrats. Mr Trump wants funding for tough new border controls, including his proposed US-Mexico wall. Republicans have added to the bill a sweetener in the form of a six-year extension to a health insurance programme for children in lower-income families. They are essentially daring Democrats to vote against a measure that has been a longstanding liberal priority. But Democrats say they want this programme extended permanently. The legislative negotiations went up in flames last week after Mr Trump allegedly complained the US was letting in immigrants from certain \"shithole countries\"."}], "question": "What's the problem?", "id": "812_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2794, "answer_end": 4100, "text": "The blame game is already in full swing with neither party wishing to be held accountable for closing the government as midterm elections loom in November. This would be the first shutdown while one party is in control of both chambers of Congress and the White House, which could be politically embarrassing for Republicans. A new Washington Post-ABC poll suggests that by a 20-point margin more Americans blame President Trump and his party for the imbroglio, rather than Democrats. But a shutdown would also be problematic for 10 Democratic senators who are up for re-election this year in states won by Mr Trump. They would face voters this autumn amid a hail of attack ads claiming they closed the US government to help illegal immigrants. In a late-night speech on the Senate floor, top Republican Mitch McConnell accused Democrats of trying to \"hold the entire country hostage\". Mindful of the risks, Democrats have shifted their messaging in recent days to say their opposition is about much more than just immigration. Democrats hope to make it instead about the president and Republicans' ability to govern. Tennessee Democrat Steve Cohen tweeted of Mr Trump: \"This man doesn't comprehend work ethic, the office of President, or duty to the country. He understands golf, ice cream, and Big Macs!\""}], "question": "What could be the political fallout?", "id": "812_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 4101, "answer_end": 4633, "text": "US Defence Secretary Jim Mattis said that over 50% of his department would not go to work, and some maintenance, training and intelligence operations would come to a halt. \"We do a lot of intelligence operations around the world and they cost money, these obviously would stop,\" Mr Mattis said when asked about the impending shutdown, \"it's got a huge morale impact.\" The Trump administration is reportedly making contingency plans to keep the parks running if no deal is reached. Visa and passport processing could also be delayed."}], "question": "What happens in a shutdown?", "id": "812_2"}]}]}, {"title": "Holocaust row: Abbas accused of anti-Semitism", "date": "1 May 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Remarks by Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas about the Holocaust have been condemned as anti-Semitic by Israeli politicians and rights activists. Mr Abbas told a meeting in the West Bank the Nazi mass murder of European Jews was the result of their financial activities, not anti-Semitism. He described their \"social function\" as \"usury and banking and such\". Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's spokesman said  the remarks were \"anti-Semitic and pathetic\". Michael Oren, Israel's deputy minister for diplomacy, remarked in a tweet: \"Mahmoud Abbas says money-lending Jews provoked Holocaust... Now there's a peace partner.\" In New York, the Anti-Defamation League condemned Mr Abbas's \"anti-Semitic assertions\". In its attempt to annihilate the Jews of Europe during World War Two, Nazi Germany murdered some six million of them, building death camps to expedite the mass slaughter. Driven by fanatical nationalism, the Nazis regarded Jews as a threat to Germany's \"racial purity\". He was addressing a rare meeting of the Palestinian National Council, the legislative body of the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO), in the West Bank town of Ramallah on Monday. Carried live on Palestinian TV, the 90-minute speech in Arabic included a section on the Palestinian leader's view of the history of European Jewry, based on what he said were books by \"Jewish Zionist authors\". Jews in eastern and western Europe, he said, had been periodically subjected to massacres over the centuries, culminating in the Holocaust. \"But why did this used to happen?\" he asked. \"They say, 'It is because we are Jews.' I will bring you three Jews, with three books who say that enmity towards Jews was not because of their religious identity but because of their social function. \"This is a different issue. So the Jewish question that was widespread throughout Europe was not against their religion but against their social function which relates to usury [unscrupulous money-lending] and banking and such.\" Mr Abbas also denied that Ashkenazi Jews - Jews from Germany and north-eastern Europe - were actually Semitic, saying, \"They have no relation to Semitic people.\" Ashkenazi Jews make up one of Israel's biggest communities, giving the state a long line of prime ministers, including Mr Netanyahu. It is not the first time the Palestinian leader's views on the Holocaust have caused offence. A student dissertation he wrote in the early 1980s argued there had been a \"secret relationship between Nazism and Zionism\" before the war, and appeared to question the death toll of six million. He later played down allegations of Holocaust denial, saying in 2003: \"The Holocaust was a terrible, unforgivable crime against the Jewish nation, a crime against humanity that cannot be accepted by humankind.\" Jonathan Greenblatt, chief executive officer of the ADL, which campaigns to \"stop the defamation of the Jewish people\", dismissed the Palestinian leader's \"ahistorical and pseudo-academic assertions\". \"The Palestinian President's latest diatribe reflects once again the depth and persistency of the anti-Semitic attitudes he harbors,\" he said in a statement. \"With public speeches like these, it is not surprising that under Abbas' leadership, the Palestinian Authority has failed to renounce and combat Palestinian anti-Semitic incitement, including narratives that Jews are to blame for the Holocaust and other anti-Semitic persecution, and which deny or diminish the millennial Jewish presence in and connection to the Land of Israel.\" Mr Netanyahu's spokesman, Ofir Gendelman, tweeted: \"A man who denies the Jewish people's connection to the Land of Israel that is thousands of years old, blames the Jews for the Holocaust & claims that Hitler helped Jews has lost all connection to reality & does not want peace.\" The last direct peace talks took place in 2014, when Barack Obama was in the White House. They broke down amid acrimony. Since Donald Trump became US president last year and controversially recognised Jerusalem as Israel's capital, the chances of talks resuming have looked even more remote.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 989, "answer_end": 2794, "text": "He was addressing a rare meeting of the Palestinian National Council, the legislative body of the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO), in the West Bank town of Ramallah on Monday. Carried live on Palestinian TV, the 90-minute speech in Arabic included a section on the Palestinian leader's view of the history of European Jewry, based on what he said were books by \"Jewish Zionist authors\". Jews in eastern and western Europe, he said, had been periodically subjected to massacres over the centuries, culminating in the Holocaust. \"But why did this used to happen?\" he asked. \"They say, 'It is because we are Jews.' I will bring you three Jews, with three books who say that enmity towards Jews was not because of their religious identity but because of their social function. \"This is a different issue. So the Jewish question that was widespread throughout Europe was not against their religion but against their social function which relates to usury [unscrupulous money-lending] and banking and such.\" Mr Abbas also denied that Ashkenazi Jews - Jews from Germany and north-eastern Europe - were actually Semitic, saying, \"They have no relation to Semitic people.\" Ashkenazi Jews make up one of Israel's biggest communities, giving the state a long line of prime ministers, including Mr Netanyahu. It is not the first time the Palestinian leader's views on the Holocaust have caused offence. A student dissertation he wrote in the early 1980s argued there had been a \"secret relationship between Nazism and Zionism\" before the war, and appeared to question the death toll of six million. He later played down allegations of Holocaust denial, saying in 2003: \"The Holocaust was a terrible, unforgivable crime against the Jewish nation, a crime against humanity that cannot be accepted by humankind.\""}], "question": "What did Abbas say exactly?", "id": "813_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2795, "answer_end": 3533, "text": "Jonathan Greenblatt, chief executive officer of the ADL, which campaigns to \"stop the defamation of the Jewish people\", dismissed the Palestinian leader's \"ahistorical and pseudo-academic assertions\". \"The Palestinian President's latest diatribe reflects once again the depth and persistency of the anti-Semitic attitudes he harbors,\" he said in a statement. \"With public speeches like these, it is not surprising that under Abbas' leadership, the Palestinian Authority has failed to renounce and combat Palestinian anti-Semitic incitement, including narratives that Jews are to blame for the Holocaust and other anti-Semitic persecution, and which deny or diminish the millennial Jewish presence in and connection to the Land of Israel.\""}], "question": "How did the Anti-Defamation League respond?", "id": "813_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3534, "answer_end": 4105, "text": "Mr Netanyahu's spokesman, Ofir Gendelman, tweeted: \"A man who denies the Jewish people's connection to the Land of Israel that is thousands of years old, blames the Jews for the Holocaust & claims that Hitler helped Jews has lost all connection to reality & does not want peace.\" The last direct peace talks took place in 2014, when Barack Obama was in the White House. They broke down amid acrimony. Since Donald Trump became US president last year and controversially recognised Jerusalem as Israel's capital, the chances of talks resuming have looked even more remote."}], "question": "How are relations between Abbas and the Israelis?", "id": "813_2"}]}]}, {"title": "Malawi election: What the annulment means for democracy across Africa", "date": "5 February 2020", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Opposition supporters in Malawi have been celebrating after a panel of five top judges annulled the results of last May's presidential election. Many of them said this was a victory for democracy after the two main losing candidates argued in court that there had been irregularities in the vote that saw President Peter Mutharika narrowly elected for a second term. He has vowed to appeal against the ruling. He was declared the winner of the poll with 38.6% of the vote. That was just under 159,000 more votes than his nearest rival, Lazarus Chakwera. The court ordered a re-run within the next five months. It said the vote should take place under different rules. Firstly, it is worth noting that the judges did not rule that the election was stolen. They simply said the evidence of rigging was so widespread and blatant that \"the integrity of the result was severely compromised\". It is an important distinction. In essence, the judges argued that Malawians deserve, and should expect, an A- grade election - not perfect, perhaps (who can boast that?) but free of systemic abuse. They should not have to make do with the more familiar C+ election that some nations and institutions still seem to tolerate or encourage. Secondly, the court directed Malawi's parliament to consider recalling the current electoral commission to \"ensure smooth conduct of fresh elections\". In so doing, they sent a signal that the supposedly neutral bureaucrats in charge of organising such flawed elections should be thrown out. They also implied that a slap on the wrist was not enough, and that Malawi's precious democratic institutions needed to be properly defended. This was an important blow against a widespread culture of impunity. Thirdly, the judges said the current first-past-the-post system of picking a new president was unconstitutional. In future, they said, the winner needed to gain more than 50% of the vote, which could mean a second-round run-off. That could have dramatic political implications for Malawi and is, above all, sure to encourage opposition candidates and parties to enter into strategic coalitions, giving them an unanticipated boost. Fundamentally, the court ruling weakens the power of incumbency - a power that is often stronger, and more open to abuse, in relatively young democracies. The judges could easily have played this one safe. They could have succumbed to intimidation or self-censorship. They could have concluded that there was serious electoral fraud, but no proof that it actually changed the results, therefore no need for drastic measures. They could have given the electoral commission the benefit of the doubt. They could have merely urged the implementation of unspecified reforms before the next election. They could have been wary of judicial overreach. Instead, Malawi's highest court seized this opportunity not only to shake up their country's political and electoral infrastructure, but to send a message of judicial strength and independence to other African countries still wrestling with the shift from one-party rule to true multi-party democracy. Just think how different Zimbabwe's or the Democratic Republic of Congo's recent elections might have been if their courts had simply refused to tolerate a second-rate process. It is easy to exaggerate the importance of this ruling. An election re-run in Malawi will hardly strike terror into the hearts of Africa's more authoritarian administrations. It could even provoke further instability in Malawi itself. But the ruling does set a useful precedent, and should prompt some soul searching in regional groups like the Southern African Development Community (Sadc), whose election observer missions have often been accused of being indecently quick to give flawed polls the benefit of the doubt. Sadc has tried to put a positive spin on its role in Malawi, but the whiff of hypocrisy is hard to ignore. President Mutharika has indicated that he plans to lodge an appeal against the court's ruling. That decision is likely to prolong and amplify political tensions in the country, at least in the short term. The president's opponents will be fired up by the annulment and its devastating implication - that as winners of a flawed election, Mr Mutharika's backers are now prime suspects in terms of orchestrating any rigging. Much now hangs on whether any appeal goes ahead, how quickly it is dealt with, and - of course - whether the judges' ruling is overturned. Legal challenges aside, Malawi now has under five months to organise and fund new elections, change its electoral law, overhaul its electoral commission, and maintain public order at a time of heightened political tensions. That is a tall order for any country. There is no guarantee that one sharp judicial intervention will necessarily nudge Malawi on to the right path. After years in which democracy appeared to be spreading and taking root across the continent, many observers now see signs of backsliding. This comes as former liberation movements see their support base eroding, and some governments look to \"managed democracies\" like Russia, or even to China, for inspiration. In that context, Malawi's annulled election may inspire democracy campaigners and activists in other countries, but it may also prompt more authoritarian governments to seek to clip the wings of independent judges and to limit judicial \"meddling\" in politics. And what lessons will opposition parties across the continent draw from Malawi? Many, with good reason, are now celebrating the success of their counterparts there. Some may conclude that the route to power lies through legal challenges and sustained, and sometimes violent street protests. But that would be premature, and perhaps even counterproductive. The bigger lesson for opposition parties - yet to be fully tested in Malawi, but already apparent from DR Congo and many other countries - is that sustained success requires difficult compromises, patient coalition-building, solid policy platforms, and a willingness to reach beyond narrow ethnic or regional strongholds.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 668, "answer_end": 2312, "text": "Firstly, it is worth noting that the judges did not rule that the election was stolen. They simply said the evidence of rigging was so widespread and blatant that \"the integrity of the result was severely compromised\". It is an important distinction. In essence, the judges argued that Malawians deserve, and should expect, an A- grade election - not perfect, perhaps (who can boast that?) but free of systemic abuse. They should not have to make do with the more familiar C+ election that some nations and institutions still seem to tolerate or encourage. Secondly, the court directed Malawi's parliament to consider recalling the current electoral commission to \"ensure smooth conduct of fresh elections\". In so doing, they sent a signal that the supposedly neutral bureaucrats in charge of organising such flawed elections should be thrown out. They also implied that a slap on the wrist was not enough, and that Malawi's precious democratic institutions needed to be properly defended. This was an important blow against a widespread culture of impunity. Thirdly, the judges said the current first-past-the-post system of picking a new president was unconstitutional. In future, they said, the winner needed to gain more than 50% of the vote, which could mean a second-round run-off. That could have dramatic political implications for Malawi and is, above all, sure to encourage opposition candidates and parties to enter into strategic coalitions, giving them an unanticipated boost. Fundamentally, the court ruling weakens the power of incumbency - a power that is often stronger, and more open to abuse, in relatively young democracies."}], "question": "What did the judges say?", "id": "814_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2313, "answer_end": 3909, "text": "The judges could easily have played this one safe. They could have succumbed to intimidation or self-censorship. They could have concluded that there was serious electoral fraud, but no proof that it actually changed the results, therefore no need for drastic measures. They could have given the electoral commission the benefit of the doubt. They could have merely urged the implementation of unspecified reforms before the next election. They could have been wary of judicial overreach. Instead, Malawi's highest court seized this opportunity not only to shake up their country's political and electoral infrastructure, but to send a message of judicial strength and independence to other African countries still wrestling with the shift from one-party rule to true multi-party democracy. Just think how different Zimbabwe's or the Democratic Republic of Congo's recent elections might have been if their courts had simply refused to tolerate a second-rate process. It is easy to exaggerate the importance of this ruling. An election re-run in Malawi will hardly strike terror into the hearts of Africa's more authoritarian administrations. It could even provoke further instability in Malawi itself. But the ruling does set a useful precedent, and should prompt some soul searching in regional groups like the Southern African Development Community (Sadc), whose election observer missions have often been accused of being indecently quick to give flawed polls the benefit of the doubt. Sadc has tried to put a positive spin on its role in Malawi, but the whiff of hypocrisy is hard to ignore."}], "question": "Why is it such a big deal?", "id": "814_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3910, "answer_end": 4843, "text": "President Mutharika has indicated that he plans to lodge an appeal against the court's ruling. That decision is likely to prolong and amplify political tensions in the country, at least in the short term. The president's opponents will be fired up by the annulment and its devastating implication - that as winners of a flawed election, Mr Mutharika's backers are now prime suspects in terms of orchestrating any rigging. Much now hangs on whether any appeal goes ahead, how quickly it is dealt with, and - of course - whether the judges' ruling is overturned. Legal challenges aside, Malawi now has under five months to organise and fund new elections, change its electoral law, overhaul its electoral commission, and maintain public order at a time of heightened political tensions. That is a tall order for any country. There is no guarantee that one sharp judicial intervention will necessarily nudge Malawi on to the right path."}], "question": "What happens now?", "id": "814_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 4844, "answer_end": 6093, "text": "After years in which democracy appeared to be spreading and taking root across the continent, many observers now see signs of backsliding. This comes as former liberation movements see their support base eroding, and some governments look to \"managed democracies\" like Russia, or even to China, for inspiration. In that context, Malawi's annulled election may inspire democracy campaigners and activists in other countries, but it may also prompt more authoritarian governments to seek to clip the wings of independent judges and to limit judicial \"meddling\" in politics. And what lessons will opposition parties across the continent draw from Malawi? Many, with good reason, are now celebrating the success of their counterparts there. Some may conclude that the route to power lies through legal challenges and sustained, and sometimes violent street protests. But that would be premature, and perhaps even counterproductive. The bigger lesson for opposition parties - yet to be fully tested in Malawi, but already apparent from DR Congo and many other countries - is that sustained success requires difficult compromises, patient coalition-building, solid policy platforms, and a willingness to reach beyond narrow ethnic or regional strongholds."}], "question": "What does this mean for other African countries?", "id": "814_3"}]}]}, {"title": "The rise and fall of Brazilian art patron Bernardo Paz", "date": "6 May 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Bernardo de Mello Paz's open-air gallery is a vast temple to the world's finest modern artists. The Inhotim Institute, as the museological complex is called, is set in botanical gardens in the countryside of central Brazil. With 500 artworks ranging from three multicoloured Volkswagen Beetles to a swimming pool-cum-address book, and 140-hectare gardens boasting 5,000 plant species, Inhotim has been heralded as the finest art destination in Latin America. But that idyllic vision was left tainted after a federal judge sentenced Paz, who became a billionaire through a network of mining and steel companies, to more than nine years in jail for money laundering late last year. His sister, Virginia de Mello Paz, got five years. Both siblings will appeal against their convictions. Paz is accused of receiving $98.5m (PS70.6m) between 2007 and 2008 into an account intended for donations to Inhotim, but instead using some of those funds to meet the obligations of his other companies. The question, in the wake of the conviction, is what will become of Inhotim and its eccentric owner? \"It was one of the great curatorial opportunities of our time,\" remembers Allan Schwartzman, the New York-based artistic director who has worked with Paz for 14 years building up the museum's collection from artists across the world. Founded in 2002, it opened its doors in 2006 and today functions as a non-profit institution. \"Bernardo is a cerebral man who exists in isolation,\" Mr Schwartzman added. \"Inhotim was about quiet social activism. His primary motivation was to create something beautiful to inspire people from a wide a range of socio-economic backgrounds.\" Federal prosecutors in the state of Minas Gerais, where Inhotim is located, declined to be interviewed but released a statement that accused the siblings of \"using devices, such as the cleansing of financial movements between his companies, to launder money arising from the evasion of social security contributions\" - allegations that Paz had previously dismissed as a \"mountain of nonsense and lies\". Mr Schwartzman, too, says it is not an image he recognises. \"I have always known Bernardo to be a man of great integrity, generosity and public mindedness. He poured everything of his psychological being and economic capacity into creating this museum,\" he said. \"The art world has risen up in support of Bernardo.\" In the wake of his conviction, Paz stood down from his role as chairman of the board of directors, to be replaced by World Bank economist Ricardo Gazel. \"Obviously there is an impact on our reputation. He was the creator. His name will always be associated with Inhotim,\" says Mr Gazel. \"But it is important to clarify the independence of Inhotim. Our administration is separate from Bernardo and his businesses, although we have obviously received donations from him. \"Bernardo decided to step down because he didn't want this news. Certain people have devious interpretations of what happened. He preferred to step down. It increases what already existed - the distance between his business and Inhotim.\" Once entirely funded by Paz's wealth, which is estimated to be at least $800m, the future of Inhotim looks secure, even without him. In 2014, he funded 50% of the maintenance budget, but in 2017 that figure was less than 10%. \"For a long time Bernardo already saw the need to make Inhotim more self-sustainable,\" says Mr Gazel. \"Once we created the institution we have gained many other sources of income, such as sponsorship from banks and [mining giant] Vale.\" \"The future of Inhotim looks secure. It is important for any cultural institution to depend on the whole society, not just on one person.\" One other cloud hangs over Inhotim. Paz is said to owe the state of Minas Gerais a debt of 500m reais ($154m), for the most part liabilities left by his companies in the mining and steel industry that have since closed. As a solution, Paz has offered part of the collection at Inhotim, including works by Adriana Varejao and Linda do Rosario, to the government as payment. He says the works are worth $190m, a fraction of the total $1.5bn art collection. But it would seem the government would be happy for the works to remain at Inhotim. \"If the government of Minas Gerais does have an interest in keeping the works in Inhotim, it will be necessary for them to formally lend the works to the Institute, just as Paz did before,\" explains Lina Santin, a partner at law firm Santi Estevao & Cabrera. \"There is no other such museum in Brazil,\" Paz has been quoted as saying in local media. \"The government is not going to take them away from here.\" All photographs subject to copyright.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 988, "answer_end": 2380, "text": "The question, in the wake of the conviction, is what will become of Inhotim and its eccentric owner? \"It was one of the great curatorial opportunities of our time,\" remembers Allan Schwartzman, the New York-based artistic director who has worked with Paz for 14 years building up the museum's collection from artists across the world. Founded in 2002, it opened its doors in 2006 and today functions as a non-profit institution. \"Bernardo is a cerebral man who exists in isolation,\" Mr Schwartzman added. \"Inhotim was about quiet social activism. His primary motivation was to create something beautiful to inspire people from a wide a range of socio-economic backgrounds.\" Federal prosecutors in the state of Minas Gerais, where Inhotim is located, declined to be interviewed but released a statement that accused the siblings of \"using devices, such as the cleansing of financial movements between his companies, to launder money arising from the evasion of social security contributions\" - allegations that Paz had previously dismissed as a \"mountain of nonsense and lies\". Mr Schwartzman, too, says it is not an image he recognises. \"I have always known Bernardo to be a man of great integrity, generosity and public mindedness. He poured everything of his psychological being and economic capacity into creating this museum,\" he said. \"The art world has risen up in support of Bernardo.\""}], "question": "What next for Inhotim?", "id": "815_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3551, "answer_end": 4673, "text": "\"The future of Inhotim looks secure. It is important for any cultural institution to depend on the whole society, not just on one person.\" One other cloud hangs over Inhotim. Paz is said to owe the state of Minas Gerais a debt of 500m reais ($154m), for the most part liabilities left by his companies in the mining and steel industry that have since closed. As a solution, Paz has offered part of the collection at Inhotim, including works by Adriana Varejao and Linda do Rosario, to the government as payment. He says the works are worth $190m, a fraction of the total $1.5bn art collection. But it would seem the government would be happy for the works to remain at Inhotim. \"If the government of Minas Gerais does have an interest in keeping the works in Inhotim, it will be necessary for them to formally lend the works to the Institute, just as Paz did before,\" explains Lina Santin, a partner at law firm Santi Estevao & Cabrera. \"There is no other such museum in Brazil,\" Paz has been quoted as saying in local media. \"The government is not going to take them away from here.\" All photographs subject to copyright."}], "question": "Works of art in payment?", "id": "815_1"}]}]}, {"title": "John Allen Chau: India 'puts on hold' efforts to retrieve body", "date": "27 November 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Indian officials have \"put on hold\" efforts to retrieve the body of an American missionary reportedly killed by an endangered tribe in the Andaman and Nicobar islands last week. A senior official told the BBC it was done so as not to disturb the protected Sentinelese tribespeople. John Allen Chau is said to have been killed with arrows when he landed on North Sentinel island on 17 November. He was trying to convert the tribespeople to Christianity. His body is still on the island and attempts so far to retrieve it have been unsuccessful. On Monday, top government official Chetan Sanghi called a meeting of senior officials from the police, tribal welfare, forest and anthropological departments where it was decided to put the search for the body on hold, an official who attended the meeting told the BBC. The official, who did not want to be named, said a boat was sent to the area on Tuesday morning, but it was \"only to check the situation\". \"In the initial days several attempts were made to find the body after the tribesmen were seen dragging it. We know the general direction of where it was taken, but we still don't know where exactly it is,\" he said. The decision to halt the search was taken because the exercise \"is too risky\" and also after \"objections\" were raised by various groups, he added. Earlier on Monday, rights group Survival International said the search should be called off as it was \"incredibly dangerous\" for both the Sentinelese and officials. \"Such efforts in similar cases in the past have ended with the Sentinelese attempting to defend their island by force,\" said Survival director Stephen Corry. Indian anthropologists and researchers also expressed concern that search teams going to the island may escalate tensions. In the past few days, police are reported to have used a ship and a helicopter to get close to the island because a murder case has been registered which has to be investigated. But considering that the tribespeople are protected, the authorities are in a quandary about how to proceed further. In 2006, the Sentinelese killed two Indian fishermen who had tried to sneak on to the island. Officials were unable to retrieve the bodies. The most recent attempt to retrieve Chau's body was at the weekend, when a police boat faced off with Sentinelese tribesmen but withdrew to avoid confrontation. On Saturday, police stationed their boat about 400m (437 yards) offshore and, using binoculars, saw tribesmen on the beach armed with bows and arrows. \"They stared at us and we were looking at them,\" regional police chief Dependra Pathak told reporters. The boat then withdrew. Six fishermen who ferried Chau, 27, to North Sentinel island have been arrested over the incident, with one other person also held. Outsiders are banned from even approaching the island so as to protect the people who live there, and their way of life. The complete isolation of the Sentinelese people means contact with the outside world could put them at risk, as they are likely to have no immunity to even common illnesses such as flu and measles. The tribesmen have also treated outsiders with hostility for years. Chau's family have said they forgive those who killed him.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 2197, "answer_end": 3214, "text": "The most recent attempt to retrieve Chau's body was at the weekend, when a police boat faced off with Sentinelese tribesmen but withdrew to avoid confrontation. On Saturday, police stationed their boat about 400m (437 yards) offshore and, using binoculars, saw tribesmen on the beach armed with bows and arrows. \"They stared at us and we were looking at them,\" regional police chief Dependra Pathak told reporters. The boat then withdrew. Six fishermen who ferried Chau, 27, to North Sentinel island have been arrested over the incident, with one other person also held. Outsiders are banned from even approaching the island so as to protect the people who live there, and their way of life. The complete isolation of the Sentinelese people means contact with the outside world could put them at risk, as they are likely to have no immunity to even common illnesses such as flu and measles. The tribesmen have also treated outsiders with hostility for years. Chau's family have said they forgive those who killed him."}], "question": "What have authorities done so far?", "id": "816_0"}]}]}, {"title": "South Africa's ex-president Jacob Zuma reverses course on corruption inquiry", "date": "19 July 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Former South African president Jacob Zuma will give further testimony to a corruption inquiry, withdrawing an earlier threat to pull out. His lawyer, Muzi Sikhakhane, had said on Friday that Mr Zuma would \"take no further part\" in the proceedings. But the judge overseeing the inquiry later said Mr Zuma had agreed to provide it with written statements. The inquiry is investigating allegations that the ex-leader oversaw a web of corruption while in office. The 77-year-old, who began testifying on Monday, was forced to resign as president in February 2018. He was replaced by his then-deputy, Cyril Ramaphosa, who promised to tackle corruption in South Africa. Mr Ramaphosa described Mr Zuma's nine years in office as \"wasted\". Mr Ramaphosa was also the subject of a high-level corruption scandal. The country's corruption watchdog accused him of deliberately misleading parliament over an election campaign donation. Mr Ramaphosa has denied any knowledge of the payment. The lawyer, Mr Sikhakhane, told the inquiry commission in Johannesburg: \"Our client from the beginning... has been treated as someone who was accused.\" He criticised the investigation, led by Judge Raymond Zondo, alleging that it was a \"political process where the left hand doesn't know what the right hand is doing\". He also said Mr Zuma had been subjected to \"relentless cross-examination\". Mr Zuma had been due to give a final day of testimony on Friday but the inquiry was adjourned. \"I expected that he would co-operate,\" Judge Zondo said following Mr Zuma's withdrawal. \"The first purpose was to give him an opportunity to tell his side of his story.\" But shortly after, the judge said Mr Zuma had agreed to provide written statements and then return to the inquiry at a later date. The allegations against Mr Zuma focus on his relationship with the controversial Gupta family, which has been accused of influencing cabinet appointments and winning lucrative state tenders through corruption. He has also been accused of taking bribes from the logistics firm Bosasa, which is run by the Watson family. All the parties deny allegations of wrongdoing. The scandal is widely referred to as \"state capture\" - shorthand for a form of corruption in which businesses and politicians commandeer state assets to advance their own interests. On Monday, Mr Zuma gave a lengthy address in which he claimed the corruption allegations were a \"conspiracy\" aimed at removing him from the political scene. \"I have been vilified, alleged to be the king of corrupt people,\" he said. He implied that the UK and US had been - and still were - part of an elaborate plot to discredit him, even as he tried to bring about political and economic change in South Africa. Mr Zuma also said other foreign agents had tried to poison him, without naming them or offering any proof. \"I never did anything with them unlawfully,\" he said of the Gupta family. \"They just remained friends, as they were friends to everybody else.\" He also objected to allegations that he had allowed the state to be \"captured\" by the family. \"Did I auction Table Mountain? Did I auction Johannesburg?\" he asked. On Tuesday, the former president said he had received death threats following his testimony. Many of the revelations from the inquiry concern the relationship between two families - the Zumas, centred on the former president, and the Guptas, three Indian-born brothers who moved to South Africa after the fall of apartheid. The two families became so closely linked that a joint term was coined for them - the \"Zuptas\". The Guptas owned a portfolio of companies that enjoyed lucrative contracts with South African government departments and state-owned conglomerates. They also employed several Zuma family members - including the president's son, Duduzane - in senior positions. According to testimony heard at the inquiry, the Guptas went to great lengths to influence their most important client, the South African state. Public officials responsible for various state bodies say they were directly instructed by the Guptas to take decisions that would advance the brothers' business interests. It is alleged that compliance was rewarded with money and promotion, while disobedience was punished with dismissal.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 975, "answer_end": 1764, "text": "The lawyer, Mr Sikhakhane, told the inquiry commission in Johannesburg: \"Our client from the beginning... has been treated as someone who was accused.\" He criticised the investigation, led by Judge Raymond Zondo, alleging that it was a \"political process where the left hand doesn't know what the right hand is doing\". He also said Mr Zuma had been subjected to \"relentless cross-examination\". Mr Zuma had been due to give a final day of testimony on Friday but the inquiry was adjourned. \"I expected that he would co-operate,\" Judge Zondo said following Mr Zuma's withdrawal. \"The first purpose was to give him an opportunity to tell his side of his story.\" But shortly after, the judge said Mr Zuma had agreed to provide written statements and then return to the inquiry at a later date."}], "question": "Why did Mr Zuma threaten to withdraw?", "id": "817_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1765, "answer_end": 3234, "text": "The allegations against Mr Zuma focus on his relationship with the controversial Gupta family, which has been accused of influencing cabinet appointments and winning lucrative state tenders through corruption. He has also been accused of taking bribes from the logistics firm Bosasa, which is run by the Watson family. All the parties deny allegations of wrongdoing. The scandal is widely referred to as \"state capture\" - shorthand for a form of corruption in which businesses and politicians commandeer state assets to advance their own interests. On Monday, Mr Zuma gave a lengthy address in which he claimed the corruption allegations were a \"conspiracy\" aimed at removing him from the political scene. \"I have been vilified, alleged to be the king of corrupt people,\" he said. He implied that the UK and US had been - and still were - part of an elaborate plot to discredit him, even as he tried to bring about political and economic change in South Africa. Mr Zuma also said other foreign agents had tried to poison him, without naming them or offering any proof. \"I never did anything with them unlawfully,\" he said of the Gupta family. \"They just remained friends, as they were friends to everybody else.\" He also objected to allegations that he had allowed the state to be \"captured\" by the family. \"Did I auction Table Mountain? Did I auction Johannesburg?\" he asked. On Tuesday, the former president said he had received death threats following his testimony."}], "question": "What is Mr Zuma accused of?", "id": "817_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3235, "answer_end": 4256, "text": "Many of the revelations from the inquiry concern the relationship between two families - the Zumas, centred on the former president, and the Guptas, three Indian-born brothers who moved to South Africa after the fall of apartheid. The two families became so closely linked that a joint term was coined for them - the \"Zuptas\". The Guptas owned a portfolio of companies that enjoyed lucrative contracts with South African government departments and state-owned conglomerates. They also employed several Zuma family members - including the president's son, Duduzane - in senior positions. According to testimony heard at the inquiry, the Guptas went to great lengths to influence their most important client, the South African state. Public officials responsible for various state bodies say they were directly instructed by the Guptas to take decisions that would advance the brothers' business interests. It is alleged that compliance was rewarded with money and promotion, while disobedience was punished with dismissal."}], "question": "How did 'state capture' operate in South Africa?", "id": "817_2"}]}]}, {"title": "What is Standing Rock and why are 1.4m 'checking in' there?", "date": "2 November 2016", "paragraphs": [{"context": "More than 1.4 million people have \"checked in\" on Facebook to support protesters fighting against a new oil pipeline in Standing Rock, a Sioux Native American reservation in North Dakota. Activists say the Sioux Indians are under threat as the pipeline could contaminate the tribe's water source. Protesters are worried police might be tracking them on social media, igniting concerns over digital privacy. Their aim is to confuse the police. They believe the local police department is using Facebook's location feature to compile a list of activists who are protesting about the pipeline. The location feature allows users to tag themselves at a specific location or \"check-in\" and add related photos and videos. Over the weekend, activists asked people to falsely \"check in\" on Facebook to confuse police about the number and identity of those actually protesting. Supporters put out a call for help on Facebook. \"The Morton County Sheriff's Department has been using Facebook check-ins to find out who is at SR [Standing Rock] in order to target them in attempts to disrupt the prayer camps,\" said the earliest publicly traceable version of the post, shared by a Facebook user from North Carolina on Sunday. \"SO Water Protectors are calling on EVERYONE to check-in at SR to overwhelm and confuse them.\" They deny they are using social media to track protesters' movements. Snopes, a website that investigates internet rumours, said they had contacted police who denied using social media to track protesters. \"An officer explained that the metric [Facebook data] presented no intelligence value,\" one article on the website said. \"If police were using geolocation tools based on mobile devices, remote check-ins would not confuse or overwhelm them,\" it added. Snopes did not confirm who started the viral Facebook post initially. Earlier this month, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) reported that police had been using social media to track protesters during the Ferguson and Baltimore riots last year. They said police had sourced information from Geofeedia, a data-providing company based in Chicago. The ACLU said this type of monitoring can \"disproportionately impact communities of colour\". They also called upon social media executives to restrict access to data mining companies who would provide information to the police. Facebook, Instagram and Twitter have since shut off access to Geofeedia. The $3.7bn (PS2.8bn) Dakota Access pipeline has drawn huge protests in North Dakota where thousands of people are trying to halt its construction, most notably the Sioux Native Americans. The tribe says the pipeline will traverse over their sacred ancestral burial grounds, archaeological sites, and could pollute their main source of water. Environmental activists have shown solidarity with the Sioux tribe saying the pipeline, which can transport up to 570,000 barrels of crude oil a day, will greatly increase fossil fuel emissions. The company behind the pipeline, Energy Transport Partners, has said the project will boost local economies and is much safer than transporting oil by rail or road. Critics say the police have used unnecessary force on activists. The local police have arrested nearly 150 activists. They have contrasted the police treatment of North Dakota protesters to the recent acquittal of seven members of an armed militia who led a 41-day standoff at a wildlife refuge in Oregon over federal land ownership. Some Native American activists have criticised the acquittal saying the Oregon protesters were given special privilege because they were white. Native Americans in Standing Rock say they are committed to being unarmed. Xhopakelxhit, a Native American activist at Standing Rock, told the Guardian: \"If native people were armed like the Bundy militia, we would be killed.\" A private security firms hired used by the pipeline company has used attack dogs on activists. Police say the firm was unlicensed and may face charges. Historically, the treatment of Native Americans has been brutal. Spanish, British, and French colonisers all fought vicious wars with native tribes. And as the American nation state moved west, settlers and landowners fought bitter battles with tribes across the continent. During the formation of states across America, the federal government made land deals with individual tribes. The reservation lands were agreed to under treaties and tribes were given autonomy to govern themselves on these lands. The Sioux Indians have claimed the land they are protesting on is rightfully theirs under a 1851 treaty which was subsequently dishonoured. The police say they are on private land. In September the federal government temporarily blocked pipeline construction under the Missouri River, close to the Standing Rock Reservation. Although this ruling is binding until further notice, construction elsewhere along the pipeline's route is not prohibited and has continued.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 407, "answer_end": 1306, "text": "Their aim is to confuse the police. They believe the local police department is using Facebook's location feature to compile a list of activists who are protesting about the pipeline. The location feature allows users to tag themselves at a specific location or \"check-in\" and add related photos and videos. Over the weekend, activists asked people to falsely \"check in\" on Facebook to confuse police about the number and identity of those actually protesting. Supporters put out a call for help on Facebook. \"The Morton County Sheriff's Department has been using Facebook check-ins to find out who is at SR [Standing Rock] in order to target them in attempts to disrupt the prayer camps,\" said the earliest publicly traceable version of the post, shared by a Facebook user from North Carolina on Sunday. \"SO Water Protectors are calling on EVERYONE to check-in at SR to overwhelm and confuse them.\""}], "question": "Why are so many people checking in on Facebook?", "id": "818_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1307, "answer_end": 1833, "text": "They deny they are using social media to track protesters' movements. Snopes, a website that investigates internet rumours, said they had contacted police who denied using social media to track protesters. \"An officer explained that the metric [Facebook data] presented no intelligence value,\" one article on the website said. \"If police were using geolocation tools based on mobile devices, remote check-ins would not confuse or overwhelm them,\" it added. Snopes did not confirm who started the viral Facebook post initially."}], "question": "What do the sheriffs say?", "id": "818_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1834, "answer_end": 2416, "text": "Earlier this month, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) reported that police had been using social media to track protesters during the Ferguson and Baltimore riots last year. They said police had sourced information from Geofeedia, a data-providing company based in Chicago. The ACLU said this type of monitoring can \"disproportionately impact communities of colour\". They also called upon social media executives to restrict access to data mining companies who would provide information to the police. Facebook, Instagram and Twitter have since shut off access to Geofeedia."}], "question": "Are there issues with the police possibly using Facebook to monitor protesters?", "id": "818_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2417, "answer_end": 3118, "text": "The $3.7bn (PS2.8bn) Dakota Access pipeline has drawn huge protests in North Dakota where thousands of people are trying to halt its construction, most notably the Sioux Native Americans. The tribe says the pipeline will traverse over their sacred ancestral burial grounds, archaeological sites, and could pollute their main source of water. Environmental activists have shown solidarity with the Sioux tribe saying the pipeline, which can transport up to 570,000 barrels of crude oil a day, will greatly increase fossil fuel emissions. The company behind the pipeline, Energy Transport Partners, has said the project will boost local economies and is much safer than transporting oil by rail or road."}], "question": "What are people protesting about?", "id": "818_3"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3119, "answer_end": 3975, "text": "Critics say the police have used unnecessary force on activists. The local police have arrested nearly 150 activists. They have contrasted the police treatment of North Dakota protesters to the recent acquittal of seven members of an armed militia who led a 41-day standoff at a wildlife refuge in Oregon over federal land ownership. Some Native American activists have criticised the acquittal saying the Oregon protesters were given special privilege because they were white. Native Americans in Standing Rock say they are committed to being unarmed. Xhopakelxhit, a Native American activist at Standing Rock, told the Guardian: \"If native people were armed like the Bundy militia, we would be killed.\" A private security firms hired used by the pipeline company has used attack dogs on activists. Police say the firm was unlicensed and may face charges."}], "question": "Have the protesters been treated fairly?", "id": "818_4"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3976, "answer_end": 4945, "text": "Historically, the treatment of Native Americans has been brutal. Spanish, British, and French colonisers all fought vicious wars with native tribes. And as the American nation state moved west, settlers and landowners fought bitter battles with tribes across the continent. During the formation of states across America, the federal government made land deals with individual tribes. The reservation lands were agreed to under treaties and tribes were given autonomy to govern themselves on these lands. The Sioux Indians have claimed the land they are protesting on is rightfully theirs under a 1851 treaty which was subsequently dishonoured. The police say they are on private land. In September the federal government temporarily blocked pipeline construction under the Missouri River, close to the Standing Rock Reservation. Although this ruling is binding until further notice, construction elsewhere along the pipeline's route is not prohibited and has continued."}], "question": "How have Native Americans been treated in the past?", "id": "818_5"}]}]}, {"title": "Why women are fighting back against hair oppression", "date": "13 December 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Recent efforts to ban hair discrimination have amplified the struggle for women of colour and their natural hair, particularly in the workplace. Senator Cory Booker has proposed the first bill in history to ban hair discrimination at the federal level. The CROWN Act (Creating a Respectful and Open Workplace for Natural hair) was first introduced in California, making it the first state to pass a law that makes this form of discrimination illegal. This move was followed by the State of New York, and New Jersey became the latest state to pass this legislation. \"Implicit and explicit biases against natural hair are deeply ingrained in workplace norms and society at large. This is a violation of our civil rights, and it happens every day for black people across the country,\" said Senator Booker. While many incidents of discrimination in schools and the workplace have recently surfaced on the news and on social media, this deep-rooted issue has unfortunately been a common reality for many black men and women. A recent study by soap brand Dove found that a black woman is 80% more likely than a white woman to change her natural hair to meet social norms or expectations at work. Tameka Amado, a young African American woman in Boston, says she has changed her hair \"plenty of times\" for work and school. \"When I was on the competitive cheerleading team, I was never allowed to wear my hair in its natural state. My coach made sure our hair was up and straight. The repeated ironing of her hair caused it to start falling out in a her junior year, she says. \"For centuries our hair has been attacked. It's uncomfortable to know you have no control of how your hair grows, the only thing you can control is how you wear it and how you protect it, and to not have that freedom is discrimination. It only happens with us.\" Laws like those proposed by Senator Booker give her hope, she says. \"It's long overdue. Policing our hair is just another systematic oppression,\" she says. \"There is an entire industry that has become successful on the backs of hair discrimination. Chemical treatments like relaxers, hair extensions, wigs, were all created because this disgust for our hair texture.\" Ms Amado's struggle between embracing her natural roots and being more susceptible to criticism and disfranchisement is a continuous battle. \"I want black women to enjoy their hair and whatever hair they choose to have but there will always be some kind of critique.\" Salon owner Wanda Henderson breaks down natural hair as \"the state in which hair is not chemically treated to alter afro-texture hair\" and includes many different styles. \"Natural hair is so wonderful to work with. The thicker it is, the stronger it is, and the longer it grows. It's stylish, more convenient and healthier.\" Henderson promotes natural styles in her shop in Washington DC. She explains that taking the hair from its natural state is not healthy, and there can be long-term consequences. \"I've been doing hair over 40 years, and we did a lot of relaxers back in the 70s, 80s and 90s and with that came a lot of breakage, balding, and shedding when you apply chemicals to black hair and you don't keep it up.\" Henderson says that many of her clients have experienced some sort of discrimination against their hair, but recent efforts and discussion have had a ripple effect. \"We get a lot of people now who want no chemicals, they just want all natural. We've gotten a large increase of that.\" She largely attributed this to more attention to incidents, legislation, and a push for black men and women to embrace their natural beauty. The struggle between natural hair and acceptance transcends class and the corporate America realm. Current national anti-discrimination laws don't mention hair. This has caused many black men and women to attempt to push back against this form of discrimination on their own in schools, workplaces, and even Hollywood. Actress Gabrielle Union made headlines recently because she says she was fired as a judge on NBC's hit reality show America's Got Talent because the hairstyles she wore were considered \"too black\" for the show. NBC responded by saying saying they remained \"committed to ensuring a respectful workplace for all employees\" and take questions about workplace culture seriously. Many other celebrities have also spoken out about their own experiences with their natural hair in the industry and the daily pressures they face. The policing of black hair dates back to slavery in the US. Black women have always adapted in attempts to be accepted in society. When Africans were first enslaved and brought to the US, many of their heads were shaved to prevent the spread of lice but also erase their culture and identity as a form of assimilation. This stigma continued through the years. The invention of products like hair relaxers, chemical treatment and hot-combs were used to straighten Afro-texture hair, in order to mimic Eurocentric hair. In fact, many jobs and public spaces didn't accept hairstyles mainly worn by black people. And in several cases that ended up in court, rulings were made in favour of employers. Dress codes would not mention race but would ban hairstyles mainly worn by black people in the workplace. Until 2017, women in the military were restricted from wearing natural hairstyles including \"twists, dreadlocks Afros and braids\" because they were labelled \"unkempt\". Those who did not follow these guidelines were forced to cut their hair or wear wigs. But this year, things have started to change. specifically, as individual states like California, New York and New Jersey have brought more attention to this issue. Alongside this legal progress, the conversation on the subject has widened, amplified on social media. \"My black hair has defined me because systematic oppression has allowed that,\" says Ms Amado. \"My hair is empowering and through all the relaxers, flat irons, weaves, and braids, my hair tells a story. It's going to continue telling these stories through every kink and curl.\"", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1020, "answer_end": 2465, "text": "A recent study by soap brand Dove found that a black woman is 80% more likely than a white woman to change her natural hair to meet social norms or expectations at work. Tameka Amado, a young African American woman in Boston, says she has changed her hair \"plenty of times\" for work and school. \"When I was on the competitive cheerleading team, I was never allowed to wear my hair in its natural state. My coach made sure our hair was up and straight. The repeated ironing of her hair caused it to start falling out in a her junior year, she says. \"For centuries our hair has been attacked. It's uncomfortable to know you have no control of how your hair grows, the only thing you can control is how you wear it and how you protect it, and to not have that freedom is discrimination. It only happens with us.\" Laws like those proposed by Senator Booker give her hope, she says. \"It's long overdue. Policing our hair is just another systematic oppression,\" she says. \"There is an entire industry that has become successful on the backs of hair discrimination. Chemical treatments like relaxers, hair extensions, wigs, were all created because this disgust for our hair texture.\" Ms Amado's struggle between embracing her natural roots and being more susceptible to criticism and disfranchisement is a continuous battle. \"I want black women to enjoy their hair and whatever hair they choose to have but there will always be some kind of critique.\""}], "question": "How are women of colour discriminated against?", "id": "819_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2466, "answer_end": 4455, "text": "Salon owner Wanda Henderson breaks down natural hair as \"the state in which hair is not chemically treated to alter afro-texture hair\" and includes many different styles. \"Natural hair is so wonderful to work with. The thicker it is, the stronger it is, and the longer it grows. It's stylish, more convenient and healthier.\" Henderson promotes natural styles in her shop in Washington DC. She explains that taking the hair from its natural state is not healthy, and there can be long-term consequences. \"I've been doing hair over 40 years, and we did a lot of relaxers back in the 70s, 80s and 90s and with that came a lot of breakage, balding, and shedding when you apply chemicals to black hair and you don't keep it up.\" Henderson says that many of her clients have experienced some sort of discrimination against their hair, but recent efforts and discussion have had a ripple effect. \"We get a lot of people now who want no chemicals, they just want all natural. We've gotten a large increase of that.\" She largely attributed this to more attention to incidents, legislation, and a push for black men and women to embrace their natural beauty. The struggle between natural hair and acceptance transcends class and the corporate America realm. Current national anti-discrimination laws don't mention hair. This has caused many black men and women to attempt to push back against this form of discrimination on their own in schools, workplaces, and even Hollywood. Actress Gabrielle Union made headlines recently because she says she was fired as a judge on NBC's hit reality show America's Got Talent because the hairstyles she wore were considered \"too black\" for the show. NBC responded by saying saying they remained \"committed to ensuring a respectful workplace for all employees\" and take questions about workplace culture seriously. Many other celebrities have also spoken out about their own experiences with their natural hair in the industry and the daily pressures they face."}], "question": "What are hairstylists saying?", "id": "819_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 4456, "answer_end": 6056, "text": "The policing of black hair dates back to slavery in the US. Black women have always adapted in attempts to be accepted in society. When Africans were first enslaved and brought to the US, many of their heads were shaved to prevent the spread of lice but also erase their culture and identity as a form of assimilation. This stigma continued through the years. The invention of products like hair relaxers, chemical treatment and hot-combs were used to straighten Afro-texture hair, in order to mimic Eurocentric hair. In fact, many jobs and public spaces didn't accept hairstyles mainly worn by black people. And in several cases that ended up in court, rulings were made in favour of employers. Dress codes would not mention race but would ban hairstyles mainly worn by black people in the workplace. Until 2017, women in the military were restricted from wearing natural hairstyles including \"twists, dreadlocks Afros and braids\" because they were labelled \"unkempt\". Those who did not follow these guidelines were forced to cut their hair or wear wigs. But this year, things have started to change. specifically, as individual states like California, New York and New Jersey have brought more attention to this issue. Alongside this legal progress, the conversation on the subject has widened, amplified on social media. \"My black hair has defined me because systematic oppression has allowed that,\" says Ms Amado. \"My hair is empowering and through all the relaxers, flat irons, weaves, and braids, my hair tells a story. It's going to continue telling these stories through every kink and curl.\""}], "question": "How did we get here?", "id": "819_2"}]}]}, {"title": "Peru's ex-President Alan Garc\u00eda shoots himself before arrest", "date": "17 April 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Peru's former President Alan Garcia has shot himself as police came to arrest him. Casimiro Ulloa hospital in the capital, Lima, said he was in surgery where he was being treated for \"a bullet wound to his head\". Mr Garcia is accused of taking bribes from Brazilian construction company Odebrecht - claims he has repeatedly denied. Officers had been sent to arrest him in connection with the allegations. Interior Minister Carlos Moran told reporters that when police arrived, Mr Garcia asked to make a phone call and went into a room and closed the door. Minutes later, a shot rang out, Mr Moran said. Police forced the door open and found Mr Garcia sitting on a chair with a bullet wound to his head. Health minister Zulema Tomas said Mr Garcia's condition was \"very serious and critical\", and that he had to be resuscitated after suffering three cardiac arrests. \"Let's pray to God to give him strength,\" the former president's lawyer Erasmo Reyna reportedly told journalists at the hospital. Mr Garcia served as president from 1985 to 1990 and again from 2006 to 2011. Investigators say he took bribes from Odebrecht during his second term in office, linked to a metro line building project in the capital. Odebrecht has admitted paying almost $30m (PS23m) in bribes in Peru since 2004. But Mr Garcia says he is the victim of political persecution, writing in a tweet on Tuesday that there is \"no clue or evidence\" against him. Odebrecht is a Brazilian construction giant behind major infrastructure projects around the world, including venues for the 2016 Olympics and 2014 World Cup in its home country. But under the glare of anti-corruption investigators the company admitted paying bribes in more than half of the countries in Latin America, as well as in Angola and Mozambique in Africa. Investigators say Odebrecht bribed officials or electoral candidates in exchange for lucrative building contracts. The corruption scandal has brought down politicians throughout Latin America. Peru's four most recent presidents are all being investigated for alleged corruption, with a fifth - Alberto Fujimori - serving a prison sentence for corruption and human rights abuses. Ex-leader Pedro Pablo Kuczynski was taken to hospital with high blood pressure on Wednesday just days after his own arrest in connection with Odebrecht charges. And the current leader of the opposition, Keiko Fujimori, is also in pre-trial detention on charges of taking $1.2m (PS940,000) in bribes from Odebrecht. In October, an opinion poll by Datum showed 94% of Peruvians believed the level of corruption was either high or very high in their country. - Pedro Pablo Kuczynski, in office 2016-2018, resigned over a vote-buying scandal and detained last week - Ollanta Humala, in office 2011-2016, accused of taking bribes from Odebrecht to bankroll his election campaign, in pre-trial detention in Peru - Alan Garcia, in office 2006-2011, suspected of taking kickbacks from Odebrecht, sought asylum in Uruguay's Lima embassy but had his request denied - Alejandro Toledo, in office 2001-2006, accused of taking millions of dollars in bribes from Odebrecht, currently a fugitive in the US", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1432, "answer_end": 1990, "text": "Odebrecht is a Brazilian construction giant behind major infrastructure projects around the world, including venues for the 2016 Olympics and 2014 World Cup in its home country. But under the glare of anti-corruption investigators the company admitted paying bribes in more than half of the countries in Latin America, as well as in Angola and Mozambique in Africa. Investigators say Odebrecht bribed officials or electoral candidates in exchange for lucrative building contracts. The corruption scandal has brought down politicians throughout Latin America."}], "question": "What is the Odebrecht scandal?", "id": "820_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1991, "answer_end": 2632, "text": "Peru's four most recent presidents are all being investigated for alleged corruption, with a fifth - Alberto Fujimori - serving a prison sentence for corruption and human rights abuses. Ex-leader Pedro Pablo Kuczynski was taken to hospital with high blood pressure on Wednesday just days after his own arrest in connection with Odebrecht charges. And the current leader of the opposition, Keiko Fujimori, is also in pre-trial detention on charges of taking $1.2m (PS940,000) in bribes from Odebrecht. In October, an opinion poll by Datum showed 94% of Peruvians believed the level of corruption was either high or very high in their country."}], "question": "How is Peru affected?", "id": "820_1"}]}]}, {"title": "Joe Biden: A frontrunner stumbles in the age of #MeToo", "date": "2 April 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "The most damaging political scandals are usually those that draw attention to an existing vulnerability in a candidate's public persona. The Hillary Clinton email controversy reinforced a reputation for evasion and also the sense the Clintons did not feel bound by rules that applied to lesser mortals. When during the 2012 campaign a tape emerged of Mitt Romney castigating the 47% \"dependent on government\", it seemed to confirm this former venture capitalist was a heartless \"one percenter\" lacking in empathy for the victims of the Great Recession. The allegations against Joe Biden, that he touched two women inappropriately, magnify and multiply a pre-existent image condition: that he's an old white man, who seems to defy the zeitgeist; a dinosaur who does not fully understand the meteor effect of the #MeToo movement. \"Loveable Uncle Joe\", the supposed darling of the Rust Belt, has morphed into \"creepy uncle Joe\", an online pariah. His nascent presidential candidacy is imperilled even before he has officially announced his bid. The 76-year-old has long been one of Washington's more gregarious and likeable figures. At a time when politicians were expected to be tactile to demonstrate their fealty with voters, he more than met that requirement. But his rules of physical engagement appear to stem from a bygone era. This former lawmaker, who represented the state of Delaware for 36 years, came of political age on Capitol Hill at a time when the lions of the Senate used almost to maul each other in mutual displays of affection and collegiality. In a male-dominated chamber, greetings between senators sometimes looked more like mating rituals. Often they would start with the firm grasp of a hand, move onto the grip of an elbow, then progress to the rub of a shoulder and finally be consummated with a bear hug. Perhaps we should call it the Biden treatment. It is easy to see why women would feel uncomfortable with these kind of \"hail-fellow-well-met\" customs. Personal space is invaded. Boundaries violated. Old school charm comes across as a Boys' Club chauvinism - an invasive power play. Now, after Lucy Flores told her story on Friday about Biden kissing the back of her head, another woman has accused him of making her feel uncomfortable. \"It wasn't sexual, but he did grab me by the head,\" Amy Lappos told The Hartford Courant, recalling what happened at a fundraiser in 2009. \"He put his hand around my neck and pulled me in to rub noses with me. When he was pulling me in, I thought he was going to kiss me on the mouth.\" Supporters, such as Meghan McCain, the daughter of the late Senator John McCain, have testified to Biden's kindness and thoughtfulness, a widely-shared view in Washington. Stephanie Carter, the wife of the former Defence Secretary Ashton Carter, has said a now infamous photo showing the then vice-president gripping her shoulders has been used misleadingly. \"The Joe Biden in my picture is a close friend helping someone get through a big day, for which I will always be grateful,\" she told Medium. \"So, as the sole owner of my story, it is high time that I reclaim it - from strangers, Twitter, the pundits and the late-night hosts.\" Biden's own story is founded on the belief he has never acted inappropriately in all the \"countless handshakes, hugs, expressions of affection, support and comfort\" during his many years in public life, as he put it in a statement. A problem is that the black and white, heroes and villains paradigm of modern-day public shaming struggles to accommodate these kind of more nuanced storylines. Red and blue America does not do well with areas of grey, or the spectrum of wrongdoing. His handling of the Clarence Thomas hearing in 1991 also brings back to the fore a troubling backstory. As the then chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, he faced criticism for not providing African-American law professor Anita Hill with what would today be called a safe space, as she appeared before an all-white and all-male committee to outline her allegations of sexual harassment against the Supreme Court nominee. Biden also refused to hear testimony from other witnesses who might have corroborated her story, something for which he had already delivered a mea culpa - although critics have long claimed he has never made proper amends. It is worth reflecting on Biden's first failed bid for the presidency in 1988, when he was forced to withdraw from the race after he was found to have plagiarised a speech by the British Labour party leader Neil Kinnock. Back then the bar for disqualification was relatively low. Senator Gary Hart, the early frontrunner, dropped out of the race because he was found to have had a sexual liaison with Donna Rice onboard the boat Monkey Business. Such was the censorious mood of the times, and the paramount importance of what was labelled \"the character issue\", that Bruce Babbitt, another candidate, appeared in a parody on Saturday Night Live to confess to \"injudicious use of grocery store express lanes\". Four years later, however, Bill Clinton re-wrote the rules by demonstrating that politicians could survive sex scandals, and even the accusation of draft dodging. Indeed, the ability to survive scandal, and to walk away from political car crashes, almost became a prerequisite for a successful presidential run. George W Bush demonstrated this in 2000 - just - when he survived the revelation he had been arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol. Eight years later, Barack Obama weathered the storm surrounding his former pastor Jeremiah Wright, a row that could easily have scuppered him. Survivability became an integral part of the modern political skillset, as Donald Trump demonstrated again after the release of the Access Hollywood tape. Not only did he go on to win the presidency, but a majority of white female voters. It made his famous boast that he could shoot someone on Fifth Avenue without inflicting political self-harm sound like a prophecy. Now, though, on the Democratic side at least, the mood has changed. Primary voters will surely be less sympathetic to Biden than they were to Clinton in 1992. This, after all, is the spring of 2019, and we are still in the wake of the pink wave that returned Nancy Pelosi to the speakership, elected a record-breaking number of women to Congress and helped make Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez the most talked about progressive politician in America. Mr Biden has yet to jump into the race, but plenty have. So who else has a shot at becoming the next president? It is also worth pointing out that male journalists, who helped popularise phrases like \"bimbo eruptions\" back in the early Nineties, no longer control campaign narratives to anywhere near the same extent they did back then. This felt like a controversy waiting to happen, as evidenced by the speed with which news organisations published \"Creepy Joe\" photo galleries showing Biden in seemingly compromising poses. But what makes it so riveting is that it feels like one of the intermittent moments in American national life when rules of behaviour are determined, or reinforced, which reflect not just a generational shift in thinking but also a gender-influenced shift in thinking. An irony here is that Biden has already been present in two of these previous transitional moments: the 1988 campaign, which for a brief moment made it harder for adulterers and other wrongdoers, to become president; and the Clarence Thomas hearings, which altered thinking about how allegations of sexual harassment should be handled. Supporters of Joe Biden could plausibly argue the former vice-president remains the most electable Democrat, largely because of his appeal in the three states the Democrats most need to turn blue - Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. But winning the presidency is a wholly different matter from winning the presidential nomination in a party that has moved leftward with charismatic women in the fore. Biden may struggle to become the figurehead of a party that may well regard him as a throwback. Besides, at the age of 76, it gets harder to become a Comeback Kid. Follow Nick on Twitter", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 6447, "answer_end": 6558, "text": "Mr Biden has yet to jump into the race, but plenty have. So who else has a shot at becoming the next president?"}], "question": "Who will take on Trump in 2020?", "id": "821_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Elon Musk unveils prototype high-speed LA transport tunnel", "date": "19 December 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Entrepreneur Elon Musk has unveiled a prototype underground tunnel in Los Angeles which is designed to transport cars at high speed around the city. The tunnel is only a mile (1.6km) long at the moment but the goal is a network to ease chronic traffic congestion. Modified electric cars would be lowered into the tunnel and travel at speeds up to 150mph (240km/h), Mr Musk says. The tunnel has been built by Mr Musk's Boring Company, which boasts state-of-the-art engineering techniques. Mr Musk, best known as the head of Tesla electric cars and the commercial SpaceX programme, arrived at the launch on Tuesday in a Tesla car modified to work on the \"loop\" system. He was cheered by a small crowd as he emerged from the car at one end of the tunnel bathed in green and blue interior lights. The plan envisages modified cars being lowered into the tunnel network by lifts and then slotted into tracks on the \"loop\". \"The profound breakthrough is very simple: it's the ability to turn a normal car into a passively stable vehicle by adding the deployable tracking wheels, stabilising wheels, so that it can travel at high speed through a small tunnel,\" Mr Musk said. \"The way the loop will work is you will have main arteries that are travelling at 150mph and when you want to go to an exit, you will have an off ramp,\" he added. \"So you can travel the vast majority of your journey without stopping at 150mph and only slow down when you get to your exit, and then automatically transfer from one tunnel to another. It's like a 3D highway system underground basically.\" The BBC's Peter Bowes takes a test ride on Elon Musk's LA tunnel It was almost a white knuckle ride. A bumpy two-minute journey in a modified Model X through a concrete tunnel with a blue neon light in the ceiling. We reached a speed of 49mph, although cars will eventually travel at up to 150mph. Elon Musk later explained that the bumpiness was due to problems with a paving machine and that it would be \"as smooth as glass\" eventually. The vehicle was modified by adding two alignment wheels to keep it stable at high speeds and prevent it from hitting the side of the tunnel. Mr Musk said the $200-$300 attachments could eventually be fixed to any fully autonomous electric vehicle, for use in the tunnel. They would not interfere with the vehicle's normal operation. \"We used Tesla vehicles because I run Tesla. What I am going to do? Use someone else's car?\" he asked, smiling. Alana Semuels, of The Atlantic, told the BBC World Service that Mr Musk had yet to unveil the technology that would allow vehicles to travel at such high speeds through the system. \"At first he said we're going have these tunnels and transport people in pods, now he's saying we're going to transport them in cars, so I'm not sure even he knows how it works,\" she said. Mr Musk first unveiled the tunnel plan earlier this year, saying he wanted to alleviate Los Angeles's \"soul-destroying\" traffic congestion. On Tuesday he said his Boring Company had built the tunnel segment for $10m (PS8m), adding that traditional tunnel-building technology would have cost up to $1bn. The tunnel runs beneath the municipality of Hawthorne, where the Boring Company and SpaceX are both based.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 793, "answer_end": 1569, "text": "The plan envisages modified cars being lowered into the tunnel network by lifts and then slotted into tracks on the \"loop\". \"The profound breakthrough is very simple: it's the ability to turn a normal car into a passively stable vehicle by adding the deployable tracking wheels, stabilising wheels, so that it can travel at high speed through a small tunnel,\" Mr Musk said. \"The way the loop will work is you will have main arteries that are travelling at 150mph and when you want to go to an exit, you will have an off ramp,\" he added. \"So you can travel the vast majority of your journey without stopping at 150mph and only slow down when you get to your exit, and then automatically transfer from one tunnel to another. It's like a 3D highway system underground basically.\""}], "question": "How will it work?", "id": "822_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2454, "answer_end": 3233, "text": "Alana Semuels, of The Atlantic, told the BBC World Service that Mr Musk had yet to unveil the technology that would allow vehicles to travel at such high speeds through the system. \"At first he said we're going have these tunnels and transport people in pods, now he's saying we're going to transport them in cars, so I'm not sure even he knows how it works,\" she said. Mr Musk first unveiled the tunnel plan earlier this year, saying he wanted to alleviate Los Angeles's \"soul-destroying\" traffic congestion. On Tuesday he said his Boring Company had built the tunnel segment for $10m (PS8m), adding that traditional tunnel-building technology would have cost up to $1bn. The tunnel runs beneath the municipality of Hawthorne, where the Boring Company and SpaceX are both based."}], "question": "Traffic solution?", "id": "822_1"}]}]}, {"title": "Pope Francis warns of threat to Amazon peoples on Peru visit", "date": "19 January 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Pope Francis has used a visit to Peru to sound a stark warning about the pressure on the Amazon and its peoples posed by business interests. He told indigenous people in the small town of Puerto Maldonado that the region had never been so threatened. Tribal elders called on him to help protect them, saying they were being driven from their lands. The pontiff arrived in Peru from Chile, where he became embroiled in a row over clerical sex abuse. He drew anger by accusing victims of a paedophile priest of slandering a bishop they accuse of trying to cover up the priest's crimes. The Argentine Pope, 81, is on the second and final leg of a week-long tour of Latin America. Bare-chested tribesmen, their bodies painted and their heads crowned with colourful feathers, danced and sang for the pontiff in Puerto Maldonado, an AFP news agency correspondent reports. People from across the Amazon basin region of Peru, Brazil and Bolivia had travelled in their thousands to meet him. \"The native Amazonian peoples have probably never been so threatened on their own lands as they are at present,\" Francis said, his speech punctuated by applause and the beating of drums. \"The Amazon is a territory that is being disputed on many fronts.  On the one hand, pressure being exerted by great business interests seeking petroleum, gas, lumber, and gold and on the other, the threat against the territories also comes from the perversion of several policies that promote conservation without considering humans. \"Yes, for some, you are considered an obstacle or a disturbance but all of you are the cry to the conscience.\" \"They enter into our territories without asking us and we suffer a lot and we will die when they drill into our land to retrieve the black metal water,\" Yesica Patiachi, a Peruvian indigenous representative, told the Pope. \"We will suffer when they poison and spoil our rivers, converted into black water of death. The outsiders see us as weak people and insist in taking away our territory in different ways. If they succeed in taking away our lands we might disappear.\" Madre de Dios, the region around  Puerto Maldonado, has been blighted in recent years by unregulated gold mining, leading to dangerous levels of mercury in rivers, Reuters news agency reports. Activists and tribespeople have been attacked by illegal loggers and drug traffickers in other parts of the Peruvian Amazon. The Camisea gas reserves in the Cusco region are coveted by legal foreign companies. \"We have to break with the historical paradigm that views Amazonia as an inexhaustible source of supplies for other countries without concern for its inhabitants,\" the Pope added on Friday. On a visit near the northern city of Iquique, Francis said there was \"no proof\" for claims that abuse by Father Fernando Karadima had been covered up by Bishop Juan Barros. One of Karadima's victims, Juan Andres Murillo, responded by saying the Pope's words were unacceptable. \"The Pope called our statements against Bishop Barros's concealments 'slander',\" he told AFP. \"As we confirmed with our lawyers, 'slander' is the imputation of a false fact. This is serious and we can't accept that.\" The Catholic Church suffered a body blow in Chile in 2010 when Karadima was publicly accused of molesting several teenage boys in the capital, Santiago, starting in the 1980s. In 2011 the Vatican found him guilty and sentenced him to a lifetime of  \"penance and prayer\". He never faced criminal prosecution in Chile as too much time had passed, but the judge who heard victims' testimony in a year-long investigation described them as \"truthful and reliable\".", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 677, "answer_end": 1614, "text": "Bare-chested tribesmen, their bodies painted and their heads crowned with colourful feathers, danced and sang for the pontiff in Puerto Maldonado, an AFP news agency correspondent reports. People from across the Amazon basin region of Peru, Brazil and Bolivia had travelled in their thousands to meet him. \"The native Amazonian peoples have probably never been so threatened on their own lands as they are at present,\" Francis said, his speech punctuated by applause and the beating of drums. \"The Amazon is a territory that is being disputed on many fronts.  On the one hand, pressure being exerted by great business interests seeking petroleum, gas, lumber, and gold and on the other, the threat against the territories also comes from the perversion of several policies that promote conservation without considering humans. \"Yes, for some, you are considered an obstacle or a disturbance but all of you are the cry to the conscience.\""}], "question": "What did the Pope say exactly?", "id": "823_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1615, "answer_end": 2679, "text": "\"They enter into our territories without asking us and we suffer a lot and we will die when they drill into our land to retrieve the black metal water,\" Yesica Patiachi, a Peruvian indigenous representative, told the Pope. \"We will suffer when they poison and spoil our rivers, converted into black water of death. The outsiders see us as weak people and insist in taking away our territory in different ways. If they succeed in taking away our lands we might disappear.\" Madre de Dios, the region around  Puerto Maldonado, has been blighted in recent years by unregulated gold mining, leading to dangerous levels of mercury in rivers, Reuters news agency reports. Activists and tribespeople have been attacked by illegal loggers and drug traffickers in other parts of the Peruvian Amazon. The Camisea gas reserves in the Cusco region are coveted by legal foreign companies. \"We have to break with the historical paradigm that views Amazonia as an inexhaustible source of supplies for other countries without concern for its inhabitants,\" the Pope added on Friday."}], "question": "How great is the threat to the Amazon?", "id": "823_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2680, "answer_end": 3633, "text": "On a visit near the northern city of Iquique, Francis said there was \"no proof\" for claims that abuse by Father Fernando Karadima had been covered up by Bishop Juan Barros. One of Karadima's victims, Juan Andres Murillo, responded by saying the Pope's words were unacceptable. \"The Pope called our statements against Bishop Barros's concealments 'slander',\" he told AFP. \"As we confirmed with our lawyers, 'slander' is the imputation of a false fact. This is serious and we can't accept that.\" The Catholic Church suffered a body blow in Chile in 2010 when Karadima was publicly accused of molesting several teenage boys in the capital, Santiago, starting in the 1980s. In 2011 the Vatican found him guilty and sentenced him to a lifetime of  \"penance and prayer\". He never faced criminal prosecution in Chile as too much time had passed, but the judge who heard victims' testimony in a year-long investigation described them as \"truthful and reliable\"."}], "question": "What happened in Chile?", "id": "823_2"}]}]}, {"title": "Paul Whelan: Russia rules out prisoner swap for ex-US Marine", "date": "5 January 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Russia has dismissed suggestions that a former US marine accused of spying could be involved in a prisoner swap. Paul Whelan, 48, was detained in Moscow last month. His family says he was simply visiting Russia to attend a wedding. His lawyer had raised the possibility of a prisoner exchange, telling ABC News that \"it is not excluded\" as a means of resolving the case. But a Russian minister now says that it was \"incorrect\" to suggest this idea. \"It is impossible and incorrect to raise the issue in this way, when official charges have not even been put forward yet,\" Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov told the RIA Novosti news agency on Friday. He added that the situation was \"very serious\". Russian news agencies, and Mr Whelan's Russian lawyer, Vladimir Zherebenkov, had previously said that the ex-marine had been charged, On Thursday, Mr Zherebenkov also appeared to suggest that a prisoner swap would be possible. \"The thing is that in this category of cases, exchanges often happen,\" he told ABC News. \"It is not excluded - such a practice exists. It exists and there are a lot of Russian citizens being held in America.\" Mr Whelan was born in Canada to British parents but moved to the US as a child. He is currently director of global security for Michigan-based automotive components supplier BorgWarner. He is a citizen of four countries - the US, the UK, Canada, and the Irish Republic. Mr Whelan joined the Marine Reserves in 1994 and rose to the rank of staff sergeant in 2004. He served in Iraq for several months in 2004 and 2006. He was convicted in a 2008 court martial on charges related to larceny and received a bad-conduct discharge. Details of the charges have not been made public. His twin brother David Whelan said he had been visiting Russia for business and pleasure since 2007. Mr Whelan arrived in Russia on 22 December to attend a wedding and had planned to visit Russia's second city, St Petersburg, in addition to Moscow before flying home on 6 January, his brother said. He was arrested in Moscow on 28 December, having taken a group of wedding guests on a tour of the Kremlin museums in the morning. He was last heard from in the early evening and failed to show up for the wedding, David Whelan said. He has been charged with espionage and, if found guilty, he could face up to 20 years in jail. Russia's FSB state security agency has given few details, saying only that he was detained \"during an act of espionage\", a wording which implies that he was caught red-handed, the BBC's Sarah Rainsford reports. Spy scandals have erupted between Russia and America at regular intervals since the Cold War, while Russia's actions in Ukraine since 2014, and allegations of Russian meddling in the 2016 US presidential election, have led to strained relations. Meanwhile, Russia has complained that it was not informed when the FBI arrested a Russian man in the Northern Mariana Islands in the north-west Pacific, a US self-governing territory, a week ago. Dmitry Makarenko is wanted in Florida on charges of exporting weapons without a licence.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1139, "answer_end": 1816, "text": "Mr Whelan was born in Canada to British parents but moved to the US as a child. He is currently director of global security for Michigan-based automotive components supplier BorgWarner. He is a citizen of four countries - the US, the UK, Canada, and the Irish Republic. Mr Whelan joined the Marine Reserves in 1994 and rose to the rank of staff sergeant in 2004. He served in Iraq for several months in 2004 and 2006. He was convicted in a 2008 court martial on charges related to larceny and received a bad-conduct discharge. Details of the charges have not been made public. His twin brother David Whelan said he had been visiting Russia for business and pleasure since 2007."}], "question": "Who is Paul Whelan?", "id": "824_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1817, "answer_end": 3083, "text": "Mr Whelan arrived in Russia on 22 December to attend a wedding and had planned to visit Russia's second city, St Petersburg, in addition to Moscow before flying home on 6 January, his brother said. He was arrested in Moscow on 28 December, having taken a group of wedding guests on a tour of the Kremlin museums in the morning. He was last heard from in the early evening and failed to show up for the wedding, David Whelan said. He has been charged with espionage and, if found guilty, he could face up to 20 years in jail. Russia's FSB state security agency has given few details, saying only that he was detained \"during an act of espionage\", a wording which implies that he was caught red-handed, the BBC's Sarah Rainsford reports. Spy scandals have erupted between Russia and America at regular intervals since the Cold War, while Russia's actions in Ukraine since 2014, and allegations of Russian meddling in the 2016 US presidential election, have led to strained relations. Meanwhile, Russia has complained that it was not informed when the FBI arrested a Russian man in the Northern Mariana Islands in the north-west Pacific, a US self-governing territory, a week ago. Dmitry Makarenko is wanted in Florida on charges of exporting weapons without a licence."}], "question": "What was he doing in Russia?", "id": "824_1"}]}]}, {"title": "Kavanaugh and accuser to testify in Senate", "date": "18 September 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "The Senate has scheduled a public hearing on a sex assault claim against Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh for next week. Judge Kavanaugh and Christine Blasey Ford, the woman who says he attacked her more than three decades ago, will both be able to testify. US President Donald Trump said earlier he expected \"a little delay\" to confirming his nominee. Judge Kavanaugh, 53, says the allegation is \"completely false\". He denies he was even at the 1982 high school party in question where his accuser, now a psychology professor in California, says he tried to rape her as his friend watched. The claim has jeopardised Judge Kavanaugh's formerly all-but certain-nomination for a lifetime job on the Supreme Court. Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley confirmed next Monday's hearing in a statement. \"As I said earlier, anyone who comes forward as Dr Ford has done deserves to be heard,\" said the Iowa Republican. Mr Grassley had earlier stopped short of calling for a public hearing, or for delaying the committee's vote on the nominee. The judge last week finished four days of hearings before the Senate Judiciary Committee, and a vote on his confirmation had been planned for Thursday of this week. But Democrats demanded a delay in the vote in order to let the FBI investigate. Mr Grassley said the standard procedure would be for committee members to conduct telephone calls with both witnesses about their forthcoming testimony. But in a statement, the panel's Democrats refused to join in any phone call with Judge Kavanaugh. Senators from both parties had argued that Judge Kavanaugh and Prof Ford should be given the chance to testify before the panel. Senator Susan Collins, a Maine Republican, told reporters she would like the chance to observe Prof Ford to decide the credibility of her account. \"Obviously, if Judge Kavanaugh has lied about what happened, that would be disqualifying,\" she said. Two other Republican senators, Senator Jeff Flake of Arizona, and Bob Corker of Tennessee, earlier called for the vote to be delayed. Prof Ford detailed her story in a letter sent to Senate Judiciary Committee senior Democrat Dianne Feinstein in July before going public in an article published in the Washington Post on Sunday. The Palo Alto University academic says the incident happened 36 years ago in a Maryland suburb outside Washington DC. Prof Ford says Brett Kavanaugh pinned her to a bed and tried to take off her clothes, then clamped his hand over her mouth when she attempted to scream. They were students in different high schools. She was 15 and he was 17. Both he and his friend, who allegedly watched the incident, were drunk, she says. Mark Judge, who has been named as the third person in the room, told The Weekly Standard the allegations were \"absolutely nuts\". Prof Ford says she spoke of the alleged attack a couple of times over the subsequent decades, including during therapy. In a statement on Monday, Judge Kavanaugh vowed to \"refute\" the accusation before the congressional panel. He said in a statement issued by the White House: \"I have never done anything like what the accuser describes - to her or to anyone. \"Because this never happened, I had no idea who was making this accusation until she identified herself yesterday.\" Prof Ford's lawyer, Debra Katz, told NBC's Today programme on Monday that \"if it were not for the severe intoxication of Brett Kavanaugh, she [Prof Ford] would have been raped\". Republicans control the Senate by only a narrow 51-49 margin, meaning any defections could scupper the nomination. That would set back President Trump's efforts to install more conservatives on the Supreme Court and broader US judiciary. If confirmed, Judge Kavanaugh, a conservative federal appeals court judge, would be expected to tilt the court's balance further to the right. The confirmation fight comes just weeks before November's congressional elections in which Democrats are hoping to wrest control of Congress from Mr Trump's party. The Judicial Crisis Network, a conservative group that backs Mr Trump's judicial picks, says it plans to launch a $1.5m (PS1.1m) ad campaign backing Judge Kavanaugh. Mr Trump, who faces multiple accusations of sexual misconduct that surfaced during the 2016 presidential election campaign, has not offered an opinion on the credibility of Prof Ford's allegation. At the White House on Monday, the Republican president said of the confirmation: \"If it takes a little delay, it will take a little delay.\" He dismissed as \"ridiculous\" a reporter's question about whether Judge Kavanaugh's nomination would be withdrawn. \"I think he's very much on track,\" Mr Trump said. The White House said in a statement: \"Judge Kavanaugh looks forward to a hearing where he can clear his name of this false allegation.\"", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 717, "answer_end": 1549, "text": "Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley confirmed next Monday's hearing in a statement. \"As I said earlier, anyone who comes forward as Dr Ford has done deserves to be heard,\" said the Iowa Republican. Mr Grassley had earlier stopped short of calling for a public hearing, or for delaying the committee's vote on the nominee. The judge last week finished four days of hearings before the Senate Judiciary Committee, and a vote on his confirmation had been planned for Thursday of this week. But Democrats demanded a delay in the vote in order to let the FBI investigate. Mr Grassley said the standard procedure would be for committee members to conduct telephone calls with both witnesses about their forthcoming testimony. But in a statement, the panel's Democrats refused to join in any phone call with Judge Kavanaugh."}], "question": "What did the committee say?", "id": "825_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1550, "answer_end": 2060, "text": "Senators from both parties had argued that Judge Kavanaugh and Prof Ford should be given the chance to testify before the panel. Senator Susan Collins, a Maine Republican, told reporters she would like the chance to observe Prof Ford to decide the credibility of her account. \"Obviously, if Judge Kavanaugh has lied about what happened, that would be disqualifying,\" she said. Two other Republican senators, Senator Jeff Flake of Arizona, and Bob Corker of Tennessee, earlier called for the vote to be delayed."}], "question": "What are other senators saying?", "id": "825_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2061, "answer_end": 3463, "text": "Prof Ford detailed her story in a letter sent to Senate Judiciary Committee senior Democrat Dianne Feinstein in July before going public in an article published in the Washington Post on Sunday. The Palo Alto University academic says the incident happened 36 years ago in a Maryland suburb outside Washington DC. Prof Ford says Brett Kavanaugh pinned her to a bed and tried to take off her clothes, then clamped his hand over her mouth when she attempted to scream. They were students in different high schools. She was 15 and he was 17. Both he and his friend, who allegedly watched the incident, were drunk, she says. Mark Judge, who has been named as the third person in the room, told The Weekly Standard the allegations were \"absolutely nuts\". Prof Ford says she spoke of the alleged attack a couple of times over the subsequent decades, including during therapy. In a statement on Monday, Judge Kavanaugh vowed to \"refute\" the accusation before the congressional panel. He said in a statement issued by the White House: \"I have never done anything like what the accuser describes - to her or to anyone. \"Because this never happened, I had no idea who was making this accusation until she identified herself yesterday.\" Prof Ford's lawyer, Debra Katz, told NBC's Today programme on Monday that \"if it were not for the severe intoxication of Brett Kavanaugh, she [Prof Ford] would have been raped\"."}], "question": "What is the allegation?", "id": "825_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3464, "answer_end": 4174, "text": "Republicans control the Senate by only a narrow 51-49 margin, meaning any defections could scupper the nomination. That would set back President Trump's efforts to install more conservatives on the Supreme Court and broader US judiciary. If confirmed, Judge Kavanaugh, a conservative federal appeals court judge, would be expected to tilt the court's balance further to the right. The confirmation fight comes just weeks before November's congressional elections in which Democrats are hoping to wrest control of Congress from Mr Trump's party. The Judicial Crisis Network, a conservative group that backs Mr Trump's judicial picks, says it plans to launch a $1.5m (PS1.1m) ad campaign backing Judge Kavanaugh."}], "question": "What's at stake?", "id": "825_3"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 4175, "answer_end": 4811, "text": "Mr Trump, who faces multiple accusations of sexual misconduct that surfaced during the 2016 presidential election campaign, has not offered an opinion on the credibility of Prof Ford's allegation. At the White House on Monday, the Republican president said of the confirmation: \"If it takes a little delay, it will take a little delay.\" He dismissed as \"ridiculous\" a reporter's question about whether Judge Kavanaugh's nomination would be withdrawn. \"I think he's very much on track,\" Mr Trump said. The White House said in a statement: \"Judge Kavanaugh looks forward to a hearing where he can clear his name of this false allegation.\""}], "question": "What does the White House say?", "id": "825_4"}]}]}, {"title": "WhatsApp: The 'black hole' of fake news in India's election", "date": "6 April 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "WhatsApp, India's most popular messaging platform, has become a vehicle for misinformation and propaganda ahead of the upcoming election. The Facebook-owned app has announced new measures to fight this but experts say the scale of the problem is overwhelming. India was in the grip of patriotic fervour in early March when WhatsApp groups were flooded with photographs claiming to show proof that unprecedented Indian air strikes in Pakistani territory had been successful. While India's government said the 26 February strikes had killed a \"large number of militants\", Islamabad insisted there had been no casualties. But BBC fact-checkers found that the photos - purportedly of dead militants and a destroyed training camp - were old images that were being shared with false captions. One photo showed a crowd of Muslim women and men gathered around three bodies but those pictured were actually victims of a suicide attack in Pakistan in 2014. A series of photos - of crumbling buildings, piles of debris and bodies in shrouds lying on the ground - were traced to a devastating earthquake in Pakistan-administered Kashmir in 2005. WhatsApp and Facebook have been struggling to curb the impact of \"fake news\" - messages, photos and videos peddling misleading or outright false information - in elections around the world. But India's upcoming election - the world's largest democratic exercise - is seen as a significant test. Internet usage in rural areas has exploded since the last election in 2014, fuelled by the world's lowest mobile data prices. In the lead-up to the vote, Facebook has removed hundreds of accounts and pages for misleading users. WhatsApp, meanwhile, has launched a service to verify reports sent in by users and to study the scale of misinformation on the platform. India poses a particularly complex problem for Facebook. It is WhatsApp's largest market - more than 200 million Indians use the app - and a place where users forward more content than anywhere else in the world. The fact that up to 256 people can be part of a group chat makes it incredibly popular with extended families and large groups of friends. While much of these daily conversations involve people making plans, sharing jokes and catching up - political messages and videos are also shared widely. BBC research last year found that a rising tide of nationalism was driving Indians to share fake news. Participants tended to assume that WhatsApp messages from family and friends could be trusted and sent on without any checks. Prasanto K Roy, a tech writer, is in a group of more than 100 classmates from his old high school in Delhi. There are Christians and Muslims in the Hindu-majority group. \"In the past year we have been seeing a great deal of polarisation,\" he said. \"A few people were incessantly sending out fake stuff. Some of us would do fact checks and tell them off but we were ignored. Finally they were suspended. Things have improved but it's still tense.\" Many Indians were first introduced to the internet through their smartphones. A recent Reuters Institute survey of English-language Indian internet users found that 52% of respondents got news via WhatsApp. The same proportion said they got their news from Facebook. But content shared via WhatsApp has led to murder. At least 31 people were killed in 2017 and 2018 as a result of mob attacks fuelled by rumours on WhatsApp and social media, a BBC analysis found. Both of the main parties - the governing Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the opposition Congress - are exploiting the power of WhatsApp to try to influence India's 900 million eligible voters. Before the campaign began, the BJP had plans to assign some 900,000 people with the specific task of localised WhatsApp campaigning, the Hindustan Times newspaper reported. Congress, the party of the Nehru-Gandhi political dynasty, is focusing on uploading campaign content on Facebook and distributing it via WhatsApp. Both parties have been accused of spreading false or misleading information, or misrepresentation online. On 1 April, Facebook removed 687 pages or accounts that it said were linked to the Congress party for \"co-ordinated inauthentic behaviour\". Pro-BJP Facebook pages - possibly as many as 200 - were also taken down, according to reports, although Facebook did not confirm this. (The social media company did not respond to a request for an explanation). The BJP began setting up WhatsApp groups en masse around 2016 as it saw an opportunity to reach vast numbers of people, said Shivam Shankar Singh, a former BJP data analyst who worked on regional elections in 2017 and 2018. By mapping names on electoral rolls against purchased phone numbers and names, it was able to create groups based on certain demographics - such as caste or religion - and target messaging, he said. Mr Singh, who now works for anti-BJP opposition parties in the state of Bihar, estimated that there were at least 20,000 pro-BJP WhatsApp groups in northern Uttar Pradesh, India's most populous state. National party spokesman Gopal Krishna Agarwal denied that the party had any official policy to set up WhatsApp groups - other than to facilitate communication between party workers. He said supporters and members at a local level were allowed to set up groups, but that these had no official link to the party. \"We don't want to control it, it's an open social media platform,\" he said. Indian fact-checking websites like AltNews and Boom frequently debunk political posts shared on Facebook and Twitter - such as reports that a British analyst of Indian elections had called Congress leader Rahul Gandhi \"stupid\" or that an air force pilot seen as a national hero had joined Congress. These posts, while not promoted by official party accounts, are often spread widely by unofficial groups or people supporting the parties. They are then sometimes shared by politicians. \"Facebook and Twitter are platforms that do not allow too much secrecy which allows fact-checkers like us to trace who the bad actors are in many of the cases,\" said Jency Jacob, the managing editor of Indian fact-checking site Boom. The difference with WhatsApp is that posts there are private and protected by encryption. Mr Roy likened it to \"something of a black hole\". \"No-one, including WhatsApp itself, gets to see, read, filter or analyse text messages,\" he said. This is unlikely to change - the company said it \"deeply believes in people's ability to communicate privately online\". Amid the furore over mob lynchings last year, WhatsApp limited the number of times a user can forward a message to five. It also now labels forwarded messages. The company has launched a nationwide advertising campaign in 10 languages, which it says has reached hundreds of millions of Indians. It also says that it bans two million accounts globally every month that are sending automated spam messages. New privacy settings also allow users to decide who can add them to groups. Previously any WhatsApp user could be added to a group by any other. Now you can choose to only be added automatically to groups by contacts, or by no-one at all. On 2 April the company announced a new project - Checkpoint - that allows users to send in suspicious messages in English and four Indian languages to a local media start-up Proto for verification. Users are told if the message is true, false, misleading or disputed. It was reported widely as a new fact-checking service but the company has since emphasised that it mostly aims to \"study the misinformation phenomenon\" and that not all users will receive a response. While WhatsApp said its moves had decreased forwarded messages by 25%, fact-checkers at other organisations say fake news is still rampant. And they are frustrated that the same rumours and conspiracy theories that they have already debunked - that the Nehru-Gandhi political dynasty have Muslim roots, for example - keep resurfacing. They say that unless WhatsApp changes its stance on encryption and privacy, the introduction of features similar to those that exist on Facebook - for example, flagging debunked content to users who try to forward it - is impossible. Critics also point out that new rules on the platform won't affect the huge number of group chats that already exist - giving the party of Prime Minister Modi an advantage. \"The BJP is the only party that has WhatsApp groups at this scale,\" Mr Singh said. \"The other parties can't do it now because WhatsApp has changed its policies.\" Additional reporting by Aparna Alluri", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1794, "answer_end": 3440, "text": "India poses a particularly complex problem for Facebook. It is WhatsApp's largest market - more than 200 million Indians use the app - and a place where users forward more content than anywhere else in the world. The fact that up to 256 people can be part of a group chat makes it incredibly popular with extended families and large groups of friends. While much of these daily conversations involve people making plans, sharing jokes and catching up - political messages and videos are also shared widely. BBC research last year found that a rising tide of nationalism was driving Indians to share fake news. Participants tended to assume that WhatsApp messages from family and friends could be trusted and sent on without any checks. Prasanto K Roy, a tech writer, is in a group of more than 100 classmates from his old high school in Delhi. There are Christians and Muslims in the Hindu-majority group. \"In the past year we have been seeing a great deal of polarisation,\" he said. \"A few people were incessantly sending out fake stuff. Some of us would do fact checks and tell them off but we were ignored. Finally they were suspended. Things have improved but it's still tense.\" Many Indians were first introduced to the internet through their smartphones. A recent Reuters Institute survey of English-language Indian internet users found that 52% of respondents got news via WhatsApp. The same proportion said they got their news from Facebook. But content shared via WhatsApp has led to murder. At least 31 people were killed in 2017 and 2018 as a result of mob attacks fuelled by rumours on WhatsApp and social media, a BBC analysis found."}], "question": "What's the scale of the problem?", "id": "826_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3441, "answer_end": 5455, "text": "Both of the main parties - the governing Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the opposition Congress - are exploiting the power of WhatsApp to try to influence India's 900 million eligible voters. Before the campaign began, the BJP had plans to assign some 900,000 people with the specific task of localised WhatsApp campaigning, the Hindustan Times newspaper reported. Congress, the party of the Nehru-Gandhi political dynasty, is focusing on uploading campaign content on Facebook and distributing it via WhatsApp. Both parties have been accused of spreading false or misleading information, or misrepresentation online. On 1 April, Facebook removed 687 pages or accounts that it said were linked to the Congress party for \"co-ordinated inauthentic behaviour\". Pro-BJP Facebook pages - possibly as many as 200 - were also taken down, according to reports, although Facebook did not confirm this. (The social media company did not respond to a request for an explanation). The BJP began setting up WhatsApp groups en masse around 2016 as it saw an opportunity to reach vast numbers of people, said Shivam Shankar Singh, a former BJP data analyst who worked on regional elections in 2017 and 2018. By mapping names on electoral rolls against purchased phone numbers and names, it was able to create groups based on certain demographics - such as caste or religion - and target messaging, he said. Mr Singh, who now works for anti-BJP opposition parties in the state of Bihar, estimated that there were at least 20,000 pro-BJP WhatsApp groups in northern Uttar Pradesh, India's most populous state. National party spokesman Gopal Krishna Agarwal denied that the party had any official policy to set up WhatsApp groups - other than to facilitate communication between party workers. He said supporters and members at a local level were allowed to set up groups, but that these had no official link to the party. \"We don't want to control it, it's an open social media platform,\" he said."}], "question": "What's happening before the election?", "id": "826_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 5456, "answer_end": 6532, "text": "Indian fact-checking websites like AltNews and Boom frequently debunk political posts shared on Facebook and Twitter - such as reports that a British analyst of Indian elections had called Congress leader Rahul Gandhi \"stupid\" or that an air force pilot seen as a national hero had joined Congress. These posts, while not promoted by official party accounts, are often spread widely by unofficial groups or people supporting the parties. They are then sometimes shared by politicians. \"Facebook and Twitter are platforms that do not allow too much secrecy which allows fact-checkers like us to trace who the bad actors are in many of the cases,\" said Jency Jacob, the managing editor of Indian fact-checking site Boom. The difference with WhatsApp is that posts there are private and protected by encryption. Mr Roy likened it to \"something of a black hole\". \"No-one, including WhatsApp itself, gets to see, read, filter or analyse text messages,\" he said. This is unlikely to change - the company said it \"deeply believes in people's ability to communicate privately online\"."}], "question": "Why does WhatsApp pose a unique problem?", "id": "826_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 6533, "answer_end": 7644, "text": "Amid the furore over mob lynchings last year, WhatsApp limited the number of times a user can forward a message to five. It also now labels forwarded messages. The company has launched a nationwide advertising campaign in 10 languages, which it says has reached hundreds of millions of Indians. It also says that it bans two million accounts globally every month that are sending automated spam messages. New privacy settings also allow users to decide who can add them to groups. Previously any WhatsApp user could be added to a group by any other. Now you can choose to only be added automatically to groups by contacts, or by no-one at all. On 2 April the company announced a new project - Checkpoint - that allows users to send in suspicious messages in English and four Indian languages to a local media start-up Proto for verification. Users are told if the message is true, false, misleading or disputed. It was reported widely as a new fact-checking service but the company has since emphasised that it mostly aims to \"study the misinformation phenomenon\" and that not all users will receive a response."}], "question": "What has the company done?", "id": "826_3"}]}]}, {"title": "Venezuela opposition convoy attacked outside parliament", "date": "15 January 2020", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Pro-government groups in Venezuela have attacked a convoy of opposition lawmakers outside the parliament building in central Caracas. Opposition leader Juan Guaido said the violence had forced him to transfer a planned meeting to a building on the outskirts of the city. Video footage from inside one car showed supporters of President Nicolas Maduro throwing a traffic cone and a stone that broke one of the windows. Local media reported shots being fired. During his state of the nation address on Tuesday, Mr Maduro accused Mr Guaido - the Speaker of the National Assembly, of helping the US to wage an economic war on Venezuela. The attack on the convoy comes eight days after Mr Guaido and 100 fellow opposition lawmakers pushed past police to enter the National Assembly. It is the latest escalation in Venezuela's political crisis. A group of opposition members of the National Assembly were being driven to the legislative palace in the centre of the capital, Caracas, when their cars were set upon by a group of government supporters. Footage published on the National Assembly Twitter account shows a man shattering the rear window of one of the cars with a traffic cone. Opposition politician Angelo Palmeri said the cars were also hit with metal bars and bats, and his colleague Delsa Solorzano said the pro-government \"mob\" had opened fire on the car she was in. \"This was done while the National Guard watched complacently,\" Mr Palmeri said. He added that he thought a trap had been set for him and his fellow lawmakers. \"I was surprised to find that the National Guard waved us through several checkpoints, then we were surrounded by this mob and I understood why we'd been let through,\" he said. The National Assembly is one of the few remaining institutions in Venezuela which is not controlled by the governing PSUV party. On 23 January 2019, Mr Guaido, declared himself acting president of Venezuela, arguing that the election which returned Mr Maduro to power in 2018 had been fraudulent. Mr Guaido and his supporters claimed that the presidency was therefore vacant and invoked an article in the constitution which calls for the Speaker to step in as president. Mr Guaido  declared himself acting president and was quickly recognised as Venezuela's legitimate leader by more than 50 countries, including the US, the UK and many Latin American nations. Since then, Mr Guaido and Mr Maduro have been at loggerheads but the latter has maintained a firm grip on the government thanks to the support of the armed forces. Earlier this month Mr Guaido, who was facing an end to his term as Speaker on 5 January,  went to the National Assembly to stand for re-election but was denied entry by the National Guard. They pushed him back with shields as he tried to clamber over the railings surrounding the building. Mr Guaido moved the session to another location where about 100 lawmakers re-elected him as Speaker. Two days later, he and the lawmakers loyal to him managed to gain entry to the National Assembly building by pushing through the National Guard security cordon, and Mr Guaido was sworn in as Speaker and also renewed his oath as acting president. President Maduro in the meantime has recognised a dissident lawmaker, Luis Parra, as Speaker. The scenes on 5 January, when Mr Guaido was prevented from entering the National Assembly, were widely seen as showing the lack of power the opposition leader has over the National Guard. However his success in getting into the building two days later has been hailed as a success for the opposition. At an international level, footage of armed guards barring elected lawmakers from entering the legislative palace has shocked many democratic governments, which have reiterated their support for Mr Guaido. While some dissident lawmakers such as Mr Parra appear to have switched sides and are now working with government lawmakers, the 100 who back Mr Guaido appear more united than before. However, some supporters fear that Mr Guaido and the opposition may be worn down by the harassment they are experiencing, which is distracting them from their ultimate aim of dislodging Mr Maduro from power. Mr Guaido has moved Wednesday's session to an open air theatre in El Hatillo, an opposition stronghold in Caracas. Meanwhile, the National Constituent Assembly, a body created by President Maduro and exclusively made up by his supporters, is meeting in the legislative palace in a show of force by the government. The stand-off between the two looks unlikely to end in the short term. Talks between opposition and government representatives last year floundered after a few months.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 839, "answer_end": 1711, "text": "A group of opposition members of the National Assembly were being driven to the legislative palace in the centre of the capital, Caracas, when their cars were set upon by a group of government supporters. Footage published on the National Assembly Twitter account shows a man shattering the rear window of one of the cars with a traffic cone. Opposition politician Angelo Palmeri said the cars were also hit with metal bars and bats, and his colleague Delsa Solorzano said the pro-government \"mob\" had opened fire on the car she was in. \"This was done while the National Guard watched complacently,\" Mr Palmeri said. He added that he thought a trap had been set for him and his fellow lawmakers. \"I was surprised to find that the National Guard waved us through several checkpoints, then we were surrounded by this mob and I understood why we'd been let through,\" he said."}], "question": "What happened?", "id": "827_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1712, "answer_end": 3267, "text": "The National Assembly is one of the few remaining institutions in Venezuela which is not controlled by the governing PSUV party. On 23 January 2019, Mr Guaido, declared himself acting president of Venezuela, arguing that the election which returned Mr Maduro to power in 2018 had been fraudulent. Mr Guaido and his supporters claimed that the presidency was therefore vacant and invoked an article in the constitution which calls for the Speaker to step in as president. Mr Guaido  declared himself acting president and was quickly recognised as Venezuela's legitimate leader by more than 50 countries, including the US, the UK and many Latin American nations. Since then, Mr Guaido and Mr Maduro have been at loggerheads but the latter has maintained a firm grip on the government thanks to the support of the armed forces. Earlier this month Mr Guaido, who was facing an end to his term as Speaker on 5 January,  went to the National Assembly to stand for re-election but was denied entry by the National Guard. They pushed him back with shields as he tried to clamber over the railings surrounding the building. Mr Guaido moved the session to another location where about 100 lawmakers re-elected him as Speaker. Two days later, he and the lawmakers loyal to him managed to gain entry to the National Assembly building by pushing through the National Guard security cordon, and Mr Guaido was sworn in as Speaker and also renewed his oath as acting president. President Maduro in the meantime has recognised a dissident lawmaker, Luis Parra, as Speaker."}], "question": "What's the background?", "id": "827_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3268, "answer_end": 4166, "text": "The scenes on 5 January, when Mr Guaido was prevented from entering the National Assembly, were widely seen as showing the lack of power the opposition leader has over the National Guard. However his success in getting into the building two days later has been hailed as a success for the opposition. At an international level, footage of armed guards barring elected lawmakers from entering the legislative palace has shocked many democratic governments, which have reiterated their support for Mr Guaido. While some dissident lawmakers such as Mr Parra appear to have switched sides and are now working with government lawmakers, the 100 who back Mr Guaido appear more united than before. However, some supporters fear that Mr Guaido and the opposition may be worn down by the harassment they are experiencing, which is distracting them from their ultimate aim of dislodging Mr Maduro from power."}], "question": "What does it all mean?", "id": "827_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 4167, "answer_end": 4648, "text": "Mr Guaido has moved Wednesday's session to an open air theatre in El Hatillo, an opposition stronghold in Caracas. Meanwhile, the National Constituent Assembly, a body created by President Maduro and exclusively made up by his supporters, is meeting in the legislative palace in a show of force by the government. The stand-off between the two looks unlikely to end in the short term. Talks between opposition and government representatives last year floundered after a few months."}], "question": "What next?", "id": "827_3"}]}]}, {"title": "Huawei arrest: Justin Trudeau denies political motivation", "date": "7 December 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says his government had no involvement in the arrest of a top executive from Chinese telecoms giant Huawei. Meng Wanzhou, Huawei's chief financial officer and the daughter of its founder, was detained at Vancouver airport on a US extradition request. China has demanded her release, calling the arrest a human rights violation. The charges have not been made public. Huawei said it was \"not aware of any wrongdoing by Ms Meng\". She faces a bail hearing on Friday. The arrest comes at a sensitive time for US-China relations. The nations are locked in a trade war that has seen both impose duties on billions of dollars of one another's goods. Ms Meng was detained on Saturday, the same day US President Donald Trump and China's President Xi Jinping met at the G20 summit in Argentina and later reached a temporary truce in their trade battle. But the arrest has angered China and threatens to inflame tensions with the US. Earlier reports suggested that Ms Meng's arrest could be related to a US investigation into a possible violation of sanctions against Iran. US National Security Adviser John Bolton declined to comment on this when questioned by journalists. Instead he said that - generally speaking - he had \"enormous concerns\" over Chinese firms' business practices and their possible operations as \"arms\" of the government. Ms Meng is the company's chief financial officer and the founder's daughter. Huawei is one of the largest telecommunications equipment and services providers in the world, recently passing Apple to become the second-biggest smartphone maker after Samsung. The details of the charges against Ms Meng remain unknown after she sought a publication ban, which was granted by the Canadian judge. Her arrest was not revealed by the Canadian authorities until Wednesday, the day when she had her first court appearance. Speaking to reporters in Montreal, Mr Trudeau said his government was told about the arrest a few days beforehand, but it did not play a role. \"I can assure everyone that we are a country [with] an independent judiciary,\" he said. Some Western governments fear Beijing will gain access to fifth-generation (5G) mobile and other communications networks through Huawei and expand its spying ability, although the firm insists there is no government control. US lawmakers have repeatedly accused the company of being a threat to US national security. Japan is expected to ban government use of products made by Huawei and ZTE, local media reported on Friday, over cybersecurity concerns. It would follow moves by New Zealand and Australia to block Huawei. Without making specific reference to Huawei, US Security Adviser Mr Bolton said his country had \"enormous concerns for years\" about the practice of Chinese firms \"to use stolen American intellectual property, to engage in forced technology transfers, and to be used as arms of the Chinese government's objectives in terms of information technology in particular\". By Karishma Vaswani, BBC Asia business correspondent It is hard to overstate the symbolism and significance of this event. Huawei is the crown jewel of Chinese tech and Ms Meng is effectively its princess. Even though it's still not clear what the charges against her are, this is not simply a case about the arrest of one woman, or just one company. This arrest could materially damage the relationship between the US and China at possibly one of the most sensitive times between the two countries in their long and torrid history. The gloves are off. Things have taken a dramatic turn for the worse. Read more from Karishma A Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson told reporters: \"The detention without giving any reason violates a person's human rights.\" \"We have made solemn representations to Canada and the US, demanding that both parties immediately clarify the reasons for the detention, and immediately release the detainee to protect the person's legal rights.\" In a statement, Huawei said it had complied with \"all applicable laws and regulations where it operates, including applicable export control and sanction laws and regulations of the UN, US and EU.\" The company also said in a letter to suppliers: \"We believe it is unreasonable of the US government to use these sorts of approaches to exert pressure on a business entity. They are against the spirit of free economy and fair competition.\"", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1372, "answer_end": 1627, "text": "Ms Meng is the company's chief financial officer and the founder's daughter. Huawei is one of the largest telecommunications equipment and services providers in the world, recently passing Apple to become the second-biggest smartphone maker after Samsung."}], "question": "Who is Meng Wanzhou?", "id": "828_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1628, "answer_end": 2115, "text": "The details of the charges against Ms Meng remain unknown after she sought a publication ban, which was granted by the Canadian judge. Her arrest was not revealed by the Canadian authorities until Wednesday, the day when she had her first court appearance. Speaking to reporters in Montreal, Mr Trudeau said his government was told about the arrest a few days beforehand, but it did not play a role. \"I can assure everyone that we are a country [with] an independent judiciary,\" he said."}], "question": "What do we know about the arrest?", "id": "828_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2116, "answer_end": 3001, "text": "Some Western governments fear Beijing will gain access to fifth-generation (5G) mobile and other communications networks through Huawei and expand its spying ability, although the firm insists there is no government control. US lawmakers have repeatedly accused the company of being a threat to US national security. Japan is expected to ban government use of products made by Huawei and ZTE, local media reported on Friday, over cybersecurity concerns. It would follow moves by New Zealand and Australia to block Huawei. Without making specific reference to Huawei, US Security Adviser Mr Bolton said his country had \"enormous concerns for years\" about the practice of Chinese firms \"to use stolen American intellectual property, to engage in forced technology transfers, and to be used as arms of the Chinese government's objectives in terms of information technology in particular\"."}], "question": "Why is Huawei a concern to the West?", "id": "828_2"}]}]}, {"title": "Hong Kong protests: Jeremy Hunt 'keeping options open' over China", "date": "4 July 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "The UK foreign secretary has continued to warn China it could face \"serious consequences\" over its treatment of protesters in Hong Kong. Jeremy Hunt told the BBC he was keeping his options open over how the UK could respond, and refused to rule out sanctions. A group of activists occupied Hong Kong's parliament on Monday over a controversial extradition bill. China warned the UK not to \"interfere in its domestic affairs\". Mr Hunt said he would not discuss any potential consequences \"because you don't want to provoke the very situation you are trying to avoid\". \"Of course you keep your options open,\" he added, insisting the UK would not just \"gulp and move on\" if China cracks down on protesters in the former British colony. Mr Hunt said he \"condemned all violence\" but warned the Chinese government not to respond to the protests \"by repression\". Hong Kong was a British colony for more than 150 years, but it was returned to China in 1997 after a treaty was signed by the two countries. The 1984 treaty guaranteed a level of economic autonomy and personal freedoms not permitted on the mainland. Demonstrators argue that a piece of legislation introduced by the city's pro-Beijing leader would make it easier to transfer people to face trial in China. Mr Hunt reiterated that China must honour Hong Kong's high level of autonomy from Beijing. \"The heart of people's concerns has been that very precious thing that Hong Kong has had, which is an independent judicial system,\" Mr Hunt told Radio 4's Today programme. \"The United Kingdom views this situation very, very seriously,\" he added. China's ambassador was summoned to the Foreign Office on Wednesday following \"unacceptable and inaccurate\" remarks. Liu Xiaoming said relations between China and the UK had been \"damaged\" by comments by Mr Hunt and others backing the demonstrators' actions. He said those who illegally occupied the Legislative Council building and raised the colonial-era British flag should be \"condemned as law breakers\". He added that it was \"hypocritical\" of UK politicians to criticise the lack of democracy and civil rights in Hong Kong when, under British rule, there had been no elections nor right to protest. By James Landale, BBC diplomatic correspondent Britain's relations with China are at a low ebb. The question now is whether the damage is lasting. China appears determined to use the Hong Kong protests as an opportunity to push back against what it sees as Britain's illegitimate interference in its former colony. But equally Britain seems determined not to be bullied by China. Mr Hunt says the UK has every right to defend a treaty it signed with China in 1984 guaranteeing Hong Kong's freedoms and relative autonomy. The foreign secretary had no option but to summon the Chinese ambassador to London for a diplomatic dressing down. The danger is that this war of words infects the wider relationship and endangers Britain's strategic trading interest with China, something that will only become more important after Brexit. So Mr Hunt threatens \"serious consequences\" if China fails to honour the so-called Joint Declaration treaty. But he remains tight-lipped about what that might mean, not just because the UK has few diplomatic or economic cards it might wish to play, but also because he does not want to provoke a subsequent clash that might damage Sino-British relations even further. In response to accusations he had sided with the protesters, Mr Hunt said: \"I was not supporting the violence, what I was saying is the way to deal with that violence is not by repression.\" \"It is by understanding the root causes of the concerns of the demonstrators - that freedoms that they have had for their whole life could be about to be undermined by this new extradition law,\" he added. Victor Gao, vice-president of the Centre for China and Globalisation in Beijing, called Monday's occupation of parliament \"anarchism\", adding \"this is to be protested and to be condemned by any government leader with any level of conscience\". Mr Gao urged the UK to condemn the violence. He said the \"crux of the matter\" was \"the UK no longer has a say in [how] Hong Kong should be run and managed\". In 1984, the Joint Declaration, signed by Margaret Thatcher and the then Chinese Premier Zhao Ziyang, set out how the rights of Hong Kong citizens should be protected in the territory's Basic Law under Chinese rule. Since 1997, Hong Kong has been run by China under the principle of \"one country, two systems\". Mr Hunt said: \"It is very important that the 'one country, two systems' approach is honoured.\" The foreign secretary would not detail what consequences China might face if it did not honour the treaty, but said the UK had \"always defended the values we believe in\".", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 2202, "answer_end": 3397, "text": "By James Landale, BBC diplomatic correspondent Britain's relations with China are at a low ebb. The question now is whether the damage is lasting. China appears determined to use the Hong Kong protests as an opportunity to push back against what it sees as Britain's illegitimate interference in its former colony. But equally Britain seems determined not to be bullied by China. Mr Hunt says the UK has every right to defend a treaty it signed with China in 1984 guaranteeing Hong Kong's freedoms and relative autonomy. The foreign secretary had no option but to summon the Chinese ambassador to London for a diplomatic dressing down. The danger is that this war of words infects the wider relationship and endangers Britain's strategic trading interest with China, something that will only become more important after Brexit. So Mr Hunt threatens \"serious consequences\" if China fails to honour the so-called Joint Declaration treaty. But he remains tight-lipped about what that might mean, not just because the UK has few diplomatic or economic cards it might wish to play, but also because he does not want to provoke a subsequent clash that might damage Sino-British relations even further."}], "question": "Analysis: Will the war of words endanger relations?", "id": "829_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Airlines keeping safety training 'to an absolute minimum'", "date": "26 March 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "The head of the UK's Flight Safety Committee says that airlines and plane manufacturers are keeping safety training to an \"absolute minimum\" under pressure to keep their costs low. Dai Whittingham, head of the trade group, said the industry has \"less desire to provide training\". Pilot training is in focus after the Boeing 737-Max Ethiopia Airlines flight 302 crashed, killing all 157 on board. Boeing said safety was its \"highest priority\". The UK Flight Safety Committee consists of representatives from the world of aviation including major airlines, manufacturers and safety regulators. Mr Whittingham told the BBC that \"shareholders are squeezing airlines hard on costs. Spending on training fleets of captains and first officers is not necessarily welcome.\" He said that if airlines wanted more training then they had to argue with their financial teams to get it signed off. Money was also an issue for the airplane manufacturers, according to Mr Whittingham. \"They don't want to sell aircraft that will incur a big training bill for the airline, it is in their interests to keep costs down.\" The Ethiopia Airlines crash was the second Boeing 737 Max 8 to crash in five months. A Lion Air flight in Indonesia came down in October last year killing all 189 people on board. Earlier this week, investigators in Ethiopia stated there are similarities between both crashes, but the world is now impatiently waiting for more details from the black boxes. Since the very first days after the crash, attention has been placed on the pilots and their training for the aircraft. There is no evidence that the pilots flying the Ethiopia plane lacked the required training, but the crash has reignited a debate about safety more generally across the industry. Pilots are often reluctant to speak out on issues such as safety as they are often bound by contracts from their employees. There are, however, some in the industry who have voiced their concerns. Karlene Petitt has been a pilot for more than 40 years, and has trained pilots for 21 years for major American airlines. Ms Petitt has also just completed a PhD in airline safety. As part of the four-year research she surveyed more than 7,000 pilots about safety and training, guaranteeing them complete anonymity. \"Based upon my research, I have identified that we have a problem with pilot training worldwide, and training is going in the wrong direction which will impact safety,\" says Ms Petitt, who is based in the US. \"Pilots are often required to teach themselves the aircraft systems. They learn on their own - with no ground school,\" she adds. \"Is learning from a flash drive the same as structured classroom learning with an instructor? More so, is an electronic exam an accurate assessment of knowledge?\" A spokesman for the UK Civil Aviation Authority said: \"Safety is our number one priority and the UK has one of the world's safest aviation industries. Commercial pilots undergo extensive training and testing and once qualified continue to be regularly checked and tested.\" The requirements and standards for pilot training are set on a Europe-wide basis by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). These exceed international requirements. Three of the UK's biggest airlines were approached for comment, but did not want to discuss airline safety. Another pilot who used to work at Boeing and has knowledge of the training requirements for the new 737-Max said avoiding a simulator-based training requirement for the new aircraft would have made it a much cheaper proposition for airlines. \"The expense of having an iPad programme versus having to fly the pilots to a training facility and take them off shift is millions of dollars in additional training costs,\" a former Boeing pilot told the BBC. The pilot, who has decades of flying experience, and has been an instructor, said that it is also down to airlines to establish how much additional training to give their pilots, beyond the minimum requirement set out by regulators. In its latest statement since the crash of flight ET302, Ethiopian Airlines has insisted that its pilots were trained on a 737-Max simulator. The Boeing 737 Max 8 is a new version of the popular Boeing 737-NG. The minimum training required for a pilot to upgrade to the new plane was established by Boeing, and signed-off by US regulators at the Federal Aviation Administration. When a pilot upgrades to a new model of aircraft it is known as \"differences training\". In the case of the 737-Max the additional training can be done purely online. It is not compulsory for experienced 737 pilots to do any additional learning in a simulator. One pilot who works for a major European airline and has completed the extra training for flying the Max said the computer-based course took him about two hours. In a statement American Airlines, which also uses the plane, told the BBC: \"Boeing 737-800 pilots were required to receive some additional training on the MAX 8, which included an hour lesson on some differences. \"Additional training was not required, as the 737-800 and the MAX 8 have same type certification.\"", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1757, "answer_end": 3319, "text": "Pilots are often reluctant to speak out on issues such as safety as they are often bound by contracts from their employees. There are, however, some in the industry who have voiced their concerns. Karlene Petitt has been a pilot for more than 40 years, and has trained pilots for 21 years for major American airlines. Ms Petitt has also just completed a PhD in airline safety. As part of the four-year research she surveyed more than 7,000 pilots about safety and training, guaranteeing them complete anonymity. \"Based upon my research, I have identified that we have a problem with pilot training worldwide, and training is going in the wrong direction which will impact safety,\" says Ms Petitt, who is based in the US. \"Pilots are often required to teach themselves the aircraft systems. They learn on their own - with no ground school,\" she adds. \"Is learning from a flash drive the same as structured classroom learning with an instructor? More so, is an electronic exam an accurate assessment of knowledge?\" A spokesman for the UK Civil Aviation Authority said: \"Safety is our number one priority and the UK has one of the world's safest aviation industries. Commercial pilots undergo extensive training and testing and once qualified continue to be regularly checked and tested.\" The requirements and standards for pilot training are set on a Europe-wide basis by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). These exceed international requirements. Three of the UK's biggest airlines were approached for comment, but did not want to discuss airline safety."}], "question": "What do pilots say about the training they receive?", "id": "830_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3320, "answer_end": 4146, "text": "Another pilot who used to work at Boeing and has knowledge of the training requirements for the new 737-Max said avoiding a simulator-based training requirement for the new aircraft would have made it a much cheaper proposition for airlines. \"The expense of having an iPad programme versus having to fly the pilots to a training facility and take them off shift is millions of dollars in additional training costs,\" a former Boeing pilot told the BBC. The pilot, who has decades of flying experience, and has been an instructor, said that it is also down to airlines to establish how much additional training to give their pilots, beyond the minimum requirement set out by regulators. In its latest statement since the crash of flight ET302, Ethiopian Airlines has insisted that its pilots were trained on a 737-Max simulator."}], "question": "Why is training sometimes not in classrooms or on simulators?", "id": "830_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 4147, "answer_end": 5117, "text": "The Boeing 737 Max 8 is a new version of the popular Boeing 737-NG. The minimum training required for a pilot to upgrade to the new plane was established by Boeing, and signed-off by US regulators at the Federal Aviation Administration. When a pilot upgrades to a new model of aircraft it is known as \"differences training\". In the case of the 737-Max the additional training can be done purely online. It is not compulsory for experienced 737 pilots to do any additional learning in a simulator. One pilot who works for a major European airline and has completed the extra training for flying the Max said the computer-based course took him about two hours. In a statement American Airlines, which also uses the plane, told the BBC: \"Boeing 737-800 pilots were required to receive some additional training on the MAX 8, which included an hour lesson on some differences. \"Additional training was not required, as the 737-800 and the MAX 8 have same type certification.\""}], "question": "What is the minimum training required for a pilot to upgrade to the 737-Max?", "id": "830_2"}]}]}, {"title": "Nigeria election 2019: Who benefits from poll delay?", "date": "20 February 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Nigeria is to hold a delayed presidential election this Saturday after the initial vote was rescheduled in a dramatic overnight press conference, five hours before polls were due to have opened. The last-minute cancellation surprised the country and inconvenienced thousands of Nigerians who had travelled a long way to cast their votes. It has also cost the economy $1.5bn (PS1.15bn), according to the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry. The Independent National Electoral Commission (Inec) has given several reasons for the delay, including attempted sabotage and logistical issues such as bad weather and problems with delivering the ballot papers. Election in numbers - 84 million registered voters - 51% of the electorate under the age of 35 - 73 registered presidential candidates - 120,000 polling stations The governing All Progressives Congress (APC) and its main challenger, the People's Democratic Party (PDP), have both condemned the postponement and accused each other of trying to manipulate the vote. In a statement issued on the day of the postponement, the APC alleged the PDP wanted to halt the momentum of its candidate, President Muhammadu Buhari. The PDP, whose presidential contender is Atiku Abubakar, on the other hand said Inec had delayed the election to create \"the space to perfect their rigging plans\". According to Idayat Hassan, from Abuja-based think tank, the Centre for Democracy and Development, the week-long extension is too brief to have a significant influence on the result of the presidential vote. She compares the latest postponement to the one in 2015, when the PDP - in government at the time - pushed the election back by six weeks, blaming the Boko Haram insurgency in the north-east. That postponement, she says, ended up favouring the APC because it cast the PDP in a negative light - as a party that would pursue \"power at all costs\". She believes this year's delay could slightly benefit the APC as it would increase voter apathy in most areas except those with historically high turnouts - \"the north-west and the north-east... both strongholds of President Muhammadu Buhari\". Other analysts say the postponement is likely to harm both parties equally, as their supporters who had travelled home to vote last week will be unable to make another journey this weekend. Another view holds that the delay will harm Mr Buhari's chances, as the electoral commission's un-readiness reflects poorly on him. The commission's chief, Mahmood Yakubu, was appointed by Mr Buhari in 2015. Inec says there will be no further delays, but some observers have questioned whether the elections will go ahead on 23 February. Festus Mogae, a former president of Botswana, told the BBC's Newsday programme that he was doubtful that all the preparations would be completed. \"It's a great deal of work yet to be done,\" the head of the international election observation mission said. \"I don't know whether that can be managed or not, I am not in a position to judge but it makes me apprehensive.\" And the former vice-president of The Gambia, Fatoumata Tambajang, said she too had doubts about whether Inec could meet its new deadline. \"One has to be realistic given the enormity of the activities that are supposed to be taken care of,\" she said. As well as overcoming logistical hurdles, she said popular enthusiasm for the electoral process would have to be restored to where it was until last week's cancellation. For Inec, keeping to the new date is central to maintaining the public's trust. Alhaji Yahaya Bello, the resident electoral commissioner for the capital, Abuja, told the BBC there would be \"pandemonium\" if election materials were not deployed in time. \"People will just think that Inec has hidden them deliberately, so we can dock some of the results,\" he said. The business community has also stressed the importance of avoiding further delays, with the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry warning that economic activity would not pick up until the election had been held. The first task is to reconfigure some 180,000 card readers that are being used to validate voters' identity cards and check their biometric details. The dates on the readers need to be changed to the new election date. In a statement, Inec said this process would take five to six days, and is due to be completed by Thursday 21 February. Some sensitive election materials, including ballot papers, have been returned to the Central Bank of Nigeria for safekeeping. These are scheduled to be deployed around the country by Friday 22 February, at the latest. Election staff, including an estimated one million so-called ad-hoc staff, will also be travelling then. It is unclear what happened to the staff and volunteers, including members of the country's youth corps, that had already been deployed last Friday. By law, all campaigning must end 24 hours before polling stations open. After initially saying that the ban imposed last week would remain in force, Inec went back on its decision on Monday, allowing political parties to resume campaigning this week.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1020, "answer_end": 2530, "text": "In a statement issued on the day of the postponement, the APC alleged the PDP wanted to halt the momentum of its candidate, President Muhammadu Buhari. The PDP, whose presidential contender is Atiku Abubakar, on the other hand said Inec had delayed the election to create \"the space to perfect their rigging plans\". According to Idayat Hassan, from Abuja-based think tank, the Centre for Democracy and Development, the week-long extension is too brief to have a significant influence on the result of the presidential vote. She compares the latest postponement to the one in 2015, when the PDP - in government at the time - pushed the election back by six weeks, blaming the Boko Haram insurgency in the north-east. That postponement, she says, ended up favouring the APC because it cast the PDP in a negative light - as a party that would pursue \"power at all costs\". She believes this year's delay could slightly benefit the APC as it would increase voter apathy in most areas except those with historically high turnouts - \"the north-west and the north-east... both strongholds of President Muhammadu Buhari\". Other analysts say the postponement is likely to harm both parties equally, as their supporters who had travelled home to vote last week will be unable to make another journey this weekend. Another view holds that the delay will harm Mr Buhari's chances, as the electoral commission's un-readiness reflects poorly on him. The commission's chief, Mahmood Yakubu, was appointed by Mr Buhari in 2015."}], "question": "So does the delay favour anyone?", "id": "831_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2531, "answer_end": 3448, "text": "Inec says there will be no further delays, but some observers have questioned whether the elections will go ahead on 23 February. Festus Mogae, a former president of Botswana, told the BBC's Newsday programme that he was doubtful that all the preparations would be completed. \"It's a great deal of work yet to be done,\" the head of the international election observation mission said. \"I don't know whether that can be managed or not, I am not in a position to judge but it makes me apprehensive.\" And the former vice-president of The Gambia, Fatoumata Tambajang, said she too had doubts about whether Inec could meet its new deadline. \"One has to be realistic given the enormity of the activities that are supposed to be taken care of,\" she said. As well as overcoming logistical hurdles, she said popular enthusiasm for the electoral process would have to be restored to where it was until last week's cancellation."}], "question": "Will the election definitely take place this Saturday?", "id": "831_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3449, "answer_end": 4025, "text": "For Inec, keeping to the new date is central to maintaining the public's trust. Alhaji Yahaya Bello, the resident electoral commissioner for the capital, Abuja, told the BBC there would be \"pandemonium\" if election materials were not deployed in time. \"People will just think that Inec has hidden them deliberately, so we can dock some of the results,\" he said. The business community has also stressed the importance of avoiding further delays, with the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry warning that economic activity would not pick up until the election had been held."}], "question": "What does the election commission say?", "id": "831_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 4026, "answer_end": 5088, "text": "The first task is to reconfigure some 180,000 card readers that are being used to validate voters' identity cards and check their biometric details. The dates on the readers need to be changed to the new election date. In a statement, Inec said this process would take five to six days, and is due to be completed by Thursday 21 February. Some sensitive election materials, including ballot papers, have been returned to the Central Bank of Nigeria for safekeeping. These are scheduled to be deployed around the country by Friday 22 February, at the latest. Election staff, including an estimated one million so-called ad-hoc staff, will also be travelling then. It is unclear what happened to the staff and volunteers, including members of the country's youth corps, that had already been deployed last Friday. By law, all campaigning must end 24 hours before polling stations open. After initially saying that the ban imposed last week would remain in force, Inec went back on its decision on Monday, allowing political parties to resume campaigning this week."}], "question": "What happens next?", "id": "831_3"}]}]}, {"title": "Hawaii told to fix its alert system after false missile alarm", "date": "14 January 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "The US state of Hawaii has been told it did not have \"reasonable\" safeguards in place to prevent the false missile alert that caused panic on Saturday. Ajit Pai, chairman of America's media regulator, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), said the error was \"absolutely unacceptable\". The 38-minute delay in issuing the correction made it worse, he added. He called for officials at all levels throughout the US to work together to rectify any vulnerabilities. Residents and visitors to Hawaii were shocked to receive the false alert of an incoming ballistic missile, sent to their mobile phones early on Saturday morning. Apologising afterwards, Hawaii's Governor David Ige said a member of staff had pressed the wrong button, releasing the alert which was also broadcast on TV and radio stations. The alert system is in place because of the potential proximity of Hawaii to North Korean missiles. In a statement, Mr Pai said the alert had caused a \"wave of panic across the state - worsened by the 38-minute delay before a correction alert was issued\". \"False alerts undermine public confidence in the alerting system and thus reduce their effectiveness during real emergencies,\" he said. An FCC investigation, he continued, had already established that the \"government of Hawaii did not have reasonable safeguards or process controls in place to prevent the transmission of a false alert\". \"Moving forward, we will focus on what steps need to be taken to prevent a similar incident from happening again,\" he said. It was a mistake by an employee at Hawaii's Emergency Management Agency during procedures that occur in a shift handover. The message was reportedly sent despite an onscreen prompt requesting confirmation. Mobile phone users received the message at 08:07 (18:07 GMT): \"Ballistic missile threat inbound to Hawaii. Seek immediate shelter. This is not a drill.\" The eventual correction said: \"There is no missile threat or danger to the state of Hawaii.\" One of the problems was that the alert system did not allow for a correction to be sent quickly to mobiles. State officials said a \"cancellation template\" would be created to address the problem, the New York Times reported. Two people are also now required to sign off the issuing of an alert, it said. Hawaiian state officials were profusely apologetic. Governor Ige said: \"I am sorry for the pain and confusion it caused. I, too, am extremely upset about this.\" Vern Miyagi, administrator of the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency, also apologised for the \"inadvertent mistake\". Hawaii Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard told ABC News there had been an \"epic failure of leadership\". \"It was unacceptable that this went out in the first place but the fact that it took so long for them to put out that second message, to calm people, to allay their fears that this was a mistake, a false alarm is something that has to be fixed, corrected with people held accountable,\" she said. Brigette Namata, a television reporter in Honolulu, said it was \"mind-boggling that we have officials here, we have state workers that are in charge of our public safety and a huge, egregious mistake like this happened\". President Donald Trump, who was playing golf in Florida at the time of the alert, has been criticised for not commenting publicly on the event. North Korea's missile and nuclear programme is seen as a growing threat to the United States. Hawaii is one of the US states closest to the country. In September Pyongyang carried out its sixth nuclear test. Last month, the Star-Advertiser reported that a missile launched from North Korea could strike Hawaii within 20 minutes of launch. So Hawaii has reintroduced Cold War-era warning sirens. During a test last month, it was reported that 93% of them worked properly, although some could hardly be heard and 12 mistakenly played the ambulance siren.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1524, "answer_end": 1975, "text": "It was a mistake by an employee at Hawaii's Emergency Management Agency during procedures that occur in a shift handover. The message was reportedly sent despite an onscreen prompt requesting confirmation. Mobile phone users received the message at 08:07 (18:07 GMT): \"Ballistic missile threat inbound to Hawaii. Seek immediate shelter. This is not a drill.\" The eventual correction said: \"There is no missile threat or danger to the state of Hawaii.\""}], "question": "Why was the alert sent?", "id": "832_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1976, "answer_end": 2279, "text": "One of the problems was that the alert system did not allow for a correction to be sent quickly to mobiles. State officials said a \"cancellation template\" would be created to address the problem, the New York Times reported. Two people are also now required to sign off the issuing of an alert, it said."}], "question": "Has any immediate action been taken to prevent a recurrence?", "id": "832_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2280, "answer_end": 3315, "text": "Hawaiian state officials were profusely apologetic. Governor Ige said: \"I am sorry for the pain and confusion it caused. I, too, am extremely upset about this.\" Vern Miyagi, administrator of the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency, also apologised for the \"inadvertent mistake\". Hawaii Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard told ABC News there had been an \"epic failure of leadership\". \"It was unacceptable that this went out in the first place but the fact that it took so long for them to put out that second message, to calm people, to allay their fears that this was a mistake, a false alarm is something that has to be fixed, corrected with people held accountable,\" she said. Brigette Namata, a television reporter in Honolulu, said it was \"mind-boggling that we have officials here, we have state workers that are in charge of our public safety and a huge, egregious mistake like this happened\". President Donald Trump, who was playing golf in Florida at the time of the alert, has been criticised for not commenting publicly on the event."}], "question": "Will heads roll?", "id": "832_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3316, "answer_end": 3868, "text": "North Korea's missile and nuclear programme is seen as a growing threat to the United States. Hawaii is one of the US states closest to the country. In September Pyongyang carried out its sixth nuclear test. Last month, the Star-Advertiser reported that a missile launched from North Korea could strike Hawaii within 20 minutes of launch. So Hawaii has reintroduced Cold War-era warning sirens. During a test last month, it was reported that 93% of them worked properly, although some could hardly be heard and 12 mistakenly played the ambulance siren."}], "question": "Why was Hawaii already on edge?", "id": "832_3"}]}]}, {"title": "Climate change: Michael Bloomberg pledges $4.5m for Paris deal", "date": "23 April 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg says he will pay $4.5m (PS3.2m) to cover some of the lapsed US commitment to the Paris climate accord. He said he had a responsibility to help improve the environment because of President Donald Trump's decision to pull out of the deal. The withdrawal was announced last June and sparked international condemnation. It will make the US in effect the only country not to be part of the Paris accord. The Paris agreement commits the US and 187 other countries to keeping rising global temperatures \"well below\" 2C above pre-industrial levels. As part of the agreement, the US had pledged $3bn to the Green Climate Fund, set up by the UN to help countries deal with the effects of global warming. The money promised by Mr Bloomberg does not aim to cover this, but the US contribution to the UN's climate change secretariat. \"America made a commitment and, as an American, if the government's not going to do it then we all have a responsibility,\" Mr Bloomberg said on CBS. \"I'm able to do it. So, yes, I'm going to send them a cheque for the monies that America had promised to the organisation as though they got it from the federal government.\" His charity, Bloomberg Philanthropies, offered $15m to cover a separate climate change shortfall last year. It said the money would go to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). In January, President Trump said the US could \"conceivably\" return to the deal if it treated America more fairly. \"It's an agreement that I have no problem with but I had a problem with the agreement that they (the Obama administration) signed,\" he told reporters. Mr Bloomberg said he hoped that by next year Mr Trump will have reconsidered his position on the deal. \"He's been known to change his mind, that is true,\" he said. \"America is a big part of the solution and we should go in and help the world stop a potential disaster.\" The deal unites all the world's nations in a single agreement on tackling climate change for the first time in history. Coming to a consensus among nearly 200 countries on the need to cut greenhouse gas emissions is regarded by many observers as an achievement in itself and has been hailed as \"historic\". As well as the limit on global temperatures, it includes a limit on the amount of greenhouse gases emitted by human activity and a requirement for rich countries to help poorer nations by providing \"climate finance\".", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1930, "answer_end": 2452, "text": "The deal unites all the world's nations in a single agreement on tackling climate change for the first time in history. Coming to a consensus among nearly 200 countries on the need to cut greenhouse gas emissions is regarded by many observers as an achievement in itself and has been hailed as \"historic\". As well as the limit on global temperatures, it includes a limit on the amount of greenhouse gases emitted by human activity and a requirement for rich countries to help poorer nations by providing \"climate finance\"."}], "question": "What is in the Paris climate agreement?", "id": "833_0"}]}]}, {"title": "The Swedish wasteland that's now a sustainability star", "date": "3 October 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Stockholm is home to one of the world's most famous eco-neighbourhoods, Hammarby Sjostad. But does it really offer a template for green urban living that can be replicated in other fast-growing cities? A stellar waterfront location, futuristic glass-fronted apartments and pockets of green parkland and flowering reeds everywhere you look. Hammarby Sjostad's aesthetics alone would make it a popular place to live or visit even if it was trailing behind in the sustainability stakes. However, the Stockholm suburb, which is still expanding, has been attracting local and global attention for more than two decades, thanks to its tagline as the Swedish capital's first official eco-district. \"It's very different to other parts of Stockholm... it's a lot better for the environment,\" says Marc Uddenfelt, a 27-year-old trainee systems developer, who recently bought a one-bedroom apartment here with his girlfriend. \"Compared to other places I have lived in the city, there's a lot more friendly talk and everybody is very inviting.\" Construction started in the late 1990s and it's currently home to about 25,000 residents. Its reputation for sustainability comes from the way it handles energy, water and waste - initially designed to cut the environmental impact by 50% compared to a typical suburb - and its goal of maintaining green habits among residents. The district's cyclical approach to sustainability - known globally as the Hammarby Model - has already inspired projects including Toronto's Waterfront, the waste system used at Wembley stadium in London and a number of developments in China and Thailand. The BBC's Circular Economy series highlights the ways we are designing systems to reduce the waste modern society generates, by reusing and repurposing products. Hammarby Sjostad's environmental aim \"was quite ambitious\", says Josefin Wangel, an urban development researcher at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences. All the apartments are made from raw materials designed to provide maximum insulation during Sweden's winters. Gas and electricity come from a range of renewable sources including solar panels and biogas. Some of the biogas is extracted from sewage sludge from the area's water treatment plant, where rainwater, storm water and melt water from snow and ice are processed locally. Residents sort their rubbish into categories and put it in outdoor chutes which suck the waste underground to a central storage point. Combustible waste is burned and turned into further biogas powering some of the city's buses. Public transport, including wide cycle lanes and wooden boulevards hugging the water's edge, a tram line, buses and a free ferry service, is designed to discourage commuting by car. \"This area is all about the environment, that's why you live here,\" says Mr Uddenfelt. But in order to understand the project's impact, you need to wind the clock back to the early 1990s when it was still an industrial wasteland, known locally for pollution and social problems. \"It was really rough,\" says Charlotta Baker, who runs public outreach events for visitors to Hammarby Sjostad for Stockholm City Council. \"We had illegal businesses, an unsolved murder, drugs, illegal clubs. Anything we wanted to get rid of we burnt it or threw it in the sea. \"What it has become shows it is possible anywhere in the world for somewhere quite polluted to be transformed into something sustainable.\" The land was originally going to be housing for the city's ageing population, but then became an eco-village as part of Stockholm's bid to host the 2004 Olympics on a green ticket. While Stockholm failed to get the Olympics it continued to champion sustainability. The evolution of Hammarby Sjostad helped it win the European Commission's first Green Capital of Europe award in 2010 and become recognised as a best-practice example of green urban policy-making by the World Bank and others. Commonly cited reasons for its success include Stockholm's relative wealth compared to other cities, and an ongoing nationwide focus on green issues. Sweden's latest goal is to become a net zero greenhouse gas emitter by 2040, with Hammarby Sjostad aiming to get there by 2030. There has also been a much higher degree of co-operation here, between different state agencies and private companies, than in previous projects. \"It was the first project in Stockholm where the city planners, real estate agents, traffic agency, water company, environmental and health administration worked together in one office,\" says Gunnar Soderholm, Stockholm's environmental health director, who has worked on the initiative in various roles since its inception. While \"it wasn't easy\", he says being in such close proximity helped them tackle disagreements and \"created a new model for city planning, which we still benefit from\". The approach has influenced several other projects, the latest of which is Stockholm Royal Seaport, with plans for at least 12,000 new homes and 35,000 workspaces. Meanwhile the original eco-district is continuing to innovate with a renewed focus on the sharing economy - by encouraging people to use communal car, bicycle and DIY tool pools and installing more than 500 electric vehicle charging points. But there is some criticism of using the Hammarby Model as a perfect blueprint. Josefin Wangel says that while the area now operates in a highly sustainable way, that doesn't include its construction phase. \"It's not as green as people believe it to be,\" she says. \"The production of construction elements or the extraction of materials from the earth's crust stands for quite a big chunk of energy use and also carbon dioxide emissions. That is something that I would like to see future sustainable urban districts pick up.\" Also, thanks to high property prices and rental fees social mixing has been limited, so most residents are \"upper middle class\", Ms Wangel argues. \"It partly makes the area more homogeneous and at a Stockholm-level it contributes to making the city more segregated.\" But she denies sustainability is something only rich countries can invest in. Making things eco-friendly was initially reckoned to have added 5% to prices, she says, adding that green technology costs have dropped in recent years thanks to rising demand. \"It's easy to exaggerate how costly it is to build [in an] environmentally friendly [manner],\" she says. \"It's about changing habits.\" Just how much sustainability has become ingrained in Sweden is evident in the redevelopment of the area's old hosiery factory, Trikafabriken. As dozens of workers in yellow hard hats buzz around the building, the property is getting a visit from Mia Haggstrom, head of sustainability for Fabege, the real estate company leading the initiative. \"I truly don't understand why [other] people aren't scaling up sustainability work,\" she says. \"For us it's core business these days.\" Building firms are helped by the fact that banks and lending institutions can offer more favourable terms for projects with an environmental focus, she says. But even countries without this infrastructure could be making use of the sustainable materials and methods that have become standardised in Sweden, argues Ms Haggstrom. \"Everyone can do something - perhaps not everything - but everyone can do something.\"", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 5243, "answer_end": 6425, "text": "But there is some criticism of using the Hammarby Model as a perfect blueprint. Josefin Wangel says that while the area now operates in a highly sustainable way, that doesn't include its construction phase. \"It's not as green as people believe it to be,\" she says. \"The production of construction elements or the extraction of materials from the earth's crust stands for quite a big chunk of energy use and also carbon dioxide emissions. That is something that I would like to see future sustainable urban districts pick up.\" Also, thanks to high property prices and rental fees social mixing has been limited, so most residents are \"upper middle class\", Ms Wangel argues. \"It partly makes the area more homogeneous and at a Stockholm-level it contributes to making the city more segregated.\" But she denies sustainability is something only rich countries can invest in. Making things eco-friendly was initially reckoned to have added 5% to prices, she says, adding that green technology costs have dropped in recent years thanks to rising demand. \"It's easy to exaggerate how costly it is to build [in an] environmentally friendly [manner],\" she says. \"It's about changing habits.\""}], "question": "Cautionary tale?", "id": "834_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Ozone layer: Banned CFCs traced to China say scientists", "date": "22 May 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Researchers say that they have pinpointed the major sources of a mysterious recent rise in a dangerous, ozone-destroying chemical. CFC-11 was primarily used for home insulation but global production was due to be phased out in 2010. But scientists have seen a big slowdown in the rate of depletion over the past six years. This new study says this is mostly being caused by new gas production in eastern provinces of China. CFC-11 is also known as trichlorofluoromethane, and is one of a number of chloroflurocarbon (CFC) chemicals that were initially developed as refrigerants during the 1930s. However, it took many decades for scientists to discover that when CFCs break down in the atmosphere, they release chlorine atoms that are able to rapidly destroy the ozone layer which protects us from ultraviolet light.  A gaping hole in the ozone layer over Antarctica was discovered in the mid 1980s. The international community agreed the Montreal Protocol in 1987, which banned most of the offending chemicals. Recent research suggests that the hole in the Northern Hemisphere could be fully fixed by the 2030s and Antarctica by the 2060s. CFC-11 was the second most abundant CFCs and was initially seen to be declining as expected. However in 2018 a team of researchers monitoring the atmosphere found that the rate of decline had slowed by about 50% after 2012. That team reasoned that they were seeing new production of the gas, coming from East Asia. The authors of that paper argued that if the sources of new production weren't shut down, it could delay the healing of the ozone layer by a decade. Further detective work in China by the Environmental Investigation Agency in 2018 seemed to indicate that the country was indeed the source. They found that the illegal chemical was used in the majority of the polyurethane insulation produced by firms they contacted. One seller of CFC-11 estimated that 70% of China's domestic sales used the illegal gas. The reason was quite simple - CFC-11 is better quality and much cheaper than the alternatives. This new paper seems to confirm beyond any reasonable doubt that some 40-60% of the increase in emissions is coming from provinces in eastern China. Using what are termed \"top-down\" measurements from air monitoring stations in South Korea and Japan, the researchers were able to show that since 2012 CFC-11 has increased from production sites in eastern China. They calculated that there was a 110% rise in emissions from these parts of China for the years 2014-2017 compared to the period between 2008-2012. \"This new study is based on spikes in the data on air that comes from China,\" lead author Dr Matt Rigby, a reader at the University of Bristol, told BBC Inside Science. \"Using computer simulations of the transport of these gases through the atmosphere we can start to put numbers on emissions from different regions and that's where we come up with this number of around 7,000 tonnes of extra CFC-11 emissions coming out of China compared to before 2012. \"But from the data, all we just see are the ultimate releases to the atmosphere, we don't have any information on how that CFC-11 was used or where it was produced, it is entirely possible that it was manufactured in some other region, some other part of China or even some other country and was transported to the place where they are making insulating foams at which point some of it could have been emitted to the atmosphere.\" The researchers are not sure. It's possible that the missing emissions are coming from other parts of China, as the monitoring stations just can't see them. They could also be coming from India, Africa or South America as again there is very little monitoring in these regions. Yes - the authors say that these CFCs are also very potent greenhouse gases. One tonne of CFC-11 is equivalent to around 5,000 tonnes of CO2. Chat to our climate change bot on Facebook Messenger \"If we look at these extra emissions that we've identified from eastern China, it equates to about 35 million tonnes of CO2 being emitted into the atmosphere every year, that's equivalent to about 10% of UK emissions, or similar to the whole of London.\" The Chinese say they have already started to clamp down on production by what they term \"rogue manufacturers\". Last November, several suspects were arrested in Henan province, in possession of 30 tonnes of CFC-11. Clare Perry from the Environmental Investigations Agency (EIA) said that the new findings re-affirmed the need to stamp out production. \"I think with this study, it is beyond doubt that China is the source of these unexpected emissions, and we would hope that China is leaving no stone unturned to discover the source of the CFC-11 production. \"Unless the production of the chemical is shut down it will be near impossible to end the use and emissions in the foam companies.\" The study has been published in the journal Nature. Follow Matt on Twitter.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1141, "answer_end": 1604, "text": "CFC-11 was the second most abundant CFCs and was initially seen to be declining as expected. However in 2018 a team of researchers monitoring the atmosphere found that the rate of decline had slowed by about 50% after 2012. That team reasoned that they were seeing new production of the gas, coming from East Asia. The authors of that paper argued that if the sources of new production weren't shut down, it could delay the healing of the ozone layer by a decade."}], "question": "When was the CFC problem discovered?", "id": "835_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1605, "answer_end": 2055, "text": "Further detective work in China by the Environmental Investigation Agency in 2018 seemed to indicate that the country was indeed the source. They found that the illegal chemical was used in the majority of the polyurethane insulation produced by firms they contacted. One seller of CFC-11 estimated that 70% of China's domestic sales used the illegal gas. The reason was quite simple - CFC-11 is better quality and much cheaper than the alternatives."}], "question": "What did investigators find on the ground?", "id": "835_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2056, "answer_end": 3449, "text": "This new paper seems to confirm beyond any reasonable doubt that some 40-60% of the increase in emissions is coming from provinces in eastern China. Using what are termed \"top-down\" measurements from air monitoring stations in South Korea and Japan, the researchers were able to show that since 2012 CFC-11 has increased from production sites in eastern China. They calculated that there was a 110% rise in emissions from these parts of China for the years 2014-2017 compared to the period between 2008-2012. \"This new study is based on spikes in the data on air that comes from China,\" lead author Dr Matt Rigby, a reader at the University of Bristol, told BBC Inside Science. \"Using computer simulations of the transport of these gases through the atmosphere we can start to put numbers on emissions from different regions and that's where we come up with this number of around 7,000 tonnes of extra CFC-11 emissions coming out of China compared to before 2012. \"But from the data, all we just see are the ultimate releases to the atmosphere, we don't have any information on how that CFC-11 was used or where it was produced, it is entirely possible that it was manufactured in some other region, some other part of China or even some other country and was transported to the place where they are making insulating foams at which point some of it could have been emitted to the atmosphere.\""}], "question": "So what does this latest study show?", "id": "835_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3450, "answer_end": 3727, "text": "The researchers are not sure. It's possible that the missing emissions are coming from other parts of China, as the monitoring stations just can't see them. They could also be coming from India, Africa or South America as again there is very little monitoring in these regions."}], "question": "Where are the rest of the emissions coming from?", "id": "835_3"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3728, "answer_end": 4176, "text": "Yes - the authors say that these CFCs are also very potent greenhouse gases. One tonne of CFC-11 is equivalent to around 5,000 tonnes of CO2. Chat to our climate change bot on Facebook Messenger \"If we look at these extra emissions that we've identified from eastern China, it equates to about 35 million tonnes of CO2 being emitted into the atmosphere every year, that's equivalent to about 10% of UK emissions, or similar to the whole of London.\""}], "question": "Does this have implications for climate change?", "id": "835_4"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 4177, "answer_end": 4942, "text": "The Chinese say they have already started to clamp down on production by what they term \"rogue manufacturers\". Last November, several suspects were arrested in Henan province, in possession of 30 tonnes of CFC-11. Clare Perry from the Environmental Investigations Agency (EIA) said that the new findings re-affirmed the need to stamp out production. \"I think with this study, it is beyond doubt that China is the source of these unexpected emissions, and we would hope that China is leaving no stone unturned to discover the source of the CFC-11 production. \"Unless the production of the chemical is shut down it will be near impossible to end the use and emissions in the foam companies.\" The study has been published in the journal Nature. Follow Matt on Twitter."}], "question": "Will China clampdown on the production?", "id": "835_5"}]}]}, {"title": "Why a photo of Mengistu has proved so controversial", "date": "2 August 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Ethiopia's former Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn has removed a controversial photo he had posted on his Facebook page, which showed him smiling next to the country's exiled Marxist ex-military ruler, Mengistu Haile Mariam. But pictures of the meeting, taken in Zimbabwe where Mengistu has lived for nearly three decades, have been widely seen and shared on social media. Mr Hailemariam is a member of the coalition that overthrew Mengistu - and has been in Zimbabwe this week heading an African Union election observer mission. He framed his historic meeting as a reconciliation of sorts, as a screenshot of his deleted post shows. \"I wish to see more former heads of government and state in my country contributing their parts in different capacity after peaceful transition of political power,\" he wrote in the picture's caption. Mengistu, who oversaw a campaign known as the \"Red Terror\" in which thousands of people were killed, was found guilty in absentia of genocide in 2007. Gaim Kibreab, a professor at London's South Bank University who has written extensively on Mengistu, said the visit was surprising even it was encouraged by Ethiopia's new reformist prime minister. Abiy Ahmed, who succeeded Mr Hailemariam in April, has released thousands of political prisoners in his short time of power and made peace with former enemy Eritrea. \"Mengistu is a criminal,\" Mr Gaim told BBC Africa online. A sentiment that has been echoed on social media. While the response to the photo has been largely critical, it is not to say that public opinion on Mengistu is unanimous, says BBC's Amharic's Kalkidan Yibeltal from Ethiopia's capital, Addis Ababa. Our reporter says prior to Mr Abiy's reforms some opposition protesters used Mengistu's photo - mostly on social media - to express their anger at the government. Much of that anger has dissipated meaning people are also not afraid to show his image at public gatherings now. In the 1970s, a group of military officers known as the Derg, overthrew Ethiopia's emperor, Haile Selassie. Mengistu, a relatively obscure army officer at the time, emerged as leader and began the \"Red Terror\" when nearly half a million intellectuals, professionals and perceived opponents of socialism or the regime died. He also declared Ethiopia a Socialist People's Republic and relied financially on the former Soviet Union during the country's war with Somalia. A drought between 1984 and 1985 brought the country to economic ruin - and an estimated one million people starved to death in a subsequent famine. More on the \"Red Terror\": His regime crumbled in 1991 in the face of the Ethiopian people's Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF), a coalition of rebel groups, whose fighters had reached the outskirts of Addis Ababa. His army was also defeated as it fought those struggling for independence in Eritrea, which officially became a country in 1993 - two years after his downfall. With the help of the US, Mengistu fled to Zimbabwe, where his friend, former President Robert Mugabe, gave him sanctuary. No official reason has been given, but there has been plenty of speculation. Mr Gaim suspects that he was told to visit Mengitsu as the current prime minister's messenger. \"Without Abiy's approval he [Hailemariam] would not dare to meet Mengistu,\" he said. Our reporter agrees that many believe it to be part of Mr Abiy's \"forgiveness and reconciliation project\". Mr Hailemariam stepped down in February after three years of anti-government protests. His successor has embarked on a series of reforms that would have seemed unthinkable a few years ago. More on Ethiopia's reformist PM: \"I think they [Abiy's government] are trying to undo what happened in the past, so far what they are doing is quite encouraging and great,\" Mr Gaim says. \"I would not surprised if they asked to bring him to Ethiopia.\" But the academic warns that that \"would be a travesty of justice\". \"To extend the olive branch to Mengistu is too far and it may antagonise or even disrespect the families who lost their loved ones.\"", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 837, "answer_end": 1934, "text": "Mengistu, who oversaw a campaign known as the \"Red Terror\" in which thousands of people were killed, was found guilty in absentia of genocide in 2007. Gaim Kibreab, a professor at London's South Bank University who has written extensively on Mengistu, said the visit was surprising even it was encouraged by Ethiopia's new reformist prime minister. Abiy Ahmed, who succeeded Mr Hailemariam in April, has released thousands of political prisoners in his short time of power and made peace with former enemy Eritrea. \"Mengistu is a criminal,\" Mr Gaim told BBC Africa online. A sentiment that has been echoed on social media. While the response to the photo has been largely critical, it is not to say that public opinion on Mengistu is unanimous, says BBC's Amharic's Kalkidan Yibeltal from Ethiopia's capital, Addis Ababa. Our reporter says prior to Mr Abiy's reforms some opposition protesters used Mengistu's photo - mostly on social media - to express their anger at the government. Much of that anger has dissipated meaning people are also not afraid to show his image at public gatherings now."}], "question": "Why is it so contentious?", "id": "836_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1935, "answer_end": 2550, "text": "In the 1970s, a group of military officers known as the Derg, overthrew Ethiopia's emperor, Haile Selassie. Mengistu, a relatively obscure army officer at the time, emerged as leader and began the \"Red Terror\" when nearly half a million intellectuals, professionals and perceived opponents of socialism or the regime died. He also declared Ethiopia a Socialist People's Republic and relied financially on the former Soviet Union during the country's war with Somalia. A drought between 1984 and 1985 brought the country to economic ruin - and an estimated one million people starved to death in a subsequent famine."}], "question": "Who is Mengitsu?", "id": "836_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3051, "answer_end": 3603, "text": "No official reason has been given, but there has been plenty of speculation. Mr Gaim suspects that he was told to visit Mengitsu as the current prime minister's messenger. \"Without Abiy's approval he [Hailemariam] would not dare to meet Mengistu,\" he said. Our reporter agrees that many believe it to be part of Mr Abiy's \"forgiveness and reconciliation project\". Mr Hailemariam stepped down in February after three years of anti-government protests. His successor has embarked on a series of reforms that would have seemed unthinkable a few years ago."}], "question": "What's behind the visit?", "id": "836_2"}]}]}, {"title": "US child migrants: 2,000 separated from families in six weeks", "date": "15 June 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Almost 2,000 migrant children were separated from their families at the US border over six weeks, officials say. Following a Trump administration crackdown on illegal border crossings from Mexico, adults are being detained, meaning the children with them are removed from their care. The issue is causing a growing political storm in the US. On Thursday Attorney General Jeff Sessions cited the Bible to defend the \"zero tolerance\" approach. It means that those entering the US irregularly are criminally prosecuted, a change to a long-standing policy of charging most of those crossing for the first time with a misdemeanour offence. As the adults are being charged with a crime and detained, the children that travel with them are being separated and classed as unaccompanied minors. Figures from the US Department of Homeland Security show that 1,995 children were separated from 1,940 adults who are being held between 19 April and 31 May. No information was given on the age of the separated children. The children are passed into the care of the US Department of Health and Human Services. They are transferred to government detention facilities or foster care while officials try to resolve their case. The United Nations has called on the US to immediately halt the separations. Mr Sessions said having children would not shield border-crossing migrants from prosecution. The attorney general quoted a verse from St Paul's Letter to the Romans on obeying the laws of government. Critics say that verse was once used to justify slavery. The Trump administration policy is supported by some Republicans, but others have expressed misgivings. Speaking to reporters on Thursday, House Speaker Paul Ryan, Congress' highest-ranking Republican, said he was not comfortable with the tactics. This week, House Republicans pitched draft immigration legislation that would end the separation of children and parents at the border. Under the plan, families would be detained together. Also in the proposal are provisions to protect 1.8 million Daca 'Dreamers', eliminate the diversity lottery, and add $25bn (PS18bn) for border security. The bill, a compromise between moderates and conservatives, is expected to be voted on next week. So will another, more hard line bill. President Donald Trump said on Friday he would not sign the compromise bill, despite Republican lawmakers having said he supported it. His remark sent legislators on Capitol Hill scrambling, but the White House later said the president had misspoken and he would back both measures. The administration says it has selected a site in Texas to house the migrant children in tents.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 786, "answer_end": 1543, "text": "Figures from the US Department of Homeland Security show that 1,995 children were separated from 1,940 adults who are being held between 19 April and 31 May. No information was given on the age of the separated children. The children are passed into the care of the US Department of Health and Human Services. They are transferred to government detention facilities or foster care while officials try to resolve their case. The United Nations has called on the US to immediately halt the separations. Mr Sessions said having children would not shield border-crossing migrants from prosecution. The attorney general quoted a verse from St Paul's Letter to the Romans on obeying the laws of government. Critics say that verse was once used to justify slavery."}], "question": "What do we know about the children?", "id": "837_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1544, "answer_end": 2648, "text": "The Trump administration policy is supported by some Republicans, but others have expressed misgivings. Speaking to reporters on Thursday, House Speaker Paul Ryan, Congress' highest-ranking Republican, said he was not comfortable with the tactics. This week, House Republicans pitched draft immigration legislation that would end the separation of children and parents at the border. Under the plan, families would be detained together. Also in the proposal are provisions to protect 1.8 million Daca 'Dreamers', eliminate the diversity lottery, and add $25bn (PS18bn) for border security. The bill, a compromise between moderates and conservatives, is expected to be voted on next week. So will another, more hard line bill. President Donald Trump said on Friday he would not sign the compromise bill, despite Republican lawmakers having said he supported it. His remark sent legislators on Capitol Hill scrambling, but the White House later said the president had misspoken and he would back both measures. The administration says it has selected a site in Texas to house the migrant children in tents."}], "question": "What has been the political response?", "id": "837_1"}]}]}, {"title": "A cross-party solution to NHS pressures?", "date": "24 April 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Just before Easter, Theresa May announced she had finally accepted the case for a longer-term, and bigger financial commitment to the NHS. But how much to pay, and how to find the money is not yet decided. The Health Secretary, Jeremy Hunt, has appealed to his colleagues for ideas, promising in a letter to all Tory MPs that solutions for the NHS and proposals on social care will be settled by the summer. But a cross-party group of MPs including former ministers, is again urging the government to convert National Insurance into a specific tax for the NHS. That proposal is part of a wider set of principles upon which they would base a commission to look at the health service's long-term pressures, that is being published today. Most intriguingly, members of the group tell me that Jeremy Hunt is open to their idea. He has made it plain he accepts there may have to be increases in tax, but hasn't made a commitment or a case for a particular option. The government has moved frustratingly slowly for its critics on the fraught and controversial issue of how we should pay for heath care. Demographics and demand mean the issue is more vital than ever. The proposals being put forward by MPs as a potential plan are interesting in themselves. But what's also intriguing is the fact that MPs of different stripes, officially, have been able to agree them. I simply can't remember a different occasion when I have sat across from three MPs from different political tribes and they have not just grudgingly agreed to accept one or other of their rivals' points, but have deliberately worked together to construct solutions for one of the country's pressing problems. There has been a frenzy on occasion recently over whether a new centre party might explode onto the scene. With frustrations about and suspicion of the front benches of both of our big parties, the idea is raised from time to time, although the genuine evidence of that is scant. But by their admission, the three MPs I interviewed about their NHS plans are acting together not just because they don't have much faith in their leaderships to act, but they fear it might be politically impossible for them to do so. They see this as a gap into which backbenchers might be able to step, and potentially not just on the NHS, but on other issues like housing too. Don't write the headlines about a new party, or a new centre, whatever that means. This is also not a start of some backbench revolution. We are far from reaching a point where non-ministers can call all the shots. But it is a growing feature of this minority Parliament that MPs whose places are in the Commons' cheap seats are making their voices, and Parliament's shout louder.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1672, "answer_end": 2712, "text": "There has been a frenzy on occasion recently over whether a new centre party might explode onto the scene. With frustrations about and suspicion of the front benches of both of our big parties, the idea is raised from time to time, although the genuine evidence of that is scant. But by their admission, the three MPs I interviewed about their NHS plans are acting together not just because they don't have much faith in their leaderships to act, but they fear it might be politically impossible for them to do so. They see this as a gap into which backbenchers might be able to step, and potentially not just on the NHS, but on other issues like housing too. Don't write the headlines about a new party, or a new centre, whatever that means. This is also not a start of some backbench revolution. We are far from reaching a point where non-ministers can call all the shots. But it is a growing feature of this minority Parliament that MPs whose places are in the Commons' cheap seats are making their voices, and Parliament's shout louder."}], "question": "Backbench revolution?", "id": "838_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Budget 2017: What do Universal Credit reforms mean?", "date": "22 November 2017", "paragraphs": [{"context": "People claiming the benefit universal credit will have to wait five weeks, rather than six, to receive their first payment from February 2018. The government had been coming under mounting pressure to act after reports that many people were getting into rent arrears, problem debt or having to use food banks while waiting to receive the benefit. In his Budget the chancellor also announced that housing benefit claimants could continue to receive it for an extra two weeks while waiting for their universal credit payments to start. And advances available to people who need it will be made more generous, covering up to the full value of their claim, rather than a maximum of half. BBC Reality Check wanted to know, how significant is this announcement, in particular the reduction of the six-week wait to five? People claiming universal credit will now wait, to be precise, 35 days rather than 42 before they get their first payment. It's helpful to think of the current waiting period before people can receive their first universal credit in three chunks: - Four weeks to assess how much someone has earned in the last month - An administrative week set aside to process the payment - A further seven \"waiting days\" during which claimants are not eligible for any benefit - this is what the chancellor is scrapping The four weeks is more or less baked into the design of the system. Universal credit was designed to be paid in arrears once a person's monthly income has been assessed. Changing this feature would have required a fairly significant change to the whole structure of the benefit. So it was in the other 14 days that the government had some leeway. The reduction in the waiting period announced in the Budget strips away seven of those extra days, leaving a full week to process the payment. Arguably, the chancellor could have shortened the payment processing time too. It was the seven additional \"waiting days\" many took issue with, since it's difficult to see what purpose those days served other than to save money. David Finch, a senior policy analyst at think tank the Resolution Foundation, described them as a \"completely unnecessary saving\" which had a disproportionate negative impact on claimants. And a report on the six week waiting period by a cross-party group of MPs, chaired by Labour MP Frank Field, described the motivation of those extra days as \"primarily fiscal\". But the motivation behind universal credit was not a cost-saving one - it was supposed to be all about getting more people into work. The report's authors added that they had been told by a wide range of charities, councils and housing associations that the seven waiting days did \"nothing to further the stated objectives of Universal Credit but contribute to claimant hardship.\" Just over a third of people eligible for universal credit have always been exempt from having to go for seven \"waiting days\" with no benefits. This group includes people who are moving on to universal credit from a relevant existing benefit, those who have claimed Jobseeker's Allowance or Employment Support Allowance in the past three months, young people under the age of 22 leaving local authority care and victims of domestic abuse. The other 64% of new claimants will benefit from this change. The actual number of people will vary - there were 47,000 new people starting to receive universal credit in the most recent month we have data for (13 September to 12 October). Chancellor Philip Hammond said the whole package of reform announced today would cost PS1.5bn over five years. When it introduced the seven day wait period the government said the policy would save PS150m per year, after universal credit had been rolled out, so it's reasonable to think this is what it would cost them in the future. For the average person claiming the benefit, they'll have PS73 extra in their pockets plus housing costs and any other elements they qualify for - like childcare support. The Resolution Foundation adds that while this change is important, the waiting time is not the biggest underlying problem with universal credit. So what else could the chancellor have done to reform the benefit? He could have reversed cuts made in 2015 to the \"work allowance\". People with children, or who have a disability which restricts the amount they can work, are currently able to earn up to PS397 a month before they start losing any benefits. But before April 2016, all claimants could earn a certain amount before their benefits began to be withdrawn and some people could earn up to PS734 without losing a penny. At the moment this work allowance is assessed by household. Having a work allowance for individuals could strengthen the incentive for the second earner in a family to work. Last Autumn, the chancellor announced a reduction to the taper rate. That's the amount of benefit you lose for every extra pound you earn.  Previously, claimants lost 65p of benefit for every extra pound they earned, and this was reduced to 63p last year. So the chancellor could have opted to reduce this further. And there are other smaller concessions government could make, for example paying eligible claimants their childcare costs upfront rather than making them pay and claim the costs back. Read more from Reality Check Follow us on Twitter", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 2786, "answer_end": 3463, "text": "Just over a third of people eligible for universal credit have always been exempt from having to go for seven \"waiting days\" with no benefits. This group includes people who are moving on to universal credit from a relevant existing benefit, those who have claimed Jobseeker's Allowance or Employment Support Allowance in the past three months, young people under the age of 22 leaving local authority care and victims of domestic abuse. The other 64% of new claimants will benefit from this change. The actual number of people will vary - there were 47,000 new people starting to receive universal credit in the most recent month we have data for (13 September to 12 October)."}], "question": "Who will benefit?", "id": "839_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3464, "answer_end": 3968, "text": "Chancellor Philip Hammond said the whole package of reform announced today would cost PS1.5bn over five years. When it introduced the seven day wait period the government said the policy would save PS150m per year, after universal credit had been rolled out, so it's reasonable to think this is what it would cost them in the future. For the average person claiming the benefit, they'll have PS73 extra in their pockets plus housing costs and any other elements they qualify for - like childcare support."}], "question": "What will it cost?", "id": "839_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3969, "answer_end": 5268, "text": "The Resolution Foundation adds that while this change is important, the waiting time is not the biggest underlying problem with universal credit. So what else could the chancellor have done to reform the benefit? He could have reversed cuts made in 2015 to the \"work allowance\". People with children, or who have a disability which restricts the amount they can work, are currently able to earn up to PS397 a month before they start losing any benefits. But before April 2016, all claimants could earn a certain amount before their benefits began to be withdrawn and some people could earn up to PS734 without losing a penny. At the moment this work allowance is assessed by household. Having a work allowance for individuals could strengthen the incentive for the second earner in a family to work. Last Autumn, the chancellor announced a reduction to the taper rate. That's the amount of benefit you lose for every extra pound you earn.  Previously, claimants lost 65p of benefit for every extra pound they earned, and this was reduced to 63p last year. So the chancellor could have opted to reduce this further. And there are other smaller concessions government could make, for example paying eligible claimants their childcare costs upfront rather than making them pay and claim the costs back."}], "question": "What else could be done?", "id": "839_2"}]}]}, {"title": "Jeffrey Epstein denied bail in sex trafficking case", "date": "18 July 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "US financier Jeffrey Epstein must remain in jail while awaiting his child sex trafficking trial, a federal judge in New York has ruled. Judge Richard Berman rejected Epstein's request to be under house arrest, saying he posed a flight risk. His defence team had proposed a multimillion dollar bail package. The financier has pleaded not guilty to sex trafficking and conspiracy charges. He once counted Bill Clinton and Donald Trump among his friends. Epstein, 66, avoided similar charges in a controversial secret plea deal in 2008, and instead pleaded guilty to a lesser charge. Last week, US Labour Secretary Alex Acosta resigned amid growing criticism of his role in the plea deal. Mr Acosta was then the US attorney in Miami and oversaw the non-prosecution deal with Epstein, which allowed the financier to serve 13 months in jail - with much of that time spent on work release at his Palm Beach office. The deal has come under increasing scrutiny with the new charges against Epstein. Epstein was arrested on 6 July and later charged with sex trafficking and conspiracy. According to an indictment, the financier paid girls under the age of 18 to perform sex acts at his Manhattan and Florida mansions between 2002 and 2005. Prosecutors also accuse him of paying large amounts of money to two people who could be potential witnesses during the forthcoming trial. Epstein has pleaded not guilty to all the charges. If convicted, he faces up to 45 years in prison. New York-born Epstein worked as a teacher before moving into finance. Prior to the criminal cases against him, he was best known for his wealth and high-profile connections. He has long been surrounded by the rich and powerful, including President Trump, former President Bill Clinton and the UK's Prince Andrew. In a 2002 profile in New York Magazine, Mr Trump referred to Epstein as a \"terrific guy\". \"He's a lot of fun to be with,\" he said. \"It is even said that he likes beautiful women as much as I do, and many of them are on the younger side.\" However, Mr Trump has said the pair fell out \"12 or 15 years ago\" and reiterated on Friday that he was \"not a fan of Jeffrey Epstein\". Reports of Epstein's current wealth vary, with his Virgin Islands-based firm generating no public records.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 991, "answer_end": 1468, "text": "Epstein was arrested on 6 July and later charged with sex trafficking and conspiracy. According to an indictment, the financier paid girls under the age of 18 to perform sex acts at his Manhattan and Florida mansions between 2002 and 2005. Prosecutors also accuse him of paying large amounts of money to two people who could be potential witnesses during the forthcoming trial. Epstein has pleaded not guilty to all the charges. If convicted, he faces up to 45 years in prison."}], "question": "What are the new charges?", "id": "840_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1469, "answer_end": 2261, "text": "New York-born Epstein worked as a teacher before moving into finance. Prior to the criminal cases against him, he was best known for his wealth and high-profile connections. He has long been surrounded by the rich and powerful, including President Trump, former President Bill Clinton and the UK's Prince Andrew. In a 2002 profile in New York Magazine, Mr Trump referred to Epstein as a \"terrific guy\". \"He's a lot of fun to be with,\" he said. \"It is even said that he likes beautiful women as much as I do, and many of them are on the younger side.\" However, Mr Trump has said the pair fell out \"12 or 15 years ago\" and reiterated on Friday that he was \"not a fan of Jeffrey Epstein\". Reports of Epstein's current wealth vary, with his Virgin Islands-based firm generating no public records."}], "question": "Who is Jeffrey Epstein?", "id": "840_1"}]}]}, {"title": "Huawei: Meng Wanzhou faces Iran fraud charges, court hears", "date": "8 December 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "The chief financial officer of the Chinese telecoms giant Huawei faces fraud charges in the United States, a Canadian court hearing has revealed. Meng Wanzhou, daughter of Huawei's founder, is accused of breaking American sanctions on Iran. She was arrested in Vancouver on Saturday and faces extradition to the US. China has demanded Ms Meng's release, insisting she has not violated any laws. The court is deciding whether or not to allow bail. Friday's five-hour hearing has now ended and the case was adjourned until Monday. Ms Meng's detention became public knowledge on Wednesday, but details at the time were unclear as she had requested a publication ban. That blackout has now been overturned by the court. On Friday, the Supreme Court of British Columbia was told that Ms Meng had used a Huawei subsidiary called Skycom to evade sanctions on Iran between 2009 and 2014. The court was told that she had publicly misrepresented Skycom as being a separate company. Ms Meng faces up to 30 years in prison in the US if found guilty of the charges, the court heard. Court reporters said she was not handcuffed for the hearing and was wearing a green sweatsuit. A Canadian government lawyer said Ms Meng was accused of \"conspiracy to defraud multiple financial institutions\". He said she had denied to US bankers any direct connections between Huawei and SkyCom, when in fact \"SkyCom is Huawei\". The lawyer said Ms Meng could be a flight risk and thus should be denied bail. The arrest has put further strain on US-China relations. The two countries have been locked in trade disputes, although a 90-day truce had been agreed on Saturday - before news of the arrest came to light on Wednesday. Huawei is one of the largest telecommunications equipment and services providers in the world, recently passing Apple to become the second-biggest smartphone maker after Samsung. Ms Meng's arrest was not revealed by Canadian authorities until Wednesday, the day of her first court appearance. Details of the charges were also not revealed at the time after she was granted a publication ban by a Canadian judge. Canadian Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland said on Friday that China had been assured that due process was being followed and Ms Meng would have consular access while her case was before the courts. \"Canada is a rule-of-law country and we follow our procedures, our laws and our agreements,\" she told journalists during a press teleconference.Huawei executive faces Iran fraud charges \"Due process has been, and will be, followed in Canada.\" Ms Freeland reiterated Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's claim that Ms Meng's arrest had \"no political involvement\". By BBC Monitoring Meng Wanzhou, 46, joined Huawei as early as 1993, when she began a career at her father's company as a receptionist. After she graduated with a master's degree in accountancy from the Huazhong University of Science and Technology in 1999, she joined the finance department of Huawei. She became the company's chief finance officer in 2011 and was promoted to vice-chair a few months before her arrest. Ms Meng's links to her father, Ren Zhengfei, were not known to the public until a few years ago. In a practice highly unusual in Chinese tradition, she adopted her family name not from her father but her mother, Meng Jun, who was Mr Ren's first wife. Some Western governments fear Beijing will gain access to fifth-generation (5G) mobile and other communications networks through Huawei and expand its spying ability, although the firm insists there is no government control. Japan is expected to ban government use of products made by Huawei and ZTE over cybersecurity concerns, local media reported on Friday. It would follow moves by New Zealand and Australia to block Huawei. US National Security Adviser John Bolton said his country has had \"enormous concerns for years\" about the practice of Chinese firms \"to use stolen American intellectual property, to engage in forced technology transfers, and to be used as arms of the Chinese government's objectives in terms of information technology in particular\". \"Not respecting this particular arrest, but Huawei is one company we've been concerned about,\" he said. A Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson told reporters: \"The detention without giving any reason violates a person's human rights.\" \"We have made solemn representations to Canada and the US, demanding that both parties immediately clarify the reasons for the detention, and immediately release the detainee to protect the person's legal rights.\" US President Donald Trump last month reinstated all the US sanctions on Iran that had been removed under a 2015 nuclear deal. Mr Trump had been fiercely opposed to the deal, which saw Iran limit its controversial nuclear activities in exchange for sanctions relief. The re-imposed sanctions hit oil exports, shipping and banks - all core parts of Iran's economy. Although there are some waivers, US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin has said the US will \"aggressively\" target any firm or organisation \"evading our sanctions\".", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 716, "answer_end": 1477, "text": "On Friday, the Supreme Court of British Columbia was told that Ms Meng had used a Huawei subsidiary called Skycom to evade sanctions on Iran between 2009 and 2014. The court was told that she had publicly misrepresented Skycom as being a separate company. Ms Meng faces up to 30 years in prison in the US if found guilty of the charges, the court heard. Court reporters said she was not handcuffed for the hearing and was wearing a green sweatsuit. A Canadian government lawyer said Ms Meng was accused of \"conspiracy to defraud multiple financial institutions\". He said she had denied to US bankers any direct connections between Huawei and SkyCom, when in fact \"SkyCom is Huawei\". The lawyer said Ms Meng could be a flight risk and thus should be denied bail."}], "question": "What happened in court?", "id": "841_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2667, "answer_end": 3337, "text": "By BBC Monitoring Meng Wanzhou, 46, joined Huawei as early as 1993, when she began a career at her father's company as a receptionist. After she graduated with a master's degree in accountancy from the Huazhong University of Science and Technology in 1999, she joined the finance department of Huawei. She became the company's chief finance officer in 2011 and was promoted to vice-chair a few months before her arrest. Ms Meng's links to her father, Ren Zhengfei, were not known to the public until a few years ago. In a practice highly unusual in Chinese tradition, she adopted her family name not from her father but her mother, Meng Jun, who was Mr Ren's first wife."}], "question": "Who is Meng Wanzhou?", "id": "841_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3338, "answer_end": 4204, "text": "Some Western governments fear Beijing will gain access to fifth-generation (5G) mobile and other communications networks through Huawei and expand its spying ability, although the firm insists there is no government control. Japan is expected to ban government use of products made by Huawei and ZTE over cybersecurity concerns, local media reported on Friday. It would follow moves by New Zealand and Australia to block Huawei. US National Security Adviser John Bolton said his country has had \"enormous concerns for years\" about the practice of Chinese firms \"to use stolen American intellectual property, to engage in forced technology transfers, and to be used as arms of the Chinese government's objectives in terms of information technology in particular\". \"Not respecting this particular arrest, but Huawei is one company we've been concerned about,\" he said."}], "question": "Does Huawei concern the West?", "id": "841_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 4551, "answer_end": 5076, "text": "US President Donald Trump last month reinstated all the US sanctions on Iran that had been removed under a 2015 nuclear deal. Mr Trump had been fiercely opposed to the deal, which saw Iran limit its controversial nuclear activities in exchange for sanctions relief. The re-imposed sanctions hit oil exports, shipping and banks - all core parts of Iran's economy. Although there are some waivers, US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin has said the US will \"aggressively\" target any firm or organisation \"evading our sanctions\"."}], "question": "What are the Iran sanctions?", "id": "841_3"}]}]}, {"title": "US mail bombs: Cesar Sayoc charged after campaign against Trump critics", "date": "27 October 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "A 56-year-old man has been arrested in Florida in connection with a mail-bombing campaign aimed at critics of US President Donald Trump. US officials named the man as Cesar Sayoc. He faces five charges including mailing explosives and threatening ex-presidents. Mr Trump said the acts were \"despicable and have no place in our country\". Fourteen items have been sent in recent days to figures including ex-President Barack Obama and actor Robert de Niro. Two were found in Florida and New York City on Friday morning. Later, two more were discovered in California. Billionaire and Democrat donor Tom Steyer said that a package sent to him had been intercepted at a mail facility in Burlingame, and another addressed to Democrat Senator Kamala Harris was reported in Sacramento. The incidents come less than two weeks before the US mid-term elections, with politics highly polarised. The president praised law enforcement for the quick arrest of the suspect, describing the search as looking for a \"needle in a haystack\". \"These terrorising acts are despicable and have no place in our country,\" he said. The comments were in stark contrast to Mr Trump's tweet earlier in the day, when he suggested the incidents, which he described as \"'Bomb' stuff\", were slowing Republican \"momentum\" in early voting. But Mr Trump returned to the theme later, accusing US media of exploiting the latest case. \"The media's constant, unfair coverage, deep hostility and negative attacks... only serve to drive people apart and to undermine healthy debate,\" he said at a rally in North Carolina. \"We have seen an effort by the media in recent hours to use the sinister actions of one individual to score political points against me and the Republican party.\" US media reports suggest Mr Sayoc is a registered Republican who attended some of Mr Trump's rallies in 2016 and 2017. However, the president rejected any suggestion that his rhetoric had contributed to the attacks. \"I heard he was a person that preferred me over others. There's no blame, there's no anything,\" Mr Trump said. Former intelligence chief James Clapper, one of the recipients of Friday's packages, told CNN: \"This is definitely domestic terrorism, no question in my mind.\" He said that anyone who had been a critic of President Trump needed to be on the alert and take extra precautions. \"I'm not suggesting a direct cause-and-effect relationship between anything he's said or done and  the distribution of these explosives. But I do think he bears some responsibility for the coarseness of civility of the dialogue in this country,\" he added. He was at a vehicle parts shop in the city of Plantation, Florida. FBI Director Christopher Wray revealed that he was detained after his fingerprint was allegedly found on one of the packages. Officials also said DNA and mobile phone data were used to track the suspect down. The Department of Justice said he faced up to 48 years in jail. \"We will not tolerate such lawlessness, especially political violence,\" US Attorney General Jeff Sessions said at a news conference. \"Let this be a lesson to anyone, regardless of their political beliefs, that we will use the full force of the law against you.\" Law enforcement agencies said Mr Sayoc lives in Aventura, Florida. In 2002, he was arrested for making a bomb threat in Miami-Dade County, and received one year of probation for the charge. Mr Sayoc has a criminal record dating back to 1991 in Broward County, according to clerk records. He was arrested, aged 29, on a theft charge. He has also faced charges of fraud and battery. Court records show Mr Sayoc filed for bankruptcy in 2012 while he was living with his mother. A handwritten note in his bankruptcy report reads: \"Lives w/mom. Has no furniture.\" In 1980, he spent three semesters as a student at Brevard College in North Carolina, a university spokeswoman told BBC News. He did not graduate, the spokeswoman added. Following his arrest, US TV broadcast live images of a white van, said to belong to Mr Sayoc, being loaded on to a trailer in Plantation and towed away for examination. The van's windows were covered in images. One piece of artwork depicted President Trump standing on a tank and another showed Hillary Clinton with a bullseye superimposed on her face. Twitter and Facebook accounts in the name of Cesar Altieri and Cesar Altieri Randazzo respectively, believed to be used by the suspect, have been taken down. The series of bomb alerts began on Monday, when a suspected device was found in the post box of billionaire businessman George Soros, a major Democratic Party donor. A total of 13 devices were sent to the following 11 individuals, according to the FBI. - George Soros - Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton - Former President Barack Obama - Former Vice-President Joe Biden (two devices) - Former CIA Director John Brennan, care of CNN - Former Attorney General Eric Holder - California Democratic Congresswoman Maxine Waters (two devices) - Robert De Niro - Democrat Senator Cory Booker - Former director of national intelligence James Clapper - Democrat Senator Kamala Harris The package sent to Mr Steyer was not mentioned on the complaint against Mr Sayoc. None of the devices went off. FBI Assistant Director William Sweeney said thorough examinations of all the packages were under way at the FBI laboratory in Quantico, Virginia, near Washington DC. Several of the packages appear to have contained pipe bombs, according to the FBI. CNN quotes investigators as saying they were functional but unstable, meaning they could be set off merely by handling. They have timers easily bought at retail outlets. But experts speaking to several US media outlets have cast doubt on their effectiveness after seeing X-ray images. New York Police Commissioner James O'Neill could not confirm whether all the devices were intended to explode, but he said officials \"are treating them as suspected explosive devices\". Later FBI Director Wray said that, though they were still being examined, \"these are not hoax devices\". He said it was possible there were more undiscovered packages. Some of the packages included photos of the intended targets with red Xs drawn through them, investigators said.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 883, "answer_end": 2598, "text": "The president praised law enforcement for the quick arrest of the suspect, describing the search as looking for a \"needle in a haystack\". \"These terrorising acts are despicable and have no place in our country,\" he said. The comments were in stark contrast to Mr Trump's tweet earlier in the day, when he suggested the incidents, which he described as \"'Bomb' stuff\", were slowing Republican \"momentum\" in early voting. But Mr Trump returned to the theme later, accusing US media of exploiting the latest case. \"The media's constant, unfair coverage, deep hostility and negative attacks... only serve to drive people apart and to undermine healthy debate,\" he said at a rally in North Carolina. \"We have seen an effort by the media in recent hours to use the sinister actions of one individual to score political points against me and the Republican party.\" US media reports suggest Mr Sayoc is a registered Republican who attended some of Mr Trump's rallies in 2016 and 2017. However, the president rejected any suggestion that his rhetoric had contributed to the attacks. \"I heard he was a person that preferred me over others. There's no blame, there's no anything,\" Mr Trump said. Former intelligence chief James Clapper, one of the recipients of Friday's packages, told CNN: \"This is definitely domestic terrorism, no question in my mind.\" He said that anyone who had been a critic of President Trump needed to be on the alert and take extra precautions. \"I'm not suggesting a direct cause-and-effect relationship between anything he's said or done and  the distribution of these explosives. But I do think he bears some responsibility for the coarseness of civility of the dialogue in this country,\" he added."}], "question": "How did Mr Trump react?", "id": "842_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2599, "answer_end": 3200, "text": "He was at a vehicle parts shop in the city of Plantation, Florida. FBI Director Christopher Wray revealed that he was detained after his fingerprint was allegedly found on one of the packages. Officials also said DNA and mobile phone data were used to track the suspect down. The Department of Justice said he faced up to 48 years in jail. \"We will not tolerate such lawlessness, especially political violence,\" US Attorney General Jeff Sessions said at a news conference. \"Let this be a lesson to anyone, regardless of their political beliefs, that we will use the full force of the law against you.\""}], "question": "How Cesar Sayoc was caught?", "id": "842_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3201, "answer_end": 4439, "text": "Law enforcement agencies said Mr Sayoc lives in Aventura, Florida. In 2002, he was arrested for making a bomb threat in Miami-Dade County, and received one year of probation for the charge. Mr Sayoc has a criminal record dating back to 1991 in Broward County, according to clerk records. He was arrested, aged 29, on a theft charge. He has also faced charges of fraud and battery. Court records show Mr Sayoc filed for bankruptcy in 2012 while he was living with his mother. A handwritten note in his bankruptcy report reads: \"Lives w/mom. Has no furniture.\" In 1980, he spent three semesters as a student at Brevard College in North Carolina, a university spokeswoman told BBC News. He did not graduate, the spokeswoman added. Following his arrest, US TV broadcast live images of a white van, said to belong to Mr Sayoc, being loaded on to a trailer in Plantation and towed away for examination. The van's windows were covered in images. One piece of artwork depicted President Trump standing on a tank and another showed Hillary Clinton with a bullseye superimposed on her face. Twitter and Facebook accounts in the name of Cesar Altieri and Cesar Altieri Randazzo respectively, believed to be used by the suspect, have been taken down."}], "question": "What do we know about Cesar Sayoc?", "id": "842_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 4440, "answer_end": 5234, "text": "The series of bomb alerts began on Monday, when a suspected device was found in the post box of billionaire businessman George Soros, a major Democratic Party donor. A total of 13 devices were sent to the following 11 individuals, according to the FBI. - George Soros - Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton - Former President Barack Obama - Former Vice-President Joe Biden (two devices) - Former CIA Director John Brennan, care of CNN - Former Attorney General Eric Holder - California Democratic Congresswoman Maxine Waters (two devices) - Robert De Niro - Democrat Senator Cory Booker - Former director of national intelligence James Clapper - Democrat Senator Kamala Harris The package sent to Mr Steyer was not mentioned on the complaint against Mr Sayoc. None of the devices went off."}], "question": "How did the bomb threat unfold?", "id": "842_3"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 5235, "answer_end": 6233, "text": "FBI Assistant Director William Sweeney said thorough examinations of all the packages were under way at the FBI laboratory in Quantico, Virginia, near Washington DC. Several of the packages appear to have contained pipe bombs, according to the FBI. CNN quotes investigators as saying they were functional but unstable, meaning they could be set off merely by handling. They have timers easily bought at retail outlets. But experts speaking to several US media outlets have cast doubt on their effectiveness after seeing X-ray images. New York Police Commissioner James O'Neill could not confirm whether all the devices were intended to explode, but he said officials \"are treating them as suspected explosive devices\". Later FBI Director Wray said that, though they were still being examined, \"these are not hoax devices\". He said it was possible there were more undiscovered packages. Some of the packages included photos of the intended targets with red Xs drawn through them, investigators said."}], "question": "What was inside the packages?", "id": "842_4"}]}]}, {"title": "$5bn fund unveiled for climate-friendly shipping", "date": "18 December 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "A group of ship owners have announced plans for a $5bn (PS3.8bn) fund to design zero-emissions vessels. They says $2 (PS1.50) should be levied on every tonne of ships' fuel - to support research into clean engines. Shipping creates about 3% of the emissions that are over-heating the climate - equivalent to all of Germany's CO2. Environmentalists welcomed the proposal but also described it as too little, too late. They say it's outrageous that international shipping pays no fuel taxes, unlike lorry owners. Green groups argue that if ships were taxed at the same level as lorries, 70 times more cash for developing clean engines would be raised in Europe alone. Around 250m tonnes of fuel a year are burned by ships. The International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) says that 90% of owners globally are behind the $2 levy on fuel. Guy Platten, secretary-general of the ICS told BBC News: \"I have seen a massive change in the opinion of ships' owners over the past few years. \"They've realised that we've got to do our bit by decarbonising shipping - and that means designing zero-carbon ships. That's why we need the levy. \"At the moment we can't yet see what the best clean fuel would be for ships. But there's a real urgency about solving the problem.\" He defended the size of the levy, saying it was small enough to be agreed by ship owners in the developing world, but big enough to make a difference. However, Faig Abbasov from the green group Transport and Environment responded: \"The proposed levy is a tiny amount. It's outrageous that the shipping industry has avoided taking responsibility for its emissions for years - that's why it's facing difficulty now.\" Speed limits for ships can have 'massive' benefits \"What's needed is a huge programme to incentivise owners to buy zero-carbon vessels - as well as researching new technologies.\" The ICS says its proposal is supported by the owners of 90% of the merchant fleet. It defends its proposed 10-year research fund, which would need to be enforced through by the UN shipping body the International Maritime Organization. The industry has reduced its emissions slightly over recent years, thanks mainly to ships slowing down after the 2008 financial crisis in order to absorb the oversupply in shipping capacity. Campaigners wanted mandatory slow steaming to save emissions, but the IMO rejected that proposal. The IMO does have a target of halving emissions from international shipping by 2050 compared to 2008. But the ICS says ships are so long-lived that zero-carbon vessels must be available as soon as possible. The optimum shipping fuel has not yet been decided. One option is biofuels, but their availability will be globally limited by the need to ensure they're sustainable. Shipping experts assume that the supply will be gobbled up by the wealthy aviation industry, anyway. Other options are \"green\" hydrogen (produced by renewables); ammonia; fuel cells; batteries and synthetic fuels produced from renewables. The ICS says none of these yet exists in a form or scale that can be applied to large transoceanic ships. Even when the industry settles on a technology, massive investment will be needed to ensure the chosen fuel is available in ports round the world. Mr Platten from the ICS says the path ahead is not year clear. And then there remains the obstacle of the IMO, which is bound by the UN's need for consensus. Environmentalists say some nations' delegates appeared intent on staving off action to protect the climate. The IMO said it would consider the levy plan. The EU meanwhile is under pressure to include shipping in the EU emissions trading scheme, in which polluting industries can buy and sell emissions permits. T&E says that would raise EUR24bn a year on current carbon prices. Faig Abbasov complained: \"The shipping industry is totally subsidised. It pays no tax on fuel, no VAT, no corporate tax. \"The EU tax directive specifically bans any member state from taxing ships' fuel. If you travel to the south of France by coach, the firm pays fuel tax. If you go by luxury cruise you don't pay. \"It's time for a major change.\" Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, made extending the EU emissions trading scheme to maritime transport one of the top political priorities of her tenure. Follow Roger on Twitter.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 2579, "answer_end": 3549, "text": "The optimum shipping fuel has not yet been decided. One option is biofuels, but their availability will be globally limited by the need to ensure they're sustainable. Shipping experts assume that the supply will be gobbled up by the wealthy aviation industry, anyway. Other options are \"green\" hydrogen (produced by renewables); ammonia; fuel cells; batteries and synthetic fuels produced from renewables. The ICS says none of these yet exists in a form or scale that can be applied to large transoceanic ships. Even when the industry settles on a technology, massive investment will be needed to ensure the chosen fuel is available in ports round the world. Mr Platten from the ICS says the path ahead is not year clear. And then there remains the obstacle of the IMO, which is bound by the UN's need for consensus. Environmentalists say some nations' delegates appeared intent on staving off action to protect the climate. The IMO said it would consider the levy plan."}], "question": "Fuel of the future?", "id": "843_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Escape room fire kills five teenagers in Poland", "date": "5 January 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Five teenage girls have died after a fire broke out while they were playing an escape room game in northern Poland. The girls, all aged 15, were visiting the attraction in the city of Koszalin to celebrate a birthday. A 25-year-old man was seriously injured in the blaze which started at around 17:00 local time (16:00 GMT) on Friday. Leaking gas cylinders are believed to have caused the blaze. Escape rooms have become popular in Poland in the last four years. The authorities have ordered that all venues now be checked to ensure they meet safety standards. Participants are generally locked in a room and must solve a series of puzzles in order to get out. The games are popular around the world. The industry has grown rapidly in recent years. It is estimated there are around 1,000 in Poland. In the UK, the number of escape rooms soared from just seven in 2013 to more than 1,000 as of last year. The room was 7.3 sq m (78 sq ft), authorities say. Leaking gas cylinders used to heat the building started a fire in the adjacent waiting room, a prosecutor said. Flames and toxic smoke spread quickly and firefighters used specialised equipment to break in, but it was already too late. The teenagers are believed to have died of asphyxiation. Polish President Andrzej Duda said the fire was an \"appalling tragedy\". \"Five joyful girls starting out in life have had life torn away from them,\" he wrote on Twitter. \"May God protect their parents and loved ones.\" Interior Minister Joachim Brudzinski shared his condolences. \"I want to express my sympathy and regrets to the families of the victims of the fire,\" he said in a tweet. \"I've instructed the chief commander of the State Fire Brigade to carry out fire checks on all places of this type across the country,\" he added. The mayor of Koszalin, Piotr Jedlinski, has declared Sunday a day of mourning in the city.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 561, "answer_end": 903, "text": "Participants are generally locked in a room and must solve a series of puzzles in order to get out. The games are popular around the world. The industry has grown rapidly in recent years. It is estimated there are around 1,000 in Poland. In the UK, the number of escape rooms soared from just seven in 2013 to more than 1,000 as of last year."}], "question": "What are escape rooms?", "id": "844_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 904, "answer_end": 1247, "text": "The room was 7.3 sq m (78 sq ft), authorities say. Leaking gas cylinders used to heat the building started a fire in the adjacent waiting room, a prosecutor said. Flames and toxic smoke spread quickly and firefighters used specialised equipment to break in, but it was already too late. The teenagers are believed to have died of asphyxiation."}], "question": "What could be the causes?", "id": "844_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1248, "answer_end": 1870, "text": "Polish President Andrzej Duda said the fire was an \"appalling tragedy\". \"Five joyful girls starting out in life have had life torn away from them,\" he wrote on Twitter. \"May God protect their parents and loved ones.\" Interior Minister Joachim Brudzinski shared his condolences. \"I want to express my sympathy and regrets to the families of the victims of the fire,\" he said in a tweet. \"I've instructed the chief commander of the State Fire Brigade to carry out fire checks on all places of this type across the country,\" he added. The mayor of Koszalin, Piotr Jedlinski, has declared Sunday a day of mourning in the city."}], "question": "How have officials reacted?", "id": "844_2"}]}]}, {"title": "Trump travel ban: Second US judge block new executive order", "date": "16 March 2017", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Federal judges in Hawaii and Maryland have blocked US President Donald Trump's new travel ban, which was due to begin after midnight on Thursday. The order would have placed a 90-day ban on people from six mainly Muslim nations and a 120-day ban on refugees. Both judges questioned the legality of the ban, which critics say is discriminatory. President Trump insists the move is to stop terrorists from entering the United States. He complained of \"unprecedented judicial overreach\". An earlier version of the order, issued in late January, sparked confusion and protests, and was blocked by a judge in Seattle. In Hawaii, District Judge Derrick Watson cited \"questionable evidence\" in the government's argument that the ban was a matter of national security. US District Judge Theodore Chuang, sitting in Maryland, also ruled it was meant to be a ban on Muslims, and therefore violated the First Amendment. Hawaii state had argued that the ban would harm tourism and the ability to recruit foreign students and workers, while in Maryland the plaintiffs argued it discriminated against Muslims and illegally reduced to number of refugees being accepted for resettlement in the US. Judge Watson said the court had established a strong likelihood that, were the ban to go ahead, it would cause \"irreparable injury\" by violating First Amendment protections against religious discrimination. In his 43-page ruling, he argued that a \"reasonable, objective observer\" taking into account the context of the Executive Order would conclude it \"was issued with a purpose to disfavour a particular religion\". It notes statements made by Mr Trump such as a 2015 press release calling for \"a total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States\", and his adviser Rudolph Guiliani, who said in a television interview in January: \"When [Mr Trump] first announced it, he said: 'Muslim ban'. He called me up. He said: 'Put a commission together. Show me the right way to do it legally.'\" It also says there is a \"dearth of evidence indicating a national security purpose\". In his ruling, Judge Chuang wrote: \"To avoid sowing seeds of division in our nation, upholding this fundamental constitutional principle at the core of our nation's identity plainly serves a significant public interest.\" Speaking at a rally in Nashville, Tennessee on Wednesday evening, Mr Trump said the ruling in Hawaii was \"flawed\" and a case of \"unprecedented judicial overreach\". His administration argues that the constitution gives the president the power to suspend immigration when he deems it to be in the national interest of the country, and that neither the initial or revised orders discriminate on the basis of religion. Justice department lawyers argue that the revised ban is an extension of President Obama's move towards stricter screening of travellers from the six countries. Donald Trump's first travel ban was suspended because it probably violated the due process rights of individuals with valid residency papers and visas. The battle over whether it imposed an unconstitutional religious test on certain immigrants was put off until another day. That day has arrived. In its decision, the federal court in Hawaii used Mr Trump's own words - and the words of his advisers - against him. The text of the executive order, Judge Derrick Watson held, could not be separated from the context of the recent presidential campaign, \"Muslim ban\" rhetoric and all. An order that discriminates against some Muslims, he continued, is just as legally deficient as one that discriminates against them all. Now it's back to the drawing board for the Trump administration or - perhaps an even gloomier prospect - back to the Ninth Circuit court of appeals, which ruled against the president on the original ban just last month. After Mr Trump's previous adverse legal ruling, he angrily tweeted: \"We'll see you in court.\" Although it took a new travel order to get there, it turns out he was right. Mr Trump said he will take the case \"as far as it needs to go\", including to the US Supreme Court. In both cases, this is only the first step. An appeal against the Hawaii decision would be expected to go next to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals - the same court which in February said it would not block a ruling by a Seattle court to halt the original travel ban. However, also on Wednesday, five judges at that court wrote a letter saying they believed that decision was an \"error\", and the first Executive Order was \"well within the powers of the presidency\". California, Massachusetts, New York, Oregon and Washington state are all taking part in legal actions against the revised ban. Washington state Attorney General Bob Ferguson, who is attending a court hearing in Seattle in his efforts to block the travel ban, described the ruling as \"fantastic news\". \"It's very exciting. At this point it's a team effort - multiple lawsuits and multiple states,\" he said. Under the revised order, citizens of six countries on the original 27 January order - Iran, Libya, Syria, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen - would once more be subject to a 90-day travel ban. Iraq was removed from the list because its government had boosted visa screening and data sharing, White House officials said. The revised order also lifts an indefinite ban on all Syrian refugees and says Green Card holders (legal permanent residents of the US) from the named countries will not be affected.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1182, "answer_end": 2290, "text": "Judge Watson said the court had established a strong likelihood that, were the ban to go ahead, it would cause \"irreparable injury\" by violating First Amendment protections against religious discrimination. In his 43-page ruling, he argued that a \"reasonable, objective observer\" taking into account the context of the Executive Order would conclude it \"was issued with a purpose to disfavour a particular religion\". It notes statements made by Mr Trump such as a 2015 press release calling for \"a total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States\", and his adviser Rudolph Guiliani, who said in a television interview in January: \"When [Mr Trump] first announced it, he said: 'Muslim ban'. He called me up. He said: 'Put a commission together. Show me the right way to do it legally.'\" It also says there is a \"dearth of evidence indicating a national security purpose\". In his ruling, Judge Chuang wrote: \"To avoid sowing seeds of division in our nation, upholding this fundamental constitutional principle at the core of our nation's identity plainly serves a significant public interest.\""}], "question": "What did the judges say?", "id": "845_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2291, "answer_end": 2866, "text": "Speaking at a rally in Nashville, Tennessee on Wednesday evening, Mr Trump said the ruling in Hawaii was \"flawed\" and a case of \"unprecedented judicial overreach\". His administration argues that the constitution gives the president the power to suspend immigration when he deems it to be in the national interest of the country, and that neither the initial or revised orders discriminate on the basis of religion. Justice department lawyers argue that the revised ban is an extension of President Obama's move towards stricter screening of travellers from the six countries."}], "question": "What does Mr Trump say?", "id": "845_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3978, "answer_end": 4949, "text": "Mr Trump said he will take the case \"as far as it needs to go\", including to the US Supreme Court. In both cases, this is only the first step. An appeal against the Hawaii decision would be expected to go next to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals - the same court which in February said it would not block a ruling by a Seattle court to halt the original travel ban. However, also on Wednesday, five judges at that court wrote a letter saying they believed that decision was an \"error\", and the first Executive Order was \"well within the powers of the presidency\". California, Massachusetts, New York, Oregon and Washington state are all taking part in legal actions against the revised ban. Washington state Attorney General Bob Ferguson, who is attending a court hearing in Seattle in his efforts to block the travel ban, described the ruling as \"fantastic news\". \"It's very exciting. At this point it's a team effort - multiple lawsuits and multiple states,\" he said."}], "question": "What happens next?", "id": "845_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 4950, "answer_end": 5443, "text": "Under the revised order, citizens of six countries on the original 27 January order - Iran, Libya, Syria, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen - would once more be subject to a 90-day travel ban. Iraq was removed from the list because its government had boosted visa screening and data sharing, White House officials said. The revised order also lifts an indefinite ban on all Syrian refugees and says Green Card holders (legal permanent residents of the US) from the named countries will not be affected."}], "question": "Who does the travel ban affect?", "id": "845_3"}]}]}, {"title": "Trump presidency: Your questions answered", "date": "14 November 2016", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Donald Trump's election as the next US president, along with a Republican-controlled Congress, brings with it an avalanche of questions about the election itself - and about what happens next. From health insurance to same-sex marriage, global warming and Obamacare - American citizens and people around the world want to know what the future will hold under the new administration. Here we tackle some of the questions being raised online and by BBC audiences. Five days after the election, Mr Trump told US broadcaster CBS that he would deport or jail between two and three million illegal migrants initially. Those targeted would be migrants with criminal records, such as gang members and drug dealers. Overall, there are about 11 million illegal immigrants in the US, and Mr Trump has published a 10-point plan on immigration which includes overturning amnesties introduced by President Barack Obama, strictly enforcing immigration laws and deporting those who do not have correct documents. In the US, though, illegal immigrants do have a right to due process, so many more judges and prosecution lawyers will need to be appointed to practically make this happen and this could clog up the court system for years to come. Congress would need to approve funding for this process. Mr Trump is expected to revoke President Obama's executive orders of 2014, which gave hundreds of thousands of illegal immigrants temporary legal status and an indefinite reprieve from deportation. Executive orders allow presidents to introduce their own legally binding policies without Congressional approval. Mr Trump has said that on his first day in office he will sign orders to speed up the removal of \"criminal illegal immigrants\", but that he will also end President Obama's non-enforcement policy and will detain people found illegally entering the US until they are deported. He has promised to increase the number of enforcement officers needed to accomplish this. In its 2015 report, the Migration Policy Institute, a Washington-based non-partisan think-tank, said there were about 820,000 illegal immigrants with criminal records. Many of them had been arrested for crossing illegally into the US. Meanwhile, a 2012 report by the non-partisan Congress Research Service think-tank said that only a small minority of all the unauthorised immigrants had committed violent crimes. \"All unauthorised aliens are potentially removable, indicated by crosshatches in the figure, but the majority of them have not been convicted of a crime and are therefore not classified as criminal aliens,\" the report said. It did not provide an overall number of illegal immigrants in the US. Even by the standards of billionaire businessmen, Donald Trump is an unusually litigious man who has been involved in thousands of lawsuits - both those he has launched and those he has defended - over the years. The president-elect is currently facing 75 active lawsuits, according to an analysis by USA Today newspaper. By far the most pressing - and potentially embarrassing for the newly elected leader - are several lawsuits launched over the now-defunct Trump University, which centre on former students claiming they were charged tens of thousands of dollars for courses that promised to unlock the secrets of real estate entrepreneurship - and didn't. Mr Trump denies the claims. Because these were launched long before he assumed office, no presidential immunity statutes apply and Mr Trump will have to attend court when required. Article II of the US Constitution states that the president \"shall be removed from Office on Impeachment for, and Conviction of, Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors\" If Mr Trump loses the case against him on Trump University that may leave him open to impeachment, some legal scholars suggest. Christopher L Peterson, professor of Law at the University of Utah, argues that \"fraud and racketeering are serious crimes that legally rise to the level of impeachable acts\". Beginning the process of impeachment requires a majority vote in the House of Representatives.  Whether the Republicans, who hold the majority of seats, would want to impeach their own president is another matter. Mr Trump has not proposed reductions on Social Security. The funding needed for Social Security is expected to balloon over the next decade, and it's unclear where the money to pay for it will come from without tax increases. The Republican Party's official 2016 platform says: \"Current retirees and those close to retirement can be assured of their benefits. Of the many reforms being proposed, all options should be considered to preserve Social Security.\" However, Mr Trump has appointed Michael Korbey to his transitional team to head Social Security. The Associated Press reports that \"as a senior adviser to the Social Security Administration, Korbey was an advocate for the George W Bush administration's failed attempt to privatise Social Security\". Indiana Governor Mike Pence has described himself as \"a Christian, a conservative and a Republican, in that order\". The 57-year-old has been a loyal supporter of Mr Trump, but - at times - he has not been afraid to speak his own mind. Prior to being named the business mogul's running mate in July, Mr Pence had criticised Mr Trump's proposed ban on Muslims entering the US as \"offensive and unconstitutional\". And during his vice-presidential debate performance on 4 October, Mr Pence defended his own positions - not necessarily those of Mr Trump - when challenged. Mr Pence has served as governor of Indiana since 2013, but he also has 12 years of legislative experience as a member of the US House of Representatives. He is a favourite among social conservatives who boasts considerable experience in Washington. Mr Pence had considered running for president in 2016. Read our full profile here. Donald Trump has said in interviews over several years that he is opposed to same-sex marriage, although he's also said he has attended a gay wedding. He says the issue should be decided at state level, rather than nationally, and that he was unhappy with the 2015 Supreme Court ruling earlier this year that made same-sex marriage legal across the country. After that decision he appeared to agree that it was a \"dead issue\" and suggested that he didn't support attempts to overturn the ruling. But earlier this year he told Fox News he would \"strongly consider\" appointing Supreme Court justices who would reverse it. He has not made the issue a priority. His Vice President-elect, Mike Pence, is strongly opposed to gay marriage. Election officials do not finalise the data until about two weeks after polling day. But the US Elections Project estimates that 128.8m Americans voted, out of 231.5m eligible voters - a turnout rate of 55.6%. In 2012, turnout was 58.6%, and in 2008 it was 62.2%. Hillary Clinton looks set to win the popular vote by a narrow margin. The latest count shows that Mrs Clinton won 60,981,118 votes, which amounted to 47.8% of the total, compared with Donald Trump's 60,350,241 votes, or 47.3%. However, the system under which the US elects its president means that candidates need to win races in individual states to pick up \"Electoral College\" votes. As a result of victories in key \"swing\" states (those more likely to change hands between the two main parties) carrying large numbers of Electoral College votes, Mr Trump won 290 Electoral College votes - comfortably ahead of Mrs Clinton's 228. Two states, Michigan and New Hampshire, have not yet been declared. Other candidates polled 6,260,817 votes. To answer one of the most-asked questions on Google Trends - Donald Trump is 70 and Hillary Clinton is 69. He will be inaugurated at noon on Friday, 20 January 2017. In the meantime he will name his team, develop policy positions, and have access to government briefings, including classified information on national security and military operations. In an interview with The Hill website last year, Mr Trump appeared to scotch rumours that he would break with long tradition and not live in the presidential residence and principal workplace in Washington DC. \"Yes, I would live in the White House because it's the appropriate thing to do,\" he said. He went further, adding that he would \"rarely leave the White House because there's so much work to be done\". Since Mr Trump won Tuesday's election, the Federal Aviation Administration has implemented flight restrictions over the area of his home on New York's Manhattan island that expire on 21 January, the day after his planned inauguration and expected move to the White House. Apparently not. In an interview with CNN, Donald Trump's lawyer said the privately owned Trump Organization - a company with US and international holdings including hotels, golf courses and commercial and residential property - would be held in a \"blind trust\" run by Mr Trump's adult children, Donald Junior, Ivanka and Eric. Whether such an arrangement constitutes a true blind trust that avoids conflicts of interest is being questioned by critics, as Mr Trump will still be aware of his business holdings and how policies might affect them, and direct relatives will be running them on a day-to-day basis. Trump to trust in daughter power Donald Trump has made building a wall along the border to stop illegal immigration a refrain of his campaign. In an interview on CBS Mr Trump has said \"a wall is more appropriate\" in some parts but \"there could be some fencing\". A document on his website outlines how he would \"make Mexico pay\". It would begin on \"day one\" with amending money transfer rules so that no \"alien\" would be able to wire money out of the US without showing documents establishing their lawful presence in the country. Mexico has rejected his assertion that it will pay. Given the expected cost and scale of the wall, the challenges of acquiring privately owned land along the border route to build it on, and Congressional backing from sceptical Republicans, many analysts think it will never be built. Instead, they expect an increase in border policing and tightening of immigration rules. Some Trump advisers have talked of a \"virtual\" or \"technological\" wall, though he has insisted it will be built. Donald Trump has pledged to repeal the Affordable Healthcare Act, which he intends to scrap \"very, very quickly\". However, Mr Trump has now said he is open to leaving intact key parts of President Barack Obama's healthcare bill. He has said he will keep the ban on insurers denying coverage for pre-existing conditions. He told the Wall Street Journal that he also favoured allowing young adults to be insured on their parents' policies. BBC North America reporter Anthony Zurcher notes that: \"the challenge for the president-elect is that the Obamacare features he praises - such as its mandate that insurers cover pre-existing medical conditions - are made possible by portions of the law he has condemned, like requiring all Americans to obtain insurance. Keeping the law's carrots while abandoning its sticks could prove difficult. Complicating the matter is that a \"revise and reform\" effort may not fly with Mr Trump's ardent supporters and the cadre of arch-conservative politicians in Congress, who want to tear up the law \"root and branch\". Mr Trump often broke with Republican orthodoxy while campaigning and didn't pay a political price. He may learn that as president he won't get far without his party establishment's help.\" A US president has the authority to launch a nuclear attack within minutes. The nuclear briefcase (or \"football\", as it's known) kept close to him at all times contains the codes he must use to authenticate his identity when ordering military commanders to carry out a nuclear strike. The Defence Secretary is also required to authenticate the codes, but does not have the authority to veto the decision. A complex system of people, procedures and technology then kicks into action to launch a nuclear attack. The system is designed to allow the US president to respond to an imminent nuclear attack, with as little as 10 minutes warning. The briefcase also contains a \"menu\" of pre-planned strike options, targeting different parts of the world in different ways. Donald Trump's critics have questioned whether he has the temperament, and intellectual capacity, to weigh complex information under the pressure of a nuclear alert - and have also raised concerns about someone known for his temper having access to the nuclear codes. His statements have given mixed messages on his approach, and he has stressed that \"unpredictability\" is important where military - including nuclear - options are involved. In April he told NBC he would \"be the last to use nuclear weapons\" describing their use as \"a horror\". \"I will not be a happy trigger like some people might be, but I will never, ever rule it out,\" he said. But a month earlier he said: \"Somebody hits us within ISIS, you wouldn't fight back with a nuke?\" In March, Donald Trump said that abortions should be illegal and he supported \"some form of punishment\" for women who had them. However, he later backed down from this, saying the legality of abortions should be left up to individual states, with any criminal penalties being reserved for abortion providers. Mr Trump has said that he supports an abortion ban exception in cases of \"rape, incest and [danger to] the life of the mother\". He has also said he opposes the use of Medicaid to cover abortions for low-income women, and that with a Republican-controlled Congress he is willing to make that a matter of law. Most abortions in the US are carried out by clinics, with Planned Parenthood being one of the largest providers of the service. Mr Trump has promised to stop funding the organisation, which provides reproductive healthcare - including birth control measures - to women across the United States. But Planned Parenthood, whose affiliates operate around 650 health centres nationwide, has vowed to continue its work, tweeting: \"Planned Parenthood has been here for 100 years. One thing is clear we'll never back down & we'll never stop providing care for our patients.\" Women with health insurance can currently obtain contraceptives for free under the Affordable Healthcare Act - known as Obamacare - which Donald Trump has vowed to dismantle. According to Vox, he could exclude birth control from the programme simply by changing a definition, rather than as part of wider moves to overturn the act. But Mr Trump has not said he plans to do this - or said whether he would include contraceptives in a scheme to replace Obamacare. He has said he backs access to contraceptives without a prescription. There's also concern about Donald Trump's plan to cut Planned Parenthood's funding. He has said the money will be reallocated to other providers, but critics say these would not be able to fill the gap in provision. Fears that birth control will become harder and more expensive to access have prompted a flurry of interest in long-term contraceptive implants known as IUDs. Women are advised to consult a doctor on contraceptive options. Mr Trump has stated that he wants jobs to go to American workers first and that he wants to reduce the numbers of foreign workers admitted to the US. Under his administration he says immigrants will be selected among other things on their ability to be financially self-sufficient and he has said people will be subject to \"extreme vetting\" and an \"ideological test\". There has been no detail given on what this vetting and testing would involve and experts point out that the US immigration code already includes ideological tests and screens those attempting to enter the country. Mr Trump also wants to temporarily suspend immigration from regions that 'export terrorism and where safe vetting cannot presently be ensured'. Over the years Congress has granted wide powers to the president to change immigration rules and he could institute even greater background screening checks. However, there is debate about whether he could impose lower limits on the number of people who can immigrate or change current green card categories, without Congressional support. According to US law the president does hold the authority to \"suspend the entry of all aliens or any class of aliens\" if the group's entry \"would be detrimental to the interests of the United States.\"  That can extend for as long as the president deems necessary. After last year's mass shooting in San Bernardino, California, when 14 people were killed, Mr Trump issued a press release calling for a \"total and complete shutdown\" on Muslims entering the US \"until our country's representatives can figure out what is going on\". The statement attracted condemnation from around the globe and significantly from his Vice President-elect Mike Pence, who called the proposal \"offensive and unconstitutional\". Over the months it appears Mr Trump may have abandoned his plan. In October, Mr Pence told journalists he no longer protested against the proposed ban \"because it's not Donald Trump's position now\". After the election, the page on his website that set out the policy appeared to have been removed, replaced by a redirect to the site's main page. That raised questions about whether it was being dropped, but the page was later restored and the Trump campaign told the Washington Post it had been an error. Mr Trump has expressed scepticism about the science behind climate change and wants to get the US out of the Paris Climate Agreement deal.  He says the deal is \"bad for US business\" and will allow \"foreign bureaucrats control over how much energy we use\". In 2012, he tweeted that the concept of global warming was created by the Chinese to make US manufacturing non-competitive. But last January, he described that comment as a joke. However, the Paris Agreement has been ratified and is already part of international law. While Mr Trump probably would easily find sufficient political backing to withdraw US support, the formal process to do this would take four years. Since the election, delegates from 200 countries at the UN climate talks in Morocco have said they are prepared to move ahead with work on the Paris Agreement without the US. The president-elect's foreign policy, expressed in his \"America First\" plan, states that it will always prioritise US interests, and that foreign allies should bear more of the cost of military action and defence. Mr Trump has made it clear he intends to reassess US involvement in the Western military alliance Nato. In an interview in July with the New York Times, he stated that in the face of a future attack from Russia, Nato members could only expect the US to defend them if they \"have fulfilled their obligations to us\" - an apparent breach of the alliance's mutual-defence treaty. Following his election, European leaders have asked Mr Trump to clarify his position, while Nato Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg reminded him that the treaty commitment was \"something absolutely unconditioned\". Whether a compromise can be reached is, at present, not known. Former US Assistant Secretary of State PJ Crowley told the BBC: \"At some point, probably quite early on, Kim Jong-un will stand up (spreads arms wide) and say to President Trump: 'We're a nuclear power. What are you doing to do about it?' That will be a key test for President Trump.\" Much of Donald Trump's foreign policy remain unclear. In May, he did suggest that he would sit down with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un to try to stop Pyongyang's nuclear programme, proposing a major shift in US policy toward the isolated nation by saying: \"I would speak to him, I would have no problem speaking to him.\" Pyongyang endorsed him and called him a \"wise politician\" and a \"far-sighted candidate\", and cheered his comments that South Korea should pay more for US troops to remain on its soil. But following the election, North Korea has made it clear it does not intend to give up its nuclear weapons. Addressing this question in the last few days, Graham Allison, one of the world's leading experts on nuclear proliferation and containment, said: \"One of the many problems with Trump is that he has apparently not worked his way through any of the possible scenarios regarding a North Korean threat. Our commander-in-chief is the only person who stands between us and the possibility of getting blown to hell. Whether he would be impetuous, or impatient, or not know the material, we just don't know.\" Mr Trump has also said he would be open to allowing Japan and South Korea to build their own nuclear arsenals for their protection against North Korea and China. How might Trump deal with Kim Jong-un? The US spends billions on Africa through aid and investment, but Donald Trump has said very little about how he intends to deal with the continent. On foreign aid in general, he has said he would rather see money spent in the US. This raises concerns over the future of US aid schemes such as the Power Africa project, which aims to double the number of people with electricity across the continent and the Pepfar plan to tackle HIV/Aids. His tough talk on so-called Islamic State, support for torture and anti-Muslim immigration statements all suggest a probable hard-line approach to security in North Africa, where US military involvement has increased in recent years. Is Africa on Donald Trump's radar? When the news of a possible Trump victory started to emerge, Canada's immigration website crashed, a phenomenon that was attributed to higher than normal level of traffic. There was also a surge of traffic to the New Zealand immigration website and the Google search \"Australia immigration\" hit a massive spike. It is uncertain at this stage if this wave of interest by US citizens will result in people actually deciding to make the move to Canada or elsewhere. However, while getting a travel visa to Canada would be straightforward for many Americans, moving permanently is a different issue. Canada has several different immigration programmes and each has different application and eligibility requirements. According to specialist immigration lawyers, having a special skill or profession, joining immediate family members already living in Canada, or claiming political asylum as a \"protected person\" are the three main ways to make the move. But for others, factors such as nationality, age, language ability, education and work experience will all be thoroughly scrutinised. Canadians ready to welcome troubled Yanks Unlike President Obama, Mr Trump supported Brexit and said in May that Britain would not be at the \"back of the queue\" for a trade deal outside the EU. His trade adviser, Dan DiMicco, has said the president-elect wanted to to do a deal with the UK as soon as possible after Brexit but that doesn't mean he had a deal in mind that would necessarily be good for the UK. Despite the so-called \"special relationship\", the UK gets no mention in the trade policy plans Mr Trump outlined to voters. He also stated clearly in his \"America First\" speech, that in both trade and foreign policy: \"No country has ever prospered that failed to put its own interests first.\" The impact of his policies at home on the American economy as a whole will resonate in the UK, and PM Theresa May will want to protect and grow the UK export market to the US which is currently worth around PS3.5bn . But Mr Trump is unpredictable and the UK is moving into unpredictable times. In 2015, a petition was drawn up to, \"Block Donald J Trump from UK entry\" for hate speech. This was in response to a number of comments made by Mr Trump, particularly about Muslims. The petition had over half a million signatures and was debated in parliament in January 2016. Although current Prime Minister Theresa May, who was the home secretary at the time, condemned Mr Trump's controversial remarks, she rejected the call to ban him from the UK. Although there was a debate, there was no vote on the issue so there will be no direct action taken. Do you have a question on another issue for the BBC to investigate?", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 462, "answer_end": 2669, "text": "Five days after the election, Mr Trump told US broadcaster CBS that he would deport or jail between two and three million illegal migrants initially. Those targeted would be migrants with criminal records, such as gang members and drug dealers. Overall, there are about 11 million illegal immigrants in the US, and Mr Trump has published a 10-point plan on immigration which includes overturning amnesties introduced by President Barack Obama, strictly enforcing immigration laws and deporting those who do not have correct documents. In the US, though, illegal immigrants do have a right to due process, so many more judges and prosecution lawyers will need to be appointed to practically make this happen and this could clog up the court system for years to come. Congress would need to approve funding for this process. Mr Trump is expected to revoke President Obama's executive orders of 2014, which gave hundreds of thousands of illegal immigrants temporary legal status and an indefinite reprieve from deportation. Executive orders allow presidents to introduce their own legally binding policies without Congressional approval. Mr Trump has said that on his first day in office he will sign orders to speed up the removal of \"criminal illegal immigrants\", but that he will also end President Obama's non-enforcement policy and will detain people found illegally entering the US until they are deported. He has promised to increase the number of enforcement officers needed to accomplish this. In its 2015 report, the Migration Policy Institute, a Washington-based non-partisan think-tank, said there were about 820,000 illegal immigrants with criminal records. Many of them had been arrested for crossing illegally into the US. Meanwhile, a 2012 report by the non-partisan Congress Research Service think-tank said that only a small minority of all the unauthorised immigrants had committed violent crimes. \"All unauthorised aliens are potentially removable, indicated by crosshatches in the figure, but the majority of them have not been convicted of a crime and are therefore not classified as criminal aliens,\" the report said. It did not provide an overall number of illegal immigrants in the US."}], "question": "Will Trump chase illegal immigrants from the US?", "id": "846_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2670, "answer_end": 3510, "text": "Even by the standards of billionaire businessmen, Donald Trump is an unusually litigious man who has been involved in thousands of lawsuits - both those he has launched and those he has defended - over the years. The president-elect is currently facing 75 active lawsuits, according to an analysis by USA Today newspaper. By far the most pressing - and potentially embarrassing for the newly elected leader - are several lawsuits launched over the now-defunct Trump University, which centre on former students claiming they were charged tens of thousands of dollars for courses that promised to unlock the secrets of real estate entrepreneurship - and didn't. Mr Trump denies the claims. Because these were launched long before he assumed office, no presidential immunity statutes apply and Mr Trump will have to attend court when required."}], "question": "What will happen with ongoing lawsuits against Trump?", "id": "846_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3511, "answer_end": 4214, "text": "Article II of the US Constitution states that the president \"shall be removed from Office on Impeachment for, and Conviction of, Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors\" If Mr Trump loses the case against him on Trump University that may leave him open to impeachment, some legal scholars suggest. Christopher L Peterson, professor of Law at the University of Utah, argues that \"fraud and racketeering are serious crimes that legally rise to the level of impeachable acts\". Beginning the process of impeachment requires a majority vote in the House of Representatives.  Whether the Republicans, who hold the majority of seats, would want to impeach their own president is another matter."}], "question": "Could Trump be impeached?", "id": "846_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 4215, "answer_end": 4972, "text": "Mr Trump has not proposed reductions on Social Security. The funding needed for Social Security is expected to balloon over the next decade, and it's unclear where the money to pay for it will come from without tax increases. The Republican Party's official 2016 platform says: \"Current retirees and those close to retirement can be assured of their benefits. Of the many reforms being proposed, all options should be considered to preserve Social Security.\" However, Mr Trump has appointed Michael Korbey to his transitional team to head Social Security. The Associated Press reports that \"as a senior adviser to the Social Security Administration, Korbey was an advocate for the George W Bush administration's failed attempt to privatise Social Security\"."}], "question": "What are Trump's plans for Social Security?", "id": "846_3"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 5873, "answer_end": 6605, "text": "Donald Trump has said in interviews over several years that he is opposed to same-sex marriage, although he's also said he has attended a gay wedding. He says the issue should be decided at state level, rather than nationally, and that he was unhappy with the 2015 Supreme Court ruling earlier this year that made same-sex marriage legal across the country. After that decision he appeared to agree that it was a \"dead issue\" and suggested that he didn't support attempts to overturn the ruling. But earlier this year he told Fox News he would \"strongly consider\" appointing Supreme Court justices who would reverse it. He has not made the issue a priority. His Vice President-elect, Mike Pence, is strongly opposed to gay marriage."}], "question": "Will same-sex marriages be upheld and continue to be recognised?", "id": "846_4"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 6606, "answer_end": 6869, "text": "Election officials do not finalise the data until about two weeks after polling day. But the US Elections Project estimates that 128.8m Americans voted, out of 231.5m eligible voters - a turnout rate of 55.6%. In 2012, turnout was 58.6%, and in 2008 it was 62.2%."}], "question": "How many people voted in the US election?", "id": "846_5"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 6870, "answer_end": 7610, "text": "Hillary Clinton looks set to win the popular vote by a narrow margin. The latest count shows that Mrs Clinton won 60,981,118 votes, which amounted to 47.8% of the total, compared with Donald Trump's 60,350,241 votes, or 47.3%. However, the system under which the US elects its president means that candidates need to win races in individual states to pick up \"Electoral College\" votes. As a result of victories in key \"swing\" states (those more likely to change hands between the two main parties) carrying large numbers of Electoral College votes, Mr Trump won 290 Electoral College votes - comfortably ahead of Mrs Clinton's 228. Two states, Michigan and New Hampshire, have not yet been declared. Other candidates polled 6,260,817 votes."}], "question": "Who won the popular vote?", "id": "846_6"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 7611, "answer_end": 7717, "text": "To answer one of the most-asked questions on Google Trends - Donald Trump is 70 and Hillary Clinton is 69."}], "question": "How old were the candidates?", "id": "846_7"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 7718, "answer_end": 7961, "text": "He will be inaugurated at noon on Friday, 20 January 2017. In the meantime he will name his team, develop policy positions, and have access to government briefings, including classified information on national security and military operations."}], "question": "When does Trump take office?", "id": "846_8"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 7962, "answer_end": 8643, "text": "In an interview with The Hill website last year, Mr Trump appeared to scotch rumours that he would break with long tradition and not live in the presidential residence and principal workplace in Washington DC. \"Yes, I would live in the White House because it's the appropriate thing to do,\" he said. He went further, adding that he would \"rarely leave the White House because there's so much work to be done\". Since Mr Trump won Tuesday's election, the Federal Aviation Administration has implemented flight restrictions over the area of his home on New York's Manhattan island that expire on 21 January, the day after his planned inauguration and expected move to the White House."}], "question": "Will President Trump live in the White House?", "id": "846_9"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 9287, "answer_end": 10270, "text": "Donald Trump has made building a wall along the border to stop illegal immigration a refrain of his campaign. In an interview on CBS Mr Trump has said \"a wall is more appropriate\" in some parts but \"there could be some fencing\". A document on his website outlines how he would \"make Mexico pay\". It would begin on \"day one\" with amending money transfer rules so that no \"alien\" would be able to wire money out of the US without showing documents establishing their lawful presence in the country. Mexico has rejected his assertion that it will pay. Given the expected cost and scale of the wall, the challenges of acquiring privately owned land along the border route to build it on, and Congressional backing from sceptical Republicans, many analysts think it will never be built. Instead, they expect an increase in border policing and tightening of immigration rules. Some Trump advisers have talked of a \"virtual\" or \"technological\" wall, though he has insisted it will be built."}], "question": "When is Trump going to start building the wall on the Mexican border?", "id": "846_10"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 10271, "answer_end": 11508, "text": "Donald Trump has pledged to repeal the Affordable Healthcare Act, which he intends to scrap \"very, very quickly\". However, Mr Trump has now said he is open to leaving intact key parts of President Barack Obama's healthcare bill. He has said he will keep the ban on insurers denying coverage for pre-existing conditions. He told the Wall Street Journal that he also favoured allowing young adults to be insured on their parents' policies. BBC North America reporter Anthony Zurcher notes that: \"the challenge for the president-elect is that the Obamacare features he praises - such as its mandate that insurers cover pre-existing medical conditions - are made possible by portions of the law he has condemned, like requiring all Americans to obtain insurance. Keeping the law's carrots while abandoning its sticks could prove difficult. Complicating the matter is that a \"revise and reform\" effort may not fly with Mr Trump's ardent supporters and the cadre of arch-conservative politicians in Congress, who want to tear up the law \"root and branch\". Mr Trump often broke with Republican orthodoxy while campaigning and didn't pay a political price. He may learn that as president he won't get far without his party establishment's help.\""}], "question": "I have health insurance through Obamacare. Will I lose it?", "id": "846_11"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 11509, "answer_end": 13020, "text": "A US president has the authority to launch a nuclear attack within minutes. The nuclear briefcase (or \"football\", as it's known) kept close to him at all times contains the codes he must use to authenticate his identity when ordering military commanders to carry out a nuclear strike. The Defence Secretary is also required to authenticate the codes, but does not have the authority to veto the decision. A complex system of people, procedures and technology then kicks into action to launch a nuclear attack. The system is designed to allow the US president to respond to an imminent nuclear attack, with as little as 10 minutes warning. The briefcase also contains a \"menu\" of pre-planned strike options, targeting different parts of the world in different ways. Donald Trump's critics have questioned whether he has the temperament, and intellectual capacity, to weigh complex information under the pressure of a nuclear alert - and have also raised concerns about someone known for his temper having access to the nuclear codes. His statements have given mixed messages on his approach, and he has stressed that \"unpredictability\" is important where military - including nuclear - options are involved. In April he told NBC he would \"be the last to use nuclear weapons\" describing their use as \"a horror\". \"I will not be a happy trigger like some people might be, but I will never, ever rule it out,\" he said. But a month earlier he said: \"Somebody hits us within ISIS, you wouldn't fight back with a nuke?\""}], "question": "Can Trump launch nuclear bombs by himself?", "id": "846_12"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 13021, "answer_end": 14204, "text": "In March, Donald Trump said that abortions should be illegal and he supported \"some form of punishment\" for women who had them. However, he later backed down from this, saying the legality of abortions should be left up to individual states, with any criminal penalties being reserved for abortion providers. Mr Trump has said that he supports an abortion ban exception in cases of \"rape, incest and [danger to] the life of the mother\". He has also said he opposes the use of Medicaid to cover abortions for low-income women, and that with a Republican-controlled Congress he is willing to make that a matter of law. Most abortions in the US are carried out by clinics, with Planned Parenthood being one of the largest providers of the service. Mr Trump has promised to stop funding the organisation, which provides reproductive healthcare - including birth control measures - to women across the United States. But Planned Parenthood, whose affiliates operate around 650 health centres nationwide, has vowed to continue its work, tweeting: \"Planned Parenthood has been here for 100 years. One thing is clear we'll never back down & we'll never stop providing care for our patients.\""}], "question": "Will he stop abortion?", "id": "846_13"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 14205, "answer_end": 15175, "text": "Women with health insurance can currently obtain contraceptives for free under the Affordable Healthcare Act - known as Obamacare - which Donald Trump has vowed to dismantle. According to Vox, he could exclude birth control from the programme simply by changing a definition, rather than as part of wider moves to overturn the act. But Mr Trump has not said he plans to do this - or said whether he would include contraceptives in a scheme to replace Obamacare. He has said he backs access to contraceptives without a prescription. There's also concern about Donald Trump's plan to cut Planned Parenthood's funding. He has said the money will be reallocated to other providers, but critics say these would not be able to fill the gap in provision. Fears that birth control will become harder and more expensive to access have prompted a flurry of interest in long-term contraceptive implants known as IUDs. Women are advised to consult a doctor on contraceptive options."}], "question": "How will access to birth control be affected?", "id": "846_14"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 15176, "answer_end": 16506, "text": "Mr Trump has stated that he wants jobs to go to American workers first and that he wants to reduce the numbers of foreign workers admitted to the US. Under his administration he says immigrants will be selected among other things on their ability to be financially self-sufficient and he has said people will be subject to \"extreme vetting\" and an \"ideological test\". There has been no detail given on what this vetting and testing would involve and experts point out that the US immigration code already includes ideological tests and screens those attempting to enter the country. Mr Trump also wants to temporarily suspend immigration from regions that 'export terrorism and where safe vetting cannot presently be ensured'. Over the years Congress has granted wide powers to the president to change immigration rules and he could institute even greater background screening checks. However, there is debate about whether he could impose lower limits on the number of people who can immigrate or change current green card categories, without Congressional support. According to US law the president does hold the authority to \"suspend the entry of all aliens or any class of aliens\" if the group's entry \"would be detrimental to the interests of the United States.\"  That can extend for as long as the president deems necessary."}], "question": "Will Donald Trump seek to halt or reduce legal immigration to the US?", "id": "846_15"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 16507, "answer_end": 17454, "text": "After last year's mass shooting in San Bernardino, California, when 14 people were killed, Mr Trump issued a press release calling for a \"total and complete shutdown\" on Muslims entering the US \"until our country's representatives can figure out what is going on\". The statement attracted condemnation from around the globe and significantly from his Vice President-elect Mike Pence, who called the proposal \"offensive and unconstitutional\". Over the months it appears Mr Trump may have abandoned his plan. In October, Mr Pence told journalists he no longer protested against the proposed ban \"because it's not Donald Trump's position now\". After the election, the page on his website that set out the policy appeared to have been removed, replaced by a redirect to the site's main page. That raised questions about whether it was being dropped, but the page was later restored and the Trump campaign told the Washington Post it had been an error."}], "question": "I'm a Muslim, will I still be allowed to go on holiday to the US?", "id": "846_16"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 17455, "answer_end": 18301, "text": "Mr Trump has expressed scepticism about the science behind climate change and wants to get the US out of the Paris Climate Agreement deal.  He says the deal is \"bad for US business\" and will allow \"foreign bureaucrats control over how much energy we use\". In 2012, he tweeted that the concept of global warming was created by the Chinese to make US manufacturing non-competitive. But last January, he described that comment as a joke. However, the Paris Agreement has been ratified and is already part of international law. While Mr Trump probably would easily find sufficient political backing to withdraw US support, the formal process to do this would take four years. Since the election, delegates from 200 countries at the UN climate talks in Morocco have said they are prepared to move ahead with work on the Paris Agreement without the US."}], "question": "Can Trump undo accords and agreements on climate change?", "id": "846_17"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 18302, "answer_end": 19168, "text": "The president-elect's foreign policy, expressed in his \"America First\" plan, states that it will always prioritise US interests, and that foreign allies should bear more of the cost of military action and defence. Mr Trump has made it clear he intends to reassess US involvement in the Western military alliance Nato. In an interview in July with the New York Times, he stated that in the face of a future attack from Russia, Nato members could only expect the US to defend them if they \"have fulfilled their obligations to us\" - an apparent breach of the alliance's mutual-defence treaty. Following his election, European leaders have asked Mr Trump to clarify his position, while Nato Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg reminded him that the treaty commitment was \"something absolutely unconditioned\". Whether a compromise can be reached is, at present, not known."}], "question": "Will Trump weaken Nato and put US allies at a disadvantage?", "id": "846_18"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 19169, "answer_end": 20771, "text": "Former US Assistant Secretary of State PJ Crowley told the BBC: \"At some point, probably quite early on, Kim Jong-un will stand up (spreads arms wide) and say to President Trump: 'We're a nuclear power. What are you doing to do about it?' That will be a key test for President Trump.\" Much of Donald Trump's foreign policy remain unclear. In May, he did suggest that he would sit down with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un to try to stop Pyongyang's nuclear programme, proposing a major shift in US policy toward the isolated nation by saying: \"I would speak to him, I would have no problem speaking to him.\" Pyongyang endorsed him and called him a \"wise politician\" and a \"far-sighted candidate\", and cheered his comments that South Korea should pay more for US troops to remain on its soil. But following the election, North Korea has made it clear it does not intend to give up its nuclear weapons. Addressing this question in the last few days, Graham Allison, one of the world's leading experts on nuclear proliferation and containment, said: \"One of the many problems with Trump is that he has apparently not worked his way through any of the possible scenarios regarding a North Korean threat. Our commander-in-chief is the only person who stands between us and the possibility of getting blown to hell. Whether he would be impetuous, or impatient, or not know the material, we just don't know.\" Mr Trump has also said he would be open to allowing Japan and South Korea to build their own nuclear arsenals for their protection against North Korea and China. How might Trump deal with Kim Jong-un?"}], "question": "Will Trump attack North Korea?", "id": "846_19"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 20772, "answer_end": 21479, "text": "The US spends billions on Africa through aid and investment, but Donald Trump has said very little about how he intends to deal with the continent. On foreign aid in general, he has said he would rather see money spent in the US. This raises concerns over the future of US aid schemes such as the Power Africa project, which aims to double the number of people with electricity across the continent and the Pepfar plan to tackle HIV/Aids. His tough talk on so-called Islamic State, support for torture and anti-Muslim immigration statements all suggest a probable hard-line approach to security in North Africa, where US military involvement has increased in recent years. Is Africa on Donald Trump's radar?"}], "question": "What are Trump's policies regarding Africa?", "id": "846_20"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 22606, "answer_end": 23560, "text": "Unlike President Obama, Mr Trump supported Brexit and said in May that Britain would not be at the \"back of the queue\" for a trade deal outside the EU. His trade adviser, Dan DiMicco, has said the president-elect wanted to to do a deal with the UK as soon as possible after Brexit but that doesn't mean he had a deal in mind that would necessarily be good for the UK. Despite the so-called \"special relationship\", the UK gets no mention in the trade policy plans Mr Trump outlined to voters. He also stated clearly in his \"America First\" speech, that in both trade and foreign policy: \"No country has ever prospered that failed to put its own interests first.\" The impact of his policies at home on the American economy as a whole will resonate in the UK, and PM Theresa May will want to protect and grow the UK export market to the US which is currently worth around PS3.5bn . But Mr Trump is unpredictable and the UK is moving into unpredictable times."}], "question": "Will a Trump presidency be favourable to a post-Brexit UK?", "id": "846_21"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 23561, "answer_end": 24113, "text": "In 2015, a petition was drawn up to, \"Block Donald J Trump from UK entry\" for hate speech. This was in response to a number of comments made by Mr Trump, particularly about Muslims. The petition had over half a million signatures and was debated in parliament in January 2016. Although current Prime Minister Theresa May, who was the home secretary at the time, condemned Mr Trump's controversial remarks, she rejected the call to ban him from the UK. Although there was a debate, there was no vote on the issue so there will be no direct action taken."}], "question": "What will happen to the petition to bar Trump from the UK now that he will be president?", "id": "846_22"}]}]}, {"title": "Zimbabwe: Mysteries remain about Mugabe's downfall", "date": "22 November 2017", "paragraphs": [{"context": "The fall of Robert Mugabe, who was a fixture in global affairs for nearly four decades, was sudden, swift and bloodless. A little more than a week after the military warned the government it might step in, a new president is already in the making. Now, his former political party and the military are claiming it is \"business as usual\". But there is still much we don't know. The military intervened following the sacking of vice-president Emmerson Mnangagwa, which was widely seen as clearing the way for Mr Mugabe's wife to succeed him. But there may also have been another element at play. The first hint of trouble came a few days earlier, when military chief Gen Constantine Chiwenga issued a warning to Mr Mugabe over \"the current purging\" in the ruling Zanu-PF party. He felt former liberation fighters - like Mr Mnangagwa - were being targeted. Gen Chiwenga was on a trip to China for military meetings when, according to reports in a number of news outlets, plans were made to arrest him upon his return. But the general reportedly learned of the plot, and was met at the airport on his return by a significant number of his own troops to ensure his protection. And then the military placed Mr Mugabe under house arrest. The military are being widely praised for their intervention - but it may also have been protecting its own interests. Mr Mugabe has been conspicuously absent since Sunday. The 93-year-old former former president was placed under house arrest on 14 November. Since then, Mr Mugabe has been kept under guard at his \"blue roof\" mansion, a luxury home on secluded grounds on the capital's outskirts. On 17 November, under military guard, he presided over a university graduation ceremony. Two days later, he appeared in a live television address to read a prepared statement. But he has not been seen since - even his resignation was announced by post. Sunday's speech was described by one BBC correspondent as \"a baffling 20 minutes\". After days in which it was clear the military was in charge, Mr Mugabe's major televised address was widely expected to be about his resignation. Instead, Mr Mugabe gave a dull speech, which said very little about the mass calls for his departure - and then declared he was looking forward to managing the party conference a few weeks later. The party had already disowned him. One BBC presenter observed \"some very odd shuffling of papers going on and generals watching him closely\" during the unusual address. Once it was over, questions started emerging: did he read the wrong speech? Online sleuths poring over the video footage claimed that just before Mr Mugabe began, a collection of papers being passed along were dropped under a chair. Even the head of the powerful war veterans group, Chris Mutsvangwa, said Mr Mugabe \"appeared to swap the agreed speech\". It has also been suggested that he did not want to resign live, on international television, flanked by the military. After apparently claiming he would continue in the role - defying all expectations - the president then vanished once again. The military said it had agreed a \"roadmap\" for the future with Mr Mugabe - but would not say what it was. Then, on Tuesday, parliament met to discuss impeachment. And in the middle of the debate, the Speaker halted proceedings, saying he had received a letter titled \"notice of resignation\" - and the parliament erupted in cheers. But Mr Mugabe did not make an appearance, and he has not said anything since. It may simply be that Mr Mugabe did not want the ignominy of being formally impeached, but it is not clear if the letter was part of the \"roadmap\" agreed with the military. As president, Mr Mugabe enjoyed immunity from prosecution. He is also of advanced age, and has spent much time abroad receiving medical treatment. Even opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai said Mr Mugabe should be allowed to \"go and rest for his last days\". He may choose to head abroad rather than remain in a country that has turned on him. Singapore is one of the lead contenders, as Mr Mugabe has received medical care there for more than a decade. South Africa should also be a good option, since Mr Mugabe is friendly with President Jacob Zuma - but Mr Zuma will have to consider how his voters would view such a move. Mr Mugabe's wife Grace is also accused of assaulting a model in the country in August. She was granted diplomatic immunity - but it's not clear that would last if she returned to South Africa as a regular civilian. Mrs Mugabe, once a contender for the presidency after her husband, has not been seen or heard from since before the start of the military intervention. It is thought that she may, like her husband, be under house arrest at the \"blue roof\" mansion. But in the early, chaotic stages of the military action, some reports suggested she had successfully fled the country. The military has not confirmed her location, and she has not appeared in photographs or on television alongside her husband. Mr Mugabe was accused by his party of allowing his wife to \"usurp constitutional power\" she had no right to. When the Zanu-PF party voted to expel Mrs Mugabe on Sunday, a party delegate claimed that she would be prosecuted along with several others - but it is not clear on what charges. Zimbabwe is due to hold elections before September 2018. Under Zimbabwe's constitution, elections for both parliament and the presidency happen at the same time. The exact date has not yet been declared, but party officials have suggested former Vice President Mr Mnangagwa will take office until then, serving the rest of Mr Mugabe's term. But that is all subject to change. Early elections can happen if the parliament votes to dissolve, and under a handful of other specific circumstances - which may come into play depending on the political fallout from the departure of the only modern leader Zimbabwe has ever known.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 376, "answer_end": 1348, "text": "The military intervened following the sacking of vice-president Emmerson Mnangagwa, which was widely seen as clearing the way for Mr Mugabe's wife to succeed him. But there may also have been another element at play. The first hint of trouble came a few days earlier, when military chief Gen Constantine Chiwenga issued a warning to Mr Mugabe over \"the current purging\" in the ruling Zanu-PF party. He felt former liberation fighters - like Mr Mnangagwa - were being targeted. Gen Chiwenga was on a trip to China for military meetings when, according to reports in a number of news outlets, plans were made to arrest him upon his return. But the general reportedly learned of the plot, and was met at the airport on his return by a significant number of his own troops to ensure his protection. And then the military placed Mr Mugabe under house arrest. The military are being widely praised for their intervention - but it may also have been protecting its own interests."}], "question": "Did the 'coup' happen to protect the military chief?", "id": "847_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1349, "answer_end": 1879, "text": "Mr Mugabe has been conspicuously absent since Sunday. The 93-year-old former former president was placed under house arrest on 14 November. Since then, Mr Mugabe has been kept under guard at his \"blue roof\" mansion, a luxury home on secluded grounds on the capital's outskirts. On 17 November, under military guard, he presided over a university graduation ceremony. Two days later, he appeared in a live television address to read a prepared statement. But he has not been seen since - even his resignation was announced by post."}], "question": "Where is Robert Mugabe?", "id": "847_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1880, "answer_end": 2946, "text": "Sunday's speech was described by one BBC correspondent as \"a baffling 20 minutes\". After days in which it was clear the military was in charge, Mr Mugabe's major televised address was widely expected to be about his resignation. Instead, Mr Mugabe gave a dull speech, which said very little about the mass calls for his departure - and then declared he was looking forward to managing the party conference a few weeks later. The party had already disowned him. One BBC presenter observed \"some very odd shuffling of papers going on and generals watching him closely\" during the unusual address. Once it was over, questions started emerging: did he read the wrong speech? Online sleuths poring over the video footage claimed that just before Mr Mugabe began, a collection of papers being passed along were dropped under a chair. Even the head of the powerful war veterans group, Chris Mutsvangwa, said Mr Mugabe \"appeared to swap the agreed speech\". It has also been suggested that he did not want to resign live, on international television, flanked by the military."}], "question": "What happened at the 'baffling' televised address?", "id": "847_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2947, "answer_end": 3654, "text": "After apparently claiming he would continue in the role - defying all expectations - the president then vanished once again. The military said it had agreed a \"roadmap\" for the future with Mr Mugabe - but would not say what it was. Then, on Tuesday, parliament met to discuss impeachment. And in the middle of the debate, the Speaker halted proceedings, saying he had received a letter titled \"notice of resignation\" - and the parliament erupted in cheers. But Mr Mugabe did not make an appearance, and he has not said anything since. It may simply be that Mr Mugabe did not want the ignominy of being formally impeached, but it is not clear if the letter was part of the \"roadmap\" agreed with the military."}], "question": "Why did he then suddenly resign?", "id": "847_3"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3655, "answer_end": 4493, "text": "As president, Mr Mugabe enjoyed immunity from prosecution. He is also of advanced age, and has spent much time abroad receiving medical treatment. Even opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai said Mr Mugabe should be allowed to \"go and rest for his last days\". He may choose to head abroad rather than remain in a country that has turned on him. Singapore is one of the lead contenders, as Mr Mugabe has received medical care there for more than a decade. South Africa should also be a good option, since Mr Mugabe is friendly with President Jacob Zuma - but Mr Zuma will have to consider how his voters would view such a move. Mr Mugabe's wife Grace is also accused of assaulting a model in the country in August. She was granted diplomatic immunity - but it's not clear that would last if she returned to South Africa as a regular civilian."}], "question": "What happens to Mr Mugabe now?", "id": "847_4"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 4494, "answer_end": 5273, "text": "Mrs Mugabe, once a contender for the presidency after her husband, has not been seen or heard from since before the start of the military intervention. It is thought that she may, like her husband, be under house arrest at the \"blue roof\" mansion. But in the early, chaotic stages of the military action, some reports suggested she had successfully fled the country. The military has not confirmed her location, and she has not appeared in photographs or on television alongside her husband. Mr Mugabe was accused by his party of allowing his wife to \"usurp constitutional power\" she had no right to. When the Zanu-PF party voted to expel Mrs Mugabe on Sunday, a party delegate claimed that she would be prosecuted along with several others - but it is not clear on what charges."}], "question": "What about his wife, Grace?", "id": "847_5"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 5274, "answer_end": 5897, "text": "Zimbabwe is due to hold elections before September 2018. Under Zimbabwe's constitution, elections for both parliament and the presidency happen at the same time. The exact date has not yet been declared, but party officials have suggested former Vice President Mr Mnangagwa will take office until then, serving the rest of Mr Mugabe's term. But that is all subject to change. Early elections can happen if the parliament votes to dissolve, and under a handful of other specific circumstances - which may come into play depending on the political fallout from the departure of the only modern leader Zimbabwe has ever known."}], "question": "When are the elections?", "id": "847_6"}]}]}, {"title": "Myanmar detains police officers over Rohingya beating video", "date": "2 January 2017", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Myanmar has detained several police over a video that appears to show officers beating members of the Muslim Rohingya minority during a security operation. The government said the incident, filmed by a police officer, happened in restive Rakhine state in November. The office of Myanmar's de facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi named four officers who took part in the operation. They include Zaw Myo Htike, who can be seen smoking as he films the video. \"Those who [were] initially identified were detained,\" Ms Suu Kyi's office said in a statement. \"Further investigations are being carried out to expose other police officers who beat villagers in the operation.\" There have been repeated allegations of abuses against the minority in Rakhine since a military counter-insurgency campaign was launched there in October. Some have even said the state's actions amount to ethnic cleansing., and Ms Suu Kyi, a Nobel laureate, has faced international criticism. The admission that security forces may have carried out abuses is an unusual development, as Burmese leaders have previously insisted they are following the rule of law. Rakhine state is closed to journalists and investigators, making it difficult to independently verify the allegations. Who will help Myanmar's Rohingya? Nobel laureates urge action on Rohingya Scores of people have been killed in the recent military operation, launched after armed militants attacked border posts near Maungdaw on 9 October, killing nine policemen. The government said the footage was filmed in November as police conducted a \"clearance operation\" in Maungdaw after two police officers were shot, one fatally. The video shows a large group of villagers sitting in lines in front of police officers. One officer can be seen beating a man, while another kicks him in the face. Other men are then also kicked or hit. The State Counsellor's Office Information Committee said action would be taken against officers who violated police force rules. 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 tracing their ancestry back 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 fled Myanmar over decades. Bangladesh says around 50,000 Rohingya have crossed its border over the past two months. The situation has drawn global condemnation. Over a dozen Nobel laureates wrote to the UN Security Council last week demanding action to stop the \"human tragedy amounting to ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity\" in northern Rakhine. This is a revealing glimpse into the way security forces are operating in Rakhine. It's just one incident, but it supports Rohingya claims that they are being abused and collectively punished by the military. For the last three months there has been a steady flow of video footage from northern Rakhine. Rohingya men and women have alleged, rape, massacres and the burning and looting of villages at the hands of the military. The response of Aung San Suu Kyi's government has been unequivocal. The footage has been denounced as \"fake news\", while at the same time journalists and aid workers have been prevented from seeing for themselves. This video should make uncomfortable viewing for Ms Suu Kyi. Official figures show that at least six Rohingya have died in custody in the last three months. Is she asking why?", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1984, "answer_end": 2857, "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 tracing their ancestry back 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 fled Myanmar over decades. Bangladesh says around 50,000 Rohingya have crossed its border over the past two months. The situation has drawn global condemnation. Over a dozen Nobel laureates wrote to the UN Security Council last week demanding action to stop the \"human tragedy amounting to ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity\" in northern Rakhine."}], "question": "Who are the Rohingya?", "id": "848_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Sadiq Khan: Labour's choice for mayor", "date": "11 September 2015", "paragraphs": [{"context": "As he now seeks a mandate from five million Londoners, his personal and political journey will be scrutinised like never before. Sadiq Khan has a back-story that may appeal to people who've never cast a vote in their lives. He grew up on a south London housing estate, one of eight children, his father a bus driver. His children went to the same primary school as him. The Tooting constituency he represented since 2005 is where he's lived all his life. In the second decade of the 21st Century some might argue the fact he is Muslim should pass unremarked. But his accession to City Hall would, for many, be a powerful statement of the city's diversity. Some worry it may have the potential for division, but Khan has so far proved himself an inclusive campaigning force. He's managed to be difficult to pigeonhole, occasional glimpses of radicalism disturbing the general picture of conformity which saw the human rights lawyer fit quite smoothly into the late New Labour model. Is it sometimes a bit too smooth; is the calculation too obvious, ask some observers? His victory in the Labour selection race trumps - for him - the campaign which won Ed Miliband the Labour leadership, in which Khan played a big part. The reward was senior roles as shadow lord chancellor and shadow justice secretary. Some felt his association with the Miliband years would hamper his mayoral bid, but there was compensation in a reasonable result in London in May when the party gained seven seats. Dame Tessa Jowell may have started as favourite, and was consistently ahead in the limited polling which was done. But Khan - as shadow London minister - has spent the last few years closely involved in local election campaigns and getting his face seen around the capital's constituency groups. He had the support of around half of London's Labour MPs and many senior figures in local government. But victory appears to have been clinched because of the influence of the unions. Several endorsed him directly and he appears to have benefited from the Corbyn effect. He came in for some flak from his rivals when he reversed his previous position and came out against expanding Heathrow Airport. That is not his party's current position, but it seems to have been another careful calculation designed to neutralise the ace held by Zac Goldsmith, who it is assumed will line up against him in the race for City Hall.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1485, "answer_end": 2400, "text": "Dame Tessa Jowell may have started as favourite, and was consistently ahead in the limited polling which was done. But Khan - as shadow London minister - has spent the last few years closely involved in local election campaigns and getting his face seen around the capital's constituency groups. He had the support of around half of London's Labour MPs and many senior figures in local government. But victory appears to have been clinched because of the influence of the unions. Several endorsed him directly and he appears to have benefited from the Corbyn effect. He came in for some flak from his rivals when he reversed his previous position and came out against expanding Heathrow Airport. That is not his party's current position, but it seems to have been another careful calculation designed to neutralise the ace held by Zac Goldsmith, who it is assumed will line up against him in the race for City Hall."}], "question": "Corbyn effect?", "id": "849_0"}]}]}, {"title": "UK Tree planting: Your questions answered", "date": "30 July 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Tree planting rates across the UK need to more than double to levels last seen in the late 1980s if the government is to meet its climate change targets, according to its advisers. The Committee on Climate Change has recommended the UK begin planting 30,000 hectares (115.8 sq miles) of trees to help meet its goal of cutting all greenhouse gas emissions. About 15 million trees have been planted in England with government funding over the past eight years - but rates vary widely and many urban areas did not have any. Here we answer your questions about tree planting across the UK. Between 2010 and 2018 there were 23,090 hectares of conifer and 59,460 hectares of broadleaf trees planted across the UK. Last year the total was split between 8,050 conifer and 5,350 broadleaf trees. Conifers produce cones and often have needle-like leaves. They hold up well in cold conditions and are fast growing, making up the majority of trees used in timber harvesting, according to Forestry and Land Scotland. Broadleaved trees usually have wide leaves that are lost in the autumn. Because they grow slowly, timber from broadleaves is known as hardwood. No, these are just the figures for new trees planted with government funding. The most recent figures for the overall change in woodland - taking into account the trees lost for \"open habitat restoration\" and \"development\" - is 2016-17, for England. Forestry Commission data shows there was an overall increase in woodland by 318 hectares, an increase on 2015-16 where the government reported a net loss of 556 hectares. Across the UK there were 27.2 million households in 2017, according to the Office for National Statistics. Of these, academics estimate that of these 22.7 million households have a garden. If all of these households planted two trees each, this would total more than 45 million. This is about 3% of the total number of trees the Woodland Trust estimates the UK needs to plant by 2050 in order to reach net zero emissions - 1.5 billion. In 2018/19 the government helped fund two million trees through woodland creation schemes.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 586, "answer_end": 1147, "text": "Between 2010 and 2018 there were 23,090 hectares of conifer and 59,460 hectares of broadleaf trees planted across the UK. Last year the total was split between 8,050 conifer and 5,350 broadleaf trees. Conifers produce cones and often have needle-like leaves. They hold up well in cold conditions and are fast growing, making up the majority of trees used in timber harvesting, according to Forestry and Land Scotland. Broadleaved trees usually have wide leaves that are lost in the autumn. Because they grow slowly, timber from broadleaves is known as hardwood."}], "question": "What types of trees are being planted?", "id": "850_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1148, "answer_end": 1568, "text": "No, these are just the figures for new trees planted with government funding. The most recent figures for the overall change in woodland - taking into account the trees lost for \"open habitat restoration\" and \"development\" - is 2016-17, for England. Forestry Commission data shows there was an overall increase in woodland by 318 hectares, an increase on 2015-16 where the government reported a net loss of 556 hectares."}], "question": "Are these figures for new woodland or do these include replacing trees?", "id": "850_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1569, "answer_end": 2095, "text": "Across the UK there were 27.2 million households in 2017, according to the Office for National Statistics. Of these, academics estimate that of these 22.7 million households have a garden. If all of these households planted two trees each, this would total more than 45 million. This is about 3% of the total number of trees the Woodland Trust estimates the UK needs to plant by 2050 in order to reach net zero emissions - 1.5 billion. In 2018/19 the government helped fund two million trees through woodland creation schemes."}], "question": "If every UK household with a garden planted two trees, how many would that amount to?", "id": "850_2"}]}]}, {"title": "From the CIA to the NBA: The women making history this week", "date": "23 May 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "It's been a big week in the US for history-making women. From the CIA to the NBA, the buzz is all about female leaders. Here are four developments you might have missed... On Friday, Stacey Cunningham will take over as leader of the New York Stock Exchange. She's the first woman to hold the job in its 226-year history. Ms Cunningham, 43, was already chief operating officer at the exchange, so she brings a wealth (pun intended) of experience. In an interview last year with the Financial Times newspaper she said she first \"fell in love\" with the trading floor during a summer internship while studying engineering at university. Intriguingly, she took a mid-career break to do a nine-month stint at culinary school, briefly working in a restaurant on New York's Upper West Side. She says the two professions have much in common, noting wryly: \"Things that would not be OK in really any other place tend to be OK on the trading floor and in the restaurant kitchen.\" Asked if she considered the impact of being a woman on Wall Street, she told the FT: \"I never acted as though there was a question as to whether or not I should be where I was.\" Why? She credits Muriel Siebert, the first woman to own a seat on the New York Stock Exchange - which meant she could trade on the floor. \"If she hadn't done that, if she hadn't said, 'I'm not allowed to be there, but I am going to just go do it anyway', I never would have been able to walk on the trading floor without thinking about it,\" she said. \"And I never gave it a thought.\" Another Stacey - Stacey Abrams - made headlines on Tuesday as the first black woman to be nominated as a state governor. Ms Abrams, a Democrat, will now face a Republican candidate in Georgia's high-stakes mid-term vote in November. If she wins, the 44-year-old would be the first woman and the first person from an ethnic minority to lead the southern state. Aside from the cultural context, she's an interesting character. Raised in Gulfport, Mississippi, she came from a family of six children, and was the first African American girl to be valedictorian (for non-US readers, that's the person with the best grades) at her high school. Both her parents are Methodist ministers. She has a law degree from Yale University, and wrote her first book during her third year at law school. The fun part? It's a spy love story called Rules of Engagement, and she's written eight \"romantic suspense novels\" under the pen name Selena Montgomery. In the political sphere, she was first elected to the Georgia state House of Representatives in 2006, and was the first woman to lead either party in the Georgia General Assembly. Ms Abrams thanked her supporters on Twitter after news of her nomination broke, writing, \"#TeamAbrams just won our primary election, and this victory belongs to you.\" Gina Haspel's confirmation as the CIA's first female director wasn't without controversy. The US Senate approved the 61-year-old's appointment despite her role in the spy agency's post-9/11 interrogation programme. Ms Haspel, who is a 33-year veteran of the CIA and was already its acting director, spent most of her career as an undercover operative. However, she also oversaw a so-called black site in Thailand after the 11 September 2001 attacks. President Trump gave Ms Haspel his vocal backing when she offered to withdraw as his nominee for the top job, following criticism. The director has promised \"clearly and without reservation\" that the CIA won't restart harsh interrogation techniques under her command. Supporters praise her credentials, which include surviving a coup d'etat and substantial knowledge of Russian. What else do we know? She's from Kentucky, and is said to be such a big fan of country singer Johnny Cash that she has a (5ft) poster of him in her CIA office. At her swearing-in on Monday, Ms Haspel said she took \"tremendous pride\" in being the first woman to serve as director. \"I stand on the shoulders of heroines who never sought public acclaim but served as inspirations to the generations that came after them,\" she said. A speculative one, this - but there's every reason to think it could happen. US media report that Becky Hammon, an assistant coach for the San Antonio Spurs basketball team, is on the verge of making sports history as the first woman to be head coach of a National Basketball Association (NBA) team. More than that, she'd be the first full-time female head coach of ANY major sports team in the US. Ms Hammon, who is 41 and a former professional basketball player, is already the NBA's first female assistant coach - and the first woman to interview for a head coaching job in the league. She reportedly missed out on leading the Milwaukee Bucks this week, but the Detroit Pistons are also seeking a coach and her name is in the ring. How would the male-dominated NBA handle having a woman at the top table? Veteran player Pau Gasol said competence is the key for them, not gender. \"I'm telling you: Becky Hammon can coach,\" Gasol wrote in an open letter for The Players' Tribune. \"I'm not saying she can coach pretty well. I'm not saying she can coach enough to get by. I'm not saying she can coach almost at the level of the NBA's male coaches. I'm saying: Becky Hammon can coach NBA basketball. Period.\" In short, it's a question of when she's made a head coach, not if - and the week ahead could prove decisive. It's been an encouraging week for believers in meritocratic gender equality. But it goes without saying that the US has a substantial way to go. We're yet to see a female president, vice-president, or chief justice of the United States. Progress is slow, but in some areas there are signs the tide is turning. Data for 2017 from the World Economic Forum puts the US behind 48 countries when it comes to closing the gender gap. That's four places lower than in 2016 - largely because it ranked poorly on the ratio of women in public office. Can it stop the slide? Time will tell, but at least this week's appointments will help.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 5391, "answer_end": 6018, "text": "It's been an encouraging week for believers in meritocratic gender equality. But it goes without saying that the US has a substantial way to go. We're yet to see a female president, vice-president, or chief justice of the United States. Progress is slow, but in some areas there are signs the tide is turning. Data for 2017 from the World Economic Forum puts the US behind 48 countries when it comes to closing the gender gap. That's four places lower than in 2016 - largely because it ranked poorly on the ratio of women in public office. Can it stop the slide? Time will tell, but at least this week's appointments will help."}], "question": "Next target: the White House?", "id": "851_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Syria conflict: How will the new truce work?", "date": "13 September 2016", "paragraphs": [{"context": "A partial truce brokered by the US and Russia in Syria came into effect at sunset on Monday, the beginning of the Islamic festival of Eid al-Adha. If successful, it will see President Bashar al-Assad's forces ending air strikes on territory controlled by mainstream rebels, and both sides allowing humanitarian access to besieged areas. It will also lead to co-ordinated air strikes by the US and Russia against two UN-designated terrorist organisations - so-called Islamic State and the rival jihadist group Jabhat Fateh al-Sham, which was known as al-Nusra Front until it broke off formal ties with al-Qaeda in July and changed its name. The Syrian government has given its backing, but a number of rebel groups have expressed strong reservations and have yet to say whether they will abide by it. The US and Russia back opposing sides in Syria's five-year civil war, which has left more than 250,000 people dead and displaced more than 11 million others. After 10 months of negotiations that the US said were marred by deep \"mistrust\", US Secretary of State John Kerry and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov announced on Saturday that they had reached an agreement on a \"sustainable\" cessation of hostilities that would facilitate negotiations on a political settlement. The deal, which begins with a 48-hour renewable truce, involves three phases: - The Syrian government will stop flying combat missions \"anywhere where the opposition is present\". Mr Kerry said the government would no longer be able to use the claim that it was bombing Jabhat Fateh al-Sham fighters to mask attacks against \"legitimate\" rebels operating in the same areas - Both sides will be required to allow unimpeded and sustained humanitarian access to all besieged and hard-to-reach areas. A priority will be the second city of Aleppo and its surroundings, where as many as two million people live. Government and rebel forces will pull back from the Castello Road, a major artery running around the north of the city into the rebel-held east. They will also provide safe access through the south-western Ramouseh Gap area - Providing there are seven consecutive days of significantly reduced violence and humanitarian access, the US and Russia will work together to \"develop military strikes\" against Jabhat Fateh al-Sham and IS. A Joint Implementation Centre will be established to share information necessary for the delineation of territories controlled by jihadist and rebel groups in areas of active hostilities Behind the scenes at the Syria talks Life and death in Syria Why is there a war in Syria? Mr Lavrov said the Syrian government, which Russia has supported with hundreds of air strikes over the past 11 months, was \"ready to fulfil\" the arrangements. But hours before the truce started, President Assad proclaimed his determination to \"recover every area from the terrorists\", a term he has used to describe all armed opponents. The main umbrella group representing political and armed opposition factions, the High Negotiations Committee, meanwhile said it wanted \"guarantees\" on the implementation of the truce deal before endorsing it. The Western-backed Free Syrian Army said rebel groups fighting under its banner would \"co-operate positively\" with the truce, but were concerned that it would benefit the government. The hardline Islamist group Ahrar al-Sham condemned the agreement as an effort to drive rebel factions apart, but stopped short of explicitly rejecting it outright. Jabhat Fateh al-Sham spokesman Mostafa Mahamed meanwhile stressed that the group's fighters shared the same goals as the rebels, and were \"deeply embedded in society and cannot be singled out in any way\". \"They don't govern an area on their own. They are not exclusive to any particular location. America and Russia know this very, very well,\" he told the BBC. Grim prospect of 10 more years of war Mr Kerry stressed that he and Mr Lavrov had worked very hard to ensure they were not repeating the mistakes of previous truces, which have collapsed within days or weeks with both sides accusing each other of repeated violations. During the short-lived cessation of hostilities negotiated by Washington and Moscow in February, Syrian government forces had continued to indiscriminately bomb opposition-held areas, meaning rebel forces had felt compelled to return fire, Mr Kerry said. The \"marbleising\" of mainstream rebels and Jabhat Fateh al-Sham fighters on the ground had also sown confusion, he added. This time, in theory, Russia will ensure the Syrian air force stops bombing opposition territory altogether and the US will be able to \"delineate and separate\" rebels and jihadists. White House press secretary Josh Earnest acknowledged that the success of the agreement \"places a lot of pressure on Russia to deliver\". Many Syrians and foreign observers also doubted whether mainstream rebels would or could distance themselves from Jabhat Fateh al-Sham's fighters. \"They are an effective fighting force,\" Michael Stephens of the Royal United Services Institute told the BBC. \"It makes no sense to peel away from them because what you are doing is weakening your own position by doing that.\"", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 800, "answer_end": 2590, "text": "The US and Russia back opposing sides in Syria's five-year civil war, which has left more than 250,000 people dead and displaced more than 11 million others. After 10 months of negotiations that the US said were marred by deep \"mistrust\", US Secretary of State John Kerry and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov announced on Saturday that they had reached an agreement on a \"sustainable\" cessation of hostilities that would facilitate negotiations on a political settlement. The deal, which begins with a 48-hour renewable truce, involves three phases: - The Syrian government will stop flying combat missions \"anywhere where the opposition is present\". Mr Kerry said the government would no longer be able to use the claim that it was bombing Jabhat Fateh al-Sham fighters to mask attacks against \"legitimate\" rebels operating in the same areas - Both sides will be required to allow unimpeded and sustained humanitarian access to all besieged and hard-to-reach areas. A priority will be the second city of Aleppo and its surroundings, where as many as two million people live. Government and rebel forces will pull back from the Castello Road, a major artery running around the north of the city into the rebel-held east. They will also provide safe access through the south-western Ramouseh Gap area - Providing there are seven consecutive days of significantly reduced violence and humanitarian access, the US and Russia will work together to \"develop military strikes\" against Jabhat Fateh al-Sham and IS. A Joint Implementation Centre will be established to share information necessary for the delineation of territories controlled by jihadist and rebel groups in areas of active hostilities Behind the scenes at the Syria talks Life and death in Syria Why is there a war in Syria?"}], "question": "What has been agreed?", "id": "852_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3885, "answer_end": 5183, "text": "Mr Kerry stressed that he and Mr Lavrov had worked very hard to ensure they were not repeating the mistakes of previous truces, which have collapsed within days or weeks with both sides accusing each other of repeated violations. During the short-lived cessation of hostilities negotiated by Washington and Moscow in February, Syrian government forces had continued to indiscriminately bomb opposition-held areas, meaning rebel forces had felt compelled to return fire, Mr Kerry said. The \"marbleising\" of mainstream rebels and Jabhat Fateh al-Sham fighters on the ground had also sown confusion, he added. This time, in theory, Russia will ensure the Syrian air force stops bombing opposition territory altogether and the US will be able to \"delineate and separate\" rebels and jihadists. White House press secretary Josh Earnest acknowledged that the success of the agreement \"places a lot of pressure on Russia to deliver\". Many Syrians and foreign observers also doubted whether mainstream rebels would or could distance themselves from Jabhat Fateh al-Sham's fighters. \"They are an effective fighting force,\" Michael Stephens of the Royal United Services Institute told the BBC. \"It makes no sense to peel away from them because what you are doing is weakening your own position by doing that.\""}], "question": "Can it succeed?", "id": "852_1"}]}]}, {"title": "France strike: Trains for children back on after outcry", "date": "22 December 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "France's national railway company has backtracked on plans to cancel a popular service that allows children to travel alone over Christmas. SNCF said it was cancelling the service, in which children aged between 4 and 14 are accompanied by a monitor, because of strike action. The move sparked outcry, with some 5,000 children expected to be affected. But following a \"Christmas truce\" from some striking drivers, SNCF said it was laying on special trains on Sunday. The announcement came amid warnings of travel chaos over the Christmas holidays in France, where workers have been striking over planned pension reforms. Many French citizens heading off to spend the holidays with family and friends have found themselves stranded because of cancelled trains and gridlocked roads, while hundreds of flights have also been cancelled. President Emmanuel Macron called on striking transport workers to \"observe a truce out of respect for families and family life\". The SNCF Junior & Co service allows the children of parents and families living in different parts of the country to travel alone during school holidays. SNCF announced earlier this week that it was cancelling the service, which was expected to run from 20 to 24 December, because of the ongoing pension strike. It cited security concerns, saying it feared it could not provide adequate supervision to the children. But critics accused the company of political spin and of trying to sell the seats for more money. The move outraged parents who were relying on the service to see their children over Christmas. \"I will not see my daughter at Christmas when it has been four months since I saw her. She is very disappointed,\" one mother told the newspaper Le Parisien. \"The plane is too expensive, the bus is not possible, she is too young to travel alone... No other alternative solution is offered by SNCF\". In a statement on Friday, the company said a \"Christmas truce\" from some rail staff had allowed it to make a \"new offer at the last minute\" of 5,000 seats on 14 trains on Sunday. A return service is planned for 29 December. Parents and children on Sunday said they were relieved at the decision. Eleven-year-old Lucas told Reuters news agency he would have missed seeing his father if the train had been cancelled. \"I would have been very disappointed because I don't see him often... I really want to see him,\" he said. Workers are striking over Mr Macron's plans to replace France's 42 separate pension regimes with a universal points-based system. Mr Macron's system would reward employees for each day worked, awarding points that would later be transferred into future pension benefits. But workers say the reforms would see them retiring later or facing reduced payouts. Mr Macron has called on striking workers to embrace a \"spirit of responsibility\". \"Strike action is justifiable and protected by the constitution, but I believe there are moments in the life of a nation when it is also good to call a truce to respect families and the lives of families,\" he said during a trip to Ivory Coast. His office on Sunday said he would waive his right to a special presidential pension payout when he leaves office. France's presidents are legally entitled to draw a pension of about 6,000 euros ($6,650;PS5,100) each month before tax after they leave office. \"The President of the Republic will converge... with the universal points system planned for all French people,\" his office said.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 2747, "answer_end": 3461, "text": "Mr Macron has called on striking workers to embrace a \"spirit of responsibility\". \"Strike action is justifiable and protected by the constitution, but I believe there are moments in the life of a nation when it is also good to call a truce to respect families and the lives of families,\" he said during a trip to Ivory Coast. His office on Sunday said he would waive his right to a special presidential pension payout when he leaves office. France's presidents are legally entitled to draw a pension of about 6,000 euros ($6,650;PS5,100) each month before tax after they leave office. \"The President of the Republic will converge... with the universal points system planned for all French people,\" his office said."}], "question": "What has Macron said?", "id": "853_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Brexit: Johnson in race to win support for deal", "date": "18 October 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Boris Johnson is in a race against time to sell the Brexit deal he has struck with the EU to MPs ahead of a Commons vote on Saturday. The prime minister insists he is \"very confident\" of getting the majority he needs to \"get Brexit done\" by his 31 October deadline. But the DUP and every opposition party plans to vote against his deal. That means he must persuade Labour rebels, ex-Tories and Brexiteers in his own party to get on board. A spokesman for Mr Johnson said he and and his team were spending the day on the phone to MPs from across the Commons to sell the deal. The PM is also holding a cabinet meeting in No 10. The DUP's Brexit spokesman, Sammy Wilson, said his party would not only vote Mr Johnson down, but urge Conservative MPs to \"take a stand\" with them, setting the scene for a frantic day of arm-twisting on all sides at Westminster. Labour has also attacked the deal after one Tory MP, John Baron, said the UK would be able to leave the EU \"on no-deal terms\" if trade talks failed come December 2020 - the so-called transition period. The party's chairman, Ian Lavery, said: \"The cat has been let out of the bag... [and] no one should be in any doubt that Johnson's deal is just seen an interim arrangement.\" But Home Secretary Priti Patel urged colleagues to look at the deal as an opportunity to \"start a new chapter for our country\". The prime minister will make a statement to the Commons on Saturday, before another minister opens a debate on the deal. If he does not manage to get the numbers needed to win a vote, then he is expected to try again to trigger a general election. The law states that the PM must ask the EU for a three month extension to the Brexit deadline if he cannot get a deal through Parliament. The text of the letter he must send to Brussels is contained in the so-called Benn Act, passed last month by MPs determined to prevent a no-deal Brexit. Mr Johnson has said the UK will leave on 31 October with or without a deal - but he has also said he will abide by the law. But even if MPs vote for his deal on Saturday, he may still have to ask the EU for an extension. Former Conservative MP Oliver Letwin has tabled an amendment that would ensure the deadline is extended until the Brexit deal had passed each step in Parliament to become law. Sir Oliver, who is among the MPs seeking to prevent a no-deal Brexit, said he did not want to \"let the government off the hook\". By BBC Parliamentary Correspondent Mark D'Arcy Sir Oliver's amendment is a cunningly-crafted proposition which, crucially, could be voted for by MPs who want a deal, but don't trust this one, and don't trust the government. It rests on the idea that were Parliament to approve the deal for the purposes of the Benn Act now, there might then be a danger that the subsequent legislation to enact it might be, somehow, derailed, resulting in a no-deal exit on 31 October. With the Benn Act out of the way, they believe that some manoeuvre, some legislative judo move, by factions inside and outside the government, who favour a \"clean Brexit\" could leave no time for any effective counter... and Britain would be out, with no deal. This reflects the sheer level of distrust that has accumulated over several cycles of Brexit angst. Read Mark's full blog The SNP's Westminster leader Ian Blackford has also tabled an amendment, calling for a three month extension to Brexit to allow for an early general election. He told the BBC the deal gives Northern Ireland a \"competitive advantage\", but \"shafted\" Scotland. Meanwhile, cabinet ministers have been touring the TV and radio studios to sell the deal. Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab told BBC Radio 4's Today programme it was \"an opportunity to get Brexit done, turn the page and move forward\". The new deal is largely the same as the one agreed by Theresa May last year - but it removes the controversial backstop clause, which critics say could have kept the UK tied indefinitely to EU customs rules. Northern Ireland would remain in the UK's customs union under the new agreement, but there would also be customs checks on some goods passing through en route to Ireland and the EU single market. The prime minister is expected to focus his attention on winning over three groups to support his deal: - Tory Brexiteers who have not yet backed a deal and repeatedly voted against former PM Theresa May's withdrawal agreement - Twenty-three former Tory MPs who now sit as independents, including 21 Mr Johnson kicked out of the party last month after they rebelled against him in a bid to prevent a no-deal Brexit - And a group of Labour MPs who have expressed a desire to back a deal but are concerned about protection for workers and the environment The DUP is unhappy with the changes, claiming they are not in the best interests of Northern Ireland. But the Northern Irish party can no longer rely on the automatic support of the the pro-Brexit European Research Group - formed of backbench Tory MPs. Vice-chairman of the group, Mark Francois, told reporters he \"still has some concerns about some of the specifics of the deal\", and was meeting the prime minister \"to put some questions directly to [him].\" But ERG member Andrew Bridgen told BBC Breakfast he believed the \"vast majority\" of the group \"will come to the conclusion that this deal is tolerable and we need to get Brexit across the line\". The ERG will hold a meeting on Saturday morning to advise a position to members to take in Parliament. Labour's shadow chancellor John McDonnell told the Today programme the deal was \"worse deal than Theresa May's\", adding: \"We can't vote for that or let it go through\". But while Labour's focus was on defeating the government's proposals, Mr McDonnell said discussions were ongoing about a further referendum - either on Mr Johnson's deal or a \"sensible deal\" negotiated by Labour. \"There are discussions taking place [about] when the right time to put an amendment down is,\" he said. \"There is a principle here to be established to let the people decide.\" He also warned there would be \"consequences\" for MPs in his party who voted for Mr Johnson's deal. However, on Wednesday, Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn played down the possibility of removing the party whip from any rebels. \"I believe in the power of persuasion rather than the power of threat,\" he said. Labour MP Ronnie Campbell, who is standing down at the next election, said \"at the moment\" he would vote to support the deal. But he told the BBC: \"I am getting a lot of pressure from the head lads of the Labour Party... to abstain.\" The winning post for votes in the House of Commons is 320 if everyone turns up - seven Sinn Fein MPs do not sit and the Speaker and three deputies do not vote. There are currently 287 voting Conservative MPs. The prime minister needs to limit any rebellion among them. Then, if the DUP will not support his deal, he will need the backing of 23 former Conservative MPs who are currently independents. Most will probably support the deal, but not all. That is still not quite enough, though, so the PM will also need the backing of some Labour MPs and ex-Labour independents. In March, when MPs voted on Theresa May's deal for the third time, five Labour MPs backed it, plus two ex-Labour independents. This time it is likely to be a bit higher than that because several MPs have said they would now back a deal. All this still leaves the vote very close. And it is possible some MPs could abstain, making it even harder to predict the outcome.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 6573, "answer_end": 7515, "text": "The winning post for votes in the House of Commons is 320 if everyone turns up - seven Sinn Fein MPs do not sit and the Speaker and three deputies do not vote. There are currently 287 voting Conservative MPs. The prime minister needs to limit any rebellion among them. Then, if the DUP will not support his deal, he will need the backing of 23 former Conservative MPs who are currently independents. Most will probably support the deal, but not all. That is still not quite enough, though, so the PM will also need the backing of some Labour MPs and ex-Labour independents. In March, when MPs voted on Theresa May's deal for the third time, five Labour MPs backed it, plus two ex-Labour independents. This time it is likely to be a bit higher than that because several MPs have said they would now back a deal. All this still leaves the vote very close. And it is possible some MPs could abstain, making it even harder to predict the outcome."}], "question": "Can Boris Johnson win the vote?", "id": "854_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Reality Check: Are 5 countries about to join the EU?", "date": "22 May 2016", "paragraphs": [{"context": "\"Accession could occur in 2020, less than three and a half years after the UK's referendum on EU membership\"  - Vote Leave The claim: Leave campaigners claim five countries: Albania, Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia and Turkey will join the EU soon. Reality Check verdict: The five countries are not going to join the EU any time soon and their admission to the EU - once they fulfil all the criteria - will be subject to a veto by the UK and all the other 27 existing EU countries. Leave campaigners say Albania, Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia and Turkey - with a combined population of 88 million - are all in line to gain EU membership in the coming years. Michael Gove, who said on Friday, 20 May 2016,  that the population of the UK would increase by between 2.6 million and 5 million by 2030, based his prediction on the \"future migration from the A5 on the assumption of their accession in 2020\". The Vote Leave campaign says that the EU enlargement is \"an explicit policy of the European Commission and the British government\". It accuses the Prime Minister David Cameron of misleading the public over his support for Turkey's EU membership. Penny Mordaunt MP, minister of state for the armed forces, who also campaigns for the UK to leave the EU, told Andrew Marr that Turkey would join the EU in the next eight years. She said that the British people would not get to vote on Turkey joining, and denied that the British government had a veto over Turkey's membership. So, will the EU admit the five new countries in the next few years? Does the UK have a veto on it and would it be prepared to use it in this case? European Commission President Jean Claude Juncker said in 2014: \"Under my presidency of the commission, ongoing negotiations will continue ... but no further enlargement will take place over the next five years\". The mandate of the current commission's president expires on 1 November 2019. David Cameron has indeed been a strong supporter of the Turkish membership of the EU in the past.  In July 2010, on a visit to Turkey, David Cameron warned France and Germany not to shut Turkey \"out of the club\". More recently, in October 2015, he said that the British government's policy on Turkey joining the EU had not changed, when asked about it in the House of Commons. But he has changed his line more recently and today he told Robert Peston that Turkey joining the EU was not \"remotely on the cards [...] any time soon\". The UK, as well as all the other 27 EU countries, has a veto on any new country joining the EU. A veto on the new countries joining has been in place case ever since the European integration began. In 1963 French President Charles de Gaulle vetoed British membership of European Economic Community, the name for the EU at the time. Once all the existing EU countries agree to admit a new member - and in the case of Turkey countries such as France, Cyprus and Greece have expressed serious reservations - this decision must then be approved by the European Parliament and be ratified by the parliaments of all existing EU states. Only then can a new country join the EU. There is no requirement in the UK to hold a referendum on a new country joining the EU - but it can do that if it chooses to. The UK has not held a referendum when the new countries joined in the past. Lord Owen, a former foreign secretary, and leave campaigners said today that \"the EU is continuing the preparatory work for Turkey at an accelerating pace\". The EU-Turkey deal from March 2016, on stemming the flow of refugees and migrants into the EU, included a confirmation by both sides that they would \"re-energise the accession process\". This process is already under a considerable strain, only two months after the deal. The EU promised short-term visa-free travel for Turkish citizens in the Schengen area, but it demanded that Turkey changes its anti-terror law in exchange. Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan said he would not do so and added: \"We'll go our way, you go yours.\" All would-be members take a long time to clear all the hurdles required to join the EU, because they are required to adopt and enforce all the current EU rules before they can be admitted to the bloc. Turkey has taken a particularly long time so far. It applied to join what was then the European Economic Community in 1987. It then waited 10 years to be declared \"eligible\" for accession talks, which finally started in October 2005. In 10 years Turkey only managed to adopt the rules on one of the 35 policy areas: science and research. In most other areas it has not even made a start. Montenegro started the policy area negotiations with the EU in 2012 and Serbia in December 2015. FYR Macedonia and Albania have not even started yet. It took Croatia, Poland and Hungary 10 years to complete the process. At the current rate, none of the five countries would be ready to join for some time to come. Read more: The facts behind claims in the EU debate Reality Check: How soon can Turkey join the EU?", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 2775, "answer_end": 4910, "text": "Once all the existing EU countries agree to admit a new member - and in the case of Turkey countries such as France, Cyprus and Greece have expressed serious reservations - this decision must then be approved by the European Parliament and be ratified by the parliaments of all existing EU states. Only then can a new country join the EU. There is no requirement in the UK to hold a referendum on a new country joining the EU - but it can do that if it chooses to. The UK has not held a referendum when the new countries joined in the past. Lord Owen, a former foreign secretary, and leave campaigners said today that \"the EU is continuing the preparatory work for Turkey at an accelerating pace\". The EU-Turkey deal from March 2016, on stemming the flow of refugees and migrants into the EU, included a confirmation by both sides that they would \"re-energise the accession process\". This process is already under a considerable strain, only two months after the deal. The EU promised short-term visa-free travel for Turkish citizens in the Schengen area, but it demanded that Turkey changes its anti-terror law in exchange. Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan said he would not do so and added: \"We'll go our way, you go yours.\" All would-be members take a long time to clear all the hurdles required to join the EU, because they are required to adopt and enforce all the current EU rules before they can be admitted to the bloc. Turkey has taken a particularly long time so far. It applied to join what was then the European Economic Community in 1987. It then waited 10 years to be declared \"eligible\" for accession talks, which finally started in October 2005. In 10 years Turkey only managed to adopt the rules on one of the 35 policy areas: science and research. In most other areas it has not even made a start. Montenegro started the policy area negotiations with the EU in 2012 and Serbia in December 2015. FYR Macedonia and Albania have not even started yet. It took Croatia, Poland and Hungary 10 years to complete the process. At the current rate, none of the five countries would be ready to join for some time to come."}], "question": "Preparatory work?", "id": "855_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Extinction Rebellion: Arrests at Sydney and Amsterdam protests", "date": "7 October 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Hundreds of Extinction Rebellion activists have been arrested as protests take place across the globe. Thirty people were charged with committing offences in Sydney after hundreds blocked a road, while more than 100 were arrested in Amsterdam. Protests have taken place in countries including the US, UK, Germany, Spain, Austria, France and New Zealand. Protests by climate change activists are expected in some 60 cities over the next two weeks. The group is also causing disruption in London, where more than 270 people were arrested on Monday. Extinction Rebellion wants governments to take immediate and drastic action to address climate change. \"We have tried petitions, lobbying and marches, and now time is running out,\" Australian activist Jane Morton told the AFP news agency. \"We have no choice but to rebel until our government declares a climate and ecological emergency and takes the action that is required to save us.\" Australia's government has been criticised for its lack of action in tackling climate change but it insists that it is doing its part to reduce global carbon emissions. The country's Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton said last week that names and photos of Extinction Rebellion protesters should be widely distributed to \"shame\" them. - In Sydney, protesters staged a sit-in on a main road. Hundreds were pulled away from the scene and 30 of them were charged. Australians have also been protesting in Melbourne and Brisbane - There were a handful of arrests in New Zealand, where activists surrounded the government building in Wellington that houses the ministry granting oil and gas drilling permits - More than 100 were arrested in Amsterdam after they erected a tent camp on the main road outside the Rijksmuseum, the Dutch national museum - Arrests were made in New York after protesters poured fake blood over the Wall Street charging bull statue as part of a staged \"die-in\" - Another \"die-in\" took place in the Indian city of Mumbai with about 250 activists taking part - Activists blocked traffic in Berlin, where authorities have said they will refrain from making arrests for the time being - In Paris, 1,000 activists backed by the yellow-vest anti-government movement have reportedly occupied a shopping centre - In Vienna, activists blocked a crossroads in the central Museumsquartier district In London, organisers have vowed to shut down key sites in the city including the Houses of Parliament and Trafalgar Square. Similar protests in the UK earlier this year brought major disruption to London and resulted in more than 1,100 arrests. Protests are expected to spread across dozens of cities, including Delhi and New York, in the days and weeks ahead as activists call for urgent environmental action. Extinction Rebellion (XR for short) wants governments to declare a \"climate and ecological emergency\" and take immediate action to address climate change. It describes itself as an international \"non-violent civil disobedience activist movement\". Extinction Rebellion was launched in the UK in 2018 and says it now has groups willing to take action in dozens of countries. The group uses an hourglass inside a circle as its logo to represent time running out for many species. In the UK, Extinction Rebellion has three main demands: - The government must declare a climate \"emergency\" - The UK must legally commit to reducing carbon emissions to net zero by 2025 - A citizens' assembly must be formed to \"oversee the changes\"", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 2756, "answer_end": 3232, "text": "Extinction Rebellion (XR for short) wants governments to declare a \"climate and ecological emergency\" and take immediate action to address climate change. It describes itself as an international \"non-violent civil disobedience activist movement\". Extinction Rebellion was launched in the UK in 2018 and says it now has groups willing to take action in dozens of countries. The group uses an hourglass inside a circle as its logo to represent time running out for many species."}], "question": "What is Extinction Rebellion?", "id": "856_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Hurricane Irma: Time runs out for Florida evacuation", "date": "10 September 2017", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Florida's state governor has told residents who were ordered to leave their homes to go to shelters and avoid the roads as Hurricane Irma approaches. Rick Scott said it was now too late to drive away from the danger areas. After devastating several Caribbean islands, Irma is lashing Cuba with strong winds and heavy rain, and is due to reach Florida on Sunday. Some 6.3 million people, more than 25% of the US state's population, have been ordered to evacuate. The hurricane made landfall on the Sabana-Camaguey Archipelago, in Cuba's north-east, late on Friday as a category five storm but has now weakened to a category three. After moving slowly along the northern Cuban coast it is now heading out to sea towards Florida. Irma is expected to strengthen once it moves away from Cuba, and will remain a powerful hurricane as it approaches Florida, the National Hurricane Center says in its latest advisory at 00:00 GMT. It says Irma has maximum sustained winds of 120mph (193km/h). It was the first category five hurricane to hit Cuba in more than 80 years, and it is expected to strengthen again before reaching Florida. At least 24 people are so far known to have died as Hurricane Irma progressed across the Caribbean throughout the week. Irma is expected to hit the coast at around lunchtime on Sunday, but the outer bands are already affecting the south of the state and central Miami is being lashed by heavy rain. The Florida Keys - a chain of small islands to the south - have suffered some minor damage and are expected to bear the brunt of the storm on Sunday morning. The head of emergencies agency Fema, Brock Long, told CNN there were \"no safe areas within the Keys\". \"You put your life in your own hands by not evacuating,\" he added. \"If you're in an evacuation zone, you've got to get to a shelter need to get to a shelter... there's not many hours left\", Gov Scott warned residents. \"The winds are coming, there is not gonna be a lot of time now to be able to drive very far.\" Thousands of people on the mainland are currently without electricity, energy provider Florida Power and Light reported. The western Gulf coast is expected to be worst affected, with cities such as Tampa and St Petersburg in the path of the storm. The Tampa Bay area, with a population of about three million, has not been hit by a major hurricane since 1921. And there are fears that storm surges combined with high tide on Monday could overwhelm some low-lying areas. Gov Scott said that storm surges in coastal areas could be as high as 15ft (4.6m), adding that people \"cannot survive this\". Some 50,000 people have gone to shelters throughout the state, the governor said. Media reports say shelters in some areas have been filling up quickly and some people have been turned away. Miami city and Broward county have imposed curfews to help clear the roads of traffic. Cuban officials have reported \"significant damage\", without giving further details, but said there were no confirmed casualties yet, AFP news agency reported. However, if the devastation seen elsewhere in the Caribbean is anything to go by, many Cubans fear the worst, the BBC's Will Grant in Havana reports. The state weather service has forecast waves up to 9m high in some coastal areas. There have been reports of huge waves breaking over sea walls, particularly in the fishing village of Caibarien. Power lines have been brought down in several parts of the central province of Camaguey, and transport links to at least one of the outlying islands have been cut off. Thousands of people have been evacuated but many others stayed to ride out the storm. Irma continued along Cuba's northern coast, as the government extended its alert to more provinces - including Havana, where waves are crashing over the capital's sea wall. - St Martin and St Barthelemy: Six out of 10 homes on St Martin, an island shared between France and the Netherlands, now uninhabitable, French officials say. They said nine people had died and seven were missing in the French territories, while two are known to have died in Dutch Sint Maarten - Turks and Caicos Islands: Widespread damage, although extent unclear - Barbuda: The small island is said to be \"barely habitable\", with 95% of the buildings damaged. Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister Gaston Browne estimates reconstruction will cost $100m (PS80m). One death has been confirmed - Anguilla: Extensive damage with one person confirmed dead - Puerto Rico: More than 6,000 residents of the US territory are in shelters and many more without power. At least three people have died - British Virgin Islands: Widespread damage reported, and five dead - US Virgin Islands: Damage to infrastructure was said to be widespread, with four deaths confirmed - Haiti and the Dominican Republic: Both battered by the storm, but neither had as much damage as initially feared Another storm, Jose, further out in the Atlantic behind Irma, is now a category four hurricane, with winds of up to 233km/h (145mph). It is following a similar path to Irma and already hampering relief efforts in some of the worst affected areas. Residents of Barbuda, where 95% of buildings have been destroyed by Irma, left the island as Jose approached but it is no longer expected to hit. However, hurricane warnings are in place for St Martin and St Barthelemy, both also hit by Irma. Hurricane Katia, in the Gulf of Mexico, a category one storm with winds of up to 75mph, made landfall on the Mexican Gulf coast in the state of Veracruz late on Friday. It has now weakened to a tropical depression.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1245, "answer_end": 2868, "text": "Irma is expected to hit the coast at around lunchtime on Sunday, but the outer bands are already affecting the south of the state and central Miami is being lashed by heavy rain. The Florida Keys - a chain of small islands to the south - have suffered some minor damage and are expected to bear the brunt of the storm on Sunday morning. The head of emergencies agency Fema, Brock Long, told CNN there were \"no safe areas within the Keys\". \"You put your life in your own hands by not evacuating,\" he added. \"If you're in an evacuation zone, you've got to get to a shelter need to get to a shelter... there's not many hours left\", Gov Scott warned residents. \"The winds are coming, there is not gonna be a lot of time now to be able to drive very far.\" Thousands of people on the mainland are currently without electricity, energy provider Florida Power and Light reported. The western Gulf coast is expected to be worst affected, with cities such as Tampa and St Petersburg in the path of the storm. The Tampa Bay area, with a population of about three million, has not been hit by a major hurricane since 1921. And there are fears that storm surges combined with high tide on Monday could overwhelm some low-lying areas. Gov Scott said that storm surges in coastal areas could be as high as 15ft (4.6m), adding that people \"cannot survive this\". Some 50,000 people have gone to shelters throughout the state, the governor said. Media reports say shelters in some areas have been filling up quickly and some people have been turned away. Miami city and Broward county have imposed curfews to help clear the roads of traffic."}], "question": "What is happening in Florida?", "id": "857_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2869, "answer_end": 3799, "text": "Cuban officials have reported \"significant damage\", without giving further details, but said there were no confirmed casualties yet, AFP news agency reported. However, if the devastation seen elsewhere in the Caribbean is anything to go by, many Cubans fear the worst, the BBC's Will Grant in Havana reports. The state weather service has forecast waves up to 9m high in some coastal areas. There have been reports of huge waves breaking over sea walls, particularly in the fishing village of Caibarien. Power lines have been brought down in several parts of the central province of Camaguey, and transport links to at least one of the outlying islands have been cut off. Thousands of people have been evacuated but many others stayed to ride out the storm. Irma continued along Cuba's northern coast, as the government extended its alert to more provinces - including Havana, where waves are crashing over the capital's sea wall."}], "question": "What do we know about the situation in Cuba?", "id": "857_1"}]}]}, {"title": "Immigration - the Brexit dividing line", "date": "12 June 2017", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Three days after Theresa May called the general election, I interviewed the chancellor about what we could expect from any new Tory government. On tax the signal was clear. Philip Hammond was no fan of the triple tax lock David Cameron promised voters before the 2015 election - no increase in income tax, national insurance contributions or VAT. He suggested the lock should be dropped, and it was. Towards the end of the interview I turned to immigration and, given the events of last Thursday, it is worth going back to the exchange. And understanding that Mr Hammond's backing for an immigration target of \"tens of thousands\" per year is at best luke-warm. I asked the chancellor: \"Immigration is a big issue for businesses - skilled and less-skilled immigration coming into the country. Do you agree that immigration in the UK should be brought down to the tens of thousands even though many businesses say that will damage economic growth?\" Mr Hammond replied: \"What businesses want to do is bring skilled migrants in, move skilled migrants around their global businesses to do the jobs that are open in the UK. \"No businesses are unable to bring skilled workers into the UK to work in their companies because we have run out of space on a visa cap. \"At the moment we cannot control migration from the European Union into the UK. That situation will end. \"We will regain control of our borders and we will use that control to manage the migration system in the interests of our economy and our society. \" Me: \"Do you think it should be brought down to the tens of thousands a year, immigration in the UK?\" Mr Hammond: \"We've got to get migration back to sustainable levels; we've got to focus on skilled migration. The Prime Minister has made it very clear that she believes that needs to be tens of thousands a year.\" Me: \"Do you believe it?\" Mr Hammond: \"The Prime Minister has been very clear that is the target that we are going for - tens of thousands.\" Mr Hammond is a careful man. And the fact that he refused to say directly that he supported the target is worthy of note. Those close to the chancellor have revealed his concern. Far from putting up barriers to immigration, many in the Treasury believe that Britain will be engaged in a \"global battle for immigrants\" to support the economy. Now, that is not to say that Mr Hammond is in favour of free movement of people from the EU. As he made clear to me, \"that situation will end\". And nothing has changed sufficiently enough since last Thursday to alter that. Which seems to me to rule out unfettered membership of the single market unless the European Union decides to reform one of the four principles of membership - open borders. And the chance of that appears vanishingly small. What has changed is that Mr Hammond is much strengthened in government - as Theresa May has been weakened. Many in Number 10 were no fans of the Treasury and wanted to curtail its influence at the centre. That power relationship has shifted. And Mr Hammond's reluctance to back an immigration numbers target has become much more significant. \"Jobs and skills\" to support the economy will be a new mantra in the Brexit discussions - pushed by the chancellor. Carolyn Fairbairn, the director general of the CBI writing in this morning's Financial Times, talks about the need for \"access to the skills and labour companies need to grow\". My colleague Simon Jack reports this morning that businesses feel their voice should now be heard more loudly. Michael Gove's reappearance in the Cabinet provides another \"pro-skills\" voice. Yes, Mr Gove is a firm Brexiter, but of the \"open-but-controlled borders\" variety. \"People who come here who have got skills that can contribute to our economy are welcome,\" he said during the referendum campaign. There is much talk that a \"soft\" Brexit may now be more likely given the perceived weakness of the Prime Minister. As far as \"soft\" means an economically closer relationship with the EU - and a more porous approach to immigration controls - that certainly appears to be the case as far as the chancellor is concerned.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 3212, "answer_end": 4111, "text": "Carolyn Fairbairn, the director general of the CBI writing in this morning's Financial Times, talks about the need for \"access to the skills and labour companies need to grow\". My colleague Simon Jack reports this morning that businesses feel their voice should now be heard more loudly. Michael Gove's reappearance in the Cabinet provides another \"pro-skills\" voice. Yes, Mr Gove is a firm Brexiter, but of the \"open-but-controlled borders\" variety. \"People who come here who have got skills that can contribute to our economy are welcome,\" he said during the referendum campaign. There is much talk that a \"soft\" Brexit may now be more likely given the perceived weakness of the Prime Minister. As far as \"soft\" means an economically closer relationship with the EU - and a more porous approach to immigration controls - that certainly appears to be the case as far as the chancellor is concerned."}], "question": "'Softer' Brexit?", "id": "858_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Train tickets: Rail industry plans fares shake-up", "date": "8 May 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Britain's rail companies are to launch a public consultation aimed at making ticketing fairer and easier to use. The Rail Delivery Group (RDG), which represents rail firms, said about 55 million different fares exist in the current system. A passenger group said reform was \"overdue\". The industry admits passengers are not currently always offered the cheapest fare available due to \"long-standing anomalies\" such as split ticketing. That means it can be cheaper for passengers to buy several tickets for a single journey than one ticket. Another \"anomaly\" it highlights is the charging of a peak-time fare when half a trip is on an off-peak service. The industry has pledged that average fares will not rise as a result of any reform. A reformed ticketing system could include integrated tickets covering other modes of transport such as buses and trams, and more flexible tickets for part-time workers, the RDG said. The consultation will be launched next month and will run until September. It will lead to a report containing proposals for governments to consider. Buying split tickets can work out cheaper - but by how much? Exeter Central to Sheffield on 16 June, leaving at 08:53 BST. Split tickets: Exeter Central to Exeter St Davids (PS1.40); Exeter St Davids to Bristol Temple Meads (PS14.70); Bristol Temple Meads to Cheltenham Spa (PS7); Cheltenham Spa to Birmingham (PS9.90); Birmingham to Derby (PS6.30); Derby to Sheffield (PS7.50). Total: PS46.80 Advance ticket: PS70.20 (50% more expensive) Oxford to Cambridge on 23 May, leaving at 10:01 BST Split tickets, including advance fares: Oxford to London Paddington (PS5.40); London Underground to Cambridge (PS27.40). Total PS32.80 Off-peak single: PS55.60 (70% more expensive) Leicester to Edinburgh on 18 May, leaving at 07:52 BST Split tickets, including advance fares: Leicester to Derby (PS6.70); Derby to Sheffield (PS8.40); Sheffield to York (PS14.10); York to Darlington (PS9.10); Darlington to Edinburgh (PS45.10). Total PS83.40 Advance ticket: PS144.10 (73% more expensive) Rules governing how tickets are sold and how fares are calculated date back to 1995, and it is argued they have not kept pace with technology or how people work and travel. Three decades ago it was assumed customers bought tickets by visiting ticket offices and each of the 2,500 stations in Britain still has to sell tickets to every other station in the country. However, the rise of smartphones has changed how people purchase tickets, while an increase in part-time and freelance work patterns means traditional season tickets are no longer an economical option. Further layers of complexity have been added through individual franchise agreements, with little taken away. Paul Plummer, chief executive of the RDG, which represents the various rail companies, has said the industry is committed to reforming \"well-meaning but outdated\" regulation. \"Long-standing anomalies are becoming locked in... as a result it has become increasingly difficult for rail companies to guarantee the right fare,\" he added. Rail companies say they are already making improvements to fares where they can, such as cutting jargon and providing clearer information about peak and off-peak times. However, speaking to BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Mr Plummer said that making incremental changes \"compounds the problem\" and that \"root and branch reform\" was needed. The RDG believes a more sophisticated computer-based system of ticketing would be able to automatically offer customers the lowest fare. News of the consultation has been met with support on social media with one Twitter user describing the current rail fare confusion as a \"joke\". Jess Hare, 29, from Glasgow, contacted the BBC to explain how a station ticket machine in Worcester was selling tickets for PS53 when she had seen the same journey available online for less than a third of the price. \"Thankfully I decided to ignore the machine and search online whilst standing in the station,\" she said. \"Sure enough, I easily found the PS14 ticket, which I bought instead.\" Ms Hare said she was \"disgusted\" to think how many people would be caught out by such unnecessary price differences. Transport Focus, a passenger interests group working on the consultation, said the debate on reform options was \"overdue\". \"Rail passengers want a rail fares system they can trust, that is simpler, offers better value for money and is more understandable,\" said the group's chief executive, Anthony Smith. Steve Chambers, public transport campaigner at Campaign for Better Transport, welcomed the attempt to improve ticketing, but warned \"it will need government support to make it happen\". Mick Cash, general secretary of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union, said that \"no-one trusts\" private rail firms to \"do the right thing by passengers\". A Department for Transport spokeswoman said: \"We want passengers to always be able to get the best possible deal on their ticket and we welcome the industry's commitment to review fares.\"", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 2048, "answer_end": 2724, "text": "Rules governing how tickets are sold and how fares are calculated date back to 1995, and it is argued they have not kept pace with technology or how people work and travel. Three decades ago it was assumed customers bought tickets by visiting ticket offices and each of the 2,500 stations in Britain still has to sell tickets to every other station in the country. However, the rise of smartphones has changed how people purchase tickets, while an increase in part-time and freelance work patterns means traditional season tickets are no longer an economical option. Further layers of complexity have been added through individual franchise agreements, with little taken away."}], "question": "What are the rules around ticket sales?", "id": "859_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2725, "answer_end": 3534, "text": "Paul Plummer, chief executive of the RDG, which represents the various rail companies, has said the industry is committed to reforming \"well-meaning but outdated\" regulation. \"Long-standing anomalies are becoming locked in... as a result it has become increasingly difficult for rail companies to guarantee the right fare,\" he added. Rail companies say they are already making improvements to fares where they can, such as cutting jargon and providing clearer information about peak and off-peak times. However, speaking to BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Mr Plummer said that making incremental changes \"compounds the problem\" and that \"root and branch reform\" was needed. The RDG believes a more sophisticated computer-based system of ticketing would be able to automatically offer customers the lowest fare."}], "question": "What do the rail companies say?", "id": "859_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3535, "answer_end": 4189, "text": "News of the consultation has been met with support on social media with one Twitter user describing the current rail fare confusion as a \"joke\". Jess Hare, 29, from Glasgow, contacted the BBC to explain how a station ticket machine in Worcester was selling tickets for PS53 when she had seen the same journey available online for less than a third of the price. \"Thankfully I decided to ignore the machine and search online whilst standing in the station,\" she said. \"Sure enough, I easily found the PS14 ticket, which I bought instead.\" Ms Hare said she was \"disgusted\" to think how many people would be caught out by such unnecessary price differences."}], "question": "What do customers say?", "id": "859_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 4190, "answer_end": 5024, "text": "Transport Focus, a passenger interests group working on the consultation, said the debate on reform options was \"overdue\". \"Rail passengers want a rail fares system they can trust, that is simpler, offers better value for money and is more understandable,\" said the group's chief executive, Anthony Smith. Steve Chambers, public transport campaigner at Campaign for Better Transport, welcomed the attempt to improve ticketing, but warned \"it will need government support to make it happen\". Mick Cash, general secretary of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union, said that \"no-one trusts\" private rail firms to \"do the right thing by passengers\". A Department for Transport spokeswoman said: \"We want passengers to always be able to get the best possible deal on their ticket and we welcome the industry's commitment to review fares.\""}], "question": "What do campaigners say?", "id": "859_3"}]}]}, {"title": "Exposed Amazon cloud storage clients get tip-off alerts", "date": "20 February 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Security researchers have posted \"friendly warnings\" to users of Amazon's cloud data storage service whose private content has been made public, the BBC has learned. The BBC found almost 50 warnings posted to the firm's servers. Many had more than one warning uploaded to them. The messages urged owners to secure their information before it was stolen by malicious hackers. There was a rash of data breaches involving Amazon Web Services in 2017. Misconfigured settings by users were repeatedly blamed. Although Amazon is best known for its online shopping service, its AWS division serves many of the world's biggest businesses as well as governments and other public bodies. The messages discovered on the US firm's data stores varied. Some just told the owners that their settings exposed data and others were more explicit in their warnings about what could happen. One said: \"Please fix this before a bad guys finds it.\" The BBC passed its list of sites that had received warning messages to Amazon as week ago, so it could contact the customers and suggest they review their settings. In essence, these machines act like the hard drive on your desktop computer and can hold almost any type of data or file. Organisations use these cloud-based stores for all kinds of tasks. Some use them to hold images,  documents and other files that populate their websites. Others use them as repositories for detailed data that is mined or analysed to help other bits of their business. They are also popular because sometimes they can be set up using only a credit card - much more quickly than would be possible via a company's internal admin systems. Security researcher Robbie Wiggins, who regularly seeks out insecure cloud systems, said he had received a range of reactions when telling an organisation that their data was wide open. \"I've had a few responses ranging from monetary rewards to thanks,\" he told the BBC. \"I've struggled with a good few, especially the government for Argentina.\" Often companies made it difficult to report problems because no contact details were available for security teams or server administrators. Mr Wiggins said he currently had a list of about 2,000 insecure data stores, also known as buckets, about which he was steadily informing affected organisations. \"Lots of buckets appear to been abandoned and forgotten about,\" said Mr Wiggins. The main target of the security experts scanning for mistakes are  servers supporting Amazon's Simple Storage Service (S3) - part of its AWS business. Over the last 18 months, Uber, Verizon, Alteryx, the WWE, US defence contractor Booz Allen Hamilton, Dow Jones and three data mining companies have exposed data via misconfigured S3 buckets. Between them the firms lost data covering the digital identities of hundreds of millions of people. Robin Wood, who wrote a bucket-scanning tool that many researchers use, said the ease with which the storage can be bought and configured made them very attractive to a lot of companies. They were particularly useful for short-term projects that had to be set up and run quickly. Often, said Mr Wood, the buckets set up for a particular short-term project were mothballed once the venture was finished. As time went by the software on these abandoned sites became easier to successfully attack because it was no longer updated with patches for known bugs. \"It's amazing how many larger firms have a website or web hosting package that the security and IT teams know nothing about,\" he told the BBC. Other stores were left open to get around configuration problems that can crop up when several different firms work on the same project, he said. \"What tends to happen is that if something is not working properly they will open it up a bit to see if that fixes it,\" said Mr Wood. \"They just keep clicking until it works.\" Anyone coming across the data might be able to scoop up valuable information, such as database files and login data, that could help them gain access to other networks of the same company, he said. Scanning for vulnerable buckets was straightforward because of the way Amazon organised its service, he added. A spokeswoman for Amazon said the default configuration settings on its S3 service kept data private. She said it had created several tools to make it easier for S3 customers to secure data or work out who could access it. For instance, she said, the main management screen that customers use to manage buckets used a \"traffic light\" system to show which were open to public view and which were more tightly controlled. And, she added, just because buckets were public did not mean they were wrongly configured. Many large organisations, such as Nasa and the Open Street Map project, made huge amounts of information available to spur collaboration, she said. Despite this help many firms still got cloud security wrong, said James Hatch, director of applied intelligence at BAE Cyber Services. This was partly because firms did not appreciate what they were buying when they signed up for an online data storage service such as S3. Many people regarded cloud services as being akin to a hotel, in that they relied on the organisation to provide the working infrastructure that they then used, he told the BBC. Instead, he said, the service they got was much more basic. \"When you are using pure infrastructure cloud services it's one step away from that. The starting point is more like an empty plot of land,\" said Mr Hatch. \"They might give you the right building blocks to get the security right, but it's up to you to do it.\"", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1092, "answer_end": 1648, "text": "In essence, these machines act like the hard drive on your desktop computer and can hold almost any type of data or file. Organisations use these cloud-based stores for all kinds of tasks. Some use them to hold images,  documents and other files that populate their websites. Others use them as repositories for detailed data that is mined or analysed to help other bits of their business. They are also popular because sometimes they can be set up using only a credit card - much more quickly than would be possible via a company's internal admin systems."}], "question": "What is cloud storage?", "id": "860_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Non-Hispanic US white births now the minority in US", "date": "17 May 2012", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Children from racial and ethnic minorities now account for more than half the births in the US, according to estimates of the latest US census data. Black, Hispanic, Asian and mixed-race births made up 50.4% of new arrivals in the year ending in July 2011. It puts non-Hispanic white births in the minority for the first time. Sociologists believe the ongoing economic slowdown has contributed to a greater decline in birth rates among white people. The US Census Bureau recorded 2.02m babies born to minorities in the year to July 2011, just over half of all births, compared with 37% in 1990. US birth rates have been declining, but the drop has been larger for white people. The number of white births has fallen by 11.4% since 2008, compared with 3.2% for minorities, according to Kenneth Johnson, a sociologist at the University of New Hampshire. William Frey, head of demographics at the Brookings Institution, said the data presaged a new set of challenges to the US in years to come. \"There's a sharp division between the older population - with the votes and the money and the power, and a lot of needs - and the young population that is foreign to them and with whom they have no personal connection,\" he told the BBC. As population changes the US will see an inevitable decline in the numbers of whites in the labour force, Mr Frey said, adding that better pathways to education were needed for the changing demographic groups. In its analysis, the Census Bureau found that the national median age rose slightly to 37.2 years, and the number of people in the US who are 65 or older increased by 1.1m to 41.4m. There are now 5.7m people who are over the age of 85. The nation's minority population now makes up 36.6% of the total US population. Hispanics make up the largest minority in the US, forming 16.7% of the population in 2011. They are also the fastest growing group and have seen a 3.1% population increase since 2010. But demographers also believe the Hispanic population boom may now have peaked. \"The Latino population is very young, which means they will continue to have a lot of births relative to the general population,\" Mark Mather of the Population Reference Bureau said. \"But we're seeing a slowdown that is likely the result of multiple factors: declining Latina birth rates combined with lower immigration levels. If both of these trends continue, they will lead to big changes down the road.\" As well as changes in birth rates among Hispanics, studies have shown that immigration levels are also changing. A recent survey by the Pew Hispanic Center showed migration to the US from Mexico has begun to decline after four decades of sustained growth. The data also showed African-Americans comprise the second largest US minority group, with a population of 43.9m in 2011, while Asians are growing second-fastest at a rate of 3% since 2010. Four states - Hawaii, California, New Mexico, Texas - and the District of Columbia are now counted as majority-minority states, with more than half their population made up of minority groups.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1675, "answer_end": 3065, "text": "The nation's minority population now makes up 36.6% of the total US population. Hispanics make up the largest minority in the US, forming 16.7% of the population in 2011. They are also the fastest growing group and have seen a 3.1% population increase since 2010. But demographers also believe the Hispanic population boom may now have peaked. \"The Latino population is very young, which means they will continue to have a lot of births relative to the general population,\" Mark Mather of the Population Reference Bureau said. \"But we're seeing a slowdown that is likely the result of multiple factors: declining Latina birth rates combined with lower immigration levels. If both of these trends continue, they will lead to big changes down the road.\" As well as changes in birth rates among Hispanics, studies have shown that immigration levels are also changing. A recent survey by the Pew Hispanic Center showed migration to the US from Mexico has begun to decline after four decades of sustained growth. The data also showed African-Americans comprise the second largest US minority group, with a population of 43.9m in 2011, while Asians are growing second-fastest at a rate of 3% since 2010. Four states - Hawaii, California, New Mexico, Texas - and the District of Columbia are now counted as majority-minority states, with more than half their population made up of minority groups."}], "question": "Hispanic peak?", "id": "861_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Yemen rebel ballistic missile 'intercepted over Riyadh'", "date": "19 December 2017", "paragraphs": [{"context": "The Saudi-led coalition battling Yemen's Houthi rebels says it has intercepted a missile over Riyadh. The Houthis' Al Masirah TV reported that a Burkan H2 ballistic missile had targeted a meeting at the al-Yamama Palace in the Saudi capital. Witnesses said they heard an explosion and posted pictures online showing a cloud of smoke in the air. There were no reports of any damage or casualties. The coalition accused Iran of supplying the Houthis with the missile. Iran has denied arming the rebels, who have been fighting a war against Yemen's government and the Saudi-led coalition since March 2015. A report on Al Masirah's website cited the Houthis' Missile Forces as announcing the launch of a Burkan H2 missile on Tuesday \"in response to the heinous crimes committed by the US-Saudi aggression against the people of Yemen\". The missile had targeted a \"meeting of the leadership of the Saudi regime in al-Yamama Palace in Riyadh\", during which Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman was expected to discuss the kingdom's annual budget, Al Masirah said. The palace is the main headquarters of the king's office and the royal court. Minutes later, Saudi state-run Al Ikhbariya TV reported that a missile had been intercepted south of the capital. One video posted by a man who said he was in the Olaya district shows a white cloud above the city. The sound of an explosion can then be heard. Coalition spokesman Col Turki al-Maliki said the missile had been \"indiscriminately launched towards Riyadh to target the civilian and populated areas\", according to the official Saudi Press Agency. It was intercepted by a Patriot missile south of the city, he added. Col Maliki said the attack proved the \"continued involvement of the Iranian regime in supporting the Houthi armed group with qualitative capabilities in clear and blatant defiance\" of two UN Security Council resolutions with the aim of threatening regional and international security. Firing missiles towards populated areas was against international law, he added. Another Burkan H2 came close to hitting Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport on 4 November. Saudi officials said US-supplied Patriot batteries had also intercepted the missile in flight. But analysts have since cast doubt on that assertion and said the missile's warhead landed close to the domestic terminal. The US, which backs the coalition's military campaign in Yemen, on Thursday presented what it said was \"undeniable\" evidence that Iran had made the missile. Standing in front of the remnants of the projectile, permanent representative to the UN Nikki Haley said it bore a close resemblance to an Iranian-made Qiam ballistic missile. Both lacked large stabiliser fins, included nine valves running along their lengths, and were stamped with the logo of an Iranian manufacturer, she added. Saudi Arabia intervened in its neighbour's civil war partly to counter perceived Iranian influence on the Houthis, which champion the Zaidi Shia minority. Iran has denied backing the rebels militarily and insisted that the missile launches are \"independent actions\" in response to Saudi-led coalition aggression. A spokesman for Iran's mission to the UN, Alireza Miryousefi, rejected Ms Haley's allegations last week as \"unfounded and, at the same time, irresponsible, provocative and destructive\". The coalition tightened its blockade of Yemen in response to November's missile launch, saying it wanted to halt the smuggling of weapons. But the UN warned that the restrictions could trigger \"the largest famine the world has seen for many decades\". Although the coalition later eased its restrictions, allowing humanitarian aid to be delivered to Houthi-controlled ports and airports, most commercial shipments are still blocked, causing severe shortages of food and fuel. The Saudi-led coalition has also continued to conduct air strikes on rebel-held areas. Such raids have killed at least 136 civilians and non-combatants since 6 December,  a UN human rights official said on Tuesday. More than 8,670 people have been killed and 49,960 injured since the coalition intervened in Yemen's war, according to the UN. The fighting and the coalition blockade have also left 20.7 million people in need of humanitarian aid, created the world's largest food security emergency, and led to a cholera outbreak that is thought to have killed 2,219 people since April.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 603, "answer_end": 1389, "text": "A report on Al Masirah's website cited the Houthis' Missile Forces as announcing the launch of a Burkan H2 missile on Tuesday \"in response to the heinous crimes committed by the US-Saudi aggression against the people of Yemen\". The missile had targeted a \"meeting of the leadership of the Saudi regime in al-Yamama Palace in Riyadh\", during which Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman was expected to discuss the kingdom's annual budget, Al Masirah said. The palace is the main headquarters of the king's office and the royal court. Minutes later, Saudi state-run Al Ikhbariya TV reported that a missile had been intercepted south of the capital. One video posted by a man who said he was in the Olaya district shows a white cloud above the city. The sound of an explosion can then be heard."}], "question": "What do the Houthis say?", "id": "862_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1390, "answer_end": 2023, "text": "Coalition spokesman Col Turki al-Maliki said the missile had been \"indiscriminately launched towards Riyadh to target the civilian and populated areas\", according to the official Saudi Press Agency. It was intercepted by a Patriot missile south of the city, he added. Col Maliki said the attack proved the \"continued involvement of the Iranian regime in supporting the Houthi armed group with qualitative capabilities in clear and blatant defiance\" of two UN Security Council resolutions with the aim of threatening regional and international security. Firing missiles towards populated areas was against international law, he added."}], "question": "What do the Saudi authorities say?", "id": "862_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2024, "answer_end": 2827, "text": "Another Burkan H2 came close to hitting Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport on 4 November. Saudi officials said US-supplied Patriot batteries had also intercepted the missile in flight. But analysts have since cast doubt on that assertion and said the missile's warhead landed close to the domestic terminal. The US, which backs the coalition's military campaign in Yemen, on Thursday presented what it said was \"undeniable\" evidence that Iran had made the missile. Standing in front of the remnants of the projectile, permanent representative to the UN Nikki Haley said it bore a close resemblance to an Iranian-made Qiam ballistic missile. Both lacked large stabiliser fins, included nine valves running along their lengths, and were stamped with the logo of an Iranian manufacturer, she added."}], "question": "What do we know about the Houthis' missiles?", "id": "862_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2828, "answer_end": 3326, "text": "Saudi Arabia intervened in its neighbour's civil war partly to counter perceived Iranian influence on the Houthis, which champion the Zaidi Shia minority. Iran has denied backing the rebels militarily and insisted that the missile launches are \"independent actions\" in response to Saudi-led coalition aggression. A spokesman for Iran's mission to the UN, Alireza Miryousefi, rejected Ms Haley's allegations last week as \"unfounded and, at the same time, irresponsible, provocative and destructive\"."}], "question": "How has Iran responded to the accusations?", "id": "862_3"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3327, "answer_end": 4387, "text": "The coalition tightened its blockade of Yemen in response to November's missile launch, saying it wanted to halt the smuggling of weapons. But the UN warned that the restrictions could trigger \"the largest famine the world has seen for many decades\". Although the coalition later eased its restrictions, allowing humanitarian aid to be delivered to Houthi-controlled ports and airports, most commercial shipments are still blocked, causing severe shortages of food and fuel. The Saudi-led coalition has also continued to conduct air strikes on rebel-held areas. Such raids have killed at least 136 civilians and non-combatants since 6 December,  a UN human rights official said on Tuesday. More than 8,670 people have been killed and 49,960 injured since the coalition intervened in Yemen's war, according to the UN. The fighting and the coalition blockade have also left 20.7 million people in need of humanitarian aid, created the world's largest food security emergency, and led to a cholera outbreak that is thought to have killed 2,219 people since April."}], "question": "How might the Saudis respond to the attack?", "id": "862_4"}]}]}, {"title": "South Africa: How common are xenophobic attacks?", "date": "2 October 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari is visiting South Africa this week to promote ties between Africa's two largest economies. The trip comes at a time when relations have deteriorated following a rise in attacks on foreigners in South African cities, including against Nigerians. In response, hundreds of Nigerians have left South Africa fearful of the violence and Mr Buhari is expected to address a meeting of some of those still living in the country. So how common are attacks against migrants and are they on the rise? The South African government does not collect data on attacks or threats against foreign nationals. However, the African Centre for Migration & Society (ACMS) has monitored these attacks across South Africa since 1994. Its Xenowatch tracker collates media reports as well as information from activists, victims and observers. Violent attacks peaked in 2008 and again in 2015. Data for 2019 (to late September) already shows that the number of attacks is approaching the level of 2015. In 2008, there was a wave of attacks across the country against refugees and migrants - more than 60 people were reported to have been killed and thousands displaced. In 2015, there were outbreaks of violence against non-South Africans, mostly in the cities of Durban and Johannesburg, which led to the deployment of the army to deter further unrest. In March, the government launched an initiative to raise public awareness and improve access to services for victims of discrimination. Human rights groups welcomed it, but said that the government needed to publicly recognise attacks on foreigners as xenophobic. In a statement published in October 2018, South Africa's main opposition party, the Democratic Alliance, blamed the governing ANC party for a \"scourge of xenophobic violence\". About 70% of foreigners in South Africa come from neighbouring Zimbabwe, Mozambique and Lesotho. The remaining 30% is made up of people from Malawi, UK, Namibia, eSwatini, previously known as Swaziland, India and other countries. There are an estimated 3.6 million migrants in the country, a spokesperson for South Africa's national statistics body told the BBC, out of an overall population of well over 50 million. Gauteng province, which includes South Africa's largest city Johannesburg and the capital Pretoria, has the highest rate of violence against foreign nationals, followed by the Western Cape, according to the ACMS. KwaZulu-Natal, where Durban is situated, is third. Attacks have mainly taken place in large cities, but they have also been reported in smaller towns and rural areas. The violence is often triggered by local disputes, with migrants being accused of taking jobs away from South Africans. Foreign-run shops have been looted and destroyed. The country has experienced poor economic performance, with officially recorded unemployment at more than 27% at the end of last year. And more widely, the country has one of the highest murder rates in the world. \"The causes are poverty and has its roots in apartheid,\" says Sharon Ekambaram, who runs the refugee and migrant rights programme for Lawyers for Human Rights. What do you want BBC Reality Check to investigate? Get in touch Read more from Reality Check Follow us on Twitter", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1801, "answer_end": 2217, "text": "About 70% of foreigners in South Africa come from neighbouring Zimbabwe, Mozambique and Lesotho. The remaining 30% is made up of people from Malawi, UK, Namibia, eSwatini, previously known as Swaziland, India and other countries. There are an estimated 3.6 million migrants in the country, a spokesperson for South Africa's national statistics body told the BBC, out of an overall population of well over 50 million."}], "question": "Where are the migrants from?", "id": "863_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2218, "answer_end": 3141, "text": "Gauteng province, which includes South Africa's largest city Johannesburg and the capital Pretoria, has the highest rate of violence against foreign nationals, followed by the Western Cape, according to the ACMS. KwaZulu-Natal, where Durban is situated, is third. Attacks have mainly taken place in large cities, but they have also been reported in smaller towns and rural areas. The violence is often triggered by local disputes, with migrants being accused of taking jobs away from South Africans. Foreign-run shops have been looted and destroyed. The country has experienced poor economic performance, with officially recorded unemployment at more than 27% at the end of last year. And more widely, the country has one of the highest murder rates in the world. \"The causes are poverty and has its roots in apartheid,\" says Sharon Ekambaram, who runs the refugee and migrant rights programme for Lawyers for Human Rights."}], "question": "How do different regions compare?", "id": "863_1"}]}]}, {"title": "Australian-UK blogger couple freed from Iran jail", "date": "5 October 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "A British-Australian woman and her Australian boyfriend have said they are \"extremely happy and relieved\" after their release from an Iranian jail. Travel bloggers Jolie King and Mark Firkin were detained in Tehran earlier this year for reportedly flying a drone without a permit while on a trip across Asia. A second British-Australian, Kylie Moore-Gilbert, is still in prison. Australia's foreign minister said talks to secure her release were ongoing. Marise Payne told reporters that it was \"with some enormous relief\" that she could announce Jolie King and Mark Firkin \"have been released and returned\". In a statement, the couple said: \"We are extremely happy and relieved to be safely back in Australia with those we love. \"While the past few months have been very difficult, we know it has also been tough for those back home who have been worried for us.\" They said they hoped to get back to their \"normal lives\" and asked for privacy, raising concerns from other detainees that \"intense media coverage\" may not be helping efforts to bring them home. The pair were detained after entering Iran as part of a major trip across Asia to the UK - they were blogging about it for thousands of followers on social media. Meanwhile, Australia released an Iranian student, Reza Dehbashi Kivi, back to Tehran, according to the country's semi-official news agency Fars. By James Landale, BBC diplomatic correspondent The release of Jolie King and Mark Firkin from detention in Iran raises an obvious question: why has Australia been successful in getting their detainees home while Britain has not? Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe remains languishing in Evin prison. The answer is ultimately one only the Iranian authorities can provide. It is not for want of trying: her husband, Richard, and the British government have pushed hard for her release, trying to embarrass Tehran with a vocal, public campaign. But the cases are different. Ms King is an Australian-British dual national, whereas Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe is a British-Iranian national, a distinction not accepted by Iran. The accusations could perhaps be considered by the Iranian judiciary to be of a different order: flying a drone without a permit compared to spying. Australia does not have the same historic baggage with Iran, which repeatedly attacks Britain for what Tehran see as its alleged colonial interference. But, most of all, Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe is considered by Iran to be a bigger pawn on the diplomatic chess board. The UK government accuses Iran of taking diplomatic hostages as part of its attempt to resist economic and military pressure from the United States and its allies over its nuclear and missile programmes. The British government does have something Iran wants; not the release of an Iranian from British detention, but the money Tehran is owed for some tanks that were not delivered after the revolution in 1979. But the UK will not pay that bill until a way around the sanctions can be found. The truth is that Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe is tragically caught up in bigger geopolitical machinations than the Australian travellers. Mr Dehbashi Kivi had been arrested in September 2018 for allegedly sending American-made military equipment to Iran. Australia's Attorney General Christian Porter declined to comment on the reasons for the decision, saying it could \"diminish our government's capacity to deal with future matters of this type in Australia's best interests\". According to Australia's foreign minister Marisa Payne, Ms Moore-Gilbert remains in prison in Tehran, where she has been for almost a year having reportedly been given a 10-year sentence. \"Very long-term negotiations\" were taking place to secure the release of the Cambridge-educated academic, Ms Payne added. The two British-Australian women were believed to be the first British passport holders without dual Iranian nationality to be held in the country in recent years. Their detention echoes that of British-Iranian mother Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, who has been imprisoned since 2016 after being convicted of spying, which she denies. On Friday it was announced that Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe would allow her daughter Gabriella, five, to return to the UK to begin schooling. The mother and daughter were said by family to have travelled together to Iran to visit relatives before she was detained. As well as Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, a number of other dual UK-Iranian citizens are being detained in Iran. Iran does not recognise dual nationality, and there are no exact figures on the numbers of dual nationals in custody. But they do include businessman and wildlife conservationist Morad Tahbaz, who also has US citizenship and was arrested in a crackdown on environmental activists in January 2018, and Kameel Ahmady, a social anthropologist, who has been in custody since August. Anousheh Ashouri, a British-Iranian dual national, was sentenced to 10 years in prison by a court in Tehran after being convicted of spying for Israel. Aras Amiri, 33, a UK resident who works for the British Council in London, was held in March 2018 on a visit to her unwell grandmother. This year Ms Amiri lost an appeal against a jail term for spying, and her British fiance, James Tyson, told the BBC she was being used as a \"bargaining chip\" by Iran's government.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1368, "answer_end": 3112, "text": "By James Landale, BBC diplomatic correspondent The release of Jolie King and Mark Firkin from detention in Iran raises an obvious question: why has Australia been successful in getting their detainees home while Britain has not? Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe remains languishing in Evin prison. The answer is ultimately one only the Iranian authorities can provide. It is not for want of trying: her husband, Richard, and the British government have pushed hard for her release, trying to embarrass Tehran with a vocal, public campaign. But the cases are different. Ms King is an Australian-British dual national, whereas Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe is a British-Iranian national, a distinction not accepted by Iran. The accusations could perhaps be considered by the Iranian judiciary to be of a different order: flying a drone without a permit compared to spying. Australia does not have the same historic baggage with Iran, which repeatedly attacks Britain for what Tehran see as its alleged colonial interference. But, most of all, Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe is considered by Iran to be a bigger pawn on the diplomatic chess board. The UK government accuses Iran of taking diplomatic hostages as part of its attempt to resist economic and military pressure from the United States and its allies over its nuclear and missile programmes. The British government does have something Iran wants; not the release of an Iranian from British detention, but the money Tehran is owed for some tanks that were not delivered after the revolution in 1979. But the UK will not pay that bill until a way around the sanctions can be found. The truth is that Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe is tragically caught up in bigger geopolitical machinations than the Australian travellers."}], "question": "How did Australia free its 'diplomatic hostages'?", "id": "864_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 4354, "answer_end": 5309, "text": "As well as Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, a number of other dual UK-Iranian citizens are being detained in Iran. Iran does not recognise dual nationality, and there are no exact figures on the numbers of dual nationals in custody. But they do include businessman and wildlife conservationist Morad Tahbaz, who also has US citizenship and was arrested in a crackdown on environmental activists in January 2018, and Kameel Ahmady, a social anthropologist, who has been in custody since August. Anousheh Ashouri, a British-Iranian dual national, was sentenced to 10 years in prison by a court in Tehran after being convicted of spying for Israel. Aras Amiri, 33, a UK resident who works for the British Council in London, was held in March 2018 on a visit to her unwell grandmother. This year Ms Amiri lost an appeal against a jail term for spying, and her British fiance, James Tyson, told the BBC she was being used as a \"bargaining chip\" by Iran's government."}], "question": "Who are the other Britons detained in Iran?", "id": "864_1"}]}]}, {"title": "Apollo 11: Michael Collins returns to launch site on 50th anniversary", "date": "16 July 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "One of the surviving crew members of the first manned mission to the Moon - Apollo 11 - has returned to the site where the mission set off 50 years ago. Michael Collins, 88, visited Florida's Kennedy Space Center on Tuesday. He marked the precise time - 09:32 (13:32 GMT) - when their rocket took off. Mr Collins had stayed in lunar orbit while his colleagues Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin walked on the Moon. Tuesday's meeting kicked off a series of commemorative events across the US. Mr Collins was the only original member of the three-person crew at the event - Mr Aldrin, 89, did not attend, while Mr Armstrong, who was their commander, died in 2012. Speaking at launchpad 39A - where the crew's powerful rocket made history on 16 July 1969 - Mr Collins described how he felt during take-off. \"The shockwave from the rocket power hits you,\" he told Nasa TV. \"Your whole body is shaking. This gives you an entirely... different concept of what power really means.\" \"You're suspended in the cockpit... as you lift off,\" he continued. \"From then on it's a quieter, more rational, silent ride all the way to the moon. \"We crew felt the weight of the world on our shoulders, we knew that everyone would be looking at us, friend or foe.\" He added that he wished his fellow astronauts could have joined him at the site. Elsewhere, celebrations took place in cities across the country and will continue throughout the week. At the National Air and Space Museum, the spacesuit worn by Armstrong during the mission was put on display for the first time in more than a decade. More than $500,000 (PS400,000) was raised in just five days for the necessary restoration work. Vice President Mike Pence spoke at the suit's unveiling. \"Apollo 11 is the only event of the 20th Century that stands a chance of being widely remembered in the 30th Century,\" he said. \"It was a contribution to the life of this nation and the history of this world that's almost incalculable,\" he added. On 16 July 1969, Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins were strapped into their Apollo spacecraft on top of the vast Saturn V rocket and were propelled into orbit in just over 11 minutes. Four days later, Armstrong and Aldrin became the first humans to set foot on the lunar surface. Collins remained in orbit in the command module throughout the mission. Armstrong's words, beamed to the world by TV, entered history: \"That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.\" About 400,000 people worked on the programme, at a cost at the time of $25bn. The crew returned to Earth and splashed down in the Pacific Ocean on 24 July. An estimated 650 million people worldwide watched the Moon landing. For the US, the achievement helped it demonstrate its power to a world audience.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1973, "answer_end": 2767, "text": "On 16 July 1969, Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins were strapped into their Apollo spacecraft on top of the vast Saturn V rocket and were propelled into orbit in just over 11 minutes. Four days later, Armstrong and Aldrin became the first humans to set foot on the lunar surface. Collins remained in orbit in the command module throughout the mission. Armstrong's words, beamed to the world by TV, entered history: \"That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.\" About 400,000 people worked on the programme, at a cost at the time of $25bn. The crew returned to Earth and splashed down in the Pacific Ocean on 24 July. An estimated 650 million people worldwide watched the Moon landing. For the US, the achievement helped it demonstrate its power to a world audience."}], "question": "What was the Apollo 11 mission?", "id": "865_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Policing facing a 'perfect storm' due to budget cuts and rising crime", "date": "4 September 2017", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Policing in England and Wales is facing a \"perfect storm\" due to staff shortages and rising crime, a senior police chief is expected to say. Policing services are routinely based on fewer people working more hours and days, Ch Supt Gavin Thomas will warn. The president of the Police Superintendents' Association of England and Wales will say such a model is \"fundamentally flawed\". He is due to deliver a speech at the group's annual conference on Monday. Ch Supt Thomas will say: \"I suggest we have a perfect storm developing, comprised of fewer resources, reduced public services, new threats, and a worrying increase in some types of traditional crime. \"If the model for delivering policing services in the future is fewer people, working longer, each doing ever more, then I suggest that model is fundamentally flawed.\" Ch Supt Thomas will tell Home Office minister Nick Hurd that demands on policing services have demonstrated a \"clear case for an open and transparent debate and review\". \"Otherwise we are being driven not by the need to provide the best possible policing service that meets the needs of the public, but primarily by the need to save money,\" he will add. Brexit secretary David Davis claimed in May that that during the six years Theresa May was Home Secretary - from 2010 to 2016 - crime fell by 30%. This statistic came from the Crime Survey for England and Wales - based on people's experiences of crime - which excluded fraud and cyber crime until 2016. The latest Crime Survey numbers, released in July, showed a 7% annual fall. But figures on crime recorded by the police, released by the Office of National Statistics, showed a 10% rise in offences in the past year to almost five million, including an 18% jump in violent crime. The numbers were released at the same time as a Home Office report, which showed the number of police officers in England and Wales was at its lowest since 1985 - 123,142 officers across all ranks. His warning comes after a survey of the association's members found that 27% of the 900 who responded thought they had enough resources to do their job properly. Half said they had experienced symptoms of anxiety and a quarter signs of depression. The association is calling for measures to be introduced to improve the health and wellbeing of superintending ranks and the wider service. These include ensuring policing employers provide an annual health screening and the responsibilities at superintendent level to be evenly and fairly distributed. \"It is frankly unacceptable that the senior operational leaders in policing are under so much pressure that a quarter of them have signs of depression,\" Ch Supt Thomas will say. \"It is not a healthy position for the service to be in, and it is definitely not in the interests of the public.\" Mr Hurd is to address the conference about the mental wellbeing and support received by police officers. He will highlight that the government has given charity Mind PS1.5m to ensure emergency service workers involved in recent tragedies can receive targeted support. He is due to say: \"We know that policing, by its nature, can be a stressful and challenging job. \"So it's important that the government acts too when and where we can add value. \"In July, the home secretary awarded PS7.5m of funding from the Police Transformation Fund over three years to pilot and - if it is successful - fund a dedicated national service to help provide enhanced welfare support, for any officer or member of staff who needs it.\"", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1179, "answer_end": 1958, "text": "Brexit secretary David Davis claimed in May that that during the six years Theresa May was Home Secretary - from 2010 to 2016 - crime fell by 30%. This statistic came from the Crime Survey for England and Wales - based on people's experiences of crime - which excluded fraud and cyber crime until 2016. The latest Crime Survey numbers, released in July, showed a 7% annual fall. But figures on crime recorded by the police, released by the Office of National Statistics, showed a 10% rise in offences in the past year to almost five million, including an 18% jump in violent crime. The numbers were released at the same time as a Home Office report, which showed the number of police officers in England and Wales was at its lowest since 1985 - 123,142 officers across all ranks."}], "question": "Has crime gone up or down?", "id": "866_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Rohingya crisis: Humanitarian situation catastrophic, UN says", "date": "14 September 2017", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar are facing a catastrophic humanitarian situation, according to the UN secretary general. Antonio Guterres said alleged attacks by security forces on Rohingya villagers were completely unacceptable. The army says it is fighting militants and denies targeting civilians. Later the UN Security Council called for urgent steps to end the violence. Some 379,000 Rohingyas have fled to Bangladesh since violence began last month. Whole villages have burned down. The Rohingya, a mostly Muslim minority in the Buddhist-majority Rakhine state, have long experienced persecution in Myanmar, which says they are illegal immigrants. They have lived in Myanmar, also known as Burma, for generations but are denied citizenship. But Myanmar officials say the country's de facto leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, will miss a key debate next week in the UN General Assembly. She will, however, address the nation on TV on 19 September, the day the General Assembly meets. Officials said she would \"speak for national reconciliation and peace\". Ms Suu Kyi has been criticised by former supporters in the West for failing to do enough to prevent the violence in Rakhine state. Justin Rowlatt, BBC News, Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh One of the most shocking things among all the horror here is that fact many Rohingya refugees say they have had no contact with any aid agencies or international aid bodies at all. Many say they have had details - their names and the villages they are from - taken at the border. After that, they have been on their own. Read more from Justin: Why aid is slow to reach Rohingya refugees The UN refugee agency says not enough aid is getting through to the Rohingya who have fled to Bangladesh. Mr Guterres called on the international community to provide whatever assistance they could. \"The humanitarian situation it is catastrophic,\" he said. \"When we met last week there was 125,000 Rohingya refugees who had fled into Bangladesh. That number has now tripled to nearly 380,000. \"Many are staying in makeshift settlements or with those communities who are generously sharing what they have. But women and children are arriving hungry and malnourished.\" Asked whether the crisis could be categorised as ethnic cleansing, Mr Guterres said: \"A third of the [Rohingya] population had to flee the country - can you find a better word to describe it?\" The UN secretary general said that he had condemned attacks by the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA), the rebel group fighting the military. But he added that military action should also be suspended and those who had fled be allowed the right to return home The Council issued a unanimous statement which condemned \"the initial attack on security forces and subsequent violence\". It went on to express \"concern about reports of excessive violence during the security operations\" and call for \"immediate steps to end the violence in Rakhine, de-escalate the situation, re-establish law and order, ensure the protection of civilians\". The statement also called for the refugee problem to be resolved. Speaking to journalists, UK Ambassador Matthew Rycroft said it was significant that everyone was able to agree on a statement. It was the first time in nine years that this had happened in relation to Myanmar, he added. The latest wave of Rohingya fleeing their homes began on 25 August, following attacks by Rohingya militants on police and military posts. Those who have fled say Myanmar troops responded to the attacks with a brutal campaign of violence and village burnings aimed at driving them out. Myanmar's envoy to the UN has blamed the Rohingya insurgents for the violence in Rakhine state and said that his country would never tolerate such atrocities. Later government spokesman Zaw Htay said 176 Rohingya villages, more than 30% of the total in northern Rakhine, were now empty. Though access to Rakhine state is heavily controlled, the BBC's Jonathan Head was one of a few journalists taken on a government-run tour recently and witnessed Muslim villages being burned with police doing nothing to stop it. While the current crisis has seen nearly 400,000 Rohingya flee, the UN says Bangladesh was already hosting several hundred thousand undocumented Rohingya who had fled earlier violence. Other Rohingya have been living in camps for displaced people within Myanmar. On Tuesday, Myanmar denounced the suggestion by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Zeid Raad al-Hussein, that its treatment of Rohingya Muslims amounted to \"ethnic cleansing\". There were at least a million members of the Rohingya ethnic group living in Myanmar, most of them Muslim, though some are Hindu. They are thought to have their origins in what is now Bangladesh and the Indian state of West Bengal, but many have been present in Myanmar for centuries. The law in Myanmar does not recognise the Rohingya ethnic minority as one of its \"national races\" and they are effectively denied citizenship. Human Rights Watch describes the Rohingya as one of the largest stateless populations in the world. \"Restrictions on movement and lack of access to basic health care have led to dire humanitarian conditions for those displaced by earlier waves of violence,\" the group says. Bangladesh's Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has called on Myanmar to take the Rohingya refugees back. On Wednesday, the head of Myanmar's armed forces, Gen Min Aung Hlaing, said that the country \"could not accept and recognise the term 'Rohingya' by hiding the truth\" (meaning Myanmar's claim that they are illegal immigrants from Bangladesh). \"Rakhine ethnics [Buddhists] are our indigenous people who had long been living there since the time of their forefathers,\" he said. - Fergal Keane: Meeting Myanmar's hardline Buddhist monks", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 2639, "answer_end": 3299, "text": "The Council issued a unanimous statement which condemned \"the initial attack on security forces and subsequent violence\". It went on to express \"concern about reports of excessive violence during the security operations\" and call for \"immediate steps to end the violence in Rakhine, de-escalate the situation, re-establish law and order, ensure the protection of civilians\". The statement also called for the refugee problem to be resolved. Speaking to journalists, UK Ambassador Matthew Rycroft said it was significant that everyone was able to agree on a statement. It was the first time in nine years that this had happened in relation to Myanmar, he added."}], "question": "What was the Security Council's position?", "id": "867_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3300, "answer_end": 4362, "text": "The latest wave of Rohingya fleeing their homes began on 25 August, following attacks by Rohingya militants on police and military posts. Those who have fled say Myanmar troops responded to the attacks with a brutal campaign of violence and village burnings aimed at driving them out. Myanmar's envoy to the UN has blamed the Rohingya insurgents for the violence in Rakhine state and said that his country would never tolerate such atrocities. Later government spokesman Zaw Htay said 176 Rohingya villages, more than 30% of the total in northern Rakhine, were now empty. Though access to Rakhine state is heavily controlled, the BBC's Jonathan Head was one of a few journalists taken on a government-run tour recently and witnessed Muslim villages being burned with police doing nothing to stop it. While the current crisis has seen nearly 400,000 Rohingya flee, the UN says Bangladesh was already hosting several hundred thousand undocumented Rohingya who had fled earlier violence. Other Rohingya have been living in camps for displaced people within Myanmar."}], "question": "What is happening in Rakhine state?", "id": "867_1"}]}]}, {"title": "Robert Schellenberg: What we know about his case so far", "date": "15 January 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "A court in China has sentenced a Canadian citizen to death for drug smuggling amid rising diplomatic tensions between the two countries. The court said Robert Lloyd Schellenberg's 15-year jail term, received in November, was too lenient. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has since accused China of arbitrarily applying the death penalty. China said that Canada should respect its sovereignty. Schellenberg now has 10 days to launch an appeal. Schellenberg, who is believed to be 36, is a native of Abbotsford, British Columbia. Details of his early life are unclear. According to British Columbia's online court database, he was convicted 11 times for drug and impaired-driving offences between 2003-2012 and served two jail terms. In 2010, Schellenberg was sentenced to one year in prison and two years' probation for three counts of drug possession \"for the purpose of trafficking.\" Shortly afterwards, in 2012, he was convicted of four more drugs-related offences and sentenced to two years in jail, though he only spent 16 months behind bars. According to CBC News, at Schellenberg's sentencing he was told by Justice Neil Brown: \"Your country deserves much better from you. You are in one of the best places in the world to live.\" Mr Brown said Schellenberg was struggling with addiction. \"He had a work-related accident in which he injured his femur,\" Mr Brown told CBC. \"At the time of his arrest, indeed, he was wearing a cast, and apparently because of his injury, was abusing pain medications.\" Mr Brown added that Schellenberg's father \"had turned his back on him because of his criminal history, although he still has the support of some family members\". It is unclear what he did between his release from prison - set for mid-2013 - and his involvement in the Chinese drug case. In an interview with the New York Times, Schellenberg's aunt, Lauri Nelson-Jones, described him as \"an adventurous traveller who used earnings from working in Alberta's oil fields to pay for his travels in Asia\". \"He called and told his dad - my brother - that he was heading off to China, and it was just like, 'ok, whatever,'\" Ms Nelson-Jones said. Schellenberg was arrested by Chinese authorities in 2014. Prosecutors allege that Schellenberg tried to smuggle almost 500lb (227kg) of methamphetamine from Dalian, in northern China, to Australia, using plastic pellets hidden in rubber tyres. The alleged operation fell apart after an accomplice, Xu Qing, reported it to Chinese authorities. Schellenberg was later arrested in Guangzhou, southern China, after allegedly trying to escape to Thailand. He was detained for 15 months before his first trial. In December 2018, he was convicted of drug smuggling and handed a 15-year jail sentence, along with a 150,000 yuan (US$22,000) fine. The Wall Street Journal - one of the few non-Chinese media outlets invited to cover the trial - said some of Schellenberg's statements were mistranslated. His defence lawyer interjected to correct translations on two occasions. In one instance, Schellenberg told the court that he did not know about any drugs, but the translator said that he did not know where the drugs were. Two other Chinese men were sentenced in the case - one was given life imprisonment, while another was handed a suspended death sentence. Schellenberg has denied all charges against him and says he has been framed. According to AFP news agency, he told the court that he came to China as a tourist after travelling through Southeast Asia. Schellenberg said he initially met Mr Xu for help with translation, but later became unwittingly involved with him in international drug trafficking. He appealed against the 15-year jail sentence and was re-tried in Dalian on Monday. At his hearing, judges ruled that his previous sentence had been too light and that evidence proved he was more seriously involved in international drug smuggling. Zhang Dongshuo, Schellenberg's lawyer, told Reuters that the sentence should not have been increased because no new evidence was presented at the trial.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 449, "answer_end": 2206, "text": "Schellenberg, who is believed to be 36, is a native of Abbotsford, British Columbia. Details of his early life are unclear. According to British Columbia's online court database, he was convicted 11 times for drug and impaired-driving offences between 2003-2012 and served two jail terms. In 2010, Schellenberg was sentenced to one year in prison and two years' probation for three counts of drug possession \"for the purpose of trafficking.\" Shortly afterwards, in 2012, he was convicted of four more drugs-related offences and sentenced to two years in jail, though he only spent 16 months behind bars. According to CBC News, at Schellenberg's sentencing he was told by Justice Neil Brown: \"Your country deserves much better from you. You are in one of the best places in the world to live.\" Mr Brown said Schellenberg was struggling with addiction. \"He had a work-related accident in which he injured his femur,\" Mr Brown told CBC. \"At the time of his arrest, indeed, he was wearing a cast, and apparently because of his injury, was abusing pain medications.\" Mr Brown added that Schellenberg's father \"had turned his back on him because of his criminal history, although he still has the support of some family members\". It is unclear what he did between his release from prison - set for mid-2013 - and his involvement in the Chinese drug case. In an interview with the New York Times, Schellenberg's aunt, Lauri Nelson-Jones, described him as \"an adventurous traveller who used earnings from working in Alberta's oil fields to pay for his travels in Asia\". \"He called and told his dad - my brother - that he was heading off to China, and it was just like, 'ok, whatever,'\" Ms Nelson-Jones said. Schellenberg was arrested by Chinese authorities in 2014."}], "question": "Who is Robert Schellenberg?", "id": "868_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2207, "answer_end": 3301, "text": "Prosecutors allege that Schellenberg tried to smuggle almost 500lb (227kg) of methamphetamine from Dalian, in northern China, to Australia, using plastic pellets hidden in rubber tyres. The alleged operation fell apart after an accomplice, Xu Qing, reported it to Chinese authorities. Schellenberg was later arrested in Guangzhou, southern China, after allegedly trying to escape to Thailand. He was detained for 15 months before his first trial. In December 2018, he was convicted of drug smuggling and handed a 15-year jail sentence, along with a 150,000 yuan (US$22,000) fine. The Wall Street Journal - one of the few non-Chinese media outlets invited to cover the trial - said some of Schellenberg's statements were mistranslated. His defence lawyer interjected to correct translations on two occasions. In one instance, Schellenberg told the court that he did not know about any drugs, but the translator said that he did not know where the drugs were. Two other Chinese men were sentenced in the case - one was given life imprisonment, while another was handed a suspended death sentence."}], "question": "Why was he arrested in China?", "id": "868_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3302, "answer_end": 4053, "text": "Schellenberg has denied all charges against him and says he has been framed. According to AFP news agency, he told the court that he came to China as a tourist after travelling through Southeast Asia. Schellenberg said he initially met Mr Xu for help with translation, but later became unwittingly involved with him in international drug trafficking. He appealed against the 15-year jail sentence and was re-tried in Dalian on Monday. At his hearing, judges ruled that his previous sentence had been too light and that evidence proved he was more seriously involved in international drug smuggling. Zhang Dongshuo, Schellenberg's lawyer, told Reuters that the sentence should not have been increased because no new evidence was presented at the trial."}], "question": "What does he say?", "id": "868_2"}]}]}, {"title": "North Korea carries out new ballistic missile test", "date": "14 May 2017", "paragraphs": [{"context": "North Korea has carried out another ballistic missile test, days after a new president took office in the South. Japanese officials say the missile, which launched from north-western Kusong, reached an altitude of 2,000km. South Korea's newly elected President Moon Jae-in, who is seeking deeper engagement with the North, said it was a \"reckless provocation\". US President Donald Trump has called for \"stronger sanctions\" against North Korea, while China is urging restraint. A series of North Korean missile tests this year - which are banned by the UN - has sparked international alarm and raised tensions with the US. Two missile launches last month both failed, with the rockets exploding just minutes into flight. The nature of the launch is still being determined, but analysts have said the test could suggest a longer range than previously tested devices. The Japanese defence minister said it flew for about 30 minutes before falling in the Sea of Japan and could be a new type of missile. Tomomi Inada said it covered a distance of about 700km (435 miles), reaching an altitude of more than 2,000km (1,245 miles) - higher than that reached by an intermediate-range missile North Korea fired in February. Intercontinental ballistic missiles [ICBMs] can potentially reach altitudes of hundreds of kilometres, taking them well outside the Earth's atmosphere. Experts quoted by Reuters say the altitude meant the missile was launched at a high trajectory, limiting the lateral distance it travelled. They say if it had been fired at a standard trajectory, it would have had a range of at least 4,000km. The US Pacific Command said in a statement the type was being assessed but that its flight was not consistent with that of an ICBM, which would have the range to reach the US mainland (more than 6,000km). North Korea is believed to be developing two types of ICBM, but neither has so far been flight tested. If the Japanese analysis of the trajectory is right (that the missile reached an altitude of 2,000km), North Korea appears to have advanced its technology markedly. The previous two tests failed, so reliability is not there yet. But last month some experts reckoned that a seemingly new missile on parade in Pyongyang may have been an ICBM (the type President Trump said \"won't happen\"). Jeffrey Lewis of the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies in California thought at the time that the new missiles on show might be ICBMs. Is this that missile? One thing is certain: North Korea will certainly trumpet its success if it does now have the capability to strike the US military bases on Guam, 3,400km from Pyongyang in the Western Pacific. Mr Trump would ponder what to do with even greater urgency. Mr Moon hosted an emergency meeting of his security council  in the wake of the launch. \"The president said while South Korea remains open to the possibility of dialogue with North Korea, it is only possible when the North shows a change in attitude,\" his spokesman said. Meanwhile, a member of South Korea's ruling party attending a major summit in China reportedly told the North Korean delegation directly that they \"strongly condemned\" the launch. The White House said President Donald Trump \"cannot imagine Russia is pleased\" because the missile did not land far from Russian territory. It added that the new launch should serve as a call for stronger sanctions against North Korea. A Kremlin spokesperson later said Russian President Vladimir Putin was concerned by the test. China, North Korea's only major ally, called for restraint by \"all relevant parties\" in the wake of the latest test. The North has conducted five nuclear tests despite UN sanctions and is also developing long-range missiles. It is reported to be continuing efforts to miniaturise nuclear warheads and fit them on missiles capable of reaching the US. Washington has accused other UN Security Council members of not fully enforcing existing sanctions against the North, and has urged China in particular to use its trade links as influence. But despite poor relations, North Korea recently said it would hold talks with the US \"if the conditions were right\". The comments, by a senior North Korean diplomat, came after US President Donald Trump said he would be \"honoured\" to meet the North's leader, Kim Jong-un.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 720, "answer_end": 1917, "text": "The nature of the launch is still being determined, but analysts have said the test could suggest a longer range than previously tested devices. The Japanese defence minister said it flew for about 30 minutes before falling in the Sea of Japan and could be a new type of missile. Tomomi Inada said it covered a distance of about 700km (435 miles), reaching an altitude of more than 2,000km (1,245 miles) - higher than that reached by an intermediate-range missile North Korea fired in February. Intercontinental ballistic missiles [ICBMs] can potentially reach altitudes of hundreds of kilometres, taking them well outside the Earth's atmosphere. Experts quoted by Reuters say the altitude meant the missile was launched at a high trajectory, limiting the lateral distance it travelled. They say if it had been fired at a standard trajectory, it would have had a range of at least 4,000km. The US Pacific Command said in a statement the type was being assessed but that its flight was not consistent with that of an ICBM, which would have the range to reach the US mainland (more than 6,000km). North Korea is believed to be developing two types of ICBM, but neither has so far been flight tested."}], "question": "Is it a new type of missile?", "id": "869_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2730, "answer_end": 3628, "text": "Mr Moon hosted an emergency meeting of his security council  in the wake of the launch. \"The president said while South Korea remains open to the possibility of dialogue with North Korea, it is only possible when the North shows a change in attitude,\" his spokesman said. Meanwhile, a member of South Korea's ruling party attending a major summit in China reportedly told the North Korean delegation directly that they \"strongly condemned\" the launch. The White House said President Donald Trump \"cannot imagine Russia is pleased\" because the missile did not land far from Russian territory. It added that the new launch should serve as a call for stronger sanctions against North Korea. A Kremlin spokesperson later said Russian President Vladimir Putin was concerned by the test. China, North Korea's only major ally, called for restraint by \"all relevant parties\" in the wake of the latest test."}], "question": "What has been the reaction?", "id": "869_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3629, "answer_end": 4323, "text": "The North has conducted five nuclear tests despite UN sanctions and is also developing long-range missiles. It is reported to be continuing efforts to miniaturise nuclear warheads and fit them on missiles capable of reaching the US. Washington has accused other UN Security Council members of not fully enforcing existing sanctions against the North, and has urged China in particular to use its trade links as influence. But despite poor relations, North Korea recently said it would hold talks with the US \"if the conditions were right\". The comments, by a senior North Korean diplomat, came after US President Donald Trump said he would be \"honoured\" to meet the North's leader, Kim Jong-un."}], "question": "How are US-North Korea relations?", "id": "869_2"}]}]}, {"title": "Venezuela crisis: Brazil to send army to safeguard border", "date": "29 August 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Brazil says it is sending its army to the Venezuelan border to \"guarantee law and order\" amid an influx of migrants fleeing the crisis-hit country. President Michel Temer said in a televised address on Tuesday that Venezuela's \"tragic\" situation threatened peace across South America. Millions of Venezuelans have fled their country due to hyperinflation, and food and medicine shortages. Brazil's move follows recent border clashes between locals and Venezuelans. Following those clashes, President Temer sent a small contingent of troops to the border town of Pacaraima, where the unrest happened. On Tuesday, he signed a decree which will deploy soldiers for two weeks along the border and federal roads of its northern state of Roraima. \"The problem of Venezuela is no longer one of internal politics. It is a threat to the harmony of the whole continent,\" Mr Temer said. In addition to ensuring the security of Brazilians, the soldiers' role is also to look after the Venezuelan migrants' safety, the president stated. Meanwhile, neighbouring Peru has declared a 60-day health emergency in two provinces on its northern border, after health authorities expressed concerns of the spread of diseases from migrants. Venezuela is in its fourth year of an economic crisis, brought on by a crash in oil prices in 2014. Four in five Venezuelans live in poverty, and people queue for hours to buy food while others are dying from a lack of medicine. This was compounded by Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro's decision in August to issue a new currency to manage the country's runaway inflation - a move that caused widespread confusion. Some 2.3 million citizens have fled the country since 2014, sparking the worst migration crisis in Latin American history, according to the United Nations. Regional tensions have been stoked, as neighbouring countries struggle to accommodate the exodus of Venezuelans. The UN's migration agency said last week Venezuela is heading for the same refugee \"crisis moment\" seen in the Mediterranean in 2015. There are more than a million Venezuelans in Colombia, more than half a million in Ecuador, more than 400,000 in Peru and some 60,000 in Brazil. Brazil has not said how many of its armed forces will be sent to police the border this week. One minister told journalists that troops were already in place, while another warned Brazil \"needs to discipline\" the influx of migrants. This month, Peru began tightening its border by requiring passports instead of national ID cards from Venezuelan migrants. The first day the new rule was instituted, Peru reported a more than 50% drop in the number of migrants. But hundreds more without passports entered the country by seeking asylum. Similar regulations were introduced in Ecuador, only to be overturned by a court ruling. Brazil's northern state of Roraima has also had its attempt to close the border with Venezuela thrown out by a judge. Violence erupted in Pacaraima last week when local residents attacked makeshift camps housing Venezuelan migrants. The camps were burned down and the occupants temporarily fled back across the border. Despite the violence, the number of Venezuelans crossing daily into Brazil has continued to rise. Foreign ministers from Ecuador, Colombia and possibly Peru and Brazil are expected to meet and discuss Venezuelan migration in Ecuador next week, after top immigration officials met at an earlier summit in Colombia's capital Bogota. Many are blaming Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his socialist government for the dire state the nation is in and the exodus of its citizens. He blames \"imperialists\" - the US and Europe - for waging \"economic war\" against Venezuela and imposing sanctions on many members of his government. The head of Venezuela's constituent assembly suggested the country's escalating migration crisis was being staged to make the government look bad. \"Doesn't it strike you as suspicious there are photos of [these people] walking along the roadside in Peru, walking along the roadside in Ecuador, walking along the roadside in Colombia,\" said Diosdado Cabello, according to local media. \"It's as if it was: 'Lights, camera, action!' It's a campaign against our country,\" Mr Cabello said last week. On Tuesday, Venezuelan state media reported 89 citizens had been repatriated from Peru after being exploited there. Critics however called the move a publicity stunt.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1218, "answer_end": 2038, "text": "Venezuela is in its fourth year of an economic crisis, brought on by a crash in oil prices in 2014. Four in five Venezuelans live in poverty, and people queue for hours to buy food while others are dying from a lack of medicine. This was compounded by Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro's decision in August to issue a new currency to manage the country's runaway inflation - a move that caused widespread confusion. Some 2.3 million citizens have fled the country since 2014, sparking the worst migration crisis in Latin American history, according to the United Nations. Regional tensions have been stoked, as neighbouring countries struggle to accommodate the exodus of Venezuelans. The UN's migration agency said last week Venezuela is heading for the same refugee \"crisis moment\" seen in the Mediterranean in 2015."}], "question": "What is happening in Venezuela?", "id": "870_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2039, "answer_end": 3458, "text": "There are more than a million Venezuelans in Colombia, more than half a million in Ecuador, more than 400,000 in Peru and some 60,000 in Brazil. Brazil has not said how many of its armed forces will be sent to police the border this week. One minister told journalists that troops were already in place, while another warned Brazil \"needs to discipline\" the influx of migrants. This month, Peru began tightening its border by requiring passports instead of national ID cards from Venezuelan migrants. The first day the new rule was instituted, Peru reported a more than 50% drop in the number of migrants. But hundreds more without passports entered the country by seeking asylum. Similar regulations were introduced in Ecuador, only to be overturned by a court ruling. Brazil's northern state of Roraima has also had its attempt to close the border with Venezuela thrown out by a judge. Violence erupted in Pacaraima last week when local residents attacked makeshift camps housing Venezuelan migrants. The camps were burned down and the occupants temporarily fled back across the border. Despite the violence, the number of Venezuelans crossing daily into Brazil has continued to rise. Foreign ministers from Ecuador, Colombia and possibly Peru and Brazil are expected to meet and discuss Venezuelan migration in Ecuador next week, after top immigration officials met at an earlier summit in Colombia's capital Bogota."}], "question": "What are neighbouring countries doing?", "id": "870_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3459, "answer_end": 4419, "text": "Many are blaming Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his socialist government for the dire state the nation is in and the exodus of its citizens. He blames \"imperialists\" - the US and Europe - for waging \"economic war\" against Venezuela and imposing sanctions on many members of his government. The head of Venezuela's constituent assembly suggested the country's escalating migration crisis was being staged to make the government look bad. \"Doesn't it strike you as suspicious there are photos of [these people] walking along the roadside in Peru, walking along the roadside in Ecuador, walking along the roadside in Colombia,\" said Diosdado Cabello, according to local media. \"It's as if it was: 'Lights, camera, action!' It's a campaign against our country,\" Mr Cabello said last week. On Tuesday, Venezuelan state media reported 89 citizens had been repatriated from Peru after being exploited there. Critics however called the move a publicity stunt."}], "question": "Where is Venezuela in all this?", "id": "870_2"}]}]}, {"title": "China 'building runway in disputed South China Sea island'", "date": "17 April 2015", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Satellite images show China is making progress on building an airstrip on a reef in disputed territory in the South China Sea, a report says. The images, published by IHS Jane's Defence Weekly, show construction work on reclaimed land on Fiery Cross Reef in the Spratly Islands. The landmass could accommodate a runway about 3,000m long, the report said. China's land reclamation work in the area has raised concern around the Asia-Pacific region. China claims almost the whole of the South China Sea, resulting in overlapping claims with several other Asian nations including Vietnam and the Philippines. They accuse China of illegally reclaiming land in contested areas to create artificial islands with facilities that could potentially be for military use. Images have emerged of work in multiple areas in the disputed Spratly islands. China says its work is legal and needed to safeguard its sovereignty. The report from IHS Jane's used images provided by Airbus Defence and Space in February and March. The later image, dated 23 March, showed a paved section of runway on the north-eastern side of Fiery Cross Reef, as well as paving and ground preparation of other sections of the runway. The 3,000m length, it said, \"would be well within the parameters of existing People's Liberation Army Air Force runways on mainland China, which vary in length from about 2,700m to 4,000m at most\". It also showed dredging to the south of the reef, in apparent work to improve the reef's port facilities. Additional images showed that China could be building a second air strip on Subi Reef, also in the Spratlys and only 25km from an island with a Filipino civilian population, by creating and then linking three artificial islands, the report said. China's neighbours are concerned that Beijing is working to entrench a military presence in the South China Sea to reinforce - and make permanent - its claims. The Philippines said last year it believed China was building an airstrip in Johnson South Reef, in the Spratlys - the extent of work there is not clear. And earlier this week, another report citing satellite images said China was expanding an airstrip on Woody Island, much further north in the disputed Paracel Islands which Vietnam claims. President Barack Obama has said the US fears China is using \"sheer size and muscle\" to strong-arm smaller nations over the South China Sea. A US State Department spokesman says the US does \"not believe that large-scale land reclamation with the intent to militarise outposts on disputed land features is consistent with the region's desire for peace and stability\". But China insists it is acting within its rights. \"China's work on the [Spratly] islands mostly serves civil purposes apart from meeting the needs of military defence. China is aiming to provide shelter, aid in navigation, weather forecasts and fishery assistance to ships of various countries passing through the sea,\" a commentary carried prominently by Xinhua news agency on Thursday read.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 910, "answer_end": 3007, "text": "The report from IHS Jane's used images provided by Airbus Defence and Space in February and March. The later image, dated 23 March, showed a paved section of runway on the north-eastern side of Fiery Cross Reef, as well as paving and ground preparation of other sections of the runway. The 3,000m length, it said, \"would be well within the parameters of existing People's Liberation Army Air Force runways on mainland China, which vary in length from about 2,700m to 4,000m at most\". It also showed dredging to the south of the reef, in apparent work to improve the reef's port facilities. Additional images showed that China could be building a second air strip on Subi Reef, also in the Spratlys and only 25km from an island with a Filipino civilian population, by creating and then linking three artificial islands, the report said. China's neighbours are concerned that Beijing is working to entrench a military presence in the South China Sea to reinforce - and make permanent - its claims. The Philippines said last year it believed China was building an airstrip in Johnson South Reef, in the Spratlys - the extent of work there is not clear. And earlier this week, another report citing satellite images said China was expanding an airstrip on Woody Island, much further north in the disputed Paracel Islands which Vietnam claims. President Barack Obama has said the US fears China is using \"sheer size and muscle\" to strong-arm smaller nations over the South China Sea. A US State Department spokesman says the US does \"not believe that large-scale land reclamation with the intent to militarise outposts on disputed land features is consistent with the region's desire for peace and stability\". But China insists it is acting within its rights. \"China's work on the [Spratly] islands mostly serves civil purposes apart from meeting the needs of military defence. China is aiming to provide shelter, aid in navigation, weather forecasts and fishery assistance to ships of various countries passing through the sea,\" a commentary carried prominently by Xinhua news agency on Thursday read."}], "question": "Military use?", "id": "871_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Australia bushfires north of Sydney 'too big to put out'", "date": "7 December 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "A \"mega blaze\" raging across a 60km (37 mile) front north-west of Sydney cannot currently be put out, Australian fire officials have warned. The fire across almost 300,000 hectares (1,150 sq miles) is an hour's drive from the nation's most-populous city. People who cannot defend their property from approaching fires have been told they should leave immediately. Since October, bushfires have killed six people and destroyed more than 700 homes across Australia. The severity of the blazes so early in the fire season has caused alarm, and prompted calls for greater action to tackle climate change. Fires have also raged across Queensland, Victoria, South Australia, Western Australia and Tasmania. Several fires have combined to form the Gospers Mountain mega blaze, which is more than 283,000 ha in size. At 12:00 local time Saturday (01:00 GMT) 95 fires were burning, with half yet to be contained,  the New South Wales Rural Fire Service (NSW RFS) tweeted. It said that more than 2,200 firefighters \"were out in the field\". At one point on Friday, nine fires had been raised to emergency level warnings, although these decreased markedly amid a brief respite in conditions later in the day. The blazes north of Sydney were sending black fumes across the city, causing a rise in medical problems. NSW RFS deputy commissioner, Rob Rogers told national broadcaster ABC: \"We cannot stop these fires, they will just keep burning until conditions ease, and then we'll try to do what we can to contain them.\" He said the 60km stretch from Hawkesbury to Singleton was \"just fire that whole way\". Video footage from the Orangeville area showed firefighters running from a wall of fire and the Walkabout Wildlife Park has evacuated hundreds of animals. Fire officials in Ingleburn warned: \"If your property is not prepared for the bushfire season and you're not sure you are able or capable of defending your property if a fire approaches you need to leave straight away.\" Firefighters from Canada were briefed in Sydney on Friday and will be deployed across New South Wales over the weekend, to be joined by teams from the US. There was some respite overnight but another dry and windy day is predicted. \"They were able to strengthen a number of containment lines [overnight]... in preparation of some of those challenging conditions we are expecting this afternoon,\" RFS Chief Superintendent Ben Millington told the ABC. But he added: \"We're not out of the woods yet.\" Tuesday is the next big concern, with temperatures inland of Sydney likely to reach above 40C (104F). Some firefighters have expressed concern that volunteer numbers might not be enough and that there are inadequate water supplies. The Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) said that \"some fires were too big to put out\" while the NSW RFS said late Friday the blazes would only be extinguished \"when we get good rain\". Sydney may be blanketed in smoke for weeks, if not months. It hasn't come close to the fatalities of 2009, when nearly 200 people died, but the scale of the damage has been huge. More than 1.6 million hectares of land have burned in New South Wales alone. The season has hit earlier than normal and has been exacerbated by drought conditions. RFS Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons said: \"There is an absolute lack of moisture in the soil, a lack of moisture in the vegetation... you are seeing fires started very easily and they are spreading extremely quickly, and they are burning ridiculously intensely.\" The BOM says that climate change has led to an increase in extreme heat events and raised the severity of other natural disasters, such as drought. Last week, the bureau noted that NSW had endured its driest spring season on record. It also warned that Australia's coming summer was predicted to bring similar conditions to last year's - the nation's hottest summer on record. The government has been criticised over its efforts to address climate change. PM Scott Morrison has dismissed accusations linking the crisis to his government's policies. Hundreds of bushfire survivors and farmers converged on the nation's capital, Canberra, this week in protest. One woman displayed the charred remains of her home outside Parliament - on which she had written: \"Morrison, your climate crisis destroyed my home.\" Have you been affected by the Australian bushfires? If it is safe to do so get in touch with us at haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. 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 yourpics@bbc.co.uk - Text an SMS or MMS to 61124 or +44 7624 800 100", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 701, "answer_end": 2123, "text": "Several fires have combined to form the Gospers Mountain mega blaze, which is more than 283,000 ha in size. At 12:00 local time Saturday (01:00 GMT) 95 fires were burning, with half yet to be contained,  the New South Wales Rural Fire Service (NSW RFS) tweeted. It said that more than 2,200 firefighters \"were out in the field\". At one point on Friday, nine fires had been raised to emergency level warnings, although these decreased markedly amid a brief respite in conditions later in the day. The blazes north of Sydney were sending black fumes across the city, causing a rise in medical problems. NSW RFS deputy commissioner, Rob Rogers told national broadcaster ABC: \"We cannot stop these fires, they will just keep burning until conditions ease, and then we'll try to do what we can to contain them.\" He said the 60km stretch from Hawkesbury to Singleton was \"just fire that whole way\". Video footage from the Orangeville area showed firefighters running from a wall of fire and the Walkabout Wildlife Park has evacuated hundreds of animals. Fire officials in Ingleburn warned: \"If your property is not prepared for the bushfire season and you're not sure you are able or capable of defending your property if a fire approaches you need to leave straight away.\" Firefighters from Canada were briefed in Sydney on Friday and will be deployed across New South Wales over the weekend, to be joined by teams from the US."}], "question": "What's the latest on the ground?", "id": "872_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2124, "answer_end": 2934, "text": "There was some respite overnight but another dry and windy day is predicted. \"They were able to strengthen a number of containment lines [overnight]... in preparation of some of those challenging conditions we are expecting this afternoon,\" RFS Chief Superintendent Ben Millington told the ABC. But he added: \"We're not out of the woods yet.\" Tuesday is the next big concern, with temperatures inland of Sydney likely to reach above 40C (104F). Some firefighters have expressed concern that volunteer numbers might not be enough and that there are inadequate water supplies. The Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) said that \"some fires were too big to put out\" while the NSW RFS said late Friday the blazes would only be extinguished \"when we get good rain\". Sydney may be blanketed in smoke for weeks, if not months."}], "question": "What's the outlook?", "id": "872_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2935, "answer_end": 3480, "text": "It hasn't come close to the fatalities of 2009, when nearly 200 people died, but the scale of the damage has been huge. More than 1.6 million hectares of land have burned in New South Wales alone. The season has hit earlier than normal and has been exacerbated by drought conditions. RFS Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons said: \"There is an absolute lack of moisture in the soil, a lack of moisture in the vegetation... you are seeing fires started very easily and they are spreading extremely quickly, and they are burning ridiculously intensely.\""}], "question": "Is this fire season particularly bad?", "id": "872_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3481, "answer_end": 4289, "text": "The BOM says that climate change has led to an increase in extreme heat events and raised the severity of other natural disasters, such as drought. Last week, the bureau noted that NSW had endured its driest spring season on record. It also warned that Australia's coming summer was predicted to bring similar conditions to last year's - the nation's hottest summer on record. The government has been criticised over its efforts to address climate change. PM Scott Morrison has dismissed accusations linking the crisis to his government's policies. Hundreds of bushfire survivors and farmers converged on the nation's capital, Canberra, this week in protest. One woman displayed the charred remains of her home outside Parliament - on which she had written: \"Morrison, your climate crisis destroyed my home.\""}], "question": "Is climate change to blame?", "id": "872_3"}]}]}, {"title": "Catalans declare independence as Madrid imposes direct rule", "date": "27 October 2017", "paragraphs": [{"context": "The Catalan regional parliament has voted to declare independence from Spain, while the Spanish parliament has approved direct rule over the region. Catalan MPs easily approved the move amid an opposition boycott. Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy had told senators direct rule was needed to return \"law, democracy and stability\" to Catalonia. The crisis began earlier this month when Catalonia held a controversial referendum on independence. The Catalan government said that of the 43% of potential voters who took part, 90% were in favour of independence. But Spain's Constitutional Court had ruled the vote illegal. A motion declaring independence was approved on Friday with 70 in favour, 10 against, and two abstentions in the 135-seat chamber. The measure calls for the transfer of legal powers from Spain to an independent Catalonia. But the Spanish Constitutional Court is likely to declare it illegal, while the US, UK, Germany and France all expressed support for Spanish unity. European Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker said the EU \"doesn't need any more cracks, more splits\". Catalan President Carles Puigdemont has called for supporters to \"maintain the momentum\" in a peaceful manner. Crowds have been celebrating the declaration of independence and Spanish flags have been removed from some regional government buildings in Catalonia. By James Reynolds in Barcelona The pro-independence crowd outside the parliament followed the session vote by vote. Some had their mobile phones on speaker, to allow listeners at the other end a taste of the atmosphere. The crowd met every Yes vote with a cheer - and every No with a boo. At the end, there was a huge cheer. \"We're finally free,\" a woman next to me said, as she began to cry. \"We are oppressed here. We're fighting for our freedom.\" But around the corner, away from the demonstration, views were different. \"It's disastrous,\" said one man. \"It's the result of an extended manipulation which does not reflect the will of the Catalan people.\" Soon after the vote at the regional parliament, the Senate - Spain's upper house - made the unprecedented step of approving measures allowing the Spanish government to impose direct rule over Catalonia. There were 214 votes in favour and 47 against. Urging calm, Mr Rajoy said: \"Spain is a serious country, it is a great nation and we are not prepared in any way to allow some people to liquidate our constitution.\" He is holding a cabinet meeting to decide what measures to take. It could include the firing of Catalan leaders, and the Spanish government taking control of the region's finances, police and publicly owned media. After the 1 October referendum, Mr Puigdemont signed a declaration of independence but delayed implementation to allow talks with the Spanish government. A deadline set by Madrid for him to clarify his intentions came and went, prompting Mr Rajoy to announce plans to impose direct rule. Catalonia is one of Spain's richest, most distinctive regions and enjoys a high degree of autonomy. But many Catalans feel they pay more to Madrid than they get back, and there are historical grievances too, in particular Catalonia's treatment under the dictatorship of General Franco. Catalans are divided on the question of independence - an opinion poll earlier this year said 41% were in favour and 49% were opposed to independence. Does Catalonia want to leave Spain?", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 623, "answer_end": 1357, "text": "A motion declaring independence was approved on Friday with 70 in favour, 10 against, and two abstentions in the 135-seat chamber. The measure calls for the transfer of legal powers from Spain to an independent Catalonia. But the Spanish Constitutional Court is likely to declare it illegal, while the US, UK, Germany and France all expressed support for Spanish unity. European Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker said the EU \"doesn't need any more cracks, more splits\". Catalan President Carles Puigdemont has called for supporters to \"maintain the momentum\" in a peaceful manner. Crowds have been celebrating the declaration of independence and Spanish flags have been removed from some regional government buildings in Catalonia."}], "question": "What happened in the Catalan parliament?", "id": "873_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2016, "answer_end": 2645, "text": "Soon after the vote at the regional parliament, the Senate - Spain's upper house - made the unprecedented step of approving measures allowing the Spanish government to impose direct rule over Catalonia. There were 214 votes in favour and 47 against. Urging calm, Mr Rajoy said: \"Spain is a serious country, it is a great nation and we are not prepared in any way to allow some people to liquidate our constitution.\" He is holding a cabinet meeting to decide what measures to take. It could include the firing of Catalan leaders, and the Spanish government taking control of the region's finances, police and publicly owned media."}], "question": "What will the Spanish government do next?", "id": "873_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2646, "answer_end": 3406, "text": "After the 1 October referendum, Mr Puigdemont signed a declaration of independence but delayed implementation to allow talks with the Spanish government. A deadline set by Madrid for him to clarify his intentions came and went, prompting Mr Rajoy to announce plans to impose direct rule. Catalonia is one of Spain's richest, most distinctive regions and enjoys a high degree of autonomy. But many Catalans feel they pay more to Madrid than they get back, and there are historical grievances too, in particular Catalonia's treatment under the dictatorship of General Franco. Catalans are divided on the question of independence - an opinion poll earlier this year said 41% were in favour and 49% were opposed to independence. Does Catalonia want to leave Spain?"}], "question": "How did we get here?", "id": "873_2"}]}]}, {"title": "Emanuela Orlandi search: Empty tombs fail to solve Vatican mystery", "date": "11 July 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Two tombs exhumed and opened after an anonymous tip-off in the search for an Italian teenager who went missing 36 years ago are empty, the Vatican says. The family of Emanuela Orlandi received a letter earlier this year suggesting the 15 year old's remains might be in the Vatican's Teutonic Cemetery. But a police search found no human remains in the tombs, the Vatican said. Not only did the tombs not contain Emanuela, they also did not contain two princesses thought to be buried there. \"No human remains or funeral urns were found,\" the Vatican said in a statement on Thursday. Ms Orlandi's family had hoped the Vatican graveyard held the key to a mystery that has gripped Italy since 1983. Inside the world's smallest state, the Teutonic Cemetery is easy to miss. The plot of land, located on the original site of the Emperor Nero circus, is tucked away behind high walls in the shadow of St Peter's Basilica. The cemetery is normally used as a burial ground for German-speaking members of Catholic institutions. Tourists aren't allowed along the path which leads towards the graveyard. The nearest you can get is a gate protected by a single Swiss Guard. If you crane your neck from this gate, you can just about make out the entrance to the cemetery in the distance. On 22 June 1983, Emanuela was on her way back home from a flute lesson. She was seen at a bus stop in the centre of Rome. Then, she simply vanished. No-one has seen her since. Decades of speculation have followed. Was she kidnapped and killed? If so, where is her body? Emanuela's family have had to chase endless leads and rumours. \"Many people tell me, just let it go, enjoy your life, don't think about it anymore,\" her older brother Pietro told the BBC. \"But I can't let go. I couldn't be at peace if this is not solved.\" Attention has always focused on the fact that Emanuela was the daughter of a Vatican City employee. Might this have something to do with her disappearance? In March 2019, the Orlandi family received an anonymous letter. It showed a picture of an angel above a tomb in the Vatican's Teutonic Cemetery. Was this a clue to where Emanuela was buried? The family knew that it had to approach the Vatican. But it had had no luck with its previous inquiries. \"For them, the case was closed,\" Pietro said. \"Under Pope Francis, the wall has become higher. I met him a few days after he was elected (in 2013), and he told me 'Emanuela is up in the sky'. \"I thought: OK, the Pope knows something. But then I made all types of requests to meet him again, to have an explanation. And he never wanted to meet me again.\" So there was no hotline to the Pope. The family made a general request to the Vatican to open the tomb at the Teutonic Cemetery. A Vatican City state tribunal then granted the request. \"For the first time the Vatican show that they're considering the possibility that there may have been internal responsibilities within the Vatican [for Emanuela's disappearance],\" insisted Pietro ahead of the exhumation. But the Vatican press office stressed that the police would simply investigate the possibility that Emanuela may have been buried in the cemetery. Her disappearance would not be investigated. That falls to Italian authorities outside the Vatican's jurisdiction. The Orlandi family was allowed to attend the exhumation process, along with the family members of those believe to be buried in the tombs. Before the tombs were opened, Pietro said he had to prepare himself. \"It would be anguishing for my mother [if Emanuela's remains are found]. She still lives inside the Vatican, only 200, 300 metres from that cemetery. To even think that she has been so close to my sister for so long without knowing it, it makes me feel horrible. \"In fact, I actually hope that Emanuela is not there.\" And that turned out to be the case. He told reporters that the two tombs had no trace of anything, neither of Emanuela nor or the two princesses, \"who theoretically should have been buried there\". Pietro still refuses to discard the remote chance that his sister is somehow still alive. He remembers the last day he ever saw her. \"She and I had a very close relationship. We both liked music, She was trying to teach me a Chopin piece, we only got through two pages and then she went missing. I hope one day she comes back to teach me the rest.\" One thought refuses to leave him. \"Last time we met was actually not a very nice memory,\" he recalls. \"We had a fight, because she had a music lesson. It was really hot, and I refused to go with her because I had something else going on. So she slammed the door and left, and that's the memory I have. \"I've often thought, what if I had actually gone with her?\"", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 696, "answer_end": 1274, "text": "Inside the world's smallest state, the Teutonic Cemetery is easy to miss. The plot of land, located on the original site of the Emperor Nero circus, is tucked away behind high walls in the shadow of St Peter's Basilica. The cemetery is normally used as a burial ground for German-speaking members of Catholic institutions. Tourists aren't allowed along the path which leads towards the graveyard. The nearest you can get is a gate protected by a single Swiss Guard. If you crane your neck from this gate, you can just about make out the entrance to the cemetery in the distance."}], "question": "What is the Teutonic Cemetery?", "id": "874_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1275, "answer_end": 1956, "text": "On 22 June 1983, Emanuela was on her way back home from a flute lesson. She was seen at a bus stop in the centre of Rome. Then, she simply vanished. No-one has seen her since. Decades of speculation have followed. Was she kidnapped and killed? If so, where is her body? Emanuela's family have had to chase endless leads and rumours. \"Many people tell me, just let it go, enjoy your life, don't think about it anymore,\" her older brother Pietro told the BBC. \"But I can't let go. I couldn't be at peace if this is not solved.\" Attention has always focused on the fact that Emanuela was the daughter of a Vatican City employee. Might this have something to do with her disappearance?"}], "question": "What happened to Emanuela?", "id": "874_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2792, "answer_end": 3998, "text": "\"For the first time the Vatican show that they're considering the possibility that there may have been internal responsibilities within the Vatican [for Emanuela's disappearance],\" insisted Pietro ahead of the exhumation. But the Vatican press office stressed that the police would simply investigate the possibility that Emanuela may have been buried in the cemetery. Her disappearance would not be investigated. That falls to Italian authorities outside the Vatican's jurisdiction. The Orlandi family was allowed to attend the exhumation process, along with the family members of those believe to be buried in the tombs. Before the tombs were opened, Pietro said he had to prepare himself. \"It would be anguishing for my mother [if Emanuela's remains are found]. She still lives inside the Vatican, only 200, 300 metres from that cemetery. To even think that she has been so close to my sister for so long without knowing it, it makes me feel horrible. \"In fact, I actually hope that Emanuela is not there.\" And that turned out to be the case. He told reporters that the two tombs had no trace of anything, neither of Emanuela nor or the two princesses, \"who theoretically should have been buried there\"."}], "question": "What did the Vatican agree to do?", "id": "874_2"}]}]}, {"title": "Russia protests: Opposition leader Alexei Navalny sentenced", "date": "12 June 2017", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Russia's opposition leader Alexei Navalny has been sentenced to 30 days' administrative arrest for repeatedly violating the law on staging rallies. He was detained at his home in Moscow earlier on Monday, ahead of anti-corruption demonstrations in Russia. Hundreds of people were held during the gatherings across the country. Riot police in central Moscow were picking protesters out of the crowd at random, a BBC correspondent at the demonstration has said. A court in Moscow announced its verdict late on Monday, rejecting demands by Alexei Navalny's defence lawyers to drop the case. The 41-year-old opposition leader later confirmed this in a tweet on his Twitter page (in Russian). Mr Navalny, who intends to stand for the Russian presidency next year, had been due to attend the unauthorised rally in the capital earlier on Monday. OVD-Info, an independent NGO, said that 825 people had been detained at the protest in the capital. Police in Moscow say about 5,000 took part in the demonstration there, Interfax news agency reports. OVD-Info also said that hundreds of people were held in St Petersburg. Russia's interior ministry says about 3,500 people attended the protest in the north-western city, and 500 were detained. This was a peculiar protest. At first it was hard to tell who was taking part. Tverskaya Street was full of families marking Russia Day with entertainers in historical costumes. Then thousands of protesters turned up. Huge numbers of riot police were right behind them. First they announced that the rally was illegal then the arrests began. We saw dozens of people plucked from the crowd - many of them young - and dragged roughly towards police buses. By calling people to an unauthorised rally, Alexei Navalny knew he was risking a confrontation. The police duly obliged. But people I spoke to said they knew the risk and still wanted their voices to be heard. Among other things, those voices chanted loudly: \"Putin, thief!\" and \"Russia will be free\". In a live broadcast by the Russian liberal TV channel, Dozhd, protesters in St Petersburg could be heard shouting \"shame\" as they were detained by police. Among those arrested was Maxim Reznik, the city's legislative assembly deputy. Prominent activist Daniil Ken said he was arrested as he left his home in St Petersburg. He urged people to join the rally at the city's Champ de Mars square. \"Go for me, please!\" he tweeted. He has since been released. Police had earlier detained several people at demonstrations in the cities of Vladivostok, Blagoveshchensk and Kazan. Mr Navalny called on Russians to take to the streets on Monday - Russia Day - to express their anger at alleged corruption at the highest levels. The anti-corruption campaigner uses YouTube, tweets and blogs to reach new audiences. A video posted in March accuses Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev of accumulating a vast private fortune. Mr Medvedev denies the claims. The video, which includes the accusation that the PM has a duck house on one of his properties, has been viewed nearly 23 million times. In a call for people to join him on Monday, Mr Navalny wrote: \"I want changes. I want to live in a modern democratic state and I want our taxes to be converted into roads, schools and hospitals, not into yachts, palaces and vineyards.\" Mr Navalny was earlier granted permission to hold a rally at Sakharov Avenue but changed the location - without permission -  on the eve of the demonstration to Tverskaya Street, near the Kremlin. The protest was called over government plans to demolish Soviet-era apartment blocks in the city. Permission was granted for demonstrations in 169 locations across the country, some of which were broadcast live on the Navalny Live YouTube channel. The protests coincided with a series of official events - including festivals, concerts and military enactments - taking place across the country to mark Russia Day, the national holiday dedicated to the 1990 declaration of sovereignty. Similar rallies led by Mr Navalny in March led to hundreds of arrests. Those protests were the largest since 2012, drawing thousands of people - including many teenagers - to rallies nationwide, angered by a report published by Mr Navalny that accused Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev of corruption.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 2561, "answer_end": 3307, "text": "Mr Navalny called on Russians to take to the streets on Monday - Russia Day - to express their anger at alleged corruption at the highest levels. The anti-corruption campaigner uses YouTube, tweets and blogs to reach new audiences. A video posted in March accuses Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev of accumulating a vast private fortune. Mr Medvedev denies the claims. The video, which includes the accusation that the PM has a duck house on one of his properties, has been viewed nearly 23 million times. In a call for people to join him on Monday, Mr Navalny wrote: \"I want changes. I want to live in a modern democratic state and I want our taxes to be converted into roads, schools and hospitals, not into yachts, palaces and vineyards.\""}], "question": "What are the protests about?", "id": "875_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Lake Victoria Tanzania ferry disaster: Divers hunt for survivors", "date": "21 September 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "At least 136 people have died after a ferry carrying hundreds of people capsized on Lake Victoria, Tanzania, officials say. Many are missing and it is feared that more than 200 people in total may have drowned. Rescue efforts resumed on Friday after being halted overnight. The MV Nyerere ferry overturned near Ukara island on its way from Bugorora. It is thought the overloaded vessel tipped over when crowds on board moved to one side as it docked. Rescue operations on Africa's biggest lake have involved police and army divers, as well as small private boats and local fishermen. The BBC's Aboubakar Famau in Tanzania says fear has gripped residents of the Mwanza region as they wait to hear the fate of relatives who travelled on the MV Nyerere on Thursday. \"I received a call telling me that I have lost my aunt, father and my younger brother,\" says Editha Josephat Magesa, a local resident. \"We are really saddened and urge the government to provide a new ferry because the old one was small and the population is big.\" Our reporter says the ferry's engines were recently replaced after local MP Joseph Mkundi complained about the previous ones. Local media say the ferry's official capacity was 100 people, but officials say the vessel was carrying more than 400 passengers when it capsized. It operates on a busy route, crossing eight times a day between the islands of Ukara and Ukwerewe, which are close to Tanzania's second-largest city of Mwanza. The ferry was said to have been particularly busy because it was market day in Bugorora, on Ukerewe island. The vessel was also carrying cargo, including bags of cement and maize, when it capsized around 50 metres from the shore. It is thought that many of the passengers would not have been able to swim. An official investigation will take place once rescue efforts to find survivors have ended. Tanzania's police chief Simon Sirro Mwanza, who has travelled to the area, confirmed the new death toll. So far, 40 people have been rescued and are in critical condition, according to Mwanza Regional Commissioner John Mongella. Local officials initially reported on Thursday that 100 people had been rescued. Exact figures, though, are yet to be confirmed - Reuters said the person who dispensed tickets for the journey also died, with the machine recording the data lost. - With a surface area greater than Switzerland, Lake Victoria is the world's second-biggest lake and the largest in Africa - Shared by Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania, some 30 million people depend on its resources - Challenges include pollution and falling water levels - biodiversity in Lake Victoria has dropped by 50% since the 1980s - English colonialist John Hanning Speke named it after Britain's Queen Victoria when he travelled there in 1858 - Some have called for the lake's name to be changed - proposals include its Luganda-language name Nalubaale, and Lake Jumuiya which means \"togetherness\" in Swahili Tanzania has seen a number of nautical disasters, with overcrowding often playing a role. In 2012, at least 145 people died when a packed ferry sank while transporting people to the island of Zanzibar in the Indian Ocean. The year before, almost 200 people died in another major incident off the coast of Zanzibar. Hundreds survived, some found clinging to mattresses and fridges. In 1996, more than 800 people died when the MV Bukoba capsized on Lake Victoria. It was one of the the worst ferry disasters of the last century.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1153, "answer_end": 1857, "text": "Local media say the ferry's official capacity was 100 people, but officials say the vessel was carrying more than 400 passengers when it capsized. It operates on a busy route, crossing eight times a day between the islands of Ukara and Ukwerewe, which are close to Tanzania's second-largest city of Mwanza. The ferry was said to have been particularly busy because it was market day in Bugorora, on Ukerewe island. The vessel was also carrying cargo, including bags of cement and maize, when it capsized around 50 metres from the shore. It is thought that many of the passengers would not have been able to swim. An official investigation will take place once rescue efforts to find survivors have ended."}], "question": "How did this happen?", "id": "876_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1858, "answer_end": 2331, "text": "Tanzania's police chief Simon Sirro Mwanza, who has travelled to the area, confirmed the new death toll. So far, 40 people have been rescued and are in critical condition, according to Mwanza Regional Commissioner John Mongella. Local officials initially reported on Thursday that 100 people had been rescued. Exact figures, though, are yet to be confirmed - Reuters said the person who dispensed tickets for the journey also died, with the machine recording the data lost."}], "question": "Has anyone been rescued?", "id": "876_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2943, "answer_end": 3469, "text": "Tanzania has seen a number of nautical disasters, with overcrowding often playing a role. In 2012, at least 145 people died when a packed ferry sank while transporting people to the island of Zanzibar in the Indian Ocean. The year before, almost 200 people died in another major incident off the coast of Zanzibar. Hundreds survived, some found clinging to mattresses and fridges. In 1996, more than 800 people died when the MV Bukoba capsized on Lake Victoria. It was one of the the worst ferry disasters of the last century."}], "question": "Has anything like this happened before?", "id": "876_2"}]}]}, {"title": "Trump-Putin: Did dinner chat break diplomatic protocol?", "date": "19 July 2017", "paragraphs": [{"context": "US President Donald Trump and Russia's President Vladimir Putin had a previously undisclosed conversation at a dinner of world leaders in Germany earlier this month. The face-to-face came after a lengthy formal meeting earlier in the day that was the focus of much attention across the globe. It remains unclear what was discussed. Journalists were not there and the pair spoke alone except for Mr Putin's interpreter, though they did remain in view of others. According to US media, Mr Trump left his own seat at the table and moved next to Mr Putin, who had been seated next to Melania Trump. Whether they talked at length for an hour, as reports say, or merely had a brief conversation, as the White House attests - the revelation has raised fresh scrutiny of a relationship that never seems to be out of the media glare. But what is the diplomatic protocol at such events, and is what happened really so exceptional? Sir Andrew Wood, a former British ambassador to Russia, says it is not \"terribly unusual\" for one leader to approach another for a discussion at such a dinner, although they are usually \"quite formal affairs\". But what does stand out is Mr Trump having relied on Mr Putin's interpreter, unless it was, as the White House argues, just a purely friendly and routine exchange as the US president made his way around the room. Mr Trump, lacking diplomatic experience or perhaps simply not caring about the optics, may have acted \"on a foolish whim\" to approach Mr Putin, Sir Andrew says. The White House says that Mr Trump only had a Japanese-speaking interpreter present because he was seated next to Akie Abe, the wife of Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. Sir Andrew adds that the fact that a Russian-speaking interpreter was not waiting in another room suggests the discussion was not \"pre-planned\". Michael McFaul, who served as US ambassador to Russia from 2012-2014 and was on President Barack Obama's National Security Council before that, said on Twitter that Mr Obama and then Russian President Dmitry Medvedev had once met without an American interpreter during a \"short pullaside\" at a 2010 Nato Summit in Portugal. Still, analysts say that given that Mr Trump and Mr Putin's earlier meeting at the G20 had attracted so much attention - with differing accounts of exactly what was said - and the ongoing US investigations into possible collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia, any discussion between the pair without US aides present was bound to lead to fevered speculation. Vladimir Putin is, after all \"not above being economical with the truth, and nor for that matter is Mr Trump,\" says Sir Andrew, now an associate fellow focused on Russia at think-tank Chatham House. \"I think it was unwise, if only because it gives rise to all this sort of questioning. And people aren't necessarily going to believe that Trump got whatever passed between them absolutely right, nor are they going to be sure that Putin would give a completely truthful account of it either.\" Another former senior UK diplomat, who declined to be named, agreed that under normal circumstances - without the shadow of investigations into Russian connections hanging over Mr Trump - a short discussion between two leaders at a dinner would not be seen as out of place. And they would not necessarily disclose it to the press. \"It does happen that people go off and they have these little side conversations,\" he says. \"And it does happen sometimes that you are in a format where there is not a note taker. And it does happen sometimes that you're in a format where the only interpreter you have is someone else's interpreter because your interpreter doesn't do the right language.\" But what would happen in the UK government, he says, is that immediately after the discussion, a senior official would ask the prime minister exactly what was said and create a record of it. \"I think what is kind of dangerous is if that sort of thing doesn't happen and I suspect it doesn't happen with Donald Trump because he doesn't operate in that way.\" He added that if the talk had really lasted an hour - as Ian Bremmer of the Eurasia Group consultancy, who first reported the undisclosed discussion, says - it would be \"very odd\" in the context of a formal leaders' dinner to \"leave your place at the table\" for that amount of time \"to go and talk to someone because you want to talk to him\". And of course, that is not accounting for the fact that President Trump chose to go and talk to Mr Putin specifically when surrounded by other leaders, including those of key allies, he said. Judge me on four things, said Trump. So we did White House officials say President Trump spoke with \"many leaders\" and a senior European official working for an unidentified government represented at the dinner also told the Washington Post he did not regard the face-to-face with Mr Putin as \"a sensation\". White House officials have also pointed to the fact that Mr Trump has met other world leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, without aides in the room. But Mr Bremmer of the Eurasia Group says that G20 leaders were surprised by what had happened. \"I know a lot of people in that group, and many of them - including all of America's principal allies - they found it remarkable, they were concerned by it, it was noteworthy and so it got out,\" he told MSNBC. He said Mr Trump and Mr Putin had had an \"animated\" and \"extremely friendly\" discussion in front of other leaders, though they could not be directly heard.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 3006, "answer_end": 5559, "text": "Another former senior UK diplomat, who declined to be named, agreed that under normal circumstances - without the shadow of investigations into Russian connections hanging over Mr Trump - a short discussion between two leaders at a dinner would not be seen as out of place. And they would not necessarily disclose it to the press. \"It does happen that people go off and they have these little side conversations,\" he says. \"And it does happen sometimes that you are in a format where there is not a note taker. And it does happen sometimes that you're in a format where the only interpreter you have is someone else's interpreter because your interpreter doesn't do the right language.\" But what would happen in the UK government, he says, is that immediately after the discussion, a senior official would ask the prime minister exactly what was said and create a record of it. \"I think what is kind of dangerous is if that sort of thing doesn't happen and I suspect it doesn't happen with Donald Trump because he doesn't operate in that way.\" He added that if the talk had really lasted an hour - as Ian Bremmer of the Eurasia Group consultancy, who first reported the undisclosed discussion, says - it would be \"very odd\" in the context of a formal leaders' dinner to \"leave your place at the table\" for that amount of time \"to go and talk to someone because you want to talk to him\". And of course, that is not accounting for the fact that President Trump chose to go and talk to Mr Putin specifically when surrounded by other leaders, including those of key allies, he said. Judge me on four things, said Trump. So we did White House officials say President Trump spoke with \"many leaders\" and a senior European official working for an unidentified government represented at the dinner also told the Washington Post he did not regard the face-to-face with Mr Putin as \"a sensation\". White House officials have also pointed to the fact that Mr Trump has met other world leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, without aides in the room. But Mr Bremmer of the Eurasia Group says that G20 leaders were surprised by what had happened. \"I know a lot of people in that group, and many of them - including all of America's principal allies - they found it remarkable, they were concerned by it, it was noteworthy and so it got out,\" he told MSNBC. He said Mr Trump and Mr Putin had had an \"animated\" and \"extremely friendly\" discussion in front of other leaders, though they could not be directly heard."}], "question": "Was a record kept?", "id": "877_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Ranil Wickremesinghe: Sri Lanka reinstates ousted prime minister", "date": "16 December 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Sri Lanka's ousted Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has been sworn into office again, two months after being removed by the president. Mr Wickremesinghe's supporters set off fire crackers as the ceremony took place behind closed doors. His surprise sacking by President Maithripala Sirisena plunged Sri Lanka into a political crisis. Mr Wickremesinghe was replaced by a former president and ally of Mr Sirisena, Mahinda Rajapaksa. But Mr Rajapaksa was unable to command a parliamentary majority and resigned on Saturday. Journalists were not allowed to attend Sunday's swearing-in ceremony in President Sirisena's office but a picture was tweeted by MP Harsha de Silva. \"We thank the citizens of the country who fought the illegal seizure of power and ensured that democracy was restored,\" Mr Wickremesinghe's United National Party (UNP) posted on Twitter. Mr Wickremesinghe's spokesman said a new cabinet would be formed in the coming days. Sri Lanka had faced a government shutdown as the power struggle took hold, with parliament failing to approve a budget for 2019. President Sirisena was once a party ally of Mr Rajapaksa, and served in his government. But in 2015, he teamed up with Ranil Wickremesinghe to defeat him in an election and the pair went on to form a coalition government. However the relationship turned sour and Mr Sirisena in October turned on Mr Wickremesinghe, sacking him in favour of Mr Rajapaksa. Throughout the crisis, Mr Wickremesinghe always maintained he was the rightful prime minister. On Thursday, Sri Lanka's Supreme Court ruled that President Sirisena had acted illegally in November by dissolving parliament and calling snap polls. The crisis, which has provoked brawls in parliament and sparked large protests, has been closely watched by regional power India, as well as the US, China and the European Union.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1074, "answer_end": 1851, "text": "President Sirisena was once a party ally of Mr Rajapaksa, and served in his government. But in 2015, he teamed up with Ranil Wickremesinghe to defeat him in an election and the pair went on to form a coalition government. However the relationship turned sour and Mr Sirisena in October turned on Mr Wickremesinghe, sacking him in favour of Mr Rajapaksa. Throughout the crisis, Mr Wickremesinghe always maintained he was the rightful prime minister. On Thursday, Sri Lanka's Supreme Court ruled that President Sirisena had acted illegally in November by dissolving parliament and calling snap polls. The crisis, which has provoked brawls in parliament and sparked large protests, has been closely watched by regional power India, as well as the US, China and the European Union."}], "question": "What led to the crisis?", "id": "878_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Iran nuclear deal: US rejects EU plea for sanctions exemption", "date": "16 July 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "The US has rejected pleas from the EU to grant exemptions to European firms from the sanctions on Iran that will start to be reinstated next month. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin wrote in a letter that they wanted to exert \"unprecedented\" pressure on Tehran. Waivers will only be given on national security or humanitarian grounds. President Donald Trump ordered that the sanctions be re-imposed in May after abandoning a nuclear deal with Iran. The UK, France and Germany - which were also parties to the 2015 accord, along with Russia and China - pledged to continue abiding by their commitments. They said they would work on measures to counter the effects of the sanctions, but major European companies like Peugeot and Total have since cut back their involvement in Iran in order not to risk their business prospects in the US. Iran has said it will stay in the deal if it still receives the economic benefits. The accord - former President Barack Obama's signature foreign policy achievement - saw Iran limit its nuclear activities in exchange for sanctions relief. Mr Obama and his European allies insisted that it would prevent Iran from developing a nuclear weapon and that the world would be safer as a result. But Mr Trump said it was a \"horrible, one-sided deal that should have never, ever been made\". He declared that its so-called \"sunset clauses\" - under which the limits on Iran's nuclear programme will start to expire - were unacceptable; that it did not deal with Iran's ballistic missile programme; and that it failed to stop Iran's \"malign behaviour\" in neighbouring countries. Mr Pompeo subsequently set out 12 requirements for a new nuclear accord with Iran and the lifting of US sanctions, including ending uranium enrichment and the development of ballistic missiles. The first tranche of US sanctions will take effect on 6 August. They will target Iran's automotive sector, trade in gold and in other key metals. The remaining sanctions will snap back on 4 November, targeting Iran's energy sector and petroleum-based transactions, and transactions with the Central Bank of Iran. Some of Europe's biggest firms rushed to do business with Iran after the nuclear deal was implemented two-and-a-half years ago. In 2017, EU exports to Iran (goods and services) totalled EUR10.8bn (PS9.5bn; $12.9bn), and imports from Iran were worth EUR10.1bn. Last month, ministers from the UK, France and Germany wrote a letter to Mr Pompeo and Mr Mnuchin saying that persevering with the existing nuclear deal was the \"best basis on which to engage Iran\" and address President Trump's concerns. The ministers warned against taking actions that could prevent EU member states from continuing to abide by their commitments under the nuclear deal. That included imposing \"secondary sanctions\" on European companies and individuals doing business in Iran, particularly those involved in the pharmaceutical, healthcare, energy, automotive, civil aviation and banking sectors. Mr Pompeo and Mr Mnuchin formally rejected the request for exemptions in a letter to European ministers that was leaked to the media on Sunday night. They wrote that the US intended to maintain sanctions on Iran until it saw a \"tangible, demonstrable and sustained shift in the policies we have enumerated\", officials told NBC News. \"We will seek to provide unprecedented financial pressure on the Iranian regime,\" they added, noting that they were \"not in a position to make exceptions to this policy except in very specific circumstances\". US officials have also put pressure on other countries to stop importing Iranian crude oil from November, and urged Saudi Arabia to increase its exports to cover the loss and prevent major market disruption.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 954, "answer_end": 2144, "text": "The accord - former President Barack Obama's signature foreign policy achievement - saw Iran limit its nuclear activities in exchange for sanctions relief. Mr Obama and his European allies insisted that it would prevent Iran from developing a nuclear weapon and that the world would be safer as a result. But Mr Trump said it was a \"horrible, one-sided deal that should have never, ever been made\". He declared that its so-called \"sunset clauses\" - under which the limits on Iran's nuclear programme will start to expire - were unacceptable; that it did not deal with Iran's ballistic missile programme; and that it failed to stop Iran's \"malign behaviour\" in neighbouring countries. Mr Pompeo subsequently set out 12 requirements for a new nuclear accord with Iran and the lifting of US sanctions, including ending uranium enrichment and the development of ballistic missiles. The first tranche of US sanctions will take effect on 6 August. They will target Iran's automotive sector, trade in gold and in other key metals. The remaining sanctions will snap back on 4 November, targeting Iran's energy sector and petroleum-based transactions, and transactions with the Central Bank of Iran."}], "question": "Why did the US abandon the nuclear deal?", "id": "879_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2145, "answer_end": 3017, "text": "Some of Europe's biggest firms rushed to do business with Iran after the nuclear deal was implemented two-and-a-half years ago. In 2017, EU exports to Iran (goods and services) totalled EUR10.8bn (PS9.5bn; $12.9bn), and imports from Iran were worth EUR10.1bn. Last month, ministers from the UK, France and Germany wrote a letter to Mr Pompeo and Mr Mnuchin saying that persevering with the existing nuclear deal was the \"best basis on which to engage Iran\" and address President Trump's concerns. The ministers warned against taking actions that could prevent EU member states from continuing to abide by their commitments under the nuclear deal. That included imposing \"secondary sanctions\" on European companies and individuals doing business in Iran, particularly those involved in the pharmaceutical, healthcare, energy, automotive, civil aviation and banking sectors."}], "question": "What did the European powers request?", "id": "879_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3018, "answer_end": 3767, "text": "Mr Pompeo and Mr Mnuchin formally rejected the request for exemptions in a letter to European ministers that was leaked to the media on Sunday night. They wrote that the US intended to maintain sanctions on Iran until it saw a \"tangible, demonstrable and sustained shift in the policies we have enumerated\", officials told NBC News. \"We will seek to provide unprecedented financial pressure on the Iranian regime,\" they added, noting that they were \"not in a position to make exceptions to this policy except in very specific circumstances\". US officials have also put pressure on other countries to stop importing Iranian crude oil from November, and urged Saudi Arabia to increase its exports to cover the loss and prevent major market disruption."}], "question": "How did the US officials respond?", "id": "879_2"}]}]}, {"title": "Burkina Faso church attack: Priest among six killed", "date": "12 May 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Gunmen have killed six people including a priest as Mass was being celebrated in a church in Dablo in northern Burkina Faso, officials say. The attackers, said to number between 20 and 30, then burned down the church. The town's mayor, Ousmane Zongo, said that there was panic as other buildings were burned down and a health centre looted. Jihadist violence has flared in Burkina Faso since 2016, and this is the third attack on a church in five weeks. It began at about 09:00 (GMT and local time), during Mass. The mayor of Dablo, Mr Zongo told the AFP news agency: \"Armed individuals burst into the Catholic church... They started firing as the congregation tried to flee. \"There is an atmosphere of panic in the town. People are holed up in their homes, nothing is going on. The shops and stores are closed. It's practically a ghost town,\" he said. Security sources told AFP that reinforcements were being sent from Barsalogho, some 45km (30 miles) to the south. A local journalist told the BBC those killed included church elders and that residents were angry that soldiers in a nearby base did not respond promptly. Islamist groups have been blamed for a number of attacks in the West African nation in recent years. Fighters affiliated to al-Qaeda and the Islamic State group as well as the local Ansarul Islam have been active in the region. Last month, attackers targeted a Protestant church in the town of Silgadji, killing at least six people And earlier in April, four people died when a Catholic church was attacked in a nearby village, the bishop of Dori in northern Burkina Faso told Vatican news agency Fides. Schools and teachers have also been targeted by the groups, who are opposed to Western education. On Friday, French special forces carried out a rescue mission in northern Burkina Faso, freeing four hostages. It is believed the four - two French citizens kidnapped in Benin, a South Korean and an American - were being driven to Mali to be handed over to the militant group, Katiba Macina. Two French soldiers died during the mission. Burkina Faso is among countries in the vast Sahel region battling Islamist insurgencies in the region. It formed a regional force, G5 Sahel, along with Niger, Chad, Mauritania and Mali to take on the militants. In January, PM Paul Kaba Thieba resigned amid growing pressure over a rise in kidnappings and jihadist attacks, and Christophe Joseph Marie Dabire was named his replacement. France, a former colonial ruler in the region, has some 4,500 troops in four nations carrying out a mission codenamed Barkhane to counter jihadists.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 454, "answer_end": 1121, "text": "It began at about 09:00 (GMT and local time), during Mass. The mayor of Dablo, Mr Zongo told the AFP news agency: \"Armed individuals burst into the Catholic church... They started firing as the congregation tried to flee. \"There is an atmosphere of panic in the town. People are holed up in their homes, nothing is going on. The shops and stores are closed. It's practically a ghost town,\" he said. Security sources told AFP that reinforcements were being sent from Barsalogho, some 45km (30 miles) to the south. A local journalist told the BBC those killed included church elders and that residents were angry that soldiers in a nearby base did not respond promptly."}], "question": "How did the attack unfold?", "id": "880_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1122, "answer_end": 2060, "text": "Islamist groups have been blamed for a number of attacks in the West African nation in recent years. Fighters affiliated to al-Qaeda and the Islamic State group as well as the local Ansarul Islam have been active in the region. Last month, attackers targeted a Protestant church in the town of Silgadji, killing at least six people And earlier in April, four people died when a Catholic church was attacked in a nearby village, the bishop of Dori in northern Burkina Faso told Vatican news agency Fides. Schools and teachers have also been targeted by the groups, who are opposed to Western education. On Friday, French special forces carried out a rescue mission in northern Burkina Faso, freeing four hostages. It is believed the four - two French citizens kidnapped in Benin, a South Korean and an American - were being driven to Mali to be handed over to the militant group, Katiba Macina. Two French soldiers died during the mission."}], "question": "Who could be behind the attack?", "id": "880_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2061, "answer_end": 2594, "text": "Burkina Faso is among countries in the vast Sahel region battling Islamist insurgencies in the region. It formed a regional force, G5 Sahel, along with Niger, Chad, Mauritania and Mali to take on the militants. In January, PM Paul Kaba Thieba resigned amid growing pressure over a rise in kidnappings and jihadist attacks, and Christophe Joseph Marie Dabire was named his replacement. France, a former colonial ruler in the region, has some 4,500 troops in four nations carrying out a mission codenamed Barkhane to counter jihadists."}], "question": "What's the wider picture?", "id": "880_2"}]}]}, {"title": "Ebola: Your questions answered", "date": "18 July 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "The latest Ebola outbreak, in the Democratic Republic of Congo, has been declared a \"public health emergency of international concern\" by the World Health Organization. This outbreak is the second biggest on record and has infected 2,500 people, of which more than 1,600 have died. The biggest outbreak was the epidemic that ravaged parts of West Africa from 2014 to 2016, killing more than 11,000 people. You sent us your questions about the virus, which BBC health and science correspondent James Gallagher has answered. Ebola was discovered in 1976, when there were two deadly outbreaks of the disease. One was in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the former Zaire, in a village near the Ebola river, hence the virus's name. However, exactly where Ebola comes from remains something of a mystery. People are not the \"natural hosts\" of Ebola. And in every outbreak, the virus has transferred to humans from another animal species. Fruit bats are a very likely culprit - but this has not been definitively confirmed. Mistrust is a massive problem. It stems from decades of conflict in the region eroding faith in local authorities and leading to widespread mistrust of foreigners. The motives of healthcare workers and their security escorts (needed because of the risk of violence) are questioned. And a survey, in The Lancet Infectious Diseases, suggests one in four people in DR Congo does not even believe Ebola is real. Rumours Ebola has been made up for financial gain (such as through organ trafficking) circulate. This is all dangerous because Ebola can be tackled only by working with the community. A third of deaths are in people's homes - where they risk spreading the disease - rather than in Ebola treatment centres. And tracing contacts of Ebola patients is impossible if people do not cooperate. Simply because the World Health Organization thinks restrictions could make things worse. It said it was essential to avoid \"punitive economic consequences\" of imposing trade and travel restrictions and it was necessary to protect people's livelihoods. \"It is also crucial that states do not use the public health emergency of international concern as an excuse to impose trade or travel restrictions, which would have a negative impact on the response and on the lives and livelihoods of people in the region,\" said Prof Robert Steffen, who chairs the WHO's Emergency Committee. Instead of closing borders, there is extensive screening to detect people who may have been infected with the disease. In the past week, more than 2.1 million screening tests (which involve a temperature test to detect fever) were conducted on major transport routes. - 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 One issue is the amount of vaccine available. Instead, a process called \"ring vaccination\" is used. If someone is diagnosed with Ebola, then everyone they have come into contact with, and, in turn, everyone they have come into contact with, is offered the Ebola vaccine. People at high risk - such as doctors and nurses treating patients - are also given the jab. If you're not one of the people above, then you can't. The vaccine still hasn't been commercially licensed, so it is being used on the front line of the outbreak in DR Congo only. It is best to check the current advice being issued by your government. The UK's Foreign and Commonwealth Office advises \"against all but essential travel\" to Goma. And it advises against all travel to some other parts of DR Congo. The first person to catch Ebola in an outbreak will have caught it through close contact with the blood, organs or other bodily fluids of infected animals. This could include fruit bats (potentially the natural reservoir of Ebola), chimpanzees, gorillas, monkeys, forest antelope or porcupines which can all be infected with and killed by Ebola. Preparing or eating infected bushmeat is a potential source of infection.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 3851, "answer_end": 4270, "text": "The first person to catch Ebola in an outbreak will have caught it through close contact with the blood, organs or other bodily fluids of infected animals. This could include fruit bats (potentially the natural reservoir of Ebola), chimpanzees, gorillas, monkeys, forest antelope or porcupines which can all be infected with and killed by Ebola. Preparing or eating infected bushmeat is a potential source of infection."}], "question": "Emily: Has it been disproven that the Ebola outbreak originated from eating bushmeat?", "id": "881_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Russia protests: Thousand arrests at Moscow rally", "date": "27 July 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Police in Moscow have detained more than 1,000 people at a rally, in one of the biggest crackdowns in years. Demonstrators were dragged away from the city hall as security forces used batons against the crowd. People were protesting against the exclusion of opposition candidates from local polls. The opposition say they were barred for political reasons. Some of the candidates banned from standing in the 8 September election had been detained earlier. Officials disqualified about 30 people, saying they had failed to collect enough valid signatures to stand. At least 1,074 arrests were made at the banned rally, officials say, while monitors reported 1,127 detentions. Moscow's Mayor, Sergei Sobyanin, has called the demonstration a \"security threat\", and promised to maintain public order. Anger is widespread among opposition supporters at the way the city is run and the ruling United Russia party. Opposition leader Alexei Navalny, a fierce critic of President Vladimir Putin, was jailed for 30 days on Wednesday after calling for Saturday's unapproved demonstration. Mr Putin was on a trip to the Baltic Sea on Saturday for a dive in a submersible. \"There are a lot of problems on Earth, so to diminish their amount one has to go up and deep down,\" he remarked. Last Saturday, more than 20,000 Russians took to the streets, demanding fair elections, and dozens were arrested. It is unclear how many people turned up for the new unauthorised rally on 27 July but the numbers seem to have been sharply down. According to police, about 3,500 people gathered, including about 700 journalists. Police in riot gear pushed back the crowd from barriers surrounding the mayor's office in central Moscow, hauling off detainees to police stations. A number of protesters could be seen bleeding while at least two members of the security forces reportedly received eye injuries from pepper spray. Oleg Boldyrev, BBC News, Moscow No -one was under any illusion that the large gathering would impress authorities into letting people express themselves peacefully. This rally went very much the same way others have done - arbitrary detentions, standoffs, crowds breaking off into the side streets. The question is whether the anger over not being able to nominate a candidate - even for lower-level, city elections - would galvanise Muscovites into bigger, sustained expressions of dissent. After all, there are lots of residents not happy with the way Moscow government and Mayor Sobyanin run the city, or respond to popular concerns. Certainly, the would-be candidates, most of them seasoned anti-Putin activists, are hoping that the resentment will linger. That is exactly why policy handlers in the Kremlin are desperate to put a lid on it. With both Mr Putin's ratings falling and the United Russia party deeply unpopular, chanting crowds in the capital may send a very powerful message to other regions preparing to hold their elections. Local elections usually attract little attention in Russia. The Moscow authority does not control the city's budget or choose key official appointments, and previous votes have passed without major protests or press interest. But this year some Muscovites are infuriated at what they see as brazen attempts to disqualify independent politicians from running. Candidates were asked to collect 5,000 signatures to stand. This limit was made even harder to match because a signature \"means volunteering one's personal information for the government's database of opposition supporters\", democracy activist Vladimir Kara-Murza wrote in the Washington Post. Many candidates managed to meet the threshold but the electoral commission ruled some signatures ineligible, saying they were unclear or the addresses provided were incomplete, and barred the candidates from taking part. Opposition groups say the authorities had no reason to rule them ineligible - claims that electoral officials denied. \"We have no reason to doubt our experts,\" commission member Dmitry Reut said, according to media reports. Mr Navalny, who addressed the crowds last Saturday, is not one of the candidates, although he stood in Moscow's mayoral elections in 2013 and won 27% of the vote in a result he disputed. Ella Pamfilova, the head of the electoral commission, said the protests would not change their decisions. \"It doesn't matter, not even a bit of it,\" she said, dismissing the demonstrations as \"political\". The authorities banned this Saturday's rally on the grounds that there were threats of violence against the commission. Police then raided the homes of several opposition politicians, and called them in more for questioning. Election candidate and opposition leader Dmitry Gudkov tweeted that the council had \"died under Putin\". \"The last illusion that we are able to participate legally in politics has disappeared.\" Some newspapers also denounced the raids. Novaya Gazeta ran the headline Moscow City Terror on Friday, while Vedomosti said authorities were using force to suppress the protest \"having failed to counter it with political means\". Russian government paper Rossiyskaya Gazeta, however, accused the opposition of \"blackmail\" and \"an unacceptable attitude to the statutes of law\". Political analyst Abbas Gallyamov told BBC Russian that the official response was designed to dissuade people from taking part. Any mass action would suggest the opposition had taken the initiative from the government. Some believe the demonstrations could actually benefit the local authorities by reducing turnout. \"Young opposition supporters will not come to the polls, while the older generation whom the authorities are counting on vote out of habit,\" Denis Volkov, an expert at independent think tank Levada Center, told the BBC. \"The authorities will orient themselves towards them.\"", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1273, "answer_end": 1895, "text": "Last Saturday, more than 20,000 Russians took to the streets, demanding fair elections, and dozens were arrested. It is unclear how many people turned up for the new unauthorised rally on 27 July but the numbers seem to have been sharply down. According to police, about 3,500 people gathered, including about 700 journalists. Police in riot gear pushed back the crowd from barriers surrounding the mayor's office in central Moscow, hauling off detainees to police stations. A number of protesters could be seen bleeding while at least two members of the security forces reportedly received eye injuries from pepper spray."}], "question": "What happened this Saturday?", "id": "882_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1896, "answer_end": 2940, "text": "Oleg Boldyrev, BBC News, Moscow No -one was under any illusion that the large gathering would impress authorities into letting people express themselves peacefully. This rally went very much the same way others have done - arbitrary detentions, standoffs, crowds breaking off into the side streets. The question is whether the anger over not being able to nominate a candidate - even for lower-level, city elections - would galvanise Muscovites into bigger, sustained expressions of dissent. After all, there are lots of residents not happy with the way Moscow government and Mayor Sobyanin run the city, or respond to popular concerns. Certainly, the would-be candidates, most of them seasoned anti-Putin activists, are hoping that the resentment will linger. That is exactly why policy handlers in the Kremlin are desperate to put a lid on it. With both Mr Putin's ratings falling and the United Russia party deeply unpopular, chanting crowds in the capital may send a very powerful message to other regions preparing to hold their elections."}], "question": "A powerful message to the regions?", "id": "882_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2941, "answer_end": 4655, "text": "Local elections usually attract little attention in Russia. The Moscow authority does not control the city's budget or choose key official appointments, and previous votes have passed without major protests or press interest. But this year some Muscovites are infuriated at what they see as brazen attempts to disqualify independent politicians from running. Candidates were asked to collect 5,000 signatures to stand. This limit was made even harder to match because a signature \"means volunteering one's personal information for the government's database of opposition supporters\", democracy activist Vladimir Kara-Murza wrote in the Washington Post. Many candidates managed to meet the threshold but the electoral commission ruled some signatures ineligible, saying they were unclear or the addresses provided were incomplete, and barred the candidates from taking part. Opposition groups say the authorities had no reason to rule them ineligible - claims that electoral officials denied. \"We have no reason to doubt our experts,\" commission member Dmitry Reut said, according to media reports. Mr Navalny, who addressed the crowds last Saturday, is not one of the candidates, although he stood in Moscow's mayoral elections in 2013 and won 27% of the vote in a result he disputed. Ella Pamfilova, the head of the electoral commission, said the protests would not change their decisions. \"It doesn't matter, not even a bit of it,\" she said, dismissing the demonstrations as \"political\". The authorities banned this Saturday's rally on the grounds that there were threats of violence against the commission. Police then raided the homes of several opposition politicians, and called them in more for questioning."}], "question": "How did we get here?", "id": "882_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 4656, "answer_end": 5816, "text": "Election candidate and opposition leader Dmitry Gudkov tweeted that the council had \"died under Putin\". \"The last illusion that we are able to participate legally in politics has disappeared.\" Some newspapers also denounced the raids. Novaya Gazeta ran the headline Moscow City Terror on Friday, while Vedomosti said authorities were using force to suppress the protest \"having failed to counter it with political means\". Russian government paper Rossiyskaya Gazeta, however, accused the opposition of \"blackmail\" and \"an unacceptable attitude to the statutes of law\". Political analyst Abbas Gallyamov told BBC Russian that the official response was designed to dissuade people from taking part. Any mass action would suggest the opposition had taken the initiative from the government. Some believe the demonstrations could actually benefit the local authorities by reducing turnout. \"Young opposition supporters will not come to the polls, while the older generation whom the authorities are counting on vote out of habit,\" Denis Volkov, an expert at independent think tank Levada Center, told the BBC. \"The authorities will orient themselves towards them.\""}], "question": "What's been the reaction?", "id": "882_3"}]}]}, {"title": "The big question at heart of Stormy Daniels saga", "date": "3 May 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "For the first time, President Donald Trump has admitted involvement in the six-figure payment of a porn actress who says they had an affair. This raises a very big question. His assertion that he had no knowledge of any payment to secure Stormy Daniels' silence seems, to borrow a phrase from Nixon administration press secretary Ron Ziegler, to be \"no longer operative\". The new line from the president and his legal team is that he reimbursed his personal lawyer, Michael Cohen, for the $130,000 payment to Daniels to stop her from making \"false and extortionist accusations\" about a sexual liaison. If this is the hill that Mr Trump and his lawyers will fight on, it raises one big question - and no matter the answer, the president's troubles are far from over. And that question is... There are three possible answers. Answer 1: She's not lying. The hotel-room episode, or something like it, happened. This is probably the most straightforward possibility. The president and White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders have already backed away from earlier assertions that Mr Trump had no knowledge of the payment, so the reliability of their denials about the encounter itself is in question. There would be a political price to pay for admitting further obfuscations, of course, but the American public wasn't exactly in the dark about Mr Trump's personal foibles when enough of them voted for him to make him president. In 1998 Bill Clinton famously admitted to lying about his affair with White House intern Monica Lewinsky, and the revelation did little to dent his overall public approval ratings, which at the time were much higher than Mr Trump's current numbers. Daniels' lawyer has hinted that they have corroborating evidence for their allegations, so there's a not insignificant chance that this is where the story eventually winds up. Answer 2: She's lying, but the accusation would have been so damaging to Mr Trump's presidential campaign that it had to be silenced. Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, Trump's latest personal lawyer, has tried variations of this explanation in the hours following his blockbuster revelation that the president reimbursed Mr Cohen for his six-figure payment. \"Imagine if that came out on October 15, 2016, in the middle of the last debate with Hillary Clinton,\" he said on the cable show Fox & Friends on Thursday morning. \"He didn't even ask. Cohen made it go away.\" The problem with this is it explicitly acknowledges that Mr Cohen's actions were taken to assist Mr Trump's presidential campaign. Even if Mr Cohen was later reimbursed by the president from his personal funds, Mr Cohen's payment would probably constitute a campaign loan - which is required by law to be reported in Federal Election Commission filings. Back in 2011 former Democratic Vice-Presidential nominee John Edwards was charged with multiple counts of campaign fraud for using political donations to help conceal an affair he had with a campaign videographer. Although the legal proceedings ended in a hung jury, the episode offers an example of how alleged campaign law violations can become serious legal trouble. Answer 3: She's lying, but \"celebrities and people of wealth\" make these kind of payments all the time to avoid unpleasant situations. In his second of three Daniels-related tweets on Thursday morning, the president implied that non-disclosure payments - even to liars and extortionists - are part of the burden of being rich and/or famous. If Mr Trump, through Mr Cohen, made these kind of payments all the time, and not just to Ms Daniels to avoid a damaging revelation on the eve of the presidential election, that could avoid potential campaign finance law violations. Part of the challenge of deciphering the president's legal strategy over the past day is that Mr Giuliani has offered a smorgasbord of sometimes contradictory explanations for why the payment was made. In the same Fox & Friends interview where the former mayor talked about how damaging the Daniels story would have been to Mr Trump's campaign, he said the payment was made to \"save\" Mr Trump's marriage to Melania. \"The president had been hurt, personally, not politically, personally so much, and the first lady, by some of the false allegations,\" Mr Giuliani said. He added the $130,000 payment, for a man like Mr Trump, wasn't that big a deal. \"It sounds like a lot of money,\" he said. \"It's not when you're putting a hundred million dollars into your campaign. It isn't pocket change, but it's pretty close to it at the end.\" This type of defence could come with its own political price, however. The president's blue-collar supporters may not appreciate hearing the president's lawyers describe what would amount to several years' of their salary as \"pocket change\". More than a few of the president's surrogates have blasted Democratic Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi's characterisation of the benefits of the Republican tax cut to lower-income earners as \"crumbs\". Mr Giuiliani may have just given Democrats a potent rebuttal. When considering the other options, however, an \"it's no big deal\" answer may be the least bad choice.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 790, "answer_end": 5166, "text": "There are three possible answers. Answer 1: She's not lying. The hotel-room episode, or something like it, happened. This is probably the most straightforward possibility. The president and White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders have already backed away from earlier assertions that Mr Trump had no knowledge of the payment, so the reliability of their denials about the encounter itself is in question. There would be a political price to pay for admitting further obfuscations, of course, but the American public wasn't exactly in the dark about Mr Trump's personal foibles when enough of them voted for him to make him president. In 1998 Bill Clinton famously admitted to lying about his affair with White House intern Monica Lewinsky, and the revelation did little to dent his overall public approval ratings, which at the time were much higher than Mr Trump's current numbers. Daniels' lawyer has hinted that they have corroborating evidence for their allegations, so there's a not insignificant chance that this is where the story eventually winds up. Answer 2: She's lying, but the accusation would have been so damaging to Mr Trump's presidential campaign that it had to be silenced. Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, Trump's latest personal lawyer, has tried variations of this explanation in the hours following his blockbuster revelation that the president reimbursed Mr Cohen for his six-figure payment. \"Imagine if that came out on October 15, 2016, in the middle of the last debate with Hillary Clinton,\" he said on the cable show Fox & Friends on Thursday morning. \"He didn't even ask. Cohen made it go away.\" The problem with this is it explicitly acknowledges that Mr Cohen's actions were taken to assist Mr Trump's presidential campaign. Even if Mr Cohen was later reimbursed by the president from his personal funds, Mr Cohen's payment would probably constitute a campaign loan - which is required by law to be reported in Federal Election Commission filings. Back in 2011 former Democratic Vice-Presidential nominee John Edwards was charged with multiple counts of campaign fraud for using political donations to help conceal an affair he had with a campaign videographer. Although the legal proceedings ended in a hung jury, the episode offers an example of how alleged campaign law violations can become serious legal trouble. Answer 3: She's lying, but \"celebrities and people of wealth\" make these kind of payments all the time to avoid unpleasant situations. In his second of three Daniels-related tweets on Thursday morning, the president implied that non-disclosure payments - even to liars and extortionists - are part of the burden of being rich and/or famous. If Mr Trump, through Mr Cohen, made these kind of payments all the time, and not just to Ms Daniels to avoid a damaging revelation on the eve of the presidential election, that could avoid potential campaign finance law violations. Part of the challenge of deciphering the president's legal strategy over the past day is that Mr Giuliani has offered a smorgasbord of sometimes contradictory explanations for why the payment was made. In the same Fox & Friends interview where the former mayor talked about how damaging the Daniels story would have been to Mr Trump's campaign, he said the payment was made to \"save\" Mr Trump's marriage to Melania. \"The president had been hurt, personally, not politically, personally so much, and the first lady, by some of the false allegations,\" Mr Giuliani said. He added the $130,000 payment, for a man like Mr Trump, wasn't that big a deal. \"It sounds like a lot of money,\" he said. \"It's not when you're putting a hundred million dollars into your campaign. It isn't pocket change, but it's pretty close to it at the end.\" This type of defence could come with its own political price, however. The president's blue-collar supporters may not appreciate hearing the president's lawyers describe what would amount to several years' of their salary as \"pocket change\". More than a few of the president's surrogates have blasted Democratic Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi's characterisation of the benefits of the Republican tax cut to lower-income earners as \"crumbs\". Mr Giuiliani may have just given Democrats a potent rebuttal. When considering the other options, however, an \"it's no big deal\" answer may be the least bad choice."}], "question": "If Daniels is lying, why pay $130,000 to silence her?", "id": "883_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Samsung Galaxy Note 7: The unanswered questions", "date": "12 October 2016", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Samsung's second recall of its Galaxy Note 7 handsets is an unprecedented disaster for the company and the wider mobile phone sector. There have been huge battery-related recalls before - Nokia had to ask consumers to send back 46 million batteries in 2007 because of overheating fears, but because they were removable it did not mean a well-reviewed flagship had to be scrapped. \"Stop using your device, back up your data and switch it off,\" the Samsung told Note 7 owners the day after it confirmed it had shut down its assembly lines following a spate of fires. A compensation scheme is being put in place - users will be offered the choice of either getting all their money back or swapping the phablet for an older, smaller-screened Galaxy S7 or S7 Edge phone plus a partial refund. But several questions remain unanswered. When Samsung instituted the initial recall last month, it pointed to a \"battery cell issue\" being the cause. A report sent by the company to regulators was more specific, saying a production fault had caused some of the batteries to be slightly larger than intended, which had put pressure on them when they were fitted inside phones, according to a leak reported by Bloomberg. The issue was blamed on the components' manufacturer - Samsung SDI  - and was supposed to have been fixed by putting  batteries made by another company, ATL, in the replacements. Now that several of that second batch of phones have overheated too, it is unclear whether the original problem was misdiagnosed. According to the New York Times, Samsung's engineers were never able to get the phones to explode when they tried to recreate the fault. \"We are working with relevant regulatory bodies to investigate the recently reported cases involving the Galaxy Note 7,\" was the only comment a Samsung spokesman was willing to make on the matter. Samsung has yet to reveal exactly how many Note 7s it made before pulling the plug on Tuesday. On 2 September, the South Korean company said 2.5 million devices were subject to its initial recall. On 27 September, it added that more than 60% of the Note 7s that had been sold in South Korea and the US had been replaced with new devices. Those two countries accounted for the vast majority of the phones sold - only about 50,000 devices made it to Europe. And the Note 7 only briefly returned to sale to new customers in South Korea last week. All of which gives a rough tally of four million units. IHS had originally forecast Samsung would have made about six million Note 7s by this point if all had gone according to plan. It is less clear how many actually overheated Samsung said it had received \"35 reported claims\" at the time of the first recall, and there were seven reports in the media of replacement models being affected. Samsung has said it will take \"all measures\" to get the devices back. For now, that involves sending emails and notifications to registered users. At the time of the original recall, it also issued a software update that prevented some of the batteries from being fully recharged. There is speculation that other restrictions - or a full lockout - could be imposed if users now refuse to give the devices up. There is also the question of what Samsung does with the mountain of returned mobiles. A spokesman declined to say whether it might strip them down and re-use components in other products. But one environmental pressure group urged it act responsibly. \"Mobile phones have valuable and precious materials within them, the mining for which can cause significant environmental harm - and can sometimes be carried out in appalling working conditions in developing countries,\" said Friends of the Earth's policy director, Mike Childs. \"All phones should be 100% recycled at the end of their lives, or when they have to be returned due to faults. \"The environment shouldn't suffer because of the mistakes of  mobile phone firms.\" Many consumers bought cases, a Blackberry-styled keyboard cover, a wide-angle lens attachment and spare styluses and power packs for their Note 7s. A spokesman for Samsung said it was still in discussions with vendors about how to cover these costs. Some owners are also wondering if they will be offered extra cash for handing back the second-generation Gear VR virtual reality headset that was bundled with pre-orders. It costs abut PS100 to buy separately. The spokesman said the company considered this to have been a \"gift\" but did not rule out some kind of additional compensation. Samsung's Galaxy line-up used to distinguish itself against Apple's iPhones by allowing users to take off the phones' backs and swap out their batteries. But the S6 and Note 5 phones changed that, helping Samsung offer more compact designs with added water resistance as a bonus. Some people have pointed out Samsung might have avoided its current problems if it had not made that choice. And it is notable its domestic rival LG has included removable batteries in its two current top-end models. Unsurprisingly, Samsung would not comment on its future designs. But one expert said all smartphone-makers would be reviewing their plans. \"There are greater power demands on modern smartphones - they have bigger, higher-resolution screens, faster processors, and 4G data - but there is also greater pressure to keep them very compact and also enable owners to charge them quickly,\" said Ian Fogg, from IHS. \"Those are competing demands. \"Everyone will be looking at their forthcoming smartphone launches and tasking their engineering teams to have another look at the way their charging and the batteries work to make sure they don't have the same problem. \"And Samsung will be looking at its upcoming models in a particularly close way, as it's possible they were set to share some of the same design elements as the Note 7.\"", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 829, "answer_end": 1849, "text": "When Samsung instituted the initial recall last month, it pointed to a \"battery cell issue\" being the cause. A report sent by the company to regulators was more specific, saying a production fault had caused some of the batteries to be slightly larger than intended, which had put pressure on them when they were fitted inside phones, according to a leak reported by Bloomberg. The issue was blamed on the components' manufacturer - Samsung SDI  - and was supposed to have been fixed by putting  batteries made by another company, ATL, in the replacements. Now that several of that second batch of phones have overheated too, it is unclear whether the original problem was misdiagnosed. According to the New York Times, Samsung's engineers were never able to get the phones to explode when they tried to recreate the fault. \"We are working with relevant regulatory bodies to investigate the recently reported cases involving the Galaxy Note 7,\" was the only comment a Samsung spokesman was willing to make on the matter."}], "question": "What caused the handsets to self-combust?", "id": "884_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1850, "answer_end": 2785, "text": "Samsung has yet to reveal exactly how many Note 7s it made before pulling the plug on Tuesday. On 2 September, the South Korean company said 2.5 million devices were subject to its initial recall. On 27 September, it added that more than 60% of the Note 7s that had been sold in South Korea and the US had been replaced with new devices. Those two countries accounted for the vast majority of the phones sold - only about 50,000 devices made it to Europe. And the Note 7 only briefly returned to sale to new customers in South Korea last week. All of which gives a rough tally of four million units. IHS had originally forecast Samsung would have made about six million Note 7s by this point if all had gone according to plan. It is less clear how many actually overheated Samsung said it had received \"35 reported claims\" at the time of the first recall, and there were seven reports in the media of replacement models being affected."}], "question": "How many Note 7s were made, and how many exploded?", "id": "884_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2786, "answer_end": 3918, "text": "Samsung has said it will take \"all measures\" to get the devices back. For now, that involves sending emails and notifications to registered users. At the time of the original recall, it also issued a software update that prevented some of the batteries from being fully recharged. There is speculation that other restrictions - or a full lockout - could be imposed if users now refuse to give the devices up. There is also the question of what Samsung does with the mountain of returned mobiles. A spokesman declined to say whether it might strip them down and re-use components in other products. But one environmental pressure group urged it act responsibly. \"Mobile phones have valuable and precious materials within them, the mining for which can cause significant environmental harm - and can sometimes be carried out in appalling working conditions in developing countries,\" said Friends of the Earth's policy director, Mike Childs. \"All phones should be 100% recycled at the end of their lives, or when they have to be returned due to faults. \"The environment shouldn't suffer because of the mistakes of  mobile phone firms.\""}], "question": "What happens now to all the handsets?", "id": "884_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3919, "answer_end": 4506, "text": "Many consumers bought cases, a Blackberry-styled keyboard cover, a wide-angle lens attachment and spare styluses and power packs for their Note 7s. A spokesman for Samsung said it was still in discussions with vendors about how to cover these costs. Some owners are also wondering if they will be offered extra cash for handing back the second-generation Gear VR virtual reality headset that was bundled with pre-orders. It costs abut PS100 to buy separately. The spokesman said the company considered this to have been a \"gift\" but did not rule out some kind of additional compensation."}], "question": "Will owners be compensated for any accessories they bought?", "id": "884_3"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 4507, "answer_end": 5831, "text": "Samsung's Galaxy line-up used to distinguish itself against Apple's iPhones by allowing users to take off the phones' backs and swap out their batteries. But the S6 and Note 5 phones changed that, helping Samsung offer more compact designs with added water resistance as a bonus. Some people have pointed out Samsung might have avoided its current problems if it had not made that choice. And it is notable its domestic rival LG has included removable batteries in its two current top-end models. Unsurprisingly, Samsung would not comment on its future designs. But one expert said all smartphone-makers would be reviewing their plans. \"There are greater power demands on modern smartphones - they have bigger, higher-resolution screens, faster processors, and 4G data - but there is also greater pressure to keep them very compact and also enable owners to charge them quickly,\" said Ian Fogg, from IHS. \"Those are competing demands. \"Everyone will be looking at their forthcoming smartphone launches and tasking their engineering teams to have another look at the way their charging and the batteries work to make sure they don't have the same problem. \"And Samsung will be looking at its upcoming models in a particularly close way, as it's possible they were set to share some of the same design elements as the Note 7.\""}], "question": "Might Samsung reintroduce removable batteries?", "id": "884_4"}]}]}, {"title": "France and Germany seal new deal as Brexit looms", "date": "22 January 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "France and Germany have signed a new treaty on Tuesday aimed at breathing new life into their place at the centre of the European Union. As the UK moves to leave the EU and a rising tide of populism challenges the core liberal values of the bloc, the new treaty commits wholeheartedly to defending it. German Chancellor Angela Merkel highlighted peace and security and backed the emergence of a European army. French President Emmanuel Macron said the challenge was for Europe to become \"a shield\" against the tumults of the world. There is rich symbolism in the signing in the German city of Aachen, which has changed hands over the centuries and is known in French as Aix-la-Chapelle. But will it ultimately change anything? France and Germany agree to establish common positions and issue joint statements on major EU issues - formalising their existing co-operation. They also plan to act as a joint force at the United Nations. From foreign policy to internal and external security, the two nations commit to coming up with common positions while seeking to bolster \"Europe's capacity to act autonomously\". The two countries commit to: - Deepening economic integration with a Franco-German \"economic zone\" - Developing Europe's military capabilities, investing together to \"fill gaps in capacity, thereby reinforcing\" the EU and Nato - The possibility of joint military deployments as well as a Franco-German defence and security council For young people, there is agreement to focus on cultural exchanges and increase learning of each other's languages, with the aim of a Franco-German university. There are also plans for closer cross-border links and greater \"bilingualism\" on both sides of the borders. German Chancellor Angela Merkel said the treaty came amid \"special times\" with the rise of populism and nationalism. \"For the first time, a country is leaving the European Union - in the form of Great Britain,\" she added. Those who forget the value of peace and spread lies are accomplices in the crimes of the past,\" Mr Macron said. \"I would rather look our Europe in the face and strengthen it to protect our peoples. That is what we are doing,\" he added. Mrs Merkel also said Germany wants to \"make our contribution to the emergence of a European army.\" \"We are committed to developing a common military culture, a common defence industry and a common line on arms exports,\" Mrs Merkel said. The idea is not new - both leaders have called for a common European defence force that would operate within - and not replace - Nato. Nato's Secretary General, Jens Stoltenberg, gave the treaty his approval, saying Nato had been briefed on the military matters. \"For decades, Franco-German cooperation has been essential for security and stability in Europe,\" he said, adding that the treaty was a reminder \"of how far Europe has come since the devastation of the Second World War\". Many of these aspirations have been heard before. Exactly 56 years ago, the first Joint Declaration of Franco-German friendship was signed in Paris. \"Since then, the spirit of the 1963 treaty has been evoked time and again by different French and German governments,\" says Dirk Leuffen, chair of Political Science and International Relations at the University of Konstanz. Prof Leuffen believes there is no dramatic shift but instead \"it continues or translates the old goals into today's challenges\". He singles out the economic plans as potentially signalling a next step of aligning the two countries more closely. For Alistair Cole of Cardiff University, the importance of the treaty lies in its symbolism. In the context of a post-Brexit Europe he believes it is intended to \"declare the centrality of France and Germany, though in practice the two countries often do not see eye to eye\". European Council president Donald Tusk - a native of Poland - sounded a note of caution in a speech he gave at the ceremony. \"Germany and France can, and should, serve the whole of Europe well,\" he said. But he added: \"I will put it bluntly - today Europe needs a clear signal from Paris and from Berlin, that strengthened co-operation in small formats is not an alternative to the co-operation of all of Europe. That it is for integration, and not instead of integration.\" Central and Eastern European states have refused to accept German and French leadership on migration. \"It is time to oppose the Franco-German axis with an Italian-Polish axis,\" said Italy's right-wing Interior Minister Matteo Salvini on the day the final treaty draft was announced. He was speaking on a visit to Poland, aiming to challenge France and Germany's dominance in the EU with a Eurosceptic alliance ahead of May elections to the European Parliament. The treaty itself has been the subject of considerable fake news in France, with conspiracy theories about Mr Macron going to \"sign over\" territory as part of the deal. One French MEP, former National Front member Bernard Monot, claimed in a video that the treaty would effectively cede the Alsace and Lorraine border regions to Germany. The allegation spread quickly on social media, despite several debunking pieces in the mainstream news media. Far-right leader Marine Le Pen tweeted on Tuesday that the extent of the links with Germany amounted to \"treason\" and \"serious abandonment of our sovereignty.\" By Jenny Hill, BBC News, Berlin Behind the beautiful old stone edifice of Aachen's historic town hall, two allies warmly pledged to deepen their relationship. But outside, in the bitter cold, Eurosceptic protestors and yellow vest demonstrators shouted at EU supporters. The treaty - critics argue - is short on substance and risks alienating other EU member states. And as Mrs Merkel and Emmanuel Macron emerged to greet the crowd outside, their smiles looked a little weak. Aachen is about ambition, vision and symbolism. But Mrs Merkel's power is waning and Mr Macron is struggling at home. Sceptics wonder what will become of their promises once their time in office is done. President Macron's power has waned since he was elected in 2017 with a commitment to a series of pro-European measures, including a common budget for the eurozone. Prof Cole believes the main issue is not the treaty but the \"very uncertain future of Macron's European reform programme\". However, he believes there may be some movement towards a more integrated security and defence strategy and, more controversially, towards debt-sharing in the eurozone. In the words of German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas, the two countries \"are joining forces to fight for a strong Europe that is capable of taking action, a peaceful world and a rules-based international order\".", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 727, "answer_end": 1711, "text": "France and Germany agree to establish common positions and issue joint statements on major EU issues - formalising their existing co-operation. They also plan to act as a joint force at the United Nations. From foreign policy to internal and external security, the two nations commit to coming up with common positions while seeking to bolster \"Europe's capacity to act autonomously\". The two countries commit to: - Deepening economic integration with a Franco-German \"economic zone\" - Developing Europe's military capabilities, investing together to \"fill gaps in capacity, thereby reinforcing\" the EU and Nato - The possibility of joint military deployments as well as a Franco-German defence and security council For young people, there is agreement to focus on cultural exchanges and increase learning of each other's languages, with the aim of a Franco-German university. There are also plans for closer cross-border links and greater \"bilingualism\" on both sides of the borders."}], "question": "What's in the treaty?", "id": "885_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1712, "answer_end": 2890, "text": "German Chancellor Angela Merkel said the treaty came amid \"special times\" with the rise of populism and nationalism. \"For the first time, a country is leaving the European Union - in the form of Great Britain,\" she added. Those who forget the value of peace and spread lies are accomplices in the crimes of the past,\" Mr Macron said. \"I would rather look our Europe in the face and strengthen it to protect our peoples. That is what we are doing,\" he added. Mrs Merkel also said Germany wants to \"make our contribution to the emergence of a European army.\" \"We are committed to developing a common military culture, a common defence industry and a common line on arms exports,\" Mrs Merkel said. The idea is not new - both leaders have called for a common European defence force that would operate within - and not replace - Nato. Nato's Secretary General, Jens Stoltenberg, gave the treaty his approval, saying Nato had been briefed on the military matters. \"For decades, Franco-German cooperation has been essential for security and stability in Europe,\" he said, adding that the treaty was a reminder \"of how far Europe has come since the devastation of the Second World War\"."}], "question": "What did the two leaders say?", "id": "885_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2891, "answer_end": 3784, "text": "Many of these aspirations have been heard before. Exactly 56 years ago, the first Joint Declaration of Franco-German friendship was signed in Paris. \"Since then, the spirit of the 1963 treaty has been evoked time and again by different French and German governments,\" says Dirk Leuffen, chair of Political Science and International Relations at the University of Konstanz. Prof Leuffen believes there is no dramatic shift but instead \"it continues or translates the old goals into today's challenges\". He singles out the economic plans as potentially signalling a next step of aligning the two countries more closely. For Alistair Cole of Cardiff University, the importance of the treaty lies in its symbolism. In the context of a post-Brexit Europe he believes it is intended to \"declare the centrality of France and Germany, though in practice the two countries often do not see eye to eye\"."}], "question": "How ambitious is it?", "id": "885_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3785, "answer_end": 5327, "text": "European Council president Donald Tusk - a native of Poland - sounded a note of caution in a speech he gave at the ceremony. \"Germany and France can, and should, serve the whole of Europe well,\" he said. But he added: \"I will put it bluntly - today Europe needs a clear signal from Paris and from Berlin, that strengthened co-operation in small formats is not an alternative to the co-operation of all of Europe. That it is for integration, and not instead of integration.\" Central and Eastern European states have refused to accept German and French leadership on migration. \"It is time to oppose the Franco-German axis with an Italian-Polish axis,\" said Italy's right-wing Interior Minister Matteo Salvini on the day the final treaty draft was announced. He was speaking on a visit to Poland, aiming to challenge France and Germany's dominance in the EU with a Eurosceptic alliance ahead of May elections to the European Parliament. The treaty itself has been the subject of considerable fake news in France, with conspiracy theories about Mr Macron going to \"sign over\" territory as part of the deal. One French MEP, former National Front member Bernard Monot, claimed in a video that the treaty would effectively cede the Alsace and Lorraine border regions to Germany. The allegation spread quickly on social media, despite several debunking pieces in the mainstream news media. Far-right leader Marine Le Pen tweeted on Tuesday that the extent of the links with Germany amounted to \"treason\" and \"serious abandonment of our sovereignty.\""}], "question": "Is there much opposition to the pact?", "id": "885_3"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 6008, "answer_end": 6673, "text": "President Macron's power has waned since he was elected in 2017 with a commitment to a series of pro-European measures, including a common budget for the eurozone. Prof Cole believes the main issue is not the treaty but the \"very uncertain future of Macron's European reform programme\". However, he believes there may be some movement towards a more integrated security and defence strategy and, more controversially, towards debt-sharing in the eurozone. In the words of German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas, the two countries \"are joining forces to fight for a strong Europe that is capable of taking action, a peaceful world and a rules-based international order\"."}], "question": "Will the treaty change anything?", "id": "885_4"}]}]}, {"title": "Jared Kushner 'used WhatsApp for official duties', top Democrat says", "date": "22 March 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Jared Kushner, White House senior advisor and President Trump's son-in-law, used WhatsApp for official business, a top Democrat says. Democrat Elijah Cummings, chairman of the House Oversight Committee, made the allegations in a letter to the White House on Thursday. It is unclear whether Mr Kushner allegedly used the messaging app to discuss classified information. A probe into the use of personal email accounts at the White House is ongoing. Mr Cummings pressed the White House for further information on the investigation in his letter. \"The White House's failure to provide documents and information is obstructing the committee's investigation into allegations of violations of federal records laws by White House officials,\" he wrote. His letter notes that Mr Kushner's lawyer, Abbe Lowell, said his client had sent screenshots of his WhatsApp messages to his White House email account or the US National Security Council. Mr Lowell could not say whether his client, who serves as President Trump's advisor on the Middle East, used WhatsApp to share classified information, he added. But in response to the letter, Mr Lowell said that Mr Cummings had not been \"completely accurate\", according to Reuters news agency. Mr Cummings also wrote in his letter that Ivanka Trump - President Trump's daughter and Mr Kushner's wife, who is also a White House adviser - continued to receive emails related to official business on a personal email account. A review into her emails revealed in November 2018 that she had used her private address to contact government officials. Ms Trump sent the emails before she was briefed on the rules, her lawyer says. White House spokesman Steven Groves said: \"As with all properly authorised oversight requests, the White House will review the letter and will provide a reasonable response in due course.\" The use of personal email servers has become controversial since the 2016 presidential campaign, when Mr Trump accused his Democratic opponent Hillary Clinton of putting the US \"in danger\" over her emails while secretary of state. Before becoming secretary of state in 2009, Mrs Clinton had set up an email server at her home in New York that she used for all work and personal emails during her four years in office. She did not use, or even activate, a state.gov email account, which would have been hosted on servers owned and managed by the US government. She said it was for convenience. During his 2016 campaign, Mr Trump suggested that Mrs Clinton be jailed after it emerged that the FBI had found classified information in some emails from her private server. Chants of \"lock her up\" were a mainstay at Mr Trump's rallies. An FBI investigation eventually concluded that Mrs Clinton should not face charges, but said she and her aides had been \"extremely careless\" in their handling of classified information. It is not illegal for White House officials to use personal accounts for government business. However, under the Presidential Records Act and Federal Records Act, government officials must forward any official correspondence to a work account within 20 days for preservation. If this is not done reliably, the use of private accounts can put official records beyond the reach of journalists, lawmakers and others who seek publicly available information. There are also rules against sharing classified or privileged information on personal email accounts.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 2863, "answer_end": 3418, "text": "It is not illegal for White House officials to use personal accounts for government business. However, under the Presidential Records Act and Federal Records Act, government officials must forward any official correspondence to a work account within 20 days for preservation. If this is not done reliably, the use of private accounts can put official records beyond the reach of journalists, lawmakers and others who seek publicly available information. There are also rules against sharing classified or privileged information on personal email accounts."}], "question": "Is it illegal to use personal accounts for work?", "id": "886_0"}]}]}, {"title": "What have the Vikings ever done for us?", "date": "17 November 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Life as a Viking was never easy. Days were spent rowing longships, creating intricate art, or telling stories about duels between gods and giants. Their legacy, however, extends beyond the bloody and gruesome tales that have themselves become legend and synonymous with Viking identity. What, after all their raids and travel across Europe and the globe, have the Vikings ever done for us? Vikings were peoples from areas of Scandinavia - Denmark, Sweden, and Norway - who planted crops in spring and raided towns overseas in summer. The Viking Age - when they were most active in their exploration and raiding - covers the period from the 8th Century until the 11th Century AD. Norse settlers were those from these countries who came following the raids to trade and settle. The Viking people were adept at using the land - many were farmers, in areas where the climate allowed them to grow crops. It was common to find barley, cabbage and turnips in a Viking larder. Art was another strong element of Viking identity. According to Davy Cooper of the Shetland Amenity Trust, jewellery had a practical use. \"They displayed their religious affiliation through their jewellery. Many people wore Thor's Hammer,\" said Mr Cooper. Associated with a thunderbolt, it was believed that Thor defended the order of the gods against their foes using the might of the hammer. Trade became more varied as the Vikings made their way across Europe, bringing conflict and commerce where they went. One example was the Volga River in modern-day Russia. The Vikings who settled along the river, who were known as the Rus, gave Russia its name. The Volga Trade Route opened up Northern Europe to the possibilities and potential of trade with Arabic nations and the Byzantine Empire. According to Mr Cooper, the items plundered from monasteries along the way \"allowed them to buy the things they couldn't produce on their own farms\". These included goods ranging from salt and dyes to spices which were collected in exchange for honey, fur and slaves taken from the Viking raids. They travelled even further afield, arriving in modern-day North America towards the end of the 10th Century, where they are said to have had fractious relationships with native tribes in North America and Greenland. The Vikings termed them \"Skraeling\", meaning \"skin-wearer\" or \"wretched people\". Viking technology was revolutionary. In particular, the marine technology they developed established them as world leaders, and feared anywhere there was water. Mr Cooper said: \"[Their ships] were designed for speed, to carry the maximum number of men, and to go a fair way up river systems.\" He continued: \"The shape of the boat meant it created bubbles on the edge of the planks [on the outside of the boat]. To all intents and purposes, a Viking ship rides on a cushion of air, and has far less resistance in water.\" And for navigation they had a \"sun compass\" which was, according to Mr Cooper, \"a very simple circle with a pin in the middle\" which is used to take a reading according to the height of the sun and time of day. But journeys sometimes had unexpected final destinations. \"They tended to get blown places accidentally, but they knew what direction to sail going back,\" said Mr Cooper. \"That meant they could find the place again, and they could tell someone else how to find it.\" Having used the natural world to provide food, the Vikings were able to utilise it in a novel way for navigation - in the form of crystals. Mr Cooper said: \"They used a crystal that, when turned in a certain direction it goes dark, and when it goes in another direction it goes light. So when turned to a light source they discovered that it even worked in fog if they knew where the sun was - meaning they could figure out what direction they were travelling in.\" Viking society has been influential on modern life in numerous ways. Art and language derived from Viking cultures is still evident literally in the day-to-day - 'Thursday' itself comes from 'Thor', the Norse god of thunder. The Viking system of law contains elements which mirror the ethical codes of many cultures, along with a framework of ownership. Mr Cooper explained: \"They are still some of the laws we use to this day; don't kill, don't steal. A lot of it related to property and respecting property.\" This loose set of guidelines and rudimentary laws were discussed at a gathering known as the Thing. At these, alleged criminals would be tried by a group of their peers and could be found innocent or guilty. If the latter was the final decision, people could be fined, semi-outlawed, or fully outlawed. In 930 AD, Vikings had established the 'Althing' in Iceland. It runs to this day, and is reported to be the world's longest running parliament. The thing has left a mark on local communities, their names being derived from these gatherings. Tingwall in Shetland was the site of the islands' local government until the 1500s. Another prominent location is Dingwall in the Highlands. Archaeological evidence was found in 2013 confirming it was the site of a Viking parliament, built on the instructions of a powerful Viking earl. Mr Cooper said: \"The Viking system was almost like our current system still works. There was a local Thing, which was a local council. Then there was like, for example, a Shetland-wide Thing. Local Things would send representatives to that. Ultimately there was the King and court in Norway.\" In ways, this structure filtered through into egalitarian aspects of Viking society. Mr Cooper said: \"Women had rights in Viking times that they lost and didn't regain for 10 centuries. They could own land, they could inherit land, and they could speak at the Things. \"They were a fair-minded race. Despite their reputation. they had rules to live by. \"It's just that those rules didn't apply to anyone who wasn't a Viking.\"", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 390, "answer_end": 1362, "text": "Vikings were peoples from areas of Scandinavia - Denmark, Sweden, and Norway - who planted crops in spring and raided towns overseas in summer. The Viking Age - when they were most active in their exploration and raiding - covers the period from the 8th Century until the 11th Century AD. Norse settlers were those from these countries who came following the raids to trade and settle. The Viking people were adept at using the land - many were farmers, in areas where the climate allowed them to grow crops. It was common to find barley, cabbage and turnips in a Viking larder. Art was another strong element of Viking identity. According to Davy Cooper of the Shetland Amenity Trust, jewellery had a practical use. \"They displayed their religious affiliation through their jewellery. Many people wore Thor's Hammer,\" said Mr Cooper. Associated with a thunderbolt, it was believed that Thor defended the order of the gods against their foes using the might of the hammer."}], "question": "Who were they?", "id": "887_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2357, "answer_end": 3818, "text": "Viking technology was revolutionary. In particular, the marine technology they developed established them as world leaders, and feared anywhere there was water. Mr Cooper said: \"[Their ships] were designed for speed, to carry the maximum number of men, and to go a fair way up river systems.\" He continued: \"The shape of the boat meant it created bubbles on the edge of the planks [on the outside of the boat]. To all intents and purposes, a Viking ship rides on a cushion of air, and has far less resistance in water.\" And for navigation they had a \"sun compass\" which was, according to Mr Cooper, \"a very simple circle with a pin in the middle\" which is used to take a reading according to the height of the sun and time of day. But journeys sometimes had unexpected final destinations. \"They tended to get blown places accidentally, but they knew what direction to sail going back,\" said Mr Cooper. \"That meant they could find the place again, and they could tell someone else how to find it.\" Having used the natural world to provide food, the Vikings were able to utilise it in a novel way for navigation - in the form of crystals. Mr Cooper said: \"They used a crystal that, when turned in a certain direction it goes dark, and when it goes in another direction it goes light. So when turned to a light source they discovered that it even worked in fog if they knew where the sun was - meaning they could figure out what direction they were travelling in.\""}], "question": "How did they get there?", "id": "887_1"}]}]}, {"title": "Immigration effort to protect Dreamers collapses in US Senate", "date": "16 February 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "The US Senate has failed to pass any of four proposals on immigration, including protections for young immigrants brought to the US illegally. Support for the most promising bipartisan bill failed after President Donald Trump called it a \"total catastrophe\" and threatened to veto it. The legislative collapse leaves the status of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (Daca) recipients in limbo. Mr Trump ended Daca and gave Congress until 5 March to find a solution. Daca recipients, known as so-called Dreamers, had been protected from deportation under the Obama-era programme that President Trump rescinded in September. He gave Congress a six-month window to find a pathway for citizenship for the 1.8m people affected, while Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell imposed a deadline on his chamber to pass an immigration bill by the end of this week. After the flurry of failed votes, Mr Trump tweeted that Democrats are to be blamed. \"Cannot believe how BADLY DACA recipients have been treated by the Democrats...totally abandoned! \"Republicans are still working hard,\" Mr Trump wrote on Friday morning. The leading bipartisan bill was brought to the floor by Republican Senator Susan Collins of Maine. It offered $25bn (PS17bn) for border security, including funds for Mr Trump's planned wall along the US-Mexico border, as well as protections for so-called Dreamers. But the White House railed against the bill, saying it would weaken enforcement of current law and encourage more illegal immigration. \"This amendment would drastically change our national immigration policy for the worse by weakening border security and undercutting existing immigration law,\" White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said in a statement ahead of the vote on Thursday. US Attorney General Jeff Sessions also spoke out against the bill. The proposal fell short of the 60 votes needed, with 54 senators for it and 45 others against the measure. Mr Trump urged senators to support a bill brought to the floor by Republican Senator Chuck Grassley. The Trump-backed measure received the fewest votes, with only 39 members supporting it. A third measure focusing just on Daca and border security, brought by Republican John McCain and Democrat Chris Coons, fell short 52-47. A fourth measure focused on punishing so-called sanctuary cities, which refuse to co-operate with federal immigration enforcement efforts, also failed. Analysis by Anthony Zurcher - BBC Washington Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell promised a flurry of votes on a variety of immigration proposals this week, and that's what happened. For a week the Senate spun its wheels, with numerous impassioned speeches, and then did exactly nothing. None of the measures introduced - Donald Trump's preferred plan, a bipartisan compromise bill, another bipartisan compromise bill - garnered the 60 votes necessary to break a filibuster. So nothing is what Daca recipients are going to get, at least for now. The House of Representatives will take up its own version of immigration reform - something very similar to Mr Trump's proposal of Daca protections combined with border security, a wall and sweeping changes to legal immigration - but it will be dead on arrival in the Senate. A version in the lower chamber only got 39 votes. And so legislation that is supported by a vast majority of Americans will not even sniff the president's desk. Instead, the blame game will begin in earnest, while Daca recipients are left hoping the courts will keep them from being forced back into the legal shadows or deported to nations they barely know. The collapse comes as the US Supreme Court is due to consider one of two federal court rulings blocking the White House from ending Daca as the 5 March deadline looms. The Trump administration is appealing a ruling by a US judge in San Francisco, who found the government's argument that the Daca programme was illegal was based on a \"flawed legal premise\". The judge in January ordered the government to begin processing renewal applications from people who had previously been covered, but not for those who had never before received protection under the scheme. A US judge in New York issued a similar decision earlier this week, ruling the justice department's reasons for revoking the programme were too arbitrary and could not stand. Despite the Senate's failed effort, lawmakers suggest there could be debate on attaching a short-term extension of protections for Daca recipients in a government funding bill that needs to pass in Congress by 23 March to avoid a shutdown. \"This does not have to be the end of our efforts to resolve these matters,\" Senator McConnell said. Republicans Bob Corker and John Cornyn also said after the vote there could be another opportunity to address immigration in the funding bill.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1113, "answer_end": 2413, "text": "The leading bipartisan bill was brought to the floor by Republican Senator Susan Collins of Maine. It offered $25bn (PS17bn) for border security, including funds for Mr Trump's planned wall along the US-Mexico border, as well as protections for so-called Dreamers. But the White House railed against the bill, saying it would weaken enforcement of current law and encourage more illegal immigration. \"This amendment would drastically change our national immigration policy for the worse by weakening border security and undercutting existing immigration law,\" White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said in a statement ahead of the vote on Thursday. US Attorney General Jeff Sessions also spoke out against the bill. The proposal fell short of the 60 votes needed, with 54 senators for it and 45 others against the measure. Mr Trump urged senators to support a bill brought to the floor by Republican Senator Chuck Grassley. The Trump-backed measure received the fewest votes, with only 39 members supporting it. A third measure focusing just on Daca and border security, brought by Republican John McCain and Democrat Chris Coons, fell short 52-47. A fourth measure focused on punishing so-called sanctuary cities, which refuse to co-operate with federal immigration enforcement efforts, also failed."}], "question": "What are the proposals?", "id": "888_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Syrian war: US scrambles jets to Hassakeh", "date": "20 August 2016", "paragraphs": [{"context": "American fighter planes have been scrambled to the Syrian city of Hassakeh to protect US special forces on the ground from Syrian government aerial attacks, the US military says. The Pentagon said the Syrian planes were leaving as its jets arrived. People in the north-eastern Syrian city say government warplanes have hit Kurdish districts there for the past two days. Thousands are reported to have fled their homes. Hassakeh is mainly under the control of a Kurdish militia, the YPG. What is left of Syria after five years of war? Syrian Kurds declare federal system Syrian government's warplanes bombed Kurdish areas of Hassakeh for the second day running on Friday. On Thursday, the US \"scrambled\" - quickly launched - fighter jets to defend some special forces soldiers that were in the area, but did not have to engage in combat because the Syrian planes turned and left as they arrived. Much of Hassakeh is controlled a Kurdish militia, the YPG. Special forces are elite soldiers with specialist skills, who often work undercover. There are 300 US special forces troops in Syria. Most of them were sent there in the past few months. They support local militias, including the YPG, in the fight against so-called Islamic State (IS). No weapons were fired between the US and Syria, but the incident was enough of a threat against US personnel on the ground for the coalition's military apparatus to swing into action. It is thought to be the first time this has happened. Pentagon spokesman Capt Jeff Davis said that as far as he was aware, Thursday's mission was the first time that coalition aircraft had been scrambled to respond to an incident involving Syrian government aerial bombardment. The US had no radio contact with the Syrian planes. Capt Davis told journalists that the US had warned Syria via its communication channel with Russia that it would defend coalition troops. He said the strikes \"did not directly impact our forces\" but they were \"close enough that it gives us great pause\". US President Barack Obama has authorised the deployment of special forces troops in Syria to support local militias in the fight against IS, but he has repeatedly ruled out sending ground forces to the conflict. In a statement on Syrian state TV on Friday evening, the general command of the Syrian army accused Kurdish forces of \"attacking state institutions, stealing oil and cotton, obstructing exams, kidnapping unarmed civilians and spreading chaos and instability\". These actions required an appropriate response from the army, the statement said. A Kurdish journalist who is in Hassakeh, Heybar Othman, told the BBC that it was the first time the Syrian government had used air power against the city. \"Right now in the city you don't have electricity, you don't have bread,\" he said. \"We don't have [a] specific number of casualties but approximately 12 civilian people [were] killed and more than 33 injured.\" The YPG has emerged as a major fighting force in northern Syria in the past two years, becoming a key ally of the US-led coalition against IS. Kurds made up between 7% and 10% of Syria's population of 24.5 million before the uprising against President Bashar al-Assad began five years ago. Although they were denied basic rights and suffered decades of political suppression by the Arab-led state, most Kurds avoided taking sides when a wave of protests swept the country. When government forces withdrew from Kurdish areas to concentrate on fighting rebels elsewhere in mid-2012, Kurdish militias led by the YPG swiftly took control.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 570, "answer_end": 953, "text": "Syrian government's warplanes bombed Kurdish areas of Hassakeh for the second day running on Friday. On Thursday, the US \"scrambled\" - quickly launched - fighter jets to defend some special forces soldiers that were in the area, but did not have to engage in combat because the Syrian planes turned and left as they arrived. Much of Hassakeh is controlled a Kurdish militia, the YPG."}], "question": "What exactly happened?", "id": "889_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 954, "answer_end": 1239, "text": "Special forces are elite soldiers with specialist skills, who often work undercover. There are 300 US special forces troops in Syria. Most of them were sent there in the past few months. They support local militias, including the YPG, in the fight against so-called Islamic State (IS)."}], "question": "What are US special forces and what are they doing in Syria?", "id": "889_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1240, "answer_end": 1477, "text": "No weapons were fired between the US and Syria, but the incident was enough of a threat against US personnel on the ground for the coalition's military apparatus to swing into action. It is thought to be the first time this has happened."}], "question": "Why does this matter?", "id": "889_2"}]}]}, {"title": "Walsall siblings' stomachs removed over cancer risk", "date": "28 February 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Three siblings have had their stomachs removed after testing positive for a cancer gene following the deaths of their mother and sister. Tahir Khan, 44, Sophia Ahmed, 39, and Omar Khan, 27, underwent the surgery after a series of tests at Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge. Their mother and sister both died from stomach cancer. The siblings, from Walsall, said the operation had saved their lives and \"eliminated\" the risk. However, Tahir's daughter has now been found to have the same gene. The siblings' mother Pearl Khan was 49 when she died 16 years ago, six months after she was diagnosed. Their 32-year-old sister Yasmin Khan died about six years ago. Tahir said: \"We didn't even think about genetic testing at that time but Sophia was very tenacious and worked with Cancer Research UK to get us all tested.\" The screening and tests for all four of the remaining siblings, including their other sister Tracy Ismail, 49, took from about 12 months to three years. They identified three of them were carriers and each decided to undergo the operation as a preventative measure. Sophia had the operation first, followed by Tahir and Omar. Tracy, who was the only sibling to find out she did not have the gene, said: \"They told me my results first, so I just thought we would all be the same. \"It was very bittersweet. I was totally devastated. \"At one point we were told that if we hadn't had the testing done, I'd be the only sibling left. \"Knowing what my mum and sister had gone through and so quickly, I encouraged them to have the procedure done, and they're all still here.\" Sophia said: \"I read in my sister Yasmin's notes in hospital that they thought it may be genetic so I did some research and found out the hospital in Cambridge was doing a study with Cancer Research so I contacted them and went from there. \"Everyone thought I was mad until we had the results come back and when we saw it was three of us out of the four, I knew it was worth it.\" Sophia said she can \"still eat and do everything\" and added: \"The only issue is maintaining my weight and my vitamin deficiencies but in comparison to having stomach cancer and a few years to live, I can't complain. \"I even had a baby after the operation, they thought I might be malnourished or the baby would be tiny, but everything was absolutely fine.\" Cancer Research UK said some tests are available for an inherited faulty gene that can increase the risk of developing certain types of cancer. Tests for gastric cancer can include a blood test and chest X-ray, faecal sample testing, an endoscopy, ultrasound scan and laparoscopy. A gastrectomy is the name of the procedure of removing part or all of the stomach. During the procedure, a small pouch is created by connecting the gullet to either the small intestine or the remaining section of stomach. This means that the patient will still have a working digestive system, although it will not function as well as it did before. For about two weeks after the operation patients are fed through a tube into the vein, but eventually will be able to eat most foods and liquids. However, people who have had the procedure will need to eat more frequently and smaller portions, rather than three large meals a day, and take vitamin supplements to get the right amount of nutrition. Now, the food the siblings eat goes into a \"small pouch\" that was made by connecting the oesophagus to the intestine. \"I used to be 15st but now I'm only just over 10,\" Tahir said. \"I have to graze constantly because my body just can't get the nutrients it needs otherwise. \"My brother, on the other hand, he still eats like a horse.\" Omar has a different view of the procedure. He said: \"At first after everything with my mum and sister I didn't want anything to do with hospitals or doctors or anything like that. \"But seeing my Sophia go through the procedure and have a baby afterwards, I thought 'I've got no excuse'. \"It was a really hard decision for me but it was the best one I've ever made. \"I still can eat whatever I like - burgers, steaks - the only thing I get is exhaustion and cold sweats but I'm still breathing and I'm so thankful for that.\" However, Tahir's daughter, Farah, who is 21, has since tested positive for the gene too. He said: \"I am worried about my daughter's future, but I say to her we have all gone through it and are fine now, so whatever happens she'll be OK.\" Tahir underwent his surgery five and a half years ago after his test found he had clusters of cancerous cells in his stomach lining. \"They said I effectively had cancer but because it was contained in my stomach lining and I had all that removed, it eliminated it. I could have had only days, weeks, maybe a year maximum left before I would have been diagnosed with terminal cancer. \"There's no doubt in my mind that having the tests and the procedure done saved my life.\" Dr Marc Tischkowitz, consultant physician in medical genetics at the University of Cambridge, said: \"This is a very rare, specific type of stomach cancer. \"It's a gene that carriers can have for their lifetime and means that they are at risk of developing cancer any time.\" He said the stomach removal was \"a dramatic life-changing procedure\" and said there was \"no way of knowing in all cases that the person who carries the gene will 100% have developed cancer in their lifetime\". Georgina Hill, from Cancer Research UK, said: \"It's estimated only 3-10% of cancer cases are linked to an inherited faulty gene. \"Anyone worried about their genetic cancer risk should talk to their doctor, who can refer those with a strong family history of certain cancers to a genetic counselling clinic if appropriate.\" Follow BBC West Midlands on Facebook, on Twitter, and sign up for local news updates direct to your phone.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 2323, "answer_end": 3301, "text": "Cancer Research UK said some tests are available for an inherited faulty gene that can increase the risk of developing certain types of cancer. Tests for gastric cancer can include a blood test and chest X-ray, faecal sample testing, an endoscopy, ultrasound scan and laparoscopy. A gastrectomy is the name of the procedure of removing part or all of the stomach. During the procedure, a small pouch is created by connecting the gullet to either the small intestine or the remaining section of stomach. This means that the patient will still have a working digestive system, although it will not function as well as it did before. For about two weeks after the operation patients are fed through a tube into the vein, but eventually will be able to eat most foods and liquids. However, people who have had the procedure will need to eat more frequently and smaller portions, rather than three large meals a day, and take vitamin supplements to get the right amount of nutrition."}], "question": "How can you have your stomach removed?", "id": "890_0"}]}]}, {"title": "US urges calm as Kirkuk crisis escalates", "date": "17 October 2017", "paragraphs": [{"context": "The US has called for \"calm\" after Iraqi government forces seized the northern city of Kirkuk and key installations from Kurdish control. State department spokeswoman Heather Nauert urged all parties to \"avoid further clashes\". Iraqi soldiers moved into Kirkuk three weeks after the Kurdistan Region held a controversial independence referendum. They are aiming to retake areas under Kurdish control since Islamic State militants swept through the region. Residents of Kurdish-controlled areas, including Kirkuk, overwhelmingly backed secession from Iraq in a vote on 25 September. While Kirkuk is outside Iraqi Kurdistan, Kurdish voters in the city were allowed to take part. Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi had denounced the vote as unconstitutional. But the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) insisted it was legitimate. Meanwhile, reports say a militia backed by the Baghdad government has taken control of the town of Sinjar in the north-western Nineveh province. The takeover happened without violence after Kurdish Peshmerga soldiers withdrew from the area, the reports added. Kirkuk is an oil-rich province claimed by both the Kurds and the central government. It is thought to have a Kurdish majority, but its provincial capital has large Arab and Turkmen populations. Kurdish Peshmerga forces took control of much of the province in 2014, when Islamic State (IS) militants swept across northern Iraq and the Iraq army collapsed. The Iraqi parliament asked Mr Abadi to deploy troops to Kirkuk and other disputed areas after the referendum result was announced, but he said last week that he would accept them being governed by a \"joint administration\" and that he did not want an armed confrontation. On Sunday, his cabinet accused the KRG of deploying non-Peshmerga fighters in Kirkuk, including members of the PKK, which it said was tantamount to a \"declaration of war\". But KRG officials denied this. In a statement on Monday, Ms Nauert said Washington was \"very concerned by reports of violence around Kirkuk\". \"We support the peaceful exercise of joint administration by the central and regional governments, consistent with the Iraqi constitution, in all disputed areas.\" Ms Nauert said the US was working with officials from all parties to \"encourage dialogue\", warning that \"there is still much work to be done to defeat Isis (Islamic State) in Iraq\". Earlier, President Donald Trump said US officials were \"not taking sides\". \"We don't like the fact that they're clashing,\" he added. Senator John McCain, who heads the Senate Armed Services Committee, warned the Iraqi government of \"severe consequences\" if US-supplied weaponry was misused in operations against Kurdish forces. \"The United States provided equipment and training to the government of Iraq to fight (Islamic State) and secure itself from external threats - not to attack elements of one of its own regional governments.\" he said. Mr Abadi said in a statement on Monday that the operation in Kirkuk was necessary to \"protect the unity of the country, which was in danger of partition\" because of the referendum. \"We call upon all citizens to co-operate with our heroic armed forces, which are committed to our strict directives to protect civilians in the first place, and to impose security and order, and to protect state installations and institutions,\" he added. On Monday, the Iraqi military said its units had taken control of the K1 military base, the Baba Gurgur oil and gas field, and a state-owned oil company's offices. The government in Baghdad said Kurdish Peshmerga soldiers had withdrawn \"without fighting\". However, clashes were reported to the south, and the sound of gunfire was caught by a BBC cameraman as a team filmed near a checkpoint. By the afternoon, as thousands of people fled the city fearing impending clashes between the two sides, Iraqi military vehicles were rolling into the heart of Kirkuk. A picture shared on social media appeared to show Iraqi forces sitting in the governor's office. Forces pulled down the Kurdish flag which had been flying alongside the Iraqi national flag, according to Reuters. Mr Abadi had ordered the flag to fly over all disputed territories. The speed with which Iraqi forces reached the centre of the city has led the two main armed Kurdish parties to accuse each other of \"betrayal\". The Peshmerga General Command, which is led by President Massoud Barzani of the ruling Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), accused officials from the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) of aiding \"the plot against the people of Kurdistan\". The PUK denied being part of ordering any withdrawal, saying dozens of their fighters had been killed and hurt, but noted \"not even one KDP Peshmerga has been martyred as of yet in the fighting in Kirkuk\". Meanwhile Turkey, which fears Kurdish independence in Iraq could lead to similar calls from its own Kurdish minority, praised Baghdad, saying it was \"ready for any form of co-operation with the Iraqi government in order to end the PKK presence in Iraqi territory\". The PKK - or Kurdistan Workers' Party - is a Turkish-Kurdish rebel group which has been fighting for autonomy since the 1980s. It is considered a terrorist group by Turkey as well as by the EU and US.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1090, "answer_end": 1918, "text": "Kirkuk is an oil-rich province claimed by both the Kurds and the central government. It is thought to have a Kurdish majority, but its provincial capital has large Arab and Turkmen populations. Kurdish Peshmerga forces took control of much of the province in 2014, when Islamic State (IS) militants swept across northern Iraq and the Iraq army collapsed. The Iraqi parliament asked Mr Abadi to deploy troops to Kirkuk and other disputed areas after the referendum result was announced, but he said last week that he would accept them being governed by a \"joint administration\" and that he did not want an armed confrontation. On Sunday, his cabinet accused the KRG of deploying non-Peshmerga fighters in Kirkuk, including members of the PKK, which it said was tantamount to a \"declaration of war\". But KRG officials denied this."}], "question": "Why is Kirkuk at the heart of this crisis?", "id": "891_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1919, "answer_end": 2919, "text": "In a statement on Monday, Ms Nauert said Washington was \"very concerned by reports of violence around Kirkuk\". \"We support the peaceful exercise of joint administration by the central and regional governments, consistent with the Iraqi constitution, in all disputed areas.\" Ms Nauert said the US was working with officials from all parties to \"encourage dialogue\", warning that \"there is still much work to be done to defeat Isis (Islamic State) in Iraq\". Earlier, President Donald Trump said US officials were \"not taking sides\". \"We don't like the fact that they're clashing,\" he added. Senator John McCain, who heads the Senate Armed Services Committee, warned the Iraqi government of \"severe consequences\" if US-supplied weaponry was misused in operations against Kurdish forces. \"The United States provided equipment and training to the government of Iraq to fight (Islamic State) and secure itself from external threats - not to attack elements of one of its own regional governments.\" he said."}], "question": "What's the US stance in the developing crisis?", "id": "891_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2920, "answer_end": 5247, "text": "Mr Abadi said in a statement on Monday that the operation in Kirkuk was necessary to \"protect the unity of the country, which was in danger of partition\" because of the referendum. \"We call upon all citizens to co-operate with our heroic armed forces, which are committed to our strict directives to protect civilians in the first place, and to impose security and order, and to protect state installations and institutions,\" he added. On Monday, the Iraqi military said its units had taken control of the K1 military base, the Baba Gurgur oil and gas field, and a state-owned oil company's offices. The government in Baghdad said Kurdish Peshmerga soldiers had withdrawn \"without fighting\". However, clashes were reported to the south, and the sound of gunfire was caught by a BBC cameraman as a team filmed near a checkpoint. By the afternoon, as thousands of people fled the city fearing impending clashes between the two sides, Iraqi military vehicles were rolling into the heart of Kirkuk. A picture shared on social media appeared to show Iraqi forces sitting in the governor's office. Forces pulled down the Kurdish flag which had been flying alongside the Iraqi national flag, according to Reuters. Mr Abadi had ordered the flag to fly over all disputed territories. The speed with which Iraqi forces reached the centre of the city has led the two main armed Kurdish parties to accuse each other of \"betrayal\". The Peshmerga General Command, which is led by President Massoud Barzani of the ruling Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), accused officials from the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) of aiding \"the plot against the people of Kurdistan\". The PUK denied being part of ordering any withdrawal, saying dozens of their fighters had been killed and hurt, but noted \"not even one KDP Peshmerga has been martyred as of yet in the fighting in Kirkuk\". Meanwhile Turkey, which fears Kurdish independence in Iraq could lead to similar calls from its own Kurdish minority, praised Baghdad, saying it was \"ready for any form of co-operation with the Iraqi government in order to end the PKK presence in Iraqi territory\". The PKK - or Kurdistan Workers' Party - is a Turkish-Kurdish rebel group which has been fighting for autonomy since the 1980s. It is considered a terrorist group by Turkey as well as by the EU and US."}], "question": "What about Baghdad and Kurdish officials?", "id": "891_2"}]}]}, {"title": "Mourinho denies tax fraud during Real Madrid stint", "date": "20 June 2017", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho is innocent of tax fraud and had his tax affairs ratified by the Spanish government, according to his advisers. Mr Mourinho was accused by prosecutors of defrauding Spain of EUR3.3m (PS2.9m; $3.6m) in taxes while he was Real Madrid coach from 2011 to 2012. A prosecutor said Mr Mourinho, 54, did not declare income from image rights in order to get an \"illicit benefit\". A statement released on his behalf said he \"has not received any notification\". The Gestifute Media release added: \"To this date, neither the Spanish tax authorities, nor the public prosecutor have contacted Jose Mourinho or his advisers who were hired for the inspection process.\" The statement also said Mr Mourinho \"paid more than EUR26m in taxes, with an average tax rate of over 41%\" during the three years until May 2013 and that he \"entered into a settlement agreement\" with the Spanish tax authorities after a change of rules in 2015. Mr Mourinho has been accused of two counts of tax fraud - EUR1.6m in 2011 and EUR1.7m in 2012. The Madrid prosecutor said the case was presented to a local court. Other prominent football figures have been accused of tax fraud in Spain in recent months. Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo, who played under Mr Mourinho and shares the same agent, is accused of defrauding tax authorities of EUR14.7m, by also hiding his income from image rights. He denies the accusations and is threatening to leave Spain. The Portugal international is set to give evidence in his case on 31 July. James Badcock, Madrid-based journalist Jose Mourinho would join a growing list of football stars being investigated and prosecuted in Spain over accusations of tax evasion, in particular in connection with allegedly undeclared income from the sale of image rights by using companies based outside the country. In this way, Lionel Messi has been found guilty of fraud, and Cristiano Ronaldo accused by prosecutors of evading EUR14.7m. Cristiano Ronaldo and Jose Mourinho are both clients of the football agent Jorge Mendes. Other Mendes charges being investigated for alleged tax evasion while playing in La Liga include Ricardo Carvalho, Angel Di Maria and Radamel Falcao. All are accused of using a similar system, whereby their image rights were owned by companies registered in the British Virgin Islands or Panama, and which allegedly received money from intermediaries based in Ireland. A statement released by Mr Mendes' company Gestifute last week, countering reports that he was being investigated alongside Radamel Falcao, said that the Portuguese agent did \"not participate or offer any services related directly or indirectly with financial, tax or legal consulting for his clients\". Other footballers have been accused of tax fraud in Spain: - Barcelona and Argentina footballer Lionel Messi was handed a 21-month suspended jail term. His father Jorge, who manages his finances, was also convicted - Barcelona defender Javier Mascherano - also an Argentine - admitted tax fraud, escaping a jail term with a one-year suspended sentence - Barcelona and Brazilian star Neymar is facing allegations of corruption and fraud over his transfer to the Spanish club in 2013 - a case which also involves his parents. Prosecutors allege the transfer cost much more than publicly declared, and that millions were concealed from authorities - Former Barcelona president Sandro Rosell, was arrested in May as part of a money-laundering investigation - Uefa Cup with Porto in 2003 - Champions League twice, with Porto in 2003 and Inter Milan 2010 - Premier League three times with Chelsea in 2004-05, 2005-06, 2014-15 - La Liga title with Real Madrid in 2011-2012 - Europa League with Manchester United in 2017", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1538, "answer_end": 2732, "text": "James Badcock, Madrid-based journalist Jose Mourinho would join a growing list of football stars being investigated and prosecuted in Spain over accusations of tax evasion, in particular in connection with allegedly undeclared income from the sale of image rights by using companies based outside the country. In this way, Lionel Messi has been found guilty of fraud, and Cristiano Ronaldo accused by prosecutors of evading EUR14.7m. Cristiano Ronaldo and Jose Mourinho are both clients of the football agent Jorge Mendes. Other Mendes charges being investigated for alleged tax evasion while playing in La Liga include Ricardo Carvalho, Angel Di Maria and Radamel Falcao. All are accused of using a similar system, whereby their image rights were owned by companies registered in the British Virgin Islands or Panama, and which allegedly received money from intermediaries based in Ireland. A statement released by Mr Mendes' company Gestifute last week, countering reports that he was being investigated alongside Radamel Falcao, said that the Portuguese agent did \"not participate or offer any services related directly or indirectly with financial, tax or legal consulting for his clients\"."}], "question": "Why Mourinho?", "id": "892_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Israel-Palestinian violence flares in West Bank and Gaza", "date": "16 October 2015", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Fresh violence has erupted between Israel and Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza, with three Palestinians killed in clashes, Palestinians say. Two were killed in confrontations with Israeli troops over the Gaza border, medical sources said. Also, in the West Bank, a Palestinian posing as a journalist stabbed and injured a soldier and was shot dead. Violence between the two sides has spiralled, with near-daily stabbings by Palestinians of Israelis this month. Seven Israelis have been killed and dozens wounded in the stabbings and some gun attacks. At least 37 Palestinians, including several of the attackers, have been killed in the growing unrest. The upsurge began last month when tensions at a flashpoint holy site in East Jerusalem revered by Jews and Muslims boiled over amid rumours Israel planned to relax long-standing rules to strengthen Jewish rights at the complex. Israel has repeatedly denied such claims. The UN Security Council held an emergency meeting on Friday on the upsurge of violence. Opening the meeting, UN Assistant Secretary-General Taye-Brook Zerihoun welcomed repeated assurances by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that the status quo at the flashpoint holy compound, known to Jews as Temple Mount and Muslims as Haram al-Sharif, would not change. But he said that \"reckless statements made by Palestinian and Israeli extremist elements reinforced by some mainstream voices as well\" had created a different impression. A second factor behind the recent escalation in violence was the \"heavy handed approach by the Israeli security services\", he said. The Israeli deputy ambassador to the UN, David Roet, defended Israel's approach, saying it faced an enemy \"willing to die in order to kill\" and was \"responding proportionately\". What is driving the latest violence? Jeremy Bowen: Fear and loathing in holy city Can Israel and the Palestinians contain spiralling violence? Violent protests spread across parts of the West Bank on Friday, with clashes reported in Bethlehem, Ramallah, Tulkarm and Nablus, where a Palestinian was killed, Palestinian medical sources said. Pictures from Bethlehem showed masked Palestinians throwing sling-shots at troops from behind industrial bins, as soldiers fired tear gas to disperse them. Similar scenes played out in other parts of the occupied territories. In Gaza, protesters, some throwing stones, advanced towards the border fence with Israel when troops opened fire, reports say. The health ministry in Gaza said two Palestinians were killed in separate incidents, and dozens of other people injured. It came on what Hamas, the Islamist group dominant in Gaza, had earlier declared a \"day of rage\" against Israel. Earlier, Palestinian rioters torched a Jewish holy site in the West Bank city of Nablus, amid soaring tensions. Dozens of Palestinians overran Joseph's Tomb, revered as the resting of the biblical figure, and where Jews go to pray. Palestinian police dispersed the crowd and firefighters extinguished the blaze before Israeli security forces arrived. Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas condemned the attack on the tomb as \"illegal\", adding that it \"offends our culture and our religion and our values\". Elsewhere in the occupied West Bank, a Palestinian disguised as a news photographer stabbed and moderately wounded an Israeli soldier, the Israeli military said. It said the attacker was shot dead in the incident in the Jewish settlement of Kiryat Arba, next to Hebron. US President Barack Obama said he was \"very concerned about the outbreak of violence\" and urged leaders on both sides to \"try to tamp down rhetoric that may feed violence or anger or misunderstanding\". US Secretary of State John Kerry spoke to both Mr Abbas and Mr Netanyahu on the phone to \"offer his support for efforts to restore calm\". Mr Kerry also discussed plans to meet Mr Netanyahu \"in the near future\". Reports suggest the meeting is likely to take place in Germany next week. There has been a spate of stabbings of Israelis - several of them fatal - by Palestinians since early October, and one apparent revenge stabbing by an Israeli. The attackers have struck in Jerusalem and central and northern Israel, and in the occupied West Bank. Israel has tightened security and its security forces have clashed with rioting Palestinians, leading to deaths on the Palestinian side. The violence has also spread to the border with Gaza. After a period of relative quiet, violence between the two communities has spiralled since clashes erupted at a flashpoint Jerusalem holy site in mid-September. It was fuelled by rumours among Palestinians that Israel was attempting to alter a long-standing religious arrangement governing the site. Israel repeatedly dismissed the rumours as incitement. Soon afterwards, two Israelis were shot dead by Palestinians in the West Bank and the stabbing attacks began. Both Israel and the Palestinian authorities have accused one another of doing nothing to protect each other's communities. There have been two organised uprisings by Palestinians against Israeli occupation, in the 1980s and early 2000s. With peace talks moribund, some observers have questioned whether we are now seeing a third. The stabbing attacks seem to be opportunistic and although they have been praised by militant groups, Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas has said Palestinians are not interested in a further escalation. What is driving the latest violence? Are you in Nablus? Have you been affected by the issues in this story? You can share your comments and experience by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. 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 7525 900971 - Send pictures/video to yourpics@bbc.co.uk - Tweet: @BBC_HaveYourSay - Send an SMS or MMS to +44 7624 800 100", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 3962, "answer_end": 4415, "text": "There has been a spate of stabbings of Israelis - several of them fatal - by Palestinians since early October, and one apparent revenge stabbing by an Israeli. The attackers have struck in Jerusalem and central and northern Israel, and in the occupied West Bank. Israel has tightened security and its security forces have clashed with rioting Palestinians, leading to deaths on the Palestinian side. The violence has also spread to the border with Gaza."}], "question": "What is happening between Israelis and Palestinians?", "id": "893_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 4416, "answer_end": 5003, "text": "After a period of relative quiet, violence between the two communities has spiralled since clashes erupted at a flashpoint Jerusalem holy site in mid-September. It was fuelled by rumours among Palestinians that Israel was attempting to alter a long-standing religious arrangement governing the site. Israel repeatedly dismissed the rumours as incitement. Soon afterwards, two Israelis were shot dead by Palestinians in the West Bank and the stabbing attacks began. Both Israel and the Palestinian authorities have accused one another of doing nothing to protect each other's communities."}], "question": "What's behind the latest unrest?", "id": "893_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 5004, "answer_end": 5448, "text": "There have been two organised uprisings by Palestinians against Israeli occupation, in the 1980s and early 2000s. With peace talks moribund, some observers have questioned whether we are now seeing a third. The stabbing attacks seem to be opportunistic and although they have been praised by militant groups, Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas has said Palestinians are not interested in a further escalation. What is driving the latest violence?"}], "question": "Is this a new Palestinian intifada, or uprising?", "id": "893_2"}]}]}, {"title": "Genome sequencing 'revolution' in diagnosis of sick children", "date": "10 June 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Genome sequencing is set to revolutionise the diagnosis of rare childhood conditions, according to researchers in Cambridge. All seriously ill children in England with an unexplained disorder will be eligible for genome analysis, which involves mapping a person's entire genetic code, from next year. It follows a project at Addenbrooke's Hospital and Cambridge university. One in four children in intensive care had a genetic disorder, it found. Researchers were able to give a diagnosis within two to three weeks, which sometimes led to a change in treatment or spared children further invasive tests. In each case, the whole genome of the child and both their parents were sequenced, which showed whether a gene fault had been passed on. So far, about 350 babies and children in intensive care at Addenbrooke's Hospital have had their genome, made up of billions of letters of DNA code, analysed as part of the Next Generation Children research project. In two-thirds of cases, the gene error had occurred spontaneously at conception rather than being inherited. The children had a range of conditions - including birth abnormalities, neurological symptoms including epilepsy, metabolic diseases or reduced growth. Lucy Raymond, professor of medical genetics and neurodevelopment at the University of Cambridge, who led the project, said: \"It is astonishing to be able to give a meaningful result from whole genome sequencing analysis in just a couple of weeks, compared to earlier in my career, when we spent years simply trying to locate a single gene.\" One surprising finding was that a child's appearance and clinical symptoms alone were rarely a good predictor of whether they had a genetic condition. Prof Raymond said the project would be used as a template by the NHS Genomic Medicine Service and rolled out across England in 2020. This will mean that any baby or child in England admitted to intensive care with an unexplained condition will be eligible, together with their parents, for whole genome sequencing - the first national health service in the world to offer this. First, a more rapid diagnosis. That was the case for Claire Cole and Kris Daly, parents of Millie-Mae, aged two, who has a rare form of epilepsy. They were offered whole genome sequencing last year, after Millie-Mae had been repeatedly admitted to hospital with uncontrolled seizures. Claire told BBC News:  \"We were given the result when she was in intensive care, and they immediately changed one of her medications which was aggravating for her type of epilepsy. \"We saw a big difference as soon as that change was made,\" she said. Kris added: \"The test result came amazingly quickly and was priceless, because it allowed us to put all the correct people in place and do the best for her.\" Claire and Kris, from Suffolk, who have three other older children, were told that Millie-Mae's condition was the result of a spontaneous mutation rather than being passed on from them. Claire said: \"Millie-Mae has Dravet syndrome, which is a serious condition, so it was a difficult thing to be told, but I'm glad we have a diagnosis now, as not knowing would be very hard.\" Millie-Mae has a mutation in the SCN1A gene and routine genetic testing would have eventually revealed this. But Prof Raymond said this would have taken many more months, and with other conditions it could take years for families to get a diagnosis. She said: \"Parents will no longer have to suffer an agonising diagnostic odyssey of going to different specialists repeating their story and we can use that time focused on the care of the child.\" The move to whole genome analysis has become possible because of the dramatic increase in the speed of sequencing, and the fall in price. It costs less than PS1,000 to sequence a genome but Prof Raymond said this could eventually save the NHS money through avoiding repeated diagnostic tests when trying to find the cause of a rare disorder, which could previously take many years. In the case of Katie and Ian Picken, from Essex, it explained why their baby daughter, Seren, died, and gave them certainty that their son, Rhys, was unaffected. Seren was born in September 2017, apparently healthy, but within a few weeks she began to have seizures and was admitted to intensive care.  Her condition deteriorated and she died at 13 weeks. Seren and her parents had had blood samples taken, which were sent for whole genome sequencing. The samples confirmed that she had a fatal mitochondrial disorder, but its cause could not be pinpointed because no variants were found in any genes known to cause disease. Prof Raymond and her team had found two variants in a previously unreported gene, NDUFA6, and that Seren had inherited one from each parent, but the role of the gene was unclear. In May 2018, Katie and Ian contacted Addenbrooke's to tell them that she was pregnant, and this prompted an urgent reanalysis of their genomes to establish whether the couple were at risk of passing on a fatal disorder. Using GeneMatcher, Prof Raymond uploaded the gene variants on to a global database and found three other children with the same incredibly rare condition, which affects mitochondrial function. A research paper was published within weeks, recording the first cases of the disorder - which was essential because the NHS can only offer prenatal testing for a gene if it has been published in medical literature. Katie had chorionic villus sampling at 15 weeks, where a small sample of cells is removed from the placenta. Both parents had passed on a faulty copy of the NDUFA6 gene to Seren, so it meant there was a one in four chance they would pass on the fatal disorder to their unborn son. There then followed an anxious few days waiting for the results before they got a call from Prof Raymond saying the pregnancy was unaffected. Ian said: \"It was a hugely emotional moment; we sat and cried with happiness, and with sadness because of what we had gone through with Seren.\" The couple's son, Rhys, was born in December 2018, a year after the death of his sister, and is completely healthy. \"Genomics has the potential to transform the delivery of care for patients which is why the NHS has prioritised it in its Long Term Plan,\" said Prof Dame Sue Hill, chief scientific officer of NHS England. \"This Cambridge trial is important because not only does it show the potential benefits of whole genome sequencing to significantly improve care for seriously ill children, but it also demonstrates this technology can be delivered as part of a mainstream NHS service.\" Follow Fergus on Twitter.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 2088, "answer_end": 3985, "text": "First, a more rapid diagnosis. That was the case for Claire Cole and Kris Daly, parents of Millie-Mae, aged two, who has a rare form of epilepsy. They were offered whole genome sequencing last year, after Millie-Mae had been repeatedly admitted to hospital with uncontrolled seizures. Claire told BBC News:  \"We were given the result when she was in intensive care, and they immediately changed one of her medications which was aggravating for her type of epilepsy. \"We saw a big difference as soon as that change was made,\" she said. Kris added: \"The test result came amazingly quickly and was priceless, because it allowed us to put all the correct people in place and do the best for her.\" Claire and Kris, from Suffolk, who have three other older children, were told that Millie-Mae's condition was the result of a spontaneous mutation rather than being passed on from them. Claire said: \"Millie-Mae has Dravet syndrome, which is a serious condition, so it was a difficult thing to be told, but I'm glad we have a diagnosis now, as not knowing would be very hard.\" Millie-Mae has a mutation in the SCN1A gene and routine genetic testing would have eventually revealed this. But Prof Raymond said this would have taken many more months, and with other conditions it could take years for families to get a diagnosis. She said: \"Parents will no longer have to suffer an agonising diagnostic odyssey of going to different specialists repeating their story and we can use that time focused on the care of the child.\" The move to whole genome analysis has become possible because of the dramatic increase in the speed of sequencing, and the fall in price. It costs less than PS1,000 to sequence a genome but Prof Raymond said this could eventually save the NHS money through avoiding repeated diagnostic tests when trying to find the cause of a rare disorder, which could previously take many years."}], "question": "So what will it mean for families?", "id": "894_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3986, "answer_end": 6601, "text": "In the case of Katie and Ian Picken, from Essex, it explained why their baby daughter, Seren, died, and gave them certainty that their son, Rhys, was unaffected. Seren was born in September 2017, apparently healthy, but within a few weeks she began to have seizures and was admitted to intensive care.  Her condition deteriorated and she died at 13 weeks. Seren and her parents had had blood samples taken, which were sent for whole genome sequencing. The samples confirmed that she had a fatal mitochondrial disorder, but its cause could not be pinpointed because no variants were found in any genes known to cause disease. Prof Raymond and her team had found two variants in a previously unreported gene, NDUFA6, and that Seren had inherited one from each parent, but the role of the gene was unclear. In May 2018, Katie and Ian contacted Addenbrooke's to tell them that she was pregnant, and this prompted an urgent reanalysis of their genomes to establish whether the couple were at risk of passing on a fatal disorder. Using GeneMatcher, Prof Raymond uploaded the gene variants on to a global database and found three other children with the same incredibly rare condition, which affects mitochondrial function. A research paper was published within weeks, recording the first cases of the disorder - which was essential because the NHS can only offer prenatal testing for a gene if it has been published in medical literature. Katie had chorionic villus sampling at 15 weeks, where a small sample of cells is removed from the placenta. Both parents had passed on a faulty copy of the NDUFA6 gene to Seren, so it meant there was a one in four chance they would pass on the fatal disorder to their unborn son. There then followed an anxious few days waiting for the results before they got a call from Prof Raymond saying the pregnancy was unaffected. Ian said: \"It was a hugely emotional moment; we sat and cried with happiness, and with sadness because of what we had gone through with Seren.\" The couple's son, Rhys, was born in December 2018, a year after the death of his sister, and is completely healthy. \"Genomics has the potential to transform the delivery of care for patients which is why the NHS has prioritised it in its Long Term Plan,\" said Prof Dame Sue Hill, chief scientific officer of NHS England. \"This Cambridge trial is important because not only does it show the potential benefits of whole genome sequencing to significantly improve care for seriously ill children, but it also demonstrates this technology can be delivered as part of a mainstream NHS service.\" Follow Fergus on Twitter."}], "question": "How else could whole genome sequencing help families?", "id": "894_1"}]}]}, {"title": "Iran says US illegally detained reporter Marzieh Hashemi", "date": "16 January 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Iran has called on the US to release one of its journalists who, it says, was illegally arrested by the FBI while making a family visit. American-born reporter Marzieh Hashemi was reportedly taken into custody upon landing in St Louis on Sunday and subjected to \"inhumane\" conditions. Ms Hashemi's reported arrest came after Iran detained at least four Americans, some on espionage charges. The FBI declined to comment on the situation in an email to the BBC. Ms Hashemi, 59, is reportedly now in Washington DC following her arrest at St Louis Lambert International Airport. US media have been unable to verify Ms Hashemi's situation with any local jails. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Bahram Qasemi said Iran condemned the treatment of Ms Hashemi. Ms Hashemi's employer, the English-language state broadcaster Press TV, issued a lengthy statement expressing \"strong protest\" at Ms Hashemi's situation. According to the outlet, Ms Hashemi told her family in a phone call on Tuesday she had been \"subjected to violent and abusive treatment from the very onset\". She said she did not know why she had been detained. The authorities allegedly forced her to remove her hijab and allowed her to wear only a short-sleeved shirt, going against her Muslim beliefs. The statement says she was also denied halal (adhering to Islamic law) food, \"being offered only pork as a meal and not even bread\", and as a result ate just a packet of crackers after her apprehension. \"We, further, call for the immediate and unconditional release of Ms Hashemi, and for the US government to apologize to both the journalist and the international media community for her treatment,\" Press TV said. Ms Hashemi was born Melanie Franklin in the US and changed her name when converting to Islam. She is reportedly married to an Iranian. Maryam Azarchehr, a fellow Press TV journalist, said Ms Hashemi had been in the US for two weeks before she was arrested trying to fly to Colorado from Louisiana. Ms Azarchehr said Ms Hashemi, a grandmother of three who is on medication for heart conditions, had been chained and shackled in detention. The allegation could not be verified independently. Tensions have been high between the US and Iran under President Donald Trump. At least four Americans have been detained in Iran on what the US has called fabricated charges. Some have been convicted and sentenced to lengthy prison terms; another US man has been missing for over a decade. Last week, Iran confirmed the arrest of an ex-US sailor, Michael White - the first detention under the Trump presidency - though it is unclear what charges he faces. In 2018, Mr Trump pulled the US out of the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, reimposing sanctions and souring relations between the two nations. The Trump administration was open to discussing prisoners last year, but Iranian officials refused, CBS News reports. The US and Iran do not maintain diplomatic relations, and communications between the two nations are passed along by Swiss diplomats.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 656, "answer_end": 2167, "text": "Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Bahram Qasemi said Iran condemned the treatment of Ms Hashemi. Ms Hashemi's employer, the English-language state broadcaster Press TV, issued a lengthy statement expressing \"strong protest\" at Ms Hashemi's situation. According to the outlet, Ms Hashemi told her family in a phone call on Tuesday she had been \"subjected to violent and abusive treatment from the very onset\". She said she did not know why she had been detained. The authorities allegedly forced her to remove her hijab and allowed her to wear only a short-sleeved shirt, going against her Muslim beliefs. The statement says she was also denied halal (adhering to Islamic law) food, \"being offered only pork as a meal and not even bread\", and as a result ate just a packet of crackers after her apprehension. \"We, further, call for the immediate and unconditional release of Ms Hashemi, and for the US government to apologize to both the journalist and the international media community for her treatment,\" Press TV said. Ms Hashemi was born Melanie Franklin in the US and changed her name when converting to Islam. She is reportedly married to an Iranian. Maryam Azarchehr, a fellow Press TV journalist, said Ms Hashemi had been in the US for two weeks before she was arrested trying to fly to Colorado from Louisiana. Ms Azarchehr said Ms Hashemi, a grandmother of three who is on medication for heart conditions, had been chained and shackled in detention. The allegation could not be verified independently."}], "question": "What do the Iranians say happened?", "id": "895_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2168, "answer_end": 3010, "text": "Tensions have been high between the US and Iran under President Donald Trump. At least four Americans have been detained in Iran on what the US has called fabricated charges. Some have been convicted and sentenced to lengthy prison terms; another US man has been missing for over a decade. Last week, Iran confirmed the arrest of an ex-US sailor, Michael White - the first detention under the Trump presidency - though it is unclear what charges he faces. In 2018, Mr Trump pulled the US out of the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, reimposing sanctions and souring relations between the two nations. The Trump administration was open to discussing prisoners last year, but Iranian officials refused, CBS News reports. The US and Iran do not maintain diplomatic relations, and communications between the two nations are passed along by Swiss diplomats."}], "question": "Why are relations so poor?", "id": "895_1"}]}]}, {"title": "China to restrict North Korea's Air Koryo after emergency landing", "date": "18 August 2016", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Chinese authorities will limit the operations of North Korean airline Air Koryo, after a Beijing-bound flight made an emergency landing last month. The flight from Pyongyang had to land in the North-eastern Chinese city of Shenyang because of smoke in the cabin. No one was injured in the incident. China's Civil Aviation Administration announced \"relevant measures to limit operations\" without giving any details. The state-owned airline was also told to improve training and maintenance. Most of Air Koryo's international flights are to China, with a few scheduled flights to Russia. \"China has become a little bit more active recently in naming and shaming airlines that make mistakes,\" Greg Waldron of Flightglobal told the BBC. \"And we've noticed a recent pick up in that.\" \"The North Korean airline would likely be a very resource-deprived airline, operating a number of older airplanes. And often, that older equipment is difficult to maintain. By international standards it would not be a great airline.\" The Chinese aviation regulator did not give any details on the measures it would impose but Mr Waldron thinks it's unlikely there would be a ban on flights or even a fine for the North Korean carrier. \"It's really hard to say exactly what they could do. Anything between North Korea and China is very difficult because it's always also political.\" Britain-based airline ratings website Skytrax lists the carrier as the world's only \"one star\" airline, though its rating does not measure safety standards. Though by no means a tourist airline, Air Koryo is the main way that visitors to North Korea can enter the country. Simon Cockerell of Beijing-based Koryo Tours, a leading independent tour agency focusing on North Korea, told the BBC that he doubts the new development would have an impact on tourism. \"Our guests are generally happy with the airline. They mostly fly at least one route with Air Koryo, some also take the train on the way in or out. They do some research and then aren't put off by that Skytrax ranking which has nothing at all to do with safety standards.\" Air Koryo is North Korea's only airline and was established in 1950. The airline has only a small fleet, mostly consisting of Russian-built Tupolev and Ukrainian Antonov aircraft, for its international flights. The service from Pyongyang to Beijing uses a Russian Tupolev Tu-204, a medium-range jet airliner that can carry about 140 passengers. \"The oldest planes they are using on international routes are from 2008,\" Mr Cockerell explains. \"For their Antonov planes built in Ukraine for instance they have Ukrainian technicians doing the maintenance.\" On domestic routes however, older Soviet-era aircraft are still used, some of which are so old that aviation enthusiasts can book specialised tours to experience flying in aircrafts dating back to the early days of the Cold War.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1361, "answer_end": 2875, "text": "Britain-based airline ratings website Skytrax lists the carrier as the world's only \"one star\" airline, though its rating does not measure safety standards. Though by no means a tourist airline, Air Koryo is the main way that visitors to North Korea can enter the country. Simon Cockerell of Beijing-based Koryo Tours, a leading independent tour agency focusing on North Korea, told the BBC that he doubts the new development would have an impact on tourism. \"Our guests are generally happy with the airline. They mostly fly at least one route with Air Koryo, some also take the train on the way in or out. They do some research and then aren't put off by that Skytrax ranking which has nothing at all to do with safety standards.\" Air Koryo is North Korea's only airline and was established in 1950. The airline has only a small fleet, mostly consisting of Russian-built Tupolev and Ukrainian Antonov aircraft, for its international flights. The service from Pyongyang to Beijing uses a Russian Tupolev Tu-204, a medium-range jet airliner that can carry about 140 passengers. \"The oldest planes they are using on international routes are from 2008,\" Mr Cockerell explains. \"For their Antonov planes built in Ukraine for instance they have Ukrainian technicians doing the maintenance.\" On domestic routes however, older Soviet-era aircraft are still used, some of which are so old that aviation enthusiasts can book specialised tours to experience flying in aircrafts dating back to the early days of the Cold War."}], "question": "The world's 'one star' carrier?", "id": "896_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Republican holdouts back tax bill despite $1tn deficit alert", "date": "1 December 2017", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Republicans who control the US Senate say they are confident of passing the biggest tax cuts since the Reagan era as soon as Friday. Party leaders sounded bullish after three Republican holdouts said yes despite a Senate committee finding it would add $1tn (PS742bn) to the deficit. The committee's report contradicts a White House claim that economic growth would compensate for the tax cuts. President Donald Trump wants the measure enacted by Christmas. The nonpartisan Senate Joint Committee on Taxation found on Thursday that the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act would add significantly to the federal deficit over a decade. But Senators Ron Johnson, Jeff Flake and Steve Daines said on Friday they would support the legislation, which includes steep corporate tax cuts. Mr Daines, of Montana, and Mr Johnson, of Wisconsin, and Mr Flake, of Arizona, were among a dwindling band of Republicans on the fence. \"After weeks of fighting for Main Street businesses including Montana's farmers and ranchers, I've decided to support the Senate tax cut bill which provides significant tax relief for Main Street businesses,\" Mr Daines said in a statement. John Cornyn, majority whip of the chamber, said he is confident the party has the votes to pass the bill. \"We are confident of the 50 and would like to build on that,\" he said. Senate Republicans can afford to lose just two members of their party if they are to succeed. The votes of Senators Bob Corker of Tennessee and James Lankford of Oklahoma were also being courted by the Republican leadership. The party's fiscal conservatives have for years lamented the nation's debt time bomb. But despite the Senate committee's deficit warning, the party is full steam ahead on the bill. If it passes, the Senate would need to merge its legislation with that passed last month by the House of Representatives. The reconciled bill would then be sent to the president's desk for his signature to be enacted into law. - Under the Senate bill, the corporate tax cut would not go into effect until 2019, instead of going into effect immediately. - The Senate bill would repeal the requirement that individuals have health insurance or face a fine. That is not included in the House plan. - The Senate bill does not allow households to deduct anything for state and local property taxes, a sticking point for lawmakers in high-cost states. The House plan allows families to deduct up to $10,000 in property taxes. - The Senate bill doubles the amount of money exempt from inheritance tax. The House plan would also eventually eliminate the inheritance tax entirely. - The Senate bill maintains seven tax brackets, but cuts the top rate to 38.5%, while the House would slim the number of brackets to four, preserving a top rate of 39.5%. - The Senate preserves some popular benefits for people with medical expenses and student loans, which the House would eliminate. The details of the Senate bill remain in flux. The heart of the proposal is a move to slash the corporate rate from 35% to 20%, a move that supporters say will make the US more competitive. But as a vote nears, some senators have raised the possibility of lowering the rate to 22%, in an effort to reduce the cost of the proposal. The plan would also boost the amount individuals and families can deduct from their tax bill, while eliminating other targeted benefits. That change is meant to simplify tax filing for the average household. But the bill's effects would be much broader. For example, the Senate has proposed eliminating a requirement that people have health insurance - a change that would rock US insurance markets. Wall Street expects to benefit from lower rates, as companies use additional cash to buy back shares or pay out higher dividends. But the effects of the changes are mixed for households. Wealthy families would benefit from proposals such as one that would increase the amount exempt from inheritance tax. Analyses suggest some lower- and middle-class families would eventually see higher bills as other benefits expire. One of the most controversial parts of the bill is a measure that would stop allowing families to deduct their state and local taxes from their federal bills. The issue is especially important in high-tax states, many of which are Democratic.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 2897, "answer_end": 3627, "text": "The details of the Senate bill remain in flux. The heart of the proposal is a move to slash the corporate rate from 35% to 20%, a move that supporters say will make the US more competitive. But as a vote nears, some senators have raised the possibility of lowering the rate to 22%, in an effort to reduce the cost of the proposal. The plan would also boost the amount individuals and families can deduct from their tax bill, while eliminating other targeted benefits. That change is meant to simplify tax filing for the average household. But the bill's effects would be much broader. For example, the Senate has proposed eliminating a requirement that people have health insurance - a change that would rock US insurance markets."}], "question": "What is in the bill?", "id": "897_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3628, "answer_end": 4290, "text": "Wall Street expects to benefit from lower rates, as companies use additional cash to buy back shares or pay out higher dividends. But the effects of the changes are mixed for households. Wealthy families would benefit from proposals such as one that would increase the amount exempt from inheritance tax. Analyses suggest some lower- and middle-class families would eventually see higher bills as other benefits expire. One of the most controversial parts of the bill is a measure that would stop allowing families to deduct their state and local taxes from their federal bills. The issue is especially important in high-tax states, many of which are Democratic."}], "question": "Who will benefit?", "id": "897_1"}]}]}, {"title": "Climate change: Can 12 billion tonnes of carbon be sucked from the air?", "date": "29 November 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Is it remotely feasible to remove 12 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide from the air? Every year. For decades to come. That's the challenge posed by the latest conclusions of the UN's climate science panel. It says that only by pulling this heat-trapping gas out of the atmosphere can we avoid dangerous climate change. But according to one leading researcher, there's a bit of a hitch: \"We haven't a clue how to do it\". The problem is that scientists reckon that even if the world manages to cut emissions of the gas, it will no longer be enough to avoid the worst impacts. We've got to go a step further, they say, and find ways of doing something never attempted before: get rid of the gas that's already out there.  And get started on it as soon as possible. On an unimaginable scale. The most headline-grabbing solution is for giant machines to filter the air and strip out the gas, as my colleague Matt McGrath has reported. But although the costs are falling, they remain very high and many wonder whether it's feasible to plaster the planet with so much hardware. Forests do the job of soaking up carbon dioxide, because the trees need it to grow, but if they're left to rot or are burned, the gas will be released back out again. There are schemes for fertilising the oceans to encourage plankton to flourish, absorb CO2 and drag it to the ocean floor - but there are risks of unintended consequences. Yet another avenue is to mimic a geological process known as weathering, in which rocks are broken down in a chemical reaction that draws carbon dioxide from the air. This happens all the time naturally but took off in spectacular fashion more than 400 million years ago. In an ancient chain reaction, as land-based plants evolved to become larger, it's believed their roots sought to extract more mineral nutrients from the rocks, eroding them and exposing them to the air. That in turn led to a massive reduction in CO2 in the atmosphere. Could the same effect be repeated? Prof David Beerling hopes so. A scientist at Sheffield University, he's leading a ten-year project with a PS10m budget from the Leverhulme Trust to investigate the climate potential of rock. The concept is to take the volcanic rock basalt, grind it up into a powder and then scatter it on fields. Trials on a research farm in Illinois have found that the basalt acts as a fertiliser, boosting crop yields, which might help persuade farmers to use it instead of high-carbon artificial fertiliser. And early results from smaller experiments in Prof Beerling's lab in Sheffield show a more profound benefit: that the presence of the rock in the soil also boosts the amount of carbon dioxide that's taken up, maybe by as much as four times. As part of the project, trials using basalt have started in Malaysia and Australia to see how different environments affect the results. The vision is for the biggest emitters such as the US, China and Brazil to take this up, use basalt on their vast agri-businesses and - ideally - soak up a few billion tonnes of CO2. Prof Beerling knows that some regard this as over-optimistic but he is clear that a grand strategy is needed. \"Once CO2 goes up into the air, it doesn't come down unless you do something about it, and the effects last for millennia. And once the ice sheets go, that's it,\" with millions of people living on or close to coastlines at risk. \"At the moment we have no idea how to remove billions of tonnes of CO2 from the atmosphere... it's an enormous technological challenge that dwarfs anything we've seen before.\" If it all had to be freshly dug up, the environmental cost might doom the idea from the start. But the industrial age has cleared billions of tonnes of the right kind of rock from open-cast mines and has also generated massive amounts of \"slag\" - waste from iron and steel production - which could also be used. The practical challenges are obviously immense. But the slag itself, which historically was dumped unwanted in mountainous heaps, is surprisingly good at trapping CO2. Dr Phil Renforth of Cardiff University has been gathering samples from some forgotten corners of Britain's industrial heritage. I joined him on a dark hillside in south Wales. \"Globally we produce half a billion tonnes of slag around the world,\" he said, \"and that could capture something on the order of a quarter of a billion tonnes of CO2. \"So it's not going to do everything but it might be relevant for us.\" That's a question that usually produces shrugs. Too little is known at this stage. I ask Prof Beerling when the basalt-spraying technique might be in use, assuming it's eventually proven to work on a large scale. \"The infrastructure for farmers to deploy basalt on their crops is already in place. If proven safe and effective, it might be deployable within a decade or two,\" he says. Yet all the time, even more CO2 is being added to the atmosphere - and with few options for reversing it. Follow David on Twitter.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 787, "answer_end": 2175, "text": "The most headline-grabbing solution is for giant machines to filter the air and strip out the gas, as my colleague Matt McGrath has reported. But although the costs are falling, they remain very high and many wonder whether it's feasible to plaster the planet with so much hardware. Forests do the job of soaking up carbon dioxide, because the trees need it to grow, but if they're left to rot or are burned, the gas will be released back out again. There are schemes for fertilising the oceans to encourage plankton to flourish, absorb CO2 and drag it to the ocean floor - but there are risks of unintended consequences. Yet another avenue is to mimic a geological process known as weathering, in which rocks are broken down in a chemical reaction that draws carbon dioxide from the air. This happens all the time naturally but took off in spectacular fashion more than 400 million years ago. In an ancient chain reaction, as land-based plants evolved to become larger, it's believed their roots sought to extract more mineral nutrients from the rocks, eroding them and exposing them to the air. That in turn led to a massive reduction in CO2 in the atmosphere. Could the same effect be repeated? Prof David Beerling hopes so. A scientist at Sheffield University, he's leading a ten-year project with a PS10m budget from the Leverhulme Trust to investigate the climate potential of rock."}], "question": "What ideas are around?", "id": "898_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2176, "answer_end": 3556, "text": "The concept is to take the volcanic rock basalt, grind it up into a powder and then scatter it on fields. Trials on a research farm in Illinois have found that the basalt acts as a fertiliser, boosting crop yields, which might help persuade farmers to use it instead of high-carbon artificial fertiliser. And early results from smaller experiments in Prof Beerling's lab in Sheffield show a more profound benefit: that the presence of the rock in the soil also boosts the amount of carbon dioxide that's taken up, maybe by as much as four times. As part of the project, trials using basalt have started in Malaysia and Australia to see how different environments affect the results. The vision is for the biggest emitters such as the US, China and Brazil to take this up, use basalt on their vast agri-businesses and - ideally - soak up a few billion tonnes of CO2. Prof Beerling knows that some regard this as over-optimistic but he is clear that a grand strategy is needed. \"Once CO2 goes up into the air, it doesn't come down unless you do something about it, and the effects last for millennia. And once the ice sheets go, that's it,\" with millions of people living on or close to coastlines at risk. \"At the moment we have no idea how to remove billions of tonnes of CO2 from the atmosphere... it's an enormous technological challenge that dwarfs anything we've seen before.\""}], "question": "How could rock help tackle global warming?", "id": "898_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3557, "answer_end": 4449, "text": "If it all had to be freshly dug up, the environmental cost might doom the idea from the start. But the industrial age has cleared billions of tonnes of the right kind of rock from open-cast mines and has also generated massive amounts of \"slag\" - waste from iron and steel production - which could also be used. The practical challenges are obviously immense. But the slag itself, which historically was dumped unwanted in mountainous heaps, is surprisingly good at trapping CO2. Dr Phil Renforth of Cardiff University has been gathering samples from some forgotten corners of Britain's industrial heritage. I joined him on a dark hillside in south Wales. \"Globally we produce half a billion tonnes of slag around the world,\" he said, \"and that could capture something on the order of a quarter of a billion tonnes of CO2. \"So it's not going to do everything but it might be relevant for us.\""}], "question": "Where would all this rock come from?", "id": "898_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 4450, "answer_end": 4965, "text": "That's a question that usually produces shrugs. Too little is known at this stage. I ask Prof Beerling when the basalt-spraying technique might be in use, assuming it's eventually proven to work on a large scale. \"The infrastructure for farmers to deploy basalt on their crops is already in place. If proven safe and effective, it might be deployable within a decade or two,\" he says. Yet all the time, even more CO2 is being added to the atmosphere - and with few options for reversing it. Follow David on Twitter."}], "question": "When might any of these ideas be ready?", "id": "898_3"}]}]}, {"title": "Ivan Golunov arrest: Russian reporter is freed after public outcry", "date": "11 June 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "A Russian journalist has been freed after drug-dealing charges against him were dropped following a public outcry. Russian newspapers had rallied round freelancer Ivan Golunov in a rare public show of support. Mr Golunov cried as he was freed from a police station on Tuesday and vowed to continue his investigative journalism. Interior Minister Vladimir Kolokoltsev admitted his guilt had \"not been proven\" and said an internal inquiry had been launched. The decision came after \"forensic, biological, fingerprinting and genetic tests\", the minister added. Mr Kolokoltsev said he would ask Russian President Vladimir Putin to dismiss two high-ranking officials over the case: the head of the Interior Affairs Directorate of Moscow's Western Administrative District, Gen Puchkov, and the head of the Drugs Control Directorate, General Devyatkin. A file on the case had been sent to criminal investigators, Mr Kolokoltsev said. It would be up to them \"check the legality of actions by officers directly involved in the detention of this citizen\", he added. Mr Golunov, 36, is a freelance journalist who had been working for the Latvia-based news website Meduza, among others. The news site was established by Russian journalists from Lenta.ru, who formed their own outlet abroad after a takeover by a new pro-Kremlin owner. Mr Golunov's reporting included coverage of the loan shark business, the earnings of the family of Moscow's deputy mayor, the unusually high cost of public works in the Russian capital, and the alleged censorship of journalists. He was on his way to meet another journalist in Moscow last week when he was stopped and searched by police officers. Officers said they had discovered the drug mephedrone in his bag and more drugs and weighing scales in a search of his home. Reports said he was beaten during his arrest. Mr Golunov's lawyers and press freedom activists said the drugs had been planted in order to silence the investigative journalist. Much of Russia's media is controlled by the state and Russia is ranked 83rd out of 100 countries for press freedom by Freedom House. Supporters immediately claimed the journalist was innocent and a victim of fabricated drug charges, which activists say are used against opposition figures and human rights activists by the Russian state. By Jonah Fisher in Moscow This case was becoming a serious embarrassment for the Russian authorities. At the weekend the police had to retract pictures they'd released of drugs paraphernalia, when it was pointed out that they weren't from inside Ivan Golunov's apartment. Then today a series of forensic tests failed to establish any link between the journalist and the drugs stash. It was becoming very hard to argue with Mr Golunov's supporters who said, from the very start, that he'd been set up, targeted because of his hard-hitting investigative reports. The case was on the front page of newspapers on Monday, and plans were being made for a demonstration in Moscow on Wednesday. Clearly the decision was taken, almost certainly from the very top, that Mr Golunov's case was not going to quietly go away. \"This is the result of an unprecedented international solidarity campaign,\" Meduza said. \"We are glad that the government has listened to the people. That's how it should be when injustice occurs.\" The European Union also welcomed his release, despite continuing reservations about press freedom in Russia. Reporters Without Borders tweeted: \"We hail the historic mobilisation of the Russian civil society. Now those who tried to set him up must be judged.\" \"It's just wonderful news,\" Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny said on Twitter. \"It's an inspiring and motivating example of what simple solidarity with people who are persecuted can achieve.\"", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1056, "answer_end": 2309, "text": "Mr Golunov, 36, is a freelance journalist who had been working for the Latvia-based news website Meduza, among others. The news site was established by Russian journalists from Lenta.ru, who formed their own outlet abroad after a takeover by a new pro-Kremlin owner. Mr Golunov's reporting included coverage of the loan shark business, the earnings of the family of Moscow's deputy mayor, the unusually high cost of public works in the Russian capital, and the alleged censorship of journalists. He was on his way to meet another journalist in Moscow last week when he was stopped and searched by police officers. Officers said they had discovered the drug mephedrone in his bag and more drugs and weighing scales in a search of his home. Reports said he was beaten during his arrest. Mr Golunov's lawyers and press freedom activists said the drugs had been planted in order to silence the investigative journalist. Much of Russia's media is controlled by the state and Russia is ranked 83rd out of 100 countries for press freedom by Freedom House. Supporters immediately claimed the journalist was innocent and a victim of fabricated drug charges, which activists say are used against opposition figures and human rights activists by the Russian state."}], "question": "What happened to Ivan Golunov?", "id": "899_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3122, "answer_end": 3778, "text": "\"This is the result of an unprecedented international solidarity campaign,\" Meduza said. \"We are glad that the government has listened to the people. That's how it should be when injustice occurs.\" The European Union also welcomed his release, despite continuing reservations about press freedom in Russia. Reporters Without Borders tweeted: \"We hail the historic mobilisation of the Russian civil society. Now those who tried to set him up must be judged.\" \"It's just wonderful news,\" Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny said on Twitter. \"It's an inspiring and motivating example of what simple solidarity with people who are persecuted can achieve.\""}], "question": "What has the reaction been?", "id": "899_1"}]}]}, {"title": "RBI: What is the Indian central bank's conflict with the government?", "date": "1 November 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Last week, a senior official of India's central bank fired what appeared to be an explosive broadside at attempts being made to undermine the regulator's independence. \"Governments that do not respect central bank independence will sooner or later incur the wrath of the financial markets, ignite economic fire, and come to rue the day they undermined an important regulatory institution,\" Viral Acharya, deputy governor of Reserve Bank of India (RBI), told a meeting. Days after this uncharacteristic outburst, there were reports that the government was planning to exercise never-before used powers that would allow it to give \"directions\" required in the \"public interest\" to the bank. Rumours swirled on Wednesday that Urjit Patel, the 54-year-old bank chief and a Yale educated economist, would resign. Mr Patel has now called a meeting of the bank board for 19 November. A conflict between Narendra Modi's BJP-led government and India's central bank had been brewing for some time. The government reportedly wants the RBI to allow ailing state-owned banks, groaning under dud loans to industries, to resume lending to small businesses. It also wants the regulator to lower interest rates to inject much-needed liquidity into the economy. The two have also differed over government plans to set up a separate regulator to look after digital payments. In the past few months, the government has appointed a controversial right-wing accountant to the central bank board and cut short the tenure of another board member, apparently on the grounds of conflict of interest. Finance Minister Arun Jaitley stirred the pot recently when he accused the central bank of \"looking the other way\" while banks were lending indiscriminately some years ago. But the main source of conflict appears to be over the government's attempts at \"raiding\" the RBI reserves. A strong hint of this came at the very beginning of Mr Acharya's unusual speech where he spoke about the resignation of Argentina's central bank boss in 2010 after the president signed a decree firing him for refusing to use currency reserves to pay foreign debt. Martin Redrado had angered the president after he rejected her order to transfer $6.6bn to a government fund to pay foreign debts and fix a hole in the budget. \"I am defending two main concepts: the independence of the central bank in our decision-making process and that the reserves should be used for monetary and financial stability,\" Mr Redrado had said. But why is Mr Modi's government reportedly trying to \"raid\" the central bank's substantial rupee currency reserves? With a general election looming early next year, analysts believe the cash-strapped government is trying to stimulate the economy with a big public spending spree to woo voters. Revenues have fallen despite the official hype over a controversial currency ban in 2016 and a convoluted and shabbily implemented goods and services tax. Mr Modi has rolled out an ambitious health insurance plan for the poorest, which will cost $300m in its first year alone, and eventually cost at least four times more every year. Clearly, the government has little fiscal headroom for a populist election splurge. Whatever the reason, the unseemly public spat between the government and one of the world's most respected central banks is bound to further undermine confidence in the economy. If Mr Patel indeed quits his position later this month, it will be the first time in recent history that a serving governor has resigned before his term ended. \"It is a very messy situation. If the bank chief quits, it will shake the confidence of markets, the rupee will plunge further and investors will take money out from India. Nothing good will come out of this episode,\" says Vivek Dehejia, an economist who teaches at Canada's Carleton University. And a sudden spending spree could possibly hurt the bank's landmark inflation-targeting mandate, which, ironically, is one of Mr Modi's singular achievements. It is not uncommon for governments to clash with central banks. Last month, US President Donald Trump attacked the US Federal Reserve, saying it posed the biggest risk to the US economy for raising interest rates \"too quickly\". In 2017, the chief of Ukraine's central bank resigned following intense pressure from tycoons whose banks she shut down for conducting illegal transactions and loans. Argentina's central bank governor resigned in 2014 after less than a year in office after economic problems, including high inflation - at around 40% - and a row with US creditors that sparked a debt default. \"But undermining the autonomy of the world's sixth-largest economy is something different altogether,\" says Dr Dehejia. Although India's $2.6tn (EUR2.3tn; PS2tn) economy has recently been boosted by a strong performance in consumer spending and manufacturing, the rupee has fallen by about 15% against the surging dollar so far this year, private investment remains slack and there are doubts on whether the economy will accelerate further. The trade deficit, inflation, and high oil and commodity prices are a major concern. A scrum with the central bank can only make matters worse.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 2595, "answer_end": 5172, "text": "With a general election looming early next year, analysts believe the cash-strapped government is trying to stimulate the economy with a big public spending spree to woo voters. Revenues have fallen despite the official hype over a controversial currency ban in 2016 and a convoluted and shabbily implemented goods and services tax. Mr Modi has rolled out an ambitious health insurance plan for the poorest, which will cost $300m in its first year alone, and eventually cost at least four times more every year. Clearly, the government has little fiscal headroom for a populist election splurge. Whatever the reason, the unseemly public spat between the government and one of the world's most respected central banks is bound to further undermine confidence in the economy. If Mr Patel indeed quits his position later this month, it will be the first time in recent history that a serving governor has resigned before his term ended. \"It is a very messy situation. If the bank chief quits, it will shake the confidence of markets, the rupee will plunge further and investors will take money out from India. Nothing good will come out of this episode,\" says Vivek Dehejia, an economist who teaches at Canada's Carleton University. And a sudden spending spree could possibly hurt the bank's landmark inflation-targeting mandate, which, ironically, is one of Mr Modi's singular achievements. It is not uncommon for governments to clash with central banks. Last month, US President Donald Trump attacked the US Federal Reserve, saying it posed the biggest risk to the US economy for raising interest rates \"too quickly\". In 2017, the chief of Ukraine's central bank resigned following intense pressure from tycoons whose banks she shut down for conducting illegal transactions and loans. Argentina's central bank governor resigned in 2014 after less than a year in office after economic problems, including high inflation - at around 40% - and a row with US creditors that sparked a debt default. \"But undermining the autonomy of the world's sixth-largest economy is something different altogether,\" says Dr Dehejia. Although India's $2.6tn (EUR2.3tn; PS2tn) economy has recently been boosted by a strong performance in consumer spending and manufacturing, the rupee has fallen by about 15% against the surging dollar so far this year, private investment remains slack and there are doubts on whether the economy will accelerate further. The trade deficit, inflation, and high oil and commodity prices are a major concern. A scrum with the central bank can only make matters worse."}], "question": "Election splurge?", "id": "900_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Taylor Swift v Kanye West: A history of their on-off feud", "date": "10 October 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Music's most notorious on-off feud - Taylor Swift versus Kanye West - has officially turned political. Swift, who has long resisted going public on her politics, came out in favour of two democratic candidates in her home state of Tennessee in the upcoming mid-term elections on Sunday. West meanwhile is a well-known and outspoken supporter of President Donald Trump, and will meet the Republican in the White House this week for lunch. Their involvement has sparked a debate across the US political spectrum about celebrities and political endorsements. It's all a bit surreal... so let's re-cap on the drama so far. It all began in September 2009 at the MTV Video Music Awards at the Radio City Music Hall in New York. A 19-year-old Swift had just defeated Beyonce to win Best Female Video for her country-pop teen anthem You Belong With Me when West notoriously jumped on stage and interrupted her, mid-acceptance speech. \"Yo Taylor, I'm really happy for you, I'ma let you finish, but Beyonce had one of the best videos of all time! One of the best videos of all time!\" he declared to millions watching. Beyonce looked incredulous, the crowd booed and Swift looked lost, reportedly leaving the stage in tears. Later in the ceremony, Beyonce invited Swift back on stage to \"have her moment\". On the Jay Leno show two days later, West admitted he was rude. He apologised several times but the moment stuck, and even President Barack Obama labelled him a \"jackass\" over it. In a lengthy Twitter-storm in September 2010, West again apologised and said he had written a song for Swift, before deleting his account. But just days later, Swift debuted her track \"Innocent\" at the 2010 VMAs with lyrics taking a dig at West: \"Thirty two and still growin' up now// Who you are is not what you did // You're still an innocent.\" West then seemed to back-track on his apology, accusing Swift of riding the wave of the VMA fall-out for publicity. Days before he became a father for the first time with partner Kim Kardashian, West gave an extensive interview with the New York Times newspaper when he declared he had no regrets over the Swift incident. \"If anyone's reading this waiting for some type of full-on, flat apology for anything, they should just stop reading right now,\" he said. He also said the previous apologies were down to \"peer pressure\". By 2015, the feud looked well and truly put to bed. West hinted they would work on music together and Kardashian attended a Swift concert in London with sister Kendall. The three appeared cosy on that year's award ceremony circuit and at the VMAs Swift quoted and mocked his infamous interruption on-stage when presenting West the special Video Vanguard Award. Swift even joked on social media about being West's running-mate after he appeared to announce his intention to run for president in 2020 during his acceptance speech. Everything changed when West released his (now infamous) track \"Famous\" in February 2016. The song contained the lyrics: \"I feel like me and Taylor might still have sex// Why? I made that bitch famous\" After the line drew criticism, West defended it on Twitter, saying he was complimenting and actually quoting the pop star. \"I called Taylor and had a hour long convo with her about the line, and she thought it was funny and gave her blessings,\" he tweeted. But Swift's representatives hit back, insisting she was not told about the bitch line and had \"cautioned him about releasing a song with such a strong misogynistic message\". When Swift scooped the Grammy for Album of the Year just weeks later for her album 1989, she unleashed a thinly-veiled dig back at West. \"There are going to be people along the way who try to undercut your success or take credit for your accomplishments or your fame - but if you just focus on the work and you don't let those people sidetrack you, someday when you get where you're going, you'll look around and you will know that it was you, and the people who love you, who put you there - and that will be the greatest feeling in the world,\" she said in her speech. In a July cover-interview with GQ magazine, Kardashian retorted, again insisting Swift had \"totally approved\" Famous. \"She wanted to all of a sudden act like she didn't. I swear, my husband gets so much [expletive] for things [when] he really was doing proper protocol and even called to get it approved,\" she told the magazine. She also said there was a recording of the call, and alleged Swift's lawyer had told them to destroy it. West then dropped the music video for the song, which was even more inflammatory than the lyrics. It featured a hyper-realistic model of Swift naked in a giant bed alongside other figures such as President Trump, George W. Bush, Rihanna and Vogue Editor Anna Wintour (along with Kanye, Kardashian and two of their exes). Kardashian then released the footage of the alleged phone call and trolled Swift with lots of snake emojis, which fans followed suit in. In a now-deleted post, Swift again insisted she was not aware of the bitch line and accused the two of \"character assassination\". \"I would very much like to be excluded from this narrative, one that I have never asked to be a part of, since 2009,\" she ended the statement. Swift cleared her Instagram account ahead of the release of her sixth studio album Reputation and teased the release with videos of snakes - embracing the animal in her promotion and tours as a new mascot. Her single Look What You Made Me Do announced the old Taylor was \"dead\" and featured lyrics that many believed alluded to the West feud: \"The world moves on //  Another day another drama, drama //  But not for me, not for me // All I think about is karma.\" The video for the song broke YouTube records, took on her critics and poked fun at herself. It also featured the singer wearing her 2009 VMA outfit, repeating the \"narrative\" exclusion line from the statement. Apparently now at opposite ends of the political spectrum, a reunion for that 2020 run doesn't look likely any time soon. But how seriously should we be taking them both politically? Vote.org told Buzzfeed News that Swift's post on Sunday to her 112m Instagram followers led to a spike in voter registrations - with 65,000 signing up in just 24 hours. The Wests don't look to be shying away from the political arena any time soon either. Kardashian took a case for clemency direct to the White House earlier this year, which led to 63-year-old grandmother and convict Alice Johnson being granted early release. The reality star has said she wants to do more political advocacy work and has also spoken out in favour of Planned Parenthood and against gun violence on her family's hit reality show in the past. West was first spotted in Trump Tower meeting then president-elect Donald Trump in 2016. But in the last couple of weeks alone he has been spotted multiple times wearing a Make America Great Again hat, spoke out in defence of the president on Saturday Night Live, deleted his social media accounts (again) and is now set for a White House lunch visit. So who knows what will happen next?", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 5918, "answer_end": 7114, "text": "Apparently now at opposite ends of the political spectrum, a reunion for that 2020 run doesn't look likely any time soon. But how seriously should we be taking them both politically? Vote.org told Buzzfeed News that Swift's post on Sunday to her 112m Instagram followers led to a spike in voter registrations - with 65,000 signing up in just 24 hours. The Wests don't look to be shying away from the political arena any time soon either. Kardashian took a case for clemency direct to the White House earlier this year, which led to 63-year-old grandmother and convict Alice Johnson being granted early release. The reality star has said she wants to do more political advocacy work and has also spoken out in favour of Planned Parenthood and against gun violence on her family's hit reality show in the past. West was first spotted in Trump Tower meeting then president-elect Donald Trump in 2016. But in the last couple of weeks alone he has been spotted multiple times wearing a Make America Great Again hat, spoke out in defence of the president on Saturday Night Live, deleted his social media accounts (again) and is now set for a White House lunch visit. So who knows what will happen next?"}], "question": "2018: What next?", "id": "901_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Turkey's Erdogan calls Dutch authorities 'Nazi remnants'", "date": "11 March 2017", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has described the Dutch government as \"Nazi remnants and fascists\", amid a diplomatic row over a cancelled rally. Turkey's family minister was blocked from entering the Turkish consulate in Rotterdam as the spat between the two nations worsened on Saturday. Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said Mr Erdogan's remark was \"way out of line\". Earlier, a rally in the city due to be hosted by the Turkish foreign minister was banned for security reasons. Turkey has summoned the Dutch charge d'affaires to the foreign ministry in Ankara for an explanation. Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu had been hoping to harness the votes of the Turkish diaspora in the Netherlands, home to some 400,000 Turks, ahead of a referendum in Turkey next month on whether to expand Mr Erdogan's powers. Austria, Germany and Switzerland have banned similar gatherings where Turkish officials were due to speak. On Saturday, Turkey's family minister, Fatma Betul Sayan Kaya, was stopped by police as she tried to enter the Turkish consulate in Rotterdam after arriving from Germany, where she had held separate meetings. Dutch news broadcaster NOS ran footage of the minister arriving at the consulate and being denied entry by security forces. \"We were stopped at the Consulate General of Rotterdam, 30 metres away, and are not allowed to enter,\" Fatma Betul Sayan Kaya wrote on Twitter. She travelled by land to the Dutch city after hearing that the plane carrying Mr Cavusoglu had been refused permission to land. Dutch police earlier closed the road leading to the Turkish consulate in Rotterdam for security reasons. On Saturday evening, hundreds of people waving Turkish flags gathered outside the consulate building in protest. Dozens of supporters of Mr Erdogan stood near the entrance as police erected barriers to prevent demonstrators from getting too close. As the crowd numbers increased throughout the evening, security was stepped up and people were later dispersed. President Erdogan reacted to the ban on his foreign minister by threatening to block Dutch flights. He said: \"Ban our foreign minister from flying however much you like, but from now on, let's see how your flights will land in Turkey.\" Mr Cavusoglu also warned Turkey would impose heavy sanctions if his visit were blocked. Mr Rutte warned in a statement (in Dutch) that the Turkish threat of sanctions made \"the search for a reasonable solution impossible\". Mr Rutte also stressed that Dutch officials had earlier discussed whether the planned rally with Mr Cavusoglu could be private and \"smaller-scale\" and held in a Turkish consulate or embassy. The Netherlands \"regrets the course of events, and remains committed to dialogue with Turkey,\" the statement added. Analysis - Mark Lowen, Turkey Correspondent Recep Tayyip Erdogan is a canny political operator. While his falling-out with key European allies and explosive comparisons to the Nazis may seem chaotic, it's quite possibly all planned by a man who knows he thrives as the underdog. Sending Turkish ministers to Europe when relations with Turkey are flagging and some European states are nearing elections was never going to be warmly welcomed by the German or Dutch governments. They rose to the bait - and it has allowed Mr Erdogan to paint this as a conspiracy against Turkey and himself as the nationalist Turkish hero fending off the European oppressor. That will rally his support base and the far-right nationalists he's trying to woo before the presidential referendum next month. But it will horrify the other side of Turkey - the pro-European liberals who see their country drifting ever further from the west and their President engaging in unprecedented slander against other Nato allies. The diplomatic row comes just days before Dutch voters go to the polls. The election campaign has been dominated by issues of identity, the BBC's Anna Holligan in The Hague says. The anti-Islam leader of the Freedom Party, Geert Wilders - who campaigned against the Turkish minister's visit - is expected to make significant gains, our correspondent adds. Last week, Mr Erdogan accused Berlin of \"Nazi practices\" after a number of his rallies were cancelled, drawing a sharp response from the German government. He is seeking to extend his powers in the 16 April vote and targeting millions of expatriate voters - including 1.4 million in Germany. There is uncertainty about whether an event Mr Cavusoglu was due to attend in Zurich, Switzerland, on Sunday would go ahead after one venue refused to hold it. Another event in Zurich scheduled for Friday was cancelled, as were rallies in the Austrian towns of Hoerbranz, Linz and Herzogenburg. The Dutch and Austrian governments have criticised the Turkish government's drive to take its referendum campaign to Turks based in EU countries. Relations between Turkey and European countries have deteriorated since last July's attempted coup in Turkey. Germany has been critical of the mass arrests and purges that followed - with nearly 100,000 civil servants removed from their posts. Many European nations have expressed deep disquiet about Turkey's response to the coup attempt and its perceived slide towards authoritarianism under President Erdogan. Turkey is a key partner in an arrangement attempting to limit the movement of migrants into the EU, but has threatened to \"open the gates\" if the EU reneges on commitments to provide aid, visa-free travel for its nationals and accelerated membership talks.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 3758, "answer_end": 4113, "text": "The diplomatic row comes just days before Dutch voters go to the polls. The election campaign has been dominated by issues of identity, the BBC's Anna Holligan in The Hague says. The anti-Islam leader of the Freedom Party, Geert Wilders - who campaigned against the Turkish minister's visit - is expected to make significant gains, our correspondent adds."}], "question": "What does it mean for the Dutch election?", "id": "902_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Sudan talks to resume soon as opposition halts strikes, says mediator", "date": "11 June 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Protest and military leaders in Sudan have agreed to resume talks soon, an Ethiopian mediator says. Separately, an opposition alliance agreed to suspend its campaign of civil disobedience and widespread strikes. The army - which has been in control since long-time President Omar al-Bashir was ousted in April - has agreed to release political prisoners, special envoy Mahmoud Dirir told reporters. Pro-democracy protesters are demanding a return to civilian government. Talks broke down after dozens of protesters were killed in a crackdown on a sit-in on 3 June. Since then much of the country has been shut down after the opposition called for an open-ended strike. Doctors say 118 people have died in the recent outbreak of violence, while officials say there were fewer fatalities - putting the number at 61. Soldiers have patrolled the streets of Sudanese towns since then, while most businesses have remained closed. On Tuesday, the Ethiopian mediator between the two sides said that talks on restoring a civilian administration would begin soon. The army has agreed to release political prisoners as a confidence-building measure, Mahmoud Dirir said. The opposition Alliance for Freedom and Change issued a statement urging people to return to work on Wednesday. The Sudanese Professionals Association (SPA), which called the strikes in the first place, backed the temporary suspension and urged people to return to work for the time being. Some shops and services had already started to re-open, mostly among small businesses and daily wage earners who could not afford to remain closed. Military leaders have yet to formally confirm the return to talks. But a member of the Transitional Military Council (TMC), Salah Abdelkhalek, told BBC Arabic that it might agree to \"equal\" power sharing with the opposition. However, he said the TMC was adamant that the head of the new council should be from the military. He also said that some military officers had been responsible for the 3 June crackdown, and said hundreds of soldiers, including officers, had been arrested - and endorsed the idea of an international inquiry into the violence. But he added the TMC was willing to negotiate without preconditions. Earlier on Tuesday, the top US diplomat for Africa announced a trip to Sudan to urge both sides to resume talks. News of the return to talks followed the intervention of Ethiopia's Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, who met both sides to try and break the impasse. There are some reports suggesting that Mr Abiy proposed a 15-member ruling council for the transitional period, made up of eight civilians and seven military officials. As ever in this story, scepticism is necessary. The Ethiopian assertion that talks will resume \"soon\" depends on what is meant by soon. The opposition Forces for Freedom and Change insist they are not about to return to the negotiating table. For now, any contact between both sides will take place via international mediators. It is negotiation of a sort - but the opposition insists that before face to face talks begin, six conditions need to be met: - removal of military from streets - international investigation into the killings - release of all detainees - return of internet - freedom of the press - Transitional Military Council to take responsibility for the assault on the protest zone So far they have only the promise of prisoner releases. But any negotiation - even if it happens soon - will circle back to the same issue: will the military cede power to a civilian government? Nothing about the generals' actions has indicated that this is an imminent possibility. The fear is that they will use any negotiations to try to divide the opposition while security pressure is maintained on the streets.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 924, "answer_end": 1596, "text": "On Tuesday, the Ethiopian mediator between the two sides said that talks on restoring a civilian administration would begin soon. The army has agreed to release political prisoners as a confidence-building measure, Mahmoud Dirir said. The opposition Alliance for Freedom and Change issued a statement urging people to return to work on Wednesday. The Sudanese Professionals Association (SPA), which called the strikes in the first place, backed the temporary suspension and urged people to return to work for the time being. Some shops and services had already started to re-open, mostly among small businesses and daily wage earners who could not afford to remain closed."}], "question": "What happens now?", "id": "903_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1597, "answer_end": 2643, "text": "Military leaders have yet to formally confirm the return to talks. But a member of the Transitional Military Council (TMC), Salah Abdelkhalek, told BBC Arabic that it might agree to \"equal\" power sharing with the opposition. However, he said the TMC was adamant that the head of the new council should be from the military. He also said that some military officers had been responsible for the 3 June crackdown, and said hundreds of soldiers, including officers, had been arrested - and endorsed the idea of an international inquiry into the violence. But he added the TMC was willing to negotiate without preconditions. Earlier on Tuesday, the top US diplomat for Africa announced a trip to Sudan to urge both sides to resume talks. News of the return to talks followed the intervention of Ethiopia's Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, who met both sides to try and break the impasse. There are some reports suggesting that Mr Abiy proposed a 15-member ruling council for the transitional period, made up of eight civilians and seven military officials."}], "question": "What kind of deal could be struck?", "id": "903_1"}]}]}, {"title": "Moldova crisis: Snap elections called by interim president", "date": "10 June 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Moldova's pro-Russian President Igor Dodon has been stripped of his duties, escalating a political crisis stemming from inconclusive general elections. The move came after his party agreed a coalition cabinet with a pro-European Union block, welcomed by the EU. Outgoing PM Pavel Filip's rival party challenged that agreement, and the Constitutional Court backed Mr Filip, appointing him as interim president. Mr Filip then announced the dissolution of parliament and new elections. But parliament refused to accept his order and said the country's state institutions had been seized. Mr Filip's Democratic Party is led by Moldova's richest man, Vladimir Plahotniuc. The Council of Europe (CoE) - Europe's top human rights watchdog - criticised Moldova's Constitutional Court and said it was \"extremely concerned\" about the situation. \"Recent decisions of the Constitutional Court are difficult to understand and seem to be arbitrary in the light of the text of the Constitution and of international rule of law standards,\" said CoE Secretary General Thorbjoern Jagland on Sunday. There are now fears that the prolonged political crisis could lead to violent clashes on the streets. Moldova, a former Soviet republic, lies between the EU member state Romania and Ukraine and is one of Europe's poorest countries. Elections in Moldova in February resulted in stalemate, with no clear winner emerging between rival pro-EU and pro-Russian parties. On Sunday, the Constitutional Court in the capital Chisinau relieved Mr Dodon of his duties because of his refusal to dissolve parliament. This came a day after the pro-EU Acum political bloc and Mr Dodon's Socialists struck an unlikely deal and formed a compromise government. In parliament, lawmakers also declared that Moldova's state and legal institutions \"have been seized\" by influential oligarchs, calling for the resignation of several top officials. But their opponents say the formation of the new government took place a day after a constitutional deadline for this expired - a claim both Acum and the Socialists dispute. Mr Filip's Democratic Party later filed a legal challenge, backed by the Constitutional Court. In response, Mr Dodon described this as desperate steps to usurp power. And the European Union has expressed support for the new coalition government. \"The European Union stands ready to work with the democratically legitimate government,\" a statement issued on Sunday said. No. In Moldova, a parliamentary republic, the rival political camps frequently clash with one another. Therefore the country - where the electorate is split between EU- and Russia-sympathisers - has witnessed several such crises in recent years. They usually end up in holding snap elections, but results are often inconclusive.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1313, "answer_end": 2448, "text": "Elections in Moldova in February resulted in stalemate, with no clear winner emerging between rival pro-EU and pro-Russian parties. On Sunday, the Constitutional Court in the capital Chisinau relieved Mr Dodon of his duties because of his refusal to dissolve parliament. This came a day after the pro-EU Acum political bloc and Mr Dodon's Socialists struck an unlikely deal and formed a compromise government. In parliament, lawmakers also declared that Moldova's state and legal institutions \"have been seized\" by influential oligarchs, calling for the resignation of several top officials. But their opponents say the formation of the new government took place a day after a constitutional deadline for this expired - a claim both Acum and the Socialists dispute. Mr Filip's Democratic Party later filed a legal challenge, backed by the Constitutional Court. In response, Mr Dodon described this as desperate steps to usurp power. And the European Union has expressed support for the new coalition government. \"The European Union stands ready to work with the democratically legitimate government,\" a statement issued on Sunday said."}], "question": "What's happening in Moldova?", "id": "904_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2449, "answer_end": 2777, "text": "No. In Moldova, a parliamentary republic, the rival political camps frequently clash with one another. Therefore the country - where the electorate is split between EU- and Russia-sympathisers - has witnessed several such crises in recent years. They usually end up in holding snap elections, but results are often inconclusive."}], "question": "Is this political tug-of-war unusual?", "id": "904_1"}]}]}, {"title": "Trump v Clinton: Comparing their economic plans", "date": "16 September 2016", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton have laid out their visions for the US economy and, unsurprisingly, they are very different. Mr Trump is focusing on cutting taxes, eliminating regulation and ending trade deals. Mrs Clinton, on the other hand, wants to raise taxes on the wealthy, increase spending on job training and lower taxes on companies that hire more Americans. Here are some of the ways they differ. Mr Trump favours cutting taxes for everyone and reducing the number of tax brackets from seven to three. He would reduce the top rate of tax to 33% from 39.6%. Mrs Clinton would keep taxes the same for most Americans but add an additional bracket for the highest earners. The income from that would be used to pay for programmes like free university education for students from low- and middle-income families. Her campaign is calling the higher taxes on the wealthy - 4% on people who earn more than $5m - the \"fair share surcharge\". Both candidates have proposed closing tax loopholes that typically favour the rich. Mr Trump proposes a child care deduction that would cover the average cost of child care, while Mrs Clinton favours limiting the number of deductions taxpayers can claim at 28%. Tax deductions allow people to subtract some of the income they are taxed on - effectively lowering which bracket they fall into. They typically favour the rich who can take more, while the 43% of Americans who currently pay no income would be unaffected by the change. Mr Trump also proposed eliminating the estate tax or \"death tax\" completely. The tax only applies when a family member passes on more than $5.45m worth of assets to an individual or $10.9m to a married couple. The Republican candidate said he would also reduce the US corporate tax rate to 15% from the current rate of 35%, one of the highest in the world. Mr Trump's campaign said the plan would reduce the amount of income the government collected by $4.4tn over a decade. This is far below the $9.5tn calculated by the nonpartisan Tax Policy Center in August.  The Center said Mrs Clinton's plan would add $1.1tn in revenue over the next 10 years. Neither candidate has proposed significant reductions in spending on public pension and healthcare programmes like social security, Medicaid and Medicare. The funding needed for those is expected to balloon over the next decade and its unclear where the money to pay for them will come from without tax increases. An analysis performed by Tax Foundation last month found that while Mr Trump's plan would lower taxes for all Americans it would lower them most for the highest earners. Mr Trump has done his best to capitalise on the discontent around trade deals. His economic proposal suggests renegotiating trade deals using \"negotiators whose goal will be to win for America\". He has not spelt out what that \"win\" looks like, but he has promised to step away from deals like the North American Free Trade Agreement (Nafta) if a good deal cannot be reached. Mr Trump has also promised to get tough with countries that violate trade agreements, applying new tariffs and pursuing cases against them in the World Trade Organization. He has specifically said that he will label China a \"currency manipulator\". Mr Trump has called for a 35% tariff on Mexican goods and a 45% tariff on Chinese goods. That would mean a $100 television from Mexico would cost $135. This could encourage US consumers to buy more products made in America, but it would also likely encourage Mexico to place an import tax on US goods, making it hard for US companies to sell their goods abroad. Mexico purchased $267.2bn in US goods in 2015, making it the second largest export partner for the US. Mrs Clinton has said these tariffs will lead to a trade war making it harder for the US to compete on a global stage. Clinton has gone back and forth on trade. She previously supported the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) but has said in her campaign that she doesn't think it's the best deal for America. Her plan focuses more on increasing production in the US by offering tax incentives to companies that build there rather than barring imports out. While she has criticised some trade deals, she hasn't ruled out signing new ones if elected. Trump on trade - Renegotiate trade deals to favour the US - Walk away from trade agreements if a good deal can't be reached - Add tariffs on some of the America's largest trading partners including Mexico and China Clinton on trade - Changed her mind on TPP, which she helped negotiate - In 2007 criticised trade deal with South Korea, then supported it as Secretary of State - Supported Nafta but has since been critical of it Both candidates have promised to put Americans back to work, though unemployment has hovered around a low 4.9% since the beginning of the year. Mr Trump's employment plan focuses on encouraging more businesses to open in the US. He has suggested that investing in infrastructure, cutting the trade deficit, lowering taxes and removing regulations will make it easier for companies to hire. Mr Trump has focused mostly on increasing manufacturing jobs, which have declined by around 5 million since 2000. Much of that decline has been caused by improvements in technology, however, not outsourcing. He has promised to create 25 milli on jobs over 10 years and achieve annual economic growth of 3.5%. US GDP growth reached 2.4% in 2015. Mrs Clinton's policy for jobs growth is a little more specific. She has called for increasing jobs training - in part paid for by tax revenue from wealthier Americans. She has pushed for infrastructure spending and investment in new energy to lift the number of jobs in those sectors. Despite their many areas of disagreement, there a few things both candidates are pushing for. - Ending corporate inversion - or transactions where US companies move their corporate headquarters abroad to avoid US taxes - Eliminating carried interest tax - a tax that mostly benefits hedge fund investors - Opposing the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) Mr Trump has not addressed how he will pay for these cuts, other than saying the changes will boost the economy and that will increase the tax base. Mrs Clinton has said most of her spending increasing will be covered by tax increases, but it is unclear if those numbers entirely match up. She will give her own economic policy speech on Thursday.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 4672, "answer_end": 5691, "text": "Both candidates have promised to put Americans back to work, though unemployment has hovered around a low 4.9% since the beginning of the year. Mr Trump's employment plan focuses on encouraging more businesses to open in the US. He has suggested that investing in infrastructure, cutting the trade deficit, lowering taxes and removing regulations will make it easier for companies to hire. Mr Trump has focused mostly on increasing manufacturing jobs, which have declined by around 5 million since 2000. Much of that decline has been caused by improvements in technology, however, not outsourcing. He has promised to create 25 milli on jobs over 10 years and achieve annual economic growth of 3.5%. US GDP growth reached 2.4% in 2015. Mrs Clinton's policy for jobs growth is a little more specific. She has called for increasing jobs training - in part paid for by tax revenue from wealthier Americans. She has pushed for infrastructure spending and investment in new energy to lift the number of jobs in those sectors."}], "question": "Who's hiring?", "id": "905_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Trump-Russia inquiry: What might Mueller report look like?", "date": "22 March 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "It's been 22 months since former FBI Director Robert Mueller was appointed to head a special investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election and whether the Trump campaign was involved. Now his work is done and his report has been submitted to the Department of Justice. But what does that mean? Time Magazine senior editor Ryan Teague Beckwith has described trying to keep up with the twists in the Mueller investigation as akin to understanding the plot of a Russian novel by listening to a book club conversation. Now, at last, perhaps we will see the full manuscript. Or at least the CliffsNotes (that's York Notes to you Brits). Or maybe we won't. If it all seems confusing, that's because no-one knows exactly what happens next. It doesn't mean we'll know all the details immediately - or ever. The notoriously tight-lipped former FBI director could simply announce that his work is done, pack his bags and go back to a private life of golf clubs, corporate boards, academic speaking engagements and trips to the Apple store Genius Bar. Not necessarily. In fact, probably not. It doesn't seem likely there will be a detailed investigative narrative presented to the public similar to the multi-tome report produced by Independent Counsel Kenneth Starr back in 1998. Mr Starr's wide-ranging investigation that started with a real-estate inquiry and ended up scouring Bill Clinton's affair with Monica Lewinsky was governed by a federal statute with different rules. And Mr Starr himself - a former judge and Republican administration lawyer - was a different kind of man to the by-the-books ex-Marine Mueller. Mr Mueller's probe is conducted under the auspices of the Justice Department and is governed by its regulations. The special counsel's obligations at the conclusion of his work are to provide a \"confidential report\" to Attorney General Bill Barr explaining his prosecutorial decisions. Mr Barr must then provide the top members of the Senate and House Judiciary committees with a brief explanation of any actions taken - or instances where he overruled the special counsel's proposed action. It is up to the attorney general to decide whether it would be in the \"public interest\" to make any of these reports or communications accessible to the rest of us. This is the million-dollar question. In his testimony during his January Senate confirmation hearings, Mr Barr was repeatedly pressed by Democrats to promise he would make public any findings or reports produced by the Mueller investigation. He demurred. Now, in his just-released letter to senior members of Congress, the attorney general seems eager to tell us more. \"I am reviewing the report and anticipate that I may be in a position to advise you of the Special Counsel's principal conclusions as soon as this weekend,\" he writes. Traditionally the Justice Department has been reluctant to provide information about investigations that do not lead to criminal prosecution. That was a guideline notably violated by former FBI Director James Comey during his July 2016 press statement outlining the results of a federal investigation into Hillary Clinton's use of a private email server while she was Barack Obama's secretary of state. It would be ironic, to say the least, if the resulting political fallout from Mr Comey's decision - which Ms Clinton's campaign believes dealt a mortal wound - is used by Mr Barr to defend a decision to keep confidential damaging details of the Mueller investigation involving Donald Trump. His letter concludes: \"I remain committed to as much transparency as possible, and I will keep you informed as to the status of my review.\" It's certainly a possibility. Or if we do learn something, it could take a while to render it into a form for public consumption (or, given the way things work in Washington, to leak). Imagine the scene in Washington, as the political world learns Mr Mueller has provided his findings to Mr Barr and then waits - for hours, days - to learn what, if anything, will come of it. There is another possibility, however. Up until now, Mr Mueller has spoken through his court filings, which are rich in detail and new revelations. While Mr Mueller's report to the attorney general will be confidential, it may not be his final word at the conclusion of his investigations. There may be more indictments to come. Over the course of the last 21 months, Mr Mueller - in his prosecutorial documents - has explained how Russian agents and operatives allegedly gathered information about the US political process, initiated a social media campaign to influence and enflame American political views, funded on-the-ground political activities, and hacked the emails and files of top Democratic operatives in an effort to damage Mrs Clinton's presidential campaign. He has prosecuted multiple members of the president's inner campaign circle for a variety of misdeeds, including obstruction of justice and lying about Russian contacts. He helped strike a deal with Mr Trump's personal lawyer, Michael Cohen, which unearthed evidence of Trump business negotiations with Russian officials conducted in the heat of the 2016 presidential campaign. He indicted a Trump confidant, Roger Stone, for lying about his contacts with Wikileaks, the organisation he says was the conduit through which Russia injected its purloined material into the American political bloodstream. The special counsel could be building a prosecutorial path that leads to the White House, with the final stones about to be set. Court-watchers note multiple sealed indictments have been filed in the federal courts used by Mr Mueller's team over the past few months. Those could be political and legal bombs, with their fuses lit. Or they could be duds. Hardly. Even if the Mueller investigation closes up shop and there is no \"report\", there are no new indictments and the attorney general's public pronouncements provide few details, it's not the end of the story. There are a number of cases initiated by the special counsel - involving Former National Security Advisor Michael Flynn and deputy campaign aide Rick Gates - that still await final sentencing. Former campaign chairman Paul Manafort has been jailed for fraud and for conspiracy related to illegal lobbying. Long-time Trump adviser Mr Stone has yet to go to trial on his charges of lying to Congress, witness tampering and obstruction of justice. Mr Mueller has handed this prosecution over to government lawyers. There's also a special counsel case against Concord Management and Consulting, which Mr Mueller has charged with assisting Russia's 2016 social media election-meddling campaign. Meanwhile there's a plethora of other ongoing investigations that are being run independently of the special counsel's office. Federal investigators in New York are looking into possible election-law violations by the Trump campaign and his businesses and misconduct by the Trump inaugural committee. The US attorneys in Washington and Virginia also have their hands full, with the espionage case involving Russian Maria Butina and an unregistered foreign lobbying prosecution of Mr Flynn's business associates. There are also state-level investigations of Mr Trump's charitable foundation and Trump Organization tax filings, as well as an ongoing lawsuit by Maryland and the District of Columbia alleging that the president, through his business dealings, is violating a constitutional rule prohibiting the acceptance of money from foreign governments while in office. Mr Mueller may exit the stage, but the drama will continue.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1069, "answer_end": 2297, "text": "Not necessarily. In fact, probably not. It doesn't seem likely there will be a detailed investigative narrative presented to the public similar to the multi-tome report produced by Independent Counsel Kenneth Starr back in 1998. Mr Starr's wide-ranging investigation that started with a real-estate inquiry and ended up scouring Bill Clinton's affair with Monica Lewinsky was governed by a federal statute with different rules. And Mr Starr himself - a former judge and Republican administration lawyer - was a different kind of man to the by-the-books ex-Marine Mueller. Mr Mueller's probe is conducted under the auspices of the Justice Department and is governed by its regulations. The special counsel's obligations at the conclusion of his work are to provide a \"confidential report\" to Attorney General Bill Barr explaining his prosecutorial decisions. Mr Barr must then provide the top members of the Senate and House Judiciary committees with a brief explanation of any actions taken - or instances where he overruled the special counsel's proposed action. It is up to the attorney general to decide whether it would be in the \"public interest\" to make any of these reports or communications accessible to the rest of us."}], "question": "Wait, won't there be a final 'Mueller Report' with all the juicy details?", "id": "906_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2298, "answer_end": 3668, "text": "This is the million-dollar question. In his testimony during his January Senate confirmation hearings, Mr Barr was repeatedly pressed by Democrats to promise he would make public any findings or reports produced by the Mueller investigation. He demurred. Now, in his just-released letter to senior members of Congress, the attorney general seems eager to tell us more. \"I am reviewing the report and anticipate that I may be in a position to advise you of the Special Counsel's principal conclusions as soon as this weekend,\" he writes. Traditionally the Justice Department has been reluctant to provide information about investigations that do not lead to criminal prosecution. That was a guideline notably violated by former FBI Director James Comey during his July 2016 press statement outlining the results of a federal investigation into Hillary Clinton's use of a private email server while she was Barack Obama's secretary of state. It would be ironic, to say the least, if the resulting political fallout from Mr Comey's decision - which Ms Clinton's campaign believes dealt a mortal wound - is used by Mr Barr to defend a decision to keep confidential damaging details of the Mueller investigation involving Donald Trump. His letter concludes: \"I remain committed to as much transparency as possible, and I will keep you informed as to the status of my review.\""}], "question": "What will Bill Barr do?", "id": "906_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3669, "answer_end": 5774, "text": "It's certainly a possibility. Or if we do learn something, it could take a while to render it into a form for public consumption (or, given the way things work in Washington, to leak). Imagine the scene in Washington, as the political world learns Mr Mueller has provided his findings to Mr Barr and then waits - for hours, days - to learn what, if anything, will come of it. There is another possibility, however. Up until now, Mr Mueller has spoken through his court filings, which are rich in detail and new revelations. While Mr Mueller's report to the attorney general will be confidential, it may not be his final word at the conclusion of his investigations. There may be more indictments to come. Over the course of the last 21 months, Mr Mueller - in his prosecutorial documents - has explained how Russian agents and operatives allegedly gathered information about the US political process, initiated a social media campaign to influence and enflame American political views, funded on-the-ground political activities, and hacked the emails and files of top Democratic operatives in an effort to damage Mrs Clinton's presidential campaign. He has prosecuted multiple members of the president's inner campaign circle for a variety of misdeeds, including obstruction of justice and lying about Russian contacts. He helped strike a deal with Mr Trump's personal lawyer, Michael Cohen, which unearthed evidence of Trump business negotiations with Russian officials conducted in the heat of the 2016 presidential campaign. He indicted a Trump confidant, Roger Stone, for lying about his contacts with Wikileaks, the organisation he says was the conduit through which Russia injected its purloined material into the American political bloodstream. The special counsel could be building a prosecutorial path that leads to the White House, with the final stones about to be set. Court-watchers note multiple sealed indictments have been filed in the federal courts used by Mr Mueller's team over the past few months. Those could be political and legal bombs, with their fuses lit. Or they could be duds."}], "question": "So we may not know everything?", "id": "906_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 5775, "answer_end": 7607, "text": "Hardly. Even if the Mueller investigation closes up shop and there is no \"report\", there are no new indictments and the attorney general's public pronouncements provide few details, it's not the end of the story. There are a number of cases initiated by the special counsel - involving Former National Security Advisor Michael Flynn and deputy campaign aide Rick Gates - that still await final sentencing. Former campaign chairman Paul Manafort has been jailed for fraud and for conspiracy related to illegal lobbying. Long-time Trump adviser Mr Stone has yet to go to trial on his charges of lying to Congress, witness tampering and obstruction of justice. Mr Mueller has handed this prosecution over to government lawyers. There's also a special counsel case against Concord Management and Consulting, which Mr Mueller has charged with assisting Russia's 2016 social media election-meddling campaign. Meanwhile there's a plethora of other ongoing investigations that are being run independently of the special counsel's office. Federal investigators in New York are looking into possible election-law violations by the Trump campaign and his businesses and misconduct by the Trump inaugural committee. The US attorneys in Washington and Virginia also have their hands full, with the espionage case involving Russian Maria Butina and an unregistered foreign lobbying prosecution of Mr Flynn's business associates. There are also state-level investigations of Mr Trump's charitable foundation and Trump Organization tax filings, as well as an ongoing lawsuit by Maryland and the District of Columbia alleging that the president, through his business dealings, is violating a constitutional rule prohibiting the acceptance of money from foreign governments while in office. Mr Mueller may exit the stage, but the drama will continue."}], "question": "That's it, then?", "id": "906_3"}]}]}, {"title": "Syria conflict: Fierce fighting halts Aleppo evacuation", "date": "14 December 2016", "paragraphs": [{"context": "A deal to evacuate rebel fighters and civilians from eastern Aleppo has stalled, with heavy shelling reported in the Syrian city. A ceasefire was declared in Aleppo on Tuesday and buses brought in to ferry people out of the devastated enclave. But fighting resumed on Wednesday. Syrian activists also say air strikes over rebel-held territory have resumed. The breakdown of the deal, brokered by Russia and Turkey, is being attributed to demands from the government side. It is said to be seeking the evacuation of injured fighters and civilians from nearby towns encircled by opposition forces. Eastern Aleppo has been held by the rebels since 2012. But they have been squeezed into ever-smaller areas in recent months by a major government offensive, backed by Russian air power. In recent days government troops have made sweeping gains. Russia's military said on Wednesday that rebels were confined to only 2.5sq km of the city. Late on Tuesday, Russian UN Ambassador Vitaly Churkin told an emergency session of the UN Security Council that \"military actions in eastern Aleppo are over\". Under the evacuation deal, civilians and rebels from eastern Aleppo were to be allowed to go to rebel-held areas in northern Syria. Evacuations had been due to start at 05:00 (03:00 GMT), but did not go ahead. Fresh shelling was reported several hours later. \"The clashes are violent and bombardment is very heavy... it seems as though everything (the ceasefire) is finished,\" Rami Abdulrahman, director of the British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) monitoring group, said. The SOHR also said aircraft had resumed bombing in rebel-held areas. Russia - Syria's ally - said the Syrian army resumed firing after the rebels broke the truce. Syrian TV reported rebel rocket fire on government-held parts of the city and said at least six people had been killed. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan accused Syrian forces of breaking the ceasefire deal and called the situation in Aleppo \"very fragile\". He said civilians had to be allowed to leave. Residents of besieged eastern Aleppo have faced weeks of bombardment and chronic food and fuel shortages. Medical facilities in the city have largely been reduced to rubble. AFP news agency reported that before the fighting had resumed, crowds of civilians, holding belongings, had gathered in the streets to await evacuation. Some information continues to emerge from besieged areas: - Ibrahim Abu-Laith, a spokesman for the White Helmets volunteer rescue group, said more than 40 people were injured in eastern Aleppo - One resident, Zohair, told the BBC there was total chaos. \"We don't know how many casualties there are and if there is anyone to help them\" - \"Bombing is ongoing, no one can move,\" one activist, Mohammad al-Khatib told AFP. \"The wounded and dead are lying in the street. No one dares to try and retrieve the bodies\" Residents say they fear reprisals from government forces or being forcibly conscripted. There have also been reports of atrocities. On Tuesday the UN said it had received reliable evidence of summary executions taking place, saying that in four areas 82 civilians were killed by pro-government forces. It said that many more may have died. Syria's government and Russia said the allegations were untrue. Meanwhile, the BBC has learned that Western forces are using satellites and unmanned aircraft to gather evidence of possible war crimes in Aleppo and elsewhere in Syria. It is not clear exactly how many people remain in besieged areas. UN envoy Staffan de Mistura put the figure at about 50,000. He said there were approximately 1,500 rebel fighters, about 30% of whom were from the jihadist group formerly known as the al-Nusra Front. Other local sources say there could be as many as 100,000 people, many of them arriving from areas recently taken by the government. The deal to evacuate rebel fighters and civilians out of eastern Aleppo is only the latest and most complex of such arrangements. It is also the one with the highest stakes. Rebel-held towns in a ring around Damascus have one by one ceded in similar ways. The choreography often follows the same pattern, with buses waiting hours or days at evacuation points as final guarantees on both sides are hammered out. Safe passage to the rebel-held province of Idlib has also been part of such deals. More rarely, the agreements have involved reciprocal evacuations from government areas encircled by rebels. That now seems to have been made part of this deal, complicating it further. The violence has resumed, but that does not mean that the deal is off.  The rebels have reached a point of no return.  Many more lives may be lost in the meantime, but it is all but certain that the fighters will leave Aleppo.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 3468, "answer_end": 3866, "text": "It is not clear exactly how many people remain in besieged areas. UN envoy Staffan de Mistura put the figure at about 50,000. He said there were approximately 1,500 rebel fighters, about 30% of whom were from the jihadist group formerly known as the al-Nusra Front. Other local sources say there could be as many as 100,000 people, many of them arriving from areas recently taken by the government."}], "question": "How many people are in eastern Aleppo?", "id": "907_0"}]}]}, {"title": "When They See Us: Central Park Five prosecutor resigns from college post", "date": "14 June 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "The prosecutor of five teenagers convicted for the brutal rape of a female jogger in 1989 - depicted in Netflix's When They See Us - has left her job at at Columbia Law School. Lawyer Elizabeth Lederer led the prosecution, but in Ava DuVernay's series she is seen expressing doubts about their guilt. The boys, known as the Central Park Five, said police coerced them into confessing and were exonerated in 2002. They were all black and Hispanic. Columbia University's Black Students Organisation had set up a petition asking the school to fire Ms Lederer amid outcry generated by the series. The New York Times reported that the school's dean emailed students saying Ms Lederer \"decided not to seek reappointment as a lecturer\". She is also a prosecutor in the Manhattan district attorney's office. Gillian Lester, the dean of the school, said Ms Lederer wrote that the Netflix series had \"reignited a painful - and vital - national conversation about race, identity, and criminal justice.\" The New York Times said the email included a statement from Ms Lederer saying she had enjoyed her years teaching at Columbia but would not be returning. She said: \"Given the nature of the recent publicity generated by the Netflix portrayal of the Central Park case, it is best for me not to renew my teaching application.\" The BBC has contacted Ms Lederer, Columbia Law School and Manhattan district attorney's office for comment. When They See Us, a four-part mini-series, has proved hugely popular on Netflix, and in the US the series has been the streaming service's most-watched show since it debuted. In the UK it is the second-most watched after Black Mirror. The victim, a white 28-year-old investment banker, was severely beaten, raped and left for dead in a bush. She had no memory of it. Raymond Santana, Kevin Richardson, Antron McCray, Yusef Salaam and Korey Wise - then aged between 14 and 16 - were arrested and interrogated for hours without access to lawyers or their parents. They confessed to the crime but later recanted, saying their admissions were the result of police coercion. The 1989 interrogation was conducted by another prosecutor and police. The convictions were overturned in 2002 after a serial violent offender named Matias Reyes confessed to the attack and said he had acted alone. A US judge in 2014 approved a $41m (PS32m) settlement between the five and New York City. This is the second job loss for someone connected with the case since the series was released. On 4 June, Linda Fairstein, a former US prosecutor involved in the case, resigned from several boards. She observed the teenagers' 1989 interrogation, which was conducted by another prosecutor and police. She was Manhattan's sexual crimes top prosecutor at the time, and has since maintained they were not coerced and defended the authorities' conduct. When They See Us inspired a #CancelLindaFairstein movement on social media amid renewed outcry over her role in the case. On 8 June, Ms Fairstein, who is now a crime novelist and children's author, was dropped by her publisher. Two days later she wrote in the Wall Street Journal: \"Ava DuVernay's miniseries wrongly portrays them as totally innocent - and defames me in the process.\" Ava Duvernay was asked about Linda Fairstein during an interview by Oprah Winfrey, and said: \"I think that it's important that people be held accountable.\" But she added: \"She is part of a system that's not broken, it was built to be this way... the real thing that we are all trying to do.. is to be able to say, 'Go America...Let's do this. Let's change this.' \"You can't change what you don't know, so we came together to show you what you may not know.\" \"That's our goal.\" Follow us on Facebook, on Twitter @BBCNewsEnts, or on Instagram at bbcnewsents. If you have a story suggestion email", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1658, "answer_end": 2397, "text": "The victim, a white 28-year-old investment banker, was severely beaten, raped and left for dead in a bush. She had no memory of it. Raymond Santana, Kevin Richardson, Antron McCray, Yusef Salaam and Korey Wise - then aged between 14 and 16 - were arrested and interrogated for hours without access to lawyers or their parents. They confessed to the crime but later recanted, saying their admissions were the result of police coercion. The 1989 interrogation was conducted by another prosecutor and police. The convictions were overturned in 2002 after a serial violent offender named Matias Reyes confessed to the attack and said he had acted alone. A US judge in 2014 approved a $41m (PS32m) settlement between the five and New York City."}], "question": "What happened in the Central Park Five case?", "id": "908_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Jeffrey Epstein accuser urges Prince Andrew to 'come clean'", "date": "28 August 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "A woman who accused the late financier Jeffrey Epstein of sex abuse and alleged she was forced to have sex with Prince Andrew as a 17-year-old has urged the UK royal to \"come clean\". Speaking after a hearing for alleged victims in the wake of Epstein's death, Virginia Giuffre told reporters the prince \"knows what he's done\". The Duke of York denies the accusation. Epstein killed himself in his prison cell this month while awaiting trial on sex trafficking and conspiracy charges. The 66-year-old tycoon - who once counted President Donald Trump, former President Bill Clinton and Prince Andrew as friends - was found unresponsive on 10 August. About 15 plaintiffs were given an opportunity to speak at the New York City court hearing that brings an end to the criminal case - which is now closed because of Epstein's death. The women spoke of their anger, saying Epstein had cheated justice by taking his own life. Prosecutors said the investigation was ongoing and charges could still be brought against any co-conspirators. Ms Giuffre, 35, has alleged she was forced on three occasions to have sex with Prince Andrew, which he denies. She has accused Epstein of keeping her as a \"sex slave\".  In court on Tuesday, she said: \"My hopes were quickly dashed and my dreams were stolen.\" Ms Giuffre has said in a court deposition she was a 15-year-old working at Mr Trump's Mar-a-Lago golf resort in Florida when she was approached by British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell to give massages to Epstein. When asked for a comment on Prince Andrew during a news conference after the hearing, Ms Giuffre said: \"He knows what he's done and he can attest to that. He knows exactly what he's done and I hope he comes clean about it.\" The prince has said it was \"a mistake and an error\" to see Epstein after his release from prison, and that he never saw or suspected criminal behaviour. Courtney Wild, who has alleged Epstein sexually abused her when she was 14, told the court on Tuesday: \"I feel very angry and sad. Justice has never been served in this case.\" Ms Wild, who says she was recruited to be a masseuse for Epstein on his private plane dubbed \"the Lolita Express\", called him a \"coward\" who was able to \"manipulate our justice system\". Jennifer Araoz, who says Epstein raped her at his New York mansion when she was 15, told the court: \"He robbed me of my dreams, of my chance to pursue a career I adored. \"The fact I will never have a chance to face my predator in court eats away at me. They let this man kill himself and kill the chance for justice for so many others.\" Another woman, Chauntae Davies, told the court: \"I will not let him win in death.\" Ms Davies said she was raped by Epstein on his private island after being hired to give him massages. Another woman, who chose to withhold her name, fought back tears as she told the court: \"We do need to know how he died. It felt like a whole new trauma. It didn't feel good to wake up that morning and find that he allegedly committed suicide.\" A number of accusers have filed lawsuits against Epstein's estate. Two days before his death, he signed a will funnelling his $577m (PS475m) in assets to a trust fund. Chris Buckler, BBC News, New York This was testimony that should have been given during Epstein's trial. But cheated of that opportunity, the judge insisted it was only appropriate that it should be heard. Some had written detailed accounts of their abuse, while others just said what they felt. None of it was easy. Even in the quiet courtroom it was difficult to hear as one woman sobbed through a letter she had written to Epstein. The fact she had wanted to say something directly to him summed up the complicated relationship many had with a man who manipulated them. Another woman said he had forced her into a \"destructive\" and exploitative relationship, but that it still didn't \"feel good\" when she heard that he had killed himself. What shone through the stories was that there was a pattern to Epstein's behaviour. He targeted the young and vulnerable. The girls he abused are now women. But robbed of their innocence and some of their childhood, it was clear that as adults they still feel the pain. Judge Richard Berman, who scheduled the hearing, began on Tuesday by observing that the case had taken \"a rather stunning turn of events\". Reid Weingarten, an attorney for Epstein, asked the judge to look into the circumstances of his client's death. The financier died of \"suicide by hanging\" in the Metropolitan Correctional Center in Manhattan, according to a New York medical examiner. Mr Weingarten said the defence was \"sceptical of the certitude of the medical examiner's conclusion that this was suicide\", citing issues with video surveillance. Brad Edwards, a lawyer representing Epstein's accusers, told the court that the financier's \"untimely death\" was \"curious\" and made it impossible for the alleged victims to find justice. Authorities have told the Washington Post that one hallway camera near Epstein's prison cell has unusable footage, though clearer footage was captured in the vicinity. It is unclear what was visible in this footage, or why the other video was not usable. The FBI and Department of Justice are investigating the incident to determine if there was any foul play. Epstein was accused of paying girls under the age of 18 to perform sex acts at his Manhattan and Florida mansions between 2002-05. He was also alleged to have paid large amounts of money to two potential witnesses ahead of his trial, which was scheduled for next year. Epstein, who pleaded not guilty, was facing up to 45 years in prison if convicted. He was arrested on 6 July after landing in New Jersey on his private jet. Epstein avoided similar charges in a controversial secret plea deal in 2008, instead pleading guilty to a lesser charge. Handling of that case - which deprived Epstein's accusers the chance to confront him in court - has been closely scrutinised in recent months. In July, US Labor Secretary Alex Acosta, a former Miami prosecutor, resigned over his role in the plea deal.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1030, "answer_end": 1876, "text": "Ms Giuffre, 35, has alleged she was forced on three occasions to have sex with Prince Andrew, which he denies. She has accused Epstein of keeping her as a \"sex slave\".  In court on Tuesday, she said: \"My hopes were quickly dashed and my dreams were stolen.\" Ms Giuffre has said in a court deposition she was a 15-year-old working at Mr Trump's Mar-a-Lago golf resort in Florida when she was approached by British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell to give massages to Epstein. When asked for a comment on Prince Andrew during a news conference after the hearing, Ms Giuffre said: \"He knows what he's done and he can attest to that. He knows exactly what he's done and I hope he comes clean about it.\" The prince has said it was \"a mistake and an error\" to see Epstein after his release from prison, and that he never saw or suspected criminal behaviour."}], "question": "What did Ms Giuffre say?", "id": "909_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1877, "answer_end": 3173, "text": "Courtney Wild, who has alleged Epstein sexually abused her when she was 14, told the court on Tuesday: \"I feel very angry and sad. Justice has never been served in this case.\" Ms Wild, who says she was recruited to be a masseuse for Epstein on his private plane dubbed \"the Lolita Express\", called him a \"coward\" who was able to \"manipulate our justice system\". Jennifer Araoz, who says Epstein raped her at his New York mansion when she was 15, told the court: \"He robbed me of my dreams, of my chance to pursue a career I adored. \"The fact I will never have a chance to face my predator in court eats away at me. They let this man kill himself and kill the chance for justice for so many others.\" Another woman, Chauntae Davies, told the court: \"I will not let him win in death.\" Ms Davies said she was raped by Epstein on his private island after being hired to give him massages. Another woman, who chose to withhold her name, fought back tears as she told the court: \"We do need to know how he died. It felt like a whole new trauma. It didn't feel good to wake up that morning and find that he allegedly committed suicide.\" A number of accusers have filed lawsuits against Epstein's estate. Two days before his death, he signed a will funnelling his $577m (PS475m) in assets to a trust fund."}], "question": "What did the other accusers say?", "id": "909_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 4186, "answer_end": 5286, "text": "Judge Richard Berman, who scheduled the hearing, began on Tuesday by observing that the case had taken \"a rather stunning turn of events\". Reid Weingarten, an attorney for Epstein, asked the judge to look into the circumstances of his client's death. The financier died of \"suicide by hanging\" in the Metropolitan Correctional Center in Manhattan, according to a New York medical examiner. Mr Weingarten said the defence was \"sceptical of the certitude of the medical examiner's conclusion that this was suicide\", citing issues with video surveillance. Brad Edwards, a lawyer representing Epstein's accusers, told the court that the financier's \"untimely death\" was \"curious\" and made it impossible for the alleged victims to find justice. Authorities have told the Washington Post that one hallway camera near Epstein's prison cell has unusable footage, though clearer footage was captured in the vicinity. It is unclear what was visible in this footage, or why the other video was not usable. The FBI and Department of Justice are investigating the incident to determine if there was any foul play."}], "question": "What was said about Epstein's death?", "id": "909_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 5287, "answer_end": 6085, "text": "Epstein was accused of paying girls under the age of 18 to perform sex acts at his Manhattan and Florida mansions between 2002-05. He was also alleged to have paid large amounts of money to two potential witnesses ahead of his trial, which was scheduled for next year. Epstein, who pleaded not guilty, was facing up to 45 years in prison if convicted. He was arrested on 6 July after landing in New Jersey on his private jet. Epstein avoided similar charges in a controversial secret plea deal in 2008, instead pleading guilty to a lesser charge. Handling of that case - which deprived Epstein's accusers the chance to confront him in court - has been closely scrutinised in recent months. In July, US Labor Secretary Alex Acosta, a former Miami prosecutor, resigned over his role in the plea deal."}], "question": "What was Epstein charged with?", "id": "909_3"}]}]}, {"title": "Coronavirus: China enacts tighter restrictions in Hubei", "date": "16 February 2020", "paragraphs": [{"context": "China has tightened restrictions on movement in Hubei province as it continues to battle the coronavirus. Sixty-million people have been told to stay at home unless there is an emergency, and the use of private cars has been banned indefinitely. Hubei and the city of Wuhan have been hit hardest by the outbreak, which has now claimed 1,665 lives in China. But China has announced a drop in new cases for a third consecutive day and says it is controlling the spread. The virus is a new strain of coronavirus and causes an acute respiratory disease which has been named Covid-19. In another development, some 400 Americans are being taken off a cruise ship, the Diamond Princess, which is quarantined in a Japanese port. Of that group, 40 are infected with the coronavirus, the US National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases says. Although people have been ordered to stay at home, they will be allowed to leave in an emergency,  In addition, a single person from each household will be allowed to leave the building every three days to buy food and essential items. On housing estates, one entrance will be kept open. It will be guarded to ensure that only residents can enter or leave. All other businesses will stay closed, except chemists, hotels, food shops and medical services. Vehicles used for the delivery of essential goods are exempt from the car ban. Meanwhile, authorities in the capital, Beijing, have ordered everyone returning to the city to go into quarantine for 14 days or risk punishment. China's central bank will also disinfect and store used banknotes before recirculating them in a bid to stop the virus spreading. On Sunday, authorities reported 2,009 new cases - down from 2,641 on Saturday, and 5,090 the day before. New cases spiked earlier in the week after a change in the way they were counted but have been falling ever since. In total, more than 68,500 people have so far been infected in China. National Health Commission spokesman Mi Feng said the figures showed China was managing to curb the outbreak. \"The effects of epidemic prevention and control in various parts of the country can already be seen.\" The commission's daily bulletin also reported 142 more deaths nationwide, the vast majority in Hubei. However Foreign Minister Wang Yi said that along with a drop in infections within Hubei there had been a rapid increase in the number of people who had recovered. The proportion of infected patients considered to be in a \"serious condition\" has dropped nationwide from more than 15% to just over 7%, according to China's State Council. Taiwan has now reported a death from the illness - a taxi driver, 61, who had not travelled abroad recently but had diabetes and hepatitis B, Health Minister Chen Shih-chung said. The minister said many of his passengers had come from China. Outside China, there have been more than 500 cases in nearly 30 countries. Four others have died outside China - in France, Hong Kong, the Philippines and Japan. The Diamond Princess contains the largest cluster of coronavirus cases outside China. The Americans are being taken off the vessel and most are expected to be flown to the US on two government-chartered planes. But the 40 who are infected will be taken to Japanese hospitals, Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases told Face the Nation on CBS. The Diamond Princess has been quarantined in Japan's port of Yokohama since 3 February after a man left the ship in Hong Kong and was found to have the virus. The Japanese authorities say the number of new cases of coronavirus on board the ship has risen by 70 to 355. Other evacuation flights will repatriate residents of Israel, Hong Kong and Canada. Meanwhile, a plane carrying 175 evacuated Nepalis, mostly students, has arrived in Kathmandu from Wuhan. It is the latest country to fly its citizens out of Hubei province. Meanwhile, Chinese state media published a speech from earlier this month in which Chinese President Xi Jinping said he said he had given instructions on 7 January on containing the outbreak. At the time, local officials in the city of Wuhan were downplaying the severity of the epidemic. This would suggest senior leaders were aware of the potential dangers of the virus before the information was made public. With the government facing criticism for its handling of the outbreak, analysts suggest the disclosure is an attempt to show the party leadership acted decisively from the start. - SHOULD WE WORRY? Our health correspondent explains - YOUR QUESTIONS: Can you get it more than once? - WHAT YOU CAN DO: Do masks really help? - UNDERSTANDING THE SPREAD: A visual guide to the outbreak", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 841, "answer_end": 1649, "text": "Although people have been ordered to stay at home, they will be allowed to leave in an emergency,  In addition, a single person from each household will be allowed to leave the building every three days to buy food and essential items. On housing estates, one entrance will be kept open. It will be guarded to ensure that only residents can enter or leave. All other businesses will stay closed, except chemists, hotels, food shops and medical services. Vehicles used for the delivery of essential goods are exempt from the car ban. Meanwhile, authorities in the capital, Beijing, have ordered everyone returning to the city to go into quarantine for 14 days or risk punishment. China's central bank will also disinfect and store used banknotes before recirculating them in a bid to stop the virus spreading."}], "question": "What are the new Hubei measures?", "id": "910_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1650, "answer_end": 2993, "text": "On Sunday, authorities reported 2,009 new cases - down from 2,641 on Saturday, and 5,090 the day before. New cases spiked earlier in the week after a change in the way they were counted but have been falling ever since. In total, more than 68,500 people have so far been infected in China. National Health Commission spokesman Mi Feng said the figures showed China was managing to curb the outbreak. \"The effects of epidemic prevention and control in various parts of the country can already be seen.\" The commission's daily bulletin also reported 142 more deaths nationwide, the vast majority in Hubei. However Foreign Minister Wang Yi said that along with a drop in infections within Hubei there had been a rapid increase in the number of people who had recovered. The proportion of infected patients considered to be in a \"serious condition\" has dropped nationwide from more than 15% to just over 7%, according to China's State Council. Taiwan has now reported a death from the illness - a taxi driver, 61, who had not travelled abroad recently but had diabetes and hepatitis B, Health Minister Chen Shih-chung said. The minister said many of his passengers had come from China. Outside China, there have been more than 500 cases in nearly 30 countries. Four others have died outside China - in France, Hong Kong, the Philippines and Japan."}], "question": "What is the latest on cases?", "id": "910_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2994, "answer_end": 3909, "text": "The Diamond Princess contains the largest cluster of coronavirus cases outside China. The Americans are being taken off the vessel and most are expected to be flown to the US on two government-chartered planes. But the 40 who are infected will be taken to Japanese hospitals, Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases told Face the Nation on CBS. The Diamond Princess has been quarantined in Japan's port of Yokohama since 3 February after a man left the ship in Hong Kong and was found to have the virus. The Japanese authorities say the number of new cases of coronavirus on board the ship has risen by 70 to 355. Other evacuation flights will repatriate residents of Israel, Hong Kong and Canada. Meanwhile, a plane carrying 175 evacuated Nepalis, mostly students, has arrived in Kathmandu from Wuhan. It is the latest country to fly its citizens out of Hubei province."}], "question": "Where else has been affected by coronavirus?", "id": "910_2"}]}]}, {"title": "The 200-year-old diary that's rewriting gay history", "date": "10 February 2020", "paragraphs": [{"context": "A diary written by a Yorkshire farmer more than 200 years ago is being hailed as providing remarkable evidence of tolerance towards homosexuality in Britain much earlier than previously imagined. Historians from Oxford University have been taken aback to discover that Matthew Tomlinson's diary from 1810 contains such open-minded views about same-sex attraction being a \"natural\" human tendency. The diary challenges preconceptions about what \"ordinary people\" thought about homosexuality - showing there was a debate about whether someone really should be discriminated against for their sexuality. \"In this exciting new discovery, we see a Yorkshire farmer arguing that homosexuality is innate and something that shouldn't be punished by death,\" says Oxford researcher Eamonn O'Keeffe. The historian had been examining Tomlinson's handwritten diaries, which have been stored in Wakefield Library since the 1950s. The thousands of pages of the private journals have never been transcribed and previously used by researchers interested in Tomlinson's eye-witness accounts of elections in Yorkshire and the Luddites smashing up machinery. But O'Keeffe came across what seemed, for the era of George III, to be a rather startling set of arguments about same-sex relationships. Tomlinson had been prompted by what had been a big sex scandal of the day - in which a well-respected naval surgeon had been found to be engaging in homosexual acts. A court martial had ordered him to be hanged - but Tomlinson seemed unconvinced by the decision, questioning whether what the papers called an \"unnatural act\" was really that unnatural. Tomlinson argued, from a religious perspective, that punishing someone for how they were created was equivalent to saying that there was something wrong with the Creator. \"It must seem strange indeed that God Almighty should make a being with such a nature, or such a defect in nature; and at the same time make a decree that if that being whom he had formed, should at any time follow the dictates of that Nature, with which he was formed, he should be punished with death,\" he wrote on January 14 1810. If there was an \"inclination and propensity\" for someone to be homosexual from an early age, he wrote, \"it must then be considered as natural, otherwise as a defect in nature - and if natural, or a defect in nature; it seems cruel to punish that defect with death\". The diarist makes reference to being informed by others that homosexuality is apparent from an early age - suggesting that Tomlinson and his social circle had been talking about this case and discussing something that was not unknown to them. Around this time, and also in West Yorkshire, a local landowner, Anne Lister, was writing a coded diary about her lesbian relationships - with her story told in the television series, Gentleman Jack. But knowing what \"ordinary people\" really thought about such behaviour is always difficult - not least because the loudest surviving voices are usually the wealthy and powerful. What has excited academics is the chance to eavesdrop on an everyday farmer thinking aloud in his diary. \"What's striking is that he's an ordinary guy, he's not a member of the bohemian circles or an intellectual,\" says O'Keeffe, a doctoral student in Oxford's history faculty. An acceptance of homosexuality might have been expressed privately in aristocratic or philosophically radical circles - but this was being discussed by a rural worker. \"It shows opinions of people in the past were not as monolithic as we might think,\" says O'Keeffe, who is originally from Canada. \"Even though this was a time of persecution and intolerance towards same-sex relationships, here's an ordinary person who is swimming against the current and sees what he reads in the paper and questions those assumptions.\" Claire Pickering, library manager in Wakefield, says she imagines the single-minded Tomlinson speaking the words with a Yorkshire accent. He was a man with a \"hungry mind\", she says, someone who listened to a lot of people's opinions before forming his own conclusions. The diary, presumably compiled after a hard day's work, was his way of being a writer and commentator when otherwise \"that wasn't his station in life\", she says. O'Keeffe says it shows ideas were \"percolating through British society much earlier and more widely than we'd expect\" - with the diary working through the debates that Tomlinson might have been having with his neighbours. But these were still far from modern liberal views - and O'Keeffe says they can be extremely \"jarring\" arguments. If someone was homosexual by choice, rather than by nature, Tomlinson was ready to consider that they should still be punished - proposing castration as a more moderate option than the death penalty. O'Keeffe says discovering evidence of these kinds of debate has both \"enriched and complicated\" what we know about public opinion in this pre-Victorian era. The diary is raising international interest. Prof Fara Dabhoiwala, from Princeton University in the US, an expert in the history of attitudes towards sexuality, describes it as \"vivid proof\" that \"historical attitudes to same-sex behaviour could be more sympathetic than is usually presumed\". Instead of seeing homosexuality as a \"horrible perversion\", Prof Dabholwala says the record showed a farmer in 1810 could see it as a \"natural, divinely ordained human quality\". Rictor Norton, an expert in gay history, said there had been earlier arguments defending homosexuality as natural - but these were more likely to be from philosophers than farmers. \"It is extraordinary to find an ordinary, casual observer in 1810 seriously considering the possibility that sexuality is innate and making arguments for decriminalisation,\" says Dr Norton. Matthew Tomlinson was a widower, in his 40s when he wrote his journal in 1810 - a man of a \"middling\" class, not a poor labourer but not rich enough to own his own land. \"I try and imagine how he would have looked,\" says library manager Ms Pickering. There are no pictures of Tomlinson, who is thought to have lived between about 1770 and 1850. \"Very dour,\" she suggests. And a \"bit of a hypochondriac\". \"I imagine if you stopped him at his gate for a chat he'd talk about his gout more than anything else. \"I'd love to have a conversation with him about what Wakefield was like at the time,\" she says. No-one knows how these private diaries, covering 1806 to 1839, ended up in Wakefield Library, but they were there by the 1950s and are presumed to be part of an earlier acquisition of old books and local documents. There are three surviving volumes and at least another eight are missing. But they show vivid detail about life in Wakefield in the early 19th Century. During elections, Tomlinson was appalled by the corruption, the rum drinkers having to be carried home in wheelbarrows and the \"hired ruffians\". And at Queen Victoria's coronation he was sceptical about expensive ceremonies and celebrations, calling them all \"humbug\". This was not a closed world. His social circle seemed to be avid readers of books and newspapers, following reports of revolutions abroad and riots and insurrections at home. They saw elephants marching through Wakefield in a circus parade and military bands who had competed to hire the most talented black musicians. We know where he lived - Doghouse Farm in Lupset, because he carefully wrote it on the front of his journals. The farm, at the edge of the landowner's estate, is now under a housing estate and a golf course. All that survives are his diaries.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 5787, "answer_end": 7587, "text": "Matthew Tomlinson was a widower, in his 40s when he wrote his journal in 1810 - a man of a \"middling\" class, not a poor labourer but not rich enough to own his own land. \"I try and imagine how he would have looked,\" says library manager Ms Pickering. There are no pictures of Tomlinson, who is thought to have lived between about 1770 and 1850. \"Very dour,\" she suggests. And a \"bit of a hypochondriac\". \"I imagine if you stopped him at his gate for a chat he'd talk about his gout more than anything else. \"I'd love to have a conversation with him about what Wakefield was like at the time,\" she says. No-one knows how these private diaries, covering 1806 to 1839, ended up in Wakefield Library, but they were there by the 1950s and are presumed to be part of an earlier acquisition of old books and local documents. There are three surviving volumes and at least another eight are missing. But they show vivid detail about life in Wakefield in the early 19th Century. During elections, Tomlinson was appalled by the corruption, the rum drinkers having to be carried home in wheelbarrows and the \"hired ruffians\". And at Queen Victoria's coronation he was sceptical about expensive ceremonies and celebrations, calling them all \"humbug\". This was not a closed world. His social circle seemed to be avid readers of books and newspapers, following reports of revolutions abroad and riots and insurrections at home. They saw elephants marching through Wakefield in a circus parade and military bands who had competed to hire the most talented black musicians. We know where he lived - Doghouse Farm in Lupset, because he carefully wrote it on the front of his journals. The farm, at the edge of the landowner's estate, is now under a housing estate and a golf course. All that survives are his diaries."}], "question": "Who was the writer of this diary?", "id": "911_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Katie Hill: US congresswoman resigns amid affair allegations", "date": "28 October 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "US lawmaker Katie Hill has announced her resignation from Congress, following allegations that she had an affair with a Capitol Hill aide. The California Democrat, who has denied the claim, said she was stepping down with a \"broken heart\". \"I believe it is the best thing for my constituents, my community, and our country,\" she wrote on Twitter. The resignation came days after she was placed under investigation by the House of Representatives Ethics Committee. The ethics committee launched an inquiry after conservative blog RedState reported allegations that Ms Hill had an affair with one of her congressional aides, a man. The same blog separately reported claims that Ms Hill, who is bisexual, had also engaged in a three-way consensual romance with a female campaign staff member and her husband. It published naked images of the politician. She has asked police to investigate the nude photos being published online. Ms Hill, 32, has denied having an affair with her aide, which would be a possible violation of House rules. In a statement announcing the investigation, the ethics committee noted that the opening of an inquiry did not mean \"that any violation has occurred\". Hours before the congressional inquiry was launched on Wednesday, Ms Hill sent a letter to supporters acknowledging a \"relationship\" with a female 2018 campaign staff member. She described that affair as \"inappropriate\". The relationship that Ms Hill acknowledged took place before she was elected, so it fell outside congressional rules on personal relationships. In her resignation letter on Sunday, Ms Hill said stepping down from Congress was the \"hardest thing\" she had ever had to do. \"Having private photos of personal moments weaponised against me has been an appalling invasion of my privacy. It's also illegal, and we are currently pursuing all of our available legal options,\" she wrote. \"However, I know that as long as I am in Congress, we'll live fearful of what might come next and how much it will hurt.\" Ms Hill has accused her husband, whom she is in the process of divorcing, of trying to humiliate her. She says the campaign relationship began in the final \"tumultuous\" years of her marriage. \"I know that even a consensual relationship with a subordinate is inappropriate, but I still allowed it to happen despite my better judgment,\" she said in the letter to supporters. \"For that I apologise.\" Two years ago during her congressional campaign, she described Kenny Heslep, whom she wed in 2010, in a social media post as \"my best friend and the love of my life\". In the statement on Sunday, she defined herself as a \"fighter\". \"Now, my fight is going to be to defeat this type of exploitation that so many women are victims to and which will keep countless women and girls from running for office or entering public light.\" Ms Hill has represented the 25th district in southern California since 2018, when she was elected as part of a Democratic wave. She is also vice-chairwoman of the House Oversight and Reform Committee, which has been investigating President Donald Trump's financial dealings. She previously worked as executive director of non-profit organisation People Assisting the Homeless.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 464, "answer_end": 1550, "text": "The ethics committee launched an inquiry after conservative blog RedState reported allegations that Ms Hill had an affair with one of her congressional aides, a man. The same blog separately reported claims that Ms Hill, who is bisexual, had also engaged in a three-way consensual romance with a female campaign staff member and her husband. It published naked images of the politician. She has asked police to investigate the nude photos being published online. Ms Hill, 32, has denied having an affair with her aide, which would be a possible violation of House rules. In a statement announcing the investigation, the ethics committee noted that the opening of an inquiry did not mean \"that any violation has occurred\". Hours before the congressional inquiry was launched on Wednesday, Ms Hill sent a letter to supporters acknowledging a \"relationship\" with a female 2018 campaign staff member. She described that affair as \"inappropriate\". The relationship that Ms Hill acknowledged took place before she was elected, so it fell outside congressional rules on personal relationships."}], "question": "Why is there an investigation?", "id": "912_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1551, "answer_end": 2831, "text": "In her resignation letter on Sunday, Ms Hill said stepping down from Congress was the \"hardest thing\" she had ever had to do. \"Having private photos of personal moments weaponised against me has been an appalling invasion of my privacy. It's also illegal, and we are currently pursuing all of our available legal options,\" she wrote. \"However, I know that as long as I am in Congress, we'll live fearful of what might come next and how much it will hurt.\" Ms Hill has accused her husband, whom she is in the process of divorcing, of trying to humiliate her. She says the campaign relationship began in the final \"tumultuous\" years of her marriage. \"I know that even a consensual relationship with a subordinate is inappropriate, but I still allowed it to happen despite my better judgment,\" she said in the letter to supporters. \"For that I apologise.\" Two years ago during her congressional campaign, she described Kenny Heslep, whom she wed in 2010, in a social media post as \"my best friend and the love of my life\". In the statement on Sunday, she defined herself as a \"fighter\". \"Now, my fight is going to be to defeat this type of exploitation that so many women are victims to and which will keep countless women and girls from running for office or entering public light.\""}], "question": "What did she say?", "id": "912_1"}]}]}, {"title": "Brett Kavanaugh, Trump's court nominee, faces new sex allegation", "date": "24 September 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "A second woman has come forward with allegations of sexual misconduct against President Donald Trump's US Supreme Court nominee, Brett Kavanaugh. Deborah Ramirez, a Yale university classmate of the judge, told the New Yorker that Mr Kavanaugh had exposed his genitals at a dormitory party. The judge has denied both allegations, labelling the latest \"a smear\". The make-up of the nine-judge Supreme Court is crucial as it has the final say on often highly contentious laws. Before Judge Kavanaugh can take up the vacant seat, he has to be approved by the 21-strong Senate Judiciary Committee and then the whole Senate. Prof Christine Blasey Ford, who last week came forward alleging Brett Kavanaugh had sexually assaulted her in the early 1980s, has agreed to testify before the Senate committee on Thursday. Senator Dianne Feinstein, the top Democrat on the committee, called for the \"immediate postponement of any further proceedings\" relating to Judge Kavanaugh's nomination in an letter sent to the committee's Republican chairman on Sunday evening. Ms Ramirez alleges the incident occurred when she was a freshman at Yale University alongside Judge Kavanaugh during the 1983-4 academic year. She says they were both taking part in a drinking game at a dormitory party where people sat in a circle and selected others to drink. She says at one point, a plastic penis was pointed in her direction by one man, and later another exposed himself directly. \"I remember a penis being in front of my face,\" she said. \"I knew that's not what I wanted, even in that state of mind.\" Ms Ramirez said she was mocked and taunted when she remarked it wasn't real, and then ended up touching the genitals while attempting to push the man away. \"I wasn't going to touch a penis until I was married,\" she said, referring to her devout Catholic upbringing. \"I was embarrassed and ashamed and humiliated.\" She says she remembers Judge Kavanaugh standing to her right and laughing, pulling up his pants. The article says the 53-year-old acknowledges gaps in her memory caused by alcohol that night, which is said to have made her hesitant to come forward when contacted. The journalists behind the piece, Ronan Farrow and Jane Mayer, say they contacted dozens of classmates to try to corroborate Ms Ramirez's account. Three former students, who were not independent eyewitnesses, recalled being told or discussing the incident in vague terms at the time. Two males allegedly involved in the incident disputed her account, alongside several other classmates, adding the allegation against Judge Kavanaugh was \"completely out of character\". In a statement, the Supreme Court nominee strongly denied the allegation. \"This alleged event from 35 years ago did not happen,\" he said. \"The people who knew me then know that this did not happen, and have said so. \"This is a smear, plain and simple. I look forward to testifying on Thursday about the truth, and defending my good name - and the reputation for character and integrity I have spent a lifetime building - against these last-minute allegations.\" A White House spokeswoman says the administration stands by the nominee, labelling the allegation \"the latest in a co-ordinated smear campaign by the Democrats designed to tear a good man down\". The White House then released a further statement highlighting perceived weaknesses and uncertainties within the New Yorker's account. Prof Ford alleges Judge Kavanaugh tried to drunkenly remove her clothing, pinned her to a bed and covered her mouth at a high school party when she was 15 and he was 17. Some Republicans, including President Trump, have accused her and Democratic politicians of deliberately trying to delay and obstruct the judge's confirmation using the allegations. Michael Avenatti, a US lawyer known for representing adult film actress Stormy Daniels in her cases against President Trump, has alleged on Twitter that he is representing a third woman with \"credible information\" regarding Judge Kavanaugh and the alleged witness to Prof Ford's assault, Mark Judge.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1054, "answer_end": 2154, "text": "Ms Ramirez alleges the incident occurred when she was a freshman at Yale University alongside Judge Kavanaugh during the 1983-4 academic year. She says they were both taking part in a drinking game at a dormitory party where people sat in a circle and selected others to drink. She says at one point, a plastic penis was pointed in her direction by one man, and later another exposed himself directly. \"I remember a penis being in front of my face,\" she said. \"I knew that's not what I wanted, even in that state of mind.\" Ms Ramirez said she was mocked and taunted when she remarked it wasn't real, and then ended up touching the genitals while attempting to push the man away. \"I wasn't going to touch a penis until I was married,\" she said, referring to her devout Catholic upbringing. \"I was embarrassed and ashamed and humiliated.\" She says she remembers Judge Kavanaugh standing to her right and laughing, pulling up his pants. The article says the 53-year-old acknowledges gaps in her memory caused by alcohol that night, which is said to have made her hesitant to come forward when contacted."}], "question": "What is the new allegation against Judge Kavanaugh?", "id": "913_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2155, "answer_end": 3413, "text": "The journalists behind the piece, Ronan Farrow and Jane Mayer, say they contacted dozens of classmates to try to corroborate Ms Ramirez's account. Three former students, who were not independent eyewitnesses, recalled being told or discussing the incident in vague terms at the time. Two males allegedly involved in the incident disputed her account, alongside several other classmates, adding the allegation against Judge Kavanaugh was \"completely out of character\". In a statement, the Supreme Court nominee strongly denied the allegation. \"This alleged event from 35 years ago did not happen,\" he said. \"The people who knew me then know that this did not happen, and have said so. \"This is a smear, plain and simple. I look forward to testifying on Thursday about the truth, and defending my good name - and the reputation for character and integrity I have spent a lifetime building - against these last-minute allegations.\" A White House spokeswoman says the administration stands by the nominee, labelling the allegation \"the latest in a co-ordinated smear campaign by the Democrats designed to tear a good man down\". The White House then released a further statement highlighting perceived weaknesses and uncertainties within the New Yorker's account."}], "question": "What have other people said about the incident?", "id": "913_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3414, "answer_end": 4065, "text": "Prof Ford alleges Judge Kavanaugh tried to drunkenly remove her clothing, pinned her to a bed and covered her mouth at a high school party when she was 15 and he was 17. Some Republicans, including President Trump, have accused her and Democratic politicians of deliberately trying to delay and obstruct the judge's confirmation using the allegations. Michael Avenatti, a US lawyer known for representing adult film actress Stormy Daniels in her cases against President Trump, has alleged on Twitter that he is representing a third woman with \"credible information\" regarding Judge Kavanaugh and the alleged witness to Prof Ford's assault, Mark Judge."}], "question": "What are the other allegations?", "id": "913_2"}]}]}, {"title": "Istanbul mayoral vote: Is \u2018disastrous\u2019 loss beginning of Erdogan\u2019s end?", "date": "24 June 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "As the scale of Ekrem Imamoglu's victory became clear, his supporters thronged his election headquarters. Lining the street outside was a row of cameras. Among them: Turkey's state broadcaster TRT, heavily under the thumb of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. A woman approached, waving her Turkish flag bearing the face of Mr Imamoglu at the TRT cameraman. \"Now are you going to film us?\", she cried, \"we're here, now show we are!\" It encapsulated the feeling of an opposition that has been stifled for years, all the organs of the Turkish state controlled by Turkey's powerful, polarising leader. Finally, the other side of this country feels as though the hand that has covered its mouth has been unclasped. Rarely is a local election of such national importance. But Mr Erdogan has built his political career over twenty-five years on a sense of victory and an aura of invincibility. He was born in Istanbul, he ran it as mayor and it propelled him to power first as Prime Minister in 2003 and then President eleven years later. He has towered over an opposition that long been hopelessly divided. And he has thrived on seeming unchallengeable. Accruing ever more power through the devotion of his pious, conservative supporters, he has transformed Turkey economically and socially, every area from media to construction filled with loyalists who backed him in return for favours. When his AK Party (AKP) lost Istanbul in March this year by a sliver - just 13,000 votes - the electoral board was widely seen as buckling under the government's pressure for a re-run, based on dubious claim of irregularities. \"Whoever wins Istanbul, wins Turkey\", said the country's omnipotent President, assuming this was once again a gamble he would win. It was a disastrous miscalculation. Mr Imamoglu won by a landslide - the largest in a mayoral election here in 35 years. Conservative areas of the city - Fatih (Istanbul's pious heart by the Blue Mosque), Tuzla (the constituency of the government candidate Binali Yildrim) and Uskudar (where President Erdogan himself lives) all backed Mr Imamoglu. How did he achieve it? The answer is in one word, plastered over his posters: umut (hope). The AKP called him everything they could think of: terrorist, coup-supporter, fraud, Greek, even equating him with the Egyptian autocrat President Sisi, an arch rival of President Erdogan. He rebuffed the smears with smiles. Vowing to embrace his opponents, he has pushed his message of an inclusive Turkey and a greener, fairer Istanbul, freed of the corruption and nepotism that have built up over 25 years of conservative rule. During the 18 days when he ran the city after the last vote before it was annulled, his team uncovered a deficit of almost $4bn (PS3.1bn), largely due to state tenders linked to President Erdogan's family. His victory could have a seismic impact here. The opposition finally feels it's capable of winning - and will channel that through to the next national elections. Those are, for now, due in 2023 but are widely expected to come earlier after the AKP's crushing defeat. Vultures are already circling, with Mr Erdogan's predecessor as President preparing to launch a breakaway party, as is a former Prime Minister. That will bleed support from the President's now-declining voter base. As Mr Erdogan's authoritarianism has grown, his inner circle has shrunk. He does not have an obvious heir - his son-in-law, the current Finance Minister, has little of his charisma. The party he founded and has built up could be crippled without him. Whispers will now grow louder about the beginning of President Erdogan's end. But even if it comes - and nobody here underestimates his ability to bounce back - unpicking a quarter of a century of Erdoganism would take far longer. Turkish society has been battered over recent years, the country plummeting in indexes of press freedom, judicial independence and human rights. But the one thing the opposition clung on to for dear life was free elections. They partied late into the night here, celebrating victory - but also the fact that there is still life in Turkish democracy.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 2863, "answer_end": 4131, "text": "The opposition finally feels it's capable of winning - and will channel that through to the next national elections. Those are, for now, due in 2023 but are widely expected to come earlier after the AKP's crushing defeat. Vultures are already circling, with Mr Erdogan's predecessor as President preparing to launch a breakaway party, as is a former Prime Minister. That will bleed support from the President's now-declining voter base. As Mr Erdogan's authoritarianism has grown, his inner circle has shrunk. He does not have an obvious heir - his son-in-law, the current Finance Minister, has little of his charisma. The party he founded and has built up could be crippled without him. Whispers will now grow louder about the beginning of President Erdogan's end. But even if it comes - and nobody here underestimates his ability to bounce back - unpicking a quarter of a century of Erdoganism would take far longer. Turkish society has been battered over recent years, the country plummeting in indexes of press freedom, judicial independence and human rights. But the one thing the opposition clung on to for dear life was free elections. They partied late into the night here, celebrating victory - but also the fact that there is still life in Turkish democracy."}], "question": "Is this the beginning of the end for Erdogan?", "id": "914_0"}]}]}, {"title": "New York rats: Alcohol can solve problem, say officials", "date": "6 September 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "A machine, a trap door and a pool full of liquid alcohol. That's the latest weapon in the war against rats, say officials in New York. The rats are attracted with bait by a machine and sent through a trap door straight into a pool of alcohol-based liquid. It's one of the most rat-infested cities in the US, with rodents moving around through rubbish and train tracks and causing chaos for many residents. In effect, it's a bucket which lures rats and then sends them to their death. They're knocked out by the liquid and \"drown eventually\", according to Anthony Giaquinto, the president of Rat Trap, who import the device. The rodent dies in the tank - which can hold up to 80 rat carcasses. During a demonstration of the machine sanitation workers opened the container, showing several dead rats floating in a green liquid. In a month long trial in Brooklyn a total of 107 rodents were lured and killed. In July 2017 the city announced a $32 million (PS26 million) program to cull thousands of rodents by installing rat-resistant bins. And they also trialled a liquid bait that could make rats infertile. But these past methods haven't worked. Reported rat sightings have soared by almost 38% to 17,353 last year, according to OpenTheBooks - a non-profit watchdog group. This new solution has been described as \"humane and environmentally friendly\" by Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams. He added it would be rolled out in some of Brooklyn's most rat-infected districts. But some - such as animal rights group Peta - say this will be \"cruel and frightening\". \"New York's alcohol traps will kill rats on the spot, but they'll do nothing to curb overall rodent populations, which rebound when animals remain fertile,\" says Elisa Allen, Peta's director. \"So drowning - like poisoning - will be ineffective in the long run.\" 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_start": 406, "answer_end": 905, "text": "In effect, it's a bucket which lures rats and then sends them to their death. They're knocked out by the liquid and \"drown eventually\", according to Anthony Giaquinto, the president of Rat Trap, who import the device. The rodent dies in the tank - which can hold up to 80 rat carcasses. During a demonstration of the machine sanitation workers opened the container, showing several dead rats floating in a green liquid. In a month long trial in Brooklyn a total of 107 rodents were lured and killed."}], "question": "How does it work?", "id": "915_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Colombia hopes a referendum will help root out corruption", "date": "26 August 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Mention corruption and most Colombians will agree that it is a massive problem. Fifty trillion pesos ($16.8bn, PS13bn) have been lost from public resources to corruption, according to Colombia's comptroller general,  Edgardo Maya Villazon. There have been attempts to tackle the problem through laws, more thorough investigations and even by raising public awareness through campaigns. On Sunday, Colombia is going to try something different. Voters will head to the polls in a referendum that its supporters hope will bring about tougher anti-corruption legislation. But even though polls suggest that corruption is Colombians' top concern a \"yes\" vote is not a foregone conclusion by any means. Voters will be asked whether they agree to seven measures: 1. A pay cap limiting salaries of members of Congress to 25 times the national minimum wage 2. That individuals convicted of corruption serve their full sentence in jail 3. That public entities be open and transparent when hiring contractors 4. Letting citizens have a say on the budget 5. Require members of Congress to be open about which bills they proposed, how they voted and who lobbied them 6. For elected officials to disclose their assets, income, and the taxes paid 7. To restrict elected officials to three terms in the same legislative body The referendum is binding but it is only valid if a third of all voters take part - just over 12 million. For each individual measure to be adopted, it needs to receive 50% of valid votes plus one. Congress then has one year to turn the measures into law and make them legally binding. If that does not happen, the president has 15 days to do so through a decree. Non-governmental organisation Transparency for Colombia, says some of the proposed measures would go some way towards rebalancing the ethical relationship between elected officials and the people. But the country's prosecutor-general, Nestor Humberto Martinez, said the steps were \"limited and insufficient\". He has called on President Ivan Duque to appoint special anti-corruption judges to handle the growth in the number of corruption cases. Senator Claudia Lopez - one of the proponents of the referendum - argues that the initiative was \"not intended as the sole solution against corruption\". \"We need political-electoral reform and judicial reform. But [the referendum] is a start,\" she said. All parties say they support fighting corruption - the referendum bill cleared the Senate with an impressive 84-0 vote. However, six out of the seven questions had previously been introduced in Congress and defeated in the lower chamber. German Manga, a columnist with weekly Semana, has called the questions \"irrelevant, anodyne, almost childish\". He says most of the measures proposed are already covered by current laws. Joaquin Velez Navarro, a columnist with El Tiempo, has branded the proposals \"pure populism\". His criticism of the referendum includes an attack on the measure to cut the salaries of state officials - which in his view could backfire. \"Such a law could generate incentives for some officials to 'adjust their salaries' through corruption. Or they could put off honest people from dedicating their professional life to public service.\" President Ivan Duque entirely eschewed the issue in his inauguration speech on 7 August. Two days later, he presented to Congress a package of four legislative bills aimed at fighting corruption - three of which were included in the points of the referendum. Mr Duque now says he will vote on Sunday - but his governing Democratic Centre party is not actively campaigning for it. Supporters of the referendum want voters to come out in numbers exceeding 15 million. But that turnout will not be easy to achieve. Last June, 19.5 million - or 53% of voters - took part in the second round of presidential elections but turnout at elections tends to draw many more voters than referenda. Meanwhile, Colombian social media is awash with fake news aimed at undermining the vote. One widely circulated myth is that the proposal to lower the salaries of members of Congress would result in a pay cut for ordinary Colombians and pensioners. \"Many [people] are trying to discredit the referendum with fake news,\" Ms Lopez tweeted. \"Do not believe in lies!\" She has urged voters to come out to support the proposals. \"The referendum would be unnecessary if they didn't steal 50 trillion [Colombian pesos] from us.\"", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1309, "answer_end": 1672, "text": "The referendum is binding but it is only valid if a third of all voters take part - just over 12 million. For each individual measure to be adopted, it needs to receive 50% of valid votes plus one. Congress then has one year to turn the measures into law and make them legally binding. If that does not happen, the president has 15 days to do so through a decree."}], "question": "What happens next?", "id": "916_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2372, "answer_end": 3610, "text": "All parties say they support fighting corruption - the referendum bill cleared the Senate with an impressive 84-0 vote. However, six out of the seven questions had previously been introduced in Congress and defeated in the lower chamber. German Manga, a columnist with weekly Semana, has called the questions \"irrelevant, anodyne, almost childish\". He says most of the measures proposed are already covered by current laws. Joaquin Velez Navarro, a columnist with El Tiempo, has branded the proposals \"pure populism\". His criticism of the referendum includes an attack on the measure to cut the salaries of state officials - which in his view could backfire. \"Such a law could generate incentives for some officials to 'adjust their salaries' through corruption. Or they could put off honest people from dedicating their professional life to public service.\" President Ivan Duque entirely eschewed the issue in his inauguration speech on 7 August. Two days later, he presented to Congress a package of four legislative bills aimed at fighting corruption - three of which were included in the points of the referendum. Mr Duque now says he will vote on Sunday - but his governing Democratic Centre party is not actively campaigning for it."}], "question": "Who opposes the measures in the referendum?", "id": "916_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3611, "answer_end": 4435, "text": "Supporters of the referendum want voters to come out in numbers exceeding 15 million. But that turnout will not be easy to achieve. Last June, 19.5 million - or 53% of voters - took part in the second round of presidential elections but turnout at elections tends to draw many more voters than referenda. Meanwhile, Colombian social media is awash with fake news aimed at undermining the vote. One widely circulated myth is that the proposal to lower the salaries of members of Congress would result in a pay cut for ordinary Colombians and pensioners. \"Many [people] are trying to discredit the referendum with fake news,\" Ms Lopez tweeted. \"Do not believe in lies!\" She has urged voters to come out to support the proposals. \"The referendum would be unnecessary if they didn't steal 50 trillion [Colombian pesos] from us.\""}], "question": "Will the referendum succeed?", "id": "916_2"}]}]}, {"title": "Brexit: Will Britons living in the EU still get healthcare?", "date": "11 October 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "If the UK leaves the EU without a deal, reciprocal healthcare arrangements will not automatically survive. For emergency treatment on holiday, UK nationals can use their EHIC card if they fall ill in another EU country, but if there is a no-deal Brexit it will not necessarily be valid and they will need travel insurance. You can read more about EHIC cards here. There are about three quarters of a million UK nationals living in other EU countries, although estimates vary. UK nationals who live in EU countries will have different arrangements to access healthcare, depending on which country they live in. The government has issued country-by-country advice for UK nationals living in other EU countries. It has proposed that reciprocal healthcare arrangements with all EU countries should continue until at least the end of 2020. If that is not agreed by the time Brexit happens, the UK government has said it will cover any costs for treatment needed in the six months after a no-deal Brexit by UK nationals who are currently using schemes that allow them to access state healthcare where they are living. We'll look at the situation in France, Spain and Ireland. If the UK leaves the EU with a withdrawal agreement, it is likely that will include a transition period during which UK nationals in EU countries would continue to receive state healthcare on the same terms as they do now. Under the current plan the transition would run to the end of 2020 but that could be extended. What would happen after the transition depends on the agreement between the EU and the UK on their future relationship. One issue that is relevant in all EU countries (except Ireland) is what happens to UK pensioners living elsewhere in the EU who currently benefit from the S1 certificate, which means they are entitled to the same healthcare as nationals of the countries in which they live. If there is no deal, then that would cease to apply. The UK government's Healthcare (International Arrangements) Bill is supposed to allow reciprocal healthcare arrangements to continue for UK expats in the case of a no-deal Brexit, but that would need the agreement of each country's government. While some governments have said favourable things about the idea, they have not yet agreed to it. The French government has said that if the UK leaves without a deal, UK citizens resident in France will continue to receive French state healthcare for two years. It said that the two years would allow time for the two governments to agree new reciprocal arrangements. The UK government has said that UK nationals living in France should review their healthcare provision and consider registering as French residents. It also said that UK pensioners with an S1 document should register it with their local healthcare insurance office. There are an estimated 300,000 British nationals living in Spain, the highest number in any EU country. A no-deal Brexit would affect different groups of UK citizens in Spain differently, according to the latest government advice. If you are working in Spain and paying social security contributions to Spain, you would still be able to access state-funded healthcare. You may need to register as a resident to ensure your access. If you are a pensioner, a student or a worker sent temporarily to Spain by a UK company, the Spanish government says you will continue to be entitled to state healthcare as long as the UK government gives the same concessions to Spanish nationals in the UK. The relationship between the UK and Ireland is different to the relationship between the UK and anywhere else in the EU because of the Common Travel Area (CTA). The UK and Irish governments are both committed to maintaining the CTA if there is a no-deal Brexit. It allows access to emergency, routine and planned healthcare for UK nationals in Ireland and Irish Nationals in the UK. UK nationals may still have to pay to access public healthcare in Ireland on the same basis that Irish citizens do. The UK government says British citizens living in Ireland will continue to be able to access healthcare on the same basis as Irish citizens after Brexit, regardless of whether there is a deal. The Irish government says that existing cross-border arrangements under which Irish nationals may be sent to Northern Ireland for treatment and vice versa will also continue. According to official statistics, there were around 3.7 million EU nationals living in the UK in 2018. Those citizens will be able to continue accessing the NHS free of charge, whether the UK leaves the EU with a deal or without one. If the UK leaves with a withdrawal agreement, EU citizens already in the UK and those who arrive before 2021, will continue to use public services, including the NHS, for nothing - as long as they apply for \"settled status\" before 30 June 2021. If the UK leaves with no deal, only those who are already in the country before then, will be able to apply. The deadline for the settled status applications in the no-deal scenario will be 31 December 2020. What do you want BBC Reality Check to investigate? Get in touch Read more from Reality Check Follow us on Twitter", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 4370, "answer_end": 5056, "text": "According to official statistics, there were around 3.7 million EU nationals living in the UK in 2018. Those citizens will be able to continue accessing the NHS free of charge, whether the UK leaves the EU with a deal or without one. If the UK leaves with a withdrawal agreement, EU citizens already in the UK and those who arrive before 2021, will continue to use public services, including the NHS, for nothing - as long as they apply for \"settled status\" before 30 June 2021. If the UK leaves with no deal, only those who are already in the country before then, will be able to apply. The deadline for the settled status applications in the no-deal scenario will be 31 December 2020."}], "question": "What about EU citizens who live in the UK?", "id": "917_0"}]}]}, {"title": "NHS pay: What about the rest of the public sector?", "date": "22 March 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "More than a million NHS staff in England are set to get a pay rise, after seven years of having their wages frozen then capped at 1% as part of the government's austerity programme. This was effectively a cut since their pay was not keeping up with the rising costs of living. But it's not just workers in the health service who've had their pay restricted. Teachers, police officers, prison staff, firefighters and armed forces personnel have all had real-terms cuts to their wages. So does this NHS offer spell the end of the cap on all public-sector workers' pay? Firefighters, police and prison officers have already been offered pay rises in breach of the cap - although the firefighters union has rejected their pay offer. Police and prison officers on the other hand have accepted rises of 1% with a 1% bonus, and 1.7%, respectively for the coming year. There are two big differences from the NHS offer though. First, the pay rises for NHS staff will be funded through extra money provided by the Treasury. But the police and prison officers' wage boost will have to be funded from the existing budget, so sacrifices may have to be made in other areas of spending on the services. Secondly, NHS staff are getting an average of 6.5% over three years. But half of nurses will receive more than that, and the lowest paid NHS staff will receive pay rises of as much as 29%. So, many NHS staff's pay will keep pace with the rising cost of living for the first time in seven years. That's not the case for police and prison officers. Both of their pay offers are below the 2.4% inflation rate forecast by the Office for Budget Responsibility for 2018. Prison Officers Association general secretary Steve Gillan said at the time: \"I have made it clear that it is a pay cut. It is not acceptable.\" The Police Federation of England and Wales had asked for a 2.8% increase to basic pay. The Prison Officers Association had called for a 5% increase. In July, firefighters were offered a 2% basic pay increase from last July, with a potential further 3% increase in line for this April. But this was rejected by their union. Fire Brigades Union general secretary Mark Wrack said in July: \"This offer demonstrates that the 1% cap is dead in the water - but the offer from our employers is simply not enough.\" Both teachers and military personnel are waiting to hear what their pay offer will be for the coming year. The armed forces are expecting a report making recommendations on their pay imminently. On 15 January, Defence Minister Tobias Ellwood told Parliament the armed forces had been \"liberated from the 1% pay freeze\". But a letter from Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson said there was still a \"need for pay discipline\". The then Education Secretary, Justine Greening, wrote to the teachers' pay review body in December, asking it to consider the need to address staff shortages when making its recommendations. In the last review, some of the lowest paid teaching staff received a 2% pay increase - but most were kept at 1%. So it looks like employers have now been given more freedom by government to offer their workers bigger pay rises the next time pay levels are set. But if these increases aren't going to be funded by the Treasury and already financially squeezed services will have to fund them from their existing budgets, the question is will they? The examples of police, prison and fire-service staff suggest employers are ready to inch past the 1% cap but are not yet offering pay rises that will mean their employees have more money in their pockets once inflation is taken into account. As well as the consequences for individuals of having their wages restricted, unions have pointed to problems with recruiting public-sector workers as an argument for lifting the cap. Across most of the public sector, there have been problems with recruitment and retention of staff since 2010, although this varies across different professions. Almost 10% of all nurses now leave the NHS each year (33,000 last year). And leavers are outnumbering joiners. Among teachers, the proportion of the workforce leaving each year is even higher. However, it's difficult to attribute this to one thing. The last time the NHS pay review body reported, in 2017, the report's authors said: \"There continues to be little evidence that pay restraint in and of itself has, so far, caused serious widespread recruitment and retention issues.\" But, they added, there were staff shortages in certain roles and geographical areas that may be due in part to pay, as well as issues such as workload. Read more from Reality Check Send us your questions Follow us on Twitter", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 3608, "answer_end": 4587, "text": "As well as the consequences for individuals of having their wages restricted, unions have pointed to problems with recruiting public-sector workers as an argument for lifting the cap. Across most of the public sector, there have been problems with recruitment and retention of staff since 2010, although this varies across different professions. Almost 10% of all nurses now leave the NHS each year (33,000 last year). And leavers are outnumbering joiners. Among teachers, the proportion of the workforce leaving each year is even higher. However, it's difficult to attribute this to one thing. The last time the NHS pay review body reported, in 2017, the report's authors said: \"There continues to be little evidence that pay restraint in and of itself has, so far, caused serious widespread recruitment and retention issues.\" But, they added, there were staff shortages in certain roles and geographical areas that may be due in part to pay, as well as issues such as workload."}], "question": "What's the problem?", "id": "918_0"}]}]}, {"title": "GDPR: US news sites unavailable to EU users under new rules", "date": "25 May 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Some high-profile US news websites are temporarily unavailable in Europe after new EU data protection rules came into effect. The Chicago Tribune and LA Times were among those saying they were currently unavailable in most European countries. Meanwhile complaints were filed against US tech giants within hours of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) taking effect. GDPR gives EU citizens more rights over how their information is used. It is an effort by EU lawmakers to limit tech firms' powers. Under the rules, companies working in the EU - or any association or club in the bloc - must show they have a lawful basis for processing personal data, or face hefty fines. There are six legal bases for using personal data, including getting express consent from consumers. However, in most cases firms must also show that they need the personal data for a specific purpose. Facebook, Google, Instagram and WhatsApp are accused of forcing users to consent to targeted advertising to use the services. Privacy group noyb.eu, led by activist Max Schrems, said people were not being given a \"free choice\". If the complaints are upheld, the websites may be forced to change how they operate and they could be fined. News sites within the Tronc and Lee Enterprises media publishing groups were affected. Tronc's high-profile sites include the New York Daily News, Chicago Tribune, LA Times, Orlando Sentinel and Baltimore Sun. Its message read: \"Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in most European countries. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to the EU market.\" Lee Enterprises publishes 46 daily newspapers across 21 states. Its statement read: \"We're sorry. This site is temporarily unavailable. We recognise you are attempting to access this website from a country belonging to the European Economic Area (EEA) including the EU which enforces the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and therefore cannot grant you access at this time.\" CNN and the New York Times were among those not affected. The Washington Post and Time were among those requiring EU users to agree to new terms. Lawmakers in Brussels passed the new legislation in April 2016, and the full text of the regulation has been published online. Misusing or carelessly handling personal information will bring fines of up to 20 million euros ($23.4m; PS17.5m), or 4% of a company's global turnover. In the UK, which is due to leave the EU in 2019,  a new Data Protection Act will incorporate the provisions of the GDPR, with some minor changes. All EU citizens now have the right to see what information companies have about them, and to have that information deleted. Companies must be more active in gaining consent to collect and use data too, in theory spelling an end to simple \"I agree with terms and conditions\" tick boxes. Companies must also tell all affected users about any data breach, and tell the overseeing authority within 72 hours. Each EU member state must set up a supervisory authority, and these authorities will work together across borders to ensure companies comply. The new chairwoman of the European Data Protection Board, Andrea Jelinek, told the FT she expected cases to be filed \"imminently\". \"If the complainants come, we will be ready,\" she said. Ireland's data regulator Helen Dixon also spoke to the newspaper, saying the country was ready to use \"the full toolkit\" against non-compliant companies. Both Facebook and Twitter have their EU headquarters in Ireland. The new rules come amid growing scrutiny about how major tech companies like Google and Facebook collect and use people's personal information. Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg faced questions from MEPs earlier this week about his company's collection of data. By Kevin Connolly, BBC Europe correspondent Millions of email inboxes all over Europe filled in recent weeks with messages from anxious companies seeking explicit permission to continue sending marketing material to and collecting personal data from their customers and contacts. The new rules govern not just the collection and storage but its sale and exploitation for marketing - some companies based in the United States have decided to stop trading in the European Union at least temporarily rather than risk falling foul of the new law. Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) see themselves as global leaders in a battle to reduce the power of giant internet technology companies and restore a degree of control to citizens and their elected representatives.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 883, "answer_end": 1219, "text": "Facebook, Google, Instagram and WhatsApp are accused of forcing users to consent to targeted advertising to use the services. Privacy group noyb.eu, led by activist Max Schrems, said people were not being given a \"free choice\". If the complaints are upheld, the websites may be forced to change how they operate and they could be fined."}], "question": "What is the legal case about?", "id": "919_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1220, "answer_end": 2189, "text": "News sites within the Tronc and Lee Enterprises media publishing groups were affected. Tronc's high-profile sites include the New York Daily News, Chicago Tribune, LA Times, Orlando Sentinel and Baltimore Sun. Its message read: \"Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in most European countries. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to the EU market.\" Lee Enterprises publishes 46 daily newspapers across 21 states. Its statement read: \"We're sorry. This site is temporarily unavailable. We recognise you are attempting to access this website from a country belonging to the European Economic Area (EEA) including the EU which enforces the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and therefore cannot grant you access at this time.\" CNN and the New York Times were among those not affected. The Washington Post and Time were among those requiring EU users to agree to new terms."}], "question": "Which sites are unavailable?", "id": "919_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2190, "answer_end": 3828, "text": "Lawmakers in Brussels passed the new legislation in April 2016, and the full text of the regulation has been published online. Misusing or carelessly handling personal information will bring fines of up to 20 million euros ($23.4m; PS17.5m), or 4% of a company's global turnover. In the UK, which is due to leave the EU in 2019,  a new Data Protection Act will incorporate the provisions of the GDPR, with some minor changes. All EU citizens now have the right to see what information companies have about them, and to have that information deleted. Companies must be more active in gaining consent to collect and use data too, in theory spelling an end to simple \"I agree with terms and conditions\" tick boxes. Companies must also tell all affected users about any data breach, and tell the overseeing authority within 72 hours. Each EU member state must set up a supervisory authority, and these authorities will work together across borders to ensure companies comply. The new chairwoman of the European Data Protection Board, Andrea Jelinek, told the FT she expected cases to be filed \"imminently\". \"If the complainants come, we will be ready,\" she said. Ireland's data regulator Helen Dixon also spoke to the newspaper, saying the country was ready to use \"the full toolkit\" against non-compliant companies. Both Facebook and Twitter have their EU headquarters in Ireland. The new rules come amid growing scrutiny about how major tech companies like Google and Facebook collect and use people's personal information. Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg faced questions from MEPs earlier this week about his company's collection of data."}], "question": "What is GDPR?", "id": "919_2"}]}]}, {"title": "Europe migrant crisis: Doubt cast on identity of 'smuggler' extradited to Italy", "date": "9 June 2016", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Italian prosecutors are investigating whether the wrong man was extradited to Italy this week in a high-profile operation against people-smuggling. A man thought to be suspected Eritrean people smuggler Mered Medhanie, 35, was seized in Sudan last month. Two women said to be sisters of another Eritrean man, Medhanie Tesfarmariam Berhe, 27, say he was arrested instead. One of them told the BBC of her shock at suddenly seeing photos of her missing brother in custody in Italy. Italy announced the extradition on Wednesday, releasing video of a man in handcuffs being escorted off a plane. The country is currently at the forefront of the battle to stop smugglers sending tens of thousands of undocumented migrants on perilous journeys by boat to Europe. Investigators say Mered Medhanie, dubbed The General, is responsible for the death of 359 migrants in October 2013. They drowned when their boat sank off the Italian coast in October 2013. He is alleged to have led a multi-billion dollar empire which specialised in smuggling migrants from Africa to Europe. Mered Medhanie allegedly charged migrants up to EUR5,000 (PS3,900; $5,680) for the trip. The UK's National Crime Agency (NCA) said the man extradited had been arrested by Sudanese police with the help of the British and Italian authorities. But after doubts were raised in the media about the suspect's identity, Italian prosecutor Francesco Lo Voi  announced that \"checks\" were being carried out. \"The identification of the suspect, his arrest, his handing over and his extradition to Italy were communicated to us in an official manner by the NCA and the Sudanese authorities through Interpol,\" the Palermo prosecutor told Italy's Ansa news agency. The NCA said it was \"too soon to speculate\" about the identity claims but stressed it was \"confident in its intelligence-gathering process\". Medhanie Tesfarmariam Berhe is said to be an Eritrean asylum seeker who arrived in Sudan last year. People said to be his siblings or friends have identified him as the man brought to Italy this week. A woman who identifies herself as an older sister, Seghen Tesfarmariam Berhe, told the BBC's Newsnight programme from Khartoum that she had been living with her brother in the Sudanese capital for a year before he vanished two weeks ago. Her brother, she said, had come illegally to Sudan in March 2015 as a refugee after fleeing Eritrea via Ethiopia. He had been hoping, she said, to join another sister living in the US and to study and work there. A woman living in Norway who identified herself as another sister told Newsnight her brother was \"completely innocent\". Hiwet Tesfarmariam Berhe Kidane said she had last spoken to him about three weeks ago and had first learned of his arrest when she saw pictures of him on television and social media. \"He's not Mered Medhanie. He's my younger brother. His name is Medhanie Tesfarmariam Berhe. We have been living here for one year together in Khartoum. \"He is not a human trafficker. He is my brother. \"I called the [Sudanese] police but they said there is no person with that name. I have been searching for him for two weeks. They told me there is nobody with that name in prison. All of a sudden I see him in Italy. \"I have been worried sick. I have been crying the whole two weeks. I did not know if he was alive or dead. His photo... he looks awful. I feel sad to see him like that.\" 'Plea from detainee's family' Meron Estefanos, a Swedish-Eritrean journalist who interviewed the real Mered Medhanie in a phone call last year, says that refugees who have met the smuggler in the flesh are certain the images from Italy do not show the same man. \"I believe they have the wrong person. This is a refugee who happened to be in [the Sudanese capital] Khartoum at the wrong place at the wrong time.\" She added that rumours were going around Khartoum that the real Mered Medhanie had been arrested in Sudan but had managed to bribe himself out of jail. Some of the confusion may have arisen from the fact that the two men share a name, Medhanie.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 756, "answer_end": 1152, "text": "Investigators say Mered Medhanie, dubbed The General, is responsible for the death of 359 migrants in October 2013. They drowned when their boat sank off the Italian coast in October 2013. He is alleged to have led a multi-billion dollar empire which specialised in smuggling migrants from Africa to Europe. Mered Medhanie allegedly charged migrants up to EUR5,000 (PS3,900; $5,680) for the trip."}], "question": "Who was meant to be extradited?", "id": "920_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3429, "answer_end": 4055, "text": "Meron Estefanos, a Swedish-Eritrean journalist who interviewed the real Mered Medhanie in a phone call last year, says that refugees who have met the smuggler in the flesh are certain the images from Italy do not show the same man. \"I believe they have the wrong person. This is a refugee who happened to be in [the Sudanese capital] Khartoum at the wrong place at the wrong time.\" She added that rumours were going around Khartoum that the real Mered Medhanie had been arrested in Sudan but had managed to bribe himself out of jail. Some of the confusion may have arisen from the fact that the two men share a name, Medhanie."}], "question": "Could this really be a mix-up?", "id": "920_1"}]}]}, {"title": "Nirav Modi: Who is India's scandal-linked billionaire?", "date": "16 February 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "He was already the second most famous Mr N Modi of India. But now Nirav Modi - the billionaire diamond trader and jeweller to Hollywood and Bollywood stars who shares a surname with the country's prime minister - is in the news for very different reasons. Last month, Punjab National Bank filed a criminal complaint that accused Mr Modi and others of defrauding the bank, costing it 2.8bn rupees ($43.8m). Then this week, the same bank publicly alleged that the jeweller was among those involved in an alleged $1.8bn fraud - which has led to fears for India's second-largest state-run bank. This was echoed by India's law and justice minister, who told a press conference that \"Nirav Modi and his accomplices attempted to bypass established banking channels by perpetrating this fraud\". While police have begun formal investigations into Mr Modi, no charges have been brought. The diamond tycoon is yet to comment on the claims, and so far, it is understood detectives have not managed to speak to him. However, high profile police raids on his jewellery stores and other businesses have made this a huge corporate story. And his supposed links with that other N Modi - Prime Minister Narendra Modi - mean it is rapidly becoming a political story too. Best-known to the public as a jeweller, Nirav Modi started trading under his eponymous brand in 2010, specialising in diamonds. Kate Winslet and Rosie Huntington-Whiteley are among those who have worn his earrings and necklaces on the Hollywood red carpet. And at home in India, the brand's ambassador is Priyanka Chopra - one of Bollywood's biggest stars. Her face stares out from the firm's advertising billboards across Mumbai, Delhi and Bangalore. The brand made its mark in some style after one of his earliest pieces, described on the company website as a 12.29 carat Golconda diamond, \"surrounded by pear shaped diamonds... and subtle accents of 34 Argyle pink diamonds\" was featured on the front cover of a Christies catalogue and sold by the auction house in Hong Kong for $3.8m. Jewellery trading runs in the family. His uncle is head of the Gitanjali Group, which has about 4,000 shops across India. But Mr Modi was also born into a diamond trading dynasty, based in the industry capital Antwerp, and later established Firestar Diamond -  his own diamond making operation in India almost 20 years ago. And he has certainly done well from the business. Forbes puts his wealth at $1.75bn and ranks him as India's 84th richest person. Doing the rounds on social media is a group photograph of India business people and politicians at the recent World Economic Forum summit in Davos. It includes both Nirav Modi and Narendra Modi. There is nothing especially sinister in this. He is only one of about 50 people pictured. And the ruling party has denied Nirav Modi was part of the prime minister's Davos delegation. \"No personal meeting with the prime minister took place,\" said law and justice minister Ravi Shankar Prasad. \"I wish to deny this with full authority. Those living in glass houses, which are already broken, should not throw stones at us as the Modi government is working with full honesty.\" But opposition politicians are capitalising on the links. And they are not ignoring the fact the men, who are unrelated, share the same name - even starting a hashtag: #From1MODI2another. They are also accusing the ruling BJP party of going soft on the diamond trader - including claims that the prime minister knew about the fraud investigation for some time. And with reports that Nirav Modi left the country in January, parallels are inevitably being drawn with prominent Indian businessman Vijay Mallya, who allegedly defaulted over a billion dollar loan and managed to leave India in 2016. However, faced with a crisis of confidence in the management of its state-run banks, the government has promised action. Ravi Shankar Prasad told a news conference that nobody found to have a role in any fraud would be spared. A spokesman for India's foreign ministry said Mr Modi and his business partner Mehul Choksi have had their passports suspended for four weeks. The pair have been granted a week to explain why their passports should not be revoked. If they fail to do so, the ministry will impound them.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1252, "answer_end": 2494, "text": "Best-known to the public as a jeweller, Nirav Modi started trading under his eponymous brand in 2010, specialising in diamonds. Kate Winslet and Rosie Huntington-Whiteley are among those who have worn his earrings and necklaces on the Hollywood red carpet. And at home in India, the brand's ambassador is Priyanka Chopra - one of Bollywood's biggest stars. Her face stares out from the firm's advertising billboards across Mumbai, Delhi and Bangalore. The brand made its mark in some style after one of his earliest pieces, described on the company website as a 12.29 carat Golconda diamond, \"surrounded by pear shaped diamonds... and subtle accents of 34 Argyle pink diamonds\" was featured on the front cover of a Christies catalogue and sold by the auction house in Hong Kong for $3.8m. Jewellery trading runs in the family. His uncle is head of the Gitanjali Group, which has about 4,000 shops across India. But Mr Modi was also born into a diamond trading dynasty, based in the industry capital Antwerp, and later established Firestar Diamond -  his own diamond making operation in India almost 20 years ago. And he has certainly done well from the business. Forbes puts his wealth at $1.75bn and ranks him as India's 84th richest person."}], "question": "Who is Nirav Modi?", "id": "921_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2495, "answer_end": 4272, "text": "Doing the rounds on social media is a group photograph of India business people and politicians at the recent World Economic Forum summit in Davos. It includes both Nirav Modi and Narendra Modi. There is nothing especially sinister in this. He is only one of about 50 people pictured. And the ruling party has denied Nirav Modi was part of the prime minister's Davos delegation. \"No personal meeting with the prime minister took place,\" said law and justice minister Ravi Shankar Prasad. \"I wish to deny this with full authority. Those living in glass houses, which are already broken, should not throw stones at us as the Modi government is working with full honesty.\" But opposition politicians are capitalising on the links. And they are not ignoring the fact the men, who are unrelated, share the same name - even starting a hashtag: #From1MODI2another. They are also accusing the ruling BJP party of going soft on the diamond trader - including claims that the prime minister knew about the fraud investigation for some time. And with reports that Nirav Modi left the country in January, parallels are inevitably being drawn with prominent Indian businessman Vijay Mallya, who allegedly defaulted over a billion dollar loan and managed to leave India in 2016. However, faced with a crisis of confidence in the management of its state-run banks, the government has promised action. Ravi Shankar Prasad told a news conference that nobody found to have a role in any fraud would be spared. A spokesman for India's foreign ministry said Mr Modi and his business partner Mehul Choksi have had their passports suspended for four weeks. The pair have been granted a week to explain why their passports should not be revoked. If they fail to do so, the ministry will impound them."}], "question": "What is the political angle?", "id": "921_1"}]}]}, {"title": "Hong Kong protests: China condemns 'horrendous incidents'", "date": "29 July 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "China has condemned the recent anti-government protests in Hong Kong as \"horrendous incidents\" that have caused \"serious damage to the rule of law\". A spokeswoman for China's top policy office on Hong Kong insisted that the territory's \"top priority\" was to \"restore social order\". The comments marked a rare intervention by the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office [HKMAO]. The city has seen eight consecutive weekends of anti-government protests. There were violent clashes on Sunday as police fired tear gas and rubber bullets at protesters. Barricades were also erected at several different locations in the city. Although authorities in Beijing have condemned the protests and reiterated their support for Hong Kong's leader Carrie Lam on several occasions, Monday's intervention is widely seen as conveying the official views of China's top leadership on the civil unrest for the first time. A spokesman for the HKMAO, Yang Guang, condemned what he called the \"evil and criminal acts committed by the radical elements\" in Hong Kong. \"We call on the general public of Hong Kong to be aware of the grave nature of the current situation,\" he said at the news conference. Spokeswoman Xu Luying added: \"We also believe that Hong Kong's top priority... is to punish violent and unlawful acts in accordance with the law, to restore social order as soon as possible, and to maintain a good business environment.\" The office also: - Reiterated that the Chinese government \"strongly\" supports the leadership in Hong Kong - Called on the people of Hong Kong to \"unequivocally oppose and resist violence\" - Expressed support for the city's police force - Blamed the escalating tensions on \"irresponsible figures in Western countries\" who are hoping to \"contain China's development\" The intervention came a week after protesters defaced the highly symbolic national emblem on the Chinese government's liaison office in Hong Kong, prompting fury in Beijing. The authorities have now installed a protective casing around the sign. As a former British colony, Hong Kong has its own legal and judicial systems, and has been promised \"a high degree of autonomy\" from the Chinese government except in foreign and defence affairs. Claudia Mo, a Hong Kong legislator who supports the protest movement, said Beijing's latest comments could provoke further unrest. \"I'm so worried what happened in Beijing today [will] actually help fan the fire,\" she told the BBC. \"The way they say they resolutely... support Carrie Lam and the police force. They are trying to divide Hong Kong.\" Bruce Lui, a senior journalism lecturer at the Hong Kong Baptist University, said he could not recall a news conference on Hong Kong being called by the HKMAO. \"Beijing is repeating what it has said before. It condemns violence, supports Carrie Lam and Hong Kong police,\" he told the BBC. \"But when asked about the deployment of China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) troops, the spokesperson showed a rather distant attitude.\" Although PLA troops are stationed in Hong Kong, they are not expected to interfere in local issues. But the law does permit Hong Kong's government to request assistance from the PLA for the purposes of maintaining public order or disaster relief. Analysis by Celia Hatton, BBC News, Beijing Beijing seems to be trying to get a grip of the turmoil in Hong Kong with a two-pronged strategy. It is sharing its views on why the territory's residents are protesting, blaming a small number of \"radicals\" who are influenced by overseas forces. But it is also trying to maintain some distance by reaffirming its support for the authorities there. The spokespeople continually praised the actions of the \"courageous\" police. The one question that was quickly batted away in the news conference was a query about the possible intervention by Chinese forces. At times they sounded conciliatory. They also expressed support for Hong Kong's unhappy youth, noting that more needed to be done to provide affordable housing and employment. But much more time was focused on Beijing's reasoning for what has gone so wrong. The officials repeatedly blamed \"irresponsible figures\" in the West. They also said that many in Hong Kong support the territory's chief executive, Carrie Lam, although they said those individuals are \"relatively quiet\". It seemed that Beijing was not even bothering to win over sceptics in Hong Kong. Instead, this press conference repeated views already found in China's state media. This kind of media outreach was new - but the viewpoints don't appear to have changed. Demonstrations began when the Hong Kong government introduced a controversial bill that would have enabled extraditions to mainland China. It sparked huge protests as critics feared the bill would undermine Hong Kong's freedoms, and be used to target political activists. The row intensified as police were accused of using excessive force on anti-extradition bill protesters. Tensions increased further last Sunday, when suspected triad members descended on a subway station in Yuen Long, beating protesters, passersby and journalists with sticks. Demonstrators accused the police of colluding with the triads - claims denied by the police. The authorities say they have arrested 12 people over the attack, including nine men with links to triads. The anti-extradition protests have morphed into a broader movement. While the government has paused work on the extradition bill, protesters now want it withdrawn completely, as well as an independent inquiry into police violence, and democratic reform. They want the territory's leader, Carrie Lam, who is not directly elected by voters and whose handling of the crisis has been widely criticised, to resign. Some protesters have also expressed their anger at the mainland Chinese government, which they say has been eroding freedoms in Hong Kong. 3 April - Hong Kong government introduces amendments to the city's extradition laws to the legislature that would allow criminal suspects to be extradited to mainland China. 9 June - In the first of many protests against the changes, an estimated one million people march to government headquarters. 12 June - Anti-extradition bill protesters block roads and try to storm government buildings - police fire tear gas, rubber bullets and bean bag rounds at protesters, in the worst violence the city has seen in decades. 15 June - In a dramatic reversal, Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam indefinitely delays the bill. 16 June - Despite the delay, an estimated two million people take to the streets demanding the complete withdrawal of the bill, as well as an investigation into alleged police violence and Carrie Lam's resignation. 21 June - As anger grows towards police, protests blockade police headquarters for 15 hours. They now also want protesters that were arrested to be exonerated. 1 July - On the anniversary of Hong Kong's handover from the UK to China, the Legislative Council (LegCo) building is stormed and broken into by protesters. 21 July- Protesters deface China's Liaison Office in Hong Kong. That same night mobs of men wearing white shirts attack protesters and commuters in Yuen Long station, near mainland China, in a new escalation of violence.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 896, "answer_end": 3237, "text": "A spokesman for the HKMAO, Yang Guang, condemned what he called the \"evil and criminal acts committed by the radical elements\" in Hong Kong. \"We call on the general public of Hong Kong to be aware of the grave nature of the current situation,\" he said at the news conference. Spokeswoman Xu Luying added: \"We also believe that Hong Kong's top priority... is to punish violent and unlawful acts in accordance with the law, to restore social order as soon as possible, and to maintain a good business environment.\" The office also: - Reiterated that the Chinese government \"strongly\" supports the leadership in Hong Kong - Called on the people of Hong Kong to \"unequivocally oppose and resist violence\" - Expressed support for the city's police force - Blamed the escalating tensions on \"irresponsible figures in Western countries\" who are hoping to \"contain China's development\" The intervention came a week after protesters defaced the highly symbolic national emblem on the Chinese government's liaison office in Hong Kong, prompting fury in Beijing. The authorities have now installed a protective casing around the sign. As a former British colony, Hong Kong has its own legal and judicial systems, and has been promised \"a high degree of autonomy\" from the Chinese government except in foreign and defence affairs. Claudia Mo, a Hong Kong legislator who supports the protest movement, said Beijing's latest comments could provoke further unrest. \"I'm so worried what happened in Beijing today [will] actually help fan the fire,\" she told the BBC. \"The way they say they resolutely... support Carrie Lam and the police force. They are trying to divide Hong Kong.\" Bruce Lui, a senior journalism lecturer at the Hong Kong Baptist University, said he could not recall a news conference on Hong Kong being called by the HKMAO. \"Beijing is repeating what it has said before. It condemns violence, supports Carrie Lam and Hong Kong police,\" he told the BBC. \"But when asked about the deployment of China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) troops, the spokesperson showed a rather distant attitude.\" Although PLA troops are stationed in Hong Kong, they are not expected to interfere in local issues. But the law does permit Hong Kong's government to request assistance from the PLA for the purposes of maintaining public order or disaster relief."}], "question": "What did China say?", "id": "922_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 4571, "answer_end": 5868, "text": "Demonstrations began when the Hong Kong government introduced a controversial bill that would have enabled extraditions to mainland China. It sparked huge protests as critics feared the bill would undermine Hong Kong's freedoms, and be used to target political activists. The row intensified as police were accused of using excessive force on anti-extradition bill protesters. Tensions increased further last Sunday, when suspected triad members descended on a subway station in Yuen Long, beating protesters, passersby and journalists with sticks. Demonstrators accused the police of colluding with the triads - claims denied by the police. The authorities say they have arrested 12 people over the attack, including nine men with links to triads. The anti-extradition protests have morphed into a broader movement. While the government has paused work on the extradition bill, protesters now want it withdrawn completely, as well as an independent inquiry into police violence, and democratic reform. They want the territory's leader, Carrie Lam, who is not directly elected by voters and whose handling of the crisis has been widely criticised, to resign. Some protesters have also expressed their anger at the mainland Chinese government, which they say has been eroding freedoms in Hong Kong."}], "question": "How did we get here?", "id": "922_1"}]}]}, {"title": "How WhatsApp is being abused in Brazil's elections", "date": "24 October 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Political campaigners in Brazil have used software that scrapes Facebook for citizens' phone numbers, and then automatically sends them WhatsApp messages and adds them to WhatsApp groups. Almost three weeks ago, 147 million voters in the country went to the polls for legislative elections and the first round of the presidential elections. This Sunday, they will decide between far-right candidate Jair Bolsonaro and the left-wing Workers' Party candidate Fernando Haddad, in the second round of the presidential election. A BBC investigation has discovered that efforts to support various parties and candidates - covering state, federal and senate votes - have used the bulk message technique. WhatsApp is not just used as a private messaging app in Brazil. Many mobile phone networks allow unlimited WhatsApp access to subscribers, so even people who cannot afford an internet plan can use it. As a result, the platform has taken on some of the roles filled by social networks in other countries. Many people join interest-based WhatsApp groups to talk about politics and hobbies with people they have not met. WhatsApp claims 120 million Brazilians currently use its service. It is commonly used to share news - and misinformation. Some of the devices involved in the data scraping can send up to 300,000 messages at a time. They are sold via the internet and some sellers claim their use is hard to trace. The method is not limited to politics. Marketeers have also used it to promote cosmetics and foods, among other products, to Brazilians. BBC News Brasil interviewed people linked to different campaigns, on condition of anonymity. They included activists and marketeers, who reported how they used the scraping and bulk-messaging tools. In addition, the team spoke to companies selling the software as well as to people who had recently been added to politically linked WhatsApp groups without their consent. The scheme violates WhatsApp-owner Facebook's rules. In the view of some experts, it could also constitute an electoral crime. For its part, Facebook says it has banned hundreds of thousands of suspicious WhatsApp accounts and closed several Facebook pages and accounts linked to a marketing group believed to be supportive of Bolsonaro. The scraping software allows its clients to choose a target audience by searching for keywords, pages or public groups on Facebook. In fewer than 10 minutes and 10 clicks, it is possible to gather almost 1,000 phone numbers. Data can be group by city, gender and interests. Contacts can also be gathered by: - using details voluntarily provided by a candidate's supporters - buying databases sold legally in Brazil - using information stolen or bought illegally from telephone service providers One woman in the Sao Paulo neighbourhood of Grajau remembers discovering that she had been added to four WhatsApp groups. \"I don't know where they found my phone number,\" the woman, who asked to remain anonymous, told the BBC. \"The administrators and some people had foreign numbers. I got scared, I left all of the groups and reported all of them to WhatsApp.\" She added that after a day or two, she was added to a further eight groups. She said she had not provided her number to any political campaign, but had made it public on Facebook. A 23-year-old university student living in Campinas reported having been added to three groups, in which four individuals dominated the conversation. \"They sent dozens of memes and videos against PT (the Workers' Party) every day,\" said the young man who also asked not to be named. \"Other people were sending lots of content too, and it was crazy.\" Bulk WhatsApp messaging Luiz Rodrigues Junior, of Agency Genius Publicidade, is one marketeer who acknowledged having tested adding people to WhatsApp groups in order to distribute political messages in bulk. But he said he had only used databases that had been legally compiled, and had opted not to pursue the strategy because it was not efficient. He declined to reveal which candidates he had acted on behalf of. \"I can't create a group that [explicitly] supports my candidate because that may expose him, people may attack him in the group and I'll have no control over it,\" he explained. \"So we set up election groups, with names like 'End corruption in the election', invited a lot of people through the software and put them in the group. \"Half of those who were added left and half stayed. \"Within this group, we placed two or three of our own professionals, who began to post content supporting our case and started debates. \"Then we would replicate this in many other groups, maybe 50 or 100.\" In some cases, groups could be limited to residents of a neighbourhood who were facing a specific problem for which his candidate offered a solution, he said. But he explained that to make the strategy work he would have required an army of employees to keep discussions on track. How do bulk messaging programs work? The mass delivery of WhatsApp messages generally involves the use of \"click farms\". But some services do not require special equipment any more, just Sim card details to be entered into a computer running relevant software. Several strategies are employed to avoid detection. One trick is to list the telephone numbers being used in ads posted to classified sites. When members of the public try to contact them, they \"legitimise\" the numbers and fool WhatsApp's bot detectors. Because the market is relatively new, the price, structure, and complexity of the tools vary greatly. In the interior of Sao Paulo state, for example, it is possible to find services that sell a package of one million WhatsApp messages for the equivalent of PS6,200. WhatsApp limits In WhatsApp, each user can be a member of as many groups as he or she wants, but there are some limits. One is that each member can only create up to 9,999 groups. Another is the number of messages forwarded simultaneously to different conversations. This was reduced from 256 to 20 in August as part of efforts to tackle fake news. Some researchers are now calling for the number to be further reduced. They point to India, where the limit has been cut to five. But WhatsApp has said there would not be enough time to make the change before the weekend's vote. \"We have advanced spam detection technology that identifies accounts with abnormal behaviour so they cannot be used to spread spam or misinformation,\" said a statement from WhatsApp. \"We are also taking immediate legal action to prevent companies from sending bulk messages via WhatsApp and have already banned accounts associated with these companies.\" Brazil's Electoral Court said that \"there is no specific electoral legislation for WhatsApp\" or similar apps, but added that the law does cover electoral advertising via the internet. But part of the problem with applying this to WhatsApp is its use of end-to-end encryption, explained one expert at the University of the State of Rio de Janeiro (UERJ). \"The content is not on the platform's servers, but on users' devices,\" said Prof Carlos Affonso Souza. And because WhatsApp cannot unscramble the encrypted messages itself to read them, it is unable to vet the content in the same way other social media platforms can, he added. \"I'm afraid that this debate will make us return to discussions of blocking the application or forcing it to give up its cryptography.\" Read a longer version of BBC News Brasil's investigation in Portuguese", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 697, "answer_end": 1236, "text": "WhatsApp is not just used as a private messaging app in Brazil. Many mobile phone networks allow unlimited WhatsApp access to subscribers, so even people who cannot afford an internet plan can use it. As a result, the platform has taken on some of the roles filled by social networks in other countries. Many people join interest-based WhatsApp groups to talk about politics and hobbies with people they have not met. WhatsApp claims 120 million Brazilians currently use its service. It is commonly used to share news - and misinformation."}], "question": "Why is WhatsApp being targeted?", "id": "923_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1237, "answer_end": 2257, "text": "Some of the devices involved in the data scraping can send up to 300,000 messages at a time. They are sold via the internet and some sellers claim their use is hard to trace. The method is not limited to politics. Marketeers have also used it to promote cosmetics and foods, among other products, to Brazilians. BBC News Brasil interviewed people linked to different campaigns, on condition of anonymity. They included activists and marketeers, who reported how they used the scraping and bulk-messaging tools. In addition, the team spoke to companies selling the software as well as to people who had recently been added to politically linked WhatsApp groups without their consent. The scheme violates WhatsApp-owner Facebook's rules. In the view of some experts, it could also constitute an electoral crime. For its part, Facebook says it has banned hundreds of thousands of suspicious WhatsApp accounts and closed several Facebook pages and accounts linked to a marketing group believed to be supportive of Bolsonaro."}], "question": "How is WhatsApp being misused?", "id": "923_1"}]}]}, {"title": "Joachim Ronneberg: Norwegian who thwarted Nazi nuclear plan dies", "date": "22 October 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Joachim Ronneberg, the Norwegian resistance fighter who sabotaged Nazi Germany's nuclear weapons ambitions during World War Two, has died aged 99. In 1943, he led a top-secret raid on a heavily-guarded plant in Norway's southern region of Telemark. The operation was immortalised in the 1965 Hollywood film Heroes of Telemark, starring Kirk Douglas. Ronneberg later worked as a radio journalist and helped raise awareness of the dangers of war among the young. He told the BBC in 2013 that he only realised the importance of the mission after atomic bombs were dropped on Japan's Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945. \"He is one of our great heroes,\" Norway's Prime Minister Erna Solberg told NTB news agency. \"Ronneberg is probably the last of the best known resistance fighters to pass away.\" Born in 1919 in the town of Aalesund, Joachim Ronneberg fled Norway after the Nazis invaded in 1940. The then 21-year-old escaped with eight friends by boat to Scotland, but was determined to return and fight. Germany at the time needed so-called heavy water - with an extra atomic particle in its hydrogen nucleus - in its race against the Allies to produce an atomic bomb. Large amounts of heavy water, or deuterium oxide, at that time was only made at the Norsk Hydro facility in Rjukan, Telemark. This made the largest hydroelectric plant of its type a target for the resistance. But a small team tasked with destroying it in 1942 failed. The following year, Ronneberg chose a team of five other commandos in an Allied operation codenamed Gunnerside. \"We were a gang of friends doing a job together,\" he told the BBC during the 70th anniversary of the mission. The men parachuted on to a plateau, skied across country, descended into a ravine and crossed an icy river before using the railway line to get into the plant and set their explosives. \"We very often thought that this was a one way trip,\" he said. After the explosion, the men escaped into neighbouring Sweden by skiing 320km (200 miles) across Telemark - despite being chased by some 3,000 German soldiers. With a wry smile, Ronneberg described it as \"the best skiing weekend I ever had\". The operation, coupled with US air raids the following year, led the Germans to abandon their plans and was later described as the most successful act of sabotage of World War Two. Ronneberg was reluctant to talk about his experience despite numerous books, documentaries and TV series retelling the story. He broke his silence in the 1970s, when he began raising awareness of the dangers of war among young people. \"Those growing up today need to understand that we must always be ready to fight for peace and freedom,\" he said.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 789, "answer_end": 2673, "text": "Born in 1919 in the town of Aalesund, Joachim Ronneberg fled Norway after the Nazis invaded in 1940. The then 21-year-old escaped with eight friends by boat to Scotland, but was determined to return and fight. Germany at the time needed so-called heavy water - with an extra atomic particle in its hydrogen nucleus - in its race against the Allies to produce an atomic bomb. Large amounts of heavy water, or deuterium oxide, at that time was only made at the Norsk Hydro facility in Rjukan, Telemark. This made the largest hydroelectric plant of its type a target for the resistance. But a small team tasked with destroying it in 1942 failed. The following year, Ronneberg chose a team of five other commandos in an Allied operation codenamed Gunnerside. \"We were a gang of friends doing a job together,\" he told the BBC during the 70th anniversary of the mission. The men parachuted on to a plateau, skied across country, descended into a ravine and crossed an icy river before using the railway line to get into the plant and set their explosives. \"We very often thought that this was a one way trip,\" he said. After the explosion, the men escaped into neighbouring Sweden by skiing 320km (200 miles) across Telemark - despite being chased by some 3,000 German soldiers. With a wry smile, Ronneberg described it as \"the best skiing weekend I ever had\". The operation, coupled with US air raids the following year, led the Germans to abandon their plans and was later described as the most successful act of sabotage of World War Two. Ronneberg was reluctant to talk about his experience despite numerous books, documentaries and TV series retelling the story. He broke his silence in the 1970s, when he began raising awareness of the dangers of war among young people. \"Those growing up today need to understand that we must always be ready to fight for peace and freedom,\" he said."}], "question": "Who was the last hero of Telemark?", "id": "924_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Hayabusa-2: Asteroid mission exploring a 'rubble pile'", "date": "19 March 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "The asteroid being explored by the Japanese mission Hayabusa-2 is a \"rubble pile\" formed when rocks were blasted off a bigger asteroid and came back together again. The discovery means that asteroid Ryugu has a parent body out there somewhere, and scientists already have two candidates. They have also found a chemical signature across the asteroid that can indicate the presence of water, but this needs confirmation. Ryugu's unusual shape is also a sign that it must have been spinning much faster in the past. Scientists from the Japanese Space Agency (Jaxa) mission and from Nasa's Osiris-Rex spacecraft, which is exploring a different asteroid called Bennu, have been presenting their latest findings at the 50th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference (LPSC) in The Woodlands, Texas. The Hayabusa-2 team has also published its results over three papers in Science journal. Meanwhile, the team behind the Osiris-Rex mission has made the first close-up observations of particle plumes erupting from an asteroid's surface. These findings are published in a suite of papers in the Nature journals. Bennu and Ryugu have many similarities. They are comparable in size, rich in carbon and shaped like spinning tops. Both missions aim to deliver samples from these objects to Earth. Both asteroids are primitive objects, made of the same basic material that went into building rocky planets like Earth. Studying samples in laboratories could shed light on how our own world came to be. The identification of Ryugu as a rubble pile asteroid comes from an assessment of its density. Project scientist Sei-ichiro Watanabe said the asteroid's porosity - a measure of the voids, or spaces, present in the object - was 50%. The large number of rough boulders on Ryugu's surface support this idea, he added. These boulders are probably fragments that joined up after the disruption of its parent body. The spinning top shape, Dr Watanabe said, \"was formed from a past rapid rotation\". He added: \"Most of the known top shapes are rapid rotators, but Ryugu is rather slow.\" In fact, the scientists think that Ryugu once spun at twice its current rotation period of once every 7.6 hours. At some point in its history, the object slowed down, though what happened to cause this remains unclear. Team-member Seiji Sugita, from the University of Tokyo, said: \"The size of Ryugu is very small - 800m or 900m across. It's too small to survive the entire Solar System evolution of 4.6 billion years. Ryugu must have been born from a much older and larger parent body in relatively recent times - several hundred million years.\" Analysis of the reflected sunlight from Ryugu shows it is a close match to two larger asteroids, known as Polana and Eulalia. These are good potential candidates for the asteroid's parent body. Ryugu is surprisingly dark, much darker than any carbonaceous chondrite meteorites, which could partly be due to exposure of the rocks to the space environment. \"The surface of Ryugu is extremely dark,\" said Ralph Milliken, from Brown University in Rhode Island and a co-investigator on the near-infrared spectrometer instrument (NIRS3). He held up a 3D-printed model of Ryugu, saying that he suspected the jet-black plastic used to make it was brighter than the real thing. Data from NIRS3 has also revealed the presence of minerals with hydroxyl groups (OH), which can indicate the presence of water. \"There is evidence for water on Ryugu, but we do not have any strong evidence yet for the presence of molecular water, H2O,\" said Ralph Milliken. The particular hydroxyl groups found on Ryugu appear to be associated with the element magnesium, which is often associated with clay minerals in meteorites. At Bennu, the team behind Osiris-Rex detected plumes of material erupting from the asteroid on 6 January this year. The immediate cause isn't clear, but it could be related to volatile gases that escape from the rocks when sunlight heats them up. This would push the dust out into space. Bennu also appears to be a rubble pile asteroid, and, like Ryugu, was much more rugged than expected - posing a hazard for sample collection. Hayabusa-2 has just finished a touchdown operation to collect a sample of rock and cache it for return to Earth. Although there was no way to confirm if Hayabusa-2 had collected a sample, project manager Yuichi Tsuda said the team was confident it had, judging from the large amount of material kicked up after the spacecraft fired a 5g tantalum \"bullet\" into Ryugu's surface. During the touchdown operation, Hayabusa-2's thrusters shifted 50cm-1m rocks, Yuichi Tsuda said. The thrusters also blew away the top layer of regolith, revealing darker material underneath. Mission scientists have also set a date for Hayabusa-2's next set piece: the kinetic impact experiment. This will involve the spacecraft detonating an explosive charge near the surface of Ryugu - generating an artificial crater. The spacecraft will move to the other side of Ryugu for safety when the charge goes off, returning later to grab a sample of rock from within the crater. The idea is for Hayabusa-2 to get at pristine samples from below the surface, samples that haven't been altered by aeons of exposure to space. The operation will take place on 5 April, said Dr Tsuda. Follow Paul on Twitter.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1100, "answer_end": 1892, "text": "Bennu and Ryugu have many similarities. They are comparable in size, rich in carbon and shaped like spinning tops. Both missions aim to deliver samples from these objects to Earth. Both asteroids are primitive objects, made of the same basic material that went into building rocky planets like Earth. Studying samples in laboratories could shed light on how our own world came to be. The identification of Ryugu as a rubble pile asteroid comes from an assessment of its density. Project scientist Sei-ichiro Watanabe said the asteroid's porosity - a measure of the voids, or spaces, present in the object - was 50%. The large number of rough boulders on Ryugu's surface support this idea, he added. These boulders are probably fragments that joined up after the disruption of its parent body."}], "question": "What have they learnt?", "id": "925_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1893, "answer_end": 2803, "text": "The spinning top shape, Dr Watanabe said, \"was formed from a past rapid rotation\". He added: \"Most of the known top shapes are rapid rotators, but Ryugu is rather slow.\" In fact, the scientists think that Ryugu once spun at twice its current rotation period of once every 7.6 hours. At some point in its history, the object slowed down, though what happened to cause this remains unclear. Team-member Seiji Sugita, from the University of Tokyo, said: \"The size of Ryugu is very small - 800m or 900m across. It's too small to survive the entire Solar System evolution of 4.6 billion years. Ryugu must have been born from a much older and larger parent body in relatively recent times - several hundred million years.\" Analysis of the reflected sunlight from Ryugu shows it is a close match to two larger asteroids, known as Polana and Eulalia. These are good potential candidates for the asteroid's parent body."}], "question": "What's the significance of shape?", "id": "925_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2804, "answer_end": 3710, "text": "Ryugu is surprisingly dark, much darker than any carbonaceous chondrite meteorites, which could partly be due to exposure of the rocks to the space environment. \"The surface of Ryugu is extremely dark,\" said Ralph Milliken, from Brown University in Rhode Island and a co-investigator on the near-infrared spectrometer instrument (NIRS3). He held up a 3D-printed model of Ryugu, saying that he suspected the jet-black plastic used to make it was brighter than the real thing. Data from NIRS3 has also revealed the presence of minerals with hydroxyl groups (OH), which can indicate the presence of water. \"There is evidence for water on Ryugu, but we do not have any strong evidence yet for the presence of molecular water, H2O,\" said Ralph Milliken. The particular hydroxyl groups found on Ryugu appear to be associated with the element magnesium, which is often associated with clay minerals in meteorites."}], "question": "What have they discovered about water?", "id": "925_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3711, "answer_end": 5315, "text": "At Bennu, the team behind Osiris-Rex detected plumes of material erupting from the asteroid on 6 January this year. The immediate cause isn't clear, but it could be related to volatile gases that escape from the rocks when sunlight heats them up. This would push the dust out into space. Bennu also appears to be a rubble pile asteroid, and, like Ryugu, was much more rugged than expected - posing a hazard for sample collection. Hayabusa-2 has just finished a touchdown operation to collect a sample of rock and cache it for return to Earth. Although there was no way to confirm if Hayabusa-2 had collected a sample, project manager Yuichi Tsuda said the team was confident it had, judging from the large amount of material kicked up after the spacecraft fired a 5g tantalum \"bullet\" into Ryugu's surface. During the touchdown operation, Hayabusa-2's thrusters shifted 50cm-1m rocks, Yuichi Tsuda said. The thrusters also blew away the top layer of regolith, revealing darker material underneath. Mission scientists have also set a date for Hayabusa-2's next set piece: the kinetic impact experiment. This will involve the spacecraft detonating an explosive charge near the surface of Ryugu - generating an artificial crater. The spacecraft will move to the other side of Ryugu for safety when the charge goes off, returning later to grab a sample of rock from within the crater. The idea is for Hayabusa-2 to get at pristine samples from below the surface, samples that haven't been altered by aeons of exposure to space. The operation will take place on 5 April, said Dr Tsuda. Follow Paul on Twitter."}], "question": "What are the next steps in sample collection?", "id": "925_3"}]}]}, {"title": "Brazil's ex-President Lula convicted of corruption", "date": "13 July 2017", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Former Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has been convicted of corruption charges and sentenced to nine and a half years in prison. The judge ruled he could remain free pending an appeal. Lula has rejected claims that he received an apartment as a bribe in a corruption scandal linked to state oil company Petrobras. He says the trial is politically motivated and has strongly denied any wrongdoing. The case is the first of five charges against him. Lula served eight years as president until 2011 and has expressed interest in running again in next year's elections for the left-wing Workers' Party. On Wednesday, a judge found him guilty of accepting bribes from engineering firm OAS in the form of a beachfront apartment in return for his help in winning contracts with the state oil company. In a statement, Lula's lawyers insisted he was innocent and said they would appeal. \"For more than three years Lula has been subject to a politically motivated investigation. No credible evidence of guilt has been produced, and overwhelming proof of his innocence blatantly ignored,\" they wrote. The head of the Workers' Party, Senator Gleisi Hoffmann, also hit out at the ruling, saying it was designed to stop Lula standing for office. She said the party would protest against the decision. In theory, Lula is free to run in the presidential election until the legal process ends. The BBC's Katy Watson in Rio says he remains a popular politician and the sentence will deeply divide Brazil. The charges Lula faces relate to the Car Wash scandal, the nickname for Brazil's biggest ever corruption probe. Operation Car Wash was launched three years ago amid escalating public anger over political corruption. The investigation centres on firms that were allegedly offered deals with Petrobras in exchange for bribes, which were funnelled into politicians' pockets and party slush funds. Lula, a former steel worker turned union leader, came to office as the first left-wing leader in Brazil in nearly half a century. He was Brazil's most popular president during his tenure - former US President Barack Obama labelled him the most popular politician on Earth. Unable to stand for a third consecutive term, he was succeeded by close ally Dilma Rousseff, who was later impeached. Current President Michel Temer also faces corruption allegations and is resisting calls for him to step down. Katy Watson, BBC News, Rio de Janeiro There are few people who polarise political debate as much as Lula. His sentence is no different. While his supporters complain the case was politically motivated, his critics see this outcome as justice served. Overseeing the case was Judge Sergio Moro. He's the man in charge of Operation Car Wash, the country's biggest ever corruption investigation and another divisive figure. He's a superstar crusader or a man on a mission to destroy Lula and the Workers' Party, depending on your viewpoint. But for or against, this sentence just goes to show how far Operation Car Wash has come. Not even Brazil's most popular politician has been untouched by this.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 463, "answer_end": 2396, "text": "Lula served eight years as president until 2011 and has expressed interest in running again in next year's elections for the left-wing Workers' Party. On Wednesday, a judge found him guilty of accepting bribes from engineering firm OAS in the form of a beachfront apartment in return for his help in winning contracts with the state oil company. In a statement, Lula's lawyers insisted he was innocent and said they would appeal. \"For more than three years Lula has been subject to a politically motivated investigation. No credible evidence of guilt has been produced, and overwhelming proof of his innocence blatantly ignored,\" they wrote. The head of the Workers' Party, Senator Gleisi Hoffmann, also hit out at the ruling, saying it was designed to stop Lula standing for office. She said the party would protest against the decision. In theory, Lula is free to run in the presidential election until the legal process ends. The BBC's Katy Watson in Rio says he remains a popular politician and the sentence will deeply divide Brazil. The charges Lula faces relate to the Car Wash scandal, the nickname for Brazil's biggest ever corruption probe. Operation Car Wash was launched three years ago amid escalating public anger over political corruption. The investigation centres on firms that were allegedly offered deals with Petrobras in exchange for bribes, which were funnelled into politicians' pockets and party slush funds. Lula, a former steel worker turned union leader, came to office as the first left-wing leader in Brazil in nearly half a century. He was Brazil's most popular president during his tenure - former US President Barack Obama labelled him the most popular politician on Earth. Unable to stand for a third consecutive term, he was succeeded by close ally Dilma Rousseff, who was later impeached. Current President Michel Temer also faces corruption allegations and is resisting calls for him to step down."}], "question": "Running again?", "id": "926_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2397, "answer_end": 3092, "text": "Katy Watson, BBC News, Rio de Janeiro There are few people who polarise political debate as much as Lula. His sentence is no different. While his supporters complain the case was politically motivated, his critics see this outcome as justice served. Overseeing the case was Judge Sergio Moro. He's the man in charge of Operation Car Wash, the country's biggest ever corruption investigation and another divisive figure. He's a superstar crusader or a man on a mission to destroy Lula and the Workers' Party, depending on your viewpoint. But for or against, this sentence just goes to show how far Operation Car Wash has come. Not even Brazil's most popular politician has been untouched by this."}], "question": "Analysis: Justice served?", "id": "926_1"}]}]}, {"title": "Hong Kong extradition: Police fire rubber bullets at protesters", "date": "12 June 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Police have fired rubber bullets and tear gas in Hong Kong at demonstrators amid anger at a new bill to allow extradition to mainland China. Protesters blocked key roads around government buildings and threw bricks and projectiles at police. They are concerned the new laws could target political opponents of Beijing, and fear human rights abuses in China's legal system. Hong Kong's Chief Executive Carrie Lam condemned the \"organised riots\". \"The rioting actions that damage peaceful society, ignoring law and discipline is unacceptable for any civilised societies,\" she said in a video statement. Officials say 72 people aged between 15 and 66 have been injured so far, with two men in a critical condition. The government is still backing the bill and it is expected to pass its final vote on 20 June. It has promised legally binding human rights safeguards and other measures it says should alleviate concerns. But Hong Kong's Legislative Council (LegCo) has now delayed its second reading. The rallies against the extradition bill are the biggest since the territory was handed back to China by the British in 1997. Protests had been largely peaceful ahead of the scheduled debate of the bill - but on Wednesday they escalated as activists tried to storm government buildings. One young protester wearing a black mask and gloves told news agency AFP that they would not leave until \"they scrap the law\". Rights groups including Amnesty have accused police of using excessive force, but Police Commissioner Stephen Lo Wai-chung said police had had \"no choice\". As night fell, protesters remained in some streets behind makeshift barricades. Meanwhile a Chinese foreign ministry spokesman has described reports that security forces from the mainland could be sent to Hong Kong as \"fake news\". Geng Shuang said such reports were \"rumours to fool people so as to create panic\". Police said they were also investigating death threats made against Ms Lam. In a tearful interview with local TV, Ms Lam dismissed accusations that she had \"sold out\" Hong Kong. \"I have grown up here with all the Hong Kong people,\" she said. \"My love for this place has led me to make many personal sacrifices.\" By Vincent Ni, BBC News Chinese reporter There has been very limited media coverage of events in Hong Kong on the mainland. Search results are either blank or toe the Beijing line. \"This kind of violent demonstration is not supposed to happen in Hong Kong, a developed society,\" said Global Times Editor Hu Xijin on Twitter, which is blocked in China \"I don't think Westerners that encourage protests in Hong Kong want the best for the city. They would rather see disturbance there.\" However Chinese citizens are not completely unaware of what is happening across the border. Some mainlanders were seen protesting in Hong Kong over the weekend, and others have shown their solidarity on the Wechat social media platform. \"Although this is Hong Kongers' fight, the love for freedom and dignity is universal,\" wrote one user. \"I salute their struggle and effort. I just hope that we are not going to see a bloody crackdown.\" It allows for extradition requests from authorities in mainland China, Taiwan and Macau for suspects accused of serious criminal wrongdoing such as murder and rape. The requests would then be decided on a case-by-case basis. The move came after a 19-year-old Hong Kong man allegedly murdered his 20-year-old pregnant girlfriend while they were holidaying in Taiwan together in February last year. The man fled to Hong Kong and could not be extradited to Taiwan because the two do not have an extradition treaty. Hong Kong officials have said courts in the territory will have the final say over whether to grant extradition requests, and suspects accused of political and religious crimes will not be extradited. The government has also promised to only hand over fugitives for offences carrying a maximum sentence of at least seven years. Hong Kong has entered into extradition agreements with 20 countries, including the UK and the US. China has expressed \"firm support\" for the bill but many Western nations have criticised it. A wide range of groups have spoken out against extradition to China, and hundreds of petitions are in circulation. More than 100 businesses have said they will shut to allow their staff to protest and nearly 4,000 teachers said they would strike. Powerful business lobbies say they fear the plans will damage Hong Kong's competitiveness as a base of operations. On Sunday organisers said more than a million people took to the streets demanding the government abandon the amendments, though police estimated turnout was 240,000 at its peak. In 2014 tens of thousands protested against restrictions on who they could vote for as chief executive. Despite being mostly peaceful, the protests failed to achieve any concessions. Some of the organisers have since been jailed on public nuisance charges. Hong Kong was a British colony from 1841 until sovereignty was returned to China in 1997. Under the \"one country, two systems\" principle, Hong Kong has kept its judicial independence, its own legislature, its economic system and the Hong Kong dollar. Its residents were also granted protection of certain human rights and freedoms, including freedom of speech and assembly. Beijing retains control of foreign and defence affairs, and visas or permits are required for travel between Hong Kong and the mainland. Are you attending the protests? If it's safe to do so, tell us about your experience by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk You can also contact us in the following ways: - Tweet: @BBC_HaveYourSay - WhatsApp: +44 7555 173285 - Text an SMS or MMS to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (international) - Please read our terms & conditions", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1123, "answer_end": 2192, "text": "Protests had been largely peaceful ahead of the scheduled debate of the bill - but on Wednesday they escalated as activists tried to storm government buildings. One young protester wearing a black mask and gloves told news agency AFP that they would not leave until \"they scrap the law\". Rights groups including Amnesty have accused police of using excessive force, but Police Commissioner Stephen Lo Wai-chung said police had had \"no choice\". As night fell, protesters remained in some streets behind makeshift barricades. Meanwhile a Chinese foreign ministry spokesman has described reports that security forces from the mainland could be sent to Hong Kong as \"fake news\". Geng Shuang said such reports were \"rumours to fool people so as to create panic\". Police said they were also investigating death threats made against Ms Lam. In a tearful interview with local TV, Ms Lam dismissed accusations that she had \"sold out\" Hong Kong. \"I have grown up here with all the Hong Kong people,\" she said. \"My love for this place has led me to make many personal sacrifices.\""}], "question": "How have the protests unfolded?", "id": "927_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3116, "answer_end": 4146, "text": "It allows for extradition requests from authorities in mainland China, Taiwan and Macau for suspects accused of serious criminal wrongdoing such as murder and rape. The requests would then be decided on a case-by-case basis. The move came after a 19-year-old Hong Kong man allegedly murdered his 20-year-old pregnant girlfriend while they were holidaying in Taiwan together in February last year. The man fled to Hong Kong and could not be extradited to Taiwan because the two do not have an extradition treaty. Hong Kong officials have said courts in the territory will have the final say over whether to grant extradition requests, and suspects accused of political and religious crimes will not be extradited. The government has also promised to only hand over fugitives for offences carrying a maximum sentence of at least seven years. Hong Kong has entered into extradition agreements with 20 countries, including the UK and the US. China has expressed \"firm support\" for the bill but many Western nations have criticised it."}], "question": "What is in the extradition bill?", "id": "927_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 4147, "answer_end": 4944, "text": "A wide range of groups have spoken out against extradition to China, and hundreds of petitions are in circulation. More than 100 businesses have said they will shut to allow their staff to protest and nearly 4,000 teachers said they would strike. Powerful business lobbies say they fear the plans will damage Hong Kong's competitiveness as a base of operations. On Sunday organisers said more than a million people took to the streets demanding the government abandon the amendments, though police estimated turnout was 240,000 at its peak. In 2014 tens of thousands protested against restrictions on who they could vote for as chief executive. Despite being mostly peaceful, the protests failed to achieve any concessions. Some of the organisers have since been jailed on public nuisance charges."}], "question": "How widespread is the opposition?", "id": "927_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 4945, "answer_end": 5455, "text": "Hong Kong was a British colony from 1841 until sovereignty was returned to China in 1997. Under the \"one country, two systems\" principle, Hong Kong has kept its judicial independence, its own legislature, its economic system and the Hong Kong dollar. Its residents were also granted protection of certain human rights and freedoms, including freedom of speech and assembly. Beijing retains control of foreign and defence affairs, and visas or permits are required for travel between Hong Kong and the mainland."}], "question": "What is Hong Kong's relationship with China?", "id": "927_3"}]}]}, {"title": "Lib Dem leadership: The candidates trying to stop Brexit", "date": "1 July 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "A great deal of attention is focused on the Conservative Party as it chooses the next prime minister after Theresa May's resignation, but the Liberal Democrats are also busy picking a new leader. The outcome could have an impact on what happens with Brexit. Despite only having 12 MPs, the Lib Dems have tried to position themselves as the main anti-Brexit party. They are calling for another Brexit referendum and - if that happened - would campaign for the UK to remain in the European Union. By contrast, both Labour and the Conservatives have been plagued by infighting over their Brexit strategies. The splits in the two main parties appear to have benefited the Lib Dems. In May's European Parliament elections the Lib Dems came second with 16 seats - behind the Brexit Party's 29. That result, accompanied by recent surges in the opinion polls, represents a remarkable turnaround. In the 2014 European elections - when the Lib Dems were in a coalition government with the Conservatives - they lost all but one of their MEPs (Members of the European Parliament). It got worse. In the 2015 general election they lost 49 of their 57 MPs and left government. The party was written off by many as a spent force. But its anti-Brexit position appears to have breathed new life into the party, at least for the time being. The current leader, Sir Vince Cable, told party members in May he was standing down after two years in charge. The 76-year-old said it was time \"to make way for a new generation\". In the race to take over, two contenders have emerged: Jo Swinson and Sir Ed Davey. Jo Swinson Jo Swinson has been Sir Vince's deputy for two years, and speaks for the party on foreign affairs. In the 2015 general election she lost her East Dunbartonshire seat to the Scottish National Party, but won it back two years later. She has also served in government - as a business minister in the coalition government until 2015. On Brexit, Ms Swinson wants to block a no-deal Brexit -  an outcome she compares \"to planning for your house to burn down\". She says some Conservative MPs would support her, when faced with a \"disastrous\" outcome for the country. Ms Swinson has ruled out joining forces with Labour to form a government, describing leader Jeremy Corbyn as a \"Brexiteer\". Instead, she wants to work informally with MPs from all parties. If she wins, Jo Swinson would become the first female leader in the Lib Dems' 31-year history. Sir Ed Davey A key figure in the Conservative-led government, Sir Ed Davey became energy and climate change secretary in 2012. Sir Ed also had an unplanned break from Parliament. In 2015 he was defeated in his Kingston and Surbiton seat after 18 years as an MP, but won it back from the Conservatives in 2017. He says a vote of no confidence in the government could prevent a no-deal Brexit - something he describes as the \"nuclear option\". In such a scenario, Sir Ed says he would push for the Lib Dems to form a temporary government with other parties. \"That would just be a temporary government for one purpose and one purpose alone - to pass the legislation for a people's vote,\" he said, making the case for another public vote on the issue. Like Ms Swinson, he has ruled out working with Jeremy Corbyn - but he's said he would be willing to work with other Labour MPs, including Yvette Cooper. On many of the other key issues, there are few big differences between the contenders. That's because Lib Dem policy is decided by its members at party conference, and not by the leader. The leader will be chosen by Lib Dem party members. Just over 106,000 people have been sent ballot papers. Research carried out by the Party Members Project - run by professor Tim Bale of Queen Mary, University of London - shows the average Lib Dem member is around 50 years old -  younger than the Conservatives and Labour, but not quite as young as the Greens. It also reveals most members are relaxed about immigration, and 90% voted Remain in the referendum. The poll will close on 23 July. But the timing for the announcement is yet to be set, because another announcement that day could overshadow the Lib Dems. It's also the day the the new prime minister is expected be revealed.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 258, "answer_end": 1321, "text": "Despite only having 12 MPs, the Lib Dems have tried to position themselves as the main anti-Brexit party. They are calling for another Brexit referendum and - if that happened - would campaign for the UK to remain in the European Union. By contrast, both Labour and the Conservatives have been plagued by infighting over their Brexit strategies. The splits in the two main parties appear to have benefited the Lib Dems. In May's European Parliament elections the Lib Dems came second with 16 seats - behind the Brexit Party's 29. That result, accompanied by recent surges in the opinion polls, represents a remarkable turnaround. In the 2014 European elections - when the Lib Dems were in a coalition government with the Conservatives - they lost all but one of their MEPs (Members of the European Parliament). It got worse. In the 2015 general election they lost 49 of their 57 MPs and left government. The party was written off by many as a spent force. But its anti-Brexit position appears to have breathed new life into the party, at least for the time being."}], "question": "Why does the Lib Dem leadership matter?", "id": "928_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1322, "answer_end": 3527, "text": "The current leader, Sir Vince Cable, told party members in May he was standing down after two years in charge. The 76-year-old said it was time \"to make way for a new generation\". In the race to take over, two contenders have emerged: Jo Swinson and Sir Ed Davey. Jo Swinson Jo Swinson has been Sir Vince's deputy for two years, and speaks for the party on foreign affairs. In the 2015 general election she lost her East Dunbartonshire seat to the Scottish National Party, but won it back two years later. She has also served in government - as a business minister in the coalition government until 2015. On Brexit, Ms Swinson wants to block a no-deal Brexit -  an outcome she compares \"to planning for your house to burn down\". She says some Conservative MPs would support her, when faced with a \"disastrous\" outcome for the country. Ms Swinson has ruled out joining forces with Labour to form a government, describing leader Jeremy Corbyn as a \"Brexiteer\". Instead, she wants to work informally with MPs from all parties. If she wins, Jo Swinson would become the first female leader in the Lib Dems' 31-year history. Sir Ed Davey A key figure in the Conservative-led government, Sir Ed Davey became energy and climate change secretary in 2012. Sir Ed also had an unplanned break from Parliament. In 2015 he was defeated in his Kingston and Surbiton seat after 18 years as an MP, but won it back from the Conservatives in 2017. He says a vote of no confidence in the government could prevent a no-deal Brexit - something he describes as the \"nuclear option\". In such a scenario, Sir Ed says he would push for the Lib Dems to form a temporary government with other parties. \"That would just be a temporary government for one purpose and one purpose alone - to pass the legislation for a people's vote,\" he said, making the case for another public vote on the issue. Like Ms Swinson, he has ruled out working with Jeremy Corbyn - but he's said he would be willing to work with other Labour MPs, including Yvette Cooper. On many of the other key issues, there are few big differences between the contenders. That's because Lib Dem policy is decided by its members at party conference, and not by the leader."}], "question": "Who are the contenders?", "id": "928_1"}]}]}, {"title": "Russian police raid opposition ahead of big Moscow rally", "date": "25 July 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "The homes of several opposition politicians have been raided by Russian police ahead of an unauthorised rally demanding fair elections. Moscow officials barred opposition candidates from running in 8 September local elections, then arrested key Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny ahead of Saturday's planned mass protest. Police then raided four candidates' homes, calling in more for questioning. Critics said the crackdown proved how nervous authorities were of the rally. One of the council election candidates whose home was searched, Dmitry Gudkov, complained that the raids meant the elections were over. \"This institution has died under Putin. The last illusion that we are able to participate legally in politics has disappeared,\" he tweeted. Earlier this month, Moscow city authorities turned down dozens of opposition candidates, arguing that some of the required 5,500 signatures they had collected were invalid, ahead of the city council vote. The local authority is held by United Russia, a party with close links to the Kremlin, and control of the council is seen as symbolically significant in Russia. Then a rally on 20 July brought more than 20,000 people on to the streets. Thousands more indicated they would take part in the next big rally, but authorities refused to allow it, saying that the protests included threats of violence against the electoral commission. Mr Navalny has been jailed for 30 days and a colleague has been detained for eight days. Condemning the \"hysterical actions\" of the authorities, ex-mayor of Yekaterinburg Yevgeny Roizman said it was easy to put a stop to the rally. \"Just let all the independent candidates who have collected signatures run,\" said Mr Roizman, who stood down when mayoral elections were scrapped in Russia's fourth largest city last year. By Oleg Boldyrev, BBC News, Moscow For almost three weeks protests around Moscow elections went unhindered. But then last weekend's rally attracted around 20,000 people. Perhaps, the authorities hoped one, big gathering would be enough for most Muscovites. But both unregistered candidates and their supporters have vowed to carry on, and having a sustained campaign in the centre of Moscow is not the mayor's idea of a good summer, In fact, many analysts believe control of events has now switched from Moscow to the Kremlin. The would-be candidates are in no doubt the authorities want them off the streets but say the rally will happen no matter what. Experience dictates that the protest will be dispersed, most likely with heavy force, detentions, speedy court hearings and heavy fines. It is rare for momentum to build up in the face of a crackdown, but this is what the opposition is hoping for. One thing is certain, a dull local election campaign for has become a focus for dissent, not just over the way things are done in Moscow but over the lack of political competition in Russia as a whole.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 746, "answer_end": 1801, "text": "Earlier this month, Moscow city authorities turned down dozens of opposition candidates, arguing that some of the required 5,500 signatures they had collected were invalid, ahead of the city council vote. The local authority is held by United Russia, a party with close links to the Kremlin, and control of the council is seen as symbolically significant in Russia. Then a rally on 20 July brought more than 20,000 people on to the streets. Thousands more indicated they would take part in the next big rally, but authorities refused to allow it, saying that the protests included threats of violence against the electoral commission. Mr Navalny has been jailed for 30 days and a colleague has been detained for eight days. Condemning the \"hysterical actions\" of the authorities, ex-mayor of Yekaterinburg Yevgeny Roizman said it was easy to put a stop to the rally. \"Just let all the independent candidates who have collected signatures run,\" said Mr Roizman, who stood down when mayoral elections were scrapped in Russia's fourth largest city last year."}], "question": "Why has the row escalated?", "id": "929_0"}]}]}, {"title": "France election: What does centrist Emmanuel Macron stand for?", "date": "2 March 2017", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Presidential candidate Emmanuel Macron has emerged as a major force in French politics despite never being elected to office. The independent centrist's campaign has been boosted by the setbacks of centre-right rival Francois Fillon, who faces formal investigation over fake job allegations involving his wife. Mr Macron seems likely to face the far-right National Front's Marine le Pen in a second round of voting, and he is seen as a key defender of liberal European values from populist forces on the continent. Amid accusations that he was all image and short on substance, he launched his election campaign on 2 March. Mr Macron has maintained that the left and right in politics are irrelevant and out of fashion. He was economy minister in President Francois Hollande's centre-left Socialist administration until last year, but has played down his links to Mr Hollande. His current movement was a new project and definitely not a continuation of Mr Hollande's, he said at the campaign launch. Instead he has urged France to rediscover its \"spirit of conquest\", and called for a \"transformation\" rather than just reform, in which every French citizen would play a part. As Mr Fillon faces questions over his wife's employment, his rival has proposed eradicating \"nepotism\" and \"conflicts of interest\". \"All elected representatives must respect the law and public morality,\" he said at the launch. The measures he is proposing include banning MPs from doing any consulting work and banning all officials from employing family or friends. He is also seeking to cut the size of both chambers of parliament - the National Assembly and the Senate - by a third. Mr Macron has not said whether he would lift France's state of emergency, launched following the Paris attacks in November 2015, but he has promised to \"evaluate\" it. He said no new measures would be taken on terrorism, and ruled out what he described as symbolic policies such as removing French nationality from dual citizens, which would only divide the country. He would not accept stigmatising people for their religion, or religious-based bigotry, he added. The key was to make existing security measures work more effectively, he said. He has, however, promised 10,000 more police officers - similar to a pledge made by Marine Le Pen - and the rebuilding of regional intelligence networks. Mr Macron has also emphasised a revival in community policing, and in particular rebuilding relations between police and young people. While Ms Le Pen seeks to take France out of the eurozone and hold a referendum on France's relationship with the European Union, Mr Macron is an ardent supporter of the EU. He has called for efforts to reinvigorate the eurozone and a new impulse for the single market, which he said should be vigorously defended in Brexit talks with the UK. Mr Macron caused some consternation among conservative circles a few weeks ago by describing France's colonialism as a \"crime against humanity\". He has since apologised for \"hurting some people's feelings\" but has not withdrawn the statement. On defence, he has proposed increasing spending to 2% of GDP - a key demand of the US and other Nato allies. He is also calling for an \"international roadmap\" to combat militant Islamism, and described Africa as a region that had \"all the risks and all the opportunities\" for France. Mr Macron has urged French workers to embrace a transformation of the workplace. \"Work is going to change and we will be part of that change. We will go with it and we will transform the balance of forces,\" he said. He has proposed aligning the public sector pension scheme with the private sector. Such measures have been tried in the past and have provoked huge opposition from the left, but he describes the move as an end to inequality between schemes. He has also pledged no change to the retirement age for five years, and to retain the 35-hour working week, both moves seen as directed at left-wing voters. In a budget programme unveiled days before his campaign launch, Mr Macron proposed savings of EUR60bn ($63bn; PS51bn) over five years, including cuts to the civil service. He also pledged to keep the deficit to below 3% of economic output. Mr Macron has made education one of his main priorities. He has pledged to put the three \"Rs\" at the heart of education policy and reduce class sizes. He describes the education system as being \"too uniform\" and says more control over policy should be given to local authorities.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 624, "answer_end": 1175, "text": "Mr Macron has maintained that the left and right in politics are irrelevant and out of fashion. He was economy minister in President Francois Hollande's centre-left Socialist administration until last year, but has played down his links to Mr Hollande. His current movement was a new project and definitely not a continuation of Mr Hollande's, he said at the campaign launch. Instead he has urged France to rediscover its \"spirit of conquest\", and called for a \"transformation\" rather than just reform, in which every French citizen would play a part."}], "question": "What is the general direction of his policies?", "id": "930_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1176, "answer_end": 1661, "text": "As Mr Fillon faces questions over his wife's employment, his rival has proposed eradicating \"nepotism\" and \"conflicts of interest\". \"All elected representatives must respect the law and public morality,\" he said at the launch. The measures he is proposing include banning MPs from doing any consulting work and banning all officials from employing family or friends. He is also seeking to cut the size of both chambers of parliament - the National Assembly and the Senate - by a third."}], "question": "What is his response to the Fillon scandal?", "id": "930_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1662, "answer_end": 2493, "text": "Mr Macron has not said whether he would lift France's state of emergency, launched following the Paris attacks in November 2015, but he has promised to \"evaluate\" it. He said no new measures would be taken on terrorism, and ruled out what he described as symbolic policies such as removing French nationality from dual citizens, which would only divide the country. He would not accept stigmatising people for their religion, or religious-based bigotry, he added. The key was to make existing security measures work more effectively, he said. He has, however, promised 10,000 more police officers - similar to a pledge made by Marine Le Pen - and the rebuilding of regional intelligence networks. Mr Macron has also emphasised a revival in community policing, and in particular rebuilding relations between police and young people."}], "question": "How tough on security?", "id": "930_2"}]}]}, {"title": "China suspends US Navy visits to Hong Kong over support for protests", "date": "2 December 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "China has suspended visits by US Navy ships and aircraft to Hong Kong after Washington passed legislation last week backing pro-democracy protesters. Beijing also unveiled sanctions against a number of US human rights groups. It comes after President Donald Trump signed the Human Rights and Democracy Act into law. The act orders an annual review to check if Hong Kong has enough autonomy to justify special trading status with the US. President Trump is currently seeking a deal with China in order to end a trade war. The foreign ministry said it would suspend the reviewing of applications to visit Hong Kong by US military ships and aircraft from Monday - and warned that further action could come. \"We urge the US to correct the mistakes and stop interfering in our internal affairs,\" ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying told reporters in Beijing. \"China will take further steps if necessary to uphold Hong Kong's stability and prosperity and China's sovereignty.\" Non-governmental organisations (NGOs) targeted by sanctions include Human Rights Watch, Freedom House, the National Endowment for Democracy, the National Democratic Institute for International Affairs and the International Republican Institute. \"They shoulder some responsibility for the chaos in Hong Kong and they should be sanctioned and pay the price,\" Ms Hua said, without specifying what form the measures would take. Several US Navy ships usually visit Hong Kong every year, although visits are sometimes suspended when ties between the two countries become strained. The USS Blue Ridge, the amphibious command ship of the US Seventh Fleet, was the last American navy ship to visit Hong Kong, in April. Mass protests broke out in the semi-autonomous territory in June and Chinese officials accused foreign governments, including the US, of backing the pro-democracy movement. In August China rejected requests for visits by the guided missile cruiser USS Lake Erie and transport ship USS Green Bay, but did not give specific reasons. In September last year, China refused a US warship entry to Hong Kong after the US imposed sanctions over the purchase of Russian fighter aircraft. And in 2016, China blocked the nuclear powered aircraft carrier USS John C Stennis, and its escort ships, amid a dispute over China's military presence in the South China Sea. Michael Raska, a security expert at Singapore's Nanyang Technological University, said that from a military point of view the US would not be affected by the latest ban \"as they can use many naval bases in the region\". However, it sends a signal that US-China tensions will continue to deepen, he told AFP news agency. Protesters celebrated on the streets of Hong Kong after President Trump signed the act last week. However, China quickly warned the US it would take \"firm counter-measures\". The new law requires Washington to monitor Beijing's actions in Hong Kong. The US could revoke the special trading status it has granted the territory if China undermines the city's rights and freedoms. Among other things, Hong Kong's special status means it is not affected by US sanctions or tariffs placed on the mainland. The bill also says the US should allow Hong Kong residents to obtain US visas if they have been arrested for being part of non-violent protests. Analysts say the move could complicate negotiations between China and the US to end their trade war. The bill was introduced in June in the early stages of the protests in Hong Kong, and was overwhelmingly approved by the House of Representatives in October. Hong Kong - a British colony until 1997 - is part of China under a model known as \"one country, two systems\". Under this model, Hong Kong has a high degree of autonomy and people have freedoms not seen in mainland China. However, months of protests have caused turmoil in the city. Demonstrations began after the government planned to pass a bill that would allow suspects to be extradited to mainland China. The bill was eventually withdrawn but unrest evolved into a broader protest against the police and the way Hong Kong is administered by Beijing.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 521, "answer_end": 1392, "text": "The foreign ministry said it would suspend the reviewing of applications to visit Hong Kong by US military ships and aircraft from Monday - and warned that further action could come. \"We urge the US to correct the mistakes and stop interfering in our internal affairs,\" ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying told reporters in Beijing. \"China will take further steps if necessary to uphold Hong Kong's stability and prosperity and China's sovereignty.\" Non-governmental organisations (NGOs) targeted by sanctions include Human Rights Watch, Freedom House, the National Endowment for Democracy, the National Democratic Institute for International Affairs and the International Republican Institute. \"They shoulder some responsibility for the chaos in Hong Kong and they should be sanctioned and pay the price,\" Ms Hua said, without specifying what form the measures would take."}], "question": "What did China say?", "id": "931_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1393, "answer_end": 2652, "text": "Several US Navy ships usually visit Hong Kong every year, although visits are sometimes suspended when ties between the two countries become strained. The USS Blue Ridge, the amphibious command ship of the US Seventh Fleet, was the last American navy ship to visit Hong Kong, in April. Mass protests broke out in the semi-autonomous territory in June and Chinese officials accused foreign governments, including the US, of backing the pro-democracy movement. In August China rejected requests for visits by the guided missile cruiser USS Lake Erie and transport ship USS Green Bay, but did not give specific reasons. In September last year, China refused a US warship entry to Hong Kong after the US imposed sanctions over the purchase of Russian fighter aircraft. And in 2016, China blocked the nuclear powered aircraft carrier USS John C Stennis, and its escort ships, amid a dispute over China's military presence in the South China Sea. Michael Raska, a security expert at Singapore's Nanyang Technological University, said that from a military point of view the US would not be affected by the latest ban \"as they can use many naval bases in the region\". However, it sends a signal that US-China tensions will continue to deepen, he told AFP news agency."}], "question": "What effect will the ban have?", "id": "931_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2653, "answer_end": 3556, "text": "Protesters celebrated on the streets of Hong Kong after President Trump signed the act last week. However, China quickly warned the US it would take \"firm counter-measures\". The new law requires Washington to monitor Beijing's actions in Hong Kong. The US could revoke the special trading status it has granted the territory if China undermines the city's rights and freedoms. Among other things, Hong Kong's special status means it is not affected by US sanctions or tariffs placed on the mainland. The bill also says the US should allow Hong Kong residents to obtain US visas if they have been arrested for being part of non-violent protests. Analysts say the move could complicate negotiations between China and the US to end their trade war. The bill was introduced in June in the early stages of the protests in Hong Kong, and was overwhelmingly approved by the House of Representatives in October."}], "question": "What did the US do?", "id": "931_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3557, "answer_end": 4110, "text": "Hong Kong - a British colony until 1997 - is part of China under a model known as \"one country, two systems\". Under this model, Hong Kong has a high degree of autonomy and people have freedoms not seen in mainland China. However, months of protests have caused turmoil in the city. Demonstrations began after the government planned to pass a bill that would allow suspects to be extradited to mainland China. The bill was eventually withdrawn but unrest evolved into a broader protest against the police and the way Hong Kong is administered by Beijing."}], "question": "Why are there protests in Hong Kong?", "id": "931_3"}]}]}, {"title": "A brief history of Apple's iTunes", "date": "4 June 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Apple has announced iTunes will be absorbed into its three new entertainment apps: Apple Music, Apple Podcasts and Apple TV. It launched a number of new services at a star-studded event in March, signalling a change of direction for the 42-year-old hardware company. ITunes will not be disappearing completely - downloads will still be available in the sidebar of Apple Music, the app will remain and the platform will be unchanged on Windows. \"Rumours of iTunes' demise have been over-exaggerated,\" said analyst Ben Wood, from CCS Insight. However, there's little doubt the once iconic music service has had its heyday. \"The world has moved on as ubiquitous connectivity, cloud storage, and streaming media became the norm,\" said Jon Porter, at tech news site The Verge. The music store launched in 2003 but iTunes started life in 2001, when the first generation iPod MP3 player - which stored 1,000 tunes - transformed the world of digital music. It wasn't the first on the market but industry experts considered it the most user-friendly and sales soared. Digital music had until then existed in a culture in which pirate sites loomed large and illegal downloading was rife. The file-sharing platform Napster, launched 20 years ago, had opened up an enormous, if illegal, network through which people could freely share music. There was no longer any need to surreptitiously record off the radio on to a cassette - now, millions of tech-savvy music lovers had access to a vast library of tracks, straight from each other's hard drives. But Napster was quickly sued by both music bodies and artists, including Metallica and Dr Dre, who suffered considerable revenue loss. By April 2004, when the iTunes store arrived in the UK, Apple was able to report about 85 million songs had been legally acquired. So confident was the tech giant about the success of its new service that in 2005 it launched the iTunes phone - although it was nowhere near as successful as the iPhone, which followed in 2007. As mobile and broadband capability improved, video, podcasts and e-books became more accessible and iTunes expanded to become much more than a music store. However, it was criticised for growing overly bloated as a result. Dismantling the one-stop-shop into three distinct market stalls could give Apple more of a competitive advantage, said Mark Mulligan, music industry analyst at Midia Research. \"Its role as a music app has already diminished... what Apple is doing is saying that to succeed in this world it has to specialise in everything - it can't be a generalist,\" he said. \"It's still number two to Spotify - if it's going to be the leading player, which is what it wants to be, it's got to unbundle all of these things and make each one a leader in its space.\" The year 2017 was a bumper year for music streaming revenue, with global streaming generating $7.1bn (PS5bn) for the music industry - more than CD and vinyl sales. In 2018, 90 billion songs were streamed in the UK alone, according to figures released by music body the BPI - a 33.5% increase from 2017. The public move towards streaming chimes with a broader cultural shift away from ownership and towards subscriptions, rentals and access on-demand. The International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) valued the music industry at $17.3bn (PS12.4bn) in 2017, marking its third year of growth after years of decline dogged by struggles with piracy and declining physical sales. But even a revamped offering from Apple, with its huge global fan base of loyal customers, is unlikely to boost it back to its glory days, according to Mark Mulligan. \"Realistically, music is never going to get back to that place again,\" he said. \"There are so many things competing for people's spend and attention. \"Now, streaming video and games matters just as much. Music isn't as essential anymore.\"", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 2000, "answer_end": 2771, "text": "As mobile and broadband capability improved, video, podcasts and e-books became more accessible and iTunes expanded to become much more than a music store. However, it was criticised for growing overly bloated as a result. Dismantling the one-stop-shop into three distinct market stalls could give Apple more of a competitive advantage, said Mark Mulligan, music industry analyst at Midia Research. \"Its role as a music app has already diminished... what Apple is doing is saying that to succeed in this world it has to specialise in everything - it can't be a generalist,\" he said. \"It's still number two to Spotify - if it's going to be the leading player, which is what it wants to be, it's got to unbundle all of these things and make each one a leader in its space.\""}], "question": "What went wrong?", "id": "932_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Australia fires: Troops called to tackle fires", "date": "4 January 2020", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison has announced 3,000 reserve troops will be deployed to help tackle raging bushfires across the country. Defence Minister Linda Reynolds said this is the first time this had happened in Australia's history. Temperatures surpassed 40C (104F) in parts of south-east Australia on Saturday as fires ravaged through homes and land. Since September, the fires in Australia have killed at least 23 people. Dozens of people are missing and some 1,500 homes have already been lost this fire season. \"We have seen this disaster escalate to an entirely new level,\" Mr Morrison told reporters at a press conference on Saturday. What happened on Saturday? Skies reddened and darkened in areas of south-eastern Australia as wind gusts exacerbated the fires. Emergency warnings were issued throughout the day urging residents to leave certain areas. In some places, including the Snowy Mountains, people were told it was too late to evacuate. They were instructed to shelter indoors or in a large clearing or body of water. In Victoria, three fires converged overnight into a 6,000-hectare blaze. By the end of the day, 73 new fires had started and 53 were still burning. Of these, 13 were classed as emergency fires. Authorities said 900,000 hectares (2.2m acres) were burnt out, according to ABC News. In some good news, the number of people reported unaccounted for in the state reduced from 28 to six. In New South Wales (NSW), about 100 fires are currently burning. According to the Rural Fire Service Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons, more than half are not contained. He said earlier in the day that Saturday would be \"a long and difficult day for everybody\". Several power lines went down in Snowy Region and residents were urged to reduce unnecessary electricity usage. Phone lines are down in some areas of the state, according to 9 News. Tens of thousands of properties lost power in Batemans Bay and Moruya region, although many of these were restored later in the day. Fires on Kangaroo Island in the state of South Australia killed two people - a well-known pilot named Dick Lang and his son, Clayton. A quarter of the island has been ravaged by fire. South Australia state premier Steven Marshall said much of Flinders Chase National Park had been \"taken out\" by bushfires. Some footage showed bushfires generating their own weather systems, including tornadoes and thunderstorms. As well as deploying the military, Mr Morrison announced A$20m (PS10m) had been allocated to lease four water bomber planes. Defence force bases would provide temporary accommodation, he said. On Friday, the Australian navy evacuated some 1,000 tourists and residents who were trapped in the fire-ravaged town of Mallacoota on the Victoria coast. The first evacuees arrived in the Mornington Peninsula on Saturday morning. Another ship, HMAS Adelaide, will set sail from Sydney on Saturday and will be located offshore ready to evacuate citizens from the coast if needed. NSW has declared a week-long state of emergency. Tens of thousands of residents and holidaymakers have been told to evacuate coastal areas, where a \"tourist leave zone\" has been declared. Some 3,000 firefighters are on the ground in NSW, according to News.com.au. The fires in Australia began in September. In addition to the fatalities, they have so far destroyed more than 1,300 homes, as well as millions of acres of bushland. Meteorologists say a climate system in the Indian Ocean, known as the dipole, is the main driver behind the extreme heat in Australia. However, many parts of Australia have been in drought conditions, some for years, which has made it easier for the fires to spread and grow. Prime Minister Scott Morrison has been criticised for his handling of the bushfires. He has faced persistent accusations of being too absent, including by taking a holiday to Hawaii, and underplaying the role of climate change. During a news conference on Friday, he said he understood that people had \"suffered a great lot\" and were \"feeling very raw\". Have you been affected by the fires? If it is safe for you to do so you can get in touch by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. 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 yourpics@bbc.co.uk - Text an SMS or MMS to 61124 or +44 7624 800 100 - Please read our terms of use and privacy policy", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 3255, "answer_end": 4050, "text": "The fires in Australia began in September. In addition to the fatalities, they have so far destroyed more than 1,300 homes, as well as millions of acres of bushland. Meteorologists say a climate system in the Indian Ocean, known as the dipole, is the main driver behind the extreme heat in Australia. However, many parts of Australia have been in drought conditions, some for years, which has made it easier for the fires to spread and grow. Prime Minister Scott Morrison has been criticised for his handling of the bushfires. He has faced persistent accusations of being too absent, including by taking a holiday to Hawaii, and underplaying the role of climate change. During a news conference on Friday, he said he understood that people had \"suffered a great lot\" and were \"feeling very raw\"."}], "question": "What's the background?", "id": "933_0"}]}]}, {"title": "How will Monarch customers be affected?", "date": "2 October 2017", "paragraphs": [{"context": "British airline Monarch has collapsed, leaving 110,000 passengers abroad and around 750,000 people with flights they have paid for, but will not be able to take. Monarch's administrators, KPMG, said that the \"vast majority\" of people should get their money back in one way or another. Full details of customers' rights are available on the dedicated website: monarch.caa.co.uk However here are some of the answers to the most common questions. The Atol scheme refunds customers if a travel firm collapses and ensures those holidaymakers are not stranded. However, while Monarch package holidays are protected by the Atol scheme, those who booked flights only are NOT protected. This is because Monarch withdrew from flight-only protection last year. However most of those who booked a flight only will still be flown home by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), along with those who are fully Atol-protected. The CAA is the UK aviation regulator, and administers the Air Travel Organisers Licence (Atol) scheme. The CAA says customers currently overseas should check monarch.caa.co.uk for confirmation of their new flight details - which will be available a minimum of 48 hours in advance of their original departure time. You will be covered by the CAA rescue scheme, provided your return flight to the UK is on or before 15 October. If you were on a Monarch package holiday, your booking is Atol-protected, and therefore you will be flown home free of charge. If you had booked a flight only, you are not entitled to that, so you will have to make your own arrangements to fly home. You will then need to try and reclaim your money, using one of the methods listed below. Holidaymakers who bought a package holiday through Monarch will be Atol-protected, and will get their tickets refunded. The CAA says that roughly half of those with future bookings are in this position, with the other half having booked flights only. Most of those on flight-only bookings will need to seek a refund themselves - see below. The only exception to this is if you booked your flight before 16 December 2016. In that case your flight is likely to be Atol-protected and you could receive a refund. In most cases, the Atol protection on package deals will be provided by a company other than Monarch - usually the firm providing the holiday element of the package. But passengers due a refund may have to wait for some time. \"Experience suggests this will take weeks or months rather than days,\" according to the Independent's travel editor, Simon Calder. \"They will get the money back, but in the meantime the cost of their holiday will have increased.\" Under section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act, anyone who booked flights costing more than PS100 will get their money back automatically from their credit card provider. However, each single flight needs to cost more than PS100. So if you booked five flights, each of which cost PS99, you would not be covered under the act. If you paid less than PS100 per seat, you can still use the Chargeback process, described below. In many cases debit cards, such as those issued by Visa, Mastercard or American Express, will also cover the loss, under what is known as the Chargeback scheme. But, unlike with credit cards, you do not have a legal right to a refund. There is a 120 day limit on Chargeback claims - from the day you found out your flight was cancelled. UK Finance is advising those who paid in this way to contact their bank. The bank will then apply to the administrators, KPMG, for a refund, but may give you your money back anyway. While some airlines still charge extra for using a credit card, Monarch abandoned that policy last year, meaning a higher proportion of its customers may have booked with a credit card, giving them extra protection. Paypal has its own buyer protection programme, to cover consumers when they do not receive the goods or services they have paid for. However in normal circumstances there is a 180-day deadline from the payment date to claim for this. This suggests that anyone who bought their tickets more than six months ago may not be able to get a refund. However Paypal said it would take the specific circumstances of Monarch's collapse into account. It expects most people to get their money back. Anyone who bought their tickets through Paypal Credit - a separate product - has section 75 protection anyway. This will depend very much on the terms and conditions of the insurance. Most policies do not cover airline failure as a standard part of the cover. Blair Nimmo an administrator with KPMG told the BBC: \"The Atol scheme protects the package holidays. If you're on a flight only then you will tend to more rely on your credit or debit card provider or perhaps travel insurance.\" The rules are \"relatively complicated depending on your specific circumstances, he added, but \"we would very much hope that the vast majority, if not everyone would get their money back\". Passengers unable to claim any money back will remain as creditors of the collapsed company, but they will be well down the queue for compensation.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 444, "answer_end": 1221, "text": "The Atol scheme refunds customers if a travel firm collapses and ensures those holidaymakers are not stranded. However, while Monarch package holidays are protected by the Atol scheme, those who booked flights only are NOT protected. This is because Monarch withdrew from flight-only protection last year. However most of those who booked a flight only will still be flown home by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), along with those who are fully Atol-protected. The CAA is the UK aviation regulator, and administers the Air Travel Organisers Licence (Atol) scheme. The CAA says customers currently overseas should check monarch.caa.co.uk for confirmation of their new flight details - which will be available a minimum of 48 hours in advance of their original departure time."}], "question": "What does it mean for customers currently on a Monarch package holiday?", "id": "934_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1222, "answer_end": 1333, "text": "You will be covered by the CAA rescue scheme, provided your return flight to the UK is on or before 15 October."}], "question": "What if I am abroad, having booked a flight only?", "id": "934_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1334, "answer_end": 1672, "text": "If you were on a Monarch package holiday, your booking is Atol-protected, and therefore you will be flown home free of charge. If you had booked a flight only, you are not entitled to that, so you will have to make your own arrangements to fly home. You will then need to try and reclaim your money, using one of the methods listed below."}], "question": "What if I am due to return home after 16 October?", "id": "934_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1673, "answer_end": 2637, "text": "Holidaymakers who bought a package holiday through Monarch will be Atol-protected, and will get their tickets refunded. The CAA says that roughly half of those with future bookings are in this position, with the other half having booked flights only. Most of those on flight-only bookings will need to seek a refund themselves - see below. The only exception to this is if you booked your flight before 16 December 2016. In that case your flight is likely to be Atol-protected and you could receive a refund. In most cases, the Atol protection on package deals will be provided by a company other than Monarch - usually the firm providing the holiday element of the package. But passengers due a refund may have to wait for some time. \"Experience suggests this will take weeks or months rather than days,\" according to the Independent's travel editor, Simon Calder. \"They will get the money back, but in the meantime the cost of their holiday will have increased.\""}], "question": "How about customers who have not flown yet?", "id": "934_3"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2638, "answer_end": 3057, "text": "Under section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act, anyone who booked flights costing more than PS100 will get their money back automatically from their credit card provider. However, each single flight needs to cost more than PS100. So if you booked five flights, each of which cost PS99, you would not be covered under the act. If you paid less than PS100 per seat, you can still use the Chargeback process, described below."}], "question": "What if I booked with a credit card?", "id": "934_4"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3058, "answer_end": 3792, "text": "In many cases debit cards, such as those issued by Visa, Mastercard or American Express, will also cover the loss, under what is known as the Chargeback scheme. But, unlike with credit cards, you do not have a legal right to a refund. There is a 120 day limit on Chargeback claims - from the day you found out your flight was cancelled. UK Finance is advising those who paid in this way to contact their bank. The bank will then apply to the administrators, KPMG, for a refund, but may give you your money back anyway. While some airlines still charge extra for using a credit card, Monarch abandoned that policy last year, meaning a higher proportion of its customers may have booked with a credit card, giving them extra protection."}], "question": "What if I used a debit card to pay?", "id": "934_5"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3793, "answer_end": 4391, "text": "Paypal has its own buyer protection programme, to cover consumers when they do not receive the goods or services they have paid for. However in normal circumstances there is a 180-day deadline from the payment date to claim for this. This suggests that anyone who bought their tickets more than six months ago may not be able to get a refund. However Paypal said it would take the specific circumstances of Monarch's collapse into account. It expects most people to get their money back. Anyone who bought their tickets through Paypal Credit - a separate product - has section 75 protection anyway."}], "question": "What if I paid via Paypal?", "id": "934_6"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 4392, "answer_end": 5104, "text": "This will depend very much on the terms and conditions of the insurance. Most policies do not cover airline failure as a standard part of the cover. Blair Nimmo an administrator with KPMG told the BBC: \"The Atol scheme protects the package holidays. If you're on a flight only then you will tend to more rely on your credit or debit card provider or perhaps travel insurance.\" The rules are \"relatively complicated depending on your specific circumstances, he added, but \"we would very much hope that the vast majority, if not everyone would get their money back\". Passengers unable to claim any money back will remain as creditors of the collapsed company, but they will be well down the queue for compensation."}], "question": "What about claiming on travel insurance?", "id": "934_7"}]}]}, {"title": "CES 2016: Oculus Rift VR headset goes on sale for $599", "date": "7 January 2016", "paragraphs": [{"context": "The Oculus Rift virtual reality headset has been put on sale at a price of $599 (PS410). Pre-orders for the CV1 version of the headset are now officially open and the device can be bought via the Oculus website. Anyone ordering the headset now should have it shipped to them in March, said the Facebook-owned firm. Reaction on social media was swift, with some saying the final price was far higher than they expected it to be. The arrival of the headset has been long-awaited since it first appeared on the Kickstarter crowdfunding site in 2012. The Rift is the first of two mainstream VR devices set to be launched in 2016. Rival HTC is to release the consumer versions of its Vive headset in April. The move was timed to coincide with the CES tech show in Las Vegas, where Oculus is demoing its headset. Prior to the announcement, comments by Oculus executives suggested that the device would be in the \"same ballpark\" as the $350 cost of earlier developer versions of the Rift. In Europe, the cost is 699 euros and PS499 in the UK. The prices do not include shipping costs and might also not include local taxes. Initially, the CV1 is available in 20 countries. Customers are limited to buying one headset each. Bundled with the headset are the Eve: Valkyrie and Lucky's Tale video games as well as a movement-tracking sensor, cables, a media remote and an Xbox One controller. In late 2015, Oculus announced that special controllers that let people interact more easily with virtual worlds would be delayed until the third quarter of 2016. No guidance has been given on how much these controllers will cost. Analyst Piers Harding-Rolls from IHS Technology said although the price was high it might not hit sales because of who was looking to buy it. \"Early adopting PC gamers are likely to be less price sensitive,\" he said. \"This is the type of audience that spends $400-$500 every other year on graphics cards and large amounts on games.\" He added: \"We do not expect PlayStation VR to launch at this high a price point, which gives Sony a chance to establish a lead in this opening phase of consumer VR.\" By contrast, many expect the HTC Vive headset to cost more than the CV1 Rift. Oculus founder Palmer Luckey apologised for misleading customers over the price of the Rift during a Q&A session on the Reddit social news site. \"My answer was ill-prepared, and mentally, I was contrasting $349 with $1,500, not our internal estimate that hovered close to $599 - that is why I said it was in roughly the same ballpark,\" he wrote. \"Our biggest failing was assuming we had been clear enough about setting expectations.\" On social media others pointed out that anyone who put down cash for a development version of the Rift headset when it launched on Kickstarter had now got a bargain, as the firm has promised to give these backers a headset free. A survey out earlier this week suggested many who are tempted to buy the VR headset will have to upgrade their home computer to satisfy its computational requirements. The study, backed by graphics chip-maker Nvidia, suggested only 1% of PCs worldwide had the CPU horsepower to give people a smooth VR experience. Read more of our CES articles and follow the BBC team covering the show on Twitter.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 807, "answer_end": 2189, "text": "Prior to the announcement, comments by Oculus executives suggested that the device would be in the \"same ballpark\" as the $350 cost of earlier developer versions of the Rift. In Europe, the cost is 699 euros and PS499 in the UK. The prices do not include shipping costs and might also not include local taxes. Initially, the CV1 is available in 20 countries. Customers are limited to buying one headset each. Bundled with the headset are the Eve: Valkyrie and Lucky's Tale video games as well as a movement-tracking sensor, cables, a media remote and an Xbox One controller. In late 2015, Oculus announced that special controllers that let people interact more easily with virtual worlds would be delayed until the third quarter of 2016. No guidance has been given on how much these controllers will cost. Analyst Piers Harding-Rolls from IHS Technology said although the price was high it might not hit sales because of who was looking to buy it. \"Early adopting PC gamers are likely to be less price sensitive,\" he said. \"This is the type of audience that spends $400-$500 every other year on graphics cards and large amounts on games.\" He added: \"We do not expect PlayStation VR to launch at this high a price point, which gives Sony a chance to establish a lead in this opening phase of consumer VR.\" By contrast, many expect the HTC Vive headset to cost more than the CV1 Rift."}], "question": "Bargain for some?", "id": "935_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Trump reverses course in 24 hours from Nato to China to Fed", "date": "13 April 2017", "paragraphs": [{"context": "US President Donald Trump has reversed course in the space of 24 hours on an array of populist positions he adopted during the election campaign. He declared Nato was \"no longer obsolete\" and dropped his pledge to declare China a currency manipulator. Mr Trump also said he was no longer opposed to a federal exports agency he once dismissed as \"unnecessary\". And the president signalled he was open to reappointing Janet Yellen as head of the Federal Reserve. Meanwhile, his administration dropped a freeze on federal hiring that it imposed in January. The about-faces suggest the mercurial Mr Trump may be favouring a more pragmatic, moderate approach to the hardline economic nationalism that helped elect him. The startling series of flip-flops come amid reports of a titanic White House power struggle between chief strategist Steve Bannon and senior adviser Jared Kushner. According to the Washington rumour mill, Mr Bannon - the former Breitbart News executive - has been sidelined after falling out with the president's son-in-law, Mr Kushner. Mr Trump's decision not to label China a \"currency manipulator\" emerged in an interview with the Wall Street Journal on Wednesday. That U-turn follows his talks last week with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Mr Trump repeatedly pledged to label Beijing a \"currency manipulator\" on his first day in office, during an election campaign when he also accused the Asian powerhouse of \"raping\" the US. But experts said a formal declaration to that effect by the Treasury Department could have led to US sanctions, which would have prompted retaliation from Beijing. Mr Trump's last campaign ad depicted Janet Yellen, head of the Federal Reserve, as a member of a shadowy globalist cabal \"who control the levers of power in Washington\". On Wednesday, he told the Wall Street Journal he \"respects\" the US central bank chief. He also indicated he might consider reappointing her next year, saying she would not be \"toast\". Mr Trump was once highly critical of the Fed, saying its low interest rate policy had hurt savers. Now he says he likes \"a low-interest rate policy\". On his first working day in office, Mr Trump signed a presidential memorandum to suspend hiring of non-military federal workers, in a move that delighted small government conservatives. The order mandated that \"no vacant positions... may be filled and no new positions may be created\". But that policy was gone on Wednesday. White House budget director Mick Mulvaney said: \"It does not mean that the agencies will be free to hire willy-nilly.\" He said they were \"replacing it with a smarter plan, a more strategic plan, a more surgical plan\". In the Wall Street Journal interview, the president praised the Export-Import Bank, which he dismissed in August last year as an \"unnecessary\" agency with \"a lot of excess baggage\". The bank, which provides taxpayer-backed loans for the purchase of US exports, is accused by conservatives of corporate cronyism and welfare. Now he plans to fill two vacancies on its board. \"It turns out that, first of all,\" Mr Trump told the Journal, \"lots of small companies are really helped.\" Mr Trump repeatedly questioned the military alliance's purpose during the campaign. But as he hosted Nato Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg at the White House on Wednesday, the US president said the threat of terrorism had underlined the alliance's importance. \"I said it [Nato] was obsolete,\" Mr Trump said. \"It's no longer obsolete.\" CNN political pundit David Gregory says the shifts show Trump is willing to be a dealmaking president. \"He's flexible, perhaps unprincipled, with a pragmatic approach to government,\" he said. But he warned that, although tacking back and forth is fine, it is dangerous to be \"all over the map\" because people stop believing what you say. Where Trump stands on key issues What has Trump done so far?", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 3474, "answer_end": 3811, "text": "CNN political pundit David Gregory says the shifts show Trump is willing to be a dealmaking president. \"He's flexible, perhaps unprincipled, with a pragmatic approach to government,\" he said. But he warned that, although tacking back and forth is fine, it is dangerous to be \"all over the map\" because people stop believing what you say."}], "question": "Does it matter?", "id": "936_0"}]}]}, {"title": "LFW: Walking condom dress and a colourful Cara Delevingne", "date": "19 February 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "London Fashion Week comes hot on the heels of New York and just ahead of Milan - but the UK capital's biannual showcase is holding its own with headline collections from the likes of Mulberry, JW Anderson and Halpern. Big name fans have been in attendance on the frows and there's been some truly avant-garde looks courtesy of St Martins graduates as well as more established designers. Here's a look at some of the best bits so far: We have just the thing for you - several things, actually. And as ever, the Central Saint Martins MA line-up didn't disappoint. Specifically, we mean you, Edwin Mohney. The New Yorker closed the graduate show on Friday night with an inflatable paddling pool dress, Donald Trump rubber masks made into stilettos and what appeared to be a walking condom. York-based designer and St Martins graduate Matty Bovan debuted his first solo show, with models wearing tweed and tight balaclavas accompanied by square face stickers. Several took to the catwalk with brightly coloured helium balloons attached to their heads. But more experienced designers also got in on the action - Pam Hogg showcased large birds on hats, see-through bodysuits and 80s puffball dresses. Christopher Bailey's farewell to Burberry brought a splash of colour to the catwalk with a rainbow theme - a symbol to represent the company's financial support for LGBTQ charities. The designer also harked back to the 80s with shell suits and zipped tracky-style tops plus a possibly ironic homage to the 90s, when the Burberry brand was, ahem, slightly less alluring. Shearling jackets, oversized chunky knits and puffa jackets featured, too. \"I wanted it to be a reflection of Burberry's past, our present but also my great excitement to see what the future holds for Burberry,\" he said backstage. Bailey bowed out with a rainbow faux fur cape worn by Cara Delevingne. It's not yet known who will take over the reins at the end of next month but Phoebe Philo is hotly tipped, having recently left Celine. The celebs were out in force for the big shows, with Nicola Roberts, Paloma Faith, Edie Campbell, Alexa Chung and Pixie Geldof on the bench for House of Holland. Everyone wanted a seat for Bailey's swansong - Naomi Watts, Naomi Campbell and Kate Moss were in attendance, as were Matt Smith, Lily James, Sienna Miller, Keira Knightley and Jourdan Dunn. Not to mention Chelsea Clinton, who is best mates with Bailey's husband, Simon Woods. Natch. Felicity Jones and Erin O'Connor turned up to see Erdem's latest collection, as did US band Haim. Vogue editor Dame Anna Wintour was pictured at JW Anderson. Adwoa Aboah kicked off London Fashion Week with a talk to industry insiders about abuse in the fashion industry. While not a victim herself, the London-born model said: \"Fear has run rampant amongst our community of models. Far too many young models, both women and men, are mistreated and put at risk.\" Aboah was the first cover star for Vogue under new editor Edward Enniful. She was a hit during New York Fashion Week and was equally in demand back in London. She walked for several designers including Matty Bovan, Ashley Williams and Burberry. And she even took time to post a selfie with the Mayor of London. Follow us on Facebook, on Twitter @BBCNewsEnts, or on Instagram at bbcnewsents. If you have a story suggestion email entertainment.news@bbc.co.uk.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 434, "answer_end": 1194, "text": "We have just the thing for you - several things, actually. And as ever, the Central Saint Martins MA line-up didn't disappoint. Specifically, we mean you, Edwin Mohney. The New Yorker closed the graduate show on Friday night with an inflatable paddling pool dress, Donald Trump rubber masks made into stilettos and what appeared to be a walking condom. York-based designer and St Martins graduate Matty Bovan debuted his first solo show, with models wearing tweed and tight balaclavas accompanied by square face stickers. Several took to the catwalk with brightly coloured helium balloons attached to their heads. But more experienced designers also got in on the action - Pam Hogg showcased large birds on hats, see-through bodysuits and 80s puffball dresses."}], "question": "1. Want to stand out in a crowd?", "id": "937_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Alabama abortion ban: Should men have a say in the debate?", "date": "18 May 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Most of the US state laws banning or severely restricting access to abortions have been voted on by male politicians. Should men have the right to rule on an issue that impacts women so intimately? The corridors leading up to the Alabama Senate are lined with black-and-white photographs of past legislative sessions - each framed poster like a yearbook page from a distinctly male-only school. But inside the dim public gallery, looking down onto the Senate floor, many of the seats are filled by  women. They are young and old, some in suits and some in bright shirts with pro-choice slogans emblazoned across the front. They watch the drama play out in the chamber below, as a handful of Democrats and an even smaller number of women make clear their outrage over the abortion ban that will pass in just a few hours, and in a day, will become law. The activists next to me in the gallery laugh and gasp with each argument and reply. Some shout an 'Amen!' in agreement as the debate continues. When a female lawmaker steps up to the microphone, she says: We do not police men's bodies the way we police women's - and this decision about an issue concerning women so intimately is being made almost entirely by men. Though women make up 51% of Alabama's population, its lawmakers are 85% male. There are only four women in the 35-seat Alabama Senate, and they are all Democrats. Outside the stark white walls of the State House on Tuesday night, however, women were in the majority. Groups of pro-choice supporters chanted for hours in the courtyard, holding signs calling for abortion freedoms, for women alone to decide what happens to their own bodies. Delaney Burlingame, one of the young pro-choice activists I met there, told me: \"These people don't care about protecting human rights. It's about controlling women.\" \"They just want to be able to say: 'I control what happens in your body'.\" Alabama's abortion ban - one of several in a Trump-era surge in anti-abortion legislation - has reignited the debate around another key question: Should men be involved in this battle at all? Internet forums like Reddit and social platforms like Twitter and Facebook are saturated with arguments for both sides. Yes - these laws affect everyone, including men. No - only women get pregnant, so why should we let men decide? Travis Jackson was one of the few men who joined in the protests outside of the Montgomery capitol building, donning a shirt that read: real men support women's rights. But Mr Jackson would not offer his own opinion on abortion, exactly, saying instead he prefers to stay silent on the specifics since \"women are the only experts when it comes to their bodies\". \"When it comes to the abortion debate, I think men should say it is a woman's right to choose,\" he explains. \"That is their body, that is their choice, and that is their business. No man whatsoever has a right to tell a woman what's right for their body.\" Jordan Kizer is against abortion but says he thinks Mr Jackson's decision is \"honourable\", and that men should \"share their privilege\". \"Believe women, trust women. If they're telling you they feel a certain way or that this is their experience, you [as a man] don't get to say no, it's not,\" he says. Mr Kizer is a part of the New Wave Feminists group in Austin, Texas, that seeks to promote women's rights as a means of making abortion eventually \"unthinkable and unnecessary\". \"I think a woman should absolutely have a say over her body, I just draw the line between her body and this different body that's inside of her body,\" he says. \"I know that's kind of a tricky distinction to make for some.\" On the other side of the debate, Oren Jacobson, a founder of the Men4Choice advocacy group, also believes the issue affects everyone - but that male allies should fight for women to have the freedom to make whatever decision they choose. \"Too many pro-choice men think this is just a 'women's issue' and it's not their place. This is an issue that impacts all of us, and will require all of us to engage if we want to create a society where all are free to pursue the life they envision for themselves and their family.\" Mr Jacobson tells me the issue really isn't about abortion, but freedom and control. \"No person can be free if they don't control their own body, their own healthcare, and their own reproductive decisions. The role of men is to advocate for the basic freedom and dignity of all people.\" Anti-abortion activists, however, argue that placing the burden of choice entirely on a woman alienates men and allows them to shirk the responsibilities of fatherhood. Derrick Jones, communications director for the oldest US anti-abortion group, the National Right to Life Committee (NRLC), told me men should be involved in the discussions because \"statistically speaking, half of the children aborted every year are male\". \"To say that this is wholly a woman's issue misses the point of it being much larger than that. It's a human rights issue. To say, you're a man, you're not carrying this child, to dismiss the idea that men can have an opinion on human rights is insulting.\" Mr Jones adds that there should \"absolutely\" be more female representation when it comes to legislative bodies like Alabama's, but notes that many of the anti-abortion movement's leaders are women. Carol Clark was one of the first protesters to show up in front of the state house in Montgomery, and she stayed into the night, right until the bill passed the Senate. \"Let a woman choose what she's going to do with her body,\" she told me, voice cracking with emotion. \"It's not his body. It's her body.\" That view is echoed by most of the women I spoke with at the protests in Alabama; that women should dictate abortion laws because women must carry the baby, must deal with the social and medical repercussions of pregnancy and having a child. But on the streets of downtown Montgomery - and many other US states with conservative leanings - there are many women against granting that choice. Some are nuanced - like a mother who could only say she was against abortion but that it was \"complicated\" - but others are just as hard-line as some Republican lawmakers - like two young women who told me abortion should be banned even in cases involving rape, incest or the health of the mother. Catherine Coyle, a psychologist and an advocate for men's health and rights, says that giving women \"unilateral power in abortion decisions is inconsistent with the notion of equality between the sexes\". \"As equal citizens [men] should surely have a right to voice their opinions on the topic of abortion,\" Ms Coyle says. \"As co-creators of life, they should be acknowledged as having a legitimate interest in the protection of that life.\" For all the debate, the views across the country on abortion are largely the same even along gender lines. According to a 2018 Pew Research Center study, 60% of women say abortion should be legal in all or most cases, with 57% of men in agreement. Around 60% of black and white Americans polled were also in support of legal abortion in most cases, though the support was lower among Hispanic Americans at 49%. But along pro-choice or anti-abortion lines, a 2018 poll from Gallup found the country split evenly. Even among women, 48% identified as pro-choice and 47% as anti-abortion. Gallup also reported that though around \"eight in 10 Americans believe abortion should be legal in all or some circumstances, further probing of their attitudes finds the public favouring more restrictive rather than less restrictive laws\". It is true that in states with more conservative abortion laws, men make up a greater percentage of the legislative houses. In Alabama, though the governor who signed the abortion bill into law is a woman, The Rutgers University Center for American Women and Politics (CAWP) still ranks Alabama as 47 out of 50 in terms of female representation in the legislature. And while women saw major gains in holding public office during the 2018 mid-term elections, the vast majority of those new female lawmakers were Democrats who support pro-choice laws. A Washington Post analysis of the state legislative houses in Alabama, Missouri and Georgia found that out of 367 in favour votes on abortion bans, seven out of eight votes were from men - and mostly Republican men. Of the total 154 votes against in the chambers, over half were from women, though most women lawmakers even at the state level are Democrats. In the four states that passed six-week abortion bans - \"heartbeat bills\" - this year, women make up an average of 23% of the state legislature, according to CAWP. Mississippi is the lowest of that group and the nation, with women holding just over 13% of seats. Even so, anti-abortion activists are quick to point out that Alabama's ban was sponsored by state congresswoman Terri Collins and signed into law by one of the nation's few female governors, Kay Ivey. Destiny Herndon-De La Rosa, founder of New Wave Feminists, adds: \"The irony is that it was older white men that gave us Roe [vs Wade] in the first place.\" \"We tend to pick and choose which older white men we want to agree with. You have to get beyond that and realise that a lot of the people in this [anti-abortion] movement are very diverse, and we are females.\"", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1899, "answer_end": 5332, "text": "Alabama's abortion ban - one of several in a Trump-era surge in anti-abortion legislation - has reignited the debate around another key question: Should men be involved in this battle at all? Internet forums like Reddit and social platforms like Twitter and Facebook are saturated with arguments for both sides. Yes - these laws affect everyone, including men. No - only women get pregnant, so why should we let men decide? Travis Jackson was one of the few men who joined in the protests outside of the Montgomery capitol building, donning a shirt that read: real men support women's rights. But Mr Jackson would not offer his own opinion on abortion, exactly, saying instead he prefers to stay silent on the specifics since \"women are the only experts when it comes to their bodies\". \"When it comes to the abortion debate, I think men should say it is a woman's right to choose,\" he explains. \"That is their body, that is their choice, and that is their business. No man whatsoever has a right to tell a woman what's right for their body.\" Jordan Kizer is against abortion but says he thinks Mr Jackson's decision is \"honourable\", and that men should \"share their privilege\". \"Believe women, trust women. If they're telling you they feel a certain way or that this is their experience, you [as a man] don't get to say no, it's not,\" he says. Mr Kizer is a part of the New Wave Feminists group in Austin, Texas, that seeks to promote women's rights as a means of making abortion eventually \"unthinkable and unnecessary\". \"I think a woman should absolutely have a say over her body, I just draw the line between her body and this different body that's inside of her body,\" he says. \"I know that's kind of a tricky distinction to make for some.\" On the other side of the debate, Oren Jacobson, a founder of the Men4Choice advocacy group, also believes the issue affects everyone - but that male allies should fight for women to have the freedom to make whatever decision they choose. \"Too many pro-choice men think this is just a 'women's issue' and it's not their place. This is an issue that impacts all of us, and will require all of us to engage if we want to create a society where all are free to pursue the life they envision for themselves and their family.\" Mr Jacobson tells me the issue really isn't about abortion, but freedom and control. \"No person can be free if they don't control their own body, their own healthcare, and their own reproductive decisions. The role of men is to advocate for the basic freedom and dignity of all people.\" Anti-abortion activists, however, argue that placing the burden of choice entirely on a woman alienates men and allows them to shirk the responsibilities of fatherhood. Derrick Jones, communications director for the oldest US anti-abortion group, the National Right to Life Committee (NRLC), told me men should be involved in the discussions because \"statistically speaking, half of the children aborted every year are male\". \"To say that this is wholly a woman's issue misses the point of it being much larger than that. It's a human rights issue. To say, you're a man, you're not carrying this child, to dismiss the idea that men can have an opinion on human rights is insulting.\" Mr Jones adds that there should \"absolutely\" be more female representation when it comes to legislative bodies like Alabama's, but notes that many of the anti-abortion movement's leaders are women."}], "question": "So, should men be involved in this debate at all?", "id": "938_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 6768, "answer_end": 7593, "text": "For all the debate, the views across the country on abortion are largely the same even along gender lines. According to a 2018 Pew Research Center study, 60% of women say abortion should be legal in all or most cases, with 57% of men in agreement. Around 60% of black and white Americans polled were also in support of legal abortion in most cases, though the support was lower among Hispanic Americans at 49%. But along pro-choice or anti-abortion lines, a 2018 poll from Gallup found the country split evenly. Even among women, 48% identified as pro-choice and 47% as anti-abortion. Gallup also reported that though around \"eight in 10 Americans believe abortion should be legal in all or some circumstances, further probing of their attitudes finds the public favouring more restrictive rather than less restrictive laws\"."}], "question": "Where do most Americans stand?", "id": "938_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 7594, "answer_end": 9330, "text": "It is true that in states with more conservative abortion laws, men make up a greater percentage of the legislative houses. In Alabama, though the governor who signed the abortion bill into law is a woman, The Rutgers University Center for American Women and Politics (CAWP) still ranks Alabama as 47 out of 50 in terms of female representation in the legislature. And while women saw major gains in holding public office during the 2018 mid-term elections, the vast majority of those new female lawmakers were Democrats who support pro-choice laws. A Washington Post analysis of the state legislative houses in Alabama, Missouri and Georgia found that out of 367 in favour votes on abortion bans, seven out of eight votes were from men - and mostly Republican men. Of the total 154 votes against in the chambers, over half were from women, though most women lawmakers even at the state level are Democrats. In the four states that passed six-week abortion bans - \"heartbeat bills\" - this year, women make up an average of 23% of the state legislature, according to CAWP. Mississippi is the lowest of that group and the nation, with women holding just over 13% of seats. Even so, anti-abortion activists are quick to point out that Alabama's ban was sponsored by state congresswoman Terri Collins and signed into law by one of the nation's few female governors, Kay Ivey. Destiny Herndon-De La Rosa, founder of New Wave Feminists, adds: \"The irony is that it was older white men that gave us Roe [vs Wade] in the first place.\" \"We tend to pick and choose which older white men we want to agree with. You have to get beyond that and realise that a lot of the people in this [anti-abortion] movement are very diverse, and we are females.\""}], "question": "Are men really making these laws?", "id": "938_2"}]}]}, {"title": "Ethiopia anger over texting and internet blackouts", "date": "16 June 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Ethiopians are angry that the country's text messaging service has been shut down since Thursday without any explanation. Internet blackouts, which began last Tuesday, are also still affecting many areas of the country. The state-run Ethio Telecom, the country's only telecoms provider, has refused to comment on the outages. The closure of the services coincides with nationwide exams, which some say may be the reason for the shut down. There has been speculation the measures are aimed at trying to stop students cheating, the BBC's Kalkidan Yibeltal reports from the capital, Addis Ababa. The messaging app Telegram, which is popular among young Ethiopians, also remains inaccessible. Yes and no. The internet was shut down in 2016 and 2017 to curb the leaking of exam papers amid popular anti-government protests. But when reformist Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed came into office last year he allowed more freedom of expression and previously banned websites were unbanned. This is the first time since he came to power that there has been a clampdown - and the lack of any official explanation is a reminder of the behaviour of previous governments. After protests that followed disputed elections in 2005, the text message service was closed for about two years. This time the texting service was turned off after it was reported on Wednesday that four students had been caught cheating after sending each other messages. If the shutdowns are linked to exams, things should return to normal on Wednesday - as the last exams are being held on Tuesday But the fact that there are no exams held on weekends has left people questioning why the text service has remained off. Over the past week, the internet has occasionally returned at night and has been available in Addis Ababa since Friday evening, but it has not been switched back on in many other towns. Besides the every day inconvenience and frustration, it is having a bad affect on business. According to Netblocks, an organisation which monitors freedom of access to the internet, a one-day shutdown of the internet costs Ethiopia at least $4.5m (PS3.6m). Netblocks director Alp Toker told BBC Focus on Africa such outages also have long-term consequences by affecting investor confidence. This is important because on Thursday Ethiopia's parliament approved a law to open up the telecommunications sector, allowing foreign operators access Africa's second-most populous country. The country expects to issue the first licences to multi-national mobile companies by the end of the year, bringing an end to a state monopoly in one of the world's last, large telecommunications markets. By Charles Gitonga, BBC Africa Business Control of information by the Ethiopian government has long been a contentious issue, so the opening up of the market will have ramifications on the economy and politics. At the moment Ethio Telecom provides voice, SMS and data services to more than 41 million customers - so there is scope to reach many more in a population of more than 100 million. \"Liberalisation of the telecom sector will be a game changer, not only for the telecom sector, but also for the general public and the broader economy,\" says Zemedeneh Negatu, an Ethiopian-born investor and chairman of US-based investment firm Fairfax Africa Fund. This includes technology, education, manufacturing and banking. \"All these sectors will benefit from a very efficient, competitive, cost effective, world-class telecom ecosystem,\" he says. Ironically, news of the telecoms law being passed took a day to come out because of the internet outages. But the establishment of an independent regulator, as detailed in the new law, may be the key towards providing checks and balances to investing telecom firms and government authorities alike. Multi-nationals, including Safaricom, MTN Group, Orange and Vodafone, have all shown interest in bidding for licences.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 689, "answer_end": 1859, "text": "Yes and no. The internet was shut down in 2016 and 2017 to curb the leaking of exam papers amid popular anti-government protests. But when reformist Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed came into office last year he allowed more freedom of expression and previously banned websites were unbanned. This is the first time since he came to power that there has been a clampdown - and the lack of any official explanation is a reminder of the behaviour of previous governments. After protests that followed disputed elections in 2005, the text message service was closed for about two years. This time the texting service was turned off after it was reported on Wednesday that four students had been caught cheating after sending each other messages. If the shutdowns are linked to exams, things should return to normal on Wednesday - as the last exams are being held on Tuesday But the fact that there are no exams held on weekends has left people questioning why the text service has remained off. Over the past week, the internet has occasionally returned at night and has been available in Addis Ababa since Friday evening, but it has not been switched back on in many other towns."}], "question": "Is it surprising?", "id": "939_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1860, "answer_end": 2645, "text": "Besides the every day inconvenience and frustration, it is having a bad affect on business. According to Netblocks, an organisation which monitors freedom of access to the internet, a one-day shutdown of the internet costs Ethiopia at least $4.5m (PS3.6m). Netblocks director Alp Toker told BBC Focus on Africa such outages also have long-term consequences by affecting investor confidence. This is important because on Thursday Ethiopia's parliament approved a law to open up the telecommunications sector, allowing foreign operators access Africa's second-most populous country. The country expects to issue the first licences to multi-national mobile companies by the end of the year, bringing an end to a state monopoly in one of the world's last, large telecommunications markets."}], "question": "How have people been affected?", "id": "939_1"}]}]}, {"title": "US border: Who decided to separate families?", "date": "26 June 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "The claim: US President Donald Trump has repeated his assertion that he inherited - and ended - a policy from President Obama that separates children from parents who cross the US-Mexico border illegally. Verdict:  The policy was introduced under the Trump administration. He subsequently ended that policy, but some family separations have continued to take place. The president has frequently blamed his predecessor and the Democrats for a policy that led to children being separated from their parents at the southern US border. Even though the Trump administration has officially ended the practice, some children are still separated and some are reportedly being kept in appalling conditions. How did family separations come about? Under a \"zero-tolerance\" immigration policy introduced in April 2018, adult undocumented migrants crossing the US-Mexico border were criminally charged and jailed. These had previously been treated as civil violations. Because the children of prosecuted migrants were not charged with any crime, they were not permitted to be jailed with their parents, which led to children being placed in shelters or foster care. In addition to removing children from apprehended illegal migrants, children have also been separated from asylum seekers. The president signed an executive order in June 2018 reversing the policy, promising to keep families together. A court order then ended separations and required families to be reunited. Hundreds of children however remained in government shelters, and the New York Times has reported that a further 700 families have been separated in the past year because of \"loopholes\" in the court order. This has happened when parents have a criminal conviction or a disease, or when it is an aunt, uncle, or sibling accompanying the child. Some parents may themselves be under 18 - and also detained. Lawyers were recently granted access to a border facility in Texas where children were being held, and reported seeing horrifying conditions inside. Children were \"locked up in horrific cells where there's an open toilet in the middle of the room\" where they ate and slept, one of the lawyers told the BBC. By law, migrant children are not supposed to be held in customs and border patrol facilities for more than 72 hours. However rights groups say many children are staying there much longer. President Trump has blamed Mr Obama and Democrats for the policy. Last year he called on Democrats to \"end the horrible law that separates children (from) their parents once they cross the border in the US\". However, there has been no law that mandates separating children from parents who cross the border illegally. In 1997, Democrat President Bill Clinton signed the Flores Settlement law that required unaccompanied minors who arrive in the US to be released to their parents, a legal guardian or an adult relative. If no relatives are available then the relevant government agency can appoint an appropriate adult to look after the child. And in 2008, Republican President George W Bush signed an anti-trafficking statute that requires unaccompanied minors to be transferred out of immigration centres within 72 hours. Neither of these recommends separating families. Following the introduction of the \"zero tolerance\" immigration policy in April 2018, Mr Trump's then Attorney General Jeff Sessions said: \"If you don't want your child separated, then don't bring them across the border illegally.\" Read more from Reality Check Send us your questions Follow us on Twitter", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 2362, "answer_end": 3465, "text": "President Trump has blamed Mr Obama and Democrats for the policy. Last year he called on Democrats to \"end the horrible law that separates children (from) their parents once they cross the border in the US\". However, there has been no law that mandates separating children from parents who cross the border illegally. In 1997, Democrat President Bill Clinton signed the Flores Settlement law that required unaccompanied minors who arrive in the US to be released to their parents, a legal guardian or an adult relative. If no relatives are available then the relevant government agency can appoint an appropriate adult to look after the child. And in 2008, Republican President George W Bush signed an anti-trafficking statute that requires unaccompanied minors to be transferred out of immigration centres within 72 hours. Neither of these recommends separating families. Following the introduction of the \"zero tolerance\" immigration policy in April 2018, Mr Trump's then Attorney General Jeff Sessions said: \"If you don't want your child separated, then don't bring them across the border illegally.\""}], "question": "Whose policy?", "id": "940_0"}]}]}, {"title": "How emergency powers could be used to build Trump's wall", "date": "15 February 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "US President Donald Trump plans to make use of emergency powers to secure funding for his proposed US-Mexico border wall. Invoking a national emergency could enable Mr Trump to bypass Congress and access military funds and resources. But what are these emergency powers, and is using them that simple? A state of emergency is usually declared in times of national crisis. In this case, Mr Trump has claimed there is a migration crisis on the US-Mexico border. Declaring a national emergency gives the president \"access to special powers that are contained in more than 100 other laws\", said Elizabeth Goitein, co-director of the Brennan Center's Liberty and National Security Program. Those powers effectively allow the president to bypass the usual political process. \"Obviously, the intent is to provide for badly needed flexibility when there are urgent crises which Congress does not have time to address,\" Ms Goitein said. Is there really a border emergency? More than 2,000 people were turned away or arrested at the border each day during November 2018. Supporters of Mr Trump's plans for a wall have said the numbers constitute an emergency. Others argue the migration across the southern border is far lower than a decade ago, and many of the thousands of people who travelled north from countries like Honduras are presenting themselves as asylum seekers, looking to enter the country legally. Ms Goitein, an expert on presidential emergency powers, said she did not believe the situation constituted a national emergency. \"It needs to be something fast-moving, totally unforeseen, it is meant to be a stopgap measure,\" she said. \"This is not such a thing and it would be a tremendous abuse of power to invoke just to short-circuit the political process.\" Ms Goitein pointed to two sections of the law which Mr Trump could take advantage of. One would allow the redirection of funds for military projects already approved by Congress, the other would require the administration to prove the wall amounts to a military construction. Neither are a \"slam dunk\" for the president, who must cite one of the laws as the legal basis for his declaration, Ms Goitein said. The National Emergencies Act contains a clause that allows Congress to terminate the emergency status - provided both houses agree and the president does not veto. With a comfortable majority in the House, Democrats could pass such a resolution to the Senate. The Republicans control the Senate, but a number of Republican senators have been vocal in their unease about the president invoking a national emergency. The dissenting Republicans include 2012 presidential candidate and new senator for Utah Mitt Romney, the Florida senator Marco Rubio, and the senator from Alaska Lisa Murkowski, who said the move was \"of dubious constitutionality\". The resolution would however still require Mr Trump's signature to pass, allowing him to veto it. A supermajority in both houses of Congress is needed to overturn a presidential veto. There is another option of blocking the move through the courts - which is what happened when President Harry Truman tried to nationalise the steel industry during the Korean War, setting a legal precedent. \"If Harry Truman couldn't nationalise the steel industry during wartime, this president doesn't have the power to declare an emergency and build a multibillion-dollar wall on the border,\" Adam Schiff, the House intelligence committee chairman, told CNN. How frequently do presidents use the emergency act? Mr Trump's predecessor, Barack Obama, used it 13 times, while his predecessor George W Bush used it 12 times. If Mr Trump goes ahead with declaring a national emergency, it would be the fourth of his administration. But emergency declarations by previous presidents have been overwhelmingly used for addressing foreign policy crises - including blocking terrorism-linked entities from accessing funds or prohibiting investment in nations associated with human rights abuses. \"It's extremely rare for a president to declare a national emergency in a bid to fund domestic construction projects, particularly one that Congress has explicitly refused to fund,\" Andrew Boyle, an attorney in the national security program at the Brennan Center for Justice, told the Associated Press news agency. \"The ones that former presidents declared are of a different sort.\" Mr Trump's decision to apply the powers to overcome a partisan impasse over border security has struck politicians on both sides of the aisle as a deviation from the intended use of the act. \"It would be a pretty dramatic expansion of how this was used in the past,\" said the Republican senator Ron Johnson. Some previous uses were for issues like the H1N1 influenza epidemic and have since ended. Others are more general and continue to this day, like blocking the property of people \"engaging in significant malicious cyber-enabled activities\". Perhaps the most well-known occasion a president used his powers was in the case of Franklin D Roosevelt, who used them to order the internment of more than 110,000 Japanese-Americans in the months after the 1941 attack on Pearl Harbour. George W Bush used emergency powers in the wake of the 11 September 2001 World Trade Centre attack to sign off wiretapping and interrogation methods later decried as torture. The National Emergencies Act is not used to respond natural disasters.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 302, "answer_end": 2173, "text": "A state of emergency is usually declared in times of national crisis. In this case, Mr Trump has claimed there is a migration crisis on the US-Mexico border. Declaring a national emergency gives the president \"access to special powers that are contained in more than 100 other laws\", said Elizabeth Goitein, co-director of the Brennan Center's Liberty and National Security Program. Those powers effectively allow the president to bypass the usual political process. \"Obviously, the intent is to provide for badly needed flexibility when there are urgent crises which Congress does not have time to address,\" Ms Goitein said. Is there really a border emergency? More than 2,000 people were turned away or arrested at the border each day during November 2018. Supporters of Mr Trump's plans for a wall have said the numbers constitute an emergency. Others argue the migration across the southern border is far lower than a decade ago, and many of the thousands of people who travelled north from countries like Honduras are presenting themselves as asylum seekers, looking to enter the country legally. Ms Goitein, an expert on presidential emergency powers, said she did not believe the situation constituted a national emergency. \"It needs to be something fast-moving, totally unforeseen, it is meant to be a stopgap measure,\" she said. \"This is not such a thing and it would be a tremendous abuse of power to invoke just to short-circuit the political process.\" Ms Goitein pointed to two sections of the law which Mr Trump could take advantage of. One would allow the redirection of funds for military projects already approved by Congress, the other would require the administration to prove the wall amounts to a military construction. Neither are a \"slam dunk\" for the president, who must cite one of the laws as the legal basis for his declaration, Ms Goitein said."}], "question": "What exactly is a state of emergency?", "id": "941_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2174, "answer_end": 5406, "text": "The National Emergencies Act contains a clause that allows Congress to terminate the emergency status - provided both houses agree and the president does not veto. With a comfortable majority in the House, Democrats could pass such a resolution to the Senate. The Republicans control the Senate, but a number of Republican senators have been vocal in their unease about the president invoking a national emergency. The dissenting Republicans include 2012 presidential candidate and new senator for Utah Mitt Romney, the Florida senator Marco Rubio, and the senator from Alaska Lisa Murkowski, who said the move was \"of dubious constitutionality\". The resolution would however still require Mr Trump's signature to pass, allowing him to veto it. A supermajority in both houses of Congress is needed to overturn a presidential veto. There is another option of blocking the move through the courts - which is what happened when President Harry Truman tried to nationalise the steel industry during the Korean War, setting a legal precedent. \"If Harry Truman couldn't nationalise the steel industry during wartime, this president doesn't have the power to declare an emergency and build a multibillion-dollar wall on the border,\" Adam Schiff, the House intelligence committee chairman, told CNN. How frequently do presidents use the emergency act? Mr Trump's predecessor, Barack Obama, used it 13 times, while his predecessor George W Bush used it 12 times. If Mr Trump goes ahead with declaring a national emergency, it would be the fourth of his administration. But emergency declarations by previous presidents have been overwhelmingly used for addressing foreign policy crises - including blocking terrorism-linked entities from accessing funds or prohibiting investment in nations associated with human rights abuses. \"It's extremely rare for a president to declare a national emergency in a bid to fund domestic construction projects, particularly one that Congress has explicitly refused to fund,\" Andrew Boyle, an attorney in the national security program at the Brennan Center for Justice, told the Associated Press news agency. \"The ones that former presidents declared are of a different sort.\" Mr Trump's decision to apply the powers to overcome a partisan impasse over border security has struck politicians on both sides of the aisle as a deviation from the intended use of the act. \"It would be a pretty dramatic expansion of how this was used in the past,\" said the Republican senator Ron Johnson. Some previous uses were for issues like the H1N1 influenza epidemic and have since ended. Others are more general and continue to this day, like blocking the property of people \"engaging in significant malicious cyber-enabled activities\". Perhaps the most well-known occasion a president used his powers was in the case of Franklin D Roosevelt, who used them to order the internment of more than 110,000 Japanese-Americans in the months after the 1941 attack on Pearl Harbour. George W Bush used emergency powers in the wake of the 11 September 2001 World Trade Centre attack to sign off wiretapping and interrogation methods later decried as torture. The National Emergencies Act is not used to respond natural disasters."}], "question": "Can Congress block a national emergency?", "id": "941_1"}]}]}, {"title": "Brexit: Sam Gyimah resigns over Theresa May's 'naive' deal", "date": "1 December 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "A minister has resigned saying a row over involvement in the EU's Galileo satellite-navigation system shows the UK will be \"hammered\" in negotiations over a Brexit deal. Science and universities minister Sam Gyimah quit after Mrs May said the UK was pulling out of Galileo. The UK wanted to stay part of it but the EU said it would be banned from extra-secure elements of the project. Mr Gyimah said it was a foretaste of the \"brutal negotiations\" to come. He's the 10th member of government to resign over the agreement, which he dismissed as a \"deal in name only\". He said he intended to vote against the deal negotiated with Brussels, and called for another referendum. The UK's interests \"will be repeatedly and permanently hammered by the EU27 for many years to come\", Mr Gyimah said in a Facebook post setting out his reasons for resigning. However, prominent Brexiteer and cabinet minister Michael Gove has defended Mrs May's plan, writing in the Daily Mail that leaving the EU is under \"great threat\" if the deal is rejected by MPs. Meanwhile, Mrs May is in Argentina, where she met Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe for talks on the fringes of the G20 summit on Saturday. He asked her to avoid a no-deal Brexit -  major Japanese companies such as Nissan and Honda are concerned about the possible impact on their supply chains across Europe. She told him she was confident Japanese businesses in the UK would continue to trade well with the EU. Mrs May also held talks with Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison. Galileo is the EU's upcoming version of the US's GPS, which is used by millions of people around the world, and will be used by EU governments, citizens, military and industry. Brussels has said that, as a result of Brexit, the UK will not be allowed immediate access to part of the system intended for use by government agencies, the armed forces and emergency responders once it comes online in 2020. But the UK, which has invested EUR1.4bn (PS1.24bn) in the project, says access is vital to its military and security interests. Mr Gyimah told BBC Radio 4's Today: \"What has happened with Galileo is a foretaste of the brutal negotiations we will go through that will weaken our national interests, make us poorer and less secure.\" Mrs May has now said the British army will not use Galileo and the UK will instead explore options to build its own satellite-navigation system - having already set aside PS92m to look at how it can be done. \"I cannot let our armed services depend on a system we cannot be sure of,\" Mrs May said. \"That would not be in our national interest.\" By Laura Kuenssberg, BBC political editor As Theresa May was sitting down to at a glittering evening with her fellow world leaders at the G20, news broke that Sam Gyimah had just become the latest minister to quit over Brexit. He had a specific reason to leave. But it is his overall verdict on Mrs May's Brexit compromise that will really hurt. There is some comfort overnight for Mrs May from Michael Gove, who as one of the leading voices in the Leave campaign is, belatedly perhaps, urging his Brexiteer colleagues to get onboard. But this latest resignation is another sign of how hard it will be for the prime minister to pass the vote that could define her future. Read more from Laura here Mr Gyimah, who voted for Remain in the referendum, said it was the right decision for Mrs May to leave the Galileo project, saying the negotiations had been \"stacked against us from the very beginning\". The MP for East Surrey said that, as minister with the responsibility for space technology, he had seen \"the EU stack the deck against us time and time again\". He told Today: \"Looking at the deal in detail, we don't actually have a deal. We have a deal in name only. \"We have given up our voice, our veto and our vote. Our interests will be hammered because we will have no leverage.\" He urged Mrs May not to rule out another referendum if she loses the 11 December vote. \"If Parliament was in deadlock, Theresa May could get herself out of that deadlock by backing a second referendum,\" he said. BBC political editor Laura Kuenssberg said it was \"another very dangerous moment\" for the prime minister - as she is not just losing another vote, but also because others may share his concerns and choose to quit too. Culture Secretary Jeremy Wright said he was \"very sad\" to see Mr Gyimah leave the government and that he had been \"a very good minister\". \"All of my colleagues are going to have to make their own judgment about what they think about this deal,\" he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme. He said that Mrs May's deal should not be compared with an idealised version of Brexit. Former Tory cabinet minister and campaigner for a second referendum Justine Greening said Mr Gyimah was a \"highly respected and capable minister\" and praised him for not ruling out another vote. And the Lib Dem's education spokeswoman, Layla Moran, said Mr Gyimah had \"seen at close quarters the devastating effect this botched Brexit will have on these important sectors\" and that his exit showed the government was \"falling apart\". Matt Waddup, of the University and College Union, said his resignation showed there were clear concerns about the impact of Brexit on research and innovation and higher and further education. \"Those concerns are shared by our members in colleges and universities who have clearly signalled that they want a referendum on any final deal,\" he added. Many people's sat-navs and mobile location services currently run on a US military-based system called GPS - global positioning system - which uses satellites to pinpoint our locations. China and Russia also have satellite-navigation positioning systems. In 1999, the European Union embarked on a plan to put together its own network of satellites, called Galileo, so it was not reliant on the US, Russian and Chinese systems. The first satellites were put into orbit in 2013 and it is planned to be fully operational in 2020 with 30 satellites orbiting earth. UK companies have built components for Galileo and one of the project's two Galileo Security Monitoring Centres was based in the UK, in Swanwick. The site is now being relocated to Spain. The government said there should be no noticeable impact for the public from withdrawing from the project, as devices that already use Galileo, such as smartphones, will carry on doing so. It says UK industry has earned about EUR1.15bn (PS1.02bn) from the project but, when the BBC asked if any more money would be given back, a spokesman said the project was \"part of the withdrawal agreement\" and the UK had reached \"a fair financial settlement with the EU\".", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 5473, "answer_end": 6682, "text": "Many people's sat-navs and mobile location services currently run on a US military-based system called GPS - global positioning system - which uses satellites to pinpoint our locations. China and Russia also have satellite-navigation positioning systems. In 1999, the European Union embarked on a plan to put together its own network of satellites, called Galileo, so it was not reliant on the US, Russian and Chinese systems. The first satellites were put into orbit in 2013 and it is planned to be fully operational in 2020 with 30 satellites orbiting earth. UK companies have built components for Galileo and one of the project's two Galileo Security Monitoring Centres was based in the UK, in Swanwick. The site is now being relocated to Spain. The government said there should be no noticeable impact for the public from withdrawing from the project, as devices that already use Galileo, such as smartphones, will carry on doing so. It says UK industry has earned about EUR1.15bn (PS1.02bn) from the project but, when the BBC asked if any more money would be given back, a spokesman said the project was \"part of the withdrawal agreement\" and the UK had reached \"a fair financial settlement with the EU\"."}], "question": "What is Galileo?", "id": "942_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Le Pen stalks French centre-right presidential contest", "date": "19 November 2016", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Security, French identity, labour reforms and the price of a pain au chocolat - these issues will guide supporters of France's centre-right Republicans when they choose a presidential candidate on Sunday, Becky Branford reports. So far, so everyday - but behind the finger-jabbing, fake smiles and odd excruciating faux-pas lurks far-right National Front (FN) leader Marine Le Pen. With France's left in disarray, the winner of the vote may be the only obstacle to her sweeping to power. In what analysts say is a response to Ms Le Pen, for the first time the candidate of the Republicans will be chosen in US-style primaries - two rounds of voting on 20 and 27 November. Seven candidates will be whittled down to one, who will then face rivals from other parties, in France's two-round presidential vote in April and May. On the surface, nothing. The Republicans are not blazing a trail here. The Socialists introduced primaries in 2011, ahead of the 2012 election. Both parties say primaries increase transparency in the selection process, broaden participation and, through the TV debates that precede voting and offer equal coverage of all candidates, level the playing field. Potentially they give new faces a chance. But these primaries are a tacit response to the growing popularity of Ms Le Pen, say analysts. Her FN took 27% of the vote in regional elections last December. The Economist estimates Ms Le Pen could have a 40% chance of becoming France's next president. Prime Minister Manuel Valls highlighted this \"danger\" on Thursday. By enabling the Republicans to rally around a single candidate well ahead of the election, the primaries may reduce the risk of Ms Le Pen exploiting rivalries among her opponents. The Republicans' vote is open to anyone who pays EUR2 (PS1.70 $2.15) and signs up to a statement of centre-right values. Well, yes - well-known, and not universally loved. Probably the most divisive figure in the running is former President Nicolas Sarkozy, who has come back from his 2012 defeat to the Socialists' Francois Hollande. He has faced claims of wrongdoing such as illegal party financing, which he denies - but the claims have not yet been put to bed. Just this week, he furiously denied a Franco-Lebanese businessman's claims that he delivered three suitcases stuffed with cash from the Libyan regime to help Mr Sarkozy's first presidential bid. Alain Juppe is also a familiar figure as Bordeaux's mayor, who also served as prime minister from 1995-97. Not only were Mr Juppe's welfare reforms at the time defeated by street protests, but he was actually found guilty of illegal party financing, earning a 14-month suspended jail term and temporary ban from public office. He was once nicknamed \"Amstrad\" for his cold, computer-like image. Until recent days, polls had Mr Juppe as favourite, but the race has narrowed and it's now impossible to call between Mr Juppe, Mr Sarkozy, and Francois Fillon, who has enjoyed a late surge. Mr Fillon is considered to be an economic liberal. Although he was Mr Sarkozy's PM for five years, he does not share the socially hardline stance of the former president. He is well known to fellow candidates Bruno Le Maire, 46, who served as junior minister under him, and Jean-Francois Cope, whom he once fought for the leadership of the party. Nathalie Kosciusko-Morizet (known as NKM) served as a minister under Mr Sarkozy, and later became his spokeswoman. Probably the least-known candidate is Jean-Frederic Poisson. The central issue preoccupying spectators has been whether, in a climate of fear following last November's jihadist attacks in Paris, Mr Sarkozy can steal the nomination with his hardline stance on Islam and security. He wants to extend the school ban on Muslim girls wearing the hijab (headscarf) to universities, and recently insisted immigrants must accept their ancestors \"are the Gauls\". Mr Juppe, by contrast, has struck a softer tone, captured in his talk of France's \"happy identity\". In many areas, of course, the conservative candidates share common ground. Despite his \"happy\" talk, Mr Juppe shares with his rivals a zeal for reform - scrapping the limit on weekly working hours, raising the pension age and cutting the civil service. A key point of concern is how far the Republicans should reach to try to capture voters tempted by the far right. That anxiety was captured by Ms Kosciusko-Morizet in a TV debate on 3 November, when she said of Mr Sarkozy: \"There is a risk that this campaign is polluted by the FN. One must not borrow themes from the National Front.\" The contest may also have been affected by Wednesday's announcement that former Socialist and self-declared centrist Emmanuel Macron will run for the presidency as an independent - potentially posing more of a threat to a Juppe candidacy than a Sarkozy one. \"About 10 to 15 centimes?\" Jean-Francois Cope estimates the price of a pain au chocolat - which actually costs something like 10 times that. He blamed his calorie-counting for putting him out of touch, but the internet laughed. \"If you like, we can go [shopping] together, you'll see that I live in the real world and that I wait in the queue at the check-out.\" Alain Juppe tries to extricate himself from similar suggestions he was detached from daily life, after making a contemporary reference to the long-defunct Prisunic supermarket chain. \"Exactly. I saw it close up and now I'm a candidate against you.\" Nathalie Kosciusko-Morizet recoils at being patronised, in her view, by Mr Sarkozy when he said she had been a \"very good spokeswoman\" for him, in a TV debate. \"A double ration of fries, that's the Republic.\" Mr Sarkozy wades into a row over whether schools should offer alternative options for those - including Muslims - who are unable to eat foods such as pork. He said schools should refuse to do so. \"Voila, the mini-Trumps proliferate,\" was the response of Paris-based The New Yorker writer Lauren Collins.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 823, "answer_end": 1845, "text": "On the surface, nothing. The Republicans are not blazing a trail here. The Socialists introduced primaries in 2011, ahead of the 2012 election. Both parties say primaries increase transparency in the selection process, broaden participation and, through the TV debates that precede voting and offer equal coverage of all candidates, level the playing field. Potentially they give new faces a chance. But these primaries are a tacit response to the growing popularity of Ms Le Pen, say analysts. Her FN took 27% of the vote in regional elections last December. The Economist estimates Ms Le Pen could have a 40% chance of becoming France's next president. Prime Minister Manuel Valls highlighted this \"danger\" on Thursday. By enabling the Republicans to rally around a single candidate well ahead of the election, the primaries may reduce the risk of Ms Le Pen exploiting rivalries among her opponents. The Republicans' vote is open to anyone who pays EUR2 (PS1.70 $2.15) and signs up to a statement of centre-right values."}], "question": "What's Marine Le Pen got to do with these primaries?", "id": "943_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3493, "answer_end": 4831, "text": "The central issue preoccupying spectators has been whether, in a climate of fear following last November's jihadist attacks in Paris, Mr Sarkozy can steal the nomination with his hardline stance on Islam and security. He wants to extend the school ban on Muslim girls wearing the hijab (headscarf) to universities, and recently insisted immigrants must accept their ancestors \"are the Gauls\". Mr Juppe, by contrast, has struck a softer tone, captured in his talk of France's \"happy identity\". In many areas, of course, the conservative candidates share common ground. Despite his \"happy\" talk, Mr Juppe shares with his rivals a zeal for reform - scrapping the limit on weekly working hours, raising the pension age and cutting the civil service. A key point of concern is how far the Republicans should reach to try to capture voters tempted by the far right. That anxiety was captured by Ms Kosciusko-Morizet in a TV debate on 3 November, when she said of Mr Sarkozy: \"There is a risk that this campaign is polluted by the FN. One must not borrow themes from the National Front.\" The contest may also have been affected by Wednesday's announcement that former Socialist and self-declared centrist Emmanuel Macron will run for the presidency as an independent - potentially posing more of a threat to a Juppe candidacy than a Sarkozy one."}], "question": "How has the fight played out?", "id": "943_1"}]}]}, {"title": "Trump insists hush money payments by Cohen were legal", "date": "23 August 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "US President Donald Trump has insisted that payments to two women who say he had affairs with them did not break election campaign rules. It comes after his ex-lawyer, Michael Cohen, pleaded guilty to violating laws during the 2016 presidential election over his handling of the hush money. Interviewed by Fox & Friends, Mr Trump said the payments had come from him personally, not from the campaign. He has in the past denied knowing about one of the payments altogether. Mr Trump also accused Cohen of making up stories to receive a lighter sentence. In an excerpt from the Fox & Friends interview, which will be aired in full on Thursday, Mr Trump responded to questions about the hush payments by insisting that they were \"not a campaign violation\". \"They came from me,\" he said. \"And I tweeted about it. But they did not come out of the campaign.\" He added that he had only found out about the payments \"later on\". His comments contradict a statement made earlier by Cohen under oath in which he said the president had instructed him to make the payments. In July, Cohen released audio tapes of him and Mr Trump allegedly discussing one of the payments before the election. Cohen, who was Mr Trump's personal lawyer for more than a decade, admitted passing on funds to two women thought to be porn star Stormy Daniels and former Playboy model Karen McDougal. The hush money payments were not reported to the Federal Election Commission during the campaign. The question is whether the payments were made to protect Mr Trump's personal reputation or to protect his image as a presidential candidate. Under US election rules, any payments made with the aim of influencing a vote must be reported. Cohen acknowledged in court that the aim was indeed to protect Mr Trump's candidacy, saying he had paid the money \"at the direction\" of Mr Trump \"for the principal purpose of influencing the election\". If Mr Trump were to be prosecuted over the money - not through the normal courts, because he is the sitting president, but conceivably in Congress, through an impeachment process - investigators would have to prove that he had indeed given the money to Cohen for electoral reasons. In his first public comments, back in April, about his alleged affair with Stormy Daniels, Mr Trump denied knowing about the $130,000 (PS100,000) payment made to the actress via Cohen. Ms Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford, alleges that she and Mr Trump had sex in a hotel room in 2006. Asked by a reporter in the press cabin of Air Force One if he had any knowledge about where Cohen had got the money to pay Ms Daniels, the president responded at the time: \"I don't know.\" The following month, Mr Trump officially disclosed a payment to Cohen of between $100,001 and $250,000 for expenses incurred in 2016. Any action against Mr Trump is unlikely until after the mid-term elections on 6 November, when the opposition Democrats will seek to break the grip of Mr Trump's Republican Party on Congress. In the meantime, Cohen may agree to testify to the inquiry into alleged collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia. There is no confirmation that Cohen will speak to Robert Mueller's inquiry but his personal lawyer has said his client is happy to talk.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 553, "answer_end": 1178, "text": "In an excerpt from the Fox & Friends interview, which will be aired in full on Thursday, Mr Trump responded to questions about the hush payments by insisting that they were \"not a campaign violation\". \"They came from me,\" he said. \"And I tweeted about it. But they did not come out of the campaign.\" He added that he had only found out about the payments \"later on\". His comments contradict a statement made earlier by Cohen under oath in which he said the president had instructed him to make the payments. In July, Cohen released audio tapes of him and Mr Trump allegedly discussing one of the payments before the election."}], "question": "What did Trump say exactly?", "id": "944_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1179, "answer_end": 1699, "text": "Cohen, who was Mr Trump's personal lawyer for more than a decade, admitted passing on funds to two women thought to be porn star Stormy Daniels and former Playboy model Karen McDougal. The hush money payments were not reported to the Federal Election Commission during the campaign. The question is whether the payments were made to protect Mr Trump's personal reputation or to protect his image as a presidential candidate. Under US election rules, any payments made with the aim of influencing a vote must be reported."}], "question": "So did the payments break campaign rules?", "id": "944_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2184, "answer_end": 2804, "text": "In his first public comments, back in April, about his alleged affair with Stormy Daniels, Mr Trump denied knowing about the $130,000 (PS100,000) payment made to the actress via Cohen. Ms Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford, alleges that she and Mr Trump had sex in a hotel room in 2006. Asked by a reporter in the press cabin of Air Force One if he had any knowledge about where Cohen had got the money to pay Ms Daniels, the president responded at the time: \"I don't know.\" The following month, Mr Trump officially disclosed a payment to Cohen of between $100,001 and $250,000 for expenses incurred in 2016."}], "question": "How has Trump contradicted himself?", "id": "944_2"}]}]}, {"title": "Migrant children's centre in Madrid 'targeted in grenade attack'", "date": "5 December 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "A bomb squad in Madrid has safely destroyed a grenade that police believe was thrown over the wall of a migrant centre for children. The grenade was found on Wednesday morning on the patio of the centre, in the Hortaleza area of Spain's capital. Police said it was a training grenade that contained a small amount of explosives. The centre was evacuated while experts carried out a controlled explosion. No injuries were reported. Dozens of unaccompanied minors, many of them immigrants, are reported to be housed at the residential centre. Spanish authorities are investigating the incident but police are yet to identify any suspects or establish a motive. The suspected attack has been widely condemned by Spanish politicians and human rights campaigners, with many linking it to anti-immigrant rhetoric. \"This is what hate speech brings,\" Adriana Lastra, spokeswoman for the ruling Socialist party, wrote on Twitter (in Spanish). \"It needs to be fought online, on the streets and in our institutions.\" The centre has been subjected to repeated attacks, most notably in October, when around thirty youths tried to storm in. In recent months, the centre has been at the heart of a fractious national debate about immigration, and the extent to which it has caused social problems in Spain. Ahead of Spain's recent general election in November, far-right politicians and groups criticised the centre, linking young migrants to a rise in crime. During a televised election debate last month, the leader of the far-right Vox party, Santiago Abascal, accused youths at the centre of causing a spike in crime in the surrounding Hortaleza neighbourhood, where he lives. \"I live in a working-class Madrid neighbourhood - Hortaleza,\" Mr Abascal, well-known for his tough stance on immigration, said. \"And every time I'm on the street - and there's a centre for unaccompanied foreign minors there - I run into women who come and tell me that the police tell them not to wear their jewellery on the street; and mothers who are worried that their daughters are coming home late and are scared of being assaulted.\" In November's election, Vox more than doubled its seats to become the country's third most-powerful party. Spain's governing Socialists (PSOE) won the most seats, but fell short of a majority. Isabel Serra, a member of left-wing party Podemos, called for the Madrid Assembly to support a declaration of condemnation against the suspected attack on the centre in Hortaleza. She linked the suspected attack to \"hate speech\" and urged authorities to \"guarantee the rights of all children in the region\". Speaking to reporters at parliament on Thursday, Ms Serra said Vox and the centre-right People's Party had refused to back the declaration. Calling on authorities to \"combat all hate speech against these children\", Amnesty International Spain demanded an urgent investigation into the suspected attack. Vox has also condemned Wednesday's attack, but accused its opponents of using it for \"political ends\". The grenade is believed to have been a military-grade device, Spanish newspaper El Pais reported. An employee at the centre told the paper that \"xenophobia\" towards migrants may have played a part in the incident. \"This is the absolute limit, we can't go on working like this,\" the employee said. You may also be interested in:", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1127, "answer_end": 2297, "text": "In recent months, the centre has been at the heart of a fractious national debate about immigration, and the extent to which it has caused social problems in Spain. Ahead of Spain's recent general election in November, far-right politicians and groups criticised the centre, linking young migrants to a rise in crime. During a televised election debate last month, the leader of the far-right Vox party, Santiago Abascal, accused youths at the centre of causing a spike in crime in the surrounding Hortaleza neighbourhood, where he lives. \"I live in a working-class Madrid neighbourhood - Hortaleza,\" Mr Abascal, well-known for his tough stance on immigration, said. \"And every time I'm on the street - and there's a centre for unaccompanied foreign minors there - I run into women who come and tell me that the police tell them not to wear their jewellery on the street; and mothers who are worried that their daughters are coming home late and are scared of being assaulted.\" In November's election, Vox more than doubled its seats to become the country's third most-powerful party. Spain's governing Socialists (PSOE) won the most seats, but fell short of a majority."}], "question": "What is the background?", "id": "945_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2298, "answer_end": 3308, "text": "Isabel Serra, a member of left-wing party Podemos, called for the Madrid Assembly to support a declaration of condemnation against the suspected attack on the centre in Hortaleza. She linked the suspected attack to \"hate speech\" and urged authorities to \"guarantee the rights of all children in the region\". Speaking to reporters at parliament on Thursday, Ms Serra said Vox and the centre-right People's Party had refused to back the declaration. Calling on authorities to \"combat all hate speech against these children\", Amnesty International Spain demanded an urgent investigation into the suspected attack. Vox has also condemned Wednesday's attack, but accused its opponents of using it for \"political ends\". The grenade is believed to have been a military-grade device, Spanish newspaper El Pais reported. An employee at the centre told the paper that \"xenophobia\" towards migrants may have played a part in the incident. \"This is the absolute limit, we can't go on working like this,\" the employee said."}], "question": "What reaction has there been?", "id": "945_1"}]}]}, {"title": "German satellites sense Earth's lumps and bumps", "date": "10 October 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "The German space agency (DLR) has released a spectacular 3D map of Earth. Built from images acquired by two radar satellites, it traces the variations in height across all land surfaces - an area totalling more than 148 million sq km. DLR is making the map free and open, enabling any scientist to download and use it. There will be myriad applications, from forecasting where flood waters flow to planning big infrastructure projects. The two satellites involved are called TerraSAR-X and TanDEM-X. Like all radar spacecraft, they send down microwave pulses to the surface of the planet and then time how long the signals take to bounce back. The shorter the time interval, the higher the ground. TerraSAR-X and TanDEM-X fly virtually side by side, sometimes coming to within 200m of each other. This is complex to control, but it gives the pair \"stereo vision\", by allowing them to operate an interferometric mode in which one spacecraft acts as a transmitter/receiver and the other as a second receiver. The resolution of the newly released digital elevation model (DEM) is 90m, meaning the land surface has been divided up into squares that are 90m along the side. The absolute accuracy in those squares in the vertical dimension is 1m, making the DEM a powerful rendering of all the Earth's lumps and bumps. There are DEMs that have far higher resolution on regional scales, but this new product beats any other global, publicly available dataset. It also has no gaps. DLR has other versions of the map whose sampling squares are 30m and 12m across, but these are - for the time being - commercially restricted. TerraSAR-X and TanDEM-X continue their mapping exercise. Having a static DEM is great but the shape of the Earth's surface is always changing and this needs to be captured as well. The orbiting pair are now getting quite old. TerraSAR-X was launched in 2007 and TanDEM-X was launched in 2010. DLR hopes to keep them running for a good few years yet, but planning for the replacements is well advanced. The future mission would be slightly different in that the radar instruments would operate not in the X-band but in the L-band - a longer wavelength. This would facilitate different types of application. \"In forests, for example, in the X-band you get, more or less, the top of the canopy,\" explained Dr Manfred Zink from DLR's Microwaves and Radar Institute. \"You don't penetrate and see under the leaves. But with the L-band we will penetrate; we will see the solid ground. That would enable us to see the vegetation volume in real 3D. It's tomography,\" he told BBC News. \"We would see the full vertical structure of the forest and that is key for precise biomass estimates.\" Knowing exactly how much carbon is tied up in the world's forests is a big unknown, but vital for climate change assessments. Another application in the L-band would be to sense better the way the ground deforms during an earthquake. Scientists do this already using radar satellites operating at other wavelengths, but their observations can often be difficult to interpret in places where there is a lot of vegetation growth. TanDEM-L, as the future system will be known, would hope to get around some of these difficulties. Jonathan.Amos-INTERNET@bbc.co.uk and follow me on Twitter: @BBCAmos", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 436, "answer_end": 1006, "text": "The two satellites involved are called TerraSAR-X and TanDEM-X. Like all radar spacecraft, they send down microwave pulses to the surface of the planet and then time how long the signals take to bounce back. The shorter the time interval, the higher the ground. TerraSAR-X and TanDEM-X fly virtually side by side, sometimes coming to within 200m of each other. This is complex to control, but it gives the pair \"stereo vision\", by allowing them to operate an interferometric mode in which one spacecraft acts as a transmitter/receiver and the other as a second receiver."}], "question": "How was the map made?", "id": "946_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1007, "answer_end": 1473, "text": "The resolution of the newly released digital elevation model (DEM) is 90m, meaning the land surface has been divided up into squares that are 90m along the side. The absolute accuracy in those squares in the vertical dimension is 1m, making the DEM a powerful rendering of all the Earth's lumps and bumps. There are DEMs that have far higher resolution on regional scales, but this new product beats any other global, publicly available dataset. It also has no gaps."}], "question": "How precise is the map?", "id": "946_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1474, "answer_end": 2018, "text": "DLR has other versions of the map whose sampling squares are 30m and 12m across, but these are - for the time being - commercially restricted. TerraSAR-X and TanDEM-X continue their mapping exercise. Having a static DEM is great but the shape of the Earth's surface is always changing and this needs to be captured as well. The orbiting pair are now getting quite old. TerraSAR-X was launched in 2007 and TanDEM-X was launched in 2010. DLR hopes to keep them running for a good few years yet, but planning for the replacements is well advanced."}], "question": "What are the next steps?", "id": "946_2"}]}]}, {"title": "Tesla: Shares fall after regulators launch Musk lawsuit", "date": "28 September 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Tesla shares have sunk after US regulators took legal action against co-founder Elon Musk for alleged securities fraud. On Thursday the Securities and Exchange Commission filed a lawsuit over claims made last month by Mr Musk that he had funding to take the company private. The billionaire boss of the electric carmaker called the action unjustified. But the filing was a potentially serious blow for the company, which was already under financial strain. Mr Musk has led the electric carmaker as chief executive since 2008, presiding over its rise into a company with a market value that rivals Ford and General Motors. His celebrity status and reputation for entrepreneurial vision attracted investors and legions of fans - even though the firm has consistently lost money and struggled to hit manufacturing targets. Tesla's shares closed 13.9% lower. During the trading session on Friday, shares fell by 15%. Now the SEC is seeking to bar Mr Musk from acting as an officer or director of a publicly traded company. The move would strip him of his role at Tesla and could make it difficult for the firm to raise money at a critical moment for the company, which has been spending heavily to increase production of its latest car. On Friday, the shares opened 10% lower as Wall Street investors reacted to the news. \"The mere possibility that Musk could be removed as chief executive (or entirely from Telsa) is likely to cast an overhang on the stock,\" analysts for AllianceBernstein wrote. Mr Musk stunned the business world in August when he announced on Twitter that he was considering taking Tesla off the stock market and into private ownership. He wrote he had \"funding secured\" for the proposal, which would value Tesla at $420 per share. In a complaint filed in New York, the SEC said those claims were \"false and misleading\". \"In truth and in fact, Musk had not even discussed, much less confirmed, key deal terms, including price, with any potential funding source,\" the regulator said. Mr Musk has opted to fight the claims, reportedly rejecting opportunities for settlement. On Thursday, the Tesla chief said that he acted in the \"best interests of truth, transparency and investors\". \"Integrity is the most important value in my life and the facts will show I never compromised this in any way,\" he said in a statement. Tesla's board of directors said in a statement that they were \"fully confident in Elon, his integrity and his leadership of the company\". The SEC has a strong case when it comes to proving that Mr Musk's tweets - which triggered a temporary spike in the firm's share price - were reckless, said Adam C Pritchard, a professor of securities law at the University of Michigan Law School. But he says it may be more difficult to convince a court that the claims merit a lifetime bar from acting as director or officer of a public company, given how critical Mr Musk has been to Tesla's success and ability to raise money. \"If I'm the judge, I'm thinking - do I want to blow up this company just because he's a jackass?\" Mr Pritchard added. He says he expects the two sides to eventually negotiate a settlement. Rebecca Lindland, executive analyst for Kelley Blue Book, said Mr Musk is behind much of Tesla's appeal for car buyers and investors. But, she added, his behaviour in recent months has not done the firm \"any favours\". This spring, Mr Musk alarmed investors with jokes about Tesla's bankruptcy and abrupt dismissal of questions from financial analysts during earnings calls. Then in July, Mr Musk drew widespread criticism after accusing a British cave diver involved in the rescue of Thai teenagers from a flooded cave of being a child abuser. The diver later filed a defamation suit. He also drew attention after an emotional interview with the New York Times, in which he said he worked \"120-hour weeks\" and took sedatives. And earlier this month, he smoked marijuana live on the web during a podcast with comedian Joe Rogan. \"The disappointing part of all this is it's self-inflicted,\" Ms Lindland said. \"I could see investors potentially being reassured if a strong, experienced stable management team were to come in and replace him.\" Still, she said she would want Mr Musk to remain in an advisory role, lending his vision to the firm. \"It's obviously a very big deal...but it doesn't mean it's the death of Tesla,\" she said.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1494, "answer_end": 2473, "text": "Mr Musk stunned the business world in August when he announced on Twitter that he was considering taking Tesla off the stock market and into private ownership. He wrote he had \"funding secured\" for the proposal, which would value Tesla at $420 per share. In a complaint filed in New York, the SEC said those claims were \"false and misleading\". \"In truth and in fact, Musk had not even discussed, much less confirmed, key deal terms, including price, with any potential funding source,\" the regulator said. Mr Musk has opted to fight the claims, reportedly rejecting opportunities for settlement. On Thursday, the Tesla chief said that he acted in the \"best interests of truth, transparency and investors\". \"Integrity is the most important value in my life and the facts will show I never compromised this in any way,\" he said in a statement. Tesla's board of directors said in a statement that they were \"fully confident in Elon, his integrity and his leadership of the company\"."}], "question": "What are the charges?", "id": "947_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2474, "answer_end": 3142, "text": "The SEC has a strong case when it comes to proving that Mr Musk's tweets - which triggered a temporary spike in the firm's share price - were reckless, said Adam C Pritchard, a professor of securities law at the University of Michigan Law School. But he says it may be more difficult to convince a court that the claims merit a lifetime bar from acting as director or officer of a public company, given how critical Mr Musk has been to Tesla's success and ability to raise money. \"If I'm the judge, I'm thinking - do I want to blow up this company just because he's a jackass?\" Mr Pritchard added. He says he expects the two sides to eventually negotiate a settlement."}], "question": "What are his chances?", "id": "947_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3143, "answer_end": 4374, "text": "Rebecca Lindland, executive analyst for Kelley Blue Book, said Mr Musk is behind much of Tesla's appeal for car buyers and investors. But, she added, his behaviour in recent months has not done the firm \"any favours\". This spring, Mr Musk alarmed investors with jokes about Tesla's bankruptcy and abrupt dismissal of questions from financial analysts during earnings calls. Then in July, Mr Musk drew widespread criticism after accusing a British cave diver involved in the rescue of Thai teenagers from a flooded cave of being a child abuser. The diver later filed a defamation suit. He also drew attention after an emotional interview with the New York Times, in which he said he worked \"120-hour weeks\" and took sedatives. And earlier this month, he smoked marijuana live on the web during a podcast with comedian Joe Rogan. \"The disappointing part of all this is it's self-inflicted,\" Ms Lindland said. \"I could see investors potentially being reassured if a strong, experienced stable management team were to come in and replace him.\" Still, she said she would want Mr Musk to remain in an advisory role, lending his vision to the firm. \"It's obviously a very big deal...but it doesn't mean it's the death of Tesla,\" she said."}], "question": "Will Elon Musk leave the company?", "id": "947_2"}]}]}, {"title": "Why are airport security queues so long in the US lately?", "date": "19 May 2016", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Travellers in the US are growing increasingly frustrated at long security queues as frequent summer trips begin. What's behind the delays? In some cases, fliers have had to wait in queues for up to three hours, causing airlines to hold flights at gates. The US Homeland Security secretary said he is trying to address the problem. Why have the waits become so bad and what can travellers do to ease their airport woes? In some cases, people are missing their flights entirely and having to stay in airports overnight. Many are toiling in queues for hours, despite showing up early for flights. Airlines for America, a US air travel trade group which represents many major carriers, has urged people to use the hashtag #IHateTheWait and post photos of long lines on Instagram or Twitter, tagging the Transportation Security Administration in them. The Transportation Security Administration and Congress have cut the number of airport screeners by 4,622 - about 10% - in the past three years. They did so with the expectation that people would enrol in an expedited screening programme called PreCheck, which speeds queues along by allowing previously vetted passengers to go through security without removing their shoes, belts and jackets. Not enough people have joined. As of 1 March, 9.3 million people were PreCheck members. It is estimated that at the rate people are applying for the programme, it would take more than four years for 25 million people to be enrolled. Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson has asked fliers to \"be patient\" and that the government would not compromise safety to speed up queues. Last week, Congress agreed to give the TSA $34m (PS23m), allowing the agency to pay staff overtime wages and hire 768 more screeners by 15 June. This would bring the total number of screeners up to 42,525, which Congress requires. On Tuesday, the TSA agreed to immediately send 58 new security officers and for more bomb-sniffing dogs to Chicago's O'Hare International airport to address the delays. Lawmakers from Illinois put pressure on the agency to direct resources to the airport, which has been experiencing lengthy wait times. Republican Senator Mark Kirk demanded the administrator of the TSA resign if the problems are not resolved by the end of the month. Two US senators have suggested that airlines drop baggage fees to encourage fewer passengers to over-pack carry-on baggage, which must be screened. This summer, airlines are expecting record numbers of travellers. Lower fuel prices and fares are driving passengers to take more trips. According to Airlines for America, more than 231 million passengers are expected to fly this summer, including 30 million on international flights. That is an increase of 4% from last summer's high of 222 million passengers. Airfare prices fell throughout 2015 and have continued to fall in 2016, according to the group. People are being urged to enrol in TSA's PreCheck. But according to many users taking to Twitter, PreCheck lines are not alleviating all waiting woes. Membership costs $85 (PS58) for five years if enrolled with the TSA directly. Other programmes like Global Entry lets travellers cross international borders for $100 (PS69) for five years. Most major airline participate in PreCheck, but some budget airlines like Spirit and Frontier do not. In the meantime, airlines are emailing passengers to warn them of long wait times at airports. At some airports, passengers are being entertained in line, like at the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport where \"therapy ponies\" can be spotted. Circus performers and musicians have been employed at other airports to entertain weary passengers. Some airports want to take matters into their own hands. The Port Authority of New Jersey and New York and the Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson airport have both threatened to privatise their passenger screening processes. For now, the best passengers can do is leave ample time to go through security before any flight and check with specific airlines for travel warnings.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 419, "answer_end": 846, "text": "In some cases, people are missing their flights entirely and having to stay in airports overnight. Many are toiling in queues for hours, despite showing up early for flights. Airlines for America, a US air travel trade group which represents many major carriers, has urged people to use the hashtag #IHateTheWait and post photos of long lines on Instagram or Twitter, tagging the Transportation Security Administration in them."}], "question": "How bad is it?", "id": "948_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 847, "answer_end": 1849, "text": "The Transportation Security Administration and Congress have cut the number of airport screeners by 4,622 - about 10% - in the past three years. They did so with the expectation that people would enrol in an expedited screening programme called PreCheck, which speeds queues along by allowing previously vetted passengers to go through security without removing their shoes, belts and jackets. Not enough people have joined. As of 1 March, 9.3 million people were PreCheck members. It is estimated that at the rate people are applying for the programme, it would take more than four years for 25 million people to be enrolled. Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson has asked fliers to \"be patient\" and that the government would not compromise safety to speed up queues. Last week, Congress agreed to give the TSA $34m (PS23m), allowing the agency to pay staff overtime wages and hire 768 more screeners by 15 June. This would bring the total number of screeners up to 42,525, which Congress requires."}], "question": "Why the delays?", "id": "948_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1850, "answer_end": 2433, "text": "On Tuesday, the TSA agreed to immediately send 58 new security officers and for more bomb-sniffing dogs to Chicago's O'Hare International airport to address the delays. Lawmakers from Illinois put pressure on the agency to direct resources to the airport, which has been experiencing lengthy wait times. Republican Senator Mark Kirk demanded the administrator of the TSA resign if the problems are not resolved by the end of the month. Two US senators have suggested that airlines drop baggage fees to encourage fewer passengers to over-pack carry-on baggage, which must be screened."}], "question": "What are lawmakers doing about it?", "id": "948_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2434, "answer_end": 2891, "text": "This summer, airlines are expecting record numbers of travellers. Lower fuel prices and fares are driving passengers to take more trips. According to Airlines for America, more than 231 million passengers are expected to fly this summer, including 30 million on international flights. That is an increase of 4% from last summer's high of 222 million passengers. Airfare prices fell throughout 2015 and have continued to fall in 2016, according to the group."}], "question": "Are people travelling more than ever?", "id": "948_3"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2892, "answer_end": 4058, "text": "People are being urged to enrol in TSA's PreCheck. But according to many users taking to Twitter, PreCheck lines are not alleviating all waiting woes. Membership costs $85 (PS58) for five years if enrolled with the TSA directly. Other programmes like Global Entry lets travellers cross international borders for $100 (PS69) for five years. Most major airline participate in PreCheck, but some budget airlines like Spirit and Frontier do not. In the meantime, airlines are emailing passengers to warn them of long wait times at airports. At some airports, passengers are being entertained in line, like at the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport where \"therapy ponies\" can be spotted. Circus performers and musicians have been employed at other airports to entertain weary passengers. Some airports want to take matters into their own hands. The Port Authority of New Jersey and New York and the Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson airport have both threatened to privatise their passenger screening processes. For now, the best passengers can do is leave ample time to go through security before any flight and check with specific airlines for travel warnings."}], "question": "What can passengers do?", "id": "948_4"}]}]}, {"title": "White House aide declines to back Flynn over Russia contact", "date": "13 February 2017", "paragraphs": [{"context": "A top White House official declined in several interviews over the weekend to defend national security adviser Michael Flynn, amid controversy over his alleged contacts with Russia. Mr Flynn reportedly discussed sanctions with Russian ambassador Sergei Kislyak in the weeks before the inauguration. He denied talking about this issue but later said he could not be certain. Any discussion of sanctions could have violated laws against private citizens engaging in foreign policy. Stephen Miller, President Donald Trump's top policy adviser, declined to say when asked in a number of interviews whether Mr Trump backed Mr Flynn. Mr Miller said it was not his place to comment on the \"sensitive matter\" concerning Mr Flynn, who was an early supporter of Mr Trump but whose position in the administration is thought to be under scrutiny. Asked if the president still had confidence in Mr Flynn, Mr Miller responded: \"That's a question for the president.\" Other White House officials have also refused to comment. Mr Flynn appeared in the front row at President Trump's news conference with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Monday. The president was not asked about Mr Flynn by the two reporters he called on and evaded follow-up questions about the controversy as he left the room. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Monday that Mr Flynn and Mr Kislyak did not discuss lifting sanctions. The controversy comes as Mr Trump faces his first major national security challenge, following the test by North Korea on Sunday of a ballistic missile. Mr Flynn would ordinarily be closely involved in determining the US response to such a test. Mr Flynn is known to have spoken with Mr Kislyak several times by phone in December. Both Mr Flynn and US Vice-President Mike Pence denied that the two men discussed US sanctions imposed over Russia's actions in Ukraine and alleged hacking of the US Democratic Party. But nine current and former officials later told the Washington Post that the issue had been discussed. A spokesman for Mr Flynn subsequently backtracked, telling reporters that the adviser now said he \"couldn't be certain\" he had not discussed the sanctions, prompting speculation that he may have misled the vice-president. Mr Pence and Mr Flynn reportedly spoke twice on Friday. Mr Trump, who spent the weekend at his club in Florida, Mar-a-Lago, has yet to comment publicly. Mr Flynn was with Mr Trump at Mar-a-Lago over the weekend. The president is expected to face questions on the issue during a joint press conference with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Monday. Citing administration officials, the Associated Press reported that the president was troubled by the situation and uncertain as to whether he would ask Mr Flynn to step down. Mr Flynn was an ardent supporter of Mr Trump during the campaign, and he has become a close ally of both the president and the president's chief strategist, Steve Bannon. But questions have been raised about Mr Flynn's closeness with Russia. He attended a banquet last year held in honour of the Russian government, where he sat two seats away from Vladimir Putin. A top aide on Mr Flynn's team, Robin Townley, was this week denied security clearance by the CIA, preventing Mr Townley from taking up a post in Africa for which Mr Flynn had recommended him. And Mr Flynn's son has attracted unwelcome attention - and reportedly a personal rebuke from Mr Trump - after tweeting about the so-called Pizzagate fake news story, which alleged a pizzeria was the nexus of a paedophile ring involving Hillary Clinton and one of her aides, John Podesta. \"I wonder if we'll be here a year from now,\" Michael Flynn reportedly told a White House colleague recently. Given the rampant speculation surrounding the national security adviser's fate - and the Trump administration's refusal to provide clear support for his continued employment - predictions of a full year in the job may be generous. He has probably lost the backing of Vice-President Mike Pence and some other top administration officials, and Democrats in Congress are out for blood. Much of the intelligence community also dislikes Mr Flynn, dating back to his acrimonious tenure as director of the Defense Intelligence Agency, and many would be happy to see him go, which could explain recent damaging leaks. If Mr Flynn isn't sunk yet, it's probably because Mr Trump is loath to abandon loyal aides who have been with him since early in his campaign. The president has long been at odds with the conservative foreign policy establishment, and Mr Flynn is one of the few national security voices he trusts. Mr Flynn's departure would also buttress reports of rampant White House disorganisation. Cutting him loose may be politically advisable, but it could be harder than it looks.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 2305, "answer_end": 2780, "text": "Mr Trump, who spent the weekend at his club in Florida, Mar-a-Lago, has yet to comment publicly. Mr Flynn was with Mr Trump at Mar-a-Lago over the weekend. The president is expected to face questions on the issue during a joint press conference with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Monday. Citing administration officials, the Associated Press reported that the president was troubled by the situation and uncertain as to whether he would ask Mr Flynn to step down."}], "question": "What is the president's view?", "id": "949_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Polar vortex claims eight lives as US cold snap continues", "date": "1 February 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "At least eight people have died in one of the worst cold snaps to hit the US Midwest in decades. An Iowa student found dead outside a college building is among the victims. Hospitals have been treating patients reporting frostbite as life across a swathe of the country grinds to a halt. Ninety million people - a third of the US - have seen temperatures of -17C (0F) or below. Some 250 million Americans overall have experienced the \"polar vortex\" conditions. However southern states such as Florida have escaped the brutal chill. - University of Iowa student Gerald Belz, 18, was found unresponsive behind a campus building before dawn on Wednesday and later died in hospital. Officials said weather was a factor. His father told local news channel KCRG that Gerald was a \"mama's boy with a tough exterior\". - A 70-year-old man in Detroit, Michigan, was found dead in front of a neighbour's home on Wednesday - Another Michigan man in his 70s was found frozen to death in his neighbourhood. Officials said he was \"inadequately dressed for the weather\" and was probably disoriented - On Tuesday, 55-year-old Charley Lampley froze to death in a garage in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, having \"apparently collapsed after shovelling snow\", according to a medical examiner - An 82-year-old man in Pekin, Illinois, died from hypothermia after apparently falling outside his home on Tuesday - A 75-year-old man was fatally struck by a snow plough near Chicago on Monday. The driver has since been placed on paid leave pending an investigation, according to WGN9 News - In northern Indiana, a young couple died after a collision on icy roads Thursday could see America's third largest city of Chicago breaking its 1985 record low of -32C (-25F), according to meteorologists. The city has already passed the record low for 31 January. The National Weather Service (NWS) announced Rockford, Illinois, west of Chicago, broke its all-time low record of -32C (-27F) when temperatures dipped to -34C (-30F) on Thursday morning. Cities across Iowa have also broken temperature records. Cotton, Minnesota, was the coldest place in the US on Thursday, however, with a low of -48C (-56F) based on preliminary data. The chill is drifting eastward on Thursday, bringing sub-zero temperatures to north-eastern cities such as Boston. Areas downwind of the Great Lakes are expected to be buried by intense \"snow lakes\" into Thursday night. The region near Buffalo, New York, should see the heaviest snowfall. Snow could fall at rates of 3in-5in (7cm-12cm) per hour. The icy cold is expected to loosen its grip on Friday. With wind chill factored in, the Midwest and Great Lakes have felt temperatures closer to -40C (-40F) and -53C (-63F), which is enough to cause frostbite in under five minutes. But by the end of the weekend, Chicago could see temperatures as high as 10C (50F). \"It's going to be at least a 60-degree swing for Chicago,\" David Hamrick, a National Weather Service forecaster, told Reuters news agency. Analysis by Chris Buckler, BBC News, Chicago On the icy streets of Chicago they are used to bitter winters but this was too cold even for some people who live here. Rush hour hasn't existed in this normally bustling city for the last couple of days as many have chosen to stay at home rather than brave such extreme elements. Those who did go to work arrived bundled up in layer after layer of clothing. Anything exposed - like eyebrows and lashes - were covered in frost. \"They've frozen shut a couple of times\", one man told me about his watering eyes. The Windy City could be renamed the Wind Chill City given the number of warnings there have been this week. Below several skyscrapers there are still signs pointing out the dangers of falling ice. You could argue that a slight thaw has begun given that cracks have started to appear on what was a solid sheet of ice covering the Chicago river. But temperatures are expected to remain below freezing until Saturday at the earliest. The Arctic weather could cost the US billions of dollars. In 2014, a similar polar freeze cost the country an estimated $5bn (PS3.8bn), CBS News reported. In Minnesota, residents have been asked by natural gas company Xcel Energy to reduce their home thermostats to 17C (63F) in order to help the company handle heating demands. Michigan residents have had similar requests from their utility companies as providers struggle to keep the states warm. Native American tribes in the northern Midwest states have been helping their members obtain heating supplies during the chill as many live in poor-quality housing, the Associated Press reported. Detroit has had more than two dozen water mains freeze over this week. A city spokesman told the Associated Press the pipes were installed up to 1.8m below the frost line, but with such drastically low temperatures, the ground has still frozen through. The US Postal Service has suspended all mail deliveries for the second day to parts of six states. More than 2,300 flights have been cancelled and another 3,500 delayed due to the polar vortex. As ice and snow continue to build up, roads have become increasingly dangerous across the northern US. In Illinois, police said they had assisted more than 1,300 motorists and received 460 calls in eight hours - 10 times the norm. One woman in the state was caught speeding at 115mph (185km/h) on a snowy road with a 35mph (56km/h) speed limit. At least two people were critically injured in a 27-car pile-up on icy roads in Wyomissing, Pennsylvania. Twenty-one vehicles, including a lorry, were involved in a pile-up in Buffalo, New York, during a snowstorm on Wednesday. Officials have not released details on any injuries, WKBW News reported. It is reported that the lorry should not have been on the road at the time, due to a weather-related ban. In Minnesota, prison visits were cancelled over the cold, according to the New York Times. The Illinois city became a frozen ghost town after temperatures fell to -30C (-22F), colder than parts of Antarctica. A Good Samaritan paid for 70 homeless Chicagoans to stay in a hotel as temperatures dropped. Salvation Army spokeswoman Jacqueline Rachev told the Washington Post: \"It's a deadly situation for anyone. We're thrilled that someone was in a position to be able to do this.\" Most of the thousands of cancelled flights this week were coming out of Chicago's airports - O'Hare International is ranked as one of the top 10 busiest airports in the world. Amtrak also cancelled all trains into Chicago on Wednesday, affecting 55 trains, and said most would be cancelled on Thursday as well. As the Midwestern city is one of the company's hubs, train services nationwide could be impacted. The chill was even too much for Chicago's Disney on Ice show, which cancelled its Wednesday performance. More than 600 local schools have shut, keeping 360,000 students at home. Most of Canada was under some sort of weather warning - from extreme cold in the Prairies, Quebec and Ontario to heavy snows in Alberta and Nova Scotia. In Toronto, where winters tend to be milder compared to cities such as Montreal and Ottawa, temperatures had plummeted to -18C (0F). Icy roads and several transit delays made for a hellish commute for the city's residents. Environment Canada issued extreme cold warnings for most parts of Ontario, Quebec and Manitoba, urging residents to limit their exposure to cold and keep pets indoors. Advocates expressed concern for homeless people living in cities hit by the extreme temperatures. In Winnipeg, the capital of Manitoba, temperatures were -40C (-40F), with wind chill factors making it feel like -50C (-58F). \"If you don't get it in December, you will get it in January or February or March. What do you expect? It's 'Winterpeg',\" Caroline Rodriguez told CBC. In Calgary, Alberta, temperatures were a relatively balmy -3C (27F), but were expected to plummet overnight and through the weekend. In parts of rural northern Alberta, 15in of snow were expected to fall.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1628, "answer_end": 2991, "text": "Thursday could see America's third largest city of Chicago breaking its 1985 record low of -32C (-25F), according to meteorologists. The city has already passed the record low for 31 January. The National Weather Service (NWS) announced Rockford, Illinois, west of Chicago, broke its all-time low record of -32C (-27F) when temperatures dipped to -34C (-30F) on Thursday morning. Cities across Iowa have also broken temperature records. Cotton, Minnesota, was the coldest place in the US on Thursday, however, with a low of -48C (-56F) based on preliminary data. The chill is drifting eastward on Thursday, bringing sub-zero temperatures to north-eastern cities such as Boston. Areas downwind of the Great Lakes are expected to be buried by intense \"snow lakes\" into Thursday night. The region near Buffalo, New York, should see the heaviest snowfall. Snow could fall at rates of 3in-5in (7cm-12cm) per hour. The icy cold is expected to loosen its grip on Friday. With wind chill factored in, the Midwest and Great Lakes have felt temperatures closer to -40C (-40F) and -53C (-63F), which is enough to cause frostbite in under five minutes. But by the end of the weekend, Chicago could see temperatures as high as 10C (50F). \"It's going to be at least a 60-degree swing for Chicago,\" David Hamrick, a National Weather Service forecaster, told Reuters news agency."}], "question": "What's the forecast?", "id": "950_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3978, "answer_end": 5913, "text": "The Arctic weather could cost the US billions of dollars. In 2014, a similar polar freeze cost the country an estimated $5bn (PS3.8bn), CBS News reported. In Minnesota, residents have been asked by natural gas company Xcel Energy to reduce their home thermostats to 17C (63F) in order to help the company handle heating demands. Michigan residents have had similar requests from their utility companies as providers struggle to keep the states warm. Native American tribes in the northern Midwest states have been helping their members obtain heating supplies during the chill as many live in poor-quality housing, the Associated Press reported. Detroit has had more than two dozen water mains freeze over this week. A city spokesman told the Associated Press the pipes were installed up to 1.8m below the frost line, but with such drastically low temperatures, the ground has still frozen through. The US Postal Service has suspended all mail deliveries for the second day to parts of six states. More than 2,300 flights have been cancelled and another 3,500 delayed due to the polar vortex. As ice and snow continue to build up, roads have become increasingly dangerous across the northern US. In Illinois, police said they had assisted more than 1,300 motorists and received 460 calls in eight hours - 10 times the norm. One woman in the state was caught speeding at 115mph (185km/h) on a snowy road with a 35mph (56km/h) speed limit. At least two people were critically injured in a 27-car pile-up on icy roads in Wyomissing, Pennsylvania. Twenty-one vehicles, including a lorry, were involved in a pile-up in Buffalo, New York, during a snowstorm on Wednesday. Officials have not released details on any injuries, WKBW News reported. It is reported that the lorry should not have been on the road at the time, due to a weather-related ban. In Minnesota, prison visits were cancelled over the cold, according to the New York Times."}], "question": "How is the cold snap affecting daily life?", "id": "950_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 5914, "answer_end": 6889, "text": "The Illinois city became a frozen ghost town after temperatures fell to -30C (-22F), colder than parts of Antarctica. A Good Samaritan paid for 70 homeless Chicagoans to stay in a hotel as temperatures dropped. Salvation Army spokeswoman Jacqueline Rachev told the Washington Post: \"It's a deadly situation for anyone. We're thrilled that someone was in a position to be able to do this.\" Most of the thousands of cancelled flights this week were coming out of Chicago's airports - O'Hare International is ranked as one of the top 10 busiest airports in the world. Amtrak also cancelled all trains into Chicago on Wednesday, affecting 55 trains, and said most would be cancelled on Thursday as well. As the Midwestern city is one of the company's hubs, train services nationwide could be impacted. The chill was even too much for Chicago's Disney on Ice show, which cancelled its Wednesday performance. More than 600 local schools have shut, keeping 360,000 students at home."}], "question": "How cold is Chicago?", "id": "950_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 6890, "answer_end": 8013, "text": "Most of Canada was under some sort of weather warning - from extreme cold in the Prairies, Quebec and Ontario to heavy snows in Alberta and Nova Scotia. In Toronto, where winters tend to be milder compared to cities such as Montreal and Ottawa, temperatures had plummeted to -18C (0F). Icy roads and several transit delays made for a hellish commute for the city's residents. Environment Canada issued extreme cold warnings for most parts of Ontario, Quebec and Manitoba, urging residents to limit their exposure to cold and keep pets indoors. Advocates expressed concern for homeless people living in cities hit by the extreme temperatures. In Winnipeg, the capital of Manitoba, temperatures were -40C (-40F), with wind chill factors making it feel like -50C (-58F). \"If you don't get it in December, you will get it in January or February or March. What do you expect? It's 'Winterpeg',\" Caroline Rodriguez told CBC. In Calgary, Alberta, temperatures were a relatively balmy -3C (27F), but were expected to plummet overnight and through the weekend. In parts of rural northern Alberta, 15in of snow were expected to fall."}], "question": "What about Canada?", "id": "950_3"}]}]}, {"title": "Why did this lioness kill the father of her cubs?", "date": "23 October 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "A lioness at a US zoo has killed the father of her three cubs in their pen - an incident experts say is shocking and unprecedented. The pair had lived in the same enclosure at Indianapolis Zoo for eight years. According to the zoo, there had never been any unusual aggression between the pair before the attack last week. The BBC asked lion researchers for their theories on what could have sparked the attack. Zuri, 12, attacked Nyack, 10, and staff could not separate the pair. Nyack died of suffocation, while Zuri was uninjured. The zoo said it is conducting a \"thorough review\". Prof Craig Packer, director of the University of Minnesota's Lion Research Center, told the BBC this sort of attack is \"unprecedented\". \"We've seen examples of males killing females, and groups of females chasing away males, but a single female killing a male? Never heard of it.\" He suspects the individual lions' personalities played a role in the killing. In the wild, male lions \"totally dominate\" lionesses. Nyack had been hand-reared, which possibly made him more vulnerable, Prof Packer said. In contrast, Zuri was more dominant than a typical female. Zuri was only 25lbs (11kg) lighter than her male counterpart, weighing 325lbs. Male lions typically weigh 330lbs-573lbs and females 265-397lbs, according to San Diego Zoo. \"If it was a result of discordant personalities, maybe that's a risk factor that should be considered in other captive situations,\" he said. He said extra mystery came from the fact that Zuri attacked Nyack twice: the first time he ran off and returned behaving very submissively, only for her to attack him again. \"Until we see a number of cases, there's no way we can say what caused this to happen,\" he said. Paul Funston, Southern Africa Regional Director for Panthera, a global wild cat conservation organisation, also agreed that this incident is surprising. In the wild, groups of lionesses do attack lions, typically in defence of their cubs or territory, and such incidents have been filmed at safari parks. However Mr Funston said he has never seen an instance that has ended in a death. Wild male lions will also typically chase off any male cubs when they grow up to ensure they are alone with the pride lionesses. Sometimes the lions will kill cubs - usually when they take over new territory from another pride - to stake their claim on the females. Male lions have also been known to get aggressive with females and can kill lionesses who refuse to mate. One possibility, Mr Funston said, is that Zuri - who is described by the zoo as \"an attentive and protective mother\" - became fearful of Nyack, which led to the fight. Zuri's natural instincts could have taken over at that point, he explained, and so she ended up killing him. \"Even if animals are calm or seem to be calm, it doesn't mean that there aren't underlying tensions,\" Mr Funston said. Bruce Patterson, a researcher at the Field Museum in Chicago, said he knows cases of wild lionesses that have attacked - and injured - male lions who upset them. \"[But] unlike the zoo case, no one went for the throat!\" he said. Mr Funston, who has studied lions for 25 years, acknowledges this is \"an unusual\" and \"rare\" incident - but that does not mean it is is necessarily strange. \"We see a typical model and we tend to think we know it all. But this is a highly socially complex species.\" \"That's one thing I love about lions,\" Mr Funston added. \"You don't quite know exactly what's going to happen in a particular scenario, and that makes them really interesting animals to observe and want to protect and conserve.\"", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 584, "answer_end": 1726, "text": "Prof Craig Packer, director of the University of Minnesota's Lion Research Center, told the BBC this sort of attack is \"unprecedented\". \"We've seen examples of males killing females, and groups of females chasing away males, but a single female killing a male? Never heard of it.\" He suspects the individual lions' personalities played a role in the killing. In the wild, male lions \"totally dominate\" lionesses. Nyack had been hand-reared, which possibly made him more vulnerable, Prof Packer said. In contrast, Zuri was more dominant than a typical female. Zuri was only 25lbs (11kg) lighter than her male counterpart, weighing 325lbs. Male lions typically weigh 330lbs-573lbs and females 265-397lbs, according to San Diego Zoo. \"If it was a result of discordant personalities, maybe that's a risk factor that should be considered in other captive situations,\" he said. He said extra mystery came from the fact that Zuri attacked Nyack twice: the first time he ran off and returned behaving very submissively, only for her to attack him again. \"Until we see a number of cases, there's no way we can say what caused this to happen,\" he said."}], "question": "A personality clash?", "id": "951_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1727, "answer_end": 3603, "text": "Paul Funston, Southern Africa Regional Director for Panthera, a global wild cat conservation organisation, also agreed that this incident is surprising. In the wild, groups of lionesses do attack lions, typically in defence of their cubs or territory, and such incidents have been filmed at safari parks. However Mr Funston said he has never seen an instance that has ended in a death. Wild male lions will also typically chase off any male cubs when they grow up to ensure they are alone with the pride lionesses. Sometimes the lions will kill cubs - usually when they take over new territory from another pride - to stake their claim on the females. Male lions have also been known to get aggressive with females and can kill lionesses who refuse to mate. One possibility, Mr Funston said, is that Zuri - who is described by the zoo as \"an attentive and protective mother\" - became fearful of Nyack, which led to the fight. Zuri's natural instincts could have taken over at that point, he explained, and so she ended up killing him. \"Even if animals are calm or seem to be calm, it doesn't mean that there aren't underlying tensions,\" Mr Funston said. Bruce Patterson, a researcher at the Field Museum in Chicago, said he knows cases of wild lionesses that have attacked - and injured - male lions who upset them. \"[But] unlike the zoo case, no one went for the throat!\" he said. Mr Funston, who has studied lions for 25 years, acknowledges this is \"an unusual\" and \"rare\" incident - but that does not mean it is is necessarily strange. \"We see a typical model and we tend to think we know it all. But this is a highly socially complex species.\" \"That's one thing I love about lions,\" Mr Funston added. \"You don't quite know exactly what's going to happen in a particular scenario, and that makes them really interesting animals to observe and want to protect and conserve.\""}], "question": "How unusual is this behaviour for lions?", "id": "951_1"}]}]}, {"title": "Hunting the missing millions from collapsed cryptocurrency", "date": "30 December 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "A Russian computer programmer involved in the collapse of a big cryptocurrency exchange says he was tricked into handing over its entire assets to fraudsters posing as FSB agents, according to documents obtained by BBC Russian. Alexei Bilyuchenko was a key player in Wex, which stopped trading in 2018, leaving customers unable to access investments totalling nearly half a billion US dollars. BBC Russian has spent months investigating the murky world of Russian cryptocurrency trading, trying to find out what happened to the money. It's a story worthy of the BBC TV drama McMafia, involving an unlikely cast of characters from computer geeks and FBI agents, to a billionaire oligarch with ties to the war in Ukraine. The story begins in the Russian city of Novosibirsk in August 2017 where Alexei Bilyuchenko, a former IT manager for a furniture shop chain, was lying low having narrowly escaped arrest on holiday in Greece. Six years earlier he and business partner Alexander Vinnik, an electronic cash transfer specialist, had met online and made a life-changing decision to get involved in cryptocurrency trading. Described by friends as shy men who preferred computers to people, Alexander Vinnik and Alexei Bilyuchenko set up an exchange called BTC-e which was to become notorious. Like similar exchanges around the world, BTC-e offered investors the chance to use real money to buy virtual currencies. Unlike other exchanges in Europe and the US, BTC-e did not ask customers for their ID, meaning that as well as appealing to legitimate investors, it also offered a potential way for organised criminals to launder money. Customers flocked to invest in BTC-e and, according to Global Witness, by 2016 it had become the third largest cryptocurrency exchange in the world. The two partners communicated online and they only met in person in 2014 when their daily bitcoin trading reached $2m. By the time it hit $10m in 2016 they held a family party in Moscow. In July 2017 they went on holiday to Greece, unaware US federal agents investigating international money laundering were on their trail. The FBI suspected BTC-e was involved in hiding funds stolen from the hack of another bitcoin exchange, Mt Gox. Cybercrime experts also thought it was being used by the mysterious Russian hacking group Fancy Bears. A warrant was issued for Alexander Vinnik's arrest and Greek police detained him on the beach, in front of his wife and children. His mother called Alexei Bilyuchenko, who was in a different resort. In a panic, he smashed his laptop, threw it into the sea and jumped on the next flight to Moscow. Back home in Novosibirsk, Mr Bilyuchenko decided to try to recoup his losses by setting up another exchange called Wex (World Exchange Services). The FBI had seized BTC-e's website but he still had the back-up servers and, via Wex, he was able to return investments to some BTC-e clients. At this stage, according to the version of events he later told police, and which has been shared with the BBC, Alexei Bilyuchenko decided he needed a backer to offer some protection. He says he was introduced to Konstantin Malofeyev, a Moscow-based billionaire, with strong ties to both the Kremlin and the Russian Orthodox Church. Mr Malofeyev, who made his fortune in investment banking, is currently under US and EU sanctions for alleged links to rebel fighters in Eastern Ukraine. In his police statements Alexei Bilyuchenko says he was invited to Moscow several times to meet Mr Malofeyev in his offices in a high-end shopping plaza. The topic of how much money Wex was generating allegedly figured large in their conversations, as did the question of what might have happened to the funds held by BTC-e until the FBI swooped. \"For several months Malofeyev demanded I show him the Wex cryptocurrency balances,\" Mr Bilyuchencko told police. Mr Malofeyev strongly denies any connection to either Mr Bilyuchenko or Wex. By summer 2018, trading on Wex was slowing down, and at the end of the year it stopped altogether. The $450m worth of cryptocurrency it was holding vanished without trace. Angry clients began demanding their money back and one filed a complaint with police in Russia's Chuvashiya region. Alexei Bilyuchenko was summoned as a witness, and he told the police an extraordinary story. He said he had actually lost control of Wex in the spring of 2018, several months before it officially collapsed. He said that at a meeting in Konstantin Malofeyev's Moscow office he had been introduced to some men he understood were agents from the security service, the FSB. They took him to a building used by the FSB, not far from the Bolshoi Theatre. They asked him about Wex and then took him to the luxury Lotte hotel near the Russian foreign ministry where he says he remained under guard all night. According to Mr Bilyuchenko, the next morning he was taken back to Mr Malofeyev's office, where it was strongly suggested he should move the funds held by Wex into \"an FSB fund\", which he agreed to, and, according to him, on his next visit to Moscow he transferred everything as requested. Back home in Novosibirsk, it began to dawn on him, he says. He had, he claims, been the victim of a scam and, rather than transferring the money into state coffers, he had actually been tricked into handing it over to Mr Malofeyev's associates. Since telling his story to the police Mr Bilyuchenko has gone into hiding. Private security guards now protect his home and he has declined to speak to the BBC or anyone else about Wex. So is Alexei Bilyuchenko telling the truth? Alexander Terentiev, who heads a campaign group for defrauded investors, told the BBC he was not convinced. But others seem less sceptical. Since the end of November, courts, public buildings, metro stations and shopping centres in Moscow and St Petersburg have been paralysed by almost daily hoax bomb threats. According to reports in Russian media, several of the emailed warnings have included references to Wex's missing millions and to Mr Malofeyev. A statement issued via Mr Malofeyev's Tsargrad TV channel described the bomb threats as part of \"a campaign of discreditation\" against him. \"Neither Konstantin Malofeyev nor his companies have anything to do with the theft of Bitcoins, the Wex exchange, or its management,\" it said. Mr Malofeyev has declined to speak to the BBC about the case and the FSB has not responded to the BBC's request for comment. Meanwhile, in Greece, two years after his dramatic arrest on the beach, Alexei Bilyuchenko's former business partner Alexander Vinnik is still in jail. The US, Russia and France are all seeking his extradition. He has not seen his wife, now suffering from a brain tumour, for two years, His lawyer Timofei Musatov told the BBC the former bitcoin multi-millionaire had been on a long hunger strike and was now a shadow of his former self. Illustrations by Tatiana Ospennikova", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 3927, "answer_end": 5536, "text": "By summer 2018, trading on Wex was slowing down, and at the end of the year it stopped altogether. The $450m worth of cryptocurrency it was holding vanished without trace. Angry clients began demanding their money back and one filed a complaint with police in Russia's Chuvashiya region. Alexei Bilyuchenko was summoned as a witness, and he told the police an extraordinary story. He said he had actually lost control of Wex in the spring of 2018, several months before it officially collapsed. He said that at a meeting in Konstantin Malofeyev's Moscow office he had been introduced to some men he understood were agents from the security service, the FSB. They took him to a building used by the FSB, not far from the Bolshoi Theatre. They asked him about Wex and then took him to the luxury Lotte hotel near the Russian foreign ministry where he says he remained under guard all night. According to Mr Bilyuchenko, the next morning he was taken back to Mr Malofeyev's office, where it was strongly suggested he should move the funds held by Wex into \"an FSB fund\", which he agreed to, and, according to him, on his next visit to Moscow he transferred everything as requested. Back home in Novosibirsk, it began to dawn on him, he says. He had, he claims, been the victim of a scam and, rather than transferring the money into state coffers, he had actually been tricked into handing it over to Mr Malofeyev's associates. Since telling his story to the police Mr Bilyuchenko has gone into hiding. Private security guards now protect his home and he has declined to speak to the BBC or anyone else about Wex."}], "question": "Who were the men 'from the security service'?", "id": "952_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Andrew Brunson: US hits Turkey with sanctions over jailed pastor", "date": "2 August 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "The US has imposed sanctions on Turkey's justice and interior ministers over the continued detention of American pastor Andrew Brunson. The evangelical from North Carolina has been held for nearly two years over alleged links to political groups. \"We believe he's a victim of unfair and unjust detention,\" White House press secretary Sarah Sanders said. Turkey has said US demands for Mr Brunson's release are \"unacceptable\", adding it will respond to \"hostility\". \"We call on the US administration to row back from this wrong decision,\" the Turkish foreign ministry said in a statement on Wednesday. \"Without delay, there will be a response to this aggressive attitude that will not serve any purpose,\" it continued. The US Treasury Department later said Turkey's Justice Minister Abdulhamit Gul and Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu were targeted because they \"serve as leaders of Turkish government organizations responsible for implementing Turkey's serious human rights abuses\". By Mark Lowen, BBC Turkey correspondent It is unprecedented for the US to hit a Nato ally with sanctions. The relationship has plunged to its lowest level in decades. But it is remarkable to think that in 2016, Turkey's government was gunning for a Donald Trump victory. Michael Flynn, Mr Trump's disgraced former national security advisor, was paid to lobby for Turkey in Washington. There was confidence that presidents Trump and Recep Tayyip Erdogan could form a strongman partnership to reset ties. President Erdogan is known for lashing out at Western leaders. He hasn't taken kindly to being the one browbeaten by the US. Pro-government columnists are calling for the US military base here to be shut down. A crucial security partnership is at risk with two Nato allies at each other's throats. Meanwhile, Turks are suffering as the lira reaches new lows. Erdogan critics say he should have been sanctioned long ago - over mass arrests, human rights violations and buying a missile defence system from Russia. But now sanctions have come, the fear is of what two unpredictable leaders will do next. Speaking to reporters, Sarah Sanders said: \"We've seen no evidence that Pastor Brunson has done anything wrong.\" She added that the two Turkish ministers had both played \"leading roles\" in the arrest of the US pastor. \"As a result, any property or interest in property of both ministers within US jurisdiction is blocked and US persons are generally prohibited from engaging in transactions with them,\" she said. Ms Sanders also said that President Trump had discussed the matter with President Erdogan \"multiple times\". Last week, President Trump warned Turkey it would face \"large sanctions\" if it did not release Mr Brunson immediately. Following Wednesday's announcement, the Turkish lira lost 1.6% of its value to fall to 5.0 against the US dollar. Mr Brunson is a long-term resident in Turkey. He lived with his wife and three children while working as the pastor of the small Izmir Resurrection Church, which had a congregation of about two dozen. The authorities accuse him of having links with the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) and the Gulenist movement, which Turkey blames for a 2016 failed coup. Mr Brunson has denied charges of espionage, but faces up to 35 years in jail if found guilty. He was moved into house arrest last month for health reasons, but US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said this was not enough. \"We have seen no credible evidence against Mr Brunson,\" Mr Pompeo tweeted at the time. Turkey's foreign ministry said it had shared \"necessary information\" with the US, but insisted the case should be left with its judiciary. Mr Brunson is one of 20 Americans who were charged after the coup two years ago, according to the New York Times. More than 50,000 people were arrested in Turkey in President Erdogan's huge post-coup crackdown. He blames Pennsylvania-based Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen for the attempt, but Mr Gulen denies any involvement. Turkey wants the US to agree to his extradition. Mr Erdogan has indicated he would swap the pastor for \"the priest\" (Mr Gulen). US support for Kurdish forces fighting the Syrian civil war has also angered Mr Erdogan, who views them as an extension of the PKK. The PKK - a Turkish-Kurdish rebel group fighting for autonomy since the 1980s - is considered a terrorist group by Turkey and the US.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 2842, "answer_end": 3651, "text": "Mr Brunson is a long-term resident in Turkey. He lived with his wife and three children while working as the pastor of the small Izmir Resurrection Church, which had a congregation of about two dozen. The authorities accuse him of having links with the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) and the Gulenist movement, which Turkey blames for a 2016 failed coup. Mr Brunson has denied charges of espionage, but faces up to 35 years in jail if found guilty. He was moved into house arrest last month for health reasons, but US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said this was not enough. \"We have seen no credible evidence against Mr Brunson,\" Mr Pompeo tweeted at the time. Turkey's foreign ministry said it had shared \"necessary information\" with the US, but insisted the case should be left with its judiciary."}], "question": "Who is Andrew Brunson?", "id": "953_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3652, "answer_end": 4369, "text": "Mr Brunson is one of 20 Americans who were charged after the coup two years ago, according to the New York Times. More than 50,000 people were arrested in Turkey in President Erdogan's huge post-coup crackdown. He blames Pennsylvania-based Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen for the attempt, but Mr Gulen denies any involvement. Turkey wants the US to agree to his extradition. Mr Erdogan has indicated he would swap the pastor for \"the priest\" (Mr Gulen). US support for Kurdish forces fighting the Syrian civil war has also angered Mr Erdogan, who views them as an extension of the PKK. The PKK - a Turkish-Kurdish rebel group fighting for autonomy since the 1980s - is considered a terrorist group by Turkey and the US."}], "question": "What is Turkey's motivation?", "id": "953_1"}]}]}, {"title": "EU referendum: Five key moments from the Great Debate", "date": "22 June 2016", "paragraphs": [{"context": "The final live debate of the UK's EU referendum campaign took place at Wembley Arena on Tuesday night. Here are five of the key moments from the BBC showdown. Representing Leave, Boris Johnson, Labour MP Gisela Stuart and energy minister Andrea Leadsom went head-to-head with London Mayor Sadiq Khan, Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson, and general secretary of the Trades Union Congress Frances O'Grady for Remain. The first skirmishes were over the economy,  with Mr Johnson highlighting the \"extraordinary success stories\" of UK manufacturing firms such as JCB and Dyson, whose bosses back Leave. Mr Khan, however, claimed Leave's own economic adviser had said Brexit would \"eliminate\" the industry and leave 2.5m jobs at risk. Five key moments from the Great Debate The former London mayor also faced a blue-on-blue grilling from fellow Tory Ms Davidson, who said it was not good enough that when \"asked if people were going to lose jobs, Johnson said they might or they might not\". Mr Johnson branded the EU \"a job destroyer engine\", saying Britain had been unable to protect at-risk steel jobs partly because of EU rules - something his opponents said was \"a lie\". Ms Davidson also claimed the EU would impose tariffs and taxes on the UK if it left the EU - a suggestion Mr Johnson deemed \"insane\". Meanwhile, Frances O'Grady said leaving the EU would lead to wages being PS38 a week lower than they would have been if the UK had stayed in - a claim examined by BBC Reality Check. In a heated clash, Mayor of London Sadiq Khan accused his predecessor Mr Johnson of unleashing not just \"project fear\" but \"project hate\" about immigration, which he said brought \"huge economic, cultural and social benefits to our country\". Mr Johnson hit back by saying he was \"passionately a believer in immigration, but it's got to be controlled\" - citing the ONS 2015 EU net migration figure of 184,000. He also claimed it was Remain that was stirring up fears: \"They told us they were going to have a positive and patriotic case, but they are back to project fear within minutes of this debate,\" he said. Turkey was also a point of contention, with Mr Khan saying his opponents had been scaremongering with a \"big fat lie\" over whether Turkey would join the EU. Political debates are known for their repetitive phrases. This one included \"take back control\", \"no plan\" and \"project fear\". But it also had \"as a mother\", or \"as a mother and grandmother\" in Gisela Stuart's case. Some commentators pointed out the contrast with Mr Khan's \"as a lawyer\". Others started to play bingo. \"Pretty loud 'As a mum' bingo in the spin room. Big cheer for every mention. Andrea Leadsom most recent #BBCDebate #EUref,\" tweeted the BBC's Kamal Ahmed. Remain's Ruth Davidson clearly picked up on the pattern. \"There are mums and dads on this side of the debate,\" she interjected. Some of the audience clearly noticed too. \"What do I care if you're a mother? Why have you told me that five times?\" tweeted Ciara Walker. \"I'm going to start all my stories \"as a mother\" from now on. But feeling a bit inadequate that I'm not a grandmother too #BBCDebate\" tweeted Pippa Crerar. BBC political correspondent Ross Hawkins wondered about the significance of being a father: \"As a Dad I'm pretty sure I wasn't any wiser after becoming a Dad. More tired and short tempered perhaps...\". The former London mayor got a standing ovation after his closing statement, in which he declared: \"Thursday can be our country's independence day\". He said leaving the EU offered \"hope\" and was on the side of \"those who believe in Britain\". \"They say we can't do it, we say we can. They say we have no choice but to bow down to Brussels, we say they are woefully underestimating this country and what it can do,\" he said. Meanwhile Ms Davidson, who gave the closing statement for Remain, told the audience it had to be \"100% sure\" because there was \"no going back on Friday morning\". \"I know the EU isn't perfect but the benefits far outweigh any costs - and the Britain that I know, that I love, works with its friends and neighbours, it doesn't walk away from them,\" she said. Ms Davidson was hailed by the Remain side as the star of the debate for her impassioned performance. BBC political correspondent Ross Hawkins tweeted: \"Big English audience getting first proper taste of Ruth Davidson as quality performer now as plenty did with Sturgeon in the election debate\". But others were more focused on why Mr Johnson told the pro-Remain Scottish Tory that haggis exports could be hampered by EU trade rules. \"Mmm highlight so far still Boris getting confused and yelling HAGGIS at the Scottish woman. #BBCDebate,\" tweeted English teacher Cheryl Schmidt. Are you at loggerheads within your family over the EU referendum? BBC Newsnight would like to see your efforts to persuade your nearest and dearest to change their minds! Send a short video of your attempts to us.  It should be no longer than two minutes, filmed in landscape, and sent to: - WhatsApp: +44 7450 602884 - Send pictures/video to newsnightbbc@gmail.com - Send an SMS or MMS to 61124 or +44 7624 800 100 We need them by 18:00 today and selection of the best videos will be shown on Newsnight tonight.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 3361, "answer_end": 4139, "text": "The former London mayor got a standing ovation after his closing statement, in which he declared: \"Thursday can be our country's independence day\". He said leaving the EU offered \"hope\" and was on the side of \"those who believe in Britain\". \"They say we can't do it, we say we can. They say we have no choice but to bow down to Brussels, we say they are woefully underestimating this country and what it can do,\" he said. Meanwhile Ms Davidson, who gave the closing statement for Remain, told the audience it had to be \"100% sure\" because there was \"no going back on Friday morning\". \"I know the EU isn't perfect but the benefits far outweigh any costs - and the Britain that I know, that I love, works with its friends and neighbours, it doesn't walk away from them,\" she said."}], "question": "4. Will we see 'UK independence day'?", "id": "954_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 4140, "answer_end": 4718, "text": "Ms Davidson was hailed by the Remain side as the star of the debate for her impassioned performance. BBC political correspondent Ross Hawkins tweeted: \"Big English audience getting first proper taste of Ruth Davidson as quality performer now as plenty did with Sturgeon in the election debate\". But others were more focused on why Mr Johnson told the pro-Remain Scottish Tory that haggis exports could be hampered by EU trade rules. \"Mmm highlight so far still Boris getting confused and yelling HAGGIS at the Scottish woman. #BBCDebate,\" tweeted English teacher Cheryl Schmidt."}], "question": "5. The rise of Ruth Davidson?", "id": "954_1"}]}]}, {"title": "Felicity Huffman to plead guilty in college admissions scandal", "date": "8 April 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "US actress Felicity Huffman has said she will plead guilty to charges in a cheating scam aimed at acquiring places for children at elite US universities. The Desperate Housewives star said she had \"betrayed\" her daughter and was \"ashamed\" of the pain she had caused. Ms Huffman is accused of paying $15,000 (PS11,500) to have her daughter's exam answers covertly corrected in 2017. The 56-year-old is one of 14 people set to plead guilty among the 50 charged, who include college athletic coaches. As part of her plea deal, prosecutors are recommending a prison term of four to 10 months. She has also agreed to pay a $20,000 fine. In a statement, she said: \"I am in full acceptance of my guilt, and with deep regret and shame over what I have done, I accept full responsibility for my actions and will accept the consequences that stem from those actions. \"I am ashamed of the pain I have caused my daughter, my family, my friends, my colleagues and the educational community. \"I want to apologise to them and, especially, I want to apologise to the students who work hard every day to get into college, and to their parents who make tremendous sacrifices to support their children and do so honestly.\" She added in the statement that her daughter had known nothing about her actions: \"In my misguided and profoundly wrong way, I have betrayed her. This transgression toward her and the public, I will carry for the rest of my life.\" The FBI code-named the investigation \"Operation Varsity Blues\" - ironically named after a 1990s film about the pressures of sports scholarships. The case relates to the period between 2011 and 2018, when investigators say parents tried to cheat the usual US admission process. They say parents paid bribes, had exams altered and even had their children edited on to stock photos to pretend they played sports. Ms Huffman and another Hollywood actress, Lori Loughlin, are the most high-profile figures indicted, but others charged include prominent business executives. Ms Loughlin is accused along with her husband of paying nearly $500,000 in bribes to get their two daughters admitted to the University of Southern California. They are not among those who have agreed to plead guilty and have not publicly addressed the allegations, the Associated Press (AP) news agency reports. Investigators say they helped them get in on rowing scholarships, even though neither student had actually participated in the sport. Ms Huffman was accused of paying $15,000 to William \"Rick\" Singer - the confessed mastermind of the alleged scam - to have her daughter's exam answers covertly corrected in 2017. She has agreed to plead guilty to a charge of conspiracy to commit mail fraud and honest services mail fraud, AP reports.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1435, "answer_end": 2751, "text": "The FBI code-named the investigation \"Operation Varsity Blues\" - ironically named after a 1990s film about the pressures of sports scholarships. The case relates to the period between 2011 and 2018, when investigators say parents tried to cheat the usual US admission process. They say parents paid bribes, had exams altered and even had their children edited on to stock photos to pretend they played sports. Ms Huffman and another Hollywood actress, Lori Loughlin, are the most high-profile figures indicted, but others charged include prominent business executives. Ms Loughlin is accused along with her husband of paying nearly $500,000 in bribes to get their two daughters admitted to the University of Southern California. They are not among those who have agreed to plead guilty and have not publicly addressed the allegations, the Associated Press (AP) news agency reports. Investigators say they helped them get in on rowing scholarships, even though neither student had actually participated in the sport. Ms Huffman was accused of paying $15,000 to William \"Rick\" Singer - the confessed mastermind of the alleged scam - to have her daughter's exam answers covertly corrected in 2017. She has agreed to plead guilty to a charge of conspiracy to commit mail fraud and honest services mail fraud, AP reports."}], "question": "What are the accusations?", "id": "955_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Syria aid convoy attack: What we know", "date": "5 October 2016", "paragraphs": [{"context": "An attack on a Syrian Arab Red Crescent (SARC) warehouse and a United Nations aid convoy in a rebel-held part of northern Syria on 19 September killed at least 18 civilians, including one aid worker. The United States, which backs the rebels, believes Russian or Syrian government warplanes bombed the convoy. But Russia, a key ally of President Bashar al-Assad, has rejected the accusation and said a US drone was flying overhead at the time of the attack. The SARC said the convoy consisted of 31 lorries loaded with non-food items, clothes and paediatric nutrients, supported by the World Food Programme, UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) and UN Children's Fund (Unicef), and the International Organisation for Migration. On the afternoon of 19 September, after co-ordinating with all parties on the ground, the convoy reached a SARC warehouse in Urum al-Kubra, a rebel-held town about 12km (8 miles) west of the divided second city of Aleppo, from where the aid was to be distributed to some 78,000 civilians, the SARC added. At around 19:10 (16:10 GMT), as they were being unloaded, the attack on the lorries began, witnesses said. It was to last more than three hours. Ammar al-Salmo, a volunteer search-and-rescue worker from the Syria Civil Defence, was in the area at the time and told Human Rights Watch: \"We heard helicopters in the air just before the attack. \"The fires and strikes were so bad that we weren't able to even start a response to save people until three in the morning. That's when we started to pull out the deceased from under the rubble,\" he added. \"It is known to everyone in Urum al-Kubra and the area that this is a Red Crescent warehouse and there are no military bases around it.\" Photos and videos of the aftermath of the attack showed destroyed buildings and charred lorries, and damaged boxes of food and other supplies bearing the logos of the Red Cross, Red Crescent and UN agencies. The following day, the SARC confirmed the deaths of around 20 civilians and the director of its Urum al-Kubra sub-branch, Omar Barakat. The UN subsequently gave a lower death toll of 18. Of the 31 aid lorries, 18 were totally destroyed. The warehouse and an adjoining clinic operated by the SARC were also damaged. The UN has said it is not yet in a position to determine how the convoy was attacked, and Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has decided to establish an internal board of inquiry to investigate. But the US, which backs the rebels, has said its information clearly indicates it was an air strike. On 22 September, the chairman of the US military's Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen Joseph Dunford, told a Senate committee that two Russian warplanes - reportedly Su-24 ground attack aircraft - had been in that area at the time of the attack, along with some \"some other aircraft\" belonging to the Syrian government. \"There's no doubt in my mind that the Russians are responsible. I just don't know whose aircraft actually dropped the bomb,\" he said, calling the incident \"an unacceptable atrocity\". The allegations have been vigorously denied by Russia. It has suggested they are an attempt to \"distract attention\" from an air strike by the US-led coalition against so-called Islamic State in the eastern city of Deir al-Zour on 13 September, which killed dozens of Syrian troops. However, Moscow's story seems to have gone through several changes, says the BBC's Paul Adams. On 20 September, defence ministry spokesman Maj-Gen Igor Konashenkov said it had studied videos of the aftermath and \"did not find any evidence that the convoy had been struck by ordnance\". \"There are no craters and the exterior of the vehicles do not have the kind of damage consistent with blasts caused by bombs dropped from the air,\" he explained. That seemed to contradict many of the images broadcast afterwards, our correspondent says. The Russian defence ministry later released surveillance footage filmed by a drone, which it said showed the stationary aid convoy being passed by a pick-up truck towing a heavy mortar. But the Interpreter magazine reported that the video was filmed in the Aleppo suburb of Khan al-Asal, some 6.5km (4 miles) east of Urum al-Kubra. It also pointed to screengrabs of other drone footage reportedly streamed online by Russia on the day of the attack that appears to show the convoy being unloaded. The timestamp says 18:41. On 21 September, Gen Konashenkov said a US Predator drone, armed with air-to-ground missiles, was flying above Urum al-Kubra at the time of the attack - an allegation the US military quickly denied. The general said the drone took off from Incirlik air base in Turkey, reached the area several minutes before the convoy caught fire and left about 30 minutes later. \"Only its owners know why the drone was in the area at the right time and what kind of tasks it was conducting there,\" he added. On 5 October, Lars Bromley of the UN Operational Satellite Applications Programme (Unosat), told a news briefing: \"With our analysis we determined it was an air strike, and I think multiple other sources have said that as well.\" However, Unosat manager Einar Bjorgo, who also attended the briefing, later clarified that they could not be 100% certain. \"There is significant damage, and we believe it may be air strikes, but it's not conclusive,\" he told Reuters news agency. The UN's Emergency Relief Co-ordinator, Stephen O'Brien, has called for an immediate, impartial and independent investigation into the incident. UN officials stressed that officials had \"completely deconflicted\" the aid delivery with all parties beforehand by obtaining necessary permits from the government and notifying combatants on the ground of the lorries' movements. The convoy was also clearly marked as humanitarian. \"International humanitarian law and human rights law plainly set out the basic responsibilities of warring parties to ensure the necessary protection of all humanitarian organizations, including personnel, facilities and other relief assets,\" Mr O'Brien said. \"Let me be clear: if this callous attack is found to be a deliberate targeting of humanitarians, it would amount to a war crime.\" The president of the International Committee of the Red Cross, Peter Maurer, described the attack as a \"flagrant violation of international humanitarian law\". Correction 24 November 2016: A reference to photos and videos showing dead and injured people has been removed from this report.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 458, "answer_end": 2229, "text": "The SARC said the convoy consisted of 31 lorries loaded with non-food items, clothes and paediatric nutrients, supported by the World Food Programme, UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) and UN Children's Fund (Unicef), and the International Organisation for Migration. On the afternoon of 19 September, after co-ordinating with all parties on the ground, the convoy reached a SARC warehouse in Urum al-Kubra, a rebel-held town about 12km (8 miles) west of the divided second city of Aleppo, from where the aid was to be distributed to some 78,000 civilians, the SARC added. At around 19:10 (16:10 GMT), as they were being unloaded, the attack on the lorries began, witnesses said. It was to last more than three hours. Ammar al-Salmo, a volunteer search-and-rescue worker from the Syria Civil Defence, was in the area at the time and told Human Rights Watch: \"We heard helicopters in the air just before the attack. \"The fires and strikes were so bad that we weren't able to even start a response to save people until three in the morning. That's when we started to pull out the deceased from under the rubble,\" he added. \"It is known to everyone in Urum al-Kubra and the area that this is a Red Crescent warehouse and there are no military bases around it.\" Photos and videos of the aftermath of the attack showed destroyed buildings and charred lorries, and damaged boxes of food and other supplies bearing the logos of the Red Cross, Red Crescent and UN agencies. The following day, the SARC confirmed the deaths of around 20 civilians and the director of its Urum al-Kubra sub-branch, Omar Barakat. The UN subsequently gave a lower death toll of 18. Of the 31 aid lorries, 18 were totally destroyed. The warehouse and an adjoining clinic operated by the SARC were also damaged."}], "question": "What happened?", "id": "956_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2230, "answer_end": 5326, "text": "The UN has said it is not yet in a position to determine how the convoy was attacked, and Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has decided to establish an internal board of inquiry to investigate. But the US, which backs the rebels, has said its information clearly indicates it was an air strike. On 22 September, the chairman of the US military's Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen Joseph Dunford, told a Senate committee that two Russian warplanes - reportedly Su-24 ground attack aircraft - had been in that area at the time of the attack, along with some \"some other aircraft\" belonging to the Syrian government. \"There's no doubt in my mind that the Russians are responsible. I just don't know whose aircraft actually dropped the bomb,\" he said, calling the incident \"an unacceptable atrocity\". The allegations have been vigorously denied by Russia. It has suggested they are an attempt to \"distract attention\" from an air strike by the US-led coalition against so-called Islamic State in the eastern city of Deir al-Zour on 13 September, which killed dozens of Syrian troops. However, Moscow's story seems to have gone through several changes, says the BBC's Paul Adams. On 20 September, defence ministry spokesman Maj-Gen Igor Konashenkov said it had studied videos of the aftermath and \"did not find any evidence that the convoy had been struck by ordnance\". \"There are no craters and the exterior of the vehicles do not have the kind of damage consistent with blasts caused by bombs dropped from the air,\" he explained. That seemed to contradict many of the images broadcast afterwards, our correspondent says. The Russian defence ministry later released surveillance footage filmed by a drone, which it said showed the stationary aid convoy being passed by a pick-up truck towing a heavy mortar. But the Interpreter magazine reported that the video was filmed in the Aleppo suburb of Khan al-Asal, some 6.5km (4 miles) east of Urum al-Kubra. It also pointed to screengrabs of other drone footage reportedly streamed online by Russia on the day of the attack that appears to show the convoy being unloaded. The timestamp says 18:41. On 21 September, Gen Konashenkov said a US Predator drone, armed with air-to-ground missiles, was flying above Urum al-Kubra at the time of the attack - an allegation the US military quickly denied. The general said the drone took off from Incirlik air base in Turkey, reached the area several minutes before the convoy caught fire and left about 30 minutes later. \"Only its owners know why the drone was in the area at the right time and what kind of tasks it was conducting there,\" he added. On 5 October, Lars Bromley of the UN Operational Satellite Applications Programme (Unosat), told a news briefing: \"With our analysis we determined it was an air strike, and I think multiple other sources have said that as well.\" However, Unosat manager Einar Bjorgo, who also attended the briefing, later clarified that they could not be 100% certain. \"There is significant damage, and we believe it may be air strikes, but it's not conclusive,\" he told Reuters news agency."}], "question": "Who is to blame?", "id": "956_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 5327, "answer_end": 6430, "text": "The UN's Emergency Relief Co-ordinator, Stephen O'Brien, has called for an immediate, impartial and independent investigation into the incident. UN officials stressed that officials had \"completely deconflicted\" the aid delivery with all parties beforehand by obtaining necessary permits from the government and notifying combatants on the ground of the lorries' movements. The convoy was also clearly marked as humanitarian. \"International humanitarian law and human rights law plainly set out the basic responsibilities of warring parties to ensure the necessary protection of all humanitarian organizations, including personnel, facilities and other relief assets,\" Mr O'Brien said. \"Let me be clear: if this callous attack is found to be a deliberate targeting of humanitarians, it would amount to a war crime.\" The president of the International Committee of the Red Cross, Peter Maurer, described the attack as a \"flagrant violation of international humanitarian law\". Correction 24 November 2016: A reference to photos and videos showing dead and injured people has been removed from this report."}], "question": "Was this a war crime?", "id": "956_2"}]}]}, {"title": "Trump's trade agenda: Just what are his priorities?", "date": "14 April 2017", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Trade was one of the dominant themes in Donald Trump's election campaign. He often focused on particular US trade partners. Mexico and China were most frequently in his sights. And one of his first actions as president was to withdraw the US from the Trans-Pacific Partnership, a regional trade deal, agreed by his predecessor but which had not come into force. So what are President Trump's priorities for trade? What does he hope to achieve? He often focuses on trade imbalances: the US deficit in trade with the rest of the world and bilateral deficits too. Here are some figures. Last year the US had a deficit of half a trillion dollars in trade in goods and services with the rest of the world. For China, the bilateral deficit was close to $350bn (PS280bn). For Japan, Germany and Mexico, the figures were in the range of $60-70bn. President Trump considers these figures to be evidence that the US has done badly, that it has been treated unfairly. Mexico, he has said, is \"killing us on jobs and trade\". He has expressed similar views on China: \"We are like the piggy bank that's being robbed.\" His trade adviser Peter Navarro told the Financial Times that Germany uses a grossly undervalued euro to exploit its trade partners, essentially arguing that the exchange rate gives Germany a competitive advantage that's unfair. Mr Trump has also criticised Japan for barriers to American car exports and for manipulating its currency to gain a competitive advantage. He wants to see a reversal of the decline in manufacturing employment that the US has experienced. (The number of jobs in manufacturing dropped sharply in the 2000s, though the share of total employment has been falling for decades.) So where do those concerns lead President Trump's trade agenda? His bilateral discussions have got off to a somewhat gentler start than his campaign language might have led us to expect. He held a summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping last weekend. They agreed a 100-day programme of talks. The US expects China to offer better access to its market, including for beef and services companies. Mr Trump's campaign language about possibly imposing large tariffs on imports from China, as much as 45%, was not on display this time. One China critic in the US, Gordon Chang, asked: \"Did Trump just roll over on China trade?\" And just days after meeting President Xi, Mr Trump said his administration would not label China a currency manipulator, rowing back on a campaign promise. China's critics have a wide-ranging list of allegations about unfair practices - subsidies to Chinese industries, dumping underpriced goods, and the theft of patents and copyright. With Mexico, President Trump wants to renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement (Nafta), a deal that dramatically reduced barriers to commerce between the US, Mexico and also Canada. Most goods are traded free of tariffs (taxes applied only to traded goods). He has said that Nafta was the worst trade deal the US has ever done, that it kills American jobs. How would he like to change it? He has threatened a number of carmakers with \"border taxes\" (that is tariffs) if they expand production in Mexico for export to the US market. That would be inconsistent with Nafta as it currently stands and it's hard to see how it would comply with any amendments to Nafta that the Mexican government would be willing to accept. It's also almost certain that such action would be incompatible with World Trade Organization (WTO) rules. But there are signs that the administration's approach may in the event be softer. There is a draft letter from the administration to Congress setting out objectives for a renegotiation. National Public Radio described the proposed changes as \"tweaks\". There is quite a long list of areas proposed for revision, including a right to re-impose tariffs (probably temporarily) in response to a surge in imports and an effort to remove barriers to US exports to the other two countries. There is also a call to look at what are called \"rules of origin\", which specify how much of a product's value has to be added in the Nafta area to qualify for tariff-free treatment. A higher threshold could make it harder to use components made in China, for example. But what is clear is that this is about revising rather than scrapping Nafta. It's also unclear exactly what Mr Trump would do about disputes in trade with other countries. Options include making more aggressive use of the WTO's rules for disputes. There is its judicial dispute settlement system, and there are actions that countries can take unilaterally against subsidised or dumped imports (sold abroad more cheaply than in the producer's home market), provided they do it in a way that is set out in WTO rules. What worries many trade experts is that the Trump administration might be ready to bypass WTO rules and impose new barriers to imports regardless of the organisation's rules. It would be a very serious, possibly fatal blow for the credibility of the agency if the world's largest economy were not to take it and its rules seriously. The WTO is at the heart of a system of international trade relations, based on rules that started to take shape soon after World War Two. Although the WTO itself wasn't established until 1995, much of the rulebook that it now manages goes back to the late 1940s. There is a lot of anxiety among trade officials about just how the global trade system might unravel if the WTO were seriously undermined.  The concern is that there could be widespread new restrictions arising and their view - shared by the great majority of economists - is that increased trade protectionism would be bad for living standards around the world. It certainly caused a lot of anxiety when a recent meeting of finance ministers from the G20 leading economies dropped from its communique a remark that had previously been routinely included about avoiding trade protectionism, something that was done at the insistence of the US delegation. So we certainly have some new questions about what role the US will take in shaping the future of the global trading system. President Trump's most strident campaign comments haven't yet been fully reflected in the actions of his administration, with the exception perhaps of the withdrawal from the Trans-Pacific Partnership. But it is still very early days.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1770, "answer_end": 3503, "text": "His bilateral discussions have got off to a somewhat gentler start than his campaign language might have led us to expect. He held a summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping last weekend. They agreed a 100-day programme of talks. The US expects China to offer better access to its market, including for beef and services companies. Mr Trump's campaign language about possibly imposing large tariffs on imports from China, as much as 45%, was not on display this time. One China critic in the US, Gordon Chang, asked: \"Did Trump just roll over on China trade?\" And just days after meeting President Xi, Mr Trump said his administration would not label China a currency manipulator, rowing back on a campaign promise. China's critics have a wide-ranging list of allegations about unfair practices - subsidies to Chinese industries, dumping underpriced goods, and the theft of patents and copyright. With Mexico, President Trump wants to renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement (Nafta), a deal that dramatically reduced barriers to commerce between the US, Mexico and also Canada. Most goods are traded free of tariffs (taxes applied only to traded goods). He has said that Nafta was the worst trade deal the US has ever done, that it kills American jobs. How would he like to change it? He has threatened a number of carmakers with \"border taxes\" (that is tariffs) if they expand production in Mexico for export to the US market. That would be inconsistent with Nafta as it currently stands and it's hard to see how it would comply with any amendments to Nafta that the Mexican government would be willing to accept. It's also almost certain that such action would be incompatible with World Trade Organization (WTO) rules."}], "question": "Rolling over?", "id": "957_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Spring Budget 2017: Crackdown on 'subscription traps' planned", "date": "4 March 2017", "paragraphs": [{"context": " People who inadvertently end up subscribing for services after signing up for free trials are to be offered more protection. Plans to cut confusing small print and end the cycle of 'subscription traps' will be set out in next week's Budget. Chancellor Philip Hammond will outline a crackdown on practices which lead to people wasting their money. Firms will be forced to make terms and conditions shorter and clearer, with fines for those who mistreat customers. Spring Budget: What else you can expect The move follows concerns that many people are falling into a 'subscription trap', by signing up for a paid-for service without meaning to - for example, when a paid subscription starts automatically after a free trial has ended. Citizens Advice estimates that two million consumers each year have problems cancelling subscriptions. People taking up offers for free trials of anything from slimming pills and beauty treatments to video streaming and e-book subscriptions, can find regular payments are taken from their credit or debit card without their apparent authorisation. A Citizens Advice survey found four out of five people who had a problem with unwanted recurring payments didn't realise they had signed up to the payments until money was taken from their accounts. These so-called \"continuous payment subscriptions\" are automatic payments which work in a similar way to a direct debit, with consumers giving a supplier or retailer permission to take payments on their card. Under the proposed changes, companies such as Amazon and Netflix could be forced to stop taking people's card details when they sign up to a free trial. Julian Simms from Castleford, West Yorkshire, told BBC's Watchdog what happened when he saw an advert pop up on his phone for a 'free trial' for some face cream. He paid PS3.95 for postage and packaging and it arrived the next day. But two weeks later he noticed that his bank balance was significantly lower than it should have been. Two payments, one of PS59 and another of PS69, had been debited from his account. Mr Simms said: \"When I saw the amounts of money that had been taken from my account I just panicked. I was scared that hundreds of pounds was going to get taken out.\" Once he tracked the company down, he managed to get one payment refunded and the other stopped, after speaking to his bank. James Daley, from the consumer research group Fairer Finance, said many people ended up paying hundreds of pounds for services they didn't need. \"We've all signed up to something because it's offered free today but it's going to end up, very quickly converting into a monthly subscription that's a lot more expensive,\" he said. - A CPA, also known as a 'recurring payment', is a regular payment linked to your credit or debit card - it is not a direct debit - The company can take payment on whatever day they want for whatever amount they choose - They can be set up in person, online or over the phone and often there is no written record of them - They are often used for magazine subscriptions and gym memberships - Consumers have the legal right to cancel a CPA through the company concerned or your bank Guy Anker, from the website Money Saving Expert, agreed that consumers needed help. \"At times the onus is on us - we should check what's coming up after the free trial is over. But companies need to do a lot more. \"Companies should alert you just before they take that first charge, just so that you're sure.\" The plans to simplify small print involve looking at the standard use of tick boxes and trying to improve understanding about which terms people find confusing. There will also be new powers to impose fines on companies that mistreat customers. And the government will allow consumer enforcement bodies such as the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) to ask civil courts to order fines against companies, including those in unregulated markets, which breach consumer law.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 3161, "answer_end": 3946, "text": "Guy Anker, from the website Money Saving Expert, agreed that consumers needed help. \"At times the onus is on us - we should check what's coming up after the free trial is over. But companies need to do a lot more. \"Companies should alert you just before they take that first charge, just so that you're sure.\" The plans to simplify small print involve looking at the standard use of tick boxes and trying to improve understanding about which terms people find confusing. There will also be new powers to impose fines on companies that mistreat customers. And the government will allow consumer enforcement bodies such as the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) to ask civil courts to order fines against companies, including those in unregulated markets, which breach consumer law."}], "question": "How will they simplify terms and conditions?", "id": "958_0"}]}]}, {"title": "South China Sea: China's charm offensive in the foreign media", "date": "9 July 2016", "paragraphs": [{"context": "With an international court set to rule on China's territorial claims in the disputed South China Sea, Chinese ambassadors have been on a flurry of charm offensives in foreign media over the last few months. It is widely expected that the ruling in the case brought by the Philippines will go against China, but that hasn't stopped its ambassadors making a push to convince the world that China is in the right. English-language state media has released cutesy English-language videos discussing the history of the area and has entire website sections dedicated to analysis and discussion of the issue. But over the last few months, Chinese ambassadors across the world have been targeting the foreign press as well, writing signed articles in national newspapers to put forward China's case. The Philippines has gone to the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague to ask for a technical ruling about the extent of the territorial waters that can be claimed on the basis of the possession of various coastlines, islands and rocks. The ruling is not widely expected to favour China, and may even go so far as to invalidate its most expansive claim - the \"nine-dash line\" that encompasses up to 90% of the disputed Sea. China has said it will neither take part in the tribunal nor accept the authority of its ruling. Q&A: South China Sea dispute China's Island Factory Mysteries and maritime claims Chinese jets \"intercept\" US spy plane Flying close to China's new islands The articles are not identical, although it would be fair to say that they are very similar. Unsurprisingly, they all adhere strictly to the official government position on the dispute. It's perhaps no shock that the Chinese ambassadors to regional players like the US and Australia might be keen to make their case to the people of the country they're stationed in. They have done so in the past and so it makes sense that with the judgement due on 12 July, they are doing so again. You might wonder what influence small countries like Cyprus, thousands of miles away from the action, might be expected to have though. Some of the countries the signed articles have appeared in: Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand, New Zealand, Malaysia, Fiji, Australia Cyprus, UK, Iceland, Macedonia, Germany, France Kenya, Lesotho, South Africa, Ghana, Sierra Leone US, Jamaica So what's the big deal? The job of an ambassador is to promote the interests of their home country abroad, after all. \"In the past, there were such media pushes, but usually only to accompany visits of Chinese leaders to specific countries. It is rare to see this sort of global approach,\" says Professor Kerry Brown, an expert in Chinese politics from King's College London. \"It is almost certainly a concerted push from the centre to have ambassadors and representatives write these, and to proactively send out such messages.\" The BBC contacted several Chinese embassies to ask if the articles were centrally commissioned. Only one - the Chinese Embassy to the UK - replied, but did not respond directly to the question. Many of the articles start with a general observation such as this one: \"The South China Sea issue is a hot topic nowadays in the international media\" (from the Fiji Sun) or this:  \"In recent times, the South China Sea issue has caught the international limelight\" (from the Cyprus Mail.) They then go on to make the following points: - There is misinformation and/or misunderstanding around China's claims - The islands (called Nansha islands by the Chinese) have been China's since ancient times - The arbitration process was started unilaterally by the Philippines - Bilateral, local negotiations are the way forward - Territorial sovereignty is not within the scope of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) Some take the form of essays, whilst others are divided into bullet points. It's tempting to view them as being templated, but it could just be that they all closely follow the official government rhetoric on the matter, which might be expected on such a sensitive issue. There are some regional variations - the Chinese Ambassador to the UK, Liu Xiaoming, is far more forthright when he warns \"Stop playing with fire in the South China Sea,\" whereas an article in the Malaysian Star calls for the Malaysian approach to the South China Sea to be used as a model for other disputes. (Malaysia also claims islands in the area but is far less vociferous about its claims than countries like the Philippines.) These articles fit into a wider pattern of China wanting to demonstrate that international opinion is on their side - or at least, that some of it is. China has shown no pickiness in who it's courted for support in the South China Sea dispute - the government claims that more than 40 countries have offered China their backing. That list also includes geographically diverse and distant countries like Sierra Leone and Slovenia. \"[These articles] show firstly just how nervous China is about the impact of the ruling when it comes, and also how much more proactive their attempt is now to use the western press and media to get their message across,\" says Kerry Brown. \"I suspect we will see more of this.\"", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 3060, "answer_end": 5195, "text": "Many of the articles start with a general observation such as this one: \"The South China Sea issue is a hot topic nowadays in the international media\" (from the Fiji Sun) or this:  \"In recent times, the South China Sea issue has caught the international limelight\" (from the Cyprus Mail.) They then go on to make the following points: - There is misinformation and/or misunderstanding around China's claims - The islands (called Nansha islands by the Chinese) have been China's since ancient times - The arbitration process was started unilaterally by the Philippines - Bilateral, local negotiations are the way forward - Territorial sovereignty is not within the scope of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) Some take the form of essays, whilst others are divided into bullet points. It's tempting to view them as being templated, but it could just be that they all closely follow the official government rhetoric on the matter, which might be expected on such a sensitive issue. There are some regional variations - the Chinese Ambassador to the UK, Liu Xiaoming, is far more forthright when he warns \"Stop playing with fire in the South China Sea,\" whereas an article in the Malaysian Star calls for the Malaysian approach to the South China Sea to be used as a model for other disputes. (Malaysia also claims islands in the area but is far less vociferous about its claims than countries like the Philippines.) These articles fit into a wider pattern of China wanting to demonstrate that international opinion is on their side - or at least, that some of it is. China has shown no pickiness in who it's courted for support in the South China Sea dispute - the government claims that more than 40 countries have offered China their backing. That list also includes geographically diverse and distant countries like Sierra Leone and Slovenia. \"[These articles] show firstly just how nervous China is about the impact of the ruling when it comes, and also how much more proactive their attempt is now to use the western press and media to get their message across,\" says Kerry Brown. \"I suspect we will see more of this.\""}], "question": "Templated?", "id": "959_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Jay-Z NFL deal: Kaepernick lawyer calls rapper 'cold-blooded'", "date": "21 August 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Jay-Z's decision to partner with the NFL has been described as \"cold-blooded\". Mark Geragos - the lawyer of American football player Colin Kaepernick - told ABC News that the deal \"crosses the intellectual picket line\". Last week, the NFL announced that Jay-Z and his label Roc Nation had teamed up with the league for entertainment events and to promote social activism. Kaepernick's been in a long dispute with the NFL and doesn't have a team. The league will work with Roc Nation on its entertainment performances such as the Super Bowl half-time show - but also to \"strengthen community through football and music\" and the NFL's Inspire Change initiative. Inspire Change was created after discussions with players who protested the national anthem - a movement sparked by Colin Kaepernick. Jay-Z says \"this partnership is an opportunity to strengthen the fabric of communities across America.\" And NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell says he was looking \"forward to making a difference\" and driving social change. There is anger because Jay-Z has teamed up with an organisation that some - such as Kaepernick's girlfriend Nessa - feel is \"actively\" keeping him \"unemployed\". She wrote on Instagram: \"So really, how can Jay-Z and the NFL utter social justice in their partnership while keeping Colin unemployed because of his social justice work?\" Kaepernick has been without a team since 2017, with allegations of team owners colluding to keep him unsigned - in a lawsuit that's now been settled. And according to Mark Geragos, both the NFL and Jay-Z did not contact Kaepernick during discussions about their deal. \"The deal was already done prior to any conversation that [Kaepernick] had with Jay-Z and he certainly didn't have any conversations with the NFL,\" the lawyer said. But Jay-Z says \"we've moved past kneeling and I think it's time to go into actionable items\" and that this partnership can \"inspire\" and \"educate\". He's not directly addressed the issue but has tweeted in support of those who continue to protest: And in a recent interview with Paper Magazine, he spoke about why he decided to protest in the first place. He says the police shooting death of 26-year-old Mario Woods in 2015 pushed him to protest police brutality and injustice, and led to his decision to kneel during the national anthem. He adds that along with Nessa, they decided to set up Know Your Rights Camp, a youth-empowerment initiative. It aims to provide a safe space for young people - primarily black youth aged 12-18 - and help them \"gain legal knowledge for navigating all-too-common violent encounters with police officers.\" \"This movement needs all types of people,\" says Kaepernick. \"From athletes to healers to poets and artists to scholars and lawyers, we need everyone to contribute to the struggle. \"The struggle is affecting all of us. Period.\" Radio 1 Newsbeat has contacted Jay-Z and Roc Nation for comment. 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_start": 1013, "answer_end": 1926, "text": "There is anger because Jay-Z has teamed up with an organisation that some - such as Kaepernick's girlfriend Nessa - feel is \"actively\" keeping him \"unemployed\". She wrote on Instagram: \"So really, how can Jay-Z and the NFL utter social justice in their partnership while keeping Colin unemployed because of his social justice work?\" Kaepernick has been without a team since 2017, with allegations of team owners colluding to keep him unsigned - in a lawsuit that's now been settled. And according to Mark Geragos, both the NFL and Jay-Z did not contact Kaepernick during discussions about their deal. \"The deal was already done prior to any conversation that [Kaepernick] had with Jay-Z and he certainly didn't have any conversations with the NFL,\" the lawyer said. But Jay-Z says \"we've moved past kneeling and I think it's time to go into actionable items\" and that this partnership can \"inspire\" and \"educate\"."}], "question": "So what's the controversy?", "id": "960_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1927, "answer_end": 2912, "text": "He's not directly addressed the issue but has tweeted in support of those who continue to protest: And in a recent interview with Paper Magazine, he spoke about why he decided to protest in the first place. He says the police shooting death of 26-year-old Mario Woods in 2015 pushed him to protest police brutality and injustice, and led to his decision to kneel during the national anthem. He adds that along with Nessa, they decided to set up Know Your Rights Camp, a youth-empowerment initiative. It aims to provide a safe space for young people - primarily black youth aged 12-18 - and help them \"gain legal knowledge for navigating all-too-common violent encounters with police officers.\" \"This movement needs all types of people,\" says Kaepernick. \"From athletes to healers to poets and artists to scholars and lawyers, we need everyone to contribute to the struggle. \"The struggle is affecting all of us. Period.\" Radio 1 Newsbeat has contacted Jay-Z and Roc Nation for comment."}], "question": "What does Colin Kaepernick say?", "id": "960_1"}]}]}, {"title": "Spy poisoning: How is the UK retaliating against Russia?", "date": "15 March 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "UK Prime Minister Theresa May has announced the expulsion of 23 Russian diplomats in retaliation for the attack on a former spy and his daughter who were poisoned on British soil with a military-grade nerve agent. \"There is no alternative conclusion other than that the Russian state was culpable,\" Mrs May told Parliament, calling it \"an unlawful use of force\". Russia has denied involvement in the attempted murder of Sergei Skripal, 66, and his daughter, Yulia, 33, on 4 March. The 23 diplomats identified as \"undeclared intelligence officers\" were given one week to leave, in the largest mass expulsion in the UK in more than 30 years. The Russian embassy said the decision was \"unacceptable, unjustified and short-sighted\". Other measures included: - Increased checks on private flights, customs and freight - The freezing of Russian state assets where there is evidence they may be used to threaten the life or property of UK nationals or residents - Ministers and Royal Family members to boycott the World Cup in Russia later this year - The suspension of all planned high level bilateral contacts between the UK and Russia - Plans to consider new laws to increase defences against \"hostile state activity\". This could come through a British version of the 2012 US Magnitsky act, which punishes Russians involved in corruption and human rights violations with asset freezes and travel bans. MPs have pushed for a Magnitsky amendment to be added to the Sanctions and Anti-Money Laundering Bill going through Parliament - Take some sort of action to bar wealthy Russian oligarchs from accessing their mansions and other luxuries in London, as suggested by Tory MP and House of Commons foreign affairs committee chair Tom Tugendhat. One way this could happen is through the use of Unexplained Wealth Orders, which allow government officials to seize assets including property until they have been properly accounted for - Taking Russian broadcasters such as RT (formerly Russia Today) off the air. Moscow has threatened to bar all British media from working in Russia if RT is targeted Current sanctions on Russia that Britain supports are imposed via the European Union, and target Russia's state finances, energy and arms sectors. They were first passed after Russia annexed Ukraine's Crimean peninsula in 2014 and backed rebels fighting in eastern Ukraine, and include: - The exclusion of state banks from raising long-term loans in the EU - A ban on exports of dual-use equipment that could be put to military use and a ban on EU-Russia arms deals - A ban on exports of a wide range of oil industry technology - Asset freezes and travel bans on 150 people and 38 companies EU countries are already divided on the sanctions and some doubt whether Britain could convince the bloc to further toughen its measures, especially as it prepares to leave the union. The bloc will discuss the issue in a meeting next week, European Council President Donald Tusk said, calling it a \"brutal attack inspired most likely by Moscow\". By framing the poisoning as a possible \"unlawful use of force\" by Russia, Theresa May prompted questions as to whether this could be a matter for Nato, the military alliance of 29 countries. The alliance's policy of collective defence - under Article 5 - states that an attack on any one ally is seen as an attack on all. It was invoked for the first and only time by the United States after the 9/11 attacks. But Downing Street has played down suggestions that this is an Article 5 matter. For its part, Nato urged Russia to answer the UK's questions, expressing \"deep concern\" over the \"first offensive use of a nerve agent on alliance territory\" since its foundation. The UN Security Council held an emergency meeting at the UK's request, where British deputy ambassador Jonathan Allen said Russia had used \"a weapon so horrific that it is banned in war\". At the meeting US Ambassador Nikki Haley said: \"The credibility of this council will not survive if we fail to hold Russia accountable.\" And US President Donald Trump's spokeswoman Sarah Sanders has accused Russia of undermining the security of countries worldwide. Mrs May has had phone discussions with French President Emmanuel Macron, and a statement from the country's embassy said \"there is no other plausible explanation\" than Russian involvement. It added France expressed \"solidarity regarding its ally\". The UK has asked Russia to provide a \"full and complete disclosure\" of the Novichok nerve agent programme to an international agency, the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 2090, "answer_end": 3026, "text": "Current sanctions on Russia that Britain supports are imposed via the European Union, and target Russia's state finances, energy and arms sectors. They were first passed after Russia annexed Ukraine's Crimean peninsula in 2014 and backed rebels fighting in eastern Ukraine, and include: - The exclusion of state banks from raising long-term loans in the EU - A ban on exports of dual-use equipment that could be put to military use and a ban on EU-Russia arms deals - A ban on exports of a wide range of oil industry technology - Asset freezes and travel bans on 150 people and 38 companies EU countries are already divided on the sanctions and some doubt whether Britain could convince the bloc to further toughen its measures, especially as it prepares to leave the union. The bloc will discuss the issue in a meeting next week, European Council President Donald Tusk said, calling it a \"brutal attack inspired most likely by Moscow\"."}], "question": "Could the EU impose new sanctions?", "id": "961_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3027, "answer_end": 3697, "text": "By framing the poisoning as a possible \"unlawful use of force\" by Russia, Theresa May prompted questions as to whether this could be a matter for Nato, the military alliance of 29 countries. The alliance's policy of collective defence - under Article 5 - states that an attack on any one ally is seen as an attack on all. It was invoked for the first and only time by the United States after the 9/11 attacks. But Downing Street has played down suggestions that this is an Article 5 matter. For its part, Nato urged Russia to answer the UK's questions, expressing \"deep concern\" over the \"first offensive use of a nerve agent on alliance territory\" since its foundation."}], "question": "Could Nato act?", "id": "961_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3698, "answer_end": 4591, "text": "The UN Security Council held an emergency meeting at the UK's request, where British deputy ambassador Jonathan Allen said Russia had used \"a weapon so horrific that it is banned in war\". At the meeting US Ambassador Nikki Haley said: \"The credibility of this council will not survive if we fail to hold Russia accountable.\" And US President Donald Trump's spokeswoman Sarah Sanders has accused Russia of undermining the security of countries worldwide. Mrs May has had phone discussions with French President Emmanuel Macron, and a statement from the country's embassy said \"there is no other plausible explanation\" than Russian involvement. It added France expressed \"solidarity regarding its ally\". The UK has asked Russia to provide a \"full and complete disclosure\" of the Novichok nerve agent programme to an international agency, the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons."}], "question": "What about the UK's allies?", "id": "961_2"}]}]}, {"title": "McDonald's sacks Australian franchisee over race row video", "date": "16 December 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "McDonald's has fired one of its franchise owners in Australia amid outrage over a video which showed him berating a neighbour while questioning whether he was a \"true\" Aboriginal man. The video was filmed by the neighbour - Aboriginal artist Robby Wirramanda - at his home, and was later shared widely. It also shows a woman identified as \"Karen\" attempting to rip down an Aboriginal flag at the house. The pair in the video have not responded publicly to the backlash. McDonald's identified the man as one of its licensees, Robert Vigors, who had overseen two restaurants in Victoria, in the towns of Mildura and Irymple. The fast food chain said it had \"taken over\" operation of the restaurants, describing Mr Vigors' comments as \"unacceptable\" - echoing condemnation in the wider community. \"Robert Vigors has left the system and is no longer involved,\" McDonald's said in a statement. The footage does not show what led to the confrontation outside Mr Wirramanda's house, but captures a heated exchange. \"Which 1% of you is Aboriginal, mate?\" Mr Vigors is heard saying. \"You've got nothing in you that's Aboriginal. You claiming to be Aboriginal? You make me laugh.\" In response, Mr Wirramanda asks: \"What is a true Aboriginal?\" The woman, who appears to be with Mr Vigors, is also seen unsuccessfully trying to pull down an Aboriginal flag attached to the house. Mr Wirramanda responds by telling her \"it's too strong for you Karen\" and accuses her of racism. The phrase #TooStrongForYouKaren trended on Twitter on Sunday after the video gained attention online. The Daily Mail Australia reported that Karen had told them she had received death threats since the video and did not feel safe commenting further. Mr Wirramanda told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation his family had posted the footage to spread awareness about racism in Australia. The state MP for Mildura, Ali Cupper, tweeted that the incident made her \"worry about how deep and widespread this problem may be\". \"This is not just anyone screaming at the Aboriginal flag, it's two privileged, wealthy educated business leaders,\" she said.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 889, "answer_end": 2113, "text": "The footage does not show what led to the confrontation outside Mr Wirramanda's house, but captures a heated exchange. \"Which 1% of you is Aboriginal, mate?\" Mr Vigors is heard saying. \"You've got nothing in you that's Aboriginal. You claiming to be Aboriginal? You make me laugh.\" In response, Mr Wirramanda asks: \"What is a true Aboriginal?\" The woman, who appears to be with Mr Vigors, is also seen unsuccessfully trying to pull down an Aboriginal flag attached to the house. Mr Wirramanda responds by telling her \"it's too strong for you Karen\" and accuses her of racism. The phrase #TooStrongForYouKaren trended on Twitter on Sunday after the video gained attention online. The Daily Mail Australia reported that Karen had told them she had received death threats since the video and did not feel safe commenting further. Mr Wirramanda told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation his family had posted the footage to spread awareness about racism in Australia. The state MP for Mildura, Ali Cupper, tweeted that the incident made her \"worry about how deep and widespread this problem may be\". \"This is not just anyone screaming at the Aboriginal flag, it's two privileged, wealthy educated business leaders,\" she said."}], "question": "What was said in the video?", "id": "962_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Hurricane Irma: Florida launches huge relief operation", "date": "11 September 2017", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Relief operations are under way in Florida, as the extent of the damage from Hurricane Irma becomes clear. More than 6.5m homes - two-thirds 62% of the state - are without power. Many parts of the state have been flooded The islands of the Florida Keys and western parts of the state bore the brunt of Irma - which hit the state as a category four hurricane on Sunday before weakening to a tropical storm. Media reports link at least four deaths to the storm in the Florida. It cut a devastating track across Caribbean islands, killing at least 37 people there. Florida Governor Rick Scott said it was \"going to take some time\" before people could return to their homes, the Miami Herald website reports. Speaking as he went on an aerial tour of the Keys to survey the damage early on Monday, he said: \"Power lines are down throughout the state. We've got roads that are impassable, so everybody's got to be patient as we work through this.\" By Jane O'Brien, BBC News, Miami Miami dodged a bullet by and large. The eye of the storm did not hit the city but it did wallop the Florida Keys, of course, and that is where the concern is now. Communications were pretty bad even on Friday. A number of people who had fled the Keys and checked into our hotel were struggling to keep in touch with relatives who had decided to stay behind. Reports say that 10,000 people decided to ride out the storm. We do not know what state they are in now. The first job rescue services will have to do is to test the integrity of the 42 bridges linking the Keys. If one of those is down, it could cause problems because it could strand any one of the islands. The entire Keys are closed. There is no way of getting in there at the moment while the authorities assess the damage. Although Miami was spared the brunt of the storm, large parts of the city are under water. Winds have snapped power lines and 72% of homes there are without electricity, officials say. On the west coast of Florida, drone footage from Naples, a town on the coast of the Gulf of Mexico about 125 miles (200km) to the north-west, shows rows of shattered suburban homes on streets under water. President Donald Trump has released emergency federal aid for Florida, describing the hurricane as a \"big monster\". Funds will be needed to care for victims, clean up debris, restore power, and repair damage to homes and businesses. Martin Senterfitt, emergency management director for Monroe County, said a huge airborne mission was in the works, the Miami Herald reports. \"Disaster mortuary teams\", he said on Sunday, would be dispatched to the Keys, which are part of Monroe. At 12:00 GMT, the centre of the storm was about 105 miles (170km) north of Tampa, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) said. Some three million people live in the Tampa Bay area. The region has not been hit by a major hurricane since 1921. Irma made landfall on Marco Island off Florida's west coast at 15:35 local time (19:35 GMT) on Sunday, with winds of up to 120mph. \"We feel the building swaying all the time,\" restaurant owner Deme Lomas told Reuters news agency by phone from his 35th-floor apartment in Miami. At least four deaths have been connected to the storm: - Two police officers died when their vehicles collided in Hardee County in central Florida - A person died in a single-car crash near Orlando - A man died in the town of Marathon in the Florida Keys when his vehicle hit a tree on Saturday Some 6.3 million people in the state were told to evacuate before Irma arrived. There is major disruption to transport, with Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport and Miami International Airport closed for Monday. Curfews have been imposed areas such as in Miami, where 13 people were arrested on suspicion of looting. Irma is the most powerful Atlantic storm in a decade, and caused widespread destruction on several Caribbean islands: - Cuba: at least 10 people were killed by the storm on the island, officials say. Electricity is out across the capital, Havana - St Martin and St Barthelemy: Six out of 10 homes on St Martin, an island shared between France and the Netherlands, are now uninhabitable, French officials say. They said nine people had died and seven were missing in the French territories, while four are known to have died in Dutch Sint-Maarten - Turks and Caicos Islands: Widespread damage, although extent unclear - Barbuda: The small island is said to be \"barely habitable\", with 95% of the buildings damaged. Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister Gaston Browne estimates reconstruction will cost $100m (PS80m). One death has been confirmed - Anguilla: Extensive damage with one person confirmed dead - Puerto Rico: More than 6,000 residents of the US territory are in shelters and many more without power. At least three people have died - British Virgin Islands: Widespread damage reported, and five dead - US Virgin Islands: Damage to infrastructure was said to be widespread, with four deaths confirmed - Haiti and the Dominican Republic: Both battered by the storm, but neither had as much damage as initially feared Another hurricane, Jose, has been weakening over the western Atlantic, with swells due to affect parts of Hispaniola (the island split into Haiti and the Dominican Republic), the Bahamas, and the Turks and Caicos Islands, later this week. Are you in the region? Are you a holidaymaker unable to get a flight home or a resident who has been preparing for Hurricane Irma? If it is safe for you to do so, share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. 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 yourpics@bbc.co.uk - Upload your pictures / video here - Send an SMS or MMS to 61124 or +44 7624 800 100 - Please read our terms & conditions", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1761, "answer_end": 2629, "text": "Although Miami was spared the brunt of the storm, large parts of the city are under water. Winds have snapped power lines and 72% of homes there are without electricity, officials say. On the west coast of Florida, drone footage from Naples, a town on the coast of the Gulf of Mexico about 125 miles (200km) to the north-west, shows rows of shattered suburban homes on streets under water. President Donald Trump has released emergency federal aid for Florida, describing the hurricane as a \"big monster\". Funds will be needed to care for victims, clean up debris, restore power, and repair damage to homes and businesses. Martin Senterfitt, emergency management director for Monroe County, said a huge airborne mission was in the works, the Miami Herald reports. \"Disaster mortuary teams\", he said on Sunday, would be dispatched to the Keys, which are part of Monroe."}], "question": "How big will the disaster response be?", "id": "963_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2630, "answer_end": 2999, "text": "At 12:00 GMT, the centre of the storm was about 105 miles (170km) north of Tampa, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) said. Some three million people live in the Tampa Bay area. The region has not been hit by a major hurricane since 1921. Irma made landfall on Marco Island off Florida's west coast at 15:35 local time (19:35 GMT) on Sunday, with winds of up to 120mph."}], "question": "Where is the storm now?", "id": "963_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3000, "answer_end": 3770, "text": "\"We feel the building swaying all the time,\" restaurant owner Deme Lomas told Reuters news agency by phone from his 35th-floor apartment in Miami. At least four deaths have been connected to the storm: - Two police officers died when their vehicles collided in Hardee County in central Florida - A person died in a single-car crash near Orlando - A man died in the town of Marathon in the Florida Keys when his vehicle hit a tree on Saturday Some 6.3 million people in the state were told to evacuate before Irma arrived. There is major disruption to transport, with Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport and Miami International Airport closed for Monday. Curfews have been imposed areas such as in Miami, where 13 people were arrested on suspicion of looting."}], "question": "How have residents felt the impact?", "id": "963_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3771, "answer_end": 5332, "text": "Irma is the most powerful Atlantic storm in a decade, and caused widespread destruction on several Caribbean islands: - Cuba: at least 10 people were killed by the storm on the island, officials say. Electricity is out across the capital, Havana - St Martin and St Barthelemy: Six out of 10 homes on St Martin, an island shared between France and the Netherlands, are now uninhabitable, French officials say. They said nine people had died and seven were missing in the French territories, while four are known to have died in Dutch Sint-Maarten - Turks and Caicos Islands: Widespread damage, although extent unclear - Barbuda: The small island is said to be \"barely habitable\", with 95% of the buildings damaged. Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister Gaston Browne estimates reconstruction will cost $100m (PS80m). One death has been confirmed - Anguilla: Extensive damage with one person confirmed dead - Puerto Rico: More than 6,000 residents of the US territory are in shelters and many more without power. At least three people have died - British Virgin Islands: Widespread damage reported, and five dead - US Virgin Islands: Damage to infrastructure was said to be widespread, with four deaths confirmed - Haiti and the Dominican Republic: Both battered by the storm, but neither had as much damage as initially feared Another hurricane, Jose, has been weakening over the western Atlantic, with swells due to affect parts of Hispaniola (the island split into Haiti and the Dominican Republic), the Bahamas, and the Turks and Caicos Islands, later this week."}], "question": "Which areas were hit before Florida?", "id": "963_3"}]}]}, {"title": "Article 50 Bill: what happens next in Parliament", "date": "24 January 2017", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Some MPs are already talking about the impending Article 50 vote as their Iraq moment; a Commons vote of huge historic significance, complete (for some at least) with a gut-twisting clash between political principle and career survival. The expectation is that the Leader of the House, David Lidington, will announce the timing for consideration of the Article 50 Bill mandated by the Supreme Court, at Commons Business Questions on Thursday. The bill - likely to be no more than a few lines - could be published this week and debates could begin next week. (If no such announcement occurs, something has gone wrong behind the scenes). To be sure, such a rapid process would amount to a telescoping of normal Commons rules, which require two weeks between the publication of a bill (its first reading, in parliamentary jargon) and the second reading debate. But that kind of thing happens all the time - and a simple motion to ignore the usual intervals would be agreed behind the scenes, in the so-called \"usual channels\" and then rubber-stamped by MPs. The question then is not \"will MPs block Brexit?\" There is a clear Commons majority, and I doubt that much more than a hundred of the 650 MPs would be prepared to vote against the Article 50 Bill. The real question is what amendments might be attempted. There's been a certain amount of talk about the government creating an \"unamendable\" bill - a concept to be filed alongside unsinkable ships, foolproof precautions and no-iron shirts. The bill will be very short and will have a very carefully-limited \"scope\" - which means that any amendments offered up will have to be very precisely worded. Deputy Speaker Lindsay Hoyle and the Commons clerks will doubtless spend many hours sifting through them, probably rejecting the vast majority. But if a bill says anything, it must then be capable of being amended or of having new clauses tacked onto it. But for that to happen in practice, some of the Conservatives' narrow Commons majority would have to flake off - quite a few, in fact, given that the eight DUP MPs, plus a number of pro-Brexit Labour MPs would probably oppose any amendment. And failure to back the government on this bill, of all bills, would be career-threatening for any Tory other than Ken Clarke. Watching David Davis's Commons statement, it seems clear that the two main pressure points are both procedural. A succession of rearguard Tory Remainers demanded a White Paper, a formal policy document, setting out the government's position. And in truth, it would not be a very big concession for the government to make - just turn the language of Theresa May's speech into officialese, and maybe stir in a couple of position papers already in circulation, and Hey Presto! Offering a concession that did not really concede anything would, at least, provide MPs in pro-Remain constituencies with a fig leaf to shield them from their voters. Then there's Labour's \"meaningful vote\" idea, trailed by their superlawyer Brexit spokesman, Keir Starmer. This would require the government to give Parliament a vote on the Brexit terms, in time for the deal to be re-worked, if it was not approved. The thinking here is that MPs and peers might be confronted with a choice of approving whatever deal was put before them, or running out of time and seeing the UK drop off the fabled \"cliff edge\" into trading with the EU on World Trade Organisation terms - the default minimum, in the absence of a bespoke deal. Again, most of the Opposition parties might back this, but it could not be passed unless a fair number of Conservatives were prepared to take the huge step of throwing their own party over. When might the attempts be made? Expect the government to be extremely generous with debating time - there might even be a two-day second reading debate, which is an unheard-of luxury these days. There may well be an Opposition amendment at second reading, and if that failed, as it probably would, further amendments when the bill moves to detailed committee stage debate. Because this is a constitutional measure this would be a committee of the whole House, and again the debate might be allowed several days. In effect, the government would be inviting its opponents to drone until they dropped, through the night if necessary, with tumbleweed blowing across the Chamber. All with the aim of ensuring that no-one could possibly say that they had curtailed discussion. Then it's on to the Lords. There has been a certain amount of loose talk that europhile peers are lining up to block Brexit. Few peers supported the Leave cause, but fewer still want to commit political suicide, and nothing would guarantee a determined drive to reform and reduce the House of Lords more effectively than a \"Peers versus the People\" battle over Brexit. (This was the unspoken thought behind the government's decision not to press on with clipping peers' wings after the Strathclyde Review, which followed their blocking of George Osborne's proposed cuts to tax credits - \"we'll let you be, unless you really annoy us...\") I also suspect it would be very hard for peers to muster a majority for any wrecking amendments - although the Liberal Democrats (or most of them, anyway, because there are Lib Dem dissenters on this) might attempt a bit of theatre. The key point is that Labour's leadership have pledged not to block Article 50 - and while some Labour peers might vote against, without organised Labour opposition there will be a comfortable majority for an Article 50 Bill in the Lords. The other hazard is a filibuster - a barrage of amendments and long speeches, taking advantage of the much looser rules of the Lords - to draw out the debate for as long as possible. It could be done, theoretically, but I'm not sure what point would be made by game-playing of this kind. And, again, it might draw down the reforming wrath of the government. So expect the Article 50 Bill to weather the storms ahead - but watch out for much more interesting action when the next big Brexit measure, the Great Repeal Bill, promised for the Queen's Speech in May, hoves into sight.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 4440, "answer_end": 6129, "text": "Then it's on to the Lords. There has been a certain amount of loose talk that europhile peers are lining up to block Brexit. Few peers supported the Leave cause, but fewer still want to commit political suicide, and nothing would guarantee a determined drive to reform and reduce the House of Lords more effectively than a \"Peers versus the People\" battle over Brexit. (This was the unspoken thought behind the government's decision not to press on with clipping peers' wings after the Strathclyde Review, which followed their blocking of George Osborne's proposed cuts to tax credits - \"we'll let you be, unless you really annoy us...\") I also suspect it would be very hard for peers to muster a majority for any wrecking amendments - although the Liberal Democrats (or most of them, anyway, because there are Lib Dem dissenters on this) might attempt a bit of theatre. The key point is that Labour's leadership have pledged not to block Article 50 - and while some Labour peers might vote against, without organised Labour opposition there will be a comfortable majority for an Article 50 Bill in the Lords. The other hazard is a filibuster - a barrage of amendments and long speeches, taking advantage of the much looser rules of the Lords - to draw out the debate for as long as possible. It could be done, theoretically, but I'm not sure what point would be made by game-playing of this kind. And, again, it might draw down the reforming wrath of the government. So expect the Article 50 Bill to weather the storms ahead - but watch out for much more interesting action when the next big Brexit measure, the Great Repeal Bill, promised for the Queen's Speech in May, hoves into sight."}], "question": "What about the House of Lords?", "id": "964_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Trump urges inquiry into 'attempted coup' against him", "date": "10 April 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "President Donald Trump says he has spoken to the US attorney general about tracing the origins of the inquiry that cleared him of colluding with Russia. Mr Trump described the investigation by former FBI director Robert Mueller as \"an attempted coup\". Attorney General William Barr meanwhile said he believes US authorities did spy on the Trump campaign. US intelligence officials have previously said they were spying on the Russians, not the Trump campaign. Speaking to reporters at the White House on Wednesday morning, the Republican president railed against the Department of Justice inquiry into whether the Trump campaign had conspired with the Kremlin to sway the 2016 election. The investigation cleared him and his aides of collusion, making no determination on whether they had tried to obstruct justice. Mr Trump said: \"This was an attempted coup. This was an attempted take-down of a president. And we beat them. We beat them. \"So the Mueller report, when they talk about obstruction we fight back. And do you know why we fight back? \"Because I knew how illegal this whole thing was. It was a scam. \"What I'm most interested in is getting started, hopefully the attorney general, he mentioned it yesterday. \"He's doing a great job, getting started on going back to the origins of exactly where this all started. \"Because this was an illegal witch hunt, and everybody knew it. And they knew it too. And they got caught. And what they did was treason.\" Donald Trump has long been calling for an investigation of the investigators who launched the probe of his presidential campaign. Now, with the help of his recently appointed attorney general, he will get his wish. William Barr subsequently backed away from his assertion during Senate testimony that intelligence agencies had been \"spying\" on the Trump campaign, but that may end up beside the point. An inquiry has been started, and the ball is rolling. Whether this is simply a move to placate an impetuous president or a substantive investigation remains to be seen. There is no solid evidence, at least at this point, of misconduct in the opening of the Russia investigation or in the warrant targeting Carter Page, the low-level adviser with Russian ties who had left the Trump campaign before he became the subject of government surveillance. The president, however, will surely cite his attorney general's decision as part of his attempt to undermine any unpleasant information that could be revealed when the redacted Mueller report is finally released in the coming days. Even an investigation that reaches no actionable conclusions can have a damaging effect - as the president knows all too well. While Mr Trump was flying off to Texas, America's top law official was appearing before the Senate Appropriations Committee. William Barr was asked whether spying occurred on the Trump campaign during the 2016 White House race. \"I think spying did occur,\" said the attorney general. \"The question is whether it was adequately predicated.\" He later clarified: \"I'm not saying improper surveillance occurred, I am looking into it.\" But Mr Barr said he did not understand why intelligence officials chose not to warn the Trump campaign that it could be vulnerable to infiltration. He added: \"I also want to make clear this is not launching an investigation of the FBI. \"Frankly, to the extent that there were any issues at the FBI, I do not view it as a problem that's endemic to the FBI.\" Mr Barr also told lawmakers he will release the nearly 400-page Mueller report next week after he has finished redacting sensitive material. On Wednesday, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi, a Democrat, told the Associated Press: \"I don't trust Barr, I trust Mueller.\" Mrs Pelosi said that appearing to support Mr Trump's views on the alleged spying had undermined Mr Barr's role as attorney general. President Trump and his conservative allies have repeatedly suggested the Obama administration snooped on his presidential campaign to undercut his candidacy. US media reported last year that the FBI sent an informant, an unnamed US academic who teaches in the UK, to speak to two low-level Trump aides, George Papadopoulos and Carter Page, after the agency became suspicious of the pair's Russian contacts. The FBI has previously acknowledged it received a secret warrant in October 2016 to eavesdrop on Carter Page. CNN has also reported that the FBI obtained a warrant in 2016 to listen in on the phone calls of Paul Manafort, who briefly served as Trump campaign chairman, after his Russian contacts aroused suspicion. In March 2017, Mr Trump made the explosive claim on Twitter that his predecessor, Barack Obama, had ordered phones at his Trump Tower office to be wiretapped during the 2016 White House race. But the US Department of Justice later said there was no evidence to support the president's claim. The former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper was asked during television interviews in May last year if the FBI had indeed snooped on the Trump team. Mr Clapper told CNN: \"The objective here was actually to protect the campaign by determining whether the Russians were infiltrating it and attempting to exert influence.\"", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 460, "answer_end": 1463, "text": "Speaking to reporters at the White House on Wednesday morning, the Republican president railed against the Department of Justice inquiry into whether the Trump campaign had conspired with the Kremlin to sway the 2016 election. The investigation cleared him and his aides of collusion, making no determination on whether they had tried to obstruct justice. Mr Trump said: \"This was an attempted coup. This was an attempted take-down of a president. And we beat them. We beat them. \"So the Mueller report, when they talk about obstruction we fight back. And do you know why we fight back? \"Because I knew how illegal this whole thing was. It was a scam. \"What I'm most interested in is getting started, hopefully the attorney general, he mentioned it yesterday. \"He's doing a great job, getting started on going back to the origins of exactly where this all started. \"Because this was an illegal witch hunt, and everybody knew it. And they knew it too. And they got caught. And what they did was treason.\""}], "question": "What did Trump say?", "id": "965_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2673, "answer_end": 3879, "text": "While Mr Trump was flying off to Texas, America's top law official was appearing before the Senate Appropriations Committee. William Barr was asked whether spying occurred on the Trump campaign during the 2016 White House race. \"I think spying did occur,\" said the attorney general. \"The question is whether it was adequately predicated.\" He later clarified: \"I'm not saying improper surveillance occurred, I am looking into it.\" But Mr Barr said he did not understand why intelligence officials chose not to warn the Trump campaign that it could be vulnerable to infiltration. He added: \"I also want to make clear this is not launching an investigation of the FBI. \"Frankly, to the extent that there were any issues at the FBI, I do not view it as a problem that's endemic to the FBI.\" Mr Barr also told lawmakers he will release the nearly 400-page Mueller report next week after he has finished redacting sensitive material. On Wednesday, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi, a Democrat, told the Associated Press: \"I don't trust Barr, I trust Mueller.\" Mrs Pelosi said that appearing to support Mr Trump's views on the alleged spying had undermined Mr Barr's role as attorney general."}], "question": "What did the attorney general say?", "id": "965_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3880, "answer_end": 5229, "text": "President Trump and his conservative allies have repeatedly suggested the Obama administration snooped on his presidential campaign to undercut his candidacy. US media reported last year that the FBI sent an informant, an unnamed US academic who teaches in the UK, to speak to two low-level Trump aides, George Papadopoulos and Carter Page, after the agency became suspicious of the pair's Russian contacts. The FBI has previously acknowledged it received a secret warrant in October 2016 to eavesdrop on Carter Page. CNN has also reported that the FBI obtained a warrant in 2016 to listen in on the phone calls of Paul Manafort, who briefly served as Trump campaign chairman, after his Russian contacts aroused suspicion. In March 2017, Mr Trump made the explosive claim on Twitter that his predecessor, Barack Obama, had ordered phones at his Trump Tower office to be wiretapped during the 2016 White House race. But the US Department of Justice later said there was no evidence to support the president's claim. The former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper was asked during television interviews in May last year if the FBI had indeed snooped on the Trump team. Mr Clapper told CNN: \"The objective here was actually to protect the campaign by determining whether the Russians were infiltrating it and attempting to exert influence.\""}], "question": "Was the Trump campaign spied on?", "id": "965_2"}]}]}, {"title": "UK economy shrinks for the first time since 2012", "date": "9 August 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "The chancellor has told the BBC that he does not expect the UK to slide into recession after data showed the economy shrank by 0.2% between April and June. Sajid Javid was speaking after the Office for National Statistics said the economy had contracted for the first time since 2012. The surprise decline came after Brexit stockpiles were unwound and the car industry implemented shutdowns. The pound sank after the data was released, raising fears of a recession. Against the dollar sterling fell to $1.2025. Against the euro, it dropped throughout the day to EUR1.0736, a level not seen since the global financial crisis a decade ago. Rob Kent-Smith, head of GDP at the ONS, said manufacturing output fell and the construction sector weakened. A recession occurs when the economy contracts in two consecutive quarters. This is the first contraction since the fourth quarter of 2012. Economists had not been forecasting a contraction in the economy in the second quarter, but had expected it to stagnate, with the consensus forecast for 0% growth. The economy had shown 0.5% growth in the first quarter after manufacturers' stockpiling ahead of Brexit helped to boost output, when the manufacturing sector recorded its biggest quarter rise since the 1980s. The ONS said GDP had been \"particularly volatile\" so far this year because of the changes to activity sparked by the original Brexit date of 29 March. The statistics body said its latest figures showed that those increased stockpiles had been partly run down in the second quarter and that a number of car manufacturers had brought forward their annual shutdowns to April as part of contingency planning, which also hit growth. Mr Kent-Smith said: \"Manufacturing output fell back after a strong start to the year, with production brought forward ahead of the UK's original departure date from the EU.\" He added that \"the often-dominant service sector delivered virtually no growth at all\". Mr Javid told the BBC: \"I am not expecting a recession at all. And in fact, don't take my word for it. There's not a single leading forecaster out there that is expecting a recession, the independent Bank of England is not expecting a recession. And that's because they know that the fundamentals remain strong.\" The Bank said earlier this month it expects the economy to grow by 1.3% this year, down from a previous projection of 1.5% in May. Asked about the impact of Brexit, he said: \"We saw some significant stockpiling by British businesses in anticipation of the Brexit that never was, and now they're using those stockpiles, they're coming down. \"Of course, there are businesses out there that are taking Brexit into account when they're making decisions.\" He said: \"No one will be surprised by today's figures.\" The data comes at a time when there are signs other economies are slowing. For instance, data on Friday showed that French industrial output fell more than expected in June. Mr Javid said: \"This is a challenging period across the global economy, with growth slowing in many countries. \"But the fundamentals of the British economy are strong - wages are growing, employment is at a record high and we're forecast to grow faster than Germany, Italy and Japan this year.\" But John McDonnell, the shadow chancellor, said the \"dismal economic figures are a direct result of Tory incompetence\". \"The Tories' Brexit bungling, including Boris Johnson now taking us towards no-deal, is breaking the economy.\" The Liberal Democrats were also concerned about the impact of a no-deal Brexit. \"Pursuing a no-deal Brexit is a political choice without a mandate: these figures show people's jobs and livelihoods are being sacrificed at the altar of political extremism, \" said Chuka Umunna, the party's Treasury and business spokesperson. Mr Javid said the best way to deal with Brexit uncertainty was to leave the EU on 31 October, with or without a deal. \"We're seeing volatility in the figures and one of the best ways to actually end this volatility is to bring certainty around Brexit and make sure we leave on 31 October.\" The employers' body, the CBI, said the contraction was \"concerning\". Alpesh Paleja, CBI lead economist, said: \"Growth has been pushed down by an unwind of stockpiling and car manufacturers shifting their seasonal shutdowns. \"Nonetheless, it's clear from our business surveys that underlying momentum remains lukewarm, choked by a combination of slower global growth and Brexit uncertainty. \"As a result, business sentiment is dire.\" The Federation of Small Businesses - which is calling for an emergency Budget - said that if the Treasury delays action until after 31 October, the date for Brexit, its efforts are likely to prove too little, too late. \"Time is of the essence. Unless the chancellor steps in imminently with radical action, we could be heading for a chaotic autumn - and a very long winter,\" said the FSB's policy and advocacy chairman, Martin McTague. Chris Williamson, chief business economist at IHS Markit, said the data showed \"an economy in decline and skirting with recession  as headwinds from slower global growth are exacerbated by a Brexit-related paralysis\". Geoffrey Yu of UBS Wealth Management said that while the global picture was \"becoming more gloomy\", anyone looking for positive signs for the economy could look to \"robust private consumption, reflecting a healthy labour market\". Household spending rose 0.5% on the quarter. Samuel Tombs, chief UK economist at Pantheon Macroeconomics, agreed that household spending was still growing at a \"robust rate\" and said it was not time to panic. He said the stockpiling was dragging on the economy, which was \"sluggish and had not stalled\". The pound - which has been at two-year lows following Brexit uncertainty - fell after the data was released. The currency also falls if there are expectations that interest rates will be cut. Mr Tombs said the market now sees a 70% chance of an interest rate cut in January, when Mark Carney is due to leave as the Bank of England's governor.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1050, "answer_end": 1948, "text": "The economy had shown 0.5% growth in the first quarter after manufacturers' stockpiling ahead of Brexit helped to boost output, when the manufacturing sector recorded its biggest quarter rise since the 1980s. The ONS said GDP had been \"particularly volatile\" so far this year because of the changes to activity sparked by the original Brexit date of 29 March. The statistics body said its latest figures showed that those increased stockpiles had been partly run down in the second quarter and that a number of car manufacturers had brought forward their annual shutdowns to April as part of contingency planning, which also hit growth. Mr Kent-Smith said: \"Manufacturing output fell back after a strong start to the year, with production brought forward ahead of the UK's original departure date from the EU.\" He added that \"the often-dominant service sector delivered virtually no growth at all\"."}], "question": "Why is the economy shrinking?", "id": "966_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1949, "answer_end": 2768, "text": "Mr Javid told the BBC: \"I am not expecting a recession at all. And in fact, don't take my word for it. There's not a single leading forecaster out there that is expecting a recession, the independent Bank of England is not expecting a recession. And that's because they know that the fundamentals remain strong.\" The Bank said earlier this month it expects the economy to grow by 1.3% this year, down from a previous projection of 1.5% in May. Asked about the impact of Brexit, he said: \"We saw some significant stockpiling by British businesses in anticipation of the Brexit that never was, and now they're using those stockpiles, they're coming down. \"Of course, there are businesses out there that are taking Brexit into account when they're making decisions.\" He said: \"No one will be surprised by today's figures.\""}], "question": "What is the chancellor saying?", "id": "966_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2769, "answer_end": 4082, "text": "The data comes at a time when there are signs other economies are slowing. For instance, data on Friday showed that French industrial output fell more than expected in June. Mr Javid said: \"This is a challenging period across the global economy, with growth slowing in many countries. \"But the fundamentals of the British economy are strong - wages are growing, employment is at a record high and we're forecast to grow faster than Germany, Italy and Japan this year.\" But John McDonnell, the shadow chancellor, said the \"dismal economic figures are a direct result of Tory incompetence\". \"The Tories' Brexit bungling, including Boris Johnson now taking us towards no-deal, is breaking the economy.\" The Liberal Democrats were also concerned about the impact of a no-deal Brexit. \"Pursuing a no-deal Brexit is a political choice without a mandate: these figures show people's jobs and livelihoods are being sacrificed at the altar of political extremism, \" said Chuka Umunna, the party's Treasury and business spokesperson. Mr Javid said the best way to deal with Brexit uncertainty was to leave the EU on 31 October, with or without a deal. \"We're seeing volatility in the figures and one of the best ways to actually end this volatility is to bring certainty around Brexit and make sure we leave on 31 October.\""}], "question": "What is happening to growth elsewhere?", "id": "966_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 4083, "answer_end": 4951, "text": "The employers' body, the CBI, said the contraction was \"concerning\". Alpesh Paleja, CBI lead economist, said: \"Growth has been pushed down by an unwind of stockpiling and car manufacturers shifting their seasonal shutdowns. \"Nonetheless, it's clear from our business surveys that underlying momentum remains lukewarm, choked by a combination of slower global growth and Brexit uncertainty. \"As a result, business sentiment is dire.\" The Federation of Small Businesses - which is calling for an emergency Budget - said that if the Treasury delays action until after 31 October, the date for Brexit, its efforts are likely to prove too little, too late. \"Time is of the essence. Unless the chancellor steps in imminently with radical action, we could be heading for a chaotic autumn - and a very long winter,\" said the FSB's policy and advocacy chairman, Martin McTague."}], "question": "What does business say?", "id": "966_3"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 4952, "answer_end": 5703, "text": "Chris Williamson, chief business economist at IHS Markit, said the data showed \"an economy in decline and skirting with recession  as headwinds from slower global growth are exacerbated by a Brexit-related paralysis\". Geoffrey Yu of UBS Wealth Management said that while the global picture was \"becoming more gloomy\", anyone looking for positive signs for the economy could look to \"robust private consumption, reflecting a healthy labour market\". Household spending rose 0.5% on the quarter. Samuel Tombs, chief UK economist at Pantheon Macroeconomics, agreed that household spending was still growing at a \"robust rate\" and said it was not time to panic. He said the stockpiling was dragging on the economy, which was \"sluggish and had not stalled\"."}], "question": "How have economists reacted?", "id": "966_4"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 5704, "answer_end": 6046, "text": "The pound - which has been at two-year lows following Brexit uncertainty - fell after the data was released. The currency also falls if there are expectations that interest rates will be cut. Mr Tombs said the market now sees a 70% chance of an interest rate cut in January, when Mark Carney is due to leave as the Bank of England's governor."}], "question": "What has happened to the pound?", "id": "966_5"}]}]}, {"title": "Will you miss Facebook's 'other' inbox?", "date": "30 October 2015", "paragraphs": [{"context": "There has been a mixed reaction to Facebook's changes to its Messenger service, announced this week. In the next few days it will phase out the Other inbox, where members currently receive messages from people they are not Facebook friends with. Some members have expressed concern about harassment and spam gaining increased visibility. Facebook users who run groups are also affected as they often communicate with group members who are not friends. Once the phasing is complete, all messages from people outside of a member's friend network will arrive as \"requests\" which the recipient can accept or reject. The messages will however arrive automatically if the sender is not a Facebook friend but stored as a contact in the recipient's mobile device - as long as the service is synced. Many of the platform's 1.5 billion users weren't even aware of the extra inbox, which is currently only accessible by logging on to Facebook via a browser. Rebecca Smith from St Albans in the UK is one of the owners of a group for British bloggers, which has over 3,000 members. She said often members don't see admin messages because they fall into the 'other' folder. \"We message everyone that requests to join. As it's a group for UK bloggers, we have to make sure they're from the UK and also that they aren't going to spam the group,\" she said. Ms Smith thinks the Message Requests service will mean more potential members will see this initial correspondence. \"It means our messages won't be missed and people can't claim that they haven't been spoken to,\" she added. \"Some people keep doing the same things over and over again that we've asked them not to because the messages we send go into their \"others\" inbox that they don't check.\" However, some responses to the announcement about Messenger Requests, made by David Marcus, Facebook's vice president of messaging products, on the social network, have been more cautious. \"This means women will get creepy messages directly in their inbox. They used to be able to ignore them as they went to the others folder,\" wrote one commenter. \"We truly want to make Messenger the place where you can find and privately connect with anyone you need to reach, but only be reached by the people you want to communicate with,\" said Mr Marcus. \"Now, the only thing you need to talk to virtually anyone in the world, is their name.\" He added that the sender will not be able to see whether their message has been ignored. In the interests of research I decided to have a quick look at mine. The majority of messages were ancient event invitations, although nobody has ever berated me for my lack of RSVP. A few unsolicited comments about my appearance, some kinder than others, then there was the obvious spam and one obligatory request to put $20m in my bank account via Nigeria. Farewell Other Inbox... I'm not sure I will miss you.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 2459, "answer_end": 2871, "text": "In the interests of research I decided to have a quick look at mine. The majority of messages were ancient event invitations, although nobody has ever berated me for my lack of RSVP. A few unsolicited comments about my appearance, some kinder than others, then there was the obvious spam and one obligatory request to put $20m in my bank account via Nigeria. Farewell Other Inbox... I'm not sure I will miss you."}], "question": "What's in the Other inbox?", "id": "967_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Home secretary: 'Sweep the net, take down knife-crime posts'", "date": "13 February 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Sajid Javid, the home secretary, wants to introduce new laws to stop social media being used to fuel knife crime. He's told Newsbeat he doesn't have what he needs to crack down on things that fuel gang disputes - despite the laws which exist to remove terrorism content and child sex abuse images from online. \"A couple of years back the internet companies were not taking it seriously enough to remove this content from the internet,\" says Sajid Javid. He wants them to do more. The home secretary says he told major online brands that they need to introduce better tools to monitor content which could result in criminal activity, like knife crime. \"After lots of pressure from this government and the US government I went over to the US myself and spoke to the five tech giants. \"I said you need to do more, use your own technology to sweep the 'net and find these videos and take them down. \"They are doing an incredible job today and I want to see them employing the same emphasis to that [knife and gang-related] content too.\" And Sajid Javid says he's concerned about knife crime as both a politician and a father. \"My eldest daughter has started going out more than she used to,\" he says. \"But I do worry and there are some nights that I've stayed up into the early hours of the morning waiting for her to get back home.\" The home secretary was speaking just weeks after he introduced new powers to control suspects thought to be carrying knives. Knife Crime Prevention Orders were criticised by some who said that they targeted young children. Drill music has been linked to knife crime and some artists have already been given prison sentences for performing music which incited violence against rival gang members. The Metropolitan Police recently worked with YouTube to have videos deemed to be inciting gang rivalries removed. But it took Newsbeat 30 seconds looking for one of the \"banned\" videos online which we played to the home secretary. He said he needs new laws to help with this. \"My message to these companies is we are going to legislate - and how far we go depends on what you decide to do now,\" he says. But experts it's more likely that police will be given new powers to regulate what we post on social media, rather than any specific law that restricts people sharing knife crime content. \"The home secretary is right when he says there's no specific legislation that easily lets you pull down knife crime content from social media,\" says Steve Kuncewicz, from the law firm BLM, who also speaks for the Law Society. \"There's a general push to greater regulation of social media - what is often known as the internet ASBO. \"We're probably going to see new laws that make it easier for the police to remove this content.\" Police getting new powers over what we post on social media is a worry for some civil liberty campaigners. \"The solution to reducing crime doesn't lie with alarmist legislation that risks suppressing creative expression,\" Rosalind Comyn, Policy and Campaigns Officer at Liberty tells Newsbeat. \"It perpetuates the marginalisation of minority communities and diverts attention from the root causes of violence. \"Incitement to violence is already a criminal offence, and the police have a lot of powers to enforce it. \"We urge the home secretary to change course and consult widely on rights-based, effective approaches to addressing serious violence.\" The reason this conversation is happening now is because there were 285 fatal stabbings in England and Wales last year - that's the highest since records began in 1946. A former gang member Robert Bragg, who first carried and used a knife at the age of 12, agrees there needs to be a big change. The 26-year-old served six years in prison for a range of gang-related crime. He's now part of a programme to encourage school children not to get involved with knives. \"Stricter measures do need to be put in place so people cannot release footages of people calling people out, bragging about knife crime and violence. \"Back in my day if I was listening to drill music I'm riding out 24/7. \"If I was listening to drill music everyday - the way it is now - I'm definitely committing crime. \"In London it's normal. It's just one of things: you wake up, you have your breakfast, you stab someone.\" YouTube explained its stance on knife crime content: \"We have developed policies specifically to help tackle videos related to knife crime in the UK and are continuing to work constructively with experts on this issue,\" it said. \"We have a dedicated process for the police to flag videos directly to our teams because we often need specialist context from law enforcement to identify real-life threats. \"We do not want our platform used to incite violence.\" 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_start": 1553, "answer_end": 2748, "text": "Drill music has been linked to knife crime and some artists have already been given prison sentences for performing music which incited violence against rival gang members. The Metropolitan Police recently worked with YouTube to have videos deemed to be inciting gang rivalries removed. But it took Newsbeat 30 seconds looking for one of the \"banned\" videos online which we played to the home secretary. He said he needs new laws to help with this. \"My message to these companies is we are going to legislate - and how far we go depends on what you decide to do now,\" he says. But experts it's more likely that police will be given new powers to regulate what we post on social media, rather than any specific law that restricts people sharing knife crime content. \"The home secretary is right when he says there's no specific legislation that easily lets you pull down knife crime content from social media,\" says Steve Kuncewicz, from the law firm BLM, who also speaks for the Law Society. \"There's a general push to greater regulation of social media - what is often known as the internet ASBO. \"We're probably going to see new laws that make it easier for the police to remove this content.\""}], "question": "What have British police done so far?", "id": "968_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2749, "answer_end": 4291, "text": "Police getting new powers over what we post on social media is a worry for some civil liberty campaigners. \"The solution to reducing crime doesn't lie with alarmist legislation that risks suppressing creative expression,\" Rosalind Comyn, Policy and Campaigns Officer at Liberty tells Newsbeat. \"It perpetuates the marginalisation of minority communities and diverts attention from the root causes of violence. \"Incitement to violence is already a criminal offence, and the police have a lot of powers to enforce it. \"We urge the home secretary to change course and consult widely on rights-based, effective approaches to addressing serious violence.\" The reason this conversation is happening now is because there were 285 fatal stabbings in England and Wales last year - that's the highest since records began in 1946. A former gang member Robert Bragg, who first carried and used a knife at the age of 12, agrees there needs to be a big change. The 26-year-old served six years in prison for a range of gang-related crime. He's now part of a programme to encourage school children not to get involved with knives. \"Stricter measures do need to be put in place so people cannot release footages of people calling people out, bragging about knife crime and violence. \"Back in my day if I was listening to drill music I'm riding out 24/7. \"If I was listening to drill music everyday - the way it is now - I'm definitely committing crime. \"In London it's normal. It's just one of things: you wake up, you have your breakfast, you stab someone.\""}], "question": "Could this result in minorities being targeted?", "id": "968_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 4292, "answer_end": 4926, "text": "YouTube explained its stance on knife crime content: \"We have developed policies specifically to help tackle videos related to knife crime in the UK and are continuing to work constructively with experts on this issue,\" it said. \"We have a dedicated process for the police to flag videos directly to our teams because we often need specialist context from law enforcement to identify real-life threats. \"We do not want our platform used to incite violence.\" 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."}], "question": "What does YouTube say?", "id": "968_2"}]}]}, {"title": "The issue threatening to derail Brexit", "date": "5 December 2017", "paragraphs": [{"context": "The last time I was on the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, a garage owner bet me I would cross it without noticing. He won. But now the UK is leaving the EU, all that could change and the border has become one of the toughest and most controversial parts of the Brexit negotiations, because: - The Republic of Ireland will not accept an open border with Northern Ireland if it means it has to introduce a border between itself and the rest of the EU - Northern Ireland and the UK government will not accept a border between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK - they remain after all a single country - Northern Ireland and the Republic do not want a \"hard\" border between them on any account; they remain after all committed to the peace process. This is both a political and economic issue: 30% of Northern Ireland's exports go to the Republic, and a third of that is food and animal exports. In total, 55% of Northern Ireland's exports go to the EU, including the Republic. In the opposite direction, 13% of the Republic's exports go to the UK, its second-largest market after the US. The solution proposed on Monday to keep the border open and that trade flowing, called for \"regulatory alignment\"; a choice of words that is almost as opaque as the border. It means (or could mean) that similar rules and regulations would continue on both sides of the Irish border, so trade could proceed unimpeded. Yet even this compromise probably could not ensure an invisible border. Norway is in the Single Market, is a member of Schengen (allowing free movement of citizens between countries), but is not in the EU's Customs Union. Its land border with the EU is fairly open, but still has checkpoints. That is a moot point for the moment, as yesterday the compromise was vetoed by the DUP, the largest Unionist party in Northern Ireland. The DUP is worried that \"regulatory alignment\" means different laws in NI from the rest of the UK. For them this is totally unacceptable, but the consequences go much wider and further. Already Wales, Scotland and London have jumped on that band wagon and called to be included in \"regulatory alignment\", to protect their economies from what they see as the expected shocks of Brexit. No country can have a jigsaw of different rules and laws applied town by town or street by street. So the obvious answer is that if there is \"regulatory alignment\" between NI and Ireland, surely it must also exist between all of the UK and the EU? However, if the UK follows the same rules and regulations as the rest of the EU, have we really left it at all? For a start, negotiating free trade deals with the rest of the world is going to be difficult. What would it have to offer if it was sticking so close to the EU? If the EU insists the UK sticks to its food standards, chemical regulations, car safety rules and all the rest, then what are the economic benefits of leaving? For many Brexiteers the whole point was to cut the UK free from EU \"red tape\" and become a free trade and free market economy, trading with the rest of the world. \"Regulatory alignment\" might strangle many of those hopes at birth. Another model being promoted by No 10 might be to limit \"regulatory alignment\" to those areas necessary to support the Good Friday Agreement, which includes provisions for co-operation on matters such as agriculture, waterways and energy. There is already one electricity market on the island of Ireland, but it is hard to see how coordinating agricultural policy would not clash with the fact that Northern Ireland will be outside the EU's Common Agriculture Policy, and Ireland inside it. The UK could cut its external tariffs to encourage trade, but what would stop those imports into the UK flowing into the EU via Northern Ireland? What if the UK allows in cheap American chicken that has been washed in chlorine, which is not accepted in the EU, or cuts all tariffs on cars - would they disappear over the border into the single market? Certainly the opportunities for smuggling and crime across that border would be huge. Then there is the Common Agricultural Policy. Every farmer in the EU gets the same subsidies and applies the same standards and the EU protects its agricultural sector with common external tariffs and quotas on, for example, New Zealand lamb or Australian sugar. If the UK and especially NI change standards in agri-chemicals or allow in more imports from the rest of the world at low or zero tariffs, it could all flow across the border into Ireland and the rest of the EU. The EU will not stand for undercutting EU farmers, making a mockery of common external tariffs and undermining the CAP. One suggested solution is that technology will deal with this problem and we should all stop worrying. Checking goods at the factory gate rather than at the border, number plate recognition, larger companies regulating themselves and a dozen other ideas will all coalesce to create a seamless border that is invisible on the ground. Any minor matters like organised fuel smuggling can be dealt with by local police and will anyway be a minor inconvenience. But it is far from clear that the Republic and the rest of the EU will believe this is enough to guarantee their external border, even if it works seamlessly. Also if, as many Brexiteers want, we leave the EU and just depend on the World Trade Organisation rules the UK would have a problem. The WTO allows any of its members to cut tariffs to an agreed maximum or lower, but only if they offer the same deal to all members. If the UK allowed goods to cross between Ireland, the EU and NI without checks, inspection or tariffs, the rest of the WTO members could argue that Ireland and by extension the EU are getting a better deal than they are. They could then insist the UK enforces the rules at the border, cuts tariffs for them to the same level or retaliate or seek compensation. There are some who argue we should just reduce all tariffs and quotas to zero unilaterally for every country in the world, although even its supporters have said that would have huge effects on the UK's agricultural and manufacturing industries. This is also not necessarily a solution to the border problem, ultra-cheap imports into the UK of steel, steaks, salmon and sewing machines, could cross the border and undercut Irish producers. There are five possible solutions. 1. Ireland leaves the EU and rejoins the UK - not going to happen 2. Northern Ireland leaves the UK and unites with Ireland - not going to happen 3. The UK leaves the EU but stays in the Single Market, the Customs Union and probably the Common Agricultural Policy - already ruled out by the UK government 4. A hard border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland - rejected by all sides. That leaves: 5. Squaring the circle. Over the coming months and years of negotiation and transition, a compromise position including technology, special exemptions and \"regulatory alignment\" is hammered out. Keeping the border invisible while securing the sanctity of the Single Market and the unity of the United Kingdom. Given the first four options are to varying degrees unacceptable to the Irish government, the British government and the DUP, the clever money is still on squaring the circle.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1121, "answer_end": 2499, "text": "The solution proposed on Monday to keep the border open and that trade flowing, called for \"regulatory alignment\"; a choice of words that is almost as opaque as the border. It means (or could mean) that similar rules and regulations would continue on both sides of the Irish border, so trade could proceed unimpeded. Yet even this compromise probably could not ensure an invisible border. Norway is in the Single Market, is a member of Schengen (allowing free movement of citizens between countries), but is not in the EU's Customs Union. Its land border with the EU is fairly open, but still has checkpoints. That is a moot point for the moment, as yesterday the compromise was vetoed by the DUP, the largest Unionist party in Northern Ireland. The DUP is worried that \"regulatory alignment\" means different laws in NI from the rest of the UK. For them this is totally unacceptable, but the consequences go much wider and further. Already Wales, Scotland and London have jumped on that band wagon and called to be included in \"regulatory alignment\", to protect their economies from what they see as the expected shocks of Brexit. No country can have a jigsaw of different rules and laws applied town by town or street by street. So the obvious answer is that if there is \"regulatory alignment\" between NI and Ireland, surely it must also exist between all of the UK and the EU?"}], "question": "An invisible and frictionless border?", "id": "969_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2500, "answer_end": 3655, "text": "However, if the UK follows the same rules and regulations as the rest of the EU, have we really left it at all? For a start, negotiating free trade deals with the rest of the world is going to be difficult. What would it have to offer if it was sticking so close to the EU? If the EU insists the UK sticks to its food standards, chemical regulations, car safety rules and all the rest, then what are the economic benefits of leaving? For many Brexiteers the whole point was to cut the UK free from EU \"red tape\" and become a free trade and free market economy, trading with the rest of the world. \"Regulatory alignment\" might strangle many of those hopes at birth. Another model being promoted by No 10 might be to limit \"regulatory alignment\" to those areas necessary to support the Good Friday Agreement, which includes provisions for co-operation on matters such as agriculture, waterways and energy. There is already one electricity market on the island of Ireland, but it is hard to see how coordinating agricultural policy would not clash with the fact that Northern Ireland will be outside the EU's Common Agriculture Policy, and Ireland inside it."}], "question": "Not really Brexit?", "id": "969_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3656, "answer_end": 6370, "text": "The UK could cut its external tariffs to encourage trade, but what would stop those imports into the UK flowing into the EU via Northern Ireland? What if the UK allows in cheap American chicken that has been washed in chlorine, which is not accepted in the EU, or cuts all tariffs on cars - would they disappear over the border into the single market? Certainly the opportunities for smuggling and crime across that border would be huge. Then there is the Common Agricultural Policy. Every farmer in the EU gets the same subsidies and applies the same standards and the EU protects its agricultural sector with common external tariffs and quotas on, for example, New Zealand lamb or Australian sugar. If the UK and especially NI change standards in agri-chemicals or allow in more imports from the rest of the world at low or zero tariffs, it could all flow across the border into Ireland and the rest of the EU. The EU will not stand for undercutting EU farmers, making a mockery of common external tariffs and undermining the CAP. One suggested solution is that technology will deal with this problem and we should all stop worrying. Checking goods at the factory gate rather than at the border, number plate recognition, larger companies regulating themselves and a dozen other ideas will all coalesce to create a seamless border that is invisible on the ground. Any minor matters like organised fuel smuggling can be dealt with by local police and will anyway be a minor inconvenience. But it is far from clear that the Republic and the rest of the EU will believe this is enough to guarantee their external border, even if it works seamlessly. Also if, as many Brexiteers want, we leave the EU and just depend on the World Trade Organisation rules the UK would have a problem. The WTO allows any of its members to cut tariffs to an agreed maximum or lower, but only if they offer the same deal to all members. If the UK allowed goods to cross between Ireland, the EU and NI without checks, inspection or tariffs, the rest of the WTO members could argue that Ireland and by extension the EU are getting a better deal than they are. They could then insist the UK enforces the rules at the border, cuts tariffs for them to the same level or retaliate or seek compensation. There are some who argue we should just reduce all tariffs and quotas to zero unilaterally for every country in the world, although even its supporters have said that would have huge effects on the UK's agricultural and manufacturing industries. This is also not necessarily a solution to the border problem, ultra-cheap imports into the UK of steel, steaks, salmon and sewing machines, could cross the border and undercut Irish producers."}], "question": "Out into the world?", "id": "969_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 6371, "answer_end": 7304, "text": "There are five possible solutions. 1. Ireland leaves the EU and rejoins the UK - not going to happen 2. Northern Ireland leaves the UK and unites with Ireland - not going to happen 3. The UK leaves the EU but stays in the Single Market, the Customs Union and probably the Common Agricultural Policy - already ruled out by the UK government 4. A hard border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland - rejected by all sides. That leaves: 5. Squaring the circle. Over the coming months and years of negotiation and transition, a compromise position including technology, special exemptions and \"regulatory alignment\" is hammered out. Keeping the border invisible while securing the sanctity of the Single Market and the unity of the United Kingdom. Given the first four options are to varying degrees unacceptable to the Irish government, the British government and the DUP, the clever money is still on squaring the circle."}], "question": "What can be done?", "id": "969_3"}]}]}, {"title": "Experts excited by brain 'wonder-drug'", "date": "20 April 2017", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Scientists hope they have found a drug to stop all neurodegenerative brain diseases, including dementia. In 2013, a UK Medical Research Council team stopped brain cells dying in an animal for the first time, creating headline news around the world. But the compound used was unsuitable for people, as it caused organ damage. Now two drugs have been found that should have the same protective effect on the brain and are already safely used in people. \"It's really exciting,\" said Prof Giovanna Mallucci, from the MRC Toxicology Unit in Leicester. She wants to start human clinical trials on dementia patients soon and expects to know whether the drugs work within two to three years. The novel approach is focused on the natural defence mechanisms built into brain cells. When a virus hijacks a brain cell it leads to a build-up of viral proteins. Cells respond by shutting down nearly all protein production in order to halt the virus's spread. Many neurodegenerative diseases involve the production of faulty proteins that activate the same defences, but with more severe consequences. The brain cells shut down production for so long that they eventually starve themselves to death. This process, repeated in neurons throughout the brain, can destroy movement, memory or even kill, depending on the disease. It is thought to take place in many forms of neurodegeneration, so safely disrupting it could treat a wide range of diseases. In the initial study, the researchers used a compound that prevented the defence mechanism kicking in. It halted the progress of prion disease in mice - the first time any neurodegenerative disease had been halted in any animal. Further studies showed the approach could halt a range of degenerative diseases. The findings were described as a \"turning point\" for the field even though the compound was toxic to the pancreas. - A neurodegenerative disease is one in which the cells of the brain and spinal cord are lost - The functions of these cells include decision making and control of movements - These cells are not easily regenerated, so the effects of diseases can be devastating - Neurodegenerative diseases include Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, multiple sclerosis and Huntington's Source: London Brain Centre Since 2013, the research group has tested more than 1,000 ready-made drugs on nematode worms, human cells in a dish and mice. Two were shown to prevent both a form of dementia and prion disease by stopping brain cells dying. Prof Mallucci told the BBC News website: \"Both were very highly protective and prevented memory deficits, paralysis and dysfunction of brain cells.\" The best known drug of the pair is trazodone, which is already taken by patients with depression. The other, DBM, is being tested in cancer patients. Prof Mallucci said: \"It's time for clinical trials to see if there's similar effects in people and put our money where our mouth is. \"We're very unlikely to cure them completely, but if you arrest the progression you change Alzheimer's disease into something completely different so it becomes liveable with.\" But, although trazodone is a current medication, she added: \"As a professional, a doctor and a scientists, I must advise people to wait for the results.\" The study was published in the journal Brain. Dr Doug Brown, from the Alzheimer's Society, said: \"We're excited by the potential of these findings, from this well conducted and robust study. \"As one of the drugs is already available as a treatment for depression, the time taken to get from the lab to the pharmacy could be dramatically reduced.\" Dr David Dexter, from Parkinson's UK, said: \"This is a very robust and important study. \"If these studies were replicated in human clinical trials, both trazodone and DBM could represent a major step forward.\" Follow James on Twitter. Sign-up to get news from the BBC in your inbox, each weekday morning", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 684, "answer_end": 1861, "text": "The novel approach is focused on the natural defence mechanisms built into brain cells. When a virus hijacks a brain cell it leads to a build-up of viral proteins. Cells respond by shutting down nearly all protein production in order to halt the virus's spread. Many neurodegenerative diseases involve the production of faulty proteins that activate the same defences, but with more severe consequences. The brain cells shut down production for so long that they eventually starve themselves to death. This process, repeated in neurons throughout the brain, can destroy movement, memory or even kill, depending on the disease. It is thought to take place in many forms of neurodegeneration, so safely disrupting it could treat a wide range of diseases. In the initial study, the researchers used a compound that prevented the defence mechanism kicking in. It halted the progress of prion disease in mice - the first time any neurodegenerative disease had been halted in any animal. Further studies showed the approach could halt a range of degenerative diseases. The findings were described as a \"turning point\" for the field even though the compound was toxic to the pancreas."}], "question": "Why might they work?", "id": "970_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2251, "answer_end": 3284, "text": "Since 2013, the research group has tested more than 1,000 ready-made drugs on nematode worms, human cells in a dish and mice. Two were shown to prevent both a form of dementia and prion disease by stopping brain cells dying. Prof Mallucci told the BBC News website: \"Both were very highly protective and prevented memory deficits, paralysis and dysfunction of brain cells.\" The best known drug of the pair is trazodone, which is already taken by patients with depression. The other, DBM, is being tested in cancer patients. Prof Mallucci said: \"It's time for clinical trials to see if there's similar effects in people and put our money where our mouth is. \"We're very unlikely to cure them completely, but if you arrest the progression you change Alzheimer's disease into something completely different so it becomes liveable with.\" But, although trazodone is a current medication, she added: \"As a professional, a doctor and a scientists, I must advise people to wait for the results.\" The study was published in the journal Brain."}], "question": "Safe drugs?", "id": "970_1"}]}]}, {"title": "Trump threatens to raise tariffs on $200bn of Chinese goods", "date": "5 May 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Donald Trump has said he will raise tariffs on $200bn (PS152bn) of Chinese goods, because talks on a US-China trade deal are moving \"too slowly\". The US president tweeted that tariffs of 10% on certain goods would rise to 25% on Friday, and $325bn of untaxed goods could face 25% duties \"shortly\". \"The Trade Deal with China continues, but too slowly, as they attempt to renegotiate. No!\" he tweeted. The countries have seemed near to striking a trade deal in recent weeks. Mr Trump delayed further tariff increases earlier in the year, citing progress in talks. The move increases pressure on China as Vice-Premier Liu He prepares to travel Washington this week to resume negotiations. That follows talks in April in Beijing that US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin called \"productive\". White House economic adviser Larry Kudlow told Fox News that the president's tweet was a warning. \"The president is, I think, issuing a warning here, that, you know, we bent over backwards earlier, we suspended the 25% tariff to 10 and then we've left it there. \"That may not be forever if the talks don't work out,\" he said. But Michael Pillsbury, an informal trade adviser to Trump, said he took the president's tweet \"at face value\". So far, the US has imposed tariffs on $250bn of Chinese goods, having accused the country of unfair trade practices. Beijing hit back with duties on $110bn of US goods, blaming the US for starting \"the largest trade war in economic history\". According to reports, in recent days US officials have become frustrated by China seeking to row back on earlier commitments made over a deal. It is understood that key sticking points include how to police any deal, and whether existing tariffs will be removed or stay in place. Tom Orlik, chief economist at Bloomberg Economics, said: \"It's possible talks are breaking down, with China offering insufficient concessions, and an increase in tariffs a genuine prospect. \"More likely, in our view, is that this renewed threat is an attempt to extract a few more minor concessions in the final days of talks.\" Mr Trump's latest move will raise duties on more than 5,000 products made by Chinese producers, ranging from chemicals to textiles and consumer goods. The US president originally imposed a 10% tariff on these goods in September that was due to rise in January, but postponed this as negotiations advanced. \"The Tariffs paid to the USA have had little impact on product cost, mostly borne by China,\" he tweeted on Sunday. However, both US and international firms have said they are being harmed by the trade war. Fears about a further escalation caused a slump in world stock markets towards the end of last year. The IMF has warned a full-blown trade war would weaken the global economy.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1226, "answer_end": 2075, "text": "So far, the US has imposed tariffs on $250bn of Chinese goods, having accused the country of unfair trade practices. Beijing hit back with duties on $110bn of US goods, blaming the US for starting \"the largest trade war in economic history\". According to reports, in recent days US officials have become frustrated by China seeking to row back on earlier commitments made over a deal. It is understood that key sticking points include how to police any deal, and whether existing tariffs will be removed or stay in place. Tom Orlik, chief economist at Bloomberg Economics, said: \"It's possible talks are breaking down, with China offering insufficient concessions, and an increase in tariffs a genuine prospect. \"More likely, in our view, is that this renewed threat is an attempt to extract a few more minor concessions in the final days of talks.\""}], "question": "Is the deal over?", "id": "971_0"}]}]}, {"title": "UK general election 2019: Who won and what happens now?", "date": "13 December 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "It was billed as one of the most unpredictable elections in decades but after six weeks of hard campaigning by two historically unpopular party leaders it ended with a conclusive result. Conservative Party leader Boris Johnson won a sweeping victory, handing him a clear mandate to \"get Brexit done\". He had called the UK's third general election since 2015 - and the first to be held in December for almost 100 years - in an effort to increase his parliamentary majority and end months of deadlock over the UK's exit from the European Union. It was a thumping defeat for the main opposition Labour party. Leader Jeremy Corbyn said Brexit had \"polarised and divided debate\", shifting focus away from other, more traditional issues. The first indication of what was to come arrived at 22:00 GMT, when the results of the BBC's exit poll of thousands of voters was announced. While earlier forecasts for the two main parties showed a narrowing of Mr Johnson's lead over Mr Corbyn, the exit poll revealed something quite different: the Conservatives were forecast to win 368 seats, their biggest majority since 1987. To command a governing majority, a party must win at least 326 of parliament's 650 seats. Labour was predicted to lose many of the seats it had gained previously, in 2017, and would take a hit in its traditional heartlands. Shortly after 05:00, it was confirmed that Mr Johnson had won an overall majority. By 07:00, it became clear the Conservatives were on course for their biggest majority at Westminster since the days of Margaret Thatcher, with 45% of the vote. Voter turnout was 67.3% of the 47,587,254 people registered to vote. There were significant losses for the Labour party, which analysts said were not just down to Brexit but to the leadership of veteran socialist Jeremy Corbyn. Conservative party candidates triumphed in constituencies that had backed Labour for decades. The Welsh town of Wrexham had solidly supported the party since 1935, but on Thursday elected the first ever female Conservative MP in Wales. In response, Mr Corbyn said a \"very disappointing night\" meant he would not lead the Labour party into the next election. But he refused to fall on his sword immediately. That would come, he said, after a period of quiet reflection. The other big winners of the night were the pro-independence Scottish National Party (SNP). Party leader Nicola Sturgeon said there was a \"renewed, refreshed and strengthened mandate\" for a second Scottish independence referendum. The leader of the Liberal Democrat party, Jo Swinson, lost her own seat in Scotland to the SNP. Ms Swinson, who became leader of the UK's fourth biggest party in July, said throughout her campaign that she aimed to be prime minister. She lost by just 149 votes. Several MPs had defected to the Lib Dems before the election, but the party failed to progress and its pitch to revoke Brexit without a second vote was widely seen as a mistake. It was also a big night for nationalists in Northern Ireland. The Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), which had propped up Mr Johnson's Conservatives in parliament, suffered significant defeats. Nationalist MPs now outnumber unionists in Northern Ireland for the first time in a Westminster election. The UK's first-past-the-post voting system means that the candidate who receives the most votes in a constituency becomes an MP and is sent to Westminster. And the party with a majority then goes on to form a government. The Conservatives said there would be a minor cabinet reshuffle at Downing Street on Monday, and that Mr Johnson's Brexit Withdrawal Agreement Bill would be put back before MPs in a vote on Friday. With his new majority, it is likely that the bill will now pass, paving the way for Britain's exit from the EU on 31 January. After that, Mr Johnson will work to renegotiate a new deal with the EU during a transition period, with trade and migration among the top issues on the table. The prime minister has previously said the UK would fully exit the EU by December 2020 and that a deal, according to the Conservative election manifesto, would come into force in 2021. The election result empowers the prime minister to see through whichever kind of Brexit he sees fit, however he may find it hard to secure a full deal by the end of next year. EU leaders said they were ready to start talks with the aim of maintaining \"close co-operation\" with the UK. Mr Johnson has vowed to end freedom of movement between the EU and the UK and implement a new points-based immigration system. His government will also negotiate free trade agreements with other trading partners around the world. Throughout the brief election campaign, the prime minister's slogan had been \"Get Brexit done\" and when support for the Brexit Party fell away Leave voters opted for the Conservatives. Remain voters, meanwhile, had a choice of several parties, which divided the vote. Despite failing to win a seat, Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage told the BBC that his party had \"killed the Liberal Democrats and hurt the Labour Party\". General elections to choose a government are supposed to be held once every five years in the UK. After three in close succession, the country now faces a full term under Boris Johnson.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 732, "answer_end": 1648, "text": "The first indication of what was to come arrived at 22:00 GMT, when the results of the BBC's exit poll of thousands of voters was announced. While earlier forecasts for the two main parties showed a narrowing of Mr Johnson's lead over Mr Corbyn, the exit poll revealed something quite different: the Conservatives were forecast to win 368 seats, their biggest majority since 1987. To command a governing majority, a party must win at least 326 of parliament's 650 seats. Labour was predicted to lose many of the seats it had gained previously, in 2017, and would take a hit in its traditional heartlands. Shortly after 05:00, it was confirmed that Mr Johnson had won an overall majority. By 07:00, it became clear the Conservatives were on course for their biggest majority at Westminster since the days of Margaret Thatcher, with 45% of the vote. Voter turnout was 67.3% of the 47,587,254 people registered to vote."}], "question": "How did the night unfold?", "id": "972_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1649, "answer_end": 3466, "text": "There were significant losses for the Labour party, which analysts said were not just down to Brexit but to the leadership of veteran socialist Jeremy Corbyn. Conservative party candidates triumphed in constituencies that had backed Labour for decades. The Welsh town of Wrexham had solidly supported the party since 1935, but on Thursday elected the first ever female Conservative MP in Wales. In response, Mr Corbyn said a \"very disappointing night\" meant he would not lead the Labour party into the next election. But he refused to fall on his sword immediately. That would come, he said, after a period of quiet reflection. The other big winners of the night were the pro-independence Scottish National Party (SNP). Party leader Nicola Sturgeon said there was a \"renewed, refreshed and strengthened mandate\" for a second Scottish independence referendum. The leader of the Liberal Democrat party, Jo Swinson, lost her own seat in Scotland to the SNP. Ms Swinson, who became leader of the UK's fourth biggest party in July, said throughout her campaign that she aimed to be prime minister. She lost by just 149 votes. Several MPs had defected to the Lib Dems before the election, but the party failed to progress and its pitch to revoke Brexit without a second vote was widely seen as a mistake. It was also a big night for nationalists in Northern Ireland. The Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), which had propped up Mr Johnson's Conservatives in parliament, suffered significant defeats. Nationalist MPs now outnumber unionists in Northern Ireland for the first time in a Westminster election. The UK's first-past-the-post voting system means that the candidate who receives the most votes in a constituency becomes an MP and is sent to Westminster. And the party with a majority then goes on to form a government."}], "question": "What were the key moments?", "id": "972_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3467, "answer_end": 5257, "text": "The Conservatives said there would be a minor cabinet reshuffle at Downing Street on Monday, and that Mr Johnson's Brexit Withdrawal Agreement Bill would be put back before MPs in a vote on Friday. With his new majority, it is likely that the bill will now pass, paving the way for Britain's exit from the EU on 31 January. After that, Mr Johnson will work to renegotiate a new deal with the EU during a transition period, with trade and migration among the top issues on the table. The prime minister has previously said the UK would fully exit the EU by December 2020 and that a deal, according to the Conservative election manifesto, would come into force in 2021. The election result empowers the prime minister to see through whichever kind of Brexit he sees fit, however he may find it hard to secure a full deal by the end of next year. EU leaders said they were ready to start talks with the aim of maintaining \"close co-operation\" with the UK. Mr Johnson has vowed to end freedom of movement between the EU and the UK and implement a new points-based immigration system. His government will also negotiate free trade agreements with other trading partners around the world. Throughout the brief election campaign, the prime minister's slogan had been \"Get Brexit done\" and when support for the Brexit Party fell away Leave voters opted for the Conservatives. Remain voters, meanwhile, had a choice of several parties, which divided the vote. Despite failing to win a seat, Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage told the BBC that his party had \"killed the Liberal Democrats and hurt the Labour Party\". General elections to choose a government are supposed to be held once every five years in the UK. After three in close succession, the country now faces a full term under Boris Johnson."}], "question": "What happens next?", "id": "972_2"}]}]}, {"title": "Migrant crisis: US House 'reluctantly' passes bill after showdown", "date": "28 June 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "The US House of Representatives has passed a bill to send $4.6bn (PS3.6bn) in aid to tackle the humanitarian migrant crisis at the Mexico border. House Democrats had originally wanted to pass a stricter bill with extra protections for migrant children, but the Senate voted it down. The aid plan comes amid outrage over US detention conditions and an image showing a drowned father and daughter. The House Speaker told Democrats to \"reluctantly\" approve the Senate plan. \"The children come first. At the end of the day, we have to make sure that the resources needed to protect the children are available,\" Nancy Pelosi said in a letter to colleagues. The bill passed with 305 votes to 102 on Thursday, amid pressure to approve a plan before the 4 July recess. President Trump, who is in Japan for a G20 summit and now has to sign the bill into law, gave the result a thumbs-up. The Democrat reversal came after a showdown over rival congressional plans. Mrs Pelosi had maintained the Democratic-controlled House would not concede to the Senate, where Republicans have a majority. But she changed tack on Thursday. The New York Times described the concession as a \"striking defeat\" for Mrs Pelosi, who was reportedly facing pressure from moderates within her own party. She is reported to have spoken with Vice-President Mike Pence before the vote. US media say he offered administrative assurances to Mrs Pelosi regarding child migrants - including prompt reporting of deaths in custody. Some Democrats had said they could not trust the Trump administration with billions of dollars in aid funds. They wanted to push for specific rules on detention conditions and on how the funding could be used. The House version of the bill, with these protections, was voted down in the Senate by a 55-37 majority - with three Democratic Senators joining Republicans in voting against it. The Congressional Hispanic Caucus had recommended voting against the Senate's version of the bill. After it passed, they said the approval represented a \"betrayal of our American values\" that would fail to stop \"chaos and cruelty\". \"As a result, migrants will continue to die,\" their statement said. The congressional showdown follows an outcry over conditions at the border. Several bodies, including those of babies and children, were discovered in recent days, as some migrants opted to try and cross into the US illegally. A photograph of a father and his daughter lying face down in the Rio Grande river has also shocked many. In the photograph, two-year-old Valeria has an arm wrapped around her father, Oscar Alberto Martinez Ramirez, as both lie dead close to shore. It came shortly after it emerged some migrant children were being held at detention facilities in \"horrific\" conditions -  including without soap or toothbrushes. Mr Trump has made curbing illegal immigration a policy priority since his election. His \"zero tolerance\" policy was announced in early 2018. By prosecuting adults who crossed the border illegally, it had the effect of separating children from their parents. Despite a court order requiring families to be reunited and an end to separations last year, hundreds remain in government shelters, to which the public - including journalists and rights activists - had little access. Lawyers were recently given access to one facility in Clint, Texas, by a judge. They reported appalling conditions inside, in which children under 10 were caring for infants, and massive overcrowding. Children were \"locked up in horrific cells where there's an open toilet in the middle of the room\" where they ate and slept, one of the lawyers told the BBC.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 2178, "answer_end": 2815, "text": "The congressional showdown follows an outcry over conditions at the border. Several bodies, including those of babies and children, were discovered in recent days, as some migrants opted to try and cross into the US illegally. A photograph of a father and his daughter lying face down in the Rio Grande river has also shocked many. In the photograph, two-year-old Valeria has an arm wrapped around her father, Oscar Alberto Martinez Ramirez, as both lie dead close to shore. It came shortly after it emerged some migrant children were being held at detention facilities in \"horrific\" conditions -  including without soap or toothbrushes."}], "question": "What's been happening at the border?", "id": "973_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2816, "answer_end": 3651, "text": "Mr Trump has made curbing illegal immigration a policy priority since his election. His \"zero tolerance\" policy was announced in early 2018. By prosecuting adults who crossed the border illegally, it had the effect of separating children from their parents. Despite a court order requiring families to be reunited and an end to separations last year, hundreds remain in government shelters, to which the public - including journalists and rights activists - had little access. Lawyers were recently given access to one facility in Clint, Texas, by a judge. They reported appalling conditions inside, in which children under 10 were caring for infants, and massive overcrowding. Children were \"locked up in horrific cells where there's an open toilet in the middle of the room\" where they ate and slept, one of the lawyers told the BBC."}], "question": "Why is there a crisis about the border?", "id": "973_1"}]}]}, {"title": "Iranian threats 'put on hold', says US defence chief", "date": "21 May 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "The potential of attacks by Iran has been \"put on hold\" by US counter-measures, acting Defence Secretary Patrick Shanahan has said. The US has warned of a threat from Iran in recent weeks and Mr Shanahan briefed lawmakers at a closed-doors meeting. Tension has risen sharply, with the US deploying military assets to the Gulf to tackle the unspecified threats. On Sunday, President Donald Trump tweeted: \"If Iran wants to fight, that will be the official end of Iran.\" He has maintained a strong anti-Iran policy since taking office and last year unilaterally withdrew the US from a nuclear deal with Iran and five world powers. President Trump's National Security Adviser, John Bolton, is a long-standing advocate for regime change in Iran and has previously called for the US to bomb the nation. Speaking to reporters, he said the US \"posture is for deterrence\" rather than war. Mr Shanahan, who addressed lawmakers alongside Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen Joseph Dunford, said: \"I think our steps were very prudent and we've put on hold the potential for attacks on Americans and that's what's extremely important. \"I'd say we're in a period where the threat remains high and our job is to make sure that there is no miscalculation by the Iranians.\" He did not publicly share details of the \"credible information\" related to the issue, but added: \"I just hope Iran is listening.  We're in the region to address many things, but it's not to go to war with Iran.\" Reports suggested the briefing was heated at times and, after the meeting, some Democrats accused government officials of twisting intelligence information. \"In my opinion, there wasn't any information there that pointed to any reason why we should be engaging in talk of war with Iran,\" said Representative Ruben Gallego. Iran agreed the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) in 2015 to limit the scope of its nuclear programme in return for sanctions relief, and has called on other parties to uphold the deal despite the US withdrawal. But the JCPOA looks to be increasingly under threat. Iranian officials said on Monday that they had increased by fourfold the production of low-enriched uranium - although the increase remains for the moment within the restrictions of the deal. Tensions began rising this month when the US ended exemptions from sanctions for countries still buying from Iran. The decision was intended to bring Iran's oil exports to zero, denying the government its main source of revenue. Mr Trump reinstated the sanctions last year after abandoning the nuclear deal. Days after the US withdrawal, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said his country would suspend several commitments under the deal. The White House then announced the US was sending an aircraft carrier, B-52 bombers and a Patriot missile defence battery to the region because of \"troubling and escalatory indications\" related to Iran. Last week, four oil tankers in the Gulf of Oman were damaged in what the United Arab Emirates said were sabotage attacks while drone attacks on two oil pumping stations in Saudi Arabia by Yemen's Houthi rebels - who are supported by Iran - forced the temporary closure of a pipeline. Iran has denied that it was behind the incidents. But Republican Senator Lindsey Graham said lawmakers at the briefing were told that both cases had been \"co-ordinated and directed by the Iranian government, the ayatollah\". There were also unconfirmed reports, citing US and regional security officials, that Iran had loaded missiles on to boats in Iranian ports and that Iran-backed Iraqi paramilitary fighters had positioned rockets near facilities in Iraq used by US troops. \"I would say to the Iranians: do not underestimate the resolve on the US side,\" UK Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt told reporters in Geneva on Monday. \"They don't want a war with Iran. But if American interests are attacked, they will retaliate.\" \"We want the situation to de-escalate, because this is a part of the world where things can get triggered accidentally,\" he added. Saudi Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Adel al-Jubeir, said the kingdom \"does not want a war, is not looking for it and will do everything to prevent it\". \"But at the same time, if the other side chooses war, the kingdom will respond with strength and determination to defend itself and its interests.\" The foreign minister of Oman, which has brokered secret talks between the US and Iran in the past, visited Tehran to discuss regional issues with Mr Zarif on Monday.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 798, "answer_end": 2292, "text": "Speaking to reporters, he said the US \"posture is for deterrence\" rather than war. Mr Shanahan, who addressed lawmakers alongside Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen Joseph Dunford, said: \"I think our steps were very prudent and we've put on hold the potential for attacks on Americans and that's what's extremely important. \"I'd say we're in a period where the threat remains high and our job is to make sure that there is no miscalculation by the Iranians.\" He did not publicly share details of the \"credible information\" related to the issue, but added: \"I just hope Iran is listening.  We're in the region to address many things, but it's not to go to war with Iran.\" Reports suggested the briefing was heated at times and, after the meeting, some Democrats accused government officials of twisting intelligence information. \"In my opinion, there wasn't any information there that pointed to any reason why we should be engaging in talk of war with Iran,\" said Representative Ruben Gallego. Iran agreed the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) in 2015 to limit the scope of its nuclear programme in return for sanctions relief, and has called on other parties to uphold the deal despite the US withdrawal. But the JCPOA looks to be increasingly under threat. Iranian officials said on Monday that they had increased by fourfold the production of low-enriched uranium - although the increase remains for the moment within the restrictions of the deal."}], "question": "What did Mr Shanahan say?", "id": "974_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2293, "answer_end": 3695, "text": "Tensions began rising this month when the US ended exemptions from sanctions for countries still buying from Iran. The decision was intended to bring Iran's oil exports to zero, denying the government its main source of revenue. Mr Trump reinstated the sanctions last year after abandoning the nuclear deal. Days after the US withdrawal, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said his country would suspend several commitments under the deal. The White House then announced the US was sending an aircraft carrier, B-52 bombers and a Patriot missile defence battery to the region because of \"troubling and escalatory indications\" related to Iran. Last week, four oil tankers in the Gulf of Oman were damaged in what the United Arab Emirates said were sabotage attacks while drone attacks on two oil pumping stations in Saudi Arabia by Yemen's Houthi rebels - who are supported by Iran - forced the temporary closure of a pipeline. Iran has denied that it was behind the incidents. But Republican Senator Lindsey Graham said lawmakers at the briefing were told that both cases had been \"co-ordinated and directed by the Iranian government, the ayatollah\". There were also unconfirmed reports, citing US and regional security officials, that Iran had loaded missiles on to boats in Iranian ports and that Iran-backed Iraqi paramilitary fighters had positioned rockets near facilities in Iraq used by US troops."}], "question": "What is behind the escalation?", "id": "974_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3696, "answer_end": 4546, "text": "\"I would say to the Iranians: do not underestimate the resolve on the US side,\" UK Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt told reporters in Geneva on Monday. \"They don't want a war with Iran. But if American interests are attacked, they will retaliate.\" \"We want the situation to de-escalate, because this is a part of the world where things can get triggered accidentally,\" he added. Saudi Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Adel al-Jubeir, said the kingdom \"does not want a war, is not looking for it and will do everything to prevent it\". \"But at the same time, if the other side chooses war, the kingdom will respond with strength and determination to defend itself and its interests.\" The foreign minister of Oman, which has brokered secret talks between the US and Iran in the past, visited Tehran to discuss regional issues with Mr Zarif on Monday."}], "question": "What are other countries saying?", "id": "974_2"}]}]}, {"title": "Melbourne plane crash: Five killed as aircraft hits shopping centre", "date": "21 February 2017", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Four US citizens and an Australian pilot have died after their light plane crashed into a shopping centre in Melbourne, Australia. The charter flight appeared to have had a \"catastrophic engine failure\" shortly after taking off from the small Essendon Airport, said police. Despite the destruction, no-one was killed or injured on the ground. Victoria's Premier Daniel Andrews said it was the worst civilian aviation accident in the state in 30 years. \"Today is a desperately sad day,\" he said. The Australian Transport Safety Bureau said it would investigate how the twin-engine Beechcraft B200 King Air crashed soon after 09:00 local time on Tuesday (22:00 GMT Monday). A spokeswoman for Spotlight, a retailer in the complex, said the plane crashed into its rear warehouse but all staff were safe. A pilot and four passengers were killed in the tragic accident. Details of who died are still emerging. The US embassy in Canberra has confirmed that the four passengers on the plane, bound for Tasmania's King Island, were US citizens. In a statement on Tuesday, the embassy expressed its \"deepest condolences to the families and loved ones of those who died in today's tragic crash\". Max Quartermain Local media named the pilot as 63-year-old Max Quartermain. He had decades of flying experience and an \"impeccable safety record\", according to the website of charter company Corporate and Leisure Aviation, which he owned with his wife, Cilla. Greg Reynolds De Haven The 70-year-old from Texas was identified on social media by his sister, Denelle Wicht, who posted tributes to her \"handsome athletic big brother\". She said he was killed in the accident while on a \"once in a lifetime\" trip to Australia. Ms Wicht added that Mr De Haven, reported to be a retired FBI agent, was travelling to King Island to play golf. Russell Munsch Mr Munsch was identified in a Facebook post by his cousin, Carol Holst. She confirmed that \"Russ was killed in a plane crash in Australia,\" and advised friends to \"hug your loved ones, you never know\". Mr Munsch, 62, was a founding partner with the law firm Munsch Hardt, which was established in 1985 and opened an office in Austin in 1996. He specialised in bankruptcy and commercial law. The Direct Factory Outlets (DFO) centre was not open to the public at the time. \"Looking at the fireball, it is incredibly lucky that no-one was at the back of those stores or in the car park of the stores, that no-one was even hurt,\" said Victoria Police Assistant Commissioner Stephen Leane. Essendon Airport, mostly used by light planes, is about 13km (8 miles) north-west of central Melbourne. It has been closed, but the city's main hubs for commercial air traffic - Melbourne Airport and Avalon Airport - remain open. The crash sent black smoke high into the air and ignited a blaze that required more than 60 firefighters to bring under control. Police shut the adjacent Tullamarine Freeway after witnesses spotted debris from the plane including a wheel on the road. The area around the shops was evacuated, and three nearby schools were closed. Video showed thick smoke and fire at the wreckage scene. \"Immediately I could tell it was something horrific, the explosion would have gone 30m [100ft] high and ballooned upwards in red and black,\" witness Mikey Cahill told the Herald Sun. Another witness, Daniel May, said he was waiting for the shopping centre to open when the plane came down. \"There was an orange explosion and then smoke,\" he told The Age. \"Emergency crews rushed very quickly in, soon after, and I left the area.\" Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said he was \"deeply saddened\" as he offered condolences to the families of the victims. King Island, popular for its beaches and dairy farms, lies 245km (150 miles) south of Melbourne in Bass Strait. Are you in the area? Did you see what happened? If it is safe to do so, you can share your experience by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. 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 yourpics@bbc.co.uk - Tweet: @BBC_HaveYourSay - Text an SMS or MMS to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (international)", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 800, "answer_end": 2224, "text": "A pilot and four passengers were killed in the tragic accident. Details of who died are still emerging. The US embassy in Canberra has confirmed that the four passengers on the plane, bound for Tasmania's King Island, were US citizens. In a statement on Tuesday, the embassy expressed its \"deepest condolences to the families and loved ones of those who died in today's tragic crash\". Max Quartermain Local media named the pilot as 63-year-old Max Quartermain. He had decades of flying experience and an \"impeccable safety record\", according to the website of charter company Corporate and Leisure Aviation, which he owned with his wife, Cilla. Greg Reynolds De Haven The 70-year-old from Texas was identified on social media by his sister, Denelle Wicht, who posted tributes to her \"handsome athletic big brother\". She said he was killed in the accident while on a \"once in a lifetime\" trip to Australia. Ms Wicht added that Mr De Haven, reported to be a retired FBI agent, was travelling to King Island to play golf. Russell Munsch Mr Munsch was identified in a Facebook post by his cousin, Carol Holst. She confirmed that \"Russ was killed in a plane crash in Australia,\" and advised friends to \"hug your loved ones, you never know\". Mr Munsch, 62, was a founding partner with the law firm Munsch Hardt, which was established in 1985 and opened an office in Austin in 1996. He specialised in bankruptcy and commercial law."}], "question": "Who were the victims?", "id": "975_0"}]}]}, {"title": "How dangerous is Australia for women?", "date": "22 January 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "In the past week, Australians have been shocked by the killing of a young woman who had been walking home at night in Melbourne. The death of Israeli Arab student Aya Maasarwe, 21, has sparked an outcry and fresh debate about violence against women in Australia. According to her family, Ms Maasarwe's belief that Australia was \"safer\" than other places was one reason she had opted for a university exchange there. Her killing follows several high-profile murders in Australia in recent times which have caused similar anger. Almost one in three Australian women have experienced physical violence, and nearly one in five have endured sexual violence, according to the most recent Australian Bureau of Statistics figures. The rates are even higher for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women. Almost one in 10 women have experienced violence from a stranger, the statistics show. Domestic violence is more common. On average, one woman per week is murdered in Australia by a current or former male partner. \"Violence against women is at its most extreme in murder, but it is more common that women are injured either physically or emotionally in their own home,\" said Associate Prof Ruth Phillips, a social work expert from the University of Sydney. \"It is a serious problem. Not a crisis, but more of an ongoing gender power problem in Australian culture.\" High-profile murders involving women and children have elevated the issue on the national agenda. Public debate intensified last year following the murder of a comedian, Eurydice Dixon, in another part of Melbourne. Just months later, a particularly alarming October saw 11 women die in violent circumstances around Australia. \"Sometimes, violence against women comes in a cluster together which alerts us to the problem, but really the hidden epidemic of abuse and violence is always with us,\" said Associate Prof Kelsey Hegarty, a family violence researcher from the University of Melbourne. One leading public voice has been Rosie Batty, who emerged as a powerful campaigner against domestic violence after her son, Luke, was killed by his father in 2014. The rape and murder of an Irish woman, Jill Meagher, in Melbourne in 2012 also generated immense attention. It led to public marches, and tighter restrictions around parole for sexual offenders. The death of Aya Maasarwe last week has again triggered deep concern. The UN has said violence against women in Australia is \"disturbingly common\", but experts say it is not an outlier among developed nations. Domestic violence - described by the World Health Organization as the leading cause of violence against women globally - is more prevalent in poorer nations. According to the UN, women in Africa and the Americas are more likely to be killed by their partner than women in Oceania. Among G20 nations, Australia ranks eighth for rates of domestic violence against women, according to the OECD, although data for five countries was not available. In 2012, the Australian government launched a dedicated anti-violence policy, the National Plan to Reduce Violence Against Women and their Children. However, Associate Prof Phillips said many frontline services, such as women's shelters, had not improved since then. \"There has been little evidence of a reduction in violence or a strengthening in women's safety,\" she told the BBC. Experts have urged more focus on reducing broader disrespect towards women. \"We will only be able to eradicate violence against women and their children, when women are not only safe, but respected, valued and treated as equals in private and public life,\" Australia's Sex Discrimination Commissioner Kate Jenkins told the BBC.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1363, "answer_end": 2386, "text": "High-profile murders involving women and children have elevated the issue on the national agenda. Public debate intensified last year following the murder of a comedian, Eurydice Dixon, in another part of Melbourne. Just months later, a particularly alarming October saw 11 women die in violent circumstances around Australia. \"Sometimes, violence against women comes in a cluster together which alerts us to the problem, but really the hidden epidemic of abuse and violence is always with us,\" said Associate Prof Kelsey Hegarty, a family violence researcher from the University of Melbourne. One leading public voice has been Rosie Batty, who emerged as a powerful campaigner against domestic violence after her son, Luke, was killed by his father in 2014. The rape and murder of an Irish woman, Jill Meagher, in Melbourne in 2012 also generated immense attention. It led to public marches, and tighter restrictions around parole for sexual offenders. The death of Aya Maasarwe last week has again triggered deep concern."}], "question": "What has happened in recent years?", "id": "976_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2387, "answer_end": 2970, "text": "The UN has said violence against women in Australia is \"disturbingly common\", but experts say it is not an outlier among developed nations. Domestic violence - described by the World Health Organization as the leading cause of violence against women globally - is more prevalent in poorer nations. According to the UN, women in Africa and the Americas are more likely to be killed by their partner than women in Oceania. Among G20 nations, Australia ranks eighth for rates of domestic violence against women, according to the OECD, although data for five countries was not available."}], "question": "Where does Australia sit globally?", "id": "976_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2971, "answer_end": 3681, "text": "In 2012, the Australian government launched a dedicated anti-violence policy, the National Plan to Reduce Violence Against Women and their Children. However, Associate Prof Phillips said many frontline services, such as women's shelters, had not improved since then. \"There has been little evidence of a reduction in violence or a strengthening in women's safety,\" she told the BBC. Experts have urged more focus on reducing broader disrespect towards women. \"We will only be able to eradicate violence against women and their children, when women are not only safe, but respected, valued and treated as equals in private and public life,\" Australia's Sex Discrimination Commissioner Kate Jenkins told the BBC."}], "question": "What needs to be done?", "id": "976_2"}]}]}, {"title": "Trump's Jerusalem move: Palestinian protests rage for third day", "date": "9 December 2017", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Palestinians have taken to the streets of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip for a third day angry at US President Donald Trump's recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital. Hundreds protested, but numbers were down compared to Friday. Earlier, Israel carried out strikes on Gaza in response to rocket fire aimed at southern Israel. The move ends US neutrality on one of the region's most sensitive issues and has been criticised even by US allies. Israel has always regarded Jerusalem as its capital, while the Palestinians claim East Jerusalem - occupied by Israel in the 1967 war - as the capital of a future Palestinian state. For Mr Trump the decision fulfils a campaign promise and he has said it was \"nothing more or less than a recognition of reality\". More than 600 Palestinians held protests at over 20 West Bank sites, according to the Israeli army, with some lobbing stones and petrol bombs at security forces. In northern Israel a bus was pelted with rocks as it passed through mostly Arab communities, with three Israelis injured, Haaretz reported. There were also protests at the Gaza border, where a day before two Palestinians were killed in clashes with Israeli troops. Three rockets were fired at Israel late on Friday, with no casualties reported. Israel responded with strikes targeting what the army said were military sites belonging to the Islamist group Hamas, killing two of its members. Thousands of Palestinians had protested on Friday, with solidarity demonstrations held across the Arab world and in other Muslim-majority nations. The US vice-president is due to visit the Middle East later this month, but Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' adviser Majdi al-Khaldi said the pair would not be meeting. \"America has crossed all red lines with its latest decisions over Jerusalem,\" Majdi al-Khaldi said. There has been no comment from Mr Abbas himself though and it is not clear what, if any, meeting had been scheduled. At an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council on Friday, the US found itself isolated, with the other 14 members all condemning Mr Trump's declaration. But US ambassador Nikki Haley accused the UN of bias, saying it \"has outrageously been one of the world's foremost centres of hostility towards Israel\", and that the US was still committed to finding peace. Jerusalem is of huge importance to both Israel and the Palestinians. It contains sites sacred to the three major monotheistic faiths - Judaism, Islam and Christianity. Israel occupied the eastern sector - previously occupied by Jordan - in 1967, and annexed it in 1980, but the move has never been recognised internationally. Some 330,000 Palestinians live in East Jerusalem, along with about 200,000 Israeli Jews in a dozen settlements there. The settlements are considered illegal under international law, though Israel does not regard them as settlements but legitimate neighbourhoods. According to the 1993 Israel-Palestinian peace accords, the final status of Jerusalem is meant to be discussed in the latter stages of peace talks. The last round of talks between Israel and the Palestinians broke down in 2014 and while the US is formulating fresh proposals, Palestinian officials have said Mr Trump's announcement has disqualified the US from brokering future negotiations.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 2315, "answer_end": 3295, "text": "Jerusalem is of huge importance to both Israel and the Palestinians. It contains sites sacred to the three major monotheistic faiths - Judaism, Islam and Christianity. Israel occupied the eastern sector - previously occupied by Jordan - in 1967, and annexed it in 1980, but the move has never been recognised internationally. Some 330,000 Palestinians live in East Jerusalem, along with about 200,000 Israeli Jews in a dozen settlements there. The settlements are considered illegal under international law, though Israel does not regard them as settlements but legitimate neighbourhoods. According to the 1993 Israel-Palestinian peace accords, the final status of Jerusalem is meant to be discussed in the latter stages of peace talks. The last round of talks between Israel and the Palestinians broke down in 2014 and while the US is formulating fresh proposals, Palestinian officials have said Mr Trump's announcement has disqualified the US from brokering future negotiations."}], "question": "Why does Trump's announcement matter?", "id": "977_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Brexit: DUP votes for amendment to delay UK exit", "date": "19 October 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "The Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) has voted for a proposal that could delay Brexit until all necessary UK laws are passed in Parliament. MPs voted by 322 to 306 to pass the so-called Letwin amendment to the government's Brexit deal, inflicting a blow on the prime minster's strategy. The DUP backs Brexit, but does not support the prime minister's revised proposals for Northern Ireland. It is not clear when Number 10 will now hold a meaningful vote on its deal. MPs met on Saturday for a rare sitting, with the government hoping to hold a vote on its Brexit deal - but that vote was pulled after they voted for the Letwin amendment. Independent unionist MP for North Down, Lady Hermon, backed it as well. It withholds approval of the deal until the legislation to enact it - known as the Withdrawal Agreement Bill (WAB) -  is safely passed: a move that automatically triggers the \"Benn Act\" to force the prime minister to request a further postponement of Brexit until 31 January. A Downing Street source told the BBC Boris Johnson would send a letter to the EU by 00:00 BST to request a Brexit delay but he will not sign it, The request will be accompanied by a second letter, signed by Mr Johnson, which will say he believes that a delay would be a mistake, the source said. The prime minister has vowed to bring in legislation on Monday to implement the deal he struck with Brussels this week. DUP East Antrim MP Sammy Wilson said voting against the government was \"the only way\" to ensure there was proper scrutiny of the deal. \"We were doing the people of Northern Ireland a favour as well by ensuring that their interests are properly represented,\" he added. He said the DUP would now seek changes to the deal, in order address concerns the party has, and suggested the party would vote against the WAB if revisions were not made. By Jayne McCormack, BBC News NI Political Reporter Boris Johnson just got a taste of what Theresa May faced from the DUP when she was prime minister. The party's 10 votes, as well as Lady Hermon's, were decisive in inflicting defeat on the government. But in less than a year since Mr Johnson gave the keynote speech at the DUP conference, he has seriously fractured the Conservative Party's relationship with Northern Ireland unionism. The DUP had conceded on regulatory checks in the Irish Sea; in return expecting Mr Johnson to make other commitments to them. But he didn't. So the DUP are reminding the PM that, for now at least, they still hold the balance of power in Parliament when it comes to such huge votes. The DUP is opposed to the consent mechanism in the Brexit deal, which would give the Northern Ireland Assembly a say on whether to continue following EU customs rules. It would take place by a simply majority vote: pro-EU parties have a narrow majority at Stormont and there would be no unionist veto, as demanded by the DUP. Earlier Mr Dodds had told Boris Johnson he needed to respect the concerns of unionists - but the prime minister dismissed suggestions that his deal breached the principle of consent. Under the terms of the Good Friday Agreement, votes on contentious matters should be backed by a majority of unionists and nationalists. \"In all frankness I do think it a pity that it is thought necessary for one side or the other of the debate in Northern Ireland to have a veto on those arrangements,\" he told MPs. He argued that the Brexit referendum had taken place on a straight majority basis, adding: \"I think that principle should be applied elsewhere, I see no reason why it should not apply in Northern Ireland as well.\" Independent unionist MP for North Down, Lady Hermon, has not confirmed whether she will support the government's plan. She told Mr Johnson there is \"anger\" in Northern Ireland's unionist community over his deal - but the PM said he is committed to the constitutional position of Northern Ireland, calling it \"inviolable\". Meanwhile, in a statement released after the vote, Taoiseach (Irish Prime Minister) Leo Varadkar said that the European Union and United Kingdom had made a withdrawal agreement last Thursday that defends Ireland's interests. \"To date, no request for an extension has been made by the UK government. Should that happen, President Tusk will consult with all 27 heads of state and government on whether or not we will grant one. An extension can only be granted by unanimity,\" he said. Sinn Fein president Mary Lou McDonald said Saturday's Westminster debate was \"farce and dysfunction\". \"Today's antics and bluster will not allay the fears of Irish workers, business or agri foods  producers and our border communities,\" she said. The new Brexit deal would involve Stormont giving ongoing consent to any special arrangements for Northern Ireland via a straight majority, instead of on a cross-community basis. Northern Ireland would continue to follow EU rules on food safety and product standards and would also leave the EU customs union. But EU customs procedures would still apply on goods coming into Northern Ireland from Great Britain in order to avoid checks at the border. Stormont would have to approve those arrangements on an ongoing basis. Approval would involve a straight-forward majority, which would keep the special arrangements in place for four years. Alternatively, if the arrangements are approved by a majority of nationalists and a majority of unionists, they would remain in place for eight years. If the Northern Ireland Assembly voted to end the arrangements there would be a two-year notice period, during which the UK and the EU would have to agree ways to protect the peace process and avoid a hard border. If a vote was not held - by choice or because the assembly was not sitting - then the government has committed to finding an \"alternative process\".", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 4651, "answer_end": 5804, "text": "The new Brexit deal would involve Stormont giving ongoing consent to any special arrangements for Northern Ireland via a straight majority, instead of on a cross-community basis. Northern Ireland would continue to follow EU rules on food safety and product standards and would also leave the EU customs union. But EU customs procedures would still apply on goods coming into Northern Ireland from Great Britain in order to avoid checks at the border. Stormont would have to approve those arrangements on an ongoing basis. Approval would involve a straight-forward majority, which would keep the special arrangements in place for four years. Alternatively, if the arrangements are approved by a majority of nationalists and a majority of unionists, they would remain in place for eight years. If the Northern Ireland Assembly voted to end the arrangements there would be a two-year notice period, during which the UK and the EU would have to agree ways to protect the peace process and avoid a hard border. If a vote was not held - by choice or because the assembly was not sitting - then the government has committed to finding an \"alternative process\"."}], "question": "What does the deal involve for NI?", "id": "978_0"}]}]}, {"title": "HIV used to cure 'bubble boy' disease", "date": "17 April 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "US scientists say they used HIV to make a gene therapy that cured eight infants of severe combined immunodeficiency, or \"bubble boy\" disease. Results of the research, developed at a Tennessee hospital, were published in the New England Journal of Medicine. The babies, born with little to no immune protection, now have fully functional immune systems. Untreated babies with this disorder have to live in completely sterile conditions and tend to die as infants. The gene therapy involved collecting the babies' bone marrow and correcting the genetic defect in their DNA soon after their birth. The \"correct\" gene - used to fix the defect - was inserted into an altered version of one of HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. Researchers said most of the babies were discharged from the hospital within one month. Dr Ewelina Mamcarz of St Jude, an author of the study, said in a statement: \"These patients are toddlers now, who are responding to vaccinations and have immune systems to make all immune cells they need for protection from infections as they explore the world and live normal lives.\" \"This is a first for patients with SCID-X1,\" she added, referring to the most common type of SCID. The patients were treated at St Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis and at UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital in San Francisco. The case of David Vetter is perhaps the most famous case of severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID), a disease that made it impossible for him to engage with the world outside a plastic chamber. Nicknamed \"Bubble Boy\", Vetter was born in 1971 with the disease and died at the age of 12 after a failed bone marrow transplant. Within 20 seconds of his birth at the Texas Children's Hospital in Houston, he was placed in a plastic isolation chamber, where he lived until the age of six when he was given a special plastic suit designed by Nasa, the US space agency. His parents had already lost one child to the disease before he was born. Currently, the best treatment for SCID-XI is a bone marrow transplant with a tissue-matched sibling donor. But according to St Jude, more than 80% of these patients lack such donors and must rely on blood stem cells from other donors. This process is less likely to cure the bubble boy disease, and is more likely to cause serious side effects as a result of treatment. Previous advancements in gene therapy provided alternatives to a bone marrow transplant, but these treatments sometimes involved chemotherapy and had implications for a range of other diseases, including blood disorders, sickle cell anaemia and thalassaemia, and metabolic syndrome. Gene therapy treats 'bubble boy'", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1328, "answer_end": 1964, "text": "The case of David Vetter is perhaps the most famous case of severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID), a disease that made it impossible for him to engage with the world outside a plastic chamber. Nicknamed \"Bubble Boy\", Vetter was born in 1971 with the disease and died at the age of 12 after a failed bone marrow transplant. Within 20 seconds of his birth at the Texas Children's Hospital in Houston, he was placed in a plastic isolation chamber, where he lived until the age of six when he was given a special plastic suit designed by Nasa, the US space agency. His parents had already lost one child to the disease before he was born."}], "question": "What is this syndrome?", "id": "979_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1965, "answer_end": 2617, "text": "Currently, the best treatment for SCID-XI is a bone marrow transplant with a tissue-matched sibling donor. But according to St Jude, more than 80% of these patients lack such donors and must rely on blood stem cells from other donors. This process is less likely to cure the bubble boy disease, and is more likely to cause serious side effects as a result of treatment. Previous advancements in gene therapy provided alternatives to a bone marrow transplant, but these treatments sometimes involved chemotherapy and had implications for a range of other diseases, including blood disorders, sickle cell anaemia and thalassaemia, and metabolic syndrome."}], "question": "What are other treatment options?", "id": "979_1"}]}]}, {"title": "Manus Island: Refugees refuse to leave Australian camp amid safety fears", "date": "31 October 2017", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Refugees held by Australia in Papua New Guinea (PNG) have barricaded themselves inside a detention centre and launched legal action to fight its closure. Detainees, fearing for their safety after crowds reportedly gathered chanting \"don't come out\", argue that closure will breach their human rights. Australia holds asylum seekers arriving by boat in camps on PNG's Manus Island and the small Pacific nation of Nauru. The Manus Island centre is due to close after it was ruled unconstitutional. But many of those in the camp argue that its closure, ordered by a PNG court and initially scheduled for Tuesday, will deny them access to water, electricity and security. The local authorities said these provisions would cease at 17:00 local time (07:00 GMT), and that PNG defence authorities could enter the centre as early as Wednesday. Staff have reportedly abandoned the camp. Lawyers for some of the detainees filed a last-minute lawsuit in PNG to prevent the camp's closure. A ruling is expected on Wednesday. Refugees told the BBC that detainees planned to protest peacefully, and had begun stockpiling water and dry biscuits, as well as setting up makeshift catchments for rainwater. They claimed that local residents began looting the compound on Tuesday after security guards left. Behrouz Boochani, a journalist and Iranian refugee who has been held on Manus Island since August 2014, wrote on Twitter that a big part of the compound had no access to power, and refugees were suffering from fear, stress and hunger. Conditions for the refugees were unbearable, said Nick McKim, a senator with the Australian Greens Party who is on Manus. \"I can only describe what is happening on Manus now as a humanitarian emergency,\" Mr McKim told Reuters. \"It is 31C (88F) today and drinking water will be cut off.\" Under a controversial policy, Australia refuses to take in anyone trying to reach its territories unofficially by boat. They are all intercepted and held in the Nauru and Manus Island detention centres. About 600 men have been told to leave the camp, but many have reportedly barricaded themselves inside due to fears for their safety if transferred to temporary accommodation in the Manus Island community. The news has raised concerns of a possible siege at the facility. \"Navy and police [are] heavily armed, but we don't know who they want to go to war with, locals or refugees. So scary,\" tweeted Mr Boochani. Last week, Human Rights Watch warned that the group could face \"unchecked violence\" by local people who had attacked them in the past - sometimes with machetes and rocks. Canberra has consistently ruled out transferring the men to Australia, arguing it would encourage human trafficking and lead to deaths at sea. However, PNG has said it is Australia's responsibility to provide ongoing support for the detainees. The Australian government says PNG is responsible for them. The refugees can permanently resettle in PNG, apply to live in Cambodia, or request a transfer to Nauru, but advocates say few have taken up these options. Some men already in the temporary accommodation were \"comfortably accessing services and supports there\", Australia's Department for Immigration and Border Protection said on Tuesday. A separate resettlement deal struck with the Obama administration in 2016 saw the US agree to take up to 1,250 refugees from the PNG and Nauru centres. Last month, a group of about 50 people from the detention centres became the first to be accepted by the US under the agreement. The agreement, which is being administered under the United Nations refugee agency UNHCR, is prioritising women, children and families and other refugees found to be the most vulnerable. However, the US has not given an estimate of how long the application process will take and it is not obliged to accept all of them. Greg Barns, a lawyer assisting with the legal action, said the closure would breach rights enshrined in PNG's constitution. \"The men are vulnerable to attacks and physical harm so we are seeking to ensure their constitutional rights are not breached and there is a resumption of the basic necessities of life,\" he told the BBC. \"The men have been dumped on the street, literally. What is going on is unlawful.\" The application also seeks to prevent the forcible removal of the men to an alternative centre on the island, and calls for them to be transferred to Australia or a safe third country. Australia first opened Manus Island centre in 2001. It was closed in 2008 and re-opened in 2012. Six asylum seekers have died since 2013, including Iranian man Reza Barati who was murdered during a riot. Earlier this year, the government offered compensation totalling A$70m (PS41m; $53m) to asylum seekers and refugees detained on Manus Island who alleged they had suffered harm while there. The lawsuit alleged that detainees had been housed in inhumane conditions below Australian standards, given inadequate medical treatment and exposed to systemic abuse and violence. The government called the financial settlement \"prudent\", but denied wrongdoing.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 2014, "answer_end": 2596, "text": "About 600 men have been told to leave the camp, but many have reportedly barricaded themselves inside due to fears for their safety if transferred to temporary accommodation in the Manus Island community. The news has raised concerns of a possible siege at the facility. \"Navy and police [are] heavily armed, but we don't know who they want to go to war with, locals or refugees. So scary,\" tweeted Mr Boochani. Last week, Human Rights Watch warned that the group could face \"unchecked violence\" by local people who had attacked them in the past - sometimes with machetes and rocks."}], "question": "Why don't refugees want to leave?", "id": "980_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2597, "answer_end": 3841, "text": "Canberra has consistently ruled out transferring the men to Australia, arguing it would encourage human trafficking and lead to deaths at sea. However, PNG has said it is Australia's responsibility to provide ongoing support for the detainees. The Australian government says PNG is responsible for them. The refugees can permanently resettle in PNG, apply to live in Cambodia, or request a transfer to Nauru, but advocates say few have taken up these options. Some men already in the temporary accommodation were \"comfortably accessing services and supports there\", Australia's Department for Immigration and Border Protection said on Tuesday. A separate resettlement deal struck with the Obama administration in 2016 saw the US agree to take up to 1,250 refugees from the PNG and Nauru centres. Last month, a group of about 50 people from the detention centres became the first to be accepted by the US under the agreement. The agreement, which is being administered under the United Nations refugee agency UNHCR, is prioritising women, children and families and other refugees found to be the most vulnerable. However, the US has not given an estimate of how long the application process will take and it is not obliged to accept all of them."}], "question": "Where would they go?", "id": "980_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3842, "answer_end": 4437, "text": "Greg Barns, a lawyer assisting with the legal action, said the closure would breach rights enshrined in PNG's constitution. \"The men are vulnerable to attacks and physical harm so we are seeking to ensure their constitutional rights are not breached and there is a resumption of the basic necessities of life,\" he told the BBC. \"The men have been dumped on the street, literally. What is going on is unlawful.\" The application also seeks to prevent the forcible removal of the men to an alternative centre on the island, and calls for them to be transferred to Australia or a safe third country."}], "question": "How will the closure affect detainees?", "id": "980_2"}]}]}, {"title": "Palestinians condemn Trump threat to cut aid as 'blackmail'", "date": "3 January 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Palestinian officials have dismissed as \"blackmail\" Donald Trump's threat to cut US aid over what he called their unwillingness to negotiate with Israel. A spokesman for President Mahmoud Abbas insisted Jerusalem was \"not for sale\" - a reference to Mr Trump's recognition of the city as the capital of Israel. Mr Abbas was not against negotiations, he said, but they had to be based on \"international laws and resolutions\". The US provided $260m (PS192m) of bilateral aid for Palestinians in 2016. In addition, it is the largest single donor to the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (Unrwa), providing $368m in 2016. Mr Trump promised to pursue \"the ultimate deal\" when he took office last year, and asked his son-in-law Jared Kushner and former lawyer Justin Greenblatt to work on a plan to end the decades-old conflict between Israel and the Palestinians. But on Tuesday night he acknowledged in a series of tweets that the attempt to revive the peace process had stalled. Mr Trump gave no details, but earlier on Tuesday the US permanent representative to the UN, Nikki Haley, suggested he might halt funding for Unwra. A spokesman for Mr Abbas, the president of the Palestinian Authority, said on Wednesday: \"Jerusalem is the eternal capital of the state of Palestine and it is not for sale for gold or billions.\" Nabil Abu Rudeina told AFP news agency: \"We are not against going back to negotiations, but [these should be] based on international laws and resolutions that have recognised an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital.\" Hanan Ashrawi, a member of the Palestine Liberation Organisation's executive committee, said Palestinians would \"not be blackmailed\" and that Mr Trump had \"sabotaged our search for peace, freedom and justice\". There was no response from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, but Culture Minister Miri Regev said: \"You cannot on the one hand receive $300m in American aid per year and at the same time close the door on negotiations. \"We are dealing with a president who says what he thinks clearly and does not resort to diplomatic convolutions that mean nothing,\" she told Israel's Army Radio. In 2016, almost $370m went to Unrwa, an agency that provides assistance to some five million Palestinian refugees across the Middle East. Of the $260m in bilateral aid the US provided, only a relatively small amount went directly to the Palestinian Authority. Much of it instead went towards projects administered by the US Agency for International Development (USAid). Those projects are run by non-governmental organisations involved in humanitarian assistance, economic development, democratic reform, improving water access and other infrastructure, healthcare, education, and vocational training. US officials told the Associated Press that one option for Mr Trump was to send money that goes directly to the PA to the NGOs working with USAid. Similar proposals were envisioned for Unrwa, they added, noting that children in Gaza, Jordan and Lebanon would be disproportionally affected by a complete cut-off. However, the officials said security assistance for the PA - which pays for training, advice, housing and non-lethal equipment to forces in the occupied West Bank who are loyal to President Abbas - was unlikely to be affected. Israel receives more than $3bn in military aid per year from the US. The president's decisions last month to recognise Jerusalem as Israel's capital and begin preparations to move the US embassy there from Tel Aviv were denounced by the Palestinians, who said it showed the US could not be a neutral mediator. UN member states also voted decisively at the General Assembly in favour of a resolution effectively calling the US declaration \"null and void\" and demanding it be cancelled. The status of Jerusalem goes to the heart of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Israel regards Jerusalem as its \"eternal and undivided\" capital, while the Palestinians claim East Jerusalem - occupied by Israel in the 1967 Middle East war - as the capital of a future state. Israeli sovereignty over Jerusalem has never been recognised internationally, and according to the 1993 Israel-Palestinian peace accords, the final status of Jerusalem is meant to be discussed in the latter stages of peace talks. Since 1967, Israel has built a dozen settlements, home to about 200,000 Jews, in East Jerusalem. These are considered illegal under international law, though Israel disputes this.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 650, "answer_end": 1155, "text": "Mr Trump promised to pursue \"the ultimate deal\" when he took office last year, and asked his son-in-law Jared Kushner and former lawyer Justin Greenblatt to work on a plan to end the decades-old conflict between Israel and the Palestinians. But on Tuesday night he acknowledged in a series of tweets that the attempt to revive the peace process had stalled. Mr Trump gave no details, but earlier on Tuesday the US permanent representative to the UN, Nikki Haley, suggested he might halt funding for Unwra."}], "question": "What did Mr Trump say?", "id": "981_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1156, "answer_end": 2195, "text": "A spokesman for Mr Abbas, the president of the Palestinian Authority, said on Wednesday: \"Jerusalem is the eternal capital of the state of Palestine and it is not for sale for gold or billions.\" Nabil Abu Rudeina told AFP news agency: \"We are not against going back to negotiations, but [these should be] based on international laws and resolutions that have recognised an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital.\" Hanan Ashrawi, a member of the Palestine Liberation Organisation's executive committee, said Palestinians would \"not be blackmailed\" and that Mr Trump had \"sabotaged our search for peace, freedom and justice\". There was no response from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, but Culture Minister Miri Regev said: \"You cannot on the one hand receive $300m in American aid per year and at the same time close the door on negotiations. \"We are dealing with a president who says what he thinks clearly and does not resort to diplomatic convolutions that mean nothing,\" she told Israel's Army Radio."}], "question": "How did the Palestinians react?", "id": "981_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2196, "answer_end": 3405, "text": "In 2016, almost $370m went to Unrwa, an agency that provides assistance to some five million Palestinian refugees across the Middle East. Of the $260m in bilateral aid the US provided, only a relatively small amount went directly to the Palestinian Authority. Much of it instead went towards projects administered by the US Agency for International Development (USAid). Those projects are run by non-governmental organisations involved in humanitarian assistance, economic development, democratic reform, improving water access and other infrastructure, healthcare, education, and vocational training. US officials told the Associated Press that one option for Mr Trump was to send money that goes directly to the PA to the NGOs working with USAid. Similar proposals were envisioned for Unrwa, they added, noting that children in Gaza, Jordan and Lebanon would be disproportionally affected by a complete cut-off. However, the officials said security assistance for the PA - which pays for training, advice, housing and non-lethal equipment to forces in the occupied West Bank who are loyal to President Abbas - was unlikely to be affected. Israel receives more than $3bn in military aid per year from the US."}], "question": "How does US aid currently reach the Palestinians?", "id": "981_2"}]}]}, {"title": "Bashir's state of emergency fails to end Sudan protests", "date": "25 February 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Sudan's President Omar Hassan al-Bashir declared a state of emergency on Friday in an attempt to end a 10-week uprising that has threatened to bring an end to his 30 years in power. However, if anything, the protests have gathered momentum since his declaration and on Monday, he banned protests and public gatherings, according to Reuters news agency. Mr Bashir's declaration was widely anticipated and protesters had already taken to the streets before his speech on Friday, and continued as he was speaking. Since then, the protests have increased with thousands of demonstrators in the capital Khartoum and Omdurman, its twin city across the River Nile. The opposition Umma National party and the protest organisers, the Sudanese Professionals' Association, have both rejected the new measures and called for more protests to force Mr Bashir to step down. The security forces have resumed firing live ammunition at protesters, according to opposition sources. They say three people were injured with gunshot wounds on Sunday. In hotspots such as the Khartoum district of Burri, door-to-door searches for activists and protesters have been carried out. The embattled president declared a national state of emergency across the country to last for up to one year. He dissolved the government after just over five months in office and sacked his long-time ally - the only remaining member of the original Revolutionary Command Council that carried out the coup which brought him to power in 1989 - Gen Bakri Hasan Salih as vice-president. But he was replaced with another hardliner, the Defence Minister, Gen Awad Ibn Awof, who has been under US sanctions since 2006 for his alleged role in Darfur, when he was the chief of military intelligence. President Bashir also dissolved all elected regional governments and replaced all state governors with senior military officials. In addition to banning public protests on Monday, he also announced further regulations on transporting foreign currency and gold, and a ban on hoarding or trading fuel products, Reuters reports. There had been speculation that President Bashir would say he not running for another term and also that he would step down as head of the ruling National Congress Party (NCP). However, he did neither. His resignation as president is the key demand of the ongoing anti-government demonstrations which started in mid-December. Mr Bashir did try to distance himself from the NCP by announcing that he would \"stand at an equal distance from all the political forces\", and most of the governors he sacked were from the ruling party. Some Sudan observers have likened this moment to the infamous split between Mr Bashir and his Islamist \"godfather\", the late Hassan al-Turabi in 1999. Back then, Mr Bashir dissolved parliament, suspended the constitution and split Sudan's Islamists between the National Congress and the Popular Congress parties. On Monday, Sudanese press statements attributed to senior NCP figures suggest that the party will consider electing a new party head. One senior regime stalwart, Amin Hassan Omar, told the Sudanese daily al-Intibaha that the president had consolidated all powers in his hands and the party could not be seen to be running the country. But it is not yet clear whether Mr Bashir and the NCP will have a permanent split, as happened in 1999, or if it is just tactical manoeuvring. Since the state of emergency was declared, hundreds of pick-up trucks with mounted machine guns have been deployed onto Khartoum's streets, along with armoured personnel carriers. The pick-up trucks are known locally as Thatchers, after the former British prime minister - a reference to their agility and toughness. A show of force on this scale was last seen at the end of December. Activists and protesters have ridiculed the declaration of a state of emergency with all the extra powers it gives the security forces. They have pointed out that, as far as they are concerned, they have already been living under a state of emergency where the authorities use force with impunity, arrest people without warrants and detain them without investigation.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 353, "answer_end": 1155, "text": "Mr Bashir's declaration was widely anticipated and protesters had already taken to the streets before his speech on Friday, and continued as he was speaking. Since then, the protests have increased with thousands of demonstrators in the capital Khartoum and Omdurman, its twin city across the River Nile. The opposition Umma National party and the protest organisers, the Sudanese Professionals' Association, have both rejected the new measures and called for more protests to force Mr Bashir to step down. The security forces have resumed firing live ammunition at protesters, according to opposition sources. They say three people were injured with gunshot wounds on Sunday. In hotspots such as the Khartoum district of Burri, door-to-door searches for activists and protesters have been carried out."}], "question": "What has happened since the announcement?", "id": "982_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1156, "answer_end": 2073, "text": "The embattled president declared a national state of emergency across the country to last for up to one year. He dissolved the government after just over five months in office and sacked his long-time ally - the only remaining member of the original Revolutionary Command Council that carried out the coup which brought him to power in 1989 - Gen Bakri Hasan Salih as vice-president. But he was replaced with another hardliner, the Defence Minister, Gen Awad Ibn Awof, who has been under US sanctions since 2006 for his alleged role in Darfur, when he was the chief of military intelligence. President Bashir also dissolved all elected regional governments and replaced all state governors with senior military officials. In addition to banning public protests on Monday, he also announced further regulations on transporting foreign currency and gold, and a ban on hoarding or trading fuel products, Reuters reports."}], "question": "What did Bashir announce?", "id": "982_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2074, "answer_end": 3393, "text": "There had been speculation that President Bashir would say he not running for another term and also that he would step down as head of the ruling National Congress Party (NCP). However, he did neither. His resignation as president is the key demand of the ongoing anti-government demonstrations which started in mid-December. Mr Bashir did try to distance himself from the NCP by announcing that he would \"stand at an equal distance from all the political forces\", and most of the governors he sacked were from the ruling party. Some Sudan observers have likened this moment to the infamous split between Mr Bashir and his Islamist \"godfather\", the late Hassan al-Turabi in 1999. Back then, Mr Bashir dissolved parliament, suspended the constitution and split Sudan's Islamists between the National Congress and the Popular Congress parties. On Monday, Sudanese press statements attributed to senior NCP figures suggest that the party will consider electing a new party head. One senior regime stalwart, Amin Hassan Omar, told the Sudanese daily al-Intibaha that the president had consolidated all powers in his hands and the party could not be seen to be running the country. But it is not yet clear whether Mr Bashir and the NCP will have a permanent split, as happened in 1999, or if it is just tactical manoeuvring."}], "question": "What did he not say?", "id": "982_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3394, "answer_end": 4146, "text": "Since the state of emergency was declared, hundreds of pick-up trucks with mounted machine guns have been deployed onto Khartoum's streets, along with armoured personnel carriers. The pick-up trucks are known locally as Thatchers, after the former British prime minister - a reference to their agility and toughness. A show of force on this scale was last seen at the end of December. Activists and protesters have ridiculed the declaration of a state of emergency with all the extra powers it gives the security forces. They have pointed out that, as far as they are concerned, they have already been living under a state of emergency where the authorities use force with impunity, arrest people without warrants and detain them without investigation."}], "question": "What difference does the state of emergency make?", "id": "982_3"}]}]}, {"title": "Ancient skulls give clues to China human history", "date": "3 March 2017", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Two skulls found in China shed light on the ancient humans who inhabited the region before our own species arrived. We know that Europe and western Asia was dominated by the Neanderthals before Homo sapiens displaced them. But remains belonging to equivalent populations in East and Central Asia have been scarce. It's unclear if the finds are linked to the Denisovans, a mysterious human group known only from DNA analysis of a tooth and finger bone from Siberia. Prof Erik Trinkaus, one of the authors of a study on the remains in Science journal, said it was not possible to say at this stage whether the ancient people from Xuchang were connected to the Denisovans. \"The issue here is the patterns of variation and the population dynamics of 'archaic' populations during the later part of the Pleistocene,\" Prof Trinkaus, from Washington University in St Louis, told BBC News. Modern humans (Homo sapiens) originated in Africa some 200,000 years ago before expanding out across Asia, Europe, Oceania and the Americas about 60,000 years ago. As they spread across the world, they displaced the existing populations they encountered, such as the Neanderthals and Denisovans - but some limited interbreeding occurred. The partial skulls from China are between 105,000 and 125,000 years old and lack faces. But they show clear similarities to and differences from their Neanderthal contemporaries in the west. \"There's a certain amount of regional diversity at this time, but also there are trends in basic biology that are shared by everybody. And the supposed Neanderthal characteristics show that all these populations were interconnected,\" Prof Trinkaus explained. Prof Trinkaus, Zhan-Yang Li, from the Chinese Academy of Sciences in Beijing, and others found that the specimens show some characteristics, like a low, broad braincase, that link them to even earlier humans from the same region, who lived in the Middle Pleistocene. But some features of the skull that were more pronounced in earlier humans, such as the bony ridges over the eyes and a bony prominence at the back of the skull called the nuchal torus, are not as marked in these specimens. Erik Trinkaus says this represents evidence for a process of \"gracilisation\" - a reduction of bone mass through evolution - that was common to other human groups at the time. And the two specimens from Xuchang have comparatively large braincases - reflecting a trend towards larger brain sizes across the Old World - Europe, Africa and Asia. One of the ancient Chinese skulls - Xuchang 1 - is at the high end of the scale. Prof Chris Stringer, from London's Natural History Museum, who was not involved with the study, said the individual had a \"remarkable brain size, up there with the largest known Neanderthal and early modern examples\". As regards any potential relationship with the Denisovans, he said: \"Unfortunately, the skulls lack teeth so we cannot make direct comparisons with the large teeth known from Denisova Cave, but another similarly-dated fossil from Xujiayao in China does have Neanderthal-like traits in the ear bones, like Xuchang, and does have large teeth, so these may all represent the same population. \"From genetic data, the Denisovans are believed to have split from the Neanderthal lineage about 400,000 years ago - about the time of the Sima de los Huesos early Neanderthals known from Atapuerca in Spain. So one might expect some level of Neanderthal features in their morphology, added to by evidence of some later interbreeding with the Neanderthals. \"We must hope that ancient DNA can be recovered from these fossils in order to test whether they are Denisovans, or a distinct lineage.\" The skulls were found during excavations at Lingjing, Xuchang County in Henan Province, between 2007 and 2014. Follow Paul on Twitter.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 2502, "answer_end": 3817, "text": "One of the ancient Chinese skulls - Xuchang 1 - is at the high end of the scale. Prof Chris Stringer, from London's Natural History Museum, who was not involved with the study, said the individual had a \"remarkable brain size, up there with the largest known Neanderthal and early modern examples\". As regards any potential relationship with the Denisovans, he said: \"Unfortunately, the skulls lack teeth so we cannot make direct comparisons with the large teeth known from Denisova Cave, but another similarly-dated fossil from Xujiayao in China does have Neanderthal-like traits in the ear bones, like Xuchang, and does have large teeth, so these may all represent the same population. \"From genetic data, the Denisovans are believed to have split from the Neanderthal lineage about 400,000 years ago - about the time of the Sima de los Huesos early Neanderthals known from Atapuerca in Spain. So one might expect some level of Neanderthal features in their morphology, added to by evidence of some later interbreeding with the Neanderthals. \"We must hope that ancient DNA can be recovered from these fossils in order to test whether they are Denisovans, or a distinct lineage.\" The skulls were found during excavations at Lingjing, Xuchang County in Henan Province, between 2007 and 2014. Follow Paul on Twitter."}], "question": "DNA solution?", "id": "983_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Israel PM Netanyahu faces corruption charges", "date": "13 February 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Israeli police say that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu should be charged over alleged bribery cases. A police statement said there was enough evidence to indict Mr Netanyahu for bribery, fraud and breach of trust in two separate cases. Speaking on Israeli television, Mr Netanyahu said the allegations were baseless and that he would continue as prime minister. The allegations, he said, \"will end with nothing\". One case centres on an allegation that Mr Netanyahu asked the publisher of an Israeli newspaper, Yediot Aharonot, for positive coverage in exchange for help in reining in a rival publication. Police said the editor of Yediot Aharonot, Arnon Mozes, should also face charges. The second allegation centres on a claim that Mr Netanyahu, Israeli prime minister since 2009, received gifts worth at least a million shekels ($283,000; PS204,000) from Hollywood mogul Arnon Milchan and other supporters. The Jerusalem Post says the gifts included champagne and cigars, and were given in exchange for help getting Mr Milchan a US visa. Mr Milchan, the producer of films including Fight Club, Gone Girl and The Revenant, should face bribery charges, police said. The police statement said that Mr Netanyahu, after receiving gifts, pushed for the Milchan Law, which would have ensured that Israelis who return to live in Israel from abroad were exempt from paying taxes for 10 years. The proposal was eventually blocked by the finance ministry. Police say Mr Netanyahu is also suspected of fraud and breach of trust in a case involving Australian billionaire James Packer. Israel's Channel 10 reported in December that Mr Packer told investigators he gave the prime minister and his wife Sara gifts. Israeli media say Mr Netanyahu has been questioned by investigators at least seven times. A final decision on whether Mr Netanyahu should face charges will come down to the attorney general's office. A decision could take months to reach. Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked said any prime minister who has been charged should not be obliged to resign. Speaking on Israeli television, Mr Netanyahu said he would continue in his role. The next legislative elections are scheduled for November 2019. Mr Netanyahu heads a fragile coalition, but on television, he appeared confident the allegations would not spur new elections. \"Over the years, I have been the subject of at least 15 enquiries and investigations,\" he said in his TV address. \"Some have ended with thunderous police recommendations like those of tonight. All of those attempts resulted in nothing, and this time again they will come to nothing.\" The 68-year-old is in his second stint as prime minister, and has served in the role for a total of 12 years. He has faced a number of allegations in his time in office. After his first term as prime minister two decades ago, police recommended that he and Sara face criminal charges for keeping official gifts that should have been handed over to the state. The charges were later dropped. In July 2015, the couple were accused of charging the government for the services of a contractor who did private work for them. The charges were later dropped.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 416, "answer_end": 1794, "text": "One case centres on an allegation that Mr Netanyahu asked the publisher of an Israeli newspaper, Yediot Aharonot, for positive coverage in exchange for help in reining in a rival publication. Police said the editor of Yediot Aharonot, Arnon Mozes, should also face charges. The second allegation centres on a claim that Mr Netanyahu, Israeli prime minister since 2009, received gifts worth at least a million shekels ($283,000; PS204,000) from Hollywood mogul Arnon Milchan and other supporters. The Jerusalem Post says the gifts included champagne and cigars, and were given in exchange for help getting Mr Milchan a US visa. Mr Milchan, the producer of films including Fight Club, Gone Girl and The Revenant, should face bribery charges, police said. The police statement said that Mr Netanyahu, after receiving gifts, pushed for the Milchan Law, which would have ensured that Israelis who return to live in Israel from abroad were exempt from paying taxes for 10 years. The proposal was eventually blocked by the finance ministry. Police say Mr Netanyahu is also suspected of fraud and breach of trust in a case involving Australian billionaire James Packer. Israel's Channel 10 reported in December that Mr Packer told investigators he gave the prime minister and his wife Sara gifts. Israeli media say Mr Netanyahu has been questioned by investigators at least seven times."}], "question": "What are the allegations?", "id": "984_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1795, "answer_end": 2324, "text": "A final decision on whether Mr Netanyahu should face charges will come down to the attorney general's office. A decision could take months to reach. Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked said any prime minister who has been charged should not be obliged to resign. Speaking on Israeli television, Mr Netanyahu said he would continue in his role. The next legislative elections are scheduled for November 2019. Mr Netanyahu heads a fragile coalition, but on television, he appeared confident the allegations would not spur new elections."}], "question": "What happens now?", "id": "984_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2325, "answer_end": 3160, "text": "\"Over the years, I have been the subject of at least 15 enquiries and investigations,\" he said in his TV address. \"Some have ended with thunderous police recommendations like those of tonight. All of those attempts resulted in nothing, and this time again they will come to nothing.\" The 68-year-old is in his second stint as prime minister, and has served in the role for a total of 12 years. He has faced a number of allegations in his time in office. After his first term as prime minister two decades ago, police recommended that he and Sara face criminal charges for keeping official gifts that should have been handed over to the state. The charges were later dropped. In July 2015, the couple were accused of charging the government for the services of a contractor who did private work for them. The charges were later dropped."}], "question": "How has Mr Netanyahu responded?", "id": "984_2"}]}]}, {"title": "'Rosalind Franklin' Mars rover assembly completed", "date": "27 August 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Assembly of the rover Europe and Russia plan to send to the Red Planet next year is complete. Engineers at Airbus in Stevenage, UK, displayed the finished vehicle on Tuesday ahead of its shipment to France for testing. Called \"Rosalind Franklin\" after the British DNA pioneer, the six-wheeled robot will search for life on Mars. It has a drill to burrow 2m below ground to try to detect the presence of microbes, either living or fossilised. The project is a joint endeavour of the European and Russian space agencies (Esa and Roscosmos), with input from the Canadians and the US. Although the rover's build took just nine months, development work at component and instrument level has consumed more than a decade (the initial feasibility study was started in 2004). Lift-off atop a Proton rocket is scheduled for July 2020. It is an eight-month cruise to Mars, with the landing on an ancient equatorial plain targeted for 19 March, 2021, around 0600 local Mars time. China and the US are preparing their own rovers for launch in the same departure window as Rosalind Franklin. China's vehicle, dubbed XH-1, is a slightly smaller concept. The Americans are assembling a near-copy of the one-tonne Curiosity robot that has been investigating the Red Planet for the past seven years. Their machine is codenamed currently simply Mars 2020. The roughly 300kg Rosalind Franklin rover is being bagged and boxed, ready to be sent to an Airbus facility in Toulouse this week. It's in southwest France that a series of checks will ensure the robot can withstand the rigours of interplanetary travel and operation. There are actually three outstanding items yet to be integrated on the rover. These are the radioisotope heaters that will keep the vehicle warm in the bitter conditions on Mars. But they are a Russian expertise and will not be inserted until just prior to blast-off. In parallel with the work on the rover, engineers in Italy at the Thales Alenia Space (TAS) company are preparing the mechanisms required to get the rover safely to, and on to, Mars. In Turin on Wednesday, the German cruise spacecraft that will shepherd the robot to the Red Planet, and the Russian descent module, which will protect it as it enters Mars' atmosphere, will have their first fit-check. Eventually, all elements of the mission will meet in Cannes, at another TAS factory, for end-to-end mating and balancing. \"When the spacecraft is sent to Mars, it will be spinning. Like the wheels on your car, we have to check the balance to make sure everything spins smoothly,\" explained Van Odedra, Airbus rover project manager. The entire system should be despatched to the Baikonur launch site in April to begin the process of preparing for the Proton lift-off. Rosalind Franklin was a \"superb scientific tool\", said David Parker, Esa's director of human and robotic exploration. \"We still have big challenges ahead but mission success is our number one priority.\" Currently, there is concern over the readiness of the parachute system that will slow Rosalind Franklin's descent through Mars' atmosphere to the surface. Engineers have designed a two-chute system: a smaller supersonic envelope that opens first and a big subsonic membrane that opens once the entry speed has become manageable. Two tests earlier this year - on both chute types - led to tearing on deployment. Pietro Baglioni, Esa's ExoMars manager, said the problem appeared to stem from the way the parachutes were packed and then extracted - not from the nature of the material used to fabricate them. Esa has called in Nasa to help with finding a solution because the American agency saw something similar during the development of the parachute system used on the successful Spirit and Opportunity rovers in 2004. Further tests are planned for November and February. The November demonstration will see engineers travel to Oregon for the launch of a stratospheric balloon. This will drop a dummy mass from 30km in altitude; a mortar will fire the supersonic chute out of its container to simulate a Mars descent. Mr Baglioni said the November test had \"to show that the implemented corrective measures are at least on the right track. Going for a redesign of the entire parachute system is out of the question for a 2020 launch.\" A formal \"go/no-go\" decision on the mission is expected early next year. Tuesday's send-off in front of the media was a big moment for the UK, which has made the Mars robot a central feature of its space science policy this past decade. Britain has invested in the order of EUR290m (PS260m) in the wider Esa-Roscosmos programme, codenamed ExoMars, that also includes a satellite positioned in orbit around the Red Planet. This satellite will act as the relay to send the rover's data home and, in the other direction, to feed Rosalind Franklin new commands. A further PS14m (EUR16m) of UK public money was also set aside specifically for instrument contributions on both the rover and the satellite. UK scientists lead the PanCam (the panoramic camera system on the rover), for example, which will take the pictures that help the robot navigate Mars' terrain and identify the rocks of greatest interest. With Rosalind Franklin now about to depart the country, there's intense interest in a follow-up. Study work at Airbus-Stevenage is already considering the design of a rover that would pick up rock samples cached by Mars 2020 during its mission. The aim would be to bring these samples back to Earth for a deeper analysis than is possible on Mars with remote laboratory tools. The UK will tell its Esa partners when they gather in Spain in November for a major ministerial meeting that it will invest a substantial sum to secure the lead in building the \"fetch rover\", as it has become known. Jonathan.Amos-INTERNET@bbc.co.uk and follow me on Twitter: @BBCAmos", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1337, "answer_end": 2943, "text": "The roughly 300kg Rosalind Franklin rover is being bagged and boxed, ready to be sent to an Airbus facility in Toulouse this week. It's in southwest France that a series of checks will ensure the robot can withstand the rigours of interplanetary travel and operation. There are actually three outstanding items yet to be integrated on the rover. These are the radioisotope heaters that will keep the vehicle warm in the bitter conditions on Mars. But they are a Russian expertise and will not be inserted until just prior to blast-off. In parallel with the work on the rover, engineers in Italy at the Thales Alenia Space (TAS) company are preparing the mechanisms required to get the rover safely to, and on to, Mars. In Turin on Wednesday, the German cruise spacecraft that will shepherd the robot to the Red Planet, and the Russian descent module, which will protect it as it enters Mars' atmosphere, will have their first fit-check. Eventually, all elements of the mission will meet in Cannes, at another TAS factory, for end-to-end mating and balancing. \"When the spacecraft is sent to Mars, it will be spinning. Like the wheels on your car, we have to check the balance to make sure everything spins smoothly,\" explained Van Odedra, Airbus rover project manager. The entire system should be despatched to the Baikonur launch site in April to begin the process of preparing for the Proton lift-off. Rosalind Franklin was a \"superb scientific tool\", said David Parker, Esa's director of human and robotic exploration. \"We still have big challenges ahead but mission success is our number one priority.\""}], "question": "What still needs to be done?", "id": "985_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2944, "answer_end": 4352, "text": "Currently, there is concern over the readiness of the parachute system that will slow Rosalind Franklin's descent through Mars' atmosphere to the surface. Engineers have designed a two-chute system: a smaller supersonic envelope that opens first and a big subsonic membrane that opens once the entry speed has become manageable. Two tests earlier this year - on both chute types - led to tearing on deployment. Pietro Baglioni, Esa's ExoMars manager, said the problem appeared to stem from the way the parachutes were packed and then extracted - not from the nature of the material used to fabricate them. Esa has called in Nasa to help with finding a solution because the American agency saw something similar during the development of the parachute system used on the successful Spirit and Opportunity rovers in 2004. Further tests are planned for November and February. The November demonstration will see engineers travel to Oregon for the launch of a stratospheric balloon. This will drop a dummy mass from 30km in altitude; a mortar will fire the supersonic chute out of its container to simulate a Mars descent. Mr Baglioni said the November test had \"to show that the implemented corrective measures are at least on the right track. Going for a redesign of the entire parachute system is out of the question for a 2020 launch.\" A formal \"go/no-go\" decision on the mission is expected early next year."}], "question": "What's the critical next hurdle?", "id": "985_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 4353, "answer_end": 5775, "text": "Tuesday's send-off in front of the media was a big moment for the UK, which has made the Mars robot a central feature of its space science policy this past decade. Britain has invested in the order of EUR290m (PS260m) in the wider Esa-Roscosmos programme, codenamed ExoMars, that also includes a satellite positioned in orbit around the Red Planet. This satellite will act as the relay to send the rover's data home and, in the other direction, to feed Rosalind Franklin new commands. A further PS14m (EUR16m) of UK public money was also set aside specifically for instrument contributions on both the rover and the satellite. UK scientists lead the PanCam (the panoramic camera system on the rover), for example, which will take the pictures that help the robot navigate Mars' terrain and identify the rocks of greatest interest. With Rosalind Franklin now about to depart the country, there's intense interest in a follow-up. Study work at Airbus-Stevenage is already considering the design of a rover that would pick up rock samples cached by Mars 2020 during its mission. The aim would be to bring these samples back to Earth for a deeper analysis than is possible on Mars with remote laboratory tools. The UK will tell its Esa partners when they gather in Spain in November for a major ministerial meeting that it will invest a substantial sum to secure the lead in building the \"fetch rover\", as it has become known."}], "question": "Why is Rosalind Franklin important for the UK?", "id": "985_2"}]}]}, {"title": "Afrofuturism: Why black science fiction 'can't be ignored'", "date": "7 May 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Science fiction has long been criticised for its lack of racial diversity and inclusion. It's rare to see a lead character who isn't white. One study of the top 100 highest-grossing films in the US showed that just eight of those 100 movies had a non-white protagonist, as of 2014. Six of those eight were Will Smith, according to diversity-focused book publisher Lee and Low Books. The long-term exclusion of people of colour from science fiction offers up an interesting paradox. How can a genre that imagines a future of infinite possibilities be seemingly unable to imagine a future where black people exist - or at least have any relevance? Herein lies the power (and importance) of afrofuturism, and while you may not have heard of the term, there's a good chance you've been introduced to it already. Afrofuturism is perhaps best summed up by the queen of contemporary afrofuturism herself -- Janelle Monae. Her futuristic music videos and radical aesthetic (she even calls her fans \"fAndroids\") are seen by some as a key force for pushing afrofuturism into the mainstream. \"Afrofuturism is me, us... is black people seeing ourselves in the future,\" she explains in a 30-second video clip for Spotify. It is no surprise then that Janelle cites the movement as the inspiration for her new narrative film, Dirty Computer: Emotion Picture, a visual accompaniment to her latest album (which is currently trending on YouTube). \"I was writing this music that was really inspired by science fiction and afrofuturism,\" she told BBC Radio 1 in March. \"Telling these stories through the lens of a young black woman and speaking of a future where we're included, we're not the minority, but we're the heroines, we're the leaders, we're the heroes... I felt like I had a responsibility to [do] that.\" The 44-minute film, starring and produced by Janelle, tells the story of Jane 57821, a woman who's on the run from a totalitarian government that seeks to scrape her memories. The film features minority groups who are under threat - including people of colour and LGBTQ individuals. Co-director of Dirty Computer Andrew Donoho told Newsbeat that viewers can expect to see a film that pulls inspiration from a long list of sci-films through the lens of afrofuturism. \"The entire project was about exploring the sci-fi landscape that we all knew and loved so much, while injecting Jane's commentary about race, sexuality, and the future of black culture. \"We wanted a true sci-film that properly represented the black and LGBTQ community in a way that was honest - something rare in Hollywood,\" he added. The term \"afrofuturism\" was originally coined and defined by cultural critic Mark Derry in a 1993 essay entitled \"Black to the Future\", although the idea has existed for much longer. Missy Elliott, Janet Jackson, TLC, and Solange Knowles have all been credited with exploring the movement, but one of its most famous contributors to the genre is the musician and poet Sun Ra. Regarded as a pioneer of afrofuturism with more than 1,000 recorded songs spanning more than 100 albums, he is particularly well-known for telling his own fictional origin story - that he was an alien who'd come to Earth from Saturn, sent on a mission to preach peace and speak through music. During his career, Sun Ra and his band (the Arkestra) went on a 25-year-long tour performing and selling their music. The band continues to perform following the death of Sun Ra in 1993. Aside from music and film however, afrofuturism also incorporates literature and art, combining them with science fiction, history, and fantasy. Afrofuturism can be split two simple questions: \"Who are we?\" and \"What is true about the world?\" according to Steven Barnes, a professional science fiction writer and lecturer on the topic. \"It is just our perspective on the question of how did we get here, what's going on, and what's the future going to be like? Which are the basic questions that you find answered through science fiction. \"Afrofuturism, then, would be the science fiction, fantasy and horror created by or featuring the children of the African diaspora (people of African origin living outside of the continent).\" Afrofuturism has more recently soared to commercial success with the release and critical acclaim of Black Panther. The blockbuster movie broke several records, including highest-grossing film of 2018, third-highest-grossing film in the United States, and 10th-highest-grossing film of all time. It features an afrofuturistic superhero in a world where black people have the most advanced technology on Earth. \"That is afrofuturism at its best,\" Steven told Newsbeat. \"You have something that deals with our past, our future, our present, our spirituality, our ability to love, to wield power, connections to family and language, and on and on and on and on.\" \"This is what I've been waiting for since I was child,\" he added. Contrary to science fiction's predominantly white history, the depiction of Black Panther on screen seems to have been exactly what the rest of the world had been waiting for too. As the highest-grossing movie directed by a black filmmaker in North America, Black Panther's success (and 96% rating on Rotten Tomatoes) is indicative of a wider point about afrofuturism's appeal, and the desire for these stories to be told more broadly. In March, Black Panther became the most tweeted about movie of all time, according to Twitter Movies. The genre's importance in part comes from its ability to connect people of African descent not only to their origins, but to each other. King Britt, a composer, producer and DJ, had been working on music before the term afrofuturism existed - but upon its conception he was surprised to find other people just like him. \"When the term and movement came to light, I was like, 'Oh wow, there are other black nerd kids like me who like sci-fi and want to change the future to include us more'. \"It was a form of escapism to think this way,\" he added. Steven Barnes, who teaches the subject, argues that afrofuturism's necessity comes from science fiction's history of excluding black people. \"You could have a movie where worlds collide and they build spaceships to save the world... and all the people on the spaceships are white,\" he told Newsbeat. \"The filmmakers didn't even question this, we literally don't exist in their fantasies. Now the situation is a lot better in a lot of ways.\" Afrofuturism may not be able to rectify an entire history of exclusion, but its impact, born of its attempts to answer important questions, is something that can't be ignored. \"This is why we're having this conversation,\" Steven said. \"The world is actually interested in the question.\" 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_start": 5450, "answer_end": 6902, "text": "The genre's importance in part comes from its ability to connect people of African descent not only to their origins, but to each other. King Britt, a composer, producer and DJ, had been working on music before the term afrofuturism existed - but upon its conception he was surprised to find other people just like him. \"When the term and movement came to light, I was like, 'Oh wow, there are other black nerd kids like me who like sci-fi and want to change the future to include us more'. \"It was a form of escapism to think this way,\" he added. Steven Barnes, who teaches the subject, argues that afrofuturism's necessity comes from science fiction's history of excluding black people. \"You could have a movie where worlds collide and they build spaceships to save the world... and all the people on the spaceships are white,\" he told Newsbeat. \"The filmmakers didn't even question this, we literally don't exist in their fantasies. Now the situation is a lot better in a lot of ways.\" Afrofuturism may not be able to rectify an entire history of exclusion, but its impact, born of its attempts to answer important questions, is something that can't be ignored. \"This is why we're having this conversation,\" Steven said. \"The world is actually interested in the question.\" 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."}], "question": "So why is afrofuturism important?", "id": "986_0"}]}]}, {"title": "US homeland security chief Nielsen grilled over child migrant deaths", "date": "6 March 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Secretary of Homeland Security Kirstjen Nielsen is testifying to Congress and being grilled on the deaths of migrant children and other border issues. Democrats on the panel have accused her of lying or being unaware of the situation at the US-Mexico border. The hearing comes after the death of two children in US custody last year. Mrs Nielsen is the highest-ranking Trump official to be questioned by Congress since Democrats took control of the House of Representatives. The hearing before the Democrat-controlled House Homeland Security Committee began on Wednesday with Mrs Nielsen saying that \"vulnerable populations - especially children - are coming into Department of Homeland Security (DHS) custody sicker than ever before\". When asked about the deaths of two young migrant children in DHS custody last December, Mrs Nielsen said that her department is awaiting a medical examiner's report before releasing their own findings. But she told Democrats that she had no idea when the medical examiner's report will conclude, and said they are currently investigating \"extenuating circumstances\" including the condition the children were in during their journey to the US. When asked what policies have recently been implemented to assist young migrants, Mrs Nielsen said that all girls over 10 are now receiving pregnancy tests by US immigration agents, due to the high rate of sexual abuse during the passage. Democrats reacted angrily when she said she did not know how many migrant children are currently in US detention. Last Friday, one immigration detention facility in Texas said that there were 16 infants under one year old in their care. By Tuesday, Immigration and Customs Enforcement said that all but one of the babies at the South Texas Family Residential Center had been released. According to immigration advocacy groups, more vulnerable people - such as pregnant women, young children and the elderly - are now being detained after crossing the border. These people, advocates say, had previously been released after agents determined they were not a threat to communities in the US. California Congresswoman Nanette Barragan told Mrs Nielsen bluntly \"either you are lying to this committee, or you don't know what's happening at the border\". Democrats pressed her on how many children have been put in \"cages\", which Mrs Nielsen said have not been used at DHS. \"I've seen the cages. I just want you to admit that cages exist,\" said Chairman Bennie Thompson. \"Sir they're not cages. They are areas of the border facility that are carved out for the safety and protection of those who remain there while they are being processed,\" she said in a tense exchange. Texas Democrat Al Green told her \"white babies would not be treated the way these babies of colour are being treated\". Republican Congressman Clay Higgins, said that the number of migrants that came to the US-Mexico border last month - 75,000 people - is the same as how many US soldiers landed on French beaches to liberate the country from Nazi Germany. He called the situation \"a D-Day every month\". She also said that there have been more apprehensions of illegal migrants in the first six months of this year than all of last year put together. One million people are currently expected to arrive at the US southern border this year, she said. Mrs Nielsen repeatedly referred to the situation at the US border as a \"crisis\", and \"emergency\", and a \"direct national security threat\" during her testimony. She also said that a deal is being reached with Central American countries to prevent people from smuggling and forming caravans to travel to the US in groups. The homeland security chief said she was aware of parents being deported back to their home country without their children, but said that those parents had been given the opportunity to take their kids with them but chose not to.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 2108, "answer_end": 3086, "text": "California Congresswoman Nanette Barragan told Mrs Nielsen bluntly \"either you are lying to this committee, or you don't know what's happening at the border\". Democrats pressed her on how many children have been put in \"cages\", which Mrs Nielsen said have not been used at DHS. \"I've seen the cages. I just want you to admit that cages exist,\" said Chairman Bennie Thompson. \"Sir they're not cages. They are areas of the border facility that are carved out for the safety and protection of those who remain there while they are being processed,\" she said in a tense exchange. Texas Democrat Al Green told her \"white babies would not be treated the way these babies of colour are being treated\". Republican Congressman Clay Higgins, said that the number of migrants that came to the US-Mexico border last month - 75,000 people - is the same as how many US soldiers landed on French beaches to liberate the country from Nazi Germany. He called the situation \"a D-Day every month\"."}], "question": "What did lawmakers say?", "id": "987_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3087, "answer_end": 3882, "text": "She also said that there have been more apprehensions of illegal migrants in the first six months of this year than all of last year put together. One million people are currently expected to arrive at the US southern border this year, she said. Mrs Nielsen repeatedly referred to the situation at the US border as a \"crisis\", and \"emergency\", and a \"direct national security threat\" during her testimony. She also said that a deal is being reached with Central American countries to prevent people from smuggling and forming caravans to travel to the US in groups. The homeland security chief said she was aware of parents being deported back to their home country without their children, but said that those parents had been given the opportunity to take their kids with them but chose not to."}], "question": "What else did Nielsen say?", "id": "987_1"}]}]}, {"title": "Tokyo 2020: Why some people want the rising sun flag banned", "date": "3 January 2020", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Fans cheering in a stadium and waving a flag is a staple sight at any international sports event. But what if a flag is so offensive to some countries it sparks a whole movement to get it banned? That is what's happening with Japan's rising sun flag and the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. And the strongest criticism is from South Korea - where some politicians even compare it to the Nazi swastika. Critics say the flag is flown by fans who want to romanticise and rewrite the human rights abuses by Japanese forces. South Korea wants it banned at the games - but the 2020 organisers say the flag is \"widely used in Japan\" and is \"not a political statement\". Japan's national flag is simply a red disc on a white background - and no-one has a problem with that one. The rising sun flag has a similar red disc but with 16 red rays coming from it. Both flags have in fact been used for a long time, dating back centuries. During the 19th Century, the rising sun symbol became the flag of the military. As such, it was flying during Japan's imperialist expansion when it occupied Korea and part of China. During World War Two, it became the flag of the navy - and that's largely where it got its controversial reputation. Japanese troops occupied much of Asia during the war, carrying out atrocities against local people. Today, it's still the flag of the country's navy and a slightly different version is used for the regular military. In 1905, Japan occupied Korea as a protectorate, and five years later as a full-fledged colony. The Japanese rule was one of economic exploitation and hundreds of thousands of Koreans were pressed into forced labour to aid the Japanese expansion in other parts of Asia. The brutal regime also saw thousands of girls and young women forced to work in military brothels set up for Japanese soldiers before and during World War Two. Known euphemistically as \"comfort women\", they were forced into sexual slavery. Aside from Korean victims, the Japanese army also forced girls from Taiwan, China and the Philippines into the brothels. Many South Koreans associate the rising sun flag with a long list of war crimes and oppression - and see Japan's continued use of the symbol as emblematic of Tokyo's failure to address its past. The flag is \"one thread in a tapestry of other South Korean complaints regarding Japan's perceived inability - or unwillingness - to accept responsibility for colonial transgressions,\" explains Korea analyst Ellen Swicord. South Korea's foreign ministry has described the flag as a symbol of Japanese \"imperialism and militarism\". Meanwhile, a parliamentary committee for sports said it was \"akin to a symbol of the devil to Asians and Koreans, just like the swastika is a symbol of Nazis which reminds European of invasion of horror\". Based on a historical experience of Japanese invasion, China's reaction to the rising sun flag at the Olympics could be similar to South Korea's. After the Japanese military took the Chinese city of Nanjing in 1937, Japanese troops embarked on a months-long campaign of murder, rape and looting in what became one of the worst massacres of the war. According to Chinese estimates, around 300,000 people were killed, many of them women and children, and around 20,000 women raped. Yet there's little protest from China about the flag. The reason is simple politics, explains Prof David Arase, from the Nanjing campus of Johns Hopkins University. Chinese media is state-controlled and Beijing is currently working to improve ties with Tokyo. In fact, Chinese President Xi Jinping is planning to visit Japan in the spring to meet the new Japanese emperor. \"That means China does not make a big issue out of it, and hence people wouldn't be primed for any outrage over that flag,\" Mr Arase says. There are arguments for and against. The rising sun flag has been used as a traditional national symbol of Japan for centuries, and appears in advertisements and on commercial products. In Germany, the swastika was only used when the Nazis were in power. It is now banned in Germany, and the Nazi symbol is only used by extremist groups. Yet even though the rising sun flag has a longer history, \"no-one in Japan uses the rising sun flag for any purpose other than romanticising and rewriting the horrible human rights abuses committed under the Japanese empire,\" argues Koichi Nakano, professor of political science at Sophia University in Tokyo. He suggests a better comparison than the swastika is the Confederate flag in the US. That flag was used in the American civil war by southern states that wanted to keep slavery. The flag is not banned, and is still flown across southern states, but critics say it is a symbol of racial segregation - and perceived superiority. Despite pressure from South Korea, there has been no concession from Japan so far. There is even an explanation by the foreign ministry, which looks at the overall history of the flag without any references to its role during World War Two. \"The design of the rising sun flag is widely used throughout Japan, such as 'good catch' flags used by fishermen, celebratory flags for childbirth and seasonal festivities, and flags of Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force vessels. \"Claims that the flag is an expression of political assertions or a symbol of militarism are absolutely false.\" In fact, even Japan's liberal newspaper Asahi Shimbun has a version of the flag as its logo. Japan's reluctance comes at a time where relations between South Korea and Japan are at a new low. Over the summer, a diplomatic feud over wartime labour compensation snowballed into a full-blown trade row between the two sides. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's refusal to act is seen by some as an attempt to please an ultra-conservative faction. \"The current Japanese government is letting extreme nationalism to carry on and is tacitly supporting its expression,\" explains Harrison Kim, assistant professor in history at the University of Hawaii. Yet Japan's alleged inability to properly deal with its brutal imperial past \"is not the fault of the Japan alone\", he says. Rather, it's in part because the US sought to secure Tokyo as an ally during the Cold War. \"The Japanese government did not have to resort to reparations and redress that would appropriately deal with its own past,\" says Mr Kim. The result, he argues, is that Japan has not implemented a permanent way of \"memorialising and apologising for its imperial crimes - not in law, not in education, and not in culture\".", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 650, "answer_end": 1425, "text": "Japan's national flag is simply a red disc on a white background - and no-one has a problem with that one. The rising sun flag has a similar red disc but with 16 red rays coming from it. Both flags have in fact been used for a long time, dating back centuries. During the 19th Century, the rising sun symbol became the flag of the military. As such, it was flying during Japan's imperialist expansion when it occupied Korea and part of China. During World War Two, it became the flag of the navy - and that's largely where it got its controversial reputation. Japanese troops occupied much of Asia during the war, carrying out atrocities against local people. Today, it's still the flag of the country's navy and a slightly different version is used for the regular military."}], "question": "What is the rising sun flag?", "id": "988_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1426, "answer_end": 2787, "text": "In 1905, Japan occupied Korea as a protectorate, and five years later as a full-fledged colony. The Japanese rule was one of economic exploitation and hundreds of thousands of Koreans were pressed into forced labour to aid the Japanese expansion in other parts of Asia. The brutal regime also saw thousands of girls and young women forced to work in military brothels set up for Japanese soldiers before and during World War Two. Known euphemistically as \"comfort women\", they were forced into sexual slavery. Aside from Korean victims, the Japanese army also forced girls from Taiwan, China and the Philippines into the brothels. Many South Koreans associate the rising sun flag with a long list of war crimes and oppression - and see Japan's continued use of the symbol as emblematic of Tokyo's failure to address its past. The flag is \"one thread in a tapestry of other South Korean complaints regarding Japan's perceived inability - or unwillingness - to accept responsibility for colonial transgressions,\" explains Korea analyst Ellen Swicord. South Korea's foreign ministry has described the flag as a symbol of Japanese \"imperialism and militarism\". Meanwhile, a parliamentary committee for sports said it was \"akin to a symbol of the devil to Asians and Koreans, just like the swastika is a symbol of Nazis which reminds European of invasion of horror\"."}], "question": "Why is South Korea unhappy with it?", "id": "988_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2788, "answer_end": 3779, "text": "Based on a historical experience of Japanese invasion, China's reaction to the rising sun flag at the Olympics could be similar to South Korea's. After the Japanese military took the Chinese city of Nanjing in 1937, Japanese troops embarked on a months-long campaign of murder, rape and looting in what became one of the worst massacres of the war. According to Chinese estimates, around 300,000 people were killed, many of them women and children, and around 20,000 women raped. Yet there's little protest from China about the flag. The reason is simple politics, explains Prof David Arase, from the Nanjing campus of Johns Hopkins University. Chinese media is state-controlled and Beijing is currently working to improve ties with Tokyo. In fact, Chinese President Xi Jinping is planning to visit Japan in the spring to meet the new Japanese emperor. \"That means China does not make a big issue out of it, and hence people wouldn't be primed for any outrage over that flag,\" Mr Arase says."}], "question": "Why no protest from China?", "id": "988_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3780, "answer_end": 4754, "text": "There are arguments for and against. The rising sun flag has been used as a traditional national symbol of Japan for centuries, and appears in advertisements and on commercial products. In Germany, the swastika was only used when the Nazis were in power. It is now banned in Germany, and the Nazi symbol is only used by extremist groups. Yet even though the rising sun flag has a longer history, \"no-one in Japan uses the rising sun flag for any purpose other than romanticising and rewriting the horrible human rights abuses committed under the Japanese empire,\" argues Koichi Nakano, professor of political science at Sophia University in Tokyo. He suggests a better comparison than the swastika is the Confederate flag in the US. That flag was used in the American civil war by southern states that wanted to keep slavery. The flag is not banned, and is still flown across southern states, but critics say it is a symbol of racial segregation - and perceived superiority."}], "question": "Is it comparable to the swastika?", "id": "988_3"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 4755, "answer_end": 5429, "text": "Despite pressure from South Korea, there has been no concession from Japan so far. There is even an explanation by the foreign ministry, which looks at the overall history of the flag without any references to its role during World War Two. \"The design of the rising sun flag is widely used throughout Japan, such as 'good catch' flags used by fishermen, celebratory flags for childbirth and seasonal festivities, and flags of Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force vessels. \"Claims that the flag is an expression of political assertions or a symbol of militarism are absolutely false.\" In fact, even Japan's liberal newspaper Asahi Shimbun has a version of the flag as its logo."}], "question": "Why won't Japan ban the flag?", "id": "988_4"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 5430, "answer_end": 6512, "text": "Japan's reluctance comes at a time where relations between South Korea and Japan are at a new low. Over the summer, a diplomatic feud over wartime labour compensation snowballed into a full-blown trade row between the two sides. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's refusal to act is seen by some as an attempt to please an ultra-conservative faction. \"The current Japanese government is letting extreme nationalism to carry on and is tacitly supporting its expression,\" explains Harrison Kim, assistant professor in history at the University of Hawaii. Yet Japan's alleged inability to properly deal with its brutal imperial past \"is not the fault of the Japan alone\", he says. Rather, it's in part because the US sought to secure Tokyo as an ally during the Cold War. \"The Japanese government did not have to resort to reparations and redress that would appropriately deal with its own past,\" says Mr Kim. The result, he argues, is that Japan has not implemented a permanent way of \"memorialising and apologising for its imperial crimes - not in law, not in education, and not in culture\"."}], "question": "Is this a political move?", "id": "988_5"}]}]}, {"title": "Trump stuns diners and reporters with impromptu night out", "date": "16 November 2016", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Diners at a Manhattan restaurant were left open-mouthed when in walked President-elect Donald Trump. But they were not the only ones to be surprised by the arrival of the man of the moment and his family. A group of reporters assigned to cover the president-elect's movements had been told they were not needed as he would be staying home for the evening. Video showed Mr Trump greeting diners and telling them he would lower their taxes. His arrival at the 21 Club only became known because a Bloomberg reporter, Taylor Riggs, happened to be dining there and tweeted his arrival, mistakenly giving the name of a different venue called Keene's. Video emerged of him greeting diners, telling them: \"We'll get your taxes down, don't worry about it.\" The press pool assigned to cover the president-elect was reportedly told by Mr Trump's spokeswoman, Hope Hicks, at 18:45 that he was calling it a night and they might as well go home. Some 45 minutes later, a \"massive motorcade\" was seen leaving Trump Tower, reportedly with at least a dozen vehicles and an ambulance. When Riggs' tweet emerged, reporters scrambled to Keene's before realising he was actually at the 21 Club. They were kept away from the restaurant while the Trump family had their dinner before returning home at 21:41. The decision to break with presidential protocol and not inform the press pool has alarmed many in the US media, already concerned by what they say is a lack of access and transparency from the incoming administration. Ms Hicks later told reporters she had not been aware of Mr Trump's plans and promised reporters would have \"all the access that they have ever had under any president\". The White House Correspondents' Association called it \"unacceptable for the next president of the United States to travel without a regular pool to record his movements and inform the public about his whereabouts\". Association President Jeff Mason welcomed Ms Hicks' reassurances but said \"the time to act on that promise is now\", stressing \"pool reporters are in place... to cover the president-elect as he assembles his new administration\". US presidents - and presidential nominees - traditionally have a \"protective pool\" of journalists who cover their daily movements. The pool is overseen by the White House Correspondents Association, and the reporters are rotated. The aim of the pool is to ensure a reporter bears witness to everything the president does outside the White House. Some of the details can be mundane but they are sent to news outlets via the White House Press Office. Both Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton broke with tradition by not having a protective press pool on their campaign. Mr Trump went further by not allowing reporters to travel with him on his plane or as part of his motorcade. Mr Trump at times during the campaign actively denied press credentials to some news outlets, including The Washington Post, the Huffington Post, BuzzFeed, Politico and Univision, the largest Spanish-language broadcaster in the US.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 2117, "answer_end": 3022, "text": "US presidents - and presidential nominees - traditionally have a \"protective pool\" of journalists who cover their daily movements. The pool is overseen by the White House Correspondents Association, and the reporters are rotated. The aim of the pool is to ensure a reporter bears witness to everything the president does outside the White House. Some of the details can be mundane but they are sent to news outlets via the White House Press Office. Both Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton broke with tradition by not having a protective press pool on their campaign. Mr Trump went further by not allowing reporters to travel with him on his plane or as part of his motorcade. Mr Trump at times during the campaign actively denied press credentials to some news outlets, including The Washington Post, the Huffington Post, BuzzFeed, Politico and Univision, the largest Spanish-language broadcaster in the US."}], "question": "What is a protective press pool?", "id": "989_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Sudan crisis: Military and opposition agree power-sharing deal", "date": "5 July 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Sudan's military leaders have reached an agreement with the opposition alliance to share power until elections can be held, mediators say. The two sides agreed to rotate control of the sovereign council - the top tier of power - for just over three years. They have also pledged to form an independent technocratic government and to investigate the violence of recent weeks, the African Union (AU) said. News of the agreement reportedly sparked frenzied street celebrations. Sudan has been in turmoil since the military ousted President Omar al-Bashir in April. That followed a popular uprising against Mr Bashir, who seized power in a coup in June 1989. Just days before the transitional deal was announced, vast crowds took to the streets to demand that the ruling military council hand power to a civilian-led administration. Seven people were killed and 181 were hurt in clashes that followed, state media reported. The latest round of talks took place in the capital, Khartoum, earlier this week and were mediated by the Ethiopian prime minister and members of the pan-African AU. \"The two sides agreed on establishing a sovereign council with a rotating military and civilian [presidency] for a period of three years or a little more,\" AU mediator Mohamed Hassan Lebatt told reporters on Friday. The agreement will see the military in charge for the first 21 months, then a civilian-run administration for the following 18 months. It's \"the first step in building a democratic country,\" said veteran politician Siddig Yousif, who was one of the main civilian negotiators. Asked whether the civilian leaders could convince protesters who might be nervous about the presence of the military in government, Mr Yousif told the BBC: \"It is a difficult task, but we'll try to convince our people that it will be a success\". Elections will be held once this transition period ends. Both sides also \"agreed to have a detailed, transparent, national, independent investigation into all the regrettable violent incidents that the country faced in recent weeks,\" he added. They have also agreed to postpone the establishment of a legislative council. \"We hope that this is the beginning of a new era,\" Omar al-Degair, a leader of the opposition Forces for Freedom and Change (FFC), said after the announcement. The deputy head of the Transitional Military Council (TMC), Gen Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, said: \"This agreement will be comprehensive and will not exclude anyone. \"We thank the African and Ethiopian mediators for their efforts and patience.\" Protesters \"definitely wanted much more\" from the deal and many are a \"little bit\" sceptical about the details, says Lena al-Sheikh who was out on the streets of Khartoum at the height of the protests. \"We were saying: 'Congratulations, is this real?'\" she told the BBC's Newsday programme. \"Because until 30 June, the military council has shown that... there was brutality against protesters, people died, people were hurt and we were thinking maybe this is never going to happen, maybe we are never going to reach an agreement.\" BBC regional analyst Mohanad Hashim says the deal falls short of demands for a totally civilian administration. A sticking point for some people is that the military will choose the leader of the sovereign council first. \"The first 18 months looks like the military meaning to consolidate power and remain in power and just bide [their] time until they are able to leverage that to remain in control,\" says Sudanese political commentator, Kholood Khair. \"What of [former President] Bashir? What of Salih Ghosh, the former head of the national intelligence service? There are many gaps in this document,\" Ms Khair told BBC Focus on Africa. As Sudan-based journalist Yousra Elbagir reports, an ongoing internet blackout in the country means many people may not yet know the details of the deal: Last month, representatives of the protesters were in talks with the military over who would take control. But negotiations collapsed when a military crackdown on 3 June left dozens of protesters dead. Doctors said 40 bodies were pulled from the River Nile. The army said elections would be held within nine months. But the protest movement insisted on a transition period of at least three years. When the talks broke down, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed flew to Sudan to try to broker a new agreement. After days of talks, his special envoy Mahmoud Dirir announced that protest leaders had agreed to suspend widespread strikes and return to the negotiating table. Celebrations and scepticism have greeted the new deal. Will it hold? Fears of the unknown are not surprising. In recent weeks the military appeared less willing to share power. But with international pressure and African Union mediation, they've accepted it. The inclusion of a vague 11th member of the sovereign council, who AU mediators say \"may or may not be a retired military officer\" but is labelled civilian, may have convinced each side of a win. But the position has the potential to make or break the deal. There are also concerns about the ambition displayed by Lt-Gen Mohamed Hamdan \"Hemeti\" Dagolo. The military council's number-two heads the dreaded Rapid Support Forces, a paramilitary group that's been accused of brutality. Hemeti came into the limelight as a fierce commander of the government-backed Janjaweed militia in Darfur. Lately, he has openly reached out to tribal elders and foreign leaders, and signed up a Canadian firm to spruce up the image of the military. Many would be uncomfortable if Hemeti gets a prominent role in the new arrangement, which is likely. Regional interests, particularly in the Gulf, have been at play before, during and after the coup. Whether the changes are down to the activism and sacrifices made by ordinary Sudanese, or steered by a hidden foreign hand, the road ahead will be tough.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1086, "answer_end": 2544, "text": "\"The two sides agreed on establishing a sovereign council with a rotating military and civilian [presidency] for a period of three years or a little more,\" AU mediator Mohamed Hassan Lebatt told reporters on Friday. The agreement will see the military in charge for the first 21 months, then a civilian-run administration for the following 18 months. It's \"the first step in building a democratic country,\" said veteran politician Siddig Yousif, who was one of the main civilian negotiators. Asked whether the civilian leaders could convince protesters who might be nervous about the presence of the military in government, Mr Yousif told the BBC: \"It is a difficult task, but we'll try to convince our people that it will be a success\". Elections will be held once this transition period ends. Both sides also \"agreed to have a detailed, transparent, national, independent investigation into all the regrettable violent incidents that the country faced in recent weeks,\" he added. They have also agreed to postpone the establishment of a legislative council. \"We hope that this is the beginning of a new era,\" Omar al-Degair, a leader of the opposition Forces for Freedom and Change (FFC), said after the announcement. The deputy head of the Transitional Military Council (TMC), Gen Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, said: \"This agreement will be comprehensive and will not exclude anyone. \"We thank the African and Ethiopian mediators for their efforts and patience.\""}], "question": "What has been agreed?", "id": "990_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2545, "answer_end": 3868, "text": "Protesters \"definitely wanted much more\" from the deal and many are a \"little bit\" sceptical about the details, says Lena al-Sheikh who was out on the streets of Khartoum at the height of the protests. \"We were saying: 'Congratulations, is this real?'\" she told the BBC's Newsday programme. \"Because until 30 June, the military council has shown that... there was brutality against protesters, people died, people were hurt and we were thinking maybe this is never going to happen, maybe we are never going to reach an agreement.\" BBC regional analyst Mohanad Hashim says the deal falls short of demands for a totally civilian administration. A sticking point for some people is that the military will choose the leader of the sovereign council first. \"The first 18 months looks like the military meaning to consolidate power and remain in power and just bide [their] time until they are able to leverage that to remain in control,\" says Sudanese political commentator, Kholood Khair. \"What of [former President] Bashir? What of Salih Ghosh, the former head of the national intelligence service? There are many gaps in this document,\" Ms Khair told BBC Focus on Africa. As Sudan-based journalist Yousra Elbagir reports, an ongoing internet blackout in the country means many people may not yet know the details of the deal:"}], "question": "What has the reaction been?", "id": "990_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3869, "answer_end": 4539, "text": "Last month, representatives of the protesters were in talks with the military over who would take control. But negotiations collapsed when a military crackdown on 3 June left dozens of protesters dead. Doctors said 40 bodies were pulled from the River Nile. The army said elections would be held within nine months. But the protest movement insisted on a transition period of at least three years. When the talks broke down, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed flew to Sudan to try to broker a new agreement. After days of talks, his special envoy Mahmoud Dirir announced that protest leaders had agreed to suspend widespread strikes and return to the negotiating table."}], "question": "What is the background?", "id": "990_2"}]}]}, {"title": "Pakistan accuses India of plotting fresh military attack", "date": "8 April 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Pakistan says it has \"reliable intelligence\" India is planning a military attack this month, something India dismissed as \"war hysteria\". Foreign minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi made the comments on Sunday. Already tense relations between the two deteriorated this year when Pakistan-based militants killed dozens of Indian troops in Indian-administered Kashmir. India responded with air strikes on what it said was a militant training camp in Pakistani territory. Soon afterwards, Pakistan shot down an Indian jet in Pakistan-administered Kashmir, and captured its pilot. He was handed back to India days later. The aerial attacks in February across the Line of Control (LoC) dividing Indian and Pakistani territory in Kashmir were the first since a war in 1971. Both nuclear-armed nations claim all of Muslim-majority Kashmir, but only control parts of it. Tensions seemed to have eased after the clashes, but on Sunday the Pakistani foreign minister said his country had intelligence to suggest an imminent Indian attack. \"There are chances of another aggression against Pakistan and according to our information this action can take place between April 16 and 20,\" Mr Qureshi told reporters. The foreign minister said he made the allegations \"with responsibility\", arguing the aggression aimed to raise \"diplomatic pressure\" against his country. Pakistan has also summoned India's deputy high commissioner to protest against what it says are India's plans. Foreign officer spokesman Raveesh Kumar said Pakistan had \"a clear objective of whipping up war hysteria in the region\". \"This public gimmick appears to be a call to Pakistan-based terrorists to undertake a terror attack in India,\" the spokesman said. He insisted that Pakistan \"cannot absolve itself of responsibility\" for the militant car bomb in Kashmir. India has long accused Pakistan of giving safe haven to militants from the Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) group, which said it was behind the attack in Pulwama. Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan has denied his country had any role in the bloodshed. He has offered to cooperate with an investigation if India could provide evidence of Pakistan's involvement. India is due to vote in general elections soon, and opponents of Prime Minister Narendra Modi allege he is using tensions with Pakistan to boost support for his party. Mr Modi's BJP party has strongly denied the suggestion. Pakistan detained dozens of suspected militants after the Kashmir attack, including relatives of Masood Azhar, the founder of JeM. The allegations of an imminent Indian attack came on the same day Pakistan released the first batch of about 360 Indian prisoners. The 100 people set free on Sunday are mostly fishermen who strayed into Pakistani waters. By Secunder Kermani, BBC Pakistan Correspondent Since the beginning of the Pakistan-India crisis earlier this year, Pakistani officials have attempted to lay claim to the moral high ground: portraying Indian politicians as cynical warmongers, who pushed for military action against Pakistan in order to cash in on nationalist sentiment during India's elections (due to start this week). News of this alleged planned Indian attack comes as authorities in Delhi face increasing pressure from their own public - their claims to have shot down a Pakistani plane, and struck a militant training camp in Pakistan in February look increasingly dubious. But the Pakistani Foreign Minister didn't provide any evidence of these alleged Indian plans at his press conference, and the Pakistani Army has so far remained silent on the issue. The remarks also come ahead of the arrival in Islamabad of a number of senior international journalists, many based in India, who were last week invited to come and meet the Pakistani leadership. The conflict between Pakistan and India is being fought on the airwaves as well as the battlefield, and separating facts from spin is not easy.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 857, "answer_end": 1458, "text": "Tensions seemed to have eased after the clashes, but on Sunday the Pakistani foreign minister said his country had intelligence to suggest an imminent Indian attack. \"There are chances of another aggression against Pakistan and according to our information this action can take place between April 16 and 20,\" Mr Qureshi told reporters. The foreign minister said he made the allegations \"with responsibility\", arguing the aggression aimed to raise \"diplomatic pressure\" against his country. Pakistan has also summoned India's deputy high commissioner to protest against what it says are India's plans."}], "question": "What has Pakistan said?", "id": "991_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1459, "answer_end": 2744, "text": "Foreign officer spokesman Raveesh Kumar said Pakistan had \"a clear objective of whipping up war hysteria in the region\". \"This public gimmick appears to be a call to Pakistan-based terrorists to undertake a terror attack in India,\" the spokesman said. He insisted that Pakistan \"cannot absolve itself of responsibility\" for the militant car bomb in Kashmir. India has long accused Pakistan of giving safe haven to militants from the Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) group, which said it was behind the attack in Pulwama. Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan has denied his country had any role in the bloodshed. He has offered to cooperate with an investigation if India could provide evidence of Pakistan's involvement. India is due to vote in general elections soon, and opponents of Prime Minister Narendra Modi allege he is using tensions with Pakistan to boost support for his party. Mr Modi's BJP party has strongly denied the suggestion. Pakistan detained dozens of suspected militants after the Kashmir attack, including relatives of Masood Azhar, the founder of JeM. The allegations of an imminent Indian attack came on the same day Pakistan released the first batch of about 360 Indian prisoners. The 100 people set free on Sunday are mostly fishermen who strayed into Pakistani waters."}], "question": "How did India respond?", "id": "991_1"}]}]}, {"title": "France gun attack: Tr\u00e8bes held memorial Mass for victims", "date": "25 March 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "A memorial Mass has been celebrated in the southern French town of Trebes, in honour of four people killed by an Islamist gunman on Friday. One of them, policeman Lt-Col Arnaud Beltrame, has been hailed as a hero for trading places with a captive during a siege at a supermarket. The bishop at the church told hundreds of mourners that his actions were comparable to that of a saint. It is the worst jihadist attack under Emmanuel Macron's presidency. The gunman, 25-year-old Redouane Lakdim, had been on an extremist watch list and was known to authorities as a petty criminal, but intelligence services had determined he did not pose a threat. He was shot dead by police. Lakdim, who pledged allegiance to Islamic State militants, was said to have demanded the release of Salah Abdeslam, the most important surviving suspect in the 13 November 2015 attacks in Paris, which killed 130 people. In the packed Church of Saint-Etienne in Trebes, the bishop of Carcassonne and Narbonne compared the police officer's actions with those of a Polish saint who volunteered to die in the place of a stranger at the World War Two death camp at Auschwitz. Mourners, which included members of the local Muslim community, lined the back and front steps of the church. \"Your presence tells us that the creators of hatred will not win,\" Bishop Alain Planet said to the Muslim congregates in his address. Outside the 14th-century church, the local imam later said according to the news agency AFP: \"The [Muslim] community has been stabbed, Islam itself has been stabbed... by people who use symbols that are dear to our hearts.\" The chief of French police, Richard Lizurey, attended the service and later told reporters that Col Beltrame was an inspiration to those working in the French security services. \"It's an heroic act. In fact an exceptional act, carried out in the heat of action,\" the head of the Gendarmerie said. \"We are proud. Proud to have counted Arnaud Beltrame among us.\" The attack has shaken the rural town of 6,000 people, and flowers have been laid in front of the Super U shop where the hostage-taking took place, as well as outside Col Beltrame's police barracks. A separate national memorial in Paris will also honour the killed officer in the coming days. Khadija, a 52-year-old restaurant owner, said she was shocked by what had occurred. \"We thought this only happened in big towns,\" she told AFP. Jean Mazieres Before the hostage-taking in Trebes, Lakdim hijacked a car in nearby Carcassonne, shooting the Portuguese driver and killing passenger Jean Mazieres, a retired winemaker in his sixties. He organised villages fetes and was described as \"very jolly\" by Marc Rofes, the mayor of Villedubert, where his family lives. \"He loved life, he loved parties... we have lost someone who was liked by everybody,\" he said of Mr Mazieres, who was married and had one child. The driver of the car remains in a critical condition. Christian Medves After opening fire on a group of police officers out jogging, wounding one, the gunman drove to the Super U in Trebes, where he killed the shop's chief butcher, Christian Medves. An amateur runner and one-time local political candidate, Mr Medves, 50, was described as having the \"joy of life\". \"We do not know yet what happened, but knowing Christian, I imagine he would have wanted to intervene,\" his friend Franck Alberti told local paper La Depeche du Midi. He was married with two daughters. Herve Sosna Retired builder Herve Sosna, 65, was at the butcher's counter when Lakdim mounted his assault. The Trebes resident \"had a huge intellectual capacity\" and was a capacious reader, especially of poetry, his half-brother told La Depeche du Midi. \"He never asked for anything, and he was killed, just like that.\" Arnaud Beltrame The brave police officer has emerged as the human face of this attack, and his actions are being seen as a defiant response to the country's would-be attackers - a reminder of the best of France, says BBC Paris correspondent Lucy Williamson. Although police managed to free hostages from the supermarket, Lakdim had held one woman back as a human shield, and Col Beltrame volunteered to swap himself for her. As he did so, he left his mobile phone on a table with an open line so that police outside could monitor the situation. When police heard gunshots, a tactical team stormed the supermarket. The gunman was killed and Col Beltrame, who was 44, was mortally wounded. He and his wife, Marielle, had been married in a civil ceremony but were planning a church wedding in June. The Catholic priest who was meant to officiate at the ceremony visited Col Beltrame in hospital, where Marielle was keeping vigil, before he died. World leaders, including UK PM Theresa May, have paid tribute to the officer, who was a highly-regarded member of the Gendarmerie Nationale and was described by President Macron on Saturday as someone who \"fought until the end and never gave up\". \"He gave his life for strangers. He must have known that he didn't really have a chance. If that doesn't make him a hero, I don't know what would,\" Col Beltrame's brother, Cedric, told a French radio station on Saturday. Speaking to the BBC, Col Arnaud's cousin Florence Nicolic described the officer as a person who was \"so good at his job\". \"Even though we were surprised and shocked when we heard what happened we were not surprised in the sense that that's the thing he would do without hesitation,\" Ms Nicolic said. Col Beltrame was deployed to Iraq in 2005 and was later awarded the Cross for Military Valour for his peacekeeping work. On his return to France, Col Beltrame joined the country's Republican Guard and was tasked with protecting the presidential palace. In 2017, he was named deputy chief of the Gendarmerie Nationale in the French region of Aude.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 2410, "answer_end": 5828, "text": "Jean Mazieres Before the hostage-taking in Trebes, Lakdim hijacked a car in nearby Carcassonne, shooting the Portuguese driver and killing passenger Jean Mazieres, a retired winemaker in his sixties. He organised villages fetes and was described as \"very jolly\" by Marc Rofes, the mayor of Villedubert, where his family lives. \"He loved life, he loved parties... we have lost someone who was liked by everybody,\" he said of Mr Mazieres, who was married and had one child. The driver of the car remains in a critical condition. Christian Medves After opening fire on a group of police officers out jogging, wounding one, the gunman drove to the Super U in Trebes, where he killed the shop's chief butcher, Christian Medves. An amateur runner and one-time local political candidate, Mr Medves, 50, was described as having the \"joy of life\". \"We do not know yet what happened, but knowing Christian, I imagine he would have wanted to intervene,\" his friend Franck Alberti told local paper La Depeche du Midi. He was married with two daughters. Herve Sosna Retired builder Herve Sosna, 65, was at the butcher's counter when Lakdim mounted his assault. The Trebes resident \"had a huge intellectual capacity\" and was a capacious reader, especially of poetry, his half-brother told La Depeche du Midi. \"He never asked for anything, and he was killed, just like that.\" Arnaud Beltrame The brave police officer has emerged as the human face of this attack, and his actions are being seen as a defiant response to the country's would-be attackers - a reminder of the best of France, says BBC Paris correspondent Lucy Williamson. Although police managed to free hostages from the supermarket, Lakdim had held one woman back as a human shield, and Col Beltrame volunteered to swap himself for her. As he did so, he left his mobile phone on a table with an open line so that police outside could monitor the situation. When police heard gunshots, a tactical team stormed the supermarket. The gunman was killed and Col Beltrame, who was 44, was mortally wounded. He and his wife, Marielle, had been married in a civil ceremony but were planning a church wedding in June. The Catholic priest who was meant to officiate at the ceremony visited Col Beltrame in hospital, where Marielle was keeping vigil, before he died. World leaders, including UK PM Theresa May, have paid tribute to the officer, who was a highly-regarded member of the Gendarmerie Nationale and was described by President Macron on Saturday as someone who \"fought until the end and never gave up\". \"He gave his life for strangers. He must have known that he didn't really have a chance. If that doesn't make him a hero, I don't know what would,\" Col Beltrame's brother, Cedric, told a French radio station on Saturday. Speaking to the BBC, Col Arnaud's cousin Florence Nicolic described the officer as a person who was \"so good at his job\". \"Even though we were surprised and shocked when we heard what happened we were not surprised in the sense that that's the thing he would do without hesitation,\" Ms Nicolic said. Col Beltrame was deployed to Iraq in 2005 and was later awarded the Cross for Military Valour for his peacekeeping work. On his return to France, Col Beltrame joined the country's Republican Guard and was tasked with protecting the presidential palace. In 2017, he was named deputy chief of the Gendarmerie Nationale in the French region of Aude."}], "question": "Who were the victims?", "id": "992_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Golan Heights: Syria condemns Donald Trump's remarks", "date": "22 March 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Syria has condemned as \"irresponsible\" US President Donald Trump's comments that it was time to recognise Israel's sovereignty over the occupied Golan Heights. A statement published by the Syrian state news agency said it showed the \"blind bias\" of the US towards Israel. It said Syria was determined to recover the area \"through all available means\". Israel captured the Golan Heights from Syria in 1967 and annexed it in 1981 in a move not recognised internationally. Israel wants to contain the military presence of its arch-enemy Iran in Syria, which has grown stronger throughout eight years of conflict. Mr Trump's remarks on Thursday overturned decades of US policy on the issue. In a tweet, he said the plateau was of \"critical strategic and security importance to the State of Israel and regional stability!\" Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu thanked the US president in a phone call, telling him \"you've made history\". The statement carried by the Sana news agency said Mr Trump's comments had shown \"contempt\" for international law and that they would not change \"the reality that the Golan was and will remain Syrian, Arab\". \"The Syrian nation is more determined to liberate this precious piece of Syrian national land through all available means,\" the unnamed foreign ministry source added. Mr Trump's remarks come as Mr Netanyahu faces a closely fought general election on 9 April, as well as a series of possible corruption charges. The two leaders are due to meet in Washington DC next week, when Mr Netanyahu is due to address the pro-Israel lobbying Aipac group. In 2017, Mr Trump recognised Jerusalem as Israel's capital and ordered the relocation of the US embassy to the city from Tel Aviv. The decision was condemned by Palestinians, who want East Jerusalem to be the capital of a future Palestinian state, and the UN General Assembly demanded its cancellation. Mr Netanyahu tweeted his thanks to Mr Trump, saying: \"At a time when Iran seeks to use Syria as a platform to destroy Israel, President Trump boldly recognises Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights\". The US ambassador to Israel, David Friedman, praised Mr Trump's \"moral, courageous and just decision\". The EU says it does not recognise Israeli sovereignty over the Golan, and its position on the issue \"has not changed\". The US president has faced strong criticism from the region, as well as some of Syria's allies: - Russia, which has been providing military support to President Bashar al-Assad in the Syrian conflict, said a change in the status of the Golan would be a direct violation of decisions taken by the UN - Iran, whose forces are also backing the Syrian president, called the US position \"illegal and unacceptable\" - Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who has supported the Syrian opposition in the war, said the remarks had \"brought the region to the brink of a new crisis\" - Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit said the announcement was \"completely beyond international law\" Richard Haass, a former senior US state department official who is now president of the Council on Foreign Relations think-tank, said he \"strongly disagreed\" with Mr Trump and that the decision would violate a UN Security Council resolution \"which rules out acquiring territory by war\". If the announcement came as a surprise, it was a good surprise for Mr Netanyahu. And the surprise would have been in the timing, not the substance, because the idea of the US recognising Israel's sovereignty over the Golan has been under active consideration for some time. Israel has gained traction in the White House and parts of Congress by arguing that Iran is using Syria as a base from which to target Israel, with the Golan Heights as the front line. But the formal US recognition doesn't change anything on the ground: Israel was already acting with full military authority. Critics have concluded this was a blatant attempt to give Mr Netanyahu a boost in a hotly-contested election. If so, it's one that violates important principles of international law, they say: Mr Trump has endorsed the seizure of territory, and will have no moral authority to criticise Russia for doing so in Ukraine's Crimea. The region is located about 60km (40 miles) south-west of the Syrian capital, Damascus, and covers about 1,000 sq km (400 sq miles). Israel seized most of the Golan from Syria in the closing stages of the 1967 Middle East war, and thwarted a Syrian attempt to retake the region during the 1973 war. The two countries agreed a disengagement plan the following year that involved the creation of a 70km-long (44-mile) demilitarised zone patrolled by a United Nations observer force. But they remained technically in a state of war. In 1981, Israel's parliament passed legislation applying Israeli \"law, jurisdiction, and administration\" to the Golan, in effect annexing the territory. But the international community did not recognise the move and maintained that the Golan was occupied Syrian territory. UN Security Council Resolution 497 declared the Israeli decision \"null and void and without international legal effect\". Three years ago, when former President Barack Obama was in office, the US voted in favour of a Security Council statement expressing deep concern that Mr Netanyahu had declared Israel would never relinquish the Golan. Syria has always insisted that it will not agree a peace deal with Israel unless it withdraws from the whole of the Golan. The last US-brokered direct peace talks broke down in 2000, while Turkey mediated in indirect talks in 2008. There are more than 30 Israeli settlements in the Golan, which are home to an estimated 20,000 people. The settlements are considered illegal under international law, although Israel disputes this. The settlers live alongside some 20,000 Syrians, most of them Druze Arabs, who did not flee when the Golan was captured.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 937, "answer_end": 1891, "text": "The statement carried by the Sana news agency said Mr Trump's comments had shown \"contempt\" for international law and that they would not change \"the reality that the Golan was and will remain Syrian, Arab\". \"The Syrian nation is more determined to liberate this precious piece of Syrian national land through all available means,\" the unnamed foreign ministry source added. Mr Trump's remarks come as Mr Netanyahu faces a closely fought general election on 9 April, as well as a series of possible corruption charges. The two leaders are due to meet in Washington DC next week, when Mr Netanyahu is due to address the pro-Israel lobbying Aipac group. In 2017, Mr Trump recognised Jerusalem as Israel's capital and ordered the relocation of the US embassy to the city from Tel Aviv. The decision was condemned by Palestinians, who want East Jerusalem to be the capital of a future Palestinian state, and the UN General Assembly demanded its cancellation."}], "question": "How did Syria respond?", "id": "993_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1892, "answer_end": 3293, "text": "Mr Netanyahu tweeted his thanks to Mr Trump, saying: \"At a time when Iran seeks to use Syria as a platform to destroy Israel, President Trump boldly recognises Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights\". The US ambassador to Israel, David Friedman, praised Mr Trump's \"moral, courageous and just decision\". The EU says it does not recognise Israeli sovereignty over the Golan, and its position on the issue \"has not changed\". The US president has faced strong criticism from the region, as well as some of Syria's allies: - Russia, which has been providing military support to President Bashar al-Assad in the Syrian conflict, said a change in the status of the Golan would be a direct violation of decisions taken by the UN - Iran, whose forces are also backing the Syrian president, called the US position \"illegal and unacceptable\" - Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who has supported the Syrian opposition in the war, said the remarks had \"brought the region to the brink of a new crisis\" - Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit said the announcement was \"completely beyond international law\" Richard Haass, a former senior US state department official who is now president of the Council on Foreign Relations think-tank, said he \"strongly disagreed\" with Mr Trump and that the decision would violate a UN Security Council resolution \"which rules out acquiring territory by war\"."}], "question": "What other reaction has there been?", "id": "993_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 4206, "answer_end": 5898, "text": "The region is located about 60km (40 miles) south-west of the Syrian capital, Damascus, and covers about 1,000 sq km (400 sq miles). Israel seized most of the Golan from Syria in the closing stages of the 1967 Middle East war, and thwarted a Syrian attempt to retake the region during the 1973 war. The two countries agreed a disengagement plan the following year that involved the creation of a 70km-long (44-mile) demilitarised zone patrolled by a United Nations observer force. But they remained technically in a state of war. In 1981, Israel's parliament passed legislation applying Israeli \"law, jurisdiction, and administration\" to the Golan, in effect annexing the territory. But the international community did not recognise the move and maintained that the Golan was occupied Syrian territory. UN Security Council Resolution 497 declared the Israeli decision \"null and void and without international legal effect\". Three years ago, when former President Barack Obama was in office, the US voted in favour of a Security Council statement expressing deep concern that Mr Netanyahu had declared Israel would never relinquish the Golan. Syria has always insisted that it will not agree a peace deal with Israel unless it withdraws from the whole of the Golan. The last US-brokered direct peace talks broke down in 2000, while Turkey mediated in indirect talks in 2008. There are more than 30 Israeli settlements in the Golan, which are home to an estimated 20,000 people. The settlements are considered illegal under international law, although Israel disputes this. The settlers live alongside some 20,000 Syrians, most of them Druze Arabs, who did not flee when the Golan was captured."}], "question": "What are the Golan Heights?", "id": "993_2"}]}]}, {"title": "Homeless man row: US couple ordered to hand over Johnny Bobbitt money", "date": "31 August 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "A New Jersey judge has ordered a couple to turn over the money they raised for a homeless man after he helped one of them out in an emergency. The judge gave Kate McClure and her boyfriend Mark D'Amico until Friday afternoon to transfer what remains of more than $400,000 (PS307,000). It is to be placed in an account controlled by Johnny Bobbitt's lawyers and frozen pending a new court ruling. The couple deny Mr Bobbitt's claim they helped themselves to the money. The Philadelphia man filed a lawsuit for fraud and conspiracy on Tuesday, saying the couple had used the funds as their own \"piggy bank\". Mr Bobbitt's original Good Samaritan deed went viral last year when he gave his last $20 to Ms McClure after her car ran out of petrol. The couple responded by starting an online appeal on GoFundMe, drawing contributions from more than 14,000 donors, but their relationship with Mr Bobbitt eventually soured as they accused him of using the money to feed a drug habit. GoFundMe is investigating allegations that its service was misused. Superior Court Judge Paula T Dow ordered the couple to transfer the money into an escrow account and hire a forensic accountant to review financial records within 10 days, the Philadelphia Inquirer reports. The court would decide how the money would eventually be managed, she ruled on Thursday. Neither the couple, who are New Jersey residents, nor Mr Bobbitt were in court for the hearing which took place in Mount Holly, close to the state border with Philadelphia. About $150,000, Mr D'Amico told NBC on Monday. Jacqueline Promislo, a lawyer for Mr Bobbitt, told the BBC her client estimates the couple spent about $75,000 on his care. Lawyers for Mr Bobbitt, 35, allege in the lawsuit that the couple used it to \"fund a lifestyle that they could not otherwise afford\". In interviews, Mr Bobbitt said Ms McClure, 28, and Mr D'Amico, 39, had recently paid for trips to Las Vegas and Florida, and a new BMW. Mr D'Amico works as a carpenter and Ms McClure is a receptionist for the New Jersey Department of Transportation, according to local media. The couple had promised their online supporters the money would go to two financial trusts for Mr Bobbitt, as well as a lawyer and a financial adviser to help him manage all the money. They gave him clothing, allowed him to park his new camper outside their home, but reportedly later asked him to leave. Mr Bobbitt alleges that the couple sold his camper, gambled away some of his money and declined to provide him with any financial records. Mr D'Amico told NBC that \"every dollar\" Mr Bobbitt \"ever touched was used for drugs\". The couple's lawyer, Ernest E Badway, told the court on Thursday that the idea his clients were \"the bad guys ... is completely not true\". \"They took time out of their own schedules, their own jobs, brought him to rehab centers... gave him cash on a daily basis,\" he said. \"My clients tried to help [Mr Bobbitt],\" he said. \"It's going to come down to an accounting. It's going to come down to a demonstration of all the money and where the money went.\" Towards the end of the hearing, Mr Badway told the judge that meeting the Friday deadline for handing over the money would be difficult. Judge Dow responded: \"The banks are open Friday, most banks are open Saturday. And if the monies aren't in the bank, they can pull their money out of their pillowcases and have them delivered to you, to be handed over and placed in a trust account.\" The US Marine veteran is back living on the streets of Philadelphia with his younger brother. He told the Inquirer that begging for change to buy drugs was better than trying to get money from Mr D'Amico and Ms McClure.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1043, "answer_end": 1511, "text": "Superior Court Judge Paula T Dow ordered the couple to transfer the money into an escrow account and hire a forensic accountant to review financial records within 10 days, the Philadelphia Inquirer reports. The court would decide how the money would eventually be managed, she ruled on Thursday. Neither the couple, who are New Jersey residents, nor Mr Bobbitt were in court for the hearing which took place in Mount Holly, close to the state border with Philadelphia."}], "question": "What is the court order?", "id": "994_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1512, "answer_end": 1682, "text": "About $150,000, Mr D'Amico told NBC on Monday. Jacqueline Promislo, a lawyer for Mr Bobbitt, told the BBC her client estimates the couple spent about $75,000 on his care."}], "question": "How much is left?", "id": "994_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1683, "answer_end": 2536, "text": "Lawyers for Mr Bobbitt, 35, allege in the lawsuit that the couple used it to \"fund a lifestyle that they could not otherwise afford\". In interviews, Mr Bobbitt said Ms McClure, 28, and Mr D'Amico, 39, had recently paid for trips to Las Vegas and Florida, and a new BMW. Mr D'Amico works as a carpenter and Ms McClure is a receptionist for the New Jersey Department of Transportation, according to local media. The couple had promised their online supporters the money would go to two financial trusts for Mr Bobbitt, as well as a lawyer and a financial adviser to help him manage all the money. They gave him clothing, allowed him to park his new camper outside their home, but reportedly later asked him to leave. Mr Bobbitt alleges that the couple sold his camper, gambled away some of his money and declined to provide him with any financial records."}], "question": "So where did the other $175,000 go?", "id": "994_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2537, "answer_end": 3462, "text": "Mr D'Amico told NBC that \"every dollar\" Mr Bobbitt \"ever touched was used for drugs\". The couple's lawyer, Ernest E Badway, told the court on Thursday that the idea his clients were \"the bad guys ... is completely not true\". \"They took time out of their own schedules, their own jobs, brought him to rehab centers... gave him cash on a daily basis,\" he said. \"My clients tried to help [Mr Bobbitt],\" he said. \"It's going to come down to an accounting. It's going to come down to a demonstration of all the money and where the money went.\" Towards the end of the hearing, Mr Badway told the judge that meeting the Friday deadline for handing over the money would be difficult. Judge Dow responded: \"The banks are open Friday, most banks are open Saturday. And if the monies aren't in the bank, they can pull their money out of their pillowcases and have them delivered to you, to be handed over and placed in a trust account.\""}], "question": "What do the couple say in their defence?", "id": "994_3"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3463, "answer_end": 3682, "text": "The US Marine veteran is back living on the streets of Philadelphia with his younger brother. He told the Inquirer that begging for change to buy drugs was better than trying to get money from Mr D'Amico and Ms McClure."}], "question": "What is Mr Bobbitt doing now?", "id": "994_4"}]}]}, {"title": "Heinz-Christian Strache: Vice-chancellor caught on secret video", "date": "18 May 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Austria's Vice-Chancellor Heinz-Christian Strache has been filmed appearing to offer government contracts in exchange for political support. The video, filmed secretly shortly before Austria's election in 2017, shows Mr Strache speaking to a woman who claims to be a Russian investor. Mr Strache also appears to hint at a potentially illegal donation system for the far-right Freedom Party he leads. The revelations come amid high tensions within Austria's coalition government. Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz of the centre-right People's Party is due to make a statement at a press conference on Saturday morning. Senior figures in the coalition government held an emergency meeting on Friday evening. A coalition source told Reuters news agency that Mr Kurz is ruling out continuing to work with Mr Strache. The video was published on Friday in a joint report by the German news magazine Der Spiegel and the daily Suddeutsche Zeitung. It is unclear who set up the meeting and who filmed it. The secretly-filmed video shows Mr Strache and Johann Gudenus - also a Freedom Party politician - talking to a woman who claims to be a wealthy Russian citizen looking to invest in Austria. The meeting reportedly took place at a villa on the Spanish island of Ibiza, in a private room with both politicians relaxing on sofas, smoking and drinking. In the footage, the woman says she is the niece of a powerful Russian oligarch. She offers to buy a 50% stake in Austria's Kronen-Zeitung newspaper and switch its editorial position to support the Freedom Party. In exchange, Mr Strache said he could award her public contracts, explaining that he wanted to \"build a media landscape like Orban\", a reference to Hungary's far-right prime minister. The vice-chancellor also speculates that the Russian's takeover of Kronen-Zeitung could boost support for the party to as high as 34%. \"If you take over the Kronen Zeitung three weeks before the election and get us into first place, then we can talk about everything,\" Mr Strache said. As part of the deal, he suggests the Russian woman \"set up a company like Strabag,\" the Austrian construction firm. \"All the government orders that Strabag gets now, [you] would get,\" he continues. Mr Strache also names several  journalists who would have to be \"pushed\" from the newspaper, and five other \"new people whom we will build up\". During the discussions, the vice chancellor says that wealthy donors have paid the Freedom Party through an \"association\" to keep their donations hidden. \"The association is charitable, it's got nothing to do with the party,\" Mr Strache said. \"That way no report goes to the Rechnungshof [Austria's court of auditors]\". The alleged donors named by Mr Strache and Mr Gudenus in the video have denied sending money to the party, according to Der Spiegel and the Suddeutsche Zeitung. The two men have acknowledged that the meeting took place, but said it had been \"purely private\". They added that they had repeatedly mentioned \"the relevant legal regulations and the necessity to observe Austrian law\" during the encounter.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 997, "answer_end": 2688, "text": "The secretly-filmed video shows Mr Strache and Johann Gudenus - also a Freedom Party politician - talking to a woman who claims to be a wealthy Russian citizen looking to invest in Austria. The meeting reportedly took place at a villa on the Spanish island of Ibiza, in a private room with both politicians relaxing on sofas, smoking and drinking. In the footage, the woman says she is the niece of a powerful Russian oligarch. She offers to buy a 50% stake in Austria's Kronen-Zeitung newspaper and switch its editorial position to support the Freedom Party. In exchange, Mr Strache said he could award her public contracts, explaining that he wanted to \"build a media landscape like Orban\", a reference to Hungary's far-right prime minister. The vice-chancellor also speculates that the Russian's takeover of Kronen-Zeitung could boost support for the party to as high as 34%. \"If you take over the Kronen Zeitung three weeks before the election and get us into first place, then we can talk about everything,\" Mr Strache said. As part of the deal, he suggests the Russian woman \"set up a company like Strabag,\" the Austrian construction firm. \"All the government orders that Strabag gets now, [you] would get,\" he continues. Mr Strache also names several  journalists who would have to be \"pushed\" from the newspaper, and five other \"new people whom we will build up\". During the discussions, the vice chancellor says that wealthy donors have paid the Freedom Party through an \"association\" to keep their donations hidden. \"The association is charitable, it's got nothing to do with the party,\" Mr Strache said. \"That way no report goes to the Rechnungshof [Austria's court of auditors]\"."}], "question": "What's in the video?", "id": "995_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2689, "answer_end": 3090, "text": "The alleged donors named by Mr Strache and Mr Gudenus in the video have denied sending money to the party, according to Der Spiegel and the Suddeutsche Zeitung. The two men have acknowledged that the meeting took place, but said it had been \"purely private\". They added that they had repeatedly mentioned \"the relevant legal regulations and the necessity to observe Austrian law\" during the encounter."}], "question": "How have people responded?", "id": "995_1"}]}]}, {"title": "Poland reverses law on removing judges following EU court ruling", "date": "21 November 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Poland's governing party has moved to reinstate Supreme Court justices whom it had forced into early retirement. It follows last month's ruling by the European Court of Justice (ECJ) which ordered that Poland suspend the application of its new law. The government lowered the retirement age of judges earlier this year, forcing many to quit. Critics said the law helped give the Law and Justice Party political control of the Supreme Court. But the government argued that the reforms - which triggered mass street protests - were needed to make the court more efficient and remove judges appointed during the communist era. The Law and Justice Party (PiS) has already appointed the majority of judges to the Constitutional Tribunal, which has the power to veto legislation, and also controls the body that nominates all judges in Poland. On Wednesday, the PiS said it was reinstating the judges because it respected the rulings of the EU's top court. \"We are fulfilling our obligations,\" Justice Minister Zbigniew Ziobro told MPs. The legislative amendment, which retains the lower retirement age for newly appointed Supreme Court judges, is now being fast-tracked through parliament. The government says it wants to resolve its dispute with the European Commission over a whole package of changes it has made to Poland's courts over the past three years. The Supreme Court law was introduced in July and since then more than 20 judges - about of third of the total - have been forced to retire. Following Wednesday's amendment they will be able to return to work. Chief justice Malgorzata Gersdorf, who was 65, refused to stand down, arguing Poland's constitution guaranteed her the right to serve a six-year term.  She branded the reforms a \"purge\". Analysis by Adam Easton, BBC News, Warsaw The government says it wants to resolve the protracted dispute with the European Commission over the substantial changes it has made to Poland's courts over the past three years. It is a victory for the Supreme Court chief justice, Professor Malgorzata Gersdorf, her retired colleagues and the European Commission. But it's not much of a defeat for the governing Law and Justice camp's judicial reforms. It has already managed the appointment of the majority of judges to the Constitutional Tribunal, which has the power to veto legislation. The justice minister, who also serves as the prosecutor general, now has the power to appoint and dismiss the deputies and heads of ordinary courts. And the governing camp also now controls the National Council of the Judiciary (NCJ), the body that nominates all judges in Poland. Plus, by reinstating the Supreme Court judges, the government will avoid the possibility of having to pay hefty daily fines for non-compliance with last month's ECJ ruling. In a few years time, those reinstated judges will retire. In the meantime, dozens of new judges for two new Supreme Court chambers created by Law and Justice will need to be appointed and they will be nominated by the newly politicised NCJ. The European Commission - the EU's executive arm - argued that the reforms undermined the rule of law because they gave the governing party political control of the judiciary. It referred the matter to the Luxembourg-based ECJ which in October ordered Poland to \"immediately suspend\" the application of its law. The court ordered Poland to reinstate the judges who had been forced to retire. The ECJ said its decision was an interim measure in response to the commission's request and a final ruling would be issued at a later date. At the time, the head of the PiS, Jaroslaw Kaczynski, said the government would comply with the decision. \"We are members of the European Union and we will abide by European Union law,\" he said.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 838, "answer_end": 1355, "text": "On Wednesday, the PiS said it was reinstating the judges because it respected the rulings of the EU's top court. \"We are fulfilling our obligations,\" Justice Minister Zbigniew Ziobro told MPs. The legislative amendment, which retains the lower retirement age for newly appointed Supreme Court judges, is now being fast-tracked through parliament. The government says it wants to resolve its dispute with the European Commission over a whole package of changes it has made to Poland's courts over the past three years."}], "question": "What did the government say?", "id": "996_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1356, "answer_end": 1751, "text": "The Supreme Court law was introduced in July and since then more than 20 judges - about of third of the total - have been forced to retire. Following Wednesday's amendment they will be able to return to work. Chief justice Malgorzata Gersdorf, who was 65, refused to stand down, arguing Poland's constitution guaranteed her the right to serve a six-year term.  She branded the reforms a \"purge\"."}], "question": "What was the law?", "id": "996_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3031, "answer_end": 3758, "text": "The European Commission - the EU's executive arm - argued that the reforms undermined the rule of law because they gave the governing party political control of the judiciary. It referred the matter to the Luxembourg-based ECJ which in October ordered Poland to \"immediately suspend\" the application of its law. The court ordered Poland to reinstate the judges who had been forced to retire. The ECJ said its decision was an interim measure in response to the commission's request and a final ruling would be issued at a later date. At the time, the head of the PiS, Jaroslaw Kaczynski, said the government would comply with the decision. \"We are members of the European Union and we will abide by European Union law,\" he said."}], "question": "What did the EU say?", "id": "996_2"}]}]}, {"title": "The mega-dam being crowdfunded by Pakistan's top judge", "date": "30 October 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Cash-poor Pakistan is crowdfunding a drive to collect almost $17bn from its citizens, officials, businesses and stars in order to build two massive dams to help counter a future water crisis. One of the dams would be among the biggest in the world. But is the project for real or is it a monumental folly, as some are calling it? If it's ever built, the dam at Diamer-Bhasha in the north-west would have a generating capacity of 4,500MW and stand 272m (892ft) high, making it the world's sixth tallest dam. Located near the Himalayan peak Nanga Parbat, it would block off a huge valley system on the upper reaches of the Indus river. The dam has been talked about for more than a decade, but plans to begin construction were given fresh impetus this summer not by water experts or ministers - but by Pakistan's top judge, Chief Justice Saqib Nisar. Following a report predicting severe water shortages in the country by 2025, he set up a fund to raise $14bn to build the mega-dam in Diamerg, and $2.5bn to build an 800MW dam in Mohmand, about 120km (75 miles) to the south-west. \"It is possible that we will get more money than the required amount,\" said the judge. Justice Nisar became the first donor, contributing roughly $8,000 to the fund. Many others have since followed suit. These include various branches of the military, which have donated a whopping $7.3m. Businesses, officials, sports stars, school pupils and other ordinary people are among those who have also stumped up cash. Almost every day there's a press release from the Supreme Court with news of different individuals and institutions meeting the chief justice and donating to the fund. Many have cases pending in court, which has raised suspicions they may be trying to influence the judiciary. There are many donors who appear glad to have contributed, but not all agree. Marium Zia Khan, an Islamabad resident, told the BBC she would not contribute to the fund. \"While I understand water scarcity merits urgent attention... crowdfunding mega infrastructure projects such as a dam is a flawed idea.\" Critics have been warned they may be tried for treason if they make fun of the fund. But the pro-dam lobby is free to express its opinion - and there's an air of hysteria about the urgency to build more dams, with telethons and advertisements urging people to contribute as their patriotic duty. Last month Prime Minister Imran Khan joined in, delivering a special address in which he asked overseas Pakistanis to contribute $1,000 each to the dam fund. He also presided over a fundraising dinner in Karachi in September, where he managed to raise almost $6m. \"I am the greatest fundraiser in the history of Pakistan,\" he said afterwards. \"I assure you that we have to meet our target of 30bn rupees every year and we will meet more than our target as all Pakistanis have been mobilised today.\" But the reality has been rather different so far. Five months after the fund was established, contributions add up to just over $50m - a trickle compared with the vast sums it is estimated the two dams would cost. This at a time when Pakistan is seeking loans from the IMF and other countries to stave off a balance of payments crisis and to service its debt. Danish Mustafa from King's College department of geography is not optimistic the dam will be built. \"I can't imagine this drive working. No country in the world has ever undertaken an infrastructure project which is almost 10% of its total GDP. You have to be semi-insane to want to do that,\" he said. In 2014, researchers at Oxford University published a study on 245 large dams built around the world from 1934-2007, and found mega-dams \"don't make economic sense\". They singled out the Diamer-Bhasha Dam project as a case study for potential cost and construction overruns. If construction had started in 2010, the findings suggested, it wouldn't have been completed until 2027 - by which time the total cost could have ballooned to close to $30bn. One of the authors of the report, Prof Bent Flyvbjerg, compared those seeking to build mega-dams to \"fools and reckless optimists\". He told The Ecologist journal in 2014 that such projects also ran the risk of the public being misled \"for private gain, fiscal or political, by painting overly positive prospects of an investment\". Shams-ul-Mulk, former chairman of Pakistan's Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda), firmly disagrees. \"Pakistan will face a drought-like situation if large dams are not constructed,\" he told the BBC. \"Those who oppose the construction of large dams are not aware of the looming water crisis in the country and don't want Pakistan to progress.\" But this raises questions over whether Pakistan is actually a water-scarce country. A 2015 IMF report put total annual availability of water at 191 million acre feet (MAF), which it said would become insufficient by 2025 when demand is expected to rise to 274 MAF. Many say this is due to Pakistan's surge in population which has already tripled since 1970. But experts point out that little or nothing has been done to ensure water is used more efficiently. Hassan Abbas, a hydrology expert, says the solution for periodic shortages \"does not lie in another mega structure. It lies in improving our management practices.\" This would require efficient irrigation - such as drip irrigation and paving of water-courses to reduce seepage - as well as steps to reduce water loss. Then there are the socio-economic and ecological costs of constructing mega structures on water courses, often with serious political implications. After signing a water treaty with India in 1960, Pakistan built two of the largest dams in the world, Tarbela and Mangla. The purpose was both to generate electricity and divert water for irrigation. While it improved the electricity situation in the country for some time, it gradually led to the desertification of millions of acres of land in the Indus Delta region of Sindh province. Upriver, hundreds of villages were submerged and thousands were uprooted by the building of reservoirs. Compensation was promised and rehabilitation plans made, but locals are still waiting for a full and final settlement. Meanwhile, mudflows carried by the rivers created silt deposits at the dams, depleting their storage capacity. Other controversial dam projects have since been shelved, but many have gone ahead. None are on the scale of Diamer-Bhasha, which was floated as an idea in the early 2000s. But global financial institutes such as the World Bank have consistently refused to provide funding, citing the seismicity of the area and saying the dam would be controversial, since India claims ownership of Gilgit-Baltistan, its proposed location. Backers of the mega-dam argue it is not designed to divert water for irrigation and therefore there would have no negative impact on agriculture in Sindh. But experts believe it will still hurt the Indus Delta region, where residents are already protesting against the building of the dam. So why has Pakistan's top judge gone out of his way to promote this? The answer may lie in the huge appetite for irrigation water in Punjab, politically the country's most influential province and home to just under 60% of its population. Pakistan has the world's largest canal irrigation system - and most of it ends up in Punjab, to the annoyance of other provinces. Or could it be there's an element of national pride that was piqued when international funding for the project was withheld. Either way, there are other ways of raising the huge sums of money required for dams. Simi Kamal, a geographer, says there is room for dams in Pakistan - but suggests water bonds as a \"more rational\" way of fundraising than charity donations. As an example she points to the $5bn Great Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, which was funded in large part by this method. \"We should not be making speeches for or against dams, or make dams into idols or ideology,\" she told the BBC. \"It is not that simple. The current clamour for dams and frenzied soundbites by (mostly) ill-informed people is quite immature and requires restraint until we have good science and a better knowledge base in place.\"", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 3230, "answer_end": 4664, "text": "Danish Mustafa from King's College department of geography is not optimistic the dam will be built. \"I can't imagine this drive working. No country in the world has ever undertaken an infrastructure project which is almost 10% of its total GDP. You have to be semi-insane to want to do that,\" he said. In 2014, researchers at Oxford University published a study on 245 large dams built around the world from 1934-2007, and found mega-dams \"don't make economic sense\". They singled out the Diamer-Bhasha Dam project as a case study for potential cost and construction overruns. If construction had started in 2010, the findings suggested, it wouldn't have been completed until 2027 - by which time the total cost could have ballooned to close to $30bn. One of the authors of the report, Prof Bent Flyvbjerg, compared those seeking to build mega-dams to \"fools and reckless optimists\". He told The Ecologist journal in 2014 that such projects also ran the risk of the public being misled \"for private gain, fiscal or political, by painting overly positive prospects of an investment\". Shams-ul-Mulk, former chairman of Pakistan's Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda), firmly disagrees. \"Pakistan will face a drought-like situation if large dams are not constructed,\" he told the BBC. \"Those who oppose the construction of large dams are not aware of the looming water crisis in the country and don't want Pakistan to progress.\""}], "question": "What are people saying about the dam?", "id": "997_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 4665, "answer_end": 6394, "text": "But this raises questions over whether Pakistan is actually a water-scarce country. A 2015 IMF report put total annual availability of water at 191 million acre feet (MAF), which it said would become insufficient by 2025 when demand is expected to rise to 274 MAF. Many say this is due to Pakistan's surge in population which has already tripled since 1970. But experts point out that little or nothing has been done to ensure water is used more efficiently. Hassan Abbas, a hydrology expert, says the solution for periodic shortages \"does not lie in another mega structure. It lies in improving our management practices.\" This would require efficient irrigation - such as drip irrigation and paving of water-courses to reduce seepage - as well as steps to reduce water loss. Then there are the socio-economic and ecological costs of constructing mega structures on water courses, often with serious political implications. After signing a water treaty with India in 1960, Pakistan built two of the largest dams in the world, Tarbela and Mangla. The purpose was both to generate electricity and divert water for irrigation. While it improved the electricity situation in the country for some time, it gradually led to the desertification of millions of acres of land in the Indus Delta region of Sindh province. Upriver, hundreds of villages were submerged and thousands were uprooted by the building of reservoirs. Compensation was promised and rehabilitation plans made, but locals are still waiting for a full and final settlement. Meanwhile, mudflows carried by the rivers created silt deposits at the dams, depleting their storage capacity. Other controversial dam projects have since been shelved, but many have gone ahead."}], "question": "Does Pakistan have a water shortage?", "id": "997_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 6395, "answer_end": 8205, "text": "None are on the scale of Diamer-Bhasha, which was floated as an idea in the early 2000s. But global financial institutes such as the World Bank have consistently refused to provide funding, citing the seismicity of the area and saying the dam would be controversial, since India claims ownership of Gilgit-Baltistan, its proposed location. Backers of the mega-dam argue it is not designed to divert water for irrigation and therefore there would have no negative impact on agriculture in Sindh. But experts believe it will still hurt the Indus Delta region, where residents are already protesting against the building of the dam. So why has Pakistan's top judge gone out of his way to promote this? The answer may lie in the huge appetite for irrigation water in Punjab, politically the country's most influential province and home to just under 60% of its population. Pakistan has the world's largest canal irrigation system - and most of it ends up in Punjab, to the annoyance of other provinces. Or could it be there's an element of national pride that was piqued when international funding for the project was withheld. Either way, there are other ways of raising the huge sums of money required for dams. Simi Kamal, a geographer, says there is room for dams in Pakistan - but suggests water bonds as a \"more rational\" way of fundraising than charity donations. As an example she points to the $5bn Great Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, which was funded in large part by this method. \"We should not be making speeches for or against dams, or make dams into idols or ideology,\" she told the BBC. \"It is not that simple. The current clamour for dams and frenzied soundbites by (mostly) ill-informed people is quite immature and requires restraint until we have good science and a better knowledge base in place.\""}], "question": "Is there another way?", "id": "997_2"}]}]}, {"title": "Huawei row: Australian MPs cancel UK trip amid tensions over leak", "date": "15 February 2020", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Senior Australian MPs have cancelled a planned trip to the UK as tensions heighten over the role of Huawei in building Britain's 5G network. Lawmakers from the intelligence and security committee had been expected to travel to the UK next month. But the trip has been postponed amid reports of a diplomatic rift. The decision follows a reported complaint from the UK over leaked details of a high-level meeting where Huawei was discussed. Australia has banned the Chinese telecommunications giant from building its next-generation 5G mobile internet networks but Britain last month decided the company could continue to play a role in its system, despite pressure and warnings from Washington. Last week, UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab visited Australia, where he met members of the parliament's intelligence committee. Details of the meeting were later leaked to the Sydney Morning Herald, which said an MP had rebuked Mr Raab in the meeting over Britain's Huawei decision, saying Australia was very disappointed. According to Australian media that report prompted a formal complaint from Vicki Treadell, the UK's High Commissioner to Australia, to the heads of two Australian parliamentary committees. Australia and the UK are both part of the Five Eyes intelligence alliance, which also includes the US, New Zealand and Canada. Australia's parliament on Saturday confirmed the trip to the UK had been delayed but said it was due to the fact that the counterpart parliamentary committee in the UK was yet to be appointed following December's election. According to the Sydney Morning Herald, in the meeting with Mr Raab, Anthony Byrne, the deputy chair of Australia's intelligence committee, said that allowing China to build the UK's 5G telecoms infrastructure was equivalent to letting Russia construct it. \"How would you feel if the Russians laid down infrastructure in your own networks? That's how we feel about Huawei,\" Mr Byrne was quoted as telling Mr Raab. In a Twitter post at the time, he said the meeting had involved a \"full and frank discussion\" over 5G and strategic challenges. Ms Treadell was present. The UK High Commission in Australia told the BBC: \"Our position on this is that we won't comment on private briefings or on any information pertaining to be from private briefings.\" The Australian government has not officially commented. In her letter to Australian MPs, Ms Treadell expressed her disapproval of the leak, ABC News reported. One unnamed committee member was quoted by the Australian broadcaster as describing Ms Treadell's intervention as \"foolish\". Australian Treasurer Josh Frydenberg however sought to scotch suggestions of a rift, saying \"our relationship with the United Kingdom couldn't be stronger\". Meanwhile, senior US officials stepped up their criticism of Huawei at an international security conference in Munich, Germany on Saturday. US Defence Secretary Mark Esper warned that US alliances such as Nato were in jeopardy if European partners used Huawei technology in their 5G networks. The UK has only given Huawei partial access to its 5G network, banning it from supplying kit to \"sensitive parts\", known as the core. Nevertheless, Australia and the US are unhappy with the decision. Washington has argued that Huawei equipment could allow the Chinese state to spy via \"back-doors\". The firm strongly rejects that it poses any security threat. On a visit to the UK last month after Britain's decision, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said that the Five Eyes intelligence partnership would remain in place despite previous warnings from Washington that it could be affected. Last week, China's ambassador to the UK, Liu Xiaoming, said those opposed to Huawei playing a role in the UK's 5G network were conducting \"a witch-hunt\".", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 3040, "answer_end": 3785, "text": "The UK has only given Huawei partial access to its 5G network, banning it from supplying kit to \"sensitive parts\", known as the core. Nevertheless, Australia and the US are unhappy with the decision. Washington has argued that Huawei equipment could allow the Chinese state to spy via \"back-doors\". The firm strongly rejects that it poses any security threat. On a visit to the UK last month after Britain's decision, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said that the Five Eyes intelligence partnership would remain in place despite previous warnings from Washington that it could be affected. Last week, China's ambassador to the UK, Liu Xiaoming, said those opposed to Huawei playing a role in the UK's 5G network were conducting \"a witch-hunt\"."}], "question": "Why is there a row over Huawei?", "id": "998_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Trump meets North Korea's Kim Yong-chol at White House", "date": "18 January 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "US President Donald Trump has met a top North Korean negotiator amid speculation about a possible new summit between the two countries' leaders. The talks with Kim Yong-chol at the White House focused on North Korean denuclearisation, spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said earlier. He was expected to deliver a letter from leader Kim Jong-un to Mr Trump. Little progress has been made on denuclearisation since their historic summit in Singapore last June. Speculation is mounting that a second meeting could be held in Vietnam. Kim Yong-chol's visit to Washington is the first sign of movement in nuclear diplomacy with North Korea for months, BBC state department correspondent Barbara Plett Usher reports. Kim Jong-un's letter is expected to lay the groundwork for another summit, our correspondent adds. Gen Kim, a former spymaster often referred to as Kim Jong-un's right-hand man, has emerged as North Korea's lead negotiator in recent talks with the US. He is a controversial figure, accused of masterminding attacks on South Korean warships during his time as military intelligence chief in 2010. Arriving in Washington on Thursday, he met Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. The state department called it \"a good discussion\". In a visit in June, he delivered a letter to Mr Trump ahead of historic talks between both countries. It is not clear. The last time Mr Kim went to the US, his letter to Mr Trump appears to have helped get the Singapore summit back on track. Negotiations between both countries have stalled since then, but this meeting could be what it takes to restart talks. Earlier this month, Mr Trump said that the US and North Korea were negotiating over a location for another summit but US officials have not provided any further details. The meetings in Washington could finalise plans for the summit, but just as important, analysts say, would be an understanding of what the agenda would be. In a new year's speech a few weeks ago, Mr Kim said he was committed to denuclearisation, but warned that he would change course if US sanctions remained. Both parties signed a pledge in Singapore to denuclearise the Korean peninsula, though it was never clear what this would entail.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 801, "answer_end": 1326, "text": "Gen Kim, a former spymaster often referred to as Kim Jong-un's right-hand man, has emerged as North Korea's lead negotiator in recent talks with the US. He is a controversial figure, accused of masterminding attacks on South Korean warships during his time as military intelligence chief in 2010. Arriving in Washington on Thursday, he met Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. The state department called it \"a good discussion\". In a visit in June, he delivered a letter to Mr Trump ahead of historic talks between both countries."}], "question": "Who is Kim Yong-chol?", "id": "999_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1327, "answer_end": 2196, "text": "It is not clear. The last time Mr Kim went to the US, his letter to Mr Trump appears to have helped get the Singapore summit back on track. Negotiations between both countries have stalled since then, but this meeting could be what it takes to restart talks. Earlier this month, Mr Trump said that the US and North Korea were negotiating over a location for another summit but US officials have not provided any further details. The meetings in Washington could finalise plans for the summit, but just as important, analysts say, would be an understanding of what the agenda would be. In a new year's speech a few weeks ago, Mr Kim said he was committed to denuclearisation, but warned that he would change course if US sanctions remained. Both parties signed a pledge in Singapore to denuclearise the Korean peninsula, though it was never clear what this would entail."}], "question": "What could these talks achieve?", "id": "999_1"}]}]}, {"title": "Russian journalist out of a job after asking Putin question", "date": "24 December 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Quite why Alisa Yarovskaya is out of a job as a journalist for state TV channel Yamal-Region days after asking a question during the president's annual press conference is unclear. Some reports say authorities in the Arctic Yamal area of north-west Siberia were displeased with her question. Yarovskaya, however, says she submitted her resignation personally. But the story has shone a light on the difficult role Russian journalists have in holding authorities to account. Almost three hours into President Vladimir Putin's annual press conference on 19 December, the microphone was passed to journalists from the Yamal region. Alisa Yarovskaya took the microphone, although it was apparently meant for another Yamal-Region TV journalist selected by Mr Putin's spokesman, Dmitry Peskov. She began by highlighting the advantages of global warming for her region as it meant that the Arctic sea route was melting. Local infrastructure, including rail, was being built, however construction of a bridge over the River Ob was stalling, she said. The bridge is meant to connect two local cities, Salekhard and Labytnangi. \"Our governor, Dmitry Artkyukhov, spares no effort in turning this into a reality,\" said Yarovskaya. \"And yet we hear this discussed less and less at a federal level. So the question is can we get the federal 'heavy artillery' involved?\" Mr Putin said cherry-picking one particular project was inappropriate for the federal government, but he said the Ob bridge was a \"pivotal link\" to the region's transport infrastructure because opening up the Arctic ports was a crucial initiative that had to be synchronised with the growth of cargo shipping. The government was aware of it and would pay attention to it, he added. According to a report by the Ura.ru website, senior officials in the Yamal-Nenets district were unimpressed by the journalist's intervention and the TV channel was displeased she had taken the microphone away from a colleague. Pointing out that the local authority owned the TV channel she worked for, Ura.ru quoted one government source as saying the governor did not appreciate flattery and it had been agreed beforehand that a separate question on rail links would be posed instead. The press conference is always a scramble for journalists to be heard, as the BBC's Steve Rosenberg showed during the event by asking a question about UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson. Separately, Yarovskaya has told several Russian outlets that she submitted her resignation rather than being fired, but would not say whether it was linked to her question. One report suggested the incident may instead have been linked to a Facebook post in which she allegedly speculated beneath a picture taken during the press conference about Mr Putin's appearance. \"I can't see botox or fillers. He looks his age,\" she is said to have remarked. That comment cannot be verified as the post has since been deleted. Mr Putin's spokesman said on Tuesday that the reason for her departure was not known - whether she had resigned or been dismissed, Izvestia website reported. However, dismissal was the job of a channel's editors.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 474, "answer_end": 1737, "text": "Almost three hours into President Vladimir Putin's annual press conference on 19 December, the microphone was passed to journalists from the Yamal region. Alisa Yarovskaya took the microphone, although it was apparently meant for another Yamal-Region TV journalist selected by Mr Putin's spokesman, Dmitry Peskov. She began by highlighting the advantages of global warming for her region as it meant that the Arctic sea route was melting. Local infrastructure, including rail, was being built, however construction of a bridge over the River Ob was stalling, she said. The bridge is meant to connect two local cities, Salekhard and Labytnangi. \"Our governor, Dmitry Artkyukhov, spares no effort in turning this into a reality,\" said Yarovskaya. \"And yet we hear this discussed less and less at a federal level. So the question is can we get the federal 'heavy artillery' involved?\" Mr Putin said cherry-picking one particular project was inappropriate for the federal government, but he said the Ob bridge was a \"pivotal link\" to the region's transport infrastructure because opening up the Arctic ports was a crucial initiative that had to be synchronised with the growth of cargo shipping. The government was aware of it and would pay attention to it, he added."}], "question": "What did the journalist ask?", "id": "1000_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1738, "answer_end": 3138, "text": "According to a report by the Ura.ru website, senior officials in the Yamal-Nenets district were unimpressed by the journalist's intervention and the TV channel was displeased she had taken the microphone away from a colleague. Pointing out that the local authority owned the TV channel she worked for, Ura.ru quoted one government source as saying the governor did not appreciate flattery and it had been agreed beforehand that a separate question on rail links would be posed instead. The press conference is always a scramble for journalists to be heard, as the BBC's Steve Rosenberg showed during the event by asking a question about UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson. Separately, Yarovskaya has told several Russian outlets that she submitted her resignation rather than being fired, but would not say whether it was linked to her question. One report suggested the incident may instead have been linked to a Facebook post in which she allegedly speculated beneath a picture taken during the press conference about Mr Putin's appearance. \"I can't see botox or fillers. He looks his age,\" she is said to have remarked. That comment cannot be verified as the post has since been deleted. Mr Putin's spokesman said on Tuesday that the reason for her departure was not known - whether she had resigned or been dismissed, Izvestia website reported. However, dismissal was the job of a channel's editors."}], "question": "Why did she lose her job?", "id": "1000_1"}]}]}, {"title": "Palestinians face uncertainties over Abbas succession", "date": "24 May 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Wearing an elegant dressing gown, the Palestinian President, Mahmoud Abbas, is shown walking unaided along the corridor of Ramallah's best private hospital. A family photograph has him sitting upright in bed casually studying a newspaper. A hospital official said the 83-year-old leader - who had surgery on his ear last week - now had inflammation in his lung but was \"responding to the treatment quickly and recovering\". The message was clearly meant to quell swirling rumours of the president's imminent demise. However, his latest medical scares are a reminder of how Palestinian politics remains in a critical condition. A deep schism persists between the president's Fatah faction and its rival, Hamas. It is a split which has induced a state of paralysis. Hamas won a parliamentary poll in 2006, a year after Mr Abbas became president. In 2007, it reinforced its power in Gaza, ousting forces from the Fatah-dominated Palestinian Authority (PA), after days of clashes.  The PA was left to run parts of the Israeli-occupied West Bank. No presidential or legislative vote has been organised since, and President Abbas is now in the 13th year of a four-year term. Last year, local elections took place only in the West Bank and were boycotted by Hamas. Increasingly, there are open discussions among ordinary Palestinians as well as Israeli officials and foreign diplomats about who could be the next leader. It is expected that Hamas will nominate Ismail Haniyeh, head of the Islamist movement. A Hamas spokesman, Hazem Qassem, insists that any future presidential contest \"must be an affair for all Palestinians, not an internal Fatah issue\". However, after the latest attempts at a Hamas-Fatah reconciliation failed, his group could well be sidelined. According to Palestinian Basic Law, if the president dies or is incapacitated, the parliamentary speaker should fill in while elections are organised. As the current speaker is Aziz Dweik of Hamas, many Fatah officials have argued this article no longer applies. They point out parliament has not met in over a decade because of Israeli restrictions on Palestinian movement and due to the Palestinians' political split. Last year, Mahmoud al-Aloul, a former governor of Nablus, was appointed as the first-ever vice-chairman of Fatah. Figures in his party have since said that if Mr Abbas was unable to carry out his duties, he would take over for three months as acting president until elections could be held. That would leave the Fatah Central Committee - the party's top decision-making body - to make the decisions about who would ultimately become president. For Palestinians, the most popular of the committee's 18 members is Marwan Barghouti, who led Fatah's Tanzim militant group during the 2000-2005 uprising against the occupation, or intifada. Although he is in jail in Israel, serving five life terms for involvement in murdering Israelis, he remains influential and has led efforts to end divisions with Hamas. \"Support for him is widespread in both Gaza and the West Bank,\" says Khalil Shikaki, director of the Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey, which conducts regular polls. \"[In an election] he can defeat Abbas, he can defeat Haniyeh and looking at all leaders from the other factions, from Fatah, nobody gets even close to him.\" If Mr Abbas does not stand in a future vote, Barghouti has previously indicated he would run for the presidency from his prison cell. However, with no sign from Israel that it would release him, his part in any presidential race could be as kingmaker, rather than candidate. Three other potentially important players have strong backing in the security forces or else the money and regional favour to launch a credible leadership bid: - Jibril Rajoub: a former militant who used to command Preventive Security in the West Bank. Known for his blunt manner, he maintains his public profile through his role in sports bodies.  Last year he was elected secretary general of the Fatah Central Committee. - Majed Faraj: head of intelligence. As a a negotiator in the last round of failed peace talks with Israel, he apparently impressed Israelis and Americans. - Mohammed Dahlan: led the PA's Preventive Security force in Gaza until 2007. He was expelled from Fatah after falling out with the president and now lives in luxurious exile in Abu Dhabi. He has close ties to regional leaders. While these men and others undoubtedly regard themselves as possible future presidents, there is no clear frontrunner and analysts warn against second-guessing the dynamics within Fatah. \"The names you hear about most often are basically former security people because these are whom Israel is most comfortable with and whom Western donors have interacted with and vetted,\" says Nathan Thrall of International Crisis Group. \"These sometimes correlate with what's realistic in Fatah power structures but oftentimes not.\" One potential post-Abbas scenario would see the division of his titles: president, chairman of Fatah, and head of the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO). If different individuals took these jobs it would allow for a more collective political leadership. This might involve Saeb Erekat, chief negotiator and secretary general of the PLO, although he has recently suffered from poor health and had a lung transplant. Another name often mentioned is Nasser al-Kidwa, a former foreign minister and representative to the UN who is also nephew of the revered late leader, Yasser Arafat. However, he recently handed in his resignation to the Fatah Central Committee in a sign of internal strife. Some predict a dramatic power struggle once Mr Abbas is gone. For now, though, he is trying to give the impression of being firmly in control and the jockeying for position remains mostly behind the scenes.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 4396, "answer_end": 5816, "text": "While these men and others undoubtedly regard themselves as possible future presidents, there is no clear frontrunner and analysts warn against second-guessing the dynamics within Fatah. \"The names you hear about most often are basically former security people because these are whom Israel is most comfortable with and whom Western donors have interacted with and vetted,\" says Nathan Thrall of International Crisis Group. \"These sometimes correlate with what's realistic in Fatah power structures but oftentimes not.\" One potential post-Abbas scenario would see the division of his titles: president, chairman of Fatah, and head of the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO). If different individuals took these jobs it would allow for a more collective political leadership. This might involve Saeb Erekat, chief negotiator and secretary general of the PLO, although he has recently suffered from poor health and had a lung transplant. Another name often mentioned is Nasser al-Kidwa, a former foreign minister and representative to the UN who is also nephew of the revered late leader, Yasser Arafat. However, he recently handed in his resignation to the Fatah Central Committee in a sign of internal strife. Some predict a dramatic power struggle once Mr Abbas is gone. For now, though, he is trying to give the impression of being firmly in control and the jockeying for position remains mostly behind the scenes."}], "question": "Division of posts?", "id": "1001_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Iran plane downing: President Rouhani calls on military to explain", "date": "15 January 2020", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Iran's President Hassan Rouhani has said the country's military should elaborate more on how it shot down a passenger plane by mistake last week. Separately, Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif acknowledged that Iranians \"were lied to\" for days afterwards. He insisted that he and the president were also kept in the dark. Iran's Revolutionary Guards killed 176 people when they \"unintentionally\" shot down the Ukrainian aircraft amid escalating tensions with the US. Hours before, Iranian missiles had targeted two airbases in Iraq housing US forces. Speaking on state television on Wednesday, President Rouhani called on the military to take the next steps of the investigation with \"more coordination and monitoring\". \"The first thing is to inform people honestly. People's grief will alleviate when they know that we feel responsible for what happened and talk with them honestly,\" he said. He urged the forces \"to explain to people what sessions and meetings were held since the moment that the incident happened\". Mr Zarif, during a televised interview while on a trip to India, said: \"I and the president did not know [what brought the plane down] and, as soon as we did, we communicated it.\" He also praised the military for being \"brave enough to claim responsibility early on\". However, critics have decried the three-day delay and said they only owned up after Western authorities claimed to have contrary evidence. New footage - verified by the New York Times - shows two missiles, fired 30 seconds apart, striking the plane. It was initially though to have been hit once. Flight PS752 was brought down after it took off from the capital, Tehran, on 8 January, when the Revolutionary Guards - a force set up to defend Iran's Islamic system - mistakenly perceived it as a threat amid escalating conflict with the US. Everyone on board died. The deaths and the apparent initial cover-up - when the act was denied and the crash site was bulldozed - have sparked protests in various Iranian cities. Police in Tehran have been accused of using live ammunition against demonstrators. Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is expected to deliver Friday prayer sermons in the capital this week for the first time since 2013, in an apparent bid to ease domestic tension. Last Wednesday, Iran launched a series of strikes on two military bases in neighbouring Iraq, which were housing US troops. It was a retaliatory move after US President Donald Trump ordered a strike in Iraq that killed top Iranian General Qasam Soleimani. A few hours after the Iranian strikes, Flight PS752 crashed near Tehran in initially unclear circumstances, although Iran's authorities immediately blamed technical difficulties. On Thursday, various Western powers - including Canada, which had 57 citizens onboard the plane - said they had evidence that Iran's military had downed the plane. Iran reiterated its denials until Friday, when it conceded that the passenger jet was hit by its air defence systems. Mr Zarif has now personally insisted that he and President Rouhani only found out about what had really happened on that day. Brig-Gen Amir Ali Hajizadeh, the Revolutionary Guards' aerospace commander, has said a missile operator acted independently and alone, mistaking the plane for a \"cruise missile\" as there had been reports that such missiles had been fired at Iran. He also claimed government officials had been alerted soon afterwards. On Tuesday, Iran's judiciary spokesman, Gholamhossein Esmaili, announced that several people had been arrested. He added that about 30 people had been detained for \"taking part in illegal gatherings\" - an apparent reference to recent anti-government protests. Also on Tuesday, President Hassan Rouhani said the investigation into the aircraft strikes would be overseen by a \"special court\" and insisted that it would be about more than just the person who \"pulled the trigger\". Iran is leading the investigation domestically and has refused to hand over recovered black-box flight recorders to manufacturer Boeing or to the US. Meanwhile, the Revolutionary Guards have also arrested the person who filmed footage that showed the plane being shot down. The video was shared on social media soon after the crash, leading analysts to deduce that the plane was directly hit. It is believed the person being detained will face charges related to national security. However, an Iranian journalist based in London who initially posted the footage has insisted that his source is safe, and that the Iranian authorities have arrested the wrong person.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 3444, "answer_end": 4586, "text": "On Tuesday, Iran's judiciary spokesman, Gholamhossein Esmaili, announced that several people had been arrested. He added that about 30 people had been detained for \"taking part in illegal gatherings\" - an apparent reference to recent anti-government protests. Also on Tuesday, President Hassan Rouhani said the investigation into the aircraft strikes would be overseen by a \"special court\" and insisted that it would be about more than just the person who \"pulled the trigger\". Iran is leading the investigation domestically and has refused to hand over recovered black-box flight recorders to manufacturer Boeing or to the US. Meanwhile, the Revolutionary Guards have also arrested the person who filmed footage that showed the plane being shot down. The video was shared on social media soon after the crash, leading analysts to deduce that the plane was directly hit. It is believed the person being detained will face charges related to national security. However, an Iranian journalist based in London who initially posted the footage has insisted that his source is safe, and that the Iranian authorities have arrested the wrong person."}], "question": "What action has been taken?", "id": "1002_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Putin's Russia: Do Russians care what president does next?", "date": "29 January 2020", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Two weeks after Vladimir Putin announced a radical overhaul of the constitution, loyal officials in Moscow have been moving at lighting speed to implement his changes. Deputies in parliament have already passed the amendments in a first reading even as protesters insist the move is a smokescreen to allow Mr Putin to retain influence, or even power, beyond 2024, when he is due to step down as president. But as analysts argue over his real intentions, just a short drive from the capital many people are either unaware of what's happening or indifferent. At the entrance to Pereslavl-Zalessky, there's a giant Soviet hammer and sickle by the side of the road that it seems no-one ever bothered to remove. Further on is a sign for a lakeside surfing club, a hint at the town's evolving identity since Muscovite \"downshifters\" began moving 140km (87 miles) from Russia's capital. On a Moscow salary, life in picturesque Pereslavl looks pretty good. But for those on local wages, glamping and health-food shops are an alien world. So, it seems, are Moscow politics. A young man crossing the town's very own Red Square sets the mood. \"I don't give a damn,\" he declares after listening politely to a question on President Putin's reforms, then trudges on across the snow. The small crowd of parents outside School Number 1 are more forthcoming. Most have heard about the welfare part of Mr Putin's State of the Nation address, including help for low-income families. But they paid little attention to the constitutional changes announced later in the speech. The measures include a slight redistribution of powers between president, prime minister and parliament that's widely seen as Mr Putin's first step in planning for life post 2024 - or \"Pexit\". \"We saw that Putin promised more benefits for mothers and that's positive,\" Yulia says, as she waits for her son. The idea that the man already in charge for two decades might go on pulling the political strings doesn't trouble her. \"I think he's a decent leader,\" the young mum shrugs. \"But then, I don't know any other candidates.\" Olga, standing with a pram, didn't clock the constitutional proposals at all: her TV's tuned to cartoons these days, not news shows. \"Is it time for a change after 20 years? Maybe,\" she ventures. \"But things are stable, calm - and who knows what could happen in the future?\" It's no rejection, but it is less than fulsome praise for Vladimir Putin from the mums of Pereslavl. That tallies with a gradual fall in his approval rating from once-giddy heights, mostly since 2018 when he hiked up the retirement age. The president's address appears to acknowledge that, as he pledged to prioritise improving life for Russians at home. With elections to parliament due next year, and his own party increasingly unpopular, it's a significant switch. It also looks like a sweetener ahead of any manoeuvring to maintain political influence. Deputies at Pereslavl's town parliament seem as unfazed by that as those on the school run. A lively session of the budget committee is too concerned with tracing millions of missing roubles to worry about Mr Putin morphing into some kind of \"Father of the Nation\". There's a financial scandal over a summer camp to figure out, a new town plan that's way over schedule and a mysterious tennis court that no-one appears to own or use. When the chairman does mention the State of the Nation speech, one deputy pronounces loudly that he \"didn't listen to it at all\". Up at one of Pereslavl's multiple monasteries, some were paying attention - to the promise of \"worthy\" living standards. \"Many people who live here constantly need support,\" explains Pantalaimon Korolev, a chatty young monk who learned his English from Agatha Christie and computer games. 'There are a lot of people in the surrounding villages where there's almost no work. They need simple things, especially for the children,' Br Pantalaimon says. So a few years back, he set aside some rooms at the Holy Trinity-Danilov monastery that are now piled high with donated clothes, food and children's toys. 'My husband used to get lots of work as a builder, but there's nothing now,' Maria explains, heavily pregnant with her third child and picking through the heaps of clothing for a good sweater. Her mother has heard of Mr Putin's constitutional reform, though it's definitely not Nadezhda's priority. \"I used to follow the news but these days I mainly think how to get by,\" she confides. Even so, she doesn't object to the idea of Mr Putin hanging around. \"As president, he's fine,\" Nadezhda says. - What Putin's plans mean: Sarah assesses the hints from the president's surprise shake-up - What is Russia's Putin up to?: \"Mr Putin wants to remain in power, the question is how\" \"The situation is so immediate, so very fast, that public opinion is disorientated,\" Kiril Rogov of the Liberal Mission Foundation believes. He says the reforms are being enacted so inexplicably quickly, it's like a \"special operation\". \"People do not understand exactly what it's all about,\" he argues. The same can be said of political analysts. Mr Rogov's own latest reading is that Vladimir Putin may yet stay on, somehow, in the Kremlin itself. He drew that conclusion after realising that the presidency would remain Russia's most powerful position, even after the amendments. \"Everybody believes Putin is going to participate in the political process and have some control. But we still don't know in what form, and how it will be,\" Kiril Rogov admits. The confusion may be deliberate: a crude move to cling to power, like some Central Asian autocrat, would likely spark street protests. Keeping things vague leaves critics with little concrete to grasp. As a result, opposition groups are as divided as the analysts. Even in Moscow, a protest pencilled in for next weekend has been abandoned. Animating the public enough to turn out en masse for a planned vote on the reforms could well be a challenge for the Kremlin, seeking legitimacy. But the people of Pereslavl certainly don't look likely to rise up in revolt.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1065, "answer_end": 2357, "text": "A young man crossing the town's very own Red Square sets the mood. \"I don't give a damn,\" he declares after listening politely to a question on President Putin's reforms, then trudges on across the snow. The small crowd of parents outside School Number 1 are more forthcoming. Most have heard about the welfare part of Mr Putin's State of the Nation address, including help for low-income families. But they paid little attention to the constitutional changes announced later in the speech. The measures include a slight redistribution of powers between president, prime minister and parliament that's widely seen as Mr Putin's first step in planning for life post 2024 - or \"Pexit\". \"We saw that Putin promised more benefits for mothers and that's positive,\" Yulia says, as she waits for her son. The idea that the man already in charge for two decades might go on pulling the political strings doesn't trouble her. \"I think he's a decent leader,\" the young mum shrugs. \"But then, I don't know any other candidates.\" Olga, standing with a pram, didn't clock the constitutional proposals at all: her TV's tuned to cartoons these days, not news shows. \"Is it time for a change after 20 years? Maybe,\" she ventures. \"But things are stable, calm - and who knows what could happen in the future?\""}], "question": "Is Putin planning for 'Pexit'?", "id": "1003_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Bernie Sanders launches 2020 presidential bid", "date": "2 March 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "US Senator Bernie Sanders has launched his bid to be president in 2020 with an attack on corporate greed and a promise to unleash a \"political revolution\". Speaking in Brooklyn, New York, he called Donald Trump the \"most dangerous president\" in recent US history. Mr Sanders, a 77-year-old independent senator for Vermont, lost the 2016 Democrat race to Hillary Clinton. He faces a much more crowded field this time but brings name recognition and a passionate support base. More than 10 others are also running to be Democrat candidate, including Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren, New Jersey Senator Cory Booker and the Mayor of San Antonio, Texas, Julian Castro. His speech promised a presidency that would \"bring people together\". He outlined numerous policies and attacked greed and the \"billionaire class\". As president, he said he would: - Enact a \"federal jobs guarantee\" to ensure all Americans have work - More than double the minimum wage from $7.25 (PS5.50) to $15 - Pass \"comprehensive\" immigration reform, including allowing hundreds of thousands of undocumented migrants to stay in the US - Make universities and colleges tuition-free - Reform healthcare to give universal coverage He promised to fight for \"economic justice, social justice, racial justice and environmental justice\". One of the challenges Mr Sanders faces is that the Democratic Party has shifted to the left, making his message less distinctive, BBC North America reporter Anthony Zurcher says. Speaking to the BBC, Mr Sanders's brother Larry said the Vermont senator was right to try again for the presidency. \"I think Bernard's presidency would be really uplifting, finally to have somebody who people see as honest and has been committed for such a long time to be saying that we don't need the poverty, we can have all the things that we need,\" he said. \"It's all been a kind of crazy dogma that 'oh no, no, no, you can't afford that'.\" Mr Sanders was born in Brooklyn, and the backdrop for his speech gave him an opportunity to contrast himself with the president. He grew up as the son of a Jewish immigrant who worked as a paint seller, while Mr Trump, who also was born in New York, was the son of a wealthy real estate developer. \"I did not have a father who gave me millions of dollars to build luxury skyscrapers, casinos and country clubs,\" he said. \"But I had something more valuable: I had the role model of a father who had unbelievable courage in journeying across an ocean, with no money in his pocket, to start a new and better life.\" As he was speaking Mr Trump was addressing a conference of conservative activists, in which he attacked the Democrats and promised he would win re-election. He sarcastically mocked Democrat proposals on the environment and said plans for universal healthcare would lead to a \"socialist takeover of American healthcare\". He is the longest-serving independent in congressional history, but competes for the Democratic nomination as he says standing as a third-party candidate would diminish his chances of winning the presidency. He attended the University of Chicago, and in the 1960s and 1970s participated in anti-war and civil rights activism, like the 1963 March on Washington. In 1990, he became the first independent in 40 years to be elected to the House of Representatives. He served there until he ran for and won a seat in the Senate in 2007. Mr Sanders entered the race for the 2016 Democratic nomination as a marginal candidate but emerged as a surprise star during a series of televised debates. He labels himself a Democratic socialist, which he has defined as someone who seeks to \"create an economy that works for all, not just the very wealthy\". He became Mrs Clinton's closest rival, but she ultimately won the nomination before losing the presidential election to Mr Trump. Bernie Sanders has joined the race to stop Donald Trump from being re-elected. But who else has a shot at becoming the next president? Find out who is already running and who might join them.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 671, "answer_end": 1929, "text": "His speech promised a presidency that would \"bring people together\". He outlined numerous policies and attacked greed and the \"billionaire class\". As president, he said he would: - Enact a \"federal jobs guarantee\" to ensure all Americans have work - More than double the minimum wage from $7.25 (PS5.50) to $15 - Pass \"comprehensive\" immigration reform, including allowing hundreds of thousands of undocumented migrants to stay in the US - Make universities and colleges tuition-free - Reform healthcare to give universal coverage He promised to fight for \"economic justice, social justice, racial justice and environmental justice\". One of the challenges Mr Sanders faces is that the Democratic Party has shifted to the left, making his message less distinctive, BBC North America reporter Anthony Zurcher says. Speaking to the BBC, Mr Sanders's brother Larry said the Vermont senator was right to try again for the presidency. \"I think Bernard's presidency would be really uplifting, finally to have somebody who people see as honest and has been committed for such a long time to be saying that we don't need the poverty, we can have all the things that we need,\" he said. \"It's all been a kind of crazy dogma that 'oh no, no, no, you can't afford that'.\""}], "question": "What would a Sanders presidency look like?", "id": "1004_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1930, "answer_end": 2861, "text": "Mr Sanders was born in Brooklyn, and the backdrop for his speech gave him an opportunity to contrast himself with the president. He grew up as the son of a Jewish immigrant who worked as a paint seller, while Mr Trump, who also was born in New York, was the son of a wealthy real estate developer. \"I did not have a father who gave me millions of dollars to build luxury skyscrapers, casinos and country clubs,\" he said. \"But I had something more valuable: I had the role model of a father who had unbelievable courage in journeying across an ocean, with no money in his pocket, to start a new and better life.\" As he was speaking Mr Trump was addressing a conference of conservative activists, in which he attacked the Democrats and promised he would win re-election. He sarcastically mocked Democrat proposals on the environment and said plans for universal healthcare would lead to a \"socialist takeover of American healthcare\"."}], "question": "What did he have to say about President Trump?", "id": "1004_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2862, "answer_end": 3833, "text": "He is the longest-serving independent in congressional history, but competes for the Democratic nomination as he says standing as a third-party candidate would diminish his chances of winning the presidency. He attended the University of Chicago, and in the 1960s and 1970s participated in anti-war and civil rights activism, like the 1963 March on Washington. In 1990, he became the first independent in 40 years to be elected to the House of Representatives. He served there until he ran for and won a seat in the Senate in 2007. Mr Sanders entered the race for the 2016 Democratic nomination as a marginal candidate but emerged as a surprise star during a series of televised debates. He labels himself a Democratic socialist, which he has defined as someone who seeks to \"create an economy that works for all, not just the very wealthy\". He became Mrs Clinton's closest rival, but she ultimately won the nomination before losing the presidential election to Mr Trump."}], "question": "Who is Bernie Sanders?", "id": "1004_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3834, "answer_end": 4025, "text": "Bernie Sanders has joined the race to stop Donald Trump from being re-elected. But who else has a shot at becoming the next president? Find out who is already running and who might join them."}], "question": "Who will take on Trump in 2020?", "id": "1004_3"}]}]}, {"title": "US shutdown: Senators trade blame ahead of Monday vote", "date": "22 January 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "US senators are struggling to agree on a bill to fund the government, which is in its second day of shutdown. A Senate session session adjourned late on Sunday and a vote has been postponed to midday (17:00 GMT) on Monday. Democratic and Republican senators have so far traded blame for the shutdown. Democrats want President Trump to negotiate over immigration as part of a budget deal, but Republicans say no deal is possible while federal government services are closed. Mr Trump has called for a simple majority vote to end the impasse. Under Senate rules, the bill needs 60 votes in the 100-member chamber to overcome blocking tactics by opponents. The Republicans currently have 51 senators and would need some Democratic support to pass a budget. But Mr Trump said the \"nuclear option\" of a simple-majority vote was necessary. The initial vote on a bill to fund the government until 8 February had been scheduled for 01:00 on Monday (06:00 GMT). But it was postponed as Sunday's session ended. On Monday the closure of many federal services will be felt around the country and hundreds of thousands of federal staff face unpaid leave. The last government shutdown was in 2013, and lasted for 16 days. This is the first time a government shutdown has happened while one party, the Republicans, controls both Congress and the White House. Friday's vote fell 50-49, far short of the 60 needed to advance the bill. Democrats have demanded protection from deportation of more than 700,000 undocumented immigrants who entered the US as children. \"I hope it is just a matter of hours or days. But we need to have a substantive answer, and the only person who can lead us to that is President Trump. This is his shutdown,\" Democratic Senator Dick Durbin told the CBS network. Republicans want funding for border security - including the border wall - and immigration reforms, as well as increased military spending. Speaking to US troops in the Middle East, Vice-President Mike Pence reiterated his party's stance. \"We're not going to reopen negotiations on illegal immigration until they reopen the government and give you, our soldiers and your families, the benefits and wages you've earned,\" he said. The US budget must be approved by 1 October - the start of the federal financial year. But Congress has often failed to meet this deadline and negotiations continue well into the new year, with the previous year's funding to federal agencies extended on a temporary basis. Because Congress failed to agree an extension, many federal agencies effectively closed for business as of 00:01 on Saturday (05:01 GMT). Most staff in the departments of housing, environment, education and commerce will be staying at home on Monday. Half of workers in the treasury, health, defence and transportation departments will also not be going to work. But essential services that protect \"life or human property\" will continue, including national security, postal services, air traffic control, inpatient medical services, emergency outpatient medicine, disaster assistance, prisons, taxation and electricity generation. And the Trump administration said it planned to keep national parks open - their closure in the 2013 shutdown provoked an angry public reaction. The shutdown began on the first anniversary of President Trump's inauguration. His trip to the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, next week has also been called into question. Many federal employees were forced to take a leave of absence - officially known as being furloughed - during the 16 days of shutdown. It cost the government $2bn in lost productivity and led to \"significant negative effects on the economy\", the OMB said at the time. Donald Trump laid the blame for the shutdown with the then president, Barack Obama. Federal workers cannot get paid for days worked during a lapse in funding. In the past, however, they have been repaid retroactively even if they were ordered to stay at home.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1208, "answer_end": 2203, "text": "This is the first time a government shutdown has happened while one party, the Republicans, controls both Congress and the White House. Friday's vote fell 50-49, far short of the 60 needed to advance the bill. Democrats have demanded protection from deportation of more than 700,000 undocumented immigrants who entered the US as children. \"I hope it is just a matter of hours or days. But we need to have a substantive answer, and the only person who can lead us to that is President Trump. This is his shutdown,\" Democratic Senator Dick Durbin told the CBS network. Republicans want funding for border security - including the border wall - and immigration reforms, as well as increased military spending. Speaking to US troops in the Middle East, Vice-President Mike Pence reiterated his party's stance. \"We're not going to reopen negotiations on illegal immigration until they reopen the government and give you, our soldiers and your families, the benefits and wages you've earned,\" he said."}], "question": "Why can the two sides not agree?", "id": "1005_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2204, "answer_end": 3438, "text": "The US budget must be approved by 1 October - the start of the federal financial year. But Congress has often failed to meet this deadline and negotiations continue well into the new year, with the previous year's funding to federal agencies extended on a temporary basis. Because Congress failed to agree an extension, many federal agencies effectively closed for business as of 00:01 on Saturday (05:01 GMT). Most staff in the departments of housing, environment, education and commerce will be staying at home on Monday. Half of workers in the treasury, health, defence and transportation departments will also not be going to work. But essential services that protect \"life or human property\" will continue, including national security, postal services, air traffic control, inpatient medical services, emergency outpatient medicine, disaster assistance, prisons, taxation and electricity generation. And the Trump administration said it planned to keep national parks open - their closure in the 2013 shutdown provoked an angry public reaction. The shutdown began on the first anniversary of President Trump's inauguration. His trip to the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, next week has also been called into question."}], "question": "What is a government shutdown?", "id": "1005_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3439, "answer_end": 3966, "text": "Many federal employees were forced to take a leave of absence - officially known as being furloughed - during the 16 days of shutdown. It cost the government $2bn in lost productivity and led to \"significant negative effects on the economy\", the OMB said at the time. Donald Trump laid the blame for the shutdown with the then president, Barack Obama. Federal workers cannot get paid for days worked during a lapse in funding. In the past, however, they have been repaid retroactively even if they were ordered to stay at home."}], "question": "What happened during the 2013 shutdown?", "id": "1005_2"}]}]}, {"title": "Somalia's al-Shabab says it has killed British spy", "date": "10 October 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Somali militant group al-Shabab says it has killed five men it accuses of spying - one of them for the UK. According to a jihadi website, he had admitted giving information to British intelligence services about al-Shabab supporters living in the UK. The five men, aged between 22 and 36, were shot dead in a public execution on Tuesday in an area under the control of the Islamist group. Another was said to be working for the Somali government. That individual is alleged to have attached a device to a vehicle in an al-Shabab convoy which had then helped American drones to carry out an air strike. Al-Shabab told Reuters news agency that three of the men were US spies who had helped guide drones to carry out strikes in Somalia. The UK, US and Somali governments have not yet commented on the reports. The identity of the alleged British spy has not yet been confirmed, despite earlier reports that he was a British national. Separately, local police say suspected al-Shabab militants shot dead two non-Muslim teachers at a school compound on Tuesday night in northern Kenya, close to the Somali border. BBC correspondents say it is possible they were targeted for reasons of their religion, since the militant group has singled out Christians during previous attacks in Kenya. Al-Shabab, which is part of al-Qaeda, was forced out of the capital, Mogadishu, in 2011 by a combination of Somali government forces and African Union troops but it still operates freely in many rural parts of southern Somalia, where it often enforces Islamic law, or Sharia. This is not the first time it has killed people it accused of spying. In December 2017, al-Shabab killed five men, among them a teenage boy, whom it accused of working for US and Kenyan intelligence. As well as battling for control of Somalia, al-Shabab has staged terror attacks in some neighbouring countries. In 2013 in Kenya, 67 people were killed in a mass shooting by al-Shabab militants at the Westgate shopping mall in Nairobi. The group was also behind Somalia's deadliest bombing, in which at least 500 people were killed by a truck laden with explosives in Mogadishu last year. There are 500 US troops in Somalia supporting the UN-backed government against the militants. A smaller number of British soldiers are also deployed there. In recent years the US has carried out regular air strikes on targets in Somalia. These have been led by Africom, a body established in 2007 to run all of the US's military operations in Africa. It is unclear how many active missions Africom currently has, but US media reported that it had carried out a total of 674 operations across the continent in 2014. A British Army team with medical, logistical and engineering roles is also in Somalia supporting the United Nations mission against the Islamist militants. The biggest number of troops by far - 22,000 - has been supplied by the African Union's Mission in Somalia (Amisom). Plans by the AU to withdraw more than 1,000 of its troops have been put on hold until 2019 after the UN security council intervened. This followed a cut in funding by the European Union, amid allegations of corruption within the AU force, made up of personnel from Uganda, Burundi, Kenya, Ethiopia and Djibouti.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1283, "answer_end": 2147, "text": "Al-Shabab, which is part of al-Qaeda, was forced out of the capital, Mogadishu, in 2011 by a combination of Somali government forces and African Union troops but it still operates freely in many rural parts of southern Somalia, where it often enforces Islamic law, or Sharia. This is not the first time it has killed people it accused of spying. In December 2017, al-Shabab killed five men, among them a teenage boy, whom it accused of working for US and Kenyan intelligence. As well as battling for control of Somalia, al-Shabab has staged terror attacks in some neighbouring countries. In 2013 in Kenya, 67 people were killed in a mass shooting by al-Shabab militants at the Westgate shopping mall in Nairobi. The group was also behind Somalia's deadliest bombing, in which at least 500 people were killed by a truck laden with explosives in Mogadishu last year."}], "question": "How big a threat is al-Shabab?", "id": "1006_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2148, "answer_end": 3247, "text": "There are 500 US troops in Somalia supporting the UN-backed government against the militants. A smaller number of British soldiers are also deployed there. In recent years the US has carried out regular air strikes on targets in Somalia. These have been led by Africom, a body established in 2007 to run all of the US's military operations in Africa. It is unclear how many active missions Africom currently has, but US media reported that it had carried out a total of 674 operations across the continent in 2014. A British Army team with medical, logistical and engineering roles is also in Somalia supporting the United Nations mission against the Islamist militants. The biggest number of troops by far - 22,000 - has been supplied by the African Union's Mission in Somalia (Amisom). Plans by the AU to withdraw more than 1,000 of its troops have been put on hold until 2019 after the UN security council intervened. This followed a cut in funding by the European Union, amid allegations of corruption within the AU force, made up of personnel from Uganda, Burundi, Kenya, Ethiopia and Djibouti."}], "question": "What are the UK and US doing in Somalia?", "id": "1006_1"}]}]}, {"title": "Nord Stream 2: Germany and Russia decry US sanctions", "date": "21 December 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Germany and Russia have reacted angrily to sanctions approved by US President Donald Trump on a gas pipeline between the two countries. The sanctions target firms building Nord Stream 2, an undersea pipeline that will allow Russia to increase gas exports to Germany. The US considers it a security risk. But Germany accused Washington of interfering in its internal affairs, while Russia and EU officials also criticised the sanctions. Congress voted through the measures as part of a defence bill last week and the legislation, which described the pipeline as a \"tool of coercion\", was signed off by Mr Trump on Friday. The almost $11bn (PS8.4bn) Nord Stream 2 project has infuriated the US, with both Republican and Democratic lawmakers opposing it. The Trump administration fears the pipeline will tighten Russia's grip over Europe's energy supply and reduce its own share of the lucrative European market for American liquefied natural gas. President Trump has said the 1,225km (760-mile) pipeline, owned by Russia's state-owned gas company, Gazprom, could turn Germany into a \"hostage of Russia\". Speaking on German TV, Finance Minister Olaf Scholz said the sanctions were an infringement of sovereignty. \"It is up to the companies involved in the construction of the pipeline to take the next decisions,\" he said. German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas has said the sanctions amount to \"interference in autonomous decisions taken in Europe\". The US sanctions have also angered Russia and the European Union, which says it should be able to decide its own energy policies. \"As a matter of principle, the EU opposes the imposition of sanctions against EU companies conducting legitimate business,\" a spokesman for the trading bloc told AFP news agency on Saturday. Russia's foreign ministry also strongly opposed the move, with ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova accusing Washington of promoting an \"ideology\" that hinders global competition. The consortium behind Nord Stream 2 confirmed that it would build the pipeline as soon as possible, despite the sanctions. \"Completing the project is essential for European supply security. We, together with the companies supporting the project, will work on finishing the pipeline as soon as possible,\" it said. However, Allseas, a Swiss-Dutch company involved in the project, said it had suspended its pipe-laying activities in anticipation of the sanctions. For years EU member states have been concerned about the bloc's reliance on Russian gas. Russia currently supplies about 40% of the EU's gas supplies - just ahead of Norway, which is not in the EU but takes part in its single market. The new pipeline will increase the amount of gas going under the Baltic to 55 billion cubic metres per year. Disagreements among EU nations were so strong that, earlier this year, they even threatened to derail the project entirely. The bloc eventually agreed to strengthen regulations against Nord Stream 2, rather than stop it completely, and to bring it under European control. Businesses in Germany, meanwhile, have invested heavily in the project. Chancellor Merkel has tried to assure Central and Eastern European states that the pipeline would not make Germany reliant on Russia for energy. There is concern in other quarters, too. In May, climate activists opposing the use of fossil fuels occupied part of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline in Germany. The demonstrators, who said the project would be more detrimental to the environment than the authorities had claimed, began skateboarding inside the pipes. Police said at least five people had occupied the pipes near Wrangelsburg in northern Germany.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 621, "answer_end": 1101, "text": "The almost $11bn (PS8.4bn) Nord Stream 2 project has infuriated the US, with both Republican and Democratic lawmakers opposing it. The Trump administration fears the pipeline will tighten Russia's grip over Europe's energy supply and reduce its own share of the lucrative European market for American liquefied natural gas. President Trump has said the 1,225km (760-mile) pipeline, owned by Russia's state-owned gas company, Gazprom, could turn Germany into a \"hostage of Russia\"."}], "question": "Why is the US against the pipeline?", "id": "1007_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1444, "answer_end": 2405, "text": "The US sanctions have also angered Russia and the European Union, which says it should be able to decide its own energy policies. \"As a matter of principle, the EU opposes the imposition of sanctions against EU companies conducting legitimate business,\" a spokesman for the trading bloc told AFP news agency on Saturday. Russia's foreign ministry also strongly opposed the move, with ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova accusing Washington of promoting an \"ideology\" that hinders global competition. The consortium behind Nord Stream 2 confirmed that it would build the pipeline as soon as possible, despite the sanctions. \"Completing the project is essential for European supply security. We, together with the companies supporting the project, will work on finishing the pipeline as soon as possible,\" it said. However, Allseas, a Swiss-Dutch company involved in the project, said it had suspended its pipe-laying activities in anticipation of the sanctions."}], "question": "What about the EU and Russia?", "id": "1007_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2406, "answer_end": 3649, "text": "For years EU member states have been concerned about the bloc's reliance on Russian gas. Russia currently supplies about 40% of the EU's gas supplies - just ahead of Norway, which is not in the EU but takes part in its single market. The new pipeline will increase the amount of gas going under the Baltic to 55 billion cubic metres per year. Disagreements among EU nations were so strong that, earlier this year, they even threatened to derail the project entirely. The bloc eventually agreed to strengthen regulations against Nord Stream 2, rather than stop it completely, and to bring it under European control. Businesses in Germany, meanwhile, have invested heavily in the project. Chancellor Merkel has tried to assure Central and Eastern European states that the pipeline would not make Germany reliant on Russia for energy. There is concern in other quarters, too. In May, climate activists opposing the use of fossil fuels occupied part of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline in Germany. The demonstrators, who said the project would be more detrimental to the environment than the authorities had claimed, began skateboarding inside the pipes. Police said at least five people had occupied the pipes near Wrangelsburg in northern Germany."}], "question": "Why is Nord Stream 2 so controversial?", "id": "1007_2"}]}]}, {"title": "European Parliament opens amid protest and discord", "date": "2 July 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "The European Parliament has re-opened in Strasbourg with an anti-EU protest by the UK's Brexit Party and a demonstration by Catalan nationalists whose MEPs are barred. The first session after Europe-wide elections in May began as EU leaders went into a third day of talks on who should fill the bloc's top jobs. A plan emerged on Tuesday to nominate German Defence Minister Ursula von der Leyen as Commission president. An earlier compromise deal collapsed. Ms Von der Leyen is being considered for the top job, while Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel is being considered for the key role of president of the European Council, according to German website Die Welt and other reports. Christine Lagarde is being cited as a possible new head of the European Central Bank. The French head of the International Monetary Fund served as economy minister during Nicolas Sarkozy's presidency. Hundreds of Catalan demonstrators protested that three separatist figures were unable to take their seats, as inside the chamber fellow MEPs placed photos of the missing members on their desks. Ex-Catalan president Carles Puigdemont and colleague Toni Comin were barred from taking their seats because they had fled to Brussels after a banned referendum on independence went ahead and had not attended a swearing-in ceremony in Madrid as required. Another separatist leader, Oriol Junqueras, is in detention and on trial in Spain. Irish Sinn Fein MEP Matt Carthy warned that the parliament's credibility would be undermined if it did not stand up for the voters of Catalonia. As outgoing speaker Antonio Tajani convened the new session, MEPs rose for the EU's anthem, Beethoven's Ode to Joy, accompanied by a saxophone quartet. But not everyone stood, and anti-EU MEPs from the UK's Brexit Party turned their backs on the rendition. \"Rising to your feet is a matter of respect,\" said Mr Tajani. \"It does not mean that you necessarily share the views of the European Union. Even when you listen to the anthem of another country you rise to your feet.\" Their action came after party leader Nigel Farage promised a spirit of \"cheerful defiance\". Pro-EU Liberal Democrats staged their own stunt, wearing \"Stop Brexit\" T-shirts. EU leaders reconvened in Brussels for their third consecutive day after a reported compromise deal that would have seen Dutch Labour leader Frans Timmermans head the Commission with centre-right Bulgarian Kristalina Georgieva taking the other key job of European Council president. That deal fell apart when the four Visegrad states of Poland, Hungary, Czech Republic and Slovakia blocked the plan, with the backing of Italy. Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis said Mr Timmermans was \"unacceptable\" and a \"total catastrophe\". A new compromise emerged after hours of phone diplomacy involving EU leaders and outgoing Council President Donald Tusk, who was seen heading for the talks with his mobile phone to his ear. After Italy's Giuseppe Conte said he would be very happy with a woman as Commission president, that idea gained ground when Ursula von der Leyen emerged as a possible candidate. She has not been considered a front-runner so far. Political horse-trading has always been part of choosing the names for the top EU jobs, but EU elections at the end of May have shifted influence away from the two biggest groups in the European Parliament, the centre-right EPP and the Socialists and Democrats (S&D). If the main post does go to the German defence minister, it is a defeat for the EPP's candidate Manfred Weber, but still a result for the party and for Angela Merkel's ruling CDU. It is not just the Commission presidency that is part of the discussion. The leaders also need to agree on four other top posts: - European Council president (to replace Donald Tusk) - High Representative for foreign policy (to replace Federica Mogherini) - European Parliament president - European Central Bank president The European Parliament will elect its president on Wednesday, placing further pressure on the EU leaders. MEPs will also have to approve the leaders' eventual nomination for Commission chief.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 888, "answer_end": 2211, "text": "Hundreds of Catalan demonstrators protested that three separatist figures were unable to take their seats, as inside the chamber fellow MEPs placed photos of the missing members on their desks. Ex-Catalan president Carles Puigdemont and colleague Toni Comin were barred from taking their seats because they had fled to Brussels after a banned referendum on independence went ahead and had not attended a swearing-in ceremony in Madrid as required. Another separatist leader, Oriol Junqueras, is in detention and on trial in Spain. Irish Sinn Fein MEP Matt Carthy warned that the parliament's credibility would be undermined if it did not stand up for the voters of Catalonia. As outgoing speaker Antonio Tajani convened the new session, MEPs rose for the EU's anthem, Beethoven's Ode to Joy, accompanied by a saxophone quartet. But not everyone stood, and anti-EU MEPs from the UK's Brexit Party turned their backs on the rendition. \"Rising to your feet is a matter of respect,\" said Mr Tajani. \"It does not mean that you necessarily share the views of the European Union. Even when you listen to the anthem of another country you rise to your feet.\" Their action came after party leader Nigel Farage promised a spirit of \"cheerful defiance\". Pro-EU Liberal Democrats staged their own stunt, wearing \"Stop Brexit\" T-shirts."}], "question": "What happened at the parliament?", "id": "1008_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2212, "answer_end": 3155, "text": "EU leaders reconvened in Brussels for their third consecutive day after a reported compromise deal that would have seen Dutch Labour leader Frans Timmermans head the Commission with centre-right Bulgarian Kristalina Georgieva taking the other key job of European Council president. That deal fell apart when the four Visegrad states of Poland, Hungary, Czech Republic and Slovakia blocked the plan, with the backing of Italy. Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis said Mr Timmermans was \"unacceptable\" and a \"total catastrophe\". A new compromise emerged after hours of phone diplomacy involving EU leaders and outgoing Council President Donald Tusk, who was seen heading for the talks with his mobile phone to his ear. After Italy's Giuseppe Conte said he would be very happy with a woman as Commission president, that idea gained ground when Ursula von der Leyen emerged as a possible candidate. She has not been considered a front-runner so far."}], "question": "Will there be a summit deal?", "id": "1008_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3156, "answer_end": 4118, "text": "Political horse-trading has always been part of choosing the names for the top EU jobs, but EU elections at the end of May have shifted influence away from the two biggest groups in the European Parliament, the centre-right EPP and the Socialists and Democrats (S&D). If the main post does go to the German defence minister, it is a defeat for the EPP's candidate Manfred Weber, but still a result for the party and for Angela Merkel's ruling CDU. It is not just the Commission presidency that is part of the discussion. The leaders also need to agree on four other top posts: - European Council president (to replace Donald Tusk) - High Representative for foreign policy (to replace Federica Mogherini) - European Parliament president - European Central Bank president The European Parliament will elect its president on Wednesday, placing further pressure on the EU leaders. MEPs will also have to approve the leaders' eventual nomination for Commission chief."}], "question": "Why is it so hard to find a solution?", "id": "1008_2"}]}]}, {"title": "Ovarian cancer: Screening may cut deaths by a fifth", "date": "17 December 2015", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Doctors say there is now \"encouraging\" evidence that an annual blood test may cut ovarian cancer deaths by a fifth. Ovarian tumours are often deadly as they are caught too late. A 14-year study on 200,000 women, published in the Lancet, has been welcomed as a potentially landmark moment in cancer screening. But the researchers and independent experts say it is still too soon to call for mass screening because of concerns about the analysis. Ovarian cancer is difficult to pick up as symptoms, including abdominal pain, persistent bloating and difficulty eating, are common in other conditions. The UK Collaborative Trial of Ovarian Cancer Screening is one of the biggest clinical trials ever conducted and is supposed to give the definitive verdict on screening. It monitored levels of a chemical called CA125 in women's blood. Doctors tracked changes in the levels of CA125, which is produced by ovarian tissue, over time and if levels became elevated then the women were sent for further tests and ultimately surgery. The results are now in, but the interpretation is a bit messy and the researchers admit it is \"controversial\". Their initial statistical analysis of the data showed no benefit to screening. But there was a benefit when they removed the data from any women who may have already started to develop ovarian tumours. The researchers then performed a more forgiving statistical analysis, which also showed a benefit. Trial leader Prof Usha Menon, from UCL, told the BBC News website: \"Is there clear evidence? I would say no. \"We don't have clear evidence to go ahead with screening, but what we have are really encouraging estimates of around a 20% reduction, which we need to confirm.\" Any benefit to screening seems to be delayed - kicking in towards the end of the trial. The researchers are continuing to follow the patients for what is expected to be another three years to confirm whether there is a benefit. Kevin McConway, a professor of applied statistics at the Open University, said: \"Doing these extra analyses can be seen as an appropriate response to how the data turned out to look, which in some respects weren't as they originally expected. \"But equally it is also the case that the more analyses done, the more likely it is that one of the results will come out as positive. \"The results are promising, but perhaps not all that promising.\" There is also the risk that screening can do harm and the test led to some women having unnecessary surgery to remove benign growths. Dr Adam Shaw, the clinical lead for cancer genetics at Guy's & St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, said the findings were \"very encouraging\" but there was still more work to do. \"Nonetheless, this study is a landmark step in devising effective screening for ovarian cancer, which is often portrayed as the silent killer.\" Dr Fiona Reddington, from Cancer Research UK, said: \"It's uncertain whether or not screening can reduce ovarian cancer deaths overall. \"While this is an important step in ovarian cancer research, we would not recommend a national screening programme at this point.\" The UK's National Screening Committee, which decides what diseases should be screened for, says it will have to make a \"scientifically sound decision\" and will review the findings. Follow James on Twitter.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 2378, "answer_end": 3302, "text": "There is also the risk that screening can do harm and the test led to some women having unnecessary surgery to remove benign growths. Dr Adam Shaw, the clinical lead for cancer genetics at Guy's & St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, said the findings were \"very encouraging\" but there was still more work to do. \"Nonetheless, this study is a landmark step in devising effective screening for ovarian cancer, which is often portrayed as the silent killer.\" Dr Fiona Reddington, from Cancer Research UK, said: \"It's uncertain whether or not screening can reduce ovarian cancer deaths overall. \"While this is an important step in ovarian cancer research, we would not recommend a national screening programme at this point.\" The UK's National Screening Committee, which decides what diseases should be screened for, says it will have to make a \"scientifically sound decision\" and will review the findings. Follow James on Twitter."}], "question": "To screen or not to screen?", "id": "1009_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Denmark backs fence on German border to keep out wild boar", "date": "4 June 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Denmark's parliament has voted to build a 68-km (42-mile) fence along the border with Germany in a bid to protect the pork industry from the spread of African swine fever. The vote aimed at keeping out wild boar is controversial for several reasons. Environmental campaigners doubt it will stop the animals entering Denmark, while others say Germany has no trace of the virus. Some in Germany have condemned the move as gesture politics. Work on constructing the fence is unlikely to start until autumn, after an assessment by Denmark's environmental protection agency. The government says it will be 1.5m tall (almost 5ft) and 50cm deep, to prevent the boar burrowing beneath the fence. The planned structure will follow the border between the north German state of Schleswig-Holstein and Jutland, from the Wadden Sea in the west to Flensburg Fjord in the east. As Denmark is part of the Schengen passport-free group of EU states, roads through the area will not be affected by the fence. Denmark's minority government, backed up by the right-wing People's Party and the opposition Social Democrats agreed to the fence, thought to cost around 80m Danish Kroner (EUR11m; PS9m). Critics have their doubts. Hans Kristensen, an expert on wild boar immigration, told Danish TV that wild boar did not inhabit the border area involved but did live to the east of where the fence was going to finish and were capable of swimming across the Flensburg fjord. However, Environment Minister Jakob Ellemann-Jensen believes the risks of allowing African swine fever into the country are potentially catastrophic for Denmark's billion-euro pig industry. His opponents have pointed out that the nearest case of the virus to Denmark was in eastern Poland, a large distance away. The biggest risk to the pork industry, opponents argue, is from contamination of vehicles used to transport pigs across borders and from the people involved in the trade. Last month, the World Wildlife Fund warned the Danish prime minister and EU officials that the fence would harm other species besides wild boar, such as otters, wolves, foxes and deer.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 570, "answer_end": 1177, "text": "The government says it will be 1.5m tall (almost 5ft) and 50cm deep, to prevent the boar burrowing beneath the fence. The planned structure will follow the border between the north German state of Schleswig-Holstein and Jutland, from the Wadden Sea in the west to Flensburg Fjord in the east. As Denmark is part of the Schengen passport-free group of EU states, roads through the area will not be affected by the fence. Denmark's minority government, backed up by the right-wing People's Party and the opposition Social Democrats agreed to the fence, thought to cost around 80m Danish Kroner (EUR11m; PS9m)."}], "question": "What will it look like?", "id": "1010_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1178, "answer_end": 2118, "text": "Critics have their doubts. Hans Kristensen, an expert on wild boar immigration, told Danish TV that wild boar did not inhabit the border area involved but did live to the east of where the fence was going to finish and were capable of swimming across the Flensburg fjord. However, Environment Minister Jakob Ellemann-Jensen believes the risks of allowing African swine fever into the country are potentially catastrophic for Denmark's billion-euro pig industry. His opponents have pointed out that the nearest case of the virus to Denmark was in eastern Poland, a large distance away. The biggest risk to the pork industry, opponents argue, is from contamination of vehicles used to transport pigs across borders and from the people involved in the trade. Last month, the World Wildlife Fund warned the Danish prime minister and EU officials that the fence would harm other species besides wild boar, such as otters, wolves, foxes and deer."}], "question": "Will it work?", "id": "1010_1"}]}]}, {"title": "Merkel's Bavaria ally CSU suffers massive losses", "date": "15 October 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservative sister party has suffered huge losses in Bavaria's state election, raising new doubts about her ruling coalition. The centre-right Christian Social Union (CSU) is set to lose its absolute majority in the state parliament, which it has dominated since 1957. The Greens surged into second place, with nearly 17.5%. The anti-immigration AfD is set to enter Bavaria's parliament for the first time, with most votes counted. The CSU got just over 37% - that is, more than 10% down on its 2013 result. It was also a bitter night for Germany's decades-old centre-left Social Democrats (SPD), who slumped to just 9.7%. They and the CSU are in a fragile coalition with Mrs Merkel's Christian Democrats (CDU). Bavaria result: Merkel's three challenges The CSU appears to have suffered from the row over immigration policy earlier this year between Mrs Merkel and Horst Seehofer, the CSU leader and German interior minister. He said it was \"not a nice day\" but added it was only \"one side of the coin\" as the vote gives \"a clear mandate\" allowing the CSU to form a new government. There are signs that the CSU is leaning towards forming a Bavarian coalition with the right-leaning Free Voters (FW), a new independent party that won 11.6%. That would be a closer alignment than governing with the Greens. Alternative for Germany (AfD) came fourth with about 10%. It means AfD will have seats in 15 of Germany's 16 state parliaments. German commentators say the parties in Mrs Merkel's coalition will strive to avoid any further splits ahead of another big state election - in Hesse on 28 October, currently run by the CDU. SPD leader Andrea Nahles blamed her party's poor performance in Bavaria on squabbling within the coalition. By Jenny Hill, BBC News, Bavaria It was a terrible night for Angela Merkel's Bavarian sister party. The CSU has reigned supreme for decades in what is conservative country. But recent attempts to harden its tone and policies on migration, which included picking high-profile fights with Mrs Merkel, appear to have backfired. It's bad news for Mrs Merkel too. Bavaria reflects what's happening at national level, the dwindling popularity of the traditional centre-right and centre-left parties. Much may now depend on the results in Hesse in a fortnight. The CDU is also losing support. Its general secretary Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer said that what had happened in Bavaria was a warning. - Nearly 13 million residents and the biggest by area of Germany's 16 federal states - Its capital Munich is Germany's third-largest city, after Berlin and Hamburg - Second-highest GDP out of 16 German states - Historically conservative region, with strong Catholic and local traditions - Industrial powerhouse: car and IT sectors especially strong, rich in family-run firms AfD's success in Bavaria has not been as great as in eastern Germany but it appears to have taken large numbers of votes from the CSU. But by echoing some of the AfD's hardline policies such as on migration, the CSU also seems to have lost the support of more moderate voters. The CSU's Markus Soder, current Bavarian prime minister, said the projected result was painful but the party should learn from it. \"We have to analyse the changes taking place both in Bavaria and in society,\" he said. \"One of the most important jobs we now have is to ensure that this state is stable, governable, and remains as strong as it is now.\" Some German commentators say the CSU now has an old-fashioned image for many voters. The BBC's Jenny Hill in Bavaria says the election illustrates the complexity of the challenge faced by so many of Europe's large established parties. It's not simply the rise of the far right, she says, but that voters are walking away in favour of smaller, newer movements.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 2823, "answer_end": 3810, "text": "AfD's success in Bavaria has not been as great as in eastern Germany but it appears to have taken large numbers of votes from the CSU. But by echoing some of the AfD's hardline policies such as on migration, the CSU also seems to have lost the support of more moderate voters. The CSU's Markus Soder, current Bavarian prime minister, said the projected result was painful but the party should learn from it. \"We have to analyse the changes taking place both in Bavaria and in society,\" he said. \"One of the most important jobs we now have is to ensure that this state is stable, governable, and remains as strong as it is now.\" Some German commentators say the CSU now has an old-fashioned image for many voters. The BBC's Jenny Hill in Bavaria says the election illustrates the complexity of the challenge faced by so many of Europe's large established parties. It's not simply the rise of the far right, she says, but that voters are walking away in favour of smaller, newer movements."}], "question": "What happened to the CSU?", "id": "1011_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Hurricane Irma: How does it compare to other category five storms?", "date": "7 September 2017", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Hurricane Irma is now one of the most powerful storms ever recorded in the Atlantic basin. As a category five hurricane with 295km/h (185mph) wind speeds, it will go down in history as the the longest-lasting top-intensity cyclone ever recorded. As it barrels across the Caribbean toward Florida, locals are bracing themselves for life-threatening storm surges and heavy rain. Category five is the highest category on the Saffir-Simpson scale, used to measure hurricanes forming in the Atlantic and northern Pacific oceans by wind speed. The scale was invented in 1971 by engineer Herbert Saffir and meteorologist Robert Simpson, who led the US National Hurricane Center (NHC). A category five is anything with sustained winds of over 250 km/h (157 mph). It does not consider the storm's size, surges or flooding potential. These factors can often prove more deadly, like in the cases of the 1900 Galveston Hurricane, 1928's Okeechobee Hurricane or 2005's Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans. The NHC estimates the landfall damage of category fives will cause \"catastrophic damage\" that will leave most of the area \"uninhabitable for weeks or months\". There is no such thing as a category six because according to one of the scale's creators, the damage begins to look the same after it has reached category five speeds. But how does Irma compare to other hurricanes in the Atlantic's history? The storm has cut a path across Caribbean islands, killing some people and leaving many homeless. Irma could be lowered to a category four by the time it arrives in Florida, but the scale of damage it wreaks in its path is yet to be seen. The Governor of Florida, Rick Scott, has said Irma \"could be worse\" than Andrew. \"The storm is bigger, faster and stronger than Hurricane Andrew ,\" he said. The storm from 25 years ago looms large in Florida memories. Andrew claimed 26 lives and left up to 250,000 people homeless. Damages it caused cost $25bn (PS15.8bn) and it took years for some areas to get back to normal. If Irma keeps up its wind speeds, it will be the first category five storm to hit the US since Andrew. This hurricane predated the naming system given to tropical storms, but is estimated to have made landfall as a category five storm across the Florida Keys and the state's mainland on 2 September 1935. Its path of destruction was about 40 miles wide, producing a surge about 20ft above sea level. Some 408 people were reportedly killed - over half had been evacuated from the Florida Keys on a train that then derailed. On 12 September 1988, Hurricane Gilbert struck Jamaica as a category three, devastating the island before heading on to Mexico's Yucatan Pensinsula as a category five after picking up intensity. It weakened into a category two in the Mexican gulf, but had a total death toll of 316 people, with most dying in floods. At the end of July this year, Hurricane Harvey became the worst hurricane that had made landfall in the United States since Wilma 12 years before. It fell during the busiest ever storm season, with a staggering 28 recorded across 2005. Forecasters ran out of alphabet letters to name them. Hurricane Katrina, which struck earlier that year, had a much higher death toll, but Wilma outstripped Katrina for sustained wind power - peaking at 280km/h (175mph) but weakening significantly before it made landfall. Katrina killed at least 1,800 people - most died in extreme floods in Louisiana. Wilma's death toll was significantly lower: it killed 23 people directly including 12 people in Haiti and five in Florida. Irma is currently only being beaten by 1980's Hurricane Allen for strongest sustained wind speeds. As it intensified across the Caribbean it killed six people on St Lucia and 238 in the Antilles islands. Hurricane Allen then reached a staggering 305km/h (190 mph) at its peak before hitting Texas with 205km/h (125mph) winds. Fortunately it made landfall in a sparsely populated area of the US state, with few casualties recorded. The all-time record for the highest ever wind speeds is held by Hurricane Patricia, which reached 345km/h (215 mph) in 2015 in the Pacific Ocean. But it did not hit the US at that speed - it weakened substantially before it made landfall.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 377, "answer_end": 1390, "text": "Category five is the highest category on the Saffir-Simpson scale, used to measure hurricanes forming in the Atlantic and northern Pacific oceans by wind speed. The scale was invented in 1971 by engineer Herbert Saffir and meteorologist Robert Simpson, who led the US National Hurricane Center (NHC). A category five is anything with sustained winds of over 250 km/h (157 mph). It does not consider the storm's size, surges or flooding potential. These factors can often prove more deadly, like in the cases of the 1900 Galveston Hurricane, 1928's Okeechobee Hurricane or 2005's Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans. The NHC estimates the landfall damage of category fives will cause \"catastrophic damage\" that will leave most of the area \"uninhabitable for weeks or months\". There is no such thing as a category six because according to one of the scale's creators, the damage begins to look the same after it has reached category five speeds. But how does Irma compare to other hurricanes in the Atlantic's history?"}], "question": "What is a category five?", "id": "1012_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Venice floods: Climate change behind highest tide in 50 years, says mayor", "date": "13 November 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Severe flooding in Venice that has left much of the Italian city under water is a direct result of climate change, the mayor says. The highest water levels in the region in more than 50 years would leave \"a permanent mark\", Venice Mayor Luigi Brugnaro tweeted. \"Now the government must listen,\" he added. \"These are the effects of climate change... the costs will be high.\" The waters in Venice peaked at 1.87m (6ft), according to the tide monitoring centre. Only once since official records began in 1923 has the tide been higher, reaching 1.94m in 1966. Images showed popular sites left completely flooded and people wading through the streets as Venice was hit by a storm. St Mark's Square - one of the lowest parts of the city - was one of the worst hit areas. St Mark's Basilica was flooded for the sixth time in 1,200 years, according to church records. Pierpaolo Campostrini, a member of St Mark's council, said four of those floods had now occurred within the past 20 years. The mayor said the famous landmark had suffered \"grave damage\". The crypt was completely flooded and there are fears of structural damage to the basilica's columns. The city of Venice is made up of more than 100 islands inside a lagoon off the north-east coast of Italy. Two people died on the island of Pellestrina, a thin strip of land that separates the lagoon from the Adriatic Sea. A man was electrocuted as he tried to start a pump in his home, and a second person was found dead elsewhere. Mr Brugnaro said the damage was \"huge\" and that he would declare a state of disaster, warning that a project to help prevent the Venetian lagoon suffering devastating floods \"must be finished soon\". \"The situation is dramatic. We ask the government to help us,\" he said on Twitter, adding that schools would remain closed until the water level subsides. He also urged local businesses to share photos and video footage of the devastation, which he said would be useful when requesting financial help from the government. People throughout the city waded through the flood waters. A number of businesses were affected. Chairs and tables were seen floating outside cafes and restaurants. In shops, workers tried to move their stock away from the water to prevent any further damage. One shopkeeper, who was not named, told Italy's public broadcaster Rai: \"The city is on its knees.\" Three waterbuses sank, but tourists continued their sightseeing as best they could. One French couple told AFP news agency that they had \"effectively swum\" after some of the wooden platforms placed around the city in areas prone to flooding overturned. On Wednesday morning, a number of boats were seen stranded. A project to protect the city from flooding has been under way since 2003 but has been hit by soaring costs, scandals and delays. The so-called Mose project - a series of large barriers or floodgates that would be raised from the seabed to shut off the lagoon in the event of rising sea levels and winter storms - was successfully tested for the first time in 2013. The project has already cost billions of euros in investment. According to Italy's infrastructure ministry, the flood barriers will be handed over to the Venice city council at the end of 2021 following the \"final phase\" of testing. Italy was hit by heavy rainfall on Tuesday with further bad weather forecast in the coming days. Venice suffers flooding on a yearly basis. By BBC meteorologist Nikki Berry The recent flooding in Venice was caused by a combination of high spring tides and a meteorological storm surge driven by strong sirocco winds blowing north-eastwards across the Adriatic Sea. When these two events coincide, we get what is known as Acqua Alta (high water). This latest Acqua Alta occurrence in Venice is the second highest tide in recorded history. However, if we look at the top 10 tides, five have occurred in the past 20 years and the most recent was only last year. While we should try to avoid attributing a single event to climate change, the increased frequency of these exceptional tides is obviously a big concern. In our changing climate, sea levels are rising and a city such as Venice, which is also sinking, is particularly susceptible to such changes. The weather patterns that have caused the Adriatic storm surge have been driven by a strong meridional (waving) jet stream across the northern hemisphere and this has fed a conveyor belt of low pressure systems into the central Mediterranean. One of the possible effects of a changing climate is that the jet stream will be more frequently meridional and blocked weather patterns such as these will also become more frequent. If this happens, there is a greater likelihood that these events will combine with astronomical spring tides and hence increase the chance of flooding in Venice. Furthermore, the meridional jet stream can be linked back to stronger typhoons in the north-west Pacific resulting in more frequent cold outbreaks in North America and an unsettled Mediterranean is another one of the downstream effects. All images subject to copyright.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 3413, "answer_end": 5085, "text": "By BBC meteorologist Nikki Berry The recent flooding in Venice was caused by a combination of high spring tides and a meteorological storm surge driven by strong sirocco winds blowing north-eastwards across the Adriatic Sea. When these two events coincide, we get what is known as Acqua Alta (high water). This latest Acqua Alta occurrence in Venice is the second highest tide in recorded history. However, if we look at the top 10 tides, five have occurred in the past 20 years and the most recent was only last year. While we should try to avoid attributing a single event to climate change, the increased frequency of these exceptional tides is obviously a big concern. In our changing climate, sea levels are rising and a city such as Venice, which is also sinking, is particularly susceptible to such changes. The weather patterns that have caused the Adriatic storm surge have been driven by a strong meridional (waving) jet stream across the northern hemisphere and this has fed a conveyor belt of low pressure systems into the central Mediterranean. One of the possible effects of a changing climate is that the jet stream will be more frequently meridional and blocked weather patterns such as these will also become more frequent. If this happens, there is a greater likelihood that these events will combine with astronomical spring tides and hence increase the chance of flooding in Venice. Furthermore, the meridional jet stream can be linked back to stronger typhoons in the north-west Pacific resulting in more frequent cold outbreaks in North America and an unsettled Mediterranean is another one of the downstream effects. All images subject to copyright."}], "question": "Is climate change behind Venice flooding?", "id": "1013_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Migrant children: Pentagon asked to house migrant minors", "date": "22 June 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "The Pentagon has been asked to supply up to 20,000 beds at old military bases for migrant children held after illegally entering the US. Beds will be for migrant children who crossed the border unaccompanied, as well as those separated from parents. The moves follow President Donald Trump's reversal of the controversial separation policy. First Lady Melania Trump visited a facility for migrant children in Texas saying she wanted to reunite families. But her visit to the facility for young migrants was thrown into controversy after she was photographed wearing a jacket with the words \"I really don't care do u?\" as she boarded the plane to Texas. Plans for accommodating migrant children at military bases first came to light in May. Emails seen by US media revealed the bases would house minors who have crossed into the US without an adult relative as well as those who have been separated from their parents at the border. President Trump says he has directed agencies to begin reuniting children and parents separated after entering the US illegally. At least 2,300 children have been taken from their parents since 5 May after entering the country without documentation at the US-Mexico border. While the adults are held in custody pending court appearances, the children are being sent to holding cells, converted warehouses and desert tents under the \"zero tolerance\" policy introduced in April. Officials have also gone to court to try to lengthen the time children can be held as parents are prosecuted. A vote on a Republican bill on immigration has been postponed until at least Friday as it does not have enough support in the House of Representatives. Mr Trump had said that only Congress could resolve the issue of separated families but on Wednesday he signed an executive order to keep children with their families but in detention. The president's executive order says adults who illegally enter the US with children still face prosecution. It also calls for: - Immigrant families to be detained together while their legal cases are considered - Expediting immigration cases involving families - Agencies, including the Pentagon, to construct facilities or make existing facilities available \"for the housing and care of alien families\" A ruling known as the Flores Settlement dating from 1997 places a limit of 20 days on the detention of migrant children - with their families or alone. The Justice Department is now going to court in California to seek a modification to that limit, as the president's executive order requests. But analysts say it is unlikely the limit on detaining minors can be overturned within the next 20 days. Guatemalan undocumented immigrant Beata Mejia Mejia is suing the US government for allegedly violating her human rights when they took away her son, Darwin, after she crossed the US border. After nearly two weeks in detention in Arizona she says she asked for her son and was given a phone number. \"I rang and rang and they never answered,\" she says, \"I never heard from my son.\" She told the BBC she was finally allowed to speak to him by phone after being freed on bail paid for by her lawyers on 15 June once her asylum bid was allowed to go ahead. \"I sensed he was very sad,\" she says. \"Like all mothers, I know my children, and I felt he's not well.\"", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1855, "answer_end": 2259, "text": "The president's executive order says adults who illegally enter the US with children still face prosecution. It also calls for: - Immigrant families to be detained together while their legal cases are considered - Expediting immigration cases involving families - Agencies, including the Pentagon, to construct facilities or make existing facilities available \"for the housing and care of alien families\""}], "question": "What does Trump's executive order say?", "id": "1014_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2260, "answer_end": 2658, "text": "A ruling known as the Flores Settlement dating from 1997 places a limit of 20 days on the detention of migrant children - with their families or alone. The Justice Department is now going to court in California to seek a modification to that limit, as the president's executive order requests. But analysts say it is unlikely the limit on detaining minors can be overturned within the next 20 days."}], "question": "What about the court case?", "id": "1014_1"}]}]}, {"title": "Guatemala volcano: Emergency agency 'failed to heed warnings'", "date": "7 June 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Opposition politicians in Guatemala want the head of the emergency response agency (Conred) to be dismissed. They say Conred failed to heed advance warnings about Sunday's deadly eruption of the Fuego volcano. A senior opposition figure, Mario Taracena, said the government should investigate whether there was criminal negligence. Ninety-nine people are now known to have died since Sunday, and nearly 200 others remain unaccounted for. Villages on the slopes were buried in volcanic ash and mud after Fuego erupted. Subsequent smaller eruptions and the high temperatures of the rock and mud debris have made search teams' work extremely difficult. More than 1.7 million people have been affected, with more than 3,000 evacuated. Analysis by the BBC's Will Grant in Guatemala The argument revolves around a crucial question: was the order to evacuate given clearly and with sufficient warning before Volcan de Fuego erupted on Sunday? The national institute for seismology and volcanology says that its conscience is clear, that it issued the relevant warning in plenty of time. It claims the responsibility for any failings lies with the civil emergency authority, Conred, which didn't then act on its warnings. It has been shown that Conred's Twitter feed as late as 11:00 on the morning of the eruption said that it wasn't yet necessary to evacuate. The organisation has denied it was to blame and that when it did issue the alerts, they were ignored. Of the 99 bodies recovered so far, only 25 have been identified. \"We already have data with names and locations where there are missing persons and that number is 192,\" said Sergio Cabanas, the Conred head. Searches are continuing, but there are fears that heavy rain could cause fresh landslides of volcanic mud. Meanwhile the volcano is continuing to spew out ash and rocks. \"The activity continues and the possibility of new pyroclastic flows in the next hours or days cannot be ruled out, so it is recommended not to remain near the affected area,\" the national institute for seismology and volcanology said. There are 3,000 people being accommodated in temporary shelters out of the 12,000 who were evacuated from the area. Volunteers have been handing out food and other essentials to those affected, as well as to rescue workers. Mr Cabanas said that local residents had received training in emergency procedures but were not able to implement them because the initial volcanic activity happened too fast. By Paul Rincon, science editor, BBC News website A pyroclastic flow is a fast-moving mixture of gas and volcanic material, such as pumice and ash. Such flows are a common outcome of explosive volcanic eruptions, like the Fuego event, and are extremely dangerous to populations living downrange. Just why they are so threatening can be seen from some of the eyewitness videos on YouTube of the Guatemalan eruption. In one, people stand on a bridge filming the ominous mass of gas and volcanic debris as it expands from Fuego. Some bystanders only realise how fast it is travelling as the flow is almost upon them. The speed it travels depends on several factors, such as the output rate of the volcano and the gradient of its slope. But they have been known to reach speeds of up to 700km/h - close to the cruising speed of a long-distance commercial passenger aircraft. In addition, the gas and rock within a flow are heated to extreme temperatures, ranging between 200C and 700C. If you're directly in its path, there is little chance of escape. The eruption of Vesuvius, in Italy, in 79 AD produced a powerful pyroclastic flow, burying the Roman towns of Pompeii and Herculaneum under a thick blanket of ash.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 731, "answer_end": 1455, "text": "Analysis by the BBC's Will Grant in Guatemala The argument revolves around a crucial question: was the order to evacuate given clearly and with sufficient warning before Volcan de Fuego erupted on Sunday? The national institute for seismology and volcanology says that its conscience is clear, that it issued the relevant warning in plenty of time. It claims the responsibility for any failings lies with the civil emergency authority, Conred, which didn't then act on its warnings. It has been shown that Conred's Twitter feed as late as 11:00 on the morning of the eruption said that it wasn't yet necessary to evacuate. The organisation has denied it was to blame and that when it did issue the alerts, they were ignored."}], "question": "What is the emergency agency accused of?", "id": "1015_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1456, "answer_end": 2068, "text": "Of the 99 bodies recovered so far, only 25 have been identified. \"We already have data with names and locations where there are missing persons and that number is 192,\" said Sergio Cabanas, the Conred head. Searches are continuing, but there are fears that heavy rain could cause fresh landslides of volcanic mud. Meanwhile the volcano is continuing to spew out ash and rocks. \"The activity continues and the possibility of new pyroclastic flows in the next hours or days cannot be ruled out, so it is recommended not to remain near the affected area,\" the national institute for seismology and volcanology said."}], "question": "What about the search operation?", "id": "1015_1"}]}]}, {"title": "Ashers 'gay cake' row: Bakers win Supreme Court appeal", "date": "10 October 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "The Christian owners of a Northern Ireland bakery have won their appeal in the so-called \"gay cake\" discrimination case. The UK's highest court ruled that Ashers bakery's refusal to make a cake with a slogan supporting same-sex marriage was not discriminatory. The five justices on the Supreme Court were unanimous in their judgement. The high-profile dispute began in 2014 when the bakery refused to make a cake with the slogan \"Support Gay Marriage\". The customer, gay rights activist Gareth Lee, sued the company for discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation and political beliefs. But the bakery has always insisted its objection was to the message on the cake, not the customer. Ashers lost the case and the subsequent appeal, but on Wednesday the firm won its appeal at the Supreme Court. The legal battle - which has lasted four-and-a-half years and has cost nearly PS500,000 so far - has raised questions over equality and freedom of conscience. Ashers bakery's general manager Daniel McArthur said he was delighted and relieved by the ruling. \"I know a lot of people will be glad to hear this ruling today, because this ruling protects freedom of speech and freedom of conscience for everyone,\" Mr McArthur said outside the court. Mr Lee said the case had made him feel like a second-class citizen and that he was now concerned about \"the implications for all of the gay community\". \"To me, this was never about conscience or a statement. All I wanted to do was to order a cake in a shop,\" he said. Northern Ireland's Attorney General John Larkin welcomed the decision. The Equality Commission for Northern Ireland, which has supported Gareth Lee's action against Ashers, said it would study the implications of the judgement carefully. \"There is a concern that this judgement may raise uncertainty about the application of equality law in the commercial sphere, both about what businesses can do and what customers may expect,\" said Dr Michael Wardlow, the organisation's chief commissioner. By Mark Simpson at the Supreme Court in London Questions will now be asked as to whether the Equality Commission was right to spend more than PS250,000 of public money on this case. DUP Ian Paisley MP said he has written to the Northern Ireland Secretary calling for a review of the organisation's funding. The commission backed Mr Lee, who ordered the \"gay cake\" but was refused. Four years later, the Supreme Court has ruled it was not a case of discrimination. Ashers bakery has spent more PS200,000 on the case. It is being paid by The Christian Institute, a charity and lobby group. The cake at the centre of the dispute would have cost PS36.50. It has proved to be the most expensive cake order in UK history. Customer Gareth Lee requested a cake featuring the Sesame Street characters Bert and Ernie, iced with the message: \"Support Gay Marriage.\" His order was initially accepted at a branch of Ashers in Belfast city centre, but two days later the baking firm's head office contacted Mr Lee to say the firm would not make the cake. The family-run baking company, based in County Antrim, has described the same-sex marriage slogan as \"inconsistent\" with its religious beliefs. But it points out that the company's issue was with the slogan and not Mr Lee, claiming it would have refused the same order from a heterosexual client. As he arrived outside the Supreme Court for the start of the case in May, Mr McArthur said: \"We didn't say no because of the customer; we'd served him before, we'd serve him again. \"It was because of the message. But some people want the law to make us support something with which we disagree.\" In the court's judgement (case reference [2018] UKSC 49), president of the Supreme Court Lady Hale ruled that the bakers did not refuse to fulfil the order because of his sexual orientation. \"They would have refused to make such a cake for any customer, irrespective of their sexual orientation,\" she said. \"Their objection was to the message on the cake, not to the personal characteristics of Mr Lee.\" She added: \"Accordingly, this court holds that there was no discrimination on the ground of the sexual orientation of Mr Lee.\" When Mr Lee first took action against the firm, he said the bakery's actions left him feeling like a lesser person. On Wednesday, the Supreme Court ruled that there was no political discrimination as well as no discrimination based on Mr Lee's sexual orientation. \"This conclusion is not in any way to diminish the need to protect gay people and people who support gay marriage from discrimination,\" said Lady Hale. \"It is deeply humiliating, and an affront to human dignity, to deny someone a service because of that person's race, gender, disability, sexual orientation, religion or belief. \"But that is not what happened in this case.\" Five Supreme Courts justices travelled to Belfast earlier this year to hear the case. Some will regard the ruling - that service providers of any religion, race or sexual orientation can refuse to endorse a message they profoundly disagree with - as a victory for freedom of expression and freedom of ideas, says BBC legal correspondent Clive Coleman. The ruling now poses the question whether it would be lawful, for instance, for a bakery to refuse to make a bar mitzvah cake because the bakers' owners disagreed with ideas at the heart of the Jewish religion? What about a cake promoting \"the glory of Brexit\", \"support fox hunting\", or \"support veganism\"? As a result of Wednesday's ruling, there are likely to be further cases in which services are refused on the basis of beliefs held by the service providers, adds our correspondent.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 2728, "answer_end": 3052, "text": "Customer Gareth Lee requested a cake featuring the Sesame Street characters Bert and Ernie, iced with the message: \"Support Gay Marriage.\" His order was initially accepted at a branch of Ashers in Belfast city centre, but two days later the baking firm's head office contacted Mr Lee to say the firm would not make the cake."}], "question": "What is the row about?", "id": "1016_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3053, "answer_end": 3645, "text": "The family-run baking company, based in County Antrim, has described the same-sex marriage slogan as \"inconsistent\" with its religious beliefs. But it points out that the company's issue was with the slogan and not Mr Lee, claiming it would have refused the same order from a heterosexual client. As he arrived outside the Supreme Court for the start of the case in May, Mr McArthur said: \"We didn't say no because of the customer; we'd served him before, we'd serve him again. \"It was because of the message. But some people want the law to make us support something with which we disagree.\""}], "question": "Why did the bakers refuse?", "id": "1016_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3646, "answer_end": 4176, "text": "In the court's judgement (case reference [2018] UKSC 49), president of the Supreme Court Lady Hale ruled that the bakers did not refuse to fulfil the order because of his sexual orientation. \"They would have refused to make such a cake for any customer, irrespective of their sexual orientation,\" she said. \"Their objection was to the message on the cake, not to the personal characteristics of Mr Lee.\" She added: \"Accordingly, this court holds that there was no discrimination on the ground of the sexual orientation of Mr Lee.\""}], "question": "What has the court said and why?", "id": "1016_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 4177, "answer_end": 4901, "text": "When Mr Lee first took action against the firm, he said the bakery's actions left him feeling like a lesser person. On Wednesday, the Supreme Court ruled that there was no political discrimination as well as no discrimination based on Mr Lee's sexual orientation. \"This conclusion is not in any way to diminish the need to protect gay people and people who support gay marriage from discrimination,\" said Lady Hale. \"It is deeply humiliating, and an affront to human dignity, to deny someone a service because of that person's race, gender, disability, sexual orientation, religion or belief. \"But that is not what happened in this case.\" Five Supreme Courts justices travelled to Belfast earlier this year to hear the case."}], "question": "What does this mean for the law?", "id": "1016_3"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 4902, "answer_end": 5656, "text": "Some will regard the ruling - that service providers of any religion, race or sexual orientation can refuse to endorse a message they profoundly disagree with - as a victory for freedom of expression and freedom of ideas, says BBC legal correspondent Clive Coleman. The ruling now poses the question whether it would be lawful, for instance, for a bakery to refuse to make a bar mitzvah cake because the bakers' owners disagreed with ideas at the heart of the Jewish religion? What about a cake promoting \"the glory of Brexit\", \"support fox hunting\", or \"support veganism\"? As a result of Wednesday's ruling, there are likely to be further cases in which services are refused on the basis of beliefs held by the service providers, adds our correspondent."}], "question": "What could the ramifications be?", "id": "1016_4"}]}]}, {"title": "Jokowi and Subianto: Why Indonesia's leader went from scorn to selfies", "date": "27 October 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "The election which saw Indonesia's social media-savvy and heavy metal-loving president Joko Widodo re-elected also saw bitter accusations of fraud from his long-time rival for the job. Just months later, that rival has joined government and the pair are posing for selfies. What does this mean? When Joko Widodo (also known as Jokowi) won Indonesia's presidential election earlier this year, supporters of his rival, former army general Prabowo Subianto, took to the streets and the ensuing violence left several dead. The election campaign had been angry, peppered with accusations of fraud, and it was only in the summer, in June, that Indonesia's constitutional court finally ended the political uncertainty to uphold Mr Widodo's win. But just months after that, student protests hit the streets of Indonesia, prompted by a controversial and draconian criminal code being considered by parliament. They morphed into something bigger, an expression of anger and despair with the government. Protesters also rejected the passing of a new anti-corruption law which they thought undermined the country's beloved anti-corruption agency. Those protests also left several dead and, although the vote on the code was postponed, the bitterness is still evident. Everybody watched to see how Mr Widodo would respond and what that might tell us about the state of democracy in Indonesia for the next few years. In some ways, the answer came this week with the appointment of Mr Subianto as defence minister. Quite apart from being his rival in Indonesia's two most recent presidential elections, he is a controversial figure with a tainted record on human rights. Jokowi, as the president is known, was seen as a self-made \"man of the people\" when he first came to power in 2014 - mild-mannered, jocular and with a well-documented love of heavy metal music and taking selfies. But the years have shown him willing to make harsh political compromises and, despite serious challenges to Indonesia's stated values of religious tolerance and social cohesion in recent years, his priorities remain infrastructure, economic reform and political stability. This appointment can be seen as prioritising such goals as he eyes a tangible legacy at the end of his second and final term. \"You don't see a lot of real reform-minded figures in the cabinet, the type of figures that would really give a sign to any liberals in Indonesia that the government is paying attention to issues of democracy and human rights,\" says researcher Alexander Raymond Arifianto of the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies in Singapore. \"The government is just going to pave the way for status quo while they're promoting all these higher priority projects in economy and infrastructure development.\" Prabowo Subianto, 68, was born into a family steeped in Indonesian political privilege, the son of Sumitro Djojohadikusumo, an economic whiz who held ministerial posts from the 1950s to the 1970s. His father went into exile for a decade from 1957 because of his alleged involvement with a separatist group in the region of Sumatra. Mr Subianto followed as his family fled to a number of European cities, including Zurich and London. Mr Subianto eventually married the second daughter of the late authoritarian president Suharto - a move some in the military have argued helped his swift rise. But by that time, allegations were already swirling of his involvement in bloody military operations in East Timor. He was eventually dismissed from the army for his role in the abduction and murder of student activists in 1998. His human rights record did not go unnoticed by the West, with the United States denying him visa in mid-2000s and 2014.  Australia also once put him on a blacklist. But Mr Subianto nevertheless made an extraordinary political comeback - although his four attempts to be leader ended in failure. And Mr Widodo's decision to add him to his cabinet, just months after his latest defeat, has dismayed many of the president's supporters. \"[Jokowi's] rival in the presidential election, who lost because the people rejected intolerance, anti-democratic [values], and human rights violations, is instead placed on an honourable position in the cabinet. We understand that there is a deep disappointment among Jokowi volunteers,\" says Handoko, general secretary of Projo, a Jokowi supporters group. \"Prabowo is an intelligent individual who speaks multiple languages and will certainly be helpful when it comes to defence diplomacy,\" says Aaron Connelly, research fellow on Southeast Asian politics at the International Institute for Strategic Studies in Singapore. \"But the biggest risk is that tension between Jokowi and Prabowo will not subside, but only get greater as the relationship is not built on mutual trust and respect.\" Yet the hope is that he will bring political stability to the president's last term after five years of relentless attacks from his rivals, says Mr Arifianto. Mr Widodo has made it clear that his priority is going to be infrastructure and economic reform, signalling his goal to be the country's next \"Father of Development\", a title once held by Suharto, Indonesia's last dictator and his new colleague's father-in-law. So such stability will be prized. He also picked the co-founder of homegrown ride-hailing firm Gojek to head the education ministry and a media tycoon for a state-owned enterprises post. But this is cold comfort for those worried about Indonesia's direction when it comes to human rights and social inequality. \"Prabowo's appointment sends a worrying signal that our leaders have forgotten the darkest days and the worst violations committed in the Suharto era. When Prabowo was at the helm of our special forces, activists disappeared and there were numerous allegations of torture and other ill-treatment,\" said Usman Hamid, Amnesty International Indonesia's executive director. Mr Subianto has consistently said that he only followed orders from his chiefs and that he was scapegoated by the military, including by former army general-turned-politician Wiranto, who also happened to be Mr Widodo's first-term security affairs minister Mr Widodo's strategy appears to favour compromise over confrontation - and that has resulted in a broad cabinet that involves several top generals whose potential bickering might create an enormous distraction to the president, Mr Connelly said. But the choice of Subianto could pave the way for the politicisation of the armed forces and police, a feature of Suharto's 32-year rule. As an example of this, there are regional leader posts currently held by active police officers, according to Titi Anggraini, director of Jakarta-based Association for Election and Democracy. Military encroachment into civil spaces was among the features rejected by the student movement of 1998 - the student-led demonstrations that led to the fall of Suharto. Mr Subianto did nothing to quell the violent protest to reject the elections result that erupted in his name. The fear remains that his approach to resolve any tensions that might arise with the president could be just as unorthodox - despite the smiles for selfies.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 2771, "answer_end": 4384, "text": "Prabowo Subianto, 68, was born into a family steeped in Indonesian political privilege, the son of Sumitro Djojohadikusumo, an economic whiz who held ministerial posts from the 1950s to the 1970s. His father went into exile for a decade from 1957 because of his alleged involvement with a separatist group in the region of Sumatra. Mr Subianto followed as his family fled to a number of European cities, including Zurich and London. Mr Subianto eventually married the second daughter of the late authoritarian president Suharto - a move some in the military have argued helped his swift rise. But by that time, allegations were already swirling of his involvement in bloody military operations in East Timor. He was eventually dismissed from the army for his role in the abduction and murder of student activists in 1998. His human rights record did not go unnoticed by the West, with the United States denying him visa in mid-2000s and 2014.  Australia also once put him on a blacklist. But Mr Subianto nevertheless made an extraordinary political comeback - although his four attempts to be leader ended in failure. And Mr Widodo's decision to add him to his cabinet, just months after his latest defeat, has dismayed many of the president's supporters. \"[Jokowi's] rival in the presidential election, who lost because the people rejected intolerance, anti-democratic [values], and human rights violations, is instead placed on an honourable position in the cabinet. We understand that there is a deep disappointment among Jokowi volunteers,\" says Handoko, general secretary of Projo, a Jokowi supporters group."}], "question": "Who is the rival-turned-ally?", "id": "1017_0"}]}]}, {"title": "The longest detour", "date": "3 April 2015", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Badi had a good life in Damascus. But as the war in Syria closed in on his family, he took them to safety in Egypt and then set out for the UK. Two months later he was in a prison cell in Togo. His story illuminates a shadowy, corrupt network of migrant smugglers. Badi woke up in a cheap hotel in Accra. He'd been in Ghana almost a month and his money was running out. For the tenth time that day he took out his mobile phone and called the smuggler. There was no answer. A few days later he got a call. The smuggler said the plan had changed, that he should get in a taxi and go to Togo. \"We thought Togo was a neighbourhood of Accra, or maybe another town just down the road,\" says Badi. \"So we got in the taxi. Turns out, Togo is a whole other country.\" Life had been good in Syria before the war. He was a skilled tradesman who worked on construction sites all over Damascus. There was plenty of work - the family was not rich, but Badi had a house and a car, and his two little girls were thriving. By the end of 2012, though, as the war intensified, work began to dry up and the fighting inched closer to Badi's home. \"Every morning we looked out from the balcony and saw the skyline full of smoke. At night there was a lot of noise from the shells. I got used to it in the end, but my girls didn't. Every night they woke up terrified.\" Together with his wife and the two girls, Badi took a taxi to Beirut and flew from there to Egypt. His brother was already settled in Cairo, but it soon became clear that this was not an easy place to raise children. There was no work and no prospect of finding any. Badi had brought his family to safety, but now he saw them sinking into poverty. It was around this time that another of Badi's friends, a Syrian who had ended up in the UK, told him about a man who could get him into Europe. Trusting his friend's advice, Badi wired $5,000 (PS3,360) to a migrant smuggler called Abu Sami (not his real name), a Syrian who lived in Istanbul. It was money that Badi had borrowed from his family. From the moment he handed over the cash at a Western Union in Cairo, Badi was at the mercy of a man he'd never even met. A few weeks later a different man, Abu Eyad, arrived in Cairo with another Syrian refugee, Huthaifah, and a couple of EU passports. \"They were German passports, totally fake, but at a glance they looked OK. They had our photos and new names, they even had stamps in them from Turkey and Egypt.\" The passports, though, would not pass closer inspection. Abu Eyad told Badi and Huthaifah they would have to travel from a country where he had contacts, where the airport officials could be bribed into letting them go without asking too many questions. At first he tried Sudan, but when that didn't work he settled on Ghana. \"It took seven-and-a-half hours to fly to Ghana,\" says Badi, \"and that plane driver was putting his foot down.\" In Accra, they were met at the airport by a uniformed Ghanaian official who led them straight into arrivals without going through passport control or getting an entry stamp. The official put them in a taxi and sent them to a hotel where they found Abu Eyad, the smuggler who they had first met in Cairo, fast asleep. If Badi and Huthaifah hoped Abu Eyad might spring into action the next morning, they were wrong. While the two refugees waited and worried in the hotel, or tried to talk with their children on Skype, Abu Eyad slept all day and spent his nights drinking in the casinos and brothels of Accra. \"The problem,\" says Badi, \"is that by that point you're already trapped. You've paid thousands of dollars to these guys, and you don't want to lose it. What could we do?\" What Badi and Huthaifah had to do, according to Abu Eyad, was go to Togo. Having bribed their way across the border, the two men found themselves in the hands of a third smuggler - a Syrian who made Abu Eyad look like a model of hard work and integrity. \"That guy couldn't say an honest word,\" says Badi. \"He couldn't even tell you his name without lying, and he'd cheat you out of your last dollar. I swear, he was a dog.\" After another month in Togo, Badi and Huthaifah realised they were on their own. They bought tickets to Egypt and tried their luck at the airport. They handed over their Syrian passports, told the truth about what had happened, and were promptly arrested and imprisoned. \"The mosquitoes in that jail were the worst I've ever seen,\" says Badi. Worse still was the fear that they'd never get out. After a week in prison in Lome, Badi and Huthaifah were finally allowed to board a flight back to Egypt. Between them, they'd given more than $20,000 (PS13,460) to Abu Sami's gang of smugglers. They were back at square one. Badi and Huthaifah split up. Badi took a plane to Turkey and tried a different tactic. Instead of paying a single smuggler to get him into the UK, he would go country by country, relying on his own wits and on an informal network of Middle Eastern smugglers and refugees that has spread right across Europe. The best of these men, Badi says, was the Syrian who showed him the way over a remote stretch of mountains into Greece. Badi paid 2,000 euros (PS1,465, $2,175), walked all night on a smuggler's track through the hills, and then swam across a river, following an inflatable children's dinghy that was full of Syrians who could not swim at all. In Athens, Badi handed over another 5,000 euros (PS3,660, $5,440) to an Egyptian called Majdi, who arranged for a Greek lorry driver to smuggle Badi and two Syrian friends into Italy in the lorry's reserve fuel tank. For 24 hours, the men struggled to breathe inside a burning hot metal box. The rubber lining on the floor of the tank melted, and what little air reached them was poisoned with exhaust fumes. But Badi doesn't blame the Egyptian, who he says was \"a really friendly guy\" and who at least delivered what he'd promised. Less affable was the Iraqi Kurd who, for another 500 euros, got Badi into a lorry in Dunkirk and through the Channel Tunnel into the UK. \"He was flashy, that guy. He dressed in sharp clothes, had an expensive watch, the latest iPad. He looked cool. But if you'd have crossed him, he would have cut your throat without a second thought.\" Badi reached the UK in November 2013 and was granted asylum. The journey had taken 306 days and cost him 25,000 euros (PS18,300, $27,200). He settled close to a cousin in Bradford, where his wife and the two girls, Lina and Isra, finally joined him in December 2014. It was for their sakes that he left his country, that he endured weeks in an African jail, that he swam across a river and was prepared to die inside a lorry's fuel tank. \"I risked my future for theirs,\" he says. He hopes the girls will be happy in the UK. They have now started primary school, and Badi is proud of their progress. \"Isra has only been here for three months, and she's already translating for me,\" he says. Badi himself is struggling to find work in Bradford, but remains optimistic. \"We've been through some difficult times in Syria,\" he says \"and it's taught us never to give up.\" Syrian refugees often enter the EU in Italy or Greece, but most would prefer to get to a country with more jobs and better social welfare. Police harassment can also be a problem. The most popular countries are in northern Europe. The UK, the Netherlands, Germany, and the Scandinavian states are all seen as places that offer a degree of support to asylum seekers and provide migrants with a chance of finding work. The United Nations estimates that migrant smuggling into the US and Europe earns smugglers more than $7bn (PS4.72bn) per year. The real figure may be much higher. The International Organization for Migration estimates that at least 4,077 migrants died in 2014 trying to reach a better life, and that at least 40,000 have died since 2000 - many of them at sea which is a cheaper but more risky way for migrants to travel. Subscribe to the BBC News Magazine's email newsletter to get articles sent to your inbox.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 7102, "answer_end": 7939, "text": "Syrian refugees often enter the EU in Italy or Greece, but most would prefer to get to a country with more jobs and better social welfare. Police harassment can also be a problem. The most popular countries are in northern Europe. The UK, the Netherlands, Germany, and the Scandinavian states are all seen as places that offer a degree of support to asylum seekers and provide migrants with a chance of finding work. The United Nations estimates that migrant smuggling into the US and Europe earns smugglers more than $7bn (PS4.72bn) per year. The real figure may be much higher. The International Organization for Migration estimates that at least 4,077 migrants died in 2014 trying to reach a better life, and that at least 40,000 have died since 2000 - many of them at sea which is a cheaper but more risky way for migrants to travel."}], "question": "Where are Syrian migrants trying to go?", "id": "1018_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Macedonia referendum: Name change vote fails to reach threshold", "date": "1 October 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Macedonia's vote on changing its name to North Macedonia looks to have fallen far short of the turnout required. Preliminary results show that just over a third of Macedonians voted in the referendum, with 50% needed. But with 90% of those who took part in favour of the change, the country's prime minister has urged parliament to \"confirm the will of the majority\". The vote aimed to end a long-running dispute with Greece, which has its own region called Macedonia. Athens had agreed to end its objections to Macedonia's EU and Nato membership bids if the change was passed. Over 85% of votes have been counted so far, but a campaign by some nationalists - including the country's president - to boycott Sunday's referendum seems to have had an impact, with just 36% of eligible voters taking part. Prime Minister Zoran Zaev threatened to call early elections if parliament did not support the proposal, made non-binding by the poor turnout. \"If, as we all expect, we truly have a big visible, tangible majority for [voting in favour], out of those who voted, then the future is clear,\" he said after polls closed on Sunday. \"The vote of the MPs in parliament must resolutely be a vote for a responsible acceleration of the processes towards Nato and the European Union.\" Macedonia declared independence during the break-up of Yugoslavia in 1991. But Greece objected to its new neighbour's name. The dispute harks back to ancient history, because both present-day Macedonia and northern Greece were part of a Roman province called Macedonia. And both claim the heritage of Alexander the Great two centuries earlier. Greece's objections forced the UN to refer to the new country as \"the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia\". Athens also vetoed Macedonia's attempt to join Nato in 2008 - and blocked its EU membership ambitions. The addition of one word to Macedonia's constitutional name: North. Since 1991, many suggestions have been proposed, then rejected. But last year's change of government in Macedonia finally brought the start of serious negotiations. \"Our citizens were sick of that problem,\" says Macedonia's information minister, Damjan Manchevski. \"It had been weighing on Macedonia for such a long period of time and not letting us advance.\" Greece will end its veto on Macedonia's accession to Nato and the EU. \"We don't change our name because we want to do it,\" Mr Zaev told the BBC. \"We do it because of our future in the EU and Nato. Everyone is aware why we do it.\" That applies particularly to Macedonia's younger citizens. \"Young people in Macedonia are a quarter of the population - and they're one of the largest marginalised groups,\" says Dona Kosturanova of the Youth Educational Forum. \"They're struggling with poor education, high unemployment and few opportunities for prosperity. They're desperate to see advancement towards a prosperous environment.\" Opponents say the country has been bullied by Greece and the EU, pointing to the fact that top European politicians urged the voters to back the change. The leader of the main opposition party, Hristijan Mickoski, was quoted as saying that the proposed deal \"will humiliate Macedonia\". President Gjorge Ivanov was among those who said they would be boycotting the vote. He described the proposed deal as \"historical suicide\". Meanwhile, Russia has been accused of fomenting opposition to the name change to stop Macedonia drifting into the West's orbit. Moscow denies the claim.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1275, "answer_end": 1831, "text": "Macedonia declared independence during the break-up of Yugoslavia in 1991. But Greece objected to its new neighbour's name. The dispute harks back to ancient history, because both present-day Macedonia and northern Greece were part of a Roman province called Macedonia. And both claim the heritage of Alexander the Great two centuries earlier. Greece's objections forced the UN to refer to the new country as \"the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia\". Athens also vetoed Macedonia's attempt to join Nato in 2008 - and blocked its EU membership ambitions."}], "question": "Why the change of name?", "id": "1019_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1832, "answer_end": 2259, "text": "The addition of one word to Macedonia's constitutional name: North. Since 1991, many suggestions have been proposed, then rejected. But last year's change of government in Macedonia finally brought the start of serious negotiations. \"Our citizens were sick of that problem,\" says Macedonia's information minister, Damjan Manchevski. \"It had been weighing on Macedonia for such a long period of time and not letting us advance.\""}], "question": "What was the proposed solution?", "id": "1019_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2886, "answer_end": 3464, "text": "Opponents say the country has been bullied by Greece and the EU, pointing to the fact that top European politicians urged the voters to back the change. The leader of the main opposition party, Hristijan Mickoski, was quoted as saying that the proposed deal \"will humiliate Macedonia\". President Gjorge Ivanov was among those who said they would be boycotting the vote. He described the proposed deal as \"historical suicide\". Meanwhile, Russia has been accused of fomenting opposition to the name change to stop Macedonia drifting into the West's orbit. Moscow denies the claim."}], "question": "What are the objections?", "id": "1019_2"}]}]}, {"title": "Quebec mosque shooting: Police arrest a suspect and a witness", "date": "30 January 2017", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Police say one person is being treated as a suspect in a deadly shooting at a mosque in Quebec City, Canada. Sunday's attack on the Quebec Islamic Cultural Centre left six people dead, five people in a critical condition and 12 others injured. Police detained two men following the shooting, but said one of them was being treated as a witness. One man was arrested at the scene and a second man held after he called 911, police said. One suspect, reportedly a French-Canadian university student, is expected to appear in a Quebec City courtroom on Monday afternoon. He had no police record before the incident, authorities said. A man of Moroccan descent who was also arrested is now being considered a witness, law enforcement sources have told local media. Investigators have yet to give a motive for the shootings, citing an ongoing investigation. Canadian authorities said they did not believe there were any additional suspects and they were confident the threat was \"under control\". The streets around the mosque are mostly deserted except for the police investigators milling around the cordoned-off site. Noemie Roussel Paradis is standing alone across from the empty mosque holding a Quran. She is a proud convert to Islam and came to pay her respects after \"this murder, this attack, this act of terrorism\", even though this was not the mosque where she prays. \"This is Allah's home, and there was blood spilled on the floor,\" she said. She said it's likely that she shared a Ramadan meal with one of the people who was in the mosque during the attack. \"The only thing we can do now is cry and hope that Allah will make those responsible face their actions,\" she said. Nearby, Martin St-Louis is holding a large wooden board, its painted message carrying a call for peace. \"Where terror stands or walks, peace must stand,\" he said. \"I'm no philosopher or priest, but for those people who fall, we have to stand.\" More than 50 people were at the mosque when shots were fired. The six dead were aged between about 35 and 65, Canadian authorities have confirmed. Azzedine Soufiane, a father of three children and a businessman, was among those killed in the attacks, the BBC confirmed. He was active in welcoming new immigrants to Quebec City. Police have also increased security efforts at all religious sites in the province as 75 provincial officers work on the case. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Quebec Premier Philippe Couillard both described the shooting as a terrorist attack, but authorities were reluctant to label it as such. The attack came as protests over US President Donald Trump's travel ban on several Muslim countries gripped the US. When asked if Mr Trump's actions influenced the attack, Mr Couillard said no, but added: \"We are obviously in a world where people tend to divide themselves rather than unite themselves\". Mr Trump called Mr Trudeau on Monday to offer his condolences and any assistance in the wake of the attack. The president of the mosque, Mohamed Yangui - who was not inside at the time - said the shooting had happened in the men's section of the mosque. \"Why is this happening here? This is barbaric,\" he said. On its Facebook page the centre thanked the public \"for the hundreds of messages of compassion\". In June last year the same mosque was the target of an Islamophobic incident when a pig's head was left in front of the building, with a card saying \"bonne appetit\". Eating pork is forbidden in Islam. The province has welcomed thousands of immigrants from Arab countries and other nations. But it has also struggled with what it means to accommodate those newcomers into the province's broader whole. The predominantly French-speaking province fiercely protects its linguistic identity and its secularism, and there has been a longstanding debate over the \"reasonable accommodation\" of immigrants and religious minorities. Arab Canadians have settled in Quebec, especially from countries with some French cultural background such as Lebanon, Algeria, and Tunisia. Many found jobs and built communities, but have also said they felt targeted by some of the political rhetoric. For example, proposals to ban the niqab have found more fertile ground in the province than in other parts of the country. Quebec also has strong political links to France, where similar debates have raged. In recent months, there have been reports across the province of Islamophobic incidents, including one targeting the Ste-Foy mosque. Despite the message of unity from across the political spectrum and the population in the wake of the attack, Haroun Bouazzi, president of a human rights group in Montreal, says that \"Quebec Muslims are frightened right now\". Were you in the area? Have you been affected by the events in Quebec City? Get in touch by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: - Send pictures/video to yourpics@bbc.co.uk - Tweet: @BBC_HaveYourSay - Send an SMS or MMS to 61124", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 435, "answer_end": 989, "text": "One suspect, reportedly a French-Canadian university student, is expected to appear in a Quebec City courtroom on Monday afternoon. He had no police record before the incident, authorities said. A man of Moroccan descent who was also arrested is now being considered a witness, law enforcement sources have told local media. Investigators have yet to give a motive for the shootings, citing an ongoing investigation. Canadian authorities said they did not believe there were any additional suspects and they were confident the threat was \"under control\"."}], "question": "Who has been arrested?", "id": "1020_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2379, "answer_end": 3462, "text": "Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Quebec Premier Philippe Couillard both described the shooting as a terrorist attack, but authorities were reluctant to label it as such. The attack came as protests over US President Donald Trump's travel ban on several Muslim countries gripped the US. When asked if Mr Trump's actions influenced the attack, Mr Couillard said no, but added: \"We are obviously in a world where people tend to divide themselves rather than unite themselves\". Mr Trump called Mr Trudeau on Monday to offer his condolences and any assistance in the wake of the attack. The president of the mosque, Mohamed Yangui - who was not inside at the time - said the shooting had happened in the men's section of the mosque. \"Why is this happening here? This is barbaric,\" he said. On its Facebook page the centre thanked the public \"for the hundreds of messages of compassion\". In June last year the same mosque was the target of an Islamophobic incident when a pig's head was left in front of the building, with a card saying \"bonne appetit\". Eating pork is forbidden in Islam."}], "question": "Was this a terrorist attack?", "id": "1020_1"}]}]}, {"title": "Tiangong-1: China space lab to plunge to Earth on Monday", "date": "1 April 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Debris from a defunct Chinese space station is seen crashing to Earth on Monday, scientists monitoring it say. China's space agency said the station will re-enter the atmosphere in the next 24 hours - in line with European Space Agency (ESA) predictions. The Tiangong-1 was part of China's ambitious space programme, and the prototype for a manned station in 2022. It entered orbit in 2011 and five years later ended its mission, after which it was expected to fall back to Earth. The latest projection from the Esa points to re-entry at 07:25 Beijing time (00:25 GMT) on 2 April, although the window is still \"highly variable\" - stretching from Sunday afternoon to Monday morning. Most of the station is likely to burn up in the atmosphere but some debris could survive to hit the surface of the Earth. The China Manned Space Engineering Office said on social media that falling spacecraft do \"not crash into the Earth fiercely like in sci-fi movies, but turn into a splendid (meteor shower)\". China confirmed in 2016 that it had lost contact with Tiangong-1 and could no longer control its behaviour, so we don't really know where it will end up. The European Space Agency (ESA) said re-entry \"will take place anywhere between 43oN and 43oS\", which covers a vast stretch north and south of the equator. Esa says this means the station could fall anywhere from New Zealand to the midwestern US. The station is gradually coming close to Earth. Its rate of descent \"will continually get faster as the atmosphere that the station is ploughing through gets thicker,\" Dr Elias Aboutanios, deputy director of the Australian Centre for Space Engineering Research, told the BBC. \"The station will eventually start to heat up as it gets close to 100km [from Earth],\" he says. This will lead to most of the station burning up and \"it is difficult to know exactly what will survive since the makeup of the station has not been disclosed by China\". The station could reach speeds of up to 26,000km/h (16,156mph). No. Most of the 8.5-tonne station will disintegrate as it passes through the atmosphere. Some very dense parts such as the fuel tanks or rocket engines might not burn up completely. However, even if parts do survive to the Earth's surface, the chances of them hitting a person are incredibly slim. \"Our experience is that for such large objects typically between 20% and 40% of the original mass will survive re-entry and then could be found on the ground, theoretically,\" the head of Esa's space debris office, Holger Krag, told reporters at a recent briefing. \"However, to be injured by one of these fragments is extremely unlikely. My estimate is that the probability of being injured by one of these fragments is similar to the probability of being hit by lightning twice in the same year.\" While debris regularly comes back down, most of it \"burns up or ends up in the middle of the ocean and away from people,\" says Mr Aboutanios. Usually there is still communication with the craft or satellite. That means ground control can still influence its course and steer it to a desired crash site. The debris is steered to crash near what's called the oceanic pole of inaccessibility - the furthest place from land. It's a spot in the South Pacific, between Australia, New Zealand and South America. Over an area of approximately 1,500 sq km (580 sq miles) this region is a graveyard of spacecraft and satellites, where the remains of around 260 are thought to be scattered on the ocean floor. China was a late starter when it comes to space exploration. In 2001, China launched space vessels carrying test animals and in 2003 sent its first astronaut into orbit, making it the third country to do so, after the Soviet Union and the US. The programme for a space station kicked off in earnest with the 2011 launch of Tiangong-1, or \"Heavenly Palace\". The small prototype station was able to host astronauts but only for short periods of several days. China's first female astronaut Liu Yang visited in 2012. It ended its service in March 2016, two years later than scheduled. Currently, Tiangong-2 is in operation and by 2022, Beijing plans to have number 3 in orbit as a fully operational manned outpost in space.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 995, "answer_end": 1395, "text": "China confirmed in 2016 that it had lost contact with Tiangong-1 and could no longer control its behaviour, so we don't really know where it will end up. The European Space Agency (ESA) said re-entry \"will take place anywhere between 43oN and 43oS\", which covers a vast stretch north and south of the equator. Esa says this means the station could fall anywhere from New Zealand to the midwestern US."}], "question": "Where will it crash?", "id": "1021_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1396, "answer_end": 2001, "text": "The station is gradually coming close to Earth. Its rate of descent \"will continually get faster as the atmosphere that the station is ploughing through gets thicker,\" Dr Elias Aboutanios, deputy director of the Australian Centre for Space Engineering Research, told the BBC. \"The station will eventually start to heat up as it gets close to 100km [from Earth],\" he says. This will lead to most of the station burning up and \"it is difficult to know exactly what will survive since the makeup of the station has not been disclosed by China\". The station could reach speeds of up to 26,000km/h (16,156mph)."}], "question": "How will it crash?", "id": "1021_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2002, "answer_end": 2796, "text": "No. Most of the 8.5-tonne station will disintegrate as it passes through the atmosphere. Some very dense parts such as the fuel tanks or rocket engines might not burn up completely. However, even if parts do survive to the Earth's surface, the chances of them hitting a person are incredibly slim. \"Our experience is that for such large objects typically between 20% and 40% of the original mass will survive re-entry and then could be found on the ground, theoretically,\" the head of Esa's space debris office, Holger Krag, told reporters at a recent briefing. \"However, to be injured by one of these fragments is extremely unlikely. My estimate is that the probability of being injured by one of these fragments is similar to the probability of being hit by lightning twice in the same year.\""}], "question": "Should I be worried?", "id": "1021_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2797, "answer_end": 3495, "text": "While debris regularly comes back down, most of it \"burns up or ends up in the middle of the ocean and away from people,\" says Mr Aboutanios. Usually there is still communication with the craft or satellite. That means ground control can still influence its course and steer it to a desired crash site. The debris is steered to crash near what's called the oceanic pole of inaccessibility - the furthest place from land. It's a spot in the South Pacific, between Australia, New Zealand and South America. Over an area of approximately 1,500 sq km (580 sq miles) this region is a graveyard of spacecraft and satellites, where the remains of around 260 are thought to be scattered on the ocean floor."}], "question": "Does all space debris fall to Earth?", "id": "1021_3"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3496, "answer_end": 4216, "text": "China was a late starter when it comes to space exploration. In 2001, China launched space vessels carrying test animals and in 2003 sent its first astronaut into orbit, making it the third country to do so, after the Soviet Union and the US. The programme for a space station kicked off in earnest with the 2011 launch of Tiangong-1, or \"Heavenly Palace\". The small prototype station was able to host astronauts but only for short periods of several days. China's first female astronaut Liu Yang visited in 2012. It ended its service in March 2016, two years later than scheduled. Currently, Tiangong-2 is in operation and by 2022, Beijing plans to have number 3 in orbit as a fully operational manned outpost in space."}], "question": "What is Tiangong-1?", "id": "1021_4"}]}]}, {"title": "US election 2020: Sanders 'told of Russian effort to aid his campaign'", "date": "22 February 2020", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Democratic presidential hopeful Bernie Sanders has condemned Russia for its reported attempts to help his campaign, telling it to \"stay out of American elections\". Mr Sanders said on Friday that US officials had told him last month about Russian efforts to aid his campaign. Speaking in Bakersfield, California, Mr Sanders said it was not clear how Russia intended to interfere. But the Vermont senator, 78, said he strongly opposed any attempts to do so. He denounced Russian President Vladimir Putin as an \"autocratic thug\" whose government has \"used internet propaganda to sow division in our country\". \"Let's be clear, the Russians want to undermine American democracy by dividing us up and, unlike the current president, I stand firmly against their efforts and any other foreign power that wants to interfere in our election,\" Mr Sanders said. Mr Sanders, a self-styled democratic socialist, is currently considered the front-runner in the race to win the presidential nomination for the Democrats. Facebook said it has not seen any evidence of Russian assistance to Mr Sanders' campaign. On Friday, The Washington Post said US President Donald Trump and other US lawmakers had been informed of reported Russian efforts to assist Mr Sanders. Senior intelligence officials also believe Russia has been seeking to interfere in November's election with a view to helping President Trump win. Members of the House Intelligence Committee were told that Russia favoured Mr Trump at a closed-door briefing on 13 February. President Trump, speaking at a Nevada campaign rally Friday, suggested the Russian meddling briefing was a \"rumour\" started by the Democrats. \"I see these phonies, the do-nothing Democrats, they said today that Putin wants to be sure that Trump gets elected. Here we go again,\" Mr Trump said. US intelligence agencies concluded in 2016 that Russia used a strategy of cyber-attacks and fake news stories in an effort to skew the election against the Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton. In 2017, former FBI director Robert Mueller was appointed as special counsel to lead a US justice department inquiry into whether Trump aides had colluded with Kremlin agents. Mr Mueller submitted a 448-page report in 2019 that did not establish the president's campaign had conspired with Russia during the election, but it did suggest Mr Trump had obstructed the inquiry. Mr Trump called the inquiry a \"political witch hunt\" and Russian President Vladimir Putin denied collusion. On Friday, the Kremlin denied allegations of election meddling. Spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters they were \"paranoid announcements\" that had \"nothing to do with the truth\", Reuters reported. The Russian denial runs contrary to what acting Director of National Intelligence (DNI), Joseph Maguire, told Congress in the classified briefing to US lawmakers last week. Mr Trump lambasted Mr Maguire for sharing the intelligence with Democratic lawmakers, sacking him a week after the briefing. Mr Maguire was a favourite to be nominated for the permanent DNI post, the Washington Post said. However, the paper said the president changed his mind when he found out about the briefing, and what he called the \"disloyalty\" of his staff. The president announced this week that Mr Maguire would be replaced by Richard Grenell, the US ambassador to Germany and a Trump loyalist. Two Trump administration officials told the New York Times that the replacement of Mr Maguire, so soon after the contentious briefing, was a coincidence. Democrats criticised the president for appointing Mr Grenell, who has previously played down the extent of Russian interference in the last election, and has celebrated the rise of far-right politicians in Europe. On Friday, the president tweeted that \"four great candidates\" were being considered for the permanent DNI role. He told reporters a day earlier that congressman Doug Collins - who was an outspoken defender of Mr Trump during the impeachment inquiry - was among the possible nominees. The Georgia Republican has said, however, he does not want the posting. \"This is not a job that interests me, at this time it's not one that I would accept because I'm running a Senate race down here in Georgia,\" Mr Collins told  the Fox Business Network.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1814, "answer_end": 4271, "text": "US intelligence agencies concluded in 2016 that Russia used a strategy of cyber-attacks and fake news stories in an effort to skew the election against the Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton. In 2017, former FBI director Robert Mueller was appointed as special counsel to lead a US justice department inquiry into whether Trump aides had colluded with Kremlin agents. Mr Mueller submitted a 448-page report in 2019 that did not establish the president's campaign had conspired with Russia during the election, but it did suggest Mr Trump had obstructed the inquiry. Mr Trump called the inquiry a \"political witch hunt\" and Russian President Vladimir Putin denied collusion. On Friday, the Kremlin denied allegations of election meddling. Spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters they were \"paranoid announcements\" that had \"nothing to do with the truth\", Reuters reported. The Russian denial runs contrary to what acting Director of National Intelligence (DNI), Joseph Maguire, told Congress in the classified briefing to US lawmakers last week. Mr Trump lambasted Mr Maguire for sharing the intelligence with Democratic lawmakers, sacking him a week after the briefing. Mr Maguire was a favourite to be nominated for the permanent DNI post, the Washington Post said. However, the paper said the president changed his mind when he found out about the briefing, and what he called the \"disloyalty\" of his staff. The president announced this week that Mr Maguire would be replaced by Richard Grenell, the US ambassador to Germany and a Trump loyalist. Two Trump administration officials told the New York Times that the replacement of Mr Maguire, so soon after the contentious briefing, was a coincidence. Democrats criticised the president for appointing Mr Grenell, who has previously played down the extent of Russian interference in the last election, and has celebrated the rise of far-right politicians in Europe. On Friday, the president tweeted that \"four great candidates\" were being considered for the permanent DNI role. He told reporters a day earlier that congressman Doug Collins - who was an outspoken defender of Mr Trump during the impeachment inquiry - was among the possible nominees. The Georgia Republican has said, however, he does not want the posting. \"This is not a job that interests me, at this time it's not one that I would accept because I'm running a Senate race down here in Georgia,\" Mr Collins told  the Fox Business Network."}], "question": "What is the Trump-Russia controversy about?", "id": "1022_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Kylie Moore-Gilbert, jailed academic, 'rejected Iran's offer to become spy'", "date": "21 January 2020", "paragraphs": [{"context": "A British-Australian woman jailed in Tehran has said she rejected an offer from Iran to become a spy. Kylie Moore-Gilbert, a lecturer at Melbourne University, has been in jail since September 2018, serving 10 years for espionage. In letters smuggled out of Tehran's Evin prison, she says has \"never been a spy\" and fears for her mental health. She says she has been denied visits and phone calls and has been held in an \"extremely restrictive detention ward\". Extracts of the letters have been published in the Guardian and Times. The Guardian says the letters were written by the Middle East expert to Iranian officials and span the period from June to December 2019. One to her \"case manager\" indignantly turns down the offer to become a spy for Iran. \"Please accept this letter as an official and definitive rejection of your offer to me to work with the intelligence branch of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC),\" she writes. \"I am not a spy. I have never been a spy and I have no interest to work for a spying organisation in any country.\" In other letters she says \"my health has deteriorated significantly\", having been taken to Baghiatallah Hospital twice and the jail's infirmary six times. \"I think I am in the midst of a serious psychological problem,\" she says, worsened by \"the ban on having any phone calls with my family\". Dr Moore-Gilbert remains adamant that she is \"an innocent woman... imprisoned for a crime I have not committed\". The Cambridge-educated academic was travelling on an Australian passport and was detained at Tehran airport in 2018 as she tried to leave following a conference. She was tried in secret last year for espionage and is being held in an isolated IRGC-run wing of Evin, the Guardian says. It says she has spent months in solitary confinement in a small cell. Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne says she has pressed for Dr Moore-Gilbert's release but Iran has not moved. In October, British-Australian woman Jolie King and her Australian boyfriend Mark Firkin were released after being jailed in Tehran earlier in 2019, reportedly for flying a drone without a permit. Australia returned a jailed Iranian student, Reza Dehbashi Kivi, at roughly the same time. British-Iranian charity worker Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe has been jailed for more than three years over spying allegations she denies.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 531, "answer_end": 1460, "text": "The Guardian says the letters were written by the Middle East expert to Iranian officials and span the period from June to December 2019. One to her \"case manager\" indignantly turns down the offer to become a spy for Iran. \"Please accept this letter as an official and definitive rejection of your offer to me to work with the intelligence branch of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC),\" she writes. \"I am not a spy. I have never been a spy and I have no interest to work for a spying organisation in any country.\" In other letters she says \"my health has deteriorated significantly\", having been taken to Baghiatallah Hospital twice and the jail's infirmary six times. \"I think I am in the midst of a serious psychological problem,\" she says, worsened by \"the ban on having any phone calls with my family\". Dr Moore-Gilbert remains adamant that she is \"an innocent woman... imprisoned for a crime I have not committed\"."}], "question": "What has Dr Moore-Gilbert said in her letters?", "id": "1023_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1461, "answer_end": 2355, "text": "The Cambridge-educated academic was travelling on an Australian passport and was detained at Tehran airport in 2018 as she tried to leave following a conference. She was tried in secret last year for espionage and is being held in an isolated IRGC-run wing of Evin, the Guardian says. It says she has spent months in solitary confinement in a small cell. Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne says she has pressed for Dr Moore-Gilbert's release but Iran has not moved. In October, British-Australian woman Jolie King and her Australian boyfriend Mark Firkin were released after being jailed in Tehran earlier in 2019, reportedly for flying a drone without a permit. Australia returned a jailed Iranian student, Reza Dehbashi Kivi, at roughly the same time. British-Iranian charity worker Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe has been jailed for more than three years over spying allegations she denies."}], "question": "What led to her imprisonment?", "id": "1023_1"}]}]}, {"title": "Bank of England: Dame Minouche Shafik is current government's choice", "date": "31 October 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "The Bank of England may see its first female governor in over 300 years if the current government remains in power after the general election in December. The BBC understands that Egyptian-born Dame Minouche Shafik is the current government's favoured candidate to succeed Mark Carney when his term ends in January of next year. However, the government feels it would be inappropriate to name a successor to one of the most important economic posts in the UK before the results of the election on 12 December. A change of government in December would see a change in chancellor - the person who recommends the choice of governor. The role of governor of the Bank of England is one of the most powerful positions in the UK. The bank is responsible for setting interest rates and policing the stability and behaviour of the UK's financial sector. Although the governor is only one of a committee of nine people who set interest rates, he or she wields enormous influence over the way the UK's financial system is run. Given the UK's position as arguably the world's most important financial centre, the job comes with global influence. Dame Nemat Talaat Shafik, who is 57 and more commonly referred to as Minouche, has already served as a deputy governor of the bank and is currently director of the London School of Economics. Other candidates for the role include Andrew Bailey, chief executive of the Financial Conduct Authority; Shriti Vadera, chair of Santander UK; and Ben Broadbent, Jon Cunliffe and Paul Tucker - all former or current deputy governors at the Bank. One former Bank of England insider told the BBC \"she would be a very popular appointment internally. She has very good people skills which not all the other candidates do.\" The most important question perhaps is whether this potential new governor is seen as a \"hawk\" or a \"dove\". A hawk is someone who would rather raise interest rates early to head off inflation by increasing the cost of loans to discourage borrowing and spending. A dove is someone who would rather wait and see whether cheap borrowing really leads to debt-fuelled spending before raising the rates at which consumers and home buyers can borrow. Dame Minouche - who received her damehood in 2015 - has described herself in the past as an \"owl\" who would be \"wise\" when setting the rates at which we all borrow. The incumbent government may have chosen its preferred governor. But it would perhaps be unwise to assume whether it gets to make that call.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1571, "answer_end": 2493, "text": "One former Bank of England insider told the BBC \"she would be a very popular appointment internally. She has very good people skills which not all the other candidates do.\" The most important question perhaps is whether this potential new governor is seen as a \"hawk\" or a \"dove\". A hawk is someone who would rather raise interest rates early to head off inflation by increasing the cost of loans to discourage borrowing and spending. A dove is someone who would rather wait and see whether cheap borrowing really leads to debt-fuelled spending before raising the rates at which consumers and home buyers can borrow. Dame Minouche - who received her damehood in 2015 - has described herself in the past as an \"owl\" who would be \"wise\" when setting the rates at which we all borrow. The incumbent government may have chosen its preferred governor. But it would perhaps be unwise to assume whether it gets to make that call."}], "question": "Hawk or dove?", "id": "1024_0"}]}]}, {"title": "New Zealand volcano: Krystal Eve Browitt named as victim", "date": "14 December 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Police have officially named the first victim of the White Island volcano eruption in New Zealand, as recovery efforts continue. Krystal Eve Browitt was a 21-year-old Australian from Melbourne who was visiting the island with her family. Father Paul and sister Stephanie are both in hospital with serious injuries. Fifteen deaths have now been confirmed after Monday's eruption, while about 20 people are in intensive care with severe burns. Police said on Saturday that the latest victim died at Waikato Hospital. The authorities released Ms Browitt's name on Saturday after informing her family. While friends and families have announced the loss of their loved ones, the 21-year-old Australian is the first victim formally identified by the police. Police divers meanwhile resumed their search in the area around White Island, also known by its Maori name of Whakaari. Conditions in the water were \"not optimal\", with visibility between zero and two metres (6.5ft) in some places. \"The water around the island is contaminated, requiring the divers to take extra precautions to ensure their safety, including using specialist protective equipment,\" Deputy Commissioner John Tims said in a statement. \"Each time they surface, the divers are decontaminated using fresh water.\" The divers, Mr Tims added, also reported seeing a number of dead fish and eels washed ashore and floating in the water. The retrieved bodies will be examined in Auckland by experts including a pathologist, a forensic dentist and a fingerprint officer. \"This is a long and complex process and we are working as quickly as possible to return loved ones to their families,\" Mr Tims said. Police will gather information about possible victims, such as descriptions of appearance, clothing, photos, fingerprints, medical and dental records and DNA samples. These details will then be matched to the evidence gathered in the post-mortem examination. The remains of six bodies were recovered in an operation on Friday and sent to Auckland to be identified. Police launched a \"high-speed\" retrieval even though the risk of another eruption remained. Going in, authorities knew the location of six of the missing and those bodies were airlifted off the island. A team of eight specialists from the New Zealand Defence Force flew by helicopter to the island and spent four hours retrieving the bodies. They were taken to a naval patrol boat and then brought back to the mainland. Volcanologists had warned that if the volcano erupted while they were on the island, the team could face magma, superheated steam, ash and rocks thrown at high speed. The specialists who went to the island wore protective clothing and breathing apparatus. Speaking to reporters after the bodies were retrieved, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said questions over why people were allowed to visit the active volcano \"must be answered, and will be answered\". But she said \"we also need to respect the phase we're in now, with families only just getting their loved ones back\". Out of the 47 people on the island when the eruption happened, 24 were from Australia, nine from the US, five from New Zealand, four from Germany, two from China, two from the UK, and one from Malaysia. After the eruption, most of the visitors were taken off the island in dramatic rescue efforts. Some tourist boats already on the way to the mainland turned back to take in those stranded. Meanwhile, commercial pilots headed back to the island - as the eruption was ongoing - to look for survivors. Many of those who made it off the island were severely injured and burnt.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1921, "answer_end": 3019, "text": "The remains of six bodies were recovered in an operation on Friday and sent to Auckland to be identified. Police launched a \"high-speed\" retrieval even though the risk of another eruption remained. Going in, authorities knew the location of six of the missing and those bodies were airlifted off the island. A team of eight specialists from the New Zealand Defence Force flew by helicopter to the island and spent four hours retrieving the bodies. They were taken to a naval patrol boat and then brought back to the mainland. Volcanologists had warned that if the volcano erupted while they were on the island, the team could face magma, superheated steam, ash and rocks thrown at high speed. The specialists who went to the island wore protective clothing and breathing apparatus. Speaking to reporters after the bodies were retrieved, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said questions over why people were allowed to visit the active volcano \"must be answered, and will be answered\". But she said \"we also need to respect the phase we're in now, with families only just getting their loved ones back\"."}], "question": "How did Friday's operation unfold?", "id": "1025_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3020, "answer_end": 3594, "text": "Out of the 47 people on the island when the eruption happened, 24 were from Australia, nine from the US, five from New Zealand, four from Germany, two from China, two from the UK, and one from Malaysia. After the eruption, most of the visitors were taken off the island in dramatic rescue efforts. Some tourist boats already on the way to the mainland turned back to take in those stranded. Meanwhile, commercial pilots headed back to the island - as the eruption was ongoing - to look for survivors. Many of those who made it off the island were severely injured and burnt."}], "question": "How were the others saved?", "id": "1025_1"}]}]}, {"title": "Asthma carbon footprint 'as big as eating meat'", "date": "30 October 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Many people with asthma could cut their carbon footprint and help save the environment by switching to \"greener\" medications, UK researchers say. Making the swap would have as big an \"eco\" impact as turning vegetarian or becoming an avid recycler, they say. It's because some inhalers release greenhouse gases linked to global warming. But the Cambridge University team told BMJ Open patients must check with a doctor before changing medication. Some patients will not be able to switch and should not be made to feel guilty, they add, and pharmaceutical companies should also look at ways to reduce the carbon footprint of the  inhalers they make. There are more than five million people with asthma in the UK. The research looked at the environmental impact of different inhaler medications prescribed to patients on the NHS in England. In 2017, about 50 million inhalers were prescribed. Seven out of every 10 of them were metered-dose inhalers - the type that contain greenhouse gases. The gas - hydrofluoroalkane - is used as a propellant to squirt the medicine out of the inhaler. Metered-dose inhalers account for nearly 4% of NHS greenhouse gas emissions, according to experts. The researchers estimate replacing even one in every 10 of these inhalers with a more environmentally friendly type (dry powder inhalers) would reduce carbon dioxide equivalent emissions by 58 kilotonnes. That's similar to the carbon footprint of 180,000 return car journeys from London to Edinburgh, they say. And at the individual level, each metered-dose inhaler replaced by a dry powder inhaler could save the equivalent of between 150kg and 400kg (63 stone) of carbon dioxide a year - similar to the carbon footprint reduction of cutting meat from your diet. Lead researcher Dr Alex Wilkinson said: \"The gases within these canisters are such powerful greenhouse gases that they can contribute significantly to an individual's carbon footprint and if you are using one or two of these inhalers every month, then that can really add up to hundreds of kilos of carbon dioxide equivalent over the course of a year, which is similar to other actions that people are keen to take to reduce their carbon footprint such as going vegetarian.\" He said doctors and patients should consider swapping to green alternatives when possible - something the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence also advises. People who need to use metered-dose inhalers should absolutely continue to do so, say experts. Switching to a different type of inhaler can be complicated for people with asthma, as it involves learning a new inhaler technique, so it should be done with support from a GP or asthma nurse only, Asthma UK says. NICE has also created a decision aid to help patients make choices. For patients who could not change their medication because it was not clinically advisable, Dr Wilkinson said, there were still ways to be \"greener\". \"It's really important that we use these inhalers wisely, that patients have good technique and they have their technique assessed so we can really make sure every puff counts,\" he said. \"Also, patients should make sure they know how many doses their inhaler contains so they don't waste any. \"Once you've finished with your inhaler, it's important to dispose of it properly because they've got greenhouse gases left in them. \"Take them back to your pharmacy to be disposed of properly.\" Asthma UK health advice head Jessica Kirby said: \"It is vital that you keep using your inhalers as prescribed. \"If you are concerned about the environmental effects, talk to your doctor or asthma nurse at your next annual asthma review, to see whether there is another type of inhaler that would work for you.\" Simon Stevens, NHS chief executive, said: \"The NHS has already cut its carbon footprint by one fifth in the past decade and giving patients the option to, where clinically appropriate, shift to lower carbon 'green' inhalers as set out in the Long Term Plan is not only the right thing for them but also the planet.\"", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 649, "answer_end": 1086, "text": "There are more than five million people with asthma in the UK. The research looked at the environmental impact of different inhaler medications prescribed to patients on the NHS in England. In 2017, about 50 million inhalers were prescribed. Seven out of every 10 of them were metered-dose inhalers - the type that contain greenhouse gases. The gas - hydrofluoroalkane - is used as a propellant to squirt the medicine out of the inhaler."}], "question": "What are greener inhalers?", "id": "1026_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1087, "answer_end": 2394, "text": "Metered-dose inhalers account for nearly 4% of NHS greenhouse gas emissions, according to experts. The researchers estimate replacing even one in every 10 of these inhalers with a more environmentally friendly type (dry powder inhalers) would reduce carbon dioxide equivalent emissions by 58 kilotonnes. That's similar to the carbon footprint of 180,000 return car journeys from London to Edinburgh, they say. And at the individual level, each metered-dose inhaler replaced by a dry powder inhaler could save the equivalent of between 150kg and 400kg (63 stone) of carbon dioxide a year - similar to the carbon footprint reduction of cutting meat from your diet. Lead researcher Dr Alex Wilkinson said: \"The gases within these canisters are such powerful greenhouse gases that they can contribute significantly to an individual's carbon footprint and if you are using one or two of these inhalers every month, then that can really add up to hundreds of kilos of carbon dioxide equivalent over the course of a year, which is similar to other actions that people are keen to take to reduce their carbon footprint such as going vegetarian.\" He said doctors and patients should consider swapping to green alternatives when possible - something the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence also advises."}], "question": "What difference would it make?", "id": "1026_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2395, "answer_end": 4037, "text": "People who need to use metered-dose inhalers should absolutely continue to do so, say experts. Switching to a different type of inhaler can be complicated for people with asthma, as it involves learning a new inhaler technique, so it should be done with support from a GP or asthma nurse only, Asthma UK says. NICE has also created a decision aid to help patients make choices. For patients who could not change their medication because it was not clinically advisable, Dr Wilkinson said, there were still ways to be \"greener\". \"It's really important that we use these inhalers wisely, that patients have good technique and they have their technique assessed so we can really make sure every puff counts,\" he said. \"Also, patients should make sure they know how many doses their inhaler contains so they don't waste any. \"Once you've finished with your inhaler, it's important to dispose of it properly because they've got greenhouse gases left in them. \"Take them back to your pharmacy to be disposed of properly.\" Asthma UK health advice head Jessica Kirby said: \"It is vital that you keep using your inhalers as prescribed. \"If you are concerned about the environmental effects, talk to your doctor or asthma nurse at your next annual asthma review, to see whether there is another type of inhaler that would work for you.\" Simon Stevens, NHS chief executive, said: \"The NHS has already cut its carbon footprint by one fifth in the past decade and giving patients the option to, where clinically appropriate, shift to lower carbon 'green' inhalers as set out in the Long Term Plan is not only the right thing for them but also the planet.\""}], "question": "Is it safe to switch?", "id": "1026_2"}]}]}, {"title": "Trump's trade war: Stakes are high at G20 summit", "date": "30 November 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "The stakes are high at this week's G20 summit, where President Trump is due to meet China's President Xi Jinping. Hopes that the meeting could open the way for a deal over trade between the two countries have been undermined by recent threats by the US president. Only days before the summit in Argentina, President Trump said current tariff levels on $200bn (PS157bn) of Chinese imports would rise as planned. He also threatened tariffs on $267bn of other Chinese exports to the US. Then, just before taking off for Argentina, President Trump told reporters at the White House that while China was interested in striking a deal, \"I don't know if I want to do it\" and \"I like the deal we have now\". The stage could now be set for a possible escalation of the trade war between the two nations. President Trump started the dispute with China earlier this year, accusing the Chinese of \"unfair\" trade practices and intellectual property theft. The US has hit a total $250bn of Chinese goods with tariffs since July, and China has retaliated by imposing duties on $110bn of US products. China had already hit the US with $3bn of tariffs in April, in response to US tariffs on global steel and aluminium imports. President Trump offered a glimmer of hope earlier this month, when he said he thought the US could strike a trade deal with China. But only days before the summit, he poured cold water on such optimism. President Trump told the Wall Street Journal he expected to go ahead with plans to raise tariffs on $200bn of Chinese goods - first introduced in September - to 25% (up from 10%) starting in January 2019. President Trump also said that if talks were unsuccessful, he would carry out a threat to hit the remaining $267bn of annual Chinese exports to the US with tariffs of 10-25%. The Trump administration also recently accused China of not changing its \"unfair\" trade practices. \"I think the most likely scenario is that Xi Jinping doesn't offer big enough concessions to Trump, and so nothing much comes of the G20 meeting,\" says Julian Evans-Pritchard from Capital Economics. Recent summits also do not bode well for any resolutions at the G20 level. The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) summit recently ended without a formal leaders' statement because of US-China divisions over trade. And a G7 summit in Canada in June ended in disarray as Trump retracted his endorsement of the joint statement. \"I think unfortunately, the US and China remain quite far apart in the issues behind the trade conflict, so we are not too optimistic,\" says Valerie Mercer-Blackman, senior economist at the Asia Development Bank. \"Failure to agree on the communique at the Apec meeting... also suggests that there is quite substantial distance between the two sides, and there doesn't seem to be a specific proposal on the table yet to end the impasse.\" The stakes are high. \"If the meeting fails to deliver a truce, then the US will almost certainly hike tariff rates [on $200bn of existing Chinese goods] in January, and a further expansion in tariffs is quite likely,\" says Mr Evans-Pritchard. A rise in those tariffs would see many multinational firms accelerate their plans to move supply chains away from China, while tariffs on additional Chinese imports would pose \"a significant political and economic risk for Trump\", says Michael Hirson, Asia director at Eurasia Group. \"Remaining US imports from China are more heavily tilted towards consumer items. American households, especially those from lower income brackets, will feel the impact more than they have over tariffs on previous rounds,\" he adds. If the US were to impose tariffs on additional Chinese goods, China could seek to retaliate, but would have limited room to do so via trade. This is because China's existing $113bn tariffs on US goods are not far from the $130bn it imported from the US in 2017. More from the BBC's series taking an international perspective on trade: Instead of fighting back aggressively with more tariffs, China is more likely to defend its economy by easing fiscal and monetary policy, letting its currency fall and forging trade deals with other countries, analysts say. \"China's strategy towards Trump will favour resilience over retaliation,\" Mr Hirson says. If the conflict between China and the US continues to escalate, non-tariff barriers particularly in the technology sector are likely to become increasingly popular. The US has already made moves in this direction. It recently restricted American firms from selling parts to a Chinese company over national security concerns. \"While tariffs draw most of the attention, non-tariff measures are just as important in this trade war and will probably be in play for much longer,\" says Mr Hirson. \"On the US side, this includes measures such as recently passed legislation that tightens investment restrictions and export controls... In China, it involves using regulatory tools such as anti-trust investigations to squeeze US tech firms and tip the advantage to domestic competitors.\"", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 794, "answer_end": 2857, "text": "President Trump started the dispute with China earlier this year, accusing the Chinese of \"unfair\" trade practices and intellectual property theft. The US has hit a total $250bn of Chinese goods with tariffs since July, and China has retaliated by imposing duties on $110bn of US products. China had already hit the US with $3bn of tariffs in April, in response to US tariffs on global steel and aluminium imports. President Trump offered a glimmer of hope earlier this month, when he said he thought the US could strike a trade deal with China. But only days before the summit, he poured cold water on such optimism. President Trump told the Wall Street Journal he expected to go ahead with plans to raise tariffs on $200bn of Chinese goods - first introduced in September - to 25% (up from 10%) starting in January 2019. President Trump also said that if talks were unsuccessful, he would carry out a threat to hit the remaining $267bn of annual Chinese exports to the US with tariffs of 10-25%. The Trump administration also recently accused China of not changing its \"unfair\" trade practices. \"I think the most likely scenario is that Xi Jinping doesn't offer big enough concessions to Trump, and so nothing much comes of the G20 meeting,\" says Julian Evans-Pritchard from Capital Economics. Recent summits also do not bode well for any resolutions at the G20 level. The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) summit recently ended without a formal leaders' statement because of US-China divisions over trade. And a G7 summit in Canada in June ended in disarray as Trump retracted his endorsement of the joint statement. \"I think unfortunately, the US and China remain quite far apart in the issues behind the trade conflict, so we are not too optimistic,\" says Valerie Mercer-Blackman, senior economist at the Asia Development Bank. \"Failure to agree on the communique at the Apec meeting... also suggests that there is quite substantial distance between the two sides, and there doesn't seem to be a specific proposal on the table yet to end the impasse.\""}], "question": "What is likely to come out of the meeting?", "id": "1027_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2858, "answer_end": 3615, "text": "The stakes are high. \"If the meeting fails to deliver a truce, then the US will almost certainly hike tariff rates [on $200bn of existing Chinese goods] in January, and a further expansion in tariffs is quite likely,\" says Mr Evans-Pritchard. A rise in those tariffs would see many multinational firms accelerate their plans to move supply chains away from China, while tariffs on additional Chinese imports would pose \"a significant political and economic risk for Trump\", says Michael Hirson, Asia director at Eurasia Group. \"Remaining US imports from China are more heavily tilted towards consumer items. American households, especially those from lower income brackets, will feel the impact more than they have over tariffs on previous rounds,\" he adds."}], "question": "What's at stake?", "id": "1027_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3616, "answer_end": 3877, "text": "If the US were to impose tariffs on additional Chinese goods, China could seek to retaliate, but would have limited room to do so via trade. This is because China's existing $113bn tariffs on US goods are not far from the $130bn it imported from the US in 2017."}], "question": "What happens next?", "id": "1027_2"}]}]}, {"title": "Sailors perform Changing the Guard in historic first", "date": "26 November 2017", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Royal Navy sailors have performed the Changing of the Guard outside Buckingham Palace for the first time in the ceremony's 357-year history. Eighty-six sailors from 45 Royal Navy ships and establishments spent a month preparing ahead of the first ceremony on Sunday morning. Warrant Officer Eddie Wearing said it was a \"massive privilege\". The ceremony is usually carried out by one of the five Foot Guards Regiments from the Army's Household Division. The sailors marched to the Game of Thrones theme tune as crowds gathered around the palace gates to watch. Second Sea Lord Vice Admiral Jonathan Woodcock tweeted that watching the event was a \"highly emotional moment\" and he was \"so proud\" of the Royal Navy. The change in personnel is to mark 2017 as the \"Year of the Navy\", which former defence secretary Sir Michael Fallon called \"the start of a new era of maritime power\". Changing the Guard can be traced back to King Henry VII, when a royal bodyguard was first created. It is the ceremony where one set of guards - the Old Guard - hands over the responsibility of protecting Buckingham Palace and St James's Palace to another set of guards - the New Guard. The Old Guard march from the forecourt of Buckingham Palace at 11:00 GMT, accompanied by a regimental band. The New Guard then march, again with a band, from Wellington Barracks to take over. It draws many tourists, taking place every other day during the winter months and every day over the summer. The ceremony itself has been taking place since the restoration of King Charles II in 1660. The sailors have been training at the Royal Navy's headquarters in Portsmouth. Lt Cdr Steve Elliott, 44, from Portsmouth, will be Captain of the Queen's Guard - believed to be the first in the Royal Navy since Sir Walter Raleigh in 1587. \"As we march out of Wellington Barracks for the first time, I'm fairly sure everyone will grow a good eight to 10 inches,\" said Lt Cdr Elliott earlier. \"It's great to do this ceremonial piece and have the Royal Navy back in the public eye, as well as to act as a capstone to the year of the Royal Navy. We couldn't ask for anything better.\" The sailors will also be performing Royal Duties at St James's Palace, Windsor Castle and the Tower of London.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 880, "answer_end": 1558, "text": "Changing the Guard can be traced back to King Henry VII, when a royal bodyguard was first created. It is the ceremony where one set of guards - the Old Guard - hands over the responsibility of protecting Buckingham Palace and St James's Palace to another set of guards - the New Guard. The Old Guard march from the forecourt of Buckingham Palace at 11:00 GMT, accompanied by a regimental band. The New Guard then march, again with a band, from Wellington Barracks to take over. It draws many tourists, taking place every other day during the winter months and every day over the summer. The ceremony itself has been taking place since the restoration of King Charles II in 1660."}], "question": "What is the Changing the Guard?", "id": "1028_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Mercury Prize: Grime star Skepta wins music award", "date": "16 September 2016", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Grime star Skepta has beaten the likes of David Bowie, Radiohead and The 1975 to win the Mercury Prize. He won the PS25,000 award for self-released album Konnichiwa, which covers topics including police harassment and his anger at British politics. The record, described by the NME as a \"landmark in British street music\", went to number two earlier this year. \"I'm just so thankful. I've been trying to do this music stuff and work it out for so long,\" Skepta said of his win. Speaking to the BBC backstage, he said he would use the prize money to help the disadvantaged. \"Something positive, something to help other people feel as happy and as free as me,\" he said. \"We're doing a project right now, actually, building a studio in my old estate to help the young kids do music.\" Skepta's victory meant that bookmakers' favourite David Bowie missed out after receiving a posthumous nomination for his swansong album, Blackstar. Judge Jarvis Cocker said the jury had faced a tough decision deciding between the two records, which had been whittled down from a longlist of 12. \"In the end, the winner came down to a contest between two black stars,\" he said. \"And we, as a jury, decided that if Bowie was looking down on the Hammersmith Apollo tonight, he would want the 2016 Hyundai Mercury Music Prize to go to Skepta.\" Other albums shortlisted for the 2016 prize included Michael Kiwanuka's Love & Hate, and Bat For Lashes' The Bride - a concept record about a woman whose fiance is killed in a car crash while driving to their wedding. Radiohead received a record fifth nomination for their record A Moon Shaped Pool but went home empty-handed again. Perhaps sensing that the odds were stacked against them, the band were absent from the ceremony, instead sending a video for the ballad Present Tense. All of the other acts performed on the night, with actor Michael C Hall performing David Bowie's song Lazarus, which opens with the lyrics:  \"Look up here, I'm in heaven.\" The star of Dexter and Six Feet Under will soon be seen in London in the lead role in Bowie's musical - also called Lazarus - which premiered in New York shortly before his death. Hall said it was a great responsibility to be representing the musician on the stage where he had famously \"killed\" his Ziggy Stardust character. \"I'm trying not to spend too much time dwelling on the reality of the situation for fear that it will overwhelm me. It's beyond anything I ever anticipated but I'm really humbled and honoured to be asked to do it.\" Skepta was born Joseph Junior Adenuga 33 years ago in Tottenham, London, and started making music in the early 2000s. He rode the first wave of grime to a contract with Universal Records, but his sound was watered down and they soon parted ways. Konnichiwa was the result of a major shift in the star's life. \"I had friends that died, and I had to realise that I don't care about certain things I used to care about before\". It prompted him to return to the music he loved, reaching out directly to fans via social media. In 2014, he released That's Not Me, a rapid-fire freestyle that atoned for losing sight of his roots: \"I used to wear Gucci / I put it all in the bin cause that's not me.\" Accompanied by a video that cost PS80, it went on to win a MOBO award and showed the star he could make it on his own terms. Accepting the Mercury Prize, he said: \"I was like' let's do it for ourselves'. \"All these songs, we've travelled the world - no record label, nothing. We just did this for us but the love is very appreciated. \"We all won today. Konnichiwa!\" Skepta is the second grime artist to win the Mercury, following Dizzee Rascal's victory in 2003. His win marks the commercial resurgence of the genre, with Skepta key in helping recalibrate the sound back towards its inner city roots. Fellow grime artist Kano was also nominated for the Mercury Prize, and Skepta made sure to recognise him during his awards speech. \"Kane - for life, bro - we did it!\" Follow us on Twitter @BBCNewsEnts, on Instagram at bbcnewsents, or if you have a story suggestion email entertainment.news@bbc.co.uk.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 2518, "answer_end": 2942, "text": "Skepta was born Joseph Junior Adenuga 33 years ago in Tottenham, London, and started making music in the early 2000s. He rode the first wave of grime to a contract with Universal Records, but his sound was watered down and they soon parted ways. Konnichiwa was the result of a major shift in the star's life. \"I had friends that died, and I had to realise that I don't care about certain things I used to care about before\"."}], "question": "Who is Skepta?", "id": "1029_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Tal Abyad car bomb: At least 13 killed in Syrian border town", "date": "2 November 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "At least 13 people were killed by a car bomb in the northern Syrian border town of Tal Abyad, Turkish authorities said. Turkey's defence ministry said at least 20 others were wounded by the blast. Turkish troops and Turkey-backed rebels last month took control of Tal Abyad and other border towns from Kurdish forces, after US troops - who were protecting the Kurds - pulled out. Pro-Turkey fighters and civilians were among the dead on Saturday, according to a UK-based monitoring group. The monitor, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, said more than 30 people were also injured in the blast. Turkey's defence ministry accused a Syrian Kurdish militia group, the People's Protection Units (YPG), of planting the bomb. No group immediately claimed responsibility. Turkey's military invaded the Kurdish-held border areas in northern Syria immediately after US forces were withdrawn. Turkey has a longstanding enmity with the Kurds and wants to push back the YPG from its border. Turkey claims the YPG is a \"terrorist\" offshoot of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which has fought an insurgency against the Turkish state since 1984. Turkish forces have created a 120-kilometre (75-mile) \"safe zone\" between Tal Abyad and the town of Ras al-Ain, pushing the YPG out of the area. Turkish troops on Friday began joint patrols with Russian forces. US President Donald Trump faced widespread international criticism for his decision to remove American troops from the area, leaving Kurdish forces - which allied with the US in the fight against the Islamic State (IS) group, suffering heavy losses - outgunned by the Turkish military. Tens of thousands of people fled their homes in October in border towns in northern Syria, including Tal Abyad and Ras al-Ain, as Turkish forces pushed into the area. Turkey says it will send members of IS that it has so far detained back to their home countries. Tens of thousands of IS fighters and their family members were taken captive by Western-backed forces in north-eastern Syria. Turkey is now holding a number of those who have escaped, including British and Dutch nationals, after launching its incursion into northern Syria. The country's interior minister criticised the reluctance of European countries to repatriate nationals who had been taken prisoner while fighting for IS in Syria. \"We are not a hotel,\" Suleyman Soylu said. \"That is not acceptable to us. It's also irresponsible.\" He vowed to ensure they were sent back to their home nations.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 770, "answer_end": 1812, "text": "Turkey's military invaded the Kurdish-held border areas in northern Syria immediately after US forces were withdrawn. Turkey has a longstanding enmity with the Kurds and wants to push back the YPG from its border. Turkey claims the YPG is a \"terrorist\" offshoot of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which has fought an insurgency against the Turkish state since 1984. Turkish forces have created a 120-kilometre (75-mile) \"safe zone\" between Tal Abyad and the town of Ras al-Ain, pushing the YPG out of the area. Turkish troops on Friday began joint patrols with Russian forces. US President Donald Trump faced widespread international criticism for his decision to remove American troops from the area, leaving Kurdish forces - which allied with the US in the fight against the Islamic State (IS) group, suffering heavy losses - outgunned by the Turkish military. Tens of thousands of people fled their homes in October in border towns in northern Syria, including Tal Abyad and Ras al-Ain, as Turkish forces pushed into the area."}], "question": "What is Turkey doing in northern Syria?", "id": "1030_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Trump-Russia: Democrats defend Russia inquiry in memo", "date": "25 February 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Congressional Democrats have released a memo that counters Republican claims of bias in the investigation into alleged Russian meddling in the 2016 election. The memo says the FBI and US justice department did not - as the Republicans allege - abuse powers to spy on former Trump campaign aide Carter Page. Mr Page was investigated over concerns that he was a Russian agent. The memo was issued by Democrats on the House Intelligence Committee. Mr Trump called it a \"political and legal bust\". The president has repeatedly denied any collusion between his campaign and Russia. The 10-page Democratic memo was released on Saturday. Parts of the document were redacted to avoid revealing intelligence gathering sources. It calls a Republican memo published by Republican members of the Intelligence Committee earlier this month a \"transparent effort to undermine\" the FBI, the justice department and investigations into possible collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia. One: The Steele dossier: The Republican document alleged that the FBI used unsubstantiated evidence to spy on Carter Page, who was put under electronic surveillance by the intelligence agency. Central to that claim was the charge that, in its application to a court for a surveillance warrant against Mr Page in 2016, the FBI had relied upon evidence contained in a dossier compiled by former British spy Christopher Steele - without revealing that his findings had been funded in part by the Hillary Clinton campaign. The Democrats argue in their document that officials had not relied on Mr Steele's dossier alone but had provided \"additional information from multiple independent sources that corroborated Steele's reporting\", informing the court of existing FBI operations against the Russians over their alleged campaign to influence the US election. Furthermore, they reveal that the FBI had interviewed Mr Page over his Russian links and opened its inquiry months before the Steele dossier had been received. Two: Who paid Steele? Democrats also reject the allegation that failure to mention explicitly that the  dossier had been funded by the Clinton campaign constituted bias. In their rebuttal, Democrats argue that the Steele dossier had been commissioned by someone who wanted to discredit Mr Trump. Three: Yahoo News - a source? The Democratic memo also challenges the Republican point that the FBI had used a Yahoo article to corroborate Mr Steele's claims. The memo says the aim was to inform the court of Mr Page's \"public denial of his suspected meetings in Moscow\". Four: Judges were Republican In order to demonstrate the lack of political bias, the Democratic memo also points out that judges on the court that agreed to a surveillance warrant for Carter Page had all been appointed by Republicans. Five: It proved useful And the latest memo adds that the investigation into Mr Page's activities had yielded \"valuable intelligence\". Unlikely. Adam Schiff, the top Democrat on the intelligence committee, said the document should \"put to rest\" Republican assertions of wrongdoing. But the Republicans issued a new document to reject the Democratic memo point by point. Robert Mueller, the special counsel conducting the inquiry into alleged Russian interference, has charged 19 people, including four former Trump advisers. Mr Trump's former campaign chairman Paul Manafort and business associate Rick Gates have been charged with tax and bank fraud and conspiracy to launder money. Michael Flynn, a former US national security adviser, pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI over meetings he had with the Russian Ambassador, Sergei Kislyak. George Papadopoulos, a former Trump campaign adviser, admitted lying to the FBI about his contacts with Russians. The list also includes 13 Russians charged with tampering in the 2016 US election. But, as President Trump has repeatedly pointed out, the ongoing inquiry has yet to file a charge that any of his associates colluded with an alleged Kremlin plot to influence the result of the 2016 presidential election.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 976, "answer_end": 2928, "text": "One: The Steele dossier: The Republican document alleged that the FBI used unsubstantiated evidence to spy on Carter Page, who was put under electronic surveillance by the intelligence agency. Central to that claim was the charge that, in its application to a court for a surveillance warrant against Mr Page in 2016, the FBI had relied upon evidence contained in a dossier compiled by former British spy Christopher Steele - without revealing that his findings had been funded in part by the Hillary Clinton campaign. The Democrats argue in their document that officials had not relied on Mr Steele's dossier alone but had provided \"additional information from multiple independent sources that corroborated Steele's reporting\", informing the court of existing FBI operations against the Russians over their alleged campaign to influence the US election. Furthermore, they reveal that the FBI had interviewed Mr Page over his Russian links and opened its inquiry months before the Steele dossier had been received. Two: Who paid Steele? Democrats also reject the allegation that failure to mention explicitly that the  dossier had been funded by the Clinton campaign constituted bias. In their rebuttal, Democrats argue that the Steele dossier had been commissioned by someone who wanted to discredit Mr Trump. Three: Yahoo News - a source? The Democratic memo also challenges the Republican point that the FBI had used a Yahoo article to corroborate Mr Steele's claims. The memo says the aim was to inform the court of Mr Page's \"public denial of his suspected meetings in Moscow\". Four: Judges were Republican In order to demonstrate the lack of political bias, the Democratic memo also points out that judges on the court that agreed to a surveillance warrant for Carter Page had all been appointed by Republicans. Five: It proved useful And the latest memo adds that the investigation into Mr Page's activities had yielded \"valuable intelligence\"."}], "question": "What are the main arguments?", "id": "1031_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2929, "answer_end": 3163, "text": "Unlikely. Adam Schiff, the top Democrat on the intelligence committee, said the document should \"put to rest\" Republican assertions of wrongdoing. But the Republicans issued a new document to reject the Democratic memo point by point."}], "question": "Does the release of the memo end this argument?", "id": "1031_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3164, "answer_end": 4050, "text": "Robert Mueller, the special counsel conducting the inquiry into alleged Russian interference, has charged 19 people, including four former Trump advisers. Mr Trump's former campaign chairman Paul Manafort and business associate Rick Gates have been charged with tax and bank fraud and conspiracy to launder money. Michael Flynn, a former US national security adviser, pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI over meetings he had with the Russian Ambassador, Sergei Kislyak. George Papadopoulos, a former Trump campaign adviser, admitted lying to the FBI about his contacts with Russians. The list also includes 13 Russians charged with tampering in the 2016 US election. But, as President Trump has repeatedly pointed out, the ongoing inquiry has yet to file a charge that any of his associates colluded with an alleged Kremlin plot to influence the result of the 2016 presidential election."}], "question": "What has the inquiry found so far?", "id": "1031_2"}]}]}, {"title": "Tuition fees: Is England more expensive than US?", "date": "9 March 2016", "paragraphs": [{"context": "University tuition fees might be high in England but they are not as eye-wateringly expensive as in the United States. Or at least that's the conventional wisdom. But is that really true? Or is it based on extreme examples, like Harvard charging almost $60,000 per year (PS42,000) or Yale $48,000 (PS34,000)? How about looking more widely? For instance UCLA compared with UCLAN? UCLAN is the University of Central Lancashire in Preston - and its preferred acronym nods towards the sunny campus of UCLA, the University of California, Los Angeles, ranked in the world's top 20 universities. They might sound like different worlds, but UCLAN's fees are now more or less the same as UCLA. The Preston-based university charges PS9,000 per year for tuition for undergraduates - and UCLA charges $13,251, which at current rates is about PS9,350. A few weeks ago, before sterling fell against the dollar, the fees in California were actually cheaper. Or if you compare the University of Washington with the University of Wolverhampton, would you expect tuition fees to be lower at Washington? Tuition fees in Washington are $11,839 (PS8,354) compared with PS9,000 for courses at Wolverhampton - or any other university in England. The average across US public universities is $9,410 (PS6,610). Peggy Blumenthal of the New York-based Institute of International Education says this touches on one of the biggest misconceptions about US higher education. \"There is a huge range in tuition costs,\" she says. And in practice, many US universities have comparable costs with those in England and across Europe. State universities - the great engine room of US higher education - have a two-tier fees system, so that students living in the state pay much less than those from outside. And for state universities, many students live at home, so they avoid all the extra costs for accommodation. The other confusion is that when US universities quote prices, they often include bed and board as well as tuition. Parents in England, who can console themselves that tuition fees won't have to be repaid until after graduation, are often taken aback at the separate cost of accommodation and living costs. Even for those painfully expensive private US universities, Ms Blumenthal says the headline figures can be misleading. \"Very few Americans pay the sticker price. \"US universities have a practice of discounting the admissions price. You get a letter saying congratulations, you're admitted to our university, and because you have financial aid, we're going to give this package of loans and scholarships.\" And she says many deals provide a guarantee of work on campus for students, to make it more affordable. But a spokesman for UCLAN says there are also bursaries for its students - with more than half of first years receiving up to PS2,000. \"While there are aspects of the government's fees policy that continue to cause concern we are determined to work within it,\" said the UCLAN spokesman. And he said application figures showed students were not being deterred by cost. Another factor to be taken into account is that US undergraduate degrees tend to be four years, rather than three in England, adding another year of fees to the overall cost. But where are fees headed next? And perhaps that is the most striking contrast. In England, the government has signalled that fees will move upwards above PS9,000. Universities have already been pushing to be able to charge more. But in the US, the argument has been in the opposite direction - about how costs can be cut. The level of student debt, above a trillion dollars and rising, is increasingly seen as unsustainable. In the presidential elections, Democrat rivals have been competing to sound the toughest on making college more affordable. Hillary Clinton is promising a \"New College Compact\" with financial support to help students. Bernie Sanders has outbid her with the promise to make tuition entirely free in public universities, saying that if Germany can scrap fees, there is no reason why it wouldn't be practical in the United States. \"The middle class has no disposable income because of wage stagnation,\" says Ms Blumenthal. It means the classic American dream of sending the children to college is proving a financial nightmare. \"If you are a middle-class family and you have two or three children who are going to be in college at the same time, you are totally unable to pay for it. \"But your income might be such that you do not qualify for grants.\" Universities are now offering help to this squeezed middle, making no secret of who they are targeting. The University of California, Berkeley, where fees for in-state students are $13,342 (PS9,400), has launched a \"Middle Class Access Plan\". This offers financial support to families with a combined income of between $80,000 (PS57,000) and $150,000 (PS106,000), who might be income-rich but cash-poor. The top private universities are also aware of the need to hit the brakes on costs. John Hennessy, president of Stanford University, told the BBC: \"The levels of debt cannot continue to go up at the rate that they've been going up. \"We're going to have to find a way to deal with that, whether it's income-based repayment or some other scheme.\" He suggests online technology could be the way to reduce costs, so perhaps students could spend part of their time studying online from home, with interactive video classes, as well as spending time on campus. But he says students can be the most resistant to such changes, wanting no dilution of the complete university experience. And while fees in England are, in effect, flat - with more or less all universities charging PS9,000 - in the US they can have a completely counter-intuitive relationship with quality. Research from the INSEAD business school in France showed that when US universities had a decline in rankings, they were more likely to increase rather than cut fees. It was described as the \"Chivas Regal strategy\", in reference to the claim that the whisky brand increased its popularity and status by pushing up the price. On average, US tuition fees had increased by 500% in real terms over the past three decades, the study found, without any link to improvements. Of course, there is another huge difference between England's student costs and the US. In England, fees do not have to be paid up-front. Repayments begin only when students are earning above an income threshold of PS21,000 - and debts are written off after 30 years. It's a system that has been backed by the OECD as an example of a long-term sustainable approach to university funding, which does not demand payment at the point of access. And England is not the same as the rest of the UK, where Scotland has no fees and Wales and Northern Ireland charge about PS3,800. Pam Tatlow, chief executive of the Million+ group of new universities, says universities recognise the public concern, but the fees have replaced funding once received from government. But she says the international examples show there is nothing inevitable about how students pay for university. \"I don't think anyone should think that the higher education funding system is set in stone.\" More stories from the BBC's Global education series looking at education from an international perspective and how to get in touch", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 3238, "answer_end": 4183, "text": "But where are fees headed next? And perhaps that is the most striking contrast. In England, the government has signalled that fees will move upwards above PS9,000. Universities have already been pushing to be able to charge more. But in the US, the argument has been in the opposite direction - about how costs can be cut. The level of student debt, above a trillion dollars and rising, is increasingly seen as unsustainable. In the presidential elections, Democrat rivals have been competing to sound the toughest on making college more affordable. Hillary Clinton is promising a \"New College Compact\" with financial support to help students. Bernie Sanders has outbid her with the promise to make tuition entirely free in public universities, saying that if Germany can scrap fees, there is no reason why it wouldn't be practical in the United States. \"The middle class has no disposable income because of wage stagnation,\" says Ms Blumenthal."}], "question": "Higher or lower?", "id": "1032_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Kosovo election: War crimes claims against PM hang over vote", "date": "5 October 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Eleven years after Kosovo declared independence, the past role of Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj as a guerrilla fighter against Serbia overshadows Sunday's snap election. Mr Haradinaj sparked a trade war with Serbia, even though Kosovo and its neighbour are barred from entering the EU until relations are normalised. Kosovo President Hashim Thaci is also a former rebel who fought Serb forces. But opposition parties are hoping to force them from power. Kosovan Albanians make up about 90% of the population, and tensions remain with the Serb minority. In June, Prime Minister Haradinaj announced that he was resigning to face questioning as a suspect by a new special court in The Hague. It is investigating war crimes allegedly committed by the Kosovo Liberation Army during the late 1990s. Mr Haradinaj was a commander in the KLA and has already faced trial twice by a previous tribunal in The Hague. He was acquitted both times. The special court has yet to announce any indictments - and will not even reveal the identity of suspects. So Mr Haradinaj and his AAK party are free to take part in the election. In fact, his visit to The Hague may even prove a vote-winner. \"The fact that he has been called before the tribunal is seen by many Kosovo Albanians as a deep injustice,\" says James Ker-Lindsay, a Balkans specialist at the London School of Economics. \"This is seen as calling into question Kosovo's right to exist. People believe that what the leaders were doing during the war was legitimate. They were fighting a campaign against Serbian oppression and should not be held accountable for this - and Haradinaj was a hero of this conflict.\" Mr Haradinaj imposed a 100% tariff on imports from Serbia last November, in retaliation for Belgrade blocking Kosovo's membership of international organisations. It has been a popular policy, even though it has increased the prices of many items in Kosovo's shops. Many people view it as standing up to Serbia, which has refused to recognise Kosovo's 2008 unilateral declaration of independence. Scores of other countries will not recognise Kosovo until Serbia changes its stance, leaving Kosovo in limbo. In fact, Serbia has been stepping up efforts to persuade countries to withdraw their recognition of Kosovo's independence. It claims that 15 countries have reversed their previous position. In practical terms this makes little difference to Kosovo's status. As long as China and Russia do not recognise its legitimacy, it has no chance of joining the United Nations and many other international institutions. But reducing recognitions among UN member states below 50% would be a propaganda blow. Kosovo says it is recognised by 116 of the UN's 193 countries, but Serbia says the figure is 97. Mr Haradinaj hopes the tariffs on Serbia will force the issue. \"The way out of where we are is a comprehensive agreement on recognition between Serbia and Kosovo,\" he told me. \"That would resolve not only the tariffs, but every other dispute between two nations that are neighbours. We are ready to stand up for ourselves forever - we have no alternative.\" Not at all. For many voters, modern-day concerns trump past glories. \"People are deeply aggrieved at the way Kosovo's society has evolved,\" says James Ker-Lindsay. \"They believe corruption is rampant - and there are severe questions about the state of the economy. And they don't feel the existing political parties have been dealing with that.\" That could drive voters towards Vetevendosje - an Albanian nationalist movement with a strong anti-corruption message - or Kosovo's oldest party, the LDK. Its leader Vjosa Osmani is hoping to become Kosovo's first female prime minister. The tariffs have torpedoed one of the EU's main foreign policy initiatives - normalisation talks between Belgrade and Pristina. Kosovo has repeatedly ignored pleas from Brussels to revoke the 100% tariffs on Serbian imports - a stance that harms its chances of gaining visa-free travel to the EU, never mind EU membership talks. When a new government emerges from post-election coalition negotiations, rebuilding relations with Brussels must be near the top of its agenda.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 555, "answer_end": 934, "text": "In June, Prime Minister Haradinaj announced that he was resigning to face questioning as a suspect by a new special court in The Hague. It is investigating war crimes allegedly committed by the Kosovo Liberation Army during the late 1990s. Mr Haradinaj was a commander in the KLA and has already faced trial twice by a previous tribunal in The Hague. He was acquitted both times."}], "question": "Why are war crimes an election issue?", "id": "1033_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 935, "answer_end": 1655, "text": "The special court has yet to announce any indictments - and will not even reveal the identity of suspects. So Mr Haradinaj and his AAK party are free to take part in the election. In fact, his visit to The Hague may even prove a vote-winner. \"The fact that he has been called before the tribunal is seen by many Kosovo Albanians as a deep injustice,\" says James Ker-Lindsay, a Balkans specialist at the London School of Economics. \"This is seen as calling into question Kosovo's right to exist. People believe that what the leaders were doing during the war was legitimate. They were fighting a campaign against Serbian oppression and should not be held accountable for this - and Haradinaj was a hero of this conflict.\""}], "question": "Why is Mr Haradinaj standing?", "id": "1033_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1656, "answer_end": 3111, "text": "Mr Haradinaj imposed a 100% tariff on imports from Serbia last November, in retaliation for Belgrade blocking Kosovo's membership of international organisations. It has been a popular policy, even though it has increased the prices of many items in Kosovo's shops. Many people view it as standing up to Serbia, which has refused to recognise Kosovo's 2008 unilateral declaration of independence. Scores of other countries will not recognise Kosovo until Serbia changes its stance, leaving Kosovo in limbo. In fact, Serbia has been stepping up efforts to persuade countries to withdraw their recognition of Kosovo's independence. It claims that 15 countries have reversed their previous position. In practical terms this makes little difference to Kosovo's status. As long as China and Russia do not recognise its legitimacy, it has no chance of joining the United Nations and many other international institutions. But reducing recognitions among UN member states below 50% would be a propaganda blow. Kosovo says it is recognised by 116 of the UN's 193 countries, but Serbia says the figure is 97. Mr Haradinaj hopes the tariffs on Serbia will force the issue. \"The way out of where we are is a comprehensive agreement on recognition between Serbia and Kosovo,\" he told me. \"That would resolve not only the tariffs, but every other dispute between two nations that are neighbours. We are ready to stand up for ourselves forever - we have no alternative.\""}], "question": "Why is there a trade war with Serbia?", "id": "1033_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3112, "answer_end": 3694, "text": "Not at all. For many voters, modern-day concerns trump past glories. \"People are deeply aggrieved at the way Kosovo's society has evolved,\" says James Ker-Lindsay. \"They believe corruption is rampant - and there are severe questions about the state of the economy. And they don't feel the existing political parties have been dealing with that.\" That could drive voters towards Vetevendosje - an Albanian nationalist movement with a strong anti-corruption message - or Kosovo's oldest party, the LDK. Its leader Vjosa Osmani is hoping to become Kosovo's first female prime minister."}], "question": "So is Mr Haradinaj's party the favourite?", "id": "1033_3"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3695, "answer_end": 4167, "text": "The tariffs have torpedoed one of the EU's main foreign policy initiatives - normalisation talks between Belgrade and Pristina. Kosovo has repeatedly ignored pleas from Brussels to revoke the 100% tariffs on Serbian imports - a stance that harms its chances of gaining visa-free travel to the EU, never mind EU membership talks. When a new government emerges from post-election coalition negotiations, rebuilding relations with Brussels must be near the top of its agenda."}], "question": "Could a new government steer Kosovo towards EU membership?", "id": "1033_4"}]}]}, {"title": "Body clock linked to mood disorders", "date": "16 May 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Disruption to the body's internal clock may put people at increased risk of mood disorders, scientists say. A clock ticks in nearly every cell of the body. And they change how the tissues work in a daily rhythm. A Lancet Psychiatry study of 91,000 people found a disrupted body clock was linked with depression, bipolar disorder and other problems. The Glasgow researchers said it was a warning to societies becoming less in tune with these natural rhythms. Although the study did not look at mobile phone use, Prof Daniel Smith, one of the University of Glasgow researchers, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that it was \"likely\" that some of the people in the study who had difficulties might be using social media at night. \"For me absolutely my mobile phone goes off before 22:00 at night and that's it, because obviously we didn't evolve to be looking at screens when we should be sleeping,\" he said. People in the study wore activity monitors for a week to see how disrupted their clocks were. Those who were highly active at night or inactive during the day were classed as being disrupted. And they were between 6% and 10% more likely to have been diagnosed with a mood disorder than people who had a more typical - active in the day, inactive at night - pattern. Prof Smith, a psychiatrist, told the BBC: \"These are not huge differences. \"But what is striking is it is pretty robust across lots of interesting outcomes.\" The study found higher rates of major depression, bipolar disorder, more loneliness, lower happiness, worse reaction times and more mood instability in people with body-clock disruption. However, the study cannot tell if the disruption is causing the mental illness or is just a symptom of it. That will take further work. The body clock certainly exerts a powerful effect throughout the body. Mood, hormone levels, body temperature and metabolism all fluctuate in a daily rhythm. Even the risk of a heart attack soars every morning as the body gets the engine running to start a new day. Prof Smith said: \"The study tells us the body clock is really important for mood disorders and should be given greater priority in research and in way we organise societies. \"It wouldn't be too controversial to say we need to reorganise the way we learn and work to be in tune with our natural rhythms.\" The study used data from the UK's Biobank research project. However, many of the participants were quite old. Dr Aiden Doherty, from the University of Oxford, said: \"The study population is not ideal to examine the causes of mental health, given that 75% of disorders start before the age of 24 years.\" But he added the study showed the way for a similar research in \"adolescents and younger adults to help transform our understanding of the causes and consequences, prevention, and treatment of mental health disorders\". Take our quiz to find out whether you are a morning type, or an evening owl.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 2846, "answer_end": 2922, "text": "Take our quiz to find out whether you are a morning type, or an evening owl."}], "question": "Quiz: Which are you, lark or owl?", "id": "1034_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Divisions continue over opposition parties' Brexit strategy", "date": "7 October 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "For the last couple of weeks, groups in Parliament opposed to a no-deal Brexit have been talking - but so far, they've failed to agree on tactics. Last week, it was a lack of consensus on who should head an emergency government if Boris Johnson can't get a new deal and refuses to seek a Brexit extension later this month. Labour said Jeremy Corbyn had to be emergency prime minister if the plan was to work, others didn't. Timing was also an issue. The SNP wanted to move right away, others didn't. Instead, opposition parties decided to apply for a series of emergency debates designed to force ministers to publish key documents. However, the Speaker, John Bercow, refused to grant the debates, so beyond a few meetings nothing really happened. One attendee texted me in advance of one of those meetings with two emojis: a biscuit and a cup of coffee. Suffice to say they didn't think much progress was being made. Indeed, the disagreements appear to be getting worse rather than better if the reaction in the last few days - and after their latest meeting on Monday - is anything to go by. Labour say the Lib Dems will be blamed if no-deal happens. The Lib Dems say Mr Corbyn risks becoming the main block to stopping no-deal. The SNP say Labour and the Lib Dems should stop squabbling. Plaid Cymru are urging everyone to calm down. It sounds a bit like general election positioning, but there's a question big mark over whether the differences can be overcome. Monday was originally pencilled in for a Commons ambush - the plan was to pave the way for opposition figures to take control of business from next week to pass more emergency laws on no-deal, or demand more documents in the run-up to 31 October. But that has now been put on ice. Sources say former Tory MPs expelled last month for refusing to back Mr Johnson's strategy got cold feet and want to give No 10 more time to try and get a new deal with Brussels. Those opposition figures who have been frantically trying to get all their MPs to the Commons today are less than pleased. There are different interpretations of how much this matters. Some opposition figures are worried Downing Street will be able to bypass legislation to stop no-deal and fear they've missed a chance to act. Others are more relaxed and believe the so-called Benn Act is watertight. We'll only know for sure at the end of next week - and only if the prime minister fails to agree a new deal with Brussels and get it through Parliament.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 2049, "answer_end": 2480, "text": "There are different interpretations of how much this matters. Some opposition figures are worried Downing Street will be able to bypass legislation to stop no-deal and fear they've missed a chance to act. Others are more relaxed and believe the so-called Benn Act is watertight. We'll only know for sure at the end of next week - and only if the prime minister fails to agree a new deal with Brussels and get it through Parliament."}], "question": "Watertight?", "id": "1035_0"}]}]}, {"title": "100 Women: 'Why I fought being banished to a hut during my period'", "date": "17 January 2017", "paragraphs": [{"context": "An ancient Hindu tradition in which menstruating women are banished to an outhouse is under the spotlight in Nepal after the death of a 15-year-old girl. The practice was banned in 2005 but still continues in western areas.  BBC Nepali reporter Krishnamaya Upadhayaya, 24, describes how she has fought against the tradition, known as chhaupadi. I started menstruating when I was 12. My mother, sisters and sisters-in-law used to stay outdoors in a mud hut when they were menstruating so I started staying there too. I was always afraid of what would happen. I was scared of insects and wild animals. I was told it was a sin to touch books during menstruation so I did not go to school during the three days of my period. I used to wonder why I was not allowed to touch books. I missed school and I wasn't the only one. Many girls in my village faced the same problem. Even today, menstruating women are not allowed to enter their courtyard for seven days and are not allowed to consume dairy products like milk, butter, yoghurt etc. I was very hurt when I was not allowed to enter my own courtyard. During your period, people don't hand you food, they fling it at you. The belief that you must not touch your elders during menstruation still persists. And I still had to deal with it when I moved from Kutari village to Khalanga, the capital of Jumla district, to go to college when I was 17. When I went looking for a room to rent, the landlord asked me if I had begun menstruating. When I truthfully replied that I had, I was turned away. I wanted to cry, I did not know what to do. If I went back home, I would miss my studies but it looked like I would not find a room to rent. - In many world religions, women are seen as impure during their period - They are restricted from entering places of worship and following religious rites - The chhaupadi tradition followed by Hindus in western Nepal is the most extreme version where women are banished outside during their monthly cycle - In India, women are not allowed enter some Hindu temples and Muslim mosques while menstruating but there have been court cases to overturn this - In southern India, a girl reaching puberty is celebrated with a party and presents - In the Dogon tribe in Mali, women of the village also live in a hut during their period Finally, I found a room where the landlord said he would allow me to live on the ground floor, but not on the first floor of the house. I agreed to live on the ground floor (as far away from the others and as close to the door as possible). But there were problems. I was not allowed to touch the water tap during my period so someone would have to give me water. I had read that you should maintain hygiene during your period so I used the inside toilet, even though the landlord asked me not to and wanted me to go outside. After spending a month in Khalanga, I started working in radio. I learned more and more about menstruation. When my landlord complained that my menstruation was creating problems for him, I moved. Usually women are not allowed to rent the upper floor in Jumla because they menstruate. This belief persists even among educated people. It has been six years since I started working in radio. I stay in my room during my period. But I do not tell anyone, including my landlord, that I am menstruating, because I am afraid that I will be sent to a shed. One person cannot end a social ill that has been passed down for generations. Change cannot happen unless society accepts it. When I go home to my village, I stay in the house during my period. I stay in my own room. I do not enter the kitchen and prayer room. After protesting many times to my family, I have been able to stay inside the house rather than outside in a mud hut. I hope that one day the chhaupadi tradition, like the Sati tradition (of a widow immolating herself on her husband's pyre), will end. I am very sad to hear of women losing their lives due to the chhaupadi tradition in the mid and far western regions of Nepal.  Even in my district, a lot of women live in sheds, so the same thing could happen here too. The government needs to do more to educate people.  Chhaupadi is banned but mindsets have not changed. BBC 100 Women names 100 influential and inspirational women around the world every year. We create documentaries, features and interviews about their lives, giving more space for stories that put women at the centre. Other stories you might like: The taboo of menstruating in India Nepal's 'confined women' want change Parents who regret having children Who is on the BBC's 100 Women 2016 list?", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 4220, "answer_end": 4614, "text": "BBC 100 Women names 100 influential and inspirational women around the world every year. We create documentaries, features and interviews about their lives, giving more space for stories that put women at the centre. Other stories you might like: The taboo of menstruating in India Nepal's 'confined women' want change Parents who regret having children Who is on the BBC's 100 Women 2016 list?"}], "question": "What is 100 women?", "id": "1036_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Election results 2017: What does it mean for Brexit?", "date": "9 June 2017", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Britain's exit from the European Union has been plunged into uncertainty. Theresa May has not secured the clear mandate that she sought for her version of a hard Brexit. When she called the election, she declared: \"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.\" Well, she is not stronger. She has fewer seats than she started with. As a result, it will now be hard for the government - formed with the help of Northern Ireland's DUP - to start talking to the EU in nine days time as planned without rethinking its strategy. The EU will be dismayed at the uncertainty the election has created. They had hoped Mrs May, with a healthy majority under her belt, would be a strong negotiator, liberated from the strictures of the Brexit ultras in her party. Instead, the 27 other EU member states are facing a divided British parliament in a divided Britain. The EU's budget commissioner, Gunther Oettinger, told German radio he was unsure the Brexit negotiations could begin on time. He said having Britain as a weak negotiating partner could result in what he described as \"a poor outcome\". With her government relying on the support of the DUP, Mrs May could start negotiations but she might have to compromise over her plans if she wants to get any Brexit-related legislation through the House of Commons. Depending on the wishes of the Democratic Unionist Party MPs would be a recipe for survival, not stability. If at any point Mrs May stands down as prime minister, any negotiations over Brexit would be delayed while the Conservative Party chooses a replacement for her and discusses if or how to change its approach to Brexit. This would not be straightforward because Tory divisions over Europe would remain and potential leadership contenders would have to decide whether to argue for a soft or hard Brexit. The key question would be this - can the Tories continue pushing for a hard Brexit, defined as a free trade deal with the EU outside the single market, the customs union and the free movement of workers? Or might they be forced to consider a softer Brexit that involved, say, some single market membership in order to secure the support of other parties? Might that put the so-called Norway option back on the table? Norway, it must be remembered, has access to the single market through its membership of the European Economic Area but is not a member of the EU. Speaking on ITV News, the former Chancellor George Osborne said: \"Hard Brexit went into the rubbish bin tonight.\" There will now be a battle royal within the Conservatives between those who agree with Mr Osborne's analysis and those hardline Brexiteers who do not. And of course there is always the possibility that a second general election could be called at some point. This would yet more take time and yet more delay to any Brexit discussions. One big question is whether the UK could stop the clock on the Article 50 Brexit negotiations which is ticking away until it automatically leaves in March 2019. That would be hard but not impossible. But it would require the political agreement of all 27 other EU member states and they would demand a high price. Theresa May called this election to strengthen Britain's negotiating hand. She appears to have ended up weakening it.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 2756, "answer_end": 3371, "text": "And of course there is always the possibility that a second general election could be called at some point. This would yet more take time and yet more delay to any Brexit discussions. One big question is whether the UK could stop the clock on the Article 50 Brexit negotiations which is ticking away until it automatically leaves in March 2019. That would be hard but not impossible. But it would require the political agreement of all 27 other EU member states and they would demand a high price. Theresa May called this election to strengthen Britain's negotiating hand. She appears to have ended up weakening it."}], "question": "Second general election?", "id": "1037_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Q&A: Acrylamide - a reason to give up browned toast and roast potatoes?", "date": "23 January 2017", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Advice on how to reduce the amount of acrylamide in our diets has been issued by the government's food safety body, because the chemical could cause cancer. Acrylamide is created when starchy foods are roasted, grilled or fried for long periods at high temperatures. The message is to cut back on browned and burnt toast, cook roast potatoes, chips and parsnips carefully - to a golden yellow colour - and eat fewer crisps, cakes and biscuits. Are they trying to take all the fun out of life? We try to put the latest dietary advice from the Food Standards Agency (FSA) into perspective. Do not panic - you do not need to give up on the delicious Sunday roast staple just yet. Crispy, brown roast potatoes which are traditionally cooked at very high temperatures do produce acrylamide, but the key is to try to cook them to the right colour. \"Go for gold\" is what the FSA advises - that is a golden yellow colour, rather than brown. And that applies to parsnips and all types of potato products too. So if you are a roast potato fanatic you might want to rein in your obsession and cook them a little less often. If you love them at Christmas and special occasions in-between, then try turning down the oven heat and taking the roast potatoes out before they start to turn excessively crispy and brown. Well, during the browning process, when starchy foods are heated they do give off new flavours and aromas. The bad news is that the same process also produces acrylamide, so there may have to be some trade-off between tastiness and the colour of your food. When cooking packaged products, such as oven chips, follow the instructions carefully - they are designed to ensure you are not cooking starchy foods for too long or at too high a temperature. Boiling, steaming or microwaving food is a much better and healthier option. There is no need to worry about the occasional slightly overcooked piece of toast or other food. Scraping off the dark brown bits of toast might help reduce acrylamide content a bit - and it certainly will not increase it. But, in general, aim for a golden or lighter colour (see above). Studies in animals found that the chemical causes tumours. This suggests that it also has the potential to cause cancer in humans. The FSA has used that data and multiple dietary surveys to work out whether an average person's exposure to acrylamide in food is a concern. Scientists believe that there should be a margin of exposure of 10,000 or higher between an average adult's intake of acrylamide and the lowest dose which could cause adverse effects. But at the moment the numbers are 425 for the average adult and 50 for the highest consuming toddlers, making it a slight public health concern, UK and European food safety experts say. However, Cambridge University risk expert Prof David Spiegelhalter is unconvinced by this very strict safety standard. He says the margin of exposure figure is \"arbitrary\" and 33 times higher than the current margin for average adults in the UK, and he questions whether a public campaign should be launched on that basis. Stopping smoking is the most important thing you can do to prevent cancer. Keeping a healthy bodyweight and eating a balanced diet ranks second. Our individual risk of cancer depends on a combination of genes, our environment and the lifestyle we lead, which we are able to control. The amount of acrylamide in our diets is one small element of our food intake which we can control to help reduce our risk of cancer during the whole of our lives. Research has shown that eating too much processed meat and red meat can increase the risk of developing cancer - that is a definite. Cooking meat at high temperatures such as grilling or barbecuing can produce cancer-causing chemicals called heterocyclic amines (HCAs) and polycyclic amines (PCAs). The FSA says the industry is doing its bit to find out how to reduce levels of acrylamide in food. A toolkit and brochures have been produced for food manufacturers and food businesses, giving information and advice. Evidence suggests the industry has been lowering levels of acrylamide in food over the past few years. But there are currently no rules on the maximum limits for the chemical in food. It is their job to make sure the food we eat is safe and to let the public know if they are concerned about any risk to our health. This is not a new risk - people are likely to have been exposed to it since fire was first invented. A Swedish study in 2002 was the first to reveal that high levels of acrylamide formed during the baking or frying of potato and cereal products. And since then researchers have been trying to make sure the risks from the chemical are kept to a minimum. Infants and toddlers are more at risk of exposure because of their smaller body weight, and their high intake of cereal-based foods. Basically, the advice is another reason to eat a healthy, balanced diet - and make sure your children do too.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 588, "answer_end": 1302, "text": "Do not panic - you do not need to give up on the delicious Sunday roast staple just yet. Crispy, brown roast potatoes which are traditionally cooked at very high temperatures do produce acrylamide, but the key is to try to cook them to the right colour. \"Go for gold\" is what the FSA advises - that is a golden yellow colour, rather than brown. And that applies to parsnips and all types of potato products too. So if you are a roast potato fanatic you might want to rein in your obsession and cook them a little less often. If you love them at Christmas and special occasions in-between, then try turning down the oven heat and taking the roast potatoes out before they start to turn excessively crispy and brown."}], "question": "Should I stop eating roast potatoes?", "id": "1038_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1303, "answer_end": 1829, "text": "Well, during the browning process, when starchy foods are heated they do give off new flavours and aromas. The bad news is that the same process also produces acrylamide, so there may have to be some trade-off between tastiness and the colour of your food. When cooking packaged products, such as oven chips, follow the instructions carefully - they are designed to ensure you are not cooking starchy foods for too long or at too high a temperature. Boiling, steaming or microwaving food is a much better and healthier option."}], "question": "Won't that change the taste?", "id": "1038_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1830, "answer_end": 2117, "text": "There is no need to worry about the occasional slightly overcooked piece of toast or other food. Scraping off the dark brown bits of toast might help reduce acrylamide content a bit - and it certainly will not increase it. But, in general, aim for a golden or lighter colour (see above)."}], "question": "If I burn toast, is it OK to scrape off the burnt bits?", "id": "1038_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2118, "answer_end": 3082, "text": "Studies in animals found that the chemical causes tumours. This suggests that it also has the potential to cause cancer in humans. The FSA has used that data and multiple dietary surveys to work out whether an average person's exposure to acrylamide in food is a concern. Scientists believe that there should be a margin of exposure of 10,000 or higher between an average adult's intake of acrylamide and the lowest dose which could cause adverse effects. But at the moment the numbers are 425 for the average adult and 50 for the highest consuming toddlers, making it a slight public health concern, UK and European food safety experts say. However, Cambridge University risk expert Prof David Spiegelhalter is unconvinced by this very strict safety standard. He says the margin of exposure figure is \"arbitrary\" and 33 times higher than the current margin for average adults in the UK, and he questions whether a public campaign should be launched on that basis."}], "question": "How much of a risk is acrylamide?", "id": "1038_3"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3083, "answer_end": 3828, "text": "Stopping smoking is the most important thing you can do to prevent cancer. Keeping a healthy bodyweight and eating a balanced diet ranks second. Our individual risk of cancer depends on a combination of genes, our environment and the lifestyle we lead, which we are able to control. The amount of acrylamide in our diets is one small element of our food intake which we can control to help reduce our risk of cancer during the whole of our lives. Research has shown that eating too much processed meat and red meat can increase the risk of developing cancer - that is a definite. Cooking meat at high temperatures such as grilling or barbecuing can produce cancer-causing chemicals called heterocyclic amines (HCAs) and polycyclic amines (PCAs)."}], "question": "Where does it rank alongside other risk factors for cancer?", "id": "1038_4"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3829, "answer_end": 4229, "text": "The FSA says the industry is doing its bit to find out how to reduce levels of acrylamide in food. A toolkit and brochures have been produced for food manufacturers and food businesses, giving information and advice. Evidence suggests the industry has been lowering levels of acrylamide in food over the past few years. But there are currently no rules on the maximum limits for the chemical in food."}], "question": "What is the food industry doing to help?", "id": "1038_5"}]}]}, {"title": "Five questions Jeff Sessions may face at Senate hearing", "date": "13 June 2017", "paragraphs": [{"context": "US Attorney General Jeff Sessions' appearance before the Senate Intelligence Committee on Tuesday is the biggest thing to hit Washington since, uh, last week. OK, so the sequel to the James Comey hearing doesn't have the same build-up as the original, but that doesn't mean that there won't be fireworks - or that the proceedings can't cause new headaches for the Trump administration. In a way, the attorney general's hearing is likely to be a mirror image of Mr Comey's, with Republicans lobbing friendly questions while Democrats sharpen their knives. Here's a look at five pressing questions that Mr Sessions could face. During his confirmation hearings in January, Mr Sessions answered this question with a negative - then had to plead a faulty memory when it was revealed that this was not, shall we say, an accurate account. Then-Senator Sessions had indeed had two meetings with Mr Kislyak. He visited with the ambassador - who is considered by some to be the top Russian spymaster in the US - around the time of the Republican convention, and he later hosted him in his Senate office. The subsequent disclosure of these meetings led directly to Mr Sessions' March announcement that he would recuse himself from the Justice Department's investigation into possible ties between the Trump campaign and the Russian government. Now, according to reports, there may have been a third meeting between the two men, perhaps before or after then-candidate Trump gave a high-profile foreign policy speech at the Mayflower Hotel on 27 April, 2016. This may have been the \"facts\" that Mr Comey was hinting at during last week's testimony when asked about Mr Sessions. \"He was very close to and inevitably going to recuse himself for a variety of reasons,\" the former FBI director said. \"We also were aware of facts that I can't discuss in an open setting that would make his continued engagement in a Russia-related investigation problematic.\" It was one of the more dramatic passages in Mr Comey's written statement last week - his revelation of a meeting in the White House on 14 February where Mr Trump told him he hoped he could let Flynn go. \"The President signalled the end of the briefing by thanking the group and telling them all that he wanted to speak to me alone,\" Mr Comey wrote. \"I stayed in my chair. As the participants started to leave the Oval Office, the Attorney General lingered by my chair, but the president thanked him and said he wanted to speak only with me.\" During his testimony Mr Comey described how he remembered Mr Sessions responding to the request. \"His body language gave me the sense, like, 'What am I going to do?'\" he said. Will Mr Sessions corroborate this account? Does he know anything more about what took place? If so, it could help bolster the contention that the president understood the pressure he planned to put on the then-director in private was improper, at best. Mr Comey wrote in his statement that after the awkward meeting with the president, in which he said that the former national security advisor Michael Flynn was a \"good guy\" but never told the president he would back off the investigation, the director reached out to Mr Sessions to express his concern. \"I took the opportunity to implore the attorney general to prevent any future direct communication between the president and me,\" Mr Comey recalled. \"I told the AG (attorney general) that what had just happened - him being asked to leave while the FBI director, who reports to the AG, remained behind - was inappropriate and should never happen. He did not reply.\" Mr Sessions will have another chance to reply on Tuesday - or challenge the veracity of the former director's testimony - and a great many more people than Mr Comey will be listening. When Mr Comey's firing was announced by the White House, the action was initially explained as the end result of a review process initiated within the Justice Department. Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein wrote a memo detailing the then-director's mishandling of the investigation into Hillary Clinton's private email server while she was secretary of state. Mr Sessions then forwarded the memo to the president, with his recommendation that Mr Comey be terminated. Mr Trump then accepted conclusion. All that, of course, was blown out of the water when Mr Trump told a television interviewer that he had always planned to fire Mr Comey and that the ongoing Russia investigation was in his mind when he made the decision. Given that Mr Sessions had officially recused himself from his department's Russia probe, the attorney general's involvement in a firing that now appears to have been motivated, at least in part, by Mr Comey's direction of the Russia probe has raised some eyebrows. \"Attorney General Sessions should not have had any involvement in this decision at all,\" Democratic Senator Al Franken of Minnesota said. \"He recused himself. And yet he inserted himself in this firing.\" A Justice Department spokesman has pushed back against these allegations in an email statement to the press. \"The recommendation to remove Director Comey was a personnel decision based on concerns about the effectiveness of his leadership as set forth in the Attorney General's letter,\" Sarah Isgur Flores writes. \"The recommendation had nothing to do with the substance of any investigation.\" Mr Sessions has the opportunity to add some clarity to the process behind Mr Comey's firing - or seek the protection of executive privilege, claiming that his private conversations with the president are legally shielded from outside scrutiny. Ever since the Mr Trump tweeted that Mr Comey \"better hope that there are no 'tapes' of our conversations before he starts leaking to the press!\" everyone in the Trump administration, from the president on down, has been asked if they have any knowledge of whether such recordings exist. The president himself has been cryptic, saying last week that he would make an announcement in a \"very short period of time\". \"Oh, you're going to be very disappointed when you hear the answer,\" he added. \"Don't worry.\" When asked on Monday, Press Secretary Sean Spicer said the president had been clear in his statement and he had nothing to add. Mr Sessions probably will be equally unhelpful, but that doesn't mean he won't be asked. And how he responds, even in a denial, could be plenty interesting.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 625, "answer_end": 1940, "text": "During his confirmation hearings in January, Mr Sessions answered this question with a negative - then had to plead a faulty memory when it was revealed that this was not, shall we say, an accurate account. Then-Senator Sessions had indeed had two meetings with Mr Kislyak. He visited with the ambassador - who is considered by some to be the top Russian spymaster in the US - around the time of the Republican convention, and he later hosted him in his Senate office. The subsequent disclosure of these meetings led directly to Mr Sessions' March announcement that he would recuse himself from the Justice Department's investigation into possible ties between the Trump campaign and the Russian government. Now, according to reports, there may have been a third meeting between the two men, perhaps before or after then-candidate Trump gave a high-profile foreign policy speech at the Mayflower Hotel on 27 April, 2016. This may have been the \"facts\" that Mr Comey was hinting at during last week's testimony when asked about Mr Sessions. \"He was very close to and inevitably going to recuse himself for a variety of reasons,\" the former FBI director said. \"We also were aware of facts that I can't discuss in an open setting that would make his continued engagement in a Russia-related investigation problematic.\""}], "question": "Did you have any undisclosed meetings with Russian Ambassador Sergei Kislyak?", "id": "1039_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1941, "answer_end": 2911, "text": "It was one of the more dramatic passages in Mr Comey's written statement last week - his revelation of a meeting in the White House on 14 February where Mr Trump told him he hoped he could let Flynn go. \"The President signalled the end of the briefing by thanking the group and telling them all that he wanted to speak to me alone,\" Mr Comey wrote. \"I stayed in my chair. As the participants started to leave the Oval Office, the Attorney General lingered by my chair, but the president thanked him and said he wanted to speak only with me.\" During his testimony Mr Comey described how he remembered Mr Sessions responding to the request. \"His body language gave me the sense, like, 'What am I going to do?'\" he said. Will Mr Sessions corroborate this account? Does he know anything more about what took place? If so, it could help bolster the contention that the president understood the pressure he planned to put on the then-director in private was improper, at best."}], "question": "Do you recall the president asking you to leave the Oval Office so that he could meet with then-FBI Director Comey alone?", "id": "1039_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2912, "answer_end": 3763, "text": "Mr Comey wrote in his statement that after the awkward meeting with the president, in which he said that the former national security advisor Michael Flynn was a \"good guy\" but never told the president he would back off the investigation, the director reached out to Mr Sessions to express his concern. \"I took the opportunity to implore the attorney general to prevent any future direct communication between the president and me,\" Mr Comey recalled. \"I told the AG (attorney general) that what had just happened - him being asked to leave while the FBI director, who reports to the AG, remained behind - was inappropriate and should never happen. He did not reply.\" Mr Sessions will have another chance to reply on Tuesday - or challenge the veracity of the former director's testimony - and a great many more people than Mr Comey will be listening."}], "question": "Did Comey tell you he didn't want to be left alone with the president?", "id": "1039_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3764, "answer_end": 5598, "text": "When Mr Comey's firing was announced by the White House, the action was initially explained as the end result of a review process initiated within the Justice Department. Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein wrote a memo detailing the then-director's mishandling of the investigation into Hillary Clinton's private email server while she was secretary of state. Mr Sessions then forwarded the memo to the president, with his recommendation that Mr Comey be terminated. Mr Trump then accepted conclusion. All that, of course, was blown out of the water when Mr Trump told a television interviewer that he had always planned to fire Mr Comey and that the ongoing Russia investigation was in his mind when he made the decision. Given that Mr Sessions had officially recused himself from his department's Russia probe, the attorney general's involvement in a firing that now appears to have been motivated, at least in part, by Mr Comey's direction of the Russia probe has raised some eyebrows. \"Attorney General Sessions should not have had any involvement in this decision at all,\" Democratic Senator Al Franken of Minnesota said. \"He recused himself. And yet he inserted himself in this firing.\" A Justice Department spokesman has pushed back against these allegations in an email statement to the press. \"The recommendation to remove Director Comey was a personnel decision based on concerns about the effectiveness of his leadership as set forth in the Attorney General's letter,\" Sarah Isgur Flores writes. \"The recommendation had nothing to do with the substance of any investigation.\" Mr Sessions has the opportunity to add some clarity to the process behind Mr Comey's firing - or seek the protection of executive privilege, claiming that his private conversations with the president are legally shielded from outside scrutiny."}], "question": "How involved were you in Comey's dismissal?", "id": "1039_3"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 5599, "answer_end": 6391, "text": "Ever since the Mr Trump tweeted that Mr Comey \"better hope that there are no 'tapes' of our conversations before he starts leaking to the press!\" everyone in the Trump administration, from the president on down, has been asked if they have any knowledge of whether such recordings exist. The president himself has been cryptic, saying last week that he would make an announcement in a \"very short period of time\". \"Oh, you're going to be very disappointed when you hear the answer,\" he added. \"Don't worry.\" When asked on Monday, Press Secretary Sean Spicer said the president had been clear in his statement and he had nothing to add. Mr Sessions probably will be equally unhelpful, but that doesn't mean he won't be asked. And how he responds, even in a denial, could be plenty interesting."}], "question": "Does the president have a secret White House recording system?", "id": "1039_4"}]}]}, {"title": "Primary tests: What are the changes?", "date": "10 May 2016", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Year 6 pupils across England are sitting new, more rigorous, national curriculum tests, known as Sats. The BBC News website answers some of the key questions about changes to - and complications with - the tests this year. Children in Year 2 (aged 6-7) and Year 6 (aged 10 and 11) are the first cohort to take new, more rigorous Sats tests this summer term. Children will still sit tests in reading, maths and spelling, punctuation and grammar. But the tests are more demanding than previous years, with more expected of pupils. Up until last year, Sats tests were graded on levels - for example Level 4 was the expected level for children finishing primary school. But these national curriculum levels have now been scrapped. Instead parents will be given their child's raw score (the actual number of marks they get) and whether they have reached the national average. Year 6 Sats are largely marked externally, while Year 2 Sats will still be marked by teachers at the school. Children who do not reach the expected level in their Key Stage 2 tests at the of primary will be expected to re-sit tests when they go on to secondary school. Tests for Year 6 (Key Stage 2) pupils are taking place between Monday 9 May and Friday 13 May this year. Tests for Year 2 (Key Stage 1) pupils are taking place during the month of May, at a time chosen by the school. Yes. It emerged in the early hours of Tuesday, on the morning it was due to be taken by 600,000 children, that a spelling, punctuation and grammar (SPAG) test had been published online. The Sats answers appeared for four hours on a password-protected website. The Department for Education blamed a \"rogue marker\" and put the leak down to an \"active campaign by those people opposed to our reforms to undermine these tests\" and says Tuesday's tests will go ahead as planned. It also emerged at the end of last month that a spelling and grammar test for Year 2 pupils had been accidentally put online by officials and the government was forced to scrap it. Half a million seven-year-olds in England had been due to take the test. Many schools run booster classes in the run-up to Sats, particularly for Year 6 children, to bolster pupils' chances of doing well. Some parents have their children privately tutored. The stakes are high for schools, as the data from the Year 2 and 6 Sats tests is used to publish school \"league tables\", which rank primary schools on performance. Critics of the tests, which were brought in 25 years ago to regulate educational standards, say this pressure on schools means pupils are taught to the test in their final year of primary school. Some schools offer pre-Sats breakfasts in an attempt to raise children's morale - and also to make sure they aren't hungry! Others write letters to pupils explaining that the tests are not the be all and end all of their school career. Earlier this week, an inspiring letter sent out to pupils by several schools went viral. Yes and no. Tests for Reception pupils are known as \"baseline tests\". They cover reading, writing and maths and are carried out when pupils start school.  The government had intended to use these tests to assess primary schools' performance. Schools could have opted to use them in September 2015 for the current Reception cohort. The tests were to be rolled out across all schools in September 2016 - but they have been postponed. In April, ministers abandoned the tests after a study showed the papers - which are offered by three different providers - could not be reliably compared.  Ministers admitted using them to measure primaries would be \"inappropriate and unfair\". With regard to these tests, critics had always maintained that testing four-year-olds is too much, too soon. Primary tests have changed in line with a new curriculum brought into England's schools by the Department for Education (DfE) in September 2014. The new curriculum covers primary school pupils, aged five to 11, as well as secondary school pupils up to the age of 14. We first knew about the changes two years ago, when the new curriculum was announced in March 2014, by the then Education Secretary Michael Gove. Parents can be forgiven for not remembering all this new information in a seemingly ever-changing landscape of education reform. The DfE has given schools further information on the changes to help them adapt their approach and assessment arrangements, including sample papers. The government says all children must leave primary school with a good standard of reading, writing and maths. The DfE's website says \"previous expectations for children were too low\". It says the new assessment system has been designed to reflect the \"new, more challenging national curriculum\". No. Critics say all these tests for primary-age children are an unnecessary burden. In the week before this year's round of primary tests, some parents took their children out of school for the day in protest at the pressure being put on children. But those in favour of testing say it holds schools to account - and that can only be good news for pupils and parents. There are no Sats in Scotland. However, Scotland's First Minister announced in August 2015 that new national, standardised assessments will be introduced for pupils in P1 (equivalent to Reception in England and Wales), P4 (Year 3) and P7 (Year 6). The new assessments will start in 2017, after being piloted in 2016, and will focus on literacy and numeracy. In Wales, statutory teacher assessments take place at the end of Key Stage 2 (Year 6), but pupils do not take Sats. From May 2013, all children in Wales from Years 2 to 9 have taken national reading and numeracy tests as part to a new national literacy and numeracy framework. Pupils in Northern Ireland are given computer-based assessments in numeracy and literacy - or InCAS tests - in Years 4 to 7 (equivalent to Years 3 to 6 in England and Wales). Teachers give pupils levels at the end of Key Stage 1 (Year 4) and Key Stage 2 based on how they perform in the general cross-curricular skills of communication, using Mathematics and using IT.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 223, "answer_end": 1139, "text": "Children in Year 2 (aged 6-7) and Year 6 (aged 10 and 11) are the first cohort to take new, more rigorous Sats tests this summer term. Children will still sit tests in reading, maths and spelling, punctuation and grammar. But the tests are more demanding than previous years, with more expected of pupils. Up until last year, Sats tests were graded on levels - for example Level 4 was the expected level for children finishing primary school. But these national curriculum levels have now been scrapped. Instead parents will be given their child's raw score (the actual number of marks they get) and whether they have reached the national average. Year 6 Sats are largely marked externally, while Year 2 Sats will still be marked by teachers at the school. Children who do not reach the expected level in their Key Stage 2 tests at the of primary will be expected to re-sit tests when they go on to secondary school."}], "question": "What are the changes to national curriculum tests (Sats) this year?", "id": "1040_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1140, "answer_end": 1356, "text": "Tests for Year 6 (Key Stage 2) pupils are taking place between Monday 9 May and Friday 13 May this year. Tests for Year 2 (Key Stage 1) pupils are taking place during the month of May, at a time chosen by the school."}], "question": "When are the Sats tests this year?", "id": "1040_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1357, "answer_end": 2084, "text": "Yes. It emerged in the early hours of Tuesday, on the morning it was due to be taken by 600,000 children, that a spelling, punctuation and grammar (SPAG) test had been published online. The Sats answers appeared for four hours on a password-protected website. The Department for Education blamed a \"rogue marker\" and put the leak down to an \"active campaign by those people opposed to our reforms to undermine these tests\" and says Tuesday's tests will go ahead as planned. It also emerged at the end of last month that a spelling and grammar test for Year 2 pupils had been accidentally put online by officials and the government was forced to scrap it. Half a million seven-year-olds in England had been due to take the test."}], "question": "Hasn't there been a problem with a published paper?", "id": "1040_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2629, "answer_end": 2953, "text": "Some schools offer pre-Sats breakfasts in an attempt to raise children's morale - and also to make sure they aren't hungry! Others write letters to pupils explaining that the tests are not the be all and end all of their school career. Earlier this week, an inspiring letter sent out to pupils by several schools went viral."}], "question": "How are pupils helped to cope with the pressure?", "id": "1040_3"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2954, "answer_end": 3738, "text": "Yes and no. Tests for Reception pupils are known as \"baseline tests\". They cover reading, writing and maths and are carried out when pupils start school.  The government had intended to use these tests to assess primary schools' performance. Schools could have opted to use them in September 2015 for the current Reception cohort. The tests were to be rolled out across all schools in September 2016 - but they have been postponed. In April, ministers abandoned the tests after a study showed the papers - which are offered by three different providers - could not be reliably compared.  Ministers admitted using them to measure primaries would be \"inappropriate and unfair\". With regard to these tests, critics had always maintained that testing four-year-olds is too much, too soon."}], "question": "Aren't there tests for Reception children now as well?", "id": "1040_4"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3739, "answer_end": 4005, "text": "Primary tests have changed in line with a new curriculum brought into England's schools by the Department for Education (DfE) in September 2014. The new curriculum covers primary school pupils, aged five to 11, as well as secondary school pupils up to the age of 14."}], "question": "Why have primary tests changed?", "id": "1040_5"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 4006, "answer_end": 4429, "text": "We first knew about the changes two years ago, when the new curriculum was announced in March 2014, by the then Education Secretary Michael Gove. Parents can be forgiven for not remembering all this new information in a seemingly ever-changing landscape of education reform. The DfE has given schools further information on the changes to help them adapt their approach and assessment arrangements, including sample papers."}], "question": "When did we first know Sats were changing?", "id": "1040_6"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 4430, "answer_end": 4726, "text": "The government says all children must leave primary school with a good standard of reading, writing and maths. The DfE's website says \"previous expectations for children were too low\". It says the new assessment system has been designed to reflect the \"new, more challenging national curriculum\"."}], "question": "Why were all these changes brought in?", "id": "1040_7"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 4727, "answer_end": 5094, "text": "No. Critics say all these tests for primary-age children are an unnecessary burden. In the week before this year's round of primary tests, some parents took their children out of school for the day in protest at the pressure being put on children. But those in favour of testing say it holds schools to account - and that can only be good news for pupils and parents."}], "question": "Does everyone agree with the tests?", "id": "1040_8"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 5095, "answer_end": 6098, "text": "There are no Sats in Scotland. However, Scotland's First Minister announced in August 2015 that new national, standardised assessments will be introduced for pupils in P1 (equivalent to Reception in England and Wales), P4 (Year 3) and P7 (Year 6). The new assessments will start in 2017, after being piloted in 2016, and will focus on literacy and numeracy. In Wales, statutory teacher assessments take place at the end of Key Stage 2 (Year 6), but pupils do not take Sats. From May 2013, all children in Wales from Years 2 to 9 have taken national reading and numeracy tests as part to a new national literacy and numeracy framework. Pupils in Northern Ireland are given computer-based assessments in numeracy and literacy - or InCAS tests - in Years 4 to 7 (equivalent to Years 3 to 6 in England and Wales). Teachers give pupils levels at the end of Key Stage 1 (Year 4) and Key Stage 2 based on how they perform in the general cross-curricular skills of communication, using Mathematics and using IT."}], "question": "What happens in primary schools elsewhere in the UK?", "id": "1040_9"}]}]}, {"title": "Taiwan seeks recipe for success for its cuisine", "date": "17 June 2015", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Surrounded by the sea, Mother Nature has blessed Taiwan with an abundance of marine life. And with plenty of farms located near cities, there's always a ready supply of fresh ingredients for your next meal. But ask any outsider about their knowledge of Taiwan's food, and you are likely to get a perplexed look, unlike its neighbours Japan and Korea, whose cuisines have very distinct identities. Other than bubble tea, few culinary inventions from Taiwan have gained fame beyond its borders, while the island only has one internationally-known food brand - dumpling maker Din Tai Fung. Now, Taiwan wants to raise the profile of its little-known cuisine, hoping to be known for more than just making many of the world's high-tech gadgets. To this end, the island has been organising the annual Taiwan Culinary Exhibition at home, as well as roadshows abroad. Such efforts have brought in more tourists and given a boost to Taiwan's food and beverage industry, valued at $14bn (PS9bn) in 2014. But despite government assistance to help restaurants expand overseas and build a name for Taiwanese cuisine, not many have succeeded. So far, only Din Tai Fung has managed to break out. The dumpling chain has opened 112 restaurants in 11 destinations around the world, from Sydney and Singapore to far-flung Seattle in the US. But its success may not be easily duplicated. Its fame stems from a strong focus on quality, and some luck. Din Tai Fung started selling its juicy minced pork dumplings in the 1980s and they proved immensely popular with the locals. But they were unknown worldwide until 1993, when the New York Times listed the restaurant as one of the world's top 10. Further recognition followed - fans now include Hollywood celebrities and and it's the only food brand in Taiwan that has earned a Michelin star. But others are struggling to match such success. Restaurant chain Shin Yeh has found it hard to expand overseas, as experts say its dishes - more complicated than Din Tai Fung's dumplings - are harder to duplicate abroad without exporting top chefs. But perhaps the main reason is simply that people overseas are unfamiliar with Taiwanese food. Some say even the Taiwanese themselves are not sure what constitutes Taiwanese food, and which dishes should take centre stage. \"Only since 2000, when the Taiwanese sense of identity became stronger, did we start to wonder what Taiwanese food is - what can we present in terms of food that represents Taiwan?\" says May Chang, chief executive of the Foundation of Chinese Dietary Culture, which promotes Taiwan's cuisine. Taiwan's population is made up of immigrants, a majority from mainland China, so many if its recipes originate from there. The island was also a Japanese colony for 50 years, which explains the influence of flavours still present in some dishes to this day. Ms Chang says it's hard to find one type of food to represent Taiwan. \"A lot of our food comes from China,\" she says. \"For instance, oyster omelettes can also be found in China's Fujian province, so can beef noodle soup, even though we say ours is more tasty. And we have different ethnic groups who came from different parts of China, so it's sensitive - we can't just choose one group's food over another's to represent Taiwanese cuisine.\" The Taiwanese feel so strongly about having an identity of their own, including their own food, that a heated debate arose a few years ago - after an international publication claimed that the popular local dish \"braised pork rice\" originated from mainland China. Many on the island argued that it was purely Taiwanese. But Taiwan does have unique flavours to its cuisine, which becomes immediately obvious during a visit to any night market. Some of the food may have originated from China or been influenced by other countries, but it has been re-invented by the Taiwanese. Examples include \"small sausage in big sausage\" (a pork sausage topped with pickled fillings stuffed in an open, bigger rice sausage), \"sesame oil chicken\" (chicken stewed in sesame oil and rice wine), \"coffin bread\" (a thick toast filled with a seafood soup), and \"san su\" (stir-fried fern with anchovies). The fern dish is one from Taiwan's indigenous tribes, another favourite being fish cooked using heated stones. Much of the tribes' cuisine is distinctive and not commonly seen, but this could soon change. The cuisine of Taiwan's indigenous people is increasingly being valued. In the past, they didn't have the ability to promote their own food because of the high costs, so it was mainly tasted by Taiwanese people on sightseeing trips to the tribal areas. But now there are companies providing funding to set up restaurants that hire indigenous people to work as cooks. They're also opening their own restaurants, like Daluan Restaurant, owned by a member of the Amis tribe. Hsia Hui-wen, founder of Taiwan Chefs Federation, says the government should do more to promote Taiwan's food. \"We have to let people know our food is distinctive - it's made in a healthier way than Chinese cuisine, with less heavy sauces, and includes flavours from immigrants,\" he says. He argues the island's cuisine is becoming better known. \"Taiwanese cuisine was previously not even considered a type of Chinese cuisine (like Sichuanese or Cantonese cuisine), but now there is such a category,\" Mr. Hsia said. \"And in many countries' Chinatowns, you can see Taiwanese restaurants (unlike in the past when you would only see Chinese restaurants)... it's become a brand,\" he said. Some wonder whether it matters that Taiwan's food comes from elsewhere. The point is being proud of it. While some young chefs at Taipei's Kai Ping Culinary School say they are more interested in opening Japanese or other restaurants after graduating, because they think it's more profitable, others are aspiring to represent Taiwan's food on the global stage. \"What we need to do is make our food stand out, such as by using more local ingredients, and innovating new flavours that no one else has but everybody loves,\" says student chef Shao Chi-han. There's an increasing trend to do just that - combining different flavours and cooking styles of Taiwan's indigenous and ethnic groups as well as other countries, using local ingredients and presenting it in a new way. This can be seen in an increasing number of restaurants, including at top hotels. But for now, Din Tai Fung is an exception and a lesson: If Taiwan wants more of its cuisine to win over palettes around the world, not only will it have to make its food taste great, but ensure it becomes a well recognised brand, just like the famous little dumplings.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 2293, "answer_end": 4169, "text": "\"Only since 2000, when the Taiwanese sense of identity became stronger, did we start to wonder what Taiwanese food is - what can we present in terms of food that represents Taiwan?\" says May Chang, chief executive of the Foundation of Chinese Dietary Culture, which promotes Taiwan's cuisine. Taiwan's population is made up of immigrants, a majority from mainland China, so many if its recipes originate from there. The island was also a Japanese colony for 50 years, which explains the influence of flavours still present in some dishes to this day. Ms Chang says it's hard to find one type of food to represent Taiwan. \"A lot of our food comes from China,\" she says. \"For instance, oyster omelettes can also be found in China's Fujian province, so can beef noodle soup, even though we say ours is more tasty. And we have different ethnic groups who came from different parts of China, so it's sensitive - we can't just choose one group's food over another's to represent Taiwanese cuisine.\" The Taiwanese feel so strongly about having an identity of their own, including their own food, that a heated debate arose a few years ago - after an international publication claimed that the popular local dish \"braised pork rice\" originated from mainland China. Many on the island argued that it was purely Taiwanese. But Taiwan does have unique flavours to its cuisine, which becomes immediately obvious during a visit to any night market. Some of the food may have originated from China or been influenced by other countries, but it has been re-invented by the Taiwanese. Examples include \"small sausage in big sausage\" (a pork sausage topped with pickled fillings stuffed in an open, bigger rice sausage), \"sesame oil chicken\" (chicken stewed in sesame oil and rice wine), \"coffin bread\" (a thick toast filled with a seafood soup), and \"san su\" (stir-fried fern with anchovies)."}], "question": "Culinary identity?", "id": "1041_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Historic Brexit summit: 10 key questions", "date": "25 November 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "It is a significant moment in European history - the EU's 28 leaders have approved the \"divorce\" agreement for the UK to withdraw from the bloc. No member state has ever left the European Union before and this summit - two years and five months after the UK's Brexit referendum - is a culmination of months of tough negotiation. But is this really the end? There are two documents. The withdrawal agreement The so-called divorce part: a 585-page internationally binding legal text that sets out the terms of how the UK leaves the EU on 29 March 2019. Importantly it also provides for a transition period which begins the same day Britain leaves and lasts until 31 December 2020, although it could be extended to the end of 2022.  And it has a \"backstop\", an arrangement that says if the UK hasn't negotiated a new relationship with the EU by the end of the transition it will stay in the bloc's customs union, to prevent the need for a border between Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic. This is the roadmap for the relationship between the UK and EU after Brexit. Much shorter at 26 pages, and not legally binding, the declaration calls for an \"ambitious, broad, deep and flexible partnership across trade and economic co-operation, law enforcement and criminal justice, foreign policy, security and defence and wider areas of co-operation\". It is long on aspiration but very short on detail. Although they are usually - but not always - too polite to say so, they all think the UK is making a historic mistake. The political declaration makes clear, as the EU has said all long since the referendum, that the UK will not have as good a relationship with the EU outside the club than in it.  By and large most of them just want Brexit over and done with now, although some countries are concerned about specific issues, such as fishing rights in British waters, and Spain wants more of a say over Gibraltar. Apart from the obvious - getting agreement on the two documents - for Theresa May this is all about momentum. She is hoping that the weight of approval by the EU27, including such big names as German's Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron, will convince British politicians this is a very big deal indeed, of international proportions. Absolutely - this will be possibly the hardest sell any British politician has had to make since 1945. Theresa May's deal is loathed by Leavers and Remainers alike. Indeed, rarely can a policy of such historic importance be so unloved by so many. For Brexiteers the deal keeps the UK far too close to the EU, while Remainers fear the opposite and see the deal as infinitely worse than membership. The question is whether MPs can learn to live with her plans for Brexit, if not love them. It's thought the big vote in the UK Parliament could come some time in the second week of December. It was US President Lyndon Baines Johnson (LBJ), who said the first rule of politics was to be able to count. Although there are 650 MPs, for various reasons some of them, like the Speaker, don't vote, so the magic number for victory for Mrs May is 320. But there are only 315 Conservative MPs and the BBC estimates nearly 60 hardline Brexiteers in the party and 14 Remainers are likely to vote against.  She also appears to have lost the support of the 10 MPs from the Northern Ireland party she relies on for big votes, the DUP. And of course all the opposition parties have said they will vote against it. If you look at the numbers above, and how unloved the deal is, it looks unlikely. But it could happen. Don't forget: - The clock will be ticking on Britain's departure - Businesses will put pressure on MPs to end the uncertainty - MPs know many voters just want them to get on with it - Lots of arm-twisting and persuasion from party managers - Fear of the alternatives to voting yes No-one knows for sure, but here are some of the options: A health warning on such predictions: it's important to say that if UK politics are already in uncharted waters, a no vote could send them off the navigational map altogether. Even her political opponents, which at the moment includes most British politicians, have sympathy for her. Most admire her astonishing resilience and doggedness, even if they think the mess is partly her fault. Like the politicians, many voters appear to have a sneaking admiration for Mrs May's determination and feel a bit sorry for her, not that pity is necessarily a good look for a politician. As to what they make of the deal, the opinions polls suggest people don't like it, but that they don't think any other leader could get a better one. But what should perhaps worry Theresa May is that the polls also suggest that if forced to choose, more people would prefer another referendum to accepting her deal. Could the public mood be changing just as Mrs May hopes to be bringing at least this part of Brexit to an end?", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1398, "answer_end": 1912, "text": "Although they are usually - but not always - too polite to say so, they all think the UK is making a historic mistake. The political declaration makes clear, as the EU has said all long since the referendum, that the UK will not have as good a relationship with the EU outside the club than in it.  By and large most of them just want Brexit over and done with now, although some countries are concerned about specific issues, such as fishing rights in British waters, and Spain wants more of a say over Gibraltar."}], "question": "What do the EU27 think of Brexit?", "id": "1042_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1913, "answer_end": 2262, "text": "Apart from the obvious - getting agreement on the two documents - for Theresa May this is all about momentum. She is hoping that the weight of approval by the EU27, including such big names as German's Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron, will convince British politicians this is a very big deal indeed, of international proportions."}], "question": "Why is this important for Theresa May?", "id": "1042_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2751, "answer_end": 2850, "text": "It's thought the big vote in the UK Parliament could come some time in the second week of December."}], "question": "When will we know if she is successful?", "id": "1042_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2851, "answer_end": 3459, "text": "It was US President Lyndon Baines Johnson (LBJ), who said the first rule of politics was to be able to count. Although there are 650 MPs, for various reasons some of them, like the Speaker, don't vote, so the magic number for victory for Mrs May is 320. But there are only 315 Conservative MPs and the BBC estimates nearly 60 hardline Brexiteers in the party and 14 Remainers are likely to vote against.  She also appears to have lost the support of the 10 MPs from the Northern Ireland party she relies on for big votes, the DUP. And of course all the opposition parties have said they will vote against it."}], "question": "The numbers don't look good for Theresa May, do they?", "id": "1042_3"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3844, "answer_end": 4076, "text": "No-one knows for sure, but here are some of the options: A health warning on such predictions: it's important to say that if UK politics are already in uncharted waters, a no vote could send them off the navigational map altogether."}], "question": "What are those alternatives if the deal is voted down?", "id": "1042_4"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 4077, "answer_end": 4288, "text": "Even her political opponents, which at the moment includes most British politicians, have sympathy for her. Most admire her astonishing resilience and doggedness, even if they think the mess is partly her fault."}], "question": "Do other politicians feel sorry for Mrs May?", "id": "1042_5"}]}]}, {"title": "UK and France pledge 'close co-operation' to resolve Calais migrants issue", "date": "30 August 2016", "paragraphs": [{"context": "The UK and France have pledged to work together and \"step up\" moves to improve the migrant situation in Calais. A statement, released after Home Secretary Amber Rudd met her French counterpart Bernard Cazeneuve, said both countries would resolve the situation through \"close co-operation\". It said the UK and France would also further secure the port and tunnel. The show of unity follows calls to allow migrants to lodge UK asylum claims on French soil. But this plan was dismissed by a Home Office source as a \"complete non-starter\". The Jungle camp in Calais has become the focal point of France's refugee crisis, with about 7,000 people living there. In the statement the two countries agreed to: - Bear down on the organised crime gangs exploiting the vulnerable. Twenty-eight criminal networks have been disrupted in 2015, and an additional 28 since the beginning of this year - Address the humanitarian challenges in Calais as around 7,000 migrants are now present including 5,000 without housing - Work together to return illegal migrants in Calais who are not in need of protection - Further secure the port. A total of 100 million Euros have already been provided by British authorities to reinforce security, and the French authorities have been providing 1,000 police day and night to prevent intrusion. This scheme has just been recently reinforced with 160 additional officers. Ms Rudd and Mr Cazeneuve said: \"The two countries recognise the humanitarian situation in Calais that affects both countries and the need to step up joint efforts to improve the situation in Calais.\" On Monday, Xavier Bertrand, the president of the region, said Calais migrants should be allowed to lodge UK asylum claims in France. Under the 2003 Le Touquet deal between France and the UK, Britain can carry out checks in Calais on people heading for the UK, while French officials do the equivalent in Dover. But Mr Bertrand said he wanted a \"new treatment\" for asylum seekers trying to get to the UK and said people living in the Calais camp known as the Jungle should be able to apply at a \"hotspot\" in France rather than waiting to reach Britain. Those who failed would be deported directly to their country of origin, he said. Current rules known as the Dublin Regulation say refugees must register in the first European country they reach. This country usually takes charge of their asylum claim. Many try to reach the UK by hiding inside vehicles entering the nearby port and the Channel Tunnel. Mr Bertrand, who is the president of Hauts-de-France region, does not have the power to change the treaty, but some of the candidates looking to win next year's French presidential election, including former President Nicolas Sarkozy, agree it should be reformed or scrapped. Debate over border controls was a key issue in the EU referendum campaign, with David Cameron claiming the Jungle could move to England if the UK left the EU. But just weeks after the warning, the then-PM and French President Francois Hollande agreed a \"mutual commitment\" to keep it in place. After the Brexit vote, new UK PM Theresa May and Mr Hollande reiterated the commitment. The BBC's Paris correspondent Hugh Schofield said it was possible there could be a \"looming confrontation between Britain and France on Calais, but it's not going to be here and it's not going to be now\". Under EU rules, known as the Dublin Regulation, asylum seekers should claim asylum in the first safe country they come to. British officials must also take responsibility for claims made elsewhere in the EU if the person can demonstrate they have close family members living legally in the UK. Electronic fingerprinting means many who make it further into Europe will end up being sent back to Italy or Greece, where many first entered the EU. UK politicians say under the Dublin rules, migrants in Calais should claim asylum in France if they need protection. But many migrants say their life in France is \"no good\", and they hope for better opportunities in the UK. Reality Check: Will migrants be allowed to claim UK asylum in France? Meanwhile, Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, said he had \"seldom seen anything so disgusting as those fetid camps in a land of plenty\". He said he had raised the issue of the camps with French and UK authorities. A spokesman for the prime minister said the UK and France are committed to the Le Touquet agreement, and the issue of the Jungle was a matter for French authorities.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 3359, "answer_end": 4096, "text": "Under EU rules, known as the Dublin Regulation, asylum seekers should claim asylum in the first safe country they come to. British officials must also take responsibility for claims made elsewhere in the EU if the person can demonstrate they have close family members living legally in the UK. Electronic fingerprinting means many who make it further into Europe will end up being sent back to Italy or Greece, where many first entered the EU. UK politicians say under the Dublin rules, migrants in Calais should claim asylum in France if they need protection. But many migrants say their life in France is \"no good\", and they hope for better opportunities in the UK. Reality Check: Will migrants be allowed to claim UK asylum in France?"}], "question": "Why don't Calais migrants claim asylum in France?", "id": "1043_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Boris Nemtsov: Russians march in memory of slain Putin opponent", "date": "29 February 2020", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Thousands of people have taken to the streets of Russia's capital to mark five years since the murder of opposition leader Boris Nemtsov. Mr Nemtsov, a former deputy prime minister and prominent Kremlin critic, was shot dead in 2015. Participants on Saturday also used the march to protest against controversial plans to change the constitution. Opponents say President Vladimir Putin wants to make the changes to retain power after his term ends in 2024. Organisers said linking the annual commemorative march with a protest against constitutional reform was what Mr Nemtsov would have wanted. \"This is exactly what Boris Nemtsov was fighting for, and he gave his life for it,\" they wrote on the event's web page. Police said about 10,000 people took part in the Moscow march, while monitoring organisation White Counter estimated there were more than 22,000 participants. Those taking part carried photos of Mr Nemtsov and signs bearing anti-Putin messages, such as \"No to eternal Putin\" and \"No to the usurpation of power\". Energy worker Sergei Tsaplienko told Reuters news agency he was joining the march because he wanted freedom and democracy. \"I haven't got the strength to stand the government's abuses of power,\" he said. \"The constitution is about to be transformed into some sort of comic strip.\" Mr Putin proposed an overhaul of the constitution - including a slight redistribution of powers between branches of the government - in January. He said the changes would make the constitution more democratic and more effective, but the proposals have been widely seen as a way of allowing him to extend his grip on power after leaving the presidency. The changes will be put to a national vote in April. Demonstrators on Saturday also called for authorities to find and prosecute those who orchestrated the killing of Mr Nemtsov. Mr Nemtsov rose to political prominence in the 1990s as a liberal reformer and deputy prime minister under President Boris Yeltsin. His political fortunes waned when Mr Putin took over the presidency, but he became an important opposition force as anti-Putin protests erupted in 2011. He was openly critical of Russia's involvement in eastern Ukraine after the annexation of Crimea in 2014. On the night before his death, he took part in a radio interview in which he backed a protest march. Mr Nemtsov's allies accused the Kremlin of involvement in his murder. Putin condemned the murder as \"vile\" and vowed to find the killers. Five Chechen men were convicted over Mr Nemtsov's killing, but family and supporters of the slain politician believe the person who ordered the murder remains at large. Demonstrations in his memory also took place on Saturday in other cities in Russia, including St Petersburg.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1839, "answer_end": 2746, "text": "Mr Nemtsov rose to political prominence in the 1990s as a liberal reformer and deputy prime minister under President Boris Yeltsin. His political fortunes waned when Mr Putin took over the presidency, but he became an important opposition force as anti-Putin protests erupted in 2011. He was openly critical of Russia's involvement in eastern Ukraine after the annexation of Crimea in 2014. On the night before his death, he took part in a radio interview in which he backed a protest march. Mr Nemtsov's allies accused the Kremlin of involvement in his murder. Putin condemned the murder as \"vile\" and vowed to find the killers. Five Chechen men were convicted over Mr Nemtsov's killing, but family and supporters of the slain politician believe the person who ordered the murder remains at large. Demonstrations in his memory also took place on Saturday in other cities in Russia, including St Petersburg."}], "question": "Who was Boris Nemtsov?", "id": "1044_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Polar vortex: Ice quakes, burning railways and other quirky effects", "date": "30 January 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "The icy winds of the polar vortex have set US teeth chattering, blowing in a flurry of quirky results, from \"frost quakes\" to burning railway tracks - and a debate on whether Americans are going soft. Cryoseisms - also known as \"frost quakes\" - have been reported by Ohio and Pennsylvania residents who have been hearing loud booms from the ground. The quakes are caused when large amounts of moisture settle into the earth from snow and rain, then a rapid plunge in temperature causes the ice to explosively expand. \"It sounded like a big piece of furniture fell over,\" Dillsburg, Pennsylvania, resident Michelle Tebbetts told WHP-TV. \"These frost quakes, they sound more like a boom or a bang and then we get a little shake in the house,\" said Steven Tebbetts. Kentucky Governor Matt Bevin, whose state is experiencing temperatures of -14C (6F), lamented school closures in a radio interview on Tuesday. \"I mean, what happens to America?\" the Republican said, twice adding: \"We're getting soft.\" \"I'm being only slightly facetious,\" he said, \"but it does concern me a little bit that in America on this and any number of other fronts, we're sending messages to our young people that if life is hard you can curl up in the foetal position - somewhere in a warm place - and wait till it stops being hard, and that just isn't reality, it just isn't.\" The Kentucky Education Association said in a statement on Twitter: \"We will always support decisions made for the health & safety of Kentucky's children. Always.\" NBC news national meteorologist Al Roker condemned Mr Bevin as a \"nitwit governor\" on Wednesday. Others have been taking to social media to dare him to spend more than 15 minutes outside in the cold. Commuter train tracks in Chicago have been set ablaze as transit workers try to keep the steel from freezing, so trains can keep moving. Overhead video captured by news helicopters show flames licking the rails. \"Basically, what the fires are, they're gas powered switch heaters and essentially you're looking at a giant gas grill,\" Metra Commuter Rail spokeswoman Mel Riele told the Chicago Tribune. The heat from the fire keeps the metal from contracting, causing fractures in the tracks, and also prevents switches from freezing or bolts coming out of the rails, she said. Residents in at least 10 US states won't be receiving their mail on Wednesday, as the chill has caused the US Postal Service to cancel deliveries. It's not the first time that mail has been cancelled due to weather, but typically that has been due to massive amounts of snow accumulated on roads by drifting winds. So much for the US Postal Service's unofficial motto: \"Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds.\" The National Weather Service has warned that people in Iowa should \"avoid taking deep breaths\" and \"minimise talking\" while exposed to the cold. \"Dry, extremely cold air can irritate the lungs, cause shortness of breath and trigger asthma attacks for those with lung-related diseases like asthma,\" the American Lung Association said in a warning. If you must go outside, be sure to cover your face and mouth with a scarf or mask to warm the air you inhale, experts say. Temperatures in the town of Hell, Michigan - its actual motto is \"Go to Hell\" - have hit -22F (-30C), cueing up a somewhat predictable gag. Chicago's production of the musical Hamilton has been cancelled, leading to this history buffs' joke. It's a reference to US Treasury Secretary Alexander Hamilton's duelling death at the hands of then-US Vice-President Aaron Burr in 1804. Some Chicago residents have blended their city's name with Siberia, Russia - dubbing it \"Chiberia\". Buffalo Zoo in upstate New York is closed on Wednesday because of the weather, but that's just fine by its resident polar bear Sakari. Chicago's Brookfield Zoo as well as the city's Lincoln Park Zoo are both closed and most animals will be brought indoors, representatives said. But polar bears and other species specially adapted to extreme cold, such as Arctic foxes and penguins, will be allowed to remain to frolic in the snow and ice. Across the internet, people are throwing cups of boiling water in the air, with the liquid immediately turning to ice crystals that appear as vapour in the dry air. The viral sensation is proving especially popular among meteorologists, science teachers, and children who have been told to stay home from school due to the conditions. Other have taken to filling water pistols with boiling water to create steaming arcs across their backyards. Others are blowing soap bubbles and watching them freeze into an icy sphere in midair. Police in McClean, Illinois, posted a photo of a staged arrest of Elsa, also known as the Snow Queen from Disney's 2013 film Frozen. \"Due to the EXTREME COLD weather, all criminal activity and acts of stupidity and foolishness has been cancelled... Even Elsa has been placed under arrest with NO BOND until further notice,\" they wrote in a Facebook post. The image was originally posted in 2015 by officers in Hanahan, South Carolina, but that hasn't stopped some from insisting they \"let her go\" in reference to the title of the Academy Award-winning song from the film.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 763, "answer_end": 1712, "text": "Kentucky Governor Matt Bevin, whose state is experiencing temperatures of -14C (6F), lamented school closures in a radio interview on Tuesday. \"I mean, what happens to America?\" the Republican said, twice adding: \"We're getting soft.\" \"I'm being only slightly facetious,\" he said, \"but it does concern me a little bit that in America on this and any number of other fronts, we're sending messages to our young people that if life is hard you can curl up in the foetal position - somewhere in a warm place - and wait till it stops being hard, and that just isn't reality, it just isn't.\" The Kentucky Education Association said in a statement on Twitter: \"We will always support decisions made for the health & safety of Kentucky's children. Always.\" NBC news national meteorologist Al Roker condemned Mr Bevin as a \"nitwit governor\" on Wednesday. Others have been taking to social media to dare him to spend more than 15 minutes outside in the cold."}], "question": "America getting soft?", "id": "1045_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Nigeria election: Oby Ezekwesili to stand for president", "date": "8 October 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Nigeria's presidential election was shaping up to be a contest between two veteran male politicians, but the candidacy of Oby Ezekwesili could change that. Women have run for the presidency before but she is the most prominent Nigerian woman to challenge for the top job, the BBC's Nigeria reporter Chris Ewokor says. Ms Ezekwesili is well known for leading the #BringBackOurGirls campaign to help free the 276 girls kidnapped from Chibok, northern Nigeria, in 2014. She has also served as the country's education minister and vice-president of the World Bank. But come February's vote it will be a tough challenge to unseat incumbent President Muhammadu Buhari, 75, or beat the main opposition candidate, Atiku Abubakar, 72, who both have formidable party machines behind them. The deadline to register for the election passed at midnight local time (23:00 GMT) on Sunday and at least nine candidates in all are thought to have submitted their papers. At the weekend, President Buhari was nominated by his All Progressives Congress (APC) and Mr Abubakar beat a field of 11 others to become the flag bearer for the People's Democratic Party (PDP). The two parties have supplied all of Nigeria's presidents since the end of military rule in 1999. For Ms Ezekwesili the men she is facing represent a \"mediocre political class that bumbles from one crisis to another\", as she told the meeting of the Allied Congress Party of Nigeria (ACPN), where her candidacy was declared. She is setting herself up as the anti-establishment candidate, calling the politicians in charge of the country part of \"an evil ruling class\". And, in an Obama-like move, the ACPN is labelling her as the \"hope\" candidate. Ms Ezekwesili, who is 55 years old, is also trying to appeal to the youth of the country, saying that the people in charge do not understand the technological changes that are happening. More than 50% of Nigerians are under the age of 30. \"How can a country gifted with millions of young, vibrant, brilliant people, be satisfied with just being [an] onlooker?\" she asked. Chris Ewokor, BBC Africa, Abuja Along with reaching out to Nigeria's youth, Ms Ezekwesili has an obvious appeal to women, and her high profile in the country and international respectability could also boost her candidacy. She is also from the south of the country, while the two leading men are from the north, so this could help her pick up votes among southerners who want one of their own to lead the country. Ms Ezekwesili is likely to elicit some support and could make the APC and PDP nervous, but the power of the established parties may be hard to overcome. Many in the country are hungry and live under extreme economic pressure and could be tempted to back parties with deeper pockets if they are promised money to vote a particular way. The APC and PDP have countrywide structures and a war chest that could clearly outspend Ms Ezekwesili. In response, her party has launched a funding campaign to try and build up its financial resources, but it is not clear if that will be enough. The main opposition candidate is turning his fire onto the country's current leadership. \"The task to get Nigeria working again starts now,\" he tweeted after he won the PDP's nomination. Mr Abubakar, a powerful political figure and wealthy businessman, fought off a strong field including the leader of Nigeria's senate, Bukola Saraki, to get the nomination. He served as vice-president from 1999 to 2007 and has made several attempts to run for the presidency, but has only once before secured the nomination of a major party. He ran for Action Congress, a precursor to the APC, against the PDP's Umaru Yar'Adua and Mr Buhari in 2007. Mr Abubakar gained 7.5% of the vote but complained of widespread fraud. The president is under a lot of pressure as he runs for re-election. He won the 2015 election, beating incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan, as the change candidate, but he has left a lot of people disappointed. The country slipped into recession in 2016 and economic growth has been slow since then. Nigerians are also questioning whether the government has got a grip on insecurity in the country. But the president argues that progress has been made on the economy, saying that his government has \"checked the slide [into] anarchy on the security and economic fronts\". More than 270 girls were kidnapped by Islamist militant group Boko Haram from a school in the north-eastern town of Chibok in 2014. The government was slow to react, with some in authority accusing opposition politicians of making the story up for political gain. But a massive social media campaign under the hashtag #BringBackOurGirls brought the story to international attention. Ms Ezekwesili was one of its leading voices. Many of those who were taken have now been released, but more than 100 of the kidnapped schoolgirls are still being held and their whereabouts are unknown.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1246, "answer_end": 2066, "text": "For Ms Ezekwesili the men she is facing represent a \"mediocre political class that bumbles from one crisis to another\", as she told the meeting of the Allied Congress Party of Nigeria (ACPN), where her candidacy was declared. She is setting herself up as the anti-establishment candidate, calling the politicians in charge of the country part of \"an evil ruling class\". And, in an Obama-like move, the ACPN is labelling her as the \"hope\" candidate. Ms Ezekwesili, who is 55 years old, is also trying to appeal to the youth of the country, saying that the people in charge do not understand the technological changes that are happening. More than 50% of Nigerians are under the age of 30. \"How can a country gifted with millions of young, vibrant, brilliant people, be satisfied with just being [an] onlooker?\" she asked."}], "question": "What is Oby Ezekwesili's message?", "id": "1046_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2067, "answer_end": 3062, "text": "Chris Ewokor, BBC Africa, Abuja Along with reaching out to Nigeria's youth, Ms Ezekwesili has an obvious appeal to women, and her high profile in the country and international respectability could also boost her candidacy. She is also from the south of the country, while the two leading men are from the north, so this could help her pick up votes among southerners who want one of their own to lead the country. Ms Ezekwesili is likely to elicit some support and could make the APC and PDP nervous, but the power of the established parties may be hard to overcome. Many in the country are hungry and live under extreme economic pressure and could be tempted to back parties with deeper pockets if they are promised money to vote a particular way. The APC and PDP have countrywide structures and a war chest that could clearly outspend Ms Ezekwesili. In response, her party has launched a funding campaign to try and build up its financial resources, but it is not clear if that will be enough."}], "question": "Can she disrupt the election?", "id": "1046_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3063, "answer_end": 3770, "text": "The main opposition candidate is turning his fire onto the country's current leadership. \"The task to get Nigeria working again starts now,\" he tweeted after he won the PDP's nomination. Mr Abubakar, a powerful political figure and wealthy businessman, fought off a strong field including the leader of Nigeria's senate, Bukola Saraki, to get the nomination. He served as vice-president from 1999 to 2007 and has made several attempts to run for the presidency, but has only once before secured the nomination of a major party. He ran for Action Congress, a precursor to the APC, against the PDP's Umaru Yar'Adua and Mr Buhari in 2007. Mr Abubakar gained 7.5% of the vote but complained of widespread fraud."}], "question": "What is Atiku Abubakar saying?", "id": "1046_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3771, "answer_end": 4343, "text": "The president is under a lot of pressure as he runs for re-election. He won the 2015 election, beating incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan, as the change candidate, but he has left a lot of people disappointed. The country slipped into recession in 2016 and economic growth has been slow since then. Nigerians are also questioning whether the government has got a grip on insecurity in the country. But the president argues that progress has been made on the economy, saying that his government has \"checked the slide [into] anarchy on the security and economic fronts\"."}], "question": "What is President Buhari saying?", "id": "1046_3"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 4344, "answer_end": 4927, "text": "More than 270 girls were kidnapped by Islamist militant group Boko Haram from a school in the north-eastern town of Chibok in 2014. The government was slow to react, with some in authority accusing opposition politicians of making the story up for political gain. But a massive social media campaign under the hashtag #BringBackOurGirls brought the story to international attention. Ms Ezekwesili was one of its leading voices. Many of those who were taken have now been released, but more than 100 of the kidnapped schoolgirls are still being held and their whereabouts are unknown."}], "question": "What has happened to the Chibok girls?", "id": "1046_4"}]}]}, {"title": "The symbolic statue dividing a South African university", "date": "25 March 2015", "paragraphs": [{"context": "A statue of a person dead for 113 years does not often overwhelm a leading university and dominate national headlines. But earlier this month, politics student Chumani Maxwele emptied a bucket of excrement over the statue of Cecil John Rhodes at the centre of the University of Cape Town's campus in South Africa. Mr Maxwele's protest has electrified longstanding resentments about the ways in which the past is remembered and celebrated. It has also crystallised deep and entrenched disagreements about student admissions, the university curriculum and academic appointments. Rhodes was a British Victorian mining magnate and ardent advocate of colonialism, who gave his name to Rhodesia and became an influential figure in South African politics. Protesters are now demanding that his statue be removed. Rhodes' brooding image and the University of Cape Town (UCT) campus are framed by Devil's Peak and the World Heritage site of Table Mountain. They look out over the Cape Flats and its townships and informal settlements, many of which still lack basic services. Extreme income inequality remains a persistently stubborn problem more than two decades after the end of apartheid. Inevitably, issues that are precipitated by symbols and fought through at the university have a far wider resonance. Nelson Mandela, who was awarded an honorary degree by the university within weeks of leaving prison in 1990, knew this. When opening the new national museum on Robben Island, he said: \"Having excluded and marginalised most of our people, is it surprising that our museums and national monuments are often seen as alien spaces? More stories from the BBC's Knowledge economy series looking at education from a global perspective and how to get in touch \"With democracy, we have the opportunity to ensure that our institutions reflect history in a way that respects the heritage of all our citizens.\" Mr Maxwele's protest was in the tradition of guerrilla theatre - unexpected performances in public places designed for maximum impact. Wearing a brightly coloured safety helmet and two placards - \"Exhibit White Arrogance UCT\" and \"Exhibit Black Assimilation UCT\" - Mr Maxwele emptied his bucket in front of the press, who had been tipped off to attend. Mr Maxwele was already well known for protesting against the privileges of power. Arrested in 2010 for gesturing at President Jacob Zuma's motorcade, he successfully sued the minister of police for wrongful arrest.  His university protest has again touched a point of acute sensitivity, setting off widening responses and reactions. Mr Maxwele's guerrilla theatre referenced an established mode of protest in Cape Town. While South Africa's 1996 constitution guarantees equity in access to basic services, many in the poorer districts lack basic services, such as sanitation. In June 2013, raw sewage was thrown at Western Cape Premier Helen Zille while she was visiting a township in the city, and buckets from portable toilets were emptied in the Legislature. Similar protests have continued, including the arrest of some 200 people travelling into the city with bags of excrement and the dumping of sewage at Cape Town International Airport. In his protest at the university, Mr Maxwele was taking this form of confrontation to another of Cape Town's iconic places. Will the fallout from the Rhodes statue protest be one in a series of punctuations in an ongoing trajectory of change? Or will it precipitate the radical shift called for by the university's student representative council and black staff group, TransformUCT? Dean of humanities Sakhela Buhlungu thinks that Mr Maxwele has pushed open a door to radical change. A sociologist and expert on the labour market, Prof Buhlungu has seen how \"symbolic moments\" can result in the convergence of pressures for change. Speaking at the Vaal University of Technology a few weeks before the Rhodes statue controversy exploded, Prof Buhlungu expressed the mounting frustrations across a number of universities at employment practices that count against black South Africans. In parallel, students are increasingly calling for changes to the curriculum, and for academics who are more representative of the diversity of their country. Student Rekgotsofetse Chikane said: \"Why must it be that a student at the University of Cape Town is pushed to the point of having to throw faecal matter over the statue of Cecil John Rhodes in order to have a conversation about transformation?\" Mr Chikane says the issue is the \"subliminal racism... that makes you ignorant about your subjugation because you are never challenged to seriously engage on critical matters\". The University of Cape Town's first response to these calls for action was to convene a discussion about heritage, signage and symbolism. But before this could convene there had been further protests centred on the Rhodes statue, now swathed and taped in black rubbish bags. By the time that these first negotiations with the university administration were convened, the student representative council position had hardened. The students' president Ramabina Mahapa said: \"I understand it is part of history, but the institutional representation of black people at this university is negative. \"The SRC [student representative council] has taken the stance that the statue must come down\". The students walked out of the meeting. From here, the \"Rhodes Must Fall\" movement escalated rapidly, culminating in a march and the occupation of the university's administration building. Vice-chancellor Max Price has responded with university-wide debates and a special meeting of the university senate to consider proposals. He has said that he and his executive favour removing the statue, but only the university council can decide. An emergency meeting of the council has been called for 25 April. Meanwhile, the stand-off has become a national issue. Students at Rhodes University in Grahamstown have protested in sympathy and higher education minister Blade Nzimande has given his support for moving the statue. Where next? If Prof Buhlungu is right, then symbolic changes - or the removal of the statue - will not be sufficient. There will also need to be significant changes to the university's curriculum, its staff profile, and its admissions policies. Because the University of Cape Town is South Africa's - and Africa's - highest-rated university in global rankings, such changes will have implications across the higher education system as a whole. Mr Chikane sees the university as being in \"the unfortunate position of being a European university stuck at the bottom of Africa\". This could change. While views on what should be done to resolve these issues continue to differ sharply, few will have any sympathy with Cecil John Rhodes. In his 1877 \"confession of faith\", Rhodes wrote: \"I contend that we are the finest race in the world and that the more of the world we inhabit the better it is for the human race\". Such a set of beliefs puts Mr Maxwele's guerrilla theatre in perspective. Whether this is a moment that will be remembered for its consequences, or just another flashpoint on a long, slow, road to change, remains to be seen. Martin Hall is emeritus professor at the University of Cape Town's Graduate School of Business in South Africa and a former vice chancellor of Salford University in the UK.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 2671, "answer_end": 3578, "text": "While South Africa's 1996 constitution guarantees equity in access to basic services, many in the poorer districts lack basic services, such as sanitation. In June 2013, raw sewage was thrown at Western Cape Premier Helen Zille while she was visiting a township in the city, and buckets from portable toilets were emptied in the Legislature. Similar protests have continued, including the arrest of some 200 people travelling into the city with bags of excrement and the dumping of sewage at Cape Town International Airport. In his protest at the university, Mr Maxwele was taking this form of confrontation to another of Cape Town's iconic places. Will the fallout from the Rhodes statue protest be one in a series of punctuations in an ongoing trajectory of change? Or will it precipitate the radical shift called for by the university's student representative council and black staff group, TransformUCT?"}], "question": "Whose history?", "id": "1047_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Venezuela: Supreme court backtracks on powers bid", "date": "1 April 2017", "paragraphs": [{"context": "The Venezuelan Supreme Court has reversed its ruling to strip congress of its legislative powers. It made the decision after the government of President Nicolas Maduro urged it to review the ruling \"to maintain institutional stability\". The initial decision - announced on Wednesday - had been denounced as a \"coup\" by the opposition, which dominates the National Assembly. Anti-government protesters have staged daily protests against the move. The supreme court announced the reversal on its website. A day earlier, chief prosecutor Luisa Ortega, an ally of President Nicolas Maduro, became the first high-ranking official to criticise the judges. Speaking live on TV, she expressed \"great concern\" about a measure which, she said, violated the constitution. Promising dialogue to end the crisis, Mr Maduro had convened a late-night meeting of the state security council. Afterwards Vice-President Tareck El Aissami said: \"We urge the supreme court to review the decisions... in order to maintain institutional stability and the balance of powers.\" Mr Maduro said: \"This controversy has been overcome, showing the power of dialogue.\" In its original ruling, the supreme court had annulled the powers of the assembly, allowing the judges to write laws. The court had accused lawmakers of \"contempt\" after allegations of irregularities by three opposition lawmakers during the 2015 elections. The court has backed the leftist president in his ongoing struggles with the legislature. On Tuesday it removed parliamentary immunity from the assembly's members. There has been widespread international condemnation, with the Organisation of American States talking of the \"final blow to democracy\" in Venezuela. It seems that a combination of internal and external pressures forced President Maduro's hand. Inside Venezuela, the opposition's outcry was to be expected. However the sight of the normally loyal Attorney General, Luisa Ortega, openly criticising the move as unconstitutional was for many observers a turning point, and perhaps evidence of a wider split within \"Chavismo\". Externally too, the response was very robust. Cuba, arguably Venezuela's staunchest ally, has been unwavering in its support. The Organization of American States held a special meeting in which other allies of Venezuela also lent their support to Mr Maduro. However, Colombia, Mexico, Argentina, Brazil and others called for cooler heads to prevail and for a return to the democratic order. In the end, it seems President Maduro may have decided that the supreme court's move was a step too far politically and hoped to avoid a repeat of the massive street protests which have led to violence in the past. Perhaps even the election this weekend in Ecuador played a role. The race in the Andean nation is very tight and it can't have helped President Rafael Correa, as a close friend to Venezuela, to have to support a move that was being billed by some as a \"self-coup\" in the days before a presidential election. Tensions have been high in Venezuela because the country has been engulfed in a severe economic crisis. It has the world's highest inflation rate, which the International Monetary Fund predicts could reach 1,660% next year. Long queues, power cuts and shortages of basic goods are common. The government and opposition blame each other for the country's problems, made worse by the falling price of oil, Venezuela's main export product. President Maduro has become increasingly unpopular and the opposition has called for his removal. Correction 25 April 2017: This article has been amended to clarify that the OAS held a special, rather than an emergency, meeting and that Cuba's support was unrelated to that meeting.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1136, "answer_end": 1706, "text": "In its original ruling, the supreme court had annulled the powers of the assembly, allowing the judges to write laws. The court had accused lawmakers of \"contempt\" after allegations of irregularities by three opposition lawmakers during the 2015 elections. The court has backed the leftist president in his ongoing struggles with the legislature. On Tuesday it removed parliamentary immunity from the assembly's members. There has been widespread international condemnation, with the Organisation of American States talking of the \"final blow to democracy\" in Venezuela."}], "question": "How did the dispute start?", "id": "1048_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Sir John Curtice: Do voters support Boris Johnson's Brexit deal?", "date": "21 October 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "MPs are likely to have the chance, and possibly multiple chances, to vote on Prime Minister Boris Johnson's Brexit deal in the next few days - but what would voters like them to do? There are some key clues from a clutch of polls since the deal was unveiled last week. Three companies have asked voters whether they support or oppose what Mr Johnson brought back from Brussels. All found many voters - between about three in 10 and four in 10 - said they did not know, or had not heard, anything about what had been agreed. These figures are a reminder many voters have not necessarily been following the drama of the past week closely. However, in each poll, rather more say they support Mr Johnson's deal than indicate they are opposed to it. But given the high proportion of don't knows, the proportion in favour does not come even close to 50%. A clear majority is also lacking when voters are asked whether MPs should vote for or against the deal. According to YouGov, 41% want MPs to accept the deal, while 24% say they should reject it. In the case of Survation, 33% want MPs to approve what has been agreed, while 25% say they should not. That said, voters are not necessarily convinced the agreement would be good for the country. According to YouGov, slightly more (23%) believe it would be a bad deal for Britain than think it would be a good one (17%). As many as 45% feel they do not know enough to give a view either way. Similarly, Survation reports while 25% think it would be good for Britain as a whole, 27% believe it would be bad. And just 17% believe the UK would benefit most from the deal, while 28% think the EU would. It may be some voters feel the agreement is the best that can be achieved in the circumstances. Either way, so far at least, it is difficult for either the government or the opposition parties to argue most voters clearly back their point of view on the deal. The agreement Mrs May struck in November 2018 received a decidedly frosty reception from voters. For example, when Survation asked voters whether they supported or opposed what she had brought back from Brussels, just 16% said they backed it. Nearly twice as many (30%) were opposed. Although the balance of opinion on this measure did become somewhat more favourable thereafter, it never tilted decisively in favour of Mrs May. In response to exactly the same question, 31% support Mr Johnson's deal while only 25% are opposed. More like this Meanwhile, when YouGov first asked how MPs should vote on Theresa May's deal, just 27% said they should approve it. At that time, 42% indicated they should reject it, figures that never changed dramatically. The equivalent figures for Mr Johnson's deal are almost the mirror image of these. It was always difficult for Mrs May to argue with MPs that voters were keen for them to back her deal. On this score, at least, Mr Johnson appears to have a better case. Leave and Remain voters have very different views. Both those who voted Leave and those who backed Remain in 2016 were unhappy with what Mrs May had brought back from Brussels. Now, it looks as though at least half of those who voted Leave in 2016 - and maybe more - support the prime minister's deal. But, conversely, about half of those who voted Remain are opposed to the deal. Voters have also been asked what they would do if a referendum offered a choice between leaving the EU on the terms proposed by Mr Johnson or remaining in the EU. Their responses reinforce the impression Mr Johnson's deal has divided the country. Both Opinium and Survation have suggested the outcome of such a ballot would be a tie. Many Remain supporters appear to believe if Mr Johnson's deal were to be put to a confirmatory vote, a majority would vote to stay in the EU. However, it seems such an outcome is by no means guaranteed. But, equally, the deal does not appear to provide a promising foundation for bringing the country together, as the prime minister argues it would. So far, at least, he has won over too few Remain voters for that to be the case. About this piece This analysis piece was commissioned by the BBC from an expert working for an outside organisation. Further details of the research on which it is based are available here. Sir John Curtice is professor of politics, Strathclyde University, and senior research fellow at NatCen Social Research and The UK in a Changing Europe. Edited by Duncan Walker Charts by Alison Trowsdale", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 269, "answer_end": 848, "text": "Three companies have asked voters whether they support or oppose what Mr Johnson brought back from Brussels. All found many voters - between about three in 10 and four in 10 - said they did not know, or had not heard, anything about what had been agreed. These figures are a reminder many voters have not necessarily been following the drama of the past week closely. However, in each poll, rather more say they support Mr Johnson's deal than indicate they are opposed to it. But given the high proportion of don't knows, the proportion in favour does not come even close to 50%."}], "question": "Do voters support or oppose the PM's deal?", "id": "1049_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1903, "answer_end": 2431, "text": "The agreement Mrs May struck in November 2018 received a decidedly frosty reception from voters. For example, when Survation asked voters whether they supported or opposed what she had brought back from Brussels, just 16% said they backed it. Nearly twice as many (30%) were opposed. Although the balance of opinion on this measure did become somewhat more favourable thereafter, it never tilted decisively in favour of Mrs May. In response to exactly the same question, 31% support Mr Johnson's deal while only 25% are opposed."}], "question": "Do voters prefer Boris Johnson's or Theresa May's deal?", "id": "1049_1"}]}]}, {"title": "What is China's 'magic island-making' ship?", "date": "6 November 2017", "paragraphs": [{"context": "China has unveiled a new dredging ship capable of creating islands such as those Beijing has already built in the disputed South China Sea. Described as a \"magical island-maker\" by the institute that designed it, the vessel was unveiled on the eve of US President Donald Trump's tour of Asia. China has been accused of creating artificial islands in the South China Sea to bolster its claims over the contested waters. The strategic sea is also claimed by Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan. What's the ship called? The vessel has a highly symbolic name: Tian Kun Hao: a legendary enormous fish which can turn into a mythical bird. How big and powerful is it? At 140m long, it's the biggest ship of its kind in China and - according to the designers -  in Asia. It appears to be a lot more powerful than China's current dredging vessels, and is capable of digging 6,000 cubic metres an hour, the equivalent of three standard swimming pools, from 35m below the water's surface. What does it actually do?  It can dredge anything from sand and mud to coral. It cuts material out from the sea bed, suctions it up  and conveys it to as far as 15km from the ship to pile it up and form  new \"reclaimed\" land.  Similar - though smaller - vessels were used to build islands in the South China Sea starting in late 2013. \"The significance of this is that it could be deployed to do further reclamation in the South China Sea,\" explains Alex Neill, Shangri-La Dialogue Senior Fellow with IISS Asia. \"The one that's really focussing people's minds is Scarborough Shoal. It hasn't been reclaimed but there were suggestions that it would be. The US though views Scarborough Shoal as a red line.\" The timing  could be a coincidence, says Mr Neill, but it is worth remembering the considerable tension South China Sea activity can generate. The US has traditionally taken no set position in the territorial disputes, but it does assert so-called freedom of navigation operations which means it sails past or flies near the disputed islands - a strategy that angers China. This ship \"has been launched with a lot of fanfare and has been called the 'magic island-maker' in Chinese media. So it could very well be a signal that China feels emboldened to move further with its South China Sea claims,\" Mr Neill adds. \"All the US can do is [have] Trump... reassert its concern about the reclamation activities.\" China, however, has defied such criticism in the past and continued building islands and even placing military installations on them. Dredging vessels are used for a wide range of tasks and reclaiming land is only one of them. But the fact that Chinese state media has dubbed this the \"magic island-maker\" seems to suggest this will be at least part of its job. As part of China's Belt and Road initiative to build a global trading network with China at its heart, Beijing is developing a number of ports in the Indian Ocean region and the Middle East. The Tian Kun Hao can also be used to drill deepwater ports wherever Beijing decides to send it.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1331, "answer_end": 2544, "text": "\"The significance of this is that it could be deployed to do further reclamation in the South China Sea,\" explains Alex Neill, Shangri-La Dialogue Senior Fellow with IISS Asia. \"The one that's really focussing people's minds is Scarborough Shoal. It hasn't been reclaimed but there were suggestions that it would be. The US though views Scarborough Shoal as a red line.\" The timing  could be a coincidence, says Mr Neill, but it is worth remembering the considerable tension South China Sea activity can generate. The US has traditionally taken no set position in the territorial disputes, but it does assert so-called freedom of navigation operations which means it sails past or flies near the disputed islands - a strategy that angers China. This ship \"has been launched with a lot of fanfare and has been called the 'magic island-maker' in Chinese media. So it could very well be a signal that China feels emboldened to move further with its South China Sea claims,\" Mr Neill adds. \"All the US can do is [have] Trump... reassert its concern about the reclamation activities.\" China, however, has defied such criticism in the past and continued building islands and even placing military installations on them."}], "question": "Why is it important?", "id": "1050_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2545, "answer_end": 3059, "text": "Dredging vessels are used for a wide range of tasks and reclaiming land is only one of them. But the fact that Chinese state media has dubbed this the \"magic island-maker\" seems to suggest this will be at least part of its job. As part of China's Belt and Road initiative to build a global trading network with China at its heart, Beijing is developing a number of ports in the Indian Ocean region and the Middle East. The Tian Kun Hao can also be used to drill deepwater ports wherever Beijing decides to send it."}], "question": "What else could it be used for?", "id": "1050_1"}]}]}, {"title": "Ukraine's deadliest day: The battle of Ilovaisk, August 2014", "date": "29 August 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "It was the biggest loss of life in Ukraine's war against Russian-backed separatists. Hundreds of soldiers died as the Ukrainian army and volunteers retreated in a column from the eastern town of Ilovaisk on 29 August 2014. Ukrainian veterans are adamant the Russian army was there, even though Moscow has always denied claims that regular Russian forces took part in the battle. President Vladimir Putin has said merely that any Russians involved were volunteers following \"a call of the heart\". At first it seemed like any other operation against Russian-backed separatists, says Roman Zinenko, 45, a former soldier who served in the Dnipro-1 volunteer police battalion that fought in the battle of Ilovaisk. The Ukrainian army had surrounded the town and their battalion had been ordered to \"wipe out\" the Russian-backed force. But on 24 August, Ukraine's independence day, they began receiving calls from relatives. Ilovaisk was surrounded, Ukrainian media were reporting. \"We did not feel that, because the [Ukrainian] army held positions around the city,\" he told the BBC. \"On August 24, we even captured the enemy's fortified area.\" But the next day, heavy mortar shelling began and the school they were using as a base was raided. \"We realised the enemy had reinforcements,\" he says. \"At the time we could not imagine the scale of this entrapment. Our troops had surrounded Ilovaisk but all our troops were surrounded by the enemy\". Negotiations were going on and a humanitarian corridor was being prepared for them to leave, they were told, and yet their withdrawal was repeatedly postponed. Then, on the morning of 29 August 2014, came the command to gather and leave Ilovaisk in two columns. \"Nobody knew the routes,\" said Roman Zinenko. They began to move, they passed the first ring of encirclement smoothly but within a few kilometres their column came under fire. \"It was just a shooting range and we were the targets,\" he said. Roman and his fellow soldiers had set out in a security van because of a lack of equipment. But its wheels and motor were shot up so they switched to a light-armoured vehicle and kept going under constant fire. Behind them, an infantry fighting vehicle carrying more than 10 soldiers was hit by a shell. Bodies were thrown everywhere by the force of the blast. \"I can still see it. This body flying high, turning in the air and ending up hanging from a power line.\" They drove on a few more kilometres until their vehicle was disabled. He escaped unharmed but his commander, Denys Tomilovych, was hit in the head by a 30mm automatic cannon shell. \"Another fighter sat next to him, he was injured too,\" said Roman Zinenko. \"When Den was hit in the head, fragments of his helmet and skull just cut his forearm.\" Roman and his comrades managed to survive and escaped the encirclement two days later. According to official Ukrainian data, 366 Ukrainian soldiers were killed in the Ilovaisk battle. The true figure may be at least 400, when you include soldiers registered missing or unidentified by their relatives. February 2014: Ukraine's pro-Russian President Viktor Yanukovych flees after months of protests in Kiev March 2014: Russia seizes then annexes Crimea from Ukraine April 2014: Russian-backed armed groups seize parts of the eastern Ukrainian regions of Donetsk and Luhansk; government launches military operation to retake them August 2014: Battle of Ilovaisk Total casualties of conflict 2014-19: Some 13,000 dead, including 3,331 civilians, and 30,000 wounded  (OHCR 2019) The Ukrainian general staff blames the heavy loss of life on an \"invasion\" by the Russian army. A government report also cited poor military preparedness and mistakes by senior commanders. While many also died on the pro-Russian side, Kiev insists the separatists simply did not have the capability to win the battle. Ukraine says nine battalion tactical groups of the Russian regular army crossed into eastern Ukraine and surrounded Ukrainian forces near Ilovaisk. Russia puts it down to a \"counterattack\" by rebel forces of the self-proclaimed \"Donetsk People's Republic\". It denies direct armed support of the separatists and says only Russian \"volunteers\" who were not associated with the regular army fought in Ukraine's Donbas region. The separatists were using Soviet-era arms and military equipment captured from Ukrainian soldiers, and not modern Russian weaponry, Moscow insists. It has made these arguments ever since the conflict began. \"We did not encounter Russian soldiers in Ilovaisk itself,\" Roman Zinenko accepts. \"But the (Ukrainian) fighters who held positions around Ilovaisk and held back tank attacks seized a Russian T-72B3 tank that could only belong to the Russian army.\" This is the same tank the research group Forensic Architecture has investigated as part of a case being taken by Ukrainian volunteers against Russia to the European Court of Human Rights. In August 2014, the tank was filmed by Ukraine's Espresso TV channel, but it was later recaptured by pro-Russian forces. Roman Zinenko says he also saw Russian military equipment in the first line of the encirclement. \"There were modifications of multi-purpose armoured light vehicles which the Ukrainian army doesn't have. We use Soviet-era machines and these [Russian ones] are more modern. They look different.\" The BBC also spoke to another Ukrainian military veteran, Vadym Yakushenko, 40, who was at one of the checkpoints near Ilovaisk and captured by what he insists was the \"regular Russian army\". He says he also saw new Russian military equipment with markers in the form of white circles and erased numbers. \"There was a guy named Vanya from Kostroma who openly said he was from the 76th Pskov Airborne Division of the Russian Army,\" Mr Yakushenko insists. \"He complained that we had spoiled his vacation. He had recently got married and was planning a honeymoon but was summoned from his division and sent by train to [the Russian border town] Rostov and then ended up in Ukraine.\" Five years on, the battle of Ilovaisk continues to overshadow the lives of the two veterans. Vadym Yakushenko is head of a museum dedicated to the conflict, while Roman Zinenko has written two books on the battle. \"Part of my soul is still there,\" says Roman.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 3528, "answer_end": 4476, "text": "The Ukrainian general staff blames the heavy loss of life on an \"invasion\" by the Russian army. A government report also cited poor military preparedness and mistakes by senior commanders. While many also died on the pro-Russian side, Kiev insists the separatists simply did not have the capability to win the battle. Ukraine says nine battalion tactical groups of the Russian regular army crossed into eastern Ukraine and surrounded Ukrainian forces near Ilovaisk. Russia puts it down to a \"counterattack\" by rebel forces of the self-proclaimed \"Donetsk People's Republic\". It denies direct armed support of the separatists and says only Russian \"volunteers\" who were not associated with the regular army fought in Ukraine's Donbas region. The separatists were using Soviet-era arms and military equipment captured from Ukrainian soldiers, and not modern Russian weaponry, Moscow insists. It has made these arguments ever since the conflict began."}], "question": "Did the Russian army get involved?", "id": "1051_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 4477, "answer_end": 5328, "text": "\"We did not encounter Russian soldiers in Ilovaisk itself,\" Roman Zinenko accepts. \"But the (Ukrainian) fighters who held positions around Ilovaisk and held back tank attacks seized a Russian T-72B3 tank that could only belong to the Russian army.\" This is the same tank the research group Forensic Architecture has investigated as part of a case being taken by Ukrainian volunteers against Russia to the European Court of Human Rights. In August 2014, the tank was filmed by Ukraine's Espresso TV channel, but it was later recaptured by pro-Russian forces. Roman Zinenko says he also saw Russian military equipment in the first line of the encirclement. \"There were modifications of multi-purpose armoured light vehicles which the Ukrainian army doesn't have. We use Soviet-era machines and these [Russian ones] are more modern. They look different.\""}], "question": "Was a Russian tank in the battle?", "id": "1051_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 5329, "answer_end": 6268, "text": "The BBC also spoke to another Ukrainian military veteran, Vadym Yakushenko, 40, who was at one of the checkpoints near Ilovaisk and captured by what he insists was the \"regular Russian army\". He says he also saw new Russian military equipment with markers in the form of white circles and erased numbers. \"There was a guy named Vanya from Kostroma who openly said he was from the 76th Pskov Airborne Division of the Russian Army,\" Mr Yakushenko insists. \"He complained that we had spoiled his vacation. He had recently got married and was planning a honeymoon but was summoned from his division and sent by train to [the Russian border town] Rostov and then ended up in Ukraine.\" Five years on, the battle of Ilovaisk continues to overshadow the lives of the two veterans. Vadym Yakushenko is head of a museum dedicated to the conflict, while Roman Zinenko has written two books on the battle. \"Part of my soul is still there,\" says Roman."}], "question": "Who were the Russians near Ilovaisk?", "id": "1051_2"}]}]}, {"title": "Yemen conflict: Coalition rejects UN human rights report", "date": "29 August 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "The Saudi-led coalition in Yemen has rejected a UN report which said some of its attacks may amount to war crimes. The report contained many inaccuracies, a coalition statement carried by the Saudi state news agency said. In the document, UN human rights experts said they believed war crimes may have been committed by all parties. They accused Yemeni government forces, the coalition backing them, and the rebel Houthi movement of making little effort to minimise civilian casualties. They pointed to attacks on residential areas in which thousands of people had died. The warring parties are also accused of arbitrary detentions, torture, enforced disappearances and recruiting children. The coalition says it has co-operated in an \"open and transparent manner\" with the UN group since they began working in December 2017. It says \"false allegations\" have been made against it based on \"misleading reports by some non-governmental organisations\". These include claims that it had targeted civilians, restricted humanitarian aid and carried out arbitrary detentions. The statement also expresses \"surprise for the report's disregard of the great humanitarian role played by the coalition states in Yemen, and the huge humanitarian assistance it has provided in order to alleviate the suffering of the Yemeni people\". Yemen has been devastated by a conflict that escalated in early 2015, when Houthi rebels seized control of much of the west of the country and forced President Abdrabbuh Mansour Hadi to flee abroad. Alarmed by the rise of a group they saw as an Iranian proxy, Saudi Arabia, the UAE and seven other Arab states intervened in an attempt to restore the government. They have received logistical and intelligence support from the US, UK and France. At least 6,660 civilians have been killed and 10,563 injured in the fighting, according to the UN. Thousands more civilians have died from preventable causes, including malnutrition, disease and poor health. The fighting and a partial blockade by the coalition has also left 22 million people in need of humanitarian aid, created the world's largest food security emergency, and led to a cholera outbreak that is thought to have affected 1.1 million people. The so-called Group of Experts note that coalition air strikes have caused most direct civilian casualties, and that they have hit residential areas, markets, funerals, weddings, detention facilities, civilian boats and medical facilities. The report says they \"have reasonable grounds to believe that individuals in the government of Yemen and the coalition may have conducted attacks in violation of the principles of distinction, proportionality and precaution that may amount to war crimes\". They add that the naval and air restrictions imposed by the coalition on rebel-held areas to halt alleged weapons smuggling may also constitute a violation of the proportionality rule of international humanitarian law, while the effective closure of Sanaa airport may violate the principle of protection for the sick and wounded. The experts also expressed concern at the situation in the southern city of Taiz, where the Houthis have been besieging a government-held area for three years. The report says civilians, including women and children, have been hit by shelling and sniper attacks by the Houthis and other parties while in their homes, fetching water at local wells, or on their way to purchase food or seek medical attention. The Houthis are accused of indiscriminately using \"weapons with wide area effect\" in Taiz and other urban settings, which would constitute a war crime. The experts also found evidence of widespread arbitrary detention throughout the country by all parties, and ill-treatment and torture of some facilities. Victims and witnesses also described to the experts \"persistent and pervasive aggressive behaviour\", including sexual violence perpetrated by a pro-government force known as the Security Belt and UAE personnel, according to the report. The experts say they also received information indicating all parties had conscripted or enlisted children - some as young as eight years old - and used them to participate actively in hostilities. The UN human rights experts will present their report to the UN Human Rights Council next month. They say they have identified, where possible, individuals who may be responsible for war crimes and have passed a confidential list of their names to the UN high commissioner for human rights. They have also urged the international community to \"refrain from providing arms that could be used in the conflict\" - an apparent reference to Western countries, which are selling weapons to the coalition, and to Iran, which the coalition alleges is smuggling weapons to the Houthis.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 691, "answer_end": 1318, "text": "The coalition says it has co-operated in an \"open and transparent manner\" with the UN group since they began working in December 2017. It says \"false allegations\" have been made against it based on \"misleading reports by some non-governmental organisations\". These include claims that it had targeted civilians, restricted humanitarian aid and carried out arbitrary detentions. The statement also expresses \"surprise for the report's disregard of the great humanitarian role played by the coalition states in Yemen, and the huge humanitarian assistance it has provided in order to alleviate the suffering of the Yemeni people\"."}], "question": "What does the coalition statement say?", "id": "1052_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1319, "answer_end": 2221, "text": "Yemen has been devastated by a conflict that escalated in early 2015, when Houthi rebels seized control of much of the west of the country and forced President Abdrabbuh Mansour Hadi to flee abroad. Alarmed by the rise of a group they saw as an Iranian proxy, Saudi Arabia, the UAE and seven other Arab states intervened in an attempt to restore the government. They have received logistical and intelligence support from the US, UK and France. At least 6,660 civilians have been killed and 10,563 injured in the fighting, according to the UN. Thousands more civilians have died from preventable causes, including malnutrition, disease and poor health. The fighting and a partial blockade by the coalition has also left 22 million people in need of humanitarian aid, created the world's largest food security emergency, and led to a cholera outbreak that is thought to have affected 1.1 million people."}], "question": "Why is there a war in Yemen?", "id": "1052_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2222, "answer_end": 4196, "text": "The so-called Group of Experts note that coalition air strikes have caused most direct civilian casualties, and that they have hit residential areas, markets, funerals, weddings, detention facilities, civilian boats and medical facilities. The report says they \"have reasonable grounds to believe that individuals in the government of Yemen and the coalition may have conducted attacks in violation of the principles of distinction, proportionality and precaution that may amount to war crimes\". They add that the naval and air restrictions imposed by the coalition on rebel-held areas to halt alleged weapons smuggling may also constitute a violation of the proportionality rule of international humanitarian law, while the effective closure of Sanaa airport may violate the principle of protection for the sick and wounded. The experts also expressed concern at the situation in the southern city of Taiz, where the Houthis have been besieging a government-held area for three years. The report says civilians, including women and children, have been hit by shelling and sniper attacks by the Houthis and other parties while in their homes, fetching water at local wells, or on their way to purchase food or seek medical attention. The Houthis are accused of indiscriminately using \"weapons with wide area effect\" in Taiz and other urban settings, which would constitute a war crime. The experts also found evidence of widespread arbitrary detention throughout the country by all parties, and ill-treatment and torture of some facilities. Victims and witnesses also described to the experts \"persistent and pervasive aggressive behaviour\", including sexual violence perpetrated by a pro-government force known as the Security Belt and UAE personnel, according to the report. The experts say they also received information indicating all parties had conscripted or enlisted children - some as young as eight years old - and used them to participate actively in hostilities."}], "question": "What are the allegations in the report?", "id": "1052_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 4197, "answer_end": 4772, "text": "The UN human rights experts will present their report to the UN Human Rights Council next month. They say they have identified, where possible, individuals who may be responsible for war crimes and have passed a confidential list of their names to the UN high commissioner for human rights. They have also urged the international community to \"refrain from providing arms that could be used in the conflict\" - an apparent reference to Western countries, which are selling weapons to the coalition, and to Iran, which the coalition alleges is smuggling weapons to the Houthis."}], "question": "What happens next?", "id": "1052_3"}]}]}, {"title": "Nepal earthquake: How is country faring one year on?", "date": "22 April 2016", "paragraphs": [{"context": "As Nepal marks the first anniversary of its devastating earthquake, the BBC Nepal's Surendra Phuyal assesses how the country has been coping. The government has provided 25,000 rupees ($250, PS164) to families to buy corrugated sheets and warm clothes and paid out 40,000 rupees ($400) for the death of each family member. Most affected families have received this money. The Himalayan nation has also assessed the loss and damage caused by the quake, but has yet to officially kick start its much-delayed reconstruction mission. The National Reconstruction Authority (NRA) was only set up in December 2015.  It will officially announce the start of reconstruction campaign in the coming week. The authority is seeking 811 billion rupees ($8bn) to implement its reconstruction programme for the next five years. NRA spokesperson Ram Thapaliya told BBC Nepali that international donors are being asked to extend their commitment for reconstruction programmes. \"The donors have already pledged half of the amount ($4bn) and we are in the process of seeking commitment for the rest,\" he said. Nearly 9,000 people died and 22,309 were injured in the two earthquakes that struck Nepal last year. The first was on 25 April 2015, a 7.8-magnitude earthquake which caused most of the damage and loss of life. A large number of aftershocks followed, including one that measured 7.3 on 12 May 2015. The quakes destroyed or damaged more than 800,000 houses mainly in the western and central districts, according to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC). The country seemed totally unprepared for the disaster. Government buildings, some stretches of roads and Kathmandu Valley's famous historic monuments - Unesco world heritage properties - were destroyed or damaged with many villages north of Kathmandu flattened. In the famous trekking destination of Langtang, which lies about 100km (62 miles) north of Kathmandu, an entire settlement was buried and washed away by a massive landslide, killing more than 100 people, including international trekkers and local villagers. Several people are still missing and have never been accounted for. More than a dozen climbers also died in an avalanche near Mount Everest base camp. Nepali government figures show that about 500,000 families were made homeless by the quakes. But aid agencies say the true figure is much higher, with millions homeless. The IFRC says \"an estimated four million people are still living in sub-standard temporary shelters\" where they're exposed to weather and health hazards. It also estimates that more than 800,000 homes were damaged. \"Despite achievements in many areas of earthquake recovery efforts, little progress has so far been made in helping survivors to rebuild permanent homes,\" it said. But Nepali officials blame a four month blockade at the Nepal-India border for hampering post-earthquake reconstruction programmes. The unrest was due to Madhesi parties in southern Nepal protesting against a new constitution which they said disadvantaged them. Ram Thapaliya of the National Reconstruction Authority says work is under way to help those in need and speed up the reconstruction process. \"In March, we started distributing grants, worth $500 in first stage, to around 800 families for reconstruction,\" he said. \"Now another 5,000 families are in the process of getting that amount.\" While preparing its Post Disaster Need Assessment (PDNA), the Nepali government estimated that it would need $7bn for reconstruction. But now the reconstruction authority is raising that amount to $8.1bn, due to unspecified \"cost factors\". Soon after the earthquake struck Nepal last year, a large number of international aid agencies and individuals flew into Nepal and fanned out across the affected areas from Barpak, Gorkha, the epicentre of the 25 April earthquake to Dolakha in the east, near the epicentre of the 12 May earthquake. Their main purpose was to focus on immediate rescue and rehabilitation. According to Himal news magazine, a popular Nepali weekly which has run an investigative cover story in its recent edition, the agencies spent an estimated $1bn. The magazine wrote: \"Where did the money go? Of the 1 billion dollars that were raised, two-thirds were spent by donor agencies, international NGOs and their local partners, and only one-third of that amount actually reached the victims.\" But aid workers say the main problem is bureaucracy - and that some donors have become frustrated and given up as a result. \"We just lost a donor who wanted to give $400,000,'' Unesco's representative to Nepal, Christian Manhart, told AP news agency. \"Everything seems to be blocked because there are very lengthy government procedures.'' The Unesco office has about $1.8m earmarked for Nepal which is still waiting to be spent, AP reports. Before the earthquake, Nepal's tourism sector was doing well.  In 2014, an estimated 800,000 tourists visited Nepal. Nepal re-opened for tourism just two months after the quakes. But the devastating earthquakes clearly scared many visitors and the number of arrivals dropped by about 30% in 2015, according to Department of Tourism figures. The government is hopeful 2016 will be better. \"We are hoping for an improvement in the coming year,\" Sudarshan Prasad Dhakal, director general of Department of Tourism, told the BBC. He said the government was encouraging Nepalis to visit their country's exotic natural and cultural sites this year. \"In the short term, this will help the local hoteliers, and in the longer term, it will help lay the foundation for future arrivals of international visitors.\"", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 142, "answer_end": 1089, "text": "The government has provided 25,000 rupees ($250, PS164) to families to buy corrugated sheets and warm clothes and paid out 40,000 rupees ($400) for the death of each family member. Most affected families have received this money. The Himalayan nation has also assessed the loss and damage caused by the quake, but has yet to officially kick start its much-delayed reconstruction mission. The National Reconstruction Authority (NRA) was only set up in December 2015.  It will officially announce the start of reconstruction campaign in the coming week. The authority is seeking 811 billion rupees ($8bn) to implement its reconstruction programme for the next five years. NRA spokesperson Ram Thapaliya told BBC Nepali that international donors are being asked to extend their commitment for reconstruction programmes. \"The donors have already pledged half of the amount ($4bn) and we are in the process of seeking commitment for the rest,\" he said."}], "question": "What has Nepal done since the quake?", "id": "1053_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1090, "answer_end": 2251, "text": "Nearly 9,000 people died and 22,309 were injured in the two earthquakes that struck Nepal last year. The first was on 25 April 2015, a 7.8-magnitude earthquake which caused most of the damage and loss of life. A large number of aftershocks followed, including one that measured 7.3 on 12 May 2015. The quakes destroyed or damaged more than 800,000 houses mainly in the western and central districts, according to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC). The country seemed totally unprepared for the disaster. Government buildings, some stretches of roads and Kathmandu Valley's famous historic monuments - Unesco world heritage properties - were destroyed or damaged with many villages north of Kathmandu flattened. In the famous trekking destination of Langtang, which lies about 100km (62 miles) north of Kathmandu, an entire settlement was buried and washed away by a massive landslide, killing more than 100 people, including international trekkers and local villagers. Several people are still missing and have never been accounted for. More than a dozen climbers also died in an avalanche near Mount Everest base camp."}], "question": "What was the scale of the destruction?", "id": "1053_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3399, "answer_end": 4851, "text": "While preparing its Post Disaster Need Assessment (PDNA), the Nepali government estimated that it would need $7bn for reconstruction. But now the reconstruction authority is raising that amount to $8.1bn, due to unspecified \"cost factors\". Soon after the earthquake struck Nepal last year, a large number of international aid agencies and individuals flew into Nepal and fanned out across the affected areas from Barpak, Gorkha, the epicentre of the 25 April earthquake to Dolakha in the east, near the epicentre of the 12 May earthquake. Their main purpose was to focus on immediate rescue and rehabilitation. According to Himal news magazine, a popular Nepali weekly which has run an investigative cover story in its recent edition, the agencies spent an estimated $1bn. The magazine wrote: \"Where did the money go? Of the 1 billion dollars that were raised, two-thirds were spent by donor agencies, international NGOs and their local partners, and only one-third of that amount actually reached the victims.\" But aid workers say the main problem is bureaucracy - and that some donors have become frustrated and given up as a result. \"We just lost a donor who wanted to give $400,000,'' Unesco's representative to Nepal, Christian Manhart, told AP news agency. \"Everything seems to be blocked because there are very lengthy government procedures.'' The Unesco office has about $1.8m earmarked for Nepal which is still waiting to be spent, AP reports."}], "question": "How much aid money has been spent?", "id": "1053_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 4852, "answer_end": 5653, "text": "Before the earthquake, Nepal's tourism sector was doing well.  In 2014, an estimated 800,000 tourists visited Nepal. Nepal re-opened for tourism just two months after the quakes. But the devastating earthquakes clearly scared many visitors and the number of arrivals dropped by about 30% in 2015, according to Department of Tourism figures. The government is hopeful 2016 will be better. \"We are hoping for an improvement in the coming year,\" Sudarshan Prasad Dhakal, director general of Department of Tourism, told the BBC. He said the government was encouraging Nepalis to visit their country's exotic natural and cultural sites this year. \"In the short term, this will help the local hoteliers, and in the longer term, it will help lay the foundation for future arrivals of international visitors.\""}], "question": "Have tourists started coming back?", "id": "1053_3"}]}]}, {"title": "100 Women 2016: Fighting for a good death", "date": "1 December 2016", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Malawi is one of the world's least developed countries with very primitive health care. In March 1998, nurse Lucy Finch had visited her native Malawi to care for her sister who was dying of Aids, when hearing a young man's agonising death made her decide to come back and set up Malawi's first and only hospice. In my view, the key ingredients for a \"good death\" are probably the same all over the world, in all cultures. The first is to know that you are about to die, not to have it hidden from you, and the second is to be kept, as far as possible, pain-free but alert. This will give you the chance to prepare yourself, and those you care about, and thus approach your death with some equanimity. It is also preferable to be at home, and with close loved ones. This is your death, no-one else's, and you want to handle it your own way. In sub-Saharan Africa, although all of the above would be desired, the access to a pain-free death is highly unlikely unless you are near to a centre like ours at Ndi Moyo. My own commitment to bringing the possibility of a pain-free death to my native Malawi began one night when I was spending time with my sister who was in hospital. In the next room, a young soldier was dying in terrible agony because no-one had the drugs necessary to relieve his excruciating pain. I will never forget listening to his harrowing screams, as, all alone, he faced both suffering of such intensity it was tearing his very being apart, and the terror of the unknown journey into death ahead of him. That poor young man, though he never knew it, changed my life and indeed the lives of the many others who were to be helped by the palliative care I determined that night to introduce. The scourge of the HIV/Aids pandemic which swept sub-Saharan Africa in the 1980s like a biblical pestilence made more urgent than ever the need to assist people to a pain-free death. The aggressive cancers associated with HIV did not carry off the elderly, but the sexually active age groups - the young and middle-aged. Unless palliative care could be introduced, the chances of a \"good death\", pain-free but alert, were minimal. And that is how we started. Unlike hospices in the West, we operate what we call \"hospice at home\", and at our out-patients facility. Generally speaking, patients in Africa want to be with their families and close to their ancestors at this time of life. The caring atmosphere is generally missing within hospitals in Malawi because they are so under-resourced - for example, you need to take a relative with you, otherwise there would be no-one to give you a wash or feed you. It is important that palliative care starts at the point of diagnosis, not just as death becomes imminent. This provides an opportunity for the patient to deal with their fears about the future of those they leave behind, as well as fears for themselves. These fears are entirely understandable because Malawi only has two oncologists for a population of nearly 17 million, and has no dedicated cancer centre. The available chemotherapy is largely palliative rather than curative. BBC 100 Women names 100 influential and inspirational women around the world every year. We create documentaries, features and interviews about their lives, giving more space for stories that put women at the centre. Other stories you might like: 'I married a man to keep my girlfriend' 'Adults are so obsessed with children they have no time for important things' Who is on the BBC's 100 Women 2016 list? There is also lack of early diagnosis so by the time the patients come to us the cancer is already advanced and for them the only option is palliative care. Some 50% of people in Africa do not see a health worker their entire lives. They may use herbal medicines and traditional healers which are cheaper than Western-trained health workers. For example, in Uganda there is one traditional healer to 450 people and one doctor to 20,000. Our care is holistic, which means that our trained staff multi-task in the relief of social, psychological and spiritual pain, as well as physical, whereas in the West different professionals would deal with different aspects of care. We know that unless we deal with these other aspects of pain - the social, the psychological and the spiritual - the physical pain cannot be managed. Ndi Moyo grows herbs as an affordable way to help their patients: - Lemon grass helps patients excrete toxins - Aloe is a good balm for wounds and acts as a useful laxative - Artemisia has powerful immunity-boosting properties - Papaya sap is useful as an antiseptic - Vinca rosa lowers the white blood cell count Source: Ndi Moyo Holistic and extended care offers the terminally ill the time to make peace with any with whom they have been in conflict, the chance to forgive and be forgiven, the chance to renew love and be loved. I feel that sometimes in the West it is easier for a doctor to suggest another treatment to a patient rather than to have the more difficult conversation about whether it may be better not to continue to treat a serious illness, partly because expectations in the West are higher. Holistic palliative care as practised here is not about adding days to life, but adding life to the days that remain.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 3100, "answer_end": 3505, "text": "BBC 100 Women names 100 influential and inspirational women around the world every year. We create documentaries, features and interviews about their lives, giving more space for stories that put women at the centre. Other stories you might like: 'I married a man to keep my girlfriend' 'Adults are so obsessed with children they have no time for important things' Who is on the BBC's 100 Women 2016 list?"}], "question": "What is 100 women?", "id": "1054_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Trump Russia affair: Key questions answered", "date": "24 July 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "For nearly two years the Trump-Russia affair has dominated front pages and mired the president's administration in conflict and controversy. But what is it exactly? How did it begin? And what did it find out? The inquiry, led by widely respected former director of the FBI Robert Mueller, focused on alleged collusion between Mr Trump's 2016 presidential campaign team and Moscow. The report stated that no evidence of a conspiracy was found, but it did lay out 10 instances where the president possibly obstructed justice. Mr Mueller has said his report did not exonerate the president, but that charging a sitting president was not an option. Here's a breakdown on one of the most high-profile political inquiries in US history. Mr Trump's campaign and transition teams were accused of conspiring with Russian agents to influence the US election in the then Republican candidate's favour. US intelligence agencies concluded in 2016 that Russia was behind an effort to tip the scales of the US election against Hillary Clinton, with a state-authorised campaign of cyber attacks and fake news stories planted on social media. Both the Russian and US presidents had poured scorn on suggestions of \"collusion\", with Mr Trump calling it \"the greatest political witch hunt in history\". At least 17 Trump associates had contacts with Russians or Wikileaks, which released hacked documents, during the campaign or transition, according to an analysis of public records by the New York Times, with at least 100 face-to-face interactions, phone calls or electronic messages with Russians or Kremlin-linked figures and at least 51 individual communications. Trump aides known to have had contact with Russians include the president's son-in-law and adviser Jared Kushner, his son Donald Trump Jr, former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn, Attorney General Jeff Sessions and former personal lawyer Michael Cohen. The president's supporters point out that interactions with foreign nationals are routine during any White House campaign, but three Trump associates have now admitted lying about these encounters. The special counsel has indicted more than 30 people, including four members of Mr Trump's campaign team or administration, an adviser and long-time ally, and 26 Russians, as well as three Russian companies. A former prosecutor, Mr Mueller went on to become the second-longest serving FBI director in history, after J Edgar Hoover. His Senate confirmation vote as FBI director went 98-0 in his favour. A special Senate vote to extend his term beyond the usual 10 years to 12 passed 100-0. With a team of experienced lawyers drawn from private practice and from the Department of Justice, as well as FBI officers, Mr Mueller worked quietly from an unassuming building in south-west Washington, not issuing any public comment during the investigation. On 22 March, he submitted his report to Attorney General William Barr, who replaced Jeff Sessions after he was forced to resign. The 448-page report painted a mixed picture of the president's conduct. While it did not establish that the Trump campaign criminally conspired with Russia to meddle in the election, it built an extensive obstruction-of-justice case against the president. Mr Mueller said the report did not exonerate the president but stopped short of saying Mr Trump committed a crime. \"If we had confidence after a thorough investigation of the facts that the president clearly did not commit obstruction of justice, we would so state,\" the report says. \"Based on the facts and the applicable legal standards, we are unable to reach that judgement. Accordingly, while this report does not conclude that the president committed a crime, it also does not exonerate him.\" It also revealed Mr Trump instructed a White House lawyer to try and remove Mr Mueller over alleged \"conflicts of interest\", but the lawyer resigned. Around 10% of the public report is redacted. As well as the special counsel inquiry by Mr Mueller under the aegis of the justice department there have been four congressional investigations: - The Senate and House Intelligence Committees and the Senate Judiciary Committee are investigating alleged Kremlin meddling and any collusion with Trump aides - The House Oversight Committee is scrutinising links between Trump associates and Russian officials - The Judiciary Committee has issued more than 80 document requests in a broad probe that goes beyond alleged contacts between the campaign and Moscow - Meanwhile federal prosecutors at the Southern District of New York and in Washington are looking at other areas related to Russia All of the House inquiries were plagued by political squabbling amongst lawmakers, and closed without leading to any charges or claims of Russian collusion. Democrats have reopened the investigations after gaining a majority in the House in January. The Senate committee has yet to release its findings. Before the redacted report was released, Mr Barr, who was attorney general under the late George HW Bush between 1991 and 1993, spent two days poring over Mr Mueller's report before issuing his interpretation to Congress. There was a lot of speculation that an obstruction of justice legal case against the president could be considered. One of the possibilities raised was that it could look into Mr Trump's sacking of James Comey as head of the FBI. But legal experts had warned that the charge carried a fairly high threshold - proof of \"corrupt intent\". In his summary, Mr Barr says, quoting Mr Mueller's report: \"The special counsel states that 'while this report does not conclude that the president committed a crime, it also does not exonerate him'.\" Mr Barr then says that, after consulting Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, there was insufficient evidence \"to establish that the president committed an obstruction-of-justice offence\". Mr Mueller gave a rare statement in May about the investigation, and announced his office was officially shutting down. His statement largely reaffirmed what was in the report released with redactions last month. He said if his team had had confidence that Mr Trump \"clearly did not commit a crime, we would have said so\". Mr Mueller added that \"the Constitution requires a process other than the criminal justice system to formally accuse a sitting president of wrongdoing,\" in what was seen as a reference to the ability of Congress to start an impeachment process. The special counsel said he did not believe it was \"appropriate to speak further\" about the investigation and that he would not provide any information that was not in his team's report. But the end of the special counsel investigation does not mark the end of the story. The former FBI director will face questions from two congressional committees about his report on the Donald Trump campaign and Russia. The congressional probes could stretch into 2020 and several of the prosecutions Mr Mueller initiated could be continued by lawyers within the Department of Justice. Mr Barr has said that it is his objective to get as much information to Congress and the public as possible, consistent with prosecutorial guidelines and confidentiality requirements. Democrats in Congress have called for whatever information Mr Mueller produces to be released publicly in its entirety. Back in February 2017, before Mr Mueller was appointed as special counsel, the FBI was investigating Michael Flynn over his contacts with Russian officials. Then-head of the FBI, Mr Comey, attended a briefing in the Oval Office at the White House, along with Vice-President Mike Pence and Mr Sessions. According to a detailed account of the meeting written by Mr Comey immediately afterwards, the president asked Mr Pence and Mr Sessions to leave the room before suggesting Mr Comey end the Flynn investigation. The FBI director's notes quote the president as saying: \"I hope you can see your way clear to letting this go, to letting Flynn go. He is a good guy. I hope you can let this go.\" Mr Comey prepared memos from his notes and shared them with other senior FBI officials, saying he was concerned about the nature of the meeting. A few months later, in May, the president sacked Mr Comey, citing \"this Russia thing\", a move that shocked Washington and led to talk of a cover-up. Part of the inquiry focuses on a June 2016 meeting at Trump Tower in New York City involving Mr Trump's son, Donald Jr, his son-in-law Jared Kushner, then-campaign chairman Paul Manafort and an influential Russian lawyer, Natalia Veselnitskaya. The meeting occurred after a Russian intermediary contacted Mr Trump Jr with a promise to provide material that would \"incriminate\" Hillary Clinton - the Democratic candidate - and be \"very useful to your father\". It was part of the Russian government's \"support\" for Mr Trump, he noted. Mr Trump Jr replied: \"I love it.\" Mr Trump Jr later defended the meeting, saying Ms Veselnitskaya offered only \"inane nonsense\" and nothing came of it, but he also told Fox News' Sean Hannity \"in retrospect, I probably would have done things a little differently\". In an initial statement to explain the meeting one year after it occurred, Mr Trump Jr claimed that it had been held to discuss Russian adoptions. But in a follow-up statement he said that the actual purpose had been about political opposition research. In June 2018 Mr Trump tweeted that the meeting was \"to get information on an opponent, totally legal and done all the time in politics\". President Trump's lawyers say he dictated his son's first misleading explanation, leading to questions of whether the president sought to obstruct a Department of Justice inquiry. See our full Russia timeline. The arrest of Mr Stone, a long-time adviser and close confidant to Mr Trump, marks a significant development in this legal drama. The charges against him are linked to an alleged Russian-led hack into the emails of Democratic Party officials. Mr Stone denies suggestions of criminal misconduct. The information contained in the emails was released by Wikileaks during the 2016 US presidential election campaign. It means that, for the first time, a member of Mr Trump's inner circle is facing charges directly related to Russian election meddling. Mr Papadopoulos's role in the drama begins with a May 2016 drink in a London bar with an Australian diplomat. He told the envoy that Russia had \"political dirt\" on Hillary Clinton - a conversation which was later reported by Australian authorities to the FBI and may have prompted the bureau's investigation into the campaign. In late October 2017, court documents emerged showing Mr Papadopoulos had pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI about the timing of meetings with alleged go-betweens for Russia. He falsely claimed he had met two figures with Russian connections before joining the Trump campaign in March 2016. In fact, he met them after joining the campaign. After lying to the FBI, he deleted an incriminating Facebook account and destroyed a phone. Emails reveal that he communicated with high-level figures in the Trump campaign. He was pictured in March 2016 seated at a foreign policy meeting with Mr Trump, Jeff Sessions and others, in a photo Mr Trump shared on Twitter. Just before he began a two-week sentence in a Wisconsin prison in late November 2018 however, he sent a tweet saying he had \"never met a single Russian official\". On his release, he announced he was publishing a book entitled \"Deep State Target: How I got caught in the crosshairs of the plot to bring down President Trump\". In January 2017, a secret dossier was leaked to the press. It had been compiled by a former British intelligence official and Russia expert, Christopher Steele, who had been paid to investigate Mr Trump's ties to Russia. The dossier alleged Moscow had compromising material on Mr Trump, including claims he was once recorded with prostitutes at a Moscow hotel during a 2013 trip for one of his Miss Universe pageants. Mr Trump emphatically denies this. The file purported to show financial and personal links between Mr Trump, his advisers and Moscow. It also suggested the Kremlin had cultivated Mr Trump for years before he ran for president. Mr Trump dismissed the dossier, arguing its contents were based largely on unnamed sources. It was later reported that Mr Steele's report was funded as opposition research by the Clinton campaign and Democratic National Committee. Fusion GPS, the Washington-based firm that was hired to commission the dossier, had previously been paid via a conservative website to dig up dirt on Mr Trump. It didn't, exactly. Hacking voter machines, and rigging elections generally, is very, very difficult. Hacking people? That would be easier. The special counsel charges show that Russia effectively ran a two-pronged operation. The first prong in mid-2016 allegedly involved sending rafts of so-called \"phishing\" emails to figures in the Democratic Party - an unsophisticated method used by everyone from state-sponsored actors to low-level scammers for duping people into giving up their passwords. Hackers gained access to the Democratic National Committee's systems and the personal email of Clinton campaign chair John Podesta. They leaked tens of thousands of emails revealing the inner workings of the Clinton campaign and the party's operations, along with mundane, embarrassing details. The second prong allegedly involved flooding social media networks, especially Facebook, with bogus stories designed to smear the Democrats and undermine the Clinton campaign. According to testimony by Facebook before Congress, Russia-backed content reached as many as 126 million Americans on the social network during and after election. In August 2016, an envelope arrived at the White House marked for the eyes of President Barack Obama and three senior aides. According to the Washington Post, the envelope had come by courier from the CIA, and contained a bombshell revelation - Mr Putin was directing a state-sponsored effort to interfere with the US election. The FBI was already looking at ties between the Trump campaign and Russia, but the CIA memo seemed to confirm Russian efforts to throw the election Mr Trump's way. According to reporting in the Post and elsewhere, the Obama administration agonised over whether to divulge the alleged operations. Reportedly fearful of appearing to attempt to interfere politically, they stayed relatively quiet. Other intelligence agencies were slow in reaching the same conclusion as the CIA, and congressional Republicans were reluctant to offer support to a public condemnation of Moscow. Warnings were issued to Russian officials, but it wasn't until the main US intelligence agencies agreed, in late September, that President Obama directed them to make a public statement. To avoid appearing partisan, the statement would not carry his name. The president is celebrating the findings of the special counsel's report revealed by Mr Barr, but there are a variety of ongoing investigations into Mr Trump's conduct and that of his businesses. Several of them pose a legitimate threat to the president, both legal and political. However, it is effectively impossible to bring criminal charges against a sitting president, and any case would have to be brought by the executive branch, of which Mr Trump is the boss. As for impeachment, it remains unlikely at this stage. A majority in the House of Representatives is first required to approve an article of impeachment, and the Democratic leaders in that chamber appear reluctant to make such a move until the multiple investigations are concluded. In the event of a successful House vote, the Senate holds a trial presided over by the Supreme Court chief justice, and a two-thirds majority vote is required in the Senate to convict the president. That's a high bar - two presidents, Bill Clinton and Andrew Johnson, have been acquitted at this stage. With a Republican majority in the 100-seat Senate, at least 19 members of Mr Trump's own party would have to break ranks to remove him from office.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 731, "answer_end": 1281, "text": "Mr Trump's campaign and transition teams were accused of conspiring with Russian agents to influence the US election in the then Republican candidate's favour. US intelligence agencies concluded in 2016 that Russia was behind an effort to tip the scales of the US election against Hillary Clinton, with a state-authorised campaign of cyber attacks and fake news stories planted on social media. Both the Russian and US presidents had poured scorn on suggestions of \"collusion\", with Mr Trump calling it \"the greatest political witch hunt in history\"."}], "question": "What's it all about?", "id": "1055_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1282, "answer_end": 2106, "text": "At least 17 Trump associates had contacts with Russians or Wikileaks, which released hacked documents, during the campaign or transition, according to an analysis of public records by the New York Times, with at least 100 face-to-face interactions, phone calls or electronic messages with Russians or Kremlin-linked figures and at least 51 individual communications. Trump aides known to have had contact with Russians include the president's son-in-law and adviser Jared Kushner, his son Donald Trump Jr, former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn, Attorney General Jeff Sessions and former personal lawyer Michael Cohen. The president's supporters point out that interactions with foreign nationals are routine during any White House campaign, but three Trump associates have now admitted lying about these encounters."}], "question": "What contact do we know about?", "id": "1055_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2107, "answer_end": 2314, "text": "The special counsel has indicted more than 30 people, including four members of Mr Trump's campaign team or administration, an adviser and long-time ally, and 26 Russians, as well as three Russian companies."}], "question": "Who's been charged?", "id": "1055_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2315, "answer_end": 2985, "text": "A former prosecutor, Mr Mueller went on to become the second-longest serving FBI director in history, after J Edgar Hoover. His Senate confirmation vote as FBI director went 98-0 in his favour. A special Senate vote to extend his term beyond the usual 10 years to 12 passed 100-0. With a team of experienced lawyers drawn from private practice and from the Department of Justice, as well as FBI officers, Mr Mueller worked quietly from an unassuming building in south-west Washington, not issuing any public comment during the investigation. On 22 March, he submitted his report to Attorney General William Barr, who replaced Jeff Sessions after he was forced to resign."}], "question": "Who is special counsel Robert Mueller?", "id": "1055_3"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2986, "answer_end": 3935, "text": "The 448-page report painted a mixed picture of the president's conduct. While it did not establish that the Trump campaign criminally conspired with Russia to meddle in the election, it built an extensive obstruction-of-justice case against the president. Mr Mueller said the report did not exonerate the president but stopped short of saying Mr Trump committed a crime. \"If we had confidence after a thorough investigation of the facts that the president clearly did not commit obstruction of justice, we would so state,\" the report says. \"Based on the facts and the applicable legal standards, we are unable to reach that judgement. Accordingly, while this report does not conclude that the president committed a crime, it also does not exonerate him.\" It also revealed Mr Trump instructed a White House lawyer to try and remove Mr Mueller over alleged \"conflicts of interest\", but the lawyer resigned. Around 10% of the public report is redacted."}], "question": "What does Mueller's report say?", "id": "1055_4"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3936, "answer_end": 4929, "text": "As well as the special counsel inquiry by Mr Mueller under the aegis of the justice department there have been four congressional investigations: - The Senate and House Intelligence Committees and the Senate Judiciary Committee are investigating alleged Kremlin meddling and any collusion with Trump aides - The House Oversight Committee is scrutinising links between Trump associates and Russian officials - The Judiciary Committee has issued more than 80 document requests in a broad probe that goes beyond alleged contacts between the campaign and Moscow - Meanwhile federal prosecutors at the Southern District of New York and in Washington are looking at other areas related to Russia All of the House inquiries were plagued by political squabbling amongst lawmakers, and closed without leading to any charges or claims of Russian collusion. Democrats have reopened the investigations after gaining a majority in the House in January. The Senate committee has yet to release its findings."}], "question": "How many investigations have been conducted?", "id": "1055_5"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 4930, "answer_end": 5880, "text": "Before the redacted report was released, Mr Barr, who was attorney general under the late George HW Bush between 1991 and 1993, spent two days poring over Mr Mueller's report before issuing his interpretation to Congress. There was a lot of speculation that an obstruction of justice legal case against the president could be considered. One of the possibilities raised was that it could look into Mr Trump's sacking of James Comey as head of the FBI. But legal experts had warned that the charge carried a fairly high threshold - proof of \"corrupt intent\". In his summary, Mr Barr says, quoting Mr Mueller's report: \"The special counsel states that 'while this report does not conclude that the president committed a crime, it also does not exonerate him'.\" Mr Barr then says that, after consulting Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, there was insufficient evidence \"to establish that the president committed an obstruction-of-justice offence\"."}], "question": "What does Barr's summary say?", "id": "1055_6"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 5881, "answer_end": 7326, "text": "Mr Mueller gave a rare statement in May about the investigation, and announced his office was officially shutting down. His statement largely reaffirmed what was in the report released with redactions last month. He said if his team had had confidence that Mr Trump \"clearly did not commit a crime, we would have said so\". Mr Mueller added that \"the Constitution requires a process other than the criminal justice system to formally accuse a sitting president of wrongdoing,\" in what was seen as a reference to the ability of Congress to start an impeachment process. The special counsel said he did not believe it was \"appropriate to speak further\" about the investigation and that he would not provide any information that was not in his team's report. But the end of the special counsel investigation does not mark the end of the story. The former FBI director will face questions from two congressional committees about his report on the Donald Trump campaign and Russia. The congressional probes could stretch into 2020 and several of the prosecutions Mr Mueller initiated could be continued by lawyers within the Department of Justice. Mr Barr has said that it is his objective to get as much information to Congress and the public as possible, consistent with prosecutorial guidelines and confidentiality requirements. Democrats in Congress have called for whatever information Mr Mueller produces to be released publicly in its entirety."}], "question": "What next?", "id": "1055_7"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 7327, "answer_end": 8311, "text": "Back in February 2017, before Mr Mueller was appointed as special counsel, the FBI was investigating Michael Flynn over his contacts with Russian officials. Then-head of the FBI, Mr Comey, attended a briefing in the Oval Office at the White House, along with Vice-President Mike Pence and Mr Sessions. According to a detailed account of the meeting written by Mr Comey immediately afterwards, the president asked Mr Pence and Mr Sessions to leave the room before suggesting Mr Comey end the Flynn investigation. The FBI director's notes quote the president as saying: \"I hope you can see your way clear to letting this go, to letting Flynn go. He is a good guy. I hope you can let this go.\" Mr Comey prepared memos from his notes and shared them with other senior FBI officials, saying he was concerned about the nature of the meeting. A few months later, in May, the president sacked Mr Comey, citing \"this Russia thing\", a move that shocked Washington and led to talk of a cover-up."}], "question": "What happened with James Comey?", "id": "1055_8"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 8312, "answer_end": 9710, "text": "Part of the inquiry focuses on a June 2016 meeting at Trump Tower in New York City involving Mr Trump's son, Donald Jr, his son-in-law Jared Kushner, then-campaign chairman Paul Manafort and an influential Russian lawyer, Natalia Veselnitskaya. The meeting occurred after a Russian intermediary contacted Mr Trump Jr with a promise to provide material that would \"incriminate\" Hillary Clinton - the Democratic candidate - and be \"very useful to your father\". It was part of the Russian government's \"support\" for Mr Trump, he noted. Mr Trump Jr replied: \"I love it.\" Mr Trump Jr later defended the meeting, saying Ms Veselnitskaya offered only \"inane nonsense\" and nothing came of it, but he also told Fox News' Sean Hannity \"in retrospect, I probably would have done things a little differently\". In an initial statement to explain the meeting one year after it occurred, Mr Trump Jr claimed that it had been held to discuss Russian adoptions. But in a follow-up statement he said that the actual purpose had been about political opposition research. In June 2018 Mr Trump tweeted that the meeting was \"to get information on an opponent, totally legal and done all the time in politics\". President Trump's lawyers say he dictated his son's first misleading explanation, leading to questions of whether the president sought to obstruct a Department of Justice inquiry. See our full Russia timeline."}], "question": "What about the Don Jr meeting?", "id": "1055_9"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 9711, "answer_end": 10258, "text": "The arrest of Mr Stone, a long-time adviser and close confidant to Mr Trump, marks a significant development in this legal drama. The charges against him are linked to an alleged Russian-led hack into the emails of Democratic Party officials. Mr Stone denies suggestions of criminal misconduct. The information contained in the emails was released by Wikileaks during the 2016 US presidential election campaign. It means that, for the first time, a member of Mr Trump's inner circle is facing charges directly related to Russian election meddling."}], "question": "Why are the Stone charges significant?", "id": "1055_10"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 10259, "answer_end": 11569, "text": "Mr Papadopoulos's role in the drama begins with a May 2016 drink in a London bar with an Australian diplomat. He told the envoy that Russia had \"political dirt\" on Hillary Clinton - a conversation which was later reported by Australian authorities to the FBI and may have prompted the bureau's investigation into the campaign. In late October 2017, court documents emerged showing Mr Papadopoulos had pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI about the timing of meetings with alleged go-betweens for Russia. He falsely claimed he had met two figures with Russian connections before joining the Trump campaign in March 2016. In fact, he met them after joining the campaign. After lying to the FBI, he deleted an incriminating Facebook account and destroyed a phone. Emails reveal that he communicated with high-level figures in the Trump campaign. He was pictured in March 2016 seated at a foreign policy meeting with Mr Trump, Jeff Sessions and others, in a photo Mr Trump shared on Twitter. Just before he began a two-week sentence in a Wisconsin prison in late November 2018 however, he sent a tweet saying he had \"never met a single Russian official\". On his release, he announced he was publishing a book entitled \"Deep State Target: How I got caught in the crosshairs of the plot to bring down President Trump\"."}], "question": "Who is 'coffee boy' George Papadopoulos?", "id": "1055_11"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 11570, "answer_end": 12605, "text": "In January 2017, a secret dossier was leaked to the press. It had been compiled by a former British intelligence official and Russia expert, Christopher Steele, who had been paid to investigate Mr Trump's ties to Russia. The dossier alleged Moscow had compromising material on Mr Trump, including claims he was once recorded with prostitutes at a Moscow hotel during a 2013 trip for one of his Miss Universe pageants. Mr Trump emphatically denies this. The file purported to show financial and personal links between Mr Trump, his advisers and Moscow. It also suggested the Kremlin had cultivated Mr Trump for years before he ran for president. Mr Trump dismissed the dossier, arguing its contents were based largely on unnamed sources. It was later reported that Mr Steele's report was funded as opposition research by the Clinton campaign and Democratic National Committee. Fusion GPS, the Washington-based firm that was hired to commission the dossier, had previously been paid via a conservative website to dig up dirt on Mr Trump."}], "question": "What is the Christopher Steele dossier?", "id": "1055_12"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 13739, "answer_end": 14897, "text": "In August 2016, an envelope arrived at the White House marked for the eyes of President Barack Obama and three senior aides. According to the Washington Post, the envelope had come by courier from the CIA, and contained a bombshell revelation - Mr Putin was directing a state-sponsored effort to interfere with the US election. The FBI was already looking at ties between the Trump campaign and Russia, but the CIA memo seemed to confirm Russian efforts to throw the election Mr Trump's way. According to reporting in the Post and elsewhere, the Obama administration agonised over whether to divulge the alleged operations. Reportedly fearful of appearing to attempt to interfere politically, they stayed relatively quiet. Other intelligence agencies were slow in reaching the same conclusion as the CIA, and congressional Republicans were reluctant to offer support to a public condemnation of Moscow. Warnings were issued to Russian officials, but it wasn't until the main US intelligence agencies agreed, in late September, that President Obama directed them to make a public statement. To avoid appearing partisan, the statement would not carry his name."}], "question": "What did Obama know and when?", "id": "1055_13"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 14898, "answer_end": 16100, "text": "The president is celebrating the findings of the special counsel's report revealed by Mr Barr, but there are a variety of ongoing investigations into Mr Trump's conduct and that of his businesses. Several of them pose a legitimate threat to the president, both legal and political. However, it is effectively impossible to bring criminal charges against a sitting president, and any case would have to be brought by the executive branch, of which Mr Trump is the boss. As for impeachment, it remains unlikely at this stage. A majority in the House of Representatives is first required to approve an article of impeachment, and the Democratic leaders in that chamber appear reluctant to make such a move until the multiple investigations are concluded. In the event of a successful House vote, the Senate holds a trial presided over by the Supreme Court chief justice, and a two-thirds majority vote is required in the Senate to convict the president. That's a high bar - two presidents, Bill Clinton and Andrew Johnson, have been acquitted at this stage. With a Republican majority in the 100-seat Senate, at least 19 members of Mr Trump's own party would have to break ranks to remove him from office."}], "question": "How does impeachment work?", "id": "1055_14"}]}]}, {"title": "Merkel: The steady woman whose shaking has touched a nation", "date": "17 July 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Angela Merkel celebrates her 65th birthday on Wednesday, but despite speculation about her health she intends to stay chancellor until the end of her current term in 2021. A series of severe shaking incidents at official events has got Germans talking about her health. As she reaches retirement age in Germany, they are watching her closely. Newspaper headlines have questioned whether she's fit enough to stay in office. Medical experts willing to give a diagnosis from afar are doing a brisk trade on the TV chat-show circuit. The German chancellor celebrated her 60th birthday by attending a lecture on globalisation. For her 50th, the highlight of the party was a talk by a neuroscientist. Maybe not everyone's idea of a good time, but they were well-publicised events. On this birthday, she might prefer to stay out of the limelight. Her first bout of severe trembling came in June, when the chancellor welcomed Ukraine's new president to Berlin. There had been an earlier incident in 2017, but it was in Mexico, it was less obvious and medical checks had found nothing wrong. As the national anthem played, she started shaking uncontrollably. After a few minutes she recovered, and carried on the meeting as normal. Later she said it was a result of the unusually hot weather and dehydration. Nine days later it happened again during a public event with the German president. Last week she started trembling a third time as she welcomed Finland's prime minster to Berlin -- again as the national anthem played. That third incident of shaking was a psychological after-effect of the first time, explained a government spokesman, saying that the worry the trembling might recur sparked a fresh bout of shaking. The next day, to avoid a repeat as she welcomed the Danish prime minster, both leaders sat while they listened to the national anthem, instead of standing as usual. The same thing happened with Moldova's leader on Tuesday. Mrs Merkel has repeatedly said she feels fine, that she is perfectly capable of doing her job and that there's nothing to worry about. She appears relaxed, confident and is carrying on with her usual workload. It's not clear what the cause of trembling is, or whether the chancellor even knows herself. Now every appearance is being scrutinised for signs of illness. On Monday her spokesman was forced to deliver a statement about why Mrs Merkel seemed slightly breathless during a visit to Paris. \"Merkel fights to catch her breath,\" screamed one headline. She had rushed up some stairs to get to the press conference, it turned out. Political opponents, spotting weakness, have piled in. Ex-spy chief Hans-Georg Maassen, a Merkel-critic who was forced out of his role after appearing to downplay far-right violence, tweeted: \"The health of the head of government is not a private matter. People in Germany have a right to know whether the head of government is in a position to fully carry out their duties.\" Online comments from other critics of her refugee policy are more brutal, revealing a disturbing undercurrent of aggression in Germany's current political debate. The mildest call her a traitor who deserves to fall sick. Mostly, though, German media is respectful, with many commentators adamant that the chancellor should be taken at her word and her privacy should be respected. The majority of German voters agree. According to one survey, 59% of those polled believe Mrs Merkel does not have to reveal any information about her health. Only 34% call for a more detailed diagnosis to be made public. For many the sight of Germany's leader trembling uncontrollably is distressing to watch. She is renowned for her discipline and endurance: the last leader standing at all-night summits. These incidents serve as a reminder that, after 14 years leading the country, the Merkel-era is drawing to a close; and could even end sooner than expected. Her critics would welcome that. But questions are being asked about what would happen if Europe's most powerful and longest-serving leader were suddenly unable to stay in office. Her centre-right CDU party is riven with divisions between Merkel-like centrists and hard-line conservatives. Her preferred successor, Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer who now leads the CDU, has lost credibility after a number of gaffes. Her coalition-government is regularly rocked by rows, and may not last the year. Sometimes it feels like Angela Merkel is the only constant keeping everything together. If she were suddenly unable to stay in office, according to the constitution there is no automatic successor. The German president would name a temporary head of government until Germany's parliament could elect a new chancellor. The debate around Mrs Merkel's health shows that even in Germany, where privacy is sacrosanct, leaders are under pressure to be more transparent. Previous chancellors, including Helmut Schmidt and Helmut Kohl, managed to keep serious illnesses from the public. Even the most humdrum official event Mrs Merkel attends is now being watched closely and filmed and then shared online - for signs of the slightest tremble. Such scrutiny is not edifying. It is, though, evidence that if the shaking incidents continue, a simple \"all is fine\" is unlikely to be enough. In the meantime, Mrs Merkel carries on with her usual demanding workload and has not cancelled a single appointment. The work continues, but the pressure has increased.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 3553, "answer_end": 5436, "text": "For many the sight of Germany's leader trembling uncontrollably is distressing to watch. She is renowned for her discipline and endurance: the last leader standing at all-night summits. These incidents serve as a reminder that, after 14 years leading the country, the Merkel-era is drawing to a close; and could even end sooner than expected. Her critics would welcome that. But questions are being asked about what would happen if Europe's most powerful and longest-serving leader were suddenly unable to stay in office. Her centre-right CDU party is riven with divisions between Merkel-like centrists and hard-line conservatives. Her preferred successor, Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer who now leads the CDU, has lost credibility after a number of gaffes. Her coalition-government is regularly rocked by rows, and may not last the year. Sometimes it feels like Angela Merkel is the only constant keeping everything together. If she were suddenly unable to stay in office, according to the constitution there is no automatic successor. The German president would name a temporary head of government until Germany's parliament could elect a new chancellor. The debate around Mrs Merkel's health shows that even in Germany, where privacy is sacrosanct, leaders are under pressure to be more transparent. Previous chancellors, including Helmut Schmidt and Helmut Kohl, managed to keep serious illnesses from the public. Even the most humdrum official event Mrs Merkel attends is now being watched closely and filmed and then shared online - for signs of the slightest tremble. Such scrutiny is not edifying. It is, though, evidence that if the shaking incidents continue, a simple \"all is fine\" is unlikely to be enough. In the meantime, Mrs Merkel carries on with her usual demanding workload and has not cancelled a single appointment. The work continues, but the pressure has increased."}], "question": "Who will come next?", "id": "1056_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Kismayo attack: At least 26 dead as gunmen storm Somali hotel", "date": "14 July 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "At least 26 people, including a prominent journalist and several foreigners, have been killed in an attack on a hotel in southern Somalia. A suicide bomber rammed a car containing explosives into the Asasey hotel in the port of Kismayo, and gunmen then stormed the building. Journalist Hodan Nalayeh, 43, and her husband Farid were among the dead. Islamist group al-Shabab has claimed the attack, the worst to hit Kismayo since they were forced out in 2012. A local politician, three Kenyans, three Tanzanians, two Americans and one Briton were also killed, authorities say. Regional politicians and clan elders were inside the hotel discussing a forthcoming regional election when the attack began on Friday. Witnesses said they heard a huge blast before several heavily armed men forced their way in. \"There is chaos inside, I saw several dead bodies carried from the scene and people are fleeing from the nearby buildings,\" one witness, Hussein Muktar, said during the attack. It took 12 hours for authorities to regain control over the hotel. Regional President Ahmed Mohamed put the death toll at 26 with more than 50 people wounded. Three attackers died in the raid while one was captured. Hodan Nalayeh founded the media platform Integration TV to tell stories about life in Somalia and in the Somali diaspora. Recent episodes had focused on Somalia's female entrepreneurs and things to do in the city of Las Anod. She moved to Canada with her family when she was six years old and went on to become a figurehead of the Somali community there. But the mother of two had recently returned to Somalia. She once spoke about how she would like to be remembered after her death. \"My vision is not to be famous and to make money. My mission is what I will leave behind when I die and what will I be remembered for,\" she said. \"One of the things is that I want people to remember that I loved the Somali people and want them to be brothers and to remember the importance of our unity for our country.\" Tributes have been paid, with BBC journalist Farhan Jimale calling her \"a beautiful soul\" while Canada's Immigration Minister Ahmed Hussen said she was a \"voice for many\". The Somali Journalists Syndicate said that Nalayeh and another reporter also killed in Kismayo, Mohamed Omar Sahal, were the first journalists to be killed in the country this year. Somalia sees frequent militant attacks but after al-Shabab was driven out of Kismayo the port has been relatively peaceful. The militants have been carrying out regular attacks in the capital Mogadishu, despite the heavy presence of African Union peacekeepers and US-trained Somali troops. Al-Shabab is affiliated with al-Qaeda and remains a powerful presence in rural Somalia.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 575, "answer_end": 1195, "text": "Regional politicians and clan elders were inside the hotel discussing a forthcoming regional election when the attack began on Friday. Witnesses said they heard a huge blast before several heavily armed men forced their way in. \"There is chaos inside, I saw several dead bodies carried from the scene and people are fleeing from the nearby buildings,\" one witness, Hussein Muktar, said during the attack. It took 12 hours for authorities to regain control over the hotel. Regional President Ahmed Mohamed put the death toll at 26 with more than 50 people wounded. Three attackers died in the raid while one was captured."}], "question": "How did the attack unfold?", "id": "1057_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1196, "answer_end": 2355, "text": "Hodan Nalayeh founded the media platform Integration TV to tell stories about life in Somalia and in the Somali diaspora. Recent episodes had focused on Somalia's female entrepreneurs and things to do in the city of Las Anod. She moved to Canada with her family when she was six years old and went on to become a figurehead of the Somali community there. But the mother of two had recently returned to Somalia. She once spoke about how she would like to be remembered after her death. \"My vision is not to be famous and to make money. My mission is what I will leave behind when I die and what will I be remembered for,\" she said. \"One of the things is that I want people to remember that I loved the Somali people and want them to be brothers and to remember the importance of our unity for our country.\" Tributes have been paid, with BBC journalist Farhan Jimale calling her \"a beautiful soul\" while Canada's Immigration Minister Ahmed Hussen said she was a \"voice for many\". The Somali Journalists Syndicate said that Nalayeh and another reporter also killed in Kismayo, Mohamed Omar Sahal, were the first journalists to be killed in the country this year."}], "question": "Who were the victims?", "id": "1057_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2356, "answer_end": 2733, "text": "Somalia sees frequent militant attacks but after al-Shabab was driven out of Kismayo the port has been relatively peaceful. The militants have been carrying out regular attacks in the capital Mogadishu, despite the heavy presence of African Union peacekeepers and US-trained Somali troops. Al-Shabab is affiliated with al-Qaeda and remains a powerful presence in rural Somalia."}], "question": "How common is this type of attack?", "id": "1057_2"}]}]}, {"title": "Daca Dreamers: Obama says axing young migrant scheme is wrong", "date": "6 September 2017", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Former US President Barack Obama has attacked the Trump administration for scrapping his scheme to protect young undocumented migrants from deportation. The Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (Daca) programme was rescinded on Tuesday, in a move that could affect some 800,000 beneficiaries. While existing recipients will see no impact for at least six months, no new applications can now be made. Appealing to Congress, Mr Obama said the decision was \"cruel\" and \"wrong\". The so-called \"Dreamers\", mostly Latin Americans, were able to apply for work and study permits under the policy he introduced five years ago. The Trump administration argues that the programme, which Mr Obama bypassed Congress in order to enact, was unconstitutional, In a tweet, President Donald Trump, said he now looked forward to working with both Democrats and Republicans in Congress to \"address immigration reform in a way that puts hardworking citizens of our country 1st\". \"Congress now has 6 months to legalize DACA (something the Obama Administration was unable to do). If they can't, I will revisit this issue!\" he added, in a second tweet. Police in New York made at least a dozen arrests when protesters rallied in front of Trump Tower, US media report, but there were no reports of clashes. By Anthony Zurcher, BBC News, Washington Candidate Trump promised to do away with Daca, despite warnings from a cross-party collection of politicians. Or, knowing this president, objections from \"the establishment\" only make him more determined to act. Fortunately for him, unlike repealing Obamacare or building his Mexican border wall, he does not need Congress's help here. In fact, by setting a six-month fuse on the effects of Daca's termination - and stretching the impact out over the next two years as work permits expire - Mr Trump puts all the pressure on legislators. It will not be easy for Daca supporters in Congress. They will have to get legislation passed over the objection of immigration hawks in the House. It may also need 60 votes in the Senate to break a filibuster, if the bill is packaged with hardline immigration measures. What is more, Congress already has its hands full with other pressing issues - hurricane relief, budget resolutions, the need to authorise new government debt and, at some point, tax reform. If Congress fails to act, Republicans with tough re-election races will be in a difficult spot, facing angry constituents just as the campaign season gets into gear. The president, however, satisfies his anti-immigration base with this move - and washes his hands of the matter. The loyalists who have stood by him are rewarded, others in his party be damned. Read Anthony's full analysis Mr Obama wrote on Facebook:  \"To target these young people is wrong - because they have done nothing wrong.\" \"Ultimately, this is about basic decency,\" he said. \"This is about whether we are a people who kick hopeful young strivers out of America, or whether we treat them the way we'd want our own kids to be treated.\" Despite bypassing Congress himself over the issue, the former president said: \"Now that the White House has shifted its responsibility for these young people to Congress, it's up to members of Congress to protect these young people and our future.\" In a statement, House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi also slammed Tuesday's decision and called on majority Republicans in Congress to join Democrats in immediately moving to safeguard Daca recipients. Two senators from the opposing parties held a joint news conference to call for bipartisan legislation to protect Dreamers. \"The clock is ticking,\" Democrat Dick Durbin said, while Republican Lindsey Graham said: \"We believe in doing it right but 'right' means taking care of these kids.\" The Mexican government said in a statement (in Spanish) that it profoundly regretted the scrapping of Daca and would step up its consular work on behalf of its citizens who are affected. Mr Trump took a hard line on immigration while campaigning last year and promised to scrap Daca if elected. In a statement, he said he did not \"favour punishing children, most of whom are now adults, for the actions of their parents\". \"But we must also recognise that we are nation of opportunity because we are a nation of laws,\" he added. The scrapping of Daca was announced on Tuesday by Attorney General Jeff Sessions who described Mr Obama's policy as an \"open-ended circumvention of immigration laws\". \"There can be no path to principled immigration reform if the executive branch is able to rewrite or nullify federal laws at will,\" Mr Trump said. No new first-time requests will be acted on after 5 September, Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Acting Secretary Elaine Duke said in a memo released after Mr Sessions spoke. However, no existing beneficiaries of the policy will feel any impact for six months, the period of time allotted for Congress to \"deliver on appropriate legislative solutions\". People who have current Daca work authorisation will be able to keep it until it expires while people whose permits expire in less than six months can renew before 1 October for another full two years. In order to qualify for Daca, applicants under the age of 30 had to submit personal information to the DHS. They had to go through an FBI background check and have a clean criminal record, and either be in school, have recently graduated or have been honourably discharged from the military. In exchange, the US government agreed to defer any action on their immigration status for a period of two years.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 2714, "answer_end": 3960, "text": "Mr Obama wrote on Facebook:  \"To target these young people is wrong - because they have done nothing wrong.\" \"Ultimately, this is about basic decency,\" he said. \"This is about whether we are a people who kick hopeful young strivers out of America, or whether we treat them the way we'd want our own kids to be treated.\" Despite bypassing Congress himself over the issue, the former president said: \"Now that the White House has shifted its responsibility for these young people to Congress, it's up to members of Congress to protect these young people and our future.\" In a statement, House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi also slammed Tuesday's decision and called on majority Republicans in Congress to join Democrats in immediately moving to safeguard Daca recipients. Two senators from the opposing parties held a joint news conference to call for bipartisan legislation to protect Dreamers. \"The clock is ticking,\" Democrat Dick Durbin said, while Republican Lindsey Graham said: \"We believe in doing it right but 'right' means taking care of these kids.\" The Mexican government said in a statement (in Spanish) that it profoundly regretted the scrapping of Daca and would step up its consular work on behalf of its citizens who are affected."}], "question": "What did Obama say?", "id": "1058_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3961, "answer_end": 4615, "text": "Mr Trump took a hard line on immigration while campaigning last year and promised to scrap Daca if elected. In a statement, he said he did not \"favour punishing children, most of whom are now adults, for the actions of their parents\". \"But we must also recognise that we are nation of opportunity because we are a nation of laws,\" he added. The scrapping of Daca was announced on Tuesday by Attorney General Jeff Sessions who described Mr Obama's policy as an \"open-ended circumvention of immigration laws\". \"There can be no path to principled immigration reform if the executive branch is able to rewrite or nullify federal laws at will,\" Mr Trump said."}], "question": "Why was the policy scrapped?", "id": "1058_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 4616, "answer_end": 5579, "text": "No new first-time requests will be acted on after 5 September, Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Acting Secretary Elaine Duke said in a memo released after Mr Sessions spoke. However, no existing beneficiaries of the policy will feel any impact for six months, the period of time allotted for Congress to \"deliver on appropriate legislative solutions\". People who have current Daca work authorisation will be able to keep it until it expires while people whose permits expire in less than six months can renew before 1 October for another full two years. In order to qualify for Daca, applicants under the age of 30 had to submit personal information to the DHS. They had to go through an FBI background check and have a clean criminal record, and either be in school, have recently graduated or have been honourably discharged from the military. In exchange, the US government agreed to defer any action on their immigration status for a period of two years."}], "question": "What happens to current 'Dreamers'?", "id": "1058_2"}]}]}, {"title": "What is Area 51 and what goes on there?", "date": "19 September 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "The small US towns of Rachel and Hiko, near the highly secret Area 51 facility in Nevada, are bracing themselves for a possible influx of visitors. The viral Facebook event \"Storm Area 51, They Can't Stop All of Us\" is due to take place on 20 September - even though the person who came up with the idea says it was a joke. So, what is Area 51? Area 51 refers to a map location and is the popular name for a United States Air Force base. It is at Groom Lake, a dry lake bed in the Nevada Desert, 85 miles (135km) north of Las Vegas. What goes on inside is extremely secret. Members of the public are kept away by warning signs, electronic surveillance and armed guards. It is also illegal to fly over Area 51, although the site is now visible on satellite images. The base has runways up to 12,000ft (2.3 miles/3.7km) long. The facility is next to two other restricted military areas: the Nevada Test Site, where US nuclear weapons were tested from the 1950s to the 1990s, and the Nevada Test and Training Range. The entire range covers more than 2.9 million acres of land. According to the US military, it represents \"a flexible, realistic and multidimensional battle-space to conduct testing tactics development, and advanced training\". Area 51 was created during the Cold War between the US and the Soviet Union as a testing and development facility for aircraft, including the U-2 and SR-71 Blackbird reconnaissance planes. Although it opened in 1955, its existence was only officially acknowledged by the CIA in August 2013. Four months after the CIA's disclosure, President Obama became the first US president to mention Area 51 publicly. Although official information is sparse, it is believed that the US military continues to use Area 51 to develop cutting-edge aircraft. About 1,500 people are believed to work there, many commuting on charter flights from Las Vegas. Annie Jacobsen, who has written about the history of Area 51, told the BBC that some of the world's most advanced espionage programmes are at the site. \"Area 51 is a test and training facility. The research began with the U-2 spy plane in the 1950s and has now moved on to drones\", she says. The secrecy surrounding Area 51 has helped fuel many conspiracy theories. Most famous is the claim that the site hosts an alien spacecraft and the bodies of its pilots, after they crashed at Roswell, New Mexico, in 1947. The US government says there were no aliens and the crashed craft was a weather balloon. Others claim to have seen UFOs above or near the site, while some say they have been abducted by aliens, and even experimented on, before being returned to Earth. And, in 1989, a man named Robert Lazar claimed he had worked on alien technology inside Area 51. He claimed to have seen medical photographs of aliens and that the government used the facility to examine UFOs. Area 51's association with aliens may have served as a useful distraction for the intelligence agencies. \"As early as 1950 the CIA developed a UFO office to deal with the sightings of unidentified flying objects over Nevada. When people first saw the U-2 spy plane flying, no one knew what they were seeing,\" says Ms Jacobsen. \"The CIA used that disinformation to their benefit by fostering an alien mythology.\" Matty Roberts, 20, created a Facebook event proposing that \"we can run faster than their bullets. Let's see them aliens\". Two million people said they were \"going\", although a linked festival has since been moved because of fears of a \"possible humanitarian disaster\". Warning signs around Area 51 make it clear that no trespassers will be tolerated. The USAF warned that Area 51 \"is an open training range for the US Air Force, and we would discourage anyone from trying to come into the area where we train American armed forces\". It added: \"The US Air Force always stands ready to protect America and its assets.\"", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 345, "answer_end": 1238, "text": "Area 51 refers to a map location and is the popular name for a United States Air Force base. It is at Groom Lake, a dry lake bed in the Nevada Desert, 85 miles (135km) north of Las Vegas. What goes on inside is extremely secret. Members of the public are kept away by warning signs, electronic surveillance and armed guards. It is also illegal to fly over Area 51, although the site is now visible on satellite images. The base has runways up to 12,000ft (2.3 miles/3.7km) long. The facility is next to two other restricted military areas: the Nevada Test Site, where US nuclear weapons were tested from the 1950s to the 1990s, and the Nevada Test and Training Range. The entire range covers more than 2.9 million acres of land. According to the US military, it represents \"a flexible, realistic and multidimensional battle-space to conduct testing tactics development, and advanced training\"."}], "question": "What do we know about Area 51?", "id": "1059_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1239, "answer_end": 1644, "text": "Area 51 was created during the Cold War between the US and the Soviet Union as a testing and development facility for aircraft, including the U-2 and SR-71 Blackbird reconnaissance planes. Although it opened in 1955, its existence was only officially acknowledged by the CIA in August 2013. Four months after the CIA's disclosure, President Obama became the first US president to mention Area 51 publicly."}], "question": "Why was it built?", "id": "1059_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1645, "answer_end": 2169, "text": "Although official information is sparse, it is believed that the US military continues to use Area 51 to develop cutting-edge aircraft. About 1,500 people are believed to work there, many commuting on charter flights from Las Vegas. Annie Jacobsen, who has written about the history of Area 51, told the BBC that some of the world's most advanced espionage programmes are at the site. \"Area 51 is a test and training facility. The research began with the U-2 spy plane in the 1950s and has now moved on to drones\", she says."}], "question": "What goes on there today?", "id": "1059_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2170, "answer_end": 3264, "text": "The secrecy surrounding Area 51 has helped fuel many conspiracy theories. Most famous is the claim that the site hosts an alien spacecraft and the bodies of its pilots, after they crashed at Roswell, New Mexico, in 1947. The US government says there were no aliens and the crashed craft was a weather balloon. Others claim to have seen UFOs above or near the site, while some say they have been abducted by aliens, and even experimented on, before being returned to Earth. And, in 1989, a man named Robert Lazar claimed he had worked on alien technology inside Area 51. He claimed to have seen medical photographs of aliens and that the government used the facility to examine UFOs. Area 51's association with aliens may have served as a useful distraction for the intelligence agencies. \"As early as 1950 the CIA developed a UFO office to deal with the sightings of unidentified flying objects over Nevada. When people first saw the U-2 spy plane flying, no one knew what they were seeing,\" says Ms Jacobsen. \"The CIA used that disinformation to their benefit by fostering an alien mythology.\""}], "question": "Are there aliens and flying saucers at Area 51?", "id": "1059_3"}]}]}, {"title": "Supporters of Brazil's Lula stop him surrendering", "date": "7 April 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Supporters of ex-Brazilian President Luis Inacio Lula da Silva have stopped him surrendering to police after he agreed to end a stand-off over his prison sentence. Scores of them blocked his car leaving the trade union building near Sao Paulo where he has been staying. He says he will give himself up despite saying he is innocent of the corruption charges of which he was convicted. Two last-minute appeals to have his arrest warrant suspended had failed. Lula was the frontrunner for October's presidential election but his jailing will leave the race wide open. The former metalworker and trade union activist is an iconic figure for the left in Latin America. He was the first left-wing leader to make it to the Brazilian presidency in nearly half a century. The crowd had gathered for a Mass to commemorate the former leader's late wife, Marisa Leticia. On Saturday, flanked by his impeached successor as president, Dilma Rousseff, the 72-year-old delivered an impassioned 55-minute speech. \"I will comply with the order and all of you will become Lula,\" he told the crowd in Sao Bernardo do Campo. \"I'm not above the law. If I didn't believe in the law, I wouldn't have started a political party. I would have started a revolution.\" Promising to come out of his legal troubles \"bigger and stronger\", he said: \"I was born with a short neck so I can keep my head high.\" When he left the stage, he was carried on the shoulders of delighted supporters chanting \"Free Lula!\" He was expected to leave the building through a garage but supporters told BBC News the workers inside were keeping him there, chanting \"We won't let him leave\". Lula says his conviction was designed to stop him from running for president again. In an order issued on Thursday, federal judge Sergio Moro said Lula had to present himself before 17:00 local time (20:00 GMT) on Friday at the federal police headquarters in the southern city of Curitiba. The charges against Lula came from an anti-corruption investigation known as Operation Car Wash, which has embroiled top politicians from several parties. He was convicted of receiving a renovated beachfront apartment worth some 3.7m reais ($1.1m, PS790,000), as a bribe from engineering firm OAS. The defence says Lula's ownership of the apartment has never been proven and that his conviction rests largely on the word of the former chairman of OAS, himself convicted of corruption. \"I'm the only person being prosecuted over an apartment that isn't mine,\" Lula said on Saturday. Lula served as president from 2003-2011. Despite a lead in opinion polls ahead of October's election, he remains a divisive figure. While he was in office, Brazil experienced its longest period of economic growth in three decades, allowing his administration to spend lavishly on social programmes. Tens of millions of people were lifted out of poverty thanks to the initiatives taken by his government and he left office after two consecutive terms (the maximum allowed in Brazil) with record popularity ratings. Supreme Court Justice Edson Fachin rejected Lula's appeal on Saturday, a day after his appeal to the Superior Court was declined. The two courts did not re-examine Lula's conviction, only whether legal procedures were followed correctly and his constitutional rights were observed. Ordering his surrender on Thursday, Judge Moro said the former president would have a separate cell with its own toilet in Curitiba. He would not be handcuffed if he came quietly, the judge promised. As a convict, Lula would normally be barred from standing for election in October but Brazil's top electoral court reserves the final decision if and when he submits his candidacy. Lula was convicted last July and originally sentenced to nine and a half years in prison. He lost his first appeal against the sentence in January, when the appeals court not only upheld his conviction, but increased the sentence to 12 years. Until recently, defendants in Brazil were allowed to remain free until their final appeal had been exhausted but a 2016 ruling from a lower court allowed for defendants to be sent to jail after a failed first appeal.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 860, "answer_end": 1638, "text": "On Saturday, flanked by his impeached successor as president, Dilma Rousseff, the 72-year-old delivered an impassioned 55-minute speech. \"I will comply with the order and all of you will become Lula,\" he told the crowd in Sao Bernardo do Campo. \"I'm not above the law. If I didn't believe in the law, I wouldn't have started a political party. I would have started a revolution.\" Promising to come out of his legal troubles \"bigger and stronger\", he said: \"I was born with a short neck so I can keep my head high.\" When he left the stage, he was carried on the shoulders of delighted supporters chanting \"Free Lula!\" He was expected to leave the building through a garage but supporters told BBC News the workers inside were keeping him there, chanting \"We won't let him leave\"."}], "question": "What did he say to supporters?", "id": "1060_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1639, "answer_end": 2510, "text": "Lula says his conviction was designed to stop him from running for president again. In an order issued on Thursday, federal judge Sergio Moro said Lula had to present himself before 17:00 local time (20:00 GMT) on Friday at the federal police headquarters in the southern city of Curitiba. The charges against Lula came from an anti-corruption investigation known as Operation Car Wash, which has embroiled top politicians from several parties. He was convicted of receiving a renovated beachfront apartment worth some 3.7m reais ($1.1m, PS790,000), as a bribe from engineering firm OAS. The defence says Lula's ownership of the apartment has never been proven and that his conviction rests largely on the word of the former chairman of OAS, himself convicted of corruption. \"I'm the only person being prosecuted over an apartment that isn't mine,\" Lula said on Saturday."}], "question": "What was Lula convicted of?", "id": "1060_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2511, "answer_end": 3024, "text": "Lula served as president from 2003-2011. Despite a lead in opinion polls ahead of October's election, he remains a divisive figure. While he was in office, Brazil experienced its longest period of economic growth in three decades, allowing his administration to spend lavishly on social programmes. Tens of millions of people were lifted out of poverty thanks to the initiatives taken by his government and he left office after two consecutive terms (the maximum allowed in Brazil) with record popularity ratings."}], "question": "Who is Lula?", "id": "1060_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3025, "answer_end": 4147, "text": "Supreme Court Justice Edson Fachin rejected Lula's appeal on Saturday, a day after his appeal to the Superior Court was declined. The two courts did not re-examine Lula's conviction, only whether legal procedures were followed correctly and his constitutional rights were observed. Ordering his surrender on Thursday, Judge Moro said the former president would have a separate cell with its own toilet in Curitiba. He would not be handcuffed if he came quietly, the judge promised. As a convict, Lula would normally be barred from standing for election in October but Brazil's top electoral court reserves the final decision if and when he submits his candidacy. Lula was convicted last July and originally sentenced to nine and a half years in prison. He lost his first appeal against the sentence in January, when the appeals court not only upheld his conviction, but increased the sentence to 12 years. Until recently, defendants in Brazil were allowed to remain free until their final appeal had been exhausted but a 2016 ruling from a lower court allowed for defendants to be sent to jail after a failed first appeal."}], "question": "What happens next?", "id": "1060_3"}]}]}, {"title": "Google wins landmark right to be forgotten case", "date": "24 September 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "The EU's top court has ruled that Google does not have to apply the right to be forgotten globally. It means the firm only needs to remove links from its search results in Europe - and not elsewhere - after receiving an appropriate request. The ruling stems from a dispute between Google and a French privacy regulator. In 2015, CNIL ordered the firm to globally remove search result listings to pages containing damaging or false information about a person. The following year, Google introduced a geoblocking feature that prevents European users from being able to see delisted links. But it resisted censoring search results for people in other parts of the world. And the firm challenged a 100,000 ($109,901; PS88,376) euro fine that CNIL had tried to impose. \"Currently, there is no obligation under EU law, for a search engine operator who grants a request for de-referencing made by a data subject... to carry out such a de-referencing on all the versions of its search engine,\" the European Court of Justice ruling said. Also known as the \"right to erasure\", the rule gives EU citizens the power to demand data about them be deleted. In the case of search engines, Europeans have had the right to request links to pages containing sensitive personal information about them be removed since 2014. But the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) which came into force in 2018, added further obligations. Members of the public can make a request to any organisation \"verbally or in writing\" and the recipient has one month to respond. They then have a range of considerations to weigh up to decide whether they are compelled to comply or not. Google had argued that the obligation could be abused by authoritarian governments trying to cover up human rights abuses were it to be applied outside of Europe. \"Since 2014, we've worked hard to implement the right to be forgotten in Europe, and to strike a sensible balance between people's rights of access to information and privacy,\" the firm said in a statement following the ECJ ruling. \"It's good to see that the court agreed with our arguments.\" The tech firm had been supported by Microsoft, Wikipedia's owner the Wikimedia Foundation, the non-profit Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, and the UK freedom of expression campaign group Article 19, among others. ECJ adviser Maciej Szpunar had also concluded that the right to be forgotten be limited to Europe in a non-binding recommendation to the court earlier this year. There has been a lot of interest in the case since, had the ruling gone the other way, it could have been viewed as an attempt by Europe to police a US tech giant beyond the EU's borders. Those wanting to read the full ruling were frustrated in the hour following its release because the ECJ's own website crashed. The court also issued a related second ruling, which said that links do not automatically have to be removed just because they contain information about a person's sex life or a criminal conviction. Instead, it ruled that such listings could be kept where \"strictly necessary\" for people's freedom of information rights to be preserved. However, it indicated a high threshold should be applied and that such results should fall down search result listings over time. \"The obligation to demote search results in some cases is particularly interesting as an example of the courts directly interfering with the algorithms used by big tech companies,\" commented Peter Church from the law firm Linklaters. Google has applied the right to be forgotten since May 2014, when the ECJ first determined that under some circumstances European citizens could force search firms to delist webpages containing sensitive information about them from queries made using their names. The idea is to hide sensitive information - such the fact a person once committed a criminal offence or had an extra-marital affair - if the details are judged to be \"inadequate, irrelevant or no longer relevant or excessive\". Google has said that since that time it has received more than 845,000 requests to remove a total of 3.3 million web addresses, with about 45% of the links ultimately getting delisted. This involves both removing the results from its European sites - such as Google.fr, Google.co.uk and Google.de - as well as restricting results from its other sites - such as Google.com - if it detects a search is being carried out from within Europe. However, this means that users can still circumvent the action if they use a virtual private network (VPN) or other tool to mask their location. Notably, the ECJ ruling said that delistings must \"be accompanied by measures which effectively prevent or, at the very least, seriously discourage an internet user\" from being able to access the results from one of Google's non-EU sites. \"It will be for the national court to ascertain whether the measures put in place by Google Inc meet those requirements.\" News sites, including the BBC, are exempt from the rule, but may find that links to some of their old articles no longer appear on Google or other search engines. The right to be forgotten should still apply to the UK if it leaves the EU, with or without a deal, at least in the short to medium-term. \"How it's applied might diverge over time, as UK courts no longer follow ECJ decisions and the Supreme Court in the UK wrestles with these points instead,\" a spokesman for Linklaters told the BBC. \"But day one, we're going to have a UK version of the GDPR [General Data Protection Regulation], including a right to be forgotten.\"", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1029, "answer_end": 1649, "text": "Also known as the \"right to erasure\", the rule gives EU citizens the power to demand data about them be deleted. In the case of search engines, Europeans have had the right to request links to pages containing sensitive personal information about them be removed since 2014. But the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) which came into force in 2018, added further obligations. Members of the public can make a request to any organisation \"verbally or in writing\" and the recipient has one month to respond. They then have a range of considerations to weigh up to decide whether they are compelled to comply or not."}], "question": "What is the right to be forgotten?", "id": "1061_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Berlin truck attack: Can the EU stop another Amri?", "date": "6 January 2017", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Germany's security services are under intense scrutiny because of the way Anis Amri, the Tunisian jihadist who killed 12 people in Berlin, evaded their surveillance and crossed European borders undetected. As after the Paris and Brussels attacks in 2015-2016, critics say it is too easy for terrorists to travel in the EU's passport-free Schengen zone. There are fears that so-called Islamic State (IS) - under heavy military pressure in the Middle East - will launch more attacks in the EU. The investigation into the Berlin Christmas market attack of 19 December has exposed several errors or shortcomings: - He was a known follower of an Islamist hate preacher, Abu Walaa, but the authorities say they lacked the legal grounds to detain him - Germany rejected Amri's asylum request in June, 11 months after he had arrived from Italy; but Tunisia refused to take him back, initially refusing to accept he was Tunisian citizen - Amri was initially registered in Kleve, North Rhine-Westphalia, and legally he was supposed to remain there, but he moved to Berlin - He used 14 different identities in Germany and was suspected of making multiple fraudulent welfare claims - Immediately after Amri's lorry attack police followed a false lead, questioning an innocent Pakistani man as a suspect - Only on 3 January did police detain a Tunisian suspect, Bilel A, who had had dinner with Amri on the eve of the attack. Amri's atrocity highlighted the fragmentation of Germany's security and counter-terrorism services. Each of Germany's 16 states has its own police and intelligence service, on top of the federal agencies. It is acknowledged that sometimes important intelligence is not passed on between services. That weakness was blamed in the case of a neo-Nazi cell - part of the National Socialist Underground (NSU) - accused of 10 murders across a decade, in different German cities. The truth finally came out in 2011. Federal Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere has now called for a broadening of the federal police's security remit and a centralisation of intelligence-gathering. But he faces political resistance - from Bavaria, for example. Investigators say that after the lorry attack Amri caught several trains which took him from the Netherlands to Italy, via Belgium and France. Those countries are in Schengen - the zone covering most of Europe where passport controls are minimal or non-existent. Schengen: EU free movement deal explained After the 2015 Paris attacks by jihadists, in which 147 people were killed, France, Germany and some other Schengen countries reinstated passport checks at some of the EU's internal borders. France plans to maintain passport checks on all its borders until 15 July, and Germany is also extending its checks on the Austrian border indefinitely. Austria demanded such checks to help curb the huge influx of migrants last year. But the Berlin attack, and the jihadist bombings in Brussels last March, suggest that the new controls are far from systematic, and that tighter border surveillance may be needed. It was only by chance that Italian police stopped Amri at a Milan station and killed him after he had opened fire. Amri was caught by CCTV cameras at train stations in Nijmegen (Netherlands), Brussels (Belgium), Turin and Milan (Italy). But he was able to buy train tickets without revealing his real identity. The Dutch government is reportedly in talks with Belgium and France about increasing security checks on buses, trains and boats. One idea is to require passengers to show ID when buying a ticket. There are demands in Germany now to boost CCTV surveillance - something that was resisted for decades, in part due to Germany's grim memories of state surveillance. The priority last year was to reduce the numbers of refugees and migrants heading for northern Europe from Greece and Italy. An EU deal with Turkey in March did sharply cut the numbers making hazardous boat journeys to Greece from Turkey. But the numbers heading for Italy by boat from Libya - where many are victims of violent gangs - have continued rising. In 2015 Germany took in a record 890,000 asylum seekers - many of them refugees from the wars in Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan. After the Paris attacks it emerged that some of the jihadists had slipped into the EU among crowds of migrants. Belgian citizen Abdelhamid Abaaoud, allegedly the organiser, had boasted about going to war-torn Syria and returning to Belgium. Now the EU recognises the need to link police databases so that potential terrorists are spotted. Tove Ernst, EU Commission spokesperson for migration and home affairs, told the BBC that the EU \"needs to do more and do better when it comes to exchanging information\". The Schengen Information System (SIS) is the most widely used database for intelligence-sharing in the EU. But the UK - not part of Schengen - uses the SIS in a limited way. And the amount of data provided varies greatly from country to country - gaps which the EU is urgently trying to plug. A Commission report in December urged EU states to put all alerts about migrant entry bans or deportation decisions into the SIS. A key problem is that of \"home-grown\" jihadists, such as those responsible for the carnage in Paris. The checks on EU citizens are generally not as systematic as those on migrants from outside the EU. The EU has decided that in future the identities of all travellers - including EU citizens - will be checked against databases at the Schengen zone's borders. The terrorist atrocities exposed some weaknesses in national policing - so just blaming Schengen is no solution. The Commission found that national forces' use of the SIS database was uneven - it needed to be systematic. EU countries can act quickly when a European Arrest Warrant (EAW) is issued. But there was a delay in the case of Amri, as police initially pursued a false lead. In 2005 an EAW enabled the UK to quickly extradite from Italy a fugitive bomber, Hussain Osman, over a terror plot in London. A senior EU official in law enforcement told the BBC that \"the willingness to share terrorism data has improved a lot\". The official said France and Belgium, since the 2015-2016 terror attacks, had \"started to share terabytes of information\" with Europol, the EU police agency. According to Ms Ernst, efficient use of counter-terrorism tools \"requires a culture change\" among national forces - \"the habit of systematic co-operation and information-sharing\". Schengen enshrines the EU's cherished principle of free movement. And while the system allows for temporary border controls under special circumstances, the member states are reluctant to reinstate barriers. The Commission estimates that restoring full border controls in Schengen would impose annual costs of EUR5bn-EUR18bn (PS4bn-PS15bn) on the members, through border delays, lost tourism and trade blockages. 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_start": 492, "answer_end": 2148, "text": "The investigation into the Berlin Christmas market attack of 19 December has exposed several errors or shortcomings: - He was a known follower of an Islamist hate preacher, Abu Walaa, but the authorities say they lacked the legal grounds to detain him - Germany rejected Amri's asylum request in June, 11 months after he had arrived from Italy; but Tunisia refused to take him back, initially refusing to accept he was Tunisian citizen - Amri was initially registered in Kleve, North Rhine-Westphalia, and legally he was supposed to remain there, but he moved to Berlin - He used 14 different identities in Germany and was suspected of making multiple fraudulent welfare claims - Immediately after Amri's lorry attack police followed a false lead, questioning an innocent Pakistani man as a suspect - Only on 3 January did police detain a Tunisian suspect, Bilel A, who had had dinner with Amri on the eve of the attack. Amri's atrocity highlighted the fragmentation of Germany's security and counter-terrorism services. Each of Germany's 16 states has its own police and intelligence service, on top of the federal agencies. It is acknowledged that sometimes important intelligence is not passed on between services. That weakness was blamed in the case of a neo-Nazi cell - part of the National Socialist Underground (NSU) - accused of 10 murders across a decade, in different German cities. The truth finally came out in 2011. Federal Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere has now called for a broadening of the federal police's security remit and a centralisation of intelligence-gathering. But he faces political resistance - from Bavaria, for example."}], "question": "Why didn't German police stop Amri?", "id": "1062_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2149, "answer_end": 3730, "text": "Investigators say that after the lorry attack Amri caught several trains which took him from the Netherlands to Italy, via Belgium and France. Those countries are in Schengen - the zone covering most of Europe where passport controls are minimal or non-existent. Schengen: EU free movement deal explained After the 2015 Paris attacks by jihadists, in which 147 people were killed, France, Germany and some other Schengen countries reinstated passport checks at some of the EU's internal borders. France plans to maintain passport checks on all its borders until 15 July, and Germany is also extending its checks on the Austrian border indefinitely. Austria demanded such checks to help curb the huge influx of migrants last year. But the Berlin attack, and the jihadist bombings in Brussels last March, suggest that the new controls are far from systematic, and that tighter border surveillance may be needed. It was only by chance that Italian police stopped Amri at a Milan station and killed him after he had opened fire. Amri was caught by CCTV cameras at train stations in Nijmegen (Netherlands), Brussels (Belgium), Turin and Milan (Italy). But he was able to buy train tickets without revealing his real identity. The Dutch government is reportedly in talks with Belgium and France about increasing security checks on buses, trains and boats. One idea is to require passengers to show ID when buying a ticket. There are demands in Germany now to boost CCTV surveillance - something that was resisted for decades, in part due to Germany's grim memories of state surveillance."}], "question": "Why wasn't he spotted crossing a border?", "id": "1062_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3731, "answer_end": 5507, "text": "The priority last year was to reduce the numbers of refugees and migrants heading for northern Europe from Greece and Italy. An EU deal with Turkey in March did sharply cut the numbers making hazardous boat journeys to Greece from Turkey. But the numbers heading for Italy by boat from Libya - where many are victims of violent gangs - have continued rising. In 2015 Germany took in a record 890,000 asylum seekers - many of them refugees from the wars in Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan. After the Paris attacks it emerged that some of the jihadists had slipped into the EU among crowds of migrants. Belgian citizen Abdelhamid Abaaoud, allegedly the organiser, had boasted about going to war-torn Syria and returning to Belgium. Now the EU recognises the need to link police databases so that potential terrorists are spotted. Tove Ernst, EU Commission spokesperson for migration and home affairs, told the BBC that the EU \"needs to do more and do better when it comes to exchanging information\". The Schengen Information System (SIS) is the most widely used database for intelligence-sharing in the EU. But the UK - not part of Schengen - uses the SIS in a limited way. And the amount of data provided varies greatly from country to country - gaps which the EU is urgently trying to plug. A Commission report in December urged EU states to put all alerts about migrant entry bans or deportation decisions into the SIS. A key problem is that of \"home-grown\" jihadists, such as those responsible for the carnage in Paris. The checks on EU citizens are generally not as systematic as those on migrants from outside the EU. The EU has decided that in future the identities of all travellers - including EU citizens - will be checked against databases at the Schengen zone's borders."}], "question": "What is the EU doing to improve border controls?", "id": "1062_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 5508, "answer_end": 7267, "text": "The terrorist atrocities exposed some weaknesses in national policing - so just blaming Schengen is no solution. The Commission found that national forces' use of the SIS database was uneven - it needed to be systematic. EU countries can act quickly when a European Arrest Warrant (EAW) is issued. But there was a delay in the case of Amri, as police initially pursued a false lead. In 2005 an EAW enabled the UK to quickly extradite from Italy a fugitive bomber, Hussain Osman, over a terror plot in London. A senior EU official in law enforcement told the BBC that \"the willingness to share terrorism data has improved a lot\". The official said France and Belgium, since the 2015-2016 terror attacks, had \"started to share terabytes of information\" with Europol, the EU police agency. According to Ms Ernst, efficient use of counter-terrorism tools \"requires a culture change\" among national forces - \"the habit of systematic co-operation and information-sharing\". Schengen enshrines the EU's cherished principle of free movement. And while the system allows for temporary border controls under special circumstances, the member states are reluctant to reinstate barriers. The Commission estimates that restoring full border controls in Schengen would impose annual costs of EUR5bn-EUR18bn (PS4bn-PS15bn) on the members, through border delays, lost tourism and trade blockages. 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."}], "question": "Is Schengen the weak link?", "id": "1062_3"}]}]}, {"title": "Berta C\u00e1ceres murder: 50 years in jail for activist's killers", "date": "3 December 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Seven men found guilty over the killing of environmental activist Berta Caceres in Honduras in 2016 have been sentenced to lengthy jail terms. Berta Caceres was shot dead by gunmen in her home. She had received death threats after successfully pressuring the builders of a hydro-electric dam to halt their project. The dam would have flooded large areas of land inhabited by the indigenous Lenca people. Four men, who were identified as the hitmen hired to shoot Ms Caceres dead, were sentenced to 34 years in prison each. They were also sentenced to another 16 years and four months for the attempted murder of Mexican environmentalist Gustavo Castro, who was with Ms Caceres at the time of the attack but survived. Two men who had links to the company building the dam, Desa, were sentenced to 30 years for helping organise the killing. A former Honduran army major was also given 30 years. They all have 20 days to appeal against the sentence. Ms Caceres was a member of the Lenca indigenous community. She was the co-founder of the Civic Council of Popular and Indigenous Organizations of Honduras, an organisation fighting for the rights of indigenous people and trying to draw attention to the dangers facing them by increasing illegal logging and mining concessions. In 2015 she came to international attention when she was awarded the Goldman environmental prize for her role in stopping the building of the Agua Zarca dam. The dam would have flooded large areas of land and cut off the supply of water, food and medicine for hundreds of Lenca people. As well as filing complaints with the authorities, she organised a road block successfully preventing construction workers from reaching the site. Eventually, the Chinese state-owned company Sinohydro who was jointly developing the project with Honduran company Desarrollos Energeticos SA (Desa), pulled out citing community resistance. Ms Caceres' daughter, Olivia Zuniga, said that the people who had ordered her mother's killing had not yet been punished. \"This is a day of pain because the intellectual authors of my mother's murder are still enjoying impunity,\" she said. \"We are not going to believe that there's true justice until these people are in jail.\" The former executive president of Desa, Roberto Castillo, was indicted in March for allegedly having co-ordinated Ms Caceres' murder and paying the hitmen. He has denied any involvement.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 404, "answer_end": 946, "text": "Four men, who were identified as the hitmen hired to shoot Ms Caceres dead, were sentenced to 34 years in prison each. They were also sentenced to another 16 years and four months for the attempted murder of Mexican environmentalist Gustavo Castro, who was with Ms Caceres at the time of the attack but survived. Two men who had links to the company building the dam, Desa, were sentenced to 30 years for helping organise the killing. A former Honduran army major was also given 30 years. They all have 20 days to appeal against the sentence."}], "question": "Who was sentenced?", "id": "1063_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 947, "answer_end": 1896, "text": "Ms Caceres was a member of the Lenca indigenous community. She was the co-founder of the Civic Council of Popular and Indigenous Organizations of Honduras, an organisation fighting for the rights of indigenous people and trying to draw attention to the dangers facing them by increasing illegal logging and mining concessions. In 2015 she came to international attention when she was awarded the Goldman environmental prize for her role in stopping the building of the Agua Zarca dam. The dam would have flooded large areas of land and cut off the supply of water, food and medicine for hundreds of Lenca people. As well as filing complaints with the authorities, she organised a road block successfully preventing construction workers from reaching the site. Eventually, the Chinese state-owned company Sinohydro who was jointly developing the project with Honduran company Desarrollos Energeticos SA (Desa), pulled out citing community resistance."}], "question": "Who was Berta Caceres?", "id": "1063_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1897, "answer_end": 2411, "text": "Ms Caceres' daughter, Olivia Zuniga, said that the people who had ordered her mother's killing had not yet been punished. \"This is a day of pain because the intellectual authors of my mother's murder are still enjoying impunity,\" she said. \"We are not going to believe that there's true justice until these people are in jail.\" The former executive president of Desa, Roberto Castillo, was indicted in March for allegedly having co-ordinated Ms Caceres' murder and paying the hitmen. He has denied any involvement."}], "question": "What has been the reaction?", "id": "1063_2"}]}]}, {"title": "Q&A: What benefits can EU migrants get?", "date": "3 November 2014", "paragraphs": [{"context": "The benefits that EU migrants can claim in another EU country vary across the 28-nation bloc, but certain basic rules are enshrined in EU law. The issue became a hot topic in the UK because in January 2014 the remaining labour market restrictions on citizens of Bulgaria and Romania were removed across the EU. After EU enlargement in 2004 the UK experienced a far greater influx of East Europeans than had been anticipated. No - there are conditions, depending on an individual's circumstances. They can stay for three months, but to stay longer after that they have to be: in work; or actively seeking work with a genuine chance of being hired; or be able to show they have enough money not to be a burden on public services. Apart from that, evidence of benefit abuse or fraud is grounds to exclude or expel a person. Not automatically - a migrant still has to pass a \"habitual residence test\" under EU law. The test covers factors such as the duration of the migrant's stay; their activity, including their source of income if they are students; their family status; and their housing situation. The migrant has to demonstrate a sufficient degree of attachment to the host country. The amount of time already spent in the country is not sufficient qualification in itself. If a jobseeker satisfies the test in the UK then that person can claim Jobseekers Allowance - up to PS72.40 ($116) weekly for a single person, PS113.70 for a couple. An EU migrant who is in work in the UK, or self-employed, and who passes the test, can claim housing benefit and council tax benefit. The amounts vary, depending on the local authority. The UK applies an additional \"right to reside\" test, going beyond the standard EU test. The European Commission says the UK test is unfair and has taken the UK to the European Court of Justice over it. The Commission argues that EU migrant workers, who have paid UK taxes, should not be subject to the extra test in order to claim certain benefits. Yes, if they are workers or self-employed - and their family members are entitled too. However, access to certain benefits can depend on the amount of time a worker has been paying contributions. So a native of the host country may have more entitlements. Jobless migrants are not entitled to the same range of benefits - mainly those which are funded from salary contributions. Workers pay social security contributions, to cover sickness, unemployment, maternity or paternity, invalidity or occupational injuries. The graph above includes jobseekers. Per head of population Ireland had the biggest influx of East Europeans after EU enlargement in 2004, but the UK took in the biggest numbers. Net migration to the UK from EU states in Eastern Europe reached nearly 400,000 in 2004-2011. The systems are very diverse, so comparisons are difficult. In terms of total spending on social security per inhabitant, the UK does not rank highest. In the UK the figure for 2010 was nearly 8,000 euros (PS6,660; $10,880), the EU statistics agency Eurostat reports. In France and Germany it was nearly 9,000 euros, while in Denmark and the Netherlands it was above 10,000. At the other end of the scale, spending in Bulgaria and Romania was below 2,000 euros. The Open Europe think-tank, campaigning for radical reform of the EU, says some countries have more flexibility than the UK in the area of \"social assistance\" benefits. Such benefits - targeting people in need - are usually means-tested and come out of general taxation, rather than salary contributions. In the UK, income support and housing benefit fall into that category. In the UK, a bigger portion of welfare is funded by the state than is the case in Poland, France, Germany or the Netherlands. In those countries, more is funded from individual and employer contributions. In other words, more benefits are linked to previous earnings. On the other hand, in several countries, including the Republic of Ireland, Sweden and Denmark, the share of state funding is higher than in the UK. In Germany, there is a two-tier welfare system - part based on contributions, part non-contributory. An EU migrant made jobless in Germany would get up to 70% of current salary in the first year of unemployment. After that, the unemployed go onto a non-contributory system called Hartz IV. Germany has objected to paying those benefits to EU migrants who have not made sufficient contributions through work. But that policy has been challenged in the courts. In Spain, welfare payments depend to a large extent on where you live as payments are handled regionally, rather than centrally. In Madrid there is a two-year residency test for RMI, which is paid to unemployed jobseekers. The benefits system in the Basque Country is rather less restrictive. In Bulgaria, the EU's poorest country, you do not qualify for unemployment benefit unless you have been working for at least nine of the last 15 months. Under EU law, EU citizens visiting for short periods can receive basic and emergency care with a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). It is the host country's responsibility to get the treatment costs reimbursed by the health service in the patient's home state. The UK government says the National Health Service needs to do more to get such costs reimbursed. The UK is not the only EU member state to have a free, \"universalist\" health service, funded by taxpayers. Scandinavian countries have similar models, but most EU countries fund healthcare through medical insurance systems. At least 400,000 Britons live in Spain full-time, a quarter of them pensioners, and they have free access to Spanish local doctors. The Spanish health service recovers the cost of their hospital treatment from the NHS - unless they have permanent residence status, in which case Spain pays for it.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 425, "answer_end": 820, "text": "No - there are conditions, depending on an individual's circumstances. They can stay for three months, but to stay longer after that they have to be: in work; or actively seeking work with a genuine chance of being hired; or be able to show they have enough money not to be a burden on public services. Apart from that, evidence of benefit abuse or fraud is grounds to exclude or expel a person."}], "question": "Can EU migrants easily claim benefits when they arrive in another EU country?", "id": "1064_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 821, "answer_end": 1977, "text": "Not automatically - a migrant still has to pass a \"habitual residence test\" under EU law. The test covers factors such as the duration of the migrant's stay; their activity, including their source of income if they are students; their family status; and their housing situation. The migrant has to demonstrate a sufficient degree of attachment to the host country. The amount of time already spent in the country is not sufficient qualification in itself. If a jobseeker satisfies the test in the UK then that person can claim Jobseekers Allowance - up to PS72.40 ($116) weekly for a single person, PS113.70 for a couple. An EU migrant who is in work in the UK, or self-employed, and who passes the test, can claim housing benefit and council tax benefit. The amounts vary, depending on the local authority. The UK applies an additional \"right to reside\" test, going beyond the standard EU test. The European Commission says the UK test is unfair and has taken the UK to the European Court of Justice over it. The Commission argues that EU migrant workers, who have paid UK taxes, should not be subject to the extra test in order to claim certain benefits."}], "question": "If an EU migrant has permission to stay, can he or she then claim benefits?", "id": "1064_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1978, "answer_end": 2766, "text": "Yes, if they are workers or self-employed - and their family members are entitled too. However, access to certain benefits can depend on the amount of time a worker has been paying contributions. So a native of the host country may have more entitlements. Jobless migrants are not entitled to the same range of benefits - mainly those which are funded from salary contributions. Workers pay social security contributions, to cover sickness, unemployment, maternity or paternity, invalidity or occupational injuries. The graph above includes jobseekers. Per head of population Ireland had the biggest influx of East Europeans after EU enlargement in 2004, but the UK took in the biggest numbers. Net migration to the UK from EU states in Eastern Europe reached nearly 400,000 in 2004-2011."}], "question": "Are EU migrants entitled to the same benefits as citizens of the host country?", "id": "1064_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2767, "answer_end": 4926, "text": "The systems are very diverse, so comparisons are difficult. In terms of total spending on social security per inhabitant, the UK does not rank highest. In the UK the figure for 2010 was nearly 8,000 euros (PS6,660; $10,880), the EU statistics agency Eurostat reports. In France and Germany it was nearly 9,000 euros, while in Denmark and the Netherlands it was above 10,000. At the other end of the scale, spending in Bulgaria and Romania was below 2,000 euros. The Open Europe think-tank, campaigning for radical reform of the EU, says some countries have more flexibility than the UK in the area of \"social assistance\" benefits. Such benefits - targeting people in need - are usually means-tested and come out of general taxation, rather than salary contributions. In the UK, income support and housing benefit fall into that category. In the UK, a bigger portion of welfare is funded by the state than is the case in Poland, France, Germany or the Netherlands. In those countries, more is funded from individual and employer contributions. In other words, more benefits are linked to previous earnings. On the other hand, in several countries, including the Republic of Ireland, Sweden and Denmark, the share of state funding is higher than in the UK. In Germany, there is a two-tier welfare system - part based on contributions, part non-contributory. An EU migrant made jobless in Germany would get up to 70% of current salary in the first year of unemployment. After that, the unemployed go onto a non-contributory system called Hartz IV. Germany has objected to paying those benefits to EU migrants who have not made sufficient contributions through work. But that policy has been challenged in the courts. In Spain, welfare payments depend to a large extent on where you live as payments are handled regionally, rather than centrally. In Madrid there is a two-year residency test for RMI, which is paid to unemployed jobseekers. The benefits system in the Basque Country is rather less restrictive. In Bulgaria, the EU's poorest country, you do not qualify for unemployment benefit unless you have been working for at least nine of the last 15 months."}], "question": "Is the UK benefits system more generous than those in other EU countries?", "id": "1064_3"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 4927, "answer_end": 5811, "text": "Under EU law, EU citizens visiting for short periods can receive basic and emergency care with a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). It is the host country's responsibility to get the treatment costs reimbursed by the health service in the patient's home state. The UK government says the National Health Service needs to do more to get such costs reimbursed. The UK is not the only EU member state to have a free, \"universalist\" health service, funded by taxpayers. Scandinavian countries have similar models, but most EU countries fund healthcare through medical insurance systems. At least 400,000 Britons live in Spain full-time, a quarter of them pensioners, and they have free access to Spanish local doctors. The Spanish health service recovers the cost of their hospital treatment from the NHS - unless they have permanent residence status, in which case Spain pays for it."}], "question": "What about healthcare?", "id": "1064_4"}]}]}, {"title": "Daphne Caruana Galizia murder: Malta PM Joseph Muscat to resign", "date": "1 December 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Maltese Prime Minister Joseph Muscat has announced on national TV that he will step down in the new year, amid a crisis over a murdered journalist. He said he would ask the ruling Labour Party to begin the process to choose his successor on 12 January. Demonstrators have demanded his immediate resignation over the inquiry into Daphne Caruana Galizia's death. She was killed by a car bomb in 2017 as she investigated corruption among Malta's business and political elite. A businessman with alleged links to government officials was charged with complicity in the murder on Saturday. Explaining his decision to quit, Mr Muscat said of the way the murder inquiry had been handled: \"Some decisions were good while others could have been better made.\" \"All the responsibility I had to shoulder surely does not compare to the pain that the victim's family is enduring,\" he added. He said he would resign as leader of the Labour Party on 12 January and as prime minister \"in the days after\". Mr Muscat has been in power for six years, winning two elections by a landslide and presiding over a period of prosperity and social reform in the EU's smallest member state. \"Malta needs to start a new chapter and only I can give that signal,\" Mr Muscat said. He took the decision after a four-hour meeting with Labour's parliamentary group, at which MPs gave \"unanimous support to all decisions which the Prime Minister will be taking\". A large crowd of protesters earlier rallied in the capital Valletta to demand Mr Muscat's immediate resignation. Copies of a photo showing Mr Muscat's former chief of staff, Keith Schembri, alongside Melvin Theuma, an alleged middleman in Caruana Galizia's murder, were pinned to the gates of the building. Fury over Mr Muscat's handling of the crisis grew this weekend when businessman Yorgen Fenech was charged with complicity in the murder, an allegation he denies. Mr Fenech was identified last year as being the owner of a mysterious Dubai-registered company, 17 Black, listed in the Panama Papers - a massive leak of documents from an offshore law firm in 2016. There were allegations that 17 Black planned to make secret payments to companies set up by Mr Schembri and Tourism Minister Konrad Mizzi. Both men resigned this week but deny any wrongdoing, and Mr Mizzi has denied any business links to Mr Fenech. Three other men are in custody charged with Caruana Galizia's actual murder, which involved a car bomb. The murdered journalist's family said the prime minister had been left deeply compromised and should resign because he had failed, for the past two years, to take action to clean up politics in Malta. They argued that as long as he remained in place, a full investigation into Caruana Galizia's death was not possible. In another development, Mr Muscat's Economy Minister, Chris Cardona, was reinstated on Sunday after suspending himself on Tuesday after he was questioned by police. He denies any wrongdoing. Three men - brothers Alfred and George Degiorgio and their friend Vincent Muscat, all in their 50s - have been charged with triggering the bomb which killed Caruana Galizia near her home in October 2017. They were arrested in December 2017 and pleaded not guilty in pre-trial proceedings. Vincent Muscat later told police the bomb had been placed in Caruana Galizia's car while it was parked outside the walled compound where she lived. The killings earned the trio 150,000 euros (PS132,000), Reuters news agency reports.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 877, "answer_end": 1426, "text": "He said he would resign as leader of the Labour Party on 12 January and as prime minister \"in the days after\". Mr Muscat has been in power for six years, winning two elections by a landslide and presiding over a period of prosperity and social reform in the EU's smallest member state. \"Malta needs to start a new chapter and only I can give that signal,\" Mr Muscat said. He took the decision after a four-hour meeting with Labour's parliamentary group, at which MPs gave \"unanimous support to all decisions which the Prime Minister will be taking\"."}], "question": "When will Muscat step down exactly?", "id": "1065_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1427, "answer_end": 2957, "text": "A large crowd of protesters earlier rallied in the capital Valletta to demand Mr Muscat's immediate resignation. Copies of a photo showing Mr Muscat's former chief of staff, Keith Schembri, alongside Melvin Theuma, an alleged middleman in Caruana Galizia's murder, were pinned to the gates of the building. Fury over Mr Muscat's handling of the crisis grew this weekend when businessman Yorgen Fenech was charged with complicity in the murder, an allegation he denies. Mr Fenech was identified last year as being the owner of a mysterious Dubai-registered company, 17 Black, listed in the Panama Papers - a massive leak of documents from an offshore law firm in 2016. There were allegations that 17 Black planned to make secret payments to companies set up by Mr Schembri and Tourism Minister Konrad Mizzi. Both men resigned this week but deny any wrongdoing, and Mr Mizzi has denied any business links to Mr Fenech. Three other men are in custody charged with Caruana Galizia's actual murder, which involved a car bomb. The murdered journalist's family said the prime minister had been left deeply compromised and should resign because he had failed, for the past two years, to take action to clean up politics in Malta. They argued that as long as he remained in place, a full investigation into Caruana Galizia's death was not possible. In another development, Mr Muscat's Economy Minister, Chris Cardona, was reinstated on Sunday after suspending himself on Tuesday after he was questioned by police. He denies any wrongdoing."}], "question": "Why do protesters want Muscat to go now?", "id": "1065_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2958, "answer_end": 3479, "text": "Three men - brothers Alfred and George Degiorgio and their friend Vincent Muscat, all in their 50s - have been charged with triggering the bomb which killed Caruana Galizia near her home in October 2017. They were arrested in December 2017 and pleaded not guilty in pre-trial proceedings. Vincent Muscat later told police the bomb had been placed in Caruana Galizia's car while it was parked outside the walled compound where she lived. The killings earned the trio 150,000 euros (PS132,000), Reuters news agency reports."}], "question": "What do we know about the murder inquiry?", "id": "1065_2"}]}]}, {"title": "Ozone hole mystery: China insulating chemical said to be source of rise", "date": "9 July 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Cut-price Chinese home insulation is being blamed for a massive rise in emissions of a gas, highly damaging to the Earth's protective ozone layer. The Environmental Investigations Agency (EIA) found widespread use of CFC-11 in China, even though the chemical was fully banned back in 2010. Scientists have been extremely puzzled by the mysterious rise in emissions. But this report suggests the key source is China's home construction industry. Just two months ago, researchers published a study showing that the expected decline in the use of CFC-11 after it was completely banned eight years ago had slowed to a crawl. There were suspicions among researchers that new supplies were being made somewhere in East Asia. Rumours were rife as to the source. There was a concern among some experts that the chemical was being used to secretly enrich uranium for use in nuclear weapons. The reality it seems is more about insulation than proliferation. CFC-11 makes a very efficient \"blowing agent\" for polyurethane foam, helping it to expand into rigid thermal insulation that's used in houses to cut energy bills and reduce carbon emissions. Researchers from the EIA, a green campaign group, contacted foam manufacturing factories in 10 different provinces across China. From their detailed discussions with executives in 18 companies, the investigators concluded that the chemical is used in the majority of the polyurethane insulation the firms produce. One seller of CFC-11 estimated that 70% of China's domestic sales used the illegal gas. The reason is quite simple - CFC-11 is better quality and much cheaper than the alternatives. The authorities have banned CFC-11 but enforcement of the regulation is poor. \"We were absolutely gobsmacked to find that companies very openly confirmed using CFC-11 while acknowledging it was illegal,\" Avipsa Mahapatra from EIA told BBC News. \"The fact that they were so blase about it, the fact that they told us very openly how pervasive it is in the market, these were shocking findings for us.\" The EIA says that its estimates of the amount of the gas being used in China are in the middle of the emissions range calculated by scientists in their report in May. The scientist who first highlighted the problem with CFC-11 said the EIA findings seemed plausible, although it was difficult to be definitive. Dr Stephen Montzka from the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (Noaa) told BBC News: \"The pervasiveness of the use of CFC-11 that seems apparent in China based on their survey is quite amazing, although it is hard for me to assess the accuracy of the emission estimate they make to know if it is indeed likely that this activity can explain all or most of what we are observing in the global atmosphere.\" This is a big deal because of the amount of the dodgy chemical being used and its potential to reverse the healing that's starting to take place in the ozone layer. China's polyurethane foam makes up about one-third of global production, so if they are predominantly using an ozone-depleting substance it will set back the closing of the ozone hole by a decade or more. As well as the ozone layer, CFC-11 has a warming impact. Researchers estimate that if the use of the chemical continues, it would be the equivalent of CO2 from 16 coal-fired power stations every year! As China is a signatory of the Montreal Protocol that governs the use of ozone-depleting substances, it should be possible to put trade sanctions in place. However, since the protocol was signed in 1987, this weapon of last resort has never been used and it's not expected in this case. What's more likely is that China will be encouraged to crack down on the production of CFC-11s and to launch a full-scale investigation with the support of the Montreal Protocol secretariat. \"It is critical for the government of China not to treat these as isolated incidents,\" said Avipsa Mahapatra from the EIA. \"We want them to clamp down but it's supremely important for them to carry out a comprehensive investigation into the sector. It has to result in seizures, it has to result in arrests so that people know there are harsh penalties for the production of CFC-11.\" Delegates to the Montreal Protocol are meeting this week in Vienna and they will try to come up with a plan to tackle the issue. Ozone is formed in the stratosphere some 15 to 30km above the surface of the Earth by the interaction of solar ultraviolet radiation with oxygen in the air. In this location, the newly formed ozone absorbs ultraviolet radiation, preventing most of it from reaching the ground. This is important because ultraviolet radiation can lead to skin cancer and eye damage in humans, can damage crops and marine life. Scientists discovered in 1985, much to their surprise, that there was a 30% drop in ozone levels over Antarctica in October of that year. By 1992, the hole was as large as North America. What was happening was that chemicals called chlorofluorocarbons contained in refrigeration, air conditioning, packaging, insulation, solvents, and aerosol propellants were releasing chlorine or bromine molecules when they were exposed to intense UV light in the stratosphere. When chlorine and bromine atoms come into contact with ozone, they destroy the molecules. One chlorine atom can destroy over 100,000 ozone molecules before it is removed from the stratosphere. Ozone can be destroyed more quickly than it is naturally created. For once, the world acted speedily and to good effect. Most nations, including the chemical industry, signed up to the Montreal Protocol which quickly banned most of the worst-offending chemicals. Developing countries were given much longer to replace the gases. So while most of the richer countries got rid of CFC-11 in the mid-1990s, China and others were expected to completely get rid of it in 2010. That obviously hasn't happened just yet. Back in 2014 researchers reported the first signs of a thickening in the ozone layer. At that point they said it would take a decade for the hole to start to shrink but by September 2015 scientists found that the hole was approximately 4 million sq km smaller than it was in the year 2000 - that's an area the size of India. All this was due to the global phase out of CFCs. So it was a major surprise to ozone experts to find that the expected decline in these elements in the air had stalled. And now, according to the EIA, the reason behind the slowdown has been discovered  - and it's mainly down to Chinese builders!", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 2768, "answer_end": 3338, "text": "This is a big deal because of the amount of the dodgy chemical being used and its potential to reverse the healing that's starting to take place in the ozone layer. China's polyurethane foam makes up about one-third of global production, so if they are predominantly using an ozone-depleting substance it will set back the closing of the ozone hole by a decade or more. As well as the ozone layer, CFC-11 has a warming impact. Researchers estimate that if the use of the chemical continues, it would be the equivalent of CO2 from 16 coal-fired power stations every year!"}], "question": "So why is this important?", "id": "1066_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3339, "answer_end": 4329, "text": "As China is a signatory of the Montreal Protocol that governs the use of ozone-depleting substances, it should be possible to put trade sanctions in place. However, since the protocol was signed in 1987, this weapon of last resort has never been used and it's not expected in this case. What's more likely is that China will be encouraged to crack down on the production of CFC-11s and to launch a full-scale investigation with the support of the Montreal Protocol secretariat. \"It is critical for the government of China not to treat these as isolated incidents,\" said Avipsa Mahapatra from the EIA. \"We want them to clamp down but it's supremely important for them to carry out a comprehensive investigation into the sector. It has to result in seizures, it has to result in arrests so that people know there are harsh penalties for the production of CFC-11.\" Delegates to the Montreal Protocol are meeting this week in Vienna and they will try to come up with a plan to tackle the issue."}], "question": "What can be done about this?", "id": "1066_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 4330, "answer_end": 4738, "text": "Ozone is formed in the stratosphere some 15 to 30km above the surface of the Earth by the interaction of solar ultraviolet radiation with oxygen in the air. In this location, the newly formed ozone absorbs ultraviolet radiation, preventing most of it from reaching the ground. This is important because ultraviolet radiation can lead to skin cancer and eye damage in humans, can damage crops and marine life."}], "question": "What is the ozone layer and why is it important?", "id": "1066_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 4739, "answer_end": 5461, "text": "Scientists discovered in 1985, much to their surprise, that there was a 30% drop in ozone levels over Antarctica in October of that year. By 1992, the hole was as large as North America. What was happening was that chemicals called chlorofluorocarbons contained in refrigeration, air conditioning, packaging, insulation, solvents, and aerosol propellants were releasing chlorine or bromine molecules when they were exposed to intense UV light in the stratosphere. When chlorine and bromine atoms come into contact with ozone, they destroy the molecules. One chlorine atom can destroy over 100,000 ozone molecules before it is removed from the stratosphere. Ozone can be destroyed more quickly than it is naturally created."}], "question": "Remind me how the hole in ozone layer came about?", "id": "1066_3"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 5462, "answer_end": 5907, "text": "For once, the world acted speedily and to good effect. Most nations, including the chemical industry, signed up to the Montreal Protocol which quickly banned most of the worst-offending chemicals. Developing countries were given much longer to replace the gases. So while most of the richer countries got rid of CFC-11 in the mid-1990s, China and others were expected to completely get rid of it in 2010. That obviously hasn't happened just yet."}], "question": "So what did the world do about this?", "id": "1066_4"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 5908, "answer_end": 6529, "text": "Back in 2014 researchers reported the first signs of a thickening in the ozone layer. At that point they said it would take a decade for the hole to start to shrink but by September 2015 scientists found that the hole was approximately 4 million sq km smaller than it was in the year 2000 - that's an area the size of India. All this was due to the global phase out of CFCs. So it was a major surprise to ozone experts to find that the expected decline in these elements in the air had stalled. And now, according to the EIA, the reason behind the slowdown has been discovered  - and it's mainly down to Chinese builders!"}], "question": "I thought the ozone hole was recovering?", "id": "1066_5"}]}]}, {"title": "Hung parliament sinks business confidence, IoD finds", "date": "12 June 2017", "paragraphs": [{"context": "The uncertainty caused by the general election has led business confidence to sink \"through the floor\", according to a lobby group. A snap poll of 700 members of the Institute of Directors found a \"dramatic drop\" in confidence following the hung parliament. Members saw no clear way to resolve the political impasse quickly, the IoD said. However, it found there was \"no desire\" for another election this year. Going to the polls again before Christmas would have a negative impact on the UK economy, which was already facing global headwinds, the IoD said. The loss of the Conservatives' majority in the Commons has led Theresa May to seek the support of MPs from Northern Ireland's Democratic Unionist Party to govern. The resulting political uncertainty could have disastrous consequences for the UK economy, said Stephen Martin, IoD director-general. \"The needs of business and discussion of the economy were largely absent from the [general election] campaign, but this crash in confidence shows how urgently that must change in the new government,\" he said. The main priority for the new government should be striking a new trade deal with the European Union, according to the IoD. The 700 members who responded to its survey wanted a rapid agreement with the European Union on transitional arrangements for Brexit, along with clarity on the status of EU workers in the UK. A separate survey of more than 50 medium sized businesses and trade associations by the Harvard Kennedy School of Business found that \"almost all\" expressed a preference for remaining in the single market and customs union. The report, by former shadow chancellor Ed Balls and Peter Sands, previously the boss of investment bank Standard Chartered, found that all companies questioned were concerned about potentially rising costs from tariffs and customs controls while many were worried about the UK leaving the EU without a deal at all. Mr Sands told the BBC: \"When it comes down to it most would prefer to be in the single market - that makes it easier for them to do business, and if they can't get that they want a free trade agreement or something as close to the single market as possible.\" Andy Silvester, the IoD's head of campaigns, told the BBC he now expected to see more flexibility and pragmatism around the Brexit negotiations. The IoD survey echoed comments by Paul Drechsler, president of the CBI, who said the UK needed to quickly agree transitional arrangements and guarantee EU citizens' rights before focusing Brexit talks on future trading relationships. \"To succeed, the UK needs to build the best partnership seen anywhere in the world between its business and the new government, not just on Brexit but on other issues fundamental to the foundations of our economy,\" he said. Meanwhile, companies have been urged to better prepare for a fall in migrant labour following Brexit. A survey of 500 business leaders by the Resolution Foundation found that almost one in five expected no change to freedom of movement for EU nationals to the UK, while nearly a third believed that the system would be maintained for those with a job offer. The foundation warned that lower migration, along with a higher minimum wage and a tightening jobs market, could mean the end of cheap labour for many UK firms. In Theresa May's cabinet reshuffle, Greg Clarke remains Business Secretary and Philip Hammond stays as Chancellor, while Michael Gove was brought back into the cabinet as Environment Secretary.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 2782, "answer_end": 3494, "text": "Meanwhile, companies have been urged to better prepare for a fall in migrant labour following Brexit. A survey of 500 business leaders by the Resolution Foundation found that almost one in five expected no change to freedom of movement for EU nationals to the UK, while nearly a third believed that the system would be maintained for those with a job offer. The foundation warned that lower migration, along with a higher minimum wage and a tightening jobs market, could mean the end of cheap labour for many UK firms. In Theresa May's cabinet reshuffle, Greg Clarke remains Business Secretary and Philip Hammond stays as Chancellor, while Michael Gove was brought back into the cabinet as Environment Secretary."}], "question": "End of cheap labour?", "id": "1067_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Chinese diplomats must notify their moves in US", "date": "17 October 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Chinese diplomats in the US will have to notify American authorities before holding any meetings with US officials. Official visits to \"educational and research institutions\", such as schools and universities, must also be pre-registered, the state department said. China said the US was breaking international rules - but the US said American diplomats in China faced similar restrictions. The move comes amid heightened tensions between both countries. The rules would apply to \"official meetings with [US] state officials, official meetings with local and municipal officials, official visits to educational institutions, and official visits to research institutions\", the state department said. An official said the US was merely \"levelling the playing field\" with China, and that it was a response to Chinese restrictions on American diplomats. \"In China, US diplomats do not have unfettered access to a range of folks that are important for us to do our job here. \"In contrast, [Chinese] diplomats in the US are of course, able to take full advantage of our open society,\" said a senior state department official. US officials said Chinese diplomats did not need permission for the meetings, but were required to notify the state department in advance. The eventual goal, said the official, would be for \"these requirements and the requirements on US diplomats in China [to] both be disbanded.\" In a statement on Thursday, the Chinese Embassy in US called the new rules a \"violation of the Vienna Convention\". \"The Chinese side does not have similar requirements on American diplomats and consular officers in China,\" it insisted. It added: \"As for reciprocity, the US has a far greater number of diplomatic personnel in China than China has in the US.\" The Vienna Convention is an agreement that outlines the rules of diplomatic relations. Under this convention, diplomats are \"ensured\" freedom of movement and travel in their host countries. The convention also says the receiving state \"shall not discriminate as between states\". The two countries have been fighting a trade war, imposing tariffs on billions' worth of each other's goods over the past year. However, the state department official said the new ruling was \"not directly linked\" to the trade war with China. US President Donald Trump has long accused China of unfair trading practices and intellectual property theft. While in China, there is a perception that the US is trying to curb its rise.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 455, "answer_end": 1400, "text": "The rules would apply to \"official meetings with [US] state officials, official meetings with local and municipal officials, official visits to educational institutions, and official visits to research institutions\", the state department said. An official said the US was merely \"levelling the playing field\" with China, and that it was a response to Chinese restrictions on American diplomats. \"In China, US diplomats do not have unfettered access to a range of folks that are important for us to do our job here. \"In contrast, [Chinese] diplomats in the US are of course, able to take full advantage of our open society,\" said a senior state department official. US officials said Chinese diplomats did not need permission for the meetings, but were required to notify the state department in advance. The eventual goal, said the official, would be for \"these requirements and the requirements on US diplomats in China [to] both be disbanded.\""}], "question": "What did the US say?", "id": "1068_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1401, "answer_end": 1759, "text": "In a statement on Thursday, the Chinese Embassy in US called the new rules a \"violation of the Vienna Convention\". \"The Chinese side does not have similar requirements on American diplomats and consular officers in China,\" it insisted. It added: \"As for reciprocity, the US has a far greater number of diplomatic personnel in China than China has in the US.\""}], "question": "How did China respond?", "id": "1068_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1760, "answer_end": 2038, "text": "The Vienna Convention is an agreement that outlines the rules of diplomatic relations. Under this convention, diplomats are \"ensured\" freedom of movement and travel in their host countries. The convention also says the receiving state \"shall not discriminate as between states\"."}], "question": "What is the Vienna Convention?", "id": "1068_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2039, "answer_end": 2468, "text": "The two countries have been fighting a trade war, imposing tariffs on billions' worth of each other's goods over the past year. However, the state department official said the new ruling was \"not directly linked\" to the trade war with China. US President Donald Trump has long accused China of unfair trading practices and intellectual property theft. While in China, there is a perception that the US is trying to curb its rise."}], "question": "What is the background to this?", "id": "1068_3"}]}]}, {"title": "Germany to fight anti-Semitism in schools with new team", "date": "5 July 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "The German government plans to send 170 anti-bullying experts into schools after the summer break to tackle anti-Semitism among children. \"Anti-Semitism in schools is a big problem,\" Families Minister Franziska Giffey said. Last month Germans were shocked by the case of a boy aged 15 taunted by anti-Semitic bullies at the John F Kennedy School in a well-off area of Berlin. Germany remains haunted by the Nazis' mass murder of Jews in 1933-1945. Ms Giffey, a centre-left Social Democrat (SPD) politician, said teachers needed more support to combat anti-Semitism, as the problem went beyond the classroom, involving parents and society at large. \"So in the coming school year, as a first step, we will send 170 anti-bullying experts into selected schools in Germany, funded by the federal authorities,\" she told the daily Rheinische Post. It remains unclear if the Jewish boy bullied at the John F Kennedy School will return there after the summer, the Berliner Morgenpost daily reports (in German). The bilingual school in Zehlendorf teaches German and American children. Reports say one bully blew e-cigarette smoke in the boy's face, saying \"that should remind you of your forefathers\" - a sarcastic reference to the Holocaust. Bullies also reportedly drew swastikas on post-it notes and stuck them on the boy's back. Read more on this topic: Before 1989, Germany's Jewish minority numbered below 30,000. But an influx of Jews, mainly from the former Soviet Union, has raised the number to more than 200,000. Berlin's Anti-Semitism Research and Information Office (RIAS) says anti-Semitism is expressed on various levels, and not only by neo-Nazis, or by Muslim extremists who hate Israel. \"There is overall a worrying development of anti-Semitism becoming more socially acceptable. It has grown over the last couple of years and many cases go unreported,\" researcher Alexander Rasumny at RIAS told the BBC. RIAS documented 947 anti-Semitic incidents in 2017, including 18 physical attacks, compared with 590 in 2016. The watchdog's annual report (in German) said the increase was partly a result of more Germans reporting such incidents to RIAS, having learnt of its work. In an interview (in German) with the daily Der Tagesspiegel, the German government's new anti-Semitism tsar, Felix Klein, spoke of \"a brutalised climate now, in which more people feel emboldened to say anti-Semitic things on the internet and in the street\". \"Previously that was unthinkable, but the threshold has dropped.\" In April two young men wearing traditional Jewish skullcaps (kippahs) were assaulted in Berlin. The attacker, a 19-year-old migrant from Syria, was filmed shouting anti-Semitic abuse. Later Josef Schuster, president of the Central Council of Jews in Germany, advised Jews to avoid wearing kippahs. But in solidarity, thousands of Berliners wore kippahs on 29 April, declared an \"action day\" against anti-Semitism. Two German rappers, Kollegah and Farid Bang, were investigated recently over their gangsta rap lyrics which referred insultingly to Auschwitz victims and the Holocaust. They were not prosecuted, but were taken on an educational visit to Auschwitz, where the Nazis murdered an estimated 1.1m Jews during World War Two. Rhetoric from the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) has fuelled concern about anti-Semitism. An AfD leader, Bjorn Hocke, drew strong criticism after he condemned Berlin's Holocaust memorial. Mr Schuster says schools must take anti-Semitism seriously and not sweep it under the carpet. \"Such incidents happen in all types of school and all over Germany,\" he warned. One boy subjected to anti-Semitic taunts at a Berlin school was given a separate room to use during breaks, as well as a separate entrance, RIAS reported. Another Jewish boy was removed from a school by his parents after a gang had tormented him for months and threatened him with a realistic-looking toy pistol. Mr Rasumny told the BBC that anti-bullying action had to involve awareness training for teachers, because \"they don't always recognise current forms of anti-Semitism, or know when and how they should intervene\". There have been cases of anti-Semitism even among kindergarten children. There is much under-reporting of incidents in schools, Mr Rasumny said. \"There is pressure to conform to the rules, not to be different, and often kids report bullying only if they can't stand it any more,\" he said. In one case, he said, a Jewish music teacher had left a school after being told by a pupil there that \"God wants Jews to die\". It emerged that another teacher had said something similar to the child's mother. German schools should teach children about Jewish history and culture as a whole, Mr Rasumny said, in order to tackle anti-Semitism. \"It's very important to educate about the Holocaust, but German Jewish history did not just start in 1933 and end in 1945,\" he said.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1514, "answer_end": 2502, "text": "Berlin's Anti-Semitism Research and Information Office (RIAS) says anti-Semitism is expressed on various levels, and not only by neo-Nazis, or by Muslim extremists who hate Israel. \"There is overall a worrying development of anti-Semitism becoming more socially acceptable. It has grown over the last couple of years and many cases go unreported,\" researcher Alexander Rasumny at RIAS told the BBC. RIAS documented 947 anti-Semitic incidents in 2017, including 18 physical attacks, compared with 590 in 2016. The watchdog's annual report (in German) said the increase was partly a result of more Germans reporting such incidents to RIAS, having learnt of its work. In an interview (in German) with the daily Der Tagesspiegel, the German government's new anti-Semitism tsar, Felix Klein, spoke of \"a brutalised climate now, in which more people feel emboldened to say anti-Semitic things on the internet and in the street\". \"Previously that was unthinkable, but the threshold has dropped.\""}], "question": "How bad is anti-Semitism in Germany?", "id": "1069_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2503, "answer_end": 3431, "text": "In April two young men wearing traditional Jewish skullcaps (kippahs) were assaulted in Berlin. The attacker, a 19-year-old migrant from Syria, was filmed shouting anti-Semitic abuse. Later Josef Schuster, president of the Central Council of Jews in Germany, advised Jews to avoid wearing kippahs. But in solidarity, thousands of Berliners wore kippahs on 29 April, declared an \"action day\" against anti-Semitism. Two German rappers, Kollegah and Farid Bang, were investigated recently over their gangsta rap lyrics which referred insultingly to Auschwitz victims and the Holocaust. They were not prosecuted, but were taken on an educational visit to Auschwitz, where the Nazis murdered an estimated 1.1m Jews during World War Two. Rhetoric from the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) has fuelled concern about anti-Semitism. An AfD leader, Bjorn Hocke, drew strong criticism after he condemned Berlin's Holocaust memorial."}], "question": "What other incidents have hit the headlines?", "id": "1069_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3432, "answer_end": 4894, "text": "Mr Schuster says schools must take anti-Semitism seriously and not sweep it under the carpet. \"Such incidents happen in all types of school and all over Germany,\" he warned. One boy subjected to anti-Semitic taunts at a Berlin school was given a separate room to use during breaks, as well as a separate entrance, RIAS reported. Another Jewish boy was removed from a school by his parents after a gang had tormented him for months and threatened him with a realistic-looking toy pistol. Mr Rasumny told the BBC that anti-bullying action had to involve awareness training for teachers, because \"they don't always recognise current forms of anti-Semitism, or know when and how they should intervene\". There have been cases of anti-Semitism even among kindergarten children. There is much under-reporting of incidents in schools, Mr Rasumny said. \"There is pressure to conform to the rules, not to be different, and often kids report bullying only if they can't stand it any more,\" he said. In one case, he said, a Jewish music teacher had left a school after being told by a pupil there that \"God wants Jews to die\". It emerged that another teacher had said something similar to the child's mother. German schools should teach children about Jewish history and culture as a whole, Mr Rasumny said, in order to tackle anti-Semitism. \"It's very important to educate about the Holocaust, but German Jewish history did not just start in 1933 and end in 1945,\" he said."}], "question": "Why this focus now on schools?", "id": "1069_2"}]}]}, {"title": "Easter travel 2019: Where to avoid on roads and rail", "date": "18 April 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Drivers are being warned of congestion from Thursday afternoon as millions of cars take to the roads for the Easter bank holiday. Highways England has removed the majority of roadworks but 97 miles' worth are staying for safety reasons. Rail engineering work means there are no trains in or out of London Euston station from Friday to Monday. However, Network Rail said it would be the \"quietest\" engineering programme for \"many years\". About 7.4 million people are planning an overnight trip in the UK over the weekend, a survey of 1,258 people by tourist board VisitEngland suggests. This is up from 4.8 million last year. Among the attractions holding events over the weekend are Blenheim Palace, Oxfordshire; Goodrich Castle, Herefordshire; Dreamland Margate, Kent and Chatsworth House, Derbyshire. The RAC and traffic data company Inrix expect jams to be at their worst on Good Friday, particularly between 11:00 and 16:30 BST. They predict the M5 southbound, west of Bristol between Junction 16 and Junction 19, to be congested as drivers head for Devon and Cornwall. The M25 from Bromley through the Dartford Tunnel, the M6 north between Preston and Lancaster and the M62 west between Leeds and Manchester are also likely to see delays of about an hour. RAC spokesman Rod Dennis said the weekend would see \"lengthy queues in some spots\". Dan Croft from Inrix warned journeys \"could take up to three times longer than usual\". The predictions are based on data from previous Easter getaways as well as planned roadworks. Almost all motorways and major roads were due to be free of roadworks by Thursday morning, Highways England said. It aimed to lift or complete as many as possible by 06:00 and they will not re-start until 00:01 on Tuesday. However, more than 97 miles of roadworks will stay in place. A spokesman said: \"To help people have smoother journeys we have removed as many roadworks as possible, leaving only essential work in place. However, it is not possible to remove all roadworks due to safety reasons.\" Rail engineering works worth about PS100 million will mean cancelled trains and replacement buses over the Easter weekend. However Network Rail said most services would be \"unaffected\" and it was the \"quietest engineering programme for many years\". Chief executive Andrew Haines said: \"We know that our railway is up to 50% quieter than usual over bank holidays so doing work at this time of year minimises our impact on passengers.\" Routes that will face disruption between Friday and Monday include: - The west coast main line route will be closed near London, Preston and Glasgow - No trains to or from London Euston - No trains to or from London Fenchurch Street, with services diverted to Liverpool Street and replacement buses between Barking and Aldgate East - Replacement buses between  Bristol Parkway, Chepstow and Newport from Friday to Monday - Replacement buses between Shenfield, Southend Victoria and Southminster - Replacement buses between Birmingham International and Rugby - Replacement buses between Sheringham and Cromer, with Sheringham station closed - No LNER services between Edinburgh and Glasgow on Saturday, Sunday and Monday, but ScotRail services will run Details of all engineering works are available from National Rail Enquiries.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 803, "answer_end": 1525, "text": "The RAC and traffic data company Inrix expect jams to be at their worst on Good Friday, particularly between 11:00 and 16:30 BST. They predict the M5 southbound, west of Bristol between Junction 16 and Junction 19, to be congested as drivers head for Devon and Cornwall. The M25 from Bromley through the Dartford Tunnel, the M6 north between Preston and Lancaster and the M62 west between Leeds and Manchester are also likely to see delays of about an hour. RAC spokesman Rod Dennis said the weekend would see \"lengthy queues in some spots\". Dan Croft from Inrix warned journeys \"could take up to three times longer than usual\". The predictions are based on data from previous Easter getaways as well as planned roadworks."}], "question": "When is the worst time to travel?", "id": "1070_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1526, "answer_end": 2027, "text": "Almost all motorways and major roads were due to be free of roadworks by Thursday morning, Highways England said. It aimed to lift or complete as many as possible by 06:00 and they will not re-start until 00:01 on Tuesday. However, more than 97 miles of roadworks will stay in place. A spokesman said: \"To help people have smoother journeys we have removed as many roadworks as possible, leaving only essential work in place. However, it is not possible to remove all roadworks due to safety reasons.\""}], "question": "Where are the roadworks?", "id": "1070_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2028, "answer_end": 3290, "text": "Rail engineering works worth about PS100 million will mean cancelled trains and replacement buses over the Easter weekend. However Network Rail said most services would be \"unaffected\" and it was the \"quietest engineering programme for many years\". Chief executive Andrew Haines said: \"We know that our railway is up to 50% quieter than usual over bank holidays so doing work at this time of year minimises our impact on passengers.\" Routes that will face disruption between Friday and Monday include: - The west coast main line route will be closed near London, Preston and Glasgow - No trains to or from London Euston - No trains to or from London Fenchurch Street, with services diverted to Liverpool Street and replacement buses between Barking and Aldgate East - Replacement buses between  Bristol Parkway, Chepstow and Newport from Friday to Monday - Replacement buses between Shenfield, Southend Victoria and Southminster - Replacement buses between Birmingham International and Rugby - Replacement buses between Sheringham and Cromer, with Sheringham station closed - No LNER services between Edinburgh and Glasgow on Saturday, Sunday and Monday, but ScotRail services will run Details of all engineering works are available from National Rail Enquiries."}], "question": "Is my train running?", "id": "1070_2"}]}]}, {"title": "Soyuz rocket: 'Faulty sensor' led to launch failure", "date": "1 November 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "A Russian Soyuz rocket capsule was forced to make an emergency landing shortly after launch last month because of a faulty sensor, investigators say. Russian officials believe the component was damaged during assembly. They warned that two other Soyuz rockets could be defective, and said additional checks have been introduced. The rocket had been transporting two personnel, one Russian and one American, to the International Space Station (ISS) when they had to abort. The crew members, Russian cosmonaut Alexey Ovchinin and American astronaut Nick Hague, were then recovered in good health from an escape capsule. The incident, on 11 October, was the first serious launch problem by a manned Soyuz space mission since 1983. The findings of an official investigation into the incident were presented at a press conference on Thursday. Russian space agency Roscosmos said on Wednesday it hopes to resume manned missions with a three-person launch to the ISS on 3 December. That mission was originally scheduled for later in December, but officials want to bring it forward to ensure the station is not left unmanned in autopilot when its current three-man crew depart for Earth. The Soyuz-FG rocket launched at 08:40 local time (02:40 GMT) from the Baikanour cosmodrome site on 11 October when the malfunction occurred. About 90 seconds into the rocket's flight, the US space agency Nasa reported a problem with the booster rocket between the first and second stages of separating. Live video of the astronauts inside showed them shaking violently with vibrations caused by the malfunction. After about 114 seconds of flight, the emergency escape system sprang into action, separating the crew capsule from the rocket, which then entered \"ballistic descent\" before parachuting to earth. The two crew members were then recovered by emergency workers near the Kazakh city of Dzhezkazgan, 400km (250 miles) north-east of the rocket launch site. Despite their dramatic descent and landing, both men were recovered unharmed, the space agencies said. The Russian space agency Roscosmos immediately launched an investigation into the rocket failure. Igor Skorobogatov, who headed the inquiry, said on Thursday that the issue was linked to the \"deformation\" of a sensor part. \"It has been proven, fully confirmed, that this happened specifically because of this sensor, and that could only have happened during the package's assembly at the Baikonur cosmodrome,\" he said. Officials believe the sensor's failure caused a booster rocket from the first stage to malfunction and hit a fuel tank, which led to the loss of stabilisation and the emergency landing. Alexander Lopatin, the deputy head of Roscosmos, said that \"appropriate law enforcement authorities\" will now look into who was responsible for the assembly error. Russian rockets are currently manufactured inside the country and then transported to the facility in Kazakhstan for assembly and launch. Russia is the only country currently sending crews to the ISS, after Nasa's Space Shuttle programme ended in 2011. Since then, Nasa has paid Russia for seats on its Soyuz rockets to ferry its astronauts to the station. Russia maintains its space program is safe despite a number of technical failures in recent years. In August, a hole appeared in a Soyuz capsule already docked to the ISS which had to be patched after it caused a brief loss of air pressure. Officials suggested it may have been deliberate. While space missions may often encounter technical difficulties, fatalities have been relatively rare. The last fatal accident occurred in 2003 when Nasa's Space Shuttle Columbia broke up on re-entry into the Earth's atmosphere, killing seven crew members.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1181, "answer_end": 2046, "text": "The Soyuz-FG rocket launched at 08:40 local time (02:40 GMT) from the Baikanour cosmodrome site on 11 October when the malfunction occurred. About 90 seconds into the rocket's flight, the US space agency Nasa reported a problem with the booster rocket between the first and second stages of separating. Live video of the astronauts inside showed them shaking violently with vibrations caused by the malfunction. After about 114 seconds of flight, the emergency escape system sprang into action, separating the crew capsule from the rocket, which then entered \"ballistic descent\" before parachuting to earth. The two crew members were then recovered by emergency workers near the Kazakh city of Dzhezkazgan, 400km (250 miles) north-east of the rocket launch site. Despite their dramatic descent and landing, both men were recovered unharmed, the space agencies said."}], "question": "What happened during the flight?", "id": "1071_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2047, "answer_end": 3172, "text": "The Russian space agency Roscosmos immediately launched an investigation into the rocket failure. Igor Skorobogatov, who headed the inquiry, said on Thursday that the issue was linked to the \"deformation\" of a sensor part. \"It has been proven, fully confirmed, that this happened specifically because of this sensor, and that could only have happened during the package's assembly at the Baikonur cosmodrome,\" he said. Officials believe the sensor's failure caused a booster rocket from the first stage to malfunction and hit a fuel tank, which led to the loss of stabilisation and the emergency landing. Alexander Lopatin, the deputy head of Roscosmos, said that \"appropriate law enforcement authorities\" will now look into who was responsible for the assembly error. Russian rockets are currently manufactured inside the country and then transported to the facility in Kazakhstan for assembly and launch. Russia is the only country currently sending crews to the ISS, after Nasa's Space Shuttle programme ended in 2011. Since then, Nasa has paid Russia for seats on its Soyuz rockets to ferry its astronauts to the station."}], "question": "What have officials said?", "id": "1071_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3173, "answer_end": 3719, "text": "Russia maintains its space program is safe despite a number of technical failures in recent years. In August, a hole appeared in a Soyuz capsule already docked to the ISS which had to be patched after it caused a brief loss of air pressure. Officials suggested it may have been deliberate. While space missions may often encounter technical difficulties, fatalities have been relatively rare. The last fatal accident occurred in 2003 when Nasa's Space Shuttle Columbia broke up on re-entry into the Earth's atmosphere, killing seven crew members."}], "question": "Is the programme safe?", "id": "1071_2"}]}]}, {"title": "From Brexit with love: Lithuania sees its chance", "date": "6 February 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "They are the hot new trend in finance, and Marius Jurgilas's mission is to lure them to Lithuania. Yet even he has been shocked by the \"overwhelming\" number of enquiries from UK \"fintech\" companies in recent months. The reason is Brexit. Financial technology companies are making last-minute plans in case of a no-deal Brexit on 29 March. Many are looking to secure financial licences in other EU states to protect their operations, and this Baltic nation has an eye on helping to fill the gap. Mr Jurgilas, a Bank of Lithuania board member, has had some notable successes. Customers of new-age bank Revolut might not know it has acquired its banking licence in Lithuania. Google's parent company Alphabet has one too. Mr Jurgilas insists his country's new direction is not all about Brexit. \"It was a coincidence,\" he says. \"Mostly we just want innovation to happen here, not 10 years down the road after things are implemented in Sweden.\" Marius Jurgilas is not alone. On the seventh floor of a shiny new office block, the Blockchain Centre is on the hunt for hot new fintech markets in Lithuania's name. Inside, it is silent and the mood intense. Workers in headphones stare at black screens awash with code. Motivational posters on the walls carry messages such as: \"The future will be decentralised.\" This one-year-old centre - which offers co-working space and consultancy services to start-ups using blockchain technology - plays to its EU credentials. Its website has an EU rather than a Lithuanian domain. But chief executive Egle Nemeikstyte says the centre is casting its net far beyond Europe. Australia, Singapore and Israel all want EU partners. There is still plenty of scepticism about how blockchain should be used, and Ms Nemeikstyte sometimes has to dissuade people from jumping on the bandwagon. \"Lots of people come to us with ideas and we say that's great, but you don't need blockchain for it. Go ahead without it,\" she advises. - Records data in a verifiable and permanent way across many computers at once - Every computer has its own copy of the records - and verifies every new piece of information - Faking one copy of the blockchain will not work - because it will not match every other copy - Best known for underpinning digital \"crypto\" currencies, such as Bitcoin Lithuania's expansion has been compared to Iceland, where the three biggest banks grew too fast and collapsed during the financial crisis of 2008. Marius Jurgilas insists such comparisons are unfair and Lithuania is far from gung-ho in the field. \"We don't have the framework yet to know how to manage the risks. We don't want to go too fast in that area,\" he says of blockchain and crypto-currencies. And yet the Bank of Lithuania offers \"no regulatory sanctions for the first year of operations\", which some have suggested could be a sign of laxity. Officials will also be keen to avoid the money-laundering cases that befell its neighbours, Latvia and Estonia. What Lithuania does offer is a regulatory \"sandbox\", which allows financial technology companies to test products in a limited environment and under supervision. Such sandboxes are not common, but they are cropping up in places as disparate as Arizona and Kuwait. Critics worry that they mark a race to the bottom, but supporters insist they boost innovation and can be well-managed. One of Lithuania's biggest coups, or perhaps risks, has been in backing financial technology company Revolut. Valued at $1.7bn (PS1.3bn), it is one of the world's fast-growing app-based banks. Brexit is a primary reason for its move to Vilnius, but it will still retain its London HQ and the electric money licence it has from UK regulators. Last year it advertised for its third head of compliance in less than 18 months, and some have argued that it may be expanding too fast. However, the company insists it is just looking for the right fit. And there was \"no cutting corners\" when the company secured its specialised banking licence from Lithuania, insists head of business development Andrius Biceika. That will allow Revolut to offer full current accounts, pay interest on deposits and issue loans. By choosing Lithuania, it can operate across the EU. \"We are going to pilot all this in Lithuania and then passport to other countries,\" says Mr Biceika. \"We are seeing lots of companies using Lithuania as a springboard.\" In the UK, all the talk about Lithuania has travelled the corridors of Level 39 - a three-floor tech hub in London's Canary Wharf, where a number of its residents have been making insurance plans for Brexit. TransferGo - a money transferring company for migrant workers - received its electronic money licence from the Lithuanian central bank in July 2018. BABB - a yet-to-launch money transfer company that has no connections to Lithuania - is also midway through the process. While both made the decision because of Brexit uncertainty, both also cited Lithuania's local talent and helpful regulators as other motivations. Go to an event for fintech start-ups in Vilnius and the room teems with enthusiastic young entrepreneurs. In the wake of the 2008 financial crisis, various international companies came here to save money. Among them was Western Union, where many Lithuanians learnt the ropes of finance. \"We used to compete over low costs,\" says Vilnius Mayor Remigijus Simasius. \"But now it is more about talent.\" Vilnius has certainly been putting itself out there. In mid-2018, it launched a bizarre tourist campaign called \"G-spot of Europe\" complete with tagline: \"Nobody knows where it is but when you find it, it's amazing.\" Co-working hub Rise Vilnius is where you will find dozens of the new companies. Backed by British bank Barclays, it is one of seven such hubs in Mumbai, Tel Aviv, London, Manchester, Cape Town and New York. \"There was scepticism that we would find enough fintech start-ups here, but we proved them wrong,\" says Mariano Andrade Gonzalez, executive director of Barclays' operations centre in Lithuania. The mayor of Vilnius says companies have discovered that the city's workforce is particularly suited to the new start-ups, because Lithuanians have good mathematical skills. \"Maybe that goes down to the dark times of the Soviet Union. People studied these things instead of social studies. \"It was natural for us to move into fintech, even before Brexit. We are willing to adapt to the future, not fight it.\"", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 2296, "answer_end": 3343, "text": "Lithuania's expansion has been compared to Iceland, where the three biggest banks grew too fast and collapsed during the financial crisis of 2008. Marius Jurgilas insists such comparisons are unfair and Lithuania is far from gung-ho in the field. \"We don't have the framework yet to know how to manage the risks. We don't want to go too fast in that area,\" he says of blockchain and crypto-currencies. And yet the Bank of Lithuania offers \"no regulatory sanctions for the first year of operations\", which some have suggested could be a sign of laxity. Officials will also be keen to avoid the money-laundering cases that befell its neighbours, Latvia and Estonia. What Lithuania does offer is a regulatory \"sandbox\", which allows financial technology companies to test products in a limited environment and under supervision. Such sandboxes are not common, but they are cropping up in places as disparate as Arizona and Kuwait. Critics worry that they mark a race to the bottom, but supporters insist they boost innovation and can be well-managed."}], "question": "How tight will the rules be?", "id": "1072_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 4996, "answer_end": 6420, "text": "Go to an event for fintech start-ups in Vilnius and the room teems with enthusiastic young entrepreneurs. In the wake of the 2008 financial crisis, various international companies came here to save money. Among them was Western Union, where many Lithuanians learnt the ropes of finance. \"We used to compete over low costs,\" says Vilnius Mayor Remigijus Simasius. \"But now it is more about talent.\" Vilnius has certainly been putting itself out there. In mid-2018, it launched a bizarre tourist campaign called \"G-spot of Europe\" complete with tagline: \"Nobody knows where it is but when you find it, it's amazing.\" Co-working hub Rise Vilnius is where you will find dozens of the new companies. Backed by British bank Barclays, it is one of seven such hubs in Mumbai, Tel Aviv, London, Manchester, Cape Town and New York. \"There was scepticism that we would find enough fintech start-ups here, but we proved them wrong,\" says Mariano Andrade Gonzalez, executive director of Barclays' operations centre in Lithuania. The mayor of Vilnius says companies have discovered that the city's workforce is particularly suited to the new start-ups, because Lithuanians have good mathematical skills. \"Maybe that goes down to the dark times of the Soviet Union. People studied these things instead of social studies. \"It was natural for us to move into fintech, even before Brexit. We are willing to adapt to the future, not fight it.\""}], "question": "The 'G-spot of Europe'?", "id": "1072_1"}]}]}, {"title": "'Fry and Turnbull effect' on prostate cancer", "date": "9 October 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Hospitals are seeing and treating more men with prostate cancer, partly thanks to celebrities raising awareness of the disease by speaking out about their own experiences, says the head of the NHS. NHS chief Simon Stevens will today thank former BBC Breakfast presenter Bill Turnbull and broadcaster Stephen Fry for the work they have done in urging men to come forward for help. Both had treatment earlier this year. Mr Stevens said they were \"owed a debt of gratitude.\" Latest figures show that from April to July 2018, 14,479 patients received treatment for a urological cancer - an increase of 3,929 (36%) compared to the same period in 2017. And there were 70,000 visits to the NHS website advice page on prostate cancer in March, a 250% increase from the monthly average of around 20,000. Mr Stevens said there would be PS10m of additional investment for hospitals to increase their capacity to treat more patients with the disease. \"This additional investment will help ensure the NHS can manage this jump in demand, so that all people with suspected cancer are tested and treated quickly,\" he said. The jump in demand also coincided with media coverage about the number of people dying from prostate cancer overtaking deaths from breast cancer. There can be few symptoms of prostate cancer in the early stages, and because of its location most symptoms are linked to urination: - needing to urinate more often, especially at night - needing to run to the toilet - difficulty in starting to urinate - weak urine flow or taking a long time while urinating - feeling your bladder has not emptied fully Men with male relatives who have had prostate cancer, black men and men over 50 are at higher risk of getting the disease.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1253, "answer_end": 1729, "text": "There can be few symptoms of prostate cancer in the early stages, and because of its location most symptoms are linked to urination: - needing to urinate more often, especially at night - needing to run to the toilet - difficulty in starting to urinate - weak urine flow or taking a long time while urinating - feeling your bladder has not emptied fully Men with male relatives who have had prostate cancer, black men and men over 50 are at higher risk of getting the disease."}], "question": "What are the symptoms?", "id": "1073_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Peter Nygard: FBI raids fashion mogul HQ in sex trafficking probe", "date": "25 February 2020", "paragraphs": [{"context": "US agents have raided fashion executive Peter Nygard's Manhattan offices as part of a sex-trafficking investigation. The FBI and New York police executed a search warrant on Tuesday, a spokesman for the US Attorney's Office said. The raid comes as Mr Nygard, 77, is facing a sexual assault and trafficking lawsuit, filed by 10 women and girls earlier this month. He has denied allegations of wrongdoing. The Finnish-Canadian multimillionaire, who has been linked to Prince Andrew, has been the subject of an investigation by the child exploitation FBI task force and New York police for the last five months. He was reportedly the subject of a previous FBI investigation for sex trafficking in 2015 and 2017. A spokesman for Mr Nygard said the fashion executive, who owns Nygard International brands, \"welcomes the federal investigation and expects his name to be cleared. He has not been charged, is not in custody and is cooperating with the investigation.\" Mr Nygard is estimated to be worth upwards of $700m (PS538m). Brands owned by his company include Bianca Nygard, Tan Jay, ALIA and SLIMS. The sex abuse lawsuit was filed on 13 February by 10 unnamed female plaintiffs against Mr Nygard and his associated companies. The lawsuit accuses him of sexually assaulting \"young, impressionable, and often impoverished children and women\" after luring them with cash and false promises of lucrative modelling opportunities. Some of the plaintiffs are minors. Mr Nygard is accused of using alcohol, drugs, force or other means of coercion \"to engage in commercial sex acts with these children and women\". Most of the assault and sex trafficking allegations took place in the Bahamas, where Mr Nygard has lived for years. The lawsuit, which details complaints dating back four decades, also claims Mr Nygard would bribe officials to hide evidence of his crimes. It alleges he kept a \"database of potential victims\" on his company's servers with details on over 7,500 women and underage girls. The case has brought forth echoes of other recent cases of wealthy and powerful men involved in sex abuse. Mr Nygard often hosted celebrities and politicians at his properties to promote his brands, including former President George H W Bush and actors Robert De Niro and Sean Connery. Prince Andrew is friendly with Mr Nygard, and has been photographed with his family and the sportswear tycoon. Though there is no suggestion he knew of allegations against Mr Nygard, the Duke of York was forced to step back from public life amid furore over his ties to Jeffrey Epstein, a sex abuser. A spokesman for the fashion tycoon said the claims against him were \"completely false, without foundation and are vigorously denied\". \"Peter Nygard looks forward to fully exposing this scam and, once and for all, clearing his name,\" his spokesman said.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1098, "answer_end": 2830, "text": "The sex abuse lawsuit was filed on 13 February by 10 unnamed female plaintiffs against Mr Nygard and his associated companies. The lawsuit accuses him of sexually assaulting \"young, impressionable, and often impoverished children and women\" after luring them with cash and false promises of lucrative modelling opportunities. Some of the plaintiffs are minors. Mr Nygard is accused of using alcohol, drugs, force or other means of coercion \"to engage in commercial sex acts with these children and women\". Most of the assault and sex trafficking allegations took place in the Bahamas, where Mr Nygard has lived for years. The lawsuit, which details complaints dating back four decades, also claims Mr Nygard would bribe officials to hide evidence of his crimes. It alleges he kept a \"database of potential victims\" on his company's servers with details on over 7,500 women and underage girls. The case has brought forth echoes of other recent cases of wealthy and powerful men involved in sex abuse. Mr Nygard often hosted celebrities and politicians at his properties to promote his brands, including former President George H W Bush and actors Robert De Niro and Sean Connery. Prince Andrew is friendly with Mr Nygard, and has been photographed with his family and the sportswear tycoon. Though there is no suggestion he knew of allegations against Mr Nygard, the Duke of York was forced to step back from public life amid furore over his ties to Jeffrey Epstein, a sex abuser. A spokesman for the fashion tycoon said the claims against him were \"completely false, without foundation and are vigorously denied\". \"Peter Nygard looks forward to fully exposing this scam and, once and for all, clearing his name,\" his spokesman said."}], "question": "What do we know about the lawsuit?", "id": "1074_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Avatar: Scientology-style sect causes concern in Netherlands", "date": "31 March 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Reports of a Scientology-style sect infiltrating schools have aroused concern in the Netherlands. A television investigation claimed to have found at least six private schools governed by \"Avatar wizards\" and guided by the principles of the Avatar ideology. So what is Avatar (besides a blockbuster movie)? And how influential is it? Avatar's self-proclaimed goal is to create an \"enlightened planetary society\". Some members believe Earth was colonised by aliens, and Avatar explores controversial practices such as exorcism. It was created in 1986 by the former Scientology leader Harry Palmer. Emailing from their headquarters in Orlando, Florida, Mr Palmer told the BBC they have almost a million graduates worldwide. \"The basic doctrine of Avatar is: what you believe has consequences in your life,\" he says. \"The course does not promote a specific philosophy beyond this. We have people from all religions. What Avatar does teach are tools, techniques, processes for taking control of one's own mind, of connecting beliefs and actions to their consequence.\" He shared a link, suggesting we get a feel for Avatar by exploring the free mini-courses. Trainees typically pay for courses, which generate money for Mr Palmer's company Star's Edge. Prices vary from $500 (PS350) for a five-day \"Integrity Course\" to $7,500 for a 13-day \"Wizards Course\". People who qualify as a Master or Wizard can offer their own lessons. A portion of the profits are funnelled back to Avatar HQ. Mr Palmer believes there are \"tens of thousands\" of Avatar disciples living in the Netherlands. Sektesignaal or \"sect alert\" - a Dutch organisation set up to monitor sectarian movements - has asked the Dutch Education Inspectorate to investigate reports that Avatar poses a threat to society by covertly infiltrating public institutions which are ostensibly secular. \"We aren't saying if it's right or wrong,\" the organisation's manager Karin Krijnen told the BBC. \"We are only worried if there has been abuse or misconduct. That's why there needs to be an investigation.\" They are responding to claims that three Dutch councillors attained Wizard status and were using public money to send civil servants on Avatar training courses. Han Bekkers, 69, a municipal secretary in the south-eastern province of Limburg, was one of those named in the reports. His spokesman Roek Lips told the BBC the reports were \"mostly nonsense\". \"Han Bekkers did the Wizard Course, but there was no public money used in training,\" he said.  \"And from the workshops he offers, none of the profits are transferred to Star's Edge, he is fully independent.\" Avatar shares much of its philosophy with Scientology. It offers self-development programmes that borrow elements from Scientology, Shamanism, Hinduism and New Age philosophy. Many of the original course materials incorporated Scientology terminology. The Church of Scientology filed a trademark case against Harry Palmer over a sign featuring a Scientology logo. The sign was eventually removed. Harry Palmer launched Avatar shortly afterwards. It has retained some of the same terms such as \"rundown\" and course names like \"integrity\" and \"professional\". Scientologists deny that they are part of a cult and reject accusations of abuse and scamming members. Followers describe it as providing spiritual support. The word Avatar comes from Hindu mythology, and refers to the manifestation of a soul released in bodily form on Earth. Read more on similar topics: The BBC decided to look for evidence of Avatar at one of the schools mentioned in the reports. Dodging muddy puddles along a pot-holed dirt track, and with the roar of planes from Schiphol airport overhead, we entered the Guus Kieft School in the commuter town of Amstelveen, just south of Amsterdam. In the lobby we met social studies teacher Samuel Dirkse, who was clasping a mug of tea and wearing a beanie. \"I'd never heard of Avatar,\" he said.  \"I knew of the movie, of course, but nothing like Scientology - it was the first time I'd heard of it.\" One of the staff did an Avatar course. \"She'd never mentioned it before and she's not a Wizard or anything, it was only for personal development,\" Mr Dirkse said. \"Parents are scared because they see the reports and think there's a cult. The journalists didn't come here, they just make these accusations. A few of the pupils are very angry. Now people are looking at them like they're from some kind of cult.\" Dutch democratic or free schools often attract parents who believe their children will excel in less controlled environments. A number of these primary and secondary schools offer self-development courses designed to \"identify and remove limiting beliefs\". This one resembled a rather relaxed drama school. A boy sitting on a desk strummed a guitar, a teenage girl stared intently at her phone, earphones plugged in. Zeno, 14, seemed bemused by the suggestion that his school was run by wizards. \"It's nonsense. I never knew what Avatar was,\" he said. His mother Christel van Zweden explained that they chose an alternative school to escape the relentless pressure to meet performance targets in the mainstream. \"Schools need to be free of occult or extremist things. They should be neutral. I'm against Scientology, I'm against Avatar, I'm against any kind of indoctrination,\" she said. \"Now it's like a witch hunt. Everyone is pointing the finger just because we come to a school that does things differently.  I'm confident there is no brainwashing here.\" Another school called Life! told us one of its teachers did an Avatar course for personal reasons and that it wasn't taught to the students. Across the road from the Guus Kieft School, a neighbour, Jurgen Seunke, was walking his black labradors in the rain. I asked if he was worried about the reports of a cult next door. \"In the Bible Belt they don't want kids to have injections against polio, or to allow homosexuality, because they say it's God's will,\" he replied. \"So even if Scientology exists across the road, everyone should be free to choose. And anyway, it's just a few kids, right? It's not like they have an army or anything.\"", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 2616, "answer_end": 3449, "text": "Avatar shares much of its philosophy with Scientology. It offers self-development programmes that borrow elements from Scientology, Shamanism, Hinduism and New Age philosophy. Many of the original course materials incorporated Scientology terminology. The Church of Scientology filed a trademark case against Harry Palmer over a sign featuring a Scientology logo. The sign was eventually removed. Harry Palmer launched Avatar shortly afterwards. It has retained some of the same terms such as \"rundown\" and course names like \"integrity\" and \"professional\". Scientologists deny that they are part of a cult and reject accusations of abuse and scamming members. Followers describe it as providing spiritual support. The word Avatar comes from Hindu mythology, and refers to the manifestation of a soul released in bodily form on Earth."}], "question": "Avatar, Scientology - what's the difference?", "id": "1075_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Strait of Hormuz: US confirms drone shot down by Iran", "date": "20 June 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "A US military surveillance drone has been shot down by Iranian forces while flying over the Strait of Hormuz. Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) said the aircraft had violated Iranian airspace, and that the incident sent a \"clear message to America\". But the US military insisted the drone had been over international waters at the time, and condemned what it called an \"unprovoked attack\" by the IRGC. President Donald Trump tweeted: \"Iran made a very big mistake!\" The incident comes at a time of escalating tension between the two countries. On Monday, the US defence department said it was deploying 1,000 extra troops to the region in response to \"hostile behaviour\" by Iranian forces. It has already sent an aircraft carrier strike group and B-52 bombers. The US has also accused Iran of attacking two oil tankers with mines last Thursday just outside the Strait of Hormuz, in the Gulf of Oman. Iran rejects the allegation. It was the second time in a month tankers had been attacked close in the region, through which a fifth of the world's oil passes each day. Tensions were further fuelled on Monday when Iran announced its stockpile of low-enriched uranium would next week exceed limits it agreed with world powers under a landmark nuclear deal in 2015. Iran stepped up its production in response to tightening economic sanctions from the US, which unilaterally withdrew from the deal last year. The IRGC said its air force had shot down a US \"spy\" drone in the early hours after the unmanned aircraft violated Iranian airspace near Kuhmobarak in the southern province of Hormozgan. In a speech carried live on Iranian state television, IRGC commander-in-chief Maj-Gen Hossein Salami warned the US to respect Iran's territorial integrity. \"Those who defend the borders of the Islamic nation of Iran will react in a total and decisive way to any intrusions by foreign elements on our land. Our borders are our red line.\" He added: \"Iran is not seeking war with any country, but we are fully prepared to defend Iran.\" The US military's Central Command confirmed a US Navy Broad Area Maritime Surveillance (BAMS-D) aircraft was shot down by an Iranian surface-to-air missile system while operating in what it said was international airspace over the Strait of Hormuz at 23:35 GMT on Wednesday (04:05 Iran time on Thursday). \"Iranian reports that the aircraft was over Iran are false,\" spokesman Navy Capt Bill Urban said. \"This was an unprovoked attack on a US surveillance asset in international airspace.\" Reuters news agency later cited a US source as saying US naval assets had been dispatched to the drone debris field in international waters. The BAMS-D is a RQ-4A Global Hawk High-Altitude, Long, Endurance (HALE) drone that can carry out surveillance and reconnaissance missions over vast ocean and coastal regions, according to the US military. This is the first direct incident of the current crisis involving the US and Iranian militaries and is a powerful reminder of the dangers of escalation in the Gulf. As far as the Iranians are concerned, the downing of the drone was intended to send a clear and explicit message to the Americans - \"our borders are our red line\" - a point underscored by the IRGC's commander-in-chief. So there is no doubting who shot down the US drone, an MQ-4C Triton. It is a massive aircraft with a wing-span equivalent to a small airliner. But the two sides differ as to where it happened. The Iranians say it was in their airspace; the Americans say that it was not. According to some reports, US President Donald Trump himself is eager to dial down the tension, fearing a spillover into outright conflict. But this is just the kind of incident that could provoke just such a cycle of action and response. Last week, the US military accused Iran of attempting to shoot down a US MQ-9 Reaper armed drone with a surface-to-air missile in an attempt to disrupt surveillance of one of the tankers that was attacked, the Kokuka Courageous. The drone had earlier observed a fire on board the other tanker, the Front Altair. The previous week, another US MQ-9 Reaper was shot down over Yemen by a surface-to-air missile fired by the Iran-backed rebel Houthi movement. The US military said the altitude of the engagement \"indicated an improvement over previous Houthi capability, which we assess was enabled by Iranian assistance\". Iran denies providing weapons to the Houthis. In 2011, Iran said it had captured a US RQ-170 Sentinel reconnaissance drone that had been reported lost by US forces in neighbouring Afghanistan. It developed its own version of the drone, one of which was shot down by Israel last year. May 2018: US President Donald Trump withdraws unilaterally from the 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and six world powers, and begins reinstating sanctions to force Iran to renegotiate the accord. Iran's economy slumps as they take effect. 2 May 2019: Mr Trump steps up pressure on Tehran by ending exemptions from secondary sanctions for countries still buying Iranian oil. 5 May: The US sends an aircraft carrier strike group and B-52 bombers to the Gulf because of \"troubling and escalatory indications\" related to Iran. 8 May: Iranian President Hassan Rouhani says Iran will scale back its commitments under the nuclear deal in retaliation for the sanctions, including by allowing its stockpile of low-enriched uranium to increase. Enriched uranium is used to make reactor fuel and potentially nuclear weapons. 12 May:  Four oil tankers are damaged by explosions off the UAE coast in the Gulf of Oman. The UAE says the blasts were caused by limpet mines planted by a \"state actor\". The US blames Iran, but it denies the allegation. 13 June: Explosions hit two oil tankers in the Gulf of Oman. The US again accuses Iran, releasing footage purportedly showing Iranian forces removing an unexploded limpet mine from a damaged vessel. Iran says the evidence is fabricated. 17 June: Iran says it will breach the limit on its stockpile of enriched uranium set under the nuclear deal on 27 June, unless Europe protects Iranian oil sales. 20 June: Iranian forces shoot down US military drone over the Strait of Hormuz.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1417, "answer_end": 2871, "text": "The IRGC said its air force had shot down a US \"spy\" drone in the early hours after the unmanned aircraft violated Iranian airspace near Kuhmobarak in the southern province of Hormozgan. In a speech carried live on Iranian state television, IRGC commander-in-chief Maj-Gen Hossein Salami warned the US to respect Iran's territorial integrity. \"Those who defend the borders of the Islamic nation of Iran will react in a total and decisive way to any intrusions by foreign elements on our land. Our borders are our red line.\" He added: \"Iran is not seeking war with any country, but we are fully prepared to defend Iran.\" The US military's Central Command confirmed a US Navy Broad Area Maritime Surveillance (BAMS-D) aircraft was shot down by an Iranian surface-to-air missile system while operating in what it said was international airspace over the Strait of Hormuz at 23:35 GMT on Wednesday (04:05 Iran time on Thursday). \"Iranian reports that the aircraft was over Iran are false,\" spokesman Navy Capt Bill Urban said. \"This was an unprovoked attack on a US surveillance asset in international airspace.\" Reuters news agency later cited a US source as saying US naval assets had been dispatched to the drone debris field in international waters. The BAMS-D is a RQ-4A Global Hawk High-Altitude, Long, Endurance (HALE) drone that can carry out surveillance and reconnaissance missions over vast ocean and coastal regions, according to the US military."}], "question": "What happened on Thursday?", "id": "1076_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3766, "answer_end": 4667, "text": "Last week, the US military accused Iran of attempting to shoot down a US MQ-9 Reaper armed drone with a surface-to-air missile in an attempt to disrupt surveillance of one of the tankers that was attacked, the Kokuka Courageous. The drone had earlier observed a fire on board the other tanker, the Front Altair. The previous week, another US MQ-9 Reaper was shot down over Yemen by a surface-to-air missile fired by the Iran-backed rebel Houthi movement. The US military said the altitude of the engagement \"indicated an improvement over previous Houthi capability, which we assess was enabled by Iranian assistance\". Iran denies providing weapons to the Houthis. In 2011, Iran said it had captured a US RQ-170 Sentinel reconnaissance drone that had been reported lost by US forces in neighbouring Afghanistan. It developed its own version of the drone, one of which was shot down by Israel last year."}], "question": "Is this the first time Iran has targeted a US drone?", "id": "1076_1"}]}]}, {"title": "Pakistan PM Khan: Kashmir issue 'cannot keep boiling'", "date": "10 April 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan has told the BBC that peace with India over the disputed territory of Kashmir would be \"tremendous\" for the wider region. Mr Khan, a former cricketer who became leader eight months ago, said the nuclear-armed neighbours could only settle their differences with dialogue. The comments come as India prepares to vote in a general election, weeks after an upsurge of violence in Kashmir. A suicide attack against Indian forces triggered cross-border air strikes. Asked what message he wanted to send to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his country, Mr Khan told the BBC's John Simpson that the Kashmir issue \"has to be settled\" and \"cannot keep boiling like it is\". \"The number-one tasks of the two governments is how are we going to reduce poverty and the way we reduce poverty is by settling our differences through dialogue and there is only one difference - which is Kashmir,\" he said. India's prime minister has used anti-Pakistan rhetoric and stressed national-security themes during his re-election campaign. Many see the election as a referendum on the polarising politics of his Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Voting will open on Thursday and continue into May. Mr Khan also spoke about the dangers of confrontation between the two neighbours. \"Once you respond, no-one can predict where it can go from there,\" he said. If India had \"come back and then again attacked Pakistan, Pakistan would have no choice but to respond,\" he added. \"So in that situation, two nuclear-armed countries, I just felt it was very irresponsible.\" Analysis by the BBC's world affairs editor John Simpson Imran Khan has given very few interviews during his eight months in power. So when the BBC and a small group of British and American news organisations were invited to meet him, it was because he wanted to send a message to India on the eve of its general election. He was offering the hand of friendship: let's work together to solve our common problems. The fact is, Imran Khan needs to lighten the atmosphere. Pakistan's economy is in a bad way. Foreign investors are put off by the angry relationship with India, and by claims that Pakistan is allowing militant Islamic groups to operate from its territory - this he strongly denied. No previous Pakistani government had done more to clamp down on terrorist groups, he maintained.   For him, everything depends on a solution to the Kashmir problem. If India and Pakistan can find that, he said, everything else could be sorted out easily. Both India and Pakistan claim all of Muslim-majority Kashmir, but control only parts of it. The neighbours have fought two wars and a limited conflict over the Muslim-majority territory. In 2003 the two parties agreed a ceasefire along the province's de-facto border, known as the Line of Control (LoC), but internal unrest has continued. Many who live in India-administered Kashmir resent Indian rule, and Delhi has long accused Pakistan of backing separatist militants there. High unemployment and complaints of human rights abuses by security forces have also aggravated internal tensions and fuelled insurgency. Pakistan-based militants killed 40 Indian troops in a suicide attack in Pulwama, in Indian-administered Kashmir, in February. It was the deadliest attack of its kind in decades and India said the Pakistani state had a hand in the attack. India responded with air strikes against what it said was a militant training camp in Pakistani territory. Pakistan then shot down an Indian jet on the Pakistan-administered side of Kashmir. The pilot from that plane was captured alive, but was safely returned to India in what Mr Khan called a \"peace gesture\". Tensions appeared to have eased since then, but earlier this week Pakistan's foreign minister accused India of planning a fresh military attack. India has dismissed the claims as a \"public gimmick\" aimed at \"whipping up war hysteria in the region\". Mr Khan also spoke to the Reuters news agency on Tuesday. During that interview, he suggested there could be a better chance of peace if Mr Modi were re-elected. \"Perhaps if the BJP - a right-wing party - wins, some kind of settlement in Kashmir could be reached,\" he said, while suggesting other parties may fear a backlash from the right over any negotiations. During his BBC interview Mr Khan also touched on the case of Asia Bibi - a high-profile blasphemy case involving a Christian woman. Pakistan's Supreme Court upheld its decision to overturn her conviction and death sentence in January, but she is yet to leave Pakistan. Mr Khan told the BBC that she would be departing the country \"very soon\" \"There is a little bit of a complication. And I can't speak on the media about [it],\" he said. \"But I can assure you she is safe and she will be leaving in weeks.\"", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 2542, "answer_end": 3157, "text": "Both India and Pakistan claim all of Muslim-majority Kashmir, but control only parts of it. The neighbours have fought two wars and a limited conflict over the Muslim-majority territory. In 2003 the two parties agreed a ceasefire along the province's de-facto border, known as the Line of Control (LoC), but internal unrest has continued. Many who live in India-administered Kashmir resent Indian rule, and Delhi has long accused Pakistan of backing separatist militants there. High unemployment and complaints of human rights abuses by security forces have also aggravated internal tensions and fuelled insurgency."}], "question": "Why is there tension over Kashmir?", "id": "1077_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Nord Stream 2: Go-ahead for Russian gas pipeline angers Ukraine", "date": "31 October 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Denmark's approval for a controversial pipeline to pump more Russian gas into Europe will strengthen Russia's influence in the region, Ukraine warns. \"This is not only a matter of energy security, it is a geopolitical issue,\" Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky said of the Nord Stream 2 gas project. Plans for the 1,225km (760-mile) undersea pipeline have divided Europe. The Danish permit was the last major hurdle. The pipeline will run under the Baltic Sea from Russia to Germany. The Russian-led Nord Stream 2 project has also infuriated the US, which fears the pipeline will tighten Russia's grip over the region's energy supply and reduce its own share of the lucrative European market for American liquefied natural gas. US President Donald Trump has said the pipeline, owned by Russia's Gazprom, could turn Germany into a \"hostage of Russia\". On Wednesday, Denmark said it had granted a permit for part of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline to be constructed near the Baltic island of Bornholm. Denmark's Energy Agency said it was \"obliged to allow the construction of transit pipelines\" under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. It will take a month for the permit to come into effect, the agency added. Russian President Vladimir Putin welcomed the news, saying the decision was good for Europe. But Mr Zelensky said the move \"strengthens Russia and weakens Europe\". \"We understood that this could happen,\" he said at press conference in the Ukrainian capital Kyiv, adding: \"For my part, I will say that both me and our government were ready for such a decision. We are ready.\" Nord Stream 2 will not only increase Russia's supply of gas to the region, it also means that, along with its TurkStream project, Russia will be able to bypass Ukrainian pipelines. The loss of transit fees would hit Ukraine's economy hard - in 2017, the country earned about $3bn (EUR2.7bn; PS2.3bn) in Russian gas transit fees. For years EU member states have been concerned about the bloc's reliance on Russian gas. Russia currently supplies about 40% of the EU's gas supplies - just ahead of Norway, which is not in the EU but takes part in its single market. The new pipeline will increase the amount of gas going under the Baltic to 55 billion cubic metres per year. Disagreements among EU nations were so strong that, earlier this year, they even threatened to derail the project entirely. The bloc eventually agreed to strengthen regulations against Nord Stream 2, rather than stop it completely, and to bring it under European control. Businesses in Germany, meanwhile, have invested heavily in the project. Chancellor Angela Merkel has tried to assure Central and Eastern European states that the pipeline would not make Germany reliant on Russia for energy. Leaders in the US are also concerned. In May, a group of senators introduced legislation seeking sanctions against the pipeline. That same month, climate activists opposing the use of fossil fuels occupied part of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline in Germany. The demonstrators, who said the project would be more detrimental to the environment than the authorities had claimed, began skateboarding inside the pipes. Police said at least five people had occupied the pipes near Wrangelsburg in northern Germany.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1918, "answer_end": 3265, "text": "For years EU member states have been concerned about the bloc's reliance on Russian gas. Russia currently supplies about 40% of the EU's gas supplies - just ahead of Norway, which is not in the EU but takes part in its single market. The new pipeline will increase the amount of gas going under the Baltic to 55 billion cubic metres per year. Disagreements among EU nations were so strong that, earlier this year, they even threatened to derail the project entirely. The bloc eventually agreed to strengthen regulations against Nord Stream 2, rather than stop it completely, and to bring it under European control. Businesses in Germany, meanwhile, have invested heavily in the project. Chancellor Angela Merkel has tried to assure Central and Eastern European states that the pipeline would not make Germany reliant on Russia for energy. Leaders in the US are also concerned. In May, a group of senators introduced legislation seeking sanctions against the pipeline. That same month, climate activists opposing the use of fossil fuels occupied part of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline in Germany. The demonstrators, who said the project would be more detrimental to the environment than the authorities had claimed, began skateboarding inside the pipes. Police said at least five people had occupied the pipes near Wrangelsburg in northern Germany."}], "question": "Why is Nord Stream 2 so controversial?", "id": "1078_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Over 1,600 scientists condemn Trump transgender proposal", "date": "2 November 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Over 1,600 scientists have signed a letter condemning a proposal by the Trump administration to define gender as biological and established at birth. Signatories to the letter, including nine Nobel laureates, accuse the Trump government of citing \"pseudoscience\". \"This proposal is fundamentally inconsistent not only with science, but also with ethical practices, human rights, and basic dignity,\" it states. The government proposal was leaked to the New York Times last week. The change - as outlined in a draft memo by the Department of Health and Human Services - would rescind previous policy created under Barack Obama which adopted a broader definition of gender. Instead, the Trump administration would reportedly define gender based solely on people's genitalia at birth. Activists say such a move would \"erase\" the identities of 1.4 million Americans who identify as transgender. The reported proposal has not been announced by the US government, and Mr Trump has not commented on the report. The letter, signed by over 700 biologists, over 100 geneticists, and nine Nobel Prize winners dispute the US government's proposal, saying it \"is in no way 'grounded in science' as the administration claims\". \"The relationship between sex chromosomes, genitalia, and gender identity is complex, and not fully understood,\" they write. \"Though scientists are just beginning to understand the biological basis of gender identity, it is clear that many factors, known and unknown, mediate the complex links between identity, genes, and anatomy,\" the authors write in the letter, which links to 10 different scientific studies. The letter goes on to explain that no scientific test can \"unambiguously determine gender, or even sex\". \"Even if such tests existed, it would be unconscionable to use the pretext of science to enact policies that overrule the lived experience of people's own gender identities.\" On Thursday, more than 50 companies representing $2.4tn (PS1.5tn) in annual revenue also released a joint statement condemning the Trump administration's effort to strip trans Americans of legal protections. The statement from the companies - including Apple, Google, Nike, Microsoft, Amazon and Facebook - says: \"Transgender people are our beloved family members and friends, and our valued team members. What harms transgender people harms our companies.\" \"Diversity and inclusion are good for business,\" write the companies, who together employ nearly 4.8 million people, according to CNBC. \"We call for respect and transparency in policy-making, and for equality under the law for transgender people.\"", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 478, "answer_end": 1002, "text": "The change - as outlined in a draft memo by the Department of Health and Human Services - would rescind previous policy created under Barack Obama which adopted a broader definition of gender. Instead, the Trump administration would reportedly define gender based solely on people's genitalia at birth. Activists say such a move would \"erase\" the identities of 1.4 million Americans who identify as transgender. The reported proposal has not been announced by the US government, and Mr Trump has not commented on the report."}], "question": "What is the proposal?", "id": "1079_0"}]}]}, {"title": "A problem but not a disaster", "date": "17 July 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "They didn't escape defeat for long. Having squeaked through last night the government was beaten for only the second time ever in the Commons on key Brexit legislation. And guess what, it was on a vote they didn't expect to lose - Dr Phillip Lee, who quit the government to speak out on Brexit, put forward his own amendment to protect the links between the UK and the European Medicines Agency to ensure the smooth flow of medicines and new drugs for British patients after Brexit. And he had enough to support to win it, just. An embarrassment for the government certainly. It is another reminder of how difficult it is for Theresa May to get her way in the House of Commons where she doesn't have her own majority. It is serious. A defeat is a problem. But it wasn't a complete disaster tonight for two reasons. First, the amendment isn't a million miles away from the government's own policy. While not straightforward, the vote hasn't forced a screeching U-turn. The more important reason is that the vote that followed, on keeping the UK in a customs union, went the other way. For many months, former Remain rebels have talked about this vote as being one of the critical moments when finally their bark would turn into a bite, the time when they would show their mettle and force the government to, as they see it, put jobs and economic stability ahead of their Brexit ideology. Tonight, a dozen of them, more than was needed to beat the government back in December, voted for the amendment. But the government won by six votes, because of four Labour MPs - long term advocates of leaving the EU - who voted with Theresa May. By all accounts, the government had to go to some pretty extreme attempts to keep the number of Tory rebels down to a dozen. Sources have told the BBC not just that the whips warned a government loss would lead to a vote of confidence in the prime minister, but also suggested the chaos that might ensue could tip them into a general election. But it was a vital victory, snatched from the jaws of defeat minutes earlier, because the prime minister has, for many months, expressly said that staying in a customs union is not possible, even if desirable. Rightly or wrongly, it is central to her strategy and to lose on that vote would have really have undermined her negotiating strategy only a day after Brexiteers undermined her from the other side. The numbers will still be a worry for the prime minister. Because if - as is likely when it comes to the final deal - all of the other parties vote against the government, it suggests there are enough Tories unhappy with the direction of travel to sink the government's plan. But for tonight, a win is a win, however chaotic, however dirty the tricks played to get the numbers there, and a massive defeat avoided - allowing Theresa May just about to keep the veneer that she can, more or less, get her business through the House of Commons. And the win will also provide ammunition for critics of the former Remain band, who, when push comes to shove, are not only less numerous than the ardent Brexiteers, but simply less willing to play hardball. It's no secret that instinctively and indeed, for many of them, proudly, they are more likely to argue for compromise, than some of the Eurosceptics. As one senior Tory joked, the Eurosceptics are more like Begbie from Trainspotting - and the Remainers are more like Penelope Keith's Margot from the Good Life. Begbie would fight, maybe to the death, for his cause. Margot would complain fervently and acidly, but she was never going to put the overall reputation of Surbiton at risk. That might sound ridiculous but this is one of the profound realities and a point we've discussed many times before. Some Brexiteers would rather risk an election than compromise. It is hard to find former Remainers who would do the same. That's been part of the calculations of Number 10 so far. But there has been so much turmoil in the last few weeks that it might not always be the case.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 2662, "answer_end": 4011, "text": "But for tonight, a win is a win, however chaotic, however dirty the tricks played to get the numbers there, and a massive defeat avoided - allowing Theresa May just about to keep the veneer that she can, more or less, get her business through the House of Commons. And the win will also provide ammunition for critics of the former Remain band, who, when push comes to shove, are not only less numerous than the ardent Brexiteers, but simply less willing to play hardball. It's no secret that instinctively and indeed, for many of them, proudly, they are more likely to argue for compromise, than some of the Eurosceptics. As one senior Tory joked, the Eurosceptics are more like Begbie from Trainspotting - and the Remainers are more like Penelope Keith's Margot from the Good Life. Begbie would fight, maybe to the death, for his cause. Margot would complain fervently and acidly, but she was never going to put the overall reputation of Surbiton at risk. That might sound ridiculous but this is one of the profound realities and a point we've discussed many times before. Some Brexiteers would rather risk an election than compromise. It is hard to find former Remainers who would do the same. That's been part of the calculations of Number 10 so far. But there has been so much turmoil in the last few weeks that it might not always be the case."}], "question": "Begbie or Margot?", "id": "1080_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Can South Africa avoid doing a Zimbabwe on land?", "date": "24 June 2013", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Land reform is a thorny issue in South Africa; for some it conjures up images of Zimbabwe-like land grabs and raises tensions in small farming communities. The 1913 Natives Land Act divided the country into white and black areas and a century later, most of the country's best land remains in the hands of a few thousand white commercial farmers, while tens of thousands of black peasants are crammed together in less fertile areas. While some fear this powderkeg could explode, the sugarcane industry seems to be proving that reform can happen amicably. Fifth-generation sugarcane farmer Alan Bruscow has been training his new neighbours, a group of 36 black farmers who were awarded a farm through the land reform policy four years ago. The two farms, the Bruscow farm and the Zibophezele farm, outside Pietermaritzburg in KwaZulu-Natal are about 50m (164ft) apart. There is nothing separating them - if you didn't know you would think it is all one big farm. Mr Bruscow describes his relationship with the black farmers as one of \"trust and working together\".  It is a rare but admirable sight. \"I'd say that trust is a key element here and you build trust by working with people,\" says Mr Bruscow. \"They need to see that you're for them and they are for you, and you are there to try and make them as successful as possible and vice versa.\" One of the main problems with South Africa's land reform so far, experts say, is a lack of capital to sustain the farms under new ownership. The other is that many of the black farmers who win land claims have no skills to run a farm, let alone turn it into a successful business - these farms end up unproductive. A study presented at the Land Divided conference in March showed that many land transfer projects were failures. Peter Jacobs of the Human Sciences Research Council reported that only 167 land-reform beneficiaries from a sample of 301 farms were actively farming. And many of them used only a small piece of their land for agricultural activities. But this is not the case on the Zibophezele farm, where Sipho Xulu is working his land with a tractor in preparation for this season's harvest. Being a landowner has given him a sense of security. \"Land is extremely important - there is virtually nothing one can do without it. We live off the land - our children will also benefit from it. It has given me a real chance to leave a legacy for my family,\" he explains. Mr Xulu says the mentorship he has received has been invaluable. \"There is a lot of suspicion about white farmers in this part of the world but our mentor has proven to be a good man - we wouldn't be where we are without his teachings,\" explains Mr Xulu. In South Africa, agriculture, land and labour are closely entwined. The South African Sugarcane Association (Sasa) says the only way of securing the future of this industry is through partnerships between new and old farmers. This is why Sasa took the pioneering decision to set up its own land reform unit. \"Unless both black and white farmers commercial farmers cross that barrier and understand that we need one another for our mutual successful and for the benefit of the country, we won't get very far,\" says Sasa land reform unit head Anhwar Madhanpal. Of South Africa's 1,500 commercial sugar farms, about 300 are now black-owned and most are said to be doing well. South Africa's land reform programme is divided into four pillars: Redistribution, restitution, development and tenure, according to Land Reform and Rural Development Minister Gugile Nkwinti. The emphasis so far has been on redistribution - buying land from white owners and redistributing it to black people whose families were forced off it during white minority rule. But Mr Nkwinti says more people have opted for restitution  - cash payments - than having their land back. The government says that in today's increasingly urbanised South Africa, choosing a financial settlement this \"is a reflection of poverty, unemployment, and income want\". Nineteen years after the end of apartheid, there are no official figures on what proportion of land is white-owned. Mr Nkwinti said his department is now working on getting a breakdown of private land ownership according to race and even nationality. Despite the progress made in the sugarcane industry, the government has had to concede that it will not meet its target of transferring 30% of South Africa's land to black hands by 2014. To date less than 10% of white-owned land has been handed over, with the delays blamed on the government's \"willing buyer, willing seller\" policy, under which white farmers are not compelled to sell their land. \"This policy has so far allowed property owners to block redistribution efforts, as it allows property owners to refuse to have their property expropriated and also allows them to hold the government to ransom by demanding that the state pay exorbitant prices for property intended for expropriation,\" says constitutional expert Pierre de Vos. In the face of the lack of progress, some activists are calling for a more drastic approach, including taking land from white farmers without compensation - something which the South African constitution makes provision for. But many look at Zimbabwe's economic meltdown after it seized most of the country's white-owned commercial farms and caution against this approach. Some 8.5 million South Africans depend directly or indirectly on agriculture for their livelihood. \"We have to co-operate because finding a solution is for the benefit of all South Africans, black and white,\" former ANC Chief Whip Mathole Motsekga told parliament recently. \"We can't guarantee peace in this country unless we find an equitable solution.\" Mr Xulu and Mr Bruscow hope their model can be copied across the country to prevent the situation coming to that. \"It's about thinking of the future,\" says Mr Bruscow. \"A government settlement is temporary but the relationships you can build with people are forever. Our children will grow up to run these farms one day and we owe it to them to make sure that they are around for them.\"", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1345, "answer_end": 2680, "text": "One of the main problems with South Africa's land reform so far, experts say, is a lack of capital to sustain the farms under new ownership. The other is that many of the black farmers who win land claims have no skills to run a farm, let alone turn it into a successful business - these farms end up unproductive. A study presented at the Land Divided conference in March showed that many land transfer projects were failures. Peter Jacobs of the Human Sciences Research Council reported that only 167 land-reform beneficiaries from a sample of 301 farms were actively farming. And many of them used only a small piece of their land for agricultural activities. But this is not the case on the Zibophezele farm, where Sipho Xulu is working his land with a tractor in preparation for this season's harvest. Being a landowner has given him a sense of security. \"Land is extremely important - there is virtually nothing one can do without it. We live off the land - our children will also benefit from it. It has given me a real chance to leave a legacy for my family,\" he explains. Mr Xulu says the mentorship he has received has been invaluable. \"There is a lot of suspicion about white farmers in this part of the world but our mentor has proven to be a good man - we wouldn't be where we are without his teachings,\" explains Mr Xulu."}], "question": "Set to fail?", "id": "1081_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2681, "answer_end": 4253, "text": "In South Africa, agriculture, land and labour are closely entwined. The South African Sugarcane Association (Sasa) says the only way of securing the future of this industry is through partnerships between new and old farmers. This is why Sasa took the pioneering decision to set up its own land reform unit. \"Unless both black and white farmers commercial farmers cross that barrier and understand that we need one another for our mutual successful and for the benefit of the country, we won't get very far,\" says Sasa land reform unit head Anhwar Madhanpal. Of South Africa's 1,500 commercial sugar farms, about 300 are now black-owned and most are said to be doing well. South Africa's land reform programme is divided into four pillars: Redistribution, restitution, development and tenure, according to Land Reform and Rural Development Minister Gugile Nkwinti. The emphasis so far has been on redistribution - buying land from white owners and redistributing it to black people whose families were forced off it during white minority rule. But Mr Nkwinti says more people have opted for restitution  - cash payments - than having their land back. The government says that in today's increasingly urbanised South Africa, choosing a financial settlement this \"is a reflection of poverty, unemployment, and income want\". Nineteen years after the end of apartheid, there are no official figures on what proportion of land is white-owned. Mr Nkwinti said his department is now working on getting a breakdown of private land ownership according to race and even nationality."}], "question": "Land or cash?", "id": "1081_1"}]}]}, {"title": "HIV vaccine hopes dashed by trial results", "date": "3 February 2020", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Hopes have been dashed an experimental vaccine could protect people against HIV, the virus that causes Aids. The National Institutes of Health has stopped its HVTN 702 trial, of more than 5,000 people in South Africa, as it found the jab did not prevent HIV. Experts expressed \"deep disappointment\" but added the search for a preventive HIV vaccine must continue. Such vaccines do not contain HIV and therefore do not pose any danger of giving HIV to an individual. The jab was a new version of the first HIV-vaccine candidate shown to provide some protection against the virus - in the RV144 clinical trial, in Thailand. There are many different strains of HIV and the vaccine had been adapted to the subtype most common in South Africa, which has one of the highest HIV rates in the world. There were great hopes that the vaccine would work and it could then be adapted to cover other strains of HIV circulating in other parts of the world. Volunteers were randomly assigned to receive either the vaccine or placebo injections. And preliminary data showed: - 129 HIV infections among the vaccine recipients - 123 HIV infections among those given the dummy jab Dr Anthony Fauci, from the NIH, said: \"An HIV vaccine is essential to end the global pandemic and we hoped this vaccine candidate would work. Regrettably, it does not.\" \"Research continues on other approaches to a safe and effective HIV vaccine, which I still believe can be achieved.\" Linda-Gail Bekker from the International Aids Society said: \"Whilst this is a significant setback for the field, we need to continue the quest for a preventive vaccine.\" There is still hope other HIV vaccines in development may work. A drug treatment called pre-exposure prophylaxis (Prep) is effective at preventing HIV infection but, unlike a vaccine, it needs to be taken regularly, even daily. In countries where such treatments may not be available, the only effective prevention remains using condoms during sexual intercourse - or abstinence. Recent breakthroughs in anti-retroviral treatments have improved the lifespan of people with HIV. Debbie Laycock, Head of Policy at Terrence Higgins Trust said: \"Through regular testing, condoms, Prep and effective treatment which means people living with HIV can't pass on the virus - we now have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to end the HIV epidemic. It's vital we seize this.\"", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 466, "answer_end": 942, "text": "The jab was a new version of the first HIV-vaccine candidate shown to provide some protection against the virus - in the RV144 clinical trial, in Thailand. There are many different strains of HIV and the vaccine had been adapted to the subtype most common in South Africa, which has one of the highest HIV rates in the world. There were great hopes that the vaccine would work and it could then be adapted to cover other strains of HIV circulating in other parts of the world."}], "question": "What was the vaccine?", "id": "1082_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 943, "answer_end": 1681, "text": "Volunteers were randomly assigned to receive either the vaccine or placebo injections. And preliminary data showed: - 129 HIV infections among the vaccine recipients - 123 HIV infections among those given the dummy jab Dr Anthony Fauci, from the NIH, said: \"An HIV vaccine is essential to end the global pandemic and we hoped this vaccine candidate would work. Regrettably, it does not.\" \"Research continues on other approaches to a safe and effective HIV vaccine, which I still believe can be achieved.\" Linda-Gail Bekker from the International Aids Society said: \"Whilst this is a significant setback for the field, we need to continue the quest for a preventive vaccine.\" There is still hope other HIV vaccines in development may work."}], "question": "What happened in the trial?", "id": "1082_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1682, "answer_end": 2382, "text": "A drug treatment called pre-exposure prophylaxis (Prep) is effective at preventing HIV infection but, unlike a vaccine, it needs to be taken regularly, even daily. In countries where such treatments may not be available, the only effective prevention remains using condoms during sexual intercourse - or abstinence. Recent breakthroughs in anti-retroviral treatments have improved the lifespan of people with HIV. Debbie Laycock, Head of Policy at Terrence Higgins Trust said: \"Through regular testing, condoms, Prep and effective treatment which means people living with HIV can't pass on the virus - we now have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to end the HIV epidemic. It's vital we seize this.\""}], "question": "How can HIV be stopped?", "id": "1082_2"}]}]}, {"title": "Joe Biden: Can Obama's vice-president stay the Democratic frontrunner?", "date": "22 May 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "It's been four weeks since Joe Biden announced he was running for president. Since then, in defiance of what was conventional wisdom, he's risen in the polls, posted impressive fund-raising numbers and seemingly shrugged off allegations of inappropriate physical contact with women. The candidate many thought to be a paper tiger, temporarily buoyed by high name recognition and little else, has shown some teeth. There are plenty of potential pitfalls ahead, however, and numerous ways to stumble before the finish line. As is frequently said, a presidential campaign is a marathon, not a sprint. Does the 76-year-old veteran politician from Delaware have the legs to turn his early lead into his party's nomination - and, in 18 months, a presidential victory? On a sunny Saturday afternoon, Joe Biden \"officially\" kicked off his presidential campaign in front of roughly 6,000 supporters in Philadelphia. While the attendance fell far short of the opening campaign rallies of Senators Kamala Harris of California (20,000) and Bernie Sanders of Vermont (13,000), it at least temporarily answered the question of whether real people exist who are, in fact, actually enthusiastic about Biden's candidacy. \"I think he's exactly what everybody is waiting for,\" says Jason Pudleiner, a Philadelphia public defender who stood in a long line for a Biden t-shirt after the Philadelphia rally. \"It's the perfect combination of spreading hope, but also somebody who is not going to get bullied by Donald Trump. I love this man.\" Testimonials aside, the on-the-paper case for Joe Biden as a durable front-runner is straightforward. He sits atop the latest RealClear Politics aggregation of national Democratic preference polls with 38%, well ahead of Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders at 19%. His lead narrows in early voting states of Iowa and New Hampshire, but is formidable in South Carolina thanks to strong support from black voters. According to an analysis by Geoffrey Skelley of the political forecasting site FiveThirtyEight.com, a well-known candidate like Biden who is polling nationally in the high 30s or better has won his party's nomination 75% of the time since 1972. Then there's Biden's rapidly expanding campaign war chest. While he had a later start than the other big names in the field, in his first 24 hours he brought in $6.3m (PS4.9m), topping the grass-roots-driven marks of Sanders and former Texas Congressman Beto O'Rourke. He netted $700,000 in one high-rolling fundraiser in Hollywood and is likely to match that mark during an upcoming trip to New York City. Biden has shown a willingness to rub elbows with the party's well-heeled contributors and donation-bundlers, which may raise the ire of progressives in the party but will provide plenty of fuel for the machinery of his campaign. Biden also has history on his side. Former or current vice-presidents seeking their party's nomination tend to win - including Al Gore in 2000, George HW Bush in 1988, Walter Mondale in 1984, Hubert Humphrey in 1968, and Richard Nixon in 1960 and 1968. Only two former vice-presidents were unsuccessful in their presidential nomination campaigns since 1960 - Humphrey in 1972 and Dan Quayle in 2000. Occupants of the number-two spot have the benefit of already serving on at least one winning national general-election campaign. They have the ability to build a national network of donors and supporters through the power of their office. And they're usually a known political quantity, which counts for a lot. According to a Quinnipiac poll of voters, Biden is both well-known and well-liked - the strongest candidate in the field by that metric. Forty-nine percent of Americans said they had a positive view of the former vice-president, while only 39% were negative on him. Both Sanders and Trump, who have similar levels of name recognition, were underwater. South Carolina State Senator Dick Harpootlian, former chair of the state's Democratic Party and a long-time Biden supporter, says the key to the former vice-president's appeal is his personal attributes. \"He's probably the most genuine, honest and sincere person I've met in politics ever,\" he says. \"A lot of folks you deal with are calculating, everything they say is more worried about re-election than getting the job done. I think Joe Biden is genuinely good.\" Biden garnered considerable goodwill in 2015 following the death of his 46-year-old son Beau to brain cancer. Personal tragedies have marked Biden's adult life, as he also lost his first wife and daughter in an automobile accident in 1972, shortly before he was sworn in as one of Delaware's two US senators. \"I think the tragedies he's been through and how he gets through them demonstrates that he's a person of tremendous character, strength and faith,\" Harpootlian says. Biden also benefits from his eight-year association with Barack Obama, the man who bested him in the 2008 Democratic primary contest, then selected him as his vice-presidential running mate. It's probably one of the principal reasons Biden's support among black voters is so high, even with candidates like Senators Kamala Harris and Cory Booker running against him. His two terms in the second spot, where he frequently appeared at the president's side or just over his shoulder, has allowed Biden to lay claim to much of Obama's legacy - including passage of the Affordable Care Act, the economic stimulus package and financial industry reform. During his Philadelphia speech, Biden cited both the 2009 stimulus package and Obamacare as reflecting how he would govern - co-operating with Republicans on the former, while going it alone with Democrats in the latter. \"I know there are times when only a bare-knuckle fight will do,\" Biden said. \"But it doesn't have to be that way on every issue.\" There was a moment about midway through Biden's Philadelphia kick-off rally that perhaps illustrated the greatest strength - and potential peril - of his nascent presidential bid. The benediction had been delivered, the Pledge of Allegiance recited, and the National Anthem sung. A gospel choir had belted out Amazing Grace and the 1971 Marvin Gaye hit What's Going On. Aides were fiddling with the Tele-prompter stands on the podium, to ensure the candidate looked just right before the made-for-television backdrop of Philadelphia's skyline on a radiantly sunny afternoon. After the crowd offered a few short-lived chants of \"We Want Joe!\", a woman took a different tack. \"Who don't we want?\" she began shouting. \"Trump!\" Others joined in. The enthusiasm was obvious, but from a distance it sounded like they were just chanting the president's name. Plenty of candidates for the Democratic nomination are running on who they are or what they can do. Elizabeth Warren has her stack of policy proposals. Sanders preaches political revolution. Pete Buttigieg and Booker tout their personal attributes and sunny disposition. Biden has made the early days of his campaign about who he's not - Donald Trump. And what he can prevent - Trump's second four-year term in office. \"I think many of these other candidates have great ideas,\" Harpootlian, who recently hosted a fundraiser in South Carolina for Biden, says. \"They have great aspirations and they're good on the stump - all the things you want in a candidate. But they don't have the experience, the gravitas or the toughness that Joe Biden brings to the fight with Donald Trump. He can go toe-to-toe with him in any debate, anytime, anywhere.\" During his Saturday speech, Biden ticked through a laundry list of Democratic policy priorities on healthcare, education and the environment, but he concluded that \"the single most important thing we have to do to accomplish these things is defeat Donald Trump.\" \"If you want to know what the first and most important plank in my climate change proposal for America is,\" he said. \"Beat Trump.\" It's a message that has resonated with the crowd in Philadelphia and a Democratic primary electorate that tells pollsters that selecting a nominee who can win is their top priority in 2020. \"Trump has got to go,\" says David Dignetti, a plumber from Philadelphia who came to the Biden rally with his wife Deirdre. \"I just want government to work again. It's got to go back to the way it was.\" \"Make America great again, again,\" echoes Dierdre. \"It was great under Obama.\" There is a danger, of course, in basing a candidacy on the appearance of electability. If something were to happen to strip that veneer of appeal - a lack of sharpness in the debates, a stretch where the candidate lacks the requisite energy or enthusiasm - there's not much left to fall back on. Biden can get things done? There are candidates who have more detailed or ambitious plans. He's a nice guy? He's not the only one. And you know what they say about nice guys. Back in March, Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio Cortez, a rising star in the party's progressive wing, made an explicit argument against choosing a nominee based on perceived electability. \"I think that in this first initial stage, we have a responsibility to find and really fight for who we believe in,\" she said. \"What people think will win is wrong. Almost always.\" Opting for the \"electable\" candidate, she said, is how voters end up with candidates they don't really like. And while Biden's favourability ratings are currently high, Biden has areas that are ripe for attack. Questions have already been raised, by Donald Trump and his surrogates, about son Hunter Biden's Ukrainian business interests and anything improper the elder Biden might have done to help advance them. Then there are the inappropriate touching accusations - complete with uncomfortable video of public affection and testimonials from two women. Biden has responded to the criticism by saying he's an empathetic person, but that he understands expectations and standards have changed. That defence could always crumble if new evidence or allegations surface. Biden's age may also be a target. He would be 78 on inauguration day 2021 - by far the oldest president ever elected to a first term in office. According to a Gallup poll earlier this month, only 63% of Americans said they would be willing to vote for someone over 70 for president. Of course, Trump himself is 72, so they may not have much of a choice. \"You get a lot of experience with age,\" says Leeann Held, a retired FBI agent who attended the weekend Biden rally. \"I know a lot of great people who are that age.\" A full 18 months on the campaign trail can wear even a younger candidate down, however. And while Biden trotted on stage in Philadelphia sporting aviator sunglasses and a broad smile, if he falters down the stretch it could change the political equation. With age comes other challenges, as well. Biden held public office for nearly 40 years - long enough for the file photos of his first campaign for Senate from Delaware in 1972 to be grainy black-and-white. Early in his political career, he sided with southern segregationists in opposing court-ordered school busing to racially integrate public schools. As chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee in 1991, he oversaw Clarence Thomas's Supreme Court confirmation hearings and has been sharply criticised for his handling of Anita Hill's allegations that she was sexually harassed by the nominee. Biden was a fierce advocate of a 1994 anti-crime bill that many on the left now say encouraged lengthy sentences and mass incarceration. He voted for the invasion of Iraq in 2003 and has frequently pushed for legislation favourable to the large financial institutions based in Delaware, including a 2005 financial bill that greatly curtailed  individual bankruptcy rights. It's the kind of record that, taken as a whole, makes Biden an unlikely standard-bearer for the modern Democratic Party. \"The gap between his image and his record is really stunning,\" says Norman Solomon, a syndicated columnist and Bernie Sanders supporter. \"I think he thrives on lack of knowledge of what he's been doing for four decades.\" During the 2016 Democratic National Convention, Solomon helped stage organised demonstrations by Sanders delegates who were suspicious of Hillary Clinton and the Democratic establishment. He says this time around, they may be even more wary of Biden, who he says is the \"default zombie candidate of the old Democratic Party\". \"Biden is already very unpopular with progressives,\" he says. \"The gap between the mass media coverage and the online progressive media coverage of Biden is huge. In one, he's almost saint-like. In the other, he's damn near satanic.\" The question, then, becomes what Biden's opponents will do to bring the front-runner back to the pack. Elizabeth Warren has gone after the former vice-president for his support of the 2005 bankruptcy bill, citing her anger at it as the reason she first got into politics. \"Joe Biden was on the side of the credit-card companies,\" she told a reporter last month. Washington Governor Jay Inslee, announcing another piece of his plan to combat climate last week, said Biden must \"up his game\" on the environment. \"He's going to have to say that we have to remove our reliance on fossil fuels in the electrical grid,\" Inslee said. \"I have not seen to date any suggestion that he can do that.\" According to Solomon, however, it will be Sanders who comes at Biden the hardest. Already, the Vermont senator has questioned his opponent's past support of trade deals, including the North American Free Trade Agreement. \"If you look at Joe's record, and you look at my record, I don't think there's much question about who's more progressive,\" Sanders said in a television interview earlier this month. The rest of the field, Solomon says, may play nice with Biden in hopes of being his running mate or serving in his cabinet. \"As in so many other aspects,\" he says, \"it will fall to Bernie to be the truth-teller.\" In other words, get ready for a fight. The thing about Biden's campaign message is it sounds a lot like Hillary Clinton's pitch to Americans in 2016. Like her, he says he has the experience to get things done. Like her, he's arguing that Mr Trump is temperamentally unsuited for the presidency. Like her, he's making the pitch that calls for togetherness can overcome the politics of division. In 2016, Clinton's slogans included \"Stronger Together\" and \"Love Trumps Hate\". Biden gave his Philadelphia speech in front of video screens emblazoned with the word \"unity\" and spoke about America being at its best when it's been \"one America\". \"The nation needs to come together,\" he said. \"And it has to come together.\" Biden has drawn fire from critics for saying that the Trump presidency is an aberration, and he returned to that theme on Saturday. \"This is not who we are,\" he said. \"We are better than this. What the country needs now, he said, is a step back from the divisiveness of the Trump years. (That he is associated with the Obama administration, much of which was characterised by political acrimony and gridlock, seems glossed over.) In 1920, in the aftermath of World War I, Warren G Harding campaigned on the slogan of \"a return to normalcy\". Contemporaries mocked the term as ungrammatical, but the appeal of the message was its simplicity. In one of his most famous lines, he said that America needed healing, not heroics; restoration, not revolution; adjustment, not agitation. If Democrats in 2020 want revolution or agitation, the former vice-president won't be their guy. He's betting, however, that \"normalcy\" is what the nation wants - and he can deliver. \"No one likes fighting with their own family, and I find myself fighting with my family and my friends,\" says Brandi Bogard, a pharmaceuticals company employee who volunteered for Biden at his rally. \"I sit in front of the television and cry. I never used to be very political, but I can't help it.\" Bogard described Biden as the \"loving grandfather\" the nation needs. After four years of the Trump presidency, Mr Biden is staking his presidential hopes on the belief that Americans aren't so much angry as they're exhausted - or, at least, ready for a change. Joe Biden could be the man to keep Donald Trump from being re-elected. But who else has a shot at becoming the next president? Find out who is already running and who might join them.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 13970, "answer_end": 16170, "text": "The thing about Biden's campaign message is it sounds a lot like Hillary Clinton's pitch to Americans in 2016. Like her, he says he has the experience to get things done. Like her, he's arguing that Mr Trump is temperamentally unsuited for the presidency. Like her, he's making the pitch that calls for togetherness can overcome the politics of division. In 2016, Clinton's slogans included \"Stronger Together\" and \"Love Trumps Hate\". Biden gave his Philadelphia speech in front of video screens emblazoned with the word \"unity\" and spoke about America being at its best when it's been \"one America\". \"The nation needs to come together,\" he said. \"And it has to come together.\" Biden has drawn fire from critics for saying that the Trump presidency is an aberration, and he returned to that theme on Saturday. \"This is not who we are,\" he said. \"We are better than this. What the country needs now, he said, is a step back from the divisiveness of the Trump years. (That he is associated with the Obama administration, much of which was characterised by political acrimony and gridlock, seems glossed over.) In 1920, in the aftermath of World War I, Warren G Harding campaigned on the slogan of \"a return to normalcy\". Contemporaries mocked the term as ungrammatical, but the appeal of the message was its simplicity. In one of his most famous lines, he said that America needed healing, not heroics; restoration, not revolution; adjustment, not agitation. If Democrats in 2020 want revolution or agitation, the former vice-president won't be their guy. He's betting, however, that \"normalcy\" is what the nation wants - and he can deliver. \"No one likes fighting with their own family, and I find myself fighting with my family and my friends,\" says Brandi Bogard, a pharmaceuticals company employee who volunteered for Biden at his rally. \"I sit in front of the television and cry. I never used to be very political, but I can't help it.\" Bogard described Biden as the \"loving grandfather\" the nation needs. After four years of the Trump presidency, Mr Biden is staking his presidential hopes on the belief that Americans aren't so much angry as they're exhausted - or, at least, ready for a change."}], "question": "Hillary Clinton or Warren G Harding?", "id": "1083_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 16171, "answer_end": 16354, "text": "Joe Biden could be the man to keep Donald Trump from being re-elected. But who else has a shot at becoming the next president? Find out who is already running and who might join them."}], "question": "Who will take on Trump in 2020?", "id": "1083_1"}]}]}, {"title": "Yemen conflict: Southern separatists seize control of Aden", "date": "11 August 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Yemeni separatists have taken effective control of the port city of Aden after days of fighting with troops loyal to the internationally backed government. Forces aligned with the UAE-backed Southern Transitional Council (STC) - which wants an independent south - said they had seized control of military camps and the presidential palace. The opposing Saudi-led coalition said it had responded with military action. The government itself characterised the STC's seizure of Aden as a \"coup\". Coalition forces had called on the STC to withdraw from their positions in Aden or face further action. It said it launched its strike against a \"threat\" to the country's government. With the STC in control of Aden on Saturday, both sides agreed to a ceasefire, which appears to be holding despite the strike. Southern separatists have fought alongside pro-government forces for much of Yemen's civil conflict but it has long seemed an uneasy alliance. The southern port city of Aden has been the temporary base of President Abdrabbuh Mansour Hadi's government. The president himself is based in the Saudi capital Riyadh. An official with the separatist Security Belt militia told AFP that it seized the presidential palace on Saturday without a fight. \"Two hundred soldiers from the Presidential Guard were given safe passage out of the palace,\" the official said. By Sebastian Usher, Arab Affairs Editor Erstwhile allies, the separatists and forces loyal to President Abd-Rabbuh Mansour Hadi are now engaged in a showdown that could see the Saudi-led coalition fragment and create a new civil war within the civil war in Yemen. The fracture within the coalition may deepen - as divisions between its two major players, Saudi Arabia and the UAE, are exposed. The Emiratis have nurtured the Southern Transitional Council as a key force within the coalition, while the Saudis have stuck with President Abd-Rabbuh Mansour Hadi, who still spends most of his time in exile in Riyadh. Privately, the UAE and the forces it supports do not think he's up to the job. The separatists believe that Islamist forces within the coalition have been strengthened and emboldened by the Saudis and could take over the south, even permitting al-Qaeda to make a comeback there. That's their rationale for acting now - as they maintain that whatever the outcome of the conflict against the Houthis, which is currently all but stalemated, Yemen can't be put back together as a unified country. Officials said the separatists had also seized control of the interior minister's house and military barracks belonging to Mr Hadi's forces. \"It is all over, the [Southern Transitional Council] forces are in control of all the military camps,\" an official in Mr Hadi's government told Reuters news agency. The foreign ministry described the takeover as \"a coup against institutions of the internationally recognised government\". The UAE, which has armed and trained thousands of southern separatist fighters, earlier called for calm and a renewed focus on battling the Iran-aligned Houthis, who took over the capital Sanaa in 2014. Doctors Without Borders on Saturday described Aden as \"a battlefield\" and said its hospital there was \"stretched to the limit\".  It said it treated 119 patients in less than 24 hours amid the fighting. The United Nations said as many as 40 people have been killed since 8 August, with 260 injured. Yemeni security officials told AP news agency that number was higher, saying there had been more than 70 deaths. The civil war in Yemen has devastated the country, killing thousands of civilians and causing shortages of food and medical care that have affected millions. After eight years of conflict, Yemen is frequently referred to the world's worst man-made humanitarian disaster. There have been at least 7,200 civilian casualties since 2015 - but other groups estimate the true number is much higher. Children are especially vulnerable: the UN humanitarian office says that 7,508 children had been killed or maimed since 2013. A large majority of the population need humanitarian aid to survive, with most unable to secure their own food, and millions, the UN says, \"just a step away from famine\".", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 945, "answer_end": 1357, "text": "The southern port city of Aden has been the temporary base of President Abdrabbuh Mansour Hadi's government. The president himself is based in the Saudi capital Riyadh. An official with the separatist Security Belt militia told AFP that it seized the presidential palace on Saturday without a fight. \"Two hundred soldiers from the Presidential Guard were given safe passage out of the palace,\" the official said."}], "question": "What's the situation on the ground?", "id": "1084_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3097, "answer_end": 4197, "text": "Doctors Without Borders on Saturday described Aden as \"a battlefield\" and said its hospital there was \"stretched to the limit\".  It said it treated 119 patients in less than 24 hours amid the fighting. The United Nations said as many as 40 people have been killed since 8 August, with 260 injured. Yemeni security officials told AP news agency that number was higher, saying there had been more than 70 deaths. The civil war in Yemen has devastated the country, killing thousands of civilians and causing shortages of food and medical care that have affected millions. After eight years of conflict, Yemen is frequently referred to the world's worst man-made humanitarian disaster. There have been at least 7,200 civilian casualties since 2015 - but other groups estimate the true number is much higher. Children are especially vulnerable: the UN humanitarian office says that 7,508 children had been killed or maimed since 2013. A large majority of the population need humanitarian aid to survive, with most unable to secure their own food, and millions, the UN says, \"just a step away from famine\"."}], "question": "What has the cost of conflict been?", "id": "1084_1"}]}]}, {"title": "UK 'has particularly extreme form of capitalism'", "date": "27 November 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "The UK has one of the most extreme forms of capitalism in the world and we urgently need to rethink the role of business in society. That's according to Prof Colin Mayer, author of a new report on the future of the corporation for the British Academy. Prof Mayer says that global crises such as the environment and growing inequality are forcing a reassessment of what business is for. \"The corporation has failed to deliver benefit beyond shareholders, to its stakeholders and its wider community,\" he said. \"At the moment, how we conceptualise business is, it's there to make money. But instead, we should think about it as an incredibly powerful tool for solving our problems in the world.\" He said the ownership structure of companies had made the UK one of the worst examples of responsible capitalism. \"The UK has a particularly extreme form of capitalism and ownership,\" he said. \"Most ownership in the UK is in the hands of a large number of institutional investors, none of which have a significant controlling shareholding in our largest companies. That is quite unlike virtually any other country in the world, including the United States.\" This heavily dispersed form of ownership means none of the owners is providing a genuinely long-term perspective on how to achieve goals while also making money. Established in 1902, the British Academy is the UK's national academy for the humanities and the social sciences. In Principles for Purposeful Business, it proposes a new formula for corporate purpose: \"to profitably solve problems of people and planet, and not profit from causing problems.\" The Academy's report comes a week after the Labour Party manifesto proposed the biggest shake-up of how business is owned and run in decades. It included the nationalisation of water, rail, energy, mail, broadband and the forced transfer of company shares to employees. Prof Mayer agreed that the Labour manifesto was bold in its ambition, but said it was too traditional and old-fashioned in its way of achieving its aims. \"It's very much focused on one particular means of delivery, that is through the state,\" he said. \"Now, the state has an important part to play. But we should think about the state in a more imaginative way, as to how it can promote successful business, how it can reform the nature of business in society. That's what we're really looking for.\" One thing on which he did agree with the Labour Party was the need to rewrite the Companies Act to specifically enshrine directors' duties to other stakeholders in law. Currently, the Act says that other stakeholders interests are subordinate to shareholders. Where he doesn't agree is in the demonisation of billionaires: \"It's not obscene to make a lot of money in the process of creating real solutions to the problems of the world.\" But he hoped that such wealth would be recycled through foundations, for example, which could be the kind of long-term owners needed for the next generation of problem-solving companies. Not everyone agrees, of course, that the pursuit of profit, within the confines of the law and social norms, is bad. Matthew Lesh, from the Adam Smith Institute, says we should be cautious before we dismantle a mechanism that has produced innovation and a rise in absolute living standards. \"The profit motive has raised literally billions of people out of poverty by encouraging innovation and ensuring our finite resources are used exceedingly productively,\" he said. \"Mandating alternative purposes for business raises more issues than it solves. It removes the essential accountability between shareholders, whose investments are at risk, and corporate executives.\" Some of these are age-old arguments between the Left and Right, but there is plenty of evidence that something fundamental is changing deep in the heart of capitalist economies. Since 1978, the American Business Roundtable of top chief executives has periodically issued Principles of Corporate Governance. For the last 40 years, all of them have reiterated the orthodoxy that corporations exist principally to serve shareholders. Until now. In August it issued a new Statement on the Purpose of a Corporation, signed by 181 chief executives who committed to lead their companies for the benefit of all stakeholders - customers, employees, suppliers, communities and shareholders. Even the famously private family that owns Mars has recently popped its head over the parapet to talk openly about the way it runs the chocolate-to-pet-food giant with annual sales of $35bn. Mars chairman Stephen Badger admits things are different now. \"We've never felt the need to be public but times have changed,\" he said. \"The talent [employees] really want to know what the company they work for, stands for. \"Equally important is that the magnitude of the challenges facing the world - climate change, poverty, biodiversity loss - these are issues that we care deeply about. \"We've got less than 10 years to get this right - incremental change is not enough. We are prepared to spend serious money on this and if that means lower profits, so be it. Whatever it takes to get the job done,\" The challenge to companies is threefold. Staff who want to believe in the company they work for, consumers who may boycott the products of companies that don't get it and, of course, politicians who may legislate, tax or nationalise them out of existence. But we should be cautious about announcing the death of shareholder power. Unilever - the Anglo-Dutch makers of Marmite, PG Tips and 400 other consumer brands - has long been admired for its enlightened approach to its societal impact. In 2017, it received a surprise takeover bid from Kraft Heinz. Its response was to accelerate the sale of some businesses, increase its dividend, cut costs by 12%, raise the amount of debt in the company and give a further EUR5bn to shareholders through share buybacks. Steps the then chief executive, Paul Polman, now says he would rather not have taken. \"Feel free to be responsible - but don't be complacent about the interests of your owners\" was the clear message and lesson learned. Alan Jope, the current Unilever chief executive, told the BBC that its focus on doing right by society and the environment was not out of fear of nationalisation, taxation or regulation, but out of fear that its products would be shunned by a new generation of consumers unless they got this stuff right. Is that doing the right thing for the wrong reason? Not really. Does it matter if it is? Probably not. Unilever's Mr Jope did have a supportive message for the Labour Party. When asked if he supported company law changes to discourage firms from placing shareholders above others, he gave a clipped and clear response: \"Yep.\" One thing is certain. No matter who wins the UK election, you can expect to hear the word \"purpose\" a lot in the next few years.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 5404, "answer_end": 6888, "text": "But we should be cautious about announcing the death of shareholder power. Unilever - the Anglo-Dutch makers of Marmite, PG Tips and 400 other consumer brands - has long been admired for its enlightened approach to its societal impact. In 2017, it received a surprise takeover bid from Kraft Heinz. Its response was to accelerate the sale of some businesses, increase its dividend, cut costs by 12%, raise the amount of debt in the company and give a further EUR5bn to shareholders through share buybacks. Steps the then chief executive, Paul Polman, now says he would rather not have taken. \"Feel free to be responsible - but don't be complacent about the interests of your owners\" was the clear message and lesson learned. Alan Jope, the current Unilever chief executive, told the BBC that its focus on doing right by society and the environment was not out of fear of nationalisation, taxation or regulation, but out of fear that its products would be shunned by a new generation of consumers unless they got this stuff right. Is that doing the right thing for the wrong reason? Not really. Does it matter if it is? Probably not. Unilever's Mr Jope did have a supportive message for the Labour Party. When asked if he supported company law changes to discourage firms from placing shareholders above others, he gave a clipped and clear response: \"Yep.\" One thing is certain. No matter who wins the UK election, you can expect to hear the word \"purpose\" a lot in the next few years."}], "question": "Do the right thing?", "id": "1085_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Trump 'to review' Mathew Golsteyn Afghan murder case", "date": "16 December 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "President Donald Trump has tweeted that he plans to \"review\" the case of US soldier Mathew Golsteyn, charged with murdering an Afghan civilian in 2010. The Army Green Beret Major allegedly shot someone he described as a suspected Taliban bomb-maker during his deployment. He was charged with murder last week, allegations he denies. But President Trump has complicated proceedings with his tweet, saying he will now be \"reviewing the case\". Maj Golsteyn \"could face the death penalty from our own government\", he wrote, saying he was getting involved in the case \"at the request of many\". It is unclear what the president meant when he posted the tweet. However, as Commander in Chief of the US armed forces, any intervention by Mr Trump could count as unlawful command influence, and might mean the case against Maj Golsteyn is thrown out. A Pentagon spokesperson said on Sunday that the allegations against the major are \"a law enforcement matter\". \"The Department of Defense will respect the integrity of this process and provide updates when appropriate.\" During his deployment to Afghanistan in 2010, then-Captain Golsteyn allegedly shot a man he described as a suspected Taliban bomb-maker. He allegedly admitted to the killing as part of a lie detector test taken during a CIA job interview in 2011. This led to an investigation by the Army Criminal Investigation Command. In April 2014, he got off with an official reprimand because of lack of evidence. But two years later, Maj Golsteyn spoke on a Fox News special report, titled \"How We Fight\", about how he killed the suspected bomb-maker. He told the anchor he shot the man because he was concerned he would kill Afghan informants if released. On Friday, Maj Golsteyn was charged with premeditated murder - which carries a possible death penalty. US Army Special Operations Command spokesman Lt Col Loren Bymer said in a statement: \"Major Matthew Golsteyn's immediate commander has determined that sufficient evidence exists to warrant the preferral of charges against him.\" Maj Golsteyn's lawyer, Phil Stackhouse, told US media he would be \"relentless\" in defending his client from the charges, which he was notified of on Thursday. \"Major Golsteyn is a humble servant-leader who saved countless lives, both American and Afghan, and has been recognised repeatedly for his valorous actions,\" Mr Stackhouse said. A congressman sided with Maj Golsteyn, writing a letter to the secretary of the US Army to complain about the investigation. Duncan Hunter, a California Republican, called for an end to the \"retaliatory and vindictive\" inquiry into \"a distinguished and well regarded Green Beret\".", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1060, "answer_end": 1705, "text": "During his deployment to Afghanistan in 2010, then-Captain Golsteyn allegedly shot a man he described as a suspected Taliban bomb-maker. He allegedly admitted to the killing as part of a lie detector test taken during a CIA job interview in 2011. This led to an investigation by the Army Criminal Investigation Command. In April 2014, he got off with an official reprimand because of lack of evidence. But two years later, Maj Golsteyn spoke on a Fox News special report, titled \"How We Fight\", about how he killed the suspected bomb-maker. He told the anchor he shot the man because he was concerned he would kill Afghan informants if released."}], "question": "What are the charges against Maj Golsteyn?", "id": "1086_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1706, "answer_end": 2654, "text": "On Friday, Maj Golsteyn was charged with premeditated murder - which carries a possible death penalty. US Army Special Operations Command spokesman Lt Col Loren Bymer said in a statement: \"Major Matthew Golsteyn's immediate commander has determined that sufficient evidence exists to warrant the preferral of charges against him.\" Maj Golsteyn's lawyer, Phil Stackhouse, told US media he would be \"relentless\" in defending his client from the charges, which he was notified of on Thursday. \"Major Golsteyn is a humble servant-leader who saved countless lives, both American and Afghan, and has been recognised repeatedly for his valorous actions,\" Mr Stackhouse said. A congressman sided with Maj Golsteyn, writing a letter to the secretary of the US Army to complain about the investigation. Duncan Hunter, a California Republican, called for an end to the \"retaliatory and vindictive\" inquiry into \"a distinguished and well regarded Green Beret\"."}], "question": "What's the latest?", "id": "1086_1"}]}]}, {"title": "Bright colours at funerals 'unfair on children'", "date": "23 July 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Sky News presenter Colin Brazier has asked people not to wear bright colours at his wife's funeral, telling mourners to \"leave their Hawaiian shirts at home\" and wear black. Writing a piece in the Spectator, he said he was \"ill at ease\" with some of the modern conventions surrounding funerals. The father of six said making a funeral a colourful celebration was \"unfair on children\". His wife, Jo, died earlier this month. In his article, published on Saturday, Mr Brazier said he does not plan to deliver a eulogy at his wife's funeral and has \"politely asked\" friends and former colleagues to wear \"black please, if you don't mind\". He wrote: \"It's unfair on children to insist that a funeral should mean rejoicing in a life now passed. \"Maybe grown-ups can handle the cognitive dissonance required in 'celebrating' a life rather than, you know, being all morbid. But I seriously doubt children can.\" He added that wearing black gives people a \"licence\" to get upset, and to \"treat a funeral like Ascot's Ladies Day\" not only trivialises death but moves the spotlight of consolation away from the family. He said there is \"nothing funky about turning death into a fashion parade and a free-for-all of self-realisation\", adding it can \"inhibit the necessary catharsis of the grieving process\". \"The old stuff - the black and the solemn - works because it distils the wisdom of ages,\" said Mr Brazier, who is a practising Catholic. Jo Brazier, Mr Brazier's wife of 20 years, died from breast cancer aged 55 on 6 July. He had previously asked for prayers for her on Twitter and also thanked a group of singers who had visited her hospice. Her funeral is to be held next month. People sent their condolences to the Sky News journalist on social media, with many thanking him for his \"moving\" article and offering \"another perspective\". According to a YouGov poll published in 2016, wearing black is now only seen as a requirement at funerals by 22% of people. Among those polled, 45% think wearing other colours are fine as long as they are dark and sombre, while 29% believe any colour is appropriate to wear for a funeral. And a survey of 2,000 people by ICM in 2015 suggest 54% wanted their funeral to be a \"celebration of life\". Professor Douglas Davies, director of Durham University's Centre for Death and Life Studies, said it is not known whether wearing black rather than colourful clothing can help the grieving process. But he said having a \"cultural agreement\" on the emotion at an event would be expected to help mourners. \"There would be a sense of togetherness, the togetherness in the shared grief symbolised in the uniformity of dressing,\" he said. Professor Davies, one of the leading experts in the history, theology and sociology of death, said the trend towards less-traditional funeral dress has emerged in the last 15 years. He said it has developed alongside the motif of a funeral as a \"celebration of life\", which he suggests is associated with the drop in people believing in life after death. Funerals are now less a discussion of heaven and more of a retrospective look at the person's identity, he explained. The tradition of wearing black to mourn became familiar by the mid-19th century. When Queen Victoria wore black for the rest of her life after the death of Prince Albert, she \"set the royal seal on black\", said Professor Davies. Nowadays, according to Debrett's, black is still the usual colour of mourning, but dark colours like grey or navy blue are acceptable. Debretts also suggests that dressing modestly and smartly is more important than unbroken black.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 3138, "answer_end": 3598, "text": "The tradition of wearing black to mourn became familiar by the mid-19th century. When Queen Victoria wore black for the rest of her life after the death of Prince Albert, she \"set the royal seal on black\", said Professor Davies. Nowadays, according to Debrett's, black is still the usual colour of mourning, but dark colours like grey or navy blue are acceptable. Debretts also suggests that dressing modestly and smartly is more important than unbroken black."}], "question": "Why do people wear black to funerals?", "id": "1087_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Syria war: Trump condemns Syria for 'chemical attack' on Douma", "date": "8 April 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "US President Donald Trump has lashed out at Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and his allies Russia and Iran over a suspected chemical attack, saying there will be a \"big price to pay\". Medical sources say dozens of people were killed in an attack on the rebel-held town of Douma on Saturday. The UN Security Council is expected to discuss the crisis on Monday. Both Syria and Russia deny a chemical attack took place and have reached an evacuation deal with the rebels. Outrage at the alleged use of chemical weapons has been widespread with Pope Francis saying, \"Nothing, nothing can justify the use of such devices of extermination against defenceless people and populations.\" The European Union has called for an \"immediate response by the international community\". One video, recorded by rescue workers known as the White Helmets, shows a number of men, women and children lying lifeless inside a house, many with foam at their mouths. Other unverified footage shows young children crying as they are treated in a makeshift medical unit. However, it has not been possible to verify independently what actually happened, or the actual number of dead. The Union of Medical Care and Relief Organizations, which runs medical facilities in the Eastern Ghouta, told BBC News that 70 deaths had been confirmed. According to the US-based Syrian American Medical Society, at least 48 people died, showing \"symptoms indicative of exposure to a chemical agent\". More than 500 people were brought to medical centres with such symptoms, it said, quoting emergency services in Douma. A doctor at an overwhelmed hospital in the rebel-controlled town told the BBC's Joel Gunter he had panicked as his own children coughed from gas seeping into the basement where they were hiding. A medical student described in horrifying detail how he had treated a dying man. Analysis by James Landale, BBC diplomatic correspondent The reported chemical weapons attack on the rebel-held enclave of Douma poses some hard questions. For the civilians, the families and children there, can they continue to bear the terror, bloodshed and inhumanity being rained upon them? For the militant rebel fighters, do they believe their struggle and continued resistance is still worth the price they and the civilians are being forced to pay by the Syrian government? For Russia, how far is it prepared to defend its allies' apparent use of chemical weapons when its own apparent use of a nerve agent in the UK is subject to so much global condemnation? And for the international community, how will it respond to what is clearly a test of its resolve one year on from the Khan Sheikhoun chemical attack? Will the ritual condemnations be backed by military action in an attempt to deter President Assad's further use of chemical weapons? Or will the West believe that any escalation would simply prolong a conflict that many just want to end? Taking to Twitter, Mr Trump described President Assad as an \"animal\". In April 2017, more than 80 people died in a Sarin attack on the opposition-held town of Khan Sheikhoun, and a joint inquiry by the UN and the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons found the Syrian government responsible. In response, President Trump ordered a cruise missile attack on a Syrian air base. Asked if America might strike again after Saturday's reported attack, White House homeland security adviser Tom Bossert told ABC television: \"I wouldn't take anything off the table.\" French President Emmanuel Macron has also threatened to strike Syria if the government uses chemical weapons against civilians. Before Mr Trump tweeted, the US state department said the attack, if confirmed, called for an \"immediate response by the international community\". UK Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson said on Sunday that the suspected chemical attack must be investigated urgently. \"We are in close touch with our allies following these latest reports,\" he said. \"Those responsible for the use of chemical weapons have lost all moral integrity and must be held to account.\" Syrian state media accused \"terrorist\" media of fabricating reports about a chemical attack in order to hinder the advance of government forces through the Eastern Ghouta. Russia's foreign ministry said reports of a chemical attack by Syrian forces on Douma had been \"planted\" in order to create a pretext for a possible military intervention in Syria. \"The purpose of these mendacious conjectures, which are without any basis, is to shield the terrorists and the irreconcilable radical opposition, which rejects a political settlement, while at the same time trying to justify possible external use of force,\" it said. On Sunday, the Russian military reached a deal with the rebels controlling Douma, the Jaish al-Islam group, on a partial evacuation to end the fighting there. Buses have been seen entering the town to pick up rebels and their families. Russian military police will be admitted to the town while the rebels will be allowed either to leave or stay with a guarantee they will not be pursued by Syrian security forces, local negotiators told Reuters news agency. Syrian state media said earlier that a deal had been struck with Jaish al-Islam to allow them to leave Douma within 48 hours in return for them freeing prisoners. Douma is the last rebel bastion in the Eastern Ghouta region outside the capital, Damascus, following a government offensive. Russia launched its military operation in Syria in September 2015, saying it had been asked to intervene in the civil war by the Syrian government. In seven years, the war has left more than 400,000 people dead or missing presumed dead, while more than half the population have been driven from their homes.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 769, "answer_end": 1849, "text": "One video, recorded by rescue workers known as the White Helmets, shows a number of men, women and children lying lifeless inside a house, many with foam at their mouths. Other unverified footage shows young children crying as they are treated in a makeshift medical unit. However, it has not been possible to verify independently what actually happened, or the actual number of dead. The Union of Medical Care and Relief Organizations, which runs medical facilities in the Eastern Ghouta, told BBC News that 70 deaths had been confirmed. According to the US-based Syrian American Medical Society, at least 48 people died, showing \"symptoms indicative of exposure to a chemical agent\". More than 500 people were brought to medical centres with such symptoms, it said, quoting emergency services in Douma. A doctor at an overwhelmed hospital in the rebel-controlled town told the BBC's Joel Gunter he had panicked as his own children coughed from gas seeping into the basement where they were hiding. A medical student described in horrifying detail how he had treated a dying man."}], "question": "What do we know about the attack?", "id": "1088_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2906, "answer_end": 4061, "text": "Taking to Twitter, Mr Trump described President Assad as an \"animal\". In April 2017, more than 80 people died in a Sarin attack on the opposition-held town of Khan Sheikhoun, and a joint inquiry by the UN and the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons found the Syrian government responsible. In response, President Trump ordered a cruise missile attack on a Syrian air base. Asked if America might strike again after Saturday's reported attack, White House homeland security adviser Tom Bossert told ABC television: \"I wouldn't take anything off the table.\" French President Emmanuel Macron has also threatened to strike Syria if the government uses chemical weapons against civilians. Before Mr Trump tweeted, the US state department said the attack, if confirmed, called for an \"immediate response by the international community\". UK Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson said on Sunday that the suspected chemical attack must be investigated urgently. \"We are in close touch with our allies following these latest reports,\" he said. \"Those responsible for the use of chemical weapons have lost all moral integrity and must be held to account.\""}], "question": "Could the US take military action?", "id": "1088_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 4062, "answer_end": 5737, "text": "Syrian state media accused \"terrorist\" media of fabricating reports about a chemical attack in order to hinder the advance of government forces through the Eastern Ghouta. Russia's foreign ministry said reports of a chemical attack by Syrian forces on Douma had been \"planted\" in order to create a pretext for a possible military intervention in Syria. \"The purpose of these mendacious conjectures, which are without any basis, is to shield the terrorists and the irreconcilable radical opposition, which rejects a political settlement, while at the same time trying to justify possible external use of force,\" it said. On Sunday, the Russian military reached a deal with the rebels controlling Douma, the Jaish al-Islam group, on a partial evacuation to end the fighting there. Buses have been seen entering the town to pick up rebels and their families. Russian military police will be admitted to the town while the rebels will be allowed either to leave or stay with a guarantee they will not be pursued by Syrian security forces, local negotiators told Reuters news agency. Syrian state media said earlier that a deal had been struck with Jaish al-Islam to allow them to leave Douma within 48 hours in return for them freeing prisoners. Douma is the last rebel bastion in the Eastern Ghouta region outside the capital, Damascus, following a government offensive. Russia launched its military operation in Syria in September 2015, saying it had been asked to intervene in the civil war by the Syrian government. In seven years, the war has left more than 400,000 people dead or missing presumed dead, while more than half the population have been driven from their homes."}], "question": "What do Syria and Russia say?", "id": "1088_2"}]}]}, {"title": "Princess Eugenie to marry boyfriend Jack Brooksbank", "date": "22 January 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Princess Eugenie is to marry her long-term boyfriend Jack Brooksbank, Buckingham Palace has announced. The Duke and Duchess of York said their younger daughter and Mr Brooksbank became engaged while in Nicaragua earlier this month. The wedding will take place at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle, in the autumn. The princess met the former manager of Mayfair club Mahiki while skiing. They have dated for several years. It will be the second royal wedding at the chapel this year - Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will marry there in May. A Buckingham Palace spokesman said Princess Eugenie's grandparents, the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh, were \"very pleased and wish the couple all the best\". Engagement pictures of the couple, taken in the Picture Gallery at Buckingham Palace, have been released following the announcement. In the photographs, Princess Eugenie is wearing a dress by Erdem, shoes by Jimmy Choo and a ring containing a padparadscha sapphire surrounded by diamonds. The padparadscha is a rare pink-orange sapphire and usually comes from Sri Lanka. The Natural Sapphire company said the gem is named after the colour of a Lotus blossom. Princess Eugenie's ring - which has the oval sapphire surrounded by diamonds and set on a gold band - is similar in shape and design to her mother's engagement ring, which had a red ruby as the central stone. The 27-year-old is the second daughter of Prince Andrew and Sarah, Duchess of York, and is eighth in line to the throne. She will keep her royal title when she marries Mr Brooksbank and will have the option to take his surname. The princess works in the arts as a director at gallery Hauser and Wirth. In an interview with Harper's Bazaar in 2016, she said part of her job was planning special projects and managing events, working with artists around the world. The princess told the magazine she has a dog called Jack - a \"total accident\" that he has the same name as her fiance. She does not carry out any royal engagements, BBC royal correspondent Nicholas Witchell said. Her public profile or work as a member of royal family would not increase significantly after the wedding, he added. Mr Brooksbank's parents, Nicola and George Brooksbank, said they were \"completely over the moon\" and \"very excited\" for the couple. \"We could not be more delighted with the news of the engagement,\" they said. The princess is patron of several organisations including the Teenage Cancer Trust, the European School of Osteopathy and animal charity the Elephant Family. As a child, the princess suffered from scoliosis and, at the age of 12, had back surgery at the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital in Stanmore, Middlesex. In a series of tweets, Sarah Ferguson congratulated her daughter and her fiance. She said the couple \"float with laughter and love\" and the announcement was \"Total joy!\". \"We love Jack and I am so excited to have a son, a brother and a best friend,\" the duchess added. \"Eugenie is one of the finest people I know and so together it will be pure harmony.\" Prime Minister Theresa May congratulated the couple and said she offered her \"very best wishes\".", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 988, "answer_end": 1366, "text": "The padparadscha is a rare pink-orange sapphire and usually comes from Sri Lanka. The Natural Sapphire company said the gem is named after the colour of a Lotus blossom. Princess Eugenie's ring - which has the oval sapphire surrounded by diamonds and set on a gold band - is similar in shape and design to her mother's engagement ring, which had a red ruby as the central stone."}], "question": "What is a padparadscha sapphire?", "id": "1089_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Trump urges China to investigate Bidens", "date": "4 October 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "US President Donald Trump, already facing an impeachment inquiry after urging Ukraine to investigate his political rival Joe Biden, has now urged China to do likewise. He said both China and Ukraine should look into Mr Biden, a Democratic presidential frontrunner, and his son. \"China should start an investigation into the Bidens,\" said Mr Trump. The Democrats accuse Mr Trump of dangling military aid as a way to press Ukraine to dig dirt on Mr Biden. Mr Biden responded by tweeting: \"The idea of Donald Trump attacking anyone's integrity is a joke.\" A 25 July phone call between Mr Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky triggered an intelligence community whistleblower complaint and the impeachment inquiry. But Mr Trump said on Thursday that the inquiry, which could culminate in a congressional attempt to remove him from office, is \"crap\". In a late-night tweet, Mr Trump added that he had a duty to investigate alleged corruption \"and that would include asking, or suggesting, other countries to help us out!\" Mr Trump has accused Mr Biden and his son Hunter of corruption in their political and business dealings in Ukraine and China, without offering specific evidence. When Hunter Biden joined Ukrainian natural gas company Burisma in 2014, questions were raised about a potential conflict of interest for his father. Ukraine was undergoing a political transition after its pro-Russia president was forced out of office, while the elder Biden was the Obama administration's point man for the Eastern European country. In 2016, Joe Biden pushed the Ukrainian government to fire its top prosecutor, Viktor Shokin, whose office had been scrutinising the oligarch owner of Burisma. In a speech last year at a think tank, Mr Biden boasted of having forced Mr Shokin out by threatening to withhold a billion-dollar loan guarantee to Ukraine. Mr Trump and his allies accuse Mr Biden of acting to protect his son. However, other Western officials and major financers of Ukraine's government also wanted Mr Shokin dismissed because he was seen as a barrier to anti-corruption efforts. Last week, the Ukrainian prosecutor general who took over from Mr Shokin told the BBC there was no evidence of wrongdoing by Joe or Hunter Biden. When asked what Mr Trump sought as a \"favour\" from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in this summer's phone call, Mr Trump responded: \"Well, I would think that if they were honest about it, they'd start a major investigation into the Bidens. It's a very simple answer. \"They should investigate the Bidens,\" he said, speaking to reporters on the lawn of the White House. \"Likewise, China should start an investigation into the Bidens because what happened to China is just about as bad as what happened with Ukraine,\" he continued. Mr Trump also suggested again without offering evidence that Mr Biden had \"scammed\" other countries and was responsible for China's \"sweetheart\" trade relationship with the US. The head of the Federal Election Commission responded by tweeting a reminder that it is illegal for anyone to solicit anything of value from a foreign national in connection with a US election. A spokeswoman for Mr Biden's 2020 campaign accused Mr Trump of \"flailing and melting down on national television, desperately clutching for conspiracy theories that have been debunked and dismissed by independent, credible news organisations\". Deputy Campaign Manager Kate Bedingfield's statement compared Mr Trump's latest comments to his \"'Russia, if you're listening' moment from 2016 -  a grotesque choice of lies over truth and self over the country\". The quote is a reference to Mr Trump's first election campaign, in which he urged Russia to find more than 30,000 emails deleted from his opponent Hillary Clinton's personal server. A spokesman for Hunter Biden has told US media that Mr Trump's $1.5bn (PS1.2bn) figure is false, and that the younger Biden did not receive any return or compensation from the Chinese firm. In 2013, then vice-president Mr Biden went to China on an official visit, where he met Chinese President Xi Jinping and other officials. Hunter Biden and his daughter joined the vice-president, who had travelled with family members before. During the two-day visit, Hunter met a Chinese banker, Jonathan Li, who would eventually become a business partner. Mr Li founded a private equity fund shortly after the trip, and Hunter was on the board, although a spokesman for the younger Mr Biden told NBC News they did not discuss any business during the trip and the fund had been planned months earlier. Hunter Biden was also not an equity owner in the fund during his father's term as vice-president, according to the spokesman. Hunter has denied meeting any Chinese officials about the business. However, he reportedly helped arrange for Mr Li to shake hands with Joe Biden during his trip to Beijing, which stoked claims of influence-peddling. This August, Republican Senator and Finance Chairman Chuck Grassley questioned Hunter's actions on the trip. He said the younger Biden had a \"history of investing in and collaborating with Chinese companies, including at least one posing significant national security concerns\". Once again Donald Trump is publicly stating something that has got him into hot water for saying privately. It's either brilliant strategy or political madness. Or maybe a bit of both. For those who believe that a president calling on a foreign government to investigate a political rival is an impeachable offence, Mr Trump has already offered more than enough evidence to proceed straight to a vote, no \"inquiry\" necessary. If an abuse of presidential power is what elevates the foreign \"request\" to an impeachable act, then a bit more digging is required. Is there evidence that Mr Trump tied Ukrainian military aid to the Biden request? Has Biden come up at all during Mr Trump's trade negotiations with China? Less than a minute before Mr Trump called on China to investigate the former vice-president, he spoke about those trade negotiations, noting that the US has \"tremendous power\" over China. How is that power being used? Mr Trump is drawing a line in the sand. He says his Ukraine phone call was \"perfect\" - and, as if to prove it, he's saying and doing the same thing again and again. If Democrats disagree, they can impeach him. And they just might. Ex-US special envoy to Ukraine Kurt Volker has become the first witness to testify to Congress in the formal impeachment inquiry of President Trump. Mr Volker was among those mentioned in an anonymous whistleblower's complaint about Mr Trump's call to the president of Ukraine. The Republican foreign policy expert was addressing three Democratic-led House committees behind closed doors on Thursday. Afterwards, Republicans and Democrats gave contrasting accounts of what Mr Volker's testimony meant for Mr Trump, with Republican Mark Meadows saying there was \"no quid pro quo\" and Democrat Eric Swalwell saying it showed there was a \"shadow shakedown going on\". The whistleblower's complaint said that one day after the Trump-Zelensky call, Mr Volker and US ambassador to the EU, Gordon Sondland, met the Ukrainian president to advise him on how to \"navigate\" Mr Trump's request. Mr Volker resigned from the Department of State last week after being named in the complaint. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo had sought to block testimony from Mr Volker and four other Department of State officials whom Democrats wish to interview. In advance of his testimony, Mr Volker handed over documents to the committee, including text messages with Mr Trump's personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani. On Friday morning Democratic congressional leaders published a letter setting out \"grave concerns\" over what they said was the Trump administration's attempt to \"normalise the act of soliciting foreign powers to interfere in our elections\". They attached text message exchanges involving Mr Volker as well as an exchange between Bill Taylor, the top US diplomat in Ukraine, and Mr Sondland. In one exchange, Mr Taylor tells Mr Sondland: \"As I said on the phone, I think it's crazy to withhold security assistance for help with a political campaign.\" Mr Sondland, a former Republican donor, replied: \"Bill, I believe you are incorrect about President Trump's intention.\" \"The president has been crystal clear: no quid pro quos of any kind.\" Mr Sondland then suggests \"we stop the back and forth by text\". Impeachment is the first part - the charges - of a two-stage political process by which Congress can remove a president from office If the House of Representatives votes to pass articles of impeachment, the Senate is forced to hold a trial A Senate vote requires a two-thirds majority to convict - unlikely in this case, given that Mr Trump's party controls the chamber Only two US presidents in history - Bill Clinton and Andrew Johnson - have been impeached but neither was convicted and removed President Nixon resigned before he could have been impeached", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1029, "answer_end": 2243, "text": "Mr Trump has accused Mr Biden and his son Hunter of corruption in their political and business dealings in Ukraine and China, without offering specific evidence. When Hunter Biden joined Ukrainian natural gas company Burisma in 2014, questions were raised about a potential conflict of interest for his father. Ukraine was undergoing a political transition after its pro-Russia president was forced out of office, while the elder Biden was the Obama administration's point man for the Eastern European country. In 2016, Joe Biden pushed the Ukrainian government to fire its top prosecutor, Viktor Shokin, whose office had been scrutinising the oligarch owner of Burisma. In a speech last year at a think tank, Mr Biden boasted of having forced Mr Shokin out by threatening to withhold a billion-dollar loan guarantee to Ukraine. Mr Trump and his allies accuse Mr Biden of acting to protect his son. However, other Western officials and major financers of Ukraine's government also wanted Mr Shokin dismissed because he was seen as a barrier to anti-corruption efforts. Last week, the Ukrainian prosecutor general who took over from Mr Shokin told the BBC there was no evidence of wrongdoing by Joe or Hunter Biden."}], "question": "What has Trump accused the Bidens of doing?", "id": "1090_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2244, "answer_end": 3150, "text": "When asked what Mr Trump sought as a \"favour\" from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in this summer's phone call, Mr Trump responded: \"Well, I would think that if they were honest about it, they'd start a major investigation into the Bidens. It's a very simple answer. \"They should investigate the Bidens,\" he said, speaking to reporters on the lawn of the White House. \"Likewise, China should start an investigation into the Bidens because what happened to China is just about as bad as what happened with Ukraine,\" he continued. Mr Trump also suggested again without offering evidence that Mr Biden had \"scammed\" other countries and was responsible for China's \"sweetheart\" trade relationship with the US. The head of the Federal Election Commission responded by tweeting a reminder that it is illegal for anyone to solicit anything of value from a foreign national in connection with a US election."}], "question": "What did Trump say on Thursday?", "id": "1090_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3151, "answer_end": 3979, "text": "A spokeswoman for Mr Biden's 2020 campaign accused Mr Trump of \"flailing and melting down on national television, desperately clutching for conspiracy theories that have been debunked and dismissed by independent, credible news organisations\". Deputy Campaign Manager Kate Bedingfield's statement compared Mr Trump's latest comments to his \"'Russia, if you're listening' moment from 2016 -  a grotesque choice of lies over truth and self over the country\". The quote is a reference to Mr Trump's first election campaign, in which he urged Russia to find more than 30,000 emails deleted from his opponent Hillary Clinton's personal server. A spokesman for Hunter Biden has told US media that Mr Trump's $1.5bn (PS1.2bn) figure is false, and that the younger Biden did not receive any return or compensation from the Chinese firm."}], "question": "How have the Bidens responded?", "id": "1090_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3980, "answer_end": 5202, "text": "In 2013, then vice-president Mr Biden went to China on an official visit, where he met Chinese President Xi Jinping and other officials. Hunter Biden and his daughter joined the vice-president, who had travelled with family members before. During the two-day visit, Hunter met a Chinese banker, Jonathan Li, who would eventually become a business partner. Mr Li founded a private equity fund shortly after the trip, and Hunter was on the board, although a spokesman for the younger Mr Biden told NBC News they did not discuss any business during the trip and the fund had been planned months earlier. Hunter Biden was also not an equity owner in the fund during his father's term as vice-president, according to the spokesman. Hunter has denied meeting any Chinese officials about the business. However, he reportedly helped arrange for Mr Li to shake hands with Joe Biden during his trip to Beijing, which stoked claims of influence-peddling. This August, Republican Senator and Finance Chairman Chuck Grassley questioned Hunter's actions on the trip. He said the younger Biden had a \"history of investing in and collaborating with Chinese companies, including at least one posing significant national security concerns\"."}], "question": "What about the Bidens in China?", "id": "1090_3"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 5203, "answer_end": 6366, "text": "Once again Donald Trump is publicly stating something that has got him into hot water for saying privately. It's either brilliant strategy or political madness. Or maybe a bit of both. For those who believe that a president calling on a foreign government to investigate a political rival is an impeachable offence, Mr Trump has already offered more than enough evidence to proceed straight to a vote, no \"inquiry\" necessary. If an abuse of presidential power is what elevates the foreign \"request\" to an impeachable act, then a bit more digging is required. Is there evidence that Mr Trump tied Ukrainian military aid to the Biden request? Has Biden come up at all during Mr Trump's trade negotiations with China? Less than a minute before Mr Trump called on China to investigate the former vice-president, he spoke about those trade negotiations, noting that the US has \"tremendous power\" over China. How is that power being used? Mr Trump is drawing a line in the sand. He says his Ukraine phone call was \"perfect\" - and, as if to prove it, he's saying and doing the same thing again and again. If Democrats disagree, they can impeach him. And they just might."}], "question": "Brilliant strategy or political madness?", "id": "1090_4"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 6367, "answer_end": 8451, "text": "Ex-US special envoy to Ukraine Kurt Volker has become the first witness to testify to Congress in the formal impeachment inquiry of President Trump. Mr Volker was among those mentioned in an anonymous whistleblower's complaint about Mr Trump's call to the president of Ukraine. The Republican foreign policy expert was addressing three Democratic-led House committees behind closed doors on Thursday. Afterwards, Republicans and Democrats gave contrasting accounts of what Mr Volker's testimony meant for Mr Trump, with Republican Mark Meadows saying there was \"no quid pro quo\" and Democrat Eric Swalwell saying it showed there was a \"shadow shakedown going on\". The whistleblower's complaint said that one day after the Trump-Zelensky call, Mr Volker and US ambassador to the EU, Gordon Sondland, met the Ukrainian president to advise him on how to \"navigate\" Mr Trump's request. Mr Volker resigned from the Department of State last week after being named in the complaint. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo had sought to block testimony from Mr Volker and four other Department of State officials whom Democrats wish to interview. In advance of his testimony, Mr Volker handed over documents to the committee, including text messages with Mr Trump's personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani. On Friday morning Democratic congressional leaders published a letter setting out \"grave concerns\" over what they said was the Trump administration's attempt to \"normalise the act of soliciting foreign powers to interfere in our elections\". They attached text message exchanges involving Mr Volker as well as an exchange between Bill Taylor, the top US diplomat in Ukraine, and Mr Sondland. In one exchange, Mr Taylor tells Mr Sondland: \"As I said on the phone, I think it's crazy to withhold security assistance for help with a political campaign.\" Mr Sondland, a former Republican donor, replied: \"Bill, I believe you are incorrect about President Trump's intention.\" \"The president has been crystal clear: no quid pro quos of any kind.\" Mr Sondland then suggests \"we stop the back and forth by text\"."}], "question": "How is the impeachment inquiry progressing?", "id": "1090_5"}]}]}, {"title": "Kyoto Animation fire: Police name suspect after studio blaze", "date": "19 July 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Japanese police have named the man suspected of carrying out a deadly arson attack on an animation studio. Shinji Aoba was taken into police custody in hospital and was being treated there for burns. The fire swept through Kyoto Animation (KyoAni) on Thursday, claiming at least 33 lives and injuring many in one of Japan's worst mass killings in years. People who witnessed Shinji Aoba's arrest said they heard him complaining that the company had stolen his ideas. Police said the attacker entered the building and splashed flammable liquid from a bucket before setting it alight, and shouted: \"Die!\" In the wake of the attack, dozens of people gathered outside the premises of the studio, laying flowers and offering prayers. A crowdfunding campaign has so far raised more than $1.3m (PS1.04m) to assist victims and their families. KyoAni produces films and graphic novels and is well regarded by fans for the quality of its productions. Police detained Shinji Aoba on suspicion of setting fire to the building. Mr Aoba allegedly accused the animation studio of plagiarising his novel. He was taken to hospital for treatment and had not been formally interviewed about his motive. Public broadcaster NHK reported that he had a criminal record and was previously jailed for stealing money from a convenience store. Kyoto Animation's president said he had recently received threatening letters but had no idea if they were connected to the attack. The fire broke out at the three-storey building at about 10:30 local time (01:35 GMT) on Thursday. Eyewitnesses described a loud explosion followed by the blaze, which people jumped out of windows to escape from. \"It was like I was looking at hell,\" a local woman told Asahi Shimbun newspaper. Around 70 people were in the building when the fire started, and some 36 people have reportedly been taken to hospital. Authorities said most of the victims were found piled up on a stairway leading from the building's third floor up to the roof, where they collapsed trying to escape. Kyodo news agency said firefighters had found the door to the roof was shut, leaving people trapped inside. A Kyoto fire official also told Reuters news agency that the building did not have any sprinklers or indoor fire hydrants - but did not need them to comply with Japan's fire code. Momoko Higuchi, a Tokyo-based architect, told Reuters that the blaze was probably made worse by the building's three-storey spiral staircase, which would have \"[acted] as a chimney.\" \"Because the fire was with petrol, the effect was like a bomb,\" Mr Higuchi added. The fire was put out and police were searching the site for evidence. Knives were reportedly found at the scene. Details of the victims were not immediately released but Kyoto police said 20 women and 12 men were among the dead. One person has not yet been identified. KyoAni is known for employing more women, particularly younger women, than is usual in the profession, industry lawyer Daisuke Okeda told the New York Times. Men aged over 35 still dominate the animation industry, Mr Okeda said, but twice as many women in their 20s work as animators compared with their male counterparts. In response to the incident, the studio has cancelled screenings for the trailer of its latest film, a spin-off of the popular swimming anime series Free. It has also delayed a collaboration with Keihan Main Line, a railway service between Kyoto and Osaka. Another Japanese animation studio, David Production, postponed the broadcast of its latest episode of Fire Force. The animated series centres on a group of firefighters who have the ability to manipulate fire. Kyoto Animation was founded in 1981 and has produced popular animation shows including K-On and The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya. The studio also creates film versions of some of its popular franchises, and released the standalone feature A Silent Voice in 2016 to critical acclaim. One of KyoAni's series, Violet Evergarden, was picked up by Netflix for a global market. It also publishes many popular graphic novels, mainly about teenage school life. The studio is known for paying its animators a regular salary, breaking with the industry's standard of paying per frame - which is seen as putting extreme pressure on staff. It is also the first successful studio outside Tokyo, Prof Ryusuke Hikawa from Meiji University told NHK.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 941, "answer_end": 1448, "text": "Police detained Shinji Aoba on suspicion of setting fire to the building. Mr Aoba allegedly accused the animation studio of plagiarising his novel. He was taken to hospital for treatment and had not been formally interviewed about his motive. Public broadcaster NHK reported that he had a criminal record and was previously jailed for stealing money from a convenience store. Kyoto Animation's president said he had recently received threatening letters but had no idea if they were connected to the attack."}], "question": "What do we know about the suspect?", "id": "1091_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1449, "answer_end": 3640, "text": "The fire broke out at the three-storey building at about 10:30 local time (01:35 GMT) on Thursday. Eyewitnesses described a loud explosion followed by the blaze, which people jumped out of windows to escape from. \"It was like I was looking at hell,\" a local woman told Asahi Shimbun newspaper. Around 70 people were in the building when the fire started, and some 36 people have reportedly been taken to hospital. Authorities said most of the victims were found piled up on a stairway leading from the building's third floor up to the roof, where they collapsed trying to escape. Kyodo news agency said firefighters had found the door to the roof was shut, leaving people trapped inside. A Kyoto fire official also told Reuters news agency that the building did not have any sprinklers or indoor fire hydrants - but did not need them to comply with Japan's fire code. Momoko Higuchi, a Tokyo-based architect, told Reuters that the blaze was probably made worse by the building's three-storey spiral staircase, which would have \"[acted] as a chimney.\" \"Because the fire was with petrol, the effect was like a bomb,\" Mr Higuchi added. The fire was put out and police were searching the site for evidence. Knives were reportedly found at the scene. Details of the victims were not immediately released but Kyoto police said 20 women and 12 men were among the dead. One person has not yet been identified. KyoAni is known for employing more women, particularly younger women, than is usual in the profession, industry lawyer Daisuke Okeda told the New York Times. Men aged over 35 still dominate the animation industry, Mr Okeda said, but twice as many women in their 20s work as animators compared with their male counterparts. In response to the incident, the studio has cancelled screenings for the trailer of its latest film, a spin-off of the popular swimming anime series Free. It has also delayed a collaboration with Keihan Main Line, a railway service between Kyoto and Osaka. Another Japanese animation studio, David Production, postponed the broadcast of its latest episode of Fire Force. The animated series centres on a group of firefighters who have the ability to manipulate fire."}], "question": "What happened?", "id": "1091_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3641, "answer_end": 4375, "text": "Kyoto Animation was founded in 1981 and has produced popular animation shows including K-On and The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya. The studio also creates film versions of some of its popular franchises, and released the standalone feature A Silent Voice in 2016 to critical acclaim. One of KyoAni's series, Violet Evergarden, was picked up by Netflix for a global market. It also publishes many popular graphic novels, mainly about teenage school life. The studio is known for paying its animators a regular salary, breaking with the industry's standard of paying per frame - which is seen as putting extreme pressure on staff. It is also the first successful studio outside Tokyo, Prof Ryusuke Hikawa from Meiji University told NHK."}], "question": "Who is Kyoto Animation?", "id": "1091_2"}]}]}, {"title": "Globe puts Shakespeare shorts on big screens", "date": "19 November 2015", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Short film versions of Shakespeare's 37 plays are to be shown on giant screens next year to mark the 400th anniversary of his death. Actors are being dispatched around the world to film their lines on locations where the plays are set. Fans of the bard can expect to see Cleopatra in Egypt, Julius Caesar in the Roman Forum and Hamlet at Elsinore. Each 10-minute film will be screened along a two-mile stretch of the River Thames in London on 23-24 April 2016. \"It's a great marker just to look at how international Shakespeare's reach is, and quite how much he belongs to the world,\" said the project's mastermind, Dominic Dromgoole, artistic director at Shakespeare's Globe. He said the films would \"capture the essence\" of each play and act as a \"sharp, tangy introduction\" to people who knew nothing about it. During the next six months, the mini-movies will be shot, with noted Shakespearean actors - names yet to be announced - reciting speeches from the plays against the appropriate backdrop. Additional locations will include Shylock in Venice's Jewish Ghetto, Romeo and Juliet in Verona, Henry VIII and Wolsey at Hampton Court and King Lear and Cordelia on Dover beach. Films will include clips from the Globe's in-house productions and additional material shot at Shakespeare's birthplace at Stratford-upon-Avon. On the anniversary weekend in April, the films will be shown on 37 big screens erected between Westminster and Tower Bridges on a stretch dubbed The Complete Walk. \"We thought it was important that London was at the centre of it, as Shakespeare did most of his work here and those plays were first seen here,\" said Dromgoole, who steps down at the Globe in April after a decade at the helm. The public will be able to dip in to individual plays, or take in the full works. \"It would be wonderful if they sat and watched 10 minutes of every single one, but I can't imagine people doing that,\" Dromgoole said. The most far-flung piece of filming is likely to be for Antony and Cleopatra at the Pyramids in Egypt, although Dromgoole said he had been lobbied for The Tempest scenes to be shot in Barbados. \"A couple of actors suggested that they be flown out there for a day's filming. I'm not sure we're going to run to that.  It should probably be on an island between Tunis and Milan.\" The PS500,000 project is being paid for by the Globe, with support from the British Council, the mayor of London and an anonymous donor.  It is hoped the films will also be presented in cities across the UK and internationally throughout 2016. The anniversary weekend will also see the return of a two-year world tour of Hamlet, which will have its four final performances back on the Globe's open-air stage after travelling to some 195 countries.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1932, "answer_end": 2756, "text": "The most far-flung piece of filming is likely to be for Antony and Cleopatra at the Pyramids in Egypt, although Dromgoole said he had been lobbied for The Tempest scenes to be shot in Barbados. \"A couple of actors suggested that they be flown out there for a day's filming. I'm not sure we're going to run to that.  It should probably be on an island between Tunis and Milan.\" The PS500,000 project is being paid for by the Globe, with support from the British Council, the mayor of London and an anonymous donor.  It is hoped the films will also be presented in cities across the UK and internationally throughout 2016. The anniversary weekend will also see the return of a two-year world tour of Hamlet, which will have its four final performances back on the Globe's open-air stage after travelling to some 195 countries."}], "question": "Going to Barbados?", "id": "1092_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Honour for software writer on Apollo moon mission", "date": "23 November 2016", "paragraphs": [{"context": "An 80-year-old woman who wrote software for the Apollo space missions has been given the United States' highest civilian honour, the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Margaret Hamilton was one of 21 people awarded the medal by President Barack Obama in a star-studded ceremony. It is almost 50 years since her initial work on the Apollo 11 moon mission. Mrs Hamilton's pioneering software helped land the lunar module and its crew on the Moon in 1969. Other notable medal recipients at Tuesday's ceremony at the White House included comedian and talkshow host Ellen DeGeneres, actor Tom Hanks and musicians Diana Ross and Bruce Springsteen. President Obama said Mrs Hamilton \"symbolises that generation of unsung women who helped send humankind into space\". Astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin may have garnered many of the headlines after Apollo 11's successful landing, but Mrs Hamilton was among those working behind the scenes at time when computer science was so new it was not even a recognised term, and code was written out by hand. Mrs Hamilton led a team at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology that created the on-board flight software for Nasa's moon missions. \"Our astronauts didn't have much time, but thankfully they had Margaret Hamilton,\" President Obama said, as he awarded her the medal. He was referring to a tweak Mrs Hamilton made to the Apollo system which enabled the computer to prioritise commands when overloaded with tasks. Her work proved vital on the day: minutes before the lunar lander reached the Moon's surface on 20 July 1969, several computer alarms were triggered. But, thanks to Mrs Hamilton's foresight, the Nasa team was able to see that the alert was nothing critical, and the landing went ahead. \"If the computer hadn't recognized this problem and taken recovery action, I doubt if Apollo 11 would have been the successful moon landing it was,\" wrote Mrs Hamilton in 1971. Mrs Hamilton was a 24-year-old maths graduate when she got a job at MIT. She planned for it to be temporary step, while supporting her husband who was studying law at Harvard University. She then intended to go back to her own studies. However when MIT was asked to work on the Apollo space program, she joined the team and was hooked in an exciting new field. In an interview with Wired magazine in 2015, Mrs Hamilton admitted that being a working mother in the 1960s brought additional challenges and she often took her daughter, then four years old, into the lab. She also noted that in this new world of computing, there were no footsteps to follow in. \"When I first got into it, nobody knew what it was that we were doing. \"It was like the Wild West. There was no course in it. They didn't teach it,\" she said. Yet she and her MIT colleagues went on to write the code for the world's first portable computer. From the 1970s onwards, she used her expertise to found her own software businesses, including Hamilton Technologies, which is still based in Massachusetts. Mr Obama also hailed the Indiana-born mathematician for developing software architecture that \"echoes in countless technologies today\" and said she encapsulated the \"American spirit of discovery that exists in every little girl and little boy\". Rear Admiral Grace Hopper was also awarded the medal, posthumously.  Mr Obama said the computer scientist, who died in 1992, was at the forefront of computers and programming development from the 1940s to 1980s. President Obama hailed the 21 honourees as \"extraordinary Americans who have lifted our spirits, strengthened our union, pushed us toward progress\".", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1181, "answer_end": 2283, "text": "\"Our astronauts didn't have much time, but thankfully they had Margaret Hamilton,\" President Obama said, as he awarded her the medal. He was referring to a tweak Mrs Hamilton made to the Apollo system which enabled the computer to prioritise commands when overloaded with tasks. Her work proved vital on the day: minutes before the lunar lander reached the Moon's surface on 20 July 1969, several computer alarms were triggered. But, thanks to Mrs Hamilton's foresight, the Nasa team was able to see that the alert was nothing critical, and the landing went ahead. \"If the computer hadn't recognized this problem and taken recovery action, I doubt if Apollo 11 would have been the successful moon landing it was,\" wrote Mrs Hamilton in 1971. Mrs Hamilton was a 24-year-old maths graduate when she got a job at MIT. She planned for it to be temporary step, while supporting her husband who was studying law at Harvard University. She then intended to go back to her own studies. However when MIT was asked to work on the Apollo space program, she joined the team and was hooked in an exciting new field."}], "question": "One small tweak for mankind?", "id": "1093_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Breaking Bad: Netflix releases trailer for El Camino", "date": "25 August 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Fans of Breaking Bad will only have to wait until October for the movie - El Camino. Netflix teased fans with a trailer for the film and tweeted it will be on the streaming service on 11 October. It will see Aaron Paul returning as crystal meth cook Jesse Pinkman and it has been written by the show's creator, Vince Gilligan. We still don't know if Bryan Cranston, who played Walter White, will return to star in the film. Earlier this week Bob Odenkirk, who plays lawyer Saul Goodman in the series, revealed the whole movie had already been shot. Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter, he says he's surprised the \"secret\" never got out. But now fans know a little bit more about about it. According to Netflix, El Camino will see Jesse escape from captivity and \"come to terms with his past in order to forge some kind of future\". (By the way - if you plan on bingeing the TV series before the movie comes out, here's your spoiler warning.) One thing that's not changing is the director Vince Gilligan, who's putting the movie together. It's reportedly a sequel to the series. A prequel, Better Call Saul, has already run for four seasons on Netflix and a fifth is planned for next year. So the finer details might still be up in the air - even for Bob: \"I've heard so many different things about it, but I am excited about the Breaking Bad movie. I can't wait to see it. \"I don't know what people know and don't know. I find it hard to believe you don't know it was shot. \"They did it. How is that a secret? But it is. They've done an amazing job of keeping it a secret.\" As for one of the leading characters, Jesse Pinkman, it's fairly certain he'll be a central part of the film. Actor Aaron Paul certainly hinted to Variety magazine he'd be involved, pointing out \"in case you haven't caught up on the TV series, Walter dies, so it has to star Jesse. \"When it comes together I'd love to be a part of it. I would love to do it.\" A bigger question is whether Bryan Cranston will return as Walter White - despite him and Aaron posting the single word \"soon\" on social media at the same time in July. Bryan's Breaking Bad character might be dead in the series but he's told Entertainment Tonight, \"rigor mortis has a way of allowing that to happen\". \"Could be in a flashback, or a flash forward. I'm still dead, Walter White, I don't know what could happen.\" Analysis from Scott Bryan, TV critic and co-host of BBC 5 Live's Must Watch podcast. Even a few years ago a television turning into a film would be seen as a huge step upwards, right now it seems to be the other way around. Television has become the place for so many deep and interesting stories to be fleshed out over many chapters, something that we could not have predicted a few years ago, shows that are usually at a pace that suits the creators (Mindhunter just last week on Netflix, for example, or Orange is the New Black). It used to be a real coup to get a Hollywood actor in a television show, now we barely even flinch. But turning it into a film is tricky, because it has be simplistic enough to get in new viewers who may not have seen the show, plus fit within the context of what made the show so successful in the first place. How do you deal with multiple story arcs? How can you provide so much depth in two hours? How can you leave viewers feeling satisfied? 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_start": 940, "answer_end": 1186, "text": "One thing that's not changing is the director Vince Gilligan, who's putting the movie together. It's reportedly a sequel to the series. A prequel, Better Call Saul, has already run for four seasons on Netflix and a fifth is planned for next year."}], "question": "So... what do we know?", "id": "1094_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1187, "answer_end": 2357, "text": "So the finer details might still be up in the air - even for Bob: \"I've heard so many different things about it, but I am excited about the Breaking Bad movie. I can't wait to see it. \"I don't know what people know and don't know. I find it hard to believe you don't know it was shot. \"They did it. How is that a secret? But it is. They've done an amazing job of keeping it a secret.\" As for one of the leading characters, Jesse Pinkman, it's fairly certain he'll be a central part of the film. Actor Aaron Paul certainly hinted to Variety magazine he'd be involved, pointing out \"in case you haven't caught up on the TV series, Walter dies, so it has to star Jesse. \"When it comes together I'd love to be a part of it. I would love to do it.\" A bigger question is whether Bryan Cranston will return as Walter White - despite him and Aaron posting the single word \"soon\" on social media at the same time in July. Bryan's Breaking Bad character might be dead in the series but he's told Entertainment Tonight, \"rigor mortis has a way of allowing that to happen\". \"Could be in a flashback, or a flash forward. I'm still dead, Walter White, I don't know what could happen.\""}], "question": "Which characters are coming back?", "id": "1094_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2358, "answer_end": 3337, "text": "Analysis from Scott Bryan, TV critic and co-host of BBC 5 Live's Must Watch podcast. Even a few years ago a television turning into a film would be seen as a huge step upwards, right now it seems to be the other way around. Television has become the place for so many deep and interesting stories to be fleshed out over many chapters, something that we could not have predicted a few years ago, shows that are usually at a pace that suits the creators (Mindhunter just last week on Netflix, for example, or Orange is the New Black). It used to be a real coup to get a Hollywood actor in a television show, now we barely even flinch. But turning it into a film is tricky, because it has be simplistic enough to get in new viewers who may not have seen the show, plus fit within the context of what made the show so successful in the first place. How do you deal with multiple story arcs? How can you provide so much depth in two hours? How can you leave viewers feeling satisfied?"}], "question": "A risky reverse in the era of streaming?", "id": "1094_2"}]}]}, {"title": "Fears the banlieues could burn again", "date": "27 October 2015", "paragraphs": [{"context": "It is exactly 10 years since the start of France's banlieue riots - the three weeks of violent street protest in the high-immigration suburbs, sparked by the accidental deaths of two teenagers after a police chase. Plenty of money has  been pumped into the banlieues - but has anything really changed? It is with a depressing sense of familiarity that one reads this week the 10-year post-mortems on France's 2005 riots. Everyone concedes that after the shock a lot was done to regenerate the \"lost\" neighbourhoods of Clichy, Grigny, Bobigny, et cetera. Some 48bn euros has been spent in the past decade alone to rebuild housing and smarten up the \"urban fabric\". To this can be added a further 100bn euros spent since the start of the 1980s, when the problem of disaffected suburban zones was first identified. But by now everyone also agrees that money is quite evidently not the answer.  If it was, this crisis would have been solved long ago. For the depressing fact remains by just about every recognised criterion, the banlieues (or to be clear the large areas within city suburbs where populations mainly of north African and sub-Saharan origin live in blocks of council flats) are today in the same sorry state as before. If not worse. Taxed income is 56% of the national average. Unemployment rates among young people hit 50%. Crime is far more prevalent than elsewhere. Only last weekend in the northern suburbs of Marseille, three people were killed in an apparent drugs-related shootout. Two were boys of 15. In addition,  the image of the banlieues in the eyes of the rest of the country continues to decline. In a poll just out, the most common adjectives used were: - poor - badly maintained - dangerous - divided by community More than six people in 10 agreed with the statement that \"most of the time, young people in the cites [council estates] behave worse than others do\". Seen the other way, people from within the banlieues still complain bitterly of stigmatisation and stereotyping. As Thomas Guenole, author of Do Banlieue Youth eat Children?, puts it: \"When you grow up in the banlieue, discrimination comes three ways: when you apply for a job, when they see your address, when they look at your face.\" So far, so familiar. But there is one area, of course, in which the past 10 years have seen a big change in the banlieues - and that is religion. When the riots broke out in October 2005, there was near universal agreement that the root of the problem was social: poverty and discrimination were the causes. To say otherwise - to imply there might also be a cultural element linked to colonialism, Islam and an inherited rejection of France - was to risk accusations of racism. Ten years on, the debate on this issue is much more open - and furious. What has happened during that decade is the emergence of Islam as a larger factor in determining how people behave. Mostly, the signs are of a quietist, pietist nature: dress-codes on the street,  higher attendance at mosques. But there has also been the growth of Islamist attacks. From Mohamed Merah in Toulouse to the Kouachi brothers and Ahmedi Coulibaly and the hundreds who have gone to Syria - these are French citizens willing to attack France out of a higher loyalty. The militants are a tiny minority - and not all are from the banlieues - but most are indeed from the same poor, crime-ridden milieu. As Malek Boutih, a Socialist deputy from the southern Paris banlieue, put it this week: \"We have been on a downward slide which has led to the point  where our neighbourhoods produce terrorists. Ten years ago it was rioters,  now it is terrorists.\" For many left-wing analysts, to talk of Islam in relation to the banlieues remains problematic. Sylvia Zappi, a journalist for Le Monde, argues that by replacing a hoodie with a religious fanatic, the French have merely gone from one unrepresentative cliche of a baddy to another. Thomas Guenole says that focus on a radicalising minority conceals the fact that \"the great mass are moving away from Islam\". But others - mainly but not just on the right - talk of a new and worrying phenomenon:  of not just a failure of integration, but of dis-integration, dis-assimilation - for the first time of people moving away from the social body. So 10 years on, could the 2005 riots happen again? It would be foolhardy to argue otherwise. - 25 October: Interior Minister Nicolas Sarkozy pelted with stones and bottles in Paris suburb of Argenteuil. Describes violent elements as \"gangrene\" and \"rabble\" (\"racaille\" in French) - 27 October: Deaths of Zyed Benna and Bouna Traore in Clichy-sous-Bois trigger riots. The boys were electrocuted after hiding from police in a sub-station - 30 October: Mr Sarkozy pledges \"zero tolerance\" of rioting and sends police reinforcements to Clichy-sous-Bois - 3 November: Violence spreads beyond Paris region to eastern city of Dijon and parts of South and West - 8 November: President Jacques Chirac announces a national state of emergency - the first time since the Algerian War nearly 50 years earlier - 9 November: Emergency powers come into force across more than 30 French towns and cities. In total nearly 3,000 arrests were made and nearly 9,000 vehicles were burned during three weeks of riots Timeline: French riots 2005 The bored young men are there, more than ever. The economic crisis is deeper.  Relations with police are terrible. The growth of the Front National smoothes the belief that France is racist,  so hitting back is fair. Ten years ago - after the riots - the historian Georges Bensoussan edited a book called The Lost Territories of the Republic. The book has just been reissued, prompting this observation from the author in an interview: \"I was struck by how, for many of the people I spoke to recently, the words 'civil war' - which they would have laughed at 10 years ago - were now a phrase they were prepared to use. \"I am talking about police, medical workers,  local politicians, people of the banlieue. The feeling that there are two peoples being formed, side by side, looking at each other with hostility - that feeling is shared by many.\" Depressing indeed.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 4278, "answer_end": 4370, "text": "So 10 years on, could the 2005 riots happen again? It would be foolhardy to argue otherwise."}], "question": "Is a repeat possible?", "id": "1095_0"}]}]}, {"title": "China economy: Annual growth slowest since 1990", "date": "21 January 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "China's economy grew at its slowest rate since 1990, stoking fears about the impact on the global economy. China expanded at 6.6% in 2018, official figures out Monday showed. In the three months to December, the economy grew 6.4% from a year earlier, down from 6.5% in the previous quarter. The data was in line with forecasts but underlines recent concern about weakening growth in the world's second-biggest economy. China's rate of expansion has raised worries about the potential knock-on effect on the global economy. The trade war with the US has added to the gloomy outlook. The official figures out Monday showed the weakest quarterly growth rate since the global financial crisis. While China watchers advise caution with Beijing's official GDP numbers, the data is seen as a useful indicator of the country's growth trajectory. By Karishma Vaswani, BBC Asia business correspondent China's economic slowdown is not news in itself. Beijing has broadcast this for several years, that it's going to focus on the quality not quantity of growth. But still, we should be worried. Slower growth in China means slower growth for the rest of the world. It accounts for one-third of global growth. Jobs, exports, commodity producing nations - we all depend on China to buy stuff from us. Slower growth in China also means it is harder for China to address its mountain of debt, even with the Communist Party's undoubted ability to be able to support the economy. Growth has been easing for years, but concern over the pace of the slowdown in China has risen in recent months as companies sound the alarm over the crucial market. Earlier this month Apple warned weakness in China would hit its sales. Carmakers and other firms have spoken out on the impact of the trade war with the US. China's government has been pushing to shift away from export-led growth to depend more on domestic consumption. Policymakers in China have stepped up efforts in recent months to support the economy. Those measures to boost demand include speeding-up construction projects, cutting some taxes, and reducing the level of reserves banks need to hold. Capital Economics China economist Julian Evans-Pritchard said the Chinese economy remained weak at the end of 2018 \"but held up better than many feared\". \"Still, with the headwinds from cooling global growth and the lagged impact of slower credit growth set to intensify... China's economy is likely to weaken further before growth stabilises in the second half of the year.\"", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 838, "answer_end": 1461, "text": "By Karishma Vaswani, BBC Asia business correspondent China's economic slowdown is not news in itself. Beijing has broadcast this for several years, that it's going to focus on the quality not quantity of growth. But still, we should be worried. Slower growth in China means slower growth for the rest of the world. It accounts for one-third of global growth. Jobs, exports, commodity producing nations - we all depend on China to buy stuff from us. Slower growth in China also means it is harder for China to address its mountain of debt, even with the Communist Party's undoubted ability to be able to support the economy."}], "question": "Analysis: Wider implications?", "id": "1096_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Bolivia elections: Concern as results transmission pauses", "date": "21 October 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "There is concern in Bolivia after the electoral authority stopped updating its website showing the preliminary results of the presidential election. With almost 83.8% of votes verified, incumbent President Evo Morales led with 45.3%, leaving his main rival, Carlos Mesa, in second place with 38.2%. The partial results suggest Mr Morales does not have the votes needed to win outright and will have to face Mr Mesa in a second round. The run-off is scheduled for December. The site showing the preliminary results stopped being updated at 83.8% of the votes at 19:40 local time (23:40 GMT) on Sunday, The failure to update the results caused immediate concern not just with opposition politicians but also with the regional body Organisation of American States (OAS) which has election observers in Bolivia. The OAS tweeted in Spanish that it was crucial for Bolivia's Supreme Electoral Tribunal to explain why the transmission had been interrupted. Tribunal president Maria Eugenia Choque said it had stopped the transmission of the preliminary results because the regional tribunals had started announcing the official results. \"We can't have two sets of results at the same time,\" she said. However, the official results have not yet been released. Mr Mesa said the interruption in the transmission of the results was \"extremely serious\". \"We're not going to allow the manipulation of a result that obviously puts us in a second round,\" Mr Mesa said in a video he published on Twitter (in Spanish). Before the transmission was halted, Mr Mesa declared that he had achieved \"an unquestionable victory which allows us to say with certainty that we've made it into a second round\". President Morales told cheering supporters he was confident that when votes from rural areas were counted there would be no need for a run-off. \"The rural areas are going to keep guaranteeing this process of change,\" he said. \"That's why, sisters and brothers, we're going to wait until the last vote is counted to pursue and continue our process of change.\" Mr Morales is a divisive figure, praised for his social policies but criticised for challenging presidential term limits. He has won all his previous terms in the first round and so the prospect of this election going into a second round suggests he is losing support. These were the most uncertain elections for Mr Morales, with many people angry with his insistence on running again, our correspondent Katy Watson in La Paz reports. In a referendum in 2016, Bolivians rejected his suggestion to ditch the presidential term limits. But his Movement for Socialism (Mas) party took the matter to the constitutional court, which ruled in the president's favour, allowing him to stand for a fourth term. In order to win outright, a candidate needs 40% with a 10-percentage-point lead over his nearest rival or more than 50% of the vote Mr Morales has been in power since 2006 and if he wins another term, he will be in power until 2025. Analysis by Katy Watson, BBC South America correspondent The halting of the vote count will play into the hands of Evo Morales critics who forewarned of foul play in these elections. It is true that the rural votes, when they come in, are likely to go in Mr Morales' favour but to be so sure of triumph before all the votes are in, to his critics does not just smack of arrogance but of fishy politics. The problem is, since Mr Morales lost the 2016 referendum on term limits and carried on regardless, people no longer trust the system and an explanation probably will not calm nerves. These next few weeks ahead of a supposed second round are unlikely to be straightforward. President Morales has been widely praised for growing the Bolivian economy and, at the same time, cutting extreme poverty. But he has been criticised over his environmental policies, after forest fires that destroyed four million hectares of land in eastern Bolivia. Many question whether a decree passed by the president, which quadrupled the amount of land farmers are allowed to clear for agricultural production, contributed to the blazes. Many indigenous Bolivians continue to back him, saying Mr Mesa - who is running for the Civic Community (Comunidad Ciudadana) political alliance - embodies the white Bolivian elite and question his commitment to the poor. In the election campaign, Mr Mesa argued that with oil and gas revenue declining, Bolivia needed to be \"more sensible and rational\" in the way it spent its money, especially as the country had a fiscal deficit of 7.8% of GDP. But his message of curtailing spending has not proven popular with poor voters who have seen steady improvements to their quality of life under President Morales.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 473, "answer_end": 1251, "text": "The site showing the preliminary results stopped being updated at 83.8% of the votes at 19:40 local time (23:40 GMT) on Sunday, The failure to update the results caused immediate concern not just with opposition politicians but also with the regional body Organisation of American States (OAS) which has election observers in Bolivia. The OAS tweeted in Spanish that it was crucial for Bolivia's Supreme Electoral Tribunal to explain why the transmission had been interrupted. Tribunal president Maria Eugenia Choque said it had stopped the transmission of the preliminary results because the regional tribunals had started announcing the official results. \"We can't have two sets of results at the same time,\" she said. However, the official results have not yet been released."}], "question": "What happened?", "id": "1097_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1252, "answer_end": 2040, "text": "Mr Mesa said the interruption in the transmission of the results was \"extremely serious\". \"We're not going to allow the manipulation of a result that obviously puts us in a second round,\" Mr Mesa said in a video he published on Twitter (in Spanish). Before the transmission was halted, Mr Mesa declared that he had achieved \"an unquestionable victory which allows us to say with certainty that we've made it into a second round\". President Morales told cheering supporters he was confident that when votes from rural areas were counted there would be no need for a run-off. \"The rural areas are going to keep guaranteeing this process of change,\" he said. \"That's why, sisters and brothers, we're going to wait until the last vote is counted to pursue and continue our process of change.\""}], "question": "What has the reaction been?", "id": "1097_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2041, "answer_end": 2974, "text": "Mr Morales is a divisive figure, praised for his social policies but criticised for challenging presidential term limits. He has won all his previous terms in the first round and so the prospect of this election going into a second round suggests he is losing support. These were the most uncertain elections for Mr Morales, with many people angry with his insistence on running again, our correspondent Katy Watson in La Paz reports. In a referendum in 2016, Bolivians rejected his suggestion to ditch the presidential term limits. But his Movement for Socialism (Mas) party took the matter to the constitutional court, which ruled in the president's favour, allowing him to stand for a fourth term. In order to win outright, a candidate needs 40% with a 10-percentage-point lead over his nearest rival or more than 50% of the vote Mr Morales has been in power since 2006 and if he wins another term, he will be in power until 2025."}], "question": "Why is the delay a problem?", "id": "1097_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3652, "answer_end": 4706, "text": "President Morales has been widely praised for growing the Bolivian economy and, at the same time, cutting extreme poverty. But he has been criticised over his environmental policies, after forest fires that destroyed four million hectares of land in eastern Bolivia. Many question whether a decree passed by the president, which quadrupled the amount of land farmers are allowed to clear for agricultural production, contributed to the blazes. Many indigenous Bolivians continue to back him, saying Mr Mesa - who is running for the Civic Community (Comunidad Ciudadana) political alliance - embodies the white Bolivian elite and question his commitment to the poor. In the election campaign, Mr Mesa argued that with oil and gas revenue declining, Bolivia needed to be \"more sensible and rational\" in the way it spent its money, especially as the country had a fiscal deficit of 7.8% of GDP. But his message of curtailing spending has not proven popular with poor voters who have seen steady improvements to their quality of life under President Morales."}], "question": "What was the election fought on?", "id": "1097_3"}]}]}, {"title": "Amber Guyger case: Two arrested over death of 'wrong flat' murder witness", "date": "9 October 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Police have arrested two men allegedly involved with the shooting and killing of a key witness from the Texas \"wrong flat\" murder trial of a US policewoman. Joshua Brown, who lived in the same building as victim Botham Jean and killer policewoman Amber Guyger, died in a shooting in Dallas last Friday. Jacquerious Mitchell and Michael Mitchell are in custody, while a third suspect, Thaddeous Green, is at large. Police say the shooting was drug-related and not connected to the case. US marshals took Michael, 32, into custody at a motel in Marksville, Louisiana, on Tuesday, Dallas police said. Jacquerious, 20, had been arrested earlier at a hospital in Louisiana. A manhunt for Mr Green is still going on. The three men face murder charges. According to police, the Mitchells and Mr Green, 22, had driven to Dallas, Texas, from Alexandria, Louisiana, to allegedly purchase marijuana from Mr Brown. During the alleged drug deal on Saturday, Mr Green and Mr Brown had an argument which led to a physical fight and the shooting. Mr Brown allegedly shot and wounded the younger Mr Mitchell first, before Mr Green shot Mr Brown twice, Jacquerious Mitchell told police. Authorities said Mr Green then took Mr Brown's gun and backpack and the men fled. Michael Mitchell is suspected of being the getaway driver. They left the wounded Jacquerious at the hospital where he was later arrested. When police arrived on scene shortly after 22:30 (03:30 GMT), witnesses directed them to a parking lot where Mr Brown was lying on the ground with multiple gunshot wounds. Mr Brown later died in hospital. The incident occurred in an apartment block different from the one where Botham Jean was killed in September 2018. Police found 12lb (5kg) of marijuana, THC cartridges and $4,000 (PS3,200) cash in Mr Brown's apartment after obtaining a search warrant. At a news conference on Tuesday, Dallas assistance police chief Avery Moore said: \"As you know, there's been speculation and rumours that have been shared by community leaders claiming that Mr Brown's death was related to the Amber Guyger trial and somehow the Dallas Police Department was responsible. \"I assure you that is simply not true, and I encourage those leaders to be mindful of their actions moving forward because their words have jeopardised the integrity of the city of Dallas as well as the Dallas Police Department.\" Mr Brown's family issued a statement through their lawyer, Lee Merritt, encouraging Dallas police to \"turn over this murder investigation to an alternate investigative agency\" to remove the \"cloud of suspicion\" over the case. \"Due to the proximity of this murder with the trial of Amber Guyger - rumours abound. It will be nearly impossible to conduct a reliable investigation in a climate where the investigating agency has been implicated in the murder itself.\" Twenty-eight-year-old Joshua Brown was a former athlete and entrepreneur, US media reported. He delivered an emotional testimony at Guyger's trial, telling the court he had been in the hallway of the fourth floor where he and Jean lived when he heard sounds from Jean's apartment. Mr Brown described hearing \"two people meeting by surprise\" followed by two gunshots.  He wept as he bore witness. Amber Guyger was sentenced to 10 years in prison last week. Dallas prosecutor Jason Hermus had lauded Mr Brown, saying he \"bravely came forward to testify when others wouldn't\".", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 2843, "answer_end": 3416, "text": "Twenty-eight-year-old Joshua Brown was a former athlete and entrepreneur, US media reported. He delivered an emotional testimony at Guyger's trial, telling the court he had been in the hallway of the fourth floor where he and Jean lived when he heard sounds from Jean's apartment. Mr Brown described hearing \"two people meeting by surprise\" followed by two gunshots.  He wept as he bore witness. Amber Guyger was sentenced to 10 years in prison last week. Dallas prosecutor Jason Hermus had lauded Mr Brown, saying he \"bravely came forward to testify when others wouldn't\"."}], "question": "Who was Joshua Brown?", "id": "1098_0"}]}]}, {"title": "British Airways faces record \u00a3183m fine for data breach", "date": "8 July 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "British Airways is facing a record fine of PS183m for last year's breach of its security systems. The airline, owned by IAG, says it is \"surprised and disappointed\" by the penalty from the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO). At the time, BA said hackers had carried out a \"sophisticated, malicious criminal attack\" on its website. The ICO said it was the biggest penalty it had handed out and the first to be made public under new rules. The ICO said the incident took place after users of British Airways' website were diverted to a fraudulent site. Through this false site, details of about 500,000 customers were harvested by the attackers, the ICO said. Information Commissioner Elizabeth Denham said: \"People's personal data is just that - personal. When an organisation fails to protect it from loss, damage or theft, it is more than an inconvenience. \"That's why the law is clear - when you are entrusted with personal data, you must look after it. Those that don't will face scrutiny from my office to check they have taken appropriate steps to protect fundamental privacy rights.\" The incident was first disclosed on 6 September 2018 and BA had initially said approximately 380,000 transactions were affected, but the stolen data did not include travel or passport details. The ICO said the incident was believed to have begun in June 2018. The watchdog said a variety of information was \"compromised\" by poor security arrangements at the company, including log in, payment card, and travel booking details as well name and address information. BA initially said information involved included names, email addresses, credit card information such as credit card numbers, expiry dates and the three-digit CVV code found on the back of credit cards. The watchdog said BA had co-operated with its investigation and made improvements to its security arrangements. The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) came into force last year and was the biggest shake-up to data privacy in 20 years. The penalty imposed on BA is the first one to be made public since those rules were introduced, which make it mandatory to report data security breaches to the information commissioner. It also increased the maximum penalty to 4% of turnover. The BA penalty amounts to 1.5% of its worldwide turnover in 2017, less than the possible maximum. Until now, the biggest penalty was PS500,000, imposed on Facebook for its role in the Cambridge Analytica data scandal.  That was the maximum allowed under the old data protection rules that applied before GDPR. I imagine that many people's first reaction to the PS183m fine that the Information Commissioner plans to levy on British Airways will have mirrored mine - surely the decimal point must be in the wrong place? After all the proposed penalty is roughly 367 times as high as the previous record fine, the PS500,000 imposed on Facebook over the Cambridge Analytica scandal. The difference, of course, is that the law has changed between the two incidents, with the arrival of a new law mirroring Europe's GDPR. This allows fines of up to 4% of annual turnover. Now you might have expected the data regulator to be somewhat cautious at first in wielding this powerful new weapon but today's news will send a shiver down the spine of anyone responsible for cybersecurity at a major corporation. The message is clear - if you don't treat your customers' data with the utmost care expect severe punishment when things go wrong. British Airways certainly appears to be stunned. But then again it could have been worse: the full 4% of turnover would have meant a fine approaching PS500m. BA has 28 days to appeal. Willie Walsh, chief executive of IAG, said British Airways would be making representations to the ICO. \"We intend to take all appropriate steps to defend the airline's position vigorously, including making any necessary appeals,\" he said. Alex Cruz, British Airways' chairman and chief executive, said the airline was \"surprised and disappointed\" in the ICO's initial finding. \"British Airways responded quickly to a criminal act to steal customers' data. We have found no evidence of fraud/fraudulent activity on accounts linked to the theft. \"We apologise to our customers for any inconvenience this event caused.\" David Champion believes that the BA data breach probably led to his credit card being used fraudulently. He says he was notified that his card had been used in an attempt to buy items at Harrods by phone while he was in Malaysia. \"BA are claiming there were no fraudulent transactions from the leak. My card details, I don't think, weren't exposed anywhere else,\" he told the BBC. The transaction was rejected and Mr Champion was not left out of pocket. \"BA contacted me in August/September about the breach, that addresses and emails were leaked. Later they said credit card details were too,\" he added. He was worried as he knew he had used BA's site twice, and said that it was right that BA was being penalised for the incident. The penalty is divided up between the other European data authorities, while the money that comes to the ICO goes directly to the Treasury. It is up to individuals to claim money from BA, which provided no information on whether any compensation had been paid. Under the regulations, authorities in the EU whose residents have been affected will also have the chance to comment on the ICO's findings.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 443, "answer_end": 1287, "text": "The ICO said the incident took place after users of British Airways' website were diverted to a fraudulent site. Through this false site, details of about 500,000 customers were harvested by the attackers, the ICO said. Information Commissioner Elizabeth Denham said: \"People's personal data is just that - personal. When an organisation fails to protect it from loss, damage or theft, it is more than an inconvenience. \"That's why the law is clear - when you are entrusted with personal data, you must look after it. Those that don't will face scrutiny from my office to check they have taken appropriate steps to protect fundamental privacy rights.\" The incident was first disclosed on 6 September 2018 and BA had initially said approximately 380,000 transactions were affected, but the stolen data did not include travel or passport details."}], "question": "What happened?", "id": "1099_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1288, "answer_end": 1872, "text": "The ICO said the incident was believed to have begun in June 2018. The watchdog said a variety of information was \"compromised\" by poor security arrangements at the company, including log in, payment card, and travel booking details as well name and address information. BA initially said information involved included names, email addresses, credit card information such as credit card numbers, expiry dates and the three-digit CVV code found on the back of credit cards. The watchdog said BA had co-operated with its investigation and made improvements to its security arrangements."}], "question": "What information was stolen?", "id": "1099_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1873, "answer_end": 2555, "text": "The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) came into force last year and was the biggest shake-up to data privacy in 20 years. The penalty imposed on BA is the first one to be made public since those rules were introduced, which make it mandatory to report data security breaches to the information commissioner. It also increased the maximum penalty to 4% of turnover. The BA penalty amounts to 1.5% of its worldwide turnover in 2017, less than the possible maximum. Until now, the biggest penalty was PS500,000, imposed on Facebook for its role in the Cambridge Analytica data scandal.  That was the maximum allowed under the old data protection rules that applied before GDPR."}], "question": "What are the new rules?", "id": "1099_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3634, "answer_end": 4276, "text": "BA has 28 days to appeal. Willie Walsh, chief executive of IAG, said British Airways would be making representations to the ICO. \"We intend to take all appropriate steps to defend the airline's position vigorously, including making any necessary appeals,\" he said. Alex Cruz, British Airways' chairman and chief executive, said the airline was \"surprised and disappointed\" in the ICO's initial finding. \"British Airways responded quickly to a criminal act to steal customers' data. We have found no evidence of fraud/fraudulent activity on accounts linked to the theft. \"We apologise to our customers for any inconvenience this event caused.\""}], "question": "What happens next?", "id": "1099_3"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 5010, "answer_end": 5410, "text": "The penalty is divided up between the other European data authorities, while the money that comes to the ICO goes directly to the Treasury. It is up to individuals to claim money from BA, which provided no information on whether any compensation had been paid. Under the regulations, authorities in the EU whose residents have been affected will also have the chance to comment on the ICO's findings."}], "question": "Where does the money go?", "id": "1099_4"}]}]}, {"title": "Venezuela crisis: Rival protests held in Caracas", "date": "2 February 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Thousands of protesters have taken to the streets of Venezuela's capital Caracas in support of President Nicolas Maduro - and his self-proclaimed interim successor Juan Guaido. Mr Guaido said the country's opposition movement would \"carry on in the streets\". Mr Maduro told supporters he was the only president of Venezuela. Mr Guaido declared himself president last month and is backed by the US and several Latin American countries. Russia and China back President Maduro. The stand-off began days after Mr Maduro was sworn in for a second term, following disputed elections which many opposition leaders did not contest because they were in jail or boycotting them. Mr Guaido, who is head of Venezuela's National Assembly, says the constitution allows him to assume power temporarily when the president is deemed illegitimate. Addressing thousands of supporters in the capital Caracas, Mr Guaido said protests would continue until his supporters achieved \"freedom\". But a pro-Maduro crowd gathered to mark the 20th anniversary of the rise to power of his predecessor, the socialist leader Hugo Chavez. Mr Maduro accused international media of ignoring demonstrations by pro-government supporters. The rival protests come a day ahead of a deadline given to Mr Maduro by major European countries to announce new presidential elections - otherwise they would also recognise Mr Guaido. Military support is seen as crucial to Mr Maduro's hold on power. Many supporters at Saturday's rally were seen wearing the khaki uniforms of the government militia. Ahead of the protests, a high-ranking Air Force general announced his support for Mr Guaido  in a video message posted online. Gen Francisco Yanez, the force's head of strategic planning, called on other members of the military to join him in defecting. It is not clear when or where the message was recorded. In response, the Air Force's high command accused him of treason. But US National Security Adviser John Bolton called on the rest of the country's military to join forces with Gen Francisco Yanez. Mr Guaido, meanwhile, says he has held secret meetings with the military to win support for ousting Mr Maduro. He has also reached out to China in the hope of improving relations with the country. In comments published in the South China Morning Post on Saturday, Mr Guaido said he wanted a \"productive and mutually beneficial\" relationship with China, adding that he was ready to engage in dialogue \"as soon as possible\". Analysis by James Reynolds, BBC News, Caracas For the first time in years, Venezuela's opposition feels optimistic. Tens of thousands of protesters gathered in the centre of the capital. They want to find a way of bringing about fall of the government they detest. Many have spent years living with shortages. \"I'm 17 and I've only ever seen this government,\" one protester told me. \"I don't want to live under it any more. I'm tired of this.\" Francia, a school teacher, told me that her mother had died because of a lack of medicine. \"I have hope again,\" she said. \"We were hopeless a month ago. We believe this is the real change. I've been fighting for almost  20 years. Nobody believed us. Now they do - and we do, too.\" \"We are going to carry on in the streets until we achieve freedom and the end of the usurpation [of Maduro],\" he told cheering crowds. He reiterated an appeal to the \"civil and military officials\" of Mr Maduro's administration to back him. \"Soldier of the nation... you have a role in the recovery of Venezuela,\" he said. Mr Guaido announced that the opposition would start gathering humanitarian aid from Colombia and Brazil and urged the military to let it into the country. Between 250,000 and 300,000 Venezuelans were \"in danger\" of dying due to food and medicine shortages, he added. In a speech carried live by Venezuelan state TV, President Maduro insisted that his his left-wing revolutionary government would continue in power. \"I am the sovereign president of all Venezuela,\" he said, adding he retained the support of the military, who were \"more loyal than ever\" and calling on the opposition to give up a \"failed\" attempt to seize power. \"Stop calling for war, stop supporting a coup that has already failed,\" Maduro said. More than 20 countries, including the US, have recognised Mr Guaido as Venezuela's interim president. Russia, China and Turkey are among those who have publicly backed President Maduro. Last week, several European countries including Spain, Germany, France and the UK said they would also recognise Mr Guaido as president if elections were not called within eight days.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 3206, "answer_end": 3794, "text": "\"We are going to carry on in the streets until we achieve freedom and the end of the usurpation [of Maduro],\" he told cheering crowds. He reiterated an appeal to the \"civil and military officials\" of Mr Maduro's administration to back him. \"Soldier of the nation... you have a role in the recovery of Venezuela,\" he said. Mr Guaido announced that the opposition would start gathering humanitarian aid from Colombia and Brazil and urged the military to let it into the country. Between 250,000 and 300,000 Venezuelans were \"in danger\" of dying due to food and medicine shortages, he added."}], "question": "What did Mr Guaido say on Saturday?", "id": "1100_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3795, "answer_end": 4241, "text": "In a speech carried live by Venezuelan state TV, President Maduro insisted that his his left-wing revolutionary government would continue in power. \"I am the sovereign president of all Venezuela,\" he said, adding he retained the support of the military, who were \"more loyal than ever\" and calling on the opposition to give up a \"failed\" attempt to seize power. \"Stop calling for war, stop supporting a coup that has already failed,\" Maduro said."}], "question": "What about Mr Maduro's position?", "id": "1100_1"}]}]}, {"title": "Snakebites: Like having my hand smashed by a hammer'", "date": "16 May 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "David Williams has been bitten by a snake six times. \"The first time was pretty terrifying because I didn't know what to expect. It felt like having my hand smashed with a hammer,\" he says. \"My last snakebite would have been a fatal one, but for the fact we were carrying an emergency medical kit so we could do something about it.\" Dr Williams, an expert on snakebites at the World Health Organization (WHO) - who travels the world collecting snake venoms to help develop new treatments - says most victims \"don't have that life-saving luxury\". The WHO calls snakebites \"arguably the world's biggest hidden health crisis\", with one person dying from a bite every four minutes. Hundreds of thousands of others are left seriously disfigured, with many needing amputations. Snakebites mainly affect people living in some of the poorest communities in the poorest parts of Africa, Asia and Latin America. Farmers risk their lives and livelihoods every day while simply tending to their crops, where deadly snakes lurk. Children often become victims too. So now two major health organisations - the WHO and the UK's Wellcome Trust - are taking steps to tackle snakebites. The Wellcome Trust is investing PS80m into a new programme to invest in new treatments and better access to effective anti-venoms. And the WHO is preparing to publish a plan to halve the number of deaths and disabilities caused by snakebites by 2030. \"We're at a very important point in the effort to do something about snakebite for some of the poorest people in the world,\" says Dr Williams. \"Many already live in poverty and the consequence of snakebite is that they are driven further into debt and despair, even if they survive.\" - There are around 2.7 million cases of snake \"envenoming\" (poisoning from venom getting into the blood via a bite or being sprayed into the eyes) every year - Between 81,000 and 138,000 people die annually - Around 400,000 people will suffer permanent disability - Venomous bites can cause paralysis, kidney or liver failure, fatal bleeding or amputation Source: World Health Organization Snakebite, though potentially lethal, is treatable. Wellcome's director of science, Prof Mike Turner, says: \"With access to the right anti-venom there is a high chance of survival. \"While people will always be bitten by venomous snakes, there is no reason so many should die.\" Dr Philip Price, science lead for snakebites at the Wellcome Trust, says there is a \"spiral of decline\" when it comes to dealing with snakebites. \"The treatments are expensive, the people who need them often can't afford them, and in some cases people can't make it to the hospital in time.\" Dr Price said that even when people do reach hospital, sometimes the doctors are not trained adequately, and often treatments are not available. He said patients may instead turn to traditional healers, meaning they \"fly under the radar\" so \"most countries aren't even aware they have a snakebite problem\". Anti-venom treatment is made in the same way that it has been for more than 100 years. The costly and laborious process sees antibodies harvested from horse blood to make anti-venom. But even so, it is estimated that the world produces only a third of the anti-venom that it needs. The horses are given very low doses of snake venom over long periods of time, so it does not harm the animal, says Dr Price. \"Eventually the blood is taken from the horse, and the antibodies are purified out. The antibodies inside that blood then bind and neutralise the venom. \"It's not without risk to inject this directly into the patient.\" These risks mean victims have to be treated in hospitals, which can take hours or even days for people to travel to. That is often too late to save lives and limbs. Another major challenge is that many of the anti-venoms available are not actually effective. Different types of snakebites need different types of anti-venom. In Africa, for example, up to 90% of available anti-venom is thought to be ineffective. There is currently no authoritative international list that exists of all the anti-venoms available and what they actually treat. Despite the challenges, achieving the WHO goal of halving deaths and disabilities from snakebites over the next decade is \"not all that difficult\", according to Dr Williams. He has spent decades working on improving snakebite treatments and education, particularly in Papua New Guinea. \"In 2003 in Papua New Guinea, one in every four children who were bitten by snakes died. Today it's less than one in every 50.\" Dr Williams says whilst this is still too many deaths, the solution is \"not rocket science\". \"It's about having safe, effective anti-venoms, trained health workers, communities that are engaged in the problem and are taught how better to prevent snakebite, and what to do when someone is bitten.\" He said a desperately needed spotlight is finally being placed on this avoidable killer. The WHO will announce its strategy to cut snakebite deaths and disabilities later this month at the annual World Health Assembly in Geneva.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 2969, "answer_end": 4137, "text": "Anti-venom treatment is made in the same way that it has been for more than 100 years. The costly and laborious process sees antibodies harvested from horse blood to make anti-venom. But even so, it is estimated that the world produces only a third of the anti-venom that it needs. The horses are given very low doses of snake venom over long periods of time, so it does not harm the animal, says Dr Price. \"Eventually the blood is taken from the horse, and the antibodies are purified out. The antibodies inside that blood then bind and neutralise the venom. \"It's not without risk to inject this directly into the patient.\" These risks mean victims have to be treated in hospitals, which can take hours or even days for people to travel to. That is often too late to save lives and limbs. Another major challenge is that many of the anti-venoms available are not actually effective. Different types of snakebites need different types of anti-venom. In Africa, for example, up to 90% of available anti-venom is thought to be ineffective. There is currently no authoritative international list that exists of all the anti-venoms available and what they actually treat."}], "question": "So how are snakebites treated?", "id": "1101_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Liberia election run-off: Ex-footballer versus vice-president", "date": "27 December 2017", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Vote counting is under way in Liberia in a run-off presidential election between Vice-President Joseph Boakai and ex-football star George Weah. Mr Weah, 51, won the first round, but did not secure the required 50% of the vote for an outright victory. Legal challenges delayed the vote to replace Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Africa's first elected female president. Turnout seems to have been low, but the result is expected to lead to the first smooth transfer of power in 73 years. More than two million people were eligible to cast their ballots in the nation of 4.6 million people, founded by freed US slaves in the 19th Century. The final result is expected later in the week. Mr Weah, the former AC Milan and Paris Saint-Germain player, defeated Ms Johnson Sirleaf in the first round in 2005 but lost to her in the subsequent run-off. In the following election's run-off, in 2011, when he ran as a running mate to the opposition candidate, his coalition boycotted the vote, citing irregularities. This time, the mood at the headquarters of Mr Weah's Congress for Democratic Change party is ecstatic, with his supporters predicting victory as unofficial partial results come in. \"We know our result from our war room,\" Eddie Tarawali, a supporter of Mr Weah, told the BBC. In contrast, the few people at the offices of Mr Boakai's United Party have long faces, reports BBC Africa's Umaru Fofana from the capital, Monrovia. However, the party's youth leader, Whroway Bryant, said there was \"absolutely\" no doubt that the 73-year-old vice-president was winning. By Alex Duval Smith, BBC News, Monrovia Despite indications of a low turnout, Liberia appears to have created the conditions for one elected president to hand over to another through the ballot box. There's still room for contestation, as the 10 October first round showed. The poll was followed by weeks of legal wrangling that ultimately led to the run-off being delayed. There were two petitions alleging fraud, including one from Mr Boakai. Even as he voted on Tuesday, the vice-president repeated his scepticism about the first round. Mr Weah also hinted that there had been fraud in the first round. Election observer groups will issue their preliminary comments over the next few days and the National Electoral Commission says the result will be confirmed within days. A representative for the opposition Liberty Party, Charles Brumskine, who came third in October's first round, challenged the result, saying it had been marred by \"massive fraud and irregularities\". But earlier this month the Supreme Court ruled that evidence of fraud was insufficient to merit a re-run of the opening round, and the run-off, originally due on 7 November, was announced. Weah supporters had alleged some ballot-rigging, although there was no immediate official confirmation. Mr Weah himself said, after casting his vote, the election had been \"peaceful and good\". Goodluck Jonathan, the former Nigerian president, who is an observer at the election, told the BBC he was certain it would be free and fair despite \"some challenges\". Ms Johnson Sirleaf praised a violence-free electoral process, saying: \"The ballot box has replaced bullets and electoral disputes are settled through the courts\". Christopher Fomunyoh, an election observer from the National Democratic Institute, told the BBC that voting had gone much more smoothly than the first time round. This will be the first time for many generations that Liberians witness a transfer of power from one elected leader to another. Ms Sirleaf took office in 2006, after her predecessor, Charles Taylor, was forced out by rebels in 2003, ending a long civil war. Taylor is serving a 50-year prison sentence in the UK for war crimes related to the conflict in neighbouring Sierra Leone.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 676, "answer_end": 1558, "text": "Mr Weah, the former AC Milan and Paris Saint-Germain player, defeated Ms Johnson Sirleaf in the first round in 2005 but lost to her in the subsequent run-off. In the following election's run-off, in 2011, when he ran as a running mate to the opposition candidate, his coalition boycotted the vote, citing irregularities. This time, the mood at the headquarters of Mr Weah's Congress for Democratic Change party is ecstatic, with his supporters predicting victory as unofficial partial results come in. \"We know our result from our war room,\" Eddie Tarawali, a supporter of Mr Weah, told the BBC. In contrast, the few people at the offices of Mr Boakai's United Party have long faces, reports BBC Africa's Umaru Fofana from the capital, Monrovia. However, the party's youth leader, Whroway Bryant, said there was \"absolutely\" no doubt that the 73-year-old vice-president was winning."}], "question": "Who is the favourite?", "id": "1102_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2336, "answer_end": 2723, "text": "A representative for the opposition Liberty Party, Charles Brumskine, who came third in October's first round, challenged the result, saying it had been marred by \"massive fraud and irregularities\". But earlier this month the Supreme Court ruled that evidence of fraud was insufficient to merit a re-run of the opening round, and the run-off, originally due on 7 November, was announced."}], "question": "Why was the vote delayed?", "id": "1102_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2724, "answer_end": 3409, "text": "Weah supporters had alleged some ballot-rigging, although there was no immediate official confirmation. Mr Weah himself said, after casting his vote, the election had been \"peaceful and good\". Goodluck Jonathan, the former Nigerian president, who is an observer at the election, told the BBC he was certain it would be free and fair despite \"some challenges\". Ms Johnson Sirleaf praised a violence-free electoral process, saying: \"The ballot box has replaced bullets and electoral disputes are settled through the courts\". Christopher Fomunyoh, an election observer from the National Democratic Institute, told the BBC that voting had gone much more smoothly than the first time round."}], "question": "Was the vote fair?", "id": "1102_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3410, "answer_end": 3790, "text": "This will be the first time for many generations that Liberians witness a transfer of power from one elected leader to another. Ms Sirleaf took office in 2006, after her predecessor, Charles Taylor, was forced out by rebels in 2003, ending a long civil war. Taylor is serving a 50-year prison sentence in the UK for war crimes related to the conflict in neighbouring Sierra Leone."}], "question": "Why was this election so important?", "id": "1102_3"}]}]}, {"title": "What's the latest on the Brexit powers row?", "date": "16 May 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "MSPs have refused to give Holyrood's devolved consent to the EU Withdrawal Bill, the main piece of Westminster Brexit legislation. What is the background to the row, and where might we end up? The row centres on a set of powers which are technically devolved to the Scottish Parliament, but which are currently exercised from Brussels to ensure rules and regulations are the same across the EU. The question is what happens to these powers after the UK leaves the EU? Ministers agreed that some of them should go into UK-wide frameworks - similar to how they were used previously but across the UK's \"internal market\" instead of the European one. The argument is about how these \"UK-wide frameworks\" are set up and how they might be run in the years immediately following Brexit. They fall into areas like farming, fishing, environmental regulations and public procurement. An example would be food standards. Minimum standards are agreed for specific products like coffee, honey, condensed milk, chocolate and jam. At present, these apply across the EU - and post-Brexit, UK ministers want to agree common standards to apply across the UK. A similar field is food labelling - a common approach to what information is included on the label on the back of your tin of beans or packet of mince, and how it is presented. The row is about how these common frameworks are set up, and who has the final say over them where ministers fail to agree. UK ministers say that some areas are so important that in the first few years after Brexit, they can't afford splits in that \"internal market\" over things like food standards. They say that if there isn't agreement on a shared area, someone has to make a decision - and that someone should be the Westminster parliament, acting for the UK as a whole. Scottish ministers reckon this is a \"power grab\", leaving Westminster free to impose its will on Holyrood. Scottish Brexit minister Mike Russell said this would give UK ministers \"a totally free hand to pass legislation that would directly affect Scotland's fishing industry, our farmers, our environment, our public sector procurement rules, the safe use of chemicals and our food safety,\" while Holyrood's \"hands would be tied\". It boils down to one word - \"consult\", or \"consent\". Do UK ministers have to get the explicit consent of the devolved administrations for action in these areas, or just consult them? Well, not really. Both sides rather dug in around their positions, and each claim the other side's preferred word would represent a significant change to the existing devolution settlement. UK ministers say the \"consent\" route would effectively give ministers in Edinburgh (or indeed Cardiff or Belfast) a \"veto\" over things happening in other parts of the UK. Scottish ministers contend that the \"consult\" route would let Westminster overrule them on important devolved issues. Constitutional scholars will note that technically, the UK parliament has the power to do this already - the Scotland Act notes that they would \"not normally\" do it, which doesn't rule it out - but ministers don't want to open up another route for that to happen. There's a question of trust as well as wording - Mr Russell says it's all very well for the Theresa May government to make commitments not to mess the devolved administrations around, but what about future administrations? The Boris Johnson government, or the Jacob Rees-Mogg government? Picking a fight with a possible future government \"sounds ridiculous\", Mr Russell admits - but then, \"we live in a very bizarre world\". Both sides say they have already compromised. Mr Russell says the Scottish government compromised just by accepting the idea of UK-wide frameworks. UK ministers, meanwhile, offered a \"sunset clause\" time limit on their plans. This would put a two-year time limit on the power to make new regulations in devolved areas, and a five-year limit on the regulations themselves. However, as much as the two sides might have moved towards each other, they haven't met in the middle. The \"sunset clause\" is still seven years too long from the Scottish government perspective. At one time, the Scottish and Welsh governments coordinated their opposition to the Withdrawal Bill \"power grab\". Joint statements were published, legislation passed in tandem. But then, Welsh and UK ministers have found \"a deal we can work with\". The Welsh accepted that some powers will be \"temporarily held by the UK government\", in areas where \"common UK-wide rules are needed for a functioning UK internal market\". There were perhaps as many political reasons for the deal as constitutional ones. Welsh First Minister Carwyn Jones had just announced he was stepping down. Mark Drakeford, who has led in the talks with UK ministers, is gunning for the top job. On top of that, a majority of Welsh voters backed Leave in the referendum - meaning ministers in Cardiff have a slightly different set of priorities. The Welsh Assembly has also only just moved to the \"reserved powers\" model of devolution which Holyrood has used from day one, having previously used the \"conferred powers\" model. Having just had one big change to their devolution settlement, another alteration might be easier for the Welsh to swallow. A whole series of deadlines have come and gone, but ministers always seem to insist there's still time for a deal to be done (if only someone else would give in). Tuesday was the deadline for the devolved parliaments to give their consent to the bill, before its final reading in the Lords. MSPs at Holyrood said no; reflecting their deal, AMs in Wales said yes. Despite this, both sides say there is still a little time. The consent votes were only on the Withdrawal Bill as it currently stands, and it is not yet the finished article. The bill still has to bounce between the upper and lower chambers at Westminster while amendments are ironed out. So technically, there is still some time. But it increasingly feels like neither side really have their heart in it any more - there's just too much distance between them. It would take something completely new to break the deadlock at this point. If there is no deal, then there are two places we could end up. Either the UK government presses ahead and legislates anyway, without Holyrood's devolved consent, or they let it slide and let the Scottish Parliament's own legislation fill in the gaps in the law north of the border. The \"continuity bill\" was passed by MSPs as a backstop, an alternative to the Withdrawal Bill should they end up refusing consent for the Westminster version. However, UK law officers have challenged that legislation in the Supreme Court, questioning whether it falls within Holyrood's remit. One possible outcome is that the justices shoot down the bill, at which point UK ministers would say they have no choice but to legislate for Scotland regardless of consent. What if the justices allow the Holyrood legislation to proceed? Well, Westminster could go ahead and legislate across devolved areas anyway - they have that power. The devolution settlement says they would \"not normally\" do this, but ministers could argue that these are not normal times - if they could live with the massive row which would ensue. Or they could let the continuity bill stand. This would give Scottish ministers extra leeway to go their own way on matching up regulations with EU ones, or ones in the rest of the UK - something which may not be palatable for UK ministers, given their arguments about the \"internal market\".", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 193, "answer_end": 779, "text": "The row centres on a set of powers which are technically devolved to the Scottish Parliament, but which are currently exercised from Brussels to ensure rules and regulations are the same across the EU. The question is what happens to these powers after the UK leaves the EU? Ministers agreed that some of them should go into UK-wide frameworks - similar to how they were used previously but across the UK's \"internal market\" instead of the European one. The argument is about how these \"UK-wide frameworks\" are set up and how they might be run in the years immediately following Brexit."}], "question": "What's this all about?", "id": "1103_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 780, "answer_end": 1317, "text": "They fall into areas like farming, fishing, environmental regulations and public procurement. An example would be food standards. Minimum standards are agreed for specific products like coffee, honey, condensed milk, chocolate and jam. At present, these apply across the EU - and post-Brexit, UK ministers want to agree common standards to apply across the UK. A similar field is food labelling - a common approach to what information is included on the label on the back of your tin of beans or packet of mince, and how it is presented."}], "question": "What sort of powers are we talking about here?", "id": "1103_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1318, "answer_end": 2406, "text": "The row is about how these common frameworks are set up, and who has the final say over them where ministers fail to agree. UK ministers say that some areas are so important that in the first few years after Brexit, they can't afford splits in that \"internal market\" over things like food standards. They say that if there isn't agreement on a shared area, someone has to make a decision - and that someone should be the Westminster parliament, acting for the UK as a whole. Scottish ministers reckon this is a \"power grab\", leaving Westminster free to impose its will on Holyrood. Scottish Brexit minister Mike Russell said this would give UK ministers \"a totally free hand to pass legislation that would directly affect Scotland's fishing industry, our farmers, our environment, our public sector procurement rules, the safe use of chemicals and our food safety,\" while Holyrood's \"hands would be tied\". It boils down to one word - \"consult\", or \"consent\". Do UK ministers have to get the explicit consent of the devolved administrations for action in these areas, or just consult them?"}], "question": "What is the dispute about, then?", "id": "1103_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2407, "answer_end": 3573, "text": "Well, not really. Both sides rather dug in around their positions, and each claim the other side's preferred word would represent a significant change to the existing devolution settlement. UK ministers say the \"consent\" route would effectively give ministers in Edinburgh (or indeed Cardiff or Belfast) a \"veto\" over things happening in other parts of the UK. Scottish ministers contend that the \"consult\" route would let Westminster overrule them on important devolved issues. Constitutional scholars will note that technically, the UK parliament has the power to do this already - the Scotland Act notes that they would \"not normally\" do it, which doesn't rule it out - but ministers don't want to open up another route for that to happen. There's a question of trust as well as wording - Mr Russell says it's all very well for the Theresa May government to make commitments not to mess the devolved administrations around, but what about future administrations? The Boris Johnson government, or the Jacob Rees-Mogg government? Picking a fight with a possible future government \"sounds ridiculous\", Mr Russell admits - but then, \"we live in a very bizarre world\"."}], "question": "One word? Shouldn't this have been easily settled, then?", "id": "1103_3"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3574, "answer_end": 4140, "text": "Both sides say they have already compromised. Mr Russell says the Scottish government compromised just by accepting the idea of UK-wide frameworks. UK ministers, meanwhile, offered a \"sunset clause\" time limit on their plans. This would put a two-year time limit on the power to make new regulations in devolved areas, and a five-year limit on the regulations themselves. However, as much as the two sides might have moved towards each other, they haven't met in the middle. The \"sunset clause\" is still seven years too long from the Scottish government perspective."}], "question": "Isn't there room for compromise here?", "id": "1103_4"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 4141, "answer_end": 5259, "text": "At one time, the Scottish and Welsh governments coordinated their opposition to the Withdrawal Bill \"power grab\". Joint statements were published, legislation passed in tandem. But then, Welsh and UK ministers have found \"a deal we can work with\". The Welsh accepted that some powers will be \"temporarily held by the UK government\", in areas where \"common UK-wide rules are needed for a functioning UK internal market\". There were perhaps as many political reasons for the deal as constitutional ones. Welsh First Minister Carwyn Jones had just announced he was stepping down. Mark Drakeford, who has led in the talks with UK ministers, is gunning for the top job. On top of that, a majority of Welsh voters backed Leave in the referendum - meaning ministers in Cardiff have a slightly different set of priorities. The Welsh Assembly has also only just moved to the \"reserved powers\" model of devolution which Holyrood has used from day one, having previously used the \"conferred powers\" model. Having just had one big change to their devolution settlement, another alteration might be easier for the Welsh to swallow."}], "question": "So why did the Welsh do a deal?", "id": "1103_5"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 5260, "answer_end": 6158, "text": "A whole series of deadlines have come and gone, but ministers always seem to insist there's still time for a deal to be done (if only someone else would give in). Tuesday was the deadline for the devolved parliaments to give their consent to the bill, before its final reading in the Lords. MSPs at Holyrood said no; reflecting their deal, AMs in Wales said yes. Despite this, both sides say there is still a little time. The consent votes were only on the Withdrawal Bill as it currently stands, and it is not yet the finished article. The bill still has to bounce between the upper and lower chambers at Westminster while amendments are ironed out. So technically, there is still some time. But it increasingly feels like neither side really have their heart in it any more - there's just too much distance between them. It would take something completely new to break the deadlock at this point."}], "question": "Is there any more time?", "id": "1103_6"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 6159, "answer_end": 7549, "text": "If there is no deal, then there are two places we could end up. Either the UK government presses ahead and legislates anyway, without Holyrood's devolved consent, or they let it slide and let the Scottish Parliament's own legislation fill in the gaps in the law north of the border. The \"continuity bill\" was passed by MSPs as a backstop, an alternative to the Withdrawal Bill should they end up refusing consent for the Westminster version. However, UK law officers have challenged that legislation in the Supreme Court, questioning whether it falls within Holyrood's remit. One possible outcome is that the justices shoot down the bill, at which point UK ministers would say they have no choice but to legislate for Scotland regardless of consent. What if the justices allow the Holyrood legislation to proceed? Well, Westminster could go ahead and legislate across devolved areas anyway - they have that power. The devolution settlement says they would \"not normally\" do this, but ministers could argue that these are not normal times - if they could live with the massive row which would ensue. Or they could let the continuity bill stand. This would give Scottish ministers extra leeway to go their own way on matching up regulations with EU ones, or ones in the rest of the UK - something which may not be palatable for UK ministers, given their arguments about the \"internal market\"."}], "question": "So what happens now?", "id": "1103_7"}]}]}, {"title": "Rohingya return to Myanmar: Confusion and fear in refugee camps", "date": "15 November 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "No Rohingya refugees voluntarily chose to return to Myanmar from camps in Bangladesh on the first day of a planned repatriation programme. Under a joint deal between the two countries, authorities had wanted to move some 2,000 Rohingya on Thursday. But the UN and rights groups say no-one should be forced to return, as the situation in Myanmar is not safe. More than 700,000 Rohingya Muslims and others have fled to Bangladesh over the past year. They were escaping violence and a military operation in western Rakhine state. The UN has said senior Myanmar officials should be investigated and tried for genocide over the operation, which the army says was targeting militants. After the planned repatriations were halted on Thursday, amid protests in the camps, senior Myanmar officials said they had been ready to process returnees and blamed the Bangladeshi side. The refugees are mostly living in basic conditions in sprawling camps near the Bangladeshi border town of Cox's Bazar. Myanmar and Bangladesh have agreed they should gradually be returned to Myanmar and thousands of people have been approved for return by Myanmar. This has led to panic among the refugees, many of whom experienced violence in Myanmar, or had family members killed and their homes burned. The first group of refugees due to leave on Thursday had been told buses had been organised, a transit camp set up and there were stocks of rations for three days, the BBC's Yogita Limaye reported from one of the camps. But hearing the announcement people erupted in protest, shouting \"we don't want to go back\", and holding up placards listing the things they wanted before they would agree to return. Some even broke down in tears, our correspondent reports. \"None feels safe to go back now. We cannot force them to go back against their will,\" Mohammad Abul Kalam, Bangladesh's repatriation commissioner, told AFP news agency. Amid the heightened anxiety, there is an increased security presence in the camps. \"I'm scared about the repatriation,\" one 40-year-old man on the list to be sent back told the BBC. \"Though they are trying to reassure us, I'm not convinced. I think they might kill us if we go there.\" Like many others he has sent his family into hiding in the camps. He said the only condition under which they were prepared to return to Myanmar was if they were given citizenship. \"If we have to go back, that is our fate. But I feel they will be sending us there to die.\" Another refugee told the BBC he fled with his wife and sons but that many relatives had been killed. \"They brutally tortured us,\" he said, breaking down in tears. \"The military came to us, they killed our people, threw kids in the fire and also set fire to houses. \"I am very disturbed by this talk of going back. How can we go there?\" Nick Beake, BBC Myanmar correspondent, Rakhine state The biggest fear for the Rohingya is that they would be living among the Buddhist mobs accused of burning their villages and would be protected by the same army troops who are accused of committing genocidal acts against them. It's true that the Rohingya people are detested by large parts of Burmese society and particularly in Rakhine state where the worst persecution has played out. Ethnic Rakhine villagers told me on a recent trip they believed all Rohingya were illegal and dangerous immigrants. The village administrator quietly said they were all \"terrorists\". These views - extreme and unswerving - are widespread in Rakhine state. So while the Myanmar government talks about building temporary shelters, offering medical care and sufficient food rations for Rohingyas who return, many international observers insist the root causes of the violence and hate-filled attitudes need to be properly tackled before Rohingyas can return home and live with safety and dignity. The UN, charities and human rights groups are concerned there is no effective plan in place to independently monitor the Rohingyas safety if they return. \"We are witnessing terror and panic among those Rohingya refugees in Cox's Bazar who are at imminent risk of being returned to Myanmar against their will,\" Michelle Bachelet, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights said. She warned that lives would be put at \"serious risk\" if the repatriation was to go ahead. \"The Bangladesh government will be stunned to see how quickly international opinion turns against it if it starts sending unwilling Rohingya refugees back into harm's way in Myanmar,\" Bill Frelick, refugee rights director at Human Rights Watch, said. The Muslim Rohingya are one of the many ethnic minorities in Myanmar. Authorities in predominantly Buddhist Myanmar see them as illegal immigrants, so they are denied citizenship and other rights. There have been widespread allegations of human rights abuses, including arbitrary killing, rape and burning of land over many years. Last year, the Myanmar military launched a crackdown in Rakhine state after Rohingya militants carried out deadly attacks on police posts, sparking an exodus. About 300,000 Rohingya had already fled Myanmar (also called Burma) in earlier waves of communal violence. Myanmar's army has previously cleared itself of wrongdoing and has rejected UN allegations that genocide may have occurred. The country's de-facto civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi is currently in Singapore for an international summit where she was confronted by US Vice President Mike Pence over the issue. \"The violence and persecution by military and vigilantes that resulted in driving 700,000 Rohingya to Bangladesh is without excuse,\" he said. She responded that there were \"different points of view\" and both sides should \"learn to understand each other better\".", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 4549, "answer_end": 5714, "text": "The Muslim Rohingya are one of the many ethnic minorities in Myanmar. Authorities in predominantly Buddhist Myanmar see them as illegal immigrants, so they are denied citizenship and other rights. There have been widespread allegations of human rights abuses, including arbitrary killing, rape and burning of land over many years. Last year, the Myanmar military launched a crackdown in Rakhine state after Rohingya militants carried out deadly attacks on police posts, sparking an exodus. About 300,000 Rohingya had already fled Myanmar (also called Burma) in earlier waves of communal violence. Myanmar's army has previously cleared itself of wrongdoing and has rejected UN allegations that genocide may have occurred. The country's de-facto civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi is currently in Singapore for an international summit where she was confronted by US Vice President Mike Pence over the issue. \"The violence and persecution by military and vigilantes that resulted in driving 700,000 Rohingya to Bangladesh is without excuse,\" he said. She responded that there were \"different points of view\" and both sides should \"learn to understand each other better\"."}], "question": "Why are the Rohingya in Bangladesh?", "id": "1104_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Italy elections: Populists Salvini and Di Maio vow tax cuts", "date": "9 March 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "The leaders of the two largest parties to emerge from Sunday's general election in Italy have talked up their economic plans in a bid to win support. Matteo Salvini of the anti-illegal migrant League promised to defy Brussels by cutting taxes and a top figure in the anti-establishment Five Star Movement also mooted tax cuts. President Sergio Mattarella has called for \"a sense of responsibility\". Formal talks on creating a new government only start after 23 March. That is when the new parliament picks speakers for the upper and lower houses. In an interview with Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera, party leader Luigi Di Maio said his party, which won 32% of the vote, was drawing up new economic proposals to be included in the outgoing government's multi-year economic plan. \"We want to move quickly,\" the Five Star leader said. \"If the other parties want to propose other measures that will help people then we are ready to discuss them.\" The government's plan must be submitted by 10 April. Mr Di Maio said his party's proposals would act as a benchmark for coalition agreements with other parties. Danilo Toninelli, tipped to be Five Star's Senate floor leader, outlined the ideas to reporters. \"If we propose issues like universal income, lower taxes and an anti-corruption law, which are also present in the programmes of other political forces, they owe us an answer,\" he said. Commentators have speculated about a possible coalition between Five Star and the centre-left Democratic Party (PD), which leads the outgoing government. Mr Di Maio said he would be open to talks with \"all the parties, with no exception\". However, acting Justice Minister Andrea Orlando of the PD said a tie-up with Five Star would be \"impossible\". It won 17.4% of the vote, relegating its centre-right electoral partner Forza Italia to second place on 14%. League leader Matteo Salvini pledged economic plans \"the opposite\" of what the EU would want. \"I read that Brussels wants new taxes,\" he said \"We will present an alternative plan based on the opposite - less taxes. In Brussels they will be happy because everyone is happy if Italy grows.\" The League leader also made overtures to the PD, saying he hoped they would be available \"to give a way out\" to the country. League envoys have reportedly been holding informal talks with PD dissidents, Bloomberg news agency reports. However, former Prime Minister Matteo Renzi, who pledged to step down as PD leader after the party's disastrous election performance, ruled out any co-operation with either the League or Five Star. Mr Salvini said he had \"no personal ambitions\" although he gave no indication he would step aside for someone else. \"The candidate [now] is Salvini but it could also be someone else that he puts forward, if that is what we agree together,\" said Renato Brunetta, lower house leader of Forza Italia, the party founded by former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi. Mr Berlusconi has said he will \"loyally support\" Mr Salvini's efforts to form a government.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 547, "answer_end": 1742, "text": "In an interview with Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera, party leader Luigi Di Maio said his party, which won 32% of the vote, was drawing up new economic proposals to be included in the outgoing government's multi-year economic plan. \"We want to move quickly,\" the Five Star leader said. \"If the other parties want to propose other measures that will help people then we are ready to discuss them.\" The government's plan must be submitted by 10 April. Mr Di Maio said his party's proposals would act as a benchmark for coalition agreements with other parties. Danilo Toninelli, tipped to be Five Star's Senate floor leader, outlined the ideas to reporters. \"If we propose issues like universal income, lower taxes and an anti-corruption law, which are also present in the programmes of other political forces, they owe us an answer,\" he said. Commentators have speculated about a possible coalition between Five Star and the centre-left Democratic Party (PD), which leads the outgoing government. Mr Di Maio said he would be open to talks with \"all the parties, with no exception\". However, acting Justice Minister Andrea Orlando of the PD said a tie-up with Five Star would be \"impossible\"."}], "question": "What does Five Star propose?", "id": "1105_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1743, "answer_end": 3024, "text": "It won 17.4% of the vote, relegating its centre-right electoral partner Forza Italia to second place on 14%. League leader Matteo Salvini pledged economic plans \"the opposite\" of what the EU would want. \"I read that Brussels wants new taxes,\" he said \"We will present an alternative plan based on the opposite - less taxes. In Brussels they will be happy because everyone is happy if Italy grows.\" The League leader also made overtures to the PD, saying he hoped they would be available \"to give a way out\" to the country. League envoys have reportedly been holding informal talks with PD dissidents, Bloomberg news agency reports. However, former Prime Minister Matteo Renzi, who pledged to step down as PD leader after the party's disastrous election performance, ruled out any co-operation with either the League or Five Star. Mr Salvini said he had \"no personal ambitions\" although he gave no indication he would step aside for someone else. \"The candidate [now] is Salvini but it could also be someone else that he puts forward, if that is what we agree together,\" said Renato Brunetta, lower house leader of Forza Italia, the party founded by former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi. Mr Berlusconi has said he will \"loyally support\" Mr Salvini's efforts to form a government."}], "question": "What does the League propose?", "id": "1105_1"}]}]}, {"title": "Russia, Facebook, the US election and when 126 million isn't 126 million", "date": "31 October 2017", "paragraphs": [{"context": "It sounds like a lot of people. As many as 126 million Americans may have seen content uploaded to Facebook by Russia-based operatives since 2015. That's nearly half of the 270 million Americans who are old enough to be allowed a Facebook profile. The figure comes from the social network itself, which along with Google and Twitter, is preparing for a Senate hearing where it will explain Russia's impact on the popular sites. But how many people have actually seen those posts? That very big number, 126 million, is the \"reach\" of some 80,000 posts published between June 2015 and August 2017. Facebook defines a post's \"reach\" as those people who may have come across the content (text story/video/image/ad) in their News Feed. A post counts as reaching someone when it's shown in their News Feed. So this figure takes no account of the number of people who may or may not have stopped to actually read the post. Figures are for the first 365 days after a post was created and include people viewing the post on desktop and mobile. The reach may be organic or paid. Organic reach is the total number of unique people who were shown your post through unpaid distribution. Paid reach is the total number of unique people who were shown your post as a result of ads. Crucially, therefore, when Facebook says that about 80,000 posts \"reached\" 126 million people in the US over two years, we don't know how many of those people actually stopped to read the content. As a result, we don't know how many of these thousands of posts had any impact at all on swaying US voters ahead of the 2016 election. Clearly, a mass targeting of posts can have a subliminal impact on people but it's hard to evaluate with any certainty based on the data we've seen so far. Facebook goes on to explain that the number of Americans who saw those posts directly is 29 million - a much smaller number. It is unclear what Facebook means by \"seen directly\". The first thing to say is that we don't know what relationship those 29 million users had to these Russian-sponsored posts. Does it mean the content was shared with them by a friend or relative? Does it mean they engaged with it, that is, reacted to it, commented on it, shared it? Secondly - we don't actually know whether each of those 29 million users represents an individual American. Some might be fake profiles. Some individuals set up multiple profiles (one for work, one for play). And of course, some may belong to children under the voting age - another way in which they would fail to influence an election. Third - it's worth putting this in context. Facebook says those 80,000 posts were \"seen directly\" by 29 million people over a two-year period. In January 2017, there were estimated to be more than 214 million active monthly Facebook users in the US alone. An active monthly user is someone who has logged in over the last 30 days. Given how much stuff those 214 million active Facebook users post and see, those 80,000 posts are likely to be a drop in the ocean. Read more from Reality Check Follow us on Twitter", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 480, "answer_end": 1933, "text": "That very big number, 126 million, is the \"reach\" of some 80,000 posts published between June 2015 and August 2017. Facebook defines a post's \"reach\" as those people who may have come across the content (text story/video/image/ad) in their News Feed. A post counts as reaching someone when it's shown in their News Feed. So this figure takes no account of the number of people who may or may not have stopped to actually read the post. Figures are for the first 365 days after a post was created and include people viewing the post on desktop and mobile. The reach may be organic or paid. Organic reach is the total number of unique people who were shown your post through unpaid distribution. Paid reach is the total number of unique people who were shown your post as a result of ads. Crucially, therefore, when Facebook says that about 80,000 posts \"reached\" 126 million people in the US over two years, we don't know how many of those people actually stopped to read the content. As a result, we don't know how many of these thousands of posts had any impact at all on swaying US voters ahead of the 2016 election. Clearly, a mass targeting of posts can have a subliminal impact on people but it's hard to evaluate with any certainty based on the data we've seen so far. Facebook goes on to explain that the number of Americans who saw those posts directly is 29 million - a much smaller number. It is unclear what Facebook means by \"seen directly\"."}], "question": "Reach or views?", "id": "1106_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1934, "answer_end": 3016, "text": "The first thing to say is that we don't know what relationship those 29 million users had to these Russian-sponsored posts. Does it mean the content was shared with them by a friend or relative? Does it mean they engaged with it, that is, reacted to it, commented on it, shared it? Secondly - we don't actually know whether each of those 29 million users represents an individual American. Some might be fake profiles. Some individuals set up multiple profiles (one for work, one for play). And of course, some may belong to children under the voting age - another way in which they would fail to influence an election. Third - it's worth putting this in context. Facebook says those 80,000 posts were \"seen directly\" by 29 million people over a two-year period. In January 2017, there were estimated to be more than 214 million active monthly Facebook users in the US alone. An active monthly user is someone who has logged in over the last 30 days. Given how much stuff those 214 million active Facebook users post and see, those 80,000 posts are likely to be a drop in the ocean."}], "question": "Is 29 million a big number?", "id": "1106_1"}]}]}, {"title": "Syria war: Why does the battle for Idlib matter?", "date": "18 February 2020", "paragraphs": [{"context": "A humanitarian catastrophe is unfolding in north-western Syria, where the government of President Bashar al-Assad is trying to recapture the opposition-held province of Idlib. Government air strikes and ground operations have driven almost a million civilians from their homes since December - the biggest single displacement of Syria's nine-year war. The UN has said a full-scale battle for Idlib could result in a \"bloodbath\". The province - along with parts of Hama, Latakia and Aleppo - is the last stronghold of the rebel and jihadist groups that have been trying to overthrow President Assad since 2011. The opposition once controlled large parts of the country, but the Syrian army has retaken most of the territory over the past five years with the help of Russian air power and Iran-backed militiamen. Now, the army wants to \"liberate\" Idlib. In recent years an influx of desperate displaced people has doubled its population to about three million, including one million children. Idlib is also strategically important to the government. It borders Turkey to the north and straddles highways running south from the city of Aleppo to the capital Damascus, and west to the Mediterranean city of Latakia. Idlib had been controlled by a number of rival factions, rather than a single group, since it fell to the opposition in 2015. But the dominant force is the al-Qaeda-linked jihadist alliance, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS). HTS was set up in 2017 by a group that broke off formal ties with al-Qaeda. It is designated as a terrorist organisation by the UN. In January 2019, HTS staged a violent takeover of large areas of the province. It expelled some rebel fighters to Aleppo's Afrin region, which is controlled by factions supported by Turkey. A UN committee estimated in January that the group had between 12,000 and 15,000 fighters in Idlib and its surrounding areas. In the battle against the government offensive it is supported by a variety of forces - including Chinese Uighur militants, a new al-Qaeda affiliate and Islamist groups fighting under the banner of the Turkey-backed Syrian National Army. The Islamic State group (IS) has several hundred fighters in Idlib. But other factions actively oppose its presence. Idlib has been subject to a \"de-escalation\" agreement between Turkey, Russia and Iran since May 2017. It called for the cessation of hostilities in four opposition strongholds, including Idlib, the \"separation\" of jihadists and mainstream rebels inside them, and unhindered aid deliveries. That October, Turkey deployed troops to observation posts on the opposition-held side of the front line in Idlib to monitor the agreement. Russian troops did the same on the government side. However, their presence did not stop the Syrian army retaking a large part of eastern Idlib's countryside over the next four months. The government then turned its attention to opposition bastions further south - notably Homs province, and the Eastern Ghouta near the capital Damascus. All those were recaptured by July 2018, devastating residential areas, killing hundreds of civilians, and displaced hundreds of thousands. Many opposition supporters were \"evacuated\" to Idlib as part of negotiated surrenders. Troops then began preparing for an all-out assault on Idlib. But one was averted in September 2018 by an agreement between Turkey and Russia. The Sochi accord called for a \"demilitarised buffer zone\" along the front line. Mainstream rebels were required to pull their heavy weapons out of the zone, and jihadists were told to withdraw altogether. However, it was never fully implemented. Rebels reportedly withdrew some heavy weapons, but the jihadists stayed. Hayat Tahrir al-Sham's takeover of Idlib a year ago was followed by renewed fighting. Government and Russian warplanes stepped up strikes on opposition-held areas, while jihadists shelled government-held territory. In April 2019, the army launched what Russia called a \"limited\" offensive in northern Hama and southern Idlib. The UN said 500 civilians were killed and 400,000 displaced over the next four months before a ceasefire was declared. A further 900,000 civilians - the vast majority of them women and children - have fled since the current government assault began in December, according to the UN. Some 300,000 have been displaced in February alone. The Syrian army has recaptured major towns in southern Idlib and regained control over the Aleppo-Latakia (M4) and Aleppo-Damascus (M5) highways. Those displaced have meanwhile moved north and west to the ever-shrinking space considered safe near the Turkish border. Turkey, which already hosts 3.6 million Syrian refugees and is worried about another influx, has given the Syrian army until the end of February to withdraw behind the line of Turkish observation posts or face military action. Turkey has already sent thousands of reinforcements to Idlib and there have been deadly clashes between Syrian and Turkish forces. But President Assad has vowed to continue the offensive to bring the opposition enclave back under his control. UN Emergency Relief Co-ordinator Mark Lowcock warned that the crisis in north-western Syria had \"reached a horrifying new level\". \"[The displaced civilians] are traumatised and forced to sleep outside in freezing temperatures because camps are full. Babies and small children are dying because of the cold,\" he said. Mr Lowcock described the violence as \"indiscriminate\", with health facilities, schools, mosques and markets being hit. \"Humanitarian workers themselves are being displaced and killed,\" he added. The UN is calling urgently for tents, thermal blankets and clothing, as well as specialist counselling to help deal with trauma. Mr Lowcock said \"the biggest humanitarian horror story of the 21st Century\" would only be avoided if those countries with influence in Syria brokered a ceasefire. Last year, he warned that an all-out assault on Idlib could result in \"the loss of huge numbers of people - running into hundreds of thousands, possible even more\".", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 429, "answer_end": 1211, "text": "The province - along with parts of Hama, Latakia and Aleppo - is the last stronghold of the rebel and jihadist groups that have been trying to overthrow President Assad since 2011. The opposition once controlled large parts of the country, but the Syrian army has retaken most of the territory over the past five years with the help of Russian air power and Iran-backed militiamen. Now, the army wants to \"liberate\" Idlib. In recent years an influx of desperate displaced people has doubled its population to about three million, including one million children. Idlib is also strategically important to the government. It borders Turkey to the north and straddles highways running south from the city of Aleppo to the capital Damascus, and west to the Mediterranean city of Latakia."}], "question": "What's so important about Idlib?", "id": "1107_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1212, "answer_end": 2233, "text": "Idlib had been controlled by a number of rival factions, rather than a single group, since it fell to the opposition in 2015. But the dominant force is the al-Qaeda-linked jihadist alliance, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS). HTS was set up in 2017 by a group that broke off formal ties with al-Qaeda. It is designated as a terrorist organisation by the UN. In January 2019, HTS staged a violent takeover of large areas of the province. It expelled some rebel fighters to Aleppo's Afrin region, which is controlled by factions supported by Turkey. A UN committee estimated in January that the group had between 12,000 and 15,000 fighters in Idlib and its surrounding areas. In the battle against the government offensive it is supported by a variety of forces - including Chinese Uighur militants, a new al-Qaeda affiliate and Islamist groups fighting under the banner of the Turkey-backed Syrian National Army. The Islamic State group (IS) has several hundred fighters in Idlib. But other factions actively oppose its presence."}], "question": "Who controls the province?", "id": "1107_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2234, "answer_end": 5085, "text": "Idlib has been subject to a \"de-escalation\" agreement between Turkey, Russia and Iran since May 2017. It called for the cessation of hostilities in four opposition strongholds, including Idlib, the \"separation\" of jihadists and mainstream rebels inside them, and unhindered aid deliveries. That October, Turkey deployed troops to observation posts on the opposition-held side of the front line in Idlib to monitor the agreement. Russian troops did the same on the government side. However, their presence did not stop the Syrian army retaking a large part of eastern Idlib's countryside over the next four months. The government then turned its attention to opposition bastions further south - notably Homs province, and the Eastern Ghouta near the capital Damascus. All those were recaptured by July 2018, devastating residential areas, killing hundreds of civilians, and displaced hundreds of thousands. Many opposition supporters were \"evacuated\" to Idlib as part of negotiated surrenders. Troops then began preparing for an all-out assault on Idlib. But one was averted in September 2018 by an agreement between Turkey and Russia. The Sochi accord called for a \"demilitarised buffer zone\" along the front line. Mainstream rebels were required to pull their heavy weapons out of the zone, and jihadists were told to withdraw altogether. However, it was never fully implemented. Rebels reportedly withdrew some heavy weapons, but the jihadists stayed. Hayat Tahrir al-Sham's takeover of Idlib a year ago was followed by renewed fighting. Government and Russian warplanes stepped up strikes on opposition-held areas, while jihadists shelled government-held territory. In April 2019, the army launched what Russia called a \"limited\" offensive in northern Hama and southern Idlib. The UN said 500 civilians were killed and 400,000 displaced over the next four months before a ceasefire was declared. A further 900,000 civilians - the vast majority of them women and children - have fled since the current government assault began in December, according to the UN. Some 300,000 have been displaced in February alone. The Syrian army has recaptured major towns in southern Idlib and regained control over the Aleppo-Latakia (M4) and Aleppo-Damascus (M5) highways. Those displaced have meanwhile moved north and west to the ever-shrinking space considered safe near the Turkish border. Turkey, which already hosts 3.6 million Syrian refugees and is worried about another influx, has given the Syrian army until the end of February to withdraw behind the line of Turkish observation posts or face military action. Turkey has already sent thousands of reinforcements to Idlib and there have been deadly clashes between Syrian and Turkish forces. But President Assad has vowed to continue the offensive to bring the opposition enclave back under his control."}], "question": "What led to the current government offensive?", "id": "1107_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 5086, "answer_end": 6054, "text": "UN Emergency Relief Co-ordinator Mark Lowcock warned that the crisis in north-western Syria had \"reached a horrifying new level\". \"[The displaced civilians] are traumatised and forced to sleep outside in freezing temperatures because camps are full. Babies and small children are dying because of the cold,\" he said. Mr Lowcock described the violence as \"indiscriminate\", with health facilities, schools, mosques and markets being hit. \"Humanitarian workers themselves are being displaced and killed,\" he added. The UN is calling urgently for tents, thermal blankets and clothing, as well as specialist counselling to help deal with trauma. Mr Lowcock said \"the biggest humanitarian horror story of the 21st Century\" would only be avoided if those countries with influence in Syria brokered a ceasefire. Last year, he warned that an all-out assault on Idlib could result in \"the loss of huge numbers of people - running into hundreds of thousands, possible even more\"."}], "question": "What is happening to the civilians?", "id": "1107_3"}]}]}, {"title": "Kim Yong-chol: North Korea leader Kim Jong-un's right hand man", "date": "17 January 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "North Korean general Kim Yong-chol is reportedly heading to Washington DC via Beijing as part of preparations for a second summit between North Korea and the United States. The General's trip to the US continues a series of remarkable developments after a year of surprises surrounding Korean diplomacy in 2018. He is often referred to as Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un's right-hand man and is notionally forbidden to travel to the US, having been twice sanctioned by Washington. But he has been at his leader's side at key summit meetings in 2018 and 2019, and his second visit to America this week highlights his importance to Pyongyang's diplomatic efforts. During his time as North Korea's military intelligence chief, Gen Kim was accused of masterminding attacks on the South Korean warship Cheonan and on Yeonpyeong Island in 2010. He is also linked to the cyber-attack on Sony Pictures in 2014 and led the country's delegation to the 2018 Winter Olympics closing ceremony in South Korea's Pyeongchang. General Kim Yong-chol emerged as a key player in North Korean diplomacy in 2018. Despite having the same surname, he is not related to the country's Supreme Leader. He was at Kim Jong-un's side in all of his high-profile summits since 2018, including the June summit with Trump in Singapore and the North Korean leader's latest visit to Beijing in January 2019. He was also a member of the welcoming party for US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's visits to Pyongyang in May and October 2018, and met Mr Pompeo and Mr Trump when he visited the United States in June before the first North Korea-US summit. Amid stalled talks on denuclearisation, another meeting between Kim Yong-chol and Mr Pompeo was planned in New York for November, but was cancelled abruptly. The former spy chief's current official position is vice-chairman of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea, but he rose to prominence as Pyongyang's chief military negotiator during inter-Korean talks between 2006 and 2008. He later served as the director of the General Reconnaissance Bureau, tasked with cyber-warfare and gathering foreign intelligence, from 2009 to 2016. In 2016, he took charge of the United Front Department, the civilian intelligence agency which supposedly operates pro-North Korean groups in South Korea and handles inter-Korean affairs. Soon after this appointment, however, he was reportedly sent for \"ideological re-education\" as punishment for an \"overbearing attitude\", according to South Korean daily JoongAng Ilbo. He retained his posts despite the punishment, and his rise to prominence in 2018 shows he is now clearly very much in favour and a valued adviser to Kim Jong-un. Gen Kim's re-emergence in 2018 was initially met with hostility in South Korea, where he's accused of being a key figure in the 2010 sinking of the South Korean naval corvette Cheonan. North Korea vehemently denies any involvement in the torpedoing of the ship, in which 46 sailors died. He was also reported to be involved in the 2014 Sony hack in response to the comedy film The Interview, which mocked Kim Jong-un. Gen Kim's alleged role in past events led to protests from conservative forces in South Korea before the 2018 Winter Olympics when it emerged that he would visit. \"We absolutely oppose a visit to the South by Kim Yong-chol, the main culprit of the Cheonan's sinking,\" said Kim Sung-tae, then floor leader of the opposition Liberty Korea Party. The party's statement also said that Kim Yong-chol deserved \"death by beating\" and called on the government to block the visit. However, South Korea's Unification Minister Cho Myoung-gyon stated that in the name of the relaxing of tensions between the two Koreas, there would be no restrictions on his travel for the Olympics. He has since stood on South Korean soil for a second time, crossing the border with Kim Jong-un as part of the inter-Korean summit delegation in April 2018. 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_start": 1005, "answer_end": 2690, "text": "General Kim Yong-chol emerged as a key player in North Korean diplomacy in 2018. Despite having the same surname, he is not related to the country's Supreme Leader. He was at Kim Jong-un's side in all of his high-profile summits since 2018, including the June summit with Trump in Singapore and the North Korean leader's latest visit to Beijing in January 2019. He was also a member of the welcoming party for US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's visits to Pyongyang in May and October 2018, and met Mr Pompeo and Mr Trump when he visited the United States in June before the first North Korea-US summit. Amid stalled talks on denuclearisation, another meeting between Kim Yong-chol and Mr Pompeo was planned in New York for November, but was cancelled abruptly. The former spy chief's current official position is vice-chairman of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea, but he rose to prominence as Pyongyang's chief military negotiator during inter-Korean talks between 2006 and 2008. He later served as the director of the General Reconnaissance Bureau, tasked with cyber-warfare and gathering foreign intelligence, from 2009 to 2016. In 2016, he took charge of the United Front Department, the civilian intelligence agency which supposedly operates pro-North Korean groups in South Korea and handles inter-Korean affairs. Soon after this appointment, however, he was reportedly sent for \"ideological re-education\" as punishment for an \"overbearing attitude\", according to South Korean daily JoongAng Ilbo. He retained his posts despite the punishment, and his rise to prominence in 2018 shows he is now clearly very much in favour and a valued adviser to Kim Jong-un."}], "question": "Who is General Kim?", "id": "1108_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Huawei's 'shoddy' work prompts talk of a Westminster ban", "date": "8 April 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "A top cyber-security official has said Huawei's \"shoddy\" engineering practices mean its mobile network equipment could be banned from Westminster and other sensitive parts of the UK. GCHQ's Dr Ian Levy told BBC Panorama the Chinese telecom giant also faced being barred from what he described as the \"brains\" of the 5G networks. The UK government is expected to reveal in May whether it will restrict or even ban the company's 5G technology. Huawei said it would address concerns. Last month, a GCHQ-backed security review of the company said it would be difficult to risk-manage Huawei's future products until defects in its cyber-security processes were fixed. It added that technical issues with the company's approach to software development had resulted in vulnerabilities in existing products, which in some cases had not been fixed, despite having being identified in previous versions. In his first broadcast interview, the executive in charge of the firm's telecoms equipment division said he planned to spend more than the $2bn (PS1.5bn) already committed to a \"transformation programme\" to tackle the problems identified. \"We hope to turn this challenge into an opportunity moving forward,\" said Ryan Ding, chief executive of Huawei's carrier business group. \"I believe that if we can carry out this programme as planned, Huawei will become the strongest player in the telecom industry in terms of security and reliability.\" However, Dr Levy - the technical director of GCHQ's National Cyber Security Centre - said he had yet to be convinced. \"The security in Huawei is like nothing else - it's engineering like it's back in the year 2000 - it's very, very shoddy. \"We've seen nothing to give us any confidence that the transformation programme is going to do what they say it's going to do.\" He added that \"geographic restrictions - maybe there's no Huawei radio [equipment] in Westminster\" was now one option for ministers to consider. Mobile UK - an industry group representing Vodafone, BT, O2 and Three - has warned that preventing Huawei from being involved in the UK's 5G rollout could cost the country's economy up to PS6.8bn and delay the launch of its next-generation networks by up to two years. Those already using Huawei's equipment have opted to keep it out of what is known as the core of their networks, where tasks such as checking device IDs and deciding how to route voice and data take place. EE used to make use of Huawei's gear in its 3G and 4G core, but BT is currently stripping it out after buying the business. The industry does, however, want to use Huawei's radio access network (Ran) equipment - including its antennae and base stations. These allow individual devices to wirelessly connect to their mobile data networks via radio signals transmitted over the airwaves. The US has concerns about any deployment of Huawei's products. \"You would never know when the Chinese government decide to force Huawei... to do things that would be in the best interests of the Communist party, to eavesdrop on the US,\" claimed Mike Conaway, a member of the House Intelligence Committee. The Republican drafted a bill last year to ban the US government from doing business with firms that use the company's equipment. It was later adapted to become part of the National Defense Authorization Act, which was signed into law by President Trump. The effect has been to deter the country's major telecoms networks from working with Huawei. The Chinese company is now suing the US government claiming the move is unconstitutional. The congressman now has his sights on the UK. \"Obviously, the terrific relationship between the UK and the United States - English-speaking countries - is important to maintain,\" Mr Conaway told Panorama. \"But as a part of that we will have to assess what kind of risks we would have in sharing... secrets that would go across Huawei equipment, Huawei networks. \"We can always share things old-school ways by, you know, paper back and forth. But, in terms of being able to electronically communicate, across Huawei gear, Huawei networks, would be risky at best.\" This is a matter that crosses political divides. Mark Warner, a Democrat and vice chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee, also cautioned against allowing Huawei to be part of the UK's 5G networks. \"I think that the consequences could be dramatic,\" he said. \"I think there could be a real concern about the ability to fully share information because of the fear that the network that would undergird 5G in the UK, that there might be a vulnerability.\" GCHQ's Dr Levy, however, played down such fears saying that efforts to digitally scramble communications meant that even if someone was able to intercept them, they would only get \"gobbledygook\". \"Anything sensitive from a company or government or defence is independently encrypted of the network,\" he explained. \"You don't trust the network to protect you, you protect yourself.\" He added that despite finding vulnerabilities in some of Huawei's kit \"we don't believe the things we are reporting on is the result of Chinese state malfeasance\". For its part, Huawei says the Chinese government would never ask it to install backdoors or other vulnerabilities into its foreign clients' systems, and even if such a request were made it would refuse. And Mr Ding dismissed suggestions that this commitment would fall by the wayside if the US and China were to go to war. \"We have a country here that virtually uses no Huawei equipment and doesn't even know whether our 5G equipment is square or round, and yet it has been incessantly expressing security concerns over Huawei,\" he said. \"I don't want to speculate on whether they have other purposes with this kind of talk. I would rather focus the limited time that I have on making better products.\" Panorama: Can We Trust Huawei? will be broadcast on BBC One at 20.30 BST this Monday.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 5117, "answer_end": 5905, "text": "For its part, Huawei says the Chinese government would never ask it to install backdoors or other vulnerabilities into its foreign clients' systems, and even if such a request were made it would refuse. And Mr Ding dismissed suggestions that this commitment would fall by the wayside if the US and China were to go to war. \"We have a country here that virtually uses no Huawei equipment and doesn't even know whether our 5G equipment is square or round, and yet it has been incessantly expressing security concerns over Huawei,\" he said. \"I don't want to speculate on whether they have other purposes with this kind of talk. I would rather focus the limited time that I have on making better products.\" Panorama: Can We Trust Huawei? will be broadcast on BBC One at 20.30 BST this Monday."}], "question": "Ill informed?", "id": "1109_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Hanjin: Final curtain falls on shipping saga", "date": "17 February 2017", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Hanjin Shipping used to be one of the world's top 10 shipping companies. But now, the final curtain has fallen. This Friday, the firm was declared bankrupt by a South Korean court after months of uncertainty. Hanjin's collapse is the largest to hit the shipping sector and it sent shockwaves through the industry. For years, the global economic downturn had affected profits across the cargo shipping industry. It led to overcapacity, lower freight rates and rising debt levels. The question was not whether a big shipping line would go under, but which one would be first. The questionable honour eventually fell to Hanjin, at that time South Korea's biggest shipper and number seven in the world. Crippled with $5.4bn (PS4.1bn) in debt in August 2016, the company failed to get any more money from its creditors. Hanjin went into receivership and applied for court protection. There was still a chance for an investor or the government to come to the rescue yet it quickly became clear that any such hopes were futile. \"Stopping the credit line immediately results in an inability to purchase fuel, it immediately results in vessels not being able to go to port and it immediately results in all customers going to the competitors,\" explains Lars Jensen of Sea Intelligence Consulting. What followed were long and painful months of sailors losing their jobs and investors losing their money. With Hanjin's situation suddenly in limbo, its ships were stranded at sea. Most ports refused them entry, fearing they would not get paid for loading and unloading the cargo. Some ships were arrested while docking as debtors had issued warrants to get at least some of their money back. Technically though, there still could have been a rescue - Hanjin needed to find an investor or convince the government to step in. \"There was likely a window of some 24 to 48 hours after the announcement where Hanjin could have been saved, but after that it was simply a snowball effect and it was unrealistic to bring back the company,\" says Mr Jensen. The chaotic demise of the company's operations did little to shore up confidence. So over the following months, many of the better assets got sold off - ranging from vessels to cargo terminals in the US to its Asia-US route operations. The buyers were other global shipping companies that were able to cherry pick what they wanted. \"All the good assets have been sold, the carcass has been thoroughly cleaned up,\" says Greg Knowler, a maritime trade specialist at IHS. After Friday's official bankruptcy, the court handling the liquidation process will proceed to sell off the remaining assets and give the money to the creditors. For the seamen, the collapse of their company meant that almost all of them lost their jobs. Hanjin's ships had been crewed with South Korean officers and engineers and an international mix of seamen hired through agencies. One of those now unemployed is captain Moon Kwon-do, who last year was stuck for months on the Hanjin Rome after it had been seized by creditors in the Singapore port. \"I will never sail again, I will abandon my life as a seaman,\" he says with bitterness and frustration. Despite a lot of protests organised by unions, the government in Seoul did not step in to help. Yet there's doubt that saving Hanjin would have worked. \"If you're shipping cargo anywhere in the world - would you have gone with Hanjin after that?\" asks Mr Knowler. The sudden suspension of all the company's vessels had led to supply chain disruptions around the world. \"I don't think it could have been saved,\" he concludes. In fact, as dramatic as it was for Hanjin, for the rest of the industry the failure of one of the big players might have been a lucky break. \"This was a long time coming, it's what was widely needed,\" says Mr Knowler. \"So from this perspective this was a good thing.\" Hanjin's bankruptcy has a good chance of bringing global overcapacity in the sector down to a sustainable level. \"Everyone will be seen to have had a hard time in 2016,\" says Mr Jensen. Fellow shipping giant Maersk, for instance, earlier this month revealed a $1.9bn net loss for 2016 - just its second annual loss since World War Two. \"2016 was the bottom of the market, but the climb upwards towards a more balanced market will take two to three years to fully accomplish,\" says Mr Jensen. Analysts agree that it is unlikely there will be another large carrier like Hanjin failing. South Korea is now left with Hyundai Merchant Marine (HMM) taking over as the country's biggest shipping company. And while last year HMM was in as much financial trouble as Hanjin, the collapse of its fellow shipper means that it is now on a much safer footing, says Mr Knowler. \"There is absolutely zero chance that the Korean government will let another major shipping line - now their only major line - fail.\"", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 314, "answer_end": 1393, "text": "For years, the global economic downturn had affected profits across the cargo shipping industry. It led to overcapacity, lower freight rates and rising debt levels. The question was not whether a big shipping line would go under, but which one would be first. The questionable honour eventually fell to Hanjin, at that time South Korea's biggest shipper and number seven in the world. Crippled with $5.4bn (PS4.1bn) in debt in August 2016, the company failed to get any more money from its creditors. Hanjin went into receivership and applied for court protection. There was still a chance for an investor or the government to come to the rescue yet it quickly became clear that any such hopes were futile. \"Stopping the credit line immediately results in an inability to purchase fuel, it immediately results in vessels not being able to go to port and it immediately results in all customers going to the competitors,\" explains Lars Jensen of Sea Intelligence Consulting. What followed were long and painful months of sailors losing their jobs and investors losing their money."}], "question": "What went wrong?", "id": "1110_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3588, "answer_end": 4853, "text": "In fact, as dramatic as it was for Hanjin, for the rest of the industry the failure of one of the big players might have been a lucky break. \"This was a long time coming, it's what was widely needed,\" says Mr Knowler. \"So from this perspective this was a good thing.\" Hanjin's bankruptcy has a good chance of bringing global overcapacity in the sector down to a sustainable level. \"Everyone will be seen to have had a hard time in 2016,\" says Mr Jensen. Fellow shipping giant Maersk, for instance, earlier this month revealed a $1.9bn net loss for 2016 - just its second annual loss since World War Two. \"2016 was the bottom of the market, but the climb upwards towards a more balanced market will take two to three years to fully accomplish,\" says Mr Jensen. Analysts agree that it is unlikely there will be another large carrier like Hanjin failing. South Korea is now left with Hyundai Merchant Marine (HMM) taking over as the country's biggest shipping company. And while last year HMM was in as much financial trouble as Hanjin, the collapse of its fellow shipper means that it is now on a much safer footing, says Mr Knowler. \"There is absolutely zero chance that the Korean government will let another major shipping line - now their only major line - fail.\""}], "question": "What now?", "id": "1110_1"}]}]}, {"title": "Mexico missing students: Mayor charged over 'gang ties'", "date": "31 December 2015", "paragraphs": [{"context": "A court in Mexico has charged the former mayor of Cocula, Cesar Penaloza Santana, with links to organised crime. The town hit the headlines last year when local police officers were linked to the disappearance of 43 students. The government said corrupt officers from Cocula and nearby Iguala abducted the 43 and handed them over to a local drug gang, that then killed them. The case highlighted high levels of corruption not just in the local police force but also in local government. Mr Penaloza Santana was arrested on 16 December on suspicion of having links with \"a criminal group which operates in northern Guerrero state\", the prosecutor's office said. Officials did not give any further details, but local media reported that a suspect in the students' disappearance had linked Mr Penaloza Santana to the Guerreros Unidos  (United Warriors) drug gang, The 43 students from a teacher training college went missing on 26 September 2014. The 43 were all students at an all-male teacher training college in the town of Aytozinapa, in south-western Guerrero state. The college has a history of left-wing activism and the students regularly took part in protests. They disappeared from the town of Iguala on the evening of 26 September 2014 amid a confrontation between municipal police and the students in which six people were killed. Independent forensic experts have matched charred bone fragments reportedly found at a rubbish dump near Iguala to Alexander Mora, one of the 43 missing students. They also say there is a high probability another set of remains could belong to Jhosivani Guerrero de la Cruz, another of the students. However, experts from the Inter-American Commission of Human Rights say the chain of evidence was broken and they could not be sure the bone fragments had been found at the dump. According to the official report, the students were seized by corrupt municipal police officers who handed them over to members of a local drugs gang. The gang mistook the students for members of a rival gang, killed them and burned their bodies at the dump before throwing their ashes into a nearby stream. They think officials have failed to investigate the role soldiers from a nearby barracks may have played in the students' disappearance. The government has refused to let the soldiers, who were in the area at the time of the disappearance, be questioned by anyone but government prosecutors. The families also point to the report by the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights which said that there was no evidence the bodies of the 43 were burned at the dump. A government investigation concluded that they were seized by corrupt municipal police officers, who handed them to members of the Guerreros Unidos. According to the investigation, the students were killed by the gang, who mistook them for members of a rival group. Their bodies were then burned at a rubbish dump outside of Cocula, the report said. DNA tests revealed that bone fragments police said they had found at the rubbish dump were those of one of the missing students, Alexander Mora. However, an independent investigation into the students' disappearance has since rejected the government's account of events. The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights said in September that it had found no evidence that the bodies were incinerated. The commission urged the government to continue looking for the missing students but did not offer any further clues as to what might have happened to them.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 944, "answer_end": 1166, "text": "The 43 were all students at an all-male teacher training college in the town of Aytozinapa, in south-western Guerrero state. The college has a history of left-wing activism and the students regularly took part in protests."}], "question": "Who are they?", "id": "1111_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1167, "answer_end": 1339, "text": "They disappeared from the town of Iguala on the evening of 26 September 2014 amid a confrontation between municipal police and the students in which six people were killed."}], "question": "What happened to them?", "id": "1111_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1340, "answer_end": 1818, "text": "Independent forensic experts have matched charred bone fragments reportedly found at a rubbish dump near Iguala to Alexander Mora, one of the 43 missing students. They also say there is a high probability another set of remains could belong to Jhosivani Guerrero de la Cruz, another of the students. However, experts from the Inter-American Commission of Human Rights say the chain of evidence was broken and they could not be sure the bone fragments had been found at the dump."}], "question": "Have any of them been found?", "id": "1111_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1819, "answer_end": 2126, "text": "According to the official report, the students were seized by corrupt municipal police officers who handed them over to members of a local drugs gang. The gang mistook the students for members of a rival gang, killed them and burned their bodies at the dump before throwing their ashes into a nearby stream."}], "question": "What is the government's version of events?", "id": "1111_3"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2127, "answer_end": 2589, "text": "They think officials have failed to investigate the role soldiers from a nearby barracks may have played in the students' disappearance. The government has refused to let the soldiers, who were in the area at the time of the disappearance, be questioned by anyone but government prosecutors. The families also point to the report by the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights which said that there was no evidence the bodies of the 43 were burned at the dump."}], "question": "Why do the families not believe the official report?", "id": "1111_4"}]}]}, {"title": "Algeria protesters demand end to regime after Bouteflika's fall", "date": "5 April 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Thousands have taken to the streets of the Algerian capital demanding a complete overhaul of the country's political structure. This is the seventh successive week of Friday protests and Tuesday's resignation of long-serving President Abdelaziz Bouteflika does not appear to have satisfied the demonstrators. According to the constitution, parliament's speaker should take over. But protesters want all those associated with Mr Bouteflika to go. The president, who had been in power for 20 years, said this week that he was \"proud\" of his contributions but realised he had \"failed in [his] duty\". He added that he was \"leaving the political stage with neither sadness nor fear\" for Algeria's future. Sally Nabil, BBC News, Algiers The youth are the main driving force behind these demonstrations, young men and women who have known no president other than Abdelaziz Bouteflika. But they are not satisfied. \"We are tired of this regime, they have robbed us. We've had enough of that,\" an emotional young woman tells me. Nearly half of the population is under 30, many of whom are unemployed and having to live in poor conditions. But I have also seen Algerians from older generations taking part in the protests. Everybody here wants a change. They are sending a clear message: \"a new phase with new faces\". They tell me they don't trust anyone associated with the Bouteflika era. The mood is full of enthusiasm and energy but the people here take pride in the peaceful nature of the protests. They have been emboldened by their success in unseating the president and now believe the same can happen with his entourage. Pressure had been building since February, when the first demonstrations were sparked by Mr Bouteflika's announcement that he would be standing for a fifth term. The octogenarian leader suffered a stroke six years ago and has rarely been in public since. Tens of thousands protested across the country on 1 March. Mr Bouteflika's promise not to serve out a fifth term if re-elected, along with a change of prime minister, failed to quell the discontent. Leaders of the protests also rejected Mr Bouteflika's offer this week that he would go by the end of his current term - 28 April - as not quick enough. It seems the powerful military agreed. Its chief, Lt Gen Ahmed Gaed Salah, said on Tuesday: \"There is no more room to waste time.\" Mr Bouteflika resigned on Tuesday but that was not enough for protesters. He is a veteran of Algeria's war of independence who served as foreign minister for more than a decade before becoming president in 1999. His primary task was to rebuild the country, and its economy - but first, he needed to end Algeria's brutal civil war sparked by the military's refusal to recognise the election victory of the Islamic Salvation Front in the early 1990s. Despite guaranteeing stability in the oil-rich nation, his government has been accused of widespread corruption and state repression. The man who once said he would not accept being \"three-quarters a president\"  spent his last years in a wheelchair after a stroke in 2013, rarely appearing in public, and fuelling fierce debate over who was really in charge, the BBC's North Africa correspondent, Rana Jawad, says. A caretaker government is currently in place. The demonstrators are pushing for the removal of three people they dub the \"3B\". That is Senate Speaker Abdelakder Bensalah, head of the constitutional council Tayeb Belaiz and Prime Minister Noureddine Bedoui. But they want much more than that - they want to dismantle the whole political system. They say that the country is actually run by a group of businessmen, politicians and military officials who used Mr Bouteflika as a front. They want to take the power away from this group, known as Le Pouvoir. Specifically,  one of the leading voices of the protest movement, lawyer Mustapha Bouchachi, told AFP news agency that he doesn't want the \"symbols of the regime\" to run the next election. Earlier on Friday, the head of intelligence and close ally of Mr Bouteflika, Athmane Tartag, was reportedly sacked. He was a close ally of Mr Bouteflika.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1619, "answer_end": 2429, "text": "Pressure had been building since February, when the first demonstrations were sparked by Mr Bouteflika's announcement that he would be standing for a fifth term. The octogenarian leader suffered a stroke six years ago and has rarely been in public since. Tens of thousands protested across the country on 1 March. Mr Bouteflika's promise not to serve out a fifth term if re-elected, along with a change of prime minister, failed to quell the discontent. Leaders of the protests also rejected Mr Bouteflika's offer this week that he would go by the end of his current term - 28 April - as not quick enough. It seems the powerful military agreed. Its chief, Lt Gen Ahmed Gaed Salah, said on Tuesday: \"There is no more room to waste time.\" Mr Bouteflika resigned on Tuesday but that was not enough for protesters."}], "question": "How did the protests come about?", "id": "1112_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3220, "answer_end": 3265, "text": "A caretaker government is currently in place."}], "question": "Who is officially running the country now?", "id": "1112_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3266, "answer_end": 3962, "text": "The demonstrators are pushing for the removal of three people they dub the \"3B\". That is Senate Speaker Abdelakder Bensalah, head of the constitutional council Tayeb Belaiz and Prime Minister Noureddine Bedoui. But they want much more than that - they want to dismantle the whole political system. They say that the country is actually run by a group of businessmen, politicians and military officials who used Mr Bouteflika as a front. They want to take the power away from this group, known as Le Pouvoir. Specifically,  one of the leading voices of the protest movement, lawyer Mustapha Bouchachi, told AFP news agency that he doesn't want the \"symbols of the regime\" to run the next election."}], "question": "The president has resigned. What more do the protesters want?", "id": "1112_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3963, "answer_end": 4116, "text": "Earlier on Friday, the head of intelligence and close ally of Mr Bouteflika, Athmane Tartag, was reportedly sacked. He was a close ally of Mr Bouteflika."}], "question": "Who else has lost their position of power so far?", "id": "1112_3"}]}]}, {"title": "Zimbabwe latest: Mugabe 'let wife Grace usurp power'", "date": "20 November 2017", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Zimbabwe's ruling Zanu-PF party is set to begin impeachment proceedings against President Robert Mugabe on charges that include allowing his wife \"to usurp constitutional power\". The motion is now due to be presented to parliament on Tuesday. Senior party member Paul Mangwana said the process could take as little as two days to complete, and President Mugabe could be removed by Wednesday. A deadline set by Zanu-PF for his resignation passed on Monday. Separately, military leaders said they had planned a \"roadmap\" for Mr Mugabe's future, and that the ousted former vice-president, Emmerson Mnangagwa, would return to the country soon. Grace Mugabe and Mr Mnangagwa had both been seen as potential successors to the ageing president. But earlier this month, Mr Mugabe fired his deputy - widely seen as an endorsement of his wife - prompting a military intervention. The country's top general said Mr Mugabe and his former deputy had been in contact, and would hold in-person talks soon. Zimbabwe's constitution allows for impeachment on grounds of \"serious misconduct\", \"violation\" of the constitution or \"failure to obey, uphold or defend\" it, or \"incapacity\". \"The main charge is that he has allowed his wife to usurp constitutional power when she has no right to run government. But she is insulting civil servants, the vice president, at public rallies. They are denigrating the army - those are the charges,\" Paul Mangwana said, emerging from a party meeting. \"He has refused to implement the constitution of Zimbabwe - particularly we had elections for the provincial councils, but up to now they have not been put into office. \"He is of advanced age, that he no longer has the physical capacity to run government,\" he added. \"He is a stubborn man, he can hear the voices of the people, but is refusing to listen.\" Impeachment proceedings are now expected to be launched on Tuesday, with votes in both the National Assembly and the Senate. Both chambers must then appoint a joint committee to investigate removing the president. If the committee recommends impeachment, the president can then be removed if both houses back it with two-thirds majorities. \"We are expecting the motion to be moved tomorrow... and hopefully by Wednesday - because the charges are so clear - we expect that by Wednesday, we should be able to vote in parliament,\" Mr Mangwana said. The opposition MDC-T party has tried unsuccessfully to impeach Mr Mugabe in the past. But with the support of Mr Mugabe's own Zanu-PF party, which has an overwhelming majority in both houses, the vote is now likely to go against him. If the impeachment goes ahead, the military can claim that he was removed legally, and not by armed force. If that happens, current vice-president Phelekezela Mphoko should assume the role. But Mr Mphoko is a known supporter of Grace Mugabe, and the generals would prefer to install Emmerson Mnangagwa, the former vice-president who was named the new Zanu-PF party chief on Sunday. The crisis began two weeks ago when the 93-year-old leader sacked Mr Mnangagwa, angering army commanders who saw it as an attempt to position his wife as the next president. With Zimbabwe embroiled in a deep economic crisis, the president had already seen some of his support wane. Last week, soldiers seized control of the state broadcaster and placed the president under house arrest - but denied their actions amounted to a military coup. Since then, he has been held at his \"blue roof\" mansion near the capital. On Sunday, Mr Mugabe gave a televised address which surprised many Zimbabweans because it made no mention of the pressure from his party and the public to quit. Surrounded by generals, he declared that the military had done nothing wrong by seizing power and placing him under house arrest. He then vowed to preside over the Zanu-PF party congress, due in a few weeks. The BBC's Africa editor, Fergal Keane, said his understanding of the situation was that Mr Mugabe had agreed to resign, but then changed his mind. Mr Mugabe is now opposed by his own party as well as the political opposition, the military and the powerful War Veterans Association. The public has also poured on to the streets in protest, calling for the end of Mr Mugabe's 37-year presidency.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 991, "answer_end": 1824, "text": "Zimbabwe's constitution allows for impeachment on grounds of \"serious misconduct\", \"violation\" of the constitution or \"failure to obey, uphold or defend\" it, or \"incapacity\". \"The main charge is that he has allowed his wife to usurp constitutional power when she has no right to run government. But she is insulting civil servants, the vice president, at public rallies. They are denigrating the army - those are the charges,\" Paul Mangwana said, emerging from a party meeting. \"He has refused to implement the constitution of Zimbabwe - particularly we had elections for the provincial councils, but up to now they have not been put into office. \"He is of advanced age, that he no longer has the physical capacity to run government,\" he added. \"He is a stubborn man, he can hear the voices of the people, but is refusing to listen.\""}], "question": "What are the charges against President Mugabe?", "id": "1113_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1825, "answer_end": 2986, "text": "Impeachment proceedings are now expected to be launched on Tuesday, with votes in both the National Assembly and the Senate. Both chambers must then appoint a joint committee to investigate removing the president. If the committee recommends impeachment, the president can then be removed if both houses back it with two-thirds majorities. \"We are expecting the motion to be moved tomorrow... and hopefully by Wednesday - because the charges are so clear - we expect that by Wednesday, we should be able to vote in parliament,\" Mr Mangwana said. The opposition MDC-T party has tried unsuccessfully to impeach Mr Mugabe in the past. But with the support of Mr Mugabe's own Zanu-PF party, which has an overwhelming majority in both houses, the vote is now likely to go against him. If the impeachment goes ahead, the military can claim that he was removed legally, and not by armed force. If that happens, current vice-president Phelekezela Mphoko should assume the role. But Mr Mphoko is a known supporter of Grace Mugabe, and the generals would prefer to install Emmerson Mnangagwa, the former vice-president who was named the new Zanu-PF party chief on Sunday."}], "question": "What happens next?", "id": "1113_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2987, "answer_end": 4265, "text": "The crisis began two weeks ago when the 93-year-old leader sacked Mr Mnangagwa, angering army commanders who saw it as an attempt to position his wife as the next president. With Zimbabwe embroiled in a deep economic crisis, the president had already seen some of his support wane. Last week, soldiers seized control of the state broadcaster and placed the president under house arrest - but denied their actions amounted to a military coup. Since then, he has been held at his \"blue roof\" mansion near the capital. On Sunday, Mr Mugabe gave a televised address which surprised many Zimbabweans because it made no mention of the pressure from his party and the public to quit. Surrounded by generals, he declared that the military had done nothing wrong by seizing power and placing him under house arrest. He then vowed to preside over the Zanu-PF party congress, due in a few weeks. The BBC's Africa editor, Fergal Keane, said his understanding of the situation was that Mr Mugabe had agreed to resign, but then changed his mind. Mr Mugabe is now opposed by his own party as well as the political opposition, the military and the powerful War Veterans Association. The public has also poured on to the streets in protest, calling for the end of Mr Mugabe's 37-year presidency."}], "question": "How did we get here?", "id": "1113_2"}]}]}, {"title": "Quaden Bayles: Bullied Australian boy leads out all-star rugby team", "date": "22 February 2020", "paragraphs": [{"context": "A nine-year-old Australian boy has taken centre-stage at a major sporting event, days after a video of him in distress at being bullied captured hearts across the world. Quaden Bayles, who is Aboriginal, led out an indigenous rugby league team at an exhibition match in Queensland against the New Zealand Maori team. Quaden's mother said he had always dreamt of being a rugby league star. She posted the clip of him crying after he was targeted at school for dwarfism. Celebrities offered their support, and hundreds of thousands of dollars have since been raised as part of a campaign to send him to Disneyland. The National Rugby League's Indigenous All Stars team invited Quaden to lead out the side for their match against the Maori All Stars on Saturday on the Gold Coast. Fullback Rabbitoh Latrell Mitchell made the invitation in a video. \"We've got your back and just want to make sure that you are doing alright... we want you around, we want you to lead us out on the weekend,\" he said. Holding the hand of team captain Joel Thompson, Quaden led them out on to the pitch accompanied by roars from the crowd. He then posed with the teams holding the match ball, before handing it to the referee. The Maori All Stars won the game 30-16. Mother Yarraka Bayles said at a news conference on Friday that Quaden was \"going from the worst day of his life to the best day of his life\". Days earlier, she had posted the video of Quaden, which has been viewed millions of times. \"This is what bullying does,\" she says in the video, in which her son says he wants to end his life. Celebrities including actor Hugh Jackman and basketball player Enes Kanter spoke out, while parents in other countries shared video messages from their children. Ms Bayles said she hoped her son's experience was raising awareness over the effects of bullying. \"We are losing way too many people because of bullying, because of discrimination, because of racism. There's so many factors of bullying,\" she said. \"On top of that, being an Aboriginal boy with a disability, people don't understand that's a double-edged sword. There's racism and then there's discrimination because of the disability.\" In the six-minute video, posted on Tuesday, Quaden's mother describes the relentless bullying experienced by her son every day. The family, who are Aboriginal Australian, live in Queensland. \"I've just picked my son up from school, witnessed a bullying episode, rang the principal, and I want people to know - parents, educators, teachers - this is the effect that bullying has,\" Ms Bayle says as her son sobs. \"Every single... day, something happens. Another episode, another bullying, another taunt, another name-calling. \"Can you please educate your children, your families, your friends?\" If you or someone you know needs support for issues around this story, in Australia you can contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue on 1300 224 636. In the UK these organisations may be able to help.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 2176, "answer_end": 2972, "text": "In the six-minute video, posted on Tuesday, Quaden's mother describes the relentless bullying experienced by her son every day. The family, who are Aboriginal Australian, live in Queensland. \"I've just picked my son up from school, witnessed a bullying episode, rang the principal, and I want people to know - parents, educators, teachers - this is the effect that bullying has,\" Ms Bayle says as her son sobs. \"Every single... day, something happens. Another episode, another bullying, another taunt, another name-calling. \"Can you please educate your children, your families, your friends?\" If you or someone you know needs support for issues around this story, in Australia you can contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue on 1300 224 636. In the UK these organisations may be able to help."}], "question": "What happens in the video of Quaden?", "id": "1114_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Brazil election: Long queues as Brazilians vote in divisive poll", "date": "7 October 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Large numbers of Brazilians have been voting in the most polarised presidential election for many years. Long queues formed at polling stations across the country, where almost 150 million people are eligible to vote. If no candidate gets more than 50% of the valid ballots, there will be a second round in three weeks. Opinion polls suggest far-right candidate Jair Bolsonaro, who has vowed to be tough on crime, is the favourite to secure most votes. His main rival is the left-wing candidate for the Workers' Party, Fernando Haddad. Both are expected to advance to the run-off on 28 October although Mr Bolsonaro and his supporters have said they think they can get the 50% of the valid votes needed to win outright. \"If God is willing, we'll settle this today,\" he told reporters. \"We are on an upward trajectory and are confident that the Brazilian people want to distance themselves from socialism,\" the 63-year-old former army captain said. Mr Haddad, a former mayor of Sao Paulo, was confident there would be a second round and said he was optimistic he could win it. \"The second round is always a renewed opportunity for people to compare the projects,\" he said. While opinion polls give Mr Bolsonaro a wide lead over Mr Haddad in this round, the same polls suggest they could be neck and neck in the run-off. The rain and grey skies make for a pretty grim day here in Sao Paulo. A metaphor for how people are feeling as they head out to vote. Standing inside the polling station you can often tell which way people are going to vote - wearing red is a giveaway - a Workers' Party supporter. If it's a Brazilian football shirt or a combination of its colours - yellow, green and blue - then they're likely to be Bolsonaro supporters or at the very least right-wing. And then there are the obvious ones - T-shirts with Bolsonaro's face emblazoned on the front. There's a lot of anger - anger from those who don't want the Workers' Party back in power or anger over the idea that a far-right candidate could become the next president. Many of those I've spoken to at the polling station say they are here to make a protest vote. Its more about choosing the least worst option rather than choosing the best. People here all want change but Brazilians are lost as to these elections can make that to happen. A former mayor of Sao Paulo, Mr Haddad is backed by former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who was disqualified from standing in the election after he was jailed for corruption. \"I'm very hopeful that we will have a much more civilised second round,\" Mr Haddad said about the deep divisions the campaign had stirred up and which saw a lone attacker stab Mr Bolsonaro. Mr Bolsonaro, who lost 40% of his blood in the attack. missed the final part of the electoral campaign but saw his popularity rise in recent weeks. A Catholic who has won the support of many evangelical Christians, Mr Bolsonaro quoted the Bible as he cast his vote. \"Our banner was always John 8:32: 'Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free',\" he said. Mr Bolsonaro has stirred controversy with racist, homophobic and misogynist comments and there have been mass demonstrations against him. But his tough stance on crime has won him the support of many Brazilians who feel that record-high crime rates have made them prisoners in their own homes. On the eve of Sunday's vote, Mr Bolsonaro said his government would hand down the tough punishments offenders deserved. He is in favour of relaxing gun ownership laws and has spoken of torture as a legitimate practice. He also wants to restore the death penalty. Former Brazilian football star Ronaldinho tweeted his support for Mr Bolsonaro on Sunday, writing that \"for a better Brazil, I want peace, security and someone who brings back joy\". Mr Haddad has portrayed himself as a trusted candidate for those who balk at Mr Bolsonaro's style and rhetoric. \"I don't believe in violence, in military dictatorship or the lack of liberty,\" he tweeted. \"We have the ability to defeat what Bolsonaro stands for, in terms of reversing social gains, in terms of civility, in terms of solidarity and in terms of mutual respect,\" he said. People have also been casting ballots to elect all Brazil's state governors as well as two-thirds of the senators and all lawmakers in the chamber of deputies. More than 1,000 seats in state legislatures across the country are also being contested.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 453, "answer_end": 1318, "text": "His main rival is the left-wing candidate for the Workers' Party, Fernando Haddad. Both are expected to advance to the run-off on 28 October although Mr Bolsonaro and his supporters have said they think they can get the 50% of the valid votes needed to win outright. \"If God is willing, we'll settle this today,\" he told reporters. \"We are on an upward trajectory and are confident that the Brazilian people want to distance themselves from socialism,\" the 63-year-old former army captain said. Mr Haddad, a former mayor of Sao Paulo, was confident there would be a second round and said he was optimistic he could win it. \"The second round is always a renewed opportunity for people to compare the projects,\" he said. While opinion polls give Mr Bolsonaro a wide lead over Mr Haddad in this round, the same polls suggest they could be neck and neck in the run-off."}], "question": "One round or two?", "id": "1115_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi: What we know about US raid in Syria", "date": "31 October 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "The elusive leader of the Islamic State group (IS), Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, killed himself during a raid early on 27 October by US special forces in Syria. Here's what we know about the operation that targeted Baghdadi, which was announced by US President Donald Trump. According the unconfirmed US media reports, the location of Baghdadi's hideout in a small compound outside the village of Barisha in Idlib province, about four miles (6km) south of the Turkish border, emerged from details given by an informant or informants over the past few months. The New York Times quoted US officials as saying one of Baghdadi's wives and a courier had been arrested over the summer. The Washington Post quoted an official as saying a disaffected IS militant who became an informant for the Kurds had provided information. Meanwhile, a senior commander of the US-allied and Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces, Mazloum Abdi, said they had been collating information for months, and sent out a tweet praising all who had taken part in \"this great mission\". The location came as something of a surprise because Idlib is dominated by jihadist rivals to the IS group, although hundreds of IS fighters are believed to be based there. Mr Trump said he gave the go-ahead for a raid after being informed on 24 October that Baghdadi was probably at the site. He joined staff in the White House situation room at about 17:00 Washington time (21:00 GMT) on 26 October to watch the mission. The raid was a \"US-only operation\", the Pentagon later said. Several US allies or powers in the region were given advance notification of the raid, including Turkey, Iraq, Kurdish forces in north-eastern Syria, and Russia, which controls airspace over Idlib. The exact make-up of the attacking force was not released, but US officials quoted by US media said some members of the elite special operations Delta Force - who are typically involved in such operations - took part. Fewer than 100 US ground troops are thought to have carried out the raid. They used several types of aircraft, including eight helicopters, and took off from Iraq for a journey of about one hour and 10 minutes to the target site. The troops arrived at about 01:00 local time to a barrage of shots from the ground, reports said. The US force returned fire. A resident of Barisha said the US helicopters fired missiles at two houses, flattening one. On landing, the US force called on Baghdadi to come out and surrender. Two adults and 11 children emerged, US officials said, but Baghdadi remained inside, apparently dropping through a hatch into a tunnel network. The US force blew holes in the walls to avoid any booby traps in doors. The retreating Baghdadi then detonated his suicide vest and died in the tunnel, along with two children - not three as previously reported - he had taken with him. The president said Baghdadi died \"after running into a dead-end tunnel, whimpering and crying and screaming\". Asked about Mr Trump's account of events, Mark Esper, the US defence secretary, said he knew nothing of any \"whimpering\" but that the president may have gotten that detail from commanders on the ground. About a dozen children were removed from the site, Mr Trump said, but were left in the care of others in the area. The US force departed in its helicopters at about 03:30. Photos and videos of the aftermath of the raid showed the rubble of a destroyed building, as well as a burnt-out minibus riddled with bullet holes. The head of US Central Command, Gen Kenneth McKenzie, said four women - who were wearing suicide vests - and one man were killed at the compound. Two of them were believed to be wives of Baghdadi. He said an unknown number of fighters also died after opening fire on US helicopters. Two men were captured during the raid, and they are now in US custody. President Trump said that no US troops were injured but Mr Esper said two had received light wounds and were already back on duty. One of the US military dogs that tracked Baghdadi into the tunnels was injured but left the site of the raid with the troops. Reports suggested US troops visually recognised Baghdadi and confirmed his death at 19:15 Washington time on Saturday, when the commander on the ground used the code \"jackpot\". Mr Trump said test results carried out on the remains \"gave certain, immediate and totally positive identification\" that it was Baghdadi. The tests were carried out on site by technicians who accompanied the special forces personnel and had samples of Baghdadi's DNA with them, reports said. The technicians also brought \"substantial pieces\" of the body back with them on the helicopters. Senior SDF commander Polat Can said their spy had stolen Baghdadi's underwear which was DNA tested and used to prove the identity before his death. Gen McKenzie said DNA samples had been on file since Baghdadi's detention in an Iraqi prison in 2004. Gen McKenzie also said Baghdadi's remains were flown back to a staging base for identification and were then buried at sea within 24 hours of his death \"in accordance with the laws of armed conflict\". This apparently followed the same protocol applied to the remains of al-Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden, who was killed in a US raid in Pakistan in 2011. Barisha is hundreds of kilometres from the remote desert region on the Syria-Iraq border where Baghdadi was believed to be hiding. Mr Trump said Baghdadi was in Idlib because he was looking to rebuild IS after Kurdish-led forces, backed by the US, had captured the group's last pocket of territory - around the eastern Syria village of Baghuz - in March. \"That's why he went to this area,\" the president added. \"That was the place that makes most sense if you're looking to rebuild.\" Mr Trump said valuable intelligence about Baghdadi's future plans were found during the raid and that the US would pursue whomever assumed the leadership of IS. \"We know the successors. And we've already got them in our sights,\" he said.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 268, "answer_end": 1530, "text": "According the unconfirmed US media reports, the location of Baghdadi's hideout in a small compound outside the village of Barisha in Idlib province, about four miles (6km) south of the Turkish border, emerged from details given by an informant or informants over the past few months. The New York Times quoted US officials as saying one of Baghdadi's wives and a courier had been arrested over the summer. The Washington Post quoted an official as saying a disaffected IS militant who became an informant for the Kurds had provided information. Meanwhile, a senior commander of the US-allied and Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces, Mazloum Abdi, said they had been collating information for months, and sent out a tweet praising all who had taken part in \"this great mission\". The location came as something of a surprise because Idlib is dominated by jihadist rivals to the IS group, although hundreds of IS fighters are believed to be based there. Mr Trump said he gave the go-ahead for a raid after being informed on 24 October that Baghdadi was probably at the site. He joined staff in the White House situation room at about 17:00 Washington time (21:00 GMT) on 26 October to watch the mission. The raid was a \"US-only operation\", the Pentagon later said."}], "question": "How was Baghdadi located?", "id": "1116_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1531, "answer_end": 3478, "text": "Several US allies or powers in the region were given advance notification of the raid, including Turkey, Iraq, Kurdish forces in north-eastern Syria, and Russia, which controls airspace over Idlib. The exact make-up of the attacking force was not released, but US officials quoted by US media said some members of the elite special operations Delta Force - who are typically involved in such operations - took part. Fewer than 100 US ground troops are thought to have carried out the raid. They used several types of aircraft, including eight helicopters, and took off from Iraq for a journey of about one hour and 10 minutes to the target site. The troops arrived at about 01:00 local time to a barrage of shots from the ground, reports said. The US force returned fire. A resident of Barisha said the US helicopters fired missiles at two houses, flattening one. On landing, the US force called on Baghdadi to come out and surrender. Two adults and 11 children emerged, US officials said, but Baghdadi remained inside, apparently dropping through a hatch into a tunnel network. The US force blew holes in the walls to avoid any booby traps in doors. The retreating Baghdadi then detonated his suicide vest and died in the tunnel, along with two children - not three as previously reported - he had taken with him. The president said Baghdadi died \"after running into a dead-end tunnel, whimpering and crying and screaming\". Asked about Mr Trump's account of events, Mark Esper, the US defence secretary, said he knew nothing of any \"whimpering\" but that the president may have gotten that detail from commanders on the ground. About a dozen children were removed from the site, Mr Trump said, but were left in the care of others in the area. The US force departed in its helicopters at about 03:30. Photos and videos of the aftermath of the raid showed the rubble of a destroyed building, as well as a burnt-out minibus riddled with bullet holes."}], "question": "How did the mission unfold?", "id": "1116_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3479, "answer_end": 4089, "text": "The head of US Central Command, Gen Kenneth McKenzie, said four women - who were wearing suicide vests - and one man were killed at the compound. Two of them were believed to be wives of Baghdadi. He said an unknown number of fighters also died after opening fire on US helicopters. Two men were captured during the raid, and they are now in US custody. President Trump said that no US troops were injured but Mr Esper said two had received light wounds and were already back on duty. One of the US military dogs that tracked Baghdadi into the tunnels was injured but left the site of the raid with the troops."}], "question": "Who were the other casualties?", "id": "1116_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 4090, "answer_end": 5257, "text": "Reports suggested US troops visually recognised Baghdadi and confirmed his death at 19:15 Washington time on Saturday, when the commander on the ground used the code \"jackpot\". Mr Trump said test results carried out on the remains \"gave certain, immediate and totally positive identification\" that it was Baghdadi. The tests were carried out on site by technicians who accompanied the special forces personnel and had samples of Baghdadi's DNA with them, reports said. The technicians also brought \"substantial pieces\" of the body back with them on the helicopters. Senior SDF commander Polat Can said their spy had stolen Baghdadi's underwear which was DNA tested and used to prove the identity before his death. Gen McKenzie said DNA samples had been on file since Baghdadi's detention in an Iraqi prison in 2004. Gen McKenzie also said Baghdadi's remains were flown back to a staging base for identification and were then buried at sea within 24 hours of his death \"in accordance with the laws of armed conflict\". This apparently followed the same protocol applied to the remains of al-Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden, who was killed in a US raid in Pakistan in 2011."}], "question": "How is the US sure Baghdadi is dead?", "id": "1116_3"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 5258, "answer_end": 5979, "text": "Barisha is hundreds of kilometres from the remote desert region on the Syria-Iraq border where Baghdadi was believed to be hiding. Mr Trump said Baghdadi was in Idlib because he was looking to rebuild IS after Kurdish-led forces, backed by the US, had captured the group's last pocket of territory - around the eastern Syria village of Baghuz - in March. \"That's why he went to this area,\" the president added. \"That was the place that makes most sense if you're looking to rebuild.\" Mr Trump said valuable intelligence about Baghdadi's future plans were found during the raid and that the US would pursue whomever assumed the leadership of IS. \"We know the successors. And we've already got them in our sights,\" he said."}], "question": "Why was Baghdadi in Idlib?", "id": "1116_4"}]}]}, {"title": "China, the Vatican and a controversial deal", "date": "4 February 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "China and the Vatican are close to reaching a historic deal regarding the appointment of bishops, according to media reports. An agreement could be signed in a few months, said a senior Vatican source. If reached, it would be a breakthrough in relations for both parties. But what exactly is in the pipeline and what would it mean for the country's 10 million Catholics? Ties between two have long been strained by disputes over who can appoint bishops in the country. China first broke off diplomatic ties with the Holy See in 1951, and many Catholics were forced to go underground during former communist leader Mao Zedong's rule, emerging only in the 1980s when religious practices were tolerated again. Today, Catholics in China face the choice of attending state-sanctioned churches approved by Beijing or worshipping in underground congregations. The underground churches recognise only the Vatican's authority, whereas the Chinese state churches refuse to accept the authority of the Pope. There are currently about 100 Catholic bishops in China, with some approved by Beijing, some approved by the Vatican and, informally, many now approved by both. Relations between both parties appear to be thawing. Last year, Pope Francis made his thoughts about China known, saying that he would like to visit China \"as soon as they send me an invitation\". The pontiff also added that he hoped there was the \"possibility to have good relations with China\". Chinese and Vatican officials have met at least four times since 2016 over the issue of the appointment of bishops, state media report. Under the agreement, the Vatican would be given a say in the appointment of future bishops in China, a Vatican source told news agency Reuters. For Beijing, an agreement with the Vatican could allow them more control over the country's underground churches. Globally, it would also enhance China's prestige - to have the world's rising superpower engaging with one of the world's major religions. Symbolically, it would the first sign of rapprochement between China and the Catholic church in more than half a century. The Vatican is the only European state that maintains formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan.  It is currently unclear if an agreement between China and the Vatican would affect this in any way. There are currently around 10 million Roman Catholics in China. It's not certain how such an agreement will affect the community, though some are sceptical. Cardinal Joseph Zen of Hong Kong had on Wednesday criticised the Vatican for its attempts at diplomacy with China, accusing the Church of forcing bishops to retire in favour of replacements picked by Beijing. \"Do I think that the Vatican is selling out the Catholic Church in China?\" he wrote on Facebook. \"Yes, definitely.\" Others however, are slightly more hopeful. Father Jeroom Heyndrickx, a Belgian priest who has spent 60 years trying to help Chinese Catholics, said that he believed China was \"ready to have a dialogue.\" \"For 2,000 years in China, the emperor was emperor and pope at the same time,\" he told the BBC. \"But China has changed and the Church has changed and this is what constitutes a new opportunity for this dialogue to succeed.\"", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 371, "answer_end": 1589, "text": "Ties between two have long been strained by disputes over who can appoint bishops in the country. China first broke off diplomatic ties with the Holy See in 1951, and many Catholics were forced to go underground during former communist leader Mao Zedong's rule, emerging only in the 1980s when religious practices were tolerated again. Today, Catholics in China face the choice of attending state-sanctioned churches approved by Beijing or worshipping in underground congregations. The underground churches recognise only the Vatican's authority, whereas the Chinese state churches refuse to accept the authority of the Pope. There are currently about 100 Catholic bishops in China, with some approved by Beijing, some approved by the Vatican and, informally, many now approved by both. Relations between both parties appear to be thawing. Last year, Pope Francis made his thoughts about China known, saying that he would like to visit China \"as soon as they send me an invitation\". The pontiff also added that he hoped there was the \"possibility to have good relations with China\". Chinese and Vatican officials have met at least four times since 2016 over the issue of the appointment of bishops, state media report."}], "question": "What are relations between China and the Vatican like?", "id": "1117_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1590, "answer_end": 2304, "text": "Under the agreement, the Vatican would be given a say in the appointment of future bishops in China, a Vatican source told news agency Reuters. For Beijing, an agreement with the Vatican could allow them more control over the country's underground churches. Globally, it would also enhance China's prestige - to have the world's rising superpower engaging with one of the world's major religions. Symbolically, it would the first sign of rapprochement between China and the Catholic church in more than half a century. The Vatican is the only European state that maintains formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan.  It is currently unclear if an agreement between China and the Vatican would affect this in any way."}], "question": "What is in the agreement?", "id": "1117_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2305, "answer_end": 3213, "text": "There are currently around 10 million Roman Catholics in China. It's not certain how such an agreement will affect the community, though some are sceptical. Cardinal Joseph Zen of Hong Kong had on Wednesday criticised the Vatican for its attempts at diplomacy with China, accusing the Church of forcing bishops to retire in favour of replacements picked by Beijing. \"Do I think that the Vatican is selling out the Catholic Church in China?\" he wrote on Facebook. \"Yes, definitely.\" Others however, are slightly more hopeful. Father Jeroom Heyndrickx, a Belgian priest who has spent 60 years trying to help Chinese Catholics, said that he believed China was \"ready to have a dialogue.\" \"For 2,000 years in China, the emperor was emperor and pope at the same time,\" he told the BBC. \"But China has changed and the Church has changed and this is what constitutes a new opportunity for this dialogue to succeed.\""}], "question": "What will this mean for the country's Catholics?", "id": "1117_2"}]}]}, {"title": "Jung Joon-young: K-pop star quits over secret sex videos", "date": "13 March 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "A second K-pop star has dramatically quit the music business, in a growing industry sex scandal. Jung Joon-young, 30, admitted to secretly filming himself having sex with women and sharing the footage. \"I admit to all my crimes,\" said Jung in a statement. He also promised to drop all his TV and music work. It comes a day after superstar Seungri from the group Big Bang quit the industry after he was charged with sex bribery. Jung, who is accused of taping 10 or more women, is due to be questioned by Seoul Metropolitan Police on Thursday. \"I filmed women without their consent and shared it in a chatroom, and while I was doing so I didn't feel a great sense of guilt,\" said Jung in the statement released late on Tuesday. It came after South Korean broadcaster SBS reported allegations that he had filmed his own sex videos without his partners' permission, and shared them with friends in a mobile chat group during 2015-16. He apologised to the fans he had \"outraged\", and to the women whose privacy he violated. \"Throughout the rest of my life, I will repent on my immoral and illegal acts that constitute crimes,\" he said. \"I will faithfully cooperate with an investigation by police that will start on Thursday and I will readily accept whatever punishment is in store for me.\" This is not the first time Jung has been accused of filming a sexual encounter without consent. An ex-girlfriend made an allegation against him in 2016, but ultimately withdrew it. The singer-songwriter, best known for his part in a variety show, claimed she had agreed to the filming. South Korea has been fighting an epidemic of \"spy cam porn\" in recent years. Hidden cameras are sometimes placed in toilets and changing rooms, then uploaded online without the knowledge of victims. The country saw more than 6,000 cases reported in 2017 alone. The case against Jung was discovered during a separate police investigation into K-pop superstar Seungri - who was reportedly a member of Jung's group chat. Seungri, whose boyband Big-bang have sold more than 140 million records, has been charged with supplying prostitutes to potential business investors - and police reportedly found Jung's videos while investigating that case. Seungri, 28, retired from the entertainment industry on Monday and promised to co-operate with police. He denies procuring sex workers.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1835, "answer_end": 2351, "text": "The case against Jung was discovered during a separate police investigation into K-pop superstar Seungri - who was reportedly a member of Jung's group chat. Seungri, whose boyband Big-bang have sold more than 140 million records, has been charged with supplying prostitutes to potential business investors - and police reportedly found Jung's videos while investigating that case. Seungri, 28, retired from the entertainment industry on Monday and promised to co-operate with police. He denies procuring sex workers."}], "question": "How did the videos come to light?", "id": "1118_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Indonesia's planning minister announces capital city move", "date": "29 April 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Indonesia is moving its capital city away from Jakarta, according to the country's planning minister. Bambang Brodjonegoro said President Joko Widodo had chosen to relocate the capital in \"an important decision\". The new location is not yet known. However state media reports one of the front runners is Palangkaraya, on the island of Borneo. Jakarta, home to over 10 million people, is sinking at one of the fastest rates in the world. The announcement comes after Mr Widodo declared victory in the country's general election earlier this month, though official results will not be announced until May 22. The idea of moving the capital has been floated several times since the country gained independence from the Dutch in 1945. In 2016, a survey found that the mega-city had the world's worst traffic congestion. Government ministers have to be escorted by police convoys to get to meetings on time. The planning minister says snarl-ups in Jakarta costs the economy 100 trillion rupiah ($6.8bn, PS5.4bn) a year. There has also been a huge programme to decentralise government for the last two decades in a bid to give greater political power and financial resources to municipalities. Jakarta is also one of the fastest-sinking cities in the world. Researchers say that large parts of the megacity could be entirely submerged by 2050. North Jakarta sunk 2.5m (eight feet) in 10 years and is continuing to sink an average of 1-15cm a year. The city sits on the coast on swampy land, criss-crossed by 13 rivers. Half of Jakarta is below sea level. One of the main causes of this is the extraction of groundwater which is used as drinking water and for bathing. By Rebecca Henschke, former editor, BBC Indonesian Indonesians are sceptical about their capital ever moving. They have heard this before and none of Indonesia's six presidents have been able to pull it off. But President Joko Widodo has achieved ambitious infrastructure building in his five years in office, so he may well be the man that finally does it. Indonesia is an incredibly diverse nation made up of hundreds of ethnic groups living on thousands of islands.  But economic development, national cultural identity and political power have always been dominated by the Javanese. Indonesians have never elected a non-Javanese president and most of Indonesia's wealth is concentrated in Jakarta. Indonesians living outside Java, particularly in the east, have long complained about being forgotten and neglected by the country's leaders sitting in the sprawling capital. Moving the capital out of Java would send a powerful political message that this is changing, if it happens. In a closed cabinet meeting, three options were reportedly discussed and presented to the president. One involved making a special zone for government offices inside the current capital; another was to move it to just outside Jakarta and the third, the one the president preferred, was to build a brand new capital on another island. The chief candidate is Palangkaraya, hundreds of kilometres to the north-east in central Kalimantan - the part of Borneo that belongs to Indonesia. It is geographically close to the centre of the archipelago and Indonesia's founding father Sukarno proposed to make it the capital. In Palangkaraya there is a mixed reaction to the idea of their sleepy city becoming the nation's capital. One high school student told the BBC: \"I hope the city will develop and the education will become as good as in Jakarta. But all the land and forest that's empty space now will be used. Kalimantan is the lungs of the world, and I am worried, we will lose the forest we have left.\" Mr Brodjonegoro said that the process could take 10 years. He told reporters after the meeting that if other countries could achieve it, so could Indonesia. \"Brazil moved from Rio de Janeiro to Brasilia near the Amazon, and look at Canberra it's built between Sydney and Melbourne, and Kazakhstan moved their capital to closer to the centre of the country and also Myanmar moved to Naypyidaw,\" he said. The announcement comes after Mr Widodo vowed to spread economic development more evenly around the country.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 607, "answer_end": 1661, "text": "The idea of moving the capital has been floated several times since the country gained independence from the Dutch in 1945. In 2016, a survey found that the mega-city had the world's worst traffic congestion. Government ministers have to be escorted by police convoys to get to meetings on time. The planning minister says snarl-ups in Jakarta costs the economy 100 trillion rupiah ($6.8bn, PS5.4bn) a year. There has also been a huge programme to decentralise government for the last two decades in a bid to give greater political power and financial resources to municipalities. Jakarta is also one of the fastest-sinking cities in the world. Researchers say that large parts of the megacity could be entirely submerged by 2050. North Jakarta sunk 2.5m (eight feet) in 10 years and is continuing to sink an average of 1-15cm a year. The city sits on the coast on swampy land, criss-crossed by 13 rivers. Half of Jakarta is below sea level. One of the main causes of this is the extraction of groundwater which is used as drinking water and for bathing."}], "question": "Why move the capital?", "id": "1119_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2648, "answer_end": 4160, "text": "In a closed cabinet meeting, three options were reportedly discussed and presented to the president. One involved making a special zone for government offices inside the current capital; another was to move it to just outside Jakarta and the third, the one the president preferred, was to build a brand new capital on another island. The chief candidate is Palangkaraya, hundreds of kilometres to the north-east in central Kalimantan - the part of Borneo that belongs to Indonesia. It is geographically close to the centre of the archipelago and Indonesia's founding father Sukarno proposed to make it the capital. In Palangkaraya there is a mixed reaction to the idea of their sleepy city becoming the nation's capital. One high school student told the BBC: \"I hope the city will develop and the education will become as good as in Jakarta. But all the land and forest that's empty space now will be used. Kalimantan is the lungs of the world, and I am worried, we will lose the forest we have left.\" Mr Brodjonegoro said that the process could take 10 years. He told reporters after the meeting that if other countries could achieve it, so could Indonesia. \"Brazil moved from Rio de Janeiro to Brasilia near the Amazon, and look at Canberra it's built between Sydney and Melbourne, and Kazakhstan moved their capital to closer to the centre of the country and also Myanmar moved to Naypyidaw,\" he said. The announcement comes after Mr Widodo vowed to spread economic development more evenly around the country."}], "question": "What are the options?", "id": "1119_1"}]}]}, {"title": "Google rivals claim product search remains unfair", "date": "22 November 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Google is not complying with European demands that it make the search for products fairer, rivals say. In an open letter to the EU's competition commissioner, 14 European shopping comparison services said the measures put in place by the search giant to improve things, actually make matters worse. They urged the commission to demand a new remedy. Google said it had complied with the European Commission demands. The search giant has faced a seven-year long battle with the European Commission over its dominance in the search market. In June 2017, European competition commissioner Margrethe Vestager ruled that Google had abused its power by promoting its own shopping service at the top of search results, and demanded that it provide equal treatment to rival comparison sites in future. She issued a record fine of EUR2.42bn ($2.7bn; PS2.1bn) - the largest penalty the European Commission has ever imposed. She also demanded that Google end its anti-competitive practices within 90 days or face further costs. Google is still appealing against the fine, but has come up with a system that it says makes shopping fairer. It changed the shopping box, which is displayed at the top of search results, so that it is no longer  populated with just Google Shopping ad results, but gives space to other shopping comparison services, who can bid for advertising slots. Google also agreed to separate its comparison shopping service from the main company and to ensure that it operated at arm's length. The advertising slots it bids for would not be subsidised by revenue from its main ad business, it said. Rivals described the auction process as \"neither compliant nor effective\". \"It has now been more than a year since Google introduced its auction-based 'remedy' and the harm to competition, consumers and innovation caused by Google's illegal conduct has continued unabated,\" the letter reads. The main concern is that the system forces rivals to bid away \"the vast majority of their profits\" while Google's own bids cost nothing. \"Its bids are just meaningless internal accounting, paid from one Google pocket into another,\" reads the letter. \"As long as placement is determined by auction rather than relevance, it makes little material difference whether competitors occupy none, some or even all of the available slots,\" it goes on. \"In all cases, Google is the main beneficiary of any profits derived from these entries, and consumers are the main losers.\" Shivaun Raff, the chief executive of lead complainant Foundem, told the BBC: \"People expect Google to deliver them the most relevant search results, but the truth is that Google is exploiting that trust and showing them results from advertisers who pay the highest price instead.\" In response to the letter, Google said: \"We allow all comparison shopping services to compete equally to show product ads from merchants on Google's Search results page. \"To help drive awareness amongst merchants who are unfamiliar with these new opportunities, we're currently offering incentives for them to work with comparison shopping services. One year on, both services that existed before the remedy and services that are new to comparison shopping are participating successfully.\" Some think that the EU action and Google's subsequent solution is a case of shutting the door after the horse has bolted. \"The bigger issue here is that Google Shopping is the most successful shopping service because of what the firm did in the past, by favouring themselves,\" said David Foster, director of research firm Frontier Economics. \"While the current remedies might seem like too little too late, any regulator gets nervous about meddling too much.\" The rivals also accuse Google of encouraging ad agencies to \"pose\" as shopping comparison sites. \"Realising that it will never be possible to populate its new auction with enough genuine comparison shopping services to create even the veneer of a functioning remedy, Google has now set about populating it with fake ones instead,\" the letter reads. In response to recent questions from reporters on whether this was true, Ms Vestager said that her team \"had noticed the practice\". The European Commission can overturn the solution put in place by Google and force it to rethink it.  And for every day that Google remains in non-compliance, it can impose daily fines of up to 5% of its global revenue. \"The Commission is already worrying about whether they got this right and they don't regard the matter as closed,\" said Mr Foster. \"Ms Vestager's agenda is all about cracking down on tech giants and she wants to be seen as being tough.\"", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 2465, "answer_end": 3695, "text": "Shivaun Raff, the chief executive of lead complainant Foundem, told the BBC: \"People expect Google to deliver them the most relevant search results, but the truth is that Google is exploiting that trust and showing them results from advertisers who pay the highest price instead.\" In response to the letter, Google said: \"We allow all comparison shopping services to compete equally to show product ads from merchants on Google's Search results page. \"To help drive awareness amongst merchants who are unfamiliar with these new opportunities, we're currently offering incentives for them to work with comparison shopping services. One year on, both services that existed before the remedy and services that are new to comparison shopping are participating successfully.\" Some think that the EU action and Google's subsequent solution is a case of shutting the door after the horse has bolted. \"The bigger issue here is that Google Shopping is the most successful shopping service because of what the firm did in the past, by favouring themselves,\" said David Foster, director of research firm Frontier Economics. \"While the current remedies might seem like too little too late, any regulator gets nervous about meddling too much.\""}], "question": "Too late?", "id": "1120_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Fired Trump aide Michael Flynn wants immunity to testify on Russia allegations", "date": "31 March 2017", "paragraphs": [{"context": "President Donald Trump's ex-national security adviser, Michael Flynn, wants immunity to testify on alleged Russian election meddling, his lawyer says. Robert Kelner says his client \"has a story to tell\", but needs to guard against \"unfair prosecution\". Mr Trump said that Mr Flynn was right to ask for immunity, accusing Democrats of orchestrating a \"witch hunt\". Congress is investigating the allegations, with one senator warning of Kremlin \"propaganda on steroids\". Mr Flynn was sacked in February after misleading the White House about his conversations with a Russian envoy. His links to Russia are being scrutinised by the FBI and the House and Senate Intelligence Committees, as part of wider investigations into claims Moscow sought to help Donald Trump win the US presidential election, and into contacts between Russia and members of President Trump's campaign team. Representative Adam Schiff, the top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, called Mr Flynn's request for immunity a \"grave and momentous step\". He added in a statement that there was \"still much work and many more witnesses and documents to obtain before any immunity request can be considered\". Michael Flynn may have a \"story to tell\", but what it is at this point is anybody's guess. Donald Trump's critics will probably imagine grand revelations of possible campaign contacts with Russian operatives or even the \"c\" word - collusion. Beyond the news reports of ongoing conversations between Flynn's lawyer and federal investigators, however, there is no firm ground for such speculation. It's entirely possible the immunity request is nothing more than the former senior Trump adviser attempting to insulate himself from legal trouble if he were to answer detailed questions about his foreign contacts and lobbying efforts. For instance, if he actively represented overseas interests, he may have run afoul of federal disclosure rules. There's also the chance that Flynn could be uneasy about what he told FBI agents in January, when they asked about his conversations with Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak. Either of those possibilities would be of great concern to Flynn, who has a six-figure military pension to preserve, but it wouldn't be the kind of political bombshell that would directly threaten Mr Trump or his administration. Given the uncertainty of the situation, however, there's sure to be some sleepless nights ahead for the White House. Follow @awzurcher on Twitter Mr Flynn's attorney, Robert Kelner, said in a statement that his client \"has a story to tell, and he very much wants to tell it, should the circumstances permit\". He said he would not comment on his discussions with congressional panels conducting the investigation. The lawyer said the media was awash with \"unfounded allegations, outrageous claims of treason, and vicious innuendo\". \"No reasonable person, who has the benefit of advice from counsel, would submit to questioning in such a highly politicized, witch-hunt environment without assurances against unfair prosecution,\" he said. Three other former Trump aides, former campaign chief Paul Manafort and former advisers Roger Stone and Carter Page, have offered to testify without requesting immunity. The Senate Intelligence Committee opened its hearing on Thursday with one member saying Moscow had sought to \"hijack\" the US election. Democrat Mark Warner said Russia may have used technology to spread disinformation, including fake news for voters in key states, such as Wisconsin, Michigan and Pennsylvania. \"This Russian 'propaganda on steroids' was designed to poison the national conversation in America,\" Senator Warner said. Panel chairman Richard Burr, a Republican, warned: \"We are all targets of a sophisticated and capable adversary.\" Mr Burr also confirmed there had been \"conversations\" about interviewing Mr Flynn, but his appearance had not been confirmed. The Trump presidency has faced continued allegations that members of its team colluded with Russian officials during the election campaign. The president regularly dismisses the claims as \"fake news\" and Russia has also ridiculed the allegations. President Putin did so again on Thursday at an Arctic forum, describing them as \"nonsense\" and \"irresponsible\". Mr Flynn, a retired army lieutenant-general, initially denied having discussed US sanctions against Russia with the country's ambassador, Sergei Kislyak. But he stood down after details of his phone call emerged, along with reports that the Department of Justice had warned the White House about Mr Flynn misleading officials and being vulnerable to Russian blackmail. At last summer's Republican party convention, Mr Flynn led chants of \"lock her up\" aimed at Hillary Clinton over her use of a private email server. In September, he said in a TV interview that it was unacceptable that some of the Democratic candidate's aides had been granted immunity from prosecution. \"When you get given immunity that means you've probably committed a crime,\" he told NBC News.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 4264, "answer_end": 5029, "text": "Mr Flynn, a retired army lieutenant-general, initially denied having discussed US sanctions against Russia with the country's ambassador, Sergei Kislyak. But he stood down after details of his phone call emerged, along with reports that the Department of Justice had warned the White House about Mr Flynn misleading officials and being vulnerable to Russian blackmail. At last summer's Republican party convention, Mr Flynn led chants of \"lock her up\" aimed at Hillary Clinton over her use of a private email server. In September, he said in a TV interview that it was unacceptable that some of the Democratic candidate's aides had been granted immunity from prosecution. \"When you get given immunity that means you've probably committed a crime,\" he told NBC News."}], "question": "Who is Michael Flynn?", "id": "1121_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Queen acknowledges \u2018bumpy\u2019 year for nation in Christmas message", "date": "24 December 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "The Queen will use her Christmas Day message to acknowledge that 2019 has been \"quite bumpy\". She will say the path is never \"smooth\" but \"small steps\" can heal divisions. It comes after a year of intense political debate over Brexit, as well as a number of personal events affecting the Royal Family. Her husband, the Duke of Edinburgh, 98, has left hospital after four nights of treatment for a \"pre-existing condition\". Buckingham Palace said the duke had gone to the King Edward VII's hospital on his doctor's advice for \"observation and treatment\". Prince Charles told reporters on Monday that hospital staff had looked after his father \"very well\". In January, the Duke of Edinburgh was involved in a car crash while driving near the Queen's Sandringham Estate in Norfolk. He escaped uninjured, but two women required hospital treatment. In September, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex publicly revealed their struggles under the media spotlight during their tour of southern Africa. Last month, the Duke of York withdrew from public life after a BBC interview about his ties to sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, who killed himself in August. The Queen, 93, recorded her annual message, to be broadcast on BBC One at 15:00 GMT on Christmas Day, before Prince Philip was admitted to hospital. She refers to the life of Jesus and the importance of reconciliation, saying \"small steps taken in faith and in hope can overcome long-held differences and deep-seated divisions to bring harmony and understanding\". \"The path, of course, is not always smooth, and may at times this year have felt quite bumpy, but small steps can make a world of difference.\" It has been a year which, at times, may have felt \"quite bumpy\", so the Queen will say in her Christmas broadcast. It is a choice of words which will inevitably prompt speculation about what it is that she's referring to. She does not offer any clarification herself, though the remark is made in the context of overcoming what she calls \"long-held differences\" and how \"small steps taken in faith and in hope can overcome deep-seated divisions\". The obvious interpretation is that this is the Queen's - as ever - coded message to the country to try to move on from the divisions of the Brexit debate, but the reference to a \"bumpy\" year may also be taken to refer to events within her own family after a year which has seen the Duke of Edinburgh's car accident, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex complaining about the difficulties of being in the public eye and the controversies around Prince Andrew. The head of state - who is publicly neutral on political matters - will also use her message to highlight the 75th anniversary of the World War Two D-Day landings, and how former \"sworn enemies\" joined together in friendly commemorations to mark the milestone this year. In June, the UK hosted an event in Portsmouth commemorating the 75th anniversary of D-Day and attended by world leaders including US President Donald Trump, Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron. The Queen said: \"By being willing to put past differences behind us and move forward together, we honour the freedom and democracy once won for us at so great a cost.\" The broadcast was produced by the BBC and recorded in the green drawing room of Windsor Castle after the general election. The Queen wore a royal blue cashmere dress by Angela Kelly, and the sapphire and diamond Prince Albert brooch, a present from Albert to Queen Victoria on the eve of their wedding in 1840. She is filmed sitting at a desk featuring photographs of her family, including one of the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall, and a black-and-white image of the Queen's father, King George VI. There is also a photograph of of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and their children - Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis - perched on and around a motorbike and sidecar - an image used for the couple's Christmas card. On Monday, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex revealed their festive greeting via the Queen's Commonwealth Trust Twitter account. It features a photograph of Harry and Meghan with their seven-month-old son Archie crawling towards the camera, and a message reading: \"Merry Christmas and a happy new year... from our family to yours\". The card was emailed to friends and colleagues on Monday, with hard copies sent to family. The couple are currently spending time in Canada while taking a festive break from royal duties with their son, who was born in May. Prince Andrew's appearance on BBC Newsnight last month was one of the year's biggest news stories involving the monarchy. In the interview, Prince Andrew defended his relationship with Epstein, who took his own life in August while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges. The prince was heavily criticised for showing a lack of empathy towards Epstein's victims and little remorse over his friendship with the disgraced US financier. He later issued a statement saying he continued to \"unequivocally regret my ill-judged association with Jeffrey Epstein\" and he deeply sympathised with everyone who was affected.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1649, "answer_end": 2548, "text": "It has been a year which, at times, may have felt \"quite bumpy\", so the Queen will say in her Christmas broadcast. It is a choice of words which will inevitably prompt speculation about what it is that she's referring to. She does not offer any clarification herself, though the remark is made in the context of overcoming what she calls \"long-held differences\" and how \"small steps taken in faith and in hope can overcome deep-seated divisions\". The obvious interpretation is that this is the Queen's - as ever - coded message to the country to try to move on from the divisions of the Brexit debate, but the reference to a \"bumpy\" year may also be taken to refer to events within her own family after a year which has seen the Duke of Edinburgh's car accident, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex complaining about the difficulties of being in the public eye and the controversies around Prince Andrew."}], "question": "Analysis: A coded message?", "id": "1122_0"}]}]}, {"title": "France to create new space defence command in September", "date": "13 July 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "France will set up a new space defence command in September, President Emmanuel Macron has announced. Speaking a day before the annual Bastille Day celebrations, Mr Macron said that the command would help to \"better protect our satellites, including in an active way\". Analysts say this marks a switch from a defensive to an offensive posture. Mr Macron's proposal follows similar moves by the US, China and Russia in recent years. Last year, US President Donald Trump ordered the formation of a sixth branch of the country's armed forces - a \"space force\". He said it would be unacceptable to let either China or Russia lead in space, He told the country's military brass the new space command would replace the current joint space command set up in 2010. \"We will strengthen our knowledge of the space situation, we will better protect our satellites, including in an active way,\" the president said. \"And to give substance to this doctrine, to ensure the development and reinforcement of our space capabilities, a large space command will be created next September within the Air Force, which will eventually become the Air and Space Force.\" President Macron also talked of reinforcing strategic autonomy within a European framework, which analysts see as an attempt to make sure the European Union is not edged out by American and other competition. The European Space Agency launch site at Kourou in French Guiana gives France a leading role in space - one that President Macron is determined to preserve, correspondents say.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 636, "answer_end": 1530, "text": "He told the country's military brass the new space command would replace the current joint space command set up in 2010. \"We will strengthen our knowledge of the space situation, we will better protect our satellites, including in an active way,\" the president said. \"And to give substance to this doctrine, to ensure the development and reinforcement of our space capabilities, a large space command will be created next September within the Air Force, which will eventually become the Air and Space Force.\" President Macron also talked of reinforcing strategic autonomy within a European framework, which analysts see as an attempt to make sure the European Union is not edged out by American and other competition. The European Space Agency launch site at Kourou in French Guiana gives France a leading role in space - one that President Macron is determined to preserve, correspondents say."}], "question": "What did President Macron say?", "id": "1123_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Diet debate: Is butter back and is sat fat good?", "date": "6 January 2016", "paragraphs": [{"context": "I love butter - a scraping of it on a slice of toast is a thing of joy. So when a series of newspaper headlines declared saturated fat is not as bad as once thought and that \"butter is back\" then wow that's the kind of news story I can get behind! But they do run against decades of health advice to cut the amount of sat fat we eat. So what's going on here and what should make it into the supermarket trolley? One of the big problems seems to be that simply declaring saturated fat is bad or that butter is back loses all nuance. The World Health Organization's advice is to have no more than 10% of total calories coming from saturated fat. The argument has been that sat fat increases the amount of bad cholesterol in the blood, although it also increases the good type too. The bad cholesterol furs up arteries and ultimately leads to a heart attack or stroke. Meanwhile trials of statins show cholesterol-lowering drugs can reduce the risk of a heart attack. Read: Is breakfast a waste of time? Watch: How healthy is your breakfast? Read: Low-fat or high-fat - does it matter? But getting the best evidence in nutrition is always a bit of nightmare. Some studies rely on food questionnaires asking people what they ate in the past year and then seeing what happened decades later. Now I can't tell you what I had for dinner three weeks ago and diets also change with time. And it's ever so slightly unethical to lock people up and experiment with their diets for decades to see if they have a heart attack. So the evidence ends up being a patchwork quilt of studies that gives an overall impression that saturated fat is bad. Public Health England, which advises people to cut down on saturated fat, says one of the key pieces of science on which they base their recommendations on is a review of 15 clinical trials which changed more than 59,000 people's diets for at least two years. However, even this starts to show why there can be confusion about saturated fat. It showed no impact on deaths from heart disease or any other cause of dying. And the analysis concludes that if you cut saturated fat out of your diet and replace it with carbohydrates or protein then it makes no difference to your risk of a heart attack. Carbs, and especially the refined ones in white bread rather than the complex ones in vegetables or wholegrains, are as bad for you as the saturated fat we've been warned off for years. It is only when saturated fats are replaced like-for-like by polyunsaturated fats that you see a significant reduction in heart attacks. Dr Lee Hooper, who led the study at the University of East Anglia, said: \"What we've realised in the last few years is that saturated fat isn't quite as much a villain as we thought.\" Saturated fat - Found in meats including processed foods such as burgers and sausages as well as butter, dairy and coconut oil Monounsaturated fat - Found in avocados, olive oil, and many types of nut. Polyunsaturated fat - Found in oily fish, vegetable oils and seeds. Trans fat - Found in biscuits, cakes and margarines Source: British Heart Foundation I put it to Public Health England's chief nutritionist, Dr Alison Tedstone, that just telling people to cut saturated fat was too simplistic. She was adamant that saturated fat is a bad thing in our diets but \"it's a fair point that sometimes the fat message gets oversimplified\". Dr Tedstone continued: \"The data over the years has flip-flopped slightly as new studies have emerged and that's because you're looking at subtle things on whether it should be monos or polys or wholegrain carbohydrate. \"I agree it's inappropriate to give the population messages to increase your carbohydrate intake without thinking about what that carbohydrate intake is.\" The advice from both Drs Tedstone and Hooper is to cook in sunflower oil instead of butter and have a low-fat spread. But some have argued that even this is wrong and that butter and other foods rich in saturated fat belong in a healthy diet. A study by the University of Cambridge in 2014 is often quoted after it concluded there was no \"clearly supportive evidence\" for the guidelines that encourage cutting saturated fat from the diet. It led to a flurry of headlines announcing that \"butter is back\". \"That is an oversimplification, we never said that,\" one of the researchers Dr Nita Forouhi, from the MRC epidemiology unit at the University of Cambridge, told me. The review did show no significant relationship between the amount of saturated fat, monounsaturated fat or a type of polyunsaturated fat and heart disease. But Dr Forouhi warned there needed to be a stronger focus on not what should be cut from the diet, but with what it should be replaced. The study could not take that into account. She said saturated fat had become a \"very, very reductionist debate\" and warned people to \"be careful about giving oversimplified messages\". But she is at the forefront of research that might transform the saturated fat debate, bringing some saturated fats in from the cold. Once upon a time doctors thought all \"cholesterol\" was bad, until they discovered it came in both \"good\" and \"bad\" forms. Well, now there is a growing realisation that not all saturated fats are the same and emerging evidence hints that some types may be beneficial. A saturated fatty acid is a string of carbon atoms chained together, but the length of the chain varies. Saturated fatty acids range from those with four carbons (butyric acid) to those with 24 carbons (lignoceric acid). Common ones include palmitic acid (16 carbons) and stearic acid (18 carbons). When you look at the levels of the different saturated fatty acids that end up in the blood then interesting patterns start to emerge. People with higher levels of 16 and 18 carbon saturated fatty acids in the bloodstream had a higher risk of heart disease. But those with more saturated fatty acids with a length of 15 or 17, which is linked to eating dairy, had a lower risk and the same pattern emerges in type 2 diabetes. \"These are very exciting findings and could really advance our understanding,\" added Dr Forouhi. So-called \"even-chain\" saturated fatty acids such as those with 16 carbons come from dietary fat, but are also made by the body because of high intakes of refined carbs and alcohol. So not only could refined carbs be having a negative effect on blood sugar levels, they could also be boost \"bad\" saturated fats in the blood. The \"odd-chains\" come exclusively from the diet and notably from dairy products. And Dr Forouhi added: \"Our new findings may also help to explain the reports from studies that some types of dairy products may cut diabetes or heart disease risk, somewhat contrary to expectation.\" But wait a minute - were all those headlines right? Should cheese, yoghurt, whole milk and butter should be firmly on the menu? Dr Forouhi warned that it was dangerous to take her early evidence and make such pronouncements. \"We cannot assume that the beneficial effects of dairy products are solely from the 'good' saturated fatty acids, after all foods contain a combination of ingredients.\" She warned there was still a \"powerful link\" between butter or saturated fat and bad cholesterol and more targeted studies should now take place on sub-types of saturated fat. And specifically on butter she said that most scientific studies don't actually include it in their definition of dairy. More research in this whole field is taking place, it could dramatically change our understanding of fat. Or equally it could come to nothing. Dr Forouhi concluded: \"While that research is going on I don't think we should just go changing everything. \"It's too premature to give the public the impression that they have a licence, based on this preliminary research, which is exciting but not yet definitive, to say butter is back.\" Follow James on Twitter.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1083, "answer_end": 2737, "text": "But getting the best evidence in nutrition is always a bit of nightmare. Some studies rely on food questionnaires asking people what they ate in the past year and then seeing what happened decades later. Now I can't tell you what I had for dinner three weeks ago and diets also change with time. And it's ever so slightly unethical to lock people up and experiment with their diets for decades to see if they have a heart attack. So the evidence ends up being a patchwork quilt of studies that gives an overall impression that saturated fat is bad. Public Health England, which advises people to cut down on saturated fat, says one of the key pieces of science on which they base their recommendations on is a review of 15 clinical trials which changed more than 59,000 people's diets for at least two years. However, even this starts to show why there can be confusion about saturated fat. It showed no impact on deaths from heart disease or any other cause of dying. And the analysis concludes that if you cut saturated fat out of your diet and replace it with carbohydrates or protein then it makes no difference to your risk of a heart attack. Carbs, and especially the refined ones in white bread rather than the complex ones in vegetables or wholegrains, are as bad for you as the saturated fat we've been warned off for years. It is only when saturated fats are replaced like-for-like by polyunsaturated fats that you see a significant reduction in heart attacks. Dr Lee Hooper, who led the study at the University of East Anglia, said: \"What we've realised in the last few years is that saturated fat isn't quite as much a villain as we thought.\""}], "question": "Confusion?", "id": "1124_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3867, "answer_end": 5030, "text": "But some have argued that even this is wrong and that butter and other foods rich in saturated fat belong in a healthy diet. A study by the University of Cambridge in 2014 is often quoted after it concluded there was no \"clearly supportive evidence\" for the guidelines that encourage cutting saturated fat from the diet. It led to a flurry of headlines announcing that \"butter is back\". \"That is an oversimplification, we never said that,\" one of the researchers Dr Nita Forouhi, from the MRC epidemiology unit at the University of Cambridge, told me. The review did show no significant relationship between the amount of saturated fat, monounsaturated fat or a type of polyunsaturated fat and heart disease. But Dr Forouhi warned there needed to be a stronger focus on not what should be cut from the diet, but with what it should be replaced. The study could not take that into account. She said saturated fat had become a \"very, very reductionist debate\" and warned people to \"be careful about giving oversimplified messages\". But she is at the forefront of research that might transform the saturated fat debate, bringing some saturated fats in from the cold."}], "question": "Butter's redemption?", "id": "1124_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 5031, "answer_end": 7873, "text": "Once upon a time doctors thought all \"cholesterol\" was bad, until they discovered it came in both \"good\" and \"bad\" forms. Well, now there is a growing realisation that not all saturated fats are the same and emerging evidence hints that some types may be beneficial. A saturated fatty acid is a string of carbon atoms chained together, but the length of the chain varies. Saturated fatty acids range from those with four carbons (butyric acid) to those with 24 carbons (lignoceric acid). Common ones include palmitic acid (16 carbons) and stearic acid (18 carbons). When you look at the levels of the different saturated fatty acids that end up in the blood then interesting patterns start to emerge. People with higher levels of 16 and 18 carbon saturated fatty acids in the bloodstream had a higher risk of heart disease. But those with more saturated fatty acids with a length of 15 or 17, which is linked to eating dairy, had a lower risk and the same pattern emerges in type 2 diabetes. \"These are very exciting findings and could really advance our understanding,\" added Dr Forouhi. So-called \"even-chain\" saturated fatty acids such as those with 16 carbons come from dietary fat, but are also made by the body because of high intakes of refined carbs and alcohol. So not only could refined carbs be having a negative effect on blood sugar levels, they could also be boost \"bad\" saturated fats in the blood. The \"odd-chains\" come exclusively from the diet and notably from dairy products. And Dr Forouhi added: \"Our new findings may also help to explain the reports from studies that some types of dairy products may cut diabetes or heart disease risk, somewhat contrary to expectation.\" But wait a minute - were all those headlines right? Should cheese, yoghurt, whole milk and butter should be firmly on the menu? Dr Forouhi warned that it was dangerous to take her early evidence and make such pronouncements. \"We cannot assume that the beneficial effects of dairy products are solely from the 'good' saturated fatty acids, after all foods contain a combination of ingredients.\" She warned there was still a \"powerful link\" between butter or saturated fat and bad cholesterol and more targeted studies should now take place on sub-types of saturated fat. And specifically on butter she said that most scientific studies don't actually include it in their definition of dairy. More research in this whole field is taking place, it could dramatically change our understanding of fat. Or equally it could come to nothing. Dr Forouhi concluded: \"While that research is going on I don't think we should just go changing everything. \"It's too premature to give the public the impression that they have a licence, based on this preliminary research, which is exciting but not yet definitive, to say butter is back.\" Follow James on Twitter."}], "question": "Are all saturated fats the same?", "id": "1124_2"}]}]}, {"title": "Prime editing: DNA tool could correct 89% of genetic defects", "date": "21 October 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "A new way of editing the code of life could correct 89% of the errors in DNA that cause disease, say US scientists. The technology, called prime editing, has been described as a \"genetic word processor\" able to accurately re-write the genetic code. It has been used to correct damaging mutations in the lab, including those that cause sickle cell anaemia. The team at the Broad Institute say it is \"very versatile and precise\", but stress the research is only starting. Prime editing is the latest advance in the field of gene editing, which is developing at an incredible pace. Our DNA is the instruction manual for building and running our bodies. It is in nearly every one of our cells. Being able to tweak DNA through gene editing is already transforming scientific research, promising to revolutionise medicine and asking deep moral and ethical questions after the creation of babies who were gene-edited to have protection from HIV. Much of the excitement has centred on a technology called Crispr-Cas9, which was developed just seven years ago. It scans DNA for the right spot and then, like a microscopic pair of scissors, cuts it in two. This creates the opportunity to edit the DNA. However, the edits are not always perfect and the cuts can end up in the wrong place. Both issues are a problem for using the technology in medicine. The promise of prime editing is precision. The study, in the journal Nature, used prime editing to accurately insert or delete sections of DNA; as well as correct typos in a single \"letter\" out of the three billion that make up the human genetic code. One of the researchers, Dr David Liu, said: \"You can think of prime editors to be like word processors, capable of searching for target DNA sequences and precisely replacing them. \"Prime editors offer more targeting flexibility and greater editing precision.\" Prime editing is like pressing Ctrl-F to find the bit of text you want to change, then pressing Ctrl-C and Ctrl-V to copy over the new text (or the command key if you're a mac user). The technology uses a lab-made sequence of genetic code. This has two roles, one is to find the specific part of the DNA you want to edit and the other contains the change you want to make. This is paired with an enzyme (called a reverse transcriptase) which copies the relevant edits over into the DNA. It was developed by researchers at the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard in Massachusetts. The fundamental building blocks of DNA are the four bases adenine, cytosine, guanine and thymine. They are commonly known by their respective letters, A, C, G and T. Three billion of these letters form the complete manual for building and maintaining the human body, but seemingly tiny errors can cause disease. A mutation that turned one specific A into a T results in the most common form of sickle cell disease. Tay-Sachs disease, a rare and fatal nerve condition, is often caused by the addition of four extra letters of code. Prime editing has been used to reverse both genetic errors in experiments on human cells in the laboratory. There are around 75,000 different mutations that can cause disease in people. Dr Liu estimates prime editing has the potential to fix 89% of them. The other 11% include times when people have too many copies of a gene (a genetic instruction) or when the whole gene is missing. \"Prime editing is the beginning, rather than the end of a long-standing aspiration in the molecular life-sciences to be able to make any DNA change in any position of a living cell or organism, including potentially human patients with genetic diseases,\" Dr Liu said. The challenge - as with all other gene editing technologies - will be getting the molecular machinery that is capable of performing these edits into the right parts of the human body and to ensure they are safe. Like other gene-editing technologies, it is likely the first applications will be in diseases where cells can be taken out of the body, edited, checked to ensure they are safe and put back in. That would apply to some blood disorders like sickle cell or thalassemias, where bone marrow can be removed and put back in. \"We may be able to 'fix' known human variants associated with disease, but the ability to do so in the right cell type and in a clinically relevant manner may be some time away,\" said Dr Hilary Sheppard, from the University of Auckland. Prof Robin Lovell-Badge, from the Francis Crick Institute, told BBC News: \"This is an excellent paper, typical of the careful step-by-step, clever and inventive approach used by David Liu. \"Because the vast majority of human genetic diseases are due to the types of mutation that prime editing can correct, the methods will hopefully prove useful in therapies for such diseases. \"Of course, much more work will be needed to optimise the methods and to find ways to deliver the components efficiently before they could be used clinically to treat patients, but they certainly offer promise. Dr Helen O'Neill, from UCL, said: \"This exciting research displays yet another expansion of the genome editing toolbox which allows for ever-more precise editing ability and efficiency. \"The research has been verified in vitro in human cells with an impressive 175 different editing examples including some of the more difficult to edit diseases.\" Follow James on Twitter", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 470, "answer_end": 1385, "text": "Prime editing is the latest advance in the field of gene editing, which is developing at an incredible pace. Our DNA is the instruction manual for building and running our bodies. It is in nearly every one of our cells. Being able to tweak DNA through gene editing is already transforming scientific research, promising to revolutionise medicine and asking deep moral and ethical questions after the creation of babies who were gene-edited to have protection from HIV. Much of the excitement has centred on a technology called Crispr-Cas9, which was developed just seven years ago. It scans DNA for the right spot and then, like a microscopic pair of scissors, cuts it in two. This creates the opportunity to edit the DNA. However, the edits are not always perfect and the cuts can end up in the wrong place. Both issues are a problem for using the technology in medicine. The promise of prime editing is precision."}], "question": "Can't we already edit DNA?", "id": "1125_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1386, "answer_end": 2433, "text": "The study, in the journal Nature, used prime editing to accurately insert or delete sections of DNA; as well as correct typos in a single \"letter\" out of the three billion that make up the human genetic code. One of the researchers, Dr David Liu, said: \"You can think of prime editors to be like word processors, capable of searching for target DNA sequences and precisely replacing them. \"Prime editors offer more targeting flexibility and greater editing precision.\" Prime editing is like pressing Ctrl-F to find the bit of text you want to change, then pressing Ctrl-C and Ctrl-V to copy over the new text (or the command key if you're a mac user). The technology uses a lab-made sequence of genetic code. This has two roles, one is to find the specific part of the DNA you want to edit and the other contains the change you want to make. This is paired with an enzyme (called a reverse transcriptase) which copies the relevant edits over into the DNA. It was developed by researchers at the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard in Massachusetts."}], "question": "How does prime editing work?", "id": "1125_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2434, "answer_end": 3617, "text": "The fundamental building blocks of DNA are the four bases adenine, cytosine, guanine and thymine. They are commonly known by their respective letters, A, C, G and T. Three billion of these letters form the complete manual for building and maintaining the human body, but seemingly tiny errors can cause disease. A mutation that turned one specific A into a T results in the most common form of sickle cell disease. Tay-Sachs disease, a rare and fatal nerve condition, is often caused by the addition of four extra letters of code. Prime editing has been used to reverse both genetic errors in experiments on human cells in the laboratory. There are around 75,000 different mutations that can cause disease in people. Dr Liu estimates prime editing has the potential to fix 89% of them. The other 11% include times when people have too many copies of a gene (a genetic instruction) or when the whole gene is missing. \"Prime editing is the beginning, rather than the end of a long-standing aspiration in the molecular life-sciences to be able to make any DNA change in any position of a living cell or organism, including potentially human patients with genetic diseases,\" Dr Liu said."}], "question": "How can prime editing treat disease?", "id": "1125_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3618, "answer_end": 4384, "text": "The challenge - as with all other gene editing technologies - will be getting the molecular machinery that is capable of performing these edits into the right parts of the human body and to ensure they are safe. Like other gene-editing technologies, it is likely the first applications will be in diseases where cells can be taken out of the body, edited, checked to ensure they are safe and put back in. That would apply to some blood disorders like sickle cell or thalassemias, where bone marrow can be removed and put back in. \"We may be able to 'fix' known human variants associated with disease, but the ability to do so in the right cell type and in a clinically relevant manner may be some time away,\" said Dr Hilary Sheppard, from the University of Auckland."}], "question": "How long will it take?", "id": "1125_3"}]}]}, {"title": "Scottish independence: Could a new referendum still be held?", "date": "31 January 2020", "paragraphs": [{"context": "First Minister Nicola Sturgeon says she still wants to hold a Scottish independence referendum in 2020, but has urged \"patience\" from her supporters. With the UK government still refusing to agree to a vote, is it likely to happen any time soon? Scotland held an independence referendum in September 2014, with the No campaign winning 55% of the votes. But then, in 2016, Brexit happened. Voters in Scotland backed Remain by 62% - but those across the UK as a whole voted Leave by 52%. The SNP saw this as a \"material change in circumstances\" which would justify a second independence ballot, because Scotland faced being taken out of the EU \"against its will\". And the party has since performed strongly in elections. It won 48 of the 59 seats north of the border in last month's general election, while campaigning to \"put Scotland's future in Scotland's hands\". MSPs at the Scottish Parliament have also endorsed the idea of a new referendum, giving Ms Sturgeon what she calls a \"cast-iron mandate\". The SNP leader wants to hold a ballot later this year, and she wants the UK government to agree a transfer of powers for this - as happened in 2014. This is because she wants the result of any vote to be seen as legal and legitimate - particularly by the likes of the EU, which she would like to see Scotland rejoin. However, UK ministers have rejected doing a deal - Prime Minister Boris Johnson says the 2014 vote was a \"once in a generation\" event. This has raised questions about what Ms Sturgeon can do to turn her pledge of a 2020 referendum into reality. There has long been legal debate over whether the Scottish Parliament, rather than MPs at Westminster, could pass the laws needed for a new vote on independence to be held - but the matter has never been tested in court. Ms Sturgeon has rejected holding an \"illegal or wildcat referendum\", like that held in Catalonia in 2017, but she hasn't ruled out a legal challenge to see if Holyrood could actually legislate for a poll. But this is not her focus for now. She warns that the outcome of such a court case would be deeply uncertain - \"it could move us forward, but equally it could set us back\". The first minister says Mr Johnson's position is unsustainable, and is focused on building a political campaign to overcome it. The SNP is doubling its campaign spending, the first minister is setting up a new \"constitutional convention\" to win over civic Scotland, and a series of papers detailing how Scotland could become independent will be published. Ms Sturgeon has also reversed her refusal to let the Electoral Commission re-test the Yes-No question asked in 2014, and that work will now go ahead. But without an agreement with Westminster, a vote still looks deeply unlikely this year. This means Ms Sturgeon will be looking ahead to the Scottish Parliament elections in 2021, targeting a big win on an explicit platform of demanding a referendum. This is the big question - after all Nicola Sturgeon doesn't just want to hold a referendum, she wants to win one. Polling data collected by What Scotland Thinks suggests an increase in support for independence, but it remains very much on a knife-edge. Excluding \"don't knows\", the average of polls in 2019 was 51% No to 49% Yes. The average for 2018 was 55% to 45% - the same as the 2014 referendum. Some polls now even put the Yes side ahead. The SNP hopes that a combination of Brexit and hostility within Scotland to Mr Johnson's refusals will push the dial further in its direction. In practice, Scotland would not become independent the day after a Yes vote - there would have to be a period of transition. In 2014, the pro-independence side said it would take 18 months to set up an independent Scottish state. Even if a referendum was held tomorrow, the transition would therefore run beyond the end of 2020 - when the UK is due to complete its exit from the EU. This means Scotland is leaving the EU with the rest of the UK, and would need to apply to join again. Scottish ministers accept they would have to go through an \"accession process\" for EU membership, but want to start this \"as soon as possible\". Scotland would have to meet the same accession criteria as any state seeking to join the EU, although it would have the advantage of having recently been a member. While many of Scotland's laws and regulations already match EU standards, the entry rules throw up a whole series of questions about things like currency, deficit levels and borders. Ms Sturgeon has been pressed on many of these topics already, arguing that Scotland could initially continue to use the pound and would not need to join the euro. She says the country's financial position could be brought within EU rules by growing the economy. However, her own party's prospectus for independence suggests this could take several years, whereas she wants to rejoin the EU as quickly as possible. The first minister also wants to avoid a hard border between Scotland and England. She has said answers about this and a whole range of other questions will be set out in detail ahead of any vote.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 246, "answer_end": 1002, "text": "Scotland held an independence referendum in September 2014, with the No campaign winning 55% of the votes. But then, in 2016, Brexit happened. Voters in Scotland backed Remain by 62% - but those across the UK as a whole voted Leave by 52%. The SNP saw this as a \"material change in circumstances\" which would justify a second independence ballot, because Scotland faced being taken out of the EU \"against its will\". And the party has since performed strongly in elections. It won 48 of the 59 seats north of the border in last month's general election, while campaigning to \"put Scotland's future in Scotland's hands\". MSPs at the Scottish Parliament have also endorsed the idea of a new referendum, giving Ms Sturgeon what she calls a \"cast-iron mandate\"."}], "question": "Why is Scottish independence back in the spotlight?", "id": "1126_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1003, "answer_end": 1564, "text": "The SNP leader wants to hold a ballot later this year, and she wants the UK government to agree a transfer of powers for this - as happened in 2014. This is because she wants the result of any vote to be seen as legal and legitimate - particularly by the likes of the EU, which she would like to see Scotland rejoin. However, UK ministers have rejected doing a deal - Prime Minister Boris Johnson says the 2014 vote was a \"once in a generation\" event. This has raised questions about what Ms Sturgeon can do to turn her pledge of a 2020 referendum into reality."}], "question": "What does Nicola Sturgeon want to happen?", "id": "1126_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1565, "answer_end": 2163, "text": "There has long been legal debate over whether the Scottish Parliament, rather than MPs at Westminster, could pass the laws needed for a new vote on independence to be held - but the matter has never been tested in court. Ms Sturgeon has rejected holding an \"illegal or wildcat referendum\", like that held in Catalonia in 2017, but she hasn't ruled out a legal challenge to see if Holyrood could actually legislate for a poll. But this is not her focus for now. She warns that the outcome of such a court case would be deeply uncertain - \"it could move us forward, but equally it could set us back\"."}], "question": "Does Scotland have the power to hold a referendum?", "id": "1126_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2164, "answer_end": 2920, "text": "The first minister says Mr Johnson's position is unsustainable, and is focused on building a political campaign to overcome it. The SNP is doubling its campaign spending, the first minister is setting up a new \"constitutional convention\" to win over civic Scotland, and a series of papers detailing how Scotland could become independent will be published. Ms Sturgeon has also reversed her refusal to let the Electoral Commission re-test the Yes-No question asked in 2014, and that work will now go ahead. But without an agreement with Westminster, a vote still looks deeply unlikely this year. This means Ms Sturgeon will be looking ahead to the Scottish Parliament elections in 2021, targeting a big win on an explicit platform of demanding a referendum."}], "question": "So what will Nicola Sturgeon do now?", "id": "1126_3"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2921, "answer_end": 3509, "text": "This is the big question - after all Nicola Sturgeon doesn't just want to hold a referendum, she wants to win one. Polling data collected by What Scotland Thinks suggests an increase in support for independence, but it remains very much on a knife-edge. Excluding \"don't knows\", the average of polls in 2019 was 51% No to 49% Yes. The average for 2018 was 55% to 45% - the same as the 2014 referendum. Some polls now even put the Yes side ahead. The SNP hopes that a combination of Brexit and hostility within Scotland to Mr Johnson's refusals will push the dial further in its direction."}], "question": "Would Scots vote for independence?", "id": "1126_4"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3510, "answer_end": 4138, "text": "In practice, Scotland would not become independent the day after a Yes vote - there would have to be a period of transition. In 2014, the pro-independence side said it would take 18 months to set up an independent Scottish state. Even if a referendum was held tomorrow, the transition would therefore run beyond the end of 2020 - when the UK is due to complete its exit from the EU. This means Scotland is leaving the EU with the rest of the UK, and would need to apply to join again. Scottish ministers accept they would have to go through an \"accession process\" for EU membership, but want to start this \"as soon as possible\"."}], "question": "Could an independent Scotland stay in the EU?", "id": "1126_5"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 4139, "answer_end": 5096, "text": "Scotland would have to meet the same accession criteria as any state seeking to join the EU, although it would have the advantage of having recently been a member. While many of Scotland's laws and regulations already match EU standards, the entry rules throw up a whole series of questions about things like currency, deficit levels and borders. Ms Sturgeon has been pressed on many of these topics already, arguing that Scotland could initially continue to use the pound and would not need to join the euro. She says the country's financial position could be brought within EU rules by growing the economy. However, her own party's prospectus for independence suggests this could take several years, whereas she wants to rejoin the EU as quickly as possible. The first minister also wants to avoid a hard border between Scotland and England. She has said answers about this and a whole range of other questions will be set out in detail ahead of any vote."}], "question": "What would it take for Scotland to rejoin the EU?", "id": "1126_6"}]}]}, {"title": "Where does UK aid to Syria actually go?", "date": "27 October 2015", "paragraphs": [{"context": "The UK's Department for International Development is spending over PS1bn on aid for Syria. But where is it going and how much is reaching the Syrians it is supposed to help, asks Simon Cox. How hard is it to find out exactly how DfID's PS1bn for Syria is being spent? If you head to DfID's development tracker site you can find the amounts being donated to charities and the UN agencies like the UN children's fund Unicef and the World Food Programme (WFP). DfID has even provided a breakdown showing who the donations went to and in which countries the money was being spent. But what about the detail of how much is actually spent on the projects themselves? The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) is a good place to start. It has received PS17m from DfID for projects in Jordan and Lebanon. The money is used to refurbish houses owned by Jordanians that are used to provide rent-free accommodation for refugees for up to two years. So far NRC has upgraded 1,300 houses, providing homes for 4,500 Syrian families - like that of Abdul Rahman. He fled Syria with his wife and three children in 2012 as he says he feared for his life. For the past three years he has relied on handouts as Syrian refugees are not allowed to work. He says his new home is a massive step forward: \"Giving Syrian refugees a new house with no rent, we really feel dignity and stability.\" DfID sets strict limits on what percentage of the project's budget can go towards overheads. In NRC's case it's 8.6% and the money is spent at NRC's HQ and in Jordan. \"These are costs like the rent on our office space, [and] vehicles that are not directly associated with the project but that the office needs to be able to continue to function,\" says Catherine Osborne, NRC's protection adviser in Jordan. Over a dozen organisations like the Norwegian Refugee Council, Oxfam and Save the Children are receiving over PS230m from the British government for work in Syria and neighbouring countries. But these charities only account for a fifth of DfID's Syria budget. The majority, almost PS600m, goes to the big UN agencies. The World Food Programme (WFP) gets the most - PS227m which is used for food inside Syria and vouchers in Jordan and Lebanon which refugees use to buy food. The WFP, like all UN agencies, contribute information to the aid transparency website d:portal. For Syria the only detailed WFP budget easily findable on the whole of the site is a $24m breakdown for food vouchers for three months in 2012. This shows that 7% or $1.5m went on a management fee for officials at WFP headquarters in Rome. This is apparently typical for all UN budgets. A further 21% - or $2.3m - went on staff costs, with over half of that for international staff and consultants. So almost a third of the budget went on staff and administration. Abeer Etefa, WFP's senior spokeswoman for the Middle East, says this level of overheads is not common, \"We run a very lean operation when it comes to Syria and all the other emergencies that we do. Over 90% of the donor funding is going directly into the refugee vouchers.\" Claudia Williamson, an economist at Missisippi State University, has conducted several studies looking at overheads and efficiency in the aid sector. She found the UN agencies were by far the least transparent. We found that aid projects can sometimes receive only around half the money paid out by the government. 7% initially goes to United Nations HQ 15% of the remaining fund pays for UN agency costs (staff, vehicles, offices) Up to 25% of what's left then covers direct costs of the charity or other group involved (staff, vehicles, security) 5% is then also used as a contractor fee if a contractor is paid to do the work \"If we just had the budget information for each agency we would have been happy.  For most bilateral agencies, so country to country aid,  you can get that information, it's the multilateral especially the UN agencies that typically do not report, do not post online or were not responding to us with that information.\" UN agencies are mammoth organisations, and much of their work is actually contracted out to charities and other groups. The agency in charge of coordinating the relief effort is UNHCR. It registers all new arrivals in Jordan, Lebanon and Turkey, and runs camps such as the giant Zaatari site in Jordan. It also distributes cash to refugees to buy essential items. There are lots of statistics on the number of people UNHCR is helping and data on individual purchases the organisation makes over $100,000. But what isn't publicly available is a detailed budget breakdown showing exactly how it is using British aid money in Jordan. Kilian Kleinshmidt worked for UNHCR for two decades and oversaw the Zaatari camp until October 2014. There is a chain, he explains, where UNHCR often contracts charities and other groups to carry out work on its behalf. The group may then employ a local contractor to actually do the work on the ground. Each link in this chain takes a cut for their bureaucracy and overheads. This can eat into the budget. \"If you think about the chain that makes it possible, up to 50% may go in the chain, this is maybe acceptable in times of emergency, but as fast as possible we have to change that to rationalise on the management structures in the aid sector.\" The suggestion that half a budget could go in overheads is concerning for Andrew Harper, the head of the UNHCR in Jordan, who denies having seen such a case. He shared the detailed budget for the funding for the cash assistance programme which transfers money directly to refugees. \"The latest tranche of funding that we've received from DfID is some PS10m. It will cover 29,000 families for four months here. It goes down to about 1.6%  is in staffing costs and office premises and associated elements. We're actually trying to figure out how we can reduce it even further\". This is unusual as there are no charities or contractors involved. Dorian LaGuardia has conducted evaluations of the UNHCR's operations in Jordan and Lebanon. He had similar difficulties in finding out detailed information, \"We metaphorically banged our heads against a wall in looking at this issue, the way that budgets and financing documents are done across the UN is obtuse. I think the biggest issue for us and one we spent quite a bit of time investigating is what is directly related to helping refugees and what is considered overheads, the costs of keeping the lights on in senior management and in looking at those types of figures there are a lot of considerations that one has to take into account.\" His research found overheads for UN agencies could be up to 25%, and beyond that in some cases. This was understandable at the start of the Syria crisis, he suggests, but after four years that shouldn't be the case. What do DfID make of this? No minister was willing to be interviewed about this but in a statement they say: \"From day one of the Syria crisis, we have focused relentlessly on getting help where it is needed most and on doing so transparently, effectively and accountably. To suggest otherwise is both misleading and wrong. \"The reality is these responses are UN-led and it's the UN that has the reach, influence and leverage to co-ordinate an international response of this scale. And we of course work closely and continually with our UN partners to ensure they are delivering maximum impact and value for British taxpayers' money.\" So how much of DfID's PS1bn is reaching the refugees? Until the UN becomes more transparent it's impossible to tell. The UK has committed to spending 0.7% of its GDP, about PS12bn, on foreign aid. It is said to be the first nation in the G7 to meet a target set by the UN 45 years ago. Where does the UK's aid currently go? You can listen to The Billion Dollar Aid Question on BBC Radio 4 at 20:00 on 27 October 2015, or catch up afterwards iPlayer. Subscribe to the BBC News Magazine's email newsletter to get articles sent to your inbox.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 3291, "answer_end": 3394, "text": "We found that aid projects can sometimes receive only around half the money paid out by the government."}], "question": "How much aid reaches projects?", "id": "1127_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Australian indigenous singer Dr G Yunupingu dies", "date": "26 July 2017", "paragraphs": [{"context": "One of Australia's leading Aboriginal musicians, Dr G Yunupingu, has died at the age of 46. The singer, born blind in the Northern Territory, became the highest-selling Australian indigenous artist ever. He died at Royal Darwin Hospital on Tuesday after enduring \"a long battle with illness\", his record label said in a statement. A former member of Yothu Yindi, his 2008 solo album sold well in several countries. Obituary: An exquisite singer who 'spoke to the soul' Midnight Oil frontman Peter Garrett has led tributes on social media, calling Yunupingu \"a truly great musician\". \"Very sad news. Too young, so much left to give. Heart goes out to family,\" Garrett said on Twitter. Yunupingu's family asked media outlets not to use pictures of him after his death in accordance with indigenous traditions. Yunupingu's record label, Skinnyfish Music, said he was \"one of the most important figures in Australian music history\". \"His debut album cemented him as the Australian voice of a generation, hitting triple platinum in Australia, silver in the UK and charting in multiple other countries across the globe,\" the statement said. The singer's label also praised the artist for creating opportunities for young people in the Northern Territory. \"His legacy as a musician and community leader will continue as his life's work continues its positive impact on Elcho Island, The Northern Territory, Australia and the world.\" The singer had ongoing liver and kidney issues for some time, which had forced him to cancel a European tour. The musician, who sang in English and in his native Yolngu language, performed at the Queen's Diamond Jubilee Concert in London in 2012. To respect tradition the BBC along with many other media outlets adheres to long-standing cultural protocol not to publish a picture or the name of the indigenous person who died. While the naming taboo differs across different indigenous communities, there's a general belief that doing so would jeopardise the spirit on its journey to the afterlife. Speaking the name of a dead person is thought by indigenous people to potentially undermine that journey, calling the departed spirit back to world of the living. This restraint is customary for the entire mourning period - depending on local practice, that can last for weeks, months or years.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1673, "answer_end": 2319, "text": "To respect tradition the BBC along with many other media outlets adheres to long-standing cultural protocol not to publish a picture or the name of the indigenous person who died. While the naming taboo differs across different indigenous communities, there's a general belief that doing so would jeopardise the spirit on its journey to the afterlife. Speaking the name of a dead person is thought by indigenous people to potentially undermine that journey, calling the departed spirit back to world of the living. This restraint is customary for the entire mourning period - depending on local practice, that can last for weeks, months or years."}], "question": "Why does our story have no pictures of Yunupingu?", "id": "1128_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Saudi oil attacks: Nato chief 'extremely concerned' about escalation", "date": "16 September 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "The head of the Nato military alliance has said he is extremely concerned that tensions will escalate after an attack on Saudi oil facilities. Jens Stoltenberg also said Iran was \"destabilising the whole region\". Earlier on Monday, the US released satellite images showing damage from the weekend's \"unprecedented\" strikes, which it has pinned on Iran. Iran denies involvement, with President Hassan Rouhani calling the attack a reciprocal act by the \"Yemeni people\". Yemen's Houthi rebels - who are aligned with Iran - have claimed responsibility. However, the US has cast doubt on their ability to carry out strikes of this magnitude and accuracy without assistance. The Saudi-led military coalition in Yemen, which is in direct conflict with the Houthis, believes Iran provided the weapons. \"We call on all parties to prevent any such attacks occurring again because that can have negative consequences for the whole region, and we are also extremely concerned about a risk of escalation,\" Mr Stoltenberg told the AFP news agency in an interview. The Houthis have launched attacks on Saudi soil before, including on oil pipelines. But this attack was on a much bigger scale, hitting the world's biggest oil-processing plant and another oil field. The knock-on effect was a  5% cut in global oil supplies and soaring prices. Experts say it could take weeks before the facilities are fully functioning again. US President Donald Trump, who over the weekend stopped short of directly accusing Iran, said on Monday that it looked like it was behind the attack. But he added: \"We want to find definitively who did this.\" He also said the US was \"more prepared than anyone\" for conflict, but would rather avoid it. In a series of tweets, US Defence Secretary Mark Esper accused Iran of undermining \"the international rules-based order\". Iran has discounted the possibility of a meeting between President Rouhani and President Trump on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly next week. There had previously been speculation that they could meet to defuse tensions. UN Yemen envoy Martin Griffiths told the Security Council on Monday it was \"not entirely clear\" who was behind the strike but that it had increased the chances of a regional conflict. In the UK, Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab also highlighted the uncertainty, while calling the act a \"wanton violation of international law\". China and the European Union have, separately, urged restraint. The oil price saw its biggest one-day rise since the 1991 Gulf War, soaring 20% but falling back later. The international benchmark used by traders, Brent crude, jumped to $71.95 (PS57.53) a barrel at one point. Prices eased after President Trump authorised a possible release of US reserves. US Energy Secretary Rick Perry told business channel CNBC that it was too early to tell if this would be necessary. There are concerns that higher prices could continue if tensions worsen further. Mr Trump has tried to downplay the impact on the market. The attacks targeted Abqaiq, the site of the world's largest oil processing plant, run by the Saudi state oil company, Aramco, and the Khurais oilfield. Khurais is the closest of the targets to the Yemen border, but is still a considerable 770km (480 miles) away. US officials said there were 19 points of impact on the targets, which could have come from a mix of drones and cruise missiles. They have told media outlets that they believe the attacks did not originate from Houthi-controlled territory in Yemen, which lies to the south-west of the Saudi oil facilities, and instead were launched from the north or north-west. The officials said that could suggest launch sites in the northern Gulf, Iran or Iraq but no conclusive evidence has been provided. Iraq denied at the weekend that the attacks were launched from its territory. Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi said the US assured him in a phone call on Monday that it backed Iraq's position. Saudi Arabia and Iran are locked in a fierce struggle for regional dominance. The decades-old feud is exacerbated by religious differences. They each follow one of the two main branches of Islam - Iran is largely Shia Muslim, while Saudi Arabia sees itself as the leading Sunni Muslim power. The two countries are not directly fighting but they are engaged in a variety of proxy wars (conflicts where they support rival sides and militias) around the region. Read more about Saudi-Iranian relations The Houthis have repeatedly launched rockets, missiles and drones at populated areas in Saudi Arabia. The attacks have left at least four civilians dead. The Yemen conflict escalated in March 2015, when the Houthis seized control of much of the west of the country and forced President Abdrabbuh Mansour Hadi to flee abroad. Saudi Arabia and allies then began an air campaign aimed at restoring Mr Hadi's government. The UN says the conflict has claimed the lives of at least 7,290 civilians and left 80% of the population - 24 million people - in need of humanitarian assistance or protection, including 10 million who rely on food aid to survive.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1050, "answer_end": 1409, "text": "The Houthis have launched attacks on Saudi soil before, including on oil pipelines. But this attack was on a much bigger scale, hitting the world's biggest oil-processing plant and another oil field. The knock-on effect was a  5% cut in global oil supplies and soaring prices. Experts say it could take weeks before the facilities are fully functioning again."}], "question": "How unusual was this attack?", "id": "1129_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1410, "answer_end": 2074, "text": "US President Donald Trump, who over the weekend stopped short of directly accusing Iran, said on Monday that it looked like it was behind the attack. But he added: \"We want to find definitively who did this.\" He also said the US was \"more prepared than anyone\" for conflict, but would rather avoid it. In a series of tweets, US Defence Secretary Mark Esper accused Iran of undermining \"the international rules-based order\". Iran has discounted the possibility of a meeting between President Rouhani and President Trump on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly next week. There had previously been speculation that they could meet to defuse tensions."}], "question": "What is the US saying?", "id": "1129_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2075, "answer_end": 2463, "text": "UN Yemen envoy Martin Griffiths told the Security Council on Monday it was \"not entirely clear\" who was behind the strike but that it had increased the chances of a regional conflict. In the UK, Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab also highlighted the uncertainty, while calling the act a \"wanton violation of international law\". China and the European Union have, separately, urged restraint."}], "question": "How have others reacted?", "id": "1129_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2464, "answer_end": 3010, "text": "The oil price saw its biggest one-day rise since the 1991 Gulf War, soaring 20% but falling back later. The international benchmark used by traders, Brent crude, jumped to $71.95 (PS57.53) a barrel at one point. Prices eased after President Trump authorised a possible release of US reserves. US Energy Secretary Rick Perry told business channel CNBC that it was too early to tell if this would be necessary. There are concerns that higher prices could continue if tensions worsen further. Mr Trump has tried to downplay the impact on the market."}], "question": "What happened to oil markets?", "id": "1129_3"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 4461, "answer_end": 5109, "text": "The Houthis have repeatedly launched rockets, missiles and drones at populated areas in Saudi Arabia. The attacks have left at least four civilians dead. The Yemen conflict escalated in March 2015, when the Houthis seized control of much of the west of the country and forced President Abdrabbuh Mansour Hadi to flee abroad. Saudi Arabia and allies then began an air campaign aimed at restoring Mr Hadi's government. The UN says the conflict has claimed the lives of at least 7,290 civilians and left 80% of the population - 24 million people - in need of humanitarian assistance or protection, including 10 million who rely on food aid to survive."}], "question": "Why might the Houthis have attacked Saudi Arabia?", "id": "1129_4"}]}]}, {"title": "Sir John Major: Unionists opposing backstop 'ignorant'", "date": "10 December 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "There has been \"breathtaking ignorance\" from \"those who believe themselves to be unionists\" who oppose the Northern Ireland backstop in the Brexit deal, Sir John Major has said. The former prime minister made the remark as Tuesday's vote in the Commons was called off. Theresa May said she would seek assurances from Brussels for the DUP and Brexiteers on the backstop. It is the insurance policy to avoid a return to a hard border after Brexit. Mrs May made a statement to MPs in Parliament on Monday afternoon, and said she had listened to \"widespread and deep concerns\" from MPs about the backstop. The DUP and Brexiteer MPs have vowed to reject the deal unless the backstop is ditched, because they say any differences for Northern Ireland could threaten the union and damage the economy. That is because if the backstop took effect, Northern Ireland alone would align with the EU single market in some areas, meaning new regulatory barriers between GB and NI - Labour has described this as a \"de facto Irish Sea border\". It has also said it will vote down the deal in Parliament, along with other opposition parties. Speaking at the inaugural Albert Reynolds Memorial lecture in County Longford, Sir John was critical of those he described as \"believing themselves to be unionists\". He warned of the dangers of violence returning in Northern Ireland, if physical checks or infrastructure were put in place at the border again after Brexit. \"Some opinion has shown a breathtaking ignorance of the likely impact unsettling the Good Friday Agreement will have on Ireland, north and south,\" said the former prime minister. \"To them, the Irish demand for a backstop is a bogus ploy, a bogus ploy to keep the UK in a customs union. \"In truth, a backstop is of vital national interest for Ireland and for the United Kingdom.\" He added, however, that despite the turmoil at Westminster, he did not believe that a majority of MPs would permit a hard border to become a reality. \"The reckless few, who are careless of its likely effect are a clear minority, and with good reason.\" Taoiseach (Irish Prime Minister) Leo Varadkar said it is not possible to renegotiate the Irish border backstop proposal without \"opening up all aspects\" of the Brexit withdrawal agreement. He stressed the current plan was \"the only deal on the table\", which took a year-and-a-half to negotiate. The Irish government has \"already offered a lot of concessions along the way\", which have the support of the other 26 EU member states, added Mr Varadkar. The taoiseach confirmed that he had spoken to European Council President Donald Tusk by phone on Monday afternoon and discussed this week's European Council meeting and the current Brexit situation. Both the EU and UK have committed to ensuring the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland remains as frictionless after Brexit as it is now. The government's deal contains the Northern Ireland protocol: the insurance policy to avoid the return of a hard border if a solution cannot be reached through a wider trade deal. Also known as the backstop, it sparked a political backlash amid claims it could lead to the break up of the United Kingdom. The UK would also not be able to leave the backstop without EU agreement. Sinn Fein, the SDLP, the Alliance Party and the Greens, as well as a number of business and agri-food groups, have urged Parliament to back the deal. In a statement, the leaders of those parties urged the backstop to be \"banked\", in order to protect the Good Friday Agreement, they said. DUP deputy leader Nigel Dodds described the delay on the Brexit vote as a \"shambles\". \"Please listen and amend the withdrawal agreement or it will be voted down,\" he warned Mrs May in the Commons. The government needed to realise it was \"in trouble\" when it had crossed the DUP's red line relating to Northern Ireland, he added. Party leader Arlene Foster said unless changes were made to the withdrawal agreement, the deal \"will not fly with the DUP\". The DUP - which props up the government in a confidence-and-supply pact to give Mrs May a working majority - has been putting pressure on the government to \"bin the backstop\". Its MPs have already flexed their political muscle by voting against the government several times, in a bid to force the prime minister to change course. A summit of EU leaders is still due to take place on Thursday, but the EU Council President Donald Tusk has said Brussels will not renegotiate the deal,  including the backstop. Mrs May has refused to say when the Commons vote on her deal would now be held - saying it would depend how long fresh talks with the EU last. Some MPs called for it to come back to the Commons before Christmas, but Mrs May would only say the final deadline for the vote was 21 January.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 2076, "answer_end": 2724, "text": "Taoiseach (Irish Prime Minister) Leo Varadkar said it is not possible to renegotiate the Irish border backstop proposal without \"opening up all aspects\" of the Brexit withdrawal agreement. He stressed the current plan was \"the only deal on the table\", which took a year-and-a-half to negotiate. The Irish government has \"already offered a lot of concessions along the way\", which have the support of the other 26 EU member states, added Mr Varadkar. The taoiseach confirmed that he had spoken to European Council President Donald Tusk by phone on Monday afternoon and discussed this week's European Council meeting and the current Brexit situation."}], "question": "What has the Irish government said?", "id": "1130_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2725, "answer_end": 3552, "text": "Both the EU and UK have committed to ensuring the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland remains as frictionless after Brexit as it is now. The government's deal contains the Northern Ireland protocol: the insurance policy to avoid the return of a hard border if a solution cannot be reached through a wider trade deal. Also known as the backstop, it sparked a political backlash amid claims it could lead to the break up of the United Kingdom. The UK would also not be able to leave the backstop without EU agreement. Sinn Fein, the SDLP, the Alliance Party and the Greens, as well as a number of business and agri-food groups, have urged Parliament to back the deal. In a statement, the leaders of those parties urged the backstop to be \"banked\", in order to protect the Good Friday Agreement, they said."}], "question": "Why is Northern Ireland important in all of this?", "id": "1130_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3553, "answer_end": 4335, "text": "DUP deputy leader Nigel Dodds described the delay on the Brexit vote as a \"shambles\". \"Please listen and amend the withdrawal agreement or it will be voted down,\" he warned Mrs May in the Commons. The government needed to realise it was \"in trouble\" when it had crossed the DUP's red line relating to Northern Ireland, he added. Party leader Arlene Foster said unless changes were made to the withdrawal agreement, the deal \"will not fly with the DUP\". The DUP - which props up the government in a confidence-and-supply pact to give Mrs May a working majority - has been putting pressure on the government to \"bin the backstop\". Its MPs have already flexed their political muscle by voting against the government several times, in a bid to force the prime minister to change course."}], "question": "What has the DUP said?", "id": "1130_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 4336, "answer_end": 4800, "text": "A summit of EU leaders is still due to take place on Thursday, but the EU Council President Donald Tusk has said Brussels will not renegotiate the deal,  including the backstop. Mrs May has refused to say when the Commons vote on her deal would now be held - saying it would depend how long fresh talks with the EU last. Some MPs called for it to come back to the Commons before Christmas, but Mrs May would only say the final deadline for the vote was 21 January."}], "question": "What happens now?", "id": "1130_3"}]}]}, {"title": "Five star dining or burger joint from hell?", "date": "1 March 2016", "paragraphs": [{"context": "At Vicky's Diner in Upper Manhattan, New York, Peter the waiter is a much-loved character in the community and the small diner is a popular fixture with families. Yet online he is occasionally called \"grumpy\" and even \"rude\". \"But he has been here for years and knows almost everybody who comes in,\" says his boss Vicky. \"He knows their sense of humour and has a gruff voice, and jokes around with a lot of people. \"Some people think he's being rude to them, because they don't know him!\" This is just one of the problems with online reviews, a lack of context. Others are dishonesty and paid-for puffery - annoyances that review sites such as Yelp, Amazon and Tripadvisor have been struggling to weed out for years. Such fake reviews and blackmail attempts threaten to undermine trust in the \"wisdom of crowds\" - reviews that many of us have come to rely on before we part with our hard-earned cash. Could better technology help restore confidence in the review system? The developers of a new mobile app from the UK, called Twizoo, say they have found a way of weeding out fake, paid-for and out-of-date reviews. The start-up, which is concentrating on restaurants initially, scrapes comments from Twitter, then collects and analyses them to provide what it claims is a more reliable stream of review data. Twizoo co-founder and algorithm writer Madeline Parra is clearly chasing industry leader, Yelp. \"We left 24 fake reviews on Yelp and all got through within a couple of hours,\" she says. \"But Twizoo expects users to have a full social media profile, tweeting about lots of different stuff, so it's a lot harder for a fake review to get through to us.\" Twizoo gives users a \"Twitter credibility score\" that has to be earned over time. Tweets that come from a brand new Twitter account are automatically discarded and several tweets coming in at the same time about one particular restaurant are also considered suspicious. That stops friends and family of the chef or restaurant owner influencing reviews, for example. \"After three months, tweets count half as much as they did before,\" says Ms Parra. \"On Yelp, if a restaurant got a one star review five years ago, it still counts against that restaurant. \"Because our volume [of tweets] is so high we want to give our users not what was awful five years ago, but what is great right now.\" Ms Parra also points out that tweets are more likely to be authentic because they are often sent between friends as recommendations. Yelp is incredibly protective of its \"secret sauce\" or more accurately its \"secret source code\" that makes up the algorithm used to weed out potentially false or over-enthusiastic five-star reviews. In fact, Yelp PR director Marco Bilello says only a very few people in the company know the exact formula. \"If everybody knew the ins and outs it would allow them to game the system,\" he tells the BBC, \"so we can't share that information. \"We believe in quality over quantity. That's why only 71% of our reviews that go through the recommendation software are eventually recommended.\" He did reveal that multiple Yelp reviews for the same restaurant coming from the same IP address are given extra scrutiny. And those reviews that seem biased - from the likes of competitors and disgruntled employees - are flagged. Yelp also has people on the ground in many locations and an investigative unit looking out for restaurants offering incentives to customers in return for five-star reviews. Amazon is also constantly tweaking its review system - star ratings now reflect how useful readers think a new review is and if it comes after a verified purchase. It also favours reviews that were written by a customer paying a standard price rather than a deeply discounted sale that may have only lasted days or even hours, but which may have resulted in an over-enthusiastic review. Amazon has also cracked down on dodgy reviews using the full force of the law. \"Since the beginning of 2015, we have brought lawsuits against over 1,000 defendants for reviews abuse,\" says Amazon spokesman Tom Cook, \"including both dishonest sellers and manufacturers who attempt to purchase fraudulent reviews, and the parties who provide and post those reviews.\" Jobs reviews site Glassdoor rejects about 5-10% of its submissions, suggesting that it is harder to fake reviews about occupations and specific work places, and much less lucrative. Tripadvisor chief executive Stephen Kaufer recently sent out a letter warning hotels and other businesses to be wary of \"optimisation companies\" promising to manipulate travel reviews for a fee, and then attempting to blackmail clients if they try to back out later. The more we know about the person leaving the review, the easier it should be to weed out the fakers. Walt Disney World gives customers a wristband that can be used to open hotel doors, pay for meals and souvenirs, and get into attractions. Disney knows exactly where you ate, what you ate, where you went, what you bought, who your favourite characters are, what rides you went on, and even what you look like. That's a goldmine of data against which reviews could be checked. But Georgios Zervas, assistant professor of marketing at Boston University, says: \"You could imagine doing that, but I think it would be quite creepy. \"And most people would find it annoying and an intrusion of their privacy rather than anything else.\" So despite being decades old, the concept of online reviews still has much further to go. One of the next big shifts is likely to be towards personalised reviews, delivered to you according to your age, location and, perhaps, experience. After all, a 16-year-old from Kansas and a 65-year-old from Maine might have very different opinions of a new lobster joint opening on the Las Vegas strip. Follow Technology of Business editor @matthew_wall on Twitter.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 4670, "answer_end": 5794, "text": "The more we know about the person leaving the review, the easier it should be to weed out the fakers. Walt Disney World gives customers a wristband that can be used to open hotel doors, pay for meals and souvenirs, and get into attractions. Disney knows exactly where you ate, what you ate, where you went, what you bought, who your favourite characters are, what rides you went on, and even what you look like. That's a goldmine of data against which reviews could be checked. But Georgios Zervas, assistant professor of marketing at Boston University, says: \"You could imagine doing that, but I think it would be quite creepy. \"And most people would find it annoying and an intrusion of their privacy rather than anything else.\" So despite being decades old, the concept of online reviews still has much further to go. One of the next big shifts is likely to be towards personalised reviews, delivered to you according to your age, location and, perhaps, experience. After all, a 16-year-old from Kansas and a 65-year-old from Maine might have very different opinions of a new lobster joint opening on the Las Vegas strip."}], "question": "Genuine article?", "id": "1131_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Syria war: Last of British IS 'Beatles' gang captured by Kurds", "date": "9 February 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Two British men believed to be members of a notorious Islamic State group cell have been seized by Syrian Kurdish fighters, US officials say. Alexanda Kotey, 34, and El Shafee Elsheikh, 29, were the last two members of the cell to remain at large. The four, all from London, were nicknamed \"the Beatles\" because of their British accents. US officials said the \"execution cell\" had beheaded at least 27 hostages and tortured many more. Families of the men's victims have called for the two seized men to go on trial. Diane Foley - whose son James, an American journalist, was captured and beheaded by IS - told BBC Radio 4's Today programme she wants the men to face life imprisonment. \"Their crimes are beyond imagination,\" she added. Nicolas Henin, a French journalist who spent 10 months as an IS captive, also told Today that he wanted justice. He stressed that any attempt to deny the men of their civil rights would only feed IS's claims of victimisation by the West. - Mohammed Emwazi - dubbed Jihadi John, was the masked militant from west London who featured in gruesome IS videos, taunting Western powers before beheading hostages. Victims who appeared in those videos included British aid workers David Haines and Alan Henning, US journalists James Foley and Steven Sotloff, and American aid worker Peter Kassig. The alleged ringleader of the group, he was killed in a drone strike in 2015 in Raqqa, the former de facto IS capital in Syria - Aine Davis, also from west London, was convicted of being a senior IS member and ehe was jailed in Turkey last year on terrorism charges, after being arrested near Istanbul in 2015. - Alexanda Kotey, another west Londoner, took part in the torture of hostages, the US State Department says, and also acted as a recruiter for IS - El Shafee Elsheikh \"earned a reputation for waterboarding, mock executions, and crucifixions\" while serving as the cell's guard, the US state department says Who were the Islamic State 'Beatles'? The gangster who ditched drugs for jihad The latest arrests were confirmed by US officials. Officials quoted by US media said the two men had been captured by members of the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), who are targeting remnants of IS. The UK Foreign Office, meanwhile, said it did not comment on individual cases or investigations. Their capture was first reported by the New York Times, who noted that American officials had wanted to keep the news secret. The aim was \"to allow analysts more time to pursue the intelligence leads developed from their detention and prepare raids against unsuspecting Islamic State targets\", the newspaper said. The Syrian fighters who apprehended them told US officials in mid-January that the two may have been captured, and the men's identities were later confirmed using fingerprints and other biometric data. The families of the men told the BBC they were not aware of the capture until the story was reported by news organisations. The Islamic State group's self-declared caliphate - its area of control - shrunk rapidly last year. In October, the group lost its \"capital\" of Raqqa to the SDF. In the beginning of November, it lost Deir-al Zour in Syria on the same day as it lost al-Qaim in Iraq. The SDF is an alliance of Kurdish and Arab fighters opposed to IS. The US-backed group has played a key role in driving IS from its strongholds in Syria. The US has said it aims to maintain an open-ended military presence in the country to ensure the jihadist group's defeat. However, the presence of large numbers of Kurdish armed forces in northern Syria has alarmed neighbouring Turkey. Gordon Corera, security correspondent The pair are said to have provided valuable intelligence following their capture. That may be helpful in answering the wider question of what happened to the foreign fighters as the so-called caliphate disintegrated. How many of the thousands of foreign fighters were killed and how many went to other countries or would seek to come home? These men will have been priority targets - but not the only ones. Their capture also raises the issue of what happens next. They could be put on trial in the US, since they were allegedly involved in the killing of US hostages - but there may be some in the Trump administration who would like to send them to Guantanamo Bay. And it is not clear if this is - formally - an issue for the UK Government, as there are reports the pair may have had their UK citizenship stripped from them using powers available to the Home Office. Secret convoy let hundreds of IS fighters escape", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 2019, "answer_end": 2964, "text": "The latest arrests were confirmed by US officials. Officials quoted by US media said the two men had been captured by members of the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), who are targeting remnants of IS. The UK Foreign Office, meanwhile, said it did not comment on individual cases or investigations. Their capture was first reported by the New York Times, who noted that American officials had wanted to keep the news secret. The aim was \"to allow analysts more time to pursue the intelligence leads developed from their detention and prepare raids against unsuspecting Islamic State targets\", the newspaper said. The Syrian fighters who apprehended them told US officials in mid-January that the two may have been captured, and the men's identities were later confirmed using fingerprints and other biometric data. The families of the men told the BBC they were not aware of the capture until the story was reported by news organisations."}], "question": "How were they captured?", "id": "1132_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2965, "answer_end": 3620, "text": "The Islamic State group's self-declared caliphate - its area of control - shrunk rapidly last year. In October, the group lost its \"capital\" of Raqqa to the SDF. In the beginning of November, it lost Deir-al Zour in Syria on the same day as it lost al-Qaim in Iraq. The SDF is an alliance of Kurdish and Arab fighters opposed to IS. The US-backed group has played a key role in driving IS from its strongholds in Syria. The US has said it aims to maintain an open-ended military presence in the country to ensure the jihadist group's defeat. However, the presence of large numbers of Kurdish armed forces in northern Syria has alarmed neighbouring Turkey."}], "question": "What is the state of IS in Syria?", "id": "1132_1"}]}]}, {"title": "Nxivm sex cult case: Seagram heiress among four women arrested", "date": "25 July 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "A liquor heiress is facing charges of funding a suspected US sex cult whose recruits were allegedly branded with the initials of its founder. Seagram scion Clare Bronfman, 39, is accused of using her fortune to help finance Nxivm's operations. Investigators say the organisation is a sex-trafficking operation disguised as a mentoring group. Six people have now been charged as part of the inquiry, including 35-year-old Smallville actress Allison Mack. Ms Bronfman's lawyer said her client \"did nothing wrong\". She was formally charged on Tuesday before being released on a $100m (PS75m) bail bond. On its website Nxivm (pronounced nexium) describes itself as a \"community guided by humanitarian principles that seek to empower people and answer important questions about what it means to be human\". Based in Albany in upstate New York, the group was founded as Executive Success Programs in 1998 and says it has worked with more than 16,000 people. Members of the group are reported to include the son of a former Mexican president and Hollywood actresses. Federal prosecutors allege Nxivm's leader Keith Raniere, 57, oversaw a \"slave and master\" system within the group. Female members were expected to have sex with him and were branded with his initials, say former members. According to the group's website, it has suspended enrolment and events because of the \"extraordinary circumstances facing the company at this time\". Ms Bronfman, the daughter of late billionaire philanthropist and Seagram head Edgar Bronfman, was arrested on Tuesday along with three others on charges of racketeering conspiracy, US prosecutors say. Court documents allege Ms Bronfman, a member of Nxivm's executive board, was involved in the identity theft of at least two women - including a deceased sexual partner of Mr Raniere. She is also accused of encouraging and assisting in an alleged Nxivm victim's illegal entry into the US. In a note published on her website last December, Ms Bronfman said she still supported Nxivm after seeing \"so much good come from both our programmes and from Keith himself\". Her lawyer Susan Necheles said in a statement that Nxivm was \"not a criminal enterprise\" but \"an organisation that helped thousands of people,\" according to US media. \"The charges against Clare are the result of government overreaching and charging an individual with crimes just because the government disagrees with some beliefs taught by Nxivm and held by Clare,\" Ms Necheles said. Keith Raniere himself was arrested by the FBI in Mexico in March. He and actress Allison Mack were charged with sex trafficking and forced labour conspiracy the following month. Both face mandatory minimum sentences of 15 years and a maximum of life imprisonment for the sex-trafficking charges. Mr Raniere, whose trial is scheduled for 1 October, has been denied bail because of fears that Ms Bronfman might use her financial clout to help him escape. Nxivm co-founder Nancy Salzman, 64, her daughter, Lauren Salzman, 42, and the group's 60-year-old bookkeeper, Kathy Russell, were all arrested alongside Ms Brofman on Tuesday. All six are accused of racketeering conspiracy, or attempting to illegally obtain or extort money, and could face up to 20 years in jail, plus an additional maximum 15 years for identity theft conspiracy. The US Department of Justice says the group committed \"an array of crimes, including identity theft, extortion, forced labour, sex trafficking, money laundering, wire fraud and obstruction of justice\". FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge William Sweeney said on Tuesday that \"the details of these alleged crimes become more and more grim as we continue to dig deeper into the conduct of this organisation and its intended mission\".", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 600, "answer_end": 1429, "text": "On its website Nxivm (pronounced nexium) describes itself as a \"community guided by humanitarian principles that seek to empower people and answer important questions about what it means to be human\". Based in Albany in upstate New York, the group was founded as Executive Success Programs in 1998 and says it has worked with more than 16,000 people. Members of the group are reported to include the son of a former Mexican president and Hollywood actresses. Federal prosecutors allege Nxivm's leader Keith Raniere, 57, oversaw a \"slave and master\" system within the group. Female members were expected to have sex with him and were branded with his initials, say former members. According to the group's website, it has suspended enrolment and events because of the \"extraordinary circumstances facing the company at this time\"."}], "question": "What is Nxivm?", "id": "1133_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1430, "answer_end": 2478, "text": "Ms Bronfman, the daughter of late billionaire philanthropist and Seagram head Edgar Bronfman, was arrested on Tuesday along with three others on charges of racketeering conspiracy, US prosecutors say. Court documents allege Ms Bronfman, a member of Nxivm's executive board, was involved in the identity theft of at least two women - including a deceased sexual partner of Mr Raniere. She is also accused of encouraging and assisting in an alleged Nxivm victim's illegal entry into the US. In a note published on her website last December, Ms Bronfman said she still supported Nxivm after seeing \"so much good come from both our programmes and from Keith himself\". Her lawyer Susan Necheles said in a statement that Nxivm was \"not a criminal enterprise\" but \"an organisation that helped thousands of people,\" according to US media. \"The charges against Clare are the result of government overreaching and charging an individual with crimes just because the government disagrees with some beliefs taught by Nxivm and held by Clare,\" Ms Necheles said."}], "question": "What is Clare Bronfman accused of?", "id": "1133_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2479, "answer_end": 3741, "text": "Keith Raniere himself was arrested by the FBI in Mexico in March. He and actress Allison Mack were charged with sex trafficking and forced labour conspiracy the following month. Both face mandatory minimum sentences of 15 years and a maximum of life imprisonment for the sex-trafficking charges. Mr Raniere, whose trial is scheduled for 1 October, has been denied bail because of fears that Ms Bronfman might use her financial clout to help him escape. Nxivm co-founder Nancy Salzman, 64, her daughter, Lauren Salzman, 42, and the group's 60-year-old bookkeeper, Kathy Russell, were all arrested alongside Ms Brofman on Tuesday. All six are accused of racketeering conspiracy, or attempting to illegally obtain or extort money, and could face up to 20 years in jail, plus an additional maximum 15 years for identity theft conspiracy. The US Department of Justice says the group committed \"an array of crimes, including identity theft, extortion, forced labour, sex trafficking, money laundering, wire fraud and obstruction of justice\". FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge William Sweeney said on Tuesday that \"the details of these alleged crimes become more and more grim as we continue to dig deeper into the conduct of this organisation and its intended mission\"."}], "question": "Who else has been charged?", "id": "1133_2"}]}]}, {"title": "EU summit: Poland cries blackmail over subsidies", "date": "10 March 2017", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Polish PM Beata Szydlo has accused the French president of trying to blackmail her country, in a row over Thursday's re-election of EU leader Donald Tusk. At the end of an EU summit, she said it was unacceptable for Francois Hollande to threaten to stop funds because Poland was \"not behaving properly\". Poland had tried but failed to stop Mr Tusk's re-election, and refused to endorse the summit's joint statement. Ms Szydlo also warned partners Poland would not accept a multi-speed Europe. She said the EU faced new divisions if stronger nations tried to integrate more among themselves at the expense of weaker ones like Poland and fellow ex-communist countries in the east. Friday's talks in Brussels focused on the future of the post-Brexit EU. EU members discussed making a joint declaration that should stress EU unity when they meet in Rome on 25 March. Poland's failure to endorse the summit joint statement reportedly led to a confrontation over dinner on Thursday evening, with Mr Hollande saying that richer Western nations were helping to pay for Poland's development. \"If someone says 'you're not behaving properly so you won't get the money' - that's unacceptable,\" Ms Szydlo told a news conference on Friday. She also took a swipe at Mr Hollande's personal popularity. \"Am I supposed to take seriously the blackmail of a president who has a 4% approval rating and who soon won't be president?\" When the idea of an EU celebration of the 60th anniversary of the founding Treaty of Rome in the Italian capital was first mooted it must have seemed like a good idea. Now Brexit casts a long, dark shadow over those proceedings - an organisation that has known nothing but steady expansion is about to lose a member state for the first time. That is a confidence-sapping thought for an institution which has no firm timetable for planned future expansion in the Balkans. There is no big idea on offer from the European Commission - just a palette of five vague outlines of how the EU will work in the future. The moment does not feel right for grand visions. Then there is the Polish government's anger at the re-election of their fellow-countryman Donald Tusk to a top job at the European Council. Poland - a huge beneficiary of EU funding - suddenly feels as though it might take the place in the European awkward squad that the UK is vacating. Brexit's long shadow over Europe as anniversary nears Poland is the biggest net recipient of EU funds - in 2015 it got EUR13.4bn (PS11.7bn; $14.2bn) from the EU. The EU budget will come under huge strain when the UK - one of the biggest net contributors - leaves. The dispute blew up after Poland failed to block the reappointment of Mr Tusk as European Council president - a key strategic role in the EU. As a result Poland refused to give its consent for the joint statement at the end of the summit. Controversially, the conclusions - normally an expression of EU unity - came instead from Mr Tusk personally. A long-running feud between him and Jaroslaw Kaczynski - the nationalist guiding the Polish government - caused the debacle. Mr Tusk, a former Polish prime minister from a rival party, has been critical of controversial government policies, and has in turn been accused of meddling in Poland's domestic affairs. There is new momentum behind the idea of EU members moving at different speeds - a way of saying that some member states are more in favour of further integration than others. France, Germany and Italy back it - but Poland is adamantly against. Poland and its neighbours fear being left behind if their stronger partners integrate in more areas, especially the eurozone. But Mr Hollande said it was not about multi-speeds, but about being able \"to go faster... and also further without closing the door on anyone\". German Chancellor Angela Merkel said different aspects of integration were \"open for every member state to take part in\". Over the years, the UK's distance from the EU on many key issues - including the euro, the Schengen passport-free zone and budget spending - has meant that the bloc is already de facto multi-speed. There is a legal mechanism for smaller groups of countries to forge ahead with a common policy. That was demonstrated again at this summit with agreement that 17 member states could set up a European Public Prosecutor's Office - seen as a way to combat VAT fraud.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 863, "answer_end": 1410, "text": "Poland's failure to endorse the summit joint statement reportedly led to a confrontation over dinner on Thursday evening, with Mr Hollande saying that richer Western nations were helping to pay for Poland's development. \"If someone says 'you're not behaving properly so you won't get the money' - that's unacceptable,\" Ms Szydlo told a news conference on Friday. She also took a swipe at Mr Hollande's personal popularity. \"Am I supposed to take seriously the blackmail of a president who has a 4% approval rating and who soon won't be president?\""}], "question": "Why the accusations of blackmail?", "id": "1134_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2622, "answer_end": 3282, "text": "The dispute blew up after Poland failed to block the reappointment of Mr Tusk as European Council president - a key strategic role in the EU. As a result Poland refused to give its consent for the joint statement at the end of the summit. Controversially, the conclusions - normally an expression of EU unity - came instead from Mr Tusk personally. A long-running feud between him and Jaroslaw Kaczynski - the nationalist guiding the Polish government - caused the debacle. Mr Tusk, a former Polish prime minister from a rival party, has been critical of controversial government policies, and has in turn been accused of meddling in Poland's domestic affairs."}], "question": "How did the row develop?", "id": "1134_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3283, "answer_end": 4381, "text": "There is new momentum behind the idea of EU members moving at different speeds - a way of saying that some member states are more in favour of further integration than others. France, Germany and Italy back it - but Poland is adamantly against. Poland and its neighbours fear being left behind if their stronger partners integrate in more areas, especially the eurozone. But Mr Hollande said it was not about multi-speeds, but about being able \"to go faster... and also further without closing the door on anyone\". German Chancellor Angela Merkel said different aspects of integration were \"open for every member state to take part in\". Over the years, the UK's distance from the EU on many key issues - including the euro, the Schengen passport-free zone and budget spending - has meant that the bloc is already de facto multi-speed. There is a legal mechanism for smaller groups of countries to forge ahead with a common policy. That was demonstrated again at this summit with agreement that 17 member states could set up a European Public Prosecutor's Office - seen as a way to combat VAT fraud."}], "question": "What is a multi-speed Europe?", "id": "1134_2"}]}]}, {"title": "France's Macron holds 'frank exchange' with Putin", "date": "29 May 2017", "paragraphs": [{"context": "French President Emmanuel Macron says he held a \"frank exchange\" with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin in their first face-to-face talks. The pair discussed \"disagreements\" in the meeting, held at the sumptuous Versailles palace near Paris. But Mr Macron said he wanted to work with Russia over the conflict in Syria in the struggle against terrorism. Meanwhile, Mr Putin said he wanted to strengthen economic ties with France after the restrictions of recent years. France is in the coalition backing Sunni Arab and Kurdish rebels opposed to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, who has strong military help from Russia and Iran. However, in the joint news conference after Monday's talks both leaders said there were opportunities for their countries to work together more closely. Mr Macron said he wanted France to \"strengthen\" its \"partnership with Russia\" in its fight against so-called Islamic State (IS) in Syria. He said he favoured \"a democratic transition\" that would \"preserve the Syrian state\". But the use of chemical weapons would be a \"red line\" that would draw an \"immediate response\" from France, he added. Mr Putin agreed that uniting against terrorism would achieve \"positive results\" and said it was impossible to \"combat the terrorist threat by destroying statehood\". Despite the sweltering weather, this meeting held a touch of frost from the start, when the two leaders greeted each other with brief handshakes and small grim smiles. Two hours later, as they emerged from their meeting, the mood was - if anything - even cooler. There is lots of substance for them to disagree on, but there is a personal awkwardness to this new relationship, too. Mr Putin's apparent support for Mr Macron's far-right presidential rival during the campaign, and allegations by the Macron campaign that Russian agents had tried repeated cyber-hacks, have coloured the meeting. During the press conference, the French leader strongly defended banning two Russian media outlets from covering his presidential campaign, describing them as \"agents of propaganda\". France has taken a firm line against Moscow over Russia's intervention in Ukraine. Western sanctions, imposed after Russia's annexation of Crimea in 2014, have been ratcheted up since pro-Russian rebels carved out a breakaway region in eastern Ukraine. President Putin used the news conference to call for these sanctions to be lifted, saying they did not help create stability in the east. But both leaders agreed to revive joint working groups, and to reconvene talks with Germany. Mr Putin appeared to support Mr Macron's nationalist rival Marine Le Pen during the 2017 presidential campaign. He hosted her in the Kremlin a month before the election's first round. But Mr Putin told Monday's news conference: \"This doesn't mean that we somehow tried to influence the election at all... that would have been impossible as well.\" He also said there was \"nothing to discuss\" when asked by journalists about allegations Russia has tried to meddle in foreign elections. Before becoming president this month, Mr Macron accused Russia of pursuing \"a hybrid strategy combining military intimidation and an information war\". On Monday he accused pro-Kremlin news outlets Russia Today and Sputnik of being \"organs of influence and propaganda\" against his campaign. President Macron said they discussed the alleged persecution of gay men in the Russian republic of Chechnya, and President Putin had promised \"measures aimed at establishing the whole truth about the activities of local authorities\". He said France would remain \"vigilant\" on the issue. Versailles was chosen for the Macron-Putin meeting because an exhibition dedicated to Tsar Peter the Great is opening there. The tsar's visit to Paris and other parts of Europe 300 years ago greatly influenced his reign. Ties between Russia and France became increasingly strained under Mr Macron's predecessor Francois Hollande. Monday's meeting was President Macron's latest diplomatic test after the G7 talks in Sicily and the Nato summit in Brussels where he turned the tables on US President Donald Trump by holding him in a clenched handshake until their knuckles went white. Afterwards, Mr Macron told French media the exchange was \"not innocent\" and he had wanted to \"show he would not make small concessions, not even symbolic ones, but also not overdo things\".", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 469, "answer_end": 1288, "text": "France is in the coalition backing Sunni Arab and Kurdish rebels opposed to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, who has strong military help from Russia and Iran. However, in the joint news conference after Monday's talks both leaders said there were opportunities for their countries to work together more closely. Mr Macron said he wanted France to \"strengthen\" its \"partnership with Russia\" in its fight against so-called Islamic State (IS) in Syria. He said he favoured \"a democratic transition\" that would \"preserve the Syrian state\". But the use of chemical weapons would be a \"red line\" that would draw an \"immediate response\" from France, he added. Mr Putin agreed that uniting against terrorism would achieve \"positive results\" and said it was impossible to \"combat the terrorist threat by destroying statehood\"."}], "question": "What did they say about Syria?", "id": "1135_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2066, "answer_end": 2549, "text": "France has taken a firm line against Moscow over Russia's intervention in Ukraine. Western sanctions, imposed after Russia's annexation of Crimea in 2014, have been ratcheted up since pro-Russian rebels carved out a breakaway region in eastern Ukraine. President Putin used the news conference to call for these sanctions to be lifted, saying they did not help create stability in the east. But both leaders agreed to revive joint working groups, and to reconvene talks with Germany."}], "question": "What about the conflict in Ukraine?", "id": "1135_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2550, "answer_end": 3323, "text": "Mr Putin appeared to support Mr Macron's nationalist rival Marine Le Pen during the 2017 presidential campaign. He hosted her in the Kremlin a month before the election's first round. But Mr Putin told Monday's news conference: \"This doesn't mean that we somehow tried to influence the election at all... that would have been impossible as well.\" He also said there was \"nothing to discuss\" when asked by journalists about allegations Russia has tried to meddle in foreign elections. Before becoming president this month, Mr Macron accused Russia of pursuing \"a hybrid strategy combining military intimidation and an information war\". On Monday he accused pro-Kremlin news outlets Russia Today and Sputnik of being \"organs of influence and propaganda\" against his campaign."}], "question": "Did Russia meddle in the French election?", "id": "1135_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3324, "answer_end": 4381, "text": "President Macron said they discussed the alleged persecution of gay men in the Russian republic of Chechnya, and President Putin had promised \"measures aimed at establishing the whole truth about the activities of local authorities\". He said France would remain \"vigilant\" on the issue. Versailles was chosen for the Macron-Putin meeting because an exhibition dedicated to Tsar Peter the Great is opening there. The tsar's visit to Paris and other parts of Europe 300 years ago greatly influenced his reign. Ties between Russia and France became increasingly strained under Mr Macron's predecessor Francois Hollande. Monday's meeting was President Macron's latest diplomatic test after the G7 talks in Sicily and the Nato summit in Brussels where he turned the tables on US President Donald Trump by holding him in a clenched handshake until their knuckles went white. Afterwards, Mr Macron told French media the exchange was \"not innocent\" and he had wanted to \"show he would not make small concessions, not even symbolic ones, but also not overdo things\"."}], "question": "What else did they talk about?", "id": "1135_3"}]}]}, {"title": "British Airways passengers stranded after IT failures", "date": "7 August 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "British Airways says it has fixed the IT glitch which caused more than 100 flights to be cancelled and more than 200 others to be delayed. The airline said flights were returning to normal but warned that there may be \"knock-on operational disruption\". At least 117 flights had been cancelled at Heathrow Airport, with 10 cancelled at Gatwick Airport. The problem had caused BA to revert to using manual systems for check-in at airports, causing long queues. It has apologised for the disruption and said customers on short-haul services from Heathrow, Gatwick and London City can rebook another day. \"We continue to advise customers to check ba.com for the latest flight information before coming to the airport, and to leave additional time,\" it said. The airline said the issue had not been a global problem, and involved two separate systems - one which deals with online check in, the other that deals with flight departures. The issues were affecting flights across its network but not at every airport, it added. Passengers have been invited to rebook flights on any other day up to next Tuesday. Travellers have been expressing their frustration on social media. Alex Brayson and his partner faced delays from Newcastle Airport en route to their wedding near Lake Bled in Slovenia on Saturday. Despite boarding their first flight shortly before 06:00 BST, Mr Brayson said they missed their connecting flight to Venice, and their onward transfer was running three hours behind. \"We've got 25 of us flying to the wedding so we are growing anxious,\" he told BBC Newcastle. \"Me and my partner booked the trip so we've had to organise everything again.\" Junior Great Britain wheelchair tennis player Abbie Breakwell, 16, is stuck in Heathrow with her mum after their flight and its replacement were both cancelled. She is meant to be playing in a tournament in Belgium on Thursday - but has to register in person the night beforehand. \"They [BA] are trying to get us another flight but it's very hard at the moment. \"It's just a shame. I've been training for quite a while for these tournaments, but we can't go. The teenager, from Nottingham, praised the \"fantastic\" airport staff for their efforts to get her to Belgium in time but added: \"There's still hope, but it's slowly fading a bit.\" Sam Angeli is stranded in Cyprus with his wife and two children after his flight home to London on Wednesday evening was cancelled. He has been forced to spend more than PS850 on two rooms at a hotel for the night. Mr Angeli said his experience of BA had been an \"absolute shambles\". \"They've not emailed us, phoned us or messaged us about the delay,\" he said. \"We're just supposed to know what to do. I'm really angry with them.\" Meanwhile, musicians heading to a four-day indie festival being staged on a boat are in a race against time to make it to Barcelona before it sets sail. Belle and Sebastian singer Stuart Murdoch said he and 30 others - including Glaswegian outfit Camera Obscura - had planned to fly from Heathrow but were now trying to make a replacement flight at Gatwick. By Leigh Milner, BBC News, in Heathrow Terminal 5 There are lots of families travelling with children who are very annoyed, with many reporting that they can't get in touch with BA. We've had people handing out bottles of water, anything that can help with the long wait. Passengers are being handed out leaflets about compensation. They have been told to leave the airport and either go home or find a nearby hotel for which they will be reimbursed. That's all to try and get those queues down. This is not the first time BA has experienced IT problems, as it suffered major computer failures over the spring bank holiday weekend in May 2017. On that occasion, the airline cancelled 726 flights and tens of thousands of passengers were left stranded. It has been a problematic year for British Airways which is being threatened with strikes by pilots. It is also set to be fined millions of pounds over a cyber attack on its security systems in which the personal data of up to 500,000 customers was stolen. BA has a duty of care to passengers whose flights have been affected. Rights include: - If the flight is cancelled, the airline must get them on an alternative flight to their destination. That might be a re-routed flight, perhaps including a stopover, or the next available direct flight. They can put customers on a flight with a different airline - Some passengers will choose to take a refund instead, but the airline's duty of care ends at that moment. That means someone who takes the refund and books their own - more expensive - alternative flight is unlikely to have the difference reimbursed - If a flight is still expected to depart, but late, then passengers will initially have to wait, but after a certain amount of time the airline should offer food, drink, and - if necessary - overnight accommodation. For delays of more than five hours, passengers get the same rights as they would if the flight was cancelled In this case - when the disruption appears to be the fault of the airline - passengers may well be entitled to additional compensation under EU rules. This requires passengers to make a claim to the airline, and the level of payout depends on the type of flight and the length of delay. More information for passengers is available on the BA website, and passenger rights are explained in detail on the Civil Aviation Authority website.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 4094, "answer_end": 5458, "text": "BA has a duty of care to passengers whose flights have been affected. Rights include: - If the flight is cancelled, the airline must get them on an alternative flight to their destination. That might be a re-routed flight, perhaps including a stopover, or the next available direct flight. They can put customers on a flight with a different airline - Some passengers will choose to take a refund instead, but the airline's duty of care ends at that moment. That means someone who takes the refund and books their own - more expensive - alternative flight is unlikely to have the difference reimbursed - If a flight is still expected to depart, but late, then passengers will initially have to wait, but after a certain amount of time the airline should offer food, drink, and - if necessary - overnight accommodation. For delays of more than five hours, passengers get the same rights as they would if the flight was cancelled In this case - when the disruption appears to be the fault of the airline - passengers may well be entitled to additional compensation under EU rules. This requires passengers to make a claim to the airline, and the level of payout depends on the type of flight and the length of delay. More information for passengers is available on the BA website, and passenger rights are explained in detail on the Civil Aviation Authority website."}], "question": "What rights do affected passengers have?", "id": "1136_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Three killed in Hawaii tour helicopter crash", "date": "30 April 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "A tour helicopter crashed into a Hawaiian residential neighbourhood and burst into flames, killing all three people onboard, officials say. No bystanders were injured in the fiery crash in Kailua, a popular tourist destination located about 12 miles (19km) outside of Honolulu. Emergency officials were nearby responding to another call when the crash happened. It is the second tourist helicopter in Hawaii to crash this month. Witness Tehani Alo told KGMB-TV that she saw the helicopter spinning out of control before it crashed and burst into flames. \"It sounded like hell landing,\" she said. The four-seat Robinson R44 helicopter was owned by tour company Novictor Helicopters, which said in a statement that it was working with federal officials on the investigation. \"This accident is heartbreaking for everyone, especially the families and friends of the passengers and pilot, who was part of our Novictor family. Our thoughts and prayers go out to all of them,\" the company said. \"The safety and welfare of our personnel and passengers are our top priority.\" The victims have yet to be identified. Investigators have not yet determined the cause of the crash, which occurred during rush hour traffic on Oneawa Street in the beachfront region, home to a Marine Corps base and also where former US president Barack Obama has vacationed. Debris fell onto at least eight properties, with one resident finding a mobile phone on his roof and another discovering a shoe in the yard, local media report. Mike Cunningham told KGMB-TV that he was driving around 09:00 local time (19:00 GMT) when the aircraft plummeted to the ground about 20ft (6 metres) in front of him \"very hard, nose first\". \"I don't see how anybody could've walked away from it,\" Mr Cunningham said. \"It was in flames immediately. And you couldn't get close to it.\" Earlier this month a helicopter crash landed in the Sacred Falls State Park after suffering apparent engine failure.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1106, "answer_end": 1952, "text": "Investigators have not yet determined the cause of the crash, which occurred during rush hour traffic on Oneawa Street in the beachfront region, home to a Marine Corps base and also where former US president Barack Obama has vacationed. Debris fell onto at least eight properties, with one resident finding a mobile phone on his roof and another discovering a shoe in the yard, local media report. Mike Cunningham told KGMB-TV that he was driving around 09:00 local time (19:00 GMT) when the aircraft plummeted to the ground about 20ft (6 metres) in front of him \"very hard, nose first\". \"I don't see how anybody could've walked away from it,\" Mr Cunningham said. \"It was in flames immediately. And you couldn't get close to it.\" Earlier this month a helicopter crash landed in the Sacred Falls State Park after suffering apparent engine failure."}], "question": "What exactly happened?", "id": "1137_0"}]}]}, {"title": "European elections 2019: Power blocs lose grip on parliament", "date": "27 May 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "The big centre-right and centre-left blocs in the European Parliament have lost their combined majority amid an increase in support for liberals, the Greens and nationalists. Pro-EU parties are still expected to be in a majority but the traditional blocs will need to seek new alliances. The liberals and Greens had a good night, while nationalists were victorious in Italy, France and the UK. Turnout was the highest for 20 years, bucking decades of decline. Just under 51% of eligible voters across the 28 member states cast their ballots, compared with fewer than 43% in 2014. Although populist and far-right parties gained ground in some countries, they fell short of the very significant gains some had predicted. The centre-right European People's Party (EPP) remains the largest bloc and analysts say it is likely to form a grand coalition with the Socialists and Democrats bloc, with support from liberals and the Greens. In the UK, the newly-formed Brexit Party claimed a big victory, and a strong performance by the Liberal Democrats came amid massive losses for the Conservatives and Labour. The European Parliament helps shape EU legislation and the results will play a big part in who gets the key jobs in the European Commission, the Union's executive. Based on current estimates, the previously dominant conservative EPP and Socialists and Democrats blocs will be unable to form a \"grand coalition\" in the EU parliament without support. The EPP was projected to win 179 seats, down from 216 in 2014. The Socialists and Democrats looked set to drop to 150 seats from 191. Pro-EU parties are still expected to hold a majority of seats however, largely due to gains made by the liberal ALDE bloc, and particularly a decision taken by the party of French President Emmanuel Macron to join the group. His Renaissance alliance was defeated by the far-right National Rally of Marine Le Pen. \"For the first time in 40 years, the two classical parties, socialists and conservatives, will no longer have a majority,\" said Guy Verhofstadt, the leader of the ALDE. \"It's clear this evening is a historical moment, because there will be a new balance of power in the European Parliament,\" he said. There were major successes for the Greens, with exit polls suggesting the group would jump from 50 to around 67 MEPs. But gains for nationalist parties in Italy, France and elsewhere means a greater say for Eurosceptics who want to curb the EU's powers. Matteo Salvini, who leads Italy's League party, has been working to establish an alliance of at least 12 parties, and his party set the tone winning more than 30% of the vote, according to partial results. This outcome reflects a tendency already apparent in national elections all over Europe: rejection of the status quo. Look at the beating meted out to France's centre-right and centre-left, to Angela Merkel and her Social Democrat coalition partners, plus the slap in the face delivered to the UK's Conservative and Labour parties. Europe's voters are looking elsewhere for answers. They're drawn to parties and political personalities they feel better represent their values and priorities. Some are attracted by the nationalist right, promising a crackdown on immigration and more power for national parliaments, rather than Brussels. Italy's firebrand Deputy PM Matteo Salvini is a successful example, as is Hungary's Viktor Orban. Other voters prefer a pro-European alternative, like the Green Party and liberal groups. They also performed well in these elections. In Germany, both major centrist parties suffered. Angela Merkel's Christian Democrats dropped from 35% of the vote in 2014 to 28%, while the centre-left Social Democratic Union fell from 27% to 15.5%. The right-wing populist Alternative fur Deutschland (AfD) performed worse than expected - projected in exit polls to win 10.5% - while still improving on its first results in 2014. In the UK, the newly formed Brexit Party, led by Nigel Farage, secured about 32% of the vote, amid gains for the Liberal Democrats and significant losses for the Conservative and Labour parties. Amid mixed results for far-right parties across Europe, Ms Le Pen's National Rally party - formerly the National Front -  was celebrating victory in France over Mr Macron's party, securing 24% of the vote to his 22.5%. A presidential official described the outcome as a \"disappointment\" but \"absolutely honourable\" compared to previous results. In Hungary, Viktor Orban, whose anti-immigration Fidesz party took 52% of the vote and 13 of the country's 21 seats, was also a big winner. \"We are small but we want to change Europe,\" Mr Orban said. He described the elections as \"the beginning of a new era against migration\". In Spain, the ruling Socialist party (PSOE) took a clear lead with 32.8% of the vote and 20 seats, while the far-right Vox party won just 6.2% and three seats - coming in fifth. In Greece, Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras called for an early election after the opposition conservative New Democracy party won 33.5% of the votes to 20% for his Syriza party. The right-wing ruling Law and Justice party did well in Poland, winning 45% of the vote, and 27 of the country's 51 seats. EU citizens turned out to vote in the highest numbers for two decades, and significantly higher than the last elections in 2014, when fewer than 43% of eligible voters took part. Turnout in Hungary and Poland more than doubled on the previous poll, and Denmark hit a record 63%. Analysts attributed the high turnout to a range of factors including the rise of populist parties and increased climate change awareness. It is the European Union's law-making body. It's made up of 751 members, called MEPs, who are directly elected by EU voters every five years. These MEPs - who sit in both Brussels and Strasbourg - represent the interests of citizens from the EU's 28 member states. One of the parliament's main legislative roles is scrutinising and passing laws proposed by the European Commission - the bureaucratic arm of the EU. It is also responsible for electing the president of the European Commission and approving the EU budget. The parliament is comprised of eight main groups that sit together in the chamber based on their political and ideological affiliations.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 3529, "answer_end": 5205, "text": "In Germany, both major centrist parties suffered. Angela Merkel's Christian Democrats dropped from 35% of the vote in 2014 to 28%, while the centre-left Social Democratic Union fell from 27% to 15.5%. The right-wing populist Alternative fur Deutschland (AfD) performed worse than expected - projected in exit polls to win 10.5% - while still improving on its first results in 2014. In the UK, the newly formed Brexit Party, led by Nigel Farage, secured about 32% of the vote, amid gains for the Liberal Democrats and significant losses for the Conservative and Labour parties. Amid mixed results for far-right parties across Europe, Ms Le Pen's National Rally party - formerly the National Front -  was celebrating victory in France over Mr Macron's party, securing 24% of the vote to his 22.5%. A presidential official described the outcome as a \"disappointment\" but \"absolutely honourable\" compared to previous results. In Hungary, Viktor Orban, whose anti-immigration Fidesz party took 52% of the vote and 13 of the country's 21 seats, was also a big winner. \"We are small but we want to change Europe,\" Mr Orban said. He described the elections as \"the beginning of a new era against migration\". In Spain, the ruling Socialist party (PSOE) took a clear lead with 32.8% of the vote and 20 seats, while the far-right Vox party won just 6.2% and three seats - coming in fifth. In Greece, Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras called for an early election after the opposition conservative New Democracy party won 33.5% of the votes to 20% for his Syriza party. The right-wing ruling Law and Justice party did well in Poland, winning 45% of the vote, and 27 of the country's 51 seats."}], "question": "Who were the winners and losers?", "id": "1138_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 5206, "answer_end": 5622, "text": "EU citizens turned out to vote in the highest numbers for two decades, and significantly higher than the last elections in 2014, when fewer than 43% of eligible voters took part. Turnout in Hungary and Poland more than doubled on the previous poll, and Denmark hit a record 63%. Analysts attributed the high turnout to a range of factors including the rise of populist parties and increased climate change awareness."}], "question": "Why was the turnout so high?", "id": "1138_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 5623, "answer_end": 6280, "text": "It is the European Union's law-making body. It's made up of 751 members, called MEPs, who are directly elected by EU voters every five years. These MEPs - who sit in both Brussels and Strasbourg - represent the interests of citizens from the EU's 28 member states. One of the parliament's main legislative roles is scrutinising and passing laws proposed by the European Commission - the bureaucratic arm of the EU. It is also responsible for electing the president of the European Commission and approving the EU budget. The parliament is comprised of eight main groups that sit together in the chamber based on their political and ideological affiliations."}], "question": "How does the European Parliament work?", "id": "1138_2"}]}]}, {"title": "Afghan peace deal: Trump says Taliban talks are 'dead'", "date": "9 September 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "US President Donald Trump says talks with the Taliban aimed at ending the 18-year war in Afghanistan are \"dead\". \"As far as I'm concerned, they are dead,\" he told White House reporters on Monday. Over the weekend Mr Trump cancelled secret plans to host a Taliban delegation in the US after the militant group admitted killing a US soldier. The two sides had appeared close to a deal and the Taliban said the US would \"lose the most\" for cancelling talks. The US president has made withdrawing US troops from Afghanistan a key foreign policy aim, but asked about the 14,000 US troops still there he said: \"We'd like to get out but we'll get out at the right time.\" Mr Trump had been due to host the Taliban as well as Afghan president Ashraf Ghani at the Camp David presidential retreat before abruptly cancelling. \"They thought that they had to kill people to put themselves in a little better negotiating position\", he told reporters, calling the attack \"a big mistake\". \"We had a meeting scheduled. It was my idea and it was my idea to terminate it. I didn't even discuss it with anyone else,\" Mr Trump said as he departed the White House for a political rally in North Carolina. \"I cancelled Camp David on the basis that they did something that they sure as hell shouldn't have done,\" he said, condemning the attack that killed 12 people, including the US soldier. Mr Trump has been criticised for entertaining the possibility of hosting the Taliban just days before the anniversary of the 11 September attacks. But Mr Trump defended the idea, saying \"having meetings is a good thing, not a bad thing\". The Taliban had never agreed to end their violent campaign against Afghan and foreign forces while negotiations were taking place. Sixteen US troops have been killed this year. In 2001, US-led forces overthrew the Taliban government in Afghanistan because the militants had given safe haven to the al-Qaeda network to plan the attacks on the US on 11 September. In a statement, Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid said the talks were going well until Saturday. Pulling out of the peace process before the signing of the agreement - because of one explosion - showed the US's lack of maturity and experience, he added. The proposed meeting in the US came after nine rounds of talks between the US and Taliban representatives, held in Doha, the capital of the Gulf state of Qatar. On Monday, the top US negotiator said there was a peace deal \"in principle\". As part of the proposal the US would have withdrawn 5,400 troops within 20 weeks, in return for Taliban guarantees that Afghanistan would never again be used as a base for terrorism. The Taliban is now in control of more territory than at any point before the 2001 US-led invasion. They have refused to hold direct talks with the Afghan government until a timetable for US troop withdrawals is finalised.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 972, "answer_end": 1967, "text": "\"We had a meeting scheduled. It was my idea and it was my idea to terminate it. I didn't even discuss it with anyone else,\" Mr Trump said as he departed the White House for a political rally in North Carolina. \"I cancelled Camp David on the basis that they did something that they sure as hell shouldn't have done,\" he said, condemning the attack that killed 12 people, including the US soldier. Mr Trump has been criticised for entertaining the possibility of hosting the Taliban just days before the anniversary of the 11 September attacks. But Mr Trump defended the idea, saying \"having meetings is a good thing, not a bad thing\". The Taliban had never agreed to end their violent campaign against Afghan and foreign forces while negotiations were taking place. Sixteen US troops have been killed this year. In 2001, US-led forces overthrew the Taliban government in Afghanistan because the militants had given safe haven to the al-Qaeda network to plan the attacks on the US on 11 September."}], "question": "What did Mr Trump say?", "id": "1139_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1968, "answer_end": 2870, "text": "In a statement, Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid said the talks were going well until Saturday. Pulling out of the peace process before the signing of the agreement - because of one explosion - showed the US's lack of maturity and experience, he added. The proposed meeting in the US came after nine rounds of talks between the US and Taliban representatives, held in Doha, the capital of the Gulf state of Qatar. On Monday, the top US negotiator said there was a peace deal \"in principle\". As part of the proposal the US would have withdrawn 5,400 troops within 20 weeks, in return for Taliban guarantees that Afghanistan would never again be used as a base for terrorism. The Taliban is now in control of more territory than at any point before the 2001 US-led invasion. They have refused to hold direct talks with the Afghan government until a timetable for US troop withdrawals is finalised."}], "question": "How far did the talks get?", "id": "1139_1"}]}]}, {"title": "China's push for driverless cars accelerates", "date": "28 April 2016", "paragraphs": [{"context": "In the race for driverless car technology, Chinese companies are taking big strides competing with the likes of Google and Tesla. With the Beijing Motor Show under way, the days when the country's domestic car firms was brushed off as mere copycats are well and truly over. And a lot of this year's buzz is around driverless cars in particular. In past years, innovation might have come from Silicon valley, but Chinese companies are pushing ahead. \"There is a lot more going on in China than many in the West have realised,\" car expert Prof David Bailey of the Aston Business School tells the BBC. - Changan: Two driverless cars drove more than 2,000km (1,240 miles) from its headquarters to Beijing using cameras and radar to complete the trip in six days - the car firm says it was able to do research on lane-keeping and changing, traffic sign recognition, automatic cruising and voice control. - Baidu and BMW: A cooperation between Chinese tech giant Baidu and German car maker BMW saw a driverless car drive 30km through Beijing traffic, managing a range of manoeuvres, including U-turns, lane changes and merging into traffic from ramps. - Geely and Volvo: Chinese owned Swedish car maker Volvo says it plans to test 100 driverless cars on public roads in \"everyday conditions\". It is thought to be a significant move to establish the Sino-Swedish team at the forefront of development. Volvo is also testing driverless cars in Sweden and the UK. In addition to these main players there are many others vying for attention. Research in China takes place in car companies, tech firms and at universities. Last week, entertainment company LeEco made a big splash presenting its concept car LeSee, which at least in the presentation impressed with wide-ranging capabilities. The company is also investing in the US electric car start-up, Faraday Future, and and is cooperating with legendary British Aston Martin on an electric car project. So when will it be normal to have a driverless car pull up next to you at the traffic light?  \"We are probably still one decade away from that,\" says Prof Bailey. Yet Changan, Baidu and Geely are right in the midst of research and development, eager to get there ahead of Silicon Valley. \"Both in China as well as in the West this will be a technology that will creep up on us,\" he adds. Just think of the many driver assistance technologies that we already have. Cars help you stay in lane, park themselves or detect when they should brake. \"Over time, we'll see a lot more of these features in cars and eventually that will lead to a driverless car,\" he says. Given that it is a new technology, even definitions are still in the making. Authorities in the US have proposed a classification of levels 0 to 4. - Level 0, no automation:  All the driving and and features are down to you. - Level 1, function-specific automation: One or more features are automated, such as electronic stability control. - Level 2, combined function automation: At least two automated features work together, such as adaptive cruise control in combination with lane centring. - Level 3, limited self-driving: The car does all the driving \"under certain traffic conditions\", the driver is only needed for \"occasional control\", which is what the Google car and Chinese projects are aiming for. - Level 4, full self-driving: The car does all the driving for the entire trip, it doesn't even need a driver to be in the car anymore. Obviously a tough question to answer - but there's a lot to suggest that Chinese companies do not intend to come second. The tests and trials that are being conducted are very extensive and the experimentation and learning process will be crucial to progress in the field. But still, it is the US where the technology was pioneered and where a lot of the past innovation has come from. \"The heart and centre of the innovation lies in Silicon Valley,\" industry expert Prof Ferdinand Dudenhoeffer told the BBC from this year's Chinese-German Car Symposium conference in Beijing. \"Silicon Valley is where the automated car will come from.\" Yet public attitudes to driverless vehicles are a lot more favourable in China than elsewhere. And the fact that research into the new technology has the backing and support from the government in Beijing might also prove to be a decisive factor. \"So if we see this happen in China, it will probably happen on quite a big scale,\" says Prof David Bailey. Motivated by the widespread pollution problems, Beijing has pushed for more electric vehicles and Chinese car makers have responded significantly. It's quite possible that Google might just find itself trailing the rear lights of a Baidu, Geely or Changan car.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1945, "answer_end": 2606, "text": "So when will it be normal to have a driverless car pull up next to you at the traffic light?  \"We are probably still one decade away from that,\" says Prof Bailey. Yet Changan, Baidu and Geely are right in the midst of research and development, eager to get there ahead of Silicon Valley. \"Both in China as well as in the West this will be a technology that will creep up on us,\" he adds. Just think of the many driver assistance technologies that we already have. Cars help you stay in lane, park themselves or detect when they should brake. \"Over time, we'll see a lot more of these features in cars and eventually that will lead to a driverless car,\" he says."}], "question": "How soon is now?", "id": "1140_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2607, "answer_end": 3453, "text": "Given that it is a new technology, even definitions are still in the making. Authorities in the US have proposed a classification of levels 0 to 4. - Level 0, no automation:  All the driving and and features are down to you. - Level 1, function-specific automation: One or more features are automated, such as electronic stability control. - Level 2, combined function automation: At least two automated features work together, such as adaptive cruise control in combination with lane centring. - Level 3, limited self-driving: The car does all the driving \"under certain traffic conditions\", the driver is only needed for \"occasional control\", which is what the Google car and Chinese projects are aiming for. - Level 4, full self-driving: The car does all the driving for the entire trip, it doesn't even need a driver to be in the car anymore."}], "question": "How driverless is 'driverless'?", "id": "1140_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3454, "answer_end": 4705, "text": "Obviously a tough question to answer - but there's a lot to suggest that Chinese companies do not intend to come second. The tests and trials that are being conducted are very extensive and the experimentation and learning process will be crucial to progress in the field. But still, it is the US where the technology was pioneered and where a lot of the past innovation has come from. \"The heart and centre of the innovation lies in Silicon Valley,\" industry expert Prof Ferdinand Dudenhoeffer told the BBC from this year's Chinese-German Car Symposium conference in Beijing. \"Silicon Valley is where the automated car will come from.\" Yet public attitudes to driverless vehicles are a lot more favourable in China than elsewhere. And the fact that research into the new technology has the backing and support from the government in Beijing might also prove to be a decisive factor. \"So if we see this happen in China, it will probably happen on quite a big scale,\" says Prof David Bailey. Motivated by the widespread pollution problems, Beijing has pushed for more electric vehicles and Chinese car makers have responded significantly. It's quite possible that Google might just find itself trailing the rear lights of a Baidu, Geely or Changan car."}], "question": "Who will take the lead?", "id": "1140_2"}]}]}, {"title": "The plight of Ethiopian Jews in Israel", "date": "25 May 2015", "paragraphs": [{"context": "The story of the immigration and absorption of Ethiopian Jews in Israel epitomises the best and the worst of Israeli society. True to its Zionist dream of being a haven for Jews, the Jewish state embarked on risky and expensive rescue operations in the 1980s and 1990s. These brought tens of thousands of Jews from remote parts of Ethiopia, who had suffered from religious persecution, famine and civil wars. Yet, when they arrived in Israel, these distinctive people faced appalling discrimination, racism and a lack of empathy for their hardships in Ethiopia and during their journey to Israel. Moreover, this was exacerbated by a mixture of bureaucratic insensitivity and incompetence. The uncharacteristic violence, seen recently during demonstrations by members of the Ethiopian community in Israel, was a direct result of years of accumulated frustration against the state and especially the police. The unprovoked beating up by policemen of Demas Fekadeh, an Ethiopian Israeli soldier in uniform, could well serve as a much necessary wake-up call for Israeli society to change, quickly and radically, its treatment of the 130,000 Israeli citizens and their descendants who immigrated from Ethiopia. The main challenge in tracing the origins of a Jewish presence in Ethiopia is the lack of reliable accounts. Consequently there are several versions regarding the origins of the Ethiopian Jews or, as they are historically known, Beta Israel (House of Israel). One school of thought claims that Ethiopian Jews are descendants of the lost Hebrew Dan tribe. An alternative explanation asserts that the Beta Israel community may be the descendants of the entourage that accompanied Menelik I, the son of King Solomon and Queen Sheba. Finally, leaders from within the community argue that Ethiopian Jews are descendants of Jews who left the conquered Kingdom of Judah for Egypt following the destruction of the First Temple in 586BC. For centuries, until the 20th Century, Ethiopian Jews were completely isolated from Jewish communities in other parts of the world. Yet, they adhered to biblical Judaism for many centuries. It was Prime Minister Menachem Begin, after he came to power in 1977, who first opened the country to Ethiopian Jews. It was in response to the threat to the community from famine, political unrest and the hostility of the self-proclaimed Marxist-Leninist regime led by Col Mengistu Haile Mariam. Initially the Israeli secret service Mossad organised their immigration through refugee camps in Sudan. This resulted in the arrival of about 7,000 Ethiopian Jews in Israel. In later years, Israeli security services embarked on even more daring operations, code-named Operation Moses (1984-1985) and Operation Solomon (1991), which rescued a further 20,000 Jews. With the end of Mengistu's regime it became easier for Jews to emigrate from Ethiopia and, by the end of the 1990s, about 90,000 of the Beta Israel community had arrived in Israel. Only 30 years after the arrival of the first Ethiopian Jews to Israel, and following recent violent clashes with the police, there is a broad acknowledgement that the state failed appallingly in absorbing the Jewish Ethiopian community. To begin with, there was a lack of empathy in Israeli society for the hardships involved in leaving behind homes, relatives and friends who could not make the journey; not to mention the loss of family members and friends on the hazardous journey. Upon their arrival in the Jewish state they met the inherent Israeli paradoxes involved in absorbing Jewish immigrants. They were welcomed and granted the basic needs of accommodation, healthcare, education and general welfare. However, this was done without sensitivity to their specific conditions and from the outset they faced discrimination and racism from the Israeli establishment. Many in the religious establishment even dared to question their Judaism. One of the early incidents that exposed this approach was the revelation in the 1990s that the Israeli national blood bank had routinely destroyed blood donated by Ethiopian Israelis for fear of HIV. It sent a message of exclusion from the rest of the Israeli society. The failure to absorb the Ethiopian Jews is the failure to fully and genuinely integrate them into Israeli society. For instance, while Ethiopian Israeli schoolchildren comprise only 2% of Israeli pupils, most of them study at schools that are predominantly Ethiopian. Worse still, their attainment in school is much poorer than the general population, which blocks their path to academic success. Many of the Ethiopian Israelis live in the periphery of society that already grapples with issues of unemployment and scarce public resources. This makes it more difficult for them to integrate and causes friction with the more veteran population. Ethiopian Jews suffer from the highest poverty rate among the Jews in Israel, and suffer much higher levels of police stop-search, arrests and incarceration. It was the cycle of discrimination, racism, poverty, hopelessness and higher levels of law breaking that led to the recent clashes in the streets of Israeli cities, between Ethiopian Israelis and the police. This challenges Israel to look in the mirror and correct the way it treats a vulnerable segment of the population within its own society. Yossi Mekelberg is professor of international relations at Regent's University London and is also associate fellow, Middle East and North Africa programme, at Chatham House", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1206, "answer_end": 2124, "text": "The main challenge in tracing the origins of a Jewish presence in Ethiopia is the lack of reliable accounts. Consequently there are several versions regarding the origins of the Ethiopian Jews or, as they are historically known, Beta Israel (House of Israel). One school of thought claims that Ethiopian Jews are descendants of the lost Hebrew Dan tribe. An alternative explanation asserts that the Beta Israel community may be the descendants of the entourage that accompanied Menelik I, the son of King Solomon and Queen Sheba. Finally, leaders from within the community argue that Ethiopian Jews are descendants of Jews who left the conquered Kingdom of Judah for Egypt following the destruction of the First Temple in 586BC. For centuries, until the 20th Century, Ethiopian Jews were completely isolated from Jewish communities in other parts of the world. Yet, they adhered to biblical Judaism for many centuries."}], "question": "Who are the Ethiopian Jews?", "id": "1141_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2125, "answer_end": 2965, "text": "It was Prime Minister Menachem Begin, after he came to power in 1977, who first opened the country to Ethiopian Jews. It was in response to the threat to the community from famine, political unrest and the hostility of the self-proclaimed Marxist-Leninist regime led by Col Mengistu Haile Mariam. Initially the Israeli secret service Mossad organised their immigration through refugee camps in Sudan. This resulted in the arrival of about 7,000 Ethiopian Jews in Israel. In later years, Israeli security services embarked on even more daring operations, code-named Operation Moses (1984-1985) and Operation Solomon (1991), which rescued a further 20,000 Jews. With the end of Mengistu's regime it became easier for Jews to emigrate from Ethiopia and, by the end of the 1990s, about 90,000 of the Beta Israel community had arrived in Israel."}], "question": "How did they arrive in Israel?", "id": "1141_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2966, "answer_end": 5332, "text": "Only 30 years after the arrival of the first Ethiopian Jews to Israel, and following recent violent clashes with the police, there is a broad acknowledgement that the state failed appallingly in absorbing the Jewish Ethiopian community. To begin with, there was a lack of empathy in Israeli society for the hardships involved in leaving behind homes, relatives and friends who could not make the journey; not to mention the loss of family members and friends on the hazardous journey. Upon their arrival in the Jewish state they met the inherent Israeli paradoxes involved in absorbing Jewish immigrants. They were welcomed and granted the basic needs of accommodation, healthcare, education and general welfare. However, this was done without sensitivity to their specific conditions and from the outset they faced discrimination and racism from the Israeli establishment. Many in the religious establishment even dared to question their Judaism. One of the early incidents that exposed this approach was the revelation in the 1990s that the Israeli national blood bank had routinely destroyed blood donated by Ethiopian Israelis for fear of HIV. It sent a message of exclusion from the rest of the Israeli society. The failure to absorb the Ethiopian Jews is the failure to fully and genuinely integrate them into Israeli society. For instance, while Ethiopian Israeli schoolchildren comprise only 2% of Israeli pupils, most of them study at schools that are predominantly Ethiopian. Worse still, their attainment in school is much poorer than the general population, which blocks their path to academic success. Many of the Ethiopian Israelis live in the periphery of society that already grapples with issues of unemployment and scarce public resources. This makes it more difficult for them to integrate and causes friction with the more veteran population. Ethiopian Jews suffer from the highest poverty rate among the Jews in Israel, and suffer much higher levels of police stop-search, arrests and incarceration. It was the cycle of discrimination, racism, poverty, hopelessness and higher levels of law breaking that led to the recent clashes in the streets of Israeli cities, between Ethiopian Israelis and the police. This challenges Israel to look in the mirror and correct the way it treats a vulnerable segment of the population within its own society."}], "question": "What are the root causes of tensions?", "id": "1141_2"}]}]}, {"title": "Trump NFL row: US president denies comments were race-related", "date": "25 September 2017", "paragraphs": [{"context": "US President Donald Trump has said his comments about national anthem protests have \"nothing to do with race\". A number of sports players and teams demonstrated during the US national anthem over the weekend. The protests involved players kneeling, linking arms or staying in the locker room during the Star-Spangled Banner. The president first said on Friday at a rally in Alabama that players who fail to stand during the national anthem should be fired or suspended. His criticism seemed to galvanise players, teams and the league to assert what they saw as a right to freely express political convictions. \"The issue of kneeling has nothing to do with race,\" Mr Trump tweeted on Monday morning, reiterating his statement to reporters a day earlier. \"It is about respect for our Country, Flag and National Anthem. NFL must respect this!\" Recording artists Stevie Wonder, John Legend and Pharrell Williams have shown solidarity by joining in the demonstrations at weekend concerts. The president's latest foray into the US culture wars comes after he was widely criticised for appearing to say anti-racism demonstrators were just as bad as far-right activists, after clashes at a deadly white supremacist rally in Virginia in August. National Football League (NFL) player Colin Kaepernick first sat down during the anthem in preseason in 2016. \"I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of colour,\" he said. \"To me, this is bigger than football and it would be selfish on my part to look the other way.\" Kaepernick continued to demonstrate amid fierce criticism but this season remains a free agent. Some commentators suggest he may have been \"blackballed\" from the sport as clubs fear a backlash for signing him. The US president waded into the argument on Friday when he asked a crowd of supporters: \"Wouldn't you love to see one of these NFL owners, when somebody disrespects our flag, to say, 'Get that son of a bitch off the field right now... he is fired'?\" He has also tweeted multiple times on the issue, suggesting the NFL should change its laws to stop players demonstrating. But sports players responded with widespread protest action during the weekend's sports games. A US law called the Flag Code covers the etiquette around the National Anthem. It says persons present around the national anthem are expected to stand with their hand on their heart and face a flag if there is one present. However, the code is never enforced and there is no official punishment for breaching it. In any case, players' flouting of tradition has angered many sports fans. Some national anthem singers and high-profile artists have joined in by falling to their knees. During Sunday's NFL games: - Neither the Seattle Seahawks nor the Tennessee Titans turned out for the national anthem before kick-off at their game, hours after the Pittsburgh Steelers did the same in Chicago (except Alejandro Villanueva, a veteran who served in Afghanistan) - The Chicago Bears stood on the sidelines with their arms locked, as did New England Patriots star quarterback Tom Brady and teammates at another game. Some Green Bay Packers and Cincinnati Bengals players also linked arms - The anthem singer at the Seahawks-Titans game kneeled at the end of the performance, as did singer at the Lions-Falcons game, who also raised his fist - Philadelphia Eagles fans clashed with protesters ahead of a game in their home city against the New York Giants - The NFL itself has criticised Mr Trump's remarks, with commissioner Roger Goodell saying \"divisive comments like these demonstrate an unfortunate lack of respect\" 'Trump trying to use sport to divide us' Three NFL owners who donated $1m apiece to the president's inauguration either joined the protests or criticised him. Jacksonville Jaguars owner Shahid Khan locked arms with his players,  in an unusual scene, as owners rarely join players on the pitch. Washington Redskins owner Daniel Snyder also linked arms with cornerbacks as the national anthem played before Sunday night's game. New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft, a personal friend of Mr Trump, said he was \"deeply disappointed\" by his \"tone\". Meanwhile Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, a golf buddy of Mr Trump, told a Boston radio show on Monday the president's comments were \"just divisive\". Yes. On Saturday night, the Oakland Athletics' Bruce Maxwell became the first Major League Baseball player to kneel in protest during the anthem. NBA legend Michael Jordan, owner of the Charlotte Hornets, also weighed in, telling the Charlotte Observer newspaper: \"Those who exercise the right to peacefully express themselves should not be demonized or ostracized.\" Mr Trump is also facing criticism for withdrawing a White House invitation to basketball champions the Golden State Warriors after one player, Stephen Curry, said he did not want to attend. Curry - NBA's top performer in 2015 - said he wanted to show that he and other players did not stand for \"the things that he's said and the things that he hasn't said in the right times\". However, the Pittsburgh Penguins hockey team confirmed they would attend the White House, despite the controversy. NBA superstar LeBron James of the Cleveland Cavaliers said anthem kneeling is not disrespectful and anyone who suggests otherwise is trying to divide. A number of Nascar bosses have come out and said they will not tolerate any kind of demonstrations in their sport.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1236, "answer_end": 1777, "text": "National Football League (NFL) player Colin Kaepernick first sat down during the anthem in preseason in 2016. \"I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of colour,\" he said. \"To me, this is bigger than football and it would be selfish on my part to look the other way.\" Kaepernick continued to demonstrate amid fierce criticism but this season remains a free agent. Some commentators suggest he may have been \"blackballed\" from the sport as clubs fear a backlash for signing him."}], "question": "Why did the protests start?", "id": "1142_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1778, "answer_end": 2244, "text": "The US president waded into the argument on Friday when he asked a crowd of supporters: \"Wouldn't you love to see one of these NFL owners, when somebody disrespects our flag, to say, 'Get that son of a bitch off the field right now... he is fired'?\" He has also tweeted multiple times on the issue, suggesting the NFL should change its laws to stop players demonstrating. But sports players responded with widespread protest action during the weekend's sports games."}], "question": "What did Trump say?", "id": "1142_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2245, "answer_end": 2632, "text": "A US law called the Flag Code covers the etiquette around the National Anthem. It says persons present around the national anthem are expected to stand with their hand on their heart and face a flag if there is one present. However, the code is never enforced and there is no official punishment for breaching it. In any case, players' flouting of tradition has angered many sports fans."}], "question": "Are players allowed to do it?", "id": "1142_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2633, "answer_end": 3701, "text": "Some national anthem singers and high-profile artists have joined in by falling to their knees. During Sunday's NFL games: - Neither the Seattle Seahawks nor the Tennessee Titans turned out for the national anthem before kick-off at their game, hours after the Pittsburgh Steelers did the same in Chicago (except Alejandro Villanueva, a veteran who served in Afghanistan) - The Chicago Bears stood on the sidelines with their arms locked, as did New England Patriots star quarterback Tom Brady and teammates at another game. Some Green Bay Packers and Cincinnati Bengals players also linked arms - The anthem singer at the Seahawks-Titans game kneeled at the end of the performance, as did singer at the Lions-Falcons game, who also raised his fist - Philadelphia Eagles fans clashed with protesters ahead of a game in their home city against the New York Giants - The NFL itself has criticised Mr Trump's remarks, with commissioner Roger Goodell saying \"divisive comments like these demonstrate an unfortunate lack of respect\" 'Trump trying to use sport to divide us'"}], "question": "Who joined in protests?", "id": "1142_3"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3702, "answer_end": 4357, "text": "Three NFL owners who donated $1m apiece to the president's inauguration either joined the protests or criticised him. Jacksonville Jaguars owner Shahid Khan locked arms with his players,  in an unusual scene, as owners rarely join players on the pitch. Washington Redskins owner Daniel Snyder also linked arms with cornerbacks as the national anthem played before Sunday night's game. New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft, a personal friend of Mr Trump, said he was \"deeply disappointed\" by his \"tone\". Meanwhile Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, a golf buddy of Mr Trump, told a Boston radio show on Monday the president's comments were \"just divisive\"."}], "question": "What about Trump's NFL allies?", "id": "1142_4"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 4358, "answer_end": 5483, "text": "Yes. On Saturday night, the Oakland Athletics' Bruce Maxwell became the first Major League Baseball player to kneel in protest during the anthem. NBA legend Michael Jordan, owner of the Charlotte Hornets, also weighed in, telling the Charlotte Observer newspaper: \"Those who exercise the right to peacefully express themselves should not be demonized or ostracized.\" Mr Trump is also facing criticism for withdrawing a White House invitation to basketball champions the Golden State Warriors after one player, Stephen Curry, said he did not want to attend. Curry - NBA's top performer in 2015 - said he wanted to show that he and other players did not stand for \"the things that he's said and the things that he hasn't said in the right times\". However, the Pittsburgh Penguins hockey team confirmed they would attend the White House, despite the controversy. NBA superstar LeBron James of the Cleveland Cavaliers said anthem kneeling is not disrespectful and anyone who suggests otherwise is trying to divide. A number of Nascar bosses have come out and said they will not tolerate any kind of demonstrations in their sport."}], "question": "Have protests spread to other sports?", "id": "1142_5"}]}]}, {"title": "Will a US-UK free trade deal ever happen?", "date": "12 July 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "A year ago, President Trump buoyed hopes of a trade deal between the US and the UK, pledging a \"powerful\" pact that would happen \"very, very quickly\". But as Mr Trump meets with Prime Minister Theresa May on Thursday, there is increasing uncertainty that he will deliver. US trade officials remain consumed by fights with major partners including China, Canada and Mexico. For US businesses, the UK is also on the back burner. Industry groups say they will not know if they even want the US to do a deal until the terms of Brexit are finalised. \"The question about whether we can still do a deal hinges entirely on what the UK and EU end up doing,\" said Marjorie Chorlins, vice-president for European affairs at the US Chamber of Commerce. \"Until we know what the UK-EU future relationship looks like, we really can't say what a US-UK relationship will look like.\" Mr Trump's embrace of a UK trade deal marked a striking break with his predecessor Barack Obama, who warned the UK it would be at the \"back of the queue\" if it left the European Union. The president remains \"ready, willing, and able\" to do a bilateral deal as soon as possible, the US ambassador to the UK said this month, pointing to informal talks between the two countries that started last year. So far, however, the discussions have focused on immediate issues caused by the UK's impending exit from the European Union, such as agreements governing airport landings. \"The reality of getting of getting a trade agreement - it's a big ambition and not easily done,\" said Duncan Edwards, chief executive of BritishAmerican Business, which represents firms on both sides of the Atlantic. \"There's a long way to go.\" Ed Brzytwa is director of international trade for the American Chemistry Council, which represents US chemical companies and lobbied heavily during earlier US-EU trade negotiations. The idea of a UK deal is attractive but \"it doesn't seem like there's a lot of activity\", he said. \"From a US industry perspective, we're focused on the here and now.\" Many in the US remain hopeful that the UK outside the EU will be more amenable to US positions on issues that have provoked friction with the European Union. For example, the US would like to see lower tariffs on agricultural products and less emphasis on protecting names tied to specific places, like Champagne. \"With the UK, I think those things will be easier, so it's a great opportunity,\" said Senator Rob Portman, a Republican from Ohio who has helped organise a group in the Senate devoted to UK trade. \"Once the UK is able to negotiate directly other countries, we'd like to be at the head of the line.\" Formal trade negotiations cannot begin until Brexit is official. The British mood at that point may not be as welcoming as the US hopes, especially when it comes to issues like regulation, warned David Henig, a former UK trade negotiator. \"It might be easier than negotiation with the EU, but don't mistake that for being easy, mainly because we'll have a lot of domestic pressures,\" said Mr Henig, now UK director at the European Centre for International Political Economy. Already, the Trump administration's approach to trade, which seems focused on raising barriers rather than lowering them, has made agreements with Commonwealth countries such as Australia and New Zealand look more appealing, he added. \"This is about a safe a trade deal as you could do in the US, but this is about the least safe thing you could do in the UK,\" Mr Henig said. \"I think the big question is ... does the US administration actually want trade deals at all?\" The Brexit deal outlined by Prime Minister Theresa May last week left many questions unanswered about how much power the UK would have to negotiate issues such as tariffs and other rules. David Salmonson, a senior director at the American Farm Bureau Federation, said the UK will have to offer more than the current relationship for a deal to win support in Congress, which has final say over trade agreements. \"People will look askance if it seems like what's on the table to be negotiated is what we already have,\" he said. In the end, the two sides may opt to sort out smaller issues without looking for a full free trade deal. The easy political victory that conservatives on both sides of the Atlantic were hoping for, however, remains a long way off, said Daniel S Hamilton, professor at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies. \"That was sort of a political idea that ignored some of the difficulties,\" he said. \"Reality is setting in.\"", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 2032, "answer_end": 3590, "text": "Many in the US remain hopeful that the UK outside the EU will be more amenable to US positions on issues that have provoked friction with the European Union. For example, the US would like to see lower tariffs on agricultural products and less emphasis on protecting names tied to specific places, like Champagne. \"With the UK, I think those things will be easier, so it's a great opportunity,\" said Senator Rob Portman, a Republican from Ohio who has helped organise a group in the Senate devoted to UK trade. \"Once the UK is able to negotiate directly other countries, we'd like to be at the head of the line.\" Formal trade negotiations cannot begin until Brexit is official. The British mood at that point may not be as welcoming as the US hopes, especially when it comes to issues like regulation, warned David Henig, a former UK trade negotiator. \"It might be easier than negotiation with the EU, but don't mistake that for being easy, mainly because we'll have a lot of domestic pressures,\" said Mr Henig, now UK director at the European Centre for International Political Economy. Already, the Trump administration's approach to trade, which seems focused on raising barriers rather than lowering them, has made agreements with Commonwealth countries such as Australia and New Zealand look more appealing, he added. \"This is about a safe a trade deal as you could do in the US, but this is about the least safe thing you could do in the UK,\" Mr Henig said. \"I think the big question is ... does the US administration actually want trade deals at all?\""}], "question": "'Great opportunity'?", "id": "1143_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Election 2017: What CAN'T you do in a polling station?", "date": "7 June 2017", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Millions of people are heading to polling stations across the UK to cast their vote. But what can and can't you do in there? Most British people are familiar with what goes on inside a polling station. You march in, possibly brandishing your polling card, you give your name and address, someone finds you on a list and gives you a ballot paper. You then head off to a booth to use your stubby pencil to mark your X. In 2015 we published a guide to what was and wasn't allowed in the polling station. But some issues have arisen since then so here's an update. There's nothing in the law that specifically bans taking photos, but the Electoral Commission very strongly discourages any photography inside a polling station, primarily because of complex laws about maintaining the secrecy of the ballot. For instance, it's illegal to reveal how someone else has voted, which could happen inadvertently via a sloppy selfie. In addition, taking a photo of a ballot paper's unique identification number is against the rules. The key is a law against releasing any information \"obtained in a polling station\", which is in order to protect the integrity of the poll. The Electoral Commission says: \"Due to the potential breach of the law, intentionally or not, we strongly advise against any form of photography taken inside a polling station. However, if a voter would like to highlight their participation in the elections, we suggest this is done outside the polling station before or after they vote.\" Consequently, you will see \"no photography\" signs inside many polling stations. There are strict penalties for breaches of the law. At the European elections in 2014 people were warned that they could face a fine of PS5,000 or six months in prison if they revealed how someone else voted, even accidentally. In practice, election staff might ask anyone taking a picture to delete it rather than go straight to the police. \"It would depend on exactly what they were taking a photograph of,\" one electoral services manager says. Pop star Justin Timberlake landed himself in hot water when he posted a picture on Instagram of himself voting in the US election in Memphis, Tennessee - where it is illegal to take photos inside polling locations. But the authorities decided not to take any action. The Electoral Commission warns against doing it inside the polling station, even if it's about your own vote. Elsewhere you are free to publicise your vote. However, as above, there are strict laws against revealing someone else's vote, including influencing whether they publish it themselves. Under Section 66 of the Representation of the People Act it is a criminal offence to communicate information about the way someone has voted or is about to vote, and specifically to \"directly or indirectly induce a voter to display his ballot paper after he has marked it so as to make known to any person the name of the candidate for whom he has or has not voted\". Dogs may not yet be entitled to vote but they are allowed to come and watch as long as they don't disrupt the vote. In cases where a voter has two or more dogs and will struggle to control them while casting their ballot, polling station staff may be able to hold the dogs' leads. But the Electoral Commission advises that while voters are welcome to bring their dogs, unless they're an assistance dog, they may have to be left outside. During the EU referendum last year and at the local elections earlier this year, many tweeted pictures of their dogs under the hashtag #DogsAtPollingStations. Rural constituencies might have cases of voters riding to the polling station. In such instances, horses and ponies should be tethered up outside. There is no guidance on other animals such as rabbits, ferrets or pot-bellied pigs, so any decision will be at the discretion of presiding officers. People shouldn't wear party political clothing. Voters dressed in party T-shirts will not be able to enter the polling station as it may be intimidating. Political figures in the wider sense may be fine, for instance a T-shirt of Che Guevara would be acceptable. The onus is on encouraging people to vote. Yes. It's true that polling station staff are on the lookout for people trying to vote twice by impersonating someone else on the register. But there's no requirement for voters to show their face. Yes. Polling station staff cannot refuse a voter simply because they are drunk or under the influence of drugs. Only if the voter is disruptive will they be asked to return when they have sobered up. No. The only people permitted to wear a rosette are the candidates and their polling agents. The rosette must be plain and not refer to the candidate or bear a slogan. No. Political discussion is banned inside the polling station. Polling station staff will intervene if people are heard to be discussing the merits of different candidates or parties - it may unsettle other voters. Neither can one ask someone whom they are voting for as this will compromise the secrecy of the poll. If you want to debate the pros and cons of a certain candidate you must do so outside. Neither can people distribute party leaflets or other literature in the polling station. Anyone seen doing so will be asked to take them outside. Technically even the Queen could vote. But she \"has to remain strictly neutral with respect to political matters\" and is \"unable to vote or stand for election\", according to the official website of the monarchy. Only if it doesn't disrupt other people. If you are listening to music on headphones you'll need to remove them when being addressed by polling station staff. They will want to confirm your name and other details. If your personal music player is playing at high volume in the polling booth you'll be asked to turn it down or leave. The same goes for loud mobile phone conversations. No, if you prefer you can use a pen, even if it's your own. While a cross is usually called for, you could theoretically mark the box with a tick instead. The important thing is that your voting intention is clear. Yes, providing you haven't already posted your ballot paper in the box. Return to the desk and tell staff what has happened. They'll be able to cancel your ballot paper and issue you with a new one. You're welcome to enter the polling station with a friend if they are also eligible to vote there. But voting is a private matter so you must be alone when you go into the polling booth. If the friend is not registered to vote there then they will not be allowed inside the polling station. If you have a disability, or are unable to read the ballot, and cannot vote on your own, you may come with a companion. The presiding officer can also help. The Electoral Commission says the best way to make sure your vote is counted is to mark an X in a box. But a smiley face or anything which is interpreted by a returning officer as an expression of preference \"must not be rejected if the voter's intention is clear\", its guidance to Returning Officers says. Of course. Polling station staff are expected to be welcoming to under-18s so as not to put off the voters of tomorrow. In exceptional cases where there are large numbers of young people in the station, presiding officers have the power to ask them to wait outside. If someone has several young children, a member of the polling station staff can look after them while the parent or guardian votes. A child is not allowed to write the X for an adult. You can but it may mean your vote won't be counted. There's a tradition of deliberately spoiling your ballot. \"None of the above\" is one of the more polite ways of showing you are not apathetic, just contemptuous of the candidates on offer. These votes are included in the overall turnout. However, if you wish to vote for a candidate you should avoid writing comments in the margin. It might confuse the counters and lead to your vote being deemed doubtful and subsequently rejected. People do occasionally sign their ballots. If the name is identifiable your vote will not count. They are considered rejected ballots because the voter has revealed their identity and breached the rules of a secret ballot. Signing your ballot paper was fairly common in the 19th Century when candidates would pay people to vote for them. Under that system it was possible for the candidate to check up later who had voted for them by looking for signatures, and pay out accordingly. Today, however innocent the motive, a signature renders a ballot \"rejected\". With about 50,000 polling stations dotted across the country, general elections are a huge logistical undertaking. When something does go wrong, quick thinking by staff can save the day. Last month, a presiding officer in Buckie, Moray, set up a polling station in her car after she could not get inside the intended building for a Scottish council election. This is an update on an article written for the 2015 election", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 2293, "answer_end": 2954, "text": "The Electoral Commission warns against doing it inside the polling station, even if it's about your own vote. Elsewhere you are free to publicise your vote. However, as above, there are strict laws against revealing someone else's vote, including influencing whether they publish it themselves. Under Section 66 of the Representation of the People Act it is a criminal offence to communicate information about the way someone has voted or is about to vote, and specifically to \"directly or indirectly induce a voter to display his ballot paper after he has marked it so as to make known to any person the name of the candidate for whom he has or has not voted\"."}], "question": "Can you tweet about voting?", "id": "1144_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2955, "answer_end": 3846, "text": "Dogs may not yet be entitled to vote but they are allowed to come and watch as long as they don't disrupt the vote. In cases where a voter has two or more dogs and will struggle to control them while casting their ballot, polling station staff may be able to hold the dogs' leads. But the Electoral Commission advises that while voters are welcome to bring their dogs, unless they're an assistance dog, they may have to be left outside. During the EU referendum last year and at the local elections earlier this year, many tweeted pictures of their dogs under the hashtag #DogsAtPollingStations. Rural constituencies might have cases of voters riding to the polling station. In such instances, horses and ponies should be tethered up outside. There is no guidance on other animals such as rabbits, ferrets or pot-bellied pigs, so any decision will be at the discretion of presiding officers."}], "question": "Can you bring a pet?", "id": "1144_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3847, "answer_end": 4152, "text": "People shouldn't wear party political clothing. Voters dressed in party T-shirts will not be able to enter the polling station as it may be intimidating. Political figures in the wider sense may be fine, for instance a T-shirt of Che Guevara would be acceptable. The onus is on encouraging people to vote."}], "question": "Can you wear political clothing?", "id": "1144_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 4153, "answer_end": 4350, "text": "Yes. It's true that polling station staff are on the lookout for people trying to vote twice by impersonating someone else on the register. But there's no requirement for voters to show their face."}], "question": "Can I cover my face with a hoodie or something else?", "id": "1144_3"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 4351, "answer_end": 4550, "text": "Yes. Polling station staff cannot refuse a voter simply because they are drunk or under the influence of drugs. Only if the voter is disruptive will they be asked to return when they have sobered up."}], "question": "Can I vote if I've been drinking?", "id": "1144_4"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 4551, "answer_end": 4718, "text": "No. The only people permitted to wear a rosette are the candidates and their polling agents. The rosette must be plain and not refer to the candidate or bear a slogan."}], "question": "Can I wear a giant rosette?", "id": "1144_5"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 4719, "answer_end": 5268, "text": "No. Political discussion is banned inside the polling station. Polling station staff will intervene if people are heard to be discussing the merits of different candidates or parties - it may unsettle other voters. Neither can one ask someone whom they are voting for as this will compromise the secrecy of the poll. If you want to debate the pros and cons of a certain candidate you must do so outside. Neither can people distribute party leaflets or other literature in the polling station. Anyone seen doing so will be asked to take them outside."}], "question": "Can I discuss the candidates with my partner?", "id": "1144_6"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 5269, "answer_end": 5480, "text": "Technically even the Queen could vote. But she \"has to remain strictly neutral with respect to political matters\" and is \"unable to vote or stand for election\", according to the official website of the monarchy."}], "question": "Can members of the Royal Family vote?", "id": "1144_7"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 5481, "answer_end": 5864, "text": "Only if it doesn't disrupt other people. If you are listening to music on headphones you'll need to remove them when being addressed by polling station staff. They will want to confirm your name and other details. If your personal music player is playing at high volume in the polling booth you'll be asked to turn it down or leave. The same goes for loud mobile phone conversations."}], "question": "Can I play music?", "id": "1144_8"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 5865, "answer_end": 6079, "text": "No, if you prefer you can use a pen, even if it's your own. While a cross is usually called for, you could theoretically mark the box with a tick instead. The important thing is that your voting intention is clear."}], "question": "Do I have to mark my cross with a pencil on a string?", "id": "1144_9"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 6080, "answer_end": 6278, "text": "Yes, providing you haven't already posted your ballot paper in the box. Return to the desk and tell staff what has happened. They'll be able to cancel your ballot paper and issue you with a new one."}], "question": "I've made a mistake and voted for the wrong person. Can I vote again?", "id": "1144_10"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 6279, "answer_end": 6726, "text": "You're welcome to enter the polling station with a friend if they are also eligible to vote there. But voting is a private matter so you must be alone when you go into the polling booth. If the friend is not registered to vote there then they will not be allowed inside the polling station. If you have a disability, or are unable to read the ballot, and cannot vote on your own, you may come with a companion. The presiding officer can also help."}], "question": "I'm nervous. Can a friend come and help me?", "id": "1144_11"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 6727, "answer_end": 7033, "text": "The Electoral Commission says the best way to make sure your vote is counted is to mark an X in a box. But a smiley face or anything which is interpreted by a returning officer as an expression of preference \"must not be rejected if the voter's intention is clear\", its guidance to Returning Officers says."}], "question": "Can I put a smiley face instead?", "id": "1144_12"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 7034, "answer_end": 7432, "text": "Of course. Polling station staff are expected to be welcoming to under-18s so as not to put off the voters of tomorrow. In exceptional cases where there are large numbers of young people in the station, presiding officers have the power to ask them to wait outside. If someone has several young children, a member of the polling station staff can look after them while the parent or guardian votes."}], "question": "Can I bring my children to show them how it works?", "id": "1144_13"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 7433, "answer_end": 7484, "text": "A child is not allowed to write the X for an adult."}], "question": "Can my child mark the X for me?", "id": "1144_14"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 7485, "answer_end": 7969, "text": "You can but it may mean your vote won't be counted. There's a tradition of deliberately spoiling your ballot. \"None of the above\" is one of the more polite ways of showing you are not apathetic, just contemptuous of the candidates on offer. These votes are included in the overall turnout. However, if you wish to vote for a candidate you should avoid writing comments in the margin. It might confuse the counters and lead to your vote being deemed doubtful and subsequently rejected."}], "question": "Can I write a message to the politicians?", "id": "1144_15"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 7970, "answer_end": 8529, "text": "People do occasionally sign their ballots. If the name is identifiable your vote will not count. They are considered rejected ballots because the voter has revealed their identity and breached the rules of a secret ballot. Signing your ballot paper was fairly common in the 19th Century when candidates would pay people to vote for them. Under that system it was possible for the candidate to check up later who had voted for them by looking for signatures, and pay out accordingly. Today, however innocent the motive, a signature renders a ballot \"rejected\"."}], "question": "Can I sign my ballot paper?", "id": "1144_16"}]}]}, {"title": "Plastic particles falling out of sky with snow in Arctic", "date": "14 August 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Even in the Arctic, microscopic particles of plastic are falling out of the sky with snow, a study has found. The scientists said they were shocked by the sheer number of particles they found: more than 10,000 of them per litre in the Arctic. It means that even there, people are likely to be breathing in microplastics from the air - though the health implications remain unclear. The region is often seen as one of the world's last pristine environments. A German-Swiss team of researchers has published the work in the journal Science Advances. The scientists also found rubber particles and fibres in the snow. Researchers collected snow samples from the Svalbard islands using a low-tech method - a dessert spoon and a flask. In the laboratory at Germany's Alfred Wegener Institute in Bremerhaven they discovered far more contaminating particles than they'd expected. Many were so small that it was hard to ascertain where they had come from. The majority appeared to be composed of natural materials like plant cellulose and animal fur. But there were also particles of plastic, along with fragments of rubber tyres, varnish, paint and possibly synthetic fibres. The lead scientist, Dr Melanie Bergmann, told BBC News: \"We expected to find some contamination but to find this many microplastics was a real shock.\" She said: \"It's readily apparent that the majority of the microplastic in the snow comes from the air.\" Microplastics are defined as those particles below 5mm in size. Addressing their potential effects on people, Dr Bergmann explained: \"We don't know if the plastics will be harmful to human health or not. But we need to take much better care of the way we're treating our environment.\" The scientists also analysed snow from sites in Germany and Switzerland. Samples taken from some areas of Germany showed higher concentrations than in the Arctic. The researchers think microplastics are being blown about by winds and then - through mechanisms which are not fully understood - transported long distances through the atmosphere. The particles are then \"washed\" out of the atmosphere through precipitation, particularly snow. A study published in April by a British-French team showed that microplastics were falling from the sky onto the French Pyrenees, another supposedly pristine region. Previously, research groups have found plastics in the atmospheric fallout of Dongguan, China, Tehran in Iran, and Paris, France. As for where the pollution is coming from, here too there are uncertainties. The presence of so many varnish particles in the Arctic was a puzzle. The researchers assume that some of the contamination may have come from ships grinding against the ice. But they also speculate that some may have come off wind turbines. The fibre fragments may be from people's clothing, although it's not possible to tell at the moment. Dr Bergmann explained: \"We have to ask - do we need so much plastic packaging? Do we need all the polymers in the paints we use? Can we come up with differently designed car tyres? These are important issues.\" Dr Eldbjorg Sofie Heimstad, from the Norwegian Institute for Air Research, Kjeller, who was not involved in the latest study, told me that some of the particle pollution was local and some had drifted from afar. She said: \"We know that most of what we are analysing up there and measuring are long-range transported pollution coming from [Europe], from Asia, coming from all over the world. \"Some of these chemicals have properties that are a threat for the ecosystem, for living animals.\" The results follow on the heels of our exclusive report last year that the highest concentrations of plastic particles in the ocean were to be found in Arctic sea-ice. Plastic waste is also drifting for hundreds or even thousands of kilometres to land on remote Arctic beaches. It is depressing news for people who have regarded the far north as one of the last pristine environments on Earth. At a dog sledding centre near Tromso in the Norwegian Arctic, one of the staff, Lili, told us: \"It makes me incredibly sad. We've got plastics in the sea-ice. We've got plastics in the ocean and on the beaches. Now plastic in snow. \"Up here we see the beauty of it every day, and to see that it's changing so much and being tainted - it hurts.\" Follow Roger on Twitter.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 615, "answer_end": 1871, "text": "Researchers collected snow samples from the Svalbard islands using a low-tech method - a dessert spoon and a flask. In the laboratory at Germany's Alfred Wegener Institute in Bremerhaven they discovered far more contaminating particles than they'd expected. Many were so small that it was hard to ascertain where they had come from. The majority appeared to be composed of natural materials like plant cellulose and animal fur. But there were also particles of plastic, along with fragments of rubber tyres, varnish, paint and possibly synthetic fibres. The lead scientist, Dr Melanie Bergmann, told BBC News: \"We expected to find some contamination but to find this many microplastics was a real shock.\" She said: \"It's readily apparent that the majority of the microplastic in the snow comes from the air.\" Microplastics are defined as those particles below 5mm in size. Addressing their potential effects on people, Dr Bergmann explained: \"We don't know if the plastics will be harmful to human health or not. But we need to take much better care of the way we're treating our environment.\" The scientists also analysed snow from sites in Germany and Switzerland. Samples taken from some areas of Germany showed higher concentrations than in the Arctic."}], "question": "How did the researchers carry out the study?", "id": "1145_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1872, "answer_end": 3564, "text": "The researchers think microplastics are being blown about by winds and then - through mechanisms which are not fully understood - transported long distances through the atmosphere. The particles are then \"washed\" out of the atmosphere through precipitation, particularly snow. A study published in April by a British-French team showed that microplastics were falling from the sky onto the French Pyrenees, another supposedly pristine region. Previously, research groups have found plastics in the atmospheric fallout of Dongguan, China, Tehran in Iran, and Paris, France. As for where the pollution is coming from, here too there are uncertainties. The presence of so many varnish particles in the Arctic was a puzzle. The researchers assume that some of the contamination may have come from ships grinding against the ice. But they also speculate that some may have come off wind turbines. The fibre fragments may be from people's clothing, although it's not possible to tell at the moment. Dr Bergmann explained: \"We have to ask - do we need so much plastic packaging? Do we need all the polymers in the paints we use? Can we come up with differently designed car tyres? These are important issues.\" Dr Eldbjorg Sofie Heimstad, from the Norwegian Institute for Air Research, Kjeller, who was not involved in the latest study, told me that some of the particle pollution was local and some had drifted from afar. She said: \"We know that most of what we are analysing up there and measuring are long-range transported pollution coming from [Europe], from Asia, coming from all over the world. \"Some of these chemicals have properties that are a threat for the ecosystem, for living animals.\""}], "question": "How is plastic pollution reaching the Arctic?", "id": "1145_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3565, "answer_end": 4328, "text": "The results follow on the heels of our exclusive report last year that the highest concentrations of plastic particles in the ocean were to be found in Arctic sea-ice. Plastic waste is also drifting for hundreds or even thousands of kilometres to land on remote Arctic beaches. It is depressing news for people who have regarded the far north as one of the last pristine environments on Earth. At a dog sledding centre near Tromso in the Norwegian Arctic, one of the staff, Lili, told us: \"It makes me incredibly sad. We've got plastics in the sea-ice. We've got plastics in the ocean and on the beaches. Now plastic in snow. \"Up here we see the beauty of it every day, and to see that it's changing so much and being tainted - it hurts.\" Follow Roger on Twitter."}], "question": "What does this mean for the Arctic?", "id": "1145_2"}]}]}, {"title": "Brexit bill: Will we ever know a precise figure?", "date": "29 November 2017", "paragraphs": [{"context": " No, and nor do they want to in public - on either side - because everyone knows how politically sensitive a precise number is. The aim has always been to agree on the way the bill will be calculated. In her speech in Florence in September, Prime Minister Theresa May said the UK would honour the financial commitments it had made as a member of the European Union. The EU has been seeking reassurance that the UK means \"all\" its commitments as the EU defines them, and this has been the focus of the most recent negotiations. A backroom agreement on the broad outlines of a deal may now have been reached, but it still needs to be formally discussed and agreed at the political level. Because there could still be plenty of technical haggling to come about the detail. At the moment, estimates for the bill range between 40bn and 55bn euros net, although Downing Street has played down anything above 50bn. Expect various numbers to be produced, but don't forget that the process isn't over yet. A deal now would certainly be a breakthrough, but in practice it just means everyone agrees \"sufficient progress\" has been made. Internal EU documents foresee the \"finalisation of negotiations\" on phase-one issues (including the financial settlement) continuing until October 2018. The biggest single chunk of any bill will arise from the UK's share of budget commitments that have been made but not yet paid out - known in EU jargon as the Reste a Liquider (RAL). The RAL for the whole of the EU is currently valued at about 238bn euros, and that could rise to 250bn euros by the time the UK is due to leave. But there are various ways of calculating exactly what the UK share of the RAL should be. The amount any country pays into the EU budget every year depends on the size of its economy relative to the EU economy as a whole. It is calculated by working out gross national income in euros. To calculate the Brexit financial settlement, the EU has proposed taking an average of the British budget contribution over a five-year period, from 2014 to 2018 (the five years before the UK leaves), which produces a UK share of just under 13%. UK officials think they can reduce that percentage. They would, for example, like to include the years 2019 and 2020 in the calculation - because those years form part of the EU's current seven-year budget and the intention is that the UK will still be making budget contributions, as part of a transition arrangement, in 2019 and 2020. Using a seven-year calculation would help reduce the UK bill because the decline in the value of sterling since the referendum means that the size of the UK economy in euros has got smaller. Potentially, yes. In 2015, the UK had to pay a one-off budget surcharge of 2.1bn euros, which dealt with past payments. The UK argues this payment should not be included when calculating the average British budget contribution. Agreeing the average proportion of the EU budget paid for by the UK will be key. If the UK share was reduced from about 13% to about 12%, that could cut the RAL bill by roughly 2.5bn euros. There is also a debate to be had about what are known as \"decommitments\" - some of the money the EU has committed to spend in budgets will end up never being spent. That's because many big infrastructure projects in Eastern Europe, for example, have to be co-financed by national governments, and some of them lack the capacity to spend the money they have been offered. The UK wants the Brexit bill calculation to include a higher \"decommitment\" rate than the EU has so far suggested. This is another big part of the current negotiations. The estimated financial liability for the EU's pension and sickness-insurance schemes - those that cover the EU's employees - was about 67bn euros at the end of 2016. But this figure is based on an interest rate - the euro area discount rate - of 0.3%, which is a historically low level. Taking an average of the discount rate over a much longer period - say 20 years - would produce a much higher interest rate, and a much lower estimated pension liability. That would reduce the UK contribution significantly, and could reduce the overall bill by another few billion euros. Yes, a 25-year-old EU employee may not expect to receive their pension for another 40 years. What might the discount rate be in 40 years' time? No-one knows. But it is possible that the UK could make small pension contributions for decades to come, which would: - help spread the load - make it all but impossible for anyone to calculate a final figure for the Brexit financial settlement Other liabilities could also be paid out over time rather than as a lump sum. Some of the money committed but not yet paid in annual budgets will not be handed out for several years. If the UK agrees to honour commitments due to be made in 2019 and 2020 (after Brexit but potentially during a transition) some of that money may not be paid out until 2024 or 2025. This is also a matter for negotiation. It's difficult to take a share of fixed assets such as buildings - the argument is that these assets belong to the EU as a whole rather than to the individual member states collectively, and no country had to pay money into the budget to take a share of these fixed assets when they joined the EU. But there are also cash assets, generated from things such as big fines imposed on companies. The UK would like a share of that money to be taken into account in the overall calculation. A row could be looming though about the future of the 3.5bn euros of UK capital at the European Investment Bank. It's extremely unlikely. But if the starting point for the EU was a net figure of about 60bn euros net, and the starting point for some Brexiteers in the UK was zero... well, the end result is going to be a lot closer to 60bn than to zero. The government has always accepted that there were bills to be paid - but it wants to focus on a much bigger prize, the future trading relationship and the overall health of the UK's PS2.2tn economy. Read more from Reality Check Follow us on Twitter", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1697, "answer_end": 2666, "text": "The amount any country pays into the EU budget every year depends on the size of its economy relative to the EU economy as a whole. It is calculated by working out gross national income in euros. To calculate the Brexit financial settlement, the EU has proposed taking an average of the British budget contribution over a five-year period, from 2014 to 2018 (the five years before the UK leaves), which produces a UK share of just under 13%. UK officials think they can reduce that percentage. They would, for example, like to include the years 2019 and 2020 in the calculation - because those years form part of the EU's current seven-year budget and the intention is that the UK will still be making budget contributions, as part of a transition arrangement, in 2019 and 2020. Using a seven-year calculation would help reduce the UK bill because the decline in the value of sterling since the referendum means that the size of the UK economy in euros has got smaller."}], "question": "How might it be calculated?", "id": "1146_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2667, "answer_end": 3570, "text": "Potentially, yes. In 2015, the UK had to pay a one-off budget surcharge of 2.1bn euros, which dealt with past payments. The UK argues this payment should not be included when calculating the average British budget contribution. Agreeing the average proportion of the EU budget paid for by the UK will be key. If the UK share was reduced from about 13% to about 12%, that could cut the RAL bill by roughly 2.5bn euros. There is also a debate to be had about what are known as \"decommitments\" - some of the money the EU has committed to spend in budgets will end up never being spent. That's because many big infrastructure projects in Eastern Europe, for example, have to be co-financed by national governments, and some of them lack the capacity to spend the money they have been offered. The UK wants the Brexit bill calculation to include a higher \"decommitment\" rate than the EU has so far suggested."}], "question": "Are there other ways to chip away at this part of the bill?", "id": "1146_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3571, "answer_end": 4200, "text": "This is another big part of the current negotiations. The estimated financial liability for the EU's pension and sickness-insurance schemes - those that cover the EU's employees - was about 67bn euros at the end of 2016. But this figure is based on an interest rate - the euro area discount rate - of 0.3%, which is a historically low level. Taking an average of the discount rate over a much longer period - say 20 years - would produce a much higher interest rate, and a much lower estimated pension liability. That would reduce the UK contribution significantly, and could reduce the overall bill by another few billion euros."}], "question": "What about pensions?", "id": "1146_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 4201, "answer_end": 4953, "text": "Yes, a 25-year-old EU employee may not expect to receive their pension for another 40 years. What might the discount rate be in 40 years' time? No-one knows. But it is possible that the UK could make small pension contributions for decades to come, which would: - help spread the load - make it all but impossible for anyone to calculate a final figure for the Brexit financial settlement Other liabilities could also be paid out over time rather than as a lump sum. Some of the money committed but not yet paid in annual budgets will not be handed out for several years. If the UK agrees to honour commitments due to be made in 2019 and 2020 (after Brexit but potentially during a transition) some of that money may not be paid out until 2024 or 2025."}], "question": "And there's also the timescale?", "id": "1146_3"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 4954, "answer_end": 5590, "text": "This is also a matter for negotiation. It's difficult to take a share of fixed assets such as buildings - the argument is that these assets belong to the EU as a whole rather than to the individual member states collectively, and no country had to pay money into the budget to take a share of these fixed assets when they joined the EU. But there are also cash assets, generated from things such as big fines imposed on companies. The UK would like a share of that money to be taken into account in the overall calculation. A row could be looming though about the future of the 3.5bn euros of UK capital at the European Investment Bank."}], "question": "What about a UK share of EU assets?", "id": "1146_4"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 5591, "answer_end": 6030, "text": "It's extremely unlikely. But if the starting point for the EU was a net figure of about 60bn euros net, and the starting point for some Brexiteers in the UK was zero... well, the end result is going to be a lot closer to 60bn than to zero. The government has always accepted that there were bills to be paid - but it wants to focus on a much bigger prize, the future trading relationship and the overall health of the UK's PS2.2tn economy."}], "question": "We're never going to know how big the bill is then?", "id": "1146_5"}]}]}, {"title": "Thailand election: Rival camps woo allies amid confusion over results", "date": "25 March 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Two rival camps contesting Thailand's first election since the military coup in 2014 have both said they are trying to form a coalition government. Early results give the pro-military Palang Pracha Rath Party (PPRP) a larger share of the popular vote. At the same time, the main opposition Pheu Thai party currently has the biggest number of seats in parliament. But there are growing complaints about irregularities during Sunday's poll and a vote count marred by confusion. The Electoral Commission (EC) is also facing strong criticism for its decision to delay publishing the full results without providing any explanation. Thailand's complicated electoral system allocates some parliamentary seats according to the number of votes received. Critics say electoral law changes introduced by the military in 2017 are primarily designed to keep pro-military forces in power. On Monday, the EC announced that Pheu Thai, the party linked to former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, had won 137 seats in the 500-strong lower chamber of parliament. The PPRP, which supports Thailand's current leader General Prayuth Chan-ocha, was in the second place with 97 seats. Several other parties were getting between 30 and 39 seats each. But the winners of 150 seats were still unclear, the EC said. At the same time, the commission earlier said that with more than 90% of ballots counted, the PPRP had gained 7.6m of the popular vote. That is half a million more than Pheu Thai. Amid confusion over a vote count, the EC was expected to clarify the preliminary results at a news conference on Monday. But the EC instead again delayed announcing the preliminary figures. It also said there would be no official results until 9 May. More than 50 million people were eligible to vote in a much-delayed election, the first since Gen Prayuth Chan-ocha led the coup that ousted Mr Thaksin's sister, Yingluck Shinawatra, five years ago. But the reported turnout was unexpectedly low, at just 64%. Many questioned this figure as well as discrepancies in the vote count numbers. \"It's right that we should call it a rigged election,\" Mr Thaksin told AFP news agency. \"Everyone know(s) in Thailand, everyone internationally that observed the election in Thailand, knows that there is irregularity.\" Speaking to journalists, the EC's secretary-general, Charungvith Phumma, blamed \"human error\", saying the people who put the numbers of votes in were just regular people. The EC later said that media had misreported the data it was giving them, and that its servers had suffered from unspecified hacking attacks. Analysis by BBC's Nick Beake in Bangkok What's your definition of an election winner? Answers on a polling card, please. Is it the party with the most votes across the whole country or the party with the most seats in parliament? In Thailand, where power can be seized at gunpoint, this is not so much a constitutional technicality but a matter of manoeuvring and momentum. After repeatedly promising - and then delaying - a national vote, the military junta finally granted a ballot only once it had successfully manipulated the electoral system in its favour. Many foresaw a General Prayuth victory as being hollow and illegitimate - achieved through the backing of a handpicked, new senate. But the coup leader can now point to the way the pro-military Palang Pracha Rath Party apparently hoovered up the majority of votes cast as a clear democratic mandate. The opposition Pheu Thai does not see it that way. It feels its own achievement - gaining the biggest share of parliamentary seats - should be rewarded fairly by being allowed to form a coalition of anti-military parties. The military introduced a new constitution in 2017 which opponents say is designed to keep pro-military forces in power. Thailand's electorate only votes for the 500-seat lower house of parliament. The members of the 250-seat upper house are appointed by the military. But it's the combined votes from both houses that will select the future prime minister. The vote has been seen primarily as a contest between pro-military parties and allies of Mr Thaksin. He was ousted in a coup in 2006 and lives in self-imposed exile to avoid a conviction for abuse of power. But he still has a significant following, largely among rural and less affluent voters. At the time of the 2014 coup, the military said it wanted to restore order and stability and put a stop to the street protests which have broken out repeatedly over the years. But the junta has been accused of taking an authoritarian approach to power, strictly controlling the media and arbitrarily using laws like lese majeste - which prohibits any criticism of the monarchy - to silence opponents.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 875, "answer_end": 2591, "text": "On Monday, the EC announced that Pheu Thai, the party linked to former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, had won 137 seats in the 500-strong lower chamber of parliament. The PPRP, which supports Thailand's current leader General Prayuth Chan-ocha, was in the second place with 97 seats. Several other parties were getting between 30 and 39 seats each. But the winners of 150 seats were still unclear, the EC said. At the same time, the commission earlier said that with more than 90% of ballots counted, the PPRP had gained 7.6m of the popular vote. That is half a million more than Pheu Thai. Amid confusion over a vote count, the EC was expected to clarify the preliminary results at a news conference on Monday. But the EC instead again delayed announcing the preliminary figures. It also said there would be no official results until 9 May. More than 50 million people were eligible to vote in a much-delayed election, the first since Gen Prayuth Chan-ocha led the coup that ousted Mr Thaksin's sister, Yingluck Shinawatra, five years ago. But the reported turnout was unexpectedly low, at just 64%. Many questioned this figure as well as discrepancies in the vote count numbers. \"It's right that we should call it a rigged election,\" Mr Thaksin told AFP news agency. \"Everyone know(s) in Thailand, everyone internationally that observed the election in Thailand, knows that there is irregularity.\" Speaking to journalists, the EC's secretary-general, Charungvith Phumma, blamed \"human error\", saying the people who put the numbers of votes in were just regular people. The EC later said that media had misreported the data it was giving them, and that its servers had suffered from unspecified hacking attacks."}], "question": "What are the results so far?", "id": "1147_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3676, "answer_end": 4033, "text": "The military introduced a new constitution in 2017 which opponents say is designed to keep pro-military forces in power. Thailand's electorate only votes for the 500-seat lower house of parliament. The members of the 250-seat upper house are appointed by the military. But it's the combined votes from both houses that will select the future prime minister."}], "question": "How does Thailand's electoral system work?", "id": "1147_1"}]}]}, {"title": "Period pain affects 'about half' of women workers", "date": "23 September 2016", "paragraphs": [{"context": "About half of women workers have experienced period pain that affects their ability to work, a survey suggests. A YouGov survey of 1,000 women for BBC Radio 5 live's Emma Barnett programme found 52% had, but only 27% had told their boss period pain was responsible. Of the 52%, nearly a third had taken at least a day's sick leave as a result. And one doctor has suggested employers should offer \"menstrual leave\". Nine out of 10 of the women reported having period pain at some point. Dr Gedis Grudzinskas, a London-based consultant gynaecologist, said women should be more open about period pain - and employers more understanding. He added: \"Menstruation is normal, but some women suffer terribly and they suffer in silence. \"I don't think women should be shy about it, and companies should be accommodating with leave for women who are struggling with painful periods.\" Nancy Eccles left full-time work partly because of her painful periods. \"Two weeks before my period I cry at the drop of a hat, feel low, think the world is ending and feel overwhelmed by everything,\" she says. \"As soon as I ovulate, there is a surge in progesterone and I fly into rages at the most trivial thing. \"I always soldiered on at work, but in my last two years of teaching full-time, I struggled to get through an hour's lesson before I had to go to the toilet and change myself.\" The 48-year-old teacher and maths tutor has suffered from PMS (premenstrual syndrome) and painful periods since she was a teenager. She is now due to have a hysterectomy to remove her womb. Fiona Morrison, an employment lawyer at Brodies LLP in Aberdeen, said, in some cases, severe period pain could be considered a disability. \"Under UK law, if someone is in extreme pain and it is stopping them from working effectively, a tribunal could say that this woman is disabled,\" she said. Most women experience pain as part of their menstrual monthly cycle. It is usually experienced as abdominal cramps, which can spread to the back and thighs. Period pain can be felt as a dull ache or painful spasms. Women can also experience nausea, diarrhoea and headaches. The scientific term for period pain is dysmenorrhoea. Levels of the hormone prostaglandin, produced by cells in the lining of the womb, cause it to contract. The higher that level, the more strongly and more often the womb contracts, causing the pain. Some women can also experience pelvic pain, even when not on their period. \"It is judged on the impact on the woman without treatment or painkillers. \"This is about extreme cases of severe pain,\" she added, \"and it would always be case specific, so I can't see it opening the floodgates on claims.\" Katy Wheatley, 44, is a former marketing executive who has struggled with period pain for all of her adult life. \"For me, migraines are the real killer,\" she says. \"I can go blind in one eye as part of the migraine, and sometimes in both. You don't get much notice. \"When I was employed full-time, I would dose up on pain relief on bad months, use heat pads [and] take changes of clothes.\" Ms Wheatley, who is now a blogger, says: \"I gave up work after my third child was born because of the childcare costs, but I do worry that it will be an issue if I return to the workplace.\" She says GPs refuse to offer her a hysterectomy. \"They say I'm too young.  I go away and, when it's bad again, I go and beg them again - and they refuse again,\" she says. \"I must be one of the few people really looking forward to old age. \"I want to be old with hair on my chin - and no periods.\" Dr Grudzinskas said one option was to offer female employees \"menstrual leave\", already granted to women in countries such as Japan. \"Menstrual leave would make people feel more happy and comfortable in the workplace, which is a positive thing,\" he said. \"There is also a lack of awareness about when painful periods mean that something is going wrong, like endometriosis. \"People forget that women make up half the workforce. \"If they feel supported, it will be a happy and productive workforce.\"", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1851, "answer_end": 2675, "text": "Most women experience pain as part of their menstrual monthly cycle. It is usually experienced as abdominal cramps, which can spread to the back and thighs. Period pain can be felt as a dull ache or painful spasms. Women can also experience nausea, diarrhoea and headaches. The scientific term for period pain is dysmenorrhoea. Levels of the hormone prostaglandin, produced by cells in the lining of the womb, cause it to contract. The higher that level, the more strongly and more often the womb contracts, causing the pain. Some women can also experience pelvic pain, even when not on their period. \"It is judged on the impact on the woman without treatment or painkillers. \"This is about extreme cases of severe pain,\" she added, \"and it would always be case specific, so I can't see it opening the floodgates on claims.\""}], "question": "What is period pain?", "id": "1148_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Champions League final: The teams are going but can fans afford to?", "date": "9 May 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "After Liverpool and Tottenham achieved unlikely comebacks to reach the Champions League final in Madrid, supporters of both teams now face a similar uphill challenge in trying to get to the Spanish capital. Direct flights from the UK to Madrid for dates around the final on 1 June have reached more than PS1,300 return, with some airlines being accused of \"profiteering\". But that won't stop over 30,000 fans with tickets - and many without - trying to get there. The question is, how? If you don't have your seat already, then the options for direct flights are scarce - and expensive. The search has left many fans despairing over the logistics. Most seats on flights from north-west England to Madrid are sold out, although Easyjet was offering an outbound flight on the day before the final for PS750 one way - its maximum price for that route. Liverpool Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram tweeted Easyjet, calling the situation \"entirely shameful\". He said: \"Hiking up prices by 683% for return flights to Madrid is quite simply profiteering from the passion of football fans.\" Easyjet said in a statement: \"We do not artificially increase ticket prices around sporting events, prices are led by a strong demand for some flights due to convenient scheduled flight times.\" Easyjet has put on extra flights or bigger aircraft to meet demand for previous big sporting events - and the company says it is looking at what is possible this time around. Skyscanner, the travel search engine, says it saw a 3015% surge in flights from the UK to Madrid following Liverpool's third goal on Tuesday. There are chartered flights but these aren't cheap either. Thomas Cook Sport is organising flights for Liverpool fans who have match tickets to the game. The cost is PS559 per person, and they are only available for Liverpool supporters who have purchased an official match ticket from the club. Other firms are offering direct flights for around PS650 per person, from Liverpool, Manchester and London Stansted - some set off on the morning of the game and return in the early hours of the following day. Although this isn't the most relaxing option, it does avoid the need to book accommodation (more on that difficulty later). This can be a far more affordable option for many fans but requires a little ingenuity - and quick thinking. Tottenham fan Brian Palacio, 67, from East Sussex, booked his flights while still in the stands of Ajax's Johan Cruyff Stadium in Amsterdam having just seen his side earn their place in the final. A seasoned follower of Spurs around Europe, Brian says trying to find a way to get to Madrid was a real challenge - particularly as Liverpool fans had a 24-hour head start. He says: \"With Liverpool qualifying the evening before, the fares not only jumped in price, but the cheaper flights gave little, or no time to travel from airport to stadium. \"My strategy on this occasion was to search on the website of Madrid airport, and find non-English airports whose flights arrived in Madrid in the early afternoon of the game.\" He found a flight from Cagliari to Madrid, arriving in the afternoon in time for the evening kick-off. Working backwards, he then secured an early flight from Stansted to Cagliari. And the cost of his outbound flights? A relative bargain at PS100. There's just one problem - he hasn't yet solved the conundrum of how he gets back. Of course not. Many fans are looking into flying somewhere other than Madrid, and then getting the train to the Spanish capital. London-based Liverpool fan James Ward, 39, managed to get hold of a flight from Gatwick to Alicante on the day before the match for PS110. From there he can get to Madrid in three hours on the train. Coming back, he'll go via Valencia on British Airways, using some carefully accrued air miles. He says: \"It took a good eight hours to get all that planned and booked [on Wednesday] - Spurs fans will be screwed by comparison.\" Getting the train all the way there is also possible with a one-way journey on 31 May from London to Lyon and onto Barcelona then Madrid taking around 15 hours and costing from PS259. And as many fans have suggested on social media, there is always the option to drive. Once fans have got their cars across the Channel, the drive from Calais in northern France to Madrid takes an estimated 15 hours to cover nearly 1,000 miles. There are barely any Madrid hotel rooms available for less than PS1,000 on 1 June. Liverpool fan Michael Edwards, 36, from Leeds, sorted his flights \"fairly simply\" by using a tour operator, but finding affordable accommodation for his two-night stay in Madrid has proved impossible. He says: \"We looked straight after the game and there wasn't a problem finding a hotel but a reasonable hotel (3* and above) started at PS1,300 for two nights. \"Although you expect the prices to be increased, PS1,300 for a hotel that normally charges about PS150 a night seems over the top. \"It will be my third Champions League final so it's not exactly a surprise!\" He has ended up booking one for around PS1,400 - and when he looked at the same hotel on Thursday morning, the day after Spurs beat Ajax, it had gone up to PS3,900. And then there's the price of match tickets. A Football Supporters Federation spokesman said: \"Four in every five tickets made available to Liverpool and Tottenham cost more than PS150 with the most expensive an eye-watering PS513 - there is simply no excuse for these costs.\"", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 486, "answer_end": 1585, "text": "If you don't have your seat already, then the options for direct flights are scarce - and expensive. The search has left many fans despairing over the logistics. Most seats on flights from north-west England to Madrid are sold out, although Easyjet was offering an outbound flight on the day before the final for PS750 one way - its maximum price for that route. Liverpool Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram tweeted Easyjet, calling the situation \"entirely shameful\". He said: \"Hiking up prices by 683% for return flights to Madrid is quite simply profiteering from the passion of football fans.\" Easyjet said in a statement: \"We do not artificially increase ticket prices around sporting events, prices are led by a strong demand for some flights due to convenient scheduled flight times.\" Easyjet has put on extra flights or bigger aircraft to meet demand for previous big sporting events - and the company says it is looking at what is possible this time around. Skyscanner, the travel search engine, says it saw a 3015% surge in flights from the UK to Madrid following Liverpool's third goal on Tuesday."}], "question": "What's the flight situation?", "id": "1149_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1586, "answer_end": 2215, "text": "There are chartered flights but these aren't cheap either. Thomas Cook Sport is organising flights for Liverpool fans who have match tickets to the game. The cost is PS559 per person, and they are only available for Liverpool supporters who have purchased an official match ticket from the club. Other firms are offering direct flights for around PS650 per person, from Liverpool, Manchester and London Stansted - some set off on the morning of the game and return in the early hours of the following day. Although this isn't the most relaxing option, it does avoid the need to book accommodation (more on that difficulty later)."}], "question": "Are there special flights for fans?", "id": "1149_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2216, "answer_end": 3377, "text": "This can be a far more affordable option for many fans but requires a little ingenuity - and quick thinking. Tottenham fan Brian Palacio, 67, from East Sussex, booked his flights while still in the stands of Ajax's Johan Cruyff Stadium in Amsterdam having just seen his side earn their place in the final. A seasoned follower of Spurs around Europe, Brian says trying to find a way to get to Madrid was a real challenge - particularly as Liverpool fans had a 24-hour head start. He says: \"With Liverpool qualifying the evening before, the fares not only jumped in price, but the cheaper flights gave little, or no time to travel from airport to stadium. \"My strategy on this occasion was to search on the website of Madrid airport, and find non-English airports whose flights arrived in Madrid in the early afternoon of the game.\" He found a flight from Cagliari to Madrid, arriving in the afternoon in time for the evening kick-off. Working backwards, he then secured an early flight from Stansted to Cagliari. And the cost of his outbound flights? A relative bargain at PS100. There's just one problem - he hasn't yet solved the conundrum of how he gets back."}], "question": "What about an indirect route?", "id": "1149_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3378, "answer_end": 4361, "text": "Of course not. Many fans are looking into flying somewhere other than Madrid, and then getting the train to the Spanish capital. London-based Liverpool fan James Ward, 39, managed to get hold of a flight from Gatwick to Alicante on the day before the match for PS110. From there he can get to Madrid in three hours on the train. Coming back, he'll go via Valencia on British Airways, using some carefully accrued air miles. He says: \"It took a good eight hours to get all that planned and booked [on Wednesday] - Spurs fans will be screwed by comparison.\" Getting the train all the way there is also possible with a one-way journey on 31 May from London to Lyon and onto Barcelona then Madrid taking around 15 hours and costing from PS259. And as many fans have suggested on social media, there is always the option to drive. Once fans have got their cars across the Channel, the drive from Calais in northern France to Madrid takes an estimated 15 hours to cover nearly 1,000 miles."}], "question": "But flying isn't the only option, right?", "id": "1149_3"}]}]}, {"title": "Thailand's king condemns bid by sister to become PM", "date": "8 February 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Thailand's King Vajiralongkorn has denounced as \"inappropriate\" his sister's unprecedented bid to run for prime minister in March's election. In a palace statement, he said such an act would \"defy the nation's culture\". Princess Ubolratana Mahidol, 67, has been nominated as a candidate for a party allied to divisive former PM Thaksin Shinawatra. Such a move would break with the tradition of the Thai royal family publicly staying out of politics. Analysts say the king's intervention is likely to lead to the election commission disqualifying her from the 24 March election. The vote is being closely watched as the first chance for Thailand to return to democracy after five years under military rule. In a palace statement broadcast on all Thai TV networks, the king said: \"Even though she has relinquished her royal titles in writing, she maintained her status and carried herself as a member of the Chakri dynasty. \"Involvement of a high-ranking member of the royal family in politics, in whatever way, is considered an act that defies the nation's traditions, customs and culture, and therefore is considered extremely inappropriate.\" The statement cited a passage of the constitution that says the monarchy should maintain political neutrality. Hours earlier, Princess Ubolratana defended her decision to run for office. In an Instagram post, she reiterated that she had relinquished all her royal titles and now lived as a commoner. She said she wanted to exercise her rights as an ordinary citizen by offering her candidacy for prime minister. She said she would work with all sincerity and determination for the prosperity of all Thais. Analysis by Jonathan Head, BBC News Bangkok The entry of flamboyant Princess Ubolratana's into the political fray threatened to upend an election in which the military government has stacked the odds in its own favour through a new constitution and electoral system. Now King Vajiralongkorn has issued an unusually strong statement censuring the nomination of his sister. The decision to nominate the princess now looks like a grave miscalculation. It will weaken the pro-Shinawatra faction seeking to push the military out of politics, which until now seemed likely to win the largest share of seats in the new parliament. It also underlines the power and influence of the new king, whose word on matters of state that he believes concern him is always final. Born in 1951, Princess Ubolratana Rajakanya Sirivadhana Barnavadi is the oldest child of Thailand's beloved late King Bhumibol Adulyadej. He died in 2016. She attended the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and after marrying an American in 1972 she gave up her royal title. After her divorce she returned to Thailand in 2001 and once again started participating in royal life. The princess engages actively in social media and has also starred in several Thai movies. She has three children, one of whom died in the 2004 Asian tsunami. The other two now also live in Thailand. The princess has registered for the Thai Raksa Chart party, which is closely linked to Mr Thaksin. It will be the first vote since current Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha took power in 2014, overthrowing the democratic government and ousting ex-PM Yingluck Shinawatra, the younger sister of Mr Thaksin. Both Mr Thaksin and his sister live in self-imposed exile but remain a powerful force in Thai politics, with many in the country remaining loyal to them. In 2016, Thais voted to approve a new constitution created by the country's military leaders, which was designed to perpetuate military influence and block Mr Thaksin's allies from winning another election. But the princess aligning herself with a party allied with Mr Thaksin threatens those plans, correspondents say. A former general, Mr Prayuth also announced on Friday that he would be running for prime minister in the forthcoming election as a candidate for the pro-military Palang Pracharat party. Thailand has some of the world's toughest royal defamation \"lese-majeste\" laws but technically the princess is not covered by them. However, the royal family is revered in Thailand and rarely criticised, so there are questions around whether any other candidate would want to challenge a member of the royal family.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1649, "answer_end": 2409, "text": "Analysis by Jonathan Head, BBC News Bangkok The entry of flamboyant Princess Ubolratana's into the political fray threatened to upend an election in which the military government has stacked the odds in its own favour through a new constitution and electoral system. Now King Vajiralongkorn has issued an unusually strong statement censuring the nomination of his sister. The decision to nominate the princess now looks like a grave miscalculation. It will weaken the pro-Shinawatra faction seeking to push the military out of politics, which until now seemed likely to win the largest share of seats in the new parliament. It also underlines the power and influence of the new king, whose word on matters of state that he believes concern him is always final."}], "question": "A miscalculation by military's opponents?", "id": "1150_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2410, "answer_end": 3089, "text": "Born in 1951, Princess Ubolratana Rajakanya Sirivadhana Barnavadi is the oldest child of Thailand's beloved late King Bhumibol Adulyadej. He died in 2016. She attended the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and after marrying an American in 1972 she gave up her royal title. After her divorce she returned to Thailand in 2001 and once again started participating in royal life. The princess engages actively in social media and has also starred in several Thai movies. She has three children, one of whom died in the 2004 Asian tsunami. The other two now also live in Thailand. The princess has registered for the Thai Raksa Chart party, which is closely linked to Mr Thaksin."}], "question": "Who is Princess Ubolratana Mahidol?", "id": "1150_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3090, "answer_end": 4270, "text": "It will be the first vote since current Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha took power in 2014, overthrowing the democratic government and ousting ex-PM Yingluck Shinawatra, the younger sister of Mr Thaksin. Both Mr Thaksin and his sister live in self-imposed exile but remain a powerful force in Thai politics, with many in the country remaining loyal to them. In 2016, Thais voted to approve a new constitution created by the country's military leaders, which was designed to perpetuate military influence and block Mr Thaksin's allies from winning another election. But the princess aligning herself with a party allied with Mr Thaksin threatens those plans, correspondents say. A former general, Mr Prayuth also announced on Friday that he would be running for prime minister in the forthcoming election as a candidate for the pro-military Palang Pracharat party. Thailand has some of the world's toughest royal defamation \"lese-majeste\" laws but technically the princess is not covered by them. However, the royal family is revered in Thailand and rarely criticised, so there are questions around whether any other candidate would want to challenge a member of the royal family."}], "question": "Why is the election important?", "id": "1150_2"}]}]}, {"title": "Frank Turner excavates history's forgotten women", "date": "8 August 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Frank Turner's eighth album is dedicated to female spies, nuns and musicians that time has forgotten. It's seen him accused of mansplaining history, \"but I don't see anyone else telling these stories\", he tells the BBC. When he first started making music with hardcore punk band Million Dead, Frank Turner refused to join the nightly ritual of tour bus debauchery. \"I have a vivid memory of being in Belgium,\" he recalls. \"People were drinking anything that wasn't nailed to the floor and I was sat on my bunk, reading my notes.\" It's not that the singer had a puritanical streak - far from it - but the tour clashed with a deadline for Turner's history degree, so every night, he'd hunker down to research the British-Bulgarian tobacco trade in the 1930s. The paper eventually earned him a first-class honour - but his subsequent decision to quit and pursue music left his tutor unimpressed. \"She said, 'You've done really well, ditch this stupid music stuff and come and do your Masters with me. \"And I said, 'Music is my dream. No offence, but academia can wait'. \"Almost 10 years later, I was playing the O2 and I sent her an email saying, 'I don't know if you remember me, but we're headlining the biggest indoor venue in London and I've got a box set aside for you'. \"And she replied, 'I'm still not interested in this frivolous music of yours.'\" But maybe Turner's new solo album, his eighth, will finally win over Professor Prazmowska. Called No Man's Land, it unleashes his \"inner history nerd\", collecting the stories of 13 women who don't always get their dues, from rock 'n' roll pioneer Sister Rosetta Tharpe to dancer-turned-spy Mata Hari. Initially planned as an EP, it blossomed into an album when friends got wind of the project, \"and I got swamped by an enormous list of women who have not been recognised by popular culture\". The problem then became one of research, sifting through sources (\"on Google! I'm not going to claim I was in cotton gloves in the archives of the British Library\") until Turner found 13 suitable stories. \"The interesting thing is, you can't just put a name on a piece of paper and go, 'Write a song about her'. There has to be a hook,\" he explains. \"So, for example, I am fascinated by the story of Amelia Earhart - she was gay, she was the first woman who flew trans-Atlantic, she crash-landed in the desert, no-one knows where she's buried - but I couldn't quite find the way in, so I very reluctantly put that one on the backburner. \"Whereas, with someone like [Egyptian activist] Huda Sha'arawi, there's a moment where she arrives at Cairo train station in 1923 and removes her face veil and says, 'Enough!' \"Well, there you go: There's your central image, there's your chorus.\" In keeping with the album's feminist spirit, Turner hired an all-female backing band, and asked Catherine Marks, one of the UK's few prominent female producers, to helm the recording sessions. Despite that, he's been accused of \"mansplaining\" history, perpetuating a pattern of male writers telling stories that belong to women. \"By positioning himself at the centre of proceedings, he's inadvertently fishing for a pat on the back,\" wrote El Hunt in one such column for the NME. Turner acknowledges \"there are sensible, intelligent questions being raised about my presentation of this record\". \"But I don't feel I'm crowding out other voices, I don't know of anyone else who's writing songs about Huda Sha'arawi right now. \"I mean, I can write a record about lesser-known historical men if you want, but it doesn't seem particularly worth my time.\" More broadly, he says, it's important for men to acknowledge how women have been subjugated and mistreated. Take, for example, Jinny Bingham, a 17th Century landlady whose ghost is still said to haunt Camden pubs. \"In her early life [she] was a vibrant member of the community,\" says Turner, \"and simply by becoming old and being single, she became a hate figure who was accused of witchcraft. \"There's an injustice there that cries out, and of course I find it shocking and surprising - but it's an experience I have to think myself into because I have the privilege of my gender.\" To explore these stories more thoroughly, Turner created a podcast where he interviews (predominantly female) historians about his album's characters. In one episode, he travels to Dodge City to learn more about Dora Hand, a vaudeville performer who was accidentally shot to death by a small-time outlaw. To his amusement, Lynn Johnson, who runs the local museum, ended up fact-checking his lyrics. \"I was like, 'Dora Hand's funeral was a huge event,' and Lynn went, 'Actually we don't know anything about her funeral, or even where she's buried.' \"Of course at that point I plead artistic license,\" he laughs, but the haziness surrounding Dora's death raised a serious point the neglect of women's stories. \"There is just one book in total about Sister Rosetta Tharpe,\" says Turner, \"but a lot of these women stand out, and there's something bold about that. \"For their names to ring out despite the ravages of time and bias, it makes me in awe of them.\" He's particularly taken with the story of Kassiani - an enigmatic poet who lived in 9th Century Constantinople. She was chosen to be the Emperor's wife but rejected his proposal with a withering put-down and ran off to form a convent. As an abbess, she continued to defy Emperor Theophilos, an iconoclast who was smashing up works of art and religious images. \"Legend has it that Kassiani was quietly redrawing them in her cell and stashing them under the bed for when his reign was over,\" says Turner. \"She's also the earliest female composer whose music has survived to the present day, and one of only two women whose signatures we have from the pre-modern era. \"There's something remarkable about her.\" In tribute, Turner repurposes one of Kassiani's melodies as he recounts her story, on one of No Man's Land's stand-out tracks. But the record closes with a more personal story: That of his mother, Rosemary Jane, who held his family together in spite of a husband \"who was dead to himself and everyone else\". Turner says he was estranged from his father, a city investment banker, for a decade. Their relationship only thawed recently after the death of his uncle, \"who was sort of a surrogate father for me\". \"In his sickness there were some moments of conciliation,\" says the singer, \"but the story is long and complicated, and something that I'm not yet prepared to discuss publicly.\" Which raises a problem for the final episode of his podcast... \"I don't want to discuss our collective family trauma on the series, so the idea we've come up with is that my mum is going to review the album - and I'm now terrified,\" he says, only half-joking. \"I think she's gone deep - she keeps texting me questions. And having been a primary school teacher for 40 years, there's a certain tone of voice she can switch on which still makes my blood run cold, so I'm a little nervous of that podcast.\" And what about his disapproving history tutor? Could she be persuaded to review No Man's Land? \"Oh God, we should get her on the podcast, too!\" Turner gasps. \"I'll definitely send her a copy of the album... But she still won't come to a gig.\" No Man's Land is released on 16 August by Xtra Mile / Polydor. Follow us on Facebook, or on Twitter @BBCNewsEnts. If you have a story suggestion email entertainment.news@bbc.co.uk.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 2050, "answer_end": 3686, "text": "\"The interesting thing is, you can't just put a name on a piece of paper and go, 'Write a song about her'. There has to be a hook,\" he explains. \"So, for example, I am fascinated by the story of Amelia Earhart - she was gay, she was the first woman who flew trans-Atlantic, she crash-landed in the desert, no-one knows where she's buried - but I couldn't quite find the way in, so I very reluctantly put that one on the backburner. \"Whereas, with someone like [Egyptian activist] Huda Sha'arawi, there's a moment where she arrives at Cairo train station in 1923 and removes her face veil and says, 'Enough!' \"Well, there you go: There's your central image, there's your chorus.\" In keeping with the album's feminist spirit, Turner hired an all-female backing band, and asked Catherine Marks, one of the UK's few prominent female producers, to helm the recording sessions. Despite that, he's been accused of \"mansplaining\" history, perpetuating a pattern of male writers telling stories that belong to women. \"By positioning himself at the centre of proceedings, he's inadvertently fishing for a pat on the back,\" wrote El Hunt in one such column for the NME. Turner acknowledges \"there are sensible, intelligent questions being raised about my presentation of this record\". \"But I don't feel I'm crowding out other voices, I don't know of anyone else who's writing songs about Huda Sha'arawi right now. \"I mean, I can write a record about lesser-known historical men if you want, but it doesn't seem particularly worth my time.\" More broadly, he says, it's important for men to acknowledge how women have been subjugated and mistreated."}], "question": "Mansplaining?", "id": "1151_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Trump-Kim summit breaks down after North Korea demands end to sanctions", "date": "28 February 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "A summit between Donald Trump and the North Korean leader Kim Jong-un ended without agreement after the US refused North Korean demands for sanctions relief, the US president has said. \"It was all about the sanctions,\" Mr Trump told reporters. \"They wanted the sanctions lifted in their entirety and we couldn't do that.\" North Korea said it had made \"realistic proposals\" at the summit. The two leaders had been expected to announce progress on denuclearisation. \"Sometimes you have to walk and this was one of those times,\" Mr Trump said. Speaking at a news conference after the summit, in the Vietnamese capital, Hanoi, Mr Trump said no plans had been made for a third summit, but he expressed optimism about a \"good outcome\" in the future. And on his flight back to the United States, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said he was very hopeful that officials from both sides could resume talks before too long. The original White House programme for the day had planned for a \"joint agreement signing ceremony\" as well as a working lunch for the two leaders, but expectations were abruptly dashed with the cancellation of both. According to Mr Trump, Mr Kim made a significant offer - to dismantle all of the Yongbyon complex, the research and production facility at the heart of North Korea's nuclear programme. But in return Mr Kim wanted all sanctions on North Korea lifted, something the US was not prepared to offer. There was also a question over the network of facilities that extend beyond Yongbyon. Last month, Stephen Biegun, the US state department special representative for North Korea, said North Korea had committed in pre-summit talks to destroy all of the nation's plutonium- and uranium-enrichment facilities, dependent on unspecified US measures in return. Yongbyon is North Korea's only known source of plutonium but the country is believed to have at least two other facilities where uranium is enriched. Those unspecified US measures appear now to have been complete sanctions relief, which Mr Trump would not offer. The US president also suggested in his news conference that Mr Kim had offered only the destruction of Yongbyon and not North Korea's entire nuclear apparatus. The president said that when he raised the issue of a second enrichment facility apart from Yongbyon, the North Korean delegation was \"surprised\" by what the US knew. North Korea's foreign minister later said that Pyongyang had been seeking partial sanctions relief, not a complete lifting. The North had offered to permanently stop nuclear and long-range rocket testing, the minister added. The first summit between the two leaders, which took place in Singapore in June 2018, was criticised for having produced little in terms of substance, leading to anticipation that Mr Trump would push at the summit in Hanoi to produce an agreement on denuclearisation. The failure will be viewed as a setback for self-styled deal-maker Mr Trump, who has talked up his historic rapprochement with Mr Kim as a significant policy achievement. Some saw the president's decision to not agree a deal as a good move. \"From Mr Trump's perspective it will be a loss he can weather,\" Andray Abrahamian, a North Korea expert at Stanford University, wrote in a column for the BBC. \"A 'bad deal' in which he gave away a lot would inspire years of debate and pushback from US foreign-policy elites. With this, he's spun it as saveable through working-level talks.\" The summit came as Mr Trump was facing increased scrutiny at home in the US over his business dealings and alleged ties to Russia, after his former lawyer and fixer Michael Cohen testified before Congress on Wednesday. A statement from South Korea's presidential office called the breakdown of talks \"regrettable\" but said the US and North Korean leaders had made \"more meaningful progress than at any time prior\". South Korean leader Moon Jae-in has worked to improve bilateral relations between the two Koreas, and played a role in arranging the Trump-Kim summit in Singapore. A later statement from President Moon said he had held a 25-minute phone conversation with Mr Trump and \"looked forward to productive results at follow-up consultations between the US and North Korean leaders\". China, North Korea's main ally, said it hoped both sides would keep talking. \"Solving this problem is definitely not something that can be achieved overnight,\" foreign ministry spokesman Lu Kang said. US media extensively covered remarks by Mr Trump about an American student, Otto Warmbier, who died from extensive injuries shortly after he was released from North Korean detention in 2017. The president said he had raised the Warmbier case with Mr Kim and believed the North Korean leader's assurances that he knew nothing of the student's treatment. \"Some really bad things happened to Otto - some really really bad things. But he tells me that he didn't know about it and I will take him at his word,\" Mr Trump said. Warmbier, who was 22, was arrested for taking a propaganda poster from a hotel while on a visit to Pyongyang in January 2016. He was sentenced to 15 years of hard labour. Mr Trump is not thought to have pressed Mr Kim during their talks on North Korea's wider human rights record. According to Human Rights Watch, the United Nations and international powers, the North Korean regime is among the world's worst human rights abusers, with an estimated 80,000 - 120,000 political prisoners and a history of murder, torture, and sexual violence perpetrated against its citizens. There is uncertainty about what exactly both sides mean by denuclearisation. Washington has previously said North Korea must unilaterally give up its all of its nuclear weapons and destroy all of its nuclear facilities before there can be any sanctions relief, but that condition is known to be a sticking point for the North Koreans. It is thought Mr Kim views denuclearisation as a mutual arrangement in which the US withdraws its military presence on the Korean peninsula. Asked at the news conference on Thursday what he meant by denuclearisation, Mr Trump said: \"To me it's pretty obvious, we have to get rid of the nukes.\" Mr Trump said the US delegation \"had some options and this time we decided not to do any of the options\". The pair seemed to get along at the Hanoi summit, as they did at the previous summit in Singapore. They took a poolside stroll for the cameras, although neither appeared to say much. Speaking after the talks in Hanoi, Mr Trump said Mr Kim was \"quite a guy and quite a character\" and described their relationship as \"very strong\". Despite the lack of an agreement, the second summit would appear to build on a significant shift in the tenor of the relationship between the two nations. In late 2017, they were exchanging vitriolic threats, with Mr Trump calling Mr Kim \"little rocket man\" and Mr Kim calling Mr Trump a \"mentally deranged dotard\". Before the summit, there was talk of a possible political declaration to end the 1950-53 Korean War, which finished with an armistice rather than a full peace treaty. With the abrupt end of the talks, that peripheral goal seemed to have been kicked into the long grass.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1129, "answer_end": 2591, "text": "According to Mr Trump, Mr Kim made a significant offer - to dismantle all of the Yongbyon complex, the research and production facility at the heart of North Korea's nuclear programme. But in return Mr Kim wanted all sanctions on North Korea lifted, something the US was not prepared to offer. There was also a question over the network of facilities that extend beyond Yongbyon. Last month, Stephen Biegun, the US state department special representative for North Korea, said North Korea had committed in pre-summit talks to destroy all of the nation's plutonium- and uranium-enrichment facilities, dependent on unspecified US measures in return. Yongbyon is North Korea's only known source of plutonium but the country is believed to have at least two other facilities where uranium is enriched. Those unspecified US measures appear now to have been complete sanctions relief, which Mr Trump would not offer. The US president also suggested in his news conference that Mr Kim had offered only the destruction of Yongbyon and not North Korea's entire nuclear apparatus. The president said that when he raised the issue of a second enrichment facility apart from Yongbyon, the North Korean delegation was \"surprised\" by what the US knew. North Korea's foreign minister later said that Pyongyang had been seeking partial sanctions relief, not a complete lifting. The North had offered to permanently stop nuclear and long-range rocket testing, the minister added."}], "question": "What were the sticking points?", "id": "1152_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2592, "answer_end": 3660, "text": "The first summit between the two leaders, which took place in Singapore in June 2018, was criticised for having produced little in terms of substance, leading to anticipation that Mr Trump would push at the summit in Hanoi to produce an agreement on denuclearisation. The failure will be viewed as a setback for self-styled deal-maker Mr Trump, who has talked up his historic rapprochement with Mr Kim as a significant policy achievement. Some saw the president's decision to not agree a deal as a good move. \"From Mr Trump's perspective it will be a loss he can weather,\" Andray Abrahamian, a North Korea expert at Stanford University, wrote in a column for the BBC. \"A 'bad deal' in which he gave away a lot would inspire years of debate and pushback from US foreign-policy elites. With this, he's spun it as saveable through working-level talks.\" The summit came as Mr Trump was facing increased scrutiny at home in the US over his business dealings and alleged ties to Russia, after his former lawyer and fixer Michael Cohen testified before Congress on Wednesday."}], "question": "Is this a setback for Trump?", "id": "1152_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 4433, "answer_end": 5528, "text": "US media extensively covered remarks by Mr Trump about an American student, Otto Warmbier, who died from extensive injuries shortly after he was released from North Korean detention in 2017. The president said he had raised the Warmbier case with Mr Kim and believed the North Korean leader's assurances that he knew nothing of the student's treatment. \"Some really bad things happened to Otto - some really really bad things. But he tells me that he didn't know about it and I will take him at his word,\" Mr Trump said. Warmbier, who was 22, was arrested for taking a propaganda poster from a hotel while on a visit to Pyongyang in January 2016. He was sentenced to 15 years of hard labour. Mr Trump is not thought to have pressed Mr Kim during their talks on North Korea's wider human rights record. According to Human Rights Watch, the United Nations and international powers, the North Korean regime is among the world's worst human rights abusers, with an estimated 80,000 - 120,000 political prisoners and a history of murder, torture, and sexual violence perpetrated against its citizens."}], "question": "What was said about Otto Warmbier?", "id": "1152_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 5529, "answer_end": 6263, "text": "There is uncertainty about what exactly both sides mean by denuclearisation. Washington has previously said North Korea must unilaterally give up its all of its nuclear weapons and destroy all of its nuclear facilities before there can be any sanctions relief, but that condition is known to be a sticking point for the North Koreans. It is thought Mr Kim views denuclearisation as a mutual arrangement in which the US withdraws its military presence on the Korean peninsula. Asked at the news conference on Thursday what he meant by denuclearisation, Mr Trump said: \"To me it's pretty obvious, we have to get rid of the nukes.\" Mr Trump said the US delegation \"had some options and this time we decided not to do any of the options\"."}], "question": "What does denuclearisation mean?", "id": "1152_3"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 6264, "answer_end": 6909, "text": "The pair seemed to get along at the Hanoi summit, as they did at the previous summit in Singapore. They took a poolside stroll for the cameras, although neither appeared to say much. Speaking after the talks in Hanoi, Mr Trump said Mr Kim was \"quite a guy and quite a character\" and described their relationship as \"very strong\". Despite the lack of an agreement, the second summit would appear to build on a significant shift in the tenor of the relationship between the two nations. In late 2017, they were exchanging vitriolic threats, with Mr Trump calling Mr Kim \"little rocket man\" and Mr Kim calling Mr Trump a \"mentally deranged dotard\"."}], "question": "Where does this leave the relationship?", "id": "1152_4"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 6910, "answer_end": 7179, "text": "Before the summit, there was talk of a possible political declaration to end the 1950-53 Korean War, which finished with an armistice rather than a full peace treaty. With the abrupt end of the talks, that peripheral goal seemed to have been kicked into the long grass."}], "question": "An end to war?", "id": "1152_5"}]}]}, {"title": "Paul Manafort: Trump ex-aide lied to prosecutors, judge rules", "date": "14 February 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Donald Trump's former election campaign chief Paul Manafort breached his plea deal with special counsel Robert Mueller by lying to prosecutors, a US judge says. US District Court Judge Amy Berman Jackson ruled that Manafort \"made multiple false statements\" to the FBI, Mr Mueller's office and a grand jury. Mr Mueller leads a probe into Russian meddling in the 2016 US election. Manafort has pleaded guilty to some charges, avoiding a separate trial. He was convicted of financial fraud in August, relating to his work as a political consultant in Ukraine. He then accepted a plea deal on other charges in return for co-operating with Mr Mueller's investigation. In her ruling on Wednesday, Judge Berman Jackson said there was evidence that showed Manafort had lied about three different topics, including his contacts with Konstantin Kilimnik, a Russian political consultant. Prosecutors claim Mr Kilimnik had ties to Russian intelligence. However, the judge cleared Manafort, 69, of allegations that he lied on two other subjects. The verdict means that Manafort - who has been held in a detention centre in Virginia since June - could now potentially face harsher sentences or have charges against him re-filed. Last year, Mr Mueller said that Manafort lied \"on a variety of subject matters\" after signing the plea deal. Last August, Manafort was convicted on eight counts of fraud, bank fraud and failing to disclose bank accounts. A month later he pleaded guilty to one charge of conspiracy against the US and one charge of conspiracy to obstruct justice in a plea bargain with Mr Mueller. The agreement avoided a second trial on money laundering and other charges. The plea deal meant Manafort would face up to 10 years in prison and would forfeit four of his properties and the contents of several bank accounts - but deadlocked charges from the previous trial would be dismissed. It was the first criminal trial arising from the Department of Justice's investigation into alleged Russian interference in the presidential election. However, the charges related only to Manafort's political consulting with pro-Russian politicians in Ukraine, largely pre-dating his role with the Trump campaign. Manafort worked for the Trump presidential campaign for five months in 2016 and was in charge when Mr Trump clinched the Republican party nomination. President Trump has branded the Mueller investigation a \"witch hunt\" and insisted there was no collusion between his team and Russia. Manafort was charged by Mr Mueller last October and during the trial he was accused of using 31 foreign bank accounts in three different countries to evade taxes on millions of dollars. Prosecutors presented evidence of Manafort's luxurious lifestyle, saying it was only possible because of his bank and tax fraud.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1324, "answer_end": 2201, "text": "Last August, Manafort was convicted on eight counts of fraud, bank fraud and failing to disclose bank accounts. A month later he pleaded guilty to one charge of conspiracy against the US and one charge of conspiracy to obstruct justice in a plea bargain with Mr Mueller. The agreement avoided a second trial on money laundering and other charges. The plea deal meant Manafort would face up to 10 years in prison and would forfeit four of his properties and the contents of several bank accounts - but deadlocked charges from the previous trial would be dismissed. It was the first criminal trial arising from the Department of Justice's investigation into alleged Russian interference in the presidential election. However, the charges related only to Manafort's political consulting with pro-Russian politicians in Ukraine, largely pre-dating his role with the Trump campaign."}], "question": "What was the plea deal?", "id": "1153_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2202, "answer_end": 2800, "text": "Manafort worked for the Trump presidential campaign for five months in 2016 and was in charge when Mr Trump clinched the Republican party nomination. President Trump has branded the Mueller investigation a \"witch hunt\" and insisted there was no collusion between his team and Russia. Manafort was charged by Mr Mueller last October and during the trial he was accused of using 31 foreign bank accounts in three different countries to evade taxes on millions of dollars. Prosecutors presented evidence of Manafort's luxurious lifestyle, saying it was only possible because of his bank and tax fraud."}], "question": "How did we get here?", "id": "1153_1"}]}]}, {"title": "Rohingya crisis: Civilians 'maimed by landmines'", "date": "12 September 2017", "paragraphs": [{"context": "The BBC has spoken to Rohingya Muslims maimed after apparently stepping on landmines as they fled Myanmar (Burma). A boy of 15 being treated in Bangladesh lost both legs while a woman at the same hospital said she had trodden on a landmine after being fired on. The area was mined in the 1990s but Bangladeshi sources say Myanmar's army recently planted new mines - an allegation denied by Myanmar officials. More than 300,000 Rohingya have fled a brutal security crackdown in Myanmar. On Monday UN human rights chief Zeid Raad al-Hussein said that a \"cruel military operation\" was taking place, calling it \"a textbook example of ethnic cleansing\". What sparked latest violence in Rakhine? The Rohingya, a stateless mostly Muslim minority in Buddhist-majority Rakhine, have long experienced persecution in Myanmar, which says they are illegal immigrants. Bangladesh's Prime Minister, Sheikh Hasina, is due to visit one of her country's main refugee camps for  Rohingya. She said earlier that Myanmar had to solve a problem of its own making. The White House has called on Myanmar to respect the rule of law and end the displacement of civilians. Aung San Suu Kyi, Myanmar's de facto leader, is facing mounting criticism for failing to protect the Rohingya. On Sunday the human rights group Amnesty International accused the authorities of laying landmines at border crossings used by fleeing Rohingya. Bangladeshi government sources made the same allegation speaking to Reuters news agency last week. The hospital visited by the BBC has seen an influx of people with landmine injuries, doctors say. The 15-year-old boy, Azizu Haque, arrived with his legs destroyed. His brother, in another hospital, suffered the same fate, his mother says. \"Their injuries are so bad it's as if they are dead,\" she told the BBC. \"It's better that Allah [God] takes them, they are suffering so much.\" The injured woman, Sabequr Nahar, says she fled Myanmar because the military had been targeting her community, and she was crossing the border with her three sons when she stepped on a landmine. \"We'd been fired on, shot at, and they planted mines,\" the 50-year-old said. Azizu Haque's body has been devastated by a blast, his legs gone, and parts of his torso also injured. His doctor is visibly emotional when he talks of trying to save him - he doesn't expect to be successful. Azizu has a rare blood type, and the hospital has no blood bank, and has run out of donors. Next door in the women's ward, Sabequr Nahar is a tiny, exhausted figure. She says she crossed the Myanmar border behind her three sons - they got through unscathed. It is unclear who laid the traps that caused these injuries - and when - but the condition of these people nevertheless raises questions about the Myanmar government's version of events. The violence began on 25 August when Rohingya militants attacked police posts in the northern state of Rakhine, killing 12 security personnel. The attacks triggered a vast security operation that has drawn international criticism. Rohingya who have fled Myanmar say villages have been burned and civilians attacked in a brutal campaign to drive them out. The UN Security Council said it was looking to meet on Wednesday to discuss the violence after Sweden and the UK requested a closed-door meeting on the \"deteriorating situation\" in Rakhine state. Bangladesh is already host to hundreds of thousands of Rohingya who have fled previous outbreaks of violence in Rakhine. Existing refugee camps are full and the new arrivals are sleeping rough in whatever space they can find, reports say. The Rohingya are extremely unpopular inside Myanmar. On Sunday, police fired rubber bullets to break up a mob attacking the home of a Muslim butcher in Magway region in central Myanmar. One protester was quoted by AFP news agency saying it was a response to events in Rakhine. Five Nobel peace Laureates have accused her of showing \"indifference\" to the Rohingya's plight. In an open letter issued by the Nobel Women's Initiative, they say Ms Suu Kyi has a \"personal and moral responsibility to uphold and defend the rights\" of Myanmar's citizens. The letter is signed by Mairead Maguire, Jody Williams, Shirin Ebadi, Leymah Gbowee and Tawakkol Karman, who were awarded the Nobel peace prize between 1976 and 2011. \"How many Rohingya have to die; how many Rohingya women will be raped; how many communities will be razed before you raise your voice in defense of those who have no voice?,\" they ask in the letter.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 2810, "answer_end": 3876, "text": "The violence began on 25 August when Rohingya militants attacked police posts in the northern state of Rakhine, killing 12 security personnel. The attacks triggered a vast security operation that has drawn international criticism. Rohingya who have fled Myanmar say villages have been burned and civilians attacked in a brutal campaign to drive them out. The UN Security Council said it was looking to meet on Wednesday to discuss the violence after Sweden and the UK requested a closed-door meeting on the \"deteriorating situation\" in Rakhine state. Bangladesh is already host to hundreds of thousands of Rohingya who have fled previous outbreaks of violence in Rakhine. Existing refugee camps are full and the new arrivals are sleeping rough in whatever space they can find, reports say. The Rohingya are extremely unpopular inside Myanmar. On Sunday, police fired rubber bullets to break up a mob attacking the home of a Muslim butcher in Magway region in central Myanmar. One protester was quoted by AFP news agency saying it was a response to events in Rakhine."}], "question": "How the did the violence start?", "id": "1154_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3877, "answer_end": 4513, "text": "Five Nobel peace Laureates have accused her of showing \"indifference\" to the Rohingya's plight. In an open letter issued by the Nobel Women's Initiative, they say Ms Suu Kyi has a \"personal and moral responsibility to uphold and defend the rights\" of Myanmar's citizens. The letter is signed by Mairead Maguire, Jody Williams, Shirin Ebadi, Leymah Gbowee and Tawakkol Karman, who were awarded the Nobel peace prize between 1976 and 2011. \"How many Rohingya have to die; how many Rohingya women will be raped; how many communities will be razed before you raise your voice in defense of those who have no voice?,\" they ask in the letter."}], "question": "How much pressure is there on Suu Kyi to speak out?", "id": "1154_1"}]}]}, {"title": "Fort Worth shooting: Relatives call for federal investigation", "date": "14 October 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Relatives of a black woman who was killed by police through her bedroom window are calling for federal officials to investigate the shooting. A lawyer for the family on Monday said the white officer should be \"vigorously prosecuted\" as the local police department was \"clearly incompetent\". Atatiana Jefferson was killed after police responded to a non-emergency call from a neighbour on Saturday. Body cam footage shows the officer shooting within seconds of seeing her. Allegations of police brutality in black communities have been a longstanding issue in the US. In its initial statement, the Fort Worth Police Department said the officer had \"perceived a threat\" when he drew his weapon. On Monday Fort Worth police chief Ed Kraus told reporters that the officer had resigned. Had he not done so, Mr Kraus, said \"I would have fired him for violations of several policies including our use of force policy, our de-escalation policy and unprofessional conduct\". The officer, identified by Mr Kraus as Aaron Dean, faces criminal charges from the police department's major case unit, officials said. Earlier Ms Jefferson's sister, Ashley Carr, said she had been \"killed by a reckless act\" and called for a federal investigation. Lee Merritt, a civil rights lawyer who is representing the family, said: \"The investigation should be handled by someone other than the Fort Worth Police Department.\" He added that the department \"is on track to be one of the deadliest police departments in the United States\". Fort Worth residents held a protest outside Ms Jefferson's home Sunday evening. First planned as a vigil, the gathering became a demonstration as residents demanded justice for the 28-year-old victim. Participants held candles and chanting: \"No justice, no peace.\" Like Jefferson's family, many called for the officer to be fired and criminally prosecuted. \"State sanctioned violence has always been a culture for black people,\" said protester Michelle Andersen, at Sunday's gathering. \"It's not about a training issue.\" Fort Worth Mayor Betsy Price was present at the vigil, but left after she was approached by protesters shouting \"lock him up\", in reference to the officer, CBS News reported. The shooting happened at about 02:30 local time (07:30 GMT). The body cam footage of the incident shows police searching the perimeter of Ms Jefferson's property, before noticing a figure at the window. After demanding that the person put their hands up, an officer then fired through the glass. Ms Jefferson had been playing video games with her eight-year-old nephew before she went to investigate the noise outside the window and was shot, said a lawyer representing her family. The officers involved did not park their marked cars in front of her house and did not identify themselves as police, officials said. The man who called police, James Smith, 62, told local media he was trying to be a good neighbour. \"If I had never dialled the police department, she'd still be alive.\" Mr Smith told local media. \"It makes you not want to call the police department.\" The officer is expected to be interviewed by the police department's major case unit on Monday. Ms Jefferson's death comes two weeks after Dallas police officer Amber Guyger, 31, was found guilty of murdering 26-year-old Botham Jean. Last year Guyger shot and killed Jean as he sat eating ice cream on his apartment sofa, less than 35 miles (55km) from Saturday's incident. Guyger testified she mistakenly thought she was in her own flat and believed Jean to be an intruder. At trial, Guyger admitted to shooting \"an innocent man\". \"This is a victory for black people in America,\" said Mr Merritt - the lawyer who is also representing Jefferson's family. \"Police officers are going to be held accountable for their actions.\"", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 2204, "answer_end": 3166, "text": "The shooting happened at about 02:30 local time (07:30 GMT). The body cam footage of the incident shows police searching the perimeter of Ms Jefferson's property, before noticing a figure at the window. After demanding that the person put their hands up, an officer then fired through the glass. Ms Jefferson had been playing video games with her eight-year-old nephew before she went to investigate the noise outside the window and was shot, said a lawyer representing her family. The officers involved did not park their marked cars in front of her house and did not identify themselves as police, officials said. The man who called police, James Smith, 62, told local media he was trying to be a good neighbour. \"If I had never dialled the police department, she'd still be alive.\" Mr Smith told local media. \"It makes you not want to call the police department.\" The officer is expected to be interviewed by the police department's major case unit on Monday."}], "question": "What happened on Saturday?", "id": "1155_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Five things to know this week: Island life, an election and a fight", "date": "26 November 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "It's Monday, it's a new week, and while we won't pretend to know everything that's going to happen over the next seven days, we have some sense of what's coming up. Here's your briefing on some of the most important and interesting stories happening in the week ahead. What's happening? The G20 summit of the world's most powerful leaders begins in Buenos Aires on Friday. Why does it matter? There's always some sort of intrigue or tension behind the scenes of the G20 (last year's - Donald Trump's first - was especially awkward). This year, it will be raised to a new level. This year, it looks almost certain that Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman will attend. But he will do so amid accusations he ordered the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. This is the likely conclusion that US officials have reached, but the US president seems less keen to definitively say this is what happened. Mr Trump will attend, as will Germany's Angela Merkel (who has attacked the Saudi explanation for the murder), France's Emmanuel Macron (whose country imposed travel bans on people suspected of being responsible for the killing) and Turkey's Recep Tayyip Erdogan (in whose country the murder took place, and from where information incriminating Saudi Arabia has leaked). Plenty of world leaders will not want to be caught in photo opportunities cosying up to the crown prince. And plenty could happen on the sidelines, the consequences of which will slowly become clear. What's happening? All the electricity on one British island could be turned off at the end of the week. Why does it matter? About 500 people live on the island of Sark in the English Channel, and one official there says they will all have to adopt \"a bit of a wartime mentality\" from this week. On Friday, the island's electricity provider will withdraw its services. This is because it was ordered to reduce its prices earlier this year, a situation it says has caused it to lose a significant amount of money. There was some concern all the residents may be forced to evacuate, but that looks unlikely to happen now. But they are having to find whatever alternative they can to keep the lights on - including an emergency generator and a plan to share whatever renewable energy is created on the island. What's happening? Three weeks on, the US mid-term elections are still not over. When people in Mississippi voted to pick one of the state's two senators on 6 November, no one candidate gained an overall majority. So now there will be another vote. Why does it matter? After the mid-terms, with Mississippi undecided, Republicans have 52 Senate seats, and Democrats 47 (including two independents who vote with them). Whatever happens on Tuesday, Republicans will still have more seats, but if Democrats are able to flip this seat in Mississippi, it could make it just a bit more complicated for Donald Trump's agenda to pass through the Senate. Republican contender Cindy Hyde-Smith hasn't made things particularly easy for herself in the past few weeks, especially if she had any hope of capturing African-American votes. First, she was filmed making a joke about public hangings, in a state where African-Americans were lynched in the past (Hyde-Smith later apologised for any offence caused). Then, she appeared to crack another joke, about trying to suppress the registration of some of her opponent's voters. The opponent in question, Mike Espy, would be the first African-American senator in Mississippi. And while it's still unlikely Espy will win, President Trump is coming to town to support his candidate. Just in case. What's happening? The 24th UN Climate Change Conference starts in Katowice, Poland, on Sunday. Why does it matter? Back in 2015, in a historic deal, world leaders agreed a framework for combating climate change. Three years on, they're still struggling to agree how to put that plan into practice, and the Katowice talks hope to move the discussion further along. For those developing countries keen for financial help to battle a worsening climate, time is of the essence. The task has been made even more difficult by President Trump saying he intends to withdraw the US from the pact. But now, it's also been reported that the Trump administration will host a side-event promoting the use of fossil fuels, as they did during last year's talks in Bonn, Germany. It didn't go down very well then, either. What's happening? American boxer Deontay Wilder will put his world heavyweight championship on the line against Tyson Fury on Saturday. Why does it matter? If you're into boxing, this is the real deal: one of the most hotly-anticipated heavyweight bouts in years. Both men are undefeated, and the winner will be at the front of the queue to face Anthony Joshua, who holds the rest of the world heavyweight titles. If Fury wins in Los Angeles, it would mark the culmination of a remarkable journey. After becoming world champion in 2015, the Brit spent two and a half years out of the ring, was treated for depression, and (in his own words) \"ballooned up to 28 stone (392 lbs)\". Now, he has reportedly lost 10 stone, and says he's in the best shape of his life. On Saturday, the boxing world will find out if that is enough.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1481, "answer_end": 2286, "text": "What's happening? All the electricity on one British island could be turned off at the end of the week. Why does it matter? About 500 people live on the island of Sark in the English Channel, and one official there says they will all have to adopt \"a bit of a wartime mentality\" from this week. On Friday, the island's electricity provider will withdraw its services. This is because it was ordered to reduce its prices earlier this year, a situation it says has caused it to lose a significant amount of money. There was some concern all the residents may be forced to evacuate, but that looks unlikely to happen now. But they are having to find whatever alternative they can to keep the lights on - including an emergency generator and a plan to share whatever renewable energy is created on the island."}], "question": "2) Lights out on one island?", "id": "1156_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi: IS leader 'dead after US raid' in Syria", "date": "28 October 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "The fugitive leader of the Islamic State (IS) group killed himself during a US military operation in north-west Syria, President Donald Trump has said. Speaking from the White House, Mr Trump said Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi detonated his suicide vest after fleeing into a tunnel, chased by US military dogs. Baghdadi came to prominence in 2014, when he announced the creation of a \"caliphate\" in areas of Iraq and Syria. IS carried out multiple atrocities that resulted in thousands of deaths. The jihadist group imposed a brutal rule in the areas under its control and was behind many attacks around the world. Although the US declared the \"caliphate\" defeated earlier this year, IS militants remain active in the region and elsewhere. Baghdadi's death is a major victory for Mr Trump as he faces heavy criticism for his decision to pull US troops out of northern Syria and fights an impeachment inquiry launched by Democrats. In an unusual Sunday morning statement, Mr Trump described the night-time operation in extraordinary detail, saying Baghdadi ran into a dead-end tunnel, \"whimpering and crying and screaming\", while being chased by military dogs. Baghdadi killed himself and three of his children by igniting his suicide vest, Mr Trump said, causing the tunnel to collapse. No US personnel were killed but one of the dogs was seriously injured in the explosion. The blast mutilated Baghdadi's body but, according to the president, an on-site DNA test confirmed his identity. The special forces spent two hours in the area and gathered \"highly sensitive material\". \"The thug who tried so hard to intimidate others spent his last moments in utter fear, in total panic and dread, terrified of the American forces bearing down on him,\" Mr Trump said. Also on Sunday, the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) said IS spokesman Abu al-Hassan al-Muhajir, described as Baghdadi's right-hand man, had been killed in a separate joint operation with the US military near the northern Syrian town of Jarablus. The location - the village of Barisha in Idlib province near the Turkish border - was far from where Baghdadi had been thought to be hiding along the Syria-Iraq border. Many parts of Idlib are under the control of jihadists opposed to IS but rival groups are suspected of sheltering IS members. Baghdadi had been under surveillance for \"a couple of weeks\" and \"two or three\" raids had been cancelled because of his movements, Mr Trump said, describing the IS leader's move to Idlib as part of a plan to rebuild the group. An undisclosed number of forces targeted the compound using eight helicopters, which were met with gunfire, Mr Trump said. The commandos managed to land safely and entered the building by blowing holes in the wall, avoiding the main door which was believed to be booby-trapped. \"He was a sick and depraved man,\" Mr Trump said. \"He died like a dog, he died like a coward.\" US National Security Adviser Robert O'Brien said Baghdadi's remains should be given the same treatment applied to those of former al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden, whose body was buried at sea after he was killed in a raid in 2011. A \"large number\" of Baghdadi's followers also died while others were captured, the president said. The dead included two of Baghdadi's wives who were both found wearing explosive vests that were not detonated. Eleven children were removed, uninjured, from the compound. The SDF - one of the main US allies in northern Syria until Mr Trump withdrew US troops from the area this month - said they had shared details about the location of high-level IS members, including Baghdadi. Iraqi officials also said they had provided \"accurate information\". Mr Trump praised them all, as well as Russia - which opened up the airspace it controls for the operation - Turkey and Syria for giving \"certain support\" to the operation. He said Russia had not been told about the nature of the US mission. After the president's address, the White House released pictures said to be of Mr Trump watching the operation from the Situation Room surrounded by Vice-President Mike Pence and top security officials. While IS lost its territory in Syria and Iraq after a years-long deadly campaign, experts say the group remains a threat, with affiliates active in various countries. The strategic significance of Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi's death is clear. Removing a skilled and brutal leader from the battlefield will undoubtedly make allied efforts to eradicate IS forces easier. The lasting political benefits for Donald Trump remain to be seen. Baghdadi was far from a household name in the US, although IS has been a well-known adversary ever since its brutal executions and advance grabbed headlines in 2014. His death will give Mr Trump a signature moment to cite when making the case that his leadership has led to the methodical defeat of IS forces. It also will help deflect from weeks of sharp bipartisan criticism following the president's decision to remove US forces from northern Syria and tacitly permit a Turkish invasion to drive out US-allied Kurds. While it is true most Americans only pay attention to foreign policy during times of war, most of Mr Trump's current political headaches have come from actions directed abroad - whether it's the Syrian move or the rapidly unfolding impeachment inquiry into his Ukraine conduct. Now the president has a clear foreign policy success to tout. It will not solve all his political problems, but it is a start. Leaders around the world reacted to the news of Baghdadi's death, with many stressing that the fight against the group continues. UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson said Baghdadi's death was \"an important moment in our fight against terror but the battle against the evil of [IS] is not over yet\". French President Emmanuel Macron described the development as a \"hard blow\" against IS, but said \"the fight continues to finally defeat this terrorist organisation\". In a statement, the Iraqi government highlighted its role in finding Baghdadi's hideout, and said it would continue to \"relentlessly pursue\" the militant group. Baghdadi, whose real name was Ibrahim Awwad Ibrahim al-Badri, had a reputation as a highly organised and ruthless battlefield tactician. He was described as the world's most wanted man. He was born near Samarra, north of Baghdad, in 1971, and reports suggest he was a cleric in a mosque in the city around the time of the US-led invasion in 2003. Some believe he was already a jihadist during the rule of former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein. Others suggest he was radicalised during the time he was held at Camp Bucca, a US facility in southern Iraq where many al-Qaeda commanders were detained. Baghdadi emerged in 2010 as the leader of an umbrella group that included al-Qaeda in Iraq, and rose to prominence when IS militants captured the Iraqi city of Mosul in 2014, when he declared the creation of a \"caliphate\". That was the only time Baghdadi was seen in public. At its peak, IS had eight million people in territories under its control. Baghdadi only reappeared in a video released by IS earlier this year. In October 2011, the US officially designated him a \"terrorist\" and offered a reward of $10m (PS5.8m at the time) for information leading to his capture or death. This was increased to $25m in 2017.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 2008, "answer_end": 4290, "text": "The location - the village of Barisha in Idlib province near the Turkish border - was far from where Baghdadi had been thought to be hiding along the Syria-Iraq border. Many parts of Idlib are under the control of jihadists opposed to IS but rival groups are suspected of sheltering IS members. Baghdadi had been under surveillance for \"a couple of weeks\" and \"two or three\" raids had been cancelled because of his movements, Mr Trump said, describing the IS leader's move to Idlib as part of a plan to rebuild the group. An undisclosed number of forces targeted the compound using eight helicopters, which were met with gunfire, Mr Trump said. The commandos managed to land safely and entered the building by blowing holes in the wall, avoiding the main door which was believed to be booby-trapped. \"He was a sick and depraved man,\" Mr Trump said. \"He died like a dog, he died like a coward.\" US National Security Adviser Robert O'Brien said Baghdadi's remains should be given the same treatment applied to those of former al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden, whose body was buried at sea after he was killed in a raid in 2011. A \"large number\" of Baghdadi's followers also died while others were captured, the president said. The dead included two of Baghdadi's wives who were both found wearing explosive vests that were not detonated. Eleven children were removed, uninjured, from the compound. The SDF - one of the main US allies in northern Syria until Mr Trump withdrew US troops from the area this month - said they had shared details about the location of high-level IS members, including Baghdadi. Iraqi officials also said they had provided \"accurate information\". Mr Trump praised them all, as well as Russia - which opened up the airspace it controls for the operation - Turkey and Syria for giving \"certain support\" to the operation. He said Russia had not been told about the nature of the US mission. After the president's address, the White House released pictures said to be of Mr Trump watching the operation from the Situation Room surrounded by Vice-President Mike Pence and top security officials. While IS lost its territory in Syria and Iraq after a years-long deadly campaign, experts say the group remains a threat, with affiliates active in various countries."}], "question": "What is known about the Baghdadi operation?", "id": "1157_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 6100, "answer_end": 7313, "text": "Baghdadi, whose real name was Ibrahim Awwad Ibrahim al-Badri, had a reputation as a highly organised and ruthless battlefield tactician. He was described as the world's most wanted man. He was born near Samarra, north of Baghdad, in 1971, and reports suggest he was a cleric in a mosque in the city around the time of the US-led invasion in 2003. Some believe he was already a jihadist during the rule of former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein. Others suggest he was radicalised during the time he was held at Camp Bucca, a US facility in southern Iraq where many al-Qaeda commanders were detained. Baghdadi emerged in 2010 as the leader of an umbrella group that included al-Qaeda in Iraq, and rose to prominence when IS militants captured the Iraqi city of Mosul in 2014, when he declared the creation of a \"caliphate\". That was the only time Baghdadi was seen in public. At its peak, IS had eight million people in territories under its control. Baghdadi only reappeared in a video released by IS earlier this year. In October 2011, the US officially designated him a \"terrorist\" and offered a reward of $10m (PS5.8m at the time) for information leading to his capture or death. This was increased to $25m in 2017."}], "question": "Who was Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi?", "id": "1157_1"}]}]}, {"title": "Trump: Climate change scientists have 'political agenda'", "date": "15 October 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "US President Donald Trump has accused climate change scientists of having a \"political agenda\" as he cast doubt on whether humans were responsible for the earth's rising temperatures. But Mr Trump also said he no longer believed climate change was a hoax. The comments, made during an interview with CBS's 60 Minutes, come less than a week after climate scientists issued a final call to halt rising temperatures. The world's leading scientists agree that climate change is primarily human-induced. Last week's report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) - the leading international body evaluating climate change - warned the world was heading towards a temperature rise of 3C. Scientists say that natural fluctuations in temperature are being exacerbated by human activity - which has caused approximately 1C of global warming above pre-industrial levels. The report said keeping to the preferred target of 1.5C above pre-industrial levels will mean \"rapid, far-reaching and unprecedented changes in all aspects of society\". Climate change was just one issue touched on during the wide-ranging interview, during which Mr Trump also: - Said that \"the day before\" he took office the US had been on the verge of \"going to war with North Korea\" - Said Russian President Vladimir Putin was \"probably\" involved in assassinations but added, \"I rely on them, it's not in our country\" - Said Russia had meddled in the 2016 elections but added, \"I think China meddled also\" - Refused to say whether he would reinstate the migrant child separation policy but added \"there have to be consequences\" for entering the US illegally - Said he believed he had treated Christine Blasey Ford with \"respect\" after mocking her testimony in front of thousands at a rally, and that \"had I not made that speech, we would not have won\" During Sunday's interview, Mr Trump cast doubt on making any changes, saying the scientists \"have a very big political agenda\". \"I don't think it's a hoax, I think there's probably a difference,\" he told journalist Lesley Stahl. \"But I don't know that it's manmade. I will say this. I don't want to give trillions and trillions of dollars. I don't want to lose millions and millions of jobs. I don't want to be put at a disadvantage.\" Mr Trump added that temperatures \"could very well go back\" - although he did not say how. He said climate change was a hoax during his election campaign in 2016 but has generally avoided taking a clear stance on the issue since taking office. However, he announced the US would withdraw from the Paris climate change agreement, which commits another 187 other countries to keeping rising global temperatures \"well below\" 2C above pre-industrial levels and \"endeavour to limit\" them even more, to 1.5C. At the time, Mr Trump said he wanted to negotiate a new \"fair\" deal that would not disadvantage US businesses and workers. It sparked speculation that the former reality television star still believed climate change had been invented. However, Nikki Haley, the US ambassador to the UN, later said Mr Trump \"believes the climate is changing and he believes pollutants are part of the equation\". The report released last week by the IPCC says climate change can only be stopped if the world makes major, and costly, changes. That means reducing global emissions of CO2 by 45% from 2010 levels by 2030, and reducing coal use to almost zero and using up to seven million sq km (2.7m square miles) for land energy crops. If the world fails to act, the researchers warn, there will be some significant and dangerous changes to our world, including rising sea levels, significant impacts on ocean temperatures and acidity, and the ability to grow crops such as rice, maize and wheat. By Roger Harrabin BBC Environment Analyst President Trump's views on climate change have swung widely - like his comments on many issues. Vanishingly few informed scientists now disagree that humans have been driving recent climate change, and that further heating will create serious risks for the climate. They don't expect the climate will materially cool again in a natural cycle. The president says he doesn't want to spend trillions of dollars and lose millions of jobs by cutting emissions. Of course he doesn't - but all governments feel the same way. Instead, they are trying to reframe the huge investment needed in renewable energy as a money-making enterprise. The UK's Industrial Strategy, for instance, sets out to create jobs in clean industries to replace those lost in dirty factories. And in the US itself, the solar industry is creating far more jobs than the coal sector. Does the president know that?", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1831, "answer_end": 2355, "text": "During Sunday's interview, Mr Trump cast doubt on making any changes, saying the scientists \"have a very big political agenda\". \"I don't think it's a hoax, I think there's probably a difference,\" he told journalist Lesley Stahl. \"But I don't know that it's manmade. I will say this. I don't want to give trillions and trillions of dollars. I don't want to lose millions and millions of jobs. I don't want to be put at a disadvantage.\" Mr Trump added that temperatures \"could very well go back\" - although he did not say how."}], "question": "What did Trump say about climate change?", "id": "1158_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2356, "answer_end": 3161, "text": "He said climate change was a hoax during his election campaign in 2016 but has generally avoided taking a clear stance on the issue since taking office. However, he announced the US would withdraw from the Paris climate change agreement, which commits another 187 other countries to keeping rising global temperatures \"well below\" 2C above pre-industrial levels and \"endeavour to limit\" them even more, to 1.5C. At the time, Mr Trump said he wanted to negotiate a new \"fair\" deal that would not disadvantage US businesses and workers. It sparked speculation that the former reality television star still believed climate change had been invented. However, Nikki Haley, the US ambassador to the UN, later said Mr Trump \"believes the climate is changing and he believes pollutants are part of the equation\"."}], "question": "What did Trump say before?", "id": "1158_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3162, "answer_end": 3744, "text": "The report released last week by the IPCC says climate change can only be stopped if the world makes major, and costly, changes. That means reducing global emissions of CO2 by 45% from 2010 levels by 2030, and reducing coal use to almost zero and using up to seven million sq km (2.7m square miles) for land energy crops. If the world fails to act, the researchers warn, there will be some significant and dangerous changes to our world, including rising sea levels, significant impacts on ocean temperatures and acidity, and the ability to grow crops such as rice, maize and wheat."}], "question": "How great is the climate threat?", "id": "1158_2"}]}]}, {"title": "Brexit: Will MPs find agreement in their plans?", "date": "28 January 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "\"It might not be 326 that matters\". According to one cabinet minister, that's the strange situation that Brexit has led us to. The government's ambition is so low - or its hurdles so high - that what No 10 seeks to do on Tuesday is not to win (326 is a majority in the House of Commons), but to reduce the scale of resistance to their central policy that, in the words of another cabinet minister, only the \"hardliners oppose\", so that Theresa May can get the rebels down to a \"few dozen\", so then they can crack on. But crack on with what, I hear you ask? The EU has been clear again and again that it won't budge on the backstop unless the UK \"evolves its position\", to use the posh phrase. In other words it won't budge until there is a clearer picture from the UK, even though, in the end, budge it well might (NB, shifting a bit is not the same as junking it, before you get too excited, remember). But reducing the scale of discomfort is important for the government on Tuesday. That's why, although Sir Graham Brady's amendment is unlikely to get through - it doesn't have the support of the ardent Brexiteer core in the ERG, and maybe or maybe not the DUP, which won't decide until the morning - ministers are forcing their MPs to do something very weird. They are trying to make them vote FOR a plan that says the prime minister's deal needs to be changed, in the hope that message is conveyed strongly across the Channel into continental ears. And if the level of opposition shrinks to be a molehill rather than a mountain, maybe then, in time, Brussels can conclude there is something worth working with. That is still a huge \"if\". And there is also still the possibility on Tuesday that MPs, either through Yvette Cooper's plan or the less dramatic (in terms of process) idea from Caroline Spelman and Jack Dromey, might vote to try to force No 10 to rule out leaving without a deal at the end of March. Only Ms Cooper's plan would actually be binding, and it's not clear how the government would respond in either case. But again, that kind of result would send its own message to the rest of the EU - one the prime minister is keen to avoid for fear it would weaken her bargaining hand. For No 10, the obvious way of ruling out no deal is to back Mrs May's agreement. But takers for that plan are still, for her, in too short supply. Parliament may push her in that direction on Tuesday against her will. But at the risk of depressing you about Tuesday providing a clear conclusion, it is also quite feasible that none of the plans will pass. After months of saying, \"ask us, ask us!\", MPs have a real opportunity to vote for Brexit plans they have brewed up. But if none of them is able to get a majority, Parliament may yet just prove itself, again, a place where trust is low, tension is high, but agreement is hard to find. Late on Monday evening, maybe, just maybe, there was a sign that all of this Parliamentary turmoil might be about to be usurped by something that has felt until now absolutely out of reach. Rival factions of the Tory party who until now have been so often trying to knock lumps out of each other, have, we can report, been meeting and talking, trying to thrash out a compromise. Brexiteers Steve Baker and Jacob Rees-Mogg have met the prime minister alongside former Remainers like Nicky Morgan and Damian Green, accompanied by government ministers like Robert Buckland, the solicitor general. They have, together, come up with what looks like, at a very early stage, what might be two potential compromises that the Tory party as a group might be able to get around. Whether they'd get backing from other parties, or the EU, is another question. But it is a potential way forward, that has lit up Tory messaging groups with emojis of champagne bottles, and claims that it might be the way out of their mess. You can see the plan for yourself here, or below. Number 10 is not ready to back it yet, although the group of unlikely compadres has discussed it with her. Nor will it be what MPs vote on, on Tuesday. But it might, just might, be the start of something - a whisper of a compromise, perhaps, after months and months where division has ruled the day.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 2842, "answer_end": 4200, "text": "Late on Monday evening, maybe, just maybe, there was a sign that all of this Parliamentary turmoil might be about to be usurped by something that has felt until now absolutely out of reach. Rival factions of the Tory party who until now have been so often trying to knock lumps out of each other, have, we can report, been meeting and talking, trying to thrash out a compromise. Brexiteers Steve Baker and Jacob Rees-Mogg have met the prime minister alongside former Remainers like Nicky Morgan and Damian Green, accompanied by government ministers like Robert Buckland, the solicitor general. They have, together, come up with what looks like, at a very early stage, what might be two potential compromises that the Tory party as a group might be able to get around. Whether they'd get backing from other parties, or the EU, is another question. But it is a potential way forward, that has lit up Tory messaging groups with emojis of champagne bottles, and claims that it might be the way out of their mess. You can see the plan for yourself here, or below. Number 10 is not ready to back it yet, although the group of unlikely compadres has discussed it with her. Nor will it be what MPs vote on, on Tuesday. But it might, just might, be the start of something - a whisper of a compromise, perhaps, after months and months where division has ruled the day."}], "question": "Whisper of a compromise?", "id": "1159_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Should the US and Russia destroy their smallpox stocks?", "date": "16 May 2011", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Defeating smallpox has been labelled as one of science's greatest success stories. The disease once killed 30% of those infected, but after a global vaccination campaign it was declared eradicated in 1980. However the variola virus, which causes the infection, is not gone. It exists in two laboratories, one in the US and the other in Russia. The question is about to be asked, once again: should they kill their stocks? The World Health Organization (WHO) will come to a decision at the 64th World Health Assembly this week. It is not the first time the issue has arisen, it was first discussed at the Assembly in 1986 and has been the source of debate ever since. Destroying the remaining stocks is seen in parts as the final chapter in eradicating the disease, otherwise there is always the risk of accidental release. Others including the US and Russia argue for more research in case smallpox returns, possibly as a biological weapon. They fear vials of the virus could exist outside of their labs. The genomes of around 50 strains of the variola virus have also been fully sequenced, and research has already shown that a virus can be built from scratch with such a blueprint. Professor Geoffrey Smith, from Imperial College London, has been following the latest research on smallpox. He says studies have been focused on three areas - tests to diagnose the infection quickly and accurately, antiviral drugs to treat it and safer vaccines to prevent it. He led a review of the state of scientific research on behalf of the WHO, which was published at the end of 2010, and concluded there had been \"remarkable advances\" in tests for smallpox. But the same could not be said with certainty for smallpox drugs and vaccines. While new candidates have been developed, they cannot be clinically proven as there are no human smallpox patients to test them on. Without trials to prove a medicine works, the endpoint for research becomes harder to define. Professor Smith said: \"It is fair to say the committee had mixed views on whether the research was there or nearly there but not quite.\" The US secretary of health Kathleen Sebelius says it would be premature to destroy remaining stores of the virus now. She restated in a column for the New York Times her country's commitment to eventually destroy stocks, but not yet. She wrote: \"We have more work to do before these safe and highly effective vaccines and antiviral treatments are fully developed and approved for use. \"Destroying the virus now is merely a symbolic act that would slow our progress and could even stop it completely, leaving the world vulnerable.\" But the man who led the WHO's smallpox eradication programme from 1966 until the last case in 1977 disagrees. Dr DA Henderson told the BBC: \"I think it's a very good idea to destroy. At this point the reasons for keeping it are very obscure. Group after group has looked at this and basically said there is no need to retain it. \"We have done all of the productive research that we can do. It has been discussed fully and thoroughly by people around the world. Now is the time to destroy the virus as a further deterrent to anybody ever again producing it or using it.\" Professor John Oxford, a virologist at Queen Mary University of London, believes the bioterrorism threat is \"a load of old tosh\" but still argues in favour of keeping the virus. He said the decision was \"tricky\" but added: \"I don't think there's a strong argument to destroy stocks, just an instinctive feeling to do it, which is misplaced. \"It's eradicating a whole species and you never know what the future might hold.\" The argument holds no weight with Professor Gareth Williams, whose book - Angel of Death - charts the history of smallpox. \"There is no point in keeping it really. It has been sequenced completely so it can be recreated in a test tube and if it comes back you've got as much virus as you could want. \"It's just a vague sense of political unease keeping stocks, it has nothing to do with the scientific argument.\" No one knows what will happen when health ministers from the WHO's 193 member nations discuss the issue. Professor David Heymann, a former assistant director general for health security and environment at the World Health Organization, said there had historically been a split between the industrialised and developing countries. He said developing countries have felt it is more important to deal with \"known risks\" than unknown risks like smallpox, while industrialised nations have different priorities. Resolutions from the World Health Assembly are not legally binding, so the US and Russia cannot be forced to destroy stocks even if the majority of nations wanted it to happen. The Assembly could reach a consensus agreement, such as postponing the decision, rather than forcing a vote because, as Professor Heymann puts it, \"nobody wants to see the World Health Organization lose power\" if its rulings are ignored.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 667, "answer_end": 2090, "text": "Destroying the remaining stocks is seen in parts as the final chapter in eradicating the disease, otherwise there is always the risk of accidental release. Others including the US and Russia argue for more research in case smallpox returns, possibly as a biological weapon. They fear vials of the virus could exist outside of their labs. The genomes of around 50 strains of the variola virus have also been fully sequenced, and research has already shown that a virus can be built from scratch with such a blueprint. Professor Geoffrey Smith, from Imperial College London, has been following the latest research on smallpox. He says studies have been focused on three areas - tests to diagnose the infection quickly and accurately, antiviral drugs to treat it and safer vaccines to prevent it. He led a review of the state of scientific research on behalf of the WHO, which was published at the end of 2010, and concluded there had been \"remarkable advances\" in tests for smallpox. But the same could not be said with certainty for smallpox drugs and vaccines. While new candidates have been developed, they cannot be clinically proven as there are no human smallpox patients to test them on. Without trials to prove a medicine works, the endpoint for research becomes harder to define. Professor Smith said: \"It is fair to say the committee had mixed views on whether the research was there or nearly there but not quite.\""}], "question": "Are stocks still needed?", "id": "1160_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Aboriginal treaties: Australian states at 'beginning of journey'", "date": "8 June 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Australian states have taken steps towards the nation's first treaties with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Australia is the only Commonwealth country that does not have a treaty with its indigenous populations. Many indigenous Australians have cited a treaty or treaties as the best chance of bringing them substantive as well as symbolic recognition - the subject of a long-running national debate. In an Australian first, a bill committing to a treaty was approved in Victoria's lower house of parliament on Thursday. The Northern Territory and Western Australia have pledged their own, separate actions in recent days. All of this has intensified discussion about whether others, including the Australian government, will follow suit. It is a formal agreement that can define the relationship between a government and indigenous peoples. A treaty might include binding pacts on specific issues, such as protecting rights and acknowledging past wrongs. It could also set out practical agreements in areas such as health and education. \"We do not seek to limit what a treaty can be, nor who will negotiate specific agreements,\" said one advisory group, Aboriginal Victoria. In 1988, then Prime Minister Bob Hawke promised a treaty after he was presented with a landmark document, the Barunga Statement, from indigenous leaders. Despite public momentum, the discussions were sidelined amid concern over their implications - such as financial compensation. Over the years, government focus shifted to other forms of reconciliation, including progress on land rights, debates over constitutional recognition, and programmes intended to reduce indigenous disadvantage. Last year, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull rejected calls to set up a parliamentary body that would have overseen a treaty progress. He argued that most Australians would not support it. If passed in the upper house, it will legislate a process for establishing a state Aboriginal representative body and a treaty, or treaties. The bill will also require the Victorian government to provide annual updates on progress. \"It is about the recognition of us as the first people of this country,\" said Victorian Treaty Advancement Commissioner Jill Gallagher. Aboriginal history Prof Richard Broome, from La Trobe University, told the BBC: \"It is very significant because it is the first move from any government in the country.\" Prof Broome described the Victorian step as \"the beginning of the journey\", pointing to efforts by other governments. On Friday, the Northern Territory government signed a memorandum of understanding with indigenous groups to formally start work on a treaty. Meanwhile, Western Australia has also announced plans to establish its own official Aboriginal representative body. The Australian government has not responded to the state and territory developments.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 754, "answer_end": 1190, "text": "It is a formal agreement that can define the relationship between a government and indigenous peoples. A treaty might include binding pacts on specific issues, such as protecting rights and acknowledging past wrongs. It could also set out practical agreements in areas such as health and education. \"We do not seek to limit what a treaty can be, nor who will negotiate specific agreements,\" said one advisory group, Aboriginal Victoria."}], "question": "What is a treaty in this context?", "id": "1161_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1191, "answer_end": 1868, "text": "In 1988, then Prime Minister Bob Hawke promised a treaty after he was presented with a landmark document, the Barunga Statement, from indigenous leaders. Despite public momentum, the discussions were sidelined amid concern over their implications - such as financial compensation. Over the years, government focus shifted to other forms of reconciliation, including progress on land rights, debates over constitutional recognition, and programmes intended to reduce indigenous disadvantage. Last year, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull rejected calls to set up a parliamentary body that would have overseen a treaty progress. He argued that most Australians would not support it."}], "question": "Why doesn't Australia have one?", "id": "1161_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2407, "answer_end": 2866, "text": "Prof Broome described the Victorian step as \"the beginning of the journey\", pointing to efforts by other governments. On Friday, the Northern Territory government signed a memorandum of understanding with indigenous groups to formally start work on a treaty. Meanwhile, Western Australia has also announced plans to establish its own official Aboriginal representative body. The Australian government has not responded to the state and territory developments."}], "question": "What is happening elsewhere?", "id": "1161_2"}]}]}, {"title": "Venezuela crisis: Russian military planes land near Caracas", "date": "25 March 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Two Russian military planes landed in Venezuela's main airport on Saturday, reportedly carrying dozens of troops and large amounts of equipment. The planes were sent to \"fulfil technical military contracts\", Russia's Sputnik news agency reported. Javier Mayorca, a Venezuelan journalist, wrote on Twitter that he saw about 100 troops and 35 tonnes of equipment offloaded from the planes. It comes three months after the two nations held joint military exercises. Russia has long been an ally of Venezuela, lending the South American nation billions of dollars and backing its oil industry and military. Russia has also vocally opposed moves from the US to impose sanctions on the government of Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro. On Monday, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo spoke on the phone with his Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov, urging Moscow to \"cease its unconstructive behaviour\" in Venezuela. \"The secretary told Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov that the United States and regional countries will not stand idly by as Russia exacerbates tensions in Venezuela,\" the state department said. Mr Mayorca said on Twitter that a Russian air force Antonov-124 cargo plane and a smaller jet landed near Caracas on Saturday. He said that Russian General Vasily Tonkoshkurov led the troops off one of the planes. A military plane with a Russian flag on its fuselage could be seen on the tarmac at an airport on Sunday. Images on social media also appeared to show Russian troops gathered at the airport. Ties between Moscow and Venezuela have strengthened in recent months, amid worsening relations between the US and Venezuela. In December, Russia sent two air force jets there as part of a military exercise. Russia has condemned other foreign powers for backing Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido, who declared himself interim president in January. President Maduro has accused Mr Guaido of trying to mount a coup against him with the help of \"US imperialists\". The Kremlin echoed that line, accusing Mr Guaido of an \"illegal attempt to seize power\" backed by the United States and pledging to do \"everything required\" to support Mr Maduro. Russia is intent on demonstrating the limits of US policy towards Venezuela. The Trump administration is pushing for regime change and the re-establishment of democracy. But Moscow - a long-standing ally of the Venezuelan authorities - has provided the embattled Maduro regime with diplomatic, economic and military support. Last December two Russian Tu-160 long-range bombers touched down in Caracas prompting a war of words between Washington and Moscow. There have been joint military exercises too. While it is not clear what equipment these latest military flights may have been carrying, they send an additional message to Washington. Mr Trump has refused to rule out military action against the Maduro government. The Russian President Vladimir Putin is putting down another marker, emphasising that Venezuela is Russia's ally and it is not going to give up this small foothold in Latin America. It is another example of Mr Putin applying limited means to challenge US policy goals. Mr Maduro narrowly won a presidential election in April 2013 after the death of his mentor, President Hugo Chavez. He was elected to a second term in May 2018 in an election seen as flawed by international observers. Venezuela has experienced economic collapse - inflation was 800,000% last year. Three million people have left. Mr Guaido has accused President Maduro of being unfit for office, and won the support of many in the country as well as US and EU leaders. The Maduro government is becoming increasingly isolated but Moscow has expanded co-operation with Caracas - increasing arms sales and extending credit.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1102, "answer_end": 2152, "text": "Mr Mayorca said on Twitter that a Russian air force Antonov-124 cargo plane and a smaller jet landed near Caracas on Saturday. He said that Russian General Vasily Tonkoshkurov led the troops off one of the planes. A military plane with a Russian flag on its fuselage could be seen on the tarmac at an airport on Sunday. Images on social media also appeared to show Russian troops gathered at the airport. Ties between Moscow and Venezuela have strengthened in recent months, amid worsening relations between the US and Venezuela. In December, Russia sent two air force jets there as part of a military exercise. Russia has condemned other foreign powers for backing Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido, who declared himself interim president in January. President Maduro has accused Mr Guaido of trying to mount a coup against him with the help of \"US imperialists\". The Kremlin echoed that line, accusing Mr Guaido of an \"illegal attempt to seize power\" backed by the United States and pledging to do \"everything required\" to support Mr Maduro."}], "question": "What about the two Russian planes?", "id": "1162_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3143, "answer_end": 3762, "text": "Mr Maduro narrowly won a presidential election in April 2013 after the death of his mentor, President Hugo Chavez. He was elected to a second term in May 2018 in an election seen as flawed by international observers. Venezuela has experienced economic collapse - inflation was 800,000% last year. Three million people have left. Mr Guaido has accused President Maduro of being unfit for office, and won the support of many in the country as well as US and EU leaders. The Maduro government is becoming increasingly isolated but Moscow has expanded co-operation with Caracas - increasing arms sales and extending credit."}], "question": "What's the background?", "id": "1162_1"}]}]}, {"title": "Toronto shooting suspect identified as Faisal Hussain, 29", "date": "25 July 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Canadian officials have identified the suspect in Sunday's deadly shooting in Toronto as Faisal Hussain, 29. The Ontario Special Investigations Unit (SIU) said it was releasing his name due \"to the exceptional circumstances of this tragic incident\". A 10-year-old girl and an 18-year-old woman died after a gunman opened fire on a busy avenue in Canada's largest city. Thirteen others were injured in the rampage in Canada's largest city. The SIU, which looks into incidents involving police which result in death, said a post-mortem examination on the suspected shooter is scheduled for Tuesday. According to the SIU, the gunman was tracked by officers to Bowden Street during the shooting, which happened on Sunday evening shortly after 22:00 (02:00 GMT Monday). \"An exchange of gunfire\" then took place, before the man fled once more. He was found dead about 100m (328ft) away on Danforth Avenue. In a statement released to various media outlets, Hussain's family expressed their \"deepest condolences\" to the victims and their families for what they called \"our son's horrific actions\". They said their son suffered from serious mental health challenges and had struggled with untreatable psychosis and depression most of his life. \"Our hearts are in pieces for the victims and for our city as we all come to grips with this terrible tragedy,\" they said. The first victim to be identified was Reese Fallon, 18. Local member of Parliament, Nathaniel Erskine-Smith, confirmed that she was one of the two killed in the shooting. Mr Erskine Smith told media that the family was \"devastated\" and was asking for privacy at this time. \"She was a local young Liberal, smart, passionate and full of energy,\" the Liberal MP told the BBC in a statement. \"It is a huge loss.\" Ms Fallon was a recent high school graduate and, in a statement, the Toronto District School Board said they were \"heartbroken\" by the news. The school board said she \"was highly regarded by staff and loved by her friends\". According to her Facebook profile, she was about to begin studying at McMaster University. On Tuesday, police released the identity of the 10-year-old victim: Julianna Kozis of Markham. Emergency services were called out just after 22:00 (02:00 GMT Monday) to the Greektown district of Toronto, a busy avenue known for its restaurants and summertime patios. Witnesses described hearing volleys of shots as people tried to run from the gunfire. Police say eight women and seven men were shot, ranging in age from 10 to 59. Det Sgt Terry Browne, who is leading the investigation into the shootings, told reporters on Monday that \"some individuals have what may be described as life-changing injuries\" following the attack. Police have said it is still too early to speculate as to a motive. Gun violence is much rarer in Canada than over the border in the US, but Toronto has seen attacks increase dramatically in recent years. Shootings in the city over a holiday weekend earlier this month led to Mayor John Tory saying he was working to get more police patrolling the streets. The city leader acknowledged on Monday that Toronto has a firearms problem. \"The gun violence in any part of our city is horrible and completely unacceptable,\" Mayor Tory said. Police data also shows the number of shootings in Toronto more than doubled between 2014 and 2017 - from 177 to 395. Mr Trudeau's ruling Liberal party wants tougher background checks, including screening people with a history of violence. Gun control has often sparked divisive debates in Canada, which has a large rural population where guns are widely owned and used.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 2177, "answer_end": 2779, "text": "Emergency services were called out just after 22:00 (02:00 GMT Monday) to the Greektown district of Toronto, a busy avenue known for its restaurants and summertime patios. Witnesses described hearing volleys of shots as people tried to run from the gunfire. Police say eight women and seven men were shot, ranging in age from 10 to 59. Det Sgt Terry Browne, who is leading the investigation into the shootings, told reporters on Monday that \"some individuals have what may be described as life-changing injuries\" following the attack. Police have said it is still too early to speculate as to a motive."}], "question": "What happened in Toronto?", "id": "1163_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Elizabeth Warren: DNA test finds 'strong evidence' of Native American blood", "date": "15 October 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "US Senator Elizabeth Warren has revealed that a DNA test shows \"strong evidence\" that she has distant Native American ancestry. She took the test after President Donald Trump taunted her in speeches, calling her a \"fake Pocahontas\" and challenging her to take the test. The DNA test suggests Ms Warren has a Native American ancestor dating back six to 10 generations. Many believe the Democrat is preparing for a presidential bid in 2020. Ms Warren, who is up for re-election in Massachusetts, shared the report along with a video of family and colleagues discussing her heritage on Monday. The DNA report was conducted by geneticist Carlos Bustamante of Stanford. \"The vast majority\" of Ms Warren's ancestry is European, it concludes, but \"the results strongly support\" a Native American ancestor. This puts Ms Warren as between 1/64 and 1/1,024 Native-American, according to the Boston Globe. Ms Warren herself is not a part of any native tribe. While the results of the test do confirm there is native heritage in Ms Warren's family tree, critics could still point out how imprecise these DNA tests can be. Cherokee Nation Secretary of State Chuck Hoskin Jr said in a statement on Monday that \"a DNA test is useless to determine tribal citizenship\", adding that sovereign tribal nations have their own legal requirements. \"Using a DNA test to lay claim to any connection to the Cherokee Nation or any tribal nation, even vaguely, is inappropriate and wrong,\" Mr Hoskin said. \"It makes a mockery out of DNA tests and its legitimate uses while also dishonouring legitimate tribal governments and their citizens, whose ancestors are well documented and whose heritage is proven.\" The senator's accompanying video begins with a clip of the president mocking her at a rally, saying: \"She said she's Native-American and I said, Pocahontas!\" Pocahontas was the daughter of a 17th-Century indigenous chief. The video shows Ms Warren's family - including brothers who say they are Republicans - criticising the president's taunts. A cousin who is identified as being a member of the Cherokee Nation adds: \"It's offensive to me, not just as Betsy's cousin, but as a Native-American.\" By Anthony Zurcher, North America correspondent Elizabeth Warren has been a star of the progressive left for years. Now - even before November mid-terms in which she's running for re-election to the Senate - she's making the clearest moves toward a bid for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2020. Part of that preparatory process is fortifying her defence against Donald Trump's repeated questions about her claims of Native American heritage, including his derisive references to her as \"Pocahontas\". With positive DNA test results in hand, she's pushing back - and reiterating that she did not use her ancestry to advance her academic career. That probably won't stop Mr Trump's attacks, but it will allow her to deflect the barbs and move on to what could be the top issues of an increasingly less hypothetical run - income inequality and government ethics reform. It's unusual to see a presidential primary field begin to take shape more than two years before election day. With so many potential candidates eyeing the race, however, there's an advantage to moving quickly. Ms Warren could face a fierce fight for the progressive vote against an electoral powerhouse such as Bernie Sanders. If she's going to prevail, every moment counts. Ms Warren has denied benefiting from her background since 2012, when it emerged that she was listed as a minority in a Harvard Law School directory. She has frequently faced attacks from the White House and Republicans over whether she used claims of native ancestry to advance her career. At a rally in July, the president said he would give $1m (PS761,000) to charity if Ms Warren would prove her claims of Native-American heritage. In 2012, two Republican aides were recorded making offensive gestures linked to Native Americans while poking fun at then-candidate Ms Warren. Asked about the DNA test, Kellyanne Conway, White House counsellor, told reporters: \"Everybody likes to pick their junk science and sound science depending on the conclusion.\" One clip in the new video shows White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders saying: \"What most people find offensive is Senator Warren lying about her heritage to advance her career.\" In response, the video has a number of Ms Warren's colleagues and employers affirm that her background paid no role in her hiring. Her campaign has also shared a number of documents and testimonials stating Ms Warren's ancestry did not impact upon her career. In the video, Ms Warren says her critics attack her as an insult or \"to distract from the kinds of changes I'm fighting for\". \"Trump can say whatever he wants about me, but mocking Native Americans or any group in order to get at me?\" she asks. \"That's not what America stands for.\" The hubbub around Ms Warren's ancestry recalls the attacks President Barack Obama faced over his background. During Mr Obama's campaign, Mr Trump called repeatedly for him to release his birth certificate to prove he was born in America. The rumours that Mr Obama was a foreigner persisted throughout his presidency and, in 2011, the White House released his birth certificate to quash the controversy.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 439, "answer_end": 2176, "text": "Ms Warren, who is up for re-election in Massachusetts, shared the report along with a video of family and colleagues discussing her heritage on Monday. The DNA report was conducted by geneticist Carlos Bustamante of Stanford. \"The vast majority\" of Ms Warren's ancestry is European, it concludes, but \"the results strongly support\" a Native American ancestor. This puts Ms Warren as between 1/64 and 1/1,024 Native-American, according to the Boston Globe. Ms Warren herself is not a part of any native tribe. While the results of the test do confirm there is native heritage in Ms Warren's family tree, critics could still point out how imprecise these DNA tests can be. Cherokee Nation Secretary of State Chuck Hoskin Jr said in a statement on Monday that \"a DNA test is useless to determine tribal citizenship\", adding that sovereign tribal nations have their own legal requirements. \"Using a DNA test to lay claim to any connection to the Cherokee Nation or any tribal nation, even vaguely, is inappropriate and wrong,\" Mr Hoskin said. \"It makes a mockery out of DNA tests and its legitimate uses while also dishonouring legitimate tribal governments and their citizens, whose ancestors are well documented and whose heritage is proven.\" The senator's accompanying video begins with a clip of the president mocking her at a rally, saying: \"She said she's Native-American and I said, Pocahontas!\" Pocahontas was the daughter of a 17th-Century indigenous chief. The video shows Ms Warren's family - including brothers who say they are Republicans - criticising the president's taunts. A cousin who is identified as being a member of the Cherokee Nation adds: \"It's offensive to me, not just as Betsy's cousin, but as a Native-American.\""}], "question": "What exactly was revealed?", "id": "1164_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3428, "answer_end": 4906, "text": "Ms Warren has denied benefiting from her background since 2012, when it emerged that she was listed as a minority in a Harvard Law School directory. She has frequently faced attacks from the White House and Republicans over whether she used claims of native ancestry to advance her career. At a rally in July, the president said he would give $1m (PS761,000) to charity if Ms Warren would prove her claims of Native-American heritage. In 2012, two Republican aides were recorded making offensive gestures linked to Native Americans while poking fun at then-candidate Ms Warren. Asked about the DNA test, Kellyanne Conway, White House counsellor, told reporters: \"Everybody likes to pick their junk science and sound science depending on the conclusion.\" One clip in the new video shows White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders saying: \"What most people find offensive is Senator Warren lying about her heritage to advance her career.\" In response, the video has a number of Ms Warren's colleagues and employers affirm that her background paid no role in her hiring. Her campaign has also shared a number of documents and testimonials stating Ms Warren's ancestry did not impact upon her career. In the video, Ms Warren says her critics attack her as an insult or \"to distract from the kinds of changes I'm fighting for\". \"Trump can say whatever he wants about me, but mocking Native Americans or any group in order to get at me?\" she asks. \"That's not what America stands for.\""}], "question": "How has Warren been taunted?", "id": "1164_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 4907, "answer_end": 5309, "text": "The hubbub around Ms Warren's ancestry recalls the attacks President Barack Obama faced over his background. During Mr Obama's campaign, Mr Trump called repeatedly for him to release his birth certificate to prove he was born in America. The rumours that Mr Obama was a foreigner persisted throughout his presidency and, in 2011, the White House released his birth certificate to quash the controversy."}], "question": "How does this echo Trump attacks on Obama?", "id": "1164_2"}]}]}, {"title": "General election 2019: The towns and cities least likely to vote", "date": "25 November 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "When the UK goes to the polls on 12 December, how much difference will where people live make to how likely they are to vote? And how will it affect who they vote for? City dwellers are less likely to vote than the rest of the country on average, but only slightly. In the 2017 general election, 67% of voters in large towns or cities went to the ballot box, while elsewhere turnout was slightly higher at 70%. The constituencies with the highest and lowest turnouts were both in cities. London's Twickenham topped the list, with 80% of voters going to the polls. At the other end was Glasgow North East, where just 53% voted. Across the UK, average turnout was 69%. For this article, we looked at how people voted in recent elections and mapped their constituencies against towns and cities that contained at least 50% of the residents in that constituency. A large town or city is defined here as an urban area of 135,000 people or more. Who people choose to vote for does change depending on where they live. In 2017, residents of smaller towns or rural areas were more likely to vote Conservative while city dwellers were more likely to vote Labour. This divide has been deepening over time.  At the last election, 48% of voters outside of large towns and cities voted Conservative, up from 40% in 2010. The opposite has happened for Labour. Between 2010 and 2017 the party's share of city voters increased from 35% to 49%. The Liberal Democrats have also seen their voter base become less urban. In 2010, 48% of their votes came from cities, but by 2017 this had fallen to 42%. Voter turnout figures vary greatly from city to city. Large towns and cities in the south are on the whole more likely to see a higher showing than elsewhere. Ten of the 15 cities with the highest voter turnout in 2017 were in the south of England, although two of the top five were not. Brighton was the city with the highest turnout, with 74% of people registered to vote going to the polls. It was also the only constituency to elect a Green Party MP. It was closely followed by Birkenhead, Reading and York. Back in 2010, Edinburgh saw the highest turnout. At the other end of the scale, Hull had the lowest turnout, with 57% of those registered casting a vote. It was closely followed by Barnsley, Doncaster, and Sunderland. These figures only tell part of the story. In September, up to 9.4 million Britons, or 17% of the eligible voting population, were thought to have not registered to vote at their current address, or at all. However, about two million people are believed to have subsequently registered ahead of December's election. We don't know exactly what motivates people to go to the ballot box, and there are likely to be a number of factors at work Local pay levels appear to play into how likely people are to vote. Broadly speaking, cities with lower voter turnouts tend to be less affluent and offer people lower wages. Similarly, constituencies with higher deprivation - a measurement based on issues such as income, employment, health and crime - tend to see proportionately far fewer people turning out on polling day. These most deprived constituencies are overwhelmingly urban. Of the 100 most deprived constituencies, 88 are in cities. An exception to this trend is Liverpool Walton. Despite being the most deprived parliamentary constituency in England and Wales, it had a high share of its residents going to the polls. In 2017, 67% of them turned out to vote - making it comparable to more affluent constituencies such as Watford. The Labour candidate there won 85.7% of the vote, the highest share of any MP. This helped make Liverpool the strongest Labour-voting city in 2017, with an 83% voter share - up from 63% in 2010. The city also saw the largest increase in the share of people going out to vote, with 68% of voters turning out in 2017, compared to 57% in 2010. - CONFUSED? Our simple election guide - POLICY GUIDE: Who should I vote for? - POLLS: How are the parties doing? - A TO Z: Our tool to explain election words - REGISTER: What you need to do to vote By contrast, the town where the Conservatives won the highest share of the vote was Aldershot in Hampshire, with 60% of voters backing the party. It was closely followed by Basildon and Southend in Essex. The Tories' largest inroads were in Mansfield in Nottinghamshire, where their vote share shot from 24% to 44%, narrowly giving the market town its first-ever Conservative MP. The Liberal Democrats saw their strongest 2017 performance in Cambridge with 29% of the vote. In Scotland, the SNP performed strongest in Dundee - with support for the party at 45%. While trends may get stronger, or changes occur on the margins, overall patterns are likely to stay the same in the forthcoming general election. But if any party is to form a majority - or deny another party one - it will need to win marginal seats in smaller cities. There are many examples, such as Mansfield, Aberdeen, or Stoke, where the Conservatives took Stoke-on-Trent South constituency from Labour by just 663 votes in 2017. One way of doing this is to reach out and appeal to voters from across a widening urban-rural political divide. About this piece This analysis piece was commissioned by the BBC from an expert working for an outside organisation. Paul Swinney is director of policy and research at the Centre for Cities, which describes itself as working to understand how and why economic growth and change takes place in the UK's cities. Edited by Eleanor Lawrie", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 168, "answer_end": 939, "text": "City dwellers are less likely to vote than the rest of the country on average, but only slightly. In the 2017 general election, 67% of voters in large towns or cities went to the ballot box, while elsewhere turnout was slightly higher at 70%. The constituencies with the highest and lowest turnouts were both in cities. London's Twickenham topped the list, with 80% of voters going to the polls. At the other end was Glasgow North East, where just 53% voted. Across the UK, average turnout was 69%. For this article, we looked at how people voted in recent elections and mapped their constituencies against towns and cities that contained at least 50% of the residents in that constituency. A large town or city is defined here as an urban area of 135,000 people or more."}], "question": "Are people in cities less likely to vote?", "id": "1165_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2313, "answer_end": 2628, "text": "These figures only tell part of the story. In September, up to 9.4 million Britons, or 17% of the eligible voting population, were thought to have not registered to vote at their current address, or at all. However, about two million people are believed to have subsequently registered ahead of December's election."}], "question": "What about people who aren't registered to vote?", "id": "1165_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2629, "answer_end": 3248, "text": "We don't know exactly what motivates people to go to the ballot box, and there are likely to be a number of factors at work Local pay levels appear to play into how likely people are to vote. Broadly speaking, cities with lower voter turnouts tend to be less affluent and offer people lower wages. Similarly, constituencies with higher deprivation - a measurement based on issues such as income, employment, health and crime - tend to see proportionately far fewer people turning out on polling day. These most deprived constituencies are overwhelmingly urban. Of the 100 most deprived constituencies, 88 are in cities."}], "question": "Why are some more likely to vote than others?", "id": "1165_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3249, "answer_end": 5504, "text": "An exception to this trend is Liverpool Walton. Despite being the most deprived parliamentary constituency in England and Wales, it had a high share of its residents going to the polls. In 2017, 67% of them turned out to vote - making it comparable to more affluent constituencies such as Watford. The Labour candidate there won 85.7% of the vote, the highest share of any MP. This helped make Liverpool the strongest Labour-voting city in 2017, with an 83% voter share - up from 63% in 2010. The city also saw the largest increase in the share of people going out to vote, with 68% of voters turning out in 2017, compared to 57% in 2010. - CONFUSED? Our simple election guide - POLICY GUIDE: Who should I vote for? - POLLS: How are the parties doing? - A TO Z: Our tool to explain election words - REGISTER: What you need to do to vote By contrast, the town where the Conservatives won the highest share of the vote was Aldershot in Hampshire, with 60% of voters backing the party. It was closely followed by Basildon and Southend in Essex. The Tories' largest inroads were in Mansfield in Nottinghamshire, where their vote share shot from 24% to 44%, narrowly giving the market town its first-ever Conservative MP. The Liberal Democrats saw their strongest 2017 performance in Cambridge with 29% of the vote. In Scotland, the SNP performed strongest in Dundee - with support for the party at 45%. While trends may get stronger, or changes occur on the margins, overall patterns are likely to stay the same in the forthcoming general election. But if any party is to form a majority - or deny another party one - it will need to win marginal seats in smaller cities. There are many examples, such as Mansfield, Aberdeen, or Stoke, where the Conservatives took Stoke-on-Trent South constituency from Labour by just 663 votes in 2017. One way of doing this is to reach out and appeal to voters from across a widening urban-rural political divide. About this piece This analysis piece was commissioned by the BBC from an expert working for an outside organisation. Paul Swinney is director of policy and research at the Centre for Cities, which describes itself as working to understand how and why economic growth and change takes place in the UK's cities."}], "question": "Where do parties get the most votes?", "id": "1165_3"}]}]}, {"title": "Why Beijing should lead on the North Korean crisis", "date": "21 April 2017", "paragraphs": [{"context": "\"The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again, but expecting different results.\" The quotation is attributed to Albert Einstein but after a torrid few days on the Korean peninsula, it's one for Chinese leaders to ponder. China is simply in the wrong place on North Korea. It is allowing Kim Jong-un's nuclear ambitions to undermine Chinese national interest. There are complex reasons for this including history, habit and political culture. But among Chinese foreign policy experts and even on social media, unease is beginning to spread. North Korea's nuclear programme has already driven South Korea to agree to the deployment of an American anti-missile system, locking Seoul deeper into a defensive triangle with Japan and the United States. Relations between Beijing and Seoul are at their worst in a quarter of a century and many South Koreans have been alienated by unofficial Chinese sanctions against the whole spectrum of South Korean interests from supermarkets to boy bands. This is good for North Korea but for no-one else. It is nonsensical for China to punish South Korea for trying to defend itself against a nuclear threat which even Beijing describes as real and urgent. And if North Korea continues its drive for nuclear weapons, there may be a worse arms race to come. A nuclear-armed Japan would hardly be in China's national interest. But despite this catalogue of warning signals and failures, China seems trapped in an unfinished history marked by binary choice: a nuclear-armed North Korea or a reunified Korea with American troops on China's border. Between these choices, it finds a nuclear-armed North Korea preferable. But if it thinks hard enough, perhaps there is an alternative. In fact, this is a moment of decision for China. President Xi has talked of an Asia led by Asians. Showing flexibility and resolve on fixing Korea in the interests of the region and the world would demonstrate a readiness to lead. Almost everyone, even China's most suspicious neighbours, would be grateful. President Trump has already promised that American gratitude would take material form in a favourable trade deal. So China could use the current crisis on the Korean peninsula to engage its neighbours and cement a key area of partnership with the US. Or it could duck the challenge and let the US lead. A choice put starkly in a tweet from President Trump: \"I have great confidence that China will properly deal with North Korea. If they are unable to do so, the US, with its allies, will.\" Of course, China's view on what constitutes \"dealing with North Korea\" does not coincide with Mr Trump's. But there will be no dealing with North Korea worth the name that does not require a fundamental shift in how Beijing sees the region and its relationships within it. China is after all an ideologically insecure one-party state. A profound aversion to liberal internationalism has tied it to a rigid position on non-interference in the internal affairs of another state. A position which now constrains it in managing the North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. What's more, in Beijing's worldview, the United States is its long-term rival in Asia and the US system of alliances is a barely concealed strategy of containment. For decades, China's security planners have war-gamed scenarios of brinkmanship and conflict with the US as enemy in a zero-sum game. There are no established scenarios in which the US presents as a partner in managing a rogue state masquerading as a Chinese ally. China and North Korea signed a mutual aid treaty in 1961. The treaty says if either ally comes under armed attack, the other should provide immediate assistance, including military support. But it also says both should safeguard peace and security. Some Chinese experts now argue that Beijing is not obliged to defend North Korea on the grounds that its nuclear weapons breach the mutual defence pact. But in general, China's security policy for the Korean peninsula seems frozen in time. Despite establishing diplomatic relations with Seoul 25 years ago, and despite the burgeoning economic relationship with South Korea which followed, the security logic has not changed. And now that China's only formal ally is threatening a nuclear war which would bring incalculable horror to the entire region including China's own citizens, Beijing's position looks a quarter century out of date. If it wants to claim leadership in Asia, it could say loudly that Pyongyang's threats are completely intolerable and must not stand. After all, what loyalty does it owe a regime which shows only contempt for Chinese diplomacy and Chinese national interest? Rather than dragging its feet on economic sanctions and turning a half-blind eye to Chinese companies which supply high-tech components to North Korea's arms programme, Beijing could choose to lead the sanctions charge. Rather than repeating tired rhetoric urging all parties to refrain from provoking and threatening each other, it could suspend oil exports and foreign currency dealings. Rather than staging an unnecessary set piece forum on President Xi's \"one belt, one road\" slogan next month, it could host an emergency conference for Asia on dealing with North Korea. That Beijing will not lead on North Korea is China's tragedy and Asia's tragedy.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 3527, "answer_end": 5327, "text": "China and North Korea signed a mutual aid treaty in 1961. The treaty says if either ally comes under armed attack, the other should provide immediate assistance, including military support. But it also says both should safeguard peace and security. Some Chinese experts now argue that Beijing is not obliged to defend North Korea on the grounds that its nuclear weapons breach the mutual defence pact. But in general, China's security policy for the Korean peninsula seems frozen in time. Despite establishing diplomatic relations with Seoul 25 years ago, and despite the burgeoning economic relationship with South Korea which followed, the security logic has not changed. And now that China's only formal ally is threatening a nuclear war which would bring incalculable horror to the entire region including China's own citizens, Beijing's position looks a quarter century out of date. If it wants to claim leadership in Asia, it could say loudly that Pyongyang's threats are completely intolerable and must not stand. After all, what loyalty does it owe a regime which shows only contempt for Chinese diplomacy and Chinese national interest? Rather than dragging its feet on economic sanctions and turning a half-blind eye to Chinese companies which supply high-tech components to North Korea's arms programme, Beijing could choose to lead the sanctions charge. Rather than repeating tired rhetoric urging all parties to refrain from provoking and threatening each other, it could suspend oil exports and foreign currency dealings. Rather than staging an unnecessary set piece forum on President Xi's \"one belt, one road\" slogan next month, it could host an emergency conference for Asia on dealing with North Korea. That Beijing will not lead on North Korea is China's tragedy and Asia's tragedy."}], "question": "Outdated stance?", "id": "1166_0"}]}]}, {"title": "How a row over one word sank an LGBT petition in Australia", "date": "4 May 2017", "paragraphs": [{"context": "It was a well-meaning campaign designed to address bullying of LGBT students in Australian schools. But a day after its high-profile launch - backed by some celebrities - the petition was withdrawn following a swirl of controversy. On Tuesday the open letter, organised by a Sydney man, called on Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull to commit A$6m (PS4m; $4.5m) to funding a new anti-bullying programme. With a focus on LGBT [lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender] issues in schools and domestic violence, the programme would target \"all forms of bullying, including that which is based on religion, race, gender, faith, sexuality, disability, skin conditions, social standing or political persuasions\", the letter said. It followed an intensely debated similar scheme, Safe Schools, which was launched in 2014 but was significantly curtailed and then dumped in one state after criticism from conservative politicians, lobby groups and sections of the media. The critics said it raised sexual issues that were inappropriate for teenagers and young children. Tuesday's proposal was intended to \"de-politicise\" and remove \"controversy\" surrounding LGBT education in schools. Celebrities including actor Guy Pearce and singers Troye Sivan and Missy Higgins attached their names to the petition. It even attracted qualified support from an unlikely source. The Australian Christian Lobby - a conservative group critical of Safe Schools - said it \"cautiously welcomed\" the new proposal. But it attracted immediate criticism for urging \"tolerance\" - rather than \"acceptance\". \"Make no mistake of our request: we do not seek a program that seeks approval of the way certain members of our society live. We seek only mutual respect and tolerance,\" the petition said. Critics of the wording included LGBT advocates and, quickly, goodwill that might have flowed from passionate supporters of Safe Schools descended into anger. \"It sounds to me like I'm supposed to beg people to be tolerant of my child's existence,\" Leanne Donnelly, identified as a Sydney mother of a transgender teenager, told the Special Broadcasting Service. \"Equality and acceptance is the starting point, not downgrading to tolerance.\" Some celebrities attached to the letter said they had not seen the wording before it was published. Petition organiser Ben Grubb, a PR adviser, wrote a lengthy apology to the LGBT community following the backlash. \"Acceptance was removed during the drafting after confidentially consulting a Canberra decision-maker on what they believed the government would potentially back to fund such a program,\" he wrote, adding his involvement in the campaign was personal not professional. \"This is a decision I deeply regret and I am truly sorry for. I am sorry to the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex community, many of whom have told me that by doing this represented the letter pandering to conservative views.\" He said he would arrange for the petition to be taken down. It and an accompanying publicity video are no longer visible online.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1487, "answer_end": 3056, "text": "But it attracted immediate criticism for urging \"tolerance\" - rather than \"acceptance\". \"Make no mistake of our request: we do not seek a program that seeks approval of the way certain members of our society live. We seek only mutual respect and tolerance,\" the petition said. Critics of the wording included LGBT advocates and, quickly, goodwill that might have flowed from passionate supporters of Safe Schools descended into anger. \"It sounds to me like I'm supposed to beg people to be tolerant of my child's existence,\" Leanne Donnelly, identified as a Sydney mother of a transgender teenager, told the Special Broadcasting Service. \"Equality and acceptance is the starting point, not downgrading to tolerance.\" Some celebrities attached to the letter said they had not seen the wording before it was published. Petition organiser Ben Grubb, a PR adviser, wrote a lengthy apology to the LGBT community following the backlash. \"Acceptance was removed during the drafting after confidentially consulting a Canberra decision-maker on what they believed the government would potentially back to fund such a program,\" he wrote, adding his involvement in the campaign was personal not professional. \"This is a decision I deeply regret and I am truly sorry for. I am sorry to the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex community, many of whom have told me that by doing this represented the letter pandering to conservative views.\" He said he would arrange for the petition to be taken down. It and an accompanying publicity video are no longer visible online."}], "question": "What went wrong?", "id": "1167_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Toxic fandom: Online bullying in the name of your favourite stars", "date": "1 August 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Pete Davidson, the Saturday Night Live comedian engaged to Ariana Grande, recently quit Instagram. \"The internet is an evil place and it doesn't make me feel good,\" he wrote in his Insta Story as he left the app. Ariana said she was planning to do the same, tweeting that negativity online can really \"bum you out\". Pete had been targeted by some of the singer's most hardcore fans for writing \"what a cutie\" on a photo of Ari and her granddad. It wasn't the first time he had come under attack from Ariana's fans - known as Arianators - since the two started dating in May of this year. And it's definitely not the only example of fans turning toxic online. Canadian writer Wanna Thompson learned this the hard way when she, a Nicki Minaj fan, posted mild criticism of the rapper on her Twitter account. \"They were calling me all types of graphic language,\" Wanna tells Newsbeat. \"They found pictures of my daughter and they were attacking her appearance. She's only four years old. That got to me the most.\" Even Nicki herself seemingly got involved, addressing Wanna in a direct message on Twitter, saying Wanna was jealous she was \"rich, famous, intelligent\". The stress of what she was seeing on social media and in her emails tipped over into her offline life and she says she was unable to focus on things like reading, writing or exercise. Newsbeat has contacted Nicki Minaj's record label for response. Wanna believes she has a \"social responsibility\" to talk about the damage toxic fandoms can cause. \"I pride myself on being a really strong person but what if I wasn't?\" she says. \"If this was happening to someone who is suicidal or harms themselves, that could lead to something very dangerous.\" It's not just young fans of pop stars who take things to extremes in the name of fandom online. Middle-aged men can do it too. In June, actress Kelly Marie Tran felt the full force of 41 years of the Star Wars franchise when she was hounded off social media following racist comments about her role as Rose Tico in 2017 movie The Last Jedi. Luke Skywalker actor Mark Hamill responded, telling \"nerds\" on social media to \"get a life\". The Last Jedi director Rian Johnson tackled fans directly online in defence of Kelly. And at San Diego Comic-Con in July this year, a group of Asian females dressed as Rose to show their support for Kelly. \"Kelly became the target of a lot of the fanboys who had issues with The Last Jedi, whether justified or not. But her harassment was never justified,\" Keith Chow, who co-ordinated the costumes, tells Newsbeat. For Keith, an Asian American like Kelly, having Rose Tico as a prominent character in a major franchise was a \"phenomenal\" moment for diversity. But he believes it was the diversity which made Kelly a target for hardcore fans. \"It's one thing to be critical of a character for narrative purposes. It's another thing to take those perceived narrative issues and assign race and gender to it,\" he says. \"Your opinion of a movie should not make you want to bully someone online. Simple as that.\" Olivia Edwards-Allen, 24, helps a range of \"mainstream pop\" artists manage their social media accounts for a major record label in the UK. She says that social media has changed the way people connect with their favourite celebrities and some believe that there's a mutual relationship there. \"There are so many ways to get in contact and so many more ways to find out what they like,\" she says. \"That leads to people thinking they know them, and if you think you know someone you think you know how they would expect you to act.\" Wanna Thompson says that when fans turn on an individual, the celebrity involved has a responsibility to step in. \"I believe if you're seeing something go overboard, you should step in and say 'Hey, that's enough',\" she says. Olivia says this is something that people like her work on behind the scenes. \"It is something we all watch for and it is something we're concerned about happening,\" she says. \"It's just a massive epidemic on social media at the moment and there can be big consequences from something so small.\" Fans of DC Comics recently showed their ugly side when they harassed actress Anna Diop because of her skin colour, after the first trailer for new TV show Titans was revealed. Rick and Morty fans took their trolling offline when they harassed McDonalds' staff and customers following a promotional stunt. In the gaming community, women face abuse from \"angry men, trolls, racists and misogynists\", which is something Newsbeat looked into in 2016. Even Radio 1's Greg James came under fire from Taylor Swift fans when he recommended she \"take a shower\" after a performance at Radio 1's Biggest Weekend earlier this year. Twitter says it doesn't tolerate \"hateful behaviour\" and Instagram says it is \"never OK\" to attack someone on the basis of their race, ethnicity, sexuality or gender. But these are the platforms where most abuse takes place. Areeq Chowdhury, who works for a think tank called Webroots Democracy believes \"pseudo-nimity\", like you find on Facebook business pages, could help on these platforms. Pseudo-nimity would mean anyone using social media providing proof of who they are, even if they go on to be anonymous on their profile. \"What that might do is dis-incentivise people to behave in a way they just wouldn't in real life,\" he says. Areeq says actions like muting or blocking conversations on Twitter is fine, but doesn't really tackle the problem. \"That's all retrospective actions. There's not anything that's preventative.\" But ultimately, as Olivia believes, the responsibility is on the people posting abuse as much as the social media platforms. \"Everyone should be held responsible for the things they do,\" she says. \"If you couldn't say it to somebody just walking down the street, then why can you say it online?\" 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_start": 3052, "answer_end": 4104, "text": "Olivia Edwards-Allen, 24, helps a range of \"mainstream pop\" artists manage their social media accounts for a major record label in the UK. She says that social media has changed the way people connect with their favourite celebrities and some believe that there's a mutual relationship there. \"There are so many ways to get in contact and so many more ways to find out what they like,\" she says. \"That leads to people thinking they know them, and if you think you know someone you think you know how they would expect you to act.\" Wanna Thompson says that when fans turn on an individual, the celebrity involved has a responsibility to step in. \"I believe if you're seeing something go overboard, you should step in and say 'Hey, that's enough',\" she says. Olivia says this is something that people like her work on behind the scenes. \"It is something we all watch for and it is something we're concerned about happening,\" she says. \"It's just a massive epidemic on social media at the moment and there can be big consequences from something so small.\""}], "question": "What's being done behind the scenes?", "id": "1168_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 4725, "answer_end": 6030, "text": "Twitter says it doesn't tolerate \"hateful behaviour\" and Instagram says it is \"never OK\" to attack someone on the basis of their race, ethnicity, sexuality or gender. But these are the platforms where most abuse takes place. Areeq Chowdhury, who works for a think tank called Webroots Democracy believes \"pseudo-nimity\", like you find on Facebook business pages, could help on these platforms. Pseudo-nimity would mean anyone using social media providing proof of who they are, even if they go on to be anonymous on their profile. \"What that might do is dis-incentivise people to behave in a way they just wouldn't in real life,\" he says. Areeq says actions like muting or blocking conversations on Twitter is fine, but doesn't really tackle the problem. \"That's all retrospective actions. There's not anything that's preventative.\" But ultimately, as Olivia believes, the responsibility is on the people posting abuse as much as the social media platforms. \"Everyone should be held responsible for the things they do,\" she says. \"If you couldn't say it to somebody just walking down the street, then why can you say it online?\" 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."}], "question": "Could social media platforms do more to help?", "id": "1168_1"}]}]}, {"title": "Why Rome sends trains filled with rubbish to Austria", "date": "23 April 2017", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Rome's rubbish is helping to power Austrian homes - and it gets to Austria by train. Rome has been struggling to cope with a rubbish crisis and Austria has spare capacity at a waste-to-energy plant near Vienna. So a deal has been struck. The Italians are paying Austrian company EVN to dispose of up to 70,000 tonnes of Roman household refuse this year. The waste is transported by train through northern Italy, over the Alps and ends up at the EVN thermal waste utilisation plant at Zwentendorf on the Danube. Up to three trains a week arrive at the Zwentendorf plant. Each carries airtight containers loaded with around 700 tonnes of Roman household waste. The refuse is incinerated and converted into hot flue gas, which generates steam. The steam is delivered to a neighbouring power station, where it is converted into electricity, which is used to power 170,000 houses in the province of Lower Austria. How Norway turned rubbish into fuel It may seem counter-intuitive to carry rubbish over 1,000km (620 miles) before disposing of it, but it is part of efforts in the European Union to make cities reduce the amount of waste that goes into landfills. \"It is not crazy,\" insists Gernot Alfons, head of the EVN thermal waste plant. For him it is an environmentally friendly solution and the rubbish trains are key. \"The other alternative would be to put this rubbish into landfill, which creates a lot of methane emissions that create a lot of impact in terms of CO2 emissions. \"It is much better to transport this waste to a plant which has a high energy efficiency like ours.\" Even in elegant districts like Prati, near the Vatican, it is not hard to see that the city has a rubbish problem. Overflowing communal bins for both household waste and recycling are a common sight, and a lot of Romans are very unhappy. \"I think it is outrageous,\" Claudia Grassi, a resident of Rome told me. \"The beautiful town of Rome is being insulted. It is like a beautiful woman that has been wounded again and again.\" Antonio La Spina, professor of sociology and public policy at Rome's LUISS University, says the city produces more waste than it can cope with. \"One factor is the remarkable amount of waste that is produced per capita in Rome. Another is that the share of (separated) waste is increasing. \"That's a good thing in general, but not if the authorities aren't ready to deal with it all - which they aren't. \"Another problem is the fact that the landfills are full - and some are already a big environmental problem, and need to be closed.\" Rome's landfill sites are so full, he says, that the authorities have not only had to look beyond the region, but beyond Italy, to dispose of their waste. But it is not just the lack of space. The rubbish problem is also political. Waste disposal and other public services in Rome have been plagued by more than mismanagement. In 2014, an investigation known as Mafia Capitale laid bare corruption and tainted bidding in city services, including rubbish collection. Rome's Raggi finds it tough at the top When in Rome shake up the politics Rome's new Mayor Virginia Raggi, from the populist Five Star Movement, came to power last year promising to clean up the city. But she ran into trouble almost immediately. The person she appointed as the city's rubbish tsar, Paola Muraro, was forced to resign after it emerged she was under investigation for alleged wrongdoing during her 12-year stint as a consultant to Rome's rubbish collection agency, AMA. Ms Muraro has denied allegations of impropriety. But Mayor Raggi is under pressure. In Campo de' Fiori, one of Rome's most attractive markets, rubbish piles up on the cobblestones almost every afternoon, amid the flower and vegetable stalls. Rubbish collectors eventually arrive to clean it up, but Vladimir, who works at a local restaurant on the square, shakes his head. \"It is disgusting here for two or three hours a day, until they clear it up. Tourists who come here are in shock. In the centre of a European capital, this is not normal.\"", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1583, "answer_end": 2699, "text": "Even in elegant districts like Prati, near the Vatican, it is not hard to see that the city has a rubbish problem. Overflowing communal bins for both household waste and recycling are a common sight, and a lot of Romans are very unhappy. \"I think it is outrageous,\" Claudia Grassi, a resident of Rome told me. \"The beautiful town of Rome is being insulted. It is like a beautiful woman that has been wounded again and again.\" Antonio La Spina, professor of sociology and public policy at Rome's LUISS University, says the city produces more waste than it can cope with. \"One factor is the remarkable amount of waste that is produced per capita in Rome. Another is that the share of (separated) waste is increasing. \"That's a good thing in general, but not if the authorities aren't ready to deal with it all - which they aren't. \"Another problem is the fact that the landfills are full - and some are already a big environmental problem, and need to be closed.\" Rome's landfill sites are so full, he says, that the authorities have not only had to look beyond the region, but beyond Italy, to dispose of their waste."}], "question": "So what has gone wrong with Rome's waste disposal?", "id": "1169_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Israel-Gaza violence erupts after covert op killings", "date": "13 November 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Violence has flared between Israel and Palestinian militants in Gaza, a day after seven militants and an Israeli soldier were killed during an undercover Israeli operation in Gaza. Militants fired 300 rockets and mortars at Israel. One hit a bus, seriously injuring a soldier nearby. Israel responded with more than 70 strikes on what it said were targets belonging to Hamas and Islamic Jihad. Three Palestinians, two of them reportedly militants, were killed. The Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza said nine Palestinians were injured. Meanwhile, Israeli medics said 10 people in Israel were injured. Israeli media later reported that a man was killed after a house was hit by a rocket in the Israeli city of Ashkelon. Israeli Maj Gen Kamil Abu Rukun warned that Hamas \"has crossed a red line\" and Israel would \"continue to respond with an iron fist against all terrorist activity or rocket fire\"\". Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu cut short his visit to France for an urgent meeting with his security chiefs. A Hamas commander and an Israeli soldier were among the dead on Sunday. Palestinians said an Israeli unit travelling in a civilian vehicle had killed the Hamas commander. According to Palestinian sources, the Israeli unit was about 3km (2 miles) inside the Gaza Strip, which borders Israel, when militants from Hamas, which controls the Gaza Strip, stopped the car. The group's military wing, the Izzedine al-Qassam Brigades, said the Israelis opened fire, killing a local commander, Nur Barakeh. The incident is reported to have happened east of Khan Younis, in the south of the territory. A gun battle erupted and Israeli tanks and aircraft opened fire in the area, witnesses said. Six of the Palestinians killed belonged to Hamas and the seventh was a member of the militant Popular Resistance Committees, AFP news agency cited Palestinian officials as saying. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said a member of the special unit involved was killed and another was lightly wounded. The Israeli soldiers were later flown back by helicopter. Due to the secrecy of the operation, Israel has not revealed specific details about the mission. The IDF said, however, that the operation was \"not intended to kill or abduct terrorists, but to strengthen Israeli security\". The BBC's Tom Bateman in Jerusalem says that according to a former Israeli general, the incident was likely to have been an intelligence-gathering operation that went wrong. The exposure of such an operation by Israeli special forces inside Gaza would be extremely rare, he says. Fawzi Barhoum, a spokesman for Hamas, denounced the incident as a \"cowardly Israeli attack\". IDF chief Lt Gen Gadi Eisenkot said the Israeli unit had carried out \"a very meaningful operation to Israel's security\", without giving further details. The Israeli military said that immediately after the clashes, 17 rockets were fired from Gaza into Israel, three of which were shot down. Throughout Monday, some 300 rockets and mortars were launched towards Israel, dozens of which were intercepted while many landed in open spaces, according to the Israeli military. Paramedics said an Israeli soldier was seriously injured when a projectile hit a bus he was standing near in the Shaar Hanegev region. Three people also suffered minor injuries from shrapnel in the town of Sderot. The Israeli military said aircraft and tanks bombed more than 70 Hamas and Islamic Jihad targets in Gaza in retaliation, including militant compounds, observation posts, and rocket-launching squads. The building that houses the Hamas-run television station in Gaza, Al-Aqsa, was also struck, Palestinian officials said. There were no immediate reports of casualties. The Israeli military had warned that the property would be targeted, accusing the channel of broadcasting \"propaganda\", and staff had evacuated. Broadcasting reportedly resumed after a brief outage. The IDF later said the military also hit Hamas's military intelligence headquarters. The health ministry in Gaza reported that three men were killed and nine other people were wounded in the Israeli strikes. The Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine militant group said two of the dead were its members. UN Middle East envoy Nickolay Mladenov urged restraint from both sides. Hamas won Palestinian elections in 2006 and reinforced its power in the Gaza Strip after ousting West Bank-based Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' rival Fatah faction in clashes the following year. While Mr Abbas' umbrella Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) has signed peace accords with Israel, Hamas does not recognise Israel's right to exist and advocates the use of violence against it. Israel, along with Egypt, has maintained a blockade of Gaza since about 2006 in order, they say, to stop attacks by militants. Israel and Hamas have gone to war three times, and rocket-fire from Gaza and Israeli air strikes against militant targets are a regular occurrence. Sunday night's incident comes after apparent progress in an Egyptian- and UN-brokered process to mediate after a series of escalations between the two sides in recent months. More than 200 Palestinians in Gaza have been killed by Israeli forces since the end of March - most during weekly protests along the border at which thousands have expressed their support for the declared right of Palestinian refugees to return to their ancestral homes in what is now Israel. Israel has said its soldiers have only opened fire in self-defence or on potential attackers trying to infiltrate its territory under the cover of the protests. One Israeli soldier was killed on the Gaza-Israel border by a Palestinian sniper in July.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1019, "answer_end": 2059, "text": "A Hamas commander and an Israeli soldier were among the dead on Sunday. Palestinians said an Israeli unit travelling in a civilian vehicle had killed the Hamas commander. According to Palestinian sources, the Israeli unit was about 3km (2 miles) inside the Gaza Strip, which borders Israel, when militants from Hamas, which controls the Gaza Strip, stopped the car. The group's military wing, the Izzedine al-Qassam Brigades, said the Israelis opened fire, killing a local commander, Nur Barakeh. The incident is reported to have happened east of Khan Younis, in the south of the territory. A gun battle erupted and Israeli tanks and aircraft opened fire in the area, witnesses said. Six of the Palestinians killed belonged to Hamas and the seventh was a member of the militant Popular Resistance Committees, AFP news agency cited Palestinian officials as saying. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said a member of the special unit involved was killed and another was lightly wounded. The Israeli soldiers were later flown back by helicopter."}], "question": "What happened on Sunday?", "id": "1170_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2060, "answer_end": 2563, "text": "Due to the secrecy of the operation, Israel has not revealed specific details about the mission. The IDF said, however, that the operation was \"not intended to kill or abduct terrorists, but to strengthen Israeli security\". The BBC's Tom Bateman in Jerusalem says that according to a former Israeli general, the incident was likely to have been an intelligence-gathering operation that went wrong. The exposure of such an operation by Israeli special forces inside Gaza would be extremely rare, he says."}], "question": "Why did Israel kill the commander?", "id": "1170_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2564, "answer_end": 4291, "text": "Fawzi Barhoum, a spokesman for Hamas, denounced the incident as a \"cowardly Israeli attack\". IDF chief Lt Gen Gadi Eisenkot said the Israeli unit had carried out \"a very meaningful operation to Israel's security\", without giving further details. The Israeli military said that immediately after the clashes, 17 rockets were fired from Gaza into Israel, three of which were shot down. Throughout Monday, some 300 rockets and mortars were launched towards Israel, dozens of which were intercepted while many landed in open spaces, according to the Israeli military. Paramedics said an Israeli soldier was seriously injured when a projectile hit a bus he was standing near in the Shaar Hanegev region. Three people also suffered minor injuries from shrapnel in the town of Sderot. The Israeli military said aircraft and tanks bombed more than 70 Hamas and Islamic Jihad targets in Gaza in retaliation, including militant compounds, observation posts, and rocket-launching squads. The building that houses the Hamas-run television station in Gaza, Al-Aqsa, was also struck, Palestinian officials said. There were no immediate reports of casualties. The Israeli military had warned that the property would be targeted, accusing the channel of broadcasting \"propaganda\", and staff had evacuated. Broadcasting reportedly resumed after a brief outage. The IDF later said the military also hit Hamas's military intelligence headquarters. The health ministry in Gaza reported that three men were killed and nine other people were wounded in the Israeli strikes. The Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine militant group said two of the dead were its members. UN Middle East envoy Nickolay Mladenov urged restraint from both sides."}], "question": "What has happened since Sunday's operation?", "id": "1170_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 4292, "answer_end": 5684, "text": "Hamas won Palestinian elections in 2006 and reinforced its power in the Gaza Strip after ousting West Bank-based Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' rival Fatah faction in clashes the following year. While Mr Abbas' umbrella Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) has signed peace accords with Israel, Hamas does not recognise Israel's right to exist and advocates the use of violence against it. Israel, along with Egypt, has maintained a blockade of Gaza since about 2006 in order, they say, to stop attacks by militants. Israel and Hamas have gone to war three times, and rocket-fire from Gaza and Israeli air strikes against militant targets are a regular occurrence. Sunday night's incident comes after apparent progress in an Egyptian- and UN-brokered process to mediate after a series of escalations between the two sides in recent months. More than 200 Palestinians in Gaza have been killed by Israeli forces since the end of March - most during weekly protests along the border at which thousands have expressed their support for the declared right of Palestinian refugees to return to their ancestral homes in what is now Israel. Israel has said its soldiers have only opened fire in self-defence or on potential attackers trying to infiltrate its territory under the cover of the protests. One Israeli soldier was killed on the Gaza-Israel border by a Palestinian sniper in July."}], "question": "Why are Israel and Hamas enemies?", "id": "1170_3"}]}]}, {"title": "How plastic became a victim of its own success", "date": "25 September 2017", "paragraphs": [{"context": "\"Unless I am very much mistaken, this invention will prove important in the future.\" Leo Baekeland wrote those words in his journal on 11 July, 1907. He was in a good mood. Aged 43, he'd done well. Born in Belgium, his dad was a cobbler. He'd had no education, and didn't understand why young Leo wanted one. He apprenticed the boy into the trade, aged just 13. But his mum had other ideas. With her encouragement, Leo went to night school, and won a scholarship to the University of Ghent. By the age of 20, he had a doctorate in chemistry. He married his tutor's daughter and moved to New York, where he made so much money from photographic printing paper that he need never work again. The Baekelands bought a house in Yonkers, overlooking the Hudson River, where Leo built a home laboratory to indulge his love of tinkering with chemicals. In July 1907, he was experimenting with formaldehyde and phenol. These experiments would lead to his second fortune. He became so famous that Time magazine put his face on the cover without needing to mention his name, just the words, \"It will not burn. It will not melt.\" What Leo Baekeland invented that July was the first fully synthetic plastic. He called it Bakelite. 50 Things That Made the Modern Economy highlights the inventions, ideas and innovations which have helped create the economic world in which we live. It is broadcast on the BBC World Service. You can find more information about the programme's sources and listen online or subscribe to the programme podcast. And he was right about its future importance. Plastics would soon be everywhere. When Susan Freinkel wrote her book Plastic: A Toxic Love Story, she spent a day noting down everything she touched that was plastic: the light switch, the toilet seat, the toothbrush, the toothpaste tube. She also noted everything that wasn't - the toilet paper, the wooden floor, the porcelain tap. By the day's end, she'd listed 102 items that weren't made of plastic, and 196 that were. We make so much plastic, it takes about 8% of oil production - half for raw material, half for energy. The Bakelite Corporation didn't hold back in its advertising blurb: humans, it said, had transcended the old taxonomy of animal, mineral and vegetable. Now we had a \"fourth kingdom, whose boundaries are unlimited\". That sounds hyperbolic, but it was true. Scientists previously had thought about improving or mimicking natural substances. Earlier plastics, like celluloid, were based on plants, and Baekeland himself had been seeking an alternative to shellac, a resin secreted by beetles that was used for electrical insulation. Yet he quickly realised that Bakelite could become far more versatile than that. The Bakelite Corporation christened it \"The Material of a Thousand Uses\", and, again, that wasn't far wrong. It went into telephones, radios, guns, coffee pots, billiard balls and jewellery. It was used in the first atomic bomb. Bakelite's success shifted mindsets: what other artificial materials might be possible, with properties you couldn't necessarily find in nature? In the 1920s and 1930s, plastics poured out of labs around the world. There was polystyrene, often used for packaging, nylon, popularised by stockings, and polyethylene, the stuff of plastic bags. As World War Two stretched natural resources, production of plastics ramped up to fill the gap. And when the war ended, exciting new products like Tupperware hit the consumer market. But they weren't exciting for long: the image of plastic gradually changed. In 1967, the film The Graduate famously started with the central character, Benjamin Braddock, receiving unsolicited career advice from a self-satisfied older neighbour. \"Just one word,\" the neighbour promises, steering Benjamin towards a quiet corner, as if about to reveal the secret to life itself. \"Plastics!\" The line became much-quoted, because it crystallised the changing connotations of the word. For the older neighbour's generation, \"plastic\" still meant opportunity and modernity. For the likes of young Benjamin, it stood for all that was phoney, superficial, ersatz. Still: it was great advice. Half a century on, despite its image problem, plastic production has grown about twenty-fold. It'll double again in the next 20 years. That's also despite growing evidence of environmental problems. Some of the chemicals in plastics are thought to affect how animals develop and reproduce. When plastics end up in landfill, those chemicals can eventually seep into groundwater; when they find their way into oceans, some creatures eat them. How fertiliser helped feed the world The hidden strengths of unloved concrete How the invention of paper changed the world Battery bonanza: From frogs' legs to mobiles and electric cars But there's another side to the ledger - plastic has benefits that aren't just economic, but environmental too. Vehicles made with plastic parts are lighter, and so use less fuel. Plastic packaging keeps food fresh for longer, and so reduces waste. If bottles weren't made of plastic, they'd be made of glass. Which would you rather gets dropped in your children's playground? Eventually, we'll have to get better at recycling plastic, if only because oil won't last forever. Some plastics can't be recycled - like Bakelite. Many more could be, but aren't. In fact only about a seventh of plastic packaging is recycled - far less than for paper or steel. That rate is lower still for other plastic products. Tim Harford has discussed 50 things which he argues have made the modern economy. Help choose the 51st thing by voting for one of these listener suggestions: - The credit card - Glass - Global Positioning System (GPS) - Irrigation - The pencil - The spreadsheet You can vote on the 50 Things That Made the Modern Economy programme website. Voting closes at 12:00 GMT Friday 6 October 2017, and the winning 51st Thing will be announced in a special podcast on 28 October 2017. Improving that will take effort from everyone. You may have seen little triangles on plastic, with numbers from one to seven. They're called Resin Identification Codes, and they're one initiative of the industry's trade association. They help with recycling, but the system's far from perfect. If the industry could do more, then so could many governments: recycling rates differ hugely around the world. One success story is Taipei, Taiwan. It changed its culture of waste by making it easy for citizens to recycle, and fining them if they don't. How about technological solutions? Fans of science fiction will enjoy one recent invention, the ProtoCycler. Feed it your plastic waste, and it gives you filament for your 3D printer. It is as close as we can get today to Star Trek's replicator. In its day, Bakelite must have felt as revolutionary as that Star Trek replicator still feels to us. Here was a simple, cheap synthetic product that was tough enough to replace ceramic tableware or metal letter openers, yet beautiful enough to be used as jewellery, and could even replace precious ivory. It was a miracle material, even though - like all plastics today - we now take it for granted. But manufacturers today haven't given up on the idea that you can make something precious and practical from something cheap and worthless. The latest techniques \"upcycle\" plastic trash, mixing it with agricultural waste and nanoparticles to create new materials, with new properties. Leo Baekeland would have approved. Tim Harford writes the Financial Times's Undercover Economist column. 50 Things That Made the Modern Economy is broadcast on the BBC World Service. You can find more information about the programme's sources and listen online or subscribe to the programme podcast.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 5485, "answer_end": 5960, "text": "Tim Harford has discussed 50 things which he argues have made the modern economy. Help choose the 51st thing by voting for one of these listener suggestions: - The credit card - Glass - Global Positioning System (GPS) - Irrigation - The pencil - The spreadsheet You can vote on the 50 Things That Made the Modern Economy programme website. Voting closes at 12:00 GMT Friday 6 October 2017, and the winning 51st Thing will be announced in a special podcast on 28 October 2017."}], "question": "What should be the 51st Thing?", "id": "1171_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 6544, "answer_end": 7739, "text": "Fans of science fiction will enjoy one recent invention, the ProtoCycler. Feed it your plastic waste, and it gives you filament for your 3D printer. It is as close as we can get today to Star Trek's replicator. In its day, Bakelite must have felt as revolutionary as that Star Trek replicator still feels to us. Here was a simple, cheap synthetic product that was tough enough to replace ceramic tableware or metal letter openers, yet beautiful enough to be used as jewellery, and could even replace precious ivory. It was a miracle material, even though - like all plastics today - we now take it for granted. But manufacturers today haven't given up on the idea that you can make something precious and practical from something cheap and worthless. The latest techniques \"upcycle\" plastic trash, mixing it with agricultural waste and nanoparticles to create new materials, with new properties. Leo Baekeland would have approved. Tim Harford writes the Financial Times's Undercover Economist column. 50 Things That Made the Modern Economy is broadcast on the BBC World Service. You can find more information about the programme's sources and listen online or subscribe to the programme podcast."}], "question": "Revolutionary?", "id": "1171_1"}]}]}, {"title": "Germany train crash: Evidence of human error", "date": "16 February 2016", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Investigators have blamed a signal controller for the crash of two German commuter trains that killed 11 people and injured more than 80 on 9 February, south-east of Munich. Their conclusion came after hearing from 71 crash survivors, including 19 seriously injured. The head-on collision happened near Bad Aibling, a spa town near the Austrian border, about 60km (37 miles) from the Bavarian capital. A week after the crash, prosecutors said it appeared to be human error but \"not with intent\". An area controller mistakenly opened the track to the two trains. Investigators say the controller also gave a signal to one of the trains that \"should not have been given\". It disabled the automatic safety systems. Realising his mistake, he then issued two emergency signals, the investigators said, but \"they were not picked up\" as it was too late. The trains collided at about 100km/h (60mph), at 06:48 local time (05:48 GMT) during the rush hour. One derailed, ripped apart by the impact, and many carriages were tipped over. Both drivers were among the 11 who died in the crash. There were about 150 people on board - fewer than normal, because schools were closed for carnival holidays and many people had the day off work. Both the drivers were employed by the same company, Meridian, a private firm with the contract for short-distance train services in the area. The controller, a 39-year-old with several years' experience in the job, is likely to be charged with involuntary manslaughter and could face five years in jail. He has been moved to a \"safe location\" and is \"not feeling well\", the prosecutors said. But he is not in preventive detention, because he is not suspected of malicious intent. He underwent a blood test on the day of the crash and did not test positive for alcohol or drugs. Read more: Who owns Bavaria's trains? Train crash: As it happened Investigators say they still need to determine who might have been able to prevent the crash, and at what time. The track was fitted with an automatic braking system. The system is meant to alert the driver when a train is approaching a red light. If the driver does not respond quickly enough, or if the train goes through the red light, the brakes are activated. Officials say the system had passed safety checks and the investigation did not find evidence of any technical malfunction, pointing to the actions of the controller. Trains are equipped with layers and layers of safety features. But even the very last available precaution seems to have failed in this case. Officials say they assume both train drivers also had no visual contact before the crash, as the site is on a bend, so they did not apply the brakes manually. Analysts say there now appears to be a case for making restrictions on manual overrides to the automatic safety systems tighter.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 402, "answer_end": 1367, "text": "A week after the crash, prosecutors said it appeared to be human error but \"not with intent\". An area controller mistakenly opened the track to the two trains. Investigators say the controller also gave a signal to one of the trains that \"should not have been given\". It disabled the automatic safety systems. Realising his mistake, he then issued two emergency signals, the investigators said, but \"they were not picked up\" as it was too late. The trains collided at about 100km/h (60mph), at 06:48 local time (05:48 GMT) during the rush hour. One derailed, ripped apart by the impact, and many carriages were tipped over. Both drivers were among the 11 who died in the crash. There were about 150 people on board - fewer than normal, because schools were closed for carnival holidays and many people had the day off work. Both the drivers were employed by the same company, Meridian, a private firm with the contract for short-distance train services in the area."}], "question": "How did the crash happen?", "id": "1172_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1870, "answer_end": 2831, "text": "Investigators say they still need to determine who might have been able to prevent the crash, and at what time. The track was fitted with an automatic braking system. The system is meant to alert the driver when a train is approaching a red light. If the driver does not respond quickly enough, or if the train goes through the red light, the brakes are activated. Officials say the system had passed safety checks and the investigation did not find evidence of any technical malfunction, pointing to the actions of the controller. Trains are equipped with layers and layers of safety features. But even the very last available precaution seems to have failed in this case. Officials say they assume both train drivers also had no visual contact before the crash, as the site is on a bend, so they did not apply the brakes manually. Analysts say there now appears to be a case for making restrictions on manual overrides to the automatic safety systems tighter."}], "question": "Why did the safety systems fail?", "id": "1172_1"}]}]}, {"title": "Wedding speech dilemma: Time to hear from the bride?", "date": "29 January 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Come May, Meghan Markle is reportedly planning to break with the tradition for royal brides by making a speech at her own wedding reception. In the 21st century it shouldn't really be a surprise to hear a woman speaking at her own wedding. Journalist Sarah Ebner points out that she did this back in 1996. Some traditions seem hard to break, however. A YouGov poll from 2016 found that only 16% of those surveyed thought the bride should give a speech at her wedding. Donna Brown, from Pure Elegance Weddings & Events, estimates that - of the 70 weddings she helped plan in 2017 - only a dozen heard from the bride. She recalls one bridesmaid who was desperate to speak but the bride was unsure whether it was the right thing to do. \"You can bear in mind what etiquette says,\" advises Donna, \"but at the end of the day this is your wedding. \"It is not a Pinterest wedding. Stop striving for something you think you must have.\" Sarah Haywood, wedding planner and author of the Wedding Bible, says around half of the weddings she plans now include a speech from the bride. And Brides editor Jade Beer believes there is \"a growing feeling\" among young women who \"don't want to let all the men speak for them on their wedding day\". The fact that a speech from the bride isn't traditional gives women more freedom in what they can say, according to wedding event manager Annabel Candler. She says that best men or fathers of the bride invariably Google to find out the essentials of what should be in their speech - but brides have no blueprint to follow. And according to Annabel that is an advantage: \"They are standing up because they have something to say that no-one else has.\" So, with that freedom, how should Meghan Markle approach her speech, what are the pitfalls, and are jokes a bad idea? \"Don't steal the show,\" advises wedding speech expert Carole Spiers. She says that, as an actress, Ms Markle could very easily become the star but warns that \"going too Hollywood\" won't work for the royal family at all. Pleasing the monarch and various members of the aristocracy will not be the first thing on most brides' minds. Dealing with nerves is more likely to be an issue but wedding blogger Alison Tinlin says that a wedding speech is easier than normal public speaking because \"you get a burst of adrenaline\". Sarah Haywood agrees and advises brides to rely on the watching guests to help cure a bride of any anxiety. \"You are looking out at a room full of people who know you and care about you. It is not as scary when you're seeing those faces.\" In addition to having a friendly audience, Donna Brown from Pure Elegance Weddings & Events points out that the bride will be looking her best \"which gives you that extra bit of confidence\". For Carole Spiers the key is practice. She says brides should memorise the first two minutes: \"Knowing what your opener will be gives you the confidence to open your mouth.\" Should Meghan Markle include some humour in her speech? As editor of Brides magazine, Jade Beer has seen her fair share of weddings and retains clear memories of the most memorable bridal speech she has sat through. She says: \"I once watched a bride use her wedding speech to compare every member of her wedding party to a different Quality Street chocolate and it was excruciating. \"Don't go for belly laughs unless you can really pull it off,\" she warns. Carole Spiers says light humour can work but jokes are a risk: \"You can deliver it badly or the timing can be off.\" \"Unless you're a comedian, you don't need the stress.\" And smutty jokes are best avoided. A common piece of advice is to keep any speech brief. Sarah Haywood says anything from five to 10 minutes is ideal: \"The best speeches leave you wanting more.\" Even if you only speak for five minutes don't just recite \"a long list of thank-yous,\" says Jade Beer. \"It is boring and everyone will switch off.\" Nick Gold, from the consultancy and booking service Speakers Corner, adds a dose of reality and says \"Most people are just waiting to sip champagne in the honour of the happy couple. \"Anything more than 20 minutes and you'll find yourself toasting a sigh of relief.\"", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 2127, "answer_end": 3583, "text": "Dealing with nerves is more likely to be an issue but wedding blogger Alison Tinlin says that a wedding speech is easier than normal public speaking because \"you get a burst of adrenaline\". Sarah Haywood agrees and advises brides to rely on the watching guests to help cure a bride of any anxiety. \"You are looking out at a room full of people who know you and care about you. It is not as scary when you're seeing those faces.\" In addition to having a friendly audience, Donna Brown from Pure Elegance Weddings & Events points out that the bride will be looking her best \"which gives you that extra bit of confidence\". For Carole Spiers the key is practice. She says brides should memorise the first two minutes: \"Knowing what your opener will be gives you the confidence to open your mouth.\" Should Meghan Markle include some humour in her speech? As editor of Brides magazine, Jade Beer has seen her fair share of weddings and retains clear memories of the most memorable bridal speech she has sat through. She says: \"I once watched a bride use her wedding speech to compare every member of her wedding party to a different Quality Street chocolate and it was excruciating. \"Don't go for belly laughs unless you can really pull it off,\" she warns. Carole Spiers says light humour can work but jokes are a risk: \"You can deliver it badly or the timing can be off.\" \"Unless you're a comedian, you don't need the stress.\" And smutty jokes are best avoided."}], "question": "Nerves?", "id": "1173_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Syria safe zones: Fighting 'eases' as plan takes effect", "date": "6 May 2017", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Fighting has eased in parts of Syria where a Russian-led initiative to halt the country's six-year war took effect from midnight, activists say. The deal unveiled by Russia on Thursday to set up four \"de-escalation zones\" is backed by Turkey and Iran. But the main Syrian opposition grouping says it has little faith in the deal. Elsewhere in Syria, activists say government aircraft have hit central Hama province, and there are reports of shelling and gunfire in other parts. The opposition High Negotiations Committee (HNC), said on Friday the safe zones plan lacked \"safeguards and compliance mechanisms\". It also said it did not accept Iran as a guarantor of the deal. The UN special envoy for Syria, Staffan de Mistura, told the BBC the agreement was important because it was being implemented by three countries who could make it work. The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) said Syrian fighter jets on Saturday bombed rebel positions in Hama. A rebel commander confirmed that fighting had broken out after midnight, Reuters reports. The Syrian military have so far not commented on the issue. The so-called \"memorandum on the creation of de-escalation areas\" was announced by the Russian military after talks in Kazakhstan's capital Astana. Russia's foreign ministry published the full text of the agreement on Saturday. The objective is to halt attacks by all sides and to \"provide the conditions for the safe and voluntary return of refugees\" in addition to the speedy provision of relief supplies and medical aid. The four zones will remain in place for six months, but their borders have to be finalised by Russia, Iran and Turkey by 4 June. Under the plan, the four zones will be established in: - Rebel-held areas in the north-western province of Idlib and adjoining districts of Latakia, Aleppo and Hama - Parts of Homs province in the centre, where rebels hold a stretch of territory - The opposition enclave of Eastern Ghouta, near the capital Damascus - Daraa and Quneitra provinces, in southern Syria, where rebels have a large presence Russian Deputy Defence Minister Alexander Fomin said on Friday that there had been no bombing raids by Russian aviation in the four zones since 1 May. But he stressed that Russia's air force would continue striking militants from the Islamic State (IS) group elsewhere in Syria. The US has expressed concern over Iran, saying the country had \"only contributed to the violence, not stopped it\". The Syrian government of President Bashar al-Assad is not a signatory, but its state news agency has said it supports the plan. The Astana talks were meant to shore up an oft-violated ceasefire which was originally agreed in December. A partial cessation of hostilities was declared at the end of last year, but violence has continued on several fronts. Syria's war has claimed more than 300,000 lives since it erupted in 2011.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1118, "answer_end": 2894, "text": "The so-called \"memorandum on the creation of de-escalation areas\" was announced by the Russian military after talks in Kazakhstan's capital Astana. Russia's foreign ministry published the full text of the agreement on Saturday. The objective is to halt attacks by all sides and to \"provide the conditions for the safe and voluntary return of refugees\" in addition to the speedy provision of relief supplies and medical aid. The four zones will remain in place for six months, but their borders have to be finalised by Russia, Iran and Turkey by 4 June. Under the plan, the four zones will be established in: - Rebel-held areas in the north-western province of Idlib and adjoining districts of Latakia, Aleppo and Hama - Parts of Homs province in the centre, where rebels hold a stretch of territory - The opposition enclave of Eastern Ghouta, near the capital Damascus - Daraa and Quneitra provinces, in southern Syria, where rebels have a large presence Russian Deputy Defence Minister Alexander Fomin said on Friday that there had been no bombing raids by Russian aviation in the four zones since 1 May. But he stressed that Russia's air force would continue striking militants from the Islamic State (IS) group elsewhere in Syria. The US has expressed concern over Iran, saying the country had \"only contributed to the violence, not stopped it\". The Syrian government of President Bashar al-Assad is not a signatory, but its state news agency has said it supports the plan. The Astana talks were meant to shore up an oft-violated ceasefire which was originally agreed in December. A partial cessation of hostilities was declared at the end of last year, but violence has continued on several fronts. Syria's war has claimed more than 300,000 lives since it erupted in 2011."}], "question": "What are the safe zones?", "id": "1174_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Skripal suspects' tourist claims 'offensive to victims'", "date": "13 September 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Claims the suspects in the poisoning of a Russian ex-spy were only in the UK as tourists are \"deeply offensive to the victims\", the UK government has said. The two men told the state-run RT channel they had travelled to Salisbury on the recommendation of friends. Downing Street described the interview as \"lies and blatant fabrications\". The UK believes the men are Russian military intelligence officers who tried to kill ex-spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia in March. The Skripals survived being poisoned by the nerve agent Novichok, but Dawn Sturgess - a woman not connected to the original attack - died in July after being exposed to the same substance. \"The lies and blatant fabrications in this interview given to a Russian state-sponsored TV station are an insult to the public's intelligence,\" Prime Minister Theresa May's spokesman said. \"More importantly, they are deeply offensive to the victims and loved ones of this horrific attack. Sadly, it is what we have come to expect.\" Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt tweeted: \"Time to stop the fake TV shows - the world has found Russia out on this.\" The two suspects have been named as Alexander Petrov and Ruslan Boshirov. On Wednesday Russian President Vladimir Putin said \"there is nothing criminal about them\" and called them \"civilians\". Appearing nervous and uncomfortable, the men confirmed their names as those announced by the UK investigators - Alexander Petrov and Ruslan Boshirov. \"Those are our real names,\" they said. The men said they worked in the sports nutrition business and had travelled to London for a short holiday, fitting in a couple of day trips to Salisbury. \"Our friends had been suggesting for a long time that we visit this wonderful town,\" Mr Petrov said. Mr Boshirov added: \"There is the famous Salisbury cathedral, well known not just across Europe, but probably around the whole world. \"It's known for its 123m-tall spire. It's known for its clock, the first clock to ever be invented in the world, which is still working.\" They said they only stayed an hour in Salisbury on Saturday 3 March because of the snowy weather conditions. Mr Petrov said: \"Of course, we went there to see Stonehenge, Old Sarum, but we couldn't do it because there was muddy slush everywhere.\" They said they returned on Sunday 4 March to visit the sights. The two men admitted they may have passed Mr Skripal's house by chance \"but we don't know where it is located,\" Mr Petrov said. When asked about Novichok, they emphatically denied carrying it, or the modified Nina Ricci perfume bottle which UK investigators say contained the substance. \"For normal blokes, to be carrying women's perfume with us, isn't that silly?\" Mr Boshirov asked. The two men told RT their lives had been \"turned upside down\" by the allegations. \"We're afraid to go out, we fear for ourselves, our lives and lives of our loved ones,\" said Mr Boshirov. RT is Russia's state-run international broadcaster, and the pair were interviewed by its chief editor, Margarita Simonyan. \"Their passports match and the photos and the information from the British side shows it's these people,\" she said. The BBC's Sarah Rainsford in Moscow described the interview as carefully choreographed and bizarre, pointing out that in tone and content it matched the whole Russian response to the case - flat denial mixed with mockery. British police believe the men to be officers of Russian military intelligence, GRU, who may have travelled on false passports to London from Moscow in March. They say the purpose of the men's visit to Salisbury on 3 March was reconnaissance, and on 4 March they returned to apply Novichok to the Skripals' front door. The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) says there is enough evidence to convict the two men, although it is not applying to Russia for their extradition because Russia does not extradite its own nationals. However, a European Arrest Warrant has been obtained in case they travel to the EU, and Home Secretary Sajid Javid has warned that the men will be caught and prosecuted if they ever step out of Russia. BBC security correspondent Gordon Corera The appearance of the two men looks like the next step in the struggle between London and Moscow to convince their own publics and those around the world about their respective cases. The amount of detail put out by British police last week, and the direct accusation that the men were officers in Russian military intelligence, was something the Kremlin will not have wanted to go unchallenged. And the Russian government will be hoping this interview will generate sympathy at home for what are said to be a pair of sports nutrition salesmen who wanted to see a beautiful English cathedral with its 123-metre spire, but who instead have found themselves accused of being assassins. But the risk for Russia is that the interview raises more questions than it answers and offers more details for sceptics to unpick and challenge. How plausible are the men generally and specifically about their reasons for visiting Salisbury? How plausible is their account of their movements around the town when compared to the CCTV? And given the UK has suggested the names they use are pseudonyms, how convincing are their stories about who they are, including their past, their jobs and their travel? - At around 15:00 GMT on Friday 2 March, the two men arrived at Gatwick Airport - Police say they travelled to London Victoria at 17:40 GMT, and were at Waterloo Station between 18:00 and 19:00 GMT before travelling to their London hotel - At 11:45 GMT on Saturday 3 March, they took a train from Waterloo Station to Salisbury - CCTV footage shows the men in Salisbury around 14:25 GMT - The men say they spent less than an hour in Salisbury, deciding against seeing Stonehenge, Old Sarum and Salisbury Cathedral because of \"muddy slush everywhere\" - CCTV footage shows the men taking a train back to London at 16:11 GMT - On Sunday 4 March, CCTV cameras filmed the men arriving at Salisbury train station at 11:48 GMT - Police say they were then seen on CCTV near the home of Sergei Skripal at 11:58 GMT - The men say they then visited Salisbury Cathedral - CCTV footage shows the men leaving Salisbury station at 13:50 GMT - At 19:28 GMT, the men were at Heathrow Airport for an Aeroflot flight to Moscow Yulia Skripal flew in to the UK from Russia on Saturday 3 March to visit her father, Sergei Skripal, a former Russian double agent who was living in Salisbury. They were found \"in an extremely serious condition\" on a bench outside a restaurant in Salisbury on 4 March. They spent weeks in intensive care in hospital before recovering. Ms Skripal was discharged from hospital on 9 April and her father on 18 May. They are both now in a secure location. UK police are linking the attack to a separate Novichok poisoning on 30 June, when Dawn Sturgess and Charlie Rowley fell ill at a house in Amesbury, about 13km (eight miles) away. Police said they were exposed after handling what they believed to be perfume. - Ms Sturgess died in hospital on 8 July.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1307, "answer_end": 3364, "text": "Appearing nervous and uncomfortable, the men confirmed their names as those announced by the UK investigators - Alexander Petrov and Ruslan Boshirov. \"Those are our real names,\" they said. The men said they worked in the sports nutrition business and had travelled to London for a short holiday, fitting in a couple of day trips to Salisbury. \"Our friends had been suggesting for a long time that we visit this wonderful town,\" Mr Petrov said. Mr Boshirov added: \"There is the famous Salisbury cathedral, well known not just across Europe, but probably around the whole world. \"It's known for its 123m-tall spire. It's known for its clock, the first clock to ever be invented in the world, which is still working.\" They said they only stayed an hour in Salisbury on Saturday 3 March because of the snowy weather conditions. Mr Petrov said: \"Of course, we went there to see Stonehenge, Old Sarum, but we couldn't do it because there was muddy slush everywhere.\" They said they returned on Sunday 4 March to visit the sights. The two men admitted they may have passed Mr Skripal's house by chance \"but we don't know where it is located,\" Mr Petrov said. When asked about Novichok, they emphatically denied carrying it, or the modified Nina Ricci perfume bottle which UK investigators say contained the substance. \"For normal blokes, to be carrying women's perfume with us, isn't that silly?\" Mr Boshirov asked. The two men told RT their lives had been \"turned upside down\" by the allegations. \"We're afraid to go out, we fear for ourselves, our lives and lives of our loved ones,\" said Mr Boshirov. RT is Russia's state-run international broadcaster, and the pair were interviewed by its chief editor, Margarita Simonyan. \"Their passports match and the photos and the information from the British side shows it's these people,\" she said. The BBC's Sarah Rainsford in Moscow described the interview as carefully choreographed and bizarre, pointing out that in tone and content it matched the whole Russian response to the case - flat denial mixed with mockery."}], "question": "What do the two Russians say?", "id": "1175_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3365, "answer_end": 4088, "text": "British police believe the men to be officers of Russian military intelligence, GRU, who may have travelled on false passports to London from Moscow in March. They say the purpose of the men's visit to Salisbury on 3 March was reconnaissance, and on 4 March they returned to apply Novichok to the Skripals' front door. The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) says there is enough evidence to convict the two men, although it is not applying to Russia for their extradition because Russia does not extradite its own nationals. However, a European Arrest Warrant has been obtained in case they travel to the EU, and Home Secretary Sajid Javid has warned that the men will be caught and prosecuted if they ever step out of Russia."}], "question": "What are the UK allegations?", "id": "1175_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 6327, "answer_end": 7079, "text": "Yulia Skripal flew in to the UK from Russia on Saturday 3 March to visit her father, Sergei Skripal, a former Russian double agent who was living in Salisbury. They were found \"in an extremely serious condition\" on a bench outside a restaurant in Salisbury on 4 March. They spent weeks in intensive care in hospital before recovering. Ms Skripal was discharged from hospital on 9 April and her father on 18 May. They are both now in a secure location. UK police are linking the attack to a separate Novichok poisoning on 30 June, when Dawn Sturgess and Charlie Rowley fell ill at a house in Amesbury, about 13km (eight miles) away. Police said they were exposed after handling what they believed to be perfume. - Ms Sturgess died in hospital on 8 July."}], "question": "What happened to the Skripals?", "id": "1175_2"}]}]}, {"title": "Teleportation: Photon particles today, humans tomorrow?", "date": "14 July 2017", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Chinese scientists say they have \"teleported\" a photon particle from the ground to a satellite orbiting 1,400km (870 miles) away. For many, however, teleportation evokes something much more exotic. Is a world previously confined to science fiction now becoming reality? Well, sort of. But we are not likely to be beaming ourselves to the office or a beach in the Bahamas anytime soon. Sorry. Simply put, teleportation is transmitting the state of a thing rather than sending the thing itself. Some physicists give the example of a fax machine - it sends information about the marks on a piece of paper rather than the paper itself. The receiving fax machine gets the information and applies it to raw material in the form of paper that is already there. What it is not is teleportation in the Star Trek sense - transferring matter instantly from one location to another - which is how many instinctively see it. Instead, it relies on a phenomenon known as quantum entanglement. Indeed. The phenomenon arises when two particles are created at the same time and place and so effectively have the same existence. This entanglement continues even when the photons are then separated. It means that if one of the photons changes, the other photon in the other location changes too. Prof Sandu Popescu, from Bristol University, has been working on quantum entanglement since the 1990s. \"Even then people were thinking about Star Trek. But we are talking about sending the state of a single particle, not the billions of billions of billions of particles that form a person,\" he says. \"If you are thinking about a remote planet, first you would have to exchange billions of entangled pairs of particles and then you have to send other information as well. This is highly non-trivial. One should not get excited by that.\" Let's go back to our two entangled particles. If a third particle interacts with the first entangled particle, the change that occurs in the entangled particle is mirrored in its twin. So the twin contains information about the third particle and effectively takes on its existence. It has been impossible to create a long-distance link between two entangled particles because an entangled photon can only travel about 150km down a fibre-optic channel before becoming absorbed. Researchers have long seen the potential of a satellite link because photons can travel more easily through space, but it has been difficult to transmit them through the earth's atmosphere - varying atmospheric conditions can deviate the particles. They created 4,000 pairs of quantum-entangled photons per second at their laboratory in Tibet and fired one of the photons from each pair in a beam of light towards a satellite called Micius, named after an ancient Chinese philosopher. Micius has a sensitive photon receiver that can detect the quantum states of single photons fired from the ground. Their report - published online - says it is the first such link for \"faithful and ultra-long-distance quantum teleportation\". \"It is a very nice experiment - I would not have expected everything to have worked so fast and so smoothly,\" says Professor Anton Zeilinger from the University of Vienna, who taught Chinese lead scientist Pan Jianwei. The main goal for quantum teleportation at present is the creation of unhackable communications networks. \"The laws of nature offer protection,\" says Prof Popescu. \"If someone was to intercept the information you could detect it because whenever you try to observe a quantum system you disturb it.\" The Chinese city of Jinan has already begun trials of a secure network based on quantum technology and a network linking Beijing and Shanghai is under development with so-called \"trusted nodes\" every 100km where the quantum signal is measured and sent again, Prof Zeilinger says. \"It is the first quantum internet. Data rates are low so it is not useful for the current internet. But it is useful for refreshing the quantum key used to send encrypted information,\" Prof Zeilinger says. The quantum network could be used for sensitive financial or electoral information, says Professor Ian Walmsley from Oxford University. \"There are significant barriers still to overcome. But this is how transformative change begins,\" he says.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 392, "answer_end": 977, "text": "Simply put, teleportation is transmitting the state of a thing rather than sending the thing itself. Some physicists give the example of a fax machine - it sends information about the marks on a piece of paper rather than the paper itself. The receiving fax machine gets the information and applies it to raw material in the form of paper that is already there. What it is not is teleportation in the Star Trek sense - transferring matter instantly from one location to another - which is how many instinctively see it. Instead, it relies on a phenomenon known as quantum entanglement."}], "question": "How does it work?", "id": "1176_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 978, "answer_end": 1813, "text": "Indeed. The phenomenon arises when two particles are created at the same time and place and so effectively have the same existence. This entanglement continues even when the photons are then separated. It means that if one of the photons changes, the other photon in the other location changes too. Prof Sandu Popescu, from Bristol University, has been working on quantum entanglement since the 1990s. \"Even then people were thinking about Star Trek. But we are talking about sending the state of a single particle, not the billions of billions of billions of particles that form a person,\" he says. \"If you are thinking about a remote planet, first you would have to exchange billions of entangled pairs of particles and then you have to send other information as well. This is highly non-trivial. One should not get excited by that.\""}], "question": "What is quantum entanglement?", "id": "1176_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1814, "answer_end": 2096, "text": "Let's go back to our two entangled particles. If a third particle interacts with the first entangled particle, the change that occurs in the entangled particle is mirrored in its twin. So the twin contains information about the third particle and effectively takes on its existence."}], "question": "How do I teleport a particle?", "id": "1176_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2097, "answer_end": 2540, "text": "It has been impossible to create a long-distance link between two entangled particles because an entangled photon can only travel about 150km down a fibre-optic channel before becoming absorbed. Researchers have long seen the potential of a satellite link because photons can travel more easily through space, but it has been difficult to transmit them through the earth's atmosphere - varying atmospheric conditions can deviate the particles."}], "question": "Sounds great, what's the problem?", "id": "1176_3"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2541, "answer_end": 3237, "text": "They created 4,000 pairs of quantum-entangled photons per second at their laboratory in Tibet and fired one of the photons from each pair in a beam of light towards a satellite called Micius, named after an ancient Chinese philosopher. Micius has a sensitive photon receiver that can detect the quantum states of single photons fired from the ground. Their report - published online - says it is the first such link for \"faithful and ultra-long-distance quantum teleportation\". \"It is a very nice experiment - I would not have expected everything to have worked so fast and so smoothly,\" says Professor Anton Zeilinger from the University of Vienna, who taught Chinese lead scientist Pan Jianwei."}], "question": "What has the Chinese team achieved?", "id": "1176_4"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3238, "answer_end": 4265, "text": "The main goal for quantum teleportation at present is the creation of unhackable communications networks. \"The laws of nature offer protection,\" says Prof Popescu. \"If someone was to intercept the information you could detect it because whenever you try to observe a quantum system you disturb it.\" The Chinese city of Jinan has already begun trials of a secure network based on quantum technology and a network linking Beijing and Shanghai is under development with so-called \"trusted nodes\" every 100km where the quantum signal is measured and sent again, Prof Zeilinger says. \"It is the first quantum internet. Data rates are low so it is not useful for the current internet. But it is useful for refreshing the quantum key used to send encrypted information,\" Prof Zeilinger says. The quantum network could be used for sensitive financial or electoral information, says Professor Ian Walmsley from Oxford University. \"There are significant barriers still to overcome. But this is how transformative change begins,\" he says."}], "question": "If you can't teleport people, why is it exciting?", "id": "1176_5"}]}]}, {"title": "Venezuela 'coup': Alarm grows as court takes power", "date": "31 March 2017", "paragraphs": [{"context": "There have been demonstrations in Venezuela after the Supreme Court took over legislative powers from the National Assembly. Critics say the development takes the country closer to one-man rule under President Nicolas Maduro. Luis Almagro, the secretary general of the Organisation of American States (OAS), described the move as the \"final blow to democracy in the country\". The ruling effectively dissolves the elected legislature which has been dominated by the president's opponents. Mr Almagro also described the move as a \"self-inflicted coup\" by Mr Maduro's government. It comes after months of consolidation of power by the country's president, who is locked in a political struggle with the centre-right opposition. On Thursday the Venezuelan Supreme Court seized power from the opposition-led legislature, a move that could essentially allow it to write laws itself. The court justified the move by saying the National Assembly's lawmakers were \"in a situation of contempt\" after allegations of electoral irregularities by three opposition lawmakers during the 2015 elections. It did not indicate if or when it might hand power back. The court had previously backed the leftist president in his struggles with the legislature - on Tuesday removing parliamentary immunity from the Assembly's members. The move is the latest example of the socialist President Maduro tightening his grip on power, which critics say he has been doing for months, amid a deepening economic crisis in the country. The National Assembly's lawmakers were pictured scuffling with members of the National Guard while protesting outside the court on Thursday. The Speaker of Venezuela's National Assembly, Julio Borges, addressed the media outside the legislative palace in Caracas. He urged the army, which has so far supported the president, to take a stand against him. In a tweet, jailed opposition leader Leopoldo Lopez called on people to take to the streets in order to \"reject dictatorship and rescue democracy\". The crisis has raised international alarm about the stability of Venezuela, which has undergone three attempted military coups since 1992. The US state department called the court's move \"a serious setback for democracy.\" Most regional powers including Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Peru and Chile have warned that the action is a threat to Venezuelan democracy. Leftist-led Bolivia defended President Maduro, who has yet to comment publicly. Venezuela's foreign ministry accused critics of the government of forming a right-wing regional pact against President Maduro. Foreign Minister Delcy Rodriguez described the OAS is a pawn of US \"imperialism\". Tensions have been high in Venezuela because the country has been engulfed by a severe economic crisis. It has the world's highest inflation rate, and the International Monetary Fund predicts it could reach 1,660% next year. The government and opposition blame each other for the country's economic problems. President Maduro has become increasingly unpopular, and the opposition has called for his removal from office and fresh elections.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 725, "answer_end": 2003, "text": "On Thursday the Venezuelan Supreme Court seized power from the opposition-led legislature, a move that could essentially allow it to write laws itself. The court justified the move by saying the National Assembly's lawmakers were \"in a situation of contempt\" after allegations of electoral irregularities by three opposition lawmakers during the 2015 elections. It did not indicate if or when it might hand power back. The court had previously backed the leftist president in his struggles with the legislature - on Tuesday removing parliamentary immunity from the Assembly's members. The move is the latest example of the socialist President Maduro tightening his grip on power, which critics say he has been doing for months, amid a deepening economic crisis in the country. The National Assembly's lawmakers were pictured scuffling with members of the National Guard while protesting outside the court on Thursday. The Speaker of Venezuela's National Assembly, Julio Borges, addressed the media outside the legislative palace in Caracas. He urged the army, which has so far supported the president, to take a stand against him. In a tweet, jailed opposition leader Leopoldo Lopez called on people to take to the streets in order to \"reject dictatorship and rescue democracy\"."}], "question": "What has happened?", "id": "1177_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Citizenship Act protests: Three dead and thousands held in India", "date": "19 December 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Three people have died in India and thousands have been detained amid demonstrations against a controversial new citizenship law. A protest ban has been imposed in parts of the capital Delhi and throughout the states of Uttar Pradesh and Karnataka. The new law offers citizenship to non-Muslim illegal immigrants from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan. Critics fear the law undermines India's secular constitution, and say faith should not be the basis of citizenship. But Prime Minister Narendra Modi has dismissed their concerns, and said the opposition had been spreading lies. There have been days of protests against the law. India's home minister has called a crisis meeting to discuss the demonstrations. Tens of thousands of people took to the streets in cities across the country on Thursday, despite the police order based on a severely restrictive law which prohibits more than four people from gathering in a place. Two people died in the city of Mangalore after officers opened fire on demonstrators allegedly trying to set fire to a police station. Commissioner Dr PS Harsha told reporters that a curfew is in place in the city, and that he was waiting for a post mortem before announcing the cause of death for either man. Internet services have also been suspended in Mangalore for 48 hours. Another man also died in the city of Lucknow, where violent clashes between demonstrators and police earlier in the day saw vehicles set alight. More than a dozen officers were injured and 112 people were reportedly detained in the city. Civil society groups, political parties, students, activists and ordinary citizens put out a steady stream of messages on Instagram and Twitter, urging people to turn out and protest peacefully. Among those who were briefly detained were Ramachandra Guha, a prominent historian and outspoken critic of the government, in the southern city of Bangalore; and political activist Yogendra Yadav in Delhi. Speaking to the BBC's Newshour programme, Mr Guha said he had been arrested with hundreds of others from various different backgrounds, \"which clearly shows that a large section of Indians are actually opposed to this discriminatory legislation\". Thousands gathered to demonstrate in Mumbai. Bollywood actors and filmmakers were expected to join the demonstration there. The law - known as the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) - offers amnesty to non-Muslim illegal immigrants from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan. The federal government says this is to protect religious minorities fleeing persecution in the three Muslim-majority countries. But what has made the law especially controversial is that it comes in the wake of the government's plan to publish a nationwide register of citizens that it says will identify illegal immigrants - namely, anyone who doesn't have the documents to prove that their ancestors lived in India. A National Register of Citizens (NRC) - published in the north-eastern state of Assam - saw 1.9 million people effectively made stateless. The NRC and the Citizenship Amendment Act are closely linked as the latter will protect non-Muslims who are excluded from the register and face the threat of deportation or internment. Many Muslim citizens fear that they could be made stateless if they don't have the necessary documents; and critics also say the law is exclusionary and violates the secular principles enshrined in India's constitution. But Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the law would have \"no effect on citizens of India, including Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, Jains, Christians and Buddhists\". He also blamed the opposition for the protests, accusing them of \"spreading lies and rumours\" and \"instigating violence\"  and \"creating an atmosphere of illusion and falsehood\".", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 2321, "answer_end": 3210, "text": "The law - known as the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) - offers amnesty to non-Muslim illegal immigrants from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan. The federal government says this is to protect religious minorities fleeing persecution in the three Muslim-majority countries. But what has made the law especially controversial is that it comes in the wake of the government's plan to publish a nationwide register of citizens that it says will identify illegal immigrants - namely, anyone who doesn't have the documents to prove that their ancestors lived in India. A National Register of Citizens (NRC) - published in the north-eastern state of Assam - saw 1.9 million people effectively made stateless. The NRC and the Citizenship Amendment Act are closely linked as the latter will protect non-Muslims who are excluded from the register and face the threat of deportation or internment."}], "question": "What is the law about?", "id": "1178_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3211, "answer_end": 3766, "text": "Many Muslim citizens fear that they could be made stateless if they don't have the necessary documents; and critics also say the law is exclusionary and violates the secular principles enshrined in India's constitution. But Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the law would have \"no effect on citizens of India, including Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, Jains, Christians and Buddhists\". He also blamed the opposition for the protests, accusing them of \"spreading lies and rumours\" and \"instigating violence\"  and \"creating an atmosphere of illusion and falsehood\"."}], "question": "Why are people protesting against it?", "id": "1178_1"}]}]}, {"title": "Russia Magnitogorsk blast: Death toll rises to 31", "date": "2 January 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Russian rescuers have now pulled 31 dead bodies from the rubble of a collapsed apartment block in the city of Magnitogorsk. Around 10 people are still listed as missing, rescuers told Russian media. An 11-month-old boy rescued on Tuesday is in a serious but not life-threatening condition after being flown to Moscow for treatment. Officials believe a gas leak was to blame for the blast on New Year's Eve, one of the country's biggest holidays. A day of mourning is being marked in Magnitogorsk, in the Urals region about 1,695km (1,053 miles) east of Moscow. The current temperature there is -15C, and it plunges further overnight. The rescued baby, called Ivan, spent 35 hours in the freezing cold, and was reported to have severe frostbite to his limbs, a head injury and multiple leg fractures. However, Health Minister Veronika Skvortsova told reporters on Wednesday that his head injury was minor and treatment had improved his blood circulation. His mother also survived the suspected gas explosion. The blast ripped through the first floor at 06:02 local time (01:02 GMT), bringing seven upper storeys crashing down. In all, 48 flats - home to 120 people - were wrecked. There was also some damage to nearby sections of the housing block, built in 1973. Investigators have not found any traces of explosive at the scene, and the FSB state security service is treating it as a gas leak accident. However, a criminal investigation has been opened, for suspected criminal negligence. In an apparently unrelated incident, an explosion destroyed a minibus near the apartment block on Tuesday night, killing three people. Investigators say the vehicle was carrying two gas canisters. President Vladimir Putin spoke to officials at the scene on Monday and later met survivors. He was found wrapped in a blanket and in his cot. \"[We made sure there was] silence so we could hear if sounds were coming or not,\" rescuer Pyotr Gritsenko told Russian state TV channel Rossia 24. \"One of the rescuers in our group, Andrei Valman, heard a child crying near the adjacent apartment block, near the part that was still standing. \"After that, we stopped all our equipment in order to make sure again, and listened. When we said 'Quiet!' the baby reacted and went quiet too. When we said 'Where are you?' she started to react again. \"When we were certain, the head of our centre, who is more experienced, said 'This is where we'll work' and told us to start removing the rubble.\" Initially rescuers had thought the baby was a girl.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1779, "answer_end": 2521, "text": "He was found wrapped in a blanket and in his cot. \"[We made sure there was] silence so we could hear if sounds were coming or not,\" rescuer Pyotr Gritsenko told Russian state TV channel Rossia 24. \"One of the rescuers in our group, Andrei Valman, heard a child crying near the adjacent apartment block, near the part that was still standing. \"After that, we stopped all our equipment in order to make sure again, and listened. When we said 'Quiet!' the baby reacted and went quiet too. When we said 'Where are you?' she started to react again. \"When we were certain, the head of our centre, who is more experienced, said 'This is where we'll work' and told us to start removing the rubble.\" Initially rescuers had thought the baby was a girl."}], "question": "How was Ivan found?", "id": "1179_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Chemnitz trial: Syrian jailed over stabbing that sparked German far-right riots", "date": "22 August 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "A Syrian man has been sentenced in Germany to nine and a half years in prison over the fatal stabbing of a man in Chemnitz last year. Alaa Sheikhi, 24, was found guilty of \"joint manslaughter and serious physical injury\" over the death of Daniel Hillig, a 35-year-old carpenter. A second suspect, an Iraqi, is thought to have fled Germany after the attack. The case led to violent protests in Chemnitz, where far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) has strong support. Ahead of his sentencing on Thursday, Sheikhi denied any responsibility for the death of Hillig. Speaking through an interpreter, he said: \"I can only hope that the truth is brought to light here and that a just verdict is pronounced.\" Sheikhi, who had reportedly remained silent throughout the trial, told German public broadcaster ZDF in a telephone interview just two days before the verdict that he did not touch either the victim or the knife that killed him. \"I just ran away,\" he said, adding: \"I swear on my mother I did not touch him.\" The sentencing comes one year after thousands of neo-Nazis marched through Chemnitz, where AfD hopes to increase its share of the vote in elections in Saxony and neighbouring Brandenburg on 1 September. In the early hours of Sunday 26 August 2018, a fierce fight broke out between \"multiple nationalities\" on the sidelines of a street festival in the eastern German region of Chemnitz, near the Saxony capital of Dresden. It remains unclear what triggered the brawl - police at the time dismissed online rumours that Hillig, who had a German mother and a Cuban father, had been defending a woman from sexual assault. During the fight, Hillig was stabbed and critically injured. He later died in hospital of heart and lung wounds. Two other German men with him at the festival, aged 33 and 38 at the time, were seriously hurt, police said. Sheikhi, who arrived in Germany in 2015, was arrested hours after the attack, along with another Iraqi man, who was released due to a lack of evidence. Friends of the victim later told local media that misreporting following the incident had helped fuel far-right protests in the region. Several xenophobic assaults were reported in the days after the attack. They were described as racist \"hunts\" and images emerged showing demonstrators chasing people and flinging bottles and fireworks. The far-right protests, some involving thousands of people, led to violent clashes with police and counter demonstrators. Chemnitz is a region where the AfD party and the Pegida movement are particularly strong. They deplore German Chancellor Angela Merkel's liberal immigration policy. In 2015, Chancellor Merkel decided to let in a record 890,000 asylum seekers. Syrians fleeing the civil war comprised the biggest group.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 2004, "answer_end": 2765, "text": "Friends of the victim later told local media that misreporting following the incident had helped fuel far-right protests in the region. Several xenophobic assaults were reported in the days after the attack. They were described as racist \"hunts\" and images emerged showing demonstrators chasing people and flinging bottles and fireworks. The far-right protests, some involving thousands of people, led to violent clashes with police and counter demonstrators. Chemnitz is a region where the AfD party and the Pegida movement are particularly strong. They deplore German Chancellor Angela Merkel's liberal immigration policy. In 2015, Chancellor Merkel decided to let in a record 890,000 asylum seekers. Syrians fleeing the civil war comprised the biggest group."}], "question": "What about the protests?", "id": "1180_0"}]}]}, {"title": "US diplomats work around White House gay pride flagpole ban", "date": "14 June 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "US diplomats have been finding creative ways to show support for LGBTQ+ Pride month after the White House banned them from flying the rainbow flag. Before this year embassies hoisted the flag on the official embassy flagpole - but this year they had to seek approval from the state department, which reportedly refused all requests. On Tuesday Vice-President Mike Pence said the ban was the \"right decision\". He said there were no restrictions on pride flags elsewhere on the buildings. The Trump administration has appointed several gay ambassadors and Mr Trump has made a statement celebrating Pride month. \"We're proud to be able to serve every American,\" Mr Pence told NBC, but \"when it comes to the American flagpole, and American embassies, and capitals around the world, one American flag flies.\" Mr Pence, an evangelical Christian, opposes gay marriage and has a history of supporting anti-LGBTQ+ legislation. The ban has been backed by prominent evangelical Trump supporter Franklin Graham, who on Sunday tweeted that the gay pride flag was \"offensive to Christians and millions of people of other faiths\". Earlier this month an unnamed diplomat told the Washington Post there was a \"category one insurrection\" against the rainbow flag ban. On Thursday the US Embassy in Jerusalem tweeted a photo of its branch office in Tel Aviv - formerly the embassy before President Trump moved it to Jerusalem - decked out in rainbow colours. It said this was in preparation for Friday's Tel Aviv pride parade. It was among at least four embassies - the others were Germany, Brazil and Latvia - which were denied permission to fly the rainbow flag, the Guardian reported. Despite that, the US missions in the South Korean capital Seoul and the Indian city of Chennai hung large rainbow flags on their facades. The flag in Seoul was taken down on Sunday, local media reported. An embassy spokesperson told Yonhap that the flag had been taken down at the conclusion of the Seoul Queer Culture Festival. However the various efforts made by US missions to show solidarity with LGBTQ+ people has not pleased everyone. Norwegian Christian pastor Jan-Aage Torp tweeted a picture of the US embassy in Oslo, saying that the rainbow flag dwarfed the Stars and Stripes. \"Is this ok?\" he asked. Some other embassies and ambassadors have also expressed support for LGBTQ+ Pride. The US embassy in the Mongolian capital Ulaanbaatar tweeted a picture of a Pride flag on its railings with the Stars and Stripes flying in the background. Randy Berry, the US ambassador to Nepal, tweeted that he was celebrating Pride month and reaffirmed \"the US commitment to defending human rights for all\".", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1250, "answer_end": 2672, "text": "On Thursday the US Embassy in Jerusalem tweeted a photo of its branch office in Tel Aviv - formerly the embassy before President Trump moved it to Jerusalem - decked out in rainbow colours. It said this was in preparation for Friday's Tel Aviv pride parade. It was among at least four embassies - the others were Germany, Brazil and Latvia - which were denied permission to fly the rainbow flag, the Guardian reported. Despite that, the US missions in the South Korean capital Seoul and the Indian city of Chennai hung large rainbow flags on their facades. The flag in Seoul was taken down on Sunday, local media reported. An embassy spokesperson told Yonhap that the flag had been taken down at the conclusion of the Seoul Queer Culture Festival. However the various efforts made by US missions to show solidarity with LGBTQ+ people has not pleased everyone. Norwegian Christian pastor Jan-Aage Torp tweeted a picture of the US embassy in Oslo, saying that the rainbow flag dwarfed the Stars and Stripes. \"Is this ok?\" he asked. Some other embassies and ambassadors have also expressed support for LGBTQ+ Pride. The US embassy in the Mongolian capital Ulaanbaatar tweeted a picture of a Pride flag on its railings with the Stars and Stripes flying in the background. Randy Berry, the US ambassador to Nepal, tweeted that he was celebrating Pride month and reaffirmed \"the US commitment to defending human rights for all\"."}], "question": "How have US missions shown support for Pride?", "id": "1181_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Hong Kong protests: Police fire tear gas at activists", "date": "3 August 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Hong Kong police have fired tear gas at protesters who are demonstrating for the ninth weekend in a row. Groups rallied in the Mong Kok district before starting their march. They called on others to join a city-wide strike planned for Monday. Beijing and the Chinese army have issued stern warnings about the unrest. Two months of demonstrations sparked by a controversial extradition bill show no signs of abating, with both sides hardening their stance. Although the government has now suspended the bill, which would have allowed extraditions to mainland China, demonstrators want the bill fully withdrawn. Their demands have broadened to include calls for more democracy and for Hong Kong's leader Carrie Lam to resign. Hong Kong - a former British colony - is part of China but enjoys unique freedoms not seen on the mainland. Protesters initially gathered in Mong Kok, a Hong Kong district where violent clashes took place during pro-democracy protests in 2014. A group of demonstrators briefly blocked access to the Cross Harbour Tunnel, causing traffic chaos, while others set up make-shift barricades on shopping streets. As the demonstrations dragged into the night, protesters gathered outside the police station in Tsim Sha Tsui district. Officers then fired tear gas at the activists. A police statement said the \"radical\" group had set fires nearby and had thrown bricks into the building, according to The South China Morning Post. \"Police appeal to everyone at the scene to leave immediately and we express strong condemnation of such violent acts.\" Saturday's march comes after a group of civil servants - ordered to be politically neutral - joined demonstrations in their thousands on Friday. The rally followed the publication of an anonymous letter on Facebook complaining about \"extreme oppression\" and listing five key demands - the complete withdrawal of the extradition bill; waiving charges against those arrested; an end to descriptions of protests as \"rioting\"; an independent inquiry into the unrest; and resuming political reforms. \"I think the government should respond to the demands, instead of pushing the police to the frontline as a shield,\" 26-year-old government worker Kathy Yip told Reuters news agency. Supporters of Hong Kong's police force also gathered earlier on Saturday for a rally in Victoria Park. \"I really feel upset about the violence that we are seeing in Hong Kong everyday,\" bank worker Evan told Reuters. \"The protesters are now not listening to the government, they are not listening to the police.\" Some unions and organisations have reportedly already agreed to take part in the strike planned for Monday. There are also further demonstrations planned for Sunday. More than 40 activists appeared in court on Wednesday, charged with rioting after protests last Sunday turned violent. They could face up to 10 years behind bars if convicted. Tensions rose further when the military - which has not yet intervened in the unrest - posted a video on social media network Weibo showing soldiers conducting anti-riot drills. Chen Daoxing, commander of the territory's People's Liberation Army (PLA) garrison, said the protests \"should not be tolerated\", according to reports in the South China Morning Post, a Hong Kong newspaper.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 832, "answer_end": 2721, "text": "Protesters initially gathered in Mong Kok, a Hong Kong district where violent clashes took place during pro-democracy protests in 2014. A group of demonstrators briefly blocked access to the Cross Harbour Tunnel, causing traffic chaos, while others set up make-shift barricades on shopping streets. As the demonstrations dragged into the night, protesters gathered outside the police station in Tsim Sha Tsui district. Officers then fired tear gas at the activists. A police statement said the \"radical\" group had set fires nearby and had thrown bricks into the building, according to The South China Morning Post. \"Police appeal to everyone at the scene to leave immediately and we express strong condemnation of such violent acts.\" Saturday's march comes after a group of civil servants - ordered to be politically neutral - joined demonstrations in their thousands on Friday. The rally followed the publication of an anonymous letter on Facebook complaining about \"extreme oppression\" and listing five key demands - the complete withdrawal of the extradition bill; waiving charges against those arrested; an end to descriptions of protests as \"rioting\"; an independent inquiry into the unrest; and resuming political reforms. \"I think the government should respond to the demands, instead of pushing the police to the frontline as a shield,\" 26-year-old government worker Kathy Yip told Reuters news agency. Supporters of Hong Kong's police force also gathered earlier on Saturday for a rally in Victoria Park. \"I really feel upset about the violence that we are seeing in Hong Kong everyday,\" bank worker Evan told Reuters. \"The protesters are now not listening to the government, they are not listening to the police.\" Some unions and organisations have reportedly already agreed to take part in the strike planned for Monday. There are also further demonstrations planned for Sunday."}], "question": "What's the latest?", "id": "1182_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2722, "answer_end": 3281, "text": "More than 40 activists appeared in court on Wednesday, charged with rioting after protests last Sunday turned violent. They could face up to 10 years behind bars if convicted. Tensions rose further when the military - which has not yet intervened in the unrest - posted a video on social media network Weibo showing soldiers conducting anti-riot drills. Chen Daoxing, commander of the territory's People's Liberation Army (PLA) garrison, said the protests \"should not be tolerated\", according to reports in the South China Morning Post, a Hong Kong newspaper."}], "question": "How have tensions risen this week?", "id": "1182_1"}]}]}, {"title": "Jeffrey Epstein case: FBI 'investigating Ghislaine Maxwell'", "date": "27 December 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell and others are under FBI investigation following the Jeffrey Epstein case, sources have told US and other media. They face investigation over possible crimes linked to the sex trafficking charges laid against the US financier before he killed himself in August. Ms Maxwell, a long-time Epstein friend, has not been accused by the authorities of wrongdoing. Epstein had been charged with the sex trafficking of dozens of girls. He was arrested earlier this year following allegations he was running a \"vast network\" of underage girls - some as young as 14 - for sex. He pleaded not guilty. The FBI investigation was initially reported by Reuters, quoting law enforcement sources. Neither Reuters nor other US news agencies who reached out to Ms Maxwell's lawyers received a response, and the FBI declined to comment. The inquiry is believed to be in the early stages and no new charges are pending. The sources have not revealed any other names of those being investigated or more details of any possible crimes, beyond saying it concerned people who may have facilitated Epstein's alleged actions. Reuters said there were no plans to interview Prince Andrew, as he did not fit into that category. Prince Andrew was also a friend of Epstein's. In November, the prince stepped away from Royal Family duties, saying the Epstein scandal had become a \"major disruption\" to the family. The prince said he regretted his \"ill-judged association with Jeffrey Epstein\" but did not witness or suspect any suspicious behaviour during his visits to Epstein's homes. Ms Maxwell is the daughter of late British media mogul Robert Maxwell and a former girlfriend of Epstein. A well-connected socialite, she is said to have introduced Epstein to many of her wealthy and powerful friends, including Bill Clinton and the Duke of York. She has mostly been out of public view since 2016 and her whereabouts are unknown. An alleged Epstein victim, Virginia Giuffre, said in a civil lawsuit that Ms Maxwell had recruited her into the financier's circle, allegations Ms Maxwell denies. Other women have also made allegations that Ms Maxwell was involved. One, Sarah Ransome, told the BBC's Panorama that Ms Maxwell \"controlled the girls. She was like the Madam\". Ms Maxwell has denied any involvement in, or knowledge of, Epstein's alleged abuses. Allegations against Epstein had dated back years before the parents of a 14-year-old girl said he had molested her in 2005. Under a legal deal, he avoided federal charges and since 2008 was listed as level three on the New York sex offenders register. But he was arrested again in New York on 6 July this year and accused of sex trafficking of underage girls. He was found unresponsive in his New York cell on 10 August and the death was later determined to be suicide.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 625, "answer_end": 1588, "text": "The FBI investigation was initially reported by Reuters, quoting law enforcement sources. Neither Reuters nor other US news agencies who reached out to Ms Maxwell's lawyers received a response, and the FBI declined to comment. The inquiry is believed to be in the early stages and no new charges are pending. The sources have not revealed any other names of those being investigated or more details of any possible crimes, beyond saying it concerned people who may have facilitated Epstein's alleged actions. Reuters said there were no plans to interview Prince Andrew, as he did not fit into that category. Prince Andrew was also a friend of Epstein's. In November, the prince stepped away from Royal Family duties, saying the Epstein scandal had become a \"major disruption\" to the family. The prince said he regretted his \"ill-judged association with Jeffrey Epstein\" but did not witness or suspect any suspicious behaviour during his visits to Epstein's homes."}], "question": "What details are there of the investigation?", "id": "1183_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1589, "answer_end": 2359, "text": "Ms Maxwell is the daughter of late British media mogul Robert Maxwell and a former girlfriend of Epstein. A well-connected socialite, she is said to have introduced Epstein to many of her wealthy and powerful friends, including Bill Clinton and the Duke of York. She has mostly been out of public view since 2016 and her whereabouts are unknown. An alleged Epstein victim, Virginia Giuffre, said in a civil lawsuit that Ms Maxwell had recruited her into the financier's circle, allegations Ms Maxwell denies. Other women have also made allegations that Ms Maxwell was involved. One, Sarah Ransome, told the BBC's Panorama that Ms Maxwell \"controlled the girls. She was like the Madam\". Ms Maxwell has denied any involvement in, or knowledge of, Epstein's alleged abuses."}], "question": "Who is Ghislaine Maxwell?", "id": "1183_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2360, "answer_end": 2829, "text": "Allegations against Epstein had dated back years before the parents of a 14-year-old girl said he had molested her in 2005. Under a legal deal, he avoided federal charges and since 2008 was listed as level three on the New York sex offenders register. But he was arrested again in New York on 6 July this year and accused of sex trafficking of underage girls. He was found unresponsive in his New York cell on 10 August and the death was later determined to be suicide."}], "question": "What happened to Epstein?", "id": "1183_2"}]}]}, {"title": "Emmanuel Macron calls for 'EU renaissance' ahead of polls", "date": "5 March 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "French President Emmanuel Macron has proposed a series of reforms to ensure the future of the European Union. In an opinion piece published in newspapers across Europe, he calls for the creation of an agency to protect the bloc against cyber-attacks. Ahead of May's European elections, he advocates a ban on foreign powers financing European political parties. And he suggests the British people were not properly informed before voting to leave the EU. Mr Macron set out his proposals for a \"European renaissance\" in an open letter addressed directly to the \"citizens of Europe\", which was published in newspapers in all 28 EU member states. In his letter, Mr Macron says the EU as an institution needs a major shake-up if it is to stop member states \"retreating into nationalism\" - a direct reference to Brexit. \"Who told the British people the truth about their post-Brexit future?\" he asks, using the UK's withdrawal from the union as an example of the EU being in crisis. \"Who spoke to them about losing access to the EU market? Who mentioned the risks to peace in Ireland of restoring the border?\" He describes the EU as \"not just an economic market\" but a \"project\", before going on to set out his \"roadmap for the EU\". In his open letter to Europe, Mr Macron proposes the creation of several new bodies that would oversee change within the EU. They are: - European Agency for the Protection of Democracies, to protect against cyber attacks, the spread of fake news, and to ban foreign powers from funding European political parties - European Council for Internal Security, which would comprise a Europe-wide border force agency and asylum office, and a European security council that would have \"the UK on board\" - An EU minimum wage, which would be \"appropriate to each country\" and negotiated collectively on an annual basis, and a guarantee that EU citizens would get \"the same pay for the same work\" - European Climate Bank, which would finance the EU's transition to his suggested environmental targets, \"zero carbon by 2050 and pesticides halved by 2025\" - A European food safety force, to \"improve our food controls\" and protect them from the \"lobby threat\" with \"independent scientific assessment of substances hazardous to the environment and health\" - A Conference for Europe, which Mr Macron wants the EU to set up by the end of this year, so that changes can be proposed and approved by representatives from EU institutions and member states By Hugh Schofield, BBC News, Paris For months President Macron has been forced to concentrate on home affairs, thanks to the \"gilets jaunes\" (yellow-vest) movement. But that crisis is waning. So now, with EU elections approaching in May, is the moment to fire an opening salvo in that campaign, and return to his big theme of European renewal. We have been here before. Before his election he campaigned under a blue European flag, and in his Sorbonne speech of September 2017 he promised a new era of Franco-German unity at the heart of an invigorated EU. The results have been, to say the least, disappointing. Now he is back with more of the vision thing, but this time observers detect a shift. Today the focus seems to be more on protection, defence and borders - rather than economic and social convergence; and more on intergovernmental cooperation, rather than federalism.  A nod perhaps to the power of his foes, and their \"populist\" rationale. First, Mr Macron says a new European Agency for the Protection of Democracies should be set up to provide each member state with experts who can protect their election processes from cyber-attacks, and manipulation from foreign powers. \"Our first freedom is democratic freedom,\" he writes. \"The freedom to chose our leaders as foreign powers seek to influence our votes at every election.\" He then adds that \"we should also ban the funding of European political parties by foreign powers\". This is seen as a reference both to claims of Russian links to elements of the Brexit campaign, and to the controversy over Russian financing of the far-right French political party, National Front. As well as this, the French president says, the EU should bring in rules \"banishing incitement to hatred and violence from the internet\". He also says the EU should write up a new treaty of defence and security, and set up a European security council, which would include the UK. In 2017, France said it had been targeted by 24,000 cyber-attacks in a year - and warned that it could be hit by a campaign like the one thought to have targeted the 2016 US election. And the European Innovation Council, which already exists, should be given a larger budget \"on a par with the United States\" in order to support research into new technologies, such as artificial intelligence (AI). Mr Macron then goes on to say that those who want to belong to the visa-free Schengen area should accept both stricter controls on outer borders, and a common asylum policy for migrants. At the moment, different Schengen member states are able to have wildly different policies on asylum and immigration. Germany, for instance, accepted about 1.2 million asylum seekers during the 2015-16 crisis, while Hungary passed a law criminalising lawyers and activists who helped asylum seekers. \"We will need a common border force and a European asylum office, strict control obligations and European solidarity to which each country will contribute under the authority of a European Council for Internal Security,\" he writes. The French president then suggests bringing in new social security measures for EU citizens, including a new \"EU minimum wage\" that would be \"appropriate to each country, negotiated collectively every year\". He also says that the EU should have a \"social shield\" that would guarantee that workers doing the same job get the same pay. \"[Europe] needs to drive forward a project of convergence rather than competition,\" he adds. Mr Macron also proposes new EU-wide environmental targets - \"zero carbon by 2050 and pesticides halved by 2025\" - which would be financed by a new European Climate Bank. A new \"European food safety force\" would enforce the EU's food controls, while funding independent scientific research to combat the influence of corporate lobbies. \"We can't let nationalists with no solutions exploit people's anger,\" he concludes. \"We can't sleepwalk to a diminished Europe... European humanism demands action.\"", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 2463, "answer_end": 3416, "text": "By Hugh Schofield, BBC News, Paris For months President Macron has been forced to concentrate on home affairs, thanks to the \"gilets jaunes\" (yellow-vest) movement. But that crisis is waning. So now, with EU elections approaching in May, is the moment to fire an opening salvo in that campaign, and return to his big theme of European renewal. We have been here before. Before his election he campaigned under a blue European flag, and in his Sorbonne speech of September 2017 he promised a new era of Franco-German unity at the heart of an invigorated EU. The results have been, to say the least, disappointing. Now he is back with more of the vision thing, but this time observers detect a shift. Today the focus seems to be more on protection, defence and borders - rather than economic and social convergence; and more on intergovernmental cooperation, rather than federalism.  A nod perhaps to the power of his foes, and their \"populist\" rationale."}], "question": "Why now?", "id": "1184_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Mariano Rajoy: Spanish PM forced out of office", "date": "1 June 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy has been forced out of office by a no-confidence vote in parliament. Socialist leader Pedro Sanchez, who filed the motion after Mr Rajoy's party was implicated in a corruption scandal, will become prime minister. \"We're going to sign a new page in the history of democracy in our country,\" Mr Sanchez said ahead of Friday's vote. Mr Rajoy is the first prime minister in modern Spanish history to be defeated in a no-confidence motion. The leader of the conservative Popular Party (PP) has been prime minister since 2011. During the second day of debate on Friday, Mr Rajoy admitted facing defeat and told MPs that it has been \"an honour to leave a better Spain than I found\". Mr Sanchez secured a majority in the vote after gaining support from various smaller parties, including the Basque Nationalist Party - 180 MPs backed the motion, 169 voted against, with one abstention. Mr Sanchez says Mr Rajoy, 63, had failed to take responsibility for his party's involvement in the scandal, which hit the headlines again last week after one of its former treasurers was given a 33-year jail sentence. The High Court in Madrid convicted Luis Barcenas of receiving bribes, money laundering and tax crimes. The case centred on a secret campaign fund which the PP ran from 1999 until 2005. Many Spanish voters, exasperated by corruption scandals involving the traditional centre-right PP and centre-left Socialist parties, have abandoned them for newcomers like the left-wing Podemos (We Can) and pro-market Ciudadanos (Citizens), as well as regional parties. Analysis by Gavin Lee, BBC Europe reporter Mariano Rajoy walked out of Congress and out of a job this afternoon. With a fixed smile, he hugged his staff who cheered and lined the way to the last ride in his parliamentary car. Cheers turned to boos outside the parliament's gates, with hundreds of protesters screaming \"Good riddance\", and placards which read \"PP - Corrupting Spain since 1990\". The party was explicitly linked to what the judge called \"institutionalised corruption\" and questioned the court testimony of the now-former PM. Mr Rajoy, the seemingly bulletproof leader who had long resisted calls for his resignation and who survived a previous no-confidence vote, has gone. His successor, Pedro Sanchez, nicknamed \"Mr Handsome\", now has several expectant parties with conflicting interests to see to, for agreeing to oust Mr Rajoy. It's been dubbed the \"Frankenstein coalition\" because while many are optimistic for a new kind of politics without corruption, some critics say he may instead have created a political monster. Profile by Guy Hedgecoe, BBC News, Madrid Pedro Sanchez emerged as a virtual unknown to win the Spanish Socialist party premiership in 2014. The photogenic economist and former basketball player won members over with a promise to unite a divided party and put the Socialists back in power. Yet he subsequently suffered two humbling election defeats, in 2015 and 2016. He was eventually forced to resign after his refusal to back Mariano Rajoy in an investiture vote plunged the country into a prolonged political stalemate and his party into bitter infighting. Months later he confounded his many critics by returning to win the Socialist primary. Spain's constitution states that the party presenting a no-confidence motion must be prepared to govern and replace the deposed prime minister if a parliamentary majority backs it. Therefore this moderate but ambitious 46-year-old from Madrid is set to be Spain's new prime minister, despite the fact that his party commands less than a quarter of seats in Congress. Mr Rajoy's departure casts the EU's fifth-largest economy into political uncertainty. Mr Sanchez is expected to be sworn in at the weekend and to name a cabinet next week. Although he leads the Socialist PSOE party, he is not a member of parliament. Correspondents say that with only 84 lower house seats, the party will struggle to find allies to get legislation enacted. Mr Sanchez is expected to get support from Podemos. Smaller groups - including Basque and Catalan nationalists - supported the no-confidence motion, but it is unclear whether they will back the new government. The Ciudadanos party, which had been doing well in opinion polls, supported Mr Rajoy.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 915, "answer_end": 1587, "text": "Mr Sanchez says Mr Rajoy, 63, had failed to take responsibility for his party's involvement in the scandal, which hit the headlines again last week after one of its former treasurers was given a 33-year jail sentence. The High Court in Madrid convicted Luis Barcenas of receiving bribes, money laundering and tax crimes. The case centred on a secret campaign fund which the PP ran from 1999 until 2005. Many Spanish voters, exasperated by corruption scandals involving the traditional centre-right PP and centre-left Socialist parties, have abandoned them for newcomers like the left-wing Podemos (We Can) and pro-market Ciudadanos (Citizens), as well as regional parties."}], "question": "Why was the vote called?", "id": "1185_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2628, "answer_end": 3642, "text": "Profile by Guy Hedgecoe, BBC News, Madrid Pedro Sanchez emerged as a virtual unknown to win the Spanish Socialist party premiership in 2014. The photogenic economist and former basketball player won members over with a promise to unite a divided party and put the Socialists back in power. Yet he subsequently suffered two humbling election defeats, in 2015 and 2016. He was eventually forced to resign after his refusal to back Mariano Rajoy in an investiture vote plunged the country into a prolonged political stalemate and his party into bitter infighting. Months later he confounded his many critics by returning to win the Socialist primary. Spain's constitution states that the party presenting a no-confidence motion must be prepared to govern and replace the deposed prime minister if a parliamentary majority backs it. Therefore this moderate but ambitious 46-year-old from Madrid is set to be Spain's new prime minister, despite the fact that his party commands less than a quarter of seats in Congress."}], "question": "Who is the new prime minister?", "id": "1185_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3643, "answer_end": 4311, "text": "Mr Rajoy's departure casts the EU's fifth-largest economy into political uncertainty. Mr Sanchez is expected to be sworn in at the weekend and to name a cabinet next week. Although he leads the Socialist PSOE party, he is not a member of parliament. Correspondents say that with only 84 lower house seats, the party will struggle to find allies to get legislation enacted. Mr Sanchez is expected to get support from Podemos. Smaller groups - including Basque and Catalan nationalists - supported the no-confidence motion, but it is unclear whether they will back the new government. The Ciudadanos party, which had been doing well in opinion polls, supported Mr Rajoy."}], "question": "What happens now?", "id": "1185_2"}]}]}, {"title": "Why did gay Muslim comics disappear from Instagram?", "date": "15 February 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Earlier this week, an Instagram account which posted comic strips depicting the struggles of gay Muslims in Indonesia vanished from the social media site. Indonesia's communications ministry was quick to claim credit, saying it had asked Instagram to take the account down because it contained \"pornographic content\". Instagram later denied this claim, saying it had not removed the account. So where has it disappeared to, and why? The Instagram account - under the username @Alpantuni - featured comic strips that showed the abuse and discrimination faced by a gay Muslim character. It had almost 6,000 followers. One comic showed the character being told to \"burn in hell\" and having faeces thrown at him. Local media outlets say the communications ministry had threatened to block Instagram if @Alpantuni's account was not removed. According to BBC Indonesia, the ministry also said the public had \"participated in reporting the account... to speed up the takedown process\". But Instagram told the BBC the ministry's version of events is wrong. In a statement, the social network said it \"did not remove this account\", adding that there are \"a number of other reasons why an account may no longer be accessible, including, for example, if the account holder deleted the account, deactivated the account, or changed the account username.\" It also added that it had \"reviewed the account against our community guidelines and found that it does not violate our policies.\" The account has divided people in Indonesia. Some expressed anger over its content. One Instagram user had asked others to report it, saying its depiction of gay Muslims was not \"feasible\". But others defended the account, saying it was just depicting life for gay Muslims in Indonesia. One lecturer at the Fahmina Institute of Islamic Studies said he objected to the comics. \"There is a problem. [Even when the] heterosexuals show sexual relations, it is still considered taboo in Indonesia. For some people, this [comics] can be considered [to be] disrespecting Islam,\" Abdul Muiz Ghazali told BBC Indonesia. Another sociology professor expressed similar opinions. Neng Dara Affifah told BBC Indonesia that though there was no element of pornography in the comics, some of the the contents were \"counterproductive\". It's not clear at this stage. In screenshots of his comics on Instagram, @Alpantuni had added logos from Facebook and Twitter - showing that he previously had accounts there too. He has now vanished from all three platforms. Instagram remains the only one the government has spoken out about. \"By falsely boasting of Instagram's removal of a harmless account at their demand, the government has misled the public to sow fear among LGBTI people,\" said Amnesty International's Indonesia Executive Director Usman Hamid in a statement. \"At a time when LGBTI people in the country face routine repression... it's vital that social media remain a safe space for anyone to peacefully express themselves.\" In recent years Indonesia has shown increasing hostility towards its LGBT community. Homosexuality is not illegal, however, except in the conservative province of Aceh - the only one that implements strict Islamic law. Last year, Blued - one of the world's largest gay dating apps - was pulled from Indonesia's Google store in response to government demands. Two gay men were also publicly caned - receiving 85 lashes each - in Aceh last year. The pair, aged 20 and 23, had been found in bed together.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 433, "answer_end": 1048, "text": "The Instagram account - under the username @Alpantuni - featured comic strips that showed the abuse and discrimination faced by a gay Muslim character. It had almost 6,000 followers. One comic showed the character being told to \"burn in hell\" and having faeces thrown at him. Local media outlets say the communications ministry had threatened to block Instagram if @Alpantuni's account was not removed. According to BBC Indonesia, the ministry also said the public had \"participated in reporting the account... to speed up the takedown process\". But Instagram told the BBC the ministry's version of events is wrong."}], "question": "What happened?", "id": "1186_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1473, "answer_end": 2290, "text": "The account has divided people in Indonesia. Some expressed anger over its content. One Instagram user had asked others to report it, saying its depiction of gay Muslims was not \"feasible\". But others defended the account, saying it was just depicting life for gay Muslims in Indonesia. One lecturer at the Fahmina Institute of Islamic Studies said he objected to the comics. \"There is a problem. [Even when the] heterosexuals show sexual relations, it is still considered taboo in Indonesia. For some people, this [comics] can be considered [to be] disrespecting Islam,\" Abdul Muiz Ghazali told BBC Indonesia. Another sociology professor expressed similar opinions. Neng Dara Affifah told BBC Indonesia that though there was no element of pornography in the comics, some of the the contents were \"counterproductive\"."}], "question": "What's the public reaction been?", "id": "1186_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2291, "answer_end": 3490, "text": "It's not clear at this stage. In screenshots of his comics on Instagram, @Alpantuni had added logos from Facebook and Twitter - showing that he previously had accounts there too. He has now vanished from all three platforms. Instagram remains the only one the government has spoken out about. \"By falsely boasting of Instagram's removal of a harmless account at their demand, the government has misled the public to sow fear among LGBTI people,\" said Amnesty International's Indonesia Executive Director Usman Hamid in a statement. \"At a time when LGBTI people in the country face routine repression... it's vital that social media remain a safe space for anyone to peacefully express themselves.\" In recent years Indonesia has shown increasing hostility towards its LGBT community. Homosexuality is not illegal, however, except in the conservative province of Aceh - the only one that implements strict Islamic law. Last year, Blued - one of the world's largest gay dating apps - was pulled from Indonesia's Google store in response to government demands. Two gay men were also publicly caned - receiving 85 lashes each - in Aceh last year. The pair, aged 20 and 23, had been found in bed together."}], "question": "So what really happened to the account?", "id": "1186_2"}]}]}, {"title": "Trump: Billion dollar losses were 'for tax purposes'", "date": "8 May 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "President Trump has said the losses his business made in the eighties and nineties were \"for tax purposes\". He was tweeting in reply to a New York Times (NYT) article claiming that from 1985-95 he made losses of over $1bn. The newspaper said that Mr Trump's property empire from 1985 \"continued to lose money every year, totalling $1.17bn in losses for the decade\". Mr Trump tweeted \"You always wanted to show losses... and often re-negotiate with banks, it was sport.\" The NYT said that while Mr Trump has always described himself as a successful property tycoon he was for at least a decade during the eighties and nineties making huge losses on his core businesses, largely casinos, hotels and retail space in apartment buildings. It wrote: \"Year after year, Mr Trump appears to have lost more money than nearly any other individual American taxpayer, The Times found when it compared his results with detailed information the [Internal Revenue Service or I.R.S.] compiles on an annual sampling of high-income earners. \"His core business losses in 1990 and 1991 -- more than $250m each year -- were more than double those of the nearest taxpayers in the I.R.S. information for those years.\" \"Overall, Mr Trump lost so much money that he was able to avoid paying income taxes for eight of the 10 years.\" Apart from calling the NYT story old, inaccurate and \"Fake News\", Mr Trump claimed that : \"Real estate developers in the 1980's & 1990's, more than 30 years ago, were entitled to massive write offs and depreciation which would, if one was actively building, show losses and tax losses in almost all cases. \"Much was non monetary. Sometimes considered 'tax shelter,' you would get it by building, or even buying.\" Steve Rosenthal, a tax lawyer and policy analyst, explained that tax relief for property development in the US was, and still is, very generous. Mr Rosenthal said Mr Trump borrowed heavily and used tax relief available on income generated by borrowed funds. But when Mr Trump defaulted on those borrowings and re-negotiated his loans that relief should, in theory, have ended. Mr Rosenthal wrote a paper called Protecting Trump's $916 Million of NOLs  (net operating losses). In it he said: \"Documents filed in the bankruptcy court suggest that Trump aggressively stretched the law to side-step hundreds of millions of dollars of taxable income from restructuring his public debt.\" Mr Rosenthal tweeted his response  to the president: \"Sure, Trump operated his businesses at a spectacular loss. But he borrowed, spent, and deducted money from other people. And, after he defaulted on the funds he borrowed, he did not report income.\" The NYT has said it was unable to obtain Mr Trump's tax returns but received the information contained in them from someone who had legal access to it. The NYT said it \"was then able to find matching results in the I.R.S information on top earners -- a publicly available database that each year comprises a one-third sampling of those taxpayers, with identifying details removed.\" President Trump has consistently refused to publish his tax returns and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin on Tuesday refused a request from Democratic lawmakers for Mr Trump's more recent returns. Mr Mnuchin said the request \"lacks a legitimate purpose,\" and raised constitutional questions and threatened taxpayer privacy. The NYT has been unapologetically critical of Mr Trump's presidency and in June 2017 published an article entitled: \"Trump's Lies: The Definitive List\". In September last year, the paper published an anonymous piece called \"I am Part of the Resistance Inside the Trump Administration\" which claimed that there were officials within the President's White House who had \"vowed to thwart parts of his agenda and his worst inclinations\". In October last year, the NYT published an article detailing how Mr Trump had inherited hundreds of millions of dollars from his father's real estate empire through \"dubious tax schemes\", contradicting the President's claims that \"I built what I built myself.\" Mr Trump calls the NYT The Failing New York Times. After the publication of the \"Resistance\" piece in the NYT Mr Trump called for the paper to reveal the identity of the writer which the paper said \"is known to us\". Mr Trump described the article in a tweet as \"TREASON?\" Then in a follow up tweet, he wrote: \"If the GUTLESS anonymous person does indeed exist, the Times must, for National Security purposes, turn him/her over to government at once.\"", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 470, "answer_end": 1305, "text": "The NYT said that while Mr Trump has always described himself as a successful property tycoon he was for at least a decade during the eighties and nineties making huge losses on his core businesses, largely casinos, hotels and retail space in apartment buildings. It wrote: \"Year after year, Mr Trump appears to have lost more money than nearly any other individual American taxpayer, The Times found when it compared his results with detailed information the [Internal Revenue Service or I.R.S.] compiles on an annual sampling of high-income earners. \"His core business losses in 1990 and 1991 -- more than $250m each year -- were more than double those of the nearest taxpayers in the I.R.S. information for those years.\" \"Overall, Mr Trump lost so much money that he was able to avoid paying income taxes for eight of the 10 years.\""}], "question": "What did the NYT say?", "id": "1187_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1306, "answer_end": 1718, "text": "Apart from calling the NYT story old, inaccurate and \"Fake News\", Mr Trump claimed that : \"Real estate developers in the 1980's & 1990's, more than 30 years ago, were entitled to massive write offs and depreciation which would, if one was actively building, show losses and tax losses in almost all cases. \"Much was non monetary. Sometimes considered 'tax shelter,' you would get it by building, or even buying.\""}], "question": "How did Trump respond?", "id": "1187_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1719, "answer_end": 2652, "text": "Steve Rosenthal, a tax lawyer and policy analyst, explained that tax relief for property development in the US was, and still is, very generous. Mr Rosenthal said Mr Trump borrowed heavily and used tax relief available on income generated by borrowed funds. But when Mr Trump defaulted on those borrowings and re-negotiated his loans that relief should, in theory, have ended. Mr Rosenthal wrote a paper called Protecting Trump's $916 Million of NOLs  (net operating losses). In it he said: \"Documents filed in the bankruptcy court suggest that Trump aggressively stretched the law to side-step hundreds of millions of dollars of taxable income from restructuring his public debt.\" Mr Rosenthal tweeted his response  to the president: \"Sure, Trump operated his businesses at a spectacular loss. But he borrowed, spent, and deducted money from other people. And, after he defaulted on the funds he borrowed, he did not report income.\""}], "question": "Is the president right?", "id": "1187_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2653, "answer_end": 3358, "text": "The NYT has said it was unable to obtain Mr Trump's tax returns but received the information contained in them from someone who had legal access to it. The NYT said it \"was then able to find matching results in the I.R.S information on top earners -- a publicly available database that each year comprises a one-third sampling of those taxpayers, with identifying details removed.\" President Trump has consistently refused to publish his tax returns and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin on Tuesday refused a request from Democratic lawmakers for Mr Trump's more recent returns. Mr Mnuchin said the request \"lacks a legitimate purpose,\" and raised constitutional questions and threatened taxpayer privacy."}], "question": "How did the NYT get the information?", "id": "1187_3"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3359, "answer_end": 4053, "text": "The NYT has been unapologetically critical of Mr Trump's presidency and in June 2017 published an article entitled: \"Trump's Lies: The Definitive List\". In September last year, the paper published an anonymous piece called \"I am Part of the Resistance Inside the Trump Administration\" which claimed that there were officials within the President's White House who had \"vowed to thwart parts of his agenda and his worst inclinations\". In October last year, the NYT published an article detailing how Mr Trump had inherited hundreds of millions of dollars from his father's real estate empire through \"dubious tax schemes\", contradicting the President's claims that \"I built what I built myself.\""}], "question": "What else has the NYT written about Trump?", "id": "1187_4"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 4054, "answer_end": 4504, "text": "Mr Trump calls the NYT The Failing New York Times. After the publication of the \"Resistance\" piece in the NYT Mr Trump called for the paper to reveal the identity of the writer which the paper said \"is known to us\". Mr Trump described the article in a tweet as \"TREASON?\" Then in a follow up tweet, he wrote: \"If the GUTLESS anonymous person does indeed exist, the Times must, for National Security purposes, turn him/her over to government at once.\""}], "question": "What does Mr Trump say about the NYT?", "id": "1187_5"}]}]}, {"title": "The Hindu hardline RSS who see Modi as their own", "date": "22 October 2014", "paragraphs": [{"context": "India's state-run TV channel Doordarshan recently had an unusual programme - it telecast live the annual speech of Mohan Bhagwat, the head of the right-wing Hindu nationalist Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (National Volunteers' Organisation). It's a group many believe to be a shadowy and violent Hindu organisation with umbilical ties to the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Mr Bhagwat spoke, among other things, about the past glory of Hindu kings and supported the new government's initiatives. It was the first time in the history of independent India that the ideological fountainhead of the BJP had been given such prominence in the state media. And considering India's new Prime Minister Narendra Modi was once a full-time RSS worker, the broadcast predictably created uproar among opposition parties and liberals. The main opposition Congress and the Communist parties criticised the decision, accusing the government of being remote-controlled by the controversial organisation. In response, Doordarshan said Mr Bhagwat's address had been covered as a news event and the government had nothing to do with the decision. Established in 1925, the RSS (also known as the Sangh) has been banned three times in post-Independence India. The first ban came after the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi in 1948 - the organisation was accused of plotting the murder of the national icon but was later absolved. It was a major setback to the image and credibility of the group which it took nearly three decades to shake off. The group was once again banned in 1975 when then-Prime Minister Indira Gandhi suspended all fundamental rights and jailed almost the entire opposition leadership. The RSS used this opportunity to build alliances with anti-Congress forces and spread its political influence. In the late 1980s, the RSS, through its affiliates, launched a massive movement to build a Hindu temple at the place of a medieval mosque in the northern town of Ayodhya. The Babri Masjid (mosque) was demolished in December 1992 by supporters of radical Hindu groups, including the RSS. The group was outlawed for a third time but the courts overturned the decision. Critics, however, say the organisation continues to be a sectarian, militant group, which believes in the \"supremacy of Hindus\" and \"preaches hate\" against Muslims and Christian minorities. Clad in khaki shorts and white shirts, RSS cadres regularly gather in small groups in parks and street corners in different Indian cities and towns to work out, sing patriotic songs, play games and talk about the past glory of \"Hindu India\". These groups are called shakhas (branches) and are the backbone of the organisation's countrywide network of committed workers. The Sangh claims to have shakhas in 50,000 villages and cities across the country, but it does not maintain a membership register. According to the RSS website, \"only Hindu males\" can join the group. For women, there is a separate organisation called the Rashtra Sevika Samiti (National Women Volunteers' Committee). The controversy around the broadcast of Mr Bhagwat's speech has led to a wider debate about the future relationship between the government and the RSS. Will the Sangh be able to force the government to follow its agenda? Or, will a \"tough leader\" like Mr Modi allow this to happen? Or, will both work together towards the similar goal of establishing Hindutva (Hindu-ness) as an all-encompassing, superior political ideology in modern India? Some commentators have also raised the question as to why a non-elected body, outside the multi-party democratic system, should be allowed to influence the government's decision-making process. So far, Mr Modi has not commented. The questions are being asked against  a backdrop of a bitter turf war that was fought out in the open between the RSS and BJP when the party was in power from 1998 to 2004. But the situation has changed since then. After the BJP lost the election to Congress in 2004, the RSS lost much of its clout. Commentators say the RSS has learnt the hard way that it needs a friendly government in Delhi if it wants to remain influential. Political analyst Neeraja Chaudhary says the RSS showed great pragmatism by backing Mr Modi as the BJP's PM candidate in the 2014 elections over senior leaders like former deputy PM LK Advani and Murli Manohar Joshi. This, she says, despite the fact that as the chief minister of Gujarat, Mr Modi had sidelined the RSS leaders in the state. \"The RSS has taken a risk because Mr Modi will work on his own accord and may not necessarily take orders from the RSS,\" she says. Senior journalist Ram Bahadur Rai, however, says there is \"no rift between Mr Modi and the RSS\". Both Mr Rai and Ms Chaudhary agree that at the moment there is a clear understanding about the division of labour between Mr Modi and the RSS - that governance is the responsibility of the PM and that Mr Modi will ignore, within \"acceptable limits\", the Hindutva agenda being carried out at the grassroots level. That, she explains, is the reason why Mr Modi keeps quiet when some of his party colleagues talk of \"love jihad\", accusing \"Muslim boys of luring Hindu girls\", or allege that \"terrorism is taught in Muslim seminaries\". Ms Chaudhary says the RSS challenging Mr Modi is still a possibility sometime in the future, although \"it is still premature to predict that situation because at the moment he is riding high\". \"But pressure starts mounting the moment there is a decline in authority and acceptability of a leader.\" It is probably then the pressure groups opposed to Mr Modi within the BJP and the RSS will think of making their move. But that situation, should it happen at all, is quite far away down the road.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 3886, "answer_end": 5737, "text": "But the situation has changed since then. After the BJP lost the election to Congress in 2004, the RSS lost much of its clout. Commentators say the RSS has learnt the hard way that it needs a friendly government in Delhi if it wants to remain influential. Political analyst Neeraja Chaudhary says the RSS showed great pragmatism by backing Mr Modi as the BJP's PM candidate in the 2014 elections over senior leaders like former deputy PM LK Advani and Murli Manohar Joshi. This, she says, despite the fact that as the chief minister of Gujarat, Mr Modi had sidelined the RSS leaders in the state. \"The RSS has taken a risk because Mr Modi will work on his own accord and may not necessarily take orders from the RSS,\" she says. Senior journalist Ram Bahadur Rai, however, says there is \"no rift between Mr Modi and the RSS\". Both Mr Rai and Ms Chaudhary agree that at the moment there is a clear understanding about the division of labour between Mr Modi and the RSS - that governance is the responsibility of the PM and that Mr Modi will ignore, within \"acceptable limits\", the Hindutva agenda being carried out at the grassroots level. That, she explains, is the reason why Mr Modi keeps quiet when some of his party colleagues talk of \"love jihad\", accusing \"Muslim boys of luring Hindu girls\", or allege that \"terrorism is taught in Muslim seminaries\". Ms Chaudhary says the RSS challenging Mr Modi is still a possibility sometime in the future, although \"it is still premature to predict that situation because at the moment he is riding high\". \"But pressure starts mounting the moment there is a decline in authority and acceptability of a leader.\" It is probably then the pressure groups opposed to Mr Modi within the BJP and the RSS will think of making their move. But that situation, should it happen at all, is quite far away down the road."}], "question": "Changed strategy?", "id": "1188_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Brussels Jewish Museum murders: Mehdi Nemmouche guilty", "date": "7 March 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "A French-born jihadist who spent a year fighting in Syria for the Islamic State (IS) group has been found guilty of the murder of four people in an anti-Semitic attack in Brussels in May 2014. Mehdi Nemmouche, 33, opened fire with a Kalashnikov assault rifle and a handgun at the city's Jewish Museum. Three people died at the scene and one died later in hospital. A man who helped plan the attack and provided the weapons, Nacer Bendrer, was also found guilty of murder. Sentencing will be announced at a later date. The two-month-long trial involved apparent witness intimidation and testimony from former prisoners of IS in Syria. Two Israeli tourists, a volunteer worker and a receptionist were killed in the attack on the museum. Nemmouche's lawyers tried to suggest that he'd been framed in an elaborate conspiracy which blamed the murders on foreign intelligence agencies, but produced no evidence to support the claim. He is believed by Belgian prosecutors to be the first European jihadist to return from the battlefields of Syria to carry out terror attacks in Europe. He was born into a family of Algerian origin in the northern French town of Roubaix. He was previously known to French authorities, having served five years in prison for robbery. He is said to have met Bendrer while in prison. Both have been described as \"radicalised\" prisoners. He travelled to Syria in 2013 and stayed for one year, during which time he is believed to have fought for a jihadist group in the country's civil war. Investigators say that while there, he met Najim Laachraoui, who was a suicide bomber in the Brussels airport attack of March 2016, which killed 32 people. Four French people held hostage in Syria allege they were guarded by both Laachraoui and Nemmouche during their captivity. Nemmouche was extradited to Belgium to face charges connected to the museum shooting, but may also face trial in France over the allegations he was involved in the French prisoner's captivity. The trial was dramatic from the outset. Security was put in place to match that of the trial of jailed jihadist Salah Abdeslam, the sole surviving member of the 2015 Paris attackers. Days after it began, a lawyer representing a witness reported his laptop and some paperwork on the case had been stolen from his office. A baseball bat and replica gun were left in their place - something prosecutors viewed as a threat. In the dock the next day, Nemmouche denounced the attempt at intimidation - and the witness, 81-year-old Chilean artist Clara Billeke Villalobos, went on to testify anyway. Next came the orphaned daughters of Miriam and Emmanuel Riva, tourists from Israel who were killed in the attack. The couple had been celebrating their 18th wedding anniversary. Ayalet, 19, and Shira, 21, described a mother \"devoted to her family\" and an unassuming father who \"loved to travel\". Three weeks into proceedings, jurors were shown video of Nemmouche in custody after his arrest. Belgian newspaper Le Soir described it as showing an \"arrogant\" Nemmouche in front of police with a \"disdainful smile\", arms folded. He repeats his right to remain silent again and again. Four French journalists were kidnapped in June 2013 and held hostage by the IS group in the northern city of Aleppo until April 2014. Two of them appeared in court - pointing out Nemmouche as their captor. Nicolas Henin told the court Nemmouche was \"sadistic, playful and narcissistic\", while Didier Francois said Nemmouche had beaten him dozens of times with a truncheon. Their kidnapping is the subject of separate proceedings in France. By the end of February, prosecutor Bernard Michel was ready to sum up his case and demand a guilty verdict. He told the court Nemmouche was \"not simply radicalised but ultra-radicalised\". \"If attacking a museum with a combat weapon is not violent and savage then nothing will ever be violent and savage,\" he said. \"We are looking at one of the most serious possible crimes.\" \"For the killer, for Mehdi Nemmouche, the identity of the victims mattered little,\" he added. \"The aim was simply that there should be victims. Everything was premeditated.\" The closing argument from the defence was described by some as \"mind-boggling\", as it wove a web of conspiracy involving foreign intelligence agencies and assassination. Sebastien Courtoy, Nemmouche's lawyer, suggested that his client was recruited in Lebanon in January 2013 by Iranian or Lebanese intelligence to join the ranks of IS. But this claim went unsubstantiated. According to Mr Courtoy, the murder was not an IS attack, but a \"targeted execution of Mossad agents\" - a reference to the Israeli intelligence agency, which he claimed the Israeli couple belonged to. The killing was carried out by an unknown person, he said. Yet judges investigating the museum attack last month told the court there was no evidence to support any link to Mossad. Mr Courtoy claimed that it was in this supposed double-agent capacity that Nemmouche was the jailer of the French journalists, though he claimed they were never mistreated. He said Nemmouche \"went off the radar towards the end of 2013\" after British jihadists suspected him of \"engaging in double- dealing\". Upon his return to Europe, he supposedly tried to quit the spy group, \"which was simply trying to use him\". At one pointed the defence even argued that Nemmouche could not be considered anti-Semitic because he wore Calvin Klein shoes - an apparent reference to Mr Klein's Jewish heritage. A lawyer representing a committee of Jewish organisations called that observation \"mind-boggling and incoherent\".", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 927, "answer_end": 1983, "text": "He is believed by Belgian prosecutors to be the first European jihadist to return from the battlefields of Syria to carry out terror attacks in Europe. He was born into a family of Algerian origin in the northern French town of Roubaix. He was previously known to French authorities, having served five years in prison for robbery. He is said to have met Bendrer while in prison. Both have been described as \"radicalised\" prisoners. He travelled to Syria in 2013 and stayed for one year, during which time he is believed to have fought for a jihadist group in the country's civil war. Investigators say that while there, he met Najim Laachraoui, who was a suicide bomber in the Brussels airport attack of March 2016, which killed 32 people. Four French people held hostage in Syria allege they were guarded by both Laachraoui and Nemmouche during their captivity. Nemmouche was extradited to Belgium to face charges connected to the museum shooting, but may also face trial in France over the allegations he was involved in the French prisoner's captivity."}], "question": "Who is Mehdi Nemmouche?", "id": "1189_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1984, "answer_end": 3156, "text": "The trial was dramatic from the outset. Security was put in place to match that of the trial of jailed jihadist Salah Abdeslam, the sole surviving member of the 2015 Paris attackers. Days after it began, a lawyer representing a witness reported his laptop and some paperwork on the case had been stolen from his office. A baseball bat and replica gun were left in their place - something prosecutors viewed as a threat. In the dock the next day, Nemmouche denounced the attempt at intimidation - and the witness, 81-year-old Chilean artist Clara Billeke Villalobos, went on to testify anyway. Next came the orphaned daughters of Miriam and Emmanuel Riva, tourists from Israel who were killed in the attack. The couple had been celebrating their 18th wedding anniversary. Ayalet, 19, and Shira, 21, described a mother \"devoted to her family\" and an unassuming father who \"loved to travel\". Three weeks into proceedings, jurors were shown video of Nemmouche in custody after his arrest. Belgian newspaper Le Soir described it as showing an \"arrogant\" Nemmouche in front of police with a \"disdainful smile\", arms folded. He repeats his right to remain silent again and again."}], "question": "What happened during the trial?", "id": "1189_1"}]}]}, {"title": "Alexei Navalny discharged from hospital despite doctor's opposition", "date": "29 July 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "A doctor for Alexei Navalny, Russia's most prominent opposition figure, says he has been discharged from hospital. Mr Navalny, who was detained last week, will now be transferred back to jail. Initial reports suggested that he had suffered an acute allergic reaction, resulting in a swollen face, eye problems and rashes on his body. His doctor said she opposed his discharge, saying he'd never suffered from allergies before and may have been exposed to \"some toxic agent\". Before Mr Navalny was released from hospital, his medical team said they were able to gain access to him and had arranged for samples of his hair and T-shirt to be tested independently. Speaking to AFP, Mr Navalny's doctor Anastasia Vassilieva said he was \"not allergic to anything\". \"It was a toxic reaction to a chemical, it was definitely some chemical agent,\" she said. \"It's absurd to call it an allergy.\" She added that he \"needs to be under close medical supervision\", and should be allowed to call his relatives. Mr Navalny was jailed for 30 days last week after calling for unauthorised protests, which took place on Saturday. Nearly 1,400 people were detained during the demonstrations against the exclusion of opposition candidates from local elections. The European Union criticised the \"disproportionate\" use of force against the protesters, saying it undermined the \"fundamental freedoms of expression, association and assembly\". Kateryna Yushchenko, the former Ukrainian first lady whose husband Viktor Yushchenko was poisoned 15 years ago, tweeted: \"This brings back horrific memories of September 2004. Our doctors also balked at diagnosing what happened to my husband as poison. And some doctors with security pasts tried to cover it up. Recommend Alexei get treatment in Europe ASAP.\" Alexei Navalny is Russia's most prominent opposition activist - and one of President Putin's most vocal critics. That's why news of a sudden illness makes headlines. Especially if it's a sudden illness contracted in a Moscow jail. There's been no confirmation that Mr Navalny was poisoned. But his doctors - and his supporters - are keen to know what sparked such sudden symptoms. He is no stranger to health scares. Two years ago Mr Navalny was the victim of an assault. He suffered a chemical burn in his right eye after someone threw green-coloured antiseptic in his face. He is a constant thorn in the Kremlin's side. The authorities know that, with President Putin's personal ratings falling, the charismatic anti-corruption activist has the ability to mobilise anti-Kremlin sentiment. But it's too early to conclude that his current state of health is connected to his political views or activities. Media reports said about 20 people, including journalists, were also detained after gathering outside the prison hospital on Sunday night where Mr Navalny was being treated. Russian media report that most of the activists detained over the weekend have now been released. However, about 150 were still in custody on Monday. They are facing judicial hearings and may be charged in connection with the unauthorised rally. While in prison over the weekend, Mr Navalny reportedly began suffering from acute swelling, discharge from his eye and rashes on his neck, back, chest and wrists. His former campaign manager, Leonid Volkov, said he recalled having a similar reaction while serving a prison sentence in the same jail cell for breaking protest laws. The hospital described Mr Navalny's condition as satisfactory. Ms Vassilieva said earlier that none of the opposition figure's family or lawyers had been told his diagnosis. In a Facebook post, Ms Vassilieva complained that she had been barred from visiting Mr Navalny. But based on what she saw of him through a door, she said he may have been injured by a \"chemical substance from a third person\". She said that her suspicions were being fuelled by \"certain officials... acting strangely\". \"No one is looking for the cause [of his illness], doctors are denied access. There are lies all around,\" she wrote. The 43-year-old made his name in Russia as a grassroots anti-corruption campaigner. He led the country's biggest street protests against President Putin in 2011 and has repeatedly been jailed, usually for his involvement in unauthorised demonstrations. Mr Navalny suffered a serious chemical burn to his right eye in 2017 after he was assaulted with antiseptic dye. He attempted to stand in last year's presidential race but was barred because of previous fraud convictions in a case he says was politically motivated. Thousands of Russians took to the streets last Saturday to demand fair elections. The demonstrations came after 30 opposition candidates were barred from standing in local races this September. Officials said the candidates had failed to collect enough valid signatures to stand, but opposition groups argued that the barring was politically motivated. Mr Navalny helped to organise the demonstrations. Officials said they had arrested nearly 1,400 people - making it one of the biggest crackdowns in recent years. Images from Saturday showed police in riot gear pushing crowds from the mayor's office in central Moscow. A number of protesters could be seen bleeding, while at least two members of the security forces reportedly received eye injuries from pepper spray.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 3105, "answer_end": 4045, "text": "While in prison over the weekend, Mr Navalny reportedly began suffering from acute swelling, discharge from his eye and rashes on his neck, back, chest and wrists. His former campaign manager, Leonid Volkov, said he recalled having a similar reaction while serving a prison sentence in the same jail cell for breaking protest laws. The hospital described Mr Navalny's condition as satisfactory. Ms Vassilieva said earlier that none of the opposition figure's family or lawyers had been told his diagnosis. In a Facebook post, Ms Vassilieva complained that she had been barred from visiting Mr Navalny. But based on what she saw of him through a door, she said he may have been injured by a \"chemical substance from a third person\". She said that her suspicions were being fuelled by \"certain officials... acting strangely\". \"No one is looking for the cause [of his illness], doctors are denied access. There are lies all around,\" she wrote."}], "question": "What do we know about Mr Navalny's condition?", "id": "1190_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 4046, "answer_end": 4564, "text": "The 43-year-old made his name in Russia as a grassroots anti-corruption campaigner. He led the country's biggest street protests against President Putin in 2011 and has repeatedly been jailed, usually for his involvement in unauthorised demonstrations. Mr Navalny suffered a serious chemical burn to his right eye in 2017 after he was assaulted with antiseptic dye. He attempted to stand in last year's presidential race but was barred because of previous fraud convictions in a case he says was politically motivated."}], "question": "Who is Alexei Navalny?", "id": "1190_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 4565, "answer_end": 5334, "text": "Thousands of Russians took to the streets last Saturday to demand fair elections. The demonstrations came after 30 opposition candidates were barred from standing in local races this September. Officials said the candidates had failed to collect enough valid signatures to stand, but opposition groups argued that the barring was politically motivated. Mr Navalny helped to organise the demonstrations. Officials said they had arrested nearly 1,400 people - making it one of the biggest crackdowns in recent years. Images from Saturday showed police in riot gear pushing crowds from the mayor's office in central Moscow. A number of protesters could be seen bleeding, while at least two members of the security forces reportedly received eye injuries from pepper spray."}], "question": "What happened during the protests?", "id": "1190_2"}]}]}, {"title": "Brexit: Talks continuing amid claims deal is close", "date": "15 October 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Downing Street is playing down reports of an imminent Brexit deal with the EU, saying talks are still ongoing. Prime Minister Boris Johnson is under pressure to get a fresh agreement by Thursday's EU summit, but his spokesman said there was \"more work still to do\". EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier had said the two sides must agree the details by the end of Tuesday. But the BBC's Laura Kuenssberg said it was not clear whether a text could be signed off by then. She said Mr Barnier was due to brief EU ambassadors at 1300 BST on Wednesday, after a possible European Commissioners meeting, meaning a new deal could get the \"green light\" from Brussels in the afternoon. The Guardian is reporting that a draft treaty could be published on Wednesday morning, claiming the UK has made further concessions over the issue of customs and the Irish border. The prime minister's official spokesman said: \"Talks remain constructive but there is more work still to do.\" Meanwhile, Irish Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said talks were \"moving in the right direction\" but gaps between the sides remained, and it was still unclear whether a deal would be ready in time for the Brussels summit. His deputy, Tanaiste Simon Coveney, said earlier that \"big steps\" were needed on Tuesday \"to build on progress that has been slow\" because there would be no haggling over the details of the text once the summit began. The two-day EU summit is crucial because, under legislation passed last month - the Benn Act - the PM must get a new deal approved by MPs by Saturday if he is to avoid asking for a delay. The UK is due to leave the EU at 23:00 GMT on 31 October and Boris Johnson says that deadline must be honoured. He is trying to hold together a coalition of Conservative Brexiteers and Democratic Unionists in support of his proposed alternative to the Irish backstop - the arrangement designed to keep an open border in Ireland. The DUP leader, Arlene Foster, had more than an hour of talks in Downing Street on Monday night and met the PM again on Tuesday evening for a further 90 minutes. Following that meeting, the DUP released a statement saying it would not give \"a detailed commentary\" but added \"it would be fair to indicate gaps remain and further work is required\". Earlier, Mrs Foster had told the BBC her party would \"stick with our principles\" that Northern Ireland \"must remain\" within the UK's customs union. She dismissed as \"speculation\" claims the new Brexit deal included a possible customs border in the Irish Sea - meaning Northern Ireland would be treated differently from the rest of the UK - saying the DUP could never accept that. Giving the Northern Ireland Assembly a regular vote on post-Brexit customs arrangements - which is reported to have been ditched in response to Ireland's objections - was also important to the DUP, Mrs Foster said. She said it was \"right to give space and time\" to negotiators to try to get a deal, but \"everyone knows our position\". Earlier on Tuesday, members of the pro-Brexit European Research Group attended a meeting at No 10, with chairman Steve Baker saying afterwards he was \"optimistic\" that \"a tolerable deal\" could be reached. BBC Brussels reporter Adam Fleming said the widely-held view there was that the UK was unlikely to be leaving on 31 October, and the question was whether an extension could be short in order to iron out some small issues, or had to be much longer to deal with bigger problems. After updating EU ministers on Tuesday morning, Mr Barnier signalled that he expected the UK to share the legal text of any proposed changes to the withdrawal agreement within hours. He said there was a \"narrow path\" to be trod between the EU's objective of protecting the single market and Mr Johnson's goal of keeping Northern Ireland in the UK's customs territory. While there had been progress, Mr Barnier said there was still a big disagreement about the inclusion of so-called \"level playing field\" provisions in the political declaration sketching out the two sides' future trade relationship. These provisions would limit the UK's ability to diverge from the EU across a whole range of areas, including competition policy, employment rights, environmental standards and state aid. The UK says loosening these conditions is vital if it is to have an independent trade policy, but the EU says the UK cannot have privileged access to the single market market without following its rules as this would give it an unfair advantage. Asked whether it recognised talk of an EU deadline later on Tuesday, No 10 said Mr Johnson was \"aware of the time restraints\" and the UK was working hard to secure a deal \"as soon as possible\". Regardless of what happens in Brussels, a showdown is anticipated in an emergency sitting of Parliament on Saturday - the first in 37 years, if it goes ahead. MPs will be able to back or reject any deal presented to them and there will be discussions on what to do next. Labour has threatened court action to force the PM to obey the Benn Act, amid speculation the PM could seek to sidestep it somehow. Speaking in Parliament, Leader of the House Jacob Rees-Mogg did not confirm whether the Saturday sitting would definitely go ahead, adding that it would depend on events in Brussels. Thursday, 17 October - Crucial two-day summit of EU leaders begins in Brussels. This is the last such meeting currently scheduled before the Brexit deadline. Saturday, 19 October - Special sitting of Parliament expected - and the date by which the PM must ask the EU for another delay to Brexit under the Benn Act, if no Brexit deal has been approved by MPs and they have not agreed to the UK leaving with no-deal. Thursday, 31 October - Date by which the UK is currently due to leave the EU.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 5269, "answer_end": 5761, "text": "Thursday, 17 October - Crucial two-day summit of EU leaders begins in Brussels. This is the last such meeting currently scheduled before the Brexit deadline. Saturday, 19 October - Special sitting of Parliament expected - and the date by which the PM must ask the EU for another delay to Brexit under the Benn Act, if no Brexit deal has been approved by MPs and they have not agreed to the UK leaving with no-deal. Thursday, 31 October - Date by which the UK is currently due to leave the EU."}], "question": "Timeline: What's happening ahead of Brexit deadline?", "id": "1191_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Joe Biden denies Lucy Flores's misconduct allegations", "date": "2 April 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Former US Vice-President Joe Biden has denied allegations of misconduct ahead of his widely expected announcement of a presidential run. Lucy Flores, a former Nevada Assembly member, says Mr Biden kissed her on the back of her head at a campaign event. A second woman, Amy Lappos, said Mr Biden had acted inappropriately by touching her face with both hands and rubbing noses with her a decade ago. Mr Biden, 76, served as Barack Obama's vice-president for eight years. The former Delaware senator is seen as a possible frontrunner in the race for the Democratic presidential nomination even though he has not announced his candidacy. The allegations first appeared on Friday in an article Ms Flores wrote for The Cut magazine. Ms Flores was running as the Democratic candidate for Nevada's lieutenant governor in 2014 when the then-vice president flew in to support her bid. As she prepared to go on stage, Ms Flores say Mr Biden placed two hands on her shoulders from behind. \"I felt him get closer to me from behind. He leaned further in and inhaled my hair. I was mortified,\" she wrote. \"He proceeded to plant a big slow kiss on the back of my head. My brain couldn't process what was happening.\" She wrote: \"I had never experienced anything so blatantly inappropriate.\" On Monday, a second allegation surfaced. Amy Lappos, a former aide to Democratic congressman Jim Hines of Connecticut, said Mr Biden touched her inappropriately at a fundraiser in a private home in Hartford, Connecticut, in October 2009. She told the Hartford Courant that the then-vice-president entered the kitchen to thank the group of aides, before wrapping both hands around Ms Lappos' face and pulling her in to rub noses with her. Ms Lappos, now 43, said in a statement to US media: \"Uninvited affection is not okay. Objectifying women is not okay. \"Men who invade a woman's personal space, touch women inappropriately, sexually harass women and feed rape culture have no place in a position of power. \"Referring to this type of behaviour as 'simply affection' or 'grandpa-like' or 'friendly' is ridiculously dismissive and part of the problem.\" She called on Mr Biden not to run for the White House and to clear the way for one of the many female candidates. Mr Biden's spokesman Bill Russo initially said neither the vice-president nor his staff had any idea that \"Ms Flores had been at any time uncomfortable, nor do they recall what she describes\". But on Sunday Mr Biden issued a statement himself, and promised to \"pay attention\" to Ms Flores - while reiterating he did not remember the incident. \"In my many years on the campaign trail and in public life, I have offered countless handshakes, hugs, expressions of affection, support and comfort. And not once - never - did I believe I acted inappropriately,\" it read. \"But we have arrived at an important time when women feel they can and should relate their experiences, and men should pay attention. And I will,\" he added. Speaking in a CNN interview on Sunday, Ms Flores said Mr Biden's statement was \"certainly better\" than his spokesman's initial response, but called his behaviour \"completely inappropriate\" and something to think about of a person \"who is considering running for president\". On Monday, Biden aides began to push back more aggressively against some of the criticism. In a statement, his spokesman Bill Russo accused \"right wing trolls\" from \"the dark recesses of the internet\" of presenting harmless images of Mr Biden interacting with women as evidence of inappropriate touching. A number of candidates for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination have backed Ms Flores. \"I think what this speaks to is the need to fundamentally change the culture of this country,\" Senator Bernie Sanders told Face the Nation on CBS, saying he had no reason not to believe Ms Flores. She previously campaigned for Mr Sanders in his 2016 nomination run. Senator Elizabeth Warren said Mr Biden \"needs to give an answer\", and Senator Amy Klobuchar said that in politics \"people raise issues and they have to address them\". But many supporters have leapt to Mr Biden's defence. Cynthia Hogan, a former aide to the vice-president, told the New York Times that Mr Biden \"treated us with respect and insisted that others do the same\". And Stephanie Carter, the wife of former defence secretary Ashton Carter, defended her \"close friend\" in a blog post. A photo of Mr Biden holding her shoulders during her husband's swearing-in ceremony drew questions at the time and afterwards. But in a blog post, Ms Carter wrote that the vice-president \"could sense I was uncharacteristically nervous\" at the event \"and quickly gave me a hug\", she wrote. \"But a still shot taken from a video... came to be the lasting image of that day.\"", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 635, "answer_end": 2241, "text": "The allegations first appeared on Friday in an article Ms Flores wrote for The Cut magazine. Ms Flores was running as the Democratic candidate for Nevada's lieutenant governor in 2014 when the then-vice president flew in to support her bid. As she prepared to go on stage, Ms Flores say Mr Biden placed two hands on her shoulders from behind. \"I felt him get closer to me from behind. He leaned further in and inhaled my hair. I was mortified,\" she wrote. \"He proceeded to plant a big slow kiss on the back of my head. My brain couldn't process what was happening.\" She wrote: \"I had never experienced anything so blatantly inappropriate.\" On Monday, a second allegation surfaced. Amy Lappos, a former aide to Democratic congressman Jim Hines of Connecticut, said Mr Biden touched her inappropriately at a fundraiser in a private home in Hartford, Connecticut, in October 2009. She told the Hartford Courant that the then-vice-president entered the kitchen to thank the group of aides, before wrapping both hands around Ms Lappos' face and pulling her in to rub noses with her. Ms Lappos, now 43, said in a statement to US media: \"Uninvited affection is not okay. Objectifying women is not okay. \"Men who invade a woman's personal space, touch women inappropriately, sexually harass women and feed rape culture have no place in a position of power. \"Referring to this type of behaviour as 'simply affection' or 'grandpa-like' or 'friendly' is ridiculously dismissive and part of the problem.\" She called on Mr Biden not to run for the White House and to clear the way for one of the many female candidates."}], "question": "What are the allegations?", "id": "1192_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2242, "answer_end": 3542, "text": "Mr Biden's spokesman Bill Russo initially said neither the vice-president nor his staff had any idea that \"Ms Flores had been at any time uncomfortable, nor do they recall what she describes\". But on Sunday Mr Biden issued a statement himself, and promised to \"pay attention\" to Ms Flores - while reiterating he did not remember the incident. \"In my many years on the campaign trail and in public life, I have offered countless handshakes, hugs, expressions of affection, support and comfort. And not once - never - did I believe I acted inappropriately,\" it read. \"But we have arrived at an important time when women feel they can and should relate their experiences, and men should pay attention. And I will,\" he added. Speaking in a CNN interview on Sunday, Ms Flores said Mr Biden's statement was \"certainly better\" than his spokesman's initial response, but called his behaviour \"completely inappropriate\" and something to think about of a person \"who is considering running for president\". On Monday, Biden aides began to push back more aggressively against some of the criticism. In a statement, his spokesman Bill Russo accused \"right wing trolls\" from \"the dark recesses of the internet\" of presenting harmless images of Mr Biden interacting with women as evidence of inappropriate touching."}], "question": "How did Mr Biden respond?", "id": "1192_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3543, "answer_end": 4767, "text": "A number of candidates for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination have backed Ms Flores. \"I think what this speaks to is the need to fundamentally change the culture of this country,\" Senator Bernie Sanders told Face the Nation on CBS, saying he had no reason not to believe Ms Flores. She previously campaigned for Mr Sanders in his 2016 nomination run. Senator Elizabeth Warren said Mr Biden \"needs to give an answer\", and Senator Amy Klobuchar said that in politics \"people raise issues and they have to address them\". But many supporters have leapt to Mr Biden's defence. Cynthia Hogan, a former aide to the vice-president, told the New York Times that Mr Biden \"treated us with respect and insisted that others do the same\". And Stephanie Carter, the wife of former defence secretary Ashton Carter, defended her \"close friend\" in a blog post. A photo of Mr Biden holding her shoulders during her husband's swearing-in ceremony drew questions at the time and afterwards. But in a blog post, Ms Carter wrote that the vice-president \"could sense I was uncharacteristically nervous\" at the event \"and quickly gave me a hug\", she wrote. \"But a still shot taken from a video... came to be the lasting image of that day.\""}], "question": "What's been the reaction?", "id": "1192_2"}]}]}, {"title": "France restricts access to Mont Blanc amid safety fears", "date": "14 July 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "France has issued a decree restricting access to the summit of the country's highest mountain, Mont Blanc. As a result of overcrowding and safety risks, climbers will not be allowed on the peak's popular \"Royal Route\" for the next eight days, officials said. But mountaineers who have already booked accommodation on the route will be permitted to climb. Concerns have been raised recently over the numbers of tourists visiting Mont Blanc in the summer. The restrictions, introduced on Saturday, mean that only climbers who can prove that they already have a booking at the high-altitude shelter known as the Gouter will be allowed to set out for the top of Mont Blanc via the easiest and most frequented route. Authorities for the Haute-Savoie region said the shelter's overnight capacity of 120 people was frequently being exceeded, which presented \"safety and public order\" risks. \"Access to the summit of Mont Blanc via this route... is only permitted to those who have a reservation at the Gouter refuge,\" an official statement reads. The temporary restrictions are in place to ensure that climbers have adequate accommodation for an overnight stay, it adds. Mont Blanc, with 11 peaks reaching more than 4,000m above sea level, is western Europe's highest mountain range - and a challenging area for climbers. Recently, concerns have been raised over the numbers of tourists visiting Mont Blanc in the summer and the risks it poses to those who lack experience, as well as the pollution it causes. Last year, 15 people died on approaches to the summit, and two people have already been killed in falls this year. The Mont Blanc massif is extremely popular with walkers and climbers but is Europe's deadliest mountain range, claiming some 50 lives each year.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1164, "answer_end": 1762, "text": "Mont Blanc, with 11 peaks reaching more than 4,000m above sea level, is western Europe's highest mountain range - and a challenging area for climbers. Recently, concerns have been raised over the numbers of tourists visiting Mont Blanc in the summer and the risks it poses to those who lack experience, as well as the pollution it causes. Last year, 15 people died on approaches to the summit, and two people have already been killed in falls this year. The Mont Blanc massif is extremely popular with walkers and climbers but is Europe's deadliest mountain range, claiming some 50 lives each year."}], "question": "Why are there concerns?", "id": "1193_0"}]}]}, {"title": "100 Women: Muslim women rally round #MosqueMeToo", "date": "9 February 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Muslim women are using #MosqueMeToo to share their experiences of sexual harassment during the Hajj pilgrimage and other religious settings. Egyptian-American feminist and journalist Mona Eltahawy first talked about her experience of sexual assault during Hajj in 2013. She is behind #MosqueMeToo. Muslim men and women from around the world started using the hashtag yesterday and in less than 24 hours it was tweeted 2,000 times. It has gone on to become one of the top ten trends of Farsi Twitter. Many of the women sharing their experiences on Twitter report being groped, inappropriately touched or having someone rub against them in the crowd. For Muslims, the Hajj is the fifth and final pillar of Islam. It is something that every sane adult Muslim must undertake at least once in their lives if they can afford it and are physically able. It is estimated two million Muslims undertake Hajj each year, creating huge crowds in the holy city of Mecca. One of the important aspects of the religion of Islam is female modesty; many women are encouraged to cover their hair and body in public in order to preserve decency and keep themselves safe from male attention or harm. Many Muslim women are taught from a very young age that a hijab, or head covering, is their protection from harassment and assault. Some people also believe that what a women wears, where she goes and what she does can encourage harassment and it is her responsibility to manage this. Many women in countries such as Iran, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Afghanistan say they still face sexual harassment and assault on the streets, despite wearing modest dress. #MosqueMeToo supporters say that even in the holiest of places, where they are fully covered and praying, they can be assaulted. Many Iranian and Farsi speaking Twitter users not only shared their experience of harassment but also challenged the belief that wearing the hijab keeps women safe from assault and harassment. In Iran the hijab is mandatory. There are posters in cities and towns comparing unveiled women to unwrapped candy and lollipops attracting unwanted attention from flies. One of the main slogans written on the walls of every office and public building in Iran says, \"Hijab is not a limitation, it is your protection.\" In recent weeks, Iranian authorities have arrested 29 people as part of a crack down on protests against the compulsory hijab. The movement, which has been named \"the Girls of Revolution Street\", started after a woman took off her headscarf in central Tehran. Not everyone has been supportive of #MosqueMeToo and some people have criticised Mona Eltahawy for bringing up the topic on social media. 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.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 2671, "answer_end": 2887, "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."}], "question": "What is 100 Women?", "id": "1194_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Can Iraq's army dislodge Islamic State?", "date": "4 March 2015", "paragraphs": [{"context": "On 1 March about 27,000 Iraqi troops commenced their attack on Tikrit, a city 150km (93 miles) north of Baghdad that has been occupied by Islamic State (IS) since June 2014. The assault is the first attempt to evict IS from a major urban centre that they have controlled and fortified, a test case for the planned operation to retake Mosul - the Iraqi capital of the IS caliphate. The Tikrit operation will be scrutinised to shed light on two main uncertainties. Can predominately Shia volunteer forces play a productive leading role in operations within Sunni communities? And can the Iraqi military dislodge IS defenders from fortified urban settings? The assault has been billed as a joint operation involving the Iraqi army, the paramilitary federal police, the Iraqi Special Operations Forces (ISOF), and the predominately Shia Popular Mobilisation Units (PMU), the volunteer brigades and militias that have been formally integrated into the security forces since June 2014. The one element conspicuously absent from the mix is the US-led international coalition. No requests for coalition air strikes have been made by the Iraqi government, a common feature of operations led by the PMUs. Indeed, some 18,000 PMU fighters are providing the bulk of the troops for the assault. The PMU are led by Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, who was labelled by the US as a \"specially designated global terrorist\" in 2009 for his part in attacks on US forces and other targets. He and many other PMU commanders have worked intensively with Iran's Revolutionary Guard, and continue to draw Iranian and Lebanese Hezbollah advisers into their operations. The apparent exclusion of coalition support by Iranian proxies was confirmed by Gen Martin Dempsey, chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, who stated on 3 March that the battle had seen \"overt conduct of Iranian support, in the form of artillery and other things\". Though Tikrit itself has been largely depopulated, the behaviour of the predominately Shia PMU forces - who are not subject to Iraqi military discipline - will be closely watched as they clear IS fighters from rural Sunni communities. If the attack on Tikrit is successful it may increase the likelihood that Iraq will replicate the model further north in Mosul, deploying PMU units to bolster the Iraqi military effort to retake the city of one million, the capital of Sunni Iraq. This might again preclude or complicate international support for the operation. Though the battle of Tikrit will provide many insights into the offensive urban warfare capabilities of Iraqi government forces, it is a stretch to say that the Tikrit operation is an accurate predictor of the outcome of a battle for Mosul. Tikrit is relatively close to Baghdad, and Iraq forces have been operating in Tikrit's vicinity since August 2014. In contrast, Mosul is 350km north of Baghdad, and about 150km north of the most advanced Iraqi army outposts at Beyji. Just projecting Iraqi forces up to Mosul and supplying them will be a major logistical challenge. Tikrit is also small - the city itself is only 15sq km versus the 400sq km sprawl of Mosul city. Ammar Hikmat, the deputy governor of Salahuddin province, where Tikrit is the provincial capital, told the Associated Press that soldiers had found about 100 mines and bombs on a single 8km stretch of road. IS is likely to contaminate many areas within Mosul in this fashion, creating a mass of explosive hazards and buildings to be painstakingly cleared. And urban Tikrit is almost wholly depopulated whilst IS has deliberately kept over 750,000 citizens in Mosul. There is no guarantee that Mosul's independent-minded citizenry, which is well over 65% Sunni Arab, will welcome PMU forces. The PMUs could also get bogged down in indecisive operations in Tikrit and other areas short of Mosul. These outcomes could throw the weight of the operation on the US-supported Iraqi army, which is marginally better respected by Mosul's citizens. The operational concept outlined by a US official in a much-discussed 19 February briefing suggested that eight Iraqi army brigades would take the lead in liberating Mosul. Preparing Iraqi army units for the Mosul battle is potentially the slowest aspect of the effort to liberate the city and could stretch into the summer, derailing a possible start date for the operation in April or May. The Iraqi army remains in very poor shape, boasting a frontline combat strength of about 48,000 troops versus nearly 210,000 at the height of its effectiveness in 2009. The Mosul fight is scheduled to draw at least three of the army's stronger remaining brigades north from Baghdad, halving Iraqi military strength in the capital. This will leave Iraq's government centre largely secured by the Shia PMUs and ministry of interior units, which are also led by Iranian-backed fighters with connections to Iran's Revolutionary Guard that span decades. One of the unintended consequences of the fight to retake Mosul could be a critical weakening of state control of the security portfolio in Baghdad itself, a situation that may prove difficult to remedy in future years - as history has shown in other regional capitals such as Beirut and Tripoli, Libya. Dr Michael Knights is the Lafer Fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy. He has worked in all of Iraq's provinces, including periods spent embedded with the Iraqi security forces. His recent report on the Iraqi security forces is available via the Washington Institute website.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 3829, "answer_end": 5512, "text": "These outcomes could throw the weight of the operation on the US-supported Iraqi army, which is marginally better respected by Mosul's citizens. The operational concept outlined by a US official in a much-discussed 19 February briefing suggested that eight Iraqi army brigades would take the lead in liberating Mosul. Preparing Iraqi army units for the Mosul battle is potentially the slowest aspect of the effort to liberate the city and could stretch into the summer, derailing a possible start date for the operation in April or May. The Iraqi army remains in very poor shape, boasting a frontline combat strength of about 48,000 troops versus nearly 210,000 at the height of its effectiveness in 2009. The Mosul fight is scheduled to draw at least three of the army's stronger remaining brigades north from Baghdad, halving Iraqi military strength in the capital. This will leave Iraq's government centre largely secured by the Shia PMUs and ministry of interior units, which are also led by Iranian-backed fighters with connections to Iran's Revolutionary Guard that span decades. One of the unintended consequences of the fight to retake Mosul could be a critical weakening of state control of the security portfolio in Baghdad itself, a situation that may prove difficult to remedy in future years - as history has shown in other regional capitals such as Beirut and Tripoli, Libya. Dr Michael Knights is the Lafer Fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy. He has worked in all of Iraq's provinces, including periods spent embedded with the Iraqi security forces. His recent report on the Iraqi security forces is available via the Washington Institute website."}], "question": "Unintended consequences?", "id": "1195_0"}]}]}, {"title": "US ends aid to Palestinian refugee agency Unrwa", "date": "1 September 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "The United States is ending all funding for the UN's Palestinian refugee agency, the US State Department says. It described the organisation, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (Unrwa), as \"irredeemably flawed\". The US administration has \"carefully reviewed\" the issue and \"will not make additional contributions to Unrwa,\" spokeswoman Heather Nauert said. A spokesman for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas later said the move was an \"assault\" against his people. \"Such a punishment will not succeed to change the fact that the United States no longer has a role in the region and that it is not a part of the solution,\" Nabil Abu Rudeina told Reuters news agency. He added that the decision was \"a defiance of UN resolutions\". A spokesman for Unrwa, Chris Gunness, defended the agency in a series of tweets. \"We reject in the strongest possible terms the criticism that Unrwa's schools, health centres, and emergency assistance programs are 'irredeemably flawed',\" he wrote. The latest move comes after the US announced back in January that it would withhold more than half of a tranche of funding for the agency. Unrwa was originally set up to take care of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians displaced by the 1948 Arab-Israeli war. The agency says it currently supports more than five million Palestinians in Gaza, the West Bank, Jordan, Syria and Lebanon, including providing health care, education and social services. The US has been the largest single donor to Unrwa, providing $364m (PS283m) in 2017 and funding almost 30% of its operations in the region. The Trump administration had pledged $60m to Unrwa in January, but withheld another $65m. The remaining payment of $65m is now expected to be cancelled. The US disagrees with Unrwa, and Palestinian officials, on a number of issues. US President Donald Trump has previously complained that the US received \"no appreciation or respect\" for the large sums of aid it provided to the region. Earlier this year, he threatened to cut aid to the Palestinians over what he called their unwillingness to negotiate with Israel. The US and Israel also disagree with Unrwa on which Palestinians are refugees with a right to return to the homes they fled following the 1948 war. Nikki Haley, the US ambassador to the UN, said earlier this week that Unrwa exaggerated the number of Palestinian refugees, and needed to reform. \"You're looking at the fact that, yes, there's an endless number of refugees that continue to get assistance, but more importantly, the Palestinians continue to bash America,\" she said. The state department says the US is contributing a \"very disproportionate share of the burden of Unrwa's costs\". It complains of a business model and fiscal practices, linked to an \"exponentially expanding community of entitled beneficiaries\", which is \"unsustainable and has been in crisis mode for many years\". On Friday, the Palestinian representative in Washington, Hossam Zomlot, accused the US of \"endorsing the most extreme Israeli narrative on all issues including the rights of more than five million Palestinian refugees\". The US \"is damaging not only an already volatile situation but the prospects for future peace\", he told AFP. Palestinian officials have already accused the Trump administration of worsening tensions due to its pro-Israel stance. In December, Mr Trump controversially recognised Jerusalem as Israel's capital, despite it being claimed by both sides. His move overturned decades of US neutrality on the issue, attracted international criticism, and led to the Palestinian Authority cutting off dialogue in Washington. In May, the US also opened an embassy in Jerusalem, a move described by Palestinian officials as a \"blatant provocation\". Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has previously called for Unrwa's funding to be cut gradually and its responsibilities transferred to the UN's global refugee agency, the UNHCR, arguing that it \"perpetuates the Palestinian problem\". However, he said that \"every step taken also contains some risk\". Some Israelis have raised concerns that weakening Unrwa could cause regional instability and create more extremism in the region. Earlier on Friday, German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said his country would increase its contributions to the agency because its funding crisis was fuelling uncertainty. \"The loss of this organisation could unleash an uncontrollable chain reaction,\" Mr Maas said. Meanwhile, the UN's secretary general, Antonio Guterres, has said he has \"full confidence\" in Unrwa, and called on other countries \"to help fill the remaining financial gap\".", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1125, "answer_end": 1728, "text": "Unrwa was originally set up to take care of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians displaced by the 1948 Arab-Israeli war. The agency says it currently supports more than five million Palestinians in Gaza, the West Bank, Jordan, Syria and Lebanon, including providing health care, education and social services. The US has been the largest single donor to Unrwa, providing $364m (PS283m) in 2017 and funding almost 30% of its operations in the region. The Trump administration had pledged $60m to Unrwa in January, but withheld another $65m. The remaining payment of $65m is now expected to be cancelled."}], "question": "What is Unrwa?", "id": "1196_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1729, "answer_end": 2885, "text": "The US disagrees with Unrwa, and Palestinian officials, on a number of issues. US President Donald Trump has previously complained that the US received \"no appreciation or respect\" for the large sums of aid it provided to the region. Earlier this year, he threatened to cut aid to the Palestinians over what he called their unwillingness to negotiate with Israel. The US and Israel also disagree with Unrwa on which Palestinians are refugees with a right to return to the homes they fled following the 1948 war. Nikki Haley, the US ambassador to the UN, said earlier this week that Unrwa exaggerated the number of Palestinian refugees, and needed to reform. \"You're looking at the fact that, yes, there's an endless number of refugees that continue to get assistance, but more importantly, the Palestinians continue to bash America,\" she said. The state department says the US is contributing a \"very disproportionate share of the burden of Unrwa's costs\". It complains of a business model and fiscal practices, linked to an \"exponentially expanding community of entitled beneficiaries\", which is \"unsustainable and has been in crisis mode for many years\"."}], "question": "Why is the US critical of Unrwa?", "id": "1196_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2886, "answer_end": 3743, "text": "On Friday, the Palestinian representative in Washington, Hossam Zomlot, accused the US of \"endorsing the most extreme Israeli narrative on all issues including the rights of more than five million Palestinian refugees\". The US \"is damaging not only an already volatile situation but the prospects for future peace\", he told AFP. Palestinian officials have already accused the Trump administration of worsening tensions due to its pro-Israel stance. In December, Mr Trump controversially recognised Jerusalem as Israel's capital, despite it being claimed by both sides. His move overturned decades of US neutrality on the issue, attracted international criticism, and led to the Palestinian Authority cutting off dialogue in Washington. In May, the US also opened an embassy in Jerusalem, a move described by Palestinian officials as a \"blatant provocation\"."}], "question": "What does the Palestinian side say?", "id": "1196_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3744, "answer_end": 4181, "text": "Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has previously called for Unrwa's funding to be cut gradually and its responsibilities transferred to the UN's global refugee agency, the UNHCR, arguing that it \"perpetuates the Palestinian problem\". However, he said that \"every step taken also contains some risk\". Some Israelis have raised concerns that weakening Unrwa could cause regional instability and create more extremism in the region."}], "question": "What's the Israeli view?", "id": "1196_3"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 4182, "answer_end": 4621, "text": "Earlier on Friday, German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said his country would increase its contributions to the agency because its funding crisis was fuelling uncertainty. \"The loss of this organisation could unleash an uncontrollable chain reaction,\" Mr Maas said. Meanwhile, the UN's secretary general, Antonio Guterres, has said he has \"full confidence\" in Unrwa, and called on other countries \"to help fill the remaining financial gap\"."}], "question": "How has the international community reacted?", "id": "1196_4"}]}]}, {"title": "Missouri governor accused of sexually abusing woman", "date": "12 April 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "A woman who had an affair with Missouri governor Eric Greitens says he \"coerced\" her into sex, according to a state committee report. The bipartisan report, released on Wednesday, details graphic allegations against the governor. Mr Greitens called the investigation a \"political witch hunt\" and refused to testify to the committee. Missouri attorney general Josh Hawley, a fellow Republican, has joined calls for him to resign. Mr Greitens is separately charged with invasion of privacy and is scheduled to stand trial in May. The governor allegedly tried to blackmail the woman with nude photos of her to prevent word of the affair spreading. He denies the allegation. The report was published in full by the Associated Press, with a warning of graphic content on the front page. It was compiled by the state legislature after a cross-party investigation. In the report, the unnamed woman testifies she had multiple sexual encounters with Mr Greitens in 2015, before his election. Some, she says, were not consensual. She repeats her earlier allegation that, during their first encounter, the governor took a photo of her bound and blindfolded in his basement without her permission and threatened to release it if she ever mentioned his name. The woman then says she felt \"coerced\" into giving the governor oral sex. As she lay on the floor \"uncontrollably crying\", the governor allegedly pulled out his penis and put it near her face. \"I felt as though that would allow me to leave,\" she testified. The woman says that after this incident, the governor apologised for his behaviour and deleted the photo. She then entered into a consensual affair with him. Mr Greitens has admitted the relationship but says it was consensual. The governor said shortly before the report's release that he had made \"a personal mistake\" three years before and that it was being turned into \"a political spectacle\". There was outrage across the political spectrum on the release of the report. Attorney General Hawley called on Mr Greitens to resign, saying the report contained \"shocking, substantial and corroborated evidence of wrongdoing\" by the governor that could be grounds for impeachment. The speaker of the state legislature, Todd Richardson, another Republican, denied the report was politically motivated. \"The testimony outlined in the report is beyond disturbing,\" he said. Democratic state representative Stacey Newman and US Senator for Missouri Claire McCaskill, also a Democrat, spoke out on Twitter.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 671, "answer_end": 1900, "text": "The report was published in full by the Associated Press, with a warning of graphic content on the front page. It was compiled by the state legislature after a cross-party investigation. In the report, the unnamed woman testifies she had multiple sexual encounters with Mr Greitens in 2015, before his election. Some, she says, were not consensual. She repeats her earlier allegation that, during their first encounter, the governor took a photo of her bound and blindfolded in his basement without her permission and threatened to release it if she ever mentioned his name. The woman then says she felt \"coerced\" into giving the governor oral sex. As she lay on the floor \"uncontrollably crying\", the governor allegedly pulled out his penis and put it near her face. \"I felt as though that would allow me to leave,\" she testified. The woman says that after this incident, the governor apologised for his behaviour and deleted the photo. She then entered into a consensual affair with him. Mr Greitens has admitted the relationship but says it was consensual. The governor said shortly before the report's release that he had made \"a personal mistake\" three years before and that it was being turned into \"a political spectacle\"."}], "question": "What does the report say?", "id": "1197_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1901, "answer_end": 2503, "text": "There was outrage across the political spectrum on the release of the report. Attorney General Hawley called on Mr Greitens to resign, saying the report contained \"shocking, substantial and corroborated evidence of wrongdoing\" by the governor that could be grounds for impeachment. The speaker of the state legislature, Todd Richardson, another Republican, denied the report was politically motivated. \"The testimony outlined in the report is beyond disturbing,\" he said. Democratic state representative Stacey Newman and US Senator for Missouri Claire McCaskill, also a Democrat, spoke out on Twitter."}], "question": "How did other politicians react?", "id": "1197_1"}]}]}, {"title": "Potters Bar, Ukraine\u2019s stolen billions and the Eurovision connection", "date": "6 February 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "A UK company helped the circle of Ukraine's disgraced ex-president profit from last year's Eurovision Song Contest, a BBC investigation has found. A Kiev exhibition centre paid to host some Eurovision events is owned through a Hertfordshire-registered company. At least PS1.2bn has been funnelled through companies registered at the same Potters Bar address. The Department for Business said company information in the UK \"is under constant scrutiny\". The Parkovy Congress and Exhibition Centre, a stylish, modernist building in the centre of Ukraine's capital, Kiev, was the location for last year's official Eurovision after-party. Contestants and their families from across the continent danced and drank until dawn on the rooftop with spectacular views across the River Dnieper. The Ukrainian firm which owns the Parkovy building is owned by a British company called Fineroad Business LLP, registered in Potters Bar. That company is a partnership of two opaque firms registered on the Caribbean island of Nevis. According to documents seen by BBC Radio 4's File on 4 programme, the Ukrainian state broadcaster paid the building's owners to host the event. The profits apparently ended up in the pockets of people closely linked to the regime of former President Viktor Yanukovych, who fled the country for Russia four years ago after anti-corruption protests in Kiev's Maidan square. In 2017, a Ukrainian court found reasonable grounds to believe that the Parkovy building itself was funded by money stolen from the state. Ukraine's general prosecutor has estimated that while in office ex-President Yanukovych and his associates stole a total of $40bn (PS29bn) from the state. Research by the campaigning organisation Transparency International has identified the Potters Bar office as the registered address for more than 100 other companies implicated in international money laundering schemes - most involving dirty money from Russia and other ex-Soviet states. Working with illicit finance expert Richard Smith, and using leaked bank data published by the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project, we have calculated that $1.7bn has been laundered through companies registered at that single address. Billions more could have been funnelled through a similar scheme, of which little detail is currently known. UK companies are \"providing the role of facilitators of global corruption\", says Duncan Hames, Transparency International's policy director. The vast majority of the 100-plus companies the BBC looked at, list their officers or members as other companies, registered in secrecy jurisdictions like the Seychelles or Belize. But since June 2016, UK companies have been required to list a \"person with significant control\", or PSC. This is supposed to reveal the real people truly in control of firms. In an exclusive analysis for File on 4, the anti-corruption organisation Global Witness has revealed that nearly one in 10 UK companies - 350,000 - still haven't named a PSC with the UK registry, Companies House. While there are some legitimate circumstances for not listing a PSC, Murray Worthy, senior campaigner at Global Witness, says he's \"shocked\" by the \"worryingly large number\" that haven't, and that others are submitting data \"that's just clearly inaccurate\". He cites PSCs aged over 300 or supposedly born in the future. The analysis found another 7,000 companies declaring that they are controlled by companies registered in secrecy jurisdictions. \"This is exactly what the register was supposed to end,\" says Mr Worthy. \"The vast majority of those companies will not meet the requirements of the register and are hiding who really owns and controls those companies.\" Another 25,000 companies appear to have circumvented the rules by stating that they're ultimately controlled by companies which themselves list no PSC. One particular type of company, Scottish Limited Partnerships (SLPs), has a particularly poor record. Four in five SLPs have not named a PSC. Of those that have, more than 40% have a PSC based in an ex-Soviet country. SLPs were included in the new rules in June 2017 - alongside a promise that they would face daily fines of up to PS500 if they didn't comply. Companies House told us it systematically checks the information it receives, but so far no one has been prosecuted for failing to meet the requirements. As for Fineroad Business - the Potters Bar-registered company that owns the Eurovision after-party venue - it does name a real person as its PSC. He's a Ukrainian called Sergii Moskovskyi, whose listed address is in the east of the country, just outside the warzone where Ukrainian forces are fighting Russian-backed rebels. Moskovskyi, who is actually based in Germany, initially told the BBC he's \"never heard\" of Fineroad Business. However, he later confirmed he is a shareholder of the company. For reasons of \"commercial confidentiality\" he didn't say what the company does, or whether he paid for his shares. He said he's been assured the company has not been involved in money laundering, but following our investigation will now investigate further. A spokesperson from the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy said: \"The UK has one of the most transparent and accessible company registers in the world - viewed two billion times last year - meaning company information is under constant scrutiny.\" File on 4: The Great British Money Laundering Service is on BBC Radio 4 on Tuesday 6 February at 20:00 GMT and on the iPlayer. Have you got something you want investigating? We want to hear from you. Email us.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 4372, "answer_end": 5397, "text": "As for Fineroad Business - the Potters Bar-registered company that owns the Eurovision after-party venue - it does name a real person as its PSC. He's a Ukrainian called Sergii Moskovskyi, whose listed address is in the east of the country, just outside the warzone where Ukrainian forces are fighting Russian-backed rebels. Moskovskyi, who is actually based in Germany, initially told the BBC he's \"never heard\" of Fineroad Business. However, he later confirmed he is a shareholder of the company. For reasons of \"commercial confidentiality\" he didn't say what the company does, or whether he paid for his shares. He said he's been assured the company has not been involved in money laundering, but following our investigation will now investigate further. A spokesperson from the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy said: \"The UK has one of the most transparent and accessible company registers in the world - viewed two billion times last year - meaning company information is under constant scrutiny.\""}], "question": "The man behind Parkovy?", "id": "1198_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Qatar crisis: Saudi Arabia angered after emir's phone call", "date": "9 September 2017", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Saudi Arabia says it has suspended dialogue with Qatar, shortly after a phone call between the Qatari leader and the Saudi crown prince. The two sides had discussed holding talks to resolve the Qatar crisis, which has seen Doha cut off from Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Egypt and the UAE. However, Saudi Arabia then accused Qatar of distorting facts about the call, and said it was ending talks. The four countries say Qatar supports terrorism - something Doha denies. The row led to all four Arab nations cutting ties with Qatar on 5 June - Saudi Arabia closed its land border with Qatar, while all four countries cut air and sea links with the country. Friday's phone call, which came after US President Donald Trump spoke separately with both sides, had initially been seen as a possible breakthrough in the crisis. The call was the first formal contact between Riyadh and Doha since the crisis began. State media on both sides reported that Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman had discussed the need for dialogue to resolve the crisis. The Saudi Press Agency said Qatar's leader had \"expressed his desire to sit at the dialogue table and discuss the demands of the four countries\", and that further details would be announced after Saudi Arabia reached an agreement with Bahrain, Egypt and the UAE. Meanwhile, the Qatar News Agency said the Saudi crown prince had proposed assigning \"two envoys to resolve controversial issues in a way that does not affect the sovereignty of states\". Shortly afterwards, Saudi Arabia accused Qatar of not being \"serious\" about dialogue, and said communications between the two sides would be suspended. The row appears to be over protocol - observers say Saudi Arabia is angered that Qatari state media did not make clear that the call was initiated by Doha. Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Egypt and the UAE, who are blockading Qatar, have presented a list of conditions for the lifting of sanctions. They include the closure of news broadcaster Al-Jazeera and reducing ties with Iran. The group accuses the Qatari-funded channel of fostering extremism, a charge the network denies. Diplomatic efforts led by Kuwait and backed by Western powers have so far failed to end the dispute. On Friday, Mr Trump spoke with both sides, and the UAE, in an attempt to broker talks. \"The president underscored that unity among the United States' Arab partners is essential to promoting regional stability and countering the threat of Iran,\" the White House said in a statement. It added that \"all countries must follow through on commitments... to defeat terrorism, cut off funding for terrorist groups and combat extremist ideology\".", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1086, "answer_end": 2698, "text": "The Saudi Press Agency said Qatar's leader had \"expressed his desire to sit at the dialogue table and discuss the demands of the four countries\", and that further details would be announced after Saudi Arabia reached an agreement with Bahrain, Egypt and the UAE. Meanwhile, the Qatar News Agency said the Saudi crown prince had proposed assigning \"two envoys to resolve controversial issues in a way that does not affect the sovereignty of states\". Shortly afterwards, Saudi Arabia accused Qatar of not being \"serious\" about dialogue, and said communications between the two sides would be suspended. The row appears to be over protocol - observers say Saudi Arabia is angered that Qatari state media did not make clear that the call was initiated by Doha. Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Egypt and the UAE, who are blockading Qatar, have presented a list of conditions for the lifting of sanctions. They include the closure of news broadcaster Al-Jazeera and reducing ties with Iran. The group accuses the Qatari-funded channel of fostering extremism, a charge the network denies. Diplomatic efforts led by Kuwait and backed by Western powers have so far failed to end the dispute. On Friday, Mr Trump spoke with both sides, and the UAE, in an attempt to broker talks. \"The president underscored that unity among the United States' Arab partners is essential to promoting regional stability and countering the threat of Iran,\" the White House said in a statement. It added that \"all countries must follow through on commitments... to defeat terrorism, cut off funding for terrorist groups and combat extremist ideology\"."}], "question": "Who said what?", "id": "1199_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Bright light 'increases sexual satisfaction in men'", "date": "19 September 2016", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Exposure to bright light can lead to greater sexual satisfaction in men who have low sexual desire, a new study suggests. Scientists from the University of Siena in Italy found that using a light box, similar to those used to treat some forms of depression, increased testosterone levels. And this led to greater reported levels of sexual satisfaction. But they said more research was needed before it could be used as a treatment. The researchers carried out their study on 38 men who had been diagnosed with disorders which cause a lack of interest in sex. One half of the group was treated with a light box, while the other half was treated with an adapted light box which gave out significantly less light. They were treated for half an hour early in the morning for two weeks. When they retested the participants, they found that the group exposed to the bright light tripled their sexual satisfaction scores while the control group's scores stayed roughly the same. The researchers also found that testosterone levels increased in men who had been given the active light treatment from around 2.1 ng/ml to 3.6 ng/ml - but the control group showed no increase. Prof Andrea Fagiolini, who led the study, said the increased levels of testosterone explained the greater reported sexual satisfaction. Light therapy is where a special lamp called a light box is used to simulate exposure to sunlight. A light box contains very bright fluorescent tubes - usually at least 10 times the intensity of household lights. They are commonly used to treat Seasonal Affective Disorder. A patient looks into the light box and when light hits the back of the eye, messages are passed to the part of the brain that controls sleep, appetite, sex drive, temperature, mood and activity. Some people seem to need a lot more light than others for their body to function normally. And he went on to explain how the light box treatment works. He said: \"In the northern hemisphere, the body's testosterone production naturally declines from November through until April and then rises steadily through the spring and summer with a peak in October. \"You see the effect of this in reproductive rates, with the month of June showing the highest rate of conception. The use of the light box really mimics what nature does.\" Prof Fagiolini said he thought the light therapy inhibited the pineal gland in the centre of the brain, which allowed more testosterone to be produced. There are several possible reasons for lack of sexual desire and treatment depends on the underlying cause. It can be treated with testosterone injections, antidepressants, and other medications. The researchers believe that light therapy in the future may offer the benefits of medication, but with fewer side effects. But he said they were not yet at the stage where they could recommend it as a clinical treatment. The paper will be presented at the European College of Neuropsychopharmacology (ECNP) Congress in Vienna.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1302, "answer_end": 1861, "text": "Light therapy is where a special lamp called a light box is used to simulate exposure to sunlight. A light box contains very bright fluorescent tubes - usually at least 10 times the intensity of household lights. They are commonly used to treat Seasonal Affective Disorder. A patient looks into the light box and when light hits the back of the eye, messages are passed to the part of the brain that controls sleep, appetite, sex drive, temperature, mood and activity. Some people seem to need a lot more light than others for their body to function normally."}], "question": "What is light box treatment?", "id": "1200_0"}]}]}, {"title": "US election 2020: Michael Bloomberg mulls presidential bid", "date": "8 November 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Billionaire businessman Michael Bloomberg is again considering entering the race for the US Democratic party's presidential nomination. The ex-New York City mayor is concerned the current field of candidates is not good enough to beat Donald Trump in the 2020 election, an adviser says. The 77-year-old is expected to file paperwork on Friday for the Democratic presidential primary in Alabama. However, he has so far not announced his decision to run. If Mr Bloomberg does get on the ballot in Alabama, he will still have to register in other states which have later filing deadlines. State-by-state votes, known as primaries and caucuses, will be held from February next year to pick a Democratic White House nominee. The eventual winner will be crowned at the party convention in Wisconsin in July. He or she is expected to face President Trump, a Republican, in the general election in November. A total of 17 Democratic candidates are vying to be the party's standard-bearer. Former Vice-President Joe Biden, Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren and Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders are the front-runners. At a campaign fundraiser in Boston on Thursday, Mr Biden did not address Mr Bloomberg's potential candidacy. Ms Warren welcomed Mr Bloomberg to the race on Twitter, linking to her own campaign website and suggesting the former mayor take a look for potential policy plans. In a more pointed response, seemingly directed at Mr Bloomberg, Mr Sanders wrote on Twitter: \"The billionaire class is scared and they should be scared.\" Some recent opinion polls have suggested that Ms Warren and Mr Sanders - who are more politically liberal than Mr Biden - might face an uphill battle against Mr Trump. In a statement, Howard Wolfson said: \"We now need to finish the job and ensure that Trump is defeated. \"But Mike is increasingly concerned that the current field of candidates is not well positioned to do that. \"Based on his record of accomplishment, leadership and his ability to bring people together to drive change, Mike would be able to take the fight to Trump and win,\" Mr Wolfson said. But his advisers also acknowledge that Mr Bloomberg's belated entry to the race could present challenges in states like Iowa and New Hampshire, where other Democratic contenders have been campaigning for months. The Bloomberg team are reportedly planning to focus on the so-called Super Tuesday contests in March, when 14 states, including California, Alabama and Colorado, will vote on a single day for their preferred White House nominee. If he enters the race, Mr Bloomberg will face intense scrutiny of his three-term mayoral record in New York. While in office, he defended the New York Police Department's use of the controversial stop-and-frisk policy, similar to stop-and-search in the UK, which critics say disproportionately targets African Americans and Hispanics. Black voters are a vital constituency for Democrats. Speaking to reporters on Friday, President Trump said Mr Bloomberg \"will fail\" if he joins the Democratic race. Candidates who want to get on the Democratic primary ballot in Alabama must submit the necessary paperwork by Friday. New Hampshire's filing deadline is next week, on 15 November. So far this is only a single toe entering the water, but it's a significant one. The presence of the former New York mayor and multi-billionaire would set alight the race for the Democratic Party nomination. The politician closest to Mr Bloomberg's centrist outlook is Joe Biden - but his campaign appears to be fading. Mr Bloomberg has, I understand, been doing a lot of polling in early voting states like Iowa and New Hampshire. This isn't the first time that he's eyed a run at the presidency, only to eventually decide against. But in the past he's ruled himself out because he thought Americans wouldn't vote for a billionaire New York businessman. That concern no longer applies. Mr Bloomberg's net worth is $52bn (PS40bn), according to Forbes. This is nearly 17 times more than that of Mr Trump ($3.1bn). Mr Bloomberg was a Wall Street banker who went on to found the financial publishing empire that bears his name. A philanthropist, he has donated millions of dollars to educational, medical and other causes. Originally a Democrat, he became a Republican to mount a successful campaign for mayor of New York City in 2001. He went on to serve three terms as mayor until 2012, rejoining the Democratic Party only last year. Regarded as a moderate Democrat, he has highlighted climate change as a key issue, but he had appeared to dismiss a potential run for the presidency earlier this year. Mr Bloomberg is a large financial backer of gun-control advocacy group Everytown for Gun Safety, which he helped found in 2014. The group, and Mr Bloomberg, were seen as playing a major role in a sweeping victory for Democrats in Virginia state elections earlier this week. They vastly outspent gun lobby group the National Rifle Association - which is based in Virginia - by pumping $2.5m into the state race.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1706, "answer_end": 3219, "text": "In a statement, Howard Wolfson said: \"We now need to finish the job and ensure that Trump is defeated. \"But Mike is increasingly concerned that the current field of candidates is not well positioned to do that. \"Based on his record of accomplishment, leadership and his ability to bring people together to drive change, Mike would be able to take the fight to Trump and win,\" Mr Wolfson said. But his advisers also acknowledge that Mr Bloomberg's belated entry to the race could present challenges in states like Iowa and New Hampshire, where other Democratic contenders have been campaigning for months. The Bloomberg team are reportedly planning to focus on the so-called Super Tuesday contests in March, when 14 states, including California, Alabama and Colorado, will vote on a single day for their preferred White House nominee. If he enters the race, Mr Bloomberg will face intense scrutiny of his three-term mayoral record in New York. While in office, he defended the New York Police Department's use of the controversial stop-and-frisk policy, similar to stop-and-search in the UK, which critics say disproportionately targets African Americans and Hispanics. Black voters are a vital constituency for Democrats. Speaking to reporters on Friday, President Trump said Mr Bloomberg \"will fail\" if he joins the Democratic race. Candidates who want to get on the Democratic primary ballot in Alabama must submit the necessary paperwork by Friday. New Hampshire's filing deadline is next week, on 15 November."}], "question": "What did Bloomberg's adviser say?", "id": "1201_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3220, "answer_end": 3906, "text": "So far this is only a single toe entering the water, but it's a significant one. The presence of the former New York mayor and multi-billionaire would set alight the race for the Democratic Party nomination. The politician closest to Mr Bloomberg's centrist outlook is Joe Biden - but his campaign appears to be fading. Mr Bloomberg has, I understand, been doing a lot of polling in early voting states like Iowa and New Hampshire. This isn't the first time that he's eyed a run at the presidency, only to eventually decide against. But in the past he's ruled himself out because he thought Americans wouldn't vote for a billionaire New York businessman. That concern no longer applies."}], "question": "A New York billionaire as president?", "id": "1201_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3907, "answer_end": 5031, "text": "Mr Bloomberg's net worth is $52bn (PS40bn), according to Forbes. This is nearly 17 times more than that of Mr Trump ($3.1bn). Mr Bloomberg was a Wall Street banker who went on to found the financial publishing empire that bears his name. A philanthropist, he has donated millions of dollars to educational, medical and other causes. Originally a Democrat, he became a Republican to mount a successful campaign for mayor of New York City in 2001. He went on to serve three terms as mayor until 2012, rejoining the Democratic Party only last year. Regarded as a moderate Democrat, he has highlighted climate change as a key issue, but he had appeared to dismiss a potential run for the presidency earlier this year. Mr Bloomberg is a large financial backer of gun-control advocacy group Everytown for Gun Safety, which he helped found in 2014. The group, and Mr Bloomberg, were seen as playing a major role in a sweeping victory for Democrats in Virginia state elections earlier this week. They vastly outspent gun lobby group the National Rifle Association - which is based in Virginia - by pumping $2.5m into the state race."}], "question": "Who is Michael Bloomberg?", "id": "1201_2"}]}]}, {"title": "Poland abortion: Protests against bill imposing new limits", "date": "26 March 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Thousands of people have taken to streets across Poland against plans to further tighten the abortion laws, already among Europe's strictest. A bill in parliament seeks to ban abortions in cases of foetal abnormality - one of the few exceptions allowed under the current law. Anti-abortion groups say many terminations involve foetuses diagnosed with Down's Syndrome. Pro-choice groups say more women will be forced into illegal terminations. The \"Black Friday\" protests against the bill are being held in the capital Warsaw and other cities. Abortion is already mostly banned. The only exceptions are for severe and irreversible damage to the foetus, a serious threat to the mother's health, or when pregnancy is the result of rape or incest. Estimates say there are already far more illegal abortions than legal ones in Poland - between 10,000 and 150,000, compared with about 1,000 or 2,000 legal terminations. There has already been controversy over access to the emergency contraceptive pill, after the president approved a bill making it prescription-only, in defiance of human rights groups. Opposition parties and pro-choice campaigners who say women's health and lives will be put at risk by tightening the abortion laws. \"This bill would further hinder women, particularly those from low-income and rural communities, from accessing safe abortion care,\" a letter from more than 200 groups said. The Council of Europe - Europe's main human rights watchdog - has warned that the bill runs counter to Poland's human rights commitments and urged lawmakers to reject it. \"Preventing women from accessing safe and legal abortion care jeopardises their human rights,\" the council's human rights commissioner Nils Muiznieks said. It is a citizens' initiative, led by one group called Stop Abortion, which says an estimated 1,046 abortions, or 96% of all terminations carried out in the country in 2016, were on foetuses showing abnormalities, many of them diagnosed with Down's Syndrome. \"This isn't just a text. This law concerns the lives of three human beings every day,\" the group's Kaja Godek said. President Andrzej Duda, who is close to the Catholic Church, vowed to sign the controversial bill into law if approved by parliament, where the conservatives have a majority. The proposal was approved by parliament's justice and human rights commission, but still needs to be studied by another commission before being sent to MPs for a vote, AFP news agency reports. The proposed changes are less restrictive than those discussed in 2016, that would have led to a complete ban - the only exception would have been when the mother's life was in danger. The plan was scrapped after tens of thousands of people dressed in black - most of them women - protested across the country. European countries are among the world's most pro-choice when it comes to abortion, but there are some exceptions: - Malta and Vatican City are among six countries worldwide where abortion is banned outright under law - There are severe restrictions in Northern Ireland (where the law differs from the rest of the UK), San Marino, Liechtenstein and Andorra - In Ireland, a referendum will be held in May on whether to reform the country's near-total ban - abortion is only allowed when a woman's life is at risk.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 543, "answer_end": 1098, "text": "Abortion is already mostly banned. The only exceptions are for severe and irreversible damage to the foetus, a serious threat to the mother's health, or when pregnancy is the result of rape or incest. Estimates say there are already far more illegal abortions than legal ones in Poland - between 10,000 and 150,000, compared with about 1,000 or 2,000 legal terminations. There has already been controversy over access to the emergency contraceptive pill, after the president approved a bill making it prescription-only, in defiance of human rights groups."}], "question": "What is the law in Poland now?", "id": "1202_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1099, "answer_end": 1731, "text": "Opposition parties and pro-choice campaigners who say women's health and lives will be put at risk by tightening the abortion laws. \"This bill would further hinder women, particularly those from low-income and rural communities, from accessing safe abortion care,\" a letter from more than 200 groups said. The Council of Europe - Europe's main human rights watchdog - has warned that the bill runs counter to Poland's human rights commitments and urged lawmakers to reject it. \"Preventing women from accessing safe and legal abortion care jeopardises their human rights,\" the council's human rights commissioner Nils Muiznieks said."}], "question": "Who opposes the change?", "id": "1202_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1732, "answer_end": 2784, "text": "It is a citizens' initiative, led by one group called Stop Abortion, which says an estimated 1,046 abortions, or 96% of all terminations carried out in the country in 2016, were on foetuses showing abnormalities, many of them diagnosed with Down's Syndrome. \"This isn't just a text. This law concerns the lives of three human beings every day,\" the group's Kaja Godek said. President Andrzej Duda, who is close to the Catholic Church, vowed to sign the controversial bill into law if approved by parliament, where the conservatives have a majority. The proposal was approved by parliament's justice and human rights commission, but still needs to be studied by another commission before being sent to MPs for a vote, AFP news agency reports. The proposed changes are less restrictive than those discussed in 2016, that would have led to a complete ban - the only exception would have been when the mother's life was in danger. The plan was scrapped after tens of thousands of people dressed in black - most of them women - protested across the country."}], "question": "Who supports the change?", "id": "1202_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2785, "answer_end": 3297, "text": "European countries are among the world's most pro-choice when it comes to abortion, but there are some exceptions: - Malta and Vatican City are among six countries worldwide where abortion is banned outright under law - There are severe restrictions in Northern Ireland (where the law differs from the rest of the UK), San Marino, Liechtenstein and Andorra - In Ireland, a referendum will be held in May on whether to reform the country's near-total ban - abortion is only allowed when a woman's life is at risk."}], "question": "What is the picture of abortion across Europe?", "id": "1202_3"}]}]}, {"title": "President Abdelaziz Bouteflika returns to Algeria amid mass protests", "date": "10 March 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Algeria's ailing President Abdelaziz Bouteflika has returned to the country after two weeks in a Swiss hospital, state media say. A plane carrying the 82-year-old leader landed at Boufarik military airport near the capital, Algiers, as protests against his 20-year rule continue. Teachers and students have gone on strike at several universities, with thousands joining demonstrations. They are against the president's plan to seek a fifth term in office. Mr Bouteflika has said that the mass demonstrations, which broke out last month and represent the biggest threat so far to his rule, could plunge the country into \"chaos\". On Sunday, thousands of students took to the streets of Algiers, waving the Algerian flag and chanting: \"Bouteflika, there will be no fifth term.\" Many shops in the city have been closed, and Reuters reports that train services have been suspended. On Friday, tens of thousands of people joined protests thought to be the biggest in the capital in 28 years. Riot police fired tear gas to prevent the mostly peaceful groups from reaching a road leading to the presidential palace, and local reports said 195 people were detained by the security forces. Many who demonstrated that day initially gathered at university sites before heading onto the streets. Algeria reportedly has more than 1.7 million students. More than a third of these live on campus, but many others travel long distances to study from family homes. Meanwhile, the Algerian presidency confirmed Mr Bouteflika, who has rarely been seen in public since having a stroke in 2013, had returned after two weeks of \"periodic medical checks\" in Switzerland, state media APS reported. Privately-owned Ennahar TV reported that the plane had landed at Boufarik military airport but did not broadcast any footage of the flight. Instead, it carried a live flight tracker map which showed the plane approaching Blida Province, where the airport is based. The plane that was photographed in Geneva's Cointrin airport earlier on Sunday is thought to be the same one that flew him over on 24 February. Mr Bouteflika's office previously insisted that he was just going to Geneva for routine health check-ups, but it led to speculation that his condition was far more serious. The wave of protests was triggered by the announcement last month that Mr Bouteflika would seek a fifth term in office in April's election. Mr Bouteflika later released a statement saying that he would step down early if re-elected - but this has not placated the demonstrators. Many young Algerians are frustrated by a lack of economic opportunity and by what they perceive as the corruption of an elite that has governed the country since it gained independence from France.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 2255, "answer_end": 2731, "text": "The wave of protests was triggered by the announcement last month that Mr Bouteflika would seek a fifth term in office in April's election. Mr Bouteflika later released a statement saying that he would step down early if re-elected - but this has not placated the demonstrators. Many young Algerians are frustrated by a lack of economic opportunity and by what they perceive as the corruption of an elite that has governed the country since it gained independence from France."}], "question": "What do the protesters want?", "id": "1203_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Yemen war: Truce for lifeline port city of Hudaydah", "date": "13 December 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Warring parties in Yemen have agreed to a ceasefire for the port city of Hudaydah, principal lifeline for two-thirds of the country. They reached agreement at talks in Sweden brokered by the United Nations. UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said he hoped this would be the starting point to bring nearly four years of civil war to a close. Fighting has killed thousands, while the world's worst humanitarian crisis in recent times has afflicted millions. Leaders of the delegations from the Yemeni government and the Houthi rebels, who control much of the country, shook hands after the ceasefire was agreed on Thursday. Hudaydah is one of the areas controlled by the rebels. All forces from the Houthi rebels will withdraw from Hudaydah in the coming days, as will those from the Yemeni government alliance fighting them there. They will be replaced by what the UN called local forces. Houthi forces would also withdraw from the ports of Saleef and Ras Isa. Mr Guterres said the ceasefire would then take place for the whole of the Hudaydah governorate. The UN would then play a \"leading role\" in monitoring the ports and would help distribute aid to civilians, he added. Thursday's agreements could \"be a starting point for peace and for ending [the] humanitarian crisis in Yemen\", Mr Guterres said. A \"mutual understanding\" was announced on the nation's third city of Taiz, where these has been intense fighting, although few details were released. There is no agreement yet on a truce for the rest of the country, including the capital Sanaa, which is controlled by the Houthis. Mr Guterres said he hoped for a deal within a week on reopening Sanaa airport. He said a new round of talks would take place at the end of January on other issues. The Stockholm talks were the first in two years between the Houthis and the Yemeni government, which has had the backing of a Saudi-led coalition since 2015. Yemen has been devastated by a conflict that escalated in early 2015, when the Houthis seized control of much of the west of the country and forced President Abdrabbuh Mansour Hadi to flee abroad. Alarmed by the rise of a group they saw as an Iranian proxy, the UAE, Saudi Arabia and seven other Arab states intervened in an attempt to restore the government. At least 6,660 civilians have been killed and 10,560 injured in the fighting, according to the United Nations. Thousands more civilians have died from preventable causes, including malnutrition, disease and poor health. The World Health Organization warned in October that about 10,000 new suspected cases of cholera were now being reported every week.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 680, "answer_end": 1305, "text": "All forces from the Houthi rebels will withdraw from Hudaydah in the coming days, as will those from the Yemeni government alliance fighting them there. They will be replaced by what the UN called local forces. Houthi forces would also withdraw from the ports of Saleef and Ras Isa. Mr Guterres said the ceasefire would then take place for the whole of the Hudaydah governorate. The UN would then play a \"leading role\" in monitoring the ports and would help distribute aid to civilians, he added. Thursday's agreements could \"be a starting point for peace and for ending [the] humanitarian crisis in Yemen\", Mr Guterres said."}], "question": "How will the truce work?", "id": "1204_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1306, "answer_end": 1908, "text": "A \"mutual understanding\" was announced on the nation's third city of Taiz, where these has been intense fighting, although few details were released. There is no agreement yet on a truce for the rest of the country, including the capital Sanaa, which is controlled by the Houthis. Mr Guterres said he hoped for a deal within a week on reopening Sanaa airport. He said a new round of talks would take place at the end of January on other issues. The Stockholm talks were the first in two years between the Houthis and the Yemeni government, which has had the backing of a Saudi-led coalition since 2015."}], "question": "What else has been agreed?", "id": "1204_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1909, "answer_end": 2621, "text": "Yemen has been devastated by a conflict that escalated in early 2015, when the Houthis seized control of much of the west of the country and forced President Abdrabbuh Mansour Hadi to flee abroad. Alarmed by the rise of a group they saw as an Iranian proxy, the UAE, Saudi Arabia and seven other Arab states intervened in an attempt to restore the government. At least 6,660 civilians have been killed and 10,560 injured in the fighting, according to the United Nations. Thousands more civilians have died from preventable causes, including malnutrition, disease and poor health. The World Health Organization warned in October that about 10,000 new suspected cases of cholera were now being reported every week."}], "question": "Why is there a war in Yemen?", "id": "1204_2"}]}]}, {"title": "Social care system 'seizing up' under strain", "date": "5 July 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Northern Ireland's social care system could seize up unless it receives more funding, the chief social worker has warned. Sean Holland said the public must start thinking about how they can contribute to the cost of their care in the future. He was speaking on the 70th anniversary of the NHS. Northern Ireland, like the rest of the UK, has an ageing and growing population. It is estimated one in four people in Northern Ireland will be 64 or older in 20 years' time. More older people will require care, whether at home or elsewhere. But the system is already under tremendous pressure. Now, there has been a call for a public debate on how it should be funded. Mr Holland said the system was slowly falling apart. \"It's what I would describe as an engine that's running very hot,\" he told BBC News NI. \"It's running very fast, and is still functioning, but if it gets any hotter, eventually, it gets overwhelmed and seizes up.\" Some 23,000 people in Northern Ireland receive domiciliary care, amounting to 250,000 hours of carers' work a week, nearly 70% of which is provided by the private sector. Northern Ireland has the UK's highest rate of 15-minute visits, according to a report by independent health care providers. Unlike in England and Wales, recipients in Scotland and Northern Ireland are not charged for a basic domiciliary care package. It is estimated that 15% more care packages will be needed by 2020 to meet demand across Northern Ireland. The region's 41,000-strong social care workforce includes 6,200 social workers, 500 social work students and 34,000 social care registrants of whom 12,800 are domiciliary care workers. Mr Holland called for a review into how Northern Ireland pays for social care, and also how it will encourage a sustainable workforce, in which enough full-time staff (not those on short-term contracts) are employed to deliver the care required. \"We are going to need more money into the system,\" he said. \"That is probably going to have to be a combination of more public money, but also people are going to have to look at what they can personally contribute to the cost of their care.\" Brian McHugh is one counting the financial cost of care. He has been looking after his 67-year-old wife, who has dementia, in their home for the past two years. But her condition has deteriorated and he now has to find residential care, after already quitting his job in order to look after her. \"It's not difficult finding out information but it is expensive. \"For residential care, you're talking around PS650 per week. Some places charge a top-up, which can cost an additional PS40 to PS50 a week. \"That's expensive. If you have savings of over PS23,500, you will be expected to pay it all. \"But that won't last very long and then, I understand, they will take my house.\" There are a range of social care services available to people who require support - but some do require a charge. When an application is made for a social care package, a financial assessment is carried out by the local health trust. Option one: Domiciliary care Domiciliary care is the option the government is encouraging, as it allows people to stay at home rather than in hospital and is cheaper. But in order to keep up with demand in the next five years, it will require a larger workforce. People may be offered a direct payment from their health trust to allow them to buy in an additional service of their choice. Health trusts charge extra for meals on wheels. Option two: Supported housing This option includes fold accommodation, which allows someone to live independently but also provides on-site support and assistance when required. If required, a basic care package will be supplied by the health trust for free. Applicants will be expected to pay for rent for their accommodation, though may be eligible for housing benefit. Option three: Residential care This option provides care 24 hours a day and is means tested. If someone has assets of more than PS23,250 they will be expected to pay the full cost. Less than PS14,250 and the person will not be expected to contribute. Those who fall in between may be asked to pay depending on savings and investments. Again, this is means tested. Option four: Nursing home A nursing home will cater for those who have a disability or illness that requires round-the-clock nursing care. The service is means tested, but the local trust will make a weekly payment of PS100 directly towards covering the nursing cost. All care homes can charge an additional rate - a third party top-up - which reflects the private sector home's individual charges. Sean Holland said that difficult choices lie ahead in order to ensure that the NHS is around for another 70 years. \"Currently we have a situation in Northern Ireland where we do charge people for social care, but we don't charge people in the same way as in other parts of the UK. \"Also people are asked to pay for residential and nursing care but they aren't expected to pay for care in their own home. Is that fair? \"Serious choices will have to be made. Some of those are political choices - for instance, do we increase taxes? Do we ask the public to pay more via another way?\" Meanwhile, Brian McHugh and his family are facing difficult choices right now. They are looking for residential care but, according to him, it is not easy. \"I would like to have a nice safe place for her. A care home that she will be well looked after. Close to us so we can visit her when we want,\" he said. \"I don't really think it is working for people. Everything is about cost and it's hard trying to get things done on time.\"", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 2809, "answer_end": 4614, "text": "There are a range of social care services available to people who require support - but some do require a charge. When an application is made for a social care package, a financial assessment is carried out by the local health trust. Option one: Domiciliary care Domiciliary care is the option the government is encouraging, as it allows people to stay at home rather than in hospital and is cheaper. But in order to keep up with demand in the next five years, it will require a larger workforce. People may be offered a direct payment from their health trust to allow them to buy in an additional service of their choice. Health trusts charge extra for meals on wheels. Option two: Supported housing This option includes fold accommodation, which allows someone to live independently but also provides on-site support and assistance when required. If required, a basic care package will be supplied by the health trust for free. Applicants will be expected to pay for rent for their accommodation, though may be eligible for housing benefit. Option three: Residential care This option provides care 24 hours a day and is means tested. If someone has assets of more than PS23,250 they will be expected to pay the full cost. Less than PS14,250 and the person will not be expected to contribute. Those who fall in between may be asked to pay depending on savings and investments. Again, this is means tested. Option four: Nursing home A nursing home will cater for those who have a disability or illness that requires round-the-clock nursing care. The service is means tested, but the local trust will make a weekly payment of PS100 directly towards covering the nursing cost. All care homes can charge an additional rate - a third party top-up - which reflects the private sector home's individual charges."}], "question": "Care packages: What are the options?", "id": "1205_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Manafort aide Konstantin Kilimnik charged in Russia probe", "date": "8 June 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Special Counsel Robert Mueller has added more charges against Paul Manafort, the ex-chairman of the Trump 2016 campaign, and indicted a top aide. Russian citizen Konstantin Kilimnik - considered Mr Manafort's right-hand man in Ukraine - is accused of conspiring with Mr Manafort to obstruct justice. Earlier this week Mr Manafort was accused of witness tampering. Mr Manafort is also charged with money laundering, illegal foreign lobbying, and lying to federal officials. The 69-year-old denies all charges against him. The new charges against both men - known as a superseding indictment - alleges that they sought to tamper with witnesses ahead of Mr Manafort's trial next month. The charges, which were filed in Washington DC on Friday, came days after Mr Mueller asked a judge to revoke Mr Manafort's $10m (PS7.5m) bail, which has allowed him to remain under house arrest at his Virginia home, over the witness-tampering accusations. Mr Kilimnik was a longtime employee of Mr Manafort's political-consulting firm, had done extensive lobbying work for him in Ukraine on behalf of the country's then pro-Russian president Viktor Yanukovych. He has denied allegations that he has ties to Russian intelligence. Analysis by Anthony Zurcher, BBC News, Washington The legal pressure on Paul Manafort is growing - and now one of his top deputies is joining him in the prosecutorial crosshairs. For the moment, Mr Manafort is one of the few targets of Mueller's Russia probe to push toward a criminal trial, rather than co-operate with the investigation. The special counsel's team may be hoping the prospect of pre-trial incarceration could help change Mr Manafort's mind. Perhaps more important is that an alleged line from the Russian government to the Trump campaign could be getting clearer. Konstintin Kilimnik, a Soviet-born former translator from Ukraine, is reported - by the New York Times and others - to be the \"Person A\" described in a previous Mueller court filings as having \"ties to a Russian intelligence service\" up to and including in 2016, when his boss, Mr Manafort, worked as the chair of Donald Trump's presidential campaign. Mr Mueller has yet to assert that Mr Manafort's Ukraine and Russian connections resulted in any election-meddling. The skeleton for future allegations, however, can now be discerned. Mr Kilimnik appears unlikely to face these new charges in court. His whereabouts are currently unknown, although Mr Mueller in a December 2017 court filing says a Manafort \"colleague\" widely considered to be Kilimnik is \"currently based in Russia\" Mr Mueller is investigating whether there was any collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia during the 2016 election, and whether the president unlawfully tried to obstruct the inquiry after the election. Mr Mueller was appointed after US President Donald Trump fired FBI director James Comey last May. On Tuesday he asked that Mr Manafort be detained in jail, claiming that he had been using encrypted communication to try to coach two potential witnesses' testimonies. On Friday, Mr Trump denied that he was considering pardoning Mr Manafort. \"It's far too early to be thinking about it,\" Mr Trump told reporters before travelling to the G7 summit in Canada. \"They haven't been convicted of anything. There's nothing to pardon.\"", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1212, "answer_end": 2575, "text": "Analysis by Anthony Zurcher, BBC News, Washington The legal pressure on Paul Manafort is growing - and now one of his top deputies is joining him in the prosecutorial crosshairs. For the moment, Mr Manafort is one of the few targets of Mueller's Russia probe to push toward a criminal trial, rather than co-operate with the investigation. The special counsel's team may be hoping the prospect of pre-trial incarceration could help change Mr Manafort's mind. Perhaps more important is that an alleged line from the Russian government to the Trump campaign could be getting clearer. Konstintin Kilimnik, a Soviet-born former translator from Ukraine, is reported - by the New York Times and others - to be the \"Person A\" described in a previous Mueller court filings as having \"ties to a Russian intelligence service\" up to and including in 2016, when his boss, Mr Manafort, worked as the chair of Donald Trump's presidential campaign. Mr Mueller has yet to assert that Mr Manafort's Ukraine and Russian connections resulted in any election-meddling. The skeleton for future allegations, however, can now be discerned. Mr Kilimnik appears unlikely to face these new charges in court. His whereabouts are currently unknown, although Mr Mueller in a December 2017 court filing says a Manafort \"colleague\" widely considered to be Kilimnik is \"currently based in Russia\""}], "question": "A clearer picture?", "id": "1206_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Epstein accused of witness tampering in sex trafficking case", "date": "13 July 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Prosecutors have accused jailed US financier Jeffrey Epstein of paying large amounts of money to two people who could be potential witnesses in his child sex trafficking case in an effort to influence them. Prosecutors said Epstein sent a total of $350,000 (PS278,000) to two suspected co-conspirators late last year. The allegations were made in a court filing asking that Epstein be denied bail while he awaits trial. Epstein has pleaded not guilty. He is due in court on Monday for a hearing to consider his request for bail. His lawyers have not yet commented on the payout claims. In the filing, prosecutors said the 66-year-old made the payments late last year, just days after The Miami Herald began publishing articles about a plea deal Epstein reached to avoid federal sex trafficking charges in 2008. He paid one person named as a possible co-conspirator in the case $100,000 and the other suspected co-conspirator $250,000, the prosecutors allege. They did not name the two people who received the money. \"Neither of these payments appears to be recurring or repeating during the approximately five years of bank records presently available to the government,\" they said. \"This course of action, and in particular its timing, suggests the defendant was attempting to further influence co-conspirators who might provide information against him in light of the recently re-emerging allegations.\" Epstein was arrested on 6 July and has been charged with sex trafficking and conspiracy. According to an indictment, the wealthy financier paid girls under the age of 18 to perform sex acts at his Manhattan and Florida mansions between 2002 and 2005. He has asked to be allowed to await trial under house arrest, but prosecutors argued in the court filing on Friday that he should be kept behind bars. They cited his payments to possible witnesses and the risk that he would flee as reasons to keep him in jail, while describing him as \"unrepentant and unreformed\". The prosecutors' filing came as US Labour Secretary Alex Acosta announced that he was resigning amid criticism of his role in the 2008 plea deal. In the previous case against him, Epstein was accused of abusing dozens of teenage girls between 1999 and 2007. Mr Acosta was then the US Attorney in Miami and oversaw the non-prosecution deal with Epstein, which allowed the financier to serve 13 months in jail - with much of that time spent on work release at his Palm Beach office. The deal has come under increasing scrutiny with the new charges against Epstein this week. US President Donald Trump told reporters that he and Mr Acosta spoke on the phone earlier on Friday and that it was Mr Acosta's decision to step down. Mr Acosta told reporters: \"I do not think it is right and fair... to have Epstein as the focus rather than the incredible economy that we have today.\" But he added: \"It would be selfish for me to stay in this position and continue talking about a case that's 12 years old.\" Patrick Pizzella, the current labour deputy secretary, will become acting secretary when Mr Acosta officially steps down in one week, Mr Trump said. New York-born Epstein worked as a teacher before moving into finance. Prior to the criminal cases against him, he was best known for his wealth and high-profile connections. He has long been surrounded by the rich and powerful, including President Trump, former President Bill Clinton and the UK's Prince Andrew. In a 2002 profile in New York Magazine, Mr Trump referred to Epstein as a \"terrific guy\". \"He's a lot of fun to be with,\" he said. \"It is even said that he likes beautiful women as much as I do, and many of them are on the younger side.\" However, Mr Trump has said the pair fell out \"12 or 15 years ago\" and reiterated on Friday that he was \"not a fan of Jeffrey Epstein\". Reports of Epstein's current wealth vary, with his Virgin Islands-based firm generating no public records.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 2117, "answer_end": 3117, "text": "In the previous case against him, Epstein was accused of abusing dozens of teenage girls between 1999 and 2007. Mr Acosta was then the US Attorney in Miami and oversaw the non-prosecution deal with Epstein, which allowed the financier to serve 13 months in jail - with much of that time spent on work release at his Palm Beach office. The deal has come under increasing scrutiny with the new charges against Epstein this week. US President Donald Trump told reporters that he and Mr Acosta spoke on the phone earlier on Friday and that it was Mr Acosta's decision to step down. Mr Acosta told reporters: \"I do not think it is right and fair... to have Epstein as the focus rather than the incredible economy that we have today.\" But he added: \"It would be selfish for me to stay in this position and continue talking about a case that's 12 years old.\" Patrick Pizzella, the current labour deputy secretary, will become acting secretary when Mr Acosta officially steps down in one week, Mr Trump said."}], "question": "Why did Mr Acosta step down?", "id": "1207_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3118, "answer_end": 3910, "text": "New York-born Epstein worked as a teacher before moving into finance. Prior to the criminal cases against him, he was best known for his wealth and high-profile connections. He has long been surrounded by the rich and powerful, including President Trump, former President Bill Clinton and the UK's Prince Andrew. In a 2002 profile in New York Magazine, Mr Trump referred to Epstein as a \"terrific guy\". \"He's a lot of fun to be with,\" he said. \"It is even said that he likes beautiful women as much as I do, and many of them are on the younger side.\" However, Mr Trump has said the pair fell out \"12 or 15 years ago\" and reiterated on Friday that he was \"not a fan of Jeffrey Epstein\". Reports of Epstein's current wealth vary, with his Virgin Islands-based firm generating no public records."}], "question": "Who is Jeffrey Epstein?", "id": "1207_1"}]}]}, {"title": "Charting China's 'great purge' under Xi", "date": "23 October 2017", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Since becoming China's leader in 2012, Xi Jinping has overseen a vast and ruthless anti-corruption drive in which more than a million officials have been disciplined. A BBC study has found that more than 170 ministers and deputy minister-level officials have been sacked and many jailed under Mr Xi, accused of charges such as corruption, misconduct and violation of party discipline. It has been described by some as a massive internal purge of opponents, on a scale not seen since the days of Mao Zedong, in whose Cultural Revolution many top officials were purged. The most noticeable departure from tradition has been the breaking with many unwritten party conventions since Mao's time. The prosecution of so many national-level officials has been notable - in recent decades prominent figures would usually have been quietly retired. But in the last five years, 35 members (full and alternate) of the Chinese Communist Party's powerful Central Committee have been disciplined. That is as many as in all the years between 1949 and 2012. Based on official data, a staggering 1.34 million officials at high and low levels - the so-called \"tigers and flies\" - have been brought down by corruption and disciplinary charges during President Xi's first five years in office. No walk of life has been spared - those felled range from village chiefs and factory managers to government ministers and generals. The so-called \"great purge\" goes right to the very top of government - the biggest scalp so far was once the third most senior leader in China, Zhou Yongkang. He had been in charge of the vast internal security apparatus until he retired. Sun Zhengcai, who was sacked as Chongqing party secretary, was only the fourth sitting politburo member ever to be expelled from the Communist Party. Promoted before Xi Jinping took office, Mr Sun, 54, was the politburo's youngest member and had been tipped for the very top. - Zhou Yongkang is the most senior official felled so far. Until he retired in 2012 he was the third most powerful politician in China. In 2015 he was jailed for life for bribery, abuse of power and disclosing state secrets. - Abruptly removed from his post in July, Sun Zhengcai is the most senior serving official to be caught by President Xi's purge. Only the fourth sitting politburo member to ever be expelled from the Party. - Xu Caihou was among highest-ranking military until he retired in 2013. He was investigated as part of a \"cash for ranks\" probe and ultimately expelled from the party and prosecuted. He died of cancer in 2015. - Guo Boxiong served alongside Xu. In July 2016 he became the highest-ranking military official prosecuted since the end of the revolution in 1949. He was sentenced to life in prison for bribery. - Ling Jihua was a trusted adviser of Hu Jintao but was swiftly demoted under Xi. After a scandal that began when his son died \"in a state of undress\" in a Ferrari crash, he was jailed for life for bribery in 2016. Nearly 70% of the party's ruling Central Committee members will be replaced with new faces at the current congress although in the majority of cases alleged corruption or other transgressions will not be the reason - age will be. An unwritten party rule currently sets the retirement age at 65 for Central Committee members. No area has been more radically restructured under President Xi than the military, which he swiftly set about comprehensively reorganising and modernising. More than 60 generals have been investigated and sacked in the drive to introduce a Western-style joint command and promote young officers to top positions. Even as the delegates started to gather in Beijing for the current party congress, the pace of the campaign showed no signs of slowing down. Two top generals, Fang Fenghui and Zhang Yang, disappeared from public view as recently as last month, and a series of new high-level investigations have been announced. The five-yearly congress in Beijing is expected to see the president remain as party chief and bring in a new leadership team, helping to entrench his already considerable power. If things go to plan for President Xi, he should be able to get many of his loyalists into key positions. Since he took office a number of his allies have been promoted. Here are some of the biggest gainers. - Li Zhanshu was party chief in a county neighbouring Mr Xi's early in their careers. In 2015 he visited Moscow as Mr Xi's \"special representative\". Has played a leading role in maintaining strong relations with Russia. - Chen Min'er is one of the \"New Zhijiang Army\", the group of now senior CPC figures who worked under Mr Xi when he was party secretary in Zhejiang. Chen replaced the disgraced Sun Zhengcai in Chongqing. - Another of the so-called \"New Zhijiang Army\" is Cai Qi. Before being summoned to the capital his popular blog had more than 10m social media followers. - Said to be President Xi's top foreign policy aide, Wang Huning has been labelled \"China's Kissinger\" by a leading South Korean newspaper. He also advised former presidents Hu and Jiang. - President Xi described his key economic adviser Liu He as \"very important to me\" when introducing him to President Obama's National Security Adviser in 2013. Mr Liu has an MA in public administration from Harvard. Who ends up in the party's Politburo Standing Committee, China's top decision-making body which currently has seven seats, will show exactly how powerful he has become. Its members - and those of the 25-seat Politburo - will be revealed on 25 October once the congress ends. But analysts say Mr Xi, along with anti-corruption chief Wang Qishan, a key ally, has used the clean-up campaign to help shape who China's new leaders will be. The country's Communist Party has for decades ruled by consensus, but analysts say President Xi is rewriting party rules and concentrating power in his own hands. Critics accuse him of encouraging a cult of personality. They point to the fact that most of the top officials who have been disciplined have been supporters of his opponents, or former presidents Jiang Zemin or Hu Jintao. President Xi's supporters say the anti-corruption drive is needed to restore the ruling party's credibility as the president pursues his dream of a more prosperous and powerful China which will soon overtake the US as the world's largest economy. Research and production by BBC News, BBC Monitoring, BBC Chinese and BBC Visual Journalism.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1041, "answer_end": 1919, "text": "Based on official data, a staggering 1.34 million officials at high and low levels - the so-called \"tigers and flies\" - have been brought down by corruption and disciplinary charges during President Xi's first five years in office. No walk of life has been spared - those felled range from village chiefs and factory managers to government ministers and generals. The so-called \"great purge\" goes right to the very top of government - the biggest scalp so far was once the third most senior leader in China, Zhou Yongkang. He had been in charge of the vast internal security apparatus until he retired. Sun Zhengcai, who was sacked as Chongqing party secretary, was only the fourth sitting politburo member ever to be expelled from the Communist Party. Promoted before Xi Jinping took office, Mr Sun, 54, was the politburo's youngest member and had been tipped for the very top."}], "question": "Who has been targeted?", "id": "1208_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3298, "answer_end": 3921, "text": "No area has been more radically restructured under President Xi than the military, which he swiftly set about comprehensively reorganising and modernising. More than 60 generals have been investigated and sacked in the drive to introduce a Western-style joint command and promote young officers to top positions. Even as the delegates started to gather in Beijing for the current party congress, the pace of the campaign showed no signs of slowing down. Two top generals, Fang Fenghui and Zhang Yang, disappeared from public view as recently as last month, and a series of new high-level investigations have been announced."}], "question": "Has the army been spared?", "id": "1208_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3922, "answer_end": 4308, "text": "The five-yearly congress in Beijing is expected to see the president remain as party chief and bring in a new leadership team, helping to entrench his already considerable power. If things go to plan for President Xi, he should be able to get many of his loyalists into key positions. Since he took office a number of his allies have been promoted. Here are some of the biggest gainers."}], "question": "What is Xi's goal?", "id": "1208_2"}]}]}, {"title": "Argentina asks IMF to release $50bn loan as crisis worsens", "date": "30 August 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Argentina's government has unexpectedly asked for the early release of a $50bn (PS37.2bn) loan from the IMF amid a growing economic crisis. President Mauricio Macri said the move was designed to restore confidence in the Argentine economy. The Argentine peso has lost more than 40% of its value against the US dollar this year and inflation is rampant. The IMF confirmed on Wednesday it was looking to strengthen the arrangement and changing its phasing. \"I stressed my support for Argentina's policy efforts and our readiness to assist the government in developing its revised policy plans,\" Christine Lagarde, managing director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), said in a statement. Investors are concerned Argentina may not be able repay its heavy government borrowing and could default. Correspondents say the decision to speed up the IMF bailout smacks of growing desperation. When the terms of the loan were agreed in May, President Macri said he expected the economy to recover and did not plan to use the money. By Daniel Gallas in Buenos Aires The world's highest interest rates and backing from the IMF have failed to reassure investors. The Argentine peso is still losing value despite all attempts to meet investor concerns. Other emerging markets such as Turkey and Brazil are also suffering from the devaluation of their currencies this year, but Argentina's situation is particularly troublesome. The country has not been able to lower inflation, which is the highest amongst G20 nations. And the government is failing to enact the economic reforms it promised the IMF, most of them aimed at curbing public spending and borrowing. President Macri was elected on the promise of reviving the economy, but so far it seems little progress has been made. Everyday life is getting more expensive for Argentines, as the prices of many goods and services still bear a close relation to the US dollar. And the combination of spiralling inflation and public spending cuts means wages are not keeping pace with prices, making most people poorer. \"Over the last week we have seen new expressions of lack of confidence in the markets, specifically over our financing capacity in 2019,\" Mr Macri said in a televised address. \"We have agreed with the International Monetary Fund to advance all the necessary funds to guarantee compliance with the financial programme next year. \"This decision aims to eliminate any uncertainty.\" He added that further measures to rein in government borrowing would accompany the move. Mr Macri's decision to ask the IMF for help in May was criticised by many within his country. The IMF is widely loathed in Argentina and blamed for the country's 2001 economic collapse after it pulled the plug and denied financial support. The country's opposition blames Mr Macri's centre-right policies, including the end of capital controls and cuts to social programmes, for the economic crisis. Argentina, which has been plagued by economic problems for years, asked for assistance from the IMF in May after its currency hit an all-time low. The country committed to tackle its double-digit inflation and cut public spending as part of the deal. IMF managing director Christine Lagarde said at the time that the plan had been designed by the Argentine government and was \"aimed at strengthening the economy for the benefit of all Argentines\". After speaking to President Macri on Wednesday evening, she said that she had instructed her staff to work with the Argentine authorities to strengthen the agreed arrangement and re-examine the planned phasing. She also said she was confident the \"strong commitment and determination\" of the authorities would be instrumental on steering the country through the difficult financial climate. In 2001, Argentina's government defaulted on its debt and left the banking system largely paralysed. The effect on Argentines was devastating, with many seeing their prosperity quickly disappear. Those who experienced it fear a return of government restrictions imposed back then to prevent a run on the banks. Under the constraints, which lasted for a year, people could not freely withdraw money from their accounts, making life very difficult for ordinary Argentines.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1028, "answer_end": 2057, "text": "By Daniel Gallas in Buenos Aires The world's highest interest rates and backing from the IMF have failed to reassure investors. The Argentine peso is still losing value despite all attempts to meet investor concerns. Other emerging markets such as Turkey and Brazil are also suffering from the devaluation of their currencies this year, but Argentina's situation is particularly troublesome. The country has not been able to lower inflation, which is the highest amongst G20 nations. And the government is failing to enact the economic reforms it promised the IMF, most of them aimed at curbing public spending and borrowing. President Macri was elected on the promise of reviving the economy, but so far it seems little progress has been made. Everyday life is getting more expensive for Argentines, as the prices of many goods and services still bear a close relation to the US dollar. And the combination of spiralling inflation and public spending cuts means wages are not keeping pace with prices, making most people poorer."}], "question": "How did we get here?", "id": "1209_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2058, "answer_end": 2525, "text": "\"Over the last week we have seen new expressions of lack of confidence in the markets, specifically over our financing capacity in 2019,\" Mr Macri said in a televised address. \"We have agreed with the International Monetary Fund to advance all the necessary funds to guarantee compliance with the financial programme next year. \"This decision aims to eliminate any uncertainty.\" He added that further measures to rein in government borrowing would accompany the move."}], "question": "What did the president say?", "id": "1209_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2526, "answer_end": 2925, "text": "Mr Macri's decision to ask the IMF for help in May was criticised by many within his country. The IMF is widely loathed in Argentina and blamed for the country's 2001 economic collapse after it pulled the plug and denied financial support. The country's opposition blames Mr Macri's centre-right policies, including the end of capital controls and cuts to social programmes, for the economic crisis."}], "question": "What do his opponents say?", "id": "1209_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2926, "answer_end": 3764, "text": "Argentina, which has been plagued by economic problems for years, asked for assistance from the IMF in May after its currency hit an all-time low. The country committed to tackle its double-digit inflation and cut public spending as part of the deal. IMF managing director Christine Lagarde said at the time that the plan had been designed by the Argentine government and was \"aimed at strengthening the economy for the benefit of all Argentines\". After speaking to President Macri on Wednesday evening, she said that she had instructed her staff to work with the Argentine authorities to strengthen the agreed arrangement and re-examine the planned phasing. She also said she was confident the \"strong commitment and determination\" of the authorities would be instrumental on steering the country through the difficult financial climate."}], "question": "What is the IMF's view?", "id": "1209_3"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3765, "answer_end": 4235, "text": "In 2001, Argentina's government defaulted on its debt and left the banking system largely paralysed. The effect on Argentines was devastating, with many seeing their prosperity quickly disappear. Those who experienced it fear a return of government restrictions imposed back then to prevent a run on the banks. Under the constraints, which lasted for a year, people could not freely withdraw money from their accounts, making life very difficult for ordinary Argentines."}], "question": "Have we been here before?", "id": "1209_4"}]}]}, {"title": "Manafort trial: Star witness details ex-Trump aide 'crimes'", "date": "7 August 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "The ex-deputy of Donald Trump's former  campaign manager Paul Manafort has told a court he committed crimes with his former boss and stole from him. Rick Gates, star prosecution witness in the fraud trial, said the defendant, Mr Manafort, directed most of the crimes. Both were indicted last October for hiding millions of dollars they made lobbying for Ukrainian politicians. This is the first criminal trial to come from the Department of Justice-led inquiry into alleged Russian meddling. President Donald Trump calls the investigation a political \"witch hunt\", and has argued Mr Manafort is being treated worse than Al Capone. On day five of the trial in Alexandria, Virginia, Gates was asked by the prosecutor whether he had committed any crimes with Mr Manafort, and he said: \"Yes.\" He testified that Mr Manafort had directed him to lower taxable income by reporting overseas income as loans. Gates told the jury of six women and six men on Monday that he had been ordered by Mr Manafort not to disclose foreign bank accounts in Cyprus. The witness also testified he had helped the defendant file false tax returns, concealing 15 foreign accounts from the US government despite knowing it was illegal. He added that he had stolen \"several hundred thousand\" dollars from Mr Manafort by submitting false expense reports. Gates - who served on the 2016 Trump presidential campaign with Mr Manafort - told the court he had stolen from other employers, too. Mr Manafort, 69, could spend the rest of his life in prison if found guilty of all the fraud charges. Gates, 46, is already facing up to six years in prison under the terms of a plea deal he struck with prosecutors in February when he pleaded guilty to two charges of conspiracy and lying to the FBI. Originally charged as a co-conspirator, he acknowledged in court on Monday he was co-operating with the prosecution in the hope of leniency. Special counsel Robert Mueller is investigating whether any Trump aides colluded with an alleged Moscow plot to help elect him as US president, and whether there was any obstruction of justice. But Mr Manafort is not charged with helping the Kremlin. Prosecutors say he dodged taxes on millions of dollars he made from his work for a Russia-friendly Ukrainian political party. Testimony from Mr Manafort's tax preparer continued on Monday. Accountant Cindy LaPorta - who was granted immunity from prosecution - was asked by prosecutors if she had been aware of a $10m (PS7.7m) loan in 2006 from Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska. She testified that she was unaware if the loan was categorised for tax purposes as income. Ms LaPorta told the court on Friday she had suspected Gates was misleading her about Mr Manafort's finances. But she said she was under the impression that Mr Manafort had been directing his deputies' actions and \"knew what was going on\".", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 631, "answer_end": 1458, "text": "On day five of the trial in Alexandria, Virginia, Gates was asked by the prosecutor whether he had committed any crimes with Mr Manafort, and he said: \"Yes.\" He testified that Mr Manafort had directed him to lower taxable income by reporting overseas income as loans. Gates told the jury of six women and six men on Monday that he had been ordered by Mr Manafort not to disclose foreign bank accounts in Cyprus. The witness also testified he had helped the defendant file false tax returns, concealing 15 foreign accounts from the US government despite knowing it was illegal. He added that he had stolen \"several hundred thousand\" dollars from Mr Manafort by submitting false expense reports. Gates - who served on the 2016 Trump presidential campaign with Mr Manafort - told the court he had stolen from other employers, too."}], "question": "What did Gates tell the court?", "id": "1210_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1459, "answer_end": 1900, "text": "Mr Manafort, 69, could spend the rest of his life in prison if found guilty of all the fraud charges. Gates, 46, is already facing up to six years in prison under the terms of a plea deal he struck with prosecutors in February when he pleaded guilty to two charges of conspiracy and lying to the FBI. Originally charged as a co-conspirator, he acknowledged in court on Monday he was co-operating with the prosecution in the hope of leniency."}], "question": "What's at stake?", "id": "1210_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1901, "answer_end": 2277, "text": "Special counsel Robert Mueller is investigating whether any Trump aides colluded with an alleged Moscow plot to help elect him as US president, and whether there was any obstruction of justice. But Mr Manafort is not charged with helping the Kremlin. Prosecutors say he dodged taxes on millions of dollars he made from his work for a Russia-friendly Ukrainian political party."}], "question": "What's the background?", "id": "1210_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2278, "answer_end": 2858, "text": "Testimony from Mr Manafort's tax preparer continued on Monday. Accountant Cindy LaPorta - who was granted immunity from prosecution - was asked by prosecutors if she had been aware of a $10m (PS7.7m) loan in 2006 from Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska. She testified that she was unaware if the loan was categorised for tax purposes as income. Ms LaPorta told the court on Friday she had suspected Gates was misleading her about Mr Manafort's finances. But she said she was under the impression that Mr Manafort had been directing his deputies' actions and \"knew what was going on\"."}], "question": "Who else has testified?", "id": "1210_3"}]}]}, {"title": "Why did China axe Finance Minister Lou Jiwei?", "date": "7 November 2016", "paragraphs": [{"context": "When the world's second largest economy has a change of guard in one of its most important ministerial posts, people notice. So China's globally renowned finance minister Lou Jiwei being replaced by the relatively unknown Xiao Jie, has caused quite a stir. Mr Lou was seen as one of the government's more outspoken and reformist figures. His replacement, Mr Xiao, is a long time bureaucrat from China's Ministry of Finance. The move comes as global concerns grow about China's economic slowdown. Beijing is trying to rebalance the economy, and drive growth through domestic consumption - with less reliance on the old pillars of the economy: manufacturing, exports and debt. But so far, as I've written about before, it doesn't seem to be working all that well. China's economy grew at an annual rate of 6.7% in each of the first three quarters of 2016 - the slowest rate in a quarter of a century. In fact China has increasingly had to depend on some of those old pillars to keep growth going. So why was Mr Lou replaced during these precarious times?  And what - if anything - does this move mean for the fortunes of China's economy? In the first instance, the move itself \"introduces a level of uncertainty, which is never a good thing with respect to one of the most opaque economies in the world\", says Vinesh Motwani of Silk Road Research. Mr Lou is a familiar face in the international investment community and was well-respected, so his departure will be viewed as a loss, he adds. But Xiao Jie is no rookie in this field either. Serving in China's finance and tax system for 29 years, he has stood out as a long-term advocate for tax reform. And according to Brian Jackson of IHS Global Insights, his taxation experience will be an asset when formulating and implementing a national property tax - something China wants by 2018. Mr Jackson adds that Mr Xiao's background suggests he should be able to continue pushing through fiscal policies of the last several years, and use his experience to implement new tax policies that will help put \"China on a more sustainable fiscal revenue path\". But the most colourful insight into the man catapulted into the high profile job comes from one of Beijing's local news agencies. Buried among the references to being \"very hard-working\", and having \"lots of self-discipline\",  a story about Mr Xiao's virtues has been making the rounds. Apparently he only smokes cheap cigarettes - the local brand Zhong Nan Hai - so that he can reject anyone trying to bribe him with a more expensive variety. It's a tale that should go down well amid the current anti-corruption drive that President Xi Jinping has been leading, So should this move be seen as a way to push out the vocal government critic, in favour of a more malleable and accommodating comrade? Or the physical manifestation of the power struggle between President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiang? It's impossible to say for sure.  China's political decisions are rarely transparent and whether this was a move by President Xi Jinping to move someone into a position of power who shares his view of the economy, we'll probably never know. And there's an argument that as Mr Lou turns 66 next month, enforced retirement beckoned anyway. But what many China observers are saying is that President Xi is consolidating his power ahead of next year's party congress - and while he does that, his focus on reforming the economy may not be topmost on his mind.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1490, "answer_end": 2664, "text": "But Xiao Jie is no rookie in this field either. Serving in China's finance and tax system for 29 years, he has stood out as a long-term advocate for tax reform. And according to Brian Jackson of IHS Global Insights, his taxation experience will be an asset when formulating and implementing a national property tax - something China wants by 2018. Mr Jackson adds that Mr Xiao's background suggests he should be able to continue pushing through fiscal policies of the last several years, and use his experience to implement new tax policies that will help put \"China on a more sustainable fiscal revenue path\". But the most colourful insight into the man catapulted into the high profile job comes from one of Beijing's local news agencies. Buried among the references to being \"very hard-working\", and having \"lots of self-discipline\",  a story about Mr Xiao's virtues has been making the rounds. Apparently he only smokes cheap cigarettes - the local brand Zhong Nan Hai - so that he can reject anyone trying to bribe him with a more expensive variety. It's a tale that should go down well amid the current anti-corruption drive that President Xi Jinping has been leading,"}], "question": "Who is Xiao Jie?", "id": "1211_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2665, "answer_end": 3460, "text": "So should this move be seen as a way to push out the vocal government critic, in favour of a more malleable and accommodating comrade? Or the physical manifestation of the power struggle between President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiang? It's impossible to say for sure.  China's political decisions are rarely transparent and whether this was a move by President Xi Jinping to move someone into a position of power who shares his view of the economy, we'll probably never know. And there's an argument that as Mr Lou turns 66 next month, enforced retirement beckoned anyway. But what many China observers are saying is that President Xi is consolidating his power ahead of next year's party congress - and while he does that, his focus on reforming the economy may not be topmost on his mind."}], "question": "Xi vs Li?", "id": "1211_1"}]}]}, {"title": "Prague: The city watching out for Russian and Chinese spies", "date": "23 December 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Czech counter-intelligence has issued stark warnings of intensified espionage activity by Russia and China. Both countries are pursuing a long-term strategy of undermining the West, according to the Security Information Service (BIS). While Chinese spies and diplomats pose \"an extremely high risk\" to Czech citizens, Moscow has continued its hybrid warfare strategy to gain influence over this EU and Nato member, it says. Prague's leafy Bubenec district is home to grand villas, diplomatic missions, the Russian embassy, and an excellent Russian-run cafe. \"Thank you,\" I said to the waitress, as she laid down a pot of green tea and a slice of lemon tart. \"You're welcome,\" she replied softly, in Russian-accented Czech. I opened the 25-page 2017 BIS Annual Report, and turned to the section on counter-intelligence activity. \"For Czech citizens, the Russian diplomatic corps remains the most significant source of risk of unwitting contact with an intelligence officer of a foreign power,\" the report reads. It highlights an \"extensive approach to the use of undeclared intelligence officers using diplomatic cover\". Russia's embassy employs 44 accredited diplomats and 77 support staff while another 18 people, including eight diplomats, are employed at Russia's consulates in Brno and Karlovy Vary. The exact number of spies using diplomatic cover is known only to Moscow. But privately Czech officials believe it could be as high as 40%. In other words, they think many may be working for Russian intelligence or passing intelligence on to them. Around the corner from the cafe is a statue of Marshal Konev, the Russian general who liberated Prague in 1945 and went on to crush the Hungarian Uprising in 1956. A brisk walk takes you through Pushkin Square, then on to Siberia Square and the Russian secondary school. Nearby are the Russian Cultural Centre, the Russian consulate and the Russian embassy - now a major headache for the Czech government. One diplomatic source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the supersized Russian diplomatic presence also posed a threat to neighbouring Germany and Austria. The disproportionately high number of diplomatic cars registered to the embassy cannot be stopped or examined by police, and can travel easily around Europe's passport-free Schengen travel area. \"Who knows what they've got in the boot?\" my source wondered, adding that Prague was now beginning to \"push back\", denying new Russian requests for vehicle registration. \"What does Russia want from us? It's difficult to answer,\" said journalist Jaroslav Spurny, who's been writing about intelligence matters for 30 years. \"Partly it's influence. They liberated us in 1945. They 'liberated' us again in 1968. They still see us as their sphere of influence. So on that level it's quite primitive,\" he explained. \"But we're also part of the EU and Nato. The Russian intelligence services know very well where the weaknesses are, which countries can be exploited.\" \"The Hungarians - well, the relationship with (Prime Minister) Orban isn't so straightforward. The Poles - relations with them will never be great.\" \"But with us Czechs it's different. They occupied us for 20 years. They know us. They know how things work.\" The BIS report also warns of frenetic Chinese espionage activity, particularly in technology. A separate alert came this month from the Czech National Cyber and Information Security Agency of a threat from Chinese IT giant Huawei. \"The Chinese approach is de facto just as hybrid as the Russian one,\" said the intelligence agency, adding that Chinese career diplomats and businessmen represented the same risk as intelligence officers. China, it says, has three aims: - using Czech entities to undermine EU unity - intelligence activity aimed at important Czech ministries - economic and technological spying The report has led to a major spat between the BIS and Czech President Milos Zeman, who has made overtures to both Moscow and Beijing a centrepiece of his presidency. President Zeman described the BIS as \"dilettantes\" and the report as \"blather\", provoking a rare public rebuke from the agency's director. That rebuke was countered by presidential spokesman Jiri Ovcacek, who told the BBC: \"It is absolutely unacceptable for the director of the secret services of a Western country to indulge in political point-scoring.\" Critics accuse the president of deliberately working to undermine his own intelligence services, and insiders claim the BIS is now withholding sensitive information for fear it will be betrayed to the country's adversaries. A particular problem, they say, are the president's two closest advisers, who lack security clearance to see classified documents. One formerly headed the Czech subsidiary of Russian oil giant Lukoil and was a key player in Mr Zeman's presidential campaign. The president's office vigorously denies the claims. \"We certainly don't want people to assume that every Russian is a potential spy,\" said BIS spokesman Ladislav Sticha. \"What we're saying is this: don't give sensitive information to people you don't know. All we're advocating is common sense.\"", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 723, "answer_end": 2122, "text": "I opened the 25-page 2017 BIS Annual Report, and turned to the section on counter-intelligence activity. \"For Czech citizens, the Russian diplomatic corps remains the most significant source of risk of unwitting contact with an intelligence officer of a foreign power,\" the report reads. It highlights an \"extensive approach to the use of undeclared intelligence officers using diplomatic cover\". Russia's embassy employs 44 accredited diplomats and 77 support staff while another 18 people, including eight diplomats, are employed at Russia's consulates in Brno and Karlovy Vary. The exact number of spies using diplomatic cover is known only to Moscow. But privately Czech officials believe it could be as high as 40%. In other words, they think many may be working for Russian intelligence or passing intelligence on to them. Around the corner from the cafe is a statue of Marshal Konev, the Russian general who liberated Prague in 1945 and went on to crush the Hungarian Uprising in 1956. A brisk walk takes you through Pushkin Square, then on to Siberia Square and the Russian secondary school. Nearby are the Russian Cultural Centre, the Russian consulate and the Russian embassy - now a major headache for the Czech government. One diplomatic source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the supersized Russian diplomatic presence also posed a threat to neighbouring Germany and Austria."}], "question": "How many spies are here?", "id": "1212_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Why India is one of world's most protectionist countries", "date": "11 April 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "The world's largest democratic exercise begins today. Nine hundred million Indians are registered to vote in general elections taking place over the next five weeks. Much is at stake. Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has promised to make India the world's third largest economy by 2030. Meanwhile, the opposition Congress Party has put job creation at the heart of its manifesto. India's trade policy has also come under scrutiny. With some of the highest tariffs in the world, some fear the country is slipping back into its old protectionist ways. After independence in 1947, India spent decades trying to survive without international trade. The country ditched its model of local production for local consumption following a currency crisis in the early 1990s that forced policymakers to ask the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for help. The IMF cash came with conditions: India had to open up to foreign investment, cut red tape and remove trade barriers. Many saw this as the start of India's reintegration into the global economy, and over the last 20 years liberalisation has connected its young, vibrant workforce with firms around the world. Today, it is one of the world's top outsourcing destinations, with many of its workers powering back-end IT systems, call centres and software development. This has also helped India to run a trade surplus - whereby it sells more than it buys - in goods and services with the US. When Narendra Modi came to power in 2014, he promised to boost India's already impressive growth through further economic liberalisation. And the new government took big steps to make doing business easier, says Rick Rossow, former deputy director at the US-India business council. For example, it combined more than a dozen levies into one national sales tax that helped goods to move seamlessly across state borders. Mr Modi's warmth with global leaders and chief executives - and his oft-lampooned fondness for hugging them - also marked a big shift from past prime ministers. Yet when it comes to its trade, there has been no such progress, with some even accusing the country of travelling backwards. US President Donald Trump has repeatedly attacked Indian duties on Harley Davidson motorcycles and American whiskey, despite trade between the two countries having boomed in recent years. In its latest report on global trade barriers, the US trade department singles out India as having the highest tariffs \"of any major world economy\" - averaging 13.8%. It describes Indian trade policy as opaque, unpredictable, and says it often leaves US firms drowning in paperwork. More from the BBC's series taking an international perspective on trade: Mr Rossow says India's strategy has always been \"pro-investment and anti-trade\". Flagship government policies such as Make in India have aggressively courted foreign direct investment while seeking to boost domestic manufacturing. To achieve this, India has erected trade barriers against competitors. In the past, western multinationals were the target. Today, China is seen as a rising threat. The BJP used its budget last year to raise import duties on goods including sunglasses, cigarette lighters and fruit juice to discourage Chinese imports. 'WTO troublemaker' Mr Modi's government has also spent the last four years defending India's multibillion-dollar food-security programme, which many developed countries see as unfair. Under the programme, the government heavily subsidises local farmers so they can provide low cost food for the poor. But, the US and others argue it breaks World Trade Organisation (WTO) rules around subsidy limits. Dmitry Grozoubinski, a former Australian negotiator at the WTO, thinks they may have a point. \"India is justifying its agricultural subsidies by claiming their poorest citizens can't afford food, but they're maintaining massive tariff walls that effectively prevent the imports that could bring prices down.\" He believes Mr Modi is just grandstanding to show support for the millions of farmers in India - a key voting constituency. This also may explain why India has become such a troublemaker at the WTO over the issue, Mr Grozoubinski adds. Indian trade representatives regularly use obscure legal precedents to stop the Geneva-based body from doing its job, he says, even trying to block rulings on entirely unrelated matters. \"Domestically it plays well for them to say we're standing up for poor farmers and not letting western countries bully us,\" he adds. As the fastest growing major economy in the world, India is unlikely to worry too much about such criticism. It's managed to bring millions of people out of poverty since the millennium, although challenges remain. There is, however, a risk that its protectionism could backfire. Take the way that, last December, the government banned foreign retailers such as Amazon from striking exclusive deals with local goods sellers. The move was viewed as a bid by Mr Modi to placate small traders, also a key voter base. But it irked the US and last month the Trump administration said it planned to end a scheme which allows some goods to enter the US duty-free after India refused to remove price caps on some medical devices. India, which was also angered by Washington's refusal to exempt India from steel and aluminium tariffs last year, vowed to retaliate. But it has so far delayed implementing tit-for-tat tariffs. \"My guess is that they see picking a direct fight with the US as a losing battle and a real danger,\" Mr Rossow says. Trade is unlikely to play a major role in this year's election. Voters are more likely to be concerned about jobs and growth, says Shumita Deveshwar, director of India research at TS Lombard. Others compare Indian protectionism to the \"slippery slope\" in President Trump's America, where strong growth is overshadowed by a fear of China and a lack of good jobs. Analysts say the risk is that further protectionist measures could reverse the economic gains enjoyed by the country since liberalisation. Ms Deveshwar says India will need to reform on trade if it wants to secure long-term prosperity. \"India hasn't been able to tap into some of the trade opportunities that have opened up because of the tensions between the US and China, and you've seen other countries such as Vietnam come and take that market share.\" If the Congress party gains power in May, it is unclear whether it will seek to change India's trade policy, and Mr Rossow believes a second term for Mr Modi will just mean more of the same. \"This government is all about trying to encourage investment and if it continues [in power], you're going to see another big run at that.\" The Indian government did not respond to requests for comment on the issues raised in this article.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 3970, "answer_end": 4525, "text": "He believes Mr Modi is just grandstanding to show support for the millions of farmers in India - a key voting constituency. This also may explain why India has become such a troublemaker at the WTO over the issue, Mr Grozoubinski adds. Indian trade representatives regularly use obscure legal precedents to stop the Geneva-based body from doing its job, he says, even trying to block rulings on entirely unrelated matters. \"Domestically it plays well for them to say we're standing up for poor farmers and not letting western countries bully us,\" he adds."}], "question": "Blocking progress?", "id": "1213_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 5559, "answer_end": 6806, "text": "Trade is unlikely to play a major role in this year's election. Voters are more likely to be concerned about jobs and growth, says Shumita Deveshwar, director of India research at TS Lombard. Others compare Indian protectionism to the \"slippery slope\" in President Trump's America, where strong growth is overshadowed by a fear of China and a lack of good jobs. Analysts say the risk is that further protectionist measures could reverse the economic gains enjoyed by the country since liberalisation. Ms Deveshwar says India will need to reform on trade if it wants to secure long-term prosperity. \"India hasn't been able to tap into some of the trade opportunities that have opened up because of the tensions between the US and China, and you've seen other countries such as Vietnam come and take that market share.\" If the Congress party gains power in May, it is unclear whether it will seek to change India's trade policy, and Mr Rossow believes a second term for Mr Modi will just mean more of the same. \"This government is all about trying to encourage investment and if it continues [in power], you're going to see another big run at that.\" The Indian government did not respond to requests for comment on the issues raised in this article."}], "question": "Will the election change anything?", "id": "1213_1"}]}]}, {"title": "Royal baby: Duchess suffers severe morning sickness again", "date": "4 September 2017", "paragraphs": [{"context": "In her past two pregnancies, the Duchess of Cambridge suffered from extreme morning sickness, known as hyperemesis gravidarum (HG). It appears that she is having a tough time with it again, now she is expecting her third child. HG is a condition thought to affect around one in every 100 women in pregnancy and is much more severe than \"normal\" morning sickness. Some mums-to-be who have it report being sick up to 50 times a day. Unlike regular morning sickness, HG may not get better after the first few months of pregnancy. The cause is thought to be pregnancy hormones but it is unclear why some women suffer worse than others and why it can persist. If you are suffering from it, there is nothing that you are doing or have done that has brought on the symptoms. It is not your fault that you have it. HG is more likely if you have had it before or if you are expecting twins or triplets. HG does appear to run in some families. A woman with HG can experience: - Persistent vomiting - Dehydration - Tiredness - Dizziness It can be very unpleasant and have a huge impact on daily life. Women who have experienced HG say it made them feel isolated, lonely, scared and frustrated. There is no evidence that it is directly harmful. It is not a sign that the pregnancy is unhealthy. Doctors will want to make sure that the mother is not losing too much weight during the pregnancy or getting dehydrated because this can be harmful. Seek help from your doctor and midwifery team. Doctors can prescribe drugs to help control the nausea. Some women say keeping a diary of their symptoms helps them become more aware of what times of day they might feel well enough to eat and drink. Keeping well hydrated by drinking enough fluid is vital. Water is great and small, frequent sips might be more manageable. Some pregnant women say certain smells, including cooked food, make them feel even more nauseous. If that is the case, try to avoid them if you can. Meals that are high in carbohydrate and low in fat, such as potato, rice and pasta, are sometimes easier to tolerate. Try plain biscuits or crackers. Some women find eating or drinking ginger products helps. The charity Pregnancy Sickness Support has a support forum where people can share their experiences. Some women find it helpful to carry a \"sick kit\" - a pack of wipes, some disposable bags, a bottle of water and some mints or chewing gum. Have regular check-ups and stay in touch with your doctor. HG can be extremely serious. If you are unable to drink fluids you can become dangerously dehydrated. You may need to be admitted to hospital to receive fluids intravenously via a drip.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 527, "answer_end": 933, "text": "The cause is thought to be pregnancy hormones but it is unclear why some women suffer worse than others and why it can persist. If you are suffering from it, there is nothing that you are doing or have done that has brought on the symptoms. It is not your fault that you have it. HG is more likely if you have had it before or if you are expecting twins or triplets. HG does appear to run in some families."}], "question": "Why do only some women get it?", "id": "1214_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 934, "answer_end": 1182, "text": "A woman with HG can experience: - Persistent vomiting - Dehydration - Tiredness - Dizziness It can be very unpleasant and have a huge impact on daily life. Women who have experienced HG say it made them feel isolated, lonely, scared and frustrated."}], "question": "How bad is it?", "id": "1214_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1183, "answer_end": 1431, "text": "There is no evidence that it is directly harmful. It is not a sign that the pregnancy is unhealthy. Doctors will want to make sure that the mother is not losing too much weight during the pregnancy or getting dehydrated because this can be harmful."}], "question": "Can it harm the baby?", "id": "1214_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1432, "answer_end": 2644, "text": "Seek help from your doctor and midwifery team. Doctors can prescribe drugs to help control the nausea. Some women say keeping a diary of their symptoms helps them become more aware of what times of day they might feel well enough to eat and drink. Keeping well hydrated by drinking enough fluid is vital. Water is great and small, frequent sips might be more manageable. Some pregnant women say certain smells, including cooked food, make them feel even more nauseous. If that is the case, try to avoid them if you can. Meals that are high in carbohydrate and low in fat, such as potato, rice and pasta, are sometimes easier to tolerate. Try plain biscuits or crackers. Some women find eating or drinking ginger products helps. The charity Pregnancy Sickness Support has a support forum where people can share their experiences. Some women find it helpful to carry a \"sick kit\" - a pack of wipes, some disposable bags, a bottle of water and some mints or chewing gum. Have regular check-ups and stay in touch with your doctor. HG can be extremely serious. If you are unable to drink fluids you can become dangerously dehydrated. You may need to be admitted to hospital to receive fluids intravenously via a drip."}], "question": "What helps?", "id": "1214_3"}]}]}, {"title": "US 2018 mid-terms in charts: Should Donald Trump be worried?", "date": "2 November 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Donald Trump won't be on the ballot when Americans go to the polls on Tuesday, but the elections will shape the rest of his presidency. Voters will be choosing members of Congress - 35 senators and all 435 members of the House of Representatives - as well as 36 state governors and dozens of local legislative officials. The elections matter because both houses of Congress are currently controlled by President Trump's Republican Party. If Democrats take back control of the House or the Senate, they could severely limit what he can do in the final two years of his term. In the House, analysts predict dozens of seats could change hands and the majority of these are currently held by Republicans. Republicans are well positioned in the battle for the Senate though as only nine of their seats are up for election, while Democrats are defending 24 of theirs and two independents who vote with them are also up. Mid-term elections tend to act as a referendum on the president and that's usually bad news for the party that controls the White House. Of the 21 mid-terms that have been held since 1934, the president's party has only made gains in the House three times and in the Senate five times. The president's approval rating is a good indicator for how his party will do and President Trump's has been low since he entered office - it is currently hovering around 42%. For comparison, President Obama's was at 45% before the 2010 mid-terms in which the Democrats saw some of the biggest electoral losses in US history. Generic ballot polling, which tracks which party voters say they will back, doesn't offer much reassurance to Republicans either. It currently shows the Democrats up by about 8 percentage points. The average age of Congress is 60, so members retiring shouldn't come as a big surprise. But the number of Republicans who are bowing out rather than contesting the mid-terms has raised eyebrows. More than 30 Republicans have announced their retirement - many more have resigned, a few due to sexual harassment accusations, while some are leaving to pursue other elected offices. Many of those quitting have cited the highly partisan climate and Donald Trump as a reason, with one telling CNN: \"I feel all I do is answer questions about Donald Trump rather than health insurance or tax policy.\" It's good news for Democrats as studies have shown that incumbent candidates are more likely to win an election than their challengers, due in part to greater name recognition and fundraising capability. The Democrats have seen a major boost in recruitment thanks to Donald Trump and this year is the first time they've fielded more candidates for the House than Republicans since 2008. About 1,500 people sought to be Democratic nominees for the House - 500 more than in the last mid-terms. Of those that won the party's nomination, a record 198 were women. The big jump in the number of women candidates has led some pundits to predict that 2018 could become another \"Year of the Woman\" - a reference to the 1992 elections in which the number of women in Congress doubled. As it stands, women make up only 20% of Congress and this under-representation has long been put down to a reluctance by women to run for office. But Hillary Clinton's surprise defeat to Donald Trump, a man who has been accused of sexual harassment and has a long history of making sexist remarks, appears to have been a galvanising moment for American women. Mid-term elections don't have the excitement that a presidential contest brings, meaning turnout is lower. While around 60% of Americans vote for the president, only around 40% take part in the mid-terms. In 2014, it was just 35.9% - the lowest mid-terms turnout since the Second World War, according to the United States Elections Project. Low turnout has tended to favour the Republican Party in previous mid-terms because those that do vote are older and whiter than in presidential elections. Democrats are hopeful Mr Trump's unpopularity with younger, female and minority voters will encourage them to take more notice of mid-terms this time around. In March, 1 million people voted in the Democratic primary in Texas - nearly double the amount that did so four years ago - but that still fell short of the 1.5 million Republicans who voted. While that means Texas might be out of reach for Democrats, similar turnout in other states could turn them blue. President Trump's biggest legislative victory so far has been his sweeping overhaul of the US tax system, but he was only able to sign that into law because Republicans have majorities in both houses of Congress. If Democrats win control of one or both of those houses, they'll be able to limit how much President Trump can achieve in the final two years of his term. Democrats could take control of important Congressional committees, which would allow them to launch oversight investigations into several issues, including the president's business dealings and allegations of sexual assault made against him. While calls for Mr Trump's impeachment are likely to get louder if Democrats take control of the House, it could ultimately be fruitless unless Republican senators turn on the president. A two-thirds majority is needed in the Senate to remove him from office. Only two presidents have ever been impeached - Andrew Johnson and Bill Clinton - and both were acquitted after a trial in the Senate. Richard Nixon resigned before he could be impeached after the Watergate scandal in the early 1970s. Democrats may have a better chance of removing President Trump by defeating him in the next presidential election in 2020.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 4413, "answer_end": 5640, "text": "President Trump's biggest legislative victory so far has been his sweeping overhaul of the US tax system, but he was only able to sign that into law because Republicans have majorities in both houses of Congress. If Democrats win control of one or both of those houses, they'll be able to limit how much President Trump can achieve in the final two years of his term. Democrats could take control of important Congressional committees, which would allow them to launch oversight investigations into several issues, including the president's business dealings and allegations of sexual assault made against him. While calls for Mr Trump's impeachment are likely to get louder if Democrats take control of the House, it could ultimately be fruitless unless Republican senators turn on the president. A two-thirds majority is needed in the Senate to remove him from office. Only two presidents have ever been impeached - Andrew Johnson and Bill Clinton - and both were acquitted after a trial in the Senate. Richard Nixon resigned before he could be impeached after the Watergate scandal in the early 1970s. Democrats may have a better chance of removing President Trump by defeating him in the next presidential election in 2020."}], "question": "Losses will spell trouble for Trump - and impeachment?", "id": "1215_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Tory leadership: Malthouse becomes second MP to pull out", "date": "4 June 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Housing Minister Kit Malthouse has become the second MP to pull out of the Conservative leadership race. He said it had become clear in the last few days there was an \"appetite for this contest to be over quickly\". Earlier, Brexit Minister James Cleverly became the first to withdraw from the contest, less than a week after declaring his intention to stand. It leaves 11 Tory MPs competing for the top job. Theresa May stands down as leader on Friday. She will remain PM until a successor is named by the week beginning 22 July. The Conservative Party board has agreed to change the rules for the leadership election to speed up the process. Mr Malthouse said he entered the contest \"believing that I could make a real difference in delivering a Brexit that would command the support of the House of Commons\". But he said his experience in politics had made him a \"realist\", and there was a desire \"for the nation to have a new leader in place as soon as possible\". His name was given to the so-called Malthouse Compromise - a proposal drawn up by backbenchers from Leave and Remain wings of the Tory Party, which would have implemented Mrs May's Brexit deal with the controversial Irish backstop replaced by \"alternative arrangements\". In a statement, Mr Cleverly said it had \"become clear\" it was \"highly unlikely\" he would progress to the final two candidates that will appear on the ballot paper. \"Unfortunately and with a heavy heart I've decided to withdraw from the race.\" He said he had hoped to be \"the face and voice of\" of a new conversation within the party and had asked colleagues \"to make a leap of faith, skip a generation and vote for a relatively new MP\". \"It is clear that despite much support, particularly from our party's grassroots, MPs weren't comfortable with such a move and it has become clear that it is highly unlikely that I would progress to the final two candidates.\" The winner of the contest to lead the Conservative Party will become the next prime minister. Under new rules for the contest, candidates must now gain the backing of eight other colleagues by the week commencing 10 June if they want to stand. Candidates would have needed only two MPs supporting them to put themselves forward under the previous rules. After nominations close, all 313 Conservative MPs will vote for their preferred candidate in a series of polls that will whittle down the contenders one by one until only two are left. Due to another rule change, candidates will need to win the votes of at least 17 MPs in the first ballot and 33 MPs in the second to proceed. If all the candidates exceed this threshold, the person with the fewest votes will be eliminated, a process that will continue in subsequent rounds until only two remain. The wider Tory membership of 124,000 will then choose between the final two candidates.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1901, "answer_end": 1994, "text": "The winner of the contest to lead the Conservative Party will become the next prime minister."}], "question": "Who will replace Theresa May?", "id": "1216_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Golden State Killer: 'You helped catch him,' comedian tells late wife", "date": "26 April 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "A comedian and author has praised his late wife, Michelle McNamara, for her role in the apprehension of a former police officer suspected of a string of US murders, rapes and burglaries. \"You did it, Michelle,\" Patton Oswalt said in an Instagram video. \"The cops are never going to say it but your book helped get this thing closed.\" McNamara died suddenly in 2016 after years spent investigating the unsolved California crimes for a book. The book - I'll Be Gone in the Dark: One Woman's Obsessive Search for the Golden State Killer - was completed posthumously and published in February, becoming a bestseller. On Wednesday, California police said they had arrested a 72-year-old former police officer, Joseph James DeAngelo, in connection with the case. They said \"discarded DNA\" had been used to match him to crimes attributed to the so-called Golden State Killer - suspected of 12 murders, 51 rapes and more than 120 burglaries. Mr DeAngelo has initially been charged with eight counts of murder. Police have played down any direct role by the book in the identification of the suspect. But Mr Oswalt sent a message of congratulations to his late wife in an Instagram video. Asked whether it helped solve the case, Sacramento County Sheriff Scott Jones said the \"answer is no\". \"It kept interest and tips coming in,\" he said. \"Other than that, there was no information extracted from that book that directly led to the apprehension.\" McNamara's husband - best known for playing Remy the Rat in the film Ratatouille and Spencer Olchin in the sitcom The King of Queens - insisted on Twitter that the book played a role, but said his wife would not have cared whether that was acknowledged. The Golden State Killer, also known as the East Area Rapist, Original Night Stalker, and the Diamond Knot Killer is believed to have carried out rapes and murders between 1976 and 1986, killing girls and women aged between 12 and 41. Prosecutors say the \"reign of terror\" began in Sacramento and spread to San Francisco and then on to central and southern California. Links between the cases were established by DNA evidence, police say. The attacker broke into homes at night and then tied up and raped his female victims. Before fleeing he stole items such as cash, jewellery and identification. The last case to be linked to the Golden State Killer was the rape and murder of an 18-year-old woman in Irvine, Orange County, in May 1986.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1693, "answer_end": 2431, "text": "The Golden State Killer, also known as the East Area Rapist, Original Night Stalker, and the Diamond Knot Killer is believed to have carried out rapes and murders between 1976 and 1986, killing girls and women aged between 12 and 41. Prosecutors say the \"reign of terror\" began in Sacramento and spread to San Francisco and then on to central and southern California. Links between the cases were established by DNA evidence, police say. The attacker broke into homes at night and then tied up and raped his female victims. Before fleeing he stole items such as cash, jewellery and identification. The last case to be linked to the Golden State Killer was the rape and murder of an 18-year-old woman in Irvine, Orange County, in May 1986."}], "question": "What were the crimes?", "id": "1217_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Catherine Deneuve defends men's 'right to hit on' women", "date": "10 January 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "French actress Catherine Deneuve has said that men should be \"free to hit on\" women. She is one of 100 French women who wrote an open letter, warning about a new \"puritanism\" sparked by recent sexual harassment scandals. It deplores a wave of \"denunciations\", following rape allegations made against US movie mogul Harvey Weinstein. A group of French feminists condemned the letter, accusing the signatories of trivialising sexual violence. Mr Weinstein denies all allegations of non-consensual sex, but has admitted that his behaviour has \"caused a lot of pain\". The letter by French women writers, performers and academics was published in France's Le Monde newspaper on Tuesday. \"Men have been punished summarily, forced out of their jobs when all they did was touch someone's knee or try to steal a kiss,\" it said. \"Rape is a crime, but trying to seduce someone, even persistently or clumsily, is not - and nor is men being gentlemanly a chauvinist attack.\" The authors argued that there was a new \"puritanism\" afoot in the world. They said that while it was legitimate and necessary to speak out against the abuse of power by some men, the constant denunciations have spiralled out of control. According to the writers, this is creating a public mood in which women are seen as powerless, as perpetual victims. \"As women we do not recognise ourselves in this feminism, which beyond denouncing the abuse of power, takes on a hatred of men and of sexuality.\" Deneuve is by far the most prominent of them. The other 99 women who signed the document include some well-known figures, such as actress Christine Boisson; conservative journalist Elisabeth Levy; Brigitte Lahaie, a 1970s porn star who is now a talk-show host; Catherine Millet, a writer and magazine editor. There are also lesser-known names from the worlds of entertainment, the arts, the media, and academia. Most of the signatories, however, are professionals who are not known to the French public. The letter has stirred debate in France. On Wednesday a group of about 30 feminists issued a statement accusing Deneuve and her co-signatories of seeking to \"close the lid\" on the scandals uncovered by the Weinstein case, and of \"pouring scorn\" on victims of sexual violence. On social media, many expressed either anger or sadness at the open letter. One Twitter user (in French) regretted the inability of women to speak with one voice, saying they had \"failed to agree\". The backlash against the letter, however, has not been front-page news and is not trending on Twitter in France. The reason may be that controversy over exposing sex pests has been rumbling on for several months now in France. The debate has mostly pitted those belonging to the older generation, who view #Metoo and similar campaigns as a threat to the sexual liberation achieved in the 1960s, against younger, activist types who feel that the battle against harassment is the latest stage in the fight for women's rights. She is not known as an activist star.  However, last year the 74-year-old spoke out against social media campaigns shaming men accused of harassing women. Women and men from all over the globe who have been sexually harassed have been sharing their stories across social media using the hashtag #MeToo. In France, Twitter users are using #Balancetonporc  (\"rat on your dirty old man\") to encourage women to name and shame their attackers. Ms Deneuve, an Oscar-nominated actress, has been in more than 100 films, making her debut in 1957.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 564, "answer_end": 1461, "text": "The letter by French women writers, performers and academics was published in France's Le Monde newspaper on Tuesday. \"Men have been punished summarily, forced out of their jobs when all they did was touch someone's knee or try to steal a kiss,\" it said. \"Rape is a crime, but trying to seduce someone, even persistently or clumsily, is not - and nor is men being gentlemanly a chauvinist attack.\" The authors argued that there was a new \"puritanism\" afoot in the world. They said that while it was legitimate and necessary to speak out against the abuse of power by some men, the constant denunciations have spiralled out of control. According to the writers, this is creating a public mood in which women are seen as powerless, as perpetual victims. \"As women we do not recognise ourselves in this feminism, which beyond denouncing the abuse of power, takes on a hatred of men and of sexuality.\""}], "question": "What does the open letter say?", "id": "1218_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1462, "answer_end": 1965, "text": "Deneuve is by far the most prominent of them. The other 99 women who signed the document include some well-known figures, such as actress Christine Boisson; conservative journalist Elisabeth Levy; Brigitte Lahaie, a 1970s porn star who is now a talk-show host; Catherine Millet, a writer and magazine editor. There are also lesser-known names from the worlds of entertainment, the arts, the media, and academia. Most of the signatories, however, are professionals who are not known to the French public."}], "question": "Who are the signatories?", "id": "1218_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1966, "answer_end": 2963, "text": "The letter has stirred debate in France. On Wednesday a group of about 30 feminists issued a statement accusing Deneuve and her co-signatories of seeking to \"close the lid\" on the scandals uncovered by the Weinstein case, and of \"pouring scorn\" on victims of sexual violence. On social media, many expressed either anger or sadness at the open letter. One Twitter user (in French) regretted the inability of women to speak with one voice, saying they had \"failed to agree\". The backlash against the letter, however, has not been front-page news and is not trending on Twitter in France. The reason may be that controversy over exposing sex pests has been rumbling on for several months now in France. The debate has mostly pitted those belonging to the older generation, who view #Metoo and similar campaigns as a threat to the sexual liberation achieved in the 1960s, against younger, activist types who feel that the battle against harassment is the latest stage in the fight for women's rights."}], "question": "What has the response been?", "id": "1218_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2964, "answer_end": 3501, "text": "She is not known as an activist star.  However, last year the 74-year-old spoke out against social media campaigns shaming men accused of harassing women. Women and men from all over the globe who have been sexually harassed have been sharing their stories across social media using the hashtag #MeToo. In France, Twitter users are using #Balancetonporc  (\"rat on your dirty old man\") to encourage women to name and shame their attackers. Ms Deneuve, an Oscar-nominated actress, has been in more than 100 films, making her debut in 1957."}], "question": "Is Deneuve prone to weighing in on such issues?", "id": "1218_3"}]}]}, {"title": "Who will help Myanmar's Rohingya?", "date": "10 January 2017", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Rejected by the country they call home and unwanted by its neighbours, the Rohingya are impoverished, virtually stateless and have been fleeing Myanmar in droves and for decades. In recent months, tens of thousands of Rohingya have fled to Bangladesh amid a military crackdown on insurgents in Myanmar's western Rakhine state. They have told horrifying stories of rapes, killings and house burnings, which the government of Myanmar - formerly Burma - has claimed are \"false\" and \"distorted\". Activists have condemned the lack of a firm international response. Some have described the situation as South East Asia's Srebrenica, referring to the July 1995 massacre of more than 8,000 Bosnian Muslims who were meant to be under UN protection - a dark stain on Europe's human rights record. Tun Khin, from the Burmese Rohingya Organisation UK, says Rohingyas are suffering \"mass atrocities\" perpetrated by security forces in the northern part of Rakhine state. A counter-insurgency campaign was launched after nine border policemen near Maungdaw were killed in a militant attack in early October, but the Rohingya say they are being targeted indiscriminately. The BBC cannot visit the locked-down area to verify the claims and the Myanmar government has vociferously denied alleged abuses. But UN officials have told the BBC that the Rohingya are being collectively punished for militant attacks, with the ultimate goal being ethnic cleansing. The Rohingya are one of Myanmar's many ethnic minorities and say they are descendants of Arab traders and other groups who have been in the region for generations. But Myanmar's government denies them citizenship and sees them as illegal immigrants from Bangladesh - a common attitude among many Burmese. The predominantly Buddhist country has a long history of communal mistrust, which was allowed to simmer, and was at times exploited, under decades of military rule. About one million Muslim Rohingya are estimated to live in western Rakhine state, where they are a sizable minority. An outbreak of communal violence there in 2012 saw more than 100,000 people displaced, and tens of thousands of Rohingya remain in decrepit camps where travel is restricted. Hundreds of thousands of undocumented Rohingya already live in Bangladesh, having fled there over many decades. Since a dramatic Rohingya exodus from Myanmar in 2015, the political party of Nobel Peace Prize winner and democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi has taken power in a historic election, the first to be openly contested in 25 years. But little has changed for the Rohingya and Ms Suu Kyi's failure to condemn the current violence is an outrage, say some observers. \"I'm not saying there are no difficulties,'' she told Singapore's Channel NewsAsia in December. \"But it helps if people recognise the difficulty and are more focused on resolving these difficulties rather than exaggerating them so that everything seems worse than it really is.'' Her failure to defend the Rohingya is extremely disappointing, said Tun Khin, who for years had supported her democracy activism. The question of whether she has much leverage over the military - which still wields great power and controls the most powerful ministries - is a separate one, he said. \"The point is that Aung San Suu Kyi is covering up this crime perpetrated by the military.\" But others say international media fail to understand the complex situation in Rakhine state, where Rohingya Muslims live alongside the mostly Buddhist Rakhine people, who are the state's dominant ethnic group. Khin Mar Mar Kyi, a Myanmar researcher at Oxford University, told the South China Morning Post that the Rakhine were the \"most marginalised minority\" in Myanmar but were ignored by Western media, which she said displayed a \"one-sided humanitarian passion\". Other researchers like Ronan Lee of Australia's Deakin University disagree with this argument, noting that while the Rakhine also face deprivation, \"the solution when faced with massive rights violations is not to announce that someone else is worse off\". In her recent media comments, Ms Suu Kyi said Rakhine Buddhists \"are worried about the fact that they are shrinking as a Rakhine population percentage-wise\" and said she wanted to improve relations between the two communities. A special Myanmar government committee appointed to investigate the ongoing violence in Rakhine state said in an interim report in early January that it had so far  found no evidence to support claims of genocide against the Rohingya, nor to back up widespread rape allegations. The report made no mention of claims that security forces had been killing civilians. Observers had, in any case, not had high hopes of a credible or independent investigation from the committee, which is headed by former general and current Vice-President Myint Swe. Read more - \"The Lady\": A profile of Aung San Suu Kyi South East Asian countries generally don't criticise each other about their internal affairs. It's a key principle of the 10-member Association of South East Asian Nations (Asean). But the current situation has seen some strident criticism from Myanmar's Muslim-majority neighbours, along with protests.  Indonesian police even say they have foiled an IS-linked bomb plot targeting the Myanmar embassy. On 4 December, Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak questioned Aung San Suu Kyi's Nobel Prize, given her inaction. \"The world cannot sit by and watch genocide taking place. The world cannot just say 'look, it is not our problem'. It is our problem,\" he told thousands at a rally in Kuala Lumpur in support of the Rohingya. His comments followed a call from Malaysia's youth and sports minister, Khairy Jamaluddin, for Asean to review Myanmar's membership over the \"unacceptable\" violence. Some question the timing of the comments, given the unpopular Mr Razak is gearing up for re-election. \"What we want is both talk and action to really help the Rohingya, not just ministers posturing to gain domestic political points,\" said Phil Robertson of Human Rights Watch. In Bangladesh, which borders Rakhine state, Amnesty International says hundreds of fleeing Rohingya have been detained and forcibly returned to an uncertain fate since October - a practice it says should end. Bangladesh does not recognise the Rohingya as refugees. Read more: Bangladesh presses Myanmar on Rohingya Leading regional newspapers have condemned Asean's inaction, with Thailand's The Nation describing it as an \"accessory to murder and mayhem\". A meeting of Asean foreign ministers to discuss the crisis was held on 19 December in Myanmar's capital, Yangon, but was dismissed as \"largely an act of political theatre\" by the Asean Parliamentarians for Human Rights grouping. Indonesia's ambassador to London, Rizal Sukma, told the BBC in December that a comprehensive approach was needed. He said an investigation with regional participation should be launched and that his country stood ready to participate if any such commission was to be formed. A UN spokeswoman in 2009 described the Rohingya as \"probably the most friendless people in the world\". The UN human rights office recently said for a second time this year that abuses suffered by them could amount to crimes against humanity. It also said that it regretted that the government had failed to act on a number of recommendations it had provided, including lifting restrictions of movement on the Rohingya. It has called for an investigation into the recent allegations of rights abuses, as well as for humanitarian access to be given. The UN's refugee agency says Myanmar's neighbours should keep their borders open if desperate Rohingya once again take to rickety boats to seek refuge in their countries, as happened in early 2015. Spokeswoman Vivian Tan said now would be a good time to set up a regional task force that had been proposed to co-ordinate a response to any such movements. Read more: Kofi Annan downplays Myanmar genocide claims Separately, former UN-Secretary General Kofi Annan is heading another advisory commission currently looking into the general situation in Rakhine state after being asked in August by Ms Suu Kyi. But some have questioned how useful this commission will be, given the exhaustive number of reports that already exist. Its report, in any case, will not be released until later this year. Reporting by Kevin Ponniah.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 787, "answer_end": 1439, "text": "Tun Khin, from the Burmese Rohingya Organisation UK, says Rohingyas are suffering \"mass atrocities\" perpetrated by security forces in the northern part of Rakhine state. A counter-insurgency campaign was launched after nine border policemen near Maungdaw were killed in a militant attack in early October, but the Rohingya say they are being targeted indiscriminately. The BBC cannot visit the locked-down area to verify the claims and the Myanmar government has vociferously denied alleged abuses. But UN officials have told the BBC that the Rohingya are being collectively punished for militant attacks, with the ultimate goal being ethnic cleansing."}], "question": "What's happening?", "id": "1219_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1440, "answer_end": 2312, "text": "The Rohingya are one of Myanmar's many ethnic minorities and say they are descendants of Arab traders and other groups who have been in the region for generations. But Myanmar's government denies them citizenship and sees them as illegal immigrants from Bangladesh - a common attitude among many Burmese. The predominantly Buddhist country has a long history of communal mistrust, which was allowed to simmer, and was at times exploited, under decades of military rule. About one million Muslim Rohingya are estimated to live in western Rakhine state, where they are a sizable minority. An outbreak of communal violence there in 2012 saw more than 100,000 people displaced, and tens of thousands of Rohingya remain in decrepit camps where travel is restricted. Hundreds of thousands of undocumented Rohingya already live in Bangladesh, having fled there over many decades."}], "question": "What led to the current situation?", "id": "1219_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 4893, "answer_end": 7022, "text": "South East Asian countries generally don't criticise each other about their internal affairs. It's a key principle of the 10-member Association of South East Asian Nations (Asean). But the current situation has seen some strident criticism from Myanmar's Muslim-majority neighbours, along with protests.  Indonesian police even say they have foiled an IS-linked bomb plot targeting the Myanmar embassy. On 4 December, Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak questioned Aung San Suu Kyi's Nobel Prize, given her inaction. \"The world cannot sit by and watch genocide taking place. The world cannot just say 'look, it is not our problem'. It is our problem,\" he told thousands at a rally in Kuala Lumpur in support of the Rohingya. His comments followed a call from Malaysia's youth and sports minister, Khairy Jamaluddin, for Asean to review Myanmar's membership over the \"unacceptable\" violence. Some question the timing of the comments, given the unpopular Mr Razak is gearing up for re-election. \"What we want is both talk and action to really help the Rohingya, not just ministers posturing to gain domestic political points,\" said Phil Robertson of Human Rights Watch. In Bangladesh, which borders Rakhine state, Amnesty International says hundreds of fleeing Rohingya have been detained and forcibly returned to an uncertain fate since October - a practice it says should end. Bangladesh does not recognise the Rohingya as refugees. Read more: Bangladesh presses Myanmar on Rohingya Leading regional newspapers have condemned Asean's inaction, with Thailand's The Nation describing it as an \"accessory to murder and mayhem\". A meeting of Asean foreign ministers to discuss the crisis was held on 19 December in Myanmar's capital, Yangon, but was dismissed as \"largely an act of political theatre\" by the Asean Parliamentarians for Human Rights grouping. Indonesia's ambassador to London, Rizal Sukma, told the BBC in December that a comprehensive approach was needed. He said an investigation with regional participation should be launched and that his country stood ready to participate if any such commission was to be formed."}], "question": "Will Myanmar's neighbours help?", "id": "1219_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 7023, "answer_end": 8393, "text": "A UN spokeswoman in 2009 described the Rohingya as \"probably the most friendless people in the world\". The UN human rights office recently said for a second time this year that abuses suffered by them could amount to crimes against humanity. It also said that it regretted that the government had failed to act on a number of recommendations it had provided, including lifting restrictions of movement on the Rohingya. It has called for an investigation into the recent allegations of rights abuses, as well as for humanitarian access to be given. The UN's refugee agency says Myanmar's neighbours should keep their borders open if desperate Rohingya once again take to rickety boats to seek refuge in their countries, as happened in early 2015. Spokeswoman Vivian Tan said now would be a good time to set up a regional task force that had been proposed to co-ordinate a response to any such movements. Read more: Kofi Annan downplays Myanmar genocide claims Separately, former UN-Secretary General Kofi Annan is heading another advisory commission currently looking into the general situation in Rakhine state after being asked in August by Ms Suu Kyi. But some have questioned how useful this commission will be, given the exhaustive number of reports that already exist. Its report, in any case, will not be released until later this year. Reporting by Kevin Ponniah."}], "question": "What is the UN doing?", "id": "1219_3"}]}]}, {"title": "Boris Johnson's Brexit plan: EU 'open but unconvinced'", "date": "4 October 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "The European Union is \"open but not convinced\" by the UK PM's new proposals for a Brexit deal with the EU, the president of the European Council says. Donald Tusk was among several leading EU voices to express doubt over Boris Johnson's withdrawal agreement plan. The plan would keep Northern Ireland in the EU single market for goods but see it leave the customs union. But what happens to the border between Northern Ireland and Ireland remains a central sticking point. Irish PM Leo Varadkar said the new plans for the withdrawal agreement were welcome, but \"fall short in a number of aspects\". It comes as UK PM Boris Johnson's Europe adviser, David Frost, is to hold another round of talks in Brussels in a bid to break the Brexit deadlock. The EU's chief negotiator, Michel Barnier, has told European diplomats he still has plenty of questions about the British proposal to replace the backstop - the measure designed to prevent a hard border on the island of Ireland after Brexit. He has said he will be in a better position to judge possible future negotiations with the UK once he has spoken to Mr Frost. On Thursday, Mr Johnson said he had made a \"genuine attempt to bridge the chasm\" with EU officials before time runs out to reach a deal for the 31 October deadline for the UK to leave the EU. The UK government says it is aiming to reach a final agreement at an EU summit on 17 October. EU leaders face a delicate political dance, uncertain if Mr Johnson is open for deeper negotiations or is focusing his attention on a possible election campaign, the BBC's Europe editor Katya Adler says. Whatever happens, she adds, the EU will be reluctant to be seen slamming the door in the face of the UK. Meanwhile, Scotland's highest civil court is to consider whether Mr Johnson could be jailed if he ignores legislation aimed at preventing no-deal. The so-called Benn Act requires the government to ask the EU for an extension to the Brexit deadline if it fails to either pass a deal in Parliament, or get MPs to approve no-deal, by 19 October. However, Mr Johnson has repeatedly insisted he would not ask for a delay as the law requires him to, describing the legislation as a \"surrender bill\". Downing Street hopes its new plan will replace the controversial Irish backstop provision that has proved the biggest obstacle to the existing withdrawal agreement. The backstop was meant to keep a free-flowing border on the island of Ireland but critics - including Mr Johnson - fear it could trap the UK in EU trading rules indefinitely. Mr Johnson's latest plan seeks to address this with the following: - Northern Ireland to remain aligned with EU's single market rules for trade in animal, food and manufactured goods - Northern Ireland's legislative assembly to have the right to decide every four years if it wants to continue to apply EU legislation to traded goods - Northern Ireland to leave EU's customs union alongside rest of UK in 2021 - Customs checks on goods traded between UK and EU to be \"decentralised\", with electronic paperwork and \"small number\" of physical checks away from border itself Read more: How does the border plan differ from the backstop? The new UK proposals envisage two borders - one between Northern Ireland and Ireland, and a second between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK, says the BBC's Europe editor Katya Adler. EU negotiators say they have already identified problems with the plans, including the continuing failure to avoid a hard border on the island of Ireland and the threat to the single market. Donald Tusk reacted in a tweet, after speaking to Taoiseach (Irish prime minister) Leo Varadkar, who is seen as key to agreeing to a withdrawal deal. For his part, Mr Varadkar voiced concerns over the customs proposals, questioning how Northern Ireland and Ireland could operate under different customs systems without the need for physical checkpoints. He also questioned the plan to give Northern Ireland's Assembly a veto over entering into a \"regulatory zone\" with the EU, without the involvement of Ireland or the EU. The UK has made some progress but \"further work is needed\", European Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker said. Accepting the current proposals would not meet the objectives of the backstop including preventing a hard border, he added. Meanwhile, the European parliament's Brexit co-ordinator, Guy Verhofstadt, called the plans \"unworkable\". In an interview with the BBC, Mr Verhofstadt said the plan represented \"a repackaging of old ideas\". Earlier, the European parliament's Brexit committee said the plan didn't match \"even remotely\" what had already been agreed.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 2203, "answer_end": 3366, "text": "Downing Street hopes its new plan will replace the controversial Irish backstop provision that has proved the biggest obstacle to the existing withdrawal agreement. The backstop was meant to keep a free-flowing border on the island of Ireland but critics - including Mr Johnson - fear it could trap the UK in EU trading rules indefinitely. Mr Johnson's latest plan seeks to address this with the following: - Northern Ireland to remain aligned with EU's single market rules for trade in animal, food and manufactured goods - Northern Ireland's legislative assembly to have the right to decide every four years if it wants to continue to apply EU legislation to traded goods - Northern Ireland to leave EU's customs union alongside rest of UK in 2021 - Customs checks on goods traded between UK and EU to be \"decentralised\", with electronic paperwork and \"small number\" of physical checks away from border itself Read more: How does the border plan differ from the backstop? The new UK proposals envisage two borders - one between Northern Ireland and Ireland, and a second between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK, says the BBC's Europe editor Katya Adler."}], "question": "What are the proposals?", "id": "1220_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3367, "answer_end": 4648, "text": "EU negotiators say they have already identified problems with the plans, including the continuing failure to avoid a hard border on the island of Ireland and the threat to the single market. Donald Tusk reacted in a tweet, after speaking to Taoiseach (Irish prime minister) Leo Varadkar, who is seen as key to agreeing to a withdrawal deal. For his part, Mr Varadkar voiced concerns over the customs proposals, questioning how Northern Ireland and Ireland could operate under different customs systems without the need for physical checkpoints. He also questioned the plan to give Northern Ireland's Assembly a veto over entering into a \"regulatory zone\" with the EU, without the involvement of Ireland or the EU. The UK has made some progress but \"further work is needed\", European Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker said. Accepting the current proposals would not meet the objectives of the backstop including preventing a hard border, he added. Meanwhile, the European parliament's Brexit co-ordinator, Guy Verhofstadt, called the plans \"unworkable\". In an interview with the BBC, Mr Verhofstadt said the plan represented \"a repackaging of old ideas\". Earlier, the European parliament's Brexit committee said the plan didn't match \"even remotely\" what had already been agreed."}], "question": "What do EU officials say about the proposals?", "id": "1220_1"}]}]}, {"title": "Iran nuclear deal: Enriched uranium limit breached, IAEA confirms", "date": "2 July 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Iran has breached the limit on its stockpile of low-enriched uranium set under a 2015 nuclear deal with world powers, a watchdog has confirmed. The International Atomic Energy Agency said its inspectors had verified the 300kg (660lb) cap had been exceeded. Iran stepped up production of enriched uranium, used to make reactor fuel but also potentially nuclear bombs, in May. It said it was responding to sanctions reinstated by the US after President Donald Trump abandoned the deal. The UK and Germany have called on Iran to reverse its decision, while the US said its strategy of \"maximum pressure\" would continue. President Donald Trump warned that the country was \"playing with fire\" after exceeding the limit. European nations had warned that any violation would bring consequences, and the deal allows for the re-imposition of multilateral sanctions that were lifted in return for Iran limiting its nuclear activities. The development comes at a time of high tension in the Middle East, with Iran shooting down a US drone over the Strait of Hormuz in disputed circumstances, and the US accusing Iran of being behind two sets of attacks on oil tankers. Iranian state media cited Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif as confirming on Monday afternoon that the limit on its stockpile of uranium enriched to 3.67% concentration - the level required for civilian nuclear power - had been breached. \"Our next step will be enriching uranium beyond the 3.67% allowed under the deal,\" he said. \"The Europeans have failed to fulfil their promises of protecting Iran's interests under the deal.\" He noted that the nuclear deal - officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action - said a party could \"cease performing its commitments... in whole or in part\" in the event of \"significant non-performance\" by any of the other parties. But Mr Zarif also stressed that Iran's measures were \"reversible\" if the Europeans began abiding by their commitments. The Iranian foreign ministry's spokesman said enrichment beyond 3.67% would start in 10 days unless European powers took \"practical and tangible steps\" to implement their new mechanism for facilitating trade and shield the Iranian economy from the effects of the US sanctions. The mechanism, known as Instex, essentially allows goods to be bartered between Iranian and foreign companies without direct financial transactions. It became operational on Saturday, but Mr Zarif said it did not meet Iran's needs. It has taken just a little over a year since the Trump administration abandoned the international nuclear deal with Iran for Tehran itself to challenge the agreement. Iran is saying enough is enough. It has stuck to its side of the bargain but the Americans have not only walked away from the deal, they have re-imposed sanctions and are trying to make it as difficult as possible for anyone to trade with Tehran. This policy of \"maximum pressure\" is acknowledged by the Trump administration. Its goal, its spokesmen insist, is to force Iran to the table to negotiate what in US terms would be a \"better\" deal. But Mr Trump's critics argue that what his administration wants is more capitulation rather than negotiation. The UK - one of the five other countries still party to the deal along with France, Germany, China and Russia - said it was \"urgently considering next steps\". \"The deal makes the world a safer place by taking the prospect of a nuclear armed Iran firmly off the table,\" a spokesman for Prime Minister Theresa May said. \"We have been consistently clear that our commitment to the JCPOA depends on Iran complying in full with the terms of the deal and we urge them to reverse this step,\" he added. UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said that \"such action by the Islamic Republic of Iran would not help preserve the plan, nor secure the tangible economic benefits for the Iranian people\". Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov called Iran's move a cause of regret, but said it \"should not be dramatised\". \"It should be seen as a natural consequence of all the events that preceded these circumstances,\" he was quoted as saying by the Interfax news agency. \"Effectively, we are talking about a total oil embargo, an attempt to strangle a sovereign state.\" Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called on European parties to reinstate sanctions on Iran in line with the nuclear deal. Enriched uranium is produced by feeding uranium hexafluoride gas into centrifuges to separate out the most suitable isotope for nuclear fission, called U-235. Under the nuclear deal, Iran is only permitted to produce low-enriched uranium, which has a 3-4% concentration of U-235, and can be used to produce fuel for nuclear power plants. Weapons-grade uranium is 90% enriched or more. The deal also restricted Iran to stockpiling no more than 300kg of the low-enriched uranium. A stockpile of 1,050kg, however, could be further enriched later into enough material to build one bomb, according to the Arms Control Association. Iran strongly denies any intention to build nuclear weapons. In May, after the US ended exemptions from penalties for countries still importing Iranian oil - and those exchanging surplus Iranian low-enriched uranium for ore concentrate - Iranian President Hassan Rouhani announced that it would no longer comply with the 300kg enriched uranium cap. Mr Rouhani also gave the five countries still party to the deal - the UK, France, Germany, China and Russia - until 7 July to meet their commitment to shield Iran from the sanctions' effects. If they failed, he said, Iran might start enriching uranium beyond 3.67% concentration, and also halt the redesign of a heavy-water nuclear reactor at Arak. The nuclear deal is likely to collapse if Iran is found to be in \"material breach\" as a result of violating the stockpile limit or other restrictions on uranium enrichment. After 30 days, any of the other parties would be able to \"snap back\" the UN sanctions lifted under Security Council Resolution 2231, which endorsed the deal. Such a step cannot be vetoed. Iran's threat to enrich uranium beyond 3.67% is also a major concern from a proliferation standpoint. Iran insists its nuclear programme is peaceful, but experts say 20% enriched uranium is most of the way to weapons-grade uranium. That is because going from uranium's natural state of 0.7% concentration of U-235 to 20% takes approximately 90% of the total effort required to get to weapons-grade. The Arak reactor is also a proliferation risk because if it is not redesigned it will produce spent fuel containing plutonium, which could be used for a nuclear bomb.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1158, "answer_end": 2465, "text": "Iranian state media cited Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif as confirming on Monday afternoon that the limit on its stockpile of uranium enriched to 3.67% concentration - the level required for civilian nuclear power - had been breached. \"Our next step will be enriching uranium beyond the 3.67% allowed under the deal,\" he said. \"The Europeans have failed to fulfil their promises of protecting Iran's interests under the deal.\" He noted that the nuclear deal - officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action - said a party could \"cease performing its commitments... in whole or in part\" in the event of \"significant non-performance\" by any of the other parties. But Mr Zarif also stressed that Iran's measures were \"reversible\" if the Europeans began abiding by their commitments. The Iranian foreign ministry's spokesman said enrichment beyond 3.67% would start in 10 days unless European powers took \"practical and tangible steps\" to implement their new mechanism for facilitating trade and shield the Iranian economy from the effects of the US sanctions. The mechanism, known as Instex, essentially allows goods to be bartered between Iranian and foreign companies without direct financial transactions. It became operational on Saturday, but Mr Zarif said it did not meet Iran's needs."}], "question": "What has Iran said?", "id": "1221_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3187, "answer_end": 4374, "text": "The UK - one of the five other countries still party to the deal along with France, Germany, China and Russia - said it was \"urgently considering next steps\". \"The deal makes the world a safer place by taking the prospect of a nuclear armed Iran firmly off the table,\" a spokesman for Prime Minister Theresa May said. \"We have been consistently clear that our commitment to the JCPOA depends on Iran complying in full with the terms of the deal and we urge them to reverse this step,\" he added. UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said that \"such action by the Islamic Republic of Iran would not help preserve the plan, nor secure the tangible economic benefits for the Iranian people\". Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov called Iran's move a cause of regret, but said it \"should not be dramatised\". \"It should be seen as a natural consequence of all the events that preceded these circumstances,\" he was quoted as saying by the Interfax news agency. \"Effectively, we are talking about a total oil embargo, an attempt to strangle a sovereign state.\" Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called on European parties to reinstate sanctions on Iran in line with the nuclear deal."}], "question": "What has been the reaction?", "id": "1221_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 4375, "answer_end": 5061, "text": "Enriched uranium is produced by feeding uranium hexafluoride gas into centrifuges to separate out the most suitable isotope for nuclear fission, called U-235. Under the nuclear deal, Iran is only permitted to produce low-enriched uranium, which has a 3-4% concentration of U-235, and can be used to produce fuel for nuclear power plants. Weapons-grade uranium is 90% enriched or more. The deal also restricted Iran to stockpiling no more than 300kg of the low-enriched uranium. A stockpile of 1,050kg, however, could be further enriched later into enough material to build one bomb, according to the Arms Control Association. Iran strongly denies any intention to build nuclear weapons."}], "question": "What is enriched uranium?", "id": "1221_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 5062, "answer_end": 5698, "text": "In May, after the US ended exemptions from penalties for countries still importing Iranian oil - and those exchanging surplus Iranian low-enriched uranium for ore concentrate - Iranian President Hassan Rouhani announced that it would no longer comply with the 300kg enriched uranium cap. Mr Rouhani also gave the five countries still party to the deal - the UK, France, Germany, China and Russia - until 7 July to meet their commitment to shield Iran from the sanctions' effects. If they failed, he said, Iran might start enriching uranium beyond 3.67% concentration, and also halt the redesign of a heavy-water nuclear reactor at Arak."}], "question": "Why has Iran breached the stockpile limit?", "id": "1221_3"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 5699, "answer_end": 6625, "text": "The nuclear deal is likely to collapse if Iran is found to be in \"material breach\" as a result of violating the stockpile limit or other restrictions on uranium enrichment. After 30 days, any of the other parties would be able to \"snap back\" the UN sanctions lifted under Security Council Resolution 2231, which endorsed the deal. Such a step cannot be vetoed. Iran's threat to enrich uranium beyond 3.67% is also a major concern from a proliferation standpoint. Iran insists its nuclear programme is peaceful, but experts say 20% enriched uranium is most of the way to weapons-grade uranium. That is because going from uranium's natural state of 0.7% concentration of U-235 to 20% takes approximately 90% of the total effort required to get to weapons-grade. The Arak reactor is also a proliferation risk because if it is not redesigned it will produce spent fuel containing plutonium, which could be used for a nuclear bomb."}], "question": "Why does this matter?", "id": "1221_4"}]}]}, {"title": "Periods: Can women sharing stories break down taboos?", "date": "1 October 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "From helping friends insert tampons to panicky confessions on first dates, people have been sharing stories about periods on social media. It is part of an initiative using the hashtag #FreePeriodStories, which campaigners hope will help to tackle stigma around menstruation. So what are people sharing, and why is it important? For some, it is stories about awkward encounters with friends. For others, it means approaching the subject with men. But as well as funny tales, some stories have highlighted when awkwardness can lead to something more serious. The hashtag was launched by teenage period poverty campaigner Amika George. This year she successfully helped spearhead a campaign to introduce free menstrual products in primary and secondary schools. She says that she started the initiative because the conversation about periods \"has to keep going\" in the wake of that success. \"From a young age, we've been told to whisper about them, say as little as possible on the subject to anyone, even our friends. We deal with them alone,\" she says. \"We need to change the narrative that they are gross, and that periods are not something for discussion in a public space.\" She adds that a pervasive stigma surrounding periods has meant that she has been \"shut down\" in the past. \"I've had people make excuses and wander off the minute I start talking about period poverty,\" she says. For Celia Hodson, who founded Scottish period poverty initiative Hey Girls, sharing stories can help break down this stigma. \"One girl told us that her boyfriend asked why she couldn't wait until she got home to have her period,\" she says. Research carried out by Hey Girls, which offers a \"buy one give one\" model for period products, suggests that 48% of girls and women are embarrassed to talk about their periods. She thinks that change can come through education. \"Only by having the conversation and sharing facts at an early age can we begin to dismantle the taboos,\" she says. Gabby Edlin, founder of period poverty project Bloody Good Period, says that laughing about periods can relax people and encourage healthy conversations. She adds that not being able to afford tampons and pads is not the only problem - a lack of discussion can be damaging. \"If a taboo is erased, that's to say you can talk about periods in a newspaper without anyone batting an eyelid, but the stigma means that people's lives are still affected,\" she says. \"Down to somebody not being able to concentrate in class because a teacher says 'you can't go to the toilet', but they don't feel comfortable saying 'I need to change my pad'.\" Chella Quint, a menstrual activist who campaigns to improve education about periods, says talking about periods allows people to \"compare notes\", and that she found sharing her own \"leakage horror story\" cathartic. She believes that language itself can perpetuate stigma surrounding periods, and has developed guidelines to help institutions and communities improve their \"menstrual literacy\". \"Sanitary implies we are dirty without disposables, and protection says we're unsafe without them,\" she says. Affi Parvizi-Wayne, campaigner and founder of organic period product company Freda, also disagrees with some of the terminology used. \"Periods, like any other bodily function, are private, not secret,\" she says. She says that some potential investors in her company had displayed a \"lack of basic knowledge\", questioning why her business predictions factored in bank holidays and weekends. \"I had to explain that periods don't really care about holidays!\" \"The conversation needs to change so period products can be seen as essential as toilet paper,\" she says.. True change, she says, will come when they are in \"every bathroom outside the home\".", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 2609, "answer_end": 3112, "text": "Chella Quint, a menstrual activist who campaigns to improve education about periods, says talking about periods allows people to \"compare notes\", and that she found sharing her own \"leakage horror story\" cathartic. She believes that language itself can perpetuate stigma surrounding periods, and has developed guidelines to help institutions and communities improve their \"menstrual literacy\". \"Sanitary implies we are dirty without disposables, and protection says we're unsafe without them,\" she says."}], "question": "Does 'sanitary' sound like a dirty word?", "id": "1222_0"}]}]}, {"title": "US cuts Pakistan security assistance over terror groups", "date": "4 January 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "The US government is cutting almost all security aid to Pakistan, saying it has failed to deal with terrorist networks operating on its soil. The state department said the freeze would remain in place until Islamabad took action against the Haqqani network and the Afghan Taliban. Earlier this week, President Trump accused Pakistan of lying and deceiving the US while receiving billions in aid. The Pakistan government has forcefully pushed back against the US, a key ally. After the earlier comments by Mr Trump it called attacks on it by US officials \"incomprehensible\" and said they \"negated the decades of sacrifices made by the Pakistani nation\". The US stance has been praised by India and Afghanistan, but China, which is investing tens of billions in Pakistan, has defended Islamabad. The Trump administration had already delayed handing over $255m (PS188m) in military aid to Pakistan. In announcing the restrictions, state department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said she could not yet put a dollar value on how much aid was being cut. She said the US government considered that the Afghan Taliban and the Haqqani network were \"destabilising the region and also targeting US personnel\". On Thursday, the state department also placed Pakistan on a special watch list for \"severe violations of religious freedom\". Barbara Plett Usher, BBC News State Department Correspondent The US and others have long complained that Pakistan gives safe haven to the Afghan Taliban and their allies, the Haqqani network, allowing them to carry out cross-border attacks in Afghanistan. That's something Islamabad denies but President Trump has escalated the criticism since he took office. Pakistan reluctantly joined Washington's War on Terror after the 9/11 attacks and has received billions of dollars in assistance as a result. That funding has been falling for some time because of US frustrations, but the uneasy relationship continued, as America needs the cooperation Pakistan does provide. The Pakistanis say they've suffered great losses from the longstanding war against Islamist networks and are furious that Mr Trump fails to acknowledge the role they've played. The Haqqani network is a militant group that focuses most of its activities on neighbouring Afghanistan, which has complained for years that Pakistan allows it to operate unimpeded from its soil across the border. The group is linked to the Afghan Taliban - a hardline Islamic movement that poses a major threat to the Afghan government. Pakistani Taliban groups, while associated with the Afghan Taliban, focus on attacks within Pakistan. Both the Haqqani Network and the Afghan Taliban have launched attacks in Afghanistan that have killed US forces, and US officials have long argued that Pakistan, and specifically its ISI intelligence service, provides safe havens to them. The New York Times has reported that US officials were last year denied access by Pakistani officials to a member of the Haqqani network who they believed could help with information on an American hostage. Pakistan has long been accused of using the Afghan Taliban to further its foreign policy interests in the country. The ISI first became involved in funding and training militants in Afghanistan after the Soviet invasion in 1979. Although since 2001 Pakistan has allowed its territory to be used to supply international troops during the war in Afghanistan, and co-operated with the West in fighting some terrorists groups like al-Qaeda, analysts say it has continued to give shelter and support to Afghan insurgents. Its aim has been to limit the influence in Afghanistan of its chief regional rival, India.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 2167, "answer_end": 3052, "text": "The Haqqani network is a militant group that focuses most of its activities on neighbouring Afghanistan, which has complained for years that Pakistan allows it to operate unimpeded from its soil across the border. The group is linked to the Afghan Taliban - a hardline Islamic movement that poses a major threat to the Afghan government. Pakistani Taliban groups, while associated with the Afghan Taliban, focus on attacks within Pakistan. Both the Haqqani Network and the Afghan Taliban have launched attacks in Afghanistan that have killed US forces, and US officials have long argued that Pakistan, and specifically its ISI intelligence service, provides safe havens to them. The New York Times has reported that US officials were last year denied access by Pakistani officials to a member of the Haqqani network who they believed could help with information on an American hostage."}], "question": "Who are the militants Pakistan is alleged to support?", "id": "1223_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3053, "answer_end": 3660, "text": "Pakistan has long been accused of using the Afghan Taliban to further its foreign policy interests in the country. The ISI first became involved in funding and training militants in Afghanistan after the Soviet invasion in 1979. Although since 2001 Pakistan has allowed its territory to be used to supply international troops during the war in Afghanistan, and co-operated with the West in fighting some terrorists groups like al-Qaeda, analysts say it has continued to give shelter and support to Afghan insurgents. Its aim has been to limit the influence in Afghanistan of its chief regional rival, India."}], "question": "Why would Pakistan support them?", "id": "1223_1"}]}]}, {"title": "China coronavirus: Death toll rises as more cities restrict travel", "date": "24 January 2020", "paragraphs": [{"context": "China has widened its travel restrictions in Hubei province - the centre of the coronavirus outbreak - as the death toll climbed to 26. The restrictions will affect at least 20 million people across 10 cities, including the capital, Wuhan, where the virus emerged. On Thursday, a coronavirus patient died in northern Hebei province - making it the first death outside Hubei. Another death was later confirmed in north-east Heilongjiang province. The province borders Russia and is more than 2,000 kilometres (1,200 miles) from Wuhan. Nationally, there are currently 830 confirmed cases of patients infected with the virus. A small number of confirmed cases have also been found outside China, including in Thailand, the US, Taiwan, South Korea, Japan, Vietnam and Singapore. The growing list of restrictions comes on the eve of Lunar New Year - one of the most important dates in the Chinese calendar, when millions of people travel home. Travel restrictions vary from city to city. Wuhan is effectively on lockdown: all bus, subway and ferry services have been suspended and all outbound planes and trains cancelled. Residents have been advised not to leave, and roadblocks have been reported. Ezhou, a smaller city in Hubei, shut its railway station. The city of Enshi has suspended all bus services. City officials in the capital, Beijing, and Shanghai have also asked residents who return from affected areas to stay at home for 14 days to prevent the spread of the virus, local media report. - Have you been affected? Get in touch: haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk We now know this is not a virus that will burn out on its own and disappear. Only the decisions being made in China - including shutting down cities - can stop it spreading. Scientists have revealed each infected person is passing the virus onto between 1.4 and 2.5 people. It is known as the virus's basic reproduction number - anything higher than 1.0 means it's self-sustaining. Those figures are early estimates, but put coronavirus in roughly the same league as Sars. There are two crucial outstanding questions - who is infectious and when are they infectious. The fact only 25% of reported cases are severe is a mixed blessing. Yes, that is less dangerous than Sars, but if those hard-to-detect mild or maybe symptomless cases are contagious too, then it is much harder to contain. And we still don't know when people are contagious. Is it before symptoms appear, or only after severe symptoms emerge? One is significantly harder to stop spreading than the other. The impact of the coronavirus is not limited to Hubei province. Authorities have also shut major tourist sites including the Forbidden City in Beijing and a section of the Great Wall and cancelled major public events in other parts of the country, including: - Traditional temple fairs in Beijing - An international carnival in Hong Kong - Hong Kong's annual football tournament - All public Lunar New Year celebrations in Macau Shanghai's Disney Resort is temporarily closing, as are McDonald's in five cities. Earlier, information from China's National Health Commission, when the death toll was 17, said the youngest person who died from the virus was 48 and the oldest was 89. Most victims were elderly and suffered from other chronic diseases including Parkinson's and diabetes. Wuhan - home to around 11 million people - is now rapidly building a new 1,000-bed hospital to deal with the increasing number of victims. The project will \"solve the shortage of existing medical resources\" and would be \"built fast [and] not cost much... because it will be prefabricated buildings\". Videos have been circulating on social media, reportedly taken by Wuhan residents, showing long queues at local hospitals. In one video on Twitter taken from Chinese social media, a man can be heard complaining, saying patients could be queuing for as long as 10 hours. The video could not be independently verified by the BBC. The World Health Organization has not classed the virus as an \"international emergency\", partly because of the low number of overseas cases. \"It may yet become one,\" said the WHO's director-general, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. One doctor, who requested anonymity, describes the conditions at a hospital in Wuhan. \"In the last two weeks, there has been an alarming rate of spread,\" she told the BBC. \"The hospitals have been flooding with patients, there are thousands, I haven't seen so many before.\" One woman, Jane, flew back to Wuhan from Beijing just before the lockdown. \"I feel very uneasy,\" she said. \"But for me, because my child, my husband and family... are in the Wuhan area, I have to go back.\" Daniel Pekarek, a software engineering student at Wuhan University, told the BBC he and his friends were all staying in their rooms. \"I was planning to stay in my apartment because I'm scared to go to the gym, and I'm scared to go to out in public, and not many people are willing to go out.\" Vietnam and Singapore were on Thursday added to the nations recording confirmed cases, joining Thailand, the US, Taiwan and South Korea. Japan and South Korea have both confirmed their second cases. On Friday, Singapore confirmed its third case - who is known to be the son of another patient. Thailand has five. Other nations are investigating suspected cases, including the UK, US, and Canada. Many authorities have announced screening measures for passengers from China, including on Thursday the major airport hubs of Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Taiwan has banned people arriving from Wuhan and the US state department warned American travellers to exercise increased caution in China. - Your questions: You asked, we answered - The story explained: How worried should we be? - Wuhan profiled: The city now in lockdown - In detail: Follow all our coverage here Are you in China? Have you been affected by the lockdown in various cities? Email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. 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 yourpics@bbc.co.uk - Please read our terms & conditions and privacy policy", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1559, "answer_end": 2529, "text": "We now know this is not a virus that will burn out on its own and disappear. Only the decisions being made in China - including shutting down cities - can stop it spreading. Scientists have revealed each infected person is passing the virus onto between 1.4 and 2.5 people. It is known as the virus's basic reproduction number - anything higher than 1.0 means it's self-sustaining. Those figures are early estimates, but put coronavirus in roughly the same league as Sars. There are two crucial outstanding questions - who is infectious and when are they infectious. The fact only 25% of reported cases are severe is a mixed blessing. Yes, that is less dangerous than Sars, but if those hard-to-detect mild or maybe symptomless cases are contagious too, then it is much harder to contain. And we still don't know when people are contagious. Is it before symptoms appear, or only after severe symptoms emerge? One is significantly harder to stop spreading than the other."}], "question": "Analysis - Can the coronavirus be stopped?", "id": "1224_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 4172, "answer_end": 4944, "text": "One doctor, who requested anonymity, describes the conditions at a hospital in Wuhan. \"In the last two weeks, there has been an alarming rate of spread,\" she told the BBC. \"The hospitals have been flooding with patients, there are thousands, I haven't seen so many before.\" One woman, Jane, flew back to Wuhan from Beijing just before the lockdown. \"I feel very uneasy,\" she said. \"But for me, because my child, my husband and family... are in the Wuhan area, I have to go back.\" Daniel Pekarek, a software engineering student at Wuhan University, told the BBC he and his friends were all staying in their rooms. \"I was planning to stay in my apartment because I'm scared to go to the gym, and I'm scared to go to out in public, and not many people are willing to go out.\""}], "question": "How are people coping in the lockdown?", "id": "1224_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 4945, "answer_end": 5627, "text": "Vietnam and Singapore were on Thursday added to the nations recording confirmed cases, joining Thailand, the US, Taiwan and South Korea. Japan and South Korea have both confirmed their second cases. On Friday, Singapore confirmed its third case - who is known to be the son of another patient. Thailand has five. Other nations are investigating suspected cases, including the UK, US, and Canada. Many authorities have announced screening measures for passengers from China, including on Thursday the major airport hubs of Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Taiwan has banned people arriving from Wuhan and the US state department warned American travellers to exercise increased caution in China."}], "question": "What's the global situation?", "id": "1224_2"}]}]}, {"title": "BolaWrap: LA police to use 'Batman-style' device to snare suspects", "date": "4 December 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Two hundred Los Angeles police officers will be trained to use a new gadget designed to snare a person by wrapping them in a cord, officials say. The BolaWrap, recently adopted by several other forces, fires a cord that can entangle an individual's torso or legs from up to 25ft (8m) away. The tether is intended to restrict the person's movement, allowing officers to take action without using force. But civil rights activists have raised concerns over its potential usage. Three devices will be carried by officers in the southern Californian city as part of a 90-day trial starting in January. A total of 200 Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) officers will be given the devices after training, the force said. \"If you deploy a wrap tool, it buys time for officers to deploy a secondary option,\" Bell Police Chief Carlos Islas said, according to the LA Times. \"It will inevitably restrain someone. It's a tool that's been a long time coming.\" Mr Islas says the device will only be used in specific circumstances, including cases when individuals are suffering from mental health issues. It is one of many tools used by officers and may not work in every situation, Mr Islas says. Officers across the country face scrutiny for their use of force on unarmed individuals. John Raphling, a senior researcher at Human Rights Watch, told the BBC that the deployment of BolaWraps could lead to abuse. \"Tools like these create the illusion that police enforcement is going to be less violent,\" said Mr Ralphing. \"The reality is that - as we've seen with tasers and other less lethal weapons - they will be used to expand police violence. \"Rather than giving more power to police, we should be rethinking what the role of police is in our country.\" Discussing the tool at a meeting with LA police, Adam Smith, member of Black Lives Matter, an activist movement, said it would probably be used mostly in minority communities, the LA Times reports. Wrap Technologies, the company that makes the gun-like gadget, describes it as \"a hand-held remote restraint device that discharges an 8ft bola style Kevlar tether\". At the end of the tether - fired at 513ft per second - are two small barbs that attach to a person when they make contact. \"Suspects are restrained with minimal to no pain, while also enabling officers to swarm and investigate the situation,\" the company says on its website. Several police forces, including Fresno in California and Hendersonville in North Carolina, have been training their officers to use the BolaWrap on the streets. In October, a Fresno police officer used a BolaWrap gun to apprehend a man who had stabbed two people with a kitchen knife. Last month, Santa Cruz Sheriff's Office said it had bought 20 BolaWrap devices it hoped would prove to be \"another less-lethal force option to their tool-belt\". In US media, the gun-like device has been likened to a gadget used by comic book superhero Batman, who prefers non-lethal means when fighting crime. The device is one of several recent examples of police forces in the US testing new technologies for law enforcement purposes. Last month, Massachusetts State Police said it was using remote robot dogs to keep officers out of harm's way in potentially dangerous situations. A spokesman for the force said the robot, made by Boston Dynamics, was \"a valuable tool for law enforcement because of its ability to provide situational awareness of potentially dangerous environments\". The American Civil Liberties Union, a rights group, asked the force to explain how the robots were being used, raising concerns over transparency and potential racial injustice.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1944, "answer_end": 2385, "text": "Wrap Technologies, the company that makes the gun-like gadget, describes it as \"a hand-held remote restraint device that discharges an 8ft bola style Kevlar tether\". At the end of the tether - fired at 513ft per second - are two small barbs that attach to a person when they make contact. \"Suspects are restrained with minimal to no pain, while also enabling officers to swarm and investigate the situation,\" the company says on its website."}], "question": "What is the device?", "id": "1225_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2386, "answer_end": 2981, "text": "Several police forces, including Fresno in California and Hendersonville in North Carolina, have been training their officers to use the BolaWrap on the streets. In October, a Fresno police officer used a BolaWrap gun to apprehend a man who had stabbed two people with a kitchen knife. Last month, Santa Cruz Sheriff's Office said it had bought 20 BolaWrap devices it hoped would prove to be \"another less-lethal force option to their tool-belt\". In US media, the gun-like device has been likened to a gadget used by comic book superhero Batman, who prefers non-lethal means when fighting crime."}], "question": "Who already uses the device?", "id": "1225_1"}]}]}, {"title": "DNA from Stone Age woman obtained 6,000 years on", "date": "17 December 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "This is the face of a woman who lived 6,000 years ago in Scandinavia. Thanks to the tooth marks she left in ancient \"chewing gum\", scientists were able to obtain DNA, which they used to decipher her genetic code. This is the first time an entire ancient human genome has been extracted from anything other than human bone, said the researchers. She likely had dark skin, dark brown hair and blue eyes. Dr Hannes Schroeder from the University of Copenhagen said the \"chewing gum\" - actually tar from a tree - is a very valuable source of ancient DNA, especially for time periods where we have no human remains. \"It is amazing to have gotten a complete ancient human genome from anything other than bone,'' he said. The woman's entire genetic code, or genome, was decoded and used to work out what she might have looked like. She was genetically more closely related to hunter-gatherers from mainland Europe than to those who lived in central Scandinavia at the time, and, like them, had dark skin, dark brown hair and blue eyes. She was likely descended from a population of settlers that moved up from western Europe after the glaciers retreated. Other traces of DNA gave clues to life at Syltholm on Lolland, an island of Denmark in the Baltic Sea. The DNA signatures of hazelnut and mallard duck were identified, showing these were part of the diet at the time. \"It is the biggest Stone Age site in Denmark and the archaeological finds suggest that the people who occupied the site were heavily exploiting wild resources well into the Neolithic, which is the period when farming and domesticated animals were first introduced into southern Scandinavia,\" said Theis Jensen from the University of Copenhagen. The researchers also extracted DNA from microbes trapped in the \"chewing gum\". They found pathogens that cause glandular fever and pneumonia, as well as many other viruses and bacteria that are naturally present in the mouth, but don't cause disease. The DNA was stuck in a black-brown lump of birch pitch, produced by heating birch bark, which was used at that time to glue together stone tools. The presences of tooth marks suggest the substance was chewed, perhaps to make it more malleable, or possibly to relieve toothache or other ailments. The researchers said the information preserved in this way offers a snapshot of people's lives, providing information on ancestry, livelihood and health. DNA extracted from the chewing gum also gives an insight into how human pathogens have evolved over the years. \"To be able to recover these types of ancient pathogen genomes from material like this is quite exciting because we can study how they evolved and how they are different to strains that are present nowadays,\" Dr Schroeder told the BBC. \"And that tells us something about how they have spread and how they evolved.\" The research is published in the journal Nature Communications. Follow Helen on Twitter.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 714, "answer_end": 1146, "text": "The woman's entire genetic code, or genome, was decoded and used to work out what she might have looked like. She was genetically more closely related to hunter-gatherers from mainland Europe than to those who lived in central Scandinavia at the time, and, like them, had dark skin, dark brown hair and blue eyes. She was likely descended from a population of settlers that moved up from western Europe after the glaciers retreated."}], "question": "What do we know about her?", "id": "1226_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1147, "answer_end": 1959, "text": "Other traces of DNA gave clues to life at Syltholm on Lolland, an island of Denmark in the Baltic Sea. The DNA signatures of hazelnut and mallard duck were identified, showing these were part of the diet at the time. \"It is the biggest Stone Age site in Denmark and the archaeological finds suggest that the people who occupied the site were heavily exploiting wild resources well into the Neolithic, which is the period when farming and domesticated animals were first introduced into southern Scandinavia,\" said Theis Jensen from the University of Copenhagen. The researchers also extracted DNA from microbes trapped in the \"chewing gum\". They found pathogens that cause glandular fever and pneumonia, as well as many other viruses and bacteria that are naturally present in the mouth, but don't cause disease."}], "question": "How did she live?", "id": "1226_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1960, "answer_end": 2255, "text": "The DNA was stuck in a black-brown lump of birch pitch, produced by heating birch bark, which was used at that time to glue together stone tools. The presences of tooth marks suggest the substance was chewed, perhaps to make it more malleable, or possibly to relieve toothache or other ailments."}], "question": "Where did the DNA come from?", "id": "1226_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2256, "answer_end": 2924, "text": "The researchers said the information preserved in this way offers a snapshot of people's lives, providing information on ancestry, livelihood and health. DNA extracted from the chewing gum also gives an insight into how human pathogens have evolved over the years. \"To be able to recover these types of ancient pathogen genomes from material like this is quite exciting because we can study how they evolved and how they are different to strains that are present nowadays,\" Dr Schroeder told the BBC. \"And that tells us something about how they have spread and how they evolved.\" The research is published in the journal Nature Communications. Follow Helen on Twitter."}], "question": "What does the information tell us?", "id": "1226_3"}]}]}, {"title": "What's on the agenda at China's 19th Communist Party Congress?", "date": "19 October 2017", "paragraphs": [{"context": "The Communist Party which runs China, the world's second-largest economy, is holding its 19th National Congress, an occasion considered to be China's most important political event in recent years. BBC China correspondent Stephen McDonell put some of BBC News readers' questions to Dr Victor Gao, a China expert who was an interpreter for former leader Deng Xiaoping, during a BBC Facebook Live video on Friday. Everything in the party congress will be highly structured. Xi Jinping will lay the groundwork for initiatives to come. Eventually they will adopt the Central Disciplinary Commission Report, talking about anti-corruption. They'll set up the new Central Committee for the coming five years, members of the Politburo (usually made up of 24 or 25 members of the country's central political bureau), and who'll be the party leader going forward. There are 89 million party members. The Central Committee will have 225 members. Eventually, they'll need to elect a Politburo which normally will have 25 members. As to the Standing Committee (an inner cabinet which groups together the country's most influential leaders), we don't know if it will remain at seven or be reduced to five. Because of Xi's popularity, it's likely his followers will be elected into the Politburo. He'll emerge more consolidated in his power and influence over the party. As Britain is a very important financial centre, from China's perspective, China wishes Britain well and will overcome any uncertainties over Brexit. China-Britain trade is on the rise, as well as increased financial cooperation and the number of people studying in Britain.  I hope Britain will emerge stronger and invigorated. Absolutely, we want to have more freedom, more democracy, more liberty. Every country has different circumstances. We had 100 years of turmoil and civil war in China. Only since 1949, when the Communist Party became the ruling party, did we manage to have longer periods of stability. Now I think promoting rule of law, promoting greater democracy is a political necessity. It has to be done with Chinese characteristics, by maintaining stability. China is the second largest economy by official exchange rate, the largest manufacturing country and the largest trading nation in the world. For it to continue to grow, to be peaceful and friendly with the rest of the world is very important. China's One Belt, One Road proposal is a major initiative. It talks about duration, continental development. This is China's contribution to a new development. Jiang Zemin retired around 2002-4 but has remained very influential. He's still active in party matters. President Xi has become a very effective leader. He has his own thoughts and visions for China. The 19th Party Congress will further cement his role. Jiang Zemin is over 90 years old. We wish him longevity. President Xi is very respectful of former leaders. Chinese people respect the elderly. Each leader has made their own contribution to China's progress. Even though they are not in power they still demand our respect. Taking care of them and listening to them, picking their brains is still very important. Produced by Sherie Ryder, UGC and Social News team", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 412, "answer_end": 853, "text": "Everything in the party congress will be highly structured. Xi Jinping will lay the groundwork for initiatives to come. Eventually they will adopt the Central Disciplinary Commission Report, talking about anti-corruption. They'll set up the new Central Committee for the coming five years, members of the Politburo (usually made up of 24 or 25 members of the country's central political bureau), and who'll be the party leader going forward."}], "question": "What's on the agenda?", "id": "1227_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 854, "answer_end": 1355, "text": "There are 89 million party members. The Central Committee will have 225 members. Eventually, they'll need to elect a Politburo which normally will have 25 members. As to the Standing Committee (an inner cabinet which groups together the country's most influential leaders), we don't know if it will remain at seven or be reduced to five. Because of Xi's popularity, it's likely his followers will be elected into the Politburo. He'll emerge more consolidated in his power and influence over the party."}], "question": "How many of President Xi Jinping's allies are expected to get in?", "id": "1227_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1356, "answer_end": 1684, "text": "As Britain is a very important financial centre, from China's perspective, China wishes Britain well and will overcome any uncertainties over Brexit. China-Britain trade is on the rise, as well as increased financial cooperation and the number of people studying in Britain.  I hope Britain will emerge stronger and invigorated."}], "question": "What about Britain's future with China?", "id": "1227_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1685, "answer_end": 2132, "text": "Absolutely, we want to have more freedom, more democracy, more liberty. Every country has different circumstances. We had 100 years of turmoil and civil war in China. Only since 1949, when the Communist Party became the ruling party, did we manage to have longer periods of stability. Now I think promoting rule of law, promoting greater democracy is a political necessity. It has to be done with Chinese characteristics, by maintaining stability."}], "question": "Is it possible to give the citizens of China more freedom in the current political system?", "id": "1227_3"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2133, "answer_end": 2536, "text": "China is the second largest economy by official exchange rate, the largest manufacturing country and the largest trading nation in the world. For it to continue to grow, to be peaceful and friendly with the rest of the world is very important. China's One Belt, One Road proposal is a major initiative. It talks about duration, continental development. This is China's contribution to a new development."}], "question": "May China be at the pivot point for positive economic progress all over the world?", "id": "1227_4"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2537, "answer_end": 2848, "text": "Jiang Zemin retired around 2002-4 but has remained very influential. He's still active in party matters. President Xi has become a very effective leader. He has his own thoughts and visions for China. The 19th Party Congress will further cement his role. Jiang Zemin is over 90 years old. We wish him longevity."}], "question": "What influence does Jiang Zemin still have over Xi?", "id": "1227_5"}]}]}, {"title": "How are weather forecasts made?", "date": "18 February 2020", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Extreme weather events are happening around the world on a regular basis, causing misery for those affected. The UK had Storm Ciara and Storm Dennis over successive weekends, Spain and France were hit by severe storms last month and Australia has suffered with extreme heat, leading to wildfires. Weather forecasts predicting such events help people to prepare - but how is a forecast put together? And why aren't they always accurate? As much information as possible is gathered about the current weather and the state of the atmosphere. The observations, such as temperature, pressure, humidity and wind speed, are collected from across the globe and then fed into powerful supercomputers. In the UK, for example, the Met Office has just secured the help of a supercomputer project costing PS1.2bn. The main limiting factor is how quickly these computers can process all this information to make a forecast. Meteorologists also monitor current weather conditions to ensure the forecast is going to plan - making tweaks when necessary. Because of the chaotic nature of the atmosphere, even small developments in the ocean can have a significant impact on the position and strength of a weather system when it reaches land, for example. The atmosphere is vast and complex and it is impossible to accurately monitor every part of it, so inevitably there are gaps in those observations. As a result, something can be missed or just not observed fully enough. A forecast for seven days from now will probably change before that day arrives. However, as our understanding of the atmosphere improves, alongside advances in computer technology, forecasts further into the future are becoming more accurate. The Met Office says its four-day forecast is now as accurate as a one-day forecast was 30 years ago. And longer forecasts can still give a good steer on general trends, such as whether it will be wetter or drier than average. We can also use computers to model how our climate, rather than the day-to-day weather, might look many decades into the future. Some weather patterns are particularly challenging when it comes to an accurate forecast for an individual location. Showers are such small-scale weather features, it is hard to predict exactly where they will develop. You may think the forecast was wrong because you were expecting showers but did not see any, whereas just a mile down the road there was a torrential thunderstorm. There is more than one answer to the question \"What will the weather do tomorrow?\" Many different organisations across the world produce weather forecasts, using different computer programs to do so. Some may predict a band of rain arriving somewhere at 21:00, while others may have it arriving after midnight. Different media organisations take weather forecasts from different providers and, depending on who you favour, you might see differences if you compare one to the other. Also there are an increasing number of weather apps fed by different data providers and each can use different methods to display the forecast. If there is a 30% chance of a shower, one app might choose to show a shower symbol whereas another picks a partly cloudy symbol because there is a 70% chance it will stay dry. As computer technology evolves, particularly processing speed, we will be able to capture more and more observations. These will be put into ever more complex equations, churning out forecasts for ever smaller areas more quickly. This should lead to more accurate forecasts looking out further into the future", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 436, "answer_end": 1036, "text": "As much information as possible is gathered about the current weather and the state of the atmosphere. The observations, such as temperature, pressure, humidity and wind speed, are collected from across the globe and then fed into powerful supercomputers. In the UK, for example, the Met Office has just secured the help of a supercomputer project costing PS1.2bn. The main limiting factor is how quickly these computers can process all this information to make a forecast. Meteorologists also monitor current weather conditions to ensure the forecast is going to plan - making tweaks when necessary."}], "question": "How do you forecast the weather?", "id": "1228_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1037, "answer_end": 2055, "text": "Because of the chaotic nature of the atmosphere, even small developments in the ocean can have a significant impact on the position and strength of a weather system when it reaches land, for example. The atmosphere is vast and complex and it is impossible to accurately monitor every part of it, so inevitably there are gaps in those observations. As a result, something can be missed or just not observed fully enough. A forecast for seven days from now will probably change before that day arrives. However, as our understanding of the atmosphere improves, alongside advances in computer technology, forecasts further into the future are becoming more accurate. The Met Office says its four-day forecast is now as accurate as a one-day forecast was 30 years ago. And longer forecasts can still give a good steer on general trends, such as whether it will be wetter or drier than average. We can also use computers to model how our climate, rather than the day-to-day weather, might look many decades into the future."}], "question": "Why are weather forecasts sometimes wrong?", "id": "1228_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2056, "answer_end": 2438, "text": "Some weather patterns are particularly challenging when it comes to an accurate forecast for an individual location. Showers are such small-scale weather features, it is hard to predict exactly where they will develop. You may think the forecast was wrong because you were expecting showers but did not see any, whereas just a mile down the road there was a torrential thunderstorm."}], "question": "Why is some weather so hard to forecast?", "id": "1228_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2439, "answer_end": 3240, "text": "There is more than one answer to the question \"What will the weather do tomorrow?\" Many different organisations across the world produce weather forecasts, using different computer programs to do so. Some may predict a band of rain arriving somewhere at 21:00, while others may have it arriving after midnight. Different media organisations take weather forecasts from different providers and, depending on who you favour, you might see differences if you compare one to the other. Also there are an increasing number of weather apps fed by different data providers and each can use different methods to display the forecast. If there is a 30% chance of a shower, one app might choose to show a shower symbol whereas another picks a partly cloudy symbol because there is a 70% chance it will stay dry."}], "question": "Why do we get different forecasts?", "id": "1228_3"}]}]}, {"title": "Venezuela crisis: Juan Guaid\u00f3 backed by Lima Group", "date": "5 February 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "A group of Latin American countries and Canada has urged the Venezuelan military to support opposition leader Juan Guaido as interim president. In a statement, 11 of the 14 members of the Lima Group called for a change of power without the use of force and the urgent delivery of humanitarian aid. Mr Guaido has declared himself interim president and won support from major powers including the US. President Nicolas Maduro says he is the legitimate leader of Venezuela. Mr Maduro, who has the backing of a number of countries including China and Russia, earlier warned that the country's deepening political crisis could spark civil war. Mr Maduro was sworn in last month for a second term after disputed elections which many opposition leaders did not contest because they were in jail or boycotting them. In response, Mr Guaido, who is head of Venezuela's National Assembly, said the constitution allowed him to assume power temporarily when the president was deemed illegitimate. The group issued a 17-point declaration, following a meeting in the Canadian capital, Ottawa. The document says the governments of Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, Panama, Paraguay and Peru \"reiterate their recognition and support for Juan Guaido\" as interim president of Venezuela. The 11 group members also urged the world community \"to take measures to prevent the Maduro regime from conducting financial and trade transactions abroad, from having access to Venezuela's international assets and from doing business in oil, gold and other assets\". However, three members of the Lima Group - Guyana, Mexico and St Lucia - did not back the declaration. The Lima Group was set up in 2017 with the aim of helping to find a peaceful solution to the Venezuela crisis. Asked on Spanish television if the crisis in Venezuela could lead to civil war, Mr Maduro said on Monday that \"no-one could answer that question with certainty\". \"Everything depends on the level of madness and aggressiveness of the northern empire [the US] and its Western allies. \"We ask that nobody intervenes in our internal affairs... and we prepare ourselves to defend our country.\" The US has said military invention remains an \"option\". But in a speech on Monday, Mr Guaido said: \"There is no possibility of a civil war in Venezuela, it is a Maduro invention.\" He also accused the Maduro government of trying to move up to $1.2bn (PS900m) in public funds to Uruguay, but did not offer any evidence. At least 17 EU countries have officially recognised Mr Guaido as interim president of Venezuela. It follows the rejection of a deadline set by the UK, France, Germany, Spain and others for President Maduro to call new elections. Other EU nations, such as Greece and Ireland, have called for fresh elections but stopped short of recognising Mr Guaido. Mr Maduro retains powerful allies, most notably China and Russia, who has accused EU countries of interfering in Venezuela's affairs and attempting to \"legitimise usurped power\". The Venezuelan president also retains the crucial support of the army. Mr Maduro, who took office in 2013 after the death of Hugo Chavez, has been condemned for alleged human rights abuses and for his handling of the economy. There are severe shortages of basic items such as medicine and food, and an inflation rate that last year saw prices doubling every 19 days on average. Many people have been voting with their feet and leaving Venezuela. According to United Nations figures, three million Venezuelans have left the country since 2014 when the economic crisis started to bite.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 984, "answer_end": 1791, "text": "The group issued a 17-point declaration, following a meeting in the Canadian capital, Ottawa. The document says the governments of Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, Panama, Paraguay and Peru \"reiterate their recognition and support for Juan Guaido\" as interim president of Venezuela. The 11 group members also urged the world community \"to take measures to prevent the Maduro regime from conducting financial and trade transactions abroad, from having access to Venezuela's international assets and from doing business in oil, gold and other assets\". However, three members of the Lima Group - Guyana, Mexico and St Lucia - did not back the declaration. The Lima Group was set up in 2017 with the aim of helping to find a peaceful solution to the Venezuela crisis."}], "question": "How united is Latin America in its response?", "id": "1229_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1792, "answer_end": 2497, "text": "Asked on Spanish television if the crisis in Venezuela could lead to civil war, Mr Maduro said on Monday that \"no-one could answer that question with certainty\". \"Everything depends on the level of madness and aggressiveness of the northern empire [the US] and its Western allies. \"We ask that nobody intervenes in our internal affairs... and we prepare ourselves to defend our country.\" The US has said military invention remains an \"option\". But in a speech on Monday, Mr Guaido said: \"There is no possibility of a civil war in Venezuela, it is a Maduro invention.\" He also accused the Maduro government of trying to move up to $1.2bn (PS900m) in public funds to Uruguay, but did not offer any evidence."}], "question": "Could there be war?", "id": "1229_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2498, "answer_end": 3098, "text": "At least 17 EU countries have officially recognised Mr Guaido as interim president of Venezuela. It follows the rejection of a deadline set by the UK, France, Germany, Spain and others for President Maduro to call new elections. Other EU nations, such as Greece and Ireland, have called for fresh elections but stopped short of recognising Mr Guaido. Mr Maduro retains powerful allies, most notably China and Russia, who has accused EU countries of interfering in Venezuela's affairs and attempting to \"legitimise usurped power\". The Venezuelan president also retains the crucial support of the army."}], "question": "Why does Venezuela matter?", "id": "1229_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3099, "answer_end": 3611, "text": "Mr Maduro, who took office in 2013 after the death of Hugo Chavez, has been condemned for alleged human rights abuses and for his handling of the economy. There are severe shortages of basic items such as medicine and food, and an inflation rate that last year saw prices doubling every 19 days on average. Many people have been voting with their feet and leaving Venezuela. According to United Nations figures, three million Venezuelans have left the country since 2014 when the economic crisis started to bite."}], "question": "What is the background?", "id": "1229_3"}]}]}, {"title": "Sunnis and Shia: Islam's ancient schism", "date": "4 January 2016", "paragraphs": [{"context": "The divide between Sunnis and Shia is the largest and oldest in the history of Islam. Members of the two sects have co-existed for centuries and share many fundamental beliefs and practices. But they differ in doctrine, ritual, law, theology and religious organisation. Their leaders also often seem to be in competition. From Lebanon and Syria to Iraq and Pakistan, many recent conflicts have emphasised the sectarian divide, tearing communities apart. The great majority of the world's more than 1.5 billion Muslims are Sunnis - estimates suggest the figure is somewhere between 85% and 90%. In the Middle East, Sunnis make up 90% or more of the populations of Egypt, Jordan and Saudi Arabia. Sunnis regard themselves as the orthodox branch of Islam. The name \"Sunni\" is derived from the phrase \"Ahl al-Sunnah\", or \"People of the Tradition\". The tradition in this case refers to practices based on what the Prophet Muhammad said, did, agreed to or condemned. All Muslims are guided by the Sunnah, but Sunnis stress its primacy. Shia are also guided by the wisdom of Muhammad's descendants through his son-in-law and cousin, Ali. Sunni life is guided by four schools of legal thought, each of which strives to develop practical applications of the Sunnah. Shia constitute about 10% of all Muslims, and globally their population is estimated at between 154 and 200 million. Shia Muslims are in the majority in Iran, Iraq, Bahrain, Azerbaijan and, according to some estimates, Yemen. There are also large Shia communities in Afghanistan, India, Kuwait, Lebanon, Pakistan, Qatar, Syria, Turkey, Saudi Arabia and the UAE. In early Islamic history, the Shia were a movement - literally \"Shiat Ali\" or the \"Party of Ali\". They claimed that Ali was the rightful successor to the Prophet Muhammad as leader (imam) of the Muslim community following his death in 632. Ali was assassinated in 661 after a five-year caliphate that was marred by civil war. His sons, Hassan and Hussein, were denied what they thought was their legitimate right of accession to the caliphate. Hassan is believed to have been poisoned in 680 by Muawiyah, the first caliph of the Sunni Umayyad dynasty, while Hussein was killed on the battlefield by the Umayyads in 681. These events gave rise to the Shia concept of martyrdom and the rituals of grieving. There are three main branches of Shia Islam today - the Zaidis, Ismailis and Ithna Asharis (Twelvers or Imamis). The Ithna Asharis are the largest group and believe that Muhammad's religious leadership, spiritual authority and divine guidance were passed on to 12 of his descendants, beginning with Ali, Hassan and Hussein. The 12th Imam, Muhammad al-Mahdi, is said to have disappeared from a cave below a mosque in 878. Ithna Asharis believe the so-called \"awaited imam\" did not die and will return at the end of time to restore justice on earth. In countries which have been governed by Sunnis, Shia tend to make up the poorest sections of society. They often see themselves as victims of discrimination and oppression. Sunni extremists frequently denounce Shia as heretics who should be killed. The Iranian revolution of 1979 launched a radical Shia Islamist agenda that was perceived as a challenge to conservative Sunni regimes, particularly in the Gulf. Tehran's policy of supporting Shia militias and parties beyond its borders was matched by Sunni-ruled Gulf states, which strengthened their links to Sunni governments and movements elsewhere. Today, many conflicts in the region have strong sectarian overtones. In Syria, Iranian troops, Hezbollah fighters and Iranian-backed Shia militiamen have been helping the Shia-led government battle the Sunni-dominated opposition. Sunni jihadist groups, including Islamic State (IS), have meanwhile been targeting Shia and their places of worship in Syria and neighbouring Iraq. In January 2016, the execution by Saudi Arabia of a prominent Shia cleric who supported mass anti-government protests triggered a diplomatic crisis with Iran and angry demonstrations across the Middle East.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 454, "answer_end": 1256, "text": "The great majority of the world's more than 1.5 billion Muslims are Sunnis - estimates suggest the figure is somewhere between 85% and 90%. In the Middle East, Sunnis make up 90% or more of the populations of Egypt, Jordan and Saudi Arabia. Sunnis regard themselves as the orthodox branch of Islam. The name \"Sunni\" is derived from the phrase \"Ahl al-Sunnah\", or \"People of the Tradition\". The tradition in this case refers to practices based on what the Prophet Muhammad said, did, agreed to or condemned. All Muslims are guided by the Sunnah, but Sunnis stress its primacy. Shia are also guided by the wisdom of Muhammad's descendants through his son-in-law and cousin, Ali. Sunni life is guided by four schools of legal thought, each of which strives to develop practical applications of the Sunnah."}], "question": "Who are the Sunnis?", "id": "1230_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1257, "answer_end": 2871, "text": "Shia constitute about 10% of all Muslims, and globally their population is estimated at between 154 and 200 million. Shia Muslims are in the majority in Iran, Iraq, Bahrain, Azerbaijan and, according to some estimates, Yemen. There are also large Shia communities in Afghanistan, India, Kuwait, Lebanon, Pakistan, Qatar, Syria, Turkey, Saudi Arabia and the UAE. In early Islamic history, the Shia were a movement - literally \"Shiat Ali\" or the \"Party of Ali\". They claimed that Ali was the rightful successor to the Prophet Muhammad as leader (imam) of the Muslim community following his death in 632. Ali was assassinated in 661 after a five-year caliphate that was marred by civil war. His sons, Hassan and Hussein, were denied what they thought was their legitimate right of accession to the caliphate. Hassan is believed to have been poisoned in 680 by Muawiyah, the first caliph of the Sunni Umayyad dynasty, while Hussein was killed on the battlefield by the Umayyads in 681. These events gave rise to the Shia concept of martyrdom and the rituals of grieving. There are three main branches of Shia Islam today - the Zaidis, Ismailis and Ithna Asharis (Twelvers or Imamis). The Ithna Asharis are the largest group and believe that Muhammad's religious leadership, spiritual authority and divine guidance were passed on to 12 of his descendants, beginning with Ali, Hassan and Hussein. The 12th Imam, Muhammad al-Mahdi, is said to have disappeared from a cave below a mosque in 878. Ithna Asharis believe the so-called \"awaited imam\" did not die and will return at the end of time to restore justice on earth."}], "question": "Who are the Shia?", "id": "1230_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2872, "answer_end": 4060, "text": "In countries which have been governed by Sunnis, Shia tend to make up the poorest sections of society. They often see themselves as victims of discrimination and oppression. Sunni extremists frequently denounce Shia as heretics who should be killed. The Iranian revolution of 1979 launched a radical Shia Islamist agenda that was perceived as a challenge to conservative Sunni regimes, particularly in the Gulf. Tehran's policy of supporting Shia militias and parties beyond its borders was matched by Sunni-ruled Gulf states, which strengthened their links to Sunni governments and movements elsewhere. Today, many conflicts in the region have strong sectarian overtones. In Syria, Iranian troops, Hezbollah fighters and Iranian-backed Shia militiamen have been helping the Shia-led government battle the Sunni-dominated opposition. Sunni jihadist groups, including Islamic State (IS), have meanwhile been targeting Shia and their places of worship in Syria and neighbouring Iraq. In January 2016, the execution by Saudi Arabia of a prominent Shia cleric who supported mass anti-government protests triggered a diplomatic crisis with Iran and angry demonstrations across the Middle East."}], "question": "What role has sectarianism played in recent crises?", "id": "1230_2"}]}]}, {"title": "Macron aide Benalla in French probe for beating protester", "date": "19 July 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "French prosecutors are investigating a senior presidential aide who attacked protesters in Paris while wearing a police visor. Alexandre Benalla, an assistant to President Emmanuel Macron's chief of staff, was filmed targeting a woman and a man during May Day protests. He was caught on video by a student activist and left the scene once challenged on camera. He was identified from the video by French newspaper Le Monde. On Thursday, it emerged he was accompanied on the day by a reserve policeman and employee of Mr Macron's political party, Vincent Crase. France's Interior Minister Gerard Collomb said he had ordered an investigation by the country's national police inspectorate. \"These two people had no legal right to intervene,\" he said. The incident took place in a popular tourist spot at Place de la Contrescarpe in the fifth district of Paris, where about 100 people had gathered on 1 May. The original video, posted on social media by 21-year-old Taha Bouhafs, shows a man in a police helmet who is not in uniform joining CRS riot police after clashes erupted. He grabs a woman by the neck, charging her down the street, before both disappear off-camera. Shortly afterwards he returns to the scene, attacking another protester who had been carried a short distance by police before being left alone on the ground. The man in the helmet, since identified as Mr Benalla, can be seen grabbing the young protester around the neck, hitting him in the head and apparently stamping on his stomach when he falls to the ground. Mr Crase is also seen in the fray, holding on to the same protester on the ground before Mr Benalla grabs him. Riot police do not appear to intervene. Speaking to French radio on Thursday, activist Taha Bouhafs said that protesters had been \"quietly settled\" on the square before he recorded his video. \"The man on the ground was harmless and begged Benalla to stop,\" Mr Bouhafs said. \"There is no explanation for this outburst of violence.\" A presidential spokesman said Mr Benalla had been given permission to attend the disturbance as an observer on his day off. Other photographs show him wearing a police armband. The Elysee palace later revealed that Vincent Crase, who was seen with Mr Benalla at the scene, had been given the same permission to attend. A reserve police officer, he started a private security company with Mr Banella, and French media report that the pair are close friends. Mr Crase has been suspended by En Marche. Mr Benalla's main duty is to arrange security for the president's engagements. Before he joined the presidential staff he had the role of head of security during Mr Macron's election campaign in 2017. In that role, he was a constant companion to the future president, and archive photographs show the two men together at many high-profile public events. But Richard Ferrand, a senior member of Mr Macron's party, sought to downplay the importance of Mr Benalla's role. \"This is not a close aide, this is someone who was in charge particularly during the presidential campaign and then he joined the Elysee staff,\" he told French TV. President Macron, asked if he had confidence in his bodyguard on Wednesday night, pointed to a member of his entourage. \"My bodyguard's over there,\" he said. Formerly an employee of a private security firm, Mr Benalla had worked with other French politicians in the past - including leading Socialist Martine Aubry and Mr Macron's predecessor in the Elysee, Francois Hollande. In 2012, he was hired as a driver for Industry Minister Arnaud Montebourg. Mr Montebourg told Le Monde that Mr Benalla was fired for misconduct after causing a car accident in the minister's presence and wanting to flee the scene. Elysee palace spokesman Bruno Roger-Petit said Mr Benalla had been suspended for two weeks without pay from 4 to 19 May, a punishment described as the heaviest so far meted out to a head of mission working at the presidential office. He had also been moved out of his role of organising security for the president's visits. However, French TV reported that Mr Benalla had handled security for two key events this month, including the parade of the World Cup-winning France football team along the Champs-Elysees. Paris prosecutors announced on Thursday they were opening a preliminary investigation into the alleged assault by Mr Benalla. Possible charges include violence by a public official, pretending to be a policeman and the illegal use of police insignia. Interior Minister Gerard Collomb announced that an investigation into how police observers were supervised had been ordered - and to see if all rules had been followed in the case of Mr Benalla and Mr Crase. Prime Minister Edouard Phillippe added his voice to the widespread criticism, calling the incident \"particularly shocking\". He said the behaviour \"cast doubt on the integrity and exemplarity of our police\" - but added the case \"is now in the hands of justice\" after prosecutors announced their preliminary investigation.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 748, "answer_end": 2474, "text": "The incident took place in a popular tourist spot at Place de la Contrescarpe in the fifth district of Paris, where about 100 people had gathered on 1 May. The original video, posted on social media by 21-year-old Taha Bouhafs, shows a man in a police helmet who is not in uniform joining CRS riot police after clashes erupted. He grabs a woman by the neck, charging her down the street, before both disappear off-camera. Shortly afterwards he returns to the scene, attacking another protester who had been carried a short distance by police before being left alone on the ground. The man in the helmet, since identified as Mr Benalla, can be seen grabbing the young protester around the neck, hitting him in the head and apparently stamping on his stomach when he falls to the ground. Mr Crase is also seen in the fray, holding on to the same protester on the ground before Mr Benalla grabs him. Riot police do not appear to intervene. Speaking to French radio on Thursday, activist Taha Bouhafs said that protesters had been \"quietly settled\" on the square before he recorded his video. \"The man on the ground was harmless and begged Benalla to stop,\" Mr Bouhafs said. \"There is no explanation for this outburst of violence.\" A presidential spokesman said Mr Benalla had been given permission to attend the disturbance as an observer on his day off. Other photographs show him wearing a police armband. The Elysee palace later revealed that Vincent Crase, who was seen with Mr Benalla at the scene, had been given the same permission to attend. A reserve police officer, he started a private security company with Mr Banella, and French media report that the pair are close friends. Mr Crase has been suspended by En Marche."}], "question": "What happened?", "id": "1231_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2475, "answer_end": 3715, "text": "Mr Benalla's main duty is to arrange security for the president's engagements. Before he joined the presidential staff he had the role of head of security during Mr Macron's election campaign in 2017. In that role, he was a constant companion to the future president, and archive photographs show the two men together at many high-profile public events. But Richard Ferrand, a senior member of Mr Macron's party, sought to downplay the importance of Mr Benalla's role. \"This is not a close aide, this is someone who was in charge particularly during the presidential campaign and then he joined the Elysee staff,\" he told French TV. President Macron, asked if he had confidence in his bodyguard on Wednesday night, pointed to a member of his entourage. \"My bodyguard's over there,\" he said. Formerly an employee of a private security firm, Mr Benalla had worked with other French politicians in the past - including leading Socialist Martine Aubry and Mr Macron's predecessor in the Elysee, Francois Hollande. In 2012, he was hired as a driver for Industry Minister Arnaud Montebourg. Mr Montebourg told Le Monde that Mr Benalla was fired for misconduct after causing a car accident in the minister's presence and wanting to flee the scene."}], "question": "Who is Alexandre Benalla?", "id": "1231_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3716, "answer_end": 5008, "text": "Elysee palace spokesman Bruno Roger-Petit said Mr Benalla had been suspended for two weeks without pay from 4 to 19 May, a punishment described as the heaviest so far meted out to a head of mission working at the presidential office. He had also been moved out of his role of organising security for the president's visits. However, French TV reported that Mr Benalla had handled security for two key events this month, including the parade of the World Cup-winning France football team along the Champs-Elysees. Paris prosecutors announced on Thursday they were opening a preliminary investigation into the alleged assault by Mr Benalla. Possible charges include violence by a public official, pretending to be a policeman and the illegal use of police insignia. Interior Minister Gerard Collomb announced that an investigation into how police observers were supervised had been ordered - and to see if all rules had been followed in the case of Mr Benalla and Mr Crase. Prime Minister Edouard Phillippe added his voice to the widespread criticism, calling the incident \"particularly shocking\". He said the behaviour \"cast doubt on the integrity and exemplarity of our police\" - but added the case \"is now in the hands of justice\" after prosecutors announced their preliminary investigation."}], "question": "What has the reaction been?", "id": "1231_2"}]}]}, {"title": "India cricketer Mohammad Shami charged with domestic violence", "date": "9 March 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Top Indian cricketer Mohammad Shami has been charged with domestic violence following a complaint by his wife. Police say the 27-year-old fast bowler has also been charged under laws related to attempted murder, poisoning and criminal intimidation. Mr Shami was dropped from a list of contracted players for the national team announced by the Board of Control for Cricket in India on 8 March. He denied his wife's allegations earlier this week. The charges against the player, who has represented India 87 times in all formats of the game since 2012, carry prison terms of 10 years or more. Mr Shami's wife, Hasin Jahan, accused him earlier this week of adultery and domestic violence. On Tuesday, Ms Jahan posted a series of messages that Mr Shami had allegedly sent to women during their four-year marriage on her Facebook account. He had several affairs, she alleged, and \"tortured [her] physically and mentally over and over again\". The player, who has won 30 Test caps, dismissed the claims, calling them \"part of a big conspiracy\" against him and \"an attempt to defame\" him. \"What is being said about my personal life is completely false,\" he wrote on Twitter. Ms Jahan has also filed a rape complaint against Mr Shami's elder brother. A BCCI supervisory committee said the allegations had put them in a difficult position. \"We are in a bit of Catch 22,\" Vinod Rai, chairman of the committee, told cricket website ESPNcricinfo. \"Ordinarily you would distinguish and say that is a personal issue and the contract is a professional issue. \"But someone could easily point out and say this allegation is an unsavoury one and you are still rewarding him.\"", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 591, "answer_end": 1241, "text": "Mr Shami's wife, Hasin Jahan, accused him earlier this week of adultery and domestic violence. On Tuesday, Ms Jahan posted a series of messages that Mr Shami had allegedly sent to women during their four-year marriage on her Facebook account. He had several affairs, she alleged, and \"tortured [her] physically and mentally over and over again\". The player, who has won 30 Test caps, dismissed the claims, calling them \"part of a big conspiracy\" against him and \"an attempt to defame\" him. \"What is being said about my personal life is completely false,\" he wrote on Twitter. Ms Jahan has also filed a rape complaint against Mr Shami's elder brother."}], "question": "How did the allegations emerge?", "id": "1232_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1242, "answer_end": 1656, "text": "A BCCI supervisory committee said the allegations had put them in a difficult position. \"We are in a bit of Catch 22,\" Vinod Rai, chairman of the committee, told cricket website ESPNcricinfo. \"Ordinarily you would distinguish and say that is a personal issue and the contract is a professional issue. \"But someone could easily point out and say this allegation is an unsavoury one and you are still rewarding him.\""}], "question": "What is the cricket board's position?", "id": "1232_1"}]}]}, {"title": "Hungary boat capsizes: Seven South Koreans die on Danube", "date": "30 May 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Seven South Korean tourists have died and another 21 people are missing after a boat sank on the Danube river in Hungary's capital, Budapest. Thirty South Korean tourists and three tour guides, as well as two Hungarian crew, were on the tour boat when it collided with another vessel. The incident occurred just after 21:00 local time (19:00 GMT) on Wednesday. Seven people have been rescued, and a massive search operation is continuing on a river swollen by heavy rainfall. The rain had led to strong currents on the Danube, and rescue teams say there is little hope of finding more survivors. It was not immediately clear which vessel was responsible for the collision, a rare incident on the Danube where navigation is busy but generally safe. A criminal investigation has been launched. The boat that sank near the parliament building in central Budapest was identified as the Hableany, or Mermaid. It has two decks and a capacity of 45 people for sightseeing trips. CCTV footage has emerged showing the 27-m (89-ft) Hableany and a larger tour boat, the 135-m Viking Sigyn, travelling in the same direction and colliding near the Margit (Margaret) Bridge. The boat sank within seven seconds after the collision, police spokesman Adrian Pal said. \"The whole thing happened very quickly\" Clay Findley, a US tourist who was on the Viking Sigyn, told the BBC. \"I thought at first we were going to miss it, but the front of the Viking hit the back of that little boat... and then the hull popped up on the opposite side of the ship, just a few seconds later, and then it was down,\" he added. Emergency crews discovered the wreckage of the Mermaid, built in 1949 in the former Soviet Union, on the riverbed near the Margaret Bridge and were preparing to lift it. Most of the South Korean tourists were aged between 40 and 50 but the group also included a six-year-old child and a man in his 70s, South Korea's Yonhap news agency reported. The captain of the Swiss-registered Viking Sigyn was questioned on Wednesday night. Seven survivors were taken to hospital with \"hypothermia and shock symptoms\", said Pal Gyorfi, a spokesman for Hungarian emergency services. A 31-year-old passenger, identified only by her surname Jung, told Yonhap: \"The current was so fast and people were floating away.\" Another survivor, a 32-year-old woman named as Yoon, said she believed some 10 people who remained in the cabin had not been able to escape. \"The boat flipped instantly and capsized.\" The rescue effort continued on Thursday with boats, divers, spotlights, and radar scanning along the river, where the temperature of the water was between 10C and 12C (50F-54F). But teams warned that, as more time passed, the strong currents would carry people further downstream, lessening the chances of finding survivors. The seven confirmed victims were not wearing life jackets and three of them were found several kilometres from the site of the collision, police said. By Nick Thorpe, BBC News, Budapest There has been a dramatic increase in river traffic in recent years as tourism increases in Budapest. Andras Kurbely, a crew member of another large cruise ship with 27 years of experience on the Danube, told the BBC that this was an accident he and others have long worried about. \"It's just not healthy to have so many large ships, which are much more powerful and harder to manoeuvre, carving a route between so many smaller boats.\" In his view, the practice of the river cruisers, which sail up and down the river between the five main bridges as an after-dinner excursion for their passengers, should be stopped. The South Korean foreign ministry said officials would be sent to Hungary and counselling would be made available to victims' families. South Korean President Moon Jae-in said his government planned \"to co-operate with the Hungarian government to thoroughly investigate the cause of the accident\". For South Koreans, the sinking is a painful reminder of the Sewol disaster in 2014, the BBC's Laura Bicker in Seoul reports. The ferry of that name sank off South Korea's Jindo island, killing 304 people, almost all of them schoolchildren on a trip. The ship's captain was later convicted of murder.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 792, "answer_end": 2021, "text": "The boat that sank near the parliament building in central Budapest was identified as the Hableany, or Mermaid. It has two decks and a capacity of 45 people for sightseeing trips. CCTV footage has emerged showing the 27-m (89-ft) Hableany and a larger tour boat, the 135-m Viking Sigyn, travelling in the same direction and colliding near the Margit (Margaret) Bridge. The boat sank within seven seconds after the collision, police spokesman Adrian Pal said. \"The whole thing happened very quickly\" Clay Findley, a US tourist who was on the Viking Sigyn, told the BBC. \"I thought at first we were going to miss it, but the front of the Viking hit the back of that little boat... and then the hull popped up on the opposite side of the ship, just a few seconds later, and then it was down,\" he added. Emergency crews discovered the wreckage of the Mermaid, built in 1949 in the former Soviet Union, on the riverbed near the Margaret Bridge and were preparing to lift it. Most of the South Korean tourists were aged between 40 and 50 but the group also included a six-year-old child and a man in his 70s, South Korea's Yonhap news agency reported. The captain of the Swiss-registered Viking Sigyn was questioned on Wednesday night."}], "question": "What is known about the incident?", "id": "1233_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2022, "answer_end": 2954, "text": "Seven survivors were taken to hospital with \"hypothermia and shock symptoms\", said Pal Gyorfi, a spokesman for Hungarian emergency services. A 31-year-old passenger, identified only by her surname Jung, told Yonhap: \"The current was so fast and people were floating away.\" Another survivor, a 32-year-old woman named as Yoon, said she believed some 10 people who remained in the cabin had not been able to escape. \"The boat flipped instantly and capsized.\" The rescue effort continued on Thursday with boats, divers, spotlights, and radar scanning along the river, where the temperature of the water was between 10C and 12C (50F-54F). But teams warned that, as more time passed, the strong currents would carry people further downstream, lessening the chances of finding survivors. The seven confirmed victims were not wearing life jackets and three of them were found several kilometres from the site of the collision, police said."}], "question": "What about the rescue operation?", "id": "1233_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3608, "answer_end": 4205, "text": "The South Korean foreign ministry said officials would be sent to Hungary and counselling would be made available to victims' families. South Korean President Moon Jae-in said his government planned \"to co-operate with the Hungarian government to thoroughly investigate the cause of the accident\". For South Koreans, the sinking is a painful reminder of the Sewol disaster in 2014, the BBC's Laura Bicker in Seoul reports. The ferry of that name sank off South Korea's Jindo island, killing 304 people, almost all of them schoolchildren on a trip. The ship's captain was later convicted of murder."}], "question": "How has South Korea reacted?", "id": "1233_2"}]}]}, {"title": "Brexit impact reports: 'Row of their own making'", "date": "27 November 2017", "paragraphs": [{"context": "The Department for Exiting the European Union has found itself in a pickle thanks to a stash of documents that government sources claim don't really exist. The opposition parties are indignant that they have not been given the full version of the documents that the government claims didn't exist in the first place. And they are intent on pushing them back to parliament to force them to give more information about the things that don't exist, or do exist... This is because tonight, the one thing that we can be sure of is that there is a cache of hundreds of pages of documents sitting in a safe somewhere in Westminster. Lots of MPs are cross and the government, which already has its plate more than full, has just failed to close down a brouhaha that has already been going on for months. So what on earth is actually going on? With a little bit of artistic licence, this is roughly and broadly what has happened - although given the above cocktail of Kafka and The Thick of It, do forgive me if it is hard to source a completely straight or official account that all sides agree on. Having been caught by surprise by the referendum, Whitehall found itself with no plans for how to manage the exit from the EU. By political instruction, there had been no preparation for that outcome - nada, zip, nothing - for potentially the biggest change to the country in decades. Scrabbling to, quite understandably, look like they knew what they were doing, with a completely changed government (including two new government departments), the most important new kid on the block - the Department for Exiting the European Union - moved to assure people. They wanted them to know that they were planning on a well thought through basis, taking the proper soundings and taking an organised and analytical approach to the process. Official sources close to David Davis at the time said that they were conducting analyses of more than 50 sectors of the economy or \"don't worry, we're doing all the proper research you'd imagine.\" The Brexit Secretary himself said as much to a committee of MPs in December last year, saying: \"We've carried out or are in the midst of carrying out about 57, I think, sectoral analyses, each of which has implications for individual parts of 85% of the economy, and some of those are still to be concluded. \"We have work still to be done on justice and home affairs, so there is a fair number of things still to do. So it will be as soon as we're ready.\" It was no surprise, given this is the most contentious issue of our times, that MPs started to ask again and again for those studies to be published. Where were they? What were they? Were they 'secret reports'? The government played for time to complete this extremely serious and detailed work - just wait, it will all become clear. Eventually, however (and this is the short version - you'll thank me, honest), MPs, the Labour front bench and the influential Brexit Committee, chaired by former Labour minister, Hilary Benn, had had enough. MPs, including Tories, Brexiteers and Remainers, joined in the calls for the reports to be published and eventually last month they forced a vote in the Commons that defeated the government. Parliament gave that day its instruction to them to stop pussyfooting around and publish the mysterious studies. There were whispers too that the government whips had been told by DEXEU that the vote wasn't that big a deal and had told MPs that they could go home before the vote. But that's another miscalculation, and another story. Only after that vote did chatter really emerge that the problem was not necessarily that the government was trying to cover up the assessments because they were the stuff of nightmares - although I'm told the original versions, in parts, contained plenty of horror stories. Instead, part of the issue was, in the words of one official, that the work was \"embarrassingly thin\". Cue panic, it's suggested in Whitehall to cobble together in some areas reports that look like serious pieces of work and in other areas to scrape away anything that looks just too grim. Reading between the lines, it seems that in some departments serious work was done - work that the government has felt necessary to edit judiciously. But in others, no real heavy lifting was done, so something had to be scrambled. Finally then, earlier, the reports - such as they are - landed with the committee in Parliament, but with a cover letter from the Brexit Secretary telling them that, essentially, the controversial bits have been taken out. Nothing that's commercially sensitive or sticky for the Brexit negotiations has been left in. I'm told there is, in the contents, hardly anything that has not been in the public domain. Officials have told the BBC that there were strict instructions (denied by government) to those preparing them, on what was appropriate to include. On Tuesday, the Brexit Committee will actually decide which bits to publish. The Labour Party and other opposition MPs are tonight on the war path, accusing the government of holding parliament in contempt for not passing on the documents in full and for holding back sensitive information. The official line from the Brexit department is that they have always been clear its analysis \"does not exist in the form Parliament requested\". Instead, they have \"taken time to bring together the analysis we do have in a way that meets Parliament's specific ask\". Meanwhile department sources shrug and ask, what else could they have done? \"The reports don't exist\". The reports that are tonight in a House of Commons' safe? Or those that were meant to be commissioned this time last year, but the work was never really done? Confused? We all are. But one thing is (sort of) clear. Of course there are MPs who look for any opportunity to cause trouble for ministers over Brexit. There are those, of course, who look for every chance to make them stumble. But on this, the government - which has enough to be getting on with when it comes to Brexit - has riled MPs again in an argument that seems from the outside, to be of its own making.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 3547, "answer_end": 5717, "text": "Only after that vote did chatter really emerge that the problem was not necessarily that the government was trying to cover up the assessments because they were the stuff of nightmares - although I'm told the original versions, in parts, contained plenty of horror stories. Instead, part of the issue was, in the words of one official, that the work was \"embarrassingly thin\". Cue panic, it's suggested in Whitehall to cobble together in some areas reports that look like serious pieces of work and in other areas to scrape away anything that looks just too grim. Reading between the lines, it seems that in some departments serious work was done - work that the government has felt necessary to edit judiciously. But in others, no real heavy lifting was done, so something had to be scrambled. Finally then, earlier, the reports - such as they are - landed with the committee in Parliament, but with a cover letter from the Brexit Secretary telling them that, essentially, the controversial bits have been taken out. Nothing that's commercially sensitive or sticky for the Brexit negotiations has been left in. I'm told there is, in the contents, hardly anything that has not been in the public domain. Officials have told the BBC that there were strict instructions (denied by government) to those preparing them, on what was appropriate to include. On Tuesday, the Brexit Committee will actually decide which bits to publish. The Labour Party and other opposition MPs are tonight on the war path, accusing the government of holding parliament in contempt for not passing on the documents in full and for holding back sensitive information. The official line from the Brexit department is that they have always been clear its analysis \"does not exist in the form Parliament requested\". Instead, they have \"taken time to bring together the analysis we do have in a way that meets Parliament's specific ask\". Meanwhile department sources shrug and ask, what else could they have done? \"The reports don't exist\". The reports that are tonight in a House of Commons' safe? Or those that were meant to be commissioned this time last year, but the work was never really done?"}], "question": "Any heavy lifting?", "id": "1234_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Daniel Barenboim returns German music award in anti-Semitism row", "date": "23 April 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "The Berlin-based conductor Daniel Barenboim is returning prizes he has won at Germany's biggest music awards in a row over what he said were \"clearly anti-Semitic\" rap lyrics. The Israeli said he was protesting against an Echo Music Award being given to the German rappers Kollegah and Farid Bang this year. On one track they sing that their bodies are \"more defined than an Auschwitz prisoner\". The awards have faced heavy criticism. In a statement, Mr Barenboim, who is also the general music director of the Berlin State Opera and the Staatskapelle Berlin, described the rappers' lyrics as \"clearly anti-Semitic, misogynist, homophobic and contemptuous of human dignity\". \"Decency and humanity\" must outweigh \"commercial interests\", he said, explaining his move to return Echo Music Awards that he has won. Mr Barenboim, who accepted honorary Palestinian citizenship in 2008, has famously set up an orchestra made up of young Arab and Israeli musicians, known as the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra. The orchestra has performed in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. The winners of the Echo Music Awards are determined annually based on the number of albums sold in the previous year. Kollegah and Farid Bang were honoured in the Hip Hop/Urban category after selling more than 200,000 copies of their album Young, Brutal and Handsome 3. A number of musicians, Jewish organisations and German politicians have condemned the decision to give the rappers the award. Kollegah and Farid Bang have since said they are not anti-Semitic, inviting Jewish fans to attend their concerts for free. The row comes at a time of growing concern about anti-Semitism in Germany. Last week, two young men wearing Jewish skullcaps (kippahs) were assaulted in Berlin. The attacker was filmed shouting anti-Semitic abuse. Jewish organisations in Germany have expressed alarm over a number of recent anti-Semitic insults and threats in German schools. Germany's Jewish population has grown rapidly since the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989. Before 1989, the population was below 30,000 but an influx of Jews, mainly from the former Soviet Union, has raised the number to more than 200,000.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 435, "answer_end": 1064, "text": "In a statement, Mr Barenboim, who is also the general music director of the Berlin State Opera and the Staatskapelle Berlin, described the rappers' lyrics as \"clearly anti-Semitic, misogynist, homophobic and contemptuous of human dignity\". \"Decency and humanity\" must outweigh \"commercial interests\", he said, explaining his move to return Echo Music Awards that he has won. Mr Barenboim, who accepted honorary Palestinian citizenship in 2008, has famously set up an orchestra made up of young Arab and Israeli musicians, known as the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra. The orchestra has performed in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip."}], "question": "What else does Mr Barenboim say?", "id": "1235_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1065, "answer_end": 2164, "text": "The winners of the Echo Music Awards are determined annually based on the number of albums sold in the previous year. Kollegah and Farid Bang were honoured in the Hip Hop/Urban category after selling more than 200,000 copies of their album Young, Brutal and Handsome 3. A number of musicians, Jewish organisations and German politicians have condemned the decision to give the rappers the award. Kollegah and Farid Bang have since said they are not anti-Semitic, inviting Jewish fans to attend their concerts for free. The row comes at a time of growing concern about anti-Semitism in Germany. Last week, two young men wearing Jewish skullcaps (kippahs) were assaulted in Berlin. The attacker was filmed shouting anti-Semitic abuse. Jewish organisations in Germany have expressed alarm over a number of recent anti-Semitic insults and threats in German schools. Germany's Jewish population has grown rapidly since the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989. Before 1989, the population was below 30,000 but an influx of Jews, mainly from the former Soviet Union, has raised the number to more than 200,000."}], "question": "How did the row start?", "id": "1235_1"}]}]}, {"title": "South Sudan ceasefire declared by Kiir and Machar holding", "date": "12 July 2016", "paragraphs": [{"context": "A ceasefire appears to be holding in South Sudan's capital, Juba, after four days of heavy fighting between rival forces left more than 270 people dead. The city is quiet, with no reports of helicopter gunships in the sky or tanks on the streets but shops remained shut. President Salva Kiir and his rival, Vice-President Riek Machar, announced a ceasefire which came into force on Monday at 15:00 GMT. Clashes between troops loyal to the two men had threatened a recent peace deal. South Sudan became independent from Sudan in 2011 but its short history has been marred by civil war. Mr Kiir and Mr Machar are under intense diplomatic pressure to end the violence. The UN said about 42,000 people had fled their homes during the fighting, with 7,000 of them taking refuge at its compounds. The US, Kenya and Uganda said they were preparing to evacuate their citizens from South Sudan. The UN called for an immediate arms embargo, as well as attack helicopters to strengthen its 13,000-strong peacekeeping force. Two Chinese UN peacekeepers and one South Sudanese UN worker were among those killed in the fighting. US National Security Adviser Susan Rice said: \"This senseless and inexcusable violence - undertaken by those who yet again are putting self-interest above the well-being of their country and people - puts at risk everything the South Sudanese people have aspired to over the past five years.\" BBC Sudan analyst James Copnall says the latest clashes have traumatised Juba and shredded a peace deal between Mr Kiir and Mr Machar, agreed last August. He said there were also doubts over how far both men were in command of their forces. The UN refugee agency has urged neighbouring states to keep their borders open for a possible influx of asylum-seekers. Uganda has tightened security along its border with South Sudan, making it difficult for people to cross, it added. At least 16 Kenyan truck drivers and six others from Uganda were killed in crossfire in in Juba, an official of a truck driver's association in Kenya said. Tens of thousands of Ugandans and Kenyans moved to South Sudan after its independence to take advantage of business opportunities, and trade links between the three neighbouring states are strong. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said: \"Yet again, the leaders of South Sudan have failed their people. Rarely has a country's conduct squandered so much promise so quickly.\" Mr Ban said an \"immediate\" arms embargo should be imposed on South Sudan, political and military leaders blocking the peace deal should face sanctions and the UN mission to the country should be fortified. It seems a disagreement at a checkpoint between rival soldiers led to a shootout on Thursday night in which five soldiers died. This quickly escalated into serious fighting from Friday onwards. Tensions have been high since April, when Mr Machar returned to Juba under a peace deal following a two-year civil war. He took a 1,300-strong protection force with him and they were supposed to start joint patrols with forces loyal to President Kiir. But a lack of trust between the two sides means the patrols have not begun. There are concerns that what we are seeing is a repeat of what happened in December 2013. The two-year civil war started after clashes between rival soldiers in Juba and degenerated into nationwide conflict in which tens of thousands died. The war was fought broadly between South Sudan's biggest ethnic groups - the Dinka, led by Mr Kiir, and the Nuer, under Mr Machar. The international community played a major role in the creation of South Sudan and has tried to exercise some influence since independence in 2011. The UN and US have called for an immediate end to fighting, a call echoed by the East African regional group which brokered the recent peace deal.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 2619, "answer_end": 3140, "text": "It seems a disagreement at a checkpoint between rival soldiers led to a shootout on Thursday night in which five soldiers died. This quickly escalated into serious fighting from Friday onwards. Tensions have been high since April, when Mr Machar returned to Juba under a peace deal following a two-year civil war. He took a 1,300-strong protection force with him and they were supposed to start joint patrols with forces loyal to President Kiir. But a lack of trust between the two sides means the patrols have not begun."}], "question": "Why has fighting resumed?", "id": "1236_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3141, "answer_end": 3511, "text": "There are concerns that what we are seeing is a repeat of what happened in December 2013. The two-year civil war started after clashes between rival soldiers in Juba and degenerated into nationwide conflict in which tens of thousands died. The war was fought broadly between South Sudan's biggest ethnic groups - the Dinka, led by Mr Kiir, and the Nuer, under Mr Machar."}], "question": "Will it become a new civil war?", "id": "1236_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3512, "answer_end": 3806, "text": "The international community played a major role in the creation of South Sudan and has tried to exercise some influence since independence in 2011. The UN and US have called for an immediate end to fighting, a call echoed by the East African regional group which brokered the recent peace deal."}], "question": "What can the international community do?", "id": "1236_2"}]}]}, {"title": "Maria Sharapova: Nike, Tag Heuer and Porsche distance themselves following drugs test", "date": "8 March 2016", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Sponsors have moved quickly to distance themselves from Maria Sharapova after the five-time Grand Slam tennis champion admitted failing a drug test. Nike has suspended its relationship, while Tag Heuer has cut its ties. Nike said it was \"saddened and surprised\" at her admission that she tested positive for a banned substance at the Australian Open in January. Ms Sharapova said she had been taking meldonium since 2006, on the advice of her family doctor. She is one of the highest paid female athletes with earnings of over $30m last year from winnings and endorsements. In addition to the moves from Nike and Swiss watchmaker Tag Heuer, German carmaker Porsche said it was \"postponing planned activities\" with Ms Sharapova until the situation became clearer. Nigel Currie, an independent sports consultant, said brands would not have responded so quickly five years ago, but they now have to react faster in the modern, social media environment. \"They are paranoid about their image, and the slightest risk to their image, they run to the hills.\" Are Sharapova and sponsors heading for break point? Sharapova case: How athletes have fallen foul of the rules Sharapova's drugs test announcement polarises opinions How Sharapova's drugs admission sparked a race row Maria Sharapova's relationship with Nike dates back to when she was 11 years old. Nike said: \"We have decided to suspend our relationship with Maria while the investigation continues. \"We will continue to monitor the situation.\" In 2010, the 28-year-old Russian tennis player signed a new eight-year contract with the US sportswear giant worth $70m (PS49m) as well as a cut on sales of her own branded clothes. Tag Heuer was in talks to extend its deal with Ms Sharapova, which ran out at the end of last year. But the Swiss watchmaker said those talks had now been suspended and the company had decided not to renew the contract. In 2014, Porsche named her as its first female ambassador and she signed a three-year deal with the car company. That contract is due to end at the end of this year. In a statement, the carmaker said: \"We are saddened by the recent news announced by Maria Sharapova. Until further details are released and we can analyse the situation, we have chosen to postpone planned activities.\" Ms Sharapova is also the face of Avon perfume, Luck, and the water company Evian. They have yet to comment on the matter. Paul Swangaurd, from the Warsaw Sports Marketing Center at the University of Oregon, said Nike's decision reflected a \"new era\" for the way sponsors deal with these issues. Nike is taking a \"very proactive approach\", which resulted from \"them being burned by a lot of athletes over the years, and growing impatient with putting so much investment behind athletes that potentially comes back to bite them in the court of public opinion\". Last month, Nike dropped Manny Pacquiao after the boxer said homosexual people were \"worse than animals\". The company also severed ties with cyclist and drugs cheat Lance Armstrong as well as athlete Oscar Pistorius, who killed his girlfriend. Ms Sharapova tested positive for meldonium, a substance she said she had been taking since 2006 for health issues. The International Tennis Federation (ITF) said she would be provisionally suspended from 12 March. Ms Sharapova said: \"I did fail the test and take full responsibility for it.\" She said she had taken meldonium after being given it by her family doctor and had known the drug by the name mildronate. \"A few days ago, after I received a letter from the ITF, I found out it also has another name of meldonium, which I did not know,\" she said. It is meant for angina patients but athletes like it because it helps their endurance and ability to recover from intensive exercise. It is on the banned list now because Wada started seeing it in lots of samples and found it does have performance-enhancing properties. It was on Wada's 'watchlist' for over a year and added to the banned list on 1 January. Made in Latvia, it is widely available - without prescription and at low cost - in many east European countries, but it is not licensed in most western countries, including the United States. It is thought that hundreds of athletes have been using it and there are a lot more cases in the pipeline.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 3641, "answer_end": 4297, "text": "It is meant for angina patients but athletes like it because it helps their endurance and ability to recover from intensive exercise. It is on the banned list now because Wada started seeing it in lots of samples and found it does have performance-enhancing properties. It was on Wada's 'watchlist' for over a year and added to the banned list on 1 January. Made in Latvia, it is widely available - without prescription and at low cost - in many east European countries, but it is not licensed in most western countries, including the United States. It is thought that hundreds of athletes have been using it and there are a lot more cases in the pipeline."}], "question": "What is meldonium?", "id": "1237_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Democrat Pete Buttigieg joins US presidential race", "date": "23 January 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Democrat Pete Buttigieg has thrown his hat into the ring for the 2020 US presidential election. The mayor of South Bend, Indiana, said: \"I belong to a generation that is stepping forward right now\". The 37-year-old is the ninth person to join the battle for the Democratic Party's nomination, in what is already a crowded race. If he wins the nomination, Mr Buttigieg will be the first openly gay choice of a major political party. He is also the youngest contender so far in the 2020 presidential race. However, observers believe he may struggle to compete against other Democrats, who are more well known, and likely to raise more funds. Senators Kamala Harris, Elizabeth Warren, Kirsten Gillibrand, representatives Tulsi Gabbard and John Delaney, and former secretary of Housing and Urban Development Julian Castro are among those who have also announced their intention to run. He was first elected mayor of South Bend, which has a population of about 100,000, back in 2011 when he was just 29. The video announcing he will run for president focuses on his role in the Rust Belt city's redevelopment and also takes aim at corruption and infighting in Washington. \"We can't look for greatness in the past, right now our country needs a fresh start,\" he says in the clip. Mr Buttigieg is an Afghan war veteran and received a prestigious Rhodes scholarship in 2005 - following in the footsteps of other prominent figures like former President Bill Clinton. He married Chasten Glezman, a middle school teacher, last year. Analysis by Anthony Zurcher, BBC News, Washington Most stories published about Pete Buttigieg prominently mention that he is a millennial - a member of the generation born between 1981 and 1996. That isn't by accident. The South Bend, Indiana, mayor isn't the only millennial in the 2020 race - Hawaii Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard is also 37 - but Mr Buttigieg is positioning himself as a voice for the young. As he notes, his generation came of age in the aftermath of 9/11, were the ones who fought in subsequent US wars and struggled to establish a financial foothold amid the wreckage of the 2008 economic collapse. Where their aging parents, the post-war Baby Boomers, may not be as concerned about the long-term impact of US policies, Mr Buttigieg says millennials will have to deal with the fallout from today's crises for decades. Mr Buttigieg enters the race with a unique resume. He's an openly gay veteran of the Afghanistan War and a Rhodes scholar. As mid-western mayor, he's shown he has voter appeal in a region that helped deliver the presidency to Donald Trump. The march of time ensures millennials will run things someday. A Buttigieg presidency is a long shot for 2020, but his candidacy is a sign of things to come. Mr Buttigieg ran for Democratic National Committee chairman in 2017, but dropped out when it was apparent he did not have sufficient support. The 2020 Democratic presidential primary will be the first time more than one woman competes for the party's nomination. The race is already thought to be record-breaking, with four women candidates running national campaigns. He is due to release a book abut his life and career in South Bend in February.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 882, "answer_end": 1521, "text": "He was first elected mayor of South Bend, which has a population of about 100,000, back in 2011 when he was just 29. The video announcing he will run for president focuses on his role in the Rust Belt city's redevelopment and also takes aim at corruption and infighting in Washington. \"We can't look for greatness in the past, right now our country needs a fresh start,\" he says in the clip. Mr Buttigieg is an Afghan war veteran and received a prestigious Rhodes scholarship in 2005 - following in the footsteps of other prominent figures like former President Bill Clinton. He married Chasten Glezman, a middle school teacher, last year."}], "question": "Who is Pete Buttigieg?", "id": "1238_0"}]}]}, {"title": "The dangerous art of the ultimate selfie", "date": "15 October 2015", "paragraphs": [{"context": "If 2014 was the year of the selfie, then 2015 took the art of self-photography to a new and dangerous level. People are, quite literally, dying to take a picture of themselves. In Russia this year there have been a handful of selfie-related fatalities, including the death of two men in the Ural Mountains who posed for a photo while pulling the pin from a hand grenade. And, in June, a university graduate died after trying to take a selfie while hanging from a Moscow bridge. Most recently a 17-year-old boy fell to his death from a rooftop as he tried to take his picture for his Instagram page. He had previously taken a number of similar pictures of himself posing on high rooftops in the city of Vologda. The problem isn't just limited to Russia. In the US recently a man died after shooting himself in the neck while taking a selfie. At least 12 people have died this year while taking pictures of themselves  making the practice more deadly than shark attacks, of which there have only been eight recorded deaths in 2015, according to tech news site Mashable. The statistic is creating very real problems for governments. In August, officials at the Waterton Canyon in Colorado were forced to close the park after several people were caught getting a little too close to the wildlife. \"We've actually seen people using selfie sticks to try and get as close to the bears as possible, sometimes within 10 feet [3 metres],\" said recreation manager Brandon Ransom in a blog. And, at Yellowstone National Park, officials issued a warning after five separate incidents of selfie-takers being gored by bison. In Australia, a rock that looks like a wedding cake was fenced off because too many people were climbing it to take pre or post-wedding photos of themselves. While in Russia, in response to the number of deaths there, the Interior Ministry launched a campaign warning that \"self-photography could cost you your life\". \"A selfie with a weapon kills,\" the brochure read. The accompanying poster campaign listed dangerous places to take a selfie. So why are some people willing to risk their life to take the ultimate selfie? It may come down to pure bravado, thinks Lee Thompson - whose snap of himself on top of the Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janiero went viral in June 2014. \"People see pictures like mine and see how they spread across the world and see a way to make themselves famous for 15 minutes,\" he told the BBC. A professional photographer, Mr Thompson admits that the picture he took was done as a publicity stunt for his travel company, Flash Pack. He did, however, get permission to climb the statue. \"I'm not a serial selfie-taker - this shot was to publicise my business. It was the shot I knew I had to get because people love selfies,\" he told the BBC. He admits that the trend towards ever more dangerous selfies is \"getting out of control\". \"Be creative with your pictures but don't put yourself in danger,\" he advised. According to research published by the Ohio State University, the pictures that people post on social media can tell an interesting story about their personality. Hundreds of tests on people's social media habits were conducted for the study, which showed that people who post a lot of selfies also tend to score higher in traits of narcissism and psychopathy. Lead researcher Jesse Fox said that, for many, a dangerous selfie is worth it for the number of likes and comments it will generate. \"Likes are a quantifiable way of measuring popularity and these days it isn't enough to just post a picture of yourself, because everyone is doing that. The more extreme it is, the more likely you are to stand out and get lots of likes and comments.\" The rise of the selfie as an art form has not gone unnoticed by manufacturers such as Asus, which recently launched a phone dubbed the ZenFone Selfie, that as the name suggests, comes with a powerful camera. But it too is sensitive to the issue of risk-taking selfies and its marketing of the device in France came with a poster campaign similar to that of the Russian government, pointing out places where taking a selfie would be ill-advised - including in front of trains, in cars and with bears. Despite the publicity, there doesn't appear to be any let-up in the amount of death-defying selfies being taken, nor people's appetite to look at them. A video on YouTube, compiling what it describes as the \"25 most dangerous selfies ever\", has been viewed over 20 million times. It includes examples of a man taking a selfie while a bull charges at him, a man posing with a lion, someone taking a picture in front of a train and a woman taking a selfie of herself and her toddler while driving. James Kingston's picture of himself hanging off a crane (above) came in at number three. The list also features several self-portraits with sharks which had gone viral but which the video exposes as fakes. Selfies may have become more dangerous than shark attacks but it seems that even the most intrepid self-shooter draws the line at a picture with a Great White.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 4203, "answer_end": 5064, "text": "Despite the publicity, there doesn't appear to be any let-up in the amount of death-defying selfies being taken, nor people's appetite to look at them. A video on YouTube, compiling what it describes as the \"25 most dangerous selfies ever\", has been viewed over 20 million times. It includes examples of a man taking a selfie while a bull charges at him, a man posing with a lion, someone taking a picture in front of a train and a woman taking a selfie of herself and her toddler while driving. James Kingston's picture of himself hanging off a crane (above) came in at number three. The list also features several self-portraits with sharks which had gone viral but which the video exposes as fakes. Selfies may have become more dangerous than shark attacks but it seems that even the most intrepid self-shooter draws the line at a picture with a Great White."}], "question": "Shark selfie?", "id": "1239_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Jacob Zuma resigns: What next for South Africa?", "date": "15 February 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "After years of attempts to remove him, and months of speculation, Jacob Zuma has been forced to step down as president of South Africa. Mr Zuma had been in a vulnerable position since the end of his final term as head of the ruling ANC in December last year, when his rival Cyril Ramaphosa was chosen to lead the party. The allegations of corruption around Mr Zuma were unrelenting. Particularly damaging were the ongoing claims that a wealthy family from India - the Guptas - had gained lucrative state contracts and exerted undue influence on government appointments because of a corrupt relationship with the president. While the Guptas and Mr Zuma consistently denied the claims, the stories of what is known as \"state capture\" kept coming. Mr Zuma is also facing the possible reinstatement of 18 charges of corruption, fraud, and money laundering stemming from a 1990s arms deal. Mr Ramaphosa has been sworn in as the country's new president after he was the only candidate in an election in parliament. He has said his priority is reviving South Africa's battered economy. Shortly after winning the bitterly contested ANC leadership battle, he said \"we must all do all we can to ensure that we turn our economy around\". But it won't be easy: Unemployment is currently at almost 30%, a rate which rises to nearly 40% for young people. Low growth rates and dwindling investor confidence were compounded by two credit agencies downgrading the economy to junk status. One of the first steps in improving that investor confidence is addressing the persistent claims of corruption at the heart of government. For example, there are the ongoing allegations of maladministration at the state power company Eskom, which led to a crisis that Finance Minister Malusi Gigaba warned could wreck the economy if not resolved. Ratings agencies have also cited the situation at the company as a cause for concern. At the same time, Mr Ramaphosa urgently needs to unite his party. The recent leadership campaign deepened fractures within the ANC, and it is now split between those who support Mr Zuma, and backers of Mr Ramaphosa who wanted Mr Zuma out. Arguably one of Mr Zuma's greatest achievements was calming the political violence in his home province of KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) during the run-up to the first democratic election in 1994. He is hugely popular in the region and is credited with delivering votes both from the area and from his Zulu ethnic group. There are fears that if Mr Zuma's supporters feel he was treated badly, the ANC could lose these important votes. And even more concerning is that as the power struggle within the ANC has intensified, so too has political violence in KZN. Perhaps this is one of the reasons Mr Ramaphosa was so careful in his handling of Mr Zuma's exit, insisting on several occasions that he should not be humiliated. It is often said that Mr Ramaphosa has had his eye on the position of president since the ANC came to power in 1994. The story goes that he was so upset at not having been chosen by Nelson Mandela as his successor that he left politics and went into business. But Mr Ramaphosa has now finally realised that dream. But unless he is able to bring Mr Zuma's supporters on board, and address the issues in the economy, his time as president could prove to be short-lived. The ANC has won every election in South Africa since the end of white minority rule in 1994. For many South Africans it is the party that brought them freedom from the brutality and racism of apartheid rule, and this is not something easily forgotten. But its popularity has been waning, and for the first time there is a realistic possibility that the party could lose power - particularly if the opposition parties form a coalition. The ANC suffered humiliating losses in the 2016 local government elections. Although it gained far more votes than any other party, it lost control of major cities including the economic hub of Johannesburg and the capital, Pretoria. While there is no doubt that the lives of many South Africans have improved, many feel not enough has changed under ANC rule. South Africa is still one of the most unequal countries in the world, and more than half the population live in poverty. The allegations of corruption within the ANC government have added to a sense that a privileged, politically connected elite is benefitting at the expense of ordinary South Africans. There is also the sense among many black South Africans that the power structures created under apartheid are still in place. In particular, land and the economy are hot button issues. The redistribution of agricultural land taken from black people while the country was under white rule has been painfully slow. About 95% of the country's assets are in the hands of 10% of the population. And white South Africans still earn around five times more than their black counterparts. The ANC has promised to accelerate land redistribution - even promising to change the constitution to allow land expropriation without compensation. And it has adopted the policy of \"Radical Economic Transformation\" - putting economic power in the hands of the majority black population. But if it wants to retain that all-important investor confidence, the party also needs to convince business that South Africa will not go down the road already trodden by Zimbabwe. Balancing the interests of its core voters with those of business and the economy might prove to the biggest challenge for the ANC ahead of the 2019 election.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 885, "answer_end": 3322, "text": "Mr Ramaphosa has been sworn in as the country's new president after he was the only candidate in an election in parliament. He has said his priority is reviving South Africa's battered economy. Shortly after winning the bitterly contested ANC leadership battle, he said \"we must all do all we can to ensure that we turn our economy around\". But it won't be easy: Unemployment is currently at almost 30%, a rate which rises to nearly 40% for young people. Low growth rates and dwindling investor confidence were compounded by two credit agencies downgrading the economy to junk status. One of the first steps in improving that investor confidence is addressing the persistent claims of corruption at the heart of government. For example, there are the ongoing allegations of maladministration at the state power company Eskom, which led to a crisis that Finance Minister Malusi Gigaba warned could wreck the economy if not resolved. Ratings agencies have also cited the situation at the company as a cause for concern. At the same time, Mr Ramaphosa urgently needs to unite his party. The recent leadership campaign deepened fractures within the ANC, and it is now split between those who support Mr Zuma, and backers of Mr Ramaphosa who wanted Mr Zuma out. Arguably one of Mr Zuma's greatest achievements was calming the political violence in his home province of KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) during the run-up to the first democratic election in 1994. He is hugely popular in the region and is credited with delivering votes both from the area and from his Zulu ethnic group. There are fears that if Mr Zuma's supporters feel he was treated badly, the ANC could lose these important votes. And even more concerning is that as the power struggle within the ANC has intensified, so too has political violence in KZN. Perhaps this is one of the reasons Mr Ramaphosa was so careful in his handling of Mr Zuma's exit, insisting on several occasions that he should not be humiliated. It is often said that Mr Ramaphosa has had his eye on the position of president since the ANC came to power in 1994. The story goes that he was so upset at not having been chosen by Nelson Mandela as his successor that he left politics and went into business. But Mr Ramaphosa has now finally realised that dream. But unless he is able to bring Mr Zuma's supporters on board, and address the issues in the economy, his time as president could prove to be short-lived."}], "question": "What next for Ramaphosa?", "id": "1240_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3323, "answer_end": 5529, "text": "The ANC has won every election in South Africa since the end of white minority rule in 1994. For many South Africans it is the party that brought them freedom from the brutality and racism of apartheid rule, and this is not something easily forgotten. But its popularity has been waning, and for the first time there is a realistic possibility that the party could lose power - particularly if the opposition parties form a coalition. The ANC suffered humiliating losses in the 2016 local government elections. Although it gained far more votes than any other party, it lost control of major cities including the economic hub of Johannesburg and the capital, Pretoria. While there is no doubt that the lives of many South Africans have improved, many feel not enough has changed under ANC rule. South Africa is still one of the most unequal countries in the world, and more than half the population live in poverty. The allegations of corruption within the ANC government have added to a sense that a privileged, politically connected elite is benefitting at the expense of ordinary South Africans. There is also the sense among many black South Africans that the power structures created under apartheid are still in place. In particular, land and the economy are hot button issues. The redistribution of agricultural land taken from black people while the country was under white rule has been painfully slow. About 95% of the country's assets are in the hands of 10% of the population. And white South Africans still earn around five times more than their black counterparts. The ANC has promised to accelerate land redistribution - even promising to change the constitution to allow land expropriation without compensation. And it has adopted the policy of \"Radical Economic Transformation\" - putting economic power in the hands of the majority black population. But if it wants to retain that all-important investor confidence, the party also needs to convince business that South Africa will not go down the road already trodden by Zimbabwe. Balancing the interests of its core voters with those of business and the economy might prove to the biggest challenge for the ANC ahead of the 2019 election."}], "question": "What next for the ANC?", "id": "1240_1"}]}]}, {"title": "YouTube stars' fury over algorithm tests", "date": "28 May 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Some of YouTube's most popular stars have criticised the website for \"experimenting\" with how their videos are delivered to their fans. Unannounced, YouTube started testing an algorithm that changed the order videos appeared in users' subscription feeds. The experiment came to light when some users complained on social media. One YouTube star said it was the worst decision the website had made for years. But YouTube defended its experiment. Manipulating the subscription feed using algorithms could make it more difficult for smaller channels to get their content seen. Originally, the YouTube subscription feed was a chronological list of videos from all the channels that a person had chosen to \"subscribe\" to.  The system let people curate a personalised feed full of content from their favourite video-makers. However, many video-makers have previously complained that some of their videos have not appeared in the subscription feed, and have questioned whether YouTube manipulates the list to boost viewer retention and advertising revenue. YouTube's latest experiment - which it said appeared for a \"small number\" of users - changed the order of videos in the feed.  Instead of showing the most recent videos at the top, YouTube said the manipulated feed showed people \"the videos they want to watch\". \"When I click subscribe on a Youtube channel, that's me saying: 'More of this, please,'\" explained video-maker Gary C. \"I don't expect to be force fed things YouTube 'thinks' I should see. I have nearly 47,000 people who said 'yes', yet I'm regularly asked if I still post videos.\" Technology vlogger Marques Brownlee - who has more than six million subscribers - said prioritising videos \"they think we want to see\" was a \"business move\". But he added: \"It's a subscription box. Users chose to subscribe. They want to see it all. If they don't, they'll unsubscribe.\" \"People use the subscription tab to mainly avoid this sort of algorithmic behaviour on the platform,\" said games reviewer Sean McLoughlin, who produces videos as Jacksepticeye. \"Please keep that to the home page and recommendations.\" Lifestyle vlogger Alfie Deyes, who has more than five million subscribers on the platform, said it was \"the worst decision YouTube has made in the past nine years I've been making videos\". YouTube said the experiment only appeared for a \"small number\" of people. It stressed the \"personalised\" feed was optional and that it was not planning to remove the chronological feed. However, YouTube told the BBC that people with the \"personalised\" feed were watching videos for longer. YouTube has shifted its focus away from the number of \"views\" that a video attracts to overall \"watch time\". Video-makers are now encouraged to produce longer videos that keep viewers on the platform for longer. The change explains why previously short videos, such as DIY demonstrations or \"how-to\" tutorials, are now often dragged out over 10 minutes or more. \"We're testing a setting that allows users to sort the subscriptions feed based on the content a user usually engages with the most,\" the company said in a statement. \"This is one of many small experiments we run all the time on YouTube.\" One video editor suggested YouTube needed to improve its communication about algorithm experiments. \"Just tell us or email before you roll out an 'experiment',\" said Seth Brown. \"It's not that hard guys.\"", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 445, "answer_end": 1311, "text": "Manipulating the subscription feed using algorithms could make it more difficult for smaller channels to get their content seen. Originally, the YouTube subscription feed was a chronological list of videos from all the channels that a person had chosen to \"subscribe\" to.  The system let people curate a personalised feed full of content from their favourite video-makers. However, many video-makers have previously complained that some of their videos have not appeared in the subscription feed, and have questioned whether YouTube manipulates the list to boost viewer retention and advertising revenue. YouTube's latest experiment - which it said appeared for a \"small number\" of users - changed the order of videos in the feed.  Instead of showing the most recent videos at the top, YouTube said the manipulated feed showed people \"the videos they want to watch\"."}], "question": "What's the issue?", "id": "1241_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1312, "answer_end": 2302, "text": "\"When I click subscribe on a Youtube channel, that's me saying: 'More of this, please,'\" explained video-maker Gary C. \"I don't expect to be force fed things YouTube 'thinks' I should see. I have nearly 47,000 people who said 'yes', yet I'm regularly asked if I still post videos.\" Technology vlogger Marques Brownlee - who has more than six million subscribers - said prioritising videos \"they think we want to see\" was a \"business move\". But he added: \"It's a subscription box. Users chose to subscribe. They want to see it all. If they don't, they'll unsubscribe.\" \"People use the subscription tab to mainly avoid this sort of algorithmic behaviour on the platform,\" said games reviewer Sean McLoughlin, who produces videos as Jacksepticeye. \"Please keep that to the home page and recommendations.\" Lifestyle vlogger Alfie Deyes, who has more than five million subscribers on the platform, said it was \"the worst decision YouTube has made in the past nine years I've been making videos\"."}], "question": "Why are YouTube stars annoyed?", "id": "1241_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2303, "answer_end": 3398, "text": "YouTube said the experiment only appeared for a \"small number\" of people. It stressed the \"personalised\" feed was optional and that it was not planning to remove the chronological feed. However, YouTube told the BBC that people with the \"personalised\" feed were watching videos for longer. YouTube has shifted its focus away from the number of \"views\" that a video attracts to overall \"watch time\". Video-makers are now encouraged to produce longer videos that keep viewers on the platform for longer. The change explains why previously short videos, such as DIY demonstrations or \"how-to\" tutorials, are now often dragged out over 10 minutes or more. \"We're testing a setting that allows users to sort the subscriptions feed based on the content a user usually engages with the most,\" the company said in a statement. \"This is one of many small experiments we run all the time on YouTube.\" One video editor suggested YouTube needed to improve its communication about algorithm experiments. \"Just tell us or email before you roll out an 'experiment',\" said Seth Brown. \"It's not that hard guys.\""}], "question": "What has YouTube said?", "id": "1241_2"}]}]}, {"title": "Will new maternity law help keep Indian women in work?", "date": "25 January 2016", "paragraphs": [{"context": "In a few weeks, it will be time for new mum Rashmi Sharma to go back to work as a teacher. Her daughter Arya is five months old and is just beginning to roll over. Rashmi got 12 weeks of paid leave from her company, as Indian laws mandate, and then took three extra months off without pay. Not all employers grant additional leave though, and with expenses shooting up after having a baby, the Indian government's plan to increase maternity benefits from 12 to 26 weeks of paid leave, is being welcomed by mothers and women's rights groups in the country. It will need parliamentary approval, but India's women and child development minister has said the government is committed to making the amendment to the maternity benefits law as soon as possible. \"I wish it's something that would have come in time for me,\" says Rashmi. \"Three months is too [little]. Six months, I would say, is a fair amount of time to spend with your newborn before going back to work.\" It would certainly make things easier for women who have just had babies. But is it enough to keep them from quitting their jobs to take care of their children? India: 12 weeks at full pay (currently) UK: 39 weeks of paid leave, 90% of pay for first six weeks China: 14 weeks, paid at least the average wage at the company US: 12 weeks, employers not obliged to pay anything A survey by industry body Assocham recently found that a quarter of Indian women give up their careers after having a baby. That's in a country where female participation in the workforce is already very low, ranking among the worst in major global economies. Women make up only a quarter of all workers employed, a number that has shrunk over the past decade. While some women who work in informal sectors are unaccounted for in government data, a major factor is lower levels of education among women because of patriarchal mindsets, which make it harder for them to get a job. Social attitudes are also a big reason why women choose to quit work after having a baby. Raising a child is largely seen as the mother's job in India, not a shared responsibility between both parents. I've heard the words \"ambitious\" and \"career-minded\" being used to describe women who went back to work after having a baby, and it's not meant as a compliment. Many women have talked about being made to feel guilty about being away from their child. Then there's the corporate side of things. Even in India's top firms, the gender gap is glaring. In 2014, when the country's markets regulator ordered all firms listed on the stock exchange to have at least one female director on their board, there was a mad scramble in India Inc. Many companies appointed female relatives of their promoters, and 13% of firms missed the deadline. Anurag Shrivastava who runs HRNext, a human resources consultancy, says the sense of discrimination against women is already very high. Questions about when a female candidate plans to get married or have a baby are not uncommon during interviews, although they might be asked in a veiled manner. Mr Shrivastava thinks extended maternity leave will further increase the bias against women. \"Having worked with a lot of managers, and seeing the kind of attitudes they display, I fear for the employment of women in the future,\" he says. And even if you are lucky enough to have supportive employers and family, then you're confronted with a more basic problem - where to leave your child while you're at work. It's something I've seen countless peers struggle with. Although more childcare facilities have sprung up in recent years, there are no laws governing them. Different states have different guidelines to regulate creches, but monitoring for quality is rarely done. Those that do comply with the rules are unaffordable for most couples. Trained nannies are equally rare to find. In most Indian homes it's usually the house help or maid who is trained by the family to care for their child. There is perhaps a ray of light in this direction though. A handful of companies have begun on-campus creches for their employees in the past two to three years. These include Indian brand Godrej, retail giant Hindustan Unilever and cosmetics firm L'Oreal. More significantly, the Labour Ministry is considering a proposal to make it compulsory for companies that employ more than 30 women to have childcare facilities, either on campus or a short distance from the workplace. This could be a real game changer for mothers who want to work. But it will probably be opposed by many in the corporate world, for whom the costs of running a business will increase. And, as is often the case in India, it could be years before it really sees the light of day. For now, it is not on the horizon for women like Rashmi. Her mother-in-law has come to stay to help with baby Arya when she goes back to work. Rashmi is an outdoor educator. She takes groups of children out on camps teaching them about nature and wildlife. She knows it is going to be a difficult balance. \"We'll see how things pan out,\" she says, as she prepares for a battle that so many Indian women are fighting.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 4208, "answer_end": 5122, "text": "More significantly, the Labour Ministry is considering a proposal to make it compulsory for companies that employ more than 30 women to have childcare facilities, either on campus or a short distance from the workplace. This could be a real game changer for mothers who want to work. But it will probably be opposed by many in the corporate world, for whom the costs of running a business will increase. And, as is often the case in India, it could be years before it really sees the light of day. For now, it is not on the horizon for women like Rashmi. Her mother-in-law has come to stay to help with baby Arya when she goes back to work. Rashmi is an outdoor educator. She takes groups of children out on camps teaching them about nature and wildlife. She knows it is going to be a difficult balance. \"We'll see how things pan out,\" she says, as she prepares for a battle that so many Indian women are fighting."}], "question": "Game changer?", "id": "1242_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Climate change: Report raises new optimism over industry", "date": "19 November 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "A new report on the potential of heavy industry to combat climate change offers a rare slice of optimism. Sectors like steel, chemicals, cement, aviation and aluminium face a huge challenge in cutting carbon emissions. But a group including representatives from business concludes it is both practical and affordable to get their emissions down to virtually zero by the middle of the next century. The report's been described as wishful thinking by some environmentalists. The group, the Energy Transitions Commission (ETC), says we can. It calculates that industrial emissions can be eradicated a cost of less than 1% of global GDP, with a marginal impact on living standards. The ETC - a coalition of business, finance and civil society leaders from energy producers and users - supports the aim of the 2015 Paris climate deal of limiting global warming to 1.5C, or at the very least, well below 2C. It sees benefits to society of cutting industrial emissions because this would save the costs associated with pollution and climate change impact. It would also generate economic growth through technological innovation and increased productivity of resources. The commission says this will require rapid improvements in energy efficiency across the whole economy. This should be combined with vastly increased wind and solar electricity to power cars, vans, manufacturing, and a significant part of domestic cooking, heating and cooling. The focus of the report is on the tough nuts of climate change: cement, steel, chemicals, trucking and aviation. These sectors account for close to a third of total global carbon dioxide emissions, but on current trends that is likely to increase just as the rest of the economy is cleaning up. The report says it is technically possible to decarbonise all of them by the middle of the next century. It recommends: - Much greater energy efficiency to boost progress in the 2020s, while more innovative technologies are still being developed - Demand management to reduce demand for carbon-intensive products through smarter design and recycling - Carbon capture and storage for the emissions that cannot be avoided from, say, the steel industry The authors say we can decarbonise the difficult sectors at costs per tonne of carbon dioxide saved of $60 or less for steel, $120 or less in cement, and $270 or less in the case of plastics. The chair of the ETC, Adair Turner, said there was an \"incredible disconnect\" between the urgency of the climate problem and the \"glacial\" pace of technologies such as carbon capture and storage, where emissions are captured then pumped underground. \"Making the transition involves a step change in the way we do things,\" said the former CBI chief. \"It can be done and it won't break the bank ... but it will require real urgency from policy-makers, from business leaders and from investors and financiers.\" Lord Turner admitted that having the climate change sceptic Donald Trump as US President was unhelpful. Environmentalists have applauded the ETC for laying out a possible pathway for emissions cuts, but are highly sceptical that the required level of urgency can be generated. They note that the UK government, for instance, says it leads the world in climate policy, yet has just agreed a PS30bn road-building programme and a new runway for Heathrow, which will increase emissions. Kevin Anderson, a professor of economics at Manchester University, points out that the UK's proud record of carbon emission cuts does not count statistics on key polluting sectors. \"If we include CO2 from international aviation; shipping; imports and exports - then UK plc has made no real dent in CO2 since 1990, nor have the other climate-progressive EU nations. \"Until we dispense with our rose-tinted specs we'll not even recognise the problem - let alone the solutions. No nation is even approaching doing what 'they feasibly can' - and we will continue to fail whilst we worship the god of Mammon and ephemeral economics,\" he tweeted. John Sauven, head of Greenpeace UK, applauded the ETC's initiative - but warned that better thinking about solutions was urgently needed. \"To rise to the climate challenge, we'll need a much deeper rethink of the way we move around, build houses, power our economy, and grow our food,\" he said. Richard Black from the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit said the report \"provides a key piece of evidence for governments who pledged at the Paris summit to keep global warming well below 2C, because it shows them what that entails for some crucial industries. \"However, the Commission is very clear that these transitions won't happen by themselves - it's going to need governments to step forwards with policies, and to do so quickly.\" Follow Roger on Twitter: @rharrabin", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1440, "answer_end": 2376, "text": "The focus of the report is on the tough nuts of climate change: cement, steel, chemicals, trucking and aviation. These sectors account for close to a third of total global carbon dioxide emissions, but on current trends that is likely to increase just as the rest of the economy is cleaning up. The report says it is technically possible to decarbonise all of them by the middle of the next century. It recommends: - Much greater energy efficiency to boost progress in the 2020s, while more innovative technologies are still being developed - Demand management to reduce demand for carbon-intensive products through smarter design and recycling - Carbon capture and storage for the emissions that cannot be avoided from, say, the steel industry The authors say we can decarbonise the difficult sectors at costs per tonne of carbon dioxide saved of $60 or less for steel, $120 or less in cement, and $270 or less in the case of plastics."}], "question": "Where are the biggest problems?", "id": "1243_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2377, "answer_end": 3367, "text": "The chair of the ETC, Adair Turner, said there was an \"incredible disconnect\" between the urgency of the climate problem and the \"glacial\" pace of technologies such as carbon capture and storage, where emissions are captured then pumped underground. \"Making the transition involves a step change in the way we do things,\" said the former CBI chief. \"It can be done and it won't break the bank ... but it will require real urgency from policy-makers, from business leaders and from investors and financiers.\" Lord Turner admitted that having the climate change sceptic Donald Trump as US President was unhelpful. Environmentalists have applauded the ETC for laying out a possible pathway for emissions cuts, but are highly sceptical that the required level of urgency can be generated. They note that the UK government, for instance, says it leads the world in climate policy, yet has just agreed a PS30bn road-building programme and a new runway for Heathrow, which will increase emissions."}], "question": "Is there enough urgency?", "id": "1243_1"}]}]}, {"title": "The race to build a flying electric taxi", "date": "22 October 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "For any commuter the prospect of being whisked to and from work in a fraction of the time it usually takes is pretty irresistible. No traffic jams, no train delays and no cold platforms - what's not to love? This is the promise of more than a hundred companies developing electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft. Like helicopters they don't need a runway, but unlike helicopters they promise to be quiet and cheap. Yet the dream seems to be some way off. Industry experts say that taxi services using such aircraft won't be a mass-market phenomenon until the 2030s. So what is the hold up? There are good reasons why the eVTOL industry is focussing on short hops in and out of cities. Firstly, there are plenty of potential customers in cities; secondly, eVTOL aircraft can't fly very far. Most have batteries that can allow them to fly for around half an hour. In the case of Germany's Volocopter this amounts to a range of about 22 miles (35km) with a maximum speed of around 68mph (110km/h). On Tuesday it made a test flight over Singapore's Marina Bay. Other companies have boosted range by adding wings. So companies like Germany's Lilium have an aircraft which can take off vertically but can also tilt its wings and engines and fly more like a regular plane. Lilium expects its aircraft to have a range of 185 miles (300km). Vertical Aerospace in the UK is also working on eVTOL with wings that it hopes will fly more than 100 miles. But the industry would still dearly love to see a breakthrough in battery technology which would make all these prototypes much more useful aircraft. More Technology of Business If you are planning an air taxi service then you are going to need somewhere convenient for your aircraft to take off or land, and also charge or swap their batteries - what the industry likes to call vertiports. That presents several challenges. In big cities space is already limited. Heliports already exist but might not be ideally located or able to cope with extra traffic. Some buildings might have suitable rooftops, but they are likely to be expensive to use. Even if sites are identified, they would still need to comply with planning regulations, which don't even exist yet. One of the big selling points of eVTOL aircraft is that they are relatively quiet. While hovering they should make just a quarter of the noise of a helicopter, according to Michael Cervenka, a senior executive at Vertical Aerospace. And while flying forward \"you wouldn't hear them at all\", he says. So that might ease the concerns of those living near a vertiport, but you could still imagine people objecting to a continuous stream of air traffic. And just one accident might create widespread opposition to having landing zones in heavily populated areas. Aviation regulators in Europe and the US are currently working out the standards they want these new aircraft to meet. Once agreed an eVTOL aircraft is likely to go through years of testing before it meets them, a process likely to cost hundreds of millions of pounds. \"Most eVTOL manufacturers I have been talking to are trying to get certification by 2023,\" says Darrell Swanson, who runs his own consultancy specialising in the eVTOL industry. In their favour, electric aircraft are much simpler than helicopters or passenger jets, so mechanically there is much less to go wrong. \"We don't need great big gear boxes and things like that,\" says Steve Wright, an avionics expert, at the University of the West of England. Several aircraft designs have multiple motors, so they can fly even if one motor fails. Uber, which has an eVTOL project called Uber Air, says that flying taxi services only need to be safer than driving a car, perhaps twice as safe. But the public and regulators might expect safety standards closer to those of airlines. Another question that has not really been answered is how eVTOL aircraft will perform in bad weather. To save weight they will be very light, which could make flying in windy conditions bumpy or dangerous. Yet a taxi service that has to shut down on a windy day would not be much use in many places in the world. Air traffic control systems already monitor the activities of helicopters over cities and experts says those systems could probably cope with hundreds more eVTOL aircraft. Many big cities have rivers running through the middle which - with no residents below - make ideal flight paths. But if eVTOL is going to become a mass market transport system, with thousands of aircraft, then new airspace management systems will have to be put in place. That will definitely be the case if the industry meets its eventual goal - aircraft without pilots. Those aircraft themselves will need be able to sense what is going on around them and identify other aircraft. \"It's not like all of a sudden we are going to get 5,000 vehicles flying over London on 1 January 2023,\" says Mr Swanson. \"There's going to be a slow build up of traffic over time and that will allow us to prove these systems work properly.\" The business model of a flying taxi service is yet to be worked out. But it is likely that they will serve short, well-defined routes in and out of cities. Uber Air believes that such services will become \"an affordable form of daily transportation for the masses, even less expensive than owning a car.\" However, to begin with, such services will target richer customers who are prepared to pay a premium. \"It's the same old story, there will be early adopters with lots of money who will pay over the odds,\" says Mr Wright. \"The hop from the top of an expensive area in the City of London out to Heathrow or something like that would be incredibly valuable.\" - Follow Technology of Business editor Ben Morris on Twitter", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 606, "answer_end": 1606, "text": "There are good reasons why the eVTOL industry is focussing on short hops in and out of cities. Firstly, there are plenty of potential customers in cities; secondly, eVTOL aircraft can't fly very far. Most have batteries that can allow them to fly for around half an hour. In the case of Germany's Volocopter this amounts to a range of about 22 miles (35km) with a maximum speed of around 68mph (110km/h). On Tuesday it made a test flight over Singapore's Marina Bay. Other companies have boosted range by adding wings. So companies like Germany's Lilium have an aircraft which can take off vertically but can also tilt its wings and engines and fly more like a regular plane. Lilium expects its aircraft to have a range of 185 miles (300km). Vertical Aerospace in the UK is also working on eVTOL with wings that it hopes will fly more than 100 miles. But the industry would still dearly love to see a breakthrough in battery technology which would make all these prototypes much more useful aircraft."}], "question": "Can they fly far enough?", "id": "1244_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1635, "answer_end": 2779, "text": "If you are planning an air taxi service then you are going to need somewhere convenient for your aircraft to take off or land, and also charge or swap their batteries - what the industry likes to call vertiports. That presents several challenges. In big cities space is already limited. Heliports already exist but might not be ideally located or able to cope with extra traffic. Some buildings might have suitable rooftops, but they are likely to be expensive to use. Even if sites are identified, they would still need to comply with planning regulations, which don't even exist yet. One of the big selling points of eVTOL aircraft is that they are relatively quiet. While hovering they should make just a quarter of the noise of a helicopter, according to Michael Cervenka, a senior executive at Vertical Aerospace. And while flying forward \"you wouldn't hear them at all\", he says. So that might ease the concerns of those living near a vertiport, but you could still imagine people objecting to a continuous stream of air traffic. And just one accident might create widespread opposition to having landing zones in heavily populated areas."}], "question": "Where will you take off or land?", "id": "1244_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2780, "answer_end": 4138, "text": "Aviation regulators in Europe and the US are currently working out the standards they want these new aircraft to meet. Once agreed an eVTOL aircraft is likely to go through years of testing before it meets them, a process likely to cost hundreds of millions of pounds. \"Most eVTOL manufacturers I have been talking to are trying to get certification by 2023,\" says Darrell Swanson, who runs his own consultancy specialising in the eVTOL industry. In their favour, electric aircraft are much simpler than helicopters or passenger jets, so mechanically there is much less to go wrong. \"We don't need great big gear boxes and things like that,\" says Steve Wright, an avionics expert, at the University of the West of England. Several aircraft designs have multiple motors, so they can fly even if one motor fails. Uber, which has an eVTOL project called Uber Air, says that flying taxi services only need to be safer than driving a car, perhaps twice as safe. But the public and regulators might expect safety standards closer to those of airlines. Another question that has not really been answered is how eVTOL aircraft will perform in bad weather. To save weight they will be very light, which could make flying in windy conditions bumpy or dangerous. Yet a taxi service that has to shut down on a windy day would not be much use in many places in the world."}], "question": "How safe is safe?", "id": "1244_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 4139, "answer_end": 5036, "text": "Air traffic control systems already monitor the activities of helicopters over cities and experts says those systems could probably cope with hundreds more eVTOL aircraft. Many big cities have rivers running through the middle which - with no residents below - make ideal flight paths. But if eVTOL is going to become a mass market transport system, with thousands of aircraft, then new airspace management systems will have to be put in place. That will definitely be the case if the industry meets its eventual goal - aircraft without pilots. Those aircraft themselves will need be able to sense what is going on around them and identify other aircraft. \"It's not like all of a sudden we are going to get 5,000 vehicles flying over London on 1 January 2023,\" says Mr Swanson. \"There's going to be a slow build up of traffic over time and that will allow us to prove these systems work properly.\""}], "question": "Who will monitor these aircraft?", "id": "1244_3"}]}]}, {"title": "Are doctors prescribing too many drugs?", "date": "23 October 2016", "paragraphs": [{"context": "It's a question being asked more frequently in medical circles in many countries. Are doctors diagnosing too much and prescribing too often? With the finances of the NHS under increasing pressure, the debate on what's been dubbed over-treatment and the medicalisation of society has gained added salience. The issue does not just focus on doctors.  Patients have responsibilities too. Excessive demands for unnecessary treatments are felt by some medics to be getting out of hand. Researching conditions and diseases on the internet can lead to patients putting pressure on doctors to agree to interventions. So how can unnecessary treatments be defined? The Academy of Medical Royal Colleges has tried to come up with answers after asking members, experts in different fields, to list those which they felt offered little or no benefit to patients. X-rays for lower back pain and plaster casts for small wrist fractures in children were among those nominated. The initiative from the academy aims to get doctors and their patients to consider seriously whether a treatment or procedure is necessary before making decisions on how to proceed. Professor Sue Bailey, chairman of the academy, said: \"Medical or surgical interventions don't need to be the only solution offered by a doctor and more doesn't always mean better.\" The academy has dubbed its initiative \"Choosing Wisely\" and it follows similarly named exercises in other countries. The US, Canada, Germany and Japan have gone down this route, indicating that the NHS is not the only healthcare system with resource pressures. An article in the British Medical Journal in March 2015 by Dr Aseem Malhotra and others noted that the idea that some medical interventions might not help a patient at all is old as medicine itself. The article goes on to advocate that for some treatments doctors and patients should be \"supported to acknowledge that a minor potential benefit may not outweigh potential harm, the minimal evidence base, and substantial financial expense and therefore that, sometimes, doing nothing might be the favourable option\". The trend known as medicalisation is seen as a growing threat to health systems, not least the NHS. \"A pill for every ill\" is what many people expect in a consumer driven society and what time pressured doctors find themselves signing up to. Statins are widely acknowledged to be an effective preventive medication for those at risk of heart problems but patient numbers have steadily increased.  New guidance from the regulator NICE has widened the suggested eligibility which could take the total in the UK to around eight million. A study published by Queen Mary College, University of London in 2014 found that taking an aspirin a day could reduce the risk of dying from certain cancers. The study was seen as authoritative but generated more debate about whether encouraging consumption of more pills was beneficial. Cynics might feel this is a covert attempt by the medical establishment to ration NHS care and blame a shortage of money. The Academy of Medical Royal Colleges denies that the financial angle is the main motivation for its initiative.  But there have been estimates that eliminating unnecessary treatments could save the NHS PS2bn a year. Whether that's achievable is another matter but with health budgets a pressing issue, \"over-diagnosis\" is undoubtedly a hot topic for debate.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 2343, "answer_end": 3403, "text": "Statins are widely acknowledged to be an effective preventive medication for those at risk of heart problems but patient numbers have steadily increased.  New guidance from the regulator NICE has widened the suggested eligibility which could take the total in the UK to around eight million. A study published by Queen Mary College, University of London in 2014 found that taking an aspirin a day could reduce the risk of dying from certain cancers. The study was seen as authoritative but generated more debate about whether encouraging consumption of more pills was beneficial. Cynics might feel this is a covert attempt by the medical establishment to ration NHS care and blame a shortage of money. The Academy of Medical Royal Colleges denies that the financial angle is the main motivation for its initiative.  But there have been estimates that eliminating unnecessary treatments could save the NHS PS2bn a year. Whether that's achievable is another matter but with health budgets a pressing issue, \"over-diagnosis\" is undoubtedly a hot topic for debate."}], "question": "Care rationing?", "id": "1245_0"}]}]}, {"title": "'Shocking' level of sexual harassment at music festivals", "date": "18 June 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Nearly half of female festival goers (43%) under 40 say they have faced unwanted sexual behaviour at a music festival, a new survey suggests. Overall, 22% of all festival goers have faced assault or harassment, rising to 30% of women overall. The most common forms were unwelcome and forceful dancing and verbal sexualised harassment. YouGov surveyed 1,188 festival goers. The poll also suggested only 2% of such incidents were reported to police. Earlier this year, separate data released in the Crime Survey for England and Wales in February showed more than 80% of victims of sexual assault did not report it to police. Those statistics also revealed that one in five women had experienced some form of sexual assault since they turned 16. The festivals YouGov survey, which was commissioned by the Press Association, also found that only 1% of women reported sexual assault or harassment to a member of festival staff, either before or after the event, although 19% of men did report their experience to staff. Rape Crisis's Katie Russell spoke to BBC News with some advice: \"As a bystander, do as much as you can to engage the perceived victim - be aware that they may feel humiliated and/or unempowered. \"Ask them what would they like to happen next? Try to avoid putting yourself in immediate physical danger and use your judgement. \"Our advice would be similar for a survivor in any circumstance. \"Try to be with someone you trust, who can stay with you, someone you can disclose to. \"You might be in shock, so try to stay warm and hydrated. \"If you want to report it, what we'd like to see is festivals working with specialist local services, so security staff are properly trained to show respect and empathy. \"They should have consideration if someone wants to report (an incident) to the police and know where the nearest sexual assault referral centre is. \"We'd love to see festival organisers inviting local services to have a presence at festivals with preventative messages and information on site.\" She says victims should know \"it wasn't your fault\" and points out that just because drink/drugs are prevalent at festivals and there's a more relaxed vibe, \"none of those things mean you're partly to blame\". \"Everyone is entitled to enjoy themselves without worrying.\" Regarding harassment, Katie used examples such as \"degrading language, or invading someone's personal space\". \"Within friendship groups, show zero tolerance to your friends, calling out to mates who might say stuff to bar staff that's making them feel uncomfortable, for example. \"Peer intervention can be powerful.\" Tracey Wise, founder of campaign group Safe Gigs For Women (SGFW), said: \"We have struggled to find anyone with any definite statistics on this before now. \"It gives us something to show to festival organisers so we can say 'you need to take this on board'.\" Jen Calleja, a co-director of the Good Night Out Campaign, called the research \"shocking but not surprising\", saying it \"helps prove what we already know through anecdotal evidence\". She added: \"We know that the vast amount of harassment and sexual assault is not reported and we know this comes down to stigma, fear of not being believed and a minimisation of what harassment is. \"The idea we want to put forward is that harassment is everybody's problem, it's not just the person who is being assaulted,\" Calleja said. The poll also found that 70% of those who experienced sexual assault or harassment at a festival said the perpetrator was a stranger. The survey was carried out online between June 4 and 6 2018. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all GB adults. Paul Reed, chief executive of the Association of Independent Festivals (AIF), said festivals \"have a duty to make their events as safe and secure and enjoyable\" as possible, and encouraged festival goers to report incidents if they witness them. \"If people don't intervene, then this behaviour becomes normalised,\" he added. \"People shouldn't feel that they need to tolerate the type of behaviour at festivals that they wouldn't tolerate in the street. \"If people don't intervene, then this behaviour becomes normalised.\" Beth Granter, a 35-year-old campaign manager with social network Care2, said she was flashed by a man at Reading Festival when she was 17. She said she told him to go away and tried to laugh it off. \"Laughing was a defensive strategy to de-escalate the situation,\" she added. She said she did not report what happened but felt vulnerable for the rest of the festival. \"I think this kind of thing happens more at festivals than in the street during the day, but I haven't seen any evidence that it happens more at festivals than in nightclubs. I have lost count of the times I've been sexually assaulted in a nightclub,\" Ms Granter added. Another anonymous victim said she had been sexually assaulted by her drunk then-boyfriend inside their tent at a festival. \"Even though there had been a scuffle and I was upset, none of our friends said or did anything. I think people are particularly disinclined to intervene in something they see as a 'domestic' row.\" She added: \"I've never been to a festival where I felt it was clear who I could talk to about sexual violence or harassment.\" \"Specially-designated reps at a festival who are marked out as having responsibility for ensuring that people feel safe and supported would be helpful.\" The Press Association contacted 21 of the UK's biggest festivals to discuss the new research on sexual assault and harassment at UK music festivals and ask about provisions and policy at their events. Only five responded - Glastonbury, Reading and Leeds, Creamfields, Latitude, RiZE and Wireless were among those that declined to comment. Somerset Police recorded two incidents of sexual assault, two incidents of rape and one incident of indecent exposure at last year's Glastonbury Festival. A spokesperson for The Green Man festival said: \"Stewards are positioned throughout the festival and are trained to report any harassment, or violence, to security to be investigated. Crew and service staff are also trained or advised on ways to report minor harassment, or violent behaviour or violence.\" A spokesperson for Bestival said: \"We have a Harm Reduction protocol with Dorset Police and other agencies that is designed to address issues such as this.\" Anyone affected by sexual assault or harassment, at any time, can speak to someone available through organisations like The Survivor's Trust, Rape Crisis or Survivors UK. Follow us on Facebook, on Twitter @BBCNewsEnts, or on Instagram at bbcnewsents. If you have a story suggestion email entertainment.news@bbc.co.uk.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 2603, "answer_end": 4171, "text": "Tracey Wise, founder of campaign group Safe Gigs For Women (SGFW), said: \"We have struggled to find anyone with any definite statistics on this before now. \"It gives us something to show to festival organisers so we can say 'you need to take this on board'.\" Jen Calleja, a co-director of the Good Night Out Campaign, called the research \"shocking but not surprising\", saying it \"helps prove what we already know through anecdotal evidence\". She added: \"We know that the vast amount of harassment and sexual assault is not reported and we know this comes down to stigma, fear of not being believed and a minimisation of what harassment is. \"The idea we want to put forward is that harassment is everybody's problem, it's not just the person who is being assaulted,\" Calleja said. The poll also found that 70% of those who experienced sexual assault or harassment at a festival said the perpetrator was a stranger. The survey was carried out online between June 4 and 6 2018. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all GB adults. Paul Reed, chief executive of the Association of Independent Festivals (AIF), said festivals \"have a duty to make their events as safe and secure and enjoyable\" as possible, and encouraged festival goers to report incidents if they witness them. \"If people don't intervene, then this behaviour becomes normalised,\" he added. \"People shouldn't feel that they need to tolerate the type of behaviour at festivals that they wouldn't tolerate in the street. \"If people don't intervene, then this behaviour becomes normalised.\""}], "question": "Do festival organisers need to step up?", "id": "1246_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 4172, "answer_end": 4809, "text": "Beth Granter, a 35-year-old campaign manager with social network Care2, said she was flashed by a man at Reading Festival when she was 17. She said she told him to go away and tried to laugh it off. \"Laughing was a defensive strategy to de-escalate the situation,\" she added. She said she did not report what happened but felt vulnerable for the rest of the festival. \"I think this kind of thing happens more at festivals than in the street during the day, but I haven't seen any evidence that it happens more at festivals than in nightclubs. I have lost count of the times I've been sexually assaulted in a nightclub,\" Ms Granter added."}], "question": "What kind of stories are we hearing?", "id": "1246_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 5410, "answer_end": 6537, "text": "The Press Association contacted 21 of the UK's biggest festivals to discuss the new research on sexual assault and harassment at UK music festivals and ask about provisions and policy at their events. Only five responded - Glastonbury, Reading and Leeds, Creamfields, Latitude, RiZE and Wireless were among those that declined to comment. Somerset Police recorded two incidents of sexual assault, two incidents of rape and one incident of indecent exposure at last year's Glastonbury Festival. A spokesperson for The Green Man festival said: \"Stewards are positioned throughout the festival and are trained to report any harassment, or violence, to security to be investigated. Crew and service staff are also trained or advised on ways to report minor harassment, or violent behaviour or violence.\" A spokesperson for Bestival said: \"We have a Harm Reduction protocol with Dorset Police and other agencies that is designed to address issues such as this.\" Anyone affected by sexual assault or harassment, at any time, can speak to someone available through organisations like The Survivor's Trust, Rape Crisis or Survivors UK."}], "question": "What is being done to help?", "id": "1246_2"}]}]}, {"title": "David Shulkin: Sacked secretary in parting shot at Trump", "date": "29 March 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "US Veterans Affairs Secretary David Shulkin has fired a parting shot at the White House a day after being fired by President Donald Trump. Mr Shulkin said figures within the administration were planning to privatise veterans' healthcare, and he lost his job because he opposed them. President Trump replaced Mr Shulkin on Wednesday with the White House doctor, Rear Admiral Ronny Jackson. It was the latest in a series of departures from Mr Trump's cabinet. This month alone, the president has fired Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and National Security Adviser HR McMaster, while his top economic adviser Gary Cohn also left. Meanwhile, White House communications director Hope Hicks' last day was on Thursday. Mr Trump announced Mr Shulkin's sacking on Twitter, posting: \"I am thankful for Dr David Shulkin's service to our country and to our GREAT VETERANS!\" In a scathing column for the New York Times, Mr Shulkin wrote: \"As I prepare to leave government, I am struck by a recurring thought: It should not be this hard to serve your country.\" He said that in recent months \"the environment in Washington has turned so toxic, chaotic, disrespectful and subversive that it became impossible for me to accomplish the important work that our veterans need and deserve\". The former hospital administrator, who first served under President Barack Obama, said that \"advocates within the administration for privatising\" veterans' healthcare services \"saw me as an obstacle to privatisation who had to be removed\". It is traditional for departing cabinet secretaries to thank the president for granting them the opportunity to serve, but Mr Shulkin pointedly made no reference to Mr Trump. In an interview with National Public Radio (NPR) on Thursday morning, Mr Shulkin said a critical report by an internal watchdog had been used by the White House as a pretext to get rid of him. The inspector general's report found that Mr Shulkin and his wife used an official trip to Europe last summer to sightsee and improperly accepted tickets for the Wimbledon tennis tournament. \"There was nothing improper about this trip, and I was not allowed to put up an official statement or to even respond to this by the White House,\" he said. \"I think this was really just being used in a political context to try to make sure that I wasn't as effective as a leader moving forward.\" The internal watchdog determined the secretary and his wife had spent nearly half the nine-day business trip in \"sightseeing and other unofficial activities\". Mr Shulkin agreed last month to reimburse the government for his wife's airfare, which was more than $4,300. Some veterans organisations are questioning Rear Adm Jackson's qualifications. The 50-year-old has worked as White House physician during the last three administrations, serving George W Bush and Barack Obama before Mr Trump moved into the White House. He caught public attention a year ago after Mr Trump's medical, telling reporters the president was in \"excellent health\". The rear admiral has a wealth of military experience, having served with a Marine unit during the war in Iraq. But he comes into the veterans' post, which entails running a vast department, with little administrative or political experience. Joe Chenelly, the national executive director of American Veterans, said: \"We are disappointed and already quite concerned about this nominee. \"The administration needs to be ready to prove that he's qualified to run such a massive agency, a $200 billion bureaucracy,\" he added. Veterans of Foreign Wars noted that the nominee's background \"does not reflect any experience working with the VA or with veterans, or managing any organisation of size\".", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 863, "answer_end": 1685, "text": "In a scathing column for the New York Times, Mr Shulkin wrote: \"As I prepare to leave government, I am struck by a recurring thought: It should not be this hard to serve your country.\" He said that in recent months \"the environment in Washington has turned so toxic, chaotic, disrespectful and subversive that it became impossible for me to accomplish the important work that our veterans need and deserve\". The former hospital administrator, who first served under President Barack Obama, said that \"advocates within the administration for privatising\" veterans' healthcare services \"saw me as an obstacle to privatisation who had to be removed\". It is traditional for departing cabinet secretaries to thank the president for granting them the opportunity to serve, but Mr Shulkin pointedly made no reference to Mr Trump."}], "question": "What did Shulkin say?", "id": "1247_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1686, "answer_end": 2633, "text": "In an interview with National Public Radio (NPR) on Thursday morning, Mr Shulkin said a critical report by an internal watchdog had been used by the White House as a pretext to get rid of him. The inspector general's report found that Mr Shulkin and his wife used an official trip to Europe last summer to sightsee and improperly accepted tickets for the Wimbledon tennis tournament. \"There was nothing improper about this trip, and I was not allowed to put up an official statement or to even respond to this by the White House,\" he said. \"I think this was really just being used in a political context to try to make sure that I wasn't as effective as a leader moving forward.\" The internal watchdog determined the secretary and his wife had spent nearly half the nine-day business trip in \"sightseeing and other unofficial activities\". Mr Shulkin agreed last month to reimburse the government for his wife's airfare, which was more than $4,300."}], "question": "Why was Shulkin under a cloud?", "id": "1247_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2634, "answer_end": 3701, "text": "Some veterans organisations are questioning Rear Adm Jackson's qualifications. The 50-year-old has worked as White House physician during the last three administrations, serving George W Bush and Barack Obama before Mr Trump moved into the White House. He caught public attention a year ago after Mr Trump's medical, telling reporters the president was in \"excellent health\". The rear admiral has a wealth of military experience, having served with a Marine unit during the war in Iraq. But he comes into the veterans' post, which entails running a vast department, with little administrative or political experience. Joe Chenelly, the national executive director of American Veterans, said: \"We are disappointed and already quite concerned about this nominee. \"The administration needs to be ready to prove that he's qualified to run such a massive agency, a $200 billion bureaucracy,\" he added. Veterans of Foreign Wars noted that the nominee's background \"does not reflect any experience working with the VA or with veterans, or managing any organisation of size\"."}], "question": "How will Ronny Jackson fare?", "id": "1247_2"}]}]}, {"title": "Australia's deadly relationship with heat", "date": "31 January 2017", "paragraphs": [{"context": "As a homesick teenager in Britain in the early 1900s, the writer Dorothea Mackellar yearned for the \"pitiless blue sky\" of Australia. \"I love a sunburnt country,\" she declared in her timeless poem My Country, and more than a century after those famous words were crafted, parts of Australia have endured another savage summer of heat. Sydney has had its hottest December and January nights on record and there have been new year heatwaves in Queensland, Victoria and South Australia. The bursts of scorching conditions are not only uncomfortable, they can be a silent killer. Doctors are worried that many Australians are underestimating the dangers posed by the heat, the nation's deadliest natural hazard. In 2009, 173 people died in the Black Saturday bushfires in the state of Victoria, one of the most fire-prone regions in the world. However, more than twice as many victims lost their lives in a heatwave that preceded the fires. \"What we are seeing increasingly is weather that really pushes us to our limits,\" Dr Tessa Kennedy from the Australian Medical Association of New South Wales told the BBC. \"Many people don't know that heatwaves are actually more harmful to human health than bushfires and floods.\" Mackellar's epic love of the bush was forged in sun-baked rural New South Wales where her family owned land near Gunnedah. About 200km (124 miles) to the north, the people of Moree have been sweltering through an unprecedented heatwave. The temperature in the farming town that sits atop rich black-soil plains exceeded 35C every day in January, a record in New South Wales, beating the previous benchmark of 17 consecutive days. Meteorologists believe it could near another record this week - seven successive days above 40C. \"We are sick of it,\" said Katrina Humphries, the mayor of the Moree Plains Shire Council. \"Our son Robert and daughter-in-law Jacqueline moved back to Norfolk [in England] a couple of years ago because the heat here was so horrific. \"We slow down a lot though the middle of the day and look forward to the day when it cools down and we get some rain.\" It's the very young, infirm and those over the age of 75 who are most risk from searing temperatures. Heat-related illness, which can occur when body temperature exceeds 37.8C, includes dehydration, cramps, heat exhaustion and heat stroke. The consequences can be catastrophic, resulting in heart attacks, brain damage and death. Finding out exactly how the heat has killed an individual is often hard because many victims have pre-existing medical conditions, which can be exacerbated when it is very hot. In early January, a Virgin Australia pilot died of dehydration and exhaustion while quad-biking in the Beerburrum State Forest, north of Brisbane. It was reported that 30-year old Matthew Hall's body temperature had reached 42C, which caused his organs to shut down. He died of critical heat stroke, two weeks before his wife was due to give birth to their first child. More than 500 people die of heat stress across the nation each year, according to the Australia Medical Association. The symptoms of heat exhaustion include a rapid heart rate, headaches, nausea and fainting. As the mercury climbs, spare a thought for those workers who have to endure roasting conditions on roofs, building sites or fuel depots, although they should be protected by strict health and safety laws. \"If it is 38C you are supposed to be not working,\" Tony Sheldon, the head of the Transport Workers Union, told the BBC. \"There are a number of precautions that should be taken; hydration, proper clothing, rest periods. It is critical that people have those opportunities to get out of the heat and they have a legal right to do that.\" Australia's Bureau of Meteorology defines a heatwave as \"three days or more of high maximum and minimum temperatures that is unusual for that location\". Conservationists have argued that Australia's fabled alfresco lifestyle could be in jeopardy because more severe heat could restrict the amount of time people can safely spend outside. Scientists, too, believe that the world's driest inhabited continent is becoming hotter. \"There is clear evidence that heatwaves are intensifying in Australia. The overall trend in heatwaves is caused by global warming,\" said Andy Pitman, the director of the ARC Centre of Excellence for Climate System, a collaboration of various universities and research organisations. \"I was recently in southern Sicily and no-one was out and about in the extreme heat - activities took place in the morning and evening. One can imagine... problems for sports that take all day [cricket, for example]. There are also major economic risks - human productivity drops off in the heat, so construction is already at risk. Agriculture is threatened by extreme heat, too.\" As the latest blanket of oppressive heat and humidity smothered Sydney, the city seemed to slip into slow-motion to cope, although there were some die-hard runners pounding the pavements. \"Ah, I'm not too bad, mate,\" said one man, his face lobster-red and shirt dripping with sweat. \"Us Aussies grew up with it, so it is not a big deal.\"", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 2097, "answer_end": 3722, "text": "It's the very young, infirm and those over the age of 75 who are most risk from searing temperatures. Heat-related illness, which can occur when body temperature exceeds 37.8C, includes dehydration, cramps, heat exhaustion and heat stroke. The consequences can be catastrophic, resulting in heart attacks, brain damage and death. Finding out exactly how the heat has killed an individual is often hard because many victims have pre-existing medical conditions, which can be exacerbated when it is very hot. In early January, a Virgin Australia pilot died of dehydration and exhaustion while quad-biking in the Beerburrum State Forest, north of Brisbane. It was reported that 30-year old Matthew Hall's body temperature had reached 42C, which caused his organs to shut down. He died of critical heat stroke, two weeks before his wife was due to give birth to their first child. More than 500 people die of heat stress across the nation each year, according to the Australia Medical Association. The symptoms of heat exhaustion include a rapid heart rate, headaches, nausea and fainting. As the mercury climbs, spare a thought for those workers who have to endure roasting conditions on roofs, building sites or fuel depots, although they should be protected by strict health and safety laws. \"If it is 38C you are supposed to be not working,\" Tony Sheldon, the head of the Transport Workers Union, told the BBC. \"There are a number of precautions that should be taken; hydration, proper clothing, rest periods. It is critical that people have those opportunities to get out of the heat and they have a legal right to do that.\""}], "question": "Who is at risk?", "id": "1248_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3723, "answer_end": 5152, "text": "Australia's Bureau of Meteorology defines a heatwave as \"three days or more of high maximum and minimum temperatures that is unusual for that location\". Conservationists have argued that Australia's fabled alfresco lifestyle could be in jeopardy because more severe heat could restrict the amount of time people can safely spend outside. Scientists, too, believe that the world's driest inhabited continent is becoming hotter. \"There is clear evidence that heatwaves are intensifying in Australia. The overall trend in heatwaves is caused by global warming,\" said Andy Pitman, the director of the ARC Centre of Excellence for Climate System, a collaboration of various universities and research organisations. \"I was recently in southern Sicily and no-one was out and about in the extreme heat - activities took place in the morning and evening. One can imagine... problems for sports that take all day [cricket, for example]. There are also major economic risks - human productivity drops off in the heat, so construction is already at risk. Agriculture is threatened by extreme heat, too.\" As the latest blanket of oppressive heat and humidity smothered Sydney, the city seemed to slip into slow-motion to cope, although there were some die-hard runners pounding the pavements. \"Ah, I'm not too bad, mate,\" said one man, his face lobster-red and shirt dripping with sweat. \"Us Aussies grew up with it, so it is not a big deal.\""}], "question": "Lifestyle under threat?", "id": "1248_1"}]}]}, {"title": "Why the volatility in Chinese markets?", "date": "9 July 2015", "paragraphs": [{"context": "China's stock markets have lost more than 30% of their value since mid-June, a worrying statistic for investors and the government. On Wednesday 8 July, a stock market index called the Shanghai Composite, which is regarded as a benchmark and an indicator for all share movements in China, fell as much as 8%, leading some analysts to call the trading day Black Wednesday. Earlier this year, however, China's share market had been one of the best performing in Asia - if not the world. More and more investors piling into the market, often using borrowed money, pushed share prices up 150% between June 2014 and June 2015. Today, about 85% of investors are not finance professionals but individuals who were spurred on by government policies that encouraged investment in the markets. Since 2010 it's been easier to borrow money to invest - so-called margin financing. And that made it easier for less-wealthy people to get involved. Investment, and talking about investment, has become a pastime for millions of people. But analysts widely agree there has been a lot of naivety, with a belief the markets could only go up and up. Just as investors followed their friends and family into the stock market - now they're following them out. That herd mentality can exaggerate market moves very swiftly. Small investors \"are by their nature enthused by momentum\", says market specialist Chris Weston from IG Markets. \"If the market is rallying, they feel like they need to be involved on fear of missing out. That momentum is now headed sharply lower and so they want out.\" Meanwhile long-term investors who have been in the market for more than a year are likely to still be sitting on profits and so as things are getting rocky, some are selling. Many analysts say this is a correction and that shares have been overvalued for a long time. There does not seem to be any correlation between this crash and the health of the wider economy. The gains in Chinese stocks last year didn't reflect economic improvement. China has, in fact, been slowing over the past 12 months. So unlike earlier Chinese market crashes, notably in 2008 when the economy slowed, this seems to be linked directly to issues around the stock market. It could. If it turns out that Chinese investors have been putting their money into risky, poorly regulated investments there could be a spill over effect, just as the US mortgage market collapse caused a major financial crisis in 2007-08. But as a proportion of the Chinese economy, stocks are not especially big - unlike mortgages in the US. Stock market investment is still a largely urban phenomenon in China and so estimates suggest the current crisis affects just 15% of households directly. China's regulators have barred investors holding stakes of more than 5% from selling their shares for the next six months. Major Chinese brokerages have pledged to buy stocks to help stabilise the market. Share flotations - or initial public offerings - have been suspended because they usually divert funds from existing stocks, pushing prices down. And China's central bank has said it will inject money into a state-owned company that finances margin trading - a way of investing whereby the investor leaves a deposit with a broker rather than pay the full amount of the investment - to help people buy more shares. It didn't seem to be. Until Wednesday whatever the government did, share prices just kept falling. The market had a better day on Thursday, however, which could be a sign that the Chinese government's measures are starting to have an impact. Since 2013, the government has been cheering on the stock market and getting investors to buy up shares. This was seen as national priority - a way to carry out economic reforms in China that were driven by market forces rather than the government. If these inexperienced investors see the value of their stocks slashed then expect anger. Even if Chinese state broadcasters have been fairly quiet on the subject - social media certainly hasn't. For Premier Li Keqiang and President Xi Jinping their financial credibility is on the line. With the exception of a few institutional investors, foreigners can't invest directly in mainland Chinese stocks. And so large Chinese companies wanting to tap overseas investment money often have a listing on the Hong Kong market too. So the volatility in Hong Kong markets is reflecting concern from international investors about the Chinese market.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 485, "answer_end": 1129, "text": "More and more investors piling into the market, often using borrowed money, pushed share prices up 150% between June 2014 and June 2015. Today, about 85% of investors are not finance professionals but individuals who were spurred on by government policies that encouraged investment in the markets. Since 2010 it's been easier to borrow money to invest - so-called margin financing. And that made it easier for less-wealthy people to get involved. Investment, and talking about investment, has become a pastime for millions of people. But analysts widely agree there has been a lot of naivety, with a belief the markets could only go up and up."}], "question": "Why did prices initially rise in China?", "id": "1249_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1130, "answer_end": 1744, "text": "Just as investors followed their friends and family into the stock market - now they're following them out. That herd mentality can exaggerate market moves very swiftly. Small investors \"are by their nature enthused by momentum\", says market specialist Chris Weston from IG Markets. \"If the market is rallying, they feel like they need to be involved on fear of missing out. That momentum is now headed sharply lower and so they want out.\" Meanwhile long-term investors who have been in the market for more than a year are likely to still be sitting on profits and so as things are getting rocky, some are selling."}], "question": "What's causing the fall?", "id": "1249_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1745, "answer_end": 2219, "text": "Many analysts say this is a correction and that shares have been overvalued for a long time. There does not seem to be any correlation between this crash and the health of the wider economy. The gains in Chinese stocks last year didn't reflect economic improvement. China has, in fact, been slowing over the past 12 months. So unlike earlier Chinese market crashes, notably in 2008 when the economy slowed, this seems to be linked directly to issues around the stock market."}], "question": "Does the fall reflect deeper problems in the Chinese economy?", "id": "1249_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2220, "answer_end": 2717, "text": "It could. If it turns out that Chinese investors have been putting their money into risky, poorly regulated investments there could be a spill over effect, just as the US mortgage market collapse caused a major financial crisis in 2007-08. But as a proportion of the Chinese economy, stocks are not especially big - unlike mortgages in the US. Stock market investment is still a largely urban phenomenon in China and so estimates suggest the current crisis affects just 15% of households directly."}], "question": "Will the stock market crisis spread to the wider economy?", "id": "1249_3"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2718, "answer_end": 3336, "text": "China's regulators have barred investors holding stakes of more than 5% from selling their shares for the next six months. Major Chinese brokerages have pledged to buy stocks to help stabilise the market. Share flotations - or initial public offerings - have been suspended because they usually divert funds from existing stocks, pushing prices down. And China's central bank has said it will inject money into a state-owned company that finances margin trading - a way of investing whereby the investor leaves a deposit with a broker rather than pay the full amount of the investment - to help people buy more shares."}], "question": "What is the government doing to prop up the markets?", "id": "1249_4"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3579, "answer_end": 4115, "text": "Since 2013, the government has been cheering on the stock market and getting investors to buy up shares. This was seen as national priority - a way to carry out economic reforms in China that were driven by market forces rather than the government. If these inexperienced investors see the value of their stocks slashed then expect anger. Even if Chinese state broadcasters have been fairly quiet on the subject - social media certainly hasn't. For Premier Li Keqiang and President Xi Jinping their financial credibility is on the line."}], "question": "Should the government be worried?", "id": "1249_5"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 4116, "answer_end": 4467, "text": "With the exception of a few institutional investors, foreigners can't invest directly in mainland Chinese stocks. And so large Chinese companies wanting to tap overseas investment money often have a listing on the Hong Kong market too. So the volatility in Hong Kong markets is reflecting concern from international investors about the Chinese market."}], "question": "And why has the Hong Kong market been falling too?", "id": "1249_6"}]}]}, {"title": "US-North Korea talks: What could happen now?", "date": "9 March 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "US President Donald Trump has accepted an invitation to meet North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, in what appears to be a breakthrough after months of insults, threats and mutual hostility. It could happen as early as May which leaves little time to get things organised, from venues to core negotiations. So it's perhaps not surprising that there are many questions about what happens next. The talks would be unprecedented, marking the first face-to-face meeting between sitting leaders of North Korea and the US.  Former US presidents have met North Korean leaders before, but they were all out of office at that point. \"The [significance of this] could almost be compared to President Nixon meeting China's Chairman Mao, to a lesser degree,\" analyst Michael Madden of the US-Korea Institute at Johns Hopkins SAIS told the BBC. Not much. The White House has confirmed that Trump will meet Kim \"by May\", but an exact time and location is yet to be determined. According to Mr Madden, there's a \"speculative chance\" that the meeting might take place at the North Korean truce village of Panmunjom, which sits at the demilitarised zone between the North and the South. However, Dr John Park of the Korea Working Group says that he believes the meeting might instead be held \"in a neutral location\". This could be in China or elsewhere. This is the first time the US has been in direct talks with North Korea about its nuclear program since 2012. Kim Jong-un has never met another foreign leader until now, though he is scheduled to meet South Korean leader Moon Jae-in in April at Panmunjom. Denuclearisation will undoubtedly be the biggest issue that the meeting will hope to address. But while Mr Kim says he is \"committed to denuclearisation\", North Korea has not yet promised to abandon its nuclear weapons completely. \"The US will be pushing for total denuclearisation and South Korea has also said that it is their main objective,\" said Bruce Bennett, an analyst at the RAND Corporation. \"But it's important to remember that Mr Kim has said over and over again that they will not give up their nuclear weapons.\" Other points that might be brought up are: US pushing for Americans held in Pyongyang to be brought home, North Korea looking for recognition as a nuclear-capable state and a possible peace treaty being signed. \"A peace treaty would give North Korea reassurance and deprive them of one of the key rationales behind their nuclear program [that they have to defend themselves],\" said Mr Madden. But one of the terms of a potential peace treaty could be the withdrawal of US troops from South Korea, a move which could prove deeply problematic. \"I think Mr Kim anticipates that if a peace treaty is signed, that after say 10 years most of the US troops in South Korea could be withdrawn,\" said Mr Bennett. \"Then maybe if later on he then wanted to forcefully reunify South Korea, [it would be easier] as the US troops would be gone. This would be the safest way to reach his objective.\" Analysts agree that it is hard to predict the extent to which sanctions will be lifted or eased, adding that it is dependent on how successful the talks are. \"North Korea is definitely looking for sanctions relief, that will be a key demand of theirs,\" said Mr Bennett. \"The question is, would we lift sanctions in an incremental manner or are we going to insist on total denuclearisation before we lift?\" Mr Bennett also believes that the harsh sanctions placed on North Korea had real effect in bringing them to the table. \"There were reports that North Korea was going to possibly run out of hard currency by this October. So I think the campaign was really causing some pain in the North.\" A successful meeting would see an \"agreement\" being signed by all parties, according to Mr Madden. \"If they can reach a point that has certain tangible achievements, like North Korea agreeing to a freeze in nuclear test activities and letting international inspectors in to the country to view their nuclear facilities that would be a success,\" said Mr Madden. But Mr Bennett argues that it is more likely that both sides would reach a compromise where they had \"given things up but also gained\". \"The worst case scenario is North Korea walking out of talks and claiming it's because Trump is being totally unresponsive and the US is being difficult,\" said Mr Bennett. But a more plausible scenario is the US and North Korea simply failing to make any progress at all. \"I call it the 'kick the can down the road' policy, we just delay discussing this until further down the line with another US President,\" said Mr Bennett. \"By say 2030, North Korea could have 200 nuclear weapons and what happens then if they force the South to surrender? If we kick the can again we're going to have a bigger problem a few years down the road.\"", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 388, "answer_end": 826, "text": "The talks would be unprecedented, marking the first face-to-face meeting between sitting leaders of North Korea and the US.  Former US presidents have met North Korean leaders before, but they were all out of office at that point. \"The [significance of this] could almost be compared to President Nixon meeting China's Chairman Mao, to a lesser degree,\" analyst Michael Madden of the US-Korea Institute at Johns Hopkins SAIS told the BBC."}], "question": "How historic is this?", "id": "1250_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1588, "answer_end": 2997, "text": "Denuclearisation will undoubtedly be the biggest issue that the meeting will hope to address. But while Mr Kim says he is \"committed to denuclearisation\", North Korea has not yet promised to abandon its nuclear weapons completely. \"The US will be pushing for total denuclearisation and South Korea has also said that it is their main objective,\" said Bruce Bennett, an analyst at the RAND Corporation. \"But it's important to remember that Mr Kim has said over and over again that they will not give up their nuclear weapons.\" Other points that might be brought up are: US pushing for Americans held in Pyongyang to be brought home, North Korea looking for recognition as a nuclear-capable state and a possible peace treaty being signed. \"A peace treaty would give North Korea reassurance and deprive them of one of the key rationales behind their nuclear program [that they have to defend themselves],\" said Mr Madden. But one of the terms of a potential peace treaty could be the withdrawal of US troops from South Korea, a move which could prove deeply problematic. \"I think Mr Kim anticipates that if a peace treaty is signed, that after say 10 years most of the US troops in South Korea could be withdrawn,\" said Mr Bennett. \"Then maybe if later on he then wanted to forcefully reunify South Korea, [it would be easier] as the US troops would be gone. This would be the safest way to reach his objective.\""}], "question": "What will be discussed?", "id": "1250_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 4189, "answer_end": 4822, "text": "\"The worst case scenario is North Korea walking out of talks and claiming it's because Trump is being totally unresponsive and the US is being difficult,\" said Mr Bennett. But a more plausible scenario is the US and North Korea simply failing to make any progress at all. \"I call it the 'kick the can down the road' policy, we just delay discussing this until further down the line with another US President,\" said Mr Bennett. \"By say 2030, North Korea could have 200 nuclear weapons and what happens then if they force the South to surrender? If we kick the can again we're going to have a bigger problem a few years down the road.\""}], "question": "What is the worst case scenario?", "id": "1250_2"}]}]}, {"title": "Tennessee grants $1 million to wrongly convicted man", "date": "22 March 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "A man jailed for 31 years for a crime he did not commit has won $1 million compensation. The Tennessee Board of Claims unanimously voted to compensate Lawrence McKinney, 61, on Wednesday. Imprisoned in 1978 for rape and burglary, Mr McKinney was freed in 2009 and formally exonerated in December. His compensation award is the maximum the state can grant him, after providing just $75 on his initial release. It is the highest amount Tennessee has ever granted. \"We thank the governor, and we thank the board,\" said David Raybin, a lawyer for Mr McKinney. \"Highest amount ever paid, but then again, no one was ever incarcerated for this long.\" In October 1977, Mr McKinney was arrested in Memphis after a woman claimed he was one of two men who raped her in her apartment. He was charged with rape and first degree burglary, and following his conviction in June 1978 he was sentenced to 115 years in prison. He was 22 years old. Thirty years later, in August 2008, a DNA test of the victim's bedding identified three people, none of whom were Mr McKinney. His conviction was vacated (or set aside) and he was released in July 2009. Mr McKinney says he was in prison for 31 years, 9 months, 18 days, and 12 hours. On his initial release, Mr McKinney reportedly received just $75 after three decades behind bars. \"Because I had no ID it took me three months before I was able to cash it,\" McKinney told CNN. After he was freed, Mr McKinney sought a full exoneration - in other words formally declared not guilty. But in 2016, a parole board unanimously voted against him. One board member defended their decision not to exonerate him, writing in a local newspaper, \"The victim's descriptions to police matched McKinney's description, to a tee.\" However, Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam went against the parole board's verdict and unilaterally exonerated him in December 2017. The exoneration meant Mr McKinney could apply for compensation. His lawyers, David Raybin and Jack Lowery, decided to push for the maximum allowed sum, $1m. \"A person is deprived of their life and freedom,\" Mr Raybin said at the time of the filing. \"In my view Mr McKinney is entitled to far more than $1m based on what's happened to him.\" Mr McKinney will not receive the amount as a lump sum. He will received $353,000 upfront to pay his lawyers and his debts, but the rest of the amount will be spread out in monthly payments of $3,350 over a minimum of ten years. The money will go to his wife or his estate if he dies in that time.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 644, "answer_end": 1212, "text": "In October 1977, Mr McKinney was arrested in Memphis after a woman claimed he was one of two men who raped her in her apartment. He was charged with rape and first degree burglary, and following his conviction in June 1978 he was sentenced to 115 years in prison. He was 22 years old. Thirty years later, in August 2008, a DNA test of the victim's bedding identified three people, none of whom were Mr McKinney. His conviction was vacated (or set aside) and he was released in July 2009. Mr McKinney says he was in prison for 31 years, 9 months, 18 days, and 12 hours."}], "question": "Why was he in prison?", "id": "1251_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1213, "answer_end": 2212, "text": "On his initial release, Mr McKinney reportedly received just $75 after three decades behind bars. \"Because I had no ID it took me three months before I was able to cash it,\" McKinney told CNN. After he was freed, Mr McKinney sought a full exoneration - in other words formally declared not guilty. But in 2016, a parole board unanimously voted against him. One board member defended their decision not to exonerate him, writing in a local newspaper, \"The victim's descriptions to police matched McKinney's description, to a tee.\" However, Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam went against the parole board's verdict and unilaterally exonerated him in December 2017. The exoneration meant Mr McKinney could apply for compensation. His lawyers, David Raybin and Jack Lowery, decided to push for the maximum allowed sum, $1m. \"A person is deprived of their life and freedom,\" Mr Raybin said at the time of the filing. \"In my view Mr McKinney is entitled to far more than $1m based on what's happened to him.\""}], "question": "What about compensation?", "id": "1251_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2213, "answer_end": 2509, "text": "Mr McKinney will not receive the amount as a lump sum. He will received $353,000 upfront to pay his lawyers and his debts, but the rest of the amount will be spread out in monthly payments of $3,350 over a minimum of ten years. The money will go to his wife or his estate if he dies in that time."}], "question": "How does the compensation work?", "id": "1251_2"}]}]}, {"title": "Trump says Comey 'wasn't doing a good job'", "date": "10 May 2017", "paragraphs": [{"context": "US President Donald Trump has said he fired FBI director James Comey because \"he was not doing a good job\". He gave his first in-person explanation of the FBI chief's dismissal during a surprise meeting with Henry Kissinger. The president has said he fired Mr Comey over his handling of the inquiry into Hillary Clinton's emails. But Mr Comey reportedly asked for more money for his inquiry into Russia's alleged meddling in the US election, according to US media. Days before his removal, he made the request to Rod Rosenstein, the deputy attorney general who recommended Mr Comey's dismissal to the president, according to leaks. White House spokeswoman Sarah Huckabee Sanders said on Wednesday the president had \"been considering letting Director Comey go since the day he was elected\". She added there had been \"an erosion of confidence\" over the last several months. Mr Comey's dismissal has shocked Washington and outraged Democrats. The sacking \"raises profound questions about whether the White House is brazenly interfering in a criminal matter,\" said Adam Schiff, who is the highest ranked Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee. But the president stood by his actions on Wednesday morning, hours before a meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov - his first with any Russian official since taking power. \"James Comey will be replaced by someone who will do a far better job, bringing back the spirit and prestige of the FBI,\" he said in early morning tweets. \"Comey lost the confidence of almost everyone in Washington, Republican and Democrat alike. When things calm down, they will be thanking me!\" he added. It is only the second time the head of the FBI has been fired. Russian President Vladimir Putin weighed in from a hockey rink in Sochi, saying: \"We have nothing to do with that\". \"President Trump is acting in according with his competence and in accordance with his law and constitution,\" he told CBS. Meanwhile, Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said he will request a closed and \"if necessary, classified\" all-senators separate briefing from senior Justice Department officials. He also called for a special prosecutor to oversee the FBI investigation into any potential Russian ties to Mr Trump's associates. But Vice President Mike Pence told reporters Mr Trump demonstrated \"strong and decisive leadership\" in his decision and the move was \"based solely and exclusively on his commitment to the best interest of the American people\". \"The president made the right decision at the right time,\" he said. President Trump wrote in a letter to Mr Comey that he agreed with Attorney General Jeff Sessions' recommendation that \"you are not able to effectively lead the Bureau\". Mr Sessions said the department of justice was \"committed to a high level of discipline, integrity, and the rule of law\", and \"a fresh start is needed\". Many have expressed surprise that Mr Comey should be fired for his handling of the investigation into Mrs Clinton's emails, given that Mr Trump often praised the FBI director's conduct in the matter. But on Tuesday, Mr Trump followed the recommendation of Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, who wrote a letter saying he could not defend the director's handling of the investigation into Secretary Clinton. He added Mr Comey had been wrong to \"usurp\" the previous attorney general in July 2016 when he announced the Clinton emails inquiry should be closed without prosecution. Mr Comey was addressing FBI agents in Los Angeles when, according to US media, he learned he had just been fired when he saw the news on television. The 56-year-old - who was three-and-a-half years into his 10-year term as FBI director - reportedly laughed, thinking it was a prank. Democrats swiftly suggested that Mr Trump had fired Mr Comey to influence the FBI inquiry into whether members of the Trump election campaign colluded with the Kremlin. The House of Representatives and Senate intelligence committees are looking into the same allegations but no conclusions have yet been reached. \"Were these investigations getting too close to home for the president?\" Mr Schumer asked a Tuesday evening press conference. \"This does not seem to be a coincidence,\" he added. Mr Trump responded on Twitter that Mr Schumer had recently expressed his lack of confidence in the FBI chief. President Trump has repeatedly insisted the Russia allegations are \"fake news\". He and his Secretary of State Rex Tillerson will meet Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Washington later on Wednesday. - \"I am troubled by the timing and reasoning of Jim Comey's termination.\" - Richard Burr, the head of the Senate Intelligence Committee - \"My staff and I are reviewing legislation to establish an independent commission on Russia.\" - Justin Amash, a conservative Michigan congressman, adding that a line in Mr Trump's letter, that Mr Comey had informed him three times he was not under investigation, was \"just bizarre\" - Nebraska Senator Ben Sasse, a longstanding Trump critic, said the \"timing of the firing is very troubling\" - \"I've spent the last several hours trying to find an acceptable rationale for the timing of Comey's firing,\" Senator Jeff Flake, Republican of Arizona, said on Twitter. \"I just can't do it.\" Donald Trump and senior justice department officials are framing the firing of James Comey as a result of his botched investigation into Hillary Clinton's email server. They do so using language that even Clinton backers would probably support. Democrats, to put it bluntly, aren't buying it, however - not from this White House. They are dismissing this Clinton explanation as a smokescreen, and view the suddenness of the move as an attempt to subvert the ongoing FBI investigation into possible ties between Russia and the Trump campaign. At the very least, their calls for an independent investigation into the matter will become deafening - and some Republicans may now be inclined to agree. Read Anthony's analysis Mr Comey has been criticised by Democrats for the handling of his investigation into whether Mrs Clinton's use of a private email server when secretary of state compromised national security. The now-former FBI director made two interventions during the 2016 election campaign to make pronouncements about the investigation. He said in July the case should be closed without prosecution, but then declared - 11 days before November's election - that he had reopened the inquiry because of a discovery of a new trove of Clinton-related emails. What was Clinton FBI probe about? He told the Senate last week it had made him \"mildly nauseous\" to think his intervention could have affected the election, but insisted he would make the same decision again. Mrs Clinton lays part of the blame for her shock election defeat last November on Mr Comey. He told the Senate Judiciary Committee on 3 May that Mrs Clinton's top aide, Huma Abedin, had forwarded \"hundreds and thousands\" of emails, \"some of which contain classified information\", to her husband. But the FBI conceded on Tuesday that Ms Abedin had sent only two email chains containing classified information to her husband, Anthony Weiner, for printing. In June 1972, five men were arrested trying to bug the offices of the Democratic National Committee (DNC) at the Watergate office and hotel complex in Washington. The break-in was traced to President Richard Nixon's supporters. The firing of James Comey is drawing comparisons with the so-called Saturday Night Massacre of 1973, when Mr Nixon fired an independent special prosecutor investigating the break-in and the subsequent cover-up. \"Not since Watergate has a president dismissed the person leading an investigation bearing on him,\" the New York Times wrote late on Tuesday. Mr Nixon later admitted he had been aware of the cover-up and had tried to halt the FBI's inquiry. He later became the only US president to resign.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1702, "answer_end": 2541, "text": "Russian President Vladimir Putin weighed in from a hockey rink in Sochi, saying: \"We have nothing to do with that\". \"President Trump is acting in according with his competence and in accordance with his law and constitution,\" he told CBS. Meanwhile, Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said he will request a closed and \"if necessary, classified\" all-senators separate briefing from senior Justice Department officials. He also called for a special prosecutor to oversee the FBI investigation into any potential Russian ties to Mr Trump's associates. But Vice President Mike Pence told reporters Mr Trump demonstrated \"strong and decisive leadership\" in his decision and the move was \"based solely and exclusively on his commitment to the best interest of the American people\". \"The president made the right decision at the right time,\" he said."}], "question": "What is the latest reaction on Wednesday?", "id": "1252_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2542, "answer_end": 3727, "text": "President Trump wrote in a letter to Mr Comey that he agreed with Attorney General Jeff Sessions' recommendation that \"you are not able to effectively lead the Bureau\". Mr Sessions said the department of justice was \"committed to a high level of discipline, integrity, and the rule of law\", and \"a fresh start is needed\". Many have expressed surprise that Mr Comey should be fired for his handling of the investigation into Mrs Clinton's emails, given that Mr Trump often praised the FBI director's conduct in the matter. But on Tuesday, Mr Trump followed the recommendation of Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, who wrote a letter saying he could not defend the director's handling of the investigation into Secretary Clinton. He added Mr Comey had been wrong to \"usurp\" the previous attorney general in July 2016 when he announced the Clinton emails inquiry should be closed without prosecution. Mr Comey was addressing FBI agents in Los Angeles when, according to US media, he learned he had just been fired when he saw the news on television. The 56-year-old - who was three-and-a-half years into his 10-year term as FBI director - reportedly laughed, thinking it was a prank."}], "question": "Why was James Comey fired?", "id": "1252_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3728, "answer_end": 4535, "text": "Democrats swiftly suggested that Mr Trump had fired Mr Comey to influence the FBI inquiry into whether members of the Trump election campaign colluded with the Kremlin. The House of Representatives and Senate intelligence committees are looking into the same allegations but no conclusions have yet been reached. \"Were these investigations getting too close to home for the president?\" Mr Schumer asked a Tuesday evening press conference. \"This does not seem to be a coincidence,\" he added. Mr Trump responded on Twitter that Mr Schumer had recently expressed his lack of confidence in the FBI chief. President Trump has repeatedly insisted the Russia allegations are \"fake news\". He and his Secretary of State Rex Tillerson will meet Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Washington later on Wednesday."}], "question": "What about the Russia investigation?", "id": "1252_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 5978, "answer_end": 7183, "text": "Mr Comey has been criticised by Democrats for the handling of his investigation into whether Mrs Clinton's use of a private email server when secretary of state compromised national security. The now-former FBI director made two interventions during the 2016 election campaign to make pronouncements about the investigation. He said in July the case should be closed without prosecution, but then declared - 11 days before November's election - that he had reopened the inquiry because of a discovery of a new trove of Clinton-related emails. What was Clinton FBI probe about? He told the Senate last week it had made him \"mildly nauseous\" to think his intervention could have affected the election, but insisted he would make the same decision again. Mrs Clinton lays part of the blame for her shock election defeat last November on Mr Comey. He told the Senate Judiciary Committee on 3 May that Mrs Clinton's top aide, Huma Abedin, had forwarded \"hundreds and thousands\" of emails, \"some of which contain classified information\", to her husband. But the FBI conceded on Tuesday that Ms Abedin had sent only two email chains containing classified information to her husband, Anthony Weiner, for printing."}], "question": "How did Comey handle the email inquiry?", "id": "1252_3"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 7184, "answer_end": 7912, "text": "In June 1972, five men were arrested trying to bug the offices of the Democratic National Committee (DNC) at the Watergate office and hotel complex in Washington. The break-in was traced to President Richard Nixon's supporters. The firing of James Comey is drawing comparisons with the so-called Saturday Night Massacre of 1973, when Mr Nixon fired an independent special prosecutor investigating the break-in and the subsequent cover-up. \"Not since Watergate has a president dismissed the person leading an investigation bearing on him,\" the New York Times wrote late on Tuesday. Mr Nixon later admitted he had been aware of the cover-up and had tried to halt the FBI's inquiry. He later became the only US president to resign."}], "question": "Watergate 2.0?", "id": "1252_4"}]}]}, {"title": "Coronavirus: US confirms first death, in Washington state", "date": "1 March 2020", "paragraphs": [{"context": "The US has reported the first death from the new coronavirus in the country, in the state of Washington. Officials said the patient was a man in his 50s with underlying health conditions. President Donald Trump said more cases were \"likely\" but added that the country was prepared for any circumstance. On Sunday, Australia and Thailand also recorded their first fatalities from coronavirus. A 78-year-old Australian man died after being infected on the Diamond Princess cruise ship in Japan last month. Thailand, which has had 42 cases of the virus, said a 35-year-old man who died was also suffering from dengue fever. More than 85,000 coronavirus cases have been reported in 57 countries around the world and almost 3,000 deaths, according to the World Health Organization. The vast majority of infections and deaths are in China, where the virus emerged late last year. Local health officials confirmed on Saturday that the man in his 50s died in Washington state's King County. They said he had not travelled to any high-risk areas. Washington Governor Jay Inslee has declared a state of emergency in response to new cases in the state. It comes as officials on the US West Coast - in California, Oregon and Washington - expressed concerns about cases appearing in patients who had not visited an area where there was an outbreak or been in contact with anyone who had. Officials in Washington state on Saturday said they were investigating a possible outbreak of the coronavirus at a local nursing home. Dr Jeffrey Duchin, a health official for Washington's Seattle and King County, said there were two cases associated with the long-term care facility Life Care Center of Kirkland - one a healthcare worker and the other a resident in her 70s. Dr Duchin said about 27 residents and 25 staff members at the centre had \"some sort of symptoms\". Officials said more positive cases were expected. In total, the WHO says there have been 62 cases in the US so far. A US citizen previously died in the Chinese city of Wuhan, where the virus first appeared. While acknowledging that more cases were expected, President Trump sought to quell fears over the outbreak, saying that \"there is no reason to panic at all\". Vice-President Mike Pence also announced that an existing ban on travel from Iran had been expanded to include any foreign national who has visited the country within the last 14 days. Iran has reported the most coronavirus deaths outside China. He also urged Americans not to visit hard-hit areas in global hot-spots Italy and South Korea. American Airlines has said it is suspending flights to the northern Italian city Milan. The airline will operate a single daily flight from the US to Italy, between Philadelphia and Rome. The first Australian to die of coronavirus is a man from Perth. He was one of around 160 Australians to be evacuated from the Diamond Princess cruise ship last month. His 79-year-old wife, who was also infected, remains in hospital. More than 600 of the Diamond Princess's 3,700 passengers became infected on the ship which has been held in quarantine off the Japanese port of Yokohama since the beginning of February. On Saturday, a British man who had also been on board the ship, was the first UK citizen - as well as the sixth passenger from the ship - to die from Covid-19. On Sunday, another 573 new cases of coronavirus were confirmed in China, in the highest daily increase in a week. The latest figures bring the total number of infections to 79,824. Thirty-five deaths were also announced in China, all but one in the worst-affected Hubei province. Outside China, South Korea has reported another 376 cases, bringing the total of infections in the country to more than 3,500. Meanwhile, France announced a ban on all indoor gatherings of more than 5,000 people as part of efforts to contain the country's outbreak. The total number of cases of the new coronavirus in France rose to 100 on Saturday. Two patients have died. Ecuador and Qatar have become the latest countries to announce their first cases of the virus. Have you been affected by the coronavirus? Or do you have any information to share? Get in touch by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. 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 yourpics@bbc.co.uk - Please read our terms & conditions and privacy policy", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 874, "answer_end": 2055, "text": "Local health officials confirmed on Saturday that the man in his 50s died in Washington state's King County. They said he had not travelled to any high-risk areas. Washington Governor Jay Inslee has declared a state of emergency in response to new cases in the state. It comes as officials on the US West Coast - in California, Oregon and Washington - expressed concerns about cases appearing in patients who had not visited an area where there was an outbreak or been in contact with anyone who had. Officials in Washington state on Saturday said they were investigating a possible outbreak of the coronavirus at a local nursing home. Dr Jeffrey Duchin, a health official for Washington's Seattle and King County, said there were two cases associated with the long-term care facility Life Care Center of Kirkland - one a healthcare worker and the other a resident in her 70s. Dr Duchin said about 27 residents and 25 staff members at the centre had \"some sort of symptoms\". Officials said more positive cases were expected. In total, the WHO says there have been 62 cases in the US so far. A US citizen previously died in the Chinese city of Wuhan, where the virus first appeared."}], "question": "What is happening in the US?", "id": "1253_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2056, "answer_end": 2742, "text": "While acknowledging that more cases were expected, President Trump sought to quell fears over the outbreak, saying that \"there is no reason to panic at all\". Vice-President Mike Pence also announced that an existing ban on travel from Iran had been expanded to include any foreign national who has visited the country within the last 14 days. Iran has reported the most coronavirus deaths outside China. He also urged Americans not to visit hard-hit areas in global hot-spots Italy and South Korea. American Airlines has said it is suspending flights to the northern Italian city Milan. The airline will operate a single daily flight from the US to Italy, between Philadelphia and Rome."}], "question": "What action is the US taking?", "id": "1253_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3322, "answer_end": 4070, "text": "On Sunday, another 573 new cases of coronavirus were confirmed in China, in the highest daily increase in a week. The latest figures bring the total number of infections to 79,824. Thirty-five deaths were also announced in China, all but one in the worst-affected Hubei province. Outside China, South Korea has reported another 376 cases, bringing the total of infections in the country to more than 3,500. Meanwhile, France announced a ban on all indoor gatherings of more than 5,000 people as part of efforts to contain the country's outbreak. The total number of cases of the new coronavirus in France rose to 100 on Saturday. Two patients have died. Ecuador and Qatar have become the latest countries to announce their first cases of the virus."}], "question": "What's happening elsewhere?", "id": "1253_2"}]}]}, {"title": "Johnson & Johnson reaches settlement with Ohio over opioid crisis", "date": "2 October 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Johnson & Johnson has agreed to a $20.4m (PS16.6m) settlement with two counties in the US state of Ohio. The healthcare giant said it was made to avoid a trial on allegations of fuelling opioid addiction in the state. Johnson & Johnson said in a statement that the deal was not an admission of liability for the state's epidemic. It is the fourth drugmaker to settle claims in Ohio amid more than 2,600 lawsuits by state and local governments against painkiller manufacturers. Tuesday's announcement comes after a landmark ruling in August which ordered Johnson & Johnson to pay $572m (PS468m) for its part in fuelling Oklahoma's opioid addiction crisis. In a statement, Johnson & Johnson said it would pay $10m to Cuyahoga and Summit counties, and another $5m to cover their legal expenses. Another $5.4m will be given to charities involved with opioid-related programs in the counties. Opioids are a group of drugs that range from codeine, to illegal drugs like heroin. Prescription opioids are primarily used for pain relief. They can be highly addictive. On average, 130 Americans die from an opioid overdose every day, according to the US Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Opioids were involved in almost 400,000 overdose deaths in the US from 1999 to 2017, according to its research.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 888, "answer_end": 1298, "text": "Opioids are a group of drugs that range from codeine, to illegal drugs like heroin. Prescription opioids are primarily used for pain relief. They can be highly addictive. On average, 130 Americans die from an opioid overdose every day, according to the US Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Opioids were involved in almost 400,000 overdose deaths in the US from 1999 to 2017, according to its research."}], "question": "What is the opioid crisis?", "id": "1254_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Florida shooting: US airlines join other firms in dropping NRA", "date": "24 February 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Two major US airlines have joined a growing list of companies to cut ties with the National Rifle Association following the Florida school shooting. United and Delta airlines have both announced they are ending discounts for NRA members. The killing of 17 people in Florida has revived the gun control debate in the US, with student survivors playing a leading role in calling for change. Firms with links to the US gun lobby have faced calls for a boycott. Activists have flooded the NRA's corporate partners with comments on social media under the hashtag #BoycottNRA. The suspect in the attack, Nikolas Cruz, was said to be obsessed with guns and bought the semi-automatic rifle he allegedly used at the school in Parkland legally last year while aged 18. United and Delta airlines were the latest firms on Saturday to drop their ties to the powerful gun advocacy organisation. Between them they fly more than 300 million passengers a year. Other firms dropping ties to the NRA include: - Enterprise Holdings, which owns rental car brands Alamo, Enterprise and National, said discounts offered to NRA members would end on 26 March - Another car rental firm, Hertz, also said it was ending discounts offered to NRA members - The family-owned First National Bank of Omaha said it would not renew NRA-branded credit cards, citing \"customer feedback\" - Insurance firm Chubb said it had stopped underwriting an NRA-branded insurance policy three months ago - Software firm Symantec said it had stopped its discount programme with the NRA - Two removal firms, Allied Van Lines and NorthAmerican Van Lines, ended their affiliate relationship with the NRA and asked for their details to be removed from its website - Insurer MetLife Inc also cut ties. The NRA, which claims five million members, did not respond to a request for comment about the effect of the boycott. The group defended itself in comments on Twitter, saying people upset about the shooting should focus on lapses by law enforcement. \"Instead of placing the blame on an organization that defends everyone's #2A rights, maybe people should take a hard look at the number of failures by the FBI and local law enforcement agencies, or does that not fit your agenda?\" it wrote, referring to the constitutional amendment that protects gun rights. NRA chief executive Wayne LaPierre spoke out on Thursday, arguing that \"opportunists\" were using the 14 February tragedy to expand gun control and abolish US gun rights. \"They hate the NRA. They hate the second amendment. They hate individual freedom,\" he said. Prior campaigns aimed at the NRA have had limited results. The US is no stranger to school shootings, but the response of students who survived the attack on Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School appears to have given fresh impetus to attempts to strengthen gun control. A marketing professor, Scott Galloway, told NBC News that in dropping ties to the NRA, companies were calculating what would be in the best interests of their business. \"The most valuable person in world of consumer business is an 18 year old. Their recent galvanization against the issue has made the NRA very uncool,\" he said. Bob Spitzer, a scholar on gun politics at SUNY Cortland, agreed the companies' moves were most likely a reaction to the Florida shooting, but said it was too early to say what the impact would be. \"If this is as far as it goes, it probably won't have any measurable effect... Usually what happens is that the storm passes, and the NRA counts on that,\" he told CBS.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 759, "answer_end": 1746, "text": "United and Delta airlines were the latest firms on Saturday to drop their ties to the powerful gun advocacy organisation. Between them they fly more than 300 million passengers a year. Other firms dropping ties to the NRA include: - Enterprise Holdings, which owns rental car brands Alamo, Enterprise and National, said discounts offered to NRA members would end on 26 March - Another car rental firm, Hertz, also said it was ending discounts offered to NRA members - The family-owned First National Bank of Omaha said it would not renew NRA-branded credit cards, citing \"customer feedback\" - Insurance firm Chubb said it had stopped underwriting an NRA-branded insurance policy three months ago - Software firm Symantec said it had stopped its discount programme with the NRA - Two removal firms, Allied Van Lines and NorthAmerican Van Lines, ended their affiliate relationship with the NRA and asked for their details to be removed from its website - Insurer MetLife Inc also cut ties."}], "question": "Which companies have cut NRA ties?", "id": "1255_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1747, "answer_end": 2625, "text": "The NRA, which claims five million members, did not respond to a request for comment about the effect of the boycott. The group defended itself in comments on Twitter, saying people upset about the shooting should focus on lapses by law enforcement. \"Instead of placing the blame on an organization that defends everyone's #2A rights, maybe people should take a hard look at the number of failures by the FBI and local law enforcement agencies, or does that not fit your agenda?\" it wrote, referring to the constitutional amendment that protects gun rights. NRA chief executive Wayne LaPierre spoke out on Thursday, arguing that \"opportunists\" were using the 14 February tragedy to expand gun control and abolish US gun rights. \"They hate the NRA. They hate the second amendment. They hate individual freedom,\" he said. Prior campaigns aimed at the NRA have had limited results."}], "question": "What has the NRA said?", "id": "1255_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2626, "answer_end": 3530, "text": "The US is no stranger to school shootings, but the response of students who survived the attack on Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School appears to have given fresh impetus to attempts to strengthen gun control. A marketing professor, Scott Galloway, told NBC News that in dropping ties to the NRA, companies were calculating what would be in the best interests of their business. \"The most valuable person in world of consumer business is an 18 year old. Their recent galvanization against the issue has made the NRA very uncool,\" he said. Bob Spitzer, a scholar on gun politics at SUNY Cortland, agreed the companies' moves were most likely a reaction to the Florida shooting, but said it was too early to say what the impact would be. \"If this is as far as it goes, it probably won't have any measurable effect... Usually what happens is that the storm passes, and the NRA counts on that,\" he told CBS."}], "question": "Is this a turning point?", "id": "1255_2"}]}]}, {"title": "D-Day 70th anniversary: Ceremonies and staged landing held", "date": "5 June 2014", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Hundreds of the last surviving D-Day veterans have gathered on both sides of the English Channel, 70 years on from the momentous World War Two mission. A spectacular Red Arrows display in Southsea and parachute drop in France came on the eve of the anniversary. The Princess Royal was at the drumhead ceremony in Portsmouth, where on 5 June 1944 troops were preparing to invade Nazi-occupied France. Between 2,500 and 4,000 Allied troops are thought to have died the next day. As many as 9,000 Germans are also estimated to have lost their lives when around 156,000 troops, mainly from Britain, the US and Canada landed on Normandy's beaches in one of World War Two's key turning points. On the anniversary of the eve of the landings, the Prince of Wales laid a wreath near the Pegasus Bridge - a strategic crossing which British troops captured within minutes of landing in gliders on the French coast just after midnight during the push. In a note written on the wreath he said: \"In ever-grateful remembrance of your service and sacrifice, Charles.\" The prince and the Duchess of Cornwall had lunch with veterans and watched as more than 300 troops parachuted in to Ranville, the first village to be liberated. Among them was 89-year-old Jock Hutton, who repeated the jump he made into France 70 years ago. The Queen, who has arrived in Paris with the Duke of Edinburgh for a three-day state visit, will join other world leaders in Normandy on Friday to mark the day the mission began. Leaving flowers at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier with President Francois Hollande, the two heads of state paused and bowed their heads beneath the Arc De Triomphe. About 650 UK veterans - most in their 80s or 90s and many making the journey for the last time - are expected at Friday's Sword beach ceremony. The towns may have French names, but the five Allied landing beaches are still known as Utah, Omaha, Juno, Gold and Sword. It is 70 years since D-Day, the biggest amphibious assault in military history. On the anniversary itself, the Queen will head an international service of commemoration attended by royals, presidents and prime ministers. Hundreds of veterans are here, but their numbers are dwindling. The youngest are well into their 80s. This will be the last significant anniversary most will witness. Their stories of heroism and sacrifice, success and disaster will soon fade from living memory. An emotional 88-year-old Sapper Harry Billinge said: \"It was a killing field. I hope they will not forget the poor devils that died here.\" Navy veteran Charlie Stretch said D-Day was his last day as a teenager. \"I was 20 the next day and I didn't think I'd see 20,\" he said. \"In the navy you didn't get your tot [of rum] until you were 20 so I thought I'd go without having tasted rum.\" Fellow veteran Les Reeves said the commemorations were in honour of \"the lads that never saw the White Cliffs [of Dover]\" after crossing the Channel for the invasion. Dougle Morton, who was 23 on D-Day and landed on Sword Beach, said he was among a group of soldiers locked in a \"prison camp\" in Hastings before the invasion as Allied commanders tried to keep their plans secret. He said he remembered playing cards during the crossing and, asked what he felt about being part of such a massive operation, he said: \"We had a job to do and we did it.\" Allied troops crossed the English Channel in the initial D-Day assault on 6 June 1944, paving the way for the defeat of Nazi Germany. The attack was planned from Southwick House, just north of Portsmouth, which was the main departure point for troops heading to Sword Beach. The city marked that history with a ceremony earlier. In a message in the order of service, Princess Anne wrote that this year was \"particularly poignant because it will be one of the last milestones on which there will be sizeable numbers of veterans who were there on the day\". Prime Minister David Cameron said: \"Shortly after D-Day, my own grandfather was wounded and came home. \"We will never forget what they did and the debt that we owe them for the peace and the freedom that we enjoy on this continent.\" On the other side of the Channel, parachutists have landed on Sword Beach as part of the commemorations. And on Thursday evening, the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra will pay tribute to the veterans. A flotilla led by HMS Bulwark  is sailing from Portsmouth to Normandy with four vessels from other countries. Heads of state from 17 nations are to attend the international ceremony at Sword Beach on Friday, the easternmost of the five landing sites. The taking of Pegasus Bridge near to the French city of Caen by British paratroopers and glider-borne troops was a major triumph for the Allies in the early stages of D-Day. The Prince of Wales laid his wreath at the glider pilot memorial and attended a lunch with veterans, who will also attend the main international event on Friday. But the Normandy Veterans' Association says its numbers have fallen to around 600 from about 15,000 and has announced it will disband in November. On 6 June 1944, British, US and Canadian forces invaded the coast of northern France in Normandy. The landings were the first stage of Operation Overlord - the invasion of Nazi-occupied Europe - and were intended to bring World War Two to an end. Portsmouth's D-Day Museum says as many as 4,413 Allied troops died on the day of the invasion - more than previously thought. By the end of D-Day, the Allies had established a foothold in France. Within 11 months Nazi Germany was defeated.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 5064, "answer_end": 5550, "text": "On 6 June 1944, British, US and Canadian forces invaded the coast of northern France in Normandy. The landings were the first stage of Operation Overlord - the invasion of Nazi-occupied Europe - and were intended to bring World War Two to an end. Portsmouth's D-Day Museum says as many as 4,413 Allied troops died on the day of the invasion - more than previously thought. By the end of D-Day, the Allies had established a foothold in France. Within 11 months Nazi Germany was defeated."}], "question": "What was D-Day?", "id": "1256_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Prisoners allowed access to adult films and internet", "date": "22 April 2016", "paragraphs": [{"context": "A world-first system called PrisonCloud has been introduced in a prison in Antwerp, allowing prisoners to access the internet, make calls and download films from the privacy of their own cell. But how effective is it? \"I'm here for taking someone's life,\" says Ivan in a very soft voice. \"I'm not proud of it.\" His crime has led to a 20-year sentence. He's in Beveren Prison, which is a short car-ride from Antwerp, and from his cell he can do what other prisoners in other parts of the world cannot. He can access the internet, or at least certain websites thought to be appropriate, and he can download whatever films he wants, including adult movies. That's because Beveren Prison, which is just two years old, has a system called PrisonCloud. This system is a world-first and is a radical move. So much so it has caught the eye of criminal justice experts across the world, keen to know whether the benefits will outweigh the risks. It allows prisoners to access leisure and education opportunities in the privacy of their own cell, as well as making the prison run more efficiently. Ivan's cell, like all of them in Beveren, has a TV monitor, a keyboard, a mouse, a headset and a special piece of hardware that is connected to a server. Every inmate has a USB stick, a username and password. They can access the internet, but only certain sites. Facebook is not allowed, for example. They can also make calls from their cell rather than go onto the landing to use the phone, they can download films and music, and they can play computer games. They can order extra items from the canteen, ask for library books, officially communicate with prison staff and see their court records. Mobile phones in UK prisons: Why are they still there? How cushy are Norwegian prisons? Inspector of Prisons: 'Inmate asked me to help kill rats' Wim Adriaenssen, deputy director of the prison, has no regrets about the system despite objections from Belgian society which compared it to a hotel. He explained: \"Inmates can go to a website where they can see what jobs are offered and they can say to themselves, 'When I go out, I can work in construction or whatever.' \"If they have a legal problem, they can get help from PrisonCloud and they can see the books they want to read. It's a connection with the outside world. PrisonCloud has more positive sides than downsides.\" Ivan says that it makes the prison run more smoothly and it means that bits of paper with orders or requests on don't get lost. It also gives him something to do. \"We can play very, very simple games like Tetris and the old school stuff,\" he says. \"We can rent two types of movies. The normal movies cost about EUR3 and the other movies are EUR6 or EUR7.\" And when he says \"other\" movies he means porn, one of the most contentious issues around PrisonCloud. Mr Adriaenssen is aware some people would be angry and offended about that but still believes it is the correct thing to do. \"People will be shocked but watching porn in prison, especially for young people who are incarcerated, it's a kind of an ersatz for something else. It's also in our interest to keep them in humane conditions and that means providing for certain things.\" And what about sex offenders? Can they watch adult films too? \"This is going to sound direct but if an inmate is here for sexually abusing children,\" Mr Adrianessen says, \"we're not going to say that he can't watch children's programmes on the TV. If you say, 'You're a murderer so you can't watch telly anymore because it's too violent for you,' that's short-sighted. \"These people are living in the same society as we do. We watch murder every day on our television. I don't approve of murder but I watch it. \"Society changes, prison changes.\" There are no plans to install PrisonCloud in the UK. Even though David Cameron says he wants a modern and efficient prison system fit for the 21st Century, technology is a thorny issue in the context of prisons for two very good reasons: security and the risk of offending victims. Officially, mobiles and smartphones are not allowed in prison but according to Kevin Hogg, who works for the National Victims Association, prisoners get around the restrictions. This makes him nervous about technology in prisons in the future. \"There have been various cases throughout the UK, a lot within our organisation, where offenders have used the internet and have taunted the victims and their families,\" says Kevin. \"Security checks aren't stringent enough even now.\" Organisations like the Prisoner Education Trust and the Prison Reform Trust see a role for digital technology in prison, as long as systems are secure, and they anticipate some reference to it in a report into prison education by Dame Sally Coates due out shortly.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1833, "answer_end": 2820, "text": "Wim Adriaenssen, deputy director of the prison, has no regrets about the system despite objections from Belgian society which compared it to a hotel. He explained: \"Inmates can go to a website where they can see what jobs are offered and they can say to themselves, 'When I go out, I can work in construction or whatever.' \"If they have a legal problem, they can get help from PrisonCloud and they can see the books they want to read. It's a connection with the outside world. PrisonCloud has more positive sides than downsides.\" Ivan says that it makes the prison run more smoothly and it means that bits of paper with orders or requests on don't get lost. It also gives him something to do. \"We can play very, very simple games like Tetris and the old school stuff,\" he says. \"We can rent two types of movies. The normal movies cost about EUR3 and the other movies are EUR6 or EUR7.\" And when he says \"other\" movies he means porn, one of the most contentious issues around PrisonCloud."}], "question": "Hotel or prison?", "id": "1257_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Blanca Fern\u00e1ndez Ochoa: Spain's missing Winter Olympic medallist found dead", "date": "5 September 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "The body of former Spanish alpine skier Blanca Fernandez Ochoa has been found after days of searches involving hundreds of police and volunteers. Ochoa, 56, was discovered in a mountainous area near Madrid. She had been missing since 23 August. The authorities are now investigating the cause of her death. She was the first Spanish woman to win a medal at the Winter Olympics, capturing bronze in France's Albertville in 1992. She was well loved in Spain, and her late brother had won Olympic gold in skiing 20 years before her success. When her career came to an end, she took part in reality TV productions such as Celebrity Island and a trampoline-jumping show. \"It is a very sad day for Spanish sports,\" said Maria Jose Rienda, Spain's secretary of state for sports. Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez passed on his solidarity and love for her family. The former skier's daughter, Olivia Fresneda, reported her mother's disappearance in late August. On 1 September, a black Mercedes car Ochoa had last been seen driving was located near a village north-west of Madrid. A public appeal was then issued at the request of her family. The former skier, who was a keen hiker, had left home without her phone and not used her credit cards since she vanished, police sources told El Pais at the time. Ochoa's body was found by a tracking dog on Wednesday. The ex-skier was known to have loved hiking on the mountain, La Penota, and police believe she had been dead for between seven and 10 days. A post-mortem examination was being carried out but reports said there were no obvious signs that she had been hurt in a fall. Tablets that she had been using to treat psychological problems were found in her backpack and forensic scientists were trying to find out if she had ingested any, reports said. Ochoa's body was found some 20m (65ft) from a path and some 90 minutes' walk from where she had parked her car, at the foot of a hiking trail near the village of Cercedilla. A witness said he had seen her in Cercedilla, where a statue has been set up to her brother, who died of cancer several years ago. \"Paquito\" Fernandez Ochoa was also a skier, who won Spain's first Winter Olympic gold in 1972. According to the witness, Blanca Fernandez Ochoa told him she was going hiking up the mountain trial even though she did not have a backpack. Spanish media report that before leaving, she kissed her brother's statue and crossed herself. She had moved in with her sister several months ago after a divorce. Born in Madrid in 1963, she took part in four Winter Olympics between 1980 and 1992. In an interview in 2014, she said skiing had become an \"obsession\" to her - but admitted she preferred playing golf since retiring. She was one of five siblings who competed at the Winter Olympics for the Spanish skiing team.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1348, "answer_end": 2498, "text": "The ex-skier was known to have loved hiking on the mountain, La Penota, and police believe she had been dead for between seven and 10 days. A post-mortem examination was being carried out but reports said there were no obvious signs that she had been hurt in a fall. Tablets that she had been using to treat psychological problems were found in her backpack and forensic scientists were trying to find out if she had ingested any, reports said. Ochoa's body was found some 20m (65ft) from a path and some 90 minutes' walk from where she had parked her car, at the foot of a hiking trail near the village of Cercedilla. A witness said he had seen her in Cercedilla, where a statue has been set up to her brother, who died of cancer several years ago. \"Paquito\" Fernandez Ochoa was also a skier, who won Spain's first Winter Olympic gold in 1972. According to the witness, Blanca Fernandez Ochoa told him she was going hiking up the mountain trial even though she did not have a backpack. Spanish media report that before leaving, she kissed her brother's statue and crossed herself. She had moved in with her sister several months ago after a divorce."}], "question": "What could have happened?", "id": "1258_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2499, "answer_end": 2809, "text": "Born in Madrid in 1963, she took part in four Winter Olympics between 1980 and 1992. In an interview in 2014, she said skiing had become an \"obsession\" to her - but admitted she preferred playing golf since retiring. She was one of five siblings who competed at the Winter Olympics for the Spanish skiing team."}], "question": "Who was Blanca Fernandez Ochoa?", "id": "1258_1"}]}]}, {"title": "Panama Papers: Controversy behind ousting of Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharif", "date": "28 July 2017", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's removal from power may have come as a shock to many Pakistanis, but they are by now quite adept at handling such chaos. Between 1947, when the country won independence, and Mr Sharif's ousting on Friday, Pakistan has had 18 civilian prime ministers. All have been forced out prematurely. This is Mr Sharif's third removal from office, and things do not appear any worse for him now than in 1999 when he was toppled in a military coup. Back then, he was briefly imprisoned and then sent off into exile to Saudi Arabia. This time the axe was wielded by the Supreme Court because he failed to declare \"his un-withdrawn receivables\" from a UAE-based company, Capital FZE, as required under election rules. Mr Sharif has said his position as chairman of the company was an honorary one, receiving no salary or benefits, and that he agreed to keep the position because it made it easier to obtain a UAE visa as and when it was required. Many believe, however, that is not reason enough to remove an elected prime minister. Veteran journalist, Imtiaz Alam, likened it to \"the theft of a goat\" - a reference to a ruse used by the country's establishment back in 1948 to sack a provincial chief minister. More significantly, Capital FZE is not linked to the Sharif family's offshore companies or their London property - matters which were at the centre of the Supreme Court's investigations. The matter of his involvement in those companies and properties, which were originally revealed by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) in its Panama Papers leaks last year, has been sent for a separate trial by a special anti-corruption court. Earlier, the Supreme Court hearings were marred by controversy on several counts. It was said that the case belonged in a criminal court, and the Supreme Court, which is an appellate body, initially refused to hear it. But then the court not only admitted the petition for hearing, it also took the unusual step of instituting its own investigation into the case, with a dominant role for the military intelligence services. The answer may lie in Pakistan's sustained history of struggle for supremacy between the military and the political class. Soon after independence in 1947, the government under the watch of the country's founder, Mohammad Ali Jinnah, sacked two provincial governments - both elected in the 1946 elections in undivided India - thus setting the tone for things to come. Between 1951 and 1958, the combined military-civil bureaucratic establishment sacked as many as six prime ministers one after the other. The era culminated in the first military coup. Pakistan's first ever election was held in 1970, and the first ever elected prime minister, Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto - who assumed power in 1973 - was ousted in a military coup in 1977 and hanged on a murder charge in 1979. Since then, the military establishment has alternatively used constitutional manipulation and direct takeovers to keep the civilian leaders in line. In this, it has invariably been supported by the top judiciary. During this period, the military has developed a huge business and industrial empire which it runs from within, with little or no interference from the state authority. Many believe this empire can only last as long as the military is able to control some crucial domestic and foreign policy areas, such as relations with India, Afghanistan and the West, or the political narrative and propagation of a particular type of patriotism at home. For this, they say, the military has often raised and protected politicians who agree with its world view. But politics has its own dynamics. Once leaders have entered the mainstream, they feel more compelled to increase economic and other opportunities for their voters. This has often forced successive Pakistani leaders to try to normalise relations with India and other neighbours in the region. Nawaz Sharif started out as the protege of a military dictator, Gen Zia ul-Haq, back in the late 1970s, and played a major role in the military establishment's various plans to destroy the PPP party of the former prime minister, the late Benazir Bhutto. That was also the period, according to the Supreme Court-led investigators, when his family wealth multiplied several times over. The government of the PPP, a left-wing party, was believed in the late 1980s to have opened channels of communication with India and had helped Delhi subjugate a separatist movement in Indian Punjab, which had started during the Zia regime and was believed to have Pakistani support. But by 1999, having emerged as a popular political leader himself, Mr Sharif followed the same path as Benazir - inviting the then Indian prime minister to Lahore, where they signed the famous Lahore Declaration. Months later, the Pakistani military started the Kargil war with India, and soon afterwards Mr Sharif was overthrown in a coup. In the 2013 elections, one of Mr Sharif's main slogans was to improve trade ties with India. Months after winning the election, his government was paralysed by a six-month blockade of the capital Islamabad by the new kid on the block, former cricketer Imran Khan. Some who sided with Mr Khan during the 2014 blockade of Islamabad have publicly accused his party of receiving instructions from elements in the intelligence service. Earlier, Mr Khan was accused by a respected social worker, the late Abdus Sattar Edhi, of conspiring with a former chief of the military intelligence agency, the ISI, to overthrow the government of Benazir Bhutto in the mid-1990s. Edhi, who was approached to join the campaign and says he was threatened when he refused, had to leave the country for some time until the storm blew over. Since 2013, Mr Sharif is seen to have conceded much policy space to the establishment over Pakistan's relations with India, but his woes have kept multiplying. And Mr Khan's petition in the Supreme Court over the Panama Papers has finally pulled him down.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 2111, "answer_end": 3936, "text": "The answer may lie in Pakistan's sustained history of struggle for supremacy between the military and the political class. Soon after independence in 1947, the government under the watch of the country's founder, Mohammad Ali Jinnah, sacked two provincial governments - both elected in the 1946 elections in undivided India - thus setting the tone for things to come. Between 1951 and 1958, the combined military-civil bureaucratic establishment sacked as many as six prime ministers one after the other. The era culminated in the first military coup. Pakistan's first ever election was held in 1970, and the first ever elected prime minister, Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto - who assumed power in 1973 - was ousted in a military coup in 1977 and hanged on a murder charge in 1979. Since then, the military establishment has alternatively used constitutional manipulation and direct takeovers to keep the civilian leaders in line. In this, it has invariably been supported by the top judiciary. During this period, the military has developed a huge business and industrial empire which it runs from within, with little or no interference from the state authority. Many believe this empire can only last as long as the military is able to control some crucial domestic and foreign policy areas, such as relations with India, Afghanistan and the West, or the political narrative and propagation of a particular type of patriotism at home. For this, they say, the military has often raised and protected politicians who agree with its world view. But politics has its own dynamics. Once leaders have entered the mainstream, they feel more compelled to increase economic and other opportunities for their voters. This has often forced successive Pakistani leaders to try to normalise relations with India and other neighbours in the region."}], "question": "Why has this happened to Mr Sharif?", "id": "1259_0"}]}]}, {"title": "'Why I write fake online reviews'", "date": "17 April 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "\"I've learned never to rely on reviews for anything,\" says Iain Taylor, from East Sussex. In his spare time and to supplement his income, the 44-year-old says he writes fake reviews online in exchange for money and free products. \"I have written reviews from numbing creams to eBooks to downloadable independent films,\" he says. \"I think it's bad - but I think everyone's doing it,\" says Mr Taylor, describing himself as \"cynical\". \"Since I started doing it I tell my family and friends not to trust reviews. \"If you are going to buy something you should do more research than look at a couple of five-star reviews on Amazon.\" He says writers are paid to buy the product and then leave a review, meaning the review can be verified. Another person, a woman who preferred to remain anonymous, writes fake online reviews of the restaurant where she works - a chain pub in Nottingham. \"I feel like there's significant pressure to get positive reviews on either Facebook, Google or TripAdvisor,\" she says. \"The manager has actually told us to ask customers to do the review in front of us after their meals which I find hilarious. \"Anyway, I feel like it gets the managers off my back about it if I write a few for myself here and there. I do get a few genuine ones but a few more won't hurt, eh?\" She adds: \"I think it does make me look like a better employee, obviously.\" The murky world of fake online reviews hit headlines again on Tuesday, after consumer group Which? claimed that Amazon's website is flooded with fake five-star reviews for products from unfamiliar brands. Amazon said it was using automated technology to weed out false reviews and that it had invested \"significant resources\" to protect its review system \"because we know customers value the insights and experiences shared by fellow shoppers\". \"Even one inauthentic review is one too many,\" it added. Online reviews are valuable to businesses. The government's Competition and Markets Authority has estimated that such reviews potentially influence a mammoth PS23bn of UK customer spending every year. One company, in Bingley, West Yorkshire, has decided not to use review websites because of the risk of competing with fake reviews. Helena Gerwitz, head of marketing at Feature Radiators, says: \"We work in a really niche industry. \"When new websites pop up, they might suddenly have 200 or so reviews. That's a lot of reviews since we know they have only been going since last month.\" She believes the volume of the high-rated reviews that some competitors have cannot be legitimate. Ms Gerwitz adds: \"We have had chats about it - do we need to go down this route? - but my boss is very much 'we don't want to do that'. It's unethical, it's not true. \"We could set up a review account and know that we would do it legitimately but it would look bad as we wouldn't pay people to put out reviews, so relative to the other sites we would look terrible. \"So we have decided not to do them but then people think there is something to hide. You can't win. It's really frustrating.\" Even verified reviews might not be all they seem. Some consumers fear their personal data might have been used by sellers to gather fake \"verified reviews\". Known as \"brushing\", the scam sees sellers obtain people's name and address to send the goods which they did not purchase. On Amazon, this leaves a paper trail showing the goods had been bought on the site and had been delivered. The seller then uses the individual's details to set up a new account which it uses to post glowing reviews of its products. Amazon says it is \"investigating\" complaints of \"unsolicited packages\" which would breach the company's policy. Architect Paul Bailey, from Billericay, in Essex believes he may have been targeted. Last month he received a number of unexpected \"gifts\", including a key-ring, a phone case, a tattoo removal kit and a charcoal toothpaste set. \"I think when the first parcel arrived it was a case of bemusement, then I checked with my wife if she'd used my account to buy something. \"When the second item arrived later that day I thought it was perplexing but amusing. Then it became quite chilling.\" Mr Bailey says he cannot be sure where online sellers have obtained his data but says it has \"made me lose faith in online shopping.\" He added: \"We all know there are laws in place over how data is handled but it's made me very, very nervous to the point I'm going shopping back on the High Street - even though it tends to be more expensive.\" A spokesman for Amazon added: \"We have confirmed the sellers involved did not receive names or shipping addresses from Amazon. \"We remove sellers in violation of our policies, withhold payments, and work with law enforcement to take appropriate action.\" Trading practices in the UK are covered under the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008. Under this legislation, a trader commits an offence if they \"engage in a commercial practice which is a misleading action\" which cause the average consumer to buy something they would not have otherwise. These actions include \"the nature of the sales process\" but do not specifically refer to reviews. Trading watchdog, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), took its first action against a company for posting fake reviews in 2016. It ordered marketing company Total SEO to remove more than 800 fake reviews which were posted for 86 small businesses on 26 different websites between 2014 and 2015. It warned those who write or arrange fake reviews risk acting unlawfully. Titilope Omitogun, 24, from south London, is another person to have been targeted by online review scammers. One morning last month, she woke up to approximately 50 emails from Amazon saying \"thanks for your review\". She had not posted one. The posts, which had been made on a range of items including a telescope and screen protectors, all gave the maximum five-star rating. \"They were quite realistic so I think it was a real person doing it and not a robot,\" she said. After contacting Amazon, the company told her it believed her account had been hacked. Her password was changed and she has had no such problems since. Nathalie Nahai, the author of Webs of Influence: The Psychology of Online Persuasion, says online reviews work because people try to take an \"effortless route\" when they have to make decisions. \"When it comes to purchasing, especially for items which are easy to buy, we expect this level of convenience and ease,\" she says. \"Part of that expectation is met by peer reviews... we can outsource our decision-making.\" \"Above a certain threshold, people will go for a slightly lower rating,\" Ms Nahai explains, citing a study where a product with more reviews but a 4.3 rating was more popular than the same product with fewer reviews and a 4.4. Interestingly, she says there is \"a certain leniency we give to bad reviews\". \"We tend to distrust perfect ratings because it looks too good to be true,\" she says. \"A five-star rating is less worthy than a 4.8 or 4.7.\" It could also be the order of the reviews that matters. Consumer psychologist Cathrine Jansson-Boyd says some sellers might be aware of what is known as the primacy and recency effects. These theories state that people tend to remember the first and last items in a series better than those in the middle. \"It's the first five or six reviews that people tend to read and then if they're really interested they'll scroll to the last one. \"So some sellers will make sure it's really good reviews at the top and that people see a really good one last.\" There are, however, many reasons why people will also post genuine online reviews, says Nisa Bayindir, director of global insights at market research company GlobalWebIndex. \"There are other key motivations at play. For example, we know that consumers buy products and brands that preserve, enhance or extend their self image. \"This dynamic comes alive with online reviews. People may leave genuine and positive reviews online to show appreciation and commitment to the brands that are in tune with their personalities and values. \"This of course includes the basics such as product quality, attentive customer services and good value for money. \" She says that brands should focus on \"building credibility\" but acknowledges that fake reviews may be around for cheaper goods for the foreseeable future. She adds: \"Sometimes people are just happy to pay a smaller amount of money for a mediocre experience.\"", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 4755, "answer_end": 5541, "text": "Trading practices in the UK are covered under the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008. Under this legislation, a trader commits an offence if they \"engage in a commercial practice which is a misleading action\" which cause the average consumer to buy something they would not have otherwise. These actions include \"the nature of the sales process\" but do not specifically refer to reviews. Trading watchdog, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), took its first action against a company for posting fake reviews in 2016. It ordered marketing company Total SEO to remove more than 800 fake reviews which were posted for 86 small businesses on 26 different websites between 2014 and 2015. It warned those who write or arrange fake reviews risk acting unlawfully."}], "question": "Is posting fake reviews illegal?", "id": "1260_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Trump says Khashoggi murder 'worst cover-up in history'", "date": "24 October 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "US President Donald Trump has said Saudi Arabia's response to the murder of the dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi is \"the worst cover-up ever\". Those behind the killing in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul three weeks ago \"should be in big trouble\", he said. Shortly afterwards, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the US would \"punish those responsible\" and had revoked visas of 21 identified suspects. The Saudi government has blamed the murder on rogue agents. But President Erdogan of Turkey has said the journalist was the victim of a carefully planned \"political murder\" by Saudi intelligence officers and other officials. Speaking to reporters at the White House on Tuesday, Mr Trump said: \"They had a very bad original concept, it was carried out poorly and the cover-up was the worst in the history of cover-ups. \"Whoever thought of that idea, I think is in big trouble. And they should be in big trouble.\" The Saudi government has provided conflicting accounts of what happened to Khashoggi, a US resident and Washington Post contributor. After weeks of maintaining he was still alive, senior officials now say the 59-year-old was murdered in a rogue operation after visiting the Saudi consulate in Turkey. European Council President Donald Tusk said EU member states must pursue the full details of the killing and avoid any \"trace of hypocrisy\". In a speech to the European Parliament, Mr Tusk said he expected member states and institutions to avoid any \"ambiguous game\". Mr Trump's public criticism of Saudi Arabia on Tuesday was his strongest so far, but he has continued to highlight the kingdom's importance as a US ally. In a separate interview with the Wall Street Journal, Mr Trump addressed the possible involvement of Saudi royals in the killing and said he did not believe King Salman had prior knowledge of the operation. When asked about the possible role of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the president replied: \"He's running things and so if anybody were going to be [informed], it would be him.\" He said he had questioned the crown prince about Khashoggi's death, and been told he did not know about the operation when it was being planned. Asked if he believed the royal family's denial, Mr Trump reportedly gave a long pause before saying: \"I really want to believe them.\" Mr Trump also said US intelligence officials were returning from Turkey and Saudi Arabia with information about the case. CIA director Gina Haspel has been sent to Turkey. Intelligence officials have shared an audio recording from inside the Saudi consulate with her, the Daily Sabah newspaper says. The reported recording is said to reveal gruesome details of the murder. The US president appears to have changed his mind on the issue. When asked by a reporter in Arizona a few days ago whether he thought Saudi Arabia's explanation for Khashoggi's death was credible, he said: \"I do.\" Mr Pompeo said the US was looking into the possibility of imposing sanctions on those believed to be involved in Khashoggi's killing beyond revoking their visas. \"These penalties will not be the last word on this matter from the United States,\" he added. Mr Pompeo said the suspects worked in the Saudi intelligence services, the foreign ministry and the royal court. But a state department official said they would not be named due to \"visa confidentiality\". On Tuesday, Turkey's president told MPs from his ruling party that the killing of Khashoggi was planned days in advance. Mr Erdogan said Turkey had strong evidence the journalist was killed in a premeditated and \"savage\" murder at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on 2 October. He also called for the suspects to be tried in Istanbul. Mr Erdogan's address coincided with the start of an investment conference in Saudi Arabia that has been overshadowed by the Khashoggi case. Dozens of government and business leaders have pulled out, but Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman appeared at the event on Tuesday. Many world leaders have condemned the murder of the prominent Saudi critic and demanded a full investigation. King Salman chaired a cabinet meeting on Tuesday, after which a statement said Saudi Arabia would hold to account those responsible for the killing. State media also said the king and the crown prince had held a meeting in Riyadh with members of the Khashoggi family, including Khashoggi's son, Salah. The Associated Press reported that Salah had been under a travel ban since last year because of his father's work. Saudi Arabia's account of Khashoggi's fate has not been consistent. First it said Khashoggi had left the building alive, then that he had been killed in a \"fist-fight\" inside the consulate, before finally saying that Khashoggi had been murdered in a \"rogue operation\" that the leadership had not been aware of. \"The individuals who did this did this outside the scope of their authority,\" Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir told Fox News. \"There obviously was a tremendous mistake made, and what compounded the mistake was the attempt to try to cover up.\" He said that Saudi Arabia did not know where the body was. An unnamed Saudi official told Reuters news agency on Sunday that Khashoggi had died in a chokehold after resisting attempts to return him to Saudi Arabia. His body was then rolled in a rug and given to a local \"co-operator\" to dispose of. In addition to the arrests of 18 people, the Saudis say they have sacked two of the crown prince's aides and set up an organisation, under his leadership, to reform the intelligence agency. According to Reuters news agency, quoting Turkish and Arabic intelligence sources, one of the sacked aides appeared via Skype during Khashoggi's questioning. Saud al-Qahtani was quoted as giving the instructions \"bring me the head of the dog\", after the two men traded insults. The sources say President Erdogan has a copy of the Skype audio but is refusing to hand it over to the US.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1486, "answer_end": 2893, "text": "Mr Trump's public criticism of Saudi Arabia on Tuesday was his strongest so far, but he has continued to highlight the kingdom's importance as a US ally. In a separate interview with the Wall Street Journal, Mr Trump addressed the possible involvement of Saudi royals in the killing and said he did not believe King Salman had prior knowledge of the operation. When asked about the possible role of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the president replied: \"He's running things and so if anybody were going to be [informed], it would be him.\" He said he had questioned the crown prince about Khashoggi's death, and been told he did not know about the operation when it was being planned. Asked if he believed the royal family's denial, Mr Trump reportedly gave a long pause before saying: \"I really want to believe them.\" Mr Trump also said US intelligence officials were returning from Turkey and Saudi Arabia with information about the case. CIA director Gina Haspel has been sent to Turkey. Intelligence officials have shared an audio recording from inside the Saudi consulate with her, the Daily Sabah newspaper says. The reported recording is said to reveal gruesome details of the murder. The US president appears to have changed his mind on the issue. When asked by a reporter in Arizona a few days ago whether he thought Saudi Arabia's explanation for Khashoggi's death was credible, he said: \"I do.\""}], "question": "What has Trump said?", "id": "1261_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2894, "answer_end": 3353, "text": "Mr Pompeo said the US was looking into the possibility of imposing sanctions on those believed to be involved in Khashoggi's killing beyond revoking their visas. \"These penalties will not be the last word on this matter from the United States,\" he added. Mr Pompeo said the suspects worked in the Saudi intelligence services, the foreign ministry and the royal court. But a state department official said they would not be named due to \"visa confidentiality\"."}], "question": "What will the US do next?", "id": "1261_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3354, "answer_end": 4067, "text": "On Tuesday, Turkey's president told MPs from his ruling party that the killing of Khashoggi was planned days in advance. Mr Erdogan said Turkey had strong evidence the journalist was killed in a premeditated and \"savage\" murder at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on 2 October. He also called for the suspects to be tried in Istanbul. Mr Erdogan's address coincided with the start of an investment conference in Saudi Arabia that has been overshadowed by the Khashoggi case. Dozens of government and business leaders have pulled out, but Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman appeared at the event on Tuesday. Many world leaders have condemned the murder of the prominent Saudi critic and demanded a full investigation."}], "question": "What is Turkey's stance?", "id": "1261_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 4068, "answer_end": 4484, "text": "King Salman chaired a cabinet meeting on Tuesday, after which a statement said Saudi Arabia would hold to account those responsible for the killing. State media also said the king and the crown prince had held a meeting in Riyadh with members of the Khashoggi family, including Khashoggi's son, Salah. The Associated Press reported that Salah had been under a travel ban since last year because of his father's work."}], "question": "Where do the Saudis stand?", "id": "1261_3"}]}]}, {"title": "Park Geun-hye: South Korea puts an end to business as usual", "date": "10 March 2017", "paragraphs": [{"context": "On the evening of the decision to remove South Korea's President Park Geun-hye, Seoul felt - and sounded - like a political rally. Tannoy announcements boomed across the rooftops, with protesters screaming their delight at the highest pitch. The atmosphere was emotionally charged. Earlier in the day, conservative supporters of Ms Park clashed with police, rocking a bus back and forth to try to turn it over. Officers just about managed to keep the vehicle upright by counter-pulling on a rope like a tug of war. At smaller demonstrations held in support of the impeached president, protesters shouted that they wanted the military to intervene and declare martial law. But the military did what militaries are meant to do in democracies and stayed out of politics. It was announced later in the day that pictures of the president (who is commander-in-chief) had been taken down in barracks. Ms Park is the first sitting president to be pushed out of office for corruption. She is not, however, the first president to be found guilty of a crime. Every president except one in the thirty years of the democratic era has been besmirched by strong evidence of illegal financial dealings. Only one has not - but his sons were convicted of bribery. So the ousting of Ms Park is a change in South Korean ways - a president has been confronted and defeated by a court. In the past, many heads of the big conglomerates have also been convicted of serious financial crime - but the habit has been for the president to then pardon them. It remains to be seen if things will be different this time. The de facto head of Samsung, Lee Jae-yong , is on trial for a string of corruption charges including bribery. His father was twice convicted of corruption but then pardoned. The younger Mr Lee is being held during his trial and, unlike his father, may receive a prison sentence. So there has been a change in the way things are done. Much of the pressure has come from massive demonstrations every Saturday night. The common sentiment is that business as usual in South Korea has to change. As more and more revelations of shady deals between Ms Park, her best friend Choi Soon-sil, and the company's most powerful men have emerged, anger has risen. Even before her ousting, Ms Park's approval ratings were at rock bottom, though that did not mean that everybody, or even perhaps a majority, wanted her kicked out of office. There was also a view that she might have been a poor president and she might have been corrupt - but that her corruptions were minor compared with those of previous presidents. And so this common argument ran, with only a year left in power, why not let her see out her time without the ultimate disgrace? A louder argument was that her hands were dirty and she should be punished in the same way that ordinary citizens would. There is a broader consequence to the removal of Ms Park. An election will be held within 60 days and the polls indicate a move to the left. A left-of-centre government would be much more in favour of an accommodation with North Korea. It would not be happy with the current deployment of US anti-missile batteries on South Korean soil. Ms Park was stripped of the presidency the moment the chief justice announced the decision of the Constitutional Court, but she was allowed to spend her final night in the Blue House, the presidential palace. It is not clear if she has simply defied the authorities by telling them she is not moving out until she is ready to do so - something her opponents say would be characteristically arrogant. The Blue House is like home to her. It is where she grew up as the daughter of the military general who seized power to become president in 1961. Park Chung-hee, the father she adored, was also the father to modern South Korea. He decided to industrialise, and dictated that the country's business leaders should do the job for him - a foretaste of the nexus of business and politics which was to undo his daughter. So, think of Ms Park in the presidential palace on her last night, alone with her past. Her mother was assassinated and Ms Park took over on her father's arm as the president's First Lady. Then her father was assassinated by his head of security and she forged her own political career. It lasted until the night of 10 March 2017. She is now Citizen Park - and ordinary citizens can face trial for crimes in ordinary courts. They also face jail. Ms Park never married or had children - she was married to the country, according to her supporters. For 40 years, she came to rely on her mentor, Ms Choi - to over-rely, it transpires. Ms Choi, who is also charged with corruption, was allegedly the recipient of the millions donated by conglomerates in return for favours provided by the president. It is a friendship which has destroyed both of them. Are things changing? Friday's court ruling has split a country, but it is a triumph for democracy.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 2844, "answer_end": 3726, "text": "There is a broader consequence to the removal of Ms Park. An election will be held within 60 days and the polls indicate a move to the left. A left-of-centre government would be much more in favour of an accommodation with North Korea. It would not be happy with the current deployment of US anti-missile batteries on South Korean soil. Ms Park was stripped of the presidency the moment the chief justice announced the decision of the Constitutional Court, but she was allowed to spend her final night in the Blue House, the presidential palace. It is not clear if she has simply defied the authorities by telling them she is not moving out until she is ready to do so - something her opponents say would be characteristically arrogant. The Blue House is like home to her. It is where she grew up as the daughter of the military general who seized power to become president in 1961."}], "question": "What happens next?", "id": "1262_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Pulitzer fiction prize winner: 'People fear refugees'", "date": "20 April 2016", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Viet Thanh Nguyen, a former Vietnamese refugee to America, won the Pulitzer Prize for fiction on Monday for his debut novel, The Sympathizer. The novel tells the story of a spy for the Viet Cong who ends up travelling to the US with fleeing members of the South Vietnamese military. From there, he secretly reports back to the North Vietnamese. Nguyen spoke to Kasia Madera on the BBC's Newsday programme about what inspired his writing. The book is told from the perspective of a communist spy in the South Vietnamese Army. We eventually we discover that he is telling his confession to another communist who has ended up being his prison guard. Readers will be happy to know that its not an autobiographical novel, since my narrator happens to be a spy, a liar, an alcoholic, a womaniser, and eventually a murderer. But it comes out of some autobiographical themes in my life. I'm not an immigrant, I'm a refugee. I think it's very important to make that distinction, especially in this day and age when countries are so afraid of refugees. I always felt I was living between worlds - I never felt totally comfortable in any kind of home, whether it was in my own parents' home, or in American communities. And that sense of always being in between, of being divided between worlds, informs the world view of this novel and of this character. It's taken to an extreme in this case because he's a spy and a mole and he's caught terribly between oppositional sides. I think I'm a perfect example of that. If you didn't see my face and just heard my voice I probably could pass for an American, and in most features of my life I am very much an American. I think a lot of the fear people have about refugees is that they think they are utterly foreign, that they bring various kinds of contamination with them, whether that's physical, spiritual or religious or linguistic. But I think what's also very frightening about refugees for a lot of people is that they remind citizens of stable countries that the privileges that they take for granted might actually be really fragile, that one day a natural disaster or a war might eventually come and make them into refugees too. In reality, when you look at the waves of refugees that have come to the US and Europe, oftentimes they have been very successfully assimilated. Refugees and other kinds of immigrants - undocumented immigrants and so on - have become the scapegoats for some people's rage and fear. But that rage and fear shouldn't be directed at immigrants, it really should be directed at the structures of inequality that have led people in the United States to feel dispossessed. And that is what I think Donald Trump is appealing to, it's what Bernie Sanders is doing in a much more articulate way, of showing that actually it's systematic inequality built into capitalism that has dispossessed people of all different kinds of backgrounds. But it's frightening to look at structural inequality, so people would rather turn and blame these people who look different from them.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 438, "answer_end": 646, "text": "The book is told from the perspective of a communist spy in the South Vietnamese Army. We eventually we discover that he is telling his confession to another communist who has ended up being his prison guard."}], "question": "You describe this book as \"a confession\". Who is it a confession to?", "id": "1263_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 647, "answer_end": 1465, "text": "Readers will be happy to know that its not an autobiographical novel, since my narrator happens to be a spy, a liar, an alcoholic, a womaniser, and eventually a murderer. But it comes out of some autobiographical themes in my life. I'm not an immigrant, I'm a refugee. I think it's very important to make that distinction, especially in this day and age when countries are so afraid of refugees. I always felt I was living between worlds - I never felt totally comfortable in any kind of home, whether it was in my own parents' home, or in American communities. And that sense of always being in between, of being divided between worlds, informs the world view of this novel and of this character. It's taken to an extreme in this case because he's a spy and a mole and he's caught terribly between oppositional sides."}], "question": "How much of this is a perspective on your personal life and your background?", "id": "1263_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1466, "answer_end": 2319, "text": "I think I'm a perfect example of that. If you didn't see my face and just heard my voice I probably could pass for an American, and in most features of my life I am very much an American. I think a lot of the fear people have about refugees is that they think they are utterly foreign, that they bring various kinds of contamination with them, whether that's physical, spiritual or religious or linguistic. But I think what's also very frightening about refugees for a lot of people is that they remind citizens of stable countries that the privileges that they take for granted might actually be really fragile, that one day a natural disaster or a war might eventually come and make them into refugees too. In reality, when you look at the waves of refugees that have come to the US and Europe, oftentimes they have been very successfully assimilated."}], "question": "Can people ever really assimilate the the countries they end up in?", "id": "1263_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2320, "answer_end": 3039, "text": "Refugees and other kinds of immigrants - undocumented immigrants and so on - have become the scapegoats for some people's rage and fear. But that rage and fear shouldn't be directed at immigrants, it really should be directed at the structures of inequality that have led people in the United States to feel dispossessed. And that is what I think Donald Trump is appealing to, it's what Bernie Sanders is doing in a much more articulate way, of showing that actually it's systematic inequality built into capitalism that has dispossessed people of all different kinds of backgrounds. But it's frightening to look at structural inequality, so people would rather turn and blame these people who look different from them."}], "question": "The US is arguably one of the most stable countries, and we are in the midst of the race to the White House. What do you make of what is going on in the country that you have taken on as your home?", "id": "1263_3"}]}]}, {"title": "DR Congo presidential election: Outcry as Tshisekedi named winner", "date": "10 January 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Opposition candidate Felix Tshisekedi has won DR Congo's presidential election, electoral officials say. The announcement, made overnight, sparked accusations of an \"electoral coup\" from runner-up Martin Fayulu. The Catholic Church said that the result did not match data collected by its election monitors. The ruling party, whose candidate finished third, has not yet contested the result, prompting allegations of a power-sharing deal with Mr Tshisekedi. It is an accusation Mr Tshisekedi's team denies. If confirmed, Mr Tshisekedi will be the first opposition challenger to win since the DR Congo gained independence in 1960. Current President Joseph Kabila is stepping down after 18 years in office. The capital Kinshasa and other key cities appeared calm on Thursday, but fears remain that the announcement of the result could trigger unrest. UN chief Antonio Guterres appealed for all parties to refrain from violence. In the early hours of Thursday the head of DR Congo's National Electoral Commission (Ceni), Corneille Nangaa, said Mr Tshisekedi had received 38.5% of the vote in the 30 December election and had been \"provisionally declared the elected president\". The full results were, with turnout reportedly 48%: - Felix Tshisekedi - 7 million votes - Martin Fayulu - 6.4 million votes - Emmanuel Shadary - 4.4 million votes The result can still be challenged. Mr Tshisekedi vowed to be \"the president of all DR Congolese\", saying: \"No-one could have imagined such a scenario whereby an opposition candidate would emerge victorious.\" He struck a conciliatory tone with Mr Kabila when addressing supporters at his Union for Democracy and Social Progress party headquarters in Kinshasa. \"I pay tribute to President Joseph Kabila and today we should no longer see him as an adversary, but rather, a partner in democratic change in our country,\" he said. A spokesman for Mr Shadary, who had been Mr Kabila's hand-picked candidate and was expected to win, accepted the defeat, saying \"the Congolese people have chosen and democracy has triumphed\". Mr Fayulu's supporters say this backs their suspicion Mr Tshisekedi has cut a power-sharing deal with Mr Kabila. Mr Tshisekedi's spokesman, Louis d'Or Ngalamulume, said there was \"never any deal\". The BBC's Africa editor, Fergal Keane, says Mr Tshisekedi is seen by many as the opposition candidate least objectionable to President Kabila and that it is perhaps significant that neither Mr Kabila nor his party have so far voiced any objection to the result. Mr Fayulu, a former oil tycoon, said the results had \"nothing to do with the truth\". \"The Congolese people will never accept such a fraud,\" he told the BBC, adding: \"Felix Tshisekedi never got 7 million votes. Where did he get them from?\" He said the electoral commission and ruling party had made up the figures to give Mr Tshisekedi -  their \"protege\" - victory. The influential Catholic Church, which posted 40,000 observers to monitor the election, issued a statement on Thursday saying the result given by the electoral commission did not correspond with its own findings. The statement mentions no-one by name and urges all parties to observe their civic duty and refrain from violence. Our correspondent, Fergal Keane, says the Church may now be publicly doubting the results but it will be very wary of any public demonstrations. Earlier, French Foreign Minister Yves Le Drian told CNews: \"We must have clarity on these results, which are the opposite to what we expected.\" Former colonial power Belgium has also expressed doubts about the result. Analysis by Fergal Keane, BBC News, in Kinshasa Given the deeply polarised nature of politics here, any result was going to leave a divisive aftermath. Whether Mr Tshisekedi has the intention or the capacity to challenge the powerful hold Mr Kabila enjoys over the army, security services and key ministries will determine whether politics has really entered a new era.  He has already spoken of working with Mr Kabila to ensure the success of democracy. For Mr Fayulu there are difficulties, too. How does he decide to react? The most likely route for the moment is to try to challenge the result within the 10-day period parties are allowed under the law. Given the closeness of the vote, his supporters will point to claims of irregularities in several areas. Significantly the Church and civil society have called on citizens to avoid becoming involved in violence - a recognition of the dangers involved in street protests while facing security forces with a reputation for heavy-handedness. Why DR Congo matters: - Son of late veteran opposition leader Etienne Tshisekedi, who died in 2017 - He has promised to make the fight against poverty his priority - Backed out of an opposition deal to have a unity candidate - Ran on his own ticket with the backing of politician Vital Kamerhe - Nicknamed \"Fatshi\", short for three of his names Felix Antoine Tshilombo - Became leader of of his father's UDPS party in March 2018 DR Congo is a country the size of Western Europe and Mr Kabila had promised its first orderly transfer of power since independence from Belgium in 1960. He took over from his assassinated father Laurent in 2001. Elected in 2006, Joseph Kabila secured another term in controversial elections in 2011. He was barred from running for another term under the constitution, and was supposed to step down two years ago, but the election was postponed after the electoral commission said it needed more time to register voters.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 926, "answer_end": 1374, "text": "In the early hours of Thursday the head of DR Congo's National Electoral Commission (Ceni), Corneille Nangaa, said Mr Tshisekedi had received 38.5% of the vote in the 30 December election and had been \"provisionally declared the elected president\". The full results were, with turnout reportedly 48%: - Felix Tshisekedi - 7 million votes - Martin Fayulu - 6.4 million votes - Emmanuel Shadary - 4.4 million votes The result can still be challenged."}], "question": "How was the result announced?", "id": "1264_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1375, "answer_end": 3571, "text": "Mr Tshisekedi vowed to be \"the president of all DR Congolese\", saying: \"No-one could have imagined such a scenario whereby an opposition candidate would emerge victorious.\" He struck a conciliatory tone with Mr Kabila when addressing supporters at his Union for Democracy and Social Progress party headquarters in Kinshasa. \"I pay tribute to President Joseph Kabila and today we should no longer see him as an adversary, but rather, a partner in democratic change in our country,\" he said. A spokesman for Mr Shadary, who had been Mr Kabila's hand-picked candidate and was expected to win, accepted the defeat, saying \"the Congolese people have chosen and democracy has triumphed\". Mr Fayulu's supporters say this backs their suspicion Mr Tshisekedi has cut a power-sharing deal with Mr Kabila. Mr Tshisekedi's spokesman, Louis d'Or Ngalamulume, said there was \"never any deal\". The BBC's Africa editor, Fergal Keane, says Mr Tshisekedi is seen by many as the opposition candidate least objectionable to President Kabila and that it is perhaps significant that neither Mr Kabila nor his party have so far voiced any objection to the result. Mr Fayulu, a former oil tycoon, said the results had \"nothing to do with the truth\". \"The Congolese people will never accept such a fraud,\" he told the BBC, adding: \"Felix Tshisekedi never got 7 million votes. Where did he get them from?\" He said the electoral commission and ruling party had made up the figures to give Mr Tshisekedi -  their \"protege\" - victory. The influential Catholic Church, which posted 40,000 observers to monitor the election, issued a statement on Thursday saying the result given by the electoral commission did not correspond with its own findings. The statement mentions no-one by name and urges all parties to observe their civic duty and refrain from violence. Our correspondent, Fergal Keane, says the Church may now be publicly doubting the results but it will be very wary of any public demonstrations. Earlier, French Foreign Minister Yves Le Drian told CNews: \"We must have clarity on these results, which are the opposite to what we expected.\" Former colonial power Belgium has also expressed doubts about the result."}], "question": "What's the reaction been?", "id": "1264_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 4998, "answer_end": 5517, "text": "DR Congo is a country the size of Western Europe and Mr Kabila had promised its first orderly transfer of power since independence from Belgium in 1960. He took over from his assassinated father Laurent in 2001. Elected in 2006, Joseph Kabila secured another term in controversial elections in 2011. He was barred from running for another term under the constitution, and was supposed to step down two years ago, but the election was postponed after the electoral commission said it needed more time to register voters."}], "question": "What's the background?", "id": "1264_2"}]}]}, {"title": "Nigeria signs African free trade area agreement", "date": "7 July 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "African superpower Nigeria has signed an agreement which aims to increase trade between African countries. This leaves Eritrea as the only African country not to be part of the trading bloc. Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari signed the landmark agreement at the African Union (AU) summit in Niger. The first step is to cut tariffs for goods from countries within the bloc but the timeframe to do this is yet to be announced. The AU says that the African Continental Free Trade Area - called AfCFTA - will create the world's largest free trade area. It also estimates that implementing AfCFTA will lead to around a 60% boost in intra-African trade by 2022. Only 16% of international trade by African countries takes place between African countries, according to research by the African Development Bank in 2014. At the moment some of that intra-Africa trade ranges from fresh fish from the Seychelles to petrol from Angola. By Mayeni Jones, Nigeria correspondent AfCFTA hit a hurdle last year when Nigeria pulled out days before the country was due to sign the agreement. Nigeria is Africa's biggest economy and has long been a regional leader so, when it stalled, observers questioned if the African trade bloc would ever actually happen. President Muhammadu Buhari said he needed further consultations in Nigeria. Since then, the Nigerian Office for Trade Negotiation says it has consulted with 27 groups, including trade unions. Nigeria has a lot to gain from increasing access to its goods and services to a wider African market. But many of those consulted also feared increased regional integration would lead to unfair competition for jobs and the goods they produce. With Nigeria signed up, AfCFTA's dream of increasing intra-Africa trade, which currently lags behind the volume of trade the continent does with Europe, is now one step closer. Now that AfCFTA can offer access to the enormous Nigerian market, they are in a much stronger position to negotiate with regional bodies in other parts of the world. Eritrea did not participate in the negotiations because of their conflict with Ethiopia, according to the Commissioner for Trade and Industry of the AU Commission Albert Muchanga. He adds that now the two countries are at peace and Eritrea has asked the AU to go through the agreement with them. \"So over time they are going to come on board\" he said. Free trade agreements are designed to cut trade tariffs between member countries. Tariffs are a form of tax, like a border tax. They are placed on goods coming into a country for a range of reasons, sometimes to try and protect a home-made product. The purest free trade agreement (FTA) removes all border taxes or trade barriers on goods. They get rid of quotas too, so there is no limit to the amount of trade you can do. FTAs also help make a country's exports cheaper and give easier entry to other markets. They come in all sorts of forms and with different rules but in short, they make trade between countries as liberal as possible and allow for more rules-based competition.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 925, "answer_end": 2018, "text": "By Mayeni Jones, Nigeria correspondent AfCFTA hit a hurdle last year when Nigeria pulled out days before the country was due to sign the agreement. Nigeria is Africa's biggest economy and has long been a regional leader so, when it stalled, observers questioned if the African trade bloc would ever actually happen. President Muhammadu Buhari said he needed further consultations in Nigeria. Since then, the Nigerian Office for Trade Negotiation says it has consulted with 27 groups, including trade unions. Nigeria has a lot to gain from increasing access to its goods and services to a wider African market. But many of those consulted also feared increased regional integration would lead to unfair competition for jobs and the goods they produce. With Nigeria signed up, AfCFTA's dream of increasing intra-Africa trade, which currently lags behind the volume of trade the continent does with Europe, is now one step closer. Now that AfCFTA can offer access to the enormous Nigerian market, they are in a much stronger position to negotiate with regional bodies in other parts of the world."}], "question": "Why is it a big deal that Nigeria signed up?", "id": "1265_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2019, "answer_end": 2370, "text": "Eritrea did not participate in the negotiations because of their conflict with Ethiopia, according to the Commissioner for Trade and Industry of the AU Commission Albert Muchanga. He adds that now the two countries are at peace and Eritrea has asked the AU to go through the agreement with them. \"So over time they are going to come on board\" he said."}], "question": "Why was Eritrea left out?", "id": "1265_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2371, "answer_end": 3054, "text": "Free trade agreements are designed to cut trade tariffs between member countries. Tariffs are a form of tax, like a border tax. They are placed on goods coming into a country for a range of reasons, sometimes to try and protect a home-made product. The purest free trade agreement (FTA) removes all border taxes or trade barriers on goods. They get rid of quotas too, so there is no limit to the amount of trade you can do. FTAs also help make a country's exports cheaper and give easier entry to other markets. They come in all sorts of forms and with different rules but in short, they make trade between countries as liberal as possible and allow for more rules-based competition."}], "question": "What are free trade agreements?", "id": "1265_2"}]}]}, {"title": "Eta disarms: French police find 3.5 tonnes of weapons", "date": "8 April 2017", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Police in France have found nearly 3.5 tonnes of weapons, explosives and other material in eight caches handed over by Basque separatist group Eta. Prime Minister Bernard Cazeneuve said the weapons would be destroyed. Eta - which says it has now surrendered all its weapons - killed more than 800 people in some 40 years of violence in pursuit of an independent country straddling France and Spain. Mr Cazeneuve hailed the move but Spain called on Eta to disband. Eta declared a ceasefire in 2011 but did not disarm. What is Eta? Timeline: Eta campaign IS and Eta: Is terror threat to Europe greater today? The caches contained 120 firearms, three tonnes of explosives and several thousand rounds of ammunition, a spokesman for the Artisans of Peace, the group which mediated between Eta and the French authorities, said earlier. \"The government will not change its position: terrorists cannot expect favourable treatment... much less impunity for their crimes,\" Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy said in a statement. The BBC's Guy Hedgecoe in Madrid says the typically cool response from the Rajoy government shows its determination not to be seen to be giving any ground, as well as reflecting the overall scepticism regarding Eta among the political class in Madrid. Despite its weak position, Eta and its political supporters now want some kind of concession, such as moving prisoners to Basque jails, our correspondent says - but there is no sign the government will allow this. The French prime minister said the Eta move was \"a decisive step towards the end of Basque separatist terrorism\". \"Whether the disarmament is, effectively, total will also be  established,\" Mr Cazeneuve added. Thousands of people joined a pro-Eta rally in Bayonne to mark \"Disarmament Day\" on Saturday afternoon. A simple ceremony in a city hall ended Eta's campaign for independence. In an elegant, high-ceilinged room, five people sat around a table as early-morning light filtered through the drapes. Bayonne Mayor Jean-Rene Etchegaray welcomed them to a \"moment we have all been waiting for\".  After a few speeches, French Basque environmentalist Txetx Etcheverry approached the table with a bulky black file. From where I sat, I could see it included photographs as well as text. The dossier was handed to international witnesses. French security forces discreetly secured the area and the Spanish government raised no objections to the ceremony going ahead. Ram Manikkalingam of the International Verification Commission called it a \"new model of disarmament and verification which emerged from Basque society\". The group was set up more than 50 years ago in the era of Spanish dictator General Franco, who repressed the Basques politically and culturally. Eta's goal was to create an independent Basque state out of territory in south-west France and northern Spain. Its first known killing was in 1968, when a secret police chief was shot dead in the Basque city of San Sebastian. France and Spain refuse to negotiate with Eta, which is on the EU blacklist of terrorist organisations. Slowly, and with many false starts. Eta used parts of south-western France as a base, even though most of its operations were against Spanish targets in Spain. The group has, however, killed some French policemen, but mostly during police raids on members of the group. Eta's first ceasefire was in 1998, but collapsed the following year. A similar declaration in 2006 only lasted a matter of months, ending when Eta bombed an airport car park, killing two people. Four years later, in 2010, Eta announced it would not carry out further attacks and in January 2011, it declared a permanent and \"internationally verifiable\" ceasefire but refused to disarm. In recent years, police in France and Spain have arrested hundreds of Eta figures and seized many of its weapons. Eta's political wing, Herri Batasuna, was banned by the Spanish government, which argued that the two groups were inextricably linked.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 830, "answer_end": 1799, "text": "\"The government will not change its position: terrorists cannot expect favourable treatment... much less impunity for their crimes,\" Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy said in a statement. The BBC's Guy Hedgecoe in Madrid says the typically cool response from the Rajoy government shows its determination not to be seen to be giving any ground, as well as reflecting the overall scepticism regarding Eta among the political class in Madrid. Despite its weak position, Eta and its political supporters now want some kind of concession, such as moving prisoners to Basque jails, our correspondent says - but there is no sign the government will allow this. The French prime minister said the Eta move was \"a decisive step towards the end of Basque separatist terrorism\". \"Whether the disarmament is, effectively, total will also be  established,\" Mr Cazeneuve added. Thousands of people joined a pro-Eta rally in Bayonne to mark \"Disarmament Day\" on Saturday afternoon."}], "question": "Are France and Spain happy?", "id": "1266_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2605, "answer_end": 3079, "text": "The group was set up more than 50 years ago in the era of Spanish dictator General Franco, who repressed the Basques politically and culturally. Eta's goal was to create an independent Basque state out of territory in south-west France and northern Spain. Its first known killing was in 1968, when a secret police chief was shot dead in the Basque city of San Sebastian. France and Spain refuse to negotiate with Eta, which is on the EU blacklist of terrorist organisations."}], "question": "What is Eta?", "id": "1266_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3080, "answer_end": 3984, "text": "Slowly, and with many false starts. Eta used parts of south-western France as a base, even though most of its operations were against Spanish targets in Spain. The group has, however, killed some French policemen, but mostly during police raids on members of the group. Eta's first ceasefire was in 1998, but collapsed the following year. A similar declaration in 2006 only lasted a matter of months, ending when Eta bombed an airport car park, killing two people. Four years later, in 2010, Eta announced it would not carry out further attacks and in January 2011, it declared a permanent and \"internationally verifiable\" ceasefire but refused to disarm. In recent years, police in France and Spain have arrested hundreds of Eta figures and seized many of its weapons. Eta's political wing, Herri Batasuna, was banned by the Spanish government, which argued that the two groups were inextricably linked."}], "question": "How did we get here?", "id": "1266_2"}]}]}, {"title": "The hangover that led to the discovery of ibuprofen", "date": "15 November 2015", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Dr Stewart Adams knew he had found a potential new painkiller when it cured his hangover ahead of an important speech. \"I was first up to speak and I had a bit of a headache after a night out with friends. So I took a 600mg dose, just to be sure, and I found it was very effective.\" Now 92, Dr Adams remembers the years of research, the endless testing of compounds and the many disappointments before he and his research team pinpointed ibuprofen as a drug with potential more than 50 years ago. It has since become one of the world's most popular painkillers. No medicine cupboard in the modern home is complete without some ibuprofen. Got a fever? Headache? Back pain? Toothache? Then ibuprofen is most likely to be the drug of choice because it's fast-acting and available over the counter. Its popularity for treating aches and pains is not just a UK phenomenon however. In India, for example, it is the preferred treatment for fever and pain and in the US, it has been an over-the-counter drug since 1984. It is also used to treat inflammation in conditions like arthritis. And as Dr Adams himself discovered on a trip to Afghanistan in the 1970s, even remote village pharmacies along the Khyber Pass were selling his wonder drug. But, he says modestly, the discovery didn't change his life at all. It all started with a 16-year-old boy from Northamptonshire, who'd left school with no clear plan for his future. He started an apprenticeship in retail pharmacy at Boots and the experience whetted Stewart Adams' appetite for a more challenging career. This led to a degree in pharmacy at Nottingham University followed by a PhD in pharmacology at Leeds University, before he returned to the research department at Boots Pure Drug Company Ltd in 1952. His mission at that time was to find a new treatment for rheumatoid arthritis which was as effective as a steroid but without any of the side-effects. He started looking at anti-inflammatories and, in particular, the way aspirin worked, which no-one else appeared to be doing. Aspirin was the first non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug to be developed, in 1897. Although aspirin was commonly used as a painkiller at the time, it had to be given in very high doses so the risk of side-effects, such as an allergic reaction, bleeding and indigestion, was high. This meant that by the 1950s it was falling out of favour in the UK. In the search for an alternative, Dr Adams recruited chemist Dr John Nicholson and technician Colin Burrows to help him test the potency of more than 600 chemical compounds. The key was to find a drug that would be well tolerated. From the front room of an old Victorian house in the suburbs of Nottingham, the small team patiently tested and re-tested compounds until they found something worth trying on patients in the clinic. Dr Adams realised his chances of success were minimal but he and his staff persevered over 10 long years. \"I did think we would succeed eventually - I always felt we would succeed.\" And he was always prepared to act as guinea pig, testing two or three compounds on himself. That would never be allowed now, he admits, but they were careful to carry out toxicity tests beforehand. \"It was important to try them out and I was excited to be the first person to take a dose of ibuprofen,\" he remembers. During that time, four drugs went to clinical trials and failed before, in 1961, they settled on one called 2-(4-isobutylphenyl) propionic acid, later to become ibuprofen. A patent for ibuprofen was granted to Boots in 1962 and it was approved as a prescription drug seven years later. According to Dave McMillan, former head of healthcare development at Boots UK, ibuprofen was an extremely important drug to the company. \"It saved Boots, helped it to expand into the US and all round the world. It was Boots' number one drug.\" An incredible 20,000 tonnes of ibuprofen are now made every year by a range of different companies under many different brand names. There are different forms of it too, including liquid forms specifically designed for children. Dr Adams has been honoured for his research, with an honorary doctorate of science from the University of Nottingham, and two blue plaques from the Royal Society of Chemistry. He remained with Boots UK for the rest of his career, becoming head of pharmaceutical sciences. What he is most pleased about is that hundreds of millions of people worldwide are now taking the drug he discovered. It was a long road - but a very important one. And it all began with a sore head. It is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug or (NSAID). Because it has a different chemical structure to steroids, it is not as toxic. It reduces pain by targeting compounds called prostaglandins which cause inflammation in the body. Inflammation can bring on swelling, heat, redness, loss of function, fever and pain. The painkilling effect begins soon after a dose is taken, but it can take longer for the inflammation to reduce. Ibuprofen's success has been in treating minor aches and pains. NHS Choices says it should be taken at the lowest possible dose for the shortest possible time because it can cause side-effects such as nausea and vomiting. 1950s - Work starts to find a drug to treat rheumatoid arthritis that has no side-effects 1958 - After hundreds of compounds are made and screened for activity, a compound called BTS 8402 is given a clinical trial but it is found to be no better than aspirin 1961 - A patent is filed for the compound 2-(4-isobutylphenyl) propionic acid - later called ibuprofen 1966 - Clinical trials of ibuprofen take place in Edinburgh and its anti-inflammatory effect is seen in patients 1969 - Ibuprofen is launched in the UK on prescription only 1983 - Ibuprofen becomes available over the counter because of its safety record", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 4544, "answer_end": 5198, "text": "It is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug or (NSAID). Because it has a different chemical structure to steroids, it is not as toxic. It reduces pain by targeting compounds called prostaglandins which cause inflammation in the body. Inflammation can bring on swelling, heat, redness, loss of function, fever and pain. The painkilling effect begins soon after a dose is taken, but it can take longer for the inflammation to reduce. Ibuprofen's success has been in treating minor aches and pains. NHS Choices says it should be taken at the lowest possible dose for the shortest possible time because it can cause side-effects such as nausea and vomiting."}], "question": "How does ibuprofen work?", "id": "1267_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Egypt explosion: Tourists on bus injured near Giza pyramids", "date": "19 May 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "An explosion targeting a tourist bus has injured at least 16 people near the Grand Egyptian Museum, next to the pyramids in Giza. South African tourists are among the injured. Most of those hurt suffered minor injuries, while three were treated in hospital, officials say. A device went off close to the museum fence as the bus was passing. It is not yet known who was behind the bombing but Islamist militants have attacked tourists in Egypt in the past. In December, three Vietnamese tourists and a local tour guide were killed after a roadside bomb hit their bus. A witness, Mohamed el-Mandouh, told Reuters news agency he had heard a \"very loud explosion\" while sitting in traffic near the site of the blast, which is close to the capital Cairo. The blast hit the bus which was carrying 28 passengers, Egyptian Tourism Minister Rania A Al Mashat said. Images taken after police cordoned the bus show a vehicle with windows blown out or shattered, and glass littering the aisle inside. A private car was also damaged behind the bus. According to state-run broadcaster Nile News TV, the bus was carrying 25 South African tourists and a security source confirmed for Reuters that South Africans had been aboard. Seven South African tourists and 10 Egyptian civilians were injured, Nile News TV says. The tourism minister said all of the people affected by the blast were being \"fully supported in their onward travels\". By Sally Nabil, BBC News, Cairo Egyptian officials hurried to confirm everything is under control. No life-threatening injuries, all the wounded in a stable condition, and no damage caused to the strategic tourist site. They wanted to send a clear message of assurance. But it's the second explosion in nearly six months near Egypt's most important landmark, the Great Pyramids, and once again questions are raised about how adequate security measures are in such a strategic location. The blast took place a few hundred metres away from the Grand Egyptian Museum, due to open next year. Officials confirm no damage was caused to the museum, expected to house the country's top antiquities. The timing of the explosion is quite critical. Egypt is getting ready to host the African Cup of Nations for football (Afcon) next month. Furthermore, the tourism industry, a lifeline to the struggling Egyptian economy, recently started to recover. Recent official figures show that growth rates are on the rise and tourists are coming back. This vital sector was hit hard in 2015 when a Russian plane was downed over the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh, with 224 people on board killed. So the message behind this recent attack may be discouraging. No tourist comes to Cairo without visiting the Great Pyramids, and perhaps some of them might think twice now before heading to this historic site.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 567, "answer_end": 1420, "text": "A witness, Mohamed el-Mandouh, told Reuters news agency he had heard a \"very loud explosion\" while sitting in traffic near the site of the blast, which is close to the capital Cairo. The blast hit the bus which was carrying 28 passengers, Egyptian Tourism Minister Rania A Al Mashat said. Images taken after police cordoned the bus show a vehicle with windows blown out or shattered, and glass littering the aisle inside. A private car was also damaged behind the bus. According to state-run broadcaster Nile News TV, the bus was carrying 25 South African tourists and a security source confirmed for Reuters that South Africans had been aboard. Seven South African tourists and 10 Egyptian civilians were injured, Nile News TV says. The tourism minister said all of the people affected by the blast were being \"fully supported in their onward travels\"."}], "question": "What do we know about the blast?", "id": "1268_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Single malt Scotch whisky targeted by United States tariffs", "date": "3 October 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Single malt Scotch whisky exported to the United States is to face a tariff of 25% from 18 October. The new duty is part of a raft of measures being imposed by the US in retaliation against EU subsidies given to aircraft maker Airbus. Other goods being targeted include cashmere sweaters, dairy products, pork, books and some machinery. Scotch exports to the US last year were worth $1.3bn (PS1bn), with single malts accounting for a large share of that. The US was given the go-ahead to impose tariffs on $7.5bn (PS6.1bn) of goods it imports from the EU following a World Trade Organisation (WTO) ruling on Wednesday. It is the latest chapter in a 15-year battle between the US and the EU over illegal subsidies for planemakers Airbus and rival Boeing. The ruling by the WTO will mean tariffs on EU goods ranging from aircraft to agricultural products. Brussels has threatened to retaliate similarly against US goods. Karen Betts, chief executive of the Scotch Whisky Association, said it was a blow to the Scotch whisky sector. \"This is a serious situation for the industry,\" she said. \"We heard overnight that a 25% import tariff will be imposed on all single malts into the United States and also all Scotch whisky liqueurs, and that's from a position of zero. \"We've had a zero tariff on imports to the United States for the past 25 years, so this is quite a hike.\" The Scotch whisky industry directly employs about 11,000 people in Scotland, and many more indirectly through its supply chain. More than 7,000 of the jobs are in rural areas across the country. A spokesman for the UK's Department for International Trade said: \"Resorting to tariffs is not in the interests of the UK, EU or US. \"The UK is working closely with the US, EU and European partners to support a negotiated settlement to the Airbus and Boeing disputes. \"The UK, through the EU, is seeking confirmation from the WTO that we have complied fully with WTO rulings regarding support to Airbus, and should not be subject to tariffs.\" The US first filed the case in 2004, arguing that cheap European loans for Airbus amounted to illegal state subsidies. The WTO decided in favour of the US, which subsequently complained that the EU and certain member countries were not in compliance with the decision, prompting years of further wrangling. The US had sought to impose tariffs on about $11bn in goods. Though the WTO cut that figure to $7.5bn, Wednesday's decision still marks the largest penalty of its kind in the organisation's history. The WTO's dispute settlement body must formally adopt the ruling but is not expected to overturn the decision.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 2009, "answer_end": 2625, "text": "The US first filed the case in 2004, arguing that cheap European loans for Airbus amounted to illegal state subsidies. The WTO decided in favour of the US, which subsequently complained that the EU and certain member countries were not in compliance with the decision, prompting years of further wrangling. The US had sought to impose tariffs on about $11bn in goods. Though the WTO cut that figure to $7.5bn, Wednesday's decision still marks the largest penalty of its kind in the organisation's history. The WTO's dispute settlement body must formally adopt the ruling but is not expected to overturn the decision."}], "question": "How did this row start?", "id": "1269_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Princess Eugenie: Engagement was a perfect moment", "date": "22 January 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Princess Eugenie has described the proposal from her long-term boyfriend Jack Brooksbank as a \"perfect moment\". The Queen's granddaughter said it was a \"complete surprise\" when Mr Brooksbank got down on one knee in front of a volcano as the sun was setting in Nicaragua earlier this month. The princess told BBC's The One Show that she cried and was \"over the moon\". The wedding will take place at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle, in the autumn. It will be the second royal wedding at the chapel this year - Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are due to marry there in May. Princess Eugenie said the couple were looking over a lake while the sun was setting before the proposal. She said: \"The lake was so beautiful. The light was just a special light I had never seen. I actually said this is an incredible moment, and then he popped the question, which was really surprising even though we have been together seven years. \"I was over the moon. \"[It was a] complete surprise. But it was the perfect moment, we couldn't be happier.\" Mr Brooksbank said: \"It was amazing.\" The princess met the former manager of Mayfair club Mahiki on a skiing trip. \"We met when I was 20 and Jack was 24 and fell in love,\" she said. \"We have the same passions and drive for life.\" Mr Brooksbank said it was \"love at first sight\". \"I love Eugenie so much and we are just so happy and over the moon for what is to come,\" he said. The princess added: \"Granny actually knew right at the beginning [of the engagement]. She was very happy as was my grandfather.\" Engagement pictures of the couple, taken in the Picture Gallery at Buckingham Palace, were released following the announcement. In the photographs, Princess Eugenie is wearing a dress by Erdem, shoes by Jimmy Choo and a ring containing a padparadscha sapphire surrounded by diamonds. Mr Brooksbank said: \"I found a ring in a jewellers and then proposed to Eugenie without it and came back and we designed the diamonds around this padparadscha sapphire. \"And what's amazing about it is that it changes colour from every different angle that you look at it, which is what I think of Eugenie. \"That she changes colour and is just so amazing.\" The padparadscha is a rare pink-orange sapphire and is usually found in Sri Lanka. The Natural Sapphire company said the gem was named after the colour of a lotus blossom. Princess Eugenie's ring is similar in shape and design to her mother's engagement ring, which had a red ruby as the central stone. Twenty-seven-year-old Eugenie is the second daughter of Prince Andrew and Sarah, Duchess of York, and is eighth in line to the throne. She will keep her royal title when she marries Mr Brooksbank and will have the option to take his surname. The princess works in the arts as a director at gallery Hauser and Wirth. In a series of tweets, Sarah Ferguson congratulated her daughter and her fiance, calling the announcement \"Total joy!\".", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 2178, "answer_end": 2480, "text": "The padparadscha is a rare pink-orange sapphire and is usually found in Sri Lanka. The Natural Sapphire company said the gem was named after the colour of a lotus blossom. Princess Eugenie's ring is similar in shape and design to her mother's engagement ring, which had a red ruby as the central stone."}], "question": "What is a padparadscha sapphire?", "id": "1270_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Matthew Whitaker: Trump defends acting attorney general amid protest", "date": "9 November 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "President Donald Trump has defended his new acting attorney general, Matthew Whitaker, as opponents call for his recusal from the Russia investigation. Mr Whitaker was named to replace former attorney general, Jeff Sessions, who was fired by Mr Trump on Wednesday. Controversy arose over Mr Whitaker's previous comments about ending the probe into alleged Russian meddling in favour of Mr Trump's election in 2016. As the top law enforcement official, Mr Whitaker could take over the inquiry. Special Counsel Robert Mueller is investigating alleged collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia on behalf of the Department of Justice. Currently, Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein is overseeing Mr Mueller's investigation - a role he took on when Mr Sessions recused himself. Critics have pointed to some of Mr Whitaker's remarks on CNN last year on curtailing Mr Mueller's investigation as reason to remove him from any oversight role. Speaking to reporters on Friday, Mr Trump called Mr Whitaker a \"very well respected man\" whose selection \"was greeted with raves\", though he made sure to distance himself from his new appointee. \"I don't know Matt Whitaker,\" Mr Trump said while fielding questions of how he might influence the Russia investigation. But the president has probably interacted with Mr Whitaker numerous times, US media pointed out, as he was Jeff Sessions' chief of staff. \"Making comments on shows doesn't mean you're unqualified,\" Mr Trump added. \"You didn't have any problems with him when he worked for Sessions.\" Earlier this week, before the dust had even begun to settle on the results of the November mid-term elections, long-embattled Mr Sessions released a letter confirming he was out of a job. \"At your request,\" Mr Sessions wrote to President Trump, \"I am submitting my resignation.\" Minutes later, the president announced his replacement via Twitter: \"We are pleased to announce that Matthew G Whitaker, Chief of Staff to Attorney General Jeff Sessions at the Department of Justice, will become our new Acting Attorney General of the United States. He will serve our Country well....\" The 48-year-old former American football star has long been seen as destined for a bigger role in the Trump administration, viewed favourably by the president as his \"eyes and ears\" in the department of justice. Mr Whitaker is originally from Ankeny, a suburb of Des Moines in central Iowa, the son of an elementary school teacher and a scoreboard salesman. He became a football star in high school and was eventually inducted into the Iowa High School Football Hall of Fame. He went on to play tight end in the Holiday Bowl and the Rose Bowl for the Iowa Hawkeyes in the 1990s. Whitaker graduated from the University of Iowa College of Law, and then went into practice as a lawyer, for a time as corporate counsel for a chain of grocery stores. President George W Bush appointed him US Attorney for the Southern District of Iowa, where he prosecuted white collar and drug trafficking crimes. He held that office from 2004 until 2009. His wife Marci is a civil engineer, and the couple has three children. Mr Whitaker first took a shot at public office in 2002 when he ran unsuccessfully for state treasurer of Iowa as a Republican. He ran for United States Senate in 2014, losing the party's nomination to Republican Senator Joni Ernst. In his campaigns, Mr Whitaker positioned himself as a fiscally conservative opponent of the Affordable Care Act, and said his political role models were Republican Senators Rand Paul and Ted Cruz. He courted the anti-abortion, evangelical Christian vote, saying at one candidate's forum that he would scrutinise nominees for federal judge to ensure they had a \"biblical view of justice\". He further built up his conservative credentials when he served as campaign co-chair for Texas Governor Rick Perry in 2012 and became the executive director of the conservative watchdog group, Foundation for Accountability and Civic Trust in Washington DC. He was hired as Sessions chief of staff in October 2017. Prior to joining Mr Sessions' staff, Mr Whitaker was a conservative legal commentator for CNN, and penned several opinion pieces that may shed light on how he might approach his new role in the Justice Department, in particular when it comes to his possible oversight of the Russian election-meddling investigation lead by Special Counsel Robert Mueller. In July 2017, Mr Whitaker appeared on CNN and mused on possible ways that President Trump could crush the probe, which included the departure of Mr Sessions. \"I could see a scenario where Jeff Sessions is replaced with a recess appointment, and that attorney general doesn't fire Bob Mueller, but he just reduces his budget to so low that his investigation grinds to almost a halt,\" Mr Whitaker said. In August 2017, Mr Whitaker wrote a piece called \"Mueller's investigation of Trump is going too far\". In it, Mr Whitaker argued that Mr Mueller had overstepped the boundaries of his inquiry when he began looking into the Trump family's finances. He called this a \"red line\" that Mr Mueller should not cross, warning that it would render the investigation a \"witch hunt\" - a term that the president himself has become quite fond of. \"The Trump Organization's business dealings are plainly not within the scope of the investigation, nor should they be,\" Mr Whitaker wrote. Speculation that Mr Whitaker would one day take a more central role at the Justice Department has been bubbling for months. A report in the Washington Post said that he spoke directly to Donald Trump as early as October about replacing his own boss, as the president continued to publicly grouse about Jeff Sessions' handling of the Russia probe. After a New York Times article reported that Deputy Attorney General Rosenstein had considered wearing a wire to monitor Trump in the early days of his presidency, Mr Whitaker was discussed as Mr Rosenstein's possible replacement. Mr Rosenstein offered to resign but ultimately kept his job. According to the Times, Mr Whitaker has used what could have been a tricky assignment as a bridge between his boss, the embattled Attorney General Sessions, and a hostile White House to ingratiate himself with the president.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1542, "answer_end": 2334, "text": "Earlier this week, before the dust had even begun to settle on the results of the November mid-term elections, long-embattled Mr Sessions released a letter confirming he was out of a job. \"At your request,\" Mr Sessions wrote to President Trump, \"I am submitting my resignation.\" Minutes later, the president announced his replacement via Twitter: \"We are pleased to announce that Matthew G Whitaker, Chief of Staff to Attorney General Jeff Sessions at the Department of Justice, will become our new Acting Attorney General of the United States. He will serve our Country well....\" The 48-year-old former American football star has long been seen as destined for a bigger role in the Trump administration, viewed favourably by the president as his \"eyes and ears\" in the department of justice."}], "question": "Why was Jeff Sessions fired?", "id": "1271_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Zimbabwe's Mnangagwa gives key cabinet jobs to military figures", "date": "1 December 2017", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Zimbabwe's new President Emmerson Mnangagwa has named his cabinet, appointing senior military figures to high-profile positions. Critics have said that it has dashed hopes of change in the country. Mr Mnangagwa was inaugurated as president last week. He took over from Robert Mugabe who had been in power for 37 years. Mr Mugabe stepped down after the army took control of the country, following a power struggle in the ruling party. Thousands of people celebrated Mr Mugabe's resignation as they hoped the failed economy would improve. Some had hoped that President Mnangagwa would appoint members of the opposition to his cabinet, to form a transitional government until elections next year but this did not happen. The appointments led government critic Tendai Biti to suggest that Zimbabweans were \"wrong\" to have hoped for change.\"Up until now, we had given the putsch the benefit of the doubt. We did so in the genuine, perhaps naive view that the country could actually move forward. We craved change, peace & stability in our country. How wrong we were,\" he said. Wilf Mbanga, a Zimbabwean journalist who lives in exile in South Africa, told the BBC that the new minister of agriculture Perence Shiri \"was not known for his love of democracy\". A minister who served in Mr Mugabe's government, Jonathan Moyo, said the changes meant that Zanu-PF, the party which has governed Zimbabwe since independence in 1980, was \"dead\" and the military was now in charge. Newspaper owner Trevor Ncube said the cabinet was \"very disappointing\". \"Largely the same people that caused this crisis have been recycled. The honeymoon comes to an end and reality dawns. His concern seems to have been rewarding those who brought him to power and Zanu-PF unity,\" he said. Sibusiso Moyo, the general who became the face of the recent military takeover, is the new foreign minister. In his announcement, he was at pains to deny that the military takeover was a coup so some will criticise his promotion to the cabinet. He holds a PhD in International Relations and at one point was the leader of the elite military unit, known as the \"green berets squad\". The head of Zimbabwe's air force, Perence Shiri, was named the minister of agriculture and land affairs. He is notorious for having led the military operation against those seen as opponents of Mr Mugabe in Matabeleland in the early 1980s. The operation, led by the North-Korean trained Fifth Brigade of the army, resulted in the killing of an estimated 20,000 civilians. As lands minister, he will presumably be in charge of Zimbabwe's controversial land reform programme. This saw the seizure of thousands of farms owned by the white minority which had previously been in charge of the country. Critics say this wrecked Zimbabwe's once thriving economy and led millions of Zimbabweans to leave the country to find work. Aside from Maj Gen Moyo and Air Marshal Shiri, leaders of the powerful war veterans' association, who pushed for Mr Mugabe to go after the military intervention, also got cabinet jobs. Chris Mutsvangwa, who heads the group, is now in charge at the information ministry. Critics say that Mr Mnangagwa has rewarded those whose actions led to him becoming president. There was a power struggle over who might replace the 93-year-old president, with Mr Mnangagwa and Mr Mugabe's wife, Grace, on opposite sides. Mr Mnangagwa was accused of plotting to take power and Mr Mugabe sacked him as vice-president. Mr Mnangagwa fled Zimbabwe and the military intervened. On 14 November, military vehicles rolled into Zimbabwe's capital, Harare, detaining Mr Mugabe and placing him under house arrest. He agreed to resign and Mr Mnangagwa returned to a hero's welcome and was made president. Mr Mnangagwa has been part of the country's ruling elite for decades, having been minister of defence, security and justice. Despite pledging a \"new democracy\" for Zimbabwe, Mr Mnangagwa is still associated by many with some of the worst atrocities committed under Zanu-PF. The two new vice-presidents have not been appointed yet. The BBC's Shingai Nyoka in Harare says all eyes are on the general who led the military takeover Gen Constantino Chiwenga. Zimbabwean commentators are waiting to see whether he will be rewarded with a vice-presidency.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 718, "answer_end": 1756, "text": "The appointments led government critic Tendai Biti to suggest that Zimbabweans were \"wrong\" to have hoped for change.\"Up until now, we had given the putsch the benefit of the doubt. We did so in the genuine, perhaps naive view that the country could actually move forward. We craved change, peace & stability in our country. How wrong we were,\" he said. Wilf Mbanga, a Zimbabwean journalist who lives in exile in South Africa, told the BBC that the new minister of agriculture Perence Shiri \"was not known for his love of democracy\". A minister who served in Mr Mugabe's government, Jonathan Moyo, said the changes meant that Zanu-PF, the party which has governed Zimbabwe since independence in 1980, was \"dead\" and the military was now in charge. Newspaper owner Trevor Ncube said the cabinet was \"very disappointing\". \"Largely the same people that caused this crisis have been recycled. The honeymoon comes to an end and reality dawns. His concern seems to have been rewarding those who brought him to power and Zanu-PF unity,\" he said."}], "question": "What has been the reaction?", "id": "1272_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1757, "answer_end": 2860, "text": "Sibusiso Moyo, the general who became the face of the recent military takeover, is the new foreign minister. In his announcement, he was at pains to deny that the military takeover was a coup so some will criticise his promotion to the cabinet. He holds a PhD in International Relations and at one point was the leader of the elite military unit, known as the \"green berets squad\". The head of Zimbabwe's air force, Perence Shiri, was named the minister of agriculture and land affairs. He is notorious for having led the military operation against those seen as opponents of Mr Mugabe in Matabeleland in the early 1980s. The operation, led by the North-Korean trained Fifth Brigade of the army, resulted in the killing of an estimated 20,000 civilians. As lands minister, he will presumably be in charge of Zimbabwe's controversial land reform programme. This saw the seizure of thousands of farms owned by the white minority which had previously been in charge of the country. Critics say this wrecked Zimbabwe's once thriving economy and led millions of Zimbabweans to leave the country to find work."}], "question": "Who are the most controversial new cabinet members?", "id": "1272_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2861, "answer_end": 3224, "text": "Aside from Maj Gen Moyo and Air Marshal Shiri, leaders of the powerful war veterans' association, who pushed for Mr Mugabe to go after the military intervention, also got cabinet jobs. Chris Mutsvangwa, who heads the group, is now in charge at the information ministry. Critics say that Mr Mnangagwa has rewarded those whose actions led to him becoming president."}], "question": "Who else got a job?", "id": "1272_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3225, "answer_end": 4012, "text": "There was a power struggle over who might replace the 93-year-old president, with Mr Mnangagwa and Mr Mugabe's wife, Grace, on opposite sides. Mr Mnangagwa was accused of plotting to take power and Mr Mugabe sacked him as vice-president. Mr Mnangagwa fled Zimbabwe and the military intervened. On 14 November, military vehicles rolled into Zimbabwe's capital, Harare, detaining Mr Mugabe and placing him under house arrest. He agreed to resign and Mr Mnangagwa returned to a hero's welcome and was made president. Mr Mnangagwa has been part of the country's ruling elite for decades, having been minister of defence, security and justice. Despite pledging a \"new democracy\" for Zimbabwe, Mr Mnangagwa is still associated by many with some of the worst atrocities committed under Zanu-PF."}], "question": "Why did the military intervene?", "id": "1272_3"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 4013, "answer_end": 4287, "text": "The two new vice-presidents have not been appointed yet. The BBC's Shingai Nyoka in Harare says all eyes are on the general who led the military takeover Gen Constantino Chiwenga. Zimbabwean commentators are waiting to see whether he will be rewarded with a vice-presidency."}], "question": "What's next?", "id": "1272_4"}]}]}, {"title": "Kanye West vs Drake: What's the story behind their war of words (and emojis)?", "date": "14 December 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "In a virtuoso overnight Twitter rant, Kanye West has addressed his ongoing feud with fellow superstar Drake. Over several hours, and more than 100 tweets, he aired grievances about Drake's lyrics, his use of the purple heart emoji and, in a sinister twist, alleged threats to West's family. The whole saga was prompted when Drake got in touch with West to ask for permission to release a song they'd worked on in 2009. It takes some unpicking, though, so here's what we think is going on. Once upon a time, Drake and Kanye seemed destined to be friends. One of Drake's first mixtapes, 2007's Comeback Season, saw him freestyle over Kanye's album track Barry Bonds. He later told MTV, \"Kanye West shaped a lot of what I do...  I'd even go as far as to say he's the most influential person as far as a musician that I'd ever had in my life.\" West repaid the favour, praising Drake's lyrics on his now-sadly-deleted blog KanyeUniverseCity.com, and directing the video for 2009's Best I Ever Had. They went on to collaborate on tracks like Forever and Find Your Love; and Kanye said Drake's dominance of the rap game inspired him to raise the stakes on a joint album with Jay-Z. \"Me and Hov would've never made Watch the Throne if this [Drake] wasn't putting pressure on us like that, so I just wanna pay my respects, Things went sour earlier this year, when Kanye got dragged into a dispute between Drake and his longtime rival Pusha T. Ye produced a song called Infrared, on which Pusha accused Drake of using a ghostwriter for his lyrics, triggering a flurry of social media insults and diss tracks. It reached boiling point on Pusha's The Story of Adidon; where he callously exposed the fact that Drake had fathered a child with former porn star Sophie Brussaux. Drake confirmed the rumour on his album Scorpion, but not before he accused Kanye of being the one who told Pusha about his son. Both Kanye and Pusha have denied the claim. It was this text message, sent to Kanye by someone on his team. According to Genius, it seems Drake is trying to bring his 2009 mixtape So Far Gone to streaming services and needs Kanye's permission to release one of the songs. Well no, but Kanye has some unresolved issues he wants addressed before he'll clear the song. 350s, by the way, are a range of sneakers Kanye designs for Adidas. They're pretty smart. Drake mentioned the shoes while guesting on French Montana's song No Stylist: \"We flying at seven and packed for the beach / Yeah, keeping it G, I told her, 'don't wear no 350s around me'\". Kanye apparently thinks this dented sales - although the line is still going strong - but, wait, he has more to say. Trav is a reference to rapper Travis Scott, who's the partner of Kanye's sister-in-law Kylie Jenner. Drake recrently appeared on Scott's US number one Sicko Mode. It's not clear which part of the song Kanye considers a diss, but it's likely to be the line: \"Lost my respect, you not a threat.\" Kris is a reference to Kris Jenner, Kanye's mother-in-law. Glad we've got that cleared up. Kanye appears to believe that Drake bought dozens of seats at a Pusha T gig in his hometown, Toronto, to keep them empty. The gig was temporarily stopped when fans rushed the stage. Pusha T later told the crowd people had been \"paid\" to throw beer and water at him. \"Stop this already bro,\" tweeted Kanye. \"You getting people hurt out here... And over what?\" Hooray! It's the season of good will! Oh dear. Hours later, Kanye logged back on to Twitter; and accused Drake of threatening him and his family. He went on to accuse Drake of \"picking on people with mental health issues\", raising the fact that he is bipolar and stating: \"this kind of [stuff] can get me ramped\". \"You trying to be a bully. I never been bullied in my life and I never will be,\" he continued.  \"That's why I made it this far in a pink polo.\" That last line is a reference to Kanye's eccentric fashion choices at the start of his career, when he'd wear preppy clothes like polo necks and cable-knit sweaters. It didn't exactly play well with the hardcore hip-hop crowd but West undoubtedly had the last laugh. It's not entirely clear. Drake posted a series of laughing emojis on his Instagram feed, but it's hard to be sure they were targeted at Kanye. Not that that stopped the rapper from responding. \"Sending purple emojis when I'm dealing with mental [health],\" Kanye fumed. \"I need my apologies now - not through Scooter [Kanye's manager] either not through Travis.\" As the stream-of-consciousness started to run dry, Kanye tried to make amends. \"Remember that  I love you,\" he said, adding he would never fight Drake or make a diss track. \"You're mad at me for something I didn't do,\" he continued - presumably a further reference to the revelations about Drake's son. He ended by sending out positive messages to everyone. Not really, no, although it does raise concerns about Kanye's mental state; and whether it's healthy for him to be on Twitter. Unlike the notorious rivalry between Biggie Smalls and Tupac Shakur, this dispute isn't characterised by a feeling of menace or foreboding. If anything, it's a \"he-said/she-said\" playground spat that's spiralled out of control. More cynically, you could argue it's a great marketing tool. A recent study by The Economist showed that public feuds have a noticeable effect on Google searches and album sales. Looking into the huge sales and streaming figures for Pusha T and Drake's recent albums, it concluded: \"The public airing of dirty laundry benefited both sides.\" Ariana Grande seems to understand this, and subtly slid into the argument to highlight the fact she's got a new single out. Unlike Ariana, neither Drake nor Kanye have new material to promote this week - but we're smack bang in the middle of music's busiest sales period of the year; and voting for the 2019 Grammys, in which both stars are nominated, has just opened. So maybe this wasn't a bad day to raise their public profile and get coverage in the mainstream press. Ever get the feeling you've been played? Follow us on Facebook, on Twitter @BBCNewsEnts, or on Instagram at bbcnewsents. If you have a story suggestion email entertainment.news@bbc.co.uk.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1936, "answer_end": 2163, "text": "It was this text message, sent to Kanye by someone on his team. According to Genius, it seems Drake is trying to bring his 2009 mixtape So Far Gone to streaming services and needs Kanye's permission to release one of the songs."}], "question": "What triggered Kanye's latest rant?", "id": "1273_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 4124, "answer_end": 4485, "text": "It's not entirely clear. Drake posted a series of laughing emojis on his Instagram feed, but it's hard to be sure they were targeted at Kanye. Not that that stopped the rapper from responding. \"Sending purple emojis when I'm dealing with mental [health],\" Kanye fumed. \"I need my apologies now - not through Scooter [Kanye's manager] either not through Travis.\""}], "question": "What did Drake make of all of this?", "id": "1273_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 4844, "answer_end": 6052, "text": "Not really, no, although it does raise concerns about Kanye's mental state; and whether it's healthy for him to be on Twitter. Unlike the notorious rivalry between Biggie Smalls and Tupac Shakur, this dispute isn't characterised by a feeling of menace or foreboding. If anything, it's a \"he-said/she-said\" playground spat that's spiralled out of control. More cynically, you could argue it's a great marketing tool. A recent study by The Economist showed that public feuds have a noticeable effect on Google searches and album sales. Looking into the huge sales and streaming figures for Pusha T and Drake's recent albums, it concluded: \"The public airing of dirty laundry benefited both sides.\" Ariana Grande seems to understand this, and subtly slid into the argument to highlight the fact she's got a new single out. Unlike Ariana, neither Drake nor Kanye have new material to promote this week - but we're smack bang in the middle of music's busiest sales period of the year; and voting for the 2019 Grammys, in which both stars are nominated, has just opened. So maybe this wasn't a bad day to raise their public profile and get coverage in the mainstream press. Ever get the feeling you've been played?"}], "question": "Does any of this really matter?", "id": "1273_2"}]}]}, {"title": "News Daily: Facebook data row and NHS set for pay deal", "date": "21 March 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Hello. Here's your morning briefing: An academic who created an app which harvested data from 50 million Facebook users says he has been made \"a scapegoat\" for Facebook and UK firm Cambridge Analytica. Dr Aleksandr Kogan completed work for Cambridge Analytica in 2014, but said he had no idea the data would be used to benefit Donald Trump's US presidential campaign. Facebook says Dr Kogan violated the site's policies. Last night, Alexander Nix, the chief executive of Cambridge Analytica, was suspended, having been secretly filmed by Channel 4 News appearing to suggest the company could use tactics to discredit politicians online. The company says the programme \"grossly misrepresented\" Mr Nix's conversation. It's a complex and fast-moving story. BBC technology correspondent Zoe Kleinman has written a guide to what we know so far. And we look at the extent of Cambridge Analytica's global reach. NHS workers are set to be offered a pay rise worth more than PS4bn in total over the next three years, reports BBC political editor Laura Kuenssberg. More than a million staff, including nurses, porters and paramedics, could expect average increases of about 6%, after years of a tight spending settlement, she adds. The deal is expected to be agreed by bosses and unions later today, with the lowest-paid workers getting the biggest increases. For example, a porter's salary could rise from PS15,000 to PS19,000. Sign up for a morning briefing direct to your phone Investigators are looking into what caused a Red Arrows jet to crash, killing an engineer and leaving a pilot in hospital. The Hawk aircraft hit the ground at RAF Valley on Anglesey early on Tuesday afternoon. Witnesses have described hearing a loud explosion before seeing \"balls of flames\" and smoke. The UK's biggest employers have two more weeks to reveal what they pay male and female staff. It's feared some might not make the deadline. But, from what we know so far, how much gender inequality is there at the company or organisation where you work? Find out using the BBC's calculator. BBC Reality Check The death of the world's last male northern white rhino has rendered the species \"functionally extinct\". The only hope of reviving the population is through scientific intervention via IVF. But many other species - including the Sumatran rhino, black rhino, amur leopard, forest elephant and Bornean orangutan - are also considered critically endangered, some with fewer than 100 left. Read the full article Several newspapers lead with the ongoing allegations against Cambridge Analytica. The i focuses on MPs' demands for Facebook boss Mark Zuckerberg to answer their questions over users' privacy. Elsewhere, the Daily Express says pressure is growing on Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt to deal with the social care \"crisis\", while the Daily Mail describes Mr Hunt's speech on the subject on Tuesday as \"a blueprint to transform care for the elderly\". Rohingya children Girls in early teens trafficked into prostitution, BBC investigation finds Water pollution warning Ocean plastics \"could treble in a decade\" Brexit MPs warn of multiple obstacles to EU security deal Texas explosion Latest Austin incident not a bomb, say police Adverts cleared Pictures of boy sitting on dog were not real or harmful, says watchdog The choir that bridged Sarajevo's divide Is wood, not oil, our future? Coronation Street: The story behind David Platt's rape 09:30 The Office for National Statistics releases UK unemployment figures for the three months to February. 12:00 Theresa May faces MPs at Prime Minister's Questions. 14:00 Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson gives evidence to the House of Commons Foreign Affairs Committee on his \"responsibilities\". 1999 Ernie Wise, one of the UK's best-loved comedians as one half of Morecambe and Wise, dies aged 73. The gun owners of the Parkland generation (New Yorker) One mum's mission to save British masculinity (Daily Telegraph) Six simple animations that explain complicated things (National Geographic) Kevin Pietersen's career assessed (Guardian) Get news from the BBC in your inbox, each weekday morning", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1774, "answer_end": 2064, "text": "The UK's biggest employers have two more weeks to reveal what they pay male and female staff. It's feared some might not make the deadline. But, from what we know so far, how much gender inequality is there at the company or organisation where you work? Find out using the BBC's calculator."}], "question": "What's the gender pay gap where you work?", "id": "1274_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Venezuela crisis: Maduro cuts ties with US after it recognises opposition leader", "date": "24 January 2019", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has broken off relations with the US after it recognised opposition leader Juan Guaido as interim leader. Mr Maduro gave US diplomats 72 hours to leave the country but the US said the \"former president\" no longer had the authority to order them out. On Wednesday, Mr Guaido had declared himself president during mass protests. The US has urged the military to back Mr Guaido, but so far it has remained loyal to Mr Maduro. Mr Maduro took office in 2013 after the death of Hugo Chavez. He was sworn in for a second term this month after elections last May that were marred by an opposition boycott and widespread claims of vote-rigging. Venezuela has been in economic freefall. Hyperinflation, power cuts and shortages of basic items have driven millions of people from the country. Thousands of Venezuelans attended a rally on Wednesday in support of Mr Guaido, who is the head of the opposition-controlled National Assembly. He told the cheering crowd that protests would continue \"until Venezuela is liberated\". Mr Guaido then raised his right hand and said: \"I swear to formally assume the national executive powers as acting president,\" vowing to lead a transitional government and hold free elections. Mr Guaido is citing articles 233 and 333 of the constitution which allow the head of the National Assembly to become interim president in the absence of the president. Mr Guaido argues that Mr Maduro is not president because last May's elections are invalid. Mr Guaido has called on the armed forces to disobey the government. Venezuelan NGOs said that 14 people were shot dead during protests on Tuesday and Wednesday. President Donald Trump recognised Mr Guaido as interim president in an apparently co-ordinated move minutes after the 35-year-old declared himself acting leader. In a statement, he described Mr Maduro's leadership as \"illegitimate\", adding: \"The people of Venezuela have courageously spoken out against Maduro and his regime and demanded freedom and the rule of law.\" It warned Mr Maduro tougher sanctions could be imposed. Mr Trump told journalists he was not considering military action but added that \"all options are on the table\". He called on other nations to follow suit in supporting Mr Guaido. Seven South American nations, Brazil, Colombia, Chile, Peru, Ecuador, Argentina and Paraguay have recognised Mr Guaido as the legitimate president. Canada is also supporting him, while the EU called for new elections. The Organization of American States (OAS) also recognised Mr Guaido as president. Venezuela withdrew from organisation in 2017, accusing it of meddling in its internal affairs. Mexico, Bolivia and Cuba have expressed support for Mr Maduro. Russia criticised those in the international community who \"seek a change in power\" and said any US military intervention would be \"catastrophic\". Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan tweeted: \"My brother Maduro! Stand tall, we are standing by you.\" A spokesman for the UN secretary general said Antonio Guterres was calling for peaceful political dialogue to address the crisis. He accused Washington of trying to govern Venezuela from afar and said the opposition was seeking to stage a coup. \"We've had enough interventionism, here we have dignity, damn it!\" he said in a televised address from the presidential palace, the Miraflores, where his supporters had gathered to back him. Defence Minister Vladimir Padrino condemned Mr Guaido's call for the army to switch sides. \"The nation's soldiers don't accept a president imposed by obscure interests, nor one self-proclaimed outside of the law,\" he tweeted. Mr Maduro and his core supporters believe Venezuela's problems are caused by US sanctions that have hampered the government by making it hard to restructure its debt. The annual inflation rate reached 1,300,000% in the 12 months to November 2018, according to a study by the National Assembly. By Jonathan Marcus, BBC diplomatic correspondent Does the Trump administration have a coherent plan for raising the pressure on the Maduro regime - such as freezing assets? Crisis could simply lead to a greater calamity for the Venezuelan people. Much will depend on which way the Venezuelan military jumps. For now, its generals may be backing the current regime. But will the lower ranks remain loyal to Mr Maduro or will they heed the growing unrest inside the country and the chorus of powerful voices coming from abroad? Mr Guaido was relatively unknown until he became president of the National Assembly this month. The opposition took power there after elections in 2015, but in 2017 Mr Maduro set up a separate body, the constituent assembly, which is filled with his supporters. Both chambers are meeting and passing laws but the constituent assembly is the only one whose laws are being enacted by the government. Leopoldo Lopez, Venezuela's most popular opposition leader, is seen as the architect behind Mr Guaido's rise. Mr Lopez is under house arrest and considered by his supporters to be a political prisoner. As a student, Mr Guaido led protests against Hugo Chavez, who handpicked Mr Maduro as his successor.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 818, "answer_end": 1662, "text": "Thousands of Venezuelans attended a rally on Wednesday in support of Mr Guaido, who is the head of the opposition-controlled National Assembly. He told the cheering crowd that protests would continue \"until Venezuela is liberated\". Mr Guaido then raised his right hand and said: \"I swear to formally assume the national executive powers as acting president,\" vowing to lead a transitional government and hold free elections. Mr Guaido is citing articles 233 and 333 of the constitution which allow the head of the National Assembly to become interim president in the absence of the president. Mr Guaido argues that Mr Maduro is not president because last May's elections are invalid. Mr Guaido has called on the armed forces to disobey the government. Venezuelan NGOs said that 14 people were shot dead during protests on Tuesday and Wednesday."}], "question": "What happened at the Caracas protest?", "id": "1275_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1663, "answer_end": 2265, "text": "President Donald Trump recognised Mr Guaido as interim president in an apparently co-ordinated move minutes after the 35-year-old declared himself acting leader. In a statement, he described Mr Maduro's leadership as \"illegitimate\", adding: \"The people of Venezuela have courageously spoken out against Maduro and his regime and demanded freedom and the rule of law.\" It warned Mr Maduro tougher sanctions could be imposed. Mr Trump told journalists he was not considering military action but added that \"all options are on the table\". He called on other nations to follow suit in supporting Mr Guaido."}], "question": "How did the US respond?", "id": "1275_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2266, "answer_end": 3105, "text": "Seven South American nations, Brazil, Colombia, Chile, Peru, Ecuador, Argentina and Paraguay have recognised Mr Guaido as the legitimate president. Canada is also supporting him, while the EU called for new elections. The Organization of American States (OAS) also recognised Mr Guaido as president. Venezuela withdrew from organisation in 2017, accusing it of meddling in its internal affairs. Mexico, Bolivia and Cuba have expressed support for Mr Maduro. Russia criticised those in the international community who \"seek a change in power\" and said any US military intervention would be \"catastrophic\". Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan tweeted: \"My brother Maduro! Stand tall, we are standing by you.\" A spokesman for the UN secretary general said Antonio Guterres was calling for peaceful political dialogue to address the crisis."}], "question": "How did nations react to the call?", "id": "1275_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3106, "answer_end": 3931, "text": "He accused Washington of trying to govern Venezuela from afar and said the opposition was seeking to stage a coup. \"We've had enough interventionism, here we have dignity, damn it!\" he said in a televised address from the presidential palace, the Miraflores, where his supporters had gathered to back him. Defence Minister Vladimir Padrino condemned Mr Guaido's call for the army to switch sides. \"The nation's soldiers don't accept a president imposed by obscure interests, nor one self-proclaimed outside of the law,\" he tweeted. Mr Maduro and his core supporters believe Venezuela's problems are caused by US sanctions that have hampered the government by making it hard to restructure its debt. The annual inflation rate reached 1,300,000% in the 12 months to November 2018, according to a study by the National Assembly."}], "question": "What was President Maduro's response?", "id": "1275_3"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3932, "answer_end": 4457, "text": "By Jonathan Marcus, BBC diplomatic correspondent Does the Trump administration have a coherent plan for raising the pressure on the Maduro regime - such as freezing assets? Crisis could simply lead to a greater calamity for the Venezuelan people. Much will depend on which way the Venezuelan military jumps. For now, its generals may be backing the current regime. But will the lower ranks remain loyal to Mr Maduro or will they heed the growing unrest inside the country and the chorus of powerful voices coming from abroad?"}], "question": "What happens next?", "id": "1275_4"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 4458, "answer_end": 5158, "text": "Mr Guaido was relatively unknown until he became president of the National Assembly this month. The opposition took power there after elections in 2015, but in 2017 Mr Maduro set up a separate body, the constituent assembly, which is filled with his supporters. Both chambers are meeting and passing laws but the constituent assembly is the only one whose laws are being enacted by the government. Leopoldo Lopez, Venezuela's most popular opposition leader, is seen as the architect behind Mr Guaido's rise. Mr Lopez is under house arrest and considered by his supporters to be a political prisoner. As a student, Mr Guaido led protests against Hugo Chavez, who handpicked Mr Maduro as his successor."}], "question": "Who is Juan Guaido?", "id": "1275_5"}]}]}, {"title": "Meghan expecting royal baby next spring", "date": "15 October 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "The Duchess of Sussex is pregnant and is due to give birth next spring, Kensington Palace has revealed. The announcement came as Meghan, 37, and Prince Harry, 34, arrived in Sydney on Monday ahead of a 16-day tour of Australia and New Zealand. Kensington Palace said the couple, who got married in Windsor five months ago, were \"delighted to be able to share this happy news with the public\". Their baby will be seventh in line to the throne. The Queen and other senior royals were told about the pregnancy on Friday, when members of the Royal Family gathered in Windsor for Princess Eugenie's wedding. Meghan - who has had her 12 week scan - attended the wedding with Prince Harry, wearing a long, dark blue coat, which sparked speculation she could be expecting. That speculation intensified when she was seen clutching two large folders in front of her stomach as she arrived in Sydney for the tour, which will also take in Fiji and Tonga. It is their first official royal tour since their wedding, which also took place at St George's Chapel, Windsor. Their first engagement is on Tuesday, when crowds of wellwishers are expected to congratulate the couple. The duke and duchess follow in the footsteps of Prince Harry's parents - Prince Charles and Diana, Princess of Wales - whose first royal tour was to Australia and New Zealand. Their baby will be a first cousin of Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis - but will not be a prince or princess themselves unless the Queen steps in ahead of the birth. Royal biographer Robert Hardman said the children will be lord and lady \"like the children of any other duke\", because Prince Harry is not in the direct line of succession. The Queen, the Duke of Edinburgh, the Prince of Wales, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, the Duchess of Cornwall are all said to be \"delighted\" for the couple after learning of the pregnancy at Friday's wedding. And the mother of the duchess, Doria Ragland, is \"very happy about this lovely news\" and \"looks forward to welcoming her first grandchild\". Prime Minister Theresa May has also congratulated the couple, saying: \"My warmest congratulations to the Duke and Duchess of Sussex on the happy news they are expecting a baby in the spring. Wishing them all the best.\" UK journalists in Australia for the royal tour were told the news by phone from London shortly after their arrival, as shown in a photograph from royal expert Emily Nash. There are not expected to be any changes to the itinerary for their trip, despite the duchess's pregnancy. They have taken advice about the risk of the Zika virus in the Pacific Islands. The virus is linked to severe birth defects and was declared as a global medical emergency by the World Health Organization in 2016. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention list Fiji and Tonga as \"areas with risk of Zika infection\". Ideally, pregnant women should not travel to these areas but, if they do, they should talk to their doctor first and take measures to prevent mosquito bites. By Jonny Dymond, BBC royal correspondent Nothing changes, said the Palace, the tour goes on as normal. And in a strictly literal sense they are right - none of the 70-odd planned engagements will be cancelled. Fiji and Tonga will still be part of the tour despite the doubts some have about pregnant travellers visiting, because of concerns over the Zika virus. Medical advice, says the Palace, has been taken. But in another sense, everything has changed. This is now the duchess's pregnancy tour - every step of the way she will be greeted with a new level of excitement and with some degree of concern. This was always going to be a high-profile tour - the news about the duchess's pregnancy will ratchet up the interest and the crowds. Bookmakers said they had already received bets on the baby's name, with Diana, Victoria and Alexander among the early favourites. Harry and Meghan had not made a secret of their desire to have a child. She had said, in a 2016 interview, that becoming a mother was on her \"bucket list\", while Harry said in their engagement interview: \"You know, I think one step at a time, and hopefully we'll start a family in the near future.\" And on a trip to Belfast in March, two months before their wedding, the couple were shown a range of products for newborns, including a baby bath. \"I'm sure at some point we'll need the whole (lot),\" Meghan had said at the time. Harry and Meghan met on a blind date, arranged by a mutual friend, and got engaged 16 months later. The duchess had first found fame as an actress, playing Rachel Zane in US legal drama Suits, but gave up her career when she got married. Congratulations have poured in for the couple from around the world. Among those expressing their delight was Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, who officiated at their wedding.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1908, "answer_end": 3022, "text": "And the mother of the duchess, Doria Ragland, is \"very happy about this lovely news\" and \"looks forward to welcoming her first grandchild\". Prime Minister Theresa May has also congratulated the couple, saying: \"My warmest congratulations to the Duke and Duchess of Sussex on the happy news they are expecting a baby in the spring. Wishing them all the best.\" UK journalists in Australia for the royal tour were told the news by phone from London shortly after their arrival, as shown in a photograph from royal expert Emily Nash. There are not expected to be any changes to the itinerary for their trip, despite the duchess's pregnancy. They have taken advice about the risk of the Zika virus in the Pacific Islands. The virus is linked to severe birth defects and was declared as a global medical emergency by the World Health Organization in 2016. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention list Fiji and Tonga as \"areas with risk of Zika infection\". Ideally, pregnant women should not travel to these areas but, if they do, they should talk to their doctor first and take measures to prevent mosquito bites."}], "question": "Who's the cutest of all?", "id": "1276_0"}]}]}, {"title": "Fujimori: Peru president's pardon for ex-leader draws protests", "date": "25 December 2017", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Peruvian President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski has pardoned former leader Alberto Fujimori on health grounds in a move that has prompted angry protests. Fujimori, 79, who is serving 25 years for human rights abuses and corruption, was moved from prison to hospital because of health problems on Saturday. Mr Kuczynski denied pardoning him as part of a deal with his party last week to avoid his own impeachment. Police in the capital Lima clashed with protesters after the news emerged. Two members of President Kuczynski's party in the Peruvian Congress, Vicente Zeballos and Alberto de Belaunde, resigned in protest at the pardon. Meanwhile, supporters of the man who led Peru from 1990 to 2000 celebrated outside the city hospital where he was being treated. He is admired by some Peruvians for combating Maoist rebels but his critics considered him a corrupt dictator. His son Kenji tweeted video of himself breaking the news of the pardon to his father in his hospital bed and wishing him a Merry Christmas. A statement from President Kuczynski's office said he had decided to grant a \"humanitarian pardon to Mr Alberto Fujimori and seven other people in similar condition\", without naming the others. Doctors, the statement added, had \"determined that Mr Fujimori suffers from a progressive, degenerative and incurable illness and that prison conditions represent a grave risk to his life\". Fujimori was transferred from his cell to a clinic suffering from low blood pressure and an irregular heartbeat, doctors said. Kenji Fujimori said earlier that his father would probably not go home for several days. The conservative Popular Force (FP) party, led by the former president's daughter Keiko Fujimori, controls Congress and on Thursday tried to impeach President Kuczynski over a corruption scandal. However, her brother Kenji split the FP vote, allowing the president to stay in power and prompting the accusation that Fujimori's release had been promised in exchange. \"To save his own skin he [President Kuczynski] cut a deal with Fujimori's supporters,\" said leftist politician Veronika Mendoza, labelling the president's decision as treason. Mr Kuczynski denied the claim. In 2007, he was sentenced to six years in jail for bribery and abuse of power, but two years later was sentenced to another 25 years in prison for human rights abuses committed during his time in office. He was convicted of authorising killings carried out by death squads. Police reportedly fired tear gas at dozens of protesters who turned out on Sunday evening to protest at news of the pardon, waving pictures of victims of the counter-insurgency campaign. \"We believe the pardon was carried out in an illegal manner,\" one unnamed protester told Reuters. \"The medical report that supposedly sanctioned this was a fraud. The reality is that this sadly was a political agreement between the Fujimorists and the current government.\" Jose Miguel Vivanco, executive director of Human Rights Watch in the Americas, tweeted:  \"I regret Fujimori's humanitarian pardon. \"Instead of reaffirming that in a state of law there is no special treatment for anyone, the idea that his liberation was a vulgar political negotiation in exchange for Pedro Pablo Kuczynski maintaining power will remain forever.\" Despite their differences, both Keiko and Kenjo welcomed the pardon. \"On behalf of the Fujimori family, I would like to thank President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski for the noble and magnanimous gesture of giving my father Alberto the humanitarian pardon,\" Kenjo tweeted. \"Today is a great day for my family and for Fujimorism,\" his sister said. \"Finally my father is free. This will be a Christmas of hope and joy!\"", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1007, "answer_end": 1606, "text": "A statement from President Kuczynski's office said he had decided to grant a \"humanitarian pardon to Mr Alberto Fujimori and seven other people in similar condition\", without naming the others. Doctors, the statement added, had \"determined that Mr Fujimori suffers from a progressive, degenerative and incurable illness and that prison conditions represent a grave risk to his life\". Fujimori was transferred from his cell to a clinic suffering from low blood pressure and an irregular heartbeat, doctors said. Kenji Fujimori said earlier that his father would probably not go home for several days."}], "question": "On what grounds was he pardoned?", "id": "1277_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 1607, "answer_end": 2179, "text": "The conservative Popular Force (FP) party, led by the former president's daughter Keiko Fujimori, controls Congress and on Thursday tried to impeach President Kuczynski over a corruption scandal. However, her brother Kenji split the FP vote, allowing the president to stay in power and prompting the accusation that Fujimori's release had been promised in exchange. \"To save his own skin he [President Kuczynski] cut a deal with Fujimori's supporters,\" said leftist politician Veronika Mendoza, labelling the president's decision as treason. Mr Kuczynski denied the claim."}], "question": "Was a deal done?", "id": "1277_1"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 2180, "answer_end": 3275, "text": "In 2007, he was sentenced to six years in jail for bribery and abuse of power, but two years later was sentenced to another 25 years in prison for human rights abuses committed during his time in office. He was convicted of authorising killings carried out by death squads. Police reportedly fired tear gas at dozens of protesters who turned out on Sunday evening to protest at news of the pardon, waving pictures of victims of the counter-insurgency campaign. \"We believe the pardon was carried out in an illegal manner,\" one unnamed protester told Reuters. \"The medical report that supposedly sanctioned this was a fraud. The reality is that this sadly was a political agreement between the Fujimorists and the current government.\" Jose Miguel Vivanco, executive director of Human Rights Watch in the Americas, tweeted:  \"I regret Fujimori's humanitarian pardon. \"Instead of reaffirming that in a state of law there is no special treatment for anyone, the idea that his liberation was a vulgar political negotiation in exchange for Pedro Pablo Kuczynski maintaining power will remain forever.\""}], "question": "What was Fujimori convicted of?", "id": "1277_2"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 3276, "answer_end": 3685, "text": "Despite their differences, both Keiko and Kenjo welcomed the pardon. \"On behalf of the Fujimori family, I would like to thank President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski for the noble and magnanimous gesture of giving my father Alberto the humanitarian pardon,\" Kenjo tweeted. \"Today is a great day for my family and for Fujimorism,\" his sister said. \"Finally my father is free. This will be a Christmas of hope and joy!\""}], "question": "What do his family say?", "id": "1277_3"}]}]}, {"title": "The wine grown in a South African township", "date": "10 December 2015", "paragraphs": [{"context": "Judith Xabanisa is one of a handful of women growing grapes in the heart of Nyanga-East, a South African township on the edge of Cape Town. It is part of the Cape Flats, an area notorious for drugs and crime - but Ms Xabanisa hopes to use wine to help change this neighbourhood's reputation. \"I've always enjoyed farming but I never thought I'd be growing grapes. It feels good to be doing something different,\" she says, smiling. \"Growing grapes here is still strange for some people but most are just curious about how they will turn out.\" The 64-year-old is a grower for Township Winery - a black-owned wine company. The idea of planting grapes here came about in 2009, the soil was tested and found to be suitable, and the first commercial vines were then planted in the area, the company's spokesperson Nomhle Zondani tells me as we walk through the township. \"Vines take about five years to mature, so we had to find women who would understand the commitment needed to see this through,\" she says. \"We had to explain to the community that this is not going to bring easy money - that the success would come once we harvest.\" Ms Zondani says one of the biggest challenges has been ensuring that there's a steady stream of growers - because there are no immediate returns. But Ms Xabanisa says this project is giving her something to do. Sitting in a green plastic chair pruning her vine, she tells me that many people here are dependent on government grants. The elderly women says she wants something different for her family. \"I am hoping to pass on the skills I have learned to my four children and grandchildren so they don't end up in the streets or as criminals,\" she says. Ms Xabanisa hopes this is the beginning of a family business, where they can be owners and not just workers. South Africa's wine industry dates back to the 17th Century with the arrival of the settlers from Europe. Fast forward to 2015 and the industry is still mainly white-owned, with most black involvement limited to providing the labour. Since the advent of democracy and with mounting calls for the industry to be more racially representative, sprinkles of black farmers are now making it into the fold. But many still consider wine a drink to be enjoyed by the white elite, something Township Winery hopes to change - even if just in Cape Town. According to a 2014 study, commissioned by the SA Wine Industry Information & Systems (SAWIS), which compiles statistics on the industry, South Africa ranks as seventh largest producer of wine in terms of volume - contributing  4.2% of the world's wine. But this multimillion dollar industry largely benefits older and more established companies who have more resources to claim a bigger share of the market. - South Africa it 7th largest wine producer in the world - Wine farms cover some 100,000 hectares in South Africa - Turnover was 36.1bn rand ($2.4bn; PS1.6bn) in 2014 - 1% of GDP - Total exports of wine were 422.7m litres in 2014 - Some 300,000 people are employed in the industry both directly and indirectly - The wine industry is predominantly owned by white people - The very first vineyard planted in South Africa coincided with the arrival in southern Africa of settlers from Europe in the 1650s Sources: SA Wine Industry Information & Systems (SAWIS), Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Township Winery's success hinges on partnering with some of the more established companies. Once their grapes leave their township, they are driven to a bottling plant in Stellenbosch, a 30-minute drive from Cape Town. Here their grapes are mixed with produce from some of the best vineyards - to create a unique blend. I notice that the region is a stark contrast to the dry streets of Nyanga - here the vines of South Africa's most established wine companies sprawl for kilometres on end. Ms Zondani says they hope to one day replicate the large-scale farming model in the township - and create even more jobs. \"Before the resettlement of people in the 1960s, the Cape Flats had vineyards.  All of them are gone now but the soil is still fertile. We want to bring this part of Cape Town back to its former glory,\" she says. At the height of white-minority rule, people of colour were not allowed to own land. Through policies such as the Group Areas Act, they were dispossessed of their land and moved to \"black areas\". The resettlements were also a way of enforcing racial segregation. \"If we fail, we would have failed the townships that we come from. Many communities are depending on us to make history,\" she says. Despite their challenges, word is slowly spreading about the township wines. The most popular is the Philippi wine, a sauvignon blanc, says Nkosi Madotyeni, who manages the Roeland Liquors  shop in the heart of Cape Town. \"It's quite popular here - people come the store just for the wine,\" he said. \"Many people can't believe that something of this great quality came from a group of women with nothing. Its absolutely amazing.\" Mr Madotyeni believes the wine will change stereotypes about the local wine industry - and even about the community of the Cape Flats. \"Wine is seen as something for white people,  this township wine is showing many here that things are changing slowly but surely. Its inspiring to watch.\" Back in Nyanga, Ms Xabanisa hopes more doors open for women like her in this line of business. She hopes that what started as a project in backyards will leave a lasting legacy for her loved ones and her community.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 1794, "answer_end": 2745, "text": "South Africa's wine industry dates back to the 17th Century with the arrival of the settlers from Europe. Fast forward to 2015 and the industry is still mainly white-owned, with most black involvement limited to providing the labour. Since the advent of democracy and with mounting calls for the industry to be more racially representative, sprinkles of black farmers are now making it into the fold. But many still consider wine a drink to be enjoyed by the white elite, something Township Winery hopes to change - even if just in Cape Town. According to a 2014 study, commissioned by the SA Wine Industry Information & Systems (SAWIS), which compiles statistics on the industry, South Africa ranks as seventh largest producer of wine in terms of volume - contributing  4.2% of the world's wine. But this multimillion dollar industry largely benefits older and more established companies who have more resources to claim a bigger share of the market."}], "question": "Elite?", "id": "1278_0"}, {"answers": [{"answer_start": 4576, "answer_end": 5510, "text": "Despite their challenges, word is slowly spreading about the township wines. The most popular is the Philippi wine, a sauvignon blanc, says Nkosi Madotyeni, who manages the Roeland Liquors  shop in the heart of Cape Town. \"It's quite popular here - people come the store just for the wine,\" he said. \"Many people can't believe that something of this great quality came from a group of women with nothing. Its absolutely amazing.\" Mr Madotyeni believes the wine will change stereotypes about the local wine industry - and even about the community of the Cape Flats. \"Wine is seen as something for white people,  this township wine is showing many here that things are changing slowly but surely. Its inspiring to watch.\" Back in Nyanga, Ms Xabanisa hopes more doors open for women like her in this line of business. She hopes that what started as a project in backyards will leave a lasting legacy for her loved ones and her community."}], "question": "Shifting sands?", "id": "1278_1"}]}]}, {"title": "Kenya's Patel dam bursts, sweeping away homes in Solai", "date": "10 May 2018", "paragraphs": [{"context": "At least 41 people have died after heavy rains caused a dam to burst in Kenya, sweeping away homes across a vast area of farmland. The breach happened on Wednesday near the town of Solai, 190km (120 miles) north-west of the capital, Nairobi. The dead are thought to include children and women trapped in mud. The Kenyan Red Cross says it has rescued about 40 people so far. More than 2,000 people are said to have been left homeless. Local officials say the full extent of the damage is not yet clear. There are fears the death toll could rise as the search-and-rescue operation continues. The heavy rains in Kenya and other regional states come after a severe drought which left millions of people in need of food aid. Eleven bodies, mostly of women and children, were recovered at a coffee plantation, an unnamed police officer told AFP news agency. It seemed that they had been fleeing but \"could not make it due to the force and speed of the water from the flooded dam\", the officer added. The Patel dam, located on private farmland, and reportedly used for irrigation and fish farming, broke its walls and swept away hundreds of homes downstream. Much of the area was completely devastated as power lines, homes and buildings were carried away by the fast-running water. A secondary school was also flooded, while a primary school was swept away. By Anne Soy, BBC News, Solai Torrential rains are continuing to fall, hampering rescue efforts. Shocked and grieving survivors are sheltering under the canopies of remaining buildings. Foundation slabs of the swept away buildings are lying exposed along a wide path, created by the raging water. There is a deep gully running down the hill from where Patel dam burst. Household items, boulders and mangled iron sheets are strewn across the flood path. Kenya Red Cross volunteers, the police, and military officers are at the scene. It is being described as the biggest tragedy in Kenya since heavy rain started nearly two months ago. The bodies of two women were discovered several miles away from the area affected by the bursting of the dam, the Reuters news agency reported. Witnesses said they heard a loud bang before the waves swept through nearly 2km (1.2 miles) of farmland where many people live and work. On Thursday, rescue workers brandishing shovels scoured through the rubble and mud, searching for survivors and victims \"The water has caused huge destruction of both life and property. The extent of the damage has yet to be ascertained,\" said Lee Kinyajui, governor of Nakuru County. Miriam Karimi told AFP she had not been able to find her three children in the aftermath, including her four-year-old son. \"I'm so confused. I hope they are alive,\" she said. Survivor Veronica Wanjiku Ngigi, 67, told Reuters that she was at home brewing tea when her son's wife rushed in to say they needed to get to higher ground as the dam had burst. \"It was a sea of water. My neighbour was killed when the water smashed through the wall of his house. He was blind so he could not run. They found his body in the morning,\" she was quoted as saying. \"My other neighbours also died. All our houses have been ruined,\" Ms Ngigi added. The Patel dam is one of three reservoirs owned by a large-scale farmer in the area. Its walls are said to have caved in due to the high volumes of water following heavy rains that have been pounding the country. Local leaders are now seeking to find out whether the farmer was licensed to erect those dams, amid concerns about the condition of the remaining two which are also said to be full, reports the BBC's Ferdinand Omondi in the capital, Nairobi. He has not yet commented. Before Wednesday's disaster, 132 people have died countrywide as a result of heavy rains since March, according to official statistics. More than 220,000 people have also had their homes destroyed.", "qas": [{"answers": [{"answer_start": 3186, "answer_end": 3863, "text": "The Patel dam is one of three reservoirs owned by a large-scale farmer in the area. Its walls are said to have caved in due to the high volumes of water following heavy rains that have been pounding the country. Local leaders are now seeking to find out whether the farmer was licensed to erect those dams, amid concerns about the condition of the remaining two which are also said to be full, reports the BBC's Ferdinand Omondi in the capital, Nairobi. He has not yet commented. Before Wednesday's disaster, 132 people have died countrywide as a result of heavy rains since March, according to official statistics. More than 220,000 people have also had their homes destroyed."}], "question": "Could other dams burst?", "id": "1279_0"}]}]}]}